AJN STAFF

MELBOURNE’S “Moshiach Men” are continuing to publicise their claims that the late Lubavitcher Rebbe is the Messiah, even after having been ostracised from the Chabad community.

In a video released on YouTube last week by the group -– which also calls itself honk4joy -– speeches and stories are used to “prove” Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson is the Messiah.

And the man who hosted a celebration on the Fast of Tevet, which was subsequently filmed and circulated on the internet, last week expressed regret over his actions.

The video was the subject of a letter issued by Yeshivah dayan Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Telsner banning the Moshiach Men from participating in the organised Jewish community.

In a posting submitted to ajn.com.au, the lunch host, who chose not to be publicly identified, said he was “deeply sorry”.

He wrote that some of the guests at the lunch -– which was considered a serious breach of halachah given the nature of the day’s commemoration -– have met with Rabbi Telsner to discuss their involvement.

Meanwhile, Moshiach Men member Asher Zelig Rozenfeld released another YouTube video that claimed to provide proof the world had entered a messianic era.

A voiceover on the video stated that in 1994, 250 leading rabbis -– including Rabbi Telsner himself -– signed a declaration of “Torah law, which clearly states the Rebbe is definitely king Moshiach”.

Rabbi Telsner told The AJN he knew about the declaration, but issued a “no comment” when asked whether he signed it.

Despite being kicked out of the Chabad community over their beliefs, the Moshiach Men have refused to back down.