Why is it that Ex-Chabadniks can’t seem to "quit" the Rebbe?
I’ve noticed a massive double standard in the OTD world.
When people leave Satmar, Belz, or Ger, they usually wash their hands of the whole thing. They leave the Rebbe behind and never look back. But in the Ex-Chabad community, it’s the opposite. People stop keeping mitzvos, they move on with their lives, yet they still talk about the Rebbe like he’s a "tzadik" or a "grandfather figure."
Why do we hold onto this one specific attachment when everyone else cuts ties?
Is it because Chabad’s "love every Jew" branding is such a successful PR move that even those who leave are still sold on it? Or is there something more cult-like about the emotional grip the Rebbe has on us compared to other Hasidic leaders?
I’m curious if anyone else finds this weird. Why do we still feel that "love" for him while other Ex-Hasidim feel nothing but indifference or resentment toward their former leadership? Are we actually "out," or are we just practicing a different version of the same devotion?