Monday, November 18, 2013

Guest Post: Introducing Teachings of Rav Moshe Weinberger & Addressing Prior Comments (by Dixie Yid)

















First of all, thank you to Reb Hirshel Tzig for publishing this guest post so that I can share some information and thoughts about my rebbe, Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, who I see as one of the greatest mashpi'im in our generation. I do this with the recognition that although it is absurd for an ant like myself to "explain" Rav Weinberger to those who are not yet familiar with him, the comment section of Reb Hirshel Tzig's recent post about the inspiring Rosh Chodesh Kislev farbrengen held at YU convinced me that many Circus Tent readers may benefit from some additional insight into this very special Rav.

My biggest hurdle is, as Rav Weinberger said about Rav Kalonymous Kalmish Shapira, Hy"d, the "Aish Kodesh," at that tzadik's hilula a few years ago, is "For those who are not yet familiar with his teachings, how does one explain that this [is] not 'just another rabbi?'" The only way for readers to truly get a sense of why Rav Weinberger's teachings are so vital for our generation is by listening to at least one series of his shiurim. I recommend starting with one of the series of shiurim on the teachings of the Baal Hatanya, Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh, or Rav Kook. You can also read some of  his recent Shabbos morning drashos on my blog here. Nevertheless, I will try to hit a few roshei perkaim and point those interested in learning more toward some helpful sources.

My only basis for speaking on the issue is the fact that I have been a student of Rav Weinberger's in Woodmere for about nine years and a student-from-afar of Rav Weinberger's for about twelve years. Readers should note that the views I express here are my own and I am not an "official" spokesperson or gabai for Rav Weinberger. Any mistakes in attempting to characterize Rav Weinberger's teachings are my own.

In terms of format, I will address the topic by responding to many of the misimpressions expressed in certain of the comments to Reb Hirshel Tzig's post according to the categories listed below. In doing so, I am intentionally looking past the profound bizui talmidei chachamim, smallness, and ignorance in which many commenters enclothed their "analysis." I'm also numbering the paragraphs so I can refer to the paragraphs in this guest post if a comment raises a point or points I've already addressed here either explicitly or implicitly. Life is short. Here are the general types of comments/"complaints" organized by category:
  • It is problematic that Rav Weinberger does not limit his self-identification and teachings to Chabad chassidus
    • It is problematic that Rav Weinberger cannot be pinned down to clear Chabad/Chagas/MO/Litvish labels
    • Rav Weinberger's teachings are not penimius/derech arucha u'tzetzara. They're "Poilishe bubeh maasehs," fireworks, and pomp to appeal to the masses and are without tochen.
    • YU should be ctiticized for hiring a chasidish mashgiach and thereby abandoning their Brisker/Litvish/RYB Soloveitchik heritage (I'll explain below why I place this in the "Rav Weinberger is not Chabad" complaint category)
  • How can a Rav who learned in YU and is "worldly" credibly be considered a "Rebbe?"
  • Rav Weinberger appeals to the chevra at YU because they are starved for spirituality
  • Rav Weinberger appeals to the chevra at YU because he teaches Rav Kook
  1. It is problematic that Rav Weinberger does not limit his self-identification and teachings to Chabad chassidus. I understand that in Chabad communities, it is widely held that any derech/Torah from outside of the world of Chabad is, at best, a pale shaddow of Chabad chassidus and, at worst, klipa and sitra achra incarnate (the "Chabad First" view). To the extent one categorically believes this, there is nothing for me to say. While Rav Weinberger learns, teaches, and lives Chabad chassidus on a level very few in the generation can match and looks to the most recent Lubavitcher Rebbe, zy"a, as one of the greatest tzadikim of the generation, he does not "limit" himself to Chabad chassidus, as great as it is. He once commented to me regarding this view (even if it were applied to Breslov, Rav Kook, or any other derech), that he feels bad for those who water their spiritual garden from only one wellspring because they lack the wide variety of nourishment available in the wellsprings of other tzadikim. Those who subscribe to the Chabad First view disagree. They believe anything anyone else has to offer is already included within Chabad chassidus, so they are not "limited" in any way and lack nothing. As I said before, there is nothing I can say to those who subscribe to this view. IY"H, we can just agree to disagree.
  2. It is problematic that Rav Weinberger cannot be pinned down to clear Chabad/Chagas/MO/Litvish labels. I sympathize with those who are baffled by their inability to pin Rav Weinberger down to one derech or label. The urge to label is very strong and many people feel great anxiety and mistrust toward anyone they cannot pin down to a certain "type." It is true. I see Rav Weinberger himself and his teachings as containing everything within them. He is both Chabad and Chagas, Chabad and Breslov, Satmar and Rav KookChassidish and Litvish, Ashkenazi and Sefardi. This is one of the reasons his teachings resonate such a wide spectrum of people in this generation. While most people in the Litvish, Chassidish, and modern orthodox camps view each derech as being mutual exclusive to one another, Rav Weinberger is one of the great neshamos and minds of the generation (though certainly not the first in history) who can master them all and, from a higher perspective, see and explain how each divergent viewpoint and shita is emes according to its own bechina/shoresh under the principle that "Elu v'elu divrei Elokim Chaim." A comprehensive explanation of this wondrous but difficult-to-understand perspective is beyond this scope of this short post. But I recommend that readers who want to begin understanding this concept start by reading my translation of a fundamental principle undergirding this "klaliyusdik" viewpoint from the 5th volume of Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh. Also, I recommend reading my translation of a maamar on Chochma and Bina from Rav Itchie Mayer Morgenstern, shlita, which Rav Weinberger taught a few years ago. Just click through from one post to the next (7 posts).
  3. Rav Weinberger's teachings are not penimius/derech arucha u'tzetzara. They're "Poilishe bubeh maasehs," fireworks, and pomp to appeal to the masses and are without tochen. I put this category in the "Rav Weinberger is not Chabad" complaint category because I think this false impression is based largely on the assumption that any non-Chabad rav is ipso-facto a teacher of fantastical stories, short-lived inspiration, and superficial vert'lach. This complaint is simply based on a lack of knowledge. If one listens to any series of shiurim linked-to above, this misconception will evaporate. Readers should also not lend much credence to the few examples of supposedly fantastical statements quoted by commenters to Reb Hirshel Tzig's post because they are based on a tiny sampling of introductory shiurim given during Rav Weinberger's first few weeks at YU. Rav Weinberger is at Aish Kodesh and at YU (presumably) for the long haul. Although it is silly that I even "need" to say it, Rav Weinberger is only here to teach the "derech arucha u'ketzara." It's all about teaching  inner work on a long-term basis, teaching us to connect to the G-dliness within. He teaches "avodah," not "hisorerus." The wondrous events he sometimes recounts, in my view, are there to dispel popular misconceptions about chassidus and wake people up who think it is all about a set of customs and dress code, speaking Yiddish, or nice but shallow stories and vert'lach. In order that the students understand that they don't already understand what chassidus is, he is telling the YU guys, "It's not about that superficial stuff. There is something very big here! This is worth your attention!" If someone doesn't even know chassidus and pnimius Hatorah have something substantive to offer, they'll never know to search there for the deeper meaning his soul craves.
  4. YU should be ctiticized for hiring a chasidish mashgiach and thereby abandoning its Brisker/Litvish/RYB Soloveitchik heritage. First, to get the to real heart of this complaint (i.e., not the merits of the complaint as expressed), I also place this issue in the "Rav Weinberger is not Chabad" complaint category because I find it difficult to believe that the commenters focused on this issue are old-time RIETS musmachim upset about the direction of the yeshiva. Most if not all of them are presumably Chabad/from outside the traditional YU population. One must ask himself why outsiders would be so incredibly concerned about the purity of the Brisker derech in YU. Ultimately, the most likely explanation is that people are bothered by the fact that someone other than a Chabad chossid is turning the YU guys onto pnimius Hatorah. Under the Chabad First theory, non-Chabadnicks are suspect by definition. This suspicion therefore leads to any of the various permutations of the "purity of YU's Brisker heritage" complaints found in the comment section.
  5. Second, I think it's important to address the merits as well because there are academic-types and Brisker purists who also share this complaint. In different ways, I believe it is both true and false. It is true in the sense that YU institutionally is generally a kalter Litvak sort of place and has probably always been that way (for the record, I went to YU and had a wonderful experience). So in that sense, on a practical level, this is a clear departure from the past and introducing someone who teaches that Yiddishkeit and Torah must live in the heart as well as the mind is an innovation not consistent with the past.
  6. But I disagree that it is a reason to complain. There is a famous story about Reb Noach of Lechovitch. The chassidim noticed that he did not continue all of the hanhagos of his father, the previous Rebbe.  When, upset, they asked him why, he said, “To the contrary, I’m doing exactly what my father did. My father did not copy anyone, and I do not copy anyone.” Merely sticking with what one has done in the past because that is how it was "always done" is just as much of a falacy as changing something just for the sake of change. I recommend that you read Rav Weinberger's drasha from parshas Chukas where he explains how Hashem provides different leaders in each generation according to the needs and shoresh of that generation in the context of Moshe and Yehoshua. The yeshiva is continuing its path of rigorous shiurim, which are packed as always. But the body of Torah without the soul is hollow and empty. Simple or deep nigleh alone will not satisfy many in this generation just before Moshiach's arrival. Toraso shel Moshiach is what the generation is thirting for, which is why Rav Weinberger was received so enthusastically every time he spoke at YU as a guest speaker and why they ultimately asked him to join as mashgiach. The yeshiva is wise to bring on someone who knows how to fulfill the needs of the generation. Each generation is different. The fact that the yeshiva, at least to some extent, recognizes this is to its credit.
  7. Comments which question how a Rav who learned in YU and is "worldly" could credibly be considered a "Rebbe." As one of the commenters correctly pointed out, Rav Weinberger has never conducted himself or called himself a "Rebbe." People may very often treat him, in one way or another, similar to a Rebbe because of his greatness as a Rav, mashpia, and posek. This is the natural response to the greatness of a Rav and tzadik who certainly does not need to "ask" for such treatment. To the extent anyone fargins Rav Weinberger his style of speaking or teaching, I would ask: Would anyone have him not teach or not identify with chassidus because of his background despite the fact that doing would violate his own essence? Should he  not teach chassidus to the world? Can someone with water refrain from giving a thirsty man a drink because he did not grow up as a restaurateur? And as one commenter, Schneur, wisely pointed out, "[T]here was another Rebbe who attended a secular university and was worldly and became a well known rebbe..."
  8. Rav Weinberger appeals to the chevra at YU because because they are starved for spirituality. I agree with this but not with the potential underlying assumptions. First, the comment may assume that people are starving at YU but not elsewhere. This is certainly not true, and the YU crowd certainly has no monopoly on empty, checklist-style Yiddishkeit. My experience tells me that it is perhaps even slightly less of a problem at YU than elsewhere. All chevra from every group are starving for something deeper, for a Yiddishkeit that is not built around societal expectations and what the neighbors will think. Rav Weinberger understands our generation and is an expert at communicating avodah pnimis and pnimius Hatorah to people from a modern orthodox, yeshivish, or chassidish background. There are others in our generation who do the same thing for some of the same populations, like Reb Tzvi Mayer Zilberberg, Rav Itchie Mayer Morgenstern, the Stechiner Rov, and Rav Kluger. But different mashpi'im appeal to different people and each person should drink the waters of the tzadik who speaks to the essence of his own unique soul. Kein yirbu!
  9. The second mistaken assumption which may underlie this comment is that because the YU folks are so starved for spirituality, they will settle even for "moldy bread." While this point is not really worthy of a response because it can only arise from a complete lack of knowledge, suffice it to say, as already explained above, this preconception will be dispelled by anyone who seriously takes the time to listen to a series or two of Rav Weinberger's shiurim. This comment/assumption is also probably predicated on the Chabad First outlook referenced above. If one views any non-Chabad rav as, by definition, "moldy bread,"  then there is nothing that I can say to dispell such a person of his views.
  10. Rav Weinberger appeals to the chevra at YU because because he teaches Rav Kook. As in the previous point, I partly agree and partly disagree with this comment. On a superficial level, I understand why people would say this. The thinking goes that because Rav Kook was a "Zionist" and because the MO folks are "Zionists," Rav Weinberger is more appealing to them because he teaches Rav Kook. Again, on the surface level, that may be true for some people in the MO camp who know very little about Rav Kook. But many people even in that world recognize that Rav Kook was sooo much more than "Zionism." That is one piece of a larger, klaliyusdik, pnimius Hatorah, Moshiach-tzeit outlook on the world which was taught by Rav Kook. While Rav Kook is so amazingly awesome and deep, his approach does not exactly square with YU's Litvish and MO background. Therefore, I'm not sure how much of a selling point the Rav Kook part is before one has already given it a chance and seen how Rav Kook is the deepest of the deep and speaks to the essence of our generation.
While I have not addressed every point in the comments, I hope that by addressing many of the categories of such comments, I have at least provided a few ma'areh mekomos for those who are interested in understanding and exploring Rav Weinberger and why his Torah resonates so deeply with our generation.
B'virkas kol tuv,

91 comments:

Pactura Observa said...

Who knew - say what you want, but YU lost whatever Litvish superiority on his hire - from any vantage point, it comes across as intellectually weak, despite him being a big mashpia.

Not a Harry said...

Dixie, thanks for sharing your inside the beltway perspective. As a certified "snag ben snag... Etc." I view chabad as being most guilty of what they forever mocked chagas Chasidim for.
I find it hard to believe that yu ever really had a defined confined derech. Rav Mendel Zaks and the Suvalker rov could not possibly have had a similar derech in learning or hashkkofa to RJBS.
Additionally R Kooks main attraction to the MO community is Attached mostly to his being מטהר השרץ of zionism and פשרה. In depth analysis of his opinions leave him far to the right of where his supposed successors and followers have found themselves.

When R Weinberger first set up shop he wrote an article in Young Israel's magazine, viewpoints. Google couldn't find it for me at present, but I recall he laid out his resion detre there.

Not a Harry said...

Continued.

I give yu credit for increasing the yiddishkeit output on campus in any way.

DixieYid (يهودي جنوبي) said...

Not a Harry, I think you're talking about this Jewish Action article: Chasidism - A Modern Experiment in Chassidus: http://bit.ly/1aNmIwO

straw-man said...

Awesome straw-man article. Well done.

Anonymous said...

I don't want to go against your idol but I just have a few questions first of all which minhogim does he follow I hope he doesn't just pick and choose, because bichlal minhagim and hadracha are not based on previous generations hergashim but have yisodos beharirei kodesh so you can't just decide what you want to pick and choose based on your own logic ( you could but then don't say that you get the best of both worlds on the contrary you got nothing ) because whoever you will ask ( as in whichever one of the talmedei hamagid ) they will tell you your not doing the right thing not because they want more followers but because every part of there chassidus is in line with each other from there minugum to the chassidus that they said to there hadracha how they were madrich the chassidim and just because someone 200 years later doesn't understand that doesn't mean that its not true
And bichlal the lubavitcher rebbe's shitta and the rav's were different min hakatza el hakatza so its not possible to take both, every person has to take on a certain derech because this derech is way of life
Picking and choosing is like learning one line gemara with rashi's pshat and the next line with tosfos pshat, so the way YOU understand the gemara now is not according to any rishon even though YOUR version of gemara makes sense it is wrong, rashi and tosfos aren't people like me and you that you can take half there logic and discard the other half vichulu. Vichulu.

Not a Harry said...

That's a good reason why I couldn't find it. Thanks

Yitzchak Mier said...

Dixie
No matter what you explain and what you write, who ever gives lectures on BILVAVI..needs a doctor

DixieYid (يهودي جنوبي) said...

Anon 2:02,

The asiya sheb'asiya aspect is something I forgot to mention in the guest post. There can certainly only be one derech on a practial level. Agreed on that point.

Yitzchak Mier said...

Anon
Why can he start minhogim on his own?
please explain?

Anonymous said...

It's way off base to assume,as Dixie has, that the critical comments of R Weinberger and of YU came from Lubavitchers with "Chabad First" mentality. Lubavitchers like that R. Weinberger is teaching chassidus to those who wouldn't necessarily get it elsewhere.

shmilu said...

Dixie,
Though I did not have time to read your article in depth I commend you on the mature and respectful style.
Rabbi Weinberger is a wonderful and pleasant person,I have met him in person and been to his shul.
That being said, I am very opposed to the Chasidic movement in general, and specifically the Chasidic groups Chabad and Breslov that have created the crazed Meshichist and Nach Nach movements.To me the thousands of people who forsake Eretz Yisroel, at the holiest time of the year for Ukraine is a tragedy,so to Chabads expansion while nursing a very dangerous Meshichist movement is a calamity for Yiddishkait.
Make no mistake I do believe that many inBreslov and Chabad mean well
Hopefully we will be able to have a constructive disscussion here.
Thank you again

mechi said...

Shmilu
"Hopefully we will be able to have a constructive disscussion here."
how can the discussion be constructive, if shmilu started it off like a idiot

Not a Harry said...

The Jewish Action article that Dixie yid so kindly posted a link to, is deserving of being posted here in its entirety להשלמת הענין. At that time he still harbored fantasies of being a classical Rebbe. I don't know if he is still under that illusion. His accomplishments not belittled or denigrated by acknowledging reality.

Pactura Observa said...

I can't believe that - he's coming from Y U ! He drank the coolaid clearly with a cute masters degree in education. He's a rebbe then as much as now.
Innovative clearly but not anything close to mainstream as would be a mashpia.

Chabad First said...

Dixie,
Firstly, thanks for posting the Rov's drashos on your site, it is how i first learned of his goodness.
As a self-admitted Chabad firster, I am surprised at the assumptions you made about the commenters. Surely you are aware that most commenters are not Chabadniks. Chabadniks would mind that YU is going away from cold Litvish?! What moon did you fall from?
This alone may cause one to question your judgment.
I am also quite surprised that you would suspect Chabadniks of being upset that the Rov is teaching at YU and not a Chabadnik. While less outlandish than your first assumption, it also requires much stretching of the imagination.
You are absolutely correct that Rav Weinberger is not a ktzara varucha type. You are correct that the litvak who cherry-picked those qoutes did the Rov a disservice, which you had to amend. The commenter who used the expression ktzara varucha was speaking of those particular statements that were over the top.
All in all, the Rov is a huge benefit to our dor, he inspires many, he is an oved HAshem b'emes, knows how to speak today's language, and is a blessing.

Big questions still remain about Rabbi Weinberger said...

Thanks to Dixie Yid for continuing the conversation here. Rabbi Weinberger is fortunate to have such counsel for his defense team.

DY produced a great post, as befitting a Chasid who views his Rebbe as "one of the great neshamos and minds of the generation", but some of the complaints brought up in the comments to the previous post glaringly remain. For example, he tries to just brush away the complaints about Rabbi Weinberger's extreme statements, by saying "Readers should also not lend much credence to the few examples of supposedly fantastical statements quoted by commenters to Reb Hirshel Tzig's post because they are based on a tiny sampling of introductory shiurim given during Rav Weinberger's first few weeks at YU.", as if they were inconsequential and minor. Well, FYI, they were neither. They expressed Rabbi Weinberger's negative and condescending, actually contemptuous as well, attitude toward non Chassidic Judaism, such as the type that RIETS, YU, Lakewood and so on represent, which he normally does a decent job at obscuring, but which come out on occasion.

Rabbi Weinberger is in the big leagues now, DY. Actually he was even before he joined the YU team, but especially so now. He must be careful with what he says (of course, if he actually believes those things, let him proclaim them loudly and proudly and and not in just to small groups of his Chassidim, so people in general should know what he stands for). He is not in the minor leagues anymore. He is not in a small town minor league arena.

You make it sound like he has been at YU for twenty years and someone found three questionable statements over that time span. Far from it. He is only there two months or so and already has a trail of worrisome statements dogging him. Perhaps those statements should be collected and shown to the YU hanhala for their opinions.

You are correct that "this is a clear departure from the past" - it is a radical departure from the RIETS tradition. However, your words that "introducing someone who teaches that Yiddishkeit and Torah must live in the heart as well as the mind is an innovation not consistent with the past." are very wrong. Of course Chasidim would like to believe that there is no deep ruchnius outside their movement, but it just ain't so.

I think YU did not do their due diligence before giving him his prestigious appointment, and didn't realize what was behind his nice facade. It is not too late for them to wake up. As a new hire, he should still be on probation.

Anonymous said...

Dixie Yid, you wrote that Rav Weinberger "feels bad for those who water their spiritual garden from only one wellspring because they lack the wide variety of nourishment available in the wellsprings of other tzadikim." How do you reconcile that view with the relationship and concept of a Rebbe/Chossid? Should Chassidim hop around from one rebbe to another? Isn't that relationship a central part of chassidus (both in Chabad and Chagas) The idea of a rebbe-less chossid seems a significant departure from the ways of chassidus all the way back to the Besht.

yehupitz said...

Yashar Koach Dixie Yid, and Hirshel for giving him the forum.

It is understandable, though not always in a good way, that Chabad Firsters feel skeptical of RMW and his approach. While it first comes across as classical Lubavitch chauvinism, and it is that for many Chabad skeptics, there is something legitimate to the skepticism; For over 215 years, Chabad has seen itself, and promoted itself, as being a fully self-contained system of hashkofas hachayim, believing itself to fall under the statement "Kol Hamosif Goreia". This has certainly been the Shpitz Chabad view for over 90 years. So even for the most open-minded Chassidim, old habits die hard. It's easy, and not unreasonable, to claim that if the FR saw value in Rav Kook's thought, he would have included those elements himself. There's no need to go into foreign vineyards etc.

Having said that, this would only apply to Geza Shpitz Chabadskers. Nobody else need belong to that school of thought, certainly not at YU which values diversity of hashkafic approaches on the hanhala and curriculum. The introduction of Chabad and other pnimius branches of Yahadus can only help.

Also on the Chabad front, let's face it: The Chabad world has done many things in the past 30 years that make even non-haters stay away from Chassidus. If one talented mashpia can give over the teachings of the Baal Hatanya in a context and atmosphere that doesn't have people running in fear from the naarishkeit, tavo alav bracha.

On the general front, he can do nothing but good for YU. YU is a smorgasbord anyway. Those who are not interested won't go. Those who want to remain litvakes with blood as cold as a Volozhin winter (to quote Richard Joel) will be able to do so. Those who "get" what he's saying when it comes to Rava-Abbaye and Tefillin etc. will do just fine.

Except for the Shpitz Chabad concerns, there is no longer any group that seriously believes in purity and non-adulteration of hashkafa or minhag anymore. Everyone, except maybe for the 12 yekkes left, is borrowing an idea from here and a little minhag from there. Provided the amalgamation doesn't get out of hand, using Potter Stewart's pliable definition for "out-of-hand", everybody will be fine.

As for him being a Rebbe, yes he does "prav" a little bit. But only with the voice inflection while speaking. Otherwise he has no illusions about himself, and doesn't try to fool anyone either. So for a model of leadership, he chose the general style of the Chassidic Rebbe. Nu nu. He's honest about his goals, so there's nothing to fear.

I for one wish him the best.



DixieYid (يهودي جنوبي) said...

Anon 2:32, Chabad First,

i suggested the commenters who made the Brisker purity comments were probably Chabad Firsters which is probably true given our venue. But that's not the same as, and doesn't mean that I was saying Chabad Firsters are more likely to be opposing to YU's decision. I wasn't addressing Chabad Firsters, but rather, the commenters. If most even Chabad Firsters would be supportive, then great!

Not a Harry,

it seems like you missed the point of that last section of the article, In the larger context of explaining what aspects of chassidus were translatable into a modern orthodox community, he couldn't leave out the rebbe part so he addressed to what extent he was able to serve in a "k'ein rebbe." I think it's pushing it to mischaractarize that as "harboring fantasies of being a classical rebbe."

Big questions,

See para. 4.

Anon 6:00,

See my earlier comment at 2:26.

Yehupitz, Chabad First, Not a Harry,

Thank you so much for your positive and thoughtful comments!!!

shimon said...

Rabbi Weinberger is a good man.Basically he is a sheep dressed in Chasidic wolves clothing.
I don't think he"ll rock the boat.
Y.U boys are not about to grow long beards, sport peyos and go on "velfer" and "shtootishe hilf".
Actually, Rabbi Weinberger is a nice Y.U alumnus, who I believe, has not been a student in any Chareidi/Chasidic yeshiva .His natural place is Y.U.
R'Avrohom Schorr a talmid of Torah Vodaas who became a fiery Gerer chosid who all the black trimmings, including the purim style "hoizen in zocken" circled the Chasidic world, teaching or having a position in Ger, Skver, Nitra, Tosh, until a light went on, and a realization came that even with a beard to the knees, peyos to sweep floors with, you cannot escape where you really came from and belong.Thank God someone opened a shul for him in Flatbush, his home turf, Tora Vodaas style and he is immensely successful.
It usually does not happen with Lubavitcher gevoreners, probably because people who are attracted to Lubavitch with all it's weirdness and cult type practices have to many "issues" and are only comfortable in a cult like setting

Axelrod said...

Shimon
"R'Avrohom Schorr a talmid of Torah Vodaas who became a fiery Gerer chosid who all the black trimmings, including the purim style "hoizen in zocken" circled the Chasidic world, teaching or having a position in Ger, Skver, Nitra, Tosh, until a light went on, and a realization came that even with a beard to the knees, peyos to sweep floors with, you cannot escape where you really came from and belong.Thank God someone opened a shul for him in Flatbush, his home turf, Tora Vodaas style and he is immensely successful."
Avrohom Shor is a cheap opportunist, he is lately getting away from Chasidus and more in to troras hgra and ramchal.You can see in his torahs of the last 5 years.You can call him successful, but that does not mean true and emes...
Reb Godel the mashpia of Ger who lived and died as a Gerer purist, is in my eyes successful and emes. I am not in to the popular success arena, like Frand and the Megulach magid, I forgot his name.

Amsterdamer said...

Dixie
Why is this chabad discussion?
Let Wienberg talk and talk, and let Chabad out of this,
Rav Kooks torah is nice fluffy hot air, his Oirois hateshuvah, is no Igeres Hateshuvah of the alter Rebbe which is a classic based on Rishonim,Kabala,chasidus.
Which only the Alte Rebbe can do.
Rav kook is not in this arena at all, its closer to breslover stuff...

yidel said...

Dixie Yid, I follow your blog almost daily and always agree with you. However, having read Reb Hirshel Tzig's recent post and those people who commented on it, I must respectfully disagree with your position to, "intentionally look past the profound bizui talmidei chachamim". I feel that I must stand here and be moche the azus, the zilzul talmidei chachamim,and the consequent chillul Hashem caused by it. People hide behind the anonymous veil of the blogs/internet and are moireh heter to say whatever they want. I want to remind all of them of the posuk, "Hanistaros L'Hashem Elokeinu". Let them keep that in mind before they hit the send button posting their venomous and vile comments against our Rabbonim, Talmidei Chachomim and Gedolim.
In the meantime, Dixie Yid, Please continue your Avodas Hakodesh Litovas Haklal! Ashrecha!

Pactura Observa said...

Amsterdamer, go learn R Kook before you talk about it. There, I just found something for you to do.
Schorr is an oppurtunist, correct.

DixieYid (يهودي جنوبي) said...

Shimon, Axelrod, Amsterdamer, Metaher,

So sad.

Yidel,

You're of course correct, but as Rav Weinberger always quotes from Rav Kook in Arpelei Tohar, "The pure righteous do not complain of the dark, but increase the light; they do not complain of evil, but increase justice; they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith; they do not complain of ignorance, but increase wisdom."

Amsterdamer said...

Mrtahar
you are talking to a person that went thru a lot of Rav Kook too many times..his teshuvas, Hashkofa,all biographies, have no problem with his Ahavas Yisroel, have no problem with his Ahavas Eretz Yisroel.
You can learn peshat in his words, as you can learn peshat in Arushes stuff too..
but at the end of the day, it is what it is..
Plus I dont like stuff that is not based on sources,His stuff is based on his Hergashim, which are nice and beautifully written,but in my small pea brain its fluff. I am not saying that Rav Kook is not at home on the sources, but he decided that he will be a Rishon himself.... make his own path...

Anonymous said...

Follow all "wellsprings"=follow none... you can pick and choose ultimately serving yourself, no kabolas ol, feel comfortable do it....

The shita (certainly in learning) of the Rav is much closer (there is much more that unites than divides)to Chabad.
The Rebbe once wrote to the talmidim of the Rav who asked the Rebbe to write for a kovetz hayovel: That it's "Minhog Beis Horav" not write for these things. 2. They may [re]print from the Rebbe's torah. 3. I'm a great yedid beyedidus with the Rav much more than you can imagine.
{I say the gky"k and hopefully will be publicized one day}...

Y"T Sheiny

Amsterdamer said...

Dixie Yid
"The pure righteous do not complain of the dark, but increase the light; they do not complain of evil, but increase justice; they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith; they do not complain of ignorance, but increase wisdom."
its a nice sound bite,and you see Rav Kooks talent in it, but definitely not a response

Axelrod said...

shimon
"It usually does not happen with Lubavitcher gevoreners, probably because people who are attracted to Lubavitch with all it's weirdness and cult type practices have to many "issues" and are only comfortable in a cult like setting"
what does not happen, with Lubavicher? they don't leave Lubavich, like Schorr left Ger?
The reason, because Chabad is a cult, and Ger is not a cult.Chabad is Weird, Ger is not Weird?
Did you see that? or something else?

shimon said...

"Avrohom Shor is a cheap opportunist, "

What a cheap shot from a nobody.
Actually he is a real talmid chochom, an iluy, a boki niflo and a wonderful magid shiur, bechol miktzo'os hatorah.
I say this despite not being a fan in the least of
כאסידעס and כאסידעם , in part because of nobodies like you.He does not even get a ruv by you while every two bit shliach who cannot read ivreh is הרה‟ג והרה‟ח.

shimon said...

" I am not in to the popular success arena, like Frand and the Megulach magid, I forgot his name."

Tell me, does anybody care which arena you, an anonymous badmouthing internet fool, is in?

The real reason you are not anywhere but anonymously on the internet is because nobody would ever listen to anything you had to say in person.
"Frand" and " Megulach magid", talk Torah to many thousands.
You talk to yourself

Rav Schorr info said...

"R'Avrohom Schorr a talmid of Torah Vodaas who became a fiery Gerer chosid ......all the black trimmings....circled the Chasidic world......you cannot escape where you really came from and belong.Thank God someone opened a shul for him in Flatbush, his home turf, Tora Vodaas style and he is immensely successful."

Rav Avraham Schorr is not just 'a talmid of Torah Vodaas'. He is a son of a Rosh Yeshiva there, Rav Gedalia Schorr z'l, who was close to Gerrer Chassidus. His Rebbetzin (mother of Rav Avrohom shlita) was from a Gerrer family. So Rav Avrohom becoming a Gerrer Chossid was not as great of a jump as you make it to be.

With regard to his moving around for a while, some people do better at the helm of their own institution than as employees of others, especially if they know more and better than their boss.

No special treatment for Rabbi Moshe Weinberger here said...

At this site various derochim and gedolim are discussed. But if one raises very important and legitimate issues about Rabbi Moshe Weinberger there is an attempt to stifle them by labeling it "profound bizui talmidei chachamim". That is not appropriate. He doesn't get kid gloves treatment any more.

Not a Harry said...

R kook said that to deflect criticism of the things he did, as an attempt at taking the high ground.

Besides, why are you so insecure about what anonymous blog commenter think of your Rebbe that he needs such a chabad style defence?

Pactura Observa said...

Amsterdamer, spare me. I am not your shrink.
I will no longer refer to people by name, but my "hergesh" is save eclecticism for the zonos.

Hiemishe Bocher said...

Rav schorr
"than as employees of others, especially if they know more and better than their boss."
I was in of the yeshivas that was menahal,
after 2 months, the boys saw his bluff....

Axelrod said...

shimon
"What a cheap shot from a nobody.
Actually he is a real talmid chochom, an iluy, a boki niflo and a wonderful magid shiur, bechol miktzo'os hatorah."
he still can be a opportunist..

Axelrod said...

Shimon
"
כאסידעס and כאסידעם , in part because of nobodies like you.He does not even get a ruv by you while every two bit shliach who cannot read ivreh is הרה‟ג והרה‟ח."
you don't know me,and I dong get your point over here.. you never saw me using this titles...

What the Rebbe really wants said...

I am no spokesperson for Chabad, but I believe the Rebbe has nachas from what R' Weinberger is doing.

Most shluchim think that their tachlis is spreading yiddishkeit. That may be, but the Rebbe writes in several places (see mafteichos to Igros and numerous places in L"S how critical hafatzas hamayanus is critical to a chassid) that Hafatzas Hamayanus is out ikar shlichus (hafatzas hayahadus is only b/c there's a fire burning...).

How many Lubavitchers could say that they are doing in this inyan??? That R' Weinberger is teaching Tanya and Likkutei Torah (and Maamar Haichaltzu... etc.) is no doubt giving the Rebbe huge nachas (IMHO).

Halvai bei unz gezugt

Axelrod said...

Shimon
""Frand" and " Megulach magid", talk Torah to many thousands.
You talk to yourself"
Does the Megulech give a Daf Yomi shiur...
being popular is not a insult, why are you mad at me for using that phrase on this 2 magidim... its not a insult...

Axelrod said...

Shimon
"every two bit shliach who cannot read ivreh is הרה‟ג והרה‟ח."
is the title Goan used on people that know no IVRI..
Have you seen it lately??
it would be interesting if you can post it

Ben Eliezer said...

@Anon 11AM--

The mayneh you speak of has already been publicized in its original form.

See here, pages 19-20:
http://www.teshura.com/teshurapdf/Krinsky-Schmukler%20-%20Elul%2015%205770.pdf

DixieYid (يهودي جنوبي) said...

Amsterdamer,

Everything Rav Kook writes is based on Chazal, rishonim, Zohar/Ari, and chassidus. Try learning it with Rav Weinberger's shiurim which will start to give you a sense of how deeply Rav Kook's writings are rooted in long-standing pnimius Hatorah.

In terms of the quote, while I undestand it's difficult for anyone to rise above their own limited perspective, I recommend considering the posibility that Rav Kook said what he said because he believes it.

Anon 11:00,

See my earlier comment at 2:26.

Not a Harry,

See introductory paragraphs.

What the Rebbe Really Wants,

Beautiful!

What the Rebbe really wants said...

Just L'hair, a lot of R' Kook's teachings are based in Chabad Chassidus. I believe I read something to that effect in R' Zevin's Ishim V'shitos (two decades ago... may be mistaken).

I am NOT saying that the Rebbe or the Frierdige Rebbe condoned his positions or Toros, just saying that his mekoros are often found in teachings of Chabad (esp. Likkutei Torah).

rock on! said...

http://www.collive.com/pics//27732_769_130491884124207.jpg

duvy said...

"I am no spokesperson for Chabad, but I believe the Rebbe has nachas from what R' Weinberger is doing. "

Why is everything "Rebbe centered"?

Let's say the Rebbe would not agree, is Rabbi Weinberger or Y.U "meshibed" to listen?
Lubavitchers, there is a BIG world out there that has no interest what they say in 770

duvy said...

What the Rebbe really wants,
"Just L'hair, a lot of R' Kook's teachings are based in Chabad Chassidus. I believe I read something to that effect in R' Zevin's Ishim V'shitos (two decades ago... may be mistaken)."

When was the last time you ever learned through anything Rav Kook said??
You are such a typical narrow minded Lubavitcher.You would not recognize anything Rav Kook said, even if it hit you over the head.
I"m prepared to bet that you have no idea what Rav Kooks seforim are even called.

Just "lehoi'r"......



duvy said...

"I am NOT saying that the Rebbe or the Frierdige Rebbe condoned his positions or Toros, just saying that his mekoros are often found in teachings of Chabad (esp. Likkutei Torah)."

What are you saying?
Would anyone care what you have to say, even if you were saying?
Rav Kook, does not need Chabads haskomeh.
Just lehoir.....

Amsterdamer said...

What the Rebbe
Just L'hair, a lot of R' Kook's teachings are based in Chabad Chassidus. I believe I read something to that effect in R' Zevin's Ishim V'shitos (two decades ago... may be mistaken). "
Rav Zevin writes, it felt like I was listening to a Mamar... he meant the atmosphere.

Amsterdamer said...

Dixie
"Everything Rav Kook writes is based on Chazal, rishonim, Zohar/Ari, and chassidus."
I will check on your site

What the Rebbe really wants said...

Amsterdamer:

I wasn't referring to that. I was referring to what I had once read that Rav Kook would learn Likkutei Torah every Friday, pacing back and forth in his house. I may have read it somewhere other than Ishim V'shitos.

duvy -

I'm not offended at your spiteful, twisted, and dumb comments, as you are a real nebach. My compassion goes out to you. I thank Hashem daily that I was zoche to become a Chassid and to learn chassidus. My whole yiddishkait and connection to Hashem is deeper. I feel bad for people like you.

[I see that you are at least partially kosher, as you are maalei gaira -- you simply regurgitate your comments on each of Tzig's posts. Your comments are so predictable, I bet you just press "repeat" for each comment. There's still hope for you.]

Agav, you lost your bet, as I spent two months in a hesder yeshiva (15 years ago) and would also often go to Merkaz HaRav on Thursday nights, and I spent a fair amount of time learning R' Kooks seforim (both halacha and hashkafa) at the time.

I will not respond to the subtance of your comments because:
1. Hamisabek im menuval...
2. Your brain is too twisted to follow a logical argument. And from your repeated comments on this website, it's apparent that your sinah towards Lubavitch is emotion based. Arguing logic with emotion is a complete waste of time.

May Hashem open your eyes.

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger's grotesque caricatures of the Litvish world are way overboard and offensive said...

Rabbi Weinberger is a man of great ability and I listen to some of his shiurim and am duly impressed. But I am very bothered by the extremely broad strokes he uses to portray things. In particular, the grotesque caricature he paints of the Litvish world, as if it is totally focused on the negative, is untrue to the point of repulsiveness. Okay, maybe he throws in a small disclaimer occasionally, but that does not take away from the giant, extremely negative images, that he plants in his listeners.

This can be seen clearly in some of his recent talks at YU, such as the one from earlier this week at http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/800749/Rabbi_Moshe_Weinberger/Toras_HaBaal_Shem_Tov_%289%29_Speaking_of_Our_Greatness

Leaving aside the fact that RIETS has been dominated by Brisker drochim as opposed to Litvish mussar ways, he and the text he is teaching from are using outdated stereotypes. Those that aware of the great influence of gedolim from the Yeshiva world like Rav Shlomo Wolbe zt"l, and ילחט"א Rav A.L. Steinman shlita, in our time, for two prominent examples, will know that such teachings are very different from what they spread to their many talmidim and followers. Yet Rabbi Weinberger still continues to paint the Litvish world in old, dark, and foreboding colors, that are not fitting.

To quote Dixie Yid before, "as Rav Weinberger always quotes from Rav Kook in Arpelei Tohar, "The pure righteous do not complain of the dark, but increase the light; they do not complain of evil, but increase justice; they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith; they do not complain of ignorance, but increase wisdom."

So why is Rabbi Weinberger spending so much time knocking the Litvish and non Chassidic worlds in his classes on Chassidus?

Where is Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet here? said...

Is Rabbi Aaron Rakefet aware of these big debates here re Rabbi Weinberger? Perhaps HT can get him to weigh in here about whether his Rebbe the Rav was a chasid like some commenters seem to think, and to comment on how great a change it is historically for RIETS to have the first Chassidic mashgiach in its history. We haven't heard from him in a while here.

In order to comment with some authority he should first listen to some of the talks in question, or at least hear about them, where comments such as 'there would be no one putting on tefillin today if not for the Baal Shem Tov', 'There is no yeridas hadoros by Chassidim, the Lubliner and Riminover have nothing to be ashamed of legabei Abaye VeRava', 'When the Berdichever died all the tefillin became posul', 'The Chozeh could see two hundred miles ahead of him', and so on.

Question said...

Anyone know how R. Weinberger marks Yud tes Kislev?

Big farbrengen at Aish Kodesh? YU?

Sheker sheker tirdoif said...

Where is Rakefet

"In order to comment with some authority he should first listen to some of the talks in question, or at least hear about them, where comments such as 'there would be no one putting on tefillin today if not for the Baal Shem Tov', 'There is no yeridas hadoros by Chassidim, the Lubliner and Riminover have nothing to be ashamed of legabei Abaye VeRava', 'When the Berdichever died all the tefillin became posul', 'The Chozeh could see two hundred miles ahead of him', and so on."
are these statements then all kefira that they learn in the textbook in YU Hischool and in college.. I hate this Kanuas sheloi bimkoimoi

duvy said...

I really hope that. the statements. claimed to have been made by rabbi weinberger are misquotes
Very color war

What were they thinking? said...

Teives 5773

An imaginary conversation that may resemble what once happened.

RIETS menahel to administrator: We need some new talent here to liven up the place and stay competitive.
Admin: Any ideas?

Menahel: Rabbi Reichman suggested Rabbi Moshe Weinberger for new mashgiach. He is Chassidic, but he is an alumnus.

Admin: If it will help us stay competitive, go for it. Who cares about ideology anymore these days, Chassidic, Brisker, Litvish, aren't they all the same anyway? As long as he is not Satmar.

R. Moshe Weinberger to Rabbinic advisor: Guess what? You wouldn't believe this. YU just called me and said they want me to be mashgiach there. What should I tell them?

Advisor: If it will help in hafotzos hamayanos, spreading Chassidus, go for it. Is YU that desperate? Have they run out of non Chassidic talent already? Their well has run dry? It will be historic, imagine, converting YU to Chassidus, who ever dreamed such a thing would happen, and they are running after you too? Wow. Times sure have changed. Just make sure to get good terms of employment.

YU admin thinking: We are getting a star. If he throws in some Chassidus here and there, who will notice or care anyway.

RMW: We are getting a great platform to spread Chassidus.

Jewish ABC regulation said...

What is all the complaining here about anti Litvish statements? You are allowed to say such things, like you can make jokes about WASPS. You just can't make jokes about certain minorities. But those minorities can make them about whites. We know that double standard.

The Jewish version of it is that you can make jokes and question ABC, anyone but Chasidim.

not a harry said...

the jewish action article has a picture of r weinberger wearing a blue colored bekitche. besides for purim, wearing such a thing in public is a fashion statement "i am a rebbe" or want to be. does he still wear it?

itchiemayer said...

In Rabbi David Holzer's book about the Rav, Rav Soloveitchik, he quotes the Rav regarding the Rav's meeting with Rav Kook in 1935 (I think). It notes that the Rav wasn't so impressed by Rav Kook, but was impressed with his son.

Rashash said...

Don't embarras breslov please

Rashash said...

A thinking person complaining and revealing אמת is more hashuv than RMW 's sweet candy talk

Rashash said...

The real r kook was terribly censored by his son and his real ideas are only coming out now... Not the santa claus rmw and rav aviner make of him

Rashash said...

Rabbi frand yes, the MM has 5 deashot he repeats all the time

Rashash said...

See 9 and half mystics (weiner) to see what the rebbi held of r kook

Rashash said...

In the avinoam rozner biography of r kook he shows Rayhk understood that he was a failure at the end of his life

Rashash said...

What... Happy is your חלק that u have a rebbi... Not like RMW who tries to dance at all the weddings

Ostrava said...

Does anyone who doesn't think they're a Rebbe wear blue flowers on their ibitze?

DixieYid (يهودي جنوبي) said...

Caricatures 1:58,

See para. 2. In addition, it is apparant that your charactarization of Rav Weinberger as painting a "grotesque caricature of the Litvish world" is based on simple ignorance. Check out Rav Weinberger's drasha from this past Shabbos on my blog for just one example where he quotes Reb Yerucham Levovitz, the Mirer Mashgiach. It also seems that you did not listen to more than the first couple of minutes of the shiur you linked to in which Rav Weinberger was up to a part of the Stuchiner's sefer in which he explained certain concepts in chassidus by comparing and contrasting them with classic mussar seforim. It is baffling that a person could have such a jaundiced outlook on life that he would misinterpret a "compare and contrast" explanation of fundamentals of chassidus in an "Introduction to Toras Habaal Shem Tov" shiur in such a way.

Where is,

See para. 3.

Question,

I don't know what else he does, but last year for Yud Tes Kislev, he taught a ma'amar (I don't remember who it was by) about the profound significance of Yud Tes Kislev for the entire hishtalshelus of Toras Habaal Shem Tov.

Duvy,

See para. 3.

Not a Harry,

See para. 7.

Rashash, Ostrava,

Such mochin d'katnus. One doesn't know where to begin. See also, para. 7.

Marshoo said...


'"in Rabbi David Holzer's book about the Rav, Rav Soloveitchik, he quotes the Rav regarding the Rav's meeting with Rav Kook in 1935 (I think). It notes that the Rav wasn't so impressed by Rav Kook, but was impressed with his son."
this book makes the Rav look very bad, but since he was a ilu and as usual it is hard for them to stick to a straight line....we all forgive him, but Holtzer made a First Rate bizayon talmid chochem...

Tomim T said...

On the Machlokes in EY
http://thepartialview.blogspot.com/2013/11/rav-matisyahu-solomon-calls-on-american.html

Not a Harry said...

As one of the commenters correctly pointed out, Rav Weinberger has never conducted himself or called himself a "Rebbe."

Patently false, Dixie. Sorry.

I'm not condemning him for doing so, but let's stick to facts.

Meat is very versatile. In kroit it's cholepches, in dough it's kreplach and in a fablimte bekishe it's a rebbe...

Ostrava said...

Your average Rebbe never declared themselves as such. They just put themselves in that default position and fulfill the role. Rabbi weinberger has done the same thing and then some.

I love Rav Weinberger said...

As Carlebach said "Lord get me high" that is why you go to "holy smokes"

Anonymous said...

You should watch what you say about RAS. He has a photographic memory and helps out a lot of individuals; besides for speaking for Seminary girls.

Also, in Flatbush, he was (from) the only ones vocal about the missionaries moving into town.

One must give him a lot of credit. Such a koyach/keyley and spends most of his energies lecturing balhabatim....

Pooh Pooh Pooh

Real Litvish positive Yiddishkeit said...

At the Agudah convention a few days ago, Rabbi Doniel Frank related that Rav Steinman was asked, what do about epidemic chutzpah among youth? Rav Steinman responded לא חוצפה - לחץ, meaning it is not a problem of chutzpah, the kids are just under too much pressure.

He (R. Frank) was nispael from the greatness of Rav Steinman to teitch the inyan up in just a few choice words, and defuse the problem, revealing that it wasn't as dire as the questioner thought.

That is the greatness of a real Litvish gadol.

Rabbi Weinberger - is that called being always negative in your book? How wrong it is to portray Litvish Yiddishkeit as being so negative and shortsighted like you do!

Rav Steinman info said...

The story of Rav Steinman mentioned above can be seen related in the first few minutes of http://vimeo.com/79900868

Manhattan is the major leagues, it is tough said...

The Manhattan spotlight can be harsh. Sometimes a player comes up to the major leagues, doesn't perform well, and is sent back to the minors for additional seasoning. Manhattan is a stage for the whole world, it is not like a shtieble on Long Island.

DixieYid (يهودي جنوبي) said...

All,

Sing a niggun. Ayin sham.

Lost in the garden said...

You guys learn R shalom arush / Lazer Brody books?

Yasher koach Rabbi Weinberger for saying openly what other Chassidim hide said...

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/797601/Rabbi_Moshe_Weinberger/Toras_HaBa'al_Shem_Tov_(2)

Around 51 minute mark, Rabbi Moshe Weinberger says

If there is someone who can give a strong krechtz of teshuvah or who puts on tefillin today it is due to the Baal Shem Tov

He then continues to say

Chassidim don't walk around saying such things openly nowadays. You can lose friends that way.

So the question is, why is Rabbi Weinberger saying such things openly in his classes at YU?

We have to salute him for stating openly what others hide!

Why the belittling of scholarship related to Jewish history? said...

http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/798645/Rabbi_Moshe_Weinberger/(3)_Toras_HaBa'al_Shem_Tov

At around 33 minutes he discusses a legend that Aristotle met Yirimyahu in Mitzrayim. He says that it is probably not true, even though it could have happened historically, in terms of them both being alive at the same time. Then he says "I'm sure there are some professors that spent their whole lives writing meaningless articles about such things".

I don't understand why he calls such scholarship meaningless. What is wrong with such an article, especially as it has a connection to Jewish history? Why is there such a belittling of such scholarship, especially as YU is Torah Umadda after all, doesn't that fit into that category? It seems way over the top to me.

Anonymous said...

I must live on another planet. Torah is multi-faceted. Apart from Halacha, does it matter to ANYBODY what derech a person takes. The aim is to move closer to Hashem. הרבה דרכים למקום is a basic tenet which can't be expunged. Yes, it's good that people feel strongly about their Derech and want you to feel just as convinced, but it's really bad when they can't accept that you may have chosen a different emphasis. Let's worry about the real things that matter: assimilation, fraud, and sex crimes.

Potsdam said...

Pitput 1 ditch lubavitcher, if that's how you feel. 2 in that order?

Challenge said...

Looks like Dixie gave up on being mekarev us

JJJ said...

Which other geblimte bekishe can quote R.Kook,Baal Hatanya and Steven Stills?

Anonymous said...

To Rabbi Weinberger: יפוצו מעיינותיך חוצה! און אלע שונאים זאלען פלאצען!

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger background said...

Rabbi Weinberger has an Ungvar connection like you HT. His father is from Ungvar and mother from Munkatch. A hymishe Yid.

A photo of him from before he became a big Rebbe, from the Jewish Renaissance Center days, can be seen on p.20 of a Hamodia magazine feature posted at http://www.rabbikirzner.org/user/uploads/files/NYmagFeature080521.pdf

Two American Rebbes in old picture said...

Here is another old photo of him, Rav Moshe Weinberger with his talmid from Ezra acadamy in Queens, the Admor from Richmond, Virginia, R. Yitzchak Kolakowski.

http://www.josephkolakowski.com/me_with_rebbe_closeup.JPG

It started a while ago said...

This Rabbi Moshe Weinberger controversy started a while back I see, see debate at http://www.ishtetl.com/index.php?/topic/3370-more-on-the-modernity-of-yus-orthodoxy/