Kutshma Vs. Kasket

It's cold out, at least in my part of the world, and people are trying to keep warm. They say that the most important body part as far as keeping you warm is concerned is the head. Hence the sight of joggers wearing shorts in sub-zero temperatures; they're wearing warm hats and that's all they need. Even amongst Chassidim who are very Makpid on every aspect of the Levush and continue B'derech Avoiseynu still there's that need to keep warm, and the hard-brimmed hat doesn't cut, even with earmuffs. So, sometime years back the Kutshma was added to the allowed articles of clothing, although it was seemingly with certain restrictions. If you can't get a good picture of the kutshma in your head think Afghan President Hamid Karzai and that hat he wears.


(Man wearing Kutshma)

When I was growing up there was an unofficial rule about Kutshmas, namely that only men in their mid-30's and older could wear them; if you were younger you either froze your head off, had your hat fly around town, or wore those earmuffs with that darn string across your forehead. You just never saw a Frisher Yungerman wearing a Kutshma, although I'm not quite sure why. I guess creature comforts like warm head and ears are for older adults only. (The same could be said about the Homburg hat; you didn't see 20-somethings wearing them (except the Viener on Shabbos) and you definitely didn't wear it if you were a Bocher! ) Things have changed somewhat over the last generation; You now see Yungeleit in their 20's wearing Kutshmas as soon as the first cold weather hits, almost as if they were waiting for it and couldn't wait to change headgear. Maybe they're somewhat self-conscious of their everyday hat. Actually I know that some of them are, otherwise they'd never wear that awful-looking hat if they weren't forced too. Recently, the BaalBatishe ones have discovered the fur Kutshma, sort of what the guy in the first picture is wearing. I'm not sure what the idea is behind it; maybe it's supposed to match the wife's coat?



Which brings me to my dilemma.

I wear a kasket, like the one pictured here. I wear it all the time during the winter, besides for Shabbos obviously. I'm also quite self-conscious, I like it when I fit in somewhat, and I don't like to be the center of attention. It seems to me that I get much more attention than I should be with my Kasket. I get comments and looks from friends and acquaintances when they see me wearing it the first time, and I don't like that. I see young guys, some with Aroopgelozte Payos, many younger than me, wearing that blasted fur Kutshama with the foot high point and I wonder why. Why is it OK for him to wear what he wears but my Kasket- which is much more of a Yiddishe Levush, since Jews have been wearing them for over a century at least - that's not. The Kutshma is a recent invention, although in Yerushalayim they have a similar one which the "Toldos" wear. But that's a more rounded one, without the split and high point. So, if it's a recent levush why then are we allowed to wear it, and why is that considered more acceptable than the traditional Kasket?!


(The Kasket in question)

Some of the pictures of hats were provided by: Werner Cohn

"ואני"

(A cheder in the Karpaten, 1937, by R Vishniac)

Parshas VaYechi (or Parshas "Yechi" by the Meshichisten) brings back fond memories of years gone by in Spinka Cheyder, where all week long we'd study and review the VaAni, as well as the Birchas Yakkov. For those who may not have merited to have a "real" Jewish education I'll elaborate. As you know the Posuk ואני speaks of when our Patriarch Jacob rises from his bed to bless his grandsons, Menasseh and Efraim, the sons of Joseph. Upon blessing him Jacob begs forgiveness from his son Joseph for asking him to take him back to the Land of Israel when he passes on. The reason he needs to ask forgiveness is because Joseph's mother - the Matriarch Rachel - did not merit burial in the Cave of the Patriarchs as did her sister Leah, rather she was buried at the side of road in what was later to become known as Rachel's Tomb in BethLehem. The song is a combination of the actual text, as well as quotes from Rashi and Midrashim that explain the whole monologue that Jacob said to Joseph. The whole thing is sung with a nice tune that once taught will remain with you forever. It also incorporates the Grobbe Finger quite alot, IIRC.

My only question is why so much effort and time is put into teaching and reviewing the VaAni and Birchas Yaakov with the Niggun etc. The same may go for Akdomus, why the need to spend 3 weeks learning the Teitsh?


(Munkacser Yinglech, R Vishniac)

Here's what I remember:

ואני - און איך יעקב
כאטש איך בין דיך מטריח מיט מיין קבורה
אבער מיט דיין מאמע רחל האב איך נישט אזוי געטוהן

נאר ווי אזוי דען?
בבואי - ווען איך געקומען
מפדן - פון פדן ארם
מתה - איז געשטארבען
עלי - אויף מיר
רחל - דיין מאמע רחל

מיינסטו דאך אז ס'איז געווען א ווייטע וועג
זאג איך דיר ניין!
בעוד כברת ארץ
ס'איז געווען אן אקער לאנד
לבוא - צו קומען
אפרתה - קיין אפרת
מיינסטו דאך אז ס'איז געווען א נאסע צייט
זאג איך דיר ניין!
ס'איז געווען א טרוקענע צייט
די ערד איז געווען געלעכערט אזוי ווי א זיפ
ואקברה שם - און איך האב דארט באערדיגט
בדרך אפרת- אויפ'ן וועג קיין אפרת
הוא בית לחם - דאס איז בית לחם

ווייל ווען נבוזראדן הרשע וועט נעמען די אידן אין גלות אריין
וועלען די אידן דורכגיין רחל'ס קבר
-------------------- (חסר קצת) וועט רחל ארויסגיין פון איר קבר
און וויינען און בעטן צום הייליגן באשעפער
----------- חסר
יש שכר לפעולתך - ס'איז דא א באלוינונג פאר דיין ארבעט
ושבו בנים לגבולם - און דיינע קינדער וועלן זיך אומקערן צו זייער גרעניץ קיין ארץ ישרא-ל

Lessons from ספינקא (modified)

I guess that somehow yesterday's developments in Los Angeles were brought about by my writing about them just the day before. Commenter "snag10" in yesterday's comments section called him a sc--b-g. Very nice of him to say that, I guess only those darn Chassidim do this, right? The truth is I was thinking how I should be affected by that story, and I feel that I am affected, even after all those years, since I still have some connection to them. After all Girseh DeYankusa is no small matter, and it was under those auspices that I got that Girseh, some of it that'll never leave me. Which brings me to another point; What's with the Koach HaPoel BeNif'ol? How was my Yiras Shomayim affected by that money, and was my education the equivalent of all those Mosdos in the Holy Land that are Korea LeBaal (like the Kanoyim like to say,) and is Yesudosoy BeHarrerei Not Kodesh? Can I somehow blame my lack thereof on this? There is a Vort to that effect from the Rebbe Reb Meilech zt"l, about children not turning out "Vi es darf tzu zein" because they were raised on Gegazelete Gelt. I realize this isn't Gegazelt, since it's only "evasive Gelt," but still, altz "Dina DeMalchusa Dina" it must have some kind of adverse affect, no? But I digress.

They've come a long way since I was there. When I left after Kitah Tes they were experiencing a downturn in the Mesivta, and the Yeshivah Gedola. I had already left the Cheder building so I don't quite remember what was happening on that end. Today's highly successful Kolel was getting underway, it had a few good years under its belt, but nothing like it is today, the largest (I think) Kolel in Boro Park, no small accomplishment. The Cheder happened to have a very good name when I was there, with an emphasis on instilling good Middos in students, albeit by using the stick sometimes, - OK, more than sometimes - but still, that was the idea, to raise good, well-behaved kids. They did succeed to some degree; we weren't the Vilde Chayes that kids from other Chadorim were known to be (that's me as a Spinka Cheder Yingel talking, not as a Lubavitcher) yet we were almost as "Chassidish." In camp we played Baseball - at least we tried, and we went on all kinds of trips, including "major trips" to places like Dorney Park and HersheyPark. Yet we still spoke Yiddish while playing ball (which is a good thing) and had a serious learning schedule in camp too, complete with Rebbes - the same as all year round(!), wearing Chalatlech, and close to 6 hours of learning. Then, some years later, things began to happen that signaled the end of the relatively normal and easy going days in Mosdos Spinka, they realized they weren't "frim/chassidish" enough.

You may ask: "Why do you go on about what they did in class and camp, why is this pertinent to our discussion about current events?" It's very simple, friends, it's all part of the same problem, and all are symptoms of the same disease. It's no coincidence that as soon as the supposed "frumkeit" set in so did the Dreidlach and funny business. The times coincide with the passing of Reb Yankev Yosef, so maybe that's the reason for the changes, I don't know, I was a clueless kid, really clueless. At first they discovered new dinim in Shulchan Aruch like prohibiting live music in Camp. For years we had the Stoliner Kol Rinah band (lead by Mr Klitnick on Alto Sax!) play in camp on Motzoei Shabbos Nachamu as well as the last night of camp at the banquet, then one year it was decided that we had a churban beis hamikdosh and were forbidden to dance to live music. There are many more examples, but I don't want to bore you all with details. The clientelle of the Yeshivah soon started to change as well. Gone was the Boro Park kid that had a Hungarian/Chassidishe background, and in came the "Tchoolent Tup," and the Tchoolent Tup likes things his way. At the same time all kinds of shvitzers started to work at the offices there, and as Gaboyim there, and that spelled trouble. These characters started to bring to Spinka methods they learned in other circles, and the result is the events before us today, terrible events that are destroying families.

The lessons we can learn are as follows: I believe that the root of the problem is the fact that they wanted (or at least went along with the idea brought forth by others) to build themselves a Branzhe that'll produce Sapinker Chassidim like in Di Heim, only in the old days it didn't happen through Yeshivos, people who lived in the region were Chassidim, and that's the way they stayed. The need to build a Chassidus and to have large crowds at Tishen and children's weddings caused them to discover "Frumkeit", and later to discover "Frumme" means of maintaining his Mosdos. It may seem like a stretch and coincidence to some of you, but I believe I'm correct here. I also don't believe that they were somehow forced into this situation because they had such a strong desire to educate Yiddishe Kinder no matter what the cost, and no matter the end results. Lots of other good Chadorim - like Skolye and Stutshin - who had built good names for themselves had to close down to the dismay of parents simply because they couldn't cover the budget. I'm sure they too could've discovered these new means but they chose not to, and to their credit. I guess what's the point of having a Cheder/Yeshivah if the end result is you're not around to enjoy it. Some of today's most successful groups and Chaburos do it without as much a Shul of their own, especially not a Talmud Torah, others fail to learn the lessons very clearly laid out here....

I give in

The Spinka post from today is on hold for now.
You try and not attack and people see what they want to see anyway.
That's just plain sad.
I guess I have only myself to blame.

The Cheder Years (Part II)

(The Chakal Yitzchok of Spinka, HY"D)

Summary: Hirshel's Telzer Talmid father gets married and moves to Brooklyn, New York. He learns part day and gets ready to earn a living as well. He later has a son and at first sends him to a small pre-school run out of a local shul in Boro Park. After pre-school the child needs a real Yeshivah, so he asks his old Yeshivah buddy who also has sons where he sends his kids, and if he'd suggest it for his young son. The friend suggests Spinka Cheder in Boro Park, then in it's 3rd year, and his suggestion is the final choice. Thus begins a turning point in the family direction for years and maybe generations to come.

You see my friends, had my brother - and subsequently all of the "Tzig" boys - been placed in a place like Ch'san Sofer or Vien or some other "Pareve" Cheder things most likely would've turned out very differently. Since there wasn't a very strong Chassidishe direction at home the boys could've decided not to pursue the Pseudo-Chassidic/Hungarian way that they were taught at Cheder/Mesivta, but could've chosen other ways of life. Litvish, could've been one choice, since many of our friends did end up transferring to Yeshivos like Novominsk, where despite there supposedly being a "Rebbe" is run like a Litvishe Yeshivah, and we could've followed in our Dad's footsteps and been Goleh to a Mokom Torah like Telshe. But alas, the decision to choose Spinka had and continues to have all kinds of affects, to this very day, some adverse and some positive. This is not to say that Spinka is really to blame, since most of the Melamdim were Satmarer, and the Menahel was a 20-something Bobover Rebbishe type who happened to be the Rov's BIL but was probably the most qualified man for the job anyway. Yeah, right. But they put their name to the Mossad, so I guess it was what they wanted in a school.



Spinka was what you might call a school that suffers from SatmarInferioritis, a disease suffered by mostly Chassidic groups whereas they feel inferior to Satmar and decide to take steps to bring themselves up to par with the above-mentioned Hungarian group. So they embark on campaigns to ban this and disallow that, and to encourage this and condone that, but there's no real Toychen, Chassidish or otherwise, that they "pushed" like, say, Stoliner Cheder, which did succeed in creating their Chassidus in America, mostly from Litvishe boys who learned in their Cheder, by pushing Stolin in everything they did. Then again, Spinka doesn't have what Stolin has as far as history and appeal either. And so the years went by with very little direction, we were taught was that Peyos need to be Vos Lenger, and that we should speak Yiddish, and most of us did, myself included. We had mostly Satmarer Melamdim, or those of the smaller satellite groups, and the education was very Hungarian with Chassidic overtones, meaning that most of the stories and Divrei Torah were of Chassidishe Rebbes of yesteryear. We traded Rebbe pictures instead of baseball cards, and we spoke with an Hungarian Chassidishe Havoroh. We all looked forward to growing up and dressing Chassidish, the more Chassidish the better. But speaking Yiddish and having long Peyos only takes one so far, a boy needs a sense of direction, otherwise he floats on the open sea without a compass, going where the wind pushes him. That we never really got at Talmud Torah Imrei Yosef D'Spinka. It's safe to say that the same goes for many other Chassidic Chadorim in BP, you have thousands of Shtreimlach walking around today that know very little about any Chassidus, and many never want to know.


(Reb Yankev Yosef of Spinka)

As far as I was concerned here's what I went through: (I'd get the other side of the story - from the Rebbes and Menahalim - but I'd rather not meet some of them, VeDal.) I was a good kid who did quite well in Cheder, never really made trouble and was well liked by both Rebbes and classmates. I guess there wasn't much a choice; if you didn't stay in line you were reminded with petsh, starting all the way in Kita Alef. I learned well, and did what I had to, and was probably on my way to be a generic Chassidishe kid, with Geknippte Peyos behind his ears, a turned up hat, and a Shtraymel on Shabbos. My father ZGZ was a self-made who never was a Chossid of a particular Rebbe. As a Bocher he would travel to New York to spend YomTov with an uncle in Crown Heights, and together they would walk to Williamsburg to spend davenen or Hakofos with the Satmar Rov. In the early married years he would travel to the Satmar Rov zt"l to seek his advice, and was also Zoche to have a "long" 7-minute talk with the Lubavitcher Rebbe zy"a in 770 after Mincha. Other times found him - and me - in Skverrer Shtetl seeking the advice of the Skverrer Rebbe shlit"a. None of that translated into him becoming a Chossid of a Rebbe that I could follow.

Spinka did have its own Rebbe, Reb Yaakov Yosef Weisz of Bnei Beraq/Boro Park, and for a while - in my early teens - I was a Spinker Chossid, even davening Spinka Nusach and doing Spinka Minhogim as best I could, after all, even I realized that I need some kind of path in life. The old way of "just being a frum Jew" seemingly wasn't an option for me, and I needed a group to identify with. But I never had or felt like I needed a connection with the Spinker Rebbe. After 10 years in Spinka I decided that the place was no longer for me, it was becoming more and more like a Satmarer Yeshivah, being that this was Mesivta already , and many of my friends had left for other Yeshivos.

Hemshech Yovo, be"h.

Chabad doesn't hold a candle -----

----- to these guys.

Follow the money trail, boys.

See, if I was Aish I'd sorta, kinda, be embarrassed of this article. After all, you don't want to answer questions like "where does all the money go?" or "why the need to charge for public viewings of films fully paid for?" But I'm probably overestimating the intelligence of the average Shmoe in Flatbush/Five Towns, those questions never get asked. Also, I'd wonder where the big Mesiras Nefesh is for a guy making three times what the average shlepper makes - $125,000 for a "Rabbi" like Henry Harris pictured here - to go learn with an executive for half an hour. Then again, they're representing Torah-true Judaism, and I'm not, so I guess they're entitled to 500 dollar suits and a 50 dollar haircut. Also the young shnook executive probably feels better learning with a well-dressed guy than with a overweight guy with a straggly beard, no?

I'm glad I'm not part of what they're selling.

A different kind of victory

(5 Teves 5747 at 770)


Today is Hey Teves, the day that the Court decided the case of Berke Gurarie vs the Rebbe in favor of the Rebbe. Chassidim continue to celebrate this day, but many are clueless as to its significance, and think it's just about the Seforim staying right where they are now. Not exactly. Children are taught the "short version," i.e. that the books came home, but that's a side issue. Others think that it's some kind of personal victory over a disgruntled "bad apple" in the family. No, no, no. I may have mentioned this before, like maybe last year this time, but it's a point that's worth repeating. The case brought against the Rebbe was one Thirty-Five years in the making. Berke and Chana Gurary never came to terms with the fact that their father/husband wasn't chosen as successor to his father-in-law after being the first SIL and being groomed to be successor for years. Yes, it started with him stealing books like a common thief, but the result was a claim on leadership. The fact that Rashag accepted his fate and didn't go off and start another Lubavitch is to his credit. That never would've happened in today's day and age.

The result of the ensuing court case, and the victory enjoyed by the Rebbe and Agudas Chasidei Chabad, is that today there's at least some semblance of order in Lubavitch, at least as far as the umbrella organizations are concerned. Were it not for the fact that Chabad was re-incorporated and brought into the latter half of the Twentieth Century allowed for those that were put in charge by the Rebbe to be on guard and make sure that at least the main arms of Lubavitch are run in some sort of organized manner. Also, it allowed for the building at 770 to remain as a functioning shul and for the offices to continue to occupy them. If G-d forbid the court case would never have happened, that is to say that it even would just be resolved in Din Torah, then after 3 Tammuz the honorable Berke G could've claimed it all and booted everybody out. The lack of an organized Religious Corporation could easily have by default made it all belong to his grandfather, and by extension him after his father's and the Rebbe's passing. That, combined with the fact that the Rebbe was dragged through the mud by an unhappy man who was Merachek the only man who ever gave him the time of day, is reason to celebrate for all.

Gedolei HaWhat?!

After trying the CRC Reb Shlomo went to a B"D he knew they couldn't refuse, the Agudas HoRabbonim, UBeRoshom HaRav Reb Moshe Feinstein zt"l. After all, Reb Moshe was the undisputed Godol HaDor in America and had attended the late Rosh Yeshivah's daughter's wedding and had gotten Bentshen and/or Sheva Brochos. He was held in high regard by all (except maybe Satmar) and would surely not be refused. But sometimes even the GH can be refused. Maybe it's the way they did things in East New York/Brownsville; you did what you had to just to survive, and going to D"T would've been the end for them. So they ignored and ignored until the Godol HaDor VeChaveyrov passed on, and the world was never the wiser.




Letter signed by the B"D of Agudas HoRabbonim demanding that RAMS and the President Mr. F appear before them within two weeks. Also, that YRCB retain the services of RSC and pay him his salary as normal. This is referred to in the letter by Rabbi Fried to the leadership of YRCB. They also were forbidden to hire another Mashgiach/Menahel Ruchani in his place. I guess that's one Psak that Reb Moshe was wrong on, eh? I think we can safely assume that the Council of Torah Sages of the Agudath Israel of America is in defiance of their fromer leader RMF simply by installing RAMS as a member of that Rabbinical body. Shein, no?







Rabbi Carlebach voiced his opposition to that appointment, and in a letter written to the honorable and venerable Reb Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Esq. he voices his great displeasure. Invoking the names of former Moetzes members RAK, RYYR, and RYK only strengthens his point and increases the irony that the same group would go ahead and do that. I guess we can safely assume that the reason RAMS was only installed on the MGH after the passing of the above-mentioned members is because they would never allow it were they alive. It's times like this that makes one realize how irrelevant the group has become, and how its sole purpose now is to promote itself, doing more bad than good after all is said and done, Metzitzah B'Peh not withstanding. There's nothing wrong with an irrelevant organization to fold up after it's run its course. The wagon drivers did it, albeit reluctantly, as did the blacksmiths. It's not they don't have day jobs, the MGH members, they're all Marbitzei Torah and Oskim Betzorchei Tzibbur. The Roshei Yeshivah can go back to being Marbitz Torah and Shtelling oof Talmidim, and the lawyers can go back to negotiating 1031 exchanges or living trusts, or closings on real estate transactions. Real jobs, you know? just like the rest of us. If they have this strong desire to help out the community how about volunteering for Tomchei Shabbos or starting GeMaCHs.

Hazmonoh Milsoh Hi

After being unceremoniously thrown out of YRCB and KGA Reb Shlomo wanted to get his day in (Rabbinical) Court. He must've figured that them being Gedolim and all that they'd surely show up and he'd get what was rightfully his. At first Reb Shlomo went to the CRC aka Hisachdus HoRabbonim. Four Hazmonos were sent, two to R' Schechter and two to Fruchthandler - seemingly because the first were ignored. Le'eys Atoh Lo Higia LeYodeinu the responses to these Hazmonos, although they may have just roared with laughter and used them as spitball ammunition or for basketball practice. After a while he must've figured that maybe they're not being Goyres the Hazmonos because it comes from a Hungarian/Chassidishe Beis Din, so he went and tried again.

More on that tomorrow.

Torah Never Forgets

NYS Senator Carl Kruger visits Mesivta Veretsky


You might say that the previous post was placed there as a buffer for the criticism I'm about to receive......

Yeshiva Or Shraga Veretsky was once described to me by a parent of a Talmid there as "Chassidish Light." This Yid Shtams from Chassidim of the Lubliner (Eiger) Cheder, and is very proud of the fact. You might say Lublin in his blood, and he supports it wherever he can, be it by publishing Seforim or by Minhogim etc. However, he does live in Flatbush and his wife has zero connection to Chassidus, so where's a guy like that gonna send his young son? to Veretsky. This school has Chassidishe Melamdim, and maybe some of the teaching is done in Yiddish, but the kids are probably not told what to wear and where to vacation, if you get my drift. Hence the term "Chassidish Lite." That's not to c"v say that it's not a great school, I was just discussing the Chassidish part of it. The Cheder has seen tremendous growth over the last decade - I guess the above-mentioned Yid is not the only one - and there came a time in 1998 when they needed a new building to house all those students. Mesivta. Now on Coney Island Avenue in Midwood there was a tire place called Adelman's tire. The Mesivta of YRCB had its eye on this building for the longest time, but was waiting for the right time. After all, the large campus is just up the block, and it would be only natural for them to swallow up that little building and add it to its portfolio of holdings in Brooklyn. In Boro Park terms that would be like the little Mirrer Minyan building next to the very large Gerrer Mesivta building, there too Ger would've very much have liked to get their hands on it, but the Alte Mirrer there would have none of that.


(Page 1)

The good people at YRCB knew that Veretsky would also like that lucrative piece of property, but they weren't worried, after all who would dare defy the monster? They also figured that Adelman would have to sell it at their price, well below market. That was not meant to be. Veretsky went and dealt with Adelman vi a mentsh and closed the deal. The reaction from YRCB was swift. They called the Veretskiers to Din Torah, citing the Din of Bar Metzroh, and that they had first right to buy. Not to be outdone Veretsky said "I'll see you in (Rabbinical) Court.". Well, it seems like somebody at YRCB didn't do their homework, and they thought that this would result in a TKO for them, with the insignificant Chassidim going down like a house of cards. Well, my friends, I hope you didn't bet on the favorite here, although nobody could've expected this outcome. Veretzky was ready and waiting, and retaliated with the following letter addressed to the BD of Machon LeHoro'oh that had called them to Din Torah. They pulled no punches in the letter written by their Toyen, letting them know exactly what they thought of the leadership there, and why they don't need to show. "They're Mesarvim Laamod LeDin for 17 years and have defied the Godol HaDor (Rav Moshe Feinstein) by refusing to come to Din Torah. (He's referring to the D"T they were called to by Rav Shlomo Carlebach.) They're people who use violence to get their way, and are only going to Beis Din now since an issue of Halochoh and no court would disallow the sale of the building because of Bar Metzroh.


(Page 2)

Having said that Rabbi Fried answers his question of "Does my Client need to show up in B"D at the behest of these people" by launching into an attack of how people who are Lo Tzayseh LeDinah one need not respond to their calls to a D"T, especially since they haven't done Tshuvah, and still claim that they never needed to respond to Carlebach's Hazmonos. Not only did they defy Reb Moshe Feinstein, but other Litvishe Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshivah, including Reb Yaakov Kamenecki, Rav Ruderman, and Rav Mordche Schwab z"l tried to get them to answer the Hazmonos to B"D but they would have none of that. In addition according to the Ikkul issued by RMF the office of YRCB must continue to pay Reb Shlomo a salary, and according to that order they now owe him 17 years of back pay, as well as severance for his years of service, all of which total Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars!, and none of which was ever forgiven by Rabbi Carlebach. "They think they're "higher" than Torah and only use Botei Din where they think it'll be to their benefit." The good Rabbi was nice enough to provide the Machon LeHoro'oh B"D with copies of the FOUR Hazmonos sent by the B"D of the Agudas HaRabbonim to the Hanholoh of YRCB, as well as the letter sent by RSC to Chaim D Zwiebel, Esq. upon the occasion of the installation of Reb Aron Shechter as member of the MGT of the AI of America, where he condemns the appointment.


(Page 3)

So you see my friends, Torah is Nitzchis, even after so many years....

A Sight to See

At Reb Yonasan and Bruriah's Wedding -----


(Reb Moshe, Ich Her Vos Ihr Zogt....)


(Ashrei Mi SheAmoloy BaTeyreh.....)


(Rabbeysay, NeVoreych)

Mottel takes on the naysayers

Kherson Genizah Unplugged

Machlokes claims another victim: Telshe

(Telshe Yeshivah Building Today)

Yehupitz adds to Circus Tent: My Unexciting (early) Life

Telz Cleveland today is a shadow of what it once was, with hardly a Beis Medrash program to speak of,despite the many Talmidei Chachomim who reside there. It is splintered and rendered utterly impotent by machlokes after machlokes and poorly resolved Din Torah after poorly resolved Din Torah.

Hirshel Tzig adds:

Ah, yes, we all knew that Chassidim are the fighters and do everything just for Kovod and power, especially those darned Lubabs. But Roshei Yeshivah? They do it all just LeHagdil Teyreh ULeHadiroh, all for G-d's Torah, with no ulterior motives whatsoever. After all, didn't the Alter of Slabodka send all his best Talmidim away to help start or strengthen other Yeshivos? Well, my friends, times have changed. Gone are the days when it didn't matter who was learning where, as long as M'hut Gelerent. Yes, there were battles about Ideology, whether or not to allow Mussar into Yeshivos, or whether or not to have a certain person say a Shiur there, but never like this, despite what may have happened in Volozhin in the times of Reb Chaim. Here's what I know about this Din Torah after Din Torah situation in Cleveland that Yehupitz mentioned and how it brought down the jewel of American Yeshivos. I'll readily admit that it isn't much, and I welcome any and all corrections.

Telshe in America was founded by Reb Elya Meir Bloch and his former BIL Reb Mottel Katz who were here on a fundraising trip to help the Yeshivah escape the Russians who had just occupied Lithuania, and were therefore saved from sharing the fate of REMB's brother Reb Avrohom Yitzchok the Rov, his wife, his 4 kids, Reb Mottel's wife and 10 kids, and the whole town on Telshe with all Yeshivah Bochurim. So, in 1941 they set out for Cleveland to build what was supposed to be only the original Yeshivah transplanted there. The Yeshivah had a rough beginning, starting with a few Bochurim from Baltimore and some European refugees, but later was quite Matzliach, and a decade or so later had a large student body from all over the United States, as well as from South America, and Sefardishe Bochurim from Morocco and other countries. A major Klap for the Yeshivah came in 5715 with the untimely passing of the founder and Rosh Yeshivah Reb Elya Meir Bloch zt"l at the age of 60, and it wouldn't so far-fetched to say that the passing was the beginning of the end of Telshe.



After Reb Elya Chaim passed away his BIL Reb Mottel was the Rosh Yeshivah until his passing 10 years later. By that time Telshe Chicago was well under way and this blogger's father was no longer in Cleveland. After Reb Mottel's passing we can easily say that Telshe Cleveland was no longer in "Telshe hands." Yes, there was Rav Gifter and Reb Boruch Sorotzkin, but the former was an American boy who traveled to Telshe, and the latter - although an Eynikel of Reb Lazer Gordon of Telshe - a Baranovicher and Kamenetzer Talmid, and that's surely not the same. Since both Reb Elya Meir and Reb Mottel remarried after the war and passed away at a relatively young age they both had no children of age that could replace them after their passing. So, until today there are no Blochs or Katzs in Telshe Wickliffe. (Cleveland) Reb Elya Meir has a son Yosef Zalman, who lives in Monsey, and is somewhat of a character. Let's just say he doesn't go with the flow and was never offered his father's seat on Sherer's MGT. Reb Mottel has a son that runs the Kolel in Cleveland, but no Rosh Yeshivah shtelle. The Kolel is entirely unrelated to Telshe. Word on the street is that while Reb Boruch Sorotzkin was ill, an illness that he succumbed to, he asked Mechilah from Reb Y Z for not putting him into the Yeshivah, but Y Z refused to forgive him.

What's so ironic today is that Reb Boruch's sons also have no Drisas HoRegel in Wickliffe today. Yes, they put Telshe on their resumes, but all that is BeKoach and not BePoel. The best line was about his son Reb Yitzchok's on Wiki: "Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin is regarded as a dean of the Telz Yeshiva, but has sinced moved to Lakewood, New Jersey!" I wonder why.... Until last year Reb Elya Meir's SIL Reb D Barkin was there, but he never knew his Shver and I don't think he had a Shtelle there, at least not as RY. After Rav Gifter's passing the collapse was probably complete. I don't think many alumni could name you any of the current Roshei Yeshiva there, and for a place that had a very strong alumni association that's just plain sad. Wiki tells us tells us that Reb Zalmen Gifter is there today, so it seems like the Gifter takeover is complete. I imagine the Dinei Torah and Machlokes that Yehupitz speaks of is the Sorotzkin clan wanting what they see as theirs, and maybe the Katzs as well. I'm not sure what starting anew will accomplish if the Dinei Torah will continue. I realize now that they still have the Z'kan Roshei Yeshivos, Reb Chaim Stein, but I don't think he has any say in the Bayeles of the Yeshivah.

The Blogger was helped tremendously by these fine articles.

Pick 'N' Choose Chassidus

(Reb Aron T'Baum of Satmar, KJ, photos by Hydepark)

Somebody posted a Shmuess by the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Aron, about what his uncle the Satmar Rov, Reb Yoel zt"l said regarding "Nishtakchoh Toras HaBaal Shem Tov." He makes a Brisker Teyreh out of his words, and he's Mechalek between Toras and Derech HaBaal Shem, Derech HaBaal Shem is alive and well, he says, it's just the Torah that's been forgotten. He says some very pertinent and educational things there, and I think he explained some of the accomplishments of the Baal Shem Tov quite well, I just have some questions on what he does LeMayseh, based on what he said at that opportunity. He says that Derech HaBaal Shem Tov is that even simple people wear Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin and other examples which I can't remember right now. (I can't find the transcript of the Droshoh right now) I'm also impressed and happy that he addressed the issue, and answered the critics of his illustrious uncle, which is what any MeMaleh Mokom SHOULD do, especially concerning an issue like that. These questions are pertinent to his year-round behavior, and especially so during the days (nights, rather) of Chanukah.

One of the concepts found in Chassidic Courts was that the Rebbe is like the Kohen Godol and his house/shul the Bais HaMikdosh/Kodesh HaKodoshim. In Chabad the Loshon was Gan Eden HaTachton for the Rebbe's ante-chamber and Gan Eden HoElyon for the Rebbe's room. This is something found already in the days of the Baal Shem Tov, where his Talmidim were known to say that the Aron (the one from the Mishkon/BHM"K) is "in Mezhibuzh." Thus, Chassidim would bring all kinds of exquisite gifts of silver and money just as they did in the Mishkon/Botei Mikdosh, because the Tzaddik's use of these items is just as if it was used in the Bais HaMikdosh. The Holy Ruzhiner zy"a was the most famous of the Tzaddikim that lived "royally," even wearing gold boots and riding in a gold carriage, and dressing his children and grandchildren in the finest clothing money can buy. Another not-so-famous Tzaddik who lived like that was the Rebbe MaHaRaSH of Lubavitch who when asked why he used gold utensils and such said: Petach! (fool!) "Far vemen den iz gezogt gevorren Li HaKesef VeLi HaZohov?!"



It's safe to say were it not for Toras HaBaal Shem Tov there would be no such concept of Tzaddikim living like kings on public money, being that what excuse do we use to use hard-earned money to buy luxuries like silver utensils and flashy clothing. Before Chassidus Rabbonim and Tzaddikim lived BiPerishus and barely eeked out a living, which is still the way many in the Litvishe world live today, to their credit, especially in Eretz Yisroel. I would assume that the idea of Tzaddikim using elaborate silver utensils and Chassidim giving elaborate Menorahs for their Rebbes to use is of Toras HaBaal Shem, not Derech HaBaal Shem, since it's not something that all Chassidim were given, although there may be a separate Derech for the Gutte Yidden. My question is not addressed to those that say that Toras HaBaal Shem is alive and well, they can continue to carry on in all aspects, even using large Menorahs and big silver decanters. My questions IS addressed to the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel: Rebbe, פארוואס דארפט איר אזא גרויסע מנורה פון פינף פיס, און א ווייסע בעקיטשע פון טויזענטער דאלאר? נישט נאר פארוואס דארפט איר, נאר ווי מעגט איר אויסגעבן געלט פאר די זאכען, אדער אננעמען אזעלכע מתנות? What Heter do you have to gouge out the eyes of hard-working folks that work hard yet have little to show for it? Please don't tell me about Hiddur Mitzvah, This has turned into some kind of Menorah show, and it's kind of revolting.

A Freilechen Chanukah.

A Tale of Two Meneyres

(The Munkacser Rebbe)


(The Ponovizher Rov z"l)

A little Chanukah present for my Litvishe friends.......

Whence the Telsher Bochur?

Reader commenting on Circus Tent: My Unexciting (early) Life

The saga of Telshe in America is interesting. I heard that at one time it was so 'hot' that it was hard to get in there. Like when your father was there. So why are there so many people like your father, who learned there, but don't consider themselves Telzers? The difficulty in making Hungarians into Litvaks? Or was it more? Maybe he would have thought of himself more as a Telzer if he lived elsewhere, but living in BP, with so many Hungarians and Chassidim around, he reverted to his previous pre-Telshe state due to their influence. From what I gather, Telshe was quite large in the old days and places like Lakewood were quite small. Many Lakewood branches didn't exist yet then. I think that the advent of new Yeshivas and growth in air travel and travel to Eretz Yisroel to learn hurt Telshe in a big way. Why didn't you daven in Telshe minyan in BP ? The Telshe Rav is a Chassidishe mit a shtreimel. Sort of a funny combination there, like the photo with this post. A famous strong Litvishe Yeshiva represented by a Chossid. Amusing.

Hirshel Tzig concludes: There are a couple of misconceptions here that I'd like to address. First, that Boro Park was chock full of Chassidim 40 years ago when my father moved there. This is simply not the case. Boro Park is very different than it was 10-15 years ago, 40 years ago Al Achas Kamoh VeKamoh. There was plenty of non-chassidishe Yidden, albeit not as much Litvishe. Still, one can still find many Yidden in Boro Park that were never influenced by the transformation, and they remained the same as they ever were. Shuls like the Mirrer Minyan, Lakewood Minyan, Felder's, OAMY (2 doors down) and of course Anshei Telshe and many others still have very few Shtreimlach as steady Shabbos Mispallelim. Having said that we can rule out Boro Park influencing his decision as to where to daven, especially since he had many friends and schoolmates in the Telsher Minyan!!

The truth is I never asked Di Tatte Zol Gezunt Zein why he snubbed the Telsher Minyan all these years, with his buddy the Rov there and many friends there too. Maybe I should ask him next time we speak. I guess maybe he didn't wanna daven Ashkenaz with the Telsher twist, being that he davened Sfard despite his father davening Ashkenaz. Also, many other Hungarians that went to Telshe did become Litvaks, which is somewhat difficult to do, changing Nationalities as a Teenager, but it did happen! Also, i would think that such Torah luminaries as Reb Elya Meir Bloch, Reb Mottel Katz and Reb Boruch Sorotzkin z"l could have an influence on even an Hungarian Bochur, and especially one that didn't have a strong counter influence at home. So the question remains.

My Unexciting (early) Life

(Telzer Yeshivah in Cleveland, that's NOT me in the pic)

I was asked by a commenter here why I never say anything nice about the Yeshivos I learned in or my father did for that matter. That - according to his logic - is proof that I'm also an ingrate who has this unbridled hate for everything not Lubavitch. Nothing can be further from the truth, as anybody that knows me can testify to. Yes, there were times that I was made to feel inferior by the powers that be because of my connection to Lubavitch (and nothing else) but never did I take that any further than the person or people involved, and in many case I laughed it off as childish on their part and not worth bearing a grudge at all, especially seeing from whom those comments came from. Being that my blog is not here to expose people for what they did years ago, but rather to discuss issues, so this discussion will also not turn into an expose' of people who "hurt my feelings." I'm not someone who's haunted by abuse or things of that nature, so there's really nothing like that that you can point to and say that this was where it all began, as many are wont to do when someone changes his life's direction. What we can do is discuss my general history, anecdotes and instances and see if we understand them the same way. I do hope that those involved in my life are ok with me mentioning them, albeit in a round about way.

My father's Telsher experience mirrors that of many hundreds of other Talmidim, namely that they don't consider themselves Telshers today. He was a child of 13 years old when his parents put him on the train from Chicago and he traveled with his very Hungarian mother to the Yeshivah in Cleveland. The first 3-4 years were spent at the Mechinah - which is what the Mesivta is called - under the tutelage of such Yidden as Reb Eizik Ausband, in whose home he slept for 2 years. He had the privilege of spending time with such luminaries as Reb Chaim Stein, LBCL"C Reb Mordche Gifter, Reb Pesach Stein, Reb Boruch Sorotzkin, and Reb Mottel Katz. My whole life is filled with anecdotes from "Yeshivah," which is basically short for Telshe. With some of those he had good relationships, and with some they were not so great, as is usually the case with any Bochur in any Yeshivah. There were other, less famous personalities there that he also speaks fondly of; Rabbi Davis, Reb Meir Zelig Mann, Rabbi Helfand, Rabbi Hildesheim and others. He was there for the famous fire in the winter of '62 and for the visits of Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshivah who would visit the Yeshivah on their trips and stops in Cleveland. A year or so later the branch was founded in Chicago, and 2-3 years later he was called home to continue his studies near home. In Chicago there was 4 more years in Telshe and there were Reb A C Levin, Reb Chaim Shmelcer, Reb C D Keller among others.

Despite spending all of his formative years in Litvishe Telshe he never did become a "Telsher." Yes, we're on the alumni list of both branches and receive candles, honey, Charoses, and tapes of all kinds of Droshos, Shmuessen etc. from all the Roshei Yeshivah past and present, but it never did permeate his being like it did for many others. Other past Talmidim make every effort to be back in Yeshivah for the Yomim No'Roim, and even bentsh in the special Telsher Nusach, my Tatte ZGZ doesn't. Others davened in the Telsher Minyan in BP, we davened across the street, it so happens, not that we were avoiding the shul, c"v, that's just how it worked out. My father has many friends from Yeshivah that he's still very friendly with today that are just the same way, they never became Telshers, and their kids probably know much less about Telshe than I do. In any case, having said that, when my father married my mother, a girl of similar Hungarian background, he moved to New York and soon needed to find a place to educate his children. The girls had started out in Bobov and continued in Margareten, Beis Aizik Tzvi and Bais Yaakov,, but the boys had no place yet. So my Tatte asked a Telsher friend who already had a son in Cheder and he advised a Chassidisher Cheder in Boro Park that was named after a Transylvania town - Spinka. This decision had a profound impact on my entire immediate family and changed our life's course, I think.

Enough for one day, More later iy"h.

Ish Mesiras Nefesh - KiPshutey

רבי ניסן פינסאן ע"ה

More Here

Reb Nissen was another of the legendary Shluchim who went from the frying pan to the fire. A few weeks ago we lost Reb Shlomo Matusov. Now Reb Nissen, who was in Casablanca for the first decade or so with Reb Shlomo, has left this world. In 1960 he was sent by the Rebbe to Tunis and basically stayed there for the rest of his life, despite his failing health.

More from Shturem.net

Try Living in PLO HQ for 47 years and then get back to me.

recent passings

(Photo from here)

Two people of the older generation, personalities really, left us recently. The first is the Margaretener Rov, and the second - maybe 10 days later - was his Mechutan the legendary Mr. Fisher of Yeshivas Ch'san Sofer. The Margaretener Rov was one of the very few who still had positions in pre-WW2 Europe, being elected as Rov of SentMiklos, Transylvania in 1937. He was a kid from Drogemeresht, Romania who came to learn in the Yeshiva in Margareten that was started by the great Talmid of the Chasam Sofer, the MaHarYATZ, Reb Yehoshua Ahron Tzvi Weinberger, and was then lead by his son Reb Shmuel Zalman z"l. There he was given the title "Rosh Yeshivah," which was a term used for the eldest and Choshuvste Bochur. He also learned in Kashau and Nagyfoli. During WW2 he was granted a very rare certificate to travel to the Holy Land and was all ready to travel, but their lives were saved by their child falling ill, which they later learned was a blessing, since their ship sunk with all of their belongings aboard. His Rebbetzin was the only one of 11 children of Reb Shmuel Zalman that survived the Holocaust, and she continued to carry on the Margareten name until her death in 1974. After the War he decided to return to Margareten from Israel in order to rebuild what was left and to reorganize the Yeshivah. However, that too didn't last long with the ultimate ascent of the Magyar Communists to power in 1946. After a decade in Paris he eventually made his way to the United States. My father tells me of the time when he had a dream of building a community in "Lower Bensonhurst," when he had his Yeshivah there. That never worked out for them, although I know some of my siblings did attend school there. So, other than the Shul on 14th Avenue, and the Shechitah that carries his name, he was not what you'd call a modern-day "success" story like some of his lesser colleagues were. His only son died r"l BeChayov after collapsing on the street on hot summer's day in 5753, leaving his widowed father heartbroken. Although I never did meet him, though I lived near him all my life, I feel like I have a shtarke shayches to him somehow. The most famous of his brothers in law was probably the MaHaRaM Brisk of Tosnad, who also was murdered during WW2.

Mr. Fisher I did see often, since I learned there for a lengthy period of time, but I never did say two words to him or hear from him anything for that matter. He was chosen as the SIL of the Old Mattersdorfer Rov and worked for his institutions for over 60 years, working way past what you'd consider normal age. He insisted on being called "Mister," and he was granted that sincere by generations of YCS alumni. Based on his Shver choosing fine Talmidei Chachomim as husbands for his daughters I can safely assume that he too was a fine Talmid Chochom, but he never occupied positions like his BILs did. Some of them include Rav Binyomin Paller z"l, famed Talmid of the Griz of Brisk and Rosh Yeshivas Mekor Chaim, YBLCH"T Reb Simcha Shustal of Stamford, Rabbi Kagan from Denver, and Rabbi Cohen ZG"Z. His son Reb Dovid, a Maggid Shiur and Rosh Kolel in Ch'san Sofer for many years was married to the daughter of the Margaretener Rov z"l, so that he and his wife lost their fathers within a few short days. That must be tough on all involved, especially the grandkids. I wish I knew more and could write more about the Niftar, but I don't. I invite all of you who may know more, and I know there are YCS alumni who read this blog, to contribute whatever information they have about Mr. Fisher in the comments section.

Yehi Zichrom Boruch.

(Most of the biographical info about the Margaretener Rov was taken from "עולמי" , a memorial book of the Kehillos of Szeplak and Margareten; and history of the MaHaRYATZ and his descendants, compiled by Reb Ahron Hersh Ayalon (Weinberger) and published in Tammuz of 5758.)

Conflicts, Conflicts

There's this website that's dedicated to "explaining" to the Dati-LeUmi world the errs of their ways when it comes to the State and Zionism. So they quote all kinds of Rabbonim and Gedolim who made all kinds of statements, basically trying to scare them into abandoning what they've been taught. It's a commendable idea, one that the Rebbe was basically for. He often said that believing that the State is Aschalta DeGeulah is MeAkev the Geulah, so discouraging belief is a good thing. In my Google search on 20 Kislev, the Yohrtzeit of the last Pachad Yitzchok (not the Boyaner) I came across the following site that has quotes from him about the State, although he considered himself a Talmid and MeKabel of Harav Kook, (Actually, he tried to cover it up....) and I doubt there was a whole lot of kano'us going at YRCB in those years. In any case here's what they bring:

כשקרא מרן ה"פחד יצחק" על עובדת מחויבותם של רבני ודייני הרבנות החילונית הראשית להישבע
אמונים למדינה אמר: "יש להאמין לי כשקראתי בבוקר על הנ"ל בכיתי כתינוק בן יומו ממש. כל הפרוצדורה של השבעת אמונים למדינה- וואס פאר אן אינשיקעניש איז דאס? מי שמע מעולם על השבעת אמונים של דיין בישראל- לא רק למדינה, אלא לשום אדם, לשום גוף או לשום דבר- מלבד לדיני השלחן ערוך?! אין כאן אלא חיקוי זול להצהרה האנגלו-סקסונית כשאדם מתמנה למשרה ממשלתית" (ספר הזכרון למרן ה"פחד יצחק", עמ' מג')

Free Translation: When Moron the Pachad Yitzchok (Rav Y Hutner - HT) read about the Rabbonim and Dayonim of the Chief (secular??) Rabbinate needing to swear allegiance to the State he said: "Believe me; when I read about it this morning I cried like an infant. What kind of "Onshikinesh" is this? Whoever heard of a Rov or Dayan swearing allegiance to anything but the Shulchan Aruch? This is nothing but a cheap immitation of the Anglo-Saxon declaration, where a Government minister swears allegiance when he gets elected." (Sefer HaZikaron LeMoron HaPachad Yitzchok pg 43)

A fair statement, but I'm not quite sure how that's supposed to dissuade a sworn Mizrachi guy from abandoning his beliefs. Anyway, on one of my browsing sessions I came across some interesting photos of just such a ceremony, where the Rabbonim and Dayonim swore allegiance to the State in a ceremony presided over by President Zalman Shazar. Of course we have the usual "suspects," such as Rav Ovadia Yosef, but we also have unusual suspects, who I guess didn't think it was such an "Onshikinesh" after all. We always knew that he sat on the "Secular" Chief Rabbinate but we never thought of it in the context of swearing allegiance to the State of Israel, we thought he was doing a job, no more. But now it all takes on a whole different perspective, he was defying not only the Brisker Rov all those years, and the Brisker - true to form - still haven't forgiven him no matter what the rest of the Yeshivishers say, but also the Pachad Yitzchok. We also know that although he eventually resigned from the Rabbinate after the issue with Rabbi Goren being Mattir the Mamzerim, he never thought twice when swearing allegiance. So the next time you see Reb Aron Schechter visit Rav Elyashiv ask him how he visits the man who defied the man he succeeded.


(Photo from BeChadrei Charedim, Hydepark)

See anybody famous here?! like the man second from right with white beard, "up" hat and glasses?