Korestin, 5687

דער 1-ער רבנים צוזאמענפאר פון קאראסטיענער דזשיטאמערער אונד שעפעטאווקער קרייזען - אין קאראסטיען
18-20'טען מרחשון תרפ"ז

Pictured here is the Asifas HaRabbonim in Korestin, Ukraine in Marchesvan 5687/1926. The troubles in the USSR had already started, but Rabbonim could still meet without being harassed by the authorities. It's mentioned in the Frierdige Rebbe's (The Baal HaHilluloh of Yud Shvat) letters as an Asifah he felt would be harmless - as opposed to the proposed Moscow Asifah a year earlier - one that was called by irreligious elements who wanted to gain control over the Jewish communities, where the Frierdige Rebbe fought for and succeeded in canceling it. The Frierdige Rebbe felt that no good would come from Korestin either, although it was attended by many Choshu've Rabbonim VeAdmorim, including Chabad Rabbonim like Rav Zevin and Rav Gershon Chein, but at least it would do no harm. At the Asifah they surprised the Rebbe by voting to make him Nosi HaKoved, and sent a telegram informing him of the fact. The Rebbe responded with a telegram of his own thanking them for the honor, and reminding them of their responsibilities in keeping Yiddishkeit alive in the USSR.

We thank the anonymous "donor" again. This too must be clicked on to fully enjoy.

Letter Mem is (I believe) Rav Aryeh Leib Kaplan Hy"d of Kiev, father of Reb Moshe Binyomin Kaplan o"h, and Zeide of the late Reb Leibel Kaplan, R' Nochum Kaplan, and R' Shmuel Kaplan from Baltimore. He was what they called An Ailimisher Rov, but he sent his son to learn in Chabad undergorund Yeshivos, simply because that's all there was. Rav Zevin is possibly letter Hey, although it's difficult to tell. Letter Chof is a "dead-ringer" for the Hornosteipler Rebbe in Flatbush, son of the Denver Hornosteipler z"l. I was told that there was a Maliner Rebbe at the Asifah, and that he may be pictured here too. Most of the Megulochim - I would imagine - are part of the logistics, not actual Rabbonim, as even Rabbonim MeTa'am without beards didn't dress in simple peasant clothing. All in all the picture is full of Erliche-looking Yidden, many Baalei Tzureh, and is a good reminder of years gone by. Try your hand at identifying the others, and we'll be much obliged.

See Igros Kodesh Admo"R MoHaRaYYT"Z N"E Chelek Alef letters 304-306

Halt Kup!

See Seforim Blog for one of the hardest hitting threads on a Torah personality (The "Ba'al Torah Temimah") I've seen in a long, long time. It's also the longest, so "Halt Kup!." They include accusations of falsifying stories, making up "facts" and events about people, and plagiarizing large parts of his Torah Temimah.

"......... When Mekor Barukh was published there were still plenty of people alive who had known her and it would have been impossible to entirely fabricate her personality. The same can be said about Epstein’s report of the Netziv reading newspapers on Shabbat. This is not the sort of thing that could be made up. Let’s not forget that the Netziv’s widow, son (R. Meir Bar-Ilan) and many other family members and close students were alive, and Epstein knew that they would not have permitted any improper portrayal. It is when recording private conversations that one must always be wary of what Epstein reports.

......In fact, when the Torah Temimah first appeared, the editor of this work published a booklet, Sihah Temimah, accusing Epstein of fraudulent behavior. Here are the first few pages of this booklet."

Read On

Pat on the back

Things are looking up at Circus Tent these days, Danken G-tt. Traffic is way up for weeks now, seemingly because of the extra effort on my part to post meaningful material, and still keep it somewhat cordial. The Chaim Berlin discussions also helped. I'd go so far as to say that even heated exchanges with the likes of U N and Berl, CH has alot to do with it. I also had help from certain others in the blogging community, links and so on. Also, I see that word has spread about what we do here, and the above graphics - sporadic as they may be - seem to prove that. We now have visitors from many, many countries. I need to thank you all - the readers - for reading and commenting, and also for telling your friends. Without y'all there'd be no Circus Tent. People like to be heard, myself included, and shouting in the wind is tiring. It helps that I have some gratification from writing; it sure beats what I do for a living.

Now, I wish there'd be some way to turn some of this into cash.....

2 photos

The Belzer Rov, HaRaHaK Reb Aron zt"l and Chassidim in Marienbad, Czechoslovakia. Tomorrow Tes Shvat is the Yom HaTzoloh of the Rov and his brother the Bilgorajer Rov zt"l in 5704. The first on left is Reb Yitzchok Noochem'l Twerski of Rawa Ruska, his BIL. First on right - holding the BR - is the hotel owner, but his name escapes me now. Much of what we have today as far as pictures of Rebbes and Rabbonim is from those days spent in Marienbad. Some photographer would stand around and get good shots; If I didn't know better I'd say they all stopped and posed for the picture. This is a fairly known picture, but never have I seen it this clear, with the Rov fully visible - from head to toe. To really appreciate it click the image, and see his holy Tzureh shine. I thank the anonymous sender of this picture. He'd prefer that his name not be mentioned. That's his prerogative.


The Frierdige Lubavitcher Rebbe - who's Yohrtzeit is Thursday Yud Shvat - exiting the VagZahl at Podbrodzie, Lithuania, in 5694-1934. On the left we see Reb Mordche Cheyfetz Hy"d holding the Rebbe's belongings, and on the right Reb Mendel Kupershtok. Reb Mordche traveled to America in the late '30's BeShlichus the FR, and returned in 1939. He was killed AKD"H in Riga in 1941, together with thousands of others, including Reb Itche Masmid and Reb Eli Chaim Althaus, HY"D. This picture too must be clicked to fully enjoy.


(close-up of above pic)

Changes (Part III)

Photo from here

Summary: Hirshel enters Spinka Cheder in Boro Park and stays throughout elementary school. He does well in Yeshiva and is well-liked for the most part by both teachers and peers. Kittah Ches is a bit of a challenge, with a new Melamed who was learning on the job and with his Bar Mitzvah coming up, but Hirshel hangs tough and perseveres. At that time Hirshel still has no direction in life, and is content just being Chassidically inclined; the education has done that much, and he has little interest in the non-Chassidic world other than a few of the Gedolim pictures that he has.

Spinka had slowly but surely begun to change. More and more of the Hungarian/Chassidic light students were leaving, and in their place came the hardcore Satmarer etc., with many of them coming from the neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Seagate, and with them they brought their ideas of how things should be run. The change MAY have been brought about by the arrival of a certain Assistant Principal several years later, but that may be difficult to prove. So, as time went on more and more Talmidim/Parents decided that this is not the place for them, and they began to look for other places to educate their children/be educated. Many leave after 8th grade, opting for Mesivtos like Beis Meir or Novominsk , but the Tzig stays put. Ninth and Tenth grade (Kitta Tes and Yud) go somewhat well, I guess; Tzig works hard to learn and daven, and basically stays out of trouble. Every once in a while some Satmarer would shoot his mouth off and we'd get into it. That would give me the nudge; it would remind me that this place really isn't for me anymore, and that it's time for me to leave. I do have to say that we had some fine Ramim/Maggidei Shiur there; "Litvishe" that could relate to the "Chassidishe" Oylem there, and some of them were good and caring. Others were not, but that's to be understood. After Kitta Yud I finally got out. I chose Mesivta Ch'san Sofer as my next place of learning - I don't remember now on who's advice - and they were nice to accept me. I would start there in Camp, not the usual Elul or after Pesach time, since I couldn't bear to be at Spinka for another summer, it would just be too difficult, MiKamoh Taamim. VeDal.

You might ask: "Tzig, where and when did the interest in Lubavitch happen? You never speak of Lubavitcher friends or personalities that you knew like others did, so why the sudden urge to become a Lubavitcher?" The truth is I sometimes wonder when and how it happened. I try and recreate the moments and not everything is clear to me yet, I don't recall every moment in my life like some people do. (which makes me wonder sometimes; How do 90-year olds remember everything that happened to them?!) What I do remember is as follows: I always had a very warm spot in my heart for Lubavitch. When I'd see Lubavitchers in the street or would go to Crown Heights for whatever reason I'd be excited about it. When some of my classmates would poke fun at Lubavitch because their idiot father or brother taught them how I'd be there to strike them down, being Mekane Kin'as Hashem. That leads me to believe that I always had that Lubavitcher spirit in me, albeit dormant at first. I understand that may be difficult for some of you to understand; you may believe that somehow you're meant to stay within that culture for the rest of your life, and that you're obligated to follow your parents' customs to the letter, but I see it otherwise, as did most of the Talmidei HaBesh"t.

It may go something like this: As many of you know in 5749 there were elections in Israel, and not just any old elections either. These were the first elections after the big breakup between the Agudath Israel's two factions, the "Lithuanians" and the Chassidim. The reasons for the breakup were many, but we'll name two. One was the disproportionate influence wielded by Chassidic groups, mainly Ger, in the policy making of the AI and the "say" in how the money received from the Government should be distributed. Forty years of being told what to do by Ger can do that to a person and a group. The other was what Ger and their newspaper, the HaModia, which was supposed to be THE frum newspaper, was reporting and accepting. They had been told many times by the Lithuanian leadership to stop positive reporting about Chabad activities in general, and specifically about the Lag BaOmer parades organized by them. In particular one parade bothered one very famous Rosh Yeshivah, and he decided that he had seen enough; and then - in 1985 - the Yated was born. The only newspaper that followed the directives of the real Gedolim, not some "Rebbelach" that wore velvet on their collars and carried silver-tipped canes.

And so it was; The newly-independent Yated now had a carte blanche to attack all those that didn't sit well with them, and those didn't fall in line. The fact that the paper was established by the Ponovizher Rosh Yeshivah and the Steipler Gaon now made everything they said not only permissible, but it made it a Mitzvah to follow in their attacking ways. LeMoshol: Say that till now Yeruchem from Flatbush - a nice all-around good kid learning in YOB - was careful not to speak Loshon HoRah because the Chofetz Chaim said not to; now he could speak LH about certain groups because the Yated hakked against them, and the Yated is published by the Gedolim. When Yeruchem would be asked by his friends how he could say such things about a Godol BeYisroel he would reply: Mitzveh LeSaper al Apikores! This and this man was dubbed an Apikores by the Yated & Co., so I can say whatever I want about him. In other words: Lubavitch and the Rebbe can be knocked around by 12 -year-old Pi--ers. To say the least this did not sit well with young Tzig; he now knew that these people are not for him, he won't subscribe to their cockamamie theology, that's for certain. Tzig met some of these characters in Camp Mesivta Ch'san Sofer, and needless to say they turned him off. So he knew that these people were not him, but the question was "Vee Yoh?"

To be continued.....

Al HaPerek - Artscroll

As Promised - The Garelik Rant....

!בלייב אן עם הארץ

Those of you who know may know that the Kovetz Or Yisroel is probably the most important continuously published Rabbinic journal around. The Journal is published monthly for several years now, and is on the tables of most Rabbonim and Bnei Torah today. Topics of importance to today's Ben Torah - as well as all Yidden - are dissected and discussed, and issues are continuously argued, with good results. Some of the more famous issues taken apart there were the "Indian Sheitel" debacle, the "Worms in Water" fiasco, and the Boro Park Eruv uproar. Now they seem to have one of the most hot-button issues to date; they've decided to discuss the Artscroll Gemoroh; more importantly whether it's "permissible" to learn and study from the brown and blue volumes at all. If you're sitting at your computer and scratching your head, wondering why there would be a problem at all, allow me to make one thing clear: You're not Heimish.

In Heimishe circles - Kri Satmar - they're very worried about the source and Hashkofoh of the one who publishes seforim. Anybody who's accused of being sympathetic to Zionist or Agudist causes is Treif as are his seforim. It doesn't matter if his sefer is a work of monumental importance, if he doesn't halt mit di shittah then it's like a Sefer Torah SheKosvoy Min. Seforim from Mossad Harav Kook, including the Reshonim and Achronim that they published and revealed to the Torah World for the first time - all that is Treyf. Of course we're only speaking of the hard-core Kanoyim; most Bnei Torah have no problem with most of the above-mentioned Seforim. In most policy issues Satmar finds an ally in the Brisker Talmidim - the hardcore Briskers, those that take upon themslves all Minhogei and Hanhogos of Brisk. In New York one of the biggest Briskers around is Reb Leib Garelik, son of Reb Yeruchem Garelik of the Bronx, and brother of Reb Abba Garelik of South Fallsburg. Reb Leib seems to have found a home in Satmar circles - for a long time being a R"M/Rosh Yeshivah in Alexander Yeshivah, populated by many Satmar and satellite members.

What Reb Leib wants is to keep the Gemorroh out of the hands of the ignoramuses. After all, if everybody can learn a shtikkel Gemorroh just like him what then makes him a big Rosh Yeshivah. Yes, the BaaleBos needs help from Nosson Scherman & Co., but he still feels as if he's Shayech to it. He calls the people who translated the Shas people who have the gall (in the spirit of "Chutzpah Yasgei") to do what nobody in previous generations dared to do. They're in it for the business - even if their stated goal is to make it "easy to learn," and they're uprooting one of the Ikkarei HaDas! Torah was meant to toil on; if it comes easy then it becomes Sam HaMovess. Someone who derives pleasure from learning has the wrong idea; he needs to be Maymis Atzmoy, that's the only that the Torah has a Kiyum with him. Only regarding Mishnayos was it permitted to learn without toiling and understanding on your own, since Mishna is Piskei Halochos, which are important to know in order to live a life according to Torah. Not so with Talmud. Gemorroh was meant to learn and understand, and only through hard work, not by being handed a finished product.

Not for nothing, continues Rabbi Garelik, did every shtetl have a Chevra Ayn Yaakov, and Chayei Odom, and Chevra Ri"f; that was made for those who didn't have the time or intellectual capacity to learn Gemorroh the proper way - by working hard at it. Those people could fulfill the obligation of learning Torah by learning Halochos or Agaddata. If they'd have wanted them to learn Gemorroh with the big boys they too could've written a commentary on the Talmud. Only those lofty souls - those that G-d had granted the ability to learn the way it was meant to be - only they should be allowed to learn and understand the Talmud. Everybody else: stick to the Ayn Yakkov and to the Chayei Odom, and leave the Gemorroh to the big boys, guys like Garelik and his buddies. In other words: "!בלייב אן עם הארץ"

Horror Caught On Camera

Kiev and Babi Yar, 1941

In color, Noch.... (NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!!)
What we have here is photos of Jews being marched through the streets of Kiev to the mass grave of Babi Yar. There's also the piles of clothing and belonging that was nicely sorted for the Germans and Ukes to loot after they were slaughtered. My Russian-speaking friends tell me that the conversation in the forum where the pictures are featured is revolting. Words like "war is war," what can you do, and how brave the POWs were to work without masks....What's most horrifying is the expressions on the faces of the local Ukranians, Yms"h, and the collaboration that went on with the Germans, Yms"h. For them this was a great victory. Not that any of this is actual news; but the pictures are, relatively anyway.

Must see DVD

If you're looking for Kosher, inspirational and educational audio-visual material, and if you wish to see how Chassidim lived and inspired others, then this DVD is for you. You have one in your computer anyway, so you might as well utilize the drive for what it was meant - Gutte Zachen. Reb Chaim Dalfin has taken upon himself the all-important task of eternalizing some of this footage, and we thank him for it. The fact that the events took place within the confines of his home and Chabad House in California also didn't hurt his cause.

You see, Reb Mendel O"H would spend a few weeks each year traveling to collect funds for the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshivos, and Northern California was one of the stops on his itinerary. While in California he'd join with the legendary Reb Shmuel Dovid Raitchik o"h, and together they'd go to their list of supporters. The "Algemeiner Journal" readers amongst you will remember that there seems to be a Kibbitz of She'aris HaPleitoh Yidden in S Francisco and the environs, I guess these were the Yidden they'd relieve of some of their money and use it for bessere zachen.

At times like these Reb Mendel and Reb Shmiel Doovid would stay at Reb Chaim Dalfin's home for a few days, and it's one of these days that the footage was taken, much to Reb Mendel's chagrin. He didn't like the fact that he was the subject of the video, a very Chitzoniyus'dikke concept in his eyes. The fact that the Rebbe allowed it was a Rebbishe Zach, and for one to do it of stam Chassidim was Chitzoniyus. We thank Reb Chaim for this Chitzoniyusdikke act, one that may bring some Pnimiyus into our lives. We sure are lacking, and what better to get some back than to watch those that did attain some through hard work, and see how they did it. Other works by Reb Chaim include "Who's who in Lubavitch," "Davening," "To be Chassidic" and more. See This website for a full listing.

The mission statement of "Who’s Who in Lubavitch – Oral History Project" is: To retain the rich Chabad-Lubavitch tradition and flavor in the consciousness of Chabad Chasidim, young and old. Through written, audio and visual means we hope to remember the past, influence the present, and assist in the development of the future. If you are interested in having your Lubavitch family member remembered, we encourage you to contact us. WWL Project is a nice wedding memento, Bar/Bas Mitzvah gift, or for any other occasion. To order the DVD, email whoswholubavitch@verizon.net or call(212)444-9105.

Crossing the Line

The discussion about pre-WWI Belz, and the living conditions (and conduct expected) there, prompted reader Yosef718 to send the following in to the editor. We thank him profusely for this fascinating piece of history, one that tells us of a Yid who decided to leave the comforts of the West in Prague and join the huddled Chassidic masses in the East. Just as today there are many that decide to leave the fold, citing how uncomfortable and stifling life can be for them, so was the case then. Actually, we now have only a fraction of the problems living like that caused for the young people who were caught up in the ideas of the time. Similarly, although the numbers may not be as high, there were those that left the creature comforts of a Western (Torah?) life, one comparable to Modern Orthodox today (maybe not exactly, but you get the idea), and went searching for a life of Yiddishkeit that included Hiskashrus to the great Chassidic Masters of the day, and adapting the lifestyle of their adherents. Another famous author who made a similar transition pre-WWI was the author Aron Marcus, although their original level of observance may have differed.

Jeri Mordecai Langer, Czech poet and writer, writes of his visit to Belz in 1913. Raised in an acculturated upper middle-class Jewish family, he was longing for something mystical, and found it in the Belz of the time. It seems like he was irreligious at the time, which makes his life's change even more spectacular, since there was no outreach at the time, and he made it all on his own. He eventually moved to then-Palestine, after the Nazi invasion of his native Czechoslovakia, where the relationship with Belzer Chassidim flourished again. Baalei Tshuveh of today can easily find parallels to what they go through while trying to adjust to the Chassidic lifestyle. The mistrust and cold shoulder was maybe more prevalent in those days, and may have been more difficult to shake off too. Yet, we see how he persevered, and was able to realize and achieve the essence of Chassidus Belz, eventually seeing the "ice-wall of mistrust" begin to thaw, even if that had to come with him adopting the Belzer mode of dress, the one Reb Nochum Mordche'le was so afraid of.

Loved By All - And Loved All

(RSC and RSB z"l dancing at a Chasunah)

Chaim Berlin Tragedy commenting on Circus Tent: יש קשר

Hirshel Tzig: I honestly don't know why people are picking points with Rav Shmuel Berenbuam zt"l when it's still the week of his shiva. The man was a total anav, tzadik and gaon. He hated falshkeit and was a true Ohev Yisroel. He avoided all politics like poison. There are not too many people like that in the Torah world. I know of one yungerman who is today a big lamden and a menahel himself who went for a farher with Rav Shmuel 30 years ago. He said they spoke in learning based on the Ketzos, and he got the impression that Rav Shmuel knew the entire Ketzos "cold," be'al peh, backwards and forwards. That's just the Ketzos. What about other meforshim and shas. The bottom line is that Rav Shmuel Berenbaum loved all Yidden, as we can see with the love and mutual respect between Rabbi Ebert and Rav Shmuel even though Rabbi Ebert had chosen the derech of Chabad.

I once heard from an old-time talmid who learned at the Mir that he was once baby-sitting one of Rav Shmuel's younger sons. He couldn't resist taking a look at what the Rosh Yeshiva had in his refrigerator. Guess what? Almost nothing. I think he said he saw a bottle of milk and that's about it. The man lived with nothing, just lived for learning and his yeshiva. He would take the geshmakste walks on his own down Kings Highway with his eyes sparkling and his kapppote unbuttoned, and he could be seen taking it all in. He would always acknowledge anyone who said "sholom aleichem". He hated BS. I once heard him talk at a vort where he basically told the choson that he was a total jerk and baal gaaveh. What could they do, who would argue when Rav Shmuel said it in such a sweet and self-effacing way. A big mystery was why he always wore his hat slightly at an angle; in CB they would have assured this, but it seems the frum Rav Shmuel could not let go of his dapper side from his youth. He was showing that he was still a human being who liked to wear his hat "his way."

Anyhow, he lost two sons bechayav. One, Leibel, was into kiruv and left a family in Bnai Brak. Rav Shmuel spent his last few years being with them in Eretz Yisroel for Yom Tovim helping to marry off the yesomim of his son. And the real tragedy that few seem to recall happened about 32 years ago on a beach in Eretz Yisroel, when one of Rav Shmuel's sons (I do not know his name) who was learning at the Mir in Eretz Yisroel and was a close friend with the oldest son of RAS, Rav Mordchai Zelig Shechter, who is today the new mashgiach at CB, when they were strolling down a beach in Eretz Yisroel together and the light was not so good, (either early morning or evening) and they were spotted by an old Israeli civil guard who ordered them to halt. There was a mix up, and the guard fired his rifle at them, and Rav Shmuel's son was shot and killed. It was in the papers. The guard was an older yid. This was a time when there were attacks by the PLO from the sea, so everyone was nervous, and Rav Shmuel's son became the korban then. As for RAS's son he was ois mentsch for a long, long time from this true tragedy.

Rav Shmuel was also very respectful of RAS. In the 1970s and 1980s there were many times that he was seen coming to meet and talk with RAS in his office. The two men respected each other. And when RSC was booted out of CB, Rav Shmuel and the Mir made sure to welcome RSC and give him a shtender by the mizrach vant any time RSC davened there for the Yomim Noraim and other times. Only Rav Shmuel could give kibud melochim to RAS, and at the same time warmly welcome RSC to the Mirrer Bais Medrash. Klal Yisroel has lost a Gadol in Chochma, Pikches and above all, pure old fashioned Heimishe, Litvishe Mentschlichkeit! So, as I said, Rav Shmuel was a true tzadik who went through a lot. He lost two golden sons in his lifetime and I am sure that there was more tragedy in his life. No one should be saying anything bad or suspicious about him or his motives.

Yehi zichro boruch!

Revealing Bloggers' Identities

There's an unwritten rule - well, maybe it is written somewhere - that the worst thing one can do is to expose the identity of a blogger or commenter. You may know it, you may share that knowledge with others, and you may even tell him you know who he is, but never, ever, ever, announce that online. The reason given is that it kills the whole concept of blogging. If a blogger/commenter knows that his identity will be plastered all over the internet for all see he'd never write in the first place. Obviously, those that use their real name have no qualms about being identified or harassed for their opinions, but we don't speak of them, we speak of those that don't wish to make all their views known, for whatever reason. I'm somewhere in the middle when it comes to my identity; I don't mind if those that know me know that I publish Circus Tent, but it's those whom I don't know, those that send nasty anonymous e-mails that worry me. I'm also uncomfortable with people knowing me and sending me nasty e-mails and messages, yet I have no clue who they are. One of the non-perks (for lack of a better term) of blogging is that so-called friends stab you in the back. They're jealous for some reason and shoot their mouths off to that effect.

Which leads me to my current problem. After some research, and some Holmesian methods of deduction, I believe - with the help of a friend - I've stumbled across the identity of a certain commenter here. He may not be known to some of you, but he's been sending me nasty e-mails making claims that I KNOW he has NO knowledge of. The idea, I guess, is to intimidate me, and stop from from writing about certain issues in the news, as if what I write will affect the issue somehow. He seems to be somebody I know, and he's been stupid enough to drop hints as to his identity, lucky for me. I never bother to find out people's identity, simply because I have neither the time nor the patience for it, not to mention the knowledge to track an IP address. Also, if I start doing that I'll surely lose readers, even as it is it's difficult to get comment writers to use fictitious names when commenting, all they do is use "anonymous." Imagine what will happen when they find out I track their computer usage. So, my question is: do I approach this character and tell him to cut it out immediately, or is that taking it too far, seeing that he too can take retribution and announce my name to all?

Your input is appreciated, and I mean all of you.

יש קשר

COL

Sorry to ruin it for some of you.....
I saw it and I felt like I had to post it here. After all, I wasn't the one who asked the question "did he have Shaychus to Lubavitch?" You thought I had some ulterior motive other than to mention his passing. There was none, I just felt like I had to mention it, even if it was mentioned in every other Jewish news website. Reb Shmuel was a man of Torah, he lived it, breathed it, and would do anything to strengthen it. Others, unfortunately, were only interested in furthering the divides amongst Yidden, and worked hard to perpetuate it. I'm glad I found this, since it reinforces what we already knew about him. Does this mean that he endorsed everything Lubavitch did? no. What it does show is that he didn't allow the new-age thinking to skew his mind.

Which reminds me; a friend of mine has a daily Chavruseh, a Talmid Chochom from a Satmarer Rabbonishe family, first tier Satmar, if you will. This morning he asked him if he heard about Reb Shmuel's passing, to which the Chavruseh asks "Who's that?" "The Mirrer Rosh Yeshivah," he says, "Mir on Ocean Parkway." To which the Chavruseh asked "Mir has a Yeshivah in America?" I thought they have one in Yerushalayim..... If you're raised exclusively in one society, and especially in the pre Rebbe-picture craze days, it's possible to never really leave your own immediate circles, especially if all others are "Treyf" in your mind. And you thought Lubavitchers were ignorant of going ons in the rest of the Jewish world....

The Mad Hungarian strikes again!

"Hashkofoh"

It seems like Shlomo Lorencz, the great Hungarian Hope, has struck again. Lubavitch is the target. Again. I guess this is how the former Israeli MP intends to create a legacy for himself; to go out with a bang, and to let it be known that he was a true "Lochem Milchamas Hashem," fighting to keep Judaism out of the hands of the non-righteous. Although the book in which this story was printed (במחיצתם של גדולי ישרא-ל) is not brand-new, the story was brought up recently in a discussion about Moshiach and the belief in his imminent arrival, something seemingly not OK to believe in anymore, since Lubavitch somehow rendered it impure. Not just the Lubavitch of Dor HaShvi'i either, mind you, it's the Lubavitch of 1943 with slogans such as LeAlter LeTshuveh LeAlter LeGeulah - and that all that's needed for Moshaich to come now is the Tshuvah of Yidden that also somehow veered off the path set out for us by our Lithuanian Rabbis who are the true bearers of the torch of Torah and Mesorah.

You see my friends, I like Reb Yaakov Kamenecki, not that I knew him or ever met him, I just established a liking for him later in life. He was an easy-going man who taught BeDarkei No'am, unlike some of our contemporary "Gedolim." According to all accounts he was not a zealot who needed to make himself heard at every turn, and never screamed from the rooftops about other peoples' misdeeds. He was a Yid from Di Alte Heim who made a living by working hard and raised a nice family of Talmidei Chachomim. Interestingly, his son Nosson, probably the only one who writes about him "like he saw it," seems to speak out of both sides of his mouth when he discusses his father. One one hand he's this somewhat self-educated and very Mentshliche man who's astounded by the ignorance and naivete' of his Talmidim when it comes to secular knowledge, and on the other he's this zealot who's very worried about people's intentions when they do Mitzvos, as if we do for all the right reasons...

The story here is as follows. (I doubt the accuracy of the story - HT) When Reb Yaakov was living in Toronto - this must be back in the '40's - a Yid came to him and told him that he took upon to himself to begin keeping Shabbos because he heard from "Anshei Chabad" (a term meant to be derogatory, btw) that Moshiach is coming - that their "Rebbe" (quotations are the original's) was soon to appear as Moshiach - and how will it look if Moshiach comes and he's Mechalel Shabbos? "Don't believe them," Said Reb Yaakov, "Moshiach - LeTZa'areynu - is not coming yet." You need to keep Shabbos anyway, whether or not Moshiach is coming. He then went on to explain to the Yid the essence of the holiness of Shabbos, and how he must refrain from doing business on that holy day. He also explained to this Yid how to believe in Moshiach, There's no Mitzvah to believe that Moshiach WILL come anyday, just to believe that he MAY/CAN come any day. I guess the Yid thanked him for clarifying these issues to him, thanked him, and left. I also assume that his store was again open for business next week, but that may be me getting ahead of myself. Like I said, I doubt the story is true, for numerous reasons, but I still need to address it.

When the Yid left those around Reb Yaakov (which is probably a lie, since I doubt he had "Shtub-Mentshen" in Toronto) asked him why he discouraged this Yid from (believing in Moshiach's imminent arrival and) keeping Shabbos, , since at least if he believes he'll keep Shabbos, whereas now he'll definitely continue to be Mechalel Shabbos?! Reb Yakkov replied: What the "Anshei Chabad" accomplished here was imaginary, and the "loss will be greater than the reward." In the near future when this Yid will see that Moshiach has yet to arrive (how does he know that he won't come?! - HT) he'll begin to desecrate the Shabbos again, and furthermore, until know he believed with absolute faith that Moshiach will come one day, now that he's disappointed he'll lose one of the foundations of Yiddishkeit, the faith in Moshiach's arrival. This seems to follow the logic that we shouldn't put Tefillin on (irreligious) people since we need to check for - ahem - "Guf Noki." We thank Reb Shlomo ZGZ for the wonderful Mayseh, and the very important lesson we learn from it. Never tell a Yid to do a Mitzvah unless you're absolutely sure that all systems are in order, even if it's a Bori VeShemo.....

A Shayne Mayseh.

The great Masmid

HaGaon Reb Shmuel Berenbaum z"l

Rubashkin has had enough

I'm not usually the one to deal with such issues; I have neither the knowledge nor the patience to deal with blind mud-slinging that ultimately happens when discussing these kinds of issues, but here I think I can handle it. Those of who've been duped by Yudel Shain for all these years, and who think that he's some kind of "expert," may think that this (KAJ removing the Hechsher for Aaron's/Rubashkin) gives credence to his years of trying to find dirt on the great Rubashkin family. After all, if the straight-shooting KAJ took off the Hechsher they must've finally seen the errs of their ways, and they've decided to stop putting their name to this "terrible" brand of meat and poultry. But consider this; if there was a real problem would they wait three and half months to terminate the Hechsher? three and a half more months of real problematic meat and poultry? I doubt it. The answer is very simple: follow the money trail, friends.

Ever since KAJ has added their stamp to Empire Rubashkin has not been happy. After all, would you be happy if your chief competitor got the same stamp of approval as you did after years of not being able to, and that keeping them on a lower tier with consumers? I think not. Granted, most Frum people still stay away from Empire because it's been ingrained in their collective consciousness that Empire is Treyf, and no matter how many Shochtim with white beards they advertise as having they still won't get the frum consumer to buy it, but many have overcome the fear of Empire and have crossed the invisible line into Empire. So, ever since that happened there's been bad blood between the two, as can clearly be seen by those of you who bother to read between the lines. This "bad blood" seems to have boiled over now, and the result is the termination of their relationship. That also explains the three and half month waiting period; there seems to be a contract until then.

The Yud Aleph Nissan date is cute too.....

פון שפיקוב איז קיין ראי'ה ניט

From Here

One of David Assaf's projects in the book נאחז בסבך seems to be Reb Yitzchok Nochum Twersky of Shpikov Hy"d, son of Reb Mordechai of Shpikov, son of Reb Itzekel Skverrer, son of the Maggid Reb Mottele Chernobeler zt"l. RYNT married the daughter of Reb Yissochor Dov Belzer zt"l and was killed in Belzec Al Kiddush Hashem, MeMeileh is shver afilu tzu redden vegen a Kodosh; but I feel like I need to defend the "claims" against him (as if) and maybe even ask Mechilleh from him for doubting the man's greatness. Seeing what Assaf makes of him is enough for even a novice like myself to see that the book is full of hot air and can easily be taken apart, but for someone looking for excuses why not to believe in Chassidim/Rebbes this is also enough. The discoveries by Assaf do teach us a lesson; if you're going to write to irreligious people make sure to use a pseudonym, or better yet, meet him in person and never tell him who you are.

The main thrust of his expose' is a letter written by RNMT to a Maskil, Dinesohn, in Lemberg/Lvov before his marriage. He was engaged to the Belzer Rov's daugter and he seems to have been undergoing some good ol' fashioned pre-wedding jitters. He had never seen the Kallah and probably had heard lots of negative things about the Belzer Chassidim . In those days the Belzers were the Reb Arelech of today, zealous and hard-nosed men who got their way by hook or by crook. Imagine a Bochur from a more toned-down Chassidus gets enagaged to the Reb Arele Rebbe's daughter - he'd have a severe case of the stomach-churns too. Assaf brings the story to knock Belz but I'll use it against him. He tells of a wedding just 2 years later, where a Machnivker son married a Belzer daughter in Belz in 1912. Just before the Machnivker Pamalyoh reached Belz they were "greeted" by a group of Belzer Chassidim - Gaboyim - who informed all of the women - many of whom wore Sheitlach - that they would not be allowed to enter the town of Belz wearing Sheitlach! In their town there's not a single Sheitel, and even a visitor is strictly forbidden to wear one! That wouldn't today, even in Toldos Aron/Avrum Yitzchok.

I imagine RYNT heard stories about the zealousness of the Belzer and was very afraid of what would happen to him there. Not that c"v his father's house was epes nisht al pi darkei hachassidus, but it seemed to be less ohngeshtrenkt. In Belz everything was Assur, Ohn a Farvos, and they seemed to thrive on "Davka nisht." That was the crux of his complaints and worries, and that was what he was so afraid of; that he wouldn't live up to their guidelines, and that he'd be looked down upon. In the letter he mentions many aspects of Levush that were foreign to him, like Davka wearing unclean clothes, and the fact that women must wear Tichlech only and be makpid on Giluach HaSa'aros. Pants were Assur too, you wore a long Rekkel/Kapopte, till the floor really, and that was it, and c"v not a wool one. I'm sorry if it seems strange, but that's what he writes. So, where do we this supposed double life that Assaf claims RYNT lead? is an aversion to dirty clothes so terrible? of course not, but Assaf puts two and two together and makes five. He finds other reason why he must say that really underneath those Spodiks and Shtivvel there was a "Maskil" waiting to bloom, the fact that two of his sisters nebach left the fold. Mirel Twersky was married to Reb Osher, son of the Yenukah of Stolin, and even convinced him to travel to a conservatory and study music without telling any of his family, including his father. They later divorced. Another sister was sister to the Trisker Maggid's Eynikel, her cousin, and was also a Maskil'te. She divorced, moved around Europe, and later lived in New York, where she raised a irreligious family. The fact that his sisters fried out I guess makes him guilty by association.....

All the three men eventually ended up dying Al Kiddush Hashem. RYNT married the Belzer Rov's daughter, he didn't call off the wedding, and stayed in Belz for a while, but eventually opted for Rabbonus rather than being a Rebbe of Chassidim. He was known as the Rava-Rusker Rov, and he later had a shtikkel run-in with his Shver's Chassidim anyway, when overzealous Belzers ransacked his shul for some reason. There's a famous picture of Reb Aron Belzer zt"l walking in Marienbad with Chassidim where RYNT is featured looking just like all the Belzers anyway, so I guess he managed to fit in all right. Most of the so-called "evidence" seems to be circumstancial. All I can say is, that if Assaf hut zich gennumen tzu em, then he's in good company, he joins a list of some of the greatest of the great who get in Assaf's way for some reason. The only thing that bothers me more is the excitement by some in the Misnagdishe circles, but that's for another time.

זמן חשבון הנפש

Ironic that commemorating a time for Cheshbon HaNefesh like a Yom Holedes is considered by some to be מעשה פרעה, no? I guess if you look at the day and you see yourself celebrating like פרעה then maybe you should discourage it, but only then. However, if you look at that day and see it as a time for Hachlotos Tovos and a sincere Cheshbon HaNefesh, a time for Hosofoh BeLimud HaTorah VeNesinas Tzedokoh, what could be more commendable than that?

And on a simple weekday yet!

ה' יספור בכתוב עמים

העפי ניו ייער

Hesitant

(דוד אסף)

David Assaf's book "נאחז בסבך" was recently purchased for me by a friend. He was in Tuvia's in Monsey and saw it, so he called me and asked me me if I want, so I said "YES!." Since then I've been told by many friends - oofgeklerte friends - not to read it; That it'll hurt my Emunas Chachomim and belief in Toras HaBaal Shem Tov., They say it's not so much for the part about Reb Moshe ben the Alter Rebbe, but more so for the other parts that he writes, "facts" that was not really known to the masses till now. I've begun to read parts, slowly and deliberately, not wanting to ingest it quickly. At first I chose the parts that I know won't affect me as much. After all, learning that the Chernobler Chassidim and Rebbes of all segments of the Chernobler dynasty made life for Breslover Chassidim in their areas a living hell on earth really doesn't affect me as much as - say - the "fact" that he says the Chozeh of Lublin ztvkllh"h committed suicide, Afroh LePumey. Chassidim who believe that there was a Malach involved here, and that it was somehow connected to the Holy Chozeh wanting to bring the Geulah are naive fools at best in his eyes. His general tone is one of terrible scorn, this despite the fact that he claims to be a Shomer Torah UMitzvos.

More on this later......

UPDATE - WEDNESDAY EVENING:

Some points to ponder: Most of what he brings in the book is a collection from old Zichronos books, some written by Frumme, some by former Frumme. The whole point of the book is not - say - to bring to light a story that was never told, which is maybe what BMR had in mind when writing "Rescued by the Reich." In his case the LeKanter came later, when he stumbled upon a "conspiracy" (in his mind) by Lubavitch to cover up the story, and also lots of other "juicy" bits of information. David Assaf very much wants to "educate" the Frum public, rather the Chassidishe public. He followed all the conversations about the book in the Charedi discussion forums, and even brings BeChadrei Charedim as a "Ayin Shom!" As is the case with Shimmy Deutsch, who also wanted just to "set the record straight," he shleps everybody he can into his stories, and makes sure to Bashmutz wherever he can, not just the protagonist. Far be it from me to engage in character assassination, but if I didn't know better I'd say he was working for some word-class Chassidim hater, all Chassidim, that's all he writes about. Yes, I realize he's a MitMacheh BiTchum Toldot HaChassidus, (specializes in Chassidic history) but this seems to be his life's mission - just digging up dirt on Rebbes and Chassidim of old, to disprove even them, to disprove the whole movement, all the way from birth. This was the modus operandi of the Maskilim; with the Misnagdishe Bochurim it was somewhat easier because they weren't tied down to a group, and didn't have to worry about what friends would say. They also didn't need to worry about what the Rebbe would say because he had no Rebbe. Chassidishe Yidden had all kinds of Mofsim that proved to them that there was a G-d and that Tzaddikim were a sort of "proof" of Hisgalus Elokus. Chassidim stood in the way of the Maskilim, because they believed, and Maskilim, and David Assaf, hate believers.