Last week we published
A letter from Reb Shulem Foygel, Gabbai of the previous
Belzer Rov, zt"
l, to the latter's niece, the
Rebbetzin Traneh Twersky of ניו סקווירא. The letter was chock full of
Chassidishe GEFIELEN and
derheren, In other words how a
Chossid looks at a
Tzaddik such as the BR, and especially how one looks at the said
Tzaddik and
Rebbe at a time of war, such as was the case in 1956. Many of my English-only speaking brethren felt left out and voiced those feelings to me in e-mails and via Google Talk. מה עשה הקב"ה? despite the fact that I did not have the time to do it myself, we did have a volunteer who took upon himself the monumental task of translating
Foygel's letter, no easy task. Many of our
Satmar brethren didn't take very well to the letter, and some voiced their very strong opinions about it in the comments section. What bothered them was what RSF saw as "
Rebbishe Inyonim," they saw as a lack of "leadership skills," something they say that their
Rebbe possessed very strongly. There was more, but there's no need to repeat all their heretical thoughts here. So now, without further ado, I present to you a free translation, somewhat literal, of the letter to
Rebbetzin Twersky.
We thank Mr.
Ende Tsadik for his hard work.
Translation by "
Ende Tsadik" – exclusively for Circus Tent
B"H
Sunday,
Mikeitz [5717/1956]
Peace and Greetings to the honor of the
Rebbetzin, the Righteous and Modest, Daughter of the Sanctified, the Renown Mrs.
Trana, Tlit"a
After greetings of peace and well being I hereby write to you that
boruch Hashem all is in order with her uncle the Graceful Holiness (GH) the
Admor Shlita and he is
boruch Hashem well. The widespread reports that the GH the
Admor Shlita did not lead any tishn on
Shabbos Kodesh are
rebbishe matters; no one can do anything about it. Although I have been with the GH the
Admor Shlita for a long time and I have seen similar conduct before, now it is different. Now it happens for longer periods and it has never happened that he should not lead the
Shabbos meals. It is all due to the times and not because, G-d forbid, the GH the
Admor Shlita is in fear.
I can only share with you an example. When I arrived in the winter there was still a bit of a war going on in Israel, and one Friday I saw how the GH the
Admor Shlita was very occupied. The
Rebbetzin was not there yet [i.e. they were not yet married - ET] and it took a long time till the kindling of the candles, till the GH the
Admor Shlita entered to light the candles without having had anything to drink, not even some coffee. Only after candle lighting did he drink something and then
davened tefilas Shacharis, because in Israel they light the candles according to the Jerusalem calculations which works out at 40 minutes prior to sunset and therefore he was still able to put on
Tefilin. We are of course troubled by the GH the
Admor Shlita's conduct. But we have tried different approaches and not always do we succeed because the GH the
Admor Shlita will not be swayed.
This
Shabbos Kodesh it was quite intense. By that I mean that
Shabbos Koidesh in the evening [Friday night] they davened on time and the tish was also as usual. By contrast,
Shabbos Koidesh by day it was again like the current times. First the GH the
Admor Shlita sat in his room for long periods managing his [
Rebbishe] affairs. Two and a half hours after the time of candle-lighting on Friday he came in to make the daytime
kiddush of
Shabbos, and then the
tish also went on for a long time. Everything was prolonged.
Sholoish seudos took several hours, to the extent that it ended when it was light outside, and by the time
havdoleh was over it was properly light. This has never happened before. This was the first time. Of course we must pray for the GH the
Admor Shlita's health that this shouldn't affect his health because the effort of the divine service is very intense. There is little sleep and several nights can pass and the GH the
Admor Shlita doesn't wash for a meal even in the evening. I am therefore writing to you again that we are doing all we can, we try every method but it ultimately depends on the times. Of course G-d should help that it should completely quiet down when we hope that this will not occur. (translation unclear - HT)
The GH the
Admor Shlita currently makes few enquiries about politics but the times are noticeable all around him. Despite that no newspapers are read one can see on the GH the
Admor Shlita that Jews throughout the world are in desperate need of help. There is a
midrash in
Parshas Vayishlach that the shevotim relied on the powers of that elder, Yakov Ovinu. Although
Yakov Ovinu did not order them to wage war on the town of
Shchem, but since
Shimon and
Levi were fighting a battle
Yakov Ovinu said that he could not allow his children to fall into the hands of the nations. So
Yakov Ovinu girded himself and waged a battle. This is what we see with the GH the
Admor Shlita: although he is not agreeable to wars but since they have started one the GH the
Admor Shlita prays that, G-d forbid, not a single Jew should come to harm...
Now regarding the
Rebbetzin's enquiry about travelling, although in previous years there was a greater danger because according to newspaper reports Nasser
ym"
sh was planning to start a war, G-d forbid, on the Jews and at that time there were requests from abroad, from Antwerp, that the GH the
Admor Shlita should get himself a passport and leave the country for Antwerp, nevertheless the GH the
Admor Shlita would not agree although there is some divided opinion on the matter. Firstly, traveling is no simple matter for the GH the
Admor Shlita and it may be as dangerous as not traveling, because how would he travel? The GH the
Admor Shlita absolutely refuses to travel with an airplane and it is impossible to travel by sea, especially due to changing weather conditions.
We are very pleased that with G-d's help the GH the
Admor Shlita walks about the house, that now at this age, may he live many days, he should be mobile. The GH the
Admor Shlita's attendants are of great benefit to the GH the
Admor Shlita's well being, as they are used to him and he is used to them and should he travel they would be prevented by law from accompanying him. Generally, leaving Israel is very questionable due to the GH the
Admor Shlita's health and the stress of travelling, especially at this age. Then the question arises, where does one travel to. To Europe? A few weeks ago and perhaps even now there was more panic and fear in Europe than there is in Israel.
Then there is the issue that how does one travel if no other
Rebbe is travelling. For instance, your mechuten the
Vizhnitzer Rebbe who has a family does not intend to travel, and likewise others, so the GH the
Admor Shlita should run off? One must also be aware that there are few
Belzer chasidim in Israel but nonetheless the entire Jewry look up to the GH the
Admor Shlita. Should the GH the
Admor Shlita abandon Israel it will break their hearts and cause great fear to all the Jews of Israel. It will be said that since the GH the
Admor Shlita is leaving it is a sign that the outlook for Israel is, G-d forbid, not good. When he was in Poland etc. the situation of
klal yisorel was always taken into account and he did not just think of himself despite that the GH the
Admor Shlita had a family at the time. Alas he risked everything because
klal yisroel was taken into consideration. When he had to rescue himself he came to Israel so now when
klal yisroel in Israel needs help will he run away...? Israel is acquainted with miracles and G-d will not forsake Israel. The GH the
Admor Shlita's current conduct is not because he is in a state of shock, G-d forbid. I am certain that had he been abroad his conduct would have been no different because these are
Rebbishe matters. He is informed that the world is in need of salvation and he feels for the nation of Israel and one does not flee from Israel.
One other thing, if the GH the
Admor Shlita were to travel, then whichever of the great men who might follow will have an excuse that the
Belzer Rov has given orders to travel. Who can take upon himself this responsibility? Trust me, I have no interest in the matter because if he were to travel then please G-d I and my family will also travel. I might even do better than in Israel especially now that during these weeks I am unable to admit people with
kvitlech. Last week I admitted a few people with
kvitlech, but one cannot escape the truth of the general rule that it is preferable to remain seated and not act, sit and do not seek to improve. Israel is conducive to longevity and may G-d indeed help that we should be able to welcome the Messiah with the GH the
Admor Shlita speedily in our days, amen.
During the war in Israel there were several sirens during those few days and the GH the
Admor Shlita went into the bomb shelter in the GH the
Admor Shlita's basement. It made no impression on him, G-d forbid. I spent all the nights with the GH the
Admor Shlita and I did not sleep at home so that the GH the
Admor Shlita should be more assured and not be left alone with the
bochurim. My children were slightly worried and I brought them to the GH the
Admor Shlita so that they could spend the night with the GH the
Admor Shlita.
As to the American
bochurim, the GH the
Admor Shlita tells no one what to do in respect of travel, whether to travel or not. Many
bochurim have left and those who have not left it’s because they don't want to…
It will shortly be
Chanukah and we hope that Jews will again merit miracles and the GH the
Admor Shlita will surely bring about for
klal yisroel all varieties of salvation…
From me the
Gabbe,
Sholem Foigel
