R' Pesach Falk made me a Ba'al Aveiroh (Part I)

The world famous author of the "Tznius Book" has struck again. By that I mean that just as he had taken women and girls who considered themselves quite Tzonu'os, and made them into provocative ones who cause men to sin, so too with this book. While recently visiting a doctor's office I noticed his book on a Chosson and Kallah and the period between engagement and wedding called וארשתיך לי בצדק, and was immediately drawn to it. I'm b"h happily married for a number of years, but I guess I wanted to see if I was a good boy during that time. It turns out that until you get to the part about proper conduct during your engagement you need to be on your third visit to that doctor's office, and I didn't have all that much of a wait anyway, so I didn't get very far. First there's much talk there about the general code of conduct between men and women, which is of relevance to me now, as well as to most of you, since many of us do work in offices and interact with women daily on a professional level.

What bothers me is as follows: If you work in an office and there's a secretary there, or any other female employee for that matter, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, there are times when the mood there is a bit lighter. You need to interact and deal with her as you'd do with any other human being, this isn't a grocery in Williamsburg where you can throw the money on the counter. There are times you need to make light conversation, and there are times you need to congratulate her, for whatever reason. I realize that most of what he says is basic Shulchan Aruch, but he seems to be going overboard with his Psokim. Here's what I mean (and please don't attack me as not caring about halochoh.) He quotes the Shulchan Aruch and Poskim like the Beis Shmuel who make any kind of interaction with women Avizrayoo DeGiluy Arayos and transgressions of the Lav of Lo Sikrevoo LeGalos Ervosoh.

To be continued, iy"h.

Growing up in Monsey

Shalom Auslander is a kid from Monsey who ran away from G-d. He sees G-d as many of us do, one who punishes and kills, but most of us try and appease him instead of running away. He chose the way of Yonah, but G-d hasn't sent the whale yet. It seems from him that what we say about the soul not allowing one to rest is true. See how tormented, and even obsessed, he is about being born to a frum family, and what he was taught in Cheyder in Monsey, it plagues him mercilessly and allows him no rest. I wonder if he'd been taught a bit differently, namely that G-d is not all about punishment and death, if he'd have turned out differently and even have made a positive difference to the Jewish community.

I Thank CE for sending me the link to his book of memoirs.

פאריז, תרצ"ב

Shturem

"מרבין בצדקה, רבותי"

Feed BP's Hungry!

An Obituary

GUEST POST BY CE

I had a friend once, back in high school and for a number of years afterwards. We eventually went our separate ways, but there were times when we communicated quite a bit. He was intelligent, curious about things that most classmates didn't take much interest in, and he was full of life. He had energy, he had his own rules, and he had a strong desire to be extraordinary. He was confident there wasn't anything that he couldn't do, but he knew that he didn't want to do what everybody else was doing.

He didn't like regulations much; and although he wasn't anti-authority per se, he preferred not to take authority seriously. When he was happy he was very happy, and when he was down, he was very down. He believed in himself, and he wanted to find an outlet for some deeper energy that was bottled up inside, but he was sure that it was somewhere off the beaten path. He wanted to understand himself, he wanted to understand the world, and he wanted to understand reality. He looked in many places, but after being raised in a frum community he suspected that the answers were elsewhere.

Sadly, his father was extremely sick since he was a child, and as a result he didn't have a father in his life. In school he was, at best, pitied by the faculty. Living in New York – where it's easy to be overlooked – he was more or less left to his own devices. His mother, a special woman, was as caring and dedicated as she could be (her situation is one that I cannot imagine, and this was only one element of the complexity of her circumstances), I don't know how she managed to cope, but she did an amazing job. He wasn't neglected, and he wasn't disliked. But outside of his home he WAS underappreciated, and he could have used guidance, which he ultimately found elsewhere. Often, when I ran into former classmates, they'd ask me about him, but unfortunately I had to tell them that we'd been out of touch for a while. Many rooted for him – he was daring, without fear, he often did what nobody else would try. Everyone who knew him thought of him as unique and everyone wondered where he would end up… myself included.

He experimented with many things. He traveled to various places around the world for long periods of time. He tried his hand at various ventures. He read, he enjoyed many genres of music, he made unique friends and acquaintances – many of whom really cared about him. The years passed and, unfortunately, I don't think he felt that got very far when all was said and done. I can't remember all the things we spoke about in the hundreds of hours that we conversed, but I remember him telling me – at least 10 years ago – that he had broken his fear of death, quoting Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" (which might be surprising, because when we studied it in class he was seldom there): "A coward dies many deaths, a hero dies but once." Tragically, he recently died a violent and horrific death in the NYC subway system, 34 years old. May the Neshoma of Gershon ben R' Mordechai Leib rise up to the heights, TNZB"H.

Darkei Tshuveh

I realize this may be going out on a limb, but it's worth the duscussion.

The Darkei Tshuveh of Munkacs passed away in 5670, a time when there still quite a few Rabbonim of Chassidic stock that could've given him an approbation for his Sefer. The sefer was published while Reb Yitzchok Elchonon of Kovno was still alive, which means it was first published before 5656/1896. Yet, for some reason he travelled to far away Lithuania - or sent a copy of his sefer - to yes, some of the greatest Rabbonim of the generation, but all non-chassidim. There's an Haskomoh from Reb Yitzchok Elchonon, Reb Shlomo HaCohen the Vilner Rosh Beis Din, and a third whom I can't remember right now, (who may in fact have been from Chassidic background based on the Ittinge name) without the sefer in front of me. Did Chassidim suffer from the inferiority complex that the Torah was given in Di Lita, and that only there could he find the approbations he needed for his work to be accepted?

Then again, maybe I'm paranoid. It might just be that.

Who needs Rabbis?

When we have Rebbetzin Kanievski. (Hebrew.)

Sorry about not posting Rosh Hashonoh wishes on Wednesday, I was busy doing Tshuvah for all my misdeeds. I am human after all, contrary to popular belief. I also procrastinate, so I missed the Tammuz early-bird specials.

Chapt Arein ah Mitzveh!

I've declined to edit the message I got in order to retain the authenticity. Please try and ignore the Apikorses that may appear in the proceeding lines - HT.

Received via e-mail:


TIK'U BACHOYDESH SHOYFER

As before every jewish holiday the question arises "where can i bear to be for yontif?"

in answer to this age-old dilemma the COMMUNE ON CONEY, 744 coney island ave., is willing to throw its doors wide open.

but we need YOUR help! we'll need a sefer toyre, a baal tokeya,
machzoyrim, and most importantly a shefa of food, honey, wine,
challahs, wine, apples, wine, fish heads, wine, meren, wine,
sheepshead, wine, and of course, wine.

make your guilt-ridden last-ditch attempts to avoid a death sentence donations to Isaac Schonfeld, 917-803-9909, isaac18@gmail.com

join us as we all raise our voices to heaven in unison: "STOP JUDGING US"

A GUT GEBENTSHT YOR

-vaad l'arvev hasoton v'hakodosh borukh hu

Ad Kan the message I got.

The message is not very clear as to who and what needs the help, but you may know them. They're the men and women of "Chulent, Inc." who haven't a place to spend the YomTov davening and meals. Yes, the message and appeal is childish and tired, especially the cliches like "stop judging us," and "wine and wine," but they do need our help. Please open your wallets, and help make this happen. Even if they're trying to "confuse" G-d.

Calls for inreach

Schneur commenting on Circus Tent: Tormented Souls

I am not a mental health professional, but a number of comments here need a tikkun.

Firstly, seriously sick people are not necessarily homeless or on the street. In the secular world many of the college students who kill themselves are good students from wealthy families, who are tortured and tormented internally. As in religion, chitzonius is not a good indicator of the state of ones pnimiuth.

Next: As far as walking on the subway tracks; it reminds me of a vort by the mashgiach of Baranowitz Rav Lubchanski HaYad. If you see someone crawling in a window at night call the police. Here too - no normal person walks on subway tracks. Repeat that: no normal person walks on subway tracks, just as no normal person takes a half bottle of a drug. Not living in CH I hardly know the psychological turf, but perhaps I can make several comments. If the kids at universities need Chabad houses for drop in and psychological help why not open a Chabad house in CH with the facilities that a Chabad house has in California, to help drug abusers and troubled kids etc? Lomoh Nigre'u?! Trained professionals are needed, but they alone cannot do the job. The parents and teachers need to recognize serious psychological problems.

Finally my pet peeve: does not anyone in CH land realize that after 50 years of a Rebbe larger than life not only leading them , but dictating their lives , many can not manage under the new regime where anything goes? Add to that a dose of immediate Messianism and a dose of the "Rebbe is really alive" and you have a nice "kompot" to the mental problems everyone in the USA suffers. Perhaps one day people will wake up in Lubavitch and realize that without strong spiritual leadership Lubavitch will just develop into another variation of an American religious community (Modern orthodox.) Or it can take steps to seek serious spritual leadership and remain a Chassidic unit rooted in 7 generations of leadership. a gut yohr to all.

For your viewing pleasure

From BeCha"Ch


A Chasidisher Yid


Gevald! Di Aniyus


Teimoni


"Tshalmers"


HaRav Yaakov Meir, The Richon LeZion


Reb Moshe Mordche Epstein of Slabodka/Chevron

Tormented Souls

Another young man from Crown Heights just took his life in the bowels of the NYC Subway System. That makes 2 in a week. Just beautiful. I guess dying in CH is also a zach, not just living there, they both made sure to do it right in front of Bais Chayeinu. I'm not here to point fingers at anybody like some of the "do-gooders" are, nor do I have the answers like some claim to have. I do however know that people need to want to be helped, offering it doesn't do the job. I happen to know who the young man was, and we had a close mutual friend. (I still have the friend, b"h.) The friend tells me that he was a "textbook case" of a suicide waiting to happen, and the now victim also knew it. It was just a question of when. There are millions of others just like him, but for some reason it was held in check in our communities for the most part, people just lived out their lives with their respective conditions. Now it seems that tide too has turned, and young frum people are seeing suicide as an option. This is bad.

Ahhh, Druskenik.

seing Mottel's pic gave me the idea for a new thread

Druskenik - aka Druskininkai - is a resort town that featured some of the greatest Geonim of the generation during the summers. Marienbad was far, and full of Chassidim too. Look at the picture and imagine the street filled with such personalities as Reb Chaim Ayzer z"l of Vilna, Reb Shimon Shkop, Reb Boruch Ber of Kaminetz and the Kletzker Rosh Yeshivah, redden in lernen with young Talmidim.

From TzemachDovid.org:

Doctors in Poland often advised their patients to recuperate in Druskenik, a town surrounded by forests and blessed with "dry air". As it was close to both Grodno and Vilna, Reb Shimon Shkop and Reb Chaim Ozer used to vacation there. And so did Reb Boruch Ber of Kamenitz and Reb Aharon Kotler also spent summers there. (Thus all the photographs in circulation of Gedolim in Druskenik.) The local Jewish citizenry waited all year for the summer months when every house became a "hotel" and every bit of space was rented out. Nonetheless, a ben Torah in need of a datcha was never at a loss, for the local Rav and his son headed a committee to arrange free room and board for b'nei Torah. As a result, a "yeshiva corner" developed in the forest, away from the more vulgar goings-on.



When I (Rabbi Nissan Waxman of Petach Tikvah - HT) was a student in Baranovitz, I asked the Mashgiach for permission to vacation in Druskenik, adding that I had a relative there, so I would not be a burden on the committee. He granted me permission for a two week datcha. One morning while I was there, news spread that Reb Chaim Ozer was coming. The local Rav always had difficulty finding a suitable house for him, for although Reb Chaim Ozer claimed to need only a bed for himself and a bookcase for his sefarim, the Rav knew better. Reb Chaim Ozer not only headed Polish Jewry, he was the leader of world Jewry. The hundreds of daily letters with all sorts of questions and problems had to be answered - even in Druskenik. Nor did the lines of visitors, dignitaries and government officials stop because it was summer. The Rav finally selected a house of suitable stature, close to the "yeshiva corner."

A group of b'nei Torah kept a vigil on the house, waiting for the tzaddik's arrival. Finally the local Rav and his son brought him from the station, and we found his bearing striking - a rather short man with an unusually large head ... I was reminded of a description of the Sha'agas Arye, as possessing a large head, out of proportion to his body. His face seemed to glow with wisdom, his eyes full of goodness. Reb Chaim Ozer and the Rav entered the house while we remained outside. When they came out, we could hear him saying to the Rav, "I cannot accept the house. First I must check with her." Someone whispered that the local Rav was out of step, and should have shown the house to the Rebbitzin. - But isn't Reb Chaim Ozer a widower? whispered another bystander. - Then, who is this "her"? It turned out that Reb Chaim Ozer had been referring to his cook. The kitchen was a distance from the dining room, and he feared it would prove too tiring for her for serving. In Eastern Europe, no decent man would eat in the kitchen ... Eventually, the cook arrived, loaded down with her pots and pans, and she gave her approval to the quarters.

Yiddish lessons at County Court

Photo From Here

So the Tzig was caught "speeding" by a Sheriff's deputy a couple one lazy Sunday afternoon, and was told to show up in court a few weeks later. I guess when you live in a non-crime area cops still need to earn their keep somehow, and property taxes can only go so far. So they lie in wait for us. Let me tell you; night court is not what you thought it was, and make sure to bring a chair and a good sefer/book, because you may be in for an "all evening" wait with nothing to do but stare at the ceiling and walls. However, being that this was my first visit there, and hopefully my last, I wasn't privvy to that information and came empty-handed, thus subjecting myself to an evening full of grunts and sighs. G-d, however, did not foresake me, and put right behind me online a group of very interesting Jewish characters: Yiddish-speaking kids from New Square who look like kids from the Five Towns, and probably never want to see that little village again. Don't get me wrong here, nowhere am I saying that I fail to see the epidemic of dropouts within the CH/Lubavitcher community, but what I saw seems to buck conventional wisdom, namely that as long as you shelter your kids they'll turn out as pure as the wind-driven snow.

There's a story told of a young boy, the son of a Porush who was sheltered - literally for eighteen years. He was locked in a room and was taught and learned Teyreh all his days and nights. His Bar Mitzvah was held in his room, with a Minyan attending. When he turned eighteen he was ready to get Semichah from the local Rov, but needed to go to the Rov's house and get tested, since it wasn't considered respectful to have the Rov come to him, even in such an extreme case. So the young man left his home for the first time and walked with his father through the town's streets. Suddenly the boy - who for some reason was not blindfolded - sees a Vaybel walking along and is, um, intrigued by the sight, since it's his first time. So the lad asks his father: "Tatte, vos is dos?" so the father answered: "ah katshke." The kid accepts the answer and continues walking. A few minutes later he tells his father: "Tatte, koyf mir a katshke." VeHaMayvin Yovin.

What I saw with these kids at court, and the discussions about their indiscretions in Yiddish they were having for all to hear, is that as soon as they no longer feel need to worry and care what people in their community think about them they're outta there! (Let me tell you: You haven't heard about a rock concert, the state of a New York baseball team, and about the um, attractiveness of a female, till you've heard it in New Square Yiddish!) They no longer care about anything Jewish, let alone the color of their shirt or the length of the skirt. They believe nothing about what they were taught to be the truth, and they make new lives for themselves. That leads me to believe that in today's day and age the concept of teaching Yiras Shomayim is over, all there is Mah Yomru HaBriyos, and that can only go so far. Granted, it works for many/most people, but when it fails steer clear, because it crashes with a vengeance.

Many educators will tell you that it's the only thing that works, that the only way you keep kids in line - and adults for that matter - is by making feel uncomfortable if they step outta line. (They'll also tell you that the problem in CH is that no matter what people do, and what they look like, they NEVER seem to feel uncomfortable, but we'll leave that for another time.) The Alter Rebbe in Tanya speaks about not serving Hashem for reward or fear of punishment, and many "open-minded" Lubavitchers seem only to want to reach that level. They'll never do it just because the Torah says if they don't feel like it. How silly of them. But just as silly is doing it ONLY for the all the wrong reasons.

Tzemach is now Ben

Mentalblog is dead. Long Live Reshimu!

I understand all the hard work that went into it, but I don't like it one bit. It's tough to follow, and you need to weed throught all the stories just to find one you might like. Bring back the old.

דער "נעוולער אינגל" איז ניטא

Reb Meir Itkin passes away at the age of 96

It's tough to really bemoan the fact when a person passes away at an advanced age like that, but when it comes to the last links to a bygone generation the pain is much greater, as is the loss. Reb Meir was the epitome of a Neveler Chossid who lived every single day with G-d, Torah, and Rebbe. There was no retiring at age 75, and he never felt that he had done enough already, even at that age. In America that concept is foreign to most people - I mean to American-born Jews - we tend to be content with what we've accomplished, unless it comes to making money.

Chicken or the egg

Here's the issue:

Lately the will to write hasn't been there for me, I guess you noticed. There were times when I had what to write about but couldn't find the time. At other times I couldn't compose myself and write. Now it seems like I'm just burned out. Maybe it's because the only time there's any "action" around here is when it's Snag vs. Lubavitch, or Satmar vs. Lubavitch etc. Otherwise it's dead city around these parts, at least as far as commenting is concerned. Now, if I was only after comments and such I'd do it all the time, and regurgitate the same old silly stories for you to chew on, but I have a conscience, believe it or not, and I won't stand for that. 100+ comments on a thread may make me feel good, but at what price?

Yohrtzeit Link

Heichal HaNegina: The Cherkasser and Saving Souls

Baal Tshuveh frustrations

Avraham Abutbul, Lazer Brody, and Shuli Rand

From Here

You wanna know pain? I'll show you pain.

A local non-frum/maybe half-frum Jew walks into shul to say Kaddish. He seems like a somewhat affluent man, yet disheveled, like he hasn't slept or shaved for a few days. It turns out his dear wife of many years just passed away, and he's still in middle of Shivah. So the Rov tells him to sit down on a low chair, and that the people davening there will bless him for his recent loss. So, one by one he hears the "HaMokom" from everybody at the Minyan and thanks them for it, although he's not quite sure what it is they're saying. A Phenomenon like that is not something you see every day, but it sure does prepare you for what you might see outside of your local frum neighborhood these days.

There was this one gentlemen - a real Tzaddik, a Baal Tshuveh, yes, and most frum people can learn a lot from him - who also wanted to partake of this Mitzvah, (for lack of a better term) and who also started to say the HaMokom. Lo and behold that's all he could remember, he couldn't remember the words that follow! The pain and frustration that was visible on his face was worse than anything I had ever seen. Of course he wouldn't ask anybody what the exact words were, at least I didn't see him doing that. I also couldn't bring myself to tell him what they were, for fear of emabarrassing him further, since he didn't know that I saw him forget. So, he quietly and humbly walked away, in a very "aw-shucks" way lamenting the fact that he couldn't console the poor old man on his loss. What's ironic about all this is that he must've heard the phrase hundreds of times when being consoled for his own recent loss.....

Open forum - (Lubavitcher) Tuition crisis

Easier Reading of Article Here


"Heysh'ke" Dubravsky speaks for most parents when he bemoans the fact that Lubavitcher Chinuch institutions charge as much as a blue-ribbon MO school that offers all the amenities you can think of without even coming close to that. There's also the fact that you'll be hard-pressed to find a family of Lubavitcher size in Mod Ortho circles, so that the expense is even less for the MO!

Again, Lubavitch is to blame

(Rabbi with Torah - by Marc Chagall)

Umyvalnikoff Natschalnik commenting on Circus Tent" "Machlokes L'sheym Shomayim?!":

( I see this guy has "name" issues, he needs to use "terms of endearment" for everybody. Maybe he wasn't loved as a child.....)

When you say that Reb Yoilish's position versus "the Belzer , Lubavitcher, Gerer, Vishnitzer, Kloizenberger, or Boyaner position was maybe correct", you should really be a bit more specific. Whom it is that you're talking about? Is the "Lubavitcher Position" defined by Reb Mendele, Reb Yitzek or Reb Berish ? Because if you look at the latter's (and his son's) view on most issues at hand, maybe, just maybe, he would be just as vigilant, if not more so, about Zionism, Ivrit and other stuff that got watered down as years went by - and dollars started trickling in. Same goes for Ahavas Yisroel; Reb Sucher of Belz or even Reb Zalmen Halberstam's (Klausenberger Rov - HT) grandfathers - all Halberstams without exception, prior to him, had a way stiffer stand on Zionism, Ivrit and whatnot then Satmar ever did.

If you think that "Hungarians" invented and perpetuated machloikes you're severely deluded. Starting with Reb Zalmen Borochovich's "rogue strain of teachings" that ended up being vigorously opposed by the very people who were the closest to him (think R' Avrohom haMalach, R' Avrohom Katz (Kalisker - HT) and R' Mendel Horodenker (sic)), both Russian and Polish chassidim, going back hundreds of years, set the golden standard of machloikes and krigerei. The reason behind perpetual splintering amongst the Maggid's chassidim since the Maggid's passing was nothing other then a very active unwillingness on the part of Reb Zalman's people to accept the otherwise universally accepted - by the rest of the Talmidei haMaggid - leader whose name we should leave out of this. (whom does he mean? - HT)

From that point on, both Russian and Polish chassidus thrived on persistent warfare, disagreements and quarrels. There is nothing wrong with it - in fact, it's the sign of thing being done right, and so says Rashi on ויחן שם ישראל . But don't try to paint those idyllic unified derheibene Teishvei Nevel who never hurt a fly being corrupted by the evil Magyarosatmarsnagkhazaren who aren't even Jewish, (why are Hungarians so despised by all? - HT) and whose only concern in life is over how much Lieber's potato chips will Five Towns not consume this year because of the boycott.

By the way, who is that individual whom Reb Mendel (The Rebbe - HT) calls a mechutzaf in Hisvaduyeis 5745 volume 4 pages 2227-2228 ? And by another way, do you know that some 95% of people under age 30 outside of Chabad - including Satmar and rest of "Poland" - have no idea that there ever was such a thing as boycott of their products; while most young Gezhe Anash (sometimes of Moroccan distillate) are still very vigilant about it?