Why change may never come to 770

Notice the before and after pictures of 770. Before being after the battle of Sunday night, and After being the Farbrengen Lekoved Rosh Chodesh Kislev in 770 one night later. Shluchim have left for the most part, the locals could care less, and anarchy reigns again. It's business as usual.


(before, Hebrew sign missing)



(after, Hebrew sign back up)

You would think that only one day later somebody would be angry about the previous night's events, no? That something would've been done. I guess that's too much to expect from some people. I guess G-d takes people's Bechiroh away after all.

Nirbatur Damage Control

Things don't take long around here. As soon as word got out that there's a Pikpuk on the Nirbatirer Hechsher a rebuttal was printed in the Yiddish papers. I guess there's nothing to worry about after all.......

Cheylev MiD'Oraisoh B'Hechsher Nirbatir?!

There's another dark scandal brewing, friends. The whispers are getting louder and louder. These pictures show a piece of Meal Mart (Alle Processing) meat, the REAL Kosher kind - not Rubashkin - supposedly Treibered found to be containing actual Cheylev. All Kashrus supervisions are intact, meaning that it was ready for consumption by some unsuspecting consumer.

Is this as bad as the pictures make it out to be?

Meal Mart - Shevach - Meal Mart - Shevach

Now some are saying that the whole issue is a matter of jealousy, and that the Hisachdus HoRabbonim is behind the expose', being that Meal Mart and Kiryas Joel has been killing the Hechsher business for the HH. Damage control is already in full swing. Is the Nirbater Rov going down?

Tune in next time boys and girls for another exciting adventure of:
Who's serving Treif Today!

Brought to by the good people at Acme Blowtorch Co.

Am I to be silent?

There is so much to say at this time about the situation in Lubavitch Bichlal, and 770 BiFrat, so much that has been bottled up for years. Yet, for some reason I see the Chitzeynim, the leeches, who will come and suck the blood of Lubavitch for its generations. They relish every minute of it as it were their greatest enemy. So, although I see the need to vent my rage at those responsiblle for this situation, I fear the reprecussions even more so.



Some would say that I relish the fact that Ponoviezh Yeshivah is one big cinder waiting to be engulfed by the hate of Machleykes, but nothing could be further from the truth. If that would be the case I would be on the situation like a pack of wolves, reporting every single juicy detail, and believe me, there's enough material for weeks of writing. Benches and Seforim are nothing compared to pipe bobms and tears gas, and the Tzig's fingers would go numb from all that typing.



I too am of the belief that although Lubavitch is known for its Hiskashrus and for its love towards the Rebbe, we forget one thing: that people love themselves even more. They'll have anything destroyed just to see their enemy not in control, and that includes anyhting the Rebbe ever built. None of this should be new to any of you, this happened before 27 Adar and 3 Tammuz as well. This is the root of all that is wrong in Lubavitch today, and I don't just mean Meshichism. Tzemach has a thread on Sholom Ber Drizin, and much has been said there. This is where the ugly underbelly of Lubavitch exposes itself. The grudges that have been there for 50 years in this case, and in other cases for more than that, just don't go away and die. At least with him, he has some reason to have it out with Avremel Shemtov, the others are stam louses that will need to give a Din V'Chesbon one day, and I wouldn't want to be their lawyer.



Lubavitch today suffers from both Sinah that may never go away, and from so-called Ahavas Yisroel. The Shvitzers use their hate to destroy, and the feeble-minded ones, those who OD'd on Ahavas Yisroel, see no reason to do anything, and scream Ahavas Yisroel! when something is already done to eradicate the insanity. The Rebbe told us to learn from Satmar when it came to community organization, I believe this is part of their "area of expertise", we've much to learn from them. After we've learned that we'll go and learn other things from some of our other adversaries. ועוד חזון למועד

(Photos by COL)

בעל ציץ אליעזר ע"ה

Kruzim Online Exhibit

Pashkevillen in Yerushalayim

Brought to you by the JTS. (feh.)

Hendel's Rebbe wore a Shtraimel

More about "Feter Hendel"

There are all kinds of rumors and hearsay why the Rebbe never wore a Shtraimel on Shabbos like his predecessors. They say it was a Mayseh with a Yerushah, they say that the Rebbe didn't ever want to. Some thought that the Rebbe was about to put one on on Yud Shvat 5730, when he carried the big box, containing the Keser Teyreh, down the stairs and into the big Shul. One thing's for certain, Peylisher Chassidim would've flocked to CH after that.

Hendel Lieberman (Futerfas), brother of Reb Mendel, made as if it did actually happen. In this work of art, Hendel paints the Rebbe at a Farbrengen wearing a beautiful Shtraimel. ( At least that's the way I see it from this angle! )

What will they think of next?

Why pick up a lonely pebble or flintstone and put that on the resting place of a loved one, when you can pay 25 bucks to have a personalized, clean, nicely-shaped stone instead?

See The Site





Why do we leave a Stone on the Monument ?


The practice of leaving small stones or pebbles on the monument of a loved one to commemorate a visit to the grave site is a tradition that developed hundreds of years ago and was passed down from one generation to the next.

Although most scholars can find no foundation in religion for the custom of leaving a stone by the grave site, the practice of doing so is presumed to signify the rebuilding of the monument. In early days, people did not have the ability to carve gravestones. Instead, they marked the grave site by placing many stones and rocks at the burial site. Over time, the rocks were disturbed by natural processes and the grave site required rebuilding to be identified. Thus, when technology permitted the creation of a gravestone, the practice of placing a stone at the monument became a tradition of love and respect for the departed. While widely practiced by those of the Jewish faith, many religions and cultures still practice this custom.

Call to action

Reaction to last night in 770

From Reader "Just a Guy"

"Lubavitcher Chasidim, We need to wake up and remove this impurity and wickedness from our midst. These vicious thugs who viciously attacked Chasidim and Shluchim at random had every intention of doing their dreadful work.

Stink bombs, fire extinguishers, eggs and tomatoes were prepared earlier in the evening to be launched at those that were to come to 770 after the banquet. HUNDREDS of Chumashim, Siddurim and other holy sefarim were stacked up and then used as weapons to be thrown. This was no flare up. These animals knew way in advance that this is what they wanted to carry out and they would do their mission at any cost. And now a young Shliach has both his legs broken.

Rabbosai, I was there. I saw the murderous fury in their eyes even before the Farbrengen started. If we have any care or sensitivity to what is right and just we must seriously come together to remove these beasts from our midst.

To the esteemed members of Anash of Crown Heights: Stop your stupidity! We know your dislike and distrust for Rabbis Krinsky and Shemtov and you may or may not be right on that issue. But you are allowing a growing tumor to eat away at the very being of our Rebbe's community! When you go against something on their agenda they will pounce on you just as wrathfully. Remember what the Gemara tells us: "Hamisrachem al Haachzor basof yachzor al hamisrachem" which means One who has mercy on a cruel person will end up being cruel to one that needs mercy."

Pics of the Day

Thanks, COL

וואס טוט מען אין פאהאציק" - נוסח וויזשניץ"

?וואס טוט א איד אין גלות
?וואס טוט א איד אין גלות
?וואס טוט א איד אין גלות

מ'פארט צום רבי'ן כאפן שיריים
שעפן תורה מיט יראת שמים

מ'פארט צום רבי'ן כאפן שיריים
שעפן תורה מיט יראת שמים

מ'פארט צום רבי'ן און מ'הוליעט
און מ'טאנצט א קאראהאד

מ'פארט צום רבי'ן און מ'הוליעט
און מ'טאנצט א קאראהאד

a bit different different than the Lubavitcher Nusach, but then again, the Lubavitcher version has no mention of "Rebbe", while the Vizhnitzer does! Imagine that.

Lubavitch Going Mainstream

(Photo by COL)

It may not be the big time, Artscroll or Feldheim, but Targum Press will do for now.

Rabbi Lazer Shemtov was my quasi-Rabbi for a while, and my knowledge of "Castellano" is thanks to him. I owe him a deep of gratitude for taking me under his wing for a while, and he may not even be aware of it. That all is beside the point.

Now he's compiled a book on questions he answered manning the computers for Ask Moses. Based on what I've seen, seeing him in action answering such questions from all kinds of people, and I mean ALL kinds, I can imagine that it's good work.

Here is the result of that devotion.

I wish him much Hatzlochoh.

Dr. Bernard Nathanson

He shows you how the unthinkable is done

I WARN YOU, IT'S NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!!!!!


I guess the good Doctor, after doing Tshuveh, decided that Jews were not in this mission with him. He ר"ל converted to Catholicism.

Where's Kurenitzer?

(The Namesake, his Uncle, R' Berl Kurenitzer)

The blogger Kurenitzer that is. He's been absent for months, no posts or e-mails.

O' Kurenitzer, O' Kurenitzer, wherefore art thou Kurenitzer?

To quote a certain "Chassidic" singer/songwriter:

It's been so long

It feels so wrong

It's not where we belong.

Can it be that Kurenitzer was told not to post here again by a certain blogger? Was he told that he'd be blacklisted and will never write at a cetain blog again? I see shadows of a certain "witch-hunt" that was perpetrated by a certain Republican United States Senator in the 1950's. A process that coined many phrases and idioms. Can it be that I'm just paranoid and insecure? It can.

I hope he's not a victim. Not for his or our sakes.

The Zune

I've been itching for an IPod for the longest time, especially since every guy on the train has one. I'd like to upload all those Niggunim, Shiurim and Farbrengens onto it. Do I spring for the Zune instead?

Lonely Man of Faith

the life and legacy of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik,


"Lonely Man of Faith deals with the life and legacy of
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, who arguably was the
most influential leader of the American Jewish
community in the Twentieth Century. Over the course
of his more than four decades at Yeshiva University, he
ordained some 2,000 rabbis – more than any other figure
in Jewish History. Known as “The Rav”, he was a
widely acknowledged Talmudic mastermind, and at the
same time, he was an important philosophical thinker.



Rabbi Soloveitchik spent much of his life trying to
negotiate between the demands of Judaism and the
opportunities of the modern age, and this struggle
became a constant theme throughout his writings and
teachings. He encouraged his community to
accommodate the positive developments of modernity,
while fighting those trends he perceived as negative,
such as increased secularism and excessive
parochialism. Now, over two decades after his
departure from the public scene, Rabbi Soloveitchik’s
impact reverberates even today, as his students, friends,
and family continue to debate his complicated legacy."

Lonely Man of Faith is narrated by Tovah Feldshuh, with
readings by Theodore Bikel.

Pshhhh! Heavy Hitters Indeed.

The Rav gets a bad rap from people claiming to carry on his legacy.

From the mail bag - Non-Kosher Animals

HT:

Can you, or your readers / commenters, perhaps enlighten me as to the gedarim of the Rebbe's opposition to having treife animals?

Does this include, for example:
1. A toy horse and rider (playmobile for example)?

2. A little alligator on a shirt, or a rabbit stitched onto a baby garment?

3. A children's book (Perek Shira for example)

Was that the problem being addressed - this is how I understood it - a child's identification with impure animals (Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Mendel the Mouse, Tom & Jerry etc.)

Or was it about impure animals altogether - as some tell me - that impure animals bring impure thoughts and actions, similar to why we refrain from eating such anumals.

Anyone have any idea?

What the Rebbe wants of Shluchim

Courtesy of Shturem.net

People wonder why so much is expected of Shluchim, and why running marathons may not be appropriate. Maybe the Rebbe's words will shed some light on the matter. then again you may think them irrelevant to the matter at hand.

The Rebbe writes:

כבכל אדמו"רי חב"ד היסוד הראשון ביטול היש (מתחיל בעצמו) באמיתית.

היותו אדמו"ר ה"ז שליחות נפשית ועיקרית לנהלם ולעודדם בתורה ומצוות בכלל (מתחיל במצוות ה' ושמירת השו"ע וכו') ולהראותם דוגמא חי' בזה

(עד כדי מס"נ בפועל)

ופשיטא לשלול כל פעולה שיוכלו לטעות לפרשה להפך.

לאחר זה באים חיו בתור פרטי, וגם בזה יסוד שלא לנגוע כלל בתפקידו הכללי והעיקרי

In other words the Rebbe wants Bittul from a Shliach, first and foremost. You do not exist anymore, rather you've become a Shliach. Therefore you must represent he who sent you. First by Shmiras HaTeyreh, until Mesiras Nefesh, and to be a living example of living a Teyreh life. Any action that may be mistaken as contrary to that Teyreh-life is to be negated. Only that are you a person with family obligations, and only if they do not interfere with the Shlichus!

I guess that's too much of a responsibility for some of us, myself included. So when Grubbe BaaleiBatim like myself "criticize", it's only because we care.

Part II Trailer

My Encouter with the Rebbe

(a friend and blogger that attended the premiere writes to me:)

Last night I attended the premiere of JEM's latest production, "My Encounter with the Rebbe: The Early Years II (1931-1938)"

Buy It Here, Watch the Intro to Part I

Unlike the first DVD (that I did a bit more work on) I had very little idea of what this edition contained as far as specific interviews and information. I generally enjoy this kind of thing, and I found it to be tastefully done and interesting. The intro is the same as the first, and although it's understandable – perhaps necessary – to dramatize it, I'd rather that it was more understated (I have an allergic reaction of sorts to PR and hype) – nevertheless I applaud the project and the product.

On my way out someone asked me if I thought Jews in Boro Park or Flatbush would buy it. I wonder – I don't really know if non-Lubavitchers have much of an interest. I think that an oral history project – like this – has real value, but as a marketable production, do people that belong to other groups and communities care? Lubavitchers care (although, I don't know how many buy these things) and this, of course, raises a number of questions about what Lubavitch means to anyone outside of Lubavitch, but from an objective standpoint what does a DVD like this really mean?

For starters it's not about documentation of factoids – these are interviews with people repeating personal information that they, or their families, share. They definitely try to find both Lubavitcher & non-Lubavitcher voices, and they try to be as accurate as possible about the facts, but I am sure that the critics will question and reject whatever doesn't fit their perception. Does the fact that the segements contain inviduals who were there, or at least not far removed from the Baal HaMaayseh, make this stronger than a lifeless bit of black & white information? I suspect it depends on what the viewer's preconcieved notions are.

I wonder, though, since history is basically a collection of subjective stories anyway, why would or wouldn't a project this be as compelling as personal experiences related about any man? Would it be possible for people to lay aside the axes they have to grind for a minute to hear it? I dunno. I hope that all us "experts" in the blogosphere will at least seek out a copy and give it a look; I'm curious to hear what you think!

Some of the highlights from this production:

* We heard about how the Rebbe made R' Baruch Ber cry.

* We heard that the Frierdiker Rebbe insisted that the Rebbe continue and complete college in Paris, when the Rebbe was ready to devote his time to Torahdike pursuits (after Berlin).

* We heard that the Rebbe was kvater and babysat on at least one occasion.

* We heard how the Rebbe passed 20-25 shuls in Berlin to daven by the Dombrover Rebbe – and held him in high esteem (does that makes Lubavitchers supporters of the M.D.U camp in Bobov?).

* We found out that the Rebbe preferred a French studio apartment over a fully furnished larger living quarters.

* We learned a lot more about the Rebbe's college affairs in France, and that he managed to fair well, excelling in mathematics, while missing an enormous amount of class time.

*I noticed that the Rebbe's college documents in Berlin list his name Schneersohn, and in France the name was written Schneerson...

Some photos from the "premiere": HERE