Pointless Car Rides

"One morning Rav Hutner took several of his talmidim from Chaim Berlin in his car (with his driver) for a ride to Prospect Park (Brooklyn) on a crisp October day. They got out of the car and walked to the pond in the middle of the park. Rav Hutner instructed the group of 3 bochurim to look at the lake and pointed out that you could see the bottom of the pond. "This mind of the Chazon Ish is as clear as this lake", Rav Hutner said. Then they returned to Chaim Berlin."

(From Modern Uberdox)

Ich Vil Farshteyn, nothing more. I'd like to understand how the other side thinks, what they see as greateness. I know what they don't see.

I asked an intelligent, unbiased friend of mine what the point of his taking these Bochurim there was. He says that if the point was to define the greatness of the Chazon Ish, and to get the Bochurim to understand what he means, then he did succeed, although he could've done the same with a cup of good ol' fashioned NYC tap water. I don't buy that. There was some sort of gimmick here, some round-about way of showing them HIS "greatness" I'm just not sure what it may have been. S'Iz nit Mashma that there was some sort of issue the boys had with the greatness of the CI. I just don't understand why RIH saw the need to do it, and what the great Gadlus is in the story. Why is this a story of a Tzaddik that you recount at his Yohrtzeit? I'm sure of our great ideaologue readers can enlighten me and all of us.

"האלמנה ואחים ראם"

These pics prove nothing as far as religious observance goes in those days,
they're to be used as a reference only, Lesaber es HoEyzen.


האלמנה דבורה ראם


Studio portrait of a young
Dvoyre Rom, האלמנה .



Studio portrait of Menakhem (Mane) Rom,
elsewhere stated as ראובן, a member of the well-known family
of printers and publishers. turn of the century.

A Lange Megillah from the Yated about the Roms. Believe what you wish.
This still says nothing about the Rashash, or his son.

Not Good Enough For The Yated

3 young Bochurim died in Israel yesterday, very tragically to say the least. They were traveling around the Holy Land bringing Simchas HaChag and Mitzvas HaChag to lonely soldiers in deserted outposts and army bases. Yeah, they were "Chabadskers" and therefore unworthy of living in the same country as some of the fine, fine, B'Nei Teyreh, but kids are kids, and a story like that would be tragic anywhere. They left grieving parents and friends. Yet, for some reason the Yated Ne'eman, the newspaper that prides itself on being the "only Newspaper under the direct jurisdiction (for lack of a better term) of "Moronon VeRabbonon Gedolei Yisroel" found it necessary to bury their deaths on page 18 or so, and report it as such:

שלשה צעירים נהרגו וחמשה נפצעו בתאונה קטלנית סמוך לאילת

Not very sympathetic, are they?

This topic is discussed at great length, and my point is not to cut and paste from HydePark's BeChadrei Charedim, but rather to awaken us all to the travesty that has befallen our people. The travesty I speak of is the rise of Snagdism as the dominant force in Israel. Snagdism was thought dead not long ago, especially 30-40 years ago, but we've let it lay dormant and grow. We allowed it to gather its strength and rearm, and now look where it's gotten us. To the point that others who disagree with them are "UmMentschen", and deserve as much mention as roadkill.

Solid Gold

a Shtikkel Hallel Lekoved Chanukah

Credit CMP

Big Aish's problem with Public Menorahs

Yaakov Salomon wants no public Menorahs, and he's got a cockamanie reason for it too. "The whole idea of a public menorah is "counter-intuitive", he says, because Chanukah's about "strengthening ourselves from within." What in the world is that supposed to mean? He asks: 'Do we REALLY need a Menorah at an airport, or at the White House, or in public places? "Is this what Chanukah is all about?" "Let's not try and compare ourselves to other religions." (As if somebody in Lubavitch decided to Ch"V equate Chanukah to other winter holidays.) It's not very often that you hear so much -------- in so little time.

So this genius, whose qualifications include being a PSYCHOTHERAPIST/SOCIAL WORKER for heaven's sake, sees no need for it. Fine. But only a total idiot, and belive me he's an idiot if he's in the Kiruv business and fails to see the value of public Menorah lightings, could totally ignore the point of what great Pirsumei Nissa these things are. So blinded is this man, and the organization that he works for, by hatred towards Chabad, that he feels the need to show the virtual world what a genius he is. And of course, all in the name of "authentic" Judaism.

Now he's getting all defensive in his message dated Yesterday, and uses the "some of my best friends are Chabad" excuse. QUOTE: "accusations that I am anti-Chabad are reckless, misguided, and patently false. I am permitted to dissent with the public menorah policy while, at that same time, appreciate, commend and support their incredible efforts throughout the world on behalf of the Jewish people. I have many friends who live and breathe Chabad philosophy and know many who have benefited from their dedicated Outreach efforts." I guess he couldn't take the heat after all. See my problem with getting my Hashkofoh from Artscroll? Salomon is an Artscroll author, and as much as I like some of their work, much of it is slanted very heavily towards a certain stream. Which is fine, since they ARE a private, money-making venture, with few other motives than to make money.

a Daf a week's all we ask

Listen to HaRav Pinchos M. Teitz z"l of Elizabeth, NJ As he delivers the weekly Daf on Radio WEVD for over 30 years. Guest lecturers included Harav Ovadia Yosef in Hebrew in 1985

Yeshivas Derech HaMelech

"Yeshivas Derech HaMelech is a new Torah learning center in Jerusalem that offers the mature and experienced English-speaking bachur an intensive learning experience, where he can grow into his full potential, in an inspiring atmosphere that stresses diligent Torah study, together with simcha, tefillah and avodas Hashem.

This video includes HaRav Moshe Weinberger, shlit"a, Rav of Congregation Aish Kodesh of Woodmere, NY; HaRav HaGaon R' Moshe Wolfson, shlit"a, Rav of Congregation Emunas Yisroel of Boro Park, Brooklyn, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Torah VoDaas; HaRav HaGaon R' Tzvi Meir Zilberberg, shlit"a, Rosh Chaburas Nachlas Yaakov of Jerusalem; HaRav HaGaon R' Mordechai Zilber, shlit"a, Stuchiner Rebbe of Congregation Toldos Yehudah in Boro Park, NY; Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twersky, Ph.D., shlit"a, Founder of Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, and many others."

[Sounds like a good and way overdue idea, although I can't imagine why it's taken so long. My question is can a Yeshivah like this continue without being too hard on some Bochurim? by "hard" I mean as follows: Can it allow for a Bochur without a beard or hat, who desires to grow in Torah and Yiras Shomayim, to remain the way he is on the outside? Or will he be pressured to conform to other so-called Chassidishe Yeshivos? - HT]

Nazi Archive Made Public

Documents of Nazi atrocities during the Holocaust were kept locked for decades. Now that the archive is being made public, Scott Pelley brought three Holocaust survivors to examine their records.

WATCH VIDEO

Tzigwork

Chanukah flashback

Chanukah 5710
Menayreh of Hirshel Tzig
גרויסע רבי קליינע מנורה
Reb Shimon Shept Nachas

Entering Day 5

I'm sick in bed since Tuesday night, hence the lack of activity here. I don't like to make this blog about myself, but I feel like I need to excuse my absence. Shabbos Chanukah In Bett? You bet. Kam, Kam Getzunden licht.

An Eynikkel remembers his Bubbe

(picture is for illustration purposes only, Found Here)

B"H

Dear Hirshel,

I know that you are a person who appreciates a person's roots and where he comes from. I too have this appreciation. Not too many people today have this in them. I want to share with you a bit about my Bubbeh, I think you'll like this.

My grandmother Zelda Nemes (Kaminetzky) was born in Klimovitch White Russia in 5695/1935. She was the youngest of 5 children born to Hachosid Reb Moshe Zalman Kaminetzky. Her mother Risha Rivkin was the 6th generation descendent from Horav Hagoan Mordechai Baruchovitch the brother of the Alter Rebbe. Her father Moshe Zalman Kaminetzky was known to be an exceptional Chossid totally dedicated to the cause of the Frierdiker Rebbe. He was a baal nigleh with a razor sharp mind and tongue that could rip one to shreds. My grandmother inherited both these traits from her father.

Her mother passed away Simchas Torah when she was eight years old. She once described to me the experience of sitting next to her mother’s body on the
cold floor in Samarkand while the other Lubavitcher Chassidim were dancing away in a Simchas Torah bliss outside her house, oblivious to their situation. Living such a life usually produces tough character and my Grandmother sure fit that profile. No one ever got the best of her.

She began teaching when she was 17 years old and taught for 54 years until a few months ago when her body didn’t let her continue. Even after she was well into chemotherapy she insisted on teaching although we all tried to discourage her. She told me a month and a half ago that she wants to live for two things, her
grandchildren, and to teach again. Teaching was her life. She was a master educator who sometimes taught 3 generations of the same family. She taught many
teachers and principals, many who applied her method of education to their own classes and schools. She taught in both Bais Rivka in Lubavitch and Bais Yaakovas well as Manhattan School for Girls.She taught THOUSANDS of girls, bli guzmah.

She had a very special relationship with the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana. She used to buy her hats for her and she was often called by Rebbetzin Chana to help her get dressed for weddings and outings.

She had permission from the Rebbe to attend college after she got married but was told specifically that she was only to study subjects that pertained to teaching. When she wanted to study law the Rebbe told her not to but did permit her to study research psychology which she had a masters in. She and my grandfather have MANY amazing stories with the Rebbe that I hope to tell you about another time. I will
tell you this, there are at least 4 occasions that the Rebbe sent people to her to get advice and counsel from when they had serious marriage problems. She was
the president of N'shei Chabad throughout the 80's, and I found in her drawer yesterday, michtovim kloli'im that the Rebbe gave to N'shei’s convention with his holy signature in English.

She deeply loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Whenever I brought my 11 month old son over she literally looked healthier on the spot. Her face would light up like a candle. She was a very unique woman, old school but so on the ball. She will be sorely missed. May she be a M'eilitzoh Yosher for all of us.

Do you want a tie with that?

A friend of mine who tutors yeshiva bochurim was telling me about a bochur whose rosh yeshiva told him, "A bochur who wears a beard, is a like a guy who wears a tie on his pajamas.”

Obviously this wasn’t a Chassidishe yeshiva, but I wonder, what is behind that statement? Is a bochur a pajama, and not worthy enough to grow his beard? Is it a statement to keep the coals burning in the never ending battle to protect these innocent youths from Chassidim or Chassidishe values? Is it because the beard is only for people of stature, and not the common man or simple bochur – thus a bearded bochur insults those of status and stature? Or was it a simple innocuous comment with no harm intended? In my opinion, this battle to assure that yiddishe kinder have no feeling for kedusha inyanim is illogical; it seem to me that there are 2 logical outcomes that are probably not desirable to the roshei yeshiva that share this view:

1. The bochur is convinced and lives a life of kedusha-less rules – a guf without a neshoma – eventually becoming a baal habayis without even a small amount of Yiras Shomayim.

2. The bochur finds Chassidim that show him another, perhaps more spiritual, path – and the bochur leaves the ranks of his rosh yeshiva.

I just don’t get it; I am, however, sure that there are measures taken to avoid the second scenario. As to the first, that’s ok I guess. And if you don’t think there is any agenda here, this might change your mind: A girl I know from a main-stream Bais Yaakov background, who was positively disposed to Chassidim, went to Nevei Yerushalaim. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think that in many ways it’s a great place, and they do great work. But I can tell you, this girl came back after a couple there years with such hatred for Chassidim and Chassidus that it was unbelievable. Here’s the attitude that they worked day & night to instill in her:

1. Chassidim are Am-Haaratzim that don’t know a word of Torah; they are blatant violators of halacha. They have perverted the derech hayoshor of Yiddishkeit.

2. Chassidic seforim and Toras hachassidus in general is unnecessary, since it is only basic penimius haTorah, which is available in many other better seforim (and Chassidim stole it from the stam yeshiva world anyway). And they proceeded to teach sections of Nefesh Hachaim, Ramchal & Rav Dessler as the better alternatives for those with interest in Chassidus.

3. Lubavitch is the worst of all possible derachim – to be avoided at all costs. No unmarried girl should C”V light a Shabbos candle like Lubavitch promotes, and if they have to light, because they don’t have anyone to light for them, then they must light 2 candles, not 1 candle like the am-haratzim in Lubavitch do.

4. For Halacha, the primary sefer of significance should be Chai Adam.

I could go on, but you get the idea. I was a bit surprised that this indoctrination is so blatant, but I guess the battle lines are pretty clearly drawn. I guess Yiddishkeit has become little more than ideology to the leaders of the Litvishe Modsos Hatorah out there.

From Hungary, for Hanukkah, From Long Ago

"As Mindel Appel showed me the contents of her freezer, my pulse began to race.

Out came her homemade kokosh cake, similar to babka. Next were shlishkes, little potato dumplings that can be tossed in sugar, breadcrumbs and butter, or stuffed with lekvar, a kind of prune preserve. Finally, she brought out a Hanukkah delicacy, the cheese Danish called delkelekh."

Read On

What's in a picture?

Hirshel Tzig asked me, Mekushor, to assist him with his blog duties. Since he pays so well, I agreed to occasionally post my thoughts (he pays extra for each comment, so keep the conversation going - ok?. Today's submission:

About a year ago, someone came to my house and informed me:

"You know, you have over 10 pictures of the Lubavtcher Rebbe in your home."

I said: "Interesting, I hadn’t ever counted."

He said: "So, you really think you need that many?"

I said: “I probably need more."

He said: "Why would you?"

I said: "Because I often forget the proper way to behave - I'm weak that way - if I would see a picture of a tzaddik this helps me. Those who don't have my problems don't need pictures - they themselves are their own Rebbes. You probably fit into that category"

He said: “I have no pictures of Rebbes in my home."

I said: "I thought so - you have a mirror instead, right?"

He was speechless, so I smiled and said, "What were you asking again?"

No big deal. But since then I’ve noticed that this is not an exclusively Chassidic practice these days. I see picture books of Litvishe gedolim past & present and I see homes with pictures of many Roshei Yeshiva and Litvishe figures. Why, on my block there is a house where they make a minyan for ma’ariv Motzoi Shabbos; I have been there a few times – a very nice Litvishe guy, described by a fellow there as the “last bastion of normalcy in an ever growing Chassidic Brooklyn” (they daven nussach Ashkenaz, of course) – and I noticed the pictures on the wall of the Vilna Goan and a couple other Litvishe figures, and it stuck me as odd: Since when did the Litvishe make their godolim into Rebbes? How old is this custom if hanging Litvishe gedolim on the wall? Does anyone oppose this practice?

Seems to me that this is an example of the world we live in: Oppose, lose, adopt the approach of the enemy, claim them as your own, claim yourself the victor. Yea, yea, politics as usual I guess. But I wonder, isn’t there a Litvak out there saddened by this?

But it’s really not the same anyway. When a Litvak hangs a picture on his wall, it doesn’t mean the same thing – they weren’t brought up with the concept of a Tzaddik/Rebbe figure.

I have an old friend from 8th grade - a Litvishe fellow; we don’t live close to each other, but we were good friends. He got a job as a rov out-of-town, but he would come to visit me from time to time. We spoke quite a bit, and I found it odd that in his life – even though he would, from time to time, speak to his former Rosh Yeshiva – he was quite sure of himself as the sole decision maker. He was very confident that as a rov, he was above the masses and atop the community. He isn’t an ego maniac or anything – he’s a very down to earth and friendly guy, but he doesn’t have the concept of bittul to someone else.

In truth, the vast majority of Litvishe folks that I’ve known – quite many – don’t relate at all to the concept of our individual smallness. It seems that without a Rebbe they don’t really have to take a backseat to anyone, so, they have a much easier time being comfortable putting themselves on equal footing with anyone. This seems to be somewhat of a Korach-ian ideal: who needs Moshe and Aharon? Veameich kulam kedoshim! Isn’t there something terribly lacking when the concept of tzaddikim is eroded to the point that we are all on one level?

I know that Mussar deals with this, but I haven’t seen it in practice; I went to some Litvishe yeshivos, and I lived near, and was friendly with, many fine Litvishe Yidden, but I feel bad for them in this way – you just can’t have it without a Chossid-Rebbe concept. This is not to say that everything is rosy in Chassidic-land, but on the conceptual level, this is a sad lack for them to live with.

Welcome Mekushor

I welcome Mekushor, editor of the Berl Yomi, to Circus Tent as a Contributor. His first post will follow shortly. May he have much success in all his endeavors, especially this all-important one right here. Look for the name at the end of post to see whom to attack in the comments section.

Hirshel Tzig

Today in Jewish History

Today in Jewish History
Satmar Rebbe Rescued (1944)

The Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum (1887-1979), was rescued from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, along with 1,368 other Jews, through the efforts of Rudulf Kastner, head of the Zionist rescue operation in Hungary (an earlier transport of 1,686 Jews had been rescued on Av 29). The Satmar community celebrates the 21st of Kislev as a day of thanksgiving.

From Chabad.Org

The Lubavitcher Rebbe saw fit to mention this fact (the Kastner train) when in 1967 Satmar condemned the Rebbe for saying that the victory of the Six-Day-War was a Neis Min Hashomayim. The Loshen was something to the effect of "He was rescued by Kastner and they make a Seudah till today in Williamsburg!"

Satmar has completely removed Kastner's name from the rescue efforts, effectively telling the new generations that the Rebbe was rescued by a mysterious train, but not saying much more. Recently a new book claimed that Kastner rescued the Satmar Rebbe because his mother came to him in a dream and told him to include the Rebbe on the train, so he effectively had no choice. I'm just not quite sure how that changes the end result...

So we have Yud Tes - Chof in Lubavitch, Chof in Chaim Berlin is RYH's Yohrtzeit, and Chof Alef is the Satmar Chag HaGeulah. The Leytzim say that Chassidus has 2 days to celebrate, Yud Tes and Chof, because on Chof Alef Iz Sheyn Nishtakchoh Teyras HaBesh"t.....

More on the "Kastner train"

Jewish Child from Bnei Brak was raised as a Non-Jew for over 50 years

Read this, it'll knock your socks off:

A storm is raging throughout the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel and the US following testimony that a boy from the Hasidic Satmar community in NY was allegedly kidnapped from his parents more than 50 years ago and adopted by a Christian Canadian couple. The most popular ultra-Orthodox weekly, "Family" is conducting an in-depth investigation into the mysterious story. According to findings
so far, some 50 years ago a Hasidic family from Bnei Brak gave birth to twins. One of the twins died immediately after birth and doctors later informed the couple that the other child had also has passed away and had been buried.

Doctors told the family that the baby had become ill and his condition deteriorated until he met his death. The stricken parents had no choice but to accept the news, however reportedly they always bore a persistent doubt as to the circumstances of their child's death. This doubt was reinforced some 18 years later when the "dead child" received a military induction order. The shocked family attributed this to nothing more than an unfortunate error. About a month ago, in a Canadian city, thousands of kilometers from Bnei Brak, an only child opened his mother's will after she passed away. The words darted in font of his eyes and almost made him faint. "You are a Jewish child from the city of Bnei Brak in Israel," it was written in the will. "We adopted you when you were just a few days old and we raised you without revealing your true identity. You are now entitled to know the great secret we kept from you."

Brother found story hard to believe

The surprised son, who was raised as a non-Jew, didn't waste time and set out on a voyage to trace his biological parents. The man in question, who works at one of the important intelligence agencies in a Western country, was quick to find his Jewish family at the Satmar community in New York, where they moved to from Bnei Brak. The mother passed away four years ago and the father is now 85-years-old. Besides the twins, the couple had an additional 11 children throughout the ensuing years.
Two weeks ago, the man made contact with one of his biological brothers in New York, he recounted his story and asked to meet. At first, the shocked brother found it hard to believe the story, but ultimately agreed to meet his "brother." Upon their meeting it became quite clear there were clear physical similarities between the two. For the past few days the man has been undergoing a series of genetic tests to determine his true identity and his connection to the family in question. Only after receipt of the final results will the brother tell the elderly father that his lost son has been found after an absence of 50 years. It will also become apparent whether this man's story is the Satmar version of the missing Yemenite children in Israel.

YNet

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חג שמח לחסידות ולחסידים

נועם סטאריק איז געווען שבת אין חברון מיט ר' יואל כהן און ר' מענדל וועכטער