Questionable Kiruv Motives

This may come as a surprise to many of you, but it seems simple to me. The idea of setting aside time from your busy schedule to bring another Jew close to Hashem is a novel one, it's not something that comes naturally like other acts of Chesed. It was and always will be a difficult task for most people, since they've always been taught that these people are deliberately defying G-d and should be stoned. For generations we were taught that once a Yid leaves the fold he's to be shunned, and that was the case in Europe for the most part. Generations of Jews were allowed to wander from the path of Torah without much effort being made to persuade them to return. After all, Ossur Lehistakel BeFonov shel Rosho is not to be taken lightly! The idea of losing 2/3 or three quarters or more of Jews to the movements of the time and assimilation didn't seem to bother most people, they just left it up to G-d. The Holocaust, they say, took care of that problem; G-d just wiped out two thirds of the Jewish People and started over again!

That may have been the Chassidic (Lubavitcher) approach at the time, I haven't figured it out yet, but it definitely was quick to rethink its attitude. As soon as it was realized that ignoring the inevitable was counterproductive the Rabbe'im changed their approach from Richuk to Kiruv. They delved into the Chassidishe Seforim and realized that the way to go is with Ahavas Yisroel, loving and cherishing every single Yid, because Klal Yisroel isn't whole without all of its members being whole. We cannot survive just on Talmidei Chachomim alone, we need them all. What his Zeides did, and how his family got to be Mechalilei Shabbos is now unimportant, we need to stop the flood of assimilation. They also realized that condemning the sinners, even the ones that know better, the ones that learned in Chadorim and Yeshivos and left Yiddishkeit, makes you look like an evil zealot and comes to no good. Let G-d deal with them after they pass on.

When it comes to "Kiruv" institutions like Aish and Or Someach there's very little talk about the importance and precious character of a Yiddishe Neshomah, and how each one is part of the whole. Some, like Amnon Yitzchak, will try and frighten you into repenting, not unlike an Evangelical revival, lehavdil, and either frighten you into accepting Torah, or if you're in need of a ישועה, promise to help you if you cover your hair. (with a Tichel, of course, no sheitlech allowed.) Other groups like SEED rely heavily on people that some connection to Yiddishkeit, and especially in places where there already is a Chabad presence. Young girls and/or Bocherim come there for a summer "to make a difference," just like their counterparts go to visit old age homes. They'll learn a little Kuzari before they go so that they have an answer to a question posed by a non-frum Jew that they have no answer to because they (the frummie) never learned about what he needs to believe in to be a Jew. In other words it's another kind of Chesed, but little want to actually produce Yidden.

For the most part you'll see not the full-fledged Yeshivishe types doing this work, but the more modern and educated ones, people who the Yeshivishe community would shun and not count as theirs. They can relate a bit to non-frum people because they actually speak the language, and may have a common interest or two. When it comes to credit then the Yeshivishers will be there, claiming all these projects and outreach as being from "our community," sort of like the Agudah claiming to represent every Orthodox Jew. So now all communities, the Young Israel, the OU, the Agudah can now claim to be doing G-d's work too, by laying claim to the Kiruv revolution. Of course Chabad doesn't do Kiruv, they just make Chabadskers. So back to my opening statement: We really don't do what others do, Chabad works to ignite Jewish souls, not to make careers Kiruv professionals and customers for Artscroll Siddurim. We aim to tip the scales and bring redemption to this world, not to make Aish donors. That's why I see all these Kiruv groups as nothing but opportunists and opportunists with a lot of nerve and audacity to boot. They have the gall to complain about Chabad when their only mission in life is to destroy them. That's why I cringe when I read their stuffy Press releases in the papers.

Talk about a mental block

I sit and watch otherwise intelligent people, who know their limitations, sit on mentalblog and discuss matters that should be beyond their level of understanding. The same people who know enough in a time of need, when they cannot help themselves, to run to the Rebbe for help and that he be Mispalel for them now try and explain why this and this was done, and why such and such was chosen to run this and that institution. They also claim to know which nationality seemingly befits which position, whether a Russian is good for a Mazkir, and why certain people were chosen over others to come to America. I expect more from people belonging to a Moyach Chassidus like Chabad, these people should know better, especially the Mekushorim. After all, can anybody explain to me why the Rebbe would take an Israeli Yungerman born in Russia, striaght out of Kolel, and send him to Texas to Mekarev Jews? Wouldn't the college-educated Yankee be a better fit? How about a legally blind shloch with a hunchback and scraggly beard and have him build 10 Million dollar buildings one after another? Maybe the geniuses can make hay out of that. Until then let them put a sock in it.

Haaretz busy with Chabad

(Professor M Friedman, Photo by Bar-Ilan University via AJHistory)

Trying retrace the Rebbe's steps

You've seen it before, Menachem Friedman telling us how he traced the Rebbe's steps in Berlin and Paris. This is in more detail, including the story of Mendel and Shayne Horenstein, the Rebbetzin's younger sister and BIL. I'm not sure though why this was published now.

UPDATE:

I see that Ariel Sokolovsky the Elokist is to blame for this, since "research" needed to be done about the Chabad movement that Ariel claims to represent. He's now in Portland, Oregon and claims to be THE Chabad presence there, although there has been Chabad there for 30 years or more. That's just great. His presence and activities there warranted this response from Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm of Chabad of Oregon:

STATEMENT FROM CHABAD-LUBAVITCH OF OREGON:

We of Chabad-Lubavitch of Oregon were shocked to read about the beliefs of
Ariel Sokolovsky in the Haaretz Newspaper. His beliefs are heretical and
anathema to Torah. Ariel Sokolovsky has no position in the Chabad Lubavitch movement. He is not a rabbi certified by our movement. He cannot possibly be described as a Chabad activist. He acts in numerous ways in complete contradiction of the Shulchan Aruch- The Code of Jewish Law.His blasphemous blog is his own private initiative, just as his concubine blog that advocates ideas inimical to Torah and Jewish Tradition. His blog is not part of the Chabad web system. The statement by Haaretz that it is a Chabad website false. We strongly protest any assertion that he has any connection to the
Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

Rabbi Moshe Wilhem
Regional Director
Chabad-Lubavitch of Oregon

Ariel's tactics are chronicled in This HaAretz online article. So Friedman shared all his findings about the Rebbe and his formal education, his grades, and his choice of headgear. It seems like when someone's down everybody jumps at his chance to get another kick in while the guy's still down.

Slow Blog Day

ATM installed in Kfar Chabad. I guess that's reason to celebrate in a town like that. Imagine having to drive to the next town just to withdraw some cash.

Chassidishe Sushi available in Paris! What would we do without it?

Rabbi B.M. Ezrachi visits Lithuania last summer (Video.) Born and raised in Israel, Rav Meir Chodosh's son-in-law lectures at the Choral Shul in Vilna, in the Chofetz Chaim's Yeshivah in Radin, and in other Litvishe sites of interest. Quite a gifted speaker in the Litvishe style is Rabbi Ezrachi, full of animation, using both hands and face to illustrate his points. The trip was made as a preparation for the Elul Zman in "Ateres," and was attended by both students and alumni of the Yeshivah. RBME's father was a Talmid of Chevron Yeshivah in Chevron, as was his son. After his father's passing RBME started his own Yeshivah in the tradition of Chevron/Slabodka.

The Rebbe And The Rocket Scientist

Velvel Green remenisces in the 5 Towns Jewish Times

22 Shvat Flashback

Chof-Beis Shvat, why?

אַ מגיפה פון לוקסוס

(drawing by Zalman Kleinman z"l)

פון יוסף יצחק יעקבסאהן

Yossi bemoans the frivulous spending that goes on "צווישען היימישע אידן" and brings a speech made by Rav Mordche Gifter z"l in 1980 at the Agudah Convention as his basis.

I hope I'm not violating any Copyright agreements by reprinting a picture from a website that presumably got permission to publish it. Ich bin nisht kan lawyer. I hope the estate of Zalman Kleinman z"l will forgive me. Speaking of Yossi Jacobson, It seems like he incurred the wrath of Reb Shua Mondshine in his article about Meyfsim that he claims are Nisht geshtoygen un Nisht Gefloygen. Here's what Shturem had to say about him recently:

מעולם לא חקרתי את מידת מהימנותם של סיפורי ריי"צ יעקובסאן. יודעני רק את האמור באחת התגובות לפרק לח בסידרת סיפורים וגלגוליהם

זה שרבנים ממציאים סיפורים כדי להלהיב את קהל שומעיהם אינו דבר חדש תחת השמש. הרי אם ניקח את מנין הכמרים והבישופים למיניהם שבהם "נפגש" י"י דז'ייקאבסאהן (לפי מה שמספר בדרשות שלו), הרי נשמתו היתה צריכה להתגלגל חמישים פעם בעולם הזה כדי להספיק את אותם כמרים...

OUCH!

Yossel: Ich bet dir iber tomer hub ich dir getshepet.

A Choshuve Gast in Brunoy

Shturem: Tchernobler Rebbe visits Lubavitcher Yeshivah and Rabbonim in Brunoy (Paris)

More great pics from COL

A great move on both parts. The current Rebbe's father (Reb Meshulem Zushe?) and Zeide must've left Russia years ago, before 1920, so I don't think he remembers a connection to Lubavitch in the old country. Yet, unlike others, he visited all the Lubavitcher Rabbonim in Paris and the Yeshivah in Brunoy. I never noticed the Hadras Ponim he has, it's an Amolige look. I think since Skver Yarshened the Tchernobler lineage, as far as the world is concerned, these 2 Hoyfen have grown far apart. This can be attributed to non-Tchernobler factors, and to the fact that the late Skverrer Rebbe lost his father as a young man. Let's hope this is the beginning of a new Kesher with Tchernobel and the rest of outside world.

The man who would not be Rebbe ------

------ but made sure his son would!


(father and son)

Rabbi Dr. Menachem Mendel Breier, o"h, (Hebrew), son in law of the last Boyaner Rebbe, Reb Mordche Shlomo Friedman, and father of Reb Nochum Dov Breier, current Rebbe of Boyan. Psychologist, Professor of Tanach and Jewish philosophy in Yeshiva University in New York.

The above article in the secular Haaretz brings several different versions of what happened after Reb Mordche Shlomo of Boyan passed away in 5731, and why Dr. Breier did not accept the leadership of the Boyaner Chassidim. They also made the wrong assumption that RMSF had no sons and hence the lineage was to continue through his daughter and her husband. He did have sons (may they be well), and they too refused to be Rebbes. One version is that it was decided for him - by the powers that be in Boyan - that he would not be worthy of being Rebbe since he was an "academic". The other version - denied by all in Boyan - was that he was asked to take over but said that he wouldn't since he would not relinquish his academic standing. In other words he wanted to continue to study, teach, and lecture in the secular field, something not possible were he to become a Rebbe of Chassidim. Even in Ruzhin.

So in Boyan - unlike Stolin - they decided to wait until his son Nochum Dov would be old enough to be Rebbe. At first he went to regular Yeshivos, Ch'san Sofer comes to mind, but then he was pulled and given to Eltere Chassidim to be educated. I read somewhere that he also learned in the Mirrer Yeshivah on Ocean Parkway, maybe to get away from the Chassidishe velt a bit before he was to be totally immersed there later on. Only after he married did he move to Eretz Yisroel and become Rebbe. I may even have the first Issue of Ponim Chadoshos that had his picture on the cover after he officially became Rebbe. Dr. Breier was known to be a big Chossid of his son, and was always at his side in recent years. The Boyaner Rebbe would come to America often to visit his parents, coming alone, and walking the streets of Flatbush by himself, a feat unknown in today's Rebbes. The Tzig was often Zoycheh to daven Minchah with him at a Flatbush Shtiebel.

The good Doctor suffered from Parkinson's disease r"l and was living in Yerushalayim in recent years. With his passing Boyaner Chassidus suffered a great, irreplacable loss. May we report on only good news in the future, VeNomar Omein!

an article by Rabbi Dr. Breier entitled הישיבות ברומניה

Historical Original Photos

The super seller "Independence-Israel" has an array of historical photos up for auction today at his ebay site. Some are well-known, having been published in books, and some are not. They're all original however, and some are quite pricey. I'm not sure how these prices are decided upon, the difference in opening bids from picture to picture is quite large. As usual we can rely on A Simple Jew to be on the lookout and share his findings with all of us. May G-d bless him and the little town of Sudilkov.

I did notice a mistake on one photo, that he had listed as Rav Aryeh Levin. I see it as Rav Shlomo Yosef Zevin, am I right?


(click to enlarge)

There's also a well-known picture of the Chazon Ish arriving at a wedding in Bnei Brak. If you've read the countless biographies of the CI you'll definitely recognize it. This shot here is of great quality, and none of the books have it this close up. What we can also learn from this shot is that in those days women didn't know enough, or feel, that they had to make themselves scarce when men passed by, even a man of such stature. The CI seems quite uncomfortable. I guess we're much "better" in that regard today, huh?


(click to enlarge)

Lastly there's the picture of the meeting of Rabbonim and Rebbes regarding the anti-Shechitah decree that the Polish government implemented in 1936 in the name of "protecting animals." Among those pictured are the late Bobover Rebbe Reb BenZion hy"d and his son Reb Shlomo z"l, Rav Menachem Ziemba hy"d, the Sochatchover Rebbe (hy"d?) and others. I wonder if others were invited too but didn't attend, like the Imrei Emes, the Frierdigere Rebbe, and the Belzer Rebbe. Please help us if you know more about these meetings.


(click to enlarge)

א דור יתום

A friend of mine, a mechanech in Eretz Yisroel, spoke with me earlier this week. He told me a frightening story: A relative of his is a cheder rebbi, and there is a student in the class (around 8 years old) that committed a very violent act of molestation on a younger (around 5 year old) sibling. The yeshiva asked one of the foremost – if not the foremost – gedolim in Israel (I guess I shouldn’t say the name) what the yeshiva should do, if anything, as a result. This Gadol told them not to do anything, it’s the only offence, and it was probably a one-time thing.

Now I can’t imagine how he could have said that, but my friend told his relative to seek professional help for this child. This behavior is NOT normal behavior, and in all likelihood this 8 year old is himself a victim of molestation and it is imperative that the school get to the bottom of the matter (and my understanding is that that is what is being done).

Now, I’m not here to talk about molestation at all, and don’t think I’m jumping on the molestation bandwagon either. The reason that I mention this is really to talk about the unbelievable and unprecedented lack of leadership we have. Our leaders are completely at a loss and out of touch with the common man – in such a complete way that I am very afraid of where we are headed. I do believe that they all mean well, but honestly, do they have any ideas other than the use of their seemingly only weapon – banning? Let’s see… we ban sheitlach, cell phones, internet, working for a living… is this supposed to be working?

And that’s not to mention that all the bans only help those who probably don’t need them. What about those who are at risk? They aren’t even listening. If leaders continue to use the last-resort banning card, more & more people will tune them out until it’s just a joke anyway. It seems to me that we just don’t have anyone to talk to; as a mashgiach in a certain Yeshiva told me, “It is very hard to be in my position. I can help bochurim with Limud HaTorah, but they come to me for personal advice and I haven’t got a clue what to tell them.”

Perhaps the problem is that our leaders are the metzuyanim. They succeeded in the system, it worked for them, how can they relate to those who didn’t? They have very limited knowledge of the real world life of the man on the street “amcha” Yid or of the problems, struggles and realities that people live with every day.

Actually, this may not be entirely new. I think the Litvishe lived this way for quite some time. There was a two-tier society – the B’nei Torah in their ivory towers and the hamon am, tzuklapte Yidden. It was the Baal Shem Tov and the Chassidic Rebbes after him that reached out to the masses and led them. And this is probably the #1 reason for Chassidus spreading like wildfire across Europe. So is this all just the return of the Litvishe structure because chassidus has for all intents & purposes stopped serving the people?

A Rebbe used to walk the streets and live in the world of the common everyday Jew. He knew people’s cows by name. He knew of their worries, their struggles, their problems, their sins. He understood life in all its glory, and could relate to them. Who is like that today? Chassidic Rebbes grow up with everything handed to them on a silver platter. Do they venture out of their palaces to visit the world of the average Yankel struggling to get by? Where are the leaders that have experienced life as you or I? Who can relate to the common Jew?

Sigh.

An orphaned generation…

Hirshel Tzig and Hmmmmm

adapted by Hmmmm

I am Snag
Snag I am
That Snag I am!
I do not like that Snag I am!

Do you like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm
I do not like them, Snag I am
I do not like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm

I do not like them, Snag I am.
I do not like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm

Would you like them here or there?

I would not like them here or there.
I would not like them anywhere.
I do not like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm
I do not like them, Snag I am.

Would you like them in a shtibel?
Would you like them with a shtreimel

I do not like them in a shtibel
I do not like them with a shtreimel
I do not like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm
I do not like them, Snag I am.

Would you read them oifen bank?
Would you read them when you're kraynk?

Not oifen bank.
Not when I'm kraynk.
Not with a shtreimel.
Not in a shtibel.
I would not read them here or there.
I would not read them anywhere.

Would you? Could you? On Purim Nacht?
Read them! Read them! Here they are.

I would, could not, on Purim Nacht.

You may like. You will see. You may like them with a smoke!

I would not, could not on Purim Nacht.
Not with a smoke! You let me be!

I do not like them in a shtibel
I do not like them with a shtreimel
I do not like them oifen bank
I do not like them when I'm kraynk
I would not like them here or there.
I would not like them anywhere.
I do not like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm
I do not like them, Snag I am.

In country! In country!
In country! In country!
Could you, would you, oifen country!

Not on Purim Nacht! Not with a tzigaretel box!
Not in country! Snag! Loz mir up!

I would not, could not, in a shtibel
I could not, would not, with a shtreimel
I will not read them oifen bank
I will not read them when I'm kraynk
I will not read them here or there.
I will not read them anywhere.
I do not read Hirsh Tzig and hmmm
I do not like them, Snag I am.

S'teitch! At at tish! Here at a tish!
Would you, could you, at a tish?
I would not, could not, at a tish.

Would you, could you, in Uman?
I would not, could not, in Uman.
Not in a shtibel. Not with a shtreimel.
Not oifen bank. Not when I'm kraynk.
Not on Purim Nacht. Not with a tzigaretel box.
I will not read them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere!

You do not like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm?
I do not like them, Snag I am.

Could you, would you, with a shnapps?
I would not, could not, with a shnapps!

Would you, could you, on the beach?

I could not, would not, on the beach
I will not, will not, with a shnapps
I will not read them in Uman
I will not read them at a tish.
Not on Purim Nacht! Not mit a tzigaretel box!
Not oifen country! You let me be!

You do not like. So you say.
Try them! Try them!
And you may.
Try them and you may, I say

Snag! If you will let me be, I will try them. You will see.

Say!
I like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm!
I do! I like them, Snag I am!
And I would read that samech hey
And I would hear the Rebbe's reid

And I wll read them on the train.
And in the mivtzo'im booth. And on the street.
And in a Menorah car. And with my fellow Yid
They are so good, so good, you see!

So I will read them in the shtibel.
And I will read them with a shtreimel
And I will read them in Uman
And I will read them on Purim Nacht
And I will read them here and there.
Say! I will read them ANYWHERE!

I do so like Hirsh Tzig and hmmm
Thank you! Thank you, Snag I am!

an Ode to the Mentalblog

The USSR of Blogosphere.
(hattip ASJ)
Buy it Here

Why all of a sudden?

Via A TownCrier

Notice the letter written to endorse the campaign to free JP. Why did the Agudath Israel suddenly remember about him? If he was an "item" why wait 22 years to start campaigning? I suspect a נדבה על תנאי here, some rich guy is forcing their hand here. Then again they're not the official sponsor here, the Young Israel is.

Vilna, Wilno, Vilnius, ווילנא

The new "Maggid" and his trip to Vilna

I detect a conspiracy here. It's no coincidence that Artscroll put only 12 pages, till we get to today's situation, online. It'll be very interesting to see how they handle the conflict there.

Did Paysach Krohn officially inherit the title Maggid from Reb Sholom Shwadron? Was there a will to that effect? Have you ever seen a Maggid without a beard? Did they travel to the Chasidishe sites in Lithuania and Belarus? places like Slonim, Stolin, Pinsk and other centers? I wonder.

(Mottel tips his hat to ASJ, so I will too.)

Mussar Lives!

Too bad it's being revived by a JTS grad.....



All this talk about Novardok and its failure to re-establish itself after WWII neither in the US nor in Israel has gotten some of us to think that maybe the study of Mussar has seen better days. Maybe the Salanter's dream was only for a short period of time, when Jews were falling by the wayside and needed to be strengthened in character? Maybe today, when Torah study is abundant, and even full-time study has become the norm, maybe we don't need character refinement anymore. Well, according to one Rabbi nothing can be further from the truth. A quick glance at the morning newspaper can bring even the most naive among us back to reality.

Rabbi Ira Stone thinks it's time for Jews to reinvest in Mussar, and where better than Philadelphia, home of the Talmudical Academy of. Jack Abramoff and the constant flow of scandal tells us all that it's time we dust off the Mesilas Yeshorim and do some soul searching. He's been teaching Mussar for ten years now, mixing Luzzato, Emmanuel Levinas, and various books by Mesorah/Artscroll. I say more power to him, the world needs it, especially when caring for animals can now be incorporated into Mussar too! We also learn that Luzzato had another side to him, namely that which author Isaiah Tishby calls the "Messianic Mysticism of Moses Chaim Luzzatto." It also helps deflect the criticism that Chassidus and Kaballah take due to the fact that Berg and others have hijacked it. So take heed, o' Mussarites, a new dawn has arrived!

Middot
Mesillat Yesharim
Links

Origins of "Kiruv"

Honest Litvak writes in response to Merkos Shlichus 5711

"A historical view of Judaism shows that they were not the first. Rav Hirsch made Kiruv an "official" part of his agenda as he was involved in engaging the non-frum, same for Rav Salanter and Rav Kook and Rav Sonnenfeld."

You don't seem to get it. Rav SR Hirsch made this his agenda by means of polemics and other writings, not by going out to be Mekarev people. He hoped that his writings (!!!) would be sufficient to persuade others. This has been done throughout the ages,as I mentioned re R' Saadiah Gaon, R' Yehudah Halevi, Rambam etc. etc. with their writings.

The "lecture-tours" of Rabbis Salanter, Kuk, Sonnenfeld etc. were just that, hoping to bring a "hisorerus", but again not dealing with people directly. One who can be said to deal with people directly was the mediaeval (!) R. Mosheh of Kutzi, author of Sefer Mitzvos Godol (Sma"g), who was the innovator of mivtza tefillin, to put on tefillin with people (as he writes in his intro). As for R. Yossef Yoisel of Nevardok, yes, indeed, he made a wide and succesful campaign to found talmud-torahs/yeshivos in Russia during the first world war, and sending his students all around to bring children into them - more often than not without their parents' consent. But this can be said to have been done already earlier by the Rebbe Reshab among the Sefardim, sending his shluchim there. I have no doubt that others did the same still earlier,in various places and various times throughout the ages. As I said earlier, every truly religious Jew who takes seriously the Kol Yisroel areivim etc. etc. would feel compelled to do whatever he can in this regard, so that we cannot talk re who was first etc.

The kiruv-work as an organizationl effort, dealing with people directly, families and individuals, part of an official program going out into the streets, campuses, groups, homes etc. - as we know it today - was most definitely an innovation of Lubavitch. Again, as stated, it was officially opposed by pretty much the full span of the orthodox establishment (roshei yeshivos) for the reasons mentioned, until they saw the success (and some would argue nowadays - once they had augmented and fortified their own circle and felt safe). And even now, there remains a vital distinction: to this day, none, I repeat NONE, goes to places, towns etc., where they would have to do the ground-work to establish a base for religious life. They move only into towns where these are existing already, more often than not founded by Chabad. Aish Hatorah is notorious for not going even into places like that unless they see first a solid basis for financial sustenance, to raise local funds not only for their local institution but also beyond that for their "headquarters." I challenge anyone to name a single presence of Aish that does not fall into this category.

Dovid says "Also Lubavitch targeted frum Poylishe Chasidim, with their Lithuanian style Yeshiva." I don't deny that, but the same applies to the other Yeshivos, including Nevardok before they started their network of talmud-torahs for others. R. Yossef Yoisel made it an essential part of his agenda to infiltrate existing yeshivos to establish there his derech in mussar. For details see the excellent history of the Mussar-movement "Tenu'as Hamussar."

So we are back to square one, the blatant attempt at revisionism, with irrelevant arguments about earlier generations.

The Rebbe takes care of Machshoveh

At a Bar Mitzvah last night the Melitzer Rebbe of Ashdod, Rebbe of Lazer Brody, spoke. I enjoyed his Reid, especially the following Vort. I'm not sure he meant this as the thrust of his speech but my mind is tuned to understand it as such. This is the effect of Lubavitch.

The holy Ahavas Yisroel of Vizhnitz, when a Yingel would come to him for Hanochas Tefillin, would only put on the Shel Rosh, leaving the Shel Yad for the child's father instead. His reasoning was as follows: The Shel Yad symbolizes Ma'aseh, the physical acts of Mitzvos, and the responsibility lies with the father to wake him in the morning for davenen, and to act in a Jewish manner. Hence the father puts on the Shel Yad. The Shel Rosh is K'neged the Ma'asei HaRosh, the Machshovoh mainly, that the child's thoughts should be as they need to be, and that he thinks of the Aibershter when going about his daily life. This is where the Tzaddik comes in. "Dort ken men epes machen," said Reb Yisroel.

The Tzaddik is Mashpia Machshoves Tovos.

Ah Freilichen Shabbos.

Yohrtzeit

13 Shvat, 65 years

Merkos Shlichus 5711

r-l: Rabbi Dovid Raskin, ?, Reb Eli Gross o"h, and יבלחט"א Reb Shua Wilansky.

Photo via COL

While Noah Weinberg was still eating Kit-Kats and playing baseball in Baltimore these young men spent their summers traveling the states and bringing Yiddishkeit to far-flung places. I hope you'll remember this the next time you see some feel-good article about Aish naming him some kind of pioneer. That's akin to calling Abe Lincoln one of the founding fathers, but gives NW way too much credit too. Why's he called Noah anyway? What's wrong with Noach?