The saga of an American Rebbe (part I)

Reb Yakov Yisroel Korf of Zvhil-Mezhibuzh (Boston)

You may have seen the name Zvill-Boston mentioned here and there, or you may have come across the name Grand Rabbi Korff of Boston, but you may not know the whole history, and the pain and suffering that the House of Korff had to endure, both physically and more so, spiritually. The man you see pictured above is standing with his Eyniklach, his daughter's children, at a family simcheh in Boston. It's not clear if the boy wore a Yarmulke at other times, or if it was only for the wedding he was attending at the time - his mother's younger sister as I recall. You could well imagine what a simple Chassidisher Yid would feel like if he had to pose with grand kids who looked so different from what was his ideal. How much more so if the Yid is someone a bit Mooram Me'om, and how much more a Chassidisher Rebbe who clung steadfastly to his traditions even in the Treyfene Medineh. What makes the Zviller Rebbe's story unique is the fact that his grandson, Paul Gass, has chronicled the story of his family's arrival - and you might say assimilation into - America. When it comes to the Chassidishe/Rebbishe side of his family his knowledge is somewhat lacking, but that can be filled in by others who know more.



Reb Yakov Yisroel was a great-great-great-grandson of Reb Michel Zlotchover, zy"a. According to the Zvhiller website he was the son of Reb Yechiel Mechel (a brother of the more famous Reb Shlom'ke Zvhiller) who was a great-great-grandson of the Zlotshiver Maggid. There's of course alot more Yichus, like Karlin, Mezhibuz, Chernobel and more and more and more. The chart below, courtesy of that website, will tell you more.





The Rebbetzin - relative and descendant of Zhlotshev as well- was killed during a pogrom in the 1919 in Zvhill, and the Zvhiller Rebbe then married her younger sister, pictured here. Soon after the pogrom he fled to America and settled in Boston, his family following him there a few years later. He had four children with his first wife and five more with his second wife. From the recordings of his daughter Adele (Udel, after the Baal Shem's daughter) We find that as much as things changed here in America they very much stayed the same. Udel was supposed to be there to wait on her father, bring him "Tay," and I guess wash his clothes, but this was Boston, not Zvhill. In Boston there were movie theaters and you could buy cigarettes and hang out with boys. Oh yes, they came and told her father about it, and they told her how it doesn't "Pahs" for a Rebbe's daughter, but all it did was made her resent who she was and basically resent Yiddishkeit. but when does that ever help? So while she may have brought him his Tay after he had davened and learned for hours, she also may have brought him lots of agmas nefesh...


The Rebbe with two of his sons. Baruch and Shmuel. (they each deserve posts of their own.)

The story of Reb Yakov Yisroel Korf of Zvil-Mezhibuzh/Boston.

עלילת דם כפשוטו ממש

On The Main Line is Spreading Lies, Lies and More Lies!!! They have to be lies, otherwise how could they go after Steinsaltz like that?! אלא מאי מוז מען זאגען that it's all a big lie, concocted by Lilienthal to make the Rabbis of the day look like they were in agreement with him. Building his legacy, you might say. Or maybe he was just telling him that so that he would report back to the Government and leave them alone. After all, we all know that Volozhin closed down ONLY because they would be forced to incorporate Limudei Chol into the curriculum. And if they learned Dessauer's biur then why not learn secular subjects?! אלא מאי מוז מען זאגען that the whole thing is a figment of Lilienthal's wild and biased imagination. What's that you say? You believe these same historians when it comes to Chabad? Why of course! With Chabad it's all true, after all, it HAS to be true. But with the Olam haYeshivos it can't be true, because otherise it would be true and that just CANNOT be.

For additional facts about Dessauer and Bnei Lita see the post below, דף ו and on.

לכבוד ט' כסלו

Commentary not available.
Reshime-8

Rebbes running scared (Part III)

6 Tishrei, 5732 @ 770 E.P.
From the Avner Institute - Interesting how Reb Zalman Shimon never sat up front, And neither did other ziknei and chashuvei Anash.

So we know and understand why some of the Rebbes are afraid of his apparently very charismatic personality. He's cutting into their numbers. But why do others - who have no horse in this race - say he's off the wall? We can pontificate here. There are some things that your average Chossid'l looks at with caution. The white bekishes, for one. Kluger wears one, and I hear that some of his people do too. They say that he's too involved in Inyonei Shalom Bayis, etc. VeDal. But I don't think he's unique in that sense. They say that Shvartze Slonimer is just as involved in people's lives, and so are others. There's the Doroger Rebbe, who one day started his own operation and has similar tendencies to Kluger. He's left alone and does nice shidduchim and has all the big Rebbes coming to his simchas. Add to that the Toldos'en and we have several like him. So we can safely rule that out - unless you would go after the aforementioned groups and place them outside the realm as well - which I don't think you would do. So why bother Kluger then? I have yet to hear an explanation, and I've asked lots of people. I realize not everybody in the know reads my blog, but maybe somebody out there can come up with a list of crimes?

Why do people who were harassed themselves identify with Kluger? You can ask that question on me and some of my friends who were harassed when the left their groups. Or even if they didn't "belong" anywhere - like me - still had to endure criticism and worse from family and friends. [The family part isn't true with me, b"h.] Well I guess it isn't a question after all. We identify with the nirdof here and maybe ask questions later, much like many of you question and doubt him and his motives first and ask questions later. It's ironic that many of the nirdofim of years past are doing the redifos now, but that often happens when the weak are Oyleh L'Geduloh. The fact that he did nothing to attract the criticism very much works in his favor. They can't even accuse of him of brainwashing innocent bachurim like they do and did to Chabad, since he doesn't make secret shiurim in Yeshivos AFAIK. But the jury is still out on whether some of the dejected fathers and shvers will resort to violence to get their kids "back." I doubt it. In a way Kluger looks like he has no friends, no friends in high places - he's on his own and needs to either fend for himself and fend off all attacks or tone down whatever it is that bothers people so much, which I doubt he'll do.

בע"כ יענו אמן

(I'm using a שם המושאל in the title)

It was a tough week for those that oppose Chabad and its activities, as was noted here in another thread. (I won't use the word "snag" or "haters.") Seeing Chabad get such praise from all ends of the spectrum is difficult for some people to stomach. Of course not everybody got in on the lovefest, not all media, and we understand some that didn't. Not that it matters either way. Nist in dem bashteit shlichus, on an article in a Jewish paper, but it sure helps. Quite surprising were the two articles published here, of Mozes and Fishoff, with each one surprising for a different reason. With Fishoff it's like this: It's tough to gauge an Agudist's views towards Lubavitch. Some don't care, Some are cold, some are lukewarm and some foam at the mouth at the mere mention of the "L-word." The Agudah of old in America had all kinds. R' Yechiel BZ is a throwback, or a relic if you will. A staunch Gerrer Chossid. The younger ones are MOSTLY products of American Yeshivos, where Lubavitch was not held in the highest regard - for all kinds of reasons. Hence, here in America we look at the Agudah as a group not particularly friendly towards Lubavitch, and we're surprised when we see joint efforts by the two groups or praise from one to the other. You might compare Fishoff to Reb Chatzkel Besser, z"l, but you shouldn't, because Rabbi Besser had no Rebbe that he could his own after WW2 and the demise of Radomsk, wheras Fishoff had the Gerrer Rebbes throughout and seemingly didn't consult with the Rebbe that much. Rabbi Besser did, as we all know, so comparing the two just because they were two Poylishe Yidden in the American Agudah upper echelons is not entirely just. So we're still a bit surprised to see Reb Yechiel write such warm words in the press about Lubavitch.

With MK Mozes it's like this. Israel and the Agudah there is a whole different ballgame. They were not necessarily influenced by Lakewood and Baltimore - and they knew der emes. Many of the Chassidishe Chavrei Knesset - Lorencz not withstanding - had very close relationships with the Rebbe, as has been documented time and time again. Despite their differences on many subjects they knew, they knew. The complete story has yet to be told, not just with the Agudah but with the Edah HaCharedis as well, and the disappointment amongst the zealots will be very great then. What jumps out at you is despite being a Hoyzboocher by the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz that he knew where to turn to in a time of crisis... Remember I don't work for Lubavitch, Inc. so I don't know who was invited and who went on their own accord and who went because newspapers sent them, but it was very nice to see such a cross-section of VIPs, press and politicians there to witness the great event. Not that I was there - I just see what all of you see, a barrage of pictures and articles that makes even a Lubavitcher like me say "ok, enough already, let's move on to another topic"

פילאדעלפיע, תר"צ

"האלט שטארק גאט'ס ב"ה מתנה , די הייליקע תורה"

The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, HaRav Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, Ztvkllh"h, At the train station in Philadelphia, Pa. One of his many stops on his trip to the US, Elul 5690 to Tamuz 5630. The picture was released for the first time this week by the good people at Lubavitch.com. Speaking of Philly; which is a product of BMG - it seems like BMG will have no part of anybody working there at all. Not even a young man selling danishes for a few dollars a day to feed his family. "Raus!" they said. Nor Teyreh, no BaaliBatim here! Apparently that caused quite a ruckus at BMG, with some agreeing that he be banished because he charged too much, and others appalled at his expulsion. Either way this doesn't look good for the ivory tower at Lakewood, with its multi, multi, multi million dollar buildings.

Shh... Don't tell Satmar they're being had

It's amazing what a few dollars will do for you.

For one you'll take 60+ years and send it down the toilet. For 60+ years Chinuch Atzmai and Tziyonishe gelt was good, all of a sudden they've become Kanoyim! The Nesivos Sholom, who they claim to revere and love was the biggest proponent of CA and they're gonna drop it?! Mi Yegaleh Ofor MiEynecho, Baal Nesivos Sholom! They totally dropped the ball here, all for a little pride. Of course the BaGaTZ was wrong for meddling, and they HAD to be resisted, but it never had to come to that, and now they're gonna put their collective feet in their mouths for a few bucks! Satmar and the Edah HaCharedis will demand a guarantee for the money. Mark my words: 5-10 years of a complete Nituk period from the Shilton haTziyoni, otherwise not a penny. And then they'll have to switch back to only Yiddish, even in the Girls Schools. And then they'll create new dress codes. Just like the BaGaTZ meddles they'll "meddle" too. They're not total fools. "You want our money? Let's see you act on it, sweat a little like our chadorim and schools do."

The truth is that I don't blame the Yerushalayimer Slonimer for trying their best, even if it did mean pulling a fast one here. They knew that Satmar is big on Tzedokoh and even bigger on "sticking it to the Tziyonim," so they gave it a shot. Who wouldn't. But I figured that the biznessleit in Satmar would recognize a scam when they see one... I guess the need to stick it to the Tziyonim is greater than we thought it was, even at the expense of gelt and pride. We're talking about collecting money for the Immanuel Parsha back in the summer, when a bunch of fathers went to jail for not listening to BaGaTZ, who was telling them to accept all children, without exception. The Court placed a hefty knas on those fathers and they have no means to pay. So they decided to go to Satmar and see if they'll help them in their favorite cause, and it seems like they ARE helping. Slonim's talking about pulling out completely, not taking any Government money anymore, which is what subjected them to the rules in the first place. We'll see what happens. In the meantime they're working on paying off the knas part, and they're getting the "mesiras nefesh" title attached to them.

Yomim Yagidoo.

The cutest thing is that the money they collect will go straight to the טמא'נע בג"ץ to pay the Knas! They'll take that money and Shmad Yiddishe Kinder with it! Hello there? Is anybody listening?!

What COL missed (this week's Mishpacha)

While they took a picture of a wrapped magazine - complete with plastic glare, we go all out and get only for our readers, no matter if some of you are a bunch of @#$%^&^%$#@##$s and worse. The story about RBB is classic, a true portrait of Ahavas Yisroel, besides for all the other ma'alos. It's ironic how RBB sent a talmid who he cared for so much to Lubavitch, despite his "veite kuk" what Lubavitch would become...



Left: Reb Moshe Chaim Sapochinski, Right: Yehoshua, (or Shaye) Leibovich, HY"D, RBB's eynikel, Center: Maran Reb Boruch Ber Zatzal of Kamenetz Litovsk. It seems like young Shaye had fun that day in the woods of Druskenik, where RBB was on datche, smiling for photographers all afternoon. He was also mistaken for Reb Schneur K in the Reb Shimon SHkop biography. Moshe Chaim was not identified in any of these pictures until this week, AFAIK. Ah! how times have changed!


Today, In Montre'al, PQ. You could tell that face a million years later...


You could see he never lost that sharp Yeshivishe look from the 30s. Good suit. Hat on a slight tilt. Hair just so. (I have more pics to prove that.) Gadlus Ho'Odom.

Photos by Levi Netzer

The article preview. You'll need to go out and buy the magazine to see the whole article..


Kamenetzer Yeshiveh K'taneh, 5698, RMC is second from left. Only one bachur'el dares to take a peek and smile, the others never lose focus, while the mashgiach "git a sharfen blik."

Eisenberg Creations

"Bar Mitzvah," 2006


"Desperation," 1993

You might say that the same man's "desperation" in 1993 turned into a Bar Mitzvah 13 years later! No longer was he desperate, he had his son's Bar Mitzvah to celebrate.

See The Works at His Website


Artist R' Refoel Eisenberg (circled) at a Farbrengen with the Rebbe, 5732. Oy, how many of those pictured here are no longer with us! It seems that he's drawing the Rebbe while seated there.


At his home studio

Flashback!

Yohrtzeit Pictures - Beis Kislev

Rebbes running scared (Part II)

(See Part I here)

So what makes Reb Avrohom Tzvi Kluger and his Chabureh so attractive?

Let's face it, many of our yungeleit realize that there's a lot more to Torah than strictly limud haNigleh, especially when it comes to Chassidishe Yungeleit. They see that many of the Yeshivishe Oylem are a lot frummer than they are and may even feel more connected to Yiddishkeit than they are. The Brisker and ChazonIsh'Nikkes are plenty in Israel and their "hiddur mitzvah" may get a chossid thinking about his. So they try and find out what sets them apart. What the Baal Shem Tov was all about.] What he fought for, or rather why he was fought. He never fought anybody. [So they search elsewhere because they're unhappy with the fact that the groups that they're in do not emphasize the learning of Sifrei HaChassidus like some other groups do. Kluger gives them the Chassidus - lots of it - without the commitment that joining a group like Chabad would take. Of course they're eventually expected to commit themselves to Kluger's group as well, but I would guess that most people don't see themselves as joining when they first go to the shiurim/davenen. I've heard some of his shiurim, but have never met him. He's a terrific Baal Masbir and breaks down shverre musogim in Chassidus and Kabboloh into pitz pitzlach. That could be difficult for those of you that have no interest in these inyonim to understand, but that's how it is. I would imagine that the davenen and the sheves achim/farbrengen/butte/zitz has lots to do with it too, but again, I have yet to witness one.

Why do others like Reb Tzvi Mayeh not have the same issues with other Rebbes that Kluger has? Why don't they call for a boycott of RZM? For a while I thought it was because RZM only attracts those that had no formal chassidus of their own, in which case he wasn't upsetting anybody, because he wasn't taking anybody's yungeleit. But after doing some research I realized that it's totally not the case. He shleps from others shoyn eyn mohl, he just plays his cards right. He mentions from all seforim, absolutely all. Every vort he says shteit shoyn in Shaarei Tshuveh, Mesilos Yeshorim, Nefesh Hachaim, Kozhnitzer Maggid, Der Chozeh, Sfas Emes, Beis HaLevi, Reb Tzodik HaCohen, Pachad Yitzchok (Hutner) and Sukkas Dovid. If that's the case who can be upset at him? If it ever happens that he mentions something from Tanya or Reb Nachman then it's squuezed in there - somewhere between the Chozeh and Rav Hutner... He stays away from Chabad and Breslov, bekitzer. The smartest thing he does to avoid the wrath of the Rebbes is NOT TO TRAVEL TO UMAN!! Of course they're upset, there were hundreds of empty seats in their shuls this Rosh Hashoneh. If only Rabbi Kluger would not be so idealistic he would survive. What is it about people that are connected to Lubavitch that they can't play the game to please the masters?!

[Up next: why people with no affiliation may be opposed to him, and why people that were harassed for leaving their fold and joining another sympathize with RATK.]

Artscroll's long wait finally over

The completion of the Steinsaltz Shas

Matzav is wearings its Yeshivishe coat today, three days after advertising "Jews and Baseball" as its video of the day. I assume that was also to show you what not to see at the movie theater... After all, Maran said that in 1989 that all his (Steinsaltz's) works are kefirah... I'm sure Maran took the time to read them all then... The fact that this was right, smack in the middle of his Milchemes Hashem against Lubavitch in general also is a mere coincidence. Rabbi Scherman should also send him like a box of chocolates or an assortment of herbal teas, since that opened the door for them. They translated the Shas L'sheim Mitzvah, so as not to allow millions of Jews to be influenced by Steinsaltz. No other considerations whatsoever. It's interesting to note that despite the fact that he was only attacked because of his connection to Lubavitch - take my word for it, people - that Steinsaltz is sort of in no-man's land. Lubavitchers find him too way too "simplistic" when it comes to his interpretations of many aspects of Chassidus, including the Rebbe/Chossid relationship. Steinsaltz tells it like he sees it, in all areas of life, and that ticks many people off. So in short, Maran attacked a man for really no reason, well, other than being a Lubavitcher, of course, which is all the reason in the world.

ah freilikhen khoydesh!

Late addition: The Haskomeh from the Posek HaDor, Maran Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l

Modzitzer Hits...

Tell this to a chossid who thinks he's not allowed to go and earn a living because it will shter zein avoydeh... Tell this to A Litvak who grew up on Modzitz and Shenker; He may have second thoughts about his choice of music... This is from the Divrei Yisroel, by the way. But you all knew that already anyway.

Kinus HaShluchim Thread

From COLlive

Watch Here

Discuss Here.

Due to popular demand, and against my better judgment, and also so as not to pollute BOF's guest post any further. Some of you are for the books, what can I tell you.

די ווייטאג פון א אידישע טאטע

Note: The letter was written in response to recent discussions going on the phone line Kol Mevaser. Not that it matters, I'm just giving you a heads up so you don't me who it was that was talking about Affordable Housing and where he was talking about it. "Reb Yonah Kohn" is the presenter on Kol Mevaser who speaks about "Ekonomishe Inyunim." The letter is that of a Yiddishe tatte who's had enough of the current setup, where thousands upon thousands of Yiddishe kinder are out there with no prospects of doing anything at all later in life. They're expected to raise large families, but do not have the means to do it.

Call 212-444-1100 and Mach a Leyben.

ווידוי ביכורים is tough to listen to!

A Guest Post by the Bray of Fundie


Mei HaShiloakh Parshas Ki Savo

I have been following Tzig's series, Learning or Working - What Some Rabbis say, with great interest as it is both a compelling societal “hock” and touches me personally on many levels. The Chernobyler shtikel he posted reminded me of a Torah I saw many years ago in מי השילוח . We are all familiar with the posuk before Matan Torah of כה תאמר לבית יעקב ותגד לבני ישראל, and its famous Rashi: לנשים וע"ה בלשון רכה, להודיען שכר מצות ולא העונש, ולת"ח יגיד דברים הקשין כגידין. In this shtikel the Izhbitzer, ZY”A runs with the idea that הגדהimplies “tough talk” and says that it’s hard for the Kohen in the Miqdash, the full-time learner and עובד השם, see halokha yud/yud beis) to hear what his brother, the "Srulik Poyer" farmer has to say.

While K’lal Yisrael obviously needs both segments of society, the learners and the earners, the trick for those of us not learning and davening full time, but still getting our hands dirty in a post-agrarian, post-industrial society/economy is to still be מקדש the mud, not to be turned into it. I recall learning once (though the author and sefer escapes me now) that this sanctification of the mud, flesh and blood is the essential purpose of human existence altogether, i.e. to actualize the Torah in a material world. For the אורות and abstract concepts of the Torah in their pristine rukhniyus'dika purity alone the נשמה would have been better off remaining disembodied in the עולמות עליונים. Human life in עולם הזה is about transforming גשם into רוח and חומר into ,צורה and the neshoma can’t do that without a גוף and מצוות מעשיות. This is what I always think about whenever I hear the haunting evocative Nichoach melody .הנשמה יורדת לתוך הגוף

I thank the Tzig for this opportunity. A gutten Shabbos.

13 year old farmers... Learning or Working Part II

...... Well, that would be case if we followed the advice of the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch, adviced offered way back in the 1820s. The advice was presented at a time when Jews would be happy with a slice of bread twice a day, yes, but should be just as relevant today as it was back then. Back then there were thousands upon thousands of such young farmers; they worked the land and were happy and G-d fearing, just like the Mitteler Rebbe said they were. Yeshiva was for a very select few, only those who were considered to be "Mutzlochim." Obviously times have changed. No longer do we have thousands of Jews living on Kolonyes in the Ukraine. And no longer can we have a society where only a handful can open a sefer other than a siddur. Knowledge is power, and lack thereof is lack of power to battle the forces of evil that wish to ensnare us in their webs of deceit and decadence. Unlike the letter from Reb Osher Stoliner, where the letter seems to be a general one, albeit written to a relative, this letter DOES seem like it was only addressed to that particular segment of society, to Yishuv'niks who were living a simple, yet uplifting life in the breadbasket of the Ukraine. The Rebbe doesn't seem to worry about the fact that the Yid's lack of knowledge might bring him to be over on a issur muktzeh, which some of you here WERE very concerned about... (not that I'm trying to diminish the severity of the issur, cholileh.)



So we've come a long way, people. Most of us can daven - at least for themselves - and many of us can learn a Posuk Chumish by ourselves. Some of us can learn a Mishneh, There are even those who can learn a blatt gemoreh without a crutch, and a handful can learn a Teysfis without help. Real progress indeed. No longer are we danger of assimilation or departure from the fold. We're safe and learned. We look like Jews, none of that brown hats and tan suits anymore. We each have a set of daled minim and we have tashmishei kedusheh that would put the biggest tzaddikim of yesteryear to shame. Reb Chaim's hiddur mitzveh couldn't hold a candle to that of a 20 year old in Bnei Beraq these days. There's more "Torah" in one week in Lakewood than there was for years back in some places In Europe. Ah! mamesh achshir doro! And the chidushei torah that appear today? mamesh hafleh VoFeleh! Judging from how beautiful everything is today it's a chiddush that we ever speak about der later heim at all. All we had was a bunch of freiaks and Amiratzim who never had the true simchas hachayim and mesikus hatorah - those things could only happen post WW2, after (in the morning) and before (in the afternoon) picking up the babies from the babysitter... They had none of that back in Europe, so what did they know...



But we need farmers. We need a place where a young man can use his hands for constructive purposes. Not all of us are cut out for learning. And sometimes he may be cut out for learning, but all he needs is some encouragement and a voice that listens, not reprimands. We're not advocating that we close down all yeshivos, c"v, but we do know that some of us need assistance, so that we can grow up as erliche yidden, tomchei torah. And thank G-d there are 2 such yeshivos in the Monsey area alone. They cater to two different clienteles, otherwise they would work together, I'm sure. We're talking Mesivtos here. And we're talking about kids that are not necessarily incapable of learning because of a disability, all they need is to be made to feel like a human being who can accomplish. One is Shaarei Arozim, which caters to the Yeshivish/American Oylem and has built a sterling reputation, and another is a relative newcomer, Yeshiva Talpios. Shaarei Arazim has an easier time, IMHO, since they deal with a society that's less - only a little less - worried about mah yomru haBriyos. They're more inclined to do what's right for their child, no matter what the nosy lady from across the street says. They've also been in business for some years now and are likely more open to modern methods than Talpios may be, at least judging from the external trappings.

Both of them have transformed boys and are working wonders, B"H.

.....יגיע כפיך כי תאכל

עלעקשין דעי" אין קיי דזשעי"

?זי האט א טשענס פון געווינען


?דא כאפט מען אויך בילדער


"זעהסט, ס'איז א נייע "בעלעט", מ'דארף עס דא אויסשטעלן און דערנאך עס אריינלייגן אין די מאשין"


"איך געדענק נאך ווי די זיידע איז געגאנגן שטימען אין יאהרע פיר און צוואנציג"


"?אנטשולדיגט, וואס דארף מען דא טוהן"

אלע בילדער פון "איי פי" אגענטור

וזאת למודעי: דער איינציגסטער פלאץ וואו די פרעסע האט געכאפט בילדער - עכ"פ וואס איך האב געזעהן - (און איך רעד פון די וועלטישע פרעסע) פון היימישע אידן גייען שטימן איז געווען אין עואב"י קרית יואל, יע"א. מן הסתם אלץ דער וויכטיגער פארמעסט פאר'ן קאנגרעס וואס קומט דארט פאר צווישן דזשאן האל און די פרוי דר, העיווארטה. זאל קיינער זיך נישט איינרעדן אז דא וויל מען עפעס חוזק מאכן וכדומה

Learning or Working. What Some Rabbis say (Part I)

We've been discussing the matzav in the olam haYeshivos lately, and naturally that has led to some heated discussions here. Some of you have proposed going back to the old system, where only those who were suitable continued in Yeshivos after their Bar Mitzvah. Others decried the selective way that yeshivos accept or reject bochurim. And naturally the kolel way of life gets thrown in as well. The fact that the first letter comes from Reb Osher Stoliner (the first) is especially interesting, since most of Stolin today is kolel yungeleit - or stam Orimeleit who don't work for whatever reason. And I'm talking about American Stolin, not in Eretz Yisroel. That may have something to do with the fact that most of American Stolin is ex-Litvishe who learned in Stoliner Cheder as children and stayed there, becoming Stolin in America. I guess the only way to keep them in Stolin was to tell them that they could continue their Litvishe way of life, complete with Kolel 4ever. Everything else was a bonus - the geshmake davenen, etc. It was a win-win situation. back then there was no Tiferes Elimelech or "The Cheder;" if you wanted a frum cheder - but not Chassidish - Stolin may have been your only choice, which is a big reason for the growth of Stolin in America. The Yodei Dovor say that the חסר at the end of the letter is not really so, that the letter was too "sharf" to be printed, presumably because he knocks the lomdim who don't work. They also say that the חסר is "out there," and that I should to get my hands on it.

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