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An Organization dedicated to helping teens at risk. The proceeding video features such Rabbonim and educators like Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Salomon, (of "Seattle Menorahs" fame)
Rabbi Chaim Cohen of the Flatbush Gerrer Shtiebel, Rabbi Mordechai Twerski, parents of some of those children, and former at-risk teens themselves. They speak of how they felt at the time, and what they felt was missing from their lives at the time. Lots of the stock video footage they show is from the '80's, and quite cheesy, like something you'd show to a five year old, so I'm not sure what they're trying to dramatize here. There's also casual drug use, sirens flashing, speeding ambulances, fires, accidents and the like, presumably the outcome of such at-risk behavior.


(viewing time of 54 minutes and 29 seconds)

What I do find troubling is when showing the before and after pictures of some of the program graduates not much seems to change other than the fact that previously one guy wore a Mets cap and now he wears a black Yarmulke. Or that he now wears a white shirt as opposed to his "before" picture where he was wearing a sleevless "muscle shirt." That shows me that these people who run this very worthy program still have this idea that how you look is what's most important. The fact that you now wear a black Yarmulke as opposed to a baseball cap somehow shows that you've been transformed. Why am I not impressed. Obviously this is overall a very worthy and noble project, no less than serving non-religious Jews, and should be supported to the utmost degree. I guess פטור בלא כלום אי אפשר, so I need to criticize something.

If the video won't work click on "Google Video" in the bottom right corner of the little screen, then click on "Go to Google Video." That'll take you to the page in Google Video. You can play it there too.

Forced to Change

They finally made me do it, they made me switch to the new Blogger, and I don't like it one bit. First they steal your profile and make you re-do it, which means you lose all the previous views it had. Then the Hebrew on the page shows up as chicken scratch, just look at the sidebar, it's awful! It's tough enough as it is, coming up with new material all the time, now I need to get used to this too. Oh well.

Lubavitcher Kano'us against Kopust

If any of you have been reading the last two editions of Heichel HaBesh"t you may have been privileged to see a new phenomenon. The Historian Reb Amrom Blau has been writing recently both in HH and in Shturem.Net about Toldos Yemei Chabad, and he's been encompassing it all, especially the hereto unknown. He's been writing about the 2 Rebbes of Kopust and also about the differences of opinion between them and Lubavitch after the passing of the Tzemach Tzedek. It's not very vivid in detail, but it does give the reader a taste. Many of the individuals he mentions when it comes to Colel Chabad at the turn of the 20th Century and other events were Kopuster Chassidim, and many of the commenters there do not like what they see. They see it as an affront to the all the Rabbeyim from the Rebbe MaHaRash and on. They've been commenting on Shturem and voicing their displeasure about Heichel HaBesht as well.

I think they're insecure, and should learn to live with it. The Rebbe was the one to say that what happened 100 or so years ago between the Rabbeyim is no longer relevant. If there's Chassidus to be had from them, and if there's history to be learned then that's what we should do. The Frierdiger Rebbe mentions his uncles and cousins with the greatest Derech Eretz and respect, so why should we be any different? Besides, we need to beat those that'll use Kopust as another front in the fight against Lubavitch. If Lubavitch will embrace it then the haters will have nothing.

Yud Shvat at a desk in Manhattan

It's times like these that we know that Chassidus was made for BaaleiBatim, and those that actually work for a living too. For the others it's too easy, they can just roll into Yeshivah or Kollel and automatically have an inspiring Yud Shvat or other Chassidishe Yom Tov. If you need to spend your day and evening at a desk in Manhattan, and with people who have no concept of the day's significance, then that's where the challenge lies. Not for nothing did the Rebbe Rashab say that "Er iz nisht zicher mit a Bocher biz er vert a Yungerman." Although the vort definitely refers to mostly more significant challenges, I would venture to say that it could be extended to be relevant at times like these as well. Ah Gut Yom Tov!

Reb Yoel Kahan speaks out

The interview in Kfar Chabad Magazine. The question is what will it accomplish?

Is it too little too late? After all, what good will it accomplish if we continue to send our kids to the same Yeshivos and schools, daven in the same shuls, and live side by side? Then there are those that'll say that it's his fault since he was the leader in the years of '53 and '54, and that now he's trying to atone for his ways. Therefore, they say, there's no reason to take him seriously. Fools is what they are, and it's indifference like that that's killing us.

He's recently been saying what many of us have wanted blasted from the rooftops for years. The problem is that much of what he's saying has been said before, although maybe not as publicly nor as loudly. We want both ourselves to know how to think, and the world to know what we think, at least on the Moshiach issue. But speeches like these will have little affect on the nutjobs who continue to destroy Lubavitch at least on that front. These people, lead by their respective "Mashpi'im," will not be deterred by 57 years of dedication and service by Reb Yoel, or anybody else for that matter. They will continue to destroy Lubavitch in the name of truth and Rebbe, and we'll all be made to suffer for it.

Reb Yoel speaks of Achdus in action, but divisiveness in thought. Meaning, yes we need to have Achdus when it comes to living side by side, but we need to separate when it comes to Shitos. He doesn't advocate a rebuilding of the school system, at least in this article, so I'm not quite sure how that's going to happen. Where else would this education happen? And how will it happen if the message in school is the complete opposite? Unless he believes that whatever our kids learn in school has no bearing on them anyway, it's the parents or Shul Mashpia's responsibility. If that's the case why bother sending your kids to those schools? It remains to be seen if there'll be any reaction to this, or it'll just go by the wayside like all other Kinusim, Michtovim, and articles.

Agudah's looking out for you

Even at the Airport!


The Agudath Israel of America has raised concerns with U.S. authorities about X-ray security machines. In a release Wednesday, the Orthodox organization said it was not satisfied with Department of Homeland Security assurances that “cloaking” software made the images less explicit.

“For many passengers, however, the religiously observant among them, ‘less explicit’ may fall far short of an acceptable standard of modesty,” Agudah said.

It said the department was demonstrating a willingness to cooperate, noting that the Transportation Security Administration several years ago agreed to provide separate rooms for searches involving the removal of wigs or hats out of respect for the modesty of religious travelers.

(JTA)

The Misnaged David Yellin

I'm of the opinion that had David Yellin lived a bit longer, and been subject to reading more like Fishel Schneersohn's "Chassidishe Mayses", we may have seen an awakening on his part. Chassidishe Mayses have that affect, sometimes more so than any Chassidishe Sefer. Even a cold intellectual like himself may have seen the error of his ways and returned to G-d. But Alas, he died next year.

He sure learned his lesson

In this letter - sent to me by A Simple Jew - dated Vov Adar Rishon 5700 Prof. David Yellin tells Dr. Fishel Schneersohn that he enjoyed his story "Chaim Gravitzer" that was printed in the Hatzofeh newspaper. It captured his heart while reading it on Leil Shabbos, and gave him a real "Oneg Shabbos."

Yellin continues to say that he's a Misnaged, and has absolutely no "Netiyah" to Chassidus, and at first glance he opposed this book with my entire being since it spoke the praises of Chassidus and Chassidim. I said to myself "How much longer will our people admire Chassidus,?" and only within that opposition did I continue to read. Yet, the more I read it the more my heart was warmed by the story, and I could not wait for the next edition of the (weekly) paper to come out so that I can continue reading it. When it happened that the continuation was NOT printed in the paper I had great pain. Please continue with this noble work, he says.

Nice, no?

According to Wikipedia, and we have no reason to doubt this, Yellin was a Yerushalyimer Yingel who learned in the Misnagdic/Prushim Cheder Eitz Chaim. Later he "Freid out" and joined Eliezer Ben-Yehudah in his life's work of creating a modern Hebrew language for a modern Hebrew people. I guess one thing he learned in Yerushalayim that he kept was that a "Chossid hut men nit lieb." The letter is up for auction at Ebay.

Moses L. Schwab remembers

The son of Rav Shimon Schwab writes his memoirs from his days of arriving in Baltimore in 1936 and on. I have read only the first of twelve pages, so read at your own risk. Thanks to Chabakuk Elisha for the link.

Katsav Indictment - Bad for Chabad

Photo by Shmais

Somehow I believe the accusations will begin to fly that Lubavitch saw this happening yet didn't care. They should've dropped Moshe Katsav when the charges were first brought up, friendship be damned. It'll be made into more proof that Chabad has no morals, and only cares about money and power, right Harry? If, G-d forbid, he IS found guilty then Lubavitch should've known that years ago when he was a MP from Kiryat Malachi and never have spoken to the man. What all this DOES show all of us is that although he must've known this would get out eventually that still was not enough to stop him from proceeding with the alleged assault. It shows us all how vulnerable man is to momentary pleasure when the fallout is permanent. He will never have a political career again, and his name wil forever be mentioned in infamy.

איזה חבל

Rabbi Sholom Ber Kowalski o"h

I just heard that he passed away last weekend. בד"ה

More to come, iy"h.

Feldheim following Artscroll's lead

Pop Quiz:
Who's missing from this book?

Is it

a) The Gerrer Rebbe
b) The Vizhnitzer Rebbe
c) The Belzer Rebbe
d) The Lubavitcher Rebbe

If you guessed a, b, or c you're way out of touch with the "Torah World." Then again maybe it's better we don't include the Rebbe in that category....

Belz is revolutionary -------

----- at least in some aspects.




This has been going on for some time now, but I've only recently noticed it. As many of you many know part of the high cost of raising a Chassidishe family is the cost of hats for a young Bochur. If a Biber Hit is the norm then the dad muct dish out some three hundred dollars for his son's headgear at his Bar Mitzvah, because the kid needs a weekday and Shabbos hat. If you've got a few sons in a row that can be quite costly. The Belzer Rebbe thought out of the box and decided to take action. This is where we can actually see that all it takes is a little courage and incentive like money and changes CAN happen.

The Belzer Rebbe decided that a 13-year old kid can dress just like his Zeide did in Poland and Galicia and wear a Kasket. These cute little hats are thought of as appropriate for little kids, till 9 or 10 years old, but the Belzer Rebbe saw it differently. He saw the burden of a father and decided that it's more important that the father not worry about paying for his 13-year old's wardrobe than the kid thinking he looks childish. I think he needs to be commended for that.

Maybe it's just me, but in today's day and age of standards when it comes to outward appearance a decision like that can only have good repercussions. If others would see that spending money on things like 2 expensive hats for a thirteen year old is not what we need to burden fathers with then our society will only benefit. Especially since it's all about pressure anyway. Once we eliminate that pressure we'll all be happier.

Is Baruch Chait creating Snag Kids?

Ages 8-11 / With the SS Gaavatanic sunk at the bottom of the sea, the shipwrecked passengers must learn to work together to survive on a desert island. Under Rebbe Lev Tov's wise guidance, the lessons of good interpersonal relationships are taught and the "incredible voyage" continues with this exciting sequel. For children and adults alike, this book will open the reader's eyes to the beauty of good middos, and provides the key to acquiring them.

Does anybody else here have kids who convinced you to shell out big bucks to buy the "Tikkun HaMiddos Island" books by Baruch Chait? Do you too feel that the kids focus only on the negative character traits of these figures? All I've seen are his 39 Melochos books in Yiddish, and I did grow up listening to Baruch Chait on Kol Salonika, but I need to hear more about it. Tell me your experience here, and tell me if you agree with these charges. I'm just surprised that none of the Haskomoh givers realized it if this is indeed the case.

Toroso Umnoso - Not like it used to be

Kolel Shuvu Bonim in Old Jerusalem

There's been some talk on the internet about an article that was featured on YNet, The Yediot Acharonot website, about the price of marrying off a Frum girl in Israel. Apartments need to be bought, and bank accounts full of cash needs to be opened, all so that this Tchachkele can klap di Baychel that he sits and learns, and the Vaybel can tell her friends that her husband is an "Avrech." All that needs to be said about the poor fathers of those girls has already been said. Brooklyn Wolf had some words about it here. Forgive me if I end up sounding like Harry Maryles here, that's honestly not my intention. What I'd like to focus on is the Torah aspect of it, meaning how the idea of continuing full-time learning goes hand in hand with needing a paid-up apartment with no mortgage on it, and a bank account with One Hundred Thousand Dollars in it.

It used to be, in Di Alte Heim in Lita, when The Talmud Teyreh in Kelm was founded for married students, that the family had a home or lived in a small shack at the edge of town. Some of them WERE married to the daughters of affluent men and could afford to live like that. Those that didn't lived BeDochek and made due with almost nothing. They were Maymis Atzmom just to be able to learn Torah. The results were clear, we saw great men emerge from those situations, men of great diligence and knowlege. We also fail to realize that these were a handful of people, and it was something that was done, at least the organized Kolel, only in one or two small towns, not like today. Yet, the same people who are supposedly carrying on the traditions of Reb Yisroel Salanter and his disciples are the ones who instituted this mass system of all married men not working, and Shlepper fathers of these girls needing to somehow marry off his children! Who allowed for this to happen?!


(a shul in Kelm, Lithuania)

I have people knocking on my door, Jews from Eretz Yisroel, who are stuck in this rut that was created there. One guy has been coming once a year with the following story: "Ich Hob - Ohn ayin Horah - Fertzen kinder, un ich hub shoyn Chasunah gemacht acht fun zei. Ich hub zei alle gekoyft direhs, un Itzter halt ich bay dem Naynter kind. Efsher kent ihr mir helfen mit a sheine nesineh?" So I, the zhlob who still hasn't bought an apartment for HIMSELF should help this guy who never worked a day in his life buy 14 apartments for his kids?! Does that make sense to anybody. But of course the softie in me takes over and the guy gets a check anyway. Then there are the other ones that come every single year just to cover their daily expenses. They have yet to marry off kids and will be here twice a year once that wheel begins to turn. Is this why we tell people not to go to work, so that they should become perpetual schnorrers?

The worst part of all this is the ones that suffer are those that did have that Mesiras Nefesh for Torah, and didn't have that rich Shver to support them throughout all those years of learning. They're stuck with the house full of old maids who are less desirable by the day. I'm surprised these people don't start a mass exodus from the Yeshivishe movement, I guess it's tought to get up and start over again and that age. But again, what's the point of such so-called תורתו אומנתו if it destroys any semblance of a normal life and leaves no room for actual learning since your mind is exploding with worry over creditors and Mechtonim! This situation is not limited to Israel as we know, but at least in the US working for a living is not frowned upon, so the man has a fighting chance to actually make a living. I wonder though what would happen if there wasn't mandatory military service in Israel for all men. Would we still have that many learners? i doubt it. Please don't call me a guy "who hates Torah and Talmidei Chachomim," it's simply not true.

New concepts in Chabad

Concerning the thread below, where there is mention made about a Chabad cookbook, I have the following questions for my friend Mekushor, author of the thread:

1) What is a Chabad Cookbook? Is it that the cook learns Chassidus while cooking? As opposed to a Chagas Cookbook? Do tell.

2) Why is the fact that this is an alternative to Spice and Spirit the greatest thing? Are we to drop S&S now?

3) What's wrong with traditional cooking that we need to make Kung Fu chicken now? Traditional foods have been sanctioned by generations of Jewish women who prepared them, are we to discard all that for Indian food?

I say stick with the chicken soup and Gehakte Leyber.

Uplifting The Sparks In A Cookbook

I wanted to let the blogging community know about a fantastic new Chabad cookbook that was just published. The greatest thing about it is that it provides an alternative to the Spice and Spirit, since we all know that is the main cookbook we all use. The recipes came from a great cross-section of people, including many non-Jews. For once, here is a Chabad cookbook that has recipes other than traditionally Jewish foods.

Where else can you find kosher recipes for:

Kung Pao Chicken
Traditional Curry
Cola Chicken
Hash Brown Casserole
Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

It is definitely worth checking out (Link Here)!

Monsey Wal*Mart and Jewish Prejudice

When will they learn az m'ken haynt nit azay reyden?

It's all about Wal-Mart in Monsey wanting to open a Supercenter and the opposition by local business owners, many of whom are Hasidic Jews. This article, published in last weekend's Financial Times and FT.com is read by (presumably) millions of non-Jews around the world.

Watch the audio slide show

“We should make petitions. We should make protests. That’s the way it is going to work,” he declared with inspired wrath before a 100-strong crowd. “We are the ones who elect the officials in this community. And we are the ones that break them.”

Wal-Mart, he warned, would be bad for the traffic on the area’s main road, where, just a few weeks before, a mother was killed as she walked back from visiting sick members of the community. And it would be bad for crime: “This is a place where we leave our doors unlocked. If Wal-Mart comes in you are going to have to put bars on your windows. They will bring in very low-level people, and if these low-level people come in they are going to follow us to our homes, and ransack our homes.”

Talk about a bad choice of words....

Read the entire article

Go find other Rebbes

There's always another side to each story, and always a counterpoint to be made. I refer you to the post entitled "All Yidden are Shayech to Nesi Doreynu." The point there is not to say that all Yidden are to become "Lubavitchers" nor that they drop all their Minhogim. The point the Rebbe makes is that The Tzaddik supplies you with your Chayus and you there are connected to him, whether you know it or not. Therefore it would be beneficial to you to follow in his footsteps and Chazzer the Maamer at the wedding just like he did. My guess would be that the same goes for other Minhogim as well, and I may be contradicting myself within 5 lines here, but the Rebbe says it only concerning the wedding Maamer.

My buddy Chabakuk Elisha thinks that all Tzaddikim join in this monumental task of supplying Chayus to Yidden, not just The Nesi'ei Chabad, and he goes even further. He doesn't buy into the notion that all Yidden should learn Chassidus Chabad and follow the Chabad Nesi'im, on the contrary. He thinks that most of those who consider themselves Lubavitchers, whether Baalei Tshuvah or Frum from birth, whether they themselves joined Chabad or whether they can trace their lineage back to the Alter Rebbe should leave Chabad and join other groups. They only cause pain and embarrassment. Only those who are an asset to Chabad and The Rebbe, whether by being a living example or by teaching others, should be allowed to stay.

Maybe he's got a point. Maybe he feels that there has been too much emphasis one way and now we need to pull back a bit. Stop focusing on "Kiruv" and Hafotzoh and go "back to the basics." Make Lubavitch like it used to be. That would be nice, and the Rebbe surely would enjoy that aspect, the return to roots part of it. But then again; nothing would LOOK better for Chabad than to have it produce all Tchachkes and Tachshitim, all fine young Chasidishe Yungeleit. I say LOOK because that's all it would be, LOOK better. There's no reason why anybody needs to be influenced by any amount of "Kiruv" he or she does. If a businessman who deals with Goyim all his life can keep his outward appearance, although his inside is still suspect, then a "Kiruv" worker definitely should have no problem. Especially since the "Rebbe git Kayches."

Lubavitch for Lubavitchers!!!!!

Google's tribute to MLK Jr.

Google has these cute images on Holidays embedded in their logo, usually near or around the two O's in Google. Today, in honor of MLK Jr. They have this: Four African-American girls playing double-dutch, or are they 2 black, a white, and an Asian? I can't really tell. Way to go Google! I guess it was worth shutting down the Federal Government for that reason. Thank You Ronald Reagan.