Loved By All - And Loved All

(RSC and RSB z"l dancing at a Chasunah)

Chaim Berlin Tragedy commenting on Circus Tent: יש קשר

Hirshel Tzig: I honestly don't know why people are picking points with Rav Shmuel Berenbuam zt"l when it's still the week of his shiva. The man was a total anav, tzadik and gaon. He hated falshkeit and was a true Ohev Yisroel. He avoided all politics like poison. There are not too many people like that in the Torah world. I know of one yungerman who is today a big lamden and a menahel himself who went for a farher with Rav Shmuel 30 years ago. He said they spoke in learning based on the Ketzos, and he got the impression that Rav Shmuel knew the entire Ketzos "cold," be'al peh, backwards and forwards. That's just the Ketzos. What about other meforshim and shas. The bottom line is that Rav Shmuel Berenbaum loved all Yidden, as we can see with the love and mutual respect between Rabbi Ebert and Rav Shmuel even though Rabbi Ebert had chosen the derech of Chabad.

I once heard from an old-time talmid who learned at the Mir that he was once baby-sitting one of Rav Shmuel's younger sons. He couldn't resist taking a look at what the Rosh Yeshiva had in his refrigerator. Guess what? Almost nothing. I think he said he saw a bottle of milk and that's about it. The man lived with nothing, just lived for learning and his yeshiva. He would take the geshmakste walks on his own down Kings Highway with his eyes sparkling and his kapppote unbuttoned, and he could be seen taking it all in. He would always acknowledge anyone who said "sholom aleichem". He hated BS. I once heard him talk at a vort where he basically told the choson that he was a total jerk and baal gaaveh. What could they do, who would argue when Rav Shmuel said it in such a sweet and self-effacing way. A big mystery was why he always wore his hat slightly at an angle; in CB they would have assured this, but it seems the frum Rav Shmuel could not let go of his dapper side from his youth. He was showing that he was still a human being who liked to wear his hat "his way."

Anyhow, he lost two sons bechayav. One, Leibel, was into kiruv and left a family in Bnai Brak. Rav Shmuel spent his last few years being with them in Eretz Yisroel for Yom Tovim helping to marry off the yesomim of his son. And the real tragedy that few seem to recall happened about 32 years ago on a beach in Eretz Yisroel, when one of Rav Shmuel's sons (I do not know his name) who was learning at the Mir in Eretz Yisroel and was a close friend with the oldest son of RAS, Rav Mordchai Zelig Shechter, who is today the new mashgiach at CB, when they were strolling down a beach in Eretz Yisroel together and the light was not so good, (either early morning or evening) and they were spotted by an old Israeli civil guard who ordered them to halt. There was a mix up, and the guard fired his rifle at them, and Rav Shmuel's son was shot and killed. It was in the papers. The guard was an older yid. This was a time when there were attacks by the PLO from the sea, so everyone was nervous, and Rav Shmuel's son became the korban then. As for RAS's son he was ois mentsch for a long, long time from this true tragedy.

Rav Shmuel was also very respectful of RAS. In the 1970s and 1980s there were many times that he was seen coming to meet and talk with RAS in his office. The two men respected each other. And when RSC was booted out of CB, Rav Shmuel and the Mir made sure to welcome RSC and give him a shtender by the mizrach vant any time RSC davened there for the Yomim Noraim and other times. Only Rav Shmuel could give kibud melochim to RAS, and at the same time warmly welcome RSC to the Mirrer Bais Medrash. Klal Yisroel has lost a Gadol in Chochma, Pikches and above all, pure old fashioned Heimishe, Litvishe Mentschlichkeit! So, as I said, Rav Shmuel was a true tzadik who went through a lot. He lost two golden sons in his lifetime and I am sure that there was more tragedy in his life. No one should be saying anything bad or suspicious about him or his motives.

Yehi zichro boruch!

Revealing Bloggers' Identities

There's an unwritten rule - well, maybe it is written somewhere - that the worst thing one can do is to expose the identity of a blogger or commenter. You may know it, you may share that knowledge with others, and you may even tell him you know who he is, but never, ever, ever, announce that online. The reason given is that it kills the whole concept of blogging. If a blogger/commenter knows that his identity will be plastered all over the internet for all see he'd never write in the first place. Obviously, those that use their real name have no qualms about being identified or harassed for their opinions, but we don't speak of them, we speak of those that don't wish to make all their views known, for whatever reason. I'm somewhere in the middle when it comes to my identity; I don't mind if those that know me know that I publish Circus Tent, but it's those whom I don't know, those that send nasty anonymous e-mails that worry me. I'm also uncomfortable with people knowing me and sending me nasty e-mails and messages, yet I have no clue who they are. One of the non-perks (for lack of a better term) of blogging is that so-called friends stab you in the back. They're jealous for some reason and shoot their mouths off to that effect.

Which leads me to my current problem. After some research, and some Holmesian methods of deduction, I believe - with the help of a friend - I've stumbled across the identity of a certain commenter here. He may not be known to some of you, but he's been sending me nasty e-mails making claims that I KNOW he has NO knowledge of. The idea, I guess, is to intimidate me, and stop from from writing about certain issues in the news, as if what I write will affect the issue somehow. He seems to be somebody I know, and he's been stupid enough to drop hints as to his identity, lucky for me. I never bother to find out people's identity, simply because I have neither the time nor the patience for it, not to mention the knowledge to track an IP address. Also, if I start doing that I'll surely lose readers, even as it is it's difficult to get comment writers to use fictitious names when commenting, all they do is use "anonymous." Imagine what will happen when they find out I track their computer usage. So, my question is: do I approach this character and tell him to cut it out immediately, or is that taking it too far, seeing that he too can take retribution and announce my name to all?

Your input is appreciated, and I mean all of you.

יש קשר

COL

Sorry to ruin it for some of you.....
I saw it and I felt like I had to post it here. After all, I wasn't the one who asked the question "did he have Shaychus to Lubavitch?" You thought I had some ulterior motive other than to mention his passing. There was none, I just felt like I had to mention it, even if it was mentioned in every other Jewish news website. Reb Shmuel was a man of Torah, he lived it, breathed it, and would do anything to strengthen it. Others, unfortunately, were only interested in furthering the divides amongst Yidden, and worked hard to perpetuate it. I'm glad I found this, since it reinforces what we already knew about him. Does this mean that he endorsed everything Lubavitch did? no. What it does show is that he didn't allow the new-age thinking to skew his mind.

Which reminds me; a friend of mine has a daily Chavruseh, a Talmid Chochom from a Satmarer Rabbonishe family, first tier Satmar, if you will. This morning he asked him if he heard about Reb Shmuel's passing, to which the Chavruseh asks "Who's that?" "The Mirrer Rosh Yeshivah," he says, "Mir on Ocean Parkway." To which the Chavruseh asked "Mir has a Yeshivah in America?" I thought they have one in Yerushalayim..... If you're raised exclusively in one society, and especially in the pre Rebbe-picture craze days, it's possible to never really leave your own immediate circles, especially if all others are "Treyf" in your mind. And you thought Lubavitchers were ignorant of going ons in the rest of the Jewish world....

The Mad Hungarian strikes again!

"Hashkofoh"

It seems like Shlomo Lorencz, the great Hungarian Hope, has struck again. Lubavitch is the target. Again. I guess this is how the former Israeli MP intends to create a legacy for himself; to go out with a bang, and to let it be known that he was a true "Lochem Milchamas Hashem," fighting to keep Judaism out of the hands of the non-righteous. Although the book in which this story was printed (במחיצתם של גדולי ישרא-ל) is not brand-new, the story was brought up recently in a discussion about Moshiach and the belief in his imminent arrival, something seemingly not OK to believe in anymore, since Lubavitch somehow rendered it impure. Not just the Lubavitch of Dor HaShvi'i either, mind you, it's the Lubavitch of 1943 with slogans such as LeAlter LeTshuveh LeAlter LeGeulah - and that all that's needed for Moshaich to come now is the Tshuvah of Yidden that also somehow veered off the path set out for us by our Lithuanian Rabbis who are the true bearers of the torch of Torah and Mesorah.

You see my friends, I like Reb Yaakov Kamenecki, not that I knew him or ever met him, I just established a liking for him later in life. He was an easy-going man who taught BeDarkei No'am, unlike some of our contemporary "Gedolim." According to all accounts he was not a zealot who needed to make himself heard at every turn, and never screamed from the rooftops about other peoples' misdeeds. He was a Yid from Di Alte Heim who made a living by working hard and raised a nice family of Talmidei Chachomim. Interestingly, his son Nosson, probably the only one who writes about him "like he saw it," seems to speak out of both sides of his mouth when he discusses his father. One one hand he's this somewhat self-educated and very Mentshliche man who's astounded by the ignorance and naivete' of his Talmidim when it comes to secular knowledge, and on the other he's this zealot who's very worried about people's intentions when they do Mitzvos, as if we do for all the right reasons...

The story here is as follows. (I doubt the accuracy of the story - HT) When Reb Yaakov was living in Toronto - this must be back in the '40's - a Yid came to him and told him that he took upon to himself to begin keeping Shabbos because he heard from "Anshei Chabad" (a term meant to be derogatory, btw) that Moshiach is coming - that their "Rebbe" (quotations are the original's) was soon to appear as Moshiach - and how will it look if Moshiach comes and he's Mechalel Shabbos? "Don't believe them," Said Reb Yaakov, "Moshiach - LeTZa'areynu - is not coming yet." You need to keep Shabbos anyway, whether or not Moshiach is coming. He then went on to explain to the Yid the essence of the holiness of Shabbos, and how he must refrain from doing business on that holy day. He also explained to this Yid how to believe in Moshiach, There's no Mitzvah to believe that Moshiach WILL come anyday, just to believe that he MAY/CAN come any day. I guess the Yid thanked him for clarifying these issues to him, thanked him, and left. I also assume that his store was again open for business next week, but that may be me getting ahead of myself. Like I said, I doubt the story is true, for numerous reasons, but I still need to address it.

When the Yid left those around Reb Yaakov (which is probably a lie, since I doubt he had "Shtub-Mentshen" in Toronto) asked him why he discouraged this Yid from (believing in Moshiach's imminent arrival and) keeping Shabbos, , since at least if he believes he'll keep Shabbos, whereas now he'll definitely continue to be Mechalel Shabbos?! Reb Yakkov replied: What the "Anshei Chabad" accomplished here was imaginary, and the "loss will be greater than the reward." In the near future when this Yid will see that Moshiach has yet to arrive (how does he know that he won't come?! - HT) he'll begin to desecrate the Shabbos again, and furthermore, until know he believed with absolute faith that Moshiach will come one day, now that he's disappointed he'll lose one of the foundations of Yiddishkeit, the faith in Moshiach's arrival. This seems to follow the logic that we shouldn't put Tefillin on (irreligious) people since we need to check for - ahem - "Guf Noki." We thank Reb Shlomo ZGZ for the wonderful Mayseh, and the very important lesson we learn from it. Never tell a Yid to do a Mitzvah unless you're absolutely sure that all systems are in order, even if it's a Bori VeShemo.....

A Shayne Mayseh.

The great Masmid

HaGaon Reb Shmuel Berenbaum z"l

Rubashkin has had enough

I'm not usually the one to deal with such issues; I have neither the knowledge nor the patience to deal with blind mud-slinging that ultimately happens when discussing these kinds of issues, but here I think I can handle it. Those of who've been duped by Yudel Shain for all these years, and who think that he's some kind of "expert," may think that this (KAJ removing the Hechsher for Aaron's/Rubashkin) gives credence to his years of trying to find dirt on the great Rubashkin family. After all, if the straight-shooting KAJ took off the Hechsher they must've finally seen the errs of their ways, and they've decided to stop putting their name to this "terrible" brand of meat and poultry. But consider this; if there was a real problem would they wait three and half months to terminate the Hechsher? three and a half more months of real problematic meat and poultry? I doubt it. The answer is very simple: follow the money trail, friends.

Ever since KAJ has added their stamp to Empire Rubashkin has not been happy. After all, would you be happy if your chief competitor got the same stamp of approval as you did after years of not being able to, and that keeping them on a lower tier with consumers? I think not. Granted, most Frum people still stay away from Empire because it's been ingrained in their collective consciousness that Empire is Treyf, and no matter how many Shochtim with white beards they advertise as having they still won't get the frum consumer to buy it, but many have overcome the fear of Empire and have crossed the invisible line into Empire. So, ever since that happened there's been bad blood between the two, as can clearly be seen by those of you who bother to read between the lines. This "bad blood" seems to have boiled over now, and the result is the termination of their relationship. That also explains the three and half month waiting period; there seems to be a contract until then.

The Yud Aleph Nissan date is cute too.....

פון שפיקוב איז קיין ראי'ה ניט

From Here

One of David Assaf's projects in the book נאחז בסבך seems to be Reb Yitzchok Nochum Twersky of Shpikov Hy"d, son of Reb Mordechai of Shpikov, son of Reb Itzekel Skverrer, son of the Maggid Reb Mottele Chernobeler zt"l. RYNT married the daughter of Reb Yissochor Dov Belzer zt"l and was killed in Belzec Al Kiddush Hashem, MeMeileh is shver afilu tzu redden vegen a Kodosh; but I feel like I need to defend the "claims" against him (as if) and maybe even ask Mechilleh from him for doubting the man's greatness. Seeing what Assaf makes of him is enough for even a novice like myself to see that the book is full of hot air and can easily be taken apart, but for someone looking for excuses why not to believe in Chassidim/Rebbes this is also enough. The discoveries by Assaf do teach us a lesson; if you're going to write to irreligious people make sure to use a pseudonym, or better yet, meet him in person and never tell him who you are.

The main thrust of his expose' is a letter written by RNMT to a Maskil, Dinesohn, in Lemberg/Lvov before his marriage. He was engaged to the Belzer Rov's daugter and he seems to have been undergoing some good ol' fashioned pre-wedding jitters. He had never seen the Kallah and probably had heard lots of negative things about the Belzer Chassidim . In those days the Belzers were the Reb Arelech of today, zealous and hard-nosed men who got their way by hook or by crook. Imagine a Bochur from a more toned-down Chassidus gets enagaged to the Reb Arele Rebbe's daughter - he'd have a severe case of the stomach-churns too. Assaf brings the story to knock Belz but I'll use it against him. He tells of a wedding just 2 years later, where a Machnivker son married a Belzer daughter in Belz in 1912. Just before the Machnivker Pamalyoh reached Belz they were "greeted" by a group of Belzer Chassidim - Gaboyim - who informed all of the women - many of whom wore Sheitlach - that they would not be allowed to enter the town of Belz wearing Sheitlach! In their town there's not a single Sheitel, and even a visitor is strictly forbidden to wear one! That wouldn't today, even in Toldos Aron/Avrum Yitzchok.

I imagine RYNT heard stories about the zealousness of the Belzer and was very afraid of what would happen to him there. Not that c"v his father's house was epes nisht al pi darkei hachassidus, but it seemed to be less ohngeshtrenkt. In Belz everything was Assur, Ohn a Farvos, and they seemed to thrive on "Davka nisht." That was the crux of his complaints and worries, and that was what he was so afraid of; that he wouldn't live up to their guidelines, and that he'd be looked down upon. In the letter he mentions many aspects of Levush that were foreign to him, like Davka wearing unclean clothes, and the fact that women must wear Tichlech only and be makpid on Giluach HaSa'aros. Pants were Assur too, you wore a long Rekkel/Kapopte, till the floor really, and that was it, and c"v not a wool one. I'm sorry if it seems strange, but that's what he writes. So, where do we this supposed double life that Assaf claims RYNT lead? is an aversion to dirty clothes so terrible? of course not, but Assaf puts two and two together and makes five. He finds other reason why he must say that really underneath those Spodiks and Shtivvel there was a "Maskil" waiting to bloom, the fact that two of his sisters nebach left the fold. Mirel Twersky was married to Reb Osher, son of the Yenukah of Stolin, and even convinced him to travel to a conservatory and study music without telling any of his family, including his father. They later divorced. Another sister was sister to the Trisker Maggid's Eynikel, her cousin, and was also a Maskil'te. She divorced, moved around Europe, and later lived in New York, where she raised a irreligious family. The fact that his sisters fried out I guess makes him guilty by association.....

All the three men eventually ended up dying Al Kiddush Hashem. RYNT married the Belzer Rov's daughter, he didn't call off the wedding, and stayed in Belz for a while, but eventually opted for Rabbonus rather than being a Rebbe of Chassidim. He was known as the Rava-Rusker Rov, and he later had a shtikkel run-in with his Shver's Chassidim anyway, when overzealous Belzers ransacked his shul for some reason. There's a famous picture of Reb Aron Belzer zt"l walking in Marienbad with Chassidim where RYNT is featured looking just like all the Belzers anyway, so I guess he managed to fit in all right. Most of the so-called "evidence" seems to be circumstancial. All I can say is, that if Assaf hut zich gennumen tzu em, then he's in good company, he joins a list of some of the greatest of the great who get in Assaf's way for some reason. The only thing that bothers me more is the excitement by some in the Misnagdishe circles, but that's for another time.

זמן חשבון הנפש

Ironic that commemorating a time for Cheshbon HaNefesh like a Yom Holedes is considered by some to be מעשה פרעה, no? I guess if you look at the day and you see yourself celebrating like פרעה then maybe you should discourage it, but only then. However, if you look at that day and see it as a time for Hachlotos Tovos and a sincere Cheshbon HaNefesh, a time for Hosofoh BeLimud HaTorah VeNesinas Tzedokoh, what could be more commendable than that?

And on a simple weekday yet!

ה' יספור בכתוב עמים

העפי ניו ייער

Hesitant

(דוד אסף)

David Assaf's book "נאחז בסבך" was recently purchased for me by a friend. He was in Tuvia's in Monsey and saw it, so he called me and asked me me if I want, so I said "YES!." Since then I've been told by many friends - oofgeklerte friends - not to read it; That it'll hurt my Emunas Chachomim and belief in Toras HaBaal Shem Tov., They say it's not so much for the part about Reb Moshe ben the Alter Rebbe, but more so for the other parts that he writes, "facts" that was not really known to the masses till now. I've begun to read parts, slowly and deliberately, not wanting to ingest it quickly. At first I chose the parts that I know won't affect me as much. After all, learning that the Chernobler Chassidim and Rebbes of all segments of the Chernobler dynasty made life for Breslover Chassidim in their areas a living hell on earth really doesn't affect me as much as - say - the "fact" that he says the Chozeh of Lublin ztvkllh"h committed suicide, Afroh LePumey. Chassidim who believe that there was a Malach involved here, and that it was somehow connected to the Holy Chozeh wanting to bring the Geulah are naive fools at best in his eyes. His general tone is one of terrible scorn, this despite the fact that he claims to be a Shomer Torah UMitzvos.

More on this later......

UPDATE - WEDNESDAY EVENING:

Some points to ponder: Most of what he brings in the book is a collection from old Zichronos books, some written by Frumme, some by former Frumme. The whole point of the book is not - say - to bring to light a story that was never told, which is maybe what BMR had in mind when writing "Rescued by the Reich." In his case the LeKanter came later, when he stumbled upon a "conspiracy" (in his mind) by Lubavitch to cover up the story, and also lots of other "juicy" bits of information. David Assaf very much wants to "educate" the Frum public, rather the Chassidishe public. He followed all the conversations about the book in the Charedi discussion forums, and even brings BeChadrei Charedim as a "Ayin Shom!" As is the case with Shimmy Deutsch, who also wanted just to "set the record straight," he shleps everybody he can into his stories, and makes sure to Bashmutz wherever he can, not just the protagonist. Far be it from me to engage in character assassination, but if I didn't know better I'd say he was working for some word-class Chassidim hater, all Chassidim, that's all he writes about. Yes, I realize he's a MitMacheh BiTchum Toldot HaChassidus, (specializes in Chassidic history) but this seems to be his life's mission - just digging up dirt on Rebbes and Chassidim of old, to disprove even them, to disprove the whole movement, all the way from birth. This was the modus operandi of the Maskilim; with the Misnagdishe Bochurim it was somewhat easier because they weren't tied down to a group, and didn't have to worry about what friends would say. They also didn't need to worry about what the Rebbe would say because he had no Rebbe. Chassidishe Yidden had all kinds of Mofsim that proved to them that there was a G-d and that Tzaddikim were a sort of "proof" of Hisgalus Elokus. Chassidim stood in the way of the Maskilim, because they believed, and Maskilim, and David Assaf, hate believers.

Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser שליט"א

Welcome to the issues Rabbi Goldwasser would like to ingore....

A brief (auto?)biography - priceless!

Normally I'm not into character assassinations just for the sake of knocking people, but I have written about this great injustice in the past. It was done to a Yid who was Moser Nefesh in the Soviet Union, and Davka by a man who calls himself a Rov and a thinker. I will therefore link to this blog and follow the updates closely. I think the Lifchitz family has been wanting to get some kind of closure for some time, and this may be just what they need. I do ask that we keep the comments to the topic at hand, and not turn it into an all-out "Rabbi-hunt."

החותם למען האמת והשלום


(Reb Mottel post KGB interrogation)

A young (dapper) Kovler Rov

Reb Nochum Moshe Twersky of Kovel (seated left) as a young man posing with relatives, two scions of the Apter dynasty. The Trisker-Shtefineshter Rebbe (seated right) and the Loytzker Rebbe, Reb Moshe Mordche Heschel. (standing) I think the suit and walking stick are classic, if only a bit ahead of his time as far as Rebbishe Kinder go. It's not exactly what you see from the Chernobler representative Rebbes of today like the Skverrer Rebbe of New Square and Reb Duvid'l Rachmistrivker of Yerushalayim. Then again, they too had different influences which weren't necessary "Chernobyl." The Skverrer is very much Belz in nature; with Reb Yankev Yosef marrying a Belzer Eynikel and picking up lots of Belzer Minhogim, and the Rachmistrivker Yerushalmi for now five generations.

"Ich Bin Ein Kovler"

See the pic in a YIVO periodical

Read the Kovler Yizkor Book

Before I begin let me thank two very special Yidden, one who wishes to remain anonymous, and the other that hasn't asked for anonymity so I'll go ahead and thank him by name. The first would be the anonymous one who showed me the book, "Admorei Malchus Beis Chernobyl" where the story is mentioned and the photo is featured. I had seen it a few years back but never allowed myself to buy it, with the fifty dollar price tag being the culprit here. The book is a treasure trove of both history and pictures of all Rebbes of the Chernobler dynasty, and I mean ALL, and there were MANY. The work that went into assembling it must've been mind blowing as well as back breaking. Reb Nochum Moshe Twersky (The Rebbe pictured here wearing the Tallis) was the son of Reb Velvele Rachmistrivker, and hence the Brother-In-Law of Reb Chaim Meir'l of Vizhnitz, who was Reb Velvel's Eydem. Reb Velvel was a son of Reb Yochonon Rachmistrivker, son of Reb Mottele Chernobler, son of the Holy Reb Nochum Chernobler, Talmid of the Baal Shem Tov and Mezrticher Maggid and author of Me'or Eynayim. Many thanks to Reb Yitzchok Twersky of Queens the co-author of this great piece of history, for sending me the picture of Reb Nochum Moshe'le HY"D.

The accounts and descriptions of the death of Reb Nochum Moshe'le vary, and are very much in doubt as of now, at least for me. Alfasi in HaChassidus MiDor LeDor has him listed as dying at the hands of the Nazis Yms"h. He does not elaborate, but that's to be expected, since there are Hundreds if not Thousands of such deaths during WWII. In the Kovler Yizkor Book, linked above, there's a mention of his death at the hands of the Nazis and their Ukranian helpers Yms"h. The Jews of Kovel were herded into 2 ghettos after the Nazis invaded and held there for a year's time. On the 17th of Sivan 5702/1942, a beautiful summer's day, the Yidden of Ghetto One were told to assemble in Brisk Square in the city's center under false pretenses, after being promised by the Roshei HaKohol that no harm would befall them. The Roshei HaKohol were lied to by the Germans, of course, and had no idea of the massacre that was about to take place. RNM was aware of their fate, however. He was killed AK"H with the Yidden of Ghetto One, not before speaking to the assembled. His words differed from those of Reb Elchonon Wasserman HY"D somewhat, in that he made no mention of the fact that they were Korbonos and should have only holy thoughts so as not to make their Korbon Pigul as REW did, although he did call for Achdus and for them to be Sameach that they soon will be Tachas Kanfei HaShchinah. RNMT was bemoaning their fate, and the fact that there never was a generation like theirs, a generation that would have nobody to say Kaddish for them. He made mention of the fact that the children, Tinokos Shel Bais Rabbon etc. Shelo To'amu Ta'am Cheyt, what was their sin? why were they going to be massacred too? He made mention of the beautiful summer's day, and how ironic it was that this was their day of being massacred like that. Quite contrasting speeches.

A totally different account is made in the above-mentioned book Admorei etc. They bring the picture but add a very terrifying note to the occasion. In an account related to the co-author by Rebbetzin Eichenstein of S. Louis, a niece of RNMT, she tells of a regiment of Russian Soldiers that entered Kovel and pitched camp there, and the general invited RNMT to come and bless the soldiers - I guess it was a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles. He told him to also don a Tallis for the special occasion, which RNMT did. At that event there was LeHavdil a Catholic Priest as well, since Kovel was seemingly a Catholic town that was inhabited by ethnic Poles, and one can clearly see that the Rov's table was pushed back so as not to be parallel with the Priest's "Chas Vesholom." RNMT begins to bless the soldiers when suddenly the General shouts "Ready!" "Aim!" "Fire!" and RNMT is shot on the spot and killed by a hail of bullets! One can clearly see how the two soldiers on the extreme bottom left of the picture have two fingers raised as if to count down to a "number three." The other soldier has his bayonet raised as if to pounce on an enemy combatant; he seems to be the only one like that. There are many reasons why I don't see this story as actually happening. Yes, he blessed the soldiers, but he wasn't killed at that time. Yet, for some reason this is the story that Rebbetzin Eichenstein tells, which I find very odd.

The soldiers are not post WWI Russian; I say that because Russian soldiers didn't wear such helmets and uniforms. If the soldiers that killed him were Russian they then needed to be Czarist soldiersAfter the Revolution the Russians didn't invite Rabbis to bless their troops, and the uniforms don't look post WWI Soviet. Besides, after WWI Kovel was part of Poland, which would mean that the troops would need to be Polish. Judging from the Rov's age I would say that the photo was taken later in life, around WWII. I doubt that the Polish Government invited Russian troops to visit their towns Stam. This was Poland between the two World Wars, there were no Russian troops there. I have yet to figure out who got Kovel in the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, was Kovel in Russian Poland or German Poland? Either way Shtimt nisht di Mayseh. For the first two days after hearing the story about his execution I could not get it out of my mind. The fact that I could not verify the story elsewhere did put a damper on it, but still I feel a newfound connection to Kovel and Reb Nochum Moshe'le, as well as to Reb Velevele Trisker of Kovel, HY"D. I feel like I too am a Kovler....


(The massacre of Kovler Jewry - page 1)



(The massacre of Kovler Jewry - page 2)

I made the "bad" list

There was a time, not terribly long ago, when disturbed individuals bent on broadcasting angry fantasies had only soapboxes in public parks from which to rant. And respectable people knew, if only from the ranters’ appearance, to keep well out of spittle’s range. Today, though, the very means of mass communication that enables so much worthy information to reach such large numbers of people at the speed of light – the Internet – has also been harnessed to spread madness, hatred, lies and (not a word to be used lightly but here entirely appropriate) evil. And so, close on the heels of the swindlers and pornographers who have colonized so much of cyberspace, have come the gaggle of electronic soapboxes known as weblogs, or blogs.

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Blogistan

Cautious Excitement

Shturem: Aguch & Merkos win case against CLI

I usually refrain from mentioning internal Lubavitch politics, simply because I'm a partisan hack, but I believe this needs to be put out there. I hope and pray that the leadership of the two Organizations, Agudas Chabad and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, doesn't blow this great opportunity to bring a semblance of sanity to the Rebbe's shul, and to make 770 Eastern Parkway a place for all Jews, not just a few of them from Safed.

New concepts in Yiddishkeit

(HaRav Yosef Tzvi HY"D Carlebach - father of RSC)

You thought I was done with Chaim Berlin and its leaders, eh? the truth is I thought I was too, but some of the recent comments in the dialogue between "Enquiring Jew" and "Chaim Berlin Tragedy" needed to be brought to the forefront because it sheds light on the mindset of the man and the movement he created in America, as well as shows us what he thought of himself in the scope of the other Gedolei Yisroel, and how needed to react to their actions. One would think that these approaches would be found only in the Chassidishe Cheyder, since Chassidim were always accused of considering themselves "above the Torah" ch"v. Later comments where the whole seder of Baalibatishkeit and Kedimah in saying Maamorim and visitation rights between Reb Aron Schechter and Reb Yonoson David also need to be addressed, but we'll leave that alone for now. Fascinating stuff for those not in "the know," I must say.

Chaim Berlin Tragedy said: "However he (enquiring Jew when he says that "no frum Jew ignores an Hazmonoh from the Godol HaDor) overlooks one very big point, that CB considers Rav Hutner to be THE Godol HaDor and that Rav Schechter is likewise bigger than Rav Moishe. To CB , Rav Schechter is the "chad bedora" in America, and after Rav Elyashiv ein od milvado! So they are not answerable to anyone bazman hazeh, and hence Rav Carlebach's claims are meaningless to them. You may as well use all the hazmonas as toilet paper. He is just another Hutnerian who ran afoul of his Rebbe. They know that Rav Hutner said on him the words of the navi; "bonim romamti vegodalti veheym pash'u bi..." He adds: "CB holds that by the time Rav Hutner was a zoken, he was bigger than Rav Moshe and bigger than anyone and that he was in effect the true RashKeBehag. Aai, the world didn't see it that way, so too bad, the world has a lot of catching up to do from the CB point of view. CB also regards Rav Aharon Schechter as bigger than anyone. From inside CB it was held that Rav Hutner was already mekabel that Rav Schechter was even bigger than himself. This is a key point. That Rav Aharon Kotler answered Rav Moshe's call means nothing to CB, they consider Rav Hutner and even Rav Schechter to be bigger than Rav Kotler and Rav Moishe combined. The world may not accept or grasp this, but to the anshei shlomeinu of CB, Rav Schechter is Chad BeDora, and he need not answer to anyone. As so far as CB is concerned Rav Carlebach is a mored bemalchus and the halachic response to that is as close as ones comes to "warfare," and not by responding to Dinei Torah. In this scenario a mored bemalchcus must be crushed and humiliated to pay the price for his rebellion against the lords he had once sworn allegiance to, and to focus on the Din Torah aspect of it is nisht tzum zach."

Ad Kan D'vorov.


(RAS)

Those of us in Lubavitch who have some inkling of what goes on in YRCB knew and still know that everything that went on there was meant to keep Bochurim away from Lubavitch. Lubavitch was nearby - with the Yeshivah in Brownsville - and it offered something that many of them were after, Machsheves HaChassidus as well as a very learned and charismatic Rebbe, eyb m'meg azey reyden. The Rebbe and Toras Chabad were the greatest threats to Rav Hutner's existence, so he made his own little Branzhe, complete with Maamorim (coincidence? I think not) a door with a buzzer (silly as that may seem), and the list goes on. The whole idea that the Rosh Yeshivah of YRCB is the new Chad BeDorah and "Godol HaDor" no matter who he is seems eerily familiar to the concept of the Rabbeyim of Lubavitch being Nesiyei HaDor. The case against Barry Gurary is also brought up by the CB defenders to somehow compare the two when a Ben Chomesh LeMikroh can clearly see the difference. However, the idea that the man now occupying that spot is also above the (Torah) law is a new concept in Yiddishkeit that seemingly was cooked up in Stone Avenue in Brahnsville Gubernye. I'd be interested to know how that was first accepted by the young men there; was there shock and indignation first, as is to be expected, or were they so enthralled to be a part of this that they totally forgot about the laws of the Torah that they came to learn and became CB "Yes men."

End of an era in Ger

בד"ה - ר' חנינא שיף ע"ה



with the Beis Yisroel - הייד פארק

Off-Day Links

Chess in Kfar Chabad - COL

I need to make up for the time lost not learning last night. Hirshel Ohn Teyreh is Vi a Tzig Ohn Vasser. We have no choice but to take off work today, since the building's closed. Otherwise I seem to remember Rav Moshe Paskening that a Yid should not take off on Yom Eydom. Interesant iz how Davka the Chassidim, who speak so much about Kedushas HaTeyreh, and the great Keyach Teyreh has to overcome all obstacles, and how learning needs to be done BiKdushoh UvTohoroh, worry so much about the birth of a man 2000 years ago and how his adherents draw spiritual strength from Jews learning Teyreh for those eight hours. Our friends the non-Chassidim have more faith in the Teyreh it would seem; they're not worried about foreign influence or such matters. I also have noticed that it's quite popular amongst some people wearing Chassidic garb not to worry about Nittel either. These are today's Oofgeklerte Chassidim, who don't believe in the "unimportant" things.

In any case here are some links to keep the conversation going.

M A Friedman's daughters want to learn but the school in Vienna won't allow them in. Beis Din's orders. It seems like they don't like the attention he brings them with his visits to Iran, bringing his kids and all, so they decided to banish them. Poor kids. We can argue the point whether or not they need to suffer for their father's indiscretions.

WienPost Has a Field Day
HydePark

In other news:

Hitler's fate

להחזיר עטרה ליושנה

(Reb Mendel Futerfas, o"h.)


Schneur Zalman commenting on Circus Tent: Kutshma Vs Kasket

Yedidi HaYakar ,

I wear the same cap you do on weekdays for the last 40 years. (Of course, once in a while I change the cap, my last one was stolen by areylim.) But this (what you wear) is not a kasket, check out the caps the Chofetz Chaim , Reb Simcha Zelig Riger, Reb Mendel Futterfass, or the son of the Bobroisker wore and you will see the difference, but I agree that in unzer zayt it's close enough. Next, I too layder do not have the self confidence to wear it on Shabbes. After all in Russia this too was the Shabbes dress. The Rayyatz wore this on Shabbes before becoming rebbe and all Chassidim did. Did Reb Mendel or Reb (Ber'ke) Chein put on a Hungarian Rabbonishce hut on Shabbes !!! By not wearing it on Shabbes you and I are modeh b'miktzas, we are really undermining our case for the kasket as the authentic hat of Lubavitch and Russian Jews. Let's wear it on Shabbes and be machzir atore liyoshna. Did you see in the sefer of Reb Yisroel Jacobson what he quotes Reb Nissan as saying when they switched hats in Poking in 1946 ? Next, one can purchase a much more "legitimate" kasket i.e. a cap that looks more like a kasket than what we wear. I have at least 4-5 of them. Firstly the store URBAN OUTFITTERS usually carries caps that look like kaskets with the brim vechuli. They are not always in stock. I have several of them in black. There is also a Kangol cap that is mamash like a kasket years ago I bought it in Tel Aviv and my late father a'h seized it and told me he ws unhappy that I wear it (later I found out that it reminded him of his father who was murdered by bandits in Kurenitz prior to the Holocaust) and my father wore it himself ! He even wore it on Shabbes, having gone through 5 years of Concentration camps my father cared little about public approval) I just bought one a few years ago in the West Village in black. I do not wear it because of the hakpodah from my late father . The Mao cap sold very cheaply in several stores in China town is also very much like a kasket, it comes in various colors including green. Reb (Zalmen) Duchman in Leshame Ozen describes the Rayyatz as wearing a green hat in a visit in Warsaw !) You can get one for under $5- Also I see online that Berkeley Hat Company, a wonderful store in Berkeley CA, sells "fiddler caps" i.e. "Greek caps" without the designs etc., that again are close to kasketen. So, lomir nit bleiben baim reiden, und machzir zayn die emesdike Yiddeshe levush.

Yasher Koach and keep warm (As Jews in Europe were not makpid over
levush.) I talked to many old time Galitzianer, Litvishe and
Peylishe Yidden, un gutte yidden, and when levush came up they
laughed at me. "We wore what we had," they said. The pictures prove their point.

Kutshma Vs. Kasket

It's cold out, at least in my part of the world, and people are trying to keep warm. They say that the most important body part as far as keeping you warm is concerned is the head. Hence the sight of joggers wearing shorts in sub-zero temperatures; they're wearing warm hats and that's all they need. Even amongst Chassidim who are very Makpid on every aspect of the Levush and continue B'derech Avoiseynu still there's that need to keep warm, and the hard-brimmed hat doesn't cut, even with earmuffs. So, sometime years back the Kutshma was added to the allowed articles of clothing, although it was seemingly with certain restrictions. If you can't get a good picture of the kutshma in your head think Afghan President Hamid Karzai and that hat he wears.


(Man wearing Kutshma)

When I was growing up there was an unofficial rule about Kutshmas, namely that only men in their mid-30's and older could wear them; if you were younger you either froze your head off, had your hat fly around town, or wore those earmuffs with that darn string across your forehead. You just never saw a Frisher Yungerman wearing a Kutshma, although I'm not quite sure why. I guess creature comforts like warm head and ears are for older adults only. (The same could be said about the Homburg hat; you didn't see 20-somethings wearing them (except the Viener on Shabbos) and you definitely didn't wear it if you were a Bocher! ) Things have changed somewhat over the last generation; You now see Yungeleit in their 20's wearing Kutshmas as soon as the first cold weather hits, almost as if they were waiting for it and couldn't wait to change headgear. Maybe they're somewhat self-conscious of their everyday hat. Actually I know that some of them are, otherwise they'd never wear that awful-looking hat if they weren't forced too. Recently, the BaalBatishe ones have discovered the fur Kutshma, sort of what the guy in the first picture is wearing. I'm not sure what the idea is behind it; maybe it's supposed to match the wife's coat?



Which brings me to my dilemma.

I wear a kasket, like the one pictured here. I wear it all the time during the winter, besides for Shabbos obviously. I'm also quite self-conscious, I like it when I fit in somewhat, and I don't like to be the center of attention. It seems to me that I get much more attention than I should be with my Kasket. I get comments and looks from friends and acquaintances when they see me wearing it the first time, and I don't like that. I see young guys, some with Aroopgelozte Payos, many younger than me, wearing that blasted fur Kutshama with the foot high point and I wonder why. Why is it OK for him to wear what he wears but my Kasket- which is much more of a Yiddishe Levush, since Jews have been wearing them for over a century at least - that's not. The Kutshma is a recent invention, although in Yerushalayim they have a similar one which the "Toldos" wear. But that's a more rounded one, without the split and high point. So, if it's a recent levush why then are we allowed to wear it, and why is that considered more acceptable than the traditional Kasket?!


(The Kasket in question)

Some of the pictures of hats were provided by: Werner Cohn