אדמו"ר רבי מאיר'ל לייפער זצ"ל - קליוולאנדער רבי

Reb Meir Leifer was the son of Reb Ber'tche of Satmar, son of Reb Mordche'le Nadvorner, zt"l. He passed away on 12 Nissan 5701. Truth be told I did not know that Reb Meir (Hagadol) of Premishlan - not to be confused with Reb Meir'l Premishlaner - was niftar that long ago. Way back in 1773! I mention that because the Klihvlahnder was his descendant and namesake. Why do I post this now, when there's no real occasion for it? Probably because I was having a hard time finding time for anything else... (funny how even Cleveland can be made to sound so holy and old-time'ish.)

Klihvlahnd. 

His brother Reb Sholom Leifer was the Nadvorner Rebbe of Brighton Beach who passed away on 19 Teves 5740. That would the current Nadvorner in Boro Park his nephew.

His Matzeivoh

Yohrtzeit - Reb Mottel Bryski (Chmielniker)

Yesterday, 14 Teves, was the first Yohrtzeit of Reb מרדכי מאיר (Mottel) Bryski, o"h, of Crown Heights. Since I am not of Russian extraction, as most of you know by now, I tend to like and "koch zich" in the outer trappings of people, often giving it way too much credence. His family took this opportunity to write a Sefer Torah in his honor and לעלוי נשמתו and will be מכניס it into the Chabad Center in Agoura Hills, CA, where his son Reb Moshe, is the shliach. The websites also took the opportunity to publish pictures of the niftar and his family, starting from when Reb Mottel was a bochur-tomim in Poland till very recently. His picture as a bochur is what caught my eye - which is why I share this with you today.

An article written at the shloshim last year.

 זאל ער זיין א גוטע בעטער פאר די גאנצע משפחה, און זאל די נשמה האבען אן עליה

 תנצב"ה

הגאון אדר"ת זצ"ל מדבר על מסירה לשלטונות בשנת תרנ"ו

The responsa we bring you here is telling in at least two ways. The first way tells us that hanky panky was going in a shtetl in the Old Country way back in 1896. It isn't necessarily "news," but it's disheartening, it's not something you want to hear. And then there's the question of "mesirah," which I'm sure will rile some of you up. For some reason when it comes to the issue of abuse we've decided that the first thing we need to do is go to the police. I'm not sure when it happened; but it seems like the inaction on the part of mosdos, etc. is what caused our people to lose all trust in Rabbonim and Botei Din. They also do not believe that even if said Rabbonim and Botei Din do something that it would be sufficient. After all, Beis Din can't sentence you to life in prison...But having said that, the Aderes was a Litvak, the shver of Rav Kook, not some Williamsburg Hasid. But do we throw out all tshuves pertaining to issues like these and just use the secular courts? Do we just say נשתנו העתים because this isn't Czarist Russia 1896? Please tell me based on what we've decided to do this. Is Rikers Island or some State Penitentiary any better when we're talking about violent crimes? I don't know. YOU learn the tshuveh and decide. Also maybe read up on what happens to people like NW who are convicted of violent crimes against minors, what happens to them in jail these days... And realize, this crime in the tshuveh was alot worse than abuse, but for some reason the Aderes saw Chilul Hashem as overriding. The second half of the tshuveh is about whether or not her BF needs to marry her or not, so it's not relevant to our discussion, but feel free to read/learn it, it'll give you a glimpse into what Rabbonim dealt with...

בכלל the witch hunt that's going concerning skeptics (not to mention defenders of Nechemya) is a little alarming. I would not be surprised if I was next in line, since I'm perceived as not "strong enough" on this issue. They're talking about boycotting any and all Satmar-owned businesses (!) since they ultimately support Satmar and "Satmar" is defending NW, sent "problematic" kids to him all these years, and still harbors abusers. Ami magazine is the subject of a boycott because he's a skeptic - or a defender, as they see him - and interviewed NW's lawyer; and G-d knows who's next. I may be next for daring to publish this tshuveh. But realize that I too have kids, b"h, that I love and cherish and care about no less than a total stranger who say he's looking out for them. I've been getting all kinds of looks and messages from good friends for what they perceive as me defending NW... It looks like people stop practicing reading comprehension when it comes to this case.

Was the Aderes a mean old man for not allowing the מאנסים to be thrown into a Czarist Russian jail? I don't think many of you would say that, no matter how far you've strayed from the path, or how much of a victim's advocate you are. Most of you would say that the times have changed and we cannot pasken like that anymore, but that the course of punishment was befitting 1896. I don't know what made you decide that, but I'll accept that argument. I'm sure you'd agree that Aderes was having her best interest in mind by taking care of her physically as well as monetarily by having her marry her suitor and having the villains pay a huge sum. All that may be lacking here - in the Mir case -  is the punishment that many so desire. The "sharing a cell with some murderer who will have his way with them," That's what seems to be missing here. I guess Aderes didn't deem that suitable punishment, otherwise chilul hashem be da--ed, throw him to the dogs! So try and wrap your brains around the concept that the fact that some people either don't believe that he did it or don't want to see him thrown into jail may not be because they're monsters; it's not a "you're either with us or against" situation. People can have different ideas than the self-proclaimed advocates and still want abuse to stop! Enough with the witch hunt!

(Wikipedia Photo)

דער ליובאוויטשער בחור וועלכע האט צונומען הגאון ר' יחזקאל אבראמסקי'ס שיעור אין ליובאוויטש אויף פראבע

Shturem. A recent sefer published by the Plotkin family about their illustrious zeide gives us a glimpse into the life of HaGaon Reb Cheskel Abramski z"l. Funny how davka in Lubavitch did Rav Abramski get the respect he deserved, as he so eloquently puts it here. And wouldn't you know, such respect gets remembered for a very long time. Note: It was pointed out here that the story is NOT from RYA's handwriting, but rather from the memoirs of R' Chaikel Chanin, a Lubavitcher chossid, to whom RYA recounted the story.

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Addendum - Letter from the FR about the הקריאה והקדושה article

One might say that after this letter is כל מילה מיותרת... And if it's ever brought up again בין הסדרים or whenever in your Yeshiva/Kolel/Mikvah/Shtiebel you'll know what to say and you'll sound so knowledgeable too! It seems like the Rebbe wrote to Levitt as if he and Segal were not one and the one same - so as not to hurt his feelings.

תודה להמשלח

The whole schism between Chabad and the rest of the (ultra) frum world - Was it all based on a misunderstanding???

In the world of "Yeshivishe hock" much has been said - and by now written as well - about the article(s) in HaKriah veHakedushoh that elicited very strong responses from Rabbinic personalities outside the Chabad world. Supposedly the Frierdige ליובאוויטשער Rebbe  כ"ק אדמו"ר רבי יוסף יצחק נ"ע was to have made "derogatory statements" about the study of גמרא. The truth is the articles were not written by the Rebbe, as is clear from the pen name here, but I he was "to blame" because the publication was under his auspices. Some people would tell you that this is what started the divide between Chabad and the rest of the Charedi world here in America, and by extension in Israel and the rest of the world too. Some of the notables that were supposedly irked by the article were RAK and Rav Shlomo Heiman, the latter asked RJBS to pen a response to the article, which was supposedly not to his liking anyway. This according to MOAG by R. Nosson Kamenecki. That would make sense, since Reb Yoshe Ber and the FR enjoyed a very good relationship...

 


מכתב חריף מהרה"ג ר' מרדכי ארי' האבערמאן ע"ה - קרעדיט להרוצה בעילום שמו
Rav Haberman was a great gaon and a Rov in Galicia and a dayan in Vienna before coming to New York in the 30's. IIRC he was a Belzer chossid. Here in the US he was Rov in Brownsville in the Rayim Ahuvim shtiebel, which, ironically, is now in Crown Heights... He threatens the editor of HaKveHa"K that if they do not desist from publishing articles like these he will have no choice but to publicly denounce them. I guess his Chassidishe background is what made him give them "another chance," whereas those who had an ax to grind even before the article...The letter is from his manuscripts and may have never actually been sent, but nevertheless makes for a good read. You might say that this too is a "פרסום ראשון".



?על מה יצא הקצף - I see not many of you read this....



ע"ד זהותו של א.י. סגל

קצת אודות הרב האבערמאן -  more


Thanks to Rabbi Shia Mondshein we now know that Aron Levitt had very little - if any knowledge of Chabad, its history or its torah/shittos! The fact that the journal was published "תחת הסכמת הרבי מליובאוויטש" not withstanding. The letter that we link to here - written by the chossid Reb Shaul Ber Zislin, ע"ה, illustrates that very nicely. Here's one paragraph in which he makes his point (for those who can't be bothered to read the whole thing...) אבל מדברי כב' יוצאת מסקנא שאיננה צודקת בהמציאות (פאקטיש). אני יכול להעיד, הישיבה הקדושה "תומכי תמימים" נתייסדה בעיקרה על היסודות הקדושות "חסידות חב"ד". בזמני למדו ועברו בהישיבה תלמידים למאות ב"ה, מופלגי תורה, למדו ש"ס ופוסקים, מפרשים, תשובות, ראשונים ואחרונים, התפלפלו הרבה ביניהם, גדולי התורה מהחסידים בחנו אותם, סמכו אותם, ולא שמענו ולא ראינו אף פעם שהתעסקו בשיטת לימוד כזה באיזה סוגיא בש"ס חמורה או קלה כמו שכב' מתאר. Reb Shaul Ber was גאון הגאונים and a Rov in several Russian cities before leaving for Israel in the 30's. What he's saying here is not just "damage control" and partisan politics. I assure you.

הגה"ח ר' שאול דובער זיסלין ע"ה

See more about the controversy here. In his talk with the Belzer Rebbe the Rebbe mentioned the fact that Reb Chaim Vital writes very strong words about he who learns המחליף פרה בחמור כפשוטו, and that FR said these words soon after his arrival to these shores. The Rebbe goes on to speak about the tummel that ensued and  that the FR clarified that he was only repeating the words of RCV.

attention shul: ביטא נישט דאוונען ביז נאכן געבן צדקה

Your California shul may be all hip and "cutting edge," but it's only in your imagination. It's not cutting edge to think that your 20 minute shachris is more important than this poor shnorrer who came all the way from Yerushalayim - his children's food and clothing. Or wedding. He can't wait around until you're gracious enough to throw him a buck. Just ban all collectors, while you're at it, don't embarrass the intelligence of your fellow Jews. Your tzedokoh-free shachris is not necessary; we'll do just fine without it. The Yiddish sign is condescending, besides for the fact that it wouldn't kill you to take the time to figure out how to spell "bitte." It's a 4 letter word, for crying out loud! This reminds a student of history of how German Jews were so disgusted by the "Ostjuden" with the dirty kapotes who made them look bad.

(Dis)honorable mention from Rabbi Aron Rakeffet

He mentions us in sort of a negative way in his latest lecture/shiur. No calling us out by name, but it's pretty clear who he means. We had discussed the fact that he had nary a negative word to say about RAK, despite the ideological differences. Skip ahead to minute 31:30 ותמצא נחת.

:מה שנוהגים שלא ללמוד בניתל

שמעתי מאאמו"ר הטעם, שהוא כדי שלא להוסיף חיות. פעם אמר אאמו"ר: די מתמידים וואס די אכט שעה איז זיי נוגע בנפש, האב איך ניט האלט. והוא רק עד חצות לילה.

 היום יום" - י"ז טבת" 

און אז דער רבי, נ"ע, דער גרויסער אוהב ישראל, האט אייך ניט האלט איז א סימן אז.... 

דער רבי וועלכע איז געפארען צו די ווייטע פלארידע מבקר חולה זיין א קריסטליכע מיידל

Edwarda O'Bara died on November 21st of this year after 42 years in a coma. She was cared for by her father, mother and then sister with the utmost sensitivity and devotion. In this photo Rabbi Shlomo Friedlander, the Lisker Rebbe, who lived in the Bronx and Manhattan and passed away in 1980, visits her and seemingly blesses her. Source, and more about the Lisker Rebbe on Ivelt

פרסום ראשון! גילויים חדשים מזקני החסידים

The clip we bring you here makes its debut here on the blog. These are recordings of telephone conversations that the interviewer - שלא מאנ"ש - had with Reb Avrohom Mayorer. The first 15 minutes of the recordings that we have. RAM had a shaychus with many non-Lubavitchers, as you know. Reb Avrohom's Yiddish could be difficult to understand at times, but it gets easier with time. Truth be told, the conversation could be difficult to listen to at times, because some of the questions are not what a young Lubavitcher would ask from RAM were he to have the opportunity. But ultimately, these questions needed to be asked, no? This is a 15 minute sample of many hours. There are more of these discussions with other Chassidim as well. So, go out and buy your copy now!

Please enjoy.

The following press release was issued by Rabbi Chaim Dalfin:

We release never before historical information about what happened in Lubavitch 100 years ago. The information is related by the venerable Chasid, the Mashpia, Reb Avrohom Drizin-Mayorer who learnt in Lubavitch during those years. Reb Avrohom says it the way it was without holding anything back. To truly understand Lubavitch today these CD recordings are crucial to listen too.

ראיון עם ר' אברהם דריזין-מאיאר

 *סיפורו של אליעזר שטיינמאן *ר' אברהם ור' שלמה חיים *ר' חיים יונה רצה שר' אברהם תהי' ממקושריו אבל לא הסכים

*ר' חיים יונה ידע אמרי בינה, כוח המשיכה שלו, חוש בנגינה *הלל'קע למד בחברותא עם אלתר והשפיע לו הטעם וריח מר' מיכאל דער אלטר *מס"נ של ר' אברהם לאדמו"ר מהריי"ץ *זלמן פלדמן אביו של זעליג פלדמן, צבי הירש גורארי', נטע פינסקי

*הרש"ב לא רצה שהרד"ץ יסע לא"י מפני החיצוניות של הירושלמים *בחב"ד כל רבי הוא קודש הקודשים אע"פ שיש סדר בזה

*דרכו של ר' אברהם בהנהגת הישיבה בלוד שונה לגמרי מהנהגת הישיבה של ר' שאול ברוק *החילוק בין ר' משה מרדכי עפשטיין ור' ברוך בער, הקאמינעצער ראש ישיבה *ר' ברוך בער חשב שלאחר פטירתו של הרש"ב החסידים יקבלו אותו לרבי!

*הרב שמריהו גורארי' בליובאוויטש ובפאקינג *מעלות ר' ניסן נעמענאו ועבדתו, שמר עצמו במחשבה דיבור ומעשה

*ר' אברהם אמר על ר' יואל כהן שהוא "א קאפ, א גאון ומסר לגמרי לאדמו"ר" תפלתו של ר' יואל כמו גרונם שעיקר עבודתו בידיעת החסידות *הרה"ח ר' שמואל גרונם אסתרמאן: מעלותיו וחסרונתיו בעיני תלמידיו *

To purchase CD’s www.jewishinfo.org – info@rabbidalfin.com

The many, many hats of Reb Yitzchok Frankfurter

I don't think I'd able to do his job. He defends and attacks - well, maybe "attacks" is too harsh a word, he allows attacks to be published - the same groups at the same time! One week it's Lakewood, the next week Lubavitch, the next week Satmar, he'll write nice things about them, that is. Then he's out there, both in Ami and on the radio, defending Charedim against claims of abuse, even if it is terribly unpopular. Then he profiles Brooklyn D.A. Charles Hynes - I guess he went there trying to ask him tough questions about why he all of a sudden picks on us - in the end what we get is Hynes talking down to the frum, telling them how they're not in the 19th century anymore and he'll throw us all in jail if we don't squeal to him... If this was me my head would spin off my shoulders! But we thought we could at least rely on his Chassidic background and upbringing to defend his people from nastiness like was said by Rabbi Noah - a Slonimer eynikel himself... Now even that gets published and defended by Reb Yitzchok.... Nobody's safe - except maybe Satmar? I don't think Satmar was included in RNW's remark - at least not in Reb Yitzchok's mind, they're the good Chassidim - so technically he still has a clean record with the Satmorim. Thanks, but no thanks, we don't need Rabbi Noah lecturing us from the grave. We're good.

  Interestingly enough Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky - shliach in Queens - is a grandson of Reb Zalman Blesofsky, who was once a member of Nesivos Olam-Malochim in Williamsburg, but later joined Lubavitch, and was גבאי in the Rebbe's shul/770.. RZB's father himself was Reb Avrohom haCohen Blesofsky, a Karliner chossid whom the Stoliner Chassidim refer to as "Reb Avrohom כהן.

...א וויזשניצער ליינען

אז ער קען שוין יא אזוי גוט, טא פארוואס ליינט ער נישט אליין? א רחמנות אויפ'ן בעל קורא

50 years since the fire in Telshe-Cleveland

Mishpacha



  Ami

סאטמארער יורש העצר - (עלטסטער) זון פון ר' מענדל בן ר' אהרן - צינדט א ליובאוויטשער פאבליק מנורה - דבר שלא שערום אבותינו

ביי די פארט העמילטאן ארמארי

כ'מיין נישט צו טשעפען אדער מאכען צו שפאס. פארקערט, גאר! אשרי חלקו אז ער האט א חלק אינעם פרסומי ניסא.

YU takes it on the chin but keeps on smiling (NOT Abuse)

Yeshiva U's tribute to Rav Aron Kotler on his 50th Yohrtzeit.

 You see it all time. Yeshivos from the Dati Leumi stream of Orthodox Judaism that are packed with seforim of many of the Roshei Yeshiva that were outspoken against them. That wouldn't give them the time of day. That called them minim veApikorsim and worse. But they know no academic prejudice; if the seforim are good and useful they'll learn it. Maybe ויואל משה is the sole exception, and only because of the topic discussed. The same goes for recognizing history and accepting accomplishments of their adversaries. They're objective enough to see that even people who so disagreed with them with instrumental in building Torah chinuch to these shores, as well as to the shores of the holy land. You might be correct in saying that Rabbi Rakeffet sometimes gets his facts a little mixed up, especially so many years after some of the stories he's telling, but at least he tries. In the interest of full disclosure I will tell you that I did not listen to the speech linked here! But if it's anything like his others we can assume what he's saying here as well. I doubt Ponovezh or Mir had any tribute to Rav Kook on his 50th or 70th Yohrtzeit.  Kudos to YU and Rabbi Rakeffet for this tribute! I'll take the liberty here of including YU in the DatiLeumi camp, despite the fact  that it could be a bit of a stretch.

Photo courtesy of Hirhurim blog

אין בעלזא גייען דעם טראכטער'ל מיט'ן מיקראפאן האנט אין האנט

דער בעלזער רבי שליט"א איז באקאנט אלץ איינער וועלכע פארמיידט זיך פון אלע מאדערנע אנטוויקלונגען. א העמד גייט ער אהן קנעפלעך - אפשר דער איינציגער אויף דער וועלט - פונקט ווי פאר 100 יאר צוריק און מער. און נאך ענדליכע זאכען. אבער דאס אז א זייגער - נישט קיין האנט זייגער חלילה - א גרויסע רבי'שע זייגער מיט א זילבערנעם געשטעל - דאס איז אויך שוין מאדערן? קען אזא זייגער נישט אנווייזען ווען די האלבע שטונדע ענדיגט זיך, אז מ'דארף דערצו נאך האבען א טראכטער'ל אויך? און אפשר דארף די זאמד אינעם טראכטער'ל זיין דוקא מאדמת הר סיני? אבער דער מאדערנעם מיקראפאן - נאך אזא שמאלע אויך, וואס איז פאחאזשע אין שמאלע הויזען און שמאלע געפאסטע קליידער - דאס יא??

גם חסידי פוניבז' אוכלים ג' פשטידות בשבת ר"ח חנוכה - ושאר מנהגי פוניבז' לחנוכה

בארא פארק ניקלשבורג'ער רבי פארגעסט נישט פון די אידן אין די קעטסקילס בערג