A very long night

B"H

Last Leil Shabbat was a very long night for me and my friend. First we went for a Shabbat meal to Rabbi Mordechai Machlis and then we participated in two chassidishe Tish.

Our first Tish was with Toldot Aharon. The womens' section was rather empty when we arrived at about 11.50 pm. The last time we were there, everything was packed as the Rebbe had married off his daughter the same week. But last Friday, we had enough space to watch everything going on downstairs in the men's section. More and more men were streaming in and soon the synagogue was quite full. Chassidim, national religious, litvish, everybody was there.

As is was already our second time going to Toldot Aharon, we knew our ways through. Slowly slowly we get to know some people. Including a woman from the Satmar group who obviously does the same as we do. She likes going from Tish to Tish and we recognized each other.
Rebbe David Kahn had already made Kiddush and was about to do Netillat Yadaim as we arrived. Before he does so, he has the custom of taking a few leaf branches in order to say the "Besamim - blessing" on it. When he does so, he does it with real Kavanah, I have to say. In my opinion, he seems to be a very intelligent and nice person. He carries out his Minhagim very seriously and his community takes everything seriously as well. When he does something everybody keeps quiet and all his Chassidim watch him. The special chair he sits on is a normal black wooden chair and nothing fancy at all. He wore a really nice blue silk coat which he changed into a white one after Netillat Yadaim. He said the blessing over the huge Challot and handed out slices to his Chassidim.
Toldot Aharon has a certain seriousness which I enjoy. Of course, there is lots of singing as well but, nevertheless, I like when people carry out Mitzwot and they really mean it. I am not saying that other groups do less but, however, Toldot Aharon is something special and can be taken as an example.

40 minutes later, we decided to move on to the next Tish. Our goal was the split - off Toldot Avraham Yitzchak which is led by David Kahn's older brother, Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Kahn. We knew our way and very much enjoyed walking through some backyards in Mea Shearim. Apparently each chassidic group has its own neighbourhood within the neighbourhood, and we kept on walking through the Toldot Aharon hood.
I got the impression that the two Rebbe brothers are different characters. Rebbe David Kahn seems very serious but his brother, Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov is very much into Niggunim. As soon as the singing part starts, he cannot sit still anymore. He is swinging his arms and conducting.

That night, a choir was singing a few songs at Avraham Yitzchak. I did not enjoy it too much, as I thought that the choir was terrible but the Rebbe did like it. He even asked them for more songs and my friend and I could not wait until they finished their performance. We just hoped that the Rebbe would not demand any more songs.

It was 2.30 am and I have to say that there was not even a second to be bored. We did not see the Tish as something spiritual but rather entertaining. Maybe the Rebbe's Tish has to be spiritual for the Chassidim, I do not know. But suddenly people brough in huge amounts of fruit on silver trays. Cake came in and you cannot imagine the quantity. Cheese cakes, chocolate cakes and I do not know what else. Food just kept on floating in and everything was placed in front of the Rebbe. My friend and I knew that there will not be anything for us but it did not stop us from dreaming about a few slices of cheese cake. When you go to such a Tish you should definitely be a man.

The woman sitting on a special chair right in front of us seemed to be the Rebbetzin. A little boy brought her a small tray full of fruit and it would have been nice if there had been a second tray for the rest of the women as well. But maybe this is their custom. Who knows.
In the meantime, all the fruit and cake downstairs were devided among the Chassidim. Whole fruit boxes were handed around and very soon, everything was gone. I wish I had been downstairs.

Suddenly the lights went of and first we thought that someone might have turned them off by accident. Nevertheless, it was a cozy atmosphere sitting in the darkness. The Rebbe got up from his chair and started singing. Then all his Chassidim sang a certain song and started dancing including the Rebbe. He got so carried away with his emotions and I am sure that he was in a different world. Being not the youngest anymore is not to easy but the Rebbe jumped up and down which was unbelievable. After some jumps he fell back into his chair. Completely exhausted but a little later he got up and danced again with a great devotion. Actually we were ready to go but when we saw this, we decided to stay. Our entertainment became a spiritual event thanks to the Rebbe.
Eventually we left at 3.30 am and I think that we were more tired than the Rebbe. It was a great pleasure being there.

This week we will not participate in a Tish but go to the synagogue of the third Toldot Aharon split - off, the Shomrei Emunim (Guardians of Faith). If we only go to the Tish at night, we are not able to get up early in the morning and miss the synagogue service. I do not know how the Chassidim do this but I cannot.