The Dance of the Rebbe

B"H

Gur, Belz, Karlin - Stolin, Toldot Aharon, Toldot Avraham Yitzchak and the Slonim are the biggest chassidic groups giving Tishes on Shabbat. Those Tishes are quite popular and mostly packed. But who really knows about the small chassidic group Kretchnif ?

As usual, we went for the Shabbat dinner at Rabbi Mordechai Machlis and there we forgot to pay attention to the time. Suddenly it was 11pm and almost to late for any Tish. During the winter, the Tishes start much earlier and the one's which don't are not taking place at the moment. As I wrote before, the Rebbes of Avraham Yitzchak as well as Toldot Aharon are abroad.

We had to make new plans and decided to go to Dushinsky frist. There is was too quiet and we figured that there won't be a Tish. Through Rehov Yoel we wanted to enter Mea Shearim but got stuck on the way. Across the Beit Midrash of Satmar and the Karlin – Synagogue is a small street called Avinoam. And in Avinoam the the synagogue of Chassidut Kretchnif.

The building is rather big and the women's entrance is, as so often, on the backside of the building. After all the amounts of food at the Machlises, climbing up the stairs to the third floor was rather difficult. But as soon as one manages, he doesn't regret all the efforts. Before you get to the women's side, you have to pass a small way which is open to the outside. From there you have a great view over Jerusalem.

The women's side was anything but busy. Only a few women from Kretchnif were there. Including the Rebbitzen who was placed on a kind of thrown; just as her husband downstairs. She seems to be a very nice woman although almost everybody else looks at outsiders as if they are suspicious. This is only at the women's side whereas men from outside the group are not being starred at. And last night, the place was full of outsiders: Toldot Aharon, Slonim, Satmar, Gur, Belz, Shomrei Emunim and three young litvishe guys. The Rebbe of the Jerusalem Kretchnifer accepts everybody and hands out food to anyone. He is very welcoming. The women upstairs, on the other hand, are a very closed group and I think that it would take a long time until they open up.

We arrived relatively late and it was already 11.30pm. The Rebbe had finished eating and was now conducting the Chassidim and motivate them to sing. He likes all the singing and he encourages everybody to participate. Chairs and tables were moved aside and then the show began. The Rebbe was standing in front of his chair and all the Chassidim were dancing around him in a big circle. Then they took their seats again and the Rebbe started dancing alone. This was very nice to see and I really enjoyed it.

In the meantime, a fruit tray and two giant cakes were shipped in. One cake was seemingly a carrot cake and the other was what we call in Hebrew "Ugat Sheish". Both of them were still steaming and the nice smell was all over the place. But before the goodies were handed out, another circle was built and more dancing took place. This time, the Rebbe joined the Chassidim and danced with them in a circle. He was so fast that all the others couldn't keep up with him. The Rebbe just sang and danced. Finally everybody lined up in front of him and got fruit and cake.

Even the Rebbitzen and her small clan. I wasn't interested in all these woman but tried to listen to the Rebbe who gave a Drasha. He spoke about the Exodus, that the Jews got the Mitzwah of Shabbat and that whoever keeps Shabbat, comes out with a strengthened soul (Neshama).

The Rebbe spoke in Yiddish and it is not easy to understand him, as he doesn’t speak too loud and clear. Even the Chassidim had to move closer and be silent. I was in the middle of listening, as the women suddenly started to talk while eating the cake. Why do women always have to start talking when the Rebbe speaks ? Can't they just talk about their family businesses later and listen for a few minutes ? However, the noise destroyed my hearing the Rebbe and I wasn't able to follow his Drasha anymore.

A few more songs after the cake and the Tish was over.
I have to admit that we really enjoyed it this time. All the times before we only saw Kretchnif as a replacement but now, as we saw more, we look at it as a great Tish. I can really recommend it and if you are a guy, line up early for the cake.

Here a Link to a Video where the Kretchnifer Rebbe of Jerusalem is dancing with his youngest daughter. For modesty reasons, the daughter has her face covered with a Tichel.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8053135343788864700


The Kretchnif Tish

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7495712384584720227&q=kretshnif+tish&total=4&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0