Haya Sameach - היה שמח

B"H

"Haya Sameach" is Israeli slang and the translation is something ironic like "it wasn't boring".

It was a sunny warm Shabbat and many people who usually don't go out too much during the cold rainy winter changed their minds.
Last Friday night, Mea Shearim was packed. I didn't see any tourist buses, as it was Shabbat but it seemed like a few buses had come in and sent out all the Israeli visitors.

This time, I took a friend and we first went for Maariv (evening prayer) to the Karlin - Stolin Synagogue. As expected, only a few women were there but easily about 200 men. And as expected, the prayer service was full of Kavanah (concentration). From far away you can hear the Karliner prayers.

Afterwards we went to Ma'alot Dafna Rabbi Mordechai Machlis for Shabbat dinner. Later on, we returned to Mea Shearim and had a look at the Sheva Berachot at Toldot Aharon. As soon as there are Sheva Berachot, Toldot Aharon is packed; Ezrat Nashim, downstairs in the men's section. Packed and you can hardly move let alone see anything.

Unfortunately, only one of the two rooms of the Ezrat Nashim was available. As far as I heard, the second room was locked because it was only reserved for the bride's family. The result was that all the women were squeezed into one room and you cannot imagine what was going on there. The metal benches were shaking as soon as someone started climbing up. There was simply no chance seeing anything.

My friend and me stood at the side next to the benches and were able to have a glimpse. Rebbe David Kahn was sitting in the middle of the front table. To his right was the groom and to his left was the Rebbe's younger brother. It looked like all the Toldot Aharon Chassidim from Beit Shemesh had arrived as well. The Tish was packed and other male visitors from the outside had hardly space. However, there were some litvishe and national religious.

A whole group of national religious girls stormed into the Ezrat Nashim. They spread and took over everything. When those Israeli national religious come in, no Toldot Aharon woman can escape her destiny. The girls are Chutzpaniot and are not ashamed to ask the weirdest questions. Many Toldot Aharon women, especially the younger ones, find this rather amusing and answer.
The "Rabbi Kook fans" spread and we just escaped to the Avraham Yitzchak Synagogue. No Tish took place there and I suppose that Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn might have spend the Shabbat in Beit Shemesh.

What else is in the area ? Right, the Slonim.

So, we went to the Slonim and were able to move. Obviously they are not so famous among Mea Shearim visitors and the Ezrat Nashim was half empty.

I find it rather strange that the Slonim women hardly show up for their own Tish. The people you meet there are mostly from the outside or other groups. To me it is always a big change coming from the Toldot Aharon or Karlin and looking at the black coats again. Like Gur or Belz, the Slonim only wear black on Shabbat.
I have to admit that I do not like their Niggunim too much. They always sound the same. Just like an army melody. I cannot help it but Belz has the best Niggunim.

However, Rebbe Shmuel Brozovsky's Slonim Tish doesn't last for too long. 2 - 3 hours. He only makes Kiddush but doesn't have a meal. The Slonim emphasize on Niggunim and then they are done. And they were half done when we came. It was nice but short and we decided to return to Toldot Aharon. I was tired and didn't feel like walking down to Kretchnif or Dushinsky. We even forgot to check out if there was anything going on at the Shomrei Emunim.

Our second try at Toldot Aharon was much more successful. We entered and the national religious had enough and walked out. "Lot's of space", we thought but now the Ezrat Nashim was full of Toldot Aharon women. However, while we were standing at the side again, a group member pulled us up onto the metal benches. Finally we had a great view. Rebbe David Kahn was in a real swinging mood and the female group members were also in an extraordinary mood. Probably still enthusiastic about the great wedding last Wednesday. You could ask anything and got an answer. The national religious really had a lucky day and left with lots of information to think about.

Other visitors at the Ezrat Nashim: Satmar and Dushinsky women.

The next morning I got up early and went for Shacharit (morning prayer) to Toldot Aharon. Another Shabbat Chatan should take place. I walked in and saw that the second room still locked. The weather was great and I simply didn't feel like sitting in a room with a hundred women. No fresh air and especially no sunshine. I decided that this was it and walked to the Kotel (Western Wall) where I joined the prayer service of Rabbi Mordechai Machlis. The Rabbi is just great; inviting people to his home every single Shabbat and making a great Kiddush for anyone in front of the Kotel.

I was glad I didn't stay in Mea Shearim for Shacharit. After leaving Toldot Aharon, I thought about going to Breslov or Stropkov. But honestly, I saw the sunshine and I felt like I needed a break from everything. Just be outside and enjoy nature.
The Breslovers would say: "Enjoy G - d's Creation and get some Hitbodedut done".

I am not with any particular group and I am quite happy about that. But sometimes I do feel too attached to Toldot Aharon and I want to give me and them a break. Otherwise they might just hand me an application form and pull me right in.