The weekly haredi newspaper "HaShavua Be'Yerushalaim - This week in Jerusalem" published an interesting interview with the Rebbe of Chassidut Spinka. Chassidut Spinka has different Rebbes (e.g. in Bnei Brak or New York) and it was the Jerusalem Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai David Kahana, giving this interview.
Rebbe Kahana criticized today's Chassidim that they are not too serious anymore. Instead the Chassidim are interested in modernization and more into the modern world in a whole. All these changes are weakening the Chassidut.
Chassidut Spinka has a long tradition and comes from various chassidic Rebbes or directions: from Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, from Koznitz or Sidichov, for instance. As expected, they also have their own traditions and customs:
On Rosh HaShana, the members don't say all the Piutim written in the Machzor but only those written through Ruach HaKodesh.
Nussach Spinka - Sidichov:
Praying with emotion and the Niggunim need to go to the heart. According to Rebbe Mordechai David Kahana, this kind of Nussach is accepted from Heaven.
Of course, the question of how all the different Spinka Rebbes get along with each other, came up. The Spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem claimed, how else could it be, that all the Spinka Rebbes get along very well and are best buddies.
The Spinka Rebbe of Jerusalem
However, his criticism impressed me most. It is well - known that today's Chassidim are much more modern and even if they live in their own little backyard, at least the guys are being more and more confronted with technology and modern society as a whole. And, of course, this influences even the most pious people. Some manage to resist certain ways of modernity and others don't. The worst enemy of today's ultra - orthodox society is, according to my opinion, the Internet. Unfortunately, not too many Chassidim are able to resist all those virtual temptations.
Rebbe Mordechai David Kahana's Mitzweh Tanz at a wedding
No comments:
Post a Comment