Larry Gordon on his interview with the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe

B"H

This radio interview with Larry Gordon (Five Towns Jewish Times) was broadcasted at the end of November. I just listened to it now and found it quite interesting.

Interesting in this respect because it is always a kind of strange when Jews in the Diaspora discuss issues totally connected to Israel.

Anyway, I have two comments on the matter:

First of all, Chassidut Toldot Avraham Yitzchak is not a member of the Neturei Karta. The TAY are a member of the anti - Zionist umbrella organization "Edah HaCharedit" in Mea Shearim. The Edah consist of groups such as the Toldot Aharon, Spinka, Dushinsky, a group of followers of the Vilna Gaon, some parts of Breslov, the Mishkenot HaRoim or Satmar. The Neturei Karta is no official members of the Edah but, according to different statements, does have some influence through Satmar. However, I cannot say how far this kind of influence goes. Apparently only various high - ranking Edah Rabbis are able to do that.

The Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn had an anti - Zionist upbringing by his grandfather (the Shomrei Emunim / Toldot Aharon founder Rebbe Aharon Roth, as well as by his father, the previous Toldot Aharon Rebbe Avraham Yitzchak Kahn).

The TAY Rebbe was not ONLY kicked out of the Toldot Aharon because he studied with Vishnitz in Bnei Brak. There are many reasons why the majority of the Toldot Aharon members rejected him and chose his younger brother, Rabbi David Kahn (who, by the way, studied with Satmar in New York). Of course, there was power involved. A Rebbe has power (and money) and who does not want to be the next Rebbe ?

Furthermore, many Toldot Aharon members had the feeling that Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov would change certain Takanot or ideologies of the group itself. Those members were not prepared to accept any changes and were looking for a new Rebbe keeping the old traditions.

Another point was that obviously, according to Toldot Avraham Yitzchak sources ("Nes Lehitnosses"), a few leading Toldot Aharon Rabbis (Gabbai) started an entire personal war against Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov in order to save their positions.

In the end, many reasons seemed to have come together and the majority of the Toldot Aharon members voted for Rabbi David Kahn as the new Rebbe. Thus, Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov left and founded his own group.

You can listen to the interview with Larry Gordon HERE !
Move the cursor to minute 24 and listen until minute 46.
Then continue with minute 55 to the end.
Otherwise the interview is acompanied / interrupted by commercials and some further news.

Gordon's interview with the TAY Rebbe has caused lots of criticism because Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov was quoted saying that the only problem he has with the present State of Israel is that people do not keep Shabbat. This, on the other hand, caused anti - Zionists to go berserk. Later on, the TAY Rebbitzen denied that her husband did not state such an opinion.