B"H
The Israeli Online Magazine YNET reports that, again, certain Haredim are threatening Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3735669,00.html
Barkat said last Sunday that he would prefer a Zionist rabbi as the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem; appointed by the municipal rabbinate. Now ultra - orthodox leaders are threatening to cut off their ties with this rabbinate.
Regarding this, I am having a few remarks:
First of all, I didn't know that there is something like a "municipal rabbinate" in Jerusalem, I only know the Chief Rabbinate. Secondly, the threats are coming from Agudat Israel (e.g. Yahadut HaTorah) members and the anti - Zionist umbrella organization "Edah HaCharedit" is not included. The Edah has never accepted any Chief Rabbi but only appointed their own. The first examples were the Zionist Chief Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook and the first Edah Chief Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (in 1921). Since, the Edah has never accepted anything from the Rabbanut. No Hechsher (Kashrut certificate), no nothing. The two organizations, Rabbanut and Edah, only work together when it comes to birth certificates and marriages.
Like exchanging documents.
The threats towards Barkat were stated by members of the Yahadut HaTorah (haredi Knesset party).
Why do those Haredim demand a haredi Rabbi of Jerusalem ?
Because the national religious are considered as too moderate. They wouldn't keep the Mitzwot as strict as the Haredim.
I don't really think that Jerusalem needs its own Chief Rabbi.
Well, that's right, Tel Aviv has got one (Rabbi Israel Me'ir Lau) but what does it help ? Does every town in Israel have to have its own Chief Rabbi ? Obviously YES.
So, YES but who actually recognizes their halachic decisions ?
Any chassidic groups, as they only follow their Rebbes.
The Edah ? Definitely NO.
Who would follow a Jerusalem Chief Rabbi anyway ?
Showing posts with label Agudat Israel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Agudat Israel. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Congress of the "Agudat Israel"
B"H
Pictures from the latest congress of the "Agudat Israel" in Bnei Brak.
A few brief details about the "Agudat Israel":
Founded in May 1912 in Upper Silesia.
Different reasons caused the foundation of the Agudah. However, the main interest was to protect Orthodox Judaism from any hostile influences such as Secularism and the Reform Movement as a whole.
Until 1935, the headquarter was located in Frankfurt / Germany but the actual soul of the "Agudat Israel" was in Poland. Chassidut Gur (near Warsaw) had always been the most influential part inside the organization. The "Chafetz Chaim", Rabbi Israel Me'ir Kagan, as well as Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brest - Litovsk (Brisk) were among the supporters. Before the Second World War, one third of Polish Jewry was associated with the "Agudat Israel". Even the women formed an influential group and in 1931, for the first time ever, they discussed their own problems and issues.
Although the Agudah was anti - Zionist, it still included a passive Zionism. In 1923, a "Palestine Office" was opened in Poland and Jews could learn agricultural professions in special training camps. Those professions would enable them to make a living in Israel (then Palestine).
When the "Jewish Agency" was founded in 1929, the "Agudat Israel" didn't join the new Zionist Movement. Instead they reached an agreement with David Ben Gurion when the State of Israel was founded in 1948. All religious matters should remain in the hands of the Orthodox Movement.
Until today, the "Agudat Israel" is taking part in the Knesset. Its own party is called "Yahadut HaTorah" and has five seats at the moment. The strongest figure in the Agudah is still the Chassidut Gur with its representative Yaakov Litzman besides Shmuel Halpert from Chassidut Vishnitz.
The counterpart of the Agudah is the "Edah HaCharedit" from Mea Shearim with groups such as Satmar, parts of Breslov, Brisk, the Toldot Aharon, den Toldot Avraham Yitzchak, Spinka, the Mishkenot HaRoim and the descendants of the original followers of the Vilna Gaon. The Edah mostly considers the Agudah as Zionist traitors, as they take play a role in the Zionist Knesset.
All pictures can be viewd here:
http://bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=7731&cat_id=2
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Big Brother is watching you
B"H
I have to admit that I really enjoy the talks with different Chassidim. It doesn't matter if it is Belz, Gur, Vishnitz, Dushinsky or Avraham Yitzchak. Everybody knows each other and each of them wants to be the best informed about the other groups. Vishnitz, for example, loves to emphasize that everybody else has his roots in Vishnitz. First I thought that this is just another exaggeration but then I realized that there is actually lots of truth in it.
Furthermore, countless chassidic groups today are related to each other. The Rebbes like to marry off their children to other Rebbe's kids. Thus, they gain something from each other. One famous example is the Vishnitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, in Bnei Brak. One of his daughters is married to one of the two Satmarer Rebbes, Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum, and another daughter is married to the present Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach.
But how can that be ?
Two daughters from one family married Rebbes whose groups are officially "enemies".
Sometimes even the so – called enemies are more moderate with each other than one might think.
When Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum gave a Tish in Jerusalem at his visit last August, the Belzer Rebbe sent a delegation. The background of the Machloket between Satmar and Belz comes from the 1980ies.
Then, the Belzer Rebbe decided to leave the anti – Zionist umbrella organization Edah HaCharedit and instead join the Agudat Israel. People say that the main reason for this decision was simply money. Chassidut Belz suffered a lot during the Holocaust and only a few years later, the former Rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Rokeach, passed away. At that time, his nephew R. Yissachar Dov was still a child and therefore wasn't able to take over leadership. For years, Belz was without a Rebbe. Today Belz has money but years ago, Belz needed the money from the Israeli government. And this you only get when you are not in the Edah but rather in the Agudah with its Knesset party "Yahadut HaTorah (including groups such as Gur and Vishnitz)".
As expected, the members of the Edah HaCharedit saw in Belz the big traitor running over to the Zionists. Additionally, Chassidut Belz founded its own Hechsher (kosher certificate) called "Badatz Belz – Beit Din Zedek Belz". Thus, Belz became a competitor to the Edah and its Hechsher "Badatz Edah HaCharedit – Beit Din Zedek Edah HaCharedit".
I asked some Belzer Chassidim about their today's relationship to the Edah, to Satmar and Toldot Aharon. I received plenty of different opinions. From very liberal to still hostile. One opinion was that the event took place a long time ago and some of the Rebbes have died in the meantime. So, everything is different today.
When Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum came to Israel last summer, he made peace with Satmar's old rival Zanz – Klausenburg.
But why doesn't he do the same with Belz ?
Very simple. Politics.
A Chassid from a different chassidic group told me the following:
Since the two sons of the last Satmarer Rebbe, Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, have been fighting out their war about leadership, too much politics are involved. Both sons, Rebbe Aharon as well as Rebbe Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, see themselves as the new Rebbe.
As the followers of Rebbe Zalman Leib in Williamsburgh gossiped about Rebbe Aharon's wife that she could never be a worthy Satmarer Rebbitzen anyway, as she studied at the Hebrew speaking haredi school Beit Yaakov, Rebbe Aharon wants to be careful in his doings. If he made peace with Belz, the followers of Rebbe Zalman Leib would have another subject to gossip about. And who knows if Rebbe Aharon's Chassidim would agree to such a peace ?
When I speak to Chassidim, I am immediately told all the different politics involved. Each of them looks at the other group and everybody just knows anyone. They like to look at the other groups and find their mistakes and faults.
After Shabbat, many Chassidim ask me about the Tishes I have been to.
Who is getting married to whom ?
Everybody is interested. This seems to be the daily interest of a Chassid.
The historical knowledge of the Chassidim about Chassidut is just incredible. When you grow up in chassidic society, you learn all the connections very easily. Whenever I ask something, I am getting the story with the whole background. Afterwards my head is hurting due to the flow of massive information. Including chassidic stories and further details I have never even dreamt about.
Some weeks ago, when I went to Mea Shearim for Shabbat lunch, the family spoke about the latest weddings taking place. Even the kids knew what was going on and whatever takes me a long time find out, the kids know and remember right away.
I have to admit that I really enjoy the talks with different Chassidim. It doesn't matter if it is Belz, Gur, Vishnitz, Dushinsky or Avraham Yitzchak. Everybody knows each other and each of them wants to be the best informed about the other groups. Vishnitz, for example, loves to emphasize that everybody else has his roots in Vishnitz. First I thought that this is just another exaggeration but then I realized that there is actually lots of truth in it.
Furthermore, countless chassidic groups today are related to each other. The Rebbes like to marry off their children to other Rebbe's kids. Thus, they gain something from each other. One famous example is the Vishnitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, in Bnei Brak. One of his daughters is married to one of the two Satmarer Rebbes, Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum, and another daughter is married to the present Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach.
But how can that be ?
Two daughters from one family married Rebbes whose groups are officially "enemies".
Sometimes even the so – called enemies are more moderate with each other than one might think.
When Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum gave a Tish in Jerusalem at his visit last August, the Belzer Rebbe sent a delegation. The background of the Machloket between Satmar and Belz comes from the 1980ies.
Then, the Belzer Rebbe decided to leave the anti – Zionist umbrella organization Edah HaCharedit and instead join the Agudat Israel. People say that the main reason for this decision was simply money. Chassidut Belz suffered a lot during the Holocaust and only a few years later, the former Rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Rokeach, passed away. At that time, his nephew R. Yissachar Dov was still a child and therefore wasn't able to take over leadership. For years, Belz was without a Rebbe. Today Belz has money but years ago, Belz needed the money from the Israeli government. And this you only get when you are not in the Edah but rather in the Agudah with its Knesset party "Yahadut HaTorah (including groups such as Gur and Vishnitz)".
As expected, the members of the Edah HaCharedit saw in Belz the big traitor running over to the Zionists. Additionally, Chassidut Belz founded its own Hechsher (kosher certificate) called "Badatz Belz – Beit Din Zedek Belz". Thus, Belz became a competitor to the Edah and its Hechsher "Badatz Edah HaCharedit – Beit Din Zedek Edah HaCharedit".
I asked some Belzer Chassidim about their today's relationship to the Edah, to Satmar and Toldot Aharon. I received plenty of different opinions. From very liberal to still hostile. One opinion was that the event took place a long time ago and some of the Rebbes have died in the meantime. So, everything is different today.
When Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum came to Israel last summer, he made peace with Satmar's old rival Zanz – Klausenburg.
But why doesn't he do the same with Belz ?
Very simple. Politics.
A Chassid from a different chassidic group told me the following:
Since the two sons of the last Satmarer Rebbe, Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum, have been fighting out their war about leadership, too much politics are involved. Both sons, Rebbe Aharon as well as Rebbe Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, see themselves as the new Rebbe.
As the followers of Rebbe Zalman Leib in Williamsburgh gossiped about Rebbe Aharon's wife that she could never be a worthy Satmarer Rebbitzen anyway, as she studied at the Hebrew speaking haredi school Beit Yaakov, Rebbe Aharon wants to be careful in his doings. If he made peace with Belz, the followers of Rebbe Zalman Leib would have another subject to gossip about. And who knows if Rebbe Aharon's Chassidim would agree to such a peace ?
When I speak to Chassidim, I am immediately told all the different politics involved. Each of them looks at the other group and everybody just knows anyone. They like to look at the other groups and find their mistakes and faults.
After Shabbat, many Chassidim ask me about the Tishes I have been to.
Who is getting married to whom ?
Everybody is interested. This seems to be the daily interest of a Chassid.
The historical knowledge of the Chassidim about Chassidut is just incredible. When you grow up in chassidic society, you learn all the connections very easily. Whenever I ask something, I am getting the story with the whole background. Afterwards my head is hurting due to the flow of massive information. Including chassidic stories and further details I have never even dreamt about.
Some weeks ago, when I went to Mea Shearim for Shabbat lunch, the family spoke about the latest weddings taking place. Even the kids knew what was going on and whatever takes me a long time find out, the kids know and remember right away.
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