Photos: "Mea Shearim after Rosh Hashana"

B"H

So, how was my Rosh Hashana ? Awful, as I had caught a flue virus. It all started a day before Rosh Hashana. Suddenly I felt a pain in my throat and then fever and a cough came along. Now I am still coughing and sneezing all the time but my condition is improving. At least, the fever seems to be gone.

I was staying at home and hardly did anything but rest. Now am trying to concentrate on Yom Kippur and to overcome my demand for medication and tissues.:-)

I had something to do in Mea Shearim this morning and took a few photos on the way. Here is the result:

Kapparot Announcement

It seems as if the Sukkah building is starting earlier every year. I remember that more than 13 years ago, most Jerusalemites (incl. Haredim) started building their Sukkah on Mozzae'i Yom Kippur. This year, however, plenty of Sukkot are almost finished. Not only in Mea Shearim but also in secular parts of town.

Sukkah in Yoel Street (Mea Shearim)

Kikar Supnik and Dushinsky building a gigantic Sukkah

Balcony Sukkah in Mea Shearim Street / Jerusalem

Chassidut Gur (Ger) seemed to have had a wild Rosh Hashana Se'udah and apparently dumped all the trash on the pavement across their Beit Midrash in Ge'ulah.

The Sukkah of Chassidut Gur in Sefat Emet Street

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss speaking at Dushinsky

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Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss from the "Edah HaCharedit" is giving a Pessach Drasha at the Dushinsky Beit Midrash. This Shabbat at 5.15 pm. 

Please check whether the time is in accordance with the Israeli daylight saving but I assume that the Edah is not changing its clock.

Purim in Dushinsky (Jerusalem)

The Dushinsky Synagogue in Bnei Brak

Photo: Miriam Woelke

The DUSHINSKY school at Kikar Supnik / Jerusalem

Photo Sept. 2011: Miriam Woelke

The DUSHINSKY Synagogue in Jerusalem

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The Synagogue of chassidut DUSHINSKY group in Jerusalem.

The two photos don't show the new building in the back. 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

There are people who do NOT see Dushinsky as a chassidic group. The Sidur would be only half chassidic and the Dushinsky family may not have the strongest chassidic background. However, I know some Dushinsky members and their children born into the group and they definitely consider themselves as chassidic.

Further details about Dushinsky HERE !

Inside the Synagogue at Shmuel HaNavi Street in Jerusalem.

New DUSHINSKY Beit Midrash in Beit Shemesh

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Chassidut Dushinsky recently celebrated the opening of a new Beit Midrash in Beit Shemesh.

All photos HERE !

If it wouldn't say BEIT SHEMESH in the article, I had thought that the photos were taken at the Dushinsky Synagogue in Jerusalem / Shmuel HaNavi Street. The style as well as the Aron HaKodesh look very much alike.

Lag Ba'Omer 5771 / 2011 in Dushinsky, Edah HaCharedit, Karlin - Pinsk, Toldot Avraham Yitzchak and Zhvil

The Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn lighting his bonfire in Mea Shearim / Jerusalem.

The Toldot Aharon Rebbe David Kahn (the younger brother of the TAY Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn) lighting his bonfire in Mea Shearim / Jerusalem.

All photos from Dushinsky, the Edah, Karlin - Pinsk or Zhvil HERE !

The Dushinsky Rebbe in London

Rebbe Yosef Zvi Dushinsky in London.

All pictures you can view HERE!

Link:

The "Dushinsky Tish Guide"

The Dushinsky Rebbe and his sleeping Chassidim

Photo: Ladaat

B"H

The above picture shows the Dushinsky Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Zvi Dushinsky, at a children's even in Beit Shemesh. Why do so many Chassidim sitting at a Tish around the Rebbe always have to fall asleep ?

The Dushinsky Rebbe in Marienbad

The Dushinsky Rebbe walking through Marienbad.

Who can identify the people on the above photo ?

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and the Chatam Sofer

B"H

Yesterday, on 25th Tishrei, two important Yahrzeits (memorials) took place:  

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev as well as the Yahrzeit of the Chatam Sofer.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak used to be a student of the Baal Shem Tov successor the Maggid of Mezritch and was known to be the Jew's attorney. Any time a Jew in Berditchev did something wrong, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak justified him positively before G - d. The Rabbi saw the good in every Jew and he was a person, we severly miss in our days. At least since Rabbi Aryeh Levin of Jerusalem passed away a long time ago.

The Chatam Sofer was very famous too but not necessarily in chassidishe circles. He rejected anything new. Why should we change our ways when our ancestors successfully dealt with the same behaviour, laws and tools ?

Until today, the Chatam Sofer remained an important figure in Mea Shearim, as there, nothing has to change and new ways of life are banned. Chassidut Dushinsky entirely built on the theology of the Chatam Sofer and there are at least two Synagogues / Batei Midrash in the Batei Hungarin (Mea Shearim).

"Hakafot" in Dushinsky

In the middle: The Dushinsky Rebbe

B"H

Israel began celebrating its Simchat Torah (last day of Sukkot) last Friday night (Erev Shabbat). If you are ever in Jerusalem on Erev Simchat Torah, don't make the mistake going to the Kotel (Western Wall) in order to see some wild celebrations. In case you do so, you will be terribly disappoined because there is nothing to see.

What you should do instead is going to the Synagogues in the new city. Especially in Mea Shearim, celebrations are worth seeing.

With a friend I went to Chassidut Dushinsky and we were anything but disappointed.

I admit that we haven't been to the Dushinsky Tish for quite a while. When we went, the door to the Ezrat Nashim (women's side), was locked. This is a problem for women going to the Dushinsky Tish. Sometimes their entrance is just locked up.

When we arrived for the Hakafot, the Synagogue was packed. You could compare the area around the staircase to a parking lot, as there were Agalot (baby carriages) standing around everywhere. Women and girls were running up and down and I said to my friend that we probably won't see anything. Upstairs we were more than lucky because we found a relatively good place right away. The men's side downstairs was kept dark. I only saw the lights from the Aron HaKodesh (Torah Shrine) shining making the whole atmosphere rather cozy. Hundreds of Chassidim were dancing with at least 15 Torah scrolls. Among the Chassidim were many dressed in Toldot Aharon or Toldot Avraham Yitzchak like Shabbat clothes. The Dushinsky Chassidim themselves wore black and a Streimel. The Rebbe was sitting on a special chair in the front from where he watched the dancing.

Due to the darkness the whole event looked very spiritual. The Dushinsky women themselves are a little strange, I have to say. One of them once told me that when a woman from the outside comes to the Dushinsky Tish, the members don't say anything. The Toldot Aharon many times involve you in a conversation because they are curious. However, the Dushinsky women say nothing and don't refer to you at all. If you have a question, they answer politely but reserved. And this is it. They give you an answer and nothing further.

I asked the woman I spoke to why this is happening but she had no answer.

Nevertheless, once you really know a woman, she turns out to be very different and talking.

Shabbat Shalom

Photo: YNET 

B"H

Tensions in Jerusalem today and thousands of police and border police men are trying to keep the Arabs under control.

People have been talking a lot about the start of a "Third Intifada" and it just looks this way. The Palestinian propaganda seems to be successful once again making its flase claims "Israel would storm the Temple Mount". And again, the world goes for it.

One should always bare in mind that Israel is not doing the provocations but the Arabs ! During Ramadan, it was quiet and the Arabs worked together with the Israelis. Now, the Jewish holiday of Sukkot is on and the Palestinians simply don't want the Jews in the Old City.

At every Jewish holiday, thousands of Jews are going to the Jewish Quarter and the Kotel (Western Wall). This alone drives the Arabs nuts because they want the entire Old City for themselves. Jews just bother. Not at all surprising because the main goal of the Arab world is the TOTAL destruction of the State of Israel. A two - state solution does not exist for them and the sooner everyone understands this, the better.

But, unfortunately, in this matter, the world seems to be brain damaged !

In Tel Aviv, however, life is more relaxed at the moment and all the cops seem to be busy in Jerusalem. Last night I went to Bnei Brak but only saw Chassidut Vishnitz celebrating Simchat beit HaShoeva. The Chassidim of Rebbe Israel Hager.

To be precise: I was there at 9pm, the time when the celebrations were supposed to start. Metal benches were set up outside, right in front of the study centers and the Vishnitzer Synagogue (at Kiryat Vishnitz). By then, not even half of the Chassidim had arrived and women were told to go into the opposite building where they would be able to watch the whole event on a video screen. Others entered another part of the building and just looked out of the window.

Anyway, it turned out that there would be not video in the end.

By around 10pm, the event still hadn't started and I decided to go back to Tel Aviv. Most Bnei Braker Chassidim seemed to be busy with getting their luggage onto the busses to Jerusalem instead of participating in further celebrations.

Today I am also going back to Jerusalem. In the evening I am going to watch the Hakafot for Simchat Torah at Chassidut Dushinsky and later on, I am invited for a meal in Mea Shearim. I just hope that their are not too many drunkards around.:-)

"Shabbat Shalom - Gut Schabbes - Chag Sameach - Gut Yom Tov" to all readers !

"Mesibat Chumash" in Dushinsky

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The "Talmud Torah" boy's school of Chassidut Dushinsky celebrated a "Mesibat Chumash" at their Synagogue (7th Elul 5769).

The Synagogue of Chassidut Dushinsky in Jerusalem.

To the left: The Dushinsky Rebbe Yosef Zvi Dushinsky. To the right: The "second man" in Dushinsky: Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ullmann.

All pictures can be viewed here:

http://ladaat.net/gallery.php?catid=185#ancor

The Dushinsky Rebbe in Melbourne

B"H

Rebbe Yosef Zvi Dushinsky is visiting Melbourne. I assume that the Rebbe travelled to Australia in order to collect donations for his group and Mosdot (institutes).

Chassidut Dushinsky is rather unknown outside the chassidic world. Dushinsky is one of the very few chassidic groups being called after their founder's family name. Furthermore, Dushinsky is extremely anti - Zionist, a member of the Edah HaCharedit and their headquarter is located in Jerusalem; in Shmuel HaNavi Street.

Second to the right: The Dushinsky Rebbe Yosef Zvi Dushinsky

The Peyes are stuck in the Door !

B"H

"Peyes (the side curls of Chassidim) always bother", I heard a young Israeli soldier saying to his friend. The two were sitting on the same bus with me and I overheard their rather funny sounding conversation. Although the two were soldiers in the Israeli army, both came originally for the US.

"Why is that ?" the second soldier asked his friend.
"Well, because long Peyes can get stuck everywhere. Just imagine you shut the door and uuurrgghhh. They are stuck behind you".

Personally, I have never met anyone whose Peyes got stuck in a door, in a car, in machines etc. Maybe there are such incidents, who knows.

Generally, Chassidim always get the first looks due to their different clothing style. Wearing a Streimel (traditional fur hat) or long coat (caftan) during the hot summer heat cannot be too pleasant and outsiders are wondering about that. "Who can suffer such clothes ?" they then ask.

However, nowhere in the world is tradition as important as in the chassidic world. Many Chassidim say that tradition which proved to be right 50 years ago, 100 years ago or 300 years ago, cannot be wrong today. And many Chassidim go according to the "Chatam Sofer" (Rabbi Moshe Sofer, 1762 - 1839, born in Frankfurt / Germany and died in Bratislava). In particular, the Chassidut Dushinsky is following him in detail. The Chatam Sofer fought enthusiastically against the new reform movement. "The Torah doesn't allow us any changes", Rabbi Moshe Sofer stated. However, his followers extended this ideology also into many issues concerning the private life.

Once, I was invited by a Dushinsky family where the host told me that she learned all her traditions from her mother. Not only regarding her modest clothing style but also the behaviour towards the children as well as the hairstyle of a chassidic woman.
"Of course, my children theoretically could have left the old ways and set up some changes. Anyway, I raised them this way that they wouldn't", she let me know.

Don't such views and opinions show fear of anything new in life ? And if there was anything new, would this automatically lead to changes within the whole chassidic society ? Would then society fall apart ?

I don't think so because the roots are too deep. Maybe Hundreds of rebels would have to show up in order to cause a few slow changes. But who wants to cause great changes when the old ways have mostly proven right ? And even if there were some rebels, who would endanger his own place in chassidic society ? Who would endanger good schools for his children and suitable Shidduchim ? Whoever wants changes, has to face society consequences.

Despite all the traditions, I have never heard a Chassid complaining about his Peyes being stuck in a door !!!

Simchat Torah Pictures

B"H



Simchat Torah in Chassidut Belz.
Right: The Belzer Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach



Belzer Chassidim on Simchat Torah



Simchat Torah celebrations in Chassidut Dushinsky in Jerusalem



Chassidut Dushinsky in Jerusalem


The Dushinsky Rebbe





Simchat Torah in Chassidut Zhvil





Simchat Torah in the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak





Simchat Torah in the Shomrei Emunim





Simchat Torah in Pinsk - Karlin


All pictures can be seen here:
http://www.bhol.co.il/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=2502526&forum_id=20293

Men only !

B"H

Shabbat Teshuva.
Last Erev Shabbat (Friday night), I had hoped that there would be some chassidic Tishes going on in Mea Shearim.

After some crazy guy decided to splash some coke at the people at his table, Rabbi Mordechai Machlis held a longer speech on how we should be careful judging other people. Not only because Yom Kippur is right ahead but judging each other favourably should be one of the mail goal of every Jew. Nevertheless, even if some guy freaked out, no one seemed to be bothered too much.

After the Machlis meal, I passed the Toldot Aharon Synagogue and many people may ask why is it always Toldot Aharon ? Why not Belz, Biale, the Steipler Rebbe or Dushinsky for a change. My answer is that I mostly pass the Toldot Aharon first and mostly just get stuck there. I like them very much and, in the meantime, spoke with quite a few female members of the group.

According to their singing inside the Synagogue, the TA were holding a Tish but no women were at sight. Right in front of the Synagogue I met a Toldot Aharon woman I already knew. Quite a few times I have spoken to her before and I think that it is actually her from whom I don't need to hide any information. I don't hide information from anyone but the Toldot Aharon still don't know that I write about them. Maybe they do and I have no clue, who knows ?

Once I met the woman I spoke to in the Nachlaot neighbourhood, near the Machane Yehudah Market. I was on my way to the laundry and didn't expect someone from Toldot Aharon in that neighbourhood. Well, I was wrong and I met her. There was no escape and she saw me wearing pants. She smiled and said HELLO and I wasn't really sure about how I should feel. Some weeks later, I met her at the groups' Tish and we had another discussion but got interrupted.



Toldot Aharon women


Last Friday night, I met her again and one of her daughters accompanied her. We started our conversation very fast and even her daughter added some comments.

Due to the upcoming Yom Kippur, the Tish was only for men. The Ezrat Nashim (women's section) was full of wooden benches and therefore, it was impossible to move. I asked her about the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak and she said that there it would be the same. My friend accompanying me and I decided to move on to the Slonim but the Toldot Aharon woman was in her talking mood. We spoke about the group and she asked me about my religious past and if there is a future. Born Haredim seem to think that the best way of getting a religious education and having a real frum life is the participation in a firm program. Not going here and there to a Shiur but being part of something serious.

When I told her that I am rather individualistic and that I have already spent more than enough time in programs, she couldn't believe it. Especially not after I told her that I once had been haredi but left society later on. I am on my way back but more modern Orthodox. Although I agree to haredi mentality and ideology, I am not totally a part of society because I also wear pants and need a distance sometimes.

The woman's response was that I need another program and if not a new one, so I should try one were I had already been. She listed me a few and then we started the whole subject about the Baalei Teshuva movement. I asked her about Toldot Aharon accepting people from the outside as members. She wasn't too excited and said that those BTs always need some special help. They don't grow up religious but not only that, as they also have no clue about the group's customs and all the little tiny details. "They need special schools or courses", she said.

She was obviously astonished when I told her that I think that a Jew should be born into a chassidic group. Newcomers can claim whatever they like but they will never be the same as someone original. A group member whose parents, grandparents, and so on have already been part of the group. There is a big difference.
It took her by surprise because after what I had told her about a more modern Orthodoxy to hear a view she totally agreed upon. The Toldot Aharon are not too excited about accepting people from the outside and she listed me the same reasons, as a Boyaner Chassid once told me. People who would like to join mostly come with the wrong expectations and many times, one of the two parts is disappointed. Either the people or the group itself.

The next time I am going to Toldot Aharon, I will definitely keep up some further conversations.

Anyway, we ended up at the Slonim but their Tish was over and, also the Slonim were just a men's club that night. Then we took Kretchnif into consideration but were too tired to walk much further. The weather was extremely warm and various people were running around and anxiously looking for Tishes.

The next day, on the way back to Rabbi Machlis, my friend and I were walking down Yechezkel Street in Ge'ulah. It was boiling hot and we tried to walk in the shade. Suddenly we saw a whole group of Chassidim coming up to us. A Rebbe in a brown coat and with white sox was walking in the middle and the Chassidim tried to be as close to him as possible. I made a joke and said to my friend that I need a computer now in order to look up who the Rebbe could be. I wasn't expecting to recognize him. The group walked up from the Sadigura Synagogue and when I took a close look, I recognized the Rebbe and the people around him. It was the Kretchifer Rebbe of Jerusalem accompanied by some of his Chassidim. He was teaching with his deep voice and we were just happy seeing him save and sound. About three or foru months ago, the Kretchnifer Rebbe had a car accident and suffered from a broken shoulder. This is why we didn't go to his Tish for such a long time because there was simply nothing going on. Now he is in good shape again and hopefully the Kretchnifers will do something for Sukkot.

Believe it or not, I was happy afterwards and felt a kind of uplifted by seeing the Rebbe so close. The only Rebbe I have ever seen almost beside me was the Rebbe of Nadvorna in Bnei Brak.

Urgent: Rabbi Wanted …

B"H

G – d ? Who is G – d ?

Okay, He does exist and rules the world. On the other hand, He is far away and this is very positive. He can remain far away because we on earth have other plans such as power, money and good reputations.

"G – d, if we need you we will let you know. But not now and in the meantime, don't bother us and see you later".


No, I am not talking about secular Jews having such an opinion about G – d. I am talking about Rabbis. Rabbis whose task it should be a religious one. Get Jews closer to Judaism, have a religious Torah life, inspire and give advice. Apparently a perfect rabbis' world and rabbis fulfilling their tasks are mostly an unrealistic dream or illusion.

Judaism teaches that with every new generation, we are loosing a little more wisdom and understanding. In Talmudic times we still had such great Rabbis as Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Gamliel or Rabbi Me'ir; later on we had the Rambam, the Ramban, Rabbeinu Gershom, the Spanish Kabbalists, the Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch all the way to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Not leaving out the chassidic masters as well as the Vilna Gaon.
But what is left today ?

Of course, today we also have some great Rabbis but let's admit: Nothing seems to be anymore as it used to be.

Today, many chassidic Rebbes only live off the reputation of their ancestors. They, themselves, are not such great Geonim and Talmidim Chachamim anymore. However, in our days, it seems to be enough that someone is the son or grandson of a Zaddik or simply born into a famous rabbinic family. But this is not my subject today and I am going to write about this issue a little later.

Not only the chassidic world is facing some problems; no, particularly the litvishe world and its rabbis. The Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Moshe Feinstein died a long time ago and many times we wish that they should come back and lead us because, at many places, there is only one thing counting in the Israeli litvishe world, and that is called politics.

Rabbi Eliyashiv, the great spiritual leader of the Israeli Litvak movement is the best example. It was him supporting Rabbi Jonah Metzger when the new Chief Rabbi was about to be elected. Hardly anyone else considered Metzger as a suitable candidate, as he is anything but a specialist in Halacha. It is known that he doesn’t know too much about Judaism. At least not as much as a rabbi should. Metzger is a very ordinary person with ordinary skills. The only thing he apparently knows very well is flattering around celebrities and thus, getting appointed into high positions. Rabbi Eliyashiv didn't care so much about this fact but enjoyed his power over the future Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi.

Metzger's predecessor Rabbi Israel Lau wasn't too much different from him. Several times, Lau was accused of taking bribery and sexually molesting other women. But concerning Lau, his supporters and he himself always like to stress that he is a Holocaust survivor rescued by his older brother from the Buchenwald concentration camp. Nevertheless, Lau is no halachic Gaon but he is politically correct and has connections. Not too much to G – d but to Israeli politicians.

Last Fridays' edition of the Israeli daily MAARIV published a long article about the present Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Jonah Metzger. Already in the past, many women complained about him as he tried to sexually abuse them. Not only women but also young boys. Leading Sephardi rabbis tried to interfere and never planned to agree appointing Metzger as Chief Rabbi of Israel. In the end, even Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef agreed because he didn't want to cause a dispute with Rabbi Eliyashiv.

But what about us, the "ordinary" Jews ? Is there a rabbi we can trust and who is independent ? Who only depends on Torah and G – d and doesn't only have his power and policies in mind ?

Chassidic rabbis don't recognize the Israeli Chief Rabbis (Ashkenazi and Sephardi) as such. Every chassidic group has its own Rebbe and internal rules and neither Metzger nor Amar are qualified for giving advice to Chassidim. And by the way, the chief rabbis' positions are more political than religious anyway. However, since the times of Rabbi Shlomo Goren and Rabbi Avraham Shapira, only rabbis without much Torah knowledge were appointed.

Where are all the great Rabbis today ?
It seems that we really have to look for them with binoculars, as they have become so rare. Which Rabbi can we trust and who doesn't only think about himself ? Sometimes you think that you found the perfect trustworthy rabbi and later on you find out that he is just a crook as many others. The famous crook – example for Germany is the "Landesrabbiner" from Stuttgart Netanel Wurmser.

But who cares ? Are we surprised ?
No, as already the Vilna Goan stated that in the times before Meshiach, the majority of the rabbis will be corrupt (Erev Rav). Unfortunately, we have to wait for Meshiach in order to get some better rabbis.

Despite all the negative aspects, there are actually very good rabbis. No matter if national religious, litvish or chassidic. Not to forget mentioning the rabbis of the Edah HaCharedit who sometimes seem to be a little extreme but halachically right.

A chassidic rabbi I personally respect (although I have never spoken to him) is the Dushinsky Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Zvi Dushinsky.