Don't forget to change your clock !

B”H

It doesn't concern the Edah and its members but it is still important to know:

Daylight saving in Israel is going to end tomorrow night (Mozzaei Shabbat). In the night from Mozzaei Shabbat to Sunday, the clocks are being turned back one hour (from 2am back to 1am). 

The time is going back to normal but the hot weather is staying with us for the time being. At the moment it looks as if we are going to have a hot Yom Kippur (about 27 - 30 degrees Celsius).

Cleaning

B"H

I am busy cleaning. Books, dishes, window, furniture. There is no description for me hating Pessach cleaning.:-)

Technical Announcment

B"H

Don't forget to change the clock tonight. One hour ahead, as daylight saving begins !!!

Daylight Saving 2012 in Israel

B”H 

This week, the annual daylight saving is going to start. Time will be changed (one hour ahead) during the night from Thursday to Friday !

Nevertheless, not everyone is participating in the state - organized daylight saving. The Neturei Karta, Toldot Aharon or the Toldot Aharon Yitzchak don't change their clocks one hour ahead. Take this into consideration when you go to their Shabbat Tishes.:-)

Evening atmosphere in Tel Aviv

B"H

The sun going down in Tel Aviv

The sun is back after all a couple of rainy and freezing days. The birds are singing outside and the entire atmosphere is screaming: "Spring is ahead !" Despite the warm temperatures, people in Tel Aviv are coughing and sneezing. So am I. 

There have been quite a few news and I am going to write about a few topics towards this evening. Just to give you a brief idea: 

• "Feldheim", the publishing Israeli branch is facing bancruptcy. 
• Israel's Supreme Court cancelled the "Tal Law - Chok Tal    AND
• Why Deborah Feldman won't have her fame in Israel.

But, first of all, something very positive: Enjoy yesterday's the sunset photos from Tel Aviv !

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Comments and e - mails

B"H

I am sorry for not yet having answered all e - mails and comments but I simply haven't found the time. However, I am not forgetting anyone and, in case I do, complain to me.:-)

MAX STOCK Jerusalem

B"H

One of my readers was googling "MAX STOCK Jerusalem". 

I know the store very well and it is located in Jaffa Road across Mercaz Clal. The store has anything. Dishes, kitsch, stationary, toys, detergents and some clothes. Jerusalem's Haredim love the huge cheap store and even the Toldot Aharon women enjoy their shopping. Especially now before Pessach, MAX STOCK has many offers and when you don't mind long line - ups in front of the tills, you should check it out.

Daylight Saving in Israel

B"H

Daylight saving in Israel is starting this Thursday night when we are putting our clocks one hour ahead. However, not everyone does, as chassidic anti - Zionist groups like the Toldot Aharon or Toldot Avraham Yitzchak do not change the clock. So, don't get mixed up when you go to their Tishes and look at their clocks on the wall. :-)

Website for Bnei Noach

B"H

Jews need to keep the Torah Mitzvot and Gentiles need to keep the "Seven Noachide Laws". A Chabadnik recommended the following website to those of you who may be interested in the Bnei Noach:

7for70.net

7 Mitzvot for the 70 nations !

In Brief

B"H

Before the sirene goes off for Yom Hashoah (Holocaust memorial Day) in another 45 minutes, here some brief information:

1. In one comment I was asked to write more on Alte Feiga Teitelbaum, as there is nothing on the Internet about her. Well, actually there is but I do write more on Satmar. Including of the content of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum's book "Vayoel Moshe". The only difficulty is, as usual, the time.:-)

2. A fact bothering me a lot:
I am giving out lots of information on this blog and the idea that people steal and use it for their own purposes makes me angry. In the end, they tell others that it is their information and don't refer to this blog. However, can I avoid theft ? Can any author avoid it ? As soon as one goes public, people are tempted to steal.

I decided to continue giving information but sometimes in a disguised way only readers with haredi background understand. Some piece of information is kept rather short and without any name of the source. This is the only thing I can do.

However, people from the outside haredi world should be ashamed of themselves trying to become a cashcow by stealing from others !

Comments

B"H

Last night, I have been flooded with comments from two people (?) and I have to say that half of those comments I did not let through.

First of all I don't see a direct connection between listing all the "sins" of Chabad Meshichistim and starting a comparison between Moshe Rabbeinu, Cohanim and the Yom Kippur prayer service.

Secondly, concerning the comments on Rabbi Mordechai Elon:
Not all Rabbis and Dayanim use the Torah for themselves and lie due to selfish purposes. One also has to differentiate between honest and great Rabbis and others who apparently chose the wrong profession.

I will not publish any comment stating that all Rabbis are fakes and just lie !

Daylight Saving in Israel

Daylight saving in Israel is starting this upcoming Friday. Clocks will be put one hour ahead from Thursday to Friday night !

Internet Problems

B"H

Those of you having trouble opening this or other Internet sites properly should check their Internet Explorer. I heard that Explorer contains many bugs at the moment and therefore you should rather use MOZILLA FIREFOX !!!

Cleaning Up

B"H

Lately, some people keep on telling me that all the information about chassidic groups are sometimes hard to find or access. Although I labeled most of the articles, the flow of information is, in some cases, far too much.

I have been aware of the problem for quite a while and thus, have been trying to think of a solution.
For people only interested in plain details about chassidic groups, I am planning a separate blog only with such information. A blog only listing the basic information about the groups.

I hope that this way it will be a little easier.
In case you have any better ideas, please let me know !

The Rude Christian Missionaries

B"H

Every time you come for a Shabbat meal at Rabbi Mordechai Machlise's house in the Ma'alot Dafna neighbourhood in Jerusalem, the participants are given the opportunity to make a speech. First, the Rabbi is teaching and then every participant can say whatever he wants. Not really "whatever he wants", as Rabbi Machlis gives three restrictions beforehand:

1. The teaching shouldn't be longer than three minutes !"
2. No politics on Shabbat !"
3. Not offending anyone and not quoting sources from foreign ideologies such as Christianity. Or in other words, NO MISSIONIZING !"

Last Friday night, a Christian woman from the States, calling herself "Israel" sat down at one of the Machlis tables. Everyone knew that she is Christian because she very much looked like it. Moreover, she put the New Testament right next to her plate and honestly, I just knew that she is up to something.
However, she was very quiet and waited until Rabbi Machlis called up people for the teachings. As far as I remember, she was the second person getting up, and then started quoting two sentences; one from the Torah and one from Isiah (Yeshayahu). She obviously thought that by quoting a sentence (taken completely out of context), she can awake the Jews and convince them that the context would fit into the Christian Meshiach ideology. However, Rabbi Machlis explained her the real meaning of the concepts mentioned in the Tanach.

My complaint is that Christian missionaries are walking around in Jerusalem, are not ashamed of stuffing themselves with Jewish food and then later get up in order to make an anti - Jewish speech. The missionaries think that only they know the truth and that the Jews are stupid and just don't get it that "Mr. J. is the Meshiach".
Who do those people think they are ?
There are many Jews who have studied the Torah and further writings very intense; from the day they were born, they learned Jewish law and anything you can imagine. And then a Christian missionary is coming to a Rabbi's house and thinks that he can convince Jews with his stupid remarks and confused concepts.

Is there any human logic behind it ? And are the missionaries not ashamed of themselves ? I would never get the idea of going into a church, stuffing myself with Christian food and then talking about Judaism. Going to churches, priests, etc. would never even occur to me !

A Little Break

B"H

Sorry, but I am taking a little break at the moment.

After Sukkot is over, I am giving a fully report about my visits at different chassidic Tishes and groups (among others, the Toldot Aharon, Mishkenot HaRoim, Karlin - Stolin, etc.). Furthermore, an updated Christian missionary report from "Yad Le'Achim", as well as a report about a tour through the Arab Quarter.

Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom !!!

New Celebrations Ahead

B"H

Yom Kippur is over and now we are already looking forward to the next holiday. All in all, the holidays are sometimes too much. Especially the food and those millions of calories.

However, Shabbat is starting in a few hours and I haven't decided what I am going to do. Going to a chassidic Tish or not ?
As it looks, I will spend the entire Sukkot holiday in Bnei Brak which seems to be very positive for two reasons:
First of all, I am finally able to visit groups such as Lelov, Bohush, Vishnitz, Sadigura, Biala, Nadvorna, and many others. Secondly, it is high time for me taking a break from Jerusalem and all those frum girls I have been hanging around with lately.
I cannot hear the name "Neve Yerushalaim" or anything else anymore. Although I enjoy the frum company very much, after a while especially those girls start going on my nerves. I am more of a creative person and I need to think. When I speak to those girls I feel how limited sometimes our conversations are. It's all about Neve and what the rabbis teach them. Don't even mention the word "TV". "Chas veShalom !"

This is why I never fit into a program and do, more or less, my own thing. Just as every ordinary Jew does.

Well, maybe I shouldn't have said all this right after Yom Kippur ...

Do my remarks fall under the category "Lashon HaRah - idle gossip" ?
I am a little confused now and because I am confused, I need to go away and take some time to think. Bnei Brak might be not the right place but don't forget - Tel Aviv has a beach !

Shabbat Shalom to all of you and enjoy your Shabbat as much as you can. And don't get yourself confused.:-)

A little Break

B"H

I am taking a little time off from Blog life in order to travel. One of my destinations will be the kabbalistic town of Safed but also the Meshichistim congress in Bat Yam on Sunday.

The greatest thing of all is that last night, I was able to get hold of the phone number of the Toldot Aharon Rebbitzen. I got some advice from someone and I am very grateful for that.

The Toldot Aharon Rebbe and his wife are probably traveling in order to raise funds but when the Rebbitzen is available, I will definitely go to one of her Shabbat meals. Well, if I pass the test because you have to get accepted first. Hopefully I do, as I will be staying with a friend in Mea Shearim.

My next articles will be about active haredi life, as I am going to talk to many people. I am going to put everything into the Blog on Monday or Tuesday.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov !!!!
גוט שבס - שבת שלום וחודש טוב

What's up with Gur ?

B"H

Again, Erev Shabbat is approaching and actually we were planning to join the Maariv - prayer at the great synagogue of Chassidut Gur (Yiddish: Ger). However, I just spoke to a few Gerer Chassidim and was told that their Rebbe is not coming to Jerusalem tonight. Instead, he is staying at home in Bnei Brak.

The Rebbe might be coming to Jerusalem in about two weeks or more. If anyone is interested in going to Gur:

1. There will not be a Tish in Jerusalem for the coming two weeks.

2. The Shabbat prayer does not take place in their great synagogue but in the Gerer Beit Midrash in Ge'ulah.

The present Rebbe of Chassidut Gur: Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter



As I am female, I am not allowed to go to the Gerer Rebbe's Tish but I was told (by men) that the Tish is only for 1,5 hours. The Rebbe quickly eats and finishes his Tish rather early, as he very much emphasizes Gemara - studies. And this is what they do right after the Tish: studying Gemara.

Nevertheless, we will see which Tishes are on tonight and I will let you know on Sunday.

Have a great Shabbat - Shabbat Shalom - Gid Shabbes from Jerusalem.

Shabbes, Shabbes

B"H

Last Shabbat I was a little unable to participate in any chassidic Tish. I was suffering from a bad cold and didn't feel like anything but going to bed. I did go for a Shabbat dinner but left early; right after the chicken soup.

On my way home I passed Mea Shearim where a car was driving around in the streets. Of course, the Chassidim started shouting "Shabbes, Shabbes", and the car disappeared quickly. Thus, at least, I got to see some action.

This coming Shabbat however, I am planning to do a lot. Especially by going to a synagogue of a very unknown group.

Shavua Tov – Have a great week !!!!