Tiberias' unromatic side

B"H

The small town of Tiberias located in the Lower Galilee and right at the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is one of the four holy cities in Israel. The other three are Hebron, Jerusalem and Zfat (Safed). 

Tiberias mainly lives from tourism and the majority of inhabitants consists of Moroccan Jews who came here in the 1950ies. The town is secular but more and more Haredim keep on moving up north due to lower rents. Chassidut Karlin - Stolin has been building up its own community. Furthermore, the bought the building where Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk used to live after moving to Tiberias. There are plenty of famous graves such as the one of the Rambam, the Ramchal, Rabbi Akivah, the grave of Rachel (Rabbi Akivah's wife which is supposed to be a fake). Rabbi Me'ir Ba'al HaNess is buried in Tiberias as well as further famous Zaddikim. 

Today Tiberias is a rather poor town. Not much to do and the job situation is pretty bad. Many people are on the dole and some neighbourhoods are populated by poor Russian immigrants. 

Here are a few pictures of the non - romantic side of Tiberias:

Going from street to street in Tiberias demands you to be sportive. The lowest part is the Kinneret but then you need to climb up the hill which isn't easy in the tropical summer heat.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

I may be wrong but, as far as I know, there only exists a small English - speaking community in Tiberias. If you are from places like New York, LA, Miami, Melbourne, Jo - burg, Toronto, London or Paris, and you are considering making Aliyah up north, please take into consideration that places like Tiberias, Afulah, Carmiel, Kiryat Shemonah or the Golan Heights demand fluent Hebrew. In some places up north (except for Zfat) you may be easily lost if you only speak English and no Hebrew. Furthermore, don't forget that shops close during the afternoon hours and that life is basically village - like.

Bar Mitzvah in Karlin - Stolin

B"H 

The Karlin - Stoliner Rebbe is going to celebrate his son's Bar Mitzvah at Jerusalem's Binyane'i HaUma this Monday night. 

Link:

Cake in Karlin - Stolin

Pictures from Bnei Brak

Enough with the haredi immodesty (regarding certain haredi women walking around dressed in a very modern sense).

Chabad in Rashi Street 

Kiryat Vishnitz

Karlin - Stolin

 Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Ka Echsof - Chassidut Karlin

B"H

A Pi'ut from Rebbe Aharon the Great, the founder of Chassidut Karlin.

Fire at Olamei Sadigura

B"H

Last Shabbat a fire broke out at the Olamei Sadigura in Shmuel HaNavi Street in Jerusalem. The fire also destroyed a nearby storage room with several hundreds of Mazzot Shemurot belonging to Chassidut Karlin - Stolin. 

Burnt Mazzot

All photos HERE !

Shabbat Shalom

B"H

Yesterday I did a huge exhausting trip:

I took the bus from Zfat (Safed) to Jerusalem which is about a 3.5 hours ride. After being in Jerusalem for a few hours in order to sort out some things, I took the bus back to the north. To Tiberias which is another 2.5 hours ride. I finally arrived at 10.30pm and just dropped into my bed. Today I took some time to relax and didn't even go up to Zfat (a one hour bus ride) where I was invited for Shabbat. 

Instead I am going to relax this Shabbat. Go to a Synagogue and I don't even care whether it is Sephardi or Ashkenazi. I would love to go to the Beit Midrash of Karlin - Stolin (the house of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk) but I have to find out if they have any Ezrat Nashim (women's side) there. The Kaliver Rebbe Menachem Mendel Taub has a whole center in Tiberias and guess who is also coming soon: The Toldot Aharon bought a property in order to build their own neighbourhood. I have heard the same about the TA and Zfat which is not surprising because Jerusalem as well as Beit Shemesh are getting far too expensive to live. The north is still affordable and this is why even the Haredim are moving up north. 

The former house of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk in Tiberias. Today it belongs to Chassidut Karlin - Stolin. 

Photo: Miriam Woelke

The weather is still hot and the forecasts tell us that we won't have a rainy winter this year. A catastrophe, as we urgently need rain in Israel. 

Nevertheless, Shabbat Shalom - Gut Schabbes to all of you ! 

Karlin - Stolin in Tiberias

Karlin - Stoliner Chassidim on their way to their Beit Midrash which is the former house of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, 1730 - 1788.

The Stoliner have bought the house.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

The old Jewish Yishuv in Tiberias

B"H

The Sephardi Synagogue Center "Etz Chaim" at the promenade in Tiberias. Rabbi Chaim Abulafia came from Turkey and in 1740, he restored the Jewish community of Tiberias.



See below - 

Next to the "Etz Chaim Synagogue":

The house of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, 1730 - 1788.

Now part of the "Karlin - Stolin" Synagogue.





Photos: Miriam Woelke

Tragedy in Karlin - Stolin

B"H

Yesterday's train accident is the big topic in Israel's media. Seven people died when the driver of a minibus didn't pay attention and his bus got hit by a train.

The Bernstein family. Only the Chatan survived.

The family lived in Beitar Illit.

Photo: Kikar.Net

So, how was your Shavuot ?

B"H

I had a wonderful lazy relaxed Shavuot ! 

A Shearim reader from New Jersey and I went to the Karlin - Stolin Synagogue in Mea Shearim. Shavuot seems to be one of the few occasions when the Karliner Rebbe comes over to his Jerusalem Beit Midrash from his residence in Givat Ze'ev (outside Jerusalem).

On Erev Shavuot, most Karliner Chassidim were to be found outside the Synagogue. Already standing on the metal benches and awaiting the Rebbe. Even some women were standing at the Ezrat Nashim (women's side) which is very unusual when you look at Erev Shabbat. Hardy any women show up on Friday nights for Kabbalat Shabbat. However, for holidays (Chagim) they do.

First I placed myself inside the Synagogue, the Karliner Rebbe walked from the Aron HaKodesh (Torah Shrine) towards the exit (metal benches outside) and all Chassidim sitting inside the Synagogue stood up. Then the Maariv (evening service) began.

As usual, prayers were shouted out loud and whoever is not used to the wild Karliner prayer may be in a state of shock. The Chazan screams out the first words / first sentence of a prayer and the rest is being shouted out loud by all the other Chassidim. A kind of a mess but very emotional.

After the service, the New Jersey guy and were invited to the house of a Karliner Chassid and his family. The food being served was the best Shavuot food I have ever eaten ! At least ten dishes were served: Pancakes, red pepper stuffed with rice, salmon, salads, lasagne, potatoe slices with something dairy on them. Later on onion soup and white / brown chocolate cake.

Our plan was going back to the Tish of the Karliner Rebbe at about 11pm. However, we decided to go to other places in Mea Shearim first but, in the end, missed all Tishes. Obviously they had started much earlier than we thought. We even missed the Karliner Tish.

Nevertheless, it was nice walking through Mea Shearim and seeing hundreds of Chassidim walking with their books under their arms into different Batei Midrash (study places) where they were doing their "Tikkun Leil Shavuot - Soul rectification on Shavuot by Torah study). 

After this kind of adventurous walk and all the food, I made my way into bed.

Purim 5770 in Mea Shearim

B"H

My Purim was great although I am not the total Purim type. Not getting drunk or too excited.

It was pouring in Jerusalem yesterday and me going to a Synagogue in Mea Shearim in order to hear the Megillah (Book of Esther) went down the drain. I was in the Nachlaot neighbourhood and needed something nearby in order not to drown completely. Eventually I ended up at the Carlebach Synagogue "Kol Rina" which is located in a bomb shelter in the middle of Nachlaot. 

I am anything but Carlebach, the hippie crowd there is definitely not for me but the Megillah reading was the best I have ever heard. The Baal Koreh imitated the voices of Achashverosh and Mordechai. To Esther, Vashti and Seresh, he gave a women's voice. Someone had told me outside "Kol Rina" that we would hear a special Megillah reading and this came true.

On today's "Shushan Purim" in Jerusalem I went to Rabbi Mordechai Machlis for the "Se'udah (Purim)". Although crowded and a kind of crazy, I enjoyed it very much. Especially seeing old friends I hadn't seen for a while. One of them was even celebrating his 65th birthday. The Rabbi was very excited and, in the end, we were sitting at his table and listened to the stories he told.

My final destination was Mea Shearim; not to far away from the Machlis place. The Purim Shushan evening in Mea Shearim is a big event for anyone in the neighbourhood and for visitors from the outside. It was packed but more with locals. My first stop were the "Toldot Aharon". There I was glad that I came alone because they had private guards at all entrances. 

The years before, anyone could enter their Synagogue on Shushan Purim but only members were allowed to get closer to the Mechitzah and actually watch. I am talking about the "Ezrat Nashim - women's side". This time, private guards obviously had the duty to let in members only. The guards, however, were not always on duty and many people slipped through. Some American girls were in front of me and we got stopped by a guard. Finally I got through after having a longer discussion with the guard. Nevertheless, I only stayed for a couple of minutes, as it was too packed.

When I arrived I just saw the incident when a drunk Toldot Aharon Chassid tried to climb up onto the Rebbe's table but he got caught; and he wouldn't have made it anyway because he was too drunk. Otherwise the atmosphere was great. Loud music and dance. The women were squeezing their noses onto the Mechitzah and watching the men.

My next stop were the "Slonim" right around the corner but they rather seemed like a men's club tonight. The "Toldot Avraham Yitzchak" further down were too packed and the "Neturei Karta" seemed abandoned and dead. I made my way to Karlin - Stolin but they were only supposed to start in another hour or so. Finally I ended up at Chassidut Kretchnif across Karlin. The Kretchnifer Rebbe (Jerusalem) had a bad traffic accident about a year and a half ago and is still suffering from an injury. I think he broke his shoulder.

The real Kretchnifer celebration was due to start at 9pm upstairs in their Synagogue but when I came, about 1,5 hour earlier, they had a huge celebration downstairs. The women had pushed the Mechitzah almost aside and thus, we had a great view into the rather small room where the Rebbe was dancing wildly. He was dancing and singing and couldn't stop. A few Chassidim were dancing on the table and the atmosphere was unbelievable. Most visitors concentrate on the Toldot Aharon or Karlin but who thinks about the smaller Chassidut Kretchnif ?

Here I wasn't checked by a guard but exchanged a few words with the Kretchnifer Rebbitzen who I know from the former visits. She invited me to the later celebration but I left earlier. Instead I asked her about the Tishes and she said that one never knows. Since her husband had this bad accident, he doesn't do Tishes every week anymore.

Kretchnif was just awesome and I really enjoyed myself for an hour. There weren't too many women and we had space to stand and watch the Rebbe. Chassidim and visitors were lining up in front of the Rebbe for blessings or requests. The Rebbe had a word for everyone and kept on dancing.

I didn't want to leave but I still wanted to see something more. So, I walked over to Karlin - Stolin where the Chassidim were celebrating outside in front of the Synagogue. I had just arrived and stood nearby the tent when a grey Chrysler stopped behind me and some other women. A few Chassidim jumped out and ran towards the tent. I recognized the Karliner Rebbe who was among those Chassidim. It looks like I had just arrived on time seeing the Karliner Rebbe from only two meters far away.

My last stop was the Synagogue right across Karlin: Chassidut Satmar. 

The Satmarer group of Rebbe Zalman Leib Teitelbaum.

After being with the Satmarer twice and seeing Rebbe Aharon (November 2008 in Bnei Brak), I finally managed the group of his brother Zalman Leib. Somehow in Satmar I always end up standing on a bench and also this time. It was packed butI have to say that the Satmarer had the best music of the evening. I think it was a real singer and not only a synthesizer. The Satmarer were the only ones offering drinks to the women. In Hebrew I was told to stand on one of the benches in order to see something. Downstairs the Chassidim were dancing. Jumping up and down around a longer Tish and one Chassid walked over the Tish and handed wine to everyone.

Not to the women.

I could have stayed another few hours but decided to leave and go to sleep. It was a great Purim with many joyful events. Leaving out the firecrackers which really went on everyone's nerves.

Correction: Karlin - Stolin Tish is taking place TODAY

B"H

I was wrong when I announced that the Karlin - Stolin Rebbe is giving his Tish this upcoming Thursday. A Karliner Chassid had told me that the Rebbe is giving his famous Chanukkah Tish on "Yom Chamishi - Thursday". This is what I heard but the Karliner had actually meant "Leil Chamishi (of Chanukkah).

Anyway, the Karliner Tish with the Rebbe is taking place tonight (Tuesday) at about 8pm !

During Chanukkah, most chassidic groups have their daily Chanukkah candle lighting with the Rebbe. So has Belz (every day at about 7.30 / 8.00pm).
There is no food or anything but "just" candle lighting and singing at the Belzer Beit Midrash in Kiryat Belz / Jerusalem.

I assume that all other Chassiduyot (Toldot Aharon, etc.) do the same.

Tish in Ruzhin - Boyan and Karlin - Stolin

B"H

Due to Rosh Chodesh Tevet next week, Chassidut Ruzhin - Boyan is having its Tish this Erev Shabbat. And as we all know, a holiday always means huge celebrations in chassidic groups: Due to Chanukkah, the Boyaner Rebbe is giving another Tish on the last Erev Shabbat of Chanukkah.

Mea Shearim will be full of celebrations over Chanukkah but do not forget that Karlin - Stolin is not having its Tish on the last day as usual, but on Thursday (during Chanukkah).

Wedding and Mourning in Karlin - Stolin

B"H

The Karlin - Stoliner Rebbe lost his mother and is now sitting Shiva. However, this upcoming Wednesday, his son is getting married and the Rebbe is due to attend the wedding celebrations.
He can do that based on a very rare Psak Halacha by the halachic expert Rabbi Moshe Feinstein z"l. However, the Rebbe cannot dance at the wedding but has to sit.

Rabbanit Feiga Shochet was nifter last Shabbat.


Details in Hebrew:

Haredim

Event in Karlin - Stolin

B"H


On Mozzaei Yom Kippur, about two hours after Yom Kippur was finished, Chassidut Karlin - Stolin (Mea Shearim / Jerusalem) celebrated. Their band played and almost all Chassidim were dancing. Also the Stoliner Rebbe was supposed to come from Givat Ze'ev (outside Jerusalem).


I went with a friend and what we found was a completely packed Ezrat Nashim (women's side) of mostly teenage girls. Finally we succeeded in taking a glimpse but the air was pretty bad and too many women were squeezing around. Nevertheless, the band was great.

Picture of the Day

A Karlin - Stoliner Chassid during a visit of the Karliner Chassidim at the Israeli settlement Emmanuel.

Shabbat Shalom

B"H

Shabbat HaGadol is coming up and I am just finished from all the Pessach cleaning. I don't even want to know how all the women from Chabad, Belz, Toldot Aharon, etc. feel, as they must be more finished than I am. The strict rules in Chabad and the Toldot Aharon are famous and I am glad not to be one of them.

Weather is warm but the rain is supposed to come back on Monday. It looks like the Pessach Seder on Wednesday will be cold and rainy. Let alone the upcoming "Birkat HaChama" ("Blessing of the Sun" every 28 years).

During Chol HaMoed Pessach (the intermediate days of Pessach), the Edah HaCharedit is having another demonstration about Jews selling Chametz on Pessach. Unfortunately, there will be lots of Chametz around; not the one sold by Arabs or Christians but Jews have discovered a new business: Providing many secular with Chametz pizza etc. Even in Jerusalem and not only in Tel Aviv.

Chassidut Karlin - Stolin is having a Tish during Chol HaMoed, as they celebrate the Yahrzeit of their founder Rabbe Aharon the Great. Every other group is having a Tish on the seventh day of Pessach, however, Karlin does not but only for the Yahrzeit. Otherwise the Karliner Rebbe will be staying at his home in Givat Ze'ev.

Shabbat Shalom - Gut Shabbes - to all of you !!!

Purim in Mea Shearim

View over Jerusalem from the roof of the Ruzhin - Boyan Synagogue

B"H

Whereas other places had already stopped celebrating Purim, Jerusalem is adding a second day called "Shushan Purim". Usually Mea Shearim has huge celebrations including chassidic Tishes with all the Rebbes. All places are open what many outsiders don't know. And my friend and I were lucky, as not too many Israeli tourists ran to the Tishes as on Sukkot. The streets were not divided and everyone was able to manage; men and women.

The Tishes started at sunset and our first stop were the Toldot Aharon where it was packed as usual. However, we were able to climb up one of the metal benches and get a glimpse at Rebbe David Kahn and his Chassidim. Usually the Rebbe is very serious and organized but last Shushan Purim was the first time I saw him looking a little different. His Peyes (side curls) were almost upside down and he looked as if he hadn't slept the whole night.

We already wanted to leave as a younger Toldot Aharon woman came up to me and said that she had noticed me many times at the Tishes. According to her words, she noticed everything going on and I told her that she can ask whatever she wants. No, she didn't want to ask anything but kept on saying that obviously I am curious about the group. In a positive way.
As she used the expression "curious" over and over, I told her that I am also writing on the Internet about chassidic groups. Who my readers would be, she asked.
Haredim, secular, Gentiles, whatever, I responded.
This was the end of our conversation and she just left.
The situation was just strange to me because when you come up to someone you ask questions but my friend claimed that we don't really fit into any category. We regularly come to the Tishes but are neither seminary girls nor anything haredi or whatever. Actually we don't belong to any group and don't intend to join one of them.

Whoever has an idea why the woman came up to ask is welcomed to write a comment !

Anyway, our next stop were the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak not too far away. The other Kahn brother, Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov, still looked pretty quiet and ate. His choir / band was a slightly out of tune but maybe it got better later on.


The Toldot Avraham Yitzchak







Next stop: The Neturei Karta.
The Neturei Karta has a beautiful Synagogue but there wasn't a real Purim celebration. Instead a few drunk guys were running up and down on a table.

The Neturei Karta Synagogue in Mea Shearim





Next stop: The Mishkenot HaRoim
The best band; swinging and really loud but full of joy.
Rebbe Chaim Rabinovitch was sitting in the middle and people could come up and talk to him.

The Mishkenot HaRoim with Rebbe Chaim Rabinovitch









Next stop: Stropkov
All women there were glued onto the Mechitzah (separation between men and women), and there was no way of pushing ourselves through. So we left and went to the Shomrei Emunim.
The Shomrei Emuni had a pleasant surprise, as they had set up a bigger screen on the Ezrat Nashim. Thus, the women were able to watch the Rebbe and his Chassidim closely. The screen was a great idea !

Next stop: Karlin - Stolin
A less pleasant surprise did we experience at Karlin - Stolin, as they had covered the tent where the Chassidim were celebrating outside with curtains. In order to see something, we and some other women went down and stood next to the tent. After a while a Chassid and a Karliner woman came up to us and told us to stand further away.
Further away behind the curtain.

Karlin - Stolin


We left, as we are not "behind a curtain fans" and went to Kretchnif. The Kretchnifer Synagogue was almost empty but we saw the Rebbe dancing which was very nice to see. I love to see him dancing, as he has a very special way of doing so.

Our last stop was Ruzhin - Boyan, and they were the best that night. Hundreds of Chassidim and women upstairs were there and as a special surprise they had a few Chassidim standing on the huge table in the middle, right in front of the Boyaner Rebbe. The Chassidim held up a Chuppah and it looked like a wedding celebration. I asked one of the Boyaner women what was going on and she told me that every time they are thinking about different ways of entertainment.
The dancing, the Rebbe, the Chuppah ceremony, everything was very nice to see and when we left, I was finished and could hardly move my legs anymore.


Modesty sign in the Mea Shearim Market. Customers should only enter the store when they wear modest clothes !
_______________________

The pictures were all taken by my friend !

"Different Ways" - Children of famous Chassidim abandoning Religion

B"H

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch once wrote a commentary of why Esav and Yaakov turned out in such different ways. As we all know, Esav was a Rasha (evil person) and Yaakov was a Zaddik (righteous). Here, Rabbi Hirsch makes an extremely courageous and unique statement:
If Yitzchak and Rivka (Rebecca) had, at an early stage, realized that each child needs special attention, education and upbringing, then maybe they would have raised Esav in a different way. Whereas Yaakov was the study type, Esav loved to run around in the fields; a rather wild character. And according to Rabbi Hirsch, Esav should have not been forced into the study hall but should have done something more practical instead in order to satisfy his needs. Physical work, sports, etc.
Without criticizing Yitzchak raising his sons, children turn to be out different and not always the same, and a parent should realize the weaknesses and strength of a child and react in a proper way.
The question is if a different education could have prevented Esav from turning out to become a Rasha ? An interesting question, however, although it is unlikely that we get the right answer.

In Jewish history, our forefathers, famous rabbis and sages always had children who didn't turn out too righteous. At least not as pious as their parents used to be. I found some interesting remarks in David Assaf's book "Ne'echaz Basbach" where he, among other topics, describes the crisis in Chassidut. Particularly concerning the sons of different famous chassidic Rabbis.

Chassidut has many positive and admirable sides but, unfortunately, not everything was so great and perfect as it may should have been. Right after the Baal Shem Tov passed away, the first fights among his followers came up and different conflicts started. And, as I already said, having a great famous Rabbis as a parent doesn't mean a guarantee for perfect children.

Already the founder of Chabad, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, 1745 - 1812, had problems with his youngest son Moshe who converted to Christianity.

The son of Israel of Ruzhin, 1797 - 1851, went astray as well. His son Dov Baer of Leove, 1817 - 1876, got already married at the age of 14. His wife was Sheindel, the daughter of Rabbi Mordechai Twersky of Chernobyl, but it was not a happy marriage. After moving to different places and the death of his father, he was taken to Sadigura and some people spread the rumor that he was held as a prisoner by his brother. After Dov Baer came to live in Czernowitz, he declared in 1869, that he "wished to eliminate the foolish customs that have no basis in Judaism and to remove the thorns from the vineyard of the House of Israel". He decided to join the Maskilim (Enlightenment). Until his death he lived in Sadigura, deserted by his wife and ignored by his brothers and his former students.

The next case is Yechezkel, the son Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Kozmir. Also Yechezkel left religion and even changed his name into "Stanilaus Hoga".

The brother - in - law of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Apta, and son of Rabbi Chaim Tirer of Czernowitz, Kalman Kalonymus, became an apikoret (heretic). He started playing cards, ate treife (non - kosher) food, and was eventually forced to divorce his wife Yocheved, the sister of the Apta (Opatov) Rebbe.

Me'ir, the son of the Hungarian Zaddik, Rabbi Yitzchak Eisik of Kalov, seemingly started to become secular after the death of his father.

There are many more other examples and we see that no family in this world is perfect. It may not always be the right / wrong way of upbringing and education; many Jews are looking for something more open - minded and simply have enough of their strict upbringing and all the rules. I am sure that there are different reasons and it is important for us to realize that not everyone is walking into ONE direction or is expressing oneselve in only ONE way. Not every human is the same and it is wrong putting or forcing people into certain societies or positions where they don't belong.

A few months ago, an elderly lady from Karlin - Stolin told me that in Stolin they try to raise the children according to their needs and various characters. However, to strengthen the ways and in order not to let young Chassidim go astray, the families marry them off at the young age of 18. "Then they have a family and don't think about running away anymore", so the woman said.
For some people this may turn out right but for others it might end as a disaster.

Chanukkah in Karlin - Stolin und Toldot Avraham Yitzchak

B"H

There is a certain custom in many chassidic groups, celebrating the eighth and last day of Chanukkah in a special way. The last day of this years' Chanukkah was Monday and it was Monday night when I visited two of such events. During the previous days of Chanukkah, many Chassidim also eat a special meal after lighting the Chanukkiah (Chanukkah Menorah).

A special celebration on the eighth day usual means a Tish with the Rebbe and a band plays chassidic niggunim (melodies). Three days ago, I was at Zion Square, downtown Jerusalem, when Chabad lit the seventh candle. Guest of honour was the newly elected mayor Nir Barkat who used the opportunity for a brief political speech. Politicians just cannot without putting in some politics.

In all the years before, I enjoyed the Chabad candle lighting but this year however, it wasn't spiritual at all and just a short cold event. Guest of honour lights candles and then go home everybody. For this reason, I was glad to go to Mea Shearim on the next day and see something real chassidic. "Real" in this case means a Chassidut with a Rebbe, as I personally prefer this. A Chassidut without a Rebbe such as Breslov and Chabad wouldn't be for me.

I heard that a great Tish was going to take place in Karlin – Stolin on Monday night. Chassidut Karlin was originally founded by Rebbe Aharon the Great, (1736 – 1772), who used to be a follower of the Maggid of Mezritch (Rabbi Dov Baer Friedman). The Maggid was the successor of the Baal Shem Tov and Chassidut is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) Lithuanian chassidic group. Karlin used to be a suburb of the Lithuanian town of Pinsk but soon Chassidut Karlin also spread until Vilna and this caused further tensions with the famous Gaon of Vilna and his followers.

Due to a dispute about the Rebbe, the Karliner today are divided into two groups. The larger part of the group remained "Karlin – Stolin" and a smaller part of the group split away, as they didn't want the Rebbe. First, the "rebels" intended to join Chassidut Lelov but Lelov didn't want to get involved and refused to accept them. As a result, those Chassidim leaving the Stolin group founded their own movement called "Karlin – Pinsk". Both groups have their Synagogues in Jerusalem and furthermore, Karlin – Stolin is quite big in New York. The Stoliner Rebbe Baruch Yaakov Me'ir Shochet lives in the Jerusalem suburb of Givat Ze'ev where he moved his main center. Unfortunately, he doesn't come to Jerusalem too many times. Means his Tishes mostly take place in Givat Ze'ev. On Monday night, however, his Tish took place in Jerusalem and it was the second time I ever saw him after all those months of going to the Stoliner Synagogue in Mea Shearim.



The present Karlin - Stoliner Rebbe Baruch Yaakov Me'ir Shochet.


I arrived at about 8.30pm and already thought that I would be too early but as soon as I enterd the Synagogue, it was obvious that I was wrong. Hundreds of Chassidim were standing on the metal benches downstairs and at least one hundred women and girls climbed up onto the Mechitzah (separation between men and women). The Karlin – Stoliner Mechitzah in Mea Shearim consist of huge glass windows.
The weather outside was cold and rainy but inside the Synagogue it was boiling hot; especially the great atmosphere. A band stood on a stage hanging down from a wall and most of the Chassidim were dancing. Well, due to the lack of space rather swinging. At first, it took me a little by surprise how many Karlin – Stoliner Chassidim there actually are, as I had expected the group to be much smaller.


Karlin – Stolin in Jerusalem during the last Sukkot




Finally I found a good spot to stand on and the woman with her four teenage girls invited me to come closer to the Mechitzah. Then I had a great view over half of the Synagogue. The Rebbe was sitting in the middle at the table and all his Chassidim surrounded him. The band was playing and never before, I had seen even older Chassidim dancing so wildly. Many Chassidim jumped up and down on the metal benches or were clapping into their hands. I saw one father holding the hands of his handicapped son and together, they were jumping up and down. It seemed that both of them weren't really in this world anymore but somewhere in higher spheres. When the loudspeakers broke down for a few minutes, the Chassidim just kept on singing out loud. Nothing could bother them and they all appeared to form a complete unity.

The atmosphere was unbelievable and I have hardly ever faced anything like this before. Sometimes you participate in a Tish and think that this is it. That there wouldn't be any more spirituality than this and later on it turns out that you were wrong. The only thing really bothering was the heat and that no window was open. I urgently needed some fresh air and decided to leave and look for some other chassidic groups.

I walked through the Mea Shearim market but everything was quiet. When there seems to be nothing, there is always one group where something is going on, and most of the time these are the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak. Their Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn knows how to celebrate and from far away, I already heard the loud music causing the "Mosdot Toldot Avraham Yitzchak" to "shake". The Avraham Yitzchak are my most favourite Tish and I just love their Rebbe.

Inside the Synagogue, the Ezrat Nashim was even more packed than the one at Karlin – Stolin and it was very hard to find a place behind the Mechitzah where I could have a look downstairs into the men's section. I finally found a spot and had a short look at the Chassidim downstairs who were wildy dancing and running around in a circle. They were completely filled with joy and even danicing around with Torah scrolls. One day later, a member told me that the group also celebrated a "Hachnasat Sefer Torah – Receiving a new Torah scroll for their Synagogue). It was an incredible atmosphere and I was glad that I had made my way to Mea Shearim.