Chassidic Tu be'Shevat Photos

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Tu be'Shevat in Nadvorna, Permishlan, Kretchnif - Jerusalem, Lelov - USA, Machnovke and Shomrei Emunim:

Chassidut Nadvorna / Bnei Brak

Chassidut Kretchnif in Jerusalem

See all photos HERE !

LIPA SCHMELTZER sings at a Permishlan - Lelov Chaseneh

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The American chassidic singer LIPA SCHMELTZER sings at a Permishlan - Lelov Chaseneh.

Shabbat Shalom

Synagogue and Beit Midrash of the chassidic group LELOV in Zfat. 

Photo: Miriam Woelke

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Another Shabbat in Tiberias. Sunny and warm and I will try to go out and see some nature. No like a Breslover but I have to admit that I am planning to use the time for some thinking. In particular, about my problem making a decision whether I should stay in Tiberias, move to Zfat or maybe somewhere else.

"Shabbat Shalom - Gut Schabbes" ! 

Shabbat Teachings from Tzfat (Safed)

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Community life, this is what many inhabitants of Zfat's old City emphasize. In fact, most American new immigrants who have moved to Zfat have chosen to live in the old City. Rent is a little higher than in the new city surrounding the old prestigious Kabbalah city but whoever is looking for a quiet life, Zfat should be the place for him.

Last Friday afternoon I arrived at the local Chabad hostel "Ascent" in the old city. Shops close early in Zfat. By two o'clock before Shabbat comes in at about 4.30pm, almost all shops are closed. Real village life compared to the busy Machane Yehudah Market in Jerusalem where, until half an hour before Shabbat comes in, the traders are still active.

We had a Kabbalat Shabbat service at the hostel and then received families where we ate the Shabbat meal. A miracle happened and it started to rain heavily in the early afternoon. A real miracle because there is hardly any rain that early in October.

As soon as the rain started, the electricity went off in many households of the old city. Another sign of the local "village - like life".

Me and some other people were put together in one group and we went to a really nice family inside the old city. The family lives right next to the Synagogue of Chassidut Lelov. I have to admit that I didn't even know that the Lelover are located in Zfat.

We were told that one of the two Lelover Rebbes from Bnei Brak spent this particular Shabbat here in Zfat and I already "smelled" a chassidic Tish coming up. I got excited because I have never really been to Lelov.

We ate our meal and then it started raining again. "Don't worry, said our host, in Zfat is usually rains heavily but never for too long. You will get back to "Ascent" dry." And so it was. Except for our feet because we stepped in countless puddles on the way back. The electricity had gone off again and the entire old city was completely dark. No street lights, no nothing and we were staggering around through the old cobblestone alleyways.

I had a look into the Lelov Synagogue but there was no Tish going on. It seemed as if everyone had just ran home due to the rain. Today the sun is back and it is getting warm

However, I learnt that today is the Yahrzeit of the old Ruzhin - Boyaner Rebbe Israel of Rizhin. The one who lived in a castle - like building and where people tell that the Rebbe wore golden shoes but without soles. This way, people got the impression that he was so terribly posh and wore golden clothes. However, underneath he was humbled and cut off the soles from his shoes. Nevertheless, there is a huge controversy about the Rizhiner Rebbe until today. Did he order the death of some youth or did he not ? I don't want to go into the whole case taking place in Ruzhin in the days of the Rebbe. However, the Rebbe got arrested and later escaped to a different country.

Last Shabbat was "Shabbat Noach" and we read the Parasha with the famous Flood and the Tower of Bavel. One of the Chabad Rabbis working at "Ascent" said that "ARK - TEVA" can also be interpreted as "WORD". When Noach said "Come into the Ark" it could also stand for "Come to the Word" - meaning come close to Torah where you are protected.

Eli Naiditch from "Ascent" had a very nice and helpful teaching regarding "making Aliyah to Israel". He quoted the Lubavitcher Rebbe who once said that a Jew making Aliyah to Israel should not only look at his material well - being. Making Aliyah doesn't only include material matters but also a spiritual preparation. We cannot just compare Israel to our former country and criticize. Instead we have to look at the spiritual sides as well and try to sum up all the positive aspects. Only then we will make it in Israel.

Yahrzeit of the LELOVER REBBE

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Exactly a year ago, the LELOVER REBBE (Bnei Brak) passed away. Here are some great photos from the Yahrzeit:

http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=19868&cat_id=2

Yahrzeit in LELOV

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Rebbe David Biederman's, (1746-1814), Yahrzeit in Lelov / Poland

This year, around 150 Chassidim arrived in Lelov to commemorate the Yahrzeit of Rebbe David who once was a disciple of the "Chozeh of Lublin". And - Lelov has a new Rebbe: Rabbi Aharon Biederman got officially appointed.

Further pictures from Lelov taken by the same person Lucja Morawska:

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2008/08/photos-from-lelov.html

Tombstone for the Lelover Rebbe

The grave of the Lelover Rebbe z"l (who passed away on Yom Kippur) received a tombstone.

All pictures may be viewed here:

http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=12726&cat_id=18

Mein Staetele Lelov

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Due to the Lelover Rebbe passing away last Yom Kippur, here a few great pictures from Lelov in Poland:

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2008/08/photos-from-lelov.html

How about several Rebbes ?

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After the Lelover Rebbe passed away on Yom Kippur, the group is considering to have three Admorim (Rebbes) taking over leadership. If this should really be the case, I regard the decision as very positive and other chassidic groups should take Lelov as an example. Instead of fighting after a chassidic Rebbe dies, the sons should find a solution everyone can live with. A common decision not destroying the group.

Unfortunately, a split has occured in many chassidic groups lately. Just mentioning Satmar, Toldot Aharon, Bobov or Vishnitz (Bnei Brak).

I once wrote about the argument that there actually is something positive in a group's split. This way members who wouldn't agree to the new Rebbe have the chance to follow the split - off. Lets look at the Toldot Aharon. When they split after Rebbe Avraham Yitzchak Kahn passed away 13 years ago, those Chassidim who wanted to be more "modern" joined the split - off Toldot Avraham Yitzchak under the leadership of Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn. Today, many conservative Chassidim such as the strict followers of the Chatam Sofer consider the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak as "having left the way". Meaning that the group became too modern. At least compared to the Toldot Aharon standards.

In Avraham Yitzchak, for instance, members are not forced signing the Takanot (internal laws). What I also noticed is that there are women who do not shave their hair entirely but keep it longer under the head cover. Furthermore, Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov met with the Belzer Chassid Israel Eichler some years ago. Satmar got very upset about the meeting and complained that "Reb Yankele has caused Satmar great pain".

Chassidut Belz left the "Edah HaCharedit" in the early 80ies and is considered as a traitor by many Edah groups. We also see this in the two different existing Hechsherim (kosher certificates). Belz does not eat anything with the Hechsher of the Edah HaCharedit and vice versa. Call it "political" or "revenge" but it does exist.

Every group member is still an individual and sometimes, although born into the group, does not always fit in. Thus a split is giving those members a new opportunity starting something new.

This would be the best argument in favour of splitting a chassidic group.

However, I still think that Lelov is a great example in showing that several chassidic leaders are able to work together and not only against each other.

The Lelover Rebbe (Bnei Brak) passed away on Yom Kippur

One of the last pictures: The Lelover Rebbe at the Tish before Yom Kippur started

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The Lelover Rebbe of Bnei Brak passed away on Yom Kippur. A great tragedy for the Lelover Chassidim and the Biderman family.

Details:

YESHIVA WORLD

Pictures:

http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=12516&cat_id=2

Simchat Beit HaShoeva in Lelov

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I am desperately looking for the Lelov address in Bnei Brak !

Can anyone help and let me know where they are located. So far, I just noticed their Beit Midrash in Rabbi Akiva Street.

Safed: Meeting between the Lelover, the Seret - Vishnitz and the Pinsker Rebbe

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It is still vacation time:

The Rebbe of Chassidut Karlin - Pinsk and the Lelover Rebbe went on a trip to Safed (northern Israel) and had a meeting:

The Karlin - Pinsk Rebbe to the left and the Rebbe of Seret - Vishnitz to the right !

All pictures can be viewed here:

http://www.haredim.co.il/ViewArticle.aspx?catid=5&itmID=2065

Chassidut Lelov in Meron

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I really love this picture. Unfortunately, I don't know much about Lelov but the picture is very inspiring.

Yahrzeit in Lelov

The grave of Rebbe David in Lelov

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Chassidut Lelov is marking the 195th Yahrzeit (7th Shevat) of its founder Rebbe David Biderman of Lelov. Tomorrow, Thursday, the present Lelover Rebbe is traveling together with 400 Chassidim to Lelov in Poland. There, a Tish will be held this Mozzaei Shabbat.

Rebbe David was a student of Rabbi Elimelech of Lejansk and of the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin., as well as a close friend of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Peshis'cha.

The trip is being financed by donations. The present Lelover Rebbe is leaving on a private plane tomorrow - together with a limited amount of Chassidim. All the other Chassidim are due to arrive for the Tish in Lelov on Mozzaei Shabbat. It is said that the Tish is going to last for 5 hours !


Link:

Photos from Lelov / Poland

Chadrei HaCharedim

Photos from Lelov

B"H


These pictures of Malchut Lelov were taken by Lucja Morawska who allowed me to publish them on my Internet sites. Lucja, I am very grateful for that.


If any of the readers knows more about Chassidut Lelov, please get in touch !!!




This picture was taken at the Lelov grave in Poland on April 1, 2008.




Lucja's further comment on the picture:
The grave yard doesn't exist any more and matzevot have been used by Nazis to pave the roads.The tomb itself has been located uncovered at the back of small hardware shop for at least 50 years.Inside there's no room for more than 5 people and you can imagine that while praying everyone would like to be as close as possible...this is what's left from the former glory of shtetl...



The grave of the great Rebbe David of Lelov



Today's town market in Lelov / Poland



Lelov / Poland




One of the last Shtetl gravestones in Lelov




External handwritten inscription, just by the entrance.




Modern pray books left behind by chassidim inside the Ohel.

The Power of Food

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Only one single statement enables us to realize that the first Rebbe and founder of Chassidut Lelov, Rebbe David Biderman of Lelov (1746 – 1814), was a follower of the Seer (Chozeh) of Lublin (Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, 1745 – 1815).
However, Reb David hadn't only studied under the Seer but also under Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk. And it was Rabbi Elimelech who improved and expanded the Baal Shem Tov's concept of the Zaddik (righteous person). In his book "Noam Elimelech", Rabbi Elimelech makes his new expanded Zaddik ideas very clear.

Also Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz used to be a student of Rabbi Elimelech of Lejansk and he, as well, added further importance to the Zaddik. Rabbi Horowitz stated that he and any other Zaddik live in two different worlds: our lower material world as well as in the upper spiritual worlds. Furthermore, the Zaddik has "Ruach HaKodesh – a certain ability of prophecy". For instance, the Seer used to decide many halachic matters according to his ability of prophecy. Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshis'cha (1767 – 1827), on the other hand, questioned the Seer's ability and founded his own movement called Peshis'cha (Przysucha).

Chassidut Lelov is based on the basic principles of the Rabbi Horowitz of Lublin who praised the Zaddik concept although, according to the opinion of others, totally exaggerated. In his book "Migdal David", Reb David of Lelov made the statement that the food of a Zaddik has the same meaning as the sacrifices in the two Jerusalem Temples.

Personally, I am not in favour of such exaggerated concepts, as I have metioned many times before. Who or what exactly is a Zaddik ? Am I allowed to call myself a Zaddik ? Or do others give me the title and if so, on what criteria is this based ?

I completely agree with Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshis'cha as well as with his former student, the Kotzker Rebbe Menachem Mendel Morgenstern (1787 – 1859). Those two Rabbis emphasized private individual connections to G – d. It cannot be that an ordinary Chassid only relies on his Rebbe taking any G – dly matters in his own hands. But to get back to Rebbe David Biderman's statement that when a Zaddik eats, it is the same as if the Cohanim sacrifice the animals in the Temple: In my opinion, this is just too far off. If G – d would really appreciate the Zaddik's food so much then why didn't He create only Zaddikim in the first place ? Why then did G – d create ordinary Jews not being on such a high level ? The answer to me seems a statement from the Maharal of Prague who wrote in his commentary on the "Pirkei Avot – Sayings of the Fathers" that none of us is alone on this world. All of us are here in order to communicate with other people. If we like it or not.

G – d created this world in order that we Jews are able to do Torah Mitzwot. Thus, we create a Tikun (soul rectification) and pave the way for the coming of Meshiach. The principle of equality we already see in those Torah Parashot where G – d orders Moshe to arrange a census. The Jews in the desert gave a Shekel (a special weight) in order to be counted. This way, the whole census was executed and no one gave more or less. No matter if rich or poor, everyone had the same status. Our Mefarshim commentate that this shows us that every Jew is equal in the eyes of G – d.

The same should be the case today. I am not saying that a very righteous person shouldn't have an extraordinary relationship with G – d. However, I don't think that it is up to him claiming that only the Rebbe is a thousand percent righteous. Each of us has special powers and is able to reach the greatest relationship with G – d. Our challenge is, however, to use our powers in a positive way and not to waste our abilities.

"Migdal David" from Chassidut Lelov

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Does anyone know if there is an English translation of the book "MIGDAL DAVID" (Chassidut Lelov) ?

Bnei Brak instead of Mea Shearim

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In fact, there are people who claim that the litvishe Bnei Brak is the home of more chassidic groups than the famous Jerusalem neighbourhood of Mea Shearim. The claim seems to be right, as Bnei Brak is the home of the Vishnitzer Rebben, the Rebbe of Sadigura, the Shomrei Emunim, the Gerer (Gur) Rebbe, the Rebbe of Alexander, the Spinka Rebbe, the groups Komarno, Nadvorna, Slonim, Zhvil, Skver, Lelov, Modzitz, Satmar (the followers of Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum) and countless other small groups. Of course, the Neturei Karta also has its Synagogue. Furthermore, Bnei Brak is the headquarter of an organization from where I am planning to interview a person I know working there: the Israeli anti - missionary organization "Yad Le'Achim".


The next upcoming months, I am going to spend my Shabbatot almost entirely in Bnei Brak. Also in order to get to know different people and groups. Not only chassidic but the Livish as well. I am really looking forward to the change and also the change in mentality. There definitely is a mentality difference between the inhabitants of Mea Shearim and those from Bnei Brak.


For those who prefer staying in Tel Aviv over Shabbat: The Breslover Nanas invite people for meals.


And for those who prefer to remain in Mea Shearim: The Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe is gone to the States and won't give a Tish for a longer period of time. I suspect that the Toldot Aharon Rebbe is planning the same.