"Faulty Pedigree" - Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on Parashat BaMidbar

B"H

The Yiddish word for "Grandson" is "Einikel.

The Yiddish word for "Great - grandson" is "Uhr - einikel".

One time someone complained to Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld about the phenomenon in which people who are totally bereft of any true Jewish content come forth and brag, "You know, I am an uhr - einikel of the Taz (or the Maggid so - and - so, the Rebbe, etc.)".

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld then quipped, "You know, uhr also means "a watch". Now, a watch that cannot tell you the time is not really a watch at all. A broken uhr is not an uhr at all !"

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Source: 

"Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on the Parasha"

Compiled by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Sonnenfeld

"Faulty Pedigree" - Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on Parashat BaMidbar

B"H

The Yiddish word for "Grandson" is "Einikel.

The Yiddish word for "Great - grandson" is "Uhr - einikel".

One time someone complained to Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld about the phenomenon in which people who are totally bereft of any true Jewish content come forth and brag, "You know, I am an uhr - einikel of the Taz (or the Maggid so - and - so, the Rebbe, etc.)".

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld then quipped, "You know, uhr also means "a watch". Now, a watch that cannot tell you the time is not really a watch at all. A broken uhr is not an uhr at all !"

________________

Source:

"Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on the Parasha"

Compiled by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Sonnenfeld

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on Parashat Behar

B"H

This week's Torah reading actually consists of two Parashat:

Behar + Bechukotai.

Here is a small insight into Parashat Behar from Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (died in 1932):

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld stressed the importance of employers showing fairness towards their workers. The are numerous commandments in the Torah how an employer should behave towards his employee. Paying him on time, for instance.

On the other hand, the Rabbi objected to the hateful anti - capitalists rhetoric of many workers in the socialist movements, which demonized all employers, and called for all power to be invested in the workers. Such attitudes, he said, were likely to damage only the workers themselves in the long run. Rather, each person must recognize his station in life and strive to fulfill his own role with respect towards others who are in different positions. For each individual in society has a unique, important part to contribute toward public welfare.

___________________

Source:

"Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on the Parasha"

Compiled by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Sonnenfeld,

Artscroll Series

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld

B"H

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was the first head of the anti - Zionist umbrella organization "Edah HaCharedit" in Mea Shearim. In 1921, the Israeli Rabbanut (Chief Rabbinate) was founded by the British and Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook became its first Chief Rabbi. However, anti - Zionist groups in Mea Shearim did neither accept Rabbi Kook nor the Rabbanut as their leading religious directions. The result was that they founded their own institution.

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was not a great friend of the more Zionist influenced Rabbi Kook and there are many Kuntres from Rabbi Sonnenfeld against Rabbi Kook. Below is a video showing both Rabbis leaving an institution of the British in those days. First Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook is leaving the building first and then Rabbi Sonnenfeld comes out. Both did not exchange a word.