Vishnitz Takanot

Source: Chadre'i HaCharedim

Chassidut Gur and its Sex Takanot

B"H 

People who are interested in extreme chassidic groups always concentrate on the members of the Edah HaCharedit without realizing that one of the most secret groups is Chassidut Gur and not necessarily the Toldot Aharon. The truth is that no Gerrer Chassid will ever publish the group's Takanot. Women are not even allowed to discuss their marriage details with their friends. 

Israel's left - wing newspaper HAARETZ published an article on the gender separation in Gur:

http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/gur-hasidim-and-sexual-separation-1.410811

One has to understand that Gur is not only afraid of immodesty between men and women but of potential homosexual reationships between its Chassidim. This is the reason why already teenage Chassidim have to follow strict rules in order to prevent any temptation.

One of the former Rebbes, the Beit Israel, introduced a certain Takana husband and wife have to follow. I don't have any proof for this claim but the result of this particular Takana was that Gur founded its own Beit Yaakov. In order to prepare the girls for keeping this one sexual Takana. 

My personal claim is that young Gerrer women may even be unaware of this Takana, as it actually only concerns men. As a woman you don't know that something may be missing while having sex. The male Chassidim have to keep this rule and not the women. 

Other chassidic groups do not have such a rule and due to that rule, no women from other groups would agree marrying a Gerrer Chassid. However, it is Gur's business what they are doing and, as a person from the outside, I shouldn't judge. On the other hand, Gerrer Chassidim are humans and humans tend to break rules. If there is a Gerrer Chassid who finds the right wife, they could break the sex Takana and keep quiet. If the Rebbe doesn't know - so, who would mind ?

New Takana in Ruzhin - Boyan for the upcoming high holidays

B"H

The Boyaner Rebbe Nachum Dov Brayer

B"H

Just in case you are a Boyaner Chassid (a real member and not Shomer Minhag Boyan), the Boyaner Rebbe Nachum Dov Brayer gave out a new Takana regarding the high holidays at the Beit Midrash. The sales for the seats in the Boyaner Synagogue has begun and, in case you are looking for a good seat near the Admor, you, as a Boyaner Bachur, have to sign a document stating the following: No radio, no cell phone (not even a kosher one) and no Internet !

The new Takana is for Bochurim only and not for married adults but, to be honest, I would have never expected such stringency from the Boyaner Rebbe. 

Link:

Tish in Ruzhin - Boyan

Yud Tet Kislev - יט כסלו

B"H

19th Kislev (Yud Tet Kislev) is not only a celebration day in Chabad but also in Chassidut Toldot Aharon. On 19 Kislev, the Toldot Aharon are going to have their annual meeting in order to sign the TAKANOT (internal laws). Rebbe David Kahn is giving a Drasha and Chizuk (strengthening) and then each members is signing the Takanot (existing ones + new additions).

However, I don't know about this year's procedure because 19 Kislev comes out on Friday. I just know about Chabad where most Farbrengen are going to take place this Mozzaei Shabbat.

What are the Chabanikim going to celebrate on 19 Kislev ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19_Kislev

Computer in Toldot Aharon ?

B"H

About a month ago, the Toldot Aharon Rebbe David Kahn held a meeting with his Chassidim. The Rebbe spoke about the spiritual impurity coming from the Internet. After the meeting, the Chassidim were asked to fill out special forms where they either admit to have a computer at home (and for what purpose) or they simply sign that they don't have any such "impure gadget". Let alone an internet connection.

Furthermore, the form was questioning about the cellphone of each Chassid (and his family members). As we know, haredi society demands a kosher cellphone with firewalls to any kind of impure accesses. 

Any Toldot Aharon member not fulfilling the demands for having an internet connection at home, will be excluded. Not necessarily thrown out of the group but limited within society. Men would not be called up to the Torah and loosing their firm seat at the Synagogue. Women may also be punished by loosing their firm Synagogue seat on Simchat Torah or Yom Kippur. 

During the past two weeks, the Toldot Aharon "modesty police" walked around the backyards and made a few checks at the homes of "suspicious" Toldot Aharon members. The Jerusalem weekly (secular) paper "Yediot Yerushalaim" reports that Toldot Aharon officials said that all those latest stringencies were necessary because it came out that a few of their teenagers may be vulnerable to negative internet use.  

With these rules, Toldot Aharon is not too different from other chassidic groups such as Gur, for instance. Internet use YES, but for professionell purposes only. Otherwise the computer should be locked or, at least, have a kosher internet connection where porn and other things are blocked. 

On the other hand, who is really able to keep all Chassidim away from the net ? Who is able to control mainly male Chassidim, cruising around in secular neighbourhoods and sneaking into Internet Cafes ? Not even the modesty police has such capacities. 

How about public libraries or the Bar Ilan University ? There you find many different Chassidim sitting and surfing the Net. Not too many Toldot Aharon but Gur, Belz or Litvaks.  

Updates: Toldot Aharon Book & Mea Shearim - Off - The - Derech - Girl

B"H

1. Almost two weeks ago  I found out about the real identity of the Mea Shearim girl shown in the TV report "Leaving the Fold". Shortly after, I got in touch with the production company in order to let them know that they should have published the true identity in the movie and not let the public think that she was born in Mea Shearim.

The response was that there was no response. Apparently the producers are more interested in selling / publishing the movie and a Mea Shearim girl (even when she is a fake) sells better than a Baalat Teshuva who failed.

2. I started reading Menashe Darash's book about the Toldot Aharon. In his book "The Rabbi's Daughter From Mea Shearim" (in Hebrew only), he calls Chassidut Toldot Aharon "Shomrei Torat Israel".

No wonder why the group tried its best to avoid any publication because Darash lists their internal sex Takanot concerning the wedding night. The Takanot refer to the behaviour of the groom and how he should explain the necessary details before they go to bed and start their sex Mitzvah.

I just wonder how he got hold of those Takanot. Either someone made a mistake and just gave them to him or the group must have really thought that he is planning to become a member. Otherwise no one would be allowed to know that the grooms are being taught how to have their first sex. Teaching object: A plastic doll.

The basic Toldot Aharon Takanot - Part 1

B"H

This is the short and more public version of the Toldot Aharon Takanot (from the group's founder Rebbe Aharon Roth):

1. Every Shabbat and holiday, everyone (of the members) should come to the Toldot Aharon Beit Midrash and pray Shacharit (the morning prayer).

2. The prayer should be in the Beit Midrash. A powerful prayer.

It is forbidden to prevent anyone from a strong enthusiastic prayer. When the person is crying out loud to G - d. Except for those who start making crazy voice beyond the way of Toldot Aharon.

3. Everyone has to go according the Nussach of our (Toldot Aharon) group. Whoever does not do so, has no right to pray with a loud voice.

4. a) The men go with a Tallit on Leil (Erev) Shabbat. b) During the Torah reading, the head has to be covered with a Tallit.

During prayer, no one should be busying himself with something else such as reading Tehillim (Psalms), organize something or look through other books.

5. Someone going to the Beit Midrash should refrain from talking.

6. Watch your children that they do not scream during prayer or the reading of the Torah. Those not watching their children have to be fined.

Also watch your children's clothes ao that they are clean and proper.

Take care that your children do not cause any damage to the Beit Midrash. In case they did, the father has to pay for the damage.

7. No one can be called up to the Torah who did not go to the Mikweh on the same day.

8. Study Tehillim (Psalms) after the prayer.

9. No one should put on Tefillin not belonging to anyone or damaged one.

10. Show respect to the Beit Midrash. One should not yell or make fun (laugh out loud) while being in the Beit Midrash. Further, do not smoke inside the Beit Midrash.

11. Show respect to the books in the Beit Midrash. It is forbidden to take out a book without asking the Gabbai. Only those receive a permission who respect the rules and return the book on time and its place.

12. Do not let a woman come to the prayer in our Beit Midrash who does not wear modest clothes. The woman should not wear a wig (Sheitel). - This is happening to other haredi women from other groups who do wear a wig. In the Toldot Aharon staircase at the Ezrat Nashim (women's side) you can find a box full of Tichels. If a woman wearing a Sheitel is coming into the Toldot Aharon Beit Midrash, she is asked to put on a Tichel (on top of her wig).

13. This point is not really clear to me: It says that someone being / or is keeping a little away from society (the group) has to pay a "Pidyion Nefesh - soul rectification". Those not paying have to stay away from the Beit Midrash until they do pay.

14. Everyone should take care to pay the taxes and the water tax.

15. Everyone should make a "Melave Malka" when it is his turn.

16. If anyone is coming to pray with us (on Shabbat) who does shave his beard or Peyot (side curls), we have to respect him. Respect every guest ! However, we have to tell him that he he did not shave his beard or Peyot, we could be called up to the Torah.

This refers to members:

If someone is coming to pray in Toldot Aharon on a regular basis and does not keep the Takanot, we need to tell him after three months that there are Takanot. In the time of three - six months, we need to warn him and remind him of the Takanot. If he does not fix his behaviour and keep the Takanot until the sixth month, he cannot be called up to the Torah. He cannot be part of the group.

17. A member just ignoring all the Takanot is only to be warned for the period of one month. If he then does not keep the Takanot, he will not be even allowed to enter the yard.

18. A member who does not keep the Takanot is not allowed to give a Shiur or Drasha.

19. A new member will not be accepted until he lives at least six months according to the Takanot. Society has to see if he is able to live according to the rules.

20. In case someone starts arguments or fights or states other opinions / ideologies cannot come to the Beit Midrash.

21. Once a month, in the weeks of Mevarchin (blessing the new month), a gathering has to take place. Everyone has to attend and not use any kind of excuse. If someone does not show up he will be fined.

At every gathering the Takanot have to be read.

22. Once a year, a meeting with all the members has to take place. Either in Cheshvan or in Kislev. A meal will be served and you renew your union with Hashem. Sign the Takanot anew.

A member who does not come to the "great gathering" has to be separated from society.

Prayer Takanot

1. When praying the members have to wait for the "Shaliach Zibur – official person praying" and his prayer.

2. No quarrels in front of the Shaliach Zibur about the prayers.

3. A member who does not keep the Takanot of the modest dress code is not allowed to pray in front of the Shaliach Zibur.

4. The same with people who like to argue, stutter or have a different voice, took drugs or did anything else not according to the way.

5. One cannot stand in front of the Shaliach Zibur in case he shave his beard. Not even a little tiny hair cutting off the beard is allowed.

6. The members have to keep the Toldot Aharon Nussach.

7. One is not allowed to stand in front of the Shaliach Zibur and pray if he has not been to the Mikveh on the same day. Moreover, he is not allowed to stand in front of the Shaliach Zibur and wear woolen clothes.

8. If anyone feels like he needs a Mikveh because he could not overcome his thoughts, Yetzer HaRah or any other sin, he should go to the Mikveh. Even before Mincha (afternoon prayer) and Maariv (evening prayer) one had to go to the Mikveh.

9. One has to use his special prayer gartel (belt) in front of the Shaliach Zibur.

10. Everyone has to pray from his Sidur and not saying the prayers by heart.

11. One has to pray with a loud voice because the public prayer continues after the voice of the Baal Tefilah.

12. The person leading the prayer service should not hurry.

13. Pray with joy and wait until most members finish their kapitel (chapter).

14. Wait in the "Shemona Ezrei – Amidah" until the community members finish and are able to say AMEN.

New Takanot in Gur

The Gerrer Rebbe (Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, in the middle) at the Kotel

B"H

Chassidut Gur made up some new Takanot:

1. No renting clothes for festivities, 2. Reducing presents for the father - in - law and his family, 3. Reducing the costs of a Bar Mitzvah and 4. No more flowers after an engagement (for the Kallah - Bride).

The Gerrer community in Ashdod decided to go against the waste of money for festive events.

Here are some further regulations:

Finishing a Shidduch

Small party at home. No flowers. Not such an expensive watch for the groom / bride.

The Spodik (a Gerrer Streimel) has to be bought by the groom. The bride is responsible for her Sheitel (wig).

Even the costs for the "Aufruf" (Shabbat before the wedding) are being reduced. The women only have a small Kiddush and the festive meal is only for the guys.

In other words, all costs for a wedding are to be reduced !

Here you can find all Takanot amendments.

A great idea reducing all those costs. Honestly, I wouldn't buy any Streimel for my husband. Maybe this is the reason why I am not married yet.:-)

Is every Haredi Woman bald ?

B"H

Honestly, it quite took me by surprise when I was asked by secular Jews from Tel Aviv if every haredi woman wearing a wig (Yiddish: Sheitel) would have a bald head. I thought that people usually know that the haredi wig is "just" a way for a married woman (as well as for divorcees and widows) to cover their hair. I have never thought about that other people may get the impression that all of them must be bald. Actually there are not too many women shaving their hair after the wedding. Furthermore, the younger generation practices this custom less and less.

The shaving of the hair of a married haredi woman is an old Hungarian / Romanian custom and many women today just put on a wig without any shaving. However, there are women keeping this custom, as the Toldot Aharon, the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak (not necessarily all women) or certain followers of the Chatam Sofer. For instance, a woman from Chassidut Dushinsky once told me that she took over the shaving custom from her mother and she even explained me how she does it. Basically the shaving is taking place every second week or so and most women put on a tight head cover over their baldness. Only on top of that cover, they place the wig. Otherwise the wig would move and people could see the baldness. The Toldot Aharon, on the other hand, don't wear any wigs at all and just place a tight head cover or a Spitz.

Remark: When I say bald, it doesn't always mean "totally bald" but also "very short hair".

I was just surprised hearing such questions or prejudices and explained the secular the shaving custom etc. They, on the other hand, were very interested because they had never heard about it before. Actually one even asked me about "having sex with a sheet in the middle (between men and women).
If this is true ?
Well, I don't know but I think that most people have sex in a "normal" way and that the sheet story is basically a story and doesn't have much to do with reality.