Where to find "Migdal Oz" by Rabbi Yaakov Emden

Bookstore in Rabbi Akivah Street / Bnei Brak

Photos: Miriam Woelke

B"H

I am a bit behind with all my blogging, as I have been busy preparing a couple of longer articles. Yesterday I had to go to appointment in Ramat Gan (next to Tel Aviv) and, as Ramat Gan is very close to haredi Bnei Brak, I walked all the way over to Rabbi Akivah Street and did my Bnei Brak trip. A brief one, as I only wanted to find a specific book, I haven't got hold of in Mea Shearim / Ge'ulah yet.

In Bnei Brak, I walked into two haredi hardcore bookstores but I was told that they don't have the book available. The good thing is that I already have the book on PDF File but in bad print. So, I thought that when I buy it, I am going to have an easier reading. However, I still haven't succeeded in finding "MIGDAL OZ" by Rabbi Yaakov Emden. Meaning, I either go to the library and order it, try another Mea Shearim bookstore or just be happy with my PDF File. Maybe one of you has an idea where I can purchase the book. Nor necessarily online but either in Jerusalem or Bnei Brak. 

As I cannot leave a bookstore without buying anything, I was happy to find chassidic teachings on Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur as well as SEFER TIFERET ISRAEL by the Maharal. Those books are a great help for the blog articles I am preparing.

Have a great Schabbes everyone. Now I need to clean and cook for Shabbat.:-) The usual Friday routine and I wish it was done already.:-)

To - do - List for Pessach

B"H  

Only a few days left until Pessach and there is still so much to do. I am going to start my serious cleaning for the Chag. Moving furniture and getting rid of the last Chametz products. 

Thursday night is already BEDIKAT CHAMETZ – the search for the last Chametz in everyone’s household. Before the search, we are saying a special Bracha (Blessing). The Chametz we find during the search, we are going to burn (BI’UR CHAMETZ) the next morning. Ashkenazi Jews follow the tradition not to eat KIDNIYOT on Pessach. We don’t eat beans, peas, corn, humus and any further product containing Kidniyot. It is extremely important to look at the labels on all kinds of food products during Pessach. What is kasher le’Pessach and what without Kidniyot additions. Sephardi Jews, on the other hand, eat Kidniyot and most (not all) Sephardic Jews eat rice. For Ashkenazi Jews, rice is Chametz. 

The Torah commands every Jew to get rid of any Chametz on Pessach. Grains such as oats, wheat, barley, spelt or rye are totally forbidden and the Torah adds a severe punishment: Jews consuming Chametz during Pessach are excluded from the Jewish nation. This doesn’t mean being excluded in a literal sense but rather a spiritual exclusion. 

In case one doesn’t want to throw away all his Chametz, he can sell it. This procedure is called MECHIRAT CHAMETZ and can even be done online. The selling of the Chametz is a more symbolic act. The Jew receives a certificate saying that his Chametz is not his anymore. A few days before Pessach, Israel’s two Chief Rabbis sell all Chametz to a Druse leader (it has to be a non – Jew). Another symbolic act and right after Pessach is over, ownership goes back to the Jews. Especially bakeries sell their Chametz, as well as other food producers but also private households. 

Some Jews go really nuts about their Pessach cleaning and cover their shelves and kitchen counters with aluminium foil. I do a normal cleaning and don’t drive myself crazy. There are Jews who exchange their entire kitchen dishes. Pots, pants and cutlery. I do this to a certain extend. 

Jews who do use their regular dishes during Pessach take their pots to public places where the pots are boiled in hot water and thus thoroughly cleaned out. Shopping before the holiday is an important subject too. I still have to get Mazza Shmurah. 

Mazza Shmurah

Photo: Miriam Woelke

The Pessach holiday is an expensive event and many Jewish families depend on charity in order to have a Seder. In Israel the intermediate days (Chol HaMo’ed) of Pessach and Sukkot are like a travel season. Thousands of Israelis are off from work and either travel abroad or going on trips around our country. Parks, museums, the Dead Sea, beaches, nature … everything will be packed. 

Pessach is a holiday where Jews go up to Jerusalem. Just like in Temple times when Jews came to Jerusalem in order to bring their holiday sacrifice (Korban Chagigah). 

The To – Do – List is still very long and time is running out. Every year the same craziness …

BI'UR CHAMETZ IN BNEI BRAK (APRIL 2011)

Bi'ur Chametz, the burning of the last Chametz (forbidden grains during Pessach) in the middle of Bnei Brak. Near Rabbi Akiva Street.

Its a custom that religious Jews burn their Lulav from Sukkot together with the Chametz before Pessach. Many Haredim came with their Lulavim and even with the brooms the family cleaned up for Pessach. Everything was thrown into the fire.

Chametz represents the own Yetzer HaRah and with the burning a few hours before Pessach starts, we are symbolically getting rid of our Yetzer Harah.

Public Kashering Kelim (Dishes) for Pessach in Rabbi Akiva Street.

The boiling water where the dishes are put in for a few seconds.

The father of the girls in the background brought his Kiddush cups for kashering.

Further Kashering.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Tour through Bnei Brak

Bnei Brak preparing for Pessach

B"H

I only walked through Bnei Brak's shopping mall Rabbi Akivah Street this morning and although I was looking for Mazza Shmura, I found the locals buying new clothes and kitchenware. The only Mazzot I saw were either handmade or regular ones. Until Pessach, however, I have to get my traditional Mazza Shmura.

Junction Ramat Gan - Bnei Brak: Ramat Gan on the left and Bnei Brak to the right.

Kitchenware for Pessach in Rabbi Akivah Street

Zedakah (Charity) is a tremendously important issue in Bnei Brak, as the town is the poorest place in Israel.

 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Pessach Preparations

B"H

Besides work, I have been busy with a few Pessach preparations. Not the big cleaning yet but some shopping including a few great books. However, I will give a few more details in the course of the day. Especially about the books I just bought at the OR HA'CHAIM bookstore in Bnei Brak. 

Just coming back from Bnei Brak, my intention was to buy Mazza Shmura but I didn't find any in Rabbi Akivah Street where I was walking around. No Shmura but regular Mazzah or Asui Yad (handmade Mazzah). At least I finally got some pre - Pessach atmosphere, as there is nothing like this in Tel Aviv. However, Bnei Brak seems to be busier with buying new clothes than putting out Mazzot for sale.:-)

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

Parashat Vayigash: "The Jewish Task in Galut"

Yeshiva in Bnei Brak

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

This week's Torah reading is Parashat Vayigash. Yehudah approaches Yosef (Vayigash elav Yehudah). Yehudah is the only one of the brothers confronting Yosef and making a point. 

Chassidic commentaries ask the question why the Torah doesn't make it clear that Yehudah is really approaching Yosef, as it only says that he approaches HIM. Who is HIM ? When you read a bit further you know that it is Yosef he approaches. However, there are commentaries, e.g. the Sefat Emet or Rabbi Elimelech of Lejansk, stating that Yehudah is also getting closer to G - d. He is trying to protect his brother Benjamin and puts the material world aside. Yehudah uses his emotions without loosing any tact towards the Egyptian viceroy Yosef. Just like a Zaddik (righteous person) should stand before G - d.

In Parashat Vayigash we see how the Jews (then Yaakov's family) is slowly moving into Galut (Diaspora). G - d has a special plan and Jewish literature is providing answers why we have to live outside Israel. The Jewish Kabbalah teaches us about sparks (Nitzozot), the fallen sparks during the creation process. G - d's plan was to give mankind free will and thus He had to withdraw during the creation process in order not to create an entirely perfect world. If G - d had created a perfect world, we could not have any free will but behave in a perfect sense. However, our task as Jews is to perfect this world by doing Mitzvot, pray, giving Zedakah, etc. 

The so - called sparks can be found all over the world. Nevertheless, don't take this concept literally and start digging out fallen sparks.:-) This is simply a symbolic kabbalistic concept developed by Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (the ARIZAL) ! What the concept means is that we have to elevate those sparks in order to perfect the world. For instance, by saying a blessing over food. After elevating everything, Meshiach will come. However, the Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin lists us further varieties how Meshiach is going to come. 

What fascinates me about this Parasha is Yehudah speaking up and Jews being send to Galut. I like people standing up for their rights and ideas. As someone growing up in the Diaspora I know what it means living outside Israel. American Jewry as well as the English may have a much more convenient Diaspora life, as I had in Germany. Although Chabad has become a large institution in Germany, it is still hard finding kosher food. Finding the right Synagogue, as there are too many Reform communities. And even if you are part of an Orthodox community, one needs to go according to their German rules and doesn't have a choice by looking for another community. 

I do not envy Yosef and the rest of his family moving down to Egypt. They already knew that living in Israel (then Canaan) is not that easy but from my point of view it is worth living here. But this was G - d's plan and one of the reasosn why the Jews had to move there was the task of picking up sparks. Elevating the negative into something positive. Commentators tell us that there aren't any sparks left in Egypt, as Moshe and the Israelites had collected them all. 

South Korean Film Team at the Ponevezh Yeshiva

B”H

A film team from South Korea was visiting the famous PONEVEZH Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. The South Koreans were investigating an interesting thought: Why are many Jews so intelligent ? Just look at the high amount of Noble Price winners. Thus, the answer must have its roots in the history of Talmud study. 

It is true that Talmud study is anything but easy and it always drives me mad myself when, after a couple of minutes, a former question ends up in another new ten questions.

Ponevezh is located in Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv and is considered a posh Yeshiva. Your father shouldbe a well respected Rabbi and you should have a great reputation. Otherwise you will not get accepted there. Moreover, Ponevezh is a kind of conservative, meaning that the students don't go to watch movies or destroy their reputation in any way.

The result of Talmud study should be that the student is changing his life in a positive way !

Bnei Brak: Kahaneman Street

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Kiryat Nadvorna in Bnei Brak

B"H 

 The Kiryat Nadvorna neighbourhood of Chassidut Nadvorna in Bnei Brak. 

The white gate on the ground floor is the entrance to the private home of the Nadvorna Rebbe. Right across is the Synagogue. 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Bnei Brak and its modesty Madness

To all shops selling clothes: Selling immodest clothing is like selling unkosher meat !

Enough with the haredi immodesty. Meaning, immodest haredi clothing such as shorter skirts, too much make - up or women's clothing in shiny colours causing too much male attention. The graffiti has been in Rashi Street for quite a few years now.

Even if a woman just walks a few meters to the grocery, she should be dressed as modest as our foremother Rachel and not sloppy or causing negative attention.

The Edah HaCharedit and the Satmarer Rebbe (Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum, I suppose, as Bnei Brak is full of his followers): Selling immodest clothes is like selling unkosher meat !

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Picture of the Day

Haredi Bnei Brak (near Tel Aviv)

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Bnei Brak and "Noam Elimelech"

B"H 

It seems like I am becoming more and more attached to the haredi part of Bnei Brak. While living in Jerusalem, I have become extremely familiar with many local haredi areas and never really liked the haredi Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv. Those looking for real haredi action, great Tishes and Synagogues need, of course, go to Mea Shearim. Unfortunately, Mea Shearim has become an Israeli tourist center almost every Friday night. Visitors who are neither haredi nor have any deeper knowledge about Chassidism, stroll around the ultra - Orthodox neighbourhood. National religious youth, not having any clue about haredi life, starts yelling around and squeezes itself onto the Tish benches. Moreover, quite a few so - called "tour guides" make lots of money by taking groups to the Mea Shearim Tishes. 

Bnei Brak doesn't have too many visitors from the outside on Friday nights. This is a bit unusual, as the inhabitants would show their dislike publically. You don't just walk into Kiryat Yoel on a Friday night when you are national religious or a tour member. Outsiders don't run to the Gur (Ger) Tish. By the way, the Gerrer Chassidim don't accept any women at the Rebbe's Tish ! 

Not too many people go to the Bnei Brak Tishes unless it is Vishnitz. Rabbi Israel Hager attracts plenty of visitors and his Ezrat Nashim goes about two floors. I have been to his Tish twice but once in Jerusalem and the second time in Kiryat Vishnitz when he celebrated outside and not at the inside Tish. 

I have been quite a few times to Bnei Brak lately. For several hours in a row and walked as many streets as I could. I have become familiar with some parts but keep on getting to know the place much better. What I love is all those small Shtieblachs all over town and I finally found the Chernobyl Synagogue where I am planning to go for a Tish. 

Yesterday, I again went to Bnei Brak but this time I wanted to buy a Yom Kippur Machzor, as my other Machzor is still in Jerusalem. I am not getting to Jerusalem before the Chag in order to pick it up and so I decided to get a new one. Not just a plain Machzor but the "Machzor Rabbah" Nussach Sfarad. Meaning, a chassidic Machzor. 

Now you think that buying a Machzor in Bnei Brak shouldn't be a problem and it will basically take about, hhmm, let's say, 15 - 20 minutes. Maybe even less. But here I was wrong because I had completely forgotten about something. 

Ashkenazi booksellers have the habit to sell everything in a set and thus I found all Machzorim in sets. However, I didn't need a whole set with the holiday prayer books for Pessach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot but just a single one for Yom Kippur. All the rest I am going to pick up in Jerusalem anyway. 

The first two bookstores I went to (all of them in Rabbi Akivah Street) were offering sets only. I didn't put on my religious wardrobe yesterday and went in pants. You should have seen the face of some people in the bookstores when I walked in.:-)))

Only sets and one entirely Sephardi bookstore. I spoke to the owner who almost convinced me to take a Sephardi Machzor, as he had plenty of single ones. This is nothing new for me because I already have a Sephardi Machzor for Rosh Hashana, besides my chassidic one. What I found out is that you, as an Ashkenazi or Chassid, are able to survive with the Sephardi Yom Kippur Machzor. It is much harder having a Sephardi edition on Rosh Hashana. However, towards the end of the Machzor, Ashkenazim start introducing different prayers and then you are in trouble for a while. Eventually I ended up not buying the book and I was almost down at Kahaneman Street, as I saw another bookstore. Not the Artscroll one which is totally overpriced !

I walked into the store and found myself with the shopkeeper who was a younger Chassid. Chassid like hardcore and not some Breslover or Chabadnik.:-)))

A national religious woman looked through the Machzorim and Siddurim and I finally found a single Yom Kippur Nussach Sfarad. I was so happy, the national religious woman wasn't and started an argument with the shopkeeper. While she left, I had found some more interesting books. Among others, the Torah commentary of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhansk, "Noam Elimelech". I asked the shopkeeper how much it is and he almost fainted. Also because I asked him about the "Ohev Israel" commentary. 

The last thing he had expected was me buying "Noam Elimelech". I probably looked like Tel Aviv to him and he saw me going through the Machzorim. This was okay but when I showed some deeper interest, he couldn't believe it. 

However, I bought the Machzor and "Noam Elimelech" and when I paid, the Chassid handed me another book to look at. Then it was my time to faint, as he had given me a book like "Modest Women and their Thoughts" or something like that. I told him that I may buy it next time.:-)))

Anyway, I am very happy with my two books and I think I found a bookstore where I am going to buy more often. Maybe even the "Modest Thoughts". 

My new Machzor for Yom Kippur

The "Noam Elimelech" I purchased. 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

The SHOMREI EMUNIM Synagogue in Bnei Brak

 The Synagogue of Chassidut Shomrei Emunim in Bnei Brak

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Kiryat Vishnitz in Bnei Brak

B"H

Every time anew, I am having difficulties where to begin. Basically Bnei Brak has three Vishnitzer Rebben at the moment. There is the older Rebbe and father of the two other Rebbes, Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager. He has been suffering from Alzheimer for quite a while and has two sons fighting with each other about the Rebbe position. Rebbe Israel Hager took over the position and most Vishnitzer Chassidim from Bnei Brak followed him. His brother and competitor, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager founded his own Vishnitzer group but still resides in Kiryat Vishnitz. 

The following photos show the Mosdot and area of Rebbe Israel Hager in Kiryat Vishnitz / Bnei Brak.

Here, outside the Beit Midrash, Rebbe Israel Hager has been holding his Tish many times. Once I have been to his Tish on Sukkot (and will do so this Sukkot) but we women were placed in a building across and not outside. It was very hard to see, as there wasn't enough space for all women behind some tiny windows. 

Photos 19 September 2011: Miriam Woelke

Trip to Bnei Brak, Part 2

Bnei Brak

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H 

Walking around in Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak was great. Many years ago, I used to live in Ramat Gan and know the place quite well although it has changed and became more modern. Ramat Gan is located where Tel Aviv ends and when you pass Ramat Gan and cross the last junction, you walk right into Bnei Brak.

Despite all rumours, Bnei Brak is not entirely haredi and many secular as well as national religious Jews live there. However, Bnei Brak has quite a few haredi neighbourhoods making it look very haredi. 

I am starting a serious on the haredi part of Bnei Brak and will do so in stages. For me, this is also a better way getting to know the city. Mea Shearim is not everything and there are plenty of other chassidic directions located in Bnei Brak. It is important to know about the city near Tel Aviv although some people may add that further haredi towns such as Kiryat Sefer, Beitar or El'ad are important too.

Today I walked a lot and have to admit to be quite finished. I enjoyed my time running around all the Batei Midrash, Synagogues and seeing so many Haredim after coming from Tel Aviv. I chose the right time; arriving in the morning hours, as there were many opportunities to take photos. But not only photos, as it was also a spiritual time before Rosh Hashana. The weather was a bit hot but never mind. 

I took plenty of photos and will put them into the blog. Today I just walked and didn't go into any dephts. Machnovke, Ashlag, Kiryat Nadvorna, Kiryat Vishnitz, Karlin - Stolin, Belz, Modidz and the Shomrei Emunim. I made a picture of the Spinka Synagogue but only from far away. Well, next time there will be more.

What I have left so far are Gur (but I took a photo of the Gerrer Girl's Seminary), Satmar and the Litvish. I would have done more but, in the end, I needed a break and Bnei Brak doesn't provide you with a coffee bar or any snacks besides Shnitzel or Falafel. I was a bit shocked to notice an larger amount of the Breslover Sephardi Taliban women. The extreme Baal Teshuva movement. 

Furthermore, the Satmarer Rebbe (I suppose Reb Aharon Teitelbaum), as the Satmarer in Bnei Brak belong to his branch, put out some new modesty issues. Tomorrow I will let you know more about it because now I am too finished.:-)