The Ba'al Teshuva facing chassidic reality

B"H

Years ago, I was sharing an apartment with a female Ba'alat Teshuva. The Ba'alat Teshuva, lets call her A. 

We were sharing an apartment in an haredi neighbourhood although some of our neighbours were still secular Jews. I suppose that today, the neighbourhood is entirely haredi and that secular Jews have probably moved away. 

I should mention that quite a few Baale'i Teshuva I know in Jerusalem are sticking to a firm Minhag (custom). Without becoming a member of a certain chassidic group, they still keep the Minhagim of their favourite group. You even find this in Toldot Aharon where female Ba'alot Teshuva come to the Tishes; they don't dress like Toldot Aharon but keep many of their customs and even live in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood. They know Toldot Aharon families and are being invited by them for Shabbat. 

My former flatmate A. was such a "Shomeret Minhag - A Ba'al Teshuva keeping a certain chassidic custom without being an official group member". A. was "Shomeret Minhag Vishnitz". By the way, in those days, Vishnitz Bnei Brak wasn't divided then.

I never asked A. what customs she kept neither did I ask her about Vishnitz. The only thing I noticed was that A. was facing severe difficulties of being accepted into haredi society. There were many reasons for it but she still tried as hard as she could. There were times when A. may have got the feeling that she was accepted. At least from time to time. 

I, on the other hand, have never felt the desire squeezing myself into something. I neither need acceptance nor acknowledgement because I am simply too individualistic and especially introverted. Doing my thing and not waiting for other Haredim to say that I am so "holy". A Zaddika ! 

I am not and I don't want to hear all this slogans. I am not a Zaddika and not sooo terribly religious running after the perfect Hechsher, wearing only long sleeves or skirts. In my opinion, being religious consists of many different aspects in life besides the usual Halachot. How you react towards your environment, for instance. "Bejn Adam le'Chavero". Or that you honestly pray and not because the time for Mincha has arrived. That you take religious matters seriously, think and internalize them and not doing, doing, doing without using your brain. 

A. was desperate for acceptance and did anything gaining it. She had this behaviour of inviting herself to the neighbours Schabbes table every single Shabbat. They were born Chassidim but I cannot even tell to which Chassidut they belonged. I wasn't interested and A. had told me that they wouldn't talk to me anyway because I was still on the level of "between national religious and haredi". She said that it had taken her one year after moving in, until the holy neighbours finally invited her for Shabbat.

Honestly, I wasn't keen on being invited, as I had my own plans on Shabbat. Usually I went into town where I either stayed with friends of at the Jewish hostel Heritage House in the Old City. After Shabbat was over, I went back to our Ramot neighbourhood. 

A short period of time after me moving in, I met the neighbours' wife in the staircase. We talked for a while and she invited me for Shabbat. As I already had other plans, I told her that I would come in another few weeks or months. Telling this to A., she was shocked because I had been invited after a few weeks only. How this could be. I didn't know and I wasn't even begging the neighbour to invite me.

Then a serious incident occured making me think about born chassidic society and its behaviour towards Ba'alei Teshuva:

A. got a phone call from another "Shomeret Minhag Vishnitz" and was invited to a wedding taking place in the haredi Kiryat Mattersdorf neighbourhood. My flatmate was freaking out because SHE got invited. In her eyes, the was the peak of acceptance ! She immediately started to bake. I asked her for what and she said that she wants to bring all those cakes to the wedding. As a gift and simply to contribute something. 

For the next two or three days, A. was baking nearly without a break. Our small kitchen was flooded with cakes and pies. When the evening for the wedding arrived, I helped her loading all the cakes into the trunk of her car. Then she was gone and only came back the next day. She returned being in a bad mood and asked me if I can help her again. It turned out that none of the wedding guests had even touched one of her cakes. All the cakes came back in the trunk and were stuffed into the fridge. A. said that I can eat the cakes together with her but, in the end, they were rottening and being thrown away.

A. never spoke about what had happened but I found out from the neighbours: The sad fact was that no born haredi wanted to eat from the food cooked by a Ba'al Teshuva. Some readers may claim that this is a stereotype opinion but, according to my experience, A. is not the only case. 

When I go somewhere, I neither cook nor bring other foods with me. I even know a chassidic family where the mother doesn't eat at her daughter's homes and I accept anyone keeping his own personal priorities. This way, I am not getting upset or offended. I accept them without having any expectations regarding my acceptance. If someone wants to accept me that fine, if not, what can I do ?

Chassidic World - Parashat ZAV

A chassidic Dream

January 2012: At the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

Only chassidic teaching. The entire day Chassidut. 

Isn't that the greatest desire of anyone interested in Chassidut ?

"Interested" in a sense that a Jew is becoming chassidic and wants to study. 

At the beginning of my chassidic "career", I really thought that this would be true. Studying and diving into any chassidic concepts possible. Not that we don't need the Torah, the Talmud or Halachot anymore but getting up in the morning and already thinking about chassidic concepts. Wow.

For beginners / Ba'ale'i Teshuva, especially Chabad may give the impression that everything should be chassidic. One's lifestyle, thoughts, personal life, anything. I sometimes doubt whether it is right bombarding Jews who don't know too much about their own religion with TANYA. Of course, it all depends on the Jew himself, as each of us has a different way of learning. One is able to get to Halachot and Torah by studying TANYA and others simply seemed to be confused by all kinds of kabbalistic concepts mentioned in TANYA. "What ZADDIK and BENONI (Intermediate) ? What do I have to do with that ?"

When I spoke to someone from Mea Shearim I asked if the Chassidim really study Chassidut the whole day ? The answer I got was a bit disappointing: "Not even in the old chassidic Polishe days, the Rabbis only taught Chassidut but mainly Torah and Talmud. The same today although chassidic concepts always find their ways into Torah as well as halachic teachings". 

So, the Vilna Gaon was definitely wrong claiming that Chassidim neglect Torah and Talmudic studies and replace it by praying and dancing wildly.

Chassidic SELICHOT Guide

B”H 

Chassidut Gur is starting to pray Selichot at 12.30pm tonight. 

Where ? In Yirmeyahu Street  / Jerusalem. 

The Belzer in Jerusalem start their Selichot service tomorrow morning (Sunday morning) at 5am. 

Where? At their Beit Midrash in Kiryat Belze. 

Vishnitz in Bnei Brak: Rabbi Israel Hager is starting his Selichot service tonight at 12.30pm. His brother and competitor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel (Mendele) Hager is starting at 12.00am. 

The Boyaner in Jerusalem are starting at 12.30am tonight. 

Nadvorna in Bnei Brak is starting tomorrow (Sunday) morning at 5.00am. 

Seret – Vishnitz in Haifa is starting at 1am tonight. 

Chassidut Chernobyl in Bnei Brak is starting at 12.30am tonight. 

Chassidut Ungvar in Ramot / Jerusalem: Tomorrow morning, 4.30am, beginning of the Selichot. 

The Shomrei Emunim are, as usual, late. The Selichot service in Mea Shearim is starting at 1.30am tonight. 

Dushinsky Jerusalem is starting at 5am tomorrow morning. 

Sadigura Bnei Brak is starting at 11pm tonight. 

The Kaliver Rebbe in Jerusalem is starting at midnight. Pinsk – Karlin: 11pm tonight.

Kretchnif in Jerusalem: 4.45am tomorrow morning. 

Shatz – Vishnitz in Haifa: 11pm tonight.

Chanukkah with the Rebbes 2009 / 5770

Sources

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

It is not always the best positive way to only concentrate on haredi society or any Rabbi / Rebbe from today. What does it help me when I know who Rebbe so - and - so is but I don't know Torah, Talmud and the entire chassidic history and literature ?

People say that in order to understand Talmud, you have to know Torah, Midrash and Halachot. The same regarding kabbalistic studies.

I can confirm that this is true when I remember how many times I got caught up in kabbalistic commentaries where I had to go back to certain Mishnayiot and even into the Shulchan Aruch. In the meantime I got lost in further commentaries and sometimes I didn't even solve my original problem.

In order to understand and live Chassidut, we have to study Torah and all kinds of religious Jewish literature including history events. Why does Rabbi / Rebbe so - and - so react(ed) in such a way and how history caused different events.

On my blogs I like to focus on religious studies as well and not only write about where Rebbe so - and - so is eating dinner and the colour of his underwear. I am not interested in that. Understanding and living Chassidut includes many further details and not only using the Sidur of the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria). It means 120 years of study and improving Midot (character traits).

Example:

Why did the Sabbatian movement rose ? Why did so many Jews go for Shabbtai Zvi ?

Usually the commentaries claim that the messianic movement could rise due to the "Chmielnicki Massacres" taking place in Eastern Europe in 1648. Nevertheless, Gershom Sholem is asking the question why then "Meshiach", in this case the false Meshiach Sabbtai Zvi, had to come from Palestine. Why did he have Jewish followers all over the world ? Jews from Yemen to Morocco. Why didn't a Meshiach rise in Poland ?

As a matter of fact, Sholem doesn't see the Sabbatian movement having its roots in the Chmielnicki disaster.

I personally think that it is much more interesting studying any kinds of sources and Talmud than sometimes running around in Mea Shearim. Once a chassidic woman from Chassidut Erloi said to me:

"Do you think we Chassidim are spiritual all the time ? Do we meditate before all the prayers (see Talmud Berachot on Meditation before Prayers) ? Do we have time for all that ? Consider that we have to live our daily lives but our main concern is not flying up in the air due to a few Baal Shem Tov ideas but rather studying Torah and the basics".

____________________________

The "Chmielnicki Massacres"

The "Chmielnicki Massacres" started in 1648 and basically ended in 1649. I am saying "basically" because there were some further pogroms following.

When we look at Jewish history, it is nothing unusual at all that from time to time, someone claimed to me the Meshiach or that the redemption (Ge'ulah) wouldn't be too far anymore. Some rabbis even gave specific dates, means years, when the Meshiach is due to arrive.

Especially after the expulsion from Spain in 1492, Jewish mysticism changed. The Middle Ages hardly included any good times for Jews and if so, they didn't last for too long. Although Spain had be the new almost perfect homeland of the Jews for many centuries, everything came to an end in the 15th century. Some years later, the same happened to the Jews in Portugal. Due to all the traumatic experiences, Kabbalah became more and more apocalyptic and the Jews started to long for Meshiach. And as I already mentioned, specific dates for the arrival of the Meshiach were stipulated and one of those dates was the year 1648. But instead of the redemption, the year 1648 only brought disastrous events for the Jews in Eastern Europe.

The "Chmielnicki Massacres" actually took place in a vast area. Today the names of most of the places are unknown to us unless someone is dealing with chassidic history. More than 300 years ago there were areas called Podolia, Volhynia, Cherginov and Poltava. Today those are parts of the Ukraine and Poland. And in those days, these areas were ruled by Poland and the economy was in the hands of the noblemen whereas the Jews suffered from the conflict between the nobility and the serfs and between the conflict between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church. And, as in most centuries before, also the Jews had high positions in the country's economy system which made the Polish Gentiles see them as supporters of the rich (of Capitalism).

Already in 1637, militant Cossacks called for killing the Jews but were stopped by the Polish army. Unfortunately, the Jews missed getting the hint. The hint that if a pogrom was about to start and be stopped, there may be another one. The Jews didn't understand any warning and instead proclaimed that they were saved due to Kabbalistic (zoharic) influences. And the year 1648 should be the year of Rdemption and Meshiach anyway. Until 1648, the Cossacks, however, had improved a lot and became much more organized. Their leader was Hetman Bogdan Chmielnicki whose goal was to get the Cossacks officially recognized and, at the same time, getting rid of the Jews. First, the Jewish communities in the Dnejper region were wiped out. Survivors either converted to Christianity or were sold into slavery. Afterwards the Cossacks continued their massacres in Nemirov where 6000 Jews were slaughtered. I am using the word "slaughtered", as it was more than only a brutal murder. The Cossacks cut throats, drowned Jewish children and used any kind of torture one can imagine. Synagogues and Torah scrolls were destroyed and the parchment of the Torah scrolls was used for making sandals. Later, the following communities were wiped out: Tulchin, Polonnoye and Narol. Eventually Chmielnicki made an agreement with the Polish King John Casimir about the recognition of the Cossacks. Jews, on the other hand, weren't allowed living in places where Cossacks lived.

But not only in Poland, the massacres took place. The Jews in Lithuania and White Russia also had to suffer. There, the Cossacks stormed the communities Moghilev, Vitebsk and Vilna. When Sweden conquered Poland in 1665, there was a short period of time when the Jews could return to their normal lives, as they were friendly with the Swedes. The Polish, on the other hand, saw this kind of friendliness as a betrayal and it came to further massacres. There is an official opinion that during the years 1648 – 1658, 300 Jewish communities were wiped out.

Shabbat Shalom

B"H

A week full of demonstrations lays behind us. As I said before, I am sick of going to further demonstrations and smell burning garbage. I am also lucky that I usually don't use Jerusalem's bus system. Otherwise I would be stuck in the demonstration or tram construction site traffic for hours.

Next week I am going to a chassidic wedding in Bnei Brak and already suffer from doubts. Maybe it is just me, as everyone else involved seems to be happy. So is the bride Ruchele.

She just turned 18 and has been engaged for exactly one year. Ruchele grew up within a closed chassidic society and doesn't expect anything else. On the contrary: She looks so happy because she thinks that as a married woman she belongs to the circle of all the adult women at the Shabbes table.

Despite all the happiness, and now I may sound like the former Gerrer (Gur) member and now runaway Sarah Einfeld: After the Chuppah, the wedding, food and dancing follows the wedding night. This is reality and there you basically going to bed with a guy you don't know.

A secular colleague told me that Ruchele has been raised this way and doesn't see anything wrong with it. So, what ?

I, on the other hand, think about the life she could have had by not getting married so early. Studying, learning a profession, whatever. If her marriage turned out to be not a happy one, would she say so or just continue and accept it as the way of life ?

This is not too much of a Shabbat subject but it still runs around in my thoughts.

"Shabbat Shalom - Gut Schabbes" to everyone !

Yahrzeit of the Apta Rebbe

B"H

On Shabbat, we commemorated the Yahrzeit of the famous Apta (Opatov) Rebbe, Rabbi Avraham Joshua Heshel.

Rabbi Avraham Joshua Heshel was born in 1748 and passed away on 5 Nissan 1825. He was known as the Apta Rav and remained famous until today.

He was born in Zmigrod, near Rzeszov, as the son of Rabbi Shmuel of Neustadt. In 1763, he married Chaya Sarah, the daughter of Rabbi Yaakov Titkin. In 1788, he became the Rabbi of Kolbuszov, where he lived in severe poverty. It was in there that Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov introduced him to Chassidut and his mentor, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk.

In 1800, Rabbi Avraham Joshua became Rabbi of Opatov (Apta). After a unhappy stay in Iasi (Moldavia), he moved to Medziborz . However, it is unknown if he was the official Rabbi there.

He was survived by two sons (Rabbi Yitzchak Me'ir and Rabbi Yosef Moshe) and three daughters (Yocheved, Dinah and Rachel).

His grandson Rabbi Meshullam Zusya of Zinkov published his work OHEV ISRAEL in Zhitomir in 1863.

The Apta Rebbe was opposed to asceticism and emphasized the love for Klal Israel. He stressed that it was the purpose of the people to seek the nearness of G - d by sanctifying all their thoughts and activities.

He believed that he had lived before. That he had been a high priest (Cohen HaGadol) or a King of Israel. Thus he maintained that he had to go through various reincarnations because his love of Israel had not been perfected.

________________

Sources:

- M.E. Gutmann, Migdolei HaHasidut, pp. 172 - 233

- The Encyclopedia of Hasidism by Tzvi M. Rabinowicz

Link:

The APTA DYNASTY

Bilbulim - Confusions

B"H

"There are so many confusions among the Jewish world today, a friend of mine from Mea Shearim loves to say. Plenty of Jews come back to religion but they don't really find their path. Instead of jumping into Chassidut they should rather study Judaism from scratch. I cannot dump a Streimel or Kaftan on me when I don't know anything about Halachot or prayer. I have hardly any Torah knowledge but I insist on being called "chassidic". How can that be ?"

My friend is absolutely right and, as we can read here, some serious Baalei Teshuva do have the same opinion. A Baal Teshuva or convert to Judaism should first study Halachot and Torah before making a decision which way to go. How can I put on a Kaftan and call myself Boyan, Satmar or Karlin when I don't have any detailed knowledge about those groups ? The pretending person wasn't even accepted into the group, and, in some cases, is not even halachically Jewish. Only seeing some "strange exotic" clothes in haredi areas and getting wild fantasies about a "perfect" lifestyle is totally out of a realistic place.

I can understand those people and maybe I also got influenced by certain attractions in my past. Being new in the religious frum world and coming to Mea Shearim does awake some of those fantasies. Of course it goes wrong when you just jump into something  you have no idea about. Newcomers love to call themselves "Bochur" (Yeshiva guy) and throw around with other Yiddish words but have basically no idea of what they are talking about. "Yeah, Satmar sounds great and I am against the State of Israel anyway, so I must be Satmar !"

To any newcomer: Satmar is much more than anti - Zionism. Has anyone of you ever read the Torah commentaries written by Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum z"l ? If you understand them you may  understand more about Satmar. And I wish you all the best because those commentaries are brilliant but not at all easy to grasp.

It is so easy calling myself Satmar or keeping a Satmar custom but what about the real group life and intense studies ? Today I can run to Satmar and tomorrow to Amshinov or Erloi but where am I ? This is exactly the reason why I would not join any group. Because I cannot bind myself to ONE Rebbe. I like to jump from here to there; call it "lack of taking responsibility". However, the difference is that I am not proudly and in an arrogant way announce that I AM SATMAR.

I am not, so what !

I don't put on a haredi clothing style because I am not entirely haredi. What I do keep is some customs and sometimes I may know more about a group than a guy calling himself whatever without being part of a group but living his fantasies.

Chassidic life is not a fantasy but work. Not everyone is able to lead a chassidic lifestyle and countless people fail. I once learnt from a Rabbanit at my Yeshiva (seminary) that, as soon as someone jumps into religion without looking left and right, will hardly remain religious but get fed up very quickly.

I also met people whose goal is to show off. "Wow, look at me, I am chassidic now and go to Mea Shearim".

I don't need to tell you that this kind of behaviour is stupid and won't get you anywhere. Keep on playing games and live in your imagination.

On Purim I met a chassidic Mea Shearim family who I personally was very closed to years ago. Then I got my crisis and left without saying a word. I was just too ashamed to let them know all my doubts. A year or so later, I sent them a postcard from Berlin and made up a kind of excuse. After making Aliyah almost ten years ago, I haven't had the guts to call them up and explaining myself. On Purim, I met one of their neighbours in a certain Synagogue and she called the woman of the family over. I was completely embarrassed but it went more relaxed than I thought it would. A lot has changed since I saw them last. The kids, for instance, are mostly married off.

I told the woman that I am not really like that anymore but different. She, on the other hand, gave me her phone number (which is still the same) and invited me for whenever I feel like coming. Also for Pessach.

I was very moved but haven't decided what to do because I am afraid of making the same mistakes from years ago. Namely, to JUMP.

In the meantime I am restricting myself a bit but did phone her up.

What I would recommend if there is a female person interested in becoming seriously chassidic is to look for people who were born into society. They can teach you a lot and tell you the truth. Rather than hanging around with other Baalei Teshuva only. Take it slowly and learn Halachot, prayer, Torah and whatever you can in an organized programme. Look around into different groups and directions and maybe you end up different than you first thought.

Once I met a young student and she desperately wanted to become chassidic. Chassidic and that's it !

In the end she got married to a litvishe guy from the Vilna Gaon Yeshiva in the Arab Quarter and seems to be happy.

Old and new Pictures of Rebbes on Tu be'Shevat

Where do I find myself as a female eating any of those fruit ?

Nowhere because those events (food) are only for MEN !

Look at the fruit masses of the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe !!!

Everything is arranged in detail: The most organized chassidic group BELZ.

Dushinsky: Small but nice. Except for the women who won't speak to outsiders.


See all pictures HERE !

Someone like You

B"H

According to my own experience: Many chassidic men are one of the greatest gossips I have ever met in my life. People love to say that women are chatterboxes and never stop talking but look at men !

Male Chassidim are interested in anything concerning their society: What does the Rebbe do ? What other groups do ?

Of course, the own Rebbe is the greatest and other Rebbes are second class !

How are the Rebbitzens of other groups ?

Of course, my own Rebbitzen is perfect; an Eshet Chayil, generous, smart and kind. Let alone her Chesed. Other Rebbitzens, of course, are less smart, stupid and not as pious as my Rebbitzen.

There is so much gossip around next to all those holiness and especially male Chassidim are getting excited.

A former Israeli Gur (Ger) woman has a private blog on the Internet. How she left the group and why. Not because she felt any hatred but just chose another (secular) lifestyle. She recently appeared on the Israeli TV channel 33 (Education Channel) and spoke about her life then and now. I did not see the report but was told that she came from the Gerrer community in Ashdod and now lives as a totally secular Jew in Tel Aviv.

Countless Israeli Haredim (incl. Chassidim) love her blog and her story. Not those from Gur, I suppose but others. It gives them an opportunity to point the finger at another group:

"Oh, look what's happening in Gur !"

Particularly in Gur, as the runaway writes about their secret Takanot such as sex and female behaviour.

There are plenty other "Off - The - Derech" blogs around. Most of them in the English speaking world. One Chassid asked me to send me more of those URLs because he is interested in cases like me. He knows all about religion and the beauty and holiness about Chassidut and is now looking for something "more" exciting.

"Like me ? I asked. Why me ? I have only been in society for about a year before I ran away".

The answer was that he is interested in any kind of such people and why they do it.

When I asked him if does not have enough cases in his own group, he denied that there are cases. "Well, a few but runaways are very rare".

Making it sound like "This only happens in other groups but not in my own one". :-)

I am trying to get hold of a video with the interview with the Ex - Gerrer lady because I am interested in one response. If the TV ever asked her this particular question.

For one reason, most "Off - The - Derech - People are being troubled by guilt feelings.

Can I be secular and what does G - d think about me ? How "light" religious should I be in order to keep my guilt as low as I can ?

I would love to know what the woman has to say about this.

Nevertheless, as soon as I get hold of a video, I will let you know !

Admorim (Rebbes) on Vacation

B"H

Who can provide further information to those pictures of different chassidic Rebbes being on vacation ?

I know the Satmarer Rebbe on the above picture but about all the names of the other Rebbes I am not sure.



All pictures can be viewed here:

http://bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=11476&cat_id=18

Baldness in chassidic Groups

B"H

To be honest: I am not the type of person lifting up a woman's wig / headcover and look if she is bald or has hair.
In case she has hair: How much does she have ?

This is a rather symbolically statement and to put it in other words:
I wouldn't ask a chassidic women if she shaved her hair.
First of all, I would be to ashamed doing so; ashamed of also ashaming her, as this is her private matter. Secondly, because I am not interested. I am not running after the subject and, according to my own experience, I conclude somehow, that guys are more into the subject than women. Maybe to guys it means a certain attraction.

However, I was surprised to hear that many chassidic women still shave their hair. This really got me and not how they may look or how they cover their bald head. Does it sound naive when I say that I honestly thought that the younger female generation would change and not shave anymore ? Except for the Toldot Aharon maybe where the Takanot (internal laws) demand the baldness of a married woman.

But lets take Belz or Boyan.
I would have expected that the younger generation doesn't shave anymore. Put on a wig (Shaitel) and that's it. Now some Chassidim let me know that even their younger generation still shaves and no changes towards "modernity" are at sight. That's it ! No further "becoming more modern" discussions.

I expected the shaving of the Yerushalmim, as they are still extremely conservative, but Belz ? Now I learned something different.
I am surprised, a little shocked but I can live with it.
You are probably expecting me to ask why those women shave their hair and why they don't start a feminist rebellion ? What does a woman feel when her hair is being shaved ?
Yes, I am interested in answers but accept people's privacy. It is none of my business and if I was one of those chassidic women, I would treat it as a very private matter. I don't even think that I would share it with my husband.

And, yes, I do find it unfair to those women. But what do I know, as I didn't grow up chassidic. What do I know about things the girls have been taught ? Teachings they apparently accept.
Nevertheless, if such a woman was publishing a book about her feelings, upbringing, how she keeps her self - esteem, I would be extremely interested in reading it.

Rabbis before and during the War

B"H

Poland 1941: The Nazis forced Rabbi Chaim Dosman to take off his clothes in the middle of the street.

Romania 1934: The Vishnitzer Rebbe Israel Hager

The funeral (Levayeh) of the Chafetz Chaim in 1933

"Dependencies of Chassidic Groups", Part 1 - Satmar

B"H

The Satmarer Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum survived the Holocaust due to the fact that his name was on the list of the Kasztner Train. Together with 1368 people, he was rescued and sent to Switzerland.

The chassidic majority of Eastern and Central Europe vanished during the Holocaust. In March 1944, the Germans invaded Hungary and at the time, over 450.000 Jews were living in the country. Seventy per cent of Hungarian Jewry were deported and murdered by the Germans.
Three million (90 % of Polish Jewry) were killed in the Holocaust. Fewer than 300.000 Polish Jews survived.

Rebbe Teitelbaum reached New York in 1947. He then was 61 years old and anxious building up a new community in New York.
Those Chassidim getting to New York after the war saw their common goal in recreating a chassidic world as it had been before the Holocaust. Was there any time at all to mourn for friends and family members ?

Slowly slowly, new communities were built, including Mikwaot, Synagogues, Yeshivot and even the dress codes changed. Eastern European Chassidim brought with them their own fashion. Long beards and kaftans, even a Shatnez institution was established.

But the New World in America brought further new challenges. The first change was that in New York, no one can isolate himself but is forced, in one way or the other, to deal with society. With Gentiles, secular Jews, unemployment and other social issues, housing and health.
Thus, a new level of leadership was required and Rebbe Teitelbaum with his Torah knowledge and piety wasn't able to face all the modern challenges in a different world. Therefore, the Rebbe appointed Rabbi Lipa Friedman, a former bank director from Czechoslovakia, as a community president. From 1948 - 1972, Rabbi Friedman was running the Satmar court.

How could Chassidim find a job in New York ? In a modern society with radios and TV sets. With cinemas, a world where the English language dominates. Chassidim who hardly new the language and lacked secular education and knowledge. Most Chassidim worked as teachers, Kashrut supervisors, tailors or electricians. In 1966, a young Satmarer Chassid, Irving Goldstein, started his career with his first camera store, grew bigger and bigger and thus, provided jobs.

Rebbe Teitelbaum, and not only him but any other Rebbe around as well, was into study and prayer and, in their earlier life, had never been confronted with job training, arranging loans, fundraising, negotiating with politicians, etc. Of course, then the Satmarer Rebbe appointed Rabbi Friedman as a middleman but the funds had to come from somewhere. Re - establishing a chassidic community costs large sums of money and hardly any Chassid brought money with him. Chassidic groups suddenly depended on rich donors; American Jews who tried to help setting up new communities.

And with these kinds of donations, another problem came up. How far can a wealthy donor influence the group ? Let's assume that there is a rich charismatic donor who doesn't just want to hand over a check but demands a position within the group. Even an invisible position but where he still decides certain issues usually the Rebbe is taking care of.
Who then started really ruling the groups ? Still the Rebbe (and I am not talking only about Satmar but about any other chassidic group settling in New York) or the donor who is not a part of the group at all; let alone a Rabbi but a businessman.

Was a chassidic Rebbe able of holding his position or did he become a donor puppet ? And how about today, as donations have to keep on floating; otherwise most chassidic groups would be bankrupt.
Before the Holocaust, a Rebbe was everything but after the war, everything changed and more and more other people came to power. Important Rabbis within the group, donors from the outside, maybe even the American government or senators.

How depended is a chassidic Rebbe today ?
I once had a discussion with someone on FACEBOOK about the topic and found it quite interesting. I had never thought about it and maybe you haven't either. However, I think it is important to mention it and I wonder if the group members themselves are aware of it as well.
______________

Source:

"Hasidic People" by Jerome R. Mintz

Claims against Haredim

B"H

Countless prejudices regarding Israeli Haredim are floating around. Not only in our country but also abroad. And sometimes I am really getting the impression that Diaspora Jews talk like they know our country much better than we Israelis do.:-)
At least, according to some comments from abroad.

What are the most common prejudices against Israeli haredi society ?

1. They don't go to the army.
Right, but you need to learn how to differentiate. It depends on the group and many other things. However, quite a few people do join the army (Nachal haCharedi).

2. They live in ghettos.
Sometimes, as they try to protect themselves.

3. They are being supported by the money of the tax payers and they themselves won't work.

4. They are all anti - Zionists.
It depends who.

5. They all want to force anyone else to keep the Torah.
It depends how the outside world understands it.

6. Their women are uneducated.
Depends on what your understanding of education is.

7. If no one else behaves as the Haredim want, they just beat people up or force them othewise.

Within the past few years, claims about haredi violence have been on the rise. Secular, national religious or even litvishe women, for instance, who claim that they got either yelled at or really physically attacked on public buses or elsewhere.

I am not denying that some cases may be true and if so, it is a horrible thing. Nevertheless, as soon as we hear about such claims we still need to be very careful. Especially today, many other society groups (secular or national religious) seem to hold a grudge for certain parts of haredi society. I spoke to some Haredim and asked about the reason such people might have. To be honest, I didn't get an answer. It sounds just like haredi society isn't too interested in the subject. Okay, there are people from the outside spreading rumours, so what ? Or to say it in Hebrew:
"Stam Shtuyiot - Just Nonsense".

The recent incident in Beit Shemesh has been discussed in many national religious and anti - religious blogs. Young people were attacked by some Jerusalem Chassidim (wearing golden coats on Shabbat). The blog world seems to jump on this particular incident. Anyway, I spoke to some Haredim from Beit Shemesh and they haven't heard about anything. No one was attacked lately.

You may argue that these Haredim lie but why should they ? In order to protect society ? Let me tell you there is not much more for a male Haredi than the latest gossip in society. Just look into Israeli haredi forums; and this particular attack hasn't been discussed once. In fact, the Haredim don't know about it.
This doesn't need to mean that the person being attacked lies; however, it does mean that blog readers or the public as a whole have to be very careful and if necessary, should further investigate. Not every attack reported to the press really took place.

So, what is the reason for such false accusations ? Specific groups have an interest in giving the Haredim a bad reputation ?
One Haredi told to me that those claims cause Meshiach not to come. Not only such behaviour but parts of it.

There is some truth in it although very much on both sides. Years ago, I was trying to be a Haredi myself and when I decided to leave, I had neither faced any violence nor was I pushed. My case was different anyway, as I wasn't born into society and thus people do have more patience than with someone born right into it.
What I remember very well is that especially the Haredim (at least most of them I knew then) supported me much more than any other Jewish society. And this, on the other hand, caused me always to come back into society. Even as a visitor or as someone supporting haredi ideas without being vey much haredi myself.

It goes without saying that there are violent groups within haredi society but, nevertheless, each case should be looked at carefully and individually, as sometimes the circumstances are much more complicated. Furthermore, other outsiders try to take advantage of the whole new "scandal" (if there is one) and thus put more and more fuel into the conflict.

The Edah against the Ministry of Education

"Let's go and demonstrate !"
Fakshivili (news poster) in Mea Shearim.


B"H

The Israeli Ministry of Education is planning to modernize the haredi school system. Until today, haredi schools made up their own curriculum without being bothered too much by the state authorities. This is going to change now; at least according to the Ministry of Education.

Most of the haredi population in Israel doesn't have an efficient education in mathematics, English (foreign languages as a whole), geography, biology or physics. So far, haredi teachers "only" concentrate on Torah, Halachot, Mussar or Talmud. The girls' education is even worse. Some Torah "light" with Rashi but the more challenging commentators like the Ohr HaChaim, Kli Yakar or the Ramban (Nachmanides) are not being discussed at all. Some haredi schools claim that there are a few exceptions.

Those of you talking to a Litvak or a Chassid from Israel find out very quickly that, indeed, many of them do lack a proper education. Not in Torah but in secular studies. For instance, I have been repeatedly asked by various Chassidim why it doesn't work when you write the address of a website in Hebrew.

In my opinion, the whole education system is a delicate subject. Even in the Middle Ages, Jewish children and adults learned more than the kids today. Just look at the Rambam (Maimonides), the GRA (Vilna Gaon) and plenty of other famous rabbis. They all had an extraordinary education and didn't consider secular studies, such as science, as "impure", as the Edah HaCharedit does today. Do I have to mention Rashi's three daughters as well ? Including the rumour that it was them writing the entire commentary on the Talmud Tractate Nedarim.

And what if a family has a very gifted and talented child ? Is this child being robbed of a better future or even of becoming a great scientist who can contribute to society ? Are Mishnayiot and Torah enough ? What if a haredi woman has the ability of being a great doctor ?

Already in the early childhood, any thoughts about going to a university are being banned. Actually haredi children grow up in a system where they don't even have such thoughts, as they are already aware of your place in society.
But doesn't teach us especially science about G - d's great and perfect creation ? Why is it so wrong studying this ? Didn't G - d Himself give us special abilities in order to use them ?

The Chatam Sofer claimed that everything new is bad. No changes should be made and a Jew has to stick to Torah. The old system cannot be bad, as it always worked out. So why make changes ?

Everything new becomes a threat.
A threat to whom ? To the Rabbi / Rebbe or haredi society ? Has a rebbe an interest in limiting the education of his followers in order to keep up his own power ? Are scientific studies a danger and confuse a religious Jew ?

The Ministry of Education has a more practical point of view:
The haredi population is widely uneducated (regarding secular studies) and therefore cannot compete on the job market. The State of Israel is not willing to support haredi society financially and is going to make further budget cuts. The Haredim have to go to work and how are they going to find a job with hardly any education ?

Indeed, the Ministry got a point; however, it should be mentioned that many Haredim do work and that the Edah members don't accept any government money anyway. Most Haredim work within their own community as teachers, rabbis, Shochet, sales people, etc.

For many weeks, the dispute has been going on and plenty of Fakshivilim (news posters) were hung up by the Edah in Mea Shearim. Just yesterday, another demonstration took place at Kikar Shabbat in Jerusalem. The Edah HaCharedit doesn't even consider for a second fulfilling the conditions of the "Zionist" Ministry.


Remains the question:
Is "too much" education a danger to haredi society and to its rabbis ?


Link:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3634458,00.html

It's Tea Time

B"H

Just recently, someone told me the "secrets" about how especially chassidic Rebbes raise money in the UK, Canada or the US. Maybe not only chassidic Rebbes but other Rabbis as well. But let's stick to Chassidut, as particularly here, I find it very interesting.

Let's say that a chassidic Rebbe is coming to New York in order to raise funds for his group. What do his followers or donors usually do ? And does the Rebbe just walk from one rich person to the next in order to wait for a check ?

It is very common to arrange an event called "Tea Party".
The tea party is taking place in a private house and tickets for the event are being sold for, let's say, 10.000 Dollar each.
Of course, those tea parties abroad are much more open and relaxed than in Israel. The Rebbe might (I emphazise: "might") even talk to the women or one woman. Well, probably if she turns out to be a wealthy donor.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if I am ever going to participate in such a tea party, as my budget won't allow me a cup of tea for 10.000 Dollar.

Are there maybe any special offer tickets available ?

Better to Shut Up ?

B"H

There are things which make me really upset. Especially when it comes to the religious world. And what drives me crazy there is when some people think that they are so holy, religious, pious, whatever, that hardly anyone else can compete with them. Especially not me because I am just someone walking around in pants and having all these "rebellious" ideas. I am not spending lots of time of my day praying. Tehillim (Psalms) or all the prayers. I do pray but not so obvious for others that they, on the other hand, think that I am so great.

But my intention is not to give the impression that I am disappointed of not getting accepted. This is not the issue.
The issue is that people who think they are so holy behave worse than many totally secular or even heretics.
As soon as some Jews (or potential Jews) see the light and either convert or become Baalei Teshuva, they think that from now on, they are only full or justice, Kedusha (holiness) and Chesed (kindness). Only some Jews and I am not generalizing.

Being a Baal Teshuva doesn't only include doing Mitzwot and praying regularly; it rather means changing your personality to the better and into the direction of Torah. Many people don't even understand this basic principle and don't stop telling others what their particular rabbi has taught them. Only the rabbi counts and the newcomers quote you anything which prooves them right.
On the other hand, when you look at their behaviour, something else comes out; and this is definitely nothing religious. And I am going that far to claim that some converts to Judaism should have rather stayed Christian instead of now bothering Jews with their Torah quotes in a Christian drill sergeant style.

Not only in the litvishe society but also in the chassidishe Welt !
And by the way, where are all the true pious Chassidim from the past ? If we only had the Baal Shem Tov coming back today and looking at all the mess. Chassidic groups are fighting with each other and believe it or not, even a pot full of Cholent is enough to start a fight (as it happened last Sukkot between the Toldot Aharon and the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak).

I do have more to say about the subject but still have to figure out if I want to use names or just put it into a short story. Not Mea Shearim but this time, it is the litvishe Americans driving me crazy.

Well, some of them and not all.

Some people told me that even if there are problems in religious society, we should try to get over it and rather not mention them publically. Who cares anyway and what can you change ? Maybe some people care but there won't be changes. So what ? Why not keep quiet and get over it. Don't bother and continue your own life. Why wasting time and energy ?

I tried to think that way but the whole behaviour seriously bothers me. I cannot just sit and forget. Tomorrow is another day and let's start something new. There are topics which definitely have to be made public. The only question is: How far should we go ? Are there any people involved who could get harmed ?
These questions are very important to me and thus, it is not always easy to find the best solution or a solution at all.

VIP's visit VIP's

B"H

Influencial rabbis visit their counterparts.



The head of the "Edah HaCharedit", Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss (right), was visiting one of the two Satmarer Rebbes (Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum).




The Bostoner Rebbe (right) was visiting Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliyashiv (left)