Tikkun Leil Shavuot in Jerusalem

B"H

"Tikkun Leil Shavuot" is a famous tradition on the night of Shavuot. Jerusalem is full of different study offers on Tuesday night. People usually eat their festive meal and then stream out to study somewhere. Within the past few years, the tradition has also become very popular among secular Israelis. Personally, I very much prefer lectures in Hebrew and if possible, something halachic. Besides going to Mea Shearim on Erev Shavuot.

As I have already mentioned, the best Hebrew programmes in Jerusalems are taking place at the Great Synagogue as well as at the Yeshurun Synagogue in King George Street.

The present Chief Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Jonah Metzger, will speak at Yeshurun, and the former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Israel Lau, is going to speak at the Great Synagogue. Not only, as there will be plenty of other speakers but both Rabbis chose halachic issues.

The Menachem begin Center is offering a rather strange lecture as a Tikkun Leil Shavuot. The doctor of sociology, Sima Zalcberg, is going to talk about how, as a university researcher, she smuggled herself into the Toldot Aharon in order to write her doktorat (PhD). This happened some years ago and Ms. Zalcberg describes in her PhD., how she basically lied herself into the group in order to get some invitations for Shabbat. Her subject was "how the Toldot Aharon women shave their hair".

I spoke to Sima Zalcberg on the phone after I read her doktorat and here is the astonishing result:

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2008/02/does-science-justify-anything.html

As I said many times, I am against such Chutzpah using other people for one's own purposes. Furthermore, the lecture itself may give Christian missionaries or other people with negative goals ideas about how to make their way through. Sima Zalcberg has not much to say anyway. Before she actually went to the Toldot Aharon in a rather clumsy way, she read reports of how scientist make their way into African tribes. This says a lot about the quality of her doktorat where she refers to the women in Toldot Aharon as "subjects" and as "uneducated".

For those of you who are seriously interested in chassidic women shaving their hair after getting married:

Most chassidic women do shave their hair (Vishnitz, Belz, Satmar and many others). One doesn't need to sneak into the Toldot Aharon in order to collect information !

Shabbat & Shavuot

B"H

Last Shabbat I met one of my American readers and took him to the Tish of the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe in Mea Shearim. The Toldot Aharon weren't on but later I found out that the Shomrei Emunim as well as the Mishkenot HaRoim obviously were having Tishes. Never mind, as on Erev Shavuot, many groups may have some events which I am going to check out.

Furthermore, there are plenty of "Tikkunei Leil Shavuot - Torah studies on Shavuot" around. In Tel Aviv as well in Jerusalem.

In case you are looking for something halachic and intensively religious, you can either go to a Beit Midrash in Mea Shearim (as a man), to the Great Synagogue or to the Yeshurun Synagogue (both in King George Street). Both Synagogue are offering fantastic Shiurim (lectures) in HEBREW !

I want to apologize to all readers who sent me e - mails and have not yet received a response. They will hopefully do so today !

Who is demonstrating against what ?

B"H

Mea Shearim / Ge'ulah / Bar Ilan Street are loaded with new haredi demonstrations:

1. Against the Israeli government moving bones from an ancient cemetery.
According to the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, the bones are from Gentiles and not from Jews. The Edah as well as other leading haredi Rabbis have a different opinion.

See further photos HERE !

2. Against the arrest of Rabbi Fischel Greenfeld who participated in some violent demonstrations against the movie and MP4 selling shop "Greentech Space".

See further photos HERE !

Latest Pashkevilim

Pashkevili against a certain shop in Ge'ulah (next to Mea Shearim) selling movie DVDs. The shop is well known and many times, the Sikarikim demonstrated in front of it or even took violent actions. The main worry of the neighbourhood is that haredi youngsters are being drawn away from Yiddishkeit by the Internet or watching Hollywood movies.

The Israeli government decided to move the bones from an ancient graveyard located next to the Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. Haredi Poskim such as Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliyashiv stated that it is forbidden to move the graveyard in favour of a new emergency center for the hospital. Israel archeologists, however, claim that the bones sre from Gentiles and not from Jews at all.
Today, the graveyard will be moved but the Edah haCharedi called for demonstrations. One took place at Bar Ilan Street (Jerusalem) last night, where trash cans were burnt.

On the radio, I listened to the spokesman of the Edah, Rabbi Shmuel Pappenhaim, a few days ago and he had nothing to say except that the graveyard may be a Jewish one and the demonstrations take place because there is a doubt.

Shabbat Shalom

B"H

"Chodesh Tov - Have a great new month !" - to everyone. Today is Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the beginning of the new Jewish month Sivan.
A Rosh Chodesh can also stand for a new beginning in life; so, lets begin something and get prepared for Shavuot. Despite that I am tired and think about hanging around lazy at the beach in Tel Aviv.

Sunny weather in Tel Aviv (in Jerusalem as well) and I am soon going to back for Jerusalem. Meeting a Shearim reader from New York and taking him to some chassidic Tishes.

A few days ago, I heard the typical Israeli discussion about "whether Haredim should go to work and not study the whole day". The Israeli press this subject and actually the discussion took place on a haredi radio channel. The radio guy was so much in favour of Haredim not working. It was unbelievable.

The person he was interviewing was a Knesset member from the Sephardi haredi SHASS party who said that a Haredi who doesn't fit into the Yeshiva / Kollel frame should take the consequences and go to work. The radio guy almost freaked.

I think it is a typical Israeli issue, as most Haredi (I suppose) in the US or England go to work. There the state is not paying welfare for people who only study and you have to earn your living.

The Shass politician was right. In Israel, you have countless of young Haredim who just don't fit into a Yeshiva and prefer hanging around. You see them standing at street corners or even walking in parks watching sun - bathing girls. The Internet Cafes are packed with Haredim.
I don't understand the whole issue with "not working". There are a very few Talmidim Chachamim (wise students) and they should study but trying to force thousands of young Haredim into Yeshivot in order to keep up society demands is ridiculous.

Rabbi Hirsch had a brilliant but unique Torah (Parashat Toldot) commentary on the way Rivka (Rebekka) and Yitzchak raised their two sons Esav and Yaakov. The Rabbi commentates that if the parents had realized that Esav was not a study type at all and had, instead, provided him with a job or something physical to do, he would have not turned out that bad.
Rabbi Hirsch concludes that sometimes a parent should realize the abilities of his child and act according to that. Esav was not happy studying and thus started looking for more excitement in life. And when you look at our forefathers or even many Talmidim Chachamim in the past, most of them worked besides their studies. Even the Baal Shem Tov in his early years while he was living with his wife in the forest and growing herbs.

Or look at myself (although I am "only female):
I work and study.

It is possible combining the two although it is hard. But that's life.

"Shabbat Shalom - Gut Schabbes" to all of you !

A Jewish Tourist in Israel on Shavuot

B"H

This upcoming Tuesday night, the Jewish holiday of SHAVUOT starts. It was then when G - d gave us the Torah at Mount Sinai (Har Sinai). Thus, the Jews accepted the Torah and its Mitzvot and the task of the Gentiles is to keep the "Seven Noachide Laws". According to Judaism, every human being, no matter of Jew or non - Jew, has a place in the "World to Come - Olam HaBah" ! From where do we see this ?

From a verse (passuk) in Talmud Sanhedrin where the question is asked whether Bilam (the famous Gentile prophet who failed to curse the Israelites in the desert) has a place in the world to come (after his death). Why would the Talmud ask this questions if there wasn't a chance for a Gentile to get into Olam HaBah anyway ? Thus, we know that every human being does have a chance. However, Gentiles should commit themselves of keeping the "Seven Noachide Laws" and not worship idols as, for instance, Christianity does.

In Israel, we only celebrate the festival of Shavuot for ONE day. Beginning this Tuesday night until Wednesday night. Diaspora Jews, however, add a second day and celebrate until Thursday night.

The question comes up: What should a Diaspora Jew do when he is visiting Israel in Shavuot ? Is he supposed to keep one day (as the Jews in Israel do) or two days (because he still lives in the Diaspora) ?

The same question also comes up on Sukkot and Pessach.

Years ago, I worked in an office of Halacha Poskim (experts) and we received many e - mails on this matter. The Rabbis answered that a Diaspora Jew making Aliyah and already has his Aliyah documents in his hand (because he is arriving in Israel within a few days / weeks) can even keep one day of Shavuot at his place in the Diaspora. Whereas Jews from Israel living in the Diaspora have to keep the second day after constantly living outside Israel for three years.

In the book "Celebration of the Soul" - The Holidays in the Life and Thought of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook - by Rabbi Moshe Zvi Neriah, I found the following story:

Whenever tourists asked Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook (1865 - 1935) about observing the second day of a festival (Pessach, Shavuot or Sukkot where the Diaspora adds another day), the Rav would urge them to consider settling in the Land. He would emphasize that the decisive halachic criterion of "intention to return" alludes to the inner connection of the Jewish soul to Eretz Israel. Thus, everyone who visits the Land and tastes its heady atmosphere no longer wishes to leave. Of course, circumstances frequently force one to return to the Diaspora. However, this is the decision of the mind, which determines man's intentions. But his heart, his inner will always desires to remain in the land of our forefathers.

Old Friends on the Internet

B"H

The Internet is bad, evil, immodest ! 

Cancer, Yetzer HaRah, anything you can imagine.

Those are the claims of many religious Jews. However, it was the Internet helping me finding some friends from my German past. People I went to school with, other friends and even family members.

It was a real joy surfing through a certain German site and finding all these people who seemed to have gone lost. I found two cousins of mine and with one I am in close touch at the moment. Listening to all the family events I have missed for the past ten years is not that easy, as  two uncles passed away. I was in shock when I heard it about a few hours ago. And those uncles actually died already three years ago.

However, it is strange looking at all those people photos from school and then look at them today. I would have never ever recognized them in the street. 

In the end, I am glad that there is something called Internet. A new invention always has two sides and you have to look and use the positive side and not only at the worst. Where would we be today if Adam HaRishon hadn't lit the first fire and thus made a brandnew invention ? 

The Karlin - Stolin Rebbe will be in Jerusalem on Shavuot !

The BAAL HATURIM on Parashat BaMidbar

B"H

Isn't it fascinating how every word in a Torah Parasha can make you stumble; especially when you study different commenatries. After years and years of studying the Parashat HaShavua (weekly Torah portion) one may think that he already knows everything but reality proves you wrong. Every year anew, something new and astonishing comes up which you have seemed to overlooked the last time.

"And G - s spoke unto Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai …"

One of the various commentators I seem to have neglected so far is the BAAL HATURIM (Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher, 13 century, Germany + Spain). He is making an amazing statement right at the beginning of the Parasha and I haven't found his conclusion in any other of the 15 commentaries I studied.

"BaMidbar Sinai - In the wilderness of Sinai …"

Baal HaTurim: "If a person is not making himself like a wilderness then he cannot know Torah and Mitzvot".

What kind of a commentary should that be ? Doesn't this sounds rather strange ? How am I going to turn myself into a wilderness ?

However, in Judaism there are always Commentaries on the commentaries (which makes Jewish learning much more crazy complicated), and a commentary on the Baal HaTurim stated that the Rabbi actually refers to a verse (Passuk) in the Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in Talmud Tractate Eruvin 54a. There we would find our answer !

Rabbi Yosef said to Rava: "… If a person makes himself like the wilderness which everybody treads upon (e.g. he is humble), then the Torah is given to him as a gift".

Rashi's explanation on this:

If he acts "like a wilderness", then the Torah will be granted him as a gift and will not be forgotten".

The Baal HaTurim wants to lead our attention to the fact that a Rabbi or any other Jew should act in a humble way and refrain from being arrogant. Don't show off with your Torah knowledge and start looking down on others but serve as an example for being a good Torah Jew.

An amazing statement of the Baal HaTurim referring to Eruvin 45a and another example of how the words of Torah may be interpreted in the most awesome ways.

Shabbat Shalom + Chodesh Tov ! Have a great and healthy new month !

The Fight about Jerusalem

B"H


Already last night, the traditional celebrations for today's "YOM YERUSHALAIM" began. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the national religious "Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva" (in Jerusalem) in order to celebrate with the students and give a speech. Apparently the speech was very patriotic and, of course, in favour of a united Jerusalem. This is what Netanyahu usually says. What he doesn't say or avoids to do is making a CLEAR statement about the future of the Holy City. Is he going to freeze further housing plans or not. What about the haredi neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo or the secular part Gilo ? Is he going to give in to everything Barak Hussein Obama demands ? Everything in favour of the Arabs ? 


Netanyahu has a few patriotic speeches prepared and he is always ready to give one of them but how about reality ? Was giving back Hebron (in 1996) a patriotic thing to do ?


Yesterday a Chabad Rabbi asked Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav to cancel Netanyahu's arrival but, instead, the Yeshiva celebrated together with the Prime Minister. However, there are plenty of speculations going around that Netanyahu has already come to a secret agreement with Hussein Obama dividing Jerusalem and freezing the building of more neighbourhoods in favour of the Palestinians. As soon as Netanyahu feels that the time is right, he will let us all know and I am sure that he has a "patriotic" way to explain it to the Jerusalemites.

Middle: Benjamin Netanyahu

Left: The present Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Jonah Metzger

Right, behind the flag: The former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi and present Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, Rabbi Israel Lau.

Mercaz HaRav students celebrating Netanyahu last night.

Photos: Kikar Shabbat 

Rebbe Israel Hager and his trip into the chassidic Past

B"H

How am I going to say it correctly ? The Vishnitzer Rebbe or one of the present three Vishnitzer Rebben of Bnei Brak ?

Rebbe Israel Hager took his Chassidim do Medziborz and surroundings in order to visit several graves of chassidic Rebbes. Among them the Ohalim of the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.

All photos HERE !

"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