Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Hope vs. Hype - The Danger of Messianic Frenzy

A leading בעל מחשבה and מדריך בהשקפת התורה in our world, has spoken out about the danger of messianic speculation and frenzy (evidently some people have been engaging and indulging in it recently, as has happened at times in the past, esp. during times of great stress and conflict).

Hype of imminent arrival of Moshiach may give birth to a false messiah

ב"ה we have such גדולים to guide us in a responsible Torah manner, in accordance with our מסורה, our holy tradition.

In one particular segment of his words that I especially enjoyed, he shared:

When the גדולי ישראל went through the '73 (Yom Kippur) war, the '67 (Six Day) war, like Rav Schach, Rav Moshe Feinstein, (זכר צדיקים לברכה) we didn't hear such things from them, they weren't talking about משיח, they were talking about התחזקות כראוי (general proper spiritual strengthening). 

The difference between hope and hype may be limited to one letter, but, as we know, even an אות אחת wrong renders a ספר תורה unkosher.

יה"ר מלפני אבינו שבשמים שנשמע ונתבשר בשורות טובות ישועות ונחמות בקרוב

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Litvishe Gadol Expounds on Self-Esteem's Importance - Toras Avigdor Spells it out for us

The matter of self-esteem and the fundamental importance of it in the Torah worldview has been touched on here in the past. For example, we observed that some people think that it is a Chasidic matter, a חידוש (innovation) of that group, and like to cite Reb Zadok of Lublin, for one, on the subject

Of course, that is absurd (as when some Chasidim pose as the inventors of the idea of serving G-d with joy, an explicit ancient scriptural verse in Tehillim), as way back in the Mishnah it states that a person is obligated to say that the world was created for me.

But some people might want, need, and enjoy a more extensive mainstream treatment of the subject, especially due to its importance in our day and age. So therefore I am pleased to share with you that the very recently released Toras Avigdor for Shabbos parashas Bo 5784, has an extensive and comprehensive treatment of the subject (particularly from page six onward). 

Let the lights of ישיבה כנסת ישראל of Slabodka and רב אביגדור מילער זצ"ל elucidate and illuminate the subject for you based on classic, ancient Torah sources.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

להשתעשע בדברי תורה - Rav Asher Weiss Explains an Enigmatic Term of Torah-Human Interaction

There is a beautiful, evocative expression that is used to describe the ideal interaction of a genuine Torah scholar with תורתנו הקדושה. Beautiful, yes, but explanation and explication of it could seem elusive.

I am referring to להשתעשע בדברי תורה, based on the pasuk in Tehillim (קיט:צב) of לולי תורתך שעשועי אז אבדתי בעניי. A related expression is found elsewhere in Tanach with regard to young children here, and toddlers here

Recently Rav Asher Weiss שליט"א, in the course of a great hesped in Eretz Yisrael for Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi זצ"ל, expounded on it, and his words are worth hearing (h/t 'כך לומדים קצויעס?' | ההספד של הגר"א וייס על רה"י • צפו (kikar.co.il).

I cannot duplicate his presentation, so I recommend you listen to/watch it yourself. 

But just to give you an idea, a taste, to whet your appetite, he references a רבינו יונה in מסכת אבות, which states that הקב"ה gave us the תורה to be משתעשע with it. He (RAW) describes that as, for example, saying a סברא forward and backward, to say it in one manner and then in another. Not saying it quickly and proceeding further, rather holding on to it, looking at it from all sides, turning it over. Elsewhere in his words he analogizes such Torah learning to people holding, scrutinizing, and enjoying a precious stone, examining it from different vantage points, its light, reflections, facets, and special qualities. Hear it from RAW here.

May we be zoche להשתעשע בדברי תורה, giving us holy strength and pleasure, in difficult times as well as easier ones, as we connect with הקב"ה through His holy gift to us, leading to גאולה וישועה, בב"א.

Monday, November 20, 2023

Dealing with Anxiety in the Present Matzav: Rav Shaul Alter Gives Direction and Chizuk at BRS

Recently, Rav Shaul Alter, renowned Rosh Yeshiva and מנהיג of Gur, visited the USA. In the course of his visit, he visited Florida, where, among other things, he appeared at the Kehillah of BRS. There, in the course of a moving and inspiring program of music and Torah, he addressed the matzav (situation) of Yidden and Eretz Yisrael since this past Shemini Atzeres, providing important הדרכה, spiritual guidance.

A high quality recording of the event is available online in several places, but I want to share some of the program here in writing, to whet your appetite, and for those who may not be inclined to sit through a video.

The Rabbi of the congregation, R. Efrem Goldberg, in introducing the guest, stated that during the Gulf War, circa thirty years ago, the guest's father. R. Pinchas Menachem Alter (aka הפני מנחם) citing Tehillim סד:ב, where it says מפחד אויב תצר חיי, expounded a distinction between אויב and פחד אויב, saying that דוד המלך didn't ask הקב"ה only for (physical) protection from the enemy, but also from the fear, tension, anxiety, psychological and mental stress that often exists in such a situation.

Rav Shaul Alter, in his address, in response, said that he would say that we need to speak of בלבול, confusion. People don't know what to think, how to view the matzav, and are bewildered, confused. Once they rid themselves of that, and understand that everything is with a חשבון, whatever happens, it is not at random, then they will attain a measure of equanimity that way.

He mentioned the gemara in מסכת עבודה זרה, where, in response to nations who try to take credit for milchamos, it attributes them to הקב"ה , citing the words of the pasuk that ה' איש מלחמה, that even in war there is השגחה, a Divine providence. Additionally he expounded on the meaning of מלחמות אני עשיתי with regard to הקב"ה. Despite the difficulties of such a time and situation, and the horrors of war, we are not forsaken. Our merciful heavenly father, אבינו שבשמים, אבינו אב הרחמן, is with us. 

The moving evening, which included singing and dancing, left people inspired and with greater clarity. May HKB"H help us get through the difficult time and reach שלום גאולה וישועה בקרוב.

A full version of the address of the Rosh Yeshiva, can also be seen here, among multiple other places.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

New Litvishe Singing Star Steps Out With Timely Songs of Emunah, Bitachon, and Chizuk

 Litvishe Singing Star? Yes, you got that right. Not a misprint.

I was looking around online, and was pleasantly surprised to come across an impressive talent that I was not aware of, a short while ago, a Shmuel Greineman of ארץ ישראל. Kikar Shabbos had a stellar post with a very recent recording of him, singing some great songs.

To give you an idea, some of them have lyrics like this:

א-ל נקמות ה' א-ל נקמות הופיע

אזכרה אלקים ואהמיה בראותי כל עיר על תלה בנויה ועיר האלקים מושפלת...ובכל זאת אנו לי-ה ועינינו לי-ה

לא אירא רע כי עתה עמדי

מי יתן ראשי מים ועיני מקור דמעה ואבכה יומם ולילה על חללי בת עמי

אל תזכור לנו עונות ראשונים

טוב לחסות בה' מבטוח באדם

סבוני גם סבבוני בשם ה' כי אמילם

דחה דחיתני לנפל וה' עזרוני

ואעבר עליך ואראך מתבוססת בדמיך ואמר לך בדמיך חיי

Take a look, have a listen, enjoy, and be strengthened.

יה"ר מלפני אבינו שבשמים שנשמע ונתבשר בשורות טובות ישועות ונחמות בקרוב 

Monday, October 2, 2023

Chabad-Lubavitch Adopts "Peylishe" Chasidic Mode of Simchas Beis Hashoeivah

 Nowadays, Chabad-Lubavitch is known for loud and lengthy Simchas Beis Hashoeivah celebrations in public streets, most prominently perhaps near their headquarters in New York. But it was not always that way. Evidently in the past there was a (indoor) Farbrengen then.

I came across a short video, in which a Lubavitcher explains the change.

It seems it might part of a general process in which Chabad-Lubavitch is becoming more like what they call "Peylishe Chasidim" than in the past. I could see Chabad purists looking askance at that. But since many Chabad-Lubavitch Chasidim nowadays come from "Peylishe" backgrounds, it is not so surprising. Anyway, the point is that Chabad is not an unchanging tradition some might want you to believe it is. From Lag Baomer parades to Simchas Beis Hashoeivah in the streets, to their last Rebbe's "mivtzoim", and on and on, much change has taken place over the years there, especially under their last Rebbe.

א גוטען מועד

Friday, September 29, 2023

Chabad Lubavitch Brazenly Defies Beth Din Ruling - Online Drive Garners Wide Backing

As posted here previously, the Beth Din (rabbinical court) of the Edah Chareidis of Jerusalem, one of the most prominent in the world, has ruled decisively against the Chabad-Lubavitch devious, subversive, and illegal takeover of venerable, old Orthodox congregations in Budapest, Hungary, and called on people to support the victims evicted by them.

An online drive to raise public awareness of the criminal, hostile action was recently started, and has already, ב"ה, gained significant backing, despite lack of major media coverage, and attempts by Lubavitch to cover it up. Chabad-Lubavitch, as in known from many other cases, uses threats and intimidation, explicitly stated or implied, to try to prevent reporting that they don't like. If they can't totally block some of it, they try to drown it out and overwhelm it with barrages of their glossy PR. Astute people are getting wiser to their devious ways over time, however, and are being less fooled by their propaganda machinery.

Please lend a hand to support the victims here. In addition to the righteousness of their particular cause, it is also important to do so, to prevent further depredations of the Chabad-Lubavitch. Do not say or think, this community is far away, and relatively small, we can sacrifice it to the Chabad dragon. That is akin to what Neville Chamberlain, UK Prime Minister in the 1930's did, when he sacrificed Czechoslovakia, also in Central Europe, to Nazi Germany. And it didn't end well at all. It just led to much greater evil. 

If Chabad is not stopped now, they will continue to do such things, and it will affect you too before long, G-d forbid. The brazenness of Chabad cannot be tolerated. They must learn that they must follow the psak of Beis Din (link), and they can't flout it without consequences. And that people are watching, and waking up. They must be confronted and held accountable for their thievery and gangsterism.

In the zechus (merit) of helping this righteous cause, may you be spared any such depredations in your own community.