Gems from מרן שר התורה, Rav Chaim Kanievsky שליט"א, on Learning and Reviewing Shas

ש"ס is in the air, as one סיום follows another, ב"ה.

Therefore it is quite timely to share some shas related tidbits from Maran Sar HaTorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlit"a, adapted from a publication from ארצנו הקדושה (note: these are general ideas, some of which may be more relevant for ארץ ישראל. Of course everything must be done with proper deliberation, שיקול הדעת, before applying them, lest they ח"ו be applied inappropriately, leading to a situation of possible יצא שכרו בהפסדו ר"ל).

Question: From what age should youngsters be encouraged to go through all of Shas?

Response: מו"ר ר' מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ"ל said in the name of the Chazon Ish, that by בר מצוה shas must be completed.

Question: Is that not in the category of תפסת מרובה לא תפסת (if you try to seize too much, you will not succeed, whereas if you try to seize less you will)?

Response: It is not meant to know the entire shas by then, but just to go through it. I too learned shas with my sons by the age of Bar Mitzvah.

Question: If the child is saying it (gemara) without understanding, or, say with someone older, that is, let's say traveling, and wants to take advantage of the time, is there an ענין to recite pages of gemara without understanding at all?

Response: Surely. The gemara שבת סג says ליגמר איניש והדר ליסבר ואף דלא ידע מאי קאמר, אף שלא יודע כלום (a person should learn - recite Torah - and later seek to understand, explain it, even if he does not know what he is saying at first, even if he doesn't understand at all).

Question: Did you also finish shas with your father by your bar mitzvah?

Response: No, my father learned with me the מסכתות that I wanted to learn.

Question: At what age did you first make a siyum hashas.

Response: At sixteen.

Question: Rav Aharon Leib Steinman זצ"ל related that R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi, before writing his Shulchan Aruch, sat in Mohilev for sixteen hours on the bank of the river Dniester (seemingly should be Dnieper) and reviewed Shas in his mind. So the question was raised, was it not related that the Gaon of Vilna learned the entire Shas every month?  Why did it take the GRA longer to learn shas?

Response: The first story was a case בהרהור (in thought), such a thing is possible. In the GRA case he learned shas inside (with a sefer).

Question: How long should it take to go through all of shas in thought (במחשבה)?

Response: Half an hour (I think).

Question: If someone has a daf yomi shiur, can he still make a siyum even if he did not learn through all of shas (he sat and listened to the shiur, not necessarily saying all the words of the gemara)?

Response: One can make a siyum based on הרהור, according to the GR"A, and surely on listening, where we have a principle of שומע כעונה.

Question: Does learning gemara without Rashi qualify for a siyum too?

Response: Yes. Even in the time of אביי, from where we learn the ענין of celebrating a siyum, learning was without רש"י.

Question: If someone missed a bit of the מסכת, is it still considered a siyum?

Response: It is not קריאת התורה, where missing even a letter holds one back. Only if one misses a complete sugya is it a problem.

There are additional interesting questions and answers there, but I think the above suffice to give you a nice taste, and to whet your appetite. Those that want to see more should click on the photos below.

אשרינו מה טוב חלקנו

אשרינו שיש לנו רבי כזה

סימן טוב ומזל טוב יהא לנו ולכל ישראל אמן

Lubavitch Introspection on Display in Op-ed, & Understanding Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson's Appeal

I came across a remarkable op-ed at a Lubavitch website the other day, by an anonymous bochur, in which he takes to task some of his fellow Chabad-Lubavitch Chasidim.

Even though this op-ed does not address all points of contention with Chabad-Lubavitch of course, seemingly focusing more on peripheral issues, it is still good to see some introspection, seeking to improve the situation, and lower tensions.

I think that a real test of a Chasid, especially a Lubavitcher, when he preaches ahavas Yisroel and the greatness of every Yid, is how he relates to a מתנגד (Lubavitch seems to use/prefer the terms מנגד/מנגדים). I don't understand how some such people can claim to love every Yid, but when it comes to Litvaks or Misnagdim, something seems to be missing in that department?

There is also an interesting aside there (at the end of the second to last paragraph) about the Lubavitcher speaker Rabbi Y.Y. (aka, as he called by Lubavitchers, Rabbi Yossi) Jacobson. The author implies that he is popular (and is invited to speak at non-Lubavitch places) because he cites other sources as well, not just typical Lubavitcher ones. That is definitely correct as one of the reasons for his popularity, as I see it.

Now, if such things are אמת and sincere, fine and well. But if they are just gestures, a show, a tactical move to help with הפצה of Chabad-Lubavitch (as we know they often, if not always, are :), well, that is another story, and we should not be fooled by window dressing.

And we non-Chasidim should introspect sometimes too. One of the things we can and should introspect about is the fact that some of us are at times inviting outside "inspirational" speakers that don't always share our השקפות, and are sometimes even actively at odds with them. Is it perhaps because we don't have enough of our own giving a פנימיות התורה message in accordance with our מסורה? We need to realize that times have changed and we can't just serve up נזיקין lomdishe nuggets for every meal. We need a varied and balanced Torah diet to be spiritually healthy.

הלואי that we all introspect and merit to reach and implement proper conclusions.

OU Whitewashes Chabad-Lubavitch, Participates in Messianic Torah Dedication

In the last issue of the OU's fine magazine Jewish Action, one of the main pieces featured was by Neo-Chasidus leader Rabbi Judah Mischel, a glowing portrayal of the impact of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe.

The problem with the puff piece however, is that it totally left out the Rebbe's Moshiach campaign, which ended disastrously, with Chasidim proclaiming him openly (in giant billboards, large newspaper advertisements, etc.) for years as the Messiah, while the Rebbe took ill and ultimately passed away, a debacle that continues, to this very day, in various ways, in one form or another.

Such a blatant and gaping omission is deceptive, misleading, and irresponsible. It is like someone writing a book on FDR and leaving out WWII.

Reb Judah also was allowed to insert a statement of Lubavitch doctrine there of cheilek Elokah mimaal mamash, blurring the line between man and Hakadosh Boruch Hu, as if it was standard Orthodox theology, sans disclaimer.

What has happened to the O-U? Has it become a Chabad-Lubavitch mouthpiece?

Just because Neo-Chasidus leader Rabbi Judah Mischel is close to Lubavitch and was hired to work for NCSY, doesn't mean that the O-U and Jewish Action have to become Chabad-Lubavitch mouthpieces.

An ostrich mentality, hiding ones head in the sand, is not befitting for a great organization that runs a very important kashrus certification agency.

Lest one think that this is just an academic issue, it can lead to practical pitfalls, as seen in a recent Hachnosas Sefer Torah at Lubavitch Headquarters in Crown Heights. In it a sefer Torah was presented to Lubavitch HQ in honor of Prof. Dershowitz for his efforts on behalf of justice for Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin. A leading O-U official participated in the event, not only by attending it at 770, which is festooned with signs proclaiming the late Rebbe as messiah, but also by holding a sefer Torah (with a green cover) with a messianic inscription on it, proclaiming יחי המלך. Such actions send signals of acceptance of Lubavitch messianism, which is against the spirit of the resolution of the OU's partner, the RCA, after the late Rebbe's passing.

As an aside, there seem to be significant grounds to suspect S.M. Rubashkin of being a continuing believer in the late Rebbe as Messiah, namely 1) this event, held at the 770 congregation, which is under messianic domination, and 2) a letter that he wrote years ago referring to the Rebbe shlit"a many years after his petirah (see line five of page two).

Let us hope that in the future people will be more careful and responsible, and not send out mixed and improper messages.

A gutten chodesh.

Hisnagdus to Chabad? Not a New Invention

Dovid/David Lichtenstein of the Headlines podcast recently issued yet another (the fourth in around 2 1/2 years.) misleading and deceptive program promoting Chabad-Lubavitch, while giving short-shrift to its opponents.

כְּכֶלֶב שָׁב עַל קֵאוֹ כְּסִיל שׁוֹנֶה בְאִוַּלְתּוֹ

While given a fair sounding title, "Understanding the differences in Hashkafah between the Litvish and Lubavitch worlds", in reality it was yet another very unfair and unbalanced program of Lichtenstein promoting Lubavitch, as shown in his subtitle, "The incredible impact & Mesiras Nefesh of the Shiluchim - from all six continents". The side of Chabad-Lubavitch was not only given much more time than the non-Lubavitch side, but it also had the active support and intervention of the host.

Now, to refute every falsehood in the world is not possible. Nevertheless, occasionally, e.g. when masses are in danger of being fooled by a sophisticated, well-funded propaganda program, as in this case, it may be desirable to have someone expose the scam and the sham of it. And the wise can extrapolate from one exposé to deal with and counter other deceptions on their own later.

Now, let's point out some of the deception in this group of programs.

Let's start with some major ones.

1. What David Lichtenstein wants you to believe - Rav Schach was some type of Litvishe outlier, who invented a new thing, יש מאין. That until he came around everyone was at peace with Lubavitch.

The Truth - Hisnagdus to Chabad-Lubavitch goes way back, over two hundred years. Some of it is due to theological differences, such as controversial things in the foundational text of Chabad-Lubavitch, the Tanya, but there is more to it as well.

Over the years, there have been ups and downs in the relationship between Chabad-Lubavitch and the Litvishe world. During some periods there were good relations, where the groups joined to stand together against hostile groups and governments, while at other times relations were more distant. However, at no time did the Litvishe velt as a whole concede to Chabad-Lubavitch and give up its opposing beliefs. Even if there were friendly relations at times, and some friendly interactions among leaders, that should not be mistaken for assent. Rav Itzele Volozhiner, The Chofetz Chaim, The Brisker Rav, Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Nachum Partzovitz, etc., זכרונם לברכה, were מתנגדים, even if they may have had occasional friendly interactions and cooperation at times with Chabad or Chasidic leaders. Polite, quiet, low-key, and even friendly התנגדות is also hisnagdus.

Additionally, it must be realized that in difficult times, people were focused on survival and were lacking in time, energy, and desire to pursue and dwell on חילוקי דעות.

That situation persisted for a long time. For so long in fact, that after a while many people forgot, or were not aware of in the first place, יסודות of the differences, the fundamental חילוקי דעות, between Chabad-Lubavitch and the Litvishe world (note - hisnagdus to Chabad is not solely Litvish. There is also significant hisnagdus to Chabad from other Chasidim), since they were not spoken of so much in public, not dwelt on, spoken of בקיצור או ברמיזה, etc.

The growth of Chabad-Lubavitch under their last Rebbe, their aggressive proselytizing, and the failed messianic campaign during his reign, brought to the fore tensions that had been bubbling just at or below the surface for some time, and resurrected old differences. They were חוזר וניעור, as the term goes. At some point, מרן הצדיק HaRav אלעזר מנחם מן Schach זצוקללה"ה זי"ע, when faced with an aggressive, dangerous messianic movement, felt that a public stance had to be taken against it, which he did, at an advanced age, with great מסירת נפש. Klal Yisroel owes him a great debt of gratitude.

2. What David Lichtenstein wants you to believe -  Hisnagdus is because Misnagdim thought that 'Chabad didn't learn'. Whatever that means. So of course, that is quite easy to demolish, just find some Lubavitchers who learn, and poof, end of issue.

The Truth -  It could be true that there were/are differences re learning, but that is not the sum total of the חילוקי דעות. It is wishful thinking and delusional to believe such a thing. Whoever believes that should contact The Lightstone Group for a great deal on The Brooklyn Bridge.

Now, let's also point some other deceptions as well.

3. David Lichtenstein has been posing on his program for a long time as a Litvishe guy, a talmid of Mir, BMG, and so on, something which has given his relatively recent infatuation with, and promotion of Lubavitch lately, along with his ridicule of its opponents, more attention and credibility.

The truth however is, as Lichtenstein has just revealed in a recent program on Tefillah (at about five and a half minutes into the recording) is that he is from a Polish Chasidic background. So it is not so remarkable that he is promoting and defending Chabad-Lubavitch (as a prominent Polish Chasidic group did after Rav Schach זצ"ל spoke out against their raging Messianism around thirty years ago).

In fact, with regard to his latest program, a prominent Chabad-Lubavitch website was promoting it specifically as being a "Litvish Podcast". A different Chabad-Lubavitch website promoted it as well, though somewhat differently. That likely is one reason why so many Lubavitchers tuned in to it and weighed in with comments.

David Lichtenstein also has deep connections with Chabad-Lubavitch. He regularly attends a shtiebel in Monsey established by his cousin Reb Leizer Scheiner, which hosts leading Lubavitcher Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson, whose influence David has come under. And he has contacts with other leading Lubavitchers as well, such as R. Moshe Kotlarsky.

So David, someone who revealed on his program a while ago (13:15-13:30 app.) that he had never been to 770 and never seen the late Rebbe , is now peddling an air-brushed picture of Chabad-Lubavitch to his listeners, that is misleading and lacking.

If David Lichtenstein can sell Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal as being Venice-like, does he think he can also sell the עם חכם ונבון on his religious fantasies as well?

4. Approximately two and a half years ago, Lichtenstein had Rabbi Dr. David Berger, author of well-known works on Chabad-Lubavitch messianism, on his program. Near the end of the program (after 47:00), Dr. Berger raised the issue of a proclamation issued by eight Chabad-Lubavitch משפיעים from the largest yeshiva in Crown Heights calling the late Rebbe אבינו מלכנו, and a subsequent letter by one of them saying that a Rebbe is the essence and actuality of G-d (R"L) in a body. About eleven minutes later, after cutting off Dr. Berger, Dovid Lichtenstein, in an outright lie, lashed out at him, claiming that in Lubavitch 'everybody with a beard is a mashpia', and tore into Rabbi Dr. Berger for raising his concerns, using an inappropriate and offensive analogy, claiming that he was invoking highly inappropriate collective guilt by raising such a concern about a large group based on the statement of just a few people. However, since the eight people under discussion are leaders of the largest yeshiva in Crown Heights they are not just any Lubavitchers with beards. It is quite sound and fair to judge a movement by a statement of eight of their high-ranking leaders. Not all mashpi'im are of equal level and status. Lichtenstein also tried to distort what the letter of the mashpi'im meant, claiming that 'every Yid is divine'. Huh? Yiddishkeit 101 is that humans are humans, and not divine. Divine is הקב"ה. Is David advocating עבודה זרה ח"ו? A different religion, the Notzrim, claim that their man is divine, but we reject that, as a human, by definition, is not divine.

Reb Lichtenstein, you are hurting your credibility and your brand with such deceptions.

Dovid Lichtenstein should apologize and ask mechila, for his open, out and out lie, and libelous comments to the listeners with regard to Rabbi Dr. David Berger's remarks.

5. In the recent segment/program with R. Zalman Gifter shlit"a, at the end of that segment (around 1:39:30), DL put forth a choice of getting five thousand people to keep Shabbos based on Lubavitcher methods vs. five using Litvishe methodology to ridicule R. Gifter. The implication being that Lubavitch kiruv is a thousand times greater than 'Litvishe' or non-Chabad kiruv. That is a false dichotomy. In a condescending tone, Lichtenstein ridicules R. Gifter's principled stance. Shameful.

How Lubavitch Messianism Has Hurt and Continues to Hurt Kiruv

Another thing that needs to be addressed is how Lubavitch hurts and has hurt kiruv. How their failed messianic movement, messianism, and rebbe centeredness, has turned off many people, and made Chareidim a laughing stock in the eyes of many Jews, who believe Chabad-Lubavitch is standard Orthodoxy. Lichtenstein does not discuss that. Does he think that ignoring it will make it go away? It is a very serious subject that needs to be addressed. To examine how Chabad-Lubavitch can be, and has been for some, a negative force, moving people away from Yiddishkeit.

There is more that can be said, and maybe will be said later, but plenty has already been said to make the point.

The opposition to Chabad-Lubavitch, is a מחלוקת לשם שמים of over two hundred years, that continues, as per the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos that a מחלוקת לשם שמים is סופה להתקיים. That doesn't mean that it is mentioned every moment, or even every day, but it is in the background, and sometimes comes out more into the open.

יהי רצון that אליהו and משיח should come soon and bring it to an end, by revealing the אמת for all to see.

A gutten Yom Tov.

Measuring Uman's Rosh Hashanah Kibbutz

How many were actually there this year? From where? What type of Jews? The best, most detailed report I have seen, with statistics from the Uman City Council Press Service, is here. That seems to be the last word on the subject, at least in English, AFAIK.

Elsewhere, different figures can be seen.

Some would like you to believe that over fifty thousand men attended. They would probably also like you to believe that it is a growing phenomenon, rather than one that has leveled off, or even perhaps declined.

On the other hand, Ukrainian sites, which have good local sources on their home turf, as well as government connections, have reported just a bit more than twenty five thousand, a much smaller number. For example, this report at Kyiv Post, which also has nice photos and video coverage.

Based on the above (as well as other sources, e.g. food statistics in Meir K.'s video), and the fact that the higher numbers were pre-Rosh Hashanah projections, while the lower ones were issued later, after the new year had arrived, it appears quite definitely that the smaller figures are the accurate ones.

So yes, it is a significant event, but no, 'everyone' is not going there, not at all.

Also interesting is the background of the visitors. I recall seeing in the past (IIRC) that like 80% of the visitors were from ארץ ישראל. It also appears that a significant portion of the visitors are from the Sephardic/Edot Hamizrach world as well.

To get a good idea of what goes on ערב ר"ה at the actual ציון (as opposed to further away, in the streets or elsewhere, which other coverage often focuses on), this page has good, extensive video coverage.

May we merit the kiyum of our tefillos to הקב"ה for וטהר לבנו לעבדך באמת.

A Litvak Looks at Reb Zadok Hakohein of Lublin and a Well-Known Teaching of His

(Today is the yahrzeit of Reb Zadok of Lublin, which makes it a good time to share some relevant thoughts.)

One of the Hasidic authors that has become popular among some in the wider Jewish world in recent decades is Reb Zadok of Lublin.

One big fan of Reb Zadok recently wrote a tribute to him, in which he claims that the line in Reb Zadok which people are mostly familiar with is his teaching that 'just as a man must believe in Hashem, he must believe in himself'. This fine writer, who described himself as having four American born grandparents and without any even remotely distant Hasidic relatives, describes how, hearing those words in his Modern Orthodox high school from neo-Hasidic leader Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, mashpia at Yeshiva University and Rabbi in Woodmere, turned him on to Reb Zadok/Hasidus (though he says that he is mainly interested in Reb Zadok, as opposed to Hasidism in general).

Now I have heard that before from others, that those words of Reb Zadok made a big impression on them. But I have some trouble understanding what the big deal is.

Didn't the משנה itself, eons before ר' צדוק, say that every person is obligated to say בשבילי נברא העולם, the world was created for me?

Don't believe me? Take a look at סנהדרין פרק ד (for greater clarity, see the words of רש"י there, either in a gemara volume - e.g. last Rashi, bottom of page - or in the תוספות יום טוב on the mishna).

So okay, Reb Zadok said a similar thing in a different way, but it seems that he basically reinvented the wheel here.

יגדיל תורה ויאדיר

Just don't tell me that he made the whole thing up יש מאין.

A Inside Look at BMG With Its CEO

A frank discussion with an excellent interviewer.

Topics discussed include Shlomo Carlebach, לולי תורתך, & BMG, Rav Nosson Kaminetsky ז"ל, MOAG, and the Kotlers, changes over the years, the freezer, quality vs. quantity, and more.

Tune in and enjoy.

Songs of Yearning as Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim Commences the Zman of Ellul 5779

The Litvishe soul on display at one of its leading yeshivos.

Click and enjoy.

A gutten chodesh un a gut yohr!

Straight Talk About Chabad-Lubavitch - The Real Story Beyond the Fake News Headlines of Dovid/David Lichtenstein's Podcasts

Reb Dovid Lichtenstein, of the Headlines books and podcasts, is an impressive תלמיד חכם and בעל צדקה, with many good deeds to his name, of תורה ומעשים טובים. However, that does not absolve him from criticism and correction when he errs, especially if he errs grievously

Recently he issued a new edition of his Headlines podcast, once again devoted to Chabad-Lubavitch and the relationship between it and Orthodox Jewry in general. This was not the first time he tackled the topic. Approximately two and half years ago he had a similar program, followed by a follow up segment with Rabbi Dr. David Berger, author of a well-known book on Lubavitch messianism. That adds up to three programs, or segments, in around 2 1/2 years, which shows a significant focus on the issue.

In all of these programs Lichtenstein has tried to spin and advocate for Lubavitch. As we know, three times is a חזקה. Lehavdil, in baseball, the rule is three strikes and you're out. So we see that Dovid is a מוחזק to advocate for and distort general facts and positions of גדולים along the way, in his zeal to advocate for Lubavitch. While in the past he disclosed some important background information related to his relationship with Lubavitch (he credited them with helping him with a dangerous medical emergency in one case, and another emergency in another during overseas travels), which makes him a נוגע בדבר and disqualified to rule on the matter, in this last program it was omitted. He also has a close connection to the Lubavitch base near his residence, where the Lubavitcher Rabbi and mashpia Y.Y. Jacobson presides (Dovid hosted him on Headlines in the past with effusive praise, another indication of his sympathies).

Now of course people can advocate and argue for certain positions. However, Lichtenstein crossed the line when he distorted positions of גדולי ישראל in his advocacy. He went into "fake news" territory when he fabricated "facts". Such actions lead to the very dangerous territory of מגלה פנים בתורה שלא כהלכה ח"ו. Therefore a public מחאה is necessary. We hope that David will admit his errors and retract/repent his misstatements in future programs.

Let me elaborate.

Two and a half years ago David posted misleading edited audio snippets on his program implying that leading non-Lubavitcher גדולים gave their hechsher (stamp of approval) to Chabad-Lubavitch (as an aside, there have been complaints about such activity on other episodes of his program as well, on other topics, so that definitely is something that people need to be aware and wary of). Afterward that episode of his program was critiqued here and the distortions and misleading tone of the program brought out into the public view. One might have thought that afterward he would be more careful, but, to my great surprise, in the beginning of his recently released program of a few weeks ago, he replayed the distortions of the earlier one, resharing the misleading audio snippets, as though there were no great issues with them, trying to once again fool his listeners. To that I say, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Even if you are a גביר who is מוזיל כסף כמים.

New distortions

In the (first) prior program we mentioned, Dovid's argument was along the lines of that since Lubavitch as a whole didn't apostasize after the Rebbe's passing, as some had allegedly predicted, and since they do chesed, such as helping travelers, therefore they should be accepted by all, and longstanding serious points of disagreement dropped, or put aside.

In this latest program, he trotted out a new argument, claiming that Lubavitch has made 'hundreds of thousands of baalei teshuvah' (perhaps he can tell us where they reside? Or have they somehow vanished into thin air?), a claim I don't recall hearing even from Lubavitchers themselves. Is that actually true however?

This will lead us to an important look at Chabad-Lubavitch activities.

(As an aside, Lubavitch does not like the expression 'baalei teshuvah' as it is used colloquially, based on the stance of their seventh Rebbe. The Rebbe's position was that some Jews are closer and others farther away, but that even the 'frum' need teshuvah. And they also claim that every mitzvah done is choshuv, even if a person is not a 'baal teshuvah'. Lubavitch, instead, as with other things, has their own vocabulary, they call people who they bought/are bringing closer מקורבים.)

Time to update the picture of what Lubavitcher shluchim do today

Lubavitch has changed over the years, and Dovid should realize that. Lubavitcher shluchim today are not necessarily the same as shluchim at UCLA in the 1960's dealing with non-orthodox hippie types. The shluchim are a varied group involved in various things. Many shluchim now are busy with youth from Modern Orthodox backgrounds at various colleges (maybe the guy's name is Jared, but his background is MO ;-). Many also spend much time as a sort of frum traveler's aid society, helping Jewish travelers with kosher food and other things. Many also work as mashgichim for kashrus.

With the decline of the non-orthodox movements, such as the Conservatives, and the closing of many their Temples, some people who were affiliated or identified with such streams now attend Lubavitch services instead (Lubavitch has now become a significant synagogue movement). But does that mean that they have become Orthodox or baalei teshuvah? Not necessarily so.

To illustrate this point, let us look at a few prominent Jews associated with Lubavitch.

1) Joseph Telushkin - a talented author who Lubavitch paid to write a book promoting the late Rebbe as "the most influential Rabbi in Modern History". He has gone around speaking in Chabad houses around the country promoting it and the Rebbe. So, one might reasonably assume that he is connected to the Orthodox movement. However, believe it or not, Joe Telushkin is actually the leader of a non-orthodox Temple in California, something that caused a significant group of Lubavitchers to come out against his book.

(By the way, a while ago I was in someone's house and saw some recent issues of Mishpacha magazine. In one of them - say an issue of maybe 6-8 weeks ago - some people that Mishpacha promotes as frum Jewish leaders gave recommendations for summer reading. One of them offered a book by a controversial figure who had crudely attacked Rav Moshe Feinstein זצ"ל. After much protest, in a subsequent issue Mishpacha apologized for promoting it. Yet at the same time, in the same magazine, neo-Chasidus leader Rabbi Judah Mischel recommended a book by the leader of a non Orthodox Temple, Joseph Telushkin, also something quite questionable. However,  I didn't see Mishpacha apologize for that afterward. Why does Judah Mischel and that book get a free ride, while the other did not?)

2) Dennis Prager - longtime friend and associate of Joseph Telushkin, someone who also speaks at Chabad Houses and promotes Lubavitch. However, he also declares openly that he is non orthodox and espouses some troubling positions.

3) Alan Dershowitz - recently a sefer Torah was written for him which was given to 770 Eastern Parkway. However, Dershowitz is non-orthodox.

The above three were raised Modern Orthodox and then moved on from that. But they are still accepted and feted by Chabad-Lubavitch.

4) Sue Fishkoff - author of a book that came out a few years ago, The Rebbe's Army, a positive portrayal of Lubavitch, who recently wrote a piece for the twenty fifth anniversary of the Rebbe's passing. She declares openly in it that she is not Orthodox.

The above four are a few prominent examples, but it seems that they are many others like them. People that go to and associate with Lubavitch, but remain non orthodox. That does not fit in with David Lichtenstein's claim of hundreds of thousands of 'baalei teshuvah'. Yes, perhaps there are hundreds of thousands of people who have encounters with Lubavitch in a year. But that doesn't equate to 'hundreds of thousands of Lubavitcher baalei teshuvah' in the colloquial sense of the term. I know the argument that every mitzvah is important, but nevertheless, we cannot claim that such people are fully Orthodox.

Chazal tell us אמר רבי יוחנן אין הקב"ה מקפח שכר כל בריה. Hashem will not deprive people of שכר they people deserve. The record keeping, so to speak, upstairs is done very well, so whoever is entitled to credit there does not have to worry that they will be cheated of it. But, at the same time, חותמו של הקב"ה אמת, we need to stick to the facts, the truth, the seal of Hashem. IIRC, the last Lubavitcher Rebbe himself, when asked about history, instructed that it should be אמת לאמיתו.


PR vs. צניעות. 

Another thing Lichtenstein objects to in the most recent program under discussion is when his guest Rabbi Lederman says that Rav Schach זצ"ל did not like the excessive focus on PR of Chabad-Lubavitch. He challenges his guest about it, as if even raising such a point is absurd. To which I say, David, have you forgotten fundamentals of our holy Torah, such as Rashi on שמות לד:ג, where the teaching of Chazal is cited about the לוחות שניות being given בצניעות , היפך הראשונות, שאין לך דבר יפה מן הצניעות? The famous posuk in Micha which we lein where it is stated מה ה' דורש ממך....והצנע לכת עם אלקיך??

Yes, I know that pirsum/PR is a big thing for Lubavitch, and making a 'kiddush Lubavitch' is a big thing for them, but that does not erase the great, venerable, ancient yesod of צניעות in Yiddishkeit.

Yes, דער וואס האט די מאה האט די דעה, the one with the meah ($), has the deiah, as the old expression goes. So Dovid can have his deiah - but he cannot distort the deios of others, בפרט רבנים, פוסקים, גדולי ישראל ומנהיגי הדור  שליט"א.

Reb Dovid, there is another Yid with your name, also involved in ארץ (real property) and שמים (Torah), of a similar vintage as you, who has done great things for Torah, Rav Dovid Hofstedter שליט"א of Dirshu. I think you can learn some things from him. Note how he is מכיר את מקומו.

I have enjoyed listening to Headlines many times, but, as time has gone by, it seems that the host has moved more and more from being a moderator and presenter, to being someone pushing a particular point of view. If it is done forthrightly and not in a hidden manner, without distortion and misleading presentation, that is one thing, he is entitled to his opinion. But when certain lines are crossed, it needs to be called out.

Let us hope that steps are taken to correct the missteps outlined above, and that the honor and reputation of the program and its host is restored.

Is Lubavitch 'pro-internet'? Pro-publishing photos of women? Not so simple.

It is not uncommon to hear/read statements or claims that Chabad-Lubavitch, unlike Chareidim at large, is not opposed to the internet, and is in favor of publishing photos of females.

Such claims are usually cited approvingly by Modern Orthodox types, women protesting the absence of their photos in some media, etc.

However, is it as simple as they make it to be?

I recently came across a Chabad-Lubavitch website, Anash.org, which represents a more conservative Lubavitch stance or segment, and does not have photos of women (nor 'comments'). I also noted an interesting op-ed there questioning if Lubavitch is really 'pro-internet'.

For more about the site, its policies and aims, see here, and the links there for site policies and letters of Rabbis.

So things are not as simple as they are often made out to be.

Interesting food for thought.

Baal Shem Tov Tales - Must They Be Believed?

Note: This is not a question for Misnagdim. Of course for them the answer is no. The question is for Chasidim.

Recently an interesting talk was given by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, a young and talented Rabbi in the NYC area, on the topic "The Adventures of the Ba'al Shem Tov & Must You Believe Them".

He went through a spectrum of opinion on the matter, ranging from Breslov (people must believe them totally) to the חידושי הרי"ם (first Gerrer Rebbe), who, as reported in the sefer אור פני יצחק in the name of his Rebbe, said that the stories are not true.

Interestingly, even a Breslover source mentioned by the speaker (ספר כוכבי אור) that says that people must believe all the stories in the work שבחי הבעש"ט, says about other Beshtian tales that most of them were related when the speaker was between his third and fourth cup of wine, and the listener was even further along in his משתה יין, in the עולם הדמיונות, and are overwhelmingly false.

More details available in the talk.

May we merit to avoid שקר and serve הקב"ה באמת.

Kerestir Kerfuffle - People Speak Up For Sanity

It is heartening to see people questioning and pushing back after the latest assault of propaganda, this time from and for Kerestir. At Matzav and Yeshiva world multiple parties posted comments showing that they are fed up from all the over the top marketing and infomercials.

It's one thing if a Rebbe could perform a public service, such as the alleged rodent suppression matter. But to give people the impression that everyone must run to his resting place, thousands of miles away, at great cost of time, money, and more? I think the Rebbe himself would object.

There is hope. Some Jews are still thinking.

Halevai veiter.

The Old-Fashioned Purim of a Litvak - Common Modern Purim Misconceptions Debunked

In recent years certain new and questionable ideas masquerading as mainstream Torah have seeped into parts of the Jewish community, even among some devout Jews, frum Yidden.

One area in which this is particularly evident is on Purim.

Sometimes people don't even realize that they are being fed new and questionable ideas, posing as authentic Torah, as if they were תורה מסיני, rather than recent creations and concoctions. People are so busy and harried, that it is difficult for them to think things through thoroughly, to give these new ideas a proper evaluation.

So, to make it easier on the ציבור, some of these questionable ideas and proper approaches to them are gathered below. So we should hopefully have a proper Purim, rather than a fantasy one.

(Some have previously been discussed here, while others are new)

1) In the future, other ימים טובים will be בטל, but Purim will never be בטל.

Reality - Incorrect, see our previous post on the matter.

2) On Purim one can ask הקב"ה for anything.

Reality - One can ask Hashem for anything anytime, not only on Purim. ה' יתברך is close to us all year, as the pasuk in ספר דברים says.

3) On Purim one is guaranteed that he will get whatever he asked for from Hashem, as it states כל הפושט יד נותנין לו.

Reality - So one can ask to win the lottery and be guaranteed to do so? To know ש"ס בעל פה by next month? There is no such guarantee.

4) Why is there no הבדלה on Purim? So the simcha will stay all year.

Reality - Incorrect, see our previous post on it.

5) How can we have unbridled joy on Purim, doesn't the gemara say that אסור לאדם למלא שחוק פיו בעולם הזה (it is forbidden for a person to fill their mouth with laughter in this world)? Supposed answer - Purim is not from עולם הזה, it is from עולם הבא.

Reality - even on Purim there are limitations, we do not accept a free for all ח"ו, the בית המקדש is still lacking.

(See other similar Purim related material here)

Wishing you a גוטען חודש און א פרייליכען פורים, of real simcha, not delusions and הוללות ח"ו.

לחיים 🍷

Newsflash - Rav Chaim Kanievsky Does NOT Know When Moshiach is Coming!

I was happy to just see at an Israeli website that a son in law of מרן שר התורה שליט"א, Rav Yitzchak Kolodetsky shlit"a issued a statement that Rav Chaim (like גדולי גדולים מדורי דורות before him) doesn't know exactly, for certain, when Moshiach is coming.

That came in wake of a widely disseminated recent dubious report, allegedly in the gaon's name, that Moshiach would come before the approaching Israeli election (scheduled for less than two months from now אי"ה).

Rav Kolodetsky explained that Rav Chaim, as other גדולי ישראל, when asked about something beyond the immediate future might remark, in a hopeful vein, that משיח will have already arrived by then. However, that is not a concrete prediction, but rather an expression of hope and deep yearning for, and belief in, ביאת המשיח. Rav Chaim is not a נביא (prophet), his son in law said. He additionally shared that רב חיים שליט"א himself regularly states that only a נביא can say exactly when Moshiach will come.

This is not the first instance of this nature in which questionable things publicized in the gaon's name, were actually inaccurate. Instances which debase the name and reputation of מרן שר התורה שליט"א, and כבוד התורה in general.

People who act irresponsibly in disseminating such things are עתידים ליתן את הדין.

May we be zoche to the fulfillment of the words in Tehillim, תאלמנה שפתי שקר.

How Is This Segulah Different Than Other Segulos? Thinking About Zera Shimshon

One of the 'newer' segulos in the segulah marketplace (there are various segulos - alleged and actual - competing for people's attention and patronage) seeking the attention of the masses is connected with the sefer זרע שמשון.

People are being implored to learn the sefer, and told great stories about how it has helped people.

Even Artscroll was running an advertising campaign for it a while ago, connected with its publication of related works by a well known storyteller, R. Nachman Seltzer (volume one and volume two).

That surprised me, as I didn't recall that publishing house hawking segulos in such a manner in the past. In my mind, Artscroll was run, generally, broadly speaking, in a Litvishe way, especially under its founder, R. Meir Zlotowitz z"l, in which tradition such things are not stressed.

Keep in mind as well that זרע שמשון is just one of a number of works that are considered segulos. There are other seforim of which it is reported that their authors promised benefits to those who learned and/or printed them too.

Now let's be clear about something. Zera Shimshon is a precious sefer. That is not disputed.

However, there is a danger that people will concentrate on a segulah, as a type of magic, placing excessive faith in it. And that is religiously problematic.

And, perhaps more importantly, learning any type of Torah is a great thing and a segulah.

If people feel connected to a certain part of Torah, that is where they should learn, as discussed here in the past.

Lest a reader say that I do not know from what I speak, let me share that I have looked into and learned some זרע שמשון. It made a favorable impression on me. However, to encourage every person to drop what they are doing, e.g. other לימודים קדושים, and start learning דווקא that work, strikes me as lacking in responsibility.

As Rav Yaakov Moshe Hillel shlit"a was once heard stating to someone who was asking him for a סגולה - why do you need a  "segulah", we are the עם סגולה?

Have a great Shabbos and a freilichen chodesh.