A Kiruv Giant Passes - Rav Yosef Jacobson zt"l

 One of the giants of kiruv in our time, and beyond it as well, has passed away. Although he didn't go around erecting giant menorahs in malls, driving a truck blaring Jewish music around a city, dancing in the streets, giving out candles or hand made matzah, preaching Chassidus, leading Farbrengens, or handing out dollar bills to the masses, he had (and continues to have) a colossal impact on the Jewish world, as well as the world at large, bringing giant numbers of people closer to their Father in heaven.

Rav Yosef Jacobson zt"l, modeled a different type of kiruv, as propounded by classic Litvishe Rosh Yeshivas like Rav Kotler, Rav Schach, and Rav Gifter zt"l. And he showed how powerful it could be. That just learning and fulfilling Torah, באמת, in one's regular place, can generate immensely powerful waves of impact and influence. His recent passing garnered enormous media coverage, and was news round the world.

The Torah world, as well as the kiruv world, deeply mourns the passing of Rav Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim ben Rav Jacob Israel, Rav Yosef Jacobson, aka Rav Chaim ben Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky zt"l, זי"ע. May we find consolation in the powerful and holy pathways he modeled so well being continued and spread by myriads of disciples and admirers.

ת נ צ ב ה 

An Old-Fashioned Litvishe Purim - As Reflected By Great Slabodka Talmid Rav Avigdor Miller z"l

What is an old-fashioned Litvishe Purim like? We have discussed the Litvishe attitude to Purim in the past here, but it is worthwhile to revisit, explore, and reinforce it yet again, due to confusion among too many people, who have come under foreign influences.

This time, we will look at and try to learn this סוגיא via the example of the renowned Rav Avigdor Miller z"l. Rav Miller was a born and bred Litvak, a Litvak through and through, who learned under great Litvishe gedolim in the USA and in Europe, where he learned in the Slabodka mussar yeshiva.

Let us focus on a few points from תורת אביגדור..

1) Rav Miller z"l spoke strongly against drunkenness on Purim. Purim is to gain דעת he explained, not to lose it ח"ו.

2) When asked about the Purim-Yom HaKippurim idea, an idea stressed by Chasidim that Purim > Yom Kippur, that has become widespread and popular among so many nowadays, he seemed to be unaware of it, and explained it in a different way than it is usually done. That shows that that idea was not part of the Purim milieu and discourse in old Litvishe Slabodka yeshiva type circles years ago, so much so, that it seemed unknown, or hardly known to him. Additionally, in a talk on Yom Kippur (in general, and app. 30% through, in a section entitled "The Happiest Time") he talks of  Yom Kippur being the best day of the year, and greater than Purim, squarely at odds with the reverse notion that is heard so often nowadays.

3) I don't recall seeing him mentioning another notion stressed heavily by Chasidim that on Purim one can ask Hashem for anything, כל הפושט יד, וכו and that one therefore should "storm the heavens" on that day, as if there were a blank checking awaiting above.

ב"ה we can still get a glimpse of the old Litvishe way via Rav Miller and some others who held to tradition and did not adopt foreign notions wholesale, uncritically, as far too many do.

May Hashem help us follow our true way, וטהר לבנו לעבדך באמת.

א פרייליכען פורים

Can Foul Mouthed Chasidim Bring Moshiach? The Chabad-Lubavitch Nivul Peh Epidemic

 Looking at a leading Chabad-Lubavitch website recently, I admit I was surprised at a discussion I came across. It wasn't about some of better known problems within the group, such as drinking, messianism, et al.

Rather it was something new to me. Evidently among them there is a big problem of ניבול פה, using language improper for Orthodox Jews.

This is a group that claims to be the vanguard of Torah Judaism, of Hasidism, bringing Moshiach, yet they use vulgar language of bums in bars and on street corners.

And we learn that it is not just a new thing, that even in old Lubavitch, even mashpi'im used 'colorful' language.

Where does that come from? From the vodka? Farbrengens? Tanya? Likutei Sichos? 

Of course, the giant Chabad Lubavitch propaganda machine, will not tell you about such things, but it is important for people to know the seamy side of Lubavitch, lest they be fooled by Yudel Krinsky and his minions at Chabad PR into wholly accepting the Disney-like fantasy image of the group that they disseminate.

Maybe instead of vodka at farbrengens, they should start giving out some soap.

May we be zoche בקרוב to true Yiddishkeit, and true פנימיות התורה, and be purged of all pretenders, and deceptions.

א פרייליכען חודש

Shtreim, Shtreimel, Spodik, Kolpik - Chasidic & Non-Chasidic Jewish Male Headgear - Great, True, Real, Illustrated, Comprehensive History

 A few weeks ago, there was yet again another news report online about a Chasidishe Rebbe coming out against a new shtreimel fashion. I was looking around to check on a claim made in comments on the report, and came upon a great article, in a Jewish history magazine online, on the history of the shtreimel.

This is the best feature article I recall ever seeing on the history of the shtreimel.

To get the true story, beyond legends and myths, with beautiful illustrations, it is the place to go.

א גוטען חודש