Chaos Envelops Main Chabad-Lubavitch 770 E.P. HQ Temple for Rosh Hashanah-New Year

While their traveling agents spread out and preach to the ignorant, targeting the lost sheep of Israel, posing as respectable, normative Jews, and spiritual leaders, meanwhile, their base, their headquarters in Brooklyn, NY, remains torn and shattered by controversy and violence. 

Even before Rosh Hashanah, on the last Shabbos of the year (someone, presumably a Lubavitcher posted about it here too), and then continuing to Rosh Hashanah itself, madness reared up there. Damage control was attempted, but fell short.

This is the legacy of the last leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch.

Don't be fooled by the smooth talking snake oil salesmen that they send out. If you want to know what Chabad is, look to their seat, where their late leader presided, and take note of the state of affairs there.

How great were our gedolim such as the Brisker Rav, Rav Schach, the Vilna Gaon, and so many others, זכר צדיקים לברכה לחיי העולם הבא, who foresaw and warned of the great danger of this group.

May we merit the true משיח speedily in our days, and the dismantlement, dispersion, dissipation, and repentance of all false pretenders and their minions.

יה"ר שתחדש עלינו שנה טובה ומתוקה, שנת שלום ושלוה והשקט ובטח

Tzom Gedaliah - Beware Dangerous "Chasidus"

Learn the very important lesson of צום גדליה.

Rav Avigdor Miller זצ"ל teaches it to you.

Don't be a חסיד שוטה, a "pious fool".

No, every Yid is not a big tzadik, even if some fools, loudmouths, and scoundrels, some with songs and fancy, glossy publications, try to convince you as much.

לא תונו איש את עמיתו - את לרבות את עצמו 

Do not fool yourself. Don't be a fool.

(above vertel may be from Kotzker Rebbe, don't recall for certain)

Knowledgeable and aware Chasidic leaders also warned against dangerous naivete and pseudo-piety.

שנה טובה לקוראים ושומעים

Stop the Tashlich Circus - Keep to The Old Way

 What has happened with תשליך? 

In recent years it seems that more and more people, more and more places, are adopting newfangled (per)versions of this ancient מנהג. It didn't start last year, or the year prior, but it seems to have snowballed, gotten way out of hand among some. Some of the following I have seen myself, otherwise I have heard of.

For example:

Taking a large plastic container, filling it with water, plopping in goldfish, setting it in courtyard of Shul, presto, instant Tashlich location.

One guy I heard online was advertising that his Shul would be having an aquarium for Tashlich.

Open fire hydrants for a while to make a stream in the street (possible violation of דינא דמלכותא).

Open the sink inside, let it run, and start reading from siddur.

Is it that people are loath to walk a while to reach a regular body of water? Perhaps don't want to pass through certain areas? Walking is healthy.

I think people should not go for these new ways, but should rather hold out for a more old-fashioned תשליך experience, as in days of yore. If they can't do it on ראש השנה, some do it on following days, when travel is easier.

Make Tashlich great again!

P.S. Yes, it is brought that Tashlich should be said at a body of water that has fish. Okay. But that is not the only consideration. It is also brought that there is a remembrance involved of אברהם אבינו ע"ה, that en route to the Akeidah he passed through water up to his neck, and the זכות העקידה is being invoked. A small bucket of water with goldfish plunked in doesn't necessarily conjure up such an image, such a memory. So how about trying a natural body of water, and/or a permanent one. As in the proverbial good old days.

Monetization of Kindness & Compassion? - Rav Berel Wein זצ"ל: "Chesed Became an Industry"

We recently suffered a great loss with the passing of Rav Berel Wein zt"l. His combination of great Torah knowledge, great general knowledge, deep historical perspective, and ביקוש האמת, seeking out and speaking the truth, even when elusive, out of style, and unpopular, made him great, and so important and valuable.

Headlines with Ari Wasserman, נ"י, recently released some previously unpublished audio of him, which is worth listening to.

A bit after 24:00 in the recording, in response to a question about chesed, Rav Wein zt"l remarks "Chesed became an industry. It never was. Chesed is a feeling that a person has. It's an empathy toward others. It's a respect for others..."

Vintage Wein.

וישמע חכם ויוסף לקח, תן לחכם ויחכם עוד

I recall in the past encountering a term coined by some wise person seemingly, describing some people involved in the field as "chesed entrepreneurs". Let us endeavor and hope that our חסד is genuinely as it should be.

אוי, מי יתן לנו תמורתו - חבל על דאבדין ולא משתכחין

International Cloud Appreciation Day: Rav Avigdor Miller זצ"ל Would Enjoy This I Think

 Thanks to הקדוש ברוך הוא for clouds. 

Today is a special day to focus on appreciation of them.

Hooray! TYH for good old-fashioned clouds!

(We don't mean cloud here as in the newfangled modern meaning of a location where digital memory is stored :)

In the תורה הקדושה (IIRC), there are three different terms for clouds: אד, ענן, עב. Commentator(s) explain the difference(s) between them.

Look up, savor, enjoy. You don't need to have your head in the clouds to appreciate them.