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

Neo-Chasidus & Chabad - Closeness & Distance

 The Neo-Chasidus movement has garnered much attention in recent years. For some people it was a great surprise, seeming to have arisen suddenly, from the proverbial nowhere. They don't know what it really is, what its roots are, how to react to it. It is desirable, therefore, to spend some time examining its roots, to better understand where it came from, and what it represents.

A cute and clever moniker attached to it gives us an idea of what some of its main components are - חבקוק -ראשי תיבות חב"ד, ברסלב, (הרב אברהם יצחק) קוק, וי"א ג"כ (שלמה) קרליבך. In English, Chabakuk, standing for Chabad, Breslov, (Rav Avraham Yitzchak) Kook, (Shlomo) Carlebach).

The Chabad component, which comes first in this sobriquet, is indeed a great foundation of Neo-Chasidus. If not first and foremost, definitely one of the great parts of it.

Let us look at the deep connection between Chabad-Lubavitch and Neo-Chasidus, starting with some background on some of the leading personalities of the movement.

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Woodmere, NY, is perhaps the leader of the movement in the English speaking world. Though he is of Hungarian Jewish background, he has a deep connection to Chabad-Lubavitch. Starting in his teens, when he was introduced to it by a local businessman who took him other local teens to Farbrengens in Crown Heights, in the early 1970's למספרם (Bashevkin interview, 14:50-). He was drawn to it "like a magnet", in his words, and spent much time at their headquarters, hanging out at 770 Eastern Parkway for years, attending farbrengens, and learning a lot of Chabad Chasidus. He has related that at one time he "was probably very, very close to becoming a Lubavitcher Chasid" himself. Later, he spent much time at a Chabad-Lubavitch outreach center, Heichal Menachem, in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, where he heard many shiurim from the late Chabad-Lubavitch mashpia, R. Yoel Kahn. He davens from a Nusach Ari (Chabad-Lubavitch) siddur. He regularly lights a public Chabad-Lubavitch menorah during Chanukah in the Five Towns area of NY. All those years of deep Lubavitch connection and engagement left a profound impression on him and his thinking, even if he doesn't call himself a Lubavitcher now.

Rebbe Judah Mischel, a disciple of Rebbe Weinberger, is a well-known disseminator of Neo-Chasidus via his positions at Camp HASC, NCSY, writings, and speeches. He is also the son of a Chabad-Lubavitch mekurav (and here). In recent years he has visited Crown Heights, meeting and conferring with Lubavitch leaders, and later tweeting about it (as reported here previously, though the tweet referenced was later deleted).

R. Yussie Zakutinsky, leader of a Neo-Chasidic congregation in Lawrence, student at Rabbi Weinberger's Emek Hamelech kollel, also has a family background closely connected to Chabad-Lubavitch.

All of the above are heavily influenced by Chabad-Lubavitch.

The Chabad-Lubavitch influence on Neo-Chasidus is not just theological however.

Another aspect is seen in stories and music used by it. Here is one good example, that covers both the music and theology departments, Neo-Chasidim dancing enthusiastically to a signature Chabad-Lubavitch song. Many Lubavitch songs are sung in Neo-Chasidic circles.

Interestingly, though, despite the deep ties and influence, there is a significant element of distance and tension in the relationship between Neo-Chasidus and Chabad-Lubavitch nevertheless, that is worth noting. And that is, due to the fact that despite pleasure on the Chabad-Lubavitch side to see some Modern Orthodox and others turning in a Chasidic direction via Neo-Chasidus, they are still disappointed that they have not become Lubavitchers. In the Chabad-Lubavitch view, they are the highest form of Chasidus, and their Rebbe is the נשיא הדור, leader of the generation. While Neo-Chasidus draws deeply upon Chabad-Lubavitch, they do not feel bound to and by it, and imbibe from other Hasidic streams as well.

The component of Chabad-Lubavitch in Neo-Chasidus is not something small that could perhaps be (figuratively) בטל בששים, nullified when heavily outweighed. It is an עיקר, a large, main component, and also נותן טעם, imparting much flavor. So in a way, it (Neo-Chasidus) could be considered a branch or offshoot of Chabad-Lubavitch (perhaps similar to the מלאכים Chasidic group of Williamsburg in NY). People should keep that in mind when considering the movement.

May הקב"ה help us see things clearly, as they actually are, to reach the correct conclusions about them, and approach things with the proper מהלך.

א גוטען חודש

How to Avoid Stranger Danger: The Proactive Wisdom of the Ancient Sage Rabbi Yehoshua

 In the wake of a number of unfortunate and shattering scandals, it is a particularly opportune time to remind ourselves of the traditional Jewish approach, guided by the wisdom of Chazal, as to how we should relate to others.

As opposed to the dangerously naive and delusional idea that "every Yid is a big tzadik", promoted by the TYH nation movement and others, our holy מסורה teaches us, כבדהו וחשדהו. Respect, but remain wary simultaneously.

In this vein, a story is related in מסכת דרך ארץ about how conducting himself in this matter saved רבי יהושע from being the victim of a cunning thief, as follows. A man came to R. Yehoshua, who gave him food, drink, and sleeping accommodations on his roof. During the night, the man stole utensils and turned to abscond with them by descending the ladder, whereupon he fell to the ground, sustaining serious injury. In the morning, when he was discovered in that state, R. Yehoshua rebuked him, saying empty one, did you not realize that we already were on guard against you from yesterday (removing your means of egress)? Whereupon R. Yehoshua taught that לעולם יהיו כל אדם בעיניך כליסטים, והוי מכבדם כרבן גמליאל. People (strangers, according to some) should be viewed as if they were ליסטים (thieves), while simultaneously treated with respect as befitting a great personality.

A further illuminating discussion of the issue can be seen here.

Once again, here we see a great illustration of the wisdom of Chazal, who taught us that לא עם הארץ חסיד, that to be a truly pious person, one must be learned.

May Hashem help us be truly learned and pious.

Lubavitchers Who Don't Put on Tefillin - Chabad Wakes Up To Another Severe Internal Problem

Yes, you read it right. The guys that go around asking people if they put on tefillin, preaching that Moshiach is here, or figuratively at the door, have among themselves their own Chasidim that are skipping this vital and fundamental mitzvah.

As we have reported in the past, despite the massive Chabad-Lubavitch propaganda machine, which is churning out PR constantly, giving people the impression that Lubavitch is great, and leading Klal Yisroel, duping far too many gullible humans into believing as much, the reality is quite different.

May HKB"H open people's eyes, and protect them from being duped by all types of scam artists.

א גוטען חודש