Closing Your Eyes for Hisbonenus - Reb Itchie Mayer Morgenstern on Parshas Bo

Here is Reb Itchie Mayer Morgenstern's Torah on Parshas Bo, with English excerpt and full text in both English and Hebrew in pdf form. You can send an e-mail to this address to subscribe to receive Rav Morgenstern's Torah in your e-mail box every week.

When a Jew spends time in hisbodedus before his Creator, he closes his eyes so as not to be enticed by the illusory pleasures of this world because he doesn’t want to be connected to them. He knows that, for him, the “sweetness and light” of the Egyptians is absolute darkness, and the “darkness” of his avoidance of the temptations of this world is, for him, “light in his dwelling places.” When he closes his eyes in this way, he is able to see the brilliant hues that are rooted in the “hidden mind” of Mocha Sesima’ah, and he begins to derive pleasure from spiritual reality, from the fact that Hashem is revealed through a myriad of shades and hues of dveikus. He starts to feel Hashem’s light and glory within himself, and how all of the pleasures of this world are null and void, are like a mere sliver of light, compared with the delight of dveikus that is a composite of all possible forms of bliss.

“The Torah was only given to those who ate of the manna.”[1] The manna itself was rooted in the level called the “holy flame” or Mocha Sesima’ah as well, because it too was white which is a composite of all shades. This was expressed in the fact that those who ate of it could taste in it any flavor that they desired, just as Hashem’s light comprises all of the pleasures that are possible. So when a person seals his vision against the illusory nature of this world, he rises to the place of the “airspace” and its “membrane,” which is really the source of the human soul and its throne of glory. In that place it can be said, “From my flesh, I see G-d.” One begins to enjoy a vision of the ultimate Kisei HaKavod upon which the “form of a person sat.”[2] [Although he does not share the lofty vision of Hashem seen by Yechezkel HaNavi, nevertheless] he begins to get a sense of the presence of Hashem before whom he serves, just as the tzaddikim were able to “see” themselves serving before Hashem’s Kisei HaKavod as they prayed.

The final three plagues parallel these three states of dveikus: first, a person must meditate and be misboded on the expansive Binah light of Hashem. Then he must ascend to the place of the “hidden mind” which is the counterpart of the holy darkness of turning aside from this-worldly concerns to receive “light in all his dwellings.” With this, he destroys the klippah of the impure firstborn and rises further to the place of the “membrane of the airspace” and the “airspace” itself which correlates to the level of the Da’as of Atik and which reveals to him the source of his neshamah that “sits upon the throne.” The entire process is embodied within the blessing Asher Yatzar which is known to subdue all of the klippos. “It is revealed and known before Your Kisei HaKavod...” Meaning, through coming to the level of the Kisei HaKavod, we are able to subdue all of the klippos and utterly “smite Egypt through their firstborns.”[3]

[1] Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas B’shalach #1
[2] Yechezkel 1:26
[3] Tehillim 136:10

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The "Chiddush" of the Baal Shem Tov - Translation from the Piaczena

As more of an explanation of this post, about the "innovation" of the Baal Shem Tov, I wanted to translate (loosely) the first couple of paragraphs of the third perek of Mevo Hashe'arim by Rav Kalonymous Kalmish Shapiro of Piaczena, the author of the Aish Kodesh, which is printed in the back of his sefer Hachsharas Ha'Avreichim. Some explanatory translation here is attributable to the shiur on this piece by Rav Moshe Weinberger downloadable here. Any mistakes in explanation/translation are due to my failure to understand either the sefer or my rebbe's shiur...

When the Baal Shem Tov ascended to the upper world on Rosh Hashana of the year 5507 (1746), he entered Moshiach's courtyard. There, he asked Moshiach when he would come. Moshiach answered "When your wellsprings spread outward," as is known in the letter in the sefer Poras Yosef by Rav Gershon Kitover. Chassidus is the last revelation before Moshiach, may he come soon in our days. And it is the beginning of the rays of light of Moshiach's sunrise.

The primary messianic revelation is impied by the pasuk in Chavakuk 2:14, "כִּי תִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ, לָדַעַת אֶת-כְּבוֹד יְהוָה, כַּמַּיִם, יְכַסּוּ עַל-יָם," that the world will be filled with knowledge of Hashem as the water covers the sea-bed. And the main foundation established by the Baal Shem Tov was in the explanation he revealed in the pasuk in Yeshaya 6:3 "מְלֹא כָל-הָאָרֶץ, כְּבוֹדוֹ", "the kavod of Hashem fills the world." (In this pasuk, the Baal Shem Tov taught that the pasuk was also to be understood literally, that there is Elokus in everything.)

Many people, even many who were great in Torah, persecuted the holy one of Israel because of this by claiming that, G-d forbid, the Baal Shem Tov was saying that the kavod of the One Above was physical [thus degrading the kavod of Hashem]. But the ever-awake and holy one who descended from heaven, our holy Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov, knew that not only was he not making Hashem's glory corporeal, G-d forbid, but rather that he was increasing and revealing the kavod of Hashem through his teachings. And not only is the Baal Shem Tov's explanation of the above verse in accordance with it's simple meaning and with logic, but it was also necessary to reveal this "first light" before the the awakening of the sunrise of Moshiach from above. And if shamayim had not allowed him to reveal this light in advance of the dawn, and the world had not been prepared for the illumination of morning, then the sunrise of Moshiach would have, G-d forbid, been prevented from occuring.

Therefore, he announced the truth that not only is G-dly life found within everything of this world and that all physical life revolves around and conceals this G-dliness, but that physicality and earthliness themselves, which appear to us as only physical, are, in truth, completely Elokus. All we require is eyes to see and a sanctified body. Then, when you look at the world, you will be looking at G-d, and G-d at you. Hashem's glory fills the entire earth, so that even earthliness which enclothes [the Elokus], and the vessels of this world themselves are full of the illumination of Hashem's glory. And so the Baal Shem Tov was the beginning of the fulfillment of the Navi's promise that the earth would be filled with the knowledge of Hashem, which will be fulfilled with the coming of Moshiach, may it be soon in our days, that even the earth itself (not just the G-dliness concealed by the earth) will be filled with the knowledge of Hashem.

The "drawing down" accomplished by Tzadikim in earlier generations drew down Hashem's light more and more, and deeper and deeper into the world, but this "drawing down" was only done into the space within the vessels which comprise this world. But now, the "drawing down" and revelation accomplished by the Baal Shem Tov and his students is completely new. It was a drawing down into the walls of the vessels, which comprise this world, themselves, such that the walls of the vessels of this world themselves were transformed into "light." But this does not mean that they were "transformed" into light per se. Rather, the light that they already contained was revealed.

Consider what these vessels actually are. Hashem created them from light. Thus, they are the light of Hashem. It is known that the root source of the letters of the Aleph Bais and the vessels of this world are higher than the inner root(?). And that they came from the world of "Atzilus" originally. (which is explained in Eitz Chaim Heichal 1, Sha'ar 4, and specifically in the drush of Rav Gedalia Halevi there, and in Sha'ar 1, Anaf 2 in Haga'os U'biurim 1, he brings a distincition, that the vessels of Malchus She'b'asiya (the physical world) were created by Hashem at the beginning of creation, even before the first man and the world of "Atzilus", and that their lights, i.e. of Malchus D'asiya were created last, ayin sham.)

This means that the vessels of the world of Asiya were created before the lights that they concealed/contained, even before Adam Harishon and Atzilus. So the root of the vessels, even of the lowest world of Asiya, are much higher [than the revealed light), and only afterward became coursened vessels which conceal.

More, perhaps, to come...

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The Fruit and the Peel

Earlier generations knew that the peel concealed the fruit inside. The Baal Shem Tov revealed that the peel itself is also the fruit. (See Mevo Hashe'arim 3)

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Koidinover Rebbe in the 5 Towns Thu. - Sun. of Parshas Lech Lecha

The Koidinover Rebbe of Bnei Brak will be in the Five Towns/Far Rockaway area starting in two days, on Thursday, until Sunday night. You can see the flyer for this visit above and click on the image to get a larger, high quality pdf version. The schedule is also as follows:

This Thursay night, October 29th, 2009

The White Shul, Far Rockaway
7:00 - 9:30 PM
The Rebbe will be available for private meetings

Mishmar Kumzitz at the home of Rabbi Eytan Feiner at 1133 Sage, also in Far Rockaway.
10:00 PM

Friday night, Parshas Lech Lecha, October 30th, 2009

Mincha and Kabbalas Shabbos 5:45 PM at Chefetz Chaim Torah Center, 7 Derby Ave., Cedarhurst

Friday night Tish at the home of Dov and Allyson Perkal, 858 Fiske Street, Woodmere
9:00 PM

Shabbos morning davening at 9:00 AM, followed by Kiddush at Cong. bais Medrash HaRav (Rav Nayman) at 3 Beechwood Drive in Lawrence.

Shabbos afternoon Mincha at 5:20, followed by Shalosh Sheudes, where the Rebbe will speak at Cong. Aish Kodesh in Woodmere

Sunday night, November 1st - Private meetings beginning at 7:00 PM at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chaim Freud at 866 Oxford Rd. in Woodmere

To schedule a meeting with the Rebbe, please contact Reb Chaim Freud at 516-851-8855.

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Piaczena Yohrtzeit Torah and Famous Moishele Good Shabbos Story

BS"D

NOACH 5770: LOOKING OUT

ON THE 66^TH YARTZEIT OF THE HOLY PIASECZNER REBBE ZT"L HY"D, 4 CHESHVAN 5770

By Rav Zvi Leshem

Rebbe Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira was martyred 66 years ago today. In his 1929 drasha for Parshat Noach[1] he addresses the famous dispute regarding the comparative righteousness of Noach as compared to that of Avraham.[2] His conclusion is that whereas Avraham spread monotheism throughout the world, making many converts, Noach was concerned only with saving his own sons. Avraham was constantly looking outwards, towards all of humanity, to teach the true service of the Divine, but Noach, although he was a Zaddik, had a very narrow agenda of familial spirituality and was unconcerned with the religious welfare of his generation.[3]

This distinction has strong roots in earlier Chassidic literature. Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev[4] also sees the two figures as two different models of Zaddikim. For Reb Levi Yitzchak, famous as the defender of Am Yisrael, the main difference between Noach and Avraham was in their attitudes towards the people around them. Noach walked with G-d, that is to say, only with G-d whom he served, but he did not walk with other people in order to bring them close [to Divine service]. Thus Noach also made no attempt to rebuke his contemporaries, nor did he pray to HaShem on their behalf. He rather accepted the Divine decree of destruction passively. This is in dramatic contrast to Avraham, whom we know devoted his life to spreading the word of the L-rd and making converts. He also prayed to avert the Divine decree of destruction from the depraved populace of Sodom.[5]

How did the Piaseczner put this insight into practice? In his Letter to Parents and Teachers, that serves as the introduction to his 1932 revolutionary education classic, Chovat HaTalmidim, the Rebbe writes as follows regarding the trend in his time of young Chassidic youth "going off the derech": The yeshiva heads are only concerned with their own yeshivot and students, and they are only concerned with the "best" boys. They comfort themselves saying "while it is true that there are now a lot of irreligious Jews, but there are also a lot of fine Tora students and servants of HaShem. But they also need to look outside of their yeshivot, and see the massive numbers of the irreligious…are we to be satisfied with the mere handful of students in our yeshivot, is that all of Am Yisrael?[6]

The message is clear. Am Yisrael needs leaders who do not only think about the needs of their particular group, or of the Tora "elite" but who, like the holy Piaseczner Rebbe himself, have the needs of the entire Jewish People at hand. May the merit of the holy Rebbe protect all of Klal Yisrael, and may his Tora continue to guide us in true Chassideshe Avodat HaShem. May we merit the speedy fulfillment of the words of the Mashiach to the holy Baal Shem Tov, that when the wellsprings of Chassidic teachings and mystical practices spread throughout the world, the Redemption will occur.

Shabbat Shalom.

---

[1] Derech HaMelech pp. 5- 9.

[2] See Rashi, Bereshit 6:9 s.v. B'Dorotav.

[3] There is however an opinion that Noach did rebuke his fellows (unsuccessfully). See Tora Shlama 155 and 171 in the name of the Yemenite Midrash HaGadol.

[4] Kedushat Levi s.v. Eleh.

[5] For another discussion on two models of Zaddikim, see Noam Elimelech, Veyechi, s.v. Vayikach, regarding Ephraim and Menashe.

[6] Chovat HaTalmidim, p. 12.

Dixie Yid 10/23/09 Update: R' Leshem just e-mailed out a recording of Rav Shlomo himself singing the "Moishele Good Shabbos" nigun. ENJOY!

Dearest Friends,

Sometimes, as hard as it might to be to sit and write, you just gotta share… no matter what.

This past Wednesday night changed my life forever, but before telling you exactly why, PLEASE refresh your memory, and open your hearts to one of the Reb Shlomo's most powerful moments in his life.

Reb Shlomo ztz'l:

Ok, I don't want to tell you sad stories, it's not really sad, maybe a little bit, but it's a gevalt. Every person needs, especially our children, we should have our fathers and mothers for a long time. We also all need Rebbes, and then every person, once or twice in your life, you meet somebody and it mamesh reaches you so much that it mamesh carries you your whole life. So one of my Rebbes, which I saw just twice or three times in my life, was a Yid and his name was Reb Moshe.

My father was a Rabbi in Baden Bei Din, in Austria, and here comes 1938. I don't want to mention their name in shul, but they mamesh they took over. And you know in Germany it was not so dangerous yet to walk on the street. In Vienna it was mamesh dangerous from the first day on. Yidden couldn't go to shul anymore, especially my father.

So Shabbos morning it was only dangerous from 8 o'clock on, but between 5 and 8 in the morning it was less dangerous. So my father made a minyan in the house. People would come at six o'clock, mamesh they davened so fast mamesh, Kriyas Hatorah would go so fast because everyone wanted to be home before 8.

My brother and I were little kids. When you don't see people all week long, you are mamesh hungry to see a person. So I remember my twin brother and I, we were nearly up all Friday night. We couldn't wait mamesh, we wanted to open the door for the minyan.

At six o'clock, a knock at the door, mamesh to see a yid mamesh standing there with Pachad, afraid. I open the door a little bit and he would slip through the door, and then I close the door fast.

But then one Shabbos, I remember it was Parshas Bamidbar. I open the door. I see mamesh a Yid with little peyis, like most Rizhiner chassidim, they didn't have big beards. They just have a little beard. But this yid? He's not afraid. He started singing:

Good Shabbos good Shabbos. Good Shabbos good Shabbos, Good Shabbos good Shabbos, Good Shabbos good Shabbos, Good Shabbos good Shabbos, Good Shabbos good Shabbos, Oy Good Shabbos good Shabbos, Good Shabbos.

This Yid was mamesh in another world.

Finally he walked in and he walks up and down and the whole time he is singing Good Shabbos good Shabbos.

Then he turns to me, I'm a little boy and he says to me in Yiddish, "what is your name, what is your name,"

So I didn't want to chas v'shalom stop the melody, so I answered him back singing, "my name is Shlomo, what is your name."

He said "Moishele, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Oy Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos."

So my brother and I called him "Moishele Good Shabbos"

I want you to know, he came in for the minyan and we began to daven fast. And you know, basically when it comes to Nishmas Kol Chai you are not permitted to talk, but obviously Reb Moishele, nebech, couldn't hold back. He said to the chazzan 'you are davening down instead of davening up. Your tefillahs have to go up and the way you daven everything goes down because you daven so fast.' And he was crying. Listen to what he says. He says, yidden, maybe this is the last Shabbos we are saying Nishmas Kol Chai. Is this the way to say Nishmas Kol Chai?

So the chazzan said, I don't know any better.

I'll remember it till Mashiach is coming. Moishele walks to the amud.

I want you to all to sing with me softly. He started singing: Nishmas Kol Chai Tevarech Es Shimcha Hashem Elokeinu Veru'ach Kol Basar Tefa'er Useromem...

But you know friends, he davened the whole davening with this niggun. Even chazaras hashatz, kedushah. Then they lained, and by that time it was already 10:30 but nobody mamesh cared. Moishele mamesh lifted up the whole, nobody had fear anymore.

Finally the davening was over around 11 and my mother brought in wine to make Kiddush. And I want you to know, the whole time the windows were closed and the shades were down. Moishele says, when you make Kiddush, you have to open the windows. You have to say Kiddush for the whole world.

I mean it's crazy. People started saying Moishele, this is just too much. The people in the street want to kill us.

Mamesh I'll never forget it. Moishele says, who are they, the children of Esav? He says, they are our cousins. You know why Esav is Esav? Because he forgot what Shabbos is. Maybe if some Yid is saying V'shamru B'Nei Yisrael Es Hashabbos, maybe Esav will remember what he learned by Yitzchak.

He opened the windows and Moishele was mamesh standing by the window and mamesh you could see the Germans walking up and down the street. It was Min Hashamayim, He mamesh had the wine outside of the window and he was singing:

"V'shamru B'nei Yisroel Ess haShabbos….."

After davening my parents invited him to eat with us and Moisheleh began telling us, mamesh so much b'tzniyus, half telling half not telling. He says, I want you to know I am on the black list of the Germans. Suddenly we remembered, Moisheleh's picture was on every street corner. It said 'the most wanted Jew by the Furor.'

What was his avodah? What was he doing? If you remember thousands of Yidden were arrested and nebech, their wives and children were dying from hunger. Moishele was up all night carrying food to every house.

This was Parshas Bamidbar, and on Pesach he mamesh brought matza to 2000 families in Vienna, gevalt.

So they were looking for him and one night he says they caught him and hit him over the head but mamesh at that moment, he said that the Ribbono Shel Olam gave me koach, he turned himself away and ran off. So he says, during the day I cannot walk on the street so I'll stay here.

Then he says to us, I want to come again, most probably I'll come Wednesday night. Now friends.,I want you to know how shabbosdik he was. He says I'll come Wednesday night and it will be around 4 o'clock and I will knock on the door 7 times l'Kovod Shabbos and you'll know it's me.

And again, the way my house was that my brother and I slept closest to the outside door.

And I mamesh could not sleep all night, waiting for Moishele Good Shabbos to come.

At around 4:30 we hear mamesh a subtle knocking 7 times. We open the door and Moishele is standing by the door singing:

Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos

We asked him where is this niggun from. Moishele told us that he was in Lublin on Rosh Hashana, davening with the Breslover chassidim. He heard it there from the old chassidim who said that his was the niggun which Reb Nachman himself davened too. It was the first time we ever heard of Reb Nachman.

He stayed in our house all night long singing. That was the last time I saw him.

We left for America and my brother I went to Mesivtah Toras VaDa'as. Everyone that came to the Mesivtah … we mamesh taught them the niggun "good Shabbos."

Later on I had the privilege of meeting young people, especially in San Francisco. I had the house of love and prayer, it was a gevalt. Baruch Hashem, I want you to know, this niggun mamesh turned on hundreds of thousands of people to Shabbos. Not to be believed.

The most important thing is that I taught all those kids that even on Wednesday night we say good Shabbos. We are living in an age before Mashiach, we cannot wait till Shabbos to say good Shabbos. You can say good Shabbos all the time.

Anyway, this all took place 1938, and in the meantime, time is flying. And I don't want to tell you bad things but just open your hearts. A few years ago I walk on the street in Tel Aviv on Ben Yehuda by street, by the Yarkon. Suddenly a Yiddele from Vienna see me. Aren't you Shlomo Carlebach, and I said yes. 'Do you remember Moishele, you know, Moishele from Vienna?'

Somehow it struck me and I said, you mean Moishele Good Shabbos? Is he still alive? maybe he's in Bnei Brak, Gevalt! Who knows where he is!

He says, let's go down, there's a little park by the river and I'll tell you the story.

He says, I want you to know I was one the closest friends of Moishele good Shabbos.

(By the way, I thought my brother and I were the only ones who called him Moishele good Shabbos. Obviously everyone called him that. All of Vienna called him Moishele good Shabbos)

Chevre, give me your hearts for a second. This Yiddele says that Moishele finally got himself a false passport, an English passport. Moishele had two children, a little boy and a little girl. He, his wife and two children were sitting on the train leaving Austria, with a passport to go to London. And this yidele says 'I was there on the train'. His wife kep on begging him Moishele, please don't sing And he was singing this niggun nonstop. Please, she said, don't make any noise. Wait until we go out of the border.

The train is slowly leaving. Moishele says I have to sing Good Shabbos Good Shabbos one more time to say so long to Vienna, I have to say goodbye to the city, I have to say good Shabbos. He opened the window and started singing one last time Good Shabbos Good Shabbos Good Shabbos Good Shabbos.

The most heartbreaking thing happened. Since his picture was all over the city, one of the people on the train recognized him and called over one of the Germans. They stopped the train and dragged off Moishele. And I swear to you, this yidele told me. Moishlee didn't stop singing Good Shabbos till that final whip which killed him.

Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos Good Shabbos.

I want you to know something incredible.

A few years later, I was supposed to go to do a concert in Manchester on Sunday. and the way to go to the concert I had to leave Tel Aviv Friday morning and I was thinking of going to London and then Sunday I would go to Manchester.

While we are flying, suddenly they announce there's a gas strike in London and they are landing in Zürich. Anybody who wants to go to London when they get to Zürich - they would take care of it and it would be a 16 hour delay, minimum, Friday afternoon.

So one Yid says why don't you got to Antwerp for Shabbos and from there, there will be a ship that leaves at six o'clock in the morning and gets to London at 12 and from there go to Manchester.

Ok, I'm right in Antwerp it was two hours before Shabbos and the Yid who is sitting next to me on the plane invites me for Shabbos and I say yes.

While I'm still talking to this Yid, someone comes up to me. I know this face. He was so sweet that I didn't want to hurt him that he should think that I don't know who he was. He says, mamesh Shlomoleh, come to my house for Shabbos.

I said I'm already going to this Yiddele but give me your telephone, if I have a Melaveh malka I'll invite you. So he writes it down, his name is Heschel.

After he left I said, who is this Heschel. He said, he's the son of Moishele Good Shabbos. Oy, Gevalt, I couldn't believe it.

We have a Melaveh malka, and this yid is there. I say to Hesheleh, do you know your tatty's niggun?

You know something, the most heartbreaking thing; he was too small to remember. I mean Can you imagine it was clear to me the holy gas strike in London was only that I should be in Antwerp and I gave him over his father's niggun.

And gevalt, he looks exactly like his father.

And I want to share with you one more thing.

The last time I saw Moishele, the last time before he walked out he was standing by the door for a long time and he sang

"Tzur Yisroel Tzur Yisroel Kume Be'ezras Yisrael Ufdei Chinumecha Yehuda Veyisroel..."

I want you to know friends, I'm singing this niggun all the time, all the time.

*******************

This past Wednesday night was the wedding of our dear friend Rocky Ziegler to his beloved Bina Wilkinfeld. The wedding was awesome, mamesh awesome. The colorful range of Shtreimels and hippies singing and dancing together was incredible.

Our dear friend and teacher, R Sholom Brodt had the zchus to marry off the couple.

After the chuppa, a young chassidishe yid, a princely looking chassid came up to R Sholom asking him if he was using the tune of Moishele Good Shabbos for the brachas under the chuppa. R Sholom said yes and asked him why he is asking.

'I am Moishele great-grandson, it's my great-grandfather's niggun' replied this yid.

We all began to come up to this very young, shy and humbled yid. We couldn't believe it… we felt we were all part of the story. One by one, we came up to him, bursting with utter simcha and total amazement. This chassid never saw anything like this, and hinted to me that this was very overwhelming for him.

How do I begin to explain to him who his great-grandfather is to us, and to thousands and thousands more? How do I begin to explain to him that thousands of yiddelach daven to his great-grandfather's niggun every day, every Shabbos, every holiday? How do I begin to give over to him who his great-grandfather was to our Rebbe?

He approached me a few minutes later and asked me if I was driving back home, and if I had room in the car for him, his wife and two children. Crazily enough, he only lives 15 minutes away from us. I was humbled beyond belief by the thought of driving him and his family home.

As we closed the door of the car, and a 25 minute ride approaching us, I began to seriously feel Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Succos, all at once. It was so beyond my wife Bina and myself, we simply couldn't believe it.

But then, thank G-d I remembered a recent disc of Reb Shlomo ztz'l I had in the car during Succos. It was a concert on Succos, on the night of the Ushpizin of Moshe Rabbeinu. And during this concert Reb Shlomo began pouring out his heart. 'Friends, I want you to know, one of my greatest Rebbes in the world, one of my greatest teachers I will ever have was Reb Moishele Good Shabbos…' And then Reb Shlomo told over the story with more fire than ever before.

My wife Bina found the cd, and we put it on.

This chassid, whose name is Eliezer Heshel, the son of Moshe Heshel, the son of Eliezer Heshel, the son of Moishele Heshel – thee Moishele good Shabbos… he had never heard the story before. He knew some facts and some stories about his great grandfather, but other than knowing the tune… he didn't know that much more.

He sat behind me, and all I could hear while Reb Shlomo ztz'l was davening away in the backround, was Moishele's great-grandson's amazement. Pshhhh…psssss. He was literally going out of his mind.

His wife (who is related to Rocky's kalla) gave me their home number. Eliezer told me that they have a picture in an old family picture album… one picture of their great-grandfather. He is going to dig it out of the storage in his parents house, and get it to us.

As he got out of the car and was about to walk into his home, he tuned to me and said 'May the zchus of my grat-grandfather Moishele stand for you, your family and your freinds forever.'

I spoke to him last night, and he told me that all they know is that Moishele's ashes are burried somewhere in Vienna. He then told me that Moishele's yahrtzeit is coming up, the tenth of Chsehvan, just six days before our Rebbe's yahzrteit.

What on earth do we know?

Good Shabbos Kodesh

Shlomo & Bina Katz

(Video is of Yehuda Green using R' Shlmo's Moishele Good Shabbos Niggun for Kadish after Slichos and other great niggunim)

New Video of the Satmar Rov, "Reb Yoilish"

Courtesy of Gruntig

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Koidinover Rebbe in NY/NJ Area Sunday through Thursday

The Koidenover Rebbe will be visiting the NY/NJ area Sunday June 7th-Thursday June 11th. The Rebbe will be available for private consulatations and brachos. To schedule an appointment to meet with the Rebbe or to find out about scheduled events, please contact Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin 443-570-7598

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Modzitzer Rebbe Coming This Monday to NY/Baltimore

I received the following notice by e-mail from the Modzitzer yahoo e-mail list:

The Modzitzer Rebbe shlita will spend 10 days in the US (Mon. Feb. 23- Wed. Mar. 4), primarily to provide chizuk to Jews after the recent
waves of financial and other crises. The Rebbe's gabbai, Rabbi Zev Krimelovsky, stated that "The Rebbe shlita had countless conversations with his people in the
US the past 6 months. He felt its time to come provide some chizuk, using the
month of Adar as a springboard to raise spirits, instead of just raising money."

The Rebbe has been invited to a series of evenings in different areas
throughout his stay - Flatbush, Monsey, Lawrence/Far Rockaway, Lakewood,
Manhattan and Baltimore Maryland, to name a few. If you are interested
in joining one of these evenings, or to arrange a private meeting with the
Rebbe, write to modzitzer@yahoo.com, or
call one of the phone numbers at the end of this notice.

The seventh Rebbe in a dynasty that started with Rebbe Yechezkel of Kuzmir, he is a rare combination of the best traits one would hope for in a Rebbe. He is well-versed
in the classics of Chassidish seforim, as well as being prominent Talmid Chacham
in the classic Lithuanian tradition.

The Rebbe was a favorite talmid of HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Yosef Kahaneman zt"l, of Ponevezh, who called him "my missile." A student in Ponevezh Yeshiva LeTzeirim and Yeshiva Gedolah, he became a leading talmid of Reb Shmuel Rozovsky, zt"l, as well as HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman shlita and maintains warm kesher with today's Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Berel Povarsky. This sterling tradition served him well when he served for over 20 years as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Imrei Shaul in Bnei Brak, until assuming the "Admorus" of Modzitz upon his father's passing.

The unique blend of Negina, Torah, outreach and personal warmth that has typified Modzitz throughout the generations is even stronger today in the Rebbe, which is why he is embraced by the full spectrum of the religious Jewish world. His erudition and incisive analysis, coupled with a warm insight into people's nature and needs, have made him a speaker of choice in many circles, ranging from Ohr HaMeir Yeshiva in Peekskill, Darkei Torah in Far Rockaway, to the Hesder Yeshiva in Beit El, and Kerem BeYavneh in Israel. He was a featured guest speaker at Merkaz HaRav in memory of the Kedoshim HY"D killed a year ago there. In Elul, the Rebbe was invited to Mexico City, and was described by local Rabbonim as "doing more for chizuk in Mexico in 1
week than we have done for 20 years".

Modzitz has experienced extensive growth the past few years, with new Batei Chassidim opening in Modi'in Illit, Ashdod, and Yerushalayim, the renovation of the Yeshiva Ketana and a vast expansion of the main Beis Medrash in Bnei Brak, significant growth in Brooklyn, and the beginnings of new Modzitz kehillos in London, Mexico City, Beit Shemesh and elsewhere. A strong chessed network has also been established, providing assistance to young kollel families and other needy people throughout the year.

For consultations and personal meetings, please call Eli Gelbtuch at 917-940-6416.

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Koidinover Rebbe's Visit to Woodmere/Rav Moshe Weinberger - Video and Pictures

As I announced, the Koidinover Rebbe from Bnei Brak spent two days in the Woodmere/Five Towns area. The video above is Rav Moshe Weinberger's introduction and the Koidinover Rebbe's words last night, Monday night, January 12, 2008. The Koidinover Rebbe spoke immediately after Rav Weinberger's weekly Chassidus shiur. Baruch Hashem, the Koidinover was able to meet with people throughout the day on Sunday and most of the day yesterday until late last night at Cong. Aish Kodesh in Woodmere. Big thanks to Chaim Freud, Dov Perkal, Sender Schwartz and Shlomo Slatkin and Avi Hirsch for organizing this visit by the Koidinover! Ashreinu Yisrael!




-Dixie Yid

(Pictures courtesy of Zachary Freud and Video courtesy of Dov Bersh Perkal)

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The Koidinover Rebbe in Woodmere, NY for Personal Meetings

This coming Sunday and Monday, Jan. 11/12th, the Woodmere, and wider Five Towns/Far Rockaway community has the opportunity again this year to meet the Koidinover Rebbe. Many of us were zoche to meet him and attend the Friday night Tish last year, and it was an inspiring experience for all. This time, unfortunately, he will not be with us for Shabbos, but he will be available at the following times for private meetings in Woodmere:

Sunday, January 11th

Davening and Private Meetings: The Rebbe will be davening at the White Shul and then having private meetings with individuals aftarward.

The Ohel Sara Amen Group will host the Koidinover Rebbetzin, Rebb. Bruchi Ehrlich at 8:30 AM, at 2 Forest Lane, Lawrence.

Private Meetings in Cedarhurst: At the home of Mrs. Nechama Spiegel, 271 Oakwood Ave., Cedarhurst, beginning at 7:30 PM

Monday, January 12th

Private Meetings: 5-8 PM at the home of Chaim and Judy Freud, 886 Oxford Rd., Woodmere.
Words of Torah from the Rebbe: Monday, 1/12, 9 PM at Cong. Aish Kodesh, 894 Woodmere Pl., following Rav Moshe Weinberger's Chassidus Shiur.
Private Meetings: At Cong. Aish Kodesh, after the Rebbe speaks, from 9:30 PM and on.

To arrange a time to meet with the Rebbe at one of the meetings times listed above, please call Chaim Freud at 516-851-8855.

For more information on last year's visit, you can click here. For details about this visit, you can see a larger pdf version of the flyer above by either clicking here or clicking on the flyer image above.

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of Sender Schwartz/UMI)

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Are They Really Refusing to Daven for the Jews in Eretz Yisroel

I would like to ask a question and see if anyone out there really has an answer regarding a question about Satmar Chassidim. I just want to preface this by saying that I hope that I won't get any Satmar-bashing comments and that any such comments will be deleted. Their attitude about the State of Israel is based on the teachings of the the Tzadik Yesod Olam, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum, the previous Satmar Rebbe in VaYoel Moshe. I'm trying to ask a sincere question and I'm hoping for a sincere answer.

A friend of mine works at a company with many Satmar Chassidim. He asked them about their response to the situation in Eretz Yisroel. They told them that they won't daven for the matzav there! Now it could be that there was some miscommunication or that these folks don't represent mainstream Satmar. I don't know. But if this is an accurate statement of the Satmar outlook, I don't understand it.

Yes, they're against Medinas Yisroel and all of its branches. Yes, they believe the Jews who settled Israel and set up the state were wrong. But this is not a medina, in the abstract sense, being hit with missles every day. These are Jewish men, women and children! This is not some abstract incorporeal medina putting its life in danger and fighting in urban areas to protect its brothers and sisters in southern Israel. These are Jewish boys, barely out of high school engangering themselves for their brothers in his way! This is not about supporting a medina. It is about davening for Jews who are being attacked, because they are Jews, by hate-filled Reshaim!

If someone could help me understand, in a sincere way, and without bashing, I would appreciate it.

-Dixie Yid

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Two Great Teachers of Chassidus From E"Y in Woodmere Thursday Night!

If you live in the New York area, you have a great opportunity. Two great Talmidei Chachamim and teachers of Chassidus, Rav Zvi Leshem and Rav Yair Dreifuss, will be in Woodmere, NY on Thursday night, January 8th for a small reception at the home of Benyomin and Malka Wolf. The reception will be at 8 PM in their home at 888 Cambridge Rd. in Woodmere. After a short video presentation regarding Rav Zvi Leshem and Rav Yair Dreifuss' project to publish the Torah of Rav Shagar, z"tl, R' Leshem and Dreifuss will mezakeh us with a few brief words of Torah and the opportunity to learn more about their projects and teachings!

What: Reception with Rav Zvi Leshem and Rav Yair Dreifuss
When: Thursday night, January 8th, 8 PM
Where: The home of Benyomin and Malka Wolf, 888 Cambridge Rd., Woodmere, NY


Rav Yair Dreifuss's Bio:

Rav Yair Dreifuss was born in 1949 and serves as the Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Siach Yitzchak in Efrat. He studied in Jerusalem’s Maaleh High School and then in the Kerem B’Yavneh Hesder Yeshivah, together with his friend Rav Shagar (Shimon Gershon Rosenberg zt”l). He then continued his studies at Yeshivat HaKotel. He was ordained in 1971 by several rabbis, including by Chief Rabbi Yaacov Fink zt”l of Haifa, and later by Israel Chief Rabbi Avraham Shapira zt”l.

Rav Dreifuss has thousands of students from many years of teaching in leading institutions such as Yeshivat HaKotel (where he also served as the “Spiritual Director”), Yeshivat Birkat Moshe in Maale Adumim and the Michlala College for Women. He also served as the Community Rabbi of the town of Bet Yatir in the Hebron Hills.

In 1996 he established, together with Rav Shagar, whom he views as his own Rav and teacher, Yeshivat Siach Yitzchak. The Yeshiva’s goal was to develop a connection between Torah study and the surrounding intellectual climate, with a strong emphasis on the study of Chassidic thought.

Since Rav Shagar’s death in 2007 Rav Dreifuss has continued to head the Yeshivah by himself. He also participated, together with other students appointed by Rav Shagar before his death and in his will, in the establishment of the Institute for the Study of Rav Shagar’s Writings, with the goal of publishing Rav Shagar’s vast literary estate of some 3000 manuscripts.

Rav Dreifuss has published Halachic responsa in various forums such as the journal Tchumin, and numerous articles, including in the many books published by the Yeshivah. He co-authored, together with Rav Shagar, the [Hebrew] book of wedding homilies, Beloved Friends.

Rav Dreifuss makes his home in Alon Shvut with his wife Rachel. They have five children and many grandchildren.


Rav Zvi Leshem (Blobstein)'s Bio

Rav Zvi Leshem (formerly Blobstein) grew up in Cleveland and Indianapolis. He holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University as well as a B.A. in Talmud. Making aliya with his wife Julie in 1979, he spent many years in the Kollel of Yeshivat HaMivtar, at the same time attending shiurim of gedolim such as Rav Shaul Yisraeli zt"l, Rav Shagar zt”l and Rav Aharon Lichtenstein shlit"a. He was ordained by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate and certified to serve as a Rav Shechuna. He is also an ordained Sofer Sta"m and Baal Magia. Rav Zvi earned an M.A. in Jewish Philosophy from Touro College and his PhD. at Bar-Ilan University in Chassidic Thought, writing his dissertation on the Piaseczner Rebbe's Definition of Chassidut. Rav Zvi was also a Jerusalem Fellow, where his projects were on Tolerance and Pluralism in Relations between Religious and Secular Jews, and on The Translation of Chassidic Educational Philosophy to the Current Educational Landscape. In 1986 he traveled to the Soviet Union on a secret mission to train underground Torah teachers. He served for many years in an I.D.F. combat unit.

Rav Zvi has taught in many Yeshivot and programs for young women, both Israelis and English speakers. He served for 18 years as Associate Dean and Director of Overseas Programs at Nishmat. He is currently the Rav of the English-speaking community of Bar-Ilan University and a Research Fellow at Yeshivat Siach Yitzchak.

Rav Zvi and his wife Julie, a Judaica and functional potter and ceramics teacher, make their home in Efrat where he serves as the Spiritual Leader of Congregation Shirat Shlomo. They have six children and several grandchildren. He is the author of Redemptions: Contemporary Chassidic Essays on the Parsha and the Festivals.

-Dixie Yid

(Picture of Rav Shagar, zt"l, (top) courtesy of YNet, Picture of Rav Leshem courtesy of Nishmat and the picture of Rav Yair Dreifuss courtesy of Wikipedia)

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Kedushas Levi and Intro to Chassidus - Audio Shiurim

Here are this past week's shiurim by Rabbi Tal Zwecker from his Ramat Beit Shemesh Shul. Enjoy!

Kedushas Levi VaYigash: Download/Listen

Hakdama to Chassidus - SifseiChen: Download/Listen

Kedushas Levi Stories Part 6: Download/Listen

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of chassidicart.com)

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Dreidels and Gelt (The Inside Story)

The Koznitzer Magid, in the sefer Avodas Yisroel, says that one of the purposes of the holy days is to bring the light of those days into the times afterward. The holy days are times of mochin d'gadlus, a time of epandeded consciousness. The holidays are mashpia that sense of mochin d'gadlus into the times of mochin d'katnus, small-mindedness, that follow them. The light of Chanukah is followed by the dark winter months of Teves and Shvat, so we want to be mashpia the light of chanukah onto Teves and Shvat's mochin d'katnus.

To mirror this process, the gedolim (adults, who parallel the mochin d'gadlus) are mashpia, give, to the ketanim (children, who parallel mochin d'katnus) dreidels to play with and gelt on Chanukah. By giving these things to the children to use on Chanukah, we parallel the process of how Chanukah is mashpia the mochin d'gadlus of Chanukah onto the cold dark winter months that follow it, which don't have any Yomim Tovim.

Spiffy, eh? And a big toda raba to my friend Rabbi Reuven Boshnack who showed me that piece at his house on the fourth day of Chanukah!

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of alexandergallery.biz)

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"Cut Your Losses" When the Yetzer Hara Strikes

My Rebbe brought down a Torah from the Divrei Yiroel of Modzitz this past Shabbos at Shalosh Sheudos. The Rebbe commented on Yaakov's strategy of splitting his camp. In Breishis 32:8-9, the Torah says "אִם-יָבוֹא עֵשָׂו אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה הָאַחַת וְהִכָּהוּ--וְהָיָה הַמַּחֲנֶה הַנִּשְׁאָרוַיַּחַץ אֶת-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר-אִתּוֹ, וְאֶת-הַצֹּאן וְאֶת-הַבָּקָר וְהַגְּמַלִּים--לִשְׁנֵי מַחֲנוֹת. וַיֹּאמֶר, אִם-יָבוֹא עֵשָׂו אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה הָאַחַת וְהִכָּהוּ--וְהָיָה הַמַּחֲנֶה הַנִּשְׁאָר, לִפְלֵיטָה" "He split the people, sheep, camels and cattle that were with him into two camps saying, 'If Eisav comes into one camp and smites it, the remaining camp will be saved."

The Divrei Yisroel points out the well known Zohar that says that Eisav is the physical manifestation of the Yetzer Hara. So that whenever we learn something about Eisav, we're also learning something about our own Yetzer Hara, evil inclination. He says that we learn a great strategy in dealing with the Yetzer Hara here. He says that sometimes the Yetzer Hara comes and succeeds in smiting us in something. We do an aveira in some area of life. At that point, the Yetzer Hara tries to get us to become depressed and lose hope. This would play right into his hands because it would lead to depression and yeiush, which only lead to us doing even more aveiros, sins.

He says we must follow Yaakov's lead and use his strategy. When we fail in something, we must learn to cut our losses and not get too tzubrochen, broken about what happened. WE must separate our inner selves into many camps so that even if part of us gets beaten, we can still go ahead with our remaining, intact, selves and push forward. Memeila, automatically if we keep moving forward, we will be able to me mesaken what we did. The main focus, though, should be on not doing it again and in moving forward with avodas Hashem, and not getting hung up on what we did wrong.

Of course we must do teshuva and fix the things we do wrong, but if it gets to the point of depression, as opposed to a broken-heartedness which strengthens our resolve, this is the counsel of the yetzer hara.

The Divrei Yisroel likens the situation to a gang of robbers who have a plan to clean out a businessman's store. Thet send in one of their chevra to steal one item and then run out, hoping that the storekeeper will run after that man, trying to get his item back. And while he is out, the rest of the gang will clean out the whole store. He says that a wise storekeeper will just "write off" the stolen item and just be more careful that no one should steal anything in the future. In such a way, he will, though his additional care, make back many times the value of the stolen item over time.

The nimshal is as we have said. If we mope and wallow in self-pity over the aveiros that we've done, we fall right into the yetzer hara's trap. Rather, we must follow Yaakov Avinu's lead and split ourselves into multiple camps. So that if we fall prey to the yetzer hara in one area, we will still have the motivation and perseverance to continue forward in all areas of avodah afterward, and not to get pulled down by our losses.

May Hashem make us successful to fighting the yetzer hara, and in knowing when to "cut our losses" and keep growing despite our failures!

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of modzitz.org)

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Shiurim on Chassidus for Parshas Vayishlach - Rabbi Tal Zwecker

Rabbi Tal Zwecker has shared some shiurim he gave in his Shul this week. Good to listen to before (or after) Shabbos!

Stories of the Kedushas Levi (Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev: Download/Listen
Toras_HaChassidus: The Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch: Download/Listen
Kedushas Levi on Parshas VaYishlach: Download/Listen

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of Chassidic Art.com)

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Stories of the Kedushas Levi, R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev - Audio Shiur

Rabbi Tal Zwecker is sharing a shiur he recently gave at his Shul in Ramat Beit Shemesh, of stories of R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Kedushas Levi. CLICK HERE to listen!

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of kevarim.wordpress.com)

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Stories of R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev - Audio Shiur

Rabbi Tal Zwecker has shared with us the audio from his weekly shiur with stories of Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Kedushas Levi.

CLICK HERE to listen in!

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of crownheights.info)

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He Died From Smoking on Shabbos

Here's a funny and sad story I heard from R' Reuven Boshnack, who heard the ma'aseh from R' Mordechai Twerski in Flatbush, who heard it from his uncle, Rav Michel Twerski of Milwaukee, who the story actually happened to.

Reb Michel was on a bus in Eretz Yisroel and he met an old Russian Jew who was not frum and they started talking.

This Yid told Reb Michel that in the old days around Minsk, no one would break Shabbos publicly. If anyone wanted to smoke on Shabbos, they had to go out of town where it wasn't too public. They usually went to the cemetary.

One Shabbos, he went with a friend on Shabbos to smoke in the cemetary. He lit a match and the wind blew it out. He lit another match, but that was blown out too. Eventually, they lit every match in the matchbook, and they were all blown out. Really wanting a cigarette, his friend remembered that by the kever of Reb Ahron of Karlin, there was a light that was constantly lit.

They went over to the kever. In order to reach the fire, this man's friend had to lean all the way over the kever of Rav Aharon Karliner. While he was leaning over, trying to light his Shabbos cigarette, he was struck with a heart attack and died immediately. The whole experience was very upsetting for this Jew.

"So," Reb Michel asked him, "Did that experience cause you to change anything about your life?"

The man admitted that he did have to make one change. From then on, he had to find a different buddy to smoke on Shabbos with!

Oy! Hashem open up our hearts to hear your messages to us!

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of wikimedia)

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Halachic Obligation to Learn Chassidus? Crawling Axe on R' Zwecker's Shiur

Crawling Axe has posted an interesting addendum with additional sources for those brought by Rabbi Tal Zwecker in the shiur I posted of his yesterday morning. Rabbi Zwecker spoke about sources from both the Baal Hatanya and the GR"A for the idea that one is obligated halachicly to learn Chassidus! Check out Crawling Axe's post!

-Dixie Yid

(Picture courtesy of jerulita)

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