Shearim

The Imrei Emet in Marienbad

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:57:11 PST

1 August 1927

The Imrei Emet (Rebbe Avraham Mordechai Alter) in Marienbad. His hotel was the "Goldene Schloss - Golden Castle"). Owner of the hotel was the Leitner family and it included a Mikveh.

Dr. Nathan Birnbaum

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:37:37 PST

Dr. Nathan Birnbaum, 1864 - 1937, in Marienbad

Nathan Birnbaum was an Austrian writer and friend of Theodor Herzl:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Birnbaum

Kosher Comics

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:21:56 PST

B"H

After regular kosher children's books, haredi society has dicovered kosher comics. No sex, no violence, just modest.

Sounds boring ?

Sometimes I wish I would be living in a "perfect" world without knowing about all the garbage reality confronts us with. Just live my own life and not look at headlines talking about murder and rape.

Baalei Teshuva going on People's Nerves

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:09 PST

B"H

Last night I went to a self - service laundry near the Machane Yehudah Market in Jerusalem. I go there quite frequently when I am in town because I hate carrying around dirty clothes while traveling between two cities. The laundry is a family business owned by Kurdish Jews.
Usually Sephardic Jews in Israel have the reputation of being more religiously observant than Ashkenazi Jews. Not always frum but traditional. I think that especially European Jewry came to Israel with all kinds of modern and Reform ideas. Sephardic Jews, however, are still different until today and many of them keep Shabbat and kosher. So does the family owning the laundy.

Last night, however, the owner who is a man in his sixties, told me that his daughter (single and in her early thirties) who is running the place would drives him and his wife crazy. As soon as she arrives for Shabbat, she is telling her parents what to do and what not to do. This is not good enough and that is not according to Halacha.
The father told me that him and his wife are traditional but not religiously crazy. Their daughter N. became a Baalat Teshuva and involved with the newly Breslov movement of Rabbi Shalom Arush in Jerusalem. Everything Rabbi Arush says is right. And everthing has to be more and more extreme.

I remember I once caused a huge argument with her when I said that Rabbi Arush is not the most excepted in the Jerusalemer Breslov world. Generally the original Breslovers from Mea Shearim let Baalei Teshuva pray with them but nothing further. This is why Rabbi Eliezer Berland, Rabbi Shalom Arush as well as Rabbi Lazer Brody founded their own Baalei Teshuva movement.
It is nice that someone is taking care of those Baalei Teshuva who want to become Breslov. Nevertheless, Rabbi Shalom Arush has the reputation of accepting former (or still) criminals such as drug addicts, thieves, etc. People coming out of jail and not each of them pretending to become religious really does so. Mea Shearim does not want local children running around in a neighbourhood where there could be a former child molester. "Almost everyone deserves a chance in life but, please, not in my neighbourhood !"

When I told this to N., she almost stuck a knife between my rips. Nevertheless, this is a fact and those who do not believe it are welcomed to investigate.

But the Breslover Baalei Teshuva are not my topic; rather the sometimes unbearable behaviour of the newly religious when they see themselves as something. Many want to get rid of their own secular past and do this in such a way that they start hating anything not too frum (in their eyes). Telling others what to do, becoming extreme and loosing a sense for reality.

People acting in such a way definitely have the wrong Rabbi because a Rabbi has to teach the newly religious how to do a slow transformation. And I think commanding the parents around and telling them what to do is in itself an act against Halacha. As soon as I see such people, I just keep away as far as I can. They drive me so crazy after a while that I get upset and then the fight starts.

Why are many Baalei Teshuva just not able to shut up, mind their own business and let others live their lives ?
In this respect, I very much prefer Haredim who were born into society.

Lifestyle Barbie in the Box

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:56:01 PST

"Lech Lecha" comic from Crown Heights.

Even if you are not with Chabad, the cartoon is funny !

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Mordechai of Bilgoraj

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:18:15 PST

B"H

Due to the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Mordechai of Bilgoraj, Chassidut Belz (Jerusalem) is having a Tish tonight (Wednesday). The Tish is going to take place at the great Belzer Beit Mirdrash in Kiryat Belz but, unfortunately, I forgot to ask for the exact time. However, it will be in the evening.

Rabbi Mordechai of Bilgoraj was the brother of the former Belzer Rebbe Aharon Rokeach and is the father of the present Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach.

Further Information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yissachar_Dov_Rokeach_(II)

Dr. Enoch Heinrich Kisch - Doctor in Marienbad

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:23:36 PST

B"H

Prof. Dr. Enoch Heinrich Kisch (1841-1918) started his doctor career in Marienbad in1863.

He had finished college at the age of 15 and at the age of 22, he was appointed as a doctor. The youngest doctor ever in the monarchy of the Austrian Empire.

He became a professor at the age of 44, wrote 220 scientific essays and various books (also about Marienbad). His brother was Prof. Dr. Alexander Kisch who was the Rabbi of the Meisel Synagogue in Prague.

Is anyone able to provide further information on the Kisch - family ?

Chaseneh in Vishnitz (Bnei Brak)

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:38:54 PST

B"H

On Wednesday next week (Parashat Toldot), Chassidut Vishnitz in Bnei Brak is celebrating another wedding (Yiddish: Chaseneh). Bride and groom are not directly from the Hager family (the Rebbe family) but from the two important Vishnitz families "Ernster" and "Adler". Those two families come from Rebbe Moshe Yehoshua Hager's side, the old Vishnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, who is suffering from a severe illness. The Ernster's and the Adler's are his brother - in - laws.

So far, the Chaseneh has not been standing under such a lucky star because a shadow is circling over Vishnitz Israel, as one of the Ernster family members just vanished a few days ago. It is said that he has severe debts and escaped from the Mafia.
Whatever that means.

However, last February I went to another Vishnitzer wedding in Bnei Brak and enjoyed myself very much. Then, the granddaughter of the Vishnitzer Rebbe in Monsey married a family member from the Ernsters in Jerusalem (see the above and below pictures).

I was glad seeing the elder Vishnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager including his son, Rebbe Israel.

Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum was in Marienbad

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:26:24 PST

The Satmarer Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum was visiting Marienbad.

The above Marienbad list shows his name on 6 August 1927.

Rare Pictures from Marienbad

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:08:33 PST

The Belzer Rebbe Aharon Rokeach , 1877 - 1957, in Marienbad.

Rabbi Me'ir Alter (Chassidut Gur) in Marienbad. He was the oldest son of the "Imrei Emet" (Rebbe Avraham Mordechai Alter) and later on was killed in Treblinka.

The Munkatcher Rebbe Chaim Elazar Spira, 1871 - 1937, in Marienbad.

Update: Swine Flu in Israel

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:21:23 PST

B"H

A 31 - year - old man from Ashdod is marking Israel's 42nd swine flu victim. The young man died although he was totally healthy and did not even smoke.

So far, 17,000 Israelis have received the vaccination against the swine flu (according to the daily "Israel Hayom").

Cartoon: Muqata

One - Sided

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:58:00 PST

Cartoon: Arutz 7

The Vishnitzer Rebbe Israel Hager in Marienbad

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:33:23 PST

The Vishnitzer Rebbe Israel Hager (1860 - 1936) in Marienbad.

Rebbe Israel Hager was the third Vishnitzer Rebbe (Ahavat Israel) and the grandfather of the Vishnitzer Rebbe Moshe Yehoshua from Bnei Brak. He was also the great - grandfather fo the two fighting sons of Rebbe Moshe Yehoshua, Rebbe Israel and Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager.

You can see Rebbe Israel Hager walking in the middle and to the left (behind him) is his son Rabbi Chaim Me'ir (Imrei Chaim). To the right (behind Rebbe Israel and with glasses) is the Vishnitzer Gabbai.

The MODEST Skirt according to the Edah HaCharedit

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:16:06 PST

Modesty in Toldot Aharon

The woman also walks behind her husband, as stipulated in the Toldot Aharon Takanot.

B"H

Different haredi Rabbis have been trying to stop the so - called "Pritzut - Immodest Clothing" within their female society. Litvishe Rabbis tried to interfere when women wear skirts which are, very obvious, too short. Hardly reaching over the knee and especially Bnei Brak is full of such modern haredi clothing stores.

However, the skirts of some Chabad women as well as of some Gerrer women can be called anything but modest. If they would not wear a Sheitel (wig) you hardly knew that they are haredi women at all. Even the national religious in their long jeans skirts are sometimes more modest than a Gerrer lady. The Edah HaCharedit is just the exact opposite because its Rabbis have made up a few very clear rules. First of all, the length of the "super" modest skirt should be only 20 cm above the ground.

I do not know how much 20 cm are in inches but maybe you can find out, if necessary.

Only 20 cm above the ground should the skirt end and not just rarely covering the female knee.

The Edah claims (the same as the Toldot Aharon and their founder Rebbe Aharon Roth in his book "Shomer Emunim") that an immodestly dressed woman would push away the Shechinah (G - d's presence). And once the Shechinah has moved a little further away, the Jewish people are going to face problems; mostly with the other nations.

Keeping the Shechinah as close as we can by doing Mitzvot, the Jews won't be exposed to so many difficulties in life.

Sukkot in Mea Shearim: Mea Shearim Street was separated. Men to the right and women to the left.

Photo: Chadrei HaCharedim

Besides the perfect length, a modest skirt has to have special sizes and tight skirts are anything but acceptable. A woman is forbidden to expose the shape of her body and thus has to wear wider clothes. Not too much like a sack but wide enough so that her body doesn't stand out from far away. A modest skirt should always be at least 10 cm wider around the hip. Around the knees, the skirt should be 55 cm wider than the body but sometimes it very much depends on the size of a woman.

It goes without saying that the Edah woman has to wear long sleeves.

Be aware that to many and too bright colours attract the eyes of men and a modest women should refrain from such clothes.

In case there are any questions call: 050 - 4183253 in Israel.

____________________

And again I am asking myself why the Edah always emphasizes that the women keep away the Shechinah. Is is my fault when Meshiach is not coming because my skirt is 2 cm too short ?

The modest Collar according to Chassidut Toldot Aharon

Kristallnacht: The World has not learned anything !

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:34:35 PST

Cartoon: Tom Gross Arab Cartoons

This cartoon, from the Syrian newspaper Al-Ahram (May 29, 2002), shows an anti-Semitic caricature of a Jew with a long beard and hooked nose, fuelling the “World Media” with “Zionist Media” propaganda, while in the background bombs are falling on the Moslem al-Aqsa shrine on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. This cartoon stereotypes Jews, repeats the anti-Semitic myth that the Jews control the world media, and adds the lie that the Israeli government has damaged the al-Aqsa complex on the Temple Mount.

B"H

Today and tomorrow, Germany is commemorating Cristal Night.
Who would have believed in those days or right after the Holocaust that in the future, the Arab world would use the mass murder of the Jews for its own vicious purposes ? If anyone had claimed so, people would have sent him to a funny farm.
Today, nothing seems to surprise us anymore and the Arab world has been using anti - semitic cartoons hardly facing any international protest. The modern "victims" are Palestinian children and the world does not seem to care if the pictures published by "Al Jazeerah" etc. are photoshoped or real. In modern times, murderers suddenly turn into victims.

If the world had done so much for the Jews in Nazi - Germany as it does for the "poor" Palestinians today, our planet may have become a better place. However, the sad truth is that in our days, a guy called Adolf Hitler would have been invited to speak at the UN.

The Dushinsky Rebbe in Marienbad

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:56:17 PST

The Dushinsky Rebbe walking through Marienbad.

Who can identify the people on the above photo ?

The Nanas celebrated

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:07:11 PST

B"H

The Breslover "Nana - Movement" was commemorating the Yahrzeit of their spiritual leader Rabbi Israel Odesser last Wednesday night. The cellar of the parking lot across Jerusalem's Supreme Court turned into a concert hall.

Here are some crazy pictures from a crazy event:

http://www.haredim.co.il/ViewArticle.aspx?catID=5&itmID=4936

Picture of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:41:05 PST

Photo: Chadrei HaCharedim

Domestic Violence in Jewish Religious Families

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:09:23 PST

Photo: Thewi

B"H

Israeli religious Orthodox women facing domestic violence at home are able to find help: BAT MELECH !

Violence against women can be found in any society and such women should not be ashamed looking for help and talk about their suffering.

The "Abusive" Mother needs Money

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:44:27 PST

The Mother with one of her three lawyers

Photo + Article: Kikar.Net

B"H

The Toldot Aharon have started a campaign for the "abusive" mother:

Everyone should donate at least 100 Shekels (approx. 35 Dollar) to the family due to their financial struggle.

I am not surprised, as her lawyers must cost a fortune !
However, I am convinced that Satmar, the Edah and some private donors may pay the lawyers.

Chassidic Parashot: Vayera

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:35:12 PST

B"H

The latest chassidic Parashot on VAYERA:

http://ladaat.net/gilionot.php

Among others:

Toldot Avraham Yitzchak , Boyan , Yeshivat Ohr Sameach (litvish) in English , D'ei Chochmah L'nafshechah in English , Parasha Partner in English , The Edah HaCharedit , or the Toldot Aharon !

Special Prayer for Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:17:38 PST

Photo: Ladaat.Net

B"H

Tomorrow, Monday, there will be a special prayer for the former Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu. The prayer is going to take place in Jerusalem's neighbourhood Kiryat Moshe, Reines Street 17.
The Synagoue is Rabbi Eliyahu's Synagogue and the service is due to start at 2pm with Tehillim (Psalms) followed by Selichot at 3.30pm.

Women are welcomed !

Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu has been suffering from an illness for a long time.

Swine Flu Vaccination is Dangerous !

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:57:47 PST

B"H

Evidence that the swine flu vaccination is extremely dangerous:

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/731.html

Shabbat Shalom

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:32:12 PST

B"H

The weather has "recovered" and the sun has been out again for the past few days. As usual, I am going to Jerusalem this afternoon in order to spend Shabbat there.

What amazes me most about this week's Parasha Vayera are the opinons of the Rambam (Maimonides) and the Ramban (Nachmanides) that the entire incident of the three angels (Melachim) coming to Avraham, Sarah is cooking for them and laughing when she hears that she would bear a son, was nothing but a vision Avraham had. Nothing of this took place in real but was part of a prophacy given to Avraham. The same with Lot. No messengers (angels) came to him but he also saw them in a vision.

The Rambam states in his book "Moreh Nevuchim - Guide for the Perplexed" 2:42 that when the Torah mentions "angels came" that this automatically stands for a vision / prophecy someone has. After his Brit (circumcision), Avraham was on a much higher level of prophecy (Nevuah) than before.

Wow, everything was just a vision althought Lot's escape and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha to place physically. I just wish that someone today would be on such a level of prophecy. However, when we learn this week's Parasha, we realize what we have been missing after the destruction of the First Temple: The disappearance of great prophets.

"Shabbat Shalom - Gut Schabbes" to everyone !

Congress of the Agudah and the Arrival of the Imrei Emet

noreply@blogger.com (Miriam Woelke) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:30:26 PST

The Imrei Chaim arriving at the event mentioned on the picture above.

Source: Chipmunk