The Slonimer Rebbe Shlita spoke out on the Emanuel affair at a special tisch held in Yerushalayim on Sunday (June 27th), and the Rebbe spoke in Hebrew, not his usual Yiddish, to accommodate the many participants who do not understand the latter.
The Rebbe spoke of the miracles, explaining on erev shabbos the court rejected the agreement and the fathers were days from release, which meant the mothers would have been taken to prison chas v’sholom. Baruch Hashem on Sunday, the same court accepted the agreement. The Rebbe also mentioned that even though the fathers had an acceptable shabbos atmosphere, it was their second shabbos in prison and “prison is prison”.
The Rebbe spoke of the fear associated with the court’s sentence and the women and their families counting down the days until imprisonment.
The Rebbe highlighted the mitzvah of loving one’s neighbor, boasting in Mosdos Slonim, all are welcome providing they meet one qualification, a willingness to accept the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov, simply adhering to the charter of the school. The Rebbe explained that the fact that Ashkenazim and Sephardim sit side-by-side in all the schools is proof that this is the case, and accusations of racism are simply unfounded, pointing the finger at those who simply don’t understand and seek to judge but lack the ability to properly do so.
The Rebbe on Sunday also visited Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita, accompanied by Deputy Minister Meir Porush, Jerusalem Councilman Yitzchak Pindrus and other prominent officials. He wished to personally thank the Posek HaDor for his support during eh difficult ordeal.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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21 Responses
The Rebbe said: “all are welcome providing they meet one qualification, a willingness to accept the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov”
Isnt the Torah from Moshe Rabeinu who got it from Hashem and not from the Bal Shem Tov??
Am I missing something here?
In general Slonim chasidim speak in hebrew
To #1: Obviously the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov the Rebbe is referring to is the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu.
Does anyone know whether [as I was told but cannot confirm] Sefardi girls must agree to pronounce their Hebrew like the ashkenazim? Is this also the official Torah of the Baal Shem Tov?
#1 The Torah of HaBaal Shem Tov he’s referring to Torat Hachassidut
To #3, so why not call it the Torah of Moshe Rabeinu?
The foundation of the Toras HaBaal Shem Tov is Ahavas Yisroel even & especially those who are not exactly in sync with your way of life. How did this whole incident be Mekadesh Shem Shomayim? Was it mekarev Lev Yisrael Leavihem Shebashomayim or C”V fakert? In the end there was a total capitulation & a compromise that was on the table before the whole thing started. Are we witnessing more grandiosing & promotion with alterior motives? Food for Thought!
Rav Izzy: And if that pronunciation is a requirement in the school, why are so many sefardim eager to go there? Are they trying to change the school to meet their needs? Do you then wonder why the chassidim weren’t happy about the new school members? Is it more wrong for chasidim to impose their standards on the sefardim, than for the sefardim to impose their standards on the chassidim?
And yes, the Baal Shem Tov more likely said Bureech atoo then the havara that Lalum wants to impose. That is their mesorah, and if they have a school that reinforces that, why do the interlopers feel that their rights to pronounce their way are any stronger?
Why do so many people (yes it happens in many different communities; each has its own pressure point, but it’s all over) want to be admitted into the “A” chabura, then when they get there, they seek to change it to a “B” style. Then if the “A”s kick them out, they complain about exclusionary tactics and racism. If the “A”s leave them in and shun them, they get accused of elitism and snobbery. And if the “A”s just let it happen, well then, they aren’t really “A”s anymore, are they?
Why can’t people be happy with what they are? Don’t “aim up” unless you want to become one of them. Don’t “aim up” if your goal is just to bring them down to your level. We should all strive for greatness. But that should mean that we elevate ourselves to that standard; not that we define the standard down, so that we now “make the cut”.
i dont know it still sounds funny to me, torah of the bal shem tov…
I guess Litvishe need not apply.
Midwesterner, there is only one standard. And that is is Halacha, imposed by HaShem Isborach! Anybody who keeps it, you are obligared to treat well! It is a basic hiuv of the Torah. When accepting humros for the sake of “greatness” leads to treating others, who do not keep the humros, as a piece of garbage, it is Sinos Hinom. This is what happens all too often, that is why we are still in golus. HaShem Isborach does not need anybody’s humros at the expense of pirud in Kllal Isroel!
Midwesterner, the Shivtei Ka were not up to Yosef HaTsadik’s standards in his eyes. We all know what happened!
Does anyone know the history of how this school started and if there are alternative girls yeshivot in Emanuel? What was the original charter of the school? Is the school public in nature (however that works in Israel) or a private mossad?
To Mdd (both of you): Yes there is only one standard, and that is halacha. But within the confines of halacha, there are a variety of mesoras and minhagim. Any community with a legitimate mesorah from a rebbe or community that adheres to halacha, follows legitimate Daas Torah and doesn’t make up new things, is entitled to pass that mesorah down to their children.
Those very Shivtei Kah that you mention, each had their own degalim. Each shevet had its own unique derech in Avodas Hashem. And when Shevet Menashe was concerned that it may lose some of its uniqueness, by the daughters of Tzelafchad marrying out of the tribe, a new mitzva was added to the Torah to preserve the uniqueness of the various factions in Klal Yisroel, albeit for a limited time.
This group in Emmanuel was looking to keep a specific standard. No one was being treated as a piece of garbage. These are people who are striving for a higher standard of ruchniyus. They want (and had until fluctuations in the housing market of three and four years ago) a school where their daughters can attend, where they and all their friends will be abiding by the standards of tznius, as dictated by Rav Shmuel Vosner, Shlit’a, venerated by many as the senior top posek in the chassidic community. A desire to keep a higher standard of ruchiyus is not Sinah. But even if you wish to define it as such, it is most assuredly not “Chinam”.
May I ask, when was the last time you saw someone ask those moving leftward about the pirud that they are causing in Klal Yisroel? Why is this question only thrown at those who wish to maintain a higher standard of ruchniyus? And if “no pirud in Klal Yisroel” was the ultimate goal, why are we not all members of the local Reform Temple? After all, there are far more Jews in America that are members of Reform than Orthodoxy.
Everyone has a line drawn somewhere. Many of us draw a line at chillul Shabbos. If they open that parking lot on Shabbos, then we instinctively know that they’ve gone too far. We know there must be pirud, lest that horrible influence sink in. Others have drawn the line in other places. The Chasam Sofer strongly rejected a simple change such as moving the Bima from the center of the shul to the front. It was on this issue that he said his famous line of “Chodosh Assur Min Hatorah”. Shouldn’t he have gone along with that movement, to keep the peace? Didn’t you go to shul this morning and hear about that hatemonger, Pinchos, who caused a huge pirud in Klal Yisroel, by killing the nasi of a shevet? Did you listen to what the Torah says about him?
The gemara tells us that if there is a gezeira from the malchus to wear specific shoe straps, and they do not conform to the prevailing Jewish minhag, then a Jew must be willing to sacrifice his life for that (if the minhag has a haclachic basis). These people have minhagim about tznius, which have halachic mekoros. That is where they have drawn their line. And that is a standard which they need not sacrifice to avoid pirud.
Lest you think it is limited to the Chassidim, I will say that I know personally one of the fathers who was jailed until yesterday. I can tell you that he comes from one of the most Litvishe families that I know. His father grew up in the city of Brisk, where he ran around as a kid with his buddies Berel , Meshulem Dovid and Meir Soloveichik. The son is just as Litvish in his attitude. But they are chareidim ledvar Hashem. They are being Moser Nefesh for chinuch al pi taharas hakodesh. And I echo the words of virtually all the leading Gedolei Yisroel around the world in saying tavo aleihem bracha!
let us all learn a lesson from this story to love all jews no exceptions when we se a jew from far we should bless him and just wish him well because were all one family
I do not know enough about the situation in Emanuel to speak about it — so I won’t. And the line to draw is Halacha ( or a Halachically-valid Minhag). And Pinchas acted according to Halacha.
When people on the left do wrong things, they must be opposed. But i’t i’s a problem on the right, that going after chumros leads them to violate basic hiyuvim of bein adam le’haveiro. Sinas Hinom destroyed the Beis HaMikdash, not the absence of the Erets Isroildike chumros! Osim ma’ase Zimri u’mevakshim s’har ke’Pinhas!
However, if somebody wants to mahmir on himself, and it does not lead to ga’ava and sinas Isroel, it is a good thing. And there are chumros bein adam le’chaveiro, also.
Midwesterner, I for, example, mahmir to have a beard. But, if I were to snubb others, who don’t (relying on Rav Moshe’s heter etc.), it would be an aveira for me.
#1
1. It’s normal to refer to minhagim and way of life as Toras. A talmud Chochem’s chidushei torah is his, and its called on his name such as TORAS REB SHIMON (RASHBI)
2. Yiddin always had separation (NOT DIVISION)for example each tribe was separated from the other, even yeshivas had separation Bais Shamai & Bais Hillel. I hope u get the point.
Yes, the term “Torah HaBaal Shem Tov refers to Torah HaChassidus. It is also synonomous with Penimius HaTorah. This is not to be confused with Nistar HaTorah. Nistar is basically Kaballa. Chassidus is “user friendly” and meant for the masses. If one learns Penimius HaTorah or Chassidus, it is understood that he also learns Nigleh HaTorah, the revealed aspects, because Chassidus is based on Nigleh. Its all an attempt to become exposed to Kol HaTorah Kula. Toras HaBaal Shem Tov IS part of Torah of Moshe Rabenu. Torah of Moshe Rabenu includes all Torah, from all kosher sources, up until this day, having been revealed thus far as well as all Torah that has yet to be revealed. By Chassidim, as well as many others, including many Livitshers, both aspects of Torah are essential. One does not have to be a Chassid to learn Chassidus. Every Chassidic group has their own Chassidus which stems from the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and illuminated by their founding Rebbe (students and proponents of the Besht) and those of the generations that followed. They are all insights to the depths of Torah. Some Chassidus is known for its profound intellectual approach to inyonim of Torah while other Chassidus is known for their more emotional approach. Some Chassidus is known for its lengthy, orderly and deep philosophical dissertations, while others are known for their simple and short insights.
The celebrated letter of the Baal Shem Tov relates that when he encountered Mashiach, he asked him: “Master, when are you coming?” Mashiach answered: “When the wellsprings of your teachings spread outward.” For the coming of the Redemption is dependent on the dissemination of Chassidus.
Hence, the purpose of the study of Chassidus is to hasten the Geula. Certainly a noble task.
The numerous Minhagim of Chassidim are usually rooted in Kabbala and are always Halachically and sometimes sociologically based. The study of Chassidus does not mandate following particular minhagim, only an open mind to learn Penimius HaTorah.
We must treat everyone with decency, even if they are not keeping the mitzvos (with the exception of an outright apikores, who mocks Hashem). That is how we are mekadesh shem Shamayim in this world.
Antilope110, it is more complicated than that. Look in the seifer Chofets Chaim.