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I know a few people who learned there at one point or another.
It’s a ba’al teshuva yeshiva which fluctuates in numbers; usually rather small (last I spoke to anyone there, there were something like 11 guys). As far as I recall it’s located in Kollel Chazon Ish in B’nei Brak. The concept as I’ve seen it is more or less to bring you into a Charedi environment and to help you head in that direction.
The shiurim are to prepare you for “regular yeshiva-ish learning” along the way and the rosh yeshiva’s shiur is on par with your average normal yeshiva shiur.
It’s not for everyone, but no yeshiva is. That said, you may very well find you like it.
…That’s about as much as I can cover without really knowing what your questions are.
It’s pretty clear that doing any mitzvah is hachana. I mean… you’re preparing your home in olam ha’ba. Why would you think it’s mutar?
“and turning the kosel into a beis avodah zara.”
I must have missed this one?
Like everything in the kashrus industry, you’ll always have machlokes in this field of who is ok and who isn’t. There is also a seemingly infinite amount of lashon ha’ra and motzi shem ra that spreads as a result.
Make sure you have a reliable rav to speak to (noting that most rabbonim are NOT in the know when it comes to kashrus and just do what the olam says/does), try to get educated about what questions need to be asked, and beyond that don’t you shouldn’t have to think about it too much.
The importance of being educated in what needs to be asked comes up not only in your day-to-day home activities and restaurants, but especially when it comes to simchas in E”Y. It’s worth learning what questions need asking – regardless of which hechsher you’re dealing with.
The question of reliability – for those who question it – in both cases has been around for at least four years if not more.
Assuming you’re not c”v thinking that there is actual vadai “issur” involved here, which most people I’ve met and question the reliability don’t go so far to say, it’s not the biggest issue in the world. The questions in your mind should be that of the organization’s standards, if the mashgichim adhere to the standards, and if the mefakchim are actually mefakeach on the mashgichim to enforce keeping in line with those standards.
By Pesach the “big” hechshers go back to basics and often don’t certify anything they don’t have to; it’s a lot of work. Chug Chasam Sofer decided to take on the task. If it’s based on certain kulas (I don’t know if that’s the case) which you do/don’t hold of, you should find out. Call the hechshers.
Contact information (publicly available):
Chug Chasam Sofer, 18 Maimon, POB 426, Bnei Brak, 51273. (3) 618-8596, 5792-601; Fax: (3) 579-5175. Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Stern, Rabbi Yitzchok Shlomo Ungar, Poskim.
Chug Chosam Sofer – Petach Tikvah, 21 Ichluv Street, POB 906, Petach Tikvah. (3) 931-4856; Fax: (3) 904-4440. Rav Daitch.
Did you ask the Chassidish rov what isn’t reliable and if he checked it himself?
It’s hard to find someone who investigated hechsherim himself, so to start saying “political” or “not political” is a bit difficult.
Maybe contact Rav Berkowitz as was mentioned earlier and ask if the shmua is correct and why. He’ll answer you honestly and will be able to tell you if it’s based on something he personally saw/has seen, if someone reliable to him told him so, or if it’s because of one or a specific set of standards he may have (which you may or may not follow).
Yechiel Spira from JKN who has done/does a good chunk of research on hechsherim may be able to give you details on either or both.
…Have some questions ready based on your standards, make some phone calls, and do some investigation yourself. 🙂
zaidy78: That ma’ase is a bit hard to swallow. The Gra davened Nusach Polin (except in instances mentioned by his talmidim where he was cholek on the ‘popular’ nusach). The earlier siddurim of Nusach Polin have “Sim Shalom” written in for Shabbos Mincha, while later Nusach Polin siddurim seemed to switch to “Shalom Rav”. As a result it’s not clear what the Gra did, but it’s entirely possible he himself said Sim Shalom. The minhag in E”Y to say Sim Shalom by mincha on Shabbos in this case is from the influence of the Sefardim.
Outside of that, based on ???? ??? ???? ? and the Biur Ha’Gra there, it looks like he sides with the Mechaber (that one would be chozer also on morid ha’tal).
Though I haven’t seen it myself as I don’t think I’d begin to understand the sefer and as a result don’t own a copy, the siddur Ezor Eliyahu (Ashkenaz Al Pi Ha’Gra) mentions that based on the Biur Ha’Gra to Sefer Yetzira (?”? ?”?) it looks like the Gra would say “Mashiv haruach u’morid ha’tal”.
The minhag in E”Y is based on the Sefardim and Chassidim. That “mashiv ha’ruach” isn’t mentioned seemingly is in line with the fact that Sefardim don’t mention “mashiv ha’ruach” in their tefilas tal, whereas by Ashkenaz it appears as “Sho’ata hu mashiv ha’ruach u’morid ha’tal”
achosid: As far as I know that is an incorrect take on what’s written about the Gaon.
All it says in Ma’ase Rav is that The Gaon would try very hard to taste chometz motzaei chag, and would avoid eating matzah (that one can eat to be yotzei the mitzvah on Pesach). It then says that all of this was a heker that everything is being done for the mitzvah (to do what HaKadosh Boruch-Hu was gozer) and not for enjoyment.
If you know a source to the contrary, however, I’d be interested to see it.