A Chasidishe Yeshiva

Translation of the letter posted on Tzig. I've tried to keep the nuances of the original, although they would not be present in a translation to true and usable English:

Your honor must 'feed' all that which is needed in our desire for the institution of Toras Emes, and they are two general [desires]. The first the material of the institution, which divides to two: the first is 'feeding' the grounds (in which there are many details) to correct that which needs rectification, and to see to it that the rectification be done properly and in the cheap, to rent out the [unused] houses and that the renters pay on time, and the grounds should be kept well cleaned, and to minimize as much as possible free houses (meaning to take houses for free, or even for things that are for the good of the institution but could be accomplished otherwise, and the houses will be left unoccupied and will be able to bring in some profit).

And the second is running the expenses of the instiution the Yeshiva Toras Emes, which is divided to two. The first the account of Chevron - may it be built and reestablished - and in this many details, the first detail the expenses of the students, what we need to pay to each one every month, the second detail the general expenses such as trips, postage etc. (each one separately in a unique account), for farbrengen, laundry etc., the detail of paying 3 people, such as your salary and the salary of the scribe, the fourth detail salaries for the Beit Knesset of Avraham Avinu - on him lies peace - meaning what we need to spent on this to guard the enactments in truth for the uplifting of the souls of the fellows etc. and that this should not be neglected Chas VeShalom and Chas VeShalom, the second the account of the branch in Yerushalayim, how much per month and to who in detail and in detailed detail.

The second the spirit of the institution Toras Emes in Chevron and Yerushalayim, to raise the 'horn' of Torah according to the instruction of the teachings of Chasidus in all the details, in the study of Torah and the struggle of prayer, and it should be recognizable in them all day in their thoughts, speech and action that they are enagaged in the Torah of Hashem, not simply it grumbles in the stomach as with a Misnaged who stuffs himself with a few pages of Gemara, and for 400 Parsa it stinks of him, or as a Poilisher Chossid who is whole and happy that he walks about a fresh and healthy [man] in G-d's garden as a titled nobleman.

They should only go in the path of the Chasidim of Reisin who distanced themselves from the materialism of the Misnagdim and the empty excitement of the Chasidim of Poland, but they set their hearts and selves in the assiduous task of the teachings of Chasidus (and in the revealed [Torah] as well, as is known that most of the great Chasidim were wondrously great, and of them great in the revealed Torah, as they are in truth compatible, and not as the opinion of the wild Chabad Chasidim who make as if there are two Torah's etc. but the revealed was connected, attached and glued with the teachings of Chasidus and therefore the foremost revealed and seen was the teachings of Chasidus) and they brought themselves to a great connection and devotion in the service of Tefilah through the preparation of the advice of Chasidus, which is the concept of contemplation and study before prayer as is known.

And in this path you should educate and accustom your students, and in this path will dwell the light of the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov Za'L of which our honorable and holy our great Rebbe - the memory of a Tzaddik and holy one is a blessing for the life of the world to come - removed the sun from its sheath and revealed to us the G-dly pleasure, and following him the honorable holy our ancestors our Rebbes the holy ones - the memory of Tzaddikim and holy ones is a blessing for the life of the world to come, their souls are in the treasury above - and all rivers, the rivers of the founts of wisdom, flow to the sea, which is our honorable and holy, my father my master my teacher and Rebbe, the Rav the holy may he live long good days, who collected and gathered and harvested the sparks of the G-dly light of the G-dly flame, and he set them in the settings of wisdom, understanding and knowledge, to satisfy the 'trees' of Hashem that he planted in the garden of G-d "Tomchei Tmimim" and to all who Hashem has graced with wisdom to receive this portion etc.

Is it not that with our eyes it is seen and with our ears it is heard that the concepts of delicate thought flow from the source of wisdom, and to understand them (even now, after they are clarified with G-dly knowledge) additional deep thought and wondrous penetrating thought is needed in its kind. Not in one time and not in three will these be understood, and all who add to them explanation and ideas only detracts from the truth, only one should place the mind and devotion in the 'body' and actual wisdom and to purify ones ideas and thought, and then will these words be understood. That all this is for us a testifying witness how the concept of study of the teachings of Chasidus should be.

Unsung Heros

This week has not been so good for Chabad news. A sister and brother, true both elderly, children of Rabbi Shlomo Ahron Kazarnovsky passed away. The wife of a supporter of Chabad from when it was not popular to support Chabad, or activities similar to those Chabad does, passed away as well.

Rabbi Shlomo Ahron Kazarnovsky deserves a book in his own right. He was one of the pillars of Lubavitch in America. His son who passed away, Rabbi Moshe Kazarnovsky, raised a family of Chasidim and his story will hopefully be told as well.

The two women who passed away can best be described regarding the public eye as wives. Their own lives were unsung, not even their names were commonly mentioned, at best it could be assumed from knowing and hearing of their husbands that there was a Rebbetzin Posner and a Mrs. Rohr.

Rabbi Zalman Posner was one of the first to be sent to arei hasadeh, out into the cities in the field, where Judaism was not quite a thriving enterprise. He served as Rabbi and is now Rabbi Emeritus in Nashville, Tennessee. He was a prolific speaker, a writer and an incredible example of a Chossid raised in America. I am sure his wife was his partner in all of this. Her role in her own right is unsung. Hopefully, her story will now be told.

I will continue to add links that tell of the life of Rebbetzin Risya Posner as I see them:
Great nashville religious leader died
Pioneering Chabad Emissary, Mother and Grandmother Passes Away in Nashville skip the short intro, first third of the article is about her
Quoted in middle of article

The second woman, Mrs. Charlotte Rohr, was the wife of Sammy Rohr. A philanthropist dedicated to Chabad from his life in Colombia, he continues his support of Chabad worldwide together with his son George. It would be incorrect to say that he was a businessman who happened to support Chabad. He worked to be able to support Chabad, and gave more than your average philanthropic businessman would consider properly balanced. They support every Chabad house on campus, Chabad activities throughout Europe, Chabad rabbis dedicated to Torah teaching, and more out of the public eye. I have no doubt that her support was crucial considering the extent of their giving. Yet she herself was never present when their name was honored.

May their souls be bound in the bind of eternal life.
תהא נשמתן צרורה בצרור החיים.

"Ashamti"

In a recent booklet given as a memento to the guests of the Krinsky-Dechter wedding, many intriguing and inspiring anecdotes and written responses of the Rebbe are included. Memento of Krinsky-Dechter wedding

The revelation in simple, workday terms of part of the Rebbe's schedule and relationship with the secretariat is interesting of itself. One response and work story that impacted me is a side note.

The Rebbe would regularly issue instructions for those who worked for him at home and in the field at the last moment. Every week found a new project, whether in the spreading of Yiddishkeit far afield or in the publishing house being ordered to finish a book in inhuman time.

In this case, the Rebbe had asked Rabbi Krinsky the week before Lag Ba'Omer 5750 if a coin could be produced with the emblems of this event to give out to the children. Rabbi Krinsky details the trouble he went to find out that striking coins is a process of months, until he found two companies, one Italian and one US, willing to strike the coins in time. The Rebbe chose the American, and added "Ashamti" - I am to blame for having given you last minute instructions, and if it doesn't work out I carry that blame.

Rabbi Krinsky, mortified at receiving this historic note which I believe is unprecedented, proceeded to make sure that the coin was ready for the Lag Ba'Omer parade. The Rebbe's response was that he should be given peace of mind as he gave the Rebbe peace of mind.

There is no blame in a single campaign that the Rebbe initiated, in a single instruction given. Not only is this belief based, that we believe the Rebbe was guided openly by Ratzon Hashem, but is evident in retrospect. Whether it be decisions made about public protests for Soviet Jewry, which city should have a shliach and which not, where a school should be opened and where not, public emphasis of Mitzvos for every Jew, all have been proven by time.

The blame the Rebbe laid on himself is for asking too late. No blame lies in the rush therein needed by the employees, the blame is in case the project did not work out due to the last minute rush. Every executive secretary wishes they could hear their boss say this about the idea they could not implement when given to them last minute.

But of course, the Rebbe didn't care.

He never had Paris

Stories abound of the Rebbe Maharash's public persona before he accepted the leadership of a much diminished group of Chasidim in Lubavitch, the other Chasidim having followed some of his brothers. He reputedly was never seen studying in public, would walk around with a newspaper in his back pocket, and did not dress as a Torah scholar or as a Rebbe's child would to demand the respect that such dress entailed.

One story tells of a Chosid (if my memory serves me, Reb Aizik Homlyer) told by the Tzemach Tzedek to direct his question in Etz Chaim (in Kabbalah) to the Rebbe Maharash, who went to the house late at night and noticed through the window the Rebbe Maharash deep in study with a table full of seforim. When he knocked on the door and was allowed to enter, the table was clear and a paper was in their place. When he mentioned his purpose and the Rebbe Maharash acted innocent and wondered why the Tzemach Tzedek would send a question in learning to him, Reb Aizik informed him that he had been "caught" learning.

The Rebbe's public persona until he became Rebbe was similar in a limited way. He could not disobey the previous Rebbe; he had to farbreng with the students of the Yeshivah when he visited, publish and edit the books of Kehos, and farbreng once a month with all the Chasidim. Yet what he could avoid, he did: wearing a grey hat, a short jacket, sometimes even walking around with newspapers, or avoiding having his name listed as the editor of HaTomim, the Chabad Yeshiva journal in Poland.

At the same time, the Rebbe's nature and habits were clear to anyone who came into contact with him. He spent all his free time secluded in the Bais Medrash (in Berlin) or at home (in France) in study. He was overly careful in every Mitzvah that he performed, going to great lengths to keep to his self imposed standards. He gave Torah classes in Paris at various locations. There are many individuals who attest to all of this.

However, certain elements have used these facts to "tell" their own story. With conjecture and anonymous sources, they wink and claim that the Rebbe led a not so kosher life in Paris, and perhaps before as well. The Rebbetzin's actions are up for grabs for them as well, although they provide no concrete "stories", only adjectives such as "modern". They claim that the Rebbe in fact ran away to France out of a burning desire to study secular subjects.

JEM has yet another segment on the upcoming video, and in this interview the son of the man who handled the money transfers from the previous Rebbe to the Rebbe states categorically that the Rebbe did not want to be in University, that the previous Rebbe insisted on it. One conjecture is that this was done so the Rebbe could accompany his younger brother in law, who did want to study. I can only hope that time will give us the reason for the previous Rebbe's insistence as well.

If anyone has any doubt as to what the Rebbe did with his time while living in France, why don't you take a look online at http://www.lahak.org/ and read the section of Reshimos. These are the journals of the Rebbe from his life before reaching the US. There is no French philosopher's pontification, there is no modern life to be seen there. Only authentic Jewish Torah thought.

The truth is hesitant, it takes time to emerge. Lies are instantaneous, they can be provided at the tip of a hat. Beware the magician.

This leads us to the next post: What difference does all this make?

The trainwreck of falsehood

This blog is inspired by one thing, and one thing only: the truth emerging. The truth is being ignored by those who posted the falsehood in blogs, in news interviews, or anywhere else - I'm sure it has spread beyond what I saw. It only takes a moment to publicize a lie, while the work needed to establish the truth endures long beyond the memory of those influenced by the lie.

I'm talking about the fact that the Lubavitcher Rebbe studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. Let's leave aside for the moment whether it makes any difference if the Rebbe was a student there or not. He was, and that is now documented fact.

One of the many canards of the online elements has been that Lubavitch and/or Lubavitchers created the myth of the Rebbe as student at the Sorbonne to bolster his standing in the eyes of the world. They granted that the Rebbe studied at a Technical Institute in Paris and did well, but no more. The greatest defense I could think of was that the Rebbe sat in on classes as an observer, but wasn't enrolled. How do you document that?

Well, an organization dedicated to preserving the Rebbe's history and legacy called JEM has just provided the documentation. The Rebbe was enrolled as a student in the Sorbonne for two years, 1938-1939. He is listed as a student in the school register. You can see this for yourself in their latest video, The Early Years part III.

May the truth rule. May the online elements perish.