RASHAB's books and the Rebbe

Reading about the frustrating efforts to retrieve Rashab�s library from Russia I can�t help but think that there is no rational explanation why they can�t get the books. Perhaps there is more to this story. And indeed on the subject of books, wills and libraries, the Rebbe never received the books left to him by Rashab in his will.
Shaul Shimon Deutsch writes in the 2nd volume of his Book on page 265:

The Wedding Presents
As previously mentioned, one of the most heart-breaking events which occurred at the wedding (of the Rebbe) was the theft of a manuscript of the Baal Shem Tov and a manuscript of Reb Schneur Zaiman of Liadi. These manuscripts were in a portfolio together with money, and were in the possession of Rabbi Avraham Schneerson. Rabbi Avraham had intended to give them to his granddaughter and the Rebbe as a wedding present. The theft was never recovered and the young couple never did receive their gift.

There were other presents which the couple was suppose to receive, but unfortunately, did not. In his will, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rebbe RaSHaB, had left some of his seforim (Hebrew books) to his grand-daughters and their husbands. When the Previous Rebbe's oldest daughter, Chana, married Rabbi Schmaryahu Gourary, they received the books allotted to them by the Rebbe RaSHaB. The Tanya was among the seforim received. Today, this priceless Tanya, which had always been used by the Rebbe RaSHaB, belongs to the Previous Rebbe's grandson, Mr. Sholom Ber Gourary. However, when the second daughter of the Previous Rebbe, Chaya Mushka, and the Rebbe got married, they did not get the Seforim allotted to them. According to the Rebbe RaShaB's will, the couple was supposed to receive Beirei Zohar, a Tanya (the Zitomir printing), Toras Chaim, Shaar Emunah Veshaar Hayichud, Pirush Hamilos and Kuntres Ha-Hispalos.

The Rebbe once spoke about this publicly. He said: For a long time, I didn't know at all that such a will existed. When I finally did find out [about the willl], I asked my father-in-law about the seforim I was supposed to receive. But he did not answer me...I didn't have the nerve to ask about it again�As of today, I do not have these seforim.
Why did the Rebbe not get the seforim? Why did the Previous ignore Rebbe�s question, as the Rebbe himself stated?

I posed this question to the Previous Rebbe's grandson. His answer was: It had to do with the friction that had developed between my grandfather [the Previous Rebbe] and uncle [the Rebbe]. My grandfather was not happy with the fact that my uncle was going to college, and not joining him in his tireless efforts on behalf of Soviet Jewry and other communal activities, with which my grandfather was involved. My grandmother, [Rebbetzin Nechama Dina] was the one who continuously kept defending him.

Whether or not the readers are willing to accept this reasoning, the fact remains that the Rebbe did not receive the seforim allotted to him by the Rebbe RaShaB. The Rebbe would also mention at a public gathering that: "Although it is customary in many circles for a Choson to receive a Shas (a set of Talmud folios), [however], I did not get it...

Chabad Sues Russia to Recover Texts

The Jewish Journal Of Greater Los Angeles: A Santa Monica-based law firm has filed suit on behalf of the Chabad organization. The complaint was followed by a Jan. 19 statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She announced that the State Department will press the Russian Federation to return the texts to Chabad.

Ga Ga Google

To follow up on our ever so popular satellite view of Israel here comes this great map EyeonIsrael.

This actually reminds me that Google has several less advertised beta projects. One of the more fascinating is Googlemaps.

Just try the following:
Type and address into the search bar on Googlemaps, say you home address. Click "from there" and type your work address. See your driving direction taken to the hole new graphical level. Now click on the bubble next the address, you zoom in on the location. Fantastic!

There are other Google tricks:
1. Type in your phone number, if you are unlisted type someone else's phone number, see what happens.
2. You can search any FedEX, UPS, USPS shipment by just entering the tracking number. Try your car's VIN number.
3. See how many links TO your site from other sites on the internet. Type for example link:www.mentalblog.com
4. Not your ordinary calculator. Type 34 gallons + 4 cups - 3 teaspoons in liters see what you get, or 345 feet + 2354 inches - 1 meter WOW!
5. Don't know the meaning of a word. Type for example define:intermarriage
6. Search within a particular website. Type site:www.mentalblog.com lubavitch This will show all the references to lubavitch on this site
7. Travel information: Type the airport identifier and area BOS airport to see the travel conditions.

It's late, the week is upon us. I am tired of all of you clowns. I am going to listen to some Biagio Antonacci.

P.S. Every so often people email me asking if I am a "self hating Lubavitcher". Ok I get it now; it�s like a "self hating Jew". In other words the only reason to have an opinion that is different from the party line is self hate. I used to call Noam Chomsky a "self hating Jew" but I think I will have to reexamine my vocabulary. I am not sure where this thing started but I never met a person who hates himself. Even Lubavitchers who talk about bittul will still find a way in a pinch to hate someone else. So stop with the nonsense.

Da'as Hedyot talks about this very issue: Will The Real Orthodox Judaism Please Stand Up?

R. Yudel Shain has a blog!

Rabbi Yudel Shain, congratulation on starting a new blog: kosher-the rest of the story. And thank you for the clarification on the previously reported story.

Trach nit tzu fil. That was always your biggest problem

SL Aronovitz AKA Mishlei Shlomo writes:

I remember a photo of Rav Y.Y. Schneersohn OBM in which he was laughing open-mouthed with eyes wide from joy, and I have always imagined that this is the kind of face a Jew should wear as his levush. (If you know someone who has this photo, have him/her send it to me.)

Here is the photo:

UPDATE: Schneur writes: Barry was given a leica camera by his grandfather in Warsaw. It was brought to America in 1940. Photography was his hobby. Barry told me that the Rayaatz was his favorite subject. What provoked the laughter was the previous shot in this series the one made famous by Kehot in many of its early publications with the Rebbe staring angerily at the camera in a stern ultra serious Varmeyachte maanner. After this poset he rayaatz "cracked up" My father A"h descrbed the Rayaazt in a yechidus in Postov and later in Vilna (both in the 1930's) as being very stern and serious in both demeanor and speech. He said the Rebbe swas dressed very well as an aristocrat witha pocket watch, vest etc. But he obviously had a sense of humor too.

Kosher meat sold as Glatt Kosher traced to AgriProcessors

Kosher Today reports: Rabbis, Agencies in Urgent Effort to Protect Consumers from Kosher Meat Fraud:

A major Flatbush retailer was forced to close after it was discovered that "kosher" flanken was repackaged and mislabeled as "glatt kosher." Sources say that glatt kosher flanken were in extremely short supply of late. In ads and flyers distributed throughout the Brooklyn communities of Crown Heights, Boro Park, and Flatbush, the Kehilah Kashrus agency of Flatbush, advised consumers of a "recall" of kosher meats purchased at the kosher takeout store prior to February 1 st. Sources told Kosher Today that the mislabeled meats were also distributed by the Flatbush retailer to at least three other stores in the heavily populated Orthodox Jewish communities of Brooklyn. The meat was traced to AgriProcessors of Postville, Iowa who sold the meat to a New York distributor who in turn sold the "kosher" (non-glatt kosher) meat to the Brooklyn store.

Kosher Today follow up: How Could It Have Happened?

A Brooklyn retailer turned distributor relabeled �kosher� flanken as �glatt kosher,� misleading thousands of consumers who opt for the higher standard meat. What is most troubling to the rabbis is that the abuse happened at what is on the surface a perfect system. The proprietor was an Orthodox Jew with strong roots in the community and his business had the kosher oversight of a well-respected local certification. Perfect combination? Not really, say the rabbis, since the proprietor had access to seals and labels and took advantage of a shortage of the coveted flanken to profit from the discounted �kosher� (non-glatt) stock.

Still nobody answered the questions to CHBD.

Wills of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Thanks to one of our readers who pointed us to the book "Heshbono Shel Olam" by Binyamin Menasheh Lipkin. We were able to locate the book in the Harvard Library and here is a PDF with the two wills:


The First Will:
Signed by the Rebbe on February 14, 1988 it appoints Y. Krinsky as an executor of Rebbe�s estate and asks for prompt funeral arrangements. The estate was to be donated to the Agudas Chassidei Chabad. Note the definition of an executor. This will is actually the source of Y. Krinsky power today in Chabad. But the will did not appoint him to run any of the Chabad organizations, not 770, not Merkoz, not even AGUH. Significantly though the will gave Y. Krinsky the power over the inheritance money. (there are two additional pages that our "copy boy" decided were "not important". It contains witness signatures by L. Groner and B. Klein and a page with notary stamp. These will be republished soon)

The Second Will:
Selected excerpts from Avrum Ehrlich's book:

On August 30, 1988, Schneerson sat with Rabbis Hodakov, Pikarski, and Mindel and prepared a second will... This will have been the focus of a great deal of debate in the community since Schneerson's death, mainly because of the controversy surrounding its legality. Only an unsigned version of this second will has been discovered, causing some to doubt its authenticity. To complicate matters, Krinsky has been accused of interfering with the application of the second will� In all of these institutions, he specified, the organization and administration were to remain as they were at the time of the composition of the will, including the retention of the same senior staff, Merkaz was to be run by Rabbis Chodokov, Mindel, and Simpson; Mahane Yisrael by Chodokov, Mindel, and Krinsky; and AGUCH by Hodakov, Zaiman Gourary, and Raskin. These three institutions were to be given an equal share of the ma 'amad, money donated to the Rebbe personally, in order to function.

There are a number of rumors we heard in regards to the Second Will:
It was lost or stolen,
The signed original was in R. Pikarski safe deposit box but it was lost or stolen,
And finally a new twist in the Avrum Ehrlich's book who writes:

On the day before Schneerson's first stroke, that is, on March 1, 1992, Schneerson allegedly told Yehuda Krinsky to telephone Pikarski and tell him that the second will was to be cancelled. Krinsky canceled the will that very day, and Schneerson, due to the incapacitating effects of his stroke, was unable to confirm or deny later accusations of fraud...

It is also noteworthy that Y. Krinsky being a Yankee educated in Boston�s public school system has shown consistent preference for the secular courts. Ehrlich continues:

Suspicion has been further aroused by Krinsky's refusal to testify before the Beit Din on the issue of the will, and he has therefore been accused of ignoring the express instructions of Schneerson, who stated before his death that all disputes were to be arbitrated by the Beit Din.

Allegedly Zalman "Jimmy" Gourary who was one of the appointees to run AGUH in the Second Will called Y. Krinsky to Beit Din. It's ironic because Jimmy Gourary being one the biggest donors to the Rebbe probably accounted a large portion of the Maamad funds, managed by Y. Krinsky as "his money".

There are also many who think that Y. Krinsky acts in the best interest of the organization. By consolidating CEO power in his hands he prevented Chabad from quickly disintegrating. In fact there are many who point to the tremendous growth in number of Shluchim on Krinksy�s watch. Regardless of the outcome of the power struggle in Lubavitch and the validity of the Second Will, the appointees of the Second Will only perpetuated status quo and by now most of them are in the Olam Ha Emes.


UPDATE No.1:
Two years after the 1st and 2nd Will, in March 1990 the three Lubavitch organizations mentioned in the 2nd will were incorporated. What follows are Charters with selections of trustees for each of the three, including their signatures. The corporations are MERKOZ, AGUH and Machane Israel.

There are two ways to look at this document. You might say it means nothing or you might note the following details. The documents are dated two years after the 1st and 2nd wills and two years before the stroke. One might assume that it was approved by the Rebbe, particularly in light of the fact that he is the President of each board and signed the charters. Note that there is no B. Kline or L. Groner on the boards. There is even R. Raskin there, but no L. Groner� Note also that Y. Krinsky is a secretary or officer of each of the three corporations. Note also that today he is the only surviving officer. You might ask then why is this structure different from what was outlined in 2nd will? Perhaps the Rebbe wanted to write a 3rd Will, perhaps the Rebbe wanted to revise the 2nd Will, who knows it is all a speculation. But the people who point to the diminished power of Krinsky in the 2nd Will should take this document into account.

Matisyahu signes with Or Music

JDub and Or Music have announced that Or has signed acclaimed JDub Records� Hasidic reggae/hip hop star Matisyahu to a multirecord deal, and will enter a strategic marketing and distribution relationship with JDub.

What to do if you or your child was circumcised using a clamp

Below is an image of the modern Mogen and Gomco clamps that allegedly have led to various patient injuries (laceration, penile amputation, excessive foreskin removal, and urethral damage. Ouch...) an allegedly are widely used in USA:
According to a well versed Mohel who performed a Bris in our Shule today and who is connected with Its-a-boy.org
A circumcision performed with a Mogen or Gomco clamps is considered not valid according to an interpretation of the Jewish Law. Drawing of the blood" (Hatafat Dam Brit) is recommended to correct the previous circumcision. An of course don�t forget the currently controversial metzitzah.

Antique versions of the questionable clamps:


UPDATE: Modern Issues in Brit Milah

Library Of Agudas Chassidei Chabad

Tzemach Atlas commenting to this post: "the AGUH library and with it the history of Lubavitch is locked"

berl, crown heights: �That a simply bold-faced lie (I did look for an alternative expression but failed in my quest). The AGUCH Library is an open research library. Clearly you never tried to get in there - but I have. Call and try making an appointment before you make more loony statements�

Tzemach Atlas: true, I never actually tried to make an appointment at the library. One of the reasons being that it was a closed and uninviting place. Or I might have been influenced in my opinion by what I read in the Avrum Ehrlich's book on page 193:

"The strength of the library lay in its ability to support independent research through its collection of publications and manuscripts of historical, academic, and political interest. Because it contained irreplaceable material and texts, since most other copies had been destroyed in the Second World War, it had a major scholarly monopoly and became the envy of many people. Its contribution to the strength of Habad lay in the desire of scholars to gain access to the collection, and the movement's right to deny access to anyone who was not to its liking. Many of the finest Jewish scholars in the world, including Gershom Scholem, the noted historian of Kabbalah, were denied access to important resources (see "Protocols", Y. Krinsky testimony, page 694). At present the book collection is guarded with maximum security, and access to the archives is given on a selective basis. Many potential critics of the movement have become wary of openly speaking against Habad for fear that they too may encounter problems with the movement's leaders. Even at present, scholars of Habad history and ideology must be careful about how they describe the movement for fear of vindictiveness and an informal (but effective) ban on providing material or help to their work. The most notable instance of this is the research of Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutsch on Habad's history under Yosef Yitzhak and the early life of Schneerson."

Barry Gourary with Rebbetzin Shterna Sorah

Shaul Shimon Deutsch writes in the 2nd volume of his Book on page 133:

In 1929, the Rebbe's father-in-law. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, decided to visit the land of Israel and the United States. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak traveled with his eldest son-in-law. Rabbi Schmaryahu Gourary. The trip lasted over nine months. During the duration, the Rebbe's mother-in-law Nechama Dina, his sister-in-law Chana Gourary and nephew Sholom Ber Gourary came to Berlin to stay with the Rebbe and Rebbetzin. They lived in an apartment nearby on Bregenzin Strasse No. 16. It was during this time that the Rebbe and his nephew, Sholom Ber, became very close. Their closeness lasted until 1950, when the struggle of succession took place after the death of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak. In fact, as Sholom Ber points out: �In my youth, I was closer to my uncle than to my own father. In my youth, my uncle would take me to the zoo. We shared similar interests. We were both shutterbugs - we liked taking pictures. In fact my grandfather bought me a Leica camera (a high-priced German camera) as a present". Many of the pictures available to us of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe were by his grandson, Sholom Ber Gourary. "During the first days of War II, I lost my camera. When we arrived in the United States in 1940, my grandfather bought me a replacement camera. At times he would even pose for a picture. Once, he put on his Shabbos best before posing for a picture."

Barry looks about 7-8 years old on the picture with the Rebbetzin. He is the only grandchild of the Rebbe Rayatz and he is also the only great grandchild of the Rebbe Rashab and R. Shterna Sorah because Rayatz was their only child. He is now about 82(?), so he was exactly 7-8 in 1929. Shaul Shimon Deutsch probably got the picture from Barry so he might know the rest of the story, i.e. was Shterna Sorah staying in Berlin at that time? Then the most likely photographer would be the Rebbe M.M.S. himself. It is also noteworthy that many famous Rayatz portraits are Barry Gourary�s photos. It is also obvious from the quote that Barry has a treasure chest of historic photographs. Who knows if the photos will ever see the light of day?

Americans in Jerusalem land rush

If I forget thee......I've always had mixed feelings when it comes to foreigners buying real estate in Jerusalem and now that I'm a home owner, articles such as this one in the new English language Yediot Achronot make things harder still.

Early Jewish music of Matisyahu

Mentalblog.com reader: Hey Tzemach, here's some early Jewish music of Matisyahu when he played in 2001 with our band Pey Dalid.

This is an update to this music.

Jewish groups demand apology in wake of WJC official�s remarks

Update on our previous post.
JTA NEWS: Stephen Herbits� comments, in a New York Magazine story about the WJC that was released this week, have offended communal leaders. Herbits was quoted in the article as responding:

As you talk to the leaders of the other Jewish organizations, check their accomplishments against their governance. They�ve got perfect governance and no f�ing accomplishments. If an investigation of Jewish organizational life takes place, I promise you that the last person standing will be Israel Singer.

I know it and they know it and they better be careful, because if they cause enough problems in the press, then this organization won�t be the only one that has a preliminary inquiry from the attorney general�s office. Then you�ll see some real fireworks, Herbits said, without naming any specific individuals or organizations.

Late last year, New York state�s attorney general, Eliot Spitzer, launched a preliminary investigation into the allegations against the WJC, an umbrella group for more than 100 Jewish communities around the world.
Is the implication of Mr. Herbits� comments that the New York State attorney general should be working full time investigating every Jewish organization registered in New York State?� Harris asked.
�That�s a brilliant idea,� he added sarcastically.

Barry Gourary file

Schneur Zalman of NY comments about RAYATZ�s grandson:

Barry Gourary told me that his grandfather left a will. It was in his desk drawer. He added that the first person in the office after the aliyas neshoma, removed the will. Who was that? He seemed to indicate that the document left neither son in law in charge. Did it leave the only grandson in charge?

The will had nothing to do with personal property, so why should this be related to the library battle. Have you guys ever heard of an ethical will? (See the Bobroisk yizkor buch for a beautiful will of the Bobroisker rebbe Rabbi Shmaryahu Noach Schneersohn) I FAIL TO SEE HOW WITHOUT HAVING A COPY OF THE WILL BARRY COULD USE THIS IN THE COURT BATTLE ?

(The story of Reb Levik. I will not comment on this item, as you say mipne kvodo of some major figures in Chabad history. I'll just say that Barry has some poignant remarks and stories about that supposed parsha too. Veod chazon LeMoed. By the way the Rashab also suggested Reb Shmaryahu as a son in law!)

Barry Gourary never said a slanderous word about the Rebbe. The Satmarer were urging him to say this and that about the Rebbe. Did he? The answer is no. The Satmarer wanted him to release these and those family pictures of this and that person. Please answer me did he? Other trouble makers wanted him to write a book about the family saga. Did he? Some fanatics in Williamsburg promised him X dollars if he would say this and that, did he? No. (I write here in general terms because I do not want to hint at anything) In fact the only bad thing he said was printed in a sensationalist Israeli newspaper and I am not certain he said that for publication. And all this was after a Lubavitcher bachur a Tamim beat Rebbeitzen Gourary (causing her to lose an eye and I saw this injury when I was mevaker chole the rebbetzin) on Shaabes in 770 be Asra deRav!!!

All Gourary and his mother wanted is a share of Yerusha that is guaranteed by Jewish Law. Certainly there are other Lubavitcher and frum families involved in Yerusha battles too. Does that make him a bad person for standing up for financial issues he felt were rightfully were his (By the way his grandmother Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneersohn in her will felt the same way). The fact that a secular court ruled differently shows that even Judge Sifton felt there was room for a judgment; he did not throw the case out summarily!

The fact that Gourary sees the supposed Reb Levik story in a totally different light angers you. But exactly who was there to witness this story, Rabbi A.S, or Rabbi S.C. were they there? So why not keep an open mind about this issue? Does it in anyone affect the Rebbe�s tenure as Lubavitcher Rebbe? And by the way Lubavitchers on this and other blogs are urging readers to keep an non judgmental attitude about people preaching New Age Judaism , and about people married to Shiksas, can we also not be melamed zechus on one Barry S. Gourary the only grandchild of the Rayaatz. Is there not enough Ahvas israel in Lubavitch for that? I heard Rav Shemtow calling Gourary the Sitra achra!

Selling the siddur of the BESHT MAY not have been a moral act in the world of Chabad, but if it belonged to the Gourarys as they felt it did, it certainly was not anti Halachic or against the US legal code. (I am not passing judgment on the Legal owner of the siddur) After all the Rayaatz also BOUGHT it from someone who sold it for the money. I believe either Mundshine or Oberlander has written on this parsha. Originally it belonged if I recall correctly to the Skverer Twersky family.

As we speak there is a case in Supreme Court involving yerusha from the Twersky family (the Kaayre of the Meor Eynayim) which was transferred out of the immediate family. In addition there is a din teyre in Jerusalem between the young Koidenover rebbe Rabbi Erlich shlita and a Chabad rabbi (Halperin) who claims he owns the Koidenover shul established by the previous generations of Koidenover rebbeim. Certainly a shul is also a spiritual legacy. Yet material things are bought and sold, kach darcho shel olam .Any auction of Judaica and there are many, reveals items for sale with an ownership by famed rebbes with a sacred legacy, but the children need the financial recourses and are forced to sell. This is a davar yadua - well known and no one ever accused a Rizhiner or Thchernobler eynikel of acting in a immoral manner for selling a possession of the Rizhiner or Talner rebbes! Even a Jew like me has purchased seforim owned by well known chassidic rebbes. The Lelever rebbe sold his family heirloom Shaas after World War 1 to the visiting young Baba Sali as he needed the money! (Obviously if ownership is legal) It�s sad but not immoral. So while the potential sale may have been emotionally upsetting it was not as such a immoral act.

I spoke to Barry Gourary at length in the 1980's and 1990's . Never did the issue of spiritual leadership you refer to ever arise. Barry had and has no desire to be Rebbe of Chabad even though some supporters in other areas of Brooklyn would have given him millions to open a beth medrash in Flatbush called Lubavitch. Neither he nor his mother raised that issue. The issue was simply a material question of yerusha and the Code of Jewish Law has the answers. Mrs. Gourary whom I spoke to also never claimed spiritual leadership and of course rabbi Gourary made peace with his place more than 40 years ago.

This issue of spiritual claim was raised by Aguch and other interested parties as a smoke screen, as it befuddles the purely material claim that the Gourarys had stated which the Shulchan Aruch could be used to resolve spiritual claims are more difficult to resolve al pi halachah.

As the new Machnovker rebbe Rabbi Rokeach of Bnai brak wrote his cousin the Belzer Ruv about 10 years ago after a bitter conflict over the use of the title Belzer rebbe , may be I am not the Belzer rebbe, and maybe I am not a rebbe, but nothing anyone does can destroy my yichus and my place as a eynikel of the 3rd belzer rebbe.. Nothing said or done removes Bere Gourary from his place in Chabad.

By 1968 the Bais Israel of Ger, the Satmarer rebbe, the Bobover rebbe , the Kluizenberger rebbe, Reb Yaakov Kaminetsky, the Old Skverer rebbe,Rabbi Itzhk Hutner amongst a long list of gedolei israel both mitalmide haBesht and Yeshiva people did not become supporters of Lubavitch. Does that give Lubavitcher chasidim the right or excuse to hate these people too? This despite the rebbe's outstanding connection to am Israel. Excuse me.

My final comments on Bere Gourary. The Lubavitchers or some hired meshamshim bakodesh tried to run his daughter off the NJ freeway on one occasion. And during the shiva for the Rashag, a car was parked outside his home in Montclair with 2 Russian Jewish thugs taking photos of the few brave souls who came to be menachem avel the Gourarys. (Among these brave people was Laibel Bistrizky) I was there, the NJ state police were called and the men admitted to working for some one in Brooklyn and were ordered by the police to leave.

Bekaayso "in one's anger", if my mother were beaten I would have reacted with anger and released the data the Satmarer friends wanted. But Barry controlled himself as a good Chabad chasid should and did not slander the Rebbe. The same can not be said of Aguch. Tam venishlam Barry Gourary.

$30 mil donation to a Chabad House

Shmais News Service: $30 mil donation to a Chabad House is USA. Shliach in the USA received a phone call informing him that his Chabad House was the beneficiary of an estate. This is the largest single donation from an individual ever made to a Chabad-Lubavitch Institution worldwide.

The Meltdown at the World Jewish Congress

Isi Leibler emails:

The article below appears in the current issue of the respected and widely read weekly, New York Magazine.

This and other articles which continue appearing in the media throughout the world, demonstrate that the hastily summoned WJC Brussels Plenary Assembly failed to stem the ongoing concerns. The controversy will not be laid to rest until the issues relating to governance and financial transparency are addressed by a genuine independent audit.

What is truely mind boggling and highlights the depths to which a once proud international organization serving the interests of the Jewish people has sunk, is reflected in the bizarre outpourings and vulgarity expressed in the article below, by the new Secretary General. Steven Herbits was appointed to the prestigious post of WJC Secretary General in Brussels after undertaking to introduce a new era of governance and transparency.

Not only does he demonstrate an elementary lack of Jewish sensitivity, but such outrageous remarks would not be tolerated by any reputable Jewish organization.

Those executive members who stood by, burying their hands in the sand, refusing to address allegations of financial impropriety and irregularities, should be ashamed of themselves. By closing their eyes to the complete lack of governance and transparency, they have much to answer to WJC donors and the Jewish world at large.

New York Magazine: Machers in Meltdown. A financial scandal at the World Jewish Congress has exposed deep political schisms and changed the focus from fighting for world Jewry to infighting. Can the house that Edgar Bronfman built be put back in order?

Photos of R' Sholom DovBer Gourary?

Mentalblog.com Inbox, a Historian:

I visit your website from time to time and find many intersting topics discussed there. So thank you for providing the service. I also enjoy the photos you have posted of various members of Beis Harav. Do you have any photos of R' Sholom DovBer Gourary? the only ones I have ever seen are from the 1940's when his esteemed Zeide came to the states? If you have any Gourary photos, can you send them to me (Bli Pirsum, of course).

Tzemach Atlas: Schneur Zalman, do you have the photos?

Rebbe's wills

Mentalblog.com Inbox, Rabbi �Why You�:

Someone told me that the 1st will does not really appoint Krinsky to anything except executor. It only involves his personal property which he left to Chabad. Krinsky is only executor.
(�censored�)
This is what I have been told. Ehrlich never printed the will. Could you get a copy? What I am saying is only what I have been told. Please do not quote me. I do not know the truth. But, I am curious. If you find out things then you better prove it. Be careful.

Tzemach Atlas: Could someone please produce the copies of the wills? Last week in CH I heard enough information so that even if I discard half, it still makes Avrum Ehrlich�s references about the two wills suspect to gross inaccuracies. No it actually makes the entire bloody book a suspect. Please produce the wills if you can.

Is �X� a mashichist?

Mentalblog.com Inbox, Brookline Professor:

Is �X� a mashichist? I'd like to use him to fix my tefillin but would like to know first. Do you know anyone you could *discretely* ask about this?

Tzemach Atlas: I trust you would like an honest G-d fearing Jew who is versed in law to check your tefillin. All of the above characteristics make a Lubavitcher much more likely to be Mashichist. In fact messianic belief is more widespread in Lubavitch than people think.

Here in Brighton after they merged Pinchas Krinsky (Yudel�s brother) and Gurkov Shules, all Pinya Krinksy was able to bargain out was removing the Yehi sign from above Aron Kodesh to the side of the shule. When I was in CH last week I asked a person whom I remember as a sort of intellectual if he was a Mashichist. In response I got a look as if I miss the fundamental part of Judaism to ask the question. Many Mashichist are now lead secret life of Marranos. I doubt anyone in our days is prepared to waste energy and aggravation to confront them as some did in the time of Shabtai Zevi. They also tend to be aggressive in real and virtual life, witness two web sites that were recently hacked, etc.

But I have to confess. I personally find Mashichist to be more likeable than their opponents. Having said that I am of the opinion that we are in the midst of the cultural upheaval and it should not be swept under the carper. Now the �X� probably does not check the tefillin himself, he is just a transaction man. He will give your tefillin to a Soyfer �Y� who is also a Lubavitcher and therefore there is a 75% unscientific probability that a Lubavitcher Soyfer is a Mashichist. But I will encourage you to proceed to check your tefillin with that person because it just does not feel right to take parnosa from a sincere Jew like �X�. G-d help us all�

Was the Lubavitcher Rebbe a closet Kotzker?

Wednesday, 10:30 PM - Tzemach Atlas walks from �off off Broadway� after attending Jewtopia towards Broadway to grab a bite at the Kosher Delight. Simon Jacobson, the author of �Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Sages� orders a meal at the same time. Tzemach Atlas invites Simon to break the bread together. Tzemach is having an undercooked chicken kebob on brown rice. Simon's late dinner is a burger with fries.

Tzemach Atlas: Simon, Avrum Ehrlich in his new book writes that the Rebbe had two different management styles before and after the hear attack of the late 70s. Ehrlich claims that Rebbe management genius was that he delegated to Shluchim allowing them the freedom to be creative and innovative. During my years in Lubavitch I was troubled by the Rebbe's detachment from the grave imperfections of his own movement, what do you think, Simon?

Simon Jacobson: I believe the Rebbe was deeply skeptical about humans. I believe he decided to detach himself from active management and dedicated himself to energizing and infusing the movement with the spiritual current. But he would not get involved in any of the particulars even in the cases of grave ethical violations by the Shluchim. Do you know that the Rebbe didn�t hire a single person in his lifetime? Hodokov was hired by Raytz in Riga, Nissan Mindel was also hired by Raytz, Leybel Groner started by licking stamps and continued, Krynski had a driver�s license and Binyomin Klein was hired by Hodakov.

Thursday, 1:00 PM, Tzemach Atlas at lunch of ravioli with cholov yisroel Parmesan cheese in Cafe Napoli across from Yeshiva Chayim Berlin in Flatbush with Sy Phenomenon.
Sy Phenomenon: What Simon says is a revisionist attempt to absolve the Rebbe from any responsibility by making him removed from the mismanagement. How can a person say that the Rebbe made a decision to remain isolated when he stood for hours giving out dollars? Or how do you explain this: One day a van pulled up in front of 770, a painter came out and painted �AGUH� above the front entrance. They revived this dormant paper corporation so they can fight Berke Gourary for the ownership of the building and the library. Didn't the Rebbe then hire Yudel Krinsky for the job of running �AGUH�?

Erev Shabbos in 770, 7:15 PM - Tzemach Atlas to Simon Jacobson. How do you answer Sy Phenomenon?
Simon Jacobson: Yudel Krinsky and Jimmy Gourary were hired as figureheads of AGUH to fulfill legal corporate requirements. Yes the Rebbe had a great love for Jews and he was generous to many. But the Rebbe also was deeply skeptical about human ability to have strategic and moral vision. That�s why he did not get personally involved in the affairs of his organization.

Saturday Night, 9:00 PM, Tzemach Atlas is driving on Hutchinson Parkway, talking to himself: What Simon Jacobson describes is the concept of Tsimtsum applied to the Rebbe. G-d removed himself from this world (in what Avrum Ehrlich described as managerial genius) so the world can function. We can explain imperfection of this world because of G-d�s concealment; can we apply the same logic to the Lubavitch, Inc.? Can we even apply this logic to G-d?

Track #5 from Matisyahu's CD "Shake off the dust... ARISE": Emes.

UPDATE: Simon Jacobson - the proof is in the pudding.

770 Revisited

I have not been to Crown Heights for Shabbos perhaps longer than a decade. What follows are some random observations.

I believe that religious legacy is a spiritual language that helps and often prevents our communication with G-d. A person might learn a different language but he continues to speak with an accent. As I stood next to 770 bimah I realized that the language of that building will remain with me till my last day. 770 is my Shaar Hashamayim and I doubt a person can have more that one during his lifetime. Rabbeiny Hirshel Bisk used to tell me that �Tomchey Tmimim kasha� has an irreversible effect on a person soul. I now believe that this Kasha is by far more important than any articulation in Lubavitch� Go ahead, say it, kasha is in my head now.

I had sort of �White Light Experience�. When you visit a place after a long break and see familiar people it is as if you are dead observing them from afar. All the personal animosities, intellectual arguments, etc. recede. All that remains are unconditional smiles of friendly faces. As I walked into 770 I did not see bodies I saw only pure �neshomos� souls. The longer I was down in that basement the higher was my feeling.

Upon arrival to CH I saw a sign; a giant dreidel has been dropped from the sky in front of 770:


Thursday 11:45 AM - Shachris is in full swing. Oil lights instead of candles. Side from the slogans on the walls this is the only visible change I noticed.


Well, perhaps this is also an addition:


Any group strives to create signs of identity, so are numerous Mashichists in 770 who wear small yellow lapels with Mashiach flags. I went up to the Rebbe�s podium to get a closer look at the Mashichists who congregate in that part of 770. They look idealistic and pure; they have that open eyed expression that identifies the best in Lubavitch.

Thursday 5:55 PM - A bocher goes to the Rebbe�s armchair and removes the covers with practiced and meticulous motions. Hasidim congregate forming a human corridor so the Rebbe can walk through. They start chanting �Yehi�. The singing continues for 10 minutes. "After the Rebbe is ready", Rabbi Shvei proceeds with Maarriv.


Thusday 6:30 PM - The guard of the plaque talks to bochrim. He appears na�ve and kind. A group of bochrim reaches across the fence and kisses the stone. The guard: �I don�t understand what this stone is. I have been told �no vandalism� but I have not been told �no kissing��


Friday, Erev Shabbos - 770 is packed. The energy level is very high. I am ecstatic to talk to the old dear friends. There is a large group of university students in CH for a Shabbaton, amusingly they chant and dance to Yehi. The tune is catchy and to the outsiders might sound as good as the Macarena� A Gabbai Garlitzy is on the bimah, he announces that because of many guest in 770 and in order to respect the �Rebbe Melech Hamoshiyah� people should behave. I have been told later that Gabboyim made a deal with Mashichists to behave, but is it unclear to me what is happening in 770 when the Mashichists do not behave?

A human corridor is formed again so the Rebbe can walk through. �After the Rebbe assumes his sit� a different Gabbay, Lipsker gives a clap for the Hazan.

10:00 Shabbos morning - I am in FREE, determined to correct the wrongs. In fact the very people who did not let me daven almost 25 years ago were the only two people who recognized me immediately. I get Sheviyi and I close the grudge. I feel nothing towards the two except love. By the way I think Mishulovin is the best Baal Kriya in the world.

Later in 770 - When the Rebbe held farbrengens, I often felt that he was taking away Oneg Shabbbos from Jews. Now right after the tfila the place breaks up into multiple kiddushim. The Rebbe�s table is covered by the white cloth. Mashichists congregate around it. They interrupt the songs to communicate with the Rebbe. They look at the armchair intently and raise their wine in imaginary lechayims. I know there are attempts to marginalize this messianic wing of Lubavitch, but the Mashichists certainly own 770.

Elsewhere the food, vodka and joy flow freely. Plastic forks are there to fish out hot oily potato kugels so that can be eaten by hand. Laybel Mochkin�s son cries out that the Rebbe is everything and samples each jar on the table with his fork, layering it all with cold cuts. I am in 770th heaven. I miss this more that anything else.

I go up to another Kiddush on the Rebbe�s bimah. A stranger approaches me. He finds out that he came to 770 a year before I did; we both embrace as tears flow freely for me and him.


REMBRANDT, The Return of the Prodigal Son, The Hermitage, Leningrad.

Arkadiy Tashman

Sorry, I was away. Meanwhile I took this photo of a flyer in Manhattan and publish it here in hope of finding this Russian Jewish boy

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Two pictures of the Israeli leaders with the EU's Foreign and Security Policy Chief Xavier Solana. The one with Peres was taken in July 2004. The one with Shalom was taken in January 2005. Well, we knew where Peres received his instructions but we did not know that Lukid is now being ordered around by the same authority.

A Young Matisyahu music

JDub Records forum: Babylon Bomber writes:

I'm happy that you're doing so well but disappointed that you haven't mentioned any of us who got you involved in performing. I'll be posting sound files and video of Matisyahu when he played with my band Soulfori as I have rights to all the material. He was doing the same thing then just not as religious. Also have plenty of stories from travelling with him. Again, I'm proud of you Matt but don't forget where your style came from.

Pics and music of a young Matisyahu.

Announcement

Mentalblog.com stands with "Chayaley Beis Dovid" and whomever else want to join in the defence of the Shleimus HoOretz.

NO to the destruction of Batey Knesset in the Land of Israel!

No to the Fundraising wing of the Lubavitcher party that wants to shove Rebbe�s political legacy under the carpet. I remember how Rebbe screamed and implored that one has to speak about "Mi Hu Yehudi" at every public event! Today if one will attempt to speak about this in Lubavitch the apparatchiks will drag you off the stage by force. The heck if the only people who are willing to stand up for these issues are Mashichists I think I will join the club. May Lubavitcher Rebbe�s political courage live forever and ever!!!

IMRA - Oslo Redux

Oslo Redux: Amnon Abromovitz reveals Netanyahu incident staged for press.

Min. of Internal Security Ezra: Livnat and Netanyahu weren't attacked - they were yelled at. A video of the verbal attack on Livnat - and the physical attack of Livnat's guards on those making the verbal attack can be found here.

Hassidim have realized the need to leave BP

chakira: Hassidim Eye Waterbury for New Settlement. "Hassidim have realized the need to leave BP. Whether they end up in Waterbuy, Philly, Lakewood, or someplace unanticipated, a real estate reshuffle seems like an imminent and important development."
Schneur comments there:

There has been talk for sometime about a massive Chasidic migration to NJ , PA or CT. Chasidim love to talk "men shmuest". As Rabbi Mayer Schiller once pointed out talking for Chasidim is one of the few outlets of pleasure left to Chasidim. Eating and talking. Of course the Chafetz chaim Heritage Foundation would like to deny them that outlet as well. (By the way is it not time someone investigated those people. What do they do with all their money? Buy gags?)

Book review: The Messiah of Brooklyn

"The Messiah Of Brooklyn: Understanding Lubavitch Hasidism Past and Present" by M. Avrum Ehrlich

Before I even write one paragraph about this book let's just say that it was worth to buy the book for the two pages on "The Negative Effects of Fundraising". Ehrlich highlights the key dilemma that threatens to undermine spiritual fabric not only of Chabad but by virtue of it's influences, the very fabric of Judaism itself. Here are the two pages in PDF. What else is there to add?

Target Audience: As was reading the book I wondered, who was he writing for? Particularly in light of the author starting from Baal Shem Tov. Ehrlich jets through the centuries of events with such speed that it remains of questionable informative value for a veteran and novice alike. For me the interest in the subject of the book has grown as I progressed in the chapters. The concluding chapters are the most informative and thought provoking. Perhaps this book is an Academic exercise confined within it's style? As an amateur enthusiast I would have like to see a more narrow focus.

Book style and structure: Avrum Ehrlich has attempted to step back from it�s subject matter and think thought the life of the Rebbe in historical, political, spiritual and economic contexts. His style is much different from that of Shaul Shimon Deutsch. Instead of archival reproduction of different sources and documents to form the narrative in The Messiah of Brooklyn we find succinct references that serve only as a springboard to the author�s broad ideas. Understandably it is tremendously difficult to find the sources. Yet I was often disappointed by the unspecific footnotes. For example Avrum Ehrlich writes:

Habad emissaries in countries with few Jews have often taken advantage of the reputation of Jews as powerful, wealthy, and influential to further their outreach work. There are stories told in Habad of emissaries to Asian and South American countries who were able to cultivate high-profile business leaders and politicians because of the belief that the Habad movement was an influential Jewish lobby with good business connections.

The statement is undoubtedly true but when I looked into the footnotes I found this: "See Beis Moshiah�"

As a general observation it seems that Ehrlich interprets many of the events as part of grand scheme of a managerial genius while some of the items he describes seem more random and accidental to this reader. I also think that addressing monarchic aspects of Lubavitch might have answered many of the peculiarities of the Rebbe�s management style. Ehrlich dedicated number of pages to the devaluation of rabbinical ordination (Smicha) in Lubavitch per Rebbe�s instructions but little is written about deterioration of the Yeshiva system itself.

Towards the end of the book there is fascinating discussion about the events surrounding Rebbe�s first and second wills and the role of Y. Krinsky in executing of the wills, AGUH and the surrounding controversy. This almost warrants a separate post, I have some interesting thoughts on the subject and I hope to digitize them as time permits.

Avrum Ehrlich observation about our medium is spot on. He writes:

At present the Internet is one of the main forums for discussion of Schneerson the significance of his passing, utilized by messianist, non-messianist, and anti-messianist Hasidism. There is even a Web site for ex-Habad Hasidim, who have left movement for various reasons but nevertheless wish to stay in touch with one other and offer mutual support. Thus, despite geographical separation and lack of wide numerical support, these groups are able to survive and cohere across the world; the debates in which they engage may well prove determine the future direction of Habad in the post-Schneerson era.

The book is an important marker about the life of the Rebbe and Lubavitch. Missing from the book is even a glimpse of Avrum Ehrlich�s personal interactions with his subject but it might be fitting to conclude with Ehrlich�s own dedication to his parents in the Introduction to the book:

Perhaps it is their recognition that nothing short of ideas sustains the world, and without the ephemeral, a family or indeed a civilization may, God forbid, become fallow. Perhaps it is their own desire to ensure that in this age of conformism, at least a few might be permitted to thrash about in un-navigated territory and ponder those things most dare not consider, and that it is in this sanctuary that life becomes most interesting. It is to them that this book is dedicated.

Avrum, thank you for your thoughts and work!

The next Lubavitcher Rebbe

The next Lubavitcher Rebbe should be Rabbi Zvi Yosef Bisk AKA Rabbi Hirshel Rabiski. Hirshel was born in Moscow. His father is from Polish Hasidim and his mother is Geza (Hirshel "Yosher" Konson from Nevel and Labkovsky). After his Bar Mitzvah Hirshel left Russia and moved to Kfar Habad in mid 60s, shortly after arrival to Israel his grandfather sent him to France to learn next to Rabbi Nisan "Dergeller" Nieminov. He spent 6 years in Reb Nisan�s yeshiva. Reb Nisan remained an enduring influence. He continued his studies in Crown Heights in 770. He married in Israel where his first child was born. He moved back to NY to study in the Lubavitcher Kollel. He then went on Shlichus in Ladispoili Italy wher he lived for 10 years. For the past 15 years Hirshel has been a Rabbi and a Melamed in Toronto.

Aaron Dugan - guitarist with Matisyahu

Commenting to the Matisyahu video on Last Call with Carson Daly, Aaron Dugan the lead guitar player with Matisyahu writes to mentalblog.com:

I just wanted you to know that I and all of the band members are flattered by the wonderful support we've been receiving from this web site as well as other positive web sites. Being on tour can be grueling as well as very rewarding. Reading nice blogs when I can get to a computer is a real plus. I agree about my solo being 1/10 of my normal solos. I only had a few measures to solo on TV and all of my solos are improvised to keep my mind fresh. Sometimes they come out as diamonds and sometimes they come out as coals. It's usually somewhere in between, though. Thanks again! Aaron

Aaron, I was floored by your tremendous solo past Chanukah in Boston. Keep up the great music!

Jews and geography

I believe there is a tremendous influence of geography or physical location on our culture. Sometimes there are irrational influences, i.e. a person's grave hidden under a house could create an unexpended field. Sometime we find more obvious cultural influences. Jews in particular even when they claim cultural independence are really reduced to mirror images of their host cultures.

Example: Poland is a country dominated by Catholicism and ruled by a Pope. Many Polisher Rebbes mirror this model. Their leadership is appointed holiness.

Russia�s dominant cultural idea was Monarchy. Hence all Lubavitcher Rebbes adopted this executive model. Russian Hasidim called Rebbe "Chozayin", literally "master, owner". RAMASH contradiction is that he was a transitional figure. On one hand he obeyed the ways of RAYATZ on the other asked Moshiyah to set him free. He did not change the model of monarchic ruling in Lubavitch. He and his movement suffered greatly because of this abnormality. It is also very natural that the current Lubavitcher leader mimics the dominant American model of a CEO. And I believe the Rebbe felt this was the way to go, even for him, but his obedience to RAYATZ tied his hands. (I actually developed this idea in relationship to Hungary and Lithuania but this is for some other time)

UPDATE: Monarchic model: A Tsar or a King is adored, loved and worshiped by all his citizens. A Tsar is symbol and an emblem of a kingdom. He could be a progressive reformist like Peter the Great or he/she could be self indulgent like Catherine the Great. But his involvement in affairs of his kingdom is as much or as little as he/she wants. A King is almost always praised for the achievements but never made responsible for the failures. In general it is a system of detached management. This is how Rebbe ruled in the last decades. He delegated to his emissaries and his main task was symbolic maintenance of the brand know as Lubavitch.

A CEO can lose his job because of mismanagements. CEO is involved in every last details of his operation he delegates with an understanding that it involved his personal risk.

A Pope might choose any of the above models if he likes but remoteness is allowed and consistent with his role. He is expected to dazzle the mere mortals with his shiny robes.

Litvish

Naziv of Volozhin
Vilna
Novogrudok (AKA Novardok)