B”H I noticed that I have many hits on the Baba Sali as well as on the X – Ray Rabbi Yaakov Ifergan. The Baba Sali passed away a long time ago and since his former student Rabbi Ifergan discovered his ability seeing people’s fate, a war has broken out in the small town of Netivot (southern Israel). Read More »
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Der Big Bang Photo: Nasa B”H The upcoming Jewish holiday of ROSH HASHANA is a holiday for the whole world and not only for Jews ! Our entire universe is being judged by G – d who created anything existing. Symbolically speaking: “G – d will be sitting on His Thrown and judge”. We, on the other hand, crown Him as our King. Read More »
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B”H Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is known as a Tanna (Talmudic Rabbi) as well as the author of the kabbalistic book “Zohar”. About two weeks ago, I went to his grave in Meron (northern Israel). The Breslover Nana group rules over the souvenir sales in front of the entrance to the grave. Read More »
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B”H Although I remain anonymous I am happy to write replies to anyone who comments: ) I think the pictures are important. The one celebrating terror is from a Reuters article and the one terror is from Arutz 7… Read More »
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B”H Many years ago, when I was looking for my way into a religious life, I used to go crazy about certain ideas. I had forgotten about one particular episode but I suddenly remembered when I read some commentaries on the month of Elul this morning. Read More »
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B”H The Talmud Tractate Rosh HaShana 10b teaches that Rabbi Eliezer said that the world was i HaShana) only refers to the creation of mankind (Adam HaRishon and Chava) but not to the creation of the world itself. The real birthday of the world, so to speak, is five days earlier: On 25 Elul (this Shabbat). Read More »
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B”H This Mozzaei Shabbat (Saturday night), the Jewish Ashkenazi world is going to start its Selichot prayers before Rosh HaShana. Regretting our sins (Chatai’im) of the ending year and promise to make everything better in the future. At least we will try doing so. Read More »
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B”H According to the Midrash, this is the cave where Shem and Ever (son and grandson of Noach) were studying Torah. Furthermore, Avraham and Yitzchak used to study here as well. Today we find a building covering the original cave. The location in the Old City of Safed is used as a Synagogue but only open for a short period of time during the day. Read More »
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B”H The Ramban (Nachmanides, 1194 – 1270) wrote a detailed commentary on the idol – worship of Molech which took place during the First Temple period. The Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in the Talmud Tractate Yoma 9b lists three reasons for why the First Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Read More »
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Levinsky Street in South Tel Aviv. One of those areas you shouldn’t walk around at night. B”H A colleague at work suggested that I should organize tours through Tel Aviv – South and show people who are interested what is really going on regarding drugs, prostitution and foreign workers. Read More »
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B”H Last Thursday night, I was touring through Tel Aviv in order to experience the “City which never sleeps”. Rothschild Boulevard At the Levinsky Park / right across the new Central Bus Station. Africans and foreign workers from the Philippines play basketball and volleyball. Read More »
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I saw this woman at the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron. Extremely modest and I wasn’t sure whether she works a kind of modesty police. However, I passed despite my pants. Read More »
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Source: Velveteen Rabbi B”H Ashkenazi Jewry is starting its SELICHOT prayers (before Rosh HaShana) on this week’s Mozzaei Shabbat (Saturday night). This only gives us time for Selichot on Mozzaei Shabbat, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night. Read More »
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B”H About ten days ago I participated in a “Meditation Seminary” organized by Chabad (Lubavitch). The location of the three – day course was the hostel ” Ascent ” in Safed. Rabbi Shmuel Gavriel Tornek taught us some basic practices about Jewish meditation. Read More »
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Banana plants near Tiberias Photo: Miriam Woelke B”H A rather strange night in Tel Aviv and once in a while, people actually should go out and see what is going on in different neighbourhoods. I have been to south Tel Aviv. In the pit with African and workers from the Philippines. Read More »
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B”H I was in Meron last Friday and I consider this trip as a highlight of the meditation class at the Chabad Hostel “Ascent” in Safed. In the morning we first went to the ” Idra Rabbah Cave ” where we meditated. Afterwards, the bus took us to Meron to the Kever of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Read More »
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B”H This upcoming Shabbat, Parashat Ki Tavo, 18th Elul, we are celebrating the birthday of the chassidic master BAAL SHEM TOV. Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov didn’t introduce anything new to the Jewish world because Chassidism had already existed for hundreds if not thousands of years. Read More »
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B”H The Ma’arat HaMachpelah (gravesite of the Jewish forefathers and mothers Avraham, Sarah, Yaakov, Leah, Yitzchak, Rivka as well as Adam HaRishon and Chava) in Hebron will be open 24 hours during the Aseret Yamei Teshuva between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. Read More »
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B”H Rabbi Yisroel Goldberg is the new Chabad Shaliach of Jerusalem’s neighbourhood Rehavia. When I heard this news I thought that it would be an interesting subject writing about “How a Chabad House is actually established ?” How a new Shaliach is being chosen for the job, how he finds a location and everything else around. Read More »
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B”H With its Mitzvot (Commandments), the Torah answers the question WHAT we should do. The Talmud tells us HOW, and the Kabbalah tells us WHY we should observe the Mitzvot and how they affect the purpose of our lives. Read More »
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Safed is a town located in the Galilee. The above and below photos show the view from our Chabad – Hostel “Ascent”. Right across, in the mountains, is the village of MERON where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is buried. I had gone to Safed with a friend and we got the “great” idea to explore the new city. Read More »
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B”H Neither am I a Chabadnikit nor against Chabad. However, when I write about different chassidic groups, I try to reflect the pros & cons. The same with Chabad where there is a huge controversy only concerning the messianic issue. Some time ago I read Avrum Ehrlich’s book “The Messiah from Brooklyn” and found it quite interesting. Read More »
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B”H The Israeli Minister of the Interior, Eli Yishai, is justifying his decision of deporting many children of Israel’s foreign workers. I totally support Yishai and anyone who is so much in favour of the foreign workers should consider a few more issues and especially look into the future: 1. Read More »
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B”H Many more pictures will hopefully follow ! There are two Synagogues of the famous Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (known as the ARI) in Safed: One is Sephardi and one is Ashkenazi. Here are two photos from the Ashkenazi ARI Synagogue located in the Old City of Safed (Northern Israel). Read More »
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B”H Last Mozzaei Shabbat, we saw at least 50 Chabad Meshichistim dancing with their yellow Meshiach flags in the Old City of Safed. Especially Safed is quite full with those Meshichistim. Read More »
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B”H There are different approaches in Jewish meditation. Breslov, for instance, has a different system than Chabad, as Breslov is meditating on G – d’s names or even objects. Chabad, however, prefers meditating on Torah concepts. I am still in Safed. Read More »
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B”H At the grave of the Talmudic and Kabbalistic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron as well as the town of Safed nearby: This is where we are spending our meditative course. Read More »
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B”H A SHAVUA TOV – A GREAT WEEK to everyone from Safed. I am still here, still alive (from Chabad) and finally relaxed after all those weeks of endless work. Enjoying myself very much and just listening to a rather Baal Shem Tov story. However, this depends on the storyteller and not on the Baal Shem Tov. Read More »
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Old City in Safed (Northern Israel) Photo: Miriam Woelke B”H A short “Shabbat Shalom” to all of you ! Yesterday I went with a friend a the way of to Safed in order to participate in a three – day meditation programme organized by Chabad. So far, we have been really enjoiying ourselves and it gives me lots of material to write about. Read More »
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B”H The famous cemetery in the Old City of Safed. Especially many medieval Kabbalists are buried there: For instance – Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Rabbi Moshe Alshich, Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz or Rabbi Joseph Karo. Read More »
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B”H How far to I have to close my eyes in order not to be confronted too much with my own Yetzer HaRah (negative side in each of us) ? This week’s Parashat “Ki Tetze” tells us about a Jewish soldier falling in love with a Gentile female prisoner of war. A Jewish soldier is going out to war, sees a Gentile woman and decides to marry her. Read More »
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B”H When Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan wrote his book on “Jewish Meditation”, the entire subject may have not yet been as popular as today. In our days, thousands of Jews are on the search for a more spiritual meaning in life. As I once learnt, every Jew has her / his own soul root. Read More »
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B”H Yesterday I reported about a Bar Mitzvah in Belz celebrated in the wealthy Belz family Brisk. Brisk is their family name but they are Belzer Chassidim. An Israel haredi forum asked the question concerning the relationship between Belz and Satmar and why the Satmarer came to the Belzer Bar Mitzvah. Read More »
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B”H There are four holy cities in Israel: 1. Jerusalem, 2. Hebron, 3. Tiberias, 4. Safed Small Synagogue (Klois) of Chassidut ZANZ. Small Synagogue (Klois) of Chassidut Makarav. Kikar HaMegidim – Megidim Square: Popular meeting point for some religious hippies and others. Read More »
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B”H The Chabad founder Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745 – 1813) wrote the following interpretation on “Why wearing a Kipa (Yarmulka)” in his interpretation of the “Shulchan Aruch – Code of Jewish Law”: The head is part of the body. The body is usually covered by Jews, and therefore uncovering the head is revealing one’s nakedness before G – d. Read More »
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B”H The heads of the Satmarer communities of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak participating in a Belzer Bar Mitzvah. A haredi forum is asking if peace between the two chassidic group is ahead. I thought that the haredi world would know better than me … Read More »
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B”H A man comes to a Rabbi and asks: “How many men do we need for a Minyan ?” Rabbi: “Ten Jewish men”. Read More »
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B”H Years ago, I participated in the 1,5 day lasting “Discovery Programme” run by Yeshivat AISH HATORAH in the Old City of Jerusalem. After the programme had ended, all participants sat together and we discussed our feelings and what we had gained from learning about Jewish identity and if there is a G – d. Read More »
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B”H It is never too late and we always keep on learning: Last Shabbat I learnt about the amazing Victor Frankl … We stumbled on in the darkness, over big stones and through large puddles, along the one road leading from the camp. The accompanying guards kept shouting at us and driving us with the butts of their rifles. Read More »
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B”H Thousands of Breslover Chassidim are traveling to Uman (Ukraine) for Rosh HaShana. Photo: Kikar Shabbat The most popular trip over Rosh HaShana is not Turkey or Europe but at least 18,000 Breslover Chassidim will make their way to the grave of Rabbi Nachman in Uman. Read More »
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Ruins from the Crusaders downtown Tiberias. Tiberias is full of all kinds of ruins. Israel desperately needs rain because it hasn’t rained too much in the past years. Israel is the only country in the world where you have to pray for rain ! Have a look at the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias: Once the water reached until the stones at the picture below. Read More »
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Tiberias City Center. Humidity in Tiberias is much worse than in Tel Aviv ! Entrance to the grave of the Rambam (Maimonides) in Tiberias. Read More »
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B”H As Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (the Chabad founder) teaches in his TANYA : A Jew has two souls ! An animal soul following its desires and a g – dly soul with the desire of follwing Torah. Read More »
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B”H Hello and Shavua Tov (a great new week) from Safed in northern Israel ! It wasn’t planned this way but somehow I always end up with Chabad many times. I joined the programme at Ascent , a Jewish hostel run by Chabad. Shiurim, Shabbat meals and an incedible atmosphere. The best place Jews can stay at when they go to Safed. Read More »
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Photo: Miriam Woelke B”H This Shabbat is definitely getting a little more spiritual because I am going up to Safed tomorrow. A small town in northern Israel, very famous for its Kabbalists from the 16th century. When I started reading some chassidic commentaries on Parashat SHOFTIM, I already got stuck at the very first sentence. Read More »
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B”H The Israeli haredi website “Chadrei HaCharedim” published a so called ” Historical News “: The three biggest chassidic groups of Jerusalem’s ultra – Orthodox Mea Shearim, the Toldot Aharon, the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak as well as Karlin – Stolin, decided not to let any outsiders entering their Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations this Sukkot. Read More »
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B”H Most of us still remember the brilliant Hasbarah Video ” We con the World ” made by LATMA . Now the group has published a new video with the title “The Muslim War Council”. Read More »
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B”H Sephardi Jews have just begun with their SELICHOT prayers before Rosh HaShana. Last night I listened live on the radio to one of those services. It sounds very different from Ashkenazi Selichot which only begin on Mozzaei Shabbat before Rosh HaShana but I find the tunes very original. Read More »
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B”H Daniel Breslauer provided me with this LINK and in order to show you what is going on, I took the following pictures last Thursday afternoon. My trip took me around Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station including the streets / alleyways in the neighbourhood. Crime, foreign workers from Africa and the Philippines. Read More »
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B”H Today and tomorrow, the Jewish world is celebrating the beginning of the month of ELUL. What happened on that day was that Moshe went up onto Mount Sinai in order to ask G – d to forgive the Jews for their sin with the Golden Calf. Read More »
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Daily life at Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station: The area is full of crime, prostitutes and foreign workers from the Philippines and Africa. Read More »
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The false Meschiach J. from Russia sitting in Tel Aviv (Allenby / King George Junction). J. was and still is a false Meschiach but I didn’t know he was smoking. Read More »
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Photo: Safed B”H Going to Safed this Shabbat ! Safed is a small town located north of Tiberias. The most famous personality of the town should be the ARI (the Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria , 1534 – 1572). Men can still visit his Mikveh and his grave can be found on the Safed cemetery. Read More »
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B”H From tomorrow until Thursday, Safed is celebrating its annual Klezmer Festival. Music everywhere in the city and all concerts are for FREE ! http: //www.safed.co.il/2010-klezmer-festival. Read More »
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B”H Tonight, tomorrow and on Wednesday, we are going go celebrate the beginning of the month (Rosh Chodesh) of ELUL. Elul together with Tishrei (following Elul) are my personal favourite months of the year. Others love Purim or Pessach, I am tremendously in love with Rosh HaShana and Sukkot. Read More »
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The Great Synagogue (right) with the HEICHAL SHLOMO in King George Street. Until some years ago, the Heichal Shlomo served as the headquarter of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate (Rabbanut) but today, it includes a restaurant and the building is used for special events such as lectures or concerts. Read More »
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B”H Last night me and a friend spent some time in Tel Aviv’s IN street “Rothschild Boulevard”. Rothschild where the wealthy live or at least those who try to look richer than others. Suddenly a woman as thin as a concentration camp survivor walked along the street and started begging. She was rather staggering around than walking. Read More »
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