Sunday, February 27, 2022

שמחת האירוסין לנכד הרה"צ המשפיע רבי צבי מאיר זילברברג בן לחתנו הרה"ג רבי אליעזר גלדצהיילר, עם בת הרה"צ רבי מאיר לייפער בן האדמו''ר מנאדבורנא חיפה וחתנו של הפוסק הגאון רבי שמואל אליעזר שטרן גאב"ד מערב ב"ב.

נכד המשפיע התארס עם נכדת האדמו"ר והפוסק

בבני ברק נערכה שמחת האירוסין לנכד הרה"צ המשפיע רבי צבי מאיר זילברברג בן לחתנו הרה"ג רבי אליעזר גלדצהיילר, עם בת הרה"צ רבי מאיר לייפער בן האדמו''ר מנאדבורנא חיפה וחתנו של הפוסק הגאון רבי שמואל אליעזר שטרן גאב"ד מערב ב"ב. הצלם שוקי לרר תיעד

משה ויסברג, כ"ו אדר תשפ"ב 27/02/2022 23:52 all credit goes to משה ויסברג & bhol.col.il

אירוסי נכד הגרצ"מ זילברברג עם נכדת הגרש"א שטרן והרבי מנדבורנא חיפהצילום: שוקי לרר

The Torah U’Mada of Rav Yitzchak Hutner

One of the most revered Charedi Gedolim of the 20th century was Rav Yitzchak Hutner. He was indeed a Gadol – a Torah giant. His magnum Opus Pachad Yitzchak was written at a very early age. If I understand correctly it was published by his daughter, Rebbitzin Bruriah David.

I never met him but I am quite an admirer of his. He was a revered Rosh HaYeshiva and rabbinic leader – a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel.

If the current Charedi rabbinic leaders were to follow his path - we would be living in a different world. It is a curious fact of life, however, that his successor Rav Aharon Schechter the current Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbenu Chaim Berlin does not seem to really follow in his Rebbe’s footsteps. Nor did another famous student of his, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe. He attended college and received a degree. But he does not advocate it for his current students.

This is not to cast any aspersions on anyone - certainly not Rabbi Perlow. People have a right to their own views. Rabbi Perlow was my 12th grade Rebbe and I still respect him and all he brings to the table as a rabbinic leader in Klal Yisroel .

But there are some students who I believe did follow in his footsteps - at least in having a positive attitude about secular studies. One of them is Rav Aharon Lichtenstein. Another is Rav Aaron Soloveichik. While obviously not identical to Rav Hutner I believe their Hashkafos are far truer to Rav Hutner’s than the current Rosh HaYeshiva of Chaim Berlin.

Rav Hutner was at his core a believer in the value of secular studies and limited participation in general culture. He spent time studying philosophy in the University of Berlin, and befriended other Gedolim there at the time including Rav Joseph B. Soloveithcik and the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rav Menachem Mendel Schneersohn - who attended classes there at that time. It is interesting to note that late in his life he became a fierce critic of Lubavitch.

Not only did he attend university, his daughter, Rebbitzin Bruriah David, the current head of Beis Yaakov of Jerusalem – a very Charedi women’s seminary- received her PhD from Columbia University in the seventies.

But it doesn’t stop there. Rav Hutner actually wanted to create a fully accredited Yeshiva college. Together with famed Torah VoDaath Rosh HaYeshiva Reb Sharga Feivel Mendelowitz - he had gone to the trouble to put all the elements in place including the accreditation from the New York Board of Regents.

Unfortunately Rav Hutner acceded to Rav Aharon Kotler’s wishes who urged him not to do it. It never happened because of Rav Hutner’s profound respect for Rav Aharon Kotler. But what this episode says about him is that he viewed studying secular subjects to be so positive that he was willing to create a Yeshiva college. He had not changed his views on secular studies upon his immigration to America and - it seems – they actually became even stronger.

One of the people he was very close to was my Rebbe, Rav Aharon Soloveichik. When Rav Aharon was 12 years old and still living in Europe - Rav Hutner tutored him after Rav Ahron’s father, Rav Moshe, had moved to New York to become Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva University. And years later after both had immigrated to America -when Rav Ahron was ready - he became a Rebbe in Rav Hutner’s Yeshiva as well while as retaining his position in Yeshiva University.

In his later years his look changed. But I do not believe his Hashkafos ever changed.

The following story was told by Dr Yitzchak Levine. It is about a fellow who had attended Chaim Berlin it its early years.

After graduating Mesivtha Chaim Berlin, this fellow had no connection with the yeshiva for a number of years. More than 20 years later he attended a dinner sponsored by the yeshiva. When he got to the dinner, he saw Rav Hutner sitting on the dais. He had a full beard, was wearing a very large "up hat," and a kapote. This former talmud went over to Rav Hutner, looked at him, and said, "What happened to you? This is not the way you dressed when you were my rebbe." Rav Hutner replied, "I am the same person I was when I was your rebbe. The times have changed, that is all."

Perhaps. People do evolve and sometimes modify their Hashkafos. Rav Hutner was firmly was a disciple of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook the patriarch of Religious Zionism - even though his early gounding was in the famed Slabodka Yeshiva under the Rav Nosson Zvi Finkel. But in his later years Rav Hutner seemed to move away from the Hashkafos of Rav Kook and closer to those of the Chazan Ish.

But I still believe that at the core he was the same person he had always been. This is what he meant when he answered that student of 20 years ago. His look changed and his emphasis changed, but his core values did not.

Those values included a positive view of secular studies, a warm and welcoming approach to secular Jews and an appreciation of the Halachicly permitted secular culture as evidenced by his love of opera - a fact testified to by one of his early students - a man old enough to be my father (who prefers to remain anonymous).

If only there were more Rav Hutners today.

all credit goes to Rabbi Harry Maryless

Newly Updated: 8/22/08 - 8:34 AM CDT

Saturday, February 26, 2022

SHIVTI WEEKLY UPDATE: Parshas Vayakhel

SHIVTI

WEEKLY UPDATE

Shivti Fall/Winter 5782 - ויבינו במקרא

This week, we continue with the segment on non-verbalized Tzedaka pledges from our ויבינו במקרא series.

This sugya is dedicated to Rabbi and Mrs. Yosef Heinemann in honor of the marriage of their daughter Rochel to Chaim Tzvi Gutman, son of Rabbi and Mrs. Leiby Gutman. Reb Yosef's professionalism and expertise continue to guide us in all we do. Mazel tov to the extended Heinemann, Teitelbaum, Gutman and Schiffenbauer families. May they see much nachas from the new couple and the rest of their children.

Dedication opportunities are available in honor of a simcha (bar mitzvah), yahrzeit, or any other momentous event. Call our office or email us for more information.

חיוב צדקה במחשבת הלב

This week we continue with the sugya that discusses the topic of pledges to Tzedaka that one thinks about and intends to give, but does not actually verbalize this intent. Although in most instances a verbal declaration is required for an intention to be binding, we find that in this week's parsha, Parshas Vayakhel, donations to the Mishkan are called "nediv lev" - which the Gemara explains to mean even those donations that were just thought about.

We discuss if this rule applies to Tzedaka as well. This concept applies to many real-life situations today, including when one thinks to give tzedaka during an appeal, a "mi shebeirach", or when one sets aside or intends to give money to a needy person during davening - but cannot find that person when davening is over.

In honor of Purim, we have included several marei m'komos discussing Purim-related tzedaka scenarios.

Please note: this week's limud was included in last week's publication. A new publication was not printed this week.

חיוב צדקה במחשבת הלב

אוֹר פָּנֶיךָ עָלֵינוּ אָדוֹן נְשָׂא / וְשֶׁקֶל אֶשָּׂא בְּבַיִת נָכוֹן וְנִשָּׂא

וּבְצֶדֶק הֶגֶה עֵרֶךְ כִּי תִשָּׂא / בָּרְכֵנוּ בַשָּׁלוֹם אֵל רָם וְנִשָּׂא

מוסף לשבת פרשת שקלים

לא תעשה כל מלאכה

Another parsha-related subject from our library is our publication on the 39 Melachos and M'leches Machsheves. It discusses the source of the 39 Melachos, which are learned based on the Melachos that were done in the Mishkan.

We discuss why this source makes the fundamentals of ma'aseh melacha a unique category, different from all other forbidden actions. With regards to ma'aseh melacha on Shabbos, one's intentions alter his chiyuv. In addition, if an action is performed kilachar yad, it would not be considered Chilul Shabbos min haTorah.

Many practical examples (i.e. Boneh, Kosev, etc.) have been included.

לא תעשה כל מלאכה

All credit goes to Beth Medrash Govoha | 617 6th St, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Yeshivat Nesher Hagadol

Sunday, February 27, 2022

נכד המשפיע התארס עם נכדת האדמו"ר והפוסק

The Torah U’Mada of Rav Yitzchak Hutner

Saturday, February 26, 2022

SHIVTI WEEKLY UPDATE: Parshas Vayakhel

Crowning Glory: The Lost Empire of Radomsk

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