A Well-Intentioned But Mistaken Plan

In Jerusalem, a group of baalei teshuvah reflected on this year's Yom Kippur coming out on Shabbos. They focused on the mitzvah of eating on erev Yom Kippur. After Minchah on erev Yom Kippur, a final meal is consumed. This meal should end before sunset, preferably at least one hour before nightfall. The Yom Kippur fast begins no later than sunset. This year, Yom Kippur eve fell on Friday, October 7. Sunset on that day in Jerusalem was at 5:17 p.m.

The leaders of the baal teshuvah group desired to enhance their performance of the mitzvah of eating the Seudas Hamafsekes (final meal) of erev Yom Kippur. They thought to apply the custom of many shuls throughout the world that have an approximate two-hour early acceptance of Shabbos on the long Fridays of the summer.

But knowing how early one may accept Shabbos on Friday is a learned application. Sometimes, when either Friday or Shabbos, but not both, is a rosh chodesh day, questions arise as to the recitation of Ya'aleh Ve'yavo, the Rosh Chodesh addition to Shemoneh Esrei of Friday night, while the sun is still shining. In addition, one having yahrzeit on either Friday or Shabbos may be uncertain about when to recite the obligatory Kaddish prayers. (Of course, anyone having such questions should consult a rabbi.)

Members of the baal teshuvah group assumed they were permitted to apply the early Kabbolas Shabbos concept to their Seudas Hamafsekes of Friday erev Yom Kippur, and so they planned to have their last meal before sunset simultaneous with having accepted Yom Kippur early. This way, they mistakenly assumed, they would be able to enhance their Seudas Hamafsekes by making it a seudas Shabbos complete with Kiddush.

They were grievously wrong. The Yom Kippur fast begins immediately upon acceptance of Yom Kippur. One member of the group was uncomfortable with the plan and with its underlying logic. He consulted a renowned Jerusalem Torah scholar who clearly explained the prohibitions and violations involved. When the group member conveyed this to the group's leaders, they remained unconvinced and intended, nevertheless, to proceed with their original plan.

The individual then consulted with several other Torah authorities, both chassidish and yeshivish, who issued statements on their letterheads to the effect of the plan's serious halachic unacceptability. The letters complimented the group's leaders for their innovative creativity and referred to citations where such ideas were discussed in halachic literature in the past and were categorically dismissed.

Upon receipt of the letters and proper reflection by the group's leaders, the planned Friday erev Yom Kippur-Shabbos Seudas Hamafsekes meal with Kiddush was canceled.

Another New Lijensker Beis Medrash

Descendants of Rabbi Elimelech Weissblum, zt"l (1717-1787), Lijensker (Lizajsk, Lizhensk) Rebbe and author of Noam Elimelech, continue to expand the horizons of chassidishe dynamics. The Noam Elimelech had engineered the blossoming of chassidism in Galicia, Poland - beyond the then-assumed borders of chassidism that were initially limited to parts of today's Ukraine.

On Sunday, September 25, thousands participated in special events that celebrated the expansion of the Lijensker Beis Medrash in Boro Park (1402 59^th Street) and the birth of a new sefer Torah.

And on Yom Tov Sukkos, a new Lijensker Beis Medrash was inaugurated on Ft. Hamilton Parkway at 56^th Street. The beis medrash will also serve as the Yaruslover Yeshiva and Kollel. This beis medrash is led by Rabbi Doniel Rokeach, Lijensker Rebbe.

Lijensker Rebbe

The Linjensker Rebbe has been quite active in Torah projects in recent years, especially in leading groups on visits to holy sites in Eastern Europe. He had negotiated with several foreign governments regarding the rehabilitation of Jewish cemeteries. He has also led many chassidim on annual visits the gravesite of the Noam Elimelech in Lijensk.

During the summer of 2006, the Lijensker Rebbe was the architect of rebuilding the ohel (mausoleum) of his ancestor, the Toras Shimon, founding Lijensker Rebbe. Literally in the dark of night he gathered his team and excavated enough ground to unearth the foundations of the original ohel. On cloudy nights he had building supplies brought in and a construction crew rebuilt the ohel. Supplies had to be brought in under several subterfuges so that an ordinary onlooker would not understand what was underway.

Once the walls, set upon the remnant foundations of the old ohel, were in place, a roof had to be constructed. A team of experienced roofers had to covertly be recruited, smuggled into the cemetery in the middle of the night, together with all necessary supplies, and conduct all work before the sun rose. The night activities had to be scheduled, weather permitting, on evenings that had no other local events.

Of course, after completion of the large ohel, its detection by the local overlord was only a matter of time. Only days after the cement has dried, the complaint was filed with a notice of impending demolition. The Lijensker Rebbe quickly mobilized all of his contacts and brought to bear as much international diplomatic pressure as possible to avert a second destruction of the tzaddik's ohel. At the last moment, the municipal order to demolish the ohel was rescinded.

Today's Lijensker Rebbe is the son of Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Heshel Rokeach, zt"l (1902-1979), who conducted the Lijensker Beis Medrash in Crown Heights and later in Boro Park; son of Rabbi Shimon Rokeach, zt"l (1851-1915), Yeruslaver Rebbe; son of Rabbi Bunim Menachem Mendel Rokeach, zt"l (1810-1888), Yeruslaver Rebbe; son of Rabbi Shimon Marilus, zt"l (1758-1840), founding Yeruslaver Rebbe and author of Toras Shimon. The Lijensker Rebbe also is a descendant of the Noam Elimelech.

Vishnitzer Shidduch

Portrait of Monsey Vishnitzer Rebbe

Shotzer Rebbe

On Monday evening, September 26, at the home of the Vishnitzer Rebbe in Monsey, Aaron Teitelbaum was engaged to the daughter of Rabbi Yitzchok Yechiel Mechel Moskowitz, Monsey Shotzer Rav; son of Rabbi Chaim Moskowitz, Shotzer Rebbe in Williamsburg. Rabbi Yitzchok Yechiel Mechel is a son-in-law of Rabbi Mordechai Hager, Monsey Vishnitzer Rebbe. The chassan is the son of Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Teitelbaum, Spinka Rosh Yeshiva in Boro Park; son of Rabbi Shmuel Teitelbaum, Rosh Kollel Me'orirei Hashachar. Rabbi Yaakov Dovid is a son-in-law of the Shotzer Rebbe. The vort was celebrated on Thursday evening at the Vishnitzer Beis Medrash in Monsey with the participation of thousands.

Sukkos On The Road: I-87 Exit 9-10

A public sukkah was once again erected at the northbound Clifton Park rest area on route I-87 (New York Thruway), between Exits 9 and 10, for the comfort of travelers between Montreal and New York City. The sukkah was located at the building in the truck parking area. For years, the New York State Department of Transportation has graciously provided the space for a sukkah and other comforts for the observant community.

In years past the privilege had been abused by some: young children would create a mess with advertising flyers that had been left for travelers; hand washing was performed at the drinking fountain; meal remnants were left in the sukkah rather than being disposed of in convenient garbage cans; random Minchah and Maariv minyans were held throughout the facility and not just in the designated areas, etc.

This year, observant travelers were asked to be especially vigilant in adhering to the advisories. Rabbi Beirish Freilich of the New York State Police is credited with having initiated the special comforts. A special sink for washing hands was provided both outside and inside the sukkah. Minchah and Maariv were to be conducted only in the sukkah. The code for the combination lock to enter into the sukkah was the gematria (numerology) of the word shalom. And travelers were asked to properly clean up upon leaving the sukkah.

Sukkos On The Road: I-87 Exit 18

A sukkah was also available to New York Thruway travelers at Exit-18 on the I-87 at Glens Falls, right off the exit to Lewis. Property was acquired by the Glens Falls Hachnosas Orchim and used for a sukkah. Two years ago, a sukkah was erected in a rather heavily populated residential area. Neighbors complained of the 24/7 activity during Chol Hamoed. The local municipality ordered the sukkah closed for last year. This year, the acquired property served its purpose quite well.

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