Halachos of Erev Shabbos Chazon 5774

 Laws for EREV SHABBOS CHAZON  5774 Friday August 1, 2014

 Erev Shabbos Chazon, one may cut their Nails for Shabbos since it is not shavua shechal bo.
One may polish their shoes only with liquid polish according to most poskim.
One may brush a hat on erev shabbos since it is not considered washing clothes.
Showering is a machlokes if you are allowed kol gufo, the minhag is to be meikel but to use warm water.
Tasting food that is fleishigs, some poskim- Mekor Chayim 551:9  writes "A woman who needs to taste the Shabbos foods while cooking may do so on Friday afternoon after midday" others hold you can taste but not swallow and must spit it out. (Shmiras Shabbos Khilchasa 42:61 on Erev Shabbos during the Nine Days, you may also taste the food. However, one should try not to swallow food containing meat ingredients)

Children may eat meat before Shabbos up to 2 hours before the zman according to Rav Moshe Feinstein in Igros Moshe, others (Eliyahu Rabba) hold they may start even from Chatzos.
Chatzos, Midday  this year is 1:02 pm on August 1, 2014

If one makes an early Shabbos on Erev Shabbos Chazon he may eat Meat after the Plag this year at 6:41pm.

Click HERE or what to do about drinking wine for Havdalah on MOtzei shabbos chazon

The Matzah Miracle that Saved the Residents of Kibbutz Sufa

This article by Avi Jacob (and translated by Rivka Friedman) appears on the site of Radio Kol Chai.
Three weeks ago a group of residents came from Bnei Brak to harvest wheat for Pesach. They harvest the wheat every summer when the sun beats down on the fields, thoroughly drying the wheat. The wheat is then stored until the winter when they start the production and baking of matzos. Aharon Samet, owner of the “Samet” factory producing “tzitzis” fringes, is the Badatz community supervisor for the wheat harvest.

Talmidim host a farewell melava malka for their Rosh yeshiva Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal shlita

Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal

Talmidim of Yeshiva Torah Temimah held a mesibas preida melava malka for their Rosh Yeshiva and magid shiur Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, the Rosh yeshiva of Torah Temima for close to 30 years. The R''Y will be opening his own yeshiva this coming Elul zman. The new yeshiva, Neos Yaakov is set to open  in the Catskills at camp Morris in Woodridge and eventually move to Asbury park, NJ. Rav Lipa Margulies and Rav Yirmiyah Guggenheimer spoke at the seudas preida which took place at Camp Silver lake in the Catskill mountains. Replacing rav schustal will be Rav Betzalel Busel, who currently serves as a rosh kollel in Riverdale, NY, is a son of Rav Yaakov Busel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef in Edison, NJand is a son-in-law of Rav Avrohom Ausband, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni of Riverdale.

Rav Shteinman calls on Yeshiva world in Eretz yisrael to extend the zman to shabbos Nachamu, American yeshivos add bein hazmanim seder

Due to the current situation taking place in Eretz Yisrael, Rav Aaron Leib Shteinman ordered the litvish yeshivos to continue the summer zman untill shabbos nachamu. Normally, the zman would end Rosh chodesh Av or a few days before Tisha Bav. The Moetzes gedolei haTorah of Agudah in Eretz Yisrael ordered the  chasidishe yeshivos to cancel the Bein hazmanim so long as the war is still going on. This ruling applies to high schools and  kollelim too. The shas council of Torah sages called on the sefardi yeshivos to extend the zman untill Tu B"Av the 15th day of the month of Av.
Regarding the Yeshivos in America, bein hazmanim is planned as scheduled. Lakewood yeshiva Bais Medrash Govoha urged its talmidim to continue learning the regular first seder schedule wherever they will be during bein hazmanim.  Many camps and yeshivos have increased time for sedorim as well as atzeres tefillos.

Video: Rav Chaim Kanievsky cries about current war in Eretz Yisrael

Rav Chaim kanievsky is seen crying and shedding tears for acheinu bnei yisrael as he listens to divrei hisoirerus at a bar mitzvah regarding the war in Gaza. The speaker was stressing that it is up to us to change the outlook of the war by our actions. He said over the famous story of Rav Chaim Shmulevitz in the bomb shelter during the six day war in Israel. During the Six-Day War, Hagaon Harav Chaim Shmulevitz, zt”l, and his talmidim shared a bunker in Yerushalayim with other residents, including a woman whose husband had abandoned her years earlier, leaving her an agunah.
During the enemy bombardment, the agunah cried out: “Ribbono shel Olam, I forgive my husband. I forgive the great humiliation he caused me, and the great pain that I suffered all these years, and You, Av Harachaman, forgive us as well…”
Harav Shmulevitz later said that it was these words of the agunah, more than all the passionate tefillos and recitals of Shema Yisrael and Hashem Hu HaElokim of the talmidei hayeshivah, that proved to be the merit that saved their lives.

Yidden to gather for Yom tefillah and Yom Kippur koton this Sunday erev Rosh chodesh Menachem Av

Due to the ongoing situation on Eretz Yisrael Yidden across America will gather for a special yom tefilllah and yom kippur koton on erev Rosh Chodesh menachem Av this Sunday July 27,2014. Besides the regular tehillim they will add selichos and say tefilla of יג מידות. Gedolim in America call on all yidden to gather in botei medrash and shuls pouring our hearts out for acheinu bnei yisrael. Lakewood yeshiva will be hosting a atzeres tefillah and Yom Kippur katan as well as shuls in bungalow colonies across the catskills. Similar events will take place across eretz Yisrael with a huge atzeres tefilla at the kosel.

Photos, Video from Agudath Israel of America emergency delegation to Washington, D.C.

Yesterday, July 23, 2014, Agudath Israel sent an emergency delegation to Capitol Hill to meet with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as well as House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committee together with other Congressional Representatives. The meetings provided an opportunity to express appreciation for America's strong support of Israel and its right to defend itself, and to request additional emergency funding of the Iron Dome. In addition, the delegation registered the American Jewish community's deep concern about the rise in global anti-semitism and urged the officials to speak out forcefully about protecting Jewish communities across the globe. Below are photos of various meetings in the House of Representatives. 

Youngerman missing in Catskills has been found B"H

Updated:  FOUND! The youngerman was found by a group of hikers who alerted the park rangers on his location. He is doing well after wandering off from his group. He was walking deep in the woods for 5 hours until he was found in good health and spirit.
A Search is underway for a 37 year old youngerman from Williamsburg who went missing a few hours ago in Minnewaska state park near kerhonkson, NY. Please be mispalel for Avrohom Yosef ben Rivka (Friedman) who went missing while going on a walk with some of his family in Minnewaska state park. Catskills Hatzolah is asking for Volunteers to come and assist  in the search. May he be found safe and sound.

Video message from Rabbi chaim Dovid Zweibel - Agudah delegation heading to washington DC regarding situation in Eretz Yisrael

Today, Agudath Israel announced an emergency delegation to Capitol Hill to meet with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee. The meetings, which will take place tomorrow, July 23, will provide an opportunity to express appreciation for

Thousands to visit Kever of Rav Hakollel Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Joseph Zt'l on his 112th Yartzheit

Rav Yaakov Joseph (Hamodia)

Thousands are expected to attend the Kever of the Rav Hakolel and chief rabbi of New York city, Rabbi Yaakov Joseph Zt'l on his 112th Yartzheit - 24 Tamuz 5774 -July 22, 2014
He is buried in the Union Field cemetery in Ridgewood, NY at the Brooklyn/Queens Border close to crown heights and Williamsburg. He was niftar in 1902 (5662). 
Rav Yoel Teitelbaum, the pervious Satmar Rebbe, would encourage his chassidim to pray at the tzion of the Rav Yaakov Yosef. It is reported that many people have found a yeshuah after visiting the tzion. Read more here
 Driving Directions to the kever:
Union Field Cemetery
82-11 Cypress Avenue
Ridgewood, NY 11385
 (Path 42, at the corner of Main and Maple Road) It will be open until 7:30 pm
Driving directions to kever of Rabbi Yakov Yosef Joseph:

Statement From Agudath Israel of America on Recent Anti-Semitic Incidents Across the Globe

As Israel applies itself to the task of rooting out terrorists in Gaza, and destroying their tunnels and rocket launchers, there have been, as always when Israel acts to defend herself, condemnations of her effort to protect her citizens from an enemy bent on murdering them.
Seizing on the tragic consequences of even as just a war as the one Israel is conducting against Hamas, the condemners vehemently protest Israel's actions - and, in the time-honored tradition of Jew-hatred, wax violent against Jews, wherever they may be.
And so, we have come to witness over recent weeks hatred and violence directed toward Jewish communities in France and other countries. Such incidents are reminiscent of an earlier, darker time in our history when hatred of Jews was openly and unabashedly expressed both verbally and physically. Witnessing these attacks today is a stark and chilling reminder that the scourge of anti-Semitism remains a malignant reality in the modern world.

Frum facts that some did not know

When frum people are painted as extremists and fanatics its not surprising when with a little research you come to see that Charedim actually do not live in a cave. An article in commentary magazine about charedim and frum communities in the USA shows that diversity exists among the Charedim. Living among the frum these facts are not news, but when your opinion of frum yidden is based on the portrayal in the secular Jewish media it could not be further than the truth. Read article HERE
Here are some "surprising facts"

 -Armed with professional degrees, Yeshivish men and women are entering once forbidden fields—law, accounting, pharmacology, psychology, corporate business—that bring them into increased contact with other sectors of the Jewish population.

The interlopers- Churban of the internet part II

A blogger from Chicago, a Rabbi out in the west coast, a open orthodoxy activist, would have never stuck their nose in matters and issues that are not local to them. The internet has deleted the word "local" out of the dictionary. Prior to the web, it was not found that an outsider would give his deah or say opinion on a matter or a minhag that does not pertain to him. If one had a sichsuch with someone or if there was a community split over an issue, the parties involved were familiar with each other. You always knew who you were dealing with. That has changed with the interloping bloggers and clueless activists patrolling the world wide web for any issue they hashkaficaly oppose. Its long reached a point where you do not have to read their posts to know what type of silliness they are going to write they are so predictable.

              previous post-  Churban o the Internet part I

The tzaros caused by these outsiders meddling on issues they know nothing about is beyond comprehension.

Visiting day- photos Catskill mountains week #3

Hachnosas sefer Torah @ Irvington estates (Gifter photos)

Ahh! the fresh mountain air near Hunter, NY

American Roshei Yeshiva issue call to end machlokes tearing apart the Torah world in Eretz Yisrael

The gedolei Roshei Yeshiva in the USA signed as letter calling to end the current machlokes taking place in Eretz yisrael among the litvish bnei torah. The letter is signed by Rav Dovid feinstein MTJ, Rav Aaron Schechter R''Y Chaim Berlin, Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, R''Y South Fallsburg, Rav Yisrael Belsky R''Y Torah Vodaas, Rav Yosef  Rosenblum, R''Y Shaarei Yosher, Rav Refoel Schorr R''Y Viznitz, Rav Chaim Ozer Gorelick R''Y B''M of Spring Valley, Rav Asher Kalmanowitz RY Mir, Rav Shlomo Miller Rosh kollel Toronto.

Letter from American Roshei yeshiva

The Roshei yeshiva acknowledge is it generally not for them to get involved in what is going on in EY, never the less due to the current matzav and events taking place in klal yisrael they can no longer remain silent. The churban and machlokes that is ripping apart yeshivos and kolelim can no longer go on. We can not have destruction, divisiveness and splits among the yeshiva world. Its bad enough there an assault on Torah Jewry and redifas hadaas from the outside we dont need an additional split and fire from within. How will the younger generation merit to grow with such an atmosphere of machlokes the letter asks. There was always differences of opinions among the gedolim but at the same time there was shalom among each other and their talmidim. We call in the name of all Roshei yeshiva in the diaspora and chutz laaretz to do whatever it takes in bringing an end to this bitter machlokes to stop this plague and restore shalom and achva to klal yisrael.

Ping A Yid

Minyan on plane

No more yelling a tzenteh a tzenteh A new smartphone app aims to make corralling a minyan easier by alerting fellow Jews nearby looking to pray. The free application, called Minyan Now and available on both iPhone and Android, is a product of RustyBrick, Inc. of West Nyack, N.Y. The app notifies other users of the app when someone in the vicinity is seeking a minyan, the quorum of 10 required for public prayer. “This works great at airports, train stations, sports events, and other areas where there are likely 10 or more Jewish men, but no official shul or synagogue in the area,” a company news release said. “This app will bring them all together for the purpose of prayer.”

Story of Triple shidduch among 3 satmar families- Makes waves in Monroe

 Three Chasanim -chosson tish

Talk about a shidduch puzzle, this is what took place last night in Monroe, NY when three Satmar families all made shidduchim with each other on the same day. The Kohn, Philip, and Gross families matched three boys and three girls in a triple shidduch. A joint vort took place for the three engaged chasanim and kahllas where many came by to wish mazel tov to the three Satmar mishpachos. This is not uncommon among chasidim.
Heres the breakdown.

The first engaged couple, the Choson is a son of R' Avrohom Kohn engaged to daughter of R' Kalman Philip.
Second engaged Choson son of R' Kalman Philip engaged to daughter of R' Yehoshua Gross.
Third couple Chosson son of R' Yehoshua Gross engaged to daughter of R' Avrohom Kohn sister of the first chosson.
look at picture below to make sense of it all.

Rabbonim, Lakewood Poskim, sign letter in response to practice of abusing promotional credit card offers.

Rabbonim, Roshei yeshiva and poskim in Lakewood signed a letter against the practice known as manufactured spending in order to take advantage of promotional offers from credit card companies. The scheme is designed to abuse promotional offers and earn enormous amounts of points from credit card companies. Read more about this on the Forums in Dans Deals. The signatures were only on the hebrew letter not the English one.                      Click on letter to expand

English translation

Text of English letter below

American Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Of Agudath Yisrael issue call for Tefillah due to events unfolding in Eretz Yisrael

Events currently unfolding in Eretz Yisroel demand our tefillos on behalf of all our fellow Jews who are privileged to live on holy soil.  Our rabbinic leadership has asked us to convey that simple, stark but urgent message to all of our constituents and supporters, indeed to all caring Jews.

As has been the practice in many shuls over past years, in response to the call of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, the recitation of Tehillim (Psalms) 83, 130 and 142 after Shacharis, followed by the tefila of Acheinu, is recommended.  Indeed, our every prayer should include entreaties on behalf of our fellow Jews in Eretz Yisroel. May our tefillos be received in mercy by Hakodosh Boroch Hu, and help usher in days of peace and security.

Photos of Catskill mountains week #2

                            Visiting day photos HERE at camp gan Yisrael Parksville

Everyone is b'h ok

Agudath Israel of America statemant on arrests in murder of arab boy

Reports of arrests of members of the Jewish community in connection with the recent murder of an Arab youth, Muhammad Hussein Abu Khdeir, should fill us all with revulsion.

The Jewish faith does not tolerate violence other than in self-defense and condemns murder as a grave crime.  To take the life of an innocent human being is not only an indefensible, evil act but, here, brings our people down to the level of our most implacable and cruel enemies.  It is a chillul Hashem, a desecration of G-d's name.

Give Tzedaka not "Sedaka התורה חסה על ממונם של ישראל

 Now you know why many towns require an ishur for meshulachim. A savvy crop of panhandlers has been donning long skirts and head coverings to beg from Hasidic Jews in South Brooklyn neighborhoods before sabbath and religious holidays.

Illustration Schnorerr 

Armed with a few Hebrew words like “shabbat,” “shalom” and “tsedaka,” the word for charity, the impersonators stake out popular food markets.

“They go, ‘Sedaka.’ They’ll push a child in a carriage. A lot of non-Jewish people can’t pronounce the ‘T’ and the ‘S’ [in ‘tsedaka’], so you know they’re not Jewish,” Bernard Vei, 56, an Orthodox Jew, told The Post.

Followers explain Satmar Rebbes remarks about murdered Kedoshim hy''d- Timing of comments due to revenge attack

After causing major outrage throughout the Jewish world with remarks blaming the parents of three

Satmar Rebbe R' Aharon Teitelbaum

murdered Israeli teens for their deaths followers of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum - leader of one of the two branches of the anti-Zionist Satmar hassidic sect - on Sunday sought to justify their leader's position. They first explained that following the murder of the arab teen on Wednesday "But because of the murder of the Arab boy and the fears of revenge around the world, the rabbi made an exception and discussed what is happening in the Land of Israel on the second day of mourning."

According to a senior member of the group, Teitelbaum was aware of the negative impact his comments would have, but "in the wake of the outpouring of sympathy and care for the three kidnapped teenagers, he felt he had no choice but to set the record straight with his own students."

Radio show invites bloggers for their opinion on Satmar rebbe's remark

The Talkline communications network in its flagship Radio program covered the remarks made by the Satmar Rebbe following the murder of the 3 bachurim hy''d. Many questioned the timing of the comments as well as the comments itself. One would expect a prominent Rabbi or official spokesperson as the guest on the show when discussing the issue. But recently TCN has invited bloggers, self appointed reporters with no backing or any credibility as the ones to give an opinion or debate an issue. They have become the go to guys to take on any Rabbi or issue pertaining to the klal. A show with a large frum audience deserves a better professional interview than bloggers who are not appointed or representing anyone.
 Read HERE in defense of the Satmar Rebbes remarks.

What happened to our Busha?

One of the three defining characteristics of Klal Yisrael is, we are bayshanim, we are easily embarrassed."Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov" The gemara Bava Basra (60a) says that this refers to the wonderful homes of Bnei Yisroel whose doors do not directly face each other and are the epitome of Tznius, modesty and refinement, which Bilam saw and marveled at. The Internet  in general and social media in particular have caused many to unmask the busha from themselves. They do so by publicizing anything and everything about their private  and personal life. Its all out in the open for the world to see. We are living a life, where every random thought gets tweeted and each action is photographed and shared with friends who vote to like it. 


A new recent phenomenon is taking place  which until now has never been an accepted behavior by the frum torah yeshiva world and especially by the Chasidish crowds. I'm talking about frum couples posting pictures of themselves. Not just a regular picture, but pictures showing affection.

The White shul sends delegation to be Menachem Avel 3 famallies in EY- read about achdus trip of Satmar chosid and tattooed teen from seattle

 

Rabbi Shay Shachter at nichum aveilim

The White shul in Far Rockaway, NY sent a delegation  to the families of the three murdered teens H'yd. Here is a first hand account from rabbi Shay Schachter.

שלום וברכה מארצנו הקדושה,

I honesty do not know where to start.

Driving to the airport on Wednesday afternoon, I was filled with sadness and incredibly broken spirits. I have never been so sad to be visiting Eretz Yisrael in my life. I was feeling uncomfortable on so many different levels; will my presence be of any significance or meaning to these most beloved families? Will they just look at me as yet another representative, from just another organization, who is "paying his dues" by passing through their grieving home? Will I even have a chance to explain where I come from, that I have come to mourn with them, and convey some of our collective thoughts and feelings of their brothers and sisters in America? 

Did you lose this pair of Tefilin- pairs of Tefilin found in baggage claim store in Alabama

Update: 6 of 7 pairs have been returned to their owners. Read HERE 

The last unclaimed pair

A Florida rabbi on vacation with his family visited a store that sells unclaimed airline baggage in Scottsboro, Ala., on Tuesday, looking for some cheap cell phones. Instead, he made the religious discovery of a lifetime: seven pairs of tefillin, the small Scripture-filled boxes which observant Jews wrap around their arm and perch on their forehead during morning prayers. “I was very surprised,” Rabbi Uri Pilichowski recalled.
HELP! HELP! HELP! Hashovas Aveida!

We went to a store today in Alabama that sells unclaimed baggage from all over the world.
 We found Tefillin!!! People are missing their tefillin!
 Most were probably left on airplanes or at airports.
 Please send on all around the world and if these tefillin are yours please email pillows123@gmail.com to claim them!

American Roshei yeshiva on the murders of the three kedoshim H''YD

The American Roshei Yeshiva were in a meeting in New York on behalf of Chinuch atzmoi schools when the news broke of the 3 murdered yeshiva bochurim. The Roshei Yeshiva in attendance burst out crying upon hearing the terrible news.

Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky

Rav Shmuel kamenetzky Rosh yeshiva of philadelphia said that hashem gives us yesurim in order for us to better ourselves and to forgive our sins. Klal yisrael united and joined together all across the world and we were zoche to be bound together asking mercy from hashem. Also in attendance was the Novominsker rebbe, Rav Yisrael Belsky, Rav Aaron Feldman, Rav Yitzchock Sorotzkin, Rav Shlomo  Halioua from Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel

Rav Chaim Mintz mashgiach of Yeshiva of Staten Island (audio here) noted how this happened in the beginning of Tamuz  the days of bein hametzorim when churban started by klal yisrael, Hashem

Chief Rabbi Lau meets with Gedolim of Agudah in the USA at MTJ- trip cut short due to tragic news in Israel

Meeting of Rabbonim at MTJ

The Ashkenazic chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Dovid Lau arrived in the US Sunday morning and met with both members of the Agudas harabonim and the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisrael of America. The meeting took place in a side room of  MTJ- yeshiva mesivta Tiferes yerushalayim on the Lower east side of Manhattan. They spoke about various subjects including issues pertaining to Geirus  and recognized conversions with the chief rabbinate in Israel. Upon hearing the tragic news out of Eretz Yisrael of the kidnapped bochurim H''YD the trip was cut short.