Rav Chaim Kanievsky's comments about Pesach

Rav Kanievsky's comments about Pesach from  http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2016/03/rav-kanievskys-comments-about-pesach.html
Kikar has the summary of a discussion between Rav Chaim Kanievsky and Rav Baruch Ganot about various aspects regarding the Pesach holday.

They discussed three topics (maybe they talked about more, but three topics are discussed in the article):
1. helping one's wife clean for Pesach
2. selling chametz to a non-Jew in apartheid states
3. a non-Jew who claimed the chametz he had bought from the Jew
4. is the hagadda counted as enough for the mitzva of sippur yetziat mitzrayim?

1. Rav Ganot commented about how seemingly in the past many gedolim did not help much in the cleaning before Pesach, whereas today it is common for men to help their wives with the cleaning. Rav Ganot asked if the change is because the women of today are not as righteous as the women of yesteryear or is it because the men are not as dedicated and focused in learning as they used to be?

Rav Kanievsky answered that both are correct, but he then corrected Rav Ganot and said that the truth is that the gedolim did help with the cleaning when it was necessary.

Photo: Gedolim meet

Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky visits Rav Chaim Kanievsky today

BD'E Rav Chaim Goldberg Z''L

Hamodia YERUSHALAYIM - One of the best-known baalei chessed in Yerushalayim, Rabbi Chaim Goldberg, z”l, was niftar Thursday morning in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. He was 67 at his petirah.
Reb Chaim Yosef Halevi Goldberg, born in Chicago in Kislev 5709/1948, learned in Eretz Yisrael, and after he married settled in Yerushalayim, in Kiryas Mattersdorf.

With his petirah, Yerushalayim loses a noble character; a noted talmid chacham and masmid, who dedicated his life to Torah as well as to the other two pillars the world stands on: avodah and gemilus chasadim.

Rabbi Goldberg was the patron of thousands of widows, orphans, broken families, geiri tzedek, families of talmidei chachamim, as well many poor individuals; all knew that Rabbi Goldberg would be of assistance.

How Coca-Cola Prompted The Advent Of Passover-Friendly Food Companies

JBN In the 1930s, Rabbi Tobias Geffen of Atlanta began to investigate the hidden ingredients inside mass-produced foods and to evaluate whether those ingredients conflict with kosher laws. He then set a precedent by getting The Coca-Cola Company to make a kosher-for-Passover version of its soft drink, convincing the company to substitute the grain alcohol used in the processing of its drink to alcohol derived from molasses.

Geffen’s achievement was a response to the fact that in the 1920s, “Coke became an incredibly popular beverage in America,” and “Jews adopted a custom of making it available to children during the Passover seder in lieu of wine,” historian Roger Horowitz—whose book, “Kosher USA: How Coke Became Kosher and Other Tales of Modern Food,” will be published by Columbia University Press this April—told JNS.org.
This step by Coca-Cola stood out at a time when few mainstream food manufacturers were making kosher-for-Passover products.

חדש ימינו כקדם Kedem or Manischewitz

 Foxnews A food fight is breaking out in the kosher aisle — just in time for Passover next month. Manischewitz and Kedem — two established, national kosher food brands — will be duking it out for the first time over grape juice, a product Kedem has been making since 1958 and one that Manischewitz just launched with grape king Welch’s. Supermarkets have started to get shipments of the co-branded product, which is made in Welch’s facility with rabbinical oversight. Until now, “Kedem was the only competitor in this category that registered,” said David Sugarman, chief executive of Newark-based Manischewitz, “and we felt we could come out with a better product that tastes better.”  With $12 billion in annual sales, the kosher food industry is barely growing, so stealing market share is an attractive growth strategy. “No one has been around as long as us,” said Mordi Herzog, chief executive of Royal Wine Corp., which owns Kedem and is based in Bayonne, NJ. Herzog declined to discuss his new competition, which will likely cut into Kedem’s margins. Kedem also makes wine in the Hudson Valley region.

Yeshiva Bochurim assaulted in attempted robbery.

 JP updates Detectives in Nassau County are investigating an incident which took place in Lawrence, New York Thursday night. Two students from Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv were assaulted during an attempted robbery while walking home from a Purim meal.

The students, age 28 and 25, were walking on Broadway & Doughty on the second night of Purim at 11:56 P.M, when they were approached by two men who threw them to ground and attacked them. The 28-year-old student was punched in his left eye. The 25 year-old suffered injuries to the chin.

Satmar Rebbe to his chasidim- Be wealthy like Trump

During his Purim tish this past week, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar discussed the fact that Mordechai Hatzaddik was a gilgul of Yaakov Avinu and that he labored to ensure that there would be wealth amongst Klal Yisroel.

“We”, said the rebbe, “must work so that everyone will have parnassah and be wealthy, like Trump, who is running for presidential candidate.” He then asked a number of people by name if they agree to become rich and have millions like Trump does. Video below and  Here 
Matzav.com English translation.

Beis Din Rules Hafkoas Kiddushin heter not valid

 Matzav just published the following letter from R Sholom Kamenetsky acknowledging and accepting that Rav Dovid Feinstein's beis din had declared the heter totally worthless. He also indicated that his father has already stated that he would accept the ruling of Rav Dovid Feinstein. Matzav writes " In his letter, Rav Kamenetsky affirms the acceptance of the ruling of the bais din, referencing an earlier declaration of his esteemed father, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia, that the p’sak of the bais din would be final".

Rubashkin Bombshell a Yated exclusive

Yated- Earlier today a “Merits Brief” was filed in Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin’s 2255 proceeding. This brief is the culmination of almost three years of investigation during which Sholom’s lawyers obtained irrefutable evidence that (1) the prosecutors wrongfully interfered in the Agriprocessors bankruptcy intimidating potential buyers and thereby substantially decreasing the ultimate sale price and (2) at Sholom’s sentencing, the prosecutors knowingly put on false testimony to conceal the impact their actions had on the loss incurred by the victim bank thereby misleading the judge into laying the blame on Sholom and sentencing him to 27 years in prison. read more at the Yated Neeman.com

Tefillos for Hagaon Harav Meir Soloveichik, shlita

The public is asked to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Harav Meir Halevi ben Alte Hendel, b’soch she’ar cholei Yisrael. Many talmidim, alumni and family members are davening for the complete recovery of Hagaon Harav Meir Soloveichik, shlita, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Brisk, Yerushalayim. Harav Meir, son of the Brisker Rav, Harav Yitzchak Ze’ev Soloveichik, zt”l, was rushed early Sunday morning to the Shaarei Zedek hospital in Yerushalayim, in an unconscious state, after a serious stroke. He is sedated and on a respirator. Tefillos were also held at the kever of his father, the Brisker Rav, on Har Hamenuchos.

Daf Yomi Siyum on Maseches Gittin celebrated

Hamodia- The countless yidden around the globe who learn Daf Yomi celebrated yet another milestone with the siyum of Maseches Gittin. Once again, the Daf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel of America enabled lomdei hadaf around the world to celebrate together.

The siyum was held in The Boca Raton Synagogue in Boca Raton, Florida on Thursday evening March 10th. A large crowd of local community members attended, and the event was broadcast audio-visually in dozens of communities across the United States and around the world. Many more followed the event live online and via teleconferencing to Agudath Israel of America’s Daf Yomi and Torah Projects hotline.

Throwing stones from a glass house

No one knows yet what the raids in Monsey and other frum areas were about. But quick to the trigger and to self promote is a fellow former menahel of a school in Monsey who felt the need to publicly call out all the targeted schools for what he believes they acted not ehrlich or  according to how yiddishkeit was supposed to be. Here's a quote.

"In light of Wednesday's events in my hometown of  Monsey, permit me to share with you Back to Factory Settings, a eulogy I wrote four years ago upon the passing my parents' lifelong friend David Harris and Charedi Classic , an essay I wrote in Mishpacha Magazine seven years ago. Both of these columns speak about the values of my parents and so many members of their generation, and I thought it appropriate to disseminate these lines today instead of the Torah Thoughts I've been recording each week in memory of my beloved mother a"h."...."Over the past few years, I've increasingly felt that the most effective way of reversing the exploding number of kids and adults abandoning Yiddishkeit is to revert to the old-fashioned "Charedi Classic" education my generation was fortunate to receive from yours; and pass on those core values to our children and grandchildren."

 Which Rav permitted to accuse all those yeshivos and those who run them? did the Agudah back you on this one? How would you have felt if  these Monsey menahlim wrote a letter when your school was taken away from you?

כד עיל שבתא Composed by Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz in Memory of his shver Rav Yisrael Belsky ZTL

" When Shabbos arrives" Mishpacha magazine:
In the last few weeks, I have been repeatedly asked by our many Mosdos, publications, news media and the like, to expound upon the life of my dear shver, Harav Hagaon Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky ztz'l. In addition to the tens of thousands of people who felt drawn to attend his levayah, the many articles, speeches and hespedim were a beautiful and befitting kavod acharon for him; and I can't thank each and every one of them- all of you- enough for the kind words, support and chizuk you gave our family.

Anything I can possibly express would fall into the category of "Kol hamosif gore’ia - One who adds, actually subtracts". To know him was to see him in action. Those who fully understood him were few. I give shevach v'hodaah to the Ribbono Shel Olam for the opportunity to have personally witnessed over the past 22 years his ahavas Torah and his unfailing love for every Yid. Although he was very close with Rav Moshe Feinstein, his rebbi muvhak was Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky - known as the consummate ish emes. My shver learned from him and practiced this middah all of his life.

Donald Trump Purim Torah

Video: Name heard round the world

Taking over where Failed Messiah left off

 Perhaps they want Rechnitz to buy them out too.
  It was a big news story the FBI has been canvassing frum communities of  Monsey, Monroe and Williamsburg in an investigation. Just a few years ago none of the so called frum websites would have given coverage and publicized such a story at least not right away. Fast forward, and now the frum news sites and blogs have become tabloid and gossip columns. Live updates and pictures of FBI agents going into schools and yeshivos is always a great headline but you would never expect the Torah and yeshiva websites to to portray frum Jews in such a light. Right or wrong it dosent matter. At this point no one knows much about the investigation but the Jury has already been out. Worse, the comments allowed in these frum sites hailing the Feds saying "lock em all up" about Frum Jews makes ones hair stand up. In a competitive market with these online websites trying to one up each other the moral lines have all but dissipated. Might as well get the real story from NY post.

Two Orthodox Jews Prevent Bridge Suicide

 (COLive) - Two chassidic Jews from Brooklyn are being credited with saving a 52-year-old Asian woman from taking her life on the Brooklyn Bridge on Monday morning. The incident played out at around 9:55 a.m., when the woman attempted to jump off from the Brooklyn side of the bridge, according to JP Updates.

“I was driving to Manhattan and then I see this woman getting out of a taxi and starting to climb on the railing of the bridge,” Chani, a resident of Crown Heights who asked not to be identified, told COLlive.

Chasidim for Trump

Vicenews Chaim Schlaff was born and raised in a Hasidic Jewish community in London. He now lives in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, and describes himself as a "proud legal immigrant." He is also an enthusiastic Donald Trump supporter. Schlaff says he "loves" the way Trump speaks and so do most of his friends: "He talks about everything we think."
Schlaff is not the only member of the Hasidic community in the greater New York City area that feels this way about Trump. According to many Hasidic voters and political commentators, Trump has sparked an undeniable interest in parts of this culturally isolated world. "Among my circle of friends, at least 90 percent [support] Trump," said Yanky Lichtman, a Trump supporter who lives in Lakewood, New Jersey, one of the biggest Orthodox Jewish communities in the New York area.

David Gross, a Hasid who lives in Brooklyn, said he was never interested in politics before this election, but "when Trump decided to run I got excited."

Bashevkin- on the debate

The Debate Yated.com
By Chaim Bashevkin -  Mar 9, 2016
I saw three men last week
Arguing one night
And then the morning came around
They still were in a fight

They did not think
They’re being watched
That they were on a stage
I don’t think it would mitigate
Their anger and their rage

Shimru Shabsosai composed by Rav Yisrael Belsky Z''TL

12 months since tragic passing of Sassoon children a''h

Crowd davens the kevarim of the Sassoon children a'h who were niftar a year ago in a tragic fire R'L. Yartzheit is officialy next month because of leap year

Photo by JDN

Rabbis with blowtorches: The business of kosher restaurants Hashgacha jobs in demand

 Crainsnewyork.com looks into the expanding Kosher restaurant market and the Mashgiach that comes along with it. Article in Crains NY buisness by Aaron Elstein.
Craines- NY:  At the crack of dawn one recent morning, a group of truckers stopped at Le Marais on West 46th Street to drop off the day’s supplies: 300 pounds of beef, 850 pounds of potatoes, 30 pounds of mesclun.“Where’s the guy in charge?” a deliveryman said, anxious to start unloading. A moment later, Rabbi Avrohom Keller strolled in. Keller isn’t the owner of Le Marais, nor is he the chef. Strictly speaking, he isn’t even employed by the popular steakhouse. But he is unquestionably in charge.

Keller is a professional mashgiach. His job is to make sure that all the food brought into and prepared at Le Marais is kosher. It’s a crucial position, considering that in a city saturated with 80 pricey steakhouses, Le Marais owner Jose Meirelles and executive chef Mark Hennessey (both Catholics) have built a $7 million business by creating a restaurant where observant Jews can loosen their ties and devour dry-aged prime rib or tournedos with a dairy-free bearnaise sauce. The 21-year-old institution, probably New York’s top-grossing kosher restaurant, is revered by a certain subset of foodies for helping lay to rest the notion that eating in a kosher restaurant means settling for inferior food.

Hamodia Exclusive: NYC Ending Most Daytime Trash Collection in Boro Park

BROOKLYN - Tackling Boro Park’s biggest traffic problem, Mayor Bill de Blasio is announcing a shift of sanitation collections from the morning rush hour to the wee hours of the night, which will remove 79 percent of the garbage trucks servicing  the neighborhood, Hamodia learned exclusively.
The arrangement, which will go into effect on April 4, will go a long way in solving a jam decades in the making but which has increasingly taken on a crisis magnitude. The number of school buses roaring down the fewer than three square miles which makes up Boro Park has more than doubled since a 2011 law allowed most yeshivos to purchase their own fleet. The mayor is scheduled to announce the changes Sunday night at a dinner for the Bobover mosdos.

Rav Shmuel Auerbach writes letter about giving reform movement, a place at the Kosel.

Yated Editor’s Note: Expungement of Rubashkin Case Electrifies Community

Yated.com- Last week’s Yated cover story about Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin’s state case being expunged from the record electrified the community, triggering an outpouring of congratulatory phone calls and letters. The wave of happiness that engulfed people all over the world at the news testifies to how deeply embedded is the collective concern over Sholom Mordechai’s plight and the abiding quest for justice in the long-running Rubashkin saga.

Many who confused the state case with the federal case still moving forward, rejoiced at the thought that Sholom Mordechai was about to be released. Unfortunately, that is not (yet) the case. He remains incarcerated in federal prison. In another month he will have spent 2340 days behind bars, a small part of his 27-year sentence.

The status of his legal case depends on the outcome of a powerful motion presently before the Court – one of the last avenues of justice available to him in the American legal system. Many of the letters that poured in following last week’s story queried whether the expungement of state case would exert any influence over the federal one.