coming this summer
sponsorships still available
3/23/08
3/19/08
Join us for Seudah
Fellow Jews (even snags, in the spirit of the great day):
Join the Danimal, Akiva Ben Canaan, our Field Commander, Corporal Izzy and many other great Jews for Seudah in Fair Lawn, NJ - we'll start just before Chatzos at about 1pm...
48 Kingsland Court
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
Besoros Tovos
Join the Danimal, Akiva Ben Canaan, our Field Commander, Corporal Izzy and many other great Jews for Seudah in Fair Lawn, NJ - we'll start just before Chatzos at about 1pm...
48 Kingsland Court
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
Besoros Tovos
3/7/08
Davening with Rebbe
Yidden-
After the unspeakable events that happened yesterday, many people have been asking "How are we bring Adar in with Simcha if we feel so much pain?" I also had this question, and decided that the best way to get the answer would be to go to Rosh Chodesh davening with Rebbe.
The minyan was packed with members and followers of the Revolution, as well as all of our brothers from other movements. You could tell this wouldn't be an ordinary Rebbe davening from the moment it started. During Sacharis, Rebbe's voice was filled with more intensity and concentration than usual. He spent more time than usual during the brochos of Shema, and we felt his tefilos during Chazaras HaShatz.
When Hallel came up, even more people walked in, just to hear Rebbe daven Hallel on this polar day. Rebbe used mostly slow niggunim, like "Machnisai Rachamin," "Ana Hashem," and "Ve'LeYerushalayim" for Hallel. Rebbe's voice had the longing to be close to Hashem in this difficult time, and was a very memorable experience. After Torah reading and Musaf, I wished Rebbe a good Chodesh and could see the pain and anguish on his face. At the same time, he gave me a big smile and wished me a good chodesh and good shabbos. The time was 10:00.
Only a day after this great tradgedy, I dont know what to say/do that will make anything better. All I know is that spending time davening with Rebbe provided me with Nechama, even if it was microscopic compared to the pain we feel. The closeness to Hashem that Rebbe brought to his congregation gave a few moments of clarity in this time of confusion.
I don't know if this provides any answers to anyone, and I didn't intend this to be an answer to our sfakos. All I wanted to share with our following is an experience I had with Rebbe, and be makir tov to Rebbe for providing light in a time of darkness.
May we only share in Sichas in the future.
Good Shabbos.
After the unspeakable events that happened yesterday, many people have been asking "How are we bring Adar in with Simcha if we feel so much pain?" I also had this question, and decided that the best way to get the answer would be to go to Rosh Chodesh davening with Rebbe.
The minyan was packed with members and followers of the Revolution, as well as all of our brothers from other movements. You could tell this wouldn't be an ordinary Rebbe davening from the moment it started. During Sacharis, Rebbe's voice was filled with more intensity and concentration than usual. He spent more time than usual during the brochos of Shema, and we felt his tefilos during Chazaras HaShatz.
When Hallel came up, even more people walked in, just to hear Rebbe daven Hallel on this polar day. Rebbe used mostly slow niggunim, like "Machnisai Rachamin," "Ana Hashem," and "Ve'LeYerushalayim" for Hallel. Rebbe's voice had the longing to be close to Hashem in this difficult time, and was a very memorable experience. After Torah reading and Musaf, I wished Rebbe a good Chodesh and could see the pain and anguish on his face. At the same time, he gave me a big smile and wished me a good chodesh and good shabbos. The time was 10:00.
Only a day after this great tradgedy, I dont know what to say/do that will make anything better. All I know is that spending time davening with Rebbe provided me with Nechama, even if it was microscopic compared to the pain we feel. The closeness to Hashem that Rebbe brought to his congregation gave a few moments of clarity in this time of confusion.
I don't know if this provides any answers to anyone, and I didn't intend this to be an answer to our sfakos. All I wanted to share with our following is an experience I had with Rebbe, and be makir tov to Rebbe for providing light in a time of darkness.
May we only share in Sichas in the future.
Good Shabbos.
3/6/08
Thinking of our brothers in Jerusalem...
More often than not, it seems, the saddest events occur during what is supposed to be our happiest month. A few years ago, just before Purim, the Seidenfeld family in Teaneck was torn apart by a fire, just before Purim. And now, so many young high school boys in Merkaz Harav, their lives destroyed...
Every year, we struggle with the same question; what does our Father in Heaven want from us in such a month?
May God have mercy on His children.
Every year, we struggle with the same question; what does our Father in Heaven want from us in such a month?
May God have mercy on His children.
3/3/08
Thoughts on Gan Rebbe
Upon discussion of Gan Rebbe with our fearless field commander, we had a fascinating thought. We have all experienced Rebbe as a fixer of broken vessels, as one who mends the broken-hearted. But if we should establish a Gan Rebbe, and then Rebbe Elementary, and then RRRRHS, and our children are shepherded, personally, by Rebbe from beginning to end - will there be any broken pieces for Rebbe to glue back together?
A vital part of our experience, what makes us followers of Rebbe, is our shared experience of isolation and brokenness at some point in our pre-Rebbe existence. Will our children, saturated with the light of Rebbe from day 1, be able to share this experience of Rebbe as a mender with their parents? Will the lack of this shared experience drive a wedge between parent and child, between the older and younger generations of the RRRR?!?
Must we first break our children before sending them to Rebbe? Or is the world broken enough, so that it will accomplish the job on its own, anyway?
A vital part of our experience, what makes us followers of Rebbe, is our shared experience of isolation and brokenness at some point in our pre-Rebbe existence. Will our children, saturated with the light of Rebbe from day 1, be able to share this experience of Rebbe as a mender with their parents? Will the lack of this shared experience drive a wedge between parent and child, between the older and younger generations of the RRRR?!?
Must we first break our children before sending them to Rebbe? Or is the world broken enough, so that it will accomplish the job on its own, anyway?
2/28/08
2/26/08
Gan Rebbe
As the time for school year applications for next year approaches, many members of Rebbe's army are currently mulling their options for where to send their children. ASHAR, where, for decades, tender kinderlach were fed frozen pizza wheels and stapler weilding, kibbutz hardened female Israeli army veterans reigned supreme, is is no longer an option (due to fire, snags, and the retirement of Mrs. Needleman). And do we really want Trinidadian ladies tending to our sweet ones, with their yashka necklaces waving in our childrens' faces as they pick them up from their strollers?
The answer, of course, is Gan Rebbe. But while Rebbe can light up our childrens' faces with Rebbe Nachman stories in the afternoon, after shiur, who will safeguard the future of the revolution in the mornings?
I nominate Vanil Yogurt as Apple Juice monitor.
2/19/08
www.RebbeFacts.com
Yidden-
As the minister of Propaganda, aka Tati, and I were talking about RRRR plans, something dawned on me. I don't know if you are aware, but there is a website called chucknorrisfacts.com. On this site, one can see all sorts of facts regarding the great Chuck Norris, like "When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris," or my personal favorate: "When Bruce Banner gets angry, he turns into the Incredible Hulk. When the Incredible Hulk gets angry, he turns into Chuck Norris. " My question is why on earth isn't there a Rebbe Reichman Facts website? I mean, c'mon! For example, quoting one of the stories hidden in the "collection of Rebbe Tales,": "Rebbe doesn't need a challah knife to make Ha'Motzi. All Rebbe does is look at the challah, and a piece immediately cuts itself." Just as the legend of Chuck Norris is embedded in society, so too should the Tales of Rebbe. Who knows? Maybe in a few years we can have Rebbe in a situation like this.
2/17/08
?????
The jury is still out on whether this is a cracking of the klipah or nitzosos being grabbed. All we know for sure is: Tzarich Iyun Gadol.
2/14/08
number 49
Rebbe grew up davening in a chadishe shteeble. It is common to find "loud" davening in these shteebles while in other more litvish shuls the sound is a lot more quite. When Rebbe first got to YU, Rebbe encountered a little bit of culture shock. After praying shacharis in Rebbe's usual manner, an older man approached and told Rebbe that if he continues to daven this way he is going to have him thrown out of the beis midrash.
2/10/08
WHO IS THIS MAN?
I know there is a boston crew bc i recall a story of a certain man...that after work he was able to go to the sam adams brewery pub and have a frosty one.
"Yitzhak Aharon Korff is the Rebbe of Zvhil – Mezhbizh. He serves as chaplain of the City of Boston and spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Jacob, Zvhil–Mezhbizh Beis Medrash of Boston and Newton, Massachusetts. He is a dayan (judge of Jewish law) of Boston’s Beth din (rabbinical court) and Vaad HaRabbonim (council of rabbis). He is also Consul General to the government of Austria and publisher of the Boston-based Jewish newspaper The Jewish Advocate.Shari Redstone whom he divorced, is the daughter of Sumner Redstone Chairman of the Board and controlling shareholder of the Viacom and CBS Corporation media conglomerates, and is also the majority owner of Midway Games and is the owner of the National Amusements theater chain.
The Rebbe's second wife, the Rebbetzin, is a native of Jerusalem and a descendant of the Baal Shem Tov and the Hasidic dynasties of Zvhil, Zlotshev, and Tshernobl. She is the daughter of the Shomer Emunim Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Avrohom Chayim Roth of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, who is the son of Reb Arele. Her mother, the Shomrei Emunim Rebbetzin, Rabbi Korff's third cousin, is the daughter of the previous Zvhiler Rebbe of Jerusalem, Rabbi Mordechai.He was educated at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, Yeshivas Beis Mordechai (Zvhil) of Jerusalem, and was tutored privately by masters of Hasidism and Kabbalah.
In addition, the Rebbe has a Ph.D., two law degrees, and several Masters degrees, from Columbia University, Harvard University, Boston University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and other institutions.
Rabbi Korff simultaneously combined careers as a rabbi, chaplain, lawyer, diplomat, businessman and entrepreneur, and subsequently also inherited his grandfather's position as a Hasidic Rebbe."
So who is this individual and what does his stationary look like?
"Yitzhak Aharon Korff is the Rebbe of Zvhil – Mezhbizh. He serves as chaplain of the City of Boston and spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Jacob, Zvhil–Mezhbizh Beis Medrash of Boston and Newton, Massachusetts. He is a dayan (judge of Jewish law) of Boston’s Beth din (rabbinical court) and Vaad HaRabbonim (council of rabbis). He is also Consul General to the government of Austria and publisher of the Boston-based Jewish newspaper The Jewish Advocate.Shari Redstone whom he divorced, is the daughter of Sumner Redstone Chairman of the Board and controlling shareholder of the Viacom and CBS Corporation media conglomerates, and is also the majority owner of Midway Games and is the owner of the National Amusements theater chain.
The Rebbe's second wife, the Rebbetzin, is a native of Jerusalem and a descendant of the Baal Shem Tov and the Hasidic dynasties of Zvhil, Zlotshev, and Tshernobl. She is the daughter of the Shomer Emunim Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Avrohom Chayim Roth of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, who is the son of Reb Arele. Her mother, the Shomrei Emunim Rebbetzin, Rabbi Korff's third cousin, is the daughter of the previous Zvhiler Rebbe of Jerusalem, Rabbi Mordechai.He was educated at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, Yeshivas Beis Mordechai (Zvhil) of Jerusalem, and was tutored privately by masters of Hasidism and Kabbalah.
In addition, the Rebbe has a Ph.D., two law degrees, and several Masters degrees, from Columbia University, Harvard University, Boston University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and other institutions.
Rabbi Korff simultaneously combined careers as a rabbi, chaplain, lawyer, diplomat, businessman and entrepreneur, and subsequently also inherited his grandfather's position as a Hasidic Rebbe."
So who is this individual and what does his stationary look like?
2/6/08
Good Chodesh Adar!
Lichvod Rosh Chodesh Adar -
Abba, ten lanu kzat Yayin Hungari
May we all be zoche to drink together this Purim - in Jawbone Valley!
The Clopping Jews
As I waited for the clop on the bimah or some other hard surface as I took off my tefillin day, to signal the start of mussaf, and as I listened to the clop before shemoneh esraih of shacharis, to remind the rest of us to say yaaleh veyavo, I thought to myself: what kinds of Jews are the ones who take it upon themselves to clop for the rest of us? Who is the Jew that looks forward to being the first one to slam his hand down onto a bimah, siddur or anything else that makes noise?
In Fair Lawn, the yiddle who clops is a stocky man who usually grimaces as he walks and grunts at you between bites of chulent on shabbos at the downstairs minyan kiddush. This is a Jew we need on our team.
In Fair Lawn, the yiddle who clops is a stocky man who usually grimaces as he walks and grunts at you between bites of chulent on shabbos at the downstairs minyan kiddush. This is a Jew we need on our team.
2/1/08
Psalm 92 or how i learnt to love Rebbe
I was sitting on my couch davening byichudus maariv, i finished then i started saying Psalm 92. I have heard Rebbe several times talk about the importance of saying and internalizing Psalm 92. I was with Rebbe at an airport one time, when a) i think i saw mel brooks and b) Rebbe said saying Psalm 92 is good, but saying it 7 times is even better. So back to the night, I was up to number 5 when I get a phone call at 12...Rebbe had just arrived from Israel. He told me wonder-full things.
Now- wasnt it Order 66 that took out the Jedi-if you do the gemetria of Chewbackas middle name and...
1/28/08
Preparing for the Great Day
The British do not let us train with weapons, so we use mops instead.
Corporal Izzie, Mr. B., and little Yehuda Shraga beware:
The Daughters of the Revolution have arrived.
Minyan Woes
For those not zocheh to to daven with Rebbe on a regular basis, and who need serious chizuk to to get out to synagogue and pray with tired Modern Orthodox Jews, here is some help:
Perhaps the RRRR can form some kind of alliance with HaRav Itche Kadoozy? While we have contemplated Rebbe in action figure form, puppets and muppets offer a whole new vista...
Thanks to our Field Commander for the introduction to Rav Itche.
A Distant Shore
As soldiers of the Revolution, we all realize that the fruits of our labors may not be seen for quite some time. We may often feel disheartened. Yet the waiting, the need for patience - this is all part of the plan.
As Tocqueville explains, it is the believers who are able to take the long term view, and ultimately reach the shores of victory. But we must not allow the light of faith to grow dim...
But in proportion as the light of faith grows dim, the range of man's sight is circumscribed, as if the end and aim of human actions appeared every day to be more within his reach. When men have once allowed themselves to think no more of what is to befall them after life, they readily lapse into that complete and brutal indifference to futurity which is but too conformable to some propensities of mankind. As soon as they have lost the habit of placing their chief hopes upon remote events, they naturally seek to gratify without delay their smallest desires; and no sooner do they despair of living forever, than they are disposed to act as if they were to exist but for a single day. In skeptical ages it is always to be feared, therefore, that men may perpetually give way to their daily casual desires, and that, wholly renouncing whatever cannot be acquired without protracted effort, they may establish nothing great, permanent, and calm.
Alexis De Tocqueville
As Tocqueville explains, it is the believers who are able to take the long term view, and ultimately reach the shores of victory. But we must not allow the light of faith to grow dim...
In his words:
In ages of faith the final aim of life is placed beyond life. The men of those ages, therefore, naturally and almost involuntarily accustom themselves to fix their gaze for many years on some immovable object towards which they are constantly tending, and they learn by insensible degrees to repress a multitude of petty passing desires in order to be the better able to content that great and lasting desire which possesses them. When these same men engage in the affairs of this world, the same habits may be traced in their conduct. They are apt to set up some general and certain aims and end to their actions here below, towards which all their efforts are directed; they do not turn from day to day to chase some novel object of desire, but they have settled designs which they are never weary of pursuing....But in proportion as the light of faith grows dim, the range of man's sight is circumscribed, as if the end and aim of human actions appeared every day to be more within his reach. When men have once allowed themselves to think no more of what is to befall them after life, they readily lapse into that complete and brutal indifference to futurity which is but too conformable to some propensities of mankind. As soon as they have lost the habit of placing their chief hopes upon remote events, they naturally seek to gratify without delay their smallest desires; and no sooner do they despair of living forever, than they are disposed to act as if they were to exist but for a single day. In skeptical ages it is always to be feared, therefore, that men may perpetually give way to their daily casual desires, and that, wholly renouncing whatever cannot be acquired without protracted effort, they may establish nothing great, permanent, and calm.
Alexis De Tocqueville
1/23/08
Mazal Tov!!!
Mazal tov to our Minister of Propaganda on the bris of his son! May he be raised with a shem mishmuel in one hand, a guitar in the other, and the spirit of the RRRR in his heart.
1/17/08
The End of Philistine Rule - Only a Matter of Time....
I spoke yesterday with a friend of the Revolution, who told me this incredible story that took place at the RIETS-Isralight seminar /getaway (My second hand retelling is not at all accurate; but does it really matter?):
At the end of the program, Rabbi Brander, Rabbi Aaron and others took questions from the Semichah guys on the issue being discussed - how to inspire people in prayer. Rabbi Aaron pointed out during this session that the use of song, and specifically R Shlomo's niggunim, can help inspire people tremendously. At this point, one of our holy warriors, Shimshon, raised his hand and asked: " how can you tell us to use the power of song to inspire people, when we who daven on Rosh Chodesh with Rebbe Reichman in Furst Hall, when we who use the power of niggun in prayer, are marginalized by the establishment at YU itself?
Rabbi Brander responded: "Things are changing; the ship is turning. It will take time, but it is inevitable..."
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