Weekend with Reb Shlomo...

Don’t feel like writing it all out but here are highlights from the Reb Shlomo Weekend…

Gaby and I headed downtown to Tzidkas Azriel’s house for Shabbos on the West Side. Friday night found us at the Carlebach Shul for a heady 3-hour kabbalas Shabbos led by Reb Yehuda Green. The Azriel’s didn’t wait for us and so we showed up a little late. Sabba Azriel spoke with Gaby in Hebrew for most of the seudah. Shabbos morning Tzidkas and I made our way to The Shtiebel on 84th Street while Gaby headed to lengthier Carlebach option. Mincha/Shalosh Seudos was back at Carlebach with guests R’ Avraham Sutton, R’ Shalom Brodt, Rav Citron, and some other rebbes (and rebbetzins.) All colors and flavors were present – felt a little bit like being back at the Machlis’ shalosh seudos. After havdalah some guy in a light blue turtleneck, cowboy hat, and long hair asked us what we do. We told him we go to Y.U. He paused - ‘Oh...I hear they do weird stuff over there.’ And so even after an Egalitarian service at the Carlebach shul Y.U. is still treif. What can I tell you.

While the West Side Institutional housed the big ($) concert for the Monsey and Brooklyn chevra, we were tipped off about a secret gathering back upstairs in the shul where the old timers reminisced and sang well into the night. The gathering was led by one of Reb Shlomo’s right-hand men, R’ Itzik Eisenstadt, the “treasurer of the niggunim.” Stories, niggunim, and machloksin in nusach were abundant. At 4 something Gaby and I finally made it back to the Morg.

The festivities began Sunday night in the Heights at 7 P.M. It looked like it was going to be one of the smallest Reb Shlomo Hilula’s in YU history, but as usual, as the night progressed more and more people trickled in. Despite the numerous obstacles in getting this year’s hilula together, it turned out to be a truly special night. Enjoy this video of some of Sunday nights festivities.

Tonight...

JOIN REBBE REICHMAN
and many others for the

6th ANNUAL Y.U. HILULA FOR
REB SHLOMO
SUNDAY NIGHT
RUBIN SHUL (or maybe Morg Beis)
7:00 P.M. (or maybe 10:30 P.M.)
Lots of tunes and food.

SPONSORED BY GABY

From the Offices of Rabbi Citron (via the U of P)

HaRav Naftali Citron asked that this be posted on our little blog:

Sunday morning, October 24th, the commemoration continues with A day of Ishbitz - Carlebach Conference - in-depth learning at the JCC in Manhattan (334 Amsterdam Ave). "Ishbitz" was one of Rabbi Carlebach's favorite Chassidic philosophies that also influenced a broad spectrum of Jewish movements from ultra-orthodox to Jewish Renewal. Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner (1801 - 1854), the Mei HaShiloach, founded the “Ishbitz” school that challenged the status quo with his revolutionary ideas about the limits of free choice and shed a new light on the parameters of halacha (Jewish Law). Hosted by Rabbi Naftali Citron, leading teachers of “Ishbitz” Chassidism including Rabbi Sholom Brodt, Dr Morris Faierstein, Dr. Shaul Magid, Rabbi Nossen and Rebbetzin Channah Schafer, Avraham Sutton, Dr. Sharon Flato, Rabbi Ysoscher Katz.

Info: www.carlebachshul.org info@carlebachshul.org. $50 pre-registration, $60 at the door (lunch available for purchase)

Tonight...Cheshvan 11

Join us tonight for the annual gathering in honor of the yahrtzeit of
Rochel Imeinu
and the
Meor Einayim

Tonight. Morg 5 Lounge. 11:15ish

My Sefardi Day...

So many Sefardi things happened to me today.

1) I received the following treat in my email from a certain

It is a video of my friend, Justin Diller, being Sefardi in his new habitat.

~

2) At lunch today with Gershon Albert I had spicy foods atop bagels and ate them al pi sod. Again, Sefardi in nature.

~

3) As I mentioned last week, tonight was the opening night for Pizmonim club. This was an extremely Sefardi night-activity for pale ol’ me.

~
4) And lastly, my cousin got engaged to our good ol’ Sefardi yeshiva-mate

Dahniel from Canada
Mazel Toff to Them!

With all of these Sefardic coincidences happening in one day, I think I’m starting to see the emet more and more.

~

Other things to note:

1) This Shabbos, there will be a Shabbos with Rebbe Reichman at Rav Wolfson. If you’re interested tell Gideon. Bus leaves from YU at 2 on Friday and returns Motzei Shabbos.

2) This coming Monday night, all are invited to Morg 507, where we will have our annual 11 Cheshvan gathering for the Chernoblyer and Rochel Imeinu. I’m not sure how this developed but some have been known to drink a lot at this gathering, so people should bring their own beverages. Sponsors are welcome. All males invited. It usually lasts until the next morning so stop by any time.

3) I know there is something else but I can’t remember. I’ll add it if I remember. It might have to do with Zev Rocklin.

K. Zeigezundt.

A few things...

1) Tomorrow Night (Thursday Night) in Rubin Shul

Rosh Chodesh Mar Cheshvan Mesibah

with Rebbe Reichman
featuring Rav Naftali Citron of the Carlebach Shul
(NOTE: Amongst the common folk, the Stollel is known to be made up of a bunch of kabbalists. That is why Rav Citron assumed we would know what he was talking about when he came to talk to the Frollel. Tomorrow nights session will likely be toned down for the common YU folk so don't let your prior experiences scare you off.)

~

2)
We are looking to make a minyan for Rosh Chodesh on Friday morning. It would begin at 6:20ish with sunrise at 6:50ish. Hallel will take a bit plus kerias hatorah and mussaf .
We will be finished before those who need to go places or to a 9 o'clock class.
PLEASE COMMENT BELOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED
We want to make sure we have a quaram.

3) How do people tie up their beards? Those people who fold it under and tuck it in, how does it not fall out?

4)
Was just waiting for the elevator when a Sefardi gentleman walked over to put up a sign. I've seen these signs around over the past couple days and they have peeked my interest. They are signs from the YU Hazzanut Club. Their opening event is this Tuesday night at 10:30 PM in the Sefardi Beit (in Morg). I asked him what is going to go down at this event. He said someone will speak briefly and then it will just be guys singing pizmonim. I said that is a great idea. He asked me if I am Sefardi. I said not yet. He said, 'Soon you will realize the emet.' I said, 'I have already realized the emet but I have an prior family tradition.'

I post this for a few reasons. I don't think they're looking for volunteers (though I cant imagine many people will come out for the Hazzanut club) but
1) I think it would be hilarious if a ton of white kids showed up to this event,
2) We can learn Sefardi pizmonim,
and 3) I'm likely to forget about this by Tuesday so if someone could remind that I was interested in attending this on Tuesday I'd appreciate it.

5) I just found out this way to see who makes a link to our blog over here. Never knew about THIS BLOG. Has anybody seen or heard from him?

6) Someone asked me to post this a while ago. I told them we're not an athletic bunch but would post nonetheless:

Attention Yeshiva University Students!
Want to play ball?
Did you have an amazing experience your year in Israel and want to let
others have similar experiences?
Now you can!
On October 10th at 3 pm Torah Letzion will be having a 3 on 3 basketball
tournament.
Price: Each team price is $225.
- The location is the Richard Rodda Community Center located at 250
Colonial Court in Teaneck, NJ.
-To sign up, call Yoni Bardash at 201-575-6710 or Corey Fuchs 201-914-8842

~
Shabbat Shalom and a Gut Chodesh.

And we're back...

Welcome back to all our oversea returnees. We missed you over the holidays. We're sorry you had to come back but are happy to see you.

~

Over the second days of Yom Tov, I was privileged to be in Montreal, Canada. There were numerous highlights of this trip:

1) I got to talk a whole bunch with the chazzan of the shul I was at who was an older Lubavitcher and he shared with me stories about the many Simchas Torah's (and time in general) he had spent by the Rebbe. He threw me off a little when he said that we need techias ha'meisim so that the Rebbe should come back already.

2) There is a nice sized Breslov community there that i was unaware of. Beautiful mikveh, beautiful sukkah, delicious kugel.

3) I was also privileged to meet and speak with an older Jew, now in his Nineties but who was in his Twenties while in the Warsaw Ghetto. He told me he saw and met the Piaseczner, the Gerrer Rebbe, and R' Menachem Zemba among others. I asked him if he had any particular memories about any of them and he told me he remembered that the Aish Kodesh used to go around on Shabbos with some of his chassidim and encourage those store owners who had their shops open to close them. He told me about the Yamim Noraim and about Sukkos in Warsaw as well as in Majdanek and Auschwitz where he spent a number of years. It was one of those conversations one is likely to remember forever.

4) On the way back into America, our car was randomly selected to be searched and we had to get out, go inside the police area, and fill out those sheets they give you on the plane for customs while they searched the car. I didn't know how strict they would be about smuggling citrons across the border and was afraid they would take my Esrog if I left it in the car. Sukkos was over but I need it for Tu B'Shvat and was not willing to lose it so I put it in my pocket and went inside. Once inside, I then feared that they would make us empty our pockets and discover my holy lemon. I was quite nervous as I filled out the sheet with my esrog place snuggly in my pocket and I even thought the gentile might either notice the extra concern on my face or how I was nervously filling out the paper work. But I prayed and was answered and as our car was cleared my citron crossed over on to American soil.

5) I was sent to Montreal by Yeshiva University as part of their Torah Tours program. As part of this "tour," two ladies from our downtown sister school were part of our "team" of five. After three days, with no mention of the subject, our group was walking back from lunch when the following conversation more or less took place out of nowhere:

Girl: "So Josh...what's the Stollel?"
Me: "I don't know."
(A pause.)
Girl: "I heard it is like kind of a derech."
Me: "Nope. It was more like a kollel in Stokar's basement."
Other Girl: "So like, how many of you are there?"
Me: "That's hilarious. You just made the blog."
Girl: "You do the blog?"
Me: "Sometimes."
Other Girl: "I once saw like a video of 72nd drive."

End of conversation.
~

Things to look forward to in the near future:

1) The creation of Zev Rocklin's blog (for his new apartment he just moved into)
2) Rosh Chodesh gathering with Rebbe Reichman - Thursday Night
3) The Nitra Raffle

4) Shabbos at Ash's for anybody who wants to go.
~

K. A great man once blessed: May the Canker Sore's of Mar Cheshvan heal quickly, but not too quickly. If that great man wants to come to Y.U. at all, I have an empty bed in my room until Gaby comes back, which although he says will be later this week, could be in months from now.

~
See the 84th Picture (and all the others...they're great)
CLICK HERE
~

Missing the overseas team. Send pictures of Diller.



Stollel 5770 Flashback:
One year ago yesterday - Rav Harari reading stories of the Kedushas Levi at the hilulah with R' Reichman in the Annex.