in the status quo!
the same old same old
is just too “same”
like a rotten egg
phew!
08 September 2026
All For The Kinderlach!?
HaRav Zilberstein Responds: “Who Should Watch The Children During Rosh Hashana Davening?”
In recent days, a chizuk gathering was held in the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak for hundreds of wives of local avreichim ahead of the upcoming Yamim Noraim.
At the center of the event, a special shailos u’teshuvos was screened with the Rav of Ramat Elchanan, the renowned posek HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein, with the questions presented by his grandson, Reb Chaim Malin.
The full Shailos U’Teshuvos, as transcribed by Kikar H’Shabbat:
Shailah: What kabbalah should one make ahead of Rosh Hashanah? There are so many areas — Shabbos, tznius, lashon hara, limmud Torah, helping one’s husband. What is the most important thing? One cannot take on everything at once. What is one thing the women can accept that will stand in their zechus on the Yom HaDin?
HaRav Zilberstein responded by singing: “‘Ki eshmerah Shabbos, Kel yishmereini, os hi l’olmei ad beino uveini’ — ‘If I observe Shabbos, Hashem will protect me; it is an eternal sign between Him and me.’ Who composed this song? The Ibn Ezra. And what does the Rambam write about him in his letters? ‘The chacham Rebi Avraham Ibn Ezra, zt”l, revealed deep and tremendous secrets that only someone of his stature can understand, etc., for he was like Avraham Avinu.”
“The Rambam tells us that the Ibn Ezra was like the neshama and ruach of Avraham Avinu, and this great Ibn Ezra testifies here: ‘If I observe Shabbos, Hashem will protect me.’ Someone who observes Shabbos has special protection from HaKadosh Baruch Hu. So the best thing there is, what I know with absolute certainty, is Shemiras Shabbos.”
“Do not speak idle words on Shabbos!”
Shailah: So what does Saba suggest that these women be mechazeik in, halacha l’maaseh? What specific point should they take upon themselves?
HaRav Zilberstein: “Be mechazeik in Shemiras Shabbos by not speaking a single idle word, only telling beautiful stories and stories from Tanach, only matters of yiras Shamayim.”
Shailah: How can one bring the atmosphere of the Yamim Noraim into the home? Today, the outside world draws people in, and it is sometimes difficult to concentrate and think about the fact that the din is approaching. How can a Jewish mother bring this simple concept into her home — that there is a din and we are about to stand trial?
HaRav Zilberstein: “A woman should tell her children: ‘Today, today is the birthday of the world. Elul! Oy, Ani l’dodi v’dodi li, haro’eh bashoshanim — I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine, He Who shepherds among the roses.’ What a magnificent expression: ‘I am my Beloved’s.’ And who is my Beloved? HaKadosh Baruch Hu. ‘And my Beloved is mine, He Who shepherds among the roses.’ We must instill this in the hearts of all the children in the neighborhood. I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine. I belong to Hashem and Hashem belongs to me, He Who shepherds among the roses.
“What does ‘He Who shepherds among the roses’ mean? He shepherds them among roses, and that’s why the flock does not run away from Him. Some shepherds beat their sheep so they won’t run away. They stay because they’re afraid. But HaKadosh Baruch Hu shepherds us among roses. He gives us the beautiful fragrance of Torah and mitzvos, and therefore we don’t leave Him because of our great love and attraction. This must be explained to the children at home.”
Shailah: How can a woman who works to support her family be mechazeik herself? Some women work very hard, such as in programming, and barely have time to breathe between all their responsibilities at home. How can they be mechazeik themselves? As girls, they had chizzuk talks in school and learned some mussar. Today, they barely have time to breathe. They’re occupied with the home, which is a great mitzvah, since the entire household depends on her. But how can women who have almost no time be mechazeik themselves ahead of Rosh Hashanah?
HaRav Zilberstein: “The husband should come home with a new story of chizuk every day, and then tell it to his wife. It is the husband’s responsibility to be mechazeik his wife. Is she hefker here?! He married a woman, and he must care for her. How should he care for her? Every day when he comes home, he should bring a story from Tanach or something he heard in kollel and be mechazeik her.
Shailah: Who should watch the children during davening — the mother or the daughter? The husband is at davening, but there is an older daughter, age 15 or 16, and they are unsure who should go to davening. The mother says, ‘I can ask my daughter, and she’ll listen to me.’ The question is whether I should stay home with the children and let my daughter go to davening, or whether I should ask my daughter to watch them and go to davening myself.
HaRav Zilberstein: “They should split it. In other words, for half of the tefillos, the mother should watch the children, and for the other half, the daughter should watch them.”
Shailah: In conclusion, the women would like to hear words of bracha and chizzuk.
HaRav Zilberstein: “Tell the women this: If the husband is Jewish and the wife is not Jewish, the children are not Jewish. But if the wife is Jewish and the husband is an Arab — ya Ahmed, majnun — the children are Jews. That means that our koach lies with the woman, not the man. If the woman decides something, it is kodesh kodeshim. She’s the ba’alas habayis; she determines matters.
“No one knows this. Ignorant people think that these religious people discriminate against women. What nonsense. The woman is the one who determines. If she is Jewish, the children are Jewish, and only the woman, not anyone else. This is the greatest chizuk: that Jewish women should know their exalted status.”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
A Large-scale Registration Campaign Across Israel…..receive bonus while in jail!
PRISON 1000: Gedolei Yisrael Back Initiative Giving Bnei Torah NIS 1,000 for Every Day in Military Prison
A new initiative providing bnei Torah with NIS 1,000 for every day they spend under arrest over the draft issue has received the backing of leading Gedolei Yisrael and is now launching a major enrollment drive in Chareidi communities across Eretz Yisrael.
The initiative, known as “Kela 1000,” was established amid the growing number of arrests of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim. Its organizers say the fund is intended to provide financial support and peace of mind to detainees and their families, helping cover legal expenses, travel costs and lost workdays incurred by family members.
Organizers say the program also seeks to change the equation surrounding arrests. Under the initiative, every additional day a ben Torah remains in custody results in an additional NIS 1,000 payment, which organizers hope will reduce the effectiveness of lengthy detention as a deterrent.
The program operates on a model similar to established orphan funds. Members contribute only when an arrest occurs, with payments capped at one shekel per day, in addition to a monthly administrative fee of NIS 3. As membership grows, organizers say the amount required from each participant could fall to just a few agurot per day.
The fund is overseen by a committee of five prominent dayanim and poskim who have exclusive authority over eligibility requirements, distribution of funds and any halachic questions involving the program. The committee includes HaGaon HaRav Naftali Nussbaum, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Ezra Tufik Abiezri, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Meir Stern, HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Pozna and HaGaon HaRav Tzvi Braverman.
Following the bracha of Gedolei Yisrael, organizers are preparing a large-scale registration campaign in major kehillos across the country, with enrollment stations expected to be established in batei medrash following the upcoming Motzei Shabbos Selichos..
Hand to Weapon Battle With a Wild Pere Adam
HEROIC FIGHT: Stabbing Victim Recounts Bare-Handed Struggle With Terrorist In Shomron Attack
Netanel Jacobs, who was wounded in Monday morning’s terrorist stabbing attack in the Shomron, recounted from his hospital bed how he fought the terrorist with his bare hands, wrestled him to the ground and even attempted to chase him after the attacker fled.
Speaking from Beilinson Hospital, Jacobs described a violent struggle in which he punched and pushed the terrorist before both men fell to the ground.
“I fought him, punched him and pushed him. He fell to the ground, and I went down with him,” Jacobs recalled. “We were both lying on the ground. I tried to pick up a rock to throw at his head, but I couldn’t reach it.”
Jacobs said the attack continued even after the terrorist’s knife broke, leaving only the blade in his hand. “He tried to keep stabbing me with it,” Jacobs said. “I got to him and choked him, and then he managed to escape and ran toward his car.”
Despite already suffering multiple stab wounds, Jacobs attempted to pursue the fleeing terrorist. “I chased him with a rock, and then I saw that I was covered in blood and had stab wounds to my head, neck and hand,” he recounted.
Jacobs’ parents, Avdiel and Penina, said their son was in good and stable condition following the attack and expressed gratitude to Hashem that he survived.
Rabbi Wein: Rosh HaShana
The basis for Judaism and its value system can be summed up in one word: accountability. The gift of freedom of choice and action that God has granted to humans comes, as do most gifts, with a price. And that price is that all of us are completely accountable for our actions and behavior.
We each have an account sheet, so to speak, with columns for credits and debits. How our lifetime account sheet looks eventually determines our fate and our eternity. But there are temporary stock-taking times as well. The Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are such times. We pass in review, individually and without cover or pretense, before the Heavenly Court to have the account sheet examined.
The message of the Holy Days is a clear one. We are held accountable for our past deeds as well as for our budding intents. As responsible individuals our account sheet is of vital importance in determining our true- life status and future. Just as all publicly held firms must produce an annual report attested to by reputable accounting firms, so too during this season of the year we individually publish our own annual report; and it is attested to by the Heavenly Court that is aware of all of our thoughts and actions.
One of the Ills of current society is its acceptance of unlimited freedom of choice and behavior coupled with its refusal to hold people answerable to the results of this uninhibited freedom. Another hallmark of our society is the inability to admit error in previous decisions, policies and behavior. No one is held accountable for all the colossal mistakes of past centuries. The moral and spiritual bankruptcy of Jewish organizations and individuals who fled from Torah and tradition is evident to all by now, but many of them- those still in existence, continue on their merry way as though there was no past to reexamine, no future to contemplate. But the law of accountability allows for no exceptions; eventually it overtakes everyone.
This pattern should be apparent to anyone with even rudimentary knowledge of the story of Israel throughout the ages. The parshiyot read in the synagogue during this season concern themselves almost exclusively with this idea of culpability- of reward and punishment, and the aspects of the covenant of Sinai between God and Israel. The Torah declares that this “covenant shall respond to them even till the end of days.” In a covenant – a contractual agreement – each side is held to its agreed upon terms and conditions. We are bound to our e, and the Lord, so to speak, states that He also is bound to His commitments. Accountability is the key to the entire covenantal experience and challenge.
One should feel that one is answerable not only to God, and to one’s fellow human beings, but perhaps most importantly to one’s own self. The primary questions addressed by Judaism are: “To what purpose is my life worth living? Why am I here? And what is asked of me in this life?” If these questions are never really addressed, or if they are sloughed off and defined in purely material or monetary terms, obviously life has little meaning. If there is no deep meaning, no accountability for our behavior can ever arise in our minds and hearts.
For life to have any sense of purpose, sincere goals must resonate within each person. And that resonance must inevitability lead to a realization of the imperative of accountability in our lives. This is why the prayers of the Holy Days stress not only God’s greatness and man’s relative puniness, but also the coming to terms of each with past deeds as well as future aspirations. True teshuvah – repentance- requires this simultaneous look backwards and forwards.
Rigorous accountability helps us formulate a meaningful plan for our goals and aspirations in life. It allows us to age and mature gracefully and it creates the proper backdrop for our future actions. It is the ultimate blessing in our lives.
Written by Rabbi Berel Wein ZT”L in 2020 in his book "In My Opinion."
Q&A on Any Topic - Rosh Hashana Edition {Ish Matzliach}....PLUS
The Seminal Role Of Akeidat Yitzchak on Rosh Hashana {Ish Matzliach}
07 September 2026
כיצד מכניסים אוירה של ימים נוראים? השו"ת המרתק עם מרן הרב זילברשטיין שהוקרן לנשות רמת אלחנן
מה לקבל לקראת השנה החדשה? כיצד מכניסים לבית אוירה של ימים נוראים? ומי ישמור על הילדים בזמני התפילות? – שו"ת מרתק עם מרן רבינו שליט"א
ש הנוראים הבעל"ט. כאשר במרכז המעמד הוקרן שו"ת מיוחד עם מרן רבינו שליט"א, כאשר את השאלות מציג נכדו של רבינו, הרה"ג רבי חיים מלין שליט"א, להלן תמלול השו"ת המלא (הדברים והתיעוד באדיבות דברי חמד): שאלה. הגבאים של רמת אלחנן ביקשו ממני בקשה כזאת, הם אמרו שבכל שנה לפני ימים נוראים, נשות האברכים מתכנסות להתחזק, ובשנים עברו סבא הרב היה מגיע ודורש דרשות של חיזוק, אז עכשיו הם אמרו אם אפשר שאני אשאל שלושה שאלות קצרות וסבא יענה ונעביר להם את הדברים. מדובר פה על עשרות נשות אברכים מרמת אלחנן שעכשיו יש להם קצת זמן שהם מתכנסות באיזה אולם, הביאו להם רבנים, והם רוצים גם לשמוע מסבא דברי חיזוק. איזה קבלה לקבל לקראת ראש השנה? אז השאלה הראשונה שהם שואלים איזה קבלה לקבל על עצמם? יש המון תחומים, שבת, צניעות, לשון הרע, לימוד תורה לעזור לבעל, מה הדבר שהכי, אי אפשר הכל ביחד בבת אחת, משהו אחד שהם יכולים לתפוס, ושזה יעמוד להם לזכות ליום הדין. מרן שליט"א החל לנגן: 'כי אשמרה שבת קל ישמרני, אות היא לעולם בינו וביני'. מי חיבר את השיר? האבן עזרא. ומה כותב עליו הרמב"ם באגרות שלו? 'החכם רבי אברהם אבן עזרא זצ"ל גילה סודות עמוקות ועצומות, לא יבינם אלא מי שהוא במדרגתו כו', כי הוא כמו אברהם אבינו עליו השלום ברוח'. עומד הרמב"ם ומודיע שהאבן עזרא היה כמו הנשמה והרוח של אברהם אבינו, והאבן עזרא הענק הזה מעיד פה: 'כי אשמרה שבת קל ישמרני', מי ששומר שבת יש לו שמירה מיוחדת מהקדוש ברוך הוא. אז הדבר הכי טוב שיש, מה שיש לי בידיעה מוחלטת זה שמירת שבת. לא לדבר בשבת דברים בטלים! שאלה. אז מה סבא מציע הלכה למעשה לנשים האלה להתחזק, איזה נקודה לתפוס בפועל? מרן שליט"א: להתחזק בשבת לא לדבר שום מילה בטלה, רק לספר את הסיפורים היפים, וסיפורי התנ"ך, רק יראת שמיים. כיצד מכניסים בבית אוירה של ימים נוראים? שאלה. עוד שאלו, איך מכניסים בבית אווירה של אלול וימים נוראים? היום הרחוב מושך וקשה לפעמים להתרכז ולחשוב שיש דין עוד מעט, אז איך אמא יהודייה יכולה להכניס בבית את המושג הפשוט הזה שיש דין ואנחנו עומדים למשפט? מרן שליט"א: האישה תגיד לילדים שלה: 'היום, היום הרת עולם, א-ל-ו-ל, אוי, אני לדודי ודודי לי הרועה בשושנים. כזה מין שם בומבסטי, אני לדודי, ומי זה דודי? הקדוש ברוך הוא, ודודי לי, הרועה בשושנים, להכניס את זה בלבבות של כל הילדים שבשכונה, אני לדודי ודודי לי, אני לאלוקים ואלוקים לי, הרועה בשושנים. מה זה הרועה בשושנים? בשושנים הוא רועה אותם וככה הצאן לא בורח ממנו. יש רועי צאן שנותנים מכות כדי שהצאן לא יברח, ואז הם לא בורחים מפחד. אבל הקב"ה רועה אותנו בשושנים, הוא שם לנו ריח טוב של התורה והמצוות, ולכן אנחנו לא עוזבים אותו מרוב אהבה ומשיכה, צריכים להסביר את זה לילדים בבית. אשה העובדת לפרנסתה, כיצד תתחזק? שאלה. יש נשים שעובדות קשה מאוד (כגון בתכנות), אין להם זמן לנשום בקושי בין כל המטלות בבית, אז איך הם יתחזקו? בתור בחורה היה להם שיחות חיזוק בסמינר, ולמדו קצת מוסר, היום אין לה זמן לנשום, היא עוסקת בבית וזו מצווה גדולה, שהרי כל הבית עומד עליה, אבל איך נשים כאלה שאין להם כמעט זמן יתחזקו לקראת ראש השנה? מרן שליט"א: הבעל צריך לבוא לכולל ולמצוא כל יום סיפור חדש של חיזוק ואת זה לספר לאשתו, זה התפקיד של הבעל לחזק את אשתו. וכי היא הפקר פה?! הוא התחתן עם אשה והוא צריך לדאוג לה. איך לדאוג לה? כל יום שהוא בא לבית, שיביא איזה סיפור מהתנ"ך או ממה ששמע בכולל, ולחזק אותה. מי ישמור על הילדים בזמני התפילות – האמא או הבת? שאלה. יש משפחות שיש להם הרבה ילדים, והם שואלים מי ישמור על הילדים בראש השנה, אז הבעל בתפילה, אבל יש בת גדולה בגיל 15-16, ומסתפקים מי ילך לתפילה? האם הבת או האמא, האמא אומרת: 'אני יכולה לבקש מהבת והיא תשמע לי, היא נערה מחונכת, השאלה האם אני אשאר בבית עם הילדים והבת תלך לתפילה, או שאני אבקש מהבת שתשמור ואני אלך להתפלל'? מרן שליט"א: יעשו חלוקה, יחלוקו..., כלומר חצי מהתפילות האמא תשמור, וחצי מהתפילות הבת תשמור על הילדים. כוחן ומעלתן של נשות ישראל שאלה. לסיום רוצים לשמוע דברי ברכה וחיזוק לנשים. מרן שליט"א: להגיד לנשים ככה, הרי אם הבעל יהודי והאישה לא יהודייה - הילדים גויים, אבל אם האישה יהודייה והבעל ערבי, יא אחמד מג'נין, הילדים יהודים. זאת אומרת שהכוח שלנו היא האישה, ולא הגבר. אם האישה מחליטה דבר זה קודש קודשים, היא בעלת הבית, היא קובעת דבר. אף אחד לא יודע מזה, עמי הארצות חושבים שהדתיים האלה מקפחים את הנשים, איזה שטויות. האישה היא הקובעת, אם היא יהודייה - הילדים יהודים, ורק האישה ולא מישהו אחר, וזה רק הם, ולא מישהו אחר, וזה החיזוק הכי גדול שנשות ישראל ידעו את מעמדן הנשגב.
הקב"ה רועה אותנו בשושנים' | 'התפקיד של הבעל לחזק את אשתו' | 'האמא תתחלק עם בתה בשמירה על הילדים' | צפו בשו"ת המרתק:
בימים האחרונים נערך בשכונת 'רמת אלחנן' כינוס חיזוק עוצמתי למאות נשות אברכי השכונה, שזכו לשמוע שיחות ודברי חיזוק מרוממים לקראת הימים
מרן פוסק הדור הגר"י זילברשטיין שליט"א בדברי חיזוק לנשות רמת-אלחנן: 'להתחזק בשמירת השבת, שלא לדבר דברים בטלים בשבת!' | 'להסביר לילדים ש הנוראים הבעל"ט. כאשר במרכז המעמד הוקרן שו"ת מיוחד עם מרן רבינו שליט"א, כאשר את השאלות מציג נכדו של רבינו, הרה"ג רבי חיים מלין שליט"א, להלן תמלול השו"ת המלא (הדברים והתיעוד באדיבות דברי חמד): שאלה. הגבאים של רמת אלחנן ביקשו ממני בקשה כזאת, הם אמרו שבכל שנה לפני ימים נוראים, נשות האברכים מתכנסות להתחזק, ובשנים עברו סבא הרב היה מגיע ודורש דרשות של חיזוק, אז עכשיו הם אמרו אם אפשר שאני אשאל שלושה שאלות קצרות וסבא יענה ונעביר להם את הדברים. מדובר פה על עשרות נשות אברכים מרמת אלחנן שעכשיו יש להם קצת זמן שהם מתכנסות באיזה אולם, הביאו להם רבנים, והם רוצים גם לשמוע מסבא דברי חיזוק. איזה קבלה לקבל לקראת ראש השנה? אז השאלה הראשונה שהם שואלים איזה קבלה לקבל על עצמם? יש המון תחומים, שבת, צניעות, לשון הרע, לימוד תורה לעזור לבעל, מה הדבר שהכי, אי אפשר הכל ביחד בבת אחת, משהו אחד שהם יכולים לתפוס, ושזה יעמוד להם לזכות ליום הדין. מרן שליט"א החל לנגן: 'כי אשמרה שבת קל ישמרני, אות היא לעולם בינו וביני'. מי חיבר את השיר? האבן עזרא. ומה כותב עליו הרמב"ם באגרות שלו? 'החכם רבי אברהם אבן עזרא זצ"ל גילה סודות עמוקות ועצומות, לא יבינם אלא מי שהוא במדרגתו כו', כי הוא כמו אברהם אבינו עליו השלום ברוח'. עומד הרמב"ם ומודיע שהאבן עזרא היה כמו הנשמה והרוח של אברהם אבינו, והאבן עזרא הענק הזה מעיד פה: 'כי אשמרה שבת קל ישמרני', מי ששומר שבת יש לו שמירה מיוחדת מהקדוש ברוך הוא. אז הדבר הכי טוב שיש, מה שיש לי בידיעה מוחלטת זה שמירת שבת. לא לדבר בשבת דברים בטלים! שאלה. אז מה סבא מציע הלכה למעשה לנשים האלה להתחזק, איזה נקודה לתפוס בפועל? מרן שליט"א: להתחזק בשבת לא לדבר שום מילה בטלה, רק לספר את הסיפורים היפים, וסיפורי התנ"ך, רק יראת שמיים. כיצד מכניסים בבית אוירה של ימים נוראים? שאלה. עוד שאלו, איך מכניסים בבית אווירה של אלול וימים נוראים? היום הרחוב מושך וקשה לפעמים להתרכז ולחשוב שיש דין עוד מעט, אז איך אמא יהודייה יכולה להכניס בבית את המושג הפשוט הזה שיש דין ואנחנו עומדים למשפט? מרן שליט"א: האישה תגיד לילדים שלה: 'היום, היום הרת עולם, א-ל-ו-ל, אוי, אני לדודי ודודי לי הרועה בשושנים. כזה מין שם בומבסטי, אני לדודי, ומי זה דודי? הקדוש ברוך הוא, ודודי לי, הרועה בשושנים, להכניס את זה בלבבות של כל הילדים שבשכונה, אני לדודי ודודי לי, אני לאלוקים ואלוקים לי, הרועה בשושנים. מה זה הרועה בשושנים? בשושנים הוא רועה אותם וככה הצאן לא בורח ממנו. יש רועי צאן שנותנים מכות כדי שהצאן לא יברח, ואז הם לא בורחים מפחד. אבל הקב"ה רועה אותנו בשושנים, הוא שם לנו ריח טוב של התורה והמצוות, ולכן אנחנו לא עוזבים אותו מרוב אהבה ומשיכה, צריכים להסביר את זה לילדים בבית. אשה העובדת לפרנסתה, כיצד תתחזק? שאלה. יש נשים שעובדות קשה מאוד (כגון בתכנות), אין להם זמן לנשום בקושי בין כל המטלות בבית, אז איך הם יתחזקו? בתור בחורה היה להם שיחות חיזוק בסמינר, ולמדו קצת מוסר, היום אין לה זמן לנשום, היא עוסקת בבית וזו מצווה גדולה, שהרי כל הבית עומד עליה, אבל איך נשים כאלה שאין להם כמעט זמן יתחזקו לקראת ראש השנה? מרן שליט"א: הבעל צריך לבוא לכולל ולמצוא כל יום סיפור חדש של חיזוק ואת זה לספר לאשתו, זה התפקיד של הבעל לחזק את אשתו. וכי היא הפקר פה?! הוא התחתן עם אשה והוא צריך לדאוג לה. איך לדאוג לה? כל יום שהוא בא לבית, שיביא איזה סיפור מהתנ"ך או ממה ששמע בכולל, ולחזק אותה. מי ישמור על הילדים בזמני התפילות – האמא או הבת? שאלה. יש משפחות שיש להם הרבה ילדים, והם שואלים מי ישמור על הילדים בראש השנה, אז הבעל בתפילה, אבל יש בת גדולה בגיל 15-16, ומסתפקים מי ילך לתפילה? האם הבת או האמא, האמא אומרת: 'אני יכולה לבקש מהבת והיא תשמע לי, היא נערה מחונכת, השאלה האם אני אשאר בבית עם הילדים והבת תלך לתפילה, או שאני אבקש מהבת שתשמור ואני אלך להתפלל'? מרן שליט"א: יעשו חלוקה, יחלוקו..., כלומר חצי מהתפילות האמא תשמור, וחצי מהתפילות הבת תשמור על הילדים. כוחן ומעלתן של נשות ישראל שאלה. לסיום רוצים לשמוע דברי ברכה וחיזוק לנשים. מרן שליט"א: להגיד לנשים ככה, הרי אם הבעל יהודי והאישה לא יהודייה - הילדים גויים, אבל אם האישה יהודייה והבעל ערבי, יא אחמד מג'נין, הילדים יהודים. זאת אומרת שהכוח שלנו היא האישה, ולא הגבר. אם האישה מחליטה דבר זה קודש קודשים, היא בעלת הבית, היא קובעת דבר. אף אחד לא יודע מזה, עמי הארצות חושבים שהדתיים האלה מקפחים את הנשים, איזה שטויות. האישה היא הקובעת, אם היא יהודייה - הילדים יהודים, ורק האישה ולא מישהו אחר, וזה רק הם, ולא מישהו אחר, וזה החיזוק הכי גדול שנשות ישראל ידעו את מעמדן הנשגב.
Rav Gershon Shaul Yomtov Lipman Heller zt"l
Rav Gershon Shaul Yomtov Lipman Heller zt"l
הרב גרשון שאול יום טוב ליפמן בן נתן הלר זצ"ל
Elul 6 , 5414 / Elul 26 , 5414
Known As: Tosfos Yom Tov
Father's Name: Noson Heller
Born in Wallerstein, Bavaria in the year 5339 (1579), Rav Yom Tov was orphaned from his father before he was born and raised by his grandfather, Rav Moshe Wallerstein, who served as Chief Rabbi of all German Jewry. He was a descendant of Rav Nosson, author of the Aruch.
His two chief mentors and rebbis were the Maharal of Prague, Rav Yaakov Ginzberg, Av Beis Din of Friedburg and Prague, and Rav Shlomo Ephraim Luntshitz, author of Kli Yakar and Olelos Ephraim.
At age eighteen, in 5357, he was appointed as a dayan and rosh yeshiva in Prague, in the beis din of the Maharal. His fame spread throughout the entire world as a gaon. At age thirty, he authored his magnum opus, the Tosafos Yom Tov on Shas Mishnayos.
In 5378, he authored two selichos describing the worries and fears of the Jewish community over the Prague rebellion. These were published as Selichos on the 14th of Cheshvan in Prague, 5381.
In MarCheshvan of 5385, he was appointed Av Beis Din of Nikolsberg, Moravia, and on Rosh Chodesh Adar of 5385 to Av Beis Din Vienna.
Vienna was a newly established kehillah, and some of the new takanos and reforms he established included the daily study of Orchos Chaim of the Rosh before Shacharis, which he personally translated into Yiddish (published in Prague in 5386) so that everyone could understand them.
In Teves of 5387 (1627), Rav Heller was appointed Av Beis Din of Prague. He began his tenure there in Nissan, and about half a year later he was appointed as Rosh Yeshiva as well, succeeding his mentor, the Maharal. He completed Ma’adanei Melech and Lechem Chamudos on the Rosh and began work on his sefer, Malbushei Yom Tov, a super-commentary on the commentary of the Levush on the Arba Turim.
The backdrop to his tenure was the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), a time of chaos and uncertainty for the populace of Bohemia and Prague, and especially for its Jews. The war emptied the government coffers, leading them to impose heavy taxes, a great financial burden upon the Jewish community. While it was the government officials that levied the taxes, the government left the collection up to the Jews themselves. This led to bitter disputes, as many of the wealthier and more powerful figures in the community tried their best to shirk responsibility, while the poorer and weaker Jews were unfairly burdened with taxes they had difficulty in paying.
The Tosafos Yom Tov was very upset by such underhanded measures that went against the derech haTorah, so he had himself appointed to the committee overseeing the tax collection. He saw to it that the taxes were collected evenly and fairly so that wealthier Jews shouldered the burden according to their means.
This act, alongside his other reforms as rabbi, earned him some bitter opponents, who initiated a slanderous libel against him and falsely accused him before the king. The slander claimed that he had disparaged and insulted the Christian faith in his sefarim Ma’adanei Melech and Lechem Chamudos. King Ferdinand II accepted the false rumors and ordered the Tosafos Yom Tov brought in chains and iron
A Fast For All Generations
On the 4th of Tammuz, the Imperial Judge arrived to reveal the terrible decree. On the 5th of Tammuz, 5389 (1629), a date that he would later establish as a fast day for his family and all of his descendants, the Tosafos Yom Tov left Prague. He writes about this in Megillas Eivah:
“And now my children, listen to me and may your souls be revived. As I was looking through my manuscripts with the commentaries and chiddushim I composed that Hashem merited me to author, I came across something I had written down that I had heard from Rav Pinchas of Cracow, a great man, head of the leaders of Vaad Arba Aratzos – the Council of the Four Lands, the son of Rav Zalman Yeshaya Segal Horowitz of Prague. . .when I was in Prague I heard him say: ‘I have a tradition that during the time of the harsh decrees, when the government decreed that on the 5th of Tammuz all the holy Jewish books should be burned, the wise sages of that generation, by means of a she’alas chalom – a dream quest – made an inquiry and asked why this evil had befallen them. They were answered: “Zos Chukas HaTorah K’Targumo.” They interpreted it to be referring to the Aramaic translation of the pasuk in that week’s parsha reading, which was Chukas. The Aramaic translation of the pasuk is “Da Gezeiras Oraisa,” where the word “da” is equal in gematria to 5 (Dalet plus Alef = 4 plus 1).’ I believe this refers to my sefarim, which were originally ordered to be burned and destroyed, and because of them I was forced to leave my home in Prague on the 5th of Tammuz to the Kaiser’s court. The dream spoke of a gezeira – a decree; it was regarding the ancient decree, but I believe it refers to my decree as well, as I was arrested over matters of chukas haTorah. I was arrested on the 17th of Tammuz after chatzos (midday), and I was released 28 days later after chatzos in Menachem Av, equaling a period of forty days, the same as the forty days of disgrace and wandering of Am Yisrael in the desert. I therefore decided to instruct you all, and all your descendants, my sons and my daughters and my sons-in-law and daughters-in-law until the coming of Mashiach, to fast on the 5th of Tammuz until after Maariv. Since it falls out in the summer, when the days are longer, I do not decree until the time of nightfall after the stars come out. If the date falls out on Shabbos, it should be pushed off until Sunday. They can fast until after they daven Minchah Gedolah, and they need not complete the fast longer than this time. Whoever has a weak constitution or is pregnant or nursing can redeem themselves with no less than the value of three large Viennese coins. I was in doubt whether or not to establish the 28th of Menachem Av, the day of my freedom, as a festival and yom tov, as do many of our people to commemorate the day they went free or were saved from a judgment of death. However, I was left bereft and penniless with nothing but the shirt on my back; all my honor and glory were taken from me as well as the rabbinate, and my debts were so heavy I saw no way to repay them since I was left with no means or property. I debated the matter back and forth, and in the midst of my indeterminacy and deliberations, the sefer Yosef Lekack, a commentary on Megillas Esther by Rav Eliezer Ashkenazi (1513-1586, Yahrzeit 22 Kislev) author of Maasei Hashem, came to hand. In the Introduction, he asks, the following question: ‘Why is it that the Kohanim Bnei Chashmonai decided not to establish any festival days to commemorate and celebrate the miraculous salvation and redemption of Am Yisrael? It was an event that demonstrated the supernatural, a victory of the few over the many, their redemption was even greater than the one in the times of Mordechai and Esther. The events of that time, which became Purim, were not overtly supernatural or miraculous; they were instead covert and hidden in nature where the king’s heart was overturned in an instant from evil to good. The answer he gives is that in the days of the Chashmonaim, the joy was incomplete since so many had died and the Beis Hamikdash was ransacked.’ I am in a similar situation, for my joy remains incomplete and I am still filled with sorrow and grief. I remain anguished and pained until Hashem favors me and restores my past crown of glory and improves my future,” (Megillas Eivah).
On the 8th of Tammuz, the Tosafos Yom Tov set out for Vienna, where he was accused, interrogated and jailed. Imprisoned while awaiting final judgment, his life was in great danger. The leaders and heads of the community rose up and took action to defend him and secure his release; even gentile officials and ministers who had met him defended his innocence and protested his imprisonment on an offense that was nothing more than a false libel.
He languished in prison for forty days. On the 28th of Menachem Av, 5389, the community’s efforts bore fruit and while he was released and exonerated from the capital offense, the magistrate ordered him to pay a bond of 12,000 gulden to King Ferdinand II which was in those days a princely sum that all the Jews of Vienna and Prague together could not raise. Furthermore, the magistrate ordered that his sefarim be burned and that henceforth he was forbidden from serving as an Av Beis Din in all the kingdom and its provinces. This final judgment was a terrible blow to the Tosafos Yom Tov, for now he had lost his entire livelihood and source of income. Eventually the sentence was commuted, his sefarim were censored rather than burned and he was allowed to serve as Rav but not in Prague itself. The troubles, tragedy and suffering were recorded in his autobiography Megillas Eivah. Eivah, he writes, “stands for the acronym Eicha Yashva Badad HaIr – The city of Jerusalem sits solitary,” an echo of Megillas Eicha, which we read on Tisha B'Av. He concludes his preface with the remark, “Whoever reads this and suffers along with me in my sorrow shall be absolved in this merit to be saved from all trouble and suffering.” (www.HebrewBooks.org/9529; translated into English as “The Feast and the Fast” published 1984 by Rabbi CU Lipshitz and Dr Neil Rosenstein, Moznayim).
Finally, in Iyar 5392 (1631), the Tosafos Yom Tov was appointed Av Beis Din in Nemirov, Poland, and from there, a few years later in Iyar, 5395 (1634), he moved to serve as Av Beis Din in Ludmir, Volhynia.
While in Ludmir, his enemies again reared their heads, as he describes in Megillas Eiva: “I awoke as a man from slumber and resolved to renew the laws from the earlier gaonim forbidding the practice of selling and purchasing the position of Rav from the local government ministers. A historic precedent that existed from the times that the position of Kohen Gadol was sold and purchased during Bayis Sheini – the Second Temple period. Previously, the Sages had enacted bans of excommunication, curses, oaths, fences and fines for transgressing these laws and decrees, but despite their efforts, breach after breach occurred, and the law became so full of holes that it became a matter of jest and seemed to people as if it was permitted.
“In Ludmir we instituted new safeguards. While previously they had forbidden the sale and purchase of the position of Rav, I added to this and forbade the hiring and employment of such people as well. This earned me new enemies, accusations, false and baseless hatred, but I was undeterred.
“On the 18th of Iyar, in Vizhnitz, together with the communal leaders of Volhynia, Ludmir, Ostrog, Kremenetz, and Lutzk, we gathered to renew these enactments and ordinances in all four provinces. Afterwards, I agreed to travel to Lublin and Yaroslavl on market days of public gathering where this proclamation was signed and ratified by the Vaad Arba Aratzos – (Committee of the Four Lands) together with thirty of the greatest leaders. It was read and proclaimed throughout all the shuls of Yaroslavl and the fair in Kremenet. Two of the rabbanim from the Vaad Arba Aratzos who agreed with me issued a proclamation on Shabbos Vayikra to prohibit the illegal sale and purchase of rabbinic positions. . .the more I acted and expounded the more my enemies did all they could to oppose me. . . they did all they could to expel me from the rabbinate” (Megillas Eivah).
The Tosafos Yom Tov finally overcame his enemies when their plots failed and he was exonerated. His former honor and glory were restored on the first day of Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5404, when the good news arrived that he was to be appointed as the Rosh Yeshiva together with Rav Yehoshua in Cracow. He arrived in Cracow on the 27th (some versions of the text say 28th) of MarCheshvan and was received with honor and dignity.
A Feast For All Generations
On Sunday, the first of Adar Rishon 5404 (1644), he was officially appointed Av Beis Din, and he wrote in his Megillas Eiva a new directive that his family observe the 1st of Adar as a personal family celebration of thanksgiving, to thank and praise Hashem on the day he was officially installed as Av Beis Din Cracow:
“Up until now, I hesitated to establish a day of feast and festival; however, I now resolve to establish this day as a Yom Tov festival. Mi’shenichnas Adar Marbin B’Simcha! The first of Adar, the second day of Rosh Chodesh, is established for all generations for my children and descendants, sons, daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, because on that day my crown and honor were restored and I was appointed Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of the great and holy congregation of Cracow and all its neighboring provinces. May Hashem merit us all to serve Him and fulfill His laws, and [may I] live out my days not for the pursuit of wealth, but for an exalted yearning as demonstrated by my conduct until the coming of Mashiach, amen. The symbolism of the year when the attribute of harsh judgment was leveled against me is Shaphat (judgment = the year שפ''ט(1629). The symbolism of the year of my redemption, when my crown of glory was regained and restored, is ת''ד (1644) = Das – the law, ve’ha’das nitna beShushan haBira – and the law was enacted in Shushan,” to sing and rejoice with a happy heart. So saith Yom Tov Lipman ben Nosson HaLevi Heller,” (Megillas Eivah).
Sefarim
Besides his magnum opus, Tosafos YomTov on Mishnayos, he also authored Darkei Hora’ah, Malbushei Yom Tov, Ma’adanei Melech, Pilpula Charifta and Lechem Chamudos on the Rosh, Toras Ha’asham a commentary on the Rema’s Toras HaChatas, Tzuras HaBayis on Yechezkel’s prophecy of the Third Binyan Beis HaMikdash, and a commentary on Bechinas Olam, Parshas HaChodesh on Kiddush HaChodesh of the Rambam. He also wrote Tuv Taam on Rabbeinu Bachaya, and Megillas Eiva, the autobiography of his troubles and calamities as well as his salvation from his enemies by Hashem. Some of his Shu”t and responsa are cited in many collections.
Geneology
His wife was the daughter of Rav Aharon Moshe Teumim, the father of Rav Yeshaya Teumim, who was the father of the Kikayon D’Yonah, a descendant of Rashi and Dovid HaMelech.
His descendants include many famous rabbinic figures and Chassidic rebbes. Below is a list of his children, sons-in-law and some of his more prominent descendants:
Sons
Rav Moshe of Prague – printed Megillas Eivah.
Rav Shmuel of Nemirov – see the story about him below in the story section.
Rav Avraham of Prague – Rosh Yeshiva Skola, ancestor of Rav Moshe Aharon Heller, Av Beis Din of Sniatyn, Rav Meshulem Feivish of Zbaraz, author of Yosher Divrei Emes and of Rav Shmuel Heller of Tzfas.
Rav Liva of Brisk, Rav Alexander of Prague (these two names appear in certain editions of Megillas Eivah and not in others) Rav Yehuda Leib Heller HY”D (Yahrzeit 15th Tishrei)
Sons in Law
Rav Yosef Yaakov Kahana – Kat”z Rosh Yeshiva Turinsk, married to Raizel, ancestor of the famed rabbis Rav Yehuda Kahana, Av Beis Din Sighet and author of Kuntres HaSfeikos, as well as Rav Aryeh Leib, author of Ketzos HaChoshen.
Rav Shmuel Bash of Prague – married to Dobrish. Their shidduch and her untimely death is described in Megillas Eivah.
Rav Yoel of Brisk – descendant Rav Yoel Sirkis (known as the Ba”ch), who married an unknown daughter. He was an ancestor of Mordechai Yosef Leiner, founder of Izhbitza – Radzyner Chassidic dynasty.
Rav Tzvi Hirsch –married to Rivka, ancestor of the Eichensteins and Safrins of the Zidatchov/Kamarna Chassidic dynasties.
Rav Ze’ev Wolf Slovis Segal -- married to Nissel, ancestor of the Maharam Schick. The marriage of their son, Nosson (named after Tosafos Yom Tov’s father) to the daughter of the gaon Rav Moshe Av Beis Din Chelm, the son of Rav Moshe Av Beis Din Brisk and grandson of the communal leader Rav Shaul Wohl is described in Megillas Eivah.
Rav Aharon Frankel Mirels -- married to Rechel Nachele, were cousins. Rav Aharon’s father, Rav Koppel, was the son of Avraham Heller, the Tosafos Yom Tov’s uncle (his father’s brother).
At age 77, as he lay in his sickbed, two additional names were added (as is customary by some to change a sick person’s name by adding names), so the names “Gershon Shaul” do appear on his matzeiva. The Tosafos Yom Tov passed away on the 6th of Elul (Some say the 26th Elul as it appears on his matzeiva; others claim the matzeiva reads “On Yom Dalet, Vav Elul, meaning Wednesday, the 6th of Elul) 5414 (1654).
Illustration 2: Refurbished matzeiva in old Jewish Cemetery, courtyard of Rema Shul, Kazimeriz, Crakow.
Here lies the great gaon of his generation Our master, the Rav Gershon Shaul Yom Tov Lipman Heller Son of Rav Nosson HaLevi.
He dove into deep waters [of Torah] and authored several sefarim, whose names are Tzuras HaBayis, Tosafos YomTov on Shas Mishnayos, Ma’adanei Melech and Lechem Chamudos on the Ashri (Rosh), and Toras Ha’asham on the (Rema’s) Toras Chatas
He taught Torah in Klal Yisrael and served in several renowned holy kehillos and congregations [in] Vienna and Prague, and at the end of his days he established the Yeshiva in Poland. And here in Cracow, he was asked to attend the Yeshiva shel Maalah – the Heavenly Academy -- on Wednesday the 6th of Elul, 5414. The Illustration : Man at Window, 1653, by Samuel van Hoogstraten, attributed to Rav Heller, the Tosafos Yom Tov, in Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.
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Alot Has To Change……..
in the status quo! the same old same old is just too “same” like a rotten egg phew! דגל התורה זה שהמנהיגים בוחרים את הנציגים": דברים ...
