Bracha from the Rebbe

Are these Tefillin Kosher?

How to Buy a Kosher Mezuzah

Did Rav Blau meet the Schochets?

According to R' Avrohom M. he did:

I believe that your zeide went once to visit his parents in law, during the engagement, Poland and Lithuania were then nominally at war and you could not travel from one to the other. He took the train to one side of the border, ran through bushes and waste land across the border and walked to the nearest station in Lithuania and took a train to Tielsiai/Telz, and then back the same way.

Das Buch Hiob

Interesting letter written by Rav Blau to - יבדל לחיים טובים וארוכים - his sister Rivka שתחיה

צרור תמונות של ר' יונה הכהן

מצבת ר' יונה ב"ר רבי בנימין הכהן יהורם

באדיבות הרב אברהם מרמורשטיין

A picture of the קבר of Rav Yonah Cohn in Wroclaw (Breslau). Next to him is the matzeva of his second wife. His first-wife Ella-Leah (Rav Blau's mother) died long before and is buried in Rawitsch.

Geni profile of R' Yonah Cohn:

http://www.geni.com/people/Rabbi-Dr-John-Yonah-Cohn/353279424840011069

הגהות על מס' ברכות - חלק א

הבטחה למי שיתעסק בזיכוי הרבים במצות תפילין ומזוזות

חכמי ווערבוי

מאת הרב משה יהודה הכהן בלוי

קונטרס משמרת יעקב לרבי יעקב קאפל הכהן בלוי (בלויא)

מצבתו של ר' אהרן בלויא - A visit to Verbove

From cousin Zalman K.

Vrbove Slovakia 27 Cheshvan 5768 25 November 2008

Today Zalman and Shoshana (Shoshie) Kastel visited the town of Vrbove Slovakia, the home of the Blau family “for several generations” (- heard in conversations with R' Avrohom M. or his brother Yissocher Nov 08) ending with the father of R. Moshe Yehudah Blau who moved away to go to learn and later to be a Rav in Germany.

The town of Vrbove has a shul that is mostly ruined and boarded up, you can see the shul on the main street, an orange/teerocota coloured building, with Luchos at the top. The structure of the building seems intact, some of the beautiful design work, especially the painted ceiling is still visible if you can get the chance to see it. We went all the way around the block up a drive way with a sign is Slovak that seemed to say keep out. There were a set of locked steel doors on one of the windows. We bent down underneath while also pulling them open as much as the lock would allow.

We could see the blue painted ceiling, one pillar next to the Aron Kodesh, some of the columns and the women’s section.

It seems that at some point our family stopped davening at that shul and started to daven in another minyan. The facts or story needs further verification, the basic details I understood from R' Avrohom M. is that R. Aharon Blau who had served as the Rabbi and Av Beis Din [Correction: He was a Chazzan not a Rav, see here for list of the Rabbonim of this city] was removed from this role and another Rav was installed. The Hertzog family supported Rav Blau at this time. It would appear that this is the shul where we didn’t daven, although I would think that in earlier times the Blau’s would have davened in this shul.

Not far from the shul, on one of the side streets off the main street, is the Jewish cemetery. To get in you need the key from a lady who lives next door.

As you enter the cemetery, one of the first graves near the pathway at the front is that of the Shaarei Torah. I am a bit confused about the notes I took from my conversation with Rabbi Avrohom about the location of a Kever of an ancestor by the name of Hoffman, I first tried to find Reb Aharon Blau, by the time I had finished it was late, and unfortunately I could not find the others.

Near the back of the cemetery, there is a road blocked by a brick wall. Toward the middle of the 2nd to the last row, over a bit to the left I was told was the Kever of Rabbi Aharon Blau, I also had a photo which gave some clues about it’s location, a short distance to a brick wall, a small matzeva to it’s right and behind it over to the side, a Matzevah with a distinct design leaning forward. I walked the full length of this area a few times but there was nothing to match the photo.

I suspected that the Matzevah might have fallen down. With the clues provided, I decided that I had found it, a Matzevah with the correct shape, lying face down in the right spot near the other two markers and the wall behind it. We began to dig around it then went for help and tools.

When we looked closely we could see that it was unfortunately split in two parts. We turned them over, dug a little hole and stood the bottom half in the hole. We placed the top half in front of the bottom half. We said some Tehilim, almost 100 years after he was buried in 5675. The lady told us that hooligans came around 10 years ago and broke some of the Matzeivos.

I am not sure how long it will stand, I think we need to get someone proffesional to set it for the long term. I don't know how much I can do from Australia. Contact details for person with key to cemetery, is Maria Niznanska, 033/7791493, Eintorinska 5, Vrbove, Slovakia. Sh lives next door to the Beis Olam. The closest Chabad Shliach is in Piestany, which is 10 minutes from Vrbove. I have higher resolution versions of the attached pictures if anyone wants or needs.

Deciphering the Matzeva
By Mendy E.

R' Aharon's Chazanus
by Mendel B.

It's interesting that it's written on the Matzeiva about R' Aharon Chazonus.

I heard from R' Yissochor last week, that when the Blau's (Aharon and children) would sing Zmiros on Shaboos, the neighbors would stand outside the house to listen to the beautiful voices singing.

I was also told by Nanette that R' Armin loved music. This is also evident from one of Yeshayahu Aviad's articles about Armin. It seems the family was very musical. Zaidy too had a love for certain music (Rosenblat for one) and would sing Birchas Hamozoin, the Hagada etc. in a very nice tune. My father remembers alot of it.

Mandel Blau
by Yissochor

I assume you know that R. Koppel and Ahron Blau also had a brother Mandel, who is buried right next to Ahron in Verbau. The matzeva was still standing and just about legible the first time I was there. I think I also have a photo of the matzeva of Mandel Blau's wife.

Shul in Vrbové

קונטרס חסדי ה'

בס"ד
קונטרס חסדי ה'

והוא קורות חייו של הרב חיים משה יהודה הכהן בלוי זצ"ל

דבר המעתיק: קונטרס זה כתב המחבר בחדשי שבט-אדר א' תשנ"ה אף שלא נרשם כן בפירוש מ"מ בפתיחת "חלק שביעי" נכתב ב אדר א' ובכ"י רשם בצדו Thursday, feb 2 ובשנת תשנ"ה הי' הקביעות כן. וכן בחלק השני של הקונטרס – שלא נכלל כאן - הנק' "מחלותיי בשנות תשנ"ד ותשנ"ה" ישנו כותרת "הנסים שעשה לי הקב"ה מערב פסח תשנ"ד עד היום ה' אדר א' תשנ"ה". מ.מ.א.

שבחיו של ר' ירמיהו

ב"ה

לכבוד יום היארצייט של אבי - י"ג תשרי

אספר בשבחו (תשס"ד)

א. נזהר מאוד ב"ביומו תתן שכרו".

ב. פעם בא איזה אלמנה בשם ערלעך ואמרה שזקוקה לעזר גשמי, הושיבה בחדר מכובד ואמר לה שאולי מחר יוכל לעזור לה.

למחר בהיותו בבית הספר סיפר למלמדים אודותה, קיבל מהם סכום הגון ונתן לה.

ג. בסוכות גר אצלנו מר קליין (בקומה שני') ושם הרי אי אפשר לבנות סוכה, אמר לו אבא שיכול לאכול בסוכה שלנו, לפעמים הי' אוכל עמנו ג"כ.

ד. כך הי' נוהג בשבת: נהג ללכת אתי (בעודני ילד קטן) לבית הכנסת רחוק קצת (עשרים דקות הליכה) וקודם שהלך עשה קידוש, טעם משהו (מזונות וכדומה) ובדרך הי' מתפלל תחילת שחרית בע"פ וכשהי' מגיע היו אוחזים בקריאת התורה. שם כבר גמר שחרית וגם התפלל מוסף שם.

דרך אגב שם הי' יהודי בשם ביסטריצקי (הביסטריצקי הזקן הגר בקראון הייטס הוא בנו וגם התפלל שם בהיותו ילד והי' לו שווער בשם בערגלאס.)

ה. לאבי הי' מאשין קטן (שלא עבד עם עלעקטרע, אלא עם היד, וקרא לה צוויק) לגלח זקנו, כיוון שלא רצה להשתמש ב"שייווינג קרים".

ו. כשהייתי כותב מכתבים לאבי הייתי כותב בלשון הקודש והוא כתב לי בדייטש.

במכתביו קרה לעצמו ולמשפחתי "מתי מדבר", שהי' בטוח שהיטלר ימ"ש לא יתן לו לצאת מגרמני' לעולם.

אמנם ה' עזר וניתן לו אפשרות לצאת, נתן הספרים שבבית (שלי, שלו ושל סבא) והפקידם אצל מר פראגער, ויצא לדרך.

הוא חשב שיגיע לארץ ישראל, אבל באמצע נסיעתו התחיל המלחמה והוצרך להשאר באנגלי', שם התפרנס ע"י שנתן שיעורים.

נפטר באנגלי' וקברוהו בבית הקברות הישן שהי' אַלט - מאָדיש ולא היה שם חלקת כהנים, ואי אפשר לכוהנים להגיע לשם.

הערות על תניא

גליון לקוטי אמרים – תניא

הקדמה המהדיר: מתוך הפירושים נראה שרשם מה שהבין דבר מתוך דבר ממה שלמד בעצמו, בלי משפיע וכיו"ב. עוד סימוכין לזה מצאתי בסוף שער היחוד והאמונה, שניקד מילת דומם בדל"ת שרוקה ומ"ם קמוצה, ובודאי הי' יודע את הניקוד המקובל אילו למד עם תלמיד ותיק. ההערות עצמם – אף שלא תמיד מכוונים לפירוש החסידי המסורתית – מלאים התפעלות כמוצא שלל רב, ונכרים הדברים שקיבל את דברי התניא כדברים שא"א להרהר אחריהם, ואילו את תורת המוסר ראה כשכל אנושי גרידא שעלול לטעות.

הערות

המפסיק ממשנתו ואומר וכו' אומר ל"ד אלא  כמו  האומר אין תחה"מ מן התורה אין לו וכו', שר"ל מחשב בלבו והטעם שבאמת אין לך יפה מתוה"ק, והנותן כבוד לעבד בפני רבו מבזהו, ה"נ נהי דבלא עידן ת"ת יש יופי לפי ערך מ"מ בשעת תו"ת הכל בטל נגד תוה"ק שהיא היא יופי כל היופיים ותפארת כל תפארת ואין יפה ממנה בעולם. ולפי"ז אין לדון ק"ו ממארז"ל למפסיק לדברי העולם לצורך גדול כגון הבא חפץ זה, שבזה אינו מבזה תוה"ק. (א:א)

From Hamodia

The champion of the rishonim

The Life and Times of HaRav HaGaon R’ Chaim Moshe Yehuda Blau ZT”L

By M. Hecht

Like our glorious European Jewish past, Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Blau was a treasure. His petirah on the 3^rd of Iyar closed a window on a world long gone and leaves a void in the Jewish communities of the United States and Canada, and indeed, around the world.

Born in Hamburg, Germany on the 4^th of Marcheshvan, 5673, the young Moshe Yehuda attended the yeshiva where his esteemed father taught, and then learned in Chust, Hungary, under the tutelage of Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky. His goal was to continue his learning in Mir. He saved up for the trip by tutoring young children in his spare time.

Rav Blau's Bracha

Told by Mrs. Alana O.

My father was very close to Rabbi Blau, so when we became engaged we naturally went to Rabbi Blau for a Brachah. After giving us Birkas Kohanim, he told us that “no one should touch any of your belongings, all your belongings should be safe”. My Choson thought that it was a strange comment, but we forgot about it. Months later I needed to have an emergency surgery and we rushed to the hospital leaving one of our windows a crack open. When we came back we realized that a burglar has attempted to enter our home through that window, but was deterred after our alarm system went off. Had he been successful he would have certainly found my jewelry that was lying on the dresser opposite the window… Only then did we remind ourselves about Rabbi Blau’s Brachah.

* * *

Rabbi Blau gave my husband a Brachah that he should get married during that year. He wasn’t even going out then. Later we got engaged and got married two days before Rosh Hashanah! This is especially interesting because our original plan was to get married after Rosh Hashanah and it was only changed at the last minute.

קונטרס זכור

שיטת הקדמונים

For a list of seforim edited by Rabbi Blau, click here.

A TRUE AISHES CHAYIL

My maternal Bubby, Rebbetzin Chana Chaya Hene Blau, was born on the 4th of Adar, 5673 (1912) in the city of Telshe in Lithuania, to her parents Reb Meir Shmaryahu B”R Shimon Yaakov z”l Hy”d and Rochel B”R Yosef Calev a”h Hy”d.

Historical Background:

Before World War II, Lithuania represented one of the largest Jewish communities and centers of Jewish learning in the world. The thriving communities and various yeshivas attracted Jews from all over Europe. The Jews of Lithuania maintained an intense Jewish life. They spoke Yiddish amongst themselves and lived a Torah way of life. Torah learning flourished among wide circles and love of Torah and esteem for its study was widespread among the masses of Jews. Telshe was a city where the Yeshiva was in the center of the metropolis. The education of the girls was on a very high standard as well.

During the 1920’s the Jews were engaged in trade, industry, crafts and agriculture. My Bubby’s father was a wood merchant and was known for his extreme honesty not only in his dealing with Jews but with non-Jews as well. My Bubby’s mother was also an extremely pious woman who was not only Midakdek in Mitzvos but deliberately refrained from enjoying more than a minimal degree of Gashmius   in this world, to the extent, that she chose to eat only as much a she felt she needed for survival.

When my Bubby was a child, the government of Lithuania granted Jews autonomy, giving the Kehilla the right to impose taxes for their own budget for religious affairs, charity, and their own school system.  The educational system setup in Lithuania was one of the most important achievements of Jewish national autonomy. Teachers in the Jewish elementary schools who had teaching certificates approved by the ministry of education received their salaries from state funds in common with non-Jewish teachers in the state schools. There were three school systems:  The Zionist-oriented, the Yiddishist, and Yavneh, the religious traditional schools.  It was in this Yavneh school system that my Bubby worked as teacher and principal for ten years. She was a devoted Michaneches and also served as educator in the Bais Hayisomim.

When the Russians occupied Lithuania in June of 1940 they closed Yeshivos, restricted Jewish business, and started a wave of arrests.  A year later they deported many Jews to Siberia to work in heavy labor camps. Teaching Yiddishkeit under  the watchful eye of the Soviets required  tremendous Mesiras Nefesh as well as Bina Yisairoh to know what to say when the Russian inspectors came in to “visit” the classroom.

On Rosh Chodesh Tamuz, 1941 the Nazis entered Lithuania. After three terrible week of torture, on the 20th of Tamuz the Germans massacred the male population of the city of Telshe including my great grandfather. The woman and children were killed on the 7^th of Elul, 5701, my great grandmother among them. A glorious chapter in Jewish History came to an abrupt and tragic end.

Yet, through an amazing series of Nissim and Hashgacha Protis, my Bubby A”H along with yibodel l’chaim my Zaidy Shlita, escaped, and as a result I am B”H  here today.

My grandfather, Harav Ch. Moshe Yehudo Blau, was learning in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Poland from 1930 to 1939. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, the Yeshiva students along with thousands of Jews fled to Vilna, which was now transferred  back to  Lithuania. At this time it was still a place of peace and prosperity.  The refugees tried to explain about the Jews being killed in Poland, but while the Jews in Lithuania were extremely generous and hospitable, they did not fully believe the extent of the Nazi Holocaust.

The Lithuanian haven did not last long. When the Communists invaded in June of 1940, it was already too late for the Lithuanian Jews to leave the country. Only Polish Jews, which included the Mirrer Yeshiva, would be allowed to leave if they   had travel documents.

It was at this time that my Zaidy Shlita, met by Bubby A”H and was extremely impressed with her Yiras Shomayim, Tznius and Midos Tovos. Her Kibbud Av V’aim was exemplary as she risked her government position to take off to care for her sick father. My Zaidy knew that when he gets to America he would not find a girl of her caliber, so under the most trying times, when the Russians had already occupied the country and taken over the schools, my Bubby had to secretly arrange to get married. Marrying a foreigner was considered a crime, as was taking off from work. Yet, once they were married, my Zaidy was able to put her on his passport as a spouse and thus she was fortunately able to escape a certain death and make her journey with the Yeshiva.

Another Nes occurred that Russia agreed to allow refugees from Poland, with whom it was at war, to travel through their country on transit visas if they had a destination. No country wanted the Jews.  They then discovered that the Dutch Island of Curacao in the Caribbean did not require formal entry visas. There was still one more obstacle; since they were passing through Japan, they would also need a transit visa from Japan.  By this time, however the Japanese consulate had already been moved to Moscow.

It was at this point that another Nes occurred, the Japanese officer of the consulate who had strict order to stop issuing visas, defied his government’s orders and issued hundreds of hand –written visas a day for an entire month, thus saving thousands of Jewish lives, among them my grandparents.

After receiving their visas, the refugees lost no time in getting on trains to Vladivostok. and from there, by boat to Kobe, Japan. They were allowed to stay in Kobe for nine months bus as the Japanese were planning the attack of Pearl Harbor they deported the Jews to Shanghai, China, in September of 1941. Thus, the entire Yeshiva and many others miraculously escaped the Holocaust.

The four years that my grandparents lived in Shanghai were filled with many hardships.. Sickness, poverty and death were seen everywhere.  The refugees had to stand on long lines for the meager portion of cooked food from the Jewish community kettle. Due to the circumstances, Rabbonim were matir Cholov Akum. Yet my Bubby was steadfast in her maintenance of the highest standards of Kashrus even if it meant that she would have to do without milk, which was an important staple in the ghetto. Considering that she was feeling sick and weak most of the time due to her intolerance of the oppressively hot, and humid climate, this was no small feat.

Through all the hardships in the Shanghai ghetto the Yeshiva community continued to learn with great diligence. But in the evening, the men each went home to their wives to provide them with a feeling of security and family. My Bubby, however, willingly allowed her husband to stay in the Yeshiva till late in the night, while she sat home or in the shelters alone with two infants and with the frightening  bombs falling overhead. Her Mesiras Nefesh for Torah knew no bounds and continued throughout her married life in America as well. “How do women merit [a portion in Olam Haboh]? They wait for their husbands to come home from the Beis Hamedrash…(Brochos 17) My Bubby fulfilled this to a very high degree. She bravely shouldered the full burden of running their home. Throughout the years, she willing allowed and encouraged my Zaidy to spend hours and hours everyday learning, even if it meant that she waited hours even on Friday night for him to come home from Shul, because that’s when it was more conducive for my Zaidy to concentrate.

When the war was over, and my grandparents arrived in America, their first stop was at the home of Bubby’s sister, the Hodakovs. It was then that my grandparents were introduced to Lubavitch and the Frierdiker Rebbe. Although Bubby came from a city which was known for Misnagdim, [she said that she never even saw a Chosid when she grew up], nevertheless she became totally Mikusher to the Rebbe with a very strong Emunah which affected her to the degree that she physically felt an immediate relief when she was told that the Rebbe with a wave of his hand indicated that her illness was insignificant.

“Chochmas Nashim Bonsa Baisa”. Although Bubby was an unusually perceptive and wise woman with and exceptional depth of understand, yet her Anava and Bitul was equally impressive and she would always ask the advice of her Mashpia before every decision.  Her Bina Yisaira and her ability to be Mevater were keys in her being a Rodef Shalom. She would never wait for the other person to apologize, but for the sake of Shalom would look away from her own Kovod.

“Kol Kevuda Bas Melech Pinima”. Bubby was a private person whose Tzinius extended not only in dress, but in her whole mannerism. She always did all the work in the background so that her husband and children should succeed, never looking for any recognition for herself. She was involved in every aspect of my Zaidy’s work in publishing Kisvei Yad of Rishonim, from advice about which manuscript to print next to dealing with printers, binders and finances. She was an “Aizer Kinegdo” in the fullest sense of the word. Zaidy’s activities in spreading his Sforim and in lecturing throughout the United States on the Inyan of Mezuza, took him away from home for weeks and sometimes three months at a time. Bubby willingly stayed home alone with the children so that her husband could be involved in Hafotzas Hayahadus. She worked for days beforehand preparing condensed peklach of food for the long trip, which were packed in dry ice. Her devotion knew no bounds.

She herself was always Mistapek B’muet, being content with hand-me-down clothing and used furniture, but was always encouraging and involved in the distribution of Tzedaka with a generous hand.

Bubby tried to do every Mitzva B’salchlis Hashlaimus and with Hidur Mitzvah. This was seen in Kashrus, Shabbos, Yomim Tovim and in Chinuch of the children without Pshorus, without compromises.  The Zehirus from Chometz and the Hachonos to Pesach were carried out with unusual meticulousness.  Tosfos Shabbos and Hidur in Oneg Shabbos were a priority. In being Mechanech her children in the 1950’s in America she wasn’t afraid to set high standards. In the years before an abundance of Mehudardike nash and Cholov Yisroel were taken for granted. Her children did not go to public libraries even though there were practically no English Judaic books available. When movies were still ‘pareve’ she was strong enough to set the standard that we don’t watch, even if the movie is brought into camp. Her Chinuch was so powerful that her children did not feel in any way deprived but rather felt proud of the fact that we are different and hold by a higher standard. Her goal was to have children who learn and go in the way of Torah and B”H she has succeeded.

Even in the last days of her life when she was terminally ill in the hospital, her strength of commitment to avoid compromises was manifest when she repeatedly declined offers of her husband, my Zaidy Shlita, to come to visit because she knew that as a Kohen he was very Makpid not to enter a hospital unless it was absolutely essential. On the 13^th of Kislev she returned her holy Neshama to her Maker. May we be Zoche to see her very soon with the Hisgalus of Moshiach Now!

*           *           *

The name Chana as is well known is an acronym for the three Mitzvos of the woman. It was a name that was added when she was sick, after the Rebbetzin Chana. Chaya represents life which was the Lebedikeit and enthusiasm with which she performed Mitzvos. 

RABBI YIRMIYAHU AND ELLA LEAH BLAU

From an article written in 2003

My mother's paternal grandfather, Rabbi Yirmiyahu Hacohen Blau, was born in Hungary on the 26th of Tamuz, 1877. His wife, Ella Leah was born in Pozen on the 22nd of Nissan 1888.

My great-grandfather was very learned in both Torah and intellectual matters. He was a teacher of languages in the Talmud Torah School and was very involved in various חםד activities. He excelled in Mitzvos .בין אדם לחברו He made great efforts to raise money for the Mirrer Yeshiva in Poland. At that time in Germany the inflation was very high; sometimes the price of an item could double from one day to the next, making the financial situation very difficult and uncertain. Although he lived on a tight budget himself he was extremely generous with הכנםת אורחים. On Friday night his table was always filled with lonely single people who needed a Shabbos meal. He treated guest with utmost respect and generosity, giving them the most comfortable accommodations he had. On the Seder nights his dining room was packed with needy people who felt wanted and comfortable in his home.

His wife, Ella Leah was a very intelligent, self educated woman with a quiet modest manner about her. She helped out her husband with פרנםה by giving piano lessons and tutoring French. She was a big בעלת חסד and had a very strong love for ארץ ישראל. She would go around from house to house to ask people if they had used clothing to donate. She would then take the clothes home, wash it and pack it into neat packages which she would ship to ארץ ישראל. This was often a humiliating task as she would frequently meet with rudeness and rejection. Nevertheless she persisted.

They had three children: My Zaidy, Horav Moshe Yehuda Hacohen Blau, Shlita, Rivka Marmorstein, who lives in London and a Binyamin Zev, הי"ד. He had fled to Holland before the war but was transported to a concentration camp in Romania, and was then killed by the Nazis, at age 23.

As the Nazis took over Germany, my great grandfather feared that he would share the fate of his brethren. He wrote in a letter which he sent to my Zaidy, who was then in Poland with the Mirrer Yeshiva, "we will soon belong to the "מתי מדבר". This was a concealed way of saying "our end is near". However, Hashem helped and they were able to get British visas, since as a Rabbi and teacher they were able to claim that his services were needed in England. Her sister, Lilly Koppel, with whom they initially stayed, helped them out. Later, both of them taught privately, both Hebrew and English

My great grandfather was Niftar on the 13th of Tishrei, 1946 at the age of 69. His widow then moved to Tel-Aviv to live with her sister. She was Niftar on the 22nd of Nissan, on the day of her birth in 1950.

Letter from R' Yechezkel Levenstein

R' Yirmiya's Semicha from Rav Koppel Blau and Others