Netanya, Israel – While countless Jews worldwide flock to the far reaches of Europe and Israel to daven at the graves of tzadikim, a well known Chasidic rabbi has questioned the validity of the custom, suggesting that it is inappropriate.
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In a recent address to representatives of Arachim on Holocaust related matters in his home, the Sanz-Klausenburger Rebbe from Israel , Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Halberstam, said that his father Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam, the first Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe did not believe in the custom, as reported on Israeli news site B’Chadrei Chareidim.
“I believe that for our bochurim and avreichim, what connects us to the Holocaust and the generations that preceded it is to learn the seforim and the words of these giants in Torah and to continue in their ways. My father would say that if a talmid learns the words of Rabbi Shimon, then Rabbi Shimon would be right next to him. He himself never traveled often to Meiron, going once every few years. When we learned in yeshiva, it never even occurred to us to go to Lag B’Omer on Meiron and there was a regular schedule of learning in the yeshiva just like any other day.”
The Sanzer Rebbe noted that trips to the graves of even renowned rabbonim like the Baal Shem Tov and the Magid of Mezritch were very rare in the Chasidic community.
“My father would say that the tzadikim were elevated to Eretz Yisroel after their deaths and that really, they are no longer buried there. Certainly today when there are no Jews left in these places their graves are empty,” said the Sanzer Rebbe.
The Rebbe noted that for those who are less observant, trips to Europe can serve a useful purpose.
“For those that we hope to bring closer to yiddishkeit, it is beneficial to take them to Europe in the hopes that we can awaken certain feelings within them. Let them learn about our glorious past and the holy congregations by taking them to these places so that they can realize that without a past there is no future, hopefully bringing them closer to the foundations of Judaism.”
The Sanzer Rebbe was also asked if it is appropriate to bring children to visit concentration camps.
“It would have to be someone who is capable of understanding, even to a small degree, what happened there so that we could learn from it about the history of the Jewish people. But in truth, it is really impossible for any human being to comprehend the atrocities that took place during that time. There are so many who have questions but in truth, it was a terrible period of hester panim. Yet when you see the wonderful rebirth of yiddishkeit and the Torah world today, that is also something unusual and we learn from it that there is someone engineering everything that happens in the world.”
Like many other Holocaust survivors, the Sanzer Rebbe’s father, R’ Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam, never returned to his birthplace after the war.
“Once he was nearby and he had an opportunity to visit those cities and he refused to go,” recalled the Sanzer Rebbe. “There was a time that they brought Polish cleaning girls to America and my mother wanted to bring one into the house. My father said he could not be in the house with anyone from Poland and there are those for whom it is very difficult to return to those places.”
The Rebbe was also asked if his father ever suggested a reason for the Holocaust, such as assimilation or not giving proper respect to synagogues.
“If only those who did those things were killed then perhaps that might be a reason,” said the Rebbe. “But it is impossible to say that when so many righteous people, G-d fearing people and talmidim chochomim were killed. The tragedy of the Holocaust is too enormous to comprehend or to try to explain. It was something that defied the laws of nature and it is important to realize that we can’t understand everything that happens in the world.”
There were some bright spots even during the darkest times, observed the Sanzer Rebbe.
“There were so many cases of hashgacha pratis, so many who were miraculously saved. The Belzer Rebbe said that anyone who was saved from the concentration camps was accompanied by two malachim. Even so, we are not able to comprehend why this one was saved and this one was not.”
My feelings exactly !
Just some examples:
1. It was at all NOT the custom for Hassidic yiden to go to the graves of tzaddikim in Europe. The Bobover Rebbe Z”L (R’ Shloma) who was 40 at the time of the war’s outbreak had NEVER been to the tzion (gravesite) of the holy Rebbe R’ Elimelach of Lizensk until he went there in 1973 from the U.S.
2. When 2 chassidim were proud and told the Keddushas Zion Z”L the Bobover Rebbe that was murdered by the Nazis YM”S, that they went to Lizensk, the Kedushas Zion said “you would have accomplished more by learning in his sefer the Noam Elimelach rather than going.
3. When the Belzer Rebbe , Rebbe Yisucher Ber went to the tzion of his father, Rebbe Yehoshua, after not having been there 7 years because he had to run away during WWI, the Belzer chassidim that were close by did not attend with the Rebbe but stayed on learning.
It became more of a “trip” and outing and a great money maker and fund raiser with major marketing.
Kvoidoi bimkoimoi munach.
I agree wuth much of what he says including how worty it is to learn the sefarim of the tzadikim etc
But to use words like “…emrty” chass vesholom. it goes against so many sources in zohar, Gemoro and chassidim writings and the conduct of many many holy rebbes who spent $many days travelling to daven at kivrei tzadikim.
He is wrong.
It’s one thing to say it’s better to sit and. Learn. And quite another the terrible thing he said
With respect
Many Rabbis hold different opinions.
Many Rabbis visit Kivrei-Tzaddikim in Europe.
At least we know that the resting place of Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk Z’L is still intact.
It is well know that during the Holocaust a few Jews were forced by Nazis to dig up his grave.
(I personally heard this 2nd-hand from an eye-witness around 35 years ago.)
They found his body completely intact. They said he looked like he was just buried. He appeared as if he was simply sleeping.
The Nazis ran off in fright, and the Yidden tearfully covered up the grave.
Also, I remember learning somewhere that the burial place of a Tzaddik is conducive that prayers are more prone to reach the Heavens. (Whatever that means…. I understand that to mean that it’s considered a “Makom Kodesh”, which is a good place to pray and have the prayers accepted more successfully.)
In any case, it seems that even according to this Sanzer Rebbe, Kivrei-Tzaddikim in Eretz-Yisroel still contain the bodies of the Tzaddikim, physically and spiritually.
Btw, does anybody know what/where is the original source of the effectiveness to pray at Kivrei-Tzaddikim?
Answer:
Chazal (Gemura;Soteh) teaches that when the Miraglim entered Eretz-Yisroel, Kalev ben Yifineh (Caleb) prayed at the Me’oras-Ha’machpelah in Chevron, and was thus safeguarded from being caught-up with the Miraglem conspiracy.
And he merited to inherit Chevron when Eretz-Yisroel was distributed.
(Rashi- Bamidbar 13:22)
p.s.
It is said that when Jews visit the cemeteries in Eastern Europe, that influences the local Gentiles to respect and preserve the Jewish burial grounds.
when they buried a tzaddik, i think it was the malach, he was in a cemetery with not religious jews, so they wanted to move him 30 years ago, when they took him out of the ground there was a big argument whether to open to coffin or not, in the end someone opened it and they saw his body, full and regular like he just passed, and within a year the 10 people who moved him all passed
His father ZTZ”L may have not believed in the mekomos hakdoishim however there were plenty of big rabbis and admoirim who went from Galitzia and from all over Europe on 21 Adar to Lezinsk and to other kivrei TZADIKIM Even after the war the Bobover Rebbe Zatzl and many other went
And more recent admoirim constantly go to Europe.
Brilliant Man!
This sounds like the most thoughtful and wise rebbe I have heard about in a while.
Hitler YM”SH was just like a stick in the hand of HKB”H. It was HKB”H that did to us what He wanted to do. Why? Nobody knows yet.
There have been given at least a Dozen different reasons offered by Gedolim of all sects, (I even heard someone claim that the color of our Tefilin is might be wrong) which shows that we still don’t know the true reason.
But the real question is, why would a loving father like HKB”H hit his dear children so severely, without giving them any hint, as to what got him so upset?
how quickly yidden forget what the entire Europe did to us. Today we have frum people driving BMW’s and other German cars, using German products such as Miele and Bosch and even go on vacation to Austria and Germany. And to boot they rationalize that of course we use it because it is of superior quality. People stop being stupid and listen to what the Rebbe z”tl is saying. Don’t forget and don’t forgive.The Pollacks and Ukranians are good to clean your toilets and nothing more.
The Sanzer Rebbe speaks out wisely and with courage, especially because so many Chassidim seem to venerate their deceased Rebbis to an extent that resembles worshipping them. The Rebbe’s comments about the cause of the Shoa are also well taken. Only Hashem knows why; and we who point a finger at those righteous martyrs are incapable of answering the question.
The previous Rebbe never went back to his father’s grave (the rudnicker rav) after the war, although he knew exactly where he was buried, he said, that after wwll these Tzadikim we’re taken to Eretz Yisrael.
Kol Hakovid to the Sanz Klausenburg Rebbe Shlita. We know that when learning the words of a Ztaddik his lips move at the same time. Why Travel to Leshensk when you can be learning the Noam Elimelech and have him say what you are saying. Or travel to Uman and put money into the pockets of the children of Hitler’s willing executioners. If you are at Kosel and daven and have the zchusim of the Bal Shem in mind and are mispallel that he be a meilitz Yosher does anyone think that this is not better?
this is a very smart man
don’t see why everyone runs to Europe whether uman or other places
and pump millions into the economy of those that murdered us and still hate us
it is absolutely horrible to see “heimishe” yidden driving bmw and Mercedes and volswagon
bh there many cars on the market
we have very short memories
how about pesach in Austria or Budapest
sick!!!!!
It takes a really great man to say we don’t know why. That is the only comment I can hear.
my father was from Lishensk and he never wanted to go back after the war. He often said that his Rebbe the heiliger R’ Aron M’Belz never came to Lishensk to Rav Elimelechs gravesite despite the pleading of many Belzer chasidim who lived in ansd around Lishensk. In all my 50 years I have never heard my father or any other Lishensker speak about moving the grave of R’ Elimelech and openning his aron.The story might not be entirely true unless it could be verified.
The whole traveling to kivrei avos started with Hungarian yidden who did not suffer under the Nazis as long as the Polisher yidden. That is why their sina towards them is not as great and that is why they go back to Hungary and other parts of Europe so eagerly but Polish jews generally stay away.
In this world there are no answers. In the next world there are no questions.
It’s like a breath of fresh air to read this. Holocaust and Cemetery tourism has become an industry and does nothing to honor those neshomos..
Let us remember what Amalek did to us. I have heard the question, why did Hashem command us, not just to destroy Amalek, but also their sheep and cattle, and everything that was theirs? The answer is, that future generations shouldn’t say, Yes Amalek was terrible,but their cows give such sweet milk, their sheep have such soft wool. And today they say, but their cars give such a smooth ride.
It is clearly nice that at least one person in a year goes to a certain grave especially if it is a Torah Great of course. But really, if the rabbi is inferring that we should study the words and work of these sages more than just rely on their mystical properties of grave discovery planning hope does not mean we truly are helping their cause unless we understand their pain. We can be higher distinctions in our own suffering if we limit our voice against the wall of indifference that strikes the soul of time every day.
But of course, a grave has mystical properties and it would be a mitzvah as well as a pilgrimage to visit a few graves in your years.
I would not think that Hashem expects you to go to great expense however to visit a grave and especially on a routine basis. Economics are limited and we must always judge whether we have a priority in the cost of any action versus its other options which can be used to build Torah and Community.
Shalom.
In other words if you need a vacation Ok its a nice interesting kosher vacation. But don’t kid your self into thinking that this is what gives the reba R Melich the biggest nachas. He would much rather you stay hoem, take a vacation from work, sit an learn a whole day and donate the costs what yoy would spend to tzedaka. (you don’t have to fly to EY for a yarchai kala for this. your local Bies Medres would suffice)
I once asked the rebbe that how come there is such an hisoirreris by reb elimeilech and other kivrei tzadikkim if they are not there anymore. The rebbe answered me that every place where a lot of yidden davven becomes a mukoim tefillah isegula for tefillos to be niskabbel. That is why yidden still davven at the 7th step by meoras hamachpeila, even though we davven inside of it.
The satmar rebbe the Divrei Yoel,writes in his sefer Al Hagulah v’al atmurah exactly the same thing,he says that i have no idea why people flock to the cemeteries of tzadikim,there is absolutely no INYAN to do it,and then he quotes the BACH,that going to a kever and talking to the niftar,you might be involved in a ISSUR M’DEORAISA of DORESH EL HAMAISIM.
Therefore he says people should refrain going to kivrei tzadikim,especially women
Good day, The Rebbe is entitled to his opinion and we may or may not agree with him, it seems of great importance to him to stick to certain “So-called” minhagim that his great… Grandfather the holy Divrei Chaim had, Simply going to his childrens wedding on Horse and Buggy (oops White Horese). Amazing, talk about “EMPTINESS” The Divrei Chaim didn’t have Metal Branches, Electricity or hugs halls to make the wedding in.
Please Rebbe, stop this non-sense, While there are Tekanos for weddings, YOU dont have to come up with these Lavish craziness of Horse and Buggies, (Goyim L’havdil do it for the Romance in it) The Holy Divrei Chaim didnt have a Cadillac, so instead of riding in a wagon with brown horses they brought White horses but it has ZERO to do with Yiddishkeit or a Minhag.
Please not that not all Frum Jews are stupid.
Chag Kasher V’Someach, Yosef ben Chayim