Jerusalem – Widow Of Slain Rabbi Blames Internal Haredi Discord For Synagogue Terror Attack

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    File: Ultra-Orthodox Jews mourn during a eulogy ceremony of the funeral of Rabbi Moshe Twersky in a religious Neighborhood of Jerusalem, 18 November 2014. EPA/ABIR SULTANJerusalem – Bashi Twersky, the widow of Rabbi Mosheh Twersky – who was killed in the Har Nof terrorist attack last week – said the internal divisions within the ultra-Orthodox community that have developed over the last two years were the reason why her husband and three other members of the community died in the brutal incident.

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    Speaking at the mass prayer rally and ceremony held in the Jerusalem neighborhood on Tuesday night for the end of the shiva mourning period for the victims, Twersky said the dispute had become increasingly acrimonious over the last year in particular.

    She was alluding to the establishment of a new political movement and party that is in competition with the traditional Degel Hatorah non-hassidic haredi party.

    She said that the attack had been particularly brutal, and asked how such a death could befall those praying in synagogue, “how did the sanctity of the synagogue and prayer not defend us,” she asked.

    “The fire of dispute has been burning among us for a year now, and this dispute became terrible, and every day it gets worse.”

    “Someone who listens to a great rabbi different from the one I listen to, someone who belongs to a different camp from me is commanded to be cruel to them, is commanded to humiliate and disgrace them, to harass them with terrible brutality.

    “When we behave with cruelty to our brothers, God sends a punishment with cruelty, measure for measure.

    “In synagogues and study halls they persecuted, disgraced and humiliated those who think differently from me, and therefore we were struck by the attribute of strict justice in a synagogue at the time of prayer,” the rabbi’s wife said.

    She added that strengthening religious observance, as has been advised by many rabbis, was not a good enough reaction, and that rather a “drastic change” was required.

    Addressing the hundreds of women who had gathered to listen to the bereaved women speak, Twersky pleaded tearfully for such change.

    “Beloved daughters, I implore you from a broken and tearful heart and from the depths of my soul: Let us accept upon ourselves to live with love and fraternity with all Jews who tremble before God…. Maybe then these sacrifices will not be for nothing and if we act with love to each other, God will reply to us with love,” she said.

    Since the late Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv died in July 2012, the non-hassidic haredi world has been riven by an internal dispute over who should inherit the mantle of leadership.

    It was the elderly and frail Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman who was acknowledged as the new leader by the majority of the community, but supporters and loyalists of the more hard line Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach refused to accept Shteinman as the spiritual leader.

    The Bnei Torah party, established by Auerbach loyalists, contested local municipal elections in October 2013 and won several seats on municipal councils in the ultra-Orthodox strongholds of Jerusalem, Modi’in Illit and Bnei Brak.

    The resultant factional strife has been extremely rancorous with mutual recriminations from either side.

    It is this division that Bashi Twersky was referring to in her emotional and heartfelt speech Tuesday night.

    Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post


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    36 Comments
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    favish
    favish
    9 years ago

    A great tragedy has befallen her …but that doesn’t make her a prophetess

    Insider
    Insider
    9 years ago

    Ashemin Anachnu – She is so right !!

    9 years ago

    With all the sympathy due to the almonoh of this Kadosh, I have difficulty in accepting anyone’s statement about why tragedies happened. Our Chazal were Baalei Ruach Hakodesh, and capable of telling us the reasons for each of the churbanos of the Batei Mikdosh. If we review the statements of the Neviim regarding the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdosh, the statements about the reasons are intense, but vague as the specific cause.

    What we need to hear is the messages from the Gedolei Hador about what things we can do to improve ourselves and be protected from harm. When these pieces of guidance are connected to the tragedy, we see the midoh kineged midoh, and we tend to be more receptive. When we do not see the connection, the words seem to be ignored, however great they may be.

    If someone said that we should be more careful with shmiras Shabbos, it is arguably a wonderful thing, but we cannot see how such a tikun would relate to anything here.

    Being a distant relative of this Kadosh, I feel something here, besides his having been the gavra raboh that he was to so many. But I would refrain from giving reasons for tragedies. Tikunim by Gedolei Yisroel are invited.

    9 years ago

    Very powerful message indeed from someone who really feels the pain in her heart and soul and her message must be internalized by the entire global jewish community!

    knowitall1
    knowitall1
    9 years ago

    We never know why these sad tragedies befall us but one thing is 100% as true as day; bain adam L’ chavairo is what can shield us from all harm. Hashem proclaimed that he could overlook Torah transgressions no matter how serious, as long as there is respect and love between Jews. We on this forum are all guilty of not only hating our fellow Jews, but openly writing about it within this forum. I ask you fellow Jews; can we change? Can we, the Vin faithful stop the divisive language?

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    9 years ago

    As my heart and as well millions of other jews heart in the world are deeply hurt and saddened by this terrible tragedy of those Four Kedoyshim. How does Mrs. Twersky judge why Hashem took her dear devoted husband as a Korben Tzibir because of some Machloykes within the community.? There are so much other problems within us that might of caused this terrible tragedy..We have Tzenius problems, Yeshivas not accepting yidishe kinderlech who want to learn Torah, Thousand of yidden carrying around Smart phones without filters, and many more things that need a major Tikin. We all pray that those 4 widows should be able to raise their kids with no more tzures and see only naches. Hashem who took them away from us is thhe same who is Dyen Almunois. He will comfort you all and there is no need to pointing fingers and blaming a particular community..

    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    9 years ago

    Chaim Yankel tell me why 1 million Yiddishe kinder were killed by gas , shot or smashed their heads by Ukrainian SS, Latvian SS and others

    QCoverage
    QCoverage
    9 years ago

    To all of you naysayers a quick reading of the medrashim of the asara harugei malchus might be enlightening. Chochmas Nashim bansa baysah.

    chachom
    chachom
    9 years ago

    My daughter was a Talmidah of Rebitzen Twerski. She would not talk like that.
    The source is the Jerusalem ComPost. This is the Israeli equivalent of the New York Times. This should be removed until the editors hear a recording of the speech.

    LionofZion
    LionofZion
    9 years ago

    I think Chaim Yankel is absolutely correct. The widow does not understand why bad things happen. They happen because of Tznius and Iphones, the same as in the time of the Tach V’Tat. Or maybe, just maybe, it is because Rav Shach and Shimon Peres decided that arming members of the PLO would bring peace and stability for Klal Yisroel. Daas Torah.

    9 years ago

    BS”D Everything is behasgachah haelyonah, – from Hashem. Hashgachah Helyonah gave her this thought,as well as guided those reading this, is an indication that we should reflect on this and correct it in ourselves. If you think otherwise, going this way is still not a loss, after all by following this path we are doing the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisrael. Kol Tuv Le’am Yisrael.

    md2205
    md2205
    9 years ago

    Okay, let’s say that she is not correct and that the discord and disunity among Jews didn’t cause this problem. On the other hand, everyone, however, agrees that there is discord and disunity, that people could have more ahavas yisroel, and at least be more tolerant of each other’s viewpoints, shitas and hanhagas. We all agree on that. So even if she is not right, why don’t we just work on ourselves anyway on this inyan, and with the goal of bringing Moshiach, and we are assured that if we will work hard at it, we will succeed. The inyan is important enough on its own that we can pay attention to it and try to improve our own personal thoughts, speech and deed. Even one apology to someone we offended, even one attempt to make up with someone we weren’t getting along with, etc.

    7373
    7373
    9 years ago

    ידוע מה שכתב רש”י הק’ למה הקב”ה בחר באבות מפני שלא שאלו “למה?” ואנחנו אין יודעים למה היה גזירה זה מן השמים, ולא גילה לנו מן השמים טעם הטרגדיה. אבל זאת גילה לנו חז”ל בעת יציאת מצרים, היה לישראל קבלה מאת יעקב אבינו כמבואר בחז”ל שמי שיאמר בלשון “פקד פקדתי” הוא יהיה הגואל וכך הוה אז, וכבר ידוע שכימי צאתנו אראנו נפלאות, ואנו עומדים עכשיו בהשנים שגימטריא “פקד פקדתי” ואולי הוא עכשיו הזמן הגאולה, כידוע מדברי הזוהר הק’ שבעת הזאת יהרג חמש קדושים, ואולי זה דברי נחמה ושמחה לחזק אותנו שבמהרה יהיה תחיית המתים ואז יבוא אליהו ומשיח ויפרש לנו כל הצרות ויסורים שעבר עלינו במשך הגלות המר.

    Moish
    Moish
    9 years ago

    גימטריא של “פקד פקדתי” יהיה בעוד שלש שנים

    Moish
    Moish
    9 years ago

    I don’t know whether or not Rebbitzen Twersky is insinuating one faction over the other, but R’ Shmuel Auerbach was maspid R’ Moshe Twersky at the levaya. Anyone who knew R’ Moshe Twersky, knows that he did not involve himself in this machloikes, as he was one that would do anything L’maan Hasholom.

    PashutehYid
    PashutehYid
    9 years ago

    What she is saying is absolutely correct, that the Litvishe community has engulfed itself in a huge machlokes. But when one analyzes it further, it becomes apparent that this machlokes stems from antizionism. The Litvishe were taught by their leadership to hate their fellow Jews who built the land. The sinas chinam techniques that they so brilliantly developed are now being used against each other, midah kneged midah. The proof is that the entire machlokes between these two Litvishe camps is on how antizionist we are supposed to be. For example, do we sign up but refuse to serve in army, or not sign up at all. This is a very important issue to spend one’s days on, and create new movements and warring newspapers and deligitimize each other’s yeshivas just based on this single lomdishe point. How great klal yisrael is to be medakdek on such fine details. Yasher Koach. The nekuda of the machlokes is are we supposed to be very antizionist, or extremely antizionist.

    Another proof is that one of the flagship antizionist yeshivas is now torn by such infighting that the police need to be called constantly. They destroyed their library, threw yogurt on rabbonim in middle of davening, etc. Much to be proud of. And the same for the Chassidishe antizionist movement, which has been fighting in courts for years. When you teach hatred, don’t be surprised if your students use it on you, too, and each other.

    Meanwhile, rabbonim from the Litvishe camp, which in the past has been known to stir up their crowd by saying that the Zionists are out to kill all Rabbonim, have now paskened that one can carry a cell phone on shabbos to call police, in case of emergency, chas vshalom. Hmmm, and guess who might answer the phone if they call? A zionist policeman who would put his life on line to save these Litvishe who bad-mouthed him and his beloved Medinas Yisrael all these years.

    Rachmana Litzlan from this hatred and stupidity for so many years. It is time to grow up and show some hakaras hatov to our fellow nonfrum Jews who are moser nefesh for all of us, and then this asinine internecine machlokes will cease.

    LebidikYankel
    LebidikYankel
    9 years ago

    #20 , We may not know why tragedy occurs. Yet the Rambam in Hilchos Taanis, encoded by the Shulchan Aruch, states that whoever has emuna and does not question in the face of tragedy is hardhearted, an ‘achzar’ – to use his term.

    We must take stock and change. We do not know offhand what to change. We must seek our problems. Mrs Twersky is addressing the issue and trying.

    It is indeed ambiguous – you say its this and I say its that, which may tempt one to flee to the easy way out: emuna. Yet it is forbidden to do so…

    9 years ago

    I am not one to write. But I do feel here that many people are missing the point. Firstly, if you read the letter from Rav Shteinman Shlita it states clearly that we don’t know cheshbonot Shomaim but we do know: what you don’t like, don’t do to others. Mrs. Twersky is not saying something new.
    Secondly, I heard from Rav Ganz shlita that machlokes within our camp is a terrible thing and that we can’t speak against gedolim of any faction. There were always differences of opinions between gedolim, but that doesn’t need to bring hatred and all else that comes with it. This was said at a kennes hisoreros this past Motzai Shabbos when he was discussing the kedoshim.
    It is always easy to blame others. Each person has to search himself and see where he needs to improve. Rav Shteiman shlita said in his letter לב יודע מרת נפשו.
    Each one should improve himself and stop speaking badly about others.

    schmooz
    schmooz
    9 years ago

    #12 - My daughter sent me a recording of the speeches given by the 4 almonos, including Reb. Twersky. (The 4 spoke to hundreds of women who gathered on the Neve campus in Har Nof after shiva concluded.) The Jerusalem Post does quote Reb. Twersky correctly.

    jewish-person
    jewish-person
    9 years ago

    It is not just the Jews who tremble before g-d that must be treated with “love and fraternity,” but all Jews, period. We are all yidden with a cheilek elokai mamesh.

    a-simple-jew
    a-simple-jew
    9 years ago

    ​”When a person experiences a shocking event ​he ​must realize the purpose of his going through this experience. He must say, “Hashem, I heard Your words and I got the message.
    What does Hashem want from such a tragedy?” What could Hashem want, that Kedoshim, crowned with tallis and tefillin, should be murdered in a beis medrash?​​
    One thing that Hashem wants is to shake us, and infuse us with yiras Shamayim, so that each one of us will undertake to live with yiras Shamayim.
    We have no Neviim, but we have a clear approach. Hashem has called to us, now, and every individual must listen to what Hashem is asking of him.
    ​T​his is the reaction of the brave soldier who is reacting to his fear with action. His reaction is to say, “I am trying to go higher and higher in avodas Hashem.
    I want my Torah and mitzvos to ha​​ve the shleimus of being together with yiras Shamayim.”
    ​​”The Need to Fear” Harav Mattisyahu Salomon, shlita

    naisgal
    naisgal
    9 years ago

    I am not a Rebbetzin nor have the learning that the murdered Rabbis Z”T”L” had, but I also conclude it was not a coincidence that the murders occurred in a shul, and to leaders in the community. I in fact mentioned this to someone after it happened, before the speech. However, I think it is not only that gedolem are in dispute, but that people “in shuls” are being mistreated daily, and the Rabbis must know this and tolerate it or are part of it. Shul is not a fraternity, sorority, or a country club. It is a place where all need to feel welcome, not just some or most, but all. Yet I have seem where one family is never invited to any simchas, by agreement of shulgoers, like in Cherem, though they daven in the shul. This is AOK with a Rav and Rebbetzen as it goes on. Or is it even encouraged? How is this tolerable? I have seen Rebbetzins walk over to a woman (who other women, for no reason, do not want to be part of their shul), and discourage her presence. Eye rolling and looks are exchanged, and if you have not seen this, you turned a blind eye. Do you really think Hashem is pleased?.It is a despicable thing happening in shuls with participation of Rabbis and Rebbetzens

    naisgal
    naisgal
    9 years ago

    None of us are free of the inclination to be/do evil and we all fight this, till our dying day. There is no shortage of sins to point at, we are human and succumb at times. But this is so shocking, that not one, but 4 Rabbis at once, were murdered, and not in a supermarket, but in a place of holiness, plus the very police who are there to protect were also not effective in doing so and were themselves murdered, is NOT A GOOD SIGN! I urge all RABBIS in particular to mend evil ways, as it is you who Hashem has targeted this time, may Hashem show mercy. We expect much more righteousness from our leaders, and it is known they are punished so much more for much lesser sins than others, due to this. But Rebono Shel Olam makes no mistakes, Baruch Dayan Emes. Therefore we do need to understand that our enemies are TOOLS that God uses only when the world is in dire need of a tikun. One day I called a known shul’s Rabbi, urgently needing help. None was forthcoming and I was ziddled un instead. Something is not right. There is no one to turn to, not for agunas, not for child molestation, not for geneiva, not for a word of compassion. Shuls are full of coldhearted rejecting people. Sadly.