New York – Rabbi Kamenetzky: Reb Lipa An Ehrliche Yid; I Wish Him Much Hatzlacha On ‘The Event’ Concert

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    New York – Nearly a year after the plug was pulled on his ‘Big Event’ concert at the Madison Square Garden Theater, popular Chassidic entertainer Lipa Schmeltzer and veteran Jewish music producer Sheya Mendlowitz have scheduled a new show.

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    They’re calling this show, simply, ‘The Event.’ First word came via a billboard on Rockaway Boulevard. It’s set for March 1 at the Garden’s WAMU Theater, and has what amounts to a seal of rabbinic approval.

    “I hope they should have hatzlacha,” said Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky on Monday.

    In a brief interview the respected Philadelphia rosh yeshiva and member of Agudath Israel’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages) told The Jewish Star, “Some people are still very upset — I don’t know why.”

    Rabbi Kamenetzky was alluding to events that led to the cancellation of last year’s show at virtually the last moment. That was a display of derech eretz (respect) on Mendlowitz’s part — a financially costly display, by his own account at the time — to a number of prominent rabbis who signed what amounted to a ban on the event.

    The ban was orchestrated — some would say instigated — by individuals who disapprove of Lipa’s humorous onstage antics and non-Jewish musical influences.

    “Last time we were told that he was supposed to sing and the Israeli rabbonim,” including Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, had a problem with it. “They say he is too much of an actor,” Rabbi Kamenetzky explained this week.

    In an interview shortly before the concert was cancelled last year Rabbi Kamenetzky expressed regret at possibly acting in haste to sign the ban. He acknowledged that the claims of the man who sought the concert ban, to have spoken with prominent rabbis in Israel, had not been closely examined, and that the rabbis who signed the ban in the United States had not met to discuss it, as was their usual practice.

    In that sense, the cancellation, which followed Lipa’s withdrawal from the performance, was also a display of the raw power zealots in the Orthodox community increasingly attempt to arrogate to themselves through threats and other means of intimidation, usually claiming to be acting under the guidance of “Da’as Torah,” or rabbinic direction.

    In that particular case they were successful. Lipa openly acknowledged that threats were made against his livelihood as a performer, noting that he had a mortgage and a family to support.

    Since then Lipa has seen a strong resurgence in his career with the release of a popular compact disc and numerous public appearances, including one at a wedding in Williamsburg within days of the concert cancellation. Still, some apparently still nurse hard feelings.

    “Last night I was at a certain affair,” Rabbi Kamenetzky told The Jewish Star on Monday. “Reb Lipa had to come there for some reason. He sang. And someone came over with tainas [complaints] to me [that he was allowed to perform]. And I said, as far as I know there is no problem with letting him sing. As far as I know he is an ehrliche yid.”


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    80 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    ah! geshmak

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Please don’t call this man a chassidic entertainner! He sings anything but chassidishe songs!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    With all the worlds troubles and dangers facing Jews in EY, do we really need a concert? Why are we so bent on letting off steam and having a jolly ol time? Cant we show some feeling and solidarity to our brethren in EY? One quick question, if Jews in NYC were being bombarded with terror attacks, will we be in the right frame of mind for a concert?

    an EHRLICHA yid
    an EHRLICHA yid
    15 years ago

    KUDOS!! Rabbosai – if any of you would have been last shabbos at the Bein Ish Ubein Uchiv Shabbos Hisvaados motzei Shabbos Event and seen the faces of those yiddishe kinder who have so much tsouris in their lives, and such lechtige faces that were enveloped in joy when Lipa went up on stage (credits to Avraham fried and all the other singers as well but as this article is about lipa this is why he is the only one mentioned).

    You missed seeing those little kinderlech jumping onto the stage (or being carried onto the stage in some cases) just to be able to connect with lipa, and gain chizuk from his songs and music.

    Once again Lipa outdid himself in Chessed and this is a side of Lipa that YOU never see. For the 1000’s of “little” events that Lipa does for free in the hospitals, patients homes, etc. etc. if any body deserves a bunch of Hatzlacha at the “big” event then it is Lipa.

    robroy560
    robroy560
    15 years ago

    As simple no Chassidishe yid, I love Lipa’s music, talent and love of the Jewish people. He’s exciting watch, but also does serious things too. Check out his videos on YouTube. He did a moving Torah dedication with the IDF’s Nachal Chareidi unit.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The article says that this was, ” also a display of the raw power zealots in the Orthodox community increasingly attempt to arrogate to themselves through threats and other means of intimidation, usually claiming to be acting under the guidance of “Da’as Torah,” or rabbinic direction.” That is so true…Rav Kamensky and these other zealots have no right to dictate the musical tastes of Klal Yisroel…last year Lipe was put in charem…this year he is a “ehrleche yid”…it only shows that this has nothing to do with daas torah..its all politics..

    AuthenticSatmar
    AuthenticSatmar
    15 years ago

    While I admire Rabbi Kamenetsky, he is still a daas yuchid.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    can some one explain what was the original problem

    Joseph
    Joseph
    15 years ago

    “In an interview shortly before the concert was cancelled last year Rabbi Kamenetzky expressed regret at possibly acting in haste to sign the ban. He acknowledged that the claims of the man who sought the concert ban, to have spoken with prominent rabbis in Israel, had not been closely examined, and that the rabbis who signed the ban in the United States had not met to discuss it, as was their usual practice.”

    Kol Hakavod to Reb Shmuel, who could somewhat admit that he may have acted in haste last year in signing onto the ban without proper verification. That’s part of what makes a true Godol: When they were wrong, they can admit their mistake (even though it wasn’t a complete admission, we all get the point). The rest have yet to come forward.

    webmom
    webmom
    15 years ago

    Does anyone know what difference there is between the concert this year and the one last year? why is this one ok and that one wasn’t?….. just puzzled….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    10:14, stop spewing venom. Don’t listen to him if you don’t want to. I for one, applaud Lipa and Sheya for going ahead, may they have much hatzlocha. I do not attend concerts, no one in my family does, but I would not ban them either. If it is kosher, let the heimishe oilam enjoy it. Face reality, friends, we NEED kosher outlets (other than the mikvah- where one gets all the news reports!)

    Provide an Alternative, not a  "BAN"
    Provide an Alternative, not a "BAN"
    15 years ago

    Anyone interested that the frum community should enjoy more traditional frum and more Chasidish styled music, has an option, to provide an alternative with a better more Chassidish styled, NEW Chassidishe STAR.

    There are plenty of frum and Chassidishe people with enormous talent and anyone with deep pockets can MARKET them and produce a brand new Chasidishe Star over night.

    Yes, OVERNIGHT!

    Remember that Shmeltzer was an absolute nobody a few short year ago. He was nothing more than any other simple Yeshiva Bochur or Kolel Yingerman.

    Same goes for Matisyahu who was a very simple nobody that no one ever even heard of, just a few short years ago.

    If we want better quality and frumer more heimishe and more chasidishe style music we can produce our own, new star.

    But you can’t find darkness with a BIG STICK, of making Halachicaly-Questionable and Halchicaly-baseless “Isurim”.

    The public will not buy such “Isurim” and any such Rabbi’s, will only loose self respect and loose their constituents and worst of all, the Hamon Am Will not be Mekabel a corruption-based Psak Din so they will loose all respect as no one will listen and everyone will openly defy their imaginary “authority”.

    Every Star, needs a PRODUCER and there are plenty of Rich Frum and Chassidishe people who can PRODUCE a brand new STAR, who’s style will be truly Chassidish and yet he can still put up his “ACT” and dance and squirm and jump around and do all kinds of wild acting, as long as he sticks to the prior style of music of the past generations flavor.

    MMB
    MMB
    15 years ago

    Ehrlich or pouhst?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Just want to know how come all the concerts that were done since the ban came out last year. how come non of the rabbonim said anything about it.. looks to me that they are out there just to get lipa.. BUT, LIPA stay strong and know that you are the best

    Yossele
    Yossele
    15 years ago

    “He acknowledged that the claims of the man who sought the concert ban, to have spoken with prominent rabbis in Israel, had not been closely examined, and that the rabbis who signed the ban in the United States had not met to discuss it, as was their usual practice.”

    ???

    Terrible blow to the credibility of “rabbonus” today.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    It’s not just his musical and performing talents that make Lipa great. It is the depth of his work. The lyrics to his songs prove that he’s not so “poshut”. He’s a “thinking Yid” and there are, unfortunately, not so many aroung, especially in the performing arts. Just because a performer knows how to give a krechtz when he sings doesn’t mean he really feels. Lipa’s words show depth, feeling and THOUGHT.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I saw the youtube video of Lipa entertaining in solidarity with the IDF; it was very moving. As for #4 , music can help us, and especially those on the front line, express our worry, sorrow and grief, as well as be a comfort. Music is not only for frivolity. There is no tradition of disdaining Jewish music, as far as I know.

    MENDY SCHONBRUN
    MENDY SCHONBRUN
    15 years ago

    Lipa, way to go! You are a class act, you did not say anything last year to offend the rabbonim, be it true or not you! You took the patch like a man although you did nothing wrong! what a man, and Shea Mendlowitz what a class act! Its a zuchus to be able to go to a concert tehy are putting together!

    Keep up you gevaldik work and spreding simcha amongst yidden!

    Your dear friend and admire in Brooklyn NY -HATZLACHA KOL TOV!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Emes will always win out in the end. How long the Sheker stands up for is a different matter

    rebishe einikel
    rebishe einikel
    15 years ago

    you gotta love Reb Shmuel

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Last year this concert was treif and now all of a sudden its kosher. what changed.
    With all the tsourus in the Jewish World and the economy in the tank you dont do a concert and put this temptation in front of people who cant afford it. More and more of us are out of work,on the bread lines and this is only going to put a further burden on those who can least afford it. Robbossi take the money you would waste on tickets and give it to tomchei shabbos or the food banks who are struggling to feed our own poor and hungry. In this economy now is not a time to waste money on this gashmiut.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    who instigated it last time?
    we need a coalition to ascertain that those bringing info to gedolim are honest and well meaning and have true beef.( like sale of treif as kosher) if they arent cleared in this respect then they arent allowed to tumul and create issues,
    this would mean a background check and other indicators of true moral behavior.
    not the size of their external level of frumkeit.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Lipa is an absolute Tzadik in all sense of the word. I have personally been exposed to his tzidkus in the way he helped out my family with bringing simcha to us i a time when we were very down. he is very emesdick no matter what people say, just look at was he has done, going to visit the sick, and suprising camp simcha with a concert. i wish him much hatzlocha with the concert and his future endeavors, and hopefully many others will learn from him about how to spread simcha to klal yisrael in a time of tzarah, like now

    Me
    Me
    15 years ago

    There’s one thing wrong here and that’s that Lipa and the organisers are showing very poor taste (at least and perhaps even degrades kovod Hatorah) by using a video poking fun at Chassidish Rebbes to promote this new event.

    Remember, rightly or wrongly, Daas Torah canned this event last time.

    Therefore, whether they like it or not, the Lipa camp should not be laughing at Daas Torah.

    They should know better!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    “As far as I know he is an ehrliche yid.” and………….. “A poshite yid”!!!

    Andrew
    Andrew
    15 years ago

    If there was indeed a great financial loss last year to the promoters and Lipa. How does a “sort of” apology rectify that?

    Is there any accountability for mistakes in this area?

    chaver
    chaver
    15 years ago

    i like this

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    A mentch in the foot steps of his illustrious Father ZTL

    Eliyahu
    Eliyahu
    15 years ago

    By subjecting themselves to monetary losses and humiliation, Lipa and Shiyaple saved the day and deserve the frum public’s gratitude. Chazal spoke of such people as neelavim ve-einam olvim.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I spent a Pesach with Lipa and I saw him in action. When he deals with people he has time for everyone, a smile, a joke, he’ll listen to your stories. Another big name entertainer fifed everyone. He spent time with his own kids who seemed to adore him. And yes when he put on his concert he was flamboyant,funny,entertaining and humorous. Today when so many in klal yisroel are turning elsewhere for their entertainment r’l I think a little bit of simcha from an ehrliche person is just what we need. (just my 2 cents)

    Me
    Me
    15 years ago

    Notwithstanding that the ban was certainly orchestrated by “machers” with axes to grind who took Daas Torah for a ride, this event is tainted, simply because it will forever be remembered as the time in modern history where Daas Torah was ridiculed openly.

    Do we know whether dear Rabbi Teitelbaum, a super special individual, would actually have wanted this reminder of a period of tremendous damage to Daas Torah, to be held in his honour?

    He was a truly special person, boldy going where no one had gone before, speaking his mind for what was right, but I have to wonder if he is enjoying these proceedings from his perch up there in Gan Eden, or maybe he is thinking, “.Oh my, this thing has a bad smell”

    Agree
    Agree
    15 years ago

    Lipa is a very nice funny enjoyable yid, he puts smiles on sick people, physically and Spiritually “) may he keep up his work in making people smile and may hashemwatch over nih that he go bederech hayasher. AMEN

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Reb Shmuel is a real tzadik & onov so he has no problem in admiting that he was duped last year. I’m sure he is and will be extra careful before he signs anything since that fiasco. I would hope that many of the other Rabbonim that signed on would also admit their error if confronted privately with derech eretz.
    As for the choshuva asken that pushed it trhu I’m sure he meant L’shem Shamayim
    but he will not be able to pull this off anymore.
    Nobody is a malach and we all make mistakes – hopefully we learn from them.

    esther
    esther
    15 years ago

    with all due respect to r’ kamenetsky ,does he not owe lipa apublic apologie? THAT would be kiddush Hashem especially for all those who have lost respect for daas torah

    anon
    anon
    15 years ago

    Finally a rov with a head on his shoulders.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Just to add to what Rabbi kaminetzky said recently a shul was opend in lipas neighberhood in monsey and i happen to fall in there for davening i was there for shachris shabbos morning, i enjoyed it so much that i came back for mincha and seudas shlishis Reb Lipa Davend Shachris and hallel for the amud there were about 30 people there you coudnt hear a pin drop in that shul he really warmed up the matzev , and by seudas shlishus Reb Lipa said a Davar Torah again there were about 30 people there listening in pin drop silence and he encouraged us to do more mitzvas and learn more torah and he stressed on helping another yid and to that note he did his outmost to me as a guest to make me feel comfortable that my friends is a true Eirlicher yid.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    We find this weeks parsha how Yakov rebuked Reuben for being in such a haste. Yes Rueben was doing it for the honor of his mother Leah that they should not move Yaakovs bed to Billahs room but he acted without thinking and too quickly. We can all learn from what happened with Lipa how certain askunim rushed Rabbis to sighn a ban when what should of been done is speak to Lipa and Shea and maybe adjust the concert with a Rav saying some chizuk or divrei Torah to the many young heimish crowd of people. I was very impressed with Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss who appeared on radio with Lipa a while ago and heard him give chizuk and sweet words of Torah to the listeners. Maybe if we can get together all the Rabbonim who teach Torah with love and sweetness there would not be so many turned off kids from heimisha mishpochas. Rabbis like Rabbi Kamenetsky,Moshe Meir Weiss,Pesach Krone,Eli Mansour,Rietti,Tzvi Meyer Silverberg, Fischel Shacter are but a few of our truly sweet gedolai rabbonim that inspire our generation. We need to gather hundreds like them and have them shine the beauty of Torah into all the youngsters of our generation.

    100% Kosher music today
    100% Kosher music today
    15 years ago

    There is NONE! The influence is there just as it has been for thousands of years.