Luban, Belarus - Shul of Famous Rabbi R' Moshe Feinstein Zt'l Being Destroyed |
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News Source: eTaiwan News
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Reb Moshe Zt’l with bochrimLuban, Belarus - The roof has been removed and the windows stripped of their frames and glass. Piece by piece, workers are tearing down the former synagogue where a renowned rabbi served before fleeing the Soviet Union for New York in 1936.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, considered one of the most influential Orthodox rabbis in the United States until his death in 1986, was the last rabbi to serve at the synagogue in this once predominantly Jewish town.
After his departure, the synagogue in Luban was taken over by Young Pioneers for the training of future communists. Within five years, most of the Jews were gone too, as almost the entire Jewish population was rounded up and shot by the invading Nazis in World War II.
The synagogue’s role in town history was only publicly recognized again in 1996, when a memorial plaque in English, Belarusian and Hebrew was put up on the building, which by then housed a medical clinic.
The local government now plans to build a supermarket at the site, which is on the main square of the town, located 85 miles south of Minsk, the capital.
The regional government says it has no obligation to save the synagogue, which is not included on a list of buildings considered to have historical or cultural value.
“The exterior of the building is not in line with that of a Jewish temple, so there is no point in restoring it,” said the director of the town’s museum, Natalya Sinyak.
Belarusian Jewish organizations have protested the destruction of synagogue, but the objections have been ignored.
“Instead of expressing pride in the prominent figures who were born on this land, their memory is being destroyed,” said Yakov Basin, vice president of a national Jewish organization.
As the demolition began, the memorial plaque was moved to a nearby building, where it was attached with two crooked, rusty nails.
“The synagogue was the only reminder left of the Jews,” said Arkady Gelfand, a 70-year-old teacher who is one of five Jews remaining in the town of 11,000.
No mention is made of Jews even at the Soviet-era memorial where 785 Jews were shot in November 1941 when the Luban Ghetto was liquidated. The victims are referred to only as “peaceful citizens.
Gelfand, whose parents and grandparents worshipped under Feinstein, remembers how he wept with happiness when the plaque was put up on the former synagogue in a ceremony attended by representatives of the Israeli Embassy.
“Even so we remain a persecuted people,” said Gelfand.
The Belarusian government denies the existence of anti-Semitism, even as it allows the destruction of Jewish cemeteries and refuses to preserve monuments to the country’s rich Jewish history.
Only about 25,000 Jews now live in Belarus, a country of 10 million people squeezed between Poland and Russia. Before the war, more than half of the urban population was Jewish, and Yiddish was a state language.
As many as three presidents and four prime ministers of Israel _ including Menachem Begin, Yitzak Shamir, Golda Meir and Ariel Sharon - were born in Belarus.
The two-story wooden synagogue in Luban was built at the end of the 19th century and became the center of spiritual life for the town’s Jews, who at the time comprised 95 percent of the population. Even in 1939, the population was still 60 percent Jewish.
Feinstein began his tenure as rabbi in 1920 when he was only 25. For years he resisted pressure from the Soviet government as he continued to promote and preserve Jewish customs in the newly atheistic state.
But in 1936, as dictator Josef Stalin tightened his grip, Feinstein was told to leave the country or face arrest. His brother, who stayed, was arrested and died the following year in a Siberian labor camp.
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Read Comments (23) — Post Yours »
1
Apr 24, 2009 at 08:43 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
.....divreyhem hen hen zichronam.
2
Apr 24, 2009 at 08:40 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Please HaShem when will we see another Godol HaDor such as Rav Moshe ZT'L not only a leader among Torah Giants, but a humble, caring person who lived a simple life and was a shining example for ALL Yiddishkeit. Please send us a Rav Moshe to guide us in these troubled times.
3
Apr 24, 2009 at 08:50 AM NeveAliza Says:Report as Inappropriate
It was a building which at the time had קדושה in it. Decades ago. Who cares what happens to it now in Belarus?
4
Apr 24, 2009 at 09:02 AM bitachon Says:Report as Inappropriate
Ironically, this is at least a better way to treat an abandoned shul than some were in new york that are no batei avodah zara or other factories.
5
Apr 24, 2009 at 09:28 AM Monsey Man Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ .....divreyhem hen hen zichronam. ”
Beautifully said
6
Apr 24, 2009 at 09:48 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
All the famous yeshivots like Mir, Volozhin, Novardek, Slutsk, Brisk, Lubavitch, Slonim, Karlin, Pinsk, Baranovich were all located in Belarus.
7
Apr 24, 2009 at 09:45 AM Dave L Says:Report as Inappropriate
There is a mistake in the article -- Ariel Sharon was born in Kfar Malal, not Belarus.
8
Apr 24, 2009 at 09:41 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Does anyone know anything about R' Moshe's brother? What is his name? Was he a big talmid chochom? etc...
9
Apr 24, 2009 at 11:18 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Hashem's Shul was destroyed in Yerushalaim. Let's work on getting that built again. Bimheiru Beyomeinu.
10
Apr 24, 2009 at 11:59 AM Satmar Man Says:Report as Inappropriate
I grew up hearing a story about the Williamsburg Bridge being special because it connected the TWO Pillars of Torah of the generation, the Satmar Rov, ZT"L on the Brooklyn side, and HaRav Moshe Fienstien, ZT"L, on the NY side.
Rav Moshe, ZT"L, needs no Building to remember him by.
Rav Moshe life was one dedicated to Torah, and honest, responsible halachic decisions.
Rav Moshe's MONUMENT is his Igros Moshe, found on EVERY frum persons book shelf, and most have many bookmarks in the worn pages. I have as yet to meet anyone I have any use for, who does not respect Rav Moshe's works, even if they may have differing opinions.
My rebbe wat the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoilish, ZT"L. And everyone knew that he held Rav Moshe in high esteem. There is a story about a halacha where they differed hotly. From how I remember the story, the Satmar Rov read R. Moshe's teshuva on an issue, and VERY hotly disagreed. One of his talmidim, a chushuva rov in his own rights, asked the Satmar Rov, "Shall I go to him and explain your side?"
The Satmar Rov stood and replied, "How dare you think about being pogaim in the kovod of a godol hador?"
This may not be verbatim, as my memory is on an old hard drive (smile), but it is close.
Others used to sometimes refer to the two of them as Shamei and Hillel
Rav Moshe was respected by ALL who knew him or learned from him.
His talmidim have spread across the world, spreading both his love for Torah, and his desire to always follow what the Torah says, even if it is politically incorrect. He was a man unyielding in his Ahavas Torah, and Yiras Shomayim, with an amazing level of Ahavas Yisroel.
A building?
Rav Moshe's MONUMENT BUILDING is the love of Torah and Yiddishkeit that he left in all of our hearts.
Rav Moshe's MONUMENT BUILDING is the love for every Yid that he left in all of our hearts.
Rav Moshe's MONUMENT BUILDING is the commitment to honest, reliable, responsible psak dins that he left in our hearts.
Does Moshe Rabbainu need a building as a monument? No way. The Torah is his legacy
Rav Moshe Fienstien's monument is HIS legacy. His Torah will be learned in all future generations.
11
Apr 24, 2009 at 01:43 PM Milhouse Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ All the famous yeshivots like Mir, Volozhin, Novardek, Slutsk, Brisk, Lubavitch, Slonim, Karlin, Pinsk, Baranovich were all located in Belarus. ”
Lubavitch is now just inside the border of Russia, but historically it was considered White Russia (aka "Belarus").
12
Apr 24, 2009 at 02:22 PM Sherree Says:Report as Inappropriate
Rav Moshe Feinstein z'tl does not need a building nor a monument, he left a legacy. He was my mesader kidushin at my wedding, a very close friend of my father-in-law a"h. He was my role model as I grew up and as I raised my children. He was the epitemy of what Yiddishkeit was all about and what the True Torah values were, ( as were his closest chaveirim Rav Yakov Kaminetsky and Rav Pam) and how a Frum Jew must conduct his/her life in day to day business, whether at work, at home or on the street, ben adom l'makom or ben adom l'chavero.
What do you really think would disturb Rav Moshe z"tl more what is happening today to his old shul where there are no Jews left to use it, or what the Agudah has done in their lack of support of todays and yesterdays generation of children? Which loss do you really think he would be mourning, the loss of the pure innocent souls of our children or the loss of a building that could never be considered a makom kadosh any longer. But our kinderlach I believe he would say, our kinderlach they are always mekomos kedoshim in their hearts, in their minds and in their souls. But not if we destroy them, mind, body and soul.
13
Apr 24, 2009 at 04:31 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
If i'm not mistaken, the bocherim in the picture. are Lubavitcher bochurim.
14
Apr 24, 2009 at 06:08 PM מהפך פשטא Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ If i'm not mistaken, the bocherim in the picture. are Lubavitcher bochurim. ”
Correct. They are Lubavicher Bocharim, and I believe that they had asked R' Moshe (in the name of the Lubavicher Rebbe ZT"L) to start wearing Tefilin Drabeinu Taam. The Rebbe ZT"L said, I believe, that he will ask his personal sofer to write the Tefilin for R' Moshe. I don't know if the end they convinced R' Moshe to put on Tefilin Drabeinu Taam.
Maybe someone else could shed further light on this isuue.
15
Apr 24, 2009 at 05:45 PM DOnt sound to clever Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ It was a building which at the time had קדושה in it. Decades ago. Who cares what happens to it now in Belarus? ”
if you had a noddle you would know that "kedush anu zoz memkomo"
16
Apr 25, 2009 at 08:17 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Harav Aryeh Leib kaplan currently the Rosh Yeshivah of Tomchai Temimim Lubavitch Montreal is the one giving sholom to Harav Moshe ztzl
17
Apr 25, 2009 at 09:41 PM YG Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Correct. They are Lubavicher Bocharim, and I believe that they had asked R' Moshe (in the name of the Lubavicher Rebbe ZT"L) to start wearing Tefilin Drabeinu Taam. The Rebbe ZT"L said, I believe, that he will ask his personal sofer to write the Tefilin for R' Moshe. I don't know if the end they convinced R' Moshe to put on Tefilin Drabeinu Taam.
Maybe someone else could shed further light on this isuue. ”
Yes, Rav Moshe towards the end of his life again began wearing Tefillin D'Rabbeinu Tam when the Rebbe told him that he would have his sofer write them for him. The reason why he stopped in the first place was because he had to leave them behind in Russia and when he came over to the states he could not find a sofer God fearing enough to write them for him until the Rebbe offered the services of his own sofer
18
Apr 25, 2009 at 10:39 PM scy4851 Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Yes, Rav Moshe towards the end of his life again began wearing Tefillin D'Rabbeinu Tam when the Rebbe told him that he would have his sofer write them for him. The reason why he stopped in the first place was because he had to leave them behind in Russia and when he came over to the states he could not find a sofer God fearing enough to write them for him until the Rebbe offered the services of his own sofer ”
No! it had nothing to do with God fearing enough. It had to do with certain chumras that Reb Moishe z"l had. The soifer that the Lubavitcher Rebbeh offered to Reb Moishe was to right the Tfilin with whatever specifications Reb Moishe requested.
I read the tshuvah the Reb Moishe wrote and the Lubavitcher Rebbe's answer about sending the soifer.
19
Apr 26, 2009 at 02:01 AM matzahlocal101 Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Correct. They are Lubavicher Bocharim, and I believe that they had asked R' Moshe (in the name of the Lubavicher Rebbe ZT"L) to start wearing Tefilin Drabeinu Taam. The Rebbe ZT"L said, I believe, that he will ask his personal sofer to write the Tefilin for R' Moshe. I don't know if the end they convinced R' Moshe to put on Tefilin Drabeinu Taam.
Maybe someone else could shed further light on this isuue. ”
They are clearly Lubavitcher bochrim (beards and no ties.) The Rebbe would not insult Reb Moshe by sending bochrim to "convince" him to wear rabbainu Tam tefillin. The Rebbe himself wrote a letter to Reb Moshe asking why he didn't use R"T tefillin. Reb Moshe replied that he had used them until his became posul and he could not find a soifer to write the parshios as he wanted them written. (regarding stumos I believe) The Rebbe sent Reb Zarchi to Reb Moshe who was mifalpel bihalcha with him for an extended period of time, and then Reb Zarchi wrote the parshios according to Reb Moshe's instructions. I believe the tshuva is in vol 4. vat"y
20
Apr 26, 2009 at 05:23 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I grew up hearing a story about the Williamsburg Bridge being special because it connected the TWO Pillars of Torah of the generation, the Satmar Rov, ZT"L on the Brooklyn side, and HaRav Moshe Fienstien, ZT"L, on the NY side.
Rav Moshe, ZT"L, needs no Building to remember him by.
Rav Moshe life was one dedicated to Torah, and honest, responsible halachic decisions.
Rav Moshe's MONUMENT is his Igros Moshe, found on EVERY frum persons book shelf, and most have many bookmarks in the worn pages. I have as yet to meet anyone I have any use for, who does not respect Rav Moshe's works, even if they may have differing opinions.
My rebbe wat the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoilish, ZT"L. And everyone knew that he held Rav Moshe in high esteem. There is a story about a halacha where they differed hotly. From how I remember the story, the Satmar Rov read R. Moshe's teshuva on an issue, and VERY hotly disagreed. One of his talmidim, a chushuva rov in his own rights, asked the Satmar Rov, "Shall I go to him and explain your side?"
The Satmar Rov stood and replied, "How dare you think about being pogaim in the kovod of a godol hador?"
This may not be verbatim, as my memory is on an old hard drive (smile), but it is close.
Others used to sometimes refer to the two of them as Shamei and Hillel
Rav Moshe was respected by ALL who knew him or learned from him.
His talmidim have spread across the world, spreading both his love for Torah, and his desire to always follow what the Torah says, even if it is politically incorrect. He was a man unyielding in his Ahavas Torah, and Yiras Shomayim, with an amazing level of Ahavas Yisroel.
A building?
Rav Moshe's MONUMENT BUILDING is the love of Torah and Yiddishkeit that he left in all of our hearts.
Rav Moshe's MONUMENT BUILDING is the love for every Yid that he left in all of our hearts.
Rav Moshe's MONUMENT BUILDING is the commitment to honest, reliable, responsible psak dins that he left in our hearts.
Does Moshe Rabbainu need a building as a monument? No way. The Torah is his legacy
Rav Moshe Fienstien's monument is HIS legacy. His Torah will be learned in all future generations.
”
Yasher Koiach. I wa zocheh to learn by and see the Sar HaTorah, and your words are absolutely wonderful and appropriate.
21
Apr 26, 2009 at 05:29 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Correct. They are Lubavicher Bocharim, and I believe that they had asked R' Moshe (in the name of the Lubavicher Rebbe ZT"L) to start wearing Tefilin Drabeinu Taam. The Rebbe ZT"L said, I believe, that he will ask his personal sofer to write the Tefilin for R' Moshe. I don't know if the end they convinced R' Moshe to put on Tefilin Drabeinu Taam.
Maybe someone else could shed further light on this isuue. ”
R. Moshe held that the R. Tam Tefillin in use in our times are not made fully in accordance with the shitos of R. Tam, but are a combination of Rahi's and R. Tam's shitos. He would only wear R. Tam Tefillin written completely according to R. Tam's shittos. Once they were made for him, he wore them.
He held though, that it is inappropriate to remove Rashi Tefillin during Chazoras Hashatz, rather, one should wait until after completing the entire davening, change tefillin, and learn a little or say some Tehillim while wearing them.
22
Apr 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM matzahlocal101 Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ R. Moshe held that the R. Tam Tefillin in use in our times are not made fully in accordance with the shitos of R. Tam, but are a combination of Rahi's and R. Tam's shitos. He would only wear R. Tam Tefillin written completely according to R. Tam's shittos. Once they were made for him, he wore them.
He held though, that it is inappropriate to remove Rashi Tefillin during Chazoras Hashatz, rather, one should wait until after completing the entire davening, change tefillin, and learn a little or say some Tehillim while wearing them. ”
Interestingly enough. He writes that he put on R"T tefillin in a way that did not require him to me mater neder when he stopped wearing them when his original pair became posul. When asked, Reb Dovid said he didn't know what that meant, to put them on in such a manner that it would become a chiyev. Lubavitch is also nohaig to remove Rashi tefillin after uva litzion and I believe tamai haminhagim says the ikkur wearing of R"T tefillin should be for Limud Hatoirah.
23
Apr 27, 2009 at 05:58 AM Satmar Man Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ R. Moshe held that the R. Tam Tefillin in use in our times are not made fully in accordance with the shitos of R. Tam, but are a combination of Rahi's and R. Tam's shitos. He would only wear R. Tam Tefillin written completely according to R. Tam's shittos. Once they were made for him, he wore them.
He held though, that it is inappropriate to remove Rashi Tefillin during Chazoras Hashatz, rather, one should wait until after completing the entire davening, change tefillin, and learn a little or say some Tehillim while wearing them. ”
In Satmar we are nohaig to wait until we are married to put on R Tam tefillin. But, in Satmar we are taught that we should NEVER remove Rashi until after I'Vuh L'tzion, or at worse, if we are in an emergency, after the kedisha in I'vuh L'tzion. (Kedisha #3)
We never change tefillin during Chazoras Hashas. This is both not appropritate during Chazoras Hashas, and would be disrespectful to Rashi to pull his tefillin off in the middle of Tefillah, as well as disrespectful to R. Tam who would not approve of interrupting having kavuna on Chazuras Hashas to put his tefillin on.
We Lein in Rashi Tefillin
After-davening learning, would in in R. Tam Tefillin, after we repeated the 4 parashios that are inside the tefillin.
In Yeshiva, Shacharis on a Sunday, Tues, Wed, & Fri would be at least 75 - 85 minutes. What in the world is the rush? Our davening was a typical "Yeshivish" davening, except nusach Sfard, and Chassidish Havura.