Woodcliff Lake, NJ – In his heartfelt public speech last night at the annual Agudah convention, the Novominsker Rebbe, R’ Yaakov Perlow, brought out lessons gleaned from an unexpected source: R’ Mendel Weiss a homeless Satmar yid who was well known in Brooklyn and passed away several weeks ago.
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“He was a mysterious Jew, bedraggled…but Mendel had some interesting things to say,” said the Novomnisker.
R’ Mendel, who wandered the streets of Williamsburg for many years before he became a fixture on the streets of Flatbush and Borough Park, frequented many yeshivos and shuls throughout the area. He was known for the many layers of clothing he wore, stuffed with papers, and for the heartfelt appreciation he extended to those who offered him food and lodging.
Rabbi Perlow related that R’ Mendel used to theorize about the concept of judging others favorably, wondering how one could go lifnim meshuras hadin and be extra stringent in this matter. R’ Mendel’s answer, related Rabbi Perlow, was simple: don’t look at others.
The Novominsker urged listeners to take R’ Mendel’s words to heart, addressing a scathing rebuke to bloggers who feel the need to comment on any issue that arises.
“Rabbosai, we have become a society of kikkers, of lookers,” said the Novominsker. “We look at yenem and we make comments. There are many self-appointed mevinim amongst us unfortunately, ready to sound off on anything and everything. These mevinim have no compunctions about opinionating about whatever goes on in the Jewish world, in the Torah world especially and very often, as a result of that curse of technology called the blogs, they engage in cynicism and zilzul talmidei chochomim and downright chutzpah.”
Rabbi Perlow quoted the Kotzker Rebbe who would exhort his followers to scrutinize themselves and their own actions instead of looking at the behavior of others.
“An ehrliche yid should behave with humility and understatedness and speak with kavod hatorah and respect talmidei chochomim and not appropriate themselves as a commentator and a mayvin on everything that goes on.”
The Novominsker spoke about instilling these same values in our children and grandchildren.
“How do you expect the younger generation to think when they hear sometimes their parents making derogatory remarks on the ‘system’ in the Torah world today, learning after the chasana, having to support the kinder, the eidemes and so on?”
“Yes there are questions and issues about individuals and parnassa is an overriding question sometimes, all the time, and they must be addressed individually, but not to become self-styled commentators on the Torah scene today,” added the Novominsker.
Offering his own view as a member of the older generation, Rabbi Perlow spoke about the lost passion for Torah that was prevalent decades ago, threatened by those who feel free to criticize others in a public forum.
“What I need to stress is that we must curb the urge to opinionate, because opinionating…means poor judgment, unfair comments and unwise chinuch,” said Rabbi Perlow.
The Novominsker concluded his twenty nine minute address with a plea to seek a greater level of refinement and closeness to the Ribono Shel Olam.
“That is an obligation incumbent upon every Jew, especially ehrliche yidden and thus enhance k’vod shomayim.”
Rabbi – you are good!
All I can say after such a heartfelt plea is no comment
People question and offer their critique on the system simply because it’s not being explained well……i don’t see that as the fault of the layman…….i find that the fault of the leaders
If people feel the system is broken then the leaders need to better explain why it’s not broken
People have valid questions and they deserve valid answers
The theme of don’t ask questions about the system is an ‘AM HARATZAS’..
The Jews by Chorben Beis Hamiokdosh laughed of Yermiyahu Hanuvi who warned them the system is broken and the temple will be destroyed.. no where in the Torah does it say u can’t question a system that appear to be bankrupt..
novominsker rebbe is right but how is he planning to change the world?
we all know the worlds problem but with no solutions
Interesting, that the Satmar Rebbe Reb Yoel was most likely one the most written up and criticized Gadol in the world for being an anti zionist. and despite that, he never held speeches that no one can criticize and that u need to be mechabd Talmidi Chachumim..
I love this message; However, unfortunately, I find the mosdos haChinuch to propagate a culture of judgement through their black-and-white definition of who is an “ehrlicher yid” utilizing fixed, albeit superficial, criteria.
The Noveminsker Rebbe, till 120, should focus on making simple sholom peace in the Ponovitcher yeshiva where this week yogurt containers were thrown on elderly rosh hayeshiva while davening maariv in the Yeshiva. If one cannot control there should be peace between Gedoleii Yisroel and rav shmuel Auerbach and within Ponivizeh Yeshiva, how do you expect to control the nlogs??
People comment negatively on the system because it doesn’t work for most people in the system. he means well, but like most of the Rabbonim today, he’s out of touch. No one’s paying attention anymore anyway.
Same applies to the convention. Their day in the sun ended 10 years ago.
Looking at individuals and judging them is a problem that needs to be addressed. I think most of is aren’t really looking at individuals though. We are looking at the failures in our system. One of those failures is people thinking they are above question and reproach.
What the Rebbe fails to mention or realize is that these scandals are making main stream media and the Jewish bloggers are a drop in the bucket.
So years ago nobody knocked yenim? Klausenberg & Satmar didn’t knock each other? Rav Shach and chabad were buddies? I don’t see it any worse than years ago. Sorry
Spoken by a man with a college degree.
So the message is not to criticize others. But is it okay to criticize those who criticize others for criticizing “yenim”? Isn’t that exactly what the Rov was doing???
And, is it okay for some people (such as Rabbonim) to criticize others but not okay for the “poshite yid” to criticize others? At what stage does one earn the “green light” to criticize others????
Finally, the message was not to criticize the kollel system, but is it okay to criticize the Chassidic or Zionistic or Mod-Orthodox system? Does this also apply in Eretz Yisroel where heavy politics play a role in Agudah, Degel, Sefardim, Dati-Leumi, Chabad etc.????
I really want to know the gedarim!!!!
This started as a discussion of the halachos of Har haBayit. It degenerated into yogurt throwing, child abuse, financial scandals, and internecine warfare.
We have different minhagim, attire, and educational methods, but we only have one Beis haMikdash. And there we must act as one.
There is, today, no mitzvah to go up on the Mount. If there were, you’d be waitlisted for tickets. The “pilgrims” are pursuing a purely political agenda. That hasn’t worked to date, and it’s only making things worse.
It would be nice if Jews looked to Torah experts for answers to complex questions. Not politicians. Elected -or- freelance.
The Novominsker’s point is clear, I daresay; leave off commenting about others. He didn’t say ‘Don’t speak out on important issues’, just that the world can do without your pikchus and mine on every subject. I think its something to consider….
Is it possible that the people who are upset with the system aren’t simply onlookers, but are people who have personally suffered as a result of the system?
If so, this is not a bunch of kvetchers, but this is the nation itself calling to the the leaders that the system is broken. The system is a gezeira she’ain hatibbur yochol la’amod ba,
I find this incredible – The Novominsker is using words of one of the greatest pedophiles in our generation. 40 years ago in Willy he was known as “MENDEL THE CHAZER” he molested hundreds of young boys as he was let into every mikvah throughout the day on Friday. Using Mendel words of wisdom, is the most ironic statement you can make. Sure Mendel will tell you – don’t talk about others.
This speech is another way of saying “keep brushing it under the tables” – same message different strategies.
The Bloggers aren’t the issue the ones giving fodder to the Bloggers, the ones causing the chillul Hashem’s are the issue. So with all due respect Novominsker Rebbe, what is your message, if any, to them!
What kind of vile lashon haroah is this? There is no credible evidence that the heilege Novominsker ever knowingly abused children or allowed this guy “Mendel the Chazer” to molest children. I very much doubt the Novominsker issued orders that Mendel be allow to enter any mikvah with the intention to harm children. You should seek mechilah from both the Novominsker and the niftar.
Oy Veh, are we in trouble. A homeless person has become our moreh derech?
The problem starts when the Rabbonim are silent about severe issues in our community. From there blogging is sometimes the only path to raise awareness of these issues to the public. From there, the blogging is overdone and a Rov must admonish. If all blogging is then stopped, the cycle begins anew. So, is it enough to just admonish blogging?
“Rabbosai, we have become a society of kikkers, of lookers,” said the Novominsker. “We look at yenem and we make comments. There are many self-appointed mevinim amongst us unfortunately, ready to sound off on anything and everything. These mevinim have no compunctions about opinionating about whatever goes on in the Jewish world, in the Torah world especially and very often, as a result of that curse of technology called the blogs, they engage in cynicism and zilzul talmidei chochomim and downright chutzpah.”
Interesting That Rabbonim today do much the same thing. “opining -not opinionating; on politics, technology, science and medicine WITHOUT being Mevinim. Having met Mendel Weiss on numerous occasions it seemed obvious that he suffered from mental illness, most likely schizophrenia. The fact that he is viewed as some sort of Tzadik Nistar/Holy recluse, exposes how out of touch and IGNORANT people are. Moreover, it’s a black eye on the Borough Park community, that this infirm man was allowed to roam the streets homeless wallowing in his own filth and wasn’t properly cared for.
It is unfortunate that vosisneias allows comments from people like Sholi-Katz. (Just take a look on how many people come to his Kever for yeshuos since he was niftar.) I was Zoche to be meshamesh this Tzadik for the past few years. All he wanted was for someone to Daven with him since he was not able to see in a siddur do to blindness from Diabetes. I was Zoche to see many great things from him. I would like to add a comment to strengthen the Novaminsker Rov. Reb Mendel once quoted that it says in the Mishna הוי דן את כל אדם לכף זכות. He asked how is it possible to be דן someone לכף זכות if you can see on his forehead that he did an עבירה? He answered that this is specifically what the Mishnah is telling you. Even though you see negativity your should still be דן him לכף זכות.
I once asked Reb mendel מחילה that maby I was מבזה him. He answered me הלווי you were מבזה me.
יהי זכרו ברוך
While I respect the rebbe as a torah scholar it is sad that his group of aguda folks are the ones responsbile for us bloggers to blog.It Is obvious that we have made a large impact in many areas like child safety by bringing abuse to the forefront,the rebbes continued obsession with bloggers prove our point. I am still waiting for you to list qualified rabbonim that one can turn to in time of a crime against our children We are still waiting for a call to fingerprint our staff at all yeshivos REBBE, don’t le youre board mislead you the time to save klal yisroal is now not with talk but solid action I want to see a aguda convention with action and opening of your hearths if you want respect from a dissapointed klal you have to do more
It’s interesting that the Novominsker would say this, given that some might say the same about his failure to engage teh Agudah in self-criticism.
Instead, he uses his platform to opine about (for instance) Har HaBayis and condemn those who believe they have valid halachic basis for going up there.
Unlike the Novominsker, those who o up present actual sources and analysis to support their position. The Novominsker just points a finger and screams.
It’s not for me to say who is right, but I find it strange that he would not realize that the very things he says about others could be said about him as well.
Did he say ANYTHING that was backed up by a source or ANYTHING that addresses internal problems in our own communities? Did he offer ANY solution to ANYTHING? Did he do ANYTHING other than recite what’s wrong with everyone else?
The Noveminsker Rebbe is preaching a contradiction right in the same speech. On the one hand he pontificates ‘do not make comments’; ‘do not blog’; ‘keep your opinion to yourself”; On the other hand he talks about and glorifies a man, known and called MENDEL C—–R, (for good reason), and then the Rebbe will expect that no comments be made about his comments about this man, now dead. Let the dead rest in peace. Do not glorify a man when kids on the street and people in shuls know otherwise.
I knew him all to well, way back when; and I fed and dressed him, etc. It was well known that when he came into a shul, davening had to stop al pi halocha, untill he left. There was nothing mystical about him. It hurts me to say all this, only because I cannot see our kids be duped in reading and hearing about the glorification of this troubled man. It would behoove for the Rebbe to use others as an example for our youth.