It has been three weeks since the last Rabbi’s Resources and thank God, much has happened in the interim. It was wonderful to see so many current and former Dallasites at the wedding of Liad and Ayelet Guttman, including Rabbis Wolk and Dubrawsky, Terri and Richard Rohan, Miriam and Paul Geller, Pam and Mickie Sallmander, Tali and Elie Rosenberg, Carmit and Snir Azarya and somewhat younger former Dallasites like Ari Geller and his wife Gali, Sammy Zoller, and Benji Zoller and Leah Nerenberg. I am definitely forgetting people and I ask their forgiveness in advance.
On Thursday night, June 29, I attended a shiur by Rav Asher Weiss shlita at his shul in Ramot, together with former Dallas educator Rabbi Elli Fischer. Rav Weiss’s shiurim are always riveting, and the experience of being there in person, which I have had the privilege of doing once before, is especially exciting. This time was a unique treat. Rav Weiss’s granddaughter had gotten engaged that night and he was on his way to the tannaim (the engagement party), but he didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to teach his students. Instead of the usual shiur format, Rav Weiss delivered a slightly shorter presentation that consisted of reminiscences about his teacher and Rebbe, Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam zt”l, the unforgettable Klausenberger Rebbe, whose yahrtzeit it was the previous day. The Rebbe lost his entire family and community in the Holocaust, and bravely rebuilt both in the aftermath, with a combination of deep love for his fellow Jews and steely and uncompromising determination. I found Rav Weiss’s remarks deeply moving and plan to speak about the Rebbe, incorporating many of Rav Weiss’s memories, on Tisha B’Av, an hour before Mincha. I hope you can join me!
Last time’s MSOTW
The last MSOTW was the Green Road Synagogue in Cleveland, where I was fortunate to visit a few days before the last Rabbi’s Resources. I am grateful to Rabbi Binyamin Blau, the Rabbi of the shul (and Mechutan of our own Rabbi Ari Perl) who gave me a tour of the magnificent , almost brand new building. The congregation was founded by Hungarian immigrants from the Marmarosh region, and has many second and third generation members.
This Week’s MSOTW
This Jerusalem shul was founded by Chareidi immigrants from a certain country. Its name is a clue to the ethos and background of the founders. It has changed quite a bit, in outlook and even in nussach, since then. Name the shul, where in Jerusalem it is located and who founded it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
