Within any tragic passing is the additional tragedy that we don’t know anything about the remarkable people who have been taken from us until they are gone. Despite the “cease fire,” another horrifying attack took place today in Yerushalaim, this time claiming the lives of Liba Dyckman, a recently wed teacher who was expecting her first child; Chana Ifergan, a school principal in Beit Shemesh, and Dayan Elimelech Wasserman. Rav Wasserman was a member of the regional Beit Din in Ashdod, a prominent and beloved Belzer Chassid. His widos is Chaya, who is the daughter of the legendary Yerushalmi spiritual leader and powerhouse of Chessed, Rav Asher Freund, who was the founder of the prominent Yad Ezrah organization. Rav Wasserman ruled on cases in the Ashdod Beit Din that rival, in drama and salaciousness, any episode of the Jerry Springer show (lehavdil), and did it with level-headedness and vast Torah knowledge. This coming Shabbat afternoon, I will be sharing with you one of the rulings he issued, in a remarkable and unlikely case. No doubt that more details about him and his life will emerge in the coming days- may his memory be for a blessing. On a related note, please join us this Shabbos to hear Mrs. Julie Wolk share memories of her grandson, Binyamin Airley z”l hy”d, an extraordinary young man who was taken from us too soon.
Hakarat HaTov
A special thanks to Orli Fass for her outstanding talk this past Tuesday, the first in a four part series. A recording will be made available shortly for anyone who was not able to attend in person. These classes will be recorded each week, even though attendance in person is strongly encouraged (as it is for all classes).
Last Week’s MSOTW
Kudos to Perrin White for correctly identifying last week’s Mystery Shul Of The Week as Young Israel Beth El of Boro Park, in Brooklyn. This shul is the product of a merger of two legendary shuls, back when Boro Park was a more Modern Orthodox neighborhood and not virtually entirely Chassidic- the Young Israel of Boro Park and Temple Beth El (an Orthodox synagogue, even though it had Temple in the name). Beth El was lead for more than 60 years by Rabbi Israel Schorr, an inspiring orator and leader, but was even better known for its Cantors (it has magnificent acoustics), including Mordechai Hershman, Berele Chagy, Moshe Koussevitsky and Moshe Stern. Ben Zion Miller has been the Chazzan since 1980. For more about this historic and magnificent shul,see here , and for more about the remarkable Chazzan Miller and the choir led by his sons, see here. This Week's MSOTW
A renowned, one of a kind Rabbinic personality delivered weekly Torah classes in this shul. Hint: He is connected to this week’s Haftarah. Name the shul, where it is located, and the Rabbi.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
