2008 Woodie Awards
Hornsteipler Rebbe Visits Yeshiva
Yaakov Albietz and Shmuel Krul
Issue date: 5/16/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
On Monday, May 9, Rabbi Hershel Reichman's Mazer Yeshiva Program Talmud shiur was honored by the presence of Rabbi Mordechai Twersky, known in Hasidic circles as the Hornsteipler Rebbe. As he entered the room, the grand Hasidic rabbi looked at R. Reichman and said "Well, they look Jewish."
The Hornsteipler gave a two hour lecture primarily focusing on the topic of "yiras shemayim" [fear of heaven]. In the rabbi's opinion, Jewish religious education nowadays focuses more on knowledge and less on yiras shamayim than in previous generations. This change, he said, is due to the Western world's focus on intellectual rather than spiritual development, and has contributed to the current situation where, according to his accounts, only 10 percent of Jews are observant. The rebbe suggested that a step towards solving this imbalance would be to study the nature and manner of fearing God.
To develop his point, the Hornsteipler rebbe used the Hasidic text Me'or Einayim, written by the Chernobler rebbe. He related that the Torah's teachings are concealed beneath many layers of "clothing." Indeed, intense learning brings one to formidable insight in understanding the Torah. However, for the final concealing layer to be removed, and the deepest, inner essence to be revealed, one's study of Torah must be thoroughly mixed with fear of God.
Expounding on the beginnings of the Hasidic movement, the Hornsteipler emphasized that the Baal Shem Tov's teachings were focused on instilling yiras shemayim.
Following his presentation, the Hornsteipler entertained questions from the students. One student asked about the role of Hasidic garb in the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, to which he was answered that many exterior aspects of modern Hasidism do not necessarily reflect the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov per se. Rather, such elements as regimentation, exclusivity, and conformity are a result of the impact of the Holocaust and other traumatic events of the last two hundred years. These calamities resulted in the closing off of Hasidic society.
The rebbe continued to explain how the Orthodox world has changed in the aftermath of World War II. He said that after the Holocaust, the Hasidic and Lithuanian worlds chose to focus on the inner rebuilding of a Torah society, to the exclusion of dealing with modernity. Issues such as secular studies and outreach have essentially been neglected. It was not until recently that Hasidim once again became confident that Torah would survive. He explained that changing from an inner-directed Judaism to an outwardly-directed one takes time, but that the Hasidic world has already started making significant positive efforts. He particularly emphasized how Hasidim now work on outreach, whereas ten years ago they would have not.
The full audio version of Rav Twersky's shiur can be downloaded at www.yutorah.org.
The Hornsteipler gave a two hour lecture primarily focusing on the topic of "yiras shemayim" [fear of heaven]. In the rabbi's opinion, Jewish religious education nowadays focuses more on knowledge and less on yiras shamayim than in previous generations. This change, he said, is due to the Western world's focus on intellectual rather than spiritual development, and has contributed to the current situation where, according to his accounts, only 10 percent of Jews are observant. The rebbe suggested that a step towards solving this imbalance would be to study the nature and manner of fearing God.
To develop his point, the Hornsteipler rebbe used the Hasidic text Me'or Einayim, written by the Chernobler rebbe. He related that the Torah's teachings are concealed beneath many layers of "clothing." Indeed, intense learning brings one to formidable insight in understanding the Torah. However, for the final concealing layer to be removed, and the deepest, inner essence to be revealed, one's study of Torah must be thoroughly mixed with fear of God.
Expounding on the beginnings of the Hasidic movement, the Hornsteipler emphasized that the Baal Shem Tov's teachings were focused on instilling yiras shemayim.
Following his presentation, the Hornsteipler entertained questions from the students. One student asked about the role of Hasidic garb in the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, to which he was answered that many exterior aspects of modern Hasidism do not necessarily reflect the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov per se. Rather, such elements as regimentation, exclusivity, and conformity are a result of the impact of the Holocaust and other traumatic events of the last two hundred years. These calamities resulted in the closing off of Hasidic society.
The rebbe continued to explain how the Orthodox world has changed in the aftermath of World War II. He said that after the Holocaust, the Hasidic and Lithuanian worlds chose to focus on the inner rebuilding of a Torah society, to the exclusion of dealing with modernity. Issues such as secular studies and outreach have essentially been neglected. It was not until recently that Hasidim once again became confident that Torah would survive. He explained that changing from an inner-directed Judaism to an outwardly-directed one takes time, but that the Hasidic world has already started making significant positive efforts. He particularly emphasized how Hasidim now work on outreach, whereas ten years ago they would have not.
The full audio version of Rav Twersky's shiur can be downloaded at www.yutorah.org.