1. Mazel Tov

We are very happy to wish Mazel Tov to Mr. Eddo Verdoner on his wedding in The Netherlands next week. Our Rov, Harav Yehudoh Gans שליט"א, and one of our important and devoted Gabboim, R' Yeshayohu Schneller, are going to The Netherlands to attend the wedding, and will stay in southern Amsterdam. If someone would like to contact the Rov and ask שאלות while the Rov is there, please write to (This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) [This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ] and we will give you contact information.

2. A summary of Rav Hamburger's visit to the US

On Shabbos Parashas Shemous, bnei Ashkenaz from far and near converged on Baltimore, MD for a special Shabbaton to mechazeik the base of Minhag Ashkenaz supporters in the USA. Hosted by Kehillas Ashkenaz and featured as a major speaker at Shomrei Emunah, Rav Binyomin Shlomo Hamburger שליט"א, delivered many shiurim, and answered questions to clarify and elucidate the halachic bases of Minhag Ashkenaz. Many people participated and received great chizuk.

Alexander Weil, the founder of Kehillas Ashkenaz in Baltimore, introduced Rav Hamburger and also mentioned that the minyan had been invited by the largest shul on Baltimore, Shomrei Emunah, to join that kehilla. Being part of a larger framework would help Kehillas Ashkenaz attract more members and also be able to participate in chesed activities, learning and tzedoko in the context of our own shul.

Rav Hamburger delivered a lecture highlighting the accuracy of the Ashkenazic mesouroh and encouraging Bnei Ashkenaz to daven at Kehillas Ashkenaz, intermixed with some stories about the history of Baltimore Orthodox Jewry including Rav Avraham Rice, zt'l and Rav Shimon Schwab, zt'l. Though many people would rather daven in a "large" minyan of 1000 people rather than the Ashkenaz minyan which on occasion has 10, Rav Hirsch explained when he was struggling to set up an independent kehillo that the same shechino is in both places.

Leil Shabbos after the seudoh, an עונג שבת was held at the Weil home attended by about 35 men and a number of women. Rav Hamburger spoke about the chiyuv to say the brocho "oseh ma'aseh breishis" if flying over the Swiss Alps, and cited many famous poskim and Jewish thinkers including Rav Shimshon Refoel Hirsch, zt'l. Rav Hamburger addresses why Dutch Jews name after living relatives, why some people wash before kiddush at night but not during the day, and the importance of keeping minhogim like "Chol Kreisch." Many people with little or no affiliation to Kehillas Ashkenaz came to the עונג שבת and attained a great respect for the mesouroh, as Rav Hamburger demonstrated that all Ashkenazic Jews are primarily beholden to the German-Jewish roots for their Jewish practices.

At Shabbos morning after Davening, Rav Hamburger spoke in Shomrei Emunah, about the Ari zl's ma’amar that there are 12 gates in the sky, and that tefilo only goes up through the gate of one's sheivet. He then gave a brocho to the host shul, to the chosson who was celebrating his aufruf that day, and thanked Shomrei for inviting Kehilas Ashkenaz to be a part of the larger community.

One hour before mincho Rav Hamburger spoke about waiting 3 hours between meat and milk, and about how to pronounce the choulom. He briefly mentioned washing before kiddush and then took questions. This session was lively, and attracted about 120 people.
Rav Hamburger was asked to daven mincho before the omud and obliged with an unhurried, remarkable chazoras ha'shatz that the tzibbur enjoyed.

At seudoh Shlishis he fielded questions regarding importance of piyyutim and other key contemporary issues.

Havdolo at the Weil house was attended by many supporters and accompanied with singing Gott Fun Avrohom, HaMavdil, Eliyohu Hanovi and Shir HaMa'alous Ashrei Kol Yerei Hashem.

After Shabbos he received more visitors, before heading out speak at the Kol Torah (R. Yosef Berger shlita) melaveh malkoh at the Liberty Jewish Center. He spoke there regarding the halachic question of whether we pasken like R. Yehudo Hachosid's numerous instructions from his tzavo’oh.

On Sunday afternoon, he was invited by the ראש ישיבה of Greater Washington (Silver Spring) Haran Aaron Lopiansky שליט"א, to address the yeshivo and community in one of their bottei medrosh. Roughly 45 people attended the shiur about "The History of Minhogei Ashkenaz." Among those attending were rebbeim as well as bloggers who wrote up their impressions online.

In the evening, Rav Hamburger spoke at Sherith Israel (Glen Avenue) in Baltimore regarding various rabbinic responses and principles when dealing with Meshichei Sheker personalities through the ages. R. Mordechai Frankel, the assistant Rav of Agudah of Park Heights, who had actually read the entire 700 page book Meshichei Sheker u'misnagdeihem, enthusiastically introduced Rav Hamburger, lauding his work that gave a proper perspective on False Messiahs. This is a great service to the frum community that people do not have to read works by quasi-maskilim just to understand a contemporary, ubiquitous menace. There were about 100 people who attended this lecture including some hecklers in the back, whom Rabbi Hamburger put down in short order.

On Monday morning, Rav Hamburger met with the ראש ישיבה of Ner Yisroel, HaRav Aharon Feldman שליט"א, who expressed support for the Meshichei Sheker book and even wanted to buy a copy for himself. The ראש ישיבה even offered to help partially raise the funds to translate the book into English. Additional sponsorship is needed!

Monday afternooon, as Rav Hamburger's final engagement in Baltimore, he spoke to the Bais Yaakov staff and teachers regarding the influence of Rav Hirsch on Sarah Shnerer, and how he actually saved Eastern European Jewry through girls' education.

Monday night, he spoke in Lower Merion Synagogue in Philadelphia, about the historical basis and discussion regarding whether it is permissible and/or proper to auction off aliyos. Special meetings also took place with Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky שליט"א – the ראש ישיבה of Philadelphia, the Roush Koullel שליט"א and Rav Mandelbaum שליט"א of Philadelphia Yeshivo.

On Tuesday night in Lakewood, Rav Hamburger spoke at R. Nosson Hershberg's shul regarding the chashivus of Minhag Ashkenaz. The questioning went on for a few hours from the packed house. From this event a nucleus of בני תורה who would like to start a Lakewood Ashkenaz minyan in time for Dalet parshious is beginning to emerge. Rav Hamburger also met with Rav Malkiel Kotler שליט"א, and gave him a copy of Meshichei Sheker.

On Shabbos Parshas Vo'eiro, Rav Hamburger went to Riverdale where he was scholar-in-residence at RJC. There was an עונג שבת at his cousin's apartment where there were probably a dozen people as well as the assistant Rabbi of Riverdale Jewish Center, and the famous Rav Mordechai Willig שליט"א, bombarding him with questions, and he having the answers to all of the questions.

Moutzo’ei Shabbos he spoke at Young Israel of Bays water on “Ashkenaz and Sepharad: Two approaches to Torah”. He was introduced by the Moro d'Asro of the shul Rav Feuer שליט"א, as well as the ראש ישיבה of Five Towns, Rav Moshe Zev Katzenstein, שליט"א. The shiur was organized by the KAYJ forum's Daniel Adler, and roughly 150 people attended.

On Sunday afternoon he spoke at Bais Torah in Monsey on the general development of Minhag Ashkenaz and Sunday night he spoke at Riverdale Jewish center on case studies of the development of Yizkour, Kaddish and Av Horachamim.

Monday night he spoke in Ahavas Israel in Passaic, being introduced by Rav Ron Yitzchak Eisenman שליט"א, who having lived in Washington Heights and learned the halachic bases of Minhag Ashkenaz, is a vocal proponent of awareness of this Minhag.

In Elizabeth on Tuesday night, Rav Hamburger about the ancient traditions, nusach hatfiloh, and practices which Ashkenazim (especially Yekkes) still share with Sephardim as well as those in which they differ.

On Wednesday afternoon in his final stateside appearance before returning to Eretz Yisroel, he spoke at a lunchtime gathering at the offices of the Orthodox Union. Invited and introduced by Rabbi Steven Weil, שליט"א, the OU’s Executive Vice President, the shiur was open to the public and as Rav Hamburger’s sole Manhattan appearance, was well-attended. It also focused on the History and Development of Minhag Ashkenaz.

The main points Rav Hamburger stressed during the trip were the authentic Ashkenazic choulom, as explained by many pouskim including the גר"א, the saying of piyyutim and the need to return to authentic practices (such as those which had been banned due to censors) in our daily lives and davening. Bnei Ashkenaz need their own shuls where these traditions and halochos can best be upheld.

Machon Moreshet Ashkenaz and KAYJ are preparing audio and video recordings of Rav Hamburger’s lectures.

Please click on this link for the booklet Alei Asor (in Hebrew).
Graphic designer: Mrs. M. Sternfield 972-2-571-2955

1. Melaveh Malkoh marking 10 years for KAYJ

On מוצאי שבת מקץ, KAYJ held a Melaveh Malkoh marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of our shul - K'hal Adas Yeshurun in Jerusalem.

The evening was attended by Rabbonim, Kehilloh members and friends of the Kehilloh and was accompanied by the shul's choir (who sang הריעו, מה טובו, טוב להודות and אודך כי עניתני).

Rav Yisroel Gans שליט"א spoke about the importance of our 1000 year old Minhogim, from before the time of the Shulchan Oruch.
Rav Binyomin Rimmer שליט"א spoke about the way our Kehilloh is properly run as directed by the Rav, and the serious way in which the Davening is conducted with traditional tunes and without haste.
Rav Shlomo Neiman שליט"א spoke about the importance of keeping and not changing minhogim, and about the special כבוד there is in the Yekkish shuls.
Our Rov, HaRav Yehudah Gans שליט"א expressed the הכרת הטוב to the Gabboim and various Kehilloh members for all that is done for the shul, and spoke about the importance of בתי כנסיות to Klal Yisroel.
Rav Binyomin Shlomo Hamburger שליט"א spoke about the fact that all the Rabbonim in the past and in the present urged him to continue with Minhogei Ashkenaz and to set up these shuls in Eretz Yisroel
At the end of the evening everyone sung together Shir Hamaalos in the traditional melody.


2. The booklet עלי עשור, printed on the event of 10 years to KAYJ

A special booklet (in Hebrew) was printed for the event, including an article from our Rov about the importance of having a Minhag Ashkenaz shul, an article recording the shul's milestones (from the idea, till the date marking 10 years), a summary of the building process, interviews with different Kehilloh members mentioning the reason they come to our Kehilloh, and an article from the Rov about the number 10 in Judaism.

The booklet was sponsored by Mrs. Annette Kirschner from Washington Heights New York, www.jewishwimpel.com (who specializes in making museum-quality wimpels) and by R' Yitzchok Shechter from Kishrei Kodesh in Bnei Brak (who specializes in STaM and שופרות). Special thanks to Mrs. M. Sternfield for designing the booklet.

The booklet will be sent on request from (This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) [This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ]. We hope to have it posted on our website in a fortnight.

1) A delegation from KAYJ visited London last week and was very warmly received by members of the London community and in particular by the Golders Green Beth Hamedrash. There was a true feeling of connection between the big and established Kehilloh in London, and our young growing Kehilloh in Yerusholayim.

Special thanks to Mr. Y Katz who made many efforts to help in so many ways and to Mr. R Schleimer, who has agreed to act as the focal point for any donations, which should be sent to him at 80 Highfield Ave, NW11 9TT.

We look forward to returning the hospitality that we were shown, by hosting yeshivah boys or seminary girls learning in Yerusholayim at our kehilloh. We would like to remind everyone that our kehilloh has open house for all visitors to Yerusholayim. Please email us at (This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) [This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ] or phone 00-972-2-52-761-1890 (cell phone), or leave a message at 00-972-2-571-5824 - it will be our pleasure to arrange a warm reception and hospitality at our community in Ramot.

2) Since Doniel ben Le'oh is in a very critical situation, there will be תפלת רבים by the כותל המערבי tonight at 20:30.