Pictures, Audio, & Source Sheet for Rav Moshe Weinberger's Packed Tu B'Shvat Shiur in Beit Shemesh

The world is so fortunate that it has Rav Moshe Weinberger. B"H, not only we at Aish Kodesh in Woodmere and those who listen to his shiurim in one way or another have access to this remarkable Rav's perspective, but with his new position as Mashpia at YU, his light is spreading even further. I have heard that between 500 and 700 talmidim and rebbeim at many of the yeshivos participating in YU's joint Israel program came to Rav Moshe Weinberger's drasha this past Thursday night at 11 p.m. in Reishit Yerushalayim's hall in Beit Shemesh.

• Click here to hear the shiur he gave that night.
• Click here to see a copy of the Beis Yaakov Rav Weinberger quoted in the shiur (courtesy of Daniel Green)
• And click here to see a number of amazing pictures from that night. See below for a few of the pictures!

In addition, please see below for an email sent out today by Rabbi Josh Frohlich to students and rebbeim in the various YU joint Israel program yeshivos talking about the event. Beautiful! Ashreinu sheyesh lanu Rebbe kazeh!

Dear students, 

If you weren't with us on Thursday night at the late night mishmar with Rabbi Moshe     Weinberger, you seem to have been in the minority. More than 650 talmidim and rebbeim, from about fifteen different yeshivas, joined together at Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim's beautiful hall to sing and hear divrei chizzuk from the Mashpia of YU. The energy was palpable from the get-go, as guys began piling in and were clearly excited to see 'all' their friends joining together for a night of inspiration. The anticipation only intensified when the crowd simply burst out dancing as soon as Rav Weinberger walked into the room. After a few opening words from Rabbi Josh Frohlich, it was beautiful to see so many guys singing together- "ish echad b'lev echad". Rav Weinberger then inspired the crowd in a way that only he can, as he shared his stirring divrei chizzuk. We all shared one more dance together before chulent was served and talmidim headed back to their respective yeshivas well after 1:00 am.

We've run many events in the last few years, but none quite like this! It was truly beautiful for all of us to see so many talmidim get together simply to be inspired by Rav Weinberger and by each other. When you join us on campus at YU, you'll have tremendous opportunities to continue to grow in so many ways and join an already existing chevre that you simply can't find anywhere else in the world.

A tremendous yasher koach to all Roshei Yeshiva and Rebbeim who accompanied their talmidim and really added to the ruach, and especially to the talmidim themselves who helped create such a special evening. We hope you enjoy some of the pictures from the event found HERE and feel free to download [or listen online to] Rav Weinberger's divrei chizzuk HERE...

Additionally, Mr. Moish Kranzler, Director of Admissions, will be visiting a number of the yeshivas this week. If you'd like to hear more about some of the wonderful opportunities on campus, please let us know.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Josh 

Rabbi Josh Frohlich, MSW

Assistant Director

YU S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program



Rabbi Simcha Hochbaum (Hebron Fund) and Rabbi Shlomo Katz listening to Rav Moshe Weinberger's shiur



Listening intently



Rav Moshe Weinberger speaking with Rabbi Ari Waxman!



Great shot



Awesome



Rabbi Dovid'l Weinberg and his talmidim at the shiur

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My Guest Post at Circus Tent - Intro to Rav Moshe Weinberger's Teachings and Response to Comments

I enjoyed reading Reb Hirschel Tzig's recent post at Circus Tent about the inspiring Rosh Chodesh Kislev farbrengen held by Rav Weinberger at YU but I was dismayed by the smallness, disrespect, and ignorance displayed in many of the comments. I know it's the Internet and many comment sections in the world are populated by such commenters, but I was unable to forget about these comments without putting a response "on the record." For the sake of the majority of readers there who did not comment, and perhaps against my better judgment, I offered to write a response to the majority of Circus Tent readers who may not be aware of the ignorance of many of the commenters. Baruch Hashem, Hirshel Tzig was gracious enough to accept my offer.

Please see below for the introductory comments at the beginning of my guest post or you can click here to read the full post. I encourage my Dixie Yid readers to contribute voices of reasonableness and sanity to the comment section there and I discourage people from making disparaging or insulting comments in response to any small-minded comments you read. I don't think anything is gained by sinking to the lowest common denominator of the Internet comment world.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the guest post:

First of all, thank you to Reb Hirshel Tzig for publishing this guest post so that I can share some information and thoughts about my rebbe, Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, who I see as one of the greatest mashpi'im in our generation. I do this with the recognition that although it is absurd for an ant like myself to "explain" Rav Weinberger to those who are not yet familiar with him, the comment section of Reb Hirschel Tzig's recent post about the inspiring Rosh Chodesh Kislev farbrengen held at YU convinced me that many Circus Tent readers may benefit from some additional insight into this very special Rav.

My biggest hurdle is, as Rav Weinberger said about Rav Kalonymous Kalmish Shapira, Hy"d, the "Aish Kodesh," at that tzadik's hilula a few years ago, is "For those who are not yet familiar with his teachings, how does one explain that this [is] not 'just another rabbi?'" The only way for readers to truly get a sense of why Rav Weinberger's teachings are so vital for our generation is by listening to at least one series of his shiurim. I recommend starting with one of the series of shiurim on the teachings of the Baal Hatanya, Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh, or Rav Kook. You can also read some of  his recent Shabbos morning drashos on my blog here. Nevertheless, I will try to hit a few roshei perkaim and point those interested in learning more toward some helpful sources.

My only basis for speaking on the issue is the fact that I have been a student of Rav Weinberger's in Woodmere for about nine years and a student-from-afar of Rav Weinberger's for about twelve years. Readers should note that the views I express here are my own and I am not an "official" spokesperson or gabai for Rav Weinberger. Any mistakes in attempting to characterize Rav Weinberger's teachings are my own.

In terms of format, I will address the topic by responding to many of the misimpressions expressed in certain of the comments to Reb Hirshel Tzig's post according to the categories listed below. In doing so, I am intentionally looking past the profound bizui talmidei chachamim, smallness, and ignorance in which many commenters enclothed their "analysis." I'm also numbering the paragraphs so I can refer to the paragraphs in this guest post if a comment raises a point or points I've already addressed here either explicitly or implicitly. Life is short. Here are the general types of comments/"complaints" organized by category:

• It is problematic that Rav Weinberger does not limit his self-identification and teachings to Chabad chassidus 
• It is problematic that Rav Weinberger cannot be pinned down to clear Chabad/Chagas/MO/Litvish labels 
• Rav Weinberger's teachings are not penimius/derech arucha u'tzetzara. They're "Poilishe bubeh maasehs," fireworks, and pomp to appeal to the masses and are without tochen.
• YU should be ctiticized for hiring a chasidish mashgiach and thereby abandoning their Brisker/Litvish/RYB Soloveitchik heritage (I'll explain below why I place this in the "Rav Weinberger is not Chabad" complaint category)
• How can a Rav who learned in YU and is "worldly" credibly be considered a "Rebbe?"
• Rav Weinberger appeals to the chevra at YU because they are starved for spirituality
• Rav Weinberger appeals to the chevra at YU because he teaches Rav Kook

CLICK HERE to read the full guest post!

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Rav Moshe Weinberger's First Public Shiur as YU Mashgiach

YU Torah has posted the first big public shiur given by Rav Moshe Weinberger as the new mashgiach/mashpia at YU. He speaks about preparing for slichos and Rosh Hashana. Click here to listen!

Update: For anyone able to be at YU, Rav Weinberger will be givin the following shiurim:

a shiurim in Glueck 308 every Monday afternoon from 12:15-1:00 p.m.  entitled "Toras Eretz Yisroel" using the sefer Mimaynei Hayeshua.

A  shiur every Monday evening from 9-10 p.m. in Glueck 308 entitled "Introduction to Toras Habaael Shem Tov." I hope they put this on YU Torah!!! HT Ari Ackerman.

Picture courtesy of Neil B.

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Rav Yudin, Rav Moshe Weinberger (talmid), & Rav Ari Waxman (grandson) Speaking at Azkara for Rav Dovid Lifshtiz, zt"l



HT Rav Ari Waxman.

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Special Shout-Outs to Stollel & Ushi Weinberger

I was talking to my holy friend Rabbi Reuven Boshnack at Shalosh Sheudos after Shalosh Sheudos tonight at Aish Kodesh and he told me about some readers that I didn't know about. To be honest, I wasn't really sure I still had that many readers. I haven't posted very much original stuff in the last 6 months or so, and I was begining to wonder if my hits were just coming from google image searches. f

But tonight, he told me at the "Stollel's big wedding"™, he had an amazing time with the heiliger Stollel members and that they mentioned that they read "the Dixie Yid." Woo hoo! Shout-out to the Stollel! It's a kavod that you read this blog! (For everyone else, sample videos below)

And of course, I have to be makir tov to "the makor," the Jawboner Rebbe, who also, I hear tell, has laid his eyes on this site.

Also, I heard that even the newly bearded Reb Ushi Weinberger is a reader! Gevalt!

Now that I realize I still have some readers, I feel bad about being less active. I'll try to remedy that, IY"H, if I can. If anybody knows how to speed up a paper on § 363 all-asset sales and how to prevent effective violations of the absolute priority rule with what are essentially sub rosa plans of reorganization, I'd appreciate it!

And of course the classic:

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Funny Guys! - The YU Library 4th Floor Ruckus Video

HT jawbone valley. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Awesome New Little-Known Album is Out - Shirei Halevi'im

My holy and awesome friend and inspiration R' Ben Epstein (highly sought-after Sgan Mashgiach at YU) lists, among his many talents, the fact that he has a beautiful voice and a talent for composing great music.

You can hear one of his songs from his new album, Shirei Halevi'im, in-full right now. The song is "Ra'ava D'Ra'avin." The words are from Mizmor L'Dovid, the 23rd perek of Tehillim. Just click on the "play" button next to the title of the song, Ra'ava D'Ra'avin over at CDBaby. You can also get these songs at iTunes.

R' Epstein has structured this album after the days of the week. So the songs are "Sunday," "Monday," etc. and then three additional songs, including Ra'ava D'Ra'avin. You can sample portions of all of the songs and then either buy individual songs, the whole album, or order the physical CD at iTunes or over at CDBaby.

The artwork for the album is by Dan Weinstein, who has been featured here already.

Pictures courtesy of the Ben Epsteins of the world and Dan Weinstein. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.