My Machberes,Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum

Spanish Consul Feted In The Catskills

On the same day as the yahrzeit of the Satmar Rebbe, zt"l (1886-1979), chassidishe vacationers in the Catskills celebrated the visit of the Honorable D. Fernando M. Villalonga, Spanish Consul General in New York. Villalonga was instrumental in the protracted negotiations concerning the public school in Toledo that built into and violated a medieval Jewish cemetery.

The Consul General served as an intermediary between the Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe and the municipality of Toledo. The negotiations, under the direction of Rabbi Elyakim Schlesinger, Rosh Yeshiva Horomo of London, concluded in bringing back the removed remains and re-interring them in the original cemetery.

Activists involved in the affair acknowledge the devoted assistance that the Consul General contributed at every stage of the negotiations. To express appreciation the Consul General was invited to meet with leading Chassidishe Rebbes as well the general chassidic populace. As a groundswell of gratitude, all showered Villalonga with heartfelt applause and accolades. On Sunday, August 16, hundreds of inhabitants at the Kiryas Vayoel Moshe (Satmar) community in Monticello honored the Consul General. Many noted activists were amongst the participants. The event also served as a discussion and review of respecting and satisfactorily handling old Jewish cemeteries in general and particularly those in Spain.

The Consul General with the Satmar Rebbe

From there, the Consul General was brought to Camp Rav Tov in Monticello, where all the boys in camp honored him with a hero's welcome. The boys were lined up, holding and waving flags. Camp administrators spoke and told the story of how the old Jewish cemetery in Toledo was saved and that the Consul General played a key role in restoring and preserving Spanish Jewish history.

A chassidishe young camper, who was raised in Spain, stepped up to the podium and, in his native tongue, thanked the Consul General, on behalf of all the campers. The honored guest was clearly moved by the boy's heartfelt words. Gershon Schlesinger, a cemetery-heritage activist, on behalf of all the activists involved, and Rabbi Ben Zion Laub, on behalf of the rabbis involved, publicly expressed their gratitude.

The Consul General was then escorted to Camp Chaim Veshalom in Kiamesha Lake, where he had an audience with Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinowitz, Munkatcher Rebbe. The Consul reported on developments in Spain concerning other old Jewish cemeteries that were being threatened. Sharing notes and maps, the Consul enumerated particular problems and the steps that are being taken to protect and preserve the cemeteries. The Rebbe warmly thanked the Consul and blessed him, wishing him tremendous success in all of his efforts and professional undertakings.

The Consul General with the Munkatcher Rebbe.

Second from left is Yitzchok Fleischer.

Camp Bais Rochel for girls in Fallsburg was the next setting. There the Consul was accompanied into the huge dining room where more than 1,000 girls were respectfully seated. Camp administrators explained the occasion to the girls, stressing the deep historical significance of preserving the Jewish cemeteries in Spain, after which the Consul rose to express his gratefulness.

In a private meeting with camp administrators, the Consul shared his recognition of the observant community's concerns and attachment to every Jewish cemetery, old and new, and the cemeteries being an integral mainstay of the universally ageless Jewish heritage.

As the day grew late, the Consul arrived at Camp Shalva (Bobov) in Monticello where more than a thousand cheering boys waited. The Consul was visibly moved by the spirited reception. Camp administrators voiced the feelings of the entire observant community in their address to the Consul. As the day ended, the Consul had seen with his own eyes the depth of feelings that the old Jewish cemeteries in Spain have in the hearts of the entire community as well as in each individual, even the children.

Toldos History

The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe is the son of Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Kohn, zt"l (1914-1996), author of Divrei Emunah, who received his teachings from his father‑in‑law, Rabbi Aaron Roth, zt"l (1894‑1947), author of Shomrei Emunim and Shulchan HaTahor, known as the Shomrei EmunimRebbe. The Shomrei Emunim was a disciple of the Kosoner Rebbe, the Vishnitzer Rebbe, and the Blujiver Rebbe, and immigrated to Jerusalem in1925.

He intended on becoming a sofer (ritual scribe) and serving Heaven by writing Megillos, mezuzos, tefillin, and Sifrei Torah. He was introduced to an elder sofer who began teaching him but quickly realized that the student was no ordinary pupil. In very short order, the teacher became a chassid of Rabbi Aaron, together with a growing number of Jerusalemites who were also able to discern greatness in the pious young scholar.

In 1939, the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe, while visiting Eastern Europe, took an outstanding devout scholar, Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Kohn, as a son-in-law. Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok, born in Tzefas, had studied in the great yeshivos of Europe and had earned relationships with the leading rabbis there. Upon returning to Jerusalem in 1940, the Rebbe placed his new son-in-law at the helm of his growing yeshiva.

In 1947, when the Shomrim Emunim Rebbe passed away, Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok was anointed as his successor. He guided the large and intense following in the path set by his predecessor. Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok, known as the Toldos Aaron Rebbe, became the spiritual leader of the core of the older Jerusalemite families.

Two years before he passed away, the Toldos Aaron Rebbe became seriously ill and was bedridden. He was brought into his beis medrash on special occasions, his seat partitioned off by curtains. At that time, thebeis medrash was jammed with chassidim waiting just to catch a glimpse of their great Rebbe. The curtains were pulled open for only a few minutes and the chassidim considered themselves fortunate for the opportunity of seeing their Rebbe. Sadly, to the tears of many, the Rebbe passed away on the fourth day of Chanukah, 1996.

After the Toldos Aaron Rebbe passed away, the mantle of leadership of the large international following rested upon Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov and Rabbi Dovid. Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov, the eldest son, was Rosh Kollel of Ziditchov and son‑in‑law of Rabbi Yeshaye Shneibalg, zt"l (1920-2002), revered Belzer Rosh Beis Din.

Following the precedent set by his father, Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov reestablished the old beis medrash of his grandfather in the shuk (marketplace) of Meah Shearim, renaming it Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok, to honor the memory of his sage father. Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov is renowned as the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe.

Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Shidduch

Yehuda Lemberger, son of the Jerusalem Makava Rav, became engaged to the daughter of Rabbi Eliezer Zvi Taub, Rosh YeshivaToldos Avrohom Yitzchok in Jerusalem. The kallah is the granddaughter of the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe.

The kallah is also the granddaughter of Rabbi Moshe Taub, Kaliver Rebbe in Williamsburg; son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shlomo Taub, zt"l (1901-1978), Kaliver Rebbe; son of Rabbi Moshe Taub, zt"l (d. 1936), Kaliver Rebbe and author of Eis Ratzon; son of Rabbi Yehuda Zvi Taub, zt"l (1849-1886) Rozdoler Rebbe; son of Rabbi Shlomo Taub, zt"l (1820-1879), Rozdoler Rebbe; son of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Taub, zt"l (d. 1831), Zidichover Rebbe; son of Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac Taub, zt"l (1751-1821), founding Kaliver Rebbe, renown as the first Hungarian chassidishe rebbe.

Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac Taub composed the stirring "Sol A Kokosh Mar," the famous Hungarian chassidishe song from a melody he overheard and purchased from a shepherd. After selling the melody, the shepherd was never able to sing it again. The first Kaliver Rebbe's yahrzeit is on Adar 7, the same as that of Moshe Rabbeinu. Before the Holocaust, many chassidishe rabbis and rebbes in Hungary were accustomed to visit and pray at his gravesite on that day.

Chenskowitzer-Biksader Chasunah

On Wednesday, August 26, Dovid Alter Zev Teitelbaum married Tzirel Sarah Miriam Fish, daughter of Rabbi Shemaya Yaakov Yehuda Fish; son of Rabbi Yisroel Eliezer Fish, Biksader Rebbe of Williamsburg; son of Rabbi Nochum Zvi Fish, zt"l, Biksader Rebbe; son of Rabbi Eliezer Fish, Hy"d (1880‑1944), Biksader Rebbe and author of Shem Eliezer. The Biksader Rebbe of Williamsburg is the son-in-law of Rabbi Mordechai Hager, Monsey Vishnitzer Rebbe. The chassan is the son of Rabbi Naftali Teitelbaum, Chenskowitzer Dayan. The wedding took place at the Continental Hall on Rutledge Street in Williamsburg.

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