Abstract
Footage from the 1997 documentary “A Life Apart: Hasidism in America” (directed by Menachem Daum and Oren Rudavsky), the first in-depth documentary about Hasidic Jews, members of a distinctive group within Judaism that has roots in pre-World War II Eastern Europe.
Children in the Ger Yeshiva Yagdil Torah in Borough Park, Brooklyn, being prepared for visit of the Ger Rebbe. (Part 1) 11/9/1993.
00:00:28 - (No audio) Boys at the Yeshiva Yagdil Torah taking off coats, seated at desks.
00:01:37 - Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Berkowitz seated at desk in front of a blackboard with English written on it, speaking in Yiddish mixed with a little English: he and the children talk about how it is a festive day because the Ger Rebbe is coming to visit them. They talk about the reason for his visit (dedication of the new yeshiva) and how they will go up to the synagogue to see him and sit in the front row and the Rebbe will give them chocolate. He coaches them on how to behave.
00:07:36 - (Partial audio) Rabbis and children leave their classrooms to go to the synagogue to see the Ger Rebbe. They take their seats in the synagogue. Hubbub as children get settled and await the arrival of the Rebbe.
00:12:18 - (Partial audio) The dais in the synagogue of the yeshiva: a rabbi gives the children instructions (in Yiddish) on how to behave during the Rebbe's visit. Pans of boys and of men waiting in a line at side of room, each man with his hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him.
00:14:35 - Rabbi leads the boys in the recitation of psalms.
00:17:52 - The boys and men await the arrival of the Rebbe, Rabbi Pincus Menachem Alter. Men waiting in a line at side of room, each man with his hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him. The Rebbe arrives and is seated.
00:18:00 - The Rebbe delivers a drosha (sermon) in Yiddish on Parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19 - 28:9) about the birth of Jacob and Esau. The Rebbe urges the children to emulate Jacob: The Rebbe, speaking in a very grandfatherly tone says that his father was in Israel the first time in 5791 (1931?), and visited a Talmud Torah. He went into the second grade and asked what they were studying, and it was the week in which the Torah portion was Toldot. It says there that Isaac prayed to God because his wife was barren, so he prayed for children and Rashi says that he prayed very intensely for children. So my father asked, why did he have to pray so hard? So my father told them about a child who wanted a sweet [the rebbe calls it a Kennedy instead of a candy] and the child’s father didn't want to give it to him because he knew it wasn't good for him. So the child really pleaded with his father and his father gave in even though it might not be in the child’s best interests. Our Father Isaac was supposed to have two children: Jacob and Esau. Jacob was very good but Esau was not and the Talmud says Abraham died five years early so he shouldn't have the aggravation of seeing the misbehavior of Esau. Having children wasn't good for Isaac but Isaac prayed so hard to God that God relented and gave him what he wanted. Why did my father tell this to small children? To let them know that even small children need to know how to be good, how to be well-behaved and obedient like Jacob. May God help you that you should succeed and be good... the young and the old.
Boys and men sing a nigun (wordless tune) as the teachers go up to take sacks of chocolates. The children are hushed as the Rebbe says kiddush (blessing over wine or grape juice).
Children in the Ger Yeshiva Yagdil Torah in Borough Park, Brooklyn, being prepared for visit of the Ger Rebbe. (Part 1) 11/9/1993.
00:00:28 - (No audio) Boys at the Yeshiva Yagdil Torah taking off coats, seated at desks.
00:01:37 - Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Berkowitz seated at desk in front of a blackboard with English written on it, speaking in Yiddish mixed with a little English: he and the children talk about how it is a festive day because the Ger Rebbe is coming to visit them. They talk about the reason for his visit (dedication of the new yeshiva) and how they will go up to the synagogue to see him and sit in the front row and the Rebbe will give them chocolate. He coaches them on how to behave.
00:07:36 - (Partial audio) Rabbis and children leave their classrooms to go to the synagogue to see the Ger Rebbe. They take their seats in the synagogue. Hubbub as children get settled and await the arrival of the Rebbe.
00:12:18 - (Partial audio) The dais in the synagogue of the yeshiva: a rabbi gives the children instructions (in Yiddish) on how to behave during the Rebbe's visit. Pans of boys and of men waiting in a line at side of room, each man with his hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him.
00:14:35 - Rabbi leads the boys in the recitation of psalms.
00:17:52 - The boys and men await the arrival of the Rebbe, Rabbi Pincus Menachem Alter. Men waiting in a line at side of room, each man with his hand on the shoulder of the man in front of him. The Rebbe arrives and is seated.
00:18:00 - The Rebbe delivers a drosha (sermon) in Yiddish on Parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19 - 28:9) about the birth of Jacob and Esau. The Rebbe urges the children to emulate Jacob: The Rebbe, speaking in a very grandfatherly tone says that his father was in Israel the first time in 5791 (1931?), and visited a Talmud Torah. He went into the second grade and asked what they were studying, and it was the week in which the Torah portion was Toldot. It says there that Isaac prayed to God because his wife was barren, so he prayed for children and Rashi says that he prayed very intensely for children. So my father asked, why did he have to pray so hard? So my father told them about a child who wanted a sweet [the rebbe calls it a Kennedy instead of a candy] and the child’s father didn't want to give it to him because he knew it wasn't good for him. So the child really pleaded with his father and his father gave in even though it might not be in the child’s best interests. Our Father Isaac was supposed to have two children: Jacob and Esau. Jacob was very good but Esau was not and the Talmud says Abraham died five years early so he shouldn't have the aggravation of seeing the misbehavior of Esau. Having children wasn't good for Isaac but Isaac prayed so hard to God that God relented and gave him what he wanted. Why did my father tell this to small children? To let them know that even small children need to know how to be good, how to be well-behaved and obedient like Jacob. May God help you that you should succeed and be good... the young and the old.
Boys and men sing a nigun (wordless tune) as the teachers go up to take sacks of chocolates. The children are hushed as the Rebbe says kiddush (blessing over wine or grape juice).
Collection
Subject
Duration
00:22:59 (HH:MM:SS)
Language:
English
Copyright Date
1997
Rights Declaration:
This recording is protected by copyright. You are free to view it but not download it. Please contact the Brooklyn College Archives for further information about how you may use this recording.
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