JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Haaretz investigative reporter Aharon Rabinowitz, who exposed Chaim Walder’s actions to the public, claims in a new report that the Gur chasidus is actively working to entice youths to leave the homes of parents who joined the community of Rabbi Shaul Alter.
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Rabinowitz received taped messages as well as talking with different members of the chasidus and concluded that the case of the Sandik family, whose two daughters refused to return home when their parents left the chasidus, is not a singular event. At least ten youths both male and female have left their homes with the encouragement of the Gur central committee and hundreds more families have been torn, with parents against children as well as brothers against their own brothers.
Gur’s central committee, headed by Rabbi Avraham Zilberberg, spearheads the struggle with the breakaway faction of Rabbi Shaul. In a discussion with a 17-year-old youth who presented himself as a child whose parents had joined Rabbi Shaul, Rabbi Zilberberg told him that “if your father would weaken his commitment to Torah and you were afraid he would influence you, you would leave, right? If there is a 1% chance he will influence you, then you must do what good Jews do when they’re in danger. Your father must know that you will leave the house if this happens.”
When the boy raises concern of police interference, Rabbi Zilberberg dismisses him, stating that all is fine “unless you say that somebody persuaded you to leave.”
Zilberberg was concerned that the discussion had been recorded and stressed that he was only giving advice and not an imperative.
A pamphlet distributed by the Gur chasidim explained that they are trying to prevent families from splitting up. The pamphlet charged that Rabbi Shaul’s community is splitting the families.
In a recorded phone call which reached Haaretz staff, the head of the committee explained to a worried mother whose son had left home that “you decided to do what you did, this is a direct result of your actions so decide where you want to be and then you can ensure that he will return home.”
Gur’s information hotlines which chasidim call in order to hear the directives of leaders are an integral part of the struggle to maintain the chasidus’s unity. On the women’s hotline, Rivka Ehrenreich said that “everyone must understand that rebelling against the ways of our Rebbes cannot be forgiven. Our position is – total detachment, no communication. No participation in simchas, no Shabbos and festivals. Whoever is thinking in this direction should realize that he is losing his family, parents, brothers, sisters – everyone. Don’t think that they will make up in the end, they won’t. In our eyes this is kefira, no worse than desecration of Shabbos.”
Similar directives were published on the men’s hotline, where youths were told that “many of you have a great connection to the tzadik but at the same time a father who is enticing you to come with him and you don’t know what to do. One needs to know that one doesn’t leave a rebbe for any price in the world. One doesn’t question him or rebel against him for any price, irrespective of who is telling a person to do this.”
Leah Sandik, whose girls left her home, feels that this is incitement. “It’s not nice to say but what is happening in the schools is like a Hamas summer camp. No father and mother, just listen to the committee.”
Here we go again, again we need to be saved by Aaron Rabinowitz,
WHY? WHY? doesn’t any Rav, Rabbi, Godol in OUR circles have the guts to stand up and denounce what Gur is going, or what Berland, Walder, Meshi Zahav did!?!
It seems we are unable to police ourselves and call out those in our midst (Berland, Lev Tohor, Gur) who pervert Yiddishkeit and do things that go against Yiddishkeit
” On the women’s hotline, Rivka Ehrenreich said that “everyone must understand that rebelling against the ways of our Rebbes cannot be forgiven. Our position is – total detachment, no communication. No participation in simchas, no Shabbos and festivals. Whoever is thinking in this direction should realize that he is losing his family, parents, brothers, sisters – everyone.”
This is now a cult.
This is not the same Ger I knew.
They are sick. Disgustingly sick.
And then they try to turn the tables and say that it’s Reb Shaule’s people that are breaking up families.
They realize that only with terror will they be able to keep their “chasidim” from leaving.
Sad and sick.
It’s about time someone speaks out against this terrible cult
Yet we still have people here swearing allegiance to gur. Is R shul perfect? No. But look at the difference. Bottom line the world embraced him in the USA far more than gur. And he never ever said I want to be a reba even under another name. That’s unlike any other chasdisha machlokos. Gur shtinckt
The headline alone is too painful to read. So this other case with the two girls is true and now we hear that it is more widespread. Unbelievable! Sickos!!
this is extremely dangerous and unprecedented. Doesnt Aguda both here and in Israel have strong ties to Gur?
Nebech, these advice givers are creating sinas chinum, and may be chas v’shalom responsible for the churbon of many a baiyis.
Very sad !!!
This is where Chasidus becomes confused with Torah and Mitzvos – i.e. Obligation vs non- obligatory.
Ger TODAY = Lev Tahor
It’s sad.
When I think about gedolim I think of Rabbi yaakov kamenetsky,rav Avigdor Miller,rav Moshe and others in that league. Would they object if their followers joined another rav. I don’t think so. As long as they remain Shomer Torah umitzvohs.
Its not about being Torahdik. Its about being conformadik to the gedolim. OTD anyone?
When I hear such stories, I think of Sunnis vs Shiites. I hope honor-killings are not on the horizon…
An earthquake in Cyprus which was felt in Eretz Yisrael , 2 more minor in Galilee last week , and an expert warning of a potential major one , chas veshalom. Be careful about breaking and splitting friendships , families , chavershafft , etc. Hameivinim yavienu the connection. Serious.
Of course it’s true, having been at a Chasunah where the Rebbe’s son made some of the Mechutan’s kids leave the hall (due to their closeness to Reb Shaul Alter) before the Rebbe would make his grand entrance. Ger is Kamtza and Bar Kamtza revisited.
This is S’dom revisiteg
Without getting into the politics i can testify that part of my family is ger and 2 of them went to reb shaul and their children are at home with them while learning in ger mosdos and they are SUPER respectful
This is S’dom revisited
Korach also thought he was right and he was a big Talmid Chochom….
Trust is becoming an increasingly rare commodity.
The world famous Badchan R’ Yankel Miller, no longer wants to be called Yarma Rov; he now wants to be called Yarma Rosh Yeshiva. Ger is for Badchanus, they and their Rebbe should not be taken seriously.
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Well that seems to settle it – if your Ger, then you don’t need to think as the rebbe does all the thinking for you.
The same parents who taught their kids to idolize a Rebbe will now have it backfire at them. If you taught your kids to be rational and sensible you have nothing to worry about.
I really hope that this is NOT true and that Gur does not cause internal family problems, but it is too early to know…..
The Ger reaction is typical for any Chasidus. You may not agree with it but that’s the way it is.
y r u blocking me???
???????????????
Seems like the story of the sandik girls turned out false after a judge agreed that there was abuse involved and removed restraining order against the ger mechanchim so reb shauls guys are trying to save face with this “explosive” report
The phone call was someone looking for goods and was pulled from a much longer conversation in with the caller described a very different picture than posted here
This site is anti Gur as is clear as can be.
Our Rebbi is known as the biggest of the big by all gedoli yisroel.
He learns all day and night ,yet finds time for everyone.The Rebbi knows
whats going on and nothing is done with out his daas torah.lf you have an issue
with daas torah then too bad nebuch on you!
Sheker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FAKE NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!