Thursday, December 29

Rabbi Biberfeld at Rabbi Padwa's home

London, 20 September 2012 

On Wednesday Tzom Gedalye, 3 Tishrey 5773 a delegation from the Tchortkower Kloyz in the South Tottenham District of Greater London – led by our beloved Rov - visited the Grand Rabbi Ephrayim Padwa at his home in Filey Avenue, who is “at the helm” of the UOHC. 
He was asked to affix the Mezuzah on the main entrance door to our newly renovated house of prayer, which also houses a kolel and many other Torah-centric programmes.
Rabbi Padwa applauded the fact that avreichim from outside the close circle of Chortkow also belong to this shteeble, pointing out that Mr Beck who belongs to the Belz Chassidus appears to be involved with Chortkow. 
Rabbi Biberfeld responded that there are historical links between the two sects, as the Chortkow-Zlatoploa Rebbe married into the family of the Belz dynasty.  He went on to recount how the Shidduch came about: the Mittele Belz’er Rebbe – R’ Sheeyale - was niftar, leaving behind one unmarried daughter.  As her brother the Freeyerdiger Rov – R’ Yessochor Dov – wanted very much to marry off his own daughter to the scion of Ruzhin, who would later become the Chortkow-Zlatoploa Rebbe.  However instead he wed his sister to this Chosen, explaining that he was afraid of his father for going ahead with the Shidduch for his own daughter, whilst his sister – the orphan – would not get this Shidduch. 
Rabbi Biberfeld then reported to the Rov about the name that was given to the new-born boy, whose Bris was on the same day.  As part of a set of twins this boy was named Yaakov Yosef after his great-great grandfather, the saintly Rebbe of Skver OB”M.  The reason he wasn’t named after another great-great-grandfather - who departed from this world in the past year – the holy Rebbe of Wiznits is because the motehr’s father is named Moshe and his father is named Yehoshua.  Another name was brought up – that of R’ Dovid’l of Kshanow - but was nixed, as it clashed with the name of the present Rebbe of Skver: Dovid. 
Rav Padwa dismissed all the reasons by stating empathetically that a grandchild of Skver can only be named Yaakov Yosef…
After exchanging some pleasantries the Rov of the Chortkow Kloyz invited the Rov to attend the Kevyas Mezuzah.
Rabbi Padwa then escorted the entourage to the door, where he enquired after the welfare of a certain individual, showing a keen interest in his situation and making him feel very important.  
Foto Credits: Yossi Lauber



First published on 18 December 2012, on Jewish P.O.S.T. - the Jewish Voice for the People Of South Tottenham (this Blog is now defunct).

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