SFAS EMES BLOG

I have recently discovered a new blog which is well worth browsing into, being Sfas-Emesic discussions of the weekly parsha by Moshe David Tokayer.

See here:
http://sfasemes.blogspot.com/


Reb Tokayer says: "The Sfas Emes's discourses on the Torah during his 35 year tenure as the 2nd Gerer Rebbe are widely regarded as classics of Chassidic thought. The discourses address deep concepts and were written in a very pithy style. They are not easy to understand. This blog is dedicated to making the Sfas Emes available in clear and easy to understand English. Each week, I will, with the help of God, write one homily on the Parsha. I pray that I remain true to the Sfas Emes's intent."


As you know, there is little available in English about either the Sfas Emes , or his grandfather the Chiddushei HaRim. So Reb Tokayer's blog is a very welcome addition.
A rousing kol ha kavod to him.

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SFAS EMES = The Lips of Truth. Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Ben Avraham Mordechai Alter (1847 – 1905), second Rebbe of Ger, called Sfas Emes after his most famous book. Aryeh Leib was a brilliant child, and when orphaned by the death of his father, was raised and taught by his grandfather (the first Rebbe of Ger), as is reflected in his commentaries, which often start with a thought from the Chiddushei HaRim.

His son, the Emrei Emes, escaped from the Nazis and rebuilt Gerrer Chasidus in Eretz Yisroel, where his descendants continue the tradition of their ancestor.


CHIDDUSHEI HA-RIM = Rabbi Yitzhak “Feige” Meir Rothenburg Alter (1799 – 1866), the first Rebbe of Ger, who became a disciple of the Seraf of Kotsk (see below) while still very young. A descendant of Rashi and King David.
Chiddush = Innovation; thus 'Chiddushei HaRim = Innovativa of Rabbi Meir.


SERAF OF KOTSK, The Kutzker Rov = The Tzaddik of Kotsk, rabbi Menachem Mendel (1787 – 1859), the grandfather of the Shem Mi Shmuel.