Samuel Jacob Rubinstein
Encyclopedia
Samuel Jacob Rubinstein was a XXth century French
orthodox Chief Rabbi
independent from the Consistoire central born in Poland.
(Synagogue de la rue Pavée), at 10 Rue Pavée, in the Marais
(known as the Pletzl
), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.
He succeeded Chief Rabbi Joël Leib HaLevi Herzog, father of Chief Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog
, the future Chief Rabbi of Israel
, as
rabbi of Agudas Hakehilos (אֲגֻדָּת־הַקְּהִלּוֹת, Union of Communities).
He contributed to the renewal of French Jewry after World War II and was active in the return of Jewish children entrusted to non-Jewish families during the war. He was in touch with humanitarian organizations such as the Vaad Hatzalah
and other American organisations.
He was renowned as a great orator with an imposing figure.
He published in 3 volumes in Hebrew, Sheerit Menahem (Paris, 1954) et Shemen LaNer in 2 volumes in Hebrew (Paris, 1959). The choice of the name of Sheerit Menahem for his major work is a reference to the name of his father, Rabbi Yirmeyahu Menachem Rubinstein.
Rabbi Rubinstein considered himself as a Kotzker Hassid, influenced by the Hassidic Master, Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
(1787–1859), the founder of the Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
.
One finds the name of Rabbi Rubinstein in rabbinical publications, in his correspondence with other leading rabbis, such as Menashe Klein
, the Ungvar Rebbe, of New York
, who lived in Paris, after World War II.
In the world of Jewish orthodoxy, particularly hassidic, Paris and France, before and after the war, were synonymous with him.
In his book, The Jews, Roger Peyrefitte
describes him as follows: That night, he [Asher] had also dreamt of his master in Judaism
, Chief Rabbi Rubinstein, whose white beard, wisdom and eloquence were the ornament of the synagogue on Rue Pavée.
He is mentioned by Ruth Blau the second wife of Amram Blau
of Neturei Karta
in her memoirs. It's him who presides over her orthodox conversion to Judaism:My son and myself were confirmed as proselytes by an orthodox rabbi, rabbi Rubinstein of the Synagogue de la rue Pavée. We received a certificate of conversion validating our admission to the Jewish Community in 1951.
If la Rue Pavée was the Synagogue where one would find him on a daily basis, in fact, he was also considered the rabbi of different Shtiebles of the Pletzl
.
The grand-mother of Richard Prasquier
, president of the Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France
(CRIF
), since May 2007, had married Rabbi Rubinstein in 1958. Doctor Prasquier notes that his grand-mother had married: the famous rabbi of la rue Pavée.
At his funeral, in the Synagogue de la rue Pavée, where the first row of benches had been removed for the occasion, the eulogies were given for Rabbi Rubinstein, in Yiddish, the language he preferred, and in French
by Rabbi David Feuerwerker
, in the presence of a huge crowd. Among the rabbis of the Consistoire present that day was the Chief Rabbi Ernest Gugenheim (1916–1977).
His successor was Chief Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Rottenberg, from Antwerpen, whose son, Rabbi Mordechai Rottenberg is the current rabbi of the Synagogue de la Rue Pavée.
The grand-children of Chief Rabbi Rubinstein live in Israel
: Rafi (Raphaël) Shimoni lives with his family in Tel-Aviv, where he is an engineer
, head of department, in the Israeli aeronautics industry (IAI
, Israel Aerospace Industries); Dr. Marc Klutstein is a cardiologist at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem; and Evy Kuppershmidt heads a consulting firm.
, in a letter dated from Brooklyn
, New York
, Elul
1, 5711 [1950] writes about him: "A little while ago, I wrote to the great Rav [Rabbi], distinguished Hassid who fears God, Rav Shmuel Yaakov Rubinstein."
They knew each other from before the war. Rabbi Rubinstein recounted with emotion that during the census of the Parisians, when the Nazis entered Paris, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
was absent from home. When he learned that next to his name was written, religion orthodox, he went to the census bureau to have it replaced by Jewish.
From Nice
, in Tishri 5702, (1941) Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
went to the Italian border to get an Etrog
, for the Jewish Festival of Sukkot
. He came back with two Etrogim, one for himself, the other he offered to Rabbi Rubinstein, who found himself too in Nice.
In the meantime, we felt the lack of a rabbinical leader in Aix-les-Bains
. And so when we heard of a Rabbi Rubinstein in nearby Lyon
, I went with Dr. [Hillel] Seidman to visit him. When we entered Rabbi Rubinstein's home, his wife greeted us. When I told her my name and that I came from Warsaw
, she said to me, "Wait a moment, please", and stepped out. A minute later, she returned and showed me to Rabbi Rubinstein's room.
Rabbi Rubinstein was sitting behind a table covered with volumes of Gemara
. He was very handsome, with a long, straight beard but what one noticed first about him were his eyes, which seemed to dance with laughter and love. They were so deep that when I looked into them I was incredibly moved and almost began to tremble. I felt like I was looking at someone from Gan Eden.
I told Rabbi Rubinstein, "I am Gutta Eisenzweig from Warsaw." He asked me, "Are you the granddaughter of Berel Gefen?"
I answered that yes, I was. With that, he stood up and came around the desk, looked straight into my eyes and exclaimed, "Du bist an einikel fun Reb Berel. Du bist an einikel! You are a grandchild of R. Berel!" He couldn't believe that I was alive. He and my grandfather had grown up together in Białystok and had learned together in cheder
. He was choked with emotion and could say no more, and tears streamed from his eyes.
This was one of the most powerful experiences I had after the war. After this, I went to Rabbi Rubinstein many times. He was a loving man, and he always had a kind word for everyone. In a sense, he brought my grandfather back to me and re-awoke my love for him.
Gutta Sternbuch notes that her wedding was special since it was rabbi Rubinstein who officiated.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
orthodox Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
independent from the Consistoire central born in Poland.
Biography
Samuel Jacob (Shmuel Yaakov) Rubinstein was the rabbi of the famous Agoudas Hakehilos SynagogueAgoudas Hakehilos Synagogue
The Agoudas Hakehilos synagogue , at 10 rue Pavée, in the IVe arrondissement of Paris , commonly referred to at the Pavee synagogue, rue Pavee synagogue, or Guimard synagogue, was erected in 1913 by the architect Hector Guimard, and inaugurated on June 7, 1914.This synagogue was commissioned by the...
(Synagogue de la rue Pavée), at 10 Rue Pavée, in the Marais
Le Marais
Le Marais is a historic district in Paris, France. Long the aristocratic district of Paris, it hosts many outstanding buildings of historic and architectural importance...
(known as the Pletzl
Pletzl
The Pletzl is the Jewish quarter in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. The Place Saint-Paul and the surrounding area were, unofficially, named the Pletzl when the neighborhood became predominantly Jewish because of an influx of immigrants at the end of the nineteenth century and the...
), in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.
He succeeded Chief Rabbi Joël Leib HaLevi Herzog, father of Chief Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog
Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog
Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog , also known as Isaac Herzog, was the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland, his term lasting from 1921 to 1936...
, the future Chief Rabbi of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, as
rabbi of Agudas Hakehilos (אֲגֻדָּת־הַקְּהִלּוֹת, Union of Communities).
He contributed to the renewal of French Jewry after World War II and was active in the return of Jewish children entrusted to non-Jewish families during the war. He was in touch with humanitarian organizations such as the Vaad Hatzalah
Vaad Hatzalah
Vaad Hatzalah was an organization to rescue Jews in Europe from the Holocaust.It was founded in November 1939 by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada...
and other American organisations.
He was renowned as a great orator with an imposing figure.
He published in 3 volumes in Hebrew, Sheerit Menahem (Paris, 1954) et Shemen LaNer in 2 volumes in Hebrew (Paris, 1959). The choice of the name of Sheerit Menahem for his major work is a reference to the name of his father, Rabbi Yirmeyahu Menachem Rubinstein.
Rabbi Rubinstein considered himself as a Kotzker Hassid, influenced by the Hassidic Master, Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
Menachem Mendel Morgensztern of Kotzk, better known as the Kotzker Rebbe was a Hasidic rabbi and leader.-Life:Born to a non-Hasidic family in Goraj near Lublin, Poland, he became attracted to Hasidim in his youth. He was known for having acquired impressive Talmudic and Kabbalistic knowledge at a...
(1787–1859), the founder of the Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
.
One finds the name of Rabbi Rubinstein in rabbinical publications, in his correspondence with other leading rabbis, such as Menashe Klein
Menashe Klein
Rabbi Menashe Klein , also known as the Ungvarer Rebbe , was a Hasidic Rebbe and posek and author of 17 volumes of Mishneh Halachos and other 25 books...
, the Ungvar Rebbe, of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, who lived in Paris, after World War II.
In the world of Jewish orthodoxy, particularly hassidic, Paris and France, before and after the war, were synonymous with him.
In his book, The Jews, Roger Peyrefitte
Roger Peyrefitte
Roger Peyrefitte was a French diplomat, writer of bestseller novels and gossipy non-fiction, and a defender of gay rights.-Life and work:...
describes him as follows: That night, he [Asher] had also dreamt of his master in Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Chief Rabbi Rubinstein, whose white beard, wisdom and eloquence were the ornament of the synagogue on Rue Pavée.
He is mentioned by Ruth Blau the second wife of Amram Blau
Amram Blau
Amram Blau was a Haredi rabbi from the Hungarian community of Jerusalem. He was one of the founders of the fiercely Anti-Zionist Neturei Karta.Blau was born in Jerusalem, and grew up in the Meah Shearim neighbourhood...
of Neturei Karta
Neturei Karta
Neturei Karta is a Haredi Jewish group formally created in Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine, in 1938, splitting off from Agudas Yisroel...
in her memoirs. It's him who presides over her orthodox conversion to Judaism:My son and myself were confirmed as proselytes by an orthodox rabbi, rabbi Rubinstein of the Synagogue de la rue Pavée. We received a certificate of conversion validating our admission to the Jewish Community in 1951.
If la Rue Pavée was the Synagogue where one would find him on a daily basis, in fact, he was also considered the rabbi of different Shtiebles of the Pletzl
Pletzl
The Pletzl is the Jewish quarter in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. The Place Saint-Paul and the surrounding area were, unofficially, named the Pletzl when the neighborhood became predominantly Jewish because of an influx of immigrants at the end of the nineteenth century and the...
.
The grand-mother of Richard Prasquier
Richard Prasquier
Richard Presquier is the president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions.- References :...
, president of the Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France
Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France
Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France is an umbrella organization of French Jewish organizations. CRIF opposes anti-Semitism and policies that they perceive to be anti-Semitic....
(CRIF
CRIF
CRIF may refer to:* Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France* CRIF, the old name of the knowledge centre for the technology industry in Belgium, now called Sirris....
), since May 2007, had married Rabbi Rubinstein in 1958. Doctor Prasquier notes that his grand-mother had married: the famous rabbi of la rue Pavée.
At his funeral, in the Synagogue de la rue Pavée, where the first row of benches had been removed for the occasion, the eulogies were given for Rabbi Rubinstein, in Yiddish, the language he preferred, and in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
by Rabbi David Feuerwerker
David Feuerwerker
- Born in Geneva :He was born on October 2, 1912, at 11 Rue du Mont-Blanc, in Geneva, Switzerland. He was the seventh of eleven children. His father Jacob Feuerwerker was born in Sighet, now Sighetu Marmatiei, Maramureş, then Hungary, now Rumania...
, in the presence of a huge crowd. Among the rabbis of the Consistoire present that day was the Chief Rabbi Ernest Gugenheim (1916–1977).
His successor was Chief Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Rottenberg, from Antwerpen, whose son, Rabbi Mordechai Rottenberg is the current rabbi of the Synagogue de la Rue Pavée.
The grand-children of Chief Rabbi Rubinstein live in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
: Rafi (Raphaël) Shimoni lives with his family in Tel-Aviv, where he is an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, head of department, in the Israeli aeronautics industry (IAI
IAI
IAI is an acronym for:* The Information Architecture Institute* Institute of Art and Ideas* Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research* International African Institute* International Association for Identification...
, Israel Aerospace Industries); Dr. Marc Klutstein is a cardiologist at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem; and Evy Kuppershmidt heads a consulting firm.
Rabbi Rubinstein and the Rebbe of Lubavitch, Menachem Mendel Schneerson
The Rebbe of Lubavitch, Menachem Mendel SchneersonMenachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
, in a letter dated from Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Elul
Elul
Elul is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil year and the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a summer month of 29 days...
1, 5711 [1950] writes about him: "A little while ago, I wrote to the great Rav [Rabbi], distinguished Hassid who fears God, Rav Shmuel Yaakov Rubinstein."
They knew each other from before the war. Rabbi Rubinstein recounted with emotion that during the census of the Parisians, when the Nazis entered Paris, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
was absent from home. When he learned that next to his name was written, religion orthodox, he went to the census bureau to have it replaced by Jewish.
From Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, in Tishri 5702, (1941) Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Menachem Mendel Schneerson , known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe or just the Rebbe among his followers, was a prominent Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was fifth in a direct paternal line to the third Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel...
went to the Italian border to get an Etrog
Etrog
Etrog refers to the yellow citron or Citrus medica used by Jews on the week-long holiday of Sukkot.While in modern Hebrew this is the name for any variety of citron, its English usage applies to those varieties and specimens used as one of the Four Species...
, for the Jewish Festival of Sukkot
Sukkot
Sukkot is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.The holiday lasts seven days...
. He came back with two Etrogim, one for himself, the other he offered to Rabbi Rubinstein, who found himself too in Nice.
Testimony
A description of Rabbi Rubinstein is given by Gutta Sternbuch in 2005:In the meantime, we felt the lack of a rabbinical leader in Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is situated on the shore of Lac du Bourget, by rail north of Chambéry.-Geography:...
. And so when we heard of a Rabbi Rubinstein in nearby Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, I went with Dr. [Hillel] Seidman to visit him. When we entered Rabbi Rubinstein's home, his wife greeted us. When I told her my name and that I came from Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, she said to me, "Wait a moment, please", and stepped out. A minute later, she returned and showed me to Rabbi Rubinstein's room.
Rabbi Rubinstein was sitting behind a table covered with volumes of Gemara
Gemara
The Gemara is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah. After the Mishnah was published by Rabbi Judah the Prince The Gemara (also transliterated Gemora or, less commonly, Gemorra; from Aramaic גמרא gamar; literally, "[to] study" or "learning by...
. He was very handsome, with a long, straight beard but what one noticed first about him were his eyes, which seemed to dance with laughter and love. They were so deep that when I looked into them I was incredibly moved and almost began to tremble. I felt like I was looking at someone from Gan Eden.
I told Rabbi Rubinstein, "I am Gutta Eisenzweig from Warsaw." He asked me, "Are you the granddaughter of Berel Gefen?"
I answered that yes, I was. With that, he stood up and came around the desk, looked straight into my eyes and exclaimed, "Du bist an einikel fun Reb Berel. Du bist an einikel! You are a grandchild of R. Berel!" He couldn't believe that I was alive. He and my grandfather had grown up together in Białystok and had learned together in cheder
Cheder
A Cheder is a traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language.-History:...
. He was choked with emotion and could say no more, and tears streamed from his eyes.
This was one of the most powerful experiences I had after the war. After this, I went to Rabbi Rubinstein many times. He was a loving man, and he always had a kind word for everyone. In a sense, he brought my grandfather back to me and re-awoke my love for him.
Gutta Sternbuch notes that her wedding was special since it was rabbi Rubinstein who officiated.
Customs of Rabbi Rubinstein
- Saturday afternoon, following MinhaMinhaMinha is the name of a settlement in Ras al-Khaimah....
, the congregation took the communal meal of Seudah ShlishitSeudah ShlishitSeudah Shlishit is the "third meal" customarily eaten by Sabbath-observing Jews on Shabbat .-Practices:According to Halakha, the meal is to be eaten in the afternoon...
together, in the room at right when entering the building from outside. This third meal of the ShabbatShabbatShabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
took place in total darkness, which gave it a particular cachet. No one wanted to see the Shabbat depart! Rabbi Rubinstein commented in Yiddish the weekly portion of the TorahTorahTorah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. Zemiros (songs) accompanied the meal which consisted in Matzos with oily sardines on top. - Rabbi Rubinstein didn’t wear in Paris a ShtreimelShtreimelA shtreimel is a fur hat worn by many married haredi Jewish men, particularly members of Hasidic groups, on Shabbat and Jewish holidays and other festive occasions. In Jerusalem, the shtreimel is also worn by 'Yerushalmi' Jews...
. His successor, Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Rottenberg will wear one, but only during the communal meal of the ShabbatShabbatShabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
afternoon, and not outside of the room, where it took place. - It was a privilege to be invited by Rabbi Rubinstein, on Saturday morning, after the prayers, to taste the CholentCholentCholent or Hamin is a traditional Jewish stew. It is usually simmered overnight for 12 hours or more, and eaten for lunch on Shabbat . Cholent was developed over the centuries to conform with Jewish religious laws that prohibit cooking on the Sabbath...
[There exist different kinds of CholentCholentCholent or Hamin is a traditional Jewish stew. It is usually simmered overnight for 12 hours or more, and eaten for lunch on Shabbat . Cholent was developed over the centuries to conform with Jewish religious laws that prohibit cooking on the Sabbath...
, his was made with potatoes] prepared by the Rebbitzin. He indicated to the privileged to stay behind in the Synagogue, to go up afterwards to his home, in the building next door. Likewise, he invited individuals to his SukkahSukkahA sukkah is a temporary hut constructed for use during the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot. It is topped with branches and often well decorated with autumnal, harvest or Judaic themes...
built in the courtyard adjoining the Synagogue. - For the recitation of the Shema, during the morning prayer, the Vilna GaonVilna GaonElijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna and simply by his Hebrew acronym Gra or Elijah Ben Solomon, , was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries...
notes that the MitzvahMitzvahThe primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
to see the TzitzitTzitzitThe Hebrew noun tzitzit is the name for specially knotted ritual fringes worn by observant Jews. Tzitzit are attached to the four corners of the tallit and tallit katan.-Etymology:The word may derive from the semitic root N-TZ-H...
should not be annulled by kissing them. The custom of Rabbi Rubinstein was to make a circular movement with the tzitzitTzitzitThe Hebrew noun tzitzit is the name for specially knotted ritual fringes worn by observant Jews. Tzitzit are attached to the four corners of the tallit and tallit katan.-Etymology:The word may derive from the semitic root N-TZ-H...
, he lifted the tzitzitTzitzitThe Hebrew noun tzitzit is the name for specially knotted ritual fringes worn by observant Jews. Tzitzit are attached to the four corners of the tallit and tallit katan.-Etymology:The word may derive from the semitic root N-TZ-H...
in front of his eyes (to look at them), then kissed them. - A renown orator, Rabbi Rubinstein paused during his discourses. He wasn’t reading a prepared text. He moved his hand holding his long beard, from top to bottom, then continued his presentation. This short waiting was done in a total and respectful silence.