By COLlive reporter
The Chabad Shluchim that came to Krakow for Lech Kaczynski‘s funeral, Sunday, was a sign of the Polish President’s close friendship with the Jewish community and Israel.
Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and dozens of other senior Polish officials were killed in a plane crash in western Russia on April 10.
“He was a great friend to the community and a great national leader,” Rabbi Levi Matusof, the Shliach to the European Union institutions, told the President’s brother Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a former Prime Minister.
“We warmly recall his sympathy – not just with words, but combined with concrete action,” said Matusof. “We also appreciate his commitment to building the Museum of History of Polish Jews,” Matusof added.
Matusof, flanked by the Shliach of Warsaw Rabbi Shalom Stambler and the Shliach of Krakow Rabbi Eliezer Gurary giving condolences was photographed by the international media, including the Reuters news agency.
The three rabbis said their “thoughts and prayers are with the people of Poland and the families and loved ones of those who tragically perished.”
Matusof, Director of EU Jewish Public Affairs, drove 12 hours from his home in Brussels, Belgium, to attend. “All flights were cancelled,” he told COLlive.
President Barack Obama and many other world leaders were unable to fly in because a giant cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano drifted in the skies over Western Europe.
What was not reported was the Lubavitchers remaining outside Krakow’s main cathedral for the solemn Mass and the Wawel Castle for the burial.
“We gave condolences outside, waited for the ceremony to end, and then attended the reception afterwards,” Matusof said.
And it was still well worth the drive, he notes.
“People on the streets were thanking us, not to mention the family and government officials. It is a painful time for Poland.”
Jan Tombinski, Polish Ambassador to the European Union wrote to Matusof: “Thank you very much for your presence in Krakow on Sunday.”
What are we discussing here??? Hats and yarmulkes? The main point is that these three Rabbis found the time and the will to go on a long journey to Krakow and express condolences to the grieving people of Poland. Kol Hakavod, it’s a big Kiddush Hashem.
I’m am not one who wears a hat on random occasions, only for Davening. I do think that some people take hat wearing to an extreme (like #19) and that bugs me like I see it bugs you. However, I think it’s different when someone is seen as a delegate. When they go to the funeral they want the public to see that there were “black hatted hassidic Jews” the same ones you read about in all the derogatory news that were present at the funeral. If they didn’t wear the full garb then the public would not get that… Read more »
again missed my point
its not respectful to hashem
By all means look at the picture then look again at the picture of the chassisim with hats and kapoyes. Which group looks more dignified? It’s obvious. The hats and kapotes are impressive and gain inspire respect for the wearers etc
lets not forget that the Previous Rebbe wore bigdei shabbos when it came to a procedure of Govt. officials – citizenship
there definitely is an expression of formality
BTW – this trend of not wearing a hat does not reflect so unique on a person. the respect fades when one is running around in the street without his formal dress.
the Rebbe spoke (5740-41) about wearing the jacket etc and that reminds the person not to go where one is not suppose to go.
how can you compare a beard to a hat
nwo come on have a bisel just a little saichel
the Rebbe said in a sicha that b’davka when u visit the president u wear your hat. I don’t have the maarei makom but it is chanukah time 5745-5747
This picture prooves that the insistence of wearing the hat in public is a recent phenomana.
Besides, back in russia no chassidim wore the fedora hat. The fedora was in style in the US in the 1950’s. Its only in the 1950’s when chasidim started to wear the fedora.
The different customs of what hat were in which circumstances and what size brim etc has changed many times in the lastt 60 years.
if u’r basically saying that we should take off our hat. maybe we should g-d forbid take our beard off too?
“yarlmuka” means “yereih” “malka” the fear of heavn. it is to remind us that hashem is above. when a precious jew weaRS A yarlmuka THATS small it shows that his fearing heavn just a little. but when his hat is crooked its showing that his fear may also be crooked.!
nonsence
a hat is for us – not them – its a new mishagas
Well said!!!
WE SHOULD LEARN FROM OTHER CHASSIDISHER COMMUNITIES…..AND TAKE THEM OFF WHEN VISITING DIGNITARIES’????? LETS NOT EVEN GO THERE!!!! I have seen plenty of pictures of Rebbes and their People with meaning Hungarian Poilshe etc wearing their Yiddshe Levush… their Long Kapotes… hats etc….and with no apologies for who and what they are…. True the world came to the Rebbe…. but I would find it very hard to beleive that the Rebbe would take off his hat… and put on a YELLOW tie if the Rebbe did go to the White House….. Other then a hat being anothe covering for the… Read more »
in most instances, it is disrespectful to wear a hat inside but not outside. Now look at the picture again, take two aspirin and stop calling every morning.
A delegation of Chabad Rabbis make a presentation to the President Ronald Reagan:
http://www.chabad.org/Media/Images/107437.jpg
you are absolutely correct – its a neir meshugas that shluchim wear a hat when going to see presidents – heads of state
hats are worn in OUR communities and when we daven for HaShem, hats – a double covering is not for the goyim – period.
We should learn from the other chasidisher communities – that take them off when visiting dignitaries.
again you missed my point am not talking about kapatoh etc.
its a hat that when we go to THEM its not respectful to wear it. It is in honor for HaShem and not heads of state.
and please don’t compare to the Rebbe, because again the Rebbe never went to them – they came to the Rebbe and the Rebbe is a geder of melech.
anyway this is very simple to understand
FYI: a non chabad rabbi DID walk in to the cathedral
i guess this website was kind enough not to mention that
Kol Hakovid for these Shluchim… to go dressed like the MESHALEICH… the Rebbe… not one picture did you ever see of the Rebbe taking off his hat … when meeting any of the personalities and so called personalities… not withstanding what the Rebbe told Reb Itche Springer when he was on Merkos Shlichus way back when…. ‘Gegengen mit a shlapeh … hosts du shem ufketon… we see plenty of pictures of dare I say it Shluchim??? and Klei Koidesh wearing baseball hats tee shirts with logos ..and worse… all in the cause of being Mekarev noch a yidden!!!! Boruch Hashem…… Read more »
You missed my point entirely. chas vesholom not remove our yarrmulker and tzitzis – THAT is our uniform. Remember, when we daven to hashem our uniform is also a hat – but that is in respect to HaShem. I am talking when we go to heads of states that are not Jewish; it is only respectful in all ways to remove the hat. (I am not talking if they come to us in our shuls etc. but when we go to them) You can even argue it is not respectful to HaShem (C”V ) to wear a hat that is… Read more »
I really liked your example except for the idea that we wear a hat to show that we are holier than them, i feel it is more to show that we are different. that we havent, and will not conform to modernity . but either way jews rock!
should it not be just for shabbos? or yt?
a soldier wears a uniform to show he belongs in the army and fights for his people. we too have a uniform. to wear our yarlmukah and hat. even in public places. just like a soldier when he is in public or visiting a high official or when he visits the president he is still wearing his uniform. a king wears a crown so he makes it clear to e/o that he is the king! when we wear a hat we are showing the world, that g-d made us holier then they. making it clear to e/o and we are… Read more »
levi, your hat crooked
Is this news? That Shluchim skipped mass?
Yad hachasidim al hoelyoinoh!
this is a question I have, and please explain if you can. why do shluchim feel the need to wear their hat when they visit a president, governor or other head of state. wearing a hat is when one davens – to wear a double covering etc. however in the secular world one needs to take of their hat when entering a court when the judge is present, and it is not respectful to wear a hat when visiting a head so state, so why do we do it? In fact if you look back in earlier years, you can… Read more »