October 24, 2025

Linda Kahn

Today Helen called me to say that Linda Kahn died.  The funeral will be in Milwaukee on Sunday, with Shiva at her brother’s house in Northbrook.  Linda had a hard life.  She was close to her siblings, cousins, and other family.  She did have a close family in Anshei Sholom and Chabad of East Lakeview, and in  the community of people who cared about her.  She was part of the Chevra.   At Shul she always wearing a nice hat.  Whenever I brought her lunch and we ate together with her sister, Susan, Linda always seemed full of life.  Linda’s cheeks were always rose colored.  

Linda loved Torah.  She enjoyed the Dr. Leonard Kranzler Shiur.  She always asked questions and when she did not understand something, she stopped the Shiur until she understood.  I was fortunate that when I visited, I brought her copies of the Torah and history classes I had given at Chabad of East Lakeview at the Dr. Leonard Kranzler Memorial Shiur led by Paul and Tamar.    We would read it together and she really enjoyed it.

Both Helen and Paul mentioned that they told her she should not be eating certain things.  At Shiur, Paul would bring the food, and Linda would say, “I should not be eating this.”  and Paul would say, “Yes, Linda, you should not be eating it.”  Helen told me that when she went shopping for Linda, she  would not purchase the unhealthy items.  Unlike Helen, the few times I went shopping for her, I bought the salami.  Who can resist salami?  

I did not realize that she was a successful schoolteacher.  She loved kids.  She had a gorgeous drawing from the kids in her class when she retired.

One Friday I brought two of my grandkids and she read a book to them.  It was a great scene, with my grandson looking at the book, paying attention, answering her questions, and enjoying the time.

This is from Helen.  “Linda’s former caregiver will now help Susan, who, according to their brother, will really miss Linda—while they bickered as siblings do, they really were together quite often.”  I witnessed the bickering Helen mentioned .  Linda insisted I bring food for Susan when I brought lunch.

The last time I spoke to her was one week before her death.  I called her and asked her if she wanted lunch.  She told me to get a hamburger from Great Chicago.  Not just any hamburger but the Buddy Burger, a  ½ pounder with fries and coleslaw.  Normally, I bring it up to her condo; however, she told me to leave it in the lobby.  She called me about two hours later and thanked me.  She said she was not feeling well; however, her voice was strong.

She will be missed.  May she be a Melitz Yosher for her family, our community, and Klal Yisroel.

I called Sara-Kates Potashnick, whose husband, Joel Potashnick, is a first cousin once removed to Linda.

Henry Kahn                                 –    Brother of Linda’s father

   ↓                          ↓

Linda Kahn is a  first cousin to – Daughter who married a Potashnick

                                                                  ↓

                                               Son is Joel Potashnick who married Sara Kates      

Look at the following blogpost

June 23, 2023

Wednesday June 7, 2023

June 2023:  Mitch Morgenstern with Linda Kahn

Obituary:

Linda Kahn, age 79. Cherished daughter of the late Henry and Eva (nee Reinheimer) Kahn; dear sister of Susan Kahn and Sanford (Eliana) Kahn; fond aunt of Nathaniel and Ariel; dear niece of the late Anita and Kurt Wagner, the late Kurt Reinheimer, the late David and Rose Kahn, the late Norbert and Jean Kahn, the late Tekla and Ernst Taussig, the late Erna and Hans Seligman; loving cousin of many. Graveside service Sunday 26 th, 1 PM at Second Home Cemetery, 3705 S. 43rd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53220. Family and friends who cannot attend the funeral can watch the funeral on Linda’s webpage on http://www.mitzvahfunerals.com live or any time after the funeral. Arrangements entrusted to Mitzvah Memorial Funerals, 847-MITZVAH 847-648-9824.

From my Blog Post of Thanksgiving 2021 :

Shabbos Parshas VaYeshev / Thanksgiving 2021

On Thursday I called Linda Kahn to come to Chabad for Davening and for the Kiddush. She has rarely been out of her house due to covid. She came.  I told her I would get her lean corned beef, her favorite, which the Rabbi made sure we had for the Kiddush.

I gave the Dr. Leonard Kranzler Memorial Shiur.  In attendance were Linda Kahn, Peggy and Sid Kaz, Herb Eiseman,  Ray Miller, Tamar Genin, Eli Morgenstern, and Xi.  Paul was in Texas for Shabbos.

Emails I received after I sent out my thoughts about Linda:

Rabbi Dovid Kotlarsky:

beautiful tribute 

special women!

Helen Bloch:

Beautiful tribute & nice picture.  Thank you so much for sharing.  I forwarded it to my family.

Ron Lev and I made a shiva call Sunday to the brother.  Susan was still in the hospital recovering from hip surgery when Linda passed.  Linda’s former caregiver will now help Susan, who according to their brother, will really miss Linda- while they bickered as siblings do, they really were together quite often.  

All the best.

Marilyn – Menucha Rest:

Baruch Dayan HaEmes.

This was a shock when I received this email this afternoon.  I spoke to Linda last Tuesday.  Her voice sounded strong.  

Linda suffered a lot in the last few years.  She’s in a better place now.

Susan had fractured her hip & her wrist & had surgery.  She was scheduled to be released from the hospital yesterday.  When I spoke to Linda last Tuesday, she told me that they didn’t know where Susan would be going; whether it would be home or to a rehab facility.

If anyone is going to the Shiva in Northbrook, let me know.  I don’t drive.

Second email:

Hi Mitch,

Thank you for sending this to us.  It was a beautiful tribute to Linda (Z”L).  May her memory be a blessing for us all.

Anna Freedman, Markowitz, Odedah Saunders, & I went to the Shiva in Northbrook last night.  Anna had been there with her husband Sunday night.  Anna was so gracious in making a second trip so Odedah & I could get there, since neither of us drives.

Marilyn

Paul Freund:

Beautiful. Good job, I am sure everybody will enjoy reading and reminiscing.

Sandy Hasson:

Very beautiful sharing and memories.  How nice of you to drive from Skokie to Linda to bring a burger buddy.  I’m sure that gave her much pleasure!

I read the article in the link and forwarded it to my friend Mimi Kates,  granddaughter of Rabbi Goldman.  You have a good memory!

It will be a loss without Linda 

Tamar Genin:

Beautiful and very touching!

Professor Jack Kugelmass:

Thinking about Linda and her connection to Anshei Sholom and Chabad of East Lakeview I have to mention something that  Professor Jack Kugalmass wrote in his 1980 book, Miracle on Intervale Avenue.   It is his story of a small, impoverished synagogue in the South Bronx.  His words below sum up what the Shuls represented to Linda.  Not only in the comradery and support, but in her connection to eternity.

Professor Jack Kugelmass in the book discusses why these elderly Jews stayed in the South Bronx and attended the Intervale Jewish Center.. Towards the end of the book, Jack Kugelmass comes to realize something important about the Shul to its members and why they stayed in the South Bronx. He writes, “For congregants concerned about their legacy and needing the reassurance that they will be remembered, the Intervale Jewish Center has come to serve as a communal kaddish, guaranteeing to each member the recitation of the memorial prayers.” and “For some congregants yorsayt is a major reason for attending.”

Then Professor Jack Kugelmass sums this up with a powerful, powerful conclusion. He writes, “Ultimately, only the knowledge that one is part of something greater than familial bonds and obligations, something that reasserts the existence of a higher order of things, gives man the sense that death and life are linked, that they are both part of a divine plan, and that one gives meaning and purpose to the other. The communal rites of the shul provide that sense of order if only because they tie congregants to the world of their fathers and even, as I argued in an earlier chapter, to the world of their biblical forefathers.”

Add for Sheloshim:

Vort on Yishmael that he rejoined his family at the time of the Aveda at age 50.  He was one of the two people who accompanied Avrohom and Yitzchok to the Akeda.

Parshas Vayera

Parshas Chaya Sarah

Being Blessed “Bakol”

Yishmael

Comment #1:

Parshas Vayera:  Verses 22:20 – 22:23:

וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִ֠נֵּ֠ה יָלְדָ֨ה מִלְכָּ֥ה גַם־הִ֛וא בָּנִ֖ים לְנָח֥וֹר אָחִֽיךָ׃

אֶת־ע֥וּץ בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־בּ֣וּז אָחִ֑יו וְאֶת־קְמוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֥י אֲרָֽם׃

וְאֶת־כֶּ֣שֶׂד וְאֶת־חֲז֔וֹ וְאֶת־פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ וְאֶת־יִדְלָ֑ף וְאֵ֖ת בְּתוּאֵֽל׃

וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל יָלַ֣ד אֶת־רִבְקָ֑ה שְׁמֹנָ֥ה אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה מִלְכָּ֔ה לְנָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃

Eight children are mentioned for Nachor.  Why by קְמוּאֵ֖ל does in mention that he is the father of Aram? By none of the other children does it mention a son.  Aram became the arch enemy of the Jewish people during the first temple period.  Is there a significance?  I can only speculate.

From AI

“Aram” is an ancient name for what is now Syria, or a large part of it. The terms “Aram” and “Syria” can be used interchangeably, with “Aram” being the Hebrew designation and “Syria” the Greek one. The area referred to as Aram in biblical times is roughly the same region that makes up modern Syria. 

Yes, there were alliances between Aram and kings of Israel and Judah, though these relationships were often marked by conflict. A notable alliance was forged between King Asa of Judah and Ben-Hadad I of Aram to counter a threat from Baasha, king of Israel. Another significant alliance occurred when King Ahab of Israel allied with Ben-Hadad II of Aram against a common enemy, the Assyrians. 

• King Asa and Ben-Hadad I: Faced with aggression from the king of Israel, Asa paid tribute to Ben-Hadad I to form a treaty, which successfully pressured Israel to withdraw.
• King Ahab and Ben-Hadad II: Ahab allied with Ben-Hadad II, king of Aram, to fight against the Assyrian threat, demonstrating a shift in strategy to create a balance of power in the region.
• Rezin of Aram and Pekah of Israel: In a later period, Rezin of Aram and Pekah, king of Israel, formed an alliance to wage war against Judah under King Ahaz. However, this alliance ultimately failed to capture Jerusalem

Comment 2:

Of the eight children, two have names ending with an Aleph and a Lamid, which is the name of Hashem.  These two letters on a standalone basis mean “God.”   They are קְמוּאֵ֖ל and בְּתוּאֵֽל.  Translated, these two names mean “arise God” and “the daughter of God”.    Is there anything to this?  The Torah lists progeny for both of these children.  בְּתוּאֵֽל’s daughter did become the daughter of God when she married Yitzchok.  Maybe קְמוּאֵ֖ל  himself was God-fearing and maybe this is why his progeny did have the potential to be a righteous nation but failed and turned into sworn enemies of Israel.  We know that the northern kingdom, who became idol worshippers, became mortal enemies of the southern kingdom. 

Comment 3:

The last verse of Vayera is verse 22:24:

וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֖וֹ וּשְׁמָ֣הּ רְאוּמָ֑ה וַתֵּ֤לֶד גַּם־הִוא֙ אֶת־טֶ֣בַח וְאֶת־גַּ֔חַם וְאֶת־תַּ֖חַשׁ וְאֶֽת־מַעֲכָֽה׃ 

Sferno comments on this verse:

ופילגשו ותלד גם היא. והגיד המגיד שגם פילגשו ילדה את מעכה שהיתה כמו כן ראויה לבנו אם לא יבחר ברבקה ולא יצטרך לזרע כנען

What is the Sforno coming to add? Where did he get this from?   What is the point that if Rivka would be unwilling to marry Yitzchok, then he could have married מַעֲכָֽה.   מַעֲכָֽה was a female and the Sforno must have thought; why, among all the children of Nachor, is a female mentioned?  Normally only males are mentioned in terms of the descendants of people in the Bible.  Perhaps all the Sferno is telling us is that people have many potential partners to marry, and they all would work.  There may be one perfect person, but there are many people whom they can marry and have a great life with. 

How did the Sforno know that מַעֲכָֽה was a female?  Perhaps there is a midrash. Perhaps it is the Kometz-Hey at the end of the name that turns Hebrew words into a feminine word.  

The Sefer Hayasher does not mention this chapter of the birth of Rivkah.

Comment 4:

It says in Parshas Chaya Sarah, verse 24:1

וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽיהֹוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל׃

Abraham was now old, advanced in years, and יהוה had blessed Abraham in all things.

This is how most translations translate this verse and is in line with Onkelys:

וְאַבְרָהָם סִיב עָל בְּיוֹמִין וַייָ בְּרִיךְ יָת אַבְרָהָם בְּכֹלָּא:

Avraham was old, advanced in days [years], and Adonoy had blessed Avraham in all things.

Similar to Targum Yonasan ben Uziel

וְאַבְרָהָם סִיב עַל בְּיוֹמִין וּמֵימְרָא דַיְיָ בְּרִיךְ יַת אַבְרָהָם בְּכָל מִינֵי בִּרְכָתָא

The basic understanding of  בַּכֹּֽל is that Hashem gave Avrohom everything one desires in life.  As the Ibn Ezra says, with length of days, wealth, honor, and sons, these being all the things that men desire to have.  Rashi seemingly wants to fit the בַּכֹּֽל׃ with the theme of this chapter.  Rashi is not arguing with the Ibn Ezra but is adding to it. One could even argue that the Gemara, which mentions that Rashi had a daughter, also aligns with the Ibn Ezra’s interpretation.  Avrohom had everything, including a daughter.

I want to add that Avrohom had a great life.  There is no question that his life was not smooth.  Things did happen; however, this is life.  You live your life, and life happens; it gets in the way.  There is no way Avrohom was exempt from that.  Even Sarah’s death is part of life.  God did bless Avrohom with everything, but he had a blessed life.  Every morning he woke up on top of the world.  He knew that he would succeed and almost always make the right decision.  He did not feel incompetent, like a failure, like an idiot. He almost always had the right words to say.  So the blessing of Bakol was not only with a long life, with riches, and with honor but also with emotional stability and knowledge that he was exceptionally competent.

What the Reshonim say:

Rashi says  – ברך את אברהם בכל.  בַּכֹּל עוֹלֶה בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא בֵּן, וּמֵאַחַר שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֵּן הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְהַשִּׂיאוֹ אִשָּׁה:

Ibn Ezra – וד’ ברך את אברהם בכל. באורך ימים ועושר וכבוד ובנים, וזו כל חמדת האדם ודרש שבתו היתה שמה בכל צריך להוסיף בי”ת משרת:

AND THE LORD HAD BLESSED ABRAHAM IN ALL THINGS. With length of days, wealth, honor, and sons, these being all the things that men desire to have. If the interpretation that Abraham had a daughter named Bakkol were correct, then Scripture should have read: and the Lord blessed Abraham “with” Bakkol. *If ba-kol is a proper noun then the preposition “with” is missing. Rather than reading ba-kol, the verse should have read, be-Bakol (with Bakol).

Da’as Zekanim – ברך את אברהם בכל, “He blessed Avraham in all respects.” This was due to the merit he had acquired when tithing the loot of the war against the Kings with Kedorleomer and giving it to the “priest,” who was the King of Shalem. (Genesis 14,20)

Interesting Rashbam:

וה’ ברך את אברהם [בכל] – להודיע האמור לפנינו שלא שלח עבדו לקחת אשה ממשפחתו מחמת חוסר נשים בארץ כנען, שלא היו רוצים להזדווג לו, שהרי נתברך בכל וכל העולם מתאווים להזדווג לו, אבל הוא לא רצה כי אם ממשפחתו. וזהו שאמר העבד: וה’ ברך את אדני מאד ויגדל ולכך הוצרך לפרש תחלה ברך את אברהם בכל. כמו: וחם הוא אבי כנען.

And God blessed Abraham [with everything] – this is to inform/explain to us about what is said in [the text in] front of us, that Abraham did not send his servant to take a wife [for Isaac] on account of lack of women in the Land of Canaan or because no one wanted to mate with him, because Abraham had been blessed with everything and the entire world desired to mate with Isaac, but because he only wanted a spouse for Isaac from his family. This is why Abraham’s servant said: “And Adonai blessed my master very much and he has become wealthy.” And it is for this reason that the text needed to explain first that God had blessed Abraham “with everything,” as in a similar instance: “And Ham was the father of Canaan.” 

Gemora Bava Basra 16:2

כְּתַנָּאֵי: ״וַה׳ בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל״ – מַאי ״בַּכֹּל״? רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת. אֲחֵרִים אוֹמְרִים: בַּת הָיְתָה לוֹ לְאַבְרָהָם, וּ״בַכֹּל״ שְׁמָהּ.

Comment 5:

On Motzai Shabbos I was walking home with Michoel Lawrence, Chani Janowski’s brother-in-law’s twin brother.  Chani Janowski’s sister is married to Dovid Lawrence who lives in Toronto.  Michoel lives here in Boynton Beach in the same complex where I live.  Michael Schwartz whose daughter goes to Florida Atlantic University also was with us.  Michoel Lawrence said over a Rashi on Bereshis verse 22:3:

יַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם אַבְרָהָ֜ם בַּבֹּ֗קֶר וַֽיַּחֲבֹשׁ֙ אֶת־חֲמֹר֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁנֵ֤י נְעָרָיו֙ אִתּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֖ת יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֑וֹ וַיְבַקַּע֙ עֲצֵ֣י עֹלָ֔ה וַיָּ֣קׇם וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אָֽמַר־ל֥וֹ הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

So early next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and he set out for the place of which God had told him.

את שני נעריו. יִשְׁמָעֵאל וֶאֱלִיעֶזֶר, שֶׁאֵין אָדָם חָשׁוּב רַשַּׁאי לָצֵאת לַדֶּרֶךְ בְּלֹא ב’ אֲנָשִׁים (בראשית רבה), שֶׁאִם יִצְטָרֵךְ הָאֶחָד לִנְקָבָיו וְיִתְרַחֵק, יִהְיֶה הַשֵּׁנִי עִמּוֹ:

I realized something at that moment.  We know that Yishmaiel was kicked out of the house when he was 13.  The Chumosh also tells us based on Rashi and the Medresh twice that Yishmael repented and became a tzaddik.  Once at Avrohom’s death when Yishmael was 89 and again at Yishmael’s death 48 years later when Yishmael was 137.   When did Yishmael first repent?  It occurred to me that if Yishmael accompanied Avrohom and Yitzchok with Eliezer to the Akedah, it must have been that Yishmael was reconciled with the family at this time, when Yishmael was 50 and still had most of his life to live.  Maybe he had not done full repentance but he was close enough to Avrohom and Sarah that he was around and accompanied both Avrohom and Yitzchok to their greatest test.  Yishmael fulfilled by honoring one’s parents  and also serving a Talmud Chachom.  True,that Yishmael did not know the purpose of the trip, but he was there.  Thus, the process of Yishmael returning occurred much earlier than Avrohom’s death, 38 years earlier.  From the age of 50 until he died 87 years later there was rapprochement, and Yishmael worked on himself to become a Tzaddick.

Perhaps this could also be the meaning of verse וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽיהֹוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל׃.  The blessing is that his family was also complete with the return of Yishmael into the family dynamic.

Hagar was to return later through the efforts of Yitzchok.  Perhaps also at this time Hagar also was not estranged from the family. 

When families get together there has to be a sense of togetherness, of camaraderie, of joy of being in each other’s company.  I would like to propose that this is what happened with Avrohom and his family.

Simi Mandelbaum Bar Mitzvah

Tiferet Levy

Sara Wolkenfeld’s Sister’s Passing

Or Hachaim on Genesis 15:15

Yishmael’s Bris

Yishmael’s Righteousness

Friday night I davened by Sidney Glenner at the Base Ment Minyan. I wore my light blue jacket I purchased from the Brown Elephant for $14.  I love the jacket and how it looks on me. I also wore my rose gold Fossil watch also purchased from the Brown Elephant.

Shabbos morning davened with Mayer Chase at the Adas.  Simi Mandelbaum made a Bar Mitzvah for his son.  Cholent was great.  Simi’s father TZL was a well-known Rebi in Philadelphia for years, loved by everyone.  I wanted to get a bracha from Simi’s mother, but she was not yet at the simcha. Spoke to Simi’s brothers, especially Shmuel.  I saw Avi Goldfeder, who was MC at Keshet dinners for many years.  I described my granddaughter, Tiferet, who is autistic and the need to give her respect and told him of my dialogue with Michelle.

Caption  for picture – Tammy took Tiferet for a waxing and out to lunch.

My response – Being clean and neat and sitting with her drink at a restaurant speaks to me.

Michelle’s Answer – I know. She has a lot in her if she’s just respected.

My response – I sent $100

Michelle’s response – Thanks. She looks like such a beautiful young lady. She loves doing this stuff.

At the Bar Mitzvah I met many friends.

I worked on the Sedra and saw beautiful Torah.  I always recall that Rabbi Shmuel Bowman of Efrat said that at CUFI events there are signs that say Genesis 12:3, which is the Pasuk וַאֲבָֽרְכָה֙ מְבָ֣רְכֶ֔יךָ – I will bless those that bless you. 

I saw the Or Hachaim on Lot and the fight between the shepherds of Lot and the shepherds of Avrohom.  I also saw a Pshet that Hashem did not want Lot to go with Avrohom, but that Lot attached himself to Avrohom.  I also saw the Orach Chaim on Avrohom going down to Egypt. I saw beautiful Torah from Rabbi Riskin.

This is from Anshei Sholem:

We regret to inform you of the passing of Debra Tillinger, sister of Sara Wolkenfeld. (My cousin’s daughter, Amy Gross-Tarnor, went to school with Sara Wolkenfeld through high school and college at Penn.  The funeral will take place this Monday, at 11 AM EST at Gutteran & Musicant Funeral Home (402 Park Street in Hackensack, NJ), followed by burial at Beth El Cemetery (735 Forest Avenue in Paramus, NJ).

Shiva will be observed at the Wolkenfeld home in Chicago (745 W. Buckingham Place) Wednesday 4:00 – 8:00 PM (Mincha/Ma’ariv at 4:20 PM); Thursday 9:00 – 11:00 AM & 4:00 – 8:00 PM (Mincha/Ma’ariv at 4:20 PM); and Friday 9:00 – 11:00 AM.

My Vort I want to take from this week’s Sedra.

In this week’s Parsha the Torah says in Verse 17:20:

וּֽלְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֮ שְׁמַעְתִּ֒יךָ֒ הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ בֵּרַ֣כְתִּי אֹת֗וֹ וְהִפְרֵיתִ֥י אֹת֛וֹ וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֥י אֹת֖וֹ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר נְשִׂיאִם֙ יוֹלִ֔יד וּנְתַתִּ֖יו לְג֥וֹי גָּדֽוֹל׃

And in Verses 17:24-17:26

וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וָתֵ֖שַׁע שָׁנָ֑ה בְּהִמֹּל֖וֹ בְּשַׂ֥ר עׇרְלָתֽוֹ׃

וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בְּנ֔וֹ בֶּן־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה בְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת בְּשַׂ֥ר עׇרְלָתֽוֹ׃

בְּעֶ֙צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה נִמּ֖וֹל אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל בְּנֽוֹ׃

Rashi does not say anything on Verse 20 and is rather disparaging that Yishmael’s princes will amount to nothing.  We do know that the descendants of Yishmael will be a thorn in Israel’s side.  I do not know if Avrohom knew this, but in regard to Yishmael, Avrohom in Verse 20 is given a blessing for Yishmael that Yishmael will have a large family, will have 12 princes, and will be a great nation. If Hashem is giving Yishmael a blessing because Hashem listened to Avorhom, it has to be beneficial.  The Or Hachaim explains this beautifully.

ולישמעאל שמעתיך וגו’. הכונה להיות שאברהם לא התפלל על ישמעאל אלא לצד שהוא לבדו זרעו מה שאין כן אחר שנתן לו ה’ זרע משרה אז לא יבקש עוד על ישמעאל לזה אמר לו הקב”ה ולישמעאל שמעתיך פי’ קבלתי דבריך והוא על דרך אומרם ז”ל (מכות יא.) קללת חכם אפילו על תנאי מתקיימת ומרובה מדה טובה ממדת וכו’ ולפי מה שפירשתי שתפלת אברהם על ישמעאל היתה שיהיה צדיק רמז לו ה’ שיחזור בתשובה כאומרו הנה ברכתי אותו שיחזור בתשובה שהברכה הוא שיהיה נכלל בברוך וברוך הוא מקור הקדושה. ואמר לשון עבר ברכתי וגו’ הוא מה שרמז באומרו (טו) תקבר בשיבה טובה, וכן היה כאומרם ז”ל (ב”ר 59:7) שעשה תשובה:

Look at Artscroll’s translation on שהברכה הוא שיהיה נכלל בברוך וברוך הוא מקור הקדושה.  

The Torah tells us twice that Yishmael was circumcised, even telling us that it was on his Bar Mitzvah day.  Looking at this Pasuk and projecting what a father feels when his son puts on Tefillin at his bar Mitzvah and is called up to theTorah, Avrohom must have felt great pride in his son and rejoiced.  Avrohom’s joy was complete.  This Is the image that Avrohom had of his son Yismael always, the image of Yishmael willingly going through a painful circumcision at the request of Hashem.   

Every Pasuk in the Torah is be interpreted in 3D and in “living color”.

We know that Avrohom loved Yishmael.  He never gave up on him.  I heard a speech on this from Rabbi Zecharya Wallerstein, ZL, who mentioned a magnificent Midrash Tanchuma, which I subsequently saw, that Avrohom went to visit Yishmael twice.   This love from Avrohom was felt by Yishmael and was one of the catalysts bringing Yishmael back to Avodas Hashem.  The Torah testifies (per Rashi) to us twice; once when Avrohom died and a second time when Yishmael himself died that Yishmael was a Tzadick.  Not only that but  Avrohom never gave up  on Yismael.  Perhaps he became a student of Yitzchok in the later part of their lives. Not only that but in  this week’s sedra which was during the Bris Bein Habesarim the Pasuk 15:15 says:

 Explains Rashi – וְאַתָּ֛ה תָּב֥וֹא אֶל־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם תִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָֽה׃
.תקבר בשיבה טובה. בִּשְּׂרוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה יִשְׁמָעֵאל תְּשׁוּבָה בְּיָמָיו,

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks TZL explains that after Sarah’s death, Yitzchok went and brought Hagar back.  Not only did he bring Hagar back but he brought Yishmael back. 

Based on a Vort I said that Yismael not only did Tshuva and was a Tzadick,  but during his lifetime, his influence impacted his  entire family and they were likewise good people.

To answer the question that Yishmael descendents were destructive to the Jews, all I can answer is what Hashem told Chizkiyahu when Chizkiyahu prophesied that his son would be very evil and bring idol worship to Yehuda.  Chizkiyahu refused to have children.  Hashem told Chiziyahu, you do what you have to do, do not worry about heavenly matters.  

Perhaps this can be a hopeful sign that ultimately the children of Yishmael will again become partners with the Jewish people to bring good into this world.

November 8, 2025

Parshas VaYarah

Professor Lucy Davidowicz

Bill Gladstone

Professor Nancy Sinkoff

I am writing a book on the history of the Kotzker Rebbe.  The main book I am using is

 הרבי מקאצק וששים גבּורים סביב לו.  The book published in 1959 is a Hebrew translation of the 1938 Yiddish book, Der Kotzker Rebbe, authored by Pinchos Glicksman.  In it he states that there were five core beliefs of Kotzker Chassidim.  These practices are attributed to the Rov of Stashov; however, the text does not mention his name.   Who was this anonymous Rabbi of Stashov?    On Friday night, November 8, 2025, I visited my daughter, Dr. Shoshana Bracha Levy and asked her for a book to read for Shabbos.  She gave me The Golden Thread, written by Professor Lucy Davidowicz.  The Golden Thread profiles about 60 people who lived in Eastern Europe before the Holocaust, going back 200 years of history.  She has a section on the Kotzker Rebbe.  She quotes the five core beliefs of Kotzker Chassidium from the Yiddish book, Der Kotzker Rebbe.  Although Pinchos Glicksman in his book Der Kotzker Rebbe does not say who this anonymous Stashaver Rabbi was, Professor Lucy Davidowicz, who was a phenomenal historian, researched this person and said it was Rabbi Yehuda Leib Graubart.  I subsequently looked up the books attributed to the Rov in Stashov and she is correct.  I danced with joy at this discovery.  Rabbi Yehuda Leib Graubart was the chief Rabbi of Toronto and my wife’s grandfather, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Noble, was his Chassid.  Read the following about Rabbi Graubart and my wife’s grandfather, Rabbi Yehuda Leibush Noble.

The following is from my October 24, 2020 blog post

https://kotzk.com/2020/10/28/october-24-2020-shabbos-parshas-noah/

I quote from my post.

Parashas Noah, October 24, 2020

I got up around 2:00 AM and I took my mother-in-law’s father’s Malbim on Chumosh Bereshis. He was Rabbi Yehuda Leibush Noble and was a founder of the Eitz Chaim day school in Toronto. My mother-in-law, Blanche Noble-Janowski, kept the Seforim of her father. The Malbim was published in 1892.  He learned Malbim on a regular basis.  He held it in his holy hands, learning from it.  My grandfather, Reb Sholem Sklar, Bubi Jean’s father, praised his father, Reb Avrohom Shmuel Sklar of Krinki, saying that his father knew all the laws of Shabbos, was an expert in טומא וטהרה, and knew every Malbim by heart.  This shows how precious the Malbim was to the Jews of Eastern Europe and that the Malbim was Rabbi Leibush Noble’s go-to Chumash.

I opened it to Sefer Noah and found the following picture tucked into the first page of the Parshas Noah:

This is a picture from the Yiddish paper announcing the death of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Graubart known as “Der Stashover Rebbe.”  Please see http://www.billgladstone.ca/j-b-salsberg-and-rabbi-yehuda-leib-graubart/ for more details about Rabbi Yehuda Leib Graubart.

Rabbi Graubart, known as the Mahril Graubart, was the Rebbe of our grandfather, Rabbi Yehuda Leibush Noble.   

Rabbi Yehuda Leibush Noble wrote on the top of the picture, ה נח ב בחודש חשון תרצח translated as “Thursday, of the week that Noah is read, on the second day of the month of Cheshvan, 1937.”  At the bottom of the picture, Rabbi Yehuda Leibush Noble wrote נפטר, which means “passed away.” 

This year, Rabbi Graubart’s Yahrzeit was on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.  My guess is that Rabbi Noble did not want to forget the Yahrzeit of his Rebbe.

I contacted Bill Gladstone who has a website dedicated to his family’s history and the history of Toronto.  

https://www.billgladstone.ca/     bg@billgladstone.ca

I also contacted Professor Nancy Sinkoff of Rutgers to share with them my joy of discovery.  I have exchanged a number of emails with her, including my meeting Professor Jack Kugelmass, whom she met in the early 1980s. Professor Sinkoff  wrote the following study of Professor Lucy Davidowicz:

From Left to Right: Lucy S. Dawidowicz, the New York Intellectuals, and the Politics of Jewish History

• Author(s): Sinkoff, Nancy
• Publisher & Year: Wayne State University Press, 2020
• M

Information on Professor Nancy Sinkoff:

https://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/people/emeritus-faculty/people-details/191-nav-faculty/186-featured-videos/392-nancy-sinkoff-on-historian-lucy-s-dawidowicz

https://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/people/core-faculty/nancy-sinkoff