Hamodia: Rav Brudny Responds to Rav Twerski on No Chasidishe Representatives on Agudah Moetzes

 "However, the reality is that today in America, the Rebbes of the larger Chassidishe kehillos have not joined the Moetzes. We therefore have to find a different way to create a partnership".

In an interview with the Hamodia newspaper with the Mir Rosh yeshiva Harav Elya Brudny shlita was asked anong other subjects about Rabbi Twerski's comments at the agudah convention that there is no chasiddishe representation on the moetzes. 

Hamodia: full interview Royalty of Torah

Question: In the lifetime of Rav Aharon, along with the Litvisshe Gedolim in the leadership of Agudas Yisrael were also Chassidishe Rebbes, including the Novominsker Rebbe [Harav Nochum Mordechai], the Bluzhever Rebbe, the Boyaner Rebbe, and the Kopyczynitzer Rebbe.

At the recent Agudah convention, Rabbi Aaron Twerski bemoaned the fact that currently, there is no representation of the Chassidishe kehillos in the Moetzes.

Rabbi Twerski is a tayere Yid whom I personally value.

We happen to have more than one family connection.

Rabbi Twerski, zol zein gezunt, had an older brother, Reb Mottel, z”l, who was my father’s accountant. Reb Mottel told a cousin of his who was a close friend of mine how Harav Shmuel Brudny would go through the tax return with him and ask him, “Dos iz glatt kosher?”

“I never saw such a Yid before. I have to convince him that it is perfectly legal…”

Rabbi Twerski’s twin brother, Harav Michel, the Hornisteipler Rebbe in Milwaukee, is a mechutan of our family. His illustrious eidem HaravLeizer Geldzahler, zt”l, was my first cousin.

Reb Aaron Twerski is an ish yadua u’mefursam. He has all the credentials to say his opinion.

The Eibershter was mezakeh me to be in a position of influence in Agudas Yisrael, and it is from that viewpoint that I would like to reply to what he said.

There is nothing that, at any level of Agudas Yisrael leadership, whether Rabbinic or lay, is wanted more than to have as partners the Chassidishe leadership of Klal Yisrael, and overtures have been made to try to achieve this goal.

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah is intended to represent the leadership of Klal Yisrael that is aligned with the Agudah. Just like Roshei Yeshivah represent the Litvishe olam haTorah, the Admorim represent the Chassidishe olam haTorah. That is how the Moetzes of Agudas Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael works, and that’s how it worked in the first generation in America.

However, the reality is that today in America, the Rebbes of the larger Chassidishe kehillos have not joined the Moetzes.

We therefore have to find a different way to create a partnership.

A few years ago, a forum was established in which Rabbanim and Dayanim representing some of the Chassidishe kehillos, along with Litvishe Rabbanim at the helm of the Agudas Yisrael, held several meetings. During COVID, a key member of this forum, Harav Dovid Olewski, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Ger, was niftar, and the meetings did not continue.

Ideas have been floated trying to come up with creative solutions for this issue.

If there is a creative way to establish leadership forums where the two kochos could be united, then members of the Moetzes of Agudah would be glad to be mishtatef.

In an informal way, there already is tremendous collaboration with the Chassidishe velt, particularly regarding the threat to chinuch in New York state. I have been by the Satmar Rebbe Harav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, shlita, on at least two occasions at meetings in Wiliamsburg, and have worked closely with his son, Harav Yaakov Ber, the Sigeter Rav of Boro Park.

I have also visited the Satmar Rebbe Harav Aharon Teitelbaum, shlita, and the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, shlita, in Monsey about this issue. On the level of askanim, I consider myself very close to Reb Moshe Dovid Neiderman, Reb Yossie Grunwald of Pupa, among others. Anashim achim anachnu.

I grew up in Williamsburg. I never felt like an outsider in the Chassidishe world. When I learned in Lakewood 50 years ago, Litvishe and Chassidishe learned b’chavrusa, and we were and have remained yedidim ne’emanim — closest friends. We never felt any level of estrangement with Chassidim; kulanu b’nei ish echad anachnu [we’re all children of the same father]. One Ribbono Shel Olam, one Torah, and one Yiddishkeit. So it’s all di zelbe zach.

Can the Rosh Yeshivah please give us a brachah?

May we be zocheh to be mamlich each other’s malchus shel Torah, and we should all become an agudah achas b’malchus Shakkai. May it be b’karov, b’karov, b’karov. Like we say in Maoz Tzur — d’chei admon b’tzel tzalmon, hakeim lanu ro’eh shivah. Hamodia