Rabbi Mizrachi and Lipa Schmeltzer, הרב מזרחי ליפא שמעלצר

No, this is not a music video.  This is an excellent shiur from Rabbi Mizrachi, held at Lipa Schmeltzer's shul.  First, he criticizes the newer movements of Judaism (I believe he meant Orthodox Judaism) and gave hints that these movements worship their leader(s) and one has a custom of screaming in the forests as a type of worship which is not condoned in the Torah. Although he doesn't explicitly say the names of these movements, I think he's referring to two Chassidic movements, perhaps Chabad and Breslov.  The hints gave them away.

The Rabbi also invites Devorah Feldman to speak to him about her accusations against Judaism and her community in her books.  The Rabbi states that the Torah can be scientifically-proven and Judaism is not solely a faith-based religion, unlike other religions.  The most interesting part of the shiur is the Q&A from the audience, which I believe are Chassidim.  Listening to their way of thinking and their types of questions is very eye-opening.  The Rabbi claims that the Zohar as we know it is not 100% written by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, but includes additions written later by other authors.  The Rabbi provides scientific analysis in answering the questions.

And last of all, the Rabbi talks about Moshiach and our time.  He reiterates that only 20% of the Jews will be saved, just like in Metzias Mitzrayim.  It is clear today to everyone that out of the 13.4 million Jews in the world, only a tiny fraction is religious, and of these, even a tinier portion is truly G-d fearing.

An excellent shiur nonetheless.  I look forward to future shiurim from the Rabbi held at Mr. Schmeltzer's shul.

The Korach Syndrome Rebuttal, טיעון תסמונת קורח

Rabbi Lazer Brody put out an article, "The Korach Syndrome", hinting that anyone, including Rosh Yeshivos and talmidim of non-Breslov yeshivos and I'm sure non-Breslov followers as Korach's followers. There are many issues with the thinking of Breslov. Any sect which worships a person, including their deceased Rebbes, is not following Toras Moshe, and not worshiping Hashem, bil'vad (alone).  A reason, why Moshe's kever, is never found, because Hashem doesn't want Moshe to be worshiped like other sects worship their Rebbes at their graves.  Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, played a very important role in Jewish history. The way I was taught is that any Jew has the potential to become as great as Moshe Rabbeinu.   This doesn't make me or any other similar taught Jew a Korach.  Every Jew has a direct connection to Hashem, and must not go through an intermediary, be it a deceased Rebbe who promised to intercede on other Jews' behalf, as it's no different than worshiping idolatry.  Not once in the written Toras Moshe, did Moshe tell the Jews to worship at his grave, so that he, Moshe Rabbeinu, would intercede on their behalf, after they died.  Instead, there are countless times of tochacha (rebukes) that Moshe Rabbeinu gave to the Jews to follow the mitzvos set out in the Torah by Hashem, that is all that is required of the Jews. There is no mitzvah to worship at a grave of  a deceased to seek favors from the dead.  Although this custom is quite popular among Sefaradim and Chassidim, it has no place among Ashkenazi Jewry.  This is one among many where we differ, but we are still required to love every Jew, nonetheless.

But as we said before, all opinions - without exception - agree that it is strictly forbidden to daven directly to a dead person [or to an angel] so that they should help us. The most that is permitted [according to the lenient views] is to ask them to act as our emissaries to Hashem, so that Hashem will look favorably and mercifully upon us.

Source: Visiting the Graves of Tzadikkim: How and Why?

Why would Rabbi Brody, who loves the land of Israel, and who has been pro-aliyah, encourage his followers, to leave the Holy Land, to spend Rosh Hashana in chutz la'aretz?  Once olim make aliyah, why is there a need to leave the Holy Land, only for three reasons - parnassah, shiduchim and Torah learning that can't be found in the Holy Land.  There is no other reason.

So, Rabbi Brody, enough is enough. By equating the chachamim and followers of chachamim, whose tradition comes directly from Moshe Rabbeinu (read Pirkei Avos Chapter 1:1), with Korach is a serious terrible mistake that contributes to the continued sinas chinam.  The chachamim are those who preserve the Oral Torah (Gemara) and whose yeshivos continue to stress the learning of the Oral Torah 24 by 7, so that the world will continue to exist.  For a nice unbroken tradition of yeshivos led by the Vilna Gaon, the father of Lithuanian Yeshivos see this nice poster below, available at Torah Lab.