A continuation...
National Geographic called him the "Hassidic Pablo Escobar" so I was curious as to see how big of a player he was. I have an uncle on my mum's side, his name is Harry Ackerman. A decade ago Uncle Harry was bagged. The DEA, which loves to exaggerate labeled him the Cali Cartel's point man in America. While my uncle was NOT the head of the Cali Cartel's US pipeline he did move serious weight. Uncle Harry is a Chassid (Hassid), yet here was this bloke on National Geographic that I had never heard of.
Looking into the matter I discovered that Shmuel "Samuel" Leibowitz, of Stamford Hill in London was nothing more than a common mule. He claims he can swallow a kilo of pellets and apparently has mastered his gag reflex. What National Geigraphic never mentioned was that Leibowitz ALSO did time in England in addition to Brasil and Israel. In fact, THAT jailtime was AFTER returning to England after his stint in an Israeli prison. Some may recall that after failing to save the life of a junkie in an Israeli prison Leibowitz claimed to have realised the dangers of drugs and dedicated himself towards saving young people from the dangers and horrors of drugs. Apparently THAT was NOT the case...In any event, it was his English bid that allowed me to learn a lot more about the man.
An assimilated Jew living in England was making a documentary on English Jews and was doing in depth profiles of people who break the stereotype most Westerners have of a studiious person who either ends up as a white collar professional if at all assimilated or else a studious person who ends up wearing centuries old styles of clothing and having several children by the age of 25. Leibowitz DEFINITELY breaks stereotypes.
Drug use is not uncommon amongst Jews. Non Jews might be very suprised that Judaism is very intune to human needs. Sex is one of the highest forms of worship, gambling is practiced by even the youngest children and psychoactive use is a commandment. Judaism however teaches moderation and controls every aspect of one's behavior, from how one eats to how one uses the bathroom. In such a system addiction is not commonplace.
With Jews who lead assimilated- or even partially assimilated lives- it has been my own observation that psychoactive use is ALSO widespread. Without the societal pressures religious Jews face though, addiction is sadly (fairly) common. It would make for some decent peer reviwed studies to examine just why this is. Addiction is believed to result from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors that intersect in an opportunistic scenario. Excepting 1st generation converts and 3 Jewish groups (Ethiopian Jews and 2 of India's 3 Jewish Communities) , every Jew on the planet is related to within the 4th degree. Ergo, there is I assume a strong genetic predisposition to addicton amongst Jews.
Samuel Leibowitz is a Satmar Chassid. Chassidic Judaism emerged in the 18th Century as a response to the prevailing Jewish ethos in Eastern Europe at that time which held that study of Judaism was, next to worship, the most important endeavour any man could ever hope to do. Beginning at age 3 and until he died, Jewish males buried themselves in texts written in ancient languages that none of them spoke naturally. Dedicating their lives to arcane issues whose relevance was rooted a a continent away in the Pre-Christian Era, these Jews neglected fundamental aspects of their faith. Judaism, above all else, is a guide to life and to fufill its potential an adherant needs to enjoy life fully.
The Jews of Eastern Europe were confined to what was called the "Pale of Settlement." Within that Pale, or as we Jews call it, "Galitziya" (Galicia), a day care worker named Yisrael Ben Eliezer began preaching that worship of the Creator should be joyous. One should dance with abandon, sing, pray outdoors, in natural environments and that doing so in one's native language was not only permissable but desired since it allowed one to communicate more clearly. Although the Creator knows one's heart, expression is meritous. Ben Eliezer soon attracted a large following from amongst the very poor and uneducated who felt alienated from the scholars who studied in deep solemnity from dawn until well past dusk.
As with any well established system the orthodoxy went apeshit and labeled the movement, which had adopted the name of an ancient Jewish movement, the Chassidim (Hassidics), meaning the "Joyous Ones," as heritics and blasphemers. Eventually the establishment was forced to accomodate the Chassidim owing to their exponential increase.
Ben Eliezer was given the honourific "Ba'al Shem Tov," or "Master of the Good Name," and although he was greatly revered he eschewed any suggestions that he establish a large retinue and all the trappings of the prevailing orthodoxy. Ben Eliezer remained true to his teachings and taught his disciples and followers that he was no different than they, that anyone could directly approach the Creator. Intercessionism was anathema to his teachings.
After Ben Eliezer died his closest disciples began attracting their own disciples and despite it being diametrically opposed to Ben Eliezer's teachings, these original disciples began forming dynastic courts, heriditary positions as intercessionairies for their very loyal followers. Within 2 generations these dynasties began conforming to the orthodoxy Chassidism had fought so hard to overcome. At that point the great-grandson of Ben Eliezer, a man named Nachman Ben Simcha began preaching against this perversion of his great-grandfather's original message. Unlike all other Chassidic Schools Ben Simacha's never saw its founder as anything more than an insightful man and teacher. His followers thoroughly rejected intercession and instead concentrated on the founding principles of Chassidism.
Ben Simcha died in his 30s of tuberculosis. Known by his followers as Rebbe Nachman, or Nachman of Breslov, ("Rebbe" is a Chassidic term for an esteemed rabbi) until the present us still the only Rebbe of his School, known as "Breslov Chassidishe" (Breslov Hassidism). My mum's family are Breslov Chassidim and of course so was Uncle Harry.
Samuel Leibowitz on the other hand, as I had noted, is a Satmar Chassid. The Satmar get their name from the town of Satu Mare in a part of the Pale that has belonged to both Rumania and Hungary depending on the period. Centered now in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, here in New York City, they have their own village 2 hours north of the city, Kiryas Joel. Situated within the municipality of Monroe in Orange County. When the last Satmar Rebbe died, Rebbe Teitlebaum, his 2 sons Aharon and Yo'el began battling over succession. Showing how perverted such "fake" Chassidic Schools are, they employed violence along the lines or arson and drive by shootings. In the end one got Kiryas Joel and the other got Williamsburg.
Samuel Leibowitz grew up in the much smaller grouping in London's Stamford Hill section. The documentary filmmaker escorted Leibowitz's brother Yitzchak (Isaac) to pick Leibowitz up after his early release from prison. Fitted with an ankle monitor for 6 months he settled into a flat lent by a fellow Satmar and began working as an assistant cook in a nursing home also owned by a fellow Satmar. Very quickly Leiberman began chafing at the restrictions on him, both by British authorities as well as the Satmar Community.
Though a good portion of my education, up until age 12, was in a Breslov Chaddishe school I was not raised in that world. My mum was Sephardic (Ladino speaking, "Ladino" being 16th Century Castillian Spanish combined with Arabic, Turkish and Hebrew), not Ashkenazi (Yiddish speaking, "Yiddish" being 12th Century German, a smattering of Eastern European languages and Hebrew. Chassidim are Ashkenazim. She was from Trans-D'niester on the border of Bessarabia (now Moldova) and the Ukraine. After the USSR fell apart at the dawn of the 1990s Trans-D'niester became a breakaway enclave like Nagorno-Karbakh inbetween Armenia and Azeribijan. It became a regular killing field that made the Balkans look tame. Today it is nominally independent, only recognised by Russia and a couple of other nations. Known as "Pridnestrovian Moldavian Repulic," or PMR, it is probably the least known European nation, along with being the pooresr and most militarised.
My mum's clan was part of the huge Sephardic Exodus after Spain Ethnically Cleansed the newly unified state of Jews and Muslims in 1492. They originally moved from Granada to Istanbul, as the Ottoman Sultan welcomed the Jewish and Muslim refugees from Spain.
To be continued...
National Geographic called him the "Hassidic Pablo Escobar" so I was curious as to see how big of a player he was. I have an uncle on my mum's side, his name is Harry Ackerman. A decade ago Uncle Harry was bagged. The DEA, which loves to exaggerate labeled him the Cali Cartel's point man in America. While my uncle was NOT the head of the Cali Cartel's US pipeline he did move serious weight. Uncle Harry is a Chassid (Hassid), yet here was this bloke on National Geographic that I had never heard of.
Looking into the matter I discovered that Shmuel "Samuel" Leibowitz, of Stamford Hill in London was nothing more than a common mule. He claims he can swallow a kilo of pellets and apparently has mastered his gag reflex. What National Geigraphic never mentioned was that Leibowitz ALSO did time in England in addition to Brasil and Israel. In fact, THAT jailtime was AFTER returning to England after his stint in an Israeli prison. Some may recall that after failing to save the life of a junkie in an Israeli prison Leibowitz claimed to have realised the dangers of drugs and dedicated himself towards saving young people from the dangers and horrors of drugs. Apparently THAT was NOT the case...In any event, it was his English bid that allowed me to learn a lot more about the man.
An assimilated Jew living in England was making a documentary on English Jews and was doing in depth profiles of people who break the stereotype most Westerners have of a studiious person who either ends up as a white collar professional if at all assimilated or else a studious person who ends up wearing centuries old styles of clothing and having several children by the age of 25. Leibowitz DEFINITELY breaks stereotypes.
Drug use is not uncommon amongst Jews. Non Jews might be very suprised that Judaism is very intune to human needs. Sex is one of the highest forms of worship, gambling is practiced by even the youngest children and psychoactive use is a commandment. Judaism however teaches moderation and controls every aspect of one's behavior, from how one eats to how one uses the bathroom. In such a system addiction is not commonplace.
With Jews who lead assimilated- or even partially assimilated lives- it has been my own observation that psychoactive use is ALSO widespread. Without the societal pressures religious Jews face though, addiction is sadly (fairly) common. It would make for some decent peer reviwed studies to examine just why this is. Addiction is believed to result from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors that intersect in an opportunistic scenario. Excepting 1st generation converts and 3 Jewish groups (Ethiopian Jews and 2 of India's 3 Jewish Communities) , every Jew on the planet is related to within the 4th degree. Ergo, there is I assume a strong genetic predisposition to addicton amongst Jews.
Samuel Leibowitz is a Satmar Chassid. Chassidic Judaism emerged in the 18th Century as a response to the prevailing Jewish ethos in Eastern Europe at that time which held that study of Judaism was, next to worship, the most important endeavour any man could ever hope to do. Beginning at age 3 and until he died, Jewish males buried themselves in texts written in ancient languages that none of them spoke naturally. Dedicating their lives to arcane issues whose relevance was rooted a a continent away in the Pre-Christian Era, these Jews neglected fundamental aspects of their faith. Judaism, above all else, is a guide to life and to fufill its potential an adherant needs to enjoy life fully.
The Jews of Eastern Europe were confined to what was called the "Pale of Settlement." Within that Pale, or as we Jews call it, "Galitziya" (Galicia), a day care worker named Yisrael Ben Eliezer began preaching that worship of the Creator should be joyous. One should dance with abandon, sing, pray outdoors, in natural environments and that doing so in one's native language was not only permissable but desired since it allowed one to communicate more clearly. Although the Creator knows one's heart, expression is meritous. Ben Eliezer soon attracted a large following from amongst the very poor and uneducated who felt alienated from the scholars who studied in deep solemnity from dawn until well past dusk.
As with any well established system the orthodoxy went apeshit and labeled the movement, which had adopted the name of an ancient Jewish movement, the Chassidim (Hassidics), meaning the "Joyous Ones," as heritics and blasphemers. Eventually the establishment was forced to accomodate the Chassidim owing to their exponential increase.
Ben Eliezer was given the honourific "Ba'al Shem Tov," or "Master of the Good Name," and although he was greatly revered he eschewed any suggestions that he establish a large retinue and all the trappings of the prevailing orthodoxy. Ben Eliezer remained true to his teachings and taught his disciples and followers that he was no different than they, that anyone could directly approach the Creator. Intercessionism was anathema to his teachings.
After Ben Eliezer died his closest disciples began attracting their own disciples and despite it being diametrically opposed to Ben Eliezer's teachings, these original disciples began forming dynastic courts, heriditary positions as intercessionairies for their very loyal followers. Within 2 generations these dynasties began conforming to the orthodoxy Chassidism had fought so hard to overcome. At that point the great-grandson of Ben Eliezer, a man named Nachman Ben Simcha began preaching against this perversion of his great-grandfather's original message. Unlike all other Chassidic Schools Ben Simacha's never saw its founder as anything more than an insightful man and teacher. His followers thoroughly rejected intercession and instead concentrated on the founding principles of Chassidism.
Ben Simcha died in his 30s of tuberculosis. Known by his followers as Rebbe Nachman, or Nachman of Breslov, ("Rebbe" is a Chassidic term for an esteemed rabbi) until the present us still the only Rebbe of his School, known as "Breslov Chassidishe" (Breslov Hassidism). My mum's family are Breslov Chassidim and of course so was Uncle Harry.
Samuel Leibowitz on the other hand, as I had noted, is a Satmar Chassid. The Satmar get their name from the town of Satu Mare in a part of the Pale that has belonged to both Rumania and Hungary depending on the period. Centered now in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, here in New York City, they have their own village 2 hours north of the city, Kiryas Joel. Situated within the municipality of Monroe in Orange County. When the last Satmar Rebbe died, Rebbe Teitlebaum, his 2 sons Aharon and Yo'el began battling over succession. Showing how perverted such "fake" Chassidic Schools are, they employed violence along the lines or arson and drive by shootings. In the end one got Kiryas Joel and the other got Williamsburg.
Samuel Leibowitz grew up in the much smaller grouping in London's Stamford Hill section. The documentary filmmaker escorted Leibowitz's brother Yitzchak (Isaac) to pick Leibowitz up after his early release from prison. Fitted with an ankle monitor for 6 months he settled into a flat lent by a fellow Satmar and began working as an assistant cook in a nursing home also owned by a fellow Satmar. Very quickly Leiberman began chafing at the restrictions on him, both by British authorities as well as the Satmar Community.
Though a good portion of my education, up until age 12, was in a Breslov Chaddishe school I was not raised in that world. My mum was Sephardic (Ladino speaking, "Ladino" being 16th Century Castillian Spanish combined with Arabic, Turkish and Hebrew), not Ashkenazi (Yiddish speaking, "Yiddish" being 12th Century German, a smattering of Eastern European languages and Hebrew. Chassidim are Ashkenazim. She was from Trans-D'niester on the border of Bessarabia (now Moldova) and the Ukraine. After the USSR fell apart at the dawn of the 1990s Trans-D'niester became a breakaway enclave like Nagorno-Karbakh inbetween Armenia and Azeribijan. It became a regular killing field that made the Balkans look tame. Today it is nominally independent, only recognised by Russia and a couple of other nations. Known as "Pridnestrovian Moldavian Repulic," or PMR, it is probably the least known European nation, along with being the pooresr and most militarised.
My mum's clan was part of the huge Sephardic Exodus after Spain Ethnically Cleansed the newly unified state of Jews and Muslims in 1492. They originally moved from Granada to Istanbul, as the Ottoman Sultan welcomed the Jewish and Muslim refugees from Spain.
To be continued...