Lectures, Classes, and Tutoring with Rokhl Kafrissen

I present here another piece of spooky Yiddish folklore from the esteemed folklorist YL Cahan. This one has an intriguing Elul connection... 32. About the “Great Minyen” In Hrubeshoyv there was a minyen they called “the great minyen.” The men of the minyen were hidden tsadikim , or saints. Each one of them was a craftsman: tailor, shoemaker, porter, carpenter, blacksmith, and so on. After midnight, they used to meet in the small study house and occupy themselves with the holy Torah. One time they resolved that they must bring Moshiakh.  About this the people were of two minds: some said that one of them had made a mistake with the mystical names of God, and that instead of bringing Moshiakh, they had brought Samoel  [i.e. Satan the accuser or adversary] and thus their own damnation in fire. Others folks said that what happened was that the Baal Shem had found out about them and drove them away, as it wasn’t yet time, and Moshiakh mustn’t come yet.  Even today, people sa...

ELUL IS A PLACE For Yiddish speaking Jews, the month of Elul meant renewing the relationship between the living and the dead, and the cemetery came alive with visitors.  We will experience Elul through Yiddish poems, short stories, tkhines (Yiddish language prayers) ,  music, and memory writing. Above all, we'll see how the cemetery, and meeting the dead, played a central role in the season of penitence and renewal. Join me (virtually) for "Elul is a Place"-- September 9, 11, and 17 at 7:00 pm EST. $100.  All classes will be recorded and available to watch afterwards. Just email to register: cjcrokhl @ gmail