I was told that the owner of these books, from a Satmar family in Williamsburg, feared being called out for owning a set from his fellow neighbors and Hasidim and thus went through the great lengths that eliminated any possibility for someone who may see his bookshelf from being able to identify what it is that he was seeing.
The distaste for the Kehati commentary in these circles appears to have several factors. Firstly, the author was deemed too close to the Religious-Mizrahi Movement, having learned and taught in Religious Zionist Schools, though R. Pinchas Kehati himself was said to have worn a Black Yarmulka, like that of a Haredi. Secondly, the Kehati commentary quotes from a wide variety of sources, some of which, like the Albeck Commentary to the Mishna, was deemed to be heresy by certain people. Thirdly, the books were published by Hechal Shlomo, being a part of the Israeli Government and thus forbidden in these same circles.
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| First page of an article clarifying if you are permitted or obligated to steal and burn copies of the Kehati Mishnayot from public synagogues |
Some of the hate and arguments against the Kehati published by a member of the Neture Karta, Ahron Rosenberg, the son -in-law of Moshe Ber Beck of Monsey, can be seen below. The title of the pamphlet he published (anonymously), was titled אודות משניות מבוארות.
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| R. Chaim Kanievsky's handwritten response stating that it is forbidden to learn from the Kehtati Mishnayot |
hat-tip: Menachem Silber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KlCQrFEUrI Beautiful video about R' Kehati
ReplyDeleteKehati also quoted from R. Unterman in his Perush, for example " בשם 'הגרא"י אונטרמן שליט"א', שעדותו של זכריה בן קבוטל שפעמים קריתי לפניו בדניאל, באה לומר שלעיתים הכ"ג לא רק שלא ידע לקרוא, אלא אפילו לא הבין עברית, ולכן קראו לפניו בדניאל ששבעת פרקיו הראשונים הם בארמית." It seems that these were quotes of things he heard directly from Rav Unterman in conversation with him, as they don't seem to appear anywhere else in writing
ReplyDeleteA Story was related to me that approx 25 years ago, which occurred in the Polish Shtiebel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This shtiebel is non-satmar, and one of the only Non-Satmar shuls in Williamsburg, though during the week, it is often frequented by Satmar Chassidim as well.
ReplyDeleteOne Day, the Kehati on the shelf in the shtiebel, vanished, without a trace. 6 months later, Rabbi Charnes showed up in the shtiebel with a brand new set, and related that a young Satmar Bochur confessed to him that he removed the set and threw it in the trash. The Rabbi instructed him to replace the set, and indeed this New Set was paid for by the bochur as a replacement for the one he disposed of.