Issue Number 401   -  BEIS MOSHIACH 39       A much larger than anticipated
gathering took place to honor the
eighth yahrtzeit of the renowned
teacher and mashpia, Rabbi Yosef
Yitzchok “Fitzy” Lipskier, a”h (see
last week’s editorial for further
description of the farbrengen).
Alumni drove in from various points
in New Jersey to join a sizable
contingent from Crown Heights and
local Seagate residents.       Speakers included members of
the faculty of the yeshiva, Rabbi
Avrohom Lipskier, and Rabbi Yosef
Yitzchok Greenberg, as well as
several esteemed guests, including
Rabbi Beryl Lipskier, Rabbi Shloma
Majeski, Rabbi Shalom Baras, and
Rabbi Dovid Pape. Several times
mention was made of the incredible
attention to detail and vitality with
which Rabbi “Fitzy” Lipskier infused
his classes, to the extent that often
students would emerge from his shiurim  beaming with pleasure. Rabbi Greenberg brought out a link
to the name of the distinguished
mashpia, whose first name was
Yosef, which indicates, as Rashi
states in Chumash, the desire to add
another son, and as explained in chassidus, the ability to make a “son” out of an “achur” (someone distant
or estranged). The baal ha’yartzeit
had the ability to take someone who was estranged from Yiddishkeit, and
to make him a “son,” a part of the
family. Likewise, he had the ability
to take a student who had pre-
conceived notions of Yiddishkeit,
someone who felt that they were
already a “son,” and show them that
they were in fact an “achur,” that
their impressions were false or
misguided.       In honor of the yahrtzeit, a
special audio CD was compiled
based on the beloved seider niggunim
that he taught for several years.
Several of the niggunim were played
between speakers, and the intricate,
exacting notes as sung by the baal ha’yartzeit  brought an emotion-laden silence over the crowd. One of the niggunim, which was adopted by chassidim for the Rebbe MH”M’s eighty-sixth chapter of T’hillim, was
actually composed by Rabbi Yosef
Yitzchok Lipskier, a”h, himself. The
CD contains seventeen niggunim,
many of them elaborate and
meditative, and is currently available
by calling 718-613-1101. A
percentage of the proceeds of the CD
goes to help support the yeshiva.       “Those who dwell in the dust
will arise and sing.” May this happen
immediately. For more information contact the yeshiva
at: Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem. 4823 Beach
48th Street. Sea Gate, NY. 11224. Tel.:
(718) 265-1437. Or contact Rabbi Lipskier
at 4811 Beach 48th Street. Sea Gate, NY.
11224. Tel.: (718) 373-1556. YESHIVA TIFERES MENACHEM OF SEAGATE, NY HOSTS YUD-YUD-ALEF SHVAT FARBRENGEN