I thought that since I've presented the NEWEST wimpel in our shul's collection (hundreds, to be sure), it might be appropriate to show you the OLDEST one as well.
Following is an article that Avram wrote for the KAJ Newsletter approximately one year ago.
Our Oldest Wimpel
This past Shabbos, the oldest wimpel amongst our kehilla's large collection was once again wrapped around the sefer torah.
The wimpel was donated to our Bais Haknesses by its owner Mr. Hermann Loebenberg z"l. Mr. Loebenberg was born in Waechtersbach, Germany on December 24, 1877 / 18 Teves 5638. Waechtersbach, 35 miles northeast of Frankfurt am Main, was a small town with a population of approximately 1,200. The first mention of a Jewish community in Waechtersbach was in 1643. In the late 19th - early 20th century the Jews consisted of approximately 5% of the population. The last shul there was built in 1895 which also contained a mikveh and a school. Mr.Loebenberg was appointed chazan of the shul in 1924 as well as a trustee.
With the rise of antisemitism in the mid 1930's many of the Jews began to move from Waechtersbach. The Loebenbergs sent their two daughters and son to family in Paris and London. Finally, in August 1938, Mr. Loebenberg, being the last Jewish inhabitant of Waechtersbach, sold the shul building for 8,000 RM, which he donated to a nearby Jewish community and to a fund for the upkeep of the Jewish cemetery, and moved with his wife to Frankfurt am Main and then, via London, to New York in 1940 bringing his treasured wimpel with him.
Mr. Loebenberg was a member of our kehilla until his passing in 1969. His two daughters, Mrs. Dora Stern o"h and yb"l Mrs. Ann Baranker, with their husbands and children, also became members of the kehilla. Our beautiful green Shabbos poroches was donated in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Loebenberg by their son and daughters. Approximately five years ago the author was approached by Mr. Loebenberg's granddaughter, Ms. Jane Baranker, with the request that the wimpel be returned to the family as, she assumed, due to its age, that it was no longer usable. After discovering that the wimpel was actually in excellent condition, the family happily agreed to have the wimpel remain in circulation. A concerted effort has been made each year since, to use the wimpel on the Shabbos closest to Mr. Loebenberg's date of birth.
In addition, Mr. Loebenberg also brought to America his son’s wimpel. Leopold Loebenberg was born in 1920 and his wimpel is currently in circulation alongside his father’s.
17 comments:
Very interesting. Thank you!
This is all so interesting. I remember hearing about the wimpel growing up but my mother doesn't have any brothers and neither do I. Has anyone ever asked to make one for a girl (obviously it will not be used at a brit in this case) and have her bring it to shule at a specific age as well. It's such a beautiful minhag and seems a shame that 50% of the babies born don't participate in it.
We do have one for girls its called a tichel.
BLD, if that was meant to be funny, I fail to see the humor in it. I asked a simple, honest question and I don't think there's need for sarcasm here. What does our moderator think?
BTW, check previous posts-I'm just as yekkish as the next one - with lots of "yicches" and very strong roots in the Heights.
perlsand -
If you read through the comments section, you will notice that BLD seems to have created a name for himself with his biting commentary.
I allow it from him because, "we all know where it's coming from".
Occasionally, he surprises us all, maybe even himself, and has something caring, interesting or truly funny, to say.
Don't take it to heart.
It's easy to be nasty when you're anonymous.
Gee - lighten up everyone its Chodesh Adar.
It's a wonderful story. I can only imagine how pleased his family is to know that he is remembered so frequently by the kehillah. Unfortunately my father's wimpel was one of the many that never made it out of Germany. It wasn't until I was at the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv that I really learned much about them. With regards to the using a wimpel for a chuppah discussion, there was mention of it in the exhibit, but as it was 18 years ago, I cannot report anything more than that it was discussed.
I will attempt to answer your question. The minhag of wimple comes directly from bris milah. 1. Bris Milah and Bris Torah are connected and this is shown through the wimple; 2. The wimple is physically used at the bris (today it is usually placed on the pillow or is the pillow case. In the past it was actually used).
I should mention that women were often involved in the wimple process. Often by actually making it, or (and) in some communities, the wimple would be passed up to the women's gallery to the appointed "gabbai" of the wimple to ready it for gelilah. She would either roll it herself or pass it to whomever she wished to honor.
perlsand, do you wish there was an equivalent for men to light candles? or women to wear tefilin? we each have our beautiful mitzvos or minhagim. focus on what you can do
sorry, I agree with bld's sarcasm. the comment was idiotic
I used a Chassidische Mohel for all five of my sons Brissin. He was aware of the Minhog & used the linen square folded in half (into a triangle) to tie up the baby's feet. He also said Bris Kodesh before making the Brocho - gotta be Yekke to know what that is about.
BTW, the Yekkishe Mohel in Cleveland requested that we cut the square into four strips & then sew it up into one long strip. He wants to use it for my grandsons Bris (it should be soon) that way. Normally, it is used in the square form. I'm not sure whether to make an issue of it, what do you think?
Let's try to maintain a modicum of civility when disagreeing with one another in this forum.
Calling anyone, OR THEIR COMMENT, idiotic, is not the correct way to express your opinion.
While in this instance I agree with your content Miri - I reject your way of expressing it and think it makes you sound less credible.
When my parents were in Venice they took a tour of the old Jewish Quarter and museum, and there were Vimpels there that dated back to the 1600's!!
I am going to come to perlsand's defense here. I found her comment completely innocent and sincere and thought BLD's comment aboslutely ______ (I won't say out of respect for G6's call for civility.)
The only reason I didn't comment before is because I have bashed BLD enough in the past and saw no compelling need to do so again. But now that poor perlsand is being ganged up upon by a bunch of cynical and ______ commenters, I thought it only right that I speak up and come to her defense.
Thanks Yehudah for your comments.
Blog "bullies" need to be called out - especially by other readers!
Unfortunately, people who hide behind the cloak of anonymity and dress themselves in the appropriate "black hat" garb and speech, sometime are so sorely lacking in Ahavas Yisroel (and common decency) that they shame and embarrass the rest of us.
That's how the adage "Don't judge Judaism by those who practice it" originated.
perlsand has left a comment here and I hope that miri takes the time to read it and that others come out in her support.
What damage can be done with just one (idiotic) word.......
According to the Shoroshei Minhag Ashkenaz it was common in some places for women to donate wimpels as well. Obviously in that case there was no connection to Bris Milah.
That's really special - to be able to almost feel like you are going back in time...
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