CHESHVAN, 5735 I OCTOBER, 1974 VOLUME X, NUMBER 4 rHE SIXTY FIVE CENTS

Adult Education in -Utopian dream or a feasible program?

The : A People of ''Shevatim'' -for divisiveness or unification?

Moshiach Consciousness -a message from the Chafetz Chaim

The Jewish State -beginnings of redemption or a Golus phenomenon?

The Seattle Legacy -heirs of a childless couple THE JEWISH QBSERVER

in this issue ...

SPREADING A NET OF , Mordechai David Ludmir as told to Nisson Wolpin ...... 3

THE JEWS - A PEOPLE OF "SHEVATIM," Shabtai Slae ...... 6 THE CHOFETZ CHAIM ON MOSHIACH CONSCIOUSNESS. Elkanah Schwartz ...... 9

THE END OF GOLUS? or THE BEGINNING OF GEULAH?, Moshe Schonfeld ...... 12

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Spreading a Net of Torah

M ordechai Dovid Ludmir -as told to Nisson Wolpin

Shlomo N. ran a noisy night spot in the Bet tion campaign, and then not again until four years later'? Yisroel section o/Jerusa/en1, and the custon1ers and Why don't you come back more often'r· the;r activities kepi the neighbors up and angry until They were right. Of course. we are constantly looking the pre-dawn hours. Sh/01110 was not an especially for ways to raise the religious level of the broader pop­ religious fellow, but he never missed going to shul on ulace.A visit to any community outside of the usual his mother's yahrzeit. So he dropped into the local enclaves of the dati'in1 can be extremely depressing, shul on the eve of the obligatory prayer session and simply crying for action. It has always seen1ed n1ost sen­ listened to a fascinating lecture delivered by a younK sible to begin with children - that is why so much kolel man. He stayed on after Maariv to inquire emphasis has been put on Chinuch Atzmai Schools. But about a follow-up to that night's session. Shlomo dis­ what about those \vho are beyond school age - are we covered that the sheurim (Torah lectures) - adult to give up on them? And ho\v are they to kno\v enough classes in Gemora - were given every night by the to choose the correct schools for their children if we do visitor to Bet Yisroe/. After that, Shlomo never miss­ not reach them? ed the hour between Mincha and Maariv until he We are not street-corner evangalists. And our religion eventually found his thirst greater than what .fi1•e is not the kind of commodily that can be thrust on kolel hours a week could satiate. So Shlomo joined a others in an aggressive hard-sell. But once someone to study Torah all day - and Bet Yisroel lost its enters a shut, he has expressed some affiliation with only night club. Yahadut and he is in an environment conducive to THIS MAY SOUND a bit dramatic, but it is true and further commitment. So we brought Jhe matter up at the typical of the upheavals in life-styles of individuals and next meeting of the Agudath Israel. They undertook the entire communities that have resulted from our Reshet project. setting up our original ten Torah sheurin1 Shiyurei Torah (literally: Network of Torah Classes). lecture-classes) for adults, to take place every evening in The ReSHeT idea is really not very radical: but for ten different shuts in - never envisioning that some reason, we never thought of instituting this we would eventually have a reshet of close to 300 Torah program until after the election campaign in Ellul, 5720. sheur;,n all over Eretz Yisroel. A group of Roshei * had gathered for a Melave Malke to discuss our campaigning efforts - we had spoken out strongly at public rallies urging the people to RABBI LUDMIR heads the Reshet Sheurei Torah cast ballots for Agudath Israel, to safeguard religious in­ ( ReSHeT) in Israel - a network of close to 300 free adult terests in Israel. Several reported experiencing a similar education classes sponsored by the Agudath Israel, which reaction from the crowd. People would come over after are held throughout the length and breadth of the country. the speeches and complain - with respect, mind you, He ~i-·as one o_fthe founders o_f ReSHeT upon the direction not to heckle: "Why do we only see you during the elec- of leading Torah authorities of the time. including Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel (Mir!. Rabhi Dov Berish *R'Chain1 Brim (Slobodke). R'Shea Brim (Then, Ri::hin!. R'Shlolom Wiedenfeld (Tchebiner Rov). Rabbi Noach.Bro::ovskp (S/onin1). R'Dov Scheinherg (Toraswn l:'m'nas.1a111J. ( Lut:k~r Rav), Rabbi Yecheskel Sarna (Chevron} Rabbi R'Dol'id Shulvax (Sfas Emes), R'A1·raha111 Yaakrw Zafe::nik (Eit:: Ezra A tia (Porat Yoseifj, ;i::ii::i? cin::i1; tl"rt':> 7,::i,1 Chain1}. among others. Rahbi Yaakov Yisroel Konievsky (the Steipler }.

The Jewish Obsen•er / October, 1974 3 Eight years ago in Katemon Tet, Jerusalem, I halacha areas - Shabbos, family purity, laws entered the Halabe shul. I found one man reading regarding shaving - whatever. the service, while everybody else stood, lisrening Reb Chaim told me about a young man who ap­ arrenrively. After inquiring, I found thar the entire proached him in the street. ", can you me a congregation was totally illiterate in Hebrew - ex~ job"' cept for the reader. Wirh rhe advenr of Israeli Reb Chaim was a litrle raken aback. "Why, no. Independence, rhe Syrians had outlawed rhe study of Shouldn't you consulr an employment agency, in­ Hebrew. These young men, all from a town near sread of asking me?" Halabe, never learned to recognize an Alef. They "Don't you remember? I was at your lecture last had recently stolen across the border to Turkey, with nighr, where you spoke abour the issur (prohibirion) Israel as their destination. against shaving someone else with a razor.'· We decided to raise their srandard as high as How should he remember? There were close to possible, starting of course, from zero. We began by 200 people present. But, anyway. teaching them Alef-Beis; now they have nightly "/'m a sapar (barber) by profession. I never knew classes in Mishnayos and halacha,from rhe original the law. So today I told my boss,'/ like working for texts. you. but .from now on I'm only giving haircuts. No One man came to see me a few months later to tell shaves.' " me-" You really saved us. Not only did we not feel "Very nice. So?" like Jews before, we even felt subhuman." "So he fired me!" The government heard of ReSHeT's success wirh "And-?" the group and began subsidizing us with funds. "And I'm afarher of two children. I need a job." Reh Chaim inquired about family, relations, for a The Approach possible connection. The young man's uncle was a sofer, a scribe who wrote ceremonial objects - WE WOULD SELECT a shul to visit between Mincha and Torah scrolls, tefillin, mezuzos. Maariv. We were readily granted permission to speak - "Perhaps," Reb Chaim offered half in jest, "you these people had little else to do between services. The missed your calling. You, too. were meant to be a theme would be the importance of Torah study, the so fer and misunderstood it as sapar - a barber." terrible losses of wasting time. The talk was usually well­ (Both words employ the same Hebrew letters). received. The proof - next visit, a week later, would in­ The young man took the suggestion seriously. He variably result in an invitation to speak again. The reported to his uncle for apprenticeship, and return­ theme would be similar. ...Third time around, the peo­ ed ro Reb Chaim a halfyear later with rwo sample ple would come forward, "Will you be .\peaking for us parchments he had meticulously written for a Sefer again?" Torah .... Today he is established as a successful "No, not this time." safer whose work is highly regarded. " Why not? We really were moved by your lecture last week." Selecting a Site "Thank you, but we're not interested in just talk. We're interested in action - in this case, learning A SHUL FREQUENTED by Sephardim is the ideal target. Torah." Generally, we have found that Ashkenazim (North­ "We'd agree. But we can't study on our olvn, and European Jews) and who attend shuls are there's no one among us to teach us!" literate enough to study on their own, if they so choose. "ls that the only problem"" Those who do not study, choose not to. "Definirely 1" Another factor in choosing a site must be proximity to "Otherwise you're willing to study Torah - on a religious centers, so the teachers can travel easily to the regular basis?" local shu/. Reb Menachem Mendelson (son of the "A bsolute/y!" Komemiut Rav) had 120 people crowding his Gemora class in nearby Uza-many of them sitting on the floor, A teacher is then assigned to the group. Over 90% of with Gemoras in their laps .... When the transportation the teachers are kolel fellows. Some of them volunteer system failed, he was forced to give up that class for one their services. Others ate compensated with a token in a closer location. honorarium, ranging up to 50 IL per week. A suitable curriculum is chosen, and posters are put up In the Rabbi Mendelson raid me:"/ was teaching a large nieghborhood. Some groups have over a hundred peo­ group of Moroccan Jews about 'boreir'- the ple in attendance, others never rise above the minimum prohibition against selecting non-edibles from foods of ten attendees. The average group numbers between 20 on Shabbos. They interrupted, 'But we must strain and 30 "students." rhe little insecrs from our na'ane on .' Thursday nighr is a mishmar nighr, with exrra ( Na'ane L< a tea-like beverage that they would steam hours of srudy and special lectures on specific on Shabbos.) I realized that not only were they selec-

4 The Jewish Observer/ October 1974 t;ng, they were also cooking the na'ane on Shahbos. But there is more about Yehuda. R 'Dol'id I explained the prohibitions, and the various options Greenz111eig asked to corne to the next meetinJ; (~(the that were available. I then demonstrated the usual ReSJ/eT adn1inistration. to tell o_f hi.\· experience - Ere\' Shabbos preparation of tea essence, as applied ivith Yehuda, ivho had approached hi1n out r~f the to na'ane. They were eager to learn and 11,ere proud blue one day: of their newly gained knowledge. And I. too, am "Do you know o.l any apartments in Geula?., proud o_f having taught an entire community how to "No," Reh Dovid replied. avoid serious transgressions o,f the Shabhos la1'\IS. "A re you sure?" "O..f course, /'1n sure." he an.nvered in1patiently. As I said, the national government (often Joined by "/don't deal in real estate. Why do you ask n1e?" the local iriya) funds a good part of our budget. But they "Because I used to he your neighbor there." will not underwrite expansion costs, nor pick up the lab £\'en after Yehuda identified the place and years of newly-established classes. There is, thus, little that of residence there, Reh Dovid had difficulty can be allocated to cover transportation costs. So we associating Yehuda with Mr. Z .. a burfr ill­ have nineteen sheurei erev in , but we could easilv ten1pered irreligious n1an 1rith a family of eight have double the number, if-. The same is true of th~ children, 1vho used to assault the neighbors •,,vith his seventy plus in Jerusalem. the others in , anti-religious outbursts. .Reh David wanted to Petach Tikvah, Rishon Letzion .... report that, thanks to ReSHeT, Yehuda Z. hod In the wake of the Yorn Kippur war last year, the become devoutly reliJ?ious, lt'GS married. and American Agudath Israel, with an assist from some succeeded in enrolling his seven younger brothers local branches, raised a total of $9,000 for us. We need­ and sisters in religious schools. ed the funds desperately for salaries, but we decided to In Central Jerusalem there is an afternoon kolel com­ match inspiration for inspiration, and founded three posed of twenty young men - many skilled laborers, new classes in each of five locations - Ashdod, Beer others professionals: some employed by Shaarei Tzedek Sheva, Afula, Natzeret Alit, and Hadeira - fifteen in tlospital. others in government service. They have a all, and not in Me'ah She'arim-type locations. All are tight four-and-a-half hour schedule: 2-3/4 hours in­ thriving, but the year is over and there is no allocation dividual study in preparation for 1-1/2 hour lecture in increase corning from our regular sources to fund them. Gen1ora. followed by a fifteen minute mussar session. Try to engage a kale! member in a conversation on The Graduates trivial news item, and he'll tell you, "Sorry, but I'm not familiar with the topic. I didn't have a chance to read the ONE CAN RECOGNIZE wherever a class has been opened newspaper." -They are all ReSHeT alumni. up by the ReSHeT. When Reb Shlomo Buxbaum had ReSHeT also has an alumni of institutions. Rabbi started his class in Mevasseret Zion (in the outskirts of Yisroel Pollack, giving classes in Bnei Brak. found that Jerusalem), the religious atmosphere of the community older girls also needed classes. and he started a modest was very depressing. Within three years, a Chincuh Atz­ program that burgeoned into AV! (lrgun Bnot Yisroel). mai school of over three hundred children was thriving And Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman of Migdal there. l-laEmek modified his program to accommodate youths. Yehuda Z. was a wide-eyed young n1an 1vho kept specifically, in his Migdal Or: and Rabbi Eliezer Koenig interrupting the class I l'isited in Baka. the Greek of in Jerusalem launched his RaMaT Quarter in South Jerusalem. Then, a_fter Maariv. he (Reshet Moadonim Torani'im) of Torah clubs as a spin walked me to my bus, full of questions - some on off from his ReSHeT experiences. basics, others on far-out circumstances. He was the People marvel at our success. always assuming that oldest of eight children, recently orphaned of their the ignorant masses are hostile to Torah study. As the ,father. There were many why's he wanted answered. Kotzker Rebbe said, "'Put these words. on your A year and a half later, I met him during a visit to heart' -even if the words do not gain easy entry into a a class in Central Jerusalem. "Did you move?" I person, put them on a Jewish heart. When the heart asked him. eventually opens, the words will slip in." D "No, but the class in Baka only studies Gemora twice a week. That is much too little. So I come here every night instead." I later discovered that Yehuda stays for the full Thursday night mishmar until midnight, even though MOVINC? the last #6 bus to Baka leaves at 11:30 p.m. He Be sure to notify us in refuses to leave the session early, and walks hon1e odvance so that your copies after midnight through winter rain, chill. and oc­ will continue to reach yau. casional snow flurry.

The Jewish Observer I October, 1974 Shabtai Slae The Jews-A People of Shevatim

While the ancient tribal units of the Jewish People may appear to be divisive in nature, they are actually a unifying feature, with a very rele­ vant application to contemporary needs.

WE LIVE IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD. As Jews in respectable. particular this is easy to see. In the aftermath of the sym­ It is only natural that in response to this new hostile pathy and empathy expressed for Jews by the Gentile enviroment, the Jew is tempted to withdraw to within world in the post-World War ll period, it comes as the Jewish community in order to find sympathy, un­ something of a shock to observe a steadily growing derstanding and enouragement. This may require a re­ trend of indifference and callousness on the part of that thinking of the Jew's appraisal of his fellow Jews. same community to the plight of the Jews. The competitions and antagonisms that exist and The post Six-Day War period has brought a return in have existed between Jewish subgroups are well known. outlook and mood to the late thirties and early forties of One can well question whether nowadays these rivalries this century. Jewish athletes can be mass;icred in can be afforded. In the light of a renewed relevance it is Munich solely because they are Jews. Jewish civilians in considered instructive and meaningful to analyze Israel can be murdered and maimed for life individually 's attitude to the existence of a multiplicity of or en masse. Arab leaders can publicly call for a total subgroups, each being different and distinct in outlook, program of the annihilation of the Jews living in Israel. customs and values. Jewish travelers around the world can be the objects of The "Shever" sinister threats, sometimes carried out. Jewish sport teams can be excluded from official international events. RABBI SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH offered a most The Mogen David Edom can be refused official recogni­ revealing insight into this question with his discussion of tion by the International Red Cross. All these overt acts the eternal application of the original structure of the of anti-Semitism can go on and the enlightened Western Jewish People'. democracies, the churches, the Pope, and other moral At the outset of their nationhood. Jews were organiz­ forces find no compulsion to insist on ending the ed into fundamental units of shevatim; each shevet was murderous anti-Jewish campaign. composed of the descendants of one of the sons of Whether this lack of concern for the Jew's lot can be Jacob. The question arises as to why Hakadosh Baruch related to a greater moral indifference, to such tragedies Hu formed the Jewish People as an association of as the Biafran civil war and the Irish religious terrorism, shevatim, with each Jew identifying with a particular is a moot q.uestion. In the meantime, we Jews must shevet, rather than as a uniform folk. Throughout relearn to Jive in a world of overt anti-Semitism where to history, this division into shevatim was a cause of harm Jews solely because they are Jews is once again jealousy, rivalry, even civil wars. It would seem that much of this self-destruction could have been averted

DR SLAE is a Musmach of Beth Medrash LaTorah of Skokie, Illinois. had the Jewish social organization been without the sub­ He currently resides in Bnei Brak and is a me1nber of rhe deparlfnent of level between the individual and the nation as a whole. Natural Sciences in Jernsalem College. What is gained by the institution of shevet?

6 The Jewish Observer/ October 1974 Diversity in the Material World The Body and its Parts TO FULLY APPRECIATE the significance of the shevet, one THIS CONCEPT CAN BE FURTHER CLARIFIED by must first examine the characteristics of this system. comparing the function of the entire Jewish people to a Each shevet has its own nassi (leader), its own banner, its body and its various parts. For the body to function own permanent position in the encampment and travel­ properly it must possess the full use of each of these ing of the community in the desert, and its own unique parts. True, certain organs are more important than region in the . The properties of these others. If the heart fails, the body cannot survive; if the shevet subcommunities are alluded to in the brachos of brain does not function. there is little meaning to sur­ Yaakov Avinu and Moshe Rabbeinu. The features of the vival. However, the malfunction of any part affects the various regions of the land were blended with the fun­ entire body. Proper functioning of the digestive system damental personalities of the inhabitants to give a uni­ is necessary to obtain the nutrients needed for life. The que way of life. The members of each respective shevet excretory system must remove wastes before they poison excelled as soldiers, teachers, s~holars, farmers or the body. The feet are necessary for mobility, and the merchants - in keeping with its identifying hands for doing work. No one could lead a fully normal characteristics. Agriculture, industry, commerce and life without each of these parts. Indeed, all are needed. culture varied from shevet to shevet, but the needs of the Ten eyes could never compensate for hands that do not entire nation were fulfilled by the collective efforts of all function properly. the shevatim. Should any one of the shevatim be hindered So it is with Israel. She needs her Torah scholars, in making its characteristic contribution, the entire businessmen, executive directors, doctors. teachers, Jewish society was injured. warriors, shochtim, , tzitzit twiners, esrog growers, Optimum function of the entire community depended matza bakers. 1nohelim. and fund r::iisers. No one can on the endeavors of each of the shevatim. It is quite ob­ take another's place. Each one is to be appreciated and vious that as each person pursues his own occupation - treasured. be he lawyer, farmer, scientist, electrician or doctor - he is contributing to meet the needs of the entire com­ The Supremacy a/ Torah Needs munity. THIS IS NOT TO SAY that there is no hierarchy of valued ones in Judaism. Just as in a body there is a priority in Diversity in the Spiritual World function of the parts, so in Israel is there a gradation of THE SHEY ET CONCEPT is not limited to material spheres. importance. Certain workers are indispensable for life. Each of the shevatim had its own nusach in tefilla. its Others are needed for convenience. All are needed, but own special gate through which its prayers were ushered some with more urgency than others. in to the Almighty'. Thus. even in the spiritual domain A key to the relative merits of these roles can be found we find a plethora of "proper'' approaches, for there in many examples in the Midrashic and Talmudic sin1rly is no one unique way to Hashem. There are many literature. Perhaps a reference to a halachic work would correct ways-the path taken by each person depending be most appropriate to our discussion. upon his particular background, personality. Shevet Levi did not receive a portion of the Land of talents and strengths. Every individual, whether he ex­ Israel, the Rambam' explains, because its role in Avodas cels in Torah, avoda or gemillus chassadim, - study, Hashem (divine service) was distinguished from that of worship, or charitable acts - is helping to sustain the the other shevatim. Levi was responsible for the needed world. We must accept the legitimacy of a multiplicity of services in the Beis Hamikdash and the teaching of the approaches to life, stressing the need of the community righteous ways of Hashem.to the rest of the Jewish Peo­ for the efforts of every individual. This is the lesson of ple. Since the Levites were not to be involved in fulfilling the shevet. the natural needs of the Jewish nations, their support A deeper insight into this principle can be gained from was not to be in a natural way -G-d, Himself, would be the comment of Rabbi .' who took directly responsible for their sustenance. note of the fact that the division of the shevatim into dis­ The Rambam uses the symbolic meaning of shevatim tinct regions in the encampment and travels of the Bnei to indicate that Levi was, in fact, a model for all Jews to Yisroel in the desert occurred only after the Torah was emulate. The ideal exemplified by Shevet Levi, according given at Sinai, and the Mishkan-the santuary where the to the Rambam, was not just meant for the members of Tablets were housed - was erected at the geographic that tribe. Any person with sufficient wisdom and in­ heart of the fledgling nation. This dramatized that all spiration to separate himself from the mundane ways of the various pursuits of the shevatim were meaningful the world to dedicate himself wholly to Avodas Hashem only if firmly anchored to a Torah basis. Thus, diversity will be sanctified to the highest degree of holiness, and in the material and spiritual worlds is with meaning and Hashem Yisborach will be his cheilek and nachala - his purpose only when it is within the framework ofTorah­ portion and inheritance - for eternity. Similar to the true Judaism, and only when the Torah occupies the Leviim, his material needs will be provided for by center of values and aspirations. Hashem. without recourse to any "natural" medium,

The Jewish Observer / October, 1974 7 Similarly, we find the opinion of Rabbi Nehurai', who and Chassidim can similarly both be included within the chose undiluted Torah scholarship for his son despite limits of Judaism, as can the ideologies of Rabbi the material hardships and tribulations. This is the S.R.Hirsch and the Netziv, ;i:i,:i? Cl1,:IT. Jewish ideal, and those yechidei segula - the treasured Today as never before we must look at our fellow few - who are capable of achieving it are our models. Jews with tolerance, respect and even admiration for the Such an analysis is provided in the ", by the contributions that they are making to the overall wellbe­ dispute between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Shimon bar ing of the community. Although we justifiably take Yochai concerning whether a Jew should be occupied pride in our own way of life, we do not have the right to with Derech Eretz (worldly pursuits) as well as Torah nullify that of our neighbors. If mistakes are made, an scholarship. or completely devote himself to Torah approach of love and understanding can often be the study. Abaya observes that only the select few succeeded most effective way of correcting them. In an age of with the approach of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, while growing hatred of Jews we cannot afford the "luxury" the majority succeeded with the combined approach of of a Chassid who detests the Litvak. a religious doctor Derech Eretz and Torah. who despises a kolelnik. or the reverse. In the last resort Thus, at the center of Israel are the Torah scholars. we are left only with each other and the Almighty. They are her heart, for without the perpetuation of the through Whose Infinite Mercy the world is continuously Torah way of life there can be no continuation of Israel. sustained. May He speedily remove from us the curse of Only if Israel has the services of all of her children can sinas chinom, groundless hatred, and bless Israel with she lead a normal existence, but the Torah-oriented the Shalom she needs so desperately. needs are paramount. Jewish Ways of Life I Rabbi S.K. Hin;ch's Com1nentary on the Penrateuch. Numbers, THE ABOVE ANALYSIS of the basic character of Jewish Chap. I. verse 2, and other places. nationhood is essentially a flexible one. In fact we can 2 This concept is attributed to the Ari z"J in Ma'avar Yabbok. by now recognize that there is not necessarily a Jewish R'Aharon ben Reb Brachia z"I: and in Pri Eitz Chaim by R'Chaim response to the problems of the times, but rather there Vital z"I. See Otzar Hatefillos: "Ha'ara Le Shemone E~rei." are Jewish responses. The outlooks and ways of life of 3 Rabbi Y. Kamenetsky's comment was made at a public sheur. graciously provided by the Editor. the German and Spanish Jewish communities during the 4 Rambam, Mishne Torah. Hilchos Shn1ittah V'Yovef: XIII. 13. Middle Ages were each an appropriate Jewish solution 5 , 82 a, b. to the particular problems posed by the social climate in 6 Brachos, 3Sb. which the Jews lived. The programs of the Misnagdim 7 Rabbi Chaim Volozhen. Nefesh HaChaim, Sha'ar /, Perek R.

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8 The Jewi.sh Observer / October 1974 The Chafetz Chaim on MOSHIACH CONSCIOUSNESS

-some reflections by Elkanah Schwartz

RA VA SAID: When a man is ushered inforjudgment (in the next world) they say to him: "Did you deal with integrity? Did you appoint times/or Torah study? Did you seek to have children? Did you anticipate the Salvation? Did you discourse with wisdom? Did you learn to un­ derstand one thing from another?" (Shabbos 31a)

Every passage in the Talmud has eternal rneaning: and .religious lij'e has .fallen - even children are being torn application. There are times, however. \Vhen certain aH 1ay .frotn the Torah." stateinents n1ight bear greater pertinence, deserving According to the Chafetz Chaim, the root-cause is the greater attention. -But who is to judge? weakening of faith. As he so puts it: "These davs the The Chafetz Chaim, Harav Yisroel Meir HaKohein forte <~l evil has n1any emissaries to lVeaken the .foun­ of Radin, was one to judge. dations offaith among Jews." In the face of all this, "peo­ The Chafetz Chaim wrote a three-chapter essay on ple lose hope fi>r Redemption. .Even the sincerely G-d­ this thernc, entitled with Rava's \vords "Tz;pfsa .learing lose heart H:hen they see the vast extent <~{the dr~"jf Le Yeshua - Did You Anticipate the Salvation'?", design­ J'ron1 Torah tnoorings . . .and they wonder, ·What right do ed to raise our consciousness of the imminence of we have to expect G-d's compassion ii:hen the people of our Moshiach's arrival and to spur us to prepare for hin1. time have so abandoned His Torah?' As a result, they The subject was deemed relevant by the Chofet7 Chaim shnply give up on trying to reach sorne people who really for his time - ho\v much moreso for ours! would respond to their efforts." The Chafetz Chaim's reaction? "Therefore I find it a The Very Core of Our Troubles per.wnal obligation to set the truth before everybody: 1-l IS OPENING STATEMENT goes to the very core of all our that-quite to the contrary-in our times, 1nore than ever. troubles: "In n1an.v places. the /eve/ o.l religious l~/'e has it is logical to anticipate Salvation." /'alien so - even children are being torn a1·vay Jfon1 rhe The Conflicting Descriptions 'Forah. It was no! so in prevfr)US years." So1ne organizations may respond by making Surveys HIS CONCLUSIONS are not based on wishful thinking, or on Jevvish alienation. Others may launch Task Forces. mystical speculation. Like all great leaders of Israel, he And still others n1ight inaugurate one-to-one reach-out studied the texts: rrogran1s. But the hard and discomforting fact remains: Our sacred literature offers two descriptions of the this is the situation and it gnaws at our insides: ". social circumstances prevailing during the era known as "the end of the days," and the two descriptions seem to fIK 4 .vAlf scuWAHT7 is head t~( rhe Puhlic Re/ation1· Departmen1 t~( rhe conflict. Union of' Orthodox Jewish Congregalions of A1nerica. lie is a frequent contrihutor to the.1·e page.1·: 1110st recently, "Con1e. Walk In Aly Garden" The first, in Chumash paints a glowing picture: (June, '13!. " .And you will return unto the L-rd and obey

The Jcwi.1·h Obsen'er / October. 1974 9 H;.\· \'Oice. .you and your ch;/dren, »-'ith all _rour the two sides of the same coin. heart and u'ith all your soul. .then the L-rd \Viii .Religious life hasfallen so . . . children are being torn return fiv'ith/ your captives and have compassion away from Torah in their youth. It was not so in previous upon you and 'rvill gather you f'rom all the nations. years. A most depressing state of affairs, it would seem .and hring vou into the land which your fathers - but not to the Chafetz Chaim: "At the end of days, possessed. and you shall possess it. .and you shall just before the Redemption, there will be two types of peo­ return and obey the voice of the l-rd, and do all His ple, and both will bring the Redemption closer." conunandments. .and the L-rd ivil/ give you plen­ If indeed there are two such extreme types of people, ty then it is undeniably, ready or not, the era of Redemp­ (Deva rim 30: 1-9). tion.' The second source - the concluding Mishna in Sarah Reconciling the Ideal With the Concrete ·- portrays a different scene: "In the footsteps of the Messiah (in the era AS THE CHOFETZ CHAIM'S gad/us is demonstrated preceding his coming I impudence will abound, infla­ through his harmonizing the factual with the tion will he rampant, the government will turn to hypothetical - by reconciling texts-so is it evident by heresr and there will be none to offer them reproo{ his ability to unite our actions with the loftiest of ideals, the meeting place of scholars will he used for im­ making us realize that passages written so long ago, moral purposes . . . the wisdom of the learned will be speak to us, about us . .. presenting us with a script for us denegrated, piety will be despised, and truth will be to play out. ahsent; youth will humiliate the old, and the aged The Chafetz Chaim continues: "let us not lose heart it·ill rise he.fore the young; sons iv·il/ abuse their hecause o.f detractors . . . and others '>vho deviate from the fathers, daughters will talk hack to their mothers, 'Forah's \t'ays, .for this itself is one of the 01nens o.f the .farn;/y 1ne1nbers it1ill despise one another, and the Rede1nption.'" l)ntil recently, he continues, generations o.f leadership of the generation will he do1<-like." Jeivs sustained the1nse/ves through a strong adherence to From the Scripture it appears that the Redemption our 1nasora - our heritage - ivherehy parents taught and will result from a return to G-d. Yet, the Mishna children listened - and their common hand of faith describes a totally .contrasting scene. To the Chafetz carried them through the tribulations of history. There Chaim, there is no conflict. The very obviousness of the 111as no great pressure then for bringing the Redemption contradiction leads to the solution. closer, because the status o.f religion tt'as secure. Noiv. hott1ever. when we witness a weakening of faith, Both Are True denial of our masora, and the Mishna's description of "SHNEIHEM EMES - both are true," he says: For at the "impudence will abound" has been fully realized. there is end of the era just prior to Redemption, there will be nothing to he gained from extending the Golus. Thus, two types of people, both helping to bring the Redemp­ says the Chafetz Chaim: "Yemaheir Hakadosh-Baruch­ tion closer." Hu ha'Geulah - the Almighty will hurry the Redemption. The first group is composed of the shlomei emunei .. for the Almighty will not forsake His children." Yisroel-Jews of complete faith ...who. with their Regarding the passage: "For G-d will judge His peo­ children, will gather strength to serve Him with all their ple, and reconsider [the harsh decrees] on behalf of His heart and soul. The second group is composed of the servants, when He sees that their enemies' power is 111isport:zin1-rebels who are bent on destroying their overbearing" (Devarim 32:36), he explains "1heir religion. ene1nies' poiver is overbearing and Israel's ability to en­ Th e 1n es i r as n e.fes h - t h e o v e r w h e I m i n g dure 1

10 The Jewish Obsen•er / October 1974 Israel the role of each person - for in addition to the It Will All Come to Pass kohein, every individual who brings a korban has a role CHAPTER TWO: The Jew is obligated to believe in the to play in the procedures. Each person should schedule coming of Moshiach. and to anxiously anticipate his periods of time to study these laws, such a schedule coming, as the Rambam tells us (Mishna Torah, Hilchos demonstrating that when hope is expressed "soon to Melochiml 11:1). • behold Your majestic glory," that it is a serious hope. Take to heart: whatever was predicted in the Torah One should not depend upon learning the laws from came to pass, as Joshua told Israel (23: 14) "Not one Moshiach or Eliyahu HaNavi, he warns.for it wi!l not be thing of all the good things the L-rd spoke concerning you their responsibility to teach us. Their responsibility is to has failed to occur: assurances for the future will also resolve the doubts in our Torah literature (the "Taiku" surely co1ne to pass." Similar assurances are given by prob/e1ns ). But what is clearly expounded in our Torah Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, among others. literature remains our responsibility. The concluding The delay of the Redemption? This, too, was an- words of the Prophet Malachi bears this out: "Remember ticipated-by Hoshea: "For many years the Children of you the law of Moses my servant," and only after that Israel will abide without king. .or leader, without "Behold, l will send you Elijah the Prophet" (3:22, 23). sacrifice . . . or altar. Then, Israel will return. seeking G-d, Those who are incapable ofstudying these laws, he says, and David their King . . . that His goodness be restored to shouldjoin in supporting special study groups. and finance them in the end of days" (3:4, 5).-And Habakuk: kolelim. He refers to such a full-time study group con- "Though [the Redemption} tarry, wait for it, because it sisting of ten scholars, which he established in his own wi// surely come, it will not tarry" (2:3). Explains the town, who devoted half their study schedule to Chafetz Chaim: "One must wait with feelings of know- Kodoshim. ing it will come, and that onc1: the time has arrived, •jt But we crave Moshiach's arrival, the glory of the Bets will not tarry' but will be swiftly consummated." Hamikdash now 1 We are too impatient to wait! In the meantime, studying the pertinent laws is equivalent to Acting From Hope bringing he sacrifices onto the altar. As such, study of CHAPTER THREE: A practical question arises. Three these laws achieves a twofold purpose: it prepares us for times each day we recite, in the second part of" 0/einu," the imminent moment, and until that moment arrives, it "We therefore hope ...soon to behold Your majestic serves as an acceptable subtitute. glory." If we really mean what we say, says the Chafetz Thus writes the Chafetz Chaim concerning actual an- Chaim. each one of us should prepare himself. studying all ticipation of the Salvation. aspects of the Avodah - all the laws relating to sacrifice "Tzipisa LeYeshua" - DID YOU ANTICIPATE THE and the Beis Hamikdash, because at that hoped-for time. SALVATION'' After reviewing the Chafetz Chaim's brief all of these laws will be applicable." message-experiencing the belief in the coming of The Chafetz Chaim follows with an appeal to study Moshiach is removed from the abstract and brought into Kodoshim - those sections of our Torah literature that the realm of here-and-now - And the words of the deal with the Holy Santuary and its sacrifices (kor- twelfth "Ani Ma'min" assume compelling immediacy: banos ). He calls upon the kohanim. who will be charged I believe with a perfect faith in the coining of with administering these obligations; and he calls upon Moshiach: and although he may tarry, with all this I talmidei chachomim, who are responsible to teach all of will wait for him each day, that he will come. [J ~------...... ~ Chevra Kadisha D' chasidim Har Hamnuchot • Eretz Hachaim In Celebration of our Founded 1856 The newly remodeled ol'ld 13th ANNIVERSARY BURIAL IN JERUSALEM ,.furbtlhed APfRION oHeri AND ALL CEMETERIES IN lSRAEL lua:urioui Glott Ko~her Facilities the with iuth fie<;iol'lt new tovche. ..,,, PRUZANSKY BROTHERS SEN.JtA.-TE announce a P"licy of maal1n sakoOesh SMOIGASIORD ROOMS OPEN otUPAH lfOO'-' society Kith Bridal Silovh•fte SPECIAL CATERIN& RATES Dom• Canopy throughout the year. .. 26CANAL ST. Ju•f compfehtcl ... with particularly moder•tl pack• dHls. NEW YORK CITY 10002 the aH- ~pi,. t..m D11y & Nite Phone In C•nada: 233-7878 Montreal Tel,: 27l·3211

The Jewish Observer / October 1974 II The End of the Golus? or The Beginning of Geulah?

An examination of the messianic implications of the Jewish State

The more the Jew suffers in Golus, the greater becomes his yearning for Moshiach's arrival, to bring sanity and order 10 1he world through knowledge of G-d; and the more sensilive he becomes to every indicalion that Moshiach might, indeed, be on his way. While Moshiach-thirst stems from indisputedly lofty ideals, the excitement it generates can be applied in error to phenomena not worthy of the awe and reverence that should only be accorded the true Geulah, and this misapplied excitement can even result in grave breaches offaith and halacha. Thus, any sign of the advenl ofGeulah will also cal/forth dissenl .... Witness the events of 1he past quarter of a cenlury. While still struggling to come to grips with 1he trauma of , the Jew found the crealion of the State of Israel, the momen­ tous ingathering of the Exiles, and the blossoming of the Land overwhelming, uplifting experiences. For sure, many though1, we had alreadv undergone the "birth pangs" that precede the advent of Moshiach. The tzemicha - the "sprouting" of his coming is surely with us now. Others question this. They find too many features in the emergence of the State and life in Israel as comradictory lo any possibilities of Geulah. Generally, wise men have refrained from entering into public debate on the topic. As Rabbi '?"YI was known to have remarked, "Nomenclature should not concern us. The emergence of the State offers us new challenges 10 act crealively for Torah Judaism. We must respond 10 1hese challenges, and not engage in affixing labels 10 events." Ignoring the call of those who have been hailing the imminence of Geulah has perhaps been prudent, but it has not always been possible. "Geulah" has an undeniable attraction, but ii is fraught with pitfalls, which should be pointed out. In addition, those who have equated the State with redemption have continuously been faulting others for not

12 The Jewish Observer / October, 1974 joining them in doing so. At this time it would be imprudent to remain silent on the topic. MOSHE SCHONFELD, a widely respected writer on contemporary problems and themes, recently wrote an analysis of the establishment of the State of Israel as Ischalta deGeulah - "The beginnings of the redemption." The following article is based on Mr. Schonfeld's analysis.

totally secular perspectives, and unwittingly become in­ The Challenge of Comprehending Correctly fected with non-Judaic concepts .... Not by chance did Rambam begin the Yad HaChazaka. his compendium THIS IS THE GENERATION of Ikvesa deMoshicha (the era on halacha, with "Madda," whose first sections are immediately preceding Moshiach's arrival) - an era of Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah and Hilchos Da'os, dealing horrors that was foreseen and described by the great with conceptual and intellectual imperatives. men of our People. All predictions on the subject by the * Rabbi Yitzchak Z'ev Soloveitchik (the late Brisker Prophets and the sages of subsequent generations have Rav '='"lrT) once confided to his intimates that, more than co1ne to pass. And we are living witnesses to their truth. during any other tefillos of the Yomim Noraim, he wept We are the remnants of the Auschwitz Generation, and uncontrollably when saying the line "L'hogeh da'os we now feel entitled to a respite, if not a full bounty of badin - He probes, in judgment, our attitudes." ft is Messianic bliss. possible to repent sins of co1nmission, hut erroneous at­ This may not necessarily be out lot. In fact, many of titudes are another 1natter: Hotv can tve be rnade lo our teachers foretold further trials of yet a different recognize then1 so that }1/e can elilninate them? If that nature, beyond the physical and emotional tortures we giant of intellectual clarity and Torah-thought trembled have already endured: so. in fear of false values. what hope have we" • In the Hoshanos on Succos we sav "Hoshana shalosh sha'os - Save us [ from J the Three Hours." Rabbi Yisroel, Rebbe of Rizhin, explained: "Jn the future.false A Messiah Who Came - And Failed prophets will set up an altar of idolatry, just as the BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO EVALUATE our current status, Prophets of Baal did in challenge to Elijah on Mount it can be helpful to examine some grapplings with Carmel. Then, the Heavenly fire had descended on Elijah's Messianic promise in the past. To be sure, our current altar as a public demonstration that his belief in G-d was era seems to be without parallel in Jewish history. But the authentic faith. During the pre-Messianic era ~l there are some events from the past that can shed light Jkvesa deMoshicha, however, the fire from Heaven will on our current problems, notably the excitement that bypass G-d's altar and will burn on theirs for thre~ con­ surrounded the "coming" of a now-recognized false secutive hours. Worse yet, we will have no prophet to messiah three hundred years ago. Indeed, there are some clarify matters for us. How many righteous men will striking parallels between the irrationality surrounding succeed in maintaining their emunah at that tin1e?" the redemption fever that swept Jewry then and the ex­ * The Yid HaKadosh of Parshis'cha added, "During citement that grips people today. that time, G-d will stretch a cable offaith from one end of In 1648, Bogdan Chmielnitzki and his murderous the world to the other and will shake it violently. A II with hordes decimated European Jewry: I /3 of world Jewry weak grips will fall, one by one. Only those who hang on to was wiped out in his plunderous raids. The task of their faith with the last vestiges of their strength will sur- rebuilding on the ashes of destruction was a depressing vive. one, People yearned for an inspiration from above, and * The harrowing picture of a time of confusion without then "he" came - a scant dozen years later, in the per­ guidance is not complete without a quotation from the son of Shabbtai Zvi. Gaon of Vilna: "'He placed the maidservants and their Today we are all too familiar with Shabbtai Zvi's ul­ children first' - this refers to the airev rav (the mixed timate debasement and conversion to Islam. But during multitudes) who will then (before Moshiach's arrival) be the years of his ascendancy, not only were ordinary peo­ in the leadership of our People." ple captivated by his promise, even rabbis and com­ Indeed, challenges to the loyalty of heart and mind munal leaders accepted him as Moshiach. The entire can be most trying of all. We can discipline ourselves go/a was aflame with excitement over him, with the and teach our children to be extremely scrupulous in isolated exception of certain men of character who performance of mitzvos, but unawares, we can assume retained their sobriety and mourned the tragedy in silence. - Notably. the rabbis of Jerusalem: and a Rab­ MOSHE SCHONFELD, an engineer by profession, resides in Bnei bi Yaakov Sasportas of Amsterdam, who had recorded Brak. His analysis, upon which the above article is based, first appeared in Hebrew in Digleinu, the monthly journal of Zeirei his struggles in a book: Tzitzas Novail Tzvi. He had Agudath Israel of lsraeL devoted his efforts to writing letters of warning, and in

The Jewish Observer/ October 1974 13 return, received letters from rabbonim rebuking him for recently declared that many who observe mitzvos endangering the atmosphere of teshuva that had !im'hadrin, even yeshiva heads, rabbis and Chassidic enveloped Jewry. Even if, as he said, it were true that the , are apikorsim in reality, because they fail to "Moshiach" was a false one, they felt it was improper to recognize the present "beginning of geulah." distract the people from their renewed commitment to Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas recorded contemplating ris­ Torah, and that it was best to leave them ignorant of ing in honor of the "Mi Sheheirach" for Shabbtai Zvi their error. for fear that otherwise he might be killed outright - on -Remarkably enough, hundreds of years later. the Yorn Kippur. The Rabbi of Budapest had ordered a Jew Mizrachi rabbis are claiming that even if is 1nis­ executed for just that - on the charge of rebellion !eading loyal Jews. it is purifying others - the assorted against the royal house of King David. (Nowadays, dis­ assilnilationists - and this more than evens out the senters can consider themselves infinitely more for­ balance sheet. tunate. A chazan in Tel Aviv who refused to say the Jewish history is replete with false messiahs who were bracha on Halle/ on the 5th of lyar, Israel's either irrational or adventurers. Shabbtai Zvi was Independence Day, was merely fired.) neither. Indeed, he had developed a theological Rabbi Yaakov Sasporta's Tzitzas Novail Tzvi record­ anschauung of his own. Using the credo, "The abolition ed that the beis din of Izmir authorized Shabbtai Zvi's of Torah is its fulfillment." he introduced a thinlv­ Geulah Celebrations on 23 Tammuz and on 9 Av, and disguised assault on ha!acha: one must cast off the yoke determined the form of celebration - as described in a of 1nitzvos as a precondition for attaining complete letter by Shmuel Primo: geulah. since the perfect world would need no restraints. -A day of feasting, festivity, and exceptional joy -The roots of Shabbtaism sprouted .forth poisonous with special foods and delightful beverages, a mul­ lt'eeds in later generations. Professor Scholem c~f the titude of candles, and much singing and pleasant Hehre\v University, Shabbtaism's foremost researcher and melodies. The order of tefilla is as on a Yom Tov: one o..f its admirers, points out in his essay "'Mitzva And You gave us ... Moadim Lesimcha (festivals for Haba'a Ba'aveira" that Shabbtai Zvi paved the way for rejoicing) ... es Yorn Hanechama Hazeh (this Day of the Haskalah Movement and Zionism. These movements C onso/ation ). Five men are to be called to the Sefer had also sought to redeem the Jews hy freeing them from Torah .... At night say the Kiddush of Yam Tov with the compulsions of Mount Sinai. All demands to adjust Shehecheyanu. halacha to the times, the setting aside o_fmitzvos because -Again one is struck by similaritie:S and parallels . ... of the requirements of a state - al! are outgrowths of the A more instructive lesson one might, have derived preachings of Nosson of Aza, Shabbtai Zvi's Prophet. So from the Shabbtai Zvi episode focuses on the conduct of finds Professor Scho!em. three rabbis of Izmir: Rabbis Y osef Jskapa, Aharon As a natural consequence of its rebel.lion against Lapapa, and Algazi - who refused to give their ap­ ha!acha, Shabbtaism created new holidays and prayers proval to the ersatz Yomim Tovim and tefillos. They of geu!ah. The Tenth of Teves, a day of fasting and were dismissed from their positions and were replaced mourning, became a festival on which Halle! was recited by new appointees who conformed with the spirit of the with a bracha. Nasson of Aza wrote Tikunei Tefilla, times. These collaborators supported Shabbtai Zvi firm­ which bear disturbing similarities to the contemporary ly - until he converted. Tikun L' Yom HaA tzmaut. An example: the Shabbtaian - Here parallels end, and contrasts abound. In the qfter­ "raishit tzimichat malchuto" and the modern "raishit math of the Yorn Kippur War, thinking men in the secular tzimichat geu!ateinu. "*Also, a special Mi Shebeirach for camp were led to reflect that they might have erred in plac­ the "Messianic King" was recited at every public Torah ing so much trust in the establishment of a state. Only the reading .... Fierce fights broke out between Shabbtai's National Religious Party remained the last undoubting followers and the minority that refused to believe in adherents to the Messianic import of the State. him. The Sources of Statism -Today, nien1hers of the Religious Kibbuiz Moven1ent. and others of like mind. delete phrases that r~fer to the THE DISCUSSION THUS FAR has meant to demonstrate ruinous condition of the Holy Land from Slichos and that a false messiah can win the loyalties of well­ Ki nos prayers - such as the descrlption "the ruined, abas­ meaning people of otherwise solid religious convictions. ed city" .from "Nachein1"-as contradicting reality. They were ensnared in a "da'os" (attitude) trap. But this Nasson of Aza wrote: "Whoever does not believe in does not in any way prove that the adulation directed Shabbtai Zvi has no share with Jewry in this world nor toward the Jewish State is misplaced. To see this, one in the world-to-come. Even if his conduct is lifnin1 mi­ must first realize that the State of Israel is un­ shuras hadin (more stringent than reguired by law). he questionably the full flowering of the secular Zionist will not witness the consolation of Zion." dream. -The of Merkaz Harav was probably un­ The primary aim of Zionism was not to a1-vare of this historic condemnation. Yet he, in turn, per se. Even when the Zionist Congress was willing to *"the beginnings of the emergence of his kingdom" and "the begin­ consider trading Zion for Uganda, it did not expect to nings of the emergence of our redemption." give up its basic Zionist name or ideology. The ultimate

14 The Jewish Observer/ October, 1974 Even Heine, the apostate poet, appreciated Torah as "the portable homeland of the Jewish People," which defied exile and foreign oppression. Yet secularists were willing to barter eternity for a nationalism based solely on "a geographic homeland of our own."

goal of Zionism was the normalization of the Jewish transported us through the deserts of exile, and none of People, in direct opposition to the wish-prayer of Moshe the sandstorms could blot it out. Zionism had not Rabbeinu: "And we shall be differentiated .. .from all aspired to return the mobile homeland to its original the peoples on the face of earth" (Shemos. 32: 10); to geographic location. It planned to barter one for the rebel openly against the warning, "Your plan, 'We will other. be like the nations' will not come to pass" (Ezekiel, Thanks to this portable homeland, the martyrs of the 20:32). Zionism challenged the uniqueness of the Inquisition could stand erect on the pyres of the autos­ Jewish People. its differentness from all nations. It da-fe and cry: "Oleinu /"shahei'ach - We praise the negated all rationale for Jewish suffering. It did not seek Master of all for not making us like the nations of the to hasten Moshiach"s coming, but rather acted to put it lands." The existence of "the nations" is tied to their off permanently by replacing spiritual redemption with lands. Should their territorial base slip away, they die a social-political one. out immediately. Not so the martyrs of the Inquisition. One could say that all of Jewish history, from the exile They felt their national soil securely beneath their bur­ in Egypt onward, has been a continuous battle betvveen ning feet - the soil of Jewry's mobile homeland. maintaining Jewry's uniqueness and responding to the rallying cry of"Let us be like all the nations." These two The Ultimate Gamble poles represent the eternal connict between the two in­ clinations of the Jewish People: and Dr. Yitzchak BY INVESTING ALL OF ITS NATIONAL ASSETS in the State, Breuer had defined Zionism as the incarnation of the Zionism exposed the "Eternal Jew" to the danger of ex­ national yeitzer hora. tinction - the fate that awaits all normal nations, as Indeed, Zionism can mainly be contrasted with they disappear from the stage of history. As Bialik assimilationist movements in that the latter proposed in­ phrased it in a lecture at Kibbut Ein Charod, "When dividual assimilation as a solution for the problem of the Jewry was exiled into Babylon, it took along Torah individual, while Zionism preached collective assimila­ Shehichsav (Written Torah) and most of the books of tion as a solution for the people as a whole. (Herzl per­ Nach; when it went into the Roman exile, it had the sonally frowned upon individual conversion as evading Mishna (sic) to accompany it. What will be our baggage the issue. and once expressed preference for a "respec­ if chali/a, we are exiled a third time" -tomatoes from table" mass baptism that would not impugn the Jewish Ein Charod"" nationalism of the converts-Volume I of his The Klausenberger Rebbe reported to the author the Tagehucher, page 8.) Classical secular Zionism did not gist of a conversation with former Premier Eshkol: For strive to abolish religion. It attempted to limit it to the 2,000 years the guidance ofJewry in exile was in the hands purely ceremonial, ritual function it has among modern of Torah leadership. Dedicated, expert helmsmen, they nations. "We shall confine the rabbis to the synago1rues steered the ship of Jewry through the stormy seas, in spite just as ive shall con.fine the arn1y to its barracks," wrote of attacks from all sides. Parts of the ship were severed Dr. Herzl in his Der Judenstaat. Jn this sense. the Maf­ and even destroyed, hut the bulk ofJewry remained intact, dal (Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi) has an integral place and succeeded in replacing the niissing parts. Then a in the Zionist concept of the Jewish State, much as the change took place. During the past hundred years, the conventional religious presence does in every modern leadership was wrested away by secularists. The result? state. -European Jeivry was almost totally annihilated. Orien­ We know otherwise. Torah - or "religion," if you tal Jewry and American Jewry are hein!( destroyed will - is the very core of Jewish national existence. Even spiritually. Russian Jewry has heen suffocated by Soviet the celebrated poet Heinrich Heine, who had converted oppression. And the in the Holy land is encircled to Christianity, marveled at the commanding position of by 80 million blood-enemies. . . Upon hearing this Torah in Judaism. He saw it as the "portable historical balance sheet, Eshkol actually broke into homeland" of the Jewish People. This mobile homeland tears.

The Jewish Observer / October !974 15 The Redemption Experience ban. did he regain? These two Jews have very little in common. No ONE MAY REJECT ZIONISM. and view its ascendance with political alignment. even if it is labeled "The Torah trepidation, but the State fa here. The people have Front," can bridge the gap between them. Thus did the returned. The land is responding to their efforts. The Chazon !sh declare: facts, on their own merit, should be cause for rejoicing. This sentin1ent is not open to argument. A II who To rejoice, however, one must be certain that one's view truly fear G-d know instinctively what to reject and is all-encompassing; that his perceptive tools are func­ what to accept - they know it as surely as though tioning with fidelity and accuracy. And if the Brisker endowed with the guidance of a heavenly spirit. In Rav feared to rely on his own judgment of events, we or­ our times. the.v must all share the same outlook on dinary mortals should surely not rush in to make secular Zionism, and all that it encon1passed. I per­ evaluations. We would surely be wiser to rely on the sonally do not know of any difference of opinion assesment of those greater than us. among yere"im (the G-d fearing) in these matters. The Chazon !sh described the state as "the end of the To my view, anvone \vho wishes to accept what ive golus not the beginning ofgeulah."lt is quite possible that reject should, hy reason o,f this instinctive reaction o,f the two are separated by but mo1nents in time -that one ours, be su~iect to further examination he.fore being follows directly upon the other; but qualitatively, they are accepted. (KOVEITZ lGAROS Collection of poles apart. To confuse one with the other is to be guilty of Letters of the Chazon !sh - Vol II, Letter 75) preaching .false messianism. This is the Chazon lsh's criterion for distinguishing The confusion need not be deliberate. It is simply an the loyal servant of G-d from the person who does not outgrowth of the nature of the perceiver and his concep­ subjugate himself to His will. tion of Judaism. Rabbi Aharon Kotler explained this difference with the following parable: The Score Sheet: The Credits . .. Two Jews lived at the time of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. One was a simple, earthy farmer in Gali/. THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE TO THE THEORY of ls'chalta The Romans uprooted his vineyard, burned down his degeulah are not upset by Rab Aharon Kotler's reason­ home, confiscated his.flocks, destroyed his crops, and even ing nor by the censure of the Chazon !sh. They say that took his dog into captivity. Imagine that on 5 (var 5708, our current status is only the beginning. not the full this man is given political independence. lie returns to his glory, of redemption. And as positive indicators of at land, rebuilds his house and barns. plants his .fields and least the initial blossoming of the era of redemption, vineyard again, and even his dog is returned to him. All they point proudly to many achievements in Israel - that this peasant has lost during the destruction has been notably, the religious jurisdiction over personal status restored to hiln. For hin1 the sun of redemption has risen. (marriage and divorce), and the flourishing of Torah­ The second Jew lived in Jerusalem. His eyes feasted on study institutions in our land. the glory of the Beis Hamikdash; He witnessed the Unfortunately, the case is not a strong one at all. Rab­ kohanim at their divine service, the Levi'im at tjteir song, binical jurisdiction over personal status predates the and other Jews at their ma'amados-observing, represen­ State to even pre-Mandate days, to the time of the ting all of Jewry. "He heard the kohain 's cry of Turkish rule. Moreover, it is slowly being eroded by civil "Ana Hashem!" prouncing the unspeakable Name. He Supreme Court interpretations. In addition. the imbibed Juli measures of ruach hakodesh (divine spirit) at loophole of foreign marriages (Mexico, Cyprus) and the annual simchas beis hasho'eva festival; inhaled the private marriages are a1so constantly at work diluting fragrance of the Ketores-the sacred incense. He knett' this authority. In response to demands to institute civil countless miracles from first hand experience: the western marriages, former Justice Minister Shimshom Shapiro lamp of the menorah never burned itse(f out, the lechem replied that the law cannot be altered "out of considera­ haponim (show bread) was as fresh upon removal as it had tion for Moslems and Christians." He noted in passing been when it was placed on the shulchan a week before. he that the rabbincial jurisdiction is limited and dis­ stood in the press of the crowd, and yet he could prostrate criminated against in comparison to the Moslem and the himself in complete comfort. He ate the korbon Pesach Christian courts. Former Prime Minsiter Eshkol, with with all of Kial Yisroel; he went forth to greet the his typical bluntness, is on the record as having told bikurim-bearers with pomp and joy; and he cherished the Mapam representatives, "We do not intend to introduce awesome sight of the Sanhedrin sitting in its glory, the civil marriages so as not to free the rabbis from con­ members .facing one another in semicircle in the lishkas tinuing the amend the ha/acha in keeping with the Era of hagozis that adjoined the Beis Hamikdash. The Romans the State." destroyed the sanctuary, the avoda of the kohanim ended, Pressure on the and those of similar out­ the Sanhedrin no longer functioned, the Shechina went look can be productive. There is an abundance of proof into go I us - all that remained was the Kosel hama 'aravi to be cited: - The celebrated release of the Langers - the . What meaning does 5 lyar 5708 from their status as mamzeirim - in response to have to this Jew? What, ofall that he lost during the Chur- politically-placed pressures.-The spurious conversions.

16 The Jewish Observer / October, 1974 (An apostate. Rufeisen. declared that thousands of bid missionary activities. By contrast, the State of Israel Christians who are still loyal to their faith were con­ not only condones missionary activity, but fosters it verted against their will: that eight such "converts'' were with preferential treatment. While shuts. . and recently buried in the Catholic cemetery in Haifa in ac­ n1iki'a'os are required to pay local taxes and import cord with their wishes.) .. .The Chief Rabbi recently an­ duties on construction material. these fees are refunded nounced his intention to reduce the pre-conversion to missionary institutions. No Western state dis­ period to a mere six weeks -Would it really make a criminates against Judaism in such ways. More: the difference. then, if the words "according to halacha" Ministry of Education actually published a missionary were added to the "'Who's-A-Je\v" law? The man1=eirin1 book. "Early Christianity," for the schools: the Ministry were permitted to marry "according to ha/acha ... And of Commerce and Industry gave financial aid to the spurious conversions are also taking place "according to filming of JC Superstar, a movie of a missionarv theme ha/a cha." with anti-Semitic overtones. which aroused a siorn1 of The second clain1. that Torah institutions are indignation from all segments of American Jewry. The blossoming. is - thank G-d - a fact. But one could New Testan1ent is used as a textbook in some schools .. suggest that this Torah renaissance is not a direct out­ .It is interesting to note that when Herzl told the Pope growth of the advent of the State, but rather in spite of that he intended to establish a Jewish state. the Pope it. In fact, the State provides each yeshiva bachur with responded by predicting that the Vatican would send less than I

The Jewish Ob.server/ October 1974 17 Nissan Wolpin The Seattle Legacy

I haven't visited my native city in over ttventy years - except mentally during occasional moments o.f nostalgia. But I have maintained steady contact with doings there, through travelers and students in Eastern yeshivas, and I find that much that has transpired there during my years there and since has left a strong imprint on its other sons as it has on me- much as the Warsaw experience marked all of that city's native sons, as Lodz did the Lodzers, and Tiktin the Tiktiners. The almost total geographic isolation of the Northwest community of 10,000 Jewish souls cer­ tainly made the Seattle experience a definable one - es­ pecially in view uf some of the outstanding personalities that were there during those years. For besides being the last stop on the grand transcontinental tour for n1any a and lecturer (and some settled there either in delight or exhaustion). it was also first touch-down for many who left Europe through Siberia. and decided not to travel further East. Two who stayed were Rabbi Baruch Shapiro and his Rebbitzen. The Rav was a ta Imid (disciple) of both Reh Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (who gave him smicha) and the Ragatchover. He had been touring America on behalf of Mizrachi during the first decade of the 20th Century, and stayed on in Seattle to help raise funds for the construction of the impressive Bikur Cholim Synagogue. There he met his Rebbitzen, Hinda Gershonovich, daughter of a family that had settled in Seattle to earn a livelihood by supplying Alaskan gold-miners with victuals. For over half a century, he was few people's rabbi, but everyone's Rav, while she was the Rebbitzen of Seattle. I. The Rav' s Will

RABBI SHAPIRO'S training in Dvinsk prepared him for A succession of distinguished rabbis headed the 500 the classical role of stodt-rav, but Seattle was no Euro­ families of the Bikur Cholim in a variety of styles - pean shtetel. This did not faze him, and his career was some frenetic, others phlegmatic: some scholarly. some typified by his own interpretation of the Chazal: "Royal folksy: occasionally combinations of all. The communi­ leadership can only exist with one who has a kupas ty ran the shechita, built a mikva, founded a Talmud shrotzim (a chest of creeping things) behind him" - Torah. a "yeshiva," a Hebrew Day School. Through all referring, he said, to rabbinical positions abandoned out the vicissitudes of community life, Rabbi Shapiro seem­ of principle: He helped build the Bikur Cholim and then ed to make immersion in Torah study his primary and left it, allegedly, because he refused to take the all encompasing occupation, pausing now and then to president's daughter in marriage. A dissident group set comment or goad, instruct or object as the occasion up another congregation with the improbable name demanded ....When the butchers were not faithful to "Theodore Herzl," which he led: but he left again to their schedule of washing the meats, he spoke up to lead the newly-founded congregation Machzikei Hadas chastise them ....When the Hebrew school's lay com­ for the next forty years. mittee wanted to experiment with non-traditional ap-

18 The Jewish Observer / October 1974 proaches to education, or to dismiss an "old-fashioned" The Stipulations but competent staff member, he intervened - and no one dared disagree. . . . The townspeople were IN ADDITION to a bequest of several hundreds to local overwhelmingly Mizrachi-affiliated, but when Agudath institutions, Rabbi Shapiro left sizable sums to surviving Israel came to the fore as the organizational arm of relatives, and charitable institutions, as well as: leading Gedolei Torah, he formed. an Agudah_ branch * $1 ,000 each to the following: Agudas (one could almost say a "cell") in his MachZ1ke1 Hadas. Horabonim, Agudath Israel of America, Mesivta ... His chevra shas that met regularly to study Gemora Torah Vodaath. the Lubavitcher Yeshiva, The Sat­ was a delight to novices for his clarity of exposition, and mar Yeshiva. "Hagoan R''s to seasoned lomdim for the sprinkling of depthcharging Yeshiva. and R'Aharon Kotler's Yeshiva." probes he would drop .... Rabbi Shapiro taught Gemora * $1,000 each to: Chinuch Atzmai, Botei Avos in privately to select boys of hi_gh sch_ool age: and in­ Bnei Brak. - reflecting a very individual un­ structed them to continue the1r yeshiva studies in the derstanding as to what will perpetuate Jewry. East. More fascinating, and more revealing, was point 11 in One of the first to leave on his direction was my oldest his will: brother. Rabbi Shapiro announced the time of his * Whatever remains from my estate after burial departure from the bima on his last Shabbos in _town, expenses etc.,/ leave to the local congregation .... in urging the congregants to be at the railroad station to Seattle, for the purpose that it engage as Rav a send off their delegate to the Torah center in the East. gadol (an eminent Torah authority I of Shas-and­ Several minyonim of people were in Seattle's Union Sta­ Poskim type, contingent upon the approval of three tion that next evening . ... Whenever yeshiva students gaonim: R'E/iezerSilver, R'Aharon Kotler, and*R' returned home for vacation, they were invited to address Moshe Feinstein. According to the shu/'s current in­ the congregation on Shabbos. There we were, fourteen­ come, it could not afford an adequate salary to pay a year olds and twenty-year olds, reporting to our friends qualified individual; thus up to 50% of the salary and elders on our experiences and changing could be drawn from the remaining funds of my es­ philosophies. . tate. The rav who succeeds me will find better cir­ He wrote the gittin (documents of divorce); all the cumstances than I encountered.... The impact ofhis complicated halacha problems came to his _desk;_ and he, tenure will not only be.for the betterment of the shul in turn, was in correspondence with Rabbi Chaim Ozer he serves, but other parts of the community will also Grodzenski, and with his close colleague, Rabbi Eliezer profit. They will come to understand that as vital as Silver. ... "Shapiro's shul" may not have appeared to be it is to have English-speaking rabbis, and as ef.fecflve stage-center in Seattle, but in many ways it was. as they may be, it is even more essential to have a rav who is a gadol of Shas-and-Poskim type. Not only for the enhancement o(K 'vod ha Torah_( th; prestige The Move of Torah)- which is as essential.for Y1dd1shke1t_as NEIGHBORHOODS SHIFTED in Seattle, as elsewhere, and is air to one's breath - but also for rendermg while for many years, scores of Jews would walk several authoritative halachic decisions on the many com­ miles over the famed hills of the city to their cherished plicated queries that arise here in this country with Bikur Cholim, eventually the new neighborhood of_ the even more frequency than in the old country. 60's was too far away for the long trek. The B1kur The community embarked on its search for a rav to Cholim's (there are two- the Ashekenazi_c and the satisfy his stipulations, and engaged a graduate of sizable Sephardic congregations) relocated in. another American yeshivas who shares Rabbi Shapiro's general area. Machzikei Hadas hesitated, and finally dissolved: communal aspirations and personal goals. The maior The Rebbitzen had long passed away, but Rabbi beneficiary of Rabbi Shapiro's will was to be the Shapiro, a neatly tailored figure, gray beard closely Congregation Bikur Cholim, from which he had broken cropped, walking-stick in hand, was a fam1har SJght as away in his youth, returned to in his old age, and did not he made his way to the nearest shut in the new really leave after his death. neighborhood .... Not surprisingly, some yeshiva students who had returned to Seattle had standards of >. Moses Glatt Kosher conduct and ha/achic practice that went beyond the Self-Service Meat & Poultry Center, Inc. limits set by Rabbi Shapiro in his "extremism," but he Ill =;:, 4602 - 18th Ave. cor. 46th St. seemed to accept this with an unspoken approval. 0 When he passed away, Seattlites felt that the Age of .c Brooklyn, N.Y. - Tel. 633-0493 Rabbi Shapiro, ·for a while in twilight, had com_e to an - Open Sundays Free Delivery end. But it had not. Rabbi Shapiro left a will, wntten in i Ill Special Att. to Freezer Orders in 1962, that reminded his lands/eit _that he was > not forgetting them, and that they would not easily Ill Under Strict Rabbinical Supervision of forget him and what he had stood for. 0 Rabbi Chaim Koenig, of Yoka

The Jewish Observer/ October, 1974 19 II. The Rebbitzen of Seattle

PEOPLE DESCRIBED HER as a typical Rebbitzen - neatly our house .for carpets. I chased the1n out. -Who combed sheitel, modestly styled clothes. full of good needs it? Another tilne he fried to deliver a truck 'vvishes and Baruch llashen1s. I remember her more as a loaded H1ith a brand new dining room set. Look, typical mother. kinderlach, al this one. Is anything wrong '>Vith it?" They had no children of their own. According to the Jerry smiled, "It's not exactly Better Homes and story that was commonly accepted in town, Rabbi Gardens." Shapiro had asked his wife after several childless years "Feh!" she said, wrinkling her nose. of marriage if she v..'ould want a release from their "'Va'avadtem eitz vo'oven - and you will worship marriage. "No." was the purported reply. "I don·t need irood and stone!' There's nothing '.V'rong tt1Uh this children, you will be my child.'' She devoted herself to set: one shouldn't make idols out of furniture'" fully freeing him from any and all outside distractions On another occasion she told holv .vet anofher per­ and disturbances, giving him opportunity for maxin1u1n son had offered him a large sum for no reason other involvement in Torah. She arranged their house with his than admiration. "Gelt iz begimatriya blotte I the study in a front room walled in by windows on three numerical value o.f 'n1oney' is equal to 'slime') Ver sides. "If anyone wants to come in to v...·aste his tin1e." darf es" I Who needs it')" she explained, "they should first realize how busy he is We believed her - for her scornful smile, for her and then maybe not disturb him." ... After her passing. kindly eyes. andfor her reputation. She had told the the Rabbi was often st.::cn pushing a shopping: cart in the Rav during their courtship that she thought a dia- aisles of a local supermarket. J·Je preferred not to ask 1nond engage111ent ring a waste o.f money. The Rav anyone else to help hin1 on personal matters. But during bought her one anyway so she sold it and sent the the forty-plus years until then, one can hardly recall see­ 111oner to his i!npoverished sister in Russia. ing him at a non-rabbinical function. She had a different approach with each hoy, hut In a sense. the Rebbitzen was mother to the larger the comrnon denorninator was a lavishing o.f praise Jewish co1nmunity. If so1nething was amiss. she did not and love. To one, she constant(v said: "I always tell hesitate to pick up her famous telephone to inquire after your 111other hoiv luck:v she is: you're the best hoy in general welfare, and then get to specifics. These all Seattle." - Usually followed hi'. "So how could "telephone calls from the Rebbitzen" were well known. you think of doing ... '" .With this policy. she talked and frequently even touched my close circle of friends. hi1n and his unyielding mother info turning down a ·rhese were kids. and we viewed her as a "mother" to a scholarship to a co-ed }e'.vish sun1n1er camp in steadily growing group. Canada. An older brother of mine had already joined the Reb­ lVachun1 was president o.f a youth group, led hy bitzen 's Shabbos afternoon study group. and I could David P. a Jewish soldier from New York Citv hardly wait for a junior class to start. When I was eight. stationed nearbv. She askei Nachum how he could she did form a nC\V circle of four or five boys of my age .. expect to get inspiration .fron1 David, lvhen he isn't .. During the summer. we would sit around her old oak eren re/fffious. "But he knoi,1.:s so 1nuch about the dining table, sip lemonade, and recite and discuss Pirkei Jewish people and ahout Eretz Yisroel." Nachum Avos from Siddurim with English translation. During the protested. "l'n1 sure he's as religious as he can be in rest of the year. we would learn seemingly random the annl'!" Rashi's on Chumash, actually selected by her for their "Does he put on tefillin"" she asked moral message. - I still hear Bernard shrilly "l'n1 sure he does.'" declaiming: "A.f onu yodeem shehamidbar hoyo - we "If he doesn't-" ahvays kne~v that Moshe was in the desert. ... But to tell "Then I agree. - But he does. /'rn positive." us praise for Yisro. who was sitting at the height of the "Well." she said quietly, "/asked him .... He's a world and left it all to be closer to Hashem." very .fine hoy. He dropped his eyes in shan1e when I During August, when we "'ere on vacation Jforn asked him about tefillin. and he told me the truth. sun1mer sessions in Hebrett.' School, H'e'd report ro The an.over tt'as 'no.' - He is a fine bov. ves. But her house for Shacharis at 9 in the morning, to pick you need a better inspiration." . . . cherries .fron1 her trees .... to learn Chumash and When the was taken out for reading Rashi. on Shabbos. some of the hoys used to kiss the Torah The printed text was n1ore than adequate. But her and run out to play. The Rehbitzen once ad- personal comn1ents often hit tt'ith greater irnpact. 1nonished, "When we open the oron we say: A.ft er reading that "the world is but an anteroon1 .... " Veyonusu mesanecho - When the ark travels. the Rebbitzen added, "Mr. Ginzherg - you know, Your enemies tt.•ill run awa_v, -Hashem's enemies, the .furniture n1an-once sent his helpers to nieasure not boys like you." That was the end of Kriyas

20 The Jewish Observer/ October, 1974 HaTorah recess. phrase several times, H1hile she shut her eyes in tear­ Holding the Torah scroll after reading was a ful concentration. privilege. Once Bert seized the privilege, but found it She took sick several weeks before 1 left for a a weighty one - that day, the Rav delivered an un­ yeshiva in the East. MJ' Gernora rebbe used to poke usually long drasha before it was returned to the gentle f'un at the 11/GJ' adolescent boys revered .. the ark. She later told Bert, "You know how I always Rebbitzen." After he visited her in the hospital, he listen closely when the Rav speaks. But today 1 also con.fessed to an awe over her mastery of couldn't take my eyes off you. You held the Torah Tanach. (" M.v hushand refuses to teach 1ne with so much love, like someone holds a baby." Bert Gemora. He tells me there is still enough for me in seen1ed to see himse(f as some kind o..f royal bearer Tanach, and he 1nust he right.") of the scroll since then, and we had trouble wresting When we heard of her passing several months later, our turns fro1n hbn. we thought that Seattle would never be the same. That When I neared Bar Mitzvah, I dropped my was not exactly so. Those who had known her would membership in the Rebbitzen's Shabbos afternoon ahvays feel her innuence .... It was those 'vho didn't know sessions, and younger boys stepped in. (Strange as it her who would really miss her. O seems, none of us had sisters in that age group, so there were no co1nparable girls' sessions.) But her in­ fluence did not end. She convinced nie to join the The Welcome Mat is Out for Bero-Parkers shu/'s daily 6:45 Shacharis minyan, and - to ac­ commodate my schedule - she would bring me a hot who are 60 or over! breakfast. (She once told me, "The walk to shul is Join us at the exactly 'MaTovu' until 'Rabbi Yishmoel,' ·· referr­ ing to her activity as she accompanied her husband BORO PARK SENIOR CITIZENS on the morning trek to shul.) CENTER When one of the boys would read the Torah, she (a project of Agudath Israel of America­ never failed to tell us how immensely she enjoyed it. Commission on Senior Citizens) Once Bert read parts ofEichafor practice. "l could 4511 Fourteenth Avenue Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 feel all of Yirmiya's sorrow," she said, "in the way you read three words: 'Bacho sivke balaylo - you • Full slate of recreational programs will cry in the night.' "And she had him repeat the • Nutritious hot glatt kosher lunches Special professional departments for SCHECHTER advice and guidance regarding: Medicare, Medicaid, Food stamps Legal Aid K:~:1/a7!71£4•H@l Consumer fraud and protection ENTIRE OCEANFRONT ILOC•- 371h to 31th SL MIAMI BEACH Medical help ••• is a GREAT Kosher Hotel - you'll love it! Finance and banking Education .• DIA1. For Reservations Speak to MIAMI SAM SCHECHTER FREE PARKING • Special courses in: BEACH 8QQ _ 327 _ 8165 PRIVATE POOL Hebrew Ulpan FREE! Or C~ll N.Y. Off: Pl 7-4238 SAND~N~EACH English for beginners Evenings & Sunday FA 7-1742 Jewish culture Financial planning in retirement • • • Counseling service for children • Wanted: • who wish to discuss problems of • Excellent opportunities for ad- • aging parents • ministrators, vocational guidance • • counselors, social workers, case • Register Now: • workers. • Monday thru Thursday • An Orthodox organization is looking for • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • competent people to fill these • Friday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. • positions. Send resumes and • • applications to: • If you have a problem, call our Senior Citizens Hotline: • • • The Jewish Observer • 854-7430 • Box 721 New York, N.Y. 10038 •

The Jewish Observer/ Ocrober 1974 21 The publishing firm of Feldheim presents excellent translations of classic works that have made the values and perspectives of Torah flourish through the generations. The Gentlemen Are Accommodating Pinchos Jung Beyond Sanity Although Shachris and M ussaf These lavish, ostentatious, "glalt on Shabbos morning usually take Kosher' Simchas, arranged by so little more than two hours, they ap­ n1any of our observant co­ parently have an effect on the Crash Diet relig:ionists, have recently been es­ stomach tantamount to a six week calated beyond the limits of sanity. fast. The smash and grab food raid These functions may be Kosher in commonly known as "Kiddush" the technical sense. but beyond that, which forms the climax of the ser­ A British they must he questioned. This vice frequently resembles the scene ruthless, pointless rat-race has that one would expect to find at an Reaction claimed countless adherents and Oxfam famine relief operation. In numerous innocent victims, who reply to a naive enquiry as to how to a Universal have strained if not drained, their these people who tackle the Kiddush financial resources. There is hardly a so enthusiastically manage to wade justification for this shameful prac­ through a five course dinner at Problem .lice, which is contrary to all Torah home soon after, I was told not to ideas and ideals. The frustrating worry. "The gentlemen concerned aspect of it is that we hardly ever are very accommodating." needed, we disappear into in­ hear it condemned or even dis­ My sympathies are with the inno­ significance again. Reality returns. couraged. Are we trying to hasten cent waiters who are expected to The list of acquaintances of th is our Redemption by adding impetus serve at these functions. They order varies in lt::ngth from one host lo one of the symptoms preceding should certainly be afforded better to ar.other: but its length must ex­ Moshiach - that "truth will become protection. A full scale alert is an·· ceed that of the previous host by a non-existent"? Today, when so nounced amongst the guests by number sufficiently large to make many of our brethren are in uttering the magic word - ·'kiggel". the increase conspicuous. desperate need of our financial sup­ At a split second's notice a mad port: when so many Jewish mouths An Invitation charge forces its way towards are underfed, and so many young Without a Monogram? anyone wearing a white jacket or families are fatherless, it is no less carrying a tray from which steam Why should a respectable man of than a crime to feed the affluent appears to be rising .... But it's all modest means be embarrassed overweights of the British Isles. It is for the sake of a Mitzvah and because he is unable or unprepared unpardonable to combine two ma­ perfectly understandable, of course. to pay 12 or 15 pounds (a British jor offences - accelerating the "'rat­ As long as justice is done to the pound equals $2.50 U.S.) per couple race" and squandering thousands reckless demands of the appetite, for a wedding dinner, plus L200- for such unworthy causes - when and an apathetic grin is granted to L300 for a hall, along with extra ex­ every extra penny can bring a ray of the host of the function, without penses, wine, drinks. flowers, a hope to the gloomy lives of our enquiring whether it's a Bar M itz­ band, service charges, supervision fellow Jews. vah, engagement, or an "Aufruf', costs and who knows what'' We Responsible people should ap­ the duty of" Bein Odom Lachavero" already have on record a case where preciate this and strive to impress has certainly been fulfilled, in all printing costs for invitations, reply this fact upon their friends and par­ that the phrase implies. cards, menu cards and souvenir t icu I ar ly the potential Baalei Rent-a-Crowd "benchers" totalled L200. One Simcha. We must propose a more It is also interesting to note how begins lo wonder whether the omis­ balanced approach to what has many of those who do not usually sion of an artistic motif on the front become a menace to our society and consider themselves as our friends of all the assorted wedding appeal to the conscience of those suddenly urgently require our stationery would render the Kid­ concerned. Perhaps we could launch cooperation to assist them in their dushin null and void. a full-scale campaign encouraging gallant "rent-a-crowd" efforts. Dur­ The only ones who gain from this people to tone down their simchas ing a limited period only, we become are the caterers, the printers, and to and to spend the balance lo bring a their closest and dearest; broad a greater degree, the dustmen and little simcha lo the less fortunate. smiles are exchanged and obvious emergency doctors. Most ordinary Provided we are sincere, we can flattery pollutes the atmosphere. A mortals find that their constitution succeed. while later, when we no longer are cannot cope with two hors d'oevres, soup, two meat courses, two EV 7-1750 i1'5~i1 ~~,, PINCHOS JUNG i.~ acrive in Agudah }'OUth work desserts, and some extras. But they in England. Thi1; article originally appeared in insist on ploughing through it at all l.'""lll .,~!) the Jewish Tribune. costs. 11.'!:'T"l'l:li'~ •ti:tit:>T"l"l'll:lt/

The Jewish Observer I October, 1974 23 O•!.••!••:.. :••!o•:••!••! .. !••! .. :••! .. !••!·•!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!o!••!••!••! .. !••! .. !••! .. !••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••! .. !••!•O:••!••!••!••!••!••!•·:·•! .. !••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!••!•·!••!••!••!••!••!••! .. !••!••!•+ • + Make Congressman Carey -GOVERNOR Carey

At the dedication of the Bora Park Senior Citizens Center

Many candidates will ask for your support now that an election approaches. Your judgment must be based on facts and reason. You must ask: which candidate has demonstrated that he cares, that he is willing to act, all the time - not just when he ·:· wants our votes. .,. !• CONGRESSMAN CAREY HAS SERVED FOR 14 YEARS IN CONGRESS. HIS i• RECORD IS CONSISTENT, CLEAR, AND COURAGEOUS: +:i: :i:• + + :!...: • Congressman Carey is the chief advocate in Washington for government support for our :.i'. . yeshivos; most yeshiva parents and students in New York have benefitted from his help. • • ·:·• • Hugh Carey as demonstrated his specific concern for our community in areas such as ·~• • + ·:· Shechitah, Kashruth, and employment. •!• ,.i • Hugh Carey has spoken out for Soviet Jewry. Congressman Carey has fought for over ten .,.i •·:· years for the rights of Soviet and Syrian Jews and the oppressed people throughout the •.;. •.;. world; Carey is a major sponsor and advocate of the Mills-Varrik-Carey Amendment •·:· •.;. (guaranteeing freedom of immigration to Soviet Jews) and voted for the amendment in •·:· +•;. Congress. .;.• + • ·;· • Congressman Carey was a leading spokeman against the desecration of Jewish :i: ~j~ cemeteries in Eastern Europe. :1: :l: Hugh Carey has consistently supported and fought for the necessary economic and ~: :!: military aid for Israel. Carey visited Israel, and has opposed all efforts to weaken United :!: :t States policy toward Israel. :~ i t ·:· • Congressman Carey has spent 14 years in Congress and has worked on behalf of the ·,· :!: handicapped, senior citizens, and the law-abiding majority, and has shown that he un- :;: jl.j derstands our community's needs. ~!.j .;. • As Governor, Hugh Carey will continue to fight for consititutional aid to yeshivos; more ••• ::: benefits for senior citizens; against quotas and discrimination; and, in general, aid consistent ~:

::!··,:: with the needs of the community. ~.l:·.~. • Hugh Carey is a proven and devoted friend of our community. Congressman Carey has :i: been honored by many yeshivos, and organizations including Agudath Israel of America, for ~: :l: his work on behalf of the Jewish community. :!: • • t.., ..,. .,. .,.. :··:··:··:··:··: .. :··:··:··:·::~.:.:~~ :~:.:c~~~I:~::~,~~;::~::~~:~:~ :~:::.::~:~:::::.~:··:··:··:··:··:.. :··:··:··: .. :··: .. :··:··:··J 24 The Jewish Observer / October, 1974 ''His Seal is Truth'' Some Post Yomim Noraim Reflections

In a society where human beings take bites out of their pets, then -contrary to the c/iche- "dog bites man" may well be news .... The vignettes presented below are not at all remarkable - except that they reflect on the broader society by being noteworthy. Wrong Number .. Yes. I'm slill with the yeshiva "Please. I don"t want to bother there. /'111 calling long distance." you. It's my burden. .Only one EARLY LAST JUNE. several days I asked about the family. .very week left to Rosh Hashana. /"II do before the "Regents Scandal" broke brietly. After all, it was his call. it into print, a graduating senior in a "Do vou remember the candv New York yeshiva received a machine~ back in the old building';. Ne'ilah Talk telephone call: "Well, yes ...I guess so." THE PLACE: An out-of-town yeshiva "/ understand that they've "Who oivned it?" (that means any institution not in prepared a tough English Regents this I didn't recall exactly. Brooklyn or Manhattan) year "Please try to re1nen1ber." Then THE TIME: Just prior to Ne'ilah. the "Yeah? How do you know?" he took a deep breath. "/ used to closing prayer of Yon1 Kippur "I've got an advance copy." take care o_f it for him, and whenever I THE MOOD: Extreme gravity and an "'Is that so!" stocked the machine. I used to gyp air of tension, as the Rosh Yeshiva ''/ can f.{et it over to you .for not one cand.v bar .for every row that I rises to address the student body, verp much." filled. I'd like to pay him back which ranges in age from mid-teens "No thanks." son1eho.,v. '· to early twenties ·· Wh_v not?" (disbelief) I started to laugh. 'Tm sure he THE TOPIC: "We now change the "Not interested." couldn't care any more. That was terminology of our requests from "Then put on someone else. years ago. And I'll bet you weren't k 'siva to chasin1a - from the inscrib­ There" re probably other guys who even Bar M itzvah yet, so. ing of a good year to the sealing of need it niore." "But I was. I becan1e Bar Mitzvah the decree. The seal of Hashem is "You're wasting your time.'· that Fall. And. isn"t it thievery' If he Emes, truth. If we expect Him to fix The demurer hung up. and then forp;ives me, that'sfine. but I do have His seal on a decree of mercy, we had second thoughts. Maybe there to ask hitn." have to be worthy of it, and not are others who do need it nlore. And After several minutes (his time) of violate truth." perhaps these others have less association-chasing, I remembered. Then the Rosh Yeshiva got to scruples ....But a quick survey "It was Mr. F." specifics: proved his first instinctive response "Could you tell n1e where he lives? "£mes may be an abstract con- the correct one. Not interested was -his nun1her?" the general attitude. "I'll see him this coming Saturday The head of the yeshiva - a much night at Slichos. l'II ask him for Weddings· Bar· Mitzvahs revered scholar - heard indirectly you." US.A./ lsraei of the incident, and took special "You ivi/f.' Thanks ever so 1nuch!" pains to congratulat.c the entire stu­ I did see Mr. F .. but I forgot dent body publicly for their integri­ about the call completely. Sunday ty. night. the long-distance operator rang again. Again my friend from an CRf:~~~}llllllt11 Long Distance out-of-town ko/el. PHOTOGRAPHY I HADNT SPOKEN to him in the "Did you see him?" ZELMAN STUDIOS longest time, but after the introduc­ "Yes, but. . . . " I made mv 623 CORTEL YOU ROAD {Off OCEAN PKWY) tion, recognition filled in the space apology and offered to make up fo'r BROOKLYN. N.Y. 11218 of years. He had been a student - the lost opportunity next time. ten, twelve years back - in the "Never mind. Give me his address. yeshiva where I was principal. /"II call him." "Are you still in -----?" · ''I'll do it for you." (212) 941-5500

The .!ewfrh Ohserver I Oc!oher 1974 25 cept, but its application is very Y archel Kalla - Europe Announcing Publication of specific and concrete. Living a life of in emes means being honest in Lugano, Switzerland ::ip:v' n'::ii, piPn Oit'.llip seemingly insignificant areas-in Dec. 25, '74 - Jan. 5, '75 Ci1'n,.1ipn1 n:::ito n1:J1:n1 ,,:v,p reports and exams in English. It also means faithfully discharging your fhe Yeshiva Yarchei Kalla, founded 1YJTK!J ',xpmi :ipll' :ii;i nxr.i Work-Study Program respon­ in Bnei Brak by Hagaon Horav sibilities. Some of you may think Yoseif Kahaneman (Ponevezher p,K, 1')1 ,,,,w, n,y P"i'i 1'i that it matters little whether you do Rav zt"I) takes pride in announcing A clear presentation of important dinim your job or not. The important its third European session this com­ relating to Shabbos, with the 39 Me!achos thing is that the monies are delivered ing Dec. - Jan., with the participa­ explained in sequence. Lucid, easy to un­ to the right pocket. After all, there tion of leading Roshei HaYeshiva ol derstand Hebrew, with few abbreviations Ponevezh. and a glossary. are other groups who do as they A practical guide to knowing and obser~ choose: as long as you go through The Kalla Mesechta: ving Dinei Shabbos. Sequence of material the motions. But it is the very op­ Kiddushin, and arrangement on the page make it an posite of e1nes. First we must rid on those dappim rele­ invaluable teaching too! for Yeshivos and ourselves of all such dishonest vant to Seminaries. (The sefer is being used as a Hilchos Teti/la. text for the author's lecture series in Rika rationalizations, dedicate ourselves Accommodations in Hotel Breuer's Teachers Seminary.) to truth in all our actions, then we Dan - Assembly and can ask for a G'mar Chasin1a Tova.I" Conference rooms in Hotel Distributor: J. Biegeleisen A pause of heavy silence. Then Meister. 83 Division St. N.Y.C. 10002 the hundreds of voices joined in "Ashrei Yoshvei Vaisecha" - For­ For more information, contact: Also available at Hebrew Bookstores or through the author: tunate are those who dwell in Your Chaskel Friedman Rabbi J. Posen house." 1731 - 49th Street 0 Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204 700 W. 178 St., N.Y.C., 10033 TEL.: 1212) 633-4371 $3.25 plus • 25 for postage and handling N.W.

YISROEL RELIEF FUND A special fund has been established by Bnei Torah in America to help Bnei Torah families in Eretz Yisroel who are in exceptional financial difficulty. Nine Homes These families, mainly in Yerusholayim and Bnei Brak, are struggling to buy the Building to Suit most basic necessities. Tax deductible checks can be made Any size and specification payable to: Custom built by YISROEL RELIEF FUND c/o Rabbi Moshe Twersky Wondercraft Homes 602 Seventh Street (212) 871-0894 Lakewood, New Jersey 08701 This fund is approved and supported by: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Rabbi David Lifschitz Address of site: Albert Drive Rabbi Schneur Kotler Monsey, New York

26 The Jewish Observer/ October 1974 TRADITION PERSONNEL AGENCY "At Your Service With All Your Employment Nee'ds" Need A Shomer Shabbos Job? Looking For A Shomer Shabbos Person? For Fast, Efficient and Courteous Service 18 W. 45th St.. New York, N. Y. 10036 • 563·3994 Open Monday night by appointment only THE FIRST KOSHER DRIVE-INS IN AMERICA Char-broiled Burgers, French Fries, Franks, Farm we're Fried Chicken, corn on cob. Fillet of fish & More . • @ Supervised • Glatt Kosher • Shomer Shabbos mn,1=nn 96 MAIN STREET, NEW ROCHELLE Boston Post Road - Just North of the Mall

•nRrv=nn 400 ROCKAWAY T'PKE. LAWRENCE, L.1., N.Y. wn ~··na SURF AVE. & W. 15th ST., CONEY ISLAND me¥1 •.g Good News for 60 and over moving in Flatbush area! To better serve your graphic, printing and advertising needs You are cordially invited to become a member of the BROOKDALE PRESS & COMPANY SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER 200 PARK AVE. S. (cor. 17th St.), N.Y.C. 10003 (212) 228*3660 OF FLATBUSH a project of PINCUS MANDEL Agudath Israel of America Recognized Expert-Over 22 Years of Commission on Senior Citizens Experience • Through the efforts of Rabbi Moshe Sherer, of Agudath 813 Avenue H, Brooklyn, N. Y. 11230 hr,iel, the cooperation ol the lsraeh Consulate and • .is:.iqdnce of two prominent Orthodox Physicians, Interesting and enjoyable daily programs regulations have been amended making it possible for INTERMENT IN ISRAH supervised by experienced counsellors 1n /e<,.\ ·1hdn 18 hours afrf'r demise, r'/, wilh all HIDUR/M ~ • a~ done only by SHOMREI TORAH UMITZVOS. Nutritious hot glatt kosher lunches Craves available in all parts of Ererz Yisrael - procured directly from CHEVRA KAO/SHA of without cost ESTABLISHED KEH/LOS, responsible for their • COMMUNITY CEMETERY. Lectures, study groups, trips, PINCUS MANDEL library, arts and crafts and more 175 LEE AVE. BROOKLYN, N.Y. 11211 • Day and Night Phone: (212) 855-5121 Information and Referral Services on the Recommended by many prominent Orthodox R<1bbis and many benefits available to senior citizens Admorim • Known for Personalized, Ultra-Orthodox procedure in rendering a Dedicated, Dependable, Efficient Service at For Further Information Please Call Reason.:ib!e Cost Agudah Member - 46 Years 434-8670 Rabbi Yehoshua Wrotslavsky Rabbi Yisroel Ber Weiss

The Jewish Observer / October, 1974 27 Letters to the Editor ALL SENIOR CITIZENS are invited to register at the BRIGHTON OLDER ADULT LUNCHEON CLUB (a project of apikorsus: national success depends Agudath Israel of America) Dr. Levi's View of the Opposition on political and military rather than 2901-15 Brighton 6th St. -An Oversimplification religious criteria; becomes a Brooklyn, N.Y. 11235 religious value even in those cases To the Editor: where olim are lost to Torah; "' Nutritious hot glatt l feel that a comment on Dr. Leo ha/acha must be adjusted to meet the Levi's very interesting article ("View kosher lunches interests of the State; kefirah From Jerusalem") is in place. Dr. becomes somehow more tolerable in * Interesting and enjoyable Levi put forward a well-meant plea national leaders; etc. Disavowing daily programs for more tolerance between those this type of thinking is not dis­ * Arts and crafts, lectures, who see the Medinah as Jschalta interest in Kial Yisroel, G-d forbid, and more DeGeulah and those who oppose but a burning worry for it that * Information & referral services this view: he argues that the former motivates most of the opposition to on many benefits available are at most misinterpreting history, a secular State. to senior citizens. while the latter, after all, do not re­ A secular State that does not ject Moshiach himself. accept the authority of the Register now: There is here, unfortunately. a Torah?-one asks. Does it not Monday thru Friday rather dangerous oversimplification. "observe Shabbos because it is 9;00 a.m. to 12;00 noon If the acceptance of the Medinah as written in the Torah," for instance, Tel.: 769-5669 lschalta DeGeulah were only a as Dr. Levi writes? In truth, as philosophical issue, it would, of Mapai apologists for the religious course, never have stirred up the status quo constantly emphasize, violent opposition it did. In reality, those religious forms that the it is the implications. consequences, government endorses are not and results of this thesis which have accepted as divine commandments, necessitated such a sharp reaction as but are only voluntary enactments we have seen from the Manhigim of of a democratic legislature, subject our age, such as the Chazon !sh, the to parliamentary and judicial review Brisker Rav, and Reb Aharon and "adjustment" (as we see to our Kotler. sorrow in the constant erosion of His failure to perveive this causes rabbinic authority over matters of Dr. Levi totally to misunderstand personal status). In fact, the political the nature of the opposition to the motivation behind most religious State as merely being unconcerned concessions is the strongest argu­ The Most Trusted Name with this .. mirage" or as considering ment for the organized political ac­ in Kosher Poultry it a distraction from their concern tion by Agudath Israel, which Dr. with Torah. In reality, the sharpest Levi questions. One has to be very opposition to the State comes from courageous, indeed, to rely-for CLEANED those who see the faith in "redemp­ religious interests-on an indepen­ SOAKED and SAL TED tion by secular political statehood" dent electorate swaying the Knesset as a clear and present danger to majority. READY- TO-COOK and COOKED everything we have ever stood for. JOSEPH ELIAS The identification of a secular Monsey. New York state, which does not accept the (RABBI JOSEPlf ELIAS. is Menahef of authority of Torah, with the begin­ Yeshiva Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch Girls ning of redemption, inevitably leads High Schoo! and the Rika Breuer Teachers EMPIRE KOSHER POULTRY, lne. to a distortion of our va1ue Seminary, and is a member of the editorial MIFFLIN TOWN, PA. 17059 judgments - or even, G-d forbid, to board of JO.)

28 The Jewish Observer / October 1974 no encouragement of large-scale Meaningful Relationship emigration from the United States, With the where the Torah community is Irreligious: Impossible respected and flourishing, to a com­ munity in which the Torah is To the Editor: maligned and psychologically curb­ My old and good friend, Dr. Leo ed. One outstanding American One of Levi, an eminent scientist, may be Gadol has been expressing this un­ WORLD'S LARGEST relied upon to have given us an ob­ p op u I a r and painful view CAMERA STORES jective description of the facts of life courageously. Il~t!' ir-lit!' in Eretz Yisroel. In this respect, the With regard to the other side of Wall Street value of his article should not be un­ the paradox - the signs of seeming derestimated. Concerning the political progress toward the coming Camera Exchange political suggestions, I have no of Moshiach - we can only hope Complete Line of Cameras doubt that many letters will be that this interpretation is correct, in and Photo Supplies forthcoming, supporting either Dr. the sense of the well-known cen­ 82 Wall Street Levi's considered view or Mr. sored Rambam in Hi/chos Me/achim New York, N. Y. Frieden son's analytical dissent. I that even idolatrous religions may Telephone: WH 4-0001 wish to comment on another aspect be used by G-d as a means to pave 111 ~1 hoJcsa1c of the article - the paradox which it the way for Moshiach. But, not be­ 11 Mail Ort,JtitUi>t the virulence of their inbred apikor­ sus, nor their imperviousness to vereim Orthodox Chapel spiritual enlightenment. It is signifi­ 93 Broadway · Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211 cant that in the more friendly and favorable environment of the DIGNIFIED TRADITIONAL SERVICES United States, the same "Torah THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN AREA Only" Bnei Yeshiva do relate in­ tellectually, and sometimes socially, Kovod Haniftar Observed with the non-religious majority - Feel free to call us for any with beneficial results. The signifi­ information regarding burial minhagim cant number of American Ba'a/ei Teshuva attests to that healthy 24 hour service relationship. Day and Night phone 384-6784 In conformity with Rambam (Hilchos Da'os 6: I) there should be

The Jewish Observer / October 1974 29 TENTH SYNAGOGUE FOR RUSSIANS IN ISRAEL SAUL SHENKER HEADS J.E.P. noted Tel Aviv leader Mr. Meier David The tenth synagogue. in a network of syn­ The Program - Zeirei Lewenstein. These activities include agogues organized by the Russian Immigrant Agudath Israel's year-round effort at providing the new immigrants with reaching out to children of disadvantaged Rescue Fund to fill the special needs of the educational facilities and spiritual programs religious background - has appointed Rab­ Russian olim, was opened last month in Be'er for the children, youth centers. home visits, bi Saul Shenker as its full-time head. Rabbi Sheva. Hundreds of new immigrants from and a broad range of religious requirements. Shenker, who studied for many years at Bucharia and Carpath Russia, as well as The American treasurers of the Russian Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Vodaath prominent rabbinic personalities, par­ (Brooklyn), brings with him extnesive ex­ Immigrant Rescue Fund, whose head office is ticipated in dedication ceremonies for this perience in volunteer activity with children. located at 5 Beekman Street, New York City, religious facility, which is located in the new are Max Berg, Dr. Ernst L. Bodenheimer, Rabbi Shenker expects to expand JEP's immigrant community in Derech Masada. and Moshe Braunstein. Its rabbinic sponsors field of operation without changing its for­ mula of introducing Jewish youngsters who Organizing and equipping synagogues fot include the foremost Torah authorities in the Russian immigrants is one of the many areas attend public schools and less-intensive day United States. A proclamation issued this schools to a more vibrant Jewish experience. of activity sponsored by the Russian Im­ month in Israel. calling for sacrificial finan· In line with King David's invitation in migrant Rescue Fund, through its counter­ cia! support of this agency is signed by the Psalms: "Taste and you will see how good it part commission in Israel headed by the Torah personalities in the Holy Land. is ... ," the children taste, and want more - setting higher personal goals for themselves in Torah scholarship and Jewish living. RABBI JOZEF KATZ AND MARK LOVrNGER "It's mainly a question of tailoring the ex­ 83 Division Avenue Brooklyn, N. Y. 11211 perience for the particular group of children we're dealing with," Rabbi Shenker explain­ OF ed. "We've been teaching and talking to public children during the weekly Release Time sessions - regularly reaching over three hundred children in 23 different school set­ tings. We follow up with Shabbatons, home visits, holiday parties, and trips. Over twenty ALL LEADING HOTELS BANQUET HALLS of last year's Release Time students are now enrolled in Yeshiva day schools. This year AND JEWISH CENTERS AVAILABLE we're aiming at expanded quantity and enhanced quality. That is, we plan to service 35 separate schools, and then follow up with even more individual home visits. "The same is true with our day school stu­ 388-4204 388-3590 863-8892 dent programs. This past year we sponsored holiday rallies and became involved in one­ • Caterer for Agudath Israel Conventions and Dinners • to-one tutoring programs - Operation Chavrusa we dubbed it, after the Yeshiva chavrnsa-buddy system. And JEP doesn't end in June. We arranged for scores of kids to spend their summer in religious sleep-away camps. The pay-off is in September when un­ GO KOSHER ... f• V certain eighth-graders enroll in Yeshiva high schools and generally set their sights •• WITH higher ... " "Every JEP approach that worked will be SCHREIBER intensified in '74-'75," according to Rabbi Shenker. This will include an expanded Traveling by air? Go the Schreiber "Chavrnsa" network, more weekend visits to route with a Glatt Kosher gourmet religious communities in Brooklyn. a Purim ~- meal! Breakfasts, lunches, dinners and _ ..- l(-1 rally for several thousand youngsters, a i - - ...._,,.____ ,.._ snacks. Ask for Schreiber meats when repeat oft he highly successful JEP 1.p. record: \,_-.• ..... ~o-.ST ee.e,.- _ · J you make your flight reservation. Most Reach Out, which featured English language : ~- i_1 ·~~ domestic and international air lines lyrics to Jewish songs of inspiration and ==1i n~ serve our home-style meals. Ask for celebration, and outings parties, and more. Schreiber and fly sure because the sky's the limit for quality and taste in our Koshei food. The Jewish Education Program was con· Also available on request in hotels, hospitals, other away- ceived at the annual convention of Agudath from-home eating places Israel of America in Atlantic City in and in retail stores. November 1972, and is funded by the organization. J.E.P. is winning praise from PREPARED UNDER RA881NICAL@ day-school educators as well as Yeshiva SUPERVISION OF THE UNION OF u ~;f.h,r.~.~~~:!'" ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONS 9024 Foster Ave., Bklyn., N.Y. 11236 deans, both for its successful results with US. GOVERNMENT INSPECTED. Phone (212) 272-9184 children who are estranged from their heritage and its involvement of Yeshiva youth in front·line activity of education and guidance.

JO The Jewish Observer/ October 1974 1,000 YOUTH HEAR "THE JEWISH RESPONSE TO A WORLD IN UPHEAVAL": CALL FOR TORAH REVIVAL THEME OF AGUDAH CONVENTION More than J,000 Bnei Torah from The deliberations of the 52nd National participate in an in-depth symposium on Yeshivos throughout the Metropolitan area Convention of Agudath Israel of America. "The B.ittle For Torah in the Holv Land·· at jammed into the Agudath Israel Center in "'hich opens Thursday afternoon, November the Thursday evening, 8:00 P.M.- session of Bora Park on Sunday. September 22 to par­ 28th will revolve around the aspects of the the convention. Rabbi Shraga Grossbard. overall theme: "The Jewish Response to a D!rector-(1eneral of Torah Schools for Israel ticipate in the Second annual T'shuva World in Upheaval."" it was announced by (Chinuch At1.m<1i) will speak on the "Crisis in Assembly convened by Zeirei Agudath Israel Louis J. Septimus, convention chairman and Education.·· The problems faced by religious of America. Rabbi Leib Cywiak. co-chairman. Over 3,000 Jewry in the Knesset <1nd in the delegates

The NAJR project was launched last spring to seek out and extend a helping hand to "shut-in'' senior citizens. In addition to doing household chores and shopping for the im­ mobile isolated people, they provide their clients with the satisfaction of knowing that someone is concerned with their welfare.

The homebound meals program is based at the Boro Park Senior Citizens Center under the direction of its director, Rabbi Menachem Lubinsky. The NAJR volunteer committee is headed by Rachel Klein. Leah Steinmetz and Chaya Steinmetz.

NAJR is an acronym for National Aid for Jewish Residents and is an extension of many years of working to alleviate the plight of the aged and the indignet by the youth groups of FIRST KOLEL IN SOUTH AMERICA DEDICATED: Thousands of Jews participated in Agudath [srael of America. The Boro Park the dedication ceremonies last month of the first South American Kole! (institute for higher Senior Citizens Center is one of five major Torah studies). which was established in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by the local chapter of facilities operated by Agudah. Under a grant Agudath Israel. Headed by Rabbi Shmuel , a native of Argentina who studied for from the Human Resources Adminstration of seventeen years in the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Israel. the Kole! has m<1de marked progress during New York City, to help the elderly solve the last few months. many of the problems which they face, and to The guests of the dedication ceremonies were Dr. Isaac Lewin. chairman of the American provide them with meaningful programs of section of the Agudath Israel World Organization and Senor Helio Guerzenstein. the benefac­ activities. tor of the building in which the Kole! is located.

The Jewish Observer/ October 1974 31 FINAL CALLI

Only a small number of vacancies remain for the three days What Will Your Conscience Say of deliberation with the Torah leadership on November 11 at the If you don't give a Jewish child a 52nd NATIONAL home on November 101 CONVENTION of Because November 10 is the date of 'S Fifth Annual Dinner AGUDATH ISRAEL at the Statler Hilton Hotel, N.Y.C. OF AMERICA in honor of the Distinguished Philanthropist, Thursday afternoon through Sunday Pillars of Tor ah and Chesed NOV. 28 - DEC. 1 Mr. and Mrs. at the Fred Hendeles SHERATON-DEAUVILLE HOTEL formerly of Tokyo, now of Los Angeles. ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY The proceeds will purchase and The 52nd National Convention of Agudath Israel of renovate a America will be e colorful, exciting gathering, at which the Group Home for Boys foremost rabbinic and lay leaders of Torah Jewry will for Jewish teenagers who need help come to grips with the meaning of the contemporary crises of Kial Yisroel and the entire world, and the expanding role and have no where else to get. it. of Agudath Israel's "Action Center for Jews and Judaism." OHEL - the first child care agency under Torah For information and reservations please phone or write: auspices. As a parent, you never need Ohel. But - as a Torah Jew - may you never be part AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA of a Jewish community that turns its back on its 5 BEEKMAN STREET, N.Y.C. 10038 children. Do your share. (212) 964-1620 Place your Journal Ad! Call in your reservation - only $50.00 per couple. For 3 day• the entire the hotel Is taken over by Agudath lsrnl and all meel• Make November 10 a day of triumph. catered bye N.Y. caterer appointed by and •upervlffd by Agudath Israel of And November 11 a day of hope and future. A.nerlca. On the occasion of our DINNER, the following distinguished friends will be presented with OHEL'S ANNUAL AWARDS in recognition of their dedication to the humanitarian cause of help­ ing Jewish children in need. Chesed Awardees: Rev. Joseph Fischman Mr. Morris Handler ART ART Mr. Joseph 5. Markowitz Mr. Sol Schonfeld SCROLL · SCROLL Ohe! Service Award: Mrs. Robin Bodner Aishes Chayil Award: Mrs. Edna Lapidus OOESIT DOESIT Board of Governors: Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld BETTER BETTER Rabbi Yaako,v Kaminetsky Rabb; Hertz Frankel, I/CAUSE Pre;idenl ~/CAUSE

Honorary Dinner Chairmen: A.S. Rosenfeld, jack Yershleiser ART ART SCROLL · SCROLL 91fletl~~ . OOESIT DOESIT 4905-07 -16th Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204 ALU ALU 851-6300

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