TAMUZ, 5738 I JUNE, 1978 VOLUME XIII, NUMBER 4 THE EWISH ONE DOLLAR

The Bluzhever Rebbe X"U'':nv Remembers Heroism in Churban Europe - Reminiscences overheard by Rabbi Nasson Scherman

Who Shall Render Decisions? The Training of Poskim by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan

The Master Race and the Chosen People - A Torah Study of the Roots of Nazism by Rabbi Yaakov Feitman

Rabbi Pesach Pruskin of Kobrin "":it - Rebbe of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein X"U'r,W a biography by Chaim Shapiro THE JEWISH BSERVER

THE JEWISH OBSERVER is published monthly, except July and August, by the Agudath Israel in this issue of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N.Y. 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, The Bluzhever Rebbe11<"~''nu Remembers: N.Y. Subscription: $7.50 per year; Embers Midst the Ruins, two years, $13.00; three years, $18.00; outside of the United Reminiscences Overheard by Rabbi Nasson Scherman ...... 3 States, $8.50 per year. Single copy, one dollar. Who Shall Render the Decisions? Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan ...... 8 Printed in the U.S.A. The Master Race and the Chosen People, Rabbi Yaakov Feilman ...... 12 RABBI NISSON WOLPIN Editor Reh Pesach Pruskin ,r,"!il'T of Kubrin, Chaim Shapiro ...... 18 Books in Review Editorial Board DR. ERNST l. BODENHEIMER Strive for Truth ...... 22 Chairman TheWayofG-d ...... 23 RABBI NATHAN BUI.MAN RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Dear Reuvain, I Was Only Getting to Know You, JOSEPH FRIEDENSON RABBI MOSHE SHERER Nissan Wolpin ...... 24 The Torah Scholar, a poem by E. Yisraeli ...... 25 THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Second Looks at the Jewish Scene Kashrus of any product or service Reassessing Alien Cults, Rabbi Elchonon Oberstein ...... 26 advertised in its pages. Postscripts

Copyrighl 1978 STaM Controls ...... 29 Reh Reuvain Grozovsky r,"!il't ...... 31 JUNE, 1978 VOL. XIII, No. 4 Typography by Compu-Scrlbe ar Art5croll Studios, ltd. Rabbi Yisroel Spira, the Chassidic Rebbe of The Bluzhever Rebbe Bluzhev, is heir to the dynasty of the B'nai Yisos' char, Harav Zvi Elimelech of Dinov and Remembers: the grand rabbis of Bluzhev. Before the war, Rabbi Spira was rav of Prochnik. Then came World War ll. His rebbetzin, and their only child - a daughter, her husband and their children were among the Six Million, Rabbi Spira suffered for nearly five years in a suc­ cession of labor, concentration, and death camps. His personal travail began in the ghet­ to in Lublin, a camp that was commanded by a notorious sadist. Out of perhaps half a million people who passed through the Lublin Ghetto, there are only fourteen known survivors. Rabbi Spira has many memories, They are a panorama of tribute to the Jewish people, They are tales of strength, courage, faith, resistance, self-sacrifice, holiness. They are expressions of people - great and simple, men and women, religious and non-religious - who knew that their cause, and not the Embers Midst murderers', would ultimately prevail, people whose great wish was that they not lose their inner strength and that they not be forgotten. the Ruins The following columns recount a few of those memories - just a few. They are isolated in­ - Reminiscences overheard stances, perhaps, but they paint a picture in which pride overcomes pathos and light by Rabbi Nasson Scherman banishes darkness,

IN THE Bluzhever Rav's beis midrash, as in hundreds crowded together in the ghetto square waiting for their of others, each Yorn Tov ends with Neilas HaChag, a own Final Solution. The Bluzhever Rav was one of soulful, joyful gathering of refreshment, song and them. The Gerrer Rebbetzin, wife of the late Reb Yisroel Torah. But the Bluzhever Beis Midrash in Brooklyn is 7"?1YT and her son Rabbi Leibel ,,,,;r were there. They different. Neilas HaChag always concludes with a live­ and other great and ordinary people spoke to one ly singing and dancing of l,~)17 7~ 1'hJ<'1, May they all another, giving each other strength as they prepared to come to serve You, from the Rosh Hashana - Yorn go together in sanctification of the Name. (After the Kippur liturgy. That V'ye'esoyu goes back to 1941 in war, the Bluzhever Rav wrote to the Gerrer Rebbe in­ the ghetto of Lublin. Tens of thousands of Jews were forming him of the greatness of spirit with which his nearest ones faced their end.) RABBI YISROEL SPIRA, B/uzhever Rebbe X"u•7tv, is a member of the /'v1ocfzes Cedolei liaTorah (Council of Torah Sages) of Agudath Another person in that group was Rabbi Yehuda fsn1d of America. Leib Orlean ,,,,;r who was one of the key figures in the RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN is co-editor of the ArtScrol/ Tanach establishment and growth of the Bais Yaakov move­ S1·ries 1111d !'di ts Olorneinu, Torah Umesorah's magazine for children. ment.

Tiu' ]f'Wish ()bserver I June, 1978 3 Rabbi Orlean said to the Bluzhever Rav, "Tonight is (work supervisor) in Lemberg was a Jew named Shimini Atzeres. We have no sefer Torah with which to Schneeweiss. Like many Jews in his position, his fawn­ rejoice, but at least we can say the Atta Horeiso ing desire to please his masters in return for an extra prayer." portion of bread or an extra day of life often made him seem even more cruel than they. The Nazis, in turn, en­ With that, Rabbi Orlean raised his beautiful, power­ joyed the spectacle of Jew persecuting Jew. ful voice in the words that had always signaled the out­ break of joy, the tingle that was the prelude to the Now, Yorn Kippur was on the way. Fasting could be hakafos (Torah circuits) of Shimini Atzeres and managed. It would mean placing oneself in mortal Simchas Torah. danger, because the ·foul rations were below the sub­ sistence level in any case and the labor required even 11::i7n px nip1:n

4 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 sensed something wrong. And if there was so much as a No, the Rav replies. In his nearly five years in the speck of dirt to be found anywhere in the house, they most inhuman conditions, he remembers no Jew who would pay with their lives - or worse!. was bitter, regretting having been born a Jew. They So it was that on Yorn Kippur an unusual prayer ser­ were incredibly determined not to lose their dignity, the vice was held by Rabbi Spira and fourteen young men. pride in their Jewishness. They refused to be broken. The rabbi would stand on a windowsill polishing the glass while the men were sweeping, dusting, tidying - * * * * and all the while he would be leading them in the solemn prayers as he had led congregations for many years in Galicia, but never had the Yorn Kippur Service IN ONE of the camps, the Bluzhever Rav was been as fervent or as tearful. assigned to saw wood in an open field. As he wielded his saw he witnessed one of the most barbaric scenes in At mid-day, a tray was brought in with food. It lay the five years he had endured. An order had gone out on a table ignored as the praying and cleaning con­ that all women with infants less than four weeks of age tinued. Then a few German officers entered to admire were to be rounded up. The box-cars had pulled into the work of their servants for the day. They examined the concentration camp and were disgorging their the rooms and were pleased - until they saw the food. pitiful cargo of sick, starved, weakened mothers who "Judische Hunde, freszt! Stuff yourselves, Jewish had but recently given birth, clutching their tiny, cry­ dogs!" ing, hungry babies. One mother began to scream. The Jews could not ignore the order. What should "A messer, a knife! A knife! Give me a knife!" they do? Rabbi Spira walked to the officers and ex­ The Rav dropped his saw and ran to her. plained: "Don't even think such a thing. No matter how terri­ "It is our Holy Day, the day when sins are forgiven. ble the suffering, you dare not kill youself. We must As you have seen, we serve you loyally, even on this have faith in the mercy of the Ribono shel Olam. We sacred day, and our work is perfect. But we are required must try to live. This suffering will not last.. .. " to fast today and we ask of you to excuse us from eating our meal today. Our work will continue and it will not He didn't finish talking. An SS guard sent him be affected by hunger." sprawling with a savage blow to the back of the head and another one to the face. The officers were furious. They sent for Schneeweiss. Quaking, the Ordenungs Dienst came to "Dog!. Traitor!. What were you plotting with her? the room. "These dogs refuse to eat their rations. You Tell me the truth or I'll kill you!" are responsible for them. We shall return in two hours "I encourage no plots. The woman wanted a knife to - and if all their food is not eaten, you will be shot." kill herself. I told her our religion does not permit us to Schneiweiss stood up straight and unbuttoned his kill ourselves. We must try to remain healthy to do our shirt, baring his chest. "I will not force them to eat. I am work." fasting myself today. If you wish to shoot me, then The guard went to the woman still holding her tiny shoot me now!" infant. "What did he tell you?" he demanded. An officer drew his gun and Schneeweiss stood firm. "He said I should not kill myself. That I must try to A shot. He was dead. Hated Schneeweiss had become live." holy Schneeweiss. Who can estimate the great heights to which every Jewish soul can rise? Then the Germans "Why did he think you wanted to kill yourself?" turned to the fifteen Jews who were ready for the same "Because I asked for a knife." treatment. The guard laughed. He pulled a knife from his coat "You will continue to work. The food will be and handed it to her. Then he stepped back to enjoy the removed and you will receive not a scrap to eat until sight of the cowardly Jewish woman murdering her tomorrow morning. Go back to work!" baby and killing herself. Gently she put the child down on the ground and un­ * * * * did his clothes. She looked up at the sky and said, "Sweet Father, you gave me a pure Jewish child. One expects flashes of greatness from distinguished Now he is eight days old and we are being taken to die. I people, and crisis can call forth unfathomed heroism return him to You as a pure and holy Jew." even from ordinary people. But what of the broad mas­ ses? Weren't they bitter? Surely they could not have She recited the bracha: "Blessed are You, Hashem, risen to the challenge. our G-d, King of the universe Who has sanctified us

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 5 with His commandments and has commanded us con­ of the barracks and shot dead without provocation. cerning circumcision. There wasn't enough time that afternoon to remove all the bodies, so all day long, the prisoners walked by and And she took the Nazi knife and circumcized her stepped over the grisly reminders of the morning's ter­ child. ror. But that night it would be Chanuka and a menora must be lit. With what? PAIR of tefillin was smuggled into the camp The prisoners wore wooden shoes that were dyed A and kept secret from the Nazis. To be found black by women inmates. The shoe dye was flammable with them would mean death or torture, but people and it could serve as oil; some was smuggled out of the waited in line to don the tefillin and say a swift Krias camp factory. Threads were pulled from sweaters by Shema before passing them on to the next person. All the women and woven into wicks. The word spread in the Jews knew, but there were no informers and the whispers. That night there would be a "secret" Maariv Nazis never knew. But when could one don those minyan followed by the kindling of Chanuka lights. precious tefillin? The Jews were roused before dawn to The Bluzhever Rav led the Maariv service. Then he go to their forced labor and they did not return to their recited the three blessings of the first light of Chanuka barracks until after dark. It fell to the Bluzhever Rav to and lit the menora. Thousands of Jews joined in the decide whether or not a Jew should put on tefillin at ceremony. They all knew the danger of discovery, but night. He ruled that under the circumstances they they were undeterred. should, and the little boxes and black straps infused Zomatchkovsky approached the Rav and asked, countless Jews with the inspirational knowledge that "Rav Spira, there is one thing I do not understand. You G-d is One. said the prayers and upheld the tradition you believe in There were no siddurim in the death camp, but every - good! But how could you bring yourself to say the now and then a prisoner would find a piece of paper blessing of Shehechiyanu - how dare you thank G-d and pencil, write down a prayer and paste it to a wall in for allowing us to live for this horrible time of torture, some out-of-the-way spot where his comrades could death, and hunger? Haven't you made a mockery of our surreptitiously recite it unbeknown to the guards. suffering?" There was no shofar in the camps, but how could The Bluzhever Rav answered, "You ask a very good Jews contemplate Rosh Hashana without a shofar? question. I too was wondering how I could joyfully Somehow, a shofar was smuggled into the camp and recite that blessing, but then I looked around and what blown softly on Rosh Hashana. There were places did I see? Thousands of Jews gathered together to where the Jew who dared to blow a shofar was caught watch the kindling. They have a right to give up hope, and publicly tortured to death, but that did not stop but they insist on remaining Jews. Never have we seen Jews from smuggling again and blowing again and such a demonstration of Jewish courage and strength. listening again to the sound that proclaimed that one For that alone it is sufficient to thank the Creator for day all would know that He is One and His Name is giving us the privilege to be alive and to see the One. greatness of our people! You see all these Jews and yet you persist in asking. You amaze me! You know our These people were the quiet heroes, the ones no one history. When you speak of Jewish suffering during knew before the war and who, if they survived, became the Inquisition and the Chmielnicki massacres, you ad­ ordinary shopkeepers, businessmen, housewives, and mire those Jews for having the courage to rebuild , yet clerks. But they had within themselves the legacy of you think that you have suffered more than they - that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - so in their own furnace, you have the right to surrender and give up hope. What on their own Akeida, and surrounded by enemies, they makes you think that you have suffered more than any were not found wanting. other Jew in history? No! We do not give up. We are proud that we have lived to see thousands of Jews who will never give up and who prove that we will rebuild again!" WHEN Chezkel Frankel returned from a visit to Warsaw, he brought regards to the Bluzhever Years later, the non-religious Bundist was still Rav from a strange source, a non-believing former grateful to the Chassidic rebbi for giving him the Polish Bundist leader named Zomatchkovsky who said strength to survive the war and rebuild in his own way. simply, "Tell Rabbi Spira that he saved me. He will un­ derstand." Frankel delivered the message and waited for an explanation. IT WAS two weeks before Pesach and there was no On an Erev Chanuka in Bergen-Belsen, a random matzah. The Bluzhever Rav approached Comman­ selection was made. The Germans went from barrack to dant Hass of the death camp, with an audacious re­ barrack and pointed to prisoners. They were taken out quest: b The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 "We wish to celebrate our religious holiday by bak­ who should receive portions of matzah for if we ever ing matzah. We do not ask for extra rations. All we ask escape this Mitzrayim, they are the future." is that we be given flour instead of bread and that we be Responsibility for children was more than rhetoric to permitted to build a small brick oven for ourselves. All her. In the camp, she learned of someone who had a the work will be done outside of our regular working Bernfeld Tanach with German translation. She bought hours." it for three pounds of bread - an enormous fortune in The officer said that the request would be fowarded the currency of hunger and suffering - so that she to Berlin. To the amazement of all, the answer was not could use it to teach the children, as indeed she did for to execute the "dogs" who dared ask, but to grant them over two years. Eloquent, passionate, persuasive - she the privilege. carried the day and in a hora'as sha'a (an extraordinary decision) the children were given matzah. That Seder During those busy pre-Pesach days, one of the night, the Bluzhever Rav conducted a Seder for the women in the camp went into labor. She was taken to a children of the death camp. Instead of living in freedom nearby hospital to give birth. With her, someone smug­ and learning about slavery and redemption, he taught gled out a letter addressed to Switzerland. The letter them, who were living in slavery, of the hope of described the inhuman conditions in the camp and beg­ redemption and freedom. He interpreted the Four ged that some way be found to send food packages to Questions to reflect the concentration camp experience. prevent starvation. Ordinarily, patients going to He told them that 0'1:lll, slaves, is composed of the ini­ hospitals were able to find ways to foward letters, but tials of ln'llllO l1:lll 'lll' p 111, David son of Jesse, Your this one didn't. The letter was discovered on her person servant, Your anointed. He told them that one day they and sent back to Commandant Hass. He was furious would look back at that bitterest of exile-nights as the and he was determined to vent his rage on the Rabbiner prelude of a new redemption. Today, those children, for whom he had just done a favor. who had learned from a Tanach bought with bread and eaten matzos baked with tears, are leaders in the rebirth "Rabbiner Spira, I was kind enough to let you bake of Torah in America, England, and Israel. your filthy matzos and then you repay me by sending out this ungrateful lying letter!"

The Rav answered calmly that he knew nothing of WHEN the war ended, the Bluzhever Rab was the letter and had no hand in dispatching it. totally alone, and broken in everything except spirit. He told his dear friend Reb Isaac Yaroslaver, "But you are the Rabbiner. Either you know who "What does it matter - my children or your children? sent it or you can find out. If you do not inform me As long as there are still Jewish children and the nation within twenty-four hours who is responsible for this has a future." letter, I will have you shot." He recalled the passionate wish of the Kedoshim The Bluzhever Rav answered, "I repeat that I know from among the Six Million that he knew. They wanted nothing of the letter. If I did know or if I find out who not to be forgotten. They wanted their Yahrzeit to be is responsible I will not tell you. Therefore, you should remembered and most of all, their bravery and deter­ shoot me now." mination to become part of the Jewish legacy. The Chanuka, the matzos, the V'ye'esoyu, Schneiweiss's Hass turned to leave. Why the notorious murderer final fast, the tefillin - the countless acts of devotion did not add one more victim to his list, no one knows. that surely led Hashem Yisborach to reaffirm that Israel With his jackboot, he smashed the little matzah oven is f,K:i ,nK '1l, a unique nation on earth. and went his way. He had hoped that the survivors would gather to tell Matzos had been baked, however. Now the question their tales and have them recorded. It happened only was how they should be divided. The preponderant rarely, but he is grateful that there are stirrings now. opinion was that they should be given to adults who Hopefully, succeeding generations will realize and were required by the Torah to eat matzah. Children had marvel at the bravery and steadfastness the kedoshim no such requirement and therefore should not be per­ displayed in the midst of utter helplessness. mitted to deplete the scarce supply of matzos. There He had another hope and he prays that it not be was a stray voice raised in opposition, however - the frustrated. He was sure that after the ashes were sifted voice of a woman. and the few living sparks salvaged from the destruc­ In the camp was a widow who cared for her two sons tion, the surviving individuals and groups would rush and three nephews throughout the war. She came from to embrace one another in an unprecedented upsurge of a distinguished family to which she added personal Ahavas Yisroel. With so few left, how could there be stature. "We must rebuild the Jewish people with our room for rivalry and jealousy? He shakes his head sadly children," she argued. "They are precisely the ones at the reality and prays that the madness will cease.!.'!'.

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 7 Aryeh Kaplan

Who Shall Render the Decisions? Meeting the Need

In a Yissachar-Zevulun relationship, one person most promising Torah scholar - possibly a future supports another who is devoting his time and energies gadol (Torah giant) - was forced to take time off from to Torah-study, thereby gaining a share in the merit of his Torah studies to do piece work! How much longer the scholar's sacred endeavors (See "The Partnership," would Yochanan be able to continue his studies at all, at JO Jan. 78 ). A number of businessmen have been put­ this rate? - And if he entered the business world, what ting this concept into practice on a fairly large scale, in­ a loss this would be! volving Torah scholars totally immersed in some of the "How much do you need?" asked Zeb. most difficult areas of Torah study. The story of the formation of one such group and the course it is "With an extra $80 a week, we could get by." charting is a fascinating one, as follows. Nothing further was said at that session. That night, Mr. Zeb could not sleep. For the lack of a miserable $80 a week, the Jewish people stood in danger The Piece-Work Drop-Out of losing a potential leader ... a mere $4000 a year. Perhaps he could even take the money out of his own It began six years ago. A successful investment pocket. Business had been good that year ... but a broker, whom we shall refer to as "Mr. Zeb," had set $40,000 bite out of an individual's income is still a major aside time each morning for personal Torah study with sum. - Yet, how could he just sit by and do nothing? Yochanan, a young man whom he knew as one of the most promising young scholars in a nearby kolel. One At that time, Mr. Zeb's eldest daughter was entering morning, Mr. Zeb found Yochanan somewhat fatigued her teens. In not too many years, she would marry. One - even his mind, usually sharp as a razor, seemed dull. of Mr. Zeb's fondest dreams was that her husband Mr. Zeb chose not to comment, but when the situation would be a talmid chacham (Torah scholar), who would persisted for a week or two, he inquired if anything was continue studying after their wedding. It would be his amiss. greatest pleasure to support his son-in-law while he studied Torah. Somehow, the money would be there. Yochanan shrugged off the question, but when Mr. Zeb pressed the point, he admitted that he had taken a But that would be years hence. The kolel man's part-time job, from 4 to 9 each evening, doing piece problem was right now. What if he strained his work. His family had expanded, and without some ex­ finances and took the $4000 a year out of his pocket. tra income, he could simply not survive. The bite would hurt, but wouldn't it be worth it? Was his present-day responsibility toward Kial Yisroel (the Piece work! Mr. Zeb was aghast. This young man, a entire Jewish people) any less than his future respon­ siblity toward the man, still unbeknown to him, whom RABBI KAPLAN, a frequent contributor to JO, has written a number of his daughter would someday marry? original

8 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 you the $80 each week, would you be able to study full­ was a major tragedy in Mr. Zeb's eyes .... Before long, time without interruption?" Moshe joined Yochanan as Mr. Zeb's second partner. The young man was flustered. "But you're my friend' How could I ever take money from you? I know The Crucial Years your business is good, but you're not that wealthy. I couldn't take such a favor from you." Our sages teach that when one expends money for any charity, including support for Torah study, 'Tm not giving you anything. Think of yourself as Providence pays it back with interest. This is the only having a highly successful business, and I want to buy area in which it is even permissible to test G-d. Mr. Zeb in. What you'll be giving me is much more valuable had drawn his business partner into his Torah invest­ than what I'll be paying. If anything, you'll be doing ments, and the results became a concrete example of me a favor. this principle. The business was now expending over "Some men," Mr. Zeb continued, "are willing to $10,000 a year in support of Torah scholars, and at the place their money in a bank and merely let it draw in­ same time, their business had so expanded that they terest. I was never like that. Whenever I had extra were ready to increase their obligations further. money, I always looked for a business deal where I had "Everytime we made a business deal," Mr. Zeb ex­ a direct hand in earning my profits. I try to give plained, "we had our Torah partners in mind. If a deal generously to important charities, but this is just put­ would prove unsuccessful, not only would we be losing ting money in the bank. My partnership with you will money - we might, Heaven forbid, also be losing give me a chance to have a direct hand in the 'business,' Torah." and allow me to grow with you." And the dividends grew for both Mr. Zeb and an ex­ Reluctantly, Yochanan agreed, and a classical panding group of Yissachar's, making a marked dif­ Yissachar-Zevulun partnership was formed. During ference to them during the most crucial years in an in­ the initital few months, the $80 a week was not that dividual's advancement toward greatness. easy for Mr. Zeb to provide. Luxuries to which his family had grown accustomed had to be foregone, and Most yeshiva students terminate their formal studies when business was slow, the pinch actually hurt. But in their early twenties, usually when they get married. then, inexorably, his business began to improve. Before A small proportion of the total yeshiva population con­ long, his income had increased so that the $4000 a year tinues in kolel after marriage, some studying into their had been more than adequately replaced. late twenties. By then, the pressures of supporting a family usually impel them to seek other means of livelihood. Thus, very few students can practically af­ Moshe - the "Milkman" ford to study Torah full-time into their thirties and At this time, Moshe, another of Mr. Zeb's friends, beyond. was also experiencing financial problems in kolel. His Our sages teach that out of every thousand students family was also growing, and he too needed additional who enter the beis hamidrash, one will emerge as a true income. Torah leader. The other thousand are by no means un­ Moshe learned of a milk route that in two or three important. They provide leadership on many levels - hours per day could yield just enough, while allowing as yeshiva lecturers, teachers, rabbis, scribes, and often him to spend most of his time at study. Then another as businessmen who support Torah. But out of the elef offer came: a major Brooklyn yeshiva would engage (thousand), there is always the echad - the one who him as a maggid shiur (lecturer) to older students. It can be expected to become one of the unique Torah was tempting, since it would allow him to remain in the leaders of all Jewry. Torah world full-time. The knowledge and insight that this echad must Moshe consulted a prominent Chassidic leader who develop are so vast as to defy simple description. knew him well. He advised the milk route: "I know Whereas a person can develop into an appreciable your capabilities. You have great promise as a scholar. Torah scholar by his early thirties, the true leader must If you take the milk route, you will spend the rest of the remain totally immersed in Torah for many more years, day studying Torah at your present high level. But if perhaps until he is well into his forties, or even later. you take the yeshiva job, you will remain a teacher. His education is an investment that all Jewry must Teaching Torah is important but your gifts demand make if it is to have future Torah leadership. something else from you." The Chafetz Chaim (Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan) was Moshe took the milk route. A few weeks later, Mr. the leading Torah sage of the early part of this century. Zeb bumped into Moshe delivering his milk. Zeb was It is well-known that he did not enter the public arena shocked. That a superior scholar should be forced to until the last thirty years of his life, when he was well take off several hours from his study to deliver milk into his sixties. He merited living past ninety, and dur-

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 9 ing his last thirty years, in addition to guiding world A Torah leader deals with many areas of Torah Jewry through several major crises, he also wrote some scholarship, and all are important. Among them is the of the most important Torah classics. work of the poseik - the authority on Jewish law - The Chazon !sh (Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz) who is equipped to apply Torh principles to practical was once asked, "Wouldn't it have been better for the cases. Only he can determine the Torah's answers to the Chofetz Chaim to have begun his public life earlier? myriad halachic questions confronting each generation. Just think how much more he could have ac­ While many young Torah scholars do have expertise in complished!" various areas of Torah law, a true poseik must have thorough knowledge of all four parts of the Shulchan Replied the Chazon !sh, "Had he begun earlier, he Aruch, as well as the Responsa - the huge body of case would never have been the Chofetz Chaim. The pres­ law that has developed around its every paragraph in sures of public life would have prevented him from the course of centuries. Rare is the young man so developing into the Torah giant that could provide true equipped. leadership."

One gadol explained, "The recent cataclysm of Helping the Process Churban Europe almost desroyed the body of the Jewish people. Until now, our job has been primarily to As these concepts were presented to Mr. Zeb, an idea rebuild the body. This has been done by the many began taking shape in his mind: At times, the natural yeshivos, girls' Torah schools and kolelim that have process by which the One emerges from the Thousand been built. But now we must rebuild the head. We must needs prompting and support. In fact, it is sometimes provide for future Torah leaders." necessary to use extraordinary means to stimulate the end-result - to produce the outstanding Rosh Yeshiva, poseik, or authoritative scholar that would have A Desperate Need emerged on his own in a more leisurely era. Mr. Zeb When Mr. Zeb embarked on his career of aiding decided to concentrate on preparing poskim. young kolel men, he had no particular goal in mind. But Discussions with rabbonim had revealed that a a number of events were to help crystalize his goals. young man who had already obtained semicha (rab­ One of his neighbors was involved in an important din binical ordination on portions of Yore De'ah, one sec­ Torah, and wanted the case to be adjudicated strictly tion of the Codes), could complete the rest of the according to Torah law, as set forth in Choshen Shulchan Aruch in depth in approximately ten years. Mishpat, the section of the Shulchan Aruch (Code of By the end of that period, he would be qualified to Jewish Law) dealing with monetary laws. After ap­ render opinions in every area of Jewish law. During proaching a number of prominent rabbis, he discovered these ten years, the young men would have to be totally that he could not find one sufficiently expert in free of all financial worries. This meant paying him Choshen Mishpat willing to decide the case on its pure­ considerably more than the usual kolel stipend, approx­ ly legal merits. (There were, of course, men who could, imating the salary of a better-paying teaching job. but they were either without the time or the energy re­ quired to engage in the protracted ligitation that such a Mr. Zeb discussed the idea with several business as­ case would involve.) sociates, and he found two colleagues, each willing to support a young man for ten years. With the other man Mr. Zeb then learned about a meeting attended by who already was his partner, they formed a nucleus of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and a number of other promi­ four. Thus, the Meehan HaHora'a was born. nent Roshei Yeshiva (yeshiva heads). During theses­ sion, Reb Moshe remarked, "People are constantly ask­ This was a serious undertaking, not an enterprise for ing me questions. My phone rings every five minutes. mere dilettantes. Young men taken into the Mechon - In time, I would like to turn over the phone to someone all musmachim (ordained), with the highest recommen­ else. Please provide me with someone." dations from their Roshei Yeshiva - were required to sign a written agreement to spend ten years in Torah The report of Rabbi Feinstein's words made a study, and to complete all four sections of the Shulchan profound impression on Mr. Zeb, and he discussed the Aruch in this time. Periodic examinations, both written problem with other prominent Torah figures. A Torah and oral, would be given to measure their proficiency. giant such as Rabbi Feinstein is constantly called upon Fellows of the Mechon would also have to write to make decisions that can determine the course of teshuvos (responsa) on test problems, so as to gain Judaism for generations to come. Despite his advanced practical experience in rendering decisions. years, Reb Moshe was handling a load that would stag­ ger many a younger man. But he was also concerned During a recent visit to the Mechon, I found eight about decisions yet to be made. Where were the young young men studying in pairs, so involved in Choshen men currently being trained to take the reins? - to Mishpat that they hardly noticed my entry. They were whom could he "turn over the phone"? well into the Second Section, an extremely difficult area

IO The Jewish Observer /June, 1978 of Torah litigation (To'an Ve'nitan). Mr. Zeb show me therefore raised the sights of many Torah scholars. the written examinations that the young men had Several insitutions are contemplating emulating its ap­ recently completed on the previous section, on Halva'a proach, although each will be putting stress on a dif­ (loans). It is highly unlikely that many people other ferent area of greatness in Torah. In fact, one relatively than the members of that small group of Torah scholars new kolel has set up a format for its members to com­ could pass such a test. .. Eventually, they will be plete Shas (the entire Talmud) in depth over a given equipped to decide future din Torah (litigations) either number of years. by strict interpretation of the law or binding arbitra­ tion, whichever the contestants specify. Points West Who knows from where future Torah leadership The Holy Land's Needs may come? Mr. Zeb was recently visiting the Hebrew Having successfully established the Meehan in the Institute of California, in Santa Clara, a yeshiva for United States, Mr. Zeb turned his efforts to the Holy late-starters. The yeshiva dean told him of "Nesanel,' 0 Land. There was a pragmatic reason for this: the lower who had begun his studies just two years earlier, and cost of living in Israel would permit the same amount of was obviously a boy of rare calibre, quick comprehen­ money to go much further than in the U.S. And the sion and excellent retention. need in Israel was certainly equally great. But now the boy had a practical problem. His father In one area it may even be greater. While there are a demanded that he leave his Torah studies for a college number of Ashkenazic Torah leaders, the ranks of the career. This was not a matter of ideology with the Sephardic Torah leadership have dwindled almost to father, but merely a question of how his son would the vanishing point. Of the Sephardic authorities ex­ support himself if he intends to devote himself full time tant, many work for the Israeli government as part of to Torah study. the Rabbanut, and religion and politics do make for an Mr. Zeb did something that he had never before uneasy mixture. done. He gave Nesanel a conditional contract: If after The raw material is there, for there are many brilliant he marries he will obtain semicha and otherwise meet Sephardic students enrolled in Israel's yeshivas and the qualifications, he would give him a ten-year con­ kolelim. But these budding leaders are without the tract as a fellow of the Mechon. With the document in wherewithal to study for the many years needed for hand, Nesanel was able to convince his father to allow them to blossom. Again, by prodding his business as­ him to continue his full time Torah studies. sociates, Mr. Zeb was able to find enough Zevulun's to support fourteen Sephardic Yissachars. The Insititues of Advanced Study Most important, these young Sephardim are main­ The secular world has its Institute for Advanced taining the purity of their heritage. Many Sephardic Study in Princeton, renowned as the place where Eins­ scholars who study in Ashke.nazic institutions find tein was able to work undisturbed. At the Princeton In­ their Sephardic Torah heritage washed away in their stitute, the world's leading scholars grow without hav­ Ashkenazic surroundings. Deeply involved in the ing to compete in the marketplace. The secular world works of the major Sephardic poskim, the group in realizes that intellectual leadership is essential to a na­ Jerusalem shows promise of providing the leadership to tion's survival. This concept should be all the more ob­ lift their communities to the Torah heights for which vious to Kial Yisroel, for Torah study is the very life­ they were once famed. staff of our people, and Torah knowledge provides the primary source of guidance. The Broker's Office Before World War II, there were literally hundreds of After seeing the Meehan, I visited Mr. Zeb's relative­ Torah giants, often unsung, scattered in communities ly modest office, where the Mechon's paper work is across Europe. In his relentless pursuit of the Final done, eliminating overhead expenses. "I don't want to Solution, Hitler destroyed metropolises and shtetlach - run an institution," explained Mr. Zeb. "I am nothing their rabbis and teachers, guides and poskim, yeshivos more than a Torah broker. I try to match people with and shtieblach. Now the contemporary Jewish com­ the Torah capability together with business men who munity is in the process of developing a new generation will support them." of Torah giants of its own. Although the Mechon has avoided publicity, its ac­ If a person would have provided the financial sup­ tivities are becoming known in the Torah world. The port for the Chofetz Chaim or Chazon !sh to become Meehan is giving its kolel men a structured program what they did, imagine his merit! But there are people with a definite goal: if they excel in their studies, they today who may be providing the means for the will have a specific role to play in meeting the needs of emergence of the Chafetz Chaim's and Chazon Ish's of Kial Yisroel. The mere existence of such a place has ~efu~re. ~

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 11 HOLOCAUST ... SHOAH ... CHU RB AN. caust" studies, the enemy is almost forgotten. After a third of a century, we have, at least in the Especially in Torah circles, the Nazi ogre is almost literal sense, begun to "come to terms" with the erased from the picture. We are taught to accept devastating events of World War//. Torah Jewry and learn to repent from our past - and indeed, has learned to discard the terms coined in grief or this is an essential part of the pattern of Jewish politics and accept the designation our sages have history. But it is crucial to remember that there used for millenia to describe Jewish suffering: was a particular villain here as well. The Nazis CHURBAN. 1 Yet, whatever name we give to that were not merely inert tools of Divine wrath2 but awesome nightmare, our discussions and analyses conscious and diabolical servants of evil. It is now of the destruction of European Jewry often take a clear, although there were indications even then, dangerously self-torturing path. On the ideolo­ that the malignancy infecting Nazi Europe gical "right," we agonize over the alleged "sins" of traveled through a bloodstream poisoned by a this community or that which led to G-d's wrath; specific ideology. Just as Pharaoh had to convince and on the "left," we torment ourselves and his people that the Jews were dangerous to the desecrate the memories of these courageous Jews prosperity and even survival of the Egyptians, so who were murdered, by obscenely condemning too would Hitler's evil machinations have been those who "went to their deaths like sheep." impossible on such a mass scale without the tools Strangely, in all this flurry of recent "Halo- of rationalization and justification.'

The Master Race and The Chosen People: -A Look at the Nazi Ideology in a Torah Light ------·by Yaakov Feitman Concepts in Collision 1943, "We had the moral right to wipe out this people 5 Much has been written about the philosophical and bent on wiping us out." For he, like other Nazis, ideological underpinnings of Nazi propaganda. Various recognized two prime powers in the world, the Jewish Nation and the German - as personified ultimately in antecedents - Nietzsche, H.S. Chamberlain, Schopenhauer - have been cited. Yet, for the Jew with the chosen elite of Aryanism. even a half-sensitive ear, the single concept in Nazi If we become uneasy at the juxtaposition, we must doctrine which proclaims itself the loudest is contained nevertheless recognize its existence. As an example of in the phrase: The Master Race. Indeed, one can hear in the persistence of this problem in "post-Holocaust the­ Aryanism a direct challenge to the concept: "cn"i11 ology," a Commentary magazine symposium in 1966 n':ino Cll 'r, And you shall be to Me a treasured Nation" posed five questions which it deemed crucial and - the election of Israel. pivotal to an ideological stance. Participating were fifty The Germans openly recognized this diametric op­ five rabbis - Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, position between Nazi "Masterdom" and Jewish Reconstructionist, and unaffiliated. One of the ques­ "Chosenness."' In fact, Himmler attempted to justify tions was: "In what sense do you believe that the Jews genocide as a perverted preemptive strike (as sort of are the chosen people of G-d? How do you answer the 1l"1n':i C~1!1'1 ll"1n\? K::in) when he announced at Posen in charge that this doctrine is the model from which various theories of national and racial superiority have RABBI FEJTMAN is principal of Yeshiva Rabbi Jacob Joseph in Staten been derived?"6 Island, N. Y., and editor of JUOAJSCOPE, Agudath Israel's Jewish Pocket Book Series II now in preparation. Rabbi Feitman (with Rabbi The very fact that a prominent group of editors and Fei~erman) prepared Rabbi Hutner's discourse on "Holocaust" for Jewish intellectuals should deem this question among publication in the Oct. '77 JO. the five most basic to Jewish belief is an indicator of the

12 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 uneasiness of the secular Jewish mind with the concept about the presence of any similarity at all. What, after of being chosen by G-d. Indeed, of the thirty-eight all, is the meaning behind this correspondence? responses, almost all the Reform and many of the Conservative respondents attempted to wriggle out of The Vexing Similarity terms such as "chosen" and "election of Israel" or "mission of Israel" by appealing to the Torah's fairness Two typical non Torah treatments of this similarity to gentiles, statements such as "Christianity is the true come to mind, which are indicative of the dangers in- religion for Christians and Judaism is the true religion for Jews" (Solomon Freehoff), and other disclaimers of I. See the article on this subject based on a discourse by Rabbi uniqueness. Yitzchok Hutner K"O't,l!.1 in the October, 1977 issue of The Jewish Torah-true Jews readily accept both the yoke and the Observer and the "review" article in the January, 1978 issue. glory of being the Am Hanivchar (Chosen People). 2. It is noteworthy that as recently as the Eichmann trial, Dr. Ser~ Apologetics are unnecessary and our suffering for our vatius (Eichmann's defense counsel) used the "Divine purpose" chosenness has more than compensated for any debt drgument in defense of his killer client. "The death of six million," he that perverse elements in the world would exact upon asserted, "was part of a higher purpose and in recompense for an us for our pride in our status. Yet, as the phrase earlier and greater crime against G-d, thereby joining the modern trial "Master Race" grates on our ear and offends our mind in Jerusalem with one held twenty centuries before." Of course, we need not dignify Servatius's argument with a formal and heart, our own Am Hanivchar comes to mind and answer. However, for our own edification, it is worth knowing that we may fall silent, not knowing exactly how to deal the Ramban (Nachmanides) dealt with an apposite issue over seven with the strange parallel. It is as if we see ourselves in centuries ago. I am grateful to Rabbi Mordechai Weinberg K"tJ'71!.1 an amusement park house-of-mirrors, one feature dis­ Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Merkas Ha Torah of Montreal for pointing torted out of all proportion - ugly, almost un­ out th€' Ramban's answer (Bereishis 15, 14) to the Rambam's recognizable; but we still have the uncanny feeling that (Maimonides) question concerning why Pharaoh was punished for we are looking into a mirror. afflicting the Jews when actually he was only fulfilling a Divine decree. After refuting the Rambam's own answer to this crucial ques­ The Definitive Difference tion, the Ramban states: "Know and understand that [although} on the New Year a person has been inscribed and sealed for a violent Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky J<"t:l'':>lll, in a recently death, the bandits who kill him will not be guiltless [on the basis of published essay, deals with this sensitive issue: the claim} that they merely have fulfilled that which had been decreed "People mock us because of our self-concept as the against hi1n. The wicked man shall die in his iniquity (Yechezkiel Chosen People. I think il was Shaw who said the Nazis 3:18). but his blood will be sought from the murderer." Rabbi look anti-Semitism from the Jews; they just embel­ Elchonon Wasserman is even more explicit in his interpretation of the lished it. But (he claims) the idea of racial superiority Ramban, asserting that "no person can die unless the L-rd has originated with the Jews' claim lo chosen-ness .... The decreed that it be so; nevertheless, the murderer is punishable by truth is, we cannot be racists. The Talmud asks, Why death" (Koveitz Maamorim: "C'n!:n C'J'YJJ yin C'l'.HV ,,,:i 7::>i1"). did G·d create man alone? (unlike the animal kingdom 3. According to the Gaon of Vilna ?"YT, even the wicked Pharaoh, where a male and female of each species were created)? dealing with the wicked Egyptian people, could not simply enact as So no man could say to another, 'My father is greater barbaric a decree as the killing of every male Jewish child. Thus, the than your father.' (Sanhedrin 38a). 7 Gaon explains, when the Gemora (Sotah llb) states that Pharaoh "Then what of our 'Chosen People' concept? How gave the Jewish midwives a way of telling if the fetus was male or are we different from the Nazis? The answer is, every female, the i1nplication is that only if they could make it appear as person can become a member of the 'Chosen People,' though the children were stillborn could Pharaoh "get away with it." while according to Nazi doctrine, you had to be born an Thi:., although Pharaoh was an absolute monarch and surely a strong Aryan; you could never become one." s ruler~ (See Divrei E/iyahu: Shemos 1,1.) Hitler, too, could not have involved an entire nation in his obscenties without a deep As Rabbi Hutner J<"l:f'':>lll says (in the Oct., 1977 philosophical or practical motivation. JO), we ourselves have often forgotten (and indeed this 4. This was expressed as early as 1873, in Wilhelm Marr's book, The is more pleasant to forget than to keep constantly in Victory of Jewry Over Teutonism (Germanentum). mind) that one of the paramount characteristics of our 5. Quoted by Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism suffering. nation is in its pattern of Nowhere in our (London,1958),. p. 429. literature is there a claim that we deserve or demand more from the world than we give because we are 6. Published in book form as The Condition of Jewish Belief (New "chosen." On the contrary, our history reveals that York: The MacMillan Company, 1966). blemishes and peccadilloes which would have been ig­ 7. On the Torah's strong statements concerning the brotherhood of nored in another nation were the cause of severe man, see also Yerushalmi Nedarim Chapter 9, 41C; Tosfos Yorn Tov on Avos 3:14; and Seder Eliyahu Rabba, Chapfer 18. It is clear from punishment and chastisement to the Nation of Israel. these and other sources that nowhere is chosenness seen a:. a privilege Undoubtedly, Rabbi Kamenetzky's delineation should or "right" but as a moral yoke and obligation toward ourselves and have answered questions about the ostensible similarity mankind. between the racism of Aryan ideology and the concept 8. Han1enafiel, published by Torah Umesorah, Nissan 5736, pp.17- of Am Hanivchar. Yet, the gnawing question remains 18.

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 13 herent in misinterpreting this important doctrine - one Rabbi Rubenstein apparently had difficulty from a non-Jew, one from a Jew. Wyndham Lewis, one accepting this, and Gruber had to insist with con­ of the most prolific and influential "men of letters" of siderable emotion, the Twentieth Century, is an excellent example of one "/don't say this about ISrael; G-d says this in the Bible who obviously bristled and was indeed angered by the and I believe it." Jewish claim of chosenness. Lewis had been influenced After a lengthy exposition of his discussion with by Pound, Eliot and company for much of the 30's into Dean Gruber on this subject, Rubenstein concludes his thinking Hitler a saviour, at worst - or harmless, at chapter: best. 9 By 1939, however, he had "repented" and in The Hitler Cult, disavowed his earlier infatuation. Wishing "As long as we continue lo hold lo the doctrine of the to clear himself of charges of anti-Semitism and moral election of Israel, we leave ourselves open to the theology expressed by Dean Gruber, that, because the support for the enemy, Lewis then wrote a book prais­ Jews are G-d's Chosen Peoole. G-d wanted Hiller lo ing Jewish contributions to the world. He sought to punish them." 12 characterize the Jewish people as Underlying Rubenstein's rejection of the Am "one who have many faults, like the rest of us (among which an exasperating idea that they have been es­ Hanivchar concept is the fear of the elitist label. If we pecially picked out by the All-father as his favorite race can ignore for the moment the shame of a Jew being is nol the least, and is not rendered any more endearing taught our noble place by a gentile theologian, we must by reason of the Nazi Aryan imitation) but who deal with Rubenstein's agony at being compared nevertheless, as a race, have acted as a leaven very ideologically with the Nazis. Why, indeed, must this often, in the more stodgy and backward of the Euro­ striking parallel exist? pean societies, adding the lustre of their irrepressible wil to what would otherwise have been a grim, dull From One Womb business." 10 In his published works, Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner Once one han unravelled the tight strands of Lewis's l<"IJ'?tv has attributed the source of Eisav's power over prose, the parenthetical "exasperation" with the Jewish Yaakov, whenever he has momentarily succeeded, to Nation for being preoccupied with its uniqueness can his status as Yaakov's twin. The significance of this cir- be seen as a subconscious and psychologically sound indictment of the Jews: "Don't complain to me; you 9. Lewis, like many intellectuals of the ZO's, had fallen victim to the brought it on yourselves." spel! of Hitler's promise and anti-Semitism, publishing in 1931 a Lewis, of course, did not consider his new charge groveling and sycophantic ode to Hitler: llitler, {London, Chato and anti-Semitism. He believed he was merely commenting Windus). The book was originally published in 1931 as a series of p

14 The Jewish Observer/ June, 1978 cumstance of birth stresses the inner differences rabbis that had to come to intercede for Slovakian between the two nations by highlighting the superficial Jewry to prevent their "expulsion": similarities - much as the two goats of the Yorn Kippur "This is no mere expulsion. There you will not die of service (in the time of the Temple) had to be absolutely hunger and pestilence. There - they will slaughter you all, identical in a number of aspects, to accentuate the old and young, women and children, in one day. This is your divergence in their ultimate destinations. 13 punishment for the death of our Redeemer. There is only one Rabbi Hutner goes on to illustrate that although the hope for you - to convert all to our religion. Then I shall ef­ fect the annulling of this decree." Jews have always had enemies and perhaps even imitators, only the spiritual descendants of Eisav Rabbi Michael Ber Weissmandel, too, recalls claimed to be the New Israel. The root source of Eisav' s the answer given him by the papal nuncio when enmity is not merely his wish to destroy Yaakov or Weissmandel begged him to intercede with Father even jealousy over that which he himself does not have, Tisso, who could have helped the Jewish families but the burning desire to totally appropriate that which waiting in a detention camp prior to their deporta­ he had lost when he cravenly sold his birthright. This is tion to Auschwitz. At first, the cleric merely the Eisav pattern throughout the ages and we must take responded, "This, being Sunday, is a holy day for note that it is an enmity of a kind of perverse us. Neither I nor Father Tisso occupy ourselves brotherhood, not of xenophobic dissimilitude. with profane matters on this day." When Rabbi Weissmandel protested that the rescuing of inno­ Yet, if this similarity will eventually result in the cent blood could not be considered profane, the downfall of Eisav as the false pretender to the rights of nuncio replied, "There is no innocent blood of the First-born - 11!7JI in nx l.l1~tu'> Jl'Y inJ C'Jl'tull:l i'>J11 Jewish children in the world. All Jewish blood is - it has also give Eisav incredible power and often guilty. You have to die. This is the punishment ascendancy over Israel. Let us, therefore, not be that has been awaiting you because of that sin."" shocked when the bloody hands of Eisav turn up to wreak vengeance upon Israel - that those same hands This attitude, multiplied thousands of times all over can imitate, in whatever perverted way, the eternal Europe (although with some noteworthy exceptions) signs of Israel. Thus, if one of the watchwords of Israel and certainly not condemned by the Vatican, un­ is that it is the Am Hanivchar, the Chosen of the L-rd, doubtedly contributed to the death of the six million. Eisav does not merely come along and declare, "I will Yet, infinitely more significant than the actions of a destroy the Chosen ones"; he first declares himself the number of clerics was the subtle and invidious effect of "elect," the "super-man" and then, of necessity, must two millennia of Christian canards against the Jews. attempt to destroy the other "pretender." It is not my purpose here to explore the theological roots within Christianity for the Holocaust. These have The Deeper Elements of the Conflict been examined elsewhere in detail; to their credit, some There is an even deeper, infinitely more sensitive ele­ courageous Catholic clerics have accepted, on behalf of ment to this inner struggle between Israel and Nazism. Christianity, moral culpability for creating the at­ In his analysis of the place of Eisav in the modern mosphere in which Hitler could operate. For one, Prof. history of the Jews, Rabbi Hutner recognizes in Rosemary Radford Ruether has stated in no uncertain Christianity as a doctrine (not necessarily in its adher­ terms that "at its root, anti-Semitism in Christian ents) the descendent of Eisav. Just as Eisav had con­ civilization springs directly from Christian theological tinually claimed to be the true descendent and sole anti-Judaism."17 Rather, this study centers only upon spiritual heir of Abraham and Isaac, so did the church the theological "rivalry" which has its roots in the claim to be the New Israel. In the same vein did the Yaakov/Eisav relationship. The seeds of the rivalry - church lay claim to our Holy Writings and declare them in Christian eyes - of the "New and Old Israel" go its own.14 back to Pauline statements in the gospels. But the con­ We must therefore reexamine the Holocaust in terms cept of G-d punishing a sinful Israel for the death of of its religious and theological matrix: What is its "the Redeemer" goes back to Justin Martyr, who lived relationship with Christian tradition and myth 1 How a hundred years after Paul. Delighting in the perversion ,;id the maniacal ideologies of Nazism anesthetize the German people to the horrors before their eyes 1 For 13. See Pachad Yitzchak on Purim, by Rabbi Yitzchak i;utner only by using the murky aura of pseudo-religious t<"O'l;rll/, p.68 ff. propaganda and quasi-holy purpose can atrocities such 14. Ibid_ as the Holocaust be justified to an ostensibly civilized 15, c.f. above, note 3. 15 people. 16 .. Rabbi M.D. Weissmandel, Min Hametzar, p. 23-25. Even a cursory examination of the historical record 17. Published in Auschwitz: Beginning of a New Era (New York: reveals two distinct patterns. The first, more obvious, Ktav, 1977),p.79,Prof. Ruether has since expanded her study into a and perhaps therefore less dangerous, one is typified by full-length work, Faith and Fratricide: The Christian Roots of Anti­ the Archbishop of Slovakia's words to a delegation of Semitism (New York: Seebury Press, 1974)_

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 15 of Jewish symbols for his own insidious purposes, and propagandist of the late 19th century, had codified Justin writes of circumsion: the Nazi doctrine that "Christianity was doomed to ex­ "It was given as a sign ... that you alone suffer what tinction because of the Jewish elements it has ab­ you now justly suffer; and that your land may be sorbed."21 The Nazis reconciled the problem of con­ desolate, and your cities burned with fire; and that demning Jews for having killed their lord, while strangers may eat your fruit in your presence and not acknowledging his alleged Jewish ancestry, by "scien­ one of you may go up to Jerusalem."ts tifically proving ... the probability of his non-Jewish Clearly, the early Church Fathers, and many of their descent. "22 followers, took the Jewish Tochacha and twisted its We thus come to the strangest paradox of Nazi warnings to their own ends. The crucial point to note in ideology. On the one hand, Christianity is utterly re­ many of these writings is the constant repetition of the jected because "it is, in fact, the main channel through theme that the Jews have been rejected - "Old Israel, which Jewish ideas infect the healthy corpus of Ger­ Old Testament" - and been replaced - "New Israel, manic thought" (Alfred Rosenberg)." On the opposite New Testament" - because of their sins. The sensitive side, it is absolutely manifest that "without ear easily detects in them the pretentious queries of Christianity, the Jews could never have become the Eisav, "How does one take tithes from salt and straw?" central victims" of the Holocaust. As Rubenstein How can I prove I am more religious than my brother writes, "The Judas tale is part and parcel of the Passion Jacob? drama, which is told and relived by every practicing Christian during Holy Week. From the cradle to the An Ancient Rivalry, Updated grave ... the high point of the Christian religious calen­ dar rehearses, amidst utterly magnificent music, fre­ A direct unbroken line can now be drawn from Justin quently aesthetically overpowering architecture and to Hitler, where Jewish symbols are not merely ignored ceremonial grandeur, the terrible tale of 'Jewish or excoriated, but used for ignominous and malicious betrayal' and the 'Jewish murder of the Jewish God.' " 24 purposes. One example of this centuries-old trend is the Secular writers on Nazi ideology often have trouble Nazi use of the Messiah concept. As early as 1919, understanding and reconciling these two seemingly an­ many German anti-Semites were talking of "a Mes­ sianic Fuehrer, who would fulfill all prophecies and tipathetical strands in Nazism. Conspicuous on one side is the powerful strain of paganism and demonic lead the Volk out of bondage.'"' barbarianism which seems to lead directly back to the Other instances of the German people thinking hordes of Attila. Historians seem to have difficulty of themselves as "a kind of Jewish people" are equally relating this trend to the affinities the Nazis found with startling. Dean Gruber, in his conversations with Christianity. Rubenstein, had dwelled long on this point: But we know. In the last phases of the Caius Romi, "We are now in the same situation as the Jews. My we are equally in the deepest throes of our eternal con­ church is in the East sector. Last Sunday I preached on flict with Eisav. If we find hands raised against us in Hosea 6:1 ('Shuva Yisroel!')." He pursued the analogy murder which have just been used in pious prayer, we between Germany and Israel: "] know that G-d is are not shocked, for we have met them before: "The punishing us because we have been the whip against hands are the hands of Eisav." If we sense not only Israel. In 1938, we smashed the synagogues; in 1945, hatred but some perversed jealousy in the Nazi idea- our churches were smashed by bombs. From 1938, we sent the Jews out to be homeless; since 1945, 15 million 18. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Tryphon, tr. A.L Williams Germans have experienced homelessness." (London: SPCK, 1930), II, 107. Graduates of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen may not 19. Robert Cecil, The Myth of the Master Race (New York: Dodd so readily accept "homelessness" as equal atonement Mead & Company,1972), p.71. for the horrors they witnessed. The point to notice is 20. Octagon Books, 1972, pp. 49-50, 62-65, 277-79, etc. that Gruber not only thought of Germany as atoning, 21. Quoted in The Politics of Cultural Despair, F. Stern (University but claimed this was done in an Israel-like fashion. of California, 1961), p.40. 22. Quoted by Cecil, op.cit,p.75. The concept of true Christianity Hitler and Christianity: Love or Hate? having been perverted by Jewish elements is ubiquitous in Nazi writings. Dietrich Eckart, another misfit and former asylum-inmate One question often brought up in discussions of the turned Nazi ideologue, "demonstrated" in his newspaper that "Ju­ Holocaust is Hitler's apparent hatred of Christianity daism, acting through Christianity, had given the death blow to the itself. There is, indeed, ample proof in Hitler's Secret Roman Empire." In a later series of articles, Alfred Rosenberg, Conversationsio of his detestation of the then-existing architect of Aryanism and author of such works as Unmoral in Christianity, Yet, it is important to understand that Talmud, claimed that the downfall of the Persian Empire began when Nazism' s abhorrence of Christianity lay purely in the "Mordechai secured authority." Nazi perception of Christianity as having been polluted 23. Ibid. ,p.91. by Judaic elements. Lagarde, the anti-Semitic author 24. Rubinstein, p.31.

16 The Jewish Observer I ]u.ne, 1978 logues, we can open a Chumash and read of that same deranged minds and unleashed insanity, then what jealousy: ... 1:Ji:J itvK il:Ji:Ji1 f;iy :Jj)ll'' nK 11V:V Ot:ltl1'1 meaning can there be in the deaths of our beloved 1'~K And Eisav hated Yaakov because of the blessings kedoshim? bestowed on him by his father" (Bereishis 27,41). Not But knowing that we - but more important, the only is this history, but the Talmud (which, like Torah, kedoshim - have triumphed, is not only vindication or is a manifestation of Divine wisdom) states it as a victory; it is the only kaddish possible in place of the definitive part of our outlook: 11!/)11!7 JJ,,,~ K';i ;i:i':m graves and monuments they were not granted in death. ~i'll'':> KJ11!7 In perishing al Kiddush Hashem, they declared to a modern world unaccustomed to such declarations: we The Vindication of the Victim know who we are, we accept our position in the world As Rabbi Hutner K"t>'71!7 recently taught us, the when it is exalted, or 7 .. , when it means death; and we churban of European Jewry was a manifestation of the know our children will complete the Divine pattern. tochacha which K'lal Yisroel carries on its shoulders. We have suffered churban; the survivors went into In many ways, this manifestationwas worse and more Caius. This pattern completes itself with Geulah - potent than past visitations of B'chukosai and Ki Savo, ultimate redemption. May we become worthy of seeing but our generation witnessed the culmination of a pat­ the final stage by being careful of their memories not tern, not the breaking of a chain. The villains of this only by refraining from condemnations - an obsenity ch urban, too, were not simply isolated madmen wreak­ perhaps unparalleled in any nation's self-appraisal - ing random destruction. While they descended to the but by doing for them what they no longer can do for nadir of depravity and were aided by a horrible themselves: the Torah study and Mitzva performance technology unknown in the past, the battle waged was our ancient enemy could not obliterate. an ancient one. or.ii 01pJ' ow;i !.T. What difference does it make? All the difference in the universe. For as Reb Moshe Prager, survivor and 25. Quoted by Rabbi Nasson Scherman, The Jewish Observer, June chronicler of the ch urban, relates, Hitler's final letter to 1974, p.9. his associates "apologizes" for not having succeeded in their goal: the total destruction of all the Jews 1"n.26 If Registration for Seminary now being accepted what is termed Holocaust is indeed seen as a grisly perversion of human history, merely the product of BAIS VAAKOV INSTITUTE ~A two year Torah Studies education Pincus Mandel in the finest tradition of the "Beth Renowned Expert - Over 25 years Jacob School" movement. experience in -.,JA one year intensive teacher's train­ K11ura on all cemeteries in Eretz Yisrael ing program. With all Hidurim - as done only by ~A unique opportunityfor profes­ Shomrei Torah Umitzvos sional degrees, Responsible for current system - speedily ~Exceptional and experienced staff expedited - at Airport in 4 to 5 hours and faculty. With more than 45 years of cemetery experience unceasingly dedicated to the highest standards SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA ot Chesed Shel Emes in all its implications A COMMUNITY DEVOTED TO without emphasis on the inyan of THE TRADITION OF TORAH STUDY AND LEARNING monetary gain.

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The Jewish Observer/ June, 1978 17 Chaim Shapiro

Reb Pesach Pruskin, M:>i::it, i''-,~ i:>T Rav and Rosh Yeshiva of Kubrin

For generations now, the debate has raged: which is It is possible that the comparison to the rock implies preferable - the masmid, the student who dedicates day that initially he was not a charif, but his hasmada and and night to diligent concentration, rendering all ob­ thirst for Torah more than compensated for this. stacles to naught? - or the charif, the gifted genius Indeed, he eventually became a charif. As the Gemora whose swift comprehension and penetrating insight tells us: "Rabbi Akiva said this halacha to sharpen the gives him a thorough grasp of everything he touches? mind of the talmidim," and Rashi on the same page Often, it is argued, the masmid retains and integrates declares: "Rabbi Akiva was exceptionally sharp" the teachings, while the charif may lose his gains as (Eiruvin 13a). quickly as he made them, for the expended effort is a Rabbi Akiva's opinion eventually prevailed in all key to long-range retention. On the other hand ... And disputes surrounding the oral tradition, as Rabbi the debate continues. But no one will deny that the Yochanan states: "Stam Mishna (an anonymous pas­ masmid who develops into a charif is superior to all. sage in the Mishna is attributed to) Rabbi Meir, Stam A classical example of both was Rabbi Akiva, as is Tosefto R' Nechemia, Stam Sifro R' Yehuda, Stam Sifri recorded in Talmudic literature: When Rabbi Akiva R' Shimon, and all of them according (to what they had was forty years old, he had not yet learned a thing. learned from) Rabbi Akiva" (Sanhedrin BOa). Once he passed a well carved out of stone and asked, who cut the hole in the rock? He was told that water Spared for Torah had dripped continuously onto the rock until it bore the Rabbi Akiva was surely Jewry's most celebrated "late hole. Rabbi Akiva figured: If water, which is soft, can starter," but there have been others who also succeeded pentrate a hole in a hard rock, then Torah, which is in rising above overwhelming obstacles of age and cir­ hard as iron, can surely penetrate my heart of flesh and cumstance to become outstanding Torah leaders. blood. He and his son went to a teacher of children and Prominent among them is Rabbi Pesach Pruskin said, "Rebbi, teach me Torah." He wrote the Alef-Beis (known as Reb Pesach Kubriner) who was born a and studied ... until he learned the entire Torah (Avos hundred years ago, to his widowed mother (he was D'Reb Nasson IV, 2). named after his father, who died several months prior The Talmud continues, relating how in addition to to his birth), in abject poverty. Moreover, he was far his relatively advanced age, Rabbi Akiva was forced to from a charif- he was rather closer 1 to Rabbi Akiva's overcome obstacles of terrible poverty and pressing "rock" - but he more than compensated for his short­ family obligations. comings with exemplary hasmada ~nd determination,

CHAIM SHAPIRO, a native of Titkin, Poland, now lives in Baltimore. 1. Indeed, in his hesped (eulogy) for his Rebbitzen, he quoted Rabbi His biographical sketches of Torah leaders are a source of delight and Akiva's words about his wife: "My Torah, your Torah, belong to inspiration to JO readers. her!" - bringing the comparison full circle.

18 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 harnessing the proverbial inspiration and perspiration, Slutsk, a large city in White Russia, for his next under­ to satiate his thirst for Torah learning. taking. He dispatched Rabbi lsser Zalmen Meltzer as There followed achain of Providential events that Rosh Yeshiva, with fourteen talmidim - among them Pesach Kubriner. These fourteen (known as the ·p kept young Pesach in a Torah environment. When he nprnn "The Mighty Arm" - ""1'" has the numerical was born, his mother had been without any means of value of 14) served as the nucleus of the new yeshiva. 4 support. She took her five children to the home of her grandfather, Rabbi Pinchas Michael, who was Rav in Antipole. There her family provided her with a roof The Watchman at Night over her head and a bare minimum of sustenance. After his marriage to Tzipora Lipschutz, Reb Pesach The Rav of Antipole had a son who became attracted earned his living as a night watchman in an orchard, to haskala. He had run off to Paris, where he eventually guarding it from thieves who would actually rob the became a professor of philosophy and translated the trees. The job afforded him opportunity for study and Talmud into French. Needless to say, his parents were solitude among the trees, and indeed he used it to com­ heartbroken and sat shiva in mourning for their plete Rambam's Moreh Nevuchim. In the meantime, beloved son, who had exchanged the Torah for French rumors spread all over the vicinity that he was a Lamed philosophy. They both died from heartache and the er­ Vov'nik. 5 rant son came from Paris to visit their grave.The professor wept bitterly and begged forgiveness from his During this period, he met his Rosh Yeshiva, Reb departed parents, impressing everyone as a genuinely Isser Zalman, who invited him to return to Slutsk as penitent son. Mashgiach of the yeshiva. For some unknown reason, he refused the offer. Then one of his children became Taking note of the poverty of his niece and her five critically ill, and the doctors gave up on the child. Reb children, he persuaded the young widow to entrust him Pesach made a vow that if the child would live, he with her children. He promised to raise them as genuine would fulfill the Rosh Yeshiva's request, and dedicate Jews, and provide them with a Torah education.2 She his life to Torah. The child recovered, and he kept his sent four children with him, two boys and two girls, but vow, accepting the position in the yeshiva. It was in not Pesach"ke, for he was too young. Some time later Slutsk that Reb Pesach experienced a breakthrough in the "good uncle" returned again, asking again for his Torah study. Pesach'ke, but the eight-year old boy refused to go along, insisting that he must continue Cheder and Reb Pesach was a frequent visitor to Reb Chaim Yeshiva. And so Pesach'ke was spared for a life of Brisker (Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik), and was in­ Torah. fluenced by his analytical approach to Talmud. He once complained to Reb Chaim, "I am so anxious to study Torah, but what can I do? My position takes up all my In the Yeshiva Circuit time, and I just can't manage both. To which Reb Pesach'ke continued his studies, finding hunger and Chaim replied, "This is no problem: Budjet your time­ poverty no hindrance. In his teens, he joined the concentrate on your yeshiva duties by day and study yeshiva of the Chafetz Chaim in Radin.' When his during the night." Reb Pesach accepted the reply not friends in the yeshiva discovered that one of his Pari­ merely as advice, but as an order and a blessing. From sian sisters had married a wealthy maskil and was living in nearby Vilna, they urged him to visit her. She ex­ tended a warm welcome to him and offered him finan­ 2. Unfortunately, their uncle never lived up to his promise. Years cial assistance, but only on the condition that he leave later, when Reb Pesach was traveling to America, he stopped over in the yeshiva and ·'nter a Gymnasium. He left her then Paris and contacted his brothers. They were totally assimilated, the and there, never to see her again. only evidence of their Yiddishkeit was that their wives were Jewish. Today their children and grandchildren are celebrated French atomic He later went to Slabodka, where he was inspired by scientists, while the grandchildren of Reb Pesach can be found in the Mussar of "der Alter", Rabbi Nasson Zvi Finkel. A many a major kolel and yeshiva in America and Israel. group of Slabodka talmidim once decided to visit the 3. The Chofetz Chaim never forgot his talmid who learned Torah famed yeshiva in Kelm for Elul. No one was ever ac­ pn11 yn? i1nr.i. When Reb Pesach became Rav in Amtsislav, he wrote cepted to Kelm without asking prior permission, and to special greetings and blessings for the occasion. be sure, these boys were ordered to go back to 4. Others in the group included the Alter's own son, Reb Lazer Slabodka. But not Pesach Kubriner! With tears in his Yudel, later Rosh Yeshiva in Mir (JO, June '77); Rabbi Konvitz, later eyes, he begged der Alter fun Kelm, Rabbi Simcha Zis­ a Rav in America; Reh Sheftl Kramer (}0. June '74), later brother-in­ se] Ziv, 'Tm asking permission now. Please allow me to !aw of Reb Isser Zalmen, and father-in-law of tJ"n? ?1:::ii the Rosh stay!" He alone remained - for over a year. Yeshiva of Ner Israel, Baltimore, Rabbi J.J. Ruderman. 5. By Cabbalistic tradition, the world exists in merit of 36 (the Der Alter fun Slabodka, constantly searching for numbers expressed as "lanwd-vov") hidden righteous men; a "Lamed suitable cities in which to establish yeshivas, selected Vo1/11ik" keeps the full measure of his righteousness secret.

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 19 "A large number of men great in Torah were among his disciples. They grew virtually through serving ... (Rabbi Pruskin) and learning his ways in sacred service and in methodology in study. I remember the vast pleasure that was mine when I listened to his lectures and novellae during the years that it was my good fortune to study under him" - Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, in his approbium to the first edition of Chidushei Reb Peasach.

that day until the last day of his life, he devoted his In Search of New Pastures night hours exclusively to study. Shklov, a major city in White Russia, caught the eye of Reb Pesach. It was that rare phenomenon - a Jewish "After Rabbi Meir passed away, Rabbi Yehuda city of size, without a yeshiva. The Alter of Slabodka, instructed his talmidim: Rabbi Meir's talmidim should who was always eager to assist in the opening of a not enter here, for they are quarrelsome and they do not yeshiva, sent along some talmidim from Slabodka. come to learn Torah but to antagonize with halachos" Also, a group of talmidim from Slutsk went with Reb (Kiddushin 52b ). Ras hi explains: "To cut us down in Pesach to Shklov - among them the son of the Rav of halachos, to demonstrate that they are sharp and no one Strobin, "Moshe Strobiner," who stayed in the yeshiva can stand up before them." in Shklov for a number of years. He is now known as the poseik hador, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein K"U'?W. In 1911, the people of the city of Amtsislav (also Unlike a library where total silence reigns, a yeshiva called Mistsislav) asked Reb Chaim Brisker for advice reverberates with kol Torah. One bachur sings while in regard to a suitable Rav. Reb Chaim suggested Reb concentrating on a passage in the Gemora, others shout Pesach in Shklov, for by then Reb Pesach was already at each other at the top of their lungs, not interfering known not only as a Rosh Yeshiva, but also as an effec­ whatsoever with the other fellows. Heated discussions tive speaker, a man with "goldene shprach." between two or more bachurim is a regular occurrence, For centuries, the rabbinate involved, among other and entry into the fray is open to all. And as Rabbi responsiblilities, harbotsas haTorah (Torah dissemina­ Yehuda (as per Rashi) commented, there are always a tion). Hence every Rav was also a Rosh Yeshiva in his few who are ever ready to demonstrate their sharpness. own town. Then Reb Chaim Volozhiner opened the And so when a discussion on a subject in Babba first independent Yeshiva in Europe, and as a result the Kamma took place in the yeshiva in Slutsk, Reb Pesach two roles were separated: a) Rav and b) Rosh Yeshiva. joined in, stating his opinion. It wasn't as penetrating a There have always been several personalities, however, comment as some of the others, and even revealed a who possessed vast Torah knowlege, an unusual lack of thought on his part. A heavy silence blanketed capacity to lead and inspire, as well as gifts of oratory the group, with a mocking smirk flickering here and and darshonus (homiletic); they could never be limited there. Reb Pesach retreated to his corner and, feeling in function. Although they assumed rabbinical posi­ very foolish, began to weep to himself until he fell tions, they simply could not live without a yeshiva. Reb asleep. Then, as he related many years later, he dreamed Pesach was such an individual. Thus, while he accepted that he was told to continue his Torah study and he was the Rabbonus in Amtsislav, he placed one condition: promised "Siyata diShmaya" (help from Above). the yeshiva must come with him. Of course, the com­ munity accepted his stipulation, and his students came He began to study with new vigor and confidence, along, including Moshe Starobiner. and in a short time a recognizeable change took place in Reb Pesach. He began to expound on difficulties in the When the Bolshevics took over Russia, and his Talmud with new depth and clarity that amazed native city of Kubrin was incorporated into Poland (by everyone (the dicuussions, of course, were at night). As the Soviet-Polish treaty of Riga, 1922), he escaped the time went on, he amassed a great amount of knowledge Communist rule to Kubrin. It is a rarity for a native son and eventually combined the three attributes of to become Rav in his hometown, yet Kubrin appointed hasmada, charifus and beki'us (diligence, sharpness, him Rav ... And of course, his first official act was to and vast knowledge). open a yeshiva.

20 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 Special Visits, Special Interests Hakolel (Chief Rabbi). He refused, for he believed that leaving Europe was like deserting the front in the battle remember Reb Pesach vividly from his occasional for Torah survival. 8 Expressing gratitude for the offer, visits to his son in Lomza.6 He was usually invited to he explained, "I can guarantee that my children will re­ deliver a shiur in the yeshiva. While I was too young to main Torah Yidden in America, but f can't guarantee fully understand the content of his shiur, I do recall be­ the same for my grandchildren." ing overwhelmed by his lion's roar of a voice, and the extreme width of his beard, which seemed to cover up In 1939, the Red Army marched into Poland. Upon and apologize for his imposing physical presence, the occupying Kubrin, their first act was to close the grayness of the beard endowing him with a glow of yeshiva and Bais Yaakov. Reb Pesach's heart could not Torah veneration. bear the pain of this twin tragedy, and on 11 Chesh van, when but 60 years old, his heart stopped beating. Others remember him in a similar fashion. Rabbi Zvi Tenebaum, a native of Kubrin (currently in Chelsea, His son, Rabbi Avrohom Pruskin '>"YT, escaped to Mass.), recalls Reb Pesach's voice thundering over the America with some of his father's written shiurim, shul on Shabbos Shuva: "'You are all standing before which were published by Reb Pesach's grandson, Rabbi G-d ... ,'he would begin, quoting the week's Sidra. For Nosson Zuchovski of Bnei Brak and Pesach Tik va, un­ two hours straight his golden voice entranced us, rais­ der the title )'"1J1jJl'.l no~·; J"ll'.l '"11)1'1ll. The words of his ing us up to the Heavens! On Shabbos HaGadol he Torah continue to instruct and inspire others long after would keep hammering away with the phrase: 'A per­ his untimely passing. manent flame should burn on the altar, never to go out,'

bringing the Heavens down to us on earth! There was b. His son Reb Leib ?"YT married the daughter of the Mashgiach of no one like him." th(' LomzLomza Yeshiva, Reb Yerucham Fishel yeshivos. One such youngster, whom he sent to the D.in (l.itcr R,1v in Kosow-Lacki) who was a fiery Gerrer Chassid. He Mirrer Yeshiva, eventually became known to many of persuaded my grandfather to send his youngest sister-in-law, Chana us as Mashgiach in Yeshivas Ner Israel of Baltimore: Shapin>, to the seminary in Cracow. She was the first LithuYiddish in the accents of Poland proper or For three thought-provoking days Galicia to eastern Poland, where a pure Lithuanian Yid­ dish was spoken. The children would ridule the teacher filled with inspiration who says "Oo1nayn"instead of "Omain", or "voos" in­ reserve the dates: stead of "vos". Luckily, she had one Litvach'ke Thursday, November 23rd (feminine for "Litvak") in her seminary - my aunt Chana Shapiro ... Reb Pesach must have been impres­ through sed with his Bais Yaakov teacher, for he introduced her Sunday, November 26th to one of his talmidim Reb Lazer Kuperberg ?"YT, for the 56th National Convention whom she later married. 7 of In 1931, in the early years of the Great Depression, he visited the U.S. to raise funds for his yeshiva. Rabbi Agudath Israel of America Wolf Lifshitz, a nephew of Reb Pesach, recalls: "When at a magnificent new location: I walked with him in the street, people would step aside The Rye Town Hilton in respect for this patriarch. In his drasha, he would ex­ claim: 'Are we going to place the Mechilta, Sifro and zrz Port Chester (Westchester), N. Y. Sifri in a museum? Never! The Torah is a Taras Chaim, a Torah of life!'" Details to be announced In his visit to St. Louis, he made so favorable an impression that he was offered the position of Rav

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 2I standing the nature of man, and in particular, the nature of the twentieth century Jew - eager to unders­ tand his heritage and yet caught in the web of modern BOOKS life and thought. Thus he presented the eternal truths of Judaism in a form that would readily appeal to our mind. It must be realized that the Sages and their Rabbinic STRIVE FOR TRUTH, selected writings of Rabbi E. E. successors clothed the Torah verities in the language, Dessler, rendered into English and annotated by Aryeh the figures of speech, the examples from life, that could Carmell (Feldheim Publishers, 1978; $6.95 hard­ be understood by their disciples and contemporaries. cover,$4.95 softcover). Therefore "each generation has its own interpreters, its own leaders,"to convey Torah teachings. In this il­ It is a remarkable fact that in his lifetime Rabbi Des­ lustrious chain Rabbi Dessler, grandson of "Der Alte sler went to great lengths to avoid publicity and pop­ fun Keim" - outstanding disciple of Rabbi Yisroel ularization, choosing instead to address his teachings to Salanter - and heir to the tradition of the Lithuanian the circle of his close disciples motivated by the desire Mussar Yeshivas, occupies his own unique place. for truth rather than the pursuit of a popular fad - and This should become particularly evident with the ap­ yet, since his passing, his teachings have spread far and pearance of the volume before us. Meant to be the first wide, and found an echo in all parts of the Torah world. of a series, it contains the English translation of half of This is of course due to the scope of his philosophy - the first volume of Michtav Me'Eliyahu, the selected profound in depth, and all-encompassing in drawing writings of Rabbi Dessler published since his passing. upon the multiple strands that make up the totality of Rabbi Carmell, one of the editors of the Hebrew Torah thinking. But while his teachings may, therefore, original, has done a masterful job of translation; be considered an authoritative statement of Torah moreover, he has provided each essay with an in­ thought, they also strike us as immensely creative and troductrion or postscript (as well as footnotes where fresh - because Rabbi Dessler was a master at under- needed) that clarify the thought presented, and put them in the general context of Rabbi Dessler's thought. ISRAEL Add to this the excellent graphic lay-out, and you have Burials and American Disinterments a volume that talks to the reader - it does not offend his intelligence, or perplex and confuse him, as unfor­ inN1~~~C' n~~C' tunately so many translations do. Instead, it presents announces that RIV[RSiDE r:0nt;n·.. es tc be tre only l1·~ensed funeral di rec tor 1n the US able to effect profound thought in a most readable fashion. Transfer to Israel within the same day Even though only a fraction of Rabbi Dessler's Yar •-.iar11enuchot creative output is included (the volumes of the Michtav And all Cemeteries in Israel Me'Eiiyahu themselves are selected from voluminous Rr.1 f .PSlflE a!SG 'S [l•/d!!avie a~ ;np notes left by the author), the volume contains many of Sole agent for Sanhadrea Cemetery his most significant essays. There is the "Discourse on RIVERS!UE' ::;rly •>Jr·· r,-i(er this se'·,1'. e Lovingkindness" which, in reality, represenls an entire Enroute to Israel within the same day philosophy of life, dealing with such varied issues as • Stric:t cF'!here:;::-e to HC:'~"--~·a AnCJ r.~,nhag"r: the nature of the marriage bond and the conduct of • Arrangernerits T:ade d~Jri ng ·'1 let: ~"e with no otJ.'1 ga t1or' •Ch ape! se:::ured :n cny r:1Jrnm 1.;n1t; business. There is "The Truth Perspective" which deals with the proper approach for viewing the world around RIVERSIDE us. And there are a number of letters on such subjects Memorial Chape:,inc. F;1nercii D•noctors as the accusations levied against Rabbinic leadership MANHATTAN after the destruction of European Jewry, and the Torah 180West 76!h St (at Arn.s!erdarnAve -;~~ Y.,N Yi EN 2-6600 BR00KLYN:310Coney Island A·Jl: (0,.ean Pa'k,,,ay at f;ruspec.t Park view of the human psyche. Brook!;r>.:\· Y ,. UL 4 :'.'GOG It is a measure of the excellence of this volume that BRONX:l963 Grand CcrIO) available, it is important that a running commentary be provided. Rabbi Kaplan's footnotes are most valuable U s A / Israel 623 Cortelyou Road (off Ocean Parkway) Brnoklyn, NY 11218• 1212) 941·5500 to a scholar, providing sources, parallels, and source ex­ planation. But they fall far short of providing the general student with the guidance he needs. It should be Unhappy? Worried? hoped that he will suitably expand them for a future edition. Don't Blame Others! Help Yourself! The reader may also be somewhat confused by Rabbi Read Kaplan's remark, in the Introduction, that "most of the ONE: THE ESSENCE OF THE JEWISH HOME classical works (of Jewish philosophy, such as those of by Rabbi Chuna Hertzman Maimonides, Saadiah Gaon, Yehudah Halevi) seem to and Rabbi Shmuel Elchonon Brog go against the mainstream of later Jewish thought, because these thinkers had little if any access to Kab- Discover yourself! Your role in the family! How close you are to the Source of Life! l '11.Ho"{1assed Kasbr11s in tht' 111ost rlegd11t tr11dltln11 Then get busy enjoying friends, marriage, life and Torah! 91.,,,,~~ "~!!~f~ Practical suggestions ... New insights ... Inspiring HAS SEEN PROUDLY SERVING THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY Ideas W!TH OJST!NCT!ON FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS 95 El[GANT SERVICE BY THE MOST EXPERIENCED SPECIALISTS IN PRE-PUBLICATION PRICE: $4 THE CATERJNG FIELD WITH THEIR OWN KITCHEN FACILITIES ON PREMISES, CUARANTEE THE UTMOST JN QUALITY AND After Labor Day: $595 fl--!E UL TJMA TE. IN KASl-iRUS Postpaid Allow 50 - 700 Persons Open Chupah I Rabbi S.E. Borg Parking Available I 1474 E. 10th St. : Brooklyn, N(>w York 11230 Glatt Kosher I Dear Rabbi Brog: For your next Simcha - Call: f Please send me . .,. copies of : One: The Essence of the Jewish Home. f Name ... I I Address .. Si~a I c·1ty ... Ls~'.::~;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::.:::::::::::::::: ______j

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 23 Dear Reuvain: I Was Only Getting to Know You

(Reuvain Fishman was one of the But I did recognize you as a kind six people killed on Jerusalem's No. of baal-teshuva when you visited 12 bus bombed by terrorists on June our shul in Boro Park. The beard, 2. Nissan Wolpin, who writes the the clothes were thoroughly following lines, was a personal ac­ "yeshivish," but your long quaintance of Reuvain.) Shemone Esrei that took you clean Dear Reuvain, through the reader's repitition and then some to complete, gave you This may not seem to make much away as appreciating the words too sense. A letter is communication tnuch for a conventional yeshiva between people. You already know bachur. And the shy-smile-yet­ to keep to yourself, so you passed all you have to know, so what can I eager-friendliness - that's how I the flame from candle to possibly add? Nonetheless, there candle ... "Yiddishkeit is not a gap are things I must say - things until got to know you during your oc­ casional visits to Bora Park. between generations, it's a bridge," now unsaid that cry out within me Know you! - hardly. But it had so you motored to Silver Spring for expression. made you a presence in my mind: every Wednesday to drive your I never knew you as a youngster You were a medical student who parents to Dale Gottlieb's lecture on in Silver Springf, Maryland, but I'll saw fit to keep a kviyus -an in­ Jewish Philosophy in Baltimore; bet you were one of those boys who violable schedule of Torah study, and then back home again. And I spent hours watching a spider spin come what may. You used not only heard that- joy of joys! -you suc­ a web, and then releasing stray but­ every available minute for limud ceeded in convincing your mother terflies or lady bugs that got en­ haTorah, but scheduled a free two­ to experience the Sedorim at a tangled in the translucent cables. weeks in summer '76 to join the friend's house in Brooklyn this past I didn't know you when you were full-time Torah retreat in Lakewood Pesach; and - victory of victories! a college kid into selling organic (the Yarchei Kallah mentioned - your father consented to spend a food. I'm sure the Lubavitcher fel­ before). And you so combined intel­ Shabbos with you at several homes, low who met you in Boston had a ligence with integrity that when you ours included. How you beamed stimulating time selling you on Yid­ petitioned your medical school ad- everytime "Dad" (or "the Judge" as dishkeit, possibly finding himself 1ninistration for a year off" to study we addressed him) hit the nail on forced to see things more clearly medical ethics as viewed by the head, which was quite often. after satisfying you than he had Talmudic law," they were only too But I really got to know you as a ever seen them before. eager to grant you your unorthodox climber - that is, never, never con­ The people in Yeshiva Ner Israel, request. tent with your spiritual station, ever where you entered at 23, remember I knew you as someone who striving for higher, more lofty at­ you as a soft-spoken, hard driving found Tor ah too great a delight to tainments: When looking for a yeshiva bachur. I didn't know you keep for oneself. In fact, I first had suitable mate, you insisted, "I don't then either. They tell me that your heard your name three years ago want to marry the girl that wants smiling eyes that lit up a room also when a mutual Baltimore friend the prestige of being a doctor's wife. had a diamond-hard glint of no­ asked me to arrange for accom­ If she's to appreciate my projected nonsense "show-me" to them that modating two public high school schedule - mornings in the Bais warned your chavrusa (study kids for Shavuos, "and tell them Midrash, afternoons in the office - partner) that truth is too valuable a that Reuvain Fishman told you and share my goals, she should be a commodity to compromise, too about them, so they shouldn't feel seminary graduate." The highest precious a goal to forfeit, when not like they are imposing." So I did - recommendation a girl could have fully achieved. No wonder your and when they heard your name, was a decided aversion toward chavrusa (a seasoned scholar in his their reluctance to come across the medical students! (To you, teaching 40's) at the Lakewood Yarchei Kal­ threshold melted away like a frosty Torah was the highest order of hu­ lah you attended sized you up as pout in ·the sunshine of your manitarian service, with medicine every milimeter a lamdan - a smile. ("Kinda corny," you'd say, second to it. You considered thorough Talmudist, with no "But true nonetheless," I'd reply.) ... yourself unworthy to teach Torah, vestiges of late-start about you. Torah too powerful an illumination so you settled for second best. ... )

24 The Jewish Observer/ June, 1978 And then your recent trip to when the funeral took place. In a way of knowing. Israel, your aliya, with the return­ drdtnatic gesture, the summer skies I never knew you as a kadosh, trip ticket unused, to join your clouded and a heavy rain wept J{euvain. I only knew you as an chavrusa who was "stuck" in downward when you were removed outstanding young man on the rise. Jerusalem for the season. Before from Hadassah Hospital to go to And even then, I was only getting to you left you asked me if I could your final place of glory facing the know you .... You already know all suggest some people that you meet. site of the Bais flamikdosh. "A por­ you need to know. The loss is ours. We sat down and I listed my close tent of the passing of a tzaddik," friends. and you added, "I says the Talmud. Kial Yisroel has a Nissan Wolpin haven't been to Eretz Yisroel since I hecame frum. This means so much to 1ne. I'm going to visit the mekomos hakedoshim (the sacred rlaces) and I want to know what to ask for, and how to ask." You The Torah Scholar looked at me expectantly, but I had nothing to say to fill the void. "Do you know anybody I could ask for There is poetry lined advice on this?" you asked. I on the face of a Scholar thought of three or four people who could help you, and wrote letters of And a landscape etched introduction for you ..... Did you in his visage of stone meet any of them? What did they And river waves tell you, Reuvain? deep and rapid. How silly of me ... but I was so looking forward to your return. And the eyes - July 5th - that's today, when you not merely eyes were scheduled to be back for sum­ mer session in medical school. I But windows into don't know if anyone instructed depth and distance. you one way or the other, but I do know what happened in the end. One cannot peer In the end ... it was Friday and through their tiny panes you boarded the No. 12 bus. When But one is pierced the bomb was detonated, it blasted by the light in the black you and five kids. I'll bet you es­ pecially chose the back of the bus so And dwarfed by their towering you could be near those tinokos she/ mountain-peak height hais rabhon - the innocent children whose pure words of Torah sustain His forehead looms high the world, so you could share in furrowed by thought their kedusha. And you, like they, became a kadosh - a martyr. But it is the eyes When they placed you on the which arrest stretcher and carried you into the And grab onto the wind hospital, your body was riddled with holes but your face was un­ and catch hold of one's breath. touched, wreathed in that sparkling For they speak of intangibles smile, permanently impressed on of the sublime your face. They searched your pockets for They give clues to infinite vistas identifying papers and found a let­ stretching beyond the windows. ter home to your parents: " .. .I feel like f really came home here." E. Yisraeli Five thousand people came to ac­ rornpdny you to Har Hazeisim though it was nearly midnight

T!ie ]!'wish ()bserver I June, 1978 25 Dr. Richard Rabkin, a New York psychiatrist who has studied sect converts for some time says, "We second looks ask things of young people but we don't demand them. As a result too many earnest and sincere young­ sters just slide by without having to at the jewish scene dedicate themselves to anything. Such individuals are ripe for con­ version to Eastern Cults." Dr. Rabkin understands parental con­ Elchonon Oberstein cern about their children's destiny but he doubts that this right should be extended to kidnapping and deprogramming. After all, the psy­ Reassessing Alien Cults chiatrist concludes, "freedom of religious choice is guaranteed in the Constitution". The defection of thousands of said that "many of the devotees had Thus the tens of thousands of young people from the Jewish been influenced by the hippy Jewish women who belong to ORT religion and their attraction to culture of the '60's. However after are advised to adopt a "more Eastern Cults has shocked the they joined the Hare Krishna move­ tolerant, positive attitude towards American Jewish community. At a ment their lives completely the sects and the young people at­ loss to understand why someone changed, from a life of drugs, illicit tracted to them." raised in the most affluent and least sex, and violence to one of dedica­ Where Are His Tears? constricting of Jewish environments tion to a spiritual discipline and Upon reading this article one is would opt for the regimentation and morality, and to helping others in amazed at the mentality of the spartan lifestyle of the various their search for happiness." author. At no point does Mr. Hass cults, the common conclusion has Dr. Marshall Schecter, an as­ concern himself with the tragedy of been that these groups brainwash sociate director of the Philadelphia the loss of thousands of young Jews their adherents using vile and Child Guidance Clinic states: "The to the Jewish People. This is all the nefarious methods for enticing gul­ persons I have known who belong lible young people. more difficult to understand when to the Eastern Sects represent one reads in the American Jewish Why They Dropped Out dedication and involvement with Year Book that one of the main pur­ An article in a recent edition of a people and are aware of human­ poses of Women's American ORT periodical of a major American misery and frailities and are at­ is "education to help raise the level Jewish women's organization sug­ tempting to help others in distress." of consciousness among American gests that we "Reassess the Alien A composite portrait has begun Jewish women. Is it in effect telling Cults." According to Alan D. Hass to emerge of late of the typical fol­ the mother of a child who has joined in the March/ April 1978 edition of lower of these sects. According to the Unification Church of Sun Women's American ORT* the article, "Those who become fol­ Myung Moon not to get hysterical Reporter, new studies find "much lowers of Eastern Spiritualism are about it because it isn't that bad and to praise and little to criticize" in the usually college-educated, middle­ in fact he's happier now than Eastern religious sects. For instance, class, intelligent, idealistic. Many before? Certainly ORT does too Dr. J. Stillson Judah who has have been turned off by what they much good for the Jewish People to gathered considerable data through consider to be declining Western ignore the consequences of the loss long hours of taped interviews has values, as exemplified by Water­ of Judaism to a Jew. * Organization for Rehabilitation Through gate, corporate and political corrup­ For the reader of this article Training maintains vocational schools for tion, etc. A goodly number want to another question weighs heavily: Jews in 24 countries. The bulk of its annual lead lives of asceticism and service, what are the real issues raised and budget of $51 million comes directly from dedicated to G-d. Some are un­ the responses of the Jewish com­ the United Jewish Appeal. questionably troubled or disturbed munity to the threat spoken of? people who feel that .society, their Even if one were, for argument's RABBI OBERSTEIN is director of financial development in Yeshiva Ner Israel, parents, the synagogue have let sake, to accept the validity of every Baltimore. His "Community Controlled Day them down and they are seeking a one of the arguments advanced by Schools: The Vilay Things Are" was featured guru who can supply a meaning for the author, why is it necessary for a in the Jan. '77 JO. their lives." Jewish person to seek" spiritual dis-

26 The Jewish Observer/ June, 1978 cipline and morality" in the Hare But in a way, the tragedy is Krishna movement? Did' the magnified, for the solutions are Reverend Moon originate the con­ there: the proper values are found cept that "G-d wants to know us within Judaism, but most young and love us"? The problem is American Jews have been denied deeper than Mr. Hass realizes, for any meaningful , association with he and his ilk are a major cause of those institutions and groups the problem. Is it indeed possible within our Jewish community who that he is totally unaware of the un­ are striving for a truly religious way mentioned alternative to the cults of living. for the seeking young Jew; i.e., to return to his own spiritual heritage? There are fine schools, youth Could he be a victim of the "Look­ groups, summer camps, devoted Elsewhere Syndrome," where to the rabbis and teachers and involved assimilated Jew the particular lay people in the American Jewish Jewish experience is the source of community, but the majority of all problems and the solutions must young people have little meaningful come from elsewhere? contact with them. The "Hebrew School" and "Junior Congregation" Not Our "Judaism" experience is all too often counter­ What causes the defection of productive. For too many young­ young Jews from Judaism? One sters, learning tidbits about Judaism answer could be that the "Judaism" late in the afternoon when one that they are familiar with is not a would rather be elsewhere, sitting in "high-demand religious move­ a boring service when one's parents From Switzerland and the U.S. ment," that the secularly-orient­ are out having fun on a Saturday come these fine cheese ated lifestyle of the majority of morning, produces contempt, not delicacies. Made from American Jews does not offer suf­ reverence for whatever smattering "CHOLOV YISROEL" (100% ficient" structure" nor does it make of Judaism they are exposed to. supervised kosher milk) to the "higher ethical and moral demands highest standards of KASHRUTH on them." There is something and QUALITY. All under strictest drastically wrong with the values The "Education" Joke Rabbinical supervision. and institutions of the American The example of a happy and uni­ • SWITZERLAND PORTION GRUYERE Jewish community if after scores of fied family striving together for • SWITZERLAND SLICED centuries in which we Jews knew spiritual growth is not a part of the EMMENTHALER how to preserve ourselves we are average young Jew's experience. In • PROCESS AMERICAN SLICES now at a loss for solutions! short these young people have been • SLICED MUENSTER • SLICED EDAM • BABY MONTEREY JACK Thurm Bros.-World Cheese Co., Inc. RA 881 JOZEF KATZ 'J\RK LOV!'NGER New York, N.Y. 10013 83 Division A venue Brook..lyu, N. Y, 11211

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The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 27 defrauded, not by "alien cults" but ing any serious impact on their stu­ sages so that the text becomes a liv­ by the ineffective and distorted dents. By contrast, in a denomina­ ing guide for our lives. values of the Jewish community. So tional school (e.g. an Orthodox One wonders if true "learning'' is much of what passes for "Jewish yeshiva ketana) something is found in much of our secularly education" in this country is a joke. believed in and thus something can oriented schools and departments of Only in recent decades has the con­ be transmitted. Jewish Studies. Thus a sincere, cept of a Jewish Day School gained young person could conceivably acceptance. Yet even many of these Much ado has been made about spend vears in Jewish Schools and day schools are ill equipped to deal the increasing interest in "Judaic take Jewish Studies and still be with the real (as opposed to the Studies" on the university cam­ spiritually starved. He might know "perceived") needs of the student. puses. Jewish Higher Education can a lot about the Torah but never Specifically, the sincere young be divided into two types - have experienced the transcendental person wants values, standards, "scholarship" and "learning." In quest that the true devotee of a mitzvos, if you will - by which to the former, courses analyze Judaism religion must feel if he is to grown direct his life and form his value with an outsider's dispassionate in­ spiritually. A pity that as a tradition system. The increasingly popular terest. One tears apart a text to see and as a community we have so concept of "community day which cultures and thinkers in­ much to offer searching Jewish schools" where everything must be fluenced the author. In the latter, youth, yet our pride-starved secular watered down to non-demanding one may dissect the text but it is to establishment can only find value in platitudes and Israeli secular culture see what lessons are contained the exotica of strange cultures. lT. prohibits these schools from mak- therein, to garner the wisdom of our MMML. KOSHER ft 0051: Adopt A Special Child Jewish children with handi· caps need warm, loving Orth· odox homes to give them a fair chance in life. Can you • SLICED AMERICAN provide a permanent home •SLICED SWISS •SLICED MUENSTER for such a child? • SLICED COLBY For further information call: •SLICED SMOKED •BABY GOUOA (212) 851-6300 •BABY MUENSTER •CHEDDAR STICKS •HICKORY SMOKED BAR • LOW·SOOIUM COLBY CHEESE PLUS NEW •FARMER'S CHEESE •MUENSTER CHUNK •MOZZARELLA CHUNK •COLBY CHUNK

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28 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 ultimate goal, however, is the crea­ single outlet that had sold the tion of controls on the marketing of 1nezuzos he wrote, asking them to parchments, so that educated con­ recall them, all at his personal ex­ sumers would demand that the pense with the promise to replace mezuzos and tefil/in they purchase them a!L He then dedicated the next bear a seal of approval, testifying to few months to the study of the the halachic fitness of the parch­ halachos of safrus so that he would ments. be equipped to continue his craft Until recently this goal seemed with proper skill and knowledge. quite remote. First of all, customers One man was convinced of his tend to depend unquestioningly on shortcomings and corrected them, their local religious-articles shop­ but hundreds of others were un­ keeper - usually a reliable, religious aware of their inadequacies. Con­ individual. Why question further? vincing them of their need to study ST aM Controls In addition, examination of a scroll and earn ordination was another can uncover errors in letter forma­ task. How could this be achieved? Among the most commonly tion, but other types of deficiencies known mitzvos that are even are simply undiscernable and one honored, by marginally observant has been forced to assume that Public Pressure Jews, are those that involve special­ scrol1s that are correct in ap­ In the meantime, the Vaad ly prepared parchments, pain­ pearance were written properly. Mishn1eres STaM continued its stakingly written by a safer, a This, however, is not always the educational program. In one large trained scribeo - the sefer Torah, case. Yet, what can be done to check New York community an unusually tefil/in, and mezuza, known by the further? large crowd was in attendance at acronym STaM. Their laws are These problems have been ap­ one of the Vaad's educational many and complex, and as a result, proached from two different programs, and was moved to have the greatest care and vigilance is re­ aspects: the source and the con­ all parchments inspected. The local quired to ascertain that the parch­ sumer. safer has thus been engaged in ments one purchases are acceptable checking parchments since January for use. Unfortunately, the market The Pressure of Conscience until this writing. Of several has been glutted by pasul (unfit) Safrus (the scribal skills) offers a hundred mezuzos checked so far, parchments, especially in the case of convenient and lucrative means of 10 1/io/o were found suitable for use; mezuzos. Much effort has been ex­ earning a living to the young family 13% had apparently been usable, pended to correct this, both in terms man hard-pressed for supplemen­ of "consumerism" type legislation tary income, and in Israel especially, and a broad public and educational many have discovered that writing a SARASCHENIRER' campaign (see JO Sept '77), A law, mezuza or two per day keeps the SEMINARY which had been drafted on the in­ bill collector away. Too many such itiation of Agudath Israel's Com­ young men have become sofrim Brooklyn, New.York mission on Legislation and Civic after a cursory course on letter for­ is now accepting Action, is now in effect in New mation, and no more. One such fel­ York State. It required that a low, who had a justly earned registrants for .its mezuzah or set of tefillin that is reputation as an expert in halachos Class of 5 739 pasul carry a notice to this effect on of Shabbos, was challenged on his (1978,79) the packaging. Failure to do so mastery of the halachos of safrus, and to its makes the seller subject to prosecu­ with the aim of convincing him that RESIDENCE HAIL tion. he seek smicha (ordination), Much The educational campaign, con­ to his chagrin, he discovered that Rabbi M. Meisels, ducted by Mishmeres STaM (an in­ while he was aware that writing the Dean ternational organization dedicated Name (YHVH) required special to organizing inspection of scrolls concentration with verbalization, he Applicants• may apply and the training of sofrim), has did not know that writing other by phone or Jetter to: reached tens of thousands of people references to G-d (Elokim, etc), also Sara Schenirer Seminary with audio-visual presentations and requires special concentration, ex­ printed literature, aimed at fostering pressing the thought orally. As a 4622-14th Avenue an awareness of the exacting result, the scores of scrolls that he Brooklyn, NY. 11219 halachic demands of properly had produced were pasul - totally {212) 633·8557·8 prepared scribal parchments, The unfit. The young man went to every

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 29 but became pasul over the years; and the rest had never been usable. 1•1a10:1a1.1i1.nxow~ Irate mezuza owners returned their scrolls to the shop-keepers, In celebration of our 40th year of service to the Jewish Community ~ ~ demanding replacement, and in­ supplying and producing ~ ~ sisted that these new ones have @ Torah Literature of Quality @ some seal of approval on them - such as from Mishmeres STaM. Ripples of this consumer's revolt i FELDH'~·~ ·~I reached Eretz Yisroel, and meetings were held for sofrim, with promi­ nent rabbinical figures addressing them. At one such gathering, Rabbi I 1brmp ! Shmuel Wasner, well-known @ Ahavath Chesed Judaism and Psychology @ halachic authority who heads the @ The Love of Kindness as required A Theory of Human Behavior ~ Beis Din of Zichron Meir in Bnei @ by G-d. within the Framework of Juda· (/:9 Brak, insisted that the sofrim truly "" by the Chafetz Chaim. $4.95 ism by Abraham Amsel. @ study the halachos pertinent to their ~ (hard-cover $7.50) $4.95 @ trade and undergo examination ~ AT zaddik in our Time ~ toward ordination, telling them, "If ~ The Life of Rabbi Aryeh Levin Our Life's Aim @ it ~ by Simcha Raz. $7 .95 A Perspective from the Torah you are not ordained, is impossi­ @ (hard-cover $12.50) Viewpoint @ ble for you not to ensnare others." @ The Book of Our Heritage by Naftali Hoffner. $3.50 @ In addition, Israeli mezuza ex­ <'I\ (hard-cover $5.95) @ ~ The Jewish Year and its Days of ll'1 porters passed on the word that ~ Significance ie::> customers overseas are demanding @ by Eliyahu Kitov. Path of the Just @ some kind of guarantee that their ~ Three Volumes $16.50 Mesilath Yesharim ~ ~ (hard-cover $27.SO) by R. Moshe Chaim Luzatto. @ scrolls are usable .... What could be ~ Hebrew vowelled text with Eng· done? @ Duties of the Heart lish translation by Shraga Silver· ~ @ Chovoth Holevavoth stein. $4.95 @ The V aad is now setting up a @ by R. Bachya, Hebrew and (hard cover $8.95) @ process whereby sofrim are tested @ English translation by Moses ~ by a beis din (either that of Bnei "" Hyamson. The Sabbath @ Brak, under Rabbi Wasner; that of ~ Two Volumes $9.75 A Guide to its Understanding ~ Agudath Israel under Rabbi ~ (hard-cover $17.50) and Observance @ ~ by Dayan I. Grunfeld. $3.95 t1'1 Yitzchok Flekser; or the Eidah ~ Ethics from Sinai !Jt:j Hachareidis in Jerusalem; a similar @ Commentary on Pirkey Avoth Strive for Truth! ~ reg is try is being organized by the @ by Irving Bunim. Michtov Me-£/iyahu by R. Eli· @ Association of Yeshivas Hahesder t"l\ Three volumes $15.00 yahu Dessler. Translated by ~ of the Mizrachi). A sample of the ~ (hard-cover $27.50) Aryeh Carmell. $4.95 @ sofer's work and a personal serial ~ Gates of Repentance (hard-cover $6.95) @ number assigned him are sent to the ~ Shoorei Teshuvoh by R. Yonah ~ @ Hebrew vowelled text with Eng- World of Prayer m Mishmeres STaM office in ~ lish translation by Shraga Silver- On the Daily, Sabbath and Festi· ~ Brooklyn, where the sofer's work ~ stein. val Prayers le? and number are registered. After @ $5.50 by Rabbi Elie Munk. @ that, every parchment arriving to Two volumes $9.75 ~ America bears the sofer's serial Judaism, Thought and Legend (hard-cover $17.50) @ ~ number, is matched with its @ Anthology of Ethics and Philo· @ prototype on file, checked for er­ @ sophy Entire set of 19 volumes $95.00 @ @ by Meir Meiseles. $7.95 @ rors, and cleared for sale. The purchaser can thus be informed of @ Our aim is to make it possible for everyone tG buy these important works ~ @ in low-price paperback editions. ~ the source of his particular scroll, and will be able to select according­ @ Feldheim gives you value for your money l ~ ly. @ All our publications are usually available at your local Jewish Bookstore. If ~ @ you wish, you can order direct from us. Send check (add sales tax) with ~ At long last, a need that has ex­ @ order and we will pay postage. ~ isted for generations is on its way to @ @ being met. The mills of con­ sumerism may grind slowly, but ~ ~ they do grind surely.

30 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 11 Now available nationwide ... Reh Reuvain Grozovsky 7 l"T airfines, steamship cruises, hotels, motel resorts, schools, I. conventions, hospitals and supermarkets. While I found your presentation a night with him on a rotation on the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Reu­ basis.) When I poured water on his va in Grozovsky ?"YT most hands (for negel vasser) in the ctI,,.(',[,(',. evocative, there is one point I was morning, out of nervousness I =r!:f ih!f'J;!!1 looking for, which recalled the splashed some on his sleeve and bed ~:;11w1 Rosh Yeshiva to me;° yet, I did not linens. He sensed my unmitigating see it mentioned in the article - the embarrassment. He then did sense of majesty with which he was something he had never done before endowed. Reb Reuvain seemed to re;3:h,.c\bc,. or since, to my knowledge: He command respect - even a sense of spoke (to me) on a general topic awe - from all whom he met. In ad­ even though he was wearing his dition to the two great Roshei tefillin. With great difficulty, he Yeshiva mentioned in the article asked me how I was learning, who (Rabbi Aharon Kotler ?":YT and my chavrusas were, and how I was (~~l: n"'>~' Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky adjusting to the place. This human X"ll'':olll) he asserted a strong in­ element and compassion were all fluence on many other youthful the more appreciated in the setting friends and rabbis, notably Rabbi of his general majesty. (His speech Yonah Minsker, ,,,,iT whose was impaired rather than "robbed" ~ch,.c\bc,. Chidushei Torah are preserved in from him, as described in the ar­ '}r>:t:::::::::K.~11_;::::- m:::·::;:'~,.;;:f;::,. ::::r::;It}tiF:: j:ii'~--,~::,\- "Yonas Eilem." ticle.) In Beis Midrash Elyon, we were I use the word "majesty" ad­ keenly aware that he knew precisely visedly, for even in his illness he in­ what every bachur was capable of ct'1,.c\bc,. spired awe in us. I still recall the doing and how he was performing. sight of the Rosh Yeshiva wrapped ~!t;%+ii!ib]$j\)>'.gf,}j!@i; In fact, we knew that he was also in several blankets, propped up in a well informed about every single large club chair, being carried on the bachur in the top shiur in the Torah shoulders of half a dozen talmidim Vodaath Beis Midrash, who would - being brought to the yeshiva Beis ~~~!;a:c\bc,. be candidates for Beis Midrash Midrash to hear shofar on Rosh Elyon the following year. This cer­ Hashana. Handicapped - yes, but tainly added to his stature in our no less majestic. eyes. What we did not know, but (Rabbi) YISROEL BELSKY discovered later, was that he main­ tained copious notes on each stu­ RABBI BELSKY is a Rosh Yeshiva in Mesifta (sgz~~~!~~~!: 9024 Foster Ave., Brooklyn N.Y. I! 236 dent, with detailed observations and Torah Vodaath, Brooklyn quotations from others in regard to Phone: (212) 272-9184 their strengths. I still recall visiting him in the hospital during his final weeks, and being forced to respond to his Come To query: "Where are you up to (in Gitten)?" This caused a dilemma, because we knew how impatient he was with our slow pace .... k06her £~~t1y In this light, perhaps the reader can appreciate how I felt on the oc­ Formerly Kosher King casion when it was my first turn at 1501 Surf Ave Coney Island spending the night with the Rosh Yeshiva in his bungalow in the Beis Whitehead Hall Brooklyn College Midrash Elyon campus during his illness. (We were assigned to spend

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 31 Reh Reuvain Grozovsky '"~T

.7~~,~,, II. 'ii1;I') -;;.,.... .K"WnJ. Kt.v,..,? i1"1J.n May I commend you on your as a snake does is not a scholar;" Chevra Kadisha masterful presentation on the Rosh (Yoma 23a) he added that the talmid Yeshiva, Rabbi Reuvain Grozov­ chacham must harbor a deep,seated Har !-~amenuchot • t-lar f-laze1s;n1 sky ~"Y'I in your most recent issue. love for each and every Jew so that ErPV, f--fnchorrn when he does avenge their mis­ Burial in Jen1salem However, several errors seem to have crept in. In addition, a few deeds, he does so without the least And All Cemett->nes ln lsral:?i salient points in the Rosh Yeshiva's bit of personal satisfaction - just as the snake, when biting, experiences Bako~Esh character were somehow omitted as ' maal1n . well. May I address myself to these: no satisfaction. SOCl€ty (1) Reb Reuvain never met with (3) The cryptic reference to the 26 CANAL ST, Ben Gurion himself. He did, attitude of the cat and the NEW YORK CITY 10002 however, organize a delegation of homeowner toward the mouse at­ tributed to Rabbi Yitzchok Dt1y & N.te Phonf rabbis to meet with him, and he Elchonon was, in fact, a quotation 233-7878 spent hours coaching each member of the delegation on how to speak to he often cited from Reb Chaim the Israeli Prime Minister. On the Brisker. day of the meeting he fasted, said The parable went: When a cat Enjoy ••• Tehillim, and asked the Mesifta catches a mouse, both the Torah Vodaas to say Tehillim Be't­ houseowner and the cat are Eat in I zibur (communally). delighted. Except for one point. The II ~I good health! (2) When he referred to the cat hopes there are more mice to be quotation from the Talmud, "A caught; the owner hopes not. The "\ ~ "\ Rosh Yeshiva would then expand ,- \ \.,:.J \' i scholar who does not take revenge .:. '"~, ,) on this: "Whoever enjoys fault­ Chap.A-Nosh at Miami's finding takes pleasure in the ex­ c:-1[::7ri u u \_,,.\C,. istence of those who deny G-d or defy His laws - like the cat who I "c' The Most TMted Name craves more mice. Even when battl­ in Kosher Poultry DELI-NOSH GLAn KOSHER FAST FOODS ing apikorsus, it must be with the ~ Under Orthodox Rabbinical Councu hope that it will soon not exist - PREFERRED WORLD-WIDE @ DllURS, LUIKHES like the houseowner in the parable. HAIMISHE TAKE HOME FOODS (4) In America, the Rosh Yeshiva IAR-8-Q CHICKEN, DIUCATESSEN in his concern over chadash deter­ SANDWICHES, BURGERS, FRANKS mined when "the grains were lSAVENUE EAT IN OR TAKE OUT seeded" - not "harvested." SEFORIM & GIFT CENTER Open All Year I 1 AM· 11 PM 420 Arthur Go

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32 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 A GUO A TH ISRAEL CHARGES: "OAF YOMI" SIYUM MARKED SUPREME COURT MAKES MOCKERY OF FIRST AMENDMENT POCKET-SIZED EDITION

Calls On President Carter To Only l's of spC'ed1 fa!! beyond thl' protection of the Participants of the Otlf Yorni (folio a day) Appoint Justices In Touch With First Amendment, 'the prevention and Talmud study program marked the siyum of Realities of Democratic Principles punishment uf which have never been the tr,1ct.ite Nedarim on Thursday, July 13. "The SuprC'tne Court decision to permit thought to raise any constitution malevolent In its continuing effort to serve this major

pedceful dissent and constructive frpedom of 1 (lnviction~ of r,1da! supt>riority and geno­ Founding gu.ir,1ntcpd biy thl' Constitution." F,1ther..; di,l not intend for tlw First Amend­ Ju ring the dr and vvhenever one chooses. R,1blii Chaskel Besser, chairman of thE' Oaf AmendnH'nt absolutis1n is an il!ogicdl dnd r\ difficult balancing of rights is involved, Yo111i Commission of Agudath Israel, said (Lingcrously extreme distortion of a hallowed ,ind hence, difficult choices must b<' made. th,1! these Ce111oras cannot be obtained in principle. There is a long record of court This h free speech, not permitting this cherished li,1sis and j..; ,1v.iiL1ble for thl' cost price of Americ,in l·itizPns to exprl'ss their extreme right to he misinterprC'ted into an unbridled ,i dismcision, when making any future Suprcm(' Court hdd dedarn~ that so1ne class- appoinlnwnts to the Supreme Court. lKARKA IN ISRAELl A GUO A TH ISRAEL ISSUES NEW GUIDE TO ITS 18 DIVISIONS Take advantage of the opportunity i to purchase cemetery plots in 1 A comprehensiv(' description of Agudath ,1nd representing the interests of the yeshivas IEretz Yisroel in Mifgash Shimshon Jc;r,iel's multi-faceted role in serving the b('forc governmental and legisl

The Jewish ()bserver I June, 1978 33 .

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34 The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 SHECHIT A NOT ENDANGERED BY NEW BILL AGUDA TH ISRAEL CLAIMS The Jewish community was jolted by a rdiginn exception from the law for this N<1th.in Lewin, and submit!ed to the ap­ nl'WS report that a proposed amendment to pron:ss, known as the Javits-Case Amend­ propriate Congressional Committees. Mr. the Federal Meat Inspection Act had passed ment. The Agudath Israel spokesman Levvin. a \tVashington attorney, appeared as the Agriculture Committee of the U.S. House emphasized that the recognition of the the attorney for a number of Jewish groups of Representatives requiring in effect, that all humaneness of Jewish ritual s!aughter was in the successful defense of shechita in a s!dughter of livestock be performed only kised on extensive evidence subrnitted to J073 lawsuit challenging the con­ after the animal was rendered unconscious - Congress. He said that the exemption was stitutionality of the Javits-Case Amendment. d procedure prohibited by Jewish law for the therefore clearly not protection for an Mr. Lewin is the son of Dr. Isaac Lewin, a kosher slaughter of meat. Accordings to a "inhurnane" rnethud of slaughter but protel:'­ prominent international Agudath Israel sPokesman for COLPA (The National Jewish tion against the anti-shechita cabal. fn the leader, who played a major role in the protec­ Commission on Law and Public Affairs), a past there have been a number of efforts by tilln of shechita in connection with the 1958 dose reading of the bill disclosed that the bill certain groups to portray shec/1ita as legislation. indeed included language acknowledging '"inhuntdne'" and to secure restrictive legisla­ tl«1! shechita and attendant pre-shechita tion These efforts invariably fail both h,1ndflng was a humane process, fH·c,1use of the fact of s/1echita's notwithstanding thdt the animal was con­ '"humaneness'" and ultimately the sensitivity scious. However, the biil did not also contain of government officials. ,i First Amendment exemption from its According to the Agudath Israel spokes­ provisions for Jewish ritual slaughter. There man, as the rps ult of thE' concerns expressed, was substantial concern that the lack of such the sponsors. of the bill in the Senate and ,111 absolute exemption would expose House have agreed to place the equivalent of shechita to challenge in the courts. The the javits-Case Amendment in the new !aw. T1:S).,0VI n_,1l COLPA spokesman explained that although {)":Ill N"'ll;'\ !l).,::i ,,,, l'l) Senator Robert Dole, Senator Jacob Javits l'Y1'1' WK'i::i n::i•tu•l ?'n::in x•wa !12gislativf'ly and judicially acknowledged as and Congressman Jack Ke1np played key i1111 ,il'l"l) "Cl'l011 0'11110,, C'"liO being humane, shechita has persistently been roles in working out this agreement. The j;ti::i·•l:i A o"n f!ln ::iini the target of various animal society groups language, the spokesman said, has already .n#twn J",ll' 'N::tl!J DJ' .ns'illlJJ through the years as being "inhumane" 1l"1l '))1 D'Jl•l i1Jl1Jl 'il 1"11' J?91Tli1 J"oll•l J"ll0'7 he{'n drafted by COLPA Vke~President ,1'/"tl''7W 'WJ'11 ti~ Jlol m,1king an absolute exemption a necessity. .'1/"11Jl l'J9WllJ lrilWlITti A spokesman for Agudath Israel of THE WORLD FAMOUS 110·« tlJ iltill•l •tvJ rnti'WJ .1t•Jn ov nnJn •ntJP Americ,1 noted that a prior law, the t-fumane .O'l]l ilJJ. 'llY? 'Jnll WPJlll ,,lJ1J1JJ. ffi)'J DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM r1n« NJ]' 'Ill ,lJ.lJ 1'0Di1 '7HYT «"l!ITol ll'J.l il.Jill Slaughtpr Law of 1958 - which restricted 110'NJ 1JllJW 11v1 nN!l n·nwm 111m 110'1"1 wwnJ tpi1t government procurement of meat to that '~ip7 1n:i 'l;ij.''7 'JWW rl.1 •1J1 o·vn·1 ,7•1x? .iitvY ll'Yll nnwn ll'nwn 'Hlf i:;u'K 7K;~v ,, l";"ii;"l'~ D« lll:WJ l)Jill ,n?•j;tOJIO l'IJIO "'"'" 110'1'1) l llln !'mt which was slaughtered humanely, while it ,)"l Dr Dl' )") llllnW l'l«t 'llD'« '11Wll] )"fT 0'1]11) decL1red that shechita and related handling Available at ... 1'1'/il ''71J «i?'90'7 il'W9J '7"JJll 'Ill was humane - also contained a freedom of LEKUTEI INC. .11Dnn n1J' iw1w1 i11'Jll inm 1J11•w ·n i1WJJnt1 t"~n mm •1mi n1rn rnwwn.i l'J.OJ DNW 'JntlJ.lnl ,ma c Io I. Rosenberg i?toij;t K",l.'ll )"::tT IO•K nrnn ,)"YI C''f1 f!:Mit Wlli?•l )';>)) 10 West -47th Street, Room 102 wnnw• «'71 n1J' 111inn 'il nn1• n•1 i? w·w ·n ,)"YI New York, N. Y. 10036 ,,1JlJll] 1"I1J?W l'.llW9 pl .D'l]l ill] ']'Dlil? ?JlN «? '1«1 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, 1190] ONl ,nltlJWITll ill] 0019? l«IJ ol?l"TJ J11JJ ?J?JJ1ll Medrash, Megilas and Talmud. rDmw lptn 'lWNl ,lNIJ J.1 llJW )"] I1YPIJ i71 )'lJl' EV 7-1750 Proceeds of sales -disfribufed ol'riong 1190 '1' '71J l?YJ" D'J.11 0']1'1 olJT'W jl:il '11'1 ,D'J.1,1 YeshiYos and used for -reprinting FJn''7W 11J.lWJ1.1 1'19? JlW? '1JIJW ll'J.17 1.10' •l"J.17'11 t:""iC i~e 1 ol volumes 01.11-ol-prinf .mw iunt Jn11J 11 ?N~'l 'il nmw·? Jl'tJ.1 .19:ini1 l:iiJ~ irm nn1•u J.nni iV'e'ri'C 1°'~ 'C:'!itvri ..,.,,t:~ PRICE$6PER VOLUME

•!;l!:i) !;I) ~ '!till ,'1"1'11>!2!1 "Ml!:i•J .l"llll)D,, 1'1~ 1111117'1 11)1'1 D•~'l\11 'UIC''1:1 1l?IM l'l'ltt'1 'Nl .l"l)"'ll !:iv lln nl:llOi'I ·~Dl NEED FUNDS FOR MASHPIA-MOBILE l!:i ,..l~Tl An unusually capable Torah sh'liach in Eretz Yisrael is in need of an automobile. This young man - a scion of one of Klal Yisrael's noblest families - is of genius intel­ 1T1T - D'l!l n1'1il ligence, remarkably adept at sizing up and dealing with people, and a master persuader. l?tn ~,,,,,,'"" n1~•l He has had outstanding success in winning over to Torah young people of non-frum - n~!rnn .,,M!r' - background. K"Ot!JY1 iV''" nw~ :ain nN" In his frequent travels to settlements in the Negev in guest of "returnees", he has had ("'Tlll!:il''.11»1 "!'110) n•n)!:iMn u"1p'lml ,.n1v'm ,o•l•1n !:i!n) • to rely mainly upon public transportation - with great loss of time and efficiency. It is Q•)!TlTl !;!)!) N"l"W U'l11 •!:i11l '"ll1'Vl .l"IO)tln). VD'l"l • 10). NlMV '"111 - 1•)1)\1'( ~ ,,,,., ,,, - tl•P!:iTl 'l!:i p!rlno • estimated that an automobile would increase his work capacity several-fold. t•>D!:i l1'111 ln!:i111 A committee headed by Rabbi Israel Freedman, principal of Yeshiva Chasan Sofer, in­ ru ,n".n c.nv ,;i:i•"O• l!IN'I ,::i'I .nii'"lln m!:iV!:i n:111i111 "' !:i). • in:mn!:i l'N .n111 111!2) ,,,. ioion !:ixil m '11'-'n'- '?''- .n1•n) cluding Rabbi Shloma Figa, Rabbi Chaim Epstein, and Rabbi Mordecai Susna, has un­ ·1'"1'111 101 !:i::i:i :i•vm!:i no1 dertaken to raise the money (about $3,000} needed to buy him an automobile. 0•1Ul}I 728 Donations may be sent to: NA CHUM D""91!1 ~ » ~ J~ YI'> Distributed by Z. BERMAN I BOOKS c/o Rabbi Israel Freedman 1340 - 53rd Stntet,- Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 1647 44th Street I Brooklyn, NY 11204 m:i•io• "t'i::t>n> ~ mu,,

The Jewish Observer I June, 1978 35 Special money-saving offer to our friends: Due to sky-rocketing production costs, the single-copy price of The Jewish ObseIVer will be increased to $1.25, as of October 1, 1978. The subscription fee will be: One year - 10 issues (a $12.50 value) will cost only $9.00 (old price: $7.50) Two years - 20 issues (a $25.00 value) will cost only $17.50 (old price: $13.00) Three years - 30 issues (a $37.50 value) will cost only $25.00 (old price: $18.00) Old Friends, who are already subscribers: Save $19.50 by extending your subscription for three years before October 1 (pay only $18.00 instead of $25.00 for a $37.50 value!) New Friends, who are not yet subscribers: Order a new subscription beginning September, 1978, at the old price; save yourself from $5.00 to as much as $19.50 on the single-issue price. Do not delay. Use the handy coupon below.

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