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At our main office in Jerusalem we are constantly receiving "good news" phone calls. People who supported the Torah learning of over 60,000 children in the Father and Son Purim learning project "Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzadik" have taken advantage of the secret power of Purim. Many of them have experienced long-awaited miracles. Here are some of the stories from last year:
"10 girls are already engaged!" This is an Mearas HaMachpelah)! The delighted excerpt of a letter received right after Rosh grandparents sent us a CD of the bris! HaShanah this year! A group of some 25 E-mail from Flushing NY: ... I had asked "older" girls had sponsored a number of you to daven for 5 things: My son Y hit it big branches. By Rosh HaShanah, 10 had with a couple of striking deals. My son M already found their bashert!! did a 1soo turn and started taking his Pesach 5766 - a CD arrives in our mailbox! Yiddishkeit seriously! My daughter P got The story: a couple had been married for 5 engaged to a wonderful boy. My daughter Y years ... The parents sponsored a cent in had a child two months ago. My health has each child's learning... One year later - Purim improved, even though there is still a long afternoon - a healthy baby boy was born! 8 way for improvement... I don't know days later the bris was held (at the how to thank Hashem ...
Call now to reserve your branch 7:18-301-9795 or mail your support to: Avos Ubanim For special inquiries contact Rabbi Naftoli Falk: 972-57-3112-613 or Email: [email protected] P.O.B. 163 Monsey, N.Y. 10952 and don't forget to call us when you have good news (after your mother, of course .•. )! I I ---- "~---
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!'HE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 002Hl615 !S Pt:IH.JSl!ED MONTHLY, LXCEP.1 JULY & At1(;US'l IN THIS ISSUE ,\l'>D A COMBINl'.D lSS\1E f'OH J;\NllAlff,fEBIUIAHY. IH fHF. .AG11DAfH ISRAEI. OF AMHllCA, 42 illlOADW.'\Y. NEW YOHK, NY !0004. 6 ISRAELIS LOOK AROUND AND WITHIN, AND DoN'I l'ERJODICALS POSTA POSTMASTER: BE!S Y1SROE!. 'r~r, ON His 30TH Y AHRZEIT, Rabbi SEND ADURFSS CHANGES TO: THF JLW1s1-1 OnstoilVEH: 42 BROADWAY. NY. NY 10004 1~vrohon1 Birnbaun1 TEI 212-797-9000, FAX 646-254.-1600 l'HINTE]) JN TH~; liSA RAnBI NrssoN WOLPJN. l:Jitor l'.d1toria/ /Joord RABBI JOSEPH i":J.JAS. C/mirmon PURIM REFLECTIONS RABBI AnBA Bm_IDNY JOSEPH FHIFDENSON RAHl)l YrsRou. MUR KrRZN"li AMALE!K: NATION AND NOTION, Rabbi Avi Shafran R,\Bllr NossoN Scnu{MAN 18 !'HOF, AARON TWl':HSKJ Frmnrlcn 26 UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY, Rabbi 'fisroe! Greenvva!d Dii. !·:HNST I.. Bont:NllE!MEI{ Z .. I. RAIHH MOSHE Sllt:R~.fl Z"I. 35 WHO STOLE THE COOKIE FROM THE COOKIE JAR?, ,\fonoqcmcn/ l'ioard NAFTOU HIRSCJJ. ]SJ\A{; K!IU.NER, RABBI 5HUJMO l.ES!N, !\//rs_ Chan1 Kurtz DAVID Sl"i(;J.:!~. NACllPM STFJN \ti{S. LI·>\!! ZA(;U.B>\UM. Adnrlr';mg lHa11119cr PliBLlSll!CD BY Al;!JDA I"!! JS RAU. OF AMFH!CA 37 SHEM/RAS HALAS/JON SNE'EtLA HOTLINE, lJ.5. THADE IJL~J"Hlll\iTOfl FU.DH"IM P111U.ISHUl5 t,;Jrs Bay/a S_ Brenn('r i!llll Airport 1-irni/t\'f' lhrk Nmwrt. l\'Y 10.954 BRITISH RFl'Rl:St:NTATIVE 39 THE M!SUNDERSTOOD CHILD, hlfrs_ Rifkc:l Schonfeld M.'[ Bl BELMAN Groncnor \\hrk1 Mount P/cmrmt I fill 41 THE CHAZON lsH: THE MAN AND His VISION, flmdo11 /'.;,. HU.r«Cl! HEl'nESl-:N-!ArJVF Sh!on10 Lorincz, prepared fo1 RA!HU BAMHFJH;ER PART !V, Rabbi 21 l>nulcnml /t11\hm11 '>7000 Metz. 1-'RAi•,'CI' Rabbi '(_1Jnoson Rosenb!urn IS!lc\l.J.l REl'llES!'NTAT!VF ]KTNL. MFDIA PLACEMloNT 1'013 71.'J.'i I .'!7 Ja/fi1 Noad }em.w/1w .'14.140. ISIV\FI STATEMENT OF POLICY T111·. J1-:w1s11 OHS!-:l~VFll ~!AS D!-:von:o A GlH:\T Dl-:Ai. OF SPACI-. JO l!ELGIAN IU:l'HESENTATIVF M!l. E. AP'll-.ll THE l'EflJLS OF I'll!-: INTEHNET AND TO T!IE NEF.1) FOn EVEUYONE TO Umqc Ki(Tilstr. 2.'J OE !'.XTIU:MELY VIGl!.ANJ' IN ITS U'>l·:, WE /-IAVE ECHOED T!IF l'U·:A.S 201R Anln,np. IJU.Gfli'M OF ()\ff{ (;EDOl.!M fl/Arn S!IOULD NOT f}F JN USL \;N!.l'SS IT IS ,4,N ~Ol'rtl AFHlCAN IU-:PRESENTATIV!; THE JEWISH onst-:RVER !J{)l·:s Nor ASS~fMI' !J'\JAVOIDAllLE NECl·:SSJTY. AN!) T!!EN ON!,Y \VJTU AL!. SUll'AO!.E Mti. V TABACK ULSPONS!llll.ITY FOB THE KASll!l\f_~ o~· ANY l'HODllCT. ~-\Fr;t;\iAHOS. W!!!!.E IT,~ 0.'\N(;uis Ml!ST BE fH:CO(;N!ZED AND CON 1'0HO.Y.'il!Vi2. R1wdr1w . .foha111wslmrq PtlllUCATlON, OH SEHVJC/ ADVERT!Sf.f) IN ITS f'A(;F.S rl~OLLHJ TO EVHn l'OSSJllLE DEG!~Er-;, Olin GEDOUM Hl·:l'OGNJZE TUAI 2124 SOIJ/11 AIR/61 © COPYRIGHT 2007 ! ·\lfSrll·\LlAN llEl'RIOSl'NTArJVF I DR. A. DINNEN I 77 1>11 rrqn Rood MARCH 2007 I VOLUME XL NO. 2 L,,,,,, /Id/ "" "'" Al llR4111l ..------~----·-··~·····- M A R C H 2 0 0 7 I YONOSON ROSENBLUM I ISRAELIS LOOK AROUND AND WITHIN, AND DON1llKE HEY SEE I. LOSING HOPE FOR THE has already been convicted of indecent Oren and Yossi Klein-Halevi in the New FUTURE acts, another is under indictment, the Republic. president has been forced to suspend And finally, there is a near univer ver since last summer's war in himself pending a criminal indictment, sal recognition that peace with the Lebanon, Israeli society has been the heads of the Income Tax Authority, Palestinians will not be achieved in Eengaged in a process of soul the Finance Minister, and the prime this generation, and likely not the next searching unlike anything seen since minister's closest confidante and direc one either. A generation of Palestinian the Yorn Kippur War. That process was tor of his bureau are all under investiga children has been raised since Oslo to triggered by the inability of the vaunted tion for fraud, and the prime minister believe that the greatest goal for which IDF to provide security for Israeli civil himself faces a half dozen various police one can hope is to kill as many Jews ians during the second Lebanese War, investigations, any one of which may be as possible. Hamas' control over the and has been exacerbated by a continual enough to force his resignation. Palestinian educational system adds string of revelations about the various Meanwhile, Israelis fret that they may to the brew of virulent Palestinian failures of the military and political soon find themselves in the crosshairs of hatred the even more volatile element echelons by a number of investigatory a nuclear Iran, run by religious fanatics of religion - the belief that, as a matter bodies in the months since the end of who appear convinced that even the of religious duty, every inch of present the war. incineration of millions of their own day Israel must be returned to Muslim Those months have also witnessed citizens would be a double blessing, both sovereignty. an unprecedented string of corruption assuring a speedy entry to paradise for Zionism promised that a Jewish scandals. One former justice Minister those killed and hastening the advent of homeland would provide a safe haven the missing iman. For the first time in for Jews all around the world. But, RABBI ROSENBLUM, WHO LIVES JN JERUSALEM, more than two decades, the Holocaust ad111its Daniel Gordis, who writes from IS A CONTRIBUTING EDITOR TO The Jewish Observer. is being invoked in Israel's security and the traditional Zionist point of view, it HE IS ALSO DIRECTOR OF THE ISRAELI DIVISION OF AM ECHAD, THE AGUDAT!l ISRAEL-INSPIRED political debates. "The Iranian threat is today often "more dangerous to be EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORT AN!) MEDIA has returned the Final Solution to the a Jew in Israel than any other place in RESOURCE. heart of Israeli discourse;' write Michael the world." 6 ···--·--· ···-··-- ---~-.. T H E JEWISH OBSERVER Last sumn1er's war forced Israelis ficient resources of will power to carry on proposition that Palestinian security pris- to acknowledge that the IDF cannot the fight and to prevail. The name of the oners are, in fact, political prisoners. protect them from every danger. "For game, declared Ha'aretz'sAri Shavitat the Among those warmly welcomed by thirty-four long days;' writes Gordis, end of the war in Lebanon, is rebuilding the audience were Tali Fahima, an Israeli "the IDF unleashed enormous portions national will, and all our resources must Jew recently released from prison, where of its ... firepower, but couldn't stop the be channeled in that direction. he had been for providing logistical help firing of Hezbollah's Katyusha rockets No one, however, believes that the task to the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade in Jenin, on the North .... In the end, the only of reconstituting national resolve will be an and a former Palestinan security prisoner, thing that stopped the shelling of Israel's easy one. In a speech at the recent Herzliya jailed for throwing a hand grenade at an cities was the United Nations." Conference, Nobel Laureate in Economics Israeli bus. In place of academic papers, Reflecting on the concatenation of Robert (Yisroel) Aumann described Israelis the audience was treated to a series of far- recent events, Israelis are beginning to today as "like a mountain climber caught left speeches denouncing Israel. As Ben- lose hope for the future. "Israelis, for in a snowstorm. The night falls, he is cold Dror Yemini noted in Ma'ariv, "Hosting the first time in their history, see no and tired, and he wants to sleep. If he falls those that deny the Zionist enterprise's conceivable light, not even an i1naginary asleep, he will freeze to death. We are in right to exist at Tel Aviv University is not will-o' -the-wisp, at the end of the tun terminal danger because we are tired:' very different from hosting Holocaust nel," writes Hillel Halkin in a New York Prime Minister Ehud Olmert exemplified deniers in Teheran." Sun piece appropriately entitled "An that weariness when he told a group of In their search for new sources of Israel Without Hope.'' American Jewish businessmen that Israelis national will, Israelis have turned a lacer- Gordis writes nostalgically of the days are "tired" - tired of war, tired of winning, ating eye on themselves, and found much when Jews, full of dreams for the future, tired of being brave. wanting. Yair Sheleg, again writing in danced upon completion of the national 1~hc result of that weariness, argued Ha'aretz, wondered whether a decadent water carrier. But he finds precious little Aumann, has been to convince our society is capable of confronting the vari- of that sanguinity today. He recounts Arab neighbors that "we no longer have ous threats to its existence. Signs of that his first meeting with a new doctor. The spiritual strength, that we have no time, decadence are everywhere to be found. doctor asked him what he does, and he that we are calling for a time-out:' And Hedonism and the pursuit of material replied that he writes. therefore, the only recipe for survival is goods occupy the adults. Being a celeb- "What do you write about?" the doctor to convince the Arabs, "We have time; we rity- regardless of achievements - is the asked. "Aboutthe future oflsrael;' Gordis have patience; we have stamina:' Doing primary goal of Israeli youth. replied. "Oh, you write short stories;' was so, Aumann added, is not a matter of To quell any qualms of consciences the doctor's response. Both laughed, but repeating mantras, but of the Jews of about their naked pursuit of the good as Gordis notes, "Neither of us thought Israel truly understanding and internal- life, charges Shavit, the Israeli elites that it was particularly funny:' izing the message. About how that might have convinced themselves that Israel Opinion polls show Prime Minister be done, however, he has little to say. is so powerful, so insanely strong, that Olmert's approval ratings in the single At the height of the Lebanon War, nothing can threaten it. That strength digits. Yet, after a brief protest campaign Shavit accused Israeli elites, in Ha'aretz, justifies their failure to show up for by army reservists, the Israeli public has the paper of the elites, of having under- reserve duty or to send their children to grown quiescent. Perhaps Israelis feel mined every element of national strength combat units (a trend recently confirmed that the challenges currently confront by making mincemeat of the old Zionist by the Chief of IDF Manpower, Gen. ing Israel are beyond the capacity of any historical narrative, while failing to sub- Elazar Stern). Prime Minister Olmert's political leaders to solve. And certainly, stitute anything else in its place; criticiz- campaign pledge to turn Israel into a they have concluded that the problems ing Israel's militarism and denigrating "fun" place to live pretty much sums up go far deeper than a few incompetent military service; and making mockery the view that life is primarily about the political leaders and clueless generals. of the old communitarian values. The pursuit of pleasure. Our politicians are merely a reflection result, he cJ13rged, has been to drain the According to Yossi Klein-Halevi, the of a deeper rot that has overtaken Israeli nation of all its vitality. internal threat to Israeli society is no less society. Post-Zionis1n has infected the elites) great than the external one. The internal particularly in academia. The leaders challenge, he writes, is nothing less than of the worldwide movement to boycott to recreate the sense that Israeli society II. THE SEARCH FOR Israeli academic institutions and aca- is worth fighting for - a sense that has NATIONAL WILL demics are tenured professors in Israeli been undermined by the profusion of 1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • universities. Israeli post-Zionism was corruption scandals. Once, Israelis knew ! As they survey the threats arrayed on full display at Tel Aviv University on that their leaders, whatever their personal all around, Israelis are beginning January 8, when the university law faculty foibles and weaknesses, at least had the to ask whether they possess suf- sponsored a conference devoted to the interests of the nation at heart. 7 L ------·------·- ··--·-. ----·····- _____ .. The same cannot be said about Ill. THE CONSEQUENCES OF today's politicians, says Klein-Halevi, DESPAIR "who absorbed the wiles of the found ers but not their self-sacrifice." Prime sraeli society is not just having a Minister Olmert- a real-estate specula bad hair day. The dark national tor cum prime minister - epitomizes I 1nood threatens Israel far 1nore than Child Development Specialists for Shavit a widespread "cultural afflic it would a different nation. For nearly Helping Infants & Toddlers tion: the relinquishing of ideas, prin two decades, Israeli leaders have been ciples, basic beliefs, worldviews, and an obsessed by the fear that at some point, with Developmental Delays and Disabilities overall grasp of reality, ... sophistica those with the skills and money to move tion without a [moral] compass:' elsewhere will do so. Yitzchak Rabin Zionism pron1ised to normalize reluctantly came to support the Oslo the condition of the Jew in the world. process, in part because he feared that Having failed to assimilate on an if he did not hold out the hope of peace individual basis into European society, to a tired public, they would jump ship. Herzl and others believed that Jews Prior to going to Camp David in 1999, would be able to assimilate at the level where he made an offer to Yasir Arafat of nation states. That has not happened. far beyond the Israeli consensus of the Left-wing novelist Amos Oz notes with time, Prime Minister Ehud Barak spoke bitter irony that as a child, his father's of the loss of national resolve from that gentile neighbors assaulted him with of the generation of the Yorn Kippur taunts of "Jews go to Palestine." The War. And before embarking on the bottom-line message: "Don't be here. Gaza withdrawal, Prin1e Minister Ariel Don't be there. In short, don't be." Sharon spoke to an American Jewish Nearly sixty years after its creation, audience of the necessity of holding out the "Jewish State" finds itself anath hope to the population. e1natized like no other state in the 10 some extent, the fears of Israeli Evaluation and a full range of world, and held to a set of standards leaders from Rabin to Olmert have Therapeutic Services provided by which no nation is judged - cer already been fulfilled. A recent study by the Shalem Institute showed that at our Center or in the privacy tainly, no nation forced to defend itself from constant attack from the day of the rate of emigration of researchers of your home its birth. Far from having normal and professors almost doubled between Bilingual Services Available ized the condition of the Jew, Israel 2002 and 2004 - from .9% to 1.7%. Of Services are provided based on the child's needs has provided excuses for Jew-haters those educated Israelis who have left as determined by the NYC Early Intervention around the world to once again vent the country from an extended period Program. The Early Intervention Official will their spleens at Jews. of time from 1996 on, 96% have not determine the location and provider of any needed services. This Earlv Intervention Iran speeds ahead with the develop returned. Program is funded & regulated by the NYC Dept. ment of nuclear weapons and boasts of A nuclear Iran would exacerbate of Health & Men ta.! Hygiene. its intent to wipe Israel off the map; the threat of large-scale flight ten North Korea seeks to export nuclear fold. A nuclear Iran, warns Deputy Executive Offices: weapons technology, even as millions Minister of Defense Ephraim Sneh, 649 Thirty-Ninth Street of its own people starve; the Sudanese would lead to mass threat and perhaps government works hand-in-hand with destroy Zionism even without resort Brooklyn, New York 11232 Arab militias that have killed approxi to arms: "The danger is not so much mately 300,000 black Muslim farmers Ahmadinejad's deciding to launch an Queens Office: - and all this evokes fewer outcries attack, but Israel's living under a dark 70-14 14/st Street and less international concern than cloud of fear of a leader committed to Flushing, New York 11367 one International Solidarity Movement its destruction. I'm afraid that under volunteer being rolled over by an Israeli such a threat, most Israelis would prefer earthmover that could not see her as not to live here; most Jews would prefer SERVING BROOKLYN, QUEENS, she sought to protect tunnels through not to come here with their families; STATEN ISLAND & MANHATTAN which weapons were being smuggled and Israelis who can live abroad will .... into Gaza. The degree of attention paid I'm afraid Ahmadinejad will be able to www.challenge-ei.com by the world to Israel is certainly not kill the Zionist dream without pushing I "normal." a button." 1 l______------..... __J T II E JEWISH Ons1-:1~vEH ······=-i Patriotis1n and national will are Looking to join a growing suburban 1nore important to Israel than to other I countries. Other countries n1ay have community ideally suited to inore corrupt public figures, and other Western nations n1ay have acade1nic the needs of Baalei Teshuva? elites who identify with the country's enemies, but the country's existence isn't Consider Mamaroneck, NY (thirty eight threatened, at least in the short run. In Israel, however, a lack of national minutes from Grand Central Station) resolve poses a n1uch n1ore imn1ediate threat because, as Yossi Klein-Halevi For information: notes, in no other Western nation is so much demanded of the population Rabbi Baruch Zaitschek 914.381.2210 in terms of military service, taxes, and constant threats to physical security. And therefore, in no other country do citizens require such a strong sense of national purpose to prevent them fron1 pulling up stakes and leaving. IV. )N SEARCH OF THE SILVER LINING he foregoing picture, while not a happy one, does contain a T number of reasons for qualified optimisn1 about Israel's future as a Jewish society. The very fact that Israeli society is undergoing self-examination and has concluded that something has THEVORT • The menu for the seuda is gone dran1atically awry is itself positive. ; ·rtie 'vari 'ceie6ration· is ·ta· ·tie limited to 3 courses followed by a Where did we lose the way? is a question discontinued. The L'chaim (held at regular dessert. that inevitably directs the questioner the time that the engagement is • No Viennese table and no bar. back in tin1e towards his or her histori announced) should also not turn cal roots. into a Vort. THE MUSIC Si1nilarly, the emphasis on discover THE WEDDING ; 'A. banci" may a·maxfriiLirri ing new sources of national unity and cons(si of of 5 musicians (one of the musicians strength can only reinforce interest in ; ·F'cir. ·tiifiiC:aY famiiies: ·0r11\i' "466 may act as a vocalist) or four musi Judaism. National will is not so1nething invited guests may be seated at the cians and one additional vocalist. that can be picked off of a pharmacist's chassuna seuda. (The Guidelines shelf. Nor can it be just another line in make provision for exceptional • A one-man band is recom the national hudget. It must have its circumstances - see full text.) mended. source in something and grow organi • The kabbo/as panim smorgas FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR cally from \vithin the nation. bord should be limited to basic ; 'rhe' iot'a'1 "c0si ·at' ities"e' (terns for Ultimately, what binds the Jews of cakes, fruit platters, a modest buf the entire wedding should not Israel to one another is that they arc all fet, and the caterer's standard exceed $1,800. descendants of those who received the chicken or meat hot dishes. l'orah at Sinai and of generations of ancestors who maintained a vital, living FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES relationship with Hakados/1 Baruch Hu, WITH ITS RABBINICAL ENDORSEMENTS even on pain of death. Jews of Israel arc asking themselves- Why is it important AND THE ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, that I live in this place! What about please call 212-612-2300 living an1ong other Jews or in this land r-=--- M A R C H 2 0 0 7 1 makes the dangers and sacrifices involved amidst a sea of Arabs, and who imagined which ignored one central point: There I worthwhile? Only an understanding of Tel Aviv to be another Manhattan in is not yet a Palestinian people that has I the unique mission given us at Sinai can the Middle East. At times, he sounded reconciled itself to live in peace with provide the answer to those questions. not unlike Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk Israel, and that prefers building up its Zionism promised Jews a normal in his famous warning to the Jews of own society and state to destroying the existence, an escape from their fate Berlin that if they continued to view one living adjacent to it. as Jews. That promise has now been Berlin as a new Jerusalem, a great fire Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky in Emes exposed as a fraud. We can never be like would go forth from their "Jerusalem" LeYaakov (Devarim 32:36) explains a all the other nations because we were and consume the Jewish world. difficult Gemara in Sanhedrin (97a). singled out by Hashem for the unique Even the clear-sighted recognition The Gemara there states that Moshiach mission of bringing knowledge of Him that there will be no peace with the will not come until the Jewish people to the world. In his various jeremiads Palestinians in the foreseeable future has have despaired of the Redemption. this summer, Ari Shavit berated those much to recommend it. We have paid a How, all the commentators ask, can who dreamed that the Jewish people heavy price over the last fifteen years for loss of belief in the Redemption, one could somehow live a normal existence chasing various illusions of peace, all of of the cardinal principles of faith, bring about the Redemption? Reb As long as there are Yaakov answers that Redemption only JeWish families In Ameri comes when the Jewish people have lost any hope of redemption through ca that don't have access the natural historical processes; when to mikVaOs, we wen't stop they have ceased to hope, for instance, building them. Won'tvou ioin that the nations of the world will sud denly take mercy upon us, and grant us In this bolV miUVah? us our own land to live in, in peace and security. That time is drawing MIKVAH USA ever closer with every illusory bubble Building Mikvaos Across America popped. There are signs all around of a • Cotnrnu11if1J_Mikvn/J Construction Grants renewed interest in 1brah, and of rec , • Halaclric Supeniision ognition of the need to reconnect to our • Outreach Publications historical roots as a people. Education • Education Minister Yuli Tamir, formerly a member of the far-Left Meretz party, has decreed that the Israeli school day should open Please donate to our with the reading of a chapter of Tanach. MikVah Building Fund todav. At a recent speech to a large group of uni- Not just a cheese, a tradition... Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping. ;\ll lfaolam chee;.e products are made in the U.S.A. under the strict rabbinical supervision of: Cholov Yisroel The Rabbinate of K'hal Ada th Jeshurun, Washington Heights, NY THURM BROS. WORLD CHEESE CO. INC. BROOKLYN, NY 11232 Haolam. 10 ------~--.. F .·-r-11--E-··-,-,-~--~ :·--,,-o-:- ..:·-"-- _R_: __ E___ R ______------"···-----·--·-- ! versity students in Israel on a Birthright __b_y_p_o_p_u-la-r-dem_a_n_d_to :pe_n_i-tssch_o_o_l_s - __m_i_g_ht m_ak_e_J-uda-is-m-appear in the eyes I program, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to children of veteran secular families, of onr secular brothers because they feel focused his remarks almost entirely on and to even open entire new schools for no connection to them or no sense of Eretz Yisroel as the birthplace of the such children. responsibility for the broader Jewish com- people and their ancestral homeland. Ayelet HaShachar placed one religious munity. We mnst be gnided by those who It was that awareness that he urged the family in Kfar Tabor, a secular yishuv on have taken seriously Rabbi Yoseif Shalom students to take with them from the trip. the outskirts of Afula. Initially, they were Elyashiv's statement that the focus of our There was no hint of the thinking that ignored by their neighbors, in the best chinuch should be on the principle resulted in a recent T'ourisrn Ministry cases, and vociferously urged to move she'yehei Shen1 Shomayim misaheiv al campaign promoting tourism to Israel elsewhere in the worst. But two years yadecha-that we inspire in others a love in terms of the pleasures of Eilat. later, sixty women are using the mikva on for Hashem. That is not just a lesson to Every week, over 2,000 Chareidi that yishuv. Even veteran Shomer Hatzair teach our children, but one that we all women learn over the phone with kibbutzim have sought permits to build must absorb and manifest in everything secular women who have expressed mikvaos. we do. Only then can we hope to be an interest in Torah study. And Mrs. The thirst for an authentic connec- models and guides for all those Jews so Tzili Schneider, who runs the program tion to their Judaism among Israeli Jews, desperately in need of what the Torah has under the auspicies of Ayele! HaShachar, including some of the most thoughtful to offer. u;i has a list of another 15,000 secular among them, imposes obligations upon women who have been recomn1ended us. For these ripples to become a tidal wave CORRECTION as potential candidates for such learn- of change, a source of hope for the fate of ing. Arachi1n runs dozens of seminars thebroadyishuv,callsforanex:traordinary In the article "Guidelines for Tuition" of varying lengths each year for Israeli investment of effort on the part of1brah (Jan.-Feb. '07, pg. 8) based on the coun Jews from every possible kind of back- Jewry both in Israel and abroad. We must sel of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky ., .. :ll, ground. Lev CAchim registers thousands actively reach out - and support others the reader was referred to the source of children from secular families in who do so, as well - whenever possible. of this material, "Bimechitzas Rabbeinu religious schools. And the network of It is crucial that others see the Chareidi - Ma'amarim and Halachos, Halichos over sixty SHUVU schools, originally community as a vibrant, thriving, and Ve'uvdos, meiRav Yaakov Kamenetzky founded to provide an enriched Jewish viable community. We must prevent the 7":'::lt." 1'he author's name was listed studies program to children of immi- communal agenda from being seized by incorrectly. He is Rabbi Yaakov Michael grants from the FSU, has been forced those who do not care how ugly they Jacobs, of Monsey. ·····>tc; Are you <\ '/ ..~t;. ·: < !;~., .... - - ...... ;<__ -_ ·· 1~rt\l:f '10LUNTEE 11KER ... Qd are in,~~e~ 1975: A Chassid came from Europe to Eretz Yisroel and brought his four-year-old son to the Gerrer Rebbe, the Beis Yisroel, 7"llt. The Beis Yisroel, in his well-known, rapid-fire way of talking, asked the boy in Yiddish, "VVhat is your name?" The boy, who did not understand the quickly spoken question, did not respond. Assuming that the child did not understand Yiddish, the Rebbe asked him his name in Hebrew. The precocious young boy, imme diately grasping the Rebbe's impression, answered, ''Rebbe, !ch ken Yiddish - Rebbe, I know Yiddish." To this, the Rebbe quickly retorted, "Yiddish darf men nisht kennen, Yiddish darf men zein - You don't [only} have to know Yiddish, you have to be Yiddish!" The young boy, today a father ofchildren, said that the Rebbe's words and the serious ness with which they were said still ring in his ears today, more than 30 years later. Perhaps this sums up the Beis Yisroel's colossal inflnence on his Chassidim and all of Kial Yisroel. His entire life was a long, uninterrupted chapter of instilling Yiddishkeit into other Jews. Every Jew is different and the recipe he used to plumb the depths of each person's neshama •reflected that difference. The common denominator was his understanding of the specific needs of each Yiddishe neshama, and his capacity to imbue each one with the life-giving spirituality that it needed. Simultaneously, he had the uncanny ability to assess the spiritual level of each person and, based on that assessment, demand that each individual strive towards his This is what makes writing about ·· the Beis Yisroel a practically impossible . Jo each individual, he represented rent things. To one, he appeared as ·ng father, assisting him with eyes 'Of compassion and benevolence. To er, he was a fiery taskmaster, rebuk d demanding that he push himself e limits of endurance, both physical d spiritual. To yet another, he was a holy ah whose visage alone was sufficient to hue him with a ruach tahara - a feel g of purity that rendered any worldly LAKf:WOOD, JS A COLUMNIST FOR Yated Ne'eman AND A FREQUENT CONTRrnUTOR TO THE'~ --·------ temptation completely superficial and the churban, Kial Yisroelwould be doomed that would proudly carry forward that empty. to extinction without the continuation of mesora; the mesora of strict adherence lb the sick, he was the fatherly figure Torah, represented by Yavneh and its sages. to Torah and the mesora of living a life who on Brev Yam Kippur-when all were The second request is also clear. If the nasi permeated with the unique approach of preoccupied with last-minute spiritual would have been killed, there would not Ger and Kotzk. preparations for the holiest day of the year be a scion left of the kingdom of David. - came to their homes to remind then1 But the third request seems questionable. that they must eat on Yorn Kippur. To his How could providing a doctor for the IN THE CRADLE OF KEDUSHA Chassidim, he was "The Rebbe;' whose ailing and sick Rabbi Tzaddok be of such iinage, demands and teachings never left importance? he world into which the Beis Yisroel them, and to the world at large, he repre I once heard Rabbi Eliezer Geldzhaler was born in 1894 was a much sented a primary leader of Chareidi Jewry 7"1 explain that Rabbi Yochanan real Tpurer one. It was a world where and of Agudas Yisroel in Bretz Yisroel. ized that after the churban, Kial Yisroel his grandfather, the Sefas Bmes ?":n, was In truth, the Beis Yisroelwas all of these would only be able to rebuild if they still Rebbe. He grew up under the watch things; he encompassed so much and had had a living example of a Jew from the ful care and affection of the Sefas Bmes. influence over an extensive range of Jews, pre-churban era. Only his guidance, his When the Beis Yisroelwas all of four years well beyond his own Chassidim. visage, the Judaism that he embodied old, the Sefas Bmes, impressed with the At the same time, despite his fame, would enable them to spring back after child's lightning quick mind, commented he was a nistar- hidden. So much of his the great destruction. to the boy's father, the Imrei Bmes, "He is greatness was concealed from the world, In His ultimate mercy, the Ribbono sh el an illui (genius), and will one day be a even from those closest to him. After 30 Olam's Hashgacha elyona - His Divine great Rebbe:' years, he re1nains an enigma, well known Providence - saw to it that a hand During his childhood, he had close to so many, and yet hidden. ful of extraordinary Jews were spared contact with the elder Chassidim, who Churban Europa's massive destruction, themselves had been close to the great and the surviving generation in America, forebears of the Gener dynasty, the TRANSMITTING in Europe and in Bretz Yisroel had lead Kotzker Rebbe, the Chiddushei J-larim PRE-CHURBAN IDEALS TO A ers and teachers of remarkable stature and Rav Chanoch Henoch of Alexander. PosT-CHURBAN GENERATION - exemplary individuals from different The young child, with his quick grasp, co1nrnunities - to guide the reconstruc absorbed their teachings and the mesora ne of the fascinating aspects tion, perpetuation and ulti1nate thriving they transmitted. of the Beis Yisroel's life was the of Torah Jewry. As he grew older, he became known Oera in which he served as rebbe. Among them was the Beis Yisroe~ who throughout Poland for his tremendous During those first three decades after the embodied all three of Rabbi Yochanan hasmada - diligence and greatness in Holocaust, the world was completely dif hen Zakkai's requests. He was indeed learning. In an era when sharfkeit(literally, ferent from the world of pre-War Europe instrumental in rebuilding Torah and "sharpness" - penetrating astuteness) was in which he had been raised. Yiddishkeit after the tragic churban of prevalent, his sharfkeitbecame legendary. The Gemara (Gittin 56), when dis the Holocaust. He ensured that the great He was viewed in Ger as a symbol of the cussing the churban Beis Hamikdash, malchus of Ger, which so embodied the spiritual apex to which Chassidus could relates that prior to the destruction of grandeur of Polish Chassidus and the raise a person. The best and finest of the the Beis I-lamikdash, Rabbi Yochanan mesora of its antecedents, the Chassidic young Chassidim, those who were will ben Zakkai was smuggled out of the courts of Peshis' cha, Kotzk and Ger, would ing to completely negate themselves and besieged Yerushalayim and came before not be forgotten. their personal aspirations and desires in the Roman emperor. The emperor told But most importantly, in the spiri order to fulfill Hashem's will, would seek him that he could make a request, but tual desolation left by the Holocaust, he his company. Rabbi Yochanan made three: that the served as a living example of how a Jew emperor spare Yavneh and its sages; that from before the churban looked, acted he spare the nasi (prince), who, being a and thought. By being a living example LEADER OF THE YOUTH direct descendant of King David, would of the great pre-churban era, he was able continue the chain, eventually bearing to transmit the mesora of the pre-War is father, the Imrei Bmes, undis Moshiach; and that the emperor provide Chassidic world of Poland in all its rich- puted leader of Polish Jewry, a doctor for the ailing Rabbi Tzaddok, the ness and thus breathe new life into the H saw the havoc being wrought Tanna who had fasted for 40 years hoping almost lifeless souls, the broken survivors on Jewish Polish youth by the Haskalla 1 to avert the churban. of Hitler's crematoria. (secular movement) and the foreign I The first request is immediately under- This eventually resulted in the estab- systems of thought and ideology that i standahle.RabbiYochanankncwthatafter lishrnent of a new, post-War generation permeated Europe in the first half of the L_ ··------·····- 13 M A R c H 2 0 0 7 20th century. He therefore encouraged wars. Each chevra usually had a leader to 'What do I want? A yeshua for all Yidden: the bachurim to organize then1selves into direct them. The Beis Yisroel was leader of At other times, he would answer, 'What do chaburos (or" chevras," as they were called the leaders. He was instrun1cntal in setting I want? I want Yidden to be heilig- holy in Ger), groups oflike-minded bachurim the path and providing direction for the by day and by night."' and yungeleitwho would band together to chevras. The conviction and fierce loyalty This was the foundation of his hanhaga serve Hashem. These chevras served as a to Yiddishkeit displayed by the chevraswas (leadership) after the war: a yeshua for bulwark of strength in proactively negat legendary. It was a fire that the darkest all Yidden, helping all Yidden with their ing the allure of numerous "isms" that so hours and most profound spiritual test, personal, emotional and material needs, encouraged the youth of that time to cast the crucible of the Holocaust, could not and at the same time, instilling in them off the yoke of Torah Judaism. extinguish. (See Moshe Prager's small the fire of kedusha. The ca1naraderie and mutual spiritual book, Eileh Shela Nichna'u- Those Who aspirations were instrumental in turning Never Yielded, for a detailed account of young Gerrer Chassidim into a powerful the conduct of members of these chevras REBUILDING WITH THE spiritual force between the two world during the Holocaust.) YOUNGER GENERATION The Beis Yisroel suffered his own per sonal churban with the loss of his wife, most immediately after assum- son, daughter, son-in-law, and most of mg the mantle of leadership, his his extended family in the great conflagra ntense interest in youth became tion. He himse1f was miraculously saved evident. On the night of Yorn Kippur with his father and so1ne other members 5610 (!949), the Rebbe related a tell of his immediate family. The malchus ing story about Reb Levi Yitzchak of of Ger was decimated; almost the entire Berdichev: "One Erev Yorn Kippur, Reb Chassidus was wiped out. In 1948, in the Levi Yitzchak announced that he would middle of the War of Independence, the only accept kvitlach and bless the people Get a cell phone Imrei Emes passed away and the mantle if they would pay him two kopeks per of leadership fell on the shoulders of the person. Throughout the day, people came, from the people Beis Yisroel. presenting two kopeks in exchange for a blessing. The afternoon began to wane. The you can trust! Chassidim had already gathered in shul. GERRER REBBE - FATHER But alas, the Rebbe did not come. They AND MOTHER sent the gabbai to see what was causing the delay. He found the Rebbe talking with lowly, the few survivors, broken in a poor widow who had arrived late. She body and spirit, began to trickle to begged the Rebbe to bless her child and SBretz Yisroel. They were, perhaps, herself for just two kopeks. But the Rebbe wounded more in spirit than in body. adamantly insisted that he required four ~ ~ They needed family - a father, mother, kopeks, two for her child and two for her Total Communication sister or brother - in addition to a rebbe. self. "But it has taken me the entire day, solutions And the Beis Yisroel filled all of these roles. until this late hour, to scrape together even In becoming Rebbe, he became the father, two kopeks," she cried. 1-866-TALK-N-SAVE mother and any other requisite position The tears were to no avail; the Rebbe (1-866-825-5672) to rebuild these broken souls. would not relent. Finally, the heartbroken e-maiJ, [email protected] Still, the Rebbe never relented in his woman Ct"ied, "Please, Rebbe, I will forego my beracha, but please bless the child!" Customer service now available demands that Chassidim strive for the from 9,00 a.m. -12,00 midnight - Israel time! highest levels of ruchniyus. He wanted his Upon hearing this, Rav Levi Yitzchak "Cellcom Certified Agents Chassidim to attain the exalted spiritual grabbed the kvittel, ran to shul and plateaus of Kotzk and Peshis' cha, while, shouted, "Hashem, Your children make at the same time, he understood the era themselves hefkeir, foregoing their own Groups/Missions in which he lived, and was able to forge personal needs for the sake of the child!" (GET SPECIAL RATES/SERVICES) a path to the broken hearts with love, Those present on that Yorn Kippur of Call toll free from USA/Canada: understanding and friendship. 1949 realized that the Beis Yisroel would 1•866-403•8454 Indeed, one of his gabba'im related a make himself and his own quest for e .. mail: telling fact about the Rebbe: "When I was spiritual advancement hejker in order [email protected] gabbai, I would ask the Rebbe ifhe wanted to educate and inculcate the "child," anything, to which he would often answer, the young people, with foundations of 14 ------···~-·~------r-········ T H E JEWISH 0BSEl~VEH ------~ ·----· ~ ------ kedusha and ta hara-sanctity and purity. REACHING OUT BEYOND where the Rebbe reached out to lost Jews 1 He plowed ahead in a dor yasom - an HIS CIRCLE and brought them back. He started by orphaned generation. urging them to fulfill one mitzvah, which In the Beis Yisroel's court, the activities he Rebbe's caring, discerning would lead to another and then another, began at about 2:00 a.m. every morning. eye was not limited to Gerrer until the person became a full-fledged He initiated and placed special emphasis TChassidim, nor even to Chassidim sho1neir Torah umitzvos. on "fartugs" - arising early, long before in general. He sought to imbue every Jew, Another Chassid relates that prior to davening- as he encouraged bachurim to whoever he was, with a ruach tahara. He departing on a business trip to Italy, he went get up at that unearthly hour and devote searched in the most unlikely places for to take leave ofthe Rebbe. The Rebbe asked, the predawn hours to Torah study. He lost neshamos and brought them back to "When you are in Italy, kindly purchase could often be seen walking with a flash· their source. His greatest pleasure was to for me a leather wallet. I have heard that light in the dark streets of Yerushalayim guide a lost neshama out of the forces of they have nice leather wallets there." Of en route to waking up a bachur. darkness, towards the light of Yiddishkeit. course, the Chassid readily agreed. While He taught that learning in the early Whether it was an orphaned concentra in Italy, however, he became so involved in hours of the morning, when the air is still tion camp survivor who had ended up in pure, is vital to ensuring that the entire an anti-religious kibbutz or a bachurwith day be filled with kedusha. His constant a special neshan1a growing up in a 1nodern focus was the reishis - the beginning. family, he sought them out in the most Just as he focused on people in the early ingenious ways, bringing them close to years of their lives, he focused on the him and returning them to Hashem. beginning of the day. A story is told about an elderly Chassid He once heard about an American who would often travel to the Rebbe in yeshiva bachur whose grandparents Yerushalayim. When he became old, sick had been Gerrer Chassidim. The boy and partially paralyzed, he was placed knew little about the Rebbe or Gerrer in an old age home. His own children, Chassidim. The Rebbe, however, felt it who had strayed from Yiddishkeit, had necessary to bring him close to the path no relationship with Ger or the Rebbe. of his forefathers. The first thing that As his health deteriorated, the old father the Rebbe instructed one of his close requested that one of his sons, a very Chassidim to do was to make sure that successful entrepreneur, take him to the this bachur wash negel vasser at the side Rebbe in Yerushalayim. He wanted to see of his bed. The Rebbe explained that the Rebbe and take leave of him one last starting off the day with a mitzvah even time. Of course, the son complied with before stepping out of bed would influ his father's last request and drove him ence the rest of his day. to Yerushalayim. With extreme care, he In general, the smallest effort to bring assisted his ailing father into the Rebbe's kedusha into one's life was extremely room. After the father finished conversing important to him. He would constantly with the Rebbe, the Beis Yisroel turned to cite the Gemara: "One who sanctifies him the son, and with eyes that penetrated self every day in this world, even minutely, the very depth of the soul like an x-ray is sanctified greatly from Above:' machine, he said,"! heard that you fulfill Each day, he would call different the mitzvah of kibbud av with great care. bachurin1 or yungeleitto his private room This is good and well. However, you must to "drink tea" with him during those early realize that you have another father, our hours. These personal encounters and Father in Heaven. What have you done conversations with the Rebbe exerted a for Him lately? What are you ready to do tremendous influence. The Rebbe, witl1 his for Hirn?" keen eye, was able to see and understand "Tell me, Rebbe, what should I do?" what each bachur needed to hear. When "Don tefillin every daY:' they left his roo111, it was with a renewed "! will;' the son responded. vigor and dedication to Yiddishkeit. Today, "From that day on;' the son himself although thirty years have passed since he related, "a day has not passed when I have left us, thousands of people still attest to not put on tefillin:' the impact those few minutes of"tea" had "fhis was not a unique occurrence. on their entire lives. There were hundreds of sin1ilar incidents 15 ···~···· ··--·-·-----···-·-~-.. M A R C H 2 0 0 7 think that I need a wallet that you bought in Tel Aviv?" Indeed, until today, thirty years after his passing, many Chassidim who merited to bask in the fiery warmth that he exuded relate that when they are going through spiritual trials and tribulations, they think of the Rebbe's holy countenance, and this enables them to overcome the tests. This was the ongoing power of kedusha that the Beis Yisroel exerted upon his Chassidim. One individual, who had been a Gerrer Chassid before World War II, moved to America after experiencing the horrors of the war. He married there, but did not continue on the Chassidic path. Rather, he lived an extremely materialistic lifestyle, and sent his children to very modern Jewish schools. He climbed up the ladder of success, until he became a very prosper ous businessman. One day, he found himself in deep trouble. He had gotten involved in a bad business deal and was at risk of facing charges in court for fraudulent business From left: The Pnei Menachem as a youngster, his grandfather the lmrei Emes with his son, the Beis Yisroel practices. He hired the best lawyers, but his business affairs that he completely forgot The man had no choice but to admit was informed that the state's case against to attend to the Rebbe's request. Only upon his oversight. "Foolish person," the Rebbe him was so strong that it would be prac his return to Eretz Yisroel did he remeniber said, "do you really think I needed a wallet? tically impossible for him to win. Losing his promise. He decided to go to Tel Aviv, I simply wanted you to think of me while would result in being found guilty of purchase an Italian wallet there, and then you were in the spiritual desert of Italy so the criminal charges levied against him. proceed to the Rebbe in Yerushalayim. that you would not, G-d forbid, sin there. Where should he turn? Had he escaped When he presented the wallet to the Rebbe, By asking you to buy me a wallet, I knew Hitler so that he should languish in an the Rebbe studied it and asked, "Where did that all that I constantly demand of you American prison? And what about his you purchase this?" would be foremost in your mind. Do you wife and children - who would care for them? He suddenly recalled tl1e years before the war, when every problem of There is only one his would make its way to Ger and find an answer. He decided that despite his \'AMOR SUITES present less-than-adequate spiritual state, he would journey to the Gerrer Rebbe in in Golders Green, London. Eretz Yisroel. When he entered the Beis Yisroel~ Luxury self-catering suites chambers, the Rebbe immediately asked • about his life in America, his children and Near shops and shuls where they went to school. Eventually, • the Yid broke down in tears and told the Wireless broadband Rebbe about the imminent court case against him. The Beis Yisroel answered, "If you will give this and this amount (an Call 011-44-7968-387-499 exorbitant sum) to me, I will bless you that Fax 011-44-208-455-4231 all will be fine." The Yid was taken aback. This was not the Ger he remembered www.yamor.com from Poland. A Gerrer Rebbe asking for money? It was unheard of. 16 THE JEWISH OBSERVER Telling the Rebbe that he would think tion; who, with one word or a withering letter to a friend: "I was in close proximity about it, he left. After thinking it over for glare from his powerful eyes, transmitted to my father almost the entire time from a day, he concluded that he had no choice. the sharpest rebuke. Those, however, who the passing ofthe Sefas Emes until his own Practically all the money in the world was looked a little deeper into the penetrating passing. I knew and saw the great amount worth winning the case. He returned to eyes discovered an ocean oflove, of ahavas ofself-sacrifice- both spiritual and physical the Rebbe, put down the money, received YisroeL Beneath the fa<;ade of toughness, - that he invested in order to imbue ahavas the Rebbe's blessing and left. they saw a Rebbe who was ready to do haTorah andyiras Shamayim in the heart The day of the court case arrived. anything for another Yid. Behind every ofevery individual, and especially into the The Yid, quaking with fear, entered the ('roar" was compassion, kindness, and a hearts of the bachurim and avreichim. As courtroom accompanied by his lawyers. heart full of rachamim. I said in front of his coffin, 'I don't know The prosecutor read the charges and the One Chassid relates:" This incident has who in the generations that preceded him judge immediately retorted, "Why are you remained etched in my memory as if it hap merited [to accomplish so much]." boring me with these foolish cases? There pened yesterday. Whenever I would make Perhaps the same could have been said is not a single charge we can hold him on. the trip from abroad to Eretz Yisroel to the of the Reis Yisroel himself. IJ;J Case dismissed." Rebbe, I would never leave Yerushalayim. The man ecstatically left the courtroom Not even to daven at kivrei tzaddikim and decided right then to make another in the Gali! nor to visit relatives. I simply trip to Yerushalayim to personally tell the did not lvant to miss even a second in the Rebbe what had happened. He entered Beis Yisroe}'s presence. Once, he asked me, the Rebbe's chambers with a light heart "You don't travel at all? Don't you have a and a smile on his face. After he told the brother-in-law in Bnei Brak?" Rebbe the good news, the Reis Yisroel Obviously, I went straight to Bnei Brak. immediately rose from his seat, went I was not able to return to Yerushalayim over to one of his drawers and removed the next day until the beginning ofMincha. the entire sum of money that the man The entire day, I had not had a chance to had given to him several months earlier. eat. Immediately after Mincha, the Rebbe's "Here, take your money. Do you think I gabbai summoned me to the Rebbe's need your money? I need your children! anteroom. The Rebbe asked, "Have you Send me your children!" eaten anything today?" Extremely nervous, Flabbergasted by the Rebbe's selfless with my knees knocking together in fear, deed, he immediately agreed to send his I stammered incoherently. The Rebbe children. Today, two of his sons number entered his room and returned a moment among the most distinguished Gerrer later with a plate ofcake, which he placed Chassidim in Eretz Yisroel. before me. He then returned to his room Before the war, the Koznitzer Rebbe, and came out holding a piping hot cup Reb Ahrele 7""1, was heavily involved in of tea, which he also placed before me. I bringing Yidden who had strayed from later heard from the gabbai that when the the proper path back to Yiddishkeit. He Rebbe went to prepare the tea, he realized once said, "I toil to change those who have that there was no more tea essence. The strayed and make them into Jews. Jn Ger, gabbai wanted to go upstairs to get some they make Jews into Chassidim:' Perhaps more. The Rebbe, however, stopped him: it could be said that the Reis Yisroe~ in his "Hachnasas orchim - the mitzvah of time, did both simultaneously. This was hospitality- somebody comes from a long his uniqueness. With tremendous insight, journey ... " and he himself went upstairs he was able to lift up an entire downtrod and brought it down. den generation, eventually bringing them After I finished, the Rebbe asked me if I back to the spiritual, Chassidic levels of would like some more. There I was, a simple pre-War Europe. Chassid, and the Rabban shel kol bnei hagola to whom the eyes ofthe entire world were turned, was standing and serving me. 0HEIV YISROEL This I will never forget!" It would be proper to conclude with he Reis Yisroel was known the world the Reis Yisroel's own words. Soon after over as the sharpest of the sharp; the petira of his father, the Imrei Emes, Tthe person who demanded perfec- the Reis Yisroel wrote the following in a ·-· .. ------i. -.;;;;M==R;;;-E;;;F;;;-L;;;- =--· -·-----·-- r-=······ ___·_·····_··~--- ···---==·;;;··;;;. ;;; .. ;;;. ·;;;~;;;u;;;;··-R;;;; E;;;C;;;·-T:;;;;•-o;;;~=s;;;--;;;·;;;- ______, '"... ,,_,,_____ ~ RABBI AV! SHAFRAN ' AMALEIK A Timely, Timeless Purim Thought he thesis that is Kial Yisroel has final word, "ayin," is more literally choice of lots - the quintessential uti an antithesis: Amaleik. And just translated as "nothing." That Amaleik's lization of randomness - as a guide; Tas the Jewish People is defined attack comes on the heels of that word in the phrase "asher karcha baderech" by its Torah, so is its polar opposite is fitting, because A1naleikis1n stands ("who happened [i.e., by chance] upon associated with a particular life path, a for precisely that: nothing. Or, better: you on the road") to describe Israel's system of thought and attitude. Nothing - the conviction that all, in initial encounter with Amaleik on their Arnaleik-the-nation is unknown to us the end, is naught, without meaning, way from Eygpt; in, for that matter, the today; the command to utterly destroy consequence or worth. very root" kar," which means both hap it in order to avert the mortal threat it penstance and chill. poses to all that is good and holy is, at Amaleikism is unfortunately least for now, moot. THE SHUNNING OF SURETY embraced by many - even, tragically, Amaleik-the-notion, though, is very by some Jews - and often regarded as much present, and its undermining rnaleik is identified in sefarim a harm1ess agnosticism. It is, however, remains an obligation both urgent and with its gematria (numerical anything but benign. If nature is but a clear. A value)-equivalent: "safeik," or series of dice-rollings, its pinnacle, the A hint to the attitude that defines "doubt." The reference, though, is not human being, is just another point- the would-be nemesis of Kial Yisroel to doubt in the word's simplest sense, less payoff. Man's actions do not make lies in the pointed juxtaposition of implying some unresolved state for lack - indeed, cannot make - any difference two pesukim at the end of parashas of evidence. It is, rather, doubt as a belief at all. Yes, he may benefit or harm his Beshalach. Immediately before the first the philosophical shunning of the very fellows or his world, but so what? There appearance in the Torah of Amaleik as a idea of surety- the embrace of cynicism, is no ultimate import to either acco1n- nation - "Vayavo Amaleik" - we read of the championing of meaninglessness. plishment. a question considered by some of those There are two fundamental, and In fact, asserts the chance-worship- who experienced Yetzias Mitzrayim: diametric, ways to approach life, history per, he is no different from the animals "Is Hashem in our midst or not?" The and the universe itself. One approach whom he considers, through the lottery perceives direction and purpose; the of natural selection, to be his ancestors. other regards all as the products of ran- He may be more evolved, but in the end, RABBI SHAFRAN SERVES AS AGUOAfH ISRAEL domness - cold, indifferent chaos. he is no less an expression than they of OF AMERICA'S DIRECTOR OF i'l'Bl.IC AFFAIRS AND AS THE AMERICAN DIRECTOR OF AM ECHAD, THE The latter approach is the essence of purely random events. In one of the AGllD/\Tl-1 !SRAEl.-INSP!RED EDUCATIONAL OllT- Amaleikism. It is a worship of chance, pesukim of Kohelles that seem to express i REACH EFFORT AND MEDIA l~ESOURCE. strikingly reflected in things like Haman's thoughts of exasperation and hopeless- i' I18 ----- __ ___J rHE JEWISH 0BSERVEn r-=--1 ness, Shlomo Hamelech bemoans that ETHICS AND PIZZA highest expression in hakaras hatov, the "111nosar ha'adan1 1nin habeheima ayin essence of berachos and tefilla. - the advantage of a man over an animal o such a true secularist, the Which might be the key to the true is nothing:' Again, intriguingly, ayin conviction that people feel that meaning of the initially troubling pas - the Amaleik word. T it is wrong to steal from or kill suk "umosar ha'adam min habeheima others may be strong, but it is no higher ayin." For "ayin" occurs elsewhere in an imperative than any other biologi the Torah, near its very beginning, when ECHOES OF AMALEIK cal instinct. And should the secularist's the grasses, created but not yet emerged desires press him hard enough toward from the earth, are described as await n our times) Amaleik's credo is unethical or immoral behavior, he is ing the creation of man." Ve' adam ayin proudly and publicly proclaimed. in no way compelled by any higher la'avod es ha'adama - And man was I From "animal rights" groups like conviction to resist - any more than absent I nothingl to work the land:' "People for the Ethical Treatment of he is compelled to take a second help Ghazal inform us that the avoda in Animals" (PETA), one of whose mottos ing of pizza if he harbors a stronger question was avodas haleiv- tejilla- and famously contends that"meat is murder"; wish to lose weight. He may ascribe a to Peter Singer> Professor of Bioethics at Darwinian benefit to altruisn1, just as Princeton University's Center for Human he may ascribe one to overeating when Values, who maintains that "species is food is plentiful. But he can not logically not relevant to ... 1noral status," and who argue that either biological imperative asserts that "the life of a newborn is of be morally binding. less value than the life of a pig, a dog Proponents of secularisn1 bristle or a chimpanzee"; to books like Eternal when presented with the fact that they Treblinka, which makes the loathsome cannot justify behavior they tend to comparison of animals slaughtered for cha111pion as moral or ethical. But, for food with, chas milihazkir- the victims all their frustration and umbrage, they of the Nazis, V"'. are unable to articulate any way that And it lurks, more subtly but no less there can really ever be, as one writer surely, in the contemporary insistence has put it, "good without G-d:' that chance-based evolutionary theory Kial Yisroe/, by utter contrast, exists is the only acceptable approach to the to proclaim both G-d and good, to teach diversity of species. An earlier article the world by our example that ultimate in these pages by this writer dealt with meaning exists, and that the human the danger and folly of enfranchising being is not the pinnacle of blind evolu chance-based evolution in American tion but of purposeful Creation. public schools, and the topic will not be belabored here. But interactions in the aftermath SPEAKING OF MEANING of that article with secularists of due accomplishment and intellect has he uniqueness of the human only made all the more evident to me being lies in his ability to relate how there is, in the end, no conceiv Tto his Creator. Infused with the able way that a world-view based on ruach men1allela or "speaking soul" random happenings can be employed that is Targum Onkelos's rendering of to n1ake moral or ethical demands. the spirit Hashem breathed into the One who sees only randon1 forces as first n1an, hu111an beings are the part the engine of the diversity of species of creation closest to, and most able to may be able to offer an explanation interact with, the Creator of all. Our of the human belief in right and power of speech, so qualitatively differ wrong - clai111ing, for instance, that ent from the co111municational abilities such belief evolved through "natural of other creatures, is the 111anifesta selection" to confer some biological tion of our unique ability to conceive advantage to humans. But he cannot abstract ideas, harbor convictions and justify that belief as having any more "recognize our Creator" - relate directly, import than any other utilitarian and meaningfully, to Hashem. That abil Llut10nary adaptation. ity to humanly co111n1unicate reaches its M A R C H 2 0 0 7 llfE COACHING that what the grasses lacked was the hakaras hatov, the "recognition of the good;' of Hashem's blessing: the tefilla of the first man. And so, perhaps, in the very words of Shlomo Hamelech's lament lies the We make "housecalls" unravelling of the statement's superficial (718) 972-4003 outrageousness. What might be implied, in other words, is that "the advantage of ;-,-..,~ a man over an animal" is "ayin" -what ... the word, when it first appears in the .,b::)fVlllllll Torah, alludes to: the fact that without Specializing in small batim for a perfect fit. Adam (Ve' ad am ayin), Creation would indeed have been pointless; but that his appearance on the scene, and his unique ability to be makir tov to Hashem, changed everything. The advantage of a man over an animal lies, in other words, in "ayin" - what the word implies in Sefer Bereishis. OF MONKEYS AND MEN hus, the Jewish mandate is to proclaim Creation's purpose Tand humanity's specialness. Amaleikism mocks it all, portraying men as no different from the monkeys fubscribe, or give a gift at these reduced they resemble, and the actions of both prices: as much as 40% off the newsstand of no ultimate import. price; the longer your subscription, the greater your savings, You and your family will benefit from_ the Our resemblance to apes may even many articles of information and inspira· figure in the pivotal account of Kial Each month) The Jewish Observer wiff tion that they cannot get afIYWhere else. Yisroel's first interaction with Amaleik. arrive at your door, filled with the views of leading Torah thinkers on current Of course, this offer is unconditionally When that nation attacked our ancestors issues ... ana(ys_es of Jewish even_tsJ focus on guaranteed; you may cancel at any time after they left Mitzrayim, the battle was burning issues, inside reporting; interpretive and receive afufl refund for all undefiv· waged on a battlefield, but it was won commentary, upfifting biographies, infuri ered copies, no questions asked. ating_letters and illuminating responses - on a stone, the one that Moshe Rabbeinu, aff within the covers of one magazine:. So order today, and the very next issue will as the Torah states, sat upon. When he The Jewish OMerver. be ()n its way to you as soon as possible. lifted his hands, the Torah recounts, the tide of the fight turned in favor of Kial Yisroel; when he lowered them, the opposite occurred. cJl\~ihrER SubscriPlion Discoum Cerlificate Ghazal pose the question: "And do 42 Broadway I New York, NY 10004 • Phone 212· 797-7394 • Fax 646-254-1600 the arms of Moshe wage war?" And MOii/EV BACK GUARANTEE then explain: "Rather, when the Jews ljfor a7'!' reason al tll1J' //me you aro not snlisjwd. Please enter 0 my subscription 0 my gift .rou may tanrofyour w/Jwrlpli<>n and receive a lifted their eyes heavenward, they were l'SAQNtY OFTSIDE!'$ • full refund'"' nll rmmaikd ilwes. 3 years Youroost-$69 SJ14 You~aveupto$'i9! '1 "1 End<>SI'¢ $,_,,__ or i1 a.;u-g<: my Master<:ard/\'ISA victorious ... :' And so the lifting of CARDNO ::J Z years Your c.ost - $48 S78 \'ou save up to $3 l ! Moshe's hands signifies Kial Yisroel's CIIIJLTTTJ[IlIJllIIJ ~ year Your cost - $25 $40 You save up to $14! beseeching the Al-mighty to respond ' EXPIRAll()NIJA'IE Ll::J/c::J ::-:: ==~---',JlQTr to their tefillos. NAMI (MONTH) !Yl ~f'm>Ow1 pnc<' rejleds S/5 "~Im per ,1mr lu d'-'f~"" "" .W1/;pi111< The etymology of the word Amaleik msls. Foreif!N /ltl,1'"1'711 mu.,'f b.: """"' /11 li.S do/f((rt, <••« h pob!i>ed monthly, e 20 WHEN BUYJNG.. A.HOUSE MEANT INVESTING rN A>COMMUNITY? Imagine the pleasure of walking to visit a· friend, instead of beingheld captive i11an automobile. Think about houses that fuie the streetwith large windows and.porclies, so you can connect.with - and look after your neighbors. Somerset Development has created.such a place. It's aTraditionalNeighborhood Develo~ment(TND) called J>iue River Village and it combines 21st century conveniences within a picturesque, com1m:mity setting. It's the best of the American small town, designednotjust to accommodate thewayweliye, butto enhance it. TOWN HOMES STAR''l'lNG AT $399,9QQ .. SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THEOR COMMUNITY BY vi.. .t ~.:::.::: ... 1'.~ SET DIRECTIONS: TAKENJfUR . . . . oiiN STATE PARKWAY sol.Jt>i;t11KE exit li!l TOWAIU) i.Ai PIN6H.1\..S ~DEL letter" kuf,' whose name also means, of all things, "monkey." Ii Over 50 years experience in Kvura in Eretz Yisrael It is intriguing, but perhaps not Serving tfie North Amencan Public and Funeral Industry ! ?Ni·en 1'1N l'N ;'J11Ji' )1N JJi'1i' insignificant, that among all the earth's Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUST "PAPERWORK" creatures, only humans and primates ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD can lift their arms above their heads. Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Yisrael It is little short of astounding that precisely that physical movement fig 162S-42nd Street, Brooklyn, i'\'l' 11204 ures so pivotally in the context of a Day&Nightphone: (718) 851-8925 battle between the nation pledged to the conviction that human life has no )))tl'ON1~0Nji ))l"ji - )'1~ 1Nl l"llOY)) 'll~ Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved family. special meaning - that 1nen are but TAHARAS ffANIFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE COMMERCIAl.IZED smooth-skinned apes - and the nation that stands for meaning and humanity's uniqueness. Because, while pri1nates can also lift I their arms, the gesture is an empty one; ~~Pesach Costs II when humans do the same thing, it can A N\UC be the most potent expression of relating Unemployment in lsrael ls widrspread. Dtep subsidy cuts to children, Kollrl families and to the Divine. the elderly of several years ago have nrvrr brrn rrstored. One in three senior ci1izens could When Moshe lifts his arms, and Kial not afford to heat his apartment this winter. Orw in every four families ... one in cvrl}' three Yisroel beseeches Hashem, it can be children. .. lives below the poverty line. seen as a declaration that our "amal," Dire nerd, hunger and suffering abound ... and Pcsach is ahnost /Jere!! our labor, is not the amal of a kof, but MORE PEOPLE NEED MORE HELP THAN EVER BEFORE! rather, the meaningful labor of avodas Hashem. Our Sages decreed Maas Chit tirn, Throughout Israel, Ozer "Vayehi yadav emuna - And his Da·Jim is the answer Pescich charity lo hands were belief," says the passuk. aid the destitute. for Pesach and year "Belief" - or, better, affirmation - of our But what about round. the thousands Thirty-four all unique relationship to Hashem. not poor enough volunteer staffed Moshe and the yotze'ei Mitzrayim or too proud to branches extend prevailed in their battle with Amaleik accept assistance Gen1ach interest- by negating Amaleikism - by demon or charity; strating their conviction that all is the .. the working result of Hashe1n's benevolence, and poor. teachers, civil tern1s. that we are beholden only and entirely ",,With dignity servants, Kolkl families, to Him. , intact In the time ofMordechai and Esther, ct!l struggling on ·';and self- fixed incon1es, !suff1ciency Kial Yisroel did the same. We commemo 1 unable to bear , preserved, rate that crucial; if not final, victory over the 1nany Pesctch fa deserving Amaleik, by publicly reading Megillas expenses <111 at oncE'? family can Esther. As has often been remarked, it ... norn1ally self-sufficient celebrate the is a unique sefer in Kisvei Hakodesh, the breadwinners novv Seder and the entire only one that makes no overt reference une1nploycd, seriously 111 or in Yorn Tov as true Bnai Chorin, to Hashem. Instead, it forces us to seek free and independent Jews. other financial crisis? llim out and proclaim Hirn, to perceive Hi1n in the see1ningly "random" events QM6¥! that transpired. Send your most generous contribution, today. That our ancestors did precisely that, Then your Pesach Simcha will be multiplied by having made theirs possible, offering their fasting and prayers in 01'71" 1Tll1 is why they merited 1301 Avenue K teshuva, Hashem's protection. May the zechus of our own Brooklyn, NY 11230 embrace and proclamation of the essen~ OZER DALIM [718) 434-2228 OzerDa!im tial Jewish message, on Purim and l.-- always, yield us the same. llil THE STORY BEHIND THE PICTURE By Rabbi Mattis Goldberg et ready to diScover a book unlike Gany other! A magnificent volume of penetrating photographs.,,, of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and ChaSsidic Gedolei Yisroer - memorable pictures and the stories behind them. It's a book to welcome into your home and into your life - a resource for young and old alike to cherish and treasure! The ~~RabbinicContribtttjok to Torah sheBe'.alPeh PURIM REFLECTIONS YISIWEL GREENWALD UNITY Through DIVERSITY BUILDING CULTURAL GAPS ing the Megillah, feasting, mishlo'ach Hashem miraculously saved us during manos (sending food to friends) and the time of Mordechai and Esther. The he Rabbis instituted numerous gifts to the poor. The rationale for the obligation to eat and drink is also easily obligations to com1nemorate first mitzvah appears quite obvious, explained, for since Haman set out to Tthe miracle of Purim: read- we read the Megillah to recall how destroy the bodies of the Jewish people, our physical bodies are also bound in expressing gratitude to Hashem. But why did the Purim miracle necessi tate an expression of brotherly love? This 1nessage is emphasized again in the closing words of the Megillah, in its description of Mordechai as one "who sought the good of his people and spoke peace to all his seed." 1 What is the connection between the festival of Purim and a loving relationship between fellow Jews? With the destruction of the first Beis Harnikdash and the advent of exile, the Jewish people experienced an enor mous upheaval, not only physically and emotionally, but socially as well. The Land of Israel was divided according to the tribes, each tribe serving Hashem in its own unique manner that was reflected by the various colors on its flag and the plot of land of its inheri i'-·ESthfr 1o,3 RABBI GREENWALD, A MEMBER OFT!JE KOU.EL BAIS HATA!.MUD IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, IS AUTHOR OF NEB MENDEL (ART5CROLI.), A BlOGRAPHH.'.AL APPRECIATION OF RABBI MF.NOEL KAPLAN ?":!n, y, please''g''''" call 718.258.2622• • 71s:25s.225~·. , His >\RTICLE "THE WICKED SON OF THE HAGGADA," Tounffic 7hwel at [email protected] APPEARED !N JO, APR. '06. 1-- THE Ji·:w1s1-1 OHSERVER 1 ------··------···-- tance.' Beyond that, varying landscapes When threatened by our enemies, THE MULTIFACETED within each tribal area conformed Jews instinctively join together to offer DIMENSIONS OF TORAH to the nature of the specific families each other comfort and assistance. One that dwelt on them. Accordingly, each need not look further than a photo he Midrash tells us, "Just as no individual resided among others who graph of Hatzala or Zaka volunteers at two people have exactly the shared a similar nature and outlook. work to see 1nembers fro1n all groups T same facial features, so, too, Living among like-minded individu of Kial Yisrael - a kipa-seruga-wearer no two people think exactly alike:' als of similar cultural hackgrounds alongside another in full Chassidic This analogy teaches us that just as it greatly facilitated love and unity in garb - all united in helping their fel would be absurd for someone to com their 1nidst.3 low Jews. As in the days of Haman, plain that others don't look like him, The ensuing exile after churban Bayis the natural beauty of ahavas Yisroel he also should not take offense when Rishon not only deprived the nation of always surfaces in times of crisis and others think differently than he does. the Temple, but it also hurled them into danger. This scenario provides us with On the contrary, the fact that Hashem a heterogeneous hodgepodge of con a model for how we should ideally act, created human beings so uniquely flicting attitudes and temperaments. even after life returns to normal. The diverse, unlike animals whose behavior Suddenly, one found oneself amongst Sages therefore instituted the mitzvah is simple and predictable, demonstrates neighbors whose approach to serving of mishlo'ach manos to help us connect that these differences mark the distinct liashe1n was very much at variance with with our fellow man, in times of sor greatness of man. his own. Living in inescapably close row and suffering as well as in times In the days of the Talmud, different proximity to others radically different of peace and tranquility. sages followed variant approaches in in attitudes and viewpoints placed the Jewish people in a potentially explo sive situation, a situation where futile infighting could implode the unity of the Jewish people, G-d forbid. Then one person came along who was able - ,., 1~, Coordinated by: Mrs. Aliza Grund '··-·"'"·~-·-~·\ ..,t:~-~-~l~~-7-~"--~Y~.~E~~~-~-~-~--!:~-~S~.~.~ --~-,-·~.,·- to bridge the gaps and unite the Jewish people in love and brotherhood. His POLAND & PRAGUEJuly4-12 na1ne was Haman. (partial program option) Haman nearly achieved the annihi lation of the Jewish people. One of the VIENNA or BUDAPEST lessons the Jewish people learned from Optional Extension this near catastrophe was that our simi • Expert world renowned guides r- ( Over larities far outweigh our differences. • Excellent accommodatiOtJs $. ~!i~e ) 0 01 And it is still far better to cherish our • Fully catered meu/s 1t T I.tin1rr' neighbor, with all his irreconcilable dif • Deluxe air-ebnaltliJW~fl~ach bu1 .._,::;~r ferences, than to reject him. The Rabbis • All~inclusive tour chose to implement this newfound awareness by instituting on Purim acts that serve to strengthen the bonds of love among fellow Jews. 21~8bbTMe.. r;·J;;"JKJ"j)1an, fosh rCS!1iva iilthc • Bring our heritage into your mind, heart, & soul. Yeshiva of Philadelphia, explained that \vhen 111 Daven ot kivrei tzadikim and kedoshim in Cracaw, the Jews first entered Eretz Yisroel, a lottery \Vas LJze_nsk, Lublin, Warsaw, Ger. Auschwitz .. held to distribute the land, and the parcel that • &plore the cities, shtetlach, yeshivas, and shu/s each person received was exactly the plot of land Where Yiddishkeit once flourished. that vvas 1neant for him. Each piece of land in Eretz Yisroel was custom tailored to the spiritual • Discover the historical Jewish centers of Prague, level and nature of the person for who1n it was Vienna/Budapest. designated. 3 Rabbi Avigdor Miller related that he once saw a letter from the Alter of Slabodka that recom- 1nendcd that one ideally seek a spouse from one's own native country, as their si1nilar backgrounds will contribute to their con1patibility. (Certainly, this is only one of many considerations, and there Lptmns tothe rule-.)--·"-----.... ---.-----··--···--···------··------··------..·--·- -- .... --.------"'------... ~----~ GO~~! L'QONIM 70R ~Dl.l ')p~D •"PW D'Jl•::Jx') nllllD Under the auspices of Harav YosefRosenblum Shlita Rosh Yeshiva Sharei Yosher avodas Hashem. Chavos Ya'ir1 writes, had been able to fulfill during the course "Rabbi Abahu and Rabbi Zeira disagreed of the Seder the previous night. When as to whether it is proper for one to lead the Beis Halevi entered the.beis midrash, an excessively ascetic life, such as fasting however, he looked troubled and rest and the like. This is, in fact, an argument less, nervous that perhaps he had not in the Talmud: whether we consider one performed the mitzvos iR a sufficiently who voluntarily fasts holy or a sinner. perfect manner; perhaps the matzos Rambam rules in favor of a balanced were not baked with adeqttate supervi life, and criticizes those who practiced sion, perhaps the kezeisim (required extreme self-afflicting behavior. This is olive-sized portions of ritual food) were also the simple meaning of the verse, not big enough, and so on .... 10 "Behold! Your father ate and drank and This diversity of approaches oper 0 1. M, Zahitzky. practiced justice and tzaddaka - then it ates today on a broad scale, such as 0 2. Rabbi M. Zanitiky went well for him:'s the contrast among the Chassidic and lJ 3. Rabbi M. Za11ftzky "This was the approach of Rabbi Lithuanian yeshiva worlds, as well as C:J 4. Rabbi Y. Slum Abahu. The Gemara6 relates that on a micro level, where there may be U 5. Rabbi Y. Blum Rabbi Abahu was 'indulgent in food differing opinions between renowned [] 6. Rabbi D. Friedman and drink and was therefore of great rabbanim, roshei yeshivas and adrnorim strength;' to the extent that he was within (hose movements. Regarding [_I 7. Rabbi Y. Margareten able to single-handedly hoist two such multiplicity of views, we can apply [J 8. Rabbi B. Hirschfeld attendants to safety when the floor the Gemara: [] 9. Rabbi B. Hirschfeld of the bathhouse once collapsed "There are wise scholars who sit [J 10. Rabbi R. Gerson in various groups and occupy them beneath them.' [] 11. Rabbi D. Lebowics "Rabbi Zeira was the opposite. selves with the study of Torah. Some He practiced self-afflicting behavior scholars declare something impure [J 12. Rabbis Weinberger I such as fasting for three hundred and some pronounce it clean; some N. Scherman M. Eisemann IF. Schachter days, and was always in a state of prohibit and some permit. Perhaps mournful worry (lest his spiritual a man will say, 'How can I ever learn 0 13. Rabbi D. Gottlieb service be found lacking).'~ Torah?' [The diversity of approaches 0 14. Rabbi D. Gottlieb In our recent history, as well, we still causes confusion as to who is right.] 0 15. Rabbi D. Gottlieb find such diverging approaches among Therefore, the verse states that they [] 16. Rabbi Y. Feitman our great Torah leaders in regard to their were 'Given from one Shepherd' - all Cost: $6.00 per tape service of Hashem. The Brisker Rav used were given from one G-d?'11 $80.00 entire series to recount a story involving two of his (save $16.00) illustrious ancestors, the Beis Halevi ($86.00 entire series with album) and the Netziv. On the morning after MORE THAN ONE the Pesach Seder, when all the yeshiva DAAS TORAH? Send payment to students assembled for the morning TCN Tapes prayers, they would see the Netziv arrive hen I was a young student, I Box 504, W1ckl1ffe, Ohio 44092 in the beis midrash in a cheerful mood, asked my rash yeshiva what his face radiant over all the mitzvos he W the da'as Torah on a particu MASTER 4 ' TeShuvO~-siman 1si ThiS rcsponsU01 is reprin't:: lar issue was. He cringed at the question e 1 and uses it to explain a related story in Masechta 12 Ya'aros l)evash, Derush 8, 9 Adar (vol. 2, pp. I'v1AS I f R SHAS \A.1th i\ilAS fER DAP I Megtllah ------~5-:,MechonEvven-fomeledition~2000_) ___ ------· . ~ r-=~-·-····-·······=·~····· ... ---·-·- ~---··_··=M-..-. .".-_'_·~-· =c=- .. -~-.-.. _""~-·-o=--0-.--._7~··-·~-..- .. -... -_-__···~---- -_···-·---·-" _____··_"· -_----~.- .. =----·=-i • i studied in his yeshiva were harass he had a seizure one Shabbos, and the Alshich asked the Ariza! to teach ing a European·born rav for issuing Hatzala bad to be summoned to his him Kabbala, the Ariza] refused. He a ruling that ran counter to that of aid: "I think my seizure was a pun· explained that the Alshich had no the recognized Torah leader of the ishment from heaven because I told need to study Kabbala, as he was generation, he was livid. Although Reb Malkiel Kotler [the Lakewood already knowledgeable in this area be generally would give shmuessen Rosh Yeshiva, many decades younger from a previous incarnation, and in a pleasant tone of voice, this time than himself] what topic he should the purpose of his present life was to he banged on the lectern and loudly speak about when delivering a shm flourish in the area of derush.16 rebuked the zealots for their shame· uess that upcoming Shalash Seudos. This does not mean that the Torah ful behavior. He emphasized that Just as the roshei yeshiva don't tell encourages individualism to a point Torah scholars have the obligation me what I should speak about, I of isolation. On the contrary, the to rule on Torah law according to shouldn't be telling them what sub· Land of Israel wasn't apportioned to their level of understanding, and it is ject to address." individuals within the Jewish nation, prohibited to interfere with someone but according to their respective doing so.13 tribes. This system ensured that indi· Our great Torah leaders never THE KEHILLA CONNECTION viduals of similar personality, tern· coerced other scholars to follow their perament and life goals dwelled in own rulings.'4 From personal experi nity is not synony1nous with close proximity, as a self-contained ence, I have found our gedolim to be conformity. Unity is achieved unit. A similar phenomenon exists extremely cautious about infringing U by respecting other modes in our times, as well. When a shul on the authority and autonomy of of avodas Hashem, while at the same or a community is composed of like others. time pursuing the approach most minded individuals, with a strong When I studied in the Lakewood suited to one's individual nature. To a bond of affinity and loyalty towards yeshiva, I had the privilege of serving large extent, the Torah recognizes and one another, it's no longer merely a the revered mashgiach, Rabbi Nasson encourages individual expression. minyan. It becomes a kehilla. Wachsfogel 7"llt. As we enjoyed a The Ariza! writes that if a person A question once arose regarding close relationship, he once shared finds himself drawn towards a spe· a large established shul in a city with n1e a personal observation after cific area of or approach to Torah where a small number of congre· study, or to a particular 1nitzvah, it gants wanted to leave to for1n their 13--Hcard bYth'iS author wa; fr-om someo·n·e-who is an indication from heaven that his own minyan. The case was presented present. See also lgros Moshe, Orach Chainz 1:109, Ruach Chai111 l :4, Aliyos Eliyahu p. 123. soul was meant to grow specifically to the Radvaz, and he ruled that it 14 Rabbi Moshe Feinstein would say, "The in this area, and that this should be was indeed proper for the new min· rav of Minsk doesn't rule on the questions of his main focus of pursuit.is When yan to be formed." He explained the Pinsk." See also Sefer Derech Pikudecha, Mitzvah rationale for his ruling as follows: 15·-sh-Civet M~;s·sar 1: 13, 23~3-6, 23:29 ______LoSa'aseh 15. ''If it were not that I were afraid [to say so], I would sug - BEATRICE STONE gest that it is better to daven l!Bc; •• YAVNE HIGH SCHOOL alone than to daven amongst a __,w.., A DIVISION OF THE HEBREW ACADEMY OF CLEVELAND group of people with whom one "' ~~ P"' &L is not comfortable. Additionally, Rabbi N.Z. Desslcr, Dean - Rabbi Simcha Dessler, Educational Director - Mrs. Neche Moerman, there is another reason why it Principal is not proper to daven save in a place where one's heart desires. For information or to schedule an appointment For as we say, 'A person only for a personal interview and tour studies Torah in a place where please call: (216) 691-5838 ext. 100 his heart desires.' The reason for 16·--lbid.23·j-0. Sheivet Mussar (2-8~24) explains •:• Challenging Limudei Kodesh and College Preparatory Secular Studies Program further that the reason one person finds particu •:• Award Winning Faculty lar enjoyn1cnt in studying a certain sefer, while •:• Host School for National Bais Yaakov Convention another person has no taste in it, is because •:• Innovative Tzedaka and Chessed Progran1 "\\lhoever has a 'taste' in a sefcr that he studies •!• Annual Dramatic Production has some connection to the sfwresh neshania (soul •:• Accon1modations for Out-of-Town Students root) of the author of that work. Since they both I •:• Magnificent Facilities, Including: Computer Lab, Science Labs, Library, Auditorium, derive from one source, he relates to his style and I Gy1nnasimn and Swimming Pool it is absorbed in his heart." 17 Tcshuvos, sinrnn 910 I l-... ~ ... __ __J T!lE JEWISH OBSERVE!< A TORAH LEADER Once a rav presented the Chofetz r-=.h;,I at someone ''""' wh<• he is• '"'= comfortable - EMBODIMENT OF ALL Chaim with plans for a yeshiva he with, this arouses the proper'""~ APPROACHES wished to found, incorporating Torah intention, expands the mind, and study with means for pursuing a live gladdens one's heart. And this he Book of Esther states that lihood. The rav provided the Chofetz will cause the spirit of Hashem Esther's beauty captivated all who Chaim with details ofhow he intended to rest upon him, as is the case Tsaw her." Chazal understand this to run the institution, and asked the with prophecy. to mean that the citizens of every coun Chafetz Chaim to lend his support. "It is also said in Kabbalistic try believed she was of their national The Chafetz Chaim replied, "It works that when a student focuses ity.19 Reb Mendel Kaplan explained that says in the Torah, 'Bechal derachecha his heart and mind upon his every nation has its specific quality and GE SELECTION OF BORSA.LINO HA.TS! For a copy of the most We Also Carry Comprehensive Pesach Guide Expert fitting • Courteous service Brand Name to Medications I Cosmetics Individualized attention • Hat cleaning & SI.iris & Ties, for Big & Tall as 'Well, by Rav Gershon Bess Renovating • Follow-up care long after sale al Oi§count Prices Please write to: KOLLEL LOS ANGELES 223 5. Formosa Avenue Los Angeles. CA 90036 Phone: (323) 933-7193 (Unless you are already on our nst) M A R C H 2 0 0 7 ners or heretics.22 1'he reality, however, experience he endured when study but he also discovered years later that may very well be that the other approach ing in an Ashkenazi yeshiva as a child. his rebbi had been wrong. The cus is also grounded in halacha and is the His grandfather, who had come from tom is indeed a legitimate one, based view of other 1orah authorities. Syria, told him that their custom was to on Kabbalisitic sources and found in A Sephardic friend of mine, who is wear the strings of their tzitzis tucked prominent sefarim. To this day, the today a prominent rabbinical authority, within their outer garment. He followed young man finds it difficult to forgive shared with this author a humiliating his grandfather's instructions, until his the melameid for what he had done. rebbi questioned him one day in class Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky23 demon llNetziv, Shu''( Meishiv Davar 44. NetziV writes that in the era of Bayis Sheini, there were why he didn't wear his tzitzis outside. strates this point by citing the variant different factions within Torah Jewry, and each When the boy told the rebbi that his customs regarding wearing weekday or faction suspected the other of being heretical. grandfather told him that this was their Shabbos clothing on Shabbos Chazon, The sinas chinan1 (baseless hatred) and lashon custom, the rebbi retorted," Safardishe the Shabbos preceding Tisha Be'Av. He hara (slander) created tremendous acrimony and poisoned the atmosphere, eventually resulting in am ha'aratzus - Sephardic ignorance!" explains that the rabbis of wealthy com cold~blooded murder. Not only was the boy publicly shamed, munities decided that the people should wear weekday clothing on that Shabbos. Since they lived a life of comfort and luxury, they deemed it necessary to It hurts create an atmosphere of mourning. Those who lived in poor communities, 1oc however, led dreary lives, and struggled constantly to put bread on the table. The rabbis of those communities were concerned that wearing everyday cloth ing on Shabbos would demoralize their congregants. They therefore decreed that it was forbidden to wear ordinary • clothing on Shabbos Chazon. A super- ficial person of one community may disdain the custom of the other, either for demonstrating a laxity in mourning over the Churban or lacking appre ciation for the dignity of Shabbos. The It hurts truth is that both communities acted in a halachically acceptable manner appro priate for their particular situation. In light of all the above, we perhaps can also explain the unusual custom for dressing in costumes on Purim. When one dresses up in a bizarre fash- ion, we recognize that the costume is It feels better just to talk about it. That's only a disguise, and it does not reflect why we're here. Our staff is made up of one's true inner self. Similarly, we must caring and sensitive individuals. Together, understand that despite the external dif we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals ferences among various groups of Kial for counseling, legal advice or help in Yisroel, our true essence is one and the finding a safe environment. We can also same. And this awareness allows us to put you in touch with some very special Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to love and embrace our fellow Jews - not you, you must first reach out to us. only on Purim, but the rest of the year, 4 Confidential otline 1 • 8 8 8 • 8 8 3 • 2 3 2 3 ~~ ~~l~·i: commentary to Pirkei Avos, 2:5 ir;J (No caller ID) (Toll Free) 24 As Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ?":st would say 7 1 8 • 3 3 7 • 3 1 0 0 in a variation of one of the guiding principles Do it for yourself. (NYC Area) of Agudas Yisroel, "Chaveir ani /echo/ asher yere1ucha - I am a fnend to all who fear You" ' .__z____ D_o ;t fo• yo"' Shvat 5767 January 2007 DECLARATION REGARDING JONATHAN POLLARD The heart-wrenching plight of Jonathan Pollard. an American Jew who is serving a life sentence for spying for Israel and is currently in his 22nd year of captivity, demands our urgent attention. Mr. Pollard's life sentence-·· a penalty far more severe than that imposed upon others who com mitted similar or even more serious crimes - is difficult to comprehend. His lawyers have made various efforts through the courts to have his sentence reconsidered, all to no avail. At this time, it appears that all legal avenues through the judicial system have been shut off. Only the President of the United States, by granting Mr. Pollard executive clemency, can save him from spending the rest of his life behind bars. Already years ago, Gedo!ei Yisroe! called upon all Jews to do whatever they possibly can to try to help Mr. Pollard gain his freedom. Now that his legal appeals have been exhausted, and with his health deteriorating because of his incarceration, we reiterate that call with a renewed sense of urgency. We call upon all caring Jews who understand the importance of being nosei b "of im chaveiro and the imperative of pidyon shvuyim to convey the message to President Bush that Mr. Pollard has served long enough, and that the time has come to free him. May HaShem Yisborach, the ultimate lvfarir asurim, look down with favor upon our efforts and place in the heart of the President the resolve at tong last to grant Yehonoson ben Malka his freedom. MOl,:TZES GEDOl.EI HATORAH Rahhi Simcha B11ni111 Ehrenfeld Rabbi Aharon F"eldmwi Rahhi Yiwkm' /'erhm Rahbi Yit:dwk Feir;ef.1·1ork Rahhi Shmuel Kameneisky Rabhi Aaron M. Schechter Rahbi Avmhom Chaim Le1'il! NESIUS PRESIDIUM Rabbi Chaskd Besser Rah/11' Elva Fish<'r Rahhi A1:1·ch Mafkid Kor/er Rabhi f;fie::er Eich/er Rabhi Yosc( Frankel Rahhi J.>orid Kria1 Rabhi Rem•c11 fi·inuein Rabbi Zacharia/1 Gelh')" llahhi Yiechok Somt;;kin Rabbi Yos((lfaniri-Ra(u! CONFERENCE OF AGUDATH ISRAEL RABBONIM" ":fr1r a comp I eh' /isl c~{lltc RaMJ1mi111 who .viwwd Ifie declamlio11, please (1m/1u·1 Agudmh Ism cf Tin: J<.,\lll\l Mo~HJ, S11rnrn N.-HJONAI llLIP\)t:.-\RTI n,· 1'cw York, NY 10004 • 2ll·797-9D00 • Fax· M6·2.54-lh(l() RABBI LEIB GELIEBTER National Council of Young Israel .· ...... MEMORIAL FOUNDATION INC. 212-929-1525 ..ft. Meinm:y freepollard~oungisrael.org ~1!111!~ Fj P(ri:rlgf oundation .org www.young1srael.org llii Spom Your call will be responded to by a seasoned professional with expertise in areas such as: lJ mental illness lJ marital/parent/child conflict lJ developmental disabilities lJ school-based problems lJ geriatric mental health PURIM REFLECTIONS r--=-······I CHAN! KURTZ dollar," and even "8 for a dollar" good berry fillings that my kids have asked A BLIZZARD OF NEW IDEAS ies. The takeout store will be more than for. In fact, were it not for a few boxes happy to provide kreplach or stuffed in the prepackaged baked goods sec igns of the times: Purim is ra.pid.ly cabbage, dej:llmtling on your family's tion, one could forget that Purim used approaching, I have shopped until custom. Even thelbcal florist has a sign to mean ha1nantashen. SI dropped, and I have yet to see in the.window that he is taking orders Many people seem to have opted one prominent display of Lekvar or out of Purim entirely. Exhausted and apricot jam in the front of any of my overwhelmed by the monster we have local stores. created, they do not want to look at It is not as though Pu~j has another piece of candy, think up disappeared. The chic can' another "theme" or stuff another nuts, and confectionery · ·~., --. shopping bag. Some choose store in my neighborhood to go to married children has its annual trailer out of town, bringing the parked in the front, one 1nishlo'ach 1nanos allowing plenty of mandated by halacha, roon1 for baskets, and congratulating boxes and bags themselves on the of every con- long list of tedious ceivable type, obligations they at every con- have eliminat ceivable price ed. Others will range. The hop on a plane, housewares secure in the store is run knowledge ning a mega that the cost sale, astutely of the ticket aware that will be more holidays than offset by generate the savmgs spending, of not giv and trusting ing mishlo'ach that women ma nos and will be lured (dare we admit by great prices it?) of not open on elegant gift- ing the door on ware and upscale Purim night. pots. The shelves Most the women of the closeout store I know, however, do are stocked with inex- seem to be doing some pensive plastic storage sort of planning. Even if containers, floral nesting they have elected to buy boxes, and funky oddities professionally assembled that "might work:' The paper goodie baskets or dried fruit goods stores have expanded their and nut platters, there is still a offerings of cute shopping bags to seuda to consider. They are calling include coordinating colored cello friends and sisters-in-law, comparing phane and shredded cellophane grass, notes on what they made and what and rolls of curling ribbon to match for Purim, though I'm not quite sure they are thinking of making, looking the1n. The grocery stores have an end what he's thinking. for something novel and interesting. less varietyof "2. for ac1ollar;"'4 for_a The only significant absence seems They are pulling cookbooks off the MRS. CHANI KURTZ IS A FREEl.ANCE WR1nrn WHO to be the display I'm looking for - the shelf, glossy new cookbooks that fea I :~::~;.~1 ~:~:~\.::i:~.:~- :~·~1<;: ~~~::,.~c(:1for::::;_1:~'.:'. traditional jars of Simon Fisher prune ture elegant new dishes, beautifully I! HER PREVIOUS APl'EAIV\NCE JN)(} WAS: "WE \VJSH Lekvar, the 1arge size apricot preserves, arranged. It not only has to taste good, : You A MEIHn .. CllAN!TKAH't' Dix·. 2000. and the newer raspberry and straw- it has to look chic as well. To paraphrase 35 L --·-·-----.. ···---·- - ·------M A R C H 2 0 0 7 ------======------ the real estate agents, the three most and filling and folding. They just won't MESSAGE WITHIN THE WRAPS important elements of nouvelle cook work in an elegant presentation, with ing are presentation, presentation, and ice cream on the side, all drizzled with ut I'm going to make them any presentation. exotic sauces. They're not going to way. I'm going to do it on a Poor hamantashen. They're time replace triple chocolate anything as a BSunday, so the little ones can consuming to make - all that rolling blowout desert. help. Never mind that it will take twice as long with their "help;' and that TO SAVE spoons full of sticky stuff will end up Why did the Chofetz all over the kitchen floor. Never mind Chaim & R'Chaim TALMIDEI that the sides will be lopsided, that the Ozer Grodzinsky CHOCHOMIM corners will open during baking, and FROM THE PAIN AND the filling will ooze all over the place. start Ezras Torah? SHAME OF POVERTY. They'll get eaten straight out of the oven In an ideal world, those who devote In Eretz Yisroel today, Ezras Torah Make a life of Torah devotion and anyway, and they'll taste just fine. their lives to Torah would be provides Housing Emerxency commitment an everlasting edifice recognized as the spiritual heroes tl!edical Fund>, \Vedding that will bring us Llw Rabbonim, We'll try to eat the messy ones, and that they are. Support Ezra.~ Torah's Ass1:1tanc.e. lbm Tol' Stipend>. Dayonim and Leaders of tomorrow! save the pretty ones for Purim. After Zedakah Programs and make that Simchas and Special Need's GranL<: STAND UP FOR TORAH! all, we want the mishlo'ach manos to ideal a reality. andLoa11s. look appealing. But somewhere between Help Ezras Torah's committed scholars and families stand strong! Call The 24-Hour Ezras Torah Tzedekah Hotline 1-800-514-0348 wrapping the baskets up with the bows, and wrapping the last bits of chopped V:eS f I wou!d hke to help Ezras Torah! I~nclosed is :-iA\\E I 11 • my tax-deductible contribution for: meat into their kreplach dough, we're ADDRESS I I going to try and stop, and remember 0$ J 80$360 $100o$250o$360o $5000$1.000oS ·- CITY ST,\TE i1r I the point of all this wrapping. Method of payment: OCheck OVisa Dl\VC ONE PHONE I Purim is about concealment, about Acc. #______fup_:-~.t~ .. -- [lZRA.S TORA.H) The !!11ma11 side (!{Torah Phiftmtbropy : Please contact me regarding establishing an Ezras Torah Make payments to: Ezras Torah I seeing behind the fa<;ade. Purim is I Endowment Fund for a: DFree Loan Fund Dl'l'\edica! Fund 23~ East Broadway. New York. NY !0002 ·212-227-8960 JOI about a time when nothing was what L------~ it seemed, and we had to peer behind the masks to see the truth emerge. Before there was the obvious threat of Serving delayed lnfr:mlS amt toddlers. a Haman, there was a more insidious in Brooklyn. NYC, threat veiled as a party. The Megillah Sheindel (Jeanne) Warman and Staten Island tells us that all were invited, and that EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR the wine flowed freely. Ghazal tell us Pinchus Lerner Ph.D. that the Jews were included among Cl!NlCAl DIRECTOR the invited, and that the wine that flowed so freely included kosher wine. Att: Only when Haman demanded that all bow down to him were the Jews Therapists required to set themselves apart, and to blatantly declare their differences Reserve Now! from those around them. Even then, the miracle was a discreet one, as Hashem's outstretched hand concealed MAKING THERAPY WORK: itself behind the outstretched scepter PRACTICAL STRATEGIES A DIVISION OF WOMEN'S LEAGUE, INC. of "the king." TO ELICIT OPTIMUM Purim and Yorn Hakipurim. We RESPONSE IN THERAPY know that there are no coincidences, Wednesday, February 28, 2007 and that each letter tells its own story. Presented By: 7 :30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. The masks and the merriment are the Ailene Brownstein, MS, CCC/SLP Ba.is Y aakov ol J8th Avenue obvious manifestations of a deeper 6 Dr. Stephen Glicksman, PhD 441918' Avenue truth, that there is a hidden lesson that Chat1a l-fqman, OTR/L Brooklyn, New Yark we dare not forget. Marq Fran Muldoon, MS ED And if Purim is really about look Robert Weinearten, PT RSVP Required: (718) 853-9700 Ext. 226 ing within, how can l Jet presentation 3914 15TH AVENUE• BROOKLYN, NY 11218 • www.jumpstarteip.com displace my hamantash? l'1 36 T El I·: J E W l S II 0 U S F H V E H -·--··""-- -··-···-- _" ____ _ MRS. BAYl.A S. BRENNER Sllemiras llalallllll ••• Consulting the Authorities Puts P'sak and Peace of Mind at Your Fingertips A recently divorced woman finds CREATING THE HOTLINE what people need most when it comes herself seriously involved with a to asking a she' eila about lash on hara divorced gentlentan she has been dat epending on the situation, - confidentiality and expertise. ing. They seent exceptionally con1pati words have the power to destroy ble and have been talking about gettting Dor shield. When faced with the engaged. Yet, she hesitates. After five dilemma of providing or withholding THE POWER AND RELIEF OF agonizing years ofan abusive marriage, information and knowing that people's CLARITY she needs to make sure she won't make lives are on the line - how can we another disastrous niistake. While hav make that kind of determination by he Hotline dispels the miscon ing dinner at a friend's house, she ourselves? ception that one has to live the meets a person from her "intended's" We don't have to. Thanks to the Tsecluded life of a hermit in order home city and asks ifhe knows him. He combined efforts of the Chofetz Chaim to properly follow the laws of shemiras doesn't recognize the nan1e. Sorry that Heritage Foundation and the poskim halashon. "The Chofetz Chaim teaches he couldn't help her, the dinner guest (halacha authorities) who generously us that the yeitzer hara (evil inclination) inquires about the man in question volunteer their time and knowledge, the pulls a person one of two ways," says lvhen he returns honze. He uncovers Shemiras Halashon Hotline has been one of the Hotline poskim. "It either some extremely negative inforniation busy answering she'eila and preventing tells him that what he is about to say is about the man's character and wonders the possible denigration of lives. true - therefore there's nothing wrong if he should repeat it or not? He decides Over ten years ago, after consulting with saying it, and the fellow deserves to ask a she' eiJa (halachic inquiry), with both Rabbi Yehuda Zev Segal 7"'1! it anyway; or the opposite extreme, that and is told to reveal what he knows. A and Rabbi Mordechai Schwab ., .. ,,,, the person should never say a word year after the broken "almost engage The She'eila Hotline was established about anyone) ever - which is not only ment," the woman called the bearer of to forward calls to assigned poskim incorrect, but impossible. Once a person the bad news to say, "Thank you for Monday through Thursday nights from finds out what he can say, it actually saving my life." 9-10:30 and Matza' ei Shabbos. A few makes him freer to speak." advcrtisen1ents placed in Jewish pub For the many of us who arc igno- MRS. BRENNER. WHO l.!VES JN BROOKLYN, 15 ,'I, Sl·:NJOR WRITER !N ORTHODOX lications prompted the Hotline's first rant of the halachos regarding speech, liNl(E'/S COMMUNICATIONS M,\f~KETING flurry of calls. Ever since, the Hotline some surprising insights accompany the l)Ef'ARTMENT, has continued to provide callers with answers to she'ezlos. One caller spok:JofI 37 ------M A R C H 2 0 0 7 the enormous relief she felt after calling they receive deal with the full gamut doing what Hashem wants of us." with a she' eila relating to shidduchim. of human relations, inside and outside "I called nervously, expecting to find the home. "I hope that I've given people out what I would have to reveal, which a clearer outlook as well as specific A SAMPLING OF HOTLINE would have been extremely difficult, answers," says Rabbi Weinberger. "It's a SHE'EILOS and actually found that according to vision forward; now, when they commu halacha, I should not repeat the infor nicate or get involved with a shidduch, 1. A woman, inquiring about a shid mation. Hearing a p'sak halacha gave there's a better chance that they won't duch for her son, wanted to know me the clarity to know what to do and take situations into their own hands if the girl's parents get along with the peace of mind that I was doing the without first asking a she'eila." their neighbors. They once had a right thing." Since its inception, the Hotline serious disagreement with someone has broken all geographical and gen across the street, but otherwise, they erational barriers. Rabbi Weinberger get along with everyone else. Should ESTABLISHING THE HABIT relates a moving story of a young she be told about this incident? high school girl who called in shortly 2. My landlord increased my rent for he poskim on the Hotline are most before Rosh Hashana, audibly frantic no apparent reason. I need advice impressed with people's growing over the fact that she and her friends on how to proceed. Can I discuss Tawareness and sensitivity to the had exchanged negative remarks about it with someone who knows the power of a Jew's words. Rabbi Yisroel several students in their school. "She landlord? Lamm, a Hotline poseik from Monsey, told me that she regretted what she had 3. My in-laws frequently speak lashon says that working for the Hotline con done and wanted to do something to hara around the house. What can stantly confirms for him that people rectify the situation," says the poseik. I do? Is it lashon hara if I tell my really want to do what's right. And the "It really touched me." husband and ask him to speak with callers find the Hotline's anonymity The poskim learn the Sefer Chafetz his parents about the problem? aspect a distinct advantage. "If I have Chaim daily and find that the she'eilos 4. ls it permissible to speak lashon to ask a she' eila of my rav, I sometimes help sharpen their understanding of hara about my neighbor to a distant feel self-conscious and uncomfortable the detailed halachos. Says Rabbi relative without mentioning her because he knows me;' admits a caller. Lamm, ('I see it as a double benefit: name? "The Hotline makes asking much easier helping others and deepening my 5. My brother is a partner in a hotel. and I'm able to give over details without knowledge of the subject." He says that He has conveyed to me that the only feeling inhibited:' he feels secure that he receives a great way that I can go to the hotel is if According to Rabbi David Weinberger, deal of siyatta diShmaya while examin I pay for the whole family. I can't one of the Hotline's original poskim, ing each individual's case. "After all, afford to go, but my mother always the need for such a service is critical. the caller and I have something very asks me why we don't go. Should I The poskim report that the questions important in common - we're both lie and say that it is too hard to get away? d------•.•. 6. Our organization is overstaffed. TRAVELING ABROAD? The director asked a supervisor for Take a TravelCell with you! information as to who should be laid off. May the supervisor respond Incoming calls FREE in many countries! that one of the workers is lazy and should be laid off even though she Rent a cell phone with the lowest rates & best has 10 children and her husband service worldwide! was recently laid off? 7. A boy being considered as a poten tial shidduch had some emotional problems when he was younger. What should I tell the girl's mother when she asks about his health? 8. I want to talk to my rav about how I should act vis- The Misunderstood Child PORTRAIT OF AYOUNGSTER WITH ADD HE LOOKS LIKE A NICE BOY ... The rebbi is explaining the sugya to allowed his mind to wander to distant the class. I think I understand the first places when someone in front of him our neighbor's kid is polite and Mishna. But - 1vait a niinute. \iVhy is demands his attention? friendly and helps you unload Yankie wearing a light blue shirt today? Yyour groceries. So when your Aren't we all supposed to be wearing neighbor confides in you by saying that white? And why is the blackboard so SHORTCOMINGS WE he's taking medication because he has squeaky clean? Did the janitor clean the ALL SHARE ADD, you can't help but wonder. What room last night? I wonder how long it does this mean? Is there something takes him .... e all exhibit mild symptoms wrong? Is it okay for your boys to play "The rebbi's up to the third Mishna. of "attention deficit" at one with him? And do you have to treat him Reuven is answering a question. That W time or another, and that's differently than everyone else? guy always has the answers. Even last okay. But it's important to understand ADD is probably the most widely summer in camp, he won the Torah quiz that children with this disorder show known as well as the most misunderstood during color war. A regular whiz kid, he a consistent pattern that affects their of learning disabilities. Its diagnosis is. I remember the time the head counselor performance in school and often their has become so common that today it's challenged him to a game of chess .... behavior in other areas. So111ehow, they become almost fashionable to have a The fifth Mishna, and the rebbi is don't seem to respond to certain situ child with this condition. Still, most of staring straight at me. I think he's asking ations the same way as other children us haven't much of a clue of what it really 1ne a question, but I have no clue what he do. means and how to respond to it. Allow wants. He looks really angry and everyone The key to normal learning is to me to present you with a highly simpli is staring at me. I can feel myself getting filter out distractions. Just as an air fied version of what ADD is all about and red .... Oh, no! Why does this always have conditioner filters the dust in the air how to deal with it. So join me as we take to happen to me? and the coffeemaker filters out the cof a trip into the mind of an eleven-year-old Not a pretty picture, is it? And yet, fee grinds, our brains are wired to filter yeshiva boy with ADD. most of us will admit to having days out the unnecessary and unimportant like these ourselves. Who among us sideshows that are going on all around MRS. SCHONFELD OF HROOKL\'N, NY FOUNDED ANO hasn't restlessly stared out the window us. This allows us to pay attention and DIRECTS SOS. STtlATEGlES FOR OPTIMUM 5TliDENT on a beautiful spring day while our to concentrate on the task at hand. SUCCESS, AN EDUCt\TIONAl. PROCRAM St·:RVlCINC teacher was explaining the math home Most children sitting in the class ."\LL GRAD!'. LEVELS IN JEWISH ANO SECl!f.AR S'ftlD work? Who hasn't daydreamed about room realize that their attention should !ES, AS WELL AS SOCIAL SIOU.S TRAINING. JN ADDl r!ON TO HER DIVERSIFIED TEAClllNG C1\REER. SllE an upcoming special event instead of be centered on the person in front of the OFF!ms TEACHER TRAINING AND ED1iCATlONAI. keeping his thoughts firmly rooted to room. They may notice their classmate's CONSlH,'l!NG SERVICES. the here and now? And who hasn't new shoes or the leaky ceiling, but t~ ·------, !=- M A R C H 2 0 0 7 ------"" _____ "_ .. ------I will control their thoughts so that their short, a tutor can n1aximize the level of cal activity as often as possible. And if I concentration centers on the learning concentration of many students. homework see1ns to get overwhelining, that is expected of them. Rebbei'im and teachers should, of break it up into smaller, easily digest A child with ADD can't do this. course, be made aware of these issues ible chunks. It's not his fault. His brain isn't pro before they become serious problems. Most important, of course) is to build grammed to do the necessary filtering. Tell a teacher early enough in the up the self-esteem of that youngster. So he misses big chunks of learning, he semester so that he or she can allow the Realizing that you aren't functioning loses out on soine of the key nuances student to sit as close to the front of the as well as everybody else is not only of proper social behavior, and he finds room as possible. This will help filter frustrating, it's downright scary. It's sort himself experiencing a downward spi out distractions. A good teacher will of like watching everyone else floating ral that begins with disappointment also work with the student, tapping him peacefully in the pool while you feel like and frustration, and often leads to lightly on the shoulder when it becomes you're drowning. behavioral problems and a visit to the obvious that he is becoming distracted. principal's office. Or discreetly allowing him to take a modified version of the class Chumash THEY Do ACHIEVE test, so that he can get a con1petitive PLENTY OF WAYS TO HELP grade without drawing the attention of hildren with ADD are generally the rest of the class. highly creative, fun-loving, and hat to do? There are plenty Parents can do plenty to help their Cbright. They can and do excel in of ways to help children with child. Of course, the first step is to inany areas, such as sports or the arts. W these issues, and medication recognize that there is a problem, and They have tremendous energy and can - although often very effective - is usu to go for help as soon as something accomplish much during the day. Very ally used as a last resort. Leading experts seen1s wrong. l)enial is not going to often, they are determined to go the agree that some of the tried-and-true help anyone in this situation, and extra mile in order to prove the1nselves. solutions can be truly helpful. burying our heads in the sand will We often hear of successful businessn1en Private tutoring or mentoring can be only allow the problem to grow and or celebrities who once struggled with enormously successful with some ADD fester. Have the child evaluated, speak ADD. The challenges of their youth children. When a teacher works inten to professionals who care about your allowed them to forge their own way sively one on one with the student, the child, become informed, network with and build a blossoming future. attention inevitably becomes stronger. A other parents, access as much data as All children need a positive sense of tutor with the proper expertise can teach possible, and become your child's best self-worth, and these youngsters need a child to think before doing things, advocate. If the child seems restless and it more than anyone else. They need to to work slowly, and to pay attention overly energetic, as is often the case be proud of their achievements and to to details. A tutor can play games that with children who have ADD, then know that they can truly excel. Music, n1ake learning 1nore fun and exciting. In permit him to take time off for physi- dra1na, art, dance, sports, carpentry, creative writing - all these are excellent You can! Tust call outlets for ADD children, and parents The Yitti Leibel would do well to invest in some type "I wish I could Helpline. of hobby, talent, or activity now rather HOURS: than corrective therapies in the future. Monday-Friday ...... Sam -12pm When it comes to the happiness and speak to a Monday-Thursday ...... 8pm -l lp1n well-being of our children, an ounce Sunday ...... 9a1n -12p1n, 9pm -1 lpm of prevention is indeed worth a pound ~~ 718-HELP-NOW of cure. frum therapist \\cl:il (718) 435-7669 So the next time your neighbor's son Chicago ...... (800) HELP-023 offers to help with the groceries, give Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 him a warm smile and n1aybe even a on the phone .... (888) 209-8079 small tip. Tell him what a tzaddik he is ...... (410) 578-1111 Suggest that he can teach your own kids lletrnit...... (877) 435-7611 a thing or t\¥0 about 1nidos. In short, without giving San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 Toronto...... (416) 784-1271 make him feel good about himself. The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Branch of the Yittl Leibel Helpline These little gestures can go a long way. '1'"~' 07~·;-:l;:,,11 1n:i 7i'1Di:· ·1 n:i i''Dn ;i·>n TTD'l'l >1)!,•';t p·7-~·;: ~··I' I'' ;i-t'~)I They could make all the difference in a 1 . my name." ;T1' 11i'lJ "11"1 Ht< e>1d '"' m1ilil1k fo1 a bnght and promising future. UiJ I ------T 11 f.: JEWISH RABBI SHLOMO LORINCZ PREPAREI) FOR PUBLICATION BY YONOSON ROSENBLUM The Chazon lsh The Man and His Vision Part IV* Rabbi Lorincz represented Agudath Israel in the Israeli Knessetfrom 1951-1984, during which lime he was an intimate of a number otTorah luminaries of the past half century. The extensive notes that he kept on those meetings serve as the basis of this series of articles on the Chazon lsh. STUDENT OF THE according to his unique constellation highly respected Jew from America to HUMAN SOUL of traits, that the Vilna Gaon describes. meet the Chazon !sh, and the man hegan When it ca1ne time, for instance, for offering the Chazon !sh his views on a n his commentary on Mish lei ( J 6:4), Zeirei Agudath Israel to select a repre number of communal issues. VVhcn he the Vilna Gaon writes, "Each person sentative for the Knesset, an argument had finished, he assured the Chazon !sh I has his own path in life, for no two developed between R' Moshe Schonfeld that were he to in1plen1cnt the measures people's thought processes are exactly and myself as to which of us should rep he proposed, the Torah community alike, just as no two people look exactly resent the movement. Each of us insisted would embrace them full-heartedly. alike, no two people have the san1e that the other was better qualified. The Chazon !sh just smiled and told nature. Jn the days of the prophets, Jn the end, we agreed to leave the the man,"! can't work with a borrowed people would go to a prophet to learn decision to the Chazon !sh. I argued intellect. !fl were to borrow your mind, what Hashem [demanded of them], and that R' Moshe was far more talented and do as you say, I \'\IOuld at so1ne point the prophet would tell them, according than I in every area. The Chazon !sh have to return to you the mind I bor to his level of prophecy, the path each acknowledged that I might be right, rowed from you. And then I would be should follow according to his particular but that nevertheless l was better suited left without any intellect at all." soul root and his physical nature:' for the particular task at hand. "There Another time, a group of activists Prophecy no longer exists, but in the will be another task better suited for came to request the Chazon !sh to affix Chazon Ish we were able to at least see R' Moshe's talents," he said. And so it his signature to a letter of protest over a hint of the ability to direct a person, was. R' Moshe became the outstanding sonic issue, something he had no inter purveyor of daas Torah of his time in est in doing. They continued urging him ~Part I appeared in JO, January '06, Part II in October '06, Part Ill in November '06. his 1nany articles and books. to sign, and he kept refusing. Finally, the "A judge can only rule according to Chazon !sh asked them why they didn't RABBI RosENBl.UM. Wl!O UVFS IN JEHl 'SALEM, IS what his eyes see;· (Sanhedrin 6b) say just put their own signatures on the let "l'ONI Hlm 'rt NC EDlTOH ro Tiff: }J-:\V/S/I 0JJ5EU\!HR. Chazal. So it was with the Chazon !sh. ter. They replied that no one would pay 1 1 1 1 1 \ :::.::(~~~:~~ : :~u::-;:·:::~ ~:~ ~ :;~ , '~ ~'.~~~.:~·~s z::·;) ;~; Not only did he acknowledge each per- any attention to their signatures. "In that i 1 1 31 1 1 1 1 1 1 i r11E 11nrnEw AND ENGus11 Y..trr:o N1:'r;MAN 1N son's own unique perspective,he insisted case;' said the Chazon Ish, ''\vhy should I [~ - - - . -~- ·- - .~1preserving~1s.own._Ion-ce-broug:_I pay any a-tt-cn~on to you either_." _ _J M A R C H 2 0 0 7 ---·------ PARTING WITH MONEY filled with enthusiastic praise for her mo-od "" dm "°"'"" IS HARD promised donation. To my astonish building that is built with the fundsof~ you j ment, instead of simply giving her a contribute be registered in your name. 1 n 1949, on one of my fundraising beracha, the Chazon !sh began asking If you will do this, I will give you my trips to the United States, I met a her a series of questions about her life beracha." I won1an who was eager to donate history: Where was she from? How did I was dumbfounded. My head was a large sum of money for a yeshiva she come to have so much money? spinning. I could make no sense of the that would be built in her name. I was The woman began to tell her life Chazon lsh's actions, or why he had thrilled by the prospect, and I recom story. She was a nurse, who over a period dissuaded her from donating the entire mended that she donate the money to of decades had managed to save a large building. Most of all, I could not under Yeshivas Chafetz Chaim in Kfar Saba, sum, penny by penny. Her lifetime stand his suggestion that she register in which HaGaon Rav Aharon Leib dream was to donate that money to a part of the building built in her name. Steinman was then the Rosh Yeshiva. yeshiva. She remembered that her father That seemed to me like an expression The woman in question expressed had always told her that there could be of a lack of confidence in the probity of her desire to come to Eretz Yisroel to nothing more important than to sup Zeirei Agudath Israel, which sponsored visit the yeshiva, and told me that she port yeshivas, and now the time had the yeshiva. would bring with her the money she come to realize the dream of her life. These questions gave me no rest, and wished to contribute. She did, in fact, After hearing her story, the Chazon that same night I returned to the Chazon come to Israel and visited the yeshiva. !sh still did not offer his blessing. Instead !sh for his explanation. After the visit, she again expressed her he told her, "I advise you not to give The Chazon !sh gave me the playful desire to make the promised donation, the yeshiva all the money that you smile I knew so well, and explained, but added a condition: She wanted a saved. Rather give a third of the money, "Why don't you understand?" he asked. blessing from the Chazon !sh. and keep the rest for yourself, for who "Didn't she come to receive a beracha. I brought her to the Chazon !sh, knows whether you might some day And a beracha must have something and gave her a fulsome introduction, in the future need that money. I also on which to work .... She wants to give, but I don't believe that she really has the ability to do so .... A normal person cannot give away their entire life savings, no matter how noble the For careful attention to your purpose. Only an extremely elevated person could do so. individual needs, call us today! "I saw that she truly wanted to ( 845) 354-8445 give, and I wanted to bless her, since she was seeking a blessing for a good undertaking. Therefore I tried to find a way to make it easier for her to give I coach people to help the1n realize their the money. And I decided that if she Can a Life-Coach own drean1s and a1nbitions. I help them gave only a third of what she had saved, plan, program, and stay motivated. and even that remained in her name, it help you realize WHY COACHING? Improving one's your dreams? life means making change; and people need would prove easier for her to part with support and structure to keep distractions her money. If so, I estimated, there was and obstacles from swamping their dreams and goals. something upon which my blessing Moreover, people rarely sec their own capabilities in full measure. A coach is a per could take effect. son who by temperament, experience, and training is dedicated to help you grow and achieve your own dreams. A coach never loses confidence in his client's ability1 "After everything, however, I still fear I have over thirty years experience in helping people fulfill their drea1ns, have that even a third will prove beyond her authored books, articles and produced cassette programs on this subject. In 2-3 ability to give. Halavei that my beracha 1nonths, using weekly private phone sessions, you can learn how to will take effect." effectively take control of your life. The end of this story proves the FREE OFFER - I would be happy to give you a free telephone dictum, "A chacham is even greater conference. Please call USA 845-352-1175 for an appointment. Thank you. - MR. Av1 SHlTLMAN than a prophet:' As the Chazon !sh had predicted, she did not give even the Live a Life of Design, Not Default third. A number of times, we went to the American consulate to sign on the transfer of her bonds to the yeshiva, and , offi timo, wti of signing, she felt faint of heart and only after he reached l 20 - i.e., in a will. Chazon !sh felt that too little attention had to take some pills. In the end, she For the present, I suggested, it would be was paid to middos (character) in the returned to the United States just as she sufficient to give enough to cover the shidduch process. had come, without having contributed cost of one building on the campus. He The late Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth any of the money. immediately agreed to my suggestion. once told me the story of a certain rabbi In a brief conversation, the Chazon As for the will, Sde Chemed never who came to speak to the Chazon Ish !sh was able to immediately discern that received anything. After the initial about a match for a young relative of she would not be able to make good on moment of arousal passed, the would his. The young woman was the daughter her desire to give. Far from harming be benefactor completely forgot about of a renowned talmid chacham who had us, his advice that she give less than that promise. of what the Chazon !sh been killed in the Holocaust. The rabbi she had planned was designed to help had taught me, however, I was neither mentioned several names of fine young make good on at least a portion of her surprised nor upset that Sde Chemed scholars who had been proposed, but the good intentions. did not receive anything of the larger Chazon !sh rejected each one of them. That story was a life lesson in how gift. At the same time, I was delighted Then he offered his own suggestion: a complete must be our en1unas cha that I had helped this stingy man part young man who was not considered an chamim. No matter how hard it is to with a portion of his money for a good outstanding learner. understand the gadol hador, we have cause. The rabbi expressed surprise at the no choice but to believe in his words Chazon Ish's suggestion. The Chazon without any questions and to assume Ish told him that when it comes to that our difficulties in comprehending SHIDDUCHIM shidduchim one must keep a long-range him are a function of our lower level of vision, and the fact that a bachur shows understanding. hough he dwelled on an ethereal great promise in learning and is the son In retrospect, so logical was the plane, the Chazon Ish's down of a ta/mid chacham does not necessarily Chazon Ish's thinking that I have a hard Tto-earth advice on shidduchim mean that he is the one best suited to time figuring out why I was so confused. saved many young people and their carry forth the distinguished line of the That is the way of the Torah - everything parents from disaster. In general, the young woman's family. is hidden in darkness, until the chacham comes and lights up the path. After that, everything is clear. I had occasion to subsequently make use of the principle that the Chazon Ish taught me on that occasion. I once went to visit a very wealthy man shortly in Eretz Yisroel for Rais Yaakov High School Students after the passing of his wife. Despite his wealth, this person was, to put it mildly, June 24 -July 25, 2007 not renowned for his tzeddaka giving. In the wake of his personal tragedy, • Taste of Seminary level Ha.-.hkafa & Tiyulim for Girl-; cnteriOg GradCs 10, 11 & 12 however) a new spirit seemed to have • Hear Shiurim from Rabbonim and Moros from the finest seminaries overtaken him. The passing of his wife • Improve your learning skills, meet new friends, receive personalized hadracha had made him see the vanity of mate • Exciting Tiyulim and Shabbatonim rial possessions. He told me that he was • Located at the beautiful Choclunas Lev Campus in Bayi.t vegan prepared to give all his money to the Sde Chemed Youth Village, with which I was very actively involved. My first reaction was, naturally, great delight, for he was talking about sums that would have placed the entire proj Be Inspired by Toras Eretz Yisroel ect of a firm financial footing into and Grow in lf>ur Avodas Hashem the foreseeable future. When it came Haskamah from Harav Shmuel Kaminetzky, Shlita ti1ne to draw up a contract, however, I remembered what the Chazon !sh had taught me. I told him how much I respected his determination to give away all his money, but told him that Lnot want h1~o~os~ow but______------·------_ ____d M A R C H 2 0 0 7 KARIA IN EllTZ YISROEL Gtfty (Pid"u) "On the other hand, a young man Call Rabbi Gavriel Beer for information on who is sincere and G-d-fearing can be obtaining cemeteiy plots in Beth Shemesh expected to establish a family of upright WllNGAITIN lmei Torah through the generations, even and other locations in Israel. Experienced Shadchan for all age groups though he is not considered outstanding 011-972-2-656-9427 718-338-1765 in learning." On another occasion, a 1nan who was close to the Chazon !sh told him Eretz Yisroel's with a great deal of enthusiasm of an Digest of Meforshim Most Reliable Shomer Shabbos outstanding shidduch that had been and English Speaking Car Service proposed for his daughter. He proceeded ~v1v? in:i ~v1ji? to enumerate the outstanding qualities ':>"YT 1))1'7N 7N'ID1?1 l"i"l1i"11J Visiting Israel? 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Proceeds of sales distributed among 1.718.360.5083 But the Chazon !sh still had one Yeshivos and used for reprinting of vol or 972.2.533.3425 c··_;... · , , 'l question: "Having made all your inqui umes out-of-print [email protected]!rport.com , ":-:; _" _.,, . www.msophera1rport.com ries and knowing all of the candidate's PR! E: $8.00 PER VOLUME fine qualities, did you ask if he would In Israel: 02-533-3425 make a good husband? If that quality is lacking, it is not a good match, no matter how many other positive quali ties he possesses." -•~OUR STAND An upstanding Jew from Tel Aviv NOW YOU CAN once came to Bnei Brak to ask the Chazon !sh for his opinion of a shid PUT THE SPARK BACK duch that had been suggested for IN YOUR INSURANCE. his daughter. "Which daughter?" the Chazon !sh asked. When the man told him her name, the Chazon !sh replied, Call me today to hear about these new "Indeed? That daughter deserves some optional features: New Car Replacement. Accident Forgiveness and Deductible Rewards. one far better." How much time could the Chazon (718) 268-1700 !sh have spent in the presence of this man's daughters? Yet he was able to distinguish each of them by name, according to her spiritual level, and on that basis determine whether a certain Martin Levy shidduch was appropriate. Only after he had satisfied himself that his blessing 103-20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE had a firm foundation upon which to FOREST HILLS take effect was he prepared to bless [email protected] Allstate® the shidduch. You're in good hands. Call or stop by for a free quote It was remarkable the way the Chazon !sh was able to enter into the feature is optional and subject to terms and conditions_ Available in select states now and in most states by 1/31/06 (subject to psyche of someone far removed from regulatory approval where required}. Allstate Property and Casualty tnsurance Company: Northbrook. IL_ ©2005 Allstate Insurance his spiritual level. One of my circle Company of friends in yeshiva ha-d _::_j 44 ····-·~ r- r111-: JE\v1s1-1 OllsE1 SELF-INTEREST: AN ALL ENCOMPASSING BLEMISH he Chazon Ish possessed a rare ability to size up a person, and Tto analyze the components of his soul. He knew which bad middos it \Vas best to ignore, and which had to be dealt with immediately. 1 once asked the Chazon lsh why he did not share the generally high opinion of a certain taln1id chachan1, who was widely respected as a marbitz Torah (disseminatorofTorah) and also viewed as a ba'a/ chcssed. The Chazon !sh replied that the person in question L incapable of rising above his own ------:.==M=A=R=c;..,·.;,;l""i =;;;2=0=0=;;;7==;------_·-_------·-·~·~~~-----=-i I REDIRECTING THE NATURAL come up with. The young may left tendency to seek honor and plea DESIRES FOR PLEASURE AND the Chazon Ish's presence beaming sure is a positive drive in the liv KAVOD and uplifted. ing machine called man. Far from Not one word was said about building up a person, denying those he Chazon !sh was acutely the young man's general spiritual natural desires destroys a person. aware of the dangers of sti backsliding. When he had left, Rabbi Proper mussar directs a person to T fling a person's natural desire Kowalsky asked the Chazon !sh, in love himself and seek honor, but calls for pleasure. Rabbi Shmuel Tzvi amazement, why he had invited the upon him to identify the true source Kowalsky, one of the Chazon Ish's yonng man and then failed to address of happiness in this world and the close confidants, told him about a his lapses. source of true honor. certain young man who came from an "He does not have a zest for There is no honor other than environment far removed from Torah, learning," the Chazon !sh replied. Torah; there is no honor other than who wished to study in yeshiva. Based "His only pleasure is his old gang of humility; there is no honor other on the Chazon Ish's intervention, he friends from the streets. If 1 take that than fleeing from honor; there is was accepted into a yeshiva. away with him, he'll be left without no happiness other than to be free Yet despite the young man's good any pleasure. First, I must imbue of one's natural inclinations, and to intentions, his integration into yeshi him with an enjoyment of learning, subjugate oneself to Hashem and His va life did not go smoothly, and he and only then will it be possible to Torah- the purpose of life in world continued to maintain contact with remove him from the influences of and the World to Come. a number of unsavoury friends from the street." These words were fully realized by his previous life. In his classic work Emuna the Chazan !sh. He was always happy, The Chazon !sh asked that the U'Bitachon (Chapter IV, 14), the and his honor was unparalleled. That young man be summoned to him. Chazon !sh elaborated on the point honor was real; it was, as he wrote, He spoke to him at length about in a more general fashion: kavod haTorah. Honor pursued him, what he was learning, what he had hnprovement of one's character even though he fled from him. He sat heard in shiur, and any insights he does not preclude self-love, for the and learned in a beis midrash in Vilna for decades, unknown and unrec ognized, except by the gadol hador, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski. He demonstrated that physical possessions and a life of luxury do not bring happiness to a person. Rather living without any need for physical comforts and luxuries makes a person happy. It is not uncommon to meet those who toil in Torah and are steeped in avodas Hashem, from whom no joy emanates, and whose expres sion belies any happiness. Everything about them places them in the cat • Exciting Program egory of a "tzaddik who suffers." The • Experienced Staff OUR RENOWED GUIDE f Chazon !sh saw in such an attitude R' Y AAKOV TURENHEIM a great failing, the destruction of • Expert Guides j everything for which a person was created, as the verse says, «Because you did not serve the L-ord, Your ~ ~~!~~t, ~:n-:~;~;~:::rs .©~~~~~~t, G-d with joy and goodness of heart of girls like yourself! !'.th~ ~-~!lffi£~--T~·::' ... "(Devarim 28:47). Accom1>ani~d by securit)' pets()hneh9n aH tau.rs_ Nothing could have been further .~----"~~-"""=~~""-·...... from the Chazon !sh. He always radi ated happiness, and showed us that i:ill/:liti~h, ?r• 1nf<>frri'1ti6!1, z;;, .:;l.8.. 258-070' the eternal bliss of being subservi .. ·... ~•Q;z43 . .· ent to Hashem and His Torah can be obtained in this world as well. IJ;J • A durable economical paperback book that slips easily into a briefcase or carry-on bag • Includes every word of the English elucidation and commentary found in the full size edition-_( • Less than one·third of the weight of the regular hard-cover Oaf Yomi Edition •The same high:auality paper and printing you expect from ArtScrolljMesorah RABBI PAY$ACH KRQHN TAKES YOU THROUGH VILNA, NEW! - BY RABBI SHIMON FINKELMAN PQNE1[1i!ZH, ~flE, KELJtf,.1(0.VNQ, $LAllODKA, RABIN, llOLOifllN,·MINSK, l}.JIR, BARANoyn:(:H,AND GRODN.0! BY All In Traveling With the Maggid, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, the '1?.av 0vraliam r:l'am - 0 ,Life of ::J{iddusl1 2lasliem American Maggid, transports you to the great Torah centers officially it's a book for teens, but mem· of yesteryear! Through this bers of every age group should read .·(!~ beautiful book, you will join him this beautiful new biography. Drawing on on an inspiring, emotional, and 50 new photos, 30 additional stories, and ~ educational tour! the broad sweep of his previous classic With its scores of color biography of the Rosh Yeshivah of Torah photos, you'll savor the Vodaath, Rabbi Shimon Finkelman paints ~ grandeur of a golden age of a new portrait of the self-effacing Gadol >·.. Torah that continues to touch whose perfect blend of wisdom and :~ our lives today. Through Rabbi warmth, truth and kindness, made him a Krohn's inspiring stories, magnet and a role model. Revered world insights, and comments, you will leader, beloved Rebbe, wise and com· umeet" the personalities whose passionate advisor to great and small, achievements and teachings "friend" of anyone who felt alone - Rav influence us now. Pam belonged to everyone. If you want to know him well, this book is for you! ~--'."°"""• ti 1ti;gjllst,,e1ei.Se