The Succos Song" of Teshuva (a free rendition from "Pachad Yitzchok") by Yaakov Feitman

Letters and f{espgns~~ ;: ." ' ' 'l!i\\\1\\\\\\1\::~\i\\!lil\ \\Ii, THE JEWISH BSERVER

in this issue ...

Succos: The Triumphant Song of Teshuva, THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN 0021-6615) is published monthly, adapted from Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner's "Pachad except July and August, by the Yitzchok" by Yaakov Feitman ...... 3 Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N. Y. Technology in Service of Torah, Ary eh Kaplan ...... 11 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription The Kamenitz Partnership: Rabbi Boruch Ber $12.00 per year; two years, Leibowitz '"lll and Rabbi Reuvain Grozovsky '"lll, $21.00; three years, $28.00; out­ Chaim Shapiro ...... 15 side of the United States, $13.00 per year. Single copy, $1.50 Hakafos, a poem by Baila Susholz ...... 25 Printed in the U.S.A. Letters to the Editor ...... 27 More on the Teshuva Movement/Of Charity and RABBI NissoN WoLPJN Scholarships Editor Esrog Time in Brooklyn, a photographic feature by Faige Beer ...... 32 Editorial Board DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER Index to Articles: Subjects and Authors, Volume XIV ...... 34 Chairman RABBI NATHAN ButMAN RABBI Josrrtt EuAs JosErH FR!EDENSON Notice to Our Readers RABBJ MosttE SHERER

TttE Jrw1stt OasrRvrR does not The previous issue of The Jewish Observer featured a photograph assume responsibility for the of an illuminated kesuba-on the cover and again on page 10. Kashrus of any product or ser­ Inadvertently, the original kesuva selected for this purpose had a vice advertised in its pages. complete passage from Scripture written in the border, with G-d's Name (Elokim) written in full. As a result this issue (Sept. '80) must be handled with the respect due all sacred writings. OCT., 1980, VOL. XV, NO. 1 TISHREI 57 41 translation and adaptation by Succos: Yaakov Feitrnan from Pachad Yitzchok The Triumphant by Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner, M"~''iW rendition - Song of leshu .a

drawing Tully Filmusi J

Rabbi Feitman is princi'P~ o 1V t OsePh lr;:_sf~tek'", Island, New York, and a frequent contributoJ' to the~'e P,ages. '\" J

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 3 The Two-fold Yorn Tov Succos is unique among the yamim tovim, simultaneously closing the series of three pilgrimage festivals (the Shalash Regalim) and the Yamim Noraim-the Days of Awe. The dual character of the yam tov becomes illuminated by a parable from the Midrash: Two people who had appeared before a judge leave the court, and we do not know which one was victorious. As soon as we see one flaunting his weapons, we know that it was he who was triumphant. In the same way, Israel and the Nations come before the L-rd in dispute on Rosh Hashana and we do not know which is victorious. When Israel emerges from before G-d with lulav and esrog in hand, all are a convinced that Israel has triumphed. (MIDRASH RABBA VAYIKRA, 30:3). havdala This demonstrates that, while Pesach and Shavuos belong only to the process Shalash Regalim, and Rosh Hashana . and Yorn Kippur belong only to the Yamim Noraim, Succos maintains a special status in both realms. In fact, the Midrash's choice of metaphor highlights Succos's place in regard to the Yamim Noraim: ... Israel and the Nations come before the L-rd in dispute on Rosh Hashana and we do not know which is victorious. On the Yamim Noraim, a havdala process begins, disassociating and isolating Israel from the Nations, pitting one against the other. On Succos, this process reaches its zenith and is completed. Why is Succos designated as the yam tov of triumph over the nations and the attainment of the ultimate havdala? First we must examine the concept of simcha (joy) so deeply associated with the yam tov of Succos-especially the simcha experienced with teshuva, a complete repentance from sin, which is accepted during any season, but is especially timely during the Yamim Noraim. The Song of Teshuva The relationship between simcha and teshuva was especially apparent at the Simchas Bais HaSho'eivah-"the rejoicing at the water-drawing" in the Bais Hamikdosh, the joy that eclipsed all other experiences of human hap­ piness. On this occasion, the baalei teshuva-those who had repented for their sins-sang: Happy is our old age which the has atoned for our youth. song (5UCCAH 53a) of Succos This shira for baalei teshuva is indeed extraordinary. For what is shira but the ecstasy of the soul overflowing, exploding from the joy of fullest involvement in performing the will of the Al-mighty, finally finding expres­ sion in the winged words and phrases of song! And this simcha of Ba is Hasho'eivah is the one occasion that reserves a place for the song of the baal teshuva. This, too, informs us of the special nature of Chag HaSuccos. First, however, a closer examination of teshuva itself is required.

This article is a free rendition of a discourse by RABBI Y1TZCHOK HuNTER, N"~'~W' rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Chaim Berlin Cur A rye, in Brooklyn; and Yeshiva Pachad Yitzchok in Jerusalem. The original was published in the Rosh Yeshiva's Pachad Yitzchok on Yorn HaKippurim, Maamar 8. Some material added from Maamar 7 to clarify and add perspective to this essay.

4 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 Central to the prayers of the Days of Repentance is "The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy"* which G-d instructed Moshe to recite as a medium for gaining forgiveness for Kial Yisrael-first for worshipping the Golden Calf, and then as needed thereafter (Shemos 34:6-7). Our sages teach: "A covenant was made with (whoever recites) the Thirteen Attributes (that he) will not be turned away empty-handed" (Rosh Hashana 17b). This profound prayer, of paramount importance to everything related to repentance, opens with the Divine Name of Hashem Havaya **'appearing twice in succession. Our Chazal (Sages) explain that first the Name applies "before man sins; the second time, the Name refers to after man has sinned twice and repents" (Rosh Hashana 17b). I There is significance in the second "Havaya" as the source of Divine ineffable powers following teshuva. For among all Thirteen Attributes, only Name "Havaya" cannot be translated nor can it be transposed into human terms. That is, all of the other midas (attributes)-"merciful, gracious, long­ suffering, forgiving ..." can be transposed to other aspects of creation, and can be found or developed on the human level. We can understand them, extrapolate them into our own lives and situations, and conceivably emulate them. Only the Divine Name "Havaya" applies exclusively to the Divine and cannot be translated or transmuted; only this Name can be the fountainhead for a life of repentance ... instructing us in a most important lesson regard­ ing teshuva. The New World of Teshuva The power of teshuva is not merely one of the forces that exist in the world; it is an entirely new world in and of itself. The most basic meaning of the Divine Name "Havaya" denotes creation and constant rejuvenation of the entire universe, from absolute nothingness to existence, containing as it does the letters of the word "existence." Since the Divine Name signifying a creation applies to the attribute of teshuva, it would be apparent that new teshuva itself involves a totally new creation. world twice Let us, then, re-examine our world: The cosmos that exists "before the sin" gains its power and vitality from the first Name "Havaya." After sin and repentance, an entirely new world is created, nourished and sustained by the creative force of the second name "Havaya." The fact that teshuva alters the entire universe carries with it far-reaching consequences on all levels of existence. Most strikingly -because it is inherent in the literal meaning of the Torah's words-is the way this phenomenon relates to tefilla i (prayer). I Praying in the World of Teshuva The Torah calls for man to pray in the passage: "And you shall serve the L-rd your G:d "-"service (avodah)" refers to prayer, as addressed to all of

*For more detailed elucidation on the "Thirteen Attributes," see Pachad Yitz­ chak: Rosh Hashana 6:2, 16 and 33 and ibid., on Yam Kippur, 1, 5, 6:2-7, 26, 29:10 and 34:5. **Acronym for the ineffafyle Name, spelled "Yud-Hay-Vav and Hay," but not l to be pronounced. j

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 5 ~ I ' • man's needs and aspirations, physical or spiritual (see Taanis 2a and Ram­ bam Hilchos Tefillin 1:1). Yet, a new set of directives were given to Moshe Rabbeinu in regard to prayer related to repentance: And the L-rd passed before him and proclaimed (the Thirteen Attri­ butes) ... (Shemos 34:6). Rabbi Yochanan said, "Were it not written thus, it the would be impossible for us to say such a thing. This teaches us that the Holy ineffectual One, blessed be He, wrapped himself in a tallis [kaveyochol-as if it were prayer of possible to say such!] like the shaliach tzibbur (the leader of the prayers), old and showed Moshe the order of prayer" (Rosh Hashana 17b). Why did God not teach Moshe this order of prayer before, when the concept of prayer was first introduced? Why was it necessary to do so only at this point? The new world of teshuva is such that all things are rejuvenat­ ed and take on new aspects and character. The prayer of the old world of the first "Havaya" is inappropriate and, indeed, ineffectual in the world of the second. Thus G-d instructed Moshe anew in the prayers to be used in the world of teshuva. When we pray for assistance in the attainment of teshuva, we can lose sight of the incredible wonder before us: A new world can be attained, a universe can be conquered-created-in but moments-through the act of repentance. There are times and situations when conventional tefilla has no place: When the Jewish nation was backed against the Red Sea and, in keeping with hallowed tradition, they prayed for salvation, G-d chastised Moshe: "Why do you cry unto me?" (Shemos 14:15). Our sages explain that the Splitting of the Sea was not a subject for prayer, for it had already been included in the plan of creation, and prayers only are addressed to events still to be determined within the framework of cause-and-effect of this no world. In its own way, teshuva is another example of the same phenome­ prayer non. Consider: how can one pray in the conventional manner for G-d's for assistance and His acceptance of one's efforts for repentance, when teshuva the is so novel, so unique that its workings are almost as remarkable, as innova­ pre- ordained tive as Creation itself? Conventional prayer has no relationship to anything that was preordained during the original act of creation, as was the Splitting of the Sea. Similarly, teshuva, which demands a total re-creation of the universe and rejuvenates every particle of the cosmos, cannot be served~·by conventional mode of prayer. Thus the necessity for G-d's innova-tive action, as described by Chazal, when he instructed Moshe in the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy: "He wrapped himself in his tallis (kaveyochol) . .. and showed Moshe the order of the prayer." Simple verbal guidance-"Pray in this manner for teshuva" -would not have been sufficient to instruct Moshe Rabbeinu in the tefilla for teshuva. It was necessary for G-d to actually "demonstrate" for Moshe the method of prayer required for teshuva!

Yorn Kippur: The "Mattan Torah" of Teshuva Just as in the world of teshuva prayer takes on a new meaning and necessitates a new order of tefilla, so does teshuva require a new acceptance of the Torah. For this reason we find that the essence of Yorn Kippur is expressed, not in terms of forgiveness or penitence, but in the fact that it is a Mattan Torah-a day akin to Shavuos, when the Torah was first given: Go forth, you daughters of Zion and gaze upon King Solomon, upon the

6 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his espousals, and on the day of the gladness of his heart (Shir Hashirim 3:11): "On the day of his espousals" refers to the giving of the Torah (Mishna, Taanis 26b). Rashi explains that this Giving of the Torah refers to Yorn Kippur, when the a second luchos (Tablets of Law) were presented. presentation of The Nation of Israel received the Ten Commandments twice-once on Torah the 6th of Sivan and again on the 10th of Tishrei, Yorn Kippur (Taanis 30b). for During the cataclysmic period in between, Israel sinned with the Golden the Calf and then repented for its sin. It was at the last moment of its soul­ penitent searching penitential struggle, culminating in total teshuva, that Kial Yisroel received the Torah the second time. This was no coincidence. The world of teshuva requires a total restruc­ ture and rededication, in keeping with the creation of an entirely new world. And what is a world without Torah? When Israel emerged purified into a teshuva world, a Mattan Torah-presenting of the Torah- was inevitable. The universe of after-teshuva is as unrelated to its previous state as is the proselyte to his previous uninitiated state. In the revivified universe of the after-teshuva, the external world may look the same. The true inner nature of the teshuva universe, however, is neoteric and fresh-unchanged to the eye, perhaps, but new to the soul-and so it demands that the very same Torah be given once again, and that prayer in the new dimension of the baal teshuva be taught.

The Clouds of Forgiveness Now that we have gained an insight into the world of teshuva, we can once again examine the yom tov of Succos. On Succos, through the medium of the s'chah covering our succa-huts, we are surrounded by the "clouds of glory," which encompassed all of Israel when they left Egypt (Succos llb). Surely, one would think, their commemoration should come in Nissan when the clouds first appeared, rather than in Tishrei, which seems unrelated to the event it commemorates. In explanation, the Gaon of Vilna points out that our celebration of when Succos does not only commemorate the Clouds of Glory, but also marks the their return after their absence since the sin of the golden calf: At the clouds moment of that fateful transgression, when Israel proved no longer worthy disappeared ... of extraordinary Divine revelation, the Clouds of Glory disappeared. The long teshuva process began, culminating with the descent of Moshe Rabbeinu from Mt. Sinai on Yorn Kippur, with the evidence of forgiveness in hand-the Second Tablets, for the new world teshuva. The very next day, the eleventh of Tishrei, Moshe gathered together the nation ... ~11/0 'mp'1 and the preparations for the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) began. During the three days that followed, the entire nation of Israel was profoundly occupied with gathering the materials for the sacred task of erecting a dwelling place for the holy Shechina. On the fifteenth of Tishrei, these preparations were completed, actual work for construction began, and the Clouds of Glory returned. (See the Gaon of Vilna's Commentary on Shir Hashirim 2:17 and see also Targum; c.f. for this chronology Seder Olam Rabbah, Chapter 6; and Rashi to Shemos 35:1). This offers us a new insight into Chag HaSuccos and its place in our past

The Jewish Observer/ October, 1980 7 and present. The Clouds of Glory are not merely clouds of protection, but clouds of forgiveness. The salvation granted after the Sin of the Calf ... and restored Kial Yisroel once again to its position of being chosen from among when the nations, with its special relationship of closeness to G-d. Indeed, just as the clouds teshuva necessitated a new mode of prayer and a new granting of our eternal returned Torah, so was it imperative that the new nation of Israel-purified, purged, indeed re-created-be selected anew as the Am Hanivchar-the chosen of the L-rd. The renewal of that Divine choice defines the essence of the Yom Tov of Succos. The "You have chosen us" of other holidays refers to the original selection of Israel-that is, belonging to the first "Havaya." Succos is in the realm of the Second "Havaya"-the gratitude and joy of having been chosen again and rejuvenated after the Sin.

The Song of Teshuva A special relationship binds simcha and teshuva together. It is clear from the Rambam that simcha is an important asset to the performance of any mitzvah (Hilchos Lulva 8:15). Yet, as elaborated upon by Rabbeinu Yonah (Shaarei Teshuva 4:8), the simcha associated with having achieved repen­ tance is a special joy that is not extrinsic to teshuva, added on to embelish the mitzvah, but it is an integral part of its inner dynamics. Moreover, the anguish of having sinned can be assuaged only by the joy of having been forgiven, and thus simcha becomes a fundamental aspect of teshuva. Now the Rambam's directive to be especially joyful on Succos comes into sharper focus: -"Although it is a mitzva to be joyous on all the holidays, on Succos there was an extraordinary joy in the Bais Hamikdosh" (Hilchos Lulav 8:12). a Succos is the Yom Tov of rebirth and rejuvenation through teshuva, and Nation simcha is an integral aspect of teshuva . ... Just as teshuva carries with it the chosen anew special simcha that comes with the knowledge of forgiveness, so does Suc­ cos generate the special joy of a nation forgiven, reborn, and chosen anew. Can there be, then, anything more natural than a song for baa lei teshuva on Succos? At the lofty moment of Simchas Bais Hasho'eiva, when the joy of Succos overflows and cascades into words of praise and notes of inspired poetry, a song for baalei teshuva was inevitable. Succos-the time when forgiveness was openly manifest, when the world of Sin became replaced with a new world of forgiveness and purifica­ tion, when an entire nation was reinstated as Chosen-there radiates a joy I unparalleled on any other holiday. The Danger of Havdala Just as the recreation of Israel in the world of teshuva is replete with l unparalleled joy, so does it carry it with an inevitable danger as well. Every havdala awakens a counteracting, antagonistic force, as well. Indeed, we know that the creation of Man involved his havdala from the rest of the universe: "You singled out (hivdalta) man from the beginning and chose him to stand in Your Presence" (Ne'ilah). Immediately, upon this act of

8 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 havdala, a company of ministering angels declared, "What is man that You 1 are mindful of him, and the son of man that You think of him?" (Tehillim "What 8:5, Sanhedrin 38b). is Similarly, at the Splitting of the Sea, when the havdala of Israel from Man Egypt was on the threshold of consummation, the opposing forces found a that voice, "Why do You favor these over those? Have not both sinned?" (see You are Midrash Rabba Shemos 21:7 and Yalkut Reuvaini, Beshalach). mindful The new havdala of Israel after teshuva awakens this same opposition to of him?" the selection of Israel. Thus we find that on Yorn Kippur, when Israel is standing trial, it must once again struggle with the Prosecutor who is also representing the nations. In the thick of the battle, it is unclear who has won. Then, with the Yorn Tov Succos, the dust settles and Israel emerges with its weapons intact-the lulav and esrog. We know who has been victorious.

The Inevitability of Teshuva We still do not know the polemic that the nations bring to the new trial. What fresh accusation have they contrived? What is the nature of the chal­ lenge that they fabricated to defeat Israel in the new teshuva world? The answer, perhaps, can be found in the ultimate confrontation "Who between Israel and the nations in the End of Days. The nations will com­ IS plain that in the world of teshuva, justice has been inequitable. Partiality has Israel been shown and havdala is unwarranted, they will charge. And why? that Because if justice and differentation is to be decided on the basis of free will You in the world, teshuva for Israel seem to be an exception. For in the Last favor them?" Days, teshuva will be inevitable:" ... When all these things come upon you in the End of Days, you will return to the L-rd your G-d and hearken to His voice" (Devarim 4:30). "And it shall come to pass in that day ... a remnant of Israel shall return" (Isaiah 10:20-22). (For more on this concept of Inevitability of Teshuva, see Pachad Yitzchak on Rosh Hashana 8 and 10.) The fact that teshuva is ineluctable seems to work in favor of the nations' argument. How can Israel triumph in the great courtroom of Acharis Hayamim-the ultimate justice of the End of Days-when her return to G-d is irrevocable and inescapable? To answer this protest, the Chag HaSuccos will be presented to the Nations.

Succos: The Final Test The weapons of Succos-the lulav and esrog-are paraded after the war. They are no longer needed in the battle itself, but they are eloquent testi­ "ft mony to the identity of the triumphant victor. is How does this answer the apparent justice of the argument put forth by too j the nations? To understand, we must take advantage of the glimpse our late sages have granted us into the world of Acharis Hayamim: "The nations to prepare!" will then plead, 'Offer us the Torah anew and we shall obey it.' But the Holy One, blessed be He, will say to them, 'You foolish ones, he who took the trouble to prepare on the eve of Shabbos can eat on Shabbos, but he who 1 I has not troubled on the eve of Shabbos, what shall he eat on Shabbos? (It is The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 I 9 now the Sabbath, too late to 'prepare' with mitzva observance.) Neverthe­ less, I have "an easy command known as succah. Go and carry it out' ... Immediately, every one of them will go and make a succah on top of his roof. But Hakadash Baruch Hu will cause the sun to blaze forth ... and everyone of them will kick at his succah and go away" (Avada Zara 3a). The havdala of the future would will be crystalized by the Yam Tav of Succos. True, teshuva for Israel may be inevitable. As a result, it in un­ the avoidable that Israel be victorious. But the price for that future victory in a weapons world without choice will have been paid in the temptation-laden world of are today. The difficult, expensive, pain-filled world of "Fridays" is ample pre­ now ornaments paration and advance payment for the world of complete Shabbas to come. On that grand Shabbas of the future, the once battle-weary weapons of yesteryear will take on an entirely new character: Armaments are muktza on Shabbas-prohibited to handle, for their use is forbidden on the day of rest. But these weapons will have become ornaments to a nation finished with war. The weapons of battle become the laurels of peace and may be worn and admired in the Shabbas of post-war tranquility." ... since Israel emerges from before G-d with their lulav and esrag in hand, all are con­ vinced that Israel has triumphed."

Succos: The Completion of the Mission Succos, the last of the three Festivals and the culmination of the Days of Awe, represents the completion of Israel's Divine mission. As is known, the the Torah relates each of the three Festivals to a time of the agricultural year. festivals Pesach is called the Festival of the Spring, the season of planting; Shavuos and the Festival of Harvest; and Succos, the Festival of the Ingathering. the The Maharal elucidates this relationship between the festivals to the agrarian cycle of the land. There are three points of contact between an agent and his cycle dispatcher: the moment he is appointed in his mission; the time his task is completed; and the return to the principal who has sent him, to inform him that he has performed his function satisfactorily. Israel, too, was created as a Divine agent on Pesach, charged with the task of becoming the Am Hashem-worthy of being the chosen of the L-rd. On Shavuos, with the acceptance of the Torah, Israel became that chosen nation. Succos represents the ultimate return of the agent with his product to his sender-and, indeed, Creator. "I have accomplished my task," the shaliach says on Succos, "and have returned the harvest to the Owner of the field." (See Gevuras Hashem, Chapter 46 and Pachad Yitzchak, Yorn ' HaKippurim, 7.) The noble accoutrements of the lulav and esrog declare an even more I profound affirmation: "Although our task is complete, we still remain the agents of the L-rd. We did our work on 'Erev Shabbas'-the era of prepara­ "We tion-so we may proudly display our weapons-cum-decorations on 'Shab­ ~· have bas.' completed Thus is Succos unique in that it crowns both Shalash Regalim and our Yamim Naraim. Its particular joy extends from the depths of the overflow­ task." ing heart of the baal teshuva to the essence of the world of Acharis f Hayamim, when the lulav and esrag will proclaim eloquently the victory of I Israel. !.T. 10 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980

--"'- Aryeh Kaplan

Technology in Service of Torah

While it is almost inevitable that every advance in derations of "national security or undue hardship" call technology ushers in new problems in its wake, this for such dispensation. Under the new agreement, the may seem to be especially true in the Torah context. Institute of Science and Halacha was assigned the task Undoubtedly, the complexities that arise from new of reviewing each such hetter to determine whether a discoveries, inventions, and manufacturing processes hardship indeed exists, and if so, to find ways in which can at times make Shabbos observance and vigilance in Sabbath violation could be avoided. regard to kashrus, for example, more difficult. With More recently, the spotlight was on Professor Lev, ingenuity and perserverance, however, man can put founder and head of the Institute, when he led a com­ technology to work for him and use its blessings to mission appointed by Jerusalem's Mayor Teddy Kollek solve problems in the very realms where it initially assigned with the task of surveying the northern tier of caused them to appear. This has been the goal of the the city where the disputed Ramot Road brings Sab­ Institute of ScJor.ce and Halacha, located in Jerusalem's bath-desecrating traffic to the very feet of the religious Bayit Vegan sution. Indeed, this Institute-which is a communities nestled on the hillside-Kiryat Sanz and non-profit organization, dedicated to seeking out ways Ezras Torah, among others. It was Lev's task to deter­ to bring modern technological processes into confor­ mine whether the controversial road follows the most mity with halacha-has made the hallmarks of the direct route for a road from Ramot to Jerusalem-proper industrial revolution-invention and technological (the surveying team came up with a far different route refinement-the tools for resolving extremely difficult from the existing one); and how the sights and sounds challenges to living a full life in consonance with the of the present roadway could be sheltered from view Torah's demands. and earshot of the offended communities until a new Front-Page News road would be reopened. (Here, too, the Science and Halacha team came up with an inventive design for an The Institute has been in the news several times as accoustical half-tunnel that would shroud the uphill of late. One of the forty-three points in the Begin coali­ side of the roadway.) Unfortunately, it is not in the tion agreement with Agudath Israel (see JO June, 1977) Institute' s realm to stop the flow of traffic or close roads called for a review of the hundreds of hetterei avoda, on the Sabbath; but within certain parameters, it can which "permit" businesses and factories to operate on reduce problems even when it cannot solve them cate­ Shabbos-in spite of the legal requirement that they be gorically. closed-when the government was satisfied that consi- The illustrations that follow are further examples of Rabbi Kaplan, a frequent contributor to JO, has written a number of how, with the proper approach, as pursued by the Insti­ original works as well as translations of classical Hebrew works into tute of Science and Halacha, technology can be a posi­ English, including The Torah Anthology (from Me'am Lo'ez) and tive factor in a Torah society, rather than a source of 1 problems. Luzatto's Derech Hashem (The Way of G-d). j The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 11

···-; ··~- The Steel Problem feet long-half of them positive, half of them negative. An ark is struck from the positive to the negative elec­ "Steel City" is a non-Sabbath observing steel mill trodes, heating the metal to 2000° F. When a batch is in the northern Israeli city of Acco. It operates an ark melted and refined, the pot is tipped over by a crane, furnace that processes scrap steel and makes it into con­ pouring out the steel into appropriate molds. crete reinforcement rods, a product widely used in Steel is the only material strong enough for such a Israel's booming construction industry. crucible; yet the heat must be intense enough to melt The ark furnace is an immense cauldron (or "pot") the steel scrap in the pot without melting the pot itself. the size of a standard living room, holding 60 tons of This problem is solved by coating the inside of the pot scrap metal. Attached to the huge cover of this "pot" with "refractory material," usually an eight-inch layer are six carbon electrodes, each about 18" wide and four of fire brick, held together with the heat resistant cement. It is a universally accepted practice to constantly keep the heat in the crucible, for if the firebrick is heat­ ed and then cooled, it is exposed to thermal shock, and is likely to crack and deteriorate-possibly damaging the crucible beyond repair. Shutting down a steel plant and starting it up again, therefore, is a process that takes at least several days, so as to cool down and reheat the refractory bricks gradually enough not to damage them. Not surprisingly, when Dr. Menachem Hartman of the Institute sat down with the directors of Steel City to discuss the possibility of closing down for Shabbos, their initial reaction was: "Impossible. There is no way a steel plant could be closed down one day a week!" This did not close the issue. Dr. Hartman calculated R e1nember the organiz~tion. that has been pJ~n­ the cooling rate of the firebricks and concluded that ning for Torah, speaking for Tor~ and takmg there was no need to allow the bricks to cool down over decisive action for Torah for close to six decades ... Shabbos: With the heat retained over the twenty-four when you make your will. . . hour period, there would be no thermal shock when the It is the best way to use your wealth of w1~dom furnace was started again on Saturday night. This could and experience from the past, t? ,devote your fi.nan­ be accomplished if the crucible's cover were kept cial resources to the securing of future generauo:is. closed, and a gas heater were installed and kept burning Only Agudath Israel of America has. been tak1~g inside; the temperature of the pot would not go down care of children in youth programs, pioneering in more than a few hundred degrees, eliminating any sum1ner camps, sponsoring contests and study pro­ danger that the firebricks would crack. With this rela­ grams .. , tively minor adjustment, the plant could be closed for Only Agudath Israel of America has been pub­ Shabbos. lishing The Jewish Observer, Dos Yiddishe Vort and When the proposal was taken to the plant's direc­ position papers ... tors, they were skeptical: Yes, it looked fine on paper, Only Agudath Israel has been running COPE but would it really work? They simply could not take IOr our community's vocational needs! Project risks with expensive machinery, for if the calculations RISE for Russian immigrants, JEP to reach out to turned out wrong, the damage would be irreparable, kids who are far fl-om Torah . . . . They told the Institute that they would only consider Only Agudath Israel of America. sp~aks for you using such a method if another plant had been success­ with dignity and force in the halls of legislature and ful with it. I before government agencies .. : , . Shouldn't Agudath Israel of America continue Thus, the scientific resolution of the problem was merely the first step. Letters were sent to every steel to do this fOr you-after you no longer can? Our legal advisors can guide you regarding cor­ plant in the world: "Did you ever shut down for one rect fOrms and procedures, tax advantages, and day a week? How did you do it?" annuities (guaranteed income contracts). Initially, the responses reflected the conventional wisdom that it was impossible or very difficult to shut I Write us today. down an ark furnace, until a letter from Kobe (Japan) Agudath Israel of America Steel reported its own successful experience: In t~e 5 Beekman St. New York City, 10038 1960's Japan was engaged in a program to cool down its overheated economy, and cut production. By govern­ --.. -- ment order, Kobe Steel was to close one day a week.

12 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 The letter outlined the procedure it had used-tightly Of course, not every problem is that simple. There closing the furnace to prevent heat loss, and installing a are processes, such as the manufacture of nylon yarn, gas heater, exactly as had been proposed by the Insti­ that are not as easy to shut down. In such cases, the tute. In fact, after a time, Kobe's engineers concluded Institute is working with computers and microproces­ that even the gas heater was unnecessary. The fire­ sors that may be able to run such plants on Shabbos bricks retain heat so well that in a twenty-four hour with only a minimal number of supervisory person­ period, they only cool down a few hundred degrees and nel-non-Jews, at that. that was not enough to damage them. It was later learned that United States Steel also occasionally closes down its electric furnaces for The Hospital twenty-four hour periods, merely keeping the furnace Much of the Institutes research is focused on over­ tightly closed. coming the difficulties of running a hospital, without It would have been nice to conclude this chapter unnecessarily violating Shabbos restrictions-concen­ with a report that Steel City is now closed for Shabbos trating on Jerusalem's Shaarei Tzedek. This involves a and that its one hundred employees no longer violate broad range of problems ranging from keeping the sacred day. Not yet. But at least it is now known records to warming food on Shabbos. that this is a possibility. The importance of meticulous record-keeping in a hospital needs no elaboration. Yet not every patient nor The Nylon Spin-Off every bit of information justifies violating the Sabbath by writing. There are many makeshift methods of The basic premise of the Institute of Science and Halacha, then, is that there is no industrial process that is incompatible with Shabbos observance. Its successes A Luxurious Hotel in the are such that the spinoff from its research is frequently Heart of Boro Park beneficial to the industry itself. One example of this is the nylon crimping factory, [\"l'f\' studio or ..;;uite where threads of nylon are put through a crimping pro­ has J kitcht.'n and lots cess, and then heat-treated to keep the twist in the yarn. of n-H1dern cnnvt>nit.'nces. This is important to give nylon-by nature a smooth, Enjov a n1odPratL·lv­ stiff, plastic-like material-the characteristics of bounce priccd brpakfast in and body, so that it can be used for clothing and the the hl1tl'! Breakfast like. Ronni. \Vt.>' rt' near thP Again, the assumption has always been that such a sub\,·ay. shnps, restau­ plant had to run continuously twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. When the plant is shut down, many rants and synagogues and onh· thirty minutt>s of the delicate filaments snap, and re-threading the machinery is a tedious task that can take several days. fron1 ~vL~nhatt,111 So great is the loss that results from shutdown, that many plants have their own auxiliary electric power plant to maintain the machinery without interruption in .96Jl/,Yfir.ie ,Yfite/l the event of a power failure. 1206-48th Street Closing down such a plant for Shabbos seemed out Grooklyn New Yori< 11219 of the question-until the Institute began studying the (212) 871-8100 process. It was discovered that problems arose because the plant was normally shut down by simply turning Call or U'ritr for frrr hr(lchi

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 13 I l recording data without actually writing, but many of because of his illness can be demoralizing. them are clumsy or cumbersome. One ingenious Discussing the problem with some of the most approach developed by the Institute is based on the prominent gedolim of our time, the Institute was told halachic definition of writing as involving the making that an electrical device could be used by patients on of a permanent mark. Research and invention came up Shabbos, as long as two restrictions were kept in mind: with a slowly fading ink that is legible during the first First, the device could not involve heating a filament day it is used, but totally disappears after three days­ white hot-as in a lamp bulb-since that is considered offering a permissible means of temporary record keep­ equivalent to making fire on the Sabbath. Second, the ing on Shabbos for a patient who is ill, but not danger­ switch activating the device could not turn on the elec· ously so. trical current directly-only indirectly. One of the most interesting problems involved What could best be used instead of a light? The designing a device to call nurses on Shabbos. In the Institute devised a small, highly-reflective tab that is past, the patients used a manual bell on Shabbos to sig­ raised by an electromagnet. When in an upright posi­ nal their need for assistance or attention. Although tion, the tab reflects the flourescent lights in the corri­ there is a rabbinical prohibition against ringing a bell on dors. Since there is no heating of a filament, as there is Shabbos, this does not apply to a person sick enough to in the standard lightbulb, the first guideline was ful­ be hospitalized. But a bell presents many problems of filled. Furthermore, after tending the patient, the nurse its own: if the patient's room is any distance from the simply flips the tab back down rather than extinguish­ nurse, she may not hear it. Or, the patient may not be ing a light, as is standard in conventional signal devices. strong enough to ring it loud enough to be heard. And Dealing with the second requirement proved more when it is rung loudly, it may disturb other patients. difficult. It called for the invention of an entirely new Moreover, the mere fact that the patient has been grant­ device-the gramma switch. This is a switch that turns ed permission to perform a usually prohibited task on an electrical current indirectly-by gramma (Hebrew for causation). The gramma switch works with a small light and a photo-electric cell. The light goes on for a thousandth Sunday" of a second, several times a minute, and if the light reaches the cell, it turns the switch on. Ordinarily, Moy31;198~; however, a plate of metal blocks the light from the cell, preventing the switch from being activated. Reserve the dote However, when a patient pushes the button, he is pushing aside the metal plate. Hence, the light will then for Agudath Israel ofAffiel'icars be able to shine on the cell, thus turning on the switch. 59th annual dinher<)t The patient is not turning on the switch, but merely New York'.s Woldorf~AStoria H0tef removing an object preventing the switch from being turned on automatically. As a further precaution, the switch is designed not to react to the first light pulse, but the third one. Thus, the switch is not activated until several flashes after the patient pushes the button, further separating his action from the indirect result it permits to take place. Of course, under normal circumstances one would be forbidden to use such a switch on Shabbos. But in the case of a person sick enough to be hospitalized, halachic authorities have permitted its use. * * * Exclusive Caterers at the Elegant The individual cases are very fascinating, and much I COTILLION TERRACE progress in Shemiras Shabbos has been made due to the efforts of the Institute. But more important, the time 7307 18th Avenue, will soon be with us when all Jews will be Shomer Brooklyn, N.Y. Shabbos and it will be a universally recognized neces­ Open Chupa-Glatt Kosher sity to run a Shomer Shabbos modern industrial state. Accommodations Up To 700 Persons Yes, even after the advent of Moshiach plants will I We also cater for all your sirnchas manufacture steel and nylon (see Rambam and the Bris. K1ddushes. Sheva Brochas etc Sh'lah). One can well imagine that these plants will use at home. synagogue or the hali of your choice many of the processes developed by the Institute of CALL MR. GREENFIELD 853-0700 Science and Halacha. ~T.

14 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 Chaim Shapiro

The Kamenitzer Partnership Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz ( 40 years since his passing) and Rabbi Reuvain Grozovsky i1:l1:J~ Cl11:;)T

" ... and the Lord said: Behold he had hidden himself Reb Boruch Ber is known to the Torah world as a among the vessels" (Shmuel I: 10-22). "For he was flee­ great analytical teacher in his own right. Yet, as a loyal ing greatness and power" (Rashi). disciple of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk-perhaps his talmid muvhak(single, outstanding disciple)-his It is impossible to appreciate the great rash yeshiva self-effacement toward his rebbe seemed to approach of Kamenitz Rabbi Boruch Ber Leibowitz without tak­ total negation. His every s'vora (rationale) or explana­ ing into account his son-in-law, Rabbi Reuvain Gro­ tion had to reflect his mentor's thinking. zovsky, for their two lives were inseparably woven In addition, Reb Boruch Ber's love for Torah was so together in divine service. 1 overwhelming that it seemed to determine every

Chaim Shapiro, a native of Tiktin, Poland, now lives in Baltimore. His 1) See also: Chain1 Shapiro's "My Years With Reb Boroich Ber" biographical sketches of Torah leaders are a source of delight and (10, Dec. '70), and Nissan Wolpin's "Reb Reuvain Grozovsky~ I inspiration to JO readers. Twenty Years Since His Passing" (JO May '78).

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 15 1 thought, word, and gesture-leaving nothing of the fully challenge any one of them-except Reb Boruch original Reb Boruch Ber, it seemed. This deep involve­ Ber." ment began in his earliest years. Reb Boruch Ber disciplined himself to distrust his When Reb Baruch Ber was but four years old, own intellectual judgment. He constantly asked him­ his mother noticed that he was crying during his self: "Where do we find a precedent for this in sacred tefilla. She pointed it out to her husband, Rabbi literature? How would Reb Chaim have approached Shmuel Lebowitz (Rabbi of Slutzk at the time), this problem?" As a result, he took nothing for granted. asking him what was wrong. He replied: "/ am As Rabbi Issur Zalmen Meltzer said many years later: certain that he's crying because he has difficulty "Reb Boruch Ber taught us that there is no such thing in understanding Torah as much as he'd like to." as an easy s'vora." Reb Shmuel took his ten year old Baruch Ber to a specialist for an examination because the boy Not Worldly, Not Na'ive ... was suffering crippling tension headaches. "He While Reb Boruch Ber was unusually astute, he has only one cure," the doctor said. "He needs struck many people as being almost naive, for he was hours and hours of unstructured free time in the quite unaware of many communal goings-on, so com­ fresh air. Turn him loose." Baruch Ber listened in plete was his involvement in study, and later, in teach­ disbelief. The Rabbi thanked the doctor, and took ing. For instance, when asked his opinion of the his son by the hand. "Let's hurry," he said, Agudath Israel movement, he replied, "I have no "You're already an hour late for your Gemora knowledge of communal affairs, but my rebbe (Reb class." Chaim) said that Moreinu Yaakov Rosensheim (the When only sixteen, he was accepted in the chairma~ of Agudath Israel) is working for the sake of world famous yeshiva of Volozhin, under the Heaven. tutelage of Reb Chaim Soloveitchik. Although his As rav of Halusk in 1903 and later, after World War reputation as a genius preceeded him, hi.s steady I, in Karmentzug, where he succeeded his father-in-law flow of commentary and his chiddushim Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Zimmerman as rav, he car­ (original commentary) only inspired ridicule. ried all aspects of the community on his shoulders. But When he complained to Reb Chaim about this, when serving as rash yeshiva in Kovno, until 1915, and the rebbe said tersely, "Slutzker, * I'm afraid later in Kamenitz, he only kn•w his seforim and his they're right." talmidim. He then concentrated on absorbing his rebbe's A prestigious rav once took him to task for not analytical approach to Talmud study, quashing all checking into the status of the local mikva in impulses to soar off on creative interpretations Kamenitz, while he was rosh yeshiva there. "/ that had no solid basis in the text. Again he began depend on the local rav,''. he replied. to produce chiddushim, but of a different style . .. "But shouldn't your iimud (study) come to Again the boys ridiculed him, and again the lema' ase (practical application)?" disciple sought guidance from his rebbe: "Don't "Fdr lema' ase I'm satisfied with one outstand­ pay attention to them, Slutzker," he said. "You're ing talmid chacham over whom I've had an doing fine." influence." Reb Chaim's endorsement found much stronger "Such as , . , ?" expression as the years went on. He once commented, "Such as Reb Aharon Kotler!" "None of my disciples are foolproof. You can success- He once remarked, "What can compare to my situation?" I wake up in the morning, and it's as *A reference to Reb Baruch Ber's birthplace-Slutsk, Ofcourse Ha_oJa1n/._. costs tnore... · And no wonder. Haolam is ]livingly manufactured hy SI. 1mt· (J( .Americas greatest cheese makers under the strictest

Under the supervision of K.'hal Adath Jcshurun,

16 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980

I J though I have the Shagas Arye, K'tzos Ha­ yeshiva, to Kamenitz, where they-and the yeshiva­ Choshen, and Rabbi Akiva Eiger (all classical flourished until World War IL commentaries) waiting for me at my bedside! I Since Reb Boruch was constantly "climbing can't wait to wash my hands and arise to my Yaakov's ladder" to heaven, ever higher in his Torah riches!" studies. He required someone with both feet on the Seeing a copy of Rabbi Akiva Eiger's com­ ground to hold the ladder for him, steady, firm and mentary of Mesechte Kidushin for the first time, secure. The Rebbetzin took care of his personal needs, he excitedly pronounced the "Shehechiyanu" and the rest was up to Reb Reuvain. Without Reb blessing (reserved for special, first time experi­ Reuvain there never would have been a yeshiva in ences). Kamenitz, nor would Reh Boruch Ber's writings ever Perhaps his attitude can best be summed up with his have been edited or published (as Birkas Shmuel). Nor, outburst at a rabbinical meeting. A speaker had for that matter, would they have had anything for his intoned: "We are slipping from our hallowed perspec­ family to eat. Yet Reb Reuvain was always "hidden tive that the Jewish Nation cannot survive without among the vessels," behind Reb Boruch Ber. Full of Torah." Said Reb Boruch Ber: "Cannot? And if we humility, he stood in awe before his father-in-law and could, would we want to? What is life without Torah!" rebbi, aware of the Torah giant he served. Reb Reuvain was himself qualified to climb that same ladder. A gaon, a thinker, a baa/ mussar, he had Enter Reb Reuvain become a gadol ha Torah (a Torah sage) in his own right. There was almost a parallel between Reb Boruch Yet, in some ways he was held back by the burdens that Ber's loyalty to Reb Chaim, and that of Reb Reuvain he carried. Indeed, people wondered where he found Grozovsky to Reb Boruch Ber. Reb Reuvain's practical time for all his undertakings: In addition to carrying the nature, however, placed him in yet another relationship financial burden of the Yeshiva in Kamenitz, he never with his rebbe. missed delivering his weekly shiur in the yeshiva. It was Reb Reuvain was the son of the leading dayan (rab­ obvious that he put great effort into preparing the binical judge) of Minsk, Rabbi Shimshon (hence he was shiur, as the grasp, the depth, the sweep of his treat­ known as "Reuvain Minsker"). He had studied in the ment of the subject matter testified. During his later Yeshiva Knessess Yisroel in Slobodka (a suburb of years, Reb Boruch Ber was weak with age and studied Kovna) under the renowned "Levush Mordechai" mostly at home. Twice a week, a delegation of senior (Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein-see "Torah Pio­ students would escort him to the yeshiva to deliver his neers," JO June '7 4) and the giant of the Mussar Move­ shiur. Reb Reuvain, on the other hand, spent several ment, Rabbi Nosson Zvi Finkel, (The Alter of hours a day in the study hall. He was its life-spirit, Slobodka). Many students, including Reuvain Minsker "talking in learning" with the boys, keeping his sharp visited the other yeshiva located in Slobodka, Knesses eyes on everything and everyone. Students would con­ Bais Yitzchok, to hear the shiurim delivered by Reb stantly approach him to explain difficult subjects. For a Boruch Ber ... Eventually (in 1919), Reb Reuvain good dvar Torah he would award a student ten zlotys; became the son-in-law of Reb Boruch Ber-and his life for finishing an entire tractate (and knowing it), he gave companion. He moved with him from the Vilna suburb 100 zlotys-a small fortune in Poland of the 20' s and of Lukishuk, where Reb Boruch Ber had maintained his 30's. Although he was a close disciple of the Alter of E.Z. GRAPHIC CO. OFFICE SUPPLY SERVICE BROOKLYN. NEW YORK • OFFICE SUPPLIES • ACCOUNTING MATERIALS • FILING CABINETS • BUSINESS CARDS • INVITATIONS CALL ELIHU GERSHBAUM t (212) 998-0139 I MEMBER OF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA ~------· ------______,

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 17

I ~ REB CHAIM SOLOVEITCHIK: "You can majority. The Democrats forced the Czar to abdicate, challenge any of my disciples. None of them and for six months, democracy reigned in H.ussia (the only time in its thousand years history)-until Lenin are foolproof-except Reh Baruch Ber." grabbed the fallen scepter and proclaimed the Soviet Union. 2 Then there were Jews who did not theorize, but picked up the "wanderer's staff" in the wake of the pogroms and moved to any country that would let them in. For a while, America held its gates open, starting the mass emigration to the new world. All three trends were devastating to the yeshivas, and most destructive to the spiritual equanimity of the individual ben Torah. Minsk was a center of operation for all parties, legal and otherwise. There Reb Reuvain practiced his own private campaign against all these trends-especially against the Socialists (who later became Communists). As a student in Slobodka, which was then still part of Czarist Russia, he recruited a number of bnei Torah from his hometown, Minsk, to join him in Slobodka where there was less danger of turning "sour." One recruitee was Yankel "Dolinover," whose family had moved into Minsk from Dolinov. He was an unusually bright youngster when Reb Reuvain got hold of him. To this day, Kial Yisroel has been bene­ fitting from that "Yanke!," now known as Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky K"ti"7iV. Another of Reb Reuvain' s charges in Slobodka was the illuy (genius) Arke Sislovitser, whom he had brought to Slobodka at the tender age of fifteen. (When the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein, said his shiur, Arke would stand on the bench-he was too small to see when on the floor-and challenge the Slobodka, he would deliver a shmuess (rnussar lecture) Rosh Yeshiva in middle of the shiur). Years later, but once a year, in Elul, so as not to encroach upon the "Arke'' became better known as Rabbi Aharon Kotler domain of the Mashgiach, Reb Naftali. However, he ""~1. would privately offer individuals his counsel when he When another Yanke! Dolinover (cousin of the first felt they were in need of some mussar. one) arrived in Slobodka, the Alter asked Reb Reuvain to learn with him, for the Alter knew that the teenager had promise of greatness, and trusted Reb Reuvain to A Battle-Ground for "Neshamos" handle the task of guiding him. Today he is known as Reb Reuvain waged a life-long campaign to save Rabbi Yaakov Ruderman M"to''ilV, Rosh Yeshiva of Ner bnei Torah from the trends of the time. Czarist Russia Israel in Baltimore. provided young Reb Reuvain with many a battle­ When the yeshiva in Mir was in danger of falling ground, for at that time the Jewish community was of apart, Reb Ely a Baruch Kamai sent an emergency call to three minds: "There is no hope for the Jews in Russia. the Alter of Slobodka. The Alter immediately dis­ All the future bodes is antisemitism, oppression, and patched ten "Kozak'n" (cossacks) led by Reuvain third class citizenship. Let's leave Russia and build our Minsker. These great lomdim (scholars) and baalei own home in Eretz Yisroel." This was the early flower­ mussar saved the yeshiva (see JO, June '78). ing of Zionism. "Let us topple the Czar's regime, wipe out oppres­ In the Service of Kial Yisroel sion, and build democracy in Russia. We'll destroy Reh Reuvain maintained a keen sensitivity to the anti-semitism by educating the Russian masses." These needs of Kial throughout his life. He was always a man were the Social-Democrats, the Socialists, who later of strength in every sense of the word, never afraid of a split into the Menshevik minority and the Bolshevik l fight. When a local ballgame was planned on Shabbos 2) Dora Kaplan, a university student from a wealthy Moscow in Vilna, he was the first to picket, to demonstrate family shot Lenin for "destroying democracy in Russia." She was . . . to be arrested. When he merely "smelled" that r killed in prison by the Bolsheviks. Lenin lingered on for another six someone planned to open a Tarbus (lit. secular cul­ t month-:; and died of his wounds. ture:) School in Kamenitz, he organized a town meeting, I 18 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 t and asked Reb Boruch Ber to speak: "We had a choice talmidim, however, were cut off from their families in of building the yeshiva in Kosove, Bereza, or Kamenitz. the Soviet Union and received full support, including The Chofetz Chaim advised us: 'Kamenitz has a clothing expenses. Neither Reb Reuvain nor his chil­ chazaka (solid record) of Torah and Yiras Shamayim.' dren wore new clothes until every Russian boy had a When we rode into town, you unharnessed the horses new suit and shoes. and pulled our wagon yourselves. I could not bear it, The day arrived when funds were so low that he but Reuvain told me it's all for kavad ha Tarah. Well, was forced to cut down on the chaluka. The Russian one must suffer for kavad haTarah. And now you are boys were hit the hardest; they were fully dependent on considering to permit a school in town that will teach Reb Reuvain, and they started to grumble. As much as hatred of Torah, G-d forbid!'• Reb Reuvain tried to protect Reb Boruch Ber from any Reb Reuvain was extremely active in Agudath Israel financial worries, he now was forced to tell him about affairs. He often quoted Reb Chaim Brisker: "With­ the situation. The load had become too heavy, and more out the Agudah, the situation would be impossible; than anything else, he could not handle the complaints 'they' would dominate everything, G-d forbid!" He of the bnei Tarah. never missed a convention or a Knessia Gedolah. He did Reb Boruch Ber invited the senior students to his not seek to speak, but preferred to work behind the house and delivered an emotional shmuess saying, scenes; he made certain that all resolutions were written "Reuvain carries the entire yeshiva on his shoulders; properly and lobbied to see them passed. Gedalim, then he prepares and delivers shiurim. And you have including the Chofetz Chaim, Reb Chaim Ozer, and the the chutzpah to complain?" Gerer Rebbe, would listen to his opinion, for they knew Yudl Grodner (Gershuni) tried to defend the tal­ that his method of thinking mirrored that of Reb midim, but to no avail. Boruch Ber. At first, Reb Boruch Ber did not budge. Finally, Mordechai Astriner, a senior Russian talmid, struck the Partnership in Poverty right chord. He said: "Rebbe, with the chaluka that Reb Reuvain gives us, we can only learn Gemora and Rashi. Reb Reuvain lived a life of property, even by Euro­ For Tasfas we need more strength." pean standards. Four families lived in one two-story Reb Boruch Ber thought for a moment, then walked house in Kamenitz. Reb Boruch Ber, his son Reb over to the stairs calling, "Reuvain, they are absolutely Yaakov Moshe, and his grandchildren took up the right! For Tasfas one needs more strength!" Then and entire downstairs. Reb Reuvain and his family lived in there the decision was made to appeal to Jews in the attic-like upstairs. When Reb Moshe Bernstein, the America. The two would travel to raise funds.' younger son-in-law, came with his family, Reb Reuvain shared the upstairs with them. So Reb Reuvain Together in America and his four children lived in three small attic rooms (divided by cardboard barriers) and a small kitchen. He As America was celebrated as the "Goldene surely deserved a house of his own, but he was respon­ Medina,'' Reb Boruch Ber expected to raise $100,000 on sible for the yeshiva finances and was keenly aware that these shores. "Pashel (simple)," he said. "All we have to the yeshiva could not afford it. Besides, he wanted to be do is find one hundred brethren that will donate $1000 near his father-in-law/rebbi, available at a moment's each. What if we can't find one hundred donors? So notice. Reb Boruch Ber often stood at the foot of the we'll find 1000 brethren who will donate $100 each, and stairwell calling "Reuvain," and there was Reb we'll still raise $100,000." Reuvain. Rebbetzin Grozovsky, taking cues from her As it turned out, they arrived in 1929, at the start of mother on how to take care of a gad al, kept the children the depression. People had no jobs, and the term "tax­ out of his way so he could concentrate on preparing the deductible" was meaningless. The welcome they got shiur, keeping up correspondence with the gedolim on was impressive enough. New York's mayor Jimmy matters of Klal Yisroel, and receiving visitors. Walker presented them with a key to the city, with The yeshiva had no dormitory and no dining hall. prominent press coverage. Asked the mayor of Reb Students would room and board in private homes (half the town made a living from the yeshiva). Every student would receive a chaluka (stipend), the amount for each 25th Year Jubilee decided by Reb Reuvain, who based his judgment on the ability of the parents to provide support. Russian By popular demand, additional copies of the special Jubilee issue of Dos Yiddishe Vort have 3) When the two passports arrived from the Ministry in Warsaw at the local police station, the local Police Commandant announced been published, vividly depicting the events and that he personally would deliver them to '']asno Wielmozny Pan personalities of the past 25 years. For your copy, Rabin" (Most Honorable Sir Rabbi). When Reb Baruch Ber heard write: Dos Yiddishe Vort/S Beekman St./New that the Police Chief was coming, he put on his kapota {long coat) and York City 10038 hat. "One must show kavod to malchu.s (honor to the government)," '1 he declared.

1I The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 19 l

I l REB ISSUR ZALMEN MELTZER: "Reh two spiritual giants and the land of materialism and Baruch Ber taught us that there is not such secularism. To this, add raising funds during the depression. The results could not be very lucrative. thing as an easy 's'vora."' Several stories serve to typify the entire American mis­ adventure. (These are drawn from conversations with the late Rabbi Tendler.)

Kosher Money in Baltimore The three arrived in Baltimore, only to find that one of the biggest shuls had been placed under a prohibition by the local Vaad Harabbonim. The congregants had moved the ladies down from the balcony onto the men's level of worship. They had erected a mechitza but the local rabbis, under the leadership of Rabbi Abraham Nachman Schwartz 7"~1, (a talmid of Rabbi Eliezer Gordon of Telshe) had felt that this was the beginning of the breaking down of the mechitza in Orthodox shuls. The two visitors would not enter the building, but Rabbi Tendler felt that the need was great and, under the circumstances, a local prohibition need not apply to out-of-towners. He appealed to the Vaad Harabbonim, and Rabbi Schwartz, with the approval of the rest of the rabbonim, agreed to waive the prohibi­ tion for him on the condition that he speak to the people about the importance of a mechitza. Rabbi Tendler kept his part of the bargain, speaking on the subject twice. His appeal there netted $2400 in pledges, a fortune in those days. The shul president, visibly moved, announced that he would advance a personal check for the entire amount, so they could dispatch the money at once to the hungry students. Rabbi Tendler went back to the shul to speak again Boruch Ber: "What can I do for you, Rabbi?" Replied about the mechitza after Mincha. The two roshei the Rosh Yeshiva: "Separate the men and the women at yeshiva, meanwhile, sat down to eat Shalash Seudos. the beaches." It seems this was not what the mayor had The president of the shul drove up in a car and walked in mind .. ,. in, presenting a check of $2400 to Reb Boruch Ber. But then the actual fundraising began. First of all, The two were petrified. They had heard about there was a language barrier; they spoke no English. chillul Shabbos in America, but this was their first per­ Then Reb Reuvain set strict rules: no hechsheirim sonal encounter with it. Reb Boruch Ber said, "Take a (Kashrus "certifications"), which included not eating in good look, Reuvain; chillul Shabbos money. That's the any public place, which might be construed as a hech­ result when one doesn't listen to rabbonim, when one sher. They would not eat any meat, only chicken. Milk circumvents an issur of rabbonim. Fehl" must be Cho/av Yisroel (very hard to find in those The president tore up the check in little pieces, days). No smicha given to anyone. (There were many stalked out, and slammed the door behind him. opportunities to raise large sums of money if one of When Rabbi Tendler returned after Maariv, Reb them would confer smicha on a "rabbi.") Reuvain was waiting at the door. "My shver is fuming. At every occasion that Reb Boruch Ber spoke, he He did not realize that you were going to the prohibited described the poverty and contrasting spiritual riches of shul, and now the president delivered a check on every yeshiva-Radin, Mir, Volozhin ... It was left to Shabbos!" Reb Reuvain to announce later that they represented "But 1 only went because the rabbis permitted me the Kamenitzer Yeshiva. to. The president's conduct was totally out-of-order, Fortunately, they found a native of Kamenitz in but what has that to do with the shul people's contribu­ New York who had lived in America for some time: the tions?" late Rabbi Yitzchok Tendler 7"~T, rabbi of the "My shver is so upset with the chillul Shabbos, he Kamenitzer Shu! in New York and rash yeshiva in will not accept any explanation," warned Reb Reuvain. Yeshiva Rabbi Jacob Joseph, who volunteered to help Nonetheless, Rabbi Tendler entered the room, and them. His task was immense-bridging the gap between said, "Gut voch Rebbe." Before Reb Boruch Ber had a

20 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 chance to say a word, he said, "Rebbe, I'm calling you sighed. Rabbi Tendler asked if his pain was so severe, to to a din Torah!" That was the second shock for the two which he replied, "No, it's just that I forgot my gedolim. Gemora," He never traveled without a sefer. "You came to me, telling me that the bnei Torah in Rabbi Tendler noticed a glass bookcase with a Shas Kamenitz are starving," he continued. "You can't pay in it, but it was locked. Rabbi Tendler tried to force the the baker, or the milkman, and you have no chaluka glass door, and only managed to squeeze out a slim money for dispense. So I volunteered to help. Tell me, sefer-Raziel Hamalach, a work of Kabba/a. Reb Boruch Rebbe, how long would $2400 last? For a month? Six Ber looked into it for a moment and put it down. "It months? Maybe longer? And you destroyed that seems," he said, "that American doctors already know money, and refuse to think of accepting it. So I'm call­ everything in Nigle (the "revealed" Torah), so they ing you to a din Torah. I went to the shul with the study Nistar (the "hidden" Torah). As for me, if I live knowledge and approval of the rabbonim!" as long as Mesushelach, I still won't finish Nigle." Reb Boruch Ber thought for a moment and turned to The physician was deeply impressed with Reb Reb Reuvain. "Reuvain, when one is summoned to a Boruch Ber, and offered him $150 for the yeshiva. din Torah, he must go. You'll be my advocate." Rabbi Tendler suggested $500, and finally settled for They decided to bring their case to Rabbi Schwartz. $300. When the chief rabbi of Baltimore heard who was com­ ing to him for a din Torah, he let it be known that he Precision in Language, From Rebbe to Talmid was going to them immediately. On the way, Rabbi Schwartz picked up a few more rabbis and the din During my own years in Kamenitz, I was exposed to Torah took place at the very same table where the presi­ the importance attached to every single word, and what dent had placed his check. Reb Boruch Ber's defense of precision in expression means. the sanctity of the Shabbos could have found no better In the Torah world, Rishonim (the Medeival Sages) spokesman than his son-in-law, and the needs of the are divided into two groups. One explains his view­ yeshiva no more stirring an advocate than Rabbi point expansively, using long sentences (like the Tendler The decision was issued with speed and clarity: Reb Boruch Ber was right in his protest to the president, but Now for the first time available the check has to be recovered for the sake of the bnei to the general public: Torah in Kamenitz. During the conversation one of the rabbis revealed that he knew of a local "rabbi" who ArtScroll Mesorah Series· plays cards with the very same president, and he would interceed on their behalf. They recovered $2000, but he refused to give $400, which represented his family's kaoo1sh donation. KADDISH is probably our best-known prayer - and surely our least under· Health Problems stood! It began as a thanksgiving for the Reb Boruch Ber could not bear being called "Rabbi study of Torah and became an affir­ mation of faith, of hope, and of con­ Leibowitz"-instead of "Horav" or "Rebbe." When in fidence in the ultimate triumph of Philadelphia in those pre-refrigerator days, Rabbi the ideals for which heaven and Tendler was about to leave their place of lodging for a earth were created. meeting, but first he warned Reb Boruch Ber not to eat Far from a 'prayer for the dead.' the chicken the hostess was preparing to serve them. "It Kaddish is the prayer that tran­ will make you sick, Rebbe." Apparently the iceman had scends death and gives meaning not made his delivery that day, and the chicken had a to life. slight odor. That night Rabbi Tendler heard the old This beautiful. eloquent. inspiring book pre· sents the Kaddish prayer in all its implicat1on. back­ Rosh Yeshiva pacing back and forth, obviously quite ground, and meaning. Its new translation, anthologized sick. He finally went out of his room and asked him, commentary. and profound overview. will illuminate the "Rebbe, I begged you not to eat the chicken. Why did most common prayer in all our liturgy. you?" by Rabbi Nosson Scherman Reb Boruch Ber replied, "You really think it's from editor of the ArtScroll Series the chicken? It's from hearing 'Rabbi Leibowitz, Rabbi 95 95 Leibowitz' all day that I'm sick!" hardcover $5 paperback $3 The difficult kashrus demands on their food intake had an ill effect on the two men, but mostly on Reb Mt:rom£ ~ fii., Boruch Ber, so Rabbi Tendler took him to his doctor for 1969 Coney Island Av./ Brooklyn, N.Y. 11223 an examination. While waiting, the old Rosh Yeshiva (212) 339-1700

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 21 THE ALTER OF SLOBODKA: He sent ten therefore sharp, deliberate, much attention devoted to "Cossacks" to save the Mirrer Yeshiva-with detail, with an evaluation that weighs all sides of an issue. Reb Reuvain as leader of the group. His manner of "learning pshat" carried over into sichos chulin (daily conversations). "What does he mean? Why did he say it that way?" he would ask. Naturally, this had an effect on all the students-in their way of learning and in their daily conversations. There were three sets of chavrusos4 (study partner­ ships) in the yeshiva that studied together all day, plus halacha and mussar seder, as well, rather than switch partners for different sessions. My chavrusa and I ":'e~e contemplating doing the same. I asked Reb Reuvam s advice, citing them as an example. His reply was: •;~ M? ilT "iil:> ;n "These are not like those." My chavrusa, an old hand in Kamenitz, said, "It's not for us, we cannot compare ourselves to them. They, too, are not all equal; for some of them the arrangement is fruitful, for others it isn't."

A Gesture Toward Chassidim Across the street from my stranzye (lodging) was the Kobriner Shteibel. The Chassidic element in the yeshiva would gather there every Friday night .for Kabbolas Shabbos. Because of the variety of Chass1d1c backgrounds among the boys, they would sing every stanza of "Lecho Dodi" with a nigun from a different rebbe-nine stanzas, nine nigunim. Such sweetness! I began to daven there every Friday night. Then I learned that on a coming Shabbos the Kobriner Rebbe was to visit his Chassidim in that shteibel. During my Bara­ novitz days, I, a misnagid from generations, would visit the Koydenover Rebbe and the Slonimer Rebbe (ou.t of curiosity, I suppose). Now I decided to see the Kobrmer "Ran"). The others use short sentences, (like Rashi or Rebbe, as well. the Ramban). In both cases, however, every word was When I returned to the yeshiva after the Kobriner measured. It was part of Reb Chaim's derech (methodo­ tisch Reb Reuvain spotted me: "You, a chassid?" He logy) to weigh and measure every word, every sentence peer~d at me over his glasses, gave a strange twist with of the Rishonim, taking into account their mode of his hand, and walked away. expression. Reb Chaim often said that the Rambam is My chavrusa observed the exchange from a dis­ not only a poseik (a codifier), but a parshan (an tance. "What was it all about?" he wanted to know. explainer) as well. Through his decisions, we can tell "What was what about?" I asked, astonished. how he interprets a particular verse of passage. If his He explained, "Whatever he told you was an entire interpretation of the verse were different, the Rambam shmuess-the look above the glasses was anger, and the would have never come to his conclusion. twist of the hand, a rebuke." He had analyzed every This approach was totally absorbed by Reb Chaim's nuance. disciple, Reb Boruch Ber, who in turn imbued his Actually, Reb Reuvain was never against chassidim, disciple ahd son-in-law Reb Reuvain with it. Thus Reb or he would not have accepted them in the yeshiva. On Reuvain labored many days on Reb Boruch Ber's writ­ the contrary, he was very close to those chassidic rebbes ings, editing them to express the precise meaning who were gedolei Torah, when dealing m the affa1rs of intended, making every word count-to Reb Baruch Agudath Israel. He merely found fault that a misnagid, Ber's satisfaction. One might say that Reb Reuvain had three teachers: 4) They were Boruch Lutzker ?":ii (Sorotzkin) Rosh Yeshiva of Reb Moshe Mordechai Epstein of Slobodka, under Telshe, and Ely Krinker (Mishkovski) presently Rosh Yeshiva, Kfar whom he studied during his formative years; Reb Chassidim; Hersh! Serniker (Milner) now in Forest Hills, New York, Baruch Ber, who had the greatest influence on him; and and Kalmen Bialystoker (Lichtenstein); Shmuel Lomzer (Kavior)-the Reb Akiva Eiger, whose works Reb Reuvain would amo1:d hachessed (pillar of kindess) of Kamenitz-presently in study day and night. Reb Reuvain's shiurim were Washington, D.C., and Yisroel Zembrover (Regensberg) Chicago.

22 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 a son of a baal mussar who had been his former chav­ his old age he wanted to be near his father's burial rusa, should at all be attracted to Chassidus . ... place, but it would have been out of character for him to The Slonimer Rebbe would always call on Reb be so selfish.) ... A delegation of baalei battim came to Boruch Ber when he was in Kamenitz (his group put him crying, "Rebbi, are you forsaking us? Will you great stress on Torah study). Reb Boruch Ber and Reb leave us to the Bolsheviks?" He cried with them and Reuvain would then recip_rpcate with a visit to the decided not to leave. Then a special messenger arrived Rebbe. On one of his visits the Rebbe insisted that Reb from Vilna with an order from Reb Chaim Ozer Boruch Ber and Reb Reuvain are also Chassidim. Grodzenski that the entire yeshiva should come to "What actually is a Chassid?" asked the Slonimer, "but Vilna at once, even if it meant traveling on Shabbos. a Yid that has a rebbe. The Rosh Yeshiva has a rebbe­ One by one, the students slipped out of town, Reb Chaim Brisker-and Reb Reuvain has the Rosh unnoticed by the local Communist regime. Some went Yeshiva for a rebbe." to Brisk, some on foot to Zabinke, the nearest train station (25 klm. from Kamenitz)-all the way to Vilna. But the Russians kept a watchful eye on the house A Young Shadchan's Aid where Reb Boruch Ber and Reb Reuvain lived. They The short precise sentence vanished when Reb knew of their value to Kial Yisroel and to American Reuvain was doing chessed. Once, as I was leaving the Jews, so they waited for instructions from Moscow on yeshiva after davening, he questioned me about my how to deal with them. One dark night, friends placed home town Lomza, and then about the yeshiva in the old Rosh Yeshiva and his family on a wagon and Lomza. He went on to the various roshei yeshiva. I could not figure out what he was after. He finally came to the point, asking about the chil­ dren of the rash yeshiva, in particular about one daughter. A shidduch? But for whom? His own chil­ dren were too young. Before parting, he asked me to keep our conversa­ tion confidential. People thought he was talking to me in Torah or mussar, and I could not even reveal the secret to my own chavrusa, but at least I learned how detailed an investigation he conducted for the sake of his talmidim. Its a last Days of Kamenitz mitzvah In September 1939, Poland fell in just a matter of days. The German army entered Kamenitz Erev Rosh to give Hashana. Unlike other towns, where they murdered , Jews, in Kamenitz the Nazis behaved civilly. People attributed it to to the zechusim of the Rosh Yeshiva and maaser the yeshiva. The town was totally cut off from the out­ side world. Radio Warsaw was silent, no newspapers, a tenth of your earnings, to charity no news. Then the Germans announced their retreat, to We've kept thls wonderful, heartwarming custom for hand over the territory to the Russians 'in accordance centuries, all through Jewish history. lt started actually with the Stalin-Hitler pact. with Yaakov Avinu {Jacob the Patriarch) when he said, Reb Reuvain was in despair, for he knew the Rus­ "and of all You give me, I will give You a tenth" (Bere­ sians too well; the Bolsheviks would never tolerate a shith 28:22). And ifs always helped the Jewish people Torah institution. This was the end of the yeshiva. "take care of its own." Besides, the Bolsheviks had a personal account with Now you can read all about it in Maaser Kesafim. I him from his younger days in Minsk, during the birth trom the British Association of Orthodox Jewish Sci­ of the Communist regime. He had been an outspoken entists, the result of a careful study of the Shu!chan opponent of the Yevsekes (Jewish Communists), fight­ Aruch and the responsa literature (she'eloth uteshu~ ing them tooth and nail. And he knew that the Bol­ voth), plus consultations with great Torah authorities of sheviks had exhaustive records on everyone. Where j our day. Dealing with important questions of our time. could the yeshiva be moved? Maaser Kesafim brings the subject completely up to Reb Baruch Ber insisted on moving the yeshiva to date. Done by a top research team under the editor­ Vilna, but this did not seem to make any sense: the ship of Prof. Cyril Domb, President of the British AOJS, same Bolsheviks who occupied Kamenitz were occupy­ co-editor of Challenge: Torah views on Science and its ing Vilna. (Some thought that he chose Vilna because in problems. Hardcover I 192 pages I $5.95

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 23 1 I sneaked them out to Brisk and then placed them on the train to Vilna. Shortly afterwards, Moscow declared MENDEL BEER that they were handing over the ancient capital of Vilna to the free Republic of Lithuania as the price of the treaty permitting Soviet bases on the Lithuanian terri­ is pleased to announce tory. People remembered Reb Baruch Ber"s wish to the opening of his move to Vilna-how puzzling it was then and how clear it was now. new offices In Vilna, Reb Boruch Ber fell ill. His family and students were gathered around his bed, but Reb at Reuvain asked everyone to leave the room. After a 4921 12th Avenue, while he came out. and asked Reb Yaakov Bobrovski and another disciple to go inside to be present at the last Brooklyn, N.Y 11219 moments. Reb Reuvain himself walked outside and burst into uncontrollable weeping. The man who never 212-435-2500 revealed his emotions was crying like a baby .... In his eulogy, Reb Reuvain cried out, "Who will answer our questions? Who will clarify our doubts?" Quoting the Prophet Elisha's words about Eliyahu, "Avi, Avi, rechev Yisroel." The cemetery in Vilna is overcrowded with graves full of the remains of tzad­ dikim. Miraculously, they found a little space next to his fathers grave, and there Reb Boruch Ber was buried. On His Own For the first time Reb Reuvain was on his own, no more hiding "behind the vessels." By the order of the Lithuanian authorities, he moved the yeshiva to Rasein NOW in anew (Raseinai) in Lithuania proper. He dispatched his brother-in-law, Reb Moshe Bernstein to Eretz Yisroel5 special edition perhaps in hope of finding a way to move the yeshiva there. He himself went to America in hope of saving the hardbound yeshiva there. to last In the meantime, the Russians tightened their grip on the little country. When Reb Reuvain applied for an compact exit visa, the Russians confronted him with a personal to save you dossier, containing a detailed description of his activi­ ties from his early days in Minsk, through his doings in Poland, to the very last day in Rasien. He was resigned THE to being arrested and shot, yet by some miracle they let The first and perhaps most famous TORAH him leave the country. sefer of the Torah Classics Library CLASSICS Arriving in America, he immediately began to stir has now been issued in hardcover LIBRARY up the Jewish communities on behalf of the Vaad binding, for long life on your book- ~ Hatzala. His family was accustomed to poverty, but shelf, but in compact size, to give you ~

I i Baila Susholz HAKAFOS

The world turns on its axis, and moves around a cycle:

Each man in the circle, A world in microcosm, turns around his axis,

This man faces night, Pain surrounds him, blinds him, but he dances in the circle of Hope. That man faces day, Joy spreads her rays about him, and he dances in the circle of Thanksgiving;

Each man a spoke Held by the Torah center Wheeled into the same destiny.

This man, that man, All turning withing their own pains and joys,

All dance in the sphere of Faith, and move towards The end cycle of Redemption!

EZRAT AVOT Endorsed by Rishon LeZion: n, :i lit n, T37 Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef We're the people who remember folks others have forgotten .... Even time seems to have passed them by in the crumbling Nahalat Zvi quarter of Jerusalem- a section even over looked by the municipal services. We look after the very old, the very young- anyone who can't look after himself, providing: • Food supplies for the hungry • Recreational programs for kids • Home improvements-bringing plumbing, fresh paint, fixed roofs to primitive hovels • Clothing for the cold • Free loans for the indigent • Volunteer workers of professional status; 95¢ of every dollar directly to the needy I Join us in remembering the Send in your gene?rous contribution to: I almost forgotten Ezrat Avot Foundation POB 5603 Geula. Jerusalem Israel The Jewish Observer/ October, 1980 25 1 I

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26 The Jewish Observer/ October, 1980

i l Letters to the f~ditor Traditional Premium Quality Kosher for Over 3 because no amount of money canl) ''Scholarship'' is Not ''Charity'; I know that Dr. Fryshman did Generations To the Editor: not address his article to these chil­ I take exception to Dr. F rysh­ dren and that he even provided a man' s article "When Charity Begins solution to the problem of truly at Home" (April '80), wherein he needy children. However, I think labels tuition reductions as charity. Dr. Fryshman should have quivered "Scholarship," he maintains, "is for before daring to be the spokesman performance. . . . Charity is being for a move or even an attitude for used to subsidize vacations, etc." hard-pressed yeshivos to adopt that My paperback edition of Webster's could result in even one child going dictionary defines "scholarship" as to public school instead of having to Accepted and Preferred follows: "a foundation grant for the beg excessively for a scholarship worldwide without maintenance of a pupil or student" with a hardened administrator who reservation (I'. 473). It is not a euphemism for has come to see the light through The Most Trusted charity. this eye-opening article (or, for that Name in Kosher A child need not come from a matter, an embarrassed parent who Poultry and Foods poor family to be eligible for tuition took the article to heart). No, a child assistance. People with a number of need not be burdened with the children can have an extremely dif­ worry and responsibility of repay­ ficult time meeting tuition expenses, ing thousands of dollars to yeshivos EV 7-1750 and many parents who bargain over and Bais Yaakovs. Dr. Fryshman's t;~""':t .. M~ prices do not enjoy it one bit. Many rash thesis, if carried out, would of them are willing to substitute cause an unprecedented amount of it:w~i"O,~l'.l ":::,•t:·~~- .. ~~i,: their time for money they do not bitul Torah, a cessation of beis mid­ have, and organize bingos, bazaars, rash and/or kollel study, and un­ and other fund-raising functions necessary delays in the primary Pincus Mandel Ouer 50 Years of for the institutions that are giving purpose of bnei Torah-that of Chesed Shel Emes their children a desperately needed beginning to build their very own break. bayis ne'emon! Kavod Haniftar- A CAREER ~- not a money-making Moreover, as JEP and similar It is not fair to consider Torah in a schemer. institutions can testify, there are trade-off relationship with luxuries Over 25 Years Experience in numerous children from irreligious like expensive cameras, restaurant KVURA IN ERETZ Y!SRAEL homes or semi-religious homes meals, and new suits. Torah is a whose parents lack the commitment necessity for the community, not a PINCHAS MANDEL to Yiddishkeit and the interest in a private luxury. If it is an expensive Agent for Torah education to spend money on necessity, it must be subsidized and Har Hazaisim, Sanhedria and Har Hamnuchot in Jerusalem, and all a commodity they can get for free, supported by the community with­ Responsible, Community-Owned even when they do not lack the out begrudging those who benefit Cemeteries in Israel. financial means. Should such chil­ from these subsidies-much as the dren be rejected because this money government sees fit to subsidize PINCUS MANDEL could otherwise have been used "to rent, food and other basic necessi­ 1569 47th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. build yeshivas in SouthAmerica"? ties for its citizens, no matter how 11219 Day/Nite Phone: (212) 855-5121 What about charity beginning at irresponsibly they may spend their home? (As for the rebbes' starvation limited discretionary funds. Unfor­ All Bills Rendered on Actual "Costs­ Plus" Basis wages, that is truly a valid point. tunately, there are always people However, "Hashem yeshaleim who take improper advantage of Honesty-Jntegrity-··Responsibility Agudo member-ove~ SO years secharam-G-d pays their reward," financial benefits, but that does not l

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 27 1

I jJ change the fact. Having said this, we should add that parents who have the where­ Certified Mohel withal to pay for their children's justify the cessation of benefits in a education should be forced to do so, Rabbi Yisroel P. Gornish dignified way to those that need it, even if it means foregoing the other with no strings attached. necessities of life (vacation trips, "Hizoharo b'bnei aniyim sh'mei­ new cars, stylish furniture, lavish Tel. evenings: 376-3755 hem taitzai Torah-Take heed with weddings ... ). 1473 East 14th Street children of the poor, for Torah will The fact that a munificent Brooklyn, NY 11230 emanate from them." They were government allows people to "take never obligated to "pay their way." advantage of financial benefits" This is not the way the Torah world does not mean that we should look will be restored to its rightful dig­ with equanimity as people unfairly HOW TO REFUTE nity. Lehavdil, many literary geni­ take advantage of a severly limited CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES uses and scientists that contributed charity dollar. to civilization were never required Nor will this mean that children to "pay their way," either. The con­ will be "sent to public school"; Get .the new book that has every­ cept of" scholarship" was not intro­ Shomer Shabbos parents do not thing you need to know. duced by luxury-hungry frum send their children to public Write: Hamoroh Press, people, as Dr. Fryshman's, article schools-and yeshivas serving chil­ P.O. Box 48862-C might have us think. dren from irreligious homes often Los Angeles, Ca. 90048 I know that Dr. Fryshman did do much more than granting a for more details. not spell out all the things that I am "scholarship" to keep a child from arguing about, but it certainly was going to public school. implicit in his article. May he con­ None of this stigmatizes the tinue to utilize his gifted pen to pro­ poor-nor it is intended to. Most of mote legislation for federal aid to us were poor, some of us still are Dear Ben Torah, yeshivas and to parents who have poor, and if the economy holds true, There exists in the Kolel in to pay for education in a country all of us soon will be poor. Those which I learn two sincere where it is free-paid for by their who cannot pay their way surely yungerleit who want to taxes. recognize that their children's Torah dedicate their lives to Torah (Mrs.) RocHEL Rorn education carries more weight to and Hachzakas haTorah. Miami Beach, Fla. them as responsible parents and to They both have large the community as a whole than does families b'/i ein horah, and Reply to Mrs. Roth: the indignity of benefitting from are moser nefesh to stay in charity funds. But, at the same time, learning despite the fact that Tuition from Contributions the facts must be stated: children they do not receive any is ''Charity'' from poor families often end up financial help from the Kole I rich, and having benefitted from an or their families. When parents do not pay in full education paid for by someone else, By giving your ma'aser to the expense of educating their chil­ they should recognize that they support these two families dren, the funds must come from have a debt to repay. you will be fulfilling the ul­ somewhere. These monies are gen­ Nobody is even remotely sug­ timate tach/is of giving erally collected from the public and gesting that children from poor ma'aser. those who contribute them are giv­ families who themselves are poor be Please send your ma'aser ing charity. No euphemism-be it saddled with paralyzing debts; we to: "grant," or "tuition reduction," or are suggesting that those in a posi­ The Jewish Observer "subsidy," or "tuition assistance," tion to do so-either now or later­ Box 610 or "desperately needed break" -can pay for their education. Mrs. Roth 5 Beekman Street/NYC Omission quite correctly proposes one alter­ I 10038 native I did not mention: many I Sincerely, The poem "One Day at the people substitute their own time Another Member of the Kosel," which appeared on Page 11 and service for money they do not Kole/ of the June Jewish Observer, was have. Another approach we can use written by Bracha Getz, who is a "forgiveness" clause for people P.S. This ad is being paid for attends the women's division of who enter chinuch or otherwise by our ma'aser. Yeshiva Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. repay their debts through service. In a word, we are not preaching

28 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 life-long debt, but rather a personal are world renowned. An expert on and communal sense of responsibi­ Mention of Renowned Teacher "know how to respond to an api­ lity for the charity dollar. korus,'' he is well versed in the To the Editor: Which brings us to the gratui­ panorama of Jewish history. He also I was so pleased that you dedicat­ has a great command of the English tous "hardened administrators" ed an entire issue to the Baal comment. It is my thesis that when Teshuva movement. You highlight­ language and communicates with yeshiva administrators carefully ed this most vital topic and analyzed the American Jew, too. Shouldn't ascertain whether a family is en­ thoroughly various aspects of the Rabbi Miller at least be mentioned titled to support from the charity issue. The epilogue, appealing to in JO? dollar, they are acting in a kindly ZALMAN DACHS each of us to do our share, was manner-to the family of the Rebbe Brooklyn, N. Y. moving. which might otherwise not receive a It stirred me to think, also, that living wage. "Hashem yeshalem some mention should have been The "flame" of Teshuva secharam" is not a very useful made concerning Rabbi Avigdor answer to Rebbeim struggling to Miller, a man who has made baalei To the Editor: remain in chinuch even while their teshuva of baalei battim and assi­ We at The Flame, the nation's own families cannot buy bare neces­ milated Jews alike. Rabbi Miller has largest Jewish college students sities. 'The hardened administra­ just released his fifth major work, tor" is being more than kind; he is organization, commend you for Awake My Glory, in which he your recent issue on the Baal acting in a responsible manner expresses strong arguments against toward the public which entrusted Teshuva movement. It is disturbing, evolution, assimilation, etc. him with its tzedakah dollars. however, that The Jewish Observer As you must know, his shul, Bais failed to mention The Flame, which Torah, as Mrs. Roth correctly Yisroel, is a Torah fortress. He puts it, is a community necessity, has brought authentic Judaism into teaches more Gemora and other and not a private luxury. Perhaps if the lives of thousands of alienated shiurim than almost anyone in the we had a kehillah structure we young Jews in the past five years. world. His Thursday night lectures could tax everyone to support We have chapters at every major Torah according to their means, and provide a free education to every Trust your next Ca"tered Affair to the finest Jewish child, rich or poor. This ideal does not exist, and we have no alter­ (!J)G latt Kosher native but to insist that those who receive a Torah education recognize Caterer in the Metropolitan Area their obligation to help pay for it, arkside later if not sooner. Serving you at Paying s'char limud must once aterers these again have the priority in Jewish life locations it once had, and if this exchange FtllEST PARK results in nothing more than a I ewish Cer.ter ),/{'/. 4',, ,,,,, _I;,"°?'"?"" ' 5 East 62 St. N.Y .C. further pin-prick to the conscience 90-45 Myrtle Ave.,Queens of families not paying their fair sh.re, Mrs. Roth's letter will have ~ti'""" I ewish Center served a noble purpose. ( I\''-\ I I< <11< '" Northern (DR.) BERNARD FRYSHMAN R0ckaway Beach Blvd.& l ut111\1\ Nassau County 135 St. Belle Harbor,N .Y. ( lt1li Agudist Benevol~nt Soc~ Gmillas Chesed , or \ dilt.ro111'f«i '(;Yflu!Wf' '::-)/,o/i111m CATERERS Lapidus Bros. : 111 North Jefferson Rd. 2380 Hylan Blvd. Gemila'lh Chesed Whippany, New Jersey Assn. of the Crown Hts. Staten lsland,N.Y. Agudath Israel Inc. ThP ~"Mllon HPiqht~ for applications call in nearby Hasbrouck Heights Rabbi Joshua Silbermintz ~ CATERERS New I ersey at the crossroads at 791-1800 or write 1060 Ocean Parkway Brooklyn c/ o Agudath Israel of Interstate 80 & Route 17 5 Beekman St., ONE CONVENIENT TELEPHONE (""l"")849•88l7 1 New York, N.Y. 10038 NUMBER FOR ALL LOCATIONS ~ ~ '------·--- ·- The Jewish Observer/ October, 1980 29 1 I. 1 ~ zations are hesitant to deal with, it is stand their emotional and intellec­ no exaggeration to say that The tual needs. The Flame, a completely Flame is doing more to fight assimi­ student-run organization opt>rating lation and intermarriage on campus on a miniscule budget understands New York City college and at 25 than any other group today. this and will continue to reach out other campuses from Boston to The ongoing work of, being to our Jewish brothers and sisters. Seattle. Through Shabbatonim, rnekarev young Jews cannot be MIRIAM HABER one-to-one chavrusa learning pro­ done only in yeshivas. Young Jews National President grams, and informal talk-discus­ must be reached on the college cam­ The Flame sions on topics other Jewish organi- pus by other students who under- P.O. Box 856 New York, N. Y. 10023 Response: Considering Office One issue of The Jewish Obser­ ver could not possibly deal with Employment? absolutely everything happening in ...... , regard to the Baal Teshuva Move­ ment. We refer you to our dis­ claimer (p. 4): "By no means do the Do you have the skills? articles in these pages pretend to exhaust the topic; in fact, there are some glaring omissions among the people and institutions represented here. For a more complete picture, Take this opportunity we ask the reader to investigate on to his own-in back issues of The Jewish Observer, and perhaps in his Register for business own backyard." courses of your choice N.W. In Defense of Lubavitch Claim

To the Editor: New classes begin I'm an avid reader of the Jewish I Observer since its inception. I enjoy September 1980 your magazine immensly. Your last I issue (Tamuz 5740) is an outstand­ Legal Secretary, 28 weeks ing example of dealing with an I important issue honestly and in­ Executive Secretary, 24 weeks terestingly-in this case the Teshu­ vah movement. Secretary/Gal Friday, 24 weeks I take exception with your reviewer of "Books for Teshuvah". In reviewing Think Jewish by Shorthand/Secretary, 16 weeks Rabbi Zalman I. Posner, he criti­ cizes the author for giving the Bookkeeper/Secretary, 16 weeks impression that Lubavitch is the only movement really interested in Business Skills Division of non-orthodox Jews being brought Placement assistance available back to Torah. The truth is, he I FOR MORE INFORMATION states, "that there are today hardly any orthodox groups that are not AND ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES deeply involved in bringing our CALL C V./. 587-9257 brothers back to Torah." t 5 Beekman St., Swte 513, N. Y, N Y=J 10038 The reviewer is correct and Rabbi Posner is correct. Rabbi Posner's Registered by the New York State Education Department book consists of lectures, addresses and conversations delivered and

30 The Jewish Observer/ October, 1980 r------1 1 11:~nw~~ 11'7~l'U 11uw + unuun u11n1n ii::it~1J ;;uw'7 , I DOS YIDDISHE VORT Ill~, I conducted during "Encounters with Chabad" and similar teshuva gatherings, which Lubavitch has 1 been involved in for decades (or perhaps centuries-when the Alter : D1~\I D1J•1•N : Rebbe (1745-1812) sent out solici­ tors for the Chassidic Movement). '1ttJ11\?T \!liln The rest of Orthodoxy (with the - exception of NCSY) have first become involved in Kiruv Recho­ kim within the last 10-15 years, or more specifically since the Six Day If You Read Yiddish, War. I recall an article in the Jewish This is a Must for Youl Observer within the last decade, A Treasury of Reading Material for your Home finding a needed heter for B'nai Torah to occupy themselves with I VILNO-YERUSHALAYIM D'LITIA Kiruv Rechokim. The Jewish History and great Personalities of this legendary city­ Lubavitch has been a pioneer in from the Vilna Gaon through Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski, whose many areas of dissemtnation of Judaism while the rest of the Ortho­ , 40th Yahrzeit is marked by this issue-are vividly portrayed in the doxy world scoffed at it,, Within a Rosh Hashano issue of Dos Yiddishe Vort featuring a wealth few years, they followed. of photographs. ISRAEL GORDON Price: $3.00 per copy Worcestser MA free Response; You will receive this issue when you become a subscriber to The book reviewer does not dis­ Dos Yiddishe Vort $9.00 per year. pute that Lubavitch has been a pioneer in Kiruv work. He took DOS YIDDISH VORT exception to Rabbi Posner's conten­ 5 Beekman Street/New York, N.Y. 10038/(212) 791-1812 tion that years of lower-profile in D Enclosed please find $3 for the special Vilno edition. I this field represented indifference to D Enclosed please find $9 for my subscription to 4 Jews alienated from Torah. This was never the case. Rather, stress was Dos Yiddishe Vort. put on self-improvement over Please send me absolutely free the issue described above: 1 extensive outreach in an era when Name: ______Orthodoxy was under relentless attack, exposure was fraught with Address: ______dangers, and there were no candi­ City, State, Zip: ______dates for succession to Torah leader­ ship positions, unless they were Gift to the above, from------trained in our own Yeshivas. At the very least, an indirect spill-over effect could result to benefit others...... At most, a generation of scholars would emerge to lead and teach 31lr,,,, others-and they did. ,, xi,,,r,,-c,r,w,,,"

L ------~

The Jewish Observer/ October, 1980 JI J 1 l Esrog Time in Brooklyn

During the days just prior to Succos, selecting the "Four Species" is definitely the activity of over-riding priority, as these photographs by FAIGE BEER so candidly testify.

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111 I t ~ ~ 32

INDEX TO ARTICLES THE JEWISH OBSERVER I Vol. XIV, No. 1-10

SUBJECTS

Adugath Israel Anticipating the Sixth Knes­ Hashkofa Where Evil is Spawned, Sept. '79; Media The Crooked Mirror, Feb. '80. sia Gedolah, Dec. '79; Knessia Gedolah Missing-a Dimension of Golus, Oct. Narrative The Thirty Year Trip, June '79; Diary, Feb. '80; What is an Agudist?, '79; Torah for Others-and for Oneself, Heroes: Remembering and Understand­ Feb. '80; "Hereby Resolved. ", Feb. Dec. '79; In the Ways of the Avos: Pro­ ing, Sept. '79; A Talmid Remembers, '80; The Sixth Knessia Gedolah (PS), moting Kiddush Hashem, Dec. '79; Oct. '79; A Torah Jew Takes Leave, Oct. April '80 Editorial Comment on the Many '79. Avos In the Ways of the Avos: Promoting Dimensions of Golus, Dec. '79; Where Personalities The Brisker Legacy, June '79; Kiddush Hashem, Dec. '79. Do We Stand?, Dec. '79; The Essence of The Satmar Rav, ?":s-r, Sept. '79; An Books in Review The Holocaust and the Kial Yisroe!, Feb. '80; Blessings of Appreciation of Rabbi Gedalia Schorr, Neo-Nazi Mythomania, Sept. '79; The "Shalom," Feb. '80; Are You Anticipat­ ?"rt, Oct. '79; "My Neighbor, My Jewish Resistance, Sept, '79; Jewish ing the Redemption?, April '80; Revela­ Father, The Rebbe," Nov. '79; Saam Responses to Nazi Persecution, Sept. tion and Search, April '80; "Bikrovei Chayim (Rabbi Aharon Kotler), Dec. '79; In Face of Danger, Sept. '79; Eye­ Ekodeish" The Six Million Kedoshim, '79; Letters to the Editor, Sept. '80. witness Auschwitz, Sept. '79; The Sept. '80; Letters to the Editor, Sept. Photographic Essay "Kaporos," Sept. '80. Holocaust in Historical Perspective, '80. Poetry An Indigenous American Pastime etc., Sept. '79; The Incident at Massena, Interfaith Activities Reflections on a Papal April '80. Sept. '79; The Thirteen Stories of Visit, Nov. '79. Reform Judaism Proselytizing the Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, Sept. '79; Iranian Jews The Iranian Struggle in Ameri­ Unchurched {PS), June '79; The Con My First Siddur, Sept. '79; Birthday in ca, Sept. '80. servative and Reform Presence in Israel: Kishinev, Sept. '79; Sefer Shemos, '79; Israel Shoot Me By the Wall, June '79; A New Chapter, Dec. '79. The Sinai Hagada, Sept. '79; Mishnah Return to the Gali!, Sept. '79; Miss­ Review Article Another Look at Holocaust Tractate Berachot, and Tractate Succah, ing-a Dimension of Golus, Oct '79; Literature, Sept. '79; Reading in Judg­ Dec. '79; The Mishnah: Seder Moed, Shmittah: Its Meaning, Laws and His­ ment, Oct. '79; Making the Mishnah Vol. JV, Dec. '79; Maimonides' Intro­ tory, Nov. '79; Hot Debate on "Golus" Available to the English-speaking Pub­ duction to the Talmud, the Ram­ (PS), Nov. '79; Living Valiantly: Keep­ lic, Dec. '79; How Not to Write a bam's Introduction to his Mishnah ing the Shmittah, With a Focus on "Yizkor Book," April '80; A Review of Commentary, Dec. '79; Maimonides' Kommemius, Dec. '79; Discovering Juvenile Literature, April '80; Reaching Commentary on the Mishna, the Intro­ Eretz Yisroel, Feb. '80; Streams in the Out With Literature, June '80. duction and the Commentary on Trac­ Desert, April '80. Shmittah Shmittah: Its Meaning, Laws and tate Berachos, Dec. '79; Pirkei Avos, Israel-Politics Women in a Progressive History, Nov. '79; Living Valiantly Dec. '79; And Let Us Say Amen, Dec. Society, Sept. '79; Paragraph 5 of Keeping the Shmittah, With a Focus on '79; My Jewish Roots, April '80; The Israel's Abortion Law-A National Kommemius, Dec_. '79. Study and Practice of Judaism, April Disaster, Nov. '79; The Conservative Social Comment Plus Ca Change, June '79; '80; Being Jewish, June '80; The Road and Reform Presence in Israel: A New Me? I'm Frum, Dec. '79; On Singing a Back, June '80; Tsedek, June '80; A Chapter, Dec. '79; The Crooked Mir­ Different Tune, Feb. '80; The Unexcep­ Matter of Return, June '80; "Lehavin ror, Feb. '80. tional Failure, Sept. '80. U'Lehaskil," June '80; Eight Questions Israel-Religion Murder in Hebron, Violation Soviet Jews And Now That They're People Ask About Judaism, June '80; in Jerusalem, Feb. '80. Here. . , Sept. '79; All in the Family Think Jewish, June '80; The Book of Jews in Europe The Brisker Legacy, June '79; (PS), Nov. '79; An Open Letter to Mr. Daniel, Sept. '80. How Not to Write a ''Yizkor Book," Arye Dulzin, April '80; "Come to the Chassidic Jewry "My Neighbor, My Father, April '80. Chasana," June '80. The Rebbe" (Satmar Rav ?"it), Nov '79. Jews in USA The Satmar Rav ?"lT, Sept. '79; Teshuva Why Confess? Sept. '79; Forty Colonial Jewry The Colonial Reality: A Mes­ And Now That They're Here ... , Sept. Years After Munich, Sept. '79; Helping sage For Our Time, Oct. '79; Letters to '79; The Colonial Reality: A Message Others Make It, Feb. '80; see: Entire the Editor, Dec. '79. For Our Time, Oct. '79; The Com­ June 1980 issue; A "Kesuba" For Our Conservative Judaism The Conservative and munity Kolle!: Reaching Out With Anniversary, Sept. '80; Letters to the

' Reform Presence in Israel: A New Torah, Oct. '79; "My Neighbor, My Editor, Sept. '80. Chaptt!r, Dec. '79. Father, The Rebbe," Nov. '79; Musings Translations and Adaptations The Yeshiva Criticism Reading in Judgment, Oct. '79. from Yarchiel Kallah, Nov. '79; Jews in Graduate's Obligation, June '79; Torah Federation A Letter From Federation of USA, Nov. '79; All in the Family (PS), For Others-and For Oneself, Dec. '79; I Jewish Philanthropies of New York and Nov. '79; A "Kesuba" For Our Anni­ In the Ways of the Avos: Promoting a Response, June '79. versary, Sept. '80; The Iranian Struggle Kiddush Hashem, Dec. '79; The Festivals Revelation and Search (Shavuos/ in America, Sept. '80. Essence of Kial Yisroel, Feb. '80; Bless~ Purim), April '80; "Kaporos" (photo­ Kiddush Hashem In the Ways of the A vos: ings of "Shalom," Feb. '80; What is an r graphic essay), Sept. '80. Promoting Kiddush Hashem, Dec. '79; Agudist?, Feb. '80; An Agenda of Golus Missing-a Dimension of Golus, Oct. I "Bikrovei Ekodeish," Sept. '80. Restraint and Vigilance for a Sacred '79; Editorial Comment on the Many Knessia Gedolah see Agudath Israel, Gathering, Feb. '80; Saving Our Chil­ r Dimensions of Golus, Dec. '79; Where Kollel The Community Kollel: Reaching Out dren, Feb. '80; The Ability and the Do We Stand? Dec. '79. With Torah, Oct. '79. Imperative, Feb. '80; Helping Others

34 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980

I' Make It, Feb. '80; Are You Anticipating Horovitz, Rabbi Baruch A Time to Reach the Redepmtion?, April '80. Out: Those Days Have Come, June '80. The Sefer. "Geder Olom" by the World War II Forty Years After Munich, Horowitz, Elisha Plus Ca Change, June '79. Chafetz Chaim, now avalla61e in Sept. '79; Where Evil is Spawned, Sept. Horowitz, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Chassidic Enallsh lra111lalkm only, 75¢ per copy '79; Heroes: Remembering and Under­ Insights: Understanding Others JO lor $3" write to: Zlchron Shlomo Publ. standing, Sept. '79; Another Look at Through Ourselves, June '80. Holocaust Literature, Sept. '79; Thank Kamenetzky, Rabbi Yaakov In the Ways of $ Beekman St .. N.Y.C. 10038 You, Elie Wiesel, April '80; "Bikrovei the "A vos" Promoting "Kiddush Ekodeish" The Six Million Kedoshim, Hashem," Dec. '79; Blessing of "Sha­ Sept. '80; Letters to the Editor, Sept. lom" Feb. '80; What is an Agu­ KARKA IN ISRAEL '80. dist?, Feb. '80. Take advantage of the opportunity Yeshiva Education The Yeshiva Graduate's Karfiol, Wolf The Thirty Year Trip, June '79. to purchase cemetery plots 1n Obligation, June '79; The Yeshiva of Karlinsky, Isaiah "Kaporos," Sept. '80. Eretz Yisroel in Mifgash Shimshon Tomorrow, June '79; The Rebbe-Tal­ Kotler, Rabbi Shneur The Ability and the mid Relationship, June '79; The Thirty Imperative, Feb. '80. flear Yerushalayim through our Year Trip, June '79; A Letter from newly established Levi, Dr. Leo Shmittah: Its Meaning, Laws Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of CHEVRAH OSEH CHESED and History, Nov. '79. New York and a Response, June '79; Lubinsky, Rabbi Menachem The Crooked OF AGUDATH ISRAEL Musings from Yarchiel Kallah, Nov. Mirror, Feb. '80. Membership on the Chevra en­ '79; The Home and The Yeshiva: Maggid, Ch.Y. A "Kesuba" For Our Anni­ Shifted or Shared Responsibility?, title:; one to all benefits which Nov. '79; "Something to Remember versary, Sept. ·so. accompany the services · of a Pam, Rabbi Avrohom The Yeshiva Gradu­ Me By," Nov. '79; "Saam Chayim" Chevra Kadisha ;.nd interment. ate's Obligation, June '79; Are You (Rabbi Aharon Kotler), Dec. '79; When When you purchase a plot from Charity Begins at Home; April '80; The Anticipating the Redemption? April '80. the Chevra Oseh Chesed of Agu­ Unexceptional Failure, Sept. '80. Perr, Rabbi Yechiel Yitzchok "Saam dath Israel, you are supporting the Chayim" {Rabbi Aharon Kotler), Dec. many Agudist activities especially '79. the Pirchei and Bnos ac·ttvities as AUTHORS Presser, Regina And Now That They're well as a Free Loan Fund in Israel here. . , Sept. '79. For an appl1c1ltion .,nd information call· Arnon, Mordechai, Helping Others Make It, Rosenshein, Dr. Joel The Unexceptional (212) 791-1800 Feb. '80. Failure, Sept. '80. Balgley, Rabbi Chaim Leib The Brisker Rotbard, Avraham Yeshaya An Indigenous Teller, Hanoch Shoot Me By the Wall, June Legacy, June '79. American Pastime etc. (poem), April '79; Living Valiantly·. Keeping the ben Abraham, Shmuel Watching the Air­ '80. Shmittah, With a Focus on Komme­ planes, June '80. Ruderman, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Torah for mius, Dec. '79; How to Handle a Biberfield, Dr. Henry Where Evil is Others-and for Oneself, Dec. '79; An Hungry Heart, June '80. Spawned, Sept. '79. Agenda for a Sacred Gathering, Feb. Toshavi, Ezriel Women in a Progressive Bleich, Rabbi J.D. Reflections on a Papal '80. Society, Sept. '79; Paragraph 5 of Visit, Nov. '79. Saperstein, Rabbi Israel Forty Years After Israel's Abortion Law-A National Dis­ Friedland, Charlotte The Colonial Reality: A Munich, Sept. '79. aster, Nov. '79. Message for Our Time, Oct. '79. Scheinman, A. Why Confess?, Sept. '79; A Weinbach, Rabbi Mendel Helping the Baal Friedman, Rabbi Chaim "A Time for Torah Jew Takes Leave, Oct. '79; Where Teshuva in America, June '80. Action" Revisited, June '80. Do We Stand? Dec. '79; Revelation and Weinbaum, Shmuel A Ta!mid Remembers Fryshman, Dr. Bernard On Singing a Differ­ Search, April '80; "Bikrovei Ekodeish" (Rabbi Schorr 7":it), Oct. '79. ent Tune, Feb '80; When Charity Begins The Six Million Kedoshim, Sept. '80. Weinberg, Rabbi Noach Shedding Our at Home, .April '80. Scherman, Rabbi Nosson An Appreciation Blinders, June '80. Ganz, Yaffa Return to the Gali!, Sept. '79; of Rabbi Gedalia Schorr 7":i1, Oct. '79. Wikler, Meir The Home and the Yeshiva: Shifted or Shared Responsibility?, Nov. Streams in the Desert, April '80. Schiller, Rabbi Mordechai Taking Reb Nach­ Gevirtz, Eliezer Reaching the Kids-the JEP '79. man Literally, Sept. '79; Ail in the Wolpin, Rabbi Nissan Heroes: Remember­ Connection, June '80. Family (PS), Nov. '79; Hot Debate on Glick, Dr. Shimon Missing-a Dimension of ing and Understanding, Sept, '79; The "Golus" (PS), Nov. '79. Community Kolle!: Reaching Out With Golus, Oct. '79. Schiller, Rabbi Nota Studying Gemora-The Goldberg, Rabbi Hillel The First Step: The Torah, Oct. '79; "My Neighbor, My Means and the Ends of the Teshuva Father The Rebbe," Nov. '79; Musings Teshuva Solicitors, June '80. Process, June '80. Greenfield, Menachem Z. The Rebbe-Talmid from Yarchei Kallah, Nov. '79; The Shach, Rabbi Elazar The Essence of Kial Yis­ Conservative and Reform Presence in Relationship, June '79. roel, Feb. '80. HaCohen, A vrohom Y. A Famine in the Israel: A New Chapter, Dec '79; Dis­ Land, June '80. Shapiro, Chaim How Not to Write a "Yizkor covering Eretz Yisroel, Feb. '80; An ' Hager, Rabbi Moshe (Vizhnitzer Rebbe) Sav­ Book," April '80. Open Letter to Mr. Arye Dulzin, April ing Our Children, Feb. '80. Shoshan, Esther Me? I'm Frum, Dec. '79. '80. Hildesheimer, Ezriel Kiruv in Israel: Bringing Shostak, Rabbi Zev The Yeshiva of Tomor­ Zargari, David The Iranian Struggle in row, June '79. America, Sept. '80. I Them to Our Planet, June '80. Copies of articles listed are available in back issues at $1.50 each. If the issue is out of print, a , photo-copy of the specified article will be sent at the same rate. Write to: THe Jewish Observer I Back Issue Department I 5 Beekman St. New York, N.Y. 10038. Remittance must accompany I your order. ~

The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 35 j CONSIDERING COMPUTER PROGRAMMING? WHY NOT THE BEST?

I f

Vocational Skills Division I CopeVocational Institute Il 5 Beekman Street, Suite 700, New York, N.Y. 10038 Ucen1ed Dy th• New York State fducatlon Department r f l 36 The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 l 'ft Russian Jew's Roots Dates Back To Abarbanel, Agudath Israel Agency Finds A routine examination by Project RISE Russian Jews, according to Rabbi Ephraim {Russian Immigrant Services and Education) Oratz, Executive Director of the agency. In of Agudath Israel of America of the family addition, 368 youngsters were enrolled in a background of Vadim Valger, the 8-year-o!d special day camp sponsored by Project RISE son of recent Russian emigres, found that the in conjunction with the Be' er Hagolah Insti­ family tree traced back to the famous Jewish tute. scholar and leader, Don Yitzchok Abarbanel. More than 5,000 copies of a special Rus­ The Abarbanel, who was the outstanding sian language news bulletin with pertinent Jewish scholar of his time and also served as information on the laws and customs of the the finance minister of the Roya! Court in forthcoming Jewish holidays was distributed Spain during the expulsion ln 1492, rejected this week. Also included in the package were an offer by King Ferdinand and Queen machz.orim (special holiday prayer books), Isabella to remain, and instead proudly led courtesy of the Al Tidom organization. RISE the Jews out of Spain. The inquiry into the placed several advertisements in Russian Va!ger family's past is a routine procedure for language newspapers urging the newest Project RISE staff and volunteers who direct group of Jewish refugees to visit the local RABBI YAAKOV MIZRACHI its bris program. Vadim will now be eligible shuls during the Yomim Noraim, On Rosh Chodesh Elul, August to participate in the bris program at Beth These latest Project RISE activities are part Israel Hospital, which is the latest medical 13, the Torah community suffered a of the extensive program sponsored by institution to participate in the program. Agudath Israel for Russian immigrants4 that great loss with the passing of Rabbi The startling discovery of Vadim's past include the Adopt-A-Family program, job Yaakov Mizrachi, '>"~!, a leader of came several days after RISE welcomed back training, tutoring, distribution of religious Agudath Israel in Eretz Yisroel. 108 Russian children from sleep-away articles and a broad range of other services Rabbi Mizrachi possessed an camps, as a result of the summer camps pro­ that respond to the spiritual and material unusual combination of personali­ gram of the Agudath Israel agency for needs of Russian immigrants. ty traits as a recognized talmid cha­ cham, a man of great personal piety, and an active communal leader. Born in Yemen, Rabbi Mizrachi emigrated to Israel with the large Yemenite aliya thirty years ago. As he became aware of the Absorption Ministry's Program of "moderniza­ tion" and acculturation of new immigrants-a program aimed at deliberately estranging the Sephar­ di and other Oriental Jews from a FOR YOUR PLEASURE Torah way of life-Rabbi Mizrachi I joined in the battle against these KOSHER I PAREVE I UNSALTED ' plans. He has since been active in a leadership role in Agudath Israel, served as a Member of the Knesset, MARGARINE and has been involved in the Now MIGDAL Margarine can Chinuch Atzmai-Torah School for enhance your (l).eals with de­ licious. sweet, 1ul!·bodied Israel. flavor you enjoy al! year In addition to the deep personal round. Kosher and Pareve, MIGDAL is a happy blend of loss-Rabbi Mizrachi and his wife KASHRUTH and QUALITY who survives him have raised and is ideal for cooking, baking or as a tasty spread eleven children, all Torah-loyal on matzo. MIGDAL Margar'me Jews and recognized talmidei cha­ is available in consumer and institutional size pack· chamim-his passing leaves an ages. Look for it today wher­ unparallelled vacuum in the leader­ ever Kosher foods are sold. ship ranks of the Sephardi com­ Produced under the strictest Rabbinical supervision of munity; especially painful at this K'ha! Adath Jeshurun, N.Y. time when hopes have been raised that the various segments within Kial Yisroel would work more closely together, for the benefit of Thurm Bros. World Cheese Co., Inc., New York, N.Y. 10013 all concerned. l The Jewish Observer I October, 1980 37

.1.:ii 1. Summing Up: well; Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz (Boston­ THE WORLD F A.MOUS Camp Bnos, Summer '80 er Rebbe); Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (former DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM mashgiach ruchni of Mesivta Rabbi Chaim 'Uip? "\Tl:l •uip? More than excitement came in on the Berlin); Rabbi Nosson Scherman, editor of the Art Scroll Series; Rabbi Zevulun Lieb; ;•11 iyu'1tc 'K'""' ., i·~im:i winds of Ruach Country/Camp Bnos this past summer, according to the end of the and Rabbi Nisson Wolpin. Avoilobl• of season's report by Meir Frischman, director Besides catering to girls hailing from coast LEKUTEI INC. of camps for Agudath Israel of America. A to coast-from Maine to California, from c/o t. Rosenberg Memphis to Denver to Pheonix-Camp Bnos 10 W•d <47+h Str..+, Room 702 well-structured program of enrichment was N•w Yort, N. Y. 10016 planned in advance of the summer under the had a special international flavor this sum­ 20 Volumes on Torah. Perek, guidance of the camp's manhig ruchni, Rabbi mer thanks to campers from Israel, European Medrash, Megilas and T 1lmud. Joseph Elias. The theme for the summer's countries, Mexico, and South America, as ftocndt ol solu dislril>t1l.d amon9 daily study groups was :in•::i i1M}:J c•wJ n~'n well as Russian and Iranian girls who recent­ Yftbivos 01td U'ffd for t•pr:nti1t9 "Women's Wisdom Builds the Home." This ly came to these shores for refuge. ol YOhllrtff out-ol·'p.rin# found expression in many of the season's At the season's end, campers and staff PR!CES6PER VOLUME recreational activities and dramatic presenta­ members alike went home with a deeper tions, including the camp's major play for the appreciation of the Ruach factor in Ruach 1nlt to filing date, 4,270; 2. Mail subscription>: average no. copies each isoue during preceding 12 month>. 9,706, actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to on the subject, the 800 page Sefer Hadras filing date, 9,966. C. Total paid circulation; average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 14,028; actual no of copies of single issue published nearest to filing Ponim - Zokon, by Rabbi Moshe Wiener. date, 14,236. D. Free distribution (including samples) by mail carrier or other means; average no., copies each issue during preceding 12 months. 500 actual no., of copies of * Featuring letters from the leading Halachic single issue nearest to filing date, 500. E. Tota! distribution (Sum of C and D); average no. copies each iosue during pre­ ceding 12 months, 14,528; actual no. of copies of single authorities of our times, including their issue published nearest to filing date, 14,736. F. 1. Office use, left-over, unaccounted, spoiled after printing: average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 472; opinions and decisions. $1.00 actual number of copies of single issues published nearest to filing date, 264. F. 2. Returns from news agents: O;O. G. Total {Sum of E and F: average no. copies each issue during AVAILABLE AT ALL JEWISH BOOKSTORES preceding 12 months, 15,000; actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date. 15,000. I certify that the statements made by me above are corrl'Ct or % P.O.B. 313, Blythbourne and complete. Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Editor Station, Brooklyn, New York 11219 The Jewish Observer

38 The Jewish Observer/ October, 1980 Report From Jewish Education Program, Zeirei Agudath Israel's Project COPE Launches Program Reach-Out Program For Middle-Aged Workers "Torah Troops" on the March responded with great enthusiasm. "You don't Project COPE, the vocational agency of JEP's "Torah Troops" were on the march know what an uplifting experience this was," Agudath Israel of America, announced the this summer. This new Kiruv project was a one said. "I might just take you up on that expansion of its services for job hunters over first for JEP. Utilizing their summer vacation offer to come to a Shabbaton." 45. OPERATION RETRAIN, funded by the to help spread Torah true Yiddishkeit, dedi­ Of course, the work does not end there. New York State Department of Labor, offers cated JEP workers led by Rabbis Yosef After the concerts, JEP workers tried to speak vocational guidance, classroom and on-the­ Chaim Golding and Mutty Katz, decided that to as many youngsters as possible, making job training for people in this age group. It is, proper outreach meant going out to where contact and finding out names and addresses. in fact, the revival of a successful demonstra­ the Jewish youngsters were-summer camps. After the summer, these youngsters will be tion project originally based in Bora Park, And so, a talented contingent of Bnei Yeshiva contacted, and hopefully many will be inter­ which began in 1977. took part in a traveling Yiddishkeit Concert ested in participating in other religious pro­ "Very often, the middle-aged worker is program. This meant going from camp to grams, and eventually, joining a Yeshiva. rejected from employment opportunities camp-most camps have a majority of non­ If so, they will be joining many others who merely because of his age," according to pro­ frum youngsters-and presenting an enter­ are benefitting from JEP's placement ser­ gram director, Rabbi Yonah Weinrib. "In a taining mixture of songs, stories, and Jewish vices. Over 75 youngsters were placed in reli­ youth-oriented society, employers often spirit. In all, over 20 camps were visited, and gious camps this summer through JEP's overlook the many advantages of the middle­ some 6,000 youngsters were reached. Despite placement and scholarship programs, and SO aged worker: responsibility, maturity of the fact that most had little religious back­ have already been placed in Yeshivas. It is judgment, and the invaluable business and ground, and that many of their counselors hoped that these numbers will grow in the life experiences he or she often possesses." were not even Jewish, the youngsters weeks to come. The experience of Project COPE's earlier program and the various vocational re­ Yomim Noroim Issue sources available through Project COPE of Am Hatorah Published by should prove most helpful to those over Zeirei Agudath Israel forty-five. Eligible applicants to the program will benefit from an intensive effort to help The Am Hatorah division of Zeirei them determine a practical career goal, using Agudath Israel has just released volume 15 in the aptitude and skill testing to determine the its Torah journal series. A large section of best opportunities for them. Using the re­ this newest issue is devoted to timely articles sources of vocational and on job training as of Torah and ethics especially pertinent dur­ well as referrals to other appropriate agencies ing these days of awe and repentance. will help applicants in their efforts or return Involved discourses on Succos are also in­ to the job market. corporated in this volume. "Job Club," a successful job-finding In a special section devoted to halachic approach used in the past, has proven help­ decisions by our venerable Torah giants, ful for the middle-aged job seeker. This pro­ Rabbi Eliyahu Henkin, '?"~n, addresses the gram of group dynamics deals with such complex issue of teachers' strikes in yeshi­ items as interview techniques, discussing age vas. In responsum printed for the first time, at an interview, mounting a job search cam­ by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, l<"~•'?1,1,', discusses paign and resume preparation. Using a group whether it is permissible to wear a hearing format to share and learn from common aid on Shabbos.' experiences has helped formulate suitable A contemporary da!>sic of Also contributing to this issue are yunge­ career directions. Torah hashkafah leit from kollelim across the country writing Project COPE welcomes inquiries at: Pro­ HASHKAFAH PUBLICATIONS on various topics of interest. ject COPE, OPERATION RETRAIN, Room (212)261-6076 A comprehensive index of all subjects 814, 5 Beekman Street, New York, New covered in volumes 11-15 can be found in York, 10038, (212) 587-9250. the back of this issue. To receive this volume or any back issue still available, contact the MOVE TO Young Yerushami is in bed with national Zeirei office at 5 Beekman St. New heart trouble. His 5 children wore York City, 10038, tel. 791-1820. Paramus, New Jersey torn shoes last Yorn T ov. Shiu rim Won't you help make their Wed. Eves: Mishnayos by Chanukah brighter? SORRY- Make checks payable to: we must stop sending RABBI E. GLUCKSMAN Call: Sam Levi (201) 967-0555 Bikur Cholim Fund, Inc. THE JEWISH OBSERVER Thurs. Eves: Gemora Shabbos by and mail to when your subscription RABBI H. SCHACTER Rabbi Abraham Blumenkrantz runs out ... don't miss Call: David Lehmann (201) 261-3136 814 Caffrey Ave. a single issue . (212) 929-2395 Far Rockaway, NY 11691 RENEW NOW f Transportation available from N.Y.

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