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'n111N presence em"icfred tfie world over, serving as a spokesman for Orthodox Jewry and changing tfie image of Orthodox life in !America. •Thro~qh his guidance and example, fie inspired us to be more committed in our mission to our community. ' Sherer was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and we wish to express our deepest sympathy to his wife 'Deborah, his daughters 'Rochel Langer and 'Elky 90/dschmidt, fiis son 'Rabbi Shimshon Sherer, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021·6615 is published monthly except 7 Introduction July and August by the Agudath With an appreciation by Robbi Shmuel Komenetsky N"l"'n> of America, 84 William Street, New York, N.Y. 10038. Periodicals postage paid in New York, N.Y. Subscription $24.00 per 8 A life of Ribbui K'vod Shamayim, Robbi Nissan Wolpin year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the (US I 2 Biographical Notes funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single copy $3.50; foreign $4.50. I S Portrait of A leader, Robbi Eliyohu Meir Klugman POSTMASTER: Send address changes SIDEBARS: Dr Irving Lebovics. Professor Larry Kotz; Robbi Loibish Becker; Dr Yitzchok to: The Jewish Observer, 84 Wdliam Street, Perle; Rabbi Nesanel Kosnett N. Y.. N. Y. 10038. Tel: 212-797-9000, Fax: 212-269-2843. Printed in the U.S.A. J I FIRST ENCOUNTERS, LASTING IMPRESSIONS: Dr Ernst L. Bodenheimer RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EOITOR Rabbi Chaskel Besser EDITORIAL BOARD Rabbi Beret Wein OR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Chairman Rabbi Avi Shafran

RABBI ABBA BRUONY RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS 40 His Focus: EMES JOSEPH FRIEDENSON Rabbi Moshe Sherer - Parnes Hodor, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER RABBI SETTING A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR ORTHODOXY: PROF. AARON TWERSKI The Man In The Corner, Rabbi Nasson Scherman and Rabbi Meir Zlotowttz MANAGEMENT BOARD 45 AVI FISHOF NAFTOLI HIRSCH SO A Great leader... and a Master Teacher, Rabbi Sh/omo Gertzulin ISAAC KIRZNER Basic Training, Robbi Yakov Horowitz RABBI SHLOMO LESIN 5 S NACHUM STEIN HIS AGENDA: A MATTER OF KLAL YISROEL RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Business Manager 57 Personal Reflections, Rabbi Herman N. Neuberger

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THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not HIS CHARGE TO THE NEW GENERATION: assume responsibility for the Kashrus 80 of any product, publication, or service True and Unwavering: The Proper Course for the Jew advertised in its pages prepared for publication by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman © Copyright 1998 P.S. FROM His OWN PEN:

JUNE 1998 Bishtei Ainayim, Talking to the Wall VOLUME XXXl/NO. 6 n•:ipn 'l!>';J :i•:in ,., l'N .)mn•';J'tl:i "''ll''tl )'tl!>l 1nm ,ml!J:> m'tl))';i n';Jn'tlJ:>'tl n•~::> (N, t" ,.:1,J:l:l)

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,):l::> Tl,,n::i )J:l'tl C>n'lllY.lil '"l';J"li' 'N•::>';JJ:> ,,,N ';J"p):i!t 'tl"n''"llil '"111)J:lNN';J::i )NY.))'l ':lll ';JN'"l'tl' ';JN"tn'tl ':lll ,,, m::il 'tl'"l,J:> n•::i Tl:l''tl' •'tlK'"I ';J"p)llt '"l';J")i' 1,ilK ':l, ))Nlil 1l':l, '.:i'tl )'tl'"l,J:l Tl':l 1,n,•J:>';Jm 1m•l::i'"I dam Harishon was shown a book wherein was and a member of the Nesius (Presidium) of Agudath Israel inscribed "Each generation and its teachers, of America, expressed the basis for this relationship in the each generation and its leaders (manhigav), following words: each generation and its scholars, each generation Rabbi Sherer was appreciated as an individual endowed with a full and its directors (parnosav)." (Babba Metzia 86a) range of strengths - both in terms of talents and character. The Hebrew term, "Ish Ha' eshkalos, the person who embraces a cluster One can safely venture that this century opened with names of gifts," best expresses the level and range of his accomplishments. like the Chofetz Chaim, the Sias Emes, Yehoshua Leib He was not a politician (a word with negative connotations to Diskin, the Sdei Chemed, and the Ben !sh Chai prominently some), but he was one of the most politically astute people I have ever featured; while the closing decades surely listed the great met. He fully comprehended each situation he confronted and had a keen instinct in terms of knowing when to persist and how far to Rabbanim, Rabbe'im, Chachamim and Roshei of push, as v.tell as when to desist. note - many of whom we had the zechus to know. A man of high intelligence, his classmates in yeshiva had recog­ When the lives of any of these pre-eminent tzaddikim and nized him as an individual destined for greatness in Torah study. In response to the needs of the time, however, his greatness was expressed manhigim (saintly leaders) were documented in these pages, in askanus- Torah-directed activism - in an apparent sacrifice of their biographies usually were included in an issue his madreiga in Torah scholarship. containing a selection of other articles of the customary His skills and dedication came to be recognized by Gedolei Yisroel range of topics. who developed an ultimate trust in him. Rabbi Sherer would invari­ ably be mevateil da'ato, forsaking his own opinions- although they In a conscious departure, this issue is dedicated totally to were highly informed and well reasoned - before da' as chachamim, Rabbi Moshe Sherer '::>"~t who was a lay leader, a "parnes the opinions of our Torah scholars. In effect, he incorporated daas Torah hador" - communal activist. While he would have been the into his thinking, emerging as the prime spokesman and pre-eminent leader of responsible Torah-directed activism in our time. Thus did first to protest that this represents an unjustifiable imbalance, he earn the respect of contemporary Gedolei Torah .... Such was the we would suggest otherwise. Luminaries such as Rabbi leitmotif, the recurring theme of his life. '::>"~, and the Beis Yisroel '::>"~ were mainstays A man of the Kial, with visions of comparable scope, he also was of Agudath Israel, but their lives and spheres of activity keenly aware that the Kial is made up of individuals. Thus he was sensitive to the fact that each individual has his own unique needs, encompassed much more. Rabbi Sherer, by contrast, was and has a specific role to play in the scheme of things. He was truly the singular man who cast the proverbial shadow the classic ish haru'ach who recognized the ruach, the spir­ that is Agudath Israel of America. The identities it, of each member of the Kial. Which is why he was appre­ of Rabbi Sherer, the man, and Agudah, the ciated by one and all for his personable demeanor, and movement, were almost synonymous, both everyone related to him so well. It was originally thought by many that Rabbi Moshe dedicated to the centrality of Torah to Kial Sherer abandoned a life of ruchniyus (spiritual growth), Yisroel's (unction. Thus, this issue of The for the sake of the Kial. But having contributed so fully Jewish Observer, Agudath Israel of to Kial Yisroel and to the growth of Torah over the past America's journal of thought, is dedicated half century, his lifetime surely represents achievements of a supreme level of ruchniyus. fully to Rabbi Sherer, as an exemplary parnes hador of our time. Just as Agudath Israel represents the In the pages that follow, a views of Gedolei Torah and has number of people who thus earned their trust, so too knew Rabbi Sherer and can one describe the career worked with him over of Rabbi Moshe Sherer. the years, record their Rabbi Shmuel impressions of him Kamenetsky N"v>?v, from their Rosh Hayeshiva of the particular Yeshiva of Philadelphia, perspective.

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 7 Rabbi Nissan Wolpin

A LIFE DEDICATED TO ELEVATING K'voD SHAMAYIM

abbi Moshe Sherer ?"lit distin­ ing gainful employment with Shmiras and state, thus fighting against any mea­ guished himself in myriad areas Shabbos (Sabbath observance) was a for­ sure of government funding for co1n­ Rof con1munal activism, chessed, midable challenge that most Jews failed munal services provided by religious­ support for Torah education, advocacy - at the expense of Shabbos. sponsored institutions, including day for the rights and entitlements of • The Jewish establishment suffered school education. Orthodox Jews, and spreading the influ­ an extremely low self-image; their sen­ ence of Torah values. One can perhaps sitivity to being conspicuously Jewish EMERGENCE OF ORTHODOXY AS AN reduce all of the achievements to one was compounded by an utter dismissal INDEPENDENT FORCE central theme: ribbui k'vod Shamayim­ of the Orthodox populace and its "anti­ enhancing the respect accorded the Cre­ quated" way of life. When in 1940 the ll of this was marked for change ator, as reflected in the deeds and the Agudath Youth Movement sent vital by the rise of an assertive, artic­ image of His children, the Am Ha Torah. food supplies to Jews under Nazi con­ A ulate, independent Orthodoxy During these past few weeks, many trol, in defiance of an Allied boycott, they - specifically, Agudath Israel, under the references have been made to key events earned the contempt of the secular Jew­ leadership of Reb Elimelech ("Mike") that trace the phenomenal rise of k'vod ish leadership.' Tress, later joined by his younger Ha Torah during this past half century, • During the first half of this centu­ cousin, Rabbi Moshe Sherer. In addition but they bear being repeated here, if only ry in America, Jews in need of an advo­ to the Hatzolah efforts of Agudath in outline. cate looked to Reform and Conservative youth, in concert with the Vaad Hat­ to be their "hired Kaddish" before zolah (led by European born Rabban­ I. government bodies and the media. im and Roshei ) during and after EARLY OBSTACLES TO FULL • An axiom of Jewish public policy World War II, the American Agudah EXPRESSION in America was to maintain as high a emerged as a strong force on its own in barrier as possible between church numerous areas, such as influencing the he pressures to conform and 1"It is to be deplored that a sickly weed transported religious political scene in Bretz Yisroel assimilate into the American from foreign soil to the liberal Ainerican envi­ specifically, fighting against anti­ melting pot took a tremendous ronment, should continue to poison the atmos­ Torah trends, such as forced se,ular­ T phere ... ," is the \vay Dr. Joseph Tenenbaum, pres­ toll on American Jews. ization of new olim, unauthorized ident of the American Jewish Congress, described • Up until World War II, maintain- the Agudah activists in an official statement. autopsies, military conscription of

8 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 dented celebration of the I Oth Si yum HaShas of Daf Yomi, which included 70,000 participants across the conti­ nent, led by Agudath Israel of America; the highly effective Am Echad campaign, launched and orchestrated by Rabbi Sherer, aimed at protecting the standards of personal identity (as outlined by the long-standing Status Quo agreement, in 1947) in Israel from being compro­ mised by the onslaught of American-style pluralism; add to these the moving eulo­ gy for Rabbi Sherer by the Vice President of the United Rabbi Sherer brings across a point to Rav 1Vfoshe Feinstein at a meeting of the Moetzes Gedolei HaY.?rl1h States, Albert Gore Jr., at women, Sheurit Le'umi (forced nation­ doxy, Agudath Israel's annual conven­ Agudath Israel's Annual Dinner. All in al service for women), and so on. tions and dinners have offered public all, a most impressive final year to a • In 1961, Rabbi Sherer began his platforms for prominent Torah per­ lifetime dedicated to raising the level career of pleading for government aid sonalities to express their views on of k'vod ha Torah in this country from to parochial school and yeshiva students myriad subjects. The long-term result extremely humble beginnings. by testifying before the U.S. Congress in has been a phenomenal enhancement favor of such programs, much to the dis­ of k'vod Ha Torah as expressed in a firm THE SOURCE OF A RAISED may of the liberal Jewish establishment. allegiance to Daas Torah, as articulat­ CONSCIOUSNESS •With the passage of time, Agudath ed by our Torah leadership. Israel of America - and Rabbi Sherer Thus, the broad Jewish public his brief review of salient mile­ as its spokesman - emerged as the became familiar with the faces and per­ stones and trends in the life of respected representative and advocate sona associated with such revered TRabbi Moshe Sherer is not for Orthodox Jewry, winning the ear, the names as Rabbi Aharon Kotler, Rabbi meant to reveal something previously trust, and the admiration of government , Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak unknown. Rather, it is to suggest that officials at all levels. Ruderman, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky, this uncommonly effective raising of • On a different front, in 1956, eleven Rabbi , Rabbi Shneur the consciousness of the world at large leading Roshei Yeshivas and Rabbanim Kotler, Rabbi Gedalya Schorr, and the to the central role of Torah to Jewry has issued a p'sak forbidding membership in Admorim of Boyan, Kapishnitz, Bluzhev, its source in that very same con­ any religious association that includes Novominsk, and ;i:ro';> CllT.lt... sciousness deep within Rabbi Sherer. Conservative or Reform membership, and their spiritual progency, who have True, he was keenly aware of how such making it incumbent on American succeeded them. The mere fact that factors as meticulous care in expression, Orthodoxy to find its own voice. Here, thousands of Jews crowd the convention dignity in manner, and integrity in all too, Agudath Israel of America, with halls in anticipation of the rabbis' endeavors serve to contribute to a pos­ Rabbi Sherer at the helm, assumed that addressing the issues confronting Kial itive image, and these have the net effect voice. Yisroel, rise as one to greet the entrance of influencing people to respect Torah. • Through the years, Agudath Israel of this or that Chassidic And yes, he certainly was a master of has been guided by its Torah leader­ Rebbe, and hang on to his every word public relations. ship, mainly through its Moetzes - this unto itself is an eloquent expres­ But all of these were secondary to a Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah sion of k'vod HaTorah. highly potent, primary force: His own Sages) and Nesius (Presidium), com­ worldview was predicated on Torah as posed of the country's leading rabbinic THIS PAST YEAR'S EVENTS the defining force of Kial Yisroel and its authorities. Aside from the focus put sole source of values; and it was built on on their decisions and policy state­ his past year witnessed several the key role of daas Torah as the non­ ments regarding most every major extraordinary expressions of negotiable designer of every agenda for issue confronting American Ortho- Tk'vod HaTorah: the unprece- action, as is borne out by many anec-

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 9 dotes in the articles included in this issue. Total commitment to k'vod ha Torah, so firmly rooted in Rabbi Sher­ • his brief review of salient milestones and trends in er's heart, became translated into a phe­ nomenal expression of k'vod ha Torah in Tthe life of Rabbi Moshe Sherer is not meant to the realm of verbal expression and the world of productive action. reveal something previously unknown. Rather, it is to suggest that this uncommonly effective raising of the II. A POSTSCRIPT: RABBI SHERER'S ROLE consciousness of the world at large to the central role IN THIS PERIODICAL of Torah to Jewry has its source in that very same abbi Sherer believed strongly in consciousness deep within Rabbi Sherer. using the media for conveying Ri nformation and hasbara (expla­ nation of our belief system) to the unini­ tiated, and when necessary, to use them umbrella." And then he'd add: "And the •to bring justice to the situation - or at as tools in debate with misinformed or other readers have likely forgotten. You least balance." hostile forces. It would seem that this can't take anything for granted. You conviction brought him to approach Dr. must explain the historical background *** Ernst Bodenheimer, who is also deeply of the issue at hand." committed to the ideal of conveying "Articles of timeless value are impor­ fter an article on a particular sub­ timeless values in contemporary n1ode, tant;' he would say, "but people turn to ject was drafted, Rabbi Sherer with clarity, coherence, and dignity, to The Jewish Observer for information and A would frequently send back the join him - as chairman of the editor­ comment on the timely. They want to manuscript with a post-it stuck on: "See ial board of The Jewish Observer - in understand today's issues and tomor­ me/MS." He often felt that the argument founding this journal, as Agudath Israel row's problems. That's your mandate!" for a particular position was lost in the of America's English-language organ of He would often back up this plea - rhetoric. "Demonstrate the backruptcy thought and opinion. (See Dr. Boden­ or trigger it-with clippings of articles of this ideology of a without heimer's article on page 31.) he had picked up in the Israeli press or Torah. Show how they've violated basic During most of the twenty-eight various American publications. If he principles of faith. Use this case-on-hand years of my tenure as editor of The Jew­ didn't receive a response to these clipped to score debater's points." ish Observer, Rabbi Sherer was an active teasers in a day or two, he would Sometimes I'd cringe. "People don't member of the magazine's editorial return to the subject and cajole this go for killer-instinct polemics:' board, and as such, he proposed topics writer: 'Tm up to 1 a.m. reading. I'm "Of course not;' he'd say. "But you for discussion, reviewed many of the sparing you all the chaff. At least pick know how to wrap the dagger in cotton. articles that were submitted for publi­ up the kernels I've selected for you. Put your mind to it. You shouldn't be cation, and commented frequently on There are gems there!" messy. just don't dull the blade. There's the final product, when it was delivered Other times, he'd pass on news no fudging with ziyuf(falsification) of to his desk. reports or opinion pieces that distort­ Torah." Over the years, certain refrains were ed Orthodox practices or views. "Why These exchanges usually took place expressed by Rabbi Sherer, offering a should a hundred thousand readers in his office, occasionally on the tele­ window into his thinking on the role of think that we're primitive, or callous to phone - especially during the last few a monthly magazine in his grander the feelings of others? See if you can't months of his life, when his pointed scheme of ribbui k'vod Shamayim. draft a letter or op-ed piece on the topic challenges were often-as-not accompa­ "A magazine is a beis chinuch2 - an nied by the squishing sound of a pump, educational medium. Many of your 'Rabbi Sherer's characterization echoed the coun­ forcing therapy-inducing chemicals sel of Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzky, ?H~T, in 1969, readers never heard of the Status Quo v-:hen the writer of these lines consulted him into his system. Agreement:' "... of the founding of regarding leaving a IS-year-long career in boys' Some called his technique of goad­ Agudath Israel in Katowicz.""... of Reb chinuch for assuming the editorship of this mag­ ing and pressuring his staff a matter of Aharon Kotler's active role in the Knes­ azine. "The Jewish Observer is a medium of chin­ "stretching" their abilities. It was more set elections in Israel."" ... of the basis of uch for adults," he said, adding, "Not only chil­ a case of prodding us to master the tight­ dren need chinuch. You should know that the p'sak of the eleven rabbanim against teaching adults how to evaluate Jewish issues and rope, and then learning to pironette on belonging to a so-called 'interdenomi­ approach current events is also an assignment of the wire. And if we pulled it off, he'd let national' group under a religious significance." us know how pleased he was.

10 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 * **

((you can't tell a book by its cover," the old adage goes - ~ ii:i'h ~.,,,"Q but it certainly is a factor in getting people to open the book and see ~~ M"=l ~ .,.,.,.,, i:.,.,.,., what's inside. rr·'t'h' ,,,,:'f ri,.,,""" .,i,,.,,, ~ iQtoeM im~ Rabbi Sherer often commented on - the need to make the cover as well as the contents of The Jewish Observer invit­ ing and even exciting) without sacrific­ ing dignity. Similarly, the prose should be accessible - even uplifting, at tin1es - but not pondersome or pompous. He also criticized the appearance of display i~m: '!"Q~ ~:::l M'l"T .,,~"Q ads in the middle of important articles ~~ M.,,:tN ~ mni:ni as intrusive and an assault to the lofty M"Q,.,,, messages being conveyed. (On the other hand, he was concerned about the magazine's financial solvency. "Use your M~ i"Q~ i~m= head and exercise good taste. You'll find a balance;' he'd say.) l"T'Mi:i.,,., i::i:MM i~

While he never pretended to have had M'Mii':.'' MN 'i:' ,.,~, high-tech skills, he was aware, when I joined The Jewish Observer in Fall of 1970 that Linotype was going to be M.:hi:li'CM if\'"l"Q CMi~ Q,,,, .,i,,-,:i replaced by computer-generated print, and he urged The Jewish Observer to CM.,iM M,,., 'D "" V"i i::-, ~ Mi~,,, explore alternatives to the old hot-lead type that was being used. By February i:: o:i'C"N ~ i'ClD 1971, The Jewish Observer was being computer-typeset and produced by i:::i-, Nnii~i t-Q"QMi-, NMi~ ~:i photo-offset, opening up new possibil­ ities in graphics. He similarly encour­ "imni ~M io-i: ~" aged The Jewish Observerto experiment with using color-sparingly enough to liven up the journal, without sacrificing the spirit of the message.

***

he values being imparted were eternal. The problems that arose Twere fresh and challenging. It was - and is - The Jewish Observer's task to address these problems com­ pellingly, with cogency and clarity. He not only demanded of us to respond to ~lD"l""D i'ttt" ~~,., the challenge, he taught us how to do so by example. We hope n""1!Jl:l to con­ ,.,~ ircn i"Qi'f M'C~ tinue to learn, thus being zocheh to maintain his legacy of ribbui k'vod Shamayim. •

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 II Rabbi Sherer's final address to an Agudath Israel convention; 1997

how badly I need a strong hand here) and I am eagerly awaiting you." In early 1943, Rabbi Sherer joined Agudath Israel of America as Executive Director of its Youth Council, an association that lasted 55 years. When Mike Tress became incapacitated in the early '60s, Rabbi Sherer under­ took the leadership of Agudath Israel of America. bbi Moshe Sherer was born to Hayeshiva, who also had a profound his parents, Reb Chaim Yehuda influence on him. nd Basya Bluma (Murachnik), During his years in Baltin1ore, his on 12 Sivan 5681/1921, nine years to the cousin and mentor in Klal activities, Reb day after the founding of Agudath Elimelech ("Mike") Tress, enlisted him Israel in Katowicz by the Gedolei Yisroel to travel to Washington D.C. to of the time. His father had emigrated approach congressmen and various from the Karlin-Stolin region of Russia bureaucrats to attempt to gain entry for to an America where shemiras Shabbos desperate refugees fleeing Europe. presented an insurmountable challenge When only twenty, he was the prin­ for most Jews who came to these cipal organizer of the 1941 Agudah shores, yet he maintained his dedication national convention in Baltimore. By the to Torah and mitzvos. next year, Mike Tress was inviting him After attending a local public school to join him in running the Agudath and afternoon Hebrew school in the Israel Youth Council: "You have no idea Rabbi Gedalya Schorr, 7":Yr. Bushwick section of Brooklyn, young GUIDANCE, SUPERVISION, Moshe was enrolled in Torah AND APPROVAL Vodaath, where his classmates includ­ ed the future Rosh HaYeshiva of bbi Gedalya Schorr ?":11, Rosh Philadelphia, Rabbi , and the Ha Yeshiva of Torah Vodaath who eventual Bostoner Rebbe of Boston and lliad been Rabbi Sherer's rebbi in Har Nof, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz. Torah Vodaath, later became his confi­ When Rabbi , dant and advisor in Kial matters until ;··..,, Rosh Ha Yeshiva of Baranovitch, vis­ his final days, in 1979. ited America in 1938, Reb Shraga Feiv­ In addition, Moreinu Yaakov Rosen­ el Mendlowitz ?":11, menahel of Torah heim, ?":11, architect and key founder of Vodaath, selected Moshe, still in his Agudath Israel, was deeply impressed teens, to accompany him in his travels with Reb Moshe's capabilities. Heads of in . This exposure to one the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah - first, of the leading Gedolei Yisroel of Pre-War Rabbi Reuvain Grozovsky ?":11, and Europe had an lasting impact on him. then, from the early !950's through 1963 Upon completing high school, he Rabbi Aaron Kotler ?":11 maintained an went to Baltimore, where he learned in almost daily telephone or personal con­

Yeshiva Ner Israel under Rabbi Yaakov Rabbi E/chonon Wasserman, 7""1, and Rabbi Aharon tact with Rabbi Sherer guiding him on Yitzchak Ruderman ?··~t, the Rosh Kotler, 7".Yr. countless matters, great and small. In the

12 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 35 years since, Rabbi Sherer benefited Under his leadership, Agudath Israel also from the direction - and won the played an important role in providing respect and confidence - of leading social welfare and educational assistance Torah authorities both in America and to Israeli Jews, and in advocating for overseas, such as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Israel's security needs. Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzky among others. Rabbi Sherer also helped engineer a remarkable change in the scope, image EXPANDING RANGE OF ACTIVITIES and influence of the American Ortho­ dox Jewish world. A staunch advocate fter the end of World War II, of Jewish religious education as early as Rabbi Sherer and Agudath Israel the 1960s, he helped establish this prin­ Acontinued to assist European ciple in numerous federal and state laws Jews - survivors interned in Dis­ - like the Elementary and Secondary

placed Person camps - with basic Education Act of 1965 - by testifying Rabbi Yaakov Y Ruderman, 7"l7. needs, and helped facilitate the immi­ before the U.S. Congress, as reported in gration and resettlement of Jewish a front-page story in The New York in the United States. refugees on these shores. In ensuing Times, that, to the full extent constitu- Under his leadership, Agudath Israel helped foster a phenomenal growth of Jewish adult education as well, notably through the popularization of the Daf Yomi. An advisor and confidant to numer­ ous American presidents, federal offi­ cials, members of Congress, governors and mayors, Rabbi Sherer enjoyed par­ ticularly close relationships with House Speaker John W. McCormack, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Senators Jacob K. Javits, Ted Kennedy, and Patrick Moynihan, New York Governor Hugh Carey, and Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani - at whose first inauguration, he delivered the invocation. In 1980, Rabbi Sherer became Pres­ ident of the World Agudah Organiza­ tion, and was active in many Torah caus­ es on the global scene. *** n 1943, Rabbi Sherer married the former Deborah Fortman, daughter Rabbi Sherer introducing political figure to Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzky, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and Rabbi Yaakov I of Rabbi Shimshon Zelig Fortman, Yitzchak Ruderman as Reb Yosef Friedenson and Rabbi Chaskel Besser stand by. Rav of Congregation Knesseth Israel, the decades, Rabbi Sherer spearheaded tionally permissible, children in non­ well-known White Shu! of Far Rock­ Agudath Israel's efforts on behalf of public schools were entitled to govern­ away, N.Y. Their fumily includes Reb Yis­ endangered Jews behind the Iron Cur­ mental benefits and services on an roel (Ira) and Ruchie Langer (Monsey), tain and in places like Syria and , and equitable basis with their public school Reb Yaakov Moshe (Robert) and Elkie [as Rabbi Neuberger writes on page 57] counterparts. He thereby allied himself Goldschmidt (Flatbush, Brooklyn), spearheaded highly effective efforts on with Catholic school advocates and Rabbi Shimshon Zelig and Shiffy Sher­ behalf of teenagers and young adults again rankled the larger American Jew­ er (Flatbush, Brooklyn), and ;rv:i many fleeing Khoumeini's Iran. In 1991, years ish establishment. In 1972, his efforts on grandchildren and great grand-children. of clandestine activity on behalf of Sovi­ behalf of education led to his being His passing on 21 Iyar!May 17 after et Jews culminated in his establishment named national chairman of a multi­ a short, severe illness left Agudath of an office in Moscow to coordinate faith coalition ofleaders representing the Israel and Kial Yisroel bereft of a Agudath Israel's activities in Russia. five million non-public school children beloved, irreplaceable leader. •

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 13 "'\

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090t·tsi- Cott) :xv.:1 00Zl·t8t (Ott) • 80ZtZ ONVlAH\!'W: '3HOWI.l1VSI • 3NV1 NOSllM ·iw oot Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Klugman PORTRAIT OFA LEADER An Appreciation of Rabbi Moshe Sherer 7"Yt

For the Torah Jew, leadership is the province of Torah giants. The Torah is both the blueprint of the world and the law of life, and only one who is completely suffused with Torah can serve as a guide and leader. VI/hat leadership role, then, can there be for the layman? Is there any such thing as Torah lay-leadership, and if so what are its components? Moshe Rabbeinu was King, Prophet, Teacher and Leader of the Jewish People. Yet when Hashem commanded Moshe to construct the Tabernacle, the knowledge and evel}' skill" (Shemos 31,4). The dwelling place of the Divine Presence, He selected Midrash, as explained by the Chiddushei HaRim, Beza/el to do the actual construction. Beza/el, asserts that these qualities are granted to anyone, although possessed of an extraordinarily high level even laymen, "who work with selfless dedication, of Ruach Hakodesh, was, in that sense, the first and devote their life and their entire personality to Jewish "lay-leader." Moshe taught and guided, but the construction of a dwelling place for the he needed Beza/el, not only to build the Mishkan Shechina (Divine Presence) on this world." and to fashion its vessels, but also to suggest the As Hashem appointed Beza/el to build the proper order of construction. Mishkan, so - one may say - did He choose G-d granted Beza/el, "G-dly spirit, wisdom, insight, Rabbi Moshe Sherer to lead American fewl}' through a pivotal era in its histol)'. Just as he Rabbi Klugman lives in where he is a rnaggid in a yeshiva imbued Beza/el with "G-dly spirit, wisdom ... ," so did gedola. Author of a detailed biographical study of Rabbi San1son Raphael Hirsch (ArtscroU Mesorah}, he is a frequent contributor to these pages, includ­ he bless Rabbi Sherer with wisdom, vision, a sense ing biographical tributes to Rabbi Chaim Shtnulevitz ?"Yr (Feb. '79), the of responsibility, an understanding of people, Steipler Gaon 7"Yr (Nov. '85), and Rabbi Shimon Schwab ?"Yr (June '95). discretion, prudence and the ability to inspire and Rabbi Klugman is a member of a family that has been involved in Agu­ dath Israel for several generations. The author, who enjoyed a dose personal work with others. Rabbi Sherer worked tirelessly to relationship with Rabbi Sherer, acknowledges Rabbis Boruch B. Borchardt, combine his G-d-given talents to create a dwelling Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, and Avrohom Biderman for the information and place for the Shechina in America. insights they provided, as well as Rabbi Yonason Rosenblum for his edito­ rial guidance. References to Rabbi Sherer's hon1iletic comments, and his appli­ What is Jewish lay leadership? Rabbi Sherer's life cations of Jvfa'anwrei Chazal (1~limudic citations), are culled from Bishtei provides an eloquent response. Ainayim, a collection of Rabbi Sherer's essays.

The Jewish Observer, Summer 7998 15 THE SCOPE OF HIS VISION What vision enables one to scale the mountain? The response was given by abbi Sherer once described the • that ultimate leader of Israel, King vision that is necessary for one abbi Sherer never David: "LaHashem ha'aretz umelo'a Rwho aspires to make the world a tevel veyoshvei va - The earth is the dwelling place for the Divine Presence. Rlost sight of the limits L-rd's and its fullness, the world of The Midrash relates that when men and those who dwell in it" approached Mount Moriah, of activism. Advocacy, ( Tehillim 24, I). To scale the mountain he asked Isaac, "Do you see what I publicity and politicking requires a deep awareness that our task see?,, in life is to demonstrate that every "I see a magnificent mountain, may be incumbent aspect of Creation belongs to Hashem. topped by a cloud;' Isaac replied. To spread that awareness is, in effect, Abraham then turned to Eliezer upon us, but in the end creating Shem Shamayim. and Yishmael and asked them the same Kiddush Hashem, sanctification of question. he always stressed, the Divine name, was the raison d'etre "We don't see anything but a only Hashem of Rabbi Sherer's life. He burned with stretch of desertt they replied. "If so," ambition to make the Divine Name Abraham told them, "stay here with determines the results. beloved and respected. He saw himself the donkey." as Hashem's ambassador every single Only one who is able to see the moment of the day, to Jew and non-Jew magnificent mountain, Rabbi Sherer • alike. explained, who can set for himself lofty Rabbi Sherer once contemplated request­ goals, who can discern the splendor dwelling place for the Divine Presence. ing a powerful former government official and glory of closeness to Hashem, is Those, however, who see only wilder­ to help save the life of a Jew behind the Iron able to take upon himself the challenge ness are destined to remain in the Curtain. It was assumed that the person to scale Mount Moriah, and make it a desert. ivould then seek in return so1ne public indi-

A LEADER WITH FEW PEERS

Under Secretary ofStare, Stuart£ Eizenstad!; whose son learns This unique man bridged the world of religion and pol­ in the Kolle/ of Mirrer Yeshiva ofjerusalem - in good measure, itics with an unwavering sense of integrity, and absolute non· due ID Rabbi Sherer's efforts - prides himself on his close friend­ partisanship in domestic politics. ship with Rabbi Sherer, requested that the following apprecia­ There was a connection between his two worlds, how­ tion of Rabbi Sherer be included in The Jewish Observer. ever. Rabbi Sherer was not only strictly Orthodox in his Rabbi Moshe Sherer was one of the most remarkable religious practices and behavior, but had the ethics of our people it has ever been my privilege to know. He combined Jewish prophets - tikkun olam, the desire to repair the a capacity to live in two worlds: the religious and the sec­ breaches in the world. This was the connective tissue ular, in ways few people have before him or are likely to between h_is religious an secular activities. For him, being in the future. a Jew was not just a matter of strict religious observance, On the one hand, he was a religious scholar and leader but it was putting the values of our religion into his daily of Agudath Israel with few peers. His leadership of Agu­ life to help others. dath Israel was known worldwide for its energy, vision and In later years, I worked with Rabbi Sherer on Jewish prop­ deep commitment to Orthodox religious values. He was erty restitution issues in Europe. His advice and counsel a role model for Orthodox Jewry. were as wise in these last years as they were 20 years ago, On the other hand, he was deeply involved in the sec­ when we first met. ular world ln a variety of social justice issues. In this capac­ Rabbi Sherer radiated integrity, but also warmth. I have ity, I first met Rabbi Sherer in the late 1970s as President lost a dear friend, the Jewish people have lost an impor­ Carter's chief domestic policy adviser. tant Jewish leader, and the United States is diminished by He met frequently with presidents, both Republican and the loss of one of its leading citizens. The mark he left on Democratic. President Carter had a deep respect for him. both the religious and secular worlds will be in.delible. Rabbi Sherer felt completely at home in the White House, Stuart E. Eizenstadt just as he felt completely comfortable in a synagogue. Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs

16 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 cation of support, which could have been perceived as condoning behavior totally unacceptable for a few. (The details are still too sensitive ta be made public.) Rabbi Sher­ er called Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzky ~-~r, who asked for time to think it over. The next day he called Rabbi Sherer back and told him that to save a life, one can transgress almost any con1mandrnent, but not create Chillul Hashem. Rabbi Sherer took into consideration the potential Kiddush or Chillul Hashem of every detail of the Agudah's activities. Every letter or document bearing the Agudah's emblem reflected that concern. He insisted on reviewing almost every public announcement written by the Agudah staff. Sometimes a critical let­ ter would undergo numerous revisions until he was sure that every word was just right. In his eyes, Agudath Israel - created by Gedolei Yisroel as the embod­ iment of Kl.al Yisroel- was the ultimate chaver she'eino motzi mitachas yado davar she'eino mesukan - the ta/mid Vice President Albert Gore, fr. greets Rabbi Sherer at the White House, together with the Agudath Israel Lead­ chacham who does not proffer anything ership Mission to \-Vashington; 1997 that is less than perfect. He illustrated this perfectionism hiring on the basis of sexual orientation. levels of semicha (rabbinic ordination) with a story of how Rabbi Aharon Though there was little chance of this - no, he never went to college - as his Kotler, his mentor in Kial activity, factor emerging with someone seeking mentor for thirty five years. worked with him on a press release, employment in the Agudah, the moral Vice-President Albert Gore, Jr.'s ensuring that every word was just right. issue could not be ignored- especial­ speech at the Agudath Israel dinner just ly after the Mayor had made clear his hours after Rabbi Sherer's petira was the Applying the Kiddush Hashem Imperative position that the Executive Order fitting capstone to a life of Kiddush applied to religious organizations no less Hashem. Perhaps never before in Amer­ he Kiddush Hashem imperative than to secular groups. ican history had a national leader paid meant that the Agudah frequent­ The court battle jeopardized much such eloquent tribute to Torah values: Tly took public positions on mat­ more than two million dollars. Mayor "I'm told that fifty-five years ters far afield from the narrow partisan Koch was a man who did not forgive and ago, ... most Jews who came to Ameri­ concerns of Orthodox Jews. The moral forget. In truth, though, he had been ca thought. .. that to live in America state of American society was Kial Yis­ warned to expect a fight from Rabbi they would have to compromise and roefs concern, as well. Behind public Sherer. The morning after the Agudah that the new country would not be pronouncements, he also worked dis­ filed its lawsuit, Rabbi Sherer received hospitable to the deep-felt expression creetly with a variety of non-Jewish reli­ a call from one of Mr. Koch's Deputy of their religious faith .... gious groups on moral issues of com­ Mayors. "I told the Mayor," he said, "that "Thankfully, under the leadership mon concern. That cooperation avoided, there would be no opposition from most and spiritual guidance of Rabbi Sher­ at the same time, any suggestion of ecu­ recipients of city funding. But Rabbi er, you proved them wrong. You have menism or inter-faith dialogue. Sherer will fight you on this." He did, proved that you can be active citizens In 1984, Agudath Israel risked and he won. in every single dimension of American $2,000,000 annually in municipal fund­ That concern with broader issues of life and still keep and practice the ing by challenging in court Mayor morality and social justice, as well his deepest elements of your faith. Edward Koch's Executive Order 50, unbending integrity, explains why Sen­ "I believe that lesson, the truth of which required all agencies doing busi­ ator Daniel Patrick Moynihan took the which you demonstrate in your lives ness with the City of New York to under­ Senate floor to eulogize the yeshiva boy every single day, is an endearing and take in writing not to discriminate in with Yoreh Yoreh and Yadin Yadin, two encouraging lesson for all of the Unit-

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 17 ed States of America and for the world. Ultimately, if all Americans can do what you do in balancing their spir­ itual lives and their secular lives, if we can affirm our deepest spiritual beliefs and still remain active and productive and fruitful in the secular world, then we will move toward that more perfect union envisioned by our founding fathers." That expression of respect was no accident. Rabbi Sherer put enormous effort into speaking the language and understanding the concerns of others far removed from Torah Judaism. He knew how to present the eternal truths of the Torah in a fashion that could be appre­ ciated even by non-observant and non­ Jew. This is as it should be. The Torah gives direction on every aspect of life, Yosef Mendelovich visits Agudath Israel headquarters at 5 Beekman Street. Rabbi Shmuel Bloom and Chaim Dovid Zwiebel in attendance; 1985 and one can hardly expect the world "to be filled with knowledge of G-d as water overflowed Center on to the not actually sacrifice Isaac at the akei­ covers the sea" unless that knowledge is surrounding street. The following day, da, yet the fact that he never did does presented properly to those who other­ The New York Times tucked the whole not detract one iota from the merit of wise have no direct access to it. story into five lines on page 16. "This is his willingness to do so. 'J\h mensch darf no loss to us," one of the Moetzes mem­ tun, nisht oiftun - Man is enjoined to PERSPECTIVE: bers told Rabbi Sherer. "We didn't do; not to accomplish." We are enjoined daven to the Times, who can't help us in to do what we can within the Torah's Dealing With Disappointment any case. We davened to Hashem, who guidelines. Nothing more. does not disdain even our lowly tefillos." • Those active in the recent An1 "Mi ya'aleh behar Hashem!" Who, Jews can protest before the "con­ Echad campaign were convinced that a King David asks, will be capable of science of humanity," Rabbi Sherer home page on the Internet would great­ ascending that magnificent mountain wrote; they can turn to the U.N. and to ly increase the campaign's effectiveness. where the Divine Presence rests? Who will friendly governments; but in the depths But Rabbi Sherer, the expert on the value succeed in making the Divine Presence of their heart, they know that all these of public relations, refused. The Moet­ tangible on this world. "Mi yakum addresses are of dubious value at best. zes Gedolei HaTorah did not sanction bimkom kadsho?" Who has the strength They know that in the final analysis there such a page for Agudath Israel, he and stamina to remain at the top of is but one source of salvation. His reply explained, and Am Echad would not Hashem's mountain, continually sancti­ may seem to tarry; but His is the only have one either. Everyone in the room fying His name? ( Tehillim 24,3) reliable address. protested that Am Echad was not Agu­ • In the '60s, Agudath Israel invest­ dath Israel. While conceding the point, bbi Sherer's life taught us much ed enormous energy and resources Rabbi Sherer still insisted that the Moet­ bout scaling the mountain, seeking ways to lessen the frequently zes be consulted, and a quick phone call bout leading others in the climb overwhelming financial burden of par­ confirmed his original judgment. to bringing the Divine Presence to rest ents with children in religious schools. Despite his unabashed pride over the on this world. A 1971 Supreme Court decision ren­ accomplishments of Torah Jewry in Rabbi Sherer never lost sight of the dered a decade of effort futile. It was a America, he had a keen awareness of the limits of activism. Advocacy, publicity low moment for the entire Agudah. perils of what he called spiritual and politicking may be incumbent Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner 7'"Yl wrote Rabbi anorexia. upon us, but in the end, he always Sherer consoling him, reminding him of "Wherever one goes," he wrote stressed, only Hashem determines the Rabbi Yisroel Salanter's three rules of not long ago, "we meet in our camp results. Kial work: Nisht baiz verren, nisht far­ Jews who are satisfied with themselves • In 1970, Agudath Israel organized mattert verren, und nisht vellen oisfirren. and with their environment. Wherev­ a prayer gathering for Soviet Jews, Don't get angry, never tire, and don)t be er one goes, at every celebration and which was attended by 15,000, who obsessed with prevailing. Abraham did dinner, one hears a choir which sings

18 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 the praise of our successes and achievements. To tell the truth, I too participate in that choir. But in a moment of sober reflection, we must conclude that if we can be so smug at 'The 'Board of 'IJirectors, staff a time when the great majority of the Jewish People is in the state that it is, this only proves how ill we have and over 2,000 students of become with this spiritual anorexia, - with this lack of appetite and nar­ rowing of our spiritual horizons." BAIS YAAKOV OF BORO PARK FAITHFUL EMISSARY

he purest of 1notives can become tainted with the passage of time. mourn the passing of their THonor and position can wear away the idealism of youth. One may establish an institution or initiate a spir­ long time devoted friend, itual endeavor with the best of inten­ tions. Yet as time goes on, and one's suc­ cess gains recognition, one begins to identify one's creation with oneself, and the "shtadlon" for :K[a[ Yzsroel to view it as his own private enterprise. That is why the Torah specifically praises Moshe and Aharon for never for over half a century having lost their sense of themselves as Kial Yisroel's emissaries (see to Shemos 6,27). Rabbi Sherer, too, despite his great prestige and his access to the corridors of power, never viewed him­ self as more than an agent of the Kial. HORAV MOSHE SHERER""~ Eved le'avdei Hashem, a servant to the servants of G-d, is how he preferred to describe himself. Nor did he allow Agudath Israel to .Jfis friendship, devotion and wisdom become a private fiefdom. Under his tenure, Agudath Israel maintained a strict anti-nepotism policy. No spouse will never be forgotten. or child of an organizational official member could get a job in the Agudah. That policy caused resentment and some practical difficulties, but Rabbi Sherer insisted on it. Agudath Israel, he said, is not a private business, it belongs to the Kial. RABBI 0. EHRENREICH RABBI J.L. SHAPIRO As representatives of the Kial, Agu­ dah's services were available to any Jew PINCHOS MILLER and any Orthodox institution. The HERSHEL LIEBER Yoss! REIDER division that helps schools in their deal­ Presidium ings with the government does not dis­ tinguish between Yeshiva of Flatbush or MosHE KALTER, Vice President Ramaz, and Lubavitch or Satmar. NocHUM STEIN, Chairman ofthe Board Agudath Israel never hesitated to assist groups that sharply attacked it and

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 19 its president on other issues. Among the criticism. But even his battles were con­ DR.YITZCHOK PERLE major beneficiaries of Agudath Israel's ducted with grace, dignity and without efforts before the State Education a trace of personal animosity. He knew Department in Albany are those very that in any struggle it is not enough to WAKEUP CALL groups that are often its most vocifer­ start right; one must stay right. ous critics. They knew what one close Following Rabbi Reuvain Gro­ FROM colleague noted: Neither personal nor zovsky's dictum (see Ba'ayos Hazman), institutional consideration ever was a he refused to respond publicly to criti­ RABBI SHERER factor in any decision or effort of the cism from other Chareidi circles. Nor did Agudah. he respond publicly to ad hominem our years ago, Suri Feldman, a attacks, though they wounded him FBais Yaakov student from Brook­ SERVANT deeply. lyn, was lost on an outing in Con­ One of his great strengths was his necticut ... As you may recall, her class ecause he viewed himself as noth­ ability to choose the issues for which he was on their way to Sturbridge Vil­ ing more than an emissary of the would go to the barricades and those lage, a colonial town about 3 hours BAm Ha Torah, he was totally sub­ where he would hold fire. from New York. They had stopped servient to Daas Torah. His compliance for lunch in a park in Connecticut, with the directives of the Moetzes, SHEPHERD right near the bor­ including in recent years members who der. ... were younger than himself, was hough Moshe Rabbeinu had ten Suri Feldman was lost for two absolute. names, the Torah uses only that days, and a massive manhunt was There is a certain cynicism on this Tgiven to him by Pharaoh's daugh­ launched with the help of Hatzolah, point in our circles, skepticism whether ter, Basya (Shemos Rabba 1,32). Rabbi Agudath Israel, and others. Hundreds those involved in Kial work really do lis­ Chaim Shmuelevitz ';·~r explains that of volunteers were bussed in to ten to the gedolim. Rabbi Sherer was not this name reflects Basya's mesiras nefesh comb the area... but, to no avail. a man without firmly held and well in pulling Moshe from the water. A will­ On Thursday night at 11 :30 PM, thought out opinions of his own. But ingness to sacrifice for others defined I received a conference call from those who worked intimately with Moshe's essence as a leader. Chaim Dovid Zwiebel and Rabbi Rabbi Sherer over half a century attest Moshe Rabbeinu revealed his fitness Sherer, ?"ll!. Rabbi Sherer did most that his willingness to execute the will to lead Kial Yisroel, the Midrash says, by of the talking. "lzy;• he said, "I just of the gedolim was unequivocal. On his compassion for each and every sheep. spent an hour meeting with Suri more than one occasion, he dropped a Hashem chooses as leaders, Reb Chaim Feldman's father. He is certain that project he had worked on for months explains, those who feel the pain of each Suri is in Massachusetts.The police at the behest of the Moetzes. member of Kial Yisroel and take care of are only looking in Connecticut, The paradox that one of such sophis­ their needs. because she was lost in Connecti­ ticated and carefully considered views There are countless stories, which c_ut. I have already called Senator could still be so subservient to gedolei have yet to be told, of Rabbi Sherer's Kennedy's office! You must do Yisrael is only apparent. Rabbi Sherer efforts, far from the spotlight, on behalf something to get them to look in viewed his relationship with the gedolim of individuals in distress. He was con­ Massachusetts!" as the source of his strength. "For thir­ stantly in touch with government offi­ Rabbi Sherer's deep concern for teen years," he often said, «I was privi­ cials to ease the plight of Jews in trou­ the individual translated into a des­ leged to be a soldier in the army of Rabbi ble anywhere in the world. perate plea to save her life. Aharon Kotler." He was convinced that He had the ability to be absolutely dis­ Because of his call, contact was meetings of the Moetzes Gedolei creet. There were many projects on eventually made with the proper HaTorah were blessed with a special siy­ which he worked far from the public eye, authorities.The Massachusetts State ata diShmaya, and he endeavored to some of which will never be made pub­ Police started looking for her the ensure that all members of the Moetzes lic because of their sensitive nature. These next morning, in the small part of were able to attend its meetings. include quiet intervention for oppressed the park that was within the Mass­ or incarcerated Jews in the U.S. and else­ achusetts borders.. ;.That very WARRIOR where, even enlisting the help of the Vat­ morning she was found. ican, if that were necessary. abbi Sherer was a fighter who He was keenly sensitive to the emo­ Dr Perle of Brookline, Massachusetts, could hammer away at an issue tional stress of people undergoing health, is, a Regional Vice Pre_sident of Agudath Israel ofAmer:Jca. or years. He was unbending on financial or family crises, and often matters of principle and undeterred by approached Agudah supporters to qui-

20 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 etly raise funds for individuals in need. reproach, even as millions of dollars of returned. Many beneficiaries of his efforts never government funding were being admin­ Public scandals, especially those even knew that he was their benefactor. istered annually by various public agen­ involving Torah institutions, tore him Every necessary effort for others cies of the Agudah. And as Under Sec­ apart. He had no tolerance whatsoever was to be expected to him, there was no retary of State Stuart Eizenstadt told this for those whose involvement in corrupt such thing as "going out of the way" to writer, that absolute rectitude was rec­ schemes brought about Chillul Hashem. help. Someone once needed a favor from ognized in government circles. "Harchek min hakiyur vehadomeh lo - a government official in Israel. Rabbi If a government contract for social or Distance yourself from anything even Sherer set his alarm for 3:30 a.m. to educational services could not be fol­ resembling repulsive behavior;' he fre­ phone that key official The next morn­ lowed to the letter, Rabbi Sherer insist­ quently said. For all his loathing of cor­ ing he received a call thanking him for ed that the Agudah contact the relevant ruption, he invested monumental his efforts. He didn't understand: "I was agency explaining that it could not com­ behind-the-scenes efforts to prevent only doing my job. Perhaps," he asked, ply with the guidelines. If the regulations those scandals from bringing about even "you'll call me in an hour to thank me could not be amended, the money was greater Chillul Hashem. The fingerprints for putting on tefillin this morning?" But with his broad vision, he saw beyond the plight of individuals and asked himself whether they were symp­ tomatic of a larger communal problem. The Cope Institute for Vocational Train­ ing, Agudath Israel's employment ser­ vice, Agudah's efforts to address the aguna problem with the first N.Y. State "Get Law;' and the recently established - Project Y.E.S., which deals with the 'Dedicated in loving memory of growing problem of alienated youth of the Chareidi community, are just a few a giant of our people examples of how his concern with individual suffering led to major Kial undertakings. .,,,::ir INTEGRITY HoRAv MosHE SHERER

"Neki chapayim u'var leivav asher lo nassa lashav nafshi velo nishba lemirma Jfis vision, passion for 'TOrafi, and emunas cliacliamim are - Only one with clean hands and pure heart who has not lifted up his soul in tfie fieigfits of wfiat we strive for. We will nwer be able to vain, and one who does not use his word for purposes of deception [can ascend properly tfiank. fiim for tfie fielp tfiat fie gave our Hashem's holy mountain]" (Tehillim 24,4). organization, especially wfie11 we were just starting out.

abbi Sherer's absolute integrity explains much of his ability to be :May we merit to follow in fiis ways. Rmekadeish Sheim Shamayim, and is the reason for the great esteem he and the Agudah enjoyed in the eyes of the general public, from presidents on down. Rabbi Sherer bent over backwards to stay clear of even the slightest appear­ ance of impropriety. In an age where public scandals and financial malfea­ CHOFETZ CHAIM i HERITAGE FOUNDATION sance are a too frequent occurrence, 6 M~lnick Dri"" • Mon

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 21 '1'fie·'13oard of'lJirectors,

families, cfiildren, staff and volunteers worldwide of Cfiai rCifeline pay tribute to - HARAV MOSHE SHE1RER, 7"~t

wfiose dedication and commitment to

:Xia[ Yisroel created tfie environment for

RABBI SIMCHKSCHOLAR MENDEL BRILL JOSEPH SPRUNG E;iECUI1VE VICE-PRESIDENT CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD PRESIDENT

RABBI AVROHOM COHEN RABBI LEVI KATLOWITZ SHMUEL ZAKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT

NAfIONAL OFFI,<:;E 48. WEST 25THSTREET -Nl:.W YORK, NY 10010 NEWJER;iEY 108 2ND ST1'EH_•iLAKEWOOD, NJ 08701 .· 50UT,HEA~J ... 16sss NW 2No A,vEl>!UE - l'jloRrn M1i1vp J\EAcH. FL 33169 MIDWEST 38'56, 0AKTON - SKOKIE, IL 6Q076 21370 CONSTITUTION - SOUTHFIELD, Ml 48076 )' LONDON 19 A.l)!l.BROSE AVENUE - LONDON NWll 9AP fSRAEL CENTRAL OFFICE 2.4B MNFEI NfSHARIM - \:;JV'AT SHAUL, )ERUSALEM 91340 of Agudath Israel never appeared in con­ bility for the Agudah, the organization from his salary as an officer of Agudath nection with any case involving possi­ stopped borrowing money to cover Israel. When encouraged to accept a ble Chillul Hashem, but Rabbi Sherer did operations. From then on, Agudath raise, he refused: ('I don't need it. Give intervene personally on behalf of the Israel rarely missed a payroll, and he was it to the younger employees who have families of Orthodox Jews who had run always the last to be paid. He realized large families to support and children afoul of the law. that no staff member could give his full to marry off." Over the years, he had Rabbi Sherer was instrumental in efforts if he had to borrow money to many offers to serve as a paid consul­ establishing AARTS, the accrediting support a family. And although he was tant or adviser for various ventures. He agency for yeshivas gedolos receiving gov­ responsible for raising the budget, he refused every one of them. ernment funding for students of insti­ insisted that he have no authority to sign Until the mid-'SOs, he lived modest­ tutions of higher education, to ensure checks. ly in a rented flat. When forced to move that the pipeline of government fund­ "Velo nishba lamirma - he does not because the building was slated for ing was absolutely clean. He placed in use his word for purposes of decep­ demolition, several of his friends bought charge people of unimpeachable tion" ( Tehillim ibid). Politicians and him a house, which he accepted only on integrity to make the process as fraud organizational leaders live day-to-day by condition that the lot would revert to the proof as possible. making promises they have no intention Agudah after he and his wife passed away. Rabbi Sherer)s interest in career of keeping. No one expects otherwise. This refusal to benefit from Kial training and employment services Rabbi Sherer, says a colleague who work, specifically the fact that he did not stemmed from his desire to help Bnei worked at his side for the last fifty years, even own his own home, was one of the Torah without college educations earn never made a promise unless he was sure major factors in the Steipler Gaon's respectable livings without being depen­ he could keep it. backing his appointment in 1980 as dent on government largesse. chairman of the Vaad Hapoel of the "Clean hands" betokens much more SELFLESSNESS World Agudah. than not stealing or cheating. In those Honor, too, is a form of payment. two words lies an entire weltanschauung, ot only do Orthodox institu­ Rabbi Sherer refused to be honored by a conviction that Klal work must never tions require unimpeachable Agudath Israel or any other institution. be undertaken for personal or institu­ N integrity, their leaders must be He explained to his son that he wanted tional benefit. A businessman once above any suspicion of self-interest. Neki to show that one can be a servant of Kial needed a contact in Washington for an chapayim, says the Midrash, refers to Yisroel without receiving honor or export license from a foreign country. Moshe, who declared, "I have not taken wealth in return. Rabbi Sherer put him in touch with the even a single donkey from them." Had « Yisa beracha me'eis Hashem u'tzed­ proper State Department official. When he done so, Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz daka mei'Eilokei yisho-He [who has the recipient thanked Rabbi Sherer and explained, he would not have wielded clean hands] shall receive a blessing from asked him how he could repay the favor, the same influence. the L-rd and just kindness from the G--0 Rabbi Sherer told him there was noth­ Rabbi Sherer's only income came of his salvation"( Tehillim 24,5). Rabbi ing to repay, and added: "I will check the books of the Agudah, and if I find that this year you gave more than last year, I will return it." One of the divisions of Agudath Israel provides assistance to yeshivas in deal­ ing with the government regulatory agencies. Its operating expenses are high, and its services are of great value to the yeshivas that avail themselves of its ser­ 11 - vices. Rabbi Sherer adamantly rejected ? ~t 11\!J il'l'>'J :i1n suggestions that the yeshivas be charged ivit ?:>? tn?'I!) iJi1i iov? Ji"' '!!),,, a fee for those services. "We exist to ser­ vice the yeshivas, period;' he said. The most he would permit was that Agudath Israel send these yeshivas ad blanks at dinner time. Some yeshivas participat­ ed; many did not. From the early '60s, when Rabbi Sherer assumed full financial responsi-

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 23 Sherer viewed himself as the most blessed of men, convinced, as he was, that no satisfaction could rival service to the PROFESSOR LAWRENCE KATZ Kial. He quoted in this connection the Zohar's rewording of the Psalmist. ''Ashrei she'Keil Yaakov b'ezro shivro al RABBI SHERER,,,,~ - Hashem Elokav - Praiseworthy is one whose help is Jacob's G-d, whose break­ ing is for Hashem his G-d." Rabbi Sher­ NEVER OFF DUTY er explained: "Blessed is one whose back­ breaking toil is the result of his labors in Rabbi Sherer was totally committed to the needs of KlalYisroel and the cause the service of the Almighty." of Agudath Israel.! don't think he was ever off-duty. I remember a Sunday after­ noon at the Agudah office on 5 Beekman Street some thirty years ;)gO. Rabbi ONE PEOPLE .Sherer devoted close to three hours to educate this .young Baltimorian who was becoming active in the localAgudah about the history,.projects and goals "Zeh dor dorshav mevakshei fanecha of Agudath Israel, and the techniques of communal service. When he started, - This is the generation of those who there were a few members of the Agudah staff to join in. When we ended, we seek Him, those who strive for Your Pres­ were alone, His enthusiasm never lagged. Except for us, the offices were empty. ence Jacob - Selah"(Tehillim 24,6). He locked up. Dorshav is written as dorsho, in the There were many Sunday afternoons when Rabb.i Sherer locked up the office. singular. The commentators explain that For him, his life's work was a twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week respon­ true dedication to seeking G-d can only sibility. That was a secret of his ·success. He was the right man at the right time be attained when the community strives - all the time. as one for His closeness. Lawrence M. Katz, a Professor in the University of Baltimore School Of Law, is a member of the National Board and Regional Vice President of Agudath Israel of America. he unity of Kial Yisroel under the banner of Torah was a central Tmotif in Rabbi Sherer's life work. In our day, he wrote, the individual can He never stopped stressing the Rabbi Sherer's life was unceasing battle protect himself from the mighty storm importance of communal unity, and against the Reform and Conservative winds of impurity and decadence only worked tirelessly to bring Chassid and movements, which he viewed as the ulti­ if he is part of the tzibbur. Only with the Litvak, Ger1nan, Polish, Hungarian, mate distortion of Judaism. ko' ach harabbim - the strength one Sephardi Jews and American Yankees He dedicated fifteen years of his life draws from being part of the commu­ under the aegis of Agudath Israel. He to studying the scourge of Reform. His nity - can the individual guard the worked tirelessly for communal peace, pain was personal. Yet he made sure to sparks of Divinity within. and succeeded eminently in preventing explain his position, no matter how the importation of strife from abroad. sharp his prose, in a language that non­ Many saw the Hand of Providence in the Orthodox Jews could understand. ''A Jew fact that the first act of the Gerrer Rebbe is a Jew is a Jew, period;' he never tired nn~l i;:,r7 and Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman on of telling them, "but there is only one their recent joint visit to America was Torah and one Judaism:' For that reason, 'i"::li il~r.l ., to go directly to the beis hachaim even the Forward and The Jewish Week, (cemetery) where Rabbi Sherer was whose liberal editorial views he fought May J(/al Yisroel being interred. bitterly for decades, expressed great - Limud Ha Torah is lifeblood of the Jew admiration for him after his passing. continue his Derech of and its unifying bond. The DafYomi and Cooperation with heterodox move­ HaShas were of such importance ments was anathema to him. The wisdom, unity and to him because he saw them as power­ famous p'sak of the eleven Roshei ful tools to unite the Jewish People Yeshiva and Rabbanim, forbidding J(iddush HaS.0em through limud haTorah. Orthodox representatives to sit togeth­ By the same token, all anti-Torah er with non-Orthodox in religious movements had to be fought, and there groups, such as the Synagogue Coun­

R~~Quality Baked Goods could be no accommodation with those cil of America, was dictated to Rabbi who attempt to pervert and falsify Sherer and written in his own hand. Judaism. The all-consuming passion of That was 1956, when the Reform and

24 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 Conservative movements were the sole spokesmen of American Jewry, and that p'sak was a courageous state­ ment of principle. Rabbi Sherer con­ sidered it to be one of the milestones of the emergence of an independent Orthodoxy in America.

RELATING TO THE MEN HE LED

Moshe's successor, Joshua, was cho­ sen by Hashem because he was an ish asherru'ach bo, a man in whom the spir­ it dwells. Ghazal define that leadership quali­ ty as an ability to relate to each person on his own level.

abbi Sherer knew how to get along with everyone, from Roshei Yeshi­ Rva to gentile politicians. He spoke Rabbi Sherer, with the Ant Echad delegation, visits Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman; 1998 to each person in his own language. With the ben yeshiva, he would reminisce a young man, he had an instinctive grasp to listen. That ability to make someone about Reb Aharon Kotler; with the of how to build a person. else feel important enabled him to enlist Hungarian baa/ebos, be shared a Chas­ • One summer, his Rosh Yeshiva in hundreds of busy individuals for vari­ sidishe vort; with the politician, he Ner Israel, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak ous Agudah councils and projects. focused on an issue of mutual concern. Ruderman ., .. lll, asked him to learn • When a former staff member was Nowhere was his talent to bond with with the 15-year-old son of one of the sitting shiva for the death of a child, people of different backgrounds more leading local rabbanim. Baltimore did Rabbi Sherer went to the shiva and told apparent than in his relationships with not then have a yeshiva for high­ him how strong he was. Upon return­ She'eiris Hapleita, the survivors of the scbool-age boys, and the young ing to the office, he conveyed a differ­ Holocaust. Rabbi Sherer, born and bred teenager showed considerably more ent picture to the staff, and urged each in the United States, was every inch an interest in perfecting his tennis game of them to go lift the spirits of the strick­ American Jew. And yet, the survivors of than in Gemora. The two hit it off and en father and report back to him how Auschwitz, Janowska and Bergen­ learned well all summer. The young he looked. Belsen, hailing from Lodz, Lublin, boy was saved for Yiddishkeit, and, in Rabbi Sherer was a speaker and Serdehel and Lutzk, saw him as one of time, became perhaps the most influ­ writer of rare eloquence. He had an abil­ their own. The love and reverence ential communal rabbi in America. His ity to bring a Midrash to life by relat­ which the Europeishe Yidden had for him name: Emanuel Feldman. ing it to the burning issues of the day. was ardent and expressive. Over the years, Rabbi Sherer penned Bishtei Einayim, a collection of his He cultivated people of talent and thousands of elegantly phrased notes in articles on American Jewish life, is endeavored to harness their abilities on his own hand acknowledging a kindness masterful in both analysis and presen­ behalf of the Kial. His investment in rela­ received or congratulating someone on tation. It was published in modern tionships over years often paid large div­ some achievement. Recipients of those Hebrew, and many Torah Jews in Amer­ idends. He nurtured to maturity a notes were warmed by the knowledge ica, for whom it was intended, have yet whole generation of gifted young that the president of Agudath Israel had to discover its treasures. activists, and gave many of them impor­ noticed them. tant positions in the movement. • At a wedding, he once spotted one PERFECTIONIST His ability to offer fulsome praise of the band members learning dafhay­ gave many the confidence that they had omi during the breaks. Rabbi Sherer rganizational talents, Rabbi S.R. something to contribute. Though the went over to compliment the young Hirsch points out, are not nec­ liberality of his praises, both public and man, and made a point of doing so in 0 essary for Torah leaders. For that private, could have been mistaken for front of others. reason the Torah tells in such detail how flattery, it was his way of encouraging He did not talk down, even to those Moshe needed Yisro to advise him on others to reach their potential. Even as many years younger, and he knew how the organization of the judicial system

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 25 in the wilderness. But those talents are methods he employed deserve to be IS-hour days, and inspired others to fol­ crucial for effective lay leadership. studied by anyone attempting to bind low his lead. He exhorted his followers Rabbi Sherer was a uniquely gifted together disparate people in the service with the words of Tehillim -"When the organizer, who built Agudath Israel into of the Kial. foundations are destroyed, what has the an effective advocate for the Kial. The He was indefatigable, often working righteous man done" ( Tehillim 11,3).

DR. IRVING LEBOVICS RABBI SHERER ?"~i AND THE "PEOPLE THING" abbi Sherer's many great accom­ point, the State Senate Judiciary "Shmuel, you know how busy and Rplishments created an enviable Committee asked us to accept sig­ tired I have been, but I am coming to legacy, but they only begin to describe nificant amendments, which would California only for you ... :' the man I knew and remember with undermine important aspects of our Coming only for me? I had my such fondness. bill. It was clear to us that if we would doubts, but I still felt special and moti­ I remember his unheralded mesir­ not accept these amendments, the bill vated to work. Nothing would get in as nefesh away from the crowds, such would die in Committee. Eventually, the way of the Avodos Hakodesh of as the numerous trips he made to I was on one of those Agudah con­ Agudas Yisroel. California to help jump-start our ference calls during which Rabbi Sher­ While sitting in Rabbi Sherer's fledglingAgudah branch. His wise use er said, "Sometimes it is better to take home during the shiva, I noticed that of quips and anecdotes would dissolve no loaf than half a stale loaf... :' He everyone who walked in was greet­ all barriers. For example, on his first then asked my opinion. ed by one or another family mem­ trip to , we organized a I explained that we had gained ber with the statement, "You don't breakfast with some prominent polit­ respect and political friends in the know how much you meant to my ical figures. The room was taut with process of advocating this bill. Some father.... " And it was true. Everyone nervous tension. We were unsure of of those politicians had ''gone to the did mean so much to him. On one of ourselves, and those politicians had no mat" on our behalf to negotiate this his early trips to California, we were idea what to make of a group of compromise and save our bill. I felt zocheh to honor Rabbi Sherer with Orthodox Jews. Until Rabbi Sherer reluctant to back away from them, Kriyos Hashem (declaring the baby's entered the room, and suddenly, we even if it meant accepting"half a loaf." name) at the bris of our son were confident, and they were Rabbi Sherer immediately changed Yehoshua. From that point on, when­ impressed.They weren't certain who his position over the objections of ever he would ask about my family, he was, but they all clamored to be some of his own staff, and later he would always add, " ... and how is photographed with him. When he strongly defended our action against myYehoshua Chaim?"Yehoshua cel­ rose to speak, he began by saying, 'The criticism from other Jewish organi­ ebrated his Bor Mitzva just before Jewish people have been compared to zations. He recognized the impor­ Pesach this year. His most prized gift a teabag... .They don't get going until tance of the "people thing" - forg­ was the personal note Rabbi Sherer they are in hot water." He explained ing relationships and building mutual took the trouble to send while in the how the establishment of Agudath respect based on integrity. midst of his own suffering. Israel of California was going to Rabbi Sherer expressed true and change that mindset for the Jews on My "Importance" in His Eyes deep love for every Jew he met. One the West Coast. got the feeling that every attendee of The tension was broken. From that ost vivid in my memory, how­ the thousands who came to the year­ point on, he had them proverbially Mever, was the way he would take ly conventions was his personal "eating out of his hand." my arm when he spoke to me, the friend, and had come there to be with way he would make me feel so impor­ him, to share a gut vort, to say hello, Appreciating the "People Thing" tant, even though I knew I wasn't.This or just to experience that moment year, he was planning to attend our when Reb Moshe would hold his arm, ne of our first legislative forays Shabbos of Chizuk, after the conclu­ smile, look him in the eye, and ask, O in California involved a bill that sion of the Am Echad mission to Eretz "Vos macht a Yid?" allowed for religious exemptions to Yisroel. When I called to discuss his We miss him already. required autopsies. Passing that bill impending visit and to seek his help Dr. Lebovics is a member of the Presid­ involved a long and hard political bat­ in convincing other speakers to ium of Agudath Israel of California. tle against strong opposition.At one come, he responded by saying:

26 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 When the foundations of the world are Moshe Sherer. He weakened, the loyal Jew must not shrug taught us that Kiddush his shoulders with resignation that he Hashem is not one can change nothing. obligation of many; it During his illness four years ago, is the be-all and end-all when stricken with the disease that of existence. claimed his life, he hardly let up at all. Rabbi Sherer's lega­ There is still so much to do, he told every­ cy has not coine to a one. To Rabbi Sherer, mesiras nefesh for close. He continues to the Kial was exactly that. He sacrificed inspire, to den1and all his time, strength, passion and talent selflessness, integrity, for the Kial. He gave his life. Every bit responsibility, and care Rab,11i Sherer enjoying remarks /1y the Te/sher Rosh Yeshiva, Rab/Ii i\1ordechai Gifta, N··v•:>l!J ofit. for others. His legacy The Gates of Tears, Ghazal say, are will continue to be felt as long as Torah and the freedom to raise their children never closed (Berachos 32). But, Rabbi life unfolds for hundreds of thousands today as loyal members of the Am Sherer added, they are locked for any­ of American Jews, who have the ability HaTorah, in large part due to him. one who sheds tears when he could be taking action. We do not have the lux­ RABBI NESANEL KASNETT ury today of hand wringing and despair. Rabbi Sherer insisted that public functions start and finish on titne. His note-passing to long-winded speakers at THEYOSEIF the Agudah conventions was legendary. One prestigious speaker confessed that OF HIS GENERATION he preferred to speak on Shabbos so that he could be spared such notes. The scene was his office suite atAgudath Israel headquarters on Manhattan's His strictness about usage of tin1e William Street. He had just offered me the directorship of Agudah's new Wash­ derived fron1 a deep conviction that peo­ ington office and, sensing that perhaps the assignment was a bit daunting for a ple's tin1e is valuable. 1-Ie sa\v the annu­ kolle/Yungerman, assured me that he would do everything in his power to ensure al conventions as pri1narily a public my success. He said, with such a directness and sincerity that there coufd be no foru111 for Gedolei Yisroel to air their doubt as to his humility, that what gave him pleasure was to enable young men views on n1atters of public concern, and to succeed in their careers. And then he asked, quite unexpectedly, if I know he wanted to be sure that people why Yosef was called an "ish matz/iach" (Bereishis 39,2). returned year after year to hear them. "Because he was successful in all hfs endeavors," I replied. Only smooth-as-clockwork conven­ "But that is not the meaning of the word motzliach;' Rabbi Sherer gently remon­ tions, he felt, could ensure that. Expe­ strated. "If the Torah were telling us that Yosef was 'a successful man; it would rience proved hin1 correct. have stated ish mutz/ach. Indeed, the very next verse states, nwiv WK 7::11 Rabbi Sherer had an unusual knack l'T':J n'7:!1r.>. So you see, ti'era, that Hashem, who certainly transcends being called for public relations. Citing Hashem's 'successful; is described as a matz/iach.That is, He enables people to be succesful. blessing to Avraham - "I will make And that, too, was Yosef's role - in Potiphar's house, in the prison, in Pharoah's your name great and you shall be a bless­ palace:• ing" - he described publicity as a means Rabbi Sherer did not have to conclude with the obvious: He saw that ish mat­ to "inake one's nan1e great" in order to zliach was his selfless, G-dly role as well - for Kla/Yisroel and for Reb Yisroel. serve as a "source of blessing" to the Je\v­ For this particular Reb Yisroel, it meant everything from securing a tasteful­ ish People. ly appointed suite of offices five blocks from the White House and alerting all his Capital contacts to my arrival, to teaching me (at a private evening meeting A DIVINE SMILE in his home just prior to my departure) how to serve a business lunch in my office and what type of socks to wear for meetings. Oh yes, he was thorough, magine, if you will, someone asking meticulous - a total professional; and he was a ta/mid chacham, an an av, a beloved the Chafetz Chaim, the Imrei Emes father to his staff - and the Yosef of his generation. I and the other great Torah personal­ Rabbi Kasnett is a senior editor of the Artscrolf Shos, and is author of three books of essays ities who founded Agudath Israel 86 on Torah thought: A Future and a Hope,Ancient Mountain, Timeless Hills, and Kayin and Hevel. years ago: What type of lay leadership do you envision for this new movement? I venture they would reply - Rabbi

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 27 RABBI lAIBISH BECKER EVERY DAY, ANEW AGENDA

hen the Torah recounts how de. Let me dwell instead on a specific Siyum HaShas and a national con­ W Avraham Avinu became older, single day. vention - and had myriad things on it employs the phrase "ba bayamim" his mind.Yet there was passion in his NOT THE MORMNG Arna, - literally, "came with days" (Bereishis voice, a conviction that was BUf'lllE DAY BEFORE Kla/Yisroel 24, I). Life, after all, is a series of days. in need, and that this issue had to be When people look back at their past, t was the morning after the 75th addressed immediately. or for that matter, at the past of any Inational convention of Agudath Israel It brought to mind the words of group of people or of a country, their of America. The past year had seen the the Boyan er Rebbe, ?"11! who, one year memories are made up of special days. Agudath Israel-sponsored North Amer­ when he could not come to the con­ They may not recall what they did on ican Daf Yomi Siyum HaShas; recent vention to deliver a message, had told any specific day a week ago, but they weeks had been a blur of convention Rabbi Sherer to convey in his name preparations; all this atop that serving Kial Yisroel was in some the other, ongoing work of ways, like building a sukka. The Torah Agudath Israel.After a year tells us that a sukka used for the mitz­ of non-stop diligent effort, va requires an act of "ta'aseh" - the everyone was fatigued and making of a sukka specifically for the was hoping for some festival - v'lo min he'asui - and not respite from the "urgent using one made for some earlier pur­ mode." pose.A person, too, he said, must con­ Rabbi Sherer called me struct a "new sukka" for each occa­ into his office and said; sion, and cannot rely on structures "Labish, as you know, at the remaining from the past. Particularly Motza'ei Shabbos keynote when someone works for the klal, he session, I spoke of the cri­ must never rest on his laurels, on his sis engulfing Eretz Yisroel, past accomplishments, but must with the Reform and Con­ always be embarking on new under­ Rabbi Sherer shares a humorous, but poignant, servative movements' efforts to break moment at the 15th National Convention; 1997 takings for the future. the 50-year-old Israeli status quo. If those Rabbi Sherer embodied this con­ will remember vividly a day of special forces succeed, chas v'shalom, there could cept of ta' as eh, of always doing anew, simcha. For Avraham, every day was be a churban for the Jewish people.We of never resting on past accomplish­ special, marked by accomplishment, must stop them. That is why we are ments, always seeking new chal­ for his having lived his life to its fullest. organizing a delegation to go to Eretz lenges, new goals to achieve for the I had the zechus of working for Yisroel, why we are launching an adver­ future. If we, be'ezras Hashem, learn Rabbi Sherer for nearly twenty of the tising campaign to explain our position. from his example, his enthusiasm, his thirty years that he was president of We are going to stop the lies being sense of responsibility - and from Agudath Israel of America. To relate spread about the Torah world:' his integrity and sensitivity- KJalYis­ the hundreds of things that his staff I recall sitting there in awe. Here roel will continue to conquer new at Agudath Israel learned from him, was a man ten years past retirement frontiers in the future. or the many incidents of his concern age, not at all well, who had led the and compassion or kiddush Hashem, Agudah through countless crises, and Rabbi Becker is Associate Executive Director and Director of Special Projects of would be impossible in a single arti- just recently through a mammoth Agudath Israel of America.

Who can take his place? Master of our History sent us Rabbi Sher­ bestowed such a leader on His children No one can. er to enable the Roshei Yeshiva and Chas­ in the wake of the Churban, remains our sidishe Rebbe'im to direct the rebuilding guarantee that He will continue to care After the utter destruction of a mil­ of a Tabernacle from the ashes of for us and provide for our needs as He lennium of Jewish life in Europe, the Auschwitz. And that Divine smile which always has and always will. •

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Professional Management New York Office Benjamin Babad, Director iiiii Tel: (718) 436-1900 • Fax: (718) 436-1934 & Employment Services Office Arye Kranz, Director A Division of Agudath Israel of America Tel: (732) 367-4178 • Fax: (732) 367-4768 1"0::1

The Herzog Fami~

joins all of Klal Yisroel

in mourning the passing of

our dear friend and mentor

RABBI MOSHE SHERER 7"~t PRESIDENT OF AGUOATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA

Words alone cannot express

the overwhelming sense

of loss that we feel.

o::>nN onl" 01pnn

0"7\?>11"1 11"~ "7lN 1N\V 11nl I• 3B ·' 3: •I FIRST ENCOUNTERS, LASTING IMPRESSIONS Dr. E. Bodenheimer

being what later would be called The Remembering Rabbi Sherer Jewish Observer. While I had also recognized the f every organization, every group of Other periodicals did appear, but noth­ necessity for a publication like The Jew­ people, and every individual would ing in the direction of the magazine I ish Observer, it took Rabbi Moshe Sher­ I write down what Rabbi Moshe had in mind. er to see to it that it would come from Sherer, 7"lll did for them, it would prob­ Then one day I got a call from Rabbi the machshava el hapo'el (from the ably fill volumes. In the following lines Moshe Sherer that he wanted to talk thought to reality). This was another I wish only to record a few incidents in with me. During a long conversation principle of his. When he came to the my relationship with the great niftar. carried on in the streets of Boro Park, conclusion that something had to be \!\Then and on what specific occasion the decision was made that the Agudah done, he would see to it that it was done. I first encountered Reb Moshe Sherer would come out with a monthly jour­ May his memory serve to inspire personally, I do not remember. I do nal in English, and that I would be in many others to follow the same princi­ recall, however, what might have been his charge of the project; thus came into ples that guided him. • first telephone call to me. The purpose was to ask me for a loan for the Agudah. Since my experience with loans to char­ itable organizations had been quite "spotty'' at best, I was reluctant to give In the name of the thousands ofJews the loan. But then, my nephew, Eric Katzenstein, who knew Moshe Sherer, who benefit weekly from said to me: "If Moshe Sherer promises to pay at a certain date, you can be sure you will be paid on that day:' And so it TOMCHE SHABBOS - was with every obligation he ever under­ took: you could build on Moshe Sher­ we extend our condolences to the family and friends of er's every word, without being afraid of ever being disappointed. Rabbi Moshe Sherer zt"I and to the staff of This grew out of one of the princi­ ples that characterized him: to stick Agudath Israel of America. always with the truth, and nothing else. Outstanding in my memory is an Rabbi Sherer's concern for each individual Jew and incident, the details of which I unfor­ tunately forgot. I apparently had inad­ the transmission of this concern to his dedicated staff, vertently n1ade a critical comment about the then-Moetzes Gedolei is clear to us all. Haibrah, which must have come to their knowledge. Rabbi Moshe Sherer insist­ It was this concern that enabled Agudath Israel of America ed on my writing a letter of apology and I still see myself sitting in the living room to channel close to $2,000,000 of desperately needed funds of the house we had rented in Hunter, New York, where we used to spend the to Tomche Shabbos over the past 15 years, so that needy summer months, composing carefully Jews could enjoy a complete Shabbos meal. the wording of my message.

s for The Jewish Observer: for May the merit of these mitzvos be an everlasting zchus for all. many, many years, I used to tell Amy wife that we "ultra-Ortho­ dox" (as we later were to be called) must come out with a periodical, so that the The Board of Directors other Jews should see and learn what is really all about. TOMCHE SHABBOS OF BORO PARK AND FLATBUSH

Dr. Bodenheimer is founding chairn1an of the Editorial Board of The Jewish Observer.

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 31 FIRST ENCOUNTERS, LASTING IMPRESSIONS Rabbi Chaskel 0. Besser

carcely six months ago, I traveled VIP'si or secretaries bearing important other Gedolei Lita on the other - plus, to Israel together with Rabbi Sher­ messages or dispatches; it simply was not of course, the German founders of Agu­ Ser 7";,n on the Am Echad mission, a conducive place and atmosphere for dath Israel. I had been born in Katow­ without realizing that this was going to fruitful discussions. During that last trip icz, the birthplace of Agudath Israel, and be his last major mission on this world. with Rabbi Sherer, we had hours of brought up in a Chassidic home. In I was scheduled to return to New uninterrupted ren1iniscing of our activ­ addition, I had lived for a time in Ger- York on Thursday night, while Rabbi ities in the last 30-40 years, which in fact 1nany, and had the zechus to meet n1any Sherer had planned to stay in Jerusalem was a summary of the history of Agu­ Gedolim of the previous generation. until Sunday, and then proceed to dath Israel in the United States, follow­ We recalled the Gedolim of that era: Switzerland, where he was scheduled to ing the Second World War. Rabbi Aharon Kotler, 7";,n, the Boyaner participate in a meeting of World Jew­ and Kopicznitzer Rebbes, the old ish Restitution Organization. Much to INTRODUCTIONS IN WILLIAMSBURG Bostoner and Novominsker Rebbes, my dismay, I found Rabbi Sherer, his and of course Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, wife and son on the plane back to New ur friendship and cooperation Rabbi , Rabbi Mendel York, where he disclosed to me that he started in 1948. At that time, I Zaks, Rabbi Pinchas Mordechai Teitz, was very ill, and could not go to the 0 resided in Williamsburg, and and 1nany others. We ren1embered our meeting in Zurich. He apologized, every Friday night Michael Tress and hard-working chaveirim, such as Wolf knowing that I was exhausted from our Moshe Sherer came to the Bluzhever Friedman, Chaim Hertz, Louis Septi­ current mission, but pleaded with me to Rebbe's tisch. I soon established a warm mus, Reb Ben Zion Frankel, the Lamets, fly to Switzerland immediately after friendship with Reb Moshe, who was Mr. Plagman, Rabbis Chodorov and Shabbos to take his place at the meeting only slightly older than I. We soon dis­ Mordochovitz. I reminded Reb Moshe there, as I was acquainted with the issues covered that we had much common of when he started to assume his at stake. And then we went on to other ground, especially on n1atters concern­ responsibilities as a states1nan, fighting subjects. ing Agudath Israel and religious Jewry. for our rights in Washington and It was always difficult to spend time I was very eager to learn more about the Albany. How, soon enough, the name conversing with Rabbi Sherer in his small community of Jews of American Rabbi Sherer became known as that of office without being interrupted by origin that did not disintegrate under a Jewish leader with international reach. urgent telephone calls from various the steady pressures of modernization and abandoning of old fashioned ideas. AS OTHERS HAD RECOGNIZED HIM Rabbi Besser, who lives in Manhattan's Upper And he was thirsting to learn as much West Side, is a n1ember of the Presidiurn of Agu­ as possible about pre-War Polish Jewry, had heard from New York City's dath Israel of An1erica, and has been identified \Vith Agudath Israel and its activities for many about the Chassidim and Rebbes on the Mayor Guiliani how he became an decades. one hand, and famous Rabbanim and I admirer of Rabbi Sherer and why he

32 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 IN CONCLUSION cartoons portraying the ultra-fanatic Chareidi. et 1ne conclude with I cannot forget our last Mission to a reference to one of Washington, a year ago. Reb Moshe was Lhis tnain credos: sitting with Vice President Al Gore in the Rabbi Sherer endeav­ White House, and we spent the entire ored to convince non-Je\vs day listening with imn1ense satisfaction as \vell as non-religious how one dignitary after another- from Jews that one can be a Supren1e Court Justices to Senators and strictly Orthodox Jew and Cabinet Members - lauded Agudath yet be educated, \Vell-rnan- Israel and Rabbi Sherer for what we Rabbi Sherer accepts proclamation from !vfayor nered, worldly, polite and, stand for. This was a Kiddush Hashem n111iolph Guiliani, at Gracie A1ansion reception, in to a certain extent, tolerant ... a far dif­ par excellence, and mostly Rabbi Sher­ honor of the Tenth Si yum flaShas af Daf Yo mi; 1997 ferent picture from that projected by the er's doing. m

had invited hin1 to say the invocation at his inaugural ceren1onies. The Mayor explained: "In Rabbi Sherer I met for the first time a pleasant but astute political leader with whom I had a very inter­ 'lfie 'Rabbinical 'Board, Officers, and esting conversation, but \Vho left nle \Vithout asking for anything. I im1ne­ :Medical 'Board of diately recognized him to be a man of character and high caliber." I also had an interesting conversation DOR with Cardinal ()'Connor on Purirn this year. It came about \Vhen the Chairtnan YESHORIM of the United States Commission for the Preservation of An1erica's Heritage 'T!tl! Co!!1111ittce_/Or t!it· rrref!e!lfion ef7e11'hfi !Jl·netic rDi'>E'oses Abroad, Mr. Michael Lewan, asked me to help hin1 get an audience with the join :Kia{ 1/sroel in mouming tfie loss of Pope. I advised him that Cardinal O'Connor is the key person for this, and that the way to Cardinal O'Connor was HORAV MOSHE SHERER 7"Yt through Rabbi Sherer. By the time President ofAgudath Israel ofAmerica Rabbi Sherer had brought Mr. Lewan to the Cardinal, we had learned that the Pope was planning to visit a short time later. So Rabbi Sherer includ­ 'lfirougfiortt tlie fonnative years of 'Dor Yesfiorim, ed a request for the Pope to use his visit 'The Jewisli Observer aml !/fgudatfi Israel, under tfie direction of to Poland as an opportunity to ask his Polish Catholic flock to help preserve 'Rabbi Sfiem; were instrumental in fie/ping Jewish cen1eteries in the country \vhere 'Dor Yesfion·m in its goal of eradicating liorrific, hardly any Jews are left. The Pope indeed included this plea rccessive:9enetic, fatal diseases from our community. in his sermon in Kalish, Poland, with many positive results. On Monday, ]{e surely sfiares in tfie great zcfius of our successes, to date. June 8 of this year, the holy remains of Jews shot by the Germans in the ghet­ to of Dukla, and buried in the middle :?v(ay ]{aSfiem grant fiis family and tft'e staff of of private fields, were transferred to a Y(gudatft' lsrael strmgtft' to continue ft'is ft'oly work. Jewish cemetery because of the above mentioned plea. [See Rabbi Bloom's article, "Rabbi Sherer-Parnes Hadar," on p.40j

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 33 'lf/e join .Xia! Yzsroel .;;[gudatli Israel tlie Slierer 'Family, and tliousmzds upon tliousands of 1izdividuals wlio feel tlie tenible v0td on tlie passing of our .Jrfecliutan

RABBI MOSHE SHERER ?·'~t

PRESIDENT OF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA At'ID CHAIRMAN OF THE AGUDAIH ISRAEL WORLD ORGANIZATION

·li·usted right ha11d of tfie 'Torah leadership of our time, leader a11d spokesman for Xlal Yisroel who distinguished himself by launching and dii'ecti11g countless projects for the sake of 'Torah and its people.

:Jvf ayJ{aShem bri11g comfort to the shattered hemts of the commu11ity of mourners.

Thi Thurm Family

WORLD CHEESE CORPORATION "{-

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK FIRST ENCOUNTERS, LASTING IMPRESSIONS Rabbi Berel Wein

he Jewish world has lost a leader Camp Agudah, and a camp for girls - received all of my investment bond value with the passing of Rabbi Moshe Camp Enos. To buy and refurbish in full, both financially and socially. But TSherer 7··~1, the head of Agudath those camps required money, a lot of my true dividend in the matter was Israel of America. I was really trying to money. So Rabbi Sherer was selling beginning my lifelong acquaintance find an appropriate adjective to accom­ bonds to "investors" in those can1ps, the and eventual personal friendship with pany the word "leader" in the above sen­ bonds being redeemable in camp stays this extraordinary individual. tence, but I failed to do so. The words for one's children when the time would Rabbi Sherer wore the whitest shirts great, insp1r1ng, effective, of any person I knew. I was dynamic, visionary, all would be always tempted to ask him which correct, but they would not sum laundry did his shirts so that I up the uniqueness of Rabbi could also wear such white Sherer and his inestimable con­ shirts. But it was not only his tribution to American Jewish life. physical shirt that was white. He Our rabbis teach us that many was white, clean of spots, incor­ times in life, less is really more, ruptible and honest, and yet so I decided to leave the word without the anger and bitterness "leader" without any modifying and frustration with others, adjectives. For in essence that was more n1ortal and weak, that what Rabbi Sherer was - a often accon1panies such other­ leader. wise commendable traits. Rabbi Sherer built Agudath Israel into FIRST IMPRESSIONS the largest, most influential, mainstream organization in first met Rabbi Sherer in American Orthodox Jewish life. 1956, when he and his co­ While it would be an exaggera­ I founder of the modern tion to say that he did so single­ American Agudath Israel, Reb handedly, he had few helpers, at Elimelech ("Mike") Tress, visit­ the beginning of his efforts a ed me in my home in . half-century ago. I was then a young lawyer just His goal was to unify, while starting out, without much others only wished to divide and money but with great ambition. exclude. His goal was to be dis­ The very day that Rabbi Sherer creet and influential, gently quiet and Mike Tress can1e to see me, and at the same time, rock-firm I had earned and been paid my on the issues of loyalty to Torah

first major legal fee. Therefore, I was feel­ arrive. Rabbi Sherer was a good sales­ values, traditional halacha and life­ ing good about myself and my career man and I was feeling flush, so I style. Other so-called American Jewish dreams when they arrived at my home. bought a bond. "leaders," many of them self-proclaimed Rabbi Sherer then spoke to me about a The entire balance of the year I did and self-installed, were loud and pub­ summer camp for Orthodox Jewish chil­ not earn another decent legal fee, so I lic, strident and momentarily of notice. dren in the Catskill Mountains of New had second thoughts about my"invest­ But American Jewry came to know that York. There was a camp for boys - ment:' But I always felt that whatever my if you wanted to truly accomplish wisdom in buying the bond was, it was something in the arena of Jewish orga­ Rabbi Wein, well known on the American scene worth it to meet and become involved nizational life, you had better consult as a popular lecturer, author, educator and com- 1nunity leader, now lives in Jerusalem \vhere he with Rabbi Moshe Sherer. Eventually, my with Moshe Sherer. His word was bind­ continues to pursue a similarly active role. daughters did attend Camp Enos and I ing, his friendship lasting, his patience

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 35 unlimited and his feats of major and desist, when he felt the speaker was straddled worlds:' He assessed Rabbi achievements for Torah and Israel were overly long in his remarks was a "high­ Sherer thusly: legendary. For all of the decades of toil light" of every Agudah gathering) and "Sherer, \vhowas born in the Unit­ in Agudath Israel and on behalf ofJew­ was rarely disobeyed. ed States, carefully maintained an ish causes in A1nerica, Israel and world­ He was a shrewd judge of people and outwardly modern appearance. In his wide, even during his last years of illness, knew how to deal with varying person­ dress and manner he resembled a suc­ he was always on call, always available, alities and psyches in a fair and effective cessful American businessman, but he always willing to listen and then to do. n1anner. He was uniquely able to have was a strict Hareidi who identified with And no one could do as he could! others share his vision of a strong and the ultra-Orthodox (Rabbi Sherer vibrant American Orthodoxy, filling the despised that phrase, BW) Jewish HEAD ABOVE THE STORM vital core center of Jewish life in Amer­ world vie\\'. He was considered a gift­ ica and inspiring a new generation of tal­ ed organization man \\'ho knew how abbi Sherer never gave in to the ented Orthodox rabbis and laymen to to mix modern management methods extremist forces that plague all undertake roles of co1nmunity repon­ with the directives of yeshiva heads and R najor Jewish organizations and sibility. Although he was a superb orga­ Hasidic rabbis. By virtue of his effec­ Jewish life generally. Somehow, he had nizational ad1ninistrator and a master tive leadership, Agudas Yisroel became the ability to include them in his work of detail, he never lost sight of the grand one of he largest Jewish organizations and programs and yet not allow the dream, the big picture, the holy vision in North America and influential fringe to dictate the agenda and 1neth­ of what Torah in America could accom­ beyond the bounds of the Haredi com­ ods of the great but often silent major­ plish and achieve. And he helped trans­ munity. Sherer made outstanding ity of Torah Jews whom he served and late that Torah potential into strong real­ efforts to nurture a new generation of represented. He always s1niled, \Vas ity in American Jewish life. young rabbis and activists, and gave unfailingly polite, but he articulated his Even such anti-Orthodox newspapers them key positions in the move­ n1essage and views strongly and clear­ as Israel's Ha'aretz paid him his due. In ment. .. Sherer kept out of the public ly. He ran a very tight ship (his passing an obituary article that appeared in that media eye, and refrained from express­ of notes to speakers at Agudah conven­ paper on May 19, Shlomo Shamir ing his opinions regarding political tions and banquets telling them to cease headlined his column: "The rabbi who subjects concerning Israel. .. [However,]

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36 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 hard decisions, a sense of vision and purpose that will somehow outweigh its predilection for pettiness and material­ ism. It needs goodness and moderation, strength of faith and a foregoing of provocations and needless strife. It also needs people who speak the truth and are aware of the realities of American Jewish life. Rabbi Moshe Sherer pos­ sessed all of these qualities and practiced them during his many decades of fruit­ ful leadership. I pray that his successors will emulate him and continue his noble and holy work. •

A happy, playful, warm, healthy boy with Down Syndrome seeks a loving, intact, Orthodox Jewish family to care for him. Rabbi Sherer, as part of the Am Echad delegation, charms Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; 1998 If you are interested and are a Ne\v York State resident please call: in the last months of his life he lead have to step into his role as leader, medi­ (718) 692-5924 the battle regarding the Conversion ator, innovator, administrator and wise Law, and initiated a special campaign man. I am certain that they will attempt to block Reform and Conservative to live up to his legacy and to the enor­ efforts to advance.. .in Israel." mous task involved in maintaining On the whole, this was a much more Agndath Israel's primary and crucially truthful and balanced picture of a vital role in the continuing development Haredi leader than usually appears in and strengthening of American Jewry. Ha'aretz. But even faint damnation Yet, there are many forces and per­ from Ha'aretz is great praise, especial­ sonalities lurking in the Jewish world ly about an Orthodox Jewish leader. who may attempt to exploit Rabbi ... WHENYOU SAYTEHILIM. Sherer's absence for their own goals and You can improve your understanding A LIST OF NEEDS FOR THE FUTURE even sincerely held beliefs at the expense of the prayers. We have a booklet for of the unity and strength of Agudath you on Psalm 20 and/or on 23. Please he death of Rabbi Moshe Sherer Israel that Rabbi Sherer labored so long send $3 tOr one, or $5 for both. leaves a tremendous void in and hard to create. Only time can tell Orthodox Jewish world. Someone where American Jewry is heading. It YESHIVA FUND, Box 82 T STATEN ISLAND, once said wisely that no one is indis­ faces enormous problems of survival in NY 10309 pensable but no one is replaceable. Rabbi spite of its size and affluence. It needs Free San1ple to Tehilim Groups. Sherer groomed those who will now direction and guidance, soft words and

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The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 37 FIRST ENCOUNTERS, LASTING IMPRESSIONS Rabbi Avi Shafran The Secret of Rabbi Sherer

DEFENDING THE NON-OFFENDER not a victimless outrage. behalf of religious Jews and Judaism. It The article that emerged imagined a was a determll1ation and meticulousness y first interaction with Rabbi society where hard drug use was accept­ I would come to witness again, almost Moshe Sherer ?"lit, came in the ed - and advertised. Hollow-eyed a decade later, when I joined the staff of M form of a lesson encased in a Marlboro men with needles poised Agudath Israel - and many times over criticism wrapped in a compliment. over their bared arms graced billboards; during the four years I was privileged to It was the summer of 1986, I was a Coke ads were not pushing soft drinks. work under Rabbi Sherer. rebbe and occasional writer in Provi­ The reader was asked how he would feel dence, Rhode Island, and the Jewish about Madison Avenue as his friends RESTORING THE GLORY "story" of the season was a series ofbus­ and family were led to addiction and all shelter torchings in Yerushalayim. its grave attendant ills. I thought the n his collection of essays, B'shtei The bus shelters set aflame had dis­ piece was very clever. Einayim, Rabbi Sherer quotes a played advertisements regarded by \Nhether it was or not, it was subse­ I "Chassidic elder'' to the effect that, 1nany, including religious Jews, as offen­ quently published, and came to Rabbi "Hard as it is to take the Jew out of galus, sive. The usual Chareidi-bashers - both Sherer's attention. I was both surprised it is harder still to take galus out of the in Israel and in the United States - and flattered to receive a call from Agu­ Jew." accused the ardently Orthodox of the dath Israel of America's president. There is, of course, a valid galus­ arson, gleefully beating their drums of He began with praise for the piece's n1odality that requires certain stances righteous indignation, and several creativity but wasted no time in explain­ and behaviors from us as Jews vis-a-vis Israeli yeshivas had become targets of ing why he felt it was inherently ill-con­ the world around us until Moshiach's violence themselves. ceived. "There is not a shred of evi­ arrival. But the absorption of the atti­ dence;' he asserted, "that any Torah-Jew tudes and ideals of the galus in which had anything to do with any of the bus­ we find ourselves only delays our ulti­ stop burnings.)) mate redemption. That galus-mentali­ With a determined clear-headedness ty, is the intent, I believe, of that com­ and a master debater's well-honed skill ment- and was, in Rabbi Sherer's own I would years later come to know well, "two eyes;' nothing less than Public Jew­ Rabbi Sherer slowly and carefully ish Enemy #1. explained that one simply does not con­ He would not stand for anything - cede anything that might be used to dis­ \Vithin or without the observant co1n­ parage b'nei Torah when there is no munity - that might conceivably imperative to do so. lessen respect for Torah and its adher­ I was a bit taken aback - I hadn't ents. As an Orthodox spokesman - known that no arrests had been made widely considered the Orthodox for the bus-stop burnings at that point spokesman par excellence - as a pro­ - but saw the Agudath Israel leader's moter of Torah-study and Torah living, Prime Minister Menachem Begin meets with Rabbi Sherer and Rabbinic leaders of Agudath Israel of point, and thanked him for both his as an askan in the world of Jewish com­ America at the home of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein; 1977 kind words and his critical ones. munal affairs and in the realm of Over ensuing weeks, the critical world affairs, Rabbi Sherer consistent­ Seeking a way of turning some of the words became a critical lesson for me. ly insisted on - and helped attain - heat to light, I set pen to paper in an Though there has traditionally been lit­ honor for the Jewish religious heritage attempt to show open-minded Ameri­ tle reluctance on the part of the Israeli and for those faithful to it. can Jews -if any were left - that vio­ police to take haredim into custody, only Some attribute his astounding suc­ lence against an advertisen1ent medium one arrest was made in the bus-stop cess in developing what a disparager of might be, in some situations, if not nec­ burnings- an ardently secular Jew who Torah and Torah-Jews in 1940 called "a essarily justifiable, at least understand­ admitted that his arson was calculated sickly weed" into a large, effective and able; and that public pornography was to cast blame on religious citizens. respected Orthodox Jewish movement Rabbi Avi Shafran, director of Public Affairs of That lesson was my first experience to Rabbi Sherer's intellect, dedication, Agudath Israel of America, is a frequent con­ with Rabbi Sherer's determined, metic­ charisma or skill. While he possessed tributor to these pages. ulous and unyielding advocacy on those attributes and more, I see the

38 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 secret of his success in forging the Agu­ own will, whatever you might think, to i1tJ7eJ i1Nl!Ji7 ?7!JMi1'7! ilr.1?7 N) dath Israel before us today as lying else­ that of the Torah authorities of the dot'!" That, I think, was the key to all he "'"' 1))~ where entirely. i1r.l7V 7NW' 0"T1 In my estimation, the reason for accomplished, the reason he was blessed '"l ,,, i1,''V Rabbi Sherer's hatzlacha is firmly root­ to be the instrument for such Kiddush 1:i C'l1'J'IY 'r.ln1 j'"Un?J ed in a concept as old as human histo­ Hashem in the modern world. ry: midda keneged midda. The role he That, it seems to me, was how he played in restoring rightful honor to helped restore attara l'yoshna, the Torah stemmed from the honor he him­ "crown to its place," ho\v he managed self afforded it. to take so very much galus out of the I remember the day Rabbi Sherer Jews. In that merit, may we soon witness interviewed me for the position I hold the converse - the redemption of at Agudath Israel today. After an assort­ Jewry from galus. • __,-r.--~-.rr"" .•\ In the Heart of flatbush, ...--• Brooklyn, New York ment of perceptive questions (among Convenient LOC

In the naine of the TTJ.''V'Tl n1:rTT)TT 1 its staff, students, parents, and aluinni, \Ve \Vish to express our deepest feelings of >t)Jn) to the >tn!'.IV)J of 1'{:r11'{1J..:I '1'1;Tl

HORAV MOSHE SHE.Rf_R7,,~t \

1-fe may \veil have heen the "TT'V'VDTT V'1>1;" of our ti1ne. ff is 'V!'.IJ TI'"l'PD for TT11n,TTi1nTT nrr'DlD and TT'Vl1j?J.t? iJ.11:r:> \Vere legendary. \Ve \viii forever be indebted to him and his family, V"n1:r:P. His exen1plary nrrn in general and ll'J.n ov 71vJ. n1i.i;'tJ) in particular - \vhether for the 1:r1:r::i or for the 1'n' - \Vere unparalleled. \\'e considered him as our true jD1>1;J 1'1'. -ro his family may \vc say 0',.'Vll'l jl'S '".JH lHV 11n.J D:>TIK onJ' D1PDTT . D"nTT l11S.J TTlllS 1~'£l) HTTTI

'Jvii>m'Jw 31'1 '.:rv1JHD ti'JHD onJD .J'"!TT TTJ.'W'TT WH1 71nn 7:1'1JKD :tpV' J.1>1 lV.:IJ'"'l11t"K 1:rH1W' 'Jmtl pt> H'WJ l.:l'D

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 39 Hrs Focus: EMES Rabbi Shmuel Bloom

RABBI MOSHE SHERER '"~t Parnes Hadar

ONE MAN: SO PROFOUND AN his speech into a eulogy for Rabbi Sher­ tell him the rest of the story. Michael INFLUENCE ON SO MANY er: Lewan, a devout Catholic, is chair1nan «I remen1ber hearing stories about of the United States Commission for the he Roshei Yeshiva and Rebbe'im his efforts to gain access to the VVhite Preservation of America's Heritage who mourned Rabbi Sherer's House more than a half century ago. Abroad, which is responsible for the pro­ Tpassing did so not only because In those days he was not ahvays tection and preservation of Jewish of the loss suffered by Kial Yisroel, but warmly welcome. But he was not gravesites in Eastern and Central also because of their personal loss of a deterred. I don't know a time ever in Europe. very special partner, who had joined his life when he was deterred .... Mr. Lewan had learned that Pope them in dedicating his life to working "By explaining the Orthodox com­ John Paul II would be in his native for the sake of Torah. In fact, many of munity to America, Rabbi Sherer Poland for a week of prayer and religious them had considered him as close as a awakened members of Congress and ceremony. He thought that it would be brother. At his funeral, Rabbi Elya Svei members of the administration, mem­ a wonderful opportunity for the Pope N"V"7el described Rabbi Sherer as a bers of the Supreme Court, and citi­ to speak forcefully to the Polish people, friend "who had warmed, helped and zens of this Republic to how much the especially to the Catholic , on the healed" - referring to a personal interests of America and Orthodox importance of protecting Jewish ceme­ friendship that spanned more than Jewry coincide. teries. The problem: How does one reach sixty years. "Yes, indeed, our entire nation has the Pontiff? The answer, call Rabbi Sher­ Rabbi Pam N"v>?v spoke of the loss suffered a great loss." er. of an "ish ha'ruach" - a man of spiri­ The Vice President was one of many Rabbi Sherer and Michael Lewan vis­ tual essence. political leaders who expressed this ited John Cardinal O'Connor, who And the Novominsker Rebbe N"V'?v feeling. after hearing the request, quickly agreed added that in addition to the tearful to discuss the subject with the Pope beracha of "Dayan Ho'emes;' Rabbi bbi Sherer's influence extended when he visited the Vatican in a few Sherer's passing calls for declaring o religious leaders of other weeks' time. "Hatov V'hameitiv," in appreciation for Riaiths, who also expressed a sense Five weeks later, in Kalisz, Poland, the this special gift that Hashem sent us these of loss. John Cardinal O'Connor of New site of an important Jewish cemetery, the past fifty years, to elevate the honor of York, among many others, remarked Pope said, "These Jewish cemeteries are Torah in our time. that he had lost "a very good friend." part of our common past. They are I recently met an individual who had places of deep spiritual and historic sig­ olitical leaders, '>'~:tn?, also known me since my childhood. He told nificance. Let these places join Poles and mourned. The Ribbono Shel Olom me that he had just returned from East - Jews together.') Phad so arranged it that the special ern Europe. I asked him whether he had The results were that hundreds of guest of the 76th Anniversary Dinner of gone to visit kever avos (ancestral bur­ Poles began sharing their recollections Agudath Israel of America on the day ial grounds), and he told me with tears of witnessing Jews being killed during of Rabbi Sherer's petira, was the Vice in his eyes that he had gone to bring his the war and provided information President of the United States, the two brothers to kever Yisroel. They had about burial places. All because of Hon. Albert Gore Jr. Informed of Rabbi been murdered in a field by the l\azis Rabbi Sherer's relationship with the Car­ Sherer's passing while he was on his way during the Second World War, and were dinal. to the dinner in Air Force Two, he turned buried on the spot. My interest piqued,

' ' I asked him how he had discovered their abbi Sherer also had a contact Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, the Executive Vice Pres- remains after 55 years, and he told me with Italo-American labor boss­ ident of Agudath Israel of America, has been a member of the staff and worked with Rabbi Sher­ that a Polish gentile had provided the Res. I was new on the staff of er for the past 23 years. information. At that point, I was able to Agudath Israel of America when we

40 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 How was one 111an, in one lifetime, ruption of Torah. able to have such profound influence on • As a yeshiva bachur in Baltimore, so n1any diverse people? he was traumatized by the report of a Reform rabbi who used to produce git­ A CENTRAL MIDDA: tin on a typewriter. He would type a CHAMPION OF TRUTH document for a couple that had received a civil divorce: ''You are hereby divorced, f asked to choose one midda, one of based on the Jewish principle of dina Rabbi Sherer's many character de'malchusa dina (the law of the land has I strengths, talents and abilities, as cen­ the force of halacha)." Rabbi Sherer tral to his effectiveness, the midda of could not rest until such falsification of Torah was exposed. • It was August of 1997; we were working around the clock preparing for the Siyum HaShas of the DafYomi. Rabbi Sherer called me into his office. He said, Rt1bbi Sherer presents menorah to the Honorable John A1cCormack, Speaker of the House of Representatives; "Don't you realize \Vhat is going on?" I 1964 did not have the faintest idea of what he was talking about. "We're at war! The received an emergency call from Telshe Conservative and Reforn1 have launched Yeshiva in Cleveland. A dock strike in an all-out public relations campaign to New York had tied up the port and bring their poison into Bretz Yisroel. And nothing was moving on or off the what's more, they're going to win unless boats. Unfortunately, tens of thousands someone fights back. I know the mag­ of boxes of Chanuka candles that nificent Kiddush HaShem we're involved annually sends out to donors were sitting on the boat, and the deadline was drawing close. r asked Rabbi Sherer in an1azement, "Why are they calling you? What can ;Vew York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller and Attor­ ney General Louis Lc:fkowitz greeted by R11bbi Sher­ you do?" er on a visit to Agudah headquarters; 1970 He smiled his knowing s1nile, vvith­ out saying a word to me. His next act, truth - or, as we used to joke, his ini­ though, was to call a well-connected tials: "M.S." - would be the obvious friend in the New York State Labor choice. His brilliance and organizational Department. The official called back a genius were inborn. But his dedication day later to say that all was taken care to fight for the truth was a conscious, of, but someone would have to per­ personal choice. sonally go down to the docks. A call Rabbi Sherer would walk into a went to Cleveland and a rabbi was on room, see a picture slightly askew, and the next plane. be unable to continue the conversation When he arrived at the docks, he was until it was straightened. "I cannot take challenged. He offered two magic words a krumeh zach (a crooked thing) - any­ Rabbi A1oshe Sherer greeted by President George Bush in response that changed things: "Rabbi thing that isn't glatt (straight)," he at the VVhite House Sherer:' With mention of that name, the would say. His mind could pierce to the candles became classified as "perish­ essence of any issue and discard all the in creating, with the Siyum HaShas of the ables," and were unloaded - a favor, misleading periphery. Daf Yomi, but leaders have to juggle they said, for the "Jewish Godfather." His lifelong campaign against the fal­ many balls and we dare not drop this sification of Torah, his refusal to toler­ one. The future of Yiddishkeit in Eretz ot only the great and the pow­ ate fakery, was only enhanced by the Yisroel is at stake:' erful felt close to Rabbi Sherer. chinuch he had received from his great A few days later, after sending a "war N The more-than-20,000 people at Rabbe'im, like Rabbi Aharon Kotler and alert" memo to the members of the his funeral testified to the special feel­ Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman. They Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and other ing that people from all walks oflife had taught him the value of truth, and that community leaders explaining the dan­ for Rabbi Sherer. nothing was as pernicious as the cor- ger. "I haven't felt this way since the Sec-

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 41 ond World War," he con­ know it might affect fund fided. "We raising for the Agudah, are up but I feel that we must do against it." millions Thus was the Am of dollars Echad campaign born. and an With the last bit of ingenious strength in his body, he pnblic rela­ undertook a new tions can1- dimension of what paign. We're he had been doing losing the his whole life­ battle and I fighting against the don't know falsification of what we can do. Torah. 1'111 afraid we're going to lose." REMOVING That feeling A STAIN didn't last very long, though. In n 1961, in what then was striking President Lyndon B. Johnson congratulates Rabbi Slier­ erfor his efforts on behalf of education; 1965 my hotel room at enough news to land on The New the Agudath Israel national convention, I York Times' front page, Rabbi Sher­ co1ne a time) however, when all must weeks later, he called to say, "I hope you er testified in Washington in fuvor of gov­ agree that, as limited as our resources don't mind, but tonight I'm going to ernment aid to non-public schools. As are 1 we must get involved. And that is announce a $2 million campaign to fight others have co1nn1ented, his testin1ony when son1eone n1isportrays the Torah the Conservative and Reform inroads. I was the first step toward yeshiva students position. receiving n1any millions of deserved dol­ Thus, when a secular Jewish group lars in federal aid. But at the time, Rabbi took out a full-page ad in The New York Aharon Kotler, 7"~'!', saw it in an even Times and other publications making it more significant light. He told Rabbi appear as if Judaism sanctioned abor­ Sherer on his return from Washington tion on demand, and when a leading that he had removed a serious jlek (stain) Reform spokesperson threatened to from the Jewish community. No longer, mobilize a million Reform Jews to he asserted, will people be able to say that n1arch on the streets in favor of"repro­ "the Catholics are for religious education ductive freedom:' Rabbi Sherer taught and the Jews are against it:' To Reb us that there was no question that it was Aharon, removing the chillul Hashem of the responsibility of Agudath Israel of the public perception that Jews were no A1nerica to set the record straight. Digest of Meforshim longer the "People of the Book;' but had In fact, Rabbi Sherer's steering of become the "Secular Liberal Establish­ Agudath Israel into the social services ')"1v? in:i ')"1v? ment;' was an even more serious n1at­ area) he explained, was not simply 7"~r ivv'm 'm'lr.iw l"11To'lr.l ter than any benefits that might be because we are obligated to do chessed. Available at attained for the yeshiva community. 1t was also a part of what he called the LEKUTEI This is equally true in the arena of "ideology of action:' What can a young l!o Yitzchok Rosenberg social issues. There has been much man think of the Torah, he explained, I 0 \Vest 47th Street, Roo1n 503 debate as to whether Agudath Israel of when he has to resort to the "Liberal New York, NY 10036 America belongs in the fray when sec­ Jewish Establishment" to train for a (212) 719-1717 ular groups fight for causes like the legal­ career? If Torah is to be a true way oflife, 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, ization of abortion or "gay rights:' The then the Torah community must pro­ Megilos and . direct effect of such issues on our co1n­ vide the answers and the help needed at Proceeds of sales distributed an1ong Yeshivos and used for reprinting of munity is minimal. Others argue that the all phases of a person's life, providing volu1nes out-of-print government is the greatest teacher, and solutions at every step. PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME legislation that contradicts Torah teach­ His fight for the truth and the all­ All volumes now available ings is harmful to the chinuch of our encompassing nature of Torah is why he children - and to ourselves. There does cautioned us so often regarding the

42 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 Health of New York State was pressuring Agudath Israel to support a "Health Proxy Law:' The law was an important one for the Orthodox communi­ ty because it would have allowed us to appoint proxies who could prevent autopsies or non-halachic procedures prior to or imn1ediately after death. Many askanim believed that we should support this bill. But there was a catch. For those who were not religious, the bill presented a grave danger. A proxy would be given the right to withhold food, water and medicine from a patient - in effect, the right to commit euthanasia under certain circumstances. Could we support a bill that could help our community, but could also lead to euthanasia? The Moetzes Gedolei Ha Torah decided that At the 47th Anniversary Dinner: Reb Yosef Friedenson at the podium with l~abbi Mos lie Feinstein, the Bostoner Rebbe, and we could not. Without the Rabbi Shmuel Bloom; 1969 slightest hesitation, Rabbi responsibility that we at Agudath Israel those who dedicate their lives to the Sherer sent word to the Commission­ of America carry as trustees of tzedda­ study of Torah are the ones who best er of Health that we would have to ka dollars - even more so when we deal understand what Hashem wants from us oppose the bill. with government funds. One misspent in any given situation. Whether the Of all the many lessons that we must dollar can cause not only the loss of such question dealt with legislation or a polit­ learn from the life of Rabbi Sherer, per­ funds for our chessed projects, but even ical situation, it was the Moetzes Gedolei haps the most poignant is that we are worse, chillul Hashem, the antithesis of HaTorah who had the final word - obligated to speak the truth of Torah Rabbi Sherer's life-long work to project because that word reflected the truth of with dignity, with eloquence and with the integrity of Torah. When an Ortho­ Torah. integrity. And, surveying all that he dox Jew was implicated in a scandal, it I re1nember one of many such accomplished, we can feel hopeful, too, was like a stab in his heart. instances, when the Commissioner of that the world will listen. 111:i.11:ir "1' •

SUBSERVIENCE TO TORAH/ DEDICATION TO TRUTH Ho\v diflicult it is to get accustomed to the thought of that great person, Rabbi Moshe Sherer zt"l, abbi Sherer's ability, despite his no longer being a111ong the living. brilliance and many years of His leadership and accon1plishn1ents in all con1munal 1nattcrs experience, to be completely sub­ R haomdim b)r111no she/ ola1n, arc phenomenal. servient to the decision of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah also stemmed from his He had a special love fOr Ezras Torah. At conventions he \Vould dedication to the truth and the encom­ be extremely supportive of the legacy and charge of the - passing nature of Torah. He believed (;Jdolim \vho founded that kodesh kedoshim of Tzedokos. be'emuna shleima in the mission of Agu­ dath Israel that was declared in 1912 in .Nii yiten lanu t 1muroso. Y'hei zichro baruch. Katowicz: to solve all the problems of the Jewish community in the spirit of RABBI MosHE MARGOLIN RABBI MENACHEM GE1TINGER Torah. If the truth lies in the Torah, then !vfenahcl President

The Jewish Observer, Summer J oo.q 43 It takes nearly 10 years and almost half a million dollars to train the peo­ ple who work on your heart. But what about the people who work on your Neshoma - the Talmidei Chachomim and potential Gedolei Hadar who will be shaping our Neshomos for genera- tions to come?

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RECRUITMENT, GRATITUDE, ENCOURAGEMENT

e first came to know him, each in W our separate ways, as an adn1ired and revered leader who went out of his \vay to encourage talented young people and inspire them to serve Kial Yisroel, whether professionally or as dedicated volunteers. Any number of accomplished people - roshei hayeshiva, rabbis, professionals) and businessmen devote unbelievable gobs of time and enerb'Y to Agudah, yeshi­ va and chessed causes, thanks to the role model, inspira- tion, prodding, encourage­ DISCIPLE OF THE "EMESER AGUDIST" ment, and guidance of Rabbi Moshe Sherer. THE abbi Yaakov Kaminetzky once For countless people, a highlight of said that, of all the roshei hayeshi­ their lives was a phone call or hand­ Rva, Rabbi Aharon Kotler was the written note from him expressing his "emeser Agudist." "Then why didn't he gratitude or compliments for something MANIN educate his talmidim to be confirmed they had done. For one of us, it began Agudists?" Reb Yaakov was asked. with effusive thanks for Zeirei Leaders' He answered, "Reb Aharon felt that Guides; for the other, it was for a slide the first priority for the survival of presentation for an Agudah Convention. THE American Jewry was to establish the He would make an unexpected phone concept of pure, unadulterated Torah call expressing adn1iration for an study. His next step would have been sefer or to offer suggestions. CORNER to train askanim, to teach his talmidin1 From his hospital bed during his final how to be activists for Kial Yisroel, but illness, he strained himself to express his Thousands of people remember Rabbi Hashem did not give him enough thanks for a favor or his compliment for Sherer at the dais of an Agudah Dinner or years." a service rendered. Only a few days Convention, sitting erect, his attention But Reb Aharon did train at least before his petira, he sent a letter wish­ _ftxed on the speaker, his gaze taking in every one talmid in how to serve the Jewish ing one of us rnazal tov for his son's bar detail in the hall, his eyes darting to his stop people, in how to be a devoted and mitzva. watch, his hand furtively jotting down a note effective Agudist, in how to devote When he heard that someone was to the speaker, reminding him to mention every fiber of his being to the needs of under fire, he would call with a good someone or something- or notifying him the Jewish nation and individual Jew­ word or advice. He always took the trou­ delicately that he was running overtime. He ish persons. He was a disciple who spoke ble to write a note or a letter, exq11isite­ was the picture of dignity and respect. His to Reb Aharon every day, often sever­ ly phrased, in a beautifully chiseled trademark mustache and rimless glasses had al times a day, for fifteen years, and script, with never a grammatical or become the symbol ofa resplendent, ascen­ received the most intensive course spelling error. If the letter was typed, he dant Torah Orthodoxy, of dedication and imaginable in how to put service over would close it with a few handwritten Kiddush Hashem. self. That disciple was Rabbi Moshe words. VVhen you received a personal Sherer, and he carried out his mission note from him, you knew it was not Rabbi Nosson Scherman (who is a member of the Editorial Board of The feivish Observer) and so well for half a century that he ranks churned out by a computer program, Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz are Co~General Editors of as one of the greatest lay leaders of and you saved it to look at in hard times Mesorah/Artscroll Publications. modern times. or to show your children and grand-

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 45 children. Who knows how many hun­ basked in his company and vied for his dreds of people went to their files dur­ attention and friendship. Nevertheless, ing the empty days when he was gone • he shared himself generously with the to reread well-thumbed letters that rue, he was an artist little people, the ones who might be they had treasured for many years. and admired artistry, ignored by almost everyone else, and he T exerted himself to help, even if he had A TRUE ARTIST, BUT MUCH MORE but there was much more. to use up personal IO Us to do it. When someone called him, he took the phone abbi Sherer had impeccable taste He was acutely aware or returned the call promptly. The and his appreciation for the caller knew that he was taking Rabbi Rbeauty and power of the written that only by combining its Sherer away from something important word was extraordinary. He admired a spiritual grandeur with an - there were no free minutes in his day well designed and executed piece, - but when he spoke to someone he whether in prose or design, and took the attractive presentation was entirely focused on that person's time to com1nent and n1ake suggestions. needs. At that moment, the caller's prob­ True, he was an artist and admired could the Torah world lem was as important to him as to the artistry, but there was much inore. He caller himself. When he heard about a was acutely aware that only by com­ achieve maximum benefit depressed teenager suffering from bining its spiritual grandeur with an for k'vod Shamoyim. Hodgkin's disease, he sought him out attractive presentation could the Torah and told the boy about his own suc­ world achieve maximum benefit for cessful bout with the malady. He called k'vod Sharnayirn. He was one of the first hitn often with encouragement - and to recognize the potential of an English­ • demanded something in return: that the language Torah literature, and when oth­ well it would be received. youngster invite him to his wedding so ers questioned the need for a Hebrew He cared about people. He knew very that they could dance together. And they version of the ArtScroll Talmud, he fore­ well that he electrified a room when he did. He was concerned that yeshiva stu­ saw the need for it and predicted how walked in, that accomplished people dents and Bais Yaakov girls should be

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Rabbi Moshe Feinstein When the yeshivas needed an accredi­ nalistic career had he found a public fig­ used to be annoyed at gratuitous tardi­ tation agency that would be accepted by ure with such an unimpeachable repu­ ness. He would complain inwardly that \i\Tashington and state capitals, he \Vas tation for honesty. when two hundred people are kept wait­ instrumental in establishing AARTS. Rabbi Sherer's personal example was ing for ten minutes, t1vo thousand n-zin­ Most of the tin1e he received no personal itself a lesson. He carried himself impec­ utes are wasted. Rabbi Sherer treasured credit for such feats, and often the Agu­ cably. His word was worth more than minutes and would not waste them. dah didn't either, but why should it mat­ most people's notarized contracts, and it When he called a meeting, it started on ter? People were being helped and the was accepted without question wherev­ time. When he made an appointment, stature of the Torah community- and er he went. He was approachable. He he would be there. He used to say that k'vod Shamayim- would be enhanced, could have been a wealthy man, but if people were courteous enough to be and that was what counted. money mattered not at all to him; he was prompt, why should they be kept wait­ a billionaire in service to Hashenz and His ing for others Y11ho are less considerate? IMPECCABLE - INSIDE AND OUT people. When he made a family simcha, Thousands remember his announce­ he invited friends, not celebrities, and he ments at an Agudah Dinner that Birkas any years ago, a New York was not Moshe Sherer the international­ Harnazon would be at 9:20. And the tabloid ran a front page story ly honored leader, but a father or grand­ guests knew that it might be at 9: 19 or Mone Friday afternoon accusing father enjoying the company of peers, even 9:21, but never at 9:30. When we Rabbi Sherer of being involved in a even though most of them were literally planned our own dinners for the Meso­ headline scandal. That Shabbos was one thrilled to be at the same event with him. rah Heritage Foundation, he was always the model. How would Rabbi Sherer do it! It was a warm feeling when he called The PeTfect Gift foT YouT afterwards to compliment us on a well­ DaughteT planned event. BRILLIANT, AND ALWAYS PREPARED Her unique path In Avodas Hashem. Superior college preparatory General Studies program featuring e was a brilliant speaker, but he An environment of learning recognized award-winning took the trouble to prepare. Not and Ylraas Shamaytm. .I~ teachers. honors classes, only that, he showed everyone .r .~:Iii.. and advanced placement H A Umudel Kodesh he knew to weigh the effect of words and curriculum which '!";'J .opportunities. measure their nuances carefully before Includes an ~ An atmosphere of Innovative B'klus -.., warm, caring, they were uttered. He had very strong program In personal attention principles and minced no words when Tanach. that nurtures he attacked policies that were contrary maturity and to halacha and Daas Torah, but he took A wholesome out­ responslbllity. of-town lifestyle In pains to be sure that disagreements were the warm family Most of all, the always over issues and principles, not environment of the Individual guidance of a personalities. Kial Yisroel reaped bene­ Atlanta Jewish real mechaneches, Community. Including Mrs. Miriam Feldman. fits from that avoidance of personal ran­ boarding opportunities with cor, because he was able to work with B'nal Torah families. people despite his clearly expressed opposition to their policies. For Information, please call Mrs. Feldman at 404 315-0507 In Atlanta, or our consultant In New York, Rabbi Yoel Kramer at 718 633-5454. 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48 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 somewhere in the shul, usually in one much undone, because he was always of the rear corners. He is the mavin) the defining new horizons and greater ta/mid chacham; the rest of the mem­ goals, but his accomplishment on behalf bership will defer to his judgment. He of Kial Yisroel, Agudath Yisroel, and Reb is the one you have to impress." The Yisroel are incalculable. And the seeds he remark was tongue in cheek) of course) planted will continue to thrive long but the message was clear. "You are not beyond our lifetimes. speaking to a mirror. You job is to deliv­ er the message of Torah and you must hat Rabbi Moshe Sherer was a do it in a way that will be heard and giant has been declared by friend 153 7 50th Street, respected. Otherwise you will have Tand foe. That he leaves a gaping Brooklyn, NY 11219 failed." That was but one of his many, vacuum will be felt more and more as (718) 854-2911 many lessons. It was a lesson we took to the aching weeks and months go by. Let heart. Very often, a page or an ad or a us not forget, however, that he left a lega­ presentation would be reviewed and cy, too - a legacy of how to lead and someone would ask how Rabbi Sherer how to serve, of unimpeachable integri­ would react to it or how he would have ty, of awareness that we have a wider done it. He was our critical mavin, the audience than our own friends and col­ "man in the corner," as he was for count­ leagues, that the image we project can less people who owe much of their influence people to honor the Torah and growth to him. its Giver-or chalilla vice-versa. He was Brooklyn NY 11218 The Imrei Emes said of his father, the a the generation's prime instructor - We make ~housecalls" Sfas Emes, that he had arichas yamim Rosh Yeshiva, if you will -in k'vod (even though he was not yet sixty when Shamayim and k'vod habri'os. Now it is 718) 972-4003 he died) because he made full use of for us to remember his shiurim and :i-~.,t(- every minute of every day. Rabbi Moshe make them live on. That will be his / .,b~!v Sherer, too, had arichas yamim. He left greatest monument. • 411

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------The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 49 SEITING A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin

A Great .. A Master Leader... Teacher

t is not my objective to quantify the dence he placed in us. Sure, we made enormous accomplishments of mistakes, but Rabbi Sherer assured us I Rabbi Moshe Sherer.,":il, whose life's that it was all part of the learning work 111ade an extraordinary difference process, as he encouraged us with his for the current and future generations. constructive com1nents, and shared I will leave that for the historians and with us his experience and v.,risdom. writers. These lines are intended to relate I treasure a letter he wrote n1e in some of the important lessons that he 1977, after! completed a project as a vol­ taught me during the eighteen years that unteer in the days preceding the formal I had the zechus of working alongside establishment of Agudath Israel's Office him - lessons we must treasure and • of Government Affairs, wherein he reinforce as we face the reality of car­ abbi Sherer had a expresses his deep appreciation for my rying on without his guidance. efforts and urges that we work "togeth­ Rremarkable ability to er" for the continued growth and devel­ DECISION MAKING - assess the future opment of the Agudah as the "central WITH A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE address" for a dynamic Orthodoxy. ramifications of actions Rabbi Sherer also taught us never to bbi Sherer had a remarkable taken or decisions made launch any activity or mission with less bility to assess the future rami- than I 00% effort, adding that we could lli1cations of actions taken or on any given day. not succeed unless we were determined decisions made on any given day. He to act "like our life depended on it:' Fre­ never succumbed to the attraction of quently, when it seemed inconceivable short-term success at the expense of • to do all that needed to be done, Rabbi long-term failure. Every decision had to he had many more decades of expe1tise Sherer coached us on - giving us the be weighed with respect to its possible in dealing with almost any issue under confidence to move ahead despite the effects many years - even decades - consideration, he always involved oth­ numerous impediments that would lie down the road. ers in the decision-making process. In in our path. Rabbi Sherer's participation The key element in Rabbi Sherer's fact, on numerous situations a meeting in the recent Am Echad mission to Eretz decision making was daas Torah. He began with him thinking one way, but Yisroel, which he regarded as vital for the thns sought out the advice of Gedolei concluded with a different strategy future of Yahadus Hachareidis in the Torah on every subject, even in areas that after our brain-storn1ing sessions. Holy Land, is certainly a case in point. others would consider mundane. There Similarly, just a few months ago when was no subject of substance that he CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE,,, AND he realized how grave the situation was regarded himself to be sufficiently BUILDING A "TEAM" with regard to the swelling number of expert in, to make decisions without the out-of-school youth, he encouraged advice of Gedolim. bi Sherer had yet another pur­ the founding of Project Y.E.S. with that But Rabbi Sherer took the meaning ose in seeking out our opinions. same vigor and tenacity others would of the Mishna in Avos, "Who is wise? He llie was a firm believer in encour­ aspire to have in the prime of their life. who learns from every person" to aging others to develop to their maxi­ another plateau. He would regularly mum capacity. He wanted to make us THE CAPTAIN'S EYES: consult with his staff on various orga­ feel important, that our thoughts were CONSTANTLY ON HIS MISSION nizational and policy matters. Although valued, that our efforts were appreciat­ Rabbi Shlorno Gertzulin is the Vice-President and ed. As younger colleagues, we were "Woe to the generation that loses its Co1nptroller of Agudath Israel of America. heartened and inspired by the confi- leader, woe to the ship that loses its cap- •

50 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 lain." (BabbaBasra) Beyond the loss of Torah perspective on so may crucial leave our offices impressed with the pro­ the leader, the lament bemoans the loss issues, also had to have an impressive fessionalism of our operation - on a of the captain, for while a leader of a image. When Rabbi Sherer asked me to level on par with those in the secular generation is available for consultation coordinate the move of the Agudah world. Towards this end, he also encour­ when asked, a ship's captain keeps his headquarters from 5 Beekman Street to aged our investment in the most up-to­ eyes trained on the sea at all times. If 84 William Street, in 1986, his directions date equipment so that our activities on not, the results could be devastating. were clear and unambiguous. Our new behalf of the klal would be accomplished abbi Sherer was every inch a cap­ offices, while not pretentious, were to be in a most effective manner. ain, and a very demanding one tastefully constructed so as to impress It was not just the grand and excit­ t that. His standards were high the many public officials and business ing items that drew Rabbi Sherer's and very exacting, for he knew that k'vod leaders who routinely visit our head­ attention. He would frequently remind Shamayim was at stake in everything quarters. They, as well as others, should us to never loose sight of the pachim that we did. The eyes of the world were

upon our movement, with many wait­ Mozeson/Malinowski Advertising (201) 801-0101 ing for the misstep that would then jus­ tify an offensive against our broad coalition of Torah Jews led by Gedolei Yisroel. Thus, Rabbi Sherer always inspired us to strive for perfection. It h Mediocrity and complacency were not in his lexicon. In the planning stages for the Tenth Siyum HaShas of DafYomi last Ellu/, Rabbi Sherer meticulously nav­ igated the ship despite the many chal­ lenges confronted along the way to the SllC culmination of this unprecedented kid­ dush Hashem The same can be said with regard to the standards that he set for this magazine, the Orthodox Jewish Archives, Agudah's Government Affairs Offices in New York and Washington, the Camps Division, our activities for • youth and senior citizens, and so many other activities initiated by the Ameri­ can Agudah during the more than fifty years of his stewardship.

PROJECTING A POSITIVE IMAGE

he image of Torah and authentic Yiddishkeitconveyed to the non­ TTorah world, even the non-Jew­ ish world, meant very much to Rabbi Sherer. While it is widely known that he was a master at public relations, few understood how intensely he was involved in the intricate details and "fine The Shalom Task Force print" of public statements, advertise­ Abuse Hotline is endorsed by ments, and publications issued by the leading Orthodox Rabbonim. Agudah. Often he would point out flaws or omissions that we only then realized Confidential Hotline 718 337 3700 could have been misconstrued or mis­ Collect calls accepted. interpreted, possibly with embarrassing Do it for yourself. or damaging consequences. Do it for your children. Agudath Israel, as the projector of the

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 51 I had already received a phone call regarding the successful conclusion of the matter at hand. I later discovered that as soon as this subject was brought to Rabbi Sherer's attention, he instantly jumped into action.

THE FOURTH CHILD ...

he above incident also confirmed to me that when Rabbi Sherer Tprofessed that he had four chil­ dren, the fourth being Agudath Israel, he meant not only the organization, but also those of us who were fortunate to be on his team. He participated at staff simchos and sorrows, and joined in our triu1nphs and, rachmona litzlan, our tragedies as if they were his own. Rab/Ji Sherer addresses the 75th Anniversary Dinner ofAgudath Israel ofAmerica, the very last Agudah dinner Chazal tell us that "The righteous are lw attended; 1997 more prominent in death than they were ketanim, the "small jugs." He would declared that he had a grievance against during their lifetime:' But this can only relate how the giant oak trees of South­ me. He had heard that I was encoun­ happen if those who live on after them ern California were not ravaged by hur­ tering difficulty in resolving a person­ abide by their teachings and build ricanes or earthquakes. Rather, small al issue, and that I had not approached upon their achievements. We, the stu­ beetles ate at the tree bark to ultimate­ him for assistance. When I responded dents of Rabbi Sherer in the realm of ly destroy these majestic trees. Similar­ that I did not deem it proper to impose askonus, shtadlonus, and avodas haklal, ly, he reminded us not to overlook dot­ upon him with a non-substantive mat­ can and must make this happen. ting the "i's'' and crossing the "t's." ter, he remarked: "Mein kindt (my child), do you realize how many indi­ KEEPING ALIVE THE SACRED TRUST DEEP LOYALTY viduals call me at all hours of the day and night for this and that ... ? I have erhaps the most important lesson oyalty to friends and staff was already taken care of your matter, and Rabbi Sherer taught us was never Rabbi Sherer's hallmark. On a Fri­ it is fully resolved." Pto loose sight of our fundamen­ Lday afternoon some fifteen years Indeed, upon arriving home that very tal objective. Agudath Israel, he would ago, Rabbi Sherer entered my office and erev Shabbos, my wife informed me that say again and again, was not just an orga­ nization that provided myriad services to the community. Rather, it was a movement founded by the Gedolei Yis­ SEEKING A MAN roel of the previous generations to OF ACTION FOR bring Torah Jews together under a n1'\?.l:::il n7~i1 com1non banner, in order to confront A set of t\VO cassette tapes of the all issues that affect us as individuals and asifa l'maan chizuk haTorah AN OUTREACH AND RESCUE as a people, b'derech Ha Torah. (21 Iyar, 5758 /May 21, 1998) CENTER JN ISRAEL JS When, several years ago, he coined the \Vith the participation of INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES phrase "Keepers of the Sacred Trust," we HoR.av Aaron Leib Steinman and the FOR PART TIME FUNDRAISING were not sufficiently perceptive to com­ Gerrer Rebbc, are no\v available. prehend its relevance. We who have been Send $11 (includes postage) to: Musr LIVE IN OR NIAR Ny left to carry on Rabbi Sherer's life work Aguda1:h Israel of Am.erica ME I RO AREA must concentrate on this slogan and Tapes Dcpartn1cnt assimilate it into our daily activities. For 84 \Villian1 Street, 12th floor indeed, Rabbi Sherer has left to us a hal­ New York, NY 10038 FOR INFO. CALL OR FAX For more info call (IN [SRAEL) (08) 974-0084 lowed legacy which Kial Yisroel must guard and persevere in benefitting from, (212) 797-9000 ext. 41. ad bi' as go' el tzeddek. •

52 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 Can Make a World of Difference??

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OPERATION IU;Fl)AJl·.·.ts .an .u00 receifen~eti,~1li~~islit.c •... ).• i i.• ... OP~I{ATI()f1l~l't}AH~d~~~·itt~~~{~f~~'·tvim.··.•.·•...••.. · ... ·. ···• (Z~lLeahJ~f1'~."~·~~o~~--·" }ii .• <··. O~EftATlQN• •.REF1JA8··is .a •. Rabbfuicalll..end()~e.ct;~aSS,t"Q9~· m~rem~I)t/Whbse message has caprureu the neatts ooew$ it\ Atgei;\tinif,,Alt$t~ali~i 1'3;r~!J:il~ 9nada, Chile, England, Prance, Israel, Italy, south Africa an(! the µnitedSratefi'• · . . P,l.. e.JOiJ:t l1$• . . Voll·~~ "(~~ 9µ'1• ))y. comple~ng. a~d ·s~nding U$ tile tett'-'1' betow,. \Vbkh \Villb' p~~ (leJWei'ed ~ a hospital patient somewhere in Ute world•. Malt.to: oPEAAti~ •t:i.t~K~lte,tdl{Ulrt~.1640 \llJ~:thalt Road. sooeC4, \)n;on, N.19ti1s3. u~; Fu m: (Soal ss1,089llidf e-mail to OREl'OA~juno.cqro ·· ...... usat:(908} 6Eit•2922<){ (600! 771J.1945 and vfs~ our we1!51te at www.sf~ate•oom111refuall:btljll ------!lJett.1< ,q:;.t'e/1tf. .tL a/tt! the e.11/1/

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Post-Dinner meeting: Planning for the Levaya

as1c• ra1n1n• •

here was almost a surreal feeling the petira of Rabbi Sherer. A soft krechtz tion to give direction to others.) He in the nearly deserted Ballroom of would escape, and then the thought, "We recited theShe'ma, and passed from this Tthe New York Hilton as Rabbi have a job to do" would clearly come to world without sharing his thoughts Shmuel Bloom met with the staff ofAgu­ mind, and the person would plunge back with anyone. dath Israel after the 76th Annual Dinner in to the work at hand. His children were inconsolable at to plan for the levaya (funeral) of Rabbi their lost opportunity to hear the Sherer. Exhausted from the demands of lthough most of the others had thoughts and guidance that their father the dinner, and emotionally drained from spent many years or even had initially wanted to share with them. the crushing blow of Rabbi Sherer's peti­ Adecades with Rabbi Sherer, and When Reb Shmuel Shapiro7""'1, one of ra (passing) only hours earlier, the staff quite literally felt as if their father had the elders of the kehilla, came to be set aside their emotions and focused on passed away, I felt a different sense of rnenachem avel, one of the sons the countless details necessary to insure loss. I was envious of the others for hav­ expressed his feelings of grief to Reb that the levaya would proceed in an ing had the shimush (training) from Shmuel. Reh Shmuel was silent for a orderly fashion. Rabbi Sherer that was so evident in moment. He then softly said in Yiddish, The staff. For the past few months, I everything that they do. Having been "But he did give you hadrocha. He have been privileged to be part of this recently appointed to head a new taught you the importance of con­ illustrious group of multi-talented men endeavor that is rich with so 1nuch ducting yourself with tzenius and and women handpicked by Rabbi Sher­ promise and fraught with so much dan­ humility." er to serve the klal in such a dignified ger, I felt almost cheated at the thought I had received my guidance all right manner. I sat quietly throughout the of not having his guidance. - covertly and overtly. I wasn't paying meeting, watching as every one of the A story I had heard years ago came enough attention. myriad details of the levaya was to 111ind. dicussed. How ironic it was that the well­ Approximately forty years ago, an y training began on my first oiled machine that- under the watch­ esteemed member of the Yerushalrni day in 84 William Street with ful eye of Rabbi Sherer - produced so kehilla was on his deathbed. His entire M a two-hour meeting with many events that created such k'vod extended family surrounded him as the Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, as he - with Shamayim, would now be engaged to end came closer. Knowing that he had great passion - outlined the ideals and provide the kavod acharon for him. moments to live, he turned to his chil­ goals of Agudath Israel. "People don't Throughout the meeting, I watched as dren and remarked that there are fully understand the goal of Reb Meir members of the staff would pause for a many thoughts that he would like to Shapiro with the DafHayorni. It was not moment, as if to step back and reflect on share with them, but, "lch hub moirah just a program to spread limud ha Torah. fun p'nyos." (He was concerned that it It was the best way to unite Kial Yisroel. Rabbi Horowitz, director of Project Y.E.S., was would be a smattering of boastfulness That is the mission of Agudath Israel." last represented in these pages with ''A Pound of Cure," April '97. for him to assume that he was in a posi- Rabbi Sherer dropped in for a few

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 55 minutes to 'vish me Agudath Israel, appeared in the Yated Ne' em an that mazel. He returned a few I \Vas initiated week. "Rabbi Sherer asked you to please moments later with a into the philoso­ make the following corrections to the ad beautifully-inscribed phy of The Agudah before you run it again;' she said. copy of Against All Move1nent [ l.] "You did not include cross Odds. "Read it careful­ con1n1itment to streets in the ad. [It read that the sessions ly, Reb Yakov," he said. helping fellow Yid­ will be conducted at Rabbi Reisman's "and learn about den, fidelity to Gedolei shul - 2122 Ave S.] It should include Agudath Israel." He Torah, and the incred­ the cross streets (i.e. between E. 21st and spoke to me for a ible sense of achdus E. 22nd streets). People who don't live fe\v moments. As and backing from the in Flatbush may not know exactly he stood up to entire staff and the where the shul is located. leave the roo1n, he baalei battim - the lay [ 2. J "The ad read, 'Rabbi Horowitz placed a hand on my shoul- people who are the back­ has been condncting parenting ses­ der, and said, "As a rebbi, you \Vere able bone of the organization. sions ... over the past few years.' If my to touch 25 lives a year - perhaps I 000 My personal tzava'a me1nory is correct, your first n1ajor pub­ lives over your teaching career. Working would come several months later. lic address was at the 1996 IAgudath for Agudath Israel, you can help all of Two weeks before the petira of Rabbi Israel National] Convention. That Kial Yisroel. I trust that you can meet that Sherer, I got a call from his personal sec­ means you probably \Veren't doing challenge." retary regarding an ad for the Project much public speaking until then. Throughout my first few months with Y.E.S. parenting workshops that "Take out the word 'few' - it should say 'over the past years.' [3.] "At the bottom of the ad there To help harness the enormous spirit was a note stating that 'all proceeds reverberating throughout the Americas (there was an entrance fee of $10-per in the wake of the historic Tenth Siyum HaShas of the Daf Yomi, Agudath Israel couple) will benefit Project Y.E.S.' of America's Daf Yomi Commission "Add the word' exclusively.' Since all reminds the public that. .. the n1oney is going to the Agudah, it • It you require assistance in the forma­ should state that fact clearly.''

tion of a new Dat Yomi group and/or She paused for a ino1nent 1 and are in need of a qualified maggid shiur, added, "Rabbi Sherer asked me to tell the Oaf Yomi Commission can help. you that Agudath Israel is the organi­ • For a laminated book-mark with a 16- zation that it is, because he personally month Daf Yomi calendar, tree of checked every ad and every letter that charge, our office can be written or faxed. A 32-page seven-year calendar we sent out for the past fifty years.'' is also available, for a handling charge In one 1ninute, I got my orders that of $2.00 each. wonld have to last for a lifetime. Guide • If you are aware of a new Oat Yomi people as much as you possibly can. shiur, please contact us for a Shiur Exan1ine every word you speak or write Registration Form, so that it can be for absolute honesty. And above all, be included in the new edition of the North forthright about every peruta of mamon American Directory of Oaf Yomi Shiurim presently under preparation. hekdesh. My first reaction was one of great • In the meantime, copies of the 1996 Directory - though it does not list the simcha. Having heard how deathly ill myriad new groups established since Rabbi Sherer was, I mistakenly took that the Siyum - are still available. phone call to be a sign that he was feel­ • You can also send for a free Directory ing better. I turned on iny co1nputer, of Oaf Yomi Services, outlining the var­ typed a short memo, and faxed it to ious programs and assistance avail­ Rabbi Sherer's home. I thanked him for able to participants in limud Oaf Yomi. the corrections, and then added a post­ script. "Let me join Kial Yisroel in wishing you a refua sheleima. May we be zoicha to have your eina pekicha (watch­ ful eye) biz a hundret un tzvantzik." Lo zachinu. Lo zachinu... II

56 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 HIS AGENDA: SERVICE TO KLAL DSROEL

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON WORKING WITH RABBI SHERER

Based on a hespedby Rabbi Herman N Neuberger; Prepared {or publication by Rabbi Shefte/ Neuberger

GROWING IN ASKANUS resource that Reb Moshe was for the abbi Moshe Sherer and I were Torah communi­ privileged as bachurim to be ty, it is necessary to Rtalmidim of the Rosh Yeshiva of define the four Ner Yisroel, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak aspects of this title. Halevi Ruderman, 7"Yt. We both were What is the mean­ Rabhi Sherer and Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut share a word in a Boro imbued by the Rosh Ha Yeshiva with the ing of askanus - Park Succa; l 992 importance of devoting ourselves to the communal service? learning of Torah and the service of Kial, How do we delineate tzerachin1 sultation with and under the leadership and encouraged by him to act on this needs? In what manner do we circum­ of our Gedo lei Ha Torah, Rabbi Sherer was directive. scribe tzibbur- community? What is the able to make those difficult and critical When Reb Moshe left the Yeshiva, he definition of emuna - trust? decisions. He would then focus his tal­ was fully committed to seeking a rab­ ents on i1nplementing the necessary binic opening. After several months of ASKANUS- COMMUNAL SERVICE - actions to deal with the issue at hand. fruitless search for an adequate position, TO MEET THE PRESSING NEEDS he agreed to assume temporarily the THE TZIBBUR OF HIS BENEFICIARIES Directorship of Zeirei Agudath Israel eik... Dedicated communal ser­ until he could find a suitable pulpit. Lit. ice is the life blood of our peo­ zibbur: Rabbi Sherer was most tie did he realize that the Hashgacha had aplehood. It requires selfless talented at motivating others other plans for him. devotion with total negation of personal T and organizing their efforts. He needs. Politicians in Washington, was able to attract high caliber profes­ very Shabbos, all of Kial Yisroel Albany, and New York City remarked on sionals and dedicated laymen as he nur· gives a special beracha to the many occasions how impressed they lured and developed the growth and Em1r.iN:i i1:iy •:iu:i ;:>1'1))- the one were that Rabbi Sherer never asked for expansion of Agudath Israel of Amer­ who gives of himself with devotion and anything personal. His devotion to his ica into the organization that has dedication to the needs of the Kial. The communal responsibilities was thor­ achieved recognition as the most life and career of Rabbi Moshe Sherer oughly focused, never compromised by important representative body of the ?"Yr is fully deserving of this appellation. any personal agenda. Torah community. Reb Moshe devot­ To fully appreciate the wonderful Merubim tzorchei amcha. The needs ed much effort to include under the Rabbi Herman Naftoli Neuberger, president of of our people are always great, even over­ umbrella of Agudath Israel as much of Yeshiva Ner Israel, in Baltimore, is a leading fig­ whelming. Those in a position of lead­ the Torah community as possible. ure in communal affairs on both the national and ership must define and select which issues Even those groups that, for various rea­ international scene. Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger is a member of the teaching and administrative to devote the limited resources of time sons, would not directly affiliate with staffa of Yeshiva Ner Israel. and energy at one's con1mand. In con- Agudath Israel, were beneficiaries of

The Jewish Observer, Summer 7998 57 Rabbi Sherer's activities. They never THE EMUNA FACTOR ing that they would never become part hesitated to call upon him when the of the public record. The credit Reb need arose. 'emuna: Among his many Moshe fully deserves for these initiatives The large number of obituaries that ccomplishments are many will remain known only to the partici­ appeared in The New York Times over Hxtraordinary issues of such sen­ pants and the One Above. the signature of many varied Jewish sitivity that they could not become Rabbi Sherer's widely recognized organizations, as well as the laudatory known publicly, especially catastrophes discretion helped him create relation­ editorials that appeared in the Anglo­ that were circumvented because of his ships with political leaders on the local, )ewish press, attest to the high esteem intercession. They also included life­ state, national and international level. He that all sectors of the Jewish commu­ and-death issues that required very encouraged many young Agudah nity accorded Rabbi Sherer and his private diplomatic interventions, as activists to become politically involved. community under the umbrella of well as politically sensitive activities that Some achieved positions of influence Agudath Israel. were undertaken with the understand- and power that were used for the ben­ efit of our community. He fully under­ stood the need for creating lines of com­ .:A. publication. is being plan~id: munication with the other faith communities so that their cooperation to pr~serve tfie legacy of could be enlisted when issues of mutu­ al concern arose. Rabbi Moshe Sherer ?":in • Over the years, I had the privilege for future generations. of working with Reb Moshe on many such issues. His connections with lfyou fia1J,e any interesting pfiotograpfis,correspondence i1nportant figures in the government's educational establishment were crucial or personalstories relating to 'Rabbi Sfierer. to the creation of an accrediting agency please mail photocopies to: for yeshivas. The prevailing sentiment in the Office of Education, at that time, was to recognize for the purpose of Title IV Rabbi Moshe Kolodny • Orthodox Jewish Archives eligibility, only those institutions of 84 William Street, New York, NY 10038 higher learning that would meet the require1nents of existing accrediting PLEASE SUBMlTYOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER IN CASE WE NEED lD CONTACT YOU FOR THE ORIGINALS agencies, and the syllabus of the yeshiv­ as did not fit the template of those agen­ cies. It was necessary to convince the government officials of the effectiveness C"~~ of yeshivas as institutions of quality higher learning and to convince them that the existing accrediting agencies Tiferes Miriam were incapable of properly evaluating High School for Girls yeshivas. Rabbi Sherer's relationship with a Dr. Halperin together with his 6510 17th Avenue • Brooklyn, NY congressional connections were crucial Tiferes Miriam offers an unprecedented opportunity in winning approval from the Office of for girls seeking an alternative approach to education Education for a commission to evalu­ Program Features Include: ate the situation. He was very instru­ • Small group setting • Dual track curriculum mental in funding this commission as • Supervised individual programs well as obtaining the proper academic • Extensive extracurricular activities personalities whose opinions would be • Bais Yaakov Orientation acceptable to the government. Whenever the behind-the-scenes working com­ Applications for Junior High (7-8) and High School mittee came to its conclusions, Rabbi (9-12) for V"WTl are now bemg accepted Sherer invariably carried the decisions For registration information call (718) 837-3100 to fruition. l'he con1mission's recom­ mendation was accepted by the gov­ ernment, and the Association of

58 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 ations. Rabbi Sherer asked Mr. Solarz to • obtain an appointment for us with the any of these issues, as well as myriad Turkish Ambassador, and to accompa­ ny us to a meeting to discuss this issue. M others, were undertaken successfully with The Turkish Ambassador not only granted the appointment, but was even the full understanding that they cannot be exposed willing to come to us for the meeting. in the public arena. Reb Moshe carried them out The Ambassador agreed that if we could insure that only qualified refugees lovingly for the sake of the Klol-be'emuno, with were included in our operation, it could continue. Thanks to the inter­ the trust that the vention of Congressman Solarz, this program continued for almost four organizational years. The lines of communication need for publicity with the Turkish Embassy were most helpful in dealing with snags that would remain subservient occur from time to time. The refugees who would arrive in to the needs of our Vienna would have to remain there for between six and nine months until they people that are could obtain their papers as refogees and paramount. be brought to the United States. The Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) was willing to provide for their physi­ cal needs. Who, however, would care for their spiritual needs? Rabbi Sherer Meeting with a fC1mily released from organized a meeting of European and Syria with the help ofAgudath Israel; 1992 HAT PLUS Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Rabbi Sherer's connections in Congress Hats • Shirts • Ties •Accessories Schools was established to accredit and with other faith groups were most yeshivas. important in the successful battle to Your#l Stop These efforts were carried out with retain this deferment. for the full understanding that AARTS was • A similar relationship with an Quality Hats to accredit all yeshivas - Litvish, Chas­ important congressional leader enabled WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION sidic or Sefardic - irrespective of their us to save many young Iranians who & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONJM TIES JN affiliation with Agudah. The result of have since become bnei Torah and (All work done on prf!m1ses} BROOKLYN this unsung effort on the part of Rabbi talmidei chachamim: 1368 Coney Island Avenue Sherer is that students attending our During the years following the Iran­ (718) 377-5050 mosdos (institutions of advanced Tal­ ian Revolution, it became increasingly Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS mudic study) became eligible for student dangerous for young Jewish Iranians to financial aid. Currently, millions of remain at home. They were being con­ dollars of educational support flow to scripted and sent immediately to the yeshiva bachurim and Kolle/ avreichim front as cannon fodder in Iran's pro­ each year. tracted war with Iraq. A possibility arose • When the draft deferment for whereby youngsters could be smuggled divinity students came under attack in across the border with Turkey. It was Congress, some twenty years ago, it was necessary to arrange that the Turkish necessary to create a task force to lobby authorities not interfere with this oper­ for information on key Senators and Congressmen. It was ation by returning the refugees to Iran. obtaining cemetery plots in also important that the delegation vis­ Rabbi Sherer had an especially close Eretz Hachaim Beth Shemesh iting each legislator include two non­ relationship with Congressman Steven Har Menuchoth - Har Hazeisim Jewish clergy along with a rabbi so that Solarz (Brooklyn), who was Chairman it not be perceived as a Jewish issue. of a Sub-Committee on Foreign Oper- 011-972-2-641-1923

The Jewish Observer, Summer 7998 59 Celebrating the Ni111h American Agudah leaders for the pur­ Siyum pose of creating a spiritual support sys­ HaSha:; of the ten1 for these Iranian refugees awaiting /1111ch1ime shiur at 84 relocation. He was 1nost instrumental in \Vi!limn Street mobilizing a group of young askanirn headquarter$, (activists), forn1ing the Iranian H.. escue with Rabbi David Fein­ Con1mittee, which succeeded in raising, stein (seated) without publicity or fanfare, close to $2 and Rab/Ji million. This was used to purchase a Elin1c!cch B/11th; 1990 building to house these refugees in a proper environment, where they could be provided with kosher food, and to host a facility where they could study Torah. The boys were being prepared to be able to join a yeshiva once they received their papers to come to the United States. It was imperative that this entire operation be done without publicity, as we did not want to call this operation to the attention of the Austrian anthor­ ities. Many of these issues, as well as 1nyr­ In everlasting tribute to iad others, were undertaken success­ fully with the full understanding that Rabbi Moshe Sherer, '.J"~t they cannot be exposed in the public arena. Reh Moshe carried then1 out A fearless leader wl10 possessed rare vision, integrity, lovingly for the sake of the Kial-be' e­ tnuna, with the trust that the organi­ and talent ignited by true Abavas Yisroel. zational need for publicity remain sub­ servient to the needs of our people that are paramount. Mordy Mehlman Citi com HIS LEGACY

eb Moshe is truly irreplaceable. We will all miss his counsel, lead­ Rership and, above all, his initia­ tive. He was not only a reactive person. He was forward thinking, constantly for­ mulating new ideas and programs, as well as constantly forging important • 6retllS.tJings BAR1!E5Ul•D •/'llldlifSqlt relationships and creating avenues of • FastServiee r.~Vues 5eeQJe11ce con1munication so that when the need fol--+"-" to act would arise, a way to deal with the ~·Conveniente BAµSCH&.LOMS@ problem would already be in place. lsA.lw11 'S Gullranteed!!! Iii~"""'" • He trained a wonderful staff and BUY imbued them fully with the commit­ ment and devotion to his legacy. We are NOW confident that collectively the staff of AND Agudath Israel will carry forward in its role as a unifying and dedicated force, representing the needs of Torah Yid­ dishkeit and projecting its strength and beauty. •

60 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 Menachem Lubinsky

Yosef Mendelovich, prisoner of conscience, upon his release from the Soviet prison, greeted by Rabbi Sherer and Rabbi , '7·:n at the Agudah dinner; 198 I RABBI MOSHE SHERER 7"~r A Life Of.. Is It Good For The]ews?

e sat exhausted on the shuttle AN ON-GOING MANDATE To media leaders, he would say: "Agu­ flight back to New York. We had dath Israel's Council of Torah Sages is H experienced a grueling, whirl­ y recollections of Rabbi Sher­ its highest governing body because it wind day of meetings at the White er as the shtadlan of the Torah consists of the foremost Talmudic House and the U.S. Congress. With M world always reverts to his Scholars, men who are totally immersed Ronald Reagan in the White House since "measuring rod" of, in the long run: "Is in our 3,000 years' experience and 1980, the climate had significantly it good for the Jews?" Shortly after I deeply steeped in Jewish scholarship. changed in our favor. These past three joined the staff of Agudath Israel in They are the only Jews who are capable years, we found support for many of 1971, I heard him draw on Mordechai's of addressing contemporary issues Agudath Israel's positions, such as role in Megillas Esther to project his con­ within the context of Sinai and trans­ tuition tax credits and our stand against cept of a shtadlan. lating it into relevant policy:' abortion. I had been traveling regular­ On the verse, "And Mordechai was He also used this perspective when ly to Washington to represent Agudath sitting in the king's gate;' Rabbi Sher­ confronting those who argued that Israel of America, and felt that it was er homiletically offered: "It does not daas Torah should be reserved for the time to bring in the heavy artillery: say that he sat, in the past tense, as purely" halachic'' issues of issur and het­ Rabbi Moshe Sherer. To make maxi­ would have been proper;' he pointed ter or tahor and tamei- permissible or mum use of his presence, I arranged for out. "Rather, the Megilla uses the pre­ forbidden, ritually pure or tainted. more than a dozen meetings in one day. sent (sitting,' implying an ongoing "Taras Chaim, living Torah;' he wrote to No sooner had one appointment con­ involvement. Mordechai does not wait one such critic, "literally means that it cluded than we were running through for a crisis for him to go to the king's controls our lives 24-hours a day, every the Capitol for our next rendezvous. gate. He is alert to any and all devel­ breathing moment." On the return flight, I attempted to opments that may have any ramifica­ His warmth and disarming smile assess the results of the tiring day. "It was tions for the Jews. He establishes rela­ made anyone who came in contact with a good day for Agudath Israel;' I ventured. tionships with all the king's ministers, him feel at ease, enabling him to be an Rabbi Sherer, deeply engrossed in with the exception of Haman, to effective advocate for Torah in the thought, finally said: "Menachem, is it properly represent Kial Yisroel." many worlds that he encountered. To me good for the Jews?" This driving principle of "What is and many of my colleagues, he was more '

Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 61 (RIRF) and Project R.J.S.E. to help in the spiritual absorption of Soviet Jews in Israel and in this country. And, of course) his role in helping the Rabbi Sherer overseeing shipments of emergency fOod baal Teshuva move­ for Jews in R11ssia; 1992 n1ent in Russia as Communis1n was WHAT'S GOOD FOR SOVIET JEWRY! crumbling is now leg­ endary. y first real experience with The establishment Rabbi Sherer's litmus test of of RIRF demonstrat­ M Good for the Jews came dur- ed Rabbi Sherer's ing the fervent efforts to free Soviet Je\vs. unique \Vorking rela­ While most secular groups and some tionship with the religious organizations took to the Gedolei Torah. At one streets, the Agudah relegated its efforts of the founding n1eet­ to quiet diplomacy. In fact, the archives ings, the late Rosh Ra/;/Ji Shcrrr al t/Jc Ch111111kas HilBayis of the Afoscow 'lcshiwi; 1991 of Agudath Israel carry records of com­ Yeshiva of Telshe, n1unications fron1 Rabbi Sherer to 1nen Rabbi Boruch Sorotzkin like Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass­ •;,.'lll listened intently to the plan to raise later \Vas involved \vith caring for the achusetts) to help reunite families. He several hundred thousand dollars to Soviet Je,vs enroute to Israel via Vien­ very often succeeded. He helped orga­ spiritually absorb Soviet Jews in Israel. na and Italy, and personally visited the nize a huge tefilla rally for Soviet Jewry The Rosh Yeshiva pleaded emotionally transit centers. at Ne\v York)s Manhattan Center, \Vi th \Vith the Agudath Israel leaders to raise the participation of an in1pressive gath­ their sights and set a target ofat least $1 SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS OF ering of c;edolci ORTHODOX JEWS HaTarah. He recognized tefilla ood for Je\vs ahvays ineant rais­ as the most ing the status of Torah Judaism. effective ren1edy GAs an eyewitness to the days for the problems of Kial Yisrocl and Reb Yisroel, as he so vividly . den1onstrated I during his ill­ ness. Every ti1ne we spoke, he asked me to ('be mispallel for Moshe ben Basya Bluma." 'fo the cries Rab/Ji Sherer at Agudatli Israel Moscow Office dedication, Rabbi Motdechai Ncustodt and Rabbi i'ankov Bleich, Chief Rabbi of the Ukraine, in attendance; 1991 of"Let My People Go»' he \vould say, "No) first let n1y peo­ million. "This is not another fundrais­ ple live:' He had organized an Overseas ing campaign," he i111plored his listen­ Can1paign to see that Soviet ers. "This is the historic rescue of a part Jews had ntatzos on Pesach. He inter­ of our people who have been absent vened with Soviet officials to relax reli­ from our midst for 70 years. We may gious oppression. As the Iron Curtain never have another chance." lifted, he established such programs as Rabbi Sherer threw himself into this Rabbi Sherer greets M. Rais, former Soviet ref11se11ik, the Russian Immigrant Rescue Fund historic effort with i1npressive results. He in his office

62 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 when observant Jews were told "not to come in on Monday if they took off on Shabbos;' he took great pride in the fed­ eral legislation that banned discrimi­ nation of Sabbath observers in the fed­ Personal responsibility throughout sen·ice - NOT JUST "PAPER\l'ORK" eral employ. The pen used by President ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT METHOD Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the legisla­ Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Erctz Yisrael tion was proudly displayed in his office. 104.l-42nd Street, IJrooklyn, l'ff 11219 And, as Rabbi Naftali Neuberger of Yeshiva Ner Israel in Baltimore recalls J)ay & N'ight phone: (718) 851-8925 (see page 57), Rabbi Sherer joined him ])JP'l:lN1~1.lNj7 Vl"j7 - ]'1J 1Nl 1111.l:l)J '1l~ in "full combat" mode to save the draft Chesecl ~'hel EMES with Mesir Nefesh .. .as wulerstooc:I and practiced by one actil"e in 1he industry for more than IWf a (ffltucy BE\l'ARE OF IMPOSTERS • TAHARAS HANIFTAR SHOUtD :"\EVER BE COM!\IERCIAUZED deferments of divinity students. To Rabbi Sherer, shtadlanus meant using his considerable talents to advo­ cate for unprecedented government support for Torah chinuch, combatting the Jewish establishment's vitriolic cam­ Caregivers, Inc.­ paign against such assistance. It also n1eant hammering a\.vay at the secular more than medicine Jewish philanthropic world for not putting Jewish education at the top of their allocations agenda. When you need the assistance of a visiting caregiver who is sensitive to your needs as a EXPOSING THE DANGERS OF DEVIATIONISTS patient and member of the frum community, trust Caregivers, Inc .. As one of New York's ood for the Jews called for exposing the fraudulent teach­ most qualified health care providers,* we offer Gings of the Conservatives and more than just our medical expertise. Our Reform, whom Rabbi Sherer recognized professional and paraprofessional aides respond as carrying the priine responsibility for intermarriage and assi1nilation, and as to the special halachic needs you may have. directly culpable for the declining num­ bers of American Jewry. When Reform It's all part of how we provide expert care first sought to make inroads in Bretz Yis­ rocl, Rabbi Sherer sent MK Rabbi Men­ where you're most comfortable-at home.

achem Porush a Reform "siddur' with »Based on 1996 accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Orgmuzatwn;; (]CAHO). every reference to Zion obliterated from the liturgy. In an emotional speech Paraprofessional Services Professional Services Call the LinkLine to the Knesset, Rabbi Porush threw the "siddur" to the floor, to protest Reform's • Ho1ne health aides • Registered nurses Hotline, (718) 921-8800, new-found ron1ance with Zion as a play • Personal care aides • Licensed practical nurses for your free guide to to the popular sentiments for Israel • Task-oriented services • Rehabilitation therapists Caregivers. amongst its constituency. • High-tech nursing services In the "Who Is A Jew" battles, and • Case management services even during his last brave Arn Echad campaign, he took great pains to point out that his fight was against Reform and Conservative conversions, but that he CAREGIVERS, INC. never regarded a single Jew as a second class citizen. He was concerned that the 6323 Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220-4711

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 63 GOOD FOR INDIVIDUAL JEWS concluding with his handwritten notes: the mega issues that made the front "Baruch Hashem, the problem was pages of the Anglo-Jewish media. Good abbi Sherer fought with equal fer­ solved:' He always smiled when he wrote for Jews also meant good for a Jew. vor for the individual. His neat­ that last line. Ri y filled index cards, which list­ The range of individual issues that I GOOD FOR AMERICAN JEWRY ed his agenda for every day of the week, saw him get involved in was staggering. included a mix of Kial Yisroel and Reb A student was having a problem with a ood for the Jews embraced a Yisroel. He urged me to take the prob­ college exam on Shabbos, a family vision of an American Torah lems of every individual as seriously as required a visa for a chassan fron1 Israel GJewry that would be totally those of the Kial. "They too are our to come to a wedding, an Iranian Jew independent, able to fend for itself, and clients;' he would often quip. Letters that had to be rescued, and on and on it capable of growing and developing in he would share with key officers and went. There was no ambiguity about the "treifene America" that he grew up 1orah leaders almost always included let­ these "small favors:' He saw these as in. 1o watch the extraordinary growth ters from individuals (names deleted), much a part of the Agudah mission as of the Orthodox community was a par­ ticular joy, because as a boy, he could only be inspired by the stories he heard from the thriving Torah world in East­ ern Europe. His vision also included developing and nurturing a cadre of young, com­ mitted Bnei Torah to assume some of this holy work. His ability to attract Bnei Torah attorneys to use their talents for Torah causes brought hi1n im1nense sat­ isfaction. The proliferation of dedicated people across America involved in kiruv rechokim, bikur cholim, and volunteerisn1 in general '\Vas a source of great joy to a Jew who could find only a handful of col­ leagues to help him pack parcels for the 0¥2:'.~At:fk~~«t~~-41t?&~S1~~1&¥%ef,;,_:z,,~•~WEEPSTAKE desperate Jews of Eastern Europe. IN KIRYAT SEFER, 35 NEW SHULS AND YESHIVOS ARE BEING BUILT IN PLACE OF OVERCROWDED BOMB-SHELTERS t is impossible in one article to cap­ YOU CAN TAKE PART IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED BUILDING ture the dynamism of the remark­ CAMPAIGN, WARMLY ENDORSED BY GEDOLEI HATORAH I able career of Rabbi Moshe Sherer. As someone who knew him for 29 years, and worked with him for 13 years, I was always amazed at his seemingly endless energy, even during the illnesses that ultimately claimed his life. There always seemed to be one more cause to con­ quer, one more individual to help, one more battle, and one more triumph for AIR CONDITIONER• CLOTHES· DRYER Torah. COMPUTER •REFRIGERATOR • 14K JEWELRY The concluding pasuk of Megillas AND HUNDREDS OF VALUABLE PRIZES! Esther is a most fitting tribute to the life and career of Reb Moshe ben Chaim THE NEXT DRAWING ON 15 AV I AUGUST 6 Yehuda: CALL TODAY 1998 FIAT PUNTO For Mordechai the Jew was viceroy 8-KLYN MONSEY to King Achashveirosh, and great (718) 467-6714 (914) 364-5470 amongst the Jews and accepted by most of his brethren; he sought the LAKEWOOD COUNTRYWIDE good of his people and was con­ (732) 370-3320 1(800) 467-6714 cerned for the welfare of all his pos­ terity. •

64 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 Hrs LEGACY: Rabbi Hillel Goldberg

IN A LEAGUE BY HIMSELF

• What is the right word? If l string out a list - leadership, intact, regardless of circumstance. At integrity, vision, conviction, charm - the moment of petira, however, life Admiration? Gratitude? Excitement? do not readers simply nod, "of course"? stops. His act of integration stops. We Wisdom? Was not Rabbi Sherer such a power­ no longer see Rabbi Sherer integrat­ My relationship with Rabbi Moshe ful presence in his lifetime that though ing life's changes with the integrity at Sherer contained elements of all these, his life has stopped, his presence con­ his center. We, who came after, can but no single word captures it. tinues? Even for those who never saw only imagine him in light of the He was in a league by himself. him, does not his organization contin­ countless changes that cascade upon Sui generis. ue? Isn't his own work the commu­ us - not least, his death itself. So was his relationship with me. nicative vehicle of his presence, even for Life has stopped. When we met, he boosted me and my those who never knew him? Legacy has begun. work. He was a builder. A nurturer. He Isn't this article, like all tributes in this And so, as we imagine Rabbi Sherer had the knack of making me feel a big issue, superfluous? in light of our own adjustments to every difference for his having extended his If only it were so. change that comes after his death, we support- for honoring me with a spe­ run the risk of doing so differently from cial relationship. • From the very moment of petira, how he would. We become different in memory begins its tricks. light of his passing (not to mention that • Who is the "my" and "we" above? There is such good reason for this, we are all different to begin with). Does the reader deem it Hillel Gold­ particularly for an exemplar of Therefore, before memory colors berg? integrity, such as Rabbi Moshe Sher­ legacy, it is incumbent upon us to recap­ If so, this is but the illusion of tech­ er. Like this: Life changes; in fact, many ture this extraordinary man. If we who nique. Yes, it is I. .. and scores, hundreds, times each day. An exemplar of enjoyed a special relationship need a perhaps thousands of others. Yes, Rabbi integrity, by definition, integrates reminder, how much more will those Sherer had a knack. He could make each change so that as he grows and who come later - who will not even countless people feel that they and their adjusts, his vital center remains have the resource of memory. work counted, that their person count­ unchanged. His person and his con­ Thus the pages of this magazine serve ed, that they played a role not in some viction - his integrity - remains as a prelude to acting on his legacy. • small enterprise but in nothing less than advancing Malchus Hashem. Rabbi Moshe Sherer, of blessed CLAIMS CONFERENCE EXTENDS memory, was a wonderment. But since GOOD:wJ:I,L EIJND DEADLINE TO he had so many "special relationships" i$i ;~,,.,;Jiik~""~=~ay-=~~@ ":,'°" "'J""t"" ,~<:: --;£ ~~-¥o.e":>M""'""~""!Q/f;4'?jjfjdX~ l - since it was countless people whom he touched - isn't it countless people Individuals who failed to register claims for restitution of Jewish property in the forn1er East Germany by the December 31, 1992 Gern1an Government dead­ who already knew he was wondrous? line may apply to the Clain1s Conference Good\vill Fund. Isn't it superfluous to say so? The (]aims Conference Good\vill Fund shares net proceeds Was not his inner life consistent with from the recovery of properties \Vhich it obtained as the legal successor to his known life ( tocho kebaro )? Do we not unclaimed Je\vish property. already have a crystal clear picture of his Applications to the Goodwill Fund \vill be accepted through December 31, 1998. integrity? Was not his name respected Please write to the address beknv, indicating: wide and far? Did not the Vice President • The address of the property of the United States himself say so, the • The name of the original property O\Vner day Rabbi Sherer died? • Your relationship to the original owner • Your name and mailing address Rabbi Hillel Goldberg is executive editor of Den­ ver's lntermoutain Jewish News and active in a (j~S'CQ~N"PE syccEsso:ac wide variety of outreach efforts, including the 0Rt1.A,N"!ZATION GOQDWILL FuND mikveh team of Torah Community Project. Sophien$trasse.26 • 60487 Frankfurt ."111 Main,. Gerinany

The Jewish Observer, June 1998 65 Jewish history may be lying around in your basement. Don't let it be lost to the world.

Thousands of documents and photos are languishing in trunks, attics and forgotten drawers in private homes and basements. Now is the time to retrieve this precious material­ before it becomes dust instead of history.

Your help-the public's help-is needed in this effort. Do you have any relevant old photos, documents, or records?

THE CATEGORIES OF ITEMS REQUESTED: • Doc.umentation o!Orthodox Jewish rescue work dur­ • Documents and photos pertaining to Orthodox activ- ing . ism in the social service and civic action fields. • Phoros depicting.life in the shtetl, the Orthodox com­ • Photos of Gedolei Yisroel past and present. munities of the cities, the yeshiva world, and Chassidic • Sets of Orthodox journals and periodicals. renters of Europe before the Holocaust. • Doc11111ents and photos relating to the rel~ous Yishuv · • Documents, records, letwrs, journals and newspapers in Eretz Yisroel, its institutions and struggles for that porl!'a!' Tora.II life in Europe as it was, .and :part with cherished iJc!t"""'8 of yesbivos throughoutthe counlj'y. and photos, lea'lli1ifj the orifrin.al in your possession.)

AS A COMMUNITY, WE MUST PRESERVE THIS LEGACY THAT Will OTHERWISE BE LOST TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

If you have any items in the above categories in your possession, or know where they can be obtained, please write or phone: ORTHODOX JEWISH ARCHIVES Agudath Israel of America 84 William Street, New York, N.Y. 10038, 212-797-9000 HIS LEGACY Rabbi Joseph Elias

The Unfinished Agenda The Need For V'ision

efore Pesach, Mr. Joseph Loeben­ which emerges in full clarity as we stein, pillar of the British Agudah, review the different fields of Agudath Bcalled Rabbi Sherer, ?··:>it, to wish Israel's work. him a good Yam Tov and a refua • sheleima. Rabbi Sherer responded by e have to I. FOCUSING ON BASIC PRINCIPLES talking about the "huge agenda" that he remember that still had to carry out. W he fundamental principle It was not to be. Rabbi Sherer was not underlying Agudath Israel is This agenda is left to us as a heritage Tour affirmation that we are "a and bequest, to be carried out loyally only a brilliant people only by virtue of the Torah." and conscientiously- and it is no sim­ This implies the leadership of Gedolei ple task. Rabbi Sherer's vision included organizer, administrator, Ha Torah and the pivotal role of their a vast range of issues facing Kial Yisroel, Daas HaTorah. The dignity and and he sought to cope with all of them. and diplomat, but - authority of the Torah must be con­ This was mainly the influence of Rabbi first and foremost - a stantly asserted and reasserted on the Elchonon Wasserman ?··jmlr, among Jewish scene. Yet today, more than ever, others, who never tired of stressing our man of vision who saw, the concept of Daas Torah is under responsibility for all of Kial Yisroel - attack - not just by those who reject and it was indeed the application of the and responded to what Torah altogether, but tragically, by men motto that Gedolei Yisroel adopted for who proclaim their adherence to Torah Agudath Israel: to solve the problems of he saw, in line with the but dispute the authority of Gedolei the Jewish people in the spirit of the guidance Gedolei Yisroel to teach its message. Agudath Torah. Israel's voice must be heard eloquent­ It should be unnecessary to show Yisroel gave him. This ly, and effectively, on this score. how these problems took different Throughout the history of the Amer­ forms, and demanded different was his true legacy to ican Agudah, such issues as Reform and approaches, with the passing of time. , and our rela­ This was notably the case in this coun­ Agudath Israel. tionship to them, brought this matter to try. The growth of a vibrant Torah Jewry the fore (we need merely recall the p'sak has provided ever new challenges - by the Roshei Yeshiva prohibiting joint opportunities to be seized and difficul­ • activities with them). Today the agita­ ties to be overcome. The thirty-some descope - the multiplicity of tasks that tion for "pluralism" in Eretz Yisroel has divisions and departments of the Amer­ the organization undertook under raised this issue to an even more dan­ ican Agudah reflect - like a kalei- Rabbi Sherer's leadership. It would be gerous and urgent level. Rabbi Sherer most gratifying if we could note with fought with utter mesiras nefesh, most Rabbi Elias, is a member of the editorial board satisfaction that all the goals set were recently in launching Am Echad- but of The Jewish Observer. He is the author of a num­ ber of published works, including The reached and we could relax. Yet with the battle is far from won. (Artscroll/Mesorah) and a new translation and every new step forward new issues Another implication of our basic commentary on Rabbi S.R. Hirsch's The Nine­ come to the fore. Hence the "huge agen­ doctrine is the need to unite all segments teen Letters(Feldheim). da" of which Rabbi Sherer spoke and of Torah Jewry under the banner of

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 67 Torah. This, too, was a primary concern into the hands of our enemies. Here, II. DISSEMINATION OF TORAH of Rabbi Sherer, particularly on the Bretz also, the issue has not been resolved, and Yisroel scene where the splintering of our great effort will be needed if we want to hizuk Ha Tarah on the American organization and resources can only play find a solution. scene has been a primary concern Cof Agudath Israel - and many successes, in many different areas, can be celebrated. Publications and public relations efforts have spread an under· standing of Torah ideology; practical For careful attention to your aids, ranging from Maps to Halachic Living Will forms, to Gemaras individual needs, call us today! and study aids for Daf Ya mi have been (914) 354-8445 published. Above all, the growth of yeshivas and Bais Yaakav schools has been greatly furthered by legal and edu­ cational efforts, and by obtaining gov­ ernment funds (such as in the case of mandated services) whenever possible. The term "whenever possible" ••I found the best~ reminds us of the great obstacles in our way. The battle for tuition vouchers for Health Care m I n UteS children in religious schools has been joined; but it is an uphill struggle. Yet from my home '' this issue is of vital importance. The bulk of our yeshiva parents are unable to carry the burden of full tuition pay­ ments; the yeshivas, the teachers and the families involved are all truly suffering. This is a battle that must go on with even greater determination, to permit our educational system to grow and prosper. Likewise, Agudath Israel can be just - "I always thought named among that the best doctors the nation's best bv ly proud of its youth activities, which are were far fron1 home. American Health Mag­ too numerous and too well known to But when I got sick, I found azine. Ten were listed require enumerating here. But here, too, that the best health care was right near among the best doctors in New York painful problems need solving - my house. The care I received fron1 the Magazine. notably the problem of the youngsters doctors-doctors like Dr. Arthur Kay, Chair­ TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE who cannot or will not function with­ man of the Department of Neurology, in our educational institutions. I believe NEW BROOKDALE-with its state helped me get well. He and other doc­ that there are few (if any) readers who tors and nurses at The Brookdale Uni­ of the art technology, a kosher do not know of students at risk or actu- versity Hospital were simply mar­ kitchen certified by K'hal Adas Jeshu­ velous." run and a pleasant environment. LOUIS MARVIN Only minutes away from most Jew­ Quality health care begins with great doc­ ish communities in Brooklyn. ~" Invei tors. Five of Brookdale's doctors were (r~"(~(fer Hagefen FOR l'vlORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: ~~(.. ( The Shidduch service THE BROOKDALE UNIVERSITY b.l for older singles HOSPITAL AND MEDIO\L CENTER L A project of N'shei Agudath Israel with ONE BROOKDALE PLAZA. BROOKLYN, N.Y. 11212 •CALL 718/240-5251 Agudath Israel of America VISIT OUR \'V'EB SITE AT www.brookdalehospital.con1 6619 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 Tel. (718) 256-7525 •Fax (718) 256-7578

68 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 al drop-outs who are literally in the to mobilize the sources of Torah Jewry in line with the guidance Gedolei Yisroel streets. Agudath Israel deserves credit for to meet them. We have to remember that gave him. This was his true legacy to Agu­ creating Project Y.E.S., but so far only a Rabbi Sherer- though he was a brilliant dath Israel. It is our prayer that Agudath beginning has been made. Much greater organizer, administrator, and diplomat - Israel be granted the siyatta diShmaya to resources and efforts, and cooperation was first and foremost a man of vision share his vision and to maintain and with other agencies, are needed if we who saw, and responded to what he saw, enlarge its efforts in this spirit. • want to discharge our responsibilities to the youth of Am Ha Torah. ~------~ I I III. PRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES ARE You MOVING? I I urning to social issues, we take I IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED I note of the wide-ranging efforts I INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? I Tthat Agudath Israel has made, We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. under Rabbi Sherer's leadership. The I Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and I inspired campaign to stablilize endan­ I computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. I gered neighborhoods is an outstanding example; but there are many other pro­ I I jects which owe their existence to the I I sensitivity of Agudath Israel, under I Affix old label here I Rabbi Sherer's lead, to the needs of the community. Job training and employ­ I I ment efforts, as well as legal and prac­ I I tical help for the aged, the sick, and other I Name------~-·--- I disadvantaged segments of Kial Yisroel, New Address ______all testify to the concern that Agudath I I Israel has for those who must have our I City, I help. Yet, as the Torah community State, ______Zip grows, needs and problems proliferate. I I Date Effective ______To point to a particularly painful issue I I which demands continued interventions I Send address changes. to: The Jewish Observer Change of Address I on a much greater scale is that of shid­ 84 William Street, New York, NY 10038 duchim, a source of untold suffering. I Please allow 4·6 weeks for aft: changes to be reflected on your maifing labeL We wilt not be I There are other issues, such as more I reSponsibte: fOr back fssu'es- misse(:J' uflfess you notify us 6, weeks prior _to yO_ur move. I effort in absorbing ba'alei teshuva and meeting their special needs, which L------~ clamor for attention. In singling out the endeavors listed here, I am aware that a great many other areas could be enumerated as Agudah concerns that will continue to require major efforts - organizational expan­ sion, ever more communal activities, FREE continued help to Jews overseas as well as to new immigrants to this country. COMPUTER Agudath Israel helped initiate AARTS and Shuvu; other such special purpose COURSE organizations are undoubtedly needed. For Women Coping On Their Own I have emphasized endeavors and pro­ jects initiated or developed by Rabbi (Widowed, Divorced, Separated) Sherer. Clearly there are still other opportunities and challenges that Kial 30 Houra of Inatruction - Day Classes Yisroel is facing and, undoubtedly, even For More Information or To Register, more will arise as we move ahead - and 1111!!111!!!!1 it is our obligation to be alert to them and

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 69 As HIS SON REMEMBERS HIM: Rabbi Shimshon Sherer

What was the source of Rabbi Moshe Sherer~ overpowering sense ofmission? Some ofthe {actors have been mentzione·d in other pages ofthis A Father Observer TO Kial asked his sroel son, Rabbi Shimshon Zelig Sherer, o/Ter additional, personal insights not known to the general public.

I. THE POWER OF A MOTHER'S TEARS tefillos of his "heilige mamma,'' as he HaTorah, Rabbi Aharon Kotler, 7"lll. He would always call her. He had assumed knew well that when the Rosh Yeshiva he first thing that comes to that she was asking the Ribbono Shel would receive the letter, he would my mind when I think of my Olam for parnassa, for food. attempt to persuade my father to remain Tfather 7"lll, besides his tremen­ "Ribbono Shel Olam," she said again with the organization. In anticipation, dous warmth, is his sense of purpose in and again: "Baleichten zolst Du die he prepared all kinds of counter argu­ life. He was put on this earth to get oigen fun meine kinderlach in Dein ments to refute the Rosh Yeshiva's pre­ things done. heilige Toireh - Light up the eyes of my sentation. Sure enough, upon receiving My father would often tell me never children with Your holy Torah:' the letter, the Rosh Yeshiva called him to to underestimate di ko'ach fun di trerren He thought, "Fine. Now, how about come see him. fun a Yiddishe mamma (the power of a asking for some bread?" But she After arriving at the apartment, my Jewish mother's tears). In the early returned to her original request once father waited for the Rosh Yeshiva. To his l 900's, his father had owned a very suc­ more: "Baleichten zolst Du ... in Dein surprise, the Rebbetzin n"V walked in cessful men's clothing store. In the late heilige Toireh." And again ... He then real­ crying so uncontrollably that my father 1920's, during the Depression, they lost ized where his priorities must lie. was afraid to ask her the reason for her it all - to the extent that they literally did Many years later, the tears of a Yid­ grief. Finally, the Rebbetzin looked at not have bread to eat. My father would dishe mamma again had decisive impact him, and with tears flowing, said with always watch how his mother would cry on his life. In the early l 960's, Agudath emotion, "Reb Moshe, I read the letter when she would be mispallel to the Rib­ Israel was struggling financially and the that you wrote to the Rosh Yeshiva. How bono Shel Olam as she bentsched lichtfor entire, impossibly heavy burden had could you do this to him? How could Shabbos. One Friday afternoon, my suddenly fallen on his shoulders. Over­ you do this to my father, Reb Isser Zal­ father told me, he decided to listen to the whelmed and personally in debt - man 7"lll? How could you do this to Kial he felt that he had to leave his position, YisroeR" Rabbi Shimshon Sherer is the mora d'asra of Kehillas Zichron Mordechai of Flatbush. so he submitted a letter of resignation A few minutes went by, and the Rosh to the chairman of the Moetzes Gedolei Yeshiva entered the room. Reb Aaron

70 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 an advantage over Chushim [said my father]. Chushim was deaf, yet he heard the cry of his fellow Jews. We aren't deaf; we hear what's happening in Europe. Can we allow the cries of our fellow Yidden to fall on deaf ears, and be as guilty as the Egyptians were? Many a time, he would explain that this \Vas why he was so preoccupied in his work for Kial Yisroel, always adding more projects to Agudas Yisroel's agen­ da. He would say, "Don't you hear the cry? Are you going to allow the cry of the almana (widow), are yon going to Rabbi Moshe Sherer, ;.··r, listens as Reh Elimelech (Mike) Tress reports on conditions in D.P camps. 1946 allow the cry of the parents whose chil- dren are not doing well in yeshiva, are pointed to the chair, "Nu, Reb Moshe, that he was abandoned, she under­ you going to allow the cry of people who sit down." stood the child to be Jewish; etc.) don't have housing - are you going to My father sat down. Before the Rosh My father offered his own expla­ allow these cries to fall on deaf ears?" Yeshiva opened the discussion, my nation: When Basya saw that a child father said," Rosh Yeshiva, do me a favor, was crying- a cry so piercing, so trou­ III. THE KEY TO SUCCESS: could I please have back my letter of res­ bling - and yet his cries fell on deaf CONVICTION ignation?" ears, she knew immediately he must be Rebbetzin Kotler's tears had had such Jewish. once asked him, to what he attrib­ an impact on him, that - coupled with By contrast, we find in the begin­ uted his success in fostering the the tears that he always remembered of ning of Parshas Vayigash that when I remarkable growth of Agudas Yisroel his heilige mamma - they became key Yehuda was protesting to Pharaoh's in this country. He replied: The Torah sources of guidance in his life. Viceroy (actually Yehuda's brother, tells us that Noach built a teiva (ark) to Yoseif HaTzaddik) for taking Binyamin save himself and his family from the II. HEARING THE CRY OF THE NEEDY hostage, the Midrash tells us that destruction of the Mabul (Flood). Rashi Yehuda's cries were so strong that they tells us that Hashem had planned that hen learning in Ner Yisroel in were heard four hundred parsa'os it take Noach 120 years to build the teiva, Baltimore, in 1940, his away- a distance of hundreds of miles to allow him an opportunity to explain W cousin, Reb Elimelech - by Yehuda's nephew, Chushim ben to his contemporaries on a daily basis, ("Mike") Tress ';>''lit, visited him on the Dan, who immediately came to Egypt why he was building his teiva. Hopefully, way back from Washington to New York. to assist his uncle. When he joined they wonld realize that their corrupt He shared with my father his tremen­ Yehuda, he too cried out, and not only behavior was prompting the Ribbono dous frustration when knocking on did the palace shake, but the entire Shel Olam to destroy the world, and per­ doors in Washington, pleading with gov­ Mitzrayim trembled. My father point­ haps this would bring them to repent. ernment officials to take action against ed out that according to the Gemora So Noach spent 120 years not only the atrocities taking place in Europe, that (Sota 13), Chushim was hard of hear­ preparing his own deliverance, but all his cries were falling on deaf ears. ing. If so, how could Chushim have actually giving mussar shmuessen to the After listening to his cousin, my father responded to his uncle's cries? masses daily. called together a meeting in Baltimore, The answer is based on a simple My father remarked that he had and delivered what I believe to be his truth. When a Jew cries from pain, researched the topic and could not find first public derasha. another Jew is always able to hear the evidence of Noach's winning over even The Torah recounts how Basya, cry, even if he is otherwise hard of one person to teshuva, to mend his ways. Pharaoh's daughter, was walking along hearing. For thii reason, Chushim Imagine! 120 years giving the same mus­ the river, and heard a baby crying. heard the voice of his uncle Yehuda sar shmuess day in, day out, to proba­ "Behold the child was crying, and she crying for the return of Binyamin. But bly tens of thousands of people over the said: 'This is a Jewish child'" (Shemos as we see today, when a Jew cries out years. - Could he not even convince one 2,7). The Commentators ask: How did to a non-Jew- even one who is able to person? Basya know that he was Jewish? They hear - all too often, the other person My father continued: "Noach may offer various explanations (i.e., the suddenly turns deaf. well have been an accomplished orator, baby was circumcised; from the fact We here in the United States have and have perfected his mussar shmuess.

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 71 Yet, his words could not penetrate the taries in the office told me that on the Less than two weeks before his petira, hearts of any of the people that he had very first day she came to work for Agu­ he was lying in his hospital bed, in great spoken to because the Torah tells us that dath Israel, she was walking in the cor­ pain. "You know, Shimshie," he said to 1ne, Noach did not enter the teiva until it ridor, when my father greeted her, "lately, due to the treatments and all the side started drizzling. Rashi explains that asked her name, and welcomed her. My effects, I haven't been able to daven like a Noach did believe in the prophecy of the father then asked her, "Who do you mentsch. I haven't been able to learn like Mabul, but he was not fully convinced work for?" She said she works for a mentsch. I sit here trying to learn daily that the Ribbono Shel Olam would Rabbi . To which my father DafYomi. I just stare at the words; I can't actually destroy the world. Only after the replied, "No, no. You're making a mis- concentrate." Then he said, "I'm not busy Mabul began, did he enter the teiva take. You don't work for Rabbi ___ thinking of doing for others. I'm not think­ (Bereishis 7,7). You work for Kial Yisroel. I work for Kial ing ofchessed for others. I'm just not real­ "One could be the greatest orator, Yisroel. All of us here in the Agudah ly right." and deliver the most eloquent, articu­ work for Kial Yisroel." A day or two later I came to the hospi­ late message for 120 years, but ifhe does tal. He was holding on to the railing as we not fully believe in the message with all IV. NO TIME TO REST walked down the corridors of the hospital. his heart - if he's ma'amin ve'eino Suddenly he started singing: rr::i';>r.i "11)) l'~ ma'amin (see Rashi, ibid) - he won't hen I was a bachur learning in over and over again. I said to him, "Daddy, convince one person to join his side. the Philadelphia Yeshiva, [had what is this? A new niggun?" "Shimshie," he concluded, "I believe W to come home for the day on He said, "Yesterday I was speaking to a in what I am promoting. 1 believe in the January 1, 1969. My father suggested that Rosh Yeshiva on the telephone, and I com­ heilige Agudas Yisroel. I believe in what on my way home from Penn Station I plained to him that lately I haven't been able the Chafetz Chaim, and the Tchortkover stop off in the Agudah office - 5 Beek­ to daven, learn, or function like a mentsch. Rebbe, and the Gerrer Rebbe, and Reb man Street- to say hello. To my surprise, The Rosh Yeshiva said to me that he had Chaim Ozer - all of the Gedolei Yisroel the front door of the building was heard from Rav Shach's grandson that Rav - had established: this heilige mosad locked, so I called my father from a pay Shach said recently, as he ages, he has dif­ (sacred movement) Agudas Yisroel. If phone on the street. "No problem," he ficulty davening and learning. The only you believe in something with all your said, 'Tl! be down in a minute to open thing he can do is say n:i?r.J "!1)) ]'N. So this heart, you can indeed bring people over the door." The next thing I knew my Rosh Yeshiva recon1mended to me that I try to your cause." father, in sweaters and a jacket, came to it too. I kept on repeatingn~?r.l"!1)) ]'N. And During the shiva, one of the secre- the front door. "Daddy, you became the it helped me; it made me feel better. Today, doorman?" I teased. I'm trying it again." He took me into the building. It was It dawned on me that he had lived his Do you empty; you could hear your own echo entire life by this chant - as an eved Learn Misbna bouncing off the walls. We went up to Hashem - with only one focus in mind. and Halacba the 9th floor in the elevator, and entered One of the Gedolim mentioned at the every dayP the Agudah offices. Nobody was there. levaya that probably Rabbi Moshe Sher­ Do you notP He took me into his office and said, er was even thinking askanus, of serv­ We will send _you the "Shimshie, take off your coat. Sit down:' ing Kial Yisroel, in his sleep. It is not an Luach for Mishna and "Daddy, take off my coat? It's freez­ exaggeration. Just several days before his Halacha Yomit for ing here! You're sitting with sweaters and petira, in his sleep, we overheard him FREE. a jacket. In fact, what are you doing here? mumbling. First we detected ma'a­ There's nobody else here in the entire marei Ghazal - probably from various building!" derashos that he had given in the recent This Luach is used by thousands of Bnei Torah throughout the world. "Shimshie," he said, "just because past. Then he began mumbling about today is New Year's and we here at 5 arrangements for a - how should Learning Mishna and Halacha Yomit Beekman Street must close our offices he be picked up from the airport? At first daily will bring to you and your because there is no heat in the building, we were puzzled. But later it was clear family all the Brochos of theTorah. doesn't mean that Kial Yisroel stops. The to us that he was concerned that the pro­ Write or call: needs of Kial Yisroel are many. Even on jected visit of Rabbi Aharon Leib Stein­ Rabbi Elias Karp New Year's we must work for Kial Yis­ man and the Gerrer Rebbe N"""7v be 4701 lSth Avenue, #~C roel." successful, that they receive the proper Brooklyn, NY 11219 He would never stop thinking about kavod haTorah .... In his sleep, he was lit­ (718) 851-0770 Kial Yisroel. In fact, I don't remember a erally trying to arrange the details. In Memory c:f Rabbi & .Mrs. Charles Batt ful­ Har!ford, Co1111. night in his life that he ever slept more "Retzon yerei'av ya'aseh- Hashem than four hours. fills the will of those who fear Him."

72 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 How befitting that the Hashgacha saw VI. THE TRUE MEASURE OF ACHDUS: tistics in our country - unleashed by to it that when Rabbi Aharon Leib Stein­ THE AM ECHAD MISSION Reform. man and the Gerrer Rebbe got off the As a little boy, I often watched him cut­ plane, they were immediately rushed y father was deeply concerned ting out pictures ofinterfaith weddings from with a police escort directly from the air­ - even obsessed - with his The Sunday New York Times, where a rabbi port to meet my father's aron at the M struggle to stop the Reform and priest were officiating. He would be sit­ cemetery, to participate in his final movement from gaining a foothold in ting at the desk with anguish written all over kavod. Bretz Yisroel. How many times did I hear his face, tears streaking his cheeks; this lit­ him talk about the spiritual holocaust erally was the ruination of our people. V. TAKING LEAVE WITH PEACE -- the astronomical intermarriage sta- It was surely fitting that the very last

y father 7"Yr devoted much of his life to the preservation of M shalom and achdus (unity) FELDHEIM /5 PUBLISHERS amongst our people. Someone once described him as a /oins Ylgudatfi Israel i11 bereaveme11t Malach Hashalom. How, I asked him, °''er tlie loss of our leader does one achieve unity and harmony amongst diverse people? He answered RABBI MOSHE SHERER 7~"T - me, "In Shalom Aleichem Friday night, • •Tlie strong liinsfiip betwee11 ·Teldlieim a11d tlie !ifqudali, dati11g before we sing about Malachei Hasha/om, we first refer to them as bacfi to tlie days of tlie Lower 'East Side a11d 'it'aslii11gto11 Malachei Hashoreis, in the first stanza. J-feig6ts, is a source of.pride to us, tfie first 1najor adue1tiser in Only later, in 'Bo'achem; do we call them th.e pages of tlie jledgli11g Jewisli Obsen1er some 35 years ago. Malachei Hashalom. For someone to succeed in bringing shalom, he must first 'lOe appreciated 'Rabbi Sfierer and ive ivilf n1iss fiirrz. accept that his purpose in this world is to be a Malach Hashoreis, to serve oth­ YAAKOV FELDJ-IEIM YITZCHAK FELDHEIM ers. One whose mission is to serve the Jerusalem, Israel Nanuet, New York Ribbono Shel Olam and Kial Yisroel ulti­ mately can serve as a Malach Hasha/om:' The very last Torah Vort that my father personally shared with an indi­ HAS YOUR SON BEEN IN LARGE CLASSES vidual was on Shabbos in the hospital, OF 25 OR MORE ALL OF HIS LIFE? eight days before his petira: We all know that three times a day Would he benefit from being in smaller classes? every Jew takes three steps back at the Will he thrive in a place where he can form a strong kesher with dynamic and caring Rebbeim? conclusion of Shemoneh Esrei and then ,...._,t"<>_ Are you searching for a Yeshiva where he will be inspired to become a serious Ben Torah? X';'.~-,..,, says, "Oseh shalom ...." The reason we ~/~ Where he will be guided in maintaining a strong academic level? ,. must step back before we say this is +ff your son is ready for Beis Medrash and is capable of making a "Lein us', are you looking for: +One-on-one contact for your son with Roshei Yeshiva who are talmidim of Reb Aharon Kotler, Zt'I? that there is only one way for a person +A full time Shoe! Umeishiv who teaches by example? +A strong ruach of camaraderie? to truly achieve peace amongst people. That is, by stepping back and dropping THEN /DENVER IS YOUR ANS\VER one's subjectivity, one's personal agen­ + 31 years of devotion to the growth and development of Bnei Torah. da, from the way he sees things - only + Outstanding secular studies program/capable and qualified staff. _;9: ~{· then can one create shalom. + Accredited by North Central Assn. of High Schools and Colleges ~ But merely stepping back will not + Brand new Computer Science Lab with the latest technology. + Dormitory with full adult supervisio:i. + New, spacious facility in the heart of a frum neighborhood suffice. After one has removed his per­ sonal agenda, he must take action. Now Applications with transcripts for the_Me_siv_t~ a~d __ Beis_Mecfr~_h are being_~cc~pt~Iorthe ~I-~f z~an 515& you have to tum to the left, to the right, Appointments for intervi~ws c~n be,made: by-calling: Toll-£ ree; 888-629--~2tJO pr: F,a;;-;;3Q3-623-594_9 and then face the center, each time R'abbi Yitzchok 'Wassermari, Rosh- Yeshiva___ ,, _:--:',, _ _-_-_ _ _ , _ _, R

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 73 journey in his life was with the Am electricity, an ahava that you felt in that dous feeling. And then a third woman. Echad delegation to Eretz Yisroel. He was handshake. When he would talk to a per­ "Daddy," I asked hirn, "who are these so sick, he could hardly walk. On the son, if only for a few 1noments, he made wo1nen?" very last day of the mission, he was told it his business to make him feel special, He explained to me, "These are 1-vomen by the doctor in Hadassah Hospital how as if there was nothing else on his mind. who, unfortunately, in the lastfel-v months, critically ill he was, that in all probabil­ He always sought to instill confidence lost their husbands. I knew that if on Erev ity he did not even have four months to in people, especially in younger Rab­ Yorn Kippur, I call them and wish them a live. But his only concern was to main­ banim. He had a keen eye for budding gut yor, they would realize that they have tain the momentum of the last few days talent, and would cultivate that talent. not been forgotten, and it would lift up their of the Am Echad mission. An established, widely recognized spirits going into the ne1v year. Many of his dearest, dearest friends Rav recalled that when he was a Yunger­ ''After all, during Aserres Yemei Teshu­ ca1ne to say good-bye to him, as \VC were n1an 30 years ago, my father 1net him in va and Yorn Kippur we ask the Ribbono boarding the plane to take him back to Cleveland, and told him, "If I were a per­ Shel Olam, 'Aneinu - answer our tefillos America, to enter in11nediately into the son who invests in growth stock, I would [in the zechus that You are} Dayan hospital. My father ?··~r told them, invest in you." This Rav told me that he Almanos - Judge for the benefit of widows.' "Don't cry about me. Don't waste ti1ne never forgot that vote of confidence. Do I have the right to ask the Ribbono Shel staying here. Go back to your posts and Countless others, during shiva, told Olam to accept my tefilla because He is keep the momentum going. Fight me similar statements that my father had Dayan Almanos if! do nothing to help Him against the enemies of1orah." made to them over the years. A vote of in His task?" confidence. A push. A loving hand. Three years ago, when my father was VII. SPECIAL NOTES OF Walking into my parents' home on Erev being treated for lymphoma, he had not ENCOURAGEMENT Yam Kippw; I found my father on the tele­ been out in public for months. He asked phone speaking to a woman, wishing her a his doctor to work out his schedule to is Ahavas Ytsroel was truly G'n1ar Chasin1a Tova and an easy fast. He permit him to pay his annual visit to his remarkable. He would shake hung up and called up a second \Vo111a11, and kinderlach, the children in Camp Agu­ H your hand and there y..,ras an repeated the san1e bcrachos with tre1nen- dah, Camp Bnos, Camp Chayil Miriam. It meant so much to him to shep T.HI PJRFECT·WAY TO nachas from them. I'll never forget that particular visit. He found a way to muster up the strength for the trip, and PREPARE \OR REVIEW he prepared, as he did every year, three OAF YOMLMESECHTOS B.ROCHOS SHABBOS. EIRUVIN. ETC. i separate derashos - a different message for each camp. AND TO PREPARE MESECHTA PESACHIM .. In one of those derashos, he said that a Gadol once explained the Mish­ Are you worried you will fall behind in your Daf Yomi na in Avos: i?'TMn ?N n:i.in i1i!n nin7 tiN" during the summer: Mesechta Eiruvin (or any other shiur) .•. ? ."10~))7 n~1p The literal translation is, "If you have learned Torah, do not give •.. ifyou have a minimum ofjust 20 minutes a day, It's time for you will never fall behind the daft!! yourself credit for the achievement, because you were created for that pur­ •Each daf is explained word for \VOrd, slo\vly and pose!' Master clearly, in approxi1nately 20 minutes: (the complete mesechta Eiruvin in 22 tapes!!!) To this he added: "If you are priv­ ileged to learn Torah, do not keep this •You can revie\v your \Vhole \Veek's l1af Yomi hvice Daf~~' treasure for yourself, but make it going back and forth to the country... your business to share it with others, • $4.00 per Gemoro tape ( 10°/o off per Mesechta) 111::zl 1:::i? ':::J - because everyone was plus shipping and handling indeed created for the mission to • $3.00 subscription rate plus shipping and handling COMING SOON - share. This is not only true with Shulchan Aruch and • $5.00 per Mishna tape ( 10°/o off per seder) whatever lOrah you've learned," he Mishna Berura tapes!!! plus shipping and handling emphasized, "'but with any talents that the Ribbono Shel Olam blesses you 718-633-2513 • 800-966-6026 with. You must share them with oth­ Fax: 718-851-2236 ers." When addressing young children, he Master Daf, a project of the Slabodka Ye~hiva often repeated a Vort of Rav Meir

74 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 • The convention me/ave 11rnlk£1, one of Ral1bi Shcrer's _tln'orite moments of the year; 1997

Shapiro: "At the end of davening, we quote the Chazal, 'Don't say bonayich (your children), say bonoyich (your builders).' Children, don't just consid­ er yourself young children; realize that you are the builders of the future of Kial Yisroel."

VIII, THE UNSPOKEN SPEECH Raizy trembled at the sound of anyone speaking German. Devo­ ra was suspicious of everything and everyone. Chanke refused to let go of the oversized rags she wore. It was the summer oi 1945, and these n Friday afternoon, ten days young orphaned girls were survivors of the concentration camps. before my father's petira, the When Rav Shlomo VVolbe visited the reiugees at Doversdorp, he met a group of girls who left him speechless. He decided then and there 0 doctor remarked to my father to open a religious girls' school, and his plan was fully realized on a that he was looking so much better and small island just outside of Stockholm - called Lidingo. llDINGO, by Chana Mantel, pays eloquent tribute to a handful of it was reasonable to expect that he would educators- among them Rav Sh!omo Wolbe, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Binyomin Jacobson, Reb be able to attend the Agudah Dinner, Nissan and Nina rgcll - and to the 120 courageous orphans they nurtured and educated- into a new gener­ which was scheduled to take place in ten ation of mothers and grandmothers in Kial Yisroel. In the pages ofUDINCO, you will read unforgettable true stories of survival and renewal; deeply personal days. As soon as he heard that, he imme­ stories that shine with the unlimited potential of the Jewish neshomoh. LIDINCO takes you on a hdunting yet diately asked for a pen and pad; he want­ memorable journey - from pain and anguish, to hope and fulfillment. ed to jot down ideas for the remarks that IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PROFOUNDLY MOVING he would deliver at the Dinner. READING EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER , .. THIS IS IT! I brought him a pad and pen, and /;'"\ he then wished me" Gut Shabbos," as he .-\l';ii!ahle at all !ewi>h hoobtore> or dinxl from 'V never allowed me to stay with him for FELDHEIM ~ PUBLISHERS Shabbos; he was concerned that I keep Torah Literature of Quality my responsibilities to my Kehilla on Toll Free: 800-237-7149 • Ask for our NEW catalog.

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 75 Shabbos. I returned his Gut Shabbos points appear below. ing me to come out of the hospital to wishes and left. He headed the piece of paper: praise the Ribbono Shel Olam and to During shiva, I rummaged through 5/17/98, 76th Dinner "T"O:J deliver these words here this evening. the suitcases that we had hurriedly Point #1: Last year's Dinner, I Point #2: The Klausenberger Rebbe packed up with all his belongings after spoke with much anticipation that once told me that near his bunker in his petira that Sunday, May 17, to see if 70,000 people would be coming the concentration camp there was a perhaps I would find that pad. And find together to recite Tehillim for cholei pond of water, which the Nazis had it I did. He indeed penned notes for the Yisroel (ailing Jews) at the upcoming poisoned. Anyone who would be remarks he wanted to deliver at the 76'" Siyum HaShas. Little did I dream that extremely thirsty and would go to the Annual Dinner of Agudas Yisroel, which I would need these tefillos for myself. pond to quench his thirst, would ended up taking place four hours after So I thank you all for your tefillos. As immediately perish. When people his petira. Perhaps these remarks can be David Hamelech says in Tehillim: sank to that level of desperation, they considered Rabbi Moshe Sherer's tzava'a inv l'1N nmm 'V!ll 'llOl.lO CN~N - I had no choice but to drink from their (ethical will) to Kial Yisroel. Some of the thank the Ribbono Shel Olam for allow- own waste to survive. When he came to that point, he said," Ribbono Shel Olam, I must have fallen to this degrading point because in the past I Subscribe or give a gift of took for granted my ability to have water for drinking - something so readily available." So he made a The Jewish Observer promise to the Ribbono Shel Olam that when he would be liberated, and be able to drink water, he would never and $ave! again take water for granted. Whenever he would have a glass of water, he WHY NOT GIVE OR GET A PRESENT would so shout the beracha "Shehakol" THAT WILL LAST AN ENTIRE YEAR? that the walls would shake from the power of his voice. Subscribe, or give a gift at these re

Address _____ going to learn not to dare take things 0 3 years Cow~r Price $105 Your cost $60 $96 for granted?'' 0 2 years Cover Pricf' 870 Your cost $44 $68 [Here my father refers to the Gemo­ 0 l year Co\'er Prier $35 Your cost $24 136 Stnle _____ Zip ----- ra Megilla 27b:] The disciples of Rabbi 0 Send gift rard fnim: ______Elazar ben Shamua asked him how he :.::I Endo~ed: $ or was privileged to achieve longevity. He Charge my: 0 MasterCard 0 \'!SA attributed his long life to three things, Suite 1200, 84 \Vil!iam Street, New York, NY 100:3B Tlw Jewioh Ob.1cn"er is /mbfohn/ mom/ily <'X<"~/'i J1tiy m•d August. the third of which was that he never Phisr a//-011· 4 " 6 u:eck< f"r Jefii'<'<)'. Expiration Date: (month/yem) ______lifted his hands without a beracha.' *Out,ide V.S.A. p1iee rdlt>e!S $12 exlm pn )'<"3l' lo defray air "hipping er,t;ts. For~ign pa1·menl mu;l ht• mad<' in ll.S. dollars, eitber by dwnk A Gadol offered the following 1 drawn un a bank in the l .S.A. or b1· VISA or Ma.

76 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 ben Shamua was telling his taltnidim that if one wants to be zocheh to longevity, one must realize that even • for the seemingly effortless acts- such II The Ribbono Shel Olom pays back a person as raising one's fingers, which we all take for granted - one must express in proportion to his deeds in this world." I gratitude to Hashem. 'When He sees could only imagine the room that the Ribbono Shel such gratitude for things that seem so simple, then the Ribbono Shel Olam Olom is preparing for my father in Gan Eden 1n grants long life." We take our personal health for proportion to all his accomplishments. granted. We take our ability to walk and talk for granted. We take our hav­ ing children for granted. We take for • granted our Gedolei Yisroel and their cursive handwriting he was known for i:t?:i 1mzp:i- the Torah warns us: don't mesiras nefesh for Klal Yisroel. We take throughout his life is hardly legible, he dare satisfy yourself with touching the for granted Agudas Yisroel, and its was so weak] Point #10: A message to foot of the mountain. i?No l'i"ln ?N highly effective staff. We take for all at the Agudah Dinner: The most V).Tlo:i O'V!Jntn:m- do not be one of those granted the baalebattim that are sup­ favorite expression should be two who is satisfied with small attain­ porting Agudas Yisroel and all its activ­ words: "Baruch Hashem;, for all that we ments, who is content as long as he ities. We must keep saying Baruch have - yes, even for nesias kapayim, has reached the base of the mountain. Hasheni, not only for open miracles, even for the ability to lift one's hands. n?vo n?vo n1?v? 1?inlVil N7N - one must but for all that we take for granted. [He [The very last words that he wrote work on oneself to climb ever high­ then wrote himself a note "find anoth­ in his life] Point #11: The Agudah er and higher, to strive for and reach er expression for talcing for granted?']. 2 Dinner usually falls out two weeks greater attainments. Point #8: [He's writing on his before the Yam Tov of Shavuos. The deathbed, eight days before his peti­ Torah tells us "tc?rn::rer.1." The Ribbono '* * ra, and all he's writing about is Kial Shel Olam told Moshe Rabbeinu that I ponder these words and they convey Yisroel.] he should caution Kial Yisroel not to the essence of my father's life. I asked him It was brought to my attention that approach Har Sinai, not even to touch time and again: Why are you working so there is going to be a new domed sta­ the corner, because chalilla if one dares hard? Why are you adding another pro­ dium for one of New York's baseball do so, he would earn the death penal­ ject to Agudas Yisroel? He would invari­ teams. In about seven years, we will be ty. [My father reverts to lashon ably answer: Agudas Yisroel is a davar the first ones to lease this new domed hakodesh] quoting the Kotzker Rebbe, she'bik'dusha. it's ruchniyus. When it stadium for the next Siyum HaShas of who offered a homiletic interpretation comes to spirituality, there is no leveling Daf Yo mi, to fulfill "Kos yeshu'os essa of this pasulc TI:l on"'v1 on,::Jtl - if one off. One might think he can reach a - I will raise the cup of salvations and is indeed privileged to have climbed plateau and coast, but it is a false premise. will call out the Name of Hashem:' the mountain, to have achieved success Because if one does not constantly [And then he writes ... the beautiful in spiritual realms, i"lV'.U:l W!lnon ?N ascend, he will automatically drop. l Rashi explains this to mean that Rabbi Elazar ations. How grateful we must be!" And he would "COMPASSIONATE FATHER" ben Shamua, as a kohein, never raised his hands continue, "How grateful we should bethat today to bless the Jews without first reciting the we can keep Shabbos. We don't have the nisyanos appropriate beracha. (challenges) of the l 920's." He remembered, as a was standing at my father's side right 2 Fountain of Gratitude: Every Yo1n Tov, upon little boy, walking to shul \vi th his father holding before yetzi'as neshama, and I was completion of the Kiddush, he would recite the his hand. He would notice ehrliche tei'ere Yidden I reciting the pesukim in "Yigdal;' as beracha rnn v.;ir? 1l'Vli111llJ"j711:tnmlV and tears - sincere, precious Je,vs -walking out of shul, is customary to recite near someone who would well up in his eyes, for having survived the having davened Shabbos morning in the hashka­ year to reach this day. How special this beracha ma minyan. He would notice them taking a token is about to leave this world. was to him: How grateful we have to be to the Rib­ out of their pocket, and they would, nebach, go I read: l?vm:i:ntm l!l'N? 'mu - "The bonon Shel Olam that we are indeed ah've - we must to the train station, off to work. They weren't able Ribbono Shel Olam pays back a person realize how short our stay in this world is, and how to withstand the nisayon of being fired from work in proportion to his deeds in this every Monday if they would not come in on Sat­ we must strive to fill our days with accornplish­ world." I could only imagine the room ments. urday, and having nothing to eat "Shimshie, how grateful we must be that today we live in differ­ that the Ribbono Shel Olam is prepar­ Every Shabbos, when we would walk to shul ent times. We can be shomrei Torah u'mitzvosand hand in hand, he would say, "Look, Shimshie. ing for my father in Gan Eden in pro­ shomrei Shabbos, and we don't have this nisayon. Look how the trees are blossoming. Look at the portion to all his accomplishments. We don't dare take that for granted." niflaos haBorei- the wonders of Hashem's ere- Fifty-five years of devotion to his peo-

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 77 pie. He touched so many people. He cheeks, as he sang the words to himself. I started crying. Then I remembered that helped so many Mosdos HaTorah. It had such special meaning to him as he had taught me three years before that Then I began to sing my father's he had been telling me over and over, you're not allowed to cry. There is indeed favorite niggun. It was a niggun that we "Shimshie, I have to live. I have to take a Tatteh in Himmel who is an Av sang in the car three years earlier, when care of the Siyum HaShas, to make it Horachaman. I had driven him to the hospital for his into a real Kiddush Hashem. That so Anyone who was at the last Agudah very first chemotherapy treatment. Dri­ many people should be nisorrer convention heard my father announce ving to the hospital was very somber, (inspired) from it to go on and learn and that the Agudah had already reserved when suddenly he said to me, "Shimshie, join study groups of Torah." And he space in various arenas for the next put on a tape. Let me hear a Yiddishe nig­ would always add:" Shimshie, I'm deter­ Siyum HaShas, to accommodate gun. Maybe that will lift my spirits." mined this time that I'm going to be an 100,000 people. The date, 14 Ris­ I put on a tape. The very first niggun active participant. I'm going to make it hon 5765, and he went on to say, as he was "Avinu Av Horachaman - Father, my business to finish Shas." always would, with a big smile - merciful Father Who is compassionate, With whatever strength he had, no 6:00 P.M., SHARP! I looked at his notes: have mercy on us:' He started singing matter how late at night it was, he never 5765 - rn:ron, in parenthesis he wrote along. We were both crying. Suddenly my went to sleep without finishing that day's cv;i 'Wti'j7 :N'~11'r.J.l - gematria (numer­ father turned to me and said, "Shimshie, Daf, and thinking of a Vortto relate that ical value): Kiddush Hashem. we must not cry. We dare not cry. day's Dafto his particular challenges and Because Avinu Av Horachaman - there accomplishments. He had devoted his entire life to Kid­ is a Ribbono Shel Olam who is a Com­ Thus at the Siyum HaShas, when he dush Hashem. He lived his life as one passionate Father. You'll see, Shimshie, sang Avinu Av Harachaman, tears not manifestation of Kiddush Hashem. He will be merachem with me:' And he only flowed from the joy he had that he When I recite Kaddish, every time I say, began singing the song again and again, was the one who helped orchestrate this "Yisgadel veyiskadesh Shmei Rabba," I the entire drive to the hospital. Kiddush Hashem. There was also a per­ keep thinking how my father's entire life That became our family anthem. This sonal joy. He too was zocheh to be was devoted to Kiddush Hashem. He left year, at the Siyum HaShas, my father mesayem Shas. a legacy for all of us to shout out, when­ selected ''.Avinu Av Horachaman" to be I stood there before his yetzi'as ever we can," Yehei Shmei Rabba Mevo­ sung. I watched him, as he sat up on the neshama, and found myself singing this rach - May His Great Name be blessed dais. Tears were flowing down his niggun-"Avinu ... Tatteh oy Tatteh," and forever and ever." •

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Based on an address at Camp Agudah by Rabbi Moshe Sherer 7"~l, President Rabbi Sherer visiting Ag1Jdath Israel's summer youth camps, a fm'orite activity of the yem: ofAgudath Israel ofAmerica, in conjunc­ tion with the camp'.~ RRieth anniversary, Summer 5752. This article was prepared {or publication by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman.

A LESSON IN EXTREMES around one's foot is a time of fear and The Midrash relates," Haya oseik b'Krias helplessness. Nothing may interfere Shema v'lo yafsik - He was involved fter experiencing the sadness with one's personal encounter with the with the recitation of Shema and did not and mourning of the Three King of kings, HaKadosh Baruch Hu. To interrupt." AWeeks, we now enter Shiva be a true eved Hashen1 is to maintain As a contemporary example of this con­ d'Nechemta, seven weeks of hope and consistency in one's service at all times. cept, I recall the time some thirty years ago comfort, which, in turn, lead to the The shift from destruction and ivhen I was invited, along with twelve other Yomim Tovim. What significance lies in mourning to joy and hope at this junc­ "Jewish leaders," by President Kennedy to this sudden shifting of mood and pri­ ture in the Jewish calendar reflects this a meeting with him at his Oval Office. The ority, a shift that seemingly takes us from theme, as well. \t\!hether in mourning or President called this confidential meeting to one extre1ne to another? in celebration, a Jew's every thought, explain a recent anti-Israel vote in the Unit­ With regard to the recitation of She­ word and deed must be reflective of his ed Nations Security Council in which the moneh Esrei, the Mishna (Berachos 30b) exalted status as a member of G-d's cho­ U.S. had voted against Israel. The meeting states that "even if a king greets him, he sen nation, a nation of Torah. At all was to be held on Tisha B' Av. should not return the greeting; even if times, one must bear in mind: lo yafsik, I called HaGaon Harav Aharon Kotler a serpent is coiled around his foot, lo yaf­ he may not interrupt. ?":ii to ask whether or not I should attend sik, he may not interrupt."' The Sfas This theme of consistency in avodas the meeting, and ifyes, how to proceed. Reb Emes explains the Mishna's choice of Hashem runs throughout Jewish histo­ Aharon was unequivocal in his opinion that these two examples as representatives of ry. All are familiar with the incident in I must attend, and he instructed me to con­ two extremes. Being greeted by a king Megillas Esther where Haman was sult HaGaon Harav Moshe Feinstein ?"~ is a moment of personal pride and forced to lead a horse bearing as to how I should conduct myself in attend­ excitement; having a snake coiled Mordechai through the streets of ing this meeting on Tisha B'Av. Reb Shushan, proclaiming as he went, "This Aharon then kept me on the phone for an Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, a rebbe in Yeshiva is what is done for the man whom the hour and a half, as he gave me a lesson on Darchei Torah, Far Rockaway, NY, is a frequent king desires to honor." And what was the security problems facing Israel, and how contributor to these pages, including "Windows of Heaven," in Mar. '98. He is the author of sev­ Mordechai doing at that very moment? I should approach each problem, should it eral biographies published by Artscroil Mesorah ; The commentators explain that the Mishna is come up at the meeting. I can attest to the Publications, as well as the recent More Shabbos dicussing cases where there is no threat to one's fact that Reb Aharon never listened to the Stories. life. radio or read a secular newspaper, yet his

80 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 thorough knowledge of and insight into explanation based on a Tosafos (Berachos The sin of the generation at the time Israel's situation was astounding. I did l lb) that asks why one is not required of the Destruction, says the Satmar Rav, attend the meeting with President Kennedy, to recite a blessing again when he was that their time spent in between and sure enough, the points that Reb returns to his studies after a day at work their studies did not reflect the teach­ Aharon asked me to present became the focal or some other interruption. We find, ings of Torah. The fault of shelo barchu point of that discussion. Tosafos notes, that with other mitzvos baTorah techilla was that their errant Even when being "greeted by a king;' (for example, sukka) an interruption behavior outside the walls of the beis lo yafsik, one must not refrain from seek­ demands a new blessing. Tosafos resolves midrash created a hefseik, an interrup­ ing out da'as Torah in order to know this by saying, "Torah study is different tion, between the learning that pre­ how to respond. [from other mitzvos] in that one never ceeded their mundane activities and the At the opposite end of the spectrum, I diverts his mind totally from it, for at learning that followed them. Thus, they recall a very different situation some four any given [available] moment, one is were guilty of resuming their learning years ago when Mayor Ed Kach issued his obligated to study Torah ...." without reciting the beracha, which such "Executive Order Fifty." According to that The Satmar Rav offered a somewhat interruption had made necessary. order, city funding would henceforth be pro­ vided only to those organizations that would give their written consent to hire indi­ viduals whose way oflife is described by the Torah as an abomination. Agudath Israel • was the only organization that declared its meeting at the Oval Office. A struggle over a refusal to heed this order, and instituted a matter of abhorrence. The first, a situation of lawsuit against New Yark City ("we fought A City Hall") - though it stood to lose two million dollars ofgovernment ftmding for its honor and granduer. The second, a matter or various chessed projects. This decision was, of course, decided upon by the Torah Sages lowliness and possible devastating financial loss. of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. Agudah won its lawsuit, and in the process, had In all situations, one must always bear the yoke of enhancedk'vod Shamayim by declaring its willingness to suffer great financial lass rather Molchus Shomoyimn. than co1npromise its Torah principles. A meeting at the Oval Office. A strug­ gle over a matter of abhorrence. The first, a situation of honor and grandeur. • The second, a matter or lowliness and possible devastating financial loss. In all different resolution to Tosafos's question: ENCOUNTER WITH A"LO YAFSIK" JEW situations, one must always bear the A Torah Jew lives a life diametrically yoke of Malchus Shamayim, the will of opposed to that of the Maskil, whose n 1939, I was a bachur studying at Hashem as stated in the Torah and elu­ motto was, "Be a Jew at home and a man Mesivta Torah Vodaath. It was dur­ cidated by the Torah leaders of every of the world in the street:' One who cre­ I ing that year that the great Bara­ generation. ates such a dichotomy has lost sight of novich Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav the very essence of a Jew's purpose on Elchonon Wasserman i".,rt visited the AJEW AT ALL TIMES this earth. As the prophet declares in the United States on behalf of his yeshiva. name of Hashem: ''.Am zu yatzarti tehi­ The Mesivta's founder, Reb Shraga he Gemora (Nedarim Sa) states lasi yesapeiru- This nation have I fash­ Feivel Mendlowitz, 7"'.!ll, arranged that that the First Beis Hamikdash was ioned; My praises they shall relate" I should serve as attendant to Reb Tdestroyed "al she lo barchu (Yeshayahu 43,21). Elchonon for two months during his baTorah techilla- because the Jews of Every waking moment of a Jew's life stay at the Broadway Central Hotel in that generation did not recite the should be an extension of his study; one New York. required beracha before studying must be a Jew in the workplace as much One Matza' ei Shabbos, Reb Elchonon Torah." The commentators grapple with as when bent over a Gemora, immersed was visited by my Rebbi, Hagaon HaRav the significance of this sin. How could in study. Thus, a Jew is not required to Shlomo Heyman, 7"'.!ll, Rosh Yeshiva at the omission of a single beracha bring recite a blessing when he returns to his the Mesivta. They were involved in about a destruction of such proportions? sefer, for his activities can never be total­ earnest discussion when there was a The Satmar Rav 7"~r wrote an ly removed from his learning. knock on the door and several rabban-

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 81 im entered. These rabbanim did not engage the great Baranovich Rosh Yeshi­ va in serious discussion. Instead, they offered some humorous "sichas chulin shel talmidei chachamim," as they exchanged witticisms with one another. I could sense Reb Shlomo's embar­ rasment at the level of their conversa­ tion. Reb Elchonon's reaction, howev­ er, left me stymied. Throughout their entire conversation, Reh Elchonon's did not utter a word. His face appeared as if frozen in an unnatural expression. I was i11trigued by what appeared to be a sort of semi-smile on the face of the Rosh Yeshiva. Reb Shlomo explained it to me the following morning. "It's really very simple," he said. "Reb Elchonon's every action is guided by Torah. The Gemora Rabbi Sherer at the Pirchei Agudath Israel Siyum (Berachos 3la) states, 'Assur le'adam J\.1ishnayos; 1995 THE BEN TORAH'S ROLE sheyemalei sechok piv b'olam hazeh - until the coming of Moshiach when the his visitors' wit, so he smiled - but he ith regard to the mitzva of Beis HaMidkash will be rebuilt, it is for­ was so mnch an embodiment of Torah, reciting "Shema," the halacha bidden for a Jew to smile a full smile.' that in his thought process, he had W requires that one remain in Reb Elchonon wanted to acknowledge already measured ont exactly what was his place when accepting upon himself considered a 'full al Maleh us Shamayim (yoke of the smile,' and as such, Divine Rule) in the first chapter's open­ H6AQ RAV l1Q6VDA prohibited." ing verse, but one is permitted to walk These were and around when reciting the remaining LiV6 0[\J £Al76!!! are our gedolimi men verses. In citing this halacha, Midrash Kolle! K'hal Retzey 11 pleased to present who can justly be Tanchuma (cited by Tosafosto Berachos 11 a series o(tJ1i1.1-'t' byK 1?17v t

82 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 passive sense alone. There comes a time task is awesome and we cannot do it when a rebbi or Rosh Yeshiva will advise alone. It is the sacred responsibility of CHEVRA OSEH CHESED a ben Torah: "Yeilech ledarko- Let him every ben Torah to realize that he, too, OF AGUDATH ISRAEL go on his way" - let him go out to must at some point in his life play an spread the word of Hashem to others and active role in enhancing k'vod Shamayim. BORIA[ PLOTS inspire them with an appreciation for the As a community and as individuals, IN ERETI YISROEL beauty and sanctity of Torah life. we must persist in our Torah-true, Intennent in a,Sholner Shabbos Beis I was in Eretz Yiroel this past June at the unwavering approach to life and spread Olam nefu. B~"Shemesh time of the Israeli national elections. The the word of Hashem both actively and 1norning after the elections, I visited HaGaon by example, until the time when Please ~h°:j,~---,Cl__r :Opte to: HaRav Elazar Menachem Shach, N""""'1. Hashem's glory will be perceived by all Chma Osehl;h~ l)f ~th Israel HaRav Shach greeted me with the warmth and the world will be fulfilled with the 84 William slr~~fJl!lc.i,l"ork, NY 10038 that is so typical ofgedolei Yisroeb He then knowledge of Torah. • (212) f!J7~9000 said to me, "There are those who are critical of me." HaRav Shach explained that in the days immediately preceding the elections, he had instructedbachurim in his yeshiva to go out and garner support for the United Torah Slate. Some were critical ofthis, as it took the bachurim away from their learning. HaRav Shach explained to me that he had based his decision on two considera­ tions. Firstly, the outcome of the elections could have major implications for the future of Torah interests and mosdos in Eretz Yisroel. HaRav Shach then stated his other reason: "I had in mind the chinuch Vision. of my talmidim." He wanted to inculcate A true visionary in his time, Rabbi Sherer, ?":n had the ability to see things not just as they them with the idea that a ben Torah must were, but as they would be seen through the eyes of the world at large. Working with be conscious of the needs of the Klal and Rabbi Sherer, ?"::ti and Agudath Israel of America has given us the z'chus to catch a glimpse must be willing - of course, at the right of that vision - a vision dear and indelible - which we will never forget, 111:i 11:Jt 'i;p, time and upon the guidance of his rebbe'im - to go out and be oseik b'tzarchei tzib­ 5111 EM GRAPHIC DESIGN bur b' emuna with a sense of achrayus, responsibility, for the klal...... HaRav Shach concluded by saying that on IS that very morning, he had entered the great TYPE OF CAR OR SIMILAR 26 APR. 98 beis midrash of the Ponovezh Yeshiva, and 30 JUNE 98 ... declared that now everyone must renew his A AAT PUNTO 3 DR. 147 Iiiz CQ full-time pursuit of Torah study, and any B CITROEN SAXO I OPEL CORSA 175 diversions would surely be bittul Torah. c DAIHATSU CHARADE P.S 238 Iii~°' • I have in the past referred to Agudath c·• PEUGEOT 306 /MAZDA 323 P.S 266 .. ~ Q. ::i Israel of America as a "lo yafsik move­ c• FORD ESCORT P.S 294 N KIA BESTA 8 SEATS 490 ment;' a movement that never wavers for §cc M MINIBUS 10 SEATS 630 111111 an instant from heeding the advice and • zC'I instructions of our gedolim as we pursue D KIA PRIDE I SUZUKY SWJFT 266 E MAZDA 323 1.6 P.S 315 o' that which will enhance the glory of USA&CANADA Hashem, His Torah and His people. The F 'NISSAN ALMERA 350 Ill: G • MAZDA LANTIS 434 ~). Toll Free: (1) 800-938-5000 111"' 'So1ne people 1nisconstrue a gadol's unyielding K ' GMC YANDURA 735 Tel in NY: 212-629-6090 x •CHEVROLET CAVALIER 497 adherence to his principles for sternness of char­ :t ~ http:/ /www.eldan.co;il/ acter. In fact, Torah leaders such as the Chazon XL 'MAZDA626 581 o.. lsh, the Brisker Rav, the Beis Yisroel and all the sx 'CHEVROLET LUMINA 658 .. Pay up front and other gedolim who led the struggle to preserve KX 'GMCSAFARI 770 :t 1brah fife in Eretz Yisroel, were warm, caring tzad­ vx 'VOLV0940 721 save 20/o per month dikim, who exhuded love and concern for their • POWER STEERING & ELECTRIC WINDOWS Full refund in case of cancellation fello-w Jew.

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 83 IN HIS OWN WORDS

From Bishtei Ainayim, a Hebrew-language collection of essays by Rabbi Sherer 7":itr translated into English by Rabbi Avi Shafran Talking To The Wall Renections on lhe passage: "/ rt:ioiced as they told me 'Let us go to the house of Hashem.' "(7;-h;//,',,,122.1)"... in the house o{G-d we would walk with {eeling"(,/,,d5:J.15)

A THIRST, BUT NOT FOR WATER (Tehillim, 55,15). from the Holy And mvi:i 17':11, "... and rejoice with of Holies. vid Hamelech's words were trembling" (Tehillim, 2,11), too. And, again, ever so vivid to me as on a hot Walking down the street leading to i1iV1::J. 17~:n, Dsummer day last month [in the Kosel Ma' aravi, an excitement crys­ "Rejoice with Tammuz 5728/July 1968 -A.S.], when tallizes and one begins to tremble, not trembling" I visited Jerusalem for the seventh out of fear of any danger but out of pure ( Tehillim, Rabbi Sherer's last visit time, but the Kosel for the first. happiness - the restless agitation of a 2,11). The to the Kosel fan. 98. Before I had even unpacked my suit­ lost little boy who has suddenly spied his happiness is case, I was pulled like iron scraps to a mother. tempered, too, with a shudder of sad­ magnet there, to the site the Shechina Unexpected tears then gush forth, hot, ness, because i?;iv D'l:l7 en? ,,~ never departed, the wall that I had stood holy, and sublime. Here, at the Kosel tl11'::1N )117lw ':>vr.i, "Woe to the children before so often, but only in my heart. Ma'arav~ one cries the tears of the Jewish who have been driven from their father's After the long flight and subsequent people itself. One weeps over table ..." (Berachos 3b ). For other images taxi ride from Lod to Jerusalem, I tll:'.l1!'1!'11'l1111':>v, "Mount Zion, lying des­ enter one's mind as well: the holy Tem­ should have felt only tired and thirsty. olate" (Eicha, 5,18) ... , over the Shechina's ple twice engulfed in flames, the thou­ But reaching Jerusalem today, a Jew is own exile ... , and over the tragedies and sands of other Jewish tragedies, mar­ seized by a different sort of thirst, a soul­ trials of all Jewish generations since the tyrdoms and auto da fe - whose sole ful yearning to stand in the presence of Shechina's concealment behind this Wall. survivor is the Kosel. The expulsion of the sole remnant of the house his ll'::>ro mN ;r.nv m nm, "He is standing Jews from Spain and the bonfires of the ancestors built for Hashem. behind our Wall..!' (Shir Hashirim, Inquisition loom before the visitor, the Within moments of my arrival in 2,9). "This refers to the Western Wall" massacres of Tach V'Tat (1648-1649) in Jerusalem, I was on my way to the Kosel ( Yalkut, ibid). the Ukraine, and the more recent and Ma'aravi, the Western Wall of the Tem­ horrible Holocaust, for which all words ple's courtyard - and clearly not the WALL OF PRAYER, WALL OF TEARS seem woefully inadequate. ))l:ll!lr.i'::> N7n only Jew so impelled. As I hurriedly 1ll!l!ll 11'.JN"T )TN , "At the very sound, the descended the steps from the Arab shuk he "Wall of Prayer:' the "Wailing soul is in anguish" (Yorn Kippur liturgy). to the Wall, I came upon many others Wall." So has the world described Here, the rivers of Jewish blood who, like me, had just arrived in the holy Tthe Kosel Ma'aravi over the years. become rivers of tears. city. They had, likewise, not paused Poignant descriptions, indeed, for the Standing at the Kosel, I began to before rushing to glimpse what, until earth's largest repository of)ewish tears. understand how the Wall exerts its pull then, they had only seen in their dreams. The Wall has looked out upon all of on so many Jews throughout the world, Along with us first-time visitors, on Jewish history, the entire mixture of even Jews seemingly remote from their that sweltering Jerusalem summer day, incomparable happiness and unparal­ heritage. I realized that as long as a Jew flowed a veritable river oflocal Jews who leled suffering. A mere glance at the Kosel has not utterly detached himself from had surely already visited the Kosel many summons the mental image of the Beis his people, not only can he speak to the times since the Six Day War, drawn, like Hamikdash, the Kohanim performing Wall, but he can even hear it whisper the rest of us, by the relentless pull of their service, the Levi'im in song, and the back to him, confiding secrets of the past the ancient stones. entire Jewish people imbued with close­ and hope for the future. 'l!'li:J i7.il D'j7l~ n•:i:i, "In the house ness to the world's Creator. A Yiddish folk-saying dismisses con­ of G-d we would walk with feeling" Giving rein to one's imagination, the cerns with the words, "Go talk to the This essay is based on an article that originally images of the Midrash and liturgy come wall." I am convinced, though, that the appeared exactly thirty years ago, in Dos Yiddishe wonderfully alive. The mind's eye per­ expression cannot be Jewish in origin, Vort(MenachemAv 5728/1968). Rabbi Shafran ceives kings and prophets, the consecrated because it means "No one will listen to is Director of Public Affairs of Agudath Israel of vessels and the Kohein Gadol emerging you," while the Jewish people do have a America.

84 The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 wall to which they can speak and which bared their hearts to me, pouring out cerning Shabbos, Kashrus, and the Jew­ listens to them. No less personage than their pain over the emptiness of their ish education of their children. the Gerrer Rebbe, ?··;,rr, once wrote that lives. They too have received a message Are we listening? the Talmudic expression C'll~1!1'?111:i?, from the Wall, and are impelled, as they These introspective days between the "The wall has ears" ( Vayikra Rabba, stand there before its stones, to do some­ fasts of the Seventeenth of Tammuz and 32:2), refers to the Kosel Ma'aravi. This thing meaningful. But they do not Tisha B' Av are a most fitting time for wall hears; it absorbs every Jewish know what or how. hearing the Kosds special call to the moan, and responds with consolation The Kosel demands that we embrace Torah world. and encouragement. these Jews in every way we can and help And when we fully absorb that call, them confront the full meaning of bringing the Jewish masses not only to IMPERVIOUS TO DESTRUCTION their Jewishness. The Wall demands that the KoseI's stones but to its message, we we pound on the doors of all the Jew­ will then merit the true comfort of he Tanna D'bei Eliyahu relates ish hearts it has set ajar, so that they which the prophet Yeshayahu spoke: "Be how Rabbi Nassan went to the site might be opened further still. The comforted, be comforted, My nation .. :' Tof the Temple and saw, amid the Kosel implores us to more actively ( Yeshayahu 40,1), and the return of the destruction, a lone wall still standing. He address our brothers and sisters con- lone KoseI's companions. • was told it was the Kosel Ma'aravi; the Shechina had never departed it, and so You can.! Just call no attacker could destroy it. The Yitti Leibel The Kosel is thus a wall not only of ''I wish I could wailing, but of hope. It symbolizes the Helpline. Jewish people's very existence. Howev­ HOURS: er often our nation '\Vas decimated, a speak to a Monday-Friday ...... 8am -12pm remnant has always remained to carry Monday-Thursday ...... Spm -1 lpm Sunday ...... 9a1n -12pm, 9pm -1 lpm on. It may well have seemed hidden on many - and long - occasions, but frum therapist 718-HELP-NOW never once did it allow for our people's . (718)435-7669 . . destruction, for the success of any Chicago ...... (800) HELP-023 "Final Solution".... on the phone Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 Even the KoseI's own history reflects Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 the upheavals of our people's past. There Baltimore ...... (410) 578-1111 were ti1nes when Je\vs could come to the without giving ' Morris, Union, Essex & Middlesex Wall, and times when the new occupants counties in NJ ...... (877) 4-LEIBEL of the area so obscured it that it could For addiction problems call our addiction not be approached. Later times saw the my name.'' therapist, Wednesdays 11:30pm to 1:30am Kosel practically buried under heaps of rubbish. For nineteen years, the site was inaccessible. And yet today, through For an Emergency that can ha-ppen Hashem's help, the Wall is again in Jew­ ish hands. May it be His will that it AT ANY TIME remain so, until the holy Temple is the sefer rebuilt, speedily, in our day. Yosheiv Ohel THE KOSEL'S URGENT MESSAGE eoul•tlJ?f/"7'1(/c ~ff> ,DlptK, 4J, 4J sblita vently kissing the Wall's stones and pray­ 1:1•?1111.,, n.,.1<1111 .Kn::i•nn n"., ing silent, burning prayers. I spoke to ------several such visitors, and they readily Available atSeforim stores eve.tywhere For Mail Order, call 1-88S-Boob18

The Jewish Observer, Summer 1998 85 NATIONAL ~ONVENTION

Come to the Agudah Convention and ... Now is the Learn first-hand about the major issues Time to confronting the Orthodox Jewish community. Come, Participate in challenging, thought-provoking sessions with a coalition of Jews from diverse Hear, backgrounds. Think, Bask in an inspiring spiritual atmosphere. Debate, and ... Discuss meaningful, practical topics in exciting workshops. Take Actionl

Thursday through Sunday

Nov. 26-29, 1998 - 1'"l1!1T117P~ ''-'! For reservation information, please call (212) 797-9000, ask for convention desk mourns the passing of RABBI MOSHE SHERER ~"YT President of Agu.dath Israel of America Chairman of Agu.dath Israel World Organization

.lflabbi Sherer's untiring commitment and efforts on behalf of K'Ial Yisroel and Yiddishkeit not only in America but globally, were respected by both the ,Jewish community, as well as worlcl leaders at large, An individual with singular focus, unparalleled integrity, ancl impeccable dedication, the passing of Rabbi Sherer will leave an immense void. Rabbi Sherer's cleclication ancl askonus on behalf of Kashrus will be sorely missed. His constant and vigilant work to assure that shechita was protected through legislation and through the court system were especially vital for the continuance and survival of the Orthodox community in America. Empire, its Board of Directors. management and emPlloY(ies, and the entire Rat1binical staff..wish1~s i('

,-,_

... an everlasting, vibrantff'\itiitefi;•:ind effective coalition force for Klal YisroeL • •;fccp ,. . THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF' 1:-<';,- AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA is pleased to announce the establishmenfof

T H E RABBI SHE M. I L F U

to be;psed to . d~vel\:>Ph~p challenge~x~\1t face Kial Yisr3~.~~ .~SY - ~~;clj,allenges that0~~lii Sherer met in.his more-fil<}ll,55-years-of-service to 1\gudath IsraelpfAmerica, '

Rabbi Sherer h~lped~~~sands ofJews~~~~·;~sJlfe~me - The Rabbi Sherer Memorial.Fund wiUe1tsure1that his life's work will .. continue, n"v~;into pe.i;P~~Y:~fur.

-_- _::>_-::;,,,,_ >-- -- __:: ?_::::;:-;_'<;->,- __: __-i--"-:r_:z _-:-;:<--:-~; To discuss JDtJ;J;~d;ticip~ti~~ if! the "Rabbi Moshe Slfirer Memorial Fund" please call 212-797-9000 and ask for Rabbi Yo'ft~h Feinstt!z;;;,.