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272-1080 THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN 0021-6615) is published monthly, except July and August, by the Agudath Israel of America, S Beekman Street, New York, N.Y. 10036. Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y. Subscription $15.00 per year; two years, $27 .00; three years, $36.00; out­ side of the United States, US funds only. $20.00 in U.K. and Israel. Single copy, $2.00. Printed in the U.S.A.

RAeB1 N1ssoN W0Lr1N Editor in this issue . • •

Editorial Board Needs of the Special Child OR. ERNST BODENHEIMER R=I: A Dangerous Equation, Helene Ribowsky ....•... 4 Chairman RABB! JOSEPH ELIAS A Broken Promise, Dr. Gerald David ...... 7 JOSEPH FRIEDENSON A Special Summer Experience, Chaim Wakslak . . . . . 10 RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN RABBI MOSHE SHERER Reb Hirsh Michel's Yerushalayim Shel Ma'aloh,

Management Board Hanoch Teller ...... 11 NAFTOU HJRSCH ISAAC K IRZNER Stranger in a Strange Land, Susan Handleman ...... 17 NACHUM STEIN Succos: The Time of Joy, A Scheinman ...... 22 Business Manager PESACH H. KONSTAM Letters to the Editor ...... 27

Tttr Jrw1sH OosrRVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product or ser­ vice advertised in its pages.

©Copyright 1983

OCT. '83, VOL. XVII NO. 3 TISHREI, 5744 Helene Ribowsky, M.5.

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R=I: A Dangerous Equation

"Ruchel, I'm nottaking him to shul. He can't read and he'll He did well in kindergarten-though he was somewhat have nothing to do there. He'll sit like a goilem. What should I slower in learning to identify letters of the Aleph-Bais. take him for? So the whole shul can know he's dumb? So they'll Three months into Yossie's Pre-I-A year, Ruchel, know we' recursed with a stupid child? He's not going with me Yossie's mother, wonders with dismay why Yossie is if he can't read and if he can't read, there's something wrong having such difficulty with his reading. The other chil­ with him." dren in the class are readying for Siddur, but Yossie is still stumbling over even single letters and vowels. He can • • • read all the letters with one vowel in alphabetical order but he just cannot switch from one vowel to another. Yossie entered Pre-1-A. His parents were confident Also, he makes errors even on letters he knows on that he would be at the top of his class, for Yossie-their certain days while not on others. oldest-has been the darling of the entire family­ Ruchel speaks to Chaim, her husband; they are des­ quick, witty, amusing, highly verbal, agile and curious. perately concerned about Yossie's poor reading perfor­ mance. After all, he is such a bright child-and it is Helene Ribowsky, M.S., is an educational consullant lo Yeshivas and Day terribly painful to see that "reading look" of defeat, Schools and is in private practice as a learning disabilities specialist in Brooklyn, sadness and a tinge of anger clouding Yossie's face each New York. She is a doctoral candidate al New York University. evening as the Aleph-Bais text is reluctantly dragged

4 The Jewish Observer I Octobrr 1983 from the briefcase. The text is no longer new; its bind­ "Ruchel, I've been thinking the same thing lately. ing is crumbling, its pages are ripped here and there, Everyone is talking in circles-everyone is saying he's with dried tear drops staining the once white margins. bright. How can a kid be bright and be stupid in school? Idle scribble marks obliterate some of the letters. How can you be smart and not read? Ruchel, I'm not Yossie slams the text on the table. His lips are set in a taking him to shul anymore. He can't read and he1l have thin, tight line. nothing to do there. He11 sit like a goilern. What should I take him for? So the whole shul can know he's dumb? So • • • they11 know we're cursed with a stupid child? He's not going with me if he can't read and if he can't read, there's "What can we do, Rebbe B.? What's wrong with our something wrong with him. It must mean that there's Yossie? You kept assuring us he would read-but it's something mental. .. .'' January, and all the other children are reading beauti­ fully. What does he do in class while the other kids It Takes a Brain to Read ... read?" "To tell you the truth, it is getting difficult. He's smart MENTAL! Whispers ... euphemisms ... catch phrases enough to see the difference between his reading and ... but actually, the most dangerous misunderstanding the other children's. I wish I had more time; I wish I of what it means to have a reading problem. For it is just could work with him alone, but I have thirty boys in my at this point-the point at which an insidious equation is class. He's not theonlyproblemlhave,bythe way. Two made-the point at which Reading = intelligence (R=I) other boys are also having serious reading problems­ becomes an emotional and an intellectual formula-it is not as bad as Yossie's, but they are also in trouble. at this point that the Yossies of our world begin to"lose" Believe me, I'm torn apart by this. I did think he would IQ points, begin to metamorphose into children with read-after all, he seems bright." intelligence problems instead of reading problems. This equation is probably one of the most destructive • • • imaginable. The E=mc2 equation unleashed a massive force that triggered a social reaction against the end The year is over. Yossie has developed a set pattern of product: ban the Bomb! R=I is a formula that has cata­ responses to anything that has to do with reading. He lystically caused educational destruction of megaton mag­ refuses to go near an Aleph-Bais text; he closes his eyes nitude-but has hardly stirred a social reaction. There and sits very still as his parents or Rebbe plead with him are no "ban the R=I equation" groups; there are no to try to read. If forced to read, he has crying tantrums, debates and there is no outcry because its dangers are and so, ultimately, he does not read. Yossie lives for the hardly perceived. The equation has become a fact of life. moment that the nightly reading ritual-for him tortu­ Few even realize that there can be debate, that accepting rous and bewildering-is over, when he can play out­ a reading problem as proof of or as synonomous with a side. He is wonderfully agile-the fastest bike-rider on lower level of intelligence is a gross misunderstanding­ the block. He is the hero of his peers who live on his that the formula is inaccurate and that, quite to the street; he saved a wounded bird that had fallen out of a contrary, a child or adult may have a severe reading tree and nursed it back to health. problem and have intact intelligence-even superior Yossie is five and a half years old; he will be six in intelligence. November-but ... he already know the bitter, bitter "Oh, if you're talking about dyslexia. I know you can taste of failure. He cannot read. have that and be smart. After all, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller was dyslexic and he was smart," says the • • • voice of public opinion. "But if a boy in yeshiva can't read, that's different. "You can't hold him back in Pre-I-A again, Ruchel. That's not dyslexia-that's a mental problem, and that People will think he's stupid." means he just doesn't have the intelligence. After all, it "But, Ma, he can't read. What am I supposed to do takes a brain to read, doesn't it?" with him?" "Let him sit in class and let his Rebbe teach him a half ... to Play Tennis, to Draw hour a day extra-alone-not with the other children. This way, he can go on with the other children. He11 feel Yes, it takes" a brain." It takes a brain functioning in a stupid if you leave him back." particular way to achieve reading-to achieve every­ "Feel stupid? Let's face it. There is something wrong. thing, in fact. If person A cannot carry a tune, is there What does it mean when a child can't read? Chaim, don't something wrong with his intelligence? After all, it you think that a child who reads the way Yossie does has takes "a brain" to carry a tune. If person B cannot hit a a serious problem ... I mean with his general intelli­ tennis ball more than once in every 25 attempts, is there gence? I'm afraid to even say what I'm thinking ...." something wrong with his intelligence? After all, it

The Jewish Obserotr I Ocfober 1983 5 takes "a brain" to hit a tennis ball. If person C cannot Trade in Tension for Tranquility calculate mentally, but can do so quite well with pencil The equation of R=I would make little difference if it and paper, is he to be relabled cognitively deficient? If resided-quietly and ponderously-in unused texts person D-aged 30-cannot copy an intricate architec­ gathering dust in musky libraries. The problem is that it tural design, should he realize that he simply lacks the is a volatile and ubiquitous fact of everyday life-with a same intelligence level that the 20 year old architect potential for destruction at worst and neglect at best. If possesses? After all, it takes "a brain" to copy designs. one believes that intelligence is impaired or absent What should be apparent is that it takes "a brain" to because reading does not immediately occur, then the do everything: every motion, act and even emotion we possibility exists of resultant behaviors such as anger, create or possess represents a specific function of our frustration, avoidance, neglect, hopelessness, shame, brain. What should be equally apparent is that we can inaction, tension, and, above all, energy expended to possess a high degree of intelligence and still not be able hide the problem. to accomplish a particular task. If, on the other hand, non-reading is equated simply Some of us may learn to carry a tune with ease. Some with a skill that may be difficult for a particular child or of us will learn to play tennis in twenty lessons (some of adult, but one that simply requires specialized instruc­ us will need years). It is quite possible for most of us to tion-then resultant behaviors can include hope, tran­ learn to copy intricate architectural designs. Clearly, an quility, practical searching for proper education, relaxed altogether different level and type of instruction will be attitudes, candidness, lack of tension, joy in learning. necessary for some of us. There are too many victims. Far too many children are hurt and emotionally maimed for life as a result of Try "L =I" the terrible destruction of R=I. Who can know, too, how many future generations can be affected by the "fallout" Of vital importance is the realization that we can be of children who grow to adulthood without self esteem. taught that which we do not know. The amount of time It never helps children when we use blame and anger needed and the quality of instruction will both be varia­ because we ourselves perceive hopelessness. It becomes bles in the equation of learning-but, ultimately, learn­ absurd, however, when we perceive hopelessness with­ ing will occur. There are many professionals in the field out cause. of social science, in fact, who will feel quite comfortable with the equation of learning= intelligence. Children who appeared to possess average intelli­ We are, furthermore, under the false assumption that gence prior to failure in reading are nof automatically eueryone learns to read with ease. We do not establish this stripped of this intelligence because of that failure. They false expectation for music, sports, art and design and need specialized instruction-but they usually can be even mathematics. It is almost completely acceptable­ taught. is it not?-for us to admit finding geometry or trigo­ To rob the Yossies of the yeshiva world-to rob nometry totally incomprehensible, and still miracu­ blameless but aching children of their very intelligence lously manage to maintain our intact levels of in­ because they cannot read-to steal their futures by telligence. Only with reading do we almost totally lose condemning them through prejudice, fear and a shock­ perspective. It is reading-a task that requries the inte­ ing lack of understanding and compassion-to shatter gration of unbelievably numerous and complex subskill their emotional selves is to make us all guilty of needless tasks-that vve have bonded to intelligence in an irre­ destruction. vocably proportional relationship. Simply stated-a child can have a severe reading prob­ Why? Probably because of the importance which we lem and still be smart! have attached to it, in addition to its central role in school learning. Foolish to Hope? Even now, in the age of alternative pathways to Is it foolish to hope that societal awareness of this fact information absorption, we rely very strongly on the will translate itself into happier Yossies who are better skill of reading as a means of information intake. A understood and for whom suitable education is ob­ fascinating socio-psychological investigation might be tained? Is it futile to hope that we will learn to accept made, in fact, into the reluctance on the part of disabled reading problems as just reading problems, and not readers and their families to abandon the written word penalize our non-readers by stripping them-in our as absolutely mandatory when it is clear that the dis­ minds-of their intellectual capacity for meaningful abled reader could advance far more rapidly through thought and future learning? auditory presentation of material. Each person is society; each is responsible for his or This is an especially interesting phenomenon in the her own share of the cumulative attitudinal structure. {rum world-where writing down the Oral Law represented Each of us must decide if Yossie can live in our hearts an accommodation to lessening skills, and where Torah and minds as a fully franchised member of society-or if she b'al peh in its original spoken form had represented he is to be cast aside as a lesser child because he reads the pinnacle of transmission. poorly. ·"'-

6 The Jewish Obseroer I October 1983

• ' Dr. Gerald David In addition, Jewish parents whose handicapped child cannot continue in the regular yeshiva must overcome major obstacles just to get the free evaluation to deter­ mine their child's handicap. Why such a horrendous situation has developed and continues to exist despite Federal legal mandates to the contrary, is a result of many unfortunate factors.

Special Education and Jewish Children There are over 60,000 Jewish children attending A Broken Promise: yeshivos in the city of New York. It is estimated that 10-12% of these children are learning disabled, and 5% have more severe handicaps. Thus as many as 10,000 Free and Appropriate Jewish youngsters attending Day Schools are handi­ capped to some degree and should be entitled to the full Special Education benefits of Public Law 94-142 which are made available to all other handicapped students. The benefits mandated by Federal law include a free for Disabled Jewish Children evaluation by a social worker, psychologist, and educa­ tional evaluator who are sensitive to the child's culture Jewish parents have high hopes for their children. and ethnicity, to be done at the school or yeshiva that The effort that Jewish parents put into the education of the child attends. It includes the provision of Resource their children is formidable. The expense, the time, and Room programs for the learning disabled, at the child's the sacrifice are all worthwhile when parents see their school or yeshiva. Federal law instructs the Committee children reach and exceed their expectations. on the Handicapped to consider all aspects of the child's When parents discover that their precious child is handicapping condition, including cultural and ethnic learning disabled or developmentally disabled and re­ factors in classifying the disability. It also mandates that tarded, their hopes for high academic and societal adequate special programs be established at public achievement are severely diminished. The parents and expense, to enable the child to learn despite his disability. the entire family soon learn that the expense, the time and sacrifice required just to care for and educate their The Evaluation Hurdle special child, must be doubled or even tripled. When a yeshiva tells a parent, "Your child has a prob­ How shocking it is for the family to learn that lem," or"We cannot educate your child; you'll have to go although the government guarantees free special edu­ cation programs for all handicapped children, adequate elsewhere," few parents are made aware of the fact that their child is entitled to a free evaluation by a team programs to deal with the handicapping condition of the observant Jewish child are not offered. The parents sensitive to the child's Jewishness. The child is entitled to this evaluation even if the parent has no intention of discover that a Jewish child, who is either learning dis­ placing his child into pubic special education. abled, retarded, or emotionally handicapped and whose disability is intertwined with his cultural and ethnic In New York City, the Division of Special Education provides evaluation services in all public schools. Chil­ Jewish backgrond, is denied a free bi-cultural special dren attending public schools are referred by their par­ education program. Were he Hispanic, the cultural aspect of dealing with the handicap would be recognized ents who want to find out why their child is not doing as and the child would be placed in a bi-cultural program. well as he might in the regular class. Most of these children will continue in the regular class after the evalu­ This disabled child is Jewish, his culture is Jewish, and treating his handicap cannot be separated from his ation. Some will receive help in weak areas. The parent Jewishness. Yet his parent is told by the Board of is under noobHgation to consider or agree to any special Education's Division of Special Education: Either accept education placement. Regrettably, the Division does not offer evaluations a classification of the handicap and a program that on the site of the yeshivos, though Federal law man­ denies and rejects the handicap's cultural component or dates evaluation services on site. The result has been get your own education for your child at a cost of at least seven thousand dollars a year. that thousands of youngsters in Jewish Day Schools who have learning problems are not being evaluated. Dr. GeraJd David is a certified Clinical Psychologist in private practice of Their problems fester and grow, and many times lead to psycholherapyandfamily counseling. He serves as Co-Chairman of Agudath Israel leaving the yeshiva. An evaluation could pinpoint the of America's Commission on Special Education, Developmental Disabilities and problem at an early stage, and identify the remediation Foster Care, and as consultant in special education, community and government necessary to help the child learn well enough to remain relations to Jewish institutions. He is lheaulhorof "Man's Search for Immortality." in the yeshiva.

The Jewish Observer I October 1983 7

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Even if the parent decides to go to the public school this will add burdens to the child's disability, but the for the child's evaluation, they will find the evaluation COH has given them no other option. There is reason teams overburdened with work that has to be done for to believe that not only have these children made no the public school children. They will find the personnel academic progress, but they have begun to demonstrate reluctant to add to their workload children who do not difficulties in living in their communities. As a result, even attend public school. The evaluation will be done their handicaps, in many instances, have become worse. grudgingly at best. The Division has not seen fit to For example: A neurologically impaired and emotion­ allocate staff to meet the legal mandates for evaluation ally handicapped child from a Chassidic or Orthodox of non-public school students. Should the parent ask for Jewish background is placed in a public school program a culturally sensitive team to evaluate the child, the for such children (NIEH program). This child must first request will usually be rejected or ignored. adjust to the fact that he differs in dress from the other children. He wears a yarmulka and tzitzis. The other chil­ Resource Room Programs dren do not. The academic activities include projects associated with holidays that he is not familiar with and Children who are found to have a learning disability which are often in total conflict with his family's convic­ remain in their regular class, leaving several times a tions and traditions. He learns about these holidays but week to participate in a Resource Room program. It is his family celebrates Jewish festivals, which generates here that they receive the special instruction that will estrangement as well as confusion. The child may speak enable them to catch up to the rest of the class. Resource Yiddish, which is certainly not the class language. Even Room programs are provided in every single public if the child speaks English, in school he my learn aspects school. The Board of Education's legal office ruled in of the English language that even adults find upsetting. January 1980 that Federal funds can be used for such Thus a child diagnosed with one or two handicaps, services in the yeshivos. So far not one Resource Room when placed in a cultural setting radically different from teacher has been made available to yeshivos, even if his own, must make a host of new adjustments that he they have learning disabled children deemed eligible for should not be asked to make-including some that no the program by the Committee on the Handicapped. child should have to make. Even normal children and The Federal government provides per-capita funds to adults have a difficult time adjusting to a new culture if service the learning disabled child. A yeshiva student they move to a country where language, dress and found to need the Resource Room program by the values are different. To expect a handicapped child to Committee could generate the flow of such funds to the make the same adjustments by himself and with his Board of Education, were he to be serviced. handicaps in unconscionable. Many of these children are in fact serviced by the To believe that adequate placements of handicapped yeshivos out of their own funds. A case in point is a students can be made while totally ignoring the culture yeshiva who, after identifying and certifying its learn­ that is part of the handicap, which is current City and ing disabled children through the Committee on the State policy, subjects untold numbers of culturally dif­ Handicapped, hired a Resource Room teacher from the ferent, handicapped children to a special education public school and paid her with its own funds. These nightmare. When parents of handicapped .Jewish chil­ yeshiva children are clearly entitled to the federal alloca­ dren learn of these difficult experiences and their nega­ tion. Despite the availability of funds and the Board's tive results, they are-understandably-extremely re­ own legal ruling that these funds can be used to service luctant to send their children to public school special yeshiva students, no action that could save the educa­ programs. tional lives of many of our learning disabled children has A number of New York City yeshivos have estab­ been taken by the Board. lished adequate special education classes with the neces­ sary language and cultural components, since the Div­ Special Education Classes ision of Special Education has not. These yeshivos have applied to the state of certification and financial reim­ There may be as many as 3,000 yeshiva students who bursement. In the past, special classes in Catholic require a more intensive special education setting. schools have received certification and funding. Cur­ These children need the services of a special class for rently, the State has ignored such applications, even if such disabilities as retardation, brain injury, emotional the program fully complies with State education, health disability, speech and language impairment and other and safety requirements. It is imperative that the State handicaps. Education for the handicapped includes more again respond positively to these applications, as is than academic instruction. It teaches the child to required by law, as it has done in the past. become a functioning member of his community. Some parents whose children cannot attend yeshivos Committees on the Handicapped and who cannot pay for special classes in yeshivos have placed their children in public school classes. They are The New York State law that deals with the educa­ aware that their child is culturally misplaced and that tion of handicapped children has established Commit-

8 The Jewish Observer I October 1983

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tees on the Handicapped. Their mandate is to classify child is taught by certified and competent Board of children, to determine the proper programs needed and Education teachers. What is being denied elsewhere to monitor the programs to see if they are meeting the already exists in one little corner. educational goals of the Individual Educational Plan This small miracle occurred because the community, (IEP). The Committee is supposed to be an impartial realizing the importance of school board elections, body, free from any pressure and bias which would elected two Jewish members who understood the mitigate against an impartial review of each child's importance of special education. These members, when needs. pushed by the community, prodded the Superintend­ In New York City, the Committee on the Handi­ ent. The Superintendent, convinced that all the com­ capped is part of the Division of Special Education. munity wanted was their basic right, that Jewish handi­ Children are classified into catgories so that they can fit capped children have just as much a right to be taught into existing special classes. Hence there is no considera­ within their cultural milieu as Hispanic children, was tion of the special needs of the Jewish handicapped child. able to convince the Board of Education to provide cul­ Even the special needs of a public school handicapped turally relevant special classes. child will generally be ignored if these needs are not already serviced by existing programs. Bootstrap Operations Although individual chairpeople of these Committees Professional educators and psychologists had for a try to be fair, their work performance is judged by how long time tried to encourage yeshivos to establish spe­ many cases they process into existing categories and cial programs for learning disabled students. Progress classes. Chairpeople have been criticized by their super­ was slow until the parents of special children began iors for recommending too many related services, too demanding that yeshivos also serve their special chil­ many private school programs and encouraging too dren. These parents, who already had children in the many hearings when needed services are not available. yeshivos and who were an integral part of the yeshiva's In this atmosphere, all children with special needs­ parent body, saw no reason why their special child surely children from Orthodox Jewish families-find should be rejected. These demands were organized and recognition of these needs extremely difficult. successfully channeled by PTACH (Parents for Torah The Division has been the subject of much scrutiny for All Children) into programs for the learning disabled lately, since as more handicapped children are identified, children. Parents of children who are developmentally a greater percentage of the education budget has gone disabled have formed OTZAR, which is demanding for special education. Mayor Koch has singled out special education in yeshivos. expenditures for special education as an example of PTACH currently has programs serving 240children Federal legislation mandating services, but not provid­ in 11 yeshivos. The intensely individualized instruction ing enough money. The Committees are the gateway to required by these programs cost $8,000 annually for special education. They determine the number of classes each child. Besides parental tuition, PT ACH must raise and programs and subsequently the amount of money $300,000 per year to cover these costs. If these children spent by certifying the needs of special children. It would be taught by the Board of Education, they would seems that the impartiality that these Committees are receive $9,000 per year for each child. Despite the fact supposed to have, is compromised by being part of the that PTACH programs surpass all city and state educa­ Division of Special Education, which is looking to curb tional requirements, despite the Board's own ruling that additional spending. It is difficult to imagine how the Federal funds can be made available to yeshivos for such Committees on the Handicapped, as they are now struc­ programs, despite the fact that the Board collects Fed­ tured, can be more sensitive to the needs of the handi­ eral dollars for the yeshiva students, since they are capped Jewish child, when this increased sensitivity will counted as part of the New York City special education require new programs and more money. population, and despite the fact that classes in Catholic It is proposed that in order to guarantee the Commit­ schools receive funding, not one penny has been given tees' impartiality, it be made completely autonomous to the PTACH programs by the Board of Education. from the Division of Special Education and from the It is imperative that the Orthodox Jewish community Board of Education. The Committee and its members educate school board members, who have asked for our should be an independent entity closely monitored by vote, as to how they can play a mo~t important role in the State to insure impartiality. obtaining free cultrually relevant special education. Our community must petition our elected officials, the Using the Electoral Powers Chancellor of the Board of Education and the Commis­ All is not bleak. There is one community that has sioner of the State Education Department that since established free culturally relevant special education special education is adequate only when it is culturally classes in the public schools. In th~se classes the teachers relevant, we demand culturally relevant services. We speak Yiddish, Jewish holidays are celebrated, and the can do no less if we want to save the educational lives of handicapped child is proud to be an Orthodox Jew. The our Jewish handicapped children. '.T.

The Jewish Observrr I October 1983 9 -

Chaim Wakslak

A Special Summer Experience

Nestled in the Catskill Mountains different. Some are in wheelchairs, or clapping hands, swaying back and lies Camp HASC.' Upon first glance while in others handicaps are dis­ forth to the rhythm-davens to the at its sprawling lawns and weathered closed by their awkward gait, hand Creator. cottages it is not different from movements and posture irregulari­ dozens of other Upstate New York ties. Still others reflect the charac­ • • • camps. Yet, upon closer observa­ teristics of mental retardation, and tion, one notices the subtle dif­ several, the scars of emotional dis­ Shabbos is a special time. As prep­ ferences-ramps run alongside turbance. But then one notes that arations begin on Friday afternoon, building entrances, a large school­ there is also a yarmulka on each anticipation and excitement already house dominates the enclave. boy's head, tzitzis flying in the early fill the air. Following Kabbolas Shabbos Suddenly the loudspeaker crack­ morning breeze, curled payos of var­ the counselors and campers move les, "All boys to the shul, all girls to ious lengths outlining the just­ slowly from the shul to the dining the Social Hall for Shacharis." The awakened faces, an occasional black room. Shalom Aleichem, Kiddush and doors of each cottage swing open hat or long black coat tied closed everyone washes. . . . Traditional and out stream its inhabitants. A with a gartel. Zemiros fill the dining room between sudden awareness dawns upon the As they enter the shul almost all each course. Encouraged by the observer ... the boys and girls are reach to kiss the mezuzah. Those in counselors, the singing becomes wheelchairs arch their bodies so louder and the beat quickens. Spon­ *The Hebrew Academy for Special Children (HASC) that their outstreched arms might taneously, two young campers stand runs the eight week residential summer program in make contact in fulfillment of this up to dance together in a circle, Parksville, New York, in addition fo its year~round facilities in Baro Park where infant/early childhood, custom-but fulfill it they do! inspiring everyone to louder and elementary school and sheltered workshop programs are Soon from the shul one hears the more fervent song. A counselor conducted, The HASC Summer Program provides the unrestrained shouts of Amen Y'hei grasps hold of a wheelchair and droelopmentally disabled, emotionally disturbed and Shmei Rabbah . ... Once inside, we are pushes its occupant around the table. physically handicapped a summer filled with sports, immediately enveloped by the crowd Suddenly everyone joins the danc­ recreation and entertainment in conjunctian wifh a of atypical congregants. Many wear­ ing! In two circles, one for boys and special education program approved by the New York ing tefillin, most grasping a Siddur. one for girls, they weave between State Department of Education. Campers have special They respond in unison to the cha­ the tables and around the dining individualiud sessions with speech, physical and occu­ zan-a handicapped older camper. room. pational therapists as well as with the psychologists, An occasional disturbance or quiet On Shabbos morning everyone physician, and nurse. All camp facilities, programs, and modalities, such ·as the pool, outdoor gym, visits to retreat from reality goes unnoticed sleeps a little later than usual. ... the bowling alley and amusement park, are used to in the overriding intensity and un­ And so the day continues through enhance and broaden the educational and e:rperiential inhibited singing of the tefilla. Here davening, the Seudos, special Shabbos exposures of the children. The specialiud equipment one senses an unusual ecstasy and activities, Havdalah and Melava Malka. and tailor-made programs are often unavailable during infectious warmth. It is as though Joy radiates from everyone's face as the regular school year. their absence of worries or limited they usher out the Shabbos Queen­ Dr. Chaim Wakslak is a musmach of Mesivta appreciation for the complexity of from the little Chassidic boy with Torah Vodaath, the Rav of the Young Israel of Belle life allows them an unencumbered Down's Syndrome to the cerebral Harbor and a New York State certified psychologist. communication with G-d. Each, in palsied teenage girl, confident in He visits the HASC summer camp weekly as part of his or her own way-an unintelligi­ their personhood, proud of their the clinical consu/ling team, ble verbalization, stamping of feet Jewishness. !.T.

10 The Jewish Observer I October 1983 Hanoch Teller Reb Hirsh Michef s Yerushalayim Shel Ma' alah 5600/1840-5666/1906

It was an hour after midnight, in November 1868. The rain was pouring down so hard that night, that the well-trodden streets of "Battei Machse" were riverlets. In the midst of the storm, the door of the Sephardi shul, Chessed Keil, opened to a cobblestone alley. Batlei Machse, in the heart of the old Yishuv, was fast asleep. The few who might have ventured out al this hour remained at home, for the downpour posed a double threat. In addition lo the obvius health hazard, there was fear of the Turks who incarcerated in the dreaded Akishle prison anyone caught out al night without a lit candle-no matter what the weather. The door to the shul closed, and a man emerged with clothes draped over his head and shoulders. He wasn't carrying a candle-he never did. The clothes were not to protect him from the rain, but to protect his identity. Every night at an hour after midnight, he made this trip, checking each corner to see if anyone was there. Reb Hirsh Michel was on his way to his chavrusa. His every step and every act was veiled in .secrecy. But the little that we do know about-he was described as "The Yerushalaimer Tzaddik"-is a portal to Yerushalayim Shel Maalah. Yerushalayim Shel Maalah is not a geographic location. The Midrash relates that there is a heavenly Jerusalem in congruence with the earthly Jerusalem. And the celestial angels who make up the Jerusalem above found their counterparts in Jerusalem below one hundred years ago, when amongst humble tinsmiths and cobblers were pious individuals who spent the major part of their days engaged in spiritual pursuits. The paragon of fzidkus and yirah of this saintly generation was Rabbi Yehoshua Zvi* Michel Shapiro '?"'Ir.

Tender "Tzidkus"

Reb Hirsh Michel's penchant for kedusha was apparent at an early age. When Hirsh Michel was eight years old he tasted his first apricot. He found its surprising sweetness and succulence so delectable that he consi­ dered the fruit indulgence, and abstained from eating any for the rest of his life. I At the age of seven, he completed Babba Metziah in just a few nights, obviously comprehending it well. The

'*"Tzvi" translates in Yiddish as Hirsh ("deer"); hence Reb Hirsh Michel. Hanoch TeHer, a regular contributor lo these pages, is an American studying in Mir Yeshiva, Jerusalem.

The Jewish Obseroer I Odober 1983 11 -

seeing his son memorize and embody its each and every word. At age 17, Hirsh Michel married the daughter of the famous gaon Rabbi Nachman Nassan Koronell. After his marriage, he returned to Jerusalem, which he had left for Chevron as a young boy to study under Rabbi Yosef Steinhart (Rav Yosef "Charif"-the Sharp One), a nephew and disciple of Reb Chaim Volozhiner. The Torah giants of Jerusalem flocked to greet Reb Hirsh Michel, but he tried to avoid them. Reb Hirsh Michel had moved to Jerusalem to study undisturbed, not to be a center of attention. His desire to study by himself, however, was soon to change.

The Kutna Influence

Not long after Reb Hirsh Michel returned to Jerusa­ lem, Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib, the Rav of Kutna, Lithuania (who was succeeded by the celebrated Reb She'ala) also arrived. The Kutna Rav became the local focal point of Torah study-Jerusalem's talmidei chacha­ Rabbi Nachman Nassan Koronell mim spent a good part of their day in his home involved Ravad (head of the Beis Din of Chevron), Rav Shimon in Talmudic discussions; only Reb Hirsh Michel re­ Menashe, and the other local Rabbinic luminaries mained in the Beis Midrash. His daily schedule consisted enjoyed discussing Torah subjects with the young pro­ of learning an entire Mesechta with all of the commentar­ digy, but Hirsh Michel avoided such encounters. He felt ies every day, in addition to his mussarstudies. ln fact, he that too much time was wasted in both discussion and never would have met the Kutna Rav had his father not travel, and only consented to meet with the elder scho­ insisted that he present himself to him.* lars on fast days when his concentration was weak. It did not take the Kutna Rav long to realize that the One afternoon, a merchant outside the Chevron Synagogue young man was superior to the other scholars and was heard painful wails emanating from inside the shul. He worthy of his undivided attention. The elderly Gaon felt dropped his wares to try to be of help, but found the synagogue duty bound to impart all of his knowledge to this excep­ door locked. The merchant scaled the window railing but tional young man, and later quoted him extensively in couldn't see a thing inside. He then heard another shrill cry his seforim, 'Zayis Ra'anon and Tiferes Yerushalayim. which grew louder and longer. He summoned the shamas who unlocked the shul doorand found the little feet of nine year old The Extraordinary Routine Hirsh Michel protruding from behind the paroches. Fearing discovery, he covered his face and ran outside. After the passing of the Kutna Rav in 1866, Reb Hirsh "Someone must be ill in the Shapiro home," the men reasoned. Michel returned to his old practices. Every night imme­ To their astonishment, however, they discovered that everyone diately after Maariv, he slipped away to the sparsely­ was well. Hirsh Michel had been pouring out his heart over attended Sephardi synagogue, Chessed Keil, for a long the Temple which lay in ruin, implorng the A-mighty to night of prayer and study. He would gently place his hasten its restoration. cane on the table where people were learning and ask When Hirsh Michel was eleven, he heard about Reb them ,to rap him on his fingers if he would doze off. He Yisroel Salanter for the first time, from a Lithuanian would then repair to a corner where he studied from a immigrant. Stories about Reb Yisroel and the nascent Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat, which he held in his Mussar movement so inspired the youngster that he hands. With his sweet voice, he rapidly read through the made his first request from his father, Reb Yaakov text with Shach, Taz, and other commentaries, occasion­ Koppel-a copy of the Mussar classic, Mesi/as Yesharim. ally repeating a phrase or two. So he studied, standing His father acceded to the request and had the nachas of perfectly still, hour after hour, night after night, never requiring the cane to keep him awake. *In 5659 (1899), when the German Kaiser visited Jerusalem, Reb One night, however, Reb Hirsch Michel's eyelids Hirsh Michel was caught in a similar dilemma: should he join the rest of the town in going out to recite the rare blessing "Shechalak," which began to droop .... The others in the Beis HaMidrash felt is said upon seeing a monarch, or continue learning in seclusion? His themselves unworthy of disturbing such a saint, and did difficulty was solved when a bottle of boiling water smashed on the not dare touch him. When he awoke he was so pained by floor and scalded his legs. He thanked G-d for this omen and joyfully his drowsing that he trembled, his eyes ablaze. He tight­ returned to his studies, absolved from any obligation to bless the ened his fingers around the Shulchan Aruch as if to say, king. "Who knows what spiritual heights I forfeited by just

12 The Jewish Observer I Odobtr 1983

•' these few minutes?'' He took the people to task: "Why shua uib Diskin, Jerusalem Rav. ruled that Reb Hirsh do I need a cane if it isn't going to be used?"-and then Michel was not lo be listened to, and was to be brought into the resumed his learning with fiery diligence. house al once . ... Years later he explained, "]was afraid that Reb Hirsh Michel never slept for an extended period I was al/he very end of my life. How could I depart from the of time, never after midnight, nor did he lie on a bed. precious mifzva of sitting in lhe succah with just minules lefl Every night at eleven he rested his head against the wall to live?" while still standing, and instructed those nearby not to For a time, Reh Hirsh Michel was advised lo wear a allow him to sleep for more than ten minutes. He would pouch of hol slones to ease inteslinal pain. His concentralion awake by himself, wash his hands and return to learn­ was so intense during davening that one Shacharis a burning ing as before until exactly midnight. Reb Hirsh Michel coal amongst the stones ignited the entire pouch. In spite of then hurried to a mikvah, immersed himself and returned smoke emitting from his clothing, he was oblivious to what to the shul. He tilted his hat over his eyes, removed his was happening. Only when he finished Pesukei DeZimrah shoes, placed ashes on his forehead and sat on the cold did he realized that he had sustained a third degree burn. On stone floor to say Tikun Chalzos, bemoaning the absence another occasion, he did not realize that a hornet had stung of the Divine presence, the destroyed Temple, the Sifrei him while he was davening Shemoneh Esrei, even though his Torah that were burnt, the death of tzaddikim, the dese­ neck was swollen red. cration of G-d's name, the exiles, the growth of Reform, as well as other aspects of galus. Reb Hirsh Michel Among the Few Who Succeed mourned each loss as if it were his own personal tragedy, until the floor was wet from his tears. When he Regarding the Talmudic dictum: "Whoever has completed the Tikun, he put on his shoes and returned to enough bread for today and questions what he will eat the next day is a small believer" (Sotah 48), Reb Hirsh the corner1 remaining erect and engrossed in his studies until sunrise when he davened every morning. Michel* used to comment: "A kaftan amanna, a small believer, is an apikorus kaftan . .. :" No Breaks in the Pattern The Gemora relates that many tried to live by Rav Shimon Bar Yochai's system of exclusively learning and On an Erev Shabbos in 564311883), Reb Hirsh Michel forgetting about worldy pursuits, and failed. He com­ appeared lo be on the brink of death. The doctors of Jerusalem mented, "If many tried and failed, this implies that a few conferred al his bedside and decided that his only hope for succeeded. Is there anything wrong with striving to be recovery was an immediate operation. Reh Hirsh Michel among that minority?" calmly asked if that would affect "making Kiddush" in the Reb Hirsh Michel fasted frequently. Otherwise his evening. They replied Iha/ Kiddush or any other such activities diet consisted of a piece of bread, which he measured to would be out of the question for the next three days. "If I can't be exactly a k'beitzah (an egg-size, the minimum for a make Kiddush," he declared, "then I don't need an operation!" blessing over washing the hands) dipped into oil, and a The following morning the doctors examined him and to glass of unflavored hot water. their utter amazement found that his condition had lotaily His students were once curious as to why he was in an improved and found that he no longer needed surgery. exceptionaily good mood. He explained that he had fasted that In 5663 (1903) Reb Hirsh Michel feII mortally ill and day because he had no food. He continued; "There are two again Jerusalem's dodors visited him. Their consensus was opinions in the Gemora as to whether one who fasts is a sinner that Reb Hirsh Michel's condition was fatal and they prohi­ or a pious individual. I have fast by default, and have therefore bited him lo learn or exert himself in any way. When the avoided this dispute." doctors left, he began lo cry and called for his student, Rabbi When his father, Reb Yaakov Koppel, died in 5652 Yaakov Moshe Char/op. He asked Reb Yaakov Moshe lo (1892), Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin asked Reb Hirsh read lo him the Ran al the beginning of Meseches Pesachim. Michel to succeed his father as the head of the Suvalk "But you are not allowed lo learn," Rav Yaakov Moshe Kolle!. This placed him in a terrible dilemma. They very protested. notion of accepting a public position that required so "If I am really going lo die," Reb Hirsh Michel responded, much social interaction was contrary to his chosen way "then when am I going to learn if I don't learn now?'' of life.-On the other hand, how could he refuse Reb .And so they studied all that day deep into the night, Reh Yehoshua Leib? Reb Hirsh Michel secretly engaged ten Yaakov Moshe totally forgetting that his Rebbe was sick. men to join him at the Kosel Hama'aravi. There they ' prayed fervently that Reb Yehoshua Leib would retract One Succos, Reb Hirsh Michel fainted in his succah, and his offer. I appeared to be minutes away from death. His students Reb Hirsh Michel guarded even his most ordinary struggled to reviVe him and then tried to carry him into his actions from the public eye-whether on his way to house, but Reb Hirsh Michel refused lo budge. Rabbi Yeho- perform a mitzva, or simply going to the Kosel. Every *Reb Hirsh Michel viewed the Rama's ruling (Yoreh Dr'ah 246), that Erev Rosh Chodesh after Maariv, Reb Hirsh Michel one may not worry about the morrow, as the very foundation of walked to Kever Rochel, in Bethlehem. He would arrive Jewish life. before midnight, and at Chatzos he would say the entire

The Jewish Observer I October 1983 13

'' Sefer T•hillim, and then return to Jerusalem in time for to publish his manuscripts, which he considered to con­ the sunrise minyan, showing no signs of exhaustion. tain genuine Torah truths. He felt supported by an One Erev Rosh Chodesh, Reb Hirsh Michel allowed a omen: his entire cellar was once gutted by a fire, save a young man to accompany him, on the condition that no large box of his works. Yet, they had to be published one else join them. They were engaged in a deep discus­ anonymously. Even then, he rewrote them for publica­ sion of mussar until they encountered another man, also tion quoting extensively from Rishonim and Achronim to going to Kever Rochel. Reb Hirsh Michel dropped back, make his original thinking appear as if it were simply an allowing the other two to continue ahead. After a ways, anthology. the young man noticed that Arabs were hurling rocks at Leaders of the Sephardi kehilla once approached Reb Hirsh Reb Hirsh Michel. He ran to Reb Hirsh Michel's aid, and Michel for a letter encouraging the saying of Tikun Chatzos. apologized profusely for leaving him behind: "I had no He produced a major treaHse, outstanding in brilliance and choice," he pleaded. "The man who joined us is a fear of Heaven. How did he protect his identity? By writing the stranger from abroad. It seemed appropriate to befriend entire manuscript into Rashi script so that the courier would h1m.. " neither understand it nor be able to trace its origin. "You behaved properly," Reb Hirsh Michel responded, To further disguise his authorship, Reb Hirsh Michel "but the mifzva didn't require my involvement. Had I quoted verbatim from numerous Sephardi seforim throughout remained, l would have had to interrupt my thoughts the book. He also saw to ii that the text of the Tikun Chatzos every minute to answer his questions about 'what is was printed together with his work, so he could entitle the this?' and 'what is that?'-! would have violated Rabbi volume "Tikun Chatzos" -and exclude the author's name. Yaakov's ruling, (Avos 3:7) 'He who is walking by the Several seforim were steered into Reb Hirsh Michel's way and studies, and interrupts his study and exclaims: hands before publication. He wrote detailed, lengthy How beautiful is this tree! How fine that field! forfeits addenda and corrections to them, which were published his life!' Therefore, I never travel with strangers." ... in conjunction with the original work without the because when was Reb Hirsh Michel not studying on the author or the publlc ever finding out who was behind it. way? Another example of his distaste for recognition was in 5659 (1899), when two brothers in Bombay sent a query to Secret Man of Letters Rabbi Y.S. Alishar of Jerusalem: They were fighting over an Reb Hirsh Michel maintained the same secrecy in his inheritance and would only accept a ruling decided by the writings as he did in his private life. He was determined "Chacham Bashi," Chief Rabbinical authority. Rav Alishar refused to issue a decision unless Reb Hirsh Michel would attach his signature to the responsa. The overly modest Reb OUR MIRACULOUS WORLD Hirsh Michel finally agreed to help the brothers-signing the by Dr. Paul Forchllelmer document simply: "Zvi ben Yaakov." A fascinating survey of the world of science from a Torah perspective. A Painful Departure-in Kedusha • All the questions the serious student asks. The last six years of Reb Hirsh Michel's life were • The answers he craves, but seldom receives. plagued with a painful, debilitating disease .... On •The fu!! gamut, from sub-atomic particles through the Thursday, 9 Elul, 5666 (1906) after saying Tikun Chatzos, mysteries of the human brain. • Enlivened.with eye-opening details. Reb Hirsh Michel returned home, very weak. He tried • Informed with a Jewish awareness. to prepare himself for the morning prayers-to no avail. • Brought home with Torah-based conclusions-dealing In exhaustion, Reb Hirsh Michel collapsed. with evol1Jtion. time theories, and more. He awoke just as the first streams of light diffused Chlnuch Publications over Har Habayis-the Temple Mount. His attendants 418 12th Street Lakewood, N.J. 08701 had just arrived and he motioned for them to don him in (201) 363-3980 his tallis and tefillin. Reb Hirsh Michel tried to concen­ Please send me ___ trate so that he could pray at sunrise as usual, but he copies of OUR MIRACU­ could barely move his lips. Somehow, he mustered the LOUS WORLD @ $3.95 per copy, plus 60¢ for post­ strength and even stood for the Shemoneh Esrei. age and handling (add 30¢ After davening, an attendant brought him a drink of for each additional vol­ water, but he could not even murmur the blessing. He ume) in U.S. Canada and overseas: Add 80¢; 60¢ for motioned to the attendant to say the bracha and he drew each additional volume. the cup to his lips. After numerous attempts, it was clear Name ______that he was not able to swallow. Address _____ Early that Thursday morning, every yeshiva and Talmud Torah in Battei Machse was storming the gates City of Heaven with their prayers and Tehillim, and delega­ State. Zip ----- tions were dispatched to all of the holy places to offer prayers on Reb Hirsh Michel's behalf.

14 The Jewish Observer I October 1983 strength and gestered, to make his last will. Those pres­ ent could not understand what he wanted, and this afflicted Reb Hirsh Michel with even more pain. Sunday morning, Parshas Ki Savo, a doctor exarnined him and summoned his students. All of Jerusalem poured into Battei Machsa. A Chazan led the crowd in responsive Tehillim on behalf of the "Yerushalaimer Tzaddik," while minyanim were dispatched to the Kosel and other sacred places. After hours of Tehillim, the Chazan suddenly fell silent. The sea of humanity started breaking into waves to allow an old man wearing a black silk robe to get through. Ninety year old Rabbi Shmuel Salant, the ven­ erable Rav of Jerusalem, who no longer set foot out of his own house, had also come to participate in the pray­ ers. Reb Shmuel instructed those present to join him in changing Reb Hirsh Michel's name to "Yehoshua Zvi Michel Chaim.": "O trustful healer, send recovery and compassion, kindness and mercy to the poor spirit and soul of Yehoshua Zvi Michel ben Raitzeh Golda .... Even if it has been decreed ... that he die from this illness, changing his name can alter the decree. He is no longer who he was; just as his name was changed so also may his verdict be changed ... rne'alta va'ad olam, Amen sela! 0 But it was too late. Yerushalayim's greatest scholars and lzaddikim had all crowded into the Shapiro home. With broken hearts and

Marker on s s grave. By Friday his flagging condition deteriorated even NEW FROM FELDHEIM more. At Shacharis, a shamash had to turn the pages of the Siddur for him. ONCE UPON As evening approached, his attendants changed his clothing into the all-white apparel he customarily wore AMERICA on Shabbos. Although literally on his death-bed, he by somehow gathered the stamina to pray standing up for Stirna Deutsch SUverman the first three and the last three blessings of the Friday night Shemoneh Esrei. After davening, his students carried him to the dining 10 EXCITING STORIES full of everyday table where someone made Kiddush for him. He made happenings, and peopled with wonderful, several unsuccessful attempts at tasting the wine. At everyday heroes and heroines in schools "Hamolzi," Reb Hirsh Michel could not even move his and on the highways; in grocery stores and teeth. They tried dipping bread crumbs into the soup so in realty offices; in elevators and apartment that it would be easy to swallow-but this also was of no houses. avail. Desperate to perform at least one milzva at the 10 exciting stories about young American Shabbos table, Reb Hirsh Michel gestured for his Siddur. Jews trying to put the laws and lessons of the At every Sabbath meal he sang Askinu Seudasa: "Prepare Torah into practice. the feast of perfect faith ... prepare the feast of the king ... this is the feast of ... the Presence ... come feast 10 exciting stories to make you laugh, cry, with it ...."He glanced into the Siddur for a few seconds, and think. 156 pages his eyes welled with tears and then hinted for them to 96 East Broad"'"ay hardcover $6.95 New York, N.Y. 10002 carry him back to bed. • (2121925-s1ao softcover $4.95 Shabbos morning Reb Hirsh Michel remained in bed asking for neither his tallis nor his Siddur. Everyone in Jerusalem now knew how serious the situation was . ... After Shabbos he gathered his last ounce of faltering

The Jewish Observer I October 1983 15 .. -

unmatched fervor, they said Shir Hamaalos as their tears drowned out their cracked voices. With the awful reali­ zation that they were losing their master, they cried out" Shtma Yisroel" ... "Hashem Hu HaElokim"-"Aleinu When you leshabei'ach" -At high noon the sun dimmed, and the great light of Israel was extinguished. On 12 Elul, 5666 (1906); the Sephardi and Ashkenazi careenou Rabbis issued a moratorium on work in Jerusalem, and all yeshivos and chadorim were dismissed, to attend the tzaddik's funeral.

toseive Key to Greatness finest While preparing Reh Hirsh Michel's body for the funeral, a strange copper key was discovered in his Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov hand, No one had ever seen it before or had any idea Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through which door it unlocked. 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and One person present remembered that when Cha­ kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Under the strict Rabbinical supervision of cham Sasson Persaido, the head of Beit Ke! Chassidim K.'hal Adas Jeshurun, New York. Yeshiva died, a similar copper key was found in his Haolam, the quality you'll keep enjoying. hand, "Rav Nachum Levi of Shadik," someone else recalled, "also had such a key on his body when he passed away." But then, too, its significance was a mystery. When Rabbi Shmuel Salant later made a condolence visit to the Shapiro home, he felt obliged to reveal Haolam exactly how great a loss Jewry has suffered with Reh THE MOST TRUSTED NAME Hirsh Michel's passing: "When the holy Rav Nachumof IN CHOLOVYISKOEL CHEESE Shadik came across the Midrash that says that there is a special hidden place on earth where G-d moans His exiled Kingdom, he began to cry. If the A-mighty has a specific place to weep over the galus, then certainly we too should designate a secret place to pray for the resto­ ration of the Divine Kingdom. "Adjacent to the Spring of Shiloach, where Rabbi Yishmael the High Priest used to immerse himself, is a skeleton structure within two inner courtyards, hidden from the public eye, Reh Nachum designated this ruin to be the hiding place of Yerushalayim shel Ma'alah and had a locksmith prepared a lock that could only be opened by special copper keys, These keys were entrusted to a group of men who had sanctified their bodies and puri­ fied their sight from an early age. In all of Yerushalayim shel Ma'alah, only thirteen tzaddidim were deemed worthy of possessing such keys, and Rav Yehoshua Zvi Michel Shapiro was the most deserving of all!" .:.T.

l'ah :Or1hodoXy Published weekly 97, Stamford Hill, London, N. 16, England Annual subscription Airmail $48,00, Surface Mail $25.00 Write now f.,...ymw free lJudaism, even the Unimpressed, she claimed that was hardly a feminists agree that within the sphere of home and Divine occupation, and that she, too, could do ii-for family, the Jewish woman is not only respected, but she owned many slaves and could pair them off with pre-eminent, and the home is probably the central institution in Orthodox Judaism, in many ways even little difficulty. Rabbi Akiva warned her not lo think more important than the synagogue. it was so easy: "JI is as difficult for Him as dividing What, then, does the Orthodox Jewish woman do if the Red Sea." she treasures the idea of the Jewish home as a "minia­ Nevertheless, she immediately went about pairing ture Sanctuary" as the Rabbis call it, if she seeks union off her slaves. The next day, they appeared before with a husband, a union which according to the Torah brings the very Divine Presence to dwell between them, her-one with a cracked forehead, another with·an if she sees the mad chase for worldly power, prestige, eye knocked out, another with a broken leg. "What's and self-aggrandizement as ultimately far less meaning­ the matter with you?" she asked them. They imme­ ful than the intimacy of a relation with a man also diately began bickering: "I don't want him," one committed to a higher ideal, to the service of G-d and female said; "I don't want her," another male said, fellow man? And yet, despite her best efforts, she has and so on. Forthwith she sent lo Rabbi Akiva and not found him? professed: "There is no god like your G-d and your The Orthodox Scenario Torah is true. Whal you told me is quite correct" (Bereishis Rabba 88.4). In many Orthodox communities, the scenario may be as follows: One by one, she sees her friends become Times Aren't A-Changing engaged and married with shouts of "Maze! Tov! Maze! Tov!" Engagement parties (the Vort), and weddings take Things have not changed much since the days of the place where well-meaning married women and friends Roman woman. With the large and ever-increasing come up to her, pitying look her in the eye, sigh, and number of Jewish singles on the contemporary Ameri­ intently say, "Im yirtzah HaShem by you,"-that is, "G-d can scene, it should be even more understandable today willing, you too should find a husband soon." As time why Divine time and effort must be expended on behalf goes by, the looks become more pitying, and sometimes of the unmarried. Yet there is plenty cause for anxiety contain a hint of annoyance, as if to say, "Well, what's when one looks around and sees how slow people on taking you so long?" She might even find herself at her earth are to take their cue from Divine concern. friends' wedding seated at the special table reserved for In most Jewish communities, there are ever-growing "unmarried girls" instead of seated with her married numbers of Jewish singles-be they those who have not friends. There is a kind of cruel but realistic logic in this. yet married, divorcees, widows, or widowers-whose For she notices that as soon as her friends marry, they difficulties, loneliness, and pain are, to a large extent, seem to enter another realm of existence, having "grad­ unnoticed. While the experience of loneliness is com- uated" to the circle of"the married women." They sud­ Dr. Handelman is an Assistant Professor of English and Jewish Studies at the denly acquire a new status in the community, are no University of Maryland. She has published sroeral books and articles in her field. longer "girls," but "'women," and have little time for This is her first appearance in these pages. unmarried friends. After all, their husbands are now the

The Jewish Observer I October 198 3 17

' ,- ..' focus of their lives, and they are struggling to adjust to few people in the community who are shadchans-not their new mates, set up a house, work. There is less and professional matchmakers, but good souls who do it out less to share together. The single woman becomes more of a sense of obligation to the unmarried, who empa­ isolated socially; she does not want to intrude herself on thize, and who consider it an important mitzva. But her old friends, and has problems making new ones, for sometimes she wonders what they must think of her to the other single girls are much younger than she. Well­ have matched her up with some of the men she has gone meaning friends begin to tell her, "You know, you're not out with. "Well, what does it hurt to try," they respond. getting any younger" and "You know, nobody's perfect; "You never know." But it does hurt. For each buildup you have to compromise. You can't have everything. raises hopes that this could be the one. He and she are Why don't you settle?" She wonders if they would give not going out for a light-hearted evening together, but the same advice to their own daughters. specifically for the purpose of deciding if they want to If she does not live with her family, she may begin to marry each other. It can be tense-they probe and dread Shabbos and the holidays, once a source of joy to explore each other's characters and psyches, spend her. For she will be the one dutifully invited toa meal­ hours intensely talking, after which she comes home if people remember-and the warmth, intimacy, and drained. How much longer, she wonders, can she fullness of their homes can underscore her emptiness endure this? and loneliness. But she must be careful not to appear too depressed-for then she will be unattractive, and who Moving Away To Nowhere will find her a match? She painfully drags herself to the All of this applies in the best of situations, in a tightly­ knit Orthodox community. If she decides to move away Subscribe, Renew or Give from the community to another part of the city, or if she The Jewish Observer now and save. lives in an area where the Jewish community is weaker than in certain parts of New York, it is even harder. The e One Year/$15.00 (for ten issues) "Modern Orthodox" communities of young profes­ •Two Years/$27.00 (a $40 value) sional Jews with whom she might have an affinity are •Three years/$36.00 (a $60 value) even more couple-oriented than the older traditional (Add $1 per year for overseas subscriptions) Orthodox or Chassidic communities-and far more Clip and uve susceptible to American suburban values than the The Jewish Observer inner-city Jewish communities. As the religious Jewish 5 Beekman Street I New York, N.Y. 10038 community becomes more and more Americanized, it D One Year $15.00 0 Two Years $27.00 can paradoxically adopt a specific kind of non-Jewish wor­ D Three Years only $36.00 ship of home and family as insular citadels. This empha­ Send magazine to: sis on home and family appears to be traditionally Jewish, but in fact is not. The traditional Jewish home was not an enclosed castle: "Yosay ben Yochanan of Jerusalem said: Let your house be wide open [for guests]; treat the poor as members of your household" (Avos 1:5); "Yosay ben Yoezer of Tzredah said: Let your house be a meet­ City ------'>•tate/Zip•------ing place for Sages; sit in the dust at their feet and drink From: in" (Avos 1:4). The Jewish home ideally was a place open to all, a place where love, property, and wealth were Name------shared with all in need, where one Jew found suste­ nance and succor in another, regardless of financial, Address------social, or marital status. City ------...:>tate/Zip·------And What of Special People? o Enclose gift card 0 Bill me: $ __ D Enclosed: $ __ Overseas : via airfreight-$20. And what of the widow or divorcee who suddenly 0 Payment Enclosed finds herself alone? In addition to the pain of loss, she D Charge my credit card: 0 Master card O Visa suffers a sudden diminution of status. It is well-known Account No. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD that the figure of a widow can represent a psychic threat. She embodies the fear that other women have of Expiration date DD (month) DD (yeat) Signature ______being left alone; she is an unpleasant reminder. In society at large, widows often find themselves social We are sorry, but due to high bank charges, all payments outcasts-old coupled friends no longer invite them. must be made in US dollars, drawn on a US bank. The widow can consciously or unconsciously be per­ ceived by other women as a competitor for their own

18 The Jewish Observer I October 1983

.' - 1 < husbands. Precisely when widows and divorcees need the needs of the lonely, think of a fellow Jew; the Tal­ the most support, they get the least. mud declares: "All Jews are responsible one for the In general, couples do not think of socializing with other.'' It tells her that each Jew is considered a "minia­ anyone but other couples-there is comfort in con­ ture world," that each person is so important that if you formity. On the other hand, in an extremely Orthodox save one life, it's accounted to you as if you've saved the or Chassidic community, where free socializing with whole world. Is she not as full a person, as important to members of the opposite sex is generally kept to a the community, as a woman who is married? Surely one minimum and social life revolved around the syna­ has to give priority to one's family-but for a Jew, one's gogue, the family, and the Shabbos and holidays-not own family is always seen as part of the larger House of dinner parties and urban night life-the single woman Israel-and is she not also a full-fledged member of that may more conscientiously be invited to share with House? others. If the young Orthodox single woman is a ba'alas Time For Outside Help I teshuva, that is, one who did not grow up observant, but 4 decided to "return" to the traditional observance of It is difficult for the single woman to keep asking her Judaism, her problems may be further compounded. friends to help her. She should not, in fact, have to She may have an extensive secular education, a career, resort to either pleading or silent despair. The Orthodox and many worldly interests which others in the Or­ community should be as sensitive and attuned to this thodox community may not share, and she may find problem as it is to the proper education of its children, or little in common with them. In the social stratification of to the financial maintenance of its institutions-and the Modern Orthodox community, single people-even if they are professionally well-established-are, in ef­ Sara Sche'nirer Seminary fect, relegated to the lower end of the scale. And she Registration For Regular may find it hard to share in conversation revolving around car pools, husbands, shopping, the problems of EVENING SESSIONS local day schools and yeshivas, pregnancy, and so forth. and for the new In such suburban communities, families can be insu­ lated and isolated each in their own homes with none of NEVE YERUSHALAYIM the fluidity of the streets that characterizes the older Jewish communities. The single woman may tend to PROGRAM become a more or less a forgotten accident, who now of Sara Schenirer Seminary and then merits an invitation for Shabbos. And perhaps is now in progress she too represents a certain kind of threat to some The Seminary has added another dirT)ension to married woman. For she, after all, is still free and inde­ its activities, with the incorporation of the Neve pendent, unencumbered by children, diapers, and bot­ Yerushalayim program to serve the student who tles. Moreover, the singles will receive notices about has a less than formal background, but is their synagogue dues which tell them the rate is so motivated ·and anxious to learn and grow in much uper family"; and announcements about events Torah values. A varied and interesting program where prices are always given "per couple." has been created and staffed by those who understand the needs and the nature of this Bar the Common Singles Scene student, Inquiry about either of these programs by phont or mail: In these communities in general, there are usually not Sara Schenlrer Seminary • Evening division 4622141h Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y.11204 1 any people who take it upon themselves to perform the Tel. (212) 633-8557-8 role of shadchan. Because she is Orthodox, though, she Rabbi M. Metsels, Mn. R. Cohen, will not drive to the various events organized for singles Dean Principal~Eve. Division on Friday nights. And she will certainly not go to the Singles Bars. She will scan the Jewish newspapers: "Orthodox Singles Weekend in Atlantic City Including a Saturday Night of Gambling at the Boardwalk Casino": "Shabbos Bereishis Disco Evening." These, she fears, Be sure to notify us in ad­ are just as bad as the Singles Bars. She may ask her r~. vance so that your copie~ friends if they know anyone; they will symphathize, but . ~~V will continue to reach you. often claim, "No, we just don't know anyone." N~ The U.S. Postal Service will And she wonders. The Torah she loves constantly adjures its followers to "be kind to the widow and -it...O not forward magazines to :S:_ your new address. orphan," be hospitable to the stranger, be sensitive to ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_;

The Jewish Observer I October 1983 19 should as aggressively pursue action to help the single treated with dignity and respect-the dignity and as it does any action important to building up the Jewish respect the Torah tell us that every Jew deserves. people. Perhaps the rabbinical committees of each major city who oversee such functions as kashrus and the Before G-d: Everyone Stands Alone mikvaos, should also gather together to discuss and for­ mulate action on this problem, try to institute functions For ultimately, the neglect and insensitivity to the where Jewish Orthodox singles could meet in a dignified Jewish single is a symptom of a malaise in the Jewish way, or awaken rabbis of local synagogues to the need community at large. Every Jew stands both before G-d to deal with the problem and sensitize their congrega­ and before man. The Orthodox Jew is particularly tions. Perhaps intercity rabbinic Unes of communica­ aware that before G-d, ultimately everyone is alone, is tion should be set up to aid those seeking marital single; that the ultimate definition of a Jew is in relation partners. to the Creator and the Torah, not to one's spouse, or This course could just as well be adopted by non­ children, or car pool. Orthodox communities, where the proportion of sin­ "Do not regard anyone with contempt, and do not gles is even higher, and where the loneliness and frus­ reject anything, for there is no man who does not have tration of singles can drive them from the Jewish fold his hour and no thing which does not have its place" altogether. In fact, in recent years, non-Orthodox (Avos 4:3). The single woman is no less a person, no less communities have been far more sensitive to this prob­ a Jew than her married counterpart. She stands as fully lem. A Conservative synagogue in Washington D.C., before G-d as any other member of her congregation. A has special "Singles Services" which attract 1,200 young congregation of Jews aware of its standing before G-d Jews on Friday nights. Perhaps both the non-Orthodox ought not need to be made sensitive to the needs and and "Modern" Orthodox could well benefit from the feelings of the singles in its midst, for the practice of traditional idea of the shadchan, the match-maker who gemilas chassadim-1oving kindness-should inevitably works to investigate the tastes and backgrounds of dif­ lead it to be aware of others, and act towards them with ferent parties and introduces them on a one-to-one respect and dignity. And a true act of kindness is not one basis. In fact, in recent years, many enterprising busi­ which makes the beneficiary feel patronized. The He­ ness people have set up high-class and sophisticated brew word for" charity" is tzeddaka, which is more prop­ 11Dating Services" in the larger urban centers, promising erly translated as "what is right"-simply the right for $300-$500 to introduce one to a "a special friend." thing to do, an act to be expected, not a gracious favor This is simply a variation of the old Jewish shadchan at an bestowed upon some poor unfortunate. The single inflated cost. Even if one can't help in finding mates, women, be they unmarried, widows, or divorcees, do then at least singles, widows, and divorcees should be not need to be pitied or condescended to; they should be made to feel as important to the community as anyone else, for in fact they are, and they have much to offer.

Free to Give Quality Time Can you be a guest Single women, for example, may have more free time to devote to communal endeavors, and the Jewish at your own party? community can ill afford to ignore this reservoir of skill When you expect 400 your parties than any and talent. It should not be automatically assumed that or 500 people to a Wed­ other Glatt Kosher only"established" married women should be in positions ding or Bar Mitzvah it's caterer in New York. ofleadership and authority. Single women can be just as really hard to relax. For over 20 years land active in planning synagogue events, in teaching, in You worry whether thousands of parties) ex­ there's enough food; perienced New Yorkers outreach, and so forth. The larger issue of the extent to >Mletheryou reallythOught have called the most ex­ which the woman's role should be "public", of course, of every detail; you worry perienced caterer. At. will arise here. For instance, in some communities about the ceremony; you Leonard's of Great Neck, local Synagogues. all lead- g women sit on the boards of synagogues; in others the~ just worry! do not. But there is no reason why an unmarried REIJ\XI You don't have ing Hotels and elegant < to worry. We have more Dinner Parties at Home. ~ woman cannot be as effective a synagogue or yeshiva experience In running board member as a married woman. Beyond the realm of the synagogue, there is the network of social services that any fairly large Jewish comi:nunity organizes-for the elderly, the orphaned, immigrants, the poor, the handicapped, etc. In fact, his­ torically, unmarried women deeply committed to Juda­ Please call Moshe Pruzansky for an appointment HERITAGE CATERERS, INC. ism have made extraordinary accomplishments in this ··------1(212) 438-2700 ______, area. The case of Sara Schenirer, of course, is an out-

20 The Jewish Observer I October 1983 standing example of a devoted, unmarried Jewish has given her, and not to withdraw, mope, and go to woman who saved an entire generation of Jewish waste because she has not found a suitable partner, or women for Judaism in Europe before World War II, and because of social stigma. To take a small example, there who erected an educational system for women that is no reason why she herself cannot fulfill the mitzva of today is the foundation of religious communities all hospitality and invite her married friends over for a over the world (the Bais Yaakov schools). And let us not Shabbos or Yorn Tov meal. Of the 613 milzvos, only a very forget Schvester Selma of Shaarei Tzeddek Hospital in few depend on one's marital status. Jerusalem, who exemplified nursing as a lofty form of In other words, not only does the Jewish community chessed for three quarters of a century. need to make a place for her, she needs to actively create Women who are professionally trained and may work a place for herself. The suggestions given above are only in the non-Jewish world also have much to offer when a beginning. Each synagogue, each community needs to they volunteer their skills to Jewish organizations as reflect upon this problem and surely will find ways in lawyers, doctors, computer operators, administrators, which to more fully integrate its singles. And each researchers and so forth. It is unfortunate that these unmarried woman needs to reflect upon her self-image women often feel more comfortable in the non-ob­ and her potential, and try to live her life to the fullest. ·Servant Jewish world, or in the non.Jewish world, Finally, the status of the Jewish single woman is one where their marital status is not a "badge of shame." of the barometers of the health of a religious commun­ There are many instances in which older unmarried ity. It is not the values of Torah which m4ke her feel women and divorcees come to feel so alienated that they anomalous; it is the departure of the Orthodox com­ leave the observant community altogether. munity from those very values which isolates the single. If G-d, who certainly has had plenty to supervise these The Single Woman'.s Responsibility past 5,000 years has been occupying Himself with the unmarried, then certainly the Rabbis and Jews of today Yet the single woman also has a responsibility to give who seek to emulate His ways can pay some attention to of herself, to develop whatever talents and skills G-d them as well. !.T.

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The Jewish Observer I October 1983 21

Why a Joy-Filled Succos? he considers himself a separate entity, unattached to G-d; but then his shortcomings are indeed shortcom­ "Vesomachla Bechagecha-And you shall rejoice on your ings, and feeling that he is missing something is a true festivals" is a milzva that applies to all three pilgrimage indication that he is genuinely lacking in an essential festivals. Of the three, we can find cause for joyful aspect of his life. (Thus, C'~IY/~:!)1-despair-is a syn­ celebration on Pesach and Shavuos, for both mark onym for idolatry, for its source is alienation from G-d.) events that were central to Israel's emergence and con­ Not so the person whose life is informed with faith, and tinued existence as a people-the Exodus from Egypt a keen awareness of G-d and His Divine Providence ... and the giving of the Torah. the person who recognizes that whatever travails and On Succos, however, no such monumental event problems he encounters do not occur by chance, but are occurred. Yet we are enjoined to rejoice for joy's sake; part of a Divine Plan designed for his benefit. Such a and beyond that, the holiday is described as "Zman person is a some'ach bechelko-content with his lot: not the Simchaseinu" -the time of our joy. How is one to achieve some'ach bechelko commonly misunderstood as the passive this happiness? What is to inspire it? Isn't there some­ resignation of the simple-minded, but that which is the thing forced and unnatural in picking a time and saying, joy-filled end-product of one's recognition of G-d and "now let us rejoice"? His profound ways!

The Key to "Simcha" Of Certainty and Joy

The Hebrew language is not rich in synonyms, (see There is no joy, Chazal say, like the resolution of Ibn Tibbon in his introduction to Chovos Halevovos), yet it doubt. And there is no certainty other than that which has ten words to describe happiness. The Malbim results from tying one's destiny to G-d. This, in turn, is explains that simcha is distinguished from the other the key to one of the principles of Chassidus expressed by terms that express happiness in that simcha is constant as Rabbi Nachman of Breslav: "It is a great milzva lo always opposed to gil, for instance, which denotes a sudden (/amid) be in a slate of simcha." This does not refer to the spurt of joy. The Gaon of Vilna as well as the Malbim "Valium" prescribed by modern-day therapists as a explain further that simcha is the inner state of happiness means of divesting oneself of his anxieties so as to better rather than its outward expression. cope with life, but to an ultimate spiritual goal in one's The Mezhritzer Maggid was known to say: "One of constant ascent in emuna and avoda-faith and Divine the three things that one should learn to emulate from a service .... This tamid of constant simcha is an outgrowth child's behavior is that a child is always happy." Why is of the constancy of always being aware of G-d's pres­ this so? The Maharal explains that simcha describes the ence: Shivisi Hashem . .. /amid. The joy of life as prescribed emotion that one feels when he is complete and does not by Chassiduswas not achieved by closing one's eyes to the lack anything, while sasson is the joy one experiences for darkness, but by perceiving one's place in the world by gaining something, or achieving some sort of renewal. the light at the end of the tunnel-the light emanating Simcha is constant, but sasson is only momentary, for as from awareness of G-d. soon as the novelty is gone one needs yet another event or experience to inspire another spurt of joy. l Birth of Despair Before a child's life is clouded with doubts, or frus­ 1 trated with unfulfilled drives and ambitions, he is When was despondency born? Two events produce always happy for he does not lack anything. But this an obfuscation of G-d's presence, and thereby bring state does not offer us an ideal to strive for. To be without drives or ambitions is to remain a child all one's about confusion and unhappiness. One of these is life. How then does one attain happiness while being the sins that the individual commits. The pasuk says, involved in the vicissitudes of life? Life is full of needs, "C:l".l"~1'.l"~17'1~l'i c:i'ni:iiy "Your sins created a barrier and full of challenges, which by their very nature create between Me and you." In addition to the sin per se, one's i vacuums to be filled. actions also draw a veil between himself and his Crea­ « tor. This alienation from G-d produces despair. I Joy And Closeness to G-d In addition, a specific event produced a general hes/er panim-Adam's eating from the Tree of Knowledge. The source of the happiness described as"simcha" lies The word a/zav (despair) is used for the first time in in enhancing one's awareness of Hashem and His Prov­ Torah in regard to this occurrence. Moreover, death, idence, for with this awareness, one feels more com­ the father of all sorrow, was introduced to the world on plete and achieves a greater degree of simcha. A person is that day. Until he sinned, Adam had been enjoying the beset with shortcomings and frustrations only because state of "C1PC 1iy )l~ 1"1':l' 1ncru~-As your Creator made you joyful in Gan Eden ...." Rabbi Scheinman, a freq~nt contributor to these pages, studies in a Jerusalem The radical change from joyful awareness of G-d to kollel. hester panim and sorrow had ramifications in nature as

The Jewish Observer I October 1983 23

.J - I' ' well. Until Adam's sin, trees produced fruit swiftly and lively, and produces thorns and thistles instead of fruit. flawlessly, and mankind bore children without pain. When success does come, it seems attributable to man G-d's command to be fruitful was dearly manifest in the and his control of the elements rather than to Divine entirety of creation: the growth of a fruit on a tree was Providence. Man's task now is to labor to tame nature, the result of the same command as "let there be a tree." whilst uncovering the word of G-d within stubborn, Just as G-d's word produced a tree effortlessly and contrary nature. flawlessly, so too did the tree produce fruit. And nature as a whole functioned in this same manner. Close Encounter On Yorn Yov After Adam sinned, the word of G-d in Creation became obfuscated, and nature was perceived as a self­ The Yomim Tovim-the three pilgrimage festivals­ contained, independent system, removed from its mark periods of time set aside to restore simcha and gilui source-the word of G-d that animates it. From that panim (Divine awareness) to the world. One is com­ time onward, Man has been required to labor to bring manded "to come and see and to be seen before G-d­ I forth the fruits of nature. Often, nature responds nega- Lifnei Hashem." This involves coming to Jerusalem, the source of joy for the entire world )'1Kn ;, lP1lPO-the geographic spot where, more than anywhere else, one has an intense awareness of the Presence of the Shechina, HOME and experiences His gilui panim. By the same token, the Yamin Tovim, following the agrarian cycle, offer opportunities to compensate for ATTENDANTS Adam Harishon's sin, and to bring man back in touch with his Creator through nature. Pesach, Chag HaAviv-the needed for spring festival-is when the Omer is brought, releasing the new grain crop from the prohibition of chadash. Shavuos is Chag Habikkurim, the time when the first­ HOUSEKEEPING AND fruits offerings can be brought; the Shtei Halechem are also offered, ushering in a new season of meal offerings, PERSONAL CARE by permitting the new grain crop on the mizbe'ach. And Succos, the Chag HaAsif-the Harvest Festival-marks the time that, at the peak of bounty, man declares for the himself a mere tenant in G-d's world, taking shelter in the succa that is roofed with p'soles-harvest wastes. Rather than an obscuring veil, the natural flow of the DISABLED AND seasons becomes a vehicle for contact with G-d.

HOMEBOUND Two-Fold Celebration

Thus Succos has within it a two-fold element of Sim­ good pay and benefits cha and of lifnei Hashem. On the one hand, it concludes the process of rectifying the damage done by Adam HaRishon, Boro Park, Bensonhurst and removing the general hester Panim by means of appearing Flatbush Area before G-d (lifnei Hashem) on Yorn Tov. Moreover, Suc­ cos marks the end of the Teshuva season when the indi­ full-time live in positions only vidual is cleansed of his own aveiros and transcends his personal hester Panim through the "Lifnei Hashem tit'haru­ purify yourself before G-d" of Yorn Kippur. The special celebration of Simchas Beis Hasho'eva• ex­ Project 0 HR Inc. presses this two-fold joy. Generally all korbanos reflect a degree of hester Panim: We take an object that is seem­ ingly ours, and offer it as a "gift" to G-d. The burning of (Office for Homecare Referral) the korban demonstrates that the material shell of matter is disintegrated and the spiritual essence rises upward. Were we to realize "!.£Hashem Haarelz Um'lo'o-the Earth 1308-40th Street and all that fills it is the L-rd's" in its fullness-that

Brooklyn, NY 11218 '*When water is poured into the wine trough of the altar, amidst singing and rejoicing, which reaches a peak that is unrivaled 853-2700 throughout the year.

24 The Jewish Observer I October 1983

- .4\'!itr.- .. - everything material exists wholly by virture of G-d's water to grow crops or nuture animals1 which in turn words, then it would simply not be necessary to demon­ are consumed by fire on the mizbe'ach, to return them to strate the spirituality inherent in all creation through their essence .... korbanos. Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner;'T once summed it up at a Chol On Succos, we consummate the rectification of the Hamoed Succos celebration with one succinct sentence: 11 At hesler Panim that pervades our existence, and we draw Simchas Beis Hasho'eva we draw from the source, and pour water, which is the basic element of life**, from a spring. back to the source; one continuous flow without inter­ We then pour it onto the mizbe'ach-the altar-where it ruption in the middle." ~'I! flows directly back to the same spring from which it was ••while certain anaerobic bacteria can survive without oxygen, drawn. We bypass the laborious process of using the nothing is known to survive without water.

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26 The Jewish Observer I Ocfober 1983

L Letters to the Edi1or after him to review, now he nudges me to learn with him more and more. Along with his advances in /imud have also come strides in midos and temperament, which I must also attribute to his Rebbe. I know he j feels very close to the Rebbe and the 1-m' hashpa'ah (influences) he receives is endless. The Rebbe's innovative me­ Put-Downs: Send Up After the Put Down thods of teaching have peaked Shra­ of No Significance to the Target To the Editor: gie's interest and involved him deeper in Torah and Yiddishkeit . ... I To the Editor: Avraham Mayer's article on "The I Although I agree with the basic Effective Use of Put-Downs" (April Many are the times I find him say­ point of Mr. Mayer's article on "Put '83) was right on target. As a me­ ing Tehillim for various reasons. And Downs" (JO, April 1983), and hope lamed's wife, I can see the scars of very often he has reminded me of that it makes a positive impression many a cruel remark on my hus­ mitzvos. I am kept on my toes as far as on those who use put downs, I band's face when he returns home learning, and for that I am thankful. would like to comment. from the battles of the boardroom. Improvement in interpersonal af­ For one thing, in using the prag­ All the more do I appreciate a kind fairs, _in organization, in budgeting matic argument that praise gets word directed to him, such as the time ... I could go on and on. results, Mr. Mayer is encouraging enclosed letter which lit up our life Suffice it to say that my wife and I the kind of manipulative attitude the day it arrived in the mail. are very grateful to the Rebbe and that he is trying to discourage. Peo­ May other parents of school chil­ thank him many times over-for ple should not be treated as things, dren read and emulate: (See below) the times, caring, love and devotion even for good purposes. Praise must NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST he has shown-and the ways it has be sincere. benefited our son, Shragie. For another thing, a victim read­ Dear Rabbi G., We pray that our Shragie may ing that he has a "right to be recog­ I have been meaning to speak to always be a light for Kial Yisraeol and nized and acknowledged" may feel the Rebbe recently, but have been the world, and that the Rebbe con­ cheated and abashed if he isn't. very busy. However, Shavous, as tinue kindling many more lights. All of this insinuates that a man's intrin­ well as the lesson of ~1ton n;);i (grati­ sic worth is based on the evaluation of others, tude) to be learned from the mitzva of A GRATEFUL PARENT rather than dependence on G-d. bikkurim (first fruits brought to the West Hempstead, As long as people appreciate the Bais HaMikdosh), have put things in Long Island IN. Y.) Tze/em Elokim (G-d's image) in each their proper perspective for me. other as well as in themselves (and Therefore, I am taking time out of a I'd guess that those who use put busy schedule to write the Rebbe __...OTLI 11---. downs lack an appreciation of the this letter-thanking him for genu­ lI Tze/em E/okim in themselves and oth­ inely fulfilling the role of shaliach TO JERUSALEM ers as much as those who allow (agent) for me, in regard to the In time of illness, surgery or themselves to feel put down), they mitzva of chinuch. crisis, special prayers will be should feel no need to put others I have noticed tremendous growth recited al the Western Wall and down nor should they ever feel put and development in Shragie, in his al our Yeshiva in Jerusalem. down. learning., and most importantly in CALL 24 HOURS (Mrs.) HANNAH ROSENTHAL his cheishek (desire) for learning. Monsey, N. Y. Whereas previously I had to keep (212) 871-4111 A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE OF Come To Formerly Kosher King The American Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charity KOLEL AMERICA 132 Nassau St.• N.Y., N.Y. 10038 ~r£~~t'Y To Order Our Pushka, "A Segula For Good Health, Happiness And Whitehead Ha11 Brooklyn College Success", Call (212) 871-4111.

The Jewish Obseruer I October 1983 27 -

@ ?7 thought of his father, the great gaon Shneur had as yet attained the "Reb and tzaddik, Reb Aharon Kotler 'I'll. Aharon look." Remembering Reb Shneur Kotler For me, then, these words, espe­ Unfortunately, Reb Shneur never 7"11-0ne Year Later cially the first quotation, appeared attainted that Reb Aharon look, for to take on a rather special and tragic To the Editor: Hashem chose to take him from us meaning. too early! Standing outside the fence of the I had been student at the Rabbi Yeshiva Toras Emes-Kamenitz 11iJ n'T '11' May his memory be a Jacob Joseph School for sixteen blessing. playground last year, wedged in years, from first grade through semi­ among the huddled masses at Reb YITZCHOK BOMRIND cha. Reb Aharon 7"l! would make a Brooklyn, N. Y. Shneur's 7"l! funeral, I was tor­ yearly visit to our yeshiva during mented upon recalling some of his which he would deliver one of his more frequently used quotations Lakewood: inimitable, famous shiurim, often fol­ Setting the Record Straight and an experience I had in my youth. lowed by an appeal for funds for ' ~.., c'7nn - ll"K 17nn' c7IJ 1K Chinuch Atzmai. The shuir was un­ To the Editor: Surely man should conduct himself derstood by few; the appeal by all. I would like to take this opportu­ in His likeness (Psalms 39:7) One had but to look at those burn­ nity to set some historical records 11ll' n111civn 7)1J!V C1K J'CK' 0'11)17 ing eyes and realize the urgency of straight-since The Jewish Observer One should always believe that the the campaign. serves as a guide to much that has source of the lecture is before him Shortly after Reb Aharon passed happened and is happening in Jew­ n'nn c'i'\y; cn;nli C't:i~n 'O' 'ii Vi1' away, some of us were looking at old ish life. n""ra'Jc~'fnn- journals which had appeared in con­ Harav Ahron Kotler 7"l! was not The Lord knows the days of men junction with our yeshiva's annual the founder of the Kolle! of Lake­ of moral integrity and their .inherit­ dinner. We were somewhat astound­ wood .. "Lakewood" -that is, Beis ance shall be for all eternity (Psalms ed to find photographs of the sainted Medrash Govoha-was the conti­ 37:18). dean of our yeshiva, Rabbi Dr. Hillel nuation of the Yeshiva founded and During my visits to Lakewood Halevi Weiss 7":>! standing next to inspired by my husband, the late and the semester I spent there, I Reb Shneur. We thought for a mo­ Hershel Genauer 7"11, and his chave­ often heard Reb Shneur 7"l! use ment and realized this was quite rim who were: Rabbi Mordechai these words when discussing a impossible. Rabbi Weiss had been Yaffe, Rabbi Yitzchok Hoffman, and gone for too many years. Reb Rabbi Shmuel Schechter. These Shneur was too young when these yungeleit had returned from Kollelim photographs had been taken. How in Europe, and having been blessed could they have been standing next with either partnerships in business to each other addressing the stu­ or supported by their families (as dents! Finally, we figured out the my husband ':>"l! was), they sought story behind these _photographs. to build this concept in America­ They had been taken in the late the foundation of which was laid in 1940's or very early so's when Reb the early 1940's and started in White Aharon was still a relatively young Plains. Harav Ahron Kotler was man. The similarity between Reb taken by these yungeleit to be the Aharon and Reb Shneur in their Rosh HaYeshiva and it was Rabbi younger years was uncanny. Mordechai Yaffe who went to Lake­ ll"K 17nn' C':>lJ 1K wood and arranged the purchase of "Surely man should conduct him­ the original building-the Yeshiva self in His likeness." was already in operation with a We looked thoughtfully at those dorm, a kitchen, and a Beis Medrash photographs and observed, "You building with such as Rabbi Osher know, when Reb Shneur reaches Katz, Rabbi Hershel Kaplan, and Reb Aharon's age, he will probably Rabbi Simcha Zeise! Levovitz as look like Reb Aharon as we knew students. There were a number him." more, but I do not remember the Years passed and many photo­ names-Mr. and Mrs. A. Schreiber graphs of Reb Shneur appeared in were the managers of the dorm at the Yiddish press and numerous the time .... "Lakewood" did not other publications. I would examine come into being from a vacuum. these photographs closely and anx­ (Mrs.) Z. GENAUER iously to determine whether Reb Monsey, New York

28 The Jewish Obseroer I October 1983

-- Down With Support of tuating, with our funds, these dese­ 'Mechitza'-less Synagogues crated synagogues? We have our own synagogues in J'INEREt To the Editor: which to make our affairs. We need '-c>SfleR® You are performing an invaluable not and must not utilize the facilities l public service by making your read­ ! of these desecrated synagogues ers aware of the dangers of Conser­ because their halls are nicer and vative Judaism (cover story, Feb. '83) more smartly decorated. It is about as well as any kind of compromise of time that we all adopted some basic halachic standards. To be sure, the principles to follow. Melava Malkas, lack of mechitza, separating men and Bar Mitzva, private affairs, dinners women during ltfilla, is a major for yeshivos or for other worth­ example of such a breach, and should while institutions should not be held never be tolerated. in such places where the "Mikdash It has been related that the sainted Me' at" is desecrated by the lack of a Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman, ':>'l!, proper mechitza. refused to enter such a shul to make We are told that "Bechol makom asher an appeal for his yeshiva lest, said azkir es Shemi avo aleichu uberachlicha" (in he, they will say later "lch hub dorlen every place you mention My name I gedavenl." This is the true measure of will come to bless you). How can we a Gadol Be Yisroel, for his primary con­ ask Hashem to come to a place sideration was halachic principle where His precepts go unheeded, rather than the financial needs of where His ways are trampled under­ his yeshiva. foot by fashion and "progress," Why must we be "Nosenim yad lapo­ where He Himself is unwelcome? shim" (lend support to violators of Our mosdos Ha Torah should set the Torah) by making our simcha affairs example and carry aloft the banner and fund-raising functions in social for all to see-that this disregard for halls of synagogues where we would the principle of mechifza is 100% Pareve Serve Frozen or not offer prayer because of their wrong; something should really be At Room Temperature improper mechitza? Why must we be done to correct this serious and "Mesei'en ledevar aveira" (help the doing gross chillul Hashem. of sin) by paying for the rental of A VROHOM PINTER their facilities and thereby perpe- Brooklyn, N. Y. " Challah * Blintzes * Potato Latkes * Raw Fish " Prepared Fish "Onion Rings* Pastry Dough l I INSURANCE BROKERS & CONSULTANTS " Chopped Liver " Poultry Commercial. Industrial, Residential, Life & Health " Fully Cooked Gefilte Fish .>·' ../ .·;·-_·'c\·.· ...··<>'·· 1 ,.•• i'rt10 ~#J~1t ~~ilJ!S.ff!:!!l!:tt.

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The Jewish Observer I October 1983 29 music that combines popular and that they must be fed this polluted @ 27 rock & roll music with pesukim from pap to fill up their time? How can we Kiruv Through lefilla and Tanach? Furthermore, the give credence to this outlandish com­ Torah-Im-Music? innovators of this type of music are bination of Torah and"goyish" style very proud of this combination. entertainment and let people tell us To the Editor: They seem to feel that this will be that it will bring benefit to any Yid? I recently attended a concert of mekarev people. GILA ROSENSHEIN "Jewish" music and was most dis­ Brooklyn, N. Y. tressed by the entire situation. I Even if this is so, do we have to have not attended one of these con­ resort to disco lights and unres­ certs in quite a while and thought trained rock & roll in order to bring Lesson on the Luchos that was the reason for my shock. people to Yiddishkeit? Do they have to To the Editor: However, after careful thought, I subject the masses of religious so­ At the urging of Rabbi Yaakov decided that my disgust was not the ciety to vulgar music for any reason? Feitman (Rabbi in Teaneck, N.J.), I result of a time gap, and was tho­ Should Yeshiva bachurim be invited am writing to mention a small irony roughly justified. to sit and subject their minds to this that I noticed in the Sivan 5736 What has our Orthodox com­ very obvious intrusion? Do Bais (May 1976) issue of the JEWISH OB­ munity come to if we must resort to Yaakov girls lack productive activity SERVER: A letter on page 38 criticizes some textbooks for inaccurately You might be good enough for portraying the luchos (Tablets of the Law) as rounded on top, while a pic­ ture on the facing page shows a number of Gedolei Yisroel behind a COPE lectern bearing the symbol of a FREE APTITUDE TESTING AND familiar organization-showing the luchos as rounded at the top. PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION EDDIE STEINBERG WILL HELP YOU FIND OUT Teaneck, N.].

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30 The Jewish Observer I October 1983 News From Agudath Israel Compiled by the Office of Government and Public Affairs ···rt;it'Wo1tt.tsi',K}.I6us Rabbi Menachem Lubinsky, Director :01G~t6t¥t~oRSHrM Yeshivos Open Amidst Flurry of Legislative Activity 'lll'li'7 "ll'\:l. 'tlli'7 ~~?: --,'Piti~~r~~~:w--_., i~i'l~i"ie As the nation's 500 yeshivos and day reimbursement for immunization and sev­ Ava11a:b'Je- lit schools opened for the new school term, the eral measures that deal with the handicapped. 1.EKtJT£1 INC., elo l. Rosenberg eyes of the Jewish community will be on sev­ • The Commission on l..tgidation and Civic Action l OWest 47dfSt(eiot, !loom 702 eral legislative initiatives, both nationally and of Agudath Israel has in recent weeks vigorously New YOl'k, NS.. 10036 on the state level, according to an analysis opposed the new action plan currently being promoted (212) 719-1717 released by the Commission on Legislation by the New York State Regents, which would impose •··to Volumes on Torah, l'erek, and Civic Action of Agudath Israel of Amer­ universal education standards on both public Medrash, ~l.egilos and TalmµiJ. •· ica. In Washington, the Reagan Administra­ and nonpublic schools, An obvious response to the -Pr6Ceed_s .o(sal(!S di~_tr:ibutaj _amtsng tion has promised to redouble its efforts for widespread national crificism lrotled at public educa­ Y~ivos and--ljSed_ fbr rei)rltiting: the passage of tuition tax credits, especially tion, it seeks to addrtsS remedies which do not appear to of'volUtnts $?.$~ l'El!. VOLOl\tli of support following the U.S. Supreme Court representatives have been discussing the plan with offi­ decision in the Minnesota Mueller v. Allen cials of the New York State Education Department and MAZEL TOVI case. In several state capitols, tuition tax the Board of Regents in an effort to make them aware of deduction bills similar to the Minnesota law the concerns of the yeshiva community. will be introduced. • In other states, representatives of Agu­ CJt's a cB<>Y! • In addition, the CongrtsS will be dealing with the dath Israel have been meeting with leaders of nonpublic schools to promote their common And that means a brisl Here is the first "math and science bill" which continues to make its definitive book in English on the ceremony of way through the Congress, Agudath Israel had worked agenda: Rabbi Menachem Lubinsky, director Bris Milah. hard to include nonpublic schools in the various provi­ of Government and Public Affairs of Agu­ sions of f he bill. dath Israel of America, said that"an increased • In New York, a coalition of nonpublic awareness of the benefit of private schools to schools has already met to map out strategy society has resulted in an unprecedented for a state tuition tax deduction plan. Mem­ flurry of legislative activity." bers of the coalition have been in regular The American Agudath Israel maintains a contact with the Cuomo Administration and full staff of competent professionals and with leaders of the New York State Legisla­ volunteers who promote the legislative and ture. Agudath Israel's legislative agenda also governmental interests of yeshivos. A full includes bills which would provide school bus time staff attorney assisted by a volunteer transportation on days when public schools cadre of some 40 attorneys participate in this are dosed, increased funding for textbooks, effort. Jews Urged to Vote in Area Policy Board Elections

Jews living in designated neighborhood numbers of economically disadvantaged and development areas were urged to vote in elderly Jews." large numbers in the upcoming Area Policy According to Mr. Konstam, the Commun­ Board election on November 30', 1983, by ity Action Program provides a wide variety of Agudath Israel of America. services (housing, educational, employment, Pesach H. Konstam, director of a special youth, and senior citizens programs) to poor election office, urged members of the com­ and low income residents through a network munity; "It is imperative for the Jewish com­ of community based organizations. hardcover $10.95 munity, through its community councils, Further details on candidate petitions and schools, synagogues, and other organizations general election information can be obtained BRIS MILAH by Dr. Henry C, Romberg, to get involved in these elections inasmuch as by calling or writing Pesach H. Konstam at explores the 4,000 year old Jewish ritual. The the Area Policy Boards will be responsible for Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, author - a young Orthodox doctor as well as a practicing Mohel - highlights his authori· approving use of Community Action Pro­ New York City 10038, (212) 791-1800. tative account with lively and engaging gram funds in areas where there are large anecdotes drawn from his experience as a Mohel in Midwestern U.S.A.

You will also find invaluable advice for parents Are you going to Israel? of the newborn ... relevant medical informa· tion •.. photographs of both antique and Your visit to the Holy Land will have more meaning when you utilize modern ceremonial tools ... and more. the free touring information service available from BRIS MILAH is a fascinating link between our Toartat Department people's history and its relevance in our lives today. Aaudalh Iarael World Organization 6 96 East Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10002 5 Rechov Shomre Hakosel (opposite Kil

31 The Jewish Observer I October 1983 Agudath Israel's "Chizuk" Becomes Household Term for 30~A\\S Spritually Starved Jews Moviegoers to the motion picture, "The C\"\lNUC\"\~ Chosen," were startled to learn that they were part of a campaign by missionaries as they received misleading literature while standing in line, At subsequent showings of 11.a~ the picture, volunteers of the Agudath Israel World Organization's Chizuk-The Torah Link countered with leaflets of their own pointing to the fraud of the missionaries. The A TIME FOR JOY result: The missionaries soon disappeared and curious moviegoers followed the lead on More than 100,000 Jewish children were reached with Chizuk's literature by contacting the agency. a Torah education by Chinuch Atzmai-Torah Schools. Hotline Established A special hotline was estalbished by Chizuk, GOAL: to combat missionary and cult groups. At least 100,000 more children in the next decade. Anyone who sees any of these groups in action should contact the special hotline (212) 791-1848, so that a team of Chizuk staff will SO FAR: be dispatched to the location. The 1983-84 school year has brought: The Chizuk office is located at 5 Beekman Street, New York City 10038. The director is • 2,000 additional children Rabbi Dovid Goldw;:"'::'::;•rc;._ ____...... , • 6 new schools • 16 new kindergartens DON'T BE at the cost of a $46 million projected budget. FOOLED! :::I::.;'.'e:;;..."::.:.c:"'-"'..:.:.:;.::-...:: ___,_ ..... _ :::-:Z:=-::.=":..---­ ·=-~~-=~~:--:­ ·=..:;:::..~-:=-..-=-:.:::::::..".'::= Join in ·~.::.-::.:.-=.::--===---r- ·~":,=---=-=.::""~= 't=".::SS.!::-.::::::::.-=:: guaranteeing generations ~_!oMLJ,,r ~ for Torah in Israel c:2J1ATANA Answer Israel's needs (}ALLE~ today! 1163 EAST 10th STREET CLIP AND MAIL TODAY BETWEEN KAND L TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL Jewish Books, Judaica, Taleisim, CH/NU CH ATZMAI "MJ 'M0'$)1M ,ilMM 1~10 Mezuzos, Hebrew Clocks, Wall 167 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016 (212) 889-0606 Plaques, Lucite, Jewelry, Personal, ized Chala Covers, Talis Bags and D Enclosed find my contribution of$ ______Yarmelkas, Personalized "Kosel" D Please accept my pledge of $ ______Rings, Bracelets, Necklaces, ... And Much, Much More- All at Super Discount Prices. Name~------~ Address~------Open Sunday and Wedneoday City, State, Zip ------11:00 A.M. • 6:00 P.M. or by appointment 252·1222 Your contribution is tax deductible.

32 The ]ewi5h Observer I October 1983

--- > ~- ---·~- •• ~- .-..__ Orthodox Jews, Polish Government in Accord on Cemeteries

During their visit, the delegation also visited the former concentration camp in Auschwitz. Two members of the delegation were former inmates of the camp. In his report, Rabbi Besser notes that there are still a number of if shuls in Warsaw, Cracow, Lodz and Wroclow,but that they can only muster a minyan onShabbos. Those attending are mostly elderly and there is little sign of youth. No Jewish marriages take place; a mikvah exists in Cracow and is used only by visitors from abroad. In their discussions with Polish govern­ Members of Ort.hodox

The Jewish Observer I October 1983 33 Agudath Israel Agency Helps Oaf Yomi Gemoras Do you want to 'affecf others? on El Al Flights Affecting people is usually Laid Off Workers achieved by speaking one-to-one, or in groups. The ability to prepare a A special project, which trains and places well thought-through speech, and people who have been laid off from their jobs then comfortably and dynamically or are facing the prospect of a job termina­ deliver it, very often makes the dif­ tion, was recently launched by Project COPE ference as to whether or not you are (Career Opportunities and Preparation for effective. Employment), the employment and training If being more effective in your bus­ agency of Agudath Israel of America. The iness, profession, organization, effort is part of the new national emphasis on charity, or in any other area of life is dislocated workers under the recently enacted meaningful to you ... why not con­ Job Training Partnership Act. Governor sider a short course in developing Mario Cuomo had announced the grant to yourself into a good public speaker. Agudath Israel several weeks ago at a press The pace is fast, the groups are conference. congenial, the work is fascinating, and the topics are exhilirating. But According to Rabbi Dovid Seeve, the ad­ perhaps even more rewarding is the ministrative director of Project COPE, this fact that you will enjoy the lifelong new special effort funded by the New York benefits of the growth process. State Department of Labor is unique in that it If you, your spouse, your son, or a is targeted directly to laid off or potentially friend can benefit from such a laid off workers rather than the broader course, please contact Mr. Avi unemployed population. Unlike many other Shulman, 19 Grove Street, Monsay, projects funded by federal and state govern­ N.Y. (914) 356-1567. ments, applicants need not be income eligi­ ble, and the service for training is entirely "Opportunities come most often to those who are prepared." free. Prospective applicants will either be placed in an on-job-training program where they will have hands on experiece in a new job, or will be enrolled in a dasroom setting A Date to Circle where they may be trained in various occupa­ On Your Calendar: tions, including computer programming. Despite an improvement in the economy, i,11:ist Ni'!>W i'Nt.3 1i 1'NlM Sunday evening, many industries were still cutting back for a HARAV MEIR SHAPIRO June 3, 1984 variety of reasons. Prospective applicants Passengers flying on El Al Israel Airlines the 62nd Annual Dinner of should apply as soon as possible because the will be able to borrow Daf Yomi Gemoras from Agudath Israel of America number of training slots is limited. the airline crew, it was announced by Rabbi Chaskel Besser, chairman of the Oaf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel of America. In an agreement reached between El Al and the Orthodox Jewish movement, El Al will receive a supply of small pocket size Gemoras so that participants of the folio-a-day program can study the daf of the day while in flight. The popular pocket size Gemoras are used by commuters to keep up with the day's daf. The attractively bound editions include a spe­ cial section on commentaries on the various portions in the Gemora and also a calendar listing the precise page of the day. Oaf Yomi participants are currently studying the trac­ tate Eruvin and in October will begin Pt5achim. The Daf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel is an agency providing assistance to participants of the unique program. It ar­ ranges shiurim, publishes special calendars and organizes siymim. A task force is already at work planning the siyum of Mt5echet &uvin, which falls on the eve of the SOth anniversary of the passing of the legendary founder of the Daf Yomi concept, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, who headed the famed Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin.

34 The Jewish Observer I October 1983

L_ Agudath Israel Agency in Successful Summer Projects For Russian Youngs!_e_rs _ With schools opening, the major activity of Hagolah Institute, which is fhe central Torah Tishrei Bulletin. In its ongoing Bris Milah Agudath Israel's special agency for Russian school for Russian immigrant youngsters. program, Since April Project RISE had ar- immigrants, Project RISE (Russian Immigrant Thanks to a grant from the New York City ranged for 7 Brisim for Russian immigrants, Services and Education), is to place Russian Youth Board, some 40 youngsters partici- ages v·arying from 8 days to 27 years old. youngsters in yeshivas. This follows a sue- pated in a special day camp. Many of the While serving a sandik at one such bris, Mr. cessful summer in which the agency's scho- children will also benefit from a recreation Willie Wiesner was astonished to learn that larship fund sponsored summer camps for 22 program during the entire year. the child would be named Shmarya Ben Zev, Russian youngsters and a special day camp In addition to these special summer pro- which was the precise name of his late father. for Russian immigrant youngsters in Brighton jects, Project RISE continues to serve Russian Mr. Wiesner, chairman of Project RISE, pro- Beach for 40 other children. The report of the immigrants in other areas as well. It provides ceeded to take a special interest in the welfare summer activities was issued by Mr. Willie a broad range of Russian language materials of the family and even arranged for a Pidyon Wiesner,chairmanofProjectRISE,andRabbi to the immigrants, the latest being a special Habm for their son. Yisroel Verschleiser, its executive director. In the camP scholarship program, Projed RISE pro­ vided financial aid for the youngsters who ranged in age from 6 through 14. Some of the camps that the young­ sters aHended included Camps Agudah and Bnos, Dora Golding, Oholei Torah, Naarim, Malka, Morris, Magen A urohom, and Sternberg, as well as Y eshiua of Brooklyn Day Camp. Half the youngsters in the scholarship program were placed by the Be'er TORAH LEADERS IN RUACH COUNTRY Following its tradition of the past few years, campers at the Agudath Israel summer retreats were visited by a number of out­ standing Torah leaders, including such emi­ nent members of the Moetus Gedolei Ha Torah as Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Ruderman (Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel, Baltimore), and Rabbi Mordechai Gifter (Rosh Yeshiva of Te1she, Cleveland). Both camps, Camp Agudah for Boys and Camp Bnos for Girls, were filled to capacity, including a large number who re­ ceived scholarships and youngsters from . South American countries and overseas. The major physical improvements begun several years ago at the camp continued with rehabilitation of many bunks and other faci­ lities. MISHNAYOS The 13 year-old grandson of a world renowned Torah leader of the past, Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch, was honored for memoriz­ ing more than 3,400 Mishnayos at the Midwest Siyum Mishnayos celebration in Cleveland, in a program sponsored by Pir­ chei Agudath Israel. For this achievement, Eliyahu Meir Barkin became the first young­ ster to memorize that many Mishnayos as part of the two-decade old contest, which in;olves thousands of "young scholars" each year. The T elshe Rosh Yeshiva was a mem- :: ber of the Meotzes Gedo lei Ha Torah of Agudath Israel ... Close to 200 members of Pirchei Agudath Israel from such Midwest cities as Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati and Cleveland participated in the festive event. They spent three days in the Telshe Yeshiva where they were exposed to the intense @ Ce1t1f1ed Kosher by !hf! U<'l•on ol OrthOdo~ jewish Congregat10ns r Torah atmosphere.

The Jewish Observer I Odober 1983 35 Now available from Soncino Press for Hebrew-English Tractates:

Pesahim, Rosh Hashanah, Yoma Bezah, Shekalim, Would you buy a Hebrew-English Gemora -All the novellae of HaGaon HaRav if you knew it was printed by an Moshe Feinstein, Shlita which have unauthorized source who borrowed the appeared in the Irish Edition of the Otzar English translation from another active Hasefarim Shas are included in all new or publisher without permission? reprinted Soncino Tractates-in Hebrew and English. Or would you rather buy a Hebrew-English Gemora published by the original and only -Pages 57b and 99a of Tractate Pesahim authorized source-unencumbered' by any (procedure and laws of the first Passover questions concerning the Biblical sacrifice in brief and halachic decisions injunction of Hasogas Gvul? regarding the second Passover sacrifice in brief) are now translated into English for Soncino Press' Hebrew-English Gemoras the first time. are the only authorized editions of the -Although only the Mishnayoth of English translation of the Talmud and are: Tractate Shekalim is translated into English, the complete Tractate Shekalim • superior in paper, format and size-and appears in the original for the added all of the translations face the Hebrew­ convenience of Oaf Yomi learners. Aramaic page and are not randomly "fitted" throughout the tractate. Soncino Hebrew-English Tractates are available as follows: Tractates • modesty priced- Berakoth/Shabbath/Erubin/Pesahim/Rosh T ractate Pesahim pre-publication price Hashanah, Bezah,Shekalim/Yoma/Kethu­ $13.95, regular price $19.95. both/Gittin/Kiddushin/Baba Kamma/Baba Tractate Rosh hashanah, Beza, Mezzia/Baba Bathra/Sanhedrin/Hullin. Shekalim pre-publication price $13.95, regular price $19.95. The balance of the full Shas is now in Tractate Yoma Oaf Yomi priced $13.95, regular price $24.00.

• with extra commentaries in English which have not appeared in such form heretofore. BUY QUALITY, BUY SONCINO! SO NCI NO PRESS, LTD. 459 Finchley Rd. 5 Essex Street London NW3 available at all Jewish New York, N.V. 10002 England bookstores or direct from: (212) 673-9751