Depression shouldn't.
RELIEF has the lder adults have specific physical, emotional, and social haskama & guidance needs that require specialized care. Through our extensive of leading Rabbonim Oresearch, RELIEF has developed a comprehensive database :.;: E \\' y 0 ll.1' of geriatric mental health professionals specially trained to treat the 5904 13'" Avenue elderly. If you or someone you k~ow is suffering from depression, Brooklyn, NY 11219 718.431.9501 anxiety, dementia, or any other mental health disorder, RELIEF can 718.431.9504 J=AX guide you to the most qualified provider.
"'EW ]l-'RSFY Call RELIEF to get the help and support you need. 9 Rose Park Crescent Lakewood, NJ 08701 732.905.1605 Our services are CANADA free of charge 3101 Bathurst Street E L I E F and completely confidential. 1bronto, ON M6A 2A6 416.789.1600
!SR ALl TIELIEF is a non-profit organization which provides medical referrals, 5/4 Babah Sali ~ support and other vital services to persons suffering from a variety Beitar Ilit, Israel 99879 of mental disorders including Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorders, 02.580.8008 Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and many others. These EMAIL: [email protected] services are geared to the frum community with a special sensitivity to visn: www.relicthclp.org their unique needs and challenges. , •' With these words, The Ponevezher Rav greeted the fields of Kibbutz Chafetz Chaim during Shemitta. Throwing himself on the ground, kissing it, a voice choked with tears of joy and emotion ed out, "Good Shabbos to you'; a11!'f' '• /.. h~ said"Good Shabbe>~!~~~,t.f 'der$tood Shemitta- andba$ked?.r
V I am deUohted to respond to the call of ourGedolei Yisroel in I Eretz Yisroel and America to assist the thousands of farmers Help us meet our $18 Million budget YE Sfi! in Eretz Yisroel who will be observing Shmittah this year. Name.______~ Enclosed is my contribution of $__ to cover the followino: Address.______Q$10,000 Shmlttahl'Grtner Q$ 1,000 OneMonthSponsor aone·year!&lllsJdvloofarmerandhl1fomHy flllld9o monthofkolle:I forofonner City/State/Zip.______Q$ 5,000 ShmlttahAssoda.. 0$ 500 Friend of Keren Hashviis Tel.______~ a 6-month Sllbsldv loG formerondhl1 fomily Q $ 2,500 Shmlttah Palron 0$ 360 DoubleChoiSponsor Pfeose send vour tox-dedudlble contribution to: defroys lhe<:Qstofone educallonolvall Q$ 180 Chai Sponsor Keren Hashviis/ U.S. Office OS 1,800 ChoiVIPPatron 42Broadway·14th Floor /New York, NY 10004 · Tet 212.797.9000 114ysroraSl!mlttuhtool"4/nator &:lristructor Q$ _ Contributor IBSIATA Anew project of Agudath Israel of America, BSIATA (Business Startup Initial Assistance Through Advice) assists individuals embarking on business enterprises by matching them with successful professionals - in fields such as marketing, accounting, import-export, law, banking and general business - who can offer guidance and direction. For information regarding this free service, call 212.797.9000, ext 271.
lalunt1e1i - flilie I.life l'ou Gfiange Max Be l'our Dwn
Whether you are interested in helping members of the community through BSIATA or in some other For information, call volunteer capacity, please contact Agudath Israel's Volunteer Service Department. You may also the Volunteer Service contact the department if you would like your organization or agency to be included in a listing of Department at I 212.797.9000, ext 271. \_ volunteer opportunities currently being compiled for publication. ______/ ·~=l IN THIS ISSUE I REMEMBERING RABBI BORUCH BORCHARDT 'rYJ
6 OF RESPONSIBILITY AND GOODNESS, THE JEWISH OBSERVER Rabbi Shirnon Finke/;nan (ISSN) OOl!l-6615 IS Pll8USHEO MONTHl.Y. EXCEPT JULY&: AllGl!ST I ANO A COMBINED ISSUE FOR SEASONAL REFLECTIONS lANUARYlfEBRl'ARY. BY THE AGtJDATH JSRAEt OF AMERICA. 42 BROADWAY. Nf:w Yo10:. NY 10004. 8 P'ERIODICAl.S POSTAGE PAID IN NEW YORK. NY. SUBSCRIPTION Sl!S.OO/Yt:AR; I l! YEARS. S48.oo: 3 YEARS. S69.00. LETTER FROM JERUSALEM Ot1TSIDE Of' THE LINITEO STATES (US HINDS DRAWN ON A US BANK ONLY) CAN THE (HARE I DIM SAVE l5Rt\El? $15.00 SURCHARGE PER YEAR. StNCil.E 10 I COPY SJ.SO; 0UTSIDt: NY AREA SJ.95: Yonoson Rosenb!urn f"OREIGN $4.50.
POSTMASTER: 13 OF PUBUC RECORD SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Tn. !.12-797-9000, FAX 646-1!54·1600 PRINTED IN TllE USA RABBI SHMUEL BERENBAUM ?-~,
RAllBl NISSON Wol.PIN, Editor 14 1 Editorial Hoard A T.<\LMID S APPRECIATIO~J, Rahb; Yaakov Bend1.Y RABBI JOSEPH f:l.14.S. t11airmrm RABBI ABBA BmJDNY JOSEPH fiRIEOENSON 17 MEMORIES OF THE M1R's E.A.RLY YEARS !N AMERICA, RABBI Y/SROEl. MEIR KHtZNt.I( R1\BBi SHIMON F1NKELM/\N, as heard frorn the RABBI NossoN SCHERMAN PRO!'. AARON TWERSKI f fi:mnden E1N Tov ELLA ToRAH -- THERE NO DR. ERNST L BOIJl·:NUE!Mt:R Z"l. 22 Js "Gooo" R1\IHH Mos1n: S1n:1n:R Z"I. OTHER THAN TORAH, Rabbi Efie7cr
Mmmqement Board NAfTOu U1RSCH, ISAAi:- K1nZNER. 25 RABBI SH1\t1UEL BERENBAUM 7""::?t, QUINTESSENTIAL RABBI SHLOMO l.ESIN, MASMID, 1-\ND YEr ... , F!a!Jb1 t>/!o<;he Tuvia Lief/ 0AVllJ St NC ER, NACHllM 5TFIN
Mns. l.F:Atl ZAGEi.RAUM., 27 MY RELATIONSHIP WITH RAV SHMUEi_ Advl.'ftising Manager BERENB/\UM, 1;"')?1", Ruben Schron PURUStUCO RY AGllOATH ISRAEI. OF AMERICA RABBI HENACH LEIBOWITZ 7""1
IJ.5. TRADE DISTRlfHJTOR h:l.DHEIM PUBl.ISllERS 30 70 YEARS OF K1oous1-1 5HEtM SriAiVIAY!I'VI, 20R Airport fJ°l'{·uth't' lhrk Nmwct. NY 10954 Rabbi Z. Ginzberg
BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE TALfv11D;S M.T. BIUEl.MAN 38 A PERSONAL REMINISCENCES, Gmwcnor \H:irhs /itzchok Brandri.s.s Mount l'lrowmt Hill l.011do11 l·:S 9Nt.: f;N(;IAND MUSINGS f"RENCtl REPRESENTATIVE RABBI BAMDERGER 21 Boulevard ftlixlwm 43 FEELING EASY IN THE HARNESS, 57000 Metz. fl?Afo.'CE The Bostoner Rebbe N··tn;n,;;
ISRAf'.U REPRESENTATIVE INTNl.. MEDIA P!.ACFMENT P!IJll.l c~UJl1'S: Tsemach Glenn l'OB 7195 I .'J7 l
STATEMENT OF POLICY BELCIAN REPRESENTATIVf-'. MR. E. Al'TEI~ TtlE JEW/.'itl OBSERVER HAS DEVOTf:O A GRF.AT DEAi. OF SPAC.:f·: TO l.angc Kievitstr. 2.9 fHE l'f-:Rll.S 01' TtlE INTERNET AND TO THE NF.ED FOR EVERYONE TO 2018 Antv,;crp. BEl.GIUM RE EXTRJ::Mf:l.Y V!Glt.ANT JN ITS USE. WE HAVE ECHOED TtlE Pl.EA.5
SOUTH AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVE or OUR GEDOl.IM THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE IN USL IJNl.ESS IT IS AN MH. V. TABACK \JNAVOIOABl.E NECESSITY, ANO THEN ONl.Y WITH AU. SUJTA81.E PO Box .'H552. THE JEWISH OBSERVER DOES NOT ASSUME Racdene. johanncsburq SAFEGUARDS. Wllll.E !TS DANGERS MUST HE REcoc;N!ZEI> AN!> CON· l!ESPONSllllt.ITY t-•OR THE KASHRUS 01' ANY PROOUCL 2124 SOI fill AFRK~' THOU.El> TO EVERY POSSIBLE DEGREE, OIJH GJ:;OOl.!M nECOGNIZE TllAT Pl!6l.ICATION. OR SERVICE ADVt-:RTISF:D lN ITS PAGES MANY PEOPLE AND 6!.IS!NESSES REQIJIRF. IT.'i USE. ANO TllEl!Ef"ORE IT Al!STRAl.IAN REPRESENTATIVE 01!. A. DINNE.~ HA'S NOT BEEN DANNEO. THIS IS WHY WF. ACCEPT ADVE!tTISF.MEN"f'S n !Jirriya Ruad © COPYRIGHT 2008 LISTING WEBSITE ADDRESSES, BUT IN NO WAY DOES THIS IMPLYTHA'I Belll'vuc /////, NSW 202J. AUSTRAUA JUNE/SUMMER 2008 I VOLUME XLII THE GEDOl.IM Of! 'J'Uf: JEWISH OBSERVE fl CONDONE CA5UAI. USE OF NO. 4 TflE INTERNET. L ·----~-----J SUMMER 2008
REMEMBERING Rabbi Boruch Borchardt ""~t
ial Yisroel mourns the loss of a pre cious and beloved member of the Agudah K adn1inistration and a devoted servant of the tzibbur, Rabbi Baruch Borchardt, ''''11, who was niftar this past Erev Shavuos. He was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1924. With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he and his family escaped to Shanghai, where he developed a close relation ship with the roshei yeshiva and the talmidim of the Mirrer Yeshiva. Arriving in New York in 1947, he married Miriam Heynemann and settled in the Washington Heights section of New York. He joined the staff of Agudas Yisroel of America, eventually assum ing the position of executive director of the Rabbi Borclwrdt with Rabbi Mordec/111i \Vein berg, ':i"X, at right and n"7.J\ Rabbi Yisroel Belsky. organization. He also headed Camp Agudah and Camp Bnos for many devoted partner for these past twenty two years, Mrs. Roslyn years, winning the respect and love of both staff member and Borchardt ·,nnt1. campers, and helping shape the Torah ruach of the camps. The following article focuses on his dedication to avo Rabbi Borchardt leaves behind doros yesharim in which he das haklal. We plan to feature a more detailed tribute in a took justifiable pride - three sons and their families- and his future issue.
RABBI SHIMON FINKELMAN OF RESPONSIBILITY & GOODNESS No MESIRAS NEFESH
t was the first Shabbos of the camp season and, as always, Rabbi Borchardt replied matter-of-factly: "It's not mesiras Rabbi and Mrs. Baruch Borchardt were in Camp Agudah, nefesh - it's responsibility." I to host the guest rash yeshiva and rebbetzin, to host a lavish It was through our Shabbosos together in camp that I was Kiddush for the camp families, and for Rabbi Borchardt to place privileged to develop some sort of a relationship with this his watchful eye on all that was happening in the Agudath Israel great, humble servant of Kial Yisroel. The fact that we spent boys' camps in Ferndale and girls' camps in Liberty. only Shabbosos together was in itself a great lesson. I do not What was different about this Shabbos was that in recall Rabbi Borchardt ever allowing himself a single vacation Brooklyn, Rabbi Borchardt's grandson was being called to day to relax a bit in camp and enjoy the country air. When he the Torah on the Shabbos before his wedding. Someone was well into his seventies, he was still making the mile walk to remarked, "Rabbi Borchardt - to miss a grandson's aufruj? and from Camp Bnos on Shabbos afternoon' because he felt it Such mesiras nefesh!" important to be there as well. After spending Shabbos in camp, he would leave Sunday morning after davening and breakfast.
RAHHI FINKELMAN, A l~EBBE IN YESHIVA DARCl!El TORAH, FA!~ ROCKAWAY, The only exception was on the last Sunday of camp, when he
NY, IS A FREQUENT CONTRIBUTOR TO TIH-:SJ·: l'At;ES. 1-!E JS TtlE A!JTHOJ~ OF remained to address the camps at the banquets that night. SEVERAL BJOGRAPlllES Ptmus111·:0 BY ARTSCJHll.LMESORAll Pl!Bl.ICAT!ONS, Mesiras nefesh? No, he would have said, Responsibility. MOST REC EN n.Y f/VE GRl::A.1" l.lc'AVER8.
6 THE JEWISH OBSERVER
GOODNESS -As IN a New York sefarim store to purchase a WEEKLY KIDDUSH sefer Ketzos Hachoshen (a classic work of in-depth Talmudic analyses). is sense of responsibility was The proprietor climbed a steplad complemented by an innate der, pulled down a volume caked with H goodness) a desire to benefit dust, wiped it with a rag, and handed others and a total absence of need for it to the Rosh Yeshiva. "Take good care anything for himself. I have been told of it, Rabbi," said the man, «ifs the that his first wife possessed this same last Ketzos Hachoshen they will ever middas hachessed and all of us in camp sell in America." He was echoing a saw that his second wife, "111W has this prevailing feeling that the destruction same exalted quality. of the European yeshiva world would, The weekly Kiddush mentioned Rabbi Borchardt with Rabbi Moshe Sherer, ?"::rt. G-d forbid, effectively bring an end above was a great demonstration of to the yeshiva world on both sides of this goodness. There did not have to be Rabbi Borchardt will the Atlantic. a Kiddush. The camp kitchen provides be sorely missed, but Rabbi Bloch, however, was not influ an ample supply of tasty baked goods enced by prevailing opinions. c
7 SEASONAL REFLECTIONS
YOSS! HUTTLER When we visited Rabbi Borchardt at Haym Salomon, he would sit in his wheelchair, looking frail and ill. Bnt one thing did not change - he did not want to talk about himself, only about Kial Yisroel. Confined to a health care facility in Brooklyn was an ailing gavra rabba 1 (great personality) whose mind was ON TISHA BE AV on the thousands of Shemitta observ· ing farmers in Eretz Yisroel. When one entered his room, Rabbi Borchardt MORNING would point to a recent publication about Shemitta 5768, and said, "It's very AN IMPORTANT ASPECT well done; more has to be written about OF AN EXCEPTIONAL Sheniitta observance." The only personal comment we TYPE OF DAY heard from him was, "It hurts me so ne issue of concern in Judaism which is usually associated with a day much that I can no longer do anything that transcends time is kavana. of some celebration. Furthermore, we for Kial YisroeZ:' 0 From the classical sources down read the Torah, even if it is not Monday to contemporary writings, the challenge or Thursday, and, also unusual, we read FAR IN EXCESS ••. of applying proper thought and concen· a Haftarah, something that is only done tration to our mitzvos and our davening on the mornings of Shabbosos and his past winter, the families of is never ending (see Orach Chaim 98:1 Yan1i1n Toviln. the Agudah camps held a hakaras and Mishna Berura there). With regard After the Haftarah is complete, but Thatov Me/ave Malka in Rabbi to tefilla, many of us today strive simply before the second Ashrei of Kedusha Borchardt's honor at Haym Salomon. In to understand what we are saying rather Desidra, we settle down to address the true Borchardt style, Mr. and Mrs. Meir than attempt to grasp any deeper mean· mourning theme of the day with the Frischman prepared a spread that was ings while we are davening. recitation of Kinas, the liturgy oflamen far in excess of what was needed for the Though there is doubtless great tation. The avoda, as such a service can anticipated crowd. It was good that they reward in going beyond trying to under· be characterized, is arduous: pages upon did, for the crowd was far in excess of stand the literal meaning of the words pages of Kinas, poetic compositions what was anticipated. People who had that we read when we daven, there is detailing our collective spiritual and said that their previous commitments nonetheless great potential in appreciat· physical devastation. Spanning nearly would not allow them to attend some· ing the simple translation of our tefillos. the entire length of Jewish history, from how found a way to attend. Everyone In fact, peirush hamillim can sometimes the ill-fated expedition of the Meraglim wanted to give chizuk to a man who had yield powerfully inspirational insights down to the Sha' ah, we march sorrow given them chizuk for many years. into who and what we are. fully through a litany of destruction, No one expected Rabbi Borchardt to Such a thought occurred to me sev exile, and death. The sheer historical address ns; he was weak and there was eral years ago on the morning of Tisha range of these compositions exhausts no microphone. But he asked to speak, Be'Av. That morning, of course, is one both lips and mind. and as he spoke, his voice grew stronger. of the most distinct mornings of the After completing Kinas - in most He had been with Camp Agudah for Jewish calendar. After having heard the places, it can take several hours to fin more than 50 years, and he described its elegiac, haunting Megillas Eicha chanted ish - we recite the remainder of the evolvement into what «Ruach Country" the night before, we come to shul the Shacharis service. This includes Kedusha is today, with its many successful divi following morning and daven Shacharis. Desidra followed by Aleinu. sions and high standard of excellence However, things are noticeably different. Aleinu begins as follows: in Torah learning and atmosphere. He Foremost, it is the one time of year that It is our duty to praise the Master of ended his address as he often ended his is neither Shabbos, nor Yorn Tov, nor (for all, to ascribe greatness to the Molder conversations, "We have accomplished most people) Chol Hama'ed when we of Creation, for He has not made us a lot, and we must do more." do not don tefillin. (We do, of course, like the nations of the lands and has Rabbi Borchardt will be sorely missed, put them on for Mincha, which in itself not emplaced us like the families of but the memory of this humble tzaddik is a once-a-year practice.) Additionally, the earth; for He has not assigned our who needed nothing for himself and and somewhat incongruously, we omit portion like theirs nor our lot like all never stopped doing things for others, the saying of Tachanun, an occasion their multitudes. will inspire us forever. !r;J Yoss1 HUTTLEH, WHO LIVES IN Los ANGELES, CA, IS AN ORAi. HISTORIAN. HES ARTICl.lO, "MINC"llA REl'LECTIONS." APPEARED IN JO, MAR. '08. 8 r------THE JEWISH OBSERVER 1 ...... ------
We express our thanks both in internalizing on this distinctive day in think of a better example that embodies words and by bowing in gratitude. the Jewish calendar. In this tefilla. we Dovid Harnelech's declaration, "Who is The tefilla then goes on to describe the acknovvledge Hashenz as Creator and like Your people, Israel, one nation on Messianic era when all will recognize Prime Mover. But it goes further and earth" (Shmuel II 7 ,23). Of course, the and acknowledge G-d as Creator and declares that is also our duty to praise key to experiencing this transcendent Master of the Universe. Hiln for choosing us as His People. moment of the year is to understand Consider the circumstances under and for setting us aside for a destiny what one is reciting, and, better yet, which we utter these words. At the unlike any other people. And yes, that to mean it. Surely, a nation that can lowest moment in the Jewish calendar, destiny includes all the experiences so genuinely make such poignant state after we have recited dozens of Kinos heartbreakingly recounted in the just ments of faith in the direst of times will recounting catastrophes that almost read Ki nos. To make such a statement at merit seeing the Messianic era, \vhich defy description, we invoke a prayer of this point of the year represents a po\v is so beautifully described at the end of thanks to Hashem for making us who erful testament of faith. It is harder to Aleinu, fulfilled. !lil we are and who we are not, and for our collective destiny, the trials of which we have just read.
I TIMELINESS ON TISHA BE'AV I leinu, usually recited at the conclusion of davening, is a sometimes overlooked, taken I A for-granted tefilla. It is literally recited by some people as they are headed out • become a Ben Torah? • grow in Yiras Shamayim? I the doorof shul. Nevertheless, this tejil la is significant. According to tradition, Yeshivah Gedo/ah of Midwood believes that a bochur who I it was composed either by Yelwshua on truly wants that opportunity deserves one!! the occasion of his conquering Yericho I or by Rav in Talmudic times. In fact, Yeshiva Gedolah of Midwood has a dedicated and talented staff with a proven track record of not only did our rabbis deem Aleinu offering bochurim the resources to fulfill their potential. We are geared for bochurim ages 17 and I important enough to be recited three older who possess a sincere desire to grow in Torah and Avodas Hashem. In Yeshiva Gedolah of times everyday, they assigned it a Midwood, a bochur who aspires to be all he could be has the opportunity to attain that vision. I central role in the liturgy of the Yamim Nora' im, when vve emphasize Hashen1 's I rulers hip of the world, with its attendant Yeshiva Gedolah of Midwood implications for our individual and col was created with the dream of empowering I lective fates. I would humbly argue that bochurim to attain THEIR dream. Aleinu is no less important on Tisha I Be 'Av, if in a different way, in its other Yeshiva Gedolah of Midwood offers 1noderate~sized shiurin1 taught on several levels. emphasis on Kial Yisroe/j· embrace of Our Rabbeim focus on developing skills. confidence, middos tovos, and a geshmak in I Hashem no matter the circumstances. It learning, in a mature Bais Medrash setting. The Hanhalah is dedicated to being mechazek is, perhaps, together with Shema Yisroel, a serious~minded bochur confronting earnest questions and concerns as he ascends to the the ultimate expression of our loyalty to lifestyle and outlook of a true Ben Torah. We offer an accredited Regent's Secular Studies our Creator in spite of anything that we program for a Talmid who needs to complete his High-School diploma. We have the I must endure. In fact, the author of the experience and knowledge to help our talmidim reach their goals. And most importantly, at Sefer Hatada' a, in his Pesach section on Yeshiva Gedolah of Mid wood, we truly respect and care for you. I blood libels, includes an account from a medieval rav relating that during one And our many tahnidim who have been matzliach I I blood libel in Lyon, France, as Jews beyond their \vildest dreams are a living testimony! were being burned in a fiery cauldron, For YOUR chance to succeed, please call now: they sang the words of Aleinu. While there are many facets to what Rabbi Mendel Y. Belsky Rabbi Dovid E. Levine Rosh Yeshil'a I I we should be experiencing on Tisha Menahel 917-696-7652 718-941-1272 Be'Av, Aleinu encapsulates an important I aspect of what we should be feeling and l·---~------··-····-- ~ rec------LETTER FROM JERUSALEM
Las! month's analysis of the crisis in national will brought about the success of the Zionist project ol creating a "new Jew" cu! o!i lrnm his and this month's analysis of !he poten!ial role ol the Torah community in reversing these trends, both lo!low a purely al derech hateva (conventional As Torah however, we know !hat nothing in Eretz the land Iha! experiences the of Hashem's Hasligacha, is ever al derech hateva, Certainly, the phenomenal and growth of Torah learning in the las! sixty years must rank as a neis There is a for !he type of analysis in which we me 1mga1ge1j, Rabbi Yoseif Shalom for enumerated the various "'"''""''ih1 th reals to Israel al to Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, prior to the latter's recent mE!et11ng with President W. Bush, al which to lhe President But at the same time, we must remember thal no one-, and ""'rtRdnl1v not I - can the impact and influence of the continued growth of Torah ;i, Erelz Yisroel on Israeli socie;tv. Na,nelh<,less, we can the ___ ,,,_ Chareidim
ast month's "Letter from Jerusalem" Nowhere is the drift and lack of pur Palestinians. The Palestinian strategy concluded \Vith a discussion of pose clearer than in the way the Israeli has been predicated on patience: We Lthe ways in which the "ne\v Jey.,r," govern1nent conducts "peace'' negotia are miserable today; we'll be miserable whom it was the goal of secular Zionism tions. Israeli leaders pursue negotiations ton1orrow; but in-the meantime, we will to create, has come to threaten the very as if it were Israel that has been defeated make life so bad for the Jews that they existence of Israel. The "nevv Jew," fron1 in four wars, and Israel that requires will all run away, The Palestinians' con whom spiritual characteristics would a peace treaty to survive (as Prime fidence is predicated on their sense that be completely shed and who would Minister Olmert has explicitly said), the Jews have lost their connection to be characterized primarily by his lusts Despite the disastrous consequences the Land and their sense of themselves and physical bravery, in the descrip of past territorial withdrawals - most as a People, and as a consequence, can tion of one important historian of recently from Gaza - the Olmert gov be worn down, Zionisn1, has coarsened Israeli society ernment has expressed its vvillingness Even secular Israeli co1nmentators and deprived it of the traditional Jewish to negotiate over Jerusalc1n, 1nost of have grasped the point They seized reverence for learning. More, the "ne\v Judaea and Samaria, and, 1nost recently, upon Prime Minister Olmert's much Jew," cut off from Jewish history, lacks the Golan Heights, quoted "We are tired of fighting; we are the resources necessary to sustain the The lack of Israeli red lines - unlike tired of winning" speech as emblematic degree of national will required for the Palestinians who have only non of a larger societal malaise, In the midst Israel's survival. negotiable demands - suggests that our of the failed Second Lebanon War, leaders are not truly convinced that we Ha'aretz's Ari Shavit raged at the nation's RABBI ROSENBLUM, WHO LIVES IN JER\JSAl.EM, IS
A CONTRllltJTING EDITOR TO THE )HIV/Sil OllS/:RVER. Jews have any real claims on Eretz Yisroel elites (in the paper of the elites) that they HE IS Al.SO D!HECTOR OF T!JE iSR1\ELl DIVISION and believe that we should not be happy had destroyed every element of national OF AM ECHAD, THE AGUDATH ISRAl':L-INSPIRED with whatever the Arabs grant us, will, and concluded that the reconstitu EDUCATIONAi. O!!'fl~EACll EFFORT AND MEDIA This crisis of national will has tion of national will must henceforth be RESOIJRCE. been noted and acted upon by the the highest national priority, ------=--i T H E JE'.VJSH Ons1c:Rvt:R
WHERE THE CHAREIDIM TWO QUESTIONS ENTER THE PICTURE For the chareidi con1n1unity to n1ar MUST BE ASKED: shall its immense resources on behalf havit, however, offered no pre Is the chareidi of the larger Jewish population in Eretz scriptions for how that might be Yisroel, such attitudes will have to be Sdone; nor could he, from a purely community prepared uprooted. Rabbi YoseifShalom Elyashiv secular perspective. National will is not to assume the burden has said on more than one occasion something that can be ordered at the that the educational imperative of cha local phar1nacy. It is not a line iten1 of instilling a strong reidi chinuch must be "sheyehei Shei111 in the national budget. It must derive dose of Jewish identity Shamayim misaheiv al yadecha - The from something. And that something Name of Heaven should become beloved is national identity. among now secular through your actions." But that is a goal Natan Sharansky makes the point Israelis? And second, far from being fully realized. in his new book, Defending Democracy. To be fully effective in transmitting "Without identity, a democracy becomes is it capable of the beauty of Torah to the non-religious incapable of defending the values it doing so? population, \Ve inust show them that it holds most dear," he writes. The threat is a Taras Chayim that has something of Islamic jihad to the West today derives to say about every aspect of personal in large part from the mistrust, even ous types of outreach work, much of it and public life. Cable-TV shows like contempt, for national and religious funded by American Jews. The creation Rabbi Zamir Cohen's Hitdabrut, Rabbi identity among Western elites. of Chinuch Atzmai, primarily for the Moshe Grylak's weekly commentary on The chareidi com1nunity in Israel purpose of reaching children from national radio, and Rabbi Mordechai has a crucial role to play in instilling the traditional homes, was the first large Neugroschel, among others, fill this necessary reserves of national identity. scale example. Lev r: Ac him, Arachim, need. But there is no figure of the stat That con1munity possesses the most and the creation of the SHUVU net ure of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, intense core of Jewish identity. Even work of schools, originally for children in 19th century Germany, regularly Ha'aretz writer Yair Sheleg conceded from Russian-speaking homes, are n1ore addressing the larger Jewish popula seven years ago, \.vhen the government recent exa1nples of these efforts. tion on the most important issues of of Ehud Barak seemed bent on ced And a wide array of medical and the day. ing sovereignty over the Har HaBayis volunteer organizations - Yad Sarah, It will be necessary as well to hold (the Temple Mount) to the Palestinian Ezer Mizion, Marpeh I:Cl10leh and out a variety of models of fulfilled Authority, that chareidi boys learning others - reflects a widespread sense of Jewish lives to the broader population in yeshiva do more for the State than responsibility on the part of the cha not just that of a kollel avreich in Bnei they would in the army because they reidi co1nn1unity towards their Jewish Brak. If a 32-year-old man in Ashdod are the last reservoirs of undiluted brethren. experiences a moment of hisorerus at Jewish identity. But neither the impulse to reach out an Arachim seminar, but is only offered If chareidi youth were asked the nor the sense of responsibility for fellow the latter model, that moment will pass question, "Given a choice, would you Jews is universal in the chareidi con1mu without any long-term effect, especially choose to be born Jewish or not?" most nity. The traditional, and perhaps still if his wife is not equally interested and would be unable to answer because they dominant, self-perception of the com he already has a large overdraft in the would be unable to conceive of some"!" munity is of itself as a small, beleaguered bank. distinct from being a Jew. minority, which must focus all its efforts on its own self-protection. BARRIERS TO SUCCESS CAN WE MEET THE There are segments within the diverse CHALLENGE? chareidi public to whom it does not ut even \Vere the chareidi com occur to weigh the impact of particular munity fully mobilized behind till, two questions must be asked: Is behavior- burning garbage cans, ston Ban effort to bring our Jewish the chareidi community prepared ing cars, assaulting women sitting in the brethren closer to Torah, there would Sto assume the burden of instilling front of the bus - on the perception of still be substantial barriers to success. a strong dose of Jewish identity among Torah and Torah Jews in the world. And The first of these we have recently now secular Israelis? And second, is there are others who have twisted the discussed ("Growing Pains," JO, Mar. it capable of doing so? Unfortunately, concept of Jewish chosenness to refer '08): As the chareidi population grows , the answer to neither question is an not to a greater responsibility and a ever larger, especially as a percentage i unhesitating yes. universal mission, but rather to a general of those in the primary and secondary [ Since the early 1950s, the chareidi exemption from any concern with the education system, the potential grows Lmunity has been involved in vari- larger world. for heightened conflict betwe«e,1 :Jthe 11 ------======SUMMER 2 0 0 8 ------There is a thirst, and a huge reservoir of talented,
committed young couples in the chareidi Three years ago, Rabbi Reuven Cohen community eager to reach out. and his wife, Batsheva, moved to Kfar Tabor near Afula. Reactions to their Will their cumulative impact be sufficient arrival took two forms: Either they to turn the tide of Israeli society? \Vere ignored or they were told, in no uncertain terms, that their presence was un\velcome. Three years later, there are majority secular population and the rival the predictable critiques of the 60 wo1nen using the rnikveh in this one chareidi public over the issues of cur chareidi press. small yishuv. ricular control and army service. Such 1'here are indications that the sense When Kibbutz Beil Hakeshet opened conflict would inevitably lessen the of loss includes a recognition of the lost a line of kosher food production, ability of the chareidi community to connection to themselves as Jews. That Ayele! Hashachar had an opportunity influence the secular community. is reflected in secular Jewish parents to place a chareidi couple on the kib Another li1nitation on our power to eager to place their children in the care butz. The first time that Rabbi Moshe influence is the widespread perception of chareidi teachers, as in the SHUVU Sandovski went to purchase a few that the chareidi population is not a system. It is also reflected in the dozens ite1ns at the kibbutz store, the n1anager vital, self-sufficient community. That is, of Ge1nara shiurim now being given in told him that he would never sell to a secular Israelis view the larger chareidi the center of Tel Aviv's financial district chareidi Jew. Within three years, the population as perpetual supplicants (as reported by Israel's leading financial Sandovskis were voted to the cultural for increased child support allowances paper Globes). In the last three years, va'ad of the kibbutz. and the like. more than 5,000 Israelis have initiated Last year, Kibbutz Geva experienced And supplicants are limited in their contact with programs offering the its first Yorn Kippur davening ever. Two power to offer advice or guidance. chance to learn Torah texts with a reli hundred attended Kol Nidre and Ne'ila Someone who has, for instance, a prob gious study partner. services, and thirty men spent the entire lem of shalom bayis would be unlikely to Every attempt to reach out to secular day in their kibbutz shorts in services. seek advice from a meshulach who came Israelis has been met with success of one A member of the kibbutz wrote to the to the door, no matter how wise-looking degree or another. In 1914, Rabbi Yoseif director of Ayele! Hashachar: he was. And by the same token, Israel's Chaim Sonnenfeld and Rabbi Avraham "Thanks and blessings to all of secular population will not look to us for Yitzchak Isaac Kook led a group of rab you ... for having created for us a the answers to their questions so long as bis that embarked on a month-long tes Mikdash Me'at in the midst of our they view us as dependent upon them. huva campaign throughout the Galilee everyday lives and secular existence, The growing trend of more chareidim region. At the end of their journey, they and for having made it possible entering the workforce, which is already drew up a set of reso1utions, one of for us to touch the holiness, the well-documented, will, in time, lower which was that a talmid chacham should elevation, of this unique day - Yam this barrier, but it takes a long time for be placed in every settlement. Hakippurim. The emotions during perceptions to change and the process In recent years, an organization the prayers broke down all barriers, described is evolutionary, not revolu named Ayele! Hashachar has been doing and enabled us to touch every link in tionary, in scope. just that - placing couples on more than the chain of our common tradition, 60 kibbutzim and smaller settlements reaching back to the roots of our REASONS FOR OPTIMISM around the country, including some common existence .... I believe that of the most secularist kibbutzim in the the prayers opened many hearts to espite all these barriers, there yet country. In one kibbutz, where the wife love of their fellow man .... Looking ren1ain grounds for optimism. is the daughter of the secretary of the forward to seeing you next year, DThe first of these, of course, is kibbutz, there is more than a minyan of be' ezras Hashem, on the same day in the widespread recognition among the ba'alei teshuva. the same place:' Israeli public that something precious That is not typical. But even in places There is a thirst, and a huge reservoir has been lost. The endemic corrup where no one has become a full ba'al tes of talented, committed young couples in tion, skyrocketing violence of all kinds, huva, the impact of even a single couple the chareidi community eager to reach rapidly declining educational results, has been immense. In places where a out. Will their cumulative impact be suf and loss of co1nmunal values have con few years ago, pork was roasted on Yo1n ficient to turn the tide of Israeli society? vinced many that we have gone badly Kippur, there are today minyanim on No one can answer that question with awry. The critiques of Israeli society Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and a certainty. But at the very least, they will coming from within - and not just greater demand for Machzorim than the change thousands of Jewish lives for from the post-Zionist Lefr - regularly organizers anticipated. the better. llil
12 THE JEWISH 0HSEHVER
r-=-----~-~~=~=------; H E J E W' 'H () B > EH V EH ------~-~=-i
I Xabbi sltumd 3ereJ Cllilll 'J'3r his past 28 Teves/January 6, world Jewry sustained 1947, with the rest of the Mirrer Yeshiva. Rabbi Avraham a profound loss with the petira (passing) of Rabbi Kalmanowitz, who had sustained the yeshiva in Shanghai TShmuel Berenbaum, ?"Yl, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mirrer and reestablished it on American soil, chose Reb Shmuel Yeshiva of Brooklyn. As noted in these pages (Jan. '08), he as a husband for his daughter, Y?~ri, Reichel. The couple was one of the last binding links with the greatness, glory n1arried in 1950. and grandeur of the Torah giants who learned and developed When Rav Kalmanowitz passed away in 1964, Rabbi Shmuel in the Eastern European Torah centers, and then can1e to the Berenbaum and Reb Avraham's oldest son, Rabbi Shraga Moshe United States, and reached out to American youth. Through Kalrnanowitz, were appointed as I?.oshei Yeshiva of the Mirrer this interaction, these marbitzei Torah helped transplant and Yeshiva in Brooklyn. create a flourishing Torah community in a place that had been His remarkable full-time involvement in learning and a veritable Torah desert. presenting shiuri1n coupled \Vith his intense dedication to the Born in the small Polish Lithuanian town of Kinishev well-being and progress of each ta/mid in the yeshiva, as well in 1921, Reb Shmuel learned under Rabbi Elchonon as his concern for interested ba'alebattirn created an unusual Wasserman in Baranovich for three years, and then in impact on all with whom he had contact. In the pages that the Mir, where he became very close with the Mashgiach, follow, we are presenting the impressions recorded by several Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein, ?"Yr. After spending the war talmidim who were profoundly influenced by Rabbi Shmuel years in Shanghai, \vhere he \Vas \videly re·cognized for his Berenbaum during the many years that they developed under total immersion in Torah study, he came to America in his influence and guidance.
RABBI YAAKOV BENDER A Talmid's Appreciation
A KING AND A FATHER
ashen1 co1nmanded Moshe Rabbeinu, "Assei lecha ... Left: Robbi Faivelson (Tsefas) with Rabbi Shmuel Bcre11hau111 1;r~n, Make for yourself two trumpets of silver.'" Among talking to Amos Bunim and Rabbi Bender H the insights that Rashi derives from "Assei lecha" is It is a formidable task for any ta/mid to write "That they should blast [on the trumpets] before you [i.e., Moshe] as [is done before] a king."2 While it is common to about the Rosh Yeshiva, 7"Yr. How can one sound trumpets in honor of kings and other heads of state, attempt to describe an individual whose why shonld this have been done for Moshe Rabbeinu? impact on our lives was so powerful in so The Rosh Yeshiva explained that according to Chazal, some many ways, for so many years? Nonetheless, one who learns Torah lishma (for its own sake) is worthy of I will attempt to convey some of what I malchus, kingship (Avos 6:1 ). They further teach ( Gittin 62a) learned from this adam gadol over a period that Torah sages are called "kings;' as it is written: "Through me [e.g., the Torah), kings will reign" (Mishlei 8,15). Since of 42 years, from his hashkafos and sublime true royalty is embodied in the great ta/mid chacham, no one personal conduct, making use of some of the divrei Torah umussar that he imparted to us. I Bamidbar 10,2 2 The Torah delineates the various uses of these tnunpets for the nation as they traveled, in thne of war, etc. The Rosh Yeshiva expended much time BI l\J NDl:'.R IS Rosi/ H4.YI SII!Vr\ OF YI ~HIV"i. and effort over the years on the study of Chumash with Rashi and he derived RCHEI lORAH !"\J fAr~ Roe KA\\AY scores of chiddushi111 fron1 this limud. 15 L: ------·------·-- S U M M ;--;----;·-~~~------~~~~-1--
ln our generation, Digest of Meforshim the Rosh Yeshiva was ner is someone who turns a deaf ear to I sincere reproof. '>V1j?7 in:t '>V1j?7 the symbol Of Utter I can still hear the Rosh Yeshiva's 7"l1T 1VP7N 7N1l:l'\!l )";rmr.i dedication to the study stinging rebuke when I wanted to leave Available at yeshiva on a Thursday evening so that LEKUTEI and teaching of Torah. I could spend Shabbos in the Catskills c/o Yitzchok Rosenberg He had no desire for with my widowed mother. The Rosh 1445 54th Street Yeshiva approved of my devoting time Brooklyn, NY 11219-4228 anything outside of to being with my mother; he would fre- 718-854-6701 Torah and mitzvos. quently inquire as to her well-being. But 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, he was adamant that I should not leave Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. yeshiva before Friday morning. 'vVhen I Proceeds of sales distributed an1ong personified 1nalchus n1ore than Moshe indicated that I found his demand dif Ycshivos and used for reprinting ofvol un1es out~of-print Rabbeinu. Therefore, it was entirely ficult, he became upset with me. But I proper to sound trumpets before Moshe, knew that he was upset because he truly PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME the ultimate earthly king. cared about me and felt that it was in the In the Rosh Yeshiva, we saw malchus, interest of my spiritual growth that I be the nobility that comes from being away from yeshiva as little as possible. Uncle Moishy, Dedi totally immersed in Torah and living a We loved him very much, knowing Avrohom fried, life in which every step, every act and that he, too, loved us like a father. This and other leading every word is a reflection of Torah. The \Vas evident in so many ways, through Rosh Yeshiva was totally self-effacing; his out the decades. This past Asseres Yemei Jewish entertainers hu1nility was genuine, natural. Yet, any Teshuva, I and another talmid, Rabbi are available one in his presence could easily perceive Shlomo Avigdor Altusky,' attended the to visit that he was head and shoulders above Rosh Yeshiva's annual teshuva derasha. seriously ill other people. He ended his derasha by asking us to He could be very demanding of us. daven for hi1n. Afterwards, \Ve went over children He would quote Rashi, who says that to wish hin1 a gut yahr and receive his SIMCHAS CHAVA .;·..,$< the meraglim had seen how Miriam beracha. "You came all the way from nr.:nvJ -ot7 ~. · , .;t···· was stricken with tzara'as for speak Far Rockaway?" he asked, as if we had n").) :i.vv~ ,, n::i n1n L -..-":-' AChessed project run by ing critically of her brother, "yet, they done him a favor by coming. At that Agudath Israel of Amerka did not derive a lesson, and reported mon1ent, I felt his tremendous ahava, in conjunction with negatively about the Holy Land:3 And the ahava that he had shown me for 42 Suki & Ding Productions 'J• To set up an appointment, call; , f. '. he would tell us that worse than a sin- years, ever since the day that I arrived (212) 797-9000 Ext.235 at Mirrer Yeshiva as a young yasom who was still traumatized by his father's sud den passing.
LIKE A MALACH
ecently, I asked a fellow talmid what, to his mind, vvas the secret Rof the enormous awe that we felt towards the Rosh Yeshiva. His reply: "I looked at him as a mal ach Hashem." The Gemara teaches, "If a rebbi is like a malach Hashem, then seek Torah from his mouth." Another Gemara teaches • Mishnah and Gemara study services that if the previous generations were • Completion of entire Shishah Sedarim akin to angels, then \VC are n1ere n1or • Completion of missing masechtos tals. The Rosh Yeshiva was a malach in • On time for shloshim or yahrlzeit the sense that he had perfected himself • Tax deductible I acceptable 71A'Asec • N"Q)JJl! D')Jlil ''nl no:)OilJ 4 Rosh Yeshiva of Darchci 1brah's Beis iv1edrash Hcichal Dovid ------~
OF THE MIR'S EARLY YEARS IN AMERICA ''° ""d happy I the,~ 1pleasures~:w"'"~""' of this world. He derivedfoc~:h;v~ The sparkle in his ~a~=eyes revealed the individ==-1true inner I indescribable pleasure from serving joy that he felt. He and his Rebbetzin had no Hashem, especially from limud haTorah, and he had absolutely no need for any- need for what others consider necessities. thing material. When, for example, he \vould deride over-involvement in food Sure enough, the Rosh Yeshiva years ago when the Rosh Yeshiva, due ("Steak? Who needs it!"), we knew that answered the knock. Before explain to health problems, was unable to sleep the Rosh Yeshiva \Vas far re1noved from ing the purpose of his visit, the young in a bed. such indulgence. man said, "It's an hour and a half after The Rosh Yeshiva was a very happy After the Rosh Yeshiva's first heart the z'man. Would the Rosh Yeshiva like individual. The sparkle in his eyes attack, in which eighty percent of his son1ething to eat?" revealed the true inner joy that he felt. heart muscle was destroyed, the doctors The Rosh Yeshiva replied matter-of He and his Rebbetzin had no need for said that the fact that his arteries were factly, "First, I must complete the sugya what others consider necessities. absolutely clean had saved his life. His with the Rambam." family then revealed that several years The Rosh Yeshiva was merely stating YISSACHAR'S TRANQUILITY earlier, the Rosh Yeshiva had stopped a fact: Torah was his lifeblood. Before eating 111eat because of kashrus con he could nourish his body, he needed e would often quote Yaakov cerns. When this was told to his dear to feed his neshama with the sugya and Avinu's blessing to Yissachar, friend and chavrusa, Rabbi Nachum Rambam. H who represents dedication to Partzovitz, ~"\;l'>';>W, of Mir-Yerushalyim, The first two summers after his Torah study. In that beracha, Yissachar is Reh Nachum quoted the passulc "Shomer first heart attack, he was in South likened to a donkey that carries a heavy nafsho yil'Chak midavar ra - He who Fallsburg bein hazemanim. (Normally, load. Yet, in the next passuk, Yaakov guards his soul will distance himself he remained in Brooklyn.) He spent vir speaks of menucha, tranquility, as being from anything of evil:' tually the entire day learning in the beis tov, good. The juxtaposition of a hard It has been said that teachers of Torah midrash of Yeshiva Zichron Moshe. working donkey without respite and are likened to Heavenly angels because One day, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi n1enucha seen1s contradictory. each n1alach is entrusted \Vith one Elya Ber Wachtfogel, ~"1»7w, asked him, The Rosh Yeshiva would become specific n1ission. A successful n1arbitz "What about resting a bit?" excited as he told us : The world has a Torah 1nust be consumed by his sacred The Rosh Yeshiva replied, "But I am 1nisconception about 1nenucha. 'fhey mission of imparting Torah and the resting! 1)uring the z'rnan, I prepare think that "the easy life" - vacations, derech haTorah to his talmidim. shiurin1 on Bava Basra; now I arn learn baseball, steaks, having a "good tin1e" - In our generation, the ]{ash Yeshiva ing Chullin." is 1nenucha, and that it is tov. But that is was the symbol of utter dedication to wholly incorrect. That sort of life is one the study and teaching of Torah. He had JUST VISITING of atzlus, laziness; it is not "good," and it no desire for anything outside of Torah does not result in a feeling of tranquility and rnitzvos. he home of the Chofetz Chaim and peace of mind. A few years ago, a forn1er Mirrer in Iladin \Vas the quintessential On the other hand, true attachment talmid living in Flatbush went to the T abode of one who truly lived to and grovvth in ·rorah does not co1ne Rosh Yeshiva's hon1e to invite hi1n to as a "visitor" on this planet. As the easily. One must be like a hard-work serve as sandak at his son's bris. The baby Chofetz Chaim once told someone ing donkey in accepting upon himself was born on Asarra Be'Teves. It was an who expressed surprise at his ho1ne's the yoke of Torah. The Rosh Yeshiva hour and a half after the fast had ended, stark simplicity, "Does a traveler take would tell us how his great rebbi, Rabbi and the talmid was informed that the his furniture with him? I an1 merely a Elchonon Wasserman) would demand of Rosh Yeshiva was in the yeshiva. But the traveler passing through this world." his chavrusa - a young bachur- that he young man did not find him in the beis His home had a set of table and chairs, not leave the beis n1idrash during their midrash. He knocked on his office door a small bookcase and a few beds. six-hour seder. Easy? Certainly not. But (which was simply a room for learning In his total disinterest for material it is this sort of dedication that results in privacy) but there \Vas no response. things, the Rosh Yeshiva had a most in true 1nenuchas hanefesh, joy, and Concerned, he asked son1eone where fitting partner in life. Anyone \vho has accon1plishn1ent. the Rosh Yeshiva might be. visited their home cannot fail to be The Rosh Yeshiva, as is well known, "He's probably in his office," came impressed by its utter lack of adorn learned ceaselessly with superhuman the reply, "but he is so immersed in ment. To my knowledge, the only new effort and devotion under the most his ]earning that he doesn't hear you. piece of furniture they acquired in sorne difficult circumstances. He suffered 7~; ~ Knock hard:' 50 years was a recliner purchased a fe\v first massive heart attack in 1972. ~0
18 weeks later, on the day of my wedding, (Bereishis 42,6). The Rosh Yeshiva noted: This was our Rosh Yeshiva. He was I, a yasorn, \Vas per111itted to enter the When in world history did a king, prime the great marbitz Torah, whose mind Rosh Yeshiva's bedroom to receive his n1inister or president personally involve was forever preoccupied with Torah. beracha. He was so weak that he could himself in providing food for his people? Yet, in his last years, he accepted upon not lift his head off the pillow. Even the best of presidents would not himself new responsibilities for the He defied the doctor's predictions, busy himself with such matters. For this, klal. He founded and oversaw a mul and some six n1onths later, resun1ed he has members of cabinet, chiefs of timillion dollar fund for bnei Torah of his intensive schedule of learning and staff, heads of departments. But Yoseif Eretz Yisroel who have been hard hit delivering shiurim vvith no easing up Hatzaddik was different. As viceroy, he by deep cuts in government funding. at all. When his family asked him to was "the ruler over the land," yet, at the He became an "ambassador of Torah;' allow time for more rest, he replied that san1e tin1e, he was the "provider to all delivering brilliant shiurinz in other according to the doctors, the fact that he the people," personally involved with yeshivos and kollelim in addition to his was alive and functioning was a miracle, the needs of the individual. regular shiurim at the Mir. And yet, he and in that case, he could assume that the miracle would allow him to learn just as before. It did.
EMES It hurts ome of the wealthiest men in the 1oc Torah con1n1unitv were attached Sto the Rosh Yeshiva heart and soul. A number of them maintained regular, private learning sessions with him. They vvept at his passing as a son \vould weep I for a father, and son1e accotnpanied the coffin to Eretz Yisroel. The Rosh Yeshiva did not engage in chanifa (flattery); he would never accord anyone special honor because of his wealth. To the contrary, he would some times tell a big donor, "I)o not consider yourself a great ba'al tzeddaka. A person It hurts must give according to his ineans. And according to your 1neans, you should be giving n1ore." And this is precisely why they loved him. He was kulo ctnes, his essence was truth. Everyone recognized his sincerity and revered him because of it. The great benefactors who attached It feels better just to talk about it. That's themselves to the Rosh Yeshiva were also why we're here. Our staff is made up of taken by his ehrlichkeit, by the fact that caring and sensitive individuals. Together, we can help you explore your options. We millions of dollars of tzeddaka funds can refer you to recognized professionals passed through his hands, but, he would for counseling, legal advice or help in nevertheless take nothing for himself - findlng a safe environment. We can also put you in touch with some very special even when he was clearly entitled to it. Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to you, you must first reach out to us. GOODNESS TO THE Confidential Hotline 1.888.883.2323 KLAL, GOODNESS TO (Toll Free) THE INDIVIDUAL 718.337.3700 (NYC Area) I A'nd Yoseif was the ruler over the Do it for yourself. I land, [and J he was the provider Do it for your children. Shdlorn Task Force 1s a 501(()(3) chJntable organ1LJt1on L ___ to-allt~e-p-eo~leofthe.land" I ------~ SUMMER 2. 0 0 8
vvas forever cognizant of the needs of stones? l)o we call a diamond a "dia- the individual. 1nond," or do we call it a "filling stone" because it fills its setting? THE MEASURE OF MAN The Rosh Yeshiva explained: There is a 1nessage here. These stones) with he the names of the (Tribes) • HOW to Evaluate Kohcin Gadolworethe Choshen Shevatim U>mpadb!Hty upon his chest. The face of the engraved upon them, represent the • HOW to Marry Choshcn had twelve precious Jewish people. A Jew's greatness is mea the RIGHT ONE! T stones, the Avnei Milluitn (Stones of sured by how much he "fills" - meaning, Order NOW! Filling, for they filled the golden settings he gives to others. into which they were placed.) On Erev Yam Kippur, one year before The Rosh Yeshiva asked: What makes his passing, the Rosh Yeshiva had a small this a name of distinction for precious snack after Shacharis and then visited soineone who was hospitalized. From there, he went to a family burdened with the stress of a homebound patient who needed round-the-clock care, care that the government did not pay for. The Rosh Yeshiva visited, offered his bemcha for the coming year, and quietly left an envelope on the table containing $15,000. * * * When the Rosh Yeshiva's son, Reb Leib, was hospitalized in New York with cancer, the Rosh Yeshiva beca1ne friendly \.vith a n1an whose teenage daughter was in the same hospital, in need of a refua. One Motza'ci Shabbos, while walk ing from shul back to the hospital, the THE VORT • The menu for the seuda is Rosh Yeshiva inquired about the 1nan's •· Yrie ·vari ·ceieGiat.ian· is ·tshiur. He concluded the one-and-a-half-hour shiur, davened Mincha with the yeshiva and then left for the hospital.' He suffered so much in his life. He lost his entire family in the Holocaust. He overca111e t\vo massive heart attacks. Rabbi Osher Kahmmowitz and Rab/Ji Render As is well known, after his first heart with Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum 7--~i. After you fast 40 attack in 1972, the doctor told him that he did not expect him to survive. The where they \Vere to observe shiva. The ta'aneisim, then you can Rosh YCshiva responded, «Have you ever Rosh Yeshiva escorted them into the come to me to suggest been wrong before? This time, you'll house, niade sure that they were settled be \Vrong." and had whatever they needed, and that we send a ta/mid He persevered after the tragic killing offered precious words of comfort and out of the yeshiva! of his precious son, Chai1n Shlon10, chizuk. The talmid later said that what and the passing from illness of his pre the Rosh Yeshiva did for him and his From that day on, the Rosh Yeshiva cious son, Reb Leib. When he carne to family on that day was indescribable. took a special interest in this bachur. be nzenacheirn aveil a talrnid chacham * * * Due to his loving influence, the bachur whose young child had been tragically When a grandson came to inform undervvent a co1nplete transformation killed in an accident, the Rosh Yeshiva him of the good news that his wife and is today an outstanding talrnid said, "Twice the Satan took children was expecting their first child, the Rosh chacham and marbitz Torah. from me to get me to stop learning, but Yeshiva responded, "And what is with ... ?" He shared in our troubles and he did not succeed." and he proceeded to say the Hebrew rejoiced in our sin1chos. Even in his We knew four decades ago that in names (and mothers' names) of five later years, he would attend not only the Rosh Yeshiva, we were seeing the childless talmidim for whom he was weddings of talmidim, but of talmi grandeur of Torah. And yet, as the mispalleil constantly. dim's children - but only after second years passed, he seemed to grow greater The Rosh Yeshiva taught me a lesson seder in Mirrer Yeshiva had ended. His and greater before our eyes, broaden in responsibility for the precious nesh utter dedication to his learning left its ing his horizons, embarking on new an1os that a yeshiva accepts into its ranks, unforgettable imprint upon an entire undertakings for the sake of Torah a lesson that I hope to never forget. generation. and its students. And all that time, he It happened when I was in the kollel * * ' remained firmly anchored to his seat of Mirrer Yeshiva. I discovered that a The Rosh Yeshiva recognized every and shtender in the back row of the bachur in the beis 1nidrash was involved person's individuality in molding Mirrer bcis midrash. with gambling and frequenting undesir- his talmidim. If at times, he seemed He learned and he taught until he ables places. I also learned that he was demanding, it was because he recog- literally had no strength. His lesson borrowing n1oney fro1n other talmiditn, nized that particular bachur's unique inspired and \vill continue to inspire an and there was real potential for his influ- potential, and wanted the bachur to entire generation. ence spreading. recognize it as well. Yehi zichro baruch! !J;J I discussed this with three other yun- Certainly, the Rosh Yeshiva himself gcleit and together we approached the was an incredible example of son1e- 5 In Baranovich, a son of the Rosh Yeshiva '.1- Rosh Yeshiva, inforn1ed him of the situ- one who overcame all odds to utilize rebbi, Rabbi Elcho non \Vassennan, took seriously i!l and was in bed at home, apparently near death. a ti on, and respectfully suggested that the his tre1nendous kochos hanefesh to the At tO:OO A.ivL, Rcb Elcho non donned his hat and bachur be asked to leave the yeshiva. fullest. coat to leave fOr yeshiva, where he \Vould say his It was the only time in 42 years that Decades ago, before his first heart daily shiw: Someone said to Rcb E!chonon, "How I saw the Rosh Yeshiva become flushed attack, the Rosh Yeshiva was delivering can rou leave your hoine at a time like this?" Reb E!chonon replied, "\!Vho kno\vs exactly what \Viii vvith anger. "Did you fast 40 ta'aneisim?" his daily shiur when son1eone came to help?" After he left, sonleonc suggested calling a he dernanded of us. ''After you fast 40 tell him that one of his sons had been local doctor who had not yet been consulted. That I ta'aneisi1n, then you can come to me struck by a car outside the yeshiva. The doctor administered an injection, which brought : to suggest that we send a talrnid out of Rosh Yeshiva calmly closed his Gemara, about an i1n1nediate irnproven1ent in the boy's [
Lye~h1va'"______···---~- ___::•:wrn=> b:__::••··=W '"~_d SUMMER 2 0 0 8
RABBI ELI EZER GINSBURG* Ein Tov la Torah There Is No ''Good'' Other Than Torah IMPRESSIONS OF HAGAON HARAV
Rabbi Shmuel Bloom with Ral1bi Bercnbnwn 7":~n. SHMUEL BERENBAUM 7"::lr
ISH HA'ESHKOLOS His every action succeeded in bringing Whether in the early hours of honor to Kial Yisroel, to the Torah, and the morning or late at night, he efore atte1npting to write a tribute to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. To explain shared his time with anyone who to an outstanding Torah person such a person's essence is surely beyond would approach him to learn with Bality, one n1ust recognize that anyone's reach. \Nhat follows is merely him. One individual who hosted it is truly in1possible for son1eone to a superficial atten1pt to share so1ne him overnight could not sleep, so he understand and explain the essence of insights on just a few aspects of the gad came down at three in the morning any individual. The Gemara in Shabbos lusof Hagaon Harav Shmuel Berenbaum, to find the Rosh Yeshiva sitting and says that a person is like a sefer Torah. 7.. llt, the late Rosh Yeshiva of the Miner learning. The host complained of a Thus, if son1eone is present when a per Yeshiva. They can serve as lessons for all headache that had kept him awake. son passes away, no matter who he is, the of us and project a light into the dark The Rosh Yeshiva told him, "I can surviving \'\fitness has a chiyuv kcria-he ness of our galus, galus America. take your headache away. Come, sit must rip his garment in 1nourning as Chazal use an expression "ish down and learn with me." when a sefer Torah is nisraf (burnt). A ha' eshkolos" - literally, a man of clus * * * sefer Torah is infinite in its depth: There ters- to describe "ish sheyeish bo hakoI'' On a flight, a passenger who is no limit to the profundity of every a n1an who possesses a wide array spotted the Rosh Yeshiva sitting and single passuk in a sefer Torah - or even of talents, skills and knowledge. This learning in the coach area offered of a word or of a single letter. description has been applied to Rabbi him a seat in first class. The Rosh The same is true regarding any indi Shmuel Berenbaum in the sense that he Yeshiva responded, "I have a better vidual, but all the more so when that was able to reach absolutely everyone idea. Give your first-class seat to the person was the quintessence of aha on each person's level of interest and person sitting next to me [who hap vas haTorah (love for Torah), ameilus ability. He was able to share his wealth pened to be a gentile], and you take baTorah (laboring in Torah), yegias of knowledge with everyone, regardless the seat next to me. We'll spend an haTorah (exhaustive effort in Torah of their age, their depth of comprehen enjoyable time learning together." study), chessed, tefilla - in short, every sion, or their background. I observed facet of avodas Hashem (Divine service). him learning with a young child, with LIVING A LIFE OF Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum was the very a person who was immersed in the TORAS CHESSED personification of" Kol hanikra bishmi secular "\Vorld, with son1eone who was lichvodi barasiv - All that I have cre totally involved in his pursuit of par aras chessed al leshono - His ated is meant to bring honor to Me:' nassa ... \Vith a ben Torah, a rash yeshiva tongue was an instrun1ent of or another gadol hador. -~~ ___ T generosity, as he shared his Torah RABBI GINSBUR<; IS RAV OF AGUDATll !SRAEL SNIFF ZICHRON Sl!M\.IEL AND ROSH Kol.I.El. IN THE MmREl? thoughts, insights and interests with YESHIVA JN HHOOKLYN. llE JS ;\I.SO ROSH YES/flVA OF YESHIVA ZICllHON LEYi\11\N OF LINDEN, NJ. everyone who could gain fron1 them. People trusted him - entrusting their *The first tin1e the author 1net the Rosh Yeshiva was on the boat that transported the Mirrer Yeshiva from Shanghai to San Francisco, in the beginning of Januaty, 1946. The author was then a baby. Since wealth with him so that others could there \Vas no crib on board, he was constantly rolling off the bed. When his mother, Rebbetzln Zlata benefit. He was a leading founder of Malka Ginsburg, saw the Rosh Yeshiva sitting with his sbtender on deck, swaying back and forth for an organization that distributes funds hours on end, she took her young child (the author) and, with pc1mission, placed hiln on the Rosh to needy bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel for Yeshiva's lap. That is where be sat during the day throughout the voyage, until arriving at San Francisco.
22 Yan1itn 10vim. He was able to influ ever did anyone feel that he was infring What lessons he taught us! For exam ence people of nleans, because he vvas ing on him. How is that possible? Because ple, when his \vife was not well, and always there for them, sharing his everyone felt that hakol bo, we all were stayed in the Haym Salomon Home Torah with them, without receiving in his heart. Talmud Torah is kenegged for rehabilitation, he slept there every any co1npensation. kula1n- it out\veighs any consideration night, and spent the Pesach Yorn Tov His 1'oras chessed was expressed of inconvenience or discomfort. there with her. in a yeshiva ketana, speaking to the He was a sefer Torah - a live sefer He carried so n1uch on his shoul young children, influencing them in Torah, as Rav Moshe Feinstein called ders and was so busy preparing and ahavas haTorah, teaching them the him. A live sefer Torah, but again, in the delivering shiuritrz and shn1uessen, yet sweetness of Torah, saying, for exam san1e vein, shehakol ho. He had room the needs of other individuals - each ple, "Can anyone say that ice cream for all of us, for such is the nature of a of his children, his many talmidim, the is not sweet? Did anyone ever add heart filled with Torah. He unstintingly ba' alebattim, the tinokos she/ be is rab sugar to his ice cream cone ... If so, gave his own ti1ne, money and health ban - \Vere never shunted aside. Even why is it necessary to ask Hakadosh for others. the mentally ill were in his heart and Baruch Hu every morning, 'veha'arev na- make Torah sweet? Isn't it sweet already? Ifs sweeter than ice cream!" When children would observe him sitting and learning, the message was loud and clear. "Torah pos MOTHERS AND FATHERSAUGNED SAVING KIDS INTERNATIONAL sesses sweetness, even more than ice cream!" The Rosh Yeshiva encountered a wealthy individual who devoted his major time and effort in his office toward expanding his wealth, and he impressed upon him that that's not called living. Before he met the Rosh Yeshiva, this person had not had a spare minute to learn. Upon hear ing these words, and allowing them to enter into his heart, this man was suddenly able to designate time for sitting and learning ... He is currently on his second cycle through Shas. Ish shehakol bo. Everyone was touched by him. He was a lesson to everyone and he left a living impression on everyone. After all, what was his life all about? Nothing for himself. Furniture? An old table with old chairs. Sefarim? Torn from usage. Nothing but Torah mattered. When this message was conveyed, the neshama of every Yid - which, after all, had been at Ma'amad Har Sinai, had declared "Na'aseh venishma:' and had heard the Asseres Hadibros - was touched by this adam gado/, who was there for everyone. A bachurwho did not understand his rebbi's shiurcounted going over the same material with the Rosh Yeshiva 80 times, again and again ... never, ever losing his patience ... Never, ever was the ans\ver: Be our partner! 2570 Nostrand Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11210 www.maskparents.org i c:w~"':,,=,:: ------~---:J SUMMER 2 0 0 8 ··------, 1~-=~~- ...... ····-~-==-~- ·======·--·-··· ------I
mind. Erev Yom Kippur, he traveled to haben would be able someday to upstate New York to visit an individual tell his son with pride: "Do you \vho \Vas en1otionally unstable. When know who walked across town to that person saw hi1n, he can1c run be your sandak on Rosh Hashana at ning, and grabbed him in a bear hug. 5:00 in the afternoon? The Mirrer (The driver who had brought the Rosh Rosh Yeshiva!" Yeshiva there was afraid that after that If a choleh (someone sick) needed C1tild Development Specialists greeting, all of the Rosh Yeshiva's ribs him, he was there. If attending a cha Helping Infants &Toddlers would be broken.) suna during a snowstor1n rneant that witl1 Developmental Delays and Disabilities Shehakol /Jo, ish ha'eshkolos. lf he he would have to travel by four-wheel felt that people gained chizuk from his drive jeep, he did just that. presence) he was there - at chasunos, bar We could continue on and on. The 1nitzvos, levayos, brissos. message is loud and clear: Ish ha'eshkolos. One Rosh Hashana late after Torah that is kenegged kulam was there ... noon- davening ended quite late Kial Yisroel, who are shakul (equal) to in the Mirrer Yeshiva - I met him all, were also there. This included every walking in the street. I asked him, one, no matter one's past, present, or ''\'\There is the Rosh Yeshiva going?n future. This was clearly demonstrated His reply: nsomeone from the at the levaya, where thousands upon Sephardi community has a bris thousands of people, from all walks of and invited me to be the sandak." life, were there. This is just a sin1an - a That meant cutting his meal short, Divine message - as to \'lrhat we are try and walking a distance after the ing to bring out, what we have lost, and long, strenuous davening, expend what has been left for us as a model to ing those last kochos, so the avi en1ulate. Yehi zichro baruch. !1!J
Evaluation and a full range of Therapeutic Services provided at our Center or in the privacy For careful attention to your of your home individual needs, call us today! Bilingual Services Available (845) 354-8445 Services are provided based on the child's needs as determined by the NYC Early Intervention Progratn. The Early Intervention Official will determine the location and provider of any You can! Iust call needed services. This Earlv Intervention Progrrun is funded & regulated by the NYC Dept. The Yitti Leibel of Health & Mental Hygiene. Helpline. HOURS: Executive Offices: lvlonday-Friday ...... 8a1n - l 2p111 Monday-Thursday ...... 8pm -l l pin 649 Thirty-Ninth Street Sunday ...... 9am -12pn1, 9p1n ~ l lp1n Brooklyn, New York I 123 2 ~ill 718-HELP-NOW 1-~~ (718) 435-7669 Queens Office: Chicago ...... (800) HELP-023 Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 70-14 141st Street Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 Flushing, New York 11367 lfaltimore ...... (410) 578-1111 Detrnit ...... (877) 435-7611 San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 SERVING BROOKLYN, QUEENS, li>rooto ...... (416) 784-1271 The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Branch of the Yitti Leibel Helpline , STATEN ISLAND & MANHATTAN '1"!' o)!'il''11 i11J '.:rNlDt':' ·1 n:i N'Pn ;-rn :m.Jt') 11)~1 ';r I 1;i·(_,\.~l1 ~"t': ~' :nL'DJ) b:··:~ei.c:_ THE JE\Vl~H 0USERVER ------·---·------
RABBI MOSHE TlJVIA LIEFF Rav Shmuel Berenbaum ?"::lt QUINTESSENTIAL MASMID, - AND YET. ..
The Rosh Yeshiva was the paradigm of ameilus, the quintessential "masmid of the Torah velt." His constant, total immersion in learning was legendary. Not even the impromptu arrival of New York State Governor Nelson Rockefeller into the Mirrer Yeshiva Beis Midrash distracted him from his beloved Gemara for a moment.
And yet, ... Suri Feldman, a young Bais Yaakov girl, disap financial successes and celebrating their creature co1nforts. peared without a trace in a vast state park in New England. He came from the fargangene velt- the far away land of the The youngster had been separated from her group during a Chofetz Chaim and Rav Elchonon Wassserman. Yet ... he Lag Ba Omer outing, and was missing for three days. Tehillirn understood our dar - our generation and times. "Ehr hatt and tefi/los filled every school and beis midrash throughout the unz fahrshtahnen" - he really understood us. length and breadth of the United States and beyond. Askanim This dichotomy can be understood with the Rebbi's insight arranged a comprehensive search and rescue 111ission, \Vith into Yaakov Avinu. It sheds light, revealing an inner glimpse buses lining Coney Island Avenue. Thousands volunteered in into his o\vn persona. the wee hours of the morning. The buses were nearing capacity Yaakav Avinu inakes a puzzling, startling) declaration: and about to depart when suddenly, a figure was seen striding "Eilcha ve'er'ena beterrem amus- I will go and see him [Yoseif] purposively on Avenue R frotn the direction of the Mirrer before I die." Of course he must see his long lost son before Yeshiva. It was the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shmuel, with tallis and he dies. Once he dies, it will be too late. The Rosh Yeshiva tefillin in one hand and a suitcase packed with sefarim in the clarified this with the exhortation of Rav Elchonon to his other. He began to board the bus. The talmidim protested that taltniditn in Baranovich: the Rosh Yeshiva was not up to the arduous search. "Kinderlach, cha pt areinet, geyt zenn der Chafetz Chaim! Ver : ''Ze iz a Yiddishe tochter- mein tochter. Vas tut men nisht vaist tzu 1nen vet eich areinlozen in zein 1nechitzas in yenne velt!- I fahr a tochter? - She is a Jewish daughter - she is my daugh Kinderlach, seize the moment and go see the Chofetz Chaim [in ter. What don't we do for a daughter?" The Rebbi was finally Radin]. Who knows if in the Other World, where they really [' convinced that his shiurand learning would produce far more know who the Chofetz Chaim is, you will even be permitted . effective results. Only then did he agree to descend from the to enter the exalted spheres that he will be inhabiting." ' bus and head back to the yeshiva .... She was miraculously Similarly, Yaakov Avinu declares (according to the rebbi), "I I found unharmed within hours. must go see Yoseif, my son, before I die. In Heaven, they know ·
exactly who he is. There, he is known as' Yoseif Hatzaddik.' He ,I SIMPLE, AUSTERE AND YET ... withstood the toughest temptations of this world. He was chal-
lenged by the yeitzer hara face to face, and Yoseif triumphed. I' e abhorred all materialism. He lived a simple, austere Ver vaist ... who kno,vs if they will allow nle into his environs lifestyle, shunning the temporal pleasures of this in Olam habba. I better chap arein in de velt." : H world. And yet, ... he connected symbiotically, heart Yaakov Avinu was the paradigm of"Jsh tam yosheiv ohalim- I and soul, with the wealthiest of Yidden, rejoicing in their the'' bechir ha'Avas," and yet, he recognized the greatness of his Ii
------~------son who was challenged and seduced but never succumbed. RABBI Llfo:FF IS RAV OF K'HAL 13AIS Y!SROEI. Of-' MINNE.'\l'OU:>, AND A MAG Our rebbi, Rav Shmuel, was kulo Torah, the masmid , GID Sii/UR ON Dlc\f.-A-DAF ANO D!A!.-A-S!!l!'R. HE !S THE FOU'.'JOER OF Till· Ml'.'JNI·:Al'OLJS COMMLl,'lll'Y KOU.ET .. hador. _J 25
------·~·-·------·------·------... SUMMER 2 0 0 8
And yet, ... he understood the chal And yet, ... at precisely 3:30 p.m., "Vos zol ich tohn?" was his reply." Ich lenges of our day and the incredible the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shmuel, stood hob probiert, ober es is ekeldik. I tried, but n1esiras nefesh of our people consis up to leave. As he was parting from his what can I do? Every morsel of chicken tently being omeid benisayon. He loved colleagues, they inquired as to where he tastes revolting." Amerikaner Yidden and bnei Torah was going, what need was so pressing I consulted with my rebbi on count because he truly respected us. He that necessitated his early departure less occasions, seeking his da' as Torah on allowed us access to him, thereby par from this incredibly important meeting? n1any community issues as well as those ticipating in his access to us. \i\/ithin "Tzveiten seder," he replied. He had to of a personal nature. Nearly twenty years his Torah milieu, he had an incredible return to the yeshiva in11nediately to be ago, I traveled together with several weltanschauung and practical perspec on time for the second seder oflearning. askanim to the Rosh Yeshiva to ask about tive of galus America. As he left, there was a slight dissension imple1nenting in1portant changes in and quiet murn1uring from some of the yeshiva ketana. Many had expressed the remaining gedolim, as if to imply concern, while some were opposed to OF OVERRIDING that they also valued Torah learning, the proposed plan. Their prediction was IMPORTANCE, AND YET but this was an asifa of great in1port. that we would lose half the student body. As the door to the office closed, Rabbi We presented the she' eila to him. He Pam exclaimed, paraphrasing Chazal: smiled and opened a Gemara Shabbos is conte1nporaries recognized "Der Yid vett mechayev zein alleh roshei (88a), relating how Hakadosh Baruch his greatness. At an asifa oflead yeshivas." Just as Hillel was machayev Hu held the mountain over the Jews, H ing roshei yeshivos in the office the impoverished to strive for great coercing Kial Yisroel into accepting the of Maran 1-farav Pam, ?"::lt, Rosh Yeshiva heights oflearning, and Rebbi obligated Torah. Ask Tosafos, hadn't they already of Torah Vodaath and chairman of the the wealthy, so too, Rav Shmuel would declared "Na' aseh venishma," willingly, Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath be rnechayev all roshei yeshivas to attain joyfully accepting the Torah? Why was Israel of America) the issues \Vere of great the greatest possible level of hasmada it forced upon them? Explain Tosafos, importance and sensitivity. They directly and learning. it is because the Torah would be given impacted on Kial Yisroel, and the gedolim with a great fire. Those supernatural had gathered from all across the East HEALTHY, NOUIUSHING pyrotechnics possibly would terrify Kial Coast to deliberate and decide. AND YET ... Yisroel. Hence, the need for coercion. Asked Reb Shmuel, "Why didn't Hashem give the Torah without this? any years ago, I sat next to Why force it upon them? They could KARKA IN ERETZ YISROEL the Rosh Yeshiva and other have 1naintained an open acceptance of Call Rabbi Gavrie! Beer for information on obtaining cemetery plots in Beth Shemesh M adrnoriln and gedolirn at a the Torah with the joyous declaration of and other locations in Israel. se'udas mitzva. It was very late at night 'Na'aseh venishma!' Why the fire?" 011-972-2-656-9427 vvhen the 1neal was served. No one at the Said Reb Shmuel with a smile, "Veil table was eating. I, too, refrained from Torah ohn eish iz nisht kein Torah. Torah eating. Noticing my dinner untouched, without fire is not Torah. Mir muzzen the rebbi asked me, "Moshe Tuvia,farvos boyen Torah in Minneapolis und di est ihr nisht - Why aren't you eating?" derech haTorah iz mit eish." Torah in I replied that I felt uncomfortable eat Minneapolis requires fire. We had our ing since no one else had touched their answer. .. We did not lose one talmid. food. "Mir zennen eltere 111entchen- VVe And yet, ... the Rosh Yeshiva's"eish" are older people and it is hard for us to his fire - did not sear or singe. It was a eat fleishigs so late at night. Ihr zeit a fire that warmed and soothed. yunger mentch - You are a young tnan; you have to eat:' * * * And yet. .. flying to Yerushalayim with He once saw a sign in the Mirrer his aron, one of his sons told me that as Yeshiva beis midrash that outlined the oflate, the Rosh Yeshiva had not touched zemanei hayeshiva (daily schedule). It any fleishigs. A piece of chicken or meat concluded with night seder, starting at did not pass his lips - not at a simcha, nine o'clock and ending at eleven thirty. nor on Yorn Tov. His son, Reb Avraham, Reb Shmuel took down the sign, saying, asked him, "Ta, can't you find any "Seder never ends." hechsher that you are comfortable with? So, too, will his influence over the Is there no shochet that youtrus-~~---- talm1d1mandKlalY1~oel-never en:J
26 ------==l
RUBEN SCHH.ON, AS TOLD TO AVROHOM 8IH.NBAUM MY RELATIONSHIP WITH RAV SHMUEL BERENBAUM~"~
Ruben Schron (to the left of the Rosh Hayeshiva) with two sons.
hat can I say about Reb Shmuel? He CONSTANTLY PRIVILEGED had an absolutely breathtaking, wide TO HEAR HIS TORAH ranging knowledge of Torah with a W lthough I was never formally in Reb Shmuel's shiur, depth so great that it is beyond comprehension. I was constantly privileged to hear chiddushei Torah Reb Shmuel never stopped learning and his mind A from him. The only way to have a real relationship was constantly working. with Reb Shmuel was through Torah. I first got to know Reb Shmuel when I was a stu I live around the corner from the yeshiva and therefore, when Reb Shmuel would walk home from yeshiva, he would dent in the Mirrer Yeshiva and he was a yungerman pass by my house. On his way home, he would come into in kollel. At that time, Rabbi Mordechai Ginsburg, the house because he just had to share with me a vort on Chumash that he had been mechadeish. His enthusiasm was whose shiur I was privileged to attend, was the contagious. He wanted to hear my comments and input, talk Rosh Yeshiva. I also developed a close relationship in learning, and, if necessary, argue over the vort. There were with Reb Shmuel's father-in-law, Rabbi Avraham no airs about him whatsoever. VVhen he would come into Kalmanowitz. As we got older, we began to learn the house on Shabbos, other family members would also listen to the d'var Torah related by this giant. Reb Shmuel Yoreh Dei'a and would be tested on it by Reb told them that not only should they listen, but if they had Avraham, or "the Rav," as he was called. any comments or questions, they should not be ashamed to From the time I first met Reb Shmuel, it was clear come forth and relate them."! want to hear what you have to say about it, too!" that he was a great masmid. When Rabbi Mordechai His relationship with ba'aleibattim did not have its source Ginsburg tragically and suddenly passed away at in money at all; it was purely Torah based. He would approach them, saying, "Come and learn with me;' and offer various a young age during the summer of 1960, Rabbi times that might work - very early in the morning, long Avraham Kalmanowitz asked Reb Shmuel to begin before davening; Friday afternoon; or very late at night. He delivering the shiur. was always available and always ready with a smile and a good-humored remark; however, the primary component RUBEN SCHF~ON IS A !IJ!_IS.IHAC/-1 OF MlRrtER YESHIVA. ENGAGED IN f{EAL ESTATE, of the relationship was Torah. Hf: IS ACTIVELY l'.\IVOL\/FD lN TO({AH SUPPORT ANO OTHER COMl\.H;NAL AFFAIRS.
OHOM BIRNB/\UM, AN HlUCATOR UVl"IG TN LAKE\\/00£.J, IS A COl.l!MNJST HAMODIA AND A FREQUENT CONTROHJTOR TO nJESE PAGES. L: -----·---·- ----·-·------·--·-·-"______,,_ ------SUMMER 2008
When one would learn with him the establishment of the "Berenbaum Reb Shmuel, a person who was always or talk in learning, he would propose Fund," it reached a new level. totally in1mersed in learning and \Vho a p'shat, but even that was done with What was the "Berenbaum Fund?" had a deep seated love for bnei Torah, humility. He would always ask with As a result of the drastic funding cuts could not sit by when families of talmidei co1nplete sincerity, "Efsher - perhaps, made by the Israeli governn1ent several chachamim who spent their days and you have a better p's/wt, or a different years ago, many thousands of kollel night learning were suffering fro1n such way of learning this sugya?" families in fretz Yisroel began to suffer deprivation. That first year, before Pcsach, acute poverty. If they had been living he decided to establish a fund that would A NEW THRESHOLD under very attenuated conditions before, help yungeleit in Erct:: Yismel pay for their the government cuts created a situa holiday needs. He approached me and hroughout the years, our relation tion wherein they could be lacking the others, asking us to help underwrite his ship was always strong, but in the most basic necessities. Extra expenses ambitious ca1npaign. Tlast years of his life, beginning with incurred at times like Yam ](Jv beca1ne a One of the amazing things about Reb burden simply too difficult to bear. Shmuel was the fact that when it came to 111aterial matters, he required nothing for himself. One had to see the way he We are pleased to announce that lived. His home was the symbol of the ultimate simplicity. One would think Yeshiva Ohr HaDaas that a person who required naught, who Staten Island, New York lived with such a low level of material needs and wants would be incapable of is now accepting applications from exceptional transcending that simplicity, incapable young n11n >):l who wish to join the n11::in of even co1nprehending why anyone else would need more. Reb Shmuel, for next zman. however, vvas different. He was adamant that yungeleit should be able to purchase Now entering its sixth year, the n11::in has learned and clothing and food befitting Yam Tov. reviewed over fourteen hundred blatt of N1Y.l) with Before that first Pesach of the fund's 0>)1\!IN1, as well as hundreds of o>JY.l'O of 11\J and operation, we managed, spurred by Reb Sh1nuel's enthusiasm and perseverance, 1n)J 1n?111.1. to go above and beyond the call of duty by raising millions of dollars to be We are proud that some of our 0>1m::i have married, and distributed to thousands of poor kollel founded the Kolle) of Yeshiva Ohr HaDaas. This has families. We thought then that it was created several openings, and the Yeshiva is actively a one-time undertaking. Reb Shmuel, however, did not think that way. After seeking several committed 0'1'Y.l!lY.l of 17-21 years of age the sum1ner, he again came and asked, who wish to join the n11::m in Elul. "How about Sukkos?" He was so deter mined to ease the plight of bnei Torah If you are interested in learning N!l:::>?m1 N'.PJN N!l!l)JY.ll!J, in Bretz Yisroel that one simply could and are ready for the best zman of your life, please not say no. contact us promptly. FRUITS OF THE JUMP STAIU The Yeshiva's program has been endorsed by HaGaon HaKav Chaim Kanievski, Shlita, HaGaon hat fund also served as a jump HaKav Michel Y. Lefkovitz, Shlita, and HaGaon start for several organizations that embarked on similar work. HaKav Aharon Leib Steinman, Shlita. T Soon, son1e 25,000 families were receiv To request an application, or for further information, ;n\~ substantial checks tv-.rice yearly, for ,, 'Jws and Pesach. The first fund to be please call Rabbi Yosaif Asher Weiss at established in the wake of Reb Shmuel's 917-838-8328 or 718-317-7845. fund was the Yad Avrohom fund, under \Vritten by several well-known askanim from the New York area. That fund l_------helped further widen the circle of recipi- i-=-~=~~~==~--~~-~=~-- -~~==~======~ -~-:-:-~~-~~-:~~~- '' __o_a~~:-~-~=~~~-~=====------=l His son asked him how he had the strength to say the shiur when he had not had the strength just a couple of hours earlier when he was preparing to leave the hospital, to don his shirt by himself. Reh Shmuel replied with simplicity, "For Torah, I have kochos."
ents. Eventually, other funds like Ku pat me that the Rosh Yeshiva was simply that it was one o'clock, he said, "Oy, it Ha'ir, Vaad Harabbanim and the like feeling too weak and unwell, and would is time to say the shiur!" He then ran were established. not be able to come. into the yeshiva and began to deliver Another spin off of Reb Shmuel's Fifteen minutes later, I received the shiur, forgetting about the driver, vision and mesirus nefesh for bnei Torah another call from Reb Osher. "My father forgetting that he had just left the hos· \Vas the Lake\vood can1paign initiated will be coming," he said. "Reb Chaim pital, forgetting about his weakness last year with the assistance of my Kanievsky gave him a special beracha and his serious medical condition. He son Mordechai, to help rebbei'im and that he should be able to come despite just had to say the shiur. kollel yungeleit in advance of Pesach. his precarious condition and tremen His son asked him how he had the Every rebbi in every Lake\vood tnossad dous weakness." strength to say the shiur when he had (institution) and many kollel yungeleit, Reb Shmuel undertook the difficult not had the strength just a couple of too, were assisted in procuring many journey fro1n Bnei Brak to Yerushalayirn, hours earlier when he was preparing of the basic necessities for Pesach. Reb and spoke for some 45 minutes, relating to leave the hospital, to don his shirt Avraham Fruchthandler implemented co1nprehensive divrei Torah on Sukkos, by himself. a sin1ilar program in Yeshiva Chain1 and encouraging all to give generously. Reb Shmuel replied with simplicity, Berlin, providing rebbei'im and kollel Seeing how weak he \Vas, his tremendous "For Torah, I have kochos.''. yungeleitpre· Yorn Tov bonuses to absorb rnesirus nefesh was truly unforgettable. When it came to Torah, Reb Shmuel the exorbitant Yo111 Tov costs. When Rav Osher asked him how he completely transcended the laws of All of this began with the effort of had been able to undertake the trip nature. fl!) Reb Shmuel Berenbaum, who himself and speak publicly for so long, he said, required nothing more than a blatt "Lichvod ha Torah, I have all of the Gemara! He had the vision, ko'ach and strength that I need." siyata diShemaya to push it through. Clioose 'llnfi.mited AN UNLIMITED LOVE 1Ve{f-'Being A DEDICATED SUKKOS EVENT v ·...... ·.... ·.. ·.. ··· .. ·.... "·· 0 ne last vignette depicting Reb Ji. a 1Jrug-:free Zone very year, on Sukkos, I made a sim- Shmuel's love of Torah, a love tress-Trauma-Se/fwEsteem-Pain chas beis hasho'eiva fundraiser for that simply transcended the nxiety-Sholom Bayis issues-Phobias EReb Shmuel's fund in my sukka in human condition, occurred when he Gentle Techniques>lncredible Results! Yerushalayitn. In addition to the many was in the n1idst of receiving treatn1ents gedolei Yisroe/ who would attend, many for his illness. He was in the hospital Call Miriam Langsam MS, EFT-Adv, CH philanthropists from chutz /a'Aretzwho undergoing chemotherapy. Upon his 718,854.3808 one-to-one /by phone /groups were in Bretz Yisroel for Yam Tov would release from that round, I sent my Endorsed by Rabbanim come. The highlight of the event was driver to the hospital to pick up the Rosh Reb Shmuel's drasha. Yeshiva. He was supposed to stop at the During this past Sukkos, the last yeshiva for a minute so that the Rosh Sukkos of his life, when he was already Yeshiva could pick something up, and HAT BEl.JS so weak, his rnesirus nefesh, combined then take the Rosh Yeshiva home. Hats • Shirts • Ties •Accessories with his love for bnei Torah and his It was hours later. My driver still had desire to transcend his own condition, not returned. I called him and asked Your #1 Stop his own terrible pain, in order to help what had happened. My driver told me, for them, came to the fore. That Sukkos, he "I don't know. I picked him up from Quality Hats went to Eretz Yisroel to spend Yorn 1ov the hospital, and stopped at the school I as he did every year with the family of where the Rabbi was supposed to go for
his late son, Reb Leibel, in Bnei Brak. As a tninute. He still has not come out." 1· usual, I hosted the reception on behalf I immediately called the yeshiva and 1368 Coney Island Avenue
of Reb Shmuel's fund in my sukka in I found out that when Reb Shmuel had (71 B) 377-5050 1' Yerushalayim. On the day of the recep- come into the yeshiva, he had asked Major credit cards accepted. we ship UPS L''_h1s son, Reb Osher, called and-told - --~hat t1meitwas~-~~en he was told ...... ------..... _d
Several days before this past Pesach, Kial Yisroel suffered a profound loss with the passing of Rabbi Alter Chanoch Henach Leibowitz, •:,,.;)lr, Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim. He had assumed this position over 64 years ago, when only 24 years old, with the sudden petira of his father, Hagaon Rabbi Dovid Liebowitz, ';i";)lT. Reb Henach left behind a flourishing yeshiva in Queens, as well as a network of yeshivas across the country. Equally significant is the profound influence that he had on many hundreds of talmidim over the decades. In the pages that follow, we present tributes by two of his disciples who were exceptionally close to Reb Henach over the years: "70 Years of Kiddush Sheim Shamayim," by Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginzberg, and "A Talmid's Personal Reminiscences" Moreinu Harav Alter Chanoch Henach Leibowitz, ';i";)lT," by Rabbi Yitzchok Brandriss.
RABBI ARYEH Z. GINZBERG
70 Years of A TALM/0'5 RECOLLECTION OF MARAN HAGAON KIDDUSH RAV HENACH LEIBOWITZ, 7":::lr, SHEIM ROSH HAYESHIVA OF SHAMAYIM YESHIVA CHOFETZ CHAIM
hen Eliyahu Hanavi died, his devoted disciple Elisha Hanavi cried out, "Avi, Avi, rechev Yisroel ufarashav" W (Melachim II, 2, 12). The con11nentaries question why he first used a singular \Vord "Avi" - My father - and not "Avirn1 - Our father, and then used a collective noun, saying" Rechev Yisroel ufarashav" - including all of Yisroel. One of the maspidim at the levaya of Hagaon Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, ?""Yt, explained that there were two aspects to the loss of Eliyahu Hanavi. One is the personal loss felt only by Elisha, the ta/mid; and then there is the great colossal loss to all of Kial Yisroel. When an adam gadol passes away there are two different expres sions of loss and pain. One is felt by his talmidim, which is an ernotional, excruciating, and all-consun1ing feeling, and the other is the public awareness of the Joss of one of the gedolei hador in an era where Torah leadership is suffering with the recent passing of so many gedolei Yisroel. The author with the Ro5h Haycshiva. With the recent petira of our beloved rash hayeshiva and rebbi, Maran Hagaon Harav Alter Chanoch Henach Leibowitz, ?··yr, there is a need to express in words the personal loss felt by his hundreds of RAHBt GINJ'.l\f:RG. FOliND!NG R,\V OF 0111< MostU TORAH talmidim from his more than 64 years of being the Rosh Hayeshiva ' [C\STJTUTE IN f!ll.t.CREST, NY, IS C( iRRENTl.Y RAV OFTltE C110FET7. of Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim, as well as to portray the extent of the ' (H\IM loR'\H (INl!R OF CrOARHlRSI (LONG IS!A:'>;D), N~\\ __"'"' H'_"~"'=" NT COY•R•RUH>R TO''''" "AG>'_ L -lo~~o-the ent1re:o:~h-~orld.____ ··-· ··-····· ··-··-···- . _d SUMMER • 0 0 8 ------r-=------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The second part is the easier one. His father, Hagaon Reb David, ';>··~r, his father's place? Most thought not. The To attempt to explain the depths of the founded Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim in Rosh Hayeshiva thought differently. feelings of his talrnidim is truly a her 1933 in the Williamsburg section of Rabbi Nola Greenblatt from Memphis 1 culean task. Not a day has passed since Brooklyn to inspire his talmidim with was present at Reb David's levaya, and his levaya (funeral) without one or more the vision and grandeur of Slobodka he ren1embers the impression that the talrniditn contacting 1ne to convey their and Radin. Just eight years later, in 1941, Rosh Hayeshiva left on all those assem heartfelt thoughts and memories of the on the I 5'" day of Kisleiv (December bled as he rose to be maspid his beloved Rosh Hayeshiva, ':>""1. I will share some of 6), at the young age of 52, Reh Dovid father and rebbi: "It was as if he had them with the reader in this article. passed away. been blessed with a new strength, a new On Tuesday, the I I'" day of Nissan, Reb Henach was only 24, was not resolve. He spoke powerfully, clearly, only days before families in Kial Yisroel yet married, and had just concluded a passionately. He spoke of the hashpa'a began celebrating the Yam Tovof Pesach, two-year period of severe illness; he had and influence that his father had had on we - the collective family of the talmi suffered a ruptured appendix, and for his talmidim, and we heard a promise in dirn of Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim - had several weeks, his life had hung in the his voice. VVe knew then that the yeshiva our lives ripped wide open with the balance. (In fact, "Alter" was added to \vould survive." passing of our beloved rebbi, Rosh his naine at that time and remained with Hayeshiva and father, Hagaon Harav him throughout his life.) Could a sickly THE EARLY YEARS Henach Leibowitz, ?":::n. young man even think of stepping into o describe the early years as dif ficult would be a gross under staten1ent. "Nearly i1npossible" Special Issue about T would be inore accurate. A young rosh ''l'Orah Integrity in the hayeshiva, thrust into his new position Workplace,.. and also in the early 1940s in America, with a "The Well-Guarded Tongue". small student body, many of whom \Vere older than hin1, in extre1nely dif They're abuzz about the ficult tin1es, all con1bined to create a September issue on formidable situation. ''.Adults at Rish of But the Rosh Hayeshiva accepted spiritual oblivion." upon his young frail shoulders the responsibility to carry forth his father's n1esora and vision for Torah in An1erica. The Rosh Hayeshiva, ';>··~r, would always tell us that he had loved his father so It's not too late to getthe current much that he wanted him to live on by October Jewish Observer focusing on having his goals, inethods and niesora Shalom Bayis - the challenges, some successful continue. Fifty years later, when his approaches, and their rewards ... plus special features, yeshiva was already well established current topics, and historical reminiscences from and his talmidim were spreading Torah leading writers and commentators. throughout the country, he would claim that he did not embellish his father's teachings. He only served as a conduit to spread Slobodka and Reb David's derech and mesora to the next generation. The Philadelphia Rosh Hayeshiva OE'lf~R SUbscriPliOn Discoum Certificate Rabbi Elya Svei, N""V"nl, at the dedication 42 Broadway I New fork, NY 10004 • Ph{lne 212-797-7.'194 •Fu 646·254·1600 ofYeshiva Chafetz Chaim's new campus
Please toter> my subscription I my gill several years ago, said that he remern "'"~" fQurcosr-$69 Sil~ Yousoveupio$491 bered the Rosh Hayeshiva's challenges
i J n·:1r_, Your cost -148 5;11 YoH "'"up io nl! and struggles during those early years, J \war Yourcost-f25 ~m Yousa
r=! years earlier: The yeshiva's pheno1nenal The Rosh Hayeshiva understood that success is because of Reb Dovid's great suffering for the sake of Torah. attaching oneself to the mesora of The Gemara in Shabbos tells us that Slobodka through his father's vision was when Shlomo Hamelech attempted to place the Aron Hakodesh in the newly the only way to succeed in harbotzas Torah. built Beis Hamikdash, the doors would not open until he referred to the deeds of his great father, Dov id Hamelech. The yeshiva in 1939, and re1nained in that Rosh Hayeshiva understood that attach position for more than 20 years. He had ing oneself to the mesora of Slobodka originally sent his son to Telz Yeshiva in •MAN through his father's vision was the only Cleveland for mesivta to keep him away ILVEA \vay to succeed in harbotzas Torah. from the many distractions so prevalent Specializing in High Quality in the Lower East Side in the 40s and Silver Repair & Restoration 50s. After five years, his father called him ~18.387.4207 THE "Bl.AI'I' SH/UR" back to attend the Rosh Hayeshiva's blatt shiur. His father explained, "Just as Reb he Rosh Hayeshiva continued Dovid's pilpul shiurirn were a classic, so, the learning derech of his father too, is Reb Henach's blatt shiur a classic. Guty ( PiAtl:tev) Tin giving shiur, and would say a There is no other one like it." WEINGARTEN daily blatt shiurwhose reputation began The many conversations that I have Experienced Shadchan to spread well beyond the yeshiva's walls. had with former talmidim spanning for all age groups " This was not a shiurwhere the rebbi just seven decades indicate that the strongest shares his p'shat with his students, but connection that the Rosh Hayeshiva had 347. 702.9494 I rather, it was, in the words of Chazal, with his taln1idin1 and the most power "milchernta shcl Torah - a holy battle." ful tool that he used to make that con I SUMMER VACATION ON CAPE COD I The Rosh Hayeshiva wouldn't "teach" the nection was the blatt shiur. The vision Clean sandy: beaches. boatfng, crufses, fishing, ! I water parks, famify fun and much more j sugya; he learnt it together with students is so clear. The Rosh Hayeshiva con1es CONGREGATION BETH ISRAELOFONSETCAPE CO~ in a give and take (sometimes, even a in, takes off his jacket, rolls up his shirt A Famiiy Friendly Orthodox Shul ! little shouting) over each step of the sleeves and is ready to do battle. A battle Daily and Shabbos • End of June lflrough LabOr Day I sugya. The Rosh Hayeshiva would throw that would not just last the hour or two N'earby cottages atld hotels ;;; I out a question, and it would be debated, of the shiur, but a battle whose effects ~~fe7J~'"§~~tkt~mld'ji~1£ft.< I discussed and analyzed backwards and are still felt in the hearts of his talmidim forvvard. There \Vas no question too decades later. ~r~~~~1t~~Qt I big or too small. It was a search for two I things - the p'shat and the ernes. The Mashgiach of the yeshiva, Rabbi Shmuel Niman, N'"t:n7v, catne to the yeshiva in l 94 7. He said publicly in I his shloshim hespeid of his rebbi for W~RlOWIOf Cf ll~H~Nf Rf NTAlS I almost 60 years that the two years that he spent in the Rosh Yeshiva's blatt shiur Incoming Calls FREE in many countries! I were the best years of his life (this from an individual who has been saying his • Lowest rates for Israel & Europe I I own shiur for a half a century). Rabbi Dovid Chait, l'<"v>?w, the Rosh Yeshiva of • Overnight nationwide shipping I Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Eretz Yisroel, • Student & Group discounts described it best: "The blatt shiur was • Corporate accounts welcome 50% Off PHONE RENTAL I not a shiur - it \Vas a training ground Premo Codd008 I I for life." Rabbi Simcha Scheinberg from Yeshiva Torah Ore related to the author I I that his own father, the Rosh Hayeshiva 1.877. CELLPHONE of Yeshiva Torah Ore in Yerushalayim, TravelCell I Global Cellular Rental Solutions www.travelcell.com ! Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, I L:_be~me-~he '_nashgiach~-t-~- ~ ------·······--·-··- ---··-···- - ····-. ·--···-···--··----·· --,_ SUMMER •oo• _I
The Rosh Hayeshiva's easygoing per over to get it. Rabbi Trapper asked him, perfection in this area. 10 those 'vho sonality and sense of humor sometimes "How was the Rosh Yeshiva able to give worked by his side for over 60 years, he hid from us the tren1endous an1eilus the shiur so full of vigor and passion indeed reached it. (laboring) baTorah that he put into when the Rosh Yeshiva feels so weak?" He would describe to us the terrible his shiurin1. As inentioned else\vhere, The Rosh Hayeshiva responded, "If the poverty in his parents' ho1ne; yet, he only the Rosh Hayeshiva would have to talmidim would have known how weak saw simcha there. The Rosh Hayeshivo change his shirt after giving blatt shiur, 1 felt, they would have had mchmanus would quote the passuk in Tehillim for it was soaked with sweat from his and would not have asked any ques (37,25): "Na'ar hayisi gam zakanti velo superhuman efforts. Rabbi Mordechai tions during shiur. It would effect their ra'isi tzaddik ne'ezav- I was a youth, I Trapper, one of the roshei yeshiva in ameilus in the sugya, and that would be have also aged, and I have not seen a the yeshiva, relates that one particular unacceptable." forsaken righteous man." I-le explained time after a blatt shiur, the Rosh Yeshiva The Rosh Hayeshiva was not well "velo ra'isi" - I never saw it. It was there, returned to his office and immediately for most of his life. He suffered from but I never noticed it - only simcha and asked for a chair that was located at the severe migraine headaches and stomach bitachon. other side of the small room, because ailments, and in 1976, developed myas The Rosh Hayeshiva often shared he did not have the strength to walk thenia gravis (a serious neuromuscular the story of his father's deep sense of disease); yet, his shiurin1) his 1nilchetnta bitachon when struggling to start his shcl Torah, never wavered or \veakened own yeshiva despite being penniless. Eretz Yisroel's during the decades upon decades of By no less than a miracle, funds became Most Reliable Shomer Shabbos teaching talmidim how to plumb the available and the fledgling yeshiva was and English Speaking Car Service depth of a sugya. able to procure a building for rent. One Visiting Israel? Need Transport? day, however, Reb David's detractors -CHOOSE- convinced the landlord to dispossess BITACHON the yeshiva. The bnei hayeshiva were Menashe Sopher's devastated when they heard that they Airport & Limousine Service he Rosh Hayeshiva did not only would have to vacate the pren1ises.
Cclelnating 12 years of unbeatable service! speak to talmidim about bita "Where will we go? What will happen chon; he did not just have bita to our beloved yeshiva?" they cried to OUR ElT!ClENf ENGLISll·SPEAKING OFFICE S1AFF, T FULLY-LICENSED, INSURED & AlR·CONDITIONED VANS, chon; he personified bitachon in the Reb Dovid. DRIVEN BY jEW!Sil, POLITE DRIVERS, ARE TAILOR·MADE FOR ALL DCCAS!ON::. full sense of the word. It seemed like Rcb Dovid replied calmly, "Have 1.718.360.5083 a natural part of his spiritual makeup. no fear! The Ribbono she/ Olam knows or 972.2.533.3425 He once shared with me, however, that the halacha, 'Ma'alin bakodesh ve'ein [email protected]!rporl.com despite the fact that he was weaned on 1noridin - Sacred inatters may only www .1nsopherairporl.com bitadwn by both his parents, he spent be elevated, and never reduced to a In Israel: 02-533£3425 years working on hhnself to achieve lower level."' Not just a cheese, a tradition••• Haolan1, the most trusted nan1e in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. \iVith 12 delicious varieties. Haolan1, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping.
AH lfaolam cheese prndt1cts <\re made in the U.S.A. under the strict rnbbinirnl supervision ot: Cholov Yisroel The Rabbinate of K'hal A THURM BROS. WORLD CHEESE CO. INC. BROOKLYN, NY 11232 Haolani. 34 ---;;;;;;T=H;;;';;;·C =J;;;;E=W=l.;;;;S;;;;t;;;;I =-,;;;;-;;;~;;;-~;;;--;;;E-;;;~;;;-V::t;;;C;;;;";;;;------~------~------==-i ' MIDDA OF EMES do so. If He doesn't want us to, there's nothing we can do about it. That was talmid of the Rosh Hayeshiva, ?··,,,, it. Simple, pure and complete bitachon from the 1950s once described in the Borei Olam. A the Rosh Hayeshiva's shiurim and The Rosh Hayeshiva's bitachon derech to one of the senior gedolei hador. paid off in a major way. To the Rosh He responded that everything that Reb Hayeshiva, it was no big deal. Several Henach does comes from the midda of months later, the yeshiva received notice emes. tiis pursuit of enies in learning, in that an elderly gentleman in Detroit had niussar, in tniddos, and in dealing with died, and in his will had left the yeshiva people was legendary. several million dollars. No one in the yeshiva could recall hearing the name Irvin Abramson, or having any contact with him in any way other than that he received the yeshiva's annual calendar as The next day they found a five-story part of a mass mailing. Mr. Abramson building that provided them with bigger was zocheh to have his name linked with and better facilities, serving the yeshiva's the new campus of the yeshiva and all entire needs. that it will accomplish in the years to We make "housecalls" Like father, like son. We talmidim saw come, for all eternity. (7t8) 972-4003 this deep sense of bitachon of the Rosh This story is testimony to the results Hayeshiva, ., .. ,,,,each and every day. This that take place when one has, as the :i-,.,~ author remembers one particular con Rosh Hayeshiva did, a deep, unwaver .,t,,:;:)fp versation) \vhen the yeshiva \Vas in the ing, and unflappable level of bitachon midst of a ten-year campaign to build a in Hashem. Specializing in small biitim for a perfect fit. new building for the yeshiva and move from the antiquated building in Forest Hills, which could no longer service the needs of the growing student body. I had cultivated an elderly, extremely wealthy individual for two years. While he had never yet given to a yeshiva, I was hopeful that he would make a significant contribution to our building campaign. Finally, when I felt that he was ready, I brought him with great anticipation to meet with the Rosh Hayeshiva. After a wonderful two-hour discussion with the Rosh Hayeshiva about the yeshiva, about Europe, about harbotzas Torah, etc., he told us how truly impressed he was with everything he had seen and heard, but he had long supported Yiddish culture. He would be giving his money to a 1nuseum to preserve Yiddish culture for future generations. I was deeply embarrassed and apolo- ' gized to the Rosh Hayeshiva for wasting his time. The Rosh Hayeshiva showed no reaction, no sign of disappointment or frustration; he just commented that that wealthy person was obviously not the shaliach. If Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants us to have a new building, He'll Lesure-that we will havethefundsto______--- -~----- SUMMER 2 0 0 8 ----~· --·----·-· ======:: Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, ':>"~l, used one story standing out above all others. again and again that a yeshiva not run to praise the integrity of the way that Years ago) the administrator of a New with emes is not a yeshiva. the Rosh Hayeshiva ran the yeshiva. York area yeshiva received a large grant The author's father, Rabbi Avrohom from the state and was struggling to HARBOTZAS HA TORAH Ginzberg, >l"1"7v, served for more than find a way to use it that would meet the half a century as the dean of adminis state's requirements. He reached out to he Rosh Hayeshiva carried this tration of the yeshiva, and was privy to an African American legislator for assis vision of harbotzas ha Torah every the Rosh Yeshiva's approach to honesty tance in this matter, who responded, "If Tday of his life. This began even and integrity in the yeshiva's finances Rabbi Leibowitz approves of what you when he was a young rash yeshiva, on a daily basis. are doing) then it's fine with me.'' He soon after Reb Dovid's untimely petira. A book can be filled with stories of explained, "Years ago, Rabbi Leibowitz's In 1943, the Rosh Yeshiva opened up how that emes was put into effect, with yeshiva received grant money from the the first branch, an elen1entary school state, and did not use all the money for in East Flatbush, called, appropriately, its intended purpose. He called me to Yeshiva Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz. In 1955, return the extra funds. I have never the Rosh Yeshiva did the unthinkable: he heard of someone doing something relocated the yeshiva from Williamsburg like that; so if it's good with him, it's to Forest Hills, Queens, in a part of that fine with me." neighborhood with no frum Jews, with That young legislator is today's the intention of having the yeshiva's Governor of New York State, David influence impact upon the entire afflu Paterson. ent community. The Rosh Hayeshiva Another tin1e, the yeshiva received opened a high school there in 1956, a "matching donation" check from followed by a branch in Fretz Yisroel in a large corporation, but insisted on 1968, and then another in Montreal. returning it when the initial donor's Ulti1nately1 a ne\v generation of talmi Get a cell phone check bounced. The talmidim heard dim spread throughout the country, from the people you can trust! ...... • OUR STAND NOW YOU CAN PUT THE SPARK BACK A IN YOUR INSURANCE. ... ~ Total Communication Call me today to hear about these new solutions optional features: New Car Replacement. Accident Forgiveness and Deductible Rewards. 1-866-TALK-N .. SAVE (718) 268-1700 {1-866.-825-5672) e-mail: [email protected] Customer service now available from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight - Israel time! *Cellcom Certified Agilnls Martin Levy 103-20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE FOREST HILLS [email protected] Allstate~ You're in good hands. Call or stop by for a free quote Feature is optional and subject lo terms and conditions_ Available in select states now and in :nost states by 1/31/06 (subject to regulatory approval where required) Alistate Property and Casua1t11 Insurance Company Northbrook, IL_ ©2005 Allstate Insurance Company ...... ·-····-·-----··---' =T;;;H=E;;;'=J;;;E;;;';;;';;;'=';;';;;' =O=B;;;S=F;;;R;;;V=F;;;. ;;;"::::------~--- -~== --- - I beginning with a yeshiva in Rochester Ruderman '>"~! to be the keynote The Rosh Hayeshiva's talmidim over in 197 4, then another in California, and speaker. He declined, explaining, "We these past 64 years were raised, nurtured yet another in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, don't have memorials or commemorate and developed by the Torah and mussar to be followed by dozens of yeshivos, yahrzeit days for the great Rishonim of their beloved rebbi. No doubt, his shuls, outreach centers and elementary like Rashi or the Rambam, because in derech of Torah and 1nussar and com schools throughout the country. truth, we have no need to do so. We mitment to harbotzas Torah will con These communities \Vere not neces inention them every day in our learn tinue to live on in his talmidim each and sarily ripe for a yeshiva, but the Rosh ing, and their lips move in the kever. We every day. This is the greatest memorial Yeshiva saw potential \vhere the com1nu live with them every day, and each and to a beloved rebbi. The talmidim will nity itself did not. Rabbi Yussie Singer, a every hour of the day. To commemorate need to be mechazeik themselves and close talmid of the Rosh Yeshiva, traveled them on one day a year is saying that find the additional strength to go on with him to San Diego with the idea of they are no longer living with us, and without their rebbi's encouragement opening a yeshiva high school. The Rosh that would be tragic. The same applies and living example. Hayeshiva energized those involved with to Rav Yisroel." Yehi zichro baruch. !lil the project when he said, "Give me three boys and I'll build a yeshiva." And he did. One of the boys once questioned why he selected Tucson, Arizona, as a location Recovery through Torah I I for one of his talmidim to open a shul. The Rosh Ha yeshiva was asked, "What do you kno\v about Tucson, Arizona?" The Rosh Hayeshiva responded, "I A19tA11>•1119l~-, don't know Tucson, but I kno\v Jews." The Rosh Hayeshiva did not just care llfOV'lRV ll9M.4\ for his yeshiva and its many branches. Every yeshiva was dear to him. It was Internet, alcohol, drugs gambling harbotzas Torah - never about himself, (including stock "trading") food, or even about Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim. work, shopping. Rabbi Nota Greenblatt tells of a small congregation in a distant community Confidential I anonymous phone appointments which had expended much effort in try Clients are assigned a code number; names are never divulged. ing to establish a shul. They eventually found the money to rent a storefront and renovated it to be a shul, but they ••••h3:J.O;S()!it043!}' lfwat• • R<1;b;biJu~<1<1§1YallOO.com tti••~ had no funds to hire a rav. They called the Rosh Hayeshiva and said, "We heard that if we hire a musmach of the yeshiva, I coach people to help them realize their you will pay half of his salary. Can you Can a Life-Coach O\Vn dreams and ambitions. I help them send us someone suitable?" help you realize plan, program, and stay motivated. The Rosh Hayeshiva asked the person WHY COACHING? Improving one's to call him back in a week. The next your dreams? life n1eans n1aking change; and people need support and structure to keep distractions week, the Rosh Yeshiva told him that he and obstacles fron1 swarnping their dreams and goals. could not find anyone suitable at that Moreover, people rarely see their own capabilities in full 1neasure. A coach is a per time, "but hire someone from Yeshiva son who by temperament, experience, and training is dedicated to help you grow and Chaim Berlin or Ner Yisroel or anywhere achieve your o'vn dreams. A coach never loses confidence in his client's ability! else, and I will still pay half the salary." I have over thirty years experience in helping people fulfill their drean1s, have authored books, articles and produced cassette progran1s on this subject. In 2-3 1nonths, using weekly private phone sessions, you can learn ho"'1 to AN ORPHANED GENERATION: effectively take control of your life. FREE OFFER - l would be happy to give you a free telephone ears ago, a group of talmidei conference. Please call USA845-352-1175 for an appointment. chachamim wanted to orga Thank you. - MR. AV! SHl'l.MAN Ynize a memorial in honor of Live a Life of Design, Not Default Rabbi Yisroel Salanter's yahrzeit, and they approached the Baltimore Rosh cshiva Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok SUMMER 2. 0 0 8 YITZCHOK BRANDRISS JvttJ rtinu $-lara11 after CitantJcft $-lf:J{(lcA l,eibtJWitz ?'~r A TALM/D'S PERSONAL REMINISCENCES When I was about 17 and a year into yeshiva gedola, my older sister asked me what I admired about my rosh yeshiva r.:r·pi1. Even though he is a gadol baTorah, I remember telling her, you can see the human side of how such stature is attained. He showed us how to live by the highest ideals - a life fully imbued with Torah- and we could see how they were accessible to us. He let us see the thinking that lay behind his actions, often, in ways that acknowledged the difficulties, inner and outer, that he had to overcome. He taught us to see not only the black and white, but all the shades of gray in between. When I think of it now, the same description can be applied he received from his great father, Rabbi David Leibowitz, o"~l, to the way he taught us in learning. How often he would tell us, who himself was a star pupil of Rabbi Naftali Trop, ?"~l, had when "the going got rough" in his blatt shiur, that struggling learned with his great uncle, the Chafetz Chaim,?"~!, and was with the sugya, rolling with the punches, finding yourself lost, one of the closest talmidim of the Alter of Slobodka.' and then coming to clarity out of confusion, was good training In spite of criticism, he did not veer from this path, and he for life. That mentoring, and in the thick of those blatt shiur attributed all he achieved to his faithfulness to the goals and fights, is where and how he made his talmidim.· practices of his father and to his father's zechus. Historically, our rash hayeshiva played a huge role in the In learning, he would talk about the necessity of constantly dissemination of Torah in America. He taught thousands of revisiting what we referred to as the "assembly line" of a talmidim over the course of nearly seventy years, and through sugya - where every p'shat had to make sense at every step of them, established Torah institutions and outreach programs a Gemara's back-and-forth within the context of a Rishon's throughout the U.S. and overseas. But each of us knew him, reasoning. Although this kind of learning and the method of primarily, for his personal relationship with us, the Torah teaching in his shiurim were sometimes tedious, and did not that he expended prodigious effort to teach us, the additional have the same appeal as focusing on the "yeshivishe reid'' on a numerous chassadim that he did for us, and his role in the sugya, he stuck with it through all the years despite disparage history of our own individual lives. ment of this approach and - no small factor - the frustration of some of the talmidim. 2 CLEAVING TO OUR MESORA He adjured us not to be "monkeys" in learning, merely copying the kind of Torah we heard. A chiddush developed he Rosh Yeshiva used to talk constantly about the from within the words of a Rishon or Acharon was the most i1nportance of cleaving to one's mesora without deviat laudable achievement. Someone once asked him: Isn't there Ting an iota, and he practiced as he preached. He hewed such a thing as a "Brisker" derech, the "higayon" of Telz, unwaveringly to the derech in Torah learning and teaching, ------~·------l For a fuller treatn1ent of the Slobodka heritage, see "Torah, Slobodka, and hashkafa and mussar, and personal hanhaga (practices) that Ha;·botzas Torah: The legacy of Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz on his 50 1hyahrzeit," by this author, The Jewish Observer, Dece1nber 1991. YITZCHOK BRANDIHSS, A FORMER DIRECTOR OF p1_:suc AFFAIRS OF AGlJDATH 2 At the same ti1ne, if we didn't consistently rnake the yeshiva's quota of two I lsRAEL or AMERICA, LEARNED lN YESHIVAS RABBEINU Y1sRom, MmR l-IACtH-IEN, blatt a week with Gemara, Rashi, and Tosqj(Js, we would hear about it fron1 the hanhala of the yeshiva. I38 BAA•_.,,.~""" oz CHAOM, THROUGH THE •970' ····------·-· -- __ _J ------=--i In learning, he would talk about the necessity I and other derachin1 in learning? Isn't there such a thing as "the Chafetz of constantly revisiting what we referred to Chaim derech"? as the "assembly line" of a sugya - where He replied that he was just teaching us hovv to read, to read bet\veen the lines every p'shat had to make sense at every step and understand the underlying tensions of a Gemara's back-and-forth within in the questions and answers posed in a Rishon's or Acharon's discussion of the context of a Rishon's reasoning. an issue, and how they might turn on a delicate sevara or certain particular words of the Gemara. and I find that to be true even when I self in a new land - to hold on to what He didn't deliver his blatt shiur lec talk to talnzidim froin other eras. Across he had grown up with in Europe, to be ture-style. He rolled up his sleeves and the generations, these \Vere the insights "the Rosh Yeshiva)s son" in America, and plunged into a Rashba or a Rabbi Akiva that molded us. My own belief is that the yet, still be a teenager. He was younger Eiger with us. We lived the sugya with number of insights into human nature than the bachurim in the yeshiva, and hin1 as he strived to unearth every last and avodas Hashem that he derived - all he would tell how it bothered him that nuance. rnuchrach in his view, particularly after when he walked into a room, and other He was ada1nant about the impor passing the test of careful exa1nination talmidim of the yeshiva were talking in tance of limud hamussar behispa'alus by talrnidirn - constitutes a vast, his a group, they would hush up when he (the technique of impassioned study torically significant oeuvre of intellectual came near. 4 He would relate that his of mussar introduced by Rabbi Yisroel achievement in the Slobodka school of father, a master rnechaneich, never told Salanter). We might contend that it thought. him to skip his general studies classes doesn't work; he \vould insist on its in high school, but he did so frequently, efficacy. He would also insist on our A TRANSPLANTED YOUTH in order to learn. But he was also proud delving into shmuessen with the san1e in his younger days - he would tell rigor as we analyzed a shiur in Gen1ara. nee in a while, a box of old us - how in Brooklyn street stickball, This focus on "chachrnas hamussar" - pictures would surface in the he could hit the ball a distance of "two the attempt to understand the yesodos 0 Rosh Yeshiva's house, with pho sewers." (basics) of human nature, as reflected tos of him as a child in Slobodka, and At one stage, he used the money his in Chazal, on an intellectual basis - \Vas later, with his parents, in New York. The father had given him for clothes to buy a hallmark of Slobodka. A Slobodka ine1nories fron1 Lithuania included a a black suit. Reb David sent him back vort, like a chiddush in Shas, had to scene in which his father and another to return it, because he suspected that be derived from within a Chazal and member of the kollel were grabbing he might be developing a false pride and stand up even after careful scrutiny, and each other by their lapels, screaming a false concept of yiras Shamayim. At therefore, would have ra1nifications for at one another vociferously in the another phase, he once told his father daily practice. milchamta she! Torah. He talked about that the idea of becoming a doctor This aspect of Slobodka, not com his father pacing back and forth in the appealed to him. Reb David told him: monly highlighted, is nonetheless a key attic, working on a chabura, despite the "Better be a melameid Torah. Instead of to understanding its shita. 5 The Rosh freezing cold, working up a sweat. His saving people's lives, you'll be healing Yeshiva would generally deliver a shm father told him that he had nothing to their souls." uess consisting of several newly gleaned say yet, but that, because of the sweat, Reh Dovid passed away in December derhers (insights) every Wednesday, and he knew a chiddush was on its way. The 1941, when the Rosh Yeshiva was just 23 1· at Sha lo sh Seudos on Shabbos, he would Rosh Yeshiva himself would often sweat or 24 years old. There were misgivings usually repeat old ones) but someti1nes profusely during a shiur, to the point and controversy about whether he was .I! add new twists and new original shmues that he would have to change his shirt capable enough to succeed him. Rabbi sen. Many of us from the same era find when the battle was over. Aharon Kotler, l"xz, declared that he that we re1nember the sa1ne shrnuessen, There was a photo of Reb David, was. He would tell us about the encour- [: surrounded by talmidim, one of whom agement that his mother would give , 3 Without constantly learning new chiddushim k b h h h 'l 11 h h h ' in chac/unas hamussar, the effect of the standard looked li e a young oy. T e Ros im, primar1 y in te ing im t at is . works would becon1e stale. And because, due Yeshiva teasingly asked us: "Don't you father believed he could do it. 1 to the myriad situations that a huinan being know who that is?!" Seeing us stumped, , encounters, there can be no Shu/chan An1ch, he said: "That's Rav Pam!" The Rosh [' chapter and paragraph, for middos (character h · · k'd d · · 4 In the loving banter in which we used to engage traits), one can only hope to navigate such cha!- Yes 1va, too, was Just a 1 , an I in1agme \Vith hin1 in his sichas chullin, a friend of 1nine, ' knges with a broad storehouse of insights into how difficult it must have been for the somewhat of a wag, once responded: "Yes, and the 1' Lrcas ot huma~ tutor~ ------~o~n~sterth-athe-~ast~-accl1~ate hi_m_-__R_,_,s_h-Yeshiva still has the same prnbten111~ ------·---·--- .. . ------;;======;o-·------SUMMER 2 0 0 8 ---·-·- - •··-···-=l I upon such feelings is atrocious. It is an affront to the tzellem Elokim:' BITACHON: ACHIEVED THROUGH EFFORT n. e of the prime qualities that he admired about his father, Reb 0 David, '7"!, and emphasized to us, was his bitachon, which instilled in him an unshakable spirit of happiness and confidence. The Rosh Yeshiva's own Rabbi Leibowitz with Rabbi Yaakov Kamcnetsky7"'Yl'. bitachon was reflected in the expressions of emuna that were constantly on his lips, when he talked about the mundane, BEYOND REFLEXIVE day-to-day problems of the yeshiva as RESPONSE with friends who were there. Even the well as \.Vhen he discussed his vision of biggest skeptics were overawed. spreading Torah throughout America. t was a scene that I will never forget. From episodes like this - and there But we also saw it justified, virtually We were sitting in the beis midrash, were nlany more - we saw the way he on a daily basis. The office staff of the I our chairs drawn in a semi-circle had internalized the mussar that he yeshiva would recount miracles of how around the Rosh Yeshiva's shtender, constantly adjured us to imbibe. It was funds would arrive just in time for a which was in those days placed in the obvious that such self-mastery was not critical payment that the yeshiva owed. middle of the room, for a Wednesday a natural human trait, and that he had An old, hand written sign declaring, shmuess. The atmosphere was sober, the worked with great effort on his middos "Yeshuas Hashem ke-heref ayin;' hung mood serious and dry. All of a sudden, and practiced what he preached. In my on the office wall, inspired by one such there was a loud banging on the door to mind, it is difficult to separate many of occasion. the right of the Rosh Yeshiva and behind these stories from a particular slunuess Although the Rosh Yeshiva was him. This in itself was very curious, as he gave; the person and the divrei 1nussar approximately 90 years old at his pass it was highly unusual for anyone to use were one. What made it stand out all the ing, he had been in poor health most of that door, leading, as it did, to the bot- more was that he was the same person his life, and in and out of hospitals for tom of an outdoor stairwell at the back who was so close to us, who laughed at many stretches, beginning in his teens. of the building, below ground level. a good joke, enjoyed a beautiful song, At one point during the 1970s, he was Someone rushed over and pushed the and who could talk with us in his sichas struck by myasthenia gravis, a debili door open. In walked an unsuspecting chullin about anything in the world. tating neuromuscular disease. It got so talmid, one of the more lovable person- One of the first shmuessen that I ever bad that it took him twenty minutes alities in the yeshiva, who had not real- heard from him was at the Eretz Yisroel to put on his tefillin with the help of ized there was a shmuess that day. When yeshiva's first building in Sanhedria, a talmid. The Rosh Yeshiva went to see he entered and saw what was going on Yerushalayim. The message was about one of the world's experts in the field, - our poor friend - he could do nothing the pride that a person takes in his work, who personally had developed a novel but muster a sheepish grin on his face. and how much respect was due a per- surgical procedure to fight the disease. Such was the oddity of the moment son's honest labor and efforts. He spoke In his conversation with the doctor, that no one could help but burst out about the Arab woman who worked in however, the Rosh Yeshiva saw that the laughing. But the Rosh Yeshiva stood the yeshiva and washed the floors of man scoffed at belief in G-d as the power stone-faced, looking straight ahead, and the beis midrash during bein hasedarim behind all healing. Then and there, the after a moment, resumed the shmuess. (between periods). Some bachurim had Rosh Yeshiva decided not to use the He never turned around. been heedless, walking over a freshly expert, and had the procedure done by For anyone else, turning around washed area while it was still wet, and one of the man's disciples. Thank G-d, would have been an involuntary reflex- leaving their tracks. "You may think that his suffering was relieved. if not to see who walked in, then certain- it doesn't n1atter to her," he said. "After As a rebbi, he did not hold back ly to see what the laughter was about. all, she is still getting the same amount from us how he did it. But it really Not the Rosh Yeshiva. He exercised his of pay for her work. She has done her was no secret. The n1ain thrust was: I self-control on the spur of the moment, job. What does she care? But you would work. Nothing comes without constantly i so as not to humiliate the talmid. I have be wrong. Every human being has a need learning sifrei mussaron bitachon, and he Lre~n-1s~ed -a~~u~tha~ ep1~de -for respect and appreciation. To tr_a_m_p_l_e------~--.. ' "~v: ~~:~ ~;~~ ~s a need for resp~ and l '! :woIt was obvious_,:«ofM:ill""'" that he did so himself. "'~ appreciation. To trample upon such feelings is ' Certainly his bitachon had much to do with another hallmark of the atrocious. It is an affront to the tzellem Elokim. derech he taught us in life. We all knew: Anything less than scrupulous honesty BATTLING ON ISSUES when he knew that they might not be in n1onetary matters and other areas acceptable to some. We would argue bein adam lechaveiro was absolutely n my day, the Rosh Yeshiva could and we would fight, just as in a shiur, intolerable. In the case of a yeshiva, and not walk into or out of the yeshiva and that is ultimately how he made us in the personal deportment of a hen I without a huddle of talmidim sur his talmidim. Torah, behaving even lifnim mishuras rounding him. Sometimes, it was to My O\Vn characterization of much of hadin in these areas was required. bombard him with questions on a shiur what he taught us is that it \vas the derech or shmuess. At others, it was to make ha-p 'shat - not only in his approach to a A MATTER OF VISION inquiries in hashkafa or daas Torah, or Gemara. but to frumkeit in general. As he question his rationale for a policy in learned from his father, he would decry nee, during a long winter zenlan the yeshiva. the adoption of a chumra (stringency) in the yeshiva, the ruach began In these countless little impromptu for chumra 's sake. On the other hand, he 0 to flag, and there was a rifyon sessions, and at others at breaks in the would generally tell us to abide by the (slackening) in minyan attendance. It shiuror at his home, we felt the freedom stringent view if the Mishna Berura said was in 1969 in Yerushalayim, where the to ask him almost anything - challenge "ba'al nefesh yachmir." Rosh Yeshiva had brought the whole his outlook and cite opposing opinions He strongly cautioned against fooling yeshiva for a year. The Rosh Yeshiva had to see how he would respond to them. oneself, whether in p'shat in Tosafos, or been one of the first to see the potential We felt that he wanted us to. It was his in one's level of yiras Shamayim. In a of deep hashpa'a that a year oflearning way of inculcating in us a Torah hashka meal, everything has its proper place in Eretz Yisroel could have on a young fa in all facets oflife, and - moreso- the and order, he would say: an appetizer, man, and first brought his yeshiva to belief that Torah indeed had something the main course, the condiments, the Eretz Yisroel for a year in l 964. Back to say not only about matters of halacha, dessert. There are some who hold, he then, he had come with about 30 bachu but about every imaginable issue that acknowledged, that today we are like rim. This time, we were about 60.5 The could come up in personal or communal aniyim-spiritually impoverished souls yeshiva had not gotten bigger than that affairs - in other words, daas Torah. who have no choice but to "chap" any in the more than a quarter of a century 1 remember lively sessions in the morsel from the table that they can get, that had passed since he took over. How early '70s about the war in Vietnam, even if dessert comes first. But we harm could we give in to laziness and lethargy the nascent feminist movement, Israel ourselves if we seek to develop this way, like that? he asked in a pained voice. A related issues, and demonstrations for he said. ben Torah has to be a mentch! There is so Soviet Jewry. But he also did not hesitate much to accomplish! And then he waxed to tell us his outlook, grounded in his IN TOUCH WITH poetic and spoke about his dream. "I mesora, on other streams of thought INDIVIDUAL NEEDS need one-hundred and fifty men!" he and popular trends - to the right, to exclaimed. "If only I had a hundred and the left, and to the side - within the mid all this tutelage in Torah and fifty men, I could take over America!" world of shomrei Torah umitzvos. He mussar within the yeshiva, and The shmuess left a deep impression felt a responsibility to his charges, A the building of a harbatzas Torah on all of us, and in a certain way, on the and he did not mince his words, even empire far beyond its walls, so many of Rosh Yeshiva himself. It got a second life when it was put to song and wrapped in loving parody in the yeshiva's Purim PINC:EIAS ~DEL ()11er 50 ye11rs e.t:perie11ce in Kvura i11 £retz }'israel play of that year, and decades later, if Serving the North American Public and Funeral Industry you caught the Rosh Yeshiva in the right i,Nl\:.') )--'1N pN illi:Jj? j'lN Vi'li' reminiscing mood, you could get him to Personal responsibility throughout serl'ice - NOT JUSI' "PAPERWORK" mirthfully sing the refrain for you, word ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD for word. By that time, his vision for the Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Yisrael yeshiva - he would call it his father's 162S-42nd Street, Brooklyn, ,'\'Y 11204 vision - had largely come true. Day&N"ightphone: (718) 851-8925 Jl't"0N1~0Nj7 ))l"j7 - )'i:l 1Nl n10ll)) 'll~ 5 The whole yeshiva went one more time, in Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved famil~y' 1977-78, in much larger numbers, with entire TAHA.RAS HANIFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE ('OMMERCIALIZED families n1aking the trip. 41 --- - ~~~--- -- SUMMER 2008 us cherish personal experiences we had Several years after I had left the that Hakadosh Baruch Hu was angry with him in which he showed us how yeshiva, I was offered a position with with him. All the korbanos (sacrifices) he cared for us as individuals. Agudath Israel of America. I knew that had been brought, and all the proper The Rosh Yeshiva spent untold hours this did not exactly fit into his program actions taken, but the Shechina had not upon hours meeting with talmidim of opening Chofetz Chaim branches descended upon Israel. He turned to individually, guiding them concerning and placing rabbanim throughout the Moshe and said: "Moshe, my brother! their future, and helping them address country, and I had other hesitations. What have you done to me - that I have personal issues, often late into the It was during the summertime bein entered and was shamed!"6 night. He was sought out as a marriage hazmanim, one of the few times when The Rosh Yeshiva asked: What was counselor even by couples outside the the Rosh Yeshiva and his first rebbetzin, Aharon's ta' ana (complaint) to Moshe? yeshiva's community, and he agreed to i1"V, were able to have some peace and Moshe did not get him into this. All take on their cases, at great personal cost a little bit of rest. he did was relay to him the Ribbono in terms of time, effort, and mental and It was a Thursday afternoon, and I she/ Olam's will that Aharon should emotional energy. had to respond by the following Monday. be the kohein! The question leads to In learning, too, he was attuned I called the yeshiva office, which got in the answer: We learn from here that to the needs of each individual. One touch with him in Bethlehem, New even if you are peripherally involved scene that I will never forget from Hampshire. About 9:30 Friday morning, in getting someone started on a path the blatt shiur: A certain bachur in I received a call from the Rosh Yeshiva, even just to the point of delivering a the shiur had a keen aptitude, but who asked me what was up. When I told message - you have an obligation to was reserved in nature, and hardly him, he said: "Listen, can you make it up them to see them through if matters ever spoke up. One day, however, this here for Shabbos?" I could, and when I become difficult. talmid asked a question, premised on arrived, the Rosh Yeshiva and Rebbetzin Once, when the Rosh Yeshiva said the alternative way he had learned had rented a cottage for me right near this shmuess, he added with a twinkle the sugya. The Rosh Yeshiva countered their own. They had me eat all their in his eye: "So, in thirty years from now, with an argument, and the bachur meals with them, and the Rosh Yeshiva when you're out in the field of harbotzas came back with a response. Back and invited me on the long walks that he Torah, and you get into a tough situa forth, back and forth they went - just took in the country for his health. He tion, you're going to call me and cry: the two of them - for close to an encouraged me to take the job, and I 'What do I do? Help me out - you got hour, while the rest of us just sat and worked for Agudah the next ten years me into this predicament!' And I might listened. It was like watching a tennis of my life. want to say to you: 'What do you mean match, the Rosh Yeshiva hitting the These two personal stories, sepa I got you into this predicament? All I ball to the far court and the talmid rated by twelve years, are just two of did was relay to you the retzon Hashem, volleying back. We all knew that the the uncounted chassadim that he did your obligation to be marbitz Torah. You Rosh Yeshiva could have wrapped it just for me. They do not speak of the were the one who accepted it. What do up anytime he wanted. But we also all myriads of chassadim he did for each of you want from mi!' knew that he was providing us with a us - chassadim on a personal level that "But in fact, you would have a valid lesson: He was both caring about an went far beyond the lifelong gifts that claim;' he said, "just like the claim that individual talmid and showing us how he gave us of his derech in learning and Aharon had against Moshe. I will be to do the same. mussar-in situations as varied as the obligated to you, and be'ezras Hashem, Once, when he came from the States lives of the hundreds, perhaps thou I will be there for you." His words, of to visit the yeshiva's Yerushalayim sands, of talmidim who looked to him course, came true. Many of us often branch, where I was for the year, I as their rebbi and spiritual father. found ourselves thirty and forty years consulted him on a complex situation later in just such a position. And, sure with which I was confronted, which RESPONSIVE TO OUR enough, he was always there. had nothing to do whatsoever with my GRIEVANCES He loved us and we loved him. We learning or goals in the yeshiva. I was all became a family - "Bnei ish echad startled when, shortly after he returned here was one type of chessed, anachnu - We are all children of one to New York, he sent me a telegram. however, that - in his view we man." Now we are bereft. Our consola With all the many pressing problems Thad a right to expect. He derived tion is in recognizing what a privilege of the yeshiva, his talmidim, and their this right from a Chazal cited by Rashi in we had in having him as our rebbi, and families on his mind, he had had second Parashas Shemini, in one of the shmues in carrying on his mesora, just as he thoughts about a solution that we had sen retold by Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt at did with the mesora of his father. Yehi discussed, and wrote me to be careful so the Rosh Yeshiva's levaya. zichro baruch. U;J as to avoid a chillul Shabbos. He signed At the inauguration of the Mishkan, the telegram, "Henach." Aharon was distressed. He thought 6 Vayikra 9,23, Rashi d.h. Vayavo 42 MUSINGS ,\!:'\' young woman once came to my the and· comm.niiic office to talk. She told me that ability to ty growth. They iilr~~ting her ;~8 she was interested in becoming Toomuchfreedomcandamagepeople, recognized that better direction. religious, but whenever she thought as well. Psychologists alld social workers lack of restraints about it, religious life seemed to be full know that children raised without proper leads to despotism, chaos, and unhappi of "don'ts." limits develop unhealthy character traits, ness. In the Declaration ofrndependence, "It's always don't do this, and don't do including selfishness, low frustration the American colonists criticized King that;' she said. "Don't cook on Shabbos, tolerance, and poor impulse control. George because, they wrote, "He has don't turn on the lights, don't wear short This past April, a Wall Street Journal refused his assent to laws, the most sleeves, don't, don't, don't. It's like being book review discussed relationships on wholesome and necessary for the public in a straight jacket!" college campuses today. The colleges good:' Not making laws, they insisted, Like so many people today, she did do not want to make rules or restrict was a tactic to establish "an absolute not realize that being free requires laws. students' freedom of behavior in their tyranny" over the Colonies. It also requires that people accept the personal realm. Unfortunately, the lack The young woman who once visited positive intent of laws. I have been told of boundaries leads to exploitative behav me did come to realize that those "don'ts" that the American poet, Robert Frost, ior. This behavior damages all students' that she disliked were not a straightjacket, put it most succinctly when he said, self-esteem and tramples on their sense but a guidepost directing her in a bet "Freedom is feeling easy in the harness." of personal integrity. ter direction. Today, she has found true A frum lifestyle recognizes that laws help Even the founders of the United States freedom and joy in her Torah learning us and our communities flourish. We knew that restraints promote personal and in her blooming family. !IiJ freely take upon ourselves ol Malchus , Shamayim, the yoke of the sovereignty r.------~ of Heaven, trusting that Hashem's laws, His mitzvos, are for our long-term good. :r;;TZl!<:m .'4 ~: We trust in His guidance. Sometimes ((don'tsn foster life, rather I IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED I than restrict it. One only has to listen to I INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? I the holiday weekend traffic announce We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. ments to prove this point. Every holiday I Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and I there are predictions that, for example, I computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. there will be about 550 deaths on the roads. Many of those deaths are due to I people abandoning restraint. I We see the importance of restraint in I Affix old label here the cars we drive, cars that have both a gas pedal for accelerating, and a brake I pedal for stopping. No one would drive I a car without brakes, even for a short I distance. It would be too hazardous. By New Address carefully using both the accelerator and I the brakes, we can travel for long periods I City, over long distances. We revere speed, but State, know it must be controlled. I We cherish light, as well, but it, too, I Date Effective ------ must be restricted. Our eyes have an iris I Send address The Jewish Observer to limit the amount of light entering changes to: Change of Address I 42 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004 I Please allow 4-6 weeks for all changes to be reflected on your mailing label. We will not be responsible for back issues missed unless you notify us 6 weeks prior to your move. ..J L ------I I I I I I I A. $118 I The Jewish Observer I brings Jewish news and views from a Torah I perspective to tens of thousands of readers I B.$72 each month. I Just write your "L'Shana I C.$54 Tova" greeting in the box I of your choosing (price indicated in lower I left-hand corner), detach form across dotted line, and mail the form with I D.$36 your check, or fax with credit card info, today. I Please enclose payn1ent with your insertion and n1ail lo the address below, or fax all your infonnation to the fax nun1bcr below, or en1ail to [email protected]: I ~fe;,yyi;;_;h1 I UBSERVER 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 Your friends will see your Fax 646-254-1600 greeting in our next issue, I a111 pleased to ]earn that 1ny "Shana 1bva" wishes in your columns will help The Jewish Observer greet the our Rosh Hashonah I New Year with a reduced deficit. edition •.. and you will I Na1ne: ------derive the satisfaction Address: ______that you helped us bring I the Torah message to the City/ST/Zip------ English-speaking public... I Payn1ent Enclosed D $118 D $72 [] $54 D $36 (USA checks only) I Please charge 1ny credit card D MasterCard D VISA and •..Thanks! Card# ------I Expiration Date:------ I Signature:------Picture Yourself Changing A Life The people in these pictures are a lot like you. They do pretty much the same things you do every day daven, work, learn, spend time with their families. like you, they lead busy lives. But, like countless other men and women, they've discovered that by setting aside time to help others, they also lead richer II lives. Fuller lives. More inspired lives. Agudath Delivering food to families who might otherwise go hungry •.. Israel offering practical or emotional assistance to people coping of America with serious illness ... helping lonely singles find shidduchim ... mentoring troubled teens ... The chesed possibilities are Volunteer Through Agudah endless. 42 BROADWAY, NYC 10004 And so are the rewards. TEL. (212) 797-9000 So think about getting into the picture. FAX: (646) 254-1600 Because the life you change may be your own. Agudath Israel of America's Volunteer Service Department assists individuals who want to become involved in volunteer activities by "matching them" with appropriate chesed groups or organizations. (A partial listing is shown below.) If you have a little time to spare and a lot of Ahavas Yisroel to offer, call the Volunteer Service Department at 212.797.9000. AGUDAJH llRAEl B!KUR CHEVRA YOUTH GROUP ' Am Echad: ' MHasc I k i CHOLIM SERVICES I 'I KADISHA. lTf' Center •• PROJ[C~ NttiPfOfeu!onal ~::JO,,,,.J,,.; N' SHEi llanago ADlfflCULT SCHOOL YEAR? YEAR COULD BE DlffERENT? 'f(~;c;~·'.·,:;•;.'.;·{.·.·,·.·.·.·••· .. ••• ·.·.·.·.~.·.·.·.· •..·.• •.• .•. ·.:: .••·.·.·.·.-: ... ·.· •.. ·•.. ••• ••.. ·.·.•.· •. ~ •.·•· .. ·.' •.• •.:: •...•. ••·••.· .. '················::·..• ·•• ~;~~~~'ti~ri1-lfAdvocacy and Referral Network} guides and assists parents 2~~bo~~in~n.~, free of cost, comprehensive evaluation and special forJ!lfgibfe s.tudents.** /:_,';,J-:'-:::_\ t~;-~:'-~;';:-;-:,::~-~',_'.:::'.,:::,:-~,r,::_--L:_u~ Services include: ~~cl;t;~d!fca~i(ln Tute)rlrig (P3l" Speech Therapy" Physical Therapy t Q~cupati.onaf Therapy• Counseling ••• and more •Evaluation and services provided through the New York City Department of Education •Eligibility not based on income As of September '08, pay rates for P3 providers will once again be increased: one student: $41.98 per hour two students: $62.97 per hour three students: $83.96 per hour four students: $95.45 per hour five students: $104.95 per hour For information calf: 212.797 .9000 ext. 308 or 325 .,,,,G DEVARIM IN AMONUMENTAL ·PROJECT THAT REVOLUTIONIZES 'UNDERSTANDING OF CHUMASH - .f8fCOUNTLESS FUNDAMENTALS OF JUDAISM f) Newly typeset text of the Torah text and translation Q Newly typeset Hebrew Rashi and Targum Onkelos (t Newly typeset Ramban in Hebrew, complete with vow els, punctuation, paragraph fi~~~~~~:s~E£;1E.:~~:.::;~~1t§~;~;; breaks, and footnote refer ences for ease of use. ; •n~l '\'~ \<'1'R THFM~'·",:;;;; ,~.;;:;:~~;~;~·_,;.;,;},~,_-':~·~Ii;::·~~~/::..'.:~;;. <>V l' Open your eyes to ArtScroll's newest volume: The .. Editor's view \'X'hcthcr he's looking at current events, hiHory, or our everyday liYt·s, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, editor of Yated Neeman, has wisdom to share and Tornh insights that illuminate our perspective on (:Vents. The Editor's View is a collection that will touch our hearts