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Home , Isaac Breuer, Joseph Breuer, Shimon Schwab

8 Light Tamuz 5740 9

explained this same posuk in happened? What wi 11 be reference to the death of King tomorrow? Yoshiyohu, and Rav Yitzchok ben The passing of the Matters­ El'ozor applied it to Rav dorfer Rov . . . The very name Y ochonon himself. Mattersdorf reminds us that is How can this same statement, the town where the Chasam Sofer which was used to be maspid was revealed to be like one of the King Y oshiyohu who was killed . In the sense of at the young age of 39, 8 be used in continuity from then we feel as if reference to Rav Yochonon who the sun went down in midday. had been Rosh Ha for 80 For there is no replacement for w. years?9 the Mattersdorfer Rov. 0 25 When the sun sets at the end of Our last links to the great eras :::i f-; the day we expect it to shine again of past generations are being w. the next morning. But if the sun taken away ... I cannot speak any 0::: Dr.Joseph z~ would set at the time of its more. H brightest splendor we would be May HaShem have mercy on < Breuer 0::: f-; mystified. What could have k'lal Yisroel. 1'1!>1:1, i'''T~i!>t

8. 2 M'lochim 22:1 2 Di1•rey HaYomhn 9. Jggeres Rm• Sh'rira Go'on; but see 34:1. For the tragedy of his unexpected Daros HaRi.~hon·im.See also Nazir 59a. death see 2 Dil'rey HaYomim 35:20-25. His Life in Perspective by Pinchas Wollman - Tsamir RABBI DR. , The next day, Sunday, some who for over four decades served 10,000 mourners - including as Rov of K'hal Adath Jeshurun rabonim and from all over in the Washington Heights and from out of town neighborhood of , died - took part in the l'vaya. In his Do you t~iJ.f~?~,·.. at Beth Hospital in New humility, Rabbi Breuer had remember ·'ii~~~}i/il1 York on Shaboss 3 Iyor 5740, at requested that there be no the age of 98. hespeidim at his funeral. Rav Ever since his late wife's death , who has in 5713, Rabbi Breuer had made occupied the rabbinate of K'hal Volume One of Light, issues 1-13, is now available in his home with his daughter and Adath Jeshurun alongside Rabbi book form. It contains a full index - subjects, names, son-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry G. Breuer since 5718 (1958) authors, and titles. Bechhofer. Until his last brief announced that Rav Breuer 268 pages, paperback, $6.50 illness, Rabbi Breuer had been would be heeded in death as he giving a regular shi'ur in G'mora had been heeded in life, and Special offer: with each renewal or new subscription to at home for a select group of men, proceeded to read several Light -· accompanied by payment - you may purchase one some of whom had been his chapters of T'hUim. He was copy of Volume One at $5.00. disciples in -on-the- followed by Rav Breuer's eldest Order directly from LIGHT Magazine Main before he left that city in son Mordechai (Marc) Breuer 1939. They acted as shom'rim all who read another kapitel. Chazan P.O. Box C-C that motzo'ey Shaboss. Robert Frankel of the congrega- Brooklyn. N.Y. 11:::19 Allow 8 weeks for delivery. PROF. WOLLMAN-TSAMIR. author of The Graphic History of the Jewish Heritage, was a talmid of Rav Breuer in Frankfurt. Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer 10 Light Tamuz 5740 11 to serve as models for the tion recited the Keil Maley consequences were assimilation the main G'mora shi'ur every Realschule boys. morning to a vort from his Rachamim. and intermarriage. Hirsch was an effective Rabbi Joseph Breuer was born grandfather; it was his way of Rav Breuer was buried at King in 5642 (1882) in Papa (Pupa), Cemetery in Clifton, e d u c ,at or an d c o mm u n a 1 imprinting the stamp of organizer; one of his great Hungary, one of the seven Hirschian ideology on what was N.J. beside his late wife, the children 1 of Rabbi Salomon former Rika Eisenman. accomplishments in Frankfurt to follow. He called his illustrious was the establishment of a Breuer and his wife Sophie. He grandfather, "The Commenta­ Three Generations Realschule - a day and high was brought to Frankfurt in 5650 tor," because of his extraordinary Rabbi Breuer's passing school which grew apace and when his father succeeded his commentaries on the brought to its end an era of three endured until the Hitler era. His grandfather as rov. At the age of and T'hilim. After that he would generations of rabonim who had literary output was overwhelm­ 21 he was given s'micha by both launch into the G'mora shi'ur. He been active in Frankfurt-on-the­ ing. Its brilliance and profundity his father and Rav Koppel Reich put prodigious mental and M ain, beginning with his created a revolution in Jewish of Budapest. He later studied physical energy into the shakla maternal grandfather, Rav thinking and his works are all philosophy and political economy v'tarya of the G'mora, yet affably at the Universities of Giessen and answered the questions hurled at Shimshon R'foel Hirsch, (5568- classics. Chief among them are 2 5648), protagonist of the his translations into classical Strasbourg. After receiving his him by his erudite students. His principle of im Derech German and commentaries on doctorate in 1905, he began a many talmidim can never forget Eretz. the entire Chumash, T'hilim, and career as a rabbi and educator the lofty spiritual pleasure they Rav S. R. Hirsch, born in the S1'dur. His other great works which was to extend over three­ experienced as they followed him Hamburg in 5568 (1808), came to are The 19 Letters in which he quarters of a century. Following in his quest to resolve the kushyos. Frankfurt in 5611 (1851) to lead a exposes all the ills of Reform, and the death of his father in 1926, Rabbi Breuer published an group of eleven stalwart Horeb in which he describes the Joseph Breuer became dean of impressive array of writings, who had formed a congregation mitzvos and categorizes them in the Yeshiva. including commentaries on of uncompromising Orthodoxy as six categories. He founded a Yirrn'yohu and Y'chezke1:l and on opposed to the strong Reform periodical, Jeschurun, in which At The Frankfurt Yeshiva the piyutim of the Yomim community that had destroyed he regulary published articles to His shi'urim in Frankfurt were N oro'im. During his 35 years of Orthodox life in that city. An strengthen Torah observance, a blend of East and West. He work in , he shunned eloquent fighter against Reform, and expounded his philosophy of devoted the opening minutes of involvement in communal Hirsch led and ultimately won . His collected articles the struggle for government (Gesammelte Schriften) were recognition of an Orthodox published posthumously in six 1. Rabbi Breuer's five brothers and his Frankfurt. He settled in Eretz Yisroel in community independent of the volumes. only sister all were active in Orthodox 1933, and held positions in the civil service Jewish life. What was unusual for their there. (1884-1958) taught Latin and Reform-dominated Frankfurt Hirsch was succeeded in generation is that all the brothers not only German in high schools and Hebrew Jewish community. Hirsch and Frankfurt by Rabbi Salomon attended university and held doctorates, grammar at the Breuer Yeshiva. He, too, his followers maintained that a Breuer, who came to Germany but were strictly Orthodox. His eldest emigrated to Eretz Yisroel where he Torah-true congregation could from Hungary to study under brother, Raphael (1881-1932) served as taught in high schools. He spent the last Rabbi in Aschaffenburg and published years of his life in Frankfurt. Joshua not remain part of a Jewish Hirsch, and married his translations and commentaries on (1892-1960), a pediatrician, fled from community in whose temples the daughter. Breuer broadened the T'nach, including a commentary on Shir Germany to Cuba, subsequently settling prayers were recited in German, ideological basis of the H irschian HaShirim. (1883-1946), an in New York, where he opened a medical where the organ was played, community by introducing into it attorney, was a prolific writer on Jewish practice. Hanna Breuer-Meyer was a where all references to Tziyon many of the ideas that had been philosophy and a leader in the Agudath talented writer and youth leader. She died Israel movement. He helped organize and in Frankfurt at the age of 30, a year after and Y'rusholayim had been taught by the Chasam Sofer (Rav presided over the Agudah's labor wing, her marriage. deleted from the prayerbooks, Moshe Schreiber; 5522-5599). He Po'aley Agudath Israel. Samson (1881- 2. Rav Breuer, when asked about and where radical Reformers founded the first yeshiva in 1974) was a professor of physics and attendance at a co-educational college in from mathematics at the Polytechnic Institute the U.S. replied, "Yeihoreig v'al such as Geiger Frankfurt with students in Karlsruhe and later at the University of preached doctrines whose logical Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania ya'auor. "-Ed. 12 Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer 13

J. N. Storm Window politics, devoting his life secondary school, Yeshiva Rabbi Professional & Door Corp. exclusively to the daled amos of , which Insurance Service ALUMINUM PRIME limud-Torah. His students at the extends from kindergarten to the • Homeowners & Tenants REPLACEMENT WINDOWS Yeshiva in Frankfurt remember twelfth grade, has trained two • Burglary & Robbery Save Fuel - Keep Your Home Rabbi Breuer as a kindly mentor new generations in the Frankfurt • Commercial Packages Cooler in Summer! Warmer in Winter! who was deeply concerned with tradition of "Torah with derech • Life, Accident & Health • Storm Windows • Storm Doors their development in ruchniyus. eretz." The principal is Rabbi Window Guards Glass & Screens Replaced • Qua I ity Protection Rabbi Breuer had the unique Breuer's son, Breuer. The • Competitive Rates 851-9364 851-5125 I ability to calmly and pointedly community has its own Yeshiva N.V. Shloma Zalman 4620 -16th Ave., Brooklyn, give musor to his students G'dola and for its young JAY NADLER MEYER SZER (212) 871-3865 without ever raising his voice. men and the Rika Breuer Closed Shabboss From time to time he would look Teacher's Seminary for its young over the list of students who had women. Academic work is attended Shacharis, which began pursued in the colleges that promptly at 6:15 a.m. If someone abound in New York.2 Hebrew Academy for Special Children had been listed as a latecomer, he The communal would turn to him with a sad today has a membership of 1311 55th Street, Brooklyn, N .Y. 11219 smile, "So, Mr. __ , you have approximately one thousand. once again lost the battle with the Though the community has seen EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM yeitzer ho-ra?" and he would the maturing of its third for groan deeply. This n'zifa was generation - many of them INFANTS WITH MENTAL enough to get the culprit to bestir students and graduates of East himself to be among the asora European-style in this AND/OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES rishonim the next morning. country - its services, its AGES: 10 Months to 36 Months The same atmosphere nuscho'os and its minhogim pervaded the second daily shi'ur (including the black hats worn by The program involves an individualized prescriptive treatment plan he gave every evening at 7 p.m. the older men in the congregation designed for each child by a comptetent and certified team of His pleasant manner and his which are strongly reminiscent of professional staff. Parents actively participate in all therapy and paternal devotion to the Yeshiva the old-time "cylinders") are training sessions. students made him beloved by those of Frankfurt-on-the-Main. them all. They respected him and The "Breuer community," as it For further information call: 851-6100 returned to visit him many years has become popularly known, has after they left the Yeshiva. A visit gained the admiration of with Rabbi Breuer was like a Orthodox Jews not only in the ~ FUTURE . 376-6563 chossid traveling to his : it but also in Western PHARMACY, INC. required preparation and self­ Europe and in Eretz Yisroel for ~ ass es s men t, and provided its many auxiliary institutions: 2462 65th St ~· GREAT spiritual uplift. adult education, youth groups, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204 J . '·.· . kashrus supervision, , SCOTT 1 • • • GIFT In Washington Heights tz'doka, and . Baby Fresh I;·· IDEA The K'hal Adath J eshurun Himself a man of uncompromi­ wipes 80's ONLY : •· , community which Rabbi Breuer sing yashrus, Rabbi Breuer See page 34 reg. $288 $169 i ~ ~2 organized in Washington insisted on impeccable ethical ~;'.f\ Heights after his arrival in New conduct on the part of his Expkes July 31,1980~York developed rapidly. The congregants bein odom lacha­ community's elementary and veiro. When his board of directors 14 Light Tarnuz 5740 Rabbi: Dr. Joseph Breuer 15 once discussed the subject of glatt that he uttered so placidly in recognized its place in nature, in needed as an instrument for this kosher meat in the the German, and truly enjoyed his history, and therefore also in real holy struggle, he threw himself community, Rabbi Breuer Torah-statements, his Frankfurt life, one which did not turn its into the battle against the declared, "I would rather have style, and his amazing memory, back on nature but strove to influence of Reform even as the gl att yosher than glatt kosher." for in his near-blindness he cited understand and to complement it. Maccabees had launched their I was one of the participants in everything by heart. When we Lo harnidrosh ikor elo hanw'aseh. revolt against the Greeks and the the G'mora shi'ur held twice­ studied Masechess Sanhedrin, I Our Torah is a Torah of life; it is Hellenists. w eek ly at Rabbi Breuer's recalled that I had learned this actualized in practical, everyday Hirsch expounded his views in apartment in New York. Each rnasechta under him at the living; and in order to actualize it his prolific writings which participant, in turn, read and Frankfurt Yeshiva. It was my we must know about the forces of included his classic commenta­ explained a segment of the greatest pleasure, after having nature and the development of ries on the Churnosh, T'hil1:m, and G'mora with Rashi and Tosofos, studied Sanhedrin so many years life. If we will not clarify for on the Sidur. The N1:neteen Letters and Rabbi Breuer would add his ago in Frankfurt-on-the-Main, to ourselves the relationship of Ben Uziel was the first of a own comments or explanations return to that very rnasechta in between Torah and nature, it will multitude of trenchant, from his father or grandfather or Frankfurt-on-the-Hudson. give others the impression that impassioned books and essays. from the rishonirn and Sage, educator, and mentor of Torah and nature are two The Reformers had hardly acharonirn. The participants three generations, Rabbi Joseph irreconcilable opposites. recovered from this first blow listened in awe to every syllable Breuer will be long remembered. "One hundred years have when he presented his monu­ n"J.~)!l. passed since the idea of Torah 1'rn mental work Horeb: Essays on the Derech Kretz was stated. This is Dut1'es of Israel in Dispersion. our preparation for the task that The original approach of Horeb What Is awaits us in Eretz Yisroel: to lies in the fact that the author solve all the problems of modern took the mitzvos of the Torah and "?" life - our own political and divided them among the Torah's cultural life - in a spirit of own basic classifications. Some The principle of Torah irn Thousands of victims succumbed. harmony with the Torah, and to examples follow of each derech eretz expounded by Rav The Jews of the ghetto were able stand as pioneers before the classification: Shimshon R'foel Hirsch has been to explain a difficult passage people in Eretz Yisroel so that we 1. Taros - fear of G-d, love of subjected to many different and from Rambam, but they were may teach them this way of G-d, idolatry, trust in Hashgocha, sometimes conflicting interpre­ unable to find answers for new thinking. In this manner even humility. tations. I shall cite one eloquent problems. Because they were Hirsch's opponents will come to 2. Eidos -- Shaboss, Yomim definition of the Hirschian paralyzed, their world collapsed respect his ideas and see him as a Tovim, t'filin, tzitzis. principle. It was given by his and there was no one to stand in giant, a beacon to illuminate our 3. Mishpotirn - justice, grandson, Dr. , in an the breach. own day." respect for property, truth and address he delivered in "At that point Hirsch appeared Hirsch prepared himself well falsehood, peace. Frankfurt in January, 1936, to on the scene; he stepped into the for his struggle. He studied at the 4. Chukim - the care of one's mark Hirsch's forty-eighth breach and put a stop to the feet of Chacham Yitzchok body, dress, sexual morality, yohrzeit. plague of assimilation and Bernays and at the yeshiva of Rav shiluach ha-ken. "What does Hirsch have to say sh'rnad. He accomplished this Yaakov Ettlinger (author of 5. Mitzvos - respect for to the present generation?" Dr. with the help of the shul and the Oruch LaNeir). He satisfied his parents, lhnud Torah, t'shuva, Breuer asked, and then school which he established, and secular requirements at the tz'doka. proceeded to answer his own by the influence of his immortal University of Bonn.4 After he had 6. Awdos - t'jila, b'rochos, question. "A century ago writings. Rooted in the past, with acquired the knowledge he a1·odas ha-kohanim. Rousseau's call, 'Back to nature!' his mighty arm he threw open the Dr. Isaac Breuer used to repeat broke through the walls of the gates to the future. Hirsch 4. S. R. Hirsch spent exactly one year at that whenever the preposition im ghetto and created havoc there. preached a Judaism which university, and earned no degrees. -Ed. (with) occurs in the Torah, the I Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer 17 ~ t noun which precedes the sciences can never take preposition is more important precedence over Torah; they can I than the noun which follows it. serve only as instruments to help This holds true for "Torah im us understand the Torah. Torah derech eretz" as well. Torah is provides the framework and the primary; derech eretz is perspective to help us to a proper secondary. The latter is intended understanding of nature and of to serve the former. All the man, both G-d's handiwork.

The following anecdote from Professor Wollman's manuscript work, Frankfurt Experiences, reveals Rav Breuer's mida of emess I~ Dr. Breuer's Attitude Toward Modern Hebrew I I MENACHEN'S EFFORTS to fearing. the influence of secular popularize Hebrew as a spoken nationalism on his students. language in Frankfurt were Menachem came immediately. crowned by the institution of a In the course of the conversation, course in Dr. Breuer asked, "Since when is inside Dr. Breuer's yeshiva. This Hebrew spoken in Frankfurt?" phenomenon came about in the "And since when is German following manner: spoken in Frankfurt?" countered Following the success of the Menachem. "Yiddish was the Hebrew Club, S'hem V'Ever, a language of the Frankfurt steady stream of religious ghetto, not German! And then university students and students Rav S.R. Hirsch came and from Dr. Breuer's yeshiva would showed that it was possible to converge on Menachem every speak German and to study all motzo'ey Shaboss. acadamic subjects and all foreign Frankfurt's traditional Jews tongues, and still remain an considered modern Hebrew-the observant Jew! The same is true language of the Zionists - a about speaking modern Hebrew! manifestation of secular "Secondly/' asked Menachem, nationalism, and thus, a tongue to "we are preparing ourselves here be shunned. in the yeshiva and in the When the , Dr. hachsharot to emigrate to the Breuer, was apprised that Holy Land to built it up and do yeshiva students of his attended battle for the cause of a religious the Hebrew Club, he summoned life which will serve as an Menachem for an explanation, example for one and all, a life 18 Light Tamuz 5740 based on Israel's Torah. In what teacher and mentor had not been language will we wage this war more respectful. in the Holy Land for attaining our Several weeks passed. After objectives? In German or in what must have been consider­ Hebrew? In that case it is a able deliberation, Dr. Breuer mitzm - obligation to study again summoned Menachem. Hebrew here to prepare ourselves This time Menachem was offered for the religious tasks that await a position as the first Hebrew us there!" language instructor in the Menachem's answer, delivered yeshiva. This incident in­ with youthful fervor, seemed to creased severalfold his deep offend Dr. Breuer. Menachem esteem for Dr.Breuer's integrity, regretted that his reply to his love of truth, and wisdom.

The follouJing story from Professor Wollman's manuscript 'work, Frankfurt Experiences, re1Jeals Rau Joseph Breuer's great bitochon.

The Jewish "Deserter" from Poland

ON ONE OCCASION, the Rosh "What can I do?" Menachem Yeshiva, Dr. Joseph Breuer, asked. summoned Menachem to his "You must travel to the Polish home and made a surprising consulate in Cologne (Koln) and request. obtain a Polish passport for him "In the Ostendstrasse Beis there." HaMidrosh there is a Polish Jew, "Does he have papers?" a shochet who has fled Poland, "No. He has none at all." apparently because he is unable "So how can I possibly obtain a to serve in the Polish army as a passport for him?" result of illness and of having "You will find a way." young children to support. He is "But Rabbi, it is impossible to an outstanding talmid chochom. obtain a passport without The poor man has no passport and documents!" is afraid to leave the beis "G-d will help you get a harnidrosh, since the police will passport." The Rabbi insisted arrest him immediately and that he take the first train out and deport him to Poland where he is that G-d would lead him to sure to be court-martialed as a success! So saying, he rose from deserter. This is literally a case of his seat to signal the end of the pikuach nefesh," the rabbi conversation. concluded, "and he must be Menachem emerged per­ rescued as soon as possible." plexed.