THE THE Tishrei 5764 • October 2003 JJewishewish U.S.A. $3.50/Foreign $4.50 • VOL XXXVI/NO. 8 OOBSERBSERVERVER

CLICK HERE FOR TABLE OF CONTENTS THEJJewishewish Tishrei 5764 • October 2003 OOBSERBSERVERVER U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 • VOL XXXVI/NO. 8

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021- 6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of This is the full Table of Contents of the print edition of the America, 42 Broadway, New York, NY10004. Periodicals postage paid in Jewish Observer. The web edition contains only a selection of New York, NY. Subscription $24.00 per articles (indicated in color). Click on the title to go to the year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the United States beginning of that article. Navigate using your browser’s menu (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single and other options. copy $3.50; foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NY., NY. 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000, Fax: 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. BRINGING THE MESSAGE TO SECULAR ISRAELIS

RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR 6 Secular Israel Takes a New Look at the Chareidim, EDITORIAL BOARD RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Yonoson Rosenblum Chairman RABBI ABBA BRUDNY 10 Silver Linings, Avrohom Birnbaum JOSEPH FRIEDENSON RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN PROF. AARON TWERSKI The Future of American Jewry Revisited – A Preview, DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Z”L 16 RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z”L Chanan Gordon & Richard M. Horowitz Founders

MANAGEMENT BOARD 18 Kiruv… and Then What?, Mrs. Chana Nestlebaum AVI FISHOF, NAFTOLI HIRSCH ISAAC KIRZNER, RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN

RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING SUCCOS INSIGHTS AND INSPIRATION Managing Editor

Published by Agudath Israel of America 23 “Succos Mamash” – Building Our Home, By Leaving It,

U.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTOR ISRAELI REPRESENTATIVE Rabbi Fyvel Shuster Feldheim Publishers Intnl. Media Placement 200 Airport Executive Park POB 7195 / 97 Jaffa Road Nanuet, NY 10954 Jerusalem 94340, ISRAEL 28 Hoshana Rabba – the Call of the Yearning Willow,

BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE BELGIAN REPRESENTATIVE Rabbi Yisroel Greenwald M.T. Bibelman Mr. E. Apter Grosvenor Works Lange Kievitstr. 29 Mount Pleasant Hill 2018 Antwerp 36 Yom Tov in the Basunderlager in Bergen-Belsen, London E5 9NE, ENGLAND BELGIUM Mrs. Sudy Rosengarten FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE SOUTH AFRICAN Rabbi Bamberger REPRESENTATIVE 21 Boulevard Paixhans Mr. V. Taback 57000 Metz PO Box 51552, ECOND OOKS FRANCE Raedene, Johannesburg S L 2124 SOUTH AFRICA SWISS REPRESENTATIVE Mr. S. Feldinger 39 Our Most Basic Birthright, Rabbi Avi Shafran Leimanstrasse 36 4051 Basel, SWITZERLAND THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product, 22 Letters-to-the-Editor publication, or service advertised in its pages © Copyright 2003 81st National Convention Information

October 2003 VOLUME XXXVI/NO. 8 SUBSCRIBE TO THE JEWISH OBSERVER. CLICK HERE. THE TERRIBLE, UNANTICIPATED BLOW would be so easily identified traveling of chareidim. They “met” for the first on this line. A friend visiting this sum- time people like Goldie Taubenfeld,a 43- he August 19 suicide bombing on mer from the States told me that his year-old mother of 13 from New a number 2 bus taking worship- family refused to take any buses, except Square. Just before her murder, Tauben- Tpers from the Kosel to the charei- the number 2 bus from the Kosel. feld offered to donate a kidney to a com- di neighborhoods of Jerusalem was per- As the individual stories of those so plete stranger. She raised her sister-in- haps the most shattering blow ever to cruelly murdered began to emerge, the law’s orphaned children as her own, and strike the chareidi community in Eretz pain only deepened. The entire com- regularly offered hot meals and a place Yisroel.Every subgroup within the com- munity could identify with the reasons to sleep to mentally ill people who had munity was hit – Chassidic and that had brought them to the Kosel:one no place else to go. Lithuanian, Ashkenazi and Sephardi, woman, in her eighth month of preg- Mrs. Nava Zagari went to the Kosel on frum from birth and ba’alei teshuva,vis- nancy, to daven for a healthy baby; the day that the first of the drastic cuts itors from abroad and native Israelis another to daven that her son beginning in child allowances was to go into effect were numbered among the 23 killed and yeshiva that day should have a success- to daven that she should nevertheless more than a hundred injured. ful z’man.Many of the victims were reg- merit a seventh child. Instead, her sixth, Few in the chareidi community of ulars at the Kosel. a baby boy less than a year old, was killed Eretz Yisroel were not somehow con- as he slept in her arms. Another victim, nected to someone on the bus. The night MEDIA WINDOW INTO A WAY OF LIFE Mrs. Lilach Kardi, lost both of her par- of the blast, before the names of the vic- ents by the time she was 16, and was left tims were known, a friend remarked that he Jerusalem bus bombing was to raise her eight-year-old brother by her- he was afraid to go to shul the next the chareidi community’s Dol- self. In her eighth month of pregnancy, morning for fear of hearing the names Tphinarium. Just as the Dolphi- she had gone to the Kosel prior to the of people he knew. narium suicide bombing transformed anticipated birth of her second child. Most every chareidi family in the Russian immigrants in the eyes of All these stories and more the Israeli Jerusalem uses the number 2 bus, Israeli society from an anonymous public devoured. The Jerusalem Post which wends its way through most of mass into individuals with life stories, printed the tender remembrance by a the chareidi neighborhoods before end- so the “chareidi blast” transformed the modern Orthodox woman from Efrat of ing its route at the Kosel.Many harbored chareidi community from an ominous the Mattersdorf mikveh lady, Mrs.Rochel the illusion that somehow this line was sea of black into human beings. Weitz, who after being widowed in her safer than others – either because of its Predictably, the chareidi media was thirties raised eight children to adulthood. holy destination, or, on a more practi- filled with biographies of the victims. Israel radio and TV rushed to inter- cal level, because a suicide bomber Less predictably, the same stories of view the usual chareidi talking heads, righteous men and women appeared in this author included, on the communi- Rabbi Rosenblum,who lives in Jerusalem, is a the secular press, without a trace of the ty’s reaction. But far more powerful and contributing editor to The Jewish Observer.He cynicism that would normally accom- eloquent were the simple, unrehearsed is also director of the Israeli division of Am Echad, the Agudath Israel-inspired educational outreach pany such articles. Secular Israelis conversations with the friends and rel- effort and media resource. gained a glimpse into the private lives atives of those killed and with the sur-

6 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 Yonoson Rosenblum

vivors themselves. unprecedented admiration for the way es, terror and calamities is a strength Bracha Toporowitch, whose three- it responded to a tragedy of such scope. that we, with all our learning, do not year-old granddaughter was burned Reporters could not get over the fact that know. We disparage them, but they beyond recognition while asleep in her at more than twenty funerals there were pity us. mother’s arms, was asked whether she no calls for “Revenge” or “Death to the felt any anger towards the suicide Arabs.” Yediot Aharonot described how EMERGING FROM bomber. She appeared surprised by the anxious relatives of those who might “AN ANTI-CHAREIDI BUBBLE” question. Who had time to think about have been on the bus organized them- him at all? she wondered. “What is the selves into minyanim and recited n the wake of a new positive attitude message for us? What do we need to Tehillim as they waited patiently for toward the chareidi community, change to become a better person? How many hours at the Abu Kabir National Imany wrote to repent of their for- do we reach out to people? How do we Forensic Institute. mer anti-chareidi attitudes. A doctor connect more closely to G-d?” These Chemi Shalev wrote in Maariv of from Ramat Gan wrote to Maariv were the only questions, she insisted. how “the restrained response of the describing his emergence for the first These conversations served to dis- chareidi public inspired general admi- time from “an anti-chareidi bubble, in pel one of the most enduring anti- ration and considerable envy among the which everything was so clear and pre- chareidi stereotypes of Israeli life – that large secular majority.” And Hayuta dictable, and that provided easy answers of chareidim as hypocrites. No play has Deutsch wondered in Yediot, “Why to virtually every problem facing the been so frequently translated into don’t we do this?” while observing that country – social, economic, security – Hebrew and placed in an Israeli con- “there is something to be learned from answers dripping with hatred and alien- text as Moliere’s Tartuffe, or the Hyp- the haredi humility.” ation [from chareidim].” ocrite. Tartuffe is one of the standard Most poignant was novelist Yoram Radio host Shelly Yechimovitz, one metaphors for chareidi Jews in Israel. Kaniuk’s tribute in Ha’Aretz (which of the four or five broadcast journalists As Professor Dan Urian of the Tel Aviv deserves to be read in full): who determines the daily media agen- University theatre department puts it, The chareidim do not believe da in Israel, penned a veritable “J’Ac- “All those dark clothes are just a cos- that calamities occur at random. cuse” entitled “The New Anti-Semites.” tume hiding the real person under- G-d runs the world and He knows She began: neath, who is a hypocrite, self-aggran- what He is doing. His knowledge is The day will come when historians dizing, holier-than-thou fanatic. That not the same as human knowledge, will investigate a fascinating phe- is how Moliere sees Tartuffe, and that and a believer submits himself to nomenon: How in the State of Israel, is how many Israelis see the ultra- G-d and lives within the Torah. which was the gathering place for the Orthodox.” When I saw how they stood and prayed remnants saved from anti-Semitic Now, at least, the depth and sincer- over their own blood,with terrible grief and persecution and mass killings, how in ity of chareidi belief could no longer be restrained horror, begging G-d to forgive the State of Israel, which is perceived questioned. them,I could only be envious that my fore- by the majority of its Jewish citizens The chareidi community received not fathers were like them…. as a “Jewish state,”how specifically in only the sympathy of the nation but [T]heir strength to withstand curs- this place of refuge, a new type of anti-

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 7 Semitism has arisen. The victims of In any event, she turned over the Holocaust are still alive for us. As a con- this anti-Semitism are chareidi Jews. microphone to Zilbershlag, who has lost sequence, we know that however bad The perpetrators are secular Jews…. two children to disease. He not only things may look today, the Jewish peo- The arsenal of phrases and cartoons described the general chareidi approach ple have faced worse and survived. employed against them could have to issues of theodicy, but talked power- Part of the reason that questions raised been copied straight from Der Sturmer, fully of the questions his surviving chil- by the suffering of great tzaddikim and and are enough to turn the stomach. dren had asked and how he answered children without sin do not threaten But the secular Israeli response went them. The show elicited hundreds of chareidi faith is that we have lived with far beyond a willingness to acknowledge responses from secular Israelis pro- them so long. Those same questions are the sincerity of chareidi belief. There was foundly moved by his words. an inescapable part of all the aforemen- a renewed interest in the content of that tioned tragedies of Jewish history. belief as well. If secular Israelis were not PART OF A HISTORICAL CONTINUUM Indeed, Moshe Rabbeinu himself asked yet prepared to make the faith of charei- the question of the “suffering of the right- dim their own, many wished they could ecular Israelis saw chareidi faith as eous and the peace of evil-doers,” and and were prepared to learn more. the source of level of strength that Hashem denied even him the answer. Anat Davidoff, for instance, devoted Sthey lack and feel desperately in And yet, as Dudi Zilbershlag point- 15 minutes of her midday radio show need of. Along with the lives claimed and ed to Anat Davidoff, in one of the most to a discussion of how a believing Jew families destroyed, the August 19 bus widely quoted segments of the interview, wrestles with tragedy with chareidi bombing killed whatever hopes still the chareidi acknowledgment of the lim- publicist Dudi Zilbershlag. Davidoff’s remained for the so-called Roadmap. its of human knowledge is the very questions could be read as challenges in Israelis once again found themselves source of their determination and abil- the form of “How could anyone con- staring another fifty years of warfare in ity to continue in the face of tragedy. tinue to believe in a benevolent G-d in the face. Israeli politicians no longer even Indeed, over the generations, we have the face of the deaths of so many infants offer the pretense of knowing the way integrated our faith so∆ deeply that, even and children without sin?” But her insis- out. No political nostrums –“If only we as we suffer, we do not waver. tent, probing tone could also be under- had done this”; “If only we would do Western man has grown intoxicated stood as reflecting a certain personal that” – were heard after the bus blast. with the expansion of scientific knowl- urgency and the hope that she might In this situation, many Israelis would edge. He lives with the illusion that soon find the answer to her question. like to tap into the stoic faith of the all will be understood and subject to his Jerusalem's only licensed BUYER'S BROKER chareidim, which allows them to con- control. In the face of cataclysmic events Personalized weekly update service incl ALL agents' listings & owners' ads tinue forward no matter what the totally beyond his control, he is left sud- 2nd home in Israel adversity. One of the sources of that denly rudderless and afraid, with no Chosson/Kallah apt ARTZEINU Investment strength is the acute historical con- means of coping with the tragedy. Raised Aliyah REALTY sciousness with which chareidim live. with an acute awareness of the inherently sales rental ph: 011-9726-7602-644 m anagement www.artzeinurealty.com Churban, the Chelminicki Massacres, the limited understanding available to finite Man of an infinite Creator, chareidim are spared that particular terror. Secular Israelis were not put off by the chareidi insistence on the limits of human knowledge. Quite the contrary: the only negative reactions in the media in the week after the bombing came when a few rabbis seemed to profess too great a knowledge of Hashem’s ways by assigning specific reasons to the tragedy. In this, the sensitivities of secular public may have been on target. Absent prophecy, the Chazon Ish said, we lack the ability to explain the specific reasons for the tragedies that strike the com- munity as a whole. At most, we can understand the general rules of Divine Providence, writes the Ramchal,but not their application to specific cases. Saying that we cannot fully under-

8 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 stand events, however, does not mean Israelis are too frequently met with an the bus bombing was partly a function that they are, chas veshalom,random. insistence on prior discussion of a host of the fact that there are no chareidi par- Indeed, when they strike so close to of political issues involving the charei- ties currently in the government coali- home, it would be nothing less than a di community. Too often, those discus- tion or positions of power. denial of Hashem to think or act as if sions never proceed past the first stage. After August 19, chareidim were not nothing were demanded of us. That Far more than they hate chareidim called upon to discuss budgets or determination to extract purpose from or are uninterested in Torah, secular defend the draft deferment for yeshiva the horror of the bus bombing was, in Israelis fear and resent chareidi politi- students, but to talk about that which fact, part of what awed secular Israelis cal power. Shachar Ilan, Israel’s most is most important to them: their faith about the chareidi response. carping critic of the chareidi commu- in G-d. Our challenge is to find other, Secular Jews grasped the distinction nity, was not completely wrong when he less tragic, ways to increase that type of between exhortations of individual and suggested that the great openness to the discussion with our secular Jewish communal improvement and attempts chareidi community expressed after brothers. ■ to pinpoint the precise cause of the tragedy. And they were impressed by, even envious of, the chareidi determi- nation to salvage something positive Simcha Guidelines from even the darkest events, and not succumb to despair. THE VORT • The menu for the seuda is limited to 3 • The Vort celebration is to be courses followed by a regular dessert. OUR LESSONS FROM THEIR RESPONSE discontinued. The L’chaim (held at • No Viennese table and no bar. the time that the engagement is he response of secular Israel to the THE MUSIC “chareidi bus bombing” does not announced) should also not turn into a mean that long-entrenched atti- Vort. • A band may consist of a maximum of T 5 musicians (one of the musicians may act tudes towards the chareidi public have THE WEDDING as a vocalist) or four musicians and one been reversed overnight. They have • Only 400 invited guests may be not. But in that response, a glimmer of additional vocalist. seated at the chassuna seuda. hope can be discerned. It is incumbent • A one-man band is recommended. upon us to extract the lessons from that • The kabbolas panim smorgasbord brief moment during which the barri- should be limited to basic cakes, fruit plat- FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR ers cutting off the Torah community ters, a modest buffet, and the caterer’s • The total cost of these items for the entire from secular Israelis were lowered. Most standard chicken or meat hot dishes. wedding should not exceed $1,800. important, the secular response gives lie to the common attitude that the stance FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES of secular Jews towards chareidim and AND THE ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, Torah are immutable – that they hate us please email [email protected] or call 212-612-2300 because they must hate us. (Tens of thou- sands of ba’alei teshuva should long ago We the rabbinical signatories — barring familial obligations — and unusual and have conclusively refuted this attitude, extraordinary circumstances — will not participate in or attend a wedding celebration that and the hostility to efforts to change sec- disregards these guidelines. (Rabbinical Listing in formation) ular perceptions that derives from it.) Rabbi Shmuel Birnbaum Rabbi Eli Simcha Schustal Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel When secular Israelis have a chance Rosh Hayeshiva, Mirer Yeshiva Rosh Hayeshiva, Bais Binyomin, Stamford Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshiva Gedolah of South Fallsburg to actually meet the real people who Rabbi Elya Svei Rabbi Yisroel Rokowsky Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva Gedola of Philadelphia Rabbi Yisroel Simcha Schorr Rabbi Chaim Boruch Wolpin comprise the chareidi community – as Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva Karlin Stolin Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky Roshei HaYeshiva, Yeshiva Ohr Somayach opposed to those they see on TV – they Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva Gedola of Philadelphia Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler Rabbi Zecharia Gelley Rav, Khal Adas Jeshurun are often impressed. Which brings us to Rabbi Yaakov Perlow Rosh Hayeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood the second lesson: the high, albeit Novominsker Rebbe Rabbi Yisroel Tzvi Neuman Rabbi Lipa Margulies Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva & Mesifta Torah Temimah unavoidable, price paid for the inter- Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Feigelstock Rosh Hayeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva of Long Beach Rabbi Dovid Kviat twined relationship of religion and pol- Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Schustal Rabbi Moshe Wolfson Chairman, Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim Rosh Hayeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood itics in Israel. After all, we are part of the Mashgiach, Yeshiva Torah Vodaas of Agudath Israel body politic, and without involvement Rabbi Aron Moshe Schechter Rabbi Yeruchem Olshin Rabbi Shlomo Mandel in the political process, we would be Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva Chaim Berlin Rosh Hayeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva of Brooklyn denied many entitlements. As a result, Rabbi Yosef Rosenblum Rabbi Mattisyahu Salamon Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman attempts to discuss Torah with secular Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva Shaarei Yosher Mashgiach, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood Rosh Hayeshiva, Mesivta Meor Yitzchok

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 9 Avrohom Birnbaum

CLOUDS OVER THE LANDSCAPE of foreboding to the background. Inex- lent number of women, waiting to speak plicably, a tidal wave of secular Israelis with the Rebbetzin. With wisdom, y all accounts, the situation fac- are returning to their religion by the empathy and the sheer power of her ing the Am Hashochen b’Tzion, thousands. Just speak to the bnei Torah tefillos, the Rebbetzin dispenses sage Bour brethren living in Eretz Yis- who are Lev L’Achim outreach volun- advice and berachos, and yes, even cries roel, is far from optimistic. The human teers, the educators who work in the with the many women who seek her tragedy to which Klal Yisroel has been Shuvu Network of Schools, the many counsel daily. Although chareidi women exposed over the past two years, the fam- people associated with the Keren Nesivos represent the majority, women from all ilies that have been destroyed, the psy- Moshe Network of Schools, the Shas walks of life, including many national chological pain that has been inflicted, Network, Chesed L’Avraham, Shaarei religious and even is beyond contemplation. Torah Tzion or the many other effective organ- non-religious Judaism has suffered damage on the izations that are involved in bringing women, come and political and economic fronts in ways Torah to the secular public. Their stories sit for hours in her that have become increasingly more defy logic. They are the amazing stories sparsely furnished acute over the past several months. of the Jewish neshama overcoming anteroom on Disparate budget cuts that have adversity in order to cling to Hashem. Rechov recently been implemented push many Rashbam, Orthodox families well below the pover- HEAVENLY GUESTS waiting ty level, and make it almost impossible to speak for mosdos haTorah to stay fiscally erhaps the words of the renowned with afloat. In addition, by normal course of Rebbetzin B. Kanievsky, wife of her. events, every Israeli secular Jew should PRabbi Chaim Kanievsky despise the Jewish religion and every- a”jyls and daughter of Rabbi thing to do with Torah. From the cra- Yosef Shalom Elyashiv a”jyls, dle, they are inculcated with an extreme- sum it up most succinctly. ly negative, stereotypical picture of the Anybody familiar with the religious community. It would therefore Bnei Brak apartment of only be natural for the religious and Rabbi Chaim their lifestyle to be complete anathema Kanievsky, packed to any sane, secular Israeli. with men waiting to The picture is grim, indeed, and by receive advice and no means should it be minimized. Nev- beracha from the ertheless, anybody venturing into the venerated sage, has heart of Eretz Yisroel cannot help but see seen the outer the many radiant silver linings, which room packed may very well relegate the dark clouds with an equiva- Rabbi Birnbaum, an educator in Lakewood, NJ, One picture tells it and a regular columnist for Hamodia, is a fre- all: A still secular quent contributor to these pages. father walking his son to Yeshiva

10 On the opposite side of Rechov Torah, should humble the average frum- other similar function. These evenings offer Rashbam lives a woman named Mrs. from-birth Jew and make him swell with the school’s faculty the opportunity to edu- Batya Bink. In addition to being the wife pride at the amazing resilience of the cate the parents so that they can grow of a Rosh Kollel and mother of a large Jewish neshama that seems to scream together with their children. A few months family, Mrs. Bink is also one of Lev “Netzach Yisroel lo yishaker.” after the above incident, the school organ- L’Achim’s most successful, devoted out- Reb Aharon B., one of the Lev ized a Chanuka gathering for the parent reach volunteers. Whenever her neigh- L’Achim representatives in the North, body. At one point, a woman with a tichel bor, the Rebbetzin, discerns the pintele related: completely covering her hair came over to Yid waiting to be ignited in the eyes or On one of my many trips to the Or me, “Harav B., Shalom, Shalom.” Not words of a non-religious woman or Chadash School in Rechasim, near Haifa, knowing who she was, I looked at her group of non-religious students, she I noticed a woman dressed in an army offi- blankly and responded, “Shalom.” goes over to the open window and calls cer’s uniform pacing the halls of the school, “You don’t recognize me,” she said, “I am out in her distinctive Yerushalmi Yiddish, peering anxiously into the classrooms and the army officer, and this,” pointing to a “Batya’le, se iz doh orchim.(Batya, there apparently trying to hear what was going sweet girl standing at her side, “is my daugh- are guests here.)” Batya, whose kitchen on inside. Walking over to her, I asked if I ter.” window faces the Kanievsky’s home, could be of any assistance. While I was walking around in that same drops everything to go down and meet “No, no,” she answered, “I just want to school, I noticed a small, studious-looking the women as they exit and introduces listen.” child standing in a corner of the yard dur- them to Yiddishkeit.Scores of Jewish (Reb Aharon, a seasoned outreach pro- ing recess. While all the other children were women and girls have come closer to fessional who has seen enough in his kiruv romping in the playground, he was study- Yiddishkeit through the caring and career to write several books of his own, left ing from a Mishnayos.I asked Rabbi Yehu- empathetic “teamwork” of Rebbetzin the women to her own devices for several da Tenami, who runs the school, about the Kanievsky and Batya Bink. minutes before approaching her again.) “Tell boy. In truth, the Rebbetzin’s words could me the truth,” I gently prodded, “I see that “ You might not believe this,” Reb Yehu- not be more appropriate. “Se iz doh you are grappling with an inner conflict. I da said, “but just last year, his entire fam- orchim,” there are so many guests out would like to help you.” ily knew nothing about Yiddishkeit.After there waiting for us, waiting for people Finally, the woman dropped the façade one of our people started visiting, the fam- who really care, to reach out to them. of the confident army officer and explained. ily began to come closer and closer to Yid- These “guests,” these secular Jews, “I come from the village of Yokna (an dishkeit. The ultimate watershed in their despite all odds, are seeking to return to upscale community near Rechasim) and am lives came when they enrolled their son in a Torah way of life. seeking a school for my daughter.” our school this year. The father, seeing his Although we cannot begin to com- “Why would you come here?” I inquired. son’s newfound intense love for learning, prehend the exalted Master plan that the “Well,” the woman responded, “in my decided that he must also begin to learn. He Ribbono Shel Olam has designed, one neighborhood, there is a secular family sim- is a simple laborer who leaves for work each thing is clear. The veritable earthquake ilar to ours that recently began sending their day at 5 am and does not return until 6 pm, that is taking place in Eretz Yisroel,pro- children to this school. What can I say? I see which made it difficult for him to fit learn- ducing a mixture of seeming contra- that their children now behave differently. ing into his schedule. Nevertheless, he dictions in an almost surreal battle They respect their elders and are not vio- manages. Upon his return home each between kodesh and chol – the sacred lent and selfish. I have one older son whom night, he eats a quick supper, and then goes and the profane – between the emmes I have already lost to drugs. I do not even to a local kollel where he learns with (truth) of Yaakov and the shekker (false- know where he is anymore. I want some- chavrusos until 10 pm, when he almost col- hood) of Eisav, between Yitzchak and thing better for my daughter than the state lapses from exhaustion. Is it any wonder that Yishmael, completely defies nature. school system has to offer.” his son has already completed several Indeed, it is a battle and a battlefield. The woman, who was non-religious, was mesechtos of Mishnayos and wants noth- And it is taking place, as Rabbi Pam pre- very nervous that the school would force its ing more than to use his recess to review dicted in the last months of his life, not beliefs on her. I reassured her, however, that Mishnayos?” in the West Bank, Gaza, or anywhere there is no coercion in the school. “On the The story behind the opening of else, but in the classrooms. contrary,” I explained, “we teach by exam- another school, the school in Rechasim, ple, not by force.” Soon after this conversa- is a clear example of the perfectly syn- IT HAPPENED IN RECHASIM tion, the woman enrolled her daughter. chronized cooperation between the (Reb Aharon continued: In many of the numerous kiruv organizations and the he nisyonos, the spiritual tests that schools where we enroll children, the individual functions which they serve. the average secular Israelis must administration periodically arranges When P’eylim/Lev L’Achim in the Tovercome, the painful decisions evenings when the parents are invited to Rechasim area realized that many par- they must make on their path back to come participate in a lecture or a party, or ents were interested in a Torani school,

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 11 The following is a brief summary of the activities of the Atzmai steps in to supply a principal and teachers. As soon most established organizations and school networks in Israel as the school reaches the point of eligibility for government mentioned in the adjoining article. funding, Chinuch Atzmai assumes the role of financial admin- istration as well, completely absorbing the Keren schools I. SCHOOL NETWORKS to allow the Keren to direct its resources toward develop- Chinuch Atzmai: Schools, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs, ing other new schools. Unfortunately, cuts in Israeli government primarily for chareidi children, but in many areas of the coun- funding have forced the Keren to continue to shoulder the try also for kiruv children. Chinuch Atzmai presided over burden of their schools, even though many have experienced the founding of many schools and their development. It serves phenomenal growth and are way beyond the point of being as the basic government funding framework for the Shuvu, considered “new schools.” Nesivos Moshe and Shaarei Zion networks. In other instances, small independent networks, consisting In the 1980’s, when government funding reached its high- of but a few schools, were started to service particular areas. est levels, Chinuch Atzmai focused on being the represen- Both the acquisition of seed money and the educational bur- tative of religious schools (including the chareidi yeshivos den were borne by them. These groups ultimately received and Bais Yaakov schools of those communities who accept government funding through the conduit of Chinuch Atz- government funding), ensuring that when the education mai when they grew to eligibility, but maintained their inde- pie was portioned out, Torah schools would get their share. pendent names. Chinuch Atzmai was also involved in funding new schools The largest of these is Shaarei Zion, which has kinder- with enrollments too small to qualify for government back- gartens and elementary schools for Bucharian boys and girls. ing, sponsoring sha’os nosafos (extended hours of religious Ma’ayan Hachinuch Hatorani- Shas, for Sephardic chil- instruction) in most schools, as well as transportation for dren, is parallel to Chinuch Atzmai. students living at a distance from Torah schools. The needs The arrival of Shas on the political scene facilitated the estab- of development towns and other locations without a Torah lishment of the Ma’ayan HaChinuch network. As a unifying school, and recruitment among various immigrant populations force for the Sephardic community, Shas absorbed many of was also assumed by Chinuch Atzmai, but there was more the aforementioned independent groups, and many new schools yet to be done in this field. were opened. The Shas schools deal directly with the government In the 1990's, Shuvu and Nesivos Moshe school networks and are not connected to Chinuch Atzmai in any way. were established for founding of completely new Torah schools in areas far from the Chareidi population centers, which calls II. P’EYLIM / LEV L’ACHIM OUTREACH for raising seed money – not forthcoming from the government. Rishum – Over the past six years placed tens of thou- Shuvu: Kindergartens, elementary schools and sever- sands of children who would otherwise have attended mam- al high schools for Russian immigrant boys and girls. lachti (public) schools and mamlachti-dati (religious public) The wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union schools in over 700 Torah schools and kindergartens of all brought with it a tremendous challenge. Rabbi Pam l”xz types, leading their families to teshuva. was convinced that only an independent entity – Torah schools “Door-To-Door” – Almost three thousand Kollel fel- specially geared for the Russian population – would pro- lows and Kollel wives learn one evening each week with vide the undiluted focus necessary to save the Russian Jew- non-observant Israelis in their homes. Extensive follow-up ish children from getting lost in the sea of secularism. with these families is assumed by the other relevant divi- Nesivos Moshe: Kindergartens and elementary schools sions of Lev L’Achim. for kiruv children. Performs the kiruv functions that Chin- Midrashot – Originally established as night Kollelim uch Atzmai effectively addressed at the outset, and still does in more than thirty cities, the presence and availability of to a degree. devoted mentors on a constant basis has developed into In some cases, like the Keren Nesivos Moshe schools, “Project Avreichim.” money is provided just to get a school started. The Keren Midrashot Shalhevet – Centers in thirty cities for teenage does not maintain an independent educational staff but after and post-high school girls from secular homes. Close to two underwriting the cost of creating the new schools, Chinuch thousand young women are on their way back to Judaism. they began an ambitious building proj- Aharon B. proceeded to lead the children number of months ago, he had the merit ect. Although the school is independ- in the recitation of Shema.The tough to take Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, ently run, its seed money came from Rabbi B., the head of operations in the a’jyls, Rosh Yeshiva of the Philadelphia Keren Nesivos Moshe with money for North, could not contain his emotion, Yeshiva, on a trip to the northern day-to-day school expenses funneled and simply broke down in tears after the region. As soon as they pulled up to that through Chinuch Atzmai. Amazingly, words “Shema Yisroel.” He could not fin- very school in Rechasim, the Rosh the building was built in a matter of ish the passuk (passage), and neither Yeshiva jumped out of the car and months. On the first day of school, due could the kids, because they didn’t even bounded up the steps. When he caught to the energetic efforts of P’eylim, 180 know the first passuk of Shema. up with the Rosh Yeshiva, the huffing boys showed up. At that point, most of Today, just several months later, they and puffing Reb Aharon respectfully them were not even wearing kippos. are learning Mishnayos. asked the Rosh Yeshiva why he was rush- After kippos were distributed, Reb Indeed, Reb Aharon recalls how a ing so. Rabbi Kamenetsky replied,“I just

12 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 can’t wait to see another beautiful Yid- Torah schools, is through personal, vant communities who see them in dishe kindt, another beautiful Jewish ongoing relationships with the entire action. child!” family. In cities such as Haifa, many of This is the attitude of our gedolim the families most receptive to Jewish val- HEAVENLY DRAMA when they observe the miraculous ues live in outlying suburbs and settle- accomplishments of the kiruv organi- ments, and are therefore not easily acces- hat is it that propels these zations as they facilitate the return to sible. Reb Yaakov’s problem was that he wonderful avreichim (young Hashem of hundreds of children. did not possess a car, nor the funds to Wmarried scholars) and buy one, and was therefore unable to go women who work on the front lines to HEAVENLY TRANSPORTATION meet with the children and their parents. dedicate themselves so selflessly? Perhaps He called Rabbi Eliezer Sorotzkin, the it is stories like the following that erhaps one of the most amazing national director of Lev L’Achim, who encourage them to forge ahead despite things about the kiruv move- agonizes over these types of decisions all hardships: Pment in Eretz Yisroel is the daily. Rabbi Sorotzkin explained in as A young man who works in the Tze- absolute dedication of its unsung sensitive a way as possible, that the fas area had enrolled the children of a cer- heroes. Whether they are volunteers or organization simply could not afford to tain family in a Torah school. As is often they work for a minimal stipend, the buy cars for its activists. Yaakov, how- the case, a short time later, five completely drive and initiative that they bring to the ever, was undeterred. He ran to Reb irreligious parents of neighboring children field staggers the imagination. Rabbi Aharon B., practically crying, “What approached the young man and said, “We Nachum Gutterman, one of the most want our children to behave like those of successful outreach coordinators in the our neighbor.” Tzefas area, enrolled dozens of children Several months later, there was a from outlying moshavim (agricultural “drama evening” in the school. The girls settlements) in a Torani school in Tze- put on a performance and, of course, the fas. Early every morning, the buses parents were invited. “I came to the would come to pick up the children school,” relates the avreich, “and there from their moshavim and bring them to were five new mothers whom I didn’t school. With the recent government immediately recognize. They were dressed budget cuts, however, the government modestly and their hair was completely no longer pays for long-distance covered. Several minutes later, I realized bussing. No amount of intervention, that it was those very same parents. I had even by Knesset members, was success- the temerity to ask them what had ful in rescinding the decree. In this case, prompted such a dramatic change, a the results could have been disastrous. change that totally overturned their Without public bussing, nor the means social lives, their relationships with long- to afford private transportation, the chil- time friends and neighbors. One mother dren would be forced to return to the should I do? I could reach so many more told me, ‘It was my nine-year-old daugh- secular, state-run schools. That did not people if I had transportation to them.” ter. She kept begging me, crying, ‘I want deter Rabbi Gutterman. Early every Reb Aharon replied, “I will make a you to dress yafeh, nice, just like my morning, he makes the 40-minute trip deal with you. I will supply 3,000 shekel Morah!’” to the outlying moshavim in his old from my own personal funds and you “Another mother said something that jalopy van that runs more on miracles supply 3,000 shekel of your own. With moved me to tears of joy. She said, ‘I was than on anything else, to personally pick 6,000 shekel,you should be able to buy wondering how I could possibly pay you up the children and bring them to an old, used car.” back for changing our lives, for bringing school. He is not paid for his time, nor Reb Yaakov, who spends his morn- light and meaning to our home, and giv- even reimbursed for his gas. ings learning in kollel and did not pos- ing us such nachat from our children. We Then there is Yaakov P.of Haifa, who sess 3,000 shekel,promptly ran to a are not rich, and cannot afford much more recently founded a Torani school there. gemach (free loan fund), where he bor- than a token donation to your organiza- Setting up the school is one step, rowed 3,000 shekel. Problem solved. He tion. After thinking it over, I realized that enrolling children is another. Through- was in business. although I cannot pay you with kessef, out its years of experience, Lev L’Achim These people truly are the backbone money, I can certainly pay you with has come to recognize that the only way and heroes of the kiruv revolution. They hakarat hatov,by showing my appreci- to ensure a family’s uniform spiritual serve as the greatest role models and ation. I realized that the most profound growth and the ultimate success of the inspiration to the children, their parents expression of my heartfelt appreciation education of their children enrolled in and the members of the Torah-obser- and thanks would be by putting on a head

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 13 in town, who was instrumental in enrolling many of the attendees, got a telephone call. It was the head of a local public school telling him that due to the dearth of enrollment, his school would not be opening for the coming school year and the furniture was available for the new school. After writing down the school’s address, Rabbi Nordman gath- ered together some other yungeleit and spent the entire Friday afternoon trans- porting desks and furniture to the new school. At the Chadera school, it is heart- warming to see the children playing in the playground during recess and then American-born Rabbi Menachem Gold, Lev L'Achim's enrollment officer in Afula, maintains his close relationship gather around the principal as she with the children he has registered to the Keren Nesivos Moshe school, through constant follow up. brings a box full of apples to distribute. As they take the apples in hand, they covering so that I could be just like you!’” Chadera Keren Nesivos Moshe school recite a beracha, unprompted. I were planted, the Chadera branch of Lev approached the principal to comment HEAVENLY INTERVENTION L’Achim made a chanukas habayis (ded- on the beauty of seeing these children ication ceremony) for their new facili- making berachos without being remind- he story of the founding of the ty in the city. The event was attended by ed. She then related an incident that had Keren Nesivos Moshe School in Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman a”jyls. taken place several days earlier. “A TChadera is a microcosm of the The mayor of Chadera, a totally irreli- mother came to me with a complaint. special siyata diShmaya showered on gious Israeli educated by the anti-reli- When she was in the kitchen taking those who work in this field. The fasci- gious Shomer Hatzair, was also in something to eat, her daughter piped up, nating story also attests to the seamless attendance, and afterwards could not ‘It is gezzel,stealing.’ The mother was cooperation and collaboration between stop talking about the profound impres- flabbergasted, ‘Are you accusing me of organizations like Lev L’Achim that cre- sion that the “great rabbi from Bnei stealing in my own home?!’ Her daugh- ate the groundswell of interest amongst Brak” had made on him. He was so ter answered in all innocence, ‘But I the parents, and Keren Nesivos Moshe, impressed that, to this day, he travels on learned in school that all food belongs which runs and administers the school. occasion to Bnei Brak to consult with to Hashem until you make a beracha!’ When the Lev L’Achim people work- Rabbi Steinman. “When I heard this,” the principal ing in the Chadera area realized that At a subsequent Bar Mitzva that both continued,“I made sure to explain to the there was some degree of interest in tra- the mayor and Rabbi Steinman attend- child, and indeed to all the children, the ditional Jewish chinuch among the local ed, Rabbi Steinman broached the sub- mitzva of kibbud av va’eim and that one populace, they immediately began ject of the unused building owned by the is never allowed to tell her mother that scouting the neighborhood for a suit- city that would meet the needs of the she is stealing. I must admit, however, able facility. One person noticed a burgeoning school. The mayor imme- that I was extremely gratified to see that dilapidated, run-down building, to diately began working on transferring the lessons taught in our school are which nobody would give a second the building, then in a state of disrepair, absorbed and internalized with such thought. To him,however, the building to Keren Nesivos Moshe. Not only that, passion.” seemed perfect for a potential school, a he had the building renovated and place that could revolutionize the lives painted, with a fence erected around the HEAVENLY BATTLES of untold numbers. After some research, building, all at the city’s expense. As the it was discovered that the building school year approached, the only he ultimate paradox is: What can belonged to the city government, and remaining problem was the lack of fur- possibly be the cause for the phe- had once been a museum showcasing niture. The staff of the school was left Tnomenal success of kiruv organ- the history of the agricultural settlement with no choice other than to start with izations despite the hatred spewed by the of Chadera (originally begun by shom- folding chairs and no desks. The school Israeli government, educational system rei Torah u’mitzvos), which ultimately year was slated to begin on Sunday. On and media? In truth, as any of the became the city of Chadera. the preceding Erev Shabbos,Rabbi P’eylim activists will tell you, it is Soon after the seeds for the new Bentzi Nordman, a prominent activist because they are not fighting their own

14 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 war. It is not they who are causing the revolution. It is Hashem’s revolution and they are but His soldiers. In addition to the actual volunteers and P’eylim, thousands of volunteer bnei Torah and kollel wives, following the directions of the Gedolim,have thrown themselves into kiruv work. Whether it is the busloads of volunteers who trav- el one night each week from Bnei Brak, Yerushalayim and Kiryat Sefer to out- lying moshavim,or the small, but steady monetary donations of young families who themselves have a difficult time putting food on the table, these indi- viduals uphold and support the organ- izations, thereby assisting those on the actual “battlefront.”Rabbi Sorotzkin tells an enthralling story that encapsulates why the success of the organization is man, [related Rabbi Sorotzkin,] he broke to him upon the culmination of that year’s beyond the realm of the ordinary. down and began to cry. “It’s because of the Torah school enrollment campaign. I was driving my car when the cell phone sacrifice of these avreichim,” he said, “it is “This,” he said “is our ‘Sefer Hachayim.’” began to ring. “Hello?” I answered. that $1.00 a month and others like it that Contained within the pages of the “Rabbi Sorotzkin?” came the hesitant are instrumental in ensuring the super- book, in tiny writing, were thousands of voice on the line. natural success of the kiruv performed by names. Each page contained scores of “Yes?” Lev L’Achim. One Jew being moser nefesh names. Names of children. Children who The voice went on to explain that he was for another in the most pure way is had enrolled in a Torani school. Each and learning in a kollel in Bnei Brak and had extremely beloved to Hashem.” every one of those children had original- an arrangement with Lev L’Achim, where- ly been educated in the kefira of the sec- by $10.00 was transferred automatically HEAVENLY ATONEMENT ular Israeli school system. Each and from his checking account each month to Lev every one of those neshamos was now L’Achim. “I would like to change that now,” t was Erev Yom Kippur in the sparse- being taught Torah. As Rabbi Steinman he said. ly furnished apartment of Rabbi flipped through the pages, his face lit up After assuring him that it would not be IAharon Leib Steinman. The awe and and the sad lines on his face turned up, a problem, I asked him how he would like seriousness of the impending Day of forming a smile. “You need not apologize it changed. Atonement was clearly evident, practically for anything. On the contrary, I must “I would like to increase my donation by tangible throughout the house. The face thank you for having the opportunity to $1.00 each month.” and frail frame of the venerated Rosh help in some small way. With this ‘Sefer By this time [recounts Rabbi Sorotzkin,] Yeshiva seemed to shoulder the entire bur- Hachayim,’ with this Book of Life, I can “I was curious. Why would somebody take den of Klal Yisroel as he sat at his table, approach the Ribbono shel Olam on Yom the time and trouble to obtain my cell phone already dressed in white. Rabbi Eliezer Kippur.” ■ number and call for the purpose of increas- Sorotzkin walked in, wanting to ask the ing his donation by $1.00? He answered my Rosh Yeshiva’s forgiveness for taking so query with the utmost simplicity. “A few much of his time throughout the year months ago we were blessed with a baby. when seeking counsel and answers to the GittyGitty Both before and after the child’s birth, I had myriad questions that constantly face him. to be available to help at home during the Rabbi Steinman, the fear of din etched on evening hours and was therefore not eligi- his face, said, “Reb Leizer, with what will PinterPinter ble for the $10.00 monthly bonus for per- I come before Hashem this Yom Kippur? Experienced Shadchan fect attendance at my night kollel. Now, I am an old man. You know how hard it for all age groups however, mother and child are doing fine is for me to learn, to daven and to serve for the Orthodox Jewish community. and I am able to be on time. I therefore have Hashem.” Rabbinical references available one dollar more of maaser money available Rabbi Steinman then pulled out a each month to give Lev L’Achim.” massive book that resembled a telephone Home: (718) 338-1765 When I told this story to Rabbi Stein- book, which had recently been presented Pager: (917) 486-5655

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 15 Antony (Chanan) Gordon & Richard M. Horowitz

Ten years ago, the first National invest in community activities, Jewish Population Survey (1990- education and outreach. Among 91) was released by the United the various analyses that it Jewish Communities (UJC – the prompted was a widely-quoted national umbrella organization projection of the future of for local Jewish Federations). It American Jewry by Anthony reported alarming rates of (Chanan) Gordon and Richard M. intermarriage (52%) and Horowitz. assimilation, which triggered A second survey was taken in much reassessment of priorities 2000-2001, with the findings just as well as editorial hand- released this past September. We wringing. Understandably, the data present below a preliminary would have reaching response by the authors of the implications regarding how to earlier projection. The Future of American Jewry Revisited

t’s hard to believe that almost ten mentioned question as follows: the rate of intermarriage. On both years have passed since our journey “Based on current intermarriage counts, the NJPS 2000 indicated Ibegan to capture, in the most graph- rates and the average number of chil- unequivocally that the majority of ic and vivid manner, the consequences dren per family, the chances of young American Jewry are continuing to move that follow from a Jewish couple’s deci- contemporary Jews having Jewish off the “demographic radar screen.” sion to embrace a more or less Torah- grandchildren and great-grandchil- Zero Population Growth (“ZPG”) in observant lifestyle. Our now well- dren, with the exception of the Ortho- America is 2.1. In other words, in order known demographic chart entitled dox,are increasingly remote.” to simply maintain the status quo,a fam- “Will Your Grandchild Be Jewish?” 1 illus- With the recent release3 of the ily needs to have at least 2.1 children to trated the profound and far-reaching National Jewish Population Survey replace the current levels of mortality. consequences for Jewish continuity that (NJPS) 2000-2001, we will naturally The NJPS 2000, as was the case with the is borne out by the choice to affiliate pose the same question. This “preview” NJPS 1990, reported the average num- with any denomination other than article was submitted on the same day4 ber of children born to Jewish women Orthodox Judaism. In fact, it was in this that the North American Jewish Data to be less than the fertility number. This very publication more than six years Bank first made the raw data available figure will of course be even lower ago2 that we responded to the afore- to us. Nevertheless, at this juncture, we amongst the non-Orthodox. Chanan (Antony) Gordon is a Fulbright Schol- can highlight various macro-demo- Accordingly, even if the intermarriage ar and graduate of the Harvard Law School. Mr. graphic trends by comparing the NJPS rate were zero, the current statistics on Gordon has co-authored and authored several 2000 with its namesake of 1990. Jewish fertility would rapidly con- articles that have previously appeared in the JO. tribute to a declining Jewish population Mr. Gordon is the Coordinator of the Los Ange- les Kiruv Chabura and is a Managing Director The “Big Two” Variables for Jewish in America. of a boutique investment bank in Beverly Hills. Continuity – Cause for Concern Richard M. Horowitz graduated with an MBA “Solving” The “50% Threshold Problem” from Pepperdine University. Mr. Horowitz is the he two central variables that President of Management Brokers Insurance, directly have a bearing on the he most shocking statistic of Leviathan Computers as Dial 800 L.P., and is continuity of the Jewish people the NJPS 1990 was the inter- currently the President of Aish Hatorah for T North America. are the average size of Jewish families and Tmarriage rate reported to be

16 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 52%. Apparently the fact that the low rate of intermarriage on the 6.7% decrease among non-Orthodox reported intermarriage rate broke other. Those respondents who had a Jews. In contrast to this, the number the so-called “50% threshold” Jewish Day School/Yeshiva education of Orthodox Jews appears to have stunned even non-Orthodox Jews. As reported a 7% intermarriage rate. It is increased to 11.1%5.We look forward Rabbi Avi Shafran so aptly pointed important to note, however, that we to making extensive comments after out in his recent piece entitled Our will need to delve into the raw data in reviewing the raw data together with Most Basic Birthright,“It’s little short detail to understand the UJC’s defi- many of the professional statisticians, of tragic that a Jewish newspaper like nition of Jewish Day School as well as demographers and sociologists with The Forward can editorially exult, as what the UJC considered an adequate whom we will be working. We have it recently did, over the fact that the longevity of Day School, before being already begun this process, and American Jewish intermarriage rate is able to make any accurate extrapola- be’ezras Hashem, our findings will be a mere 43%, rejoicing in the fact that tions from the statistics cited by the the topic of an extensive research “most Jews still marry Jews.” NJPS 2000. piece, which will be submitted as soon The NJPS 2000 apparently “solved Finally, the NJPS 2000 indicated a as possible. ■ the 50% threshold problem” by leav- ing the least committed portion of American Jewry out of the survey. Doing so, as the official publicly released summary of NJPS 2000 released by the UJC was at pains to point out, retroactively reduced the intermarriage rate of NJPS 1990 to 43%. By utilizing this “reclassification strategy,” the NJPS 2000 was able to report that “the intermarriage rate for Jews who have married since 1996 is 47%,”and accordingly falls short of the 50% threshold.The NJPS 2000 admits that the intermarriage rate among a group comparable to those in the NJPS 1990 has risen to 54%.

Interdenominational Comparative – Jury is still out

he NJPS 2000 report dissemi- nated to the public did not indi- Tcate a direct correlation between denominational affiliation and the likelihood of becoming an “assimilation statistic.” Nevertheless, the report did note that there was a It feels better just to talk about it. That’s why we’re here. Our staff is made up of direct correlation between level of caring and sensitive individuals. Together, education on the one hand, and a very we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals 1 First published in 1996. for counseling, legal advice or help in finding a safe environment. We can also 2 JO, May 1997. put you in touch with some very special 3 The United Jewish Communities officially Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to released the findings of the NJPS 2000-2001 on you, you must first reach out to us. September 10th, 2003. Confidential Hotline 1.888.883.2323 4 th September 15 , 2003 (Toll Free) 5 A more detailed analysis of the apparent increas- es amongst Orthodox Jews and the fall-out of the 718.337.3700 decrease in other denominations will be part of Do it for yourself. (NYC Area) the subject of a more detailed follow-up article Do it for your children. Shalom Task Force is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization by the authors.

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 17 Chana Nestlebaum

Kiruv… And Then What?

A MENU… FOR HOW TO LUNCH rupts quickly to enlighten the guest: a class that was at least half non-Jewish “This isn’t really an appropriate topic for according to halacha. magine a new family moves onto the the Shabbos table,” he softly advises. “The more Jewish the name, the less block. To be friendly, the next-door likely the kids were to actually be Jews,” Ineighbor invites the family for a WELCOME TO THE FAMILY said one person involved in the effort. Shabbos lunch. Shabbos arrives, and as “If the father was Jewish and they had the guests walk through the door, the f the guests pursued this relationship his name, chances were good that the hostess gently says,“You know, it’s cus- any further, it would be a remark- mother was not Jewish.” tomary to send a little gift along before Iable testimony to the power of for- Then, of course, there are the thou- Shabbos when you’re invited out.” giveness. The scenario seems unthink- sands of halachically Jewish people with A while later, one of the guests’ young able. But putting oneself in the guests’ names that evoke the counties of Ire- children announces that he hates the place is instructive; it conveys the feel- land, the provinces of Italy or the deck gefilte fish. It doesn’t taste like ing that frequently rises in the heart of of the Mayflower. Kiruv, as everyone Mommy’s. So the hostess helpfully a newly religious person who is enter- can clearly see, is now an emergency informs the guest that her child has bad ing the religious world. room procedure. manners and should be taught how to To its credit, the religious community Efforts are underway across the refuse food politely. Then she instructs has opened its eyes to the rolling wreck- country and around the world to stop her own child not to learn from this age of Jewish demographics. People are the hemorrhage. While much obvi- young visitor. “Nothing personal, you beginning to understand that assimila- ously remains to be done, the Torah know,”she tells the guest.“We just don’t tion is no longer the problem; disap- community is beginning to understand want him to pick up any bad habits.” pearance is. There are thousands of gen- that it cannot just blithely watch its After the meal, the conversation tile Cohens and Goldsteins out there. brethren drown in ignorance and fade flows in various directions. The father Thousands of people think they are from memory. Organizations, speak- of the visiting family – an avid follow- “half-Jewish.” Thousands born of gen- ers, outreach programs, schools, web- er of local politics – brings up the recent tile mothers think they’re 100 percent sites, publications, seminars – they’re school-board elections. The host inter- Jewish. In one town, an effort by the all out there, drawing Jews back to Mrs. Nestlebaum is the editorial director for Torah community to open a Hebrew Torah one by one. Oorah Kiruv Rechokim, Lakewood, NJ school for public school children drew But what happens then? What hap-

18 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 pens after someone decides,“Yes,this is world that holds up wealth and pleas- what I want for my life”? ure as the true indicators of a life well Often, he is the “guest at the table” lived. depicted in the opening story. His life- So, what is the well-meaning obser- long habits are suddenly wrong. His vant Jew to do? If he lets secularly ori- frame of reference is different from that ented children into his child’s school, he of everyone else in his new world. He takes a chance on exposing the child – and his children, brought up on Amer- right there within the walls of the yeshiv- ican popular culture, are deemed bad ah – to exactly the influences he is try- influences who,“nothing personal,”are ing to exclude. Yet if he doesn’t embrace not welcomed in many yeshivos and the newly religious child, he is essentially many communities. sending the child back into the loving arms of the public school. PROTECTING THE WEALTH To say the child can come –but he had better not mention anything about hile this dynamic plays out in television or hum any Disney sound- a way that is often uncom- tracks – demands of the child an Wfortable and sometimes out- exhausting level of vigilance and self- right painful for a newly religious Jew, control. The child will probably also it flows from a source that is well sup- need to develop a tolerance for rejection; ported throughout the Torah. Jews he can expect that some of his new have an obligation to keep themselves classmates will not be allowed to come apart from the culture and ways of the play at his house. gentiles. Once the kiruv world is finished Throughout most of the Orthodox applauding a person’s transformation world, the term “religious” is at least (“He cut off his ponytail and put on a partly measured by the degree to which yarmulka…He took out his nose ring a person shuns the styles, entertainment and threw out his television…She gave and lingo of the secular world. Most all her pants away to charity and put on yeshivos discourage or prohibit televi- a sheitel…”), the business of real life and sion, secular music and movies, which its real complications begins. are the bread-and-butter of secular And that is when unglamorous day- culture. Families do their best to keep to-day work of kiruv begins. “You have their children from absorbing the val- to be there not just for Shabbos, but for ues that pervade American society – a erev Shabbos,when you’re busy and

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 19 someone needs to talk,”says a long-time learning and basic Torah concepts, he child brought up in a positive Torah volunteer for Oorah Rechokim, Lake- has one attribute that should stir awe environment will exert influence on the wood, New Jersey.“It’s not just the first in the heart of any “frum-from-birth” child with a weaker background, rather day of yeshivah – it’s the middle of the Jew. He has the merit of being able to than vice versa. school year when there’s a problem with say “na’aseh v’nishma”right here, right “There’s nothing gained without the teacher and the parents don’t know now, in this world. He’s not accepting giving up something,” said the Oorah what to do. You have to be a whole sup- the Torah because he was raised with it volunteer. “What are we giving up? port system to people.” and cannot conceive of any other life. Maybe we can’t be as exclusive as peo- He is choosing it, as did every Jew at ple would like to be. But look at the gain THE BALANCE Sinai, committing to a way of life he for Klal Yisrael.You’re saving people who only vaguely understands. He may not would otherwise be lost. And each of elcoming baalei teshuva into be on the educated religious Jew’s these people is the root of a new gen- the Torah community and “level,” but as the Talmud points out, eration. From one baal teshuva today, Wlearning to value what they he stands in a place where even a tzad- you might have 50 grandchildren who bring to the table is as important a chal- dik cannot stand. will all go on to start families of their lenge for the observant Jewish world as The possibility that he may negatively own.” is kiruv itself. One cannot invite the influence those who are raised in a reli- Even educating the children brought guest for lunch only to point out the gious environment is certainly a factor up in Torah involves some “loss.” The error of his ways, even if the goal is help that needs to be considered, but it need rebbe who spends his time preparing and him correct them. not be a wall-to-wall principle that delivering a shiur for 20-year-olds is los- For all the baal teshuva’s gaps in determines the community’s level of tol- ing time from his own higher-level erance and acceptance. The fact is that learning. Even more intellectual growth most people who are on the road is sacrificed by the rebbe who spends his upward are trying to grow, not drag oth- time teaching Alef-Beis. Yet the gain for ers down. They want to learn, not cor- Klal Yisrael is unquestionable. rupt. Rabbi Aaron Schechter once advised GOOD ADVICE a young man who had taken up resi- dence in Dallas to learn in the kollel his doesn’t mean that a person there. The man was worried that his should throw all caution to the child’s new friendships would influence Twinds. There are families in him for the worse. Rabbi Schechter told which some members may be more vul- the father to observe the dynamics nerable to outside influences. There are between the children and see who was people exploring Torah Judaism who, for influencing whom. Most likely, the a variety of reasons, have the potential to do spiritual harm. The only way to know with certainty if an individual Jew should be welcomed into one’s school or home is to discuss the situation with a Rav who knows the people involved and can make an informed judgment. A wall-to-wall “yes” is no healthier for Klal Yisrael than a wall-to-wall “no.”

THREE TALES

he director of a kiruv program told of one rebbe who consis- Ttently dismissed social pressure in order to do what he felt needed to be done for a fellow Jew. The rebbe made a practice of taking troubled chil- dren into his home. Some were physi- cally disabled and others had mental deficiencies.

20 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 His married daughter, who was determined that he could better afford A PERSONAL GUIDE expecting at the time, was warned by to absorb the costs. neighbors in this very insular commu- But his community was full of well- o solidify the gains made in nity not to enter her father’s house. The meaning advisers who called him kiruv,it’s essential to get the neighbors believed that her unborn child “crazy” for his self-sacrifice. “I may be Tobservant Jewish world thinking might be affected by the presence of the losing a little now,” the rebbe said, “but about the message it sends out to those disabled children. my children and grandchildren will who enthusiastically change their lives “I told my father that people were never have to worry about a roof over to join its ranks. On the other side of the telling me not to go inside. He said,‘Not their heads.” equation, those in kiruv must be pre- only will your baby not be harmed, but And indeed, all the branches of his pared to do what it takes to help their I’ll tell you this. In the merit of helping sprawling family are well provided for. fellow Jews through the snags and pit- these children, I’ll have 300 grandchil- A third story demonstrates how this falls they will inevitably meet. dren, and every one of them will be rebbe’s attitude of taking risks on behalf To be sure, this comprehensive healthy. There will be no deformities and of his fellow Jew was passed down to his involvement in kiruv is not something no miscarriages in our family.’” children. The daughter who told the sto- most individuals can undertake. But The count, including great-grand- ries recalled that she had run a play- every individual can and does help to children, currently stands at about 250. group for a number of years. One year, create the climate that envelops a No miscarriages, no deformities. a child who was from a background that returning Jew as he moves forward in his The same rebbe owned some prop- was different from the rest of the com- new life. Each individual helps deter- erty, which he rented to tenants. As munity enrolled in her school. Other mine whether that climate is warm and fuel and electric rates rose, most parents began pulling their children out. nurturing or cold and forbidding. landlords in the community raised She went to her father for advice. Every situation certainly has its own their rents. They pressured the rebbe Should she ask the child’s parents to variables that must be examined, but to raise his rent as well, but he would place him elsewhere? those factors must be viewed under not. He knew that any additional “Keep him,” the father said. “And proper lighting – the light of ahavas Yis- expense would put stress on the ten- you’ll never have any more money roel.With the right illumination, the ants’ already tight budget, and he problems.” And she didn’t. right answers will always emerge. ■

...Your only real choice when it comes to Foreign Residents’ Mortgages in Israel … and a great deal more

When it comes to mortgages for overseas investors, only the Bank of Jerusalem MORFOR® mortgage features all of the following:

❚ Mortgage specialists whose native language is English; ❚ Peerless expertise in Israeli mortgage law;

❚ A sterling reputation in real estate financing for over thirty-five years; ❚ A special personal service branch in the heart of Jerusalem’s hotel district;

❚ Custom-tailored loans with no additional collateral or guarantors; ❚ Flexible payment terms and no prepayment penalties.

Discover a comprehensive world of world-class international banking services including: Time deposits and variable term CDs in various currencies, foreign exchange, global securities and brokerage services, and foreign currency mortgages. If your standards call for nothing less than 100% discretion, please contact Mr. Yossi Shonkopf at 972-2-6774777.

Bank of Jerusalem Ltd. International Division 18 KEREN HAYESOD STREET ■ JERUSALEM 92149 PHONE 972-2-6774777 ■ FAX 972-2-5671601 GENERAL OFFICE HOURS: SUNDAY - THURSDAY 8:30AM - 4PM CASHIER: 8:30AM - 3PM

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 21 Mrs. Sudy Rosengarten

As told by Mrs. Rutie (Bernfeld) Glick, who was eight years old at the time of the experiences recounted below. JULY 1944 Only those on the Administrative PREPARING FOR ROSH HASHANA Board had contact with the Nazis. As far y family and I, for huge sums as we were concerned, we only saw Nazis ccording to Father’s calendar, of money, gold and jewelry, when we had to line up twice a day to Rosh Hashana was approaching. Mwere passengers on the be counted by the hated Appel, the Herr AWe each trembled in anticipa- Rakevet HaHatzala, the rescue-train Commander of the camp. We were tion of the holy days, when the Gates that would take us – the first group to forced to stand in straight lines, for of Heaven would open to accept our be ransomed in the deal made Dr. hours at a time – either beneath a burn- prayers and our tears. Everyone was so Rudolph Kastner with the Nazi Adolph ing sun, or in rain, slush or snow, at the serious, as he prepared to pour out all Eichmann, in which a million Hungar- mercy of howling winds. Although the his hurt and pain and suffering, certain ian Jews were to be exchanged for trucks. Nazis were not allowed to use us for that his Father in Heaven would listen But instead of arriving in neutral Spain, forced labor, we suffered from constant and redeem His unfortunate chil- from where we were to embark on ships hunger, as our diets consisted of just dren…. Yes, there was a sudden that would bring us to Palestine, we ended enough to keep us alive, but never reawakening of hope in our Basunder- up in the Bergen-Belsen Concentration enough to keep us from feeling hunger. lager.I just knew that it would be a spe- Camp. Because of the political significance We were the lucky ones in Bergen-Belsen cial Yom Tov. of our transport, we were put into a – a Concentration Camp that always We came to realize that Mr. Shlanger, Basunderlager, an autonomous camp smelled of burning flesh, and had its who usually sat all day saying Tehillim, which was administered by a board head- inmates doing forced labor eighteen was not the “nebish” that we took him ed by Kastner’s father-in-law, Dr. Fisher. hours a day, punished by unimaginable for…. An electrician by trade, he made Mrs. Rosengarten,who lives in Bnei Brak, is the cruelty, tortured by the most barbaric a secret electrical connection in our bar- author of World Apart (Targum/Feldheim), her means. We were neither gassed nor racks to plug in Mother’s iron. All the memoirs of growing up in Williamsburg, Brook- burnt, nor forced to work nor tortured; ladies in the camp were suddenly visit- lyn. She was last represented in these pages in we were just always hungry. Very hun- ing us in a steady flow. When they left, “Days of Awe in Bobov: Some Personal Glimpses,”in October ’00. Mrs. Rutie Glick also gry. The one thing we could never get their badly crumpled Yom Tov outfits resides in Bnei Brak. out of our heads was food. were freshly ironed. Mr. Shlanger also

36 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 figured out a way to operate Mr. Reinus’s it before? Rutti, Suri, round up all your umpteenth time, nor the growling and haircut machine, and in no time it was friends and go from barracks to bar- snapping of his vicious dogs. making the rounds in the men’s bar- racks, and ask each person to give you As the shul vibrated with the rabbi’s racks. the yellow Magen David that the Nazis cries, it suddenly became crystal clear to With this renewal of hope, the peo- forced him to wear in Hungary.” everyone how fortunate we were to be ple demanded that Dr. Fisher, the Head “Why should we collect those cursed Jews. Though the Nazis hated us and Administrator of our Special Camp, badges of shame?” my sister Suri said in tortured us and humiliated us and killed arrange for us to have a shul where we’d distress. “Thank G-d we don’t have to us, we still chose to remain Jews, G-d’s be able to pray together on the Days of wear them anymore.” children. We still chose to retain His Awe. Many of the rabbis in our group Image. We still yearned to live, still had had brought along Sifrei Torah,but faith in the future, still could pray and nobody had thought of taking along a beg for love and pity from our Father shofar or machzor.Ofcourse not! The in Heaven. Nazis had promised us that we’d be in hey seemed to Our hearts were so full, and with the Palestine by then. rabbi’s cries tugging at our souls, we Waiting his turn at the dentist, Tnot even feel the were stirred to rejoice in being His Cho- Father, holding his hand over his blows of their Nazi sen People. mouth, and grimacing in pain, told one The shul was jam-packed. People of the Dutch POWs of our plight. “We guards. were carefully following the prayers, have an extra shofar which we’d gladly pointing to the hand-written pages give you,”the prisoner whispered back, copied from the machzorim.Out in the while coughing into his hand so the Nazi yard,people were pressing together to guard wouldn’t notice them talking to “It’s Rosh Hashana!” hear the shofar.It called and called. Shiv- each other, “except that it’s too large to they shouted. “Jews ers ran down my spine. My skin tingled smuggle through the hole in the fence.” and then stood away in prickles. I shiv- “Maybe,” Father mused, “someone are praying. They’re ered. I trembled. The tears fell hot on my could mention it to that S.S. man who face. And still the shofar called. It would smiles… because he’s the only Nazi here blowing the shofar. not stop. People were crying and moan- who seems to have a heart. Maybe he’d ing, shouting and sobbing. And every- help us out.” G-d is still alive!” one was talking to G-d; arguing with Two days later, a shofar and five Him, bargaining with Him, believing machzorim were suddenly discovered in that their tears and prayers were not in the Administration Barrack. From vain, that they would reach the Kingdom whom? From where? Nobody knew! “But Surale, just think of all the yel- on High. low-gold thread I’ll find in those Magen The old rabbi spoke, admonished, SEARCH FOR SPARE PAPER Davids! We’ll take each one carefully chastised, comforted. He pleaded for the apart, and from all of the thread make straying flock to return to the fold… to he children in the camp were sent one gigantic Magen David that we’ll sew recognize the Creator, to accept His rule. around to collect whatever writ- on to one of the white sheets that we He cried for mercy, for love, for life…. He Ting paper and pens were available took along. Suri, we’ll have the most cried and he cried till no heart remained in the barracks, and whoever could write beautifully paroches in the whole world. stubborn, till no eye remained dry. Hebrew was drafted to copy the main And our shul will be a Holy of Holies.” Jews, regular inmates of Bergen- Holiday prayers from the machzorim. Belsen, also heard the call of our shofar, The administration granted us per- ROSH HASHANA… as they passed our camp on their way to mission to use the infirmary as a shul, WHEN NOTHING ELSE EXISTED forced labor. Suddenly, and totally unex- and Mother volunteered to sew a pectedly, they broke file and ran to the paroches (curtain for the holy ark) for the osh Hashana arrived. Nothing fence that separated their camp from ours. closet in which the Sifrei Torah would else existed. Not our gray world They were gasping, they were chok- stand. Mother was very excited. As soon Rof dark, airless barracks, nor our ing. The tears streamed down their faces. as we came into our barracks, she start- sour breath, nor our bellies rumbling They seemed to not even feel the blows ed pulling things out of all our valises, from hunger, nor our foul-smelling of their Nazi guards. hoping to find something suitable for a dysentery, nor the people fighting over “It’s Rosh Hashana!” they shouted. paroches… but her search was in vain. a sliver of potato left in the soup pot, nor “Jews are praying. They’re blowing the Suddenly, her eyes lit up.“Of course!” the S.S. Herr Commander shouting and shofar. G-d is still alive!” she announced. “Why didn’t I think of cursing as he counted us for the Their souls were on fire, even as their

The Jewish Observer, October 2003 37 broken bodies were dragged from the had ingeniously prepared. Considering floor. Our cousin Shaul, the chalutznik wire fence to the curses of “Filthy Jews.” that we never stopped suffering from who had come to shul out of respect for Mother, as all women in our Basun- hunger, our Yom Tov feast was truly a our father, asked him: “For this you’re derlager,had hoarded rations all month miracle of yeish mei’ayin – substance thanking G-d? To be captive in this jail in preparation for the Rosh Hashana from naught. under the rule of cruel goyim?” meal. The administration had arranged When we finished eating our “lavish” Father smiled at Shaul with pity.“I’m that we’d be given an extra portion of Yom Tov meal, we stood outside to watch thanking G-d for not making me a goy. jam and margarine. Mother showed the the Satmar Rebbe,accompanied by his Were I to have the choice of being cap- women how to create a Yom Tov torte Chassidim,going to the wash-barracks tive or a Nazi-master, I know, without by whipping the jam and margarine where the faucets were turned on, and a doubt, that I’d choose to be where I together into a crème that, when they all recited the Tashlich prayer. am right now.” smeared on and around thin slices of bread, really looked like a torte, even if THE MONTH MOVED ON rev Succos, the Satmar Rebbe, it didn’t taste like one. Potato salad was with special permission secured another Yom Tov treat that the women e greeted Yom Kippur with Ethrough the Jewish Administra- the full realization that we tion, stacked one bed on top of anoth- THE LEADER IN GLOBAL Wwere but “clay in the hands of er, hung blankets on three sides, and put CELLPHONE RENTALS the Potter.” The words, “Who will live a straw mattress on top of the upper bed and who will die; who at ripe old age and for s’chach.That’s where he ate, slept and who to be plucked from the Tree of Life learned the entire week of Succos. before his time,” had never been so meaningful, and the chazzan couldn’t go uccos ended, and winter began. As on because of the uncontrollable burst we stood on Appel’s line twice a SATELLITE PHONES AVAILABLE of emotions that had been aroused. He Sday, the rain and hail soaked • Rental for over 150 countries waited a long time till the deafening cries through the blankets we had wrapped • Nationwide delivery available subsided, then continued on in almost around ourselves. The howling winds •Voice mail & text messaging a whisper: “Who in hunger and who in echoed the despair in our hearts, as the • 24 hr. customer support thirst, who in violence and who in epi- Herr Commander counted us for the • Call waiting • Caller ID demic, who will enjoy peace and who umpteenth time. All the while, we tried • Fax & data service will suffer.” unsuccessfully to stand in straight lines, • Itemized bill It was impossible to hear the baal on the ground that had become a river tefilla’s voice above the shouts of all of oozing mud. And though the Days of those praying. Awe were long over, we continued to We reached “Aleinu.”All the men pray. Continued to pray, in the river of were bowing, falling down on their yearning and faith that flowed from www.travelcell.com knees and prostrating themselves on the those Days of Awe. ■ Notworld just cheese a cheese, 3” aworld tradition... cheese 3” Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to qualitypick and kashruth. up With 12 jandelicious varieties.02 pageHaolam, a tradition 22 you’ll enjoy keeping.

All Haolam cheese products are made in the U.S.A. under the strict rabbinical supervision of: Cholov Yisroel The Rabbinate of K’hal Adath Jeshurun, Washington Heights, NY

THURM BROS. WORLD CHEESE CO. INC. BROOKLYN, NY 11232 Haolam.

38 The Jewish Observer, October 2003 COME , HEAR AND TAKE ACTION , THINK , DEBATE ! ...

STST CONVENTION NNATIONALATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ■ A ruach-filled Shabbos graced by CCONVENTIONONVENTION thethe presencepresence of of Gedolei Torah 88 ■ inspiringinspiring ohjt ,ca — ,ca khk Ag11udath Israel of America ■ Weekday vehrntc ktrah ,sudt symposia confronting the major THEME issuesissues ofof the hour Measured Gains, Growing Pains: Shouldering the Burden of Our Blessings

■ Divrei Torah DATE from leading rabbonim, roshei THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY yeshiva, and rebbeim NOV. 27-30, 2003 s’’xa, ukxf ’v-’c

■ Festive LOCATION Melave Malka THE STAMFORD WESTIN HOTEL STAMFORD, CT

■ Roundtable discussion groups RESERVATION INFORMATION

■ Shiurim on Daf Yomi, Parsha and other topics CALL THE AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA ■ Special women’s program CONVENTION DESK: 212-797-7380 RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY! TO BE PART OF AN UNFORGETTABLE 4-DAYEXPERIENCE To ensure your participation in this year’s Convention, call NOW to reserve your room. Due to limited accommodations, we can only guarantee reservations on a first-come, first-served basis.