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y1:iv 1vn:i vn1nnnn o:>'ln:i l'~l "'' ,n>i?1n oNm 11::>'1!1 :iNn .N n?' ,u?ynn:i la;y~.? u~~~u~200~~~?.,o~~~~~e i:e~,:,., i.~i·· mos and Baalei Teshuva, received a com- plete wardrobe toward their wedding from $10-20 · • • • •·•· ••.. blouse ;·: the Ma!ov family. Weekly, about 5-7 Kallahs S7S...20 · • • • · · • .ni~htgown _ . •.... '· with no one to 1urn 10, came to the Ma!ov $18-40 ·······-~rt. dress family for this chesed. $10-20 · • •• · • • · · · .swe.;iter Each Kai/ah cost them about $200. Somed S10-20$15-20; • .••••...••• • •• ·•• ·····.towels. robes i. · ..• clothing were donated , some were receive S20-30 •••.•.. • underwear ...... ~. directly from factories, and others were S3S-40 •••••••••... . linen :~.· privately purchased by the Malovs. •j· ..- The Rabbonim and Gaonim o( Eretz Yisroel have given their approval on this work and have publicized it. Dear Bro1hers. The Malov family does not have an office or secretaries. They are trying to help these Kaf!ahs on their own. We_ ask you to please send new clothing_for lh~se Kallahs, or send your I conrnbution, which could help purchase this cloth1ng. 1· ·

T:vi in7"Cn~7M;k;';'.~1'1s':.9rh St.. Rebb;i:':~~R::l:DC::~'f':.79°.Rechov · ·_·_·"'_'·_""'_·_·_,._ _.,._. .. . .__~ __ N. Y. 11219 Tel: 718...S5J--tn7... ______Shmvel Hin~vi.,~_._ Biny.;inei _...... __ ._~_.,_. Sid1gvr,---- }eru· ;',~· ~" ~/em. h~el. Tel: 02-821-577. - THE6WISH BSERVER

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JANUARY 1990 VOLUME XXll /NUMBER 10 Photograph on cover as well as many in the issue are courtesy of the Moshe D. Yarmish collection. Rabbi Shimon Finkelman

The Bluzhever Rebbe n:>i:i? P'I~ i:>t 5650/1889-5750/1989 A Biographical Appreciation

"when I entered this hall. ted to sit In the company of this I considered reciting the gaon and tzaddik, a legend in his · Shehechiyanu· bless­ time and a living remnant of times ing. to thank Hashem for having that were long gone. permitted me to live to this great The Bluzhever Rebbe is widely day. For I had the privilege of being known for his heroism during the present at the first Knessia Holocaust, and for the spiritual Gedolah [in 1923] ofAgudath Israel courage with which he infused when the world-renowned gaon. the others during those harrowing days. Lubliner Rav Shapiro. 'Shehechiyanu: But I can offer This. however, is only one aspect of presented his plan of the study of praise and gratitude to the Ribbono his life story, which spanned a . ... The tumultuous shel Olam that I have merited to be century; he was Rav of the city of excitement with which the gaonim here today and witness this sight Prochnik before the First World War, and tzaddikim of that time reacted with my own eyes. and a prominent Chassidic leader to his wondrous proposal still rings 1JO!'l N' ')J 0\1Ji1 '10n in before the Second World in my ears.... It was an awesome 'Jt.:io Pnni 1':7J N' 'J War. Then, after enduring unspeak­ sight. "Hashem's kindness has not able suffering during the Holocaust. "Also ringing in my ears. however. ended, nor has His compassion for he arrived on these shores to build are the cries and screams of the my sake been exhausted." anew and become one of the most 6,000,000 holy martyrs who were With these words, Rabbi Yisroel active, influential, and beloved cast into the flames during the Spira, the Bluzhever Rebbe, opened Torah leaders in America. Wherever Second World War.... Thus, my joy his address at the seventh DafYomi he went. scores sought the Rebbe's at this occasion is tempered by the HaShas in 1975. He was personal counsel and blessings, pain which those memories evoke. then eighty-five years old, still a very which he Imparted with warmth, Therefore, I cannot reel te a active personality on the Torah sensitivity and astuteness. To do his Rabbi Finkelman, a rebbt Jn Darchel scene and a powerful speaker. While memory adequate justice Is an Torah, Far Rockaway, N.Y., is a frequent con­ he expressed his gratitude for hav­ Impossible task. At best. we can tributor to these pages, most recently, a bio­ ing lived to that day, many who were attempt to trace the steps of his graphy of the Skolye Rebbe '".St. He is the author of several biographies published by ArtScroll­ present may well have offered their century-long life, and offer vignettes Mesorah Publications. own silent thanks for being permit- illustrating his sublime qualities.

4 The Jewish Observer, January 1990 learned from his own father-in-law. The Tzvi LaTzaddik, who had been deeply engrossed in his own thoughts, looked up and said, "It is enough that one thinks to himself that he is eating for the honor of Shabbos. It is unnecessary to announce this for others." As for the Tzvi LaTzaddik's own hatzne'a leches and dveikus (Heav­ enly attachment), the Rebbe would relate the following incident: !Ll.~l!i The highlight of the Bluzhever The Rebbe's grandfather, The Rebbe'sfather. Friday night tisch was the singing the Zvi LaTzaddik the Keren Yeshua of Ko Ribbon to a stirring tune that originated with the Bnei Yis­ I sos'cher. •The Tzvi LaTzaddik sang this tune each week at his tisch, Link in a Golden Chain which he conducted eveiy week except Parshios Bereishis and luzhev has its roots in the LaTzaddik, the first Bluzhever Noach.•• One year, on Parshas Chassidic dynasty that began Rebbe. The Tzvi LaTzaddik was a Noach, young Srulche and a friend Bwith Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of towering personality, a giant of desperately wanted to see how the Dinov. the Bnei Yissos'cher. The Chassidus and a gaon to whom Tzvi LaTzaddik experienced the Bluzhever Rebbe was a fifth gener­ would come halachic queries from Shabbos In the privacy of his study. ation, ben achar ben (direct pater­ across Galicia and beyond. They convinced the gabbai to leave nal descendant) of the Bnei The Keren Yeshua would take his the study door slightly ajar, so that Yissos'cher. son along whenever he traveled to they could watch undetected. The Rebbe's father, Reb Yeho­ Bluzhev, where he became the apple On the table, the Shabbos candles shua, was Rav of Ribitiche and was of his grandfather's eye. When he flickered. From the ceiling hung a renowned both for his piety and reached maturity, Yisroel lived prim­ burning oil lamp. The Tzvi LaTuad­ Torah scholarship, evident in his arily with his grandfather. In later dik stood near the fireplace, swaying Keren Yeshua, which was pub­ years, whenever the Bluzhever to and fro with his eyes shut tight, lished posthumously. Even before Rebbe mentioned the Tzvi LaTuad­ as he sang Ko Ribbon unlike any his own father's passing in 1924, dik, he was moved to tears. The Tzvi the two boys had ever heard. The Reb Yehoshua had won a large LaTuaddik invested much time and Tzvi LaTzaddik interspersed Yid­ following who sought his guidance energy in his grandson's rearing, dish words among the Hebrew and hearkened to his eveiy word. recognizing the boy's reputation as phrases of the song: His son. Yisroel. was born in the an illuy (genius) wWle still in his early part of MarCheshvan 5650* youth. lN ,'t, t')l VN\!J t'N11 :::nn J\!J1PO' (1899) in Bluzhev, Galicia. He was ?:nn 1v1po'.:i 1nt )'l!O U)lli ti)l named Yisroel after the Baal Shem To Your sanctuary return: What Tov. from whom his mother des­ WALKING HUMBLY loss could You possibly suffer from cended, and after Rabbi Yisroel of returning to Your sancturuy once again? Rlzhin. whose Yahrtzeit is on 3 e Tzvi LaTzaddik placed '.:iNON 11'0 mi \,'.))!,, wn :)'\!J1lp 't11p'.:il MarCheshvan. Upon seeing him for reat emphasis on the attrib­ ?)'\!J1lp v1p'l V't the first time, the Rebbe's grand­ ute of hatzne'a leches, walk­ When will it once again be To Your father is said to have remarked, 'Tm ing humbly with Hashem, in a holy

The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 5 Yisroel's aufrnfwas held in Bluz­ hev. That Shabbos morning, the Tzvi LaTzaddik held his grandson's new shtreimel in his hand and said, "Srulche, do you know what it means to be a chassan? Let me explain with a mashal: "There was once a king who was served faithfully for many years by his loyal servant. When the servant grew old, he said to himself, 'Soon I will depart this world. Who will serve the king in my stead, faithfully fulfilling his every desire? I must now train a young man who will fill my role when I am gone.' The Rebbe'sfather-in-law, the Szabne Rav "That," said the Tzvi LaTzaddik. Through his close association The Rebbe, in his youth "is what a chassan is. As time goes with his grandfather, the Rebbe was on. one approaches the day when he introduced to many Torah leaders . rvn11 )'1'V ]7 )'1r.ll'1 will have to depart this world. It is of Galicia and : others he met They will sing to You songs and therefore imperative that before on his own. In later years, he praises. that time arrives, there be someone remarked how he had striven. with ?)"l OY \J}J)) 1N)l )'N ready to carry on the ways and And where will this transpire? great success, to meet the many traditions of the old generation, to .N'1!>1Vi N.l11p 0'7V11''.l gedolim that graced Eastern serve the King faithfully in his In Jerusalem, city qf beauty. Europe in the first half of this stead." A noise at the door shook the Tzvi century. With those words, the Tzvi LaT­ LaTzaddik from his rapture. At first. The Rebbe was quickly recog­ zaddik placed the shtreimel upon he scolded the boys for being where nized as a light for the coming his grandson's head for the first they should not have been. Then his generatmn. The Imrei Emes, Rabbi time, as both grandfather and features softened and he said: "Did Avrohom Mordechai Alter, referred you see how the lechtelech (candles) grandson wept.* to him as "a klugerYid (wise Jew)." ?anced and jumped, shouting As the years rolled on, the Proch­ Shabbos Kodesh!? Did you notice PROCHNIKER RAV niker Rav became one of the most how even the oil lamps danced and distinguished personages in Gali­ jumped: 'Shabbos Kodesh!? n the year 5669 (1909), the Rebbe, then all of nineteen years, cia. In fact, when the Munkazcer "Is anyone going to try and con­ Rebbe Minchas Elazar) was invited to serve as Rav of (author of vince me that Shabbos is but I married off a child, he honored the city me'en-a semblance-of the World­ Prochnik, a Galician among whose inhabitants were many Bluz­ Rebbe, then still in Prochnik. with to-Come? I assure you that I wish reel ting a blessing at the chupa of on myself no better than that which hever Chassidim While his own city accorded him a respect unusual for his child.* I am experiencing at this very In 1924 (5784), the Tzvi LaTzad­ moment." someone his age and his name became known in an ever-widening dik passed away in the city of circle, the Rebbe would be away Reisha, to be succeeded by his son, the Keren Yeshua. From then on, MARRIAGE from Prochnik for great lengths of time as he served faithfully at his the Rebbe would leave Prochnik to grandfather's side. The Tzvi La­ be near his father, whose own Rebbe t age sixteen, the Tzaddik had an apartment set aside sublime stature then came into full received semicha (rabbinic for his grandson, whom he would view. ordination) from Rabbi Meir A consult on a variety of issues. A mere eight years later, in winter Arik of Tarnow, a renowned Torah 5932 (1932), the Keren Yeshua fell figure of his time. That same year, •Before he passed away. the Tzvi LaTzaddik deathly ill. One day, he told his son the Rebbe married the daughter of requested of his grandson that he undertake the "It bothers me very much that posthumous publication of his halachlc Rabbi Shalom David Ungar, the . After the Keren Yeshua died. a gorel people will have to return from the Szabne Rav. For the initial three (lottery) was cast to decide who would inherit cemetery on an Erev Shabbos in a years of his marriage, the Rebbewas the manuscripts ofboth the Tzvi LaTzaddikand raging storm." He passed away Keren. Yeshua. The gorel fulfilled the Tzvi engaged in the full-time study of LaTzaddik's desire, as it assigned his responsa Torah while he lived in the home to the Rebbe. In publishing the work, the Rebbe •rhe Rebbe was unable to accept the honor. He included his own footnotes. which provide a had seated himself at the back of the huge crowd of his father-in-law, a tzaddik and glimpse of the Rebbe's wide-ranging breadth and and was unable to squeeze through to where the gaon of great renown. depth ofTalmudic knowledge. chassan and kalla stood.

6 The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 shortly thereafter, on an Erev Shab­ that had flocked to his grandfather because of the sin of speaking bos, and the funeral took place in and father. And like his ancestors. during davening.• At that time, the the midst of a blizzard. his vast Torah knowledge earned Rebbe resolved that in his own him the reverence of the non­ kehilla there would be proper awe Chassidic Torah world, as well. for kedushas beis haknesses. RELUCTANT REBBE The Rebbe was very active in klal Throughout his fifty-seven years work during his days in Europe. He as Rebbe, he stood by that resolu­ e Rebbe was born to the was a member of Agudath Israel of tion steadfastly. Once, when there Keren Yeshua from a second Galicia. and as already mentioned, was persistent talking during the nmarriage, after his first Reb­ attended the first Knessia Gedolah Torah reading, the Rebbe firmly betzin had died. One son from the in 1923. During his early years in declared, "I am not in need of a large Keren Yeshua's first marriage was America, the Rebbe told his congre­ minyan. If some insist on talking, a man of great stature. The Keren gants that when attending that then I will gather ten people and Yeshua wrote in his will, however, Knessia Gedolah, he was privileged daven upstairs lin my apartment]." that Reb Yisroel should succeed him to speak privately with the Chofetz On another occasion, he actually as Rebbe. Humility and pursuit of Chaim. In the course of their dis­ took his and went upstairs, peace were the Rebbe's hallmarks, cussion, the cited where he completed his davening and he found it exceedingly difficult the testimony of Kol Bo that many alone. to honor his father's wishes, in battei knessios were destroyed •See Mfshna Berurah, Orach Chaim 124:27 deference to his older brother. On the first Friday night following the Keren Yeshua's passing, hundreds flocked to the Keren Yeshua's beis n. in Reisha to be near the new Rebbe. The Rebbe, however, Days qf Darkness wanted no part of it, and he recited the tefillos and partook of Kiddush Source qf Light like any other Chassid. After Shab­ bos, he called a meeting at which were present his brothers and the "THE WORLD Realizing that these men were to elder Chassidim of Bluzhev. It was STILL NEEDS YOU!" unanimous that the Keren Ye­ be spared, the Rebbe's wife called shua's wish be heeded and that the out, "My husband is forty-five!" Prochniker Rav become Rebbe. The e Rebbe's five years under But the Rebbe did not want to be Rebbe put forth his own suggestion Nazi occupation are a saga of separated from his Rebbetzin. "No!" that he become Rebbe, but in a tragedy, incredible suffering, he pleaded to the Nazi, "you don't different city, while his older brother salvation and faith. The Rebbe's want me, I'm actually fifty-two," would serve as av beis din in first Rebbetzin had borne him three which was the truth. The Nazi Bluzhev, and their father's beis daughters. Two died before the war. believed the Rebbetzin. As the midrash in Reisha would function His remaining daughter was mar­ Rebbe was being dragged away, his on its own.* At the invitation of the ried to Rabbi Shaul Rappaport, a Rebbetzin called out, "The world Rav of lstrik, the Rebbe took up distinguished talmid chacham still needs you. May this knowledge residence there. whom the Rebbe had chosen as a give you strength." She met her ( of the Talmud) son-in-law upon the suggestion of death a short while later, while the state that he who flees from honor the then-Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Avro­ Rebbe was sent to the Janowska will be pursued by honor. The hom Mordechai Alter '""· At the concentration camp near Lemberg. Rebbe's conduct at that time earned outbreak of the War. the Rebbe and The guiding hand of Providence him yet greater admiration and his family fled from lstrik to Lem­ was plainly apparent throughout respect. On his first Shabbos in berg. There, his daughter, son-in­ that period, as the Rebbe's life was lstrik. scores of Chassidim traveled law and only grandchild were killed. miraculously spared time and again. from far to be with him. The Tzvi The Rebbe and his Rebbetzin were In Janowska, the Rebbe was sent­ LaTuadd~k had enjoyed a following taken from Lemberg to the Belzec enced to hanging along with two not only in Galicia, but also in death camp. The selection began, others, for allegedly "conspiring" Hungary, where he had resided whereby able-bodied men were set with a prisoner who had shouted an during the First World War. In due aside from the others, who were to anti-German cry and then killed time. the Rebbe's following included meet their end shortly thereafter. himself. As they stood near the the wide spectrum of Chassidim As his eyes scanned the terrified gallows awaiting the end, an officer group. the officer In charge called suddenly appeared and ordered the •A younger brother of the Rebbe served in his out, 'Which men here are under hangman to release the prisoners father's former position as rav in Ribitiche. fifty?" for one hour so that they could bury

The Jewish Observer. January 1990 7 some corpses. They were warned, Rebbe stood erect. refusing to beg "When your work is finished, run for mercy. Frustrated, the Nazi Rabbi Spira. how can back here as fast as you can." slapped the Rebbe: "Shwein! you bring yourself to The three men finished their Doesn't it hurt? Why don't you recite the Shehechi­ work. Their_ superior ordered them scream?!" to return to the gallows and disap­ Still, the Rebbe remained silent. yanu blessing? How peared. The Rebbe demanded, 'Why can you offer thanks hurry? Need we run to our deaths? for having been kept "THANK YOU ... Let us enter a barracks and hide FOR KEEPING US ALIVE" alivefor this time qf among the prisoners. We have nothing to lose." death, torture, ancf One of the other men was obliv­ n Bergen-Belsen, where he spent hunger. Haven't you ious to everything and ran to his the latter part of the War, the made a mockery of death. The Rebbeand his remaining I Rebbewas spiritual leader of his our suffering? companion hurried to the nearest fellow prisoners. In preparation for barracks. "Rattevet uns, Yidden! Chanuka. shoe dye that could serve Save us, fellow !" the Rebbe as fuel was smuggled out of the pleaded. The prisoners were under­ camp factmy by women inmates. leader, who said, "Tell Rabbi Spira standably terrified. Seeing their Threads were pulled from sweaters that he saved my life. He will understand." reluctance, the Rebbe said, "I am the by the women and spun Into wicks. On the first night of Chanuka. the Prochniker Rav, from the House of TO HONOR THE "KEDOSHIM" Bluzhev." Rebbe led a secret Ma 'ariv minyan. The prisoners said that they were Scores of Jews, risking discovery, willing to take a risk for the sake then joined together for the kindling on the Bluzhever Rebbe's of such a personage. The Rebbe of the Chanuka lecht The Rebbe uggestion, the 19/'.5 Siyum added, "I will not accept your offer recited the three blessings and lit lnHashas was dedicated to the unless you hide my friend, as well," the menora. memory of the Six Million. In the and with those words he moved A non-believing former Polish­ course of his impassioned address, toward the door. Both men were Bundist leader asked the Rebbe, the Rebbe remarked, "I can bear hidden, and with the aid of a Kapo, "Rabbi Spira. I do not understand witness that rarely did I hear a Jew were attached to a new working how you can bring yourself to recite question the will of the Almighty, brigade, given new numbers, and the Shehechiyanu blessing: despite the most unspeakable suf­ not discovered. 'Blessed are You Hashem ... Who ferlngs. All accepted their suffering has kept us alive, sustained us, and with true love of G-d. Their only brought us to this season.' How can concern-and this I heard many EPITOME OF FAITH you offer thanks for having been times-was that no one would recite kept alive for this time of death, Kaddish in their memories, or learn s reputable Holocaust histo­ torture, and hunger? Haven't you a chapter of Mishnayos for the sake rians have noted, the Nazis made a mockery of our suffering?" of their souls.'' A were out to do more than The Rebbe replied, "I, too, was The Rebbe then read a letter that exterminate Jews. The Jews had to wondering how I could joyfully recite he had received while in the be humiliated, dehumanized, these words. But then I looked Janowska death camp from a man stripped of their dignity and pride around and I saw this huge assemb­ about to be taken to be shot. The to discredit the philosophy of life lage of Jews that had gathered to man requested that in the event the they represented. participate in this mitzva. Despite Rebbe survive the war, he should In discussing the Holocaust, the the terrible suffering. they insist on have a sejer Torah written in Bluzhever Rebbe would make this . remaining Jews, even at the risk of memory of the man and his wife, same point. He would add that their lives. Have you ever in your life who had already perished. Along throughout his years of Nazi perse­ witnessed such courage and faith? with the letter was a fifty-dollar bill, cution, he always strove to maintain For that alone we thank the Creator toward the cost of writing the Torah his pride and dignity, both as a Jew for life to witness the greatness of scroll.* and as a human being. . . . With our people. No! We Jews do not give The Rebbe continued that there the little water that was allotted the up. We are proud that we have lived is no greater way to honor the camp inmates for their personal to see thousands of Jews who have kedoshim than by studying Torah needs, the Rebbe would launder his not given up, who will never give up, in their memory. He put forth a drab uniform to keep his appear­ and who are living proof that we will request that all yeshivos dedicate ance as respectable as possible.... orie day rebuild anew." one hour of study each week in The Rebbe's beard was burnt off Years later on a visit to Poland, •shortly after coming to America, the Rebbe had with a lit candle placed beneath his an acquaintance of the Rebbe, Reb the written. and presented it to chin. As his beard melted away, the Nechemia Frankel. met this Bundist Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

8 The Jewish Observer, January 1990 memory of the Six Million. This would benefit both the dead and the living. for through such study the students would be reminded that a churban did indeed take place not long ago, and would be told about the great spiritual heroism of these martyrs. Otherwise, said the Rebbe, as time went on, the churban of World War II would become little more than another tragic historical occurrence.

STARTING ANEW

en Bergen-Belsen was lib­ rated by the British in 945, the Rebbewas trans­ ferred to a D.P. camp in Brussels. The Rebbe at a meeting of Agudath Israel activists, duri.ng siege of Jerusalem in Meanwhile, his relatives in America, 1948. To the left. RabbiHerbertS. Goldstein. as well as those who had ties to the Bluzhever Chassidus, had disco­ vered that he was alive and sought It would be a full year before the leadership qualities. One aged man, to have him brought to these shores. Rebbe would begin leading his Reb Avrohom Geiger, had served as Mr. Menashe fungler, of the legend­ people once again as rav of his own gabbai for the Tzvi LaTzaddik He ary Nein un Neintziger Shtiebel on minyan. He needed time to gather felt, as did others, that many of the East Side Manhattan's Houston his inner strength and recover from Tzvi LaTzaddik's sublime qualities Street, alerted Reb Elimelech Tress, the horrors that he had endured. On were reflected in his grandson. They President of Zeirei Agudath Israel, Purim of that year, the minyan desperately wanted him to lead to the special nature of this self­ where the Rebbe davened honored them. So the Rebbe finally agreed effacing refugee. He arranged pas­ him with reading the Megilla. The to serve in that capacity once again. sage for him by military ship to Rebbe began to read, but broke The Rebbe had been referred to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1946. From down and cried. He could not con­ as the Prochniker Rav until his last there he traveled to New York, where tinue. He later said that reading the days in Europe, indicating the he took temporary residence with Megilla had awakened memories of recognition he had earned even his sister, Rebbetzin Chana his reading the Megilla in the before succeeding his father as Halberstam.• camps. He never again read the Rebbe. As his followers in America As word of the Rebbe's arrival Megilla. laid the groundwork for his new beis spread, he was virtually besieged: A number of individuals with midrash, they requested that he call Chassidic Jews of all stripes were roots in Bluzhev asked that the himself Bluzhever Rebbe, as a con­ anxious to visit the first Rebbe to Rebbe permit them to look for a tinuity of the Tzvi LaTzaddik's have survived the camps and make building in Williamsburg that would dynasty. The Rebbe, at first, would his way to America. Those whose serve as the home of the new Bluz­ not hear of this: He had never been relatives had been in Bergen-Belsen hever Beis Midrash, under the Rebbe in Bluzhev. Nor did he see were anxious to speak with a sur­ Rebbe's leadership. But the Rebbe himself fit to be a successor to the vivor. Galiclan Jews saw in him a had decided against assuming a role Tzvi LaTzaddik. Then, someone link to their past. As is customary as manhig (spiritual leader) in informed the Rebbe that a distin­ when petitioning a Rebbe, a sum of America. He was approaching sixty, guished rav in New York. whose . money was appended to each kvittel and after all he had been through, roots were in Prochnik, was called that the Rebbe received. Tremend­ he felt unable to lead a kehilla. He "Prochniker Rav." To avoid discom­ ous sums passed through the intended to learn a trade to support fort to the other rav, the Rebbe Rebbe's hands during his first himself. abandoned his plan. weeks in New York. He sent every However, his petitioners would The Rebbe telephoned Reb Leib penny abroad to help the Holocaust not relent. They saw in him more Wertenteil, a Chassid of the Tzvt survivors. than a continuation of the dynasty LaTzaddik who had been among begun by the Bnei Yissos'cher. They the most adamant that the Rebbe •she was the Wife of Rabbi Yltzchok Halberstam, were familiar with his sterling assume his grandfather's title. "Reb the Bardeyov Rav. Another sister, Rebbetzin personality, his brilliance in both Chaya Horowitz, wife of the late Stuchiner Rebbe Leib." he said, "you have accomp­ 'l"!n, is the Rebbe's only surviving sibling. Torah and practical matters.and his lished a mofes (a wonder)." And so

The Jewish Observer. January I 990 9 it was that he became known as the Bluzhever Rebbe. Another Chassid. Reh Yissos'cher Tisser, arranged for the purchase of a building on Taylor Street in Williamsburg to serve as the Rebbe's home and beis midrash. * Reb Elimelech Tress arranged to dis­ patch a sefer Torah. along with a dozen Siddurim and Chumashim, from the Zeirei minyan at 616 Bedford Avenue. The Bluzhever Rebbe remarked that the Siddurim At a convention of Agudath Israel cf America, in Lakewood. N.J., close to 30 years ago. were more than enough for his To the left: Novominsker Rebbe, Boyaner Rebbe, Rabbi , Rabbi Aaron projected minyan. In a short time, Kotler, Rabbi Eltezer Silver, nJ,J? cnri::n. another fifty had to be procured. One year after his arrival, on Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah America in 1952 because of a crisis Parashas Ki Seitzei, the Rebbe Sages). Indicative of both his sense in Eretz Yisroel, he often found began leading his own beis mid· of responsibility as a Torah leader himself turning to the Rebbe for rash. It was ironic, or perhaps in­ and his recognition of Agudath guidance. This was the first time the tentional, that in his discourse that Israel's crucial role in the Torah two had met, but when Rabbi Abra­ week. the Rebbe mentioned that the scene in this country, is his reten­ mowitz's trip extended to the word nj?YY.l, fence, which is found in tion of his seat on the organization's Yomim Noraim, he was invited to Ki Seitzei (Devarim 22,8), contains Presidium even after he had been spend Rosh Hashana with the the initials of own mo'.ir.i 7w 11'.>Jp, appointed to the Moetzes. Rebbe, who made his guest feel very "Acceptance of the yoke of Hash em's During his early years in America. much at home. reign," for it was this unflinching much remained to be done for war acceptance that had given the survivors. especially those still in Rebbe D.P. Camps and others who had as PERSONIFICATION OF WARMTH the fortitude to survive, and AND CONCERN to carry on and build anew. yet been unable to begin life anew. As a concentration camp survivor, the Rebbe felt a heightened degree e Rebbe exuded a warmth ON THE AMERICAN SCENE of responsibility to participate in hat was both sincere and these rescue efforts. contagious. When making a With the passing years, changing point, he would frequently draw on nce the Rebbe settled in times brought new crises and chal­ hundreds of stories of events and Williamsburg, he became lenges, and the Rebbe was involved people that to us are history but Oactive in Kial work. He served in high-level policy-making by the which were a real part of his long as member of Agudas haAdmortm, Torah leadership. He was in con­ life. Moreover, he would penetrate to an organization of Chassidic Reb­ stant contact with Agudath Israel the heart of a problem. These factors beim; Va'ad Ezra, a and developed a very close relation­ contributed to the Rebbe's effective­ organization whose primary func­ ship with the current president, ness in Kial work and the enormous tion was to assist Rebbeim who had Rabbi Moshe Sherer. He rarely reverence which he enjoyed from all been uprooted during the War to missed a meeting of the Moetzes segments of the Torah community. kehillos; reestablish their and Agu­ Gedolei HaTorah. and often was the There was another factor as well. dath Israel impetus behind meetings being The Mishna (Avos 4: 1) states: 'Who Reb Elimelech Tress became very called. He was rarely late for any is honored? He who honors others." close with the Rebbe. In the years occasion. for he felt punctuality to This concern was manifest when­ immediately following the War, Mr. be an obligation for anyone whose ever the Rebbe found himself in Tress saw the need to expand Agu­ activlties were of substance: and he the presence of other gedolim. Once. dath Israel of America's efforts in a let this be known whenever he felt variety of areas and to alter its it appropriate.• "In this regard. he offered a homiletic lnterpre" tation of the verse. "He shall not break hls word, course to some extent, so he turned Rabbi Yehudah Meir Abramowitz, Rebbe he shall do according to all that issues from his to the for guidance and former Knesset member and cur­ mouth" {Bamidbar 30.3). He would say that a support, and received both whole­ rent Co-Chairman of the World Rebbe is one whose blessings are often sought. heartedly. The Rebbewas to remain in the hope that the blessings will prove effective. Agudah Organization, recalls vividly However, for one's blessings to have potency. a very active member of the Agud­ the Rebbe's intense involvement in meaning that He !Hashem! will act according ah's Presidium and later its Moetzes to all that issues from his [the blesser's] mouth, the Agudah's activities and his deep it is incumbent that he not break his word. The Rebbe would say that keeping one's word applies *In 1959, the Rebbe moved to Boro Park. where recognition of the vital role it plays. also to being on time for one's appointments. he lived until his passing. When Rabbi Abramowitz came to

10 The Jewish Observer, January 1990 the Rebbe was visited by Rabbi as well as those ofKapishnitz. meet. their mutual delight was Yeruchom Leiner. the late Radziner and . all of whom he would obvious. Rebbe, who was ill and had come visit each year on Chol Hamoed The Rebbe had considered at- to receive the Bluzhever Rebbe's Succos. He was equally at home with tending the last Knessia Gedolah blessing. While they were talking, the leaders of the Lithuanian in Jerusalem in 1980. However, his someone else entered the Rebbe's yeshiva world. advanced age and weakening health study and presented a kvittel with forced him to not undertake the trip. the name of a sick relative. Without Rabbi Aharon Kotler once Reb Yaakov, however, did attend the Rebbe beis even glancing at the kvittel, the requested of the that his conclave. The first time the two met midrash Rebbe handed it to the Radziner to make an annual appeal on after the Knessia, Reb Yaakov told behalf of Beth Med rash Govoha. Reb read and comment on. Only then did the Rebbe, "You were right in Rebbe, the Rebbe accept it back to read. Aharon told the 'What is remaining at home. but I must tell He loved and pursued peace, and important to me is not the amount you that your presence was sorely the sincere warmth that he felt of money raised, but that the Bluz­ missed." Rebbe's Beis Midrash toward eveiy Jew of eveiy shade and hever made Rabbi , late Rosh stripe was likewise felt and reflected an appeal on behalf of the Lakewood Yeshiva of Rabbi Chaim Yeshiva." by the other gedolim of his time. In Berlin, had his own special relation· his frequent contacts with Rabbi The Rebbe was especially close ship with the Rebbe. Once. Rabbi Sherer, he often expressed his deep with Reb Yaakov Kamenetzky. In Hutner phoned the Rebbe and concern that shalom reign within their later years. the two would asked that he sing for him his the ranks of Torah Jewiy. spend time together during the famous "Ko Ribbon." The Rebbe He was extremely close to the late winter when they left New York for laughed and replied, "For this you of Amshenov and Vizhnitz, warmer climate. When they would will have to come to the tisch."

III. A Father Again

n 1947, the Rebbe married the to have an "ample" supply of cal­ former Bronia Koczicki, who, cium. The Rebbetzin would set I with her two young sons, had aside a portion of the milk for the been in Bergen-Belsen with the Rebbe, which one of her sons would Rebbe. Her four-year-old, Yitzchok, deliver .... She gave the Rebbe a was allotted a daily ration of milk; Tanach she procured (see insert), in keeping with German "propriety," which he used to study with her the Nazis wanted young prisoners older son Tzvi (now the current

The Rebbe with other ('~dolet Yisroel (clockwise from top right): Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner, Rabbi Shneur Kot_ler. Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky, n:n:::i'J D)l!Jt; Rabbi Gedalya Schorr. ?"::n; the Klausenberger Rebbc, N"Dl'J\'J.

The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 11 Bluzhever Rebbe) and several other boys. The Rebbetzin's heroism during the war is legendary. The closeness that had existed then between the Rebbe and his future sons was evident soon after liberation. The British had agreed to allow a boatload of war children to leave the D.P. camps for Eretz Yisroel. In addition to her two sons. the Rebbetzin had in her care twin nieces. whom she had saved at the risk of her own life. Uncertain of her own future, the Rebbetzin arranged for the four children to sail to Eretz Yisroel. where relatives would care for them until she would arrive. Six-year-old Yitzchok was fright­ ened. and on the day of departure, the boy grabbed the Rebbe's hand as he sought protection from his own mother! After the situation was explained to him, the Rebbe calmed the boy and he left with the others. When the Rebbe and Rebbetzin were married in New York, the Rebbetztn's sons were still in Eretz Yisroel. Only after journeying to Canada and Washington was the Rebbe successful in obtaining visas. An acquaintance of the Rebbe with two children of his own in Eretz Yisroel had failed in his attempts at obtaining visas for them. He The Rebbe would never permit the forty parents brought their children asked the Rebbe to give him the children to discard food crumbs. but to the Rebbe, begging that he save newly acquired visas. explaining. would scatter them outside for the them. The Rebbe would not choose "The Rebbe is an Important figure birds. one child over the others. but asked and will probably be able to obtain His love for children was fre­ the Judenrat to make the decision. a second set of visas for his wife's quently in evidence. especially dur­ Two days later, a father and son children. I might never succeed." ing his visits to the Agudath Israel appeared at the Rebbe·s door. The The Rebbe surrendered the hard­ camps of "Ruach Country." father kissed his son and said. earned visas to the petitioner. "From this moment on, this man is Months of intense efforts, aggrava­ your father." When the Rebbe was tion, and expense would pass before THE HEIGHT OF ECSTASY later deported to Bergen-Belsen, the the Rebbetzin's sons could finally be boy went with him. brought to America. hen theRebbewasshipped The child survived the war. and The Rebbe's sensitivities were off to the Janowska con­ was eventually reunited with his perceived best by his family. One W centration camp early on own father shortly before the day, soon after the Rebbe had in the war, the hand of Providence father's death. The son later married remarried. he went for a walk with permitted him to escape the camp and settled in England. The Rebbe his two sons. One of the boys noticed and return to nearby Lemberg. always maintained contact with an ant and stepped on it. The Rebbe where he remained until his depor­ him. On a visit to the Rebbe one exclaimed, "Do you know what just tation to Bergen-Belsen. While in year. this young man expressed the happened? The ants had begun to Lemberg. the Rebbe managed to desire that G-d grant him a son to dance; everyone was rejoicing as the obtain a South American passport carry on his father's name. The wedding had begun. The bride was for himself and a child. By that time. Rebbe said, 'You will have a son, and waiting-and then you came and his daughter and grandchild had with Hashem's help. I will be the stepped on the groom! What a already been killed. When news of sandek.·· tragedy!" his passpori became known. some A year later a son was born. The

12 The Jewish Observer, January 1990 Rebbe, together with his two child· elate what I had gained. Chazal tell without it being diluted with any­ ren, flew to England for the bris. us that he who raises an orphan is thing else.'' When a local dignitary requested considered as having begotten him. The Rebbe later related that as he that the Rebbe remain for a few Raising one's own child is natural; walked to the bris that morning, more days, he replied, "I came here however, the spiritual satisfaction of flanked by his three sons, he experi­ for one purpose: to realize what I had raising an orphan is especially great. enced the height of spiritual lost during the war and to appre· I want to retain this satisfaction pleasure.

The Jewish Observer, January 1990 13 FAITHFULLY AT HIS SIDE A TZADDIK'S WIT IV.

r the last forty-two years of 1e Tzvi LaTzaddik, it is said, Respectfor All he Rebbe's life, the Rebbet· possessed a sparkling wit. His in stood faithfully at his side. grandson did, as well. T: abbi David Singer, the dis· Those close to his family say that One Friday night, the gabbai of Rav her presence was no small factor in the Bluzhever beis midrash. Reh tinguished of Cong. the full life that the Rebbe led until Moshe Fuhrer, noticed that a few R Anshei Sefard in Boro Park, he was in his upper nineties. "regulars" had become lost among enjoyed a very close relationship They shared common goals and the crowd and had not received any with the Rebbe, and spent many Rebbe's aspirations. Soon after their mar· shimyim*. He called to the Rebbe, summers in the company­ riage, the Rebbetzin gave the Rebbe "This one has not had ... this one initially in Bethlehem, New Hamp· a kvittel. in the manner of any has not had. . . . " The Rebbe shire. Rabbi Singer recalls that the Chassideste. She wrote, "May there responded with a phrase from a Rebbeearned the respect of virtually be true ahavas Yisroel In the next pasuk: "Moshe, why do you scream everyone. In the late l 940's, he met generation." to me?" (Shemos 14,15) Reh Moshe a secularist Jew who was an aide Until his weakened condition quickly retorted with the second to President Truman. This man was Rebbe made it impossible, the Rebbe half of the pasuk: "Speak to the so impressed with the that prepared a morning cup of coffee for 'sons of Yisroel' Ii.e., the Rebbe's he visited him In his Brooklyn home his wife each and every day. Chassidimj that they should move a number of times. Both the Rebbe and the Reb· on.!" Another secularist Jew in New betzin never allowed an important During his only visit to Eretz Hampshire did not have these same occasion to pass without making Yisroel, the Rebbe was accorded feelings of reverence. One day, this reference to the Six Million. great honor wherever he went. In the fellow openly ridiculed the Rebbe's airport, he was escorted by Tel Aviv's flowing payos and beard. In a friendly way, the Rebbe responded, OF NOBILITY AND SIMPLICITY venerable Rav, Rabbi Meir Landau. As the two walked down the street, "Do you think that I can't afford the ne of the Rebbe 's Chassidim, they were jostled from behind by a dollar for a trim? I certainly can. But. Rabbi Mordechai Eliezer huge crowd that surged forward to you see, this" -and the Rebbe Leiner, remarked: "There are be near the Rebbe. Rabbi Landau tugged at his own beard-"is grown O for an important reason. It has real probably very many people who was obviously upset by the pushing. consider themselves among those The Rebbe remarked to Rabbi Lan· meaning." closest to the Rebbe-and for good dau, "Better a lot of pushing than The man was taken aback and reason. The Rebbe exuded warmth, no pushing at all!" hastily said, "Rabbi. you've got me. concern, and pashrus (simplicity), I'll never make a remark like that and he made you feel that you really •The distribution of shirayim, that which again." remains of the food from which the Rebbe has were close to him." One summer in a Catskill resort. partaken. is a common feature at the table of Rebbe His pashtus manifested itself in a Chassidic Rebbe. That this act possesses the frequented a non· many ways. At a tisch one evening, deeper meaning was apparent in Bluzhev. Chassidic shul whose members Whenever the Rebbe apportioned shirayim. he accorded him enormous respect. a man who wanted to leave early would first look to see whose hand was extended. motioned to someone to fetch his Once. a young man was given a portion and One Shabbos, a guest who was respectfully gave it away to an older man. The something of a chazan led the coat, which was hanging on a hook Rebbe protested, "No. This portion was meant near the Rebbe's seat. Thinking that for you. What you need, he does not need, and tefil!a. At one point, the man began the man had motioned to him, the what he needs, you do not need." to repeat words of the text for the Rebbe jumped up from his chair, reached for the coat and handed it to the now red-faced individual. All his years In America, the Rebbe never allowed a sign bearing the name of his beis midrash* to be hung on the outside of the building. As he put it, "Is it really necessary to announce that 'Here lives the Bluzhever Rebbe'? Ifsomeone needs me or my beis midmsh, he will find us without a sign."

•The beis midrash is named "Beis HaMidrash Tzvi LaTzaddik."

14 thinking of the most brilliant man. that once, walking in the street, she Rabbi Landau The Rebbe-the epitome of humil­ had become startled by a plane was obviously ity, concern and selflessness-per­ flying overhead. She had expressed ceived every problem and its solu­ her outrage vehemently and, she upset by the tion with unusual clarity. imagined, the plane had crashed as pushing of the Someone close to the Rebbe was a result. President Eisenhower, after visited by a father and his son, the learning that she had caused the huge crowd that prospective mate for the man's crash, had sent agents to apprehend surgedforward. daughter. On the host's table was her, and she was on the run ever a picture of the Rebbe, toward which since. TheRebbe the father made a disparaging As she related this fantastic tale, comment; his son followed suit. the Rebbewas attentive, as if believ­ remarked to After the meeting, the host phoned ing every word. When she finished, Rabbi Landau, the Rebbe and related what had the Rebbe said, "President Eisen­ transpired. The man implied that he hower liberated me from the concen­ "Better a lot of would reject the shidduch because tration camp. We are old friends. I of the slight to the Rebbe's honor. am certain that as a personal favor pushing than no Said the Rebbe, "The sole criterion to me, the President will drop all pushing at all!" for judging the shidduch should be charges against you." the boy's merits and faults. Nothing With that. the Rebbe "dialed" else matters." Washington on his phone and sake of cantorial style, contrary to "chatted" with the President. ... proper tefilla, This agitated the The man responded, "But doesn't such behavior indicate a lack of After hanging up, the Rebbe told the congregants, who pounded their woman, "The President says that he fists and shouted that the man stop mentchlichkeit on the part of both father and son?" is willing to drop all charges against this practice, When davening was you-but on one condition: that you over, the man left the shul quickly. "That is an altogether different seek psychiatric help and that you The Bluzhever Rebbe motioned to matter," the Rebbe replied, and the obey the doctor's orders." those who remained that he wished shidduch was off. A few days later, the Rebbe to speak. Said the Rebbe, "Chazal In Galicia, the Rebbe had a young received a call from the woman's tell us that for shaming a Jew in admirer whose personal conduct left psychiatrist. Thedoctorwascurious public one forfeits his portion in the something to be desired. One day, to know where the Rebbe had World-to-Come. Nowhere, however, the Rebbe was informed that this received his training in counselling. is it said that one forfeits his portion young man was seen entering a in the World-to-Come for repeating theater. The Rebbe knew that were words of the nusach hatejilla ANOTHER DIMENSION the fellow to be confronted directly TO HIS GREATNESS ( text)! I consider the outburst and chastised, the result wou_ld be that occurred here today a serious adverse. He therefore said nothing mistake." ere were occasions when the until an occasion when this young Rebbe set aside his pashtus, While he could not remain silent man visited the Rebbe with another nd revealed some of his when another man's honor was T: young Chassid, who was of sterling hurt, he took the very opposite ap­ spiritual grandeur. Not long after quality. The Rebbe turned to the the war had ended, he received an proach when his own honor was second bachur, and feigning agita­ concerned. An acquaintance once urgent request for help from a tion, said, 'What is this I hear? Bluzhever Chassid who had sur­ made a remark intended in jest, but Today's bachurim don't know what which he later realized was some­ vived the camps and was then in to do with their time? To movies, Germany. The Rebbe summoned a what disrespectful to the Rebbe. of all things ... movies? How can When he asked the Rebbe forgive­ few of his recently acquired young people we regard so highly even followers and asked that they raise ness, the Rebbe motioned with his think of doing such a thing!" the sizable sum that the man hand, indicating that nothing at all The bachur who was spoken to had occurred. needed. The Rebbe said that this knew that the Rebbe did not mean mitzva was a form of pidyon she- him, while the other fellow got a very strong but indirect message.* WISE COUNSELOR '"Jn retelling the above, it is appropriate to dte Among the more bizarre cases a homiletic interpretation which the Rebbe that came his way-in the 1950's­ offered to the verse (Vayikra 19, 17). whose simple he Rebbe's reputation as a was a woman who refused the translation is, ''Rebuke your fellow man. and you shall not bear sin because of him." The Rebbe wise counselor was not psychiatric help she desperately would say that at times it is necessary to rebuke T earned through wisdom needed. Her family brought her to in such a manner that the offender does nol even alone. Pride, personal interest, or a realize he is being accused of sin, as if to read the Rebbe, who asked the woman the verse: "Rebuke your fellow man. but do not lack of sensitivity can befuddle the what was bothering her. She replied attrtbute sin to him."

The Jewish Observer, January 1990 15 vuyim (redemption of a captive). He "DVEIKUS" related thatReb Chaim of once nos for the first time, he felt as announced to several of his follow­ though he were watching a tzaddik ers that an enormous sum of money ntense dveikuswas a trademark of centuries ago. was needed for pidyon shevuyim, of the Rebbes of Dinov and Hakafos In the Bluzhever Beis and he asked that someone present I Bluzhev. One year, shortly before Midrash on Shemini Atzeres and volunteer the sum. Sensing a reluc­ Shavuos, the Tzvi LaTzaddikfell ill. Simchas Torah were far removed tance, Reb Chaim added, "l assure A specialist from Vienna was called from the levity with which some whoever comes forth with the sum, in. After examining his patient. the conduct this ritual. Of course, the that in the merit of this mitzva, he doctor declared that the Tzvi La­ people sang and danced, but it was will never lack for anything ail his Tzaddik was suffering from a a "rejoicing amid trembling" as the life." quickened heartbeat. Upon being tears shed by the Bluzhever Rebbe told of this, he remarked, "Utter had a pronounced effect on those When the Bluzhever Rebbe said nonsense! The doctor doesn't assembled. this, someone present said, 'We would like the Rebbe to give us this same assurance." Thefather apologizedfor not calling during The Rebbe was silent for a few moments before responding. "Yes," the night, explaining that he had not wanted he finally said, "I give you that same to disturb the Rebbe 's sleep, to which the assurance." The sum was raised. Rebbe retorted, "Do you think that I am some­ Years later, one of those who had participated in the fund-raising one who spends the whole night sleeping!" found himself in desperate need of help. He went to the Rebbe and reminded him of his assurance. The understand that one's heartbeat The Rebbe would say, 'Whatever Rebbe said, "!ch halt vort-I keep always quickens in anticipation of salvation one can possibly attain my word." The crisis passed. Kabbolas HaTorah!" can be attained during the Haka­ The Rebbe's own performance of fos." As an example, he would say • • • mitzvos bein adam laMakom. mitz­ that in the words, "ozer dallim A baby had developed a high fever, vos between man and the Omni­ hoshe'a nu-Helper of the destitute, which did not break for days. The present. revealed his other-worldly save now," lay a prayer for childbear­ Rebbe was consulted and kept sublimity. While his avoda (Divine ing. An allusion to this can be found abreast of all developments. The service) was always performed with­ in the initials of these words, mw. doctor informed the family that he out pomp or fanfare. the Rebbe a word which is found but once in would wait only one more day before could not conceal his burning love the Torah, when the angel came to hospitalizing the infant. Early the for Hashem and his mitzvos. In his inform Avraham and Sarah that next morning, the fever broke. At shul on Shavuos, the reading of Ak­ they would soon be blessed with a 7:00 AM.. the parents' phone rang. damus was always preceded by the son. It was the Rebbe, asking how the singing of Baruch Hu Elokeinu. As The Rebbe's moments of dveikus baby was. He expressed gratitude to the Chassidim sang, the Rebbe were not limited to Shabbos and Hashem over the good tidings and wept, out of love for the Torah and Yam Tov. Virtually eveiy picture of then asked when the fever had its Giver. Contraiy to his usual cus­ the Rebbe dancing at a wedding broken. "And you did not inform me tom of facing the congregation shows him with his eyes shut right away?" the Rebbe demanded. during krias haTorah. the Rebbe tightly, in a world of his own. His The father apologized, explaining would face the Eastern wall during family relates that he was capable that he had not wanted to disturb the Torah reading on Shavuos of sitting with his eyes shut in this the Rebbe's sleep. to which the morning, his face concealed by his way for great lengths of time, totally Rebbe retorted, "Do you think that tall is. involved in other-worldly thoughts. I am someone who spends the whole Virtually no one could help but night sleeping?!" gaze at the Rebbe's radiant coun­ The Rebbe later told someone that tenance as he led the circuits THE FINAL YEARS as the days had worn on without around the bima on Hoshana Rab­ the baby improving, he had sought ba. This radiance blended with his uringthelastfewyearsofthe eveiy possible means to bring about tears, particularly when he recited Rebbe's life, he grew steadily a cure. "I opened the Aron HaKo­ the words, itno o):J,\ljn O'\ljl1p µin? N) )1\ljlil D weaker. Until his last two desh and stuck my head inside. I Please save. in the merit of the holy years, he was fully alert and active. summoned all my Zeidas (ances­ martyrs who were cast into thefire. The last year and a half, the Rebbe tors) and told them: 'It was I who One man remarked that when was hospitalized in an extremely gave this child his name ... !' " watching the Rebbe during Hasha- weakened condition. For most of

16 The Jewish Observer, January 1990 that time, he was conscious and lucid (thanks in large measure to the self-sacrificing efforts of Dr. David Levi). During this difficult period, the Rebbe received kvitlach, and weeks before his passing, served as sandek for a great grand­ son. When in need of constant attention, the immense closeness which his children and grandchild­ ren felt for him was greatly manifest. Not for a moment was he left alone, and his personal needs were attended to in a manner that the hospital staff could only marvel over. Thus the doctors and nurses of the Maimonides l.C.U. felt the need to attend the Rebbe's funeral. About two weeks before the Rebbe's passing, a religious Jew entered Maimonides Hospital for a medical procedure. When the nurse asked him a question regarding tefillin, the man asked if she was an observant Jew. She responded affirmatively, and added that she had become religious only a short time earlier. She explained: One day, she was walking down a hospital corridor when her eye caught sight of a patient lying in his bed. The patient was an old bearded man, obviously a ChassidicJew, and his face was unlike any she had ever seen. In fact, from the face alone, one would not have known that the man was very ill and weak; he looked radiant, fresh, alive! The nurse stared at the face for a few minutes before continuing on. Kiddush of Yom Tov. A few stifled so that the mission of his long and The nurse requested that she be groans escaped his lips before he productive life could be fulfilled. The transferred to this patient's ward, went on to conclude the Kiddush. Rebbe has left a glorious legacy, to and her request was granted. From Afterwards, he explained to a guest, enrich this and future generations. then on, she would stop by the room "At this great moment on the night • • • at least once a day, and gaze upon of Rosh Hashana, I suddenly recalled Each year, at the conclusion of the countenance of the Bluzhever all that our brethren suffered during Ne'ilas Hachag on Simchas Torah, Rebbefor a few minutes. These daily the last churban, and I recalled my the Rebbe would close with the visits inspired her to return to the personal suffering as well. I recalled same themes. He would say that the traditions that this tzaddik had all that I had seen with my own eyes long winter nights ahead should be lived by. in the camps of destruction.... It spent in the toil of . He required enormous inner strength would continue, 'We must study on my part to suppress those with peace of mind, amid a true love WSLEGACY thoughts, so that I would not burst for one another and without any out with intense weeping. I man­ jealousy toward one another." The aged to limit myself to a few stifled spread of Torah and the spread of n the eve of Rosh Hashana, groans." ahavas Yisroel. These were the some six years after the For the Rebbe, the four decades hopes and dreams of the Bluzhever ORebbe arrived on these after the war were one giant expres­ Rebbe. And those who strive to live shores, his voice became choked sion of inner strength, one ceaseless by his awesome legacy can tum his with emotion as he recited the surge of faith and love of Hashem, dreams into a reality. •

The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 17 Rabbi Joseph Elias

How does Who are the Oral the men Law whose correlate opinions with the makeup Written Law? the Oral Law?

An analytical study of the Steinsaltz approach to the Talmud

SUPERSTAR IN Germany, well over a hundred years these personalities in objective terms, THE TALMUDIC SKY ago. The brilliant scholar was Hein­ i.e. against the background of the law rich Graetz who, in 1853, published which they received and were to pass the first volume of his monumental on to futur~ generations. Rather, he e Jewish world sat up-a interprets them subjectively, in terms ew star had appeared in the History of the Jews. It was devoted of what he perceives to be the temper­ ky of Jewish scholarship. His to the Talmudic period and made ament, the psychological makeup. the brilliant work on the Talmud made fascinating reading. Of particular hierarchic positions, and the political its personalities and ideas come interest were the biographical aims of these teachers." alive for many who would otherwise sketches of the great and From where did Graetz derive his never have been able to learn about , their personalities. char­ "knowledge" about the Talmudic them. acter, and attitudes. The work was teachers' personalities and aims? Suddenly a discordant note. The considered authoritative and won Simple enough-he extrapolated it newspaper headlines proclaimed: general acclaim. from their teachings. which he "Rabbi condemns scholarly work," And then, suddenly. there ap­ viewed as the product of their and public opinion was outraged. peared a series of articles written by individual natures. Thus, Who was this witch-hunting Rabbi Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, "he sees those personalities not as who presumed to smell heresy in the titled A Critical Examination of Dr. the bearers of the tradition but as elaborately researched and sparkl­ H. Graetz's "History of the Jews" its creators. To him ... Talmudic Law ingly presented pages? And yet the (recently published in English, in ... is merely the product of the ... Rabbi refused to retract his the fifth volume of his Collected psychological characteristics of these charges-"Orthodoxy at its worst Writings, and still as relevant and eminent figures. [According to] such worthy of careful perusal as when a view of tradition, it is not a tradition and most stubborn," as the critics that dates back to Sinai.'' moaned. It first appeared). They added up to A report on a contemporary situa­ a devastating critique of Graetz's Rabbi S.R. Hirsch pointed out tion? Not at all. It happened in approach to Torah: that, if the halachic decisions of the "Through our author's character­ Talmudic personalities merely Rabbi Elias is a member of the editorial board ization of the bearers of the Talmudic reflected their personal predilec­ of The Jewish Observer and menahel of the tradition, the history of Jewish Law Yeshiva Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch Beth is presented from a pragmatic view­ tions, it would be ridiculous for Jacob High School for girls and the Rika Breuer point. He does not examine the anybody to conduct his life-to the Teachers Seminary. He is author of a soon-to­ point of the be published new translation and commentary teachings and teaching methods mesiras nefesh-on on The Nineteen Letters. disseminated and handed down by basis of these laws. And yet, over the

18 The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 millennia, Jews have done so. In the ultimate upshot proved that he, definite statements; and, worse. reality, however. Graetz's theories the great Torah scholar and thinker. with outright misinterpretations of have no basis in the Talmudic texts; had recognized the destructive the subjects he deals with. Drawing Rabbi S.R. Hirsch. in great scholarly nature of the works of Graetz and primarily on his universally popular depth and detail, showed that Frankel, which his lesser contem­ The Essential Talmud (the English Graetz misread and misunderstood poraries could not yet perceive. The edition of Talmud Lakoll. we will the sources in the Talmud that he Breslau Rabbinical Seminary concentrate on three fundamental quotes to buttress his ideas. created "Historical ," the points: ( 1) the faulty picture drawn The public was outraged at European precursor of what we call of Torah She Be'al Peh, the Oral Hirsch's daring attack (though, to Conservatism. and the evolutionruy Law, (2) the misrepresentation of be sure, nobody ever tried to refute and subjective approach to the Oral our sages, and (3) the rejection of his arguments). But Rav Hirsch Law propounded by Graetz and his the concept of Chasimas Hatalmud compounded his audacity only a colleagues became the stock-in­ and the consequences that flow year later. by publishing a series of trade of modem secular Jewish from it. articles (written by Rabbi G. Fischer scholarship. Through Hirsch's cour­ (1) The Oral Law: and himself) attacking another ageous stance, Torah Jewry was The inseparable oneness of the major work, by a universally alerted in good time to the impli­ Written Law and the Oral Law, given accepted Jewish scholar, as violat­ cations of these teachings and their at the same time at Sinai, is the ing basic Torah tenets-"Darkei total incompatibility with Torah. indisputable foundation of Torah Hamishnah,'' by Dr. Zachariah Judaism. In fact our Sages stress Frankel, founder of the Breslau HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF . .. that G-d only concluded His coven­ Rabbinical Seminruy where Graetz nfortunately, however, his­ ant with Israel on the basis of the also taught. tory tends to repeat itself. Oral Law (Gittin 60b), and that the In the first of the ariicles, Rabbi U for-as the saying goes-he denial of the Divinity of the Torah, Fischer bemoans the fact that "the who does not learn from history is on account of which a person loses conviction that the Written and the doomed to relive it. I am of course his share in the World-to-Come, Offli Torah have both been given as referring to the tragic case of Rabbi includes the denial of even one kal a fully equal and inseparable pair" Adin Steinsaltz-tragic both for him vachomer or gezeira shava-both byG-d at Sinai is being undermined, and for Klal Yisroel. It is extremely expressions of the Oral Law with disastrous results for Torah painful to write about this case; yet (Sanhedrin 99); while the actual kal observance-and he cites, as exam­ the truth brooks no compromise. vachomer may have been enun­ ple, Dr. Frankel's work. Rabbi Steinsaltz is a brilliant and ciated by a Talmudic sage, the "Now, if our author had not sincere individual who, having method used was taught at Sinai wrapped himself into the cloak of a found his way to Torah. has been and produced conclusions already true believer in tradition ... I would dedicating his great talents to par! of the Sinaltic legislation. have remained silent. But the author spreading Torah knowledge among What was given at Sinai was a ... speaks with great respect of the the Jewish masses. He surely does complete, specific and binding oral ... men of the Great Synod and the not want to be a Graetz or a Frankel. law code, explaining, in full and Tannaites when. as I am about to demonstrate. he is in fact poles apart Yet-somehow, somewhere-he beyond possibility of misunder­ from them." And Rabbi Fischer picked up ideas and approaches standings, the teachings of the quotes Frankel's view that Halacha that echo the vety concepts that Written Law. In the course of the Le'Moshe MiSinai merely means a Rabbi S.R. Hirsch so brilliantly generations, much was added to very ancient tradition, and that it was unmasked as being contraty to this law code: further clarifications, the Anshet Knesses Hagedola {-men basic beliefs of Judaism. in response to new circumstances, of the Great Assembly) who Inter­ As a result, his approach to Torah or to misunderstandings that arose, preted the Scriptures and then and its bearers-the personalities of based on the rules of Interpretation created the Oral Law. Tanach, the sages of the Talmud, given at Sinai, and Rabbinic elab­ Again pandemonium. Chief Rabbi and their ideals and teachings-is orations and ordinances (c)early Rapaport of Prague (known as profoundly flawed and misleading. labelled as such). But this is cer­ "Shir") spoke up in defense of It does not take much to discover tain-the Oral 1.3.w was not a set of Frankel, trying to interpret his that his work is shot through with vague traditions from ancient times words in a more acceptable manner. ambiguities and equivocations, that slowly evolved into the law we Yet Hirsch stuck to his guns-and where there should be clear and know.

Rabbi Steinsaltz's work is shot through with ambiguities and equivocations, where there should be clear and definite statements; and, worse, with outright misinterpretations of the subjects he deals with.

The Jewish Observer, January 1990 19 Yet this Is precisely the impres­ The inseparable oneness of the Written sion we receive in The Essential Law and the Oral Law. given at the same Talmud We look In vain anywhere time at Sinai, is the indisputable for a clear affirmation of the Sinaitic foundation of Torah Judalsm.-Gittin 60b origin of the Oral Law. Instead, in speaking of Halacha LeMoshe Mi­ 'We know veiy little qf the origins {sic!) Sinai, Rabbi Steinsaltz calls them and early development of the oral law, and "regarded by tradition as 'halakhah - information on cultural and spiritual life in the First Temple era is generally sparse:· delivered by Moses on Sinai'"; In the -Steinsaltz's The Essential Talmud Reference Guide to the Steinsaltz Talmud, {p.114) the Talmudic True. on page 4, Rabbi Steinsaltz interpret and complement written phrase, "They have this halakhah as states that "the oral law is as ancient legislation .... The basic task of the a tradition," is similarly explained and significant as the written law oral law, therefore, was to transmit as a statement by the Gemora that {the Torah)"; but on p. IO he writes the meaning of words" (pp.10-11). this halacha "is part of accepted "Other needs cropped up beyond this that "almostjrom the first the oral first stage. and one of these was tradition handed down orally from law accompanied the written law" generation to generation since the definition of words and concepts {my italics). And what does he mean recorded in the Torah.... The sages giving of the Torah at Sinai.'' In the by the "oral law"? Apparently what of each generation tried to give these same work Halacha LeMoshe MiS­ he calls the kind of "tradition," an traditions (the ways in which people inai is translated literally on p. 297. .. oral law" needed "to preserve the learn what should be done and how but is explained {on p. 114) as "an meaning of words," needed for any they should behave) shape through authoritative halakhah handed written code:- a certain degree of generalization and downfrom earlier generations.'' The abstraction" (p.12). same evasiveness marks the state­ In this evaluation of the Oral Law. the ment that the halacha's "main 'We know veiy little of origins (sic!) and early development of the Rabbi Steinsaltz stresses the role of outlines ... had been contained. by oral law, and information on cultural the men of the Great Assembly. age-old tradition. in the oral law" and spiritual life in the First Temple "Nothing is known of their conduct {The Essential Talmud p. 222; all era is generally sparse. But from and methods" (p.14), but, he tells us, the italics in this paragraph are various hints in the Bible we can that in trying to establish order in mine). ascertain how the oral law evolved to the Oral Law. "the scribes started

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20 The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 out by studying those oral traditions which included interpretations, customs, and legal precedents, and their main achievement was the linking of these traditions to the Subscribe now to written law. It was these scribes who evolved the basic methods . . . of The Jewish Observer learning and deriving halakhah from the biblical texts themselves ..." (pp.14-15). In other words, the and$AVE Rules of Interpretations are not from Sinai, as postulated by Chazal, but were developed at this time, and Become a monthly subscriber the work of the Great Assembly to The Jewish Observer and "marked the beginning of the reign of the oral law" (p.15).-"The period save up to 47% off the single· of the Great Assembly is that great copy price (a savings of over period in which were laid the foun­ $40.). The longer you sub· dations of the In Israel.'' scribe for, the more you save. In line with this view, the author assigns the origin of various biblical laws to later times. Here are some And this introductory offer is fully guaranteed. You have but to ask and you will receive examples: a prompt refund on any undelivered issues should you decide to cancel at any time, • "These bitter times [of Matti­ for any reason. syahu] also called for creative activ­ Each month, The Jewish Observer will be delivered directly to your door, filled ity and legislative endeavor arrived with the views of leading Torah thinkers on current issues ... comments on the at formulating reasonable restric­ strengths and foibles within the Jewish community ... analysis of contemporary tions on the readiness of ardent Jewish events ... inside reporting, interpretive commentary, inspiring biographies, believers to sacrifice themselves for infuriating letters and illuminating responses-all within the covers of one magazine, their religion. The ordinance per­ The Jewish Observer. mitting defensive warfare on the So don't delay. Check lhe money-saving terms below and send in your order right Sabbath ... eventually developed away. We'll try to get your order filled in time for our very next issue. into the ruling, Sl\pported by the biblical text, that in times of war and crisis it is permissible to violate the ------·SUBSCRIPTION SAVINGS CERTIFICATE Sabbath" (p.20, my italics). In other words, the biblical law that provides THE~ Suite 1200 • 84 William Street that, when there is danger to life, QBSERVER Ne,. York, N.Y. 10038 all except three of the mitzvos can D YES! Please enter my subscription for: USA •OUTSIDE be transgressed, is here presented ONLY USA as an innovation dating to the times 0 3 years-at 47°/o off the cover price $48 D $78 of the Hasmoneans! 0 2 years-at 40% off the cover price $36 D $56 • "Immersion is carried out. as 0 1 year - at 2 7°/o off the cover price $22 D $32 specified in the Torah, in a spring *Price reflects $10 extra per year to defray air shipping costs. Foreign or other body of water (mikveh payment must be made in U.S. dollars, either by check drawn on a bank mayim). Later this term . . . came in the U.S.A. or by Visa or MasterCard. to mean a place where enough water NAME (Please print) ______was gathered to serve for purifica­ tion purposes" (p.195). In actual ADDRESS------~ fact. the biblical law refers to CITY,STATE ______ZIP ____ I immersion both in a spring and in I 0 Enclosed: $ 0 Charge my D MasterCard 0 VISA an accumulation of water, our I mikvah. I • ... The great structure of halak­ I ~~d Li I I I I I I IJJ-IllllJ I hah on marriage and divorce was I based on the tradition

22 The Jewish Observer, January 1990 him to make the mistakes he has The belief in Torah miSinai not only made in his portrayal of biblical invests Torah with a special aura of holi­ figures-a topic which goes beyond ness, but also endows those men whom the confines of this article-and, as we shall see, in the treatment of Providence granted the privilege of being Chazal. For instance, its bearers with some of that same aura is described as "the irascible priest" (p.28) and Rabbi Joseph ben Halafta as "a taciturn, moderate man" (p.30). They, with their words and actions, are seen and evaluated like To Rabbi Steinsaltz, the words and ordinary man; their halachic pro­ actions of Tannaim are seen and nouncements, too, are viewed in this evaluated like ordinary men; their halachic light, as the product of plain humans and reflecting their foibles pronouncements, too, are viewed in this and weaknesses. Where a proper light, as the product of plain humans and understanding of Torah teaches us reflecting their foibles and weaknesses. to recognize in them extraordinary men of G-d,. dedicated anddispas-

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D (089) Ki Sisa-Returning From a Medical Emergency on Shabbos Rabbi N"JSSOn Wolpin D (090) Vayakhel/Pikudei-The Melacha of Carrying Editor. The Jewish Obseroer

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(Al.SO 1\VA!LABl.E AT F.!CHLER'S AND OTHER HNE BOOKSTORESl Yad Yechiel is a qualified non· profit organization dedicated to the memory of'Reb Yechiel hen Reh Nachman Dov id HaLeivi.

The Jewish Observer, January 1990 23 sionate objective transmitters of the Sinaitic heritage, we find them here 1.1-fE Yl'f'l'YLEIBEL presented as subjective and limited men-and they are supposed. HELP-LINE moreover. to be creators of the law, agents of halachic evolution! Hillel "never lost the common A Pree Service .of the. Yitty Leibel Chesed Fund touch.... His short and pithy maxims • M;UitalprQblem8? •.Fear of break-down? reflect his generosity. piousness, and • Overpowering stress? • Parent-child friction? love of mankind. , on the other hand, was known for his prob­ Do you haveproblerns like these and are afraid or ashamed to talk to ity and consistency to the point of anyone? ... Do you want a trained, wise, warm professional wh1Jwill extremity in everything he did. In talk to you on.the phone? contrast to the congenial Hillel, Sol!le of theTorah community's highly skilled psychologists, soda] Shammai was irascible and judged .workers, and. therapists are ready to help. Your consultation will be himself and others by stringent treatedwiththe utmost discretion. You may remain anonymousifyou standards. His pupils ... tending toward seveiity and judgment ... were prefer. They understand. They're trained. They have Ahavas Yisrael. evenly matched against the liberal school of Hillel" (pp.25-6). H 0 u R s Sunday through Friday 8:00-12:00 Noon Was Shammai's stringency really Sunday, Monday, Tuesday 9:00-11 :00 PM due to "irascibility"? Was It not he Wednesday, Thursday 8:00-11 :00 PM who declared in Avos that "one . . . should receive eveiybody kindly"! Let us quote Rabbi Israel Salanter Dial (718) HELP-NOW (435· 7669) (Ohr Yisroel, ch.28): "At first glance This project haS been ,appro\ied by leading Torah_'authorities, Shammai's strictness should sur­ prise us.... The earlier generations were truly like ministering angels and observed the entire Torah and It's Working in Toronto . .. in Cleveland . .. Australia ... all the good character qualities there are.... The explanation is that the and now it's working in the heart of Flatbush!!! controversy between Hillel and Shammai stemmed from different views of how one Is to serve G-d ... whether the honor of the Torah de­ NEW EVENING mands stringency ... or one must always conduct himself with the quality of humility...... The persona­ i'Nn iiN ??i:J lities, conduct and teachings of Chazal were shaped by the Torah. which they received from their SPECIAL PROGRAM - teachers and which. by word and IDEAL FOR PROFESSIONALS deed. they passed on. It was not their BAALEI BA TIM WHO WISH TO LEARN personal "extremism" or "modera­ tion" that determined the halacha. n11:in:n n1}n:ip:i (3.) The Authority of the Talmud It Is one thing to hold that the Oral b1l 10 Blatt per month with nim months built in Law is an evolving tradition, and the Sages are those who. in accordance b1l '.:1'.n:m l!!Ni-::1'1!1)'.)1 '.:1Nw available with their times and personality, b1l stipend for passing Mifal Hashas tests molded It. It is another giant step starting )11!11i'P •1m in l;):Jl!I in the wrong direction, and with awesome consequences, to argue that this process is still going on. SUNDAY - THURSDAY To take this view is to rob the ANY 2 HOURS BETWEEN 8-11 P.M. Talmud ofits incontestable halachic authority and-ultimately-to open Call (718) 645-9303 for more information the door to halachic reform, as reflected, for instance, in the "hala-

24 The Jewish Observer. January 1990 chic responsa" put out by the generation"). The Talmud has an Reform Movement. authority that no post-Talmudic What does Rabbi Steinsaltz say cm scholar can arrogate to himself. this point? "From the strictly his­ This ls by no means a theoretical "A true scholar is ... torical point of view, the Talmud was issue. If the Talmud is not com­ never completed, never officially pleted, and every scholar today ls "a always part of the declared finished"; "the greatest part of the Talmud," it inevitably Talmud, himself, Jewish codifiers ... sought to create means that the work of the Amo­ creating through his new laws or aspects of halakhah" raim can be reinterpreted and (p.246); and "a true scholar is revised by latter-day scholars with study and his own therefore always part of the Talmud, impunity-after all, why should "the innovations."-the himself, creating through his study evolution of the oral law" be limited Essential Talmud and his own Innovations" (p.264). in anyway? Indeed.Rabbi Steinsaltz Now, let us consult the words of stresses that "even in matters where the Rambam on this (Introduction to his Commentary on the Mishna); "When Rav Ashi completed the composition of the Talmud ... the distinction of his work and its great CONVENTION TAPES AVAILABLE usefulness served as true witnesses Tapes of the major weekday sessions of the Agudath Israel convention are that G-d's spirit was on him.... And available for purchase through the main office of Agudath Israel of America, when all the sages died-of whom 84 William Street, New York, NY 10038 (tel. 212-797-9000). the last were Ravina and Rav Ashl­ and the Talmud was completed. The following recordings are available, at $5 per tape, $25 for the entire whoever came after it put his whole set of six. intention and effort only into under­ standing their words that they had TAPE #1 Thursdays afternoon symposium: Written, and not to add to it or take Contemporary Issues Through the Prism of Torah: away from it." In the introduction Clarity Amidst Confusion to Yad Hachazaka, the Rambam Rabbi Avrohom C. Levin, Rabbi Yissocher Frand, stresses: "Thus, Ravina and Rav Prof. Aaron Twerski Ashi and their associates are the TAPE #2 Thursday evening symposium: end of the great sages of Israel who Honesty and Integrity: Are We Living Up to Our Ideals? Rabbi Yaakov Reisman, Rabbi Avrohom Pam, passed on the Oral Law, and issued Rabbi , Rabbi Yosef Harari-Raful prohibitions, ordained ordinances TAPE #3 Motzoei Shabbos - Keynote Session and introduced customs that Rabbi , Rabbi Moshe Sherer spread throughout Israel wherever Thursday - Hespeid on Bluzhover Rebbe ztnl - they lived. Henceforth rabbinic Rabbi Yosef Frankel courts could only issue decrees for TAPE #4 Motzoei Shabbos - Keynote Session, Continued their own communities, but all Rabbi , Rabbi Osher Greenfeld, Rabbi Elya Svei matters that are in the Babylonian TAPE #5; ·Sunday Morning Symposium: Talmud must be followed by all The Neighborly Imperative: Jews." Reaching Out to the , Lonely, and Unattached Rabbi Pesach Krohn, Rabbi Dovid Cohen, This was not the end of halachic Rabbi Yaakov Haber, Yaakov Salomon CSW endeavors, of course; the gaonim TAPE #6 Sunday Morning Symposium: that followed the completion of the The Russians Are Here - Where Are We? Talmud, and ·their successors as Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Rabbi Aryeh Katzin, Rabbinic authorities, had to labor Rabbi Moshe Boudilovsky, Rabbi Pesach Diskind, at explaining the Talmud and Rabbi Zvi Sourkes, Rabbi Chaim Waldman resolving newly arising problems. But this does not mean "a constant The WORKSHOP tapes are also ,available upon request. challenge to continue the work of creation" (p.273; actually Rabbi The tapes may be purchased in Brooklyn jrom: Steinsaltz himself, in the Reference Mrs. Berl Guide, p.9, refers to the "final 1443 38th Street editing of the Talmud" by Rav Ashi, Brooklyn, NY and describes the Talmud in its (718) 435-5793 present form as "the freezing, as it were, of the Torah of a particular

The Jewish Observer, January 1990 25 the Talmud came to a conclusion, is partly an imitation of the Chris­ "When all the sages the conclusion did not always sur­ tian ceremony," p. 130-which died-of whom the vive through the course of the Christian priest was the role model last were Ravina and generations. Decisions in one direc­ for the Sefardim of Iraq?), its irres­ Rav Ashi-and the tion were. by stages. changed to a ponsibility (on p. 41. alomos is different direction. and therefore a translated as "virgins" rather than Talmud was com­ sizable portion of laws has not "maidens," lending credence to the pleted, whoever came attained a definitive crystallization Christological interpretation of after it put his whole until today" (Talmud Mevu'or. Isaiah 7,14), and its evasiveness Introduction to Berachos ch,4). The about the miraculous in Jewish intention and effort "modern scholarship on the Tal­ history ("The tale of the vessel of oil only into under­ mud," to which Rabbi Steinsaltz which burned for eight days . . . standing their words refers with apparent approval inspired the injunction to light that they had writ­ (p.243), is in fact committed to a candles on ," p.127-my critical approach toward the extant italics). ten, and not to add to Talmud text and toward established It may well be that some of Rabbi it or take away from "unscientific" methods of Talmudic Steinsaltz's ambiguous and mis­ it."-Rambam, Com­ interpretation. leading statements are meant to mentary on the And what is Rabbi Steinsaltz's calm the fears of those who are definition of a Talmudic scholar? It taking their first tentative steps Mishna includes intellectual ability and towards Yiddishkeit but in the "moral and spiritual qualities"-but process, he waters down the basic there is no explicit mention of Yiras significance of the study of Toras Shomayim and emuna as prereq­ Hashem for all of his readers. uisites for true Torah scholarship. In fact, he stresses that the study of Talmud, unlike that of sacred THE PROPER RESPONSE works of others, does not demand of the student ardent faith and prior t should be clear. from all that 4916 I.>th Ave., B'klyn, NY. 11219 acceptance of certain principles has been said, that Rabbi Stein­ (718) 854-2911 (p.273); indeed, the questing nature I saltz's books are unacceptable. ofTalmud study is likely to turn him Even if some of the passages quoted into an "eternal skeptic," albeit can be interpreted so as to make "with the constant awareness that them innocuous-if they were beyond ... lies a reality to which merely phrased ambiguously. per­ we must adhere" (p.269). haps in order to find acceptance in :r;J The reader cannot escape the the widest possible circle-they will feeling that. while Rabbi Steinsaltz still be a danger. for readers will be tries in this way to attract the bound to be misled. -~~()HN unlearned and distant, he-in the But did Rabbi Steinsaltz not MIFAL process-lowers the Talmud, the disassociate himself from the ques­ ·f:ir~rlcs ieopenlng sacred heritage of our people. to tionable passages and withdraw the their level. Thus he speaks of the books in which they are contained? ·.... li\llBeV\fl:le~utlfutfooms,·with··. Talmud as "at first glance, not a very When his books were first brought 'klrch~h faciHti~s, in heart of impressive work," and as "built on to the attention of gedolim, Rabbi free association of ideas and flow of Aviezer Wolfson. of Yeshiva Dvar t.~~(d l'~r-~fbrctaJ: or week. thought such as one only finds in Jerusalem, wrote to him in private; E~~;lfS~ufs,take"out.foods,e~c, modern novels." A very human work. in his reply, he rejected all criticism · •Pmfitsto Mifal Torah Vodaas. it would seem-why then should not and maintained that "all that I have critical scholarship view it as a written has a solid basis in the < ·~elf:J. Sfardishe yocitt'freturn creation of the generations rather teachings of the sages and the $R Yic1ctishkeit thrqugh !orah than as G-d's revelation? And, commentaries of the and indeed, Rabbi Steinsaltz echoes the " When the accusations \~Clqpationin Yerushalayim and approach of secular scholarship in became a public matter, Rabbi ':i:veria, many ways-down to some of its Steinsaltz did acknowledge that .·. Call . more ludicrous speculations ("The there were grave errors in books Jewish custom of inviting a Rabbi published "under my name." In the f'lr1 .. J•·as1•i.2969 to conduct the marriage ceremony same vein. his Institute declared dates from the late Middle Ages and that serious mistakes had been

26 The Jewish Observer. January I 990 Tue Torah is the word of G-d. The survival of the Jewish people depends on it. But it must be taught in its true and authentic form. It cannot be taught by · someone with ideas that are incompatible with basic emuna. found in various books, but that the Magazine called him "the greatest the critics of Steinsaltz-presuma­ responsibility lay with others who Jewish scholar since Rash!": more bly all the above-mentioned Rab­ had edited them. This assertion was modestly, the publicists of Random bis-are motivated "by jealousy or publicly and violently rejected by the House (publishers of the English thirst for quarrelling, and their editors of these books: and, indeed, edition of his Talmud) crowned him gaonic twisted minds could not an article in Maartv ( Cheshvan 5) the greatest living Talmudic scholar: tolerate a straightforward scholar,'' quotes Rabbi Steinsaltz as saying and a columnist in the Algemeiner we must pause and wonder. And that he goes over the work of his Journal. of Dec. 1, '89. declared when Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, in a assistants and "is responsible for him "Rabbon shel Yisroel, the widely syndicated column (for every word that appears." teacher of all Israel,'' who brings to instance, Jewish Week, Oct. 13, '89) characterizes the "attack . . . on But even if he had not been realization, on a broad scale, the approach of Rabbi Chaim Soloveit­ Stelnsaltz ... as sinat chinam­ personally responsible for these unnecessazy, unwarranted hatred,'' passages, and despite the disavowal chik.And TheNewYorkTimesBook Review saw in him a "Jewish guru." we are hurt and perplexed. After all, of the books in question, the issue these words were written after is not really resolved, for these books No wonder, then, that Torah Rabbi Steinsaltz admitted that were widely circulated for years by authorities who spoke up against there were unacceptable passages In his Institute-and it is not just Rabbi Steinsaltz included a wide several books and withdrew them! certain passages that are unaccep­ spectrum of the most prominent Why assign to his work a role and, table but the entire approach to Rabbinic personalities-Rav Elazar yes, an authority that it clearly does Torah that pervades them. Great Schach, Rav Eliezer Waldenberg, not merit? harm was done: would it not be Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Shmuel The answer, I am afraid, is simple appropriate and necessary, in these Wosner, RavYosefSholom Elyashiv, but saddening. We are here face to circumstances, for Rabbi Steinsaltz Rav Chaim Pinchus Schelnberg, face with the ever-present tempta­ to lay aside his role as a teacher of amongothers!Why. then, the violent tion to shake off the authority of the the masses in order first to clarify­ outcry against these Gedolim? In true guardians of Torah. When a to himself and others-what was the case of the secular, liberal and journalist writes of the critics of wrong, in an effort to undo the reformist voices raised, the answer Steinsaltz that they bear "the sin of harm? By taking such steps-in is simple. They are always in favor shaming a talmid chacham," he contrast with the recalcitrant route of freedom of expression-In the brings to mind the assertion of our taken by Graetz and Frankel-he press, on radio and the stage-but sages that "he who finds fault in could yet make a genuine, uncon­ if a talmid chacham condemns another, finds only his own fault." testable contribution. some book or idea as incompatible It is vital for Kial Yisroel that such In the meantime, Torah author­ with Torah values, the most Intem­ attacks on our Torah authorities be ities had to come out against Rabbi perate outcries will be heard. To this unequivocally rejected. Their wis­ Steinsaltz's writing. The Torah is we are accustomed-but we are dom and insight are crucial to us, the word of G-d. The survival of the pained and saddened by some of the in the times of Rabbi Samson Jewish people depends on it. But it voices in the Orthodox camp. When Raphael Hirsch as in ours, for only must be taught in its true and the previously quoted article In the through their guidance can Torah authentic form. It cannot be taught declares that be truly understood and lived. • by someone with ideas that are incompatible with basic emuna. As the guardians of the Torah, the sole Purim-Paks are Back! concern of Gedolei Tomh is with the effect of misguided writings on the Shalach Monos To Your son or Daughter Torah study and mitzva observance Learning in Yerusalayim or Telz-stone of the Jewish people. Naturally there Aguda, . Badatz, is greater urgency for action on their Chasarn Sofer Hechsl1er. part if wrong teachings spread like wildfire. Sf'nd $18 & 3XS card \Vjlh nan1e, address, tel. It is essential, in this connection, and your rnessage by r-cb. 26th to keep in mind the wide distribu­ PURIM-PAKS / 6 Emes Lane, Apt 2. Monsey. NY. 10952 tion and uncritical acceptance of his . r ~ Info: 914-352-1516 (call evenings) works by the broad public. Time 'J;JJ' or 516-239-70651516-239-7421

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THE HUMAN RIGHTS BILL IN ISRAEL Building on Foundations of Ambiguity

e Knesset was hotly debating in its stoiy on the law, explains that The conflict is not a new one. In proposed Basic Law of the "rigorously Orthodox" have a fact, it surfaced a centuiy ago, when TiHuman Rights, passed it, and problem with the law because, by the dream of a Jewish nationalism then tabled it temporarily by a one "providing freedom of religion, litl based on criteria other than Torah vote margin because the "rigorously would also guarantee Israelis the first began to take shape. Before Orthodox" were opposed to It. The right not to practice their faith, examining the proposed law, we reaction among many Orthodox jeopardizing dozens of restrictive would do well to step back to con­ Jews was one of frustration, embar­ laws that the religious parties have sider the background of the schism. rassment and despair: Must we managed to have enacted over the always come out against evel}'thing last 41 years." that sounds liberal? Can't we ever This nutshell summaiy certainly WHAT KIND OF JEWISH STATE? be "user-friendly"? invites the immediate sympathy of An examination of the proposed freedom-loving people of all stripes, law, however, yields some deeply n his visionary work. Der Jud­ and it appeals to the current civil enstaat (1895), Theodor Herzl disturbing implications. which are libertarian instinct that any accom­ less than friendly to Orthodoxy. In I presented his program of polit­ modation to· religion is ipso facto fact, the law is geared to do violence ical Zionism. His projected "State for restrictive of other people's freedom. the Jews" would be a Western to Jewish values and sensibilities. But it is not the full stoiy. Nor is Moreover, it actually threatens the democracy: and yet. to be true to its it accurate. In fact, this description destiny of serving all Jews. it would veiy state that the Zionist founders ignores the fact that this law had intended to create. need to have some sort of Jewish exposes a profound schism in the character. Along with a smattering Basically, the law "would guaran­ veiy foundation of the Jewish State. tee equality before the law and of Abad HaAm-type cultural forbid discrimination on the basis It uncovers a conflict that trans­ Zionism to satisfy ethnic Jews, there of nationality, sex, race, creed or cends religious-secular differences would also be some Jewish religious countiy of origin; guarantee the to the point where, in the words of presence. to accommodate religious right of privacy, protection of prop­ Shmuel Schnitzer (editor of Maa­ Jews. erty, freedom of work, assembly. and riv), "one does not have to be But Torah directs eveiy aspect of association and the right to be chareidi . . . or a member of a Jewish life-for individuals, for the presumed innocent until proven religious party to see dangers in the community, and for the nation as guilty" (description from Jerusalem law. One need only be a Zionist, a a whole, and a Torah-directed "reli­ Post Dec. 2, '89). So why the oppo­ Jew, to see risks of national regres­ gion·· would emerge as an all­ sition? The N.YTimes (Nov. 21. '89). sion in this law that addresses embracing, active force in the Jud­ matters of basic Jewish attitudes enstaat leading it toward a goal far Ezriel Tosha.vi observes the Israeli scene for JO and Zionist consciousness" afield from Herzl's vision. Yet Herzl readers. (Maariv. Nov. 26, '89). was not fazed. As he wrote: 'We shall

The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 29 confine the rabbis to the syn­ said Herzl. To make the Zionist State's Declaration of Independ­ agogues just as we shall confine the dream a reality, it was necessary to ence, a debate was raging: Could army to its barracks." somehow please the religious ele­ they bow to the insistence of the Now rabbis who teach Torah and ment while attempting to limit its religious parties, and mention the live by Torah are not so easily influence. (The creation in 1921 of Creator in the Declaration's opening confined. To them and their follow­ the Chief Rabbinate-to be elected statement, or would that be a vio­ ers, Torah defines the essence of by a system that gives secularists lation of their Socialist commit­ Jewish peoplehood; it Is not just one an overwhelming say-was under­ ment? AB a compromise, the pur­ isolated aspect of the Jewish nation. stood by many as a step in the posely ambiguous phrase "Tzur And yet. the religious element had direction of the two goals, accom­ Yisroel-Rock of Israel" was a place in the Herzlian vision ... modation to religion and control of inserted as the object of gratitude as long as it would be it kept in its Its influence.) in the historic Declaration. G-d­ place. In 194 7, when the founding unlversally recognized-remained "And if you will, it is not a dream," fathers of the State were drafting the absent.

INVOLVING THE ire Reached New Heights... RELIGIOUS YISHUV s difficult as selecting the .. .Now Wi?'re Soaring Higher precise phrasing for a decla­ With gratitude to Hashcn1, Carnp Ron1inn1 is proud to announce the n1ove to our O\C.'11 A ration may be, it is far simpler n1agnificent facility in the heart of the Catskills. C;in1p Ro1nimu combines a unique pace­ than conjuring up the soul of a setting progr.un '•vilh the finest ca111p facility in the Mount;tins to bring your son another functioning State. To ensure the truly wonderful surnn1er in an atn1osphere of ·nirah and ;\fiddos. religious Yishuv's involvement, it was essential to assure its members THE ROMir.1U EXPERIENCE FINEST CAMP FACILJTY IN Tl IE CATSKILLS that the emerging state would • Action-packed days of leanzing, SjJorts, continue to honor certain basic • Centrally located just tiuo 1niles front and special events religious principles in its conduct • Stilnulating learning and Afas111idh11 Afonticello progra1ns designed to en/Janee each •Six lighted te1111is courts of affairs, as had been the policy of caniper's love for Torah and learning • Five baseball dia1nonds the British mandate in its dealings • En1pbasis on Afiddos and Derecb Eretz •Six l(r.;bted outdoor basketball courts with the pre-State Yishuv. As a in a warnt, friendly at111osphere •Four soccer fields, four volleyball courts result, David Ben Gurion wrote a • E>.:citing ivorksbops including: ALS, • Fully-e11closed outdoor hockey rink letter on June 19, 1947, to the woodworking, ceraniics, juggling, •Go-Karts leaders of the Agudath Israel World dranta, leatbercraft, pbotograpby, •Brand new Oly1npic-sized pool with Organization, outlining what has tennis instruction and nzore slide come to be known as the Status Quo • Annual Ron1ilnu Co11ce1·t perfor111cd • 1lfagnifice11l fully equtjJjJed gy11111asiunz Agreement. This included four basic exclusively by our canzpers • Beaut1f11l oak-floored, pallelled sbul areas; Kashrns (in all public and • Spectacular trips including a can1p-out • Sailing, kayaking, ca11oei11g on our official functions, Including the in Niagara Falls 111ajestic JOO-acre lake army), Shabbos as the official day Rabbi Shlomo Pfeiffer .. Director l\:iblii ,\1·rohom Karp Dir./1'!:1~midim l'rogr:i.m of rest. Personal Identity (marriage, Rabbi Shimon Eider . .. Manhig Huchani Jt:lbbi 1\lo,hc Lieber .1b,oc. Le;irning Director divorce, and conversion, to be deter­ R;ibbi Dovid Katzcnstcin ..... I.earning Director Rabbi Ahron Kaufman Senior Le:irning lkbbi mined by the rabbinical courts), and • Register before January 30 for :l ~pcci:ll r:ne Education (the maintenance of Yeshiva, Bais Yaakov, and elemen­ Enrollment for another terrific summer i;, in full ~wing. For more information or to arrange for ah inierview, call Shlomo Pfeiffer :it (il8) 32i-2508 or 327-2515 tary Torah Schools systems). These were meant as public expressions of the Jewish national character of the emerging state, to please the reli­ gious community, and were not meant as government incursions into private lives. A formal constitution, however, was never drafted, in recognition that all of the various factions within the Jewish State could never unanimously accept a document the camp tha1 cares that would define the state and its relationship with Torah. In the

30 The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 The "rigorously Orthodox" "One need only be a Zionist, have a problem with the a Jew, to see risks of ._ ...... law because "[it] would ---­- national regression in this guarantee Israelis the right , • .., l•n '• ,•'""''' 19.6.f? law that addresses matters ,.~.~ not to practice their faith, ····~•» ~ ...... "'''""'~ ... of basic Jewish attitudes ... ,,.... ,... jeopardizing dozens of ... ~ ...... and Zionist consciousness." restrictive laws enacted ''"'~" "" o"'1•n h •'• ''"" •n "'"• ..,,. • ._., ••uo -Maariv, Nov. 26, '89 over the last 41 years." .U•••• .,,_,, •''"'" "'''"' """'"' ,.,.n ;o> .. ,.,.. ., ,,.,,. ,., "'"" M>"H olo'° \'< U•>l111 ""o•o•~ n1--.n '"" .·~:~ ·:::~. ·;~·:;· ,~::·:~ ~::· .=: ·=·~.:::r .::~~·:~ .~::· ,.,,";: -N.Y. Times, Nov. 21,'89 ... ,. ••.,. "'"" 1•0· '"' Ot• n J>llH ... ,... -...... ••>• "'"'°" ,...... ,... . •••...... ""'''-!'°'" ••u• "' •'••••...... "'"'_!>• -• .,.,•• "''> !•• "'"'"" ...... •"'"""'"' , •• ENTER THE BASIC LAW OF '""' ''°'', ,...... i•••• ,,. .,"'" 1•n, ,.,,,. •""• '"'", n•n HUMAN RIGHTS course of time, seven "basic bills" ...... ,, ..... "'""'...... ,,...... ,,.~. -·· "'"'"" ... ,...... , .. have been passed-with a requisite .. '!;~ ~~~. ·:~.;;:·~.;·~~;~·;!:,::~·"""" .~;.:~ :;;::·~:.::·!~, ,,, .:: 2/3 vote (80) instead of the standard •••••...... ••• ,, ...... ,, ..... """° ...... ,,,. ''" ,., ...... n this context, the Basic Law of ·"'""" """~' no">a M no 1n• majority of the Knesset (61). These ...... "' ...... Human Rights introduced to the are planks in the constitutional "'"'" •->» •• '"" c•\ ,.,.,., ,. • .,,,, _. •• ., ""'" ••o-...... •1'•n Knesset by Amon Rubinstein, •" •.-,. "''"''' -•·••> ·~·"" '""n """ "" ·~ •• I framework of the country, and have .,,•• "'H •• »U• <"'"' "'-' l>D ,, •• !>'0> ,OSWO deserves close scrutiny. The pro­ ·"""' """" '"' .... dealt with the operation of the l»• ...... 10•• .~~'~;::~!~!·~.~~;.i·;~~.:; .;~.• ;! posed law has a number of specific Knesset, compulsory military train­ ··;~;..;::·:.~;::~·-~:.~;~·:!~,;:~·:~:.::·~.'~, ,,,,, ,, ,,,.,. ,,. ""' .. ;~.~;! clauses that would further erode the ing, and other basic structural ...... •••Yo ... ,.,., •••• ...... ,...... religious climate in Israel; but these matters. But the degree to which (,:~:) .~·~:!.:';.;;.~·.~:;: .:·:!~~=~:. ·::·;' .;~,.;: will be dealt with later. Mqre impor­ Torah values would be considered .,::;: :~~l.~~;;~;~:~~~!~!~: :~~:~~:~~~!~~;~{.~:~~~~:~~ tant is the manner in which this bill a factor in directing the State's ...... proposes to totally restructure affairs was by and large limited to Israel's government-as a de facto the Status Quo Agreement and constitution, being smuggled in minor legislation. through a side-door. In the forty two years since, the Origind d0 Agrulath fowl Rubinstein claims that the bill in Status Quo has been whittled away. /rtfart /mill's i,.Jq1nil111u. its current form is a watered-down Heterei avoda have been issued to compromise, aimed at bringing hundreds of factories and places of Chaim Cohen and a divorcee) to be about "the end of all future religious business as "essential industries," accepted later in Israel ex postjacto. legislation" which under judiciru permitting them to operate on . . . The Chinuch Atzmai Torah scrutiny would be struck down on Shabbos. And so, for that matter, Schools are the first to be targeted the basis of discrimination or have cinemas been opening on for kitzutzim (budget cuts) to save infringement of liberties (Jeru­ Shabbos with greater frequency.... the faltering economy. salem Post). But it is by no means Members of Israel's judiciary have Yet the Status Quo is still consi­ limited to future designs. A key been in the forefront of those who dered as a factor to contend with­ clause of the bill (par. 22) states: fly to Cypress for non-halachic as long as no new "basic laws" are "The provisions of [priori laws are marriages (e.g. between Justice enacted to overrule its clauses. to be interpreted in the spirit of this Not just a cheesel a tradition... . Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping.

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The Jewish Observer, January 1990 31 law." It is this gigantic loophole through which every law on the AREYOlJ MOVING? books since 1948 can be dragged for IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED judicial review. Interestingly, Mafdal (Mlzrachi) INCORRECTLYON THE JO MAILING LABEL? has officially backed the bill, with W~ need your help to ensure proper delivery of the JO to your home. Please minor alterations. such as Minister .a.ttach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address Avner Shaki"s suggestion that the and computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the bill's preamble, "The rights of man address label. in Israel is based on the recognition ofhuman worth," also include: "Man ADDRESS CHANGE FORM was created in G-d's Image." The !Affix label here) Je111Salem Post mocks this as a figleaf approach, and projects that such a change would not have any substantive value, beyond winning religious support. Only the old party

Name------'------­ Torah directs Address~---~------every aspect Cit)', State, ZiP--~------­ of Jewish life-for individuals, for the Date.Effectlve __~------Please allow 6-8 weeks for all changes to, be reflected on your m_ailing label. WE Will NOT BE community, and for RESPONSIBLE FOR BACK ISSUES M1SSED unless you notify us 8 weeks prior !o your move. the nation as a whole.

warhorse, Zerah Warhaftig, has J(eep Your Family Healthy! since 1928 broken ranks within Mafdal, and sees the bill as an attack on the Status Quo. The main danger. he Buy gift certificates for points out, is that Supreme Court justices would use the "interpreta­ tion" clause as a pretext to "empty current religious laws of meaning." The Post goes on to cite "some religious figures' profound distrust of a secular judiciary. There is a deeply embedded fear that the judiciary does not just want to tinker on the margins. but would The ideal gift for the health of vour loved ones. roll back any laws that are tied to Freeda will ship throughout the United States to your Judaism." children, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and even your mother·in-Jaw. This "profound distrust" shared by all Chareidi circles-including Write for free brochure to' Agudath Israel, , and Degel FREEDA VITAMINS HaTorah-has a solid basis. Judges 36 E. 41st St. N.Y.C. 10017 in Israel are not elected as part of or call toll free the electoral process. By contrast, 1 (800) 777.3737 Knesset members who until now draft legislation without judicial and keep your family healthy! review, reflect the multi-faceted polyglot that makes up Israeli Freeda produces over 250 Vitamins, Minerals and Amino Acids to cover all your vitamin needs. Our vitamins are made o~ the premises under strict p~armaceuti~! and kashrus standards. Freeda Vitamins are parve society-including the religious and vegetarian and are under the Rabbm1cal Superv1s10n of the . sector, as well. The judges are part • No sugar • No sulfates • No coal tar dyes • No starch • No salt filler • No animal stearates of the liberal elite, and have been in the forefront of destroying the

32 The Jewish Observer. January 1990 religious fabric of public life in ethical ramifications of fetal exper­ judged as violating "human rights," Israel, with such decisions as per­ iments and bio-technical tinkering. and be stricken from the books. mittingbroadcasting of public radio All such considerations would be A number of critics have pointed on Shabbos, and frequently overrul­ dismissed with the wave of a legis­ out that in Rubenstein-and-com­ ing rabbinical courts on basic lative wand. In addition, archeolog­ pany's campaign to remove all religious matters, such as a bets ical digs in ancient cemeteries, vestiges of a Jewish religious pres­ din's rejection of a spurious geirus which have limitations in view of ence from the State of Israel, they (conversion) or an invalid marriage. possible nivul hameis (desecrating may achieve a success beyond their The prospect of the creation of a the dignity of the dead), would likely intention. Thelawcouldsoenact the powerful Supreme Court to review be given free rein. concept of unqualified "human all legislation for Its "respect of The proposed law would also worth," as to give Arabs eveiy right human rights" is frightening, throw a question mark on govern­ and privilege heretofore reserved for indeed! This is what has triggered ment support for Torah schools Jews, so as to make Israel merely a such strong objections from a uni­ with separate facilities for boys and stretch of land along the Mediter­ ted Chareidi front, and has aroused girls; it would surely challenge ranean Sea-where Jews, Arabs, the protest of avowed, yet sensitive, continued deferment of militaiy Greeks, and Jordanians give the secularists like Shmuel Shnitzer. • service for rabbinical students, by countiy an interesting cosmopoli­ Rubinstein's own admission. So, for tan flavor, but no longer a Juden­ that matter. would exemptions for staat by even Herzlian standards. "We shall religious girls from army service and In sum, the Human Rights Law confine the rabbis Sheirut LeUmi be threatened. In can well make it increasingly to the fact. the role of rabbinical courts in uncomfortable-and in some regulating conversions, marriage Instances, impossible-to live as a just as we shall confine and divorce in accordance with Torah Jew in the Holy Land. And it the army to its barracks." halacha, in spite of Rubinstein's may resolve once and for all the tug­ -Theodore Herzl protests to the contraiy, could be of war within the soul of the State,

SOME SPECIFICS "LET ME HELP YOU WITH YOUR t is worth mentioning here some of the specific "prior laws" and BUSINESS ANO PERSONAL I agreements that would come INSURANCE under judicial review, should this INSURANCE" Monticello (914] 796-1500 Human Rights bill become law: For /RV/NG SAFRIN example, paragraph 5 guarantees Monsey (914] 425-1985 "freedom of movement." Does that mean on Shabbos?-by an automo­ bile?-on Rechov Me'ah She'arim and Bayit Vegan? Paragraph 7 states: "Eveiy person has freedom of expression and freedom to publicize his views and opinions, in any form whatsoever." at The R' Chaim E/iezer Gluck z"I This would undoubtedly have dis­ astrous effects on existing anti­ Camp Agudah Midwest pomography laws. The law's paragraph 8 guarantees South Haven. Michigan "freedom of scientific investiga­ tion." In America, legislatures and GIRLS: JUNE 26-JULY 23/BOYS: JULY 24-AUGUST 20 think tanks are struggling with the Minimum Age-9 Years •in his interview with the Jerusalem Post. Early registration is suggested. Warhaftig says that he too is suspicious of the judges, for he believes that, left to their resources, CAMP OFFICE: the courts would erode the Jewish character of AGUDATH ISRAEL OF ILLINOIS the country: "A totally secular approach will 3555 W. Peterson-Suite 109 destroy Jewish solidarity and leave you with Chicago, IL 60659 nothing. Without some rellgiously-orlented content. there will be no reason to stay in Israel (312) 478-7472 or remain Jews."

The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 33 by declaring openly, unequivocally, ultimate giver, and-in the spirit of different focus ofconcern, and a flow 'We are a secular State, representing veholachta bidrachav, "and you of activity that is directed outward­ the finest of Western Civilization,'' shall go in His ways" -a Jew, too, toward the needs of others-rather dumping any pretense of associa­ must constantly give of himself. The than inward-toward protecting his tion with Torah, and severing any scenario of his life is spelled out in rights. connection whatsoever with the an agenda of duties, 613 mitzvos. Thus, the entire issue of a Human Jewish nationalistic dreams of its These address the Jew on the per­ Rights Law, quite apart from its founders. sonal level and they direct him in legal implications, testifies further the interpersonal arena. They deli­ to its drafters' break with our sacred BEYOND THE STATUS QUO neate the shape of his personal past. So. we take exception-not out morality and they dictate the flow of protective weakness, but out of this writing, it should be of his ethical conduct. They com­ a moral strength that is as old as mentioned that-beyond mand the employer to be humanely the world itself. oing away with the Status considerate of his worker, and they • • • Quo Agreement and its various insist that the employee fulfill his In the sphere of daily existence in ramifications-the Human Rights contract of obligation. Israel, where Torah Jews and those Bill in concept represents an By contrast. Western Civilization distant from our heritage have been approach that is antithetical to stresses the concept of government living side by side, each pursuing Torah. If Shaki's proposal to open by consent of the governed, which his own agenda, this proposed Jaw, the bill with reference to "Man as in tum is predicated on the inherent if passed, could introduce a dra­ Tzellem Elokim (created in G-d's rights of man-what he can expect matic change. The continued well­ Image)" were taken seriously, there and what he can demand Unques­ being of the Orthodox community would be no lack for human rights. tionably, without this firm basis, the there may be so threatened that it There are a host of imperatives individual's human rights would be may be forced to ask some very implicit in the Torah concept of trampled upon in the conventional painful and difficult questions of an "man being created in G-d's image," setting. But man acting out his role unprecedented urgency, regarding which should guarantee human as a creature that bears a Tzellem how tolerable life will be for the dignity and human rights: G-d, Elokim, dealing with others who are Torah Jew in the Holy Land ... if through the act of creation, is the similarly fashioned, has a totally at all.•

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34 The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 I .;i._ "\'IJ) \) 'l~ .:J 5 /"t~ ~ Ulebmw aiad > YOU left the Bais Medrash years ago- to earn 'parnasah' and raise a 'yiddisheh mishpacha' - With Hashem's help you have succeeded - True, you have been leading a life of "" - But somehow you are missing something, you are still searching ....

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Funding Torah Education­ Anatomy of a Crisis

"YOU MEAN IT'S REALLY TRUE?" After a moment of silence, one of my request.) He is dedicated and the men present asked incredu­ involved. giving his valuable time lously, 'You-you mean it's really and expertise wherever needed. Yet, he meeting was over. The true? The Rabbeim really don't get the oft-repeated tale of woe about engineer had rolled up the their checks on time? I guess I Rabbeim not getting paid on time T plans and had left. As the should pay that tuition you've been had made no Impression on him prosperous baalei battim who had billing me for.'' until he was dlreclly confronted come to offer their expertise on We got the loan, the Rabbeim were with it. Even to the extent that this construction for the Yeshiva's paid before Yom Tov, the loan was kind, good and giving man ignored planned expansion prepared to repaid on time, and one more payroll requests for payment of his child's leave, 1 called out: "Gentlemen! crisis is history. But let's analyze a tuition fee. Before you run, there is something part of the above incident: An isolated Incident? Perhaps. I'd like to discuss with you.'' The incredulous genileman Is a But I think it is significant in that With a muttered "Uh-oh," and a man of substantial means and is it graphically illustrates a malady suspicious cast entering their most generous as well, supporting that pervades our community. For expressions, they agreed to hear me all worthwhile community endea­ lack of a better name, let's call It out. They had every right to be sus­ vors. (A check for $15,000 arrived "Other-guy-itis.'' The symptom is picious. I am the Executive Director at the Yeshiva within 48 hours of that otherwise rational and lucid of a yeshiva ketana, and when Individuals think that there is someone like that wants to talk to somebody-somewhere-the other you, you-know-what-that-means. guy-who is covering the costs of "Pesach is next week," I began. education. For everylhing else, we "The Rabbeim are now three weeks eschew Marxist dialectic and pay behind in their pay. I propose to our own way. But for our children's borrow a total of$100,000 from you ----·""- education, it seems as if we all think and a few others. To guarantee that some amorphous, undefined repayment, I will not disburse entity is responsible. another payroll until you have been It should be obvious that it has repaid, and will deposit all the to cost a great deal of money to run Yeshiva's revenue in a separate a school. Herein lies the rub: who account earmarked for payment of has to pay for it? Let us list the this debt.'' possibilities and examine each of them. '"Rabbi Moses," executive director of a yeshiva THE PARENTS ketana serving a large Orthodox Jewish com­ THE "COMMUNI1Y' munity, has resorted to a nom de plume to protect the members of his community. THE SCHOOL

36 The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 PARENTS: AN IRREVOCABLE high fees as well. Furthermore, the our times, when every teacher OBLIGATION poverty of the reflected requires the talents of a Barnum the straits of the community as a just to capture the Interest of his whole. which was still in the throes easily swayed, Impressionable HE PARENTS-The most of establishing an economic toehold obvious choice. All would charges. To compete with all the on the beachhead of American slickly packaged dross that clamors agree that it is the obligation T opportunity. As the community for our children's attention, we need of the parents to teach their sons succeeded in attaining levels of no less than supremely qualified, Torah. It seems clear in the halacha that we "coerce him to hire a teacher for his son. And if he Is away and owns property, we attempt to notify The incredulous gentleman is a man qf him first; but even if not, we exprop­ substantial means and is most generous riate his property to hire a teacher." (Yoreh De'ah, Rama 245, 4) In other as well. Yet, the qft-repeated tale qf woe words, there Is an automatic, irrev­ about Rabbeim not getting paid on time ocable. contractual obligation Im­ posed by the Torah on anyone who had made no impression on him until he has a child. He owes the melamed was directly confronted with it the cost of his child's education. There is, however, a problem. Many people simply cannot afford affluence hitherto undreamed of, highly motivated and totally profes­ it. Please note: I am avoiding the melamed stayed close to where sional mechanchim (Torah educa­ euphemisms like "find it difficult," he had been, on a below-subsistence tors). And as any employer who acts or "are hard-pressed to pay," or "are salary, assuaging his hunger by with enlightened self ·interest up to their eyebrows in debt." It is feasting on the satisfaction of his knows, if you want your employees difficult. Almost all of us are hard­ mesiras nefesh. to develop the self-confidence that pressed and loaded with debt. "Can­ Then, just a few years ago, some is the foundation of competence, it not afford," however, signifies a level of the major yeshivos raised their is imperative to offer them, if not beyond these, one of genuine inca­ Rabbeim 's salaries precipitously. a good, then at least a decent salary. pacity to cope financially with one and everywhere have fol­ Also. it is almost impossible to of life's necessities, in this case, lowed suit. Did we all of a sudden devote the requisite energy and education. get an attack of conscientious attention to the task of molding What happened? How did the cost propriety, or has the situation young souls if late mortgage pay­ of education get so far out of our changed that much so as to brtng ments and overdue grocery bills are reach? about this radical difference? foremost on one's mind. In fact, things have changed. For And while we're at it, let's also I suspect that these costs were quite some time now, we have realize that for this motivated and really always high, but were kept refused to be satisfied with a professional mechanech to have artificially low for a variety of rea­ melamed who is a cartoon carica­ more than a cursory impact on his sons. First and foremost is the ture of the classic sad sack. For OUR students, he must operate In an matter of salaries. I have no idea if children, only the best will do. And environment that allows for per­ the common perception of the that Is as it should be. Especially in sonal contact with each of them. It melamed in the shtetl as schli­ mazel is accurate. However, accu­ rate or not, that perception of the melamed took root on these shores. The melamed, it was thought. only was a melamed because he was too Monsey Seminany incompetent to do anything else. fon Teachens Certainly, he did not deserve to be MAPLE"'7 00D LANT~ paid much. Also, when yeshivas ... took root in Ametica, the brave pioneers had an uphill battle to ~~glst~r ?<>~ f°;t ~~r ~~. ~F ·1119~1: (aX~l~i~9•••ve1lf persuade parents to forego free public education and risk hurting Ao'<' Shlom~ ~r~~lc;i~~r ~"£!,~~< D~n their children's chances for success Reb;• NO(I flam>''""·•···~·• Menaheles by removing them from the main­ stream of American life and culture. (914) 35():.5089'''. They obviously could not demand

The Jewish Observer, January 1990 37 is at our peril that we treat our children like so much yard goods and apply to them the economies of scale by shoehorning as many as possible into each class. Sure, we'll save a Rebbe's'salary by only paying for one when there should be two. But what of the back-of-the-room --""-/.~ kids who don't succeed in getting Rebbe's attention? How many and It is at our peril that we treat our children how much will we have sacrificed like so much yard goods and apply to them on the altar of parsimony? So here we are. We need more the economies Qf scale by shoehorning as faculty members, and their salaries many as possible into each class. must be decent to keep them prop­ erly motivated. In the case of our school of approximately 400 talmi­ TURNING TO THE COMMUNITY Chest" (Aruch Hashulchan, Yoreh dim, including the salaries of the De'ah 245, 8). general studies teachers and admi­ nistrative personnel, that translates ere do people who cannot ("Hey! Wait just one minute into a payroll of around $1.2 million. afford the necessities oflife there!" l can hear you say. "I may That's right-MILLION! Add other W:turn? lt is only proper that be 'on scholarship,' but I'm no expenses like mortgage. utilities, they apply to the "COMMUNITY" for pauper!" More on this topic later ... ) transportation, supplies, etc. and support. Indeed. every community It is so much the obligation of the community. that, in the view of at the cost C!f education per student has an obligation to provide for the is almost $4000. Families with four education of the indigent in its least one opinion (see Shita Meku­ or five children in school are not midst. What we today delicately refer betzes, Kesubos 50a), the universal uncommon. How many people do to as "scholarships" has origin in limit of 20% set by Chazal for you know that can afford $20,000 the halacha: "And in every city there mitzva expenditures does not apply tuition each year? is a wherein to enroll to support of Torah learning. The The fact is that most of us cannot the orphans and the children of the late Satmar Rav '"~1 explained that afford the cost of educating our poor. The salaries for the teachers this is obvious in light of the dictum children. are to be paid from the Community (Shabbos !19b): "Any city that does not have children studying Torah should be destroyed." ln keeping with the halacha that citizens must tax each other to fund protective measures for the city (Choshen AN URGENT REMINDER Mishpat 163, 1), with no 20% limit, FROM so too is there no limit to the amount of support required to insure con­ tinuity of Torah study in the com­ CHEVRA DOR YESHORIM munity. It is not just any mitzva. It is more than tzeddaka. It is YOUNG PEOPLE OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE MUST BE TESTEO simple self-preservation. in order to prevent the scourge of Tay-Sachs disease from striking the next So it would seem that we have a generation, in accordance with the directives of the Gedolei Hader. solution: What the individual does not pay will be made up by the SCHOOLS and YESHIVOS: community. Good idea. But it just Please call 718-384-2332 if you are doesn't work. We have come a long interested in having testing done for students. way here in America, but we have Genetic counseling is also .available. yet to arrive at that point where the Call for an appointment: term "community" in terms of an active kehilla, is more than an (718) 384·6060 or (914) 783-1370 abstraction. Exactiy who is going to Confidentiality assured. determine the amount and method of taxation, and who is going to CHEVRA DOR YESHORIM, INC. collect it? Though something along 160 Wilson Street, 1-B, Brooklyn, NY 11211 the lines of a "Challah Tax" and a central organization to which eve-

38 The Jewish Observer. January 1990 ryone would pay their tuitions, and as we are In collections, every time weekly payroll lack the drama to which would determine the amount that the Rabbeim's checks are late, compete effectively for the loose of tuition assistance each parent there is more than enough OVER­ charity dollar. As in everything else, would be eligible for, and from which DUE tuition outstanding to cover there are causes that are "in" and all yeshivas would be funded, might the entire payroll. EVERY TIME. The causes that are not. For the world be ideal, it is currently too quixotic implications are sobering.) at large, it may be fashionable to to consider. But what of fund-raising? Don't "save the whales." Our concerns are "Community" is a source of con­ schools raise enough funds to pay far more urgent and far more imme­ science and a source of social for those who can't afford the diate: we are being summoned to pressure. But it does not translate tuition? Schools do constantly save the Iranian, Russian, Baal into an authoritative body that can hound the parents and local, philan­ Teshuva, Orphan, and Kimpatorin levy taxes or promulgate decrees, thropically-inclined individuals, who seek our support with profes­ and thus cover the costs of and do succeed in raising substan­ sionally packaged pitches and education. tial funds, but never quite enough. organizational clout far surpassing The local yeshiva ketana and its anything your local yeshiva could

AND THEN THERE'S THE SCHOOL UlllEJISTAIDllG PURIM WHY KOSHER PESACH THOUGHTS • • MEAlllG Of LIFE COPING WITH SUFFERING THE GIFT OF MARRIAGE WHY JEWS SUFFER HAPPlllESS JEWISH LEADERSHIP o that leaves us with the BEllG GRATEFUL HOW TO PRAY BLESSING THE CHILDREN APl'RECIA Tll6 TEALLll SHABBOS CANDLES HAVDALlAH SCHOOL. Sorry. That is also THE AFTER LIFE WOMENS ROLE JEWISH NAMES S just a mirage. Except for pri­ vately-run institutions, a school is SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIPTION generally not an independent entity llOW FOR SOUNDS INTERESTING?o COST IS SIB with resources of Its own. A school AWEEKLY TO ORDER CALL A MONTH FOR is just a joint effort of a group of TAPE 4 TAPES parents, each of whom is obligated 0 (718) 983-7095 to educate his own children himself or engage teachers to do so, who THE BEST REMEDY FDR have banded together to engage the Tiresome Car Trips, Tedious House Work & long Sunday Afternoons teachers to lessen the financial impact as much as possible. No OR WRITE single one of the parents is more RABBI MOSHE MEIR WEISS obligated than his fellows to provide P.O. Box 140726, G.P.O., Staten Island, N.Y. 10314 education for another's children or for the group as a whole. And, for • • our purposes, no "school" exists as separate from the individuals who compose the parent group. This is not just a theoretical distinction. There are real and practical halachic ramifications. We is now accepting applicants all know the Torah prohibition against delaying the remuneration for the coming fall term• of a worker. Who, do you think, is 1990-91 /~""~lt'1'1· )'"'11'1'1 the one to have transgressed this very real Issur D'Oraisoh (Torah • Under direct leadership of · prohibition) when Rabbeim do not Gedolei Torah receive their paychecks on time? In a conversation with the author, • Limited enrollment, Rabbi Shimon Schwab, "'""''"'· said apply before Pesach that if the tuition is not an arbitrary, For application & registratio"n inflated figure but is based on the information, call true cost of running the school. any •• parent who is late in paying tuition, in New York: (718) 854-4977 whether the standard "full" tuition or a reduced rate, has transgressed in Lakewood: (201) 367-3518 this issur. (It is worth mentioning Rabbi Dovid Heinemann • ~mir.i here that in our school, as vigorous

The Jewish Observer. January 1990 39 put together. This is not to say, v•n, of your children. I can't prove it where do we tum? that these or other causes are less (though I would welcome the oppor­ The purview of this article is not than worthy. To the contrary, they tunity), but I suspect that if schools to provide answers. Rather I hope are crucial, vital, all-important areas were allowed to concentrate on it will serve as a springboard for of concern to Kial Yisroel. But they being educational institutions, and discussion so others wiser than l are also more exciting than basic not fund-raising concerns, we would will address this burning issue, and everyday needs, and tend to over­ produce more and better talmidei for the sake of the future of Klal shadow the common, banal prob­ chachamim and yorei Shomayim Yisroel, develop solutions to this lems that will just be back next week, seemingly intractable problem. anyway. THE NEXT LEVEL OF In the meantime, however, there RESPONSIBILITY is much each of us can do to help Also, we should not forget that alleviate at least some of the resources of energy are finite, and problem. all the energy and effort that is ex­ o the parents can't afford pended by a school's administration their children's tuition, the First, a point addressed to those and baalei battim on fund-raising S community doesn't exist, and who have been zocheh to serve as could be devoted to the education the school has no resources. So the fiduciaries of Klal. Please do not assume that all the regular, garden­ variety, nuts-and-bolts-type needs of the community's infrastructure are Joel H. Paul & Associates, Inc. taken care of, leaving you, like the Nesi'im to worry about the esoterica Executive Search & Recruitment Specialists of communal requirements. The mundane, everyday concerns right at home on your own doorstep need Is pleased lo announce your counsel and-yes-your funds. Don't slacken off on any of those the expansion and relocatton of their areas you are involved with. But Administrative offices lo don't forget the basics. Suite 500 Secondly, a change in our outlook 241 West 30th STieet towards our children's schools would go a long way toward making New York New York 10001-2801 everyone's lives easier. Our relation­ Telephone (212) 564-6500 ship must not be "us versus them." Facsimile (212) 643-1545 It's only us. It's our school-of us, by us, and for us. It is most unfor­ serving Je.vish organizations and firms tunate that schools need to legislate - recruiting professional peisonnet volunteerism-bingo, journal ad phone squads, pushkas, raffles, collections. Optimally, we would all genuinely seek out how we could do our bit to help our school. It's ours and nobody else's-and if we don't NOW AVAILABLE do it, nobody else will. Most impor­ tant, don't feel shut out of the TO AGUDATH ISRAEL MEMBERS decision-making and direction­ setting process-finances or educa­ tion. Don't play the role of the con­ COMPREHENSIVE sumer being serviced by some im­ MAJOR MEDICAL personal corporation, sometimes satisfied and sometimes complain­ HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM ing about "them" and how "they" Available to New York State residents only aren't doing things right. YOU have every right to be THEY. In fact, your For Information Call: school's baalei battim and admin­ istration would be tickled pink if you 212-797-7388 would show up at the Yeshiva's of­ Between 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM fice one Sunday morning and get actively involved in the issues being addressed or crises being dealt with.

40 The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 After all, your investment in the and hosts the most lavish Bar school is quite an impressive one: Our problem is not Mitzva bacchanal on record. (How your child. That gives you both the that we don't does he afford it? Simple. He has a right-and obligation-to get in­ separate checking account for tui­ volved. deserve public tion payments.With no money in it.) tzeddakafunds Or the ever popular. 'What!? You POVERTY UNPERCEIVED want more tuition!? But rm reno­ for the education vating my kitchen! I have no 'extra' qf our children. money for tuition!" These "horror erhaps, once we all are actively stories" are devoid of embellishment involved and genuinely feel Our problem or dramatization. They really hap­ the Yeshiva to be our own P pened. They and others of their ilk personal project, the following is that we lead inexorably and inevitably to the would be superfluous. But until do not perceive most horrible story of all: one writ­ such time, it needs to be said: ten on a memorandum to faculty I alluded earlier to the status of education as so informing them that though they scholarships as no more and no less imperative that our have consecrated the full measure than charity. This is no chiddush. of their copious talents and exub­ If we will agree that education is a lack qf ability to pay erance to their calling, at the end necessity, and we agree that it is too for it constitutes of the week the pay envelope will be expensive to afford, there is no shame in acknowledging that our poverty. bare. A few of their many employ­ appeal to the community for help is ers-the parents of their students- seeking charitable assistance that we honorably deserve. What is both­ ering you is that you don't feel POOR.youdon'tactPOOR,youdon't iliM~liA~;nAill'lii~~.rir~:;·'";···· think of yourself as POOR, and stating that only the POOR deserve ()~~r.a~~~~~~~~~·~~~~·iri·~vE:~~'.~l~¥~~,~~~~~!J~·.1·.. ~·~£~!,: a scholarship is insinuating that ~P"?J~at"5f!"~Vt?ll.l-J;rQlft~rVl'ilbiP!l~r~t; ~i·KE/J?t·ii'' you are undeservedly usurping tesp<>n~\biJi.tY !IJtpugHCl"'ts~'XifE?;. \ ( ·C'. C ( ?> i!:;·• . funds that should have been for ·······~Hi.SIJ1y·r~o1Jlmen~M~9E1~~)~.i;l"fl1~~!;.•'.1f/• ..:· aniyim r;i,S>'.';f}3 · · Please understand: it is not so. If .•.•. >·.·••tt-1~~e)l,r~ir.er0~1Xi~'.~~1s•• someone thinks he deserves help in 1569 "1.?~h ~~l'eett·~~~?~lyru~~~,~~i:t<··~~.~1.~ · paying for his tuition, chances are ·· Qay;~•Ni~~1P~~~e(~IJJ~~5':-~~~l·' that he really does. Our problem is Honesty.,_.. Integrity """ ~eli.ab.fltt>;' ·• not that we don't deserve public .··CK£sto.·sHi·L:E.~tS';;·/:·~~:.~ri~:~:1~·:~.~~·~f~~tr~t(iYf:<>:nt.~c:d·~~p{t~:·~~Pki~\~~f~.'.ih~~:~a~f:a;#¢·n~Y~::Y!';;:::~: ·... · · · :- :·. :. :;,< ..:,- · ·•· •·1afi'araS+tarilftar:.shOUklN~fde:C-".:-- <>·. >..<·:.<>: s·.\.<::·><·.· :{t tzeddaka funds for the education ,· ·.·:· ·:.. <•' ··.·.. ·' '"'. ',;' /•·.·.'.'\,,'''•·'<·' ·.·•·:--·--. ·"' .,-, '.·--··· '<.'" •', •,.\ <·.·-- ..··,.· •. ·.<···;>'•,,.,•,; of our children. Our problem is that we do not perceive education as so imperative that our lack of ability to pay for it constitutes poverty. Now read that last sentence again and think about it. ······ receiving financial help from the Yeshiva constitutes tzeddaka, it is incumbent upon us to try to min­ imize our reliance on these funds as much as possible. F@tUr~·\l~C'J-~ FTesentations I am not referring to the horror stories of flagrant abuse. Yeshivas f

The Jewish Observer, January 1990 41 are accumulating assets, conspicu­ I admire you foryourclear-sighted daka funds towards our children's ously consuming, and upgrading goals and mesiras nefesh In want­ education. Perhaps if we would ask, their standard ofliving, but have no ing to support your son or son-in­ we would discover that if we must funds with which to pay their law in Kolle!. But wouldn't you agree benefit from the Yeshiva's funds, we employees. that your halo is somewhat tar­ may not satisfy our desire to be These are not words properly nished by your forcing the Yeshiva's generous by giving our money to addressed to the relatively few staff and baalei battim to suffer other noble and needy causes, aside protagonists of cases such as these, bizyonos and work fifteen-hour from the Yeshiva that was generous claiming tzeddaka funds to which days to collect funds for you to be to us. they have no right Rather, these able to afford such largess? I understand that your firm gives words are addressed to the average you a bonus in June, or you rent guy who is struggling to keep up and TZEDDAKA-BYHALACHA out your house for the summer. You tries to do his best by his children's OR SOCIAL PRESSURE? have designated those funds to pay schools. This fellow's "best" might tuitions, so you don't want to pay get a little better by a slight attitud­ e Jews are mchmonimand until then. But are you aware that inal course correction. if you can gomlei chassodim by na­ you have compelled your child's find some other means to pay for W ture. It is to our credit that Rebbe to serve as your G'mach for some other expensive necessity, among us, there is a perhaps unique the interim? Wouldn't it behoove then don't make the scholarship social pressure to attain superlative you to find a G'mach that Will accept committee your means of first levels of munificence. Our sense of payment in June or August, so you resort If you needed a new trans­ generosity is so highly developed could pay the Yeshiva up front? Or mission, or refrigerator, or roof, or that even when our own capabilities at least on a regular basis? car, or (OK-I'll say It) college tuition are strained, we still respond to I could go on and on, but I think payment, would you go to the Gab­ pleas for help from a multitude of you get the point. Granted, there is bai In shuland ask him for the day's sources. But perhaps it would be a major crisis in the funding of collection?-Or would you find more in keeping With what halacha primary education In general. And some other source? Perhaps Mom (not social pressure) demands of us you or I alone cannot solve that and Dad. Or Uncle Shloime. Or a if we would consult With halachic crisis. But if each of us would take G'mach (free loan fund). Or bank. authorities about how our maos our own individual responsibility a Or credit card. And you would most maaser (tithe) is to be disbursed. little more seriously, and honestly likely study your life style objectively, Perhaps we should determine if it and objectively do what we know to With an eye towards determining If might be more righteous of us to be proper, then perhaps the glimmer perhaps some necessity might really depend less on the generosity of of an overall solution might glow be somewhat less than necessary others, and shoulder more of our more apparently on the horizon of now that push has come to shove. own burden by diverting our tzed- some bright tomorrow. •

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42 The Jewish Observer, January 1990 Books in Review

mong the multitude of Juda­ ica that are published these A days, a special place Is occu­ pied by the classics-major works of Torah scholarship that are now made accessible to the English reader. ( a s s

• THE ESSENTIAL TORAH TEMl­ MAH by Rabbi Baruch Halevi Ep­ ~,,'::~TOHt\H stein, translated and elucidated by Shraga Silverstein (Feldheim, Jeru­ TEMIMr\H Y r salem-New York, 1989, 5 volumes, $75.00) furnishes a translation of the verses of the Torah in accord­ ance with Talmudic interpretation, and of the Talmudic sources which provide this Interpretation of the Biblical text. Rabbi Silverstein does not include the author's elaborate and original commentary on the Talmudic sources quoted (for the reader interested to look up the com­ mentary in a Hebrew edition of Torah Temimah, he provides the relevant reference numbers, though they are hardly needed for locating the passage wanted). But he renders the Talmudic text In a felicitous and meaningful manner that is true to the Hebrew text and yet Is most readable and easily understood by the reader; where necessary, he adds a few words in brackets to make the meaning quite clear. In this way the aim of the Torah Temimah'sauthor is achieved-"to show that this Torah, the Written Law, is a twin sister, as it were, to the Oral Law. They are inseparable.... And so long as the Written Law is not conjoined with the explanations and addenda of the Oral Law. it is not a complete Torah. Its message is not complete. . . . " Rabbi Silverstein has shown

The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 43 In his previous works that he Is truly which line of thought he wants to a master In presenting complex and follow. The translation is excellent. demanding Hebrew texts In a and makes the perusal of this work manner that appeals to the English­ a real pleasure. Unfortunately, this FROM FACTORY REPRESENTAT/VE speaking student. The present work edition does not contain the Index SAVE!!! Is yet another significant achieve­ of Topics of the Hebrew edition; the n:nu ,13,W ment of his. He who is accustomed reader Is advised to look through the to using the Torah Temimah will Table ofContents of the five volumes miss the commentary; but some­ to obtain an idea of the variety of bodywho has difficulty studying the themes treated. He will undoubtedly Hebrew work will now be able to find some of particular concern to see-and benefit from-the insepar­ him, and be Inspired by the wisdom FAMOUS able unity of the Oral and Written of the sages on whom the author Torah. drew.

• STUDIES IN THEWEEKLYPARA­ • One of the outstanding Torah SHAH, by Y. Nachshon~ translated personalities of the 16th century from the Hebrew by Shmuel Himel­ was Rabbi MosheAlshich, a member stein (Mesorah Pub!., Brooklyn, 5 of Rabbi Yosef Karo's Beth Din in volumes, 1988-89 $15.95 h.c., Safed. Of his many works, his $12.95 p.b.) is quite unlike the commentary on Torah gained par­ standard Chumash commentary or ticular recognition because of the Cholov Yisroel • Shomer Shabbos Drush work. It does not provide ex­ wealth of ideas offered, and the Under the Supervision of planations on a verse-by-verse basis; depth of insight. While starting out K'hal Adath Jeshurun nor does It offer homiletic dis­ with Pshat the author progressed Open for Breakfast courses connected to this or that from there to ever more profound Luncheon and Dinner passage. Instead, Rabbi Nachshoni vistas. TORAT MOSHE, Commen­ has chosen the central episodes and tary of Rabbi Moshe Alshich on the Catering • Parties • Meetings topics In each Sidrah, and as­ Torah, translated and condensed PY 222 West 72nd Street sembled in concise form the classi­ Eliyahu Munk (Rubin Mass Ltd .. (212) 595-8487 cal Interpretations on them-rang­ Jerusalem, 1988, 2 vols, $39.95 h.c.) ing from Chazal to Rash! and Ram­ represents a dedicated effort to bam, Ibn Ezra and Abarbanei, the make this classic available to the medieval philosophers, Hirsch and English-reading public. Its original­ HOTLINE Malbim, and the outstanding Chas­ ity ls obvious wherever one glances TO JERUSALEM sidic thinkers. Thus each topic is Into It (the reader is referred, as an In time of illness, surgery or discussed from a variety of angles example, to the explanation of the crisis. special will be and with a wide range of insights. sums of money required in payment recited at the and Naturally every commentary-or of a vow, vol. II, pp. 599-60 I ). The at our Yeshiva in Jerusalem. anthology-reflects the thinking of presentation of the idea is clear and CALL 24 HOURS the author, and Rabbi Nachshoni's easy to follow. Each volume is personal approach to some topics preceded by a list of topics discussed 1 (800) 545·PRAY can be clearly perceived by the by the author, and the second A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE OF reader; It will be up to him to decide volume contains an index of Bibll- The American Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charity KOLEL AMERICA CLINICAL. PSYCHOLOGIST KADDISH DR. BENZION Mishnayoth, Yizkor & Yortzeit SOROTZKIN observed with a minyon in our N.Y. STATE LICENSED Yeshiva Heichal Rabbi Meir Baal Haness in Jerusalem. ADULTS CALL AND (718) 871-4111 CHILDREN 132 Nassau St., N.Y., N.Y. 10038 (718) 266-7151

44 The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 cal, Mldrashrlc and Talmudlcal tlon, and the volume also contains sources quoted. Rabbi Munk the Hajtoros with translation. This deserves our gratitude for this very series Is obviously designed for worthwhile undertaking. basic study as well as for use, and will undoubtedly gain the widespread acceptance that It • Dr. Abe Lipshitz is the author of ·deserves. a new edition and translation ofIBN EZRA'S COMMENTARY ON HOSEA • THE WAYS OF REASON (Derech (Sepher-Hermon Press, N.Y., 1988, Tevunos) by Rabbi Mosheh Chayim $19.95 h.c.). While Rabbi Munk was Luzzatto, translated and with ex­ concerned with making the ideas of planatory charts by Rabbi David the Alshlch accessible to the public, Sackton and Rabbi Chaim Tschol­ Dr. Llpshitz in the first place had kowsky (Feldheim & Diaspora to establish a correct text of the lbn Yeshiva, Jerusalem, 1989, $16.95). Ezra's commentary, based on six This work was written by the author manuscripts as well as printed as a systematic presentation of versions. The English translation is Talmudic dialectic-the logical con­ well done but inevitably reflects the cepts and processes governing Tal­ difficult style of lbn Ezra. Hence the mudic reasoning. Rabbi Mosheh reader will be grateful for the cop­ Chayim Luzzatto set out to show ious notes that explain the author's "how words work"-how they IMPORTANT NOTICE meaning, often with references to express ideas and how ideas can TO OUR CANADIAN other Rabbinic commentators. How­ correctly be derived from them. On AND OVERSEAS ever, the notes go further afield than hand of select Talmudic passages, the ordinary student needs. Dr. he categorized the different types of SUBSCRIBERS! Lipschitz's concern is with the Talmudic statements that make up elucidation of the text rather than an entire sugya (discussion of a The simplest way to pay for with elaboration on the wider vistas topic), and explained the terminol­ - of Hoshea's teachings. Hence his ogy used. The translators have used your subscription Is through notes delve into textual, philological, this approach In teaching Talmud VISA or MasterCard. They and grammatical issues, with the at the Diaspora Yeshiva with great change your payment into USA help of a host of academic studies, success, and have undertaken the currency without any sur­ and may distract a reader from publication of this work in order to what, for us, is the purpose of study­ disseminate this method of logical charge. We cannot accept for­ ing Tanach: properly experiencing analysis of the text more widely. eign checks (even Canadian the thrust of the prophet's message Derech Tevunos, like all the works checks in $U.S.), only checks as interpreted by lbn Ezra. This does of Its author, Is wonderfully syste­ drawn on a bank in the U.S.A. not, of course, take away from the matic and concise; the translators gratitude we owe Dr. Lipschitz for have preserved the clarity of the providing us with the accurate Hebrew text and have produced a text-a difficult undertaking car­ most readable work Yet, to derive ried out with great dedication. benefit from It, it must be studied and restudied, so that the reader will • THE FAMILY CHUMASH, Vol. I, come to approach the Talmudic text Bereshis (Mesorah Pub!., Brooklyn, properly prepared. An index and 1989, $18.95 h.c., $14.95 p.b.). This explanatory charts round off a most new series presents the ArtScroll worthwhile undertaking. translation of the Chumash accom­ panied by a concise but clear com­ • A LETTER FOR THE AGES, The mentary, combining an exposition Ramban's ethical letter, with an an­ of the basic meaning with Rabbinic thology of contemporary Rabbinic Insights drawn from the larger expositions, by Rabbi Avraham ArtScroll Bereshis. The commentary Chaim Feuer (Mesorah Pub!., Is Indeed masterful In selection and Brooklyn, N.Y. 1989, $10.95 h.c., presentation as well, and so Is the $7.95 p.b.) Over seven hundred layout; the commenis run along the years ago, the Ramban sent his side margins, flanking the Hebrew letter from Eretz Yisroel to his son and English text of the Chumash. In Spain, as a guide and spur to his Every Sidrah has a short lntroduc- spiritual growth. Not philosophical

The Jewish Obseroer, January 1990 45 insights but concrete and pithy Chazal. Neither abstruse and ethical directives are the subject of labored, nor aridly philosophical, '·atG the letter. Rabbi Feuer translated they illuminate the issues which we the thirty injunctions of the letter have to contend with, and apply to APRl..E and enlarged on each, quoting them the guidance that can be :· ¢OPY&PRINTING pertinent passai.>;es from Chazal CENTER found in the Torah. The volume and later Mussar works and, espe· before us is no simple translation S7NASSAUST cially, stories of great Torah person· but a rendering of the points made NEWYORK, N\' 1.0038 alities of all ages. There are many in The Sichos Mussar, arranged . {21~) 9624282 who regularly recite this letter; they according to the cycle of the Jewish (212)26\·9478 will find this edition a true source year and dealing with such subjects of inspiration. as coping with adversity and what to learn from it, man's dignity and Rabbi Aryeh Schechter • GESHER HACHAIM, The Bridge potential, and the meaning and of Life, by Rabbi Yechiel Michel chain of tradition. The style and SOFER S"TAM Tucazinsky, translated by Rabbi language make the essays both Leonard Oshry, and annotated and readable and inspirtng. A moving published by Rabbi N.A. Tuca­ biography of Rav Shmulevitz by 1235 49th St. zinsky (Moznaim, Brooklyn, 1983, Rabbi E.M. Klugman is included. Brooklyn, NY 11219 $9.00 h.c.) Rabbi Y.M. Tucazinsky, Perhaps the next edition of this e make "housecalls." one of the leading scholarly and work could also include an index of (718) 972-4003 saintly figures of Jerusalem in this the sources quoted and of topics century, wrote a number of major discussed, which would further add IP. :i-""1~ .. works. However, it was in particular to the usefulness of this work. / • - -,b;:)!P . the Gesher Hachaim that became a classic of . • An undertaking of an entirely Volume one and two deal with the different-and unique-nature is Help us laws of bereavement and mourning; TRACTATE KIDDUSHIN, ACCORD· and volume three presents the h~lpthe_.KLAL!!! ING TO THE MEIR!, by Yechezkel author's view of the world and man, D. Folger (Feldheim, N.Y. 1989, life and death. It deals with the $19.95 h.c.), a complete and expand· Keren Achva n1nN '\1P meaning of man's existence, of ed English adaptation of the Meirt's suffering and death, as well as the • MediCinestor .tews inRussia Beit HaBechira on tractate Kiddu­ survival of the soul, the World to shin. The entire contents of the , Loans tor new immigrants Come, and the resurrection of the Meiri is included, but the argumen· • Special projects for Aniyim ... dead. The reader will find here en· talion and terminology are couched andfnote!! lightenment on some of the most in modem terms; also the material P_fe_a_se>se:ri'd-;pur ta-x CJeduCtibltfchecks- to_ basic principles of Jewish faith, is arranged and presented in a form :427 flugby R()ll!I, Brooklyn, N.Y.1)226 depth of insight, and a way of coping that makes it very easy to grasp the with the pain of bereavement. main points of the Talmudic discus­ • REB CHAIM'S DISCOURSES sion. As Rav Avrohom Pam points SHALHEVET (Sichos Mussar), the shmuessen of out in the letter of approbation, 1270 48th STREET Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz, Mirrer "many books ... are being printed (718) 438-7332 , translated by Rabbi in English for the convenience of those more familiar with this lan­ Offers Guidance and Chizuk E.M. Klugman and Rabbi A Shein· man, and edited by Rabbi Dr. S.R. guage. . . . !The present work] For Times of Challenge Weiss with Rabbi Bezalel Rappa· properly explains the approach of port (Mesorah Pub!. and Yeshivas the Meiri" and will thus be of great Lectures by Harav Ezriel Tauber help to those not yet ready to master on the topics: Mir Alumni Association, N.Y., 1989, $17.95 h.c.,$13.95 p.b.). The Sichos the original text. ' 1. For Childless Couples Mussar of the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva 2. Coping as a Divorcee have had a unique impact on the ADDITIONAL VOLUMES IN 3. Difficulties Finding Torah scene. The ideas expressed EXISTING SERIES One's Basherte have reverberated through the world of Torah. The reason can • A listing of recent translations of To order tapes call: For Information perhaps be found in the majestic classical works must also include a 718-438-7332: about upcoming 718-438-2395; lectures on the simplicity with which Reb Chaim mention of additional volumes in 914-3S6-3515 above topics presented the fundamental lessons previously discussed series. Thus CALL 718-438-2395 that he drew from the teachings of we welcome the second and final

46 The Jewish Observer, January 1990 volume of Rabbi R Pelcovitz's trans­ AT THE TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRIT lation of the Sfomo II Commentary (Jerusalem, 1988, $14.95 h.c.) is yet on the Torah (Mesorah Pub!., Brook­ another volume In the series of lyn, 1989, $19.95, h.c., $15.95 p.b.); anthologies on specific topics from DON'T the Chafetz Chaim's writings. A DELAY! i as in the first volume, the transla­ tor's explanatoiy notes are of par­ Wide range of subjects is discussed ticular value in highlighting the in this volume dedicated to the need Now is the time Sfomo's teachings (note e.g. the for spiritual growth; thus the role commentaiy to Devarim 26:18). of suffering, the war against the Evil to ioin the Impulse, the joy of doing mitzvos, • The ArtScroll Series has ~K'110' l'TT!lt< ?l!l lll:l •?r.m ~i:in now progressed to TRACTATE and the proper use of time are Agudist Benevolent Society. Inc. CHULLIN, with translation and dwelled upon. ll commentary by Rabbi A.Y. Rosen­ • Mesorah Publications and Saplr­ • Full Burial Benefits for the fomily (Childn;,n

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The Jewish Observer, January 1990 47 BE A PART OF THE LARGEST AsSEMBLY OF TORAH ]EWS IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

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