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THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021 ·6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of America, 84 William Street, New York, N.Y. 10038. Second class postage paid in New York, N.Y. Subscrlption $24.00 per year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single copy $3.50; foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer, 84 WilU MANAGEMEtft BOARD AVIFISHOF 18 NAFTOLJ HIRSCH An Appreciation of Rabbi Mordechai Pinchas Teitz ?":in ISAAC KIRZNER RABBI SHLOMO LESIN Rabbi Yaakov M. Dombroff NACHUM STEIN RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING 27 Business Manager Learning to Yearn: The Hidden Lesson of the Three Weeks Published by Rabbi Yaakov Feitman Agudath Israel of America RABBI MOSHE SHERER PRESIDENT 34 U.S. TI\ADE DISTRIBUTOR ISRAELI DISTRIBUTOR Dr. Isaac Breuer ?"lit: History and Destiny Feldheim Publishers Nechemia Rosenberg Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer 200 Airport Executive Park Kiryat Telshe Stone, 108A Spring Valley, N.Y. 10977 D.N. Harei Yehuda, !SRAEL EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVE AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR 44 M.T. Bibelman Gold's Book & Gitt Co. Grosvenor Works 36 William Street Letters to the Editor Mount Pleasant Hill Balaclava 3183, Vic .• London E5 9NE, ENGLAND AUSTRALIA THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product, publication, or service advertised in its pages ©Copyright 1996 JUNE 1996 VOLUME XX!XINO. 5 E L 9 THWARTED.PtOTS eagerness to share their plans for the reli gnash their teeth and point accusing fin gious community. "Now we'll take care gers at one another. This pattern of our zar Nikolai I once asked Reb of the chareidim;' proclaimed Housing enemies being lifted up prior to their Itzele ofVolozhin to explain the Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who had downfall is a recurring one in Jewish his Ctwo verses constituting Psalm alreaC:y ordered a freeze on all chareidi tory, as when Hashem raised Haman to 117: "Proclaim Hashem's praises all housing projects< .:-ve of elections. 1 the pinnacle of worldly power and nations; sing His praises all peoples. For Environment Min Yossi Sarid of dominion over the entire Jewish people I'Iis kindness has overcome us. . . !" If Or Meretz took the 1 }unitv to mock only to hang him from a gallows of his Hashem's kindness has preserved Israel the religious conurL n:tty, telling a own making. Similarly, the left-wing from all her enemies, the Czar noted) it reporter, "There is a G-d." politicians were allowed to taste victo is she who should sing Hashem's prais Fortunately, the elt>r•i"'n night drama ry and express their scorn for everything es, not her vanquished enemies. Reb had a second act. Those who went to bed religious as a prelude to being cast into ltzele answered that only the nations of at midnight in despair over the Left's vic the depths of despair.' the world know the full measure of tory awoke early the next morning to For the next four years, the Left can Hashem's chessed, for only they know find that the Right and religious parties plot as they will about drafting yeshiva how many evil plots they hatched had won.' Those who had been cele bachurim, cutting off the financial spig against the Jews that never came to brating the night before were left to ot to religious schools and institutions, fruition. Thus only they will be able to and passing a constitution enshrining praise Hashem for all His chessed to the 1 freedom from religion as it highest value, It is one of the remarkable aspects of the Israeli Jewish people. political system that government ministers could but with the religious parties holding 23 We will not have to wait until the end broadcast with such relish their intention of pun 'American Jews cannot possibly appreciate the sig ishing those who had voted against them, without of days, however, to learn what one nificance of the dramatic turnaround from the early even paying lip service to the concept of serving all projections to the final results. When they turned group of adversaries had in store for us. the citizens of the state. In the week prior to the elec on the l l :00 p.m. news before going to sleep, As exit polls projected Shimon Peres as tion, a number of Chassidic rebbes were subjected Binyamin Netanyahu's victory was already assured. to crude and explicit threats of loss of funding for the winner in the vote for Israel's prime For Jews living in Israel, however, the manner in their institutions in the event of a Peres victory if which the gloom of Wednesday night gave way to minister on election night, left-wing they did not order their followers to abstain in the the following morning's reprieve will not soon be politicians fell over one another in their race for prime minister. forgotten. Nor were the erroneous early projections 2 Many of us in that category saw in the swift turn of only emotional significance: Had they not felt sme Yonason Rosenblum, who lives in Jerusalem, is a reg+ around in the returns an aspect of Divine rebuke. of victory, left-wing politicians would never have ular contributor to JO, most recently with "Sunday, Only a few weeks earlier those same exit polls had expressed themselves so openly. Thus we witnessed Tragic Sunday" (April '96). He is the author and been wildly off in predicting the final results of the an instance of apparent Heavenly favor being shown translator of many works, including most recently Likud primaries, and yet here we were once again to evildoers, as a means of heightening their ulti They Called Him Mike, published by ArtScroll. conferring on them oracular status. mate downfall. (See Pachad Yitzchak, Purim 9.) 6 The Jewish Observer, June 7996 out of 120 seats in the Knesset (includ· have fallen under the sway of what has and the idea of a 'citizen of the world' ing the four MK's from United Torah come to be known as "post-Zionism."s is taking hold." And Gidon Samet of Judaism-the combined Agudath Israel For post-Zionists, the burden ofjewish Ha' aretz, one of Israel's leading colum -Degel Ha Torah party) with 7 additional peoplehood and history has simply nists, celebrated the peace process pri shomer Shabbos MKs, there is scant become one they no longer wish to bear. marily for destroying the cement of chance of any of these initiatives becom The atavistic identification of ourselves national identity based on tl)e Arab ing government policy. as Jews, claim the post-Zionists, prevents threat to Israel's existence. The loss of To be sure, the Right is not without normaliut (normalization), defined as Jewish national identity will, he rejoiced, its haters of Judaism, but Binyamin the pursuit of private pleasures and eco open the doors to world culture of Netanyahu knows, as many commen nomic gain. Instead of pursuing the goal which "Madonna and Big Macs are only tators noted, that he owes his narrow the most peripheral examples." victory primarily to two centenarian Composer Arik Shapira, winner of rabbis,• and as a politician eager to stay the Israel Prize, described his composi in office for a long time, will not soon • tion ''On Your Ruins, Ofra," as a paean forget it. he Right is not to the anticipated destruction of the without its haters of West Bank settlement of Ofra and the A FATEFUL ELECTION T deportation of its inhabitants. What so Judaism, but Binyamin incited Shapira's abhorrence for the set· here can be little doubt that this tlers was their persistence in breathing was the most fateful election in Netanyahu knows, as life into "Zionist values whose histori TIsrael's history. Nothing so cal role ha[s] come to an end." underscored the importance of what was many commentators To some extent, of course, post-Zion at stake as widespread new reports that noted, that he owes his ism is merely an expression of war Rabbi Elazar Shach fasted until the weariness. Yitzchak Rabin's awareness of results were confirmed. narrow victory primarily a decreasing national resolve led him to Though most attention was focused go along with an Oslo process about on the implications of the election to two centenarian which he harbored grave misgivings. As results for the "peace" process, that was Edmund Norden observed recently: at best a detail, albeit an important one, rabbis, and as a Generations come and go. A peo in the larger issue confronting the Jews ple becomes less enthusiastic about of Israel. As far as the peace process per politician eager to stay fighting and less good at it. The IDF se goes, Binyamin Netanyahu will be is an army of draftees and reservists, in office for a long sons and fathers, and, if once it was operating within constraints that make considered shameful to not be draft it impossible to reverse what has been time, will not soon ed, today a "Profile 21" - a psychiatric done so far, even if h.e were so inclined. exemption -doesn't mean that you Nothing in his campaign or post-elec forget it. won't find ... employment or be tion pronouncements suggest he is. admitted to university. You can let your The real issue of these elections was hair grow and do hashish and get on whether the idea of the Jewish people, with your life unhassled by sergeants, • especially if you're a bare-headed either as traditionally understood as Am of"Let us be a nation like all others;' the Ashkenazi kid like Rabin was once. In Ha Torah (the nation formed by receipt objective of post-Zionism is simply to coming to his decision he must have of the Torah at Sinai) or in its attenu cease to exist as a nation. factored in this change, as well as the ated and distorted secular Zionist form, It is post-Zionism that to a large fact that more and more twenty-, thir is one to which the majority of Jews in extent fueled the Oslo process. Shimon ty- and forty-something reservists Israel still feel any allegiance. Peres, chief architect of that process, were dodging ... callups, especially for For the past decade at least, much of Gaza .... Nor were these only left-wing announced in his recent book, The New bleeding hearts who regretfully could the Israeli intelligentsia, the prestige Middle East, the dawn of a new age, in n't make it. What had to concern media, the entire Meretz party, and sig which personal identity is no longer Rabin-the-eternal-soldier was that nificant segments of the Labor party based on national identity, "one in which even Likud types were coming down 4A reference to the Ponevezh Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi particularistic nationalism is fading with back problems.• Elazar Man Sha ch, who ruled just prior to the elec --·--·--·----- Such weariness of the spirit easily 5 tions that the yeshiva world should vote for The discussion of post-Zionisn1 (and supporting gives way to ideologies that reject all loy· Netanyahu, and to Rabbi Yitzchak Kadouri, the quotations) that follows is largely drawn from two revered Sephardi kabbalist, whose blessing to incisive and eye-opening art ides by Yo ram Chazony: alties beyond oneself. Netanyahu - "Binyamin ben Tzila, tomorrow you "The Zionist Idea and Its Enemies," Commentary, will be prime minister" - was widely reported in May 1996; "The End of Zionism and the Last Israeli," the media on election day. The l¥eekly Standard, Oct. 9 1995. 6 New Republic, March 18, I 996. ·------··--··------The Jewish Observer, Jvne 1996 7 POST-ZIONISM IN Jewish and Moslem youth, organizations The results of this education system THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD promoting pilgrimages to Mecca, and have been sadly predictable. Only 17% "secular" groups using multi-media to of secular youth, according to a study by owhere has post-Zionism been promote Judaism. Dr. Yair Auron of the Kibbutz Movement more intensely felt than in the Meanwhile, Micha Goldman, Deputy Teachers' College, consider being Jew N Israeli educational system. The Minister of Education, proposed that the ish to be very important in their lives. first Education Minister under the national anthem, ( here is substantial evidence that • the May 29 elections were in large uch of the Israeli intelligentsia, the prestige Tpart a referendum on the issues media, the entire Meretz party, and of Jewish identity raised so acutely by M the infiltration of post-Zionism from significant segments of the Labor party have fallen academia into the thinking of Israel's largest political party. Labor's coalition under the sway of what has come to be known as partner, Meretz, explicitly framed the issue as a vote for or against religion. In "post-Zionism." For post-Zionists, the burden of one Meretz ad that made President Bush's 1988 Willie Horton spots mod Jewish peoplehood and history has simply become els of subtlety by comparison, Meretz one they no longer wish to bear. showed the huge crowds at the levaya of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, ?"Yr, with the caption, "This growth must be stopped:' Had they been aired anywhere insistence that all mention of G-d be • besides Israel, this ad would have been Appointed head of the Education excised from memorial services for Ministry's committee on curriculum denounced as the rankest anti-Semitism. fallen soldiers.7 reform was Moshe Zimmerman, who (Imagine that a major American party Her successor and fellow Meretz has in the past compared Orthodox pictured members of an identifiable eth leader, Arnn on Rubenstein, proved to be youth to the Hitler youth, Chumash to nic group, and promised to stop them.) only a kinder and gentler Aloni. He Mein Kampf7"1, and the IDF to the SS. In another Meretz campaign ad, a ordered the educational curriculum Meanwhile the Education Ministry teenager calls up his girlfriend and revised to eliminate the "archaic" inter went about implementing the recom invites her to meet him at the movies on est in "Jewish values and culture,""love mendations of the Shenhar Commis Friday night. She, however, can't go of homeland;' and "loyalty to the Jew sion, appointed in 1991 by the Nation because there are no public buses on ish people;' to be replaced by a stress on al Religious Party's Zevulun Hammer, Shabbos. Vote for Meretz, the viewer is "the language, culture, and unique her when he was Education Minister. told, and there will be buses on Shabbos. itage of the various population groups Among those recommendations were It would appear from election results in the country." that religious pluralism be taught in the that the voters understood the impli The Ministry of Religious Affairs' general school system - as if a surfeit cations of the Labor-Meretz post-Zion guidelines for the disbursement of of traditional Jewish knowledge was a ism, and they were not buying. Religious funds are fully consistent with these problem for secular students - and that parties will hold nearly one-fifth of the goals. Those guidelines give preference the universalistic-humanistic aspects seats in the next Knesset, higher than to groups promoting dialogue between of Judaism be emphasized over the the percentage of shomrei mitzvos in the general population. Both the NRP 7Aloni's appointment as Education Minister was unique, particularistic ones.s enough by itself to cause the Torah leadership to 9For these statistics and the description of the Shen reject any efforts to lure United Torah Judaism into alf these recommendations ring a bell, they should. har Commission findings, I am indebted to Rabbi the government. The wisdom of that decision has They could have been lifted straight from the platform Bernard Rosensweig's "The Crisis in the Jewish Char been abundantly dear in hindsight. of the German Reform Conferences of the 1840s. acter of the Jewish State," Jewish Action, Spring 1996. 8 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 (National Religious Party) and Shas (the concerns by themselves cannot explain ments of the "mutual legitimate ... Sephardi Torah Guardians party) the upsurge in support for the religious rights" of Palestinians and Jews to the received much of their support from parties rather than the Likud. (The land of Israel, after three years of For non-religious voters. The pareve NRP combined seats of the non-religious eign Ministry efforts to raise money for slogan, uzionism with a neshama,"was Right- Likud, Tzomet, and Moledet - the Palestinian Authority, after the call expressly designed to lure non-religious actually declined substantially from the of Peres's protege Yossi Beilin for Dias voters. (In fact, a group demonstrated previous Knesset.) In their election pora Jews to redirect their giving from for NRP carrying signs: "Chiloniim b'ad post-mortems, winners and losers Israel to the PLO, those wellsprings of Mafdal - Secularists for the NRP:') agreed on the fact that the Left had erred trust were not there. One NRP spokesman explained the in its estimation of the Israeli public's Shimon Peres's portrayal of a new age party's significant gains from the 1992 indifference to religion. According to of waning national identity was seen by elections in large part as a reaction Stanley Ringler, a spokesman for Labor: the electorate as benighted utopianism. against Meretz. He attributed at least "The message [the voters] are send In their televised debate, Netanyahu two of the party's IO seats to non-reli ing is that the issues of religion in soci effectively parodied Peres's vision of a gious voters offended by the Meretz ety and education have to be recog "new Middle East" in which Israel nized as a central concern. We don't campaign. (Meretz itself dropped from understand them, and they are a far would be a member of the Arab League, 12 to 9 seats.) more important element in defining asking Peres for the precise location of Other polls indicate that as many as life than we thought:' this new Middle East. A people con 70% of the Shas voters describe them TuE NEW YORK TIMES, MAY 31, '96 cerned about their safety are unlikely to selves as "traditional" rather than "reli Nor were the issues of security and turn over their defense to a utopian gious:· Part of the Shas success is Jewish identity unrelated. Had the vot dreamer, especially when his utopia is attributed to the distribution of hun ers been more convinced of the Left's based on the end of all distinctions dreds of thousands of kemayos concern for Jews in particular, they between his own people and their his (amulets) bearing the likeness of the might have given them more of the ben torical enemies. The electorate recog !06-year-old Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak efit of the doubt on security issues. But nized what Peres did not: Israel contin Kadouri and an intense door-to-door after the recognition in the Oslo agree- ues to inhabit a very bad neighborhood. campaign by party activists. What these "traditional" voters have constantly heard over the last four ,,,,, \1t7l'll"J ,,,, years is that Judaism is an empty and WEST SIDE KOLLEL outdated fossil. And they understood Cordially Invites You !o Tht· that if that is true, then Jewish history is the record of untold suffering on behalf of an untenable myth. But if his To IX' Hrld ~"YJ tory of the Jewish people is but a three 1 thousand year farce, then wherein lies Thur-Sun, July 4-5 & 7, 1996 nmi ::i /n' /t' the greatness of the Jewish people, at From JO:OO am sharp -1 :2 noon once the perpetrators and dupes of that At the Bais H The Jewish Observer, June 1996 9 DARK LININGS TO THE SILVER CLOUD head a government ruling over Eretz Yis roel and a large percentage of the hile the incoming govern • world's Jews someone with whom we ment will definitely be more significant majority cannot identify. W favorably inclined to both In the context of this year's elections, Judaism and the religious population Aof Israel's Jewish Rabbi Shach explicitly, and the Moetzes than the outgoing one, the elections pro Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel by vide no cause for euphoria. For one citizens were not implication, ruled that the chareidi thing, the new government, which is prepared to turn their community should vote in the election already viewed with grave misgivings for prime minister. But the danger nev around the world, will be careful not to back on all of Jewish ertheless remains that we might come increase the international skepticism to identify with the candidate for whom with any major about-faces in policy. history or to say that a we voted. The significance of the Arab vote is About this we must be clear: the another cause of long-range concern. Jewish national thrice-married (once to a non-Jew) Despite Netanyahu's 11 % advantage homeland is an Netanyahu is not our savior any more among Jewish voters, his margin of vic than was Theodore Herzl, whom sig tory was razorthin. Given the far high outdated idea in an era nificant segments of Eastern European er Arab birthrate, the day when the cru Jewry originally viewed in messianic cial issues governing the fate of the of transnational identity. terms. At the most, what we have done Jewish people will be decided by Israel's by voting is to save an intended victim Arab minority may not be far off.'° - the children of Israel - from the In a remarkably candid interview clutches of those who sought to extir thereby causing Rabin's• assassination.11 right after the election, Chaim Ramon, pate any sense of Jewish identity. head of the Labor election campaign, In the waning days of the campaign, Because the only means of getting rid admitted that the party had known all Labor charged hysterically that the slo of the pursuers was to replace them with along that the majority of the public gan "Netanyahu. Good for the Jews" was someone else, we voted. Nothing more. does not support the Oslo process. His bordering on incitement to assassinate strategy was predicated on distracting Peres. That such a claim could be taken CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES attention from that issue to secure seriously is a good measure of the dis Peres's election and, with it, the con tance travelled from the original Zion e must not be lulled into a tinuation of the process. ist ideal of a homeland for Jews in which false sense of complacency by That the Arab voters, whose identi they can control their own fate." W the election results nor tell fication with the Jewish state is increas The new election law in Israel under ourselves that the minimal Jewish iden ingly tenuous (for that reason Israeli which each voter casts two ballots - one tity of the "amcha" Jew is forever Arabs have never been drafted into the for Prime Minister and the other for a secure, and that post-Zionist malaise will IDF) might be the means of executing party - presented a new halachic never overtake the majority of the Jew a policy against the wishes of a sub question. In the past the majority of ish people. Nothing could be further stantial majority of the Jewish popula gedolei Yisroel have always supported from the truth. The media and opinion tion was not at all problematic in voting in Israeli elections, but that was setters are already largely in the post Ramon's view. On election night, he was always in the context of voting for reli Zionist camp. If there is not a major not embarrassed to boast of the Arab gious parties. This year for the first time transformation in the Jewish education support as the decisive factor in the religious voters were presented with the of secular youth, the tide will continue apparent Labor victory. opportunity to vote for candidates for in their direction. We assume at our peril Shlomo Avineri, a leading political prime minister, neither of whom are that the children and grandchildren of theorist and former director general of shomer Torah u'mitzvos. To vote for those who rushed to grab Shas's Foreign Ministry, labelled as racist any either one, then, posed the problem of kemayos will do the same. one who pointed out that the fute of the appointing as our representative to The Education Ministry will almost Jewish state could well be decided by 11 The late Prime Minister Rabin did not share this certainly return to the NRP in coalition Arab voters. He charged those who had view. Throughout his tenure, he tried to secure the negotiations, and with it the opportu raised the point with having delegit entrance of another Jewish party into his coalition nity to at last infuse children in that sys so that it would not be dependent on the silent part imized the Rabin government and of nership of Arab parties. tem with some knowledge of the her 12 The point here is not, of course, that we have ever itage they are so carelessly casting off. 10 The Arab vote went almost unanimously to Shi controlled our own fate, as the Zionists claim, but Above all, we need religious teachers to mon Peres. About a quarter of the Druse voted for how far we have moved from any concept of Jew teach these courses. Without teachers to Netanyahu. ish nationhood. 10 The Jewish Observer, June I 996 line writers love to refer to Israel's foremost chareidi journalists, they the religious par ti es as "the must worry about the effect of their chareidim" even when the words on the general public, not just how accompanying articles they will be received in Hamodia and describe the demands of Yated Ne' eman. NRP and Shas.) The com The Jews of Israel have shown that mon public perception of the name Jew is still dear to them. religious politicians, and of There remains a thirst for more than chareidi politicians in par empty hedonism, and only the Torah ticular, is that they have no can slake that thirst. But before our fel concern with anything low Jews will listen, we must prove our beyond the financial inter concern for them. Let us hope for our ests of their own institu sakes and theirs that we rise to the tions.n challenge. • Prior to the elections, Ariel Sharon commented that the non-religious whom the ancient texts speak, they will public has no knowledge not speak to the students either. Unfor of the anshei ruach (great men of the tunately, if past history is any guide, the spirit) who lead the chareidi world. In portents for such an undertaking are not weeks of talks with them, he told Israel good. For much of Israel's recent history, Radio, not one had ever said a word the NRP has been in charge of educa about money. The only issue they had tion, and the results are not the stuff to ever discussed was the grave danger con make one optimistic. fronting Kial Yisroel. Now it is for our We can only hope that, having politicians to act in accord with Sharon's looked into the abyss together that fate descriptions of our leaders. ful Wednesday night in May, religious Our Knesset representatives have an Jews of all stripes in Israel will not close obligation to insist that the needs of the their eyes to the threat facing us, nor for chareidi population be given equal con Thousands of Jews get our obligation to all Jewish children. sideration with all other sectors of the learning Torah. Four years from now let there be no Jew population, which has not always been ish child, from Dan to Beersheba, who the case in the past. But our demands Thousands has never seen a sefer Torah, who has no must be reasonable. It is ridiculous to observing a knowledge of the basic affirmation of seek, for instance, housing preferences precious mifzvah. Jewish faith, "Shema Yisroe/,"who does for young religious couples over those not know that the Yomim Tovirn are not who have served in the army, no mat All in the zebus mere agricultural holidays. ter how great the housing needs of the of your family The religious parties will have religious community. To do so, only pro member on unprecedented power in the next Knes vides ammunition to those eager to their yartzheit. set, but with that power goes responsi besmirch religion. bility and danger. The Israeli public has Nor must our politicians forget that You can make now thrown out one group of extrem the Knesset can furnish a "bully pulpit" it happen. ists bent on destroying the minimal to explain Judaism to the public. Much tzura (image) of Kial Yisroel. But if they of the raison d'etre for a chareidi party S~nsor one day perceive the religious parties as trying is to ensure that the wisdom of the Torah of learning in to impose religious observance upon will be heard in the counsels of state. But the new Chofetz them by legislative fiat, they will throw to take full advantage of the opportu Chaim sefer for them out as well. And we can be sure nities provided, our political leaders will only$360. that our enemies will miss no oppor have to reorient themselves. In the tunity to portray us in this fashion. words of Rabbi Moshe Grilack, one of Call (718) 871-6700 Already in the first days of coalition n This picture was completely refuted by United 1 HE CHOFETZ CHAIM negotiations, the anti-religious press is Torah Judaism's refusal to join a Labor-led govern ment, despite the considerable financial incentives HERITAGE FOUNDATION filled with stories of the "exorbitant" to do so, but the public perception nevertheless per demands of the religious parties. (Head- sists. The Jewish Observer, June 1996 11 FOR . . . WITHOUT DELAY! CONVENIENTLY LOCATED FOR BORO PARK & FLATBUSH RESIDENTS • 24 HOUR SERVICE • NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY* • SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS ON SHABBOS & YOM TOV CALL 24 HOURS: (718) 437-5000 *No appointments necessary tor urgent care, appointments are required for primary care. A program of Brooklyn Cares Inc.; Brooklyn, Cares Inc. is a participating agency of Metropolitan Jewish Health System. Rabbi Avi Shafran LETHAL LIBERTIES THE SELLING OF SUICIDE AND WORSE Liberty is meaningless - even destructive - unless it is responsibly utilized. This is unappreciated by much of larger society, which more easily embraces "Let My people go ... " than "... so that they may serve Mc." We observant Jews may feel we know better, of course, and hopefully we do. It is a mistake, though, to think that the implications of wider society's mistaking of libertinism for liberty remain essentially theoretical for us. Ideas - even outlandish ones, like the radical redefinition of "marriage" being seriously considered by at least one state and actively debated in many others - have consequences. At very least, these arc "environmental" ones, affecting the level of moral pollution in the societal air. Consider the case of assisted suicide. POSTER BOYS FOR THE ment to legalize "death with dignity" - SPEAKING IN THE NAME OF THE L-RD "RIGHT TO DIE" a phrase worthy of a prize of some sort - like assorted medical personalities ven Judaism's name has been he first figure accompanying the and pundits who have less flamboyant besmirched by some champions phrase "assisted suicide" in many ly embraced the cause. Eof personal "freedom." In 1989, Tpeople's minds is that of Michi And like George Delury, who helped a Reform rabbi, addressing a related gan doctor Jack Kevorkian (a.k.a. "Dr. his wife drink a mixture of water, medical ethics issue before Congress, Death"), who has been helping total honey and a fatal dose of amitriptyline stated that "Reform Jews have held that strangers kill themselves for a number hydrochloride, an anti-depressant. He individuals have a direct, personal rela of years. Colorfully described by one had earlier addressed her silently, in his tionship with G-d in addition to their writer as "a kind of composite of the diary, with the sentiment: '(You are suck relationship via the Jewish people's Lone Ranger and the Grim Reaper;' ing my life out of me like a vampire and covenant.... We Reform Jews champi Kevorkian has thus far beaten the rap for nobody cares:' Though eventually con on the right of conscientious dissent a string of deaths he has attended, amus victed of attempted manslaughter and from the dictates of tradition ...." ing himself throughout with his hobby sentenced to six months in jail, Mr. The right of dissent. The freedom of producing gory paintings of violent Delury is seen by some as a hero of sorts, pollution thickens still, all but obscur death. He has long crusaded to change whose act was not only excusable but ing the light. laws to allow what he does (the suicide merciful. The widower was certainly assistance, that is; the painting, unfor conspicuously unrepentant at his sen COURTING DISASTER tunately, is already legal). tencing. "I regret that my wife's spirit Not exactly a character to inspire a has been impugned and her courage dis nd now the issue of "assisted sea-change of public attitude, granted; honored;' he stated, "because society and suicide)" along with the accom but an influence nonetheless on mod the government have provided no way A panying societal paradigm ern mores. There are, in any event, to deal with these situations openly with shift-in-progress, has appeared in the ample other poster boys for the move- due respect for individual freedom of federal courts as well. Two recent conscience and individual dignity!' groundbreaking court decisions have Rabbi Shafran, director of Public Affairs of Agudath The banner of"freedom" held high. come down on the topic should not Israel of America, is a frequent contributor to these only give us pause but take our breath pages. The ethical atmosphere further fouled. The Jewish Observer, June 1996 13 away - for they may literally do pre tion not only for doctors, but for cer MURDER AS MEDICINE cisely that. tain others acting under their direction In March, the Ninth Circuit U.S. "whose services are essential" to help the e the lomdus of the Ninth Cir Court of Appeals in San Francisco terminally ill take their lives. cuit decision as it may, mere issued a ruling that established for the The "liberty interest" approach to the Bweeks later another was ren first time a terminally ill patient's "con issue is, to say the least, intriguing. dered, this one by the Second Circuit stitutionally recognized right to die," Columnist Charles Krauthammer, for U.S. Court of Appeals. It ruled that a declaring that any law forbidding physi one, wonders about its implications for New York State prohibition against cian assistance in such patients' suicides things like drug laws. "If the state may physician-assisted suicide was uncon violates a constitutionally protected not impinge on your liberty to make stitutional because it violates the Four "liberty interest" - much like the one yourself dead," he asks, "how can it teenth Amendment's "equal protec presently protecting a woman's right to impinge on your liberty to make your tion" clause. Since New York's abortion. That ruling suggests protec- self high?" terminally ill patients are permitted to order the withholding or withdrawal of life-support systems - the decision's reasoning goes - the state may not simultaneously prohibit the provision oflethal doses of prescription drugs for people to use to kill themselves. One can choose to leave aside inad equately addressed - and some might say hopelessly unaddressable - issues like how to define crucial things like "ter minal illness" and '(sound mind." Or why indeed "the state's interest in pre serving life lessens" (as the court main tained) "as the potential for life dimin ishes." Or how such constitutional protection can logically be limited to the terminally ill. The most recent decision, though, is still startling. Consider, for instance, the fact that a bill presently under consideration by New York State, if enacted, would empower third-party surrogates to authorize the withholding or with drawal of life-support from incapac itated patients under certain medical circumstances. Should that bill pass, as my Agudath Israel colleague Chaim Dovid Zwiebel pointed out in a letter on behalf of Agudath Israel to New York legislators, the Second Circuit's logic would seem to require that those same surrogates be allowed to authorize the affirmative killing of a patient with whose welfare they have been statutorily entrusted. The image of a legally appointed surrogate choosing to end a sick person's life - even with no knowledge of what the patient himself would want to be done - should be the stuff of cold sweat nightmares, not constitution al niceties. 14 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 - onsider that a bill presently under -~ Cconsideration by New York State, ~~- if enacted, would empower 5UICIDE! third-parly surrogates to l.,..:: ___~ ..,,.,,~-+" authorize the withholding or withdrawal of life-support from incapacitated patients under certain medical circumstances . • FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO city streets - have made the idea of when, baruch Hashem, the elderly, who THE NETHERWORLD human life's sanctity unfashionable. tend to yield the most "terminally ill;' In a world where youngsters will con are rapidly increasing in number. At the ust where a society's embrace of sui ceivably murder for a car, a pair of shoes, same time - and likewise, baruch cide as an acceptable option leads is or even just "for fun;' or where women Hashem - modern medicine has made all too evident in the Netherlands, can decide whether to carry a baby to great strides, providing cures for many whereJ assisted suicide and euthanasia are term, entirely on the basis of personal once-fatal illnesses and maintaining common - and, according to at least whim or convenience, an elderly or life longer than ever before. Add sky one researcher (Herbert Hen din, pro infirm person's final weeks on earth just rocketing insurance costs and the resul fessor of psychiatry at New York Med don't command the consequence they tant fiscal crisis in health care, and sud ical College), usually result from the once did - and, some of us know, denly life becomes less a holy, invaluable desire of others to be free of the burden should. divine gift and more ... a commodity. of caring for the patient. And we would be naive, moreover, to Every businessman knows how impor Indeed, a 1983 study there showed ignore another, even more chilling, tant it is to regularly turn over one's that more requests for euthanasia came factor in the headlong rush to "help peo stock, to clear out the old and make way from families than from patients. A ple die with dignity." We live in times for the new. medical journal told of a woman who no longer wished to care for her sick husband, and gave him the choice of either euthanasia or admission to a nurs ing home. Afraid of being left to the mercy of strangers in unfamiliar sur roundings, he chose death. A doctor, fully aware of the circumstances, read ily obliged. "Liberties" in Holland, it seems, have already become lethal. FOR DEATH FOR FUN AND PROFIT THE FINEST 623 CORTEL YOI ROAD ( ( Freedom" of the simple-mind IN The Jewish Observer, June 1996 15 FRESH START TRAINING PROGRAM A division of Project Cope/Agudath Israel of America 49.16 13th Ave,, B'klyrt,N.Y.11219 (718) .8.54· 29.1.1 F R E E The ethical air quality has become clearly unhealthful. LIFE BEFORE LIBERTY COMPUTER gudath Israel has taken careful note of the recent court deci A sions, and has filed an amicus brief in the Second Circuit case this June. COURSE All observant Jews, though, have a For women coping on their own responsibility, too, to make every effort to prevent the devaluation of life that (Widowed, divorced, separated) seems to have blown in on the Zeitgeist from affecting our own, and our chil dren's, hearts and minds. It thus falls to us and other like minded proponents of life's inherent sanctity to try to create moral-pollution free zones in our own communities. To, For more information and registration, further, make the philosophical case before the larger public that freedom call 718-338-9200 without responsibility yields moral chaos. And, finally, to convince our fel low Americans that when the authors of our country's Declaration of Indepen FRESH START TRAINING PROGRAM dence assured the fledgling nation's cit izens of their right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness:' they may have chosen the order of their words very carefully indeed. • 16 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 The Jewish Hospice of GRea'feR New YoR.k, a PRogRam of The 8Rookl(V'n Hospice: SeRoing 'fbe neeC>s of ouR Jewish Communi'far AccoRC>ing 'fo Halacba If: an() when 'fhe phcvsician sacvs 'fha'f cui:z.e is no lon9e12 possible an() com.,:ou'f is o.,: pRime impou'fance - an() the IT! patient/.,::amilcv is in'feues'fe() in being caueb .,:012 a'f ' home occoubing 'fo Holacha; We con help! ! 0 Oruz compRehensioe seRoices inclube: ' ShoRt-TeRm Continuous Car:re at Home Pb,ysician Visits Pain Management Register:reb NuRse Vfsfts Home Health Afbe SeRvices DietaR()' Counseling Pharsical, Occupational anb Speech Ther:rapies ShoRt-teRm In-patient Cr:rfsfs Management Mebfcation anb mebical equipment BeReavment SeRvices OuR patient/famil;y bfRecteb pRogRam stRfoes to meet the neebs of the fnbiofbual anb the communft;y. We accept patients: • with tube feebfngs • who bo not sign a DNR • who bo not know ithefR bfagnosfs • who r:requiRe IV b,ybr:ration (on an inpatient basis) • who r:requiRe bloob tr:ransfusions (on an inpatient basis) OUR staff is sensitfoe to the neebs of OUR Jewish communft;y anb encouRages the patient/famil;y to consult with theiR Halachik: Posek: •We r:respect the Halacbic living will •We Respect the psarchosocial cultuRal neebs of the 0Rthobox Jewish population anb r:respect the Halachic phflosophar Of the inbivfbual patient •We obseRve stRfct bietar:rar lau1s in OUR inpatient setting Rabbi MeareR ScbeinbeRg Halacba AboisoR FoR mor:re infoRmation call Mr:r. Moshe BoRowskf at (718) 9.21-7900 The Jewfsh Hospfce 01= GReateR New VoRk fs a paRtfcfpaefng agenc;y oJ: MetRopolftan Je n the fourth of Teves 5756 Rogatchover received his mail, con (Dec. 27, 1995), world Jewry sisting of twenty-five postcards and O suffered the loss of one of its twelve letters with halachic inquiries. great leaders and teachers, HaGaon He answered all thirty seven as rapid HaRav Mordechai Pinchas Teitz, .,.lit, ly as he could write, without consult the Rav of the Elizabeth, New Jersey, ing any sefer.) community. Rabbi Teitz was a unique Rabbi Teitz's relationship with Reb individual, blending vast Torah schol Meir Simcha also bore precious fruit. Mordechai Pinchas. arship with communal activism and an Reb Meir Simcha had written his clas When Rabbi Teitz was seven years intense concern for the welfare of the sic Meshech Chachma on Chumash at old, the family moved to Livinhoff, individual. He combined the key ele the age of seventeen. His father feared 40km from Dvinsk, home of two ments of the classical European Rav- that if he were to publish it, he would Gedolei Hadar, Rabbi Meir Simcha master of halacha, leader of the Kehilla, be thought of as a darshan, an expert in Hakohein, author of the Ohr Same'ach teacher of its children, guardian of its homiletics, rather than a lamdan, an and the Meshech Chachma, and Rabbi Kashrus-and applied them to the analytical scholar. So he instructed his YoseifRosen, the Rogatchover Gaon. His American scene with consummate son not to publish his work until he pro father had a close relationship with the effectiveness. duced a sefer with lomdus. Reb Meir Rogatchover who, in turn, had tremen Simcha left the Meshech Chochma aside dous respect for him. When people came I. EUROPEAN YEARS even after he published the Ohr to the Rogatchover for his beracha he Some'ach, his widely acclaimed com would often refer them to the Rav of bbi Teitz, born on 8 Tammuz mentary on the Rambam's Mishneh Livenoff, saying, "Go to Binyamin 668 (July I 0, 1908) in Subat, Torah. He confided to the young Rabbi HaTzaddik:' atvia, to Rabbi Binyamin Avra Teitz that to his regret, he lacked the ru At the age of fourteen, Rabbi Teitz ham and Shaina Sira, was destined to strength to edit Meshech Chachma. made his first trip to Dvinsk and devel become the family's twentieth-consec Rabbi Teitz suggested a young man in oped his own relationship with both utive-generation rabbi. Reb Binyamin Slabodka, Rabbi Avraham David Yaffe, Reb Meir Simcha and the Rogatchover, Avraham served as the rabbi of both the i"'1"1, who did edit the work, now rec with whom he established a profound Chassidic and non-Chassidic commu ognized as one of the great commen bond. He eventually became a ben nities of Subat. His ability to success taries on Chumash. fully work with and guide people of var bayis, a virtual resident at the home of the Rogatchover, and learned with ied backgrounds and divergent interests Early Activism was passed on to his son, Reb him for four years. Some years later, when the Rogatchover was ill, Rabbi s a youngster, Rabbi Teitz attend Rabbi Yaakov (Mendy) Dombroff, an Elizabeth res~ Teitz went to visit him. The Rebbetzin ed the Yeshiva in Ponovezh. ident and founding director of Agudath Israel of was turning away all visitors, but when New Jersey, worked for many years with Rabbi Teitz A While there, he was very dis on statewide communal issues. Since 1986, he has the Rogatchover heard Rabbi Teitz's turbed by the inroads being made into worked for the New Jersey Attorney General where voice, he called out, inviting him to the Orthodox world by the Bundists, he has continued his activities on behalf of the Klal. enter. (During that visit, the Communists, secularists and others. In 18 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 an effort to stem this growing tide, at the Meir Bloch to the United States to raise who was American born, and tell her his age of fourteen he started a yeshiva in funds for Telshe Yeshiva. This was to be derasha. She would translate his Livinhoff, as a project of Zeirei Agudath a major turning point in Rabbi Teitz's thoughts into English, which she would Israel. He named this institution Yavneh, life. He had promised his father that he then transliterate in Hebrew letters. He after the city ofYavneh, seat of the San would return to Europe-which he did, then spoke, appearing to be fluent in hedrin in the days of Rabban Yochanan with his bride. During his travels in English. He would read The New York ben Zakkai. Rabbi Teitz also named sub America, someone suggested as a match Times daily with a dictionary at his sequent organizations and yeshivas Basya Preil, daughter of Rabbi Elazar elbow, until he developed full command "Yavneh"-such as the yeshiva he Mayer Preil, the recently deceased rabbi of the language. founded in Elizabeth (the third day school built in the United States outside of the city of New York), and the move • ment he helped create to service Jewish abbi Teitz combined the key elements of the youth on college campuses. According to his brother, Rabbi Rclassical European Rav-master of halacha, Elchonon Teitz, Rav in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, the Teitz family was very active in leader of the Kehilla, teacher of its children, the Agudath Israel movement in Europe. They took great pride in their uncle, Rabbi guardian of its Kashrus-and applied them to the Eliyahu Akiva Rabinovitz, Paltaver Rav who American scene with consummate effectiveness. was founder, editor and publisher of the Agudath Israel's monthly journal,Hapel/es, as well as its weekly Hamodia. He was also a leading speaker at the founding confer of Elizabeth, New Jerseyi. Rabbi Preil • Rabbi Elazar Mayer Teitz tells that ence of Agudath Israel in Katowicz, 1912. had left instructions that if the indi he asked his father why he had insist Rabbi Teitz himself campaigned with vidual marrying his daughter would be ed on maintaining a full rabbinate in a small town like Elizabeth, New Jer Mordechai Dubin and Shimon Yitzchok worthy, he should succeed him as rabbi sey, rather than accepting a more pres Wittenberg,Agudath Israel representatives of Elizabeth. Rabbi Teitz was eminent tigious, though limited, position in a to the Sjem, the Polish Parliament, to help ly qualified. larger, more prominent city. The Rav ensure full Agudah representation. In addi With his ascension to the rabbinate explained his attitude by recalling how tion, he also worked with Rabbi Chaim of Elizabeth, New Jersey, a new chapter in 1936 the League of Nations debat Chodakoff who was the principal of the began in the life of Rabbi Teitz, which ed Italy~ invasion ofEthiopia. New York Torah V'Derech Eretz Gymnasium, sec was to affect Kial Yisroel around the City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia publidy denounced Italy and called upon the retary to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and rep globe. League ofNations to impose sanctions. resentative of Agudath Israel to the Riga Italian delegates were outraged, assert City Council. His involvement included his II. RAV OF ELIZABETH ing that the mayor ofa city had no right going on a lecture tour around Latvia to make such political statements. before elections, campaigning on behalf of erican Orthodoxy was losing its Interestingly, the final vote in the cen Agudath Israel. outh - in part because the rab sure fell to Luxembourg, a country of The public persona that he developed Afis of the time simply did not 100,000 people. It had attained far in his youth brought him to the atten speak their language. Rabbi Teitz felt it more as a small, independent country vital to communicate in English. At first, than the mayor of the great metropo tion of the Telshe' Roshei Yeshiva. In lis ofeight million people. Rabbi Teitz 1933, at age 25, he responded to their he would sit down with his Rebbetzin, felt he would make a greater contribu request, and accompanied Rabbi Elya 'Rabbi Preil was considered a Gadol BaTorah . .His tion by accepting full responsibility for responsa were collected by Rabbi Teitz and published the needs ofan entire small communi 1 The relationship with Te!she lasted his entire life. as Sefer Hameor. ty than as one Rav among many, or as His only son, Rabbi FJazar Mayer, attended the Yeshi At the time of his passing, his only son, Rabbi one participant in a larger organiza va in Cleveland. The Rav was a principal speaker at Yehoshua Yoseph, was nine years old. Rabbi Preil had tion. the ground-breaking ceremony at the Wickliffe cam purchased all the lulavim and esrogim for the town. Rabbi Teitz explained further that pus, and was the keynote speaker at the Yeshiva's cen The day before Succos, on his deathbed, he was con tennial celebration in 1976. The Telzer Rosh Yeshi cerned that were he to die, his only son would inher the principle is recognized in halacha, va, Rabbi Chaim Stein, flew in from Cleveland to it his property, including all the lulavim and as well Ifone has before him a complete be present at the Rav's funeral and was among those esrogim for the city. But, as a minor, he would have small loaf ofbread and a broken larg who eulogized him; subsequently, the Yeshiva held no way of giving them to the people who needed er one, the beracha is pronounced on its own memorial for him. Most significantly, the them. Rabbi Preil therefore called in an adult to the whole loaf decision to establish the Yeshiva, after its flight from accept ownership of the lulavim and esrogin1 on Europe, in Cleveland, was made in consultation with behalf of all the other townspeople. His concerns Of course, the Rav worked within the Rav in his office in Elizabeth. were well justified. He passed away that night. many organizations, including Agudath The Jewish Observer, June 1996 19 Israel of America whose national con sidium of Agudas Harabonim with Whenever and wherever he saw a ventions he graced many times over the Rabbi Eliezer Silver and Rabbi Dovid need, he filled it-a leader and a doer years. Rabbi Teitz was instrumental in Lifschitz for 12 years. When he had in its fullest sense. the founding and maintenance of Agu made one of his first public appearances dath Israel of New jersey. His constant in America, he so excited the crowd that The Full Range of Concern advice and support helped the organi Agudas Harabonim immediately sought zation through many difficult victories him for a leadership position. He was nder Rabbi Teitz, Elizabeth pro and successes, including the passage of too young then to serve on the execu vided a full spectrum of spiri an autopsy law, the inclusion of a reli tive committee, so they created an Utual, educational, social and gious exemption amendment to the executive board of which he was communal services. These included, Uniform Determination of Death Act appointed chairman. among others, shuls, schools (K-12 for (time of death) and aid to yeshivas. With Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky, boys and for girls), mikveh, shechita, He served as treasurer ofEzras Torah Rabbi Teitz was co-founder of Merkaz Kashrus, eiruv, Chevra Kadisha, and a for over 30 years, and was on the pre- Harabonim, in the early 1980's. cemetery plot for the asking. He saw the welfare of each resident • GET n 1933, at age 25, Ihe accompanied PERMISSION I Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch to the United States to Can one rationally believe in the p£RltlSSIOll Torah's divine origin? Here are raise funds for Telshe '10 four thoughtful, well-researched Yeshiva. This was to be RECEIVE FOUR RATIONAL approaches to the question of APPROACHES whether the rational thinker can a major turning point 1n 10 THE accept the fact that G-d gave us TORAH'S Rabbi Teitz's life. DIVINE His Torah as the ultimate ORIGIN instruction manual to the universe. • as his personal concern. He accepted the LAWRENCE KELEMEN blessings and burdens of his role with PERMISSION equanimity, even dealing with the l'O woman who delighted in telling her AND HAVE YOU READ? BELIEVE FOUR troubles to everyone she met. While RATIONAL other people crossed the street when PERltlSSIOll TO BEUEVE: APPROACHES they saw her, the Rav invariably took the TO FOUR RATIONAL APPROACHES TO G-DS time to let her unburden herself to him. G-D'S EXISTENCE EXISTENCE She would call him on a regular basis, Many people would believe in G-d's and although every minute of his day existence, if only their intellects would was precious, he would spend as much as an hour at a time on the phone lis allow them. Here are tour fascinating LAWRENCE KELEMEN tening to her litany of problems. arguments proving that belief in G-d As he established himself in Eliza and rationality can coexist comfortably. beth, the horrors of Nazism blackened Europe. During World War 11, his con cern for the individual placed him in the A TARGUM PRESS Book forefront of the Vaad Hatzalah (The Res Distributed by FELDHEIM Publishers cue Committee) together with other 200 Airport Executive Park, Nanuet, N.Y. 10954 Tel. 1-800-237-7149 rabbinic luminaries, including the leg- 20 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 endary Rabbi Eliezer Silver, tirelessly rainu" -the embodiment of Torah for gathering, bringing the issue to this pres working to save European Jewry. The our time. As their link to the outside tigious forum. Jewish Educational Center (J.E.C.), world, the Rav quoted to them the comprising the shuls and schools of Eliz pasuk: "Hinei yamim ba'im ne'um Daf HaShavua abeth, was instrumental in helping Hashem ... -Behold, days are coming, stranded Jews enter the country. By said G-d, when there will be a hunger abbi Teitz was always concerned offering teaching positions, the Rav was not for bread nor for water, but for the with all segments of Kial Yisroel. able to bring over many people who word of Hashem" (Amos 8,11). The n the early 1950s, he saw the would otherwise have perished. After the teshuva movement was global, he said, influence of Yiddishists fading. In its War, he was one of the Orthodox rab and they were at the heart of it. heyday, this group would hold "Yorn binate's representatives visiting the Dis At the Knessia Gedolah (Interna Kippur Balls." The Rav realized that its placed Persons Camps, helping shape tional Congress) of the Agudath Israel members were advancing in years and European Jewry's rehabilitation. World Organization in Jerusalem, 1980, thoughts of teshuva were probably Rabbi Teitz struck a poignant note by starting to haunt them. Having all their Soviet Jewry reading a letter from Rabbi Essas to the lives preached the value of Yiddish and ognizing the isolation ofSovi Jewry, in 1964 Rabbi Teitz lliade the first of twenty-two trips to the USSR; it was the first crack in the Iron Curtain. Because he refused to YESHIVA OHEVYISROEL allow any publicity about his visits, he was able to win the trust and tacit coop ofBoro Park eration of the Soviet authorities. Sur B 0 Y S ' YESHIVA! prisingly, the Rav was at times severely criticized by establishment groups for Nursery & Kindergarten Now Opening! giving "aid and comfort" to the Soviet 718-437-8361 government because he went as their official guest-in contrast to the con For children who deserve a good. chrlicher chinuch in a warm, Torah environment. frontational tactics of other pro-Soviet Jewry activists. Rabbi Teitz's purity of motive in his What are you looking for in a Yeshiva? work in the Soviet Union is perhaps best • Leadership •Warm Environment seen through the experiences of Rabbi The Yeshiva is under the guidance of Eliyahu Essas, the "father" of the Russ Harav Chaim Boruch Wolpin N"~. •Emphasis on midos Rav Wolpin, the Stoliner Rosh Yeshiva, ian Baal Teshuva movement, as related • Yiddish Speaking by him at an azkara-memorial gather who has distinguished hin15eJf in his past 40 years in chinuch, is well known by • Caring and responsive ing held for the Rav. Rabbi Essas first his numerous taln1idim for his warm met Rabbi Teitz on Tisha B' Av 5733 and giving personality, and for his administration ( 1973 ), after having heard the Rav read unique ability to reach each tahnid indi •Balance Megil/as Eicha, the Book of Lamenta vidually to bring out the best in them. "We are looking for Shlei1nus for each tions. Rabbi Essas felt as though he were • Mesoras Hatorah individual.A proper balance ofTorah, Avodah, Ge1nilus Chasadi1n.'' hearing Yirmiyahu HaNav~ the Prophet •Whole Chinuch Note: The preceding quotes are excerpts from Jeremiah, reading the Megilla. Their time "We are looking to develop the true together was always limited to an hour interviews with RavWolpin N""O";>w, about Ben Torah - an individual who can Yeshiva OhevYisroeLA tape of the or two for various reasons, not the least sustain hin1Self in any future situation." interview is available. of which was constant KGB surveillance. Yeshiva Ohev Yisroel is pleased to announce that we have opened The Rav tried not to overwhelm Rabbi Essas with his own knowledge, but registration for our new nursery class (age 3) iT'Nfor this con1ing E1ul (September), which will grow into a full Yeshiva. rather downplayed his true stature. In (Due to the high demand, it is likely that we will iT'N also open a kinderxarten class spite of the risks, Rabbi Teitz met with this coming Elul (age 4). some twenty-five of Essas's students. They were greatly encouraged by Rabbi For more information or to register, Teitz, a man they viewed as a "Mishnah Berurah V'Halacha Berurah L'Do- please call R' Mutty Brown at 718-437-8361. The Jewish Observer, June 1996 21 the lack of value of Torah and religion, mud.4 He started with Megilla, which Melave Malka for the public to see who however, how could they now return? contains much Aggadata (homiletical his listeners were. 1,400 people attend Rabbi Teitz felt that by bringing Torah sections), to capture the hearts as well ed, including, among other Gedolim, the into the privacy of their living rooms, as the minds of his listeners. At the end Ponevezer Rav and the Satmar Rav. Gov they might respond without being of his first year of broadcast, he held a ernment statistics showed the listening forced into a public retreat from their audience to be between 175 - 250,000 lifelong-held positions.' It was with that •The Rav often used his program to comment on people per week. (This was the in mind that Daf HaShavua was creat matters of communal concern. On one occasion, he McCarthy Era when the government denounced certain irregularities taking place in the ed in 1953. Jewish community. As a result, he received threat monitored all foreign language broad Daf HaShavua was a half-hour pro ening phone calls, and ultimately two people casts, including the Yiddish-language gram in which Rabbi Teitz taught Tai- arrived at his door. In a rare display of anger, the Daf HaShavua.) Rav rebuked them and warned them not to return. ) He indeed received letters from a number of Yid He then picked one up, literaHy, by the scruff of the The program aired on Saturday dishists saying that they actually did return to Torah neck and threw him off the porch. The phone calls night, an unconventional time selected life as a result of the influence of his broadcasts. ceased and they never returned. to avoid conflict with any other Rav's class.A phenomenal success, the Dafwas broadcast for thirty-six consecutive seasons,5 III. FACTORS IN GREATNESS His Torah !ways on the lookout for ways to disseminate Torah, Rabbi Teitz tarted Bas Kol, teaching Torah . the Mountains ... on phonograph records; though short A Summer in lived, it was the spiritual antecedent of today's Torah tape system. When he first came to America with •.. had ··a . yery · different the Telzer Rosh Ha Yeshiva, Rabbi Elya meaning in 1944. R' Yosef Meir Bloch, he undertook to learn no !'aneth; scion of the .Chassidic less than two hours daily. Although his dynast"}ofDej,led hisfamily communal activities made it very diffi deep mfo the wooded inOUn" cult, he maintained that regimen until taill.S. bf !r'an:sylvania in a the end of his life. His daughters recall valiant attempt to outwit the that he would usually come home late . Na:iis•His unyielding determi· at night, only to begin learning. From nation fu.spired .cQurage in his their bedrooms, they would hear him children .. His indomitable trust recite the Gemora with a sweet melody, in the. creator willinspire faith accompanied by the gentle creak of his in .the heart the reader, chair. When it would suddenly become of quiet, they knew he had reached a dif Join them on th~ir jo~rney - ficult point; he would resume, and they frotna past that is nolonger,ta knew the problem was resolved. a future of hope and promise. You too wilLrecognize. the guiding It was hard to figure out when he had lightofHashem;.His pi-otection as o])vious as the Sun, as personal as time to learn. Forever snatching minutes a.Shield .. here and there, he was, in fact, always ·~ H.C.$21.95 learning. During his many plane trips, .Avaiiable at aliJ•wish book$iores or dir,,,;\ ~oril (ff}; P.B. $17.95 he would develop thoughts and ideas, ; The Rav believed that all technological advance FELUHt:.llVI lfi PUBLISHERS ments are to be used for Torah. This concept was Torah Literature of Quality also voiced by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein who, at a Daf Hashavua Siyum, pointed out that the airwaves were 200 Mrporl Execulive Park, Nanuel, NY 10954 Tel (914) 356-2282 • Fax (914) 425-1908 • E-mail [email protected] surely created to teach Torah, in line with Rabbi Toll Free: 800-237·7149 • Ask for our NEW catalog. Teitz's endeavor. 22 The Jewish observer; Jvne 1996 ening of Orthodox Jewry in He lived up to his own standard. No America, he published in Elul Jewish child has ever been turned away 5696 (1936) the first of a from the J.E.C. for lack of funds. He series of booklets entitled looked to the community to support the "Urah-Awaken" as a call to institutions, maintaining that young teshuva. parents have many bills to pay-pedi Rabbi Teitz felt strongly atrician, dentist, shoes, clothing', and so that every Jewish child was on-that they could not be denied entitled to a Jewish education. access to a Torah education for lack of At a Torah Umesorah conven funds.' At DafHashavua Me/ave Malke, with Rabbi Binyamin Avraham Teitz tion in February, 1968 (5728), His sheer force of personality is par (his father), Rabbi Eliezer Silver and Rabbi Alexander Rosenberg 7''.:Yr he presented the Jewish Child's tially illustrated by an event that took Bill of Rights, which reaf jotting down notes ... dubbing the file in 0 Though he was renowned as a great fund raiser, firmed that right, and placed the he was uncomfortable in that role. His belief in a which he placed t);iem: "Torah Min responsibility of implementing this cause and his dedication to it created the situation Hashamayim, Torah· from the heavens." in which people never failed to respond with ade goal on the Jewish community. • His grasp of Shas and poskim was quate funds to actualize his vision. remarkable. Rabbi Michel YoseifBomrind, a rebbe in the ].E.G., tells of when Rabbi Physicians wanted ... Teitz saw a student walking in the hall and Thriving internal medicine practice seeks additional physicians. asked him why he was out of class. The boy General internists or subspecia1ists willing to practice primary care. Generous told him that his rebbe had told him to find out how many times the word "pruzbul" reimbursement and benefits, including Shomer Shabbos privileges. appears in the Talmud. The Rav waved his Existing doctors are all Board Certified. Seeks physicians to start immediately. hand in the air, as though running down Located in lovely Lakewood, New Jersey. a page ofGemora, and then told him, from Fax C.V. to 908-901-9240 or call Michele at 908-370-5100. memory, every Talmudic citation for pruzbul. • When I moved to Elizabeth, I was in doubt as to where to place the mezuza on the doorway between my kitchen and din ing room. I posed the question to the Rav in shul. As we walked from his shtender to his office, some 100 feet, he began quoting the relevant Gemora in Menachos, verba tim. He continued his recitation, with expla nation, while he retrieved the Gemora and found the appropriate place. The Rav as a Leader • C language Programming in a UNIX Environment abbi Teitz was a man of action, in keeping with the dictum: "Lo • UNIX Shell Programming Rhamedrash ha'ikar ella hama' • Oracle Database and the aseh-Action, not study is the main SQL Language thing" (Avos 1:21). In his commentary • Visual Basic on Mishlei (12,18), the Vilna Gaonwrites that there are two kinds ofleaders: One FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE who reproves the people harshly but FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS gives no suggestions for correction, and FREE JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE UPON COMPLETION one who teaches a way to improve and correct what has gone awry. The Gaon Call immediately states that the wise man says only that (212) 809-5935 which is necessary to heal and for that COPE which needs to be healed. Institute• A Division of Agudath Israel of An1erica Seeing a need for a national awak- The Jewish Observer, June 1996 23 place during his early years in Ameri The man asked if the young rabbi could decided to "skip" two neighborhoods ca, related by Rabbi Yehoshua Yoseph prove his point. The Rav compiled the rel and put up the new building in the Preil, his brother-in-law. evant sources, had his Rebbetzin translate uptown Elmora section of Elizabeth. • One of the wealthiest, most respected them into English and reviewed the mate He was keenly aware that promoting members of the community decided to buy rial with that individual. He was convinced, Orthodoxy in the New Jersey suburbs a mausoleum for family interment, instead and halted construction on the building meant battle against the Conservative of in-ground burial as is required by midway. The partially built edifice still and Reform' institutions for the hearts halacha Because of his standing in the com stands in mute testimony to Rabbi Teitz's of his congregants. munity, people were reluctant to reproach remarkable influence. He believed that the shul should be him. The Rav, who lived his life based upon The Rav was a man of vision. When a place of beauty l'chavod u'l'siferres (the the pasuk: "Lo sagura mifnei ish "-to fear the J.E.C. needed a new structure in shul won an architectural award for its only G-d-summoned the individual and 1947, he studied the changing demo sight and sound lines), and decorum was explained that his plan violated Jewish law. graphics of the metropolitan area, and a must. His Slabodka Yeshiva training, emphasizing the majesty of the indi Mozeson/Malinowski Advertising (201)801-0101 vidual, was reflected in his own regal bearing and in the upkeep of the insti tutions over which he presided. Interpersonal Dealings bbi Teitz believed that "Chanoch ena'ar al pi darko ... raise the child ccording to his path;' was not restricted to children. Each person is unique and has to be dealt with on his level. He was as comfortable talking to the simplest person as he was in con versing with heads of state and leaders of nations.• He brought people from all walks of life closer to Torah, including • people who did not quite finish the trip. When he passed away, there was an out pouring of grief and sympathy from all, including irreligious Jews and non-Jews. Indeed, he maintained close friend ships and worked effectively with both Chassidim and Misnagdim. He was It hurts close with the Rebbes of Satmar and 1 His success is now a matter of history. When he came to Elizabeth, he was often attacked for bring r ing "old world" ideas into the New World. He was accused of wanting to "ghettoize" the Jewish com munity and at times was actually jeered. Elizabeth was also home to the first female rabbi, Sally o. Preisand. Recently, toward the end of the Rav's life, the city's last non-Orthodox synagogue was razed. The Rav took great pride in the fact that when he first came to Elizabeth, there was not even a minyan The Shalom Task Force of Shomrei Shabbos, while today there are four active - ~ shuls comprised of about 600 Orthodox families. Abuse Hotline is endorsed by ... - 3The Rav was highly regarded by many government leading Orthodox Rabbonim. ~ .., leaders. His involvement with the Vaad Hatzalah dur iY.f", FO~<. ing World War II as well as post-War activities brought him into contact with many leading figures both in the United States and abroad. From 1958 Confidential Hotline 7 1 8 3 3 7 3 7 0 0 to 1964, he testified on many occasions before con Collect calls accepted. gressional committees and various state legislative Do it for yourself. bodies in a successful attempt to block legislation Do it for our children. that would have banned shechita. 24 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 Rabbi Teitz with Rabbi Elyahu Essas. school.. .. Aaron Stier-an school at the J.E.C., and went to learn Elizabeth native, and in a yeshiva in Jerusalem. During a trip today an attorney in that to Israel, Rabbi Teitz visited the young town-was fourteen man, who complained about teasing by years old when the Rav his classmates. Rabbi Teitz gently asked him to read the reminded him that he was there to learn Torah in a different shul. Torah. The Torah, the Rav said, i; com Realizing that the young pared to honey; he was the bee trying man would feel awkward to get to the honey, and they, his in an unfamiliar place, taunters, are like the thorns. You have the Rav walked the IX to get past the thorns to reach the honey. miles with him, intro The boy stayed on and today is a lecturer Lubavitch, among others, as well as with duced him to some of the people there, in a Daf HaYomi shiur. the Lithuanian Gedolim in America. In and then returned to the main shul in He also acted on issues most people his pursuit of excellens:e he posed ques time for davening. did not realize existed. For example, tions affecting the American rabbinate Another resident of Elizabeth, Dr. since any object with lifeblood on it to Gedolim in Eretz Yisroel, such as the Steven Singfer, had completed high must be buried, after World War II, he Chazon !sh, Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, the Brisker Rav, Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank and the Steipler Gaon. When I accom Considering a move panied him once to an Agudath Israel MOIVS.EY? Convention, he was virtually mobbed by to a large group of Chassidim. When I asked one why they were so attracted to for careful attention to your Rabbi Teitz, the fellow looked at me with individual needs, call us today! a puzzled expression and said, "The Rebbe said Rabbi Teitz is an Adam (914) 354-8445 Gadon'' This assessment was reinforced by other Gedolim. He sat on a beis din with Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and Rabbi Henkin in the 1950s, when a controversy broke out in California over the kash ering of chickens. Two groups each insisted that the other used water so hot as to render the chickens non-kosher. As Includes: the beis din's junior member, Rabbi Teitz • Dos and Windows 95 • WordPerfect was dispatched to California to interview the parties on tape to bring back to the • Advanced WordPerfect full beis din-perhaps the first time that testimony for beis din was taken on tape. • I11t~o t(t ~~co1111ting • Lotus 1.2.3. • Excel Man of Chessed ····························································~~'"' • Co1nputerized ~cco1111ti11g • hen Rabbi Berel Peker asked Rabbi Aharon Kotler if he • l11troto~es~top~ublishi11g. W should take a job teaching at the J.E.C., Reh Aharon responded that it would be worthwhile working with NO CHARGE Rabbi Teitz because he's an ish kulo for Income Eligible Applicants Call Immediately chessed-chessed incarnate. in conjunction with JTPA Rabbi Teitz's involvement with the yachid was not determined by the •Must be 22 years or older 212-809-5935 I recipient's age. He held weekly study ses • Income Eligible 84 William Street COPE INSTITUTE sions ( vaadim/chaburos) with the ninth • New York City resident A,J,:oooif New York • NY 10038 A--JJO• The Jewish Observer, June 1996 25 suade her to pursue tinued this practice throughout their a career of her own. marriage, until illness interfered. She explained that she could not The Man because she had to be there when the o those who were close to him, Rav came home for Rabbi Teitz was larger than life, breakfast, and again Tand this short sketch does not to serve him lunch, begin to do him justice. His essence and would therefore might best be captured in his interpre not be free until at tation of the biblical term "Hineni-1 least 2 PM; and am here" -as meaning: "I;' not some soon after, of course, one else; "am;' now, not later; "here;' not there was supper. anywhere else. This was how he lived his During the war life and realized his goals. years, they routine Though not hasty, the Rav was very ly made small wed decisive. Once he made a decision, he Rabbi Teitz as keynote speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony for Telshe Yeshiva in Wickliffe, Ohio dings in their home acted upon it. He either would be sat and took in isfied or he would resolve to act differ searched for seforim with blood on orphans, family members, and friends ently the next time. No time to wallow them, which might have been held when for as much as a year at a time. The Reb in regrets. (This by no means had any people were shot, so that he could betzin also tended to the homebound bearing on his relationship with his Cre arrange for their burial. He also saw to daily. When a community member was ator, as was obvious when one witnessed it that the graves of the Vilna Gaon, the ill and needed a second cardiac opinion, him davening.) Ba'al Shem Tov, Rabbi Chaim Ozer she arranged the appointment with one Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky, Rosh Grodzensky and others were restored of the world's foremost cardiologists at Hayeshiva of the Yeshiva in Philadelphia, and well tended. Harvard. The doctor had stopped tak remarked at a hazkara memorial held for ing patients, but when the Rebbetzin Rabbi Teitz: When Hashem showed His Rebbetzin called, the doctor's office set up an Adam HaRishon a listing of each gen appointment within the week. eration and its leaders, beyond doubt ebbetzin Teitz l"l")), a woman of Unwilling to provide the Rav with pos Rabbi Teitz was included in that group. great strength and character, sibly less than optimal Kashrus, particu The passing of Rabbi Mordechai Pin Rworked at his side as a full part larly at Pesach time, she made her own chas Teitz was a great loss for Elizabeth; ner. When all their children were grown cheese, churned her own butter, and kash just as surely, it was a loss for Jewry and out of the house, some tried to per- ered her own meat and poultry. She con- throughout the United States and around the globe. • VAAD L'HATZOLAS NIDCHEI YISROEL ipl'np:i ~~;~/~tir.l .~··"!))~}~.'~~~. For the next school year - starting September 1, 1996 11'1'l·. ?)l::i !"!!!~ f.U'l•!~"1 we have openings for: r.:i. ~ 11'~\llr,I/~ . Magidei Shiur, Principals, Directors, & Counselors in yeshivas in the following cities: Wanted Baku, Azerbaijan Moscow, Russia Me~filjel;~"8hglatlr •·· .·• . Kishinev, Moldova Saratov, Russia for llJi established :md>growing Kuba, Azerbaijan Tbilisi, Georgia MeSfta>lrt Toronto. i ••·i •···•· Exileri•m:e·:i$.·a Rebbe ~redCJlxli"tleru:e There are also a few volunteer opportunities for llS a Menaltcl/Mashgiach preferiihJe. the 1996 summer seminar and camps. Pl~ lax details()fb~kgroll~il ~d ·· Information: 718-252-5974 or Fax Resume 718-252-5159 e>p•tlence~.d~erj!n,c~w ...• Or: Write VLNY 1566 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11230 (41.6) '18'7~1.,..6. 26 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 Rabbi Yaakov Feitman FROM MOURNING TO MORNING not sufficient to warrant our annual focus on churban. As articulated by Aveilus. Mourning. • Rabbi Dessler ':>"::11: "Al ma ... Over The very words send shudders The days of shiva are exactly what are we afflicting ourselves, through our soul. actually inverted days and to what end?''J Joy is a basic build There has been a loss, and there is ing block of Divine service, in keeping sadness and grief, perhaps also anger and of Yom Tov. Were we with "Jvdu es Hashem besimcha," but confusion. We must visit the mourner sadness and depression are certainly not. to offer three elements of healing: con worthy, the Sevens So whereas precipitating a state of joy dolence, consolation, comfort. But we needs no justification, actuating a state are afraid that we will also be asked ques would all be festive, but of melancholy must be proven to be tions-the searing, piercing (<\'\Thy?" - since we sinned, the absolutely necessary. As the Baal and we will not know what to answer. Hatanya writes (quoted by Rabbi The aveilim must speak first but they Sevens turn somber and Dessler above), the process of reliving seem chained to silence. Even after they the churban carries with it the danger have painfully unlocked vocal cords tragic. of dejection, and yet it is worth the risk choked with emotion, visitors find that because of the spiritual rewards to be their own vocabularies have become reaped. But what, exactly, are these div inadequate, bereft of grace, devoid of idends? eloquence, wanting in courage. But on the national• level, the ques Perhaps an approach can be found in tion must still be asked: why did our Yet, everyone who has had to under the Talmudic sources for the seven days sages impose an annual time of mourn go a shiva knows of its profound bene of mourning. The Gemora (Moed Kat ing for the destruction of the Beis fits for the bereaved. A buffer before reen tan 20a) derives the law that the primary Hamikdashl tering a callous world, the opportunity period of mourning is seven days from To be sure, the answer seems to be to hear about previously unknown the verse: "I will turn your holidays into deceptively simple-so that we never aspects of the deceased, the words of con mourning" (Amos 8,10). Since the forget the Beis Hamikdash in all its glory. solation, these all make us appreciate the essential unit of Yorn Tov is seven days, Were we not required to mourn, we laws of aveilus and the period of the Gemora concludes that the basic unit might feel very little about these events enforced introspection. According to the of aveilusis seven days, as well. Such jux of two millennia ago. As the great Mash Ramban'· the most venerable amongst taposition in the Torah often indicates giach of Mir, Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz the nations used to avail themselves of more than a specific halacha. It points ':>"::11, points out, even with Tisha B' Av the institution of shiva, no doubt to an inner connection that we other and the Three Weeks, which precede it, because of its therapeutic properties. wise would not have assumed.4 "We are less perturbed with the churban That inner connection would seem Rabbi Feitman is the Rav of the Young Israel of than if our vegetable gardens had been Beechwood (Qeveland), Ohio. He is a frequent con to be that the days of shiva are actually ruined."2 tributor to these pages, most recently with "Planting inverted days of Yorn Tov. Were we wor the Seeds of Joys:' March '95. Still, the imperative to remember is thy, the Sevens would all be festive, but The Jewish Observer, June 1996 27 since we sinned, the Sevens turn somber we mourn for the churban so that we Because the Torah records, 'And it was and tragic.5 should 'sit silently alone' (Eicha 3,28) after seven days that the waters of the So we begin to see that mourning is and return to ourselves. This is the secret flood began,"' The Talmud then asks an opportunity-even a mandate of aveilus, to bring us to the state of self the obvious question, "But does one mourn before the person has died?" for spiritual growth. evaluation by removing all exterior The answer: A human being who Using the Festival Days as a Scriptural barriers to teshuva."6 does not know the future cannot source for shiva sheds light on the pur mourn until the actual death, but pose of mourning in general-to uplift MOURNING, IN ORDER TO CREATE Hashem, who knows what will happen, the soul and mend spiritual wounds, to n7'nn 10?1v ?v 10'W mourned in allow time for reflection and repentance. he Jerusalem Talmud' provides us advance." If this is true on the individual level, it with a different source for shiva, Two queries come to mind: even is all the more applicable on the com Twhich leads to a more cryptic though G-d certainly knows what will munal. In the words of Rabbi Leib Bakst purpose for the obligation to mourn: happen, what is the point of mourning i'l'"i;>>7'/.>, Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva "Uminayin ... -How do we know before the fact? Surely, there must be a Gedolah of Detroit," Chazal decreed that that Hashem kept shiva for His world? lesson for us if the Torah revealed this action of G-d. Furthermore, why the phrase 1T.l71V 7v 1T.l'W, which literally means "guarded over His world," as a Dear Yad Eliezer, euphemism for mourning? Perhaps the two questions answer So much is spent each other. The Yerushalmi is instruct to make a memorable affair, The photographer, the band, ing us: mourning at its highest, most the makeup••. and the "hair. ideal level is a creative act. Hashem's Sheva Brachos outfits, mourning for the world related more to a bracelet and a setting, the new world He was to build than to without a diamond ring the one He was reluctantly destroying. can there be a wedding? The list is endless.•. It was an act of n"1'T.l\!1-of protection cuJJUnks and a tie and preservation-and preceded the The budgets overdrawn, cataclysm so that cure would be in place and there's so much still to buy. at the onset of the malady. You've given us opportunity As the Yerushalmi points out, mor to really comprehend - the value of $1000 tals do not mourn before the demise of and how much we overspend!! a loved one. But if the revelation about There's great pleasure in knowing how Hashem (kivayachol) mourns is to another couple will dance too. have any meaning for us, we should use Your work is tremendous as an opportunity to rebuild our How can we thank you? aveilus world, to preserve and protect that Sincerely, which is good, and to rid ourselves of that which is harmful and depraved. Mimi and David Here, too, we proceed from the indi vidual to the national level. The purpose of mourning the Beis Hamikdash is to This poem wa<; received by Yad Eliezer along wlth a wedding sponsorship. attain the spiritual level necessary to You too can change the life of a soon to be married couple! rebuild it once again, this time on an Sponsor a Yad Eliezer wedding - Imagine how much more beautiful even higher plane. This may be the rea your own wedding wlll be. son some authoritiess take the position The Gitty Perkowski Simcha Fund ofYad Eliezer that during the Second Beis Hamikdash, Rabbi and Mrs. Zevi Trenk Mr. and Mrs. Zolly Trapper Tisha B' Av was commemorated as it is 1586 E. 9th St. 1102 E. 26th St. today, with fasting and mourning. Since Brooklyn, NY 11230 Brooklyn. N.Y. 11210 many spiritual levels were lost from the First Temple to the Second (prophecy, the Urim V'tumim, the Aron Hakodesh Wedding sponsorships are $1000 for a whole and Keruvim, daily open miracles), it was appropriate to mourn-not the Beis wedding and $500 for a half of a wedding. Hamikdash itself, but the loss of the lofty 28 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 madreigas of the first Bayis. from] G-d's light:' Thus, a Bar Mitzva's Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky ':>''Yr uses first commandment as an adult is the this concept to explain why Yechezkel • night-Kri'as Shema, because darkness described the Third Beis Hamikdash and ourning at its must be the prelude to all spiritual seemingly skipped over the details of the accomplishments. The process of Second: The prophet wanted us to be Mhighest, most "descending to eventually rise" ( Chullin aware that the Second Beis Hamikdash ideal level is a creative 7a) is inevitable, and built into the struc would be a temporary structure with ture of the universe itself.11 limited spiritual attainments, and that act. Hashem's mourning Kial Yisrael should still yearn and pray LEARNING FROM YEARNING for the return of the loftier status of the for the world related First Beis Hamikdash.• ometimes, it would seem,authen more to the new world tic yearnings create perceptions THE POWER OF YEARNING Sand insights that are not accessible He was to build than to through normal intellectual channels. he essence of these days of Tamuz the one He was My Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner 7"YT, and Av, then, might be described writes in wonder to his own Rebbe, Tas Days ofYearning. A nation, like reluctantly destroying. Rabbi Isaac Sher ':>"YT, the Rosh Yeshiva an individual, is often more identified by its yearnings than by its attainments. For while an accomplishment can be transitory or even haphazard, true ever come, G-d •forbid, that you cease o•n1o•:n !J':VU:Vl-profound spiritual to yearn for Bretz Yisroel, you must longings--are definitive and endur- return immediately."rn ing. One might think that this process of The late Rebbe of Zhikov, Rabbi loss, yearning, and return is a Yehuda Horowitz '>"YI (passed away in bide' eved-a poor last resort compared 1989), once received a letter from a to never having lost at all. Rabbi Tzad chassid who had moved out of Bretz dok Hakohein of Lublin, however, Yisroelbecause of difficulties with his teaches otherwise: livelihood. The man expressed pro We learn from creation that darkness found yearnings to return to Bren Yis roel In his response, the Rebbeinsight must precede light and night must pre fully wrote: "It is better that you live cede day. As the prophet (Micha 8,8) outside Bretz Yisroel and long for the says, "Because I sit in darkness, Hashem Land than to live in Bretz Yisroel and is a light for me" -Not:" Though I sit in long for Chutz L' aratz:' darkness-," but:" Because I have sat in The Rebbe concluded with the darkness, [I appreciate and can benefit admonishment, "If the time should Not just a cheese, 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 ,· :r enjoy keeping. All ltaolam Oleese products are made In the U.SA under the strict rabbinic:aJ supervision of: Tire llabbfl'tllie of K'lul ,._,. Jut..nin Cholov Yisroel tr&thl-- Ht:'""'#c lfY The Jewish Observer, June 1996 29 of Slabodka, on Nissan 5687 (1927): ness. But, paradoxically, it is that very During the past year, several basic yearning for his guidance and presence insights, which were essential to me that can help the disciple to recover from personally, remained beyond my com his loss, even to the point of supersed • prehension despite the fact that [the he late Rebbe of Alter of Slabodka J labored valiantly to ing in some ways the influence from the explain them. Suddenly, with his pass Rebbe's actual presence. Thus, yearning TZhikov wrote: "It is ing, these matters became totally dear. properly channeled can generate incred I searched hard for a logical explana ible spiritual vitality instead of mere better that you live tion for this phenomenon and found emptiness or nostalgia. none. Obviously, a mysterious force Twenty-eight years after the death of outside Eretz Yisroel higher than any logic was at work here. the Alter, Rabbi Hutner applied similar Our sages teach, "The righteous are and long for the Land greater in death than in life?'12 terminology in consoling the Yeshiva of The "mysterious force" of which the Telshe upon the loss of its Rosh Ha Yeshi than to live in Eretz Rosh Yeshiva speaks may be the power va, Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch 7"l1T. His of yearning. When a beloved Rebbe, par words of consolation fused the general Yisroel and long for ticularly one of the stature of the Alter anguish over Reh Eliyahu Meir's pass Chutz L' aratz." of Slabodka, passes away, the resulting ing with his personal distress at not hav void seems to be an insurmountable ing been able to attend the funeral and impasse to spiritual growth. All knowl found a common source of comfort for edge, wisdom and understanding both: • What can one possibly say? the Captain of the ship of Torah ... has been seemed to flow from the Rebbe's great- taken away.... Out of pain and sorrow we raise our eyes towards the promise of our sages that the righteous are PINCHAS.MANDEL greater in death than in life. Their Over. 45 V~ars ElCperience 1.n Kvura in Eretz Yisrael words testify to us that with the Pel'$0nal Responsibility ThroughoutService;.-NO AFFILIATES appropriate spiritual preparation, the ORIGIN~TOR OF THE.PRESENT METHOD mantle falling from the Rebbe who is passing on [see Melachim 112,14] can Highly Recommended by Geclolai Hador - Here and in Eretz Visrael create a doubly-powerful force in the 156M1th Street, Brooklyn, N,Y. 11219 souls of his disciples .... My lips whis Day &NightPhone:.(718)851..0925 per the prayer that in the merit of my additional pain at not having been able lY0~7:lNi!:17:lNy Yl"i' ,...... ri:> iNl n11';)~Y ''l!:l to participate in the funeral, may I be CheSec!ShelEMES with:MesirasNefesh ... asundelstood and practiced by privileged to receive the comforting on~ activ" in the industry f()r more tl'lan half a century. good news of your Yeshiva's tremen ._ TaharasHanlftar Should Never Be COmmetclallzed - dous growth and success .... n Yearning for the lost Rebbe sensitizes every spiritual nerve ending, sharpens every memory, plays back every con versation, enlarges every mental image. And, ultimately, that aching process produces growth. Even the "pain" of not and all 'of Its volunteers attending a funeral-if truly heartfelt extend their deepest gratitude and thanks to can be a powerful source of"merit:' The Rosh Yeshiva teaches us, by personal AGlJDATII lSJUJJl OF AMERICA example and shared introspection, that loss can be transformed into gain for its generostty otJer the fiaslyears in helping through the alchemy of yearning. provide foodfor •the· neediest.families of our community Only our Creator Himself can know the long-range reverberations of every This year's "grant o/$17,000 ensured that each of these painful setback turned into triumph. But · families enjoyed a Chag Kosher Ve Sa11Wach! once in a while stories do come down to us. MayH 30 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 • Reh Leibush had been orphaned at a the beginning, not only of one Torah very early age and was taken in by a kind leader, but the inception of a dynasty of ly but simple Jew from Ostrovtz. The man inspired leadership. is • was able to teach him how to read and a he concluded Rebbe bit of Chumash, but nothing else, yet Reb A SEASON OF YEARNING with the Leibush thirsted for more. When he opened T o be sure, the leitmotif of spiri an advanced sefer and realized that he admonishment, "If the understood nothing, he began to weep and tual longing may be felt in many fell asleep. In his dream, he heard the Tmitzvos throughout the year. The time should ever come, promising words ofYechezkel being read to shofarreminds us of times of past great G-d forbid, that you him, "And I will give you a new heart and ness and arouses our aching for the sho a renewed spirit... " (36,26). As soon as he far of Moshiach.1 6 The great joy of the cease to yearn for Eretz awoke, he found, astonishingly, that he could Succos Simchas Beis Hasho'eiva flows read and understand everything. That was from the yearning of the waters below Yisroel, you must return immediately." • Announcement Mashgiach was known as an 1nsptr1ng To: Graduates of High School and/or Seminary embodiment ofMussar and middos, but he was not a particularly brilliant Talmudist, as were the Roshei Yeshiva. His suggested The Institute for Special Education solution to a Talmudic problem in Bava Kama was perceived to be wanting, and con of Sara Schenirer Seminary descending smiles suddenly surrounded upon entering its 13th successful year, has broadened its course him. offering and is opening enrollment in A lesser person might have shrugged off the incident and gone back to his area of CUNY accredited courses culminating in a expertise. He might have chastised the stu dents for their lack of consideration and B.S. degree in respect. Instead, he sat down at the Gemo ra and wept bitterly, crying himself into a deep sleep. Jn his dream, he was given a promise that henceforth things would be dif ferent. He need only apply himself and open Accounting his Bava Kama, and the intricate byways of the Talmud would be open to him. This course, which will be offered at our Doro Park location, evenings When Rabbi Pesach Pruskin awoke, he and Sundays, will maintain the academic standards and refined found that he was a different person. Pas environment for which we have become known in our community, and sages that had seemed inscrutable before had nationwide. become clear as crystal, and he achieved a new sense of purpose in his studies. He Upon completion of this B.S. in Accounting, students will have fulfilled applied himself with fresh vitality and in a the educational requirements qualifying them for CPA examination and licensing. short time became famed for his lectures and Torah brilliance. Soon, in the city ofShklov Financial aid available for eligible applicants. and later Kobrin, Reb Pesach was produc ing students who would become leaders of Information will be sent upon request. Call or write to: Kial Yisroel. One ofthem was a young man Sara Schenirer Seminary + Accounting Program 4622 14th Avenue + Brooklyn, NY 11219 from Strahin, Moshe Strobiner; he would (718) 633-0757, 633-8557 later become better known as Rabbi Moshe or Mrs. B. Shonek (718) 252·7422 Feinstein7"Yf.r4 A similar story is told of the first Rebbe of Ozerov, Reb Leibush the Great. The Jewish Observer, June 1996 31 to be as close to G-d as the waters the people to build a place for Hashem; But there is one season of the year above.17 Shemini Atzeres and Simchas and they miraculously "learned how to permeated with the very spirit of C'VUVl Torah resonate with the mutual longings do so" out of their profound longing for pining for a lost greatness: the Three of Hashem and His people.is On Pesach a Tabernacle.io Binyamin earned the Weeks from the Seventeenth ofTammuz we remember our youthful exuberance merit of having the holiest part of the until the Tenth of Av. During this peri in following Hashem into the desert, and Beis Hamikdash in his progeny's terri od, the special prayers and fasting, the we try once again to regain that spirit tory because he yearned so deeply to be Selichos and Kinas, the tears and Lamen ed intensity.'9 Shavous, of course, trans the "host for the Shechina" (Megilla tations, all reflect our longing for the ports us to the moment when the words 25b ). Indeed, the Sefas Emes explains times of splendor when we were privi of the Torah were fresh and new and that our very descent into this world leged to have a Beis Hamikdash and its helps us rejuvenate our excitement in from a higher and better one is to glorious trappings-kohanim offering Torah study. achieve the one trait that is easier to korbanos, the incense and the songs of The building of the Mishkan was develop here than there, the power to the Levi'im, the Sanhedrin sitting in its predicated upon the profound desire of yearn.ii chamber issuing Torah decisions for all of Israel. Yes, this period allows Kial Yisroel to express its longings for Hashem in the most extraordinary of ways. Even more Subscribe or gi,ve a gi,ft of remarkably, there is a Heavenly response to this expression which validates the The Jewish Observer intensity of those longings. The. Seven Haftoros following Tisha B'avconstitute a unit and are known as and $ave! the Zayin d'Nechemta-the Seven Prophetic Readings of Consolation. WHY NOT GIVE OR GET A PRESENT They must be recited in a specific THAT WILi, LAST AN ENTIRE YEAR? order which supersedes other Haftoros that might have been recited at that Subscribe, or give a gift at these reduced prices time.22 and The Jewish Observer- filled with the views Rabbeinu David Avudraham (14th of leading Torah thinkers on current issues- will be century) cites a Midrash which interprets delivered each month, directly to your door. the sequence of these Haftoros: The longer you subscribe for, the larger your savings. The prophet is sent to console the And if you choose the money-saving, 3-year deal, we11 people of Israel and he transmits throw in a bonus issue absolutely FREE! Hashem's words: "Nachamu nachamu ami--Be consoled, be consoled my Of course, this offer is unconditionally guaranteed; people." However, to the prophet's sur you may cancel at any time and receive a refund for prise (as reflected in the beginning of all undelivered copies. the second of the Haftoros), the nation But you must hurry. This special bonus offer responds: "G-d has forsaken and for expires August 30, 1996, so send in your order now. gotten me:' In the third segment of the set (in Parshas Re'ei), the prophet ----- .J.O. SlJRSC:RIPTION SA\1 INGS CERTIFICATE reports back to Hashem: "She is not 0 YES, I want to take advantage of this money saving offer! Enter my order as follows: consoled:' This exchange is resolved by Hashem in the fourth of the Haftoros, Cl NEW SUBSCRIPTION Cl RENEWAL Cl GIIT N'~'------that of Shoftim, with the ringing dec 'Pia4- Ol(e ~ (444e{ USA •OL'lSIDf. --, O:' 32 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 dare we have rejected the comforting heights can override the guarantee of 3 Michtav M'Eliyahu, Vol 2, p.48. words of the prophet in G-d's name? consolation. What could possibly be bet 4see, for instance, Toras Kohanim, Ofeq edition of And then, why were we rewarded for this ter? B'reisa D'Rebbe Yishmael, p.52, nt.13. stance with the granting of our request Kial Yisroel answers: More than 5see commentary of Rishon L'tzion, to Eicha l,9, printed in back of Mikra'os Gedolos. for Hashem's exclusive nechama? words of consolation, more than com 6yad Shlomo, published by the Detroit Kollel, The single answer to these queries forting prophecies-yes, even more p.165. relates to the nature of prophetic cred than immutable assurances indemnified 7Moed Kattan 3,5, Zitamir edition, l2b. ibility. The Rambam" writes that a by the laws of prophecy-what we want 8For a review of the halachic sources for this issue, prophet may be tested only by verifying most of all is Hashem himself. Churban see Rabbi David Cohen, Birch as Yaavetz, p.305, and his predictions of good things to come, has alienated us from our Father, and all Rabbi Israd Schepansky, nownnrrn!IO.:J. ~~ Vol 3, p.390, nt.7. not his prognostications of disaster. we ask is to be close to Him once again. 9Quoted at length in Binu Sh'nos Dor v'Dor, p.22; Since repentance is always an option for No emissaries, no intermediaries. All we and see, also, The Jewish Observer, April '81. human beings, a prediction of cata ask for is His embrace. lOzecher Tzaddik Livracha, p.95. strophe could always be preempted by And the petition is found favorable, l 1 Tzidkas Hatzaddik, 4, 11, and 76. teshuva. However, the word of a prophet for it is proffered with credibility of sac 12 Igros, Jetter 159, p.251; see also no.161, p.253. that something good will happen can rifice. We give up safety and security for 13Letter 221, p.302. never be nullified. the purity of direct relationship with 14Marbitzei Torah Umussar, Vol 2, p.163. In further elucidating this concept Hashem. ISRabbi S. Wallach, The Aish Das o/Ozerov. p.21. elsewhere, the Rambam" poses the fol The prophet is indeed our eternal 16see Rosh Hashana 16a,and the Mussa/Shemoneh lowing problem with his rule: source of communication from Esrei of Rosh Hashana. If a promise of good things to a Hashem. But after churban and 17 See Tikunei Zohar, Tikun 5, I 9b; also, Aish Das, prophet is always irrevocable, why was estrangement, we need to reestablish a vol.8, p.411 Yaakov Avinu afraid that his ensuing sins relationship. It is the degree of our 18see Rashi to Vayikra 23,36 and Succa 55b. (see Berachos 4a) might erode and yearning for Hashem that is being test 19see Rashi to Yirmiyahu 2,2; Shem Mishmuel, abrogate G-d's promise? Surely he was ed, and our annual task is to reenact Vayikra p.28; Alei ShurVol. 2, p.391 a prophet, and this was a prophecy! The those longings. The vehicle for that 20see Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz, quoted in Yalkut Lekach Tov, Parshas Vayakhel, p.244 Rambam answers that there is a dis rejuvenation is the Ten Weeks-three of 21 Se/as Emes, Parsh as Em or, 5636, 172 tinction between a pledge given to the mourning and seven of slow, painful, rilW? c-rN:il no~l n1ro?v:i: "Vi7'00il ?:> iW"l ill ~ prophet for himself and one he is but steady reacquaintance with "our . W"ll'V:t v.:imm oiN:n :ii;.:i ni'1'Vl"'in rn:iin7 '"D expected to transmit to Kial Yisroel. Maker, our husband;' Hashem himself. 22see Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 428:8, com Promises made to the prophet for It is only after this long process that mentaries ad loc 3 himself can be rescinded if he is later we can actually return "ad Hashem 2 Sefer Avudraham Hashelem (Jerusalem, 1963), p.303 found unworthy. Only prophetic assur Elokecha-until Hashem." As the Baal 24Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah 10:4 ances disseminated to the populace are Hatanya would sing at moments of 25Jntroduction to commentary on Mishnayos, unalterable, because they are basic to the ecstasy, "It is not Your paradise I crave, Kapach ed., p.6. process of establishing the veracity of it is not Your Olam Haba'ah I desire, but 26For more on this subject and a review of all the prophecy itselfio. You Yourself I seek:"' opinions in Rishonim concerning the testing of a prophet, see Rabbi David Cohen, Ohel David, ENDNOTES Vol.2, p.73. THE PROPHECY REVISITED 27Rabbi Menachem Mendel (Tzemach Tzeddek), 1 Commentary to Bereishis 29,27. Derech Mitzvosecha, Shoresh Mitzvos Hateffila, ch.40, ith this in mind, let us look 2 Daas Chachma Umussar, Vol 2, p.67. p.138 once again at the Midrash W cited by the Avudraham con cerning the Seven Haftoros. Hashem sends a message of consola tion to Israel through the prophet, and the messenger is rejected. We wish to hear from Hashem Himself, and the request is lovingly accepted and acted upon. A promise from the prophet would be such a relief. It carries the impri matur of irrevocability. Everything will be allright, no matter what. Even fur ther, sin cannot repeal the comforting words. No fall from the spiritual The Jewish Observer, June 1996 33 Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer DR. ISAAC BREUER?"~, History and Destiny I. THE MAN AND HIS IMPACT never failed to point to his father and expounds on our national destiny and grandfather as the guiding mentors of our task in this world. r. Isaac Breuer?··~. whose fifti his life. Dr. Breuer was intimately involved in eth Yahrzeit we mark this year, One of Dr. Breuer's primary contri the leadership of Agudath Israel Dranks among Agudath Israel's butions to Hirschian thought was the throughout his life. He viewed the most prominent ideologues. Born in definition of Eretz Yisroefs significance Agudah as a critical tool that Hashem Papa, Hungary, in 1883 to the city's Rav, in the framework of Torah im Derech had granted to Am Yisroel to fulfill its Rabbi Salomon Breuer ., .. ~,his family Bretz. Dr. Breuer moved to Bretz Yisroel national destiny. A sizeable portion of moved to Frankfurt when Rabbi Breuer in 1936, and died there in 1946. Short Moriah, therefore, discusses the histo succeeded his father-in-law, Rabbi Sam ly before his death, Dr. Breuer repre ry and vision of the Agudah. son Raphael Hirsch?··~. as Rav of the sented the Agudah's World Executive to (It is important to note- as we shall independent Orthodox kehilla in 1888. the Anglo-American Committee of -that Dr. Breuer's ideas were often the Isaac Breuer acquired his proficiency in Inquiry that explored the possibility of subject of intense philosophical debates Shas and Poskim from his father, in founding a Jewish state. within Agudah circles. The reader may whose Yeshiva he spent the formative Dr. Breuer was a prolific writer1• His perceive a bias toward Dr. Breuer,s views. years of his youth. Although he received works enhanced the commitment of a Nevertheless, it is not my intent to per semicha, Dr. Breuer opted not to serve new generation of German Orthodox suade, but to present Dr. Breuer's strik in the rabbinate and took up the study Jews to Torah Judaism. In a sense, he was ingly contemporary thoughts for con of law at various universities. Never the ultimate "codifier" of Torah im sideration by our generation.) theless, he vowed to his father to devote Derech Bretz. One of his works, Moriah, his life to Am Yisroel. Torah im Derech deserves special attention. It is truly II. HIS PHILOSOPHY OF THE JEWS AS Eretz, the principle that permeated his remarkable and unique. In it, Dr. Breuer THE "AM HATORAH" father's house, was the basic feature of 'Excerpts from his works were translated and pub Dr. Breuer's Weltanschauung. Dr. Breuer lished by Prof. Jacob Levinger in Concepts in Societies and Nations Judaism (Feldheim, 1974). An in-depth - but high ---·-----~-~·~-- Rabbi Bechhofer is the Rosh Kolle! of Yeshivas Beis ly technical - analysis of Dr. Breuer's philosophy shem created an imperfect HaMidrash La Torah and the Noble Night Kollel in was written by Prof. Alan Mittleman, and is enti world for man to perfect. Adam tled Between Kant and Kabba/.ah (SUNYPress, 1990). Skokie, IL as well as Mora D'asra of Cong. Bais Tefi aRishon's test was whether he la in Chicago, IL. His most recent contribution to The biographical material presented here is neces H these pages was "Mezuzos, Mach/okes and Eilu sarily brief, and, therefore, completely inadequate would faithfully follow that which Va'Eilu': Jan. '95. in describing the life and personality of Dr. Breuer. Hashem decreed to be "good" and 34 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 "just;' or whether he would decide what The symbol of the new religion was a was good and just on his own. In eat corpse on a cross. Man cannot perfect Uncl~ h.f oishy, ing from the eitz hada'as because it was the world. Man needs to be "saved:' Mordechai•BenDa\'id, good to him, Adam chose the latter path. Christianity is not a religion of avoda a~d othe~ t,op:-0f-the·lin~ In following his own independent val (service to G-d), but of yeshu'a (salva ues, he laid the foundation for a human tion). When that salvation tarried, •Jel\lish entC1'.fai1ter~ · history of war and injustice. Since the Christianity became the "Church" - ate. avaibtble dispersion at another form of to visit.· Migdal Bove/ (the nationa]ism that seriously ill Tower of Babel), demanded fealty- children nations and their and waged wars to iJta:i\t&:to:' -:: agendas have • that end. To avoid o alter the course of rnnnnr.w become the major the clash between ~"""'~i.r.~:m players in ongoing history, one must state and religion, AChesse~ ~tt:nui -by T Agu_da:th ls~_ of ~er!:~ ,:. :;; history. In telling religion had to be hi ron)untUon-lY!lh _-_ -,, j.. .. _,,.. j ; us that each nation deal with history on its attenuated - such ,$Qld-&t>lt1gProdli~b,$, , ~' ... " has its own spiritu as in Protestantism, '.f'o~tllfnltl appoln!ni~_fit.'t~U;:,, -~, ,, , (il.4)79f·9()()(:t£xt;75 I M-f,_9-S ·--· al sar (ministering own terms. Avraham suppressed - as in angel), Ghazal (the Avinu was the av Communism; or rabbis of the Tal separated - as in mud) clarify that hamon goyim. He and our country. 'rhc Yitti Leibel nations are not merely collections his descendants were The Distinction of HELPLINE of individuals, but Am Yisroel to be Hashem's No J:>roblein i~ 'Tho Dig••• are integrated spir No ~~bfom is '.Tho Small••• itual units - good, ith His partners in setting the .ti_ ~s thel'.e'-__ S_o_n:ie- tertibie thitig:happenihg--in or evil. command your -fam:Hy th a{ )'t'ill are --_afraid or An independent course of history. W:to Avra ash~edto __tell_~nyon~? state allows nation- ham of Lech Lecha 0 Are:you a tee_nage f)t you:ng ildUI(h:avh1g_ pi,-obtems that are, too ,difficult- for ybu al identification. ("Go ... to the land to handle?? , that I will show Ideally, it also serves ti' Are- yoti _a ~iti$le _-or rnarfi_ed ~n~ ~_Xpeti~ as a means to bring • you"), Hashem set encing J>erso-nat ,ttl-:inter~persortn:l -con:~ law> order and values to its citizens. the course of a chosen nation, distin flicts1? Unfortunately, national collective ego guished from the others. Not a religion, 0 Are- )IOU 'pbl'lff()ilted -Whh_ a-situ1itlon, that requir:s you to fi_~~ an __obje_c_~e, Jiste~er? ism frequently manifests itself in a not a philosophy, but a nation. To alter So~ cf the,--_'f_orah: -_community's ,--hiChly nationalism that sanctions its adherents the course of history, one must deal with .•(d!l•t! lher"JJ.~ (it'< "Yf'ilabk to talk ro to run roughshod over justice. Nation history on its own terms. Avrahan1 Avinu -YO,U JJ'f t~e:ph01t'ti fV/t~ iotlitan~~mity_. alism can subvert all of man's wonder was the av hamon goyim. He and his ful ideals, and is the cause of history's descendants were to be Hashem's part Monday· Friday (Day) 8:00AM - 12:00 Noon constant wars. ners in setting the course of history. Monday· Friday (Eve.) 8:00rM. ll:OOrM We were exiled to Egypt to learn that Sunday 9·.00.\M - 12:00 Noon Other Religions even the most advanced nations become 9:00PM - tl:OOrM unjust and inhumane when their per- or some time after the Dor Hafla ·J)i,if7(8)IIEL~·~QW<~$·+~,> Jti (:!)ilea go, ~n .,s.oo-~LP'.O~ •··• .• ga (the generation of the Tower of tn N•WJel"sey, eruLl-908•:163•1010 •. Babel), religions were functions of Rabbi Aryeh Schechter F tp)s ~b~th'._S-s~l'Vt~ti {)fth~-he1P 11~e_ fu;S-~il-~e-diea~: nationalities. The Greek philosophers. began making inroads against this sys SOFER S''TAM ·• •...• •1n M(lJl\~ry iir Pes!aba"'·Yaak~vK!atbe;g tem. The juggernaut of Roman conquest vanquished it. Clearly, no "national" 155841stSt. ~~. l'l''l'lf.:>.i>, (i•11-rrp1:>Jq113\ll '1 iti W1!>l'T .n>n deity had saved its nationality from the Brooklyn, NY 11218 e m.tke 0 housec.tlls." n"~ i»l>\N"' l'nt>!ll Roman legions. In despair, the nations n"11i1ITT:i mM\!>l:) ·11!i i1'!l>W> ,, of the world turned to Judaism's mes (718) 972-4003 . i1"~11)1' ::i ,~ sage of one G-d, Creator of the Universe, IP. :i-,.,~.. Deditatet! by: merciful and kind. But not completely. Mr: & Mrs. Samuel Wilhelm / • - .,b::>lv The Jewish Observer, June 1996 35 ceived national interests are at stake. Our The Role of Bretz Yisroel inhabited by its nation is also a mani exodus from Egypt paralleled Avraham festation of the unique character of the Avinu's exit from Ur Kasdim. We were he nations of the world are iden land - its independence. not freed to pursue our "own" nation tified by and with their lands. Am al agenda within general history. We had TYisroel was forged in the desert, The Instructive Pattern of Our History learned the error of such pursuits. as remotely removed as possible from Hashem chose us to represent Him and identification with a land. Without ur history tells of struggles to His agenda to all nations. Our G-d is not Torah, there is no Am Yisroel. Without educate us to our task. Before a national deity, but "melech goyim Bretz Yisroel, there still is an Am YisroeL' 0 his death, Moshe Rabbeinu Blokim,'" the King of nations. The chosen land lies at the geo admonishes us that we will rebel against Our nation does have a constitution graphic crossroad of the world - to our role. Sefer Shoftim and Sefer - the Torah. The Torah, however, is not influence the world. Bretz Yisroel is the Melachim are replete with the stories of an arbitrary collection of principles and land of the Torah, the land of Hashem. our failures. Our warriors and kings - laws. The Torah to Israel is as the Jaws Since Am Yisroel is the independent heroes that other nations might cele of nature are to Creation. As the syn nation, Bretz Yisroel should be the inde brate in songs and sagas-are critiqued thesis of nature and its laws is pendent land; "independent" meaning solely on the criterion of their dedica inescapable, the synthesis of Jews and accepting no other authority but that of tion to Hashem's master plan. The their Torah is unbreakable. Laws of Hashem. Nation and land are destined state's value is gauged by its achieve nature are not subject to free will. Jews to unite and together fulfill the eternal ments in Hashem)s justice and law. can rebel against the Torah, but they task of bringing Torah into Creation. Nevi'im, whose universal prophecies cannot escape it. Our Torah is our des They are like husband and wife: their proclaim the vision upon which Am Yis tiny and it is our "nature." unity is a tool for enhancing Divine roel is founded, maintained the eternal Presence. When they are separated, chain of Mesora. Even when the failure however, their tasks are not diminished. of the state resulted in Galus Bavel, that 'A digression into Agudist history: Largely, the course Bretz Yisroefs desolation when not chain continued unbroken. that Agudath Israel was to follow was the subject a After a miraculous victory over "family feud" -within the Frankfurt Hirschian com 'Another digression: While Dr. Breuer was a fervent munity-between Dr. Breuer and Moreinu Yaakov opponent of Zionism - even of Religious Zionism Greek culture, a Torah state arose again. Rosenheim 7-~. Mr. Rosenheim emphasized the -he nevertheless emphasized the centrality of Mitz~ The Torah's laws of nature, however, do Agudah's role as a union of Shomrei Torah u'Mitz.vos, vas Yishuv Ha'Aretz in Judaism. His Torah Nation not allow for kohanim to serve as guided by Gedolei Torah. Dr. Breuer was not satis alism demanded this focus. This perspective was fied with this role, The essence of their dispute is another point of internal dispute amongAgudist ide melachim; priests are not to be kings. captured by the phrases they each favored. Mr. ologues. Those who focused on the development of The Torah state gave way to Herod's Rosenheim was fond of the phrase" Klal Yisroel:' Dr. Kial Yisroel, the community of Charedim lidvar state. Herod was a vassal of Rome, the lkeuer found this phrase inadequate, as it implies Hashem, did not accord Yishuv Ha'Aretz greater value a societal grouping and does not emphasize our than any other mitzva. To Dr. Breuer, however, Yishuv greatest enemy of the Torah. Rome character as a nation. Dr. Breuer's phrase of choice, Ha'Aretz, at least as an ideal, was a high priority in developed the ideas of nationalism, therefore, was "Am Yisroel." the ongoing task of building Torah autonomy. national autonomy and power to their ultimate degrees. Its ideology laid the foundation for all subsequent history, with a vision that stands in direct con tradiction to the vision of Hashem, His Torah and His nation. Jews, who stub bornly refuse to yield to national and nationalistic values and priorities, are the great enemy of Rome and its successors, the states it spawned, and the Church. With what weapon do we fight against Rome? Rabban Yochanan hen Zakkai came to Vespasian not to request sovereignty, but to ask for Yavneh v'Chachomeha. There would no longer I • Donor Walls be kings or kohanim gedolim. Nevu'a was Call for free catalog • Trees of Life already but a memory. The Sanhedrin W.&E. BAUM Outside NYS: 1·800-922-7377 • Bulletin Boards would soon become extinct as well. But (718) 439-3311 • Yarzeit Tablets not before legislating laws that would Bronze Tablet Corp. • Plaques and Awards Industry Leaders for Three Generations Fax: (718) 439-6556 maintain our unique nationhood. The • Fundraising Concepts Torah demands that Am Yisroel never 36 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 submit to circum en by our own stances and become rebels. In the Beis a "religion." The • Midrash, however, Torah requires retz Yisroel is the land of the Torah, the land of the Gemora complete, overrid becomes alive, elec ing attention and EHashem. Am Yisroel is the independent nation. trifying and exhila dedication, that we rating. The yeshiva remain "chareidim Eretz Yisroel should be the independent land; bachur studying lidvar Hashem." It is Zevachim is in the only in light of this "independent" meaning accepting no other Beis haMikdash. demand that our authority but that of Hashem. Nation and land are The ben Torah love of our land can learning Sanhedrin be understood. All destined to unite and together fulfill the eternal task experiences the nations love their Torah state. Torah lands, perhaps no of bringing Torah into Creation. Shebe' al Peh is Am less than we love Yisroel's dynamic ours. A nation sev- force. Its study ele ered from its home- • vates us to the high- land, however, soon loses its love for that Other nations phrase their laws in the er realms that are its sources, from which land. People that lose their distinct most abstract way possible. Such we draw the tools to fulfill our destiny. national identity, lose their identification abstraction divorces law from life, malc We are constantly challenged to impose with its land. Ghazal and the Torah itself ing it the domain of the few experts. the eternity of Torah Shebe'al Peh on new demand of us to retain our essence as Their national identity is distinct from situations. Its analysis consistently yields a Torah nation no matter where cir their law. Our law is our national iden new discoveries and fresh insights. cumstances physically place us. That tity. Its form is that of cases - the lan Thus, Torah Shebe' al Peh eludes final Torah nationalism weds us to Bretz Yis guage of real life. Its study is universal. codification. No sefer causes more roel. We remain true to our beloved Ideally, Torah Shebe'al Peh must be renewed "live" analysis than our great spouse, and it has remained true to us, verbal - alive. The creation of the Mish est code, the Rambam's Mishneh Torah. yielding its bounties to none other than na was necessitated by the terrible dis its partner, the Torah nation. persion. The wonder of the Mishna is the Objective and Subjective Judaism One practical vestige of nationhood extent to which it remained Be'al Peh, remained with Am Yisroel throughout in its terseness and brevity. Even the ·tzvos are laws. They must be history: the Kehilla. A Kehilla is not a Gemora is not a law book. It is neither kept, whether we understand «community." It is a miniature replica systematic nor scientific. It frustrates M hem or not. Torah, however, of the Torah state, a living embodiment non-Jews, and is the first thing forsak- does not suppress individuality. There of the Mesora that preserves the collec tive memory of Torah independence. NO. 1 IN ISRAEL The Immediacy of Torah Shebe'al Peh rah Shebi'Ksav has influenced II the nations of the world. The T: ecret of our uniqueness is Torah Shebe' al Peh, the vehicle by which we bring "Malchus," Hashem's vision of Divine autonomy, to fruition in this world. No other nation teaches its law to its grammar school students. Science, USA&CANADA history, mathematics, languages - but Toll Free: (1) 800·938·5000 not law. Law is exclusively for those who choose it as a profession. In our schools, IN NY: 212·629-6090 Divine justice and Divine law is the core lCEUULAR PHONE AVAILABLE] of the curriculum, and the success of that schooling is our most precious aspi KX 'GMC SAFARI 700 http://www.eldan.co.il/ ration. ' POWER STEERING & ELECTRIC WINDOWS The Jewish Observer, June 1996 37 is a distinct subjective element to ta'amei hamitzvos include the pursuit of culture had no temptations to offer, and, Judaism. Throughout our history, great the "spirit" of the mitzvos; methods by in any event, for the most part it thinkers from among us developed which we shape our hearts with ahava imprisoned the Jew behind the Ghetto's new perspectives and frameworks of and yirah; ways with which to deal with walls. Small was the spiritual threat to "ta' amei hamitzvos." In a broader sense, the great problems of the spirit, eternal our nationhood. questions of free will and destiny, and The nineteenth century brought new -Ct>~ more. Here, too, Hashem insured con philosophies. It stressed science and cul CLINICAL PSYCHOLOClST stant "chiddush."The ongoing develop ture. Visions of human rights, freedom ment of new schools of Avodas Hashem and liberty - even for Jews - swept DR. BENZION guarantees that the subjective element across Europe. Social emancipation SOROTZKIN of Torah Shebe' al Peh always meets the brought down the walls of the ghetto. NY. State Licensed needs of the generation. Hashem posed a new challenge to Am Yisroel: Was it the hatred of the nations Adults and Adc>leseents Changes with the Advent of Modernity that had preserved it, or had it been its own free will, which could now survive (718) 377~6408 hile Am Yisroel thrived and new freedom? (91 7) 21 9~3867 developed, Europe lan The first Jew to confront the new W guished in the Dark Ages. Its course of history was Moses Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn did not debate the new European values. While INSUAANCEBROKERS&-C0:N$(JLTAN1S Mendelssohn was a ma'amin, he did not Commel'tiat Industrial, Residential Life & Health believe in the G-d that redeemed His nation from Egypt, gave them His ·:,-:-,··,_'<<:' Torah at Sinai, and chose them to : /"'·. <·.· impose His vision on history, to con front the rebellious autonomy of 118-asFttxx/ nationalism with Divine autonomy. Mendelssohn's G-d was the L-rd of heav • pROFESSIONAL SERVJCI; • ens and earth, Father of mankind, a • QUAL/7Yl/'ISURAJ'ICE CARRIERS•• good G-d who wants His children to be • COMPETITIVEPREMIUMS • good as well. The fire of Am Yisroefs his tory and mission, however, did not burn within Mendelssohn's soul. Not its past, BA.'?BARA GOLOORABf:N!HESHYSCHWEBE:L nor its future. Judaism was a religion, to be lived, in the present. Mendelssohn loved his religion and his nation, yet he also loved European culture. How did he resolve the contradictions? By retain ing his personal allegiance to Judaism - as his religion - yet simultaneously investing his entire being in European culture - as his life. His successors uncritically embraced the new philosophies. To fully enjoy the Registration is limited to 10 Bochurim who will have individualized attention new rights of citizenship, they had to from and learn with the Kolle! reject the idea of a Jewish nation. Jews • Eyin Seder-which develops .the bochur's ability to analyze sugyas and mechadaish while had to become "Germans of the Mosa remaining faithftll Ii> the blall, under the guidance o~ and shiurim from,•Harav Chaim Friedman, ic faith." Mendelssohn's love of Judaism Rosh.HaKollel, Rosh Yeshiva prevented him from personally for • Shiurim in Halru:ha l.a'Maasah including Shaa!os and Tshuvos and Poskim from Harav David saking halacha. His followers, howev Eidesohn, Rosh Bais Din of Bais Din Bais Ne'eman. er, correctly perceived that laws are • Dal Ha'yomi Shiur • S!)iur Hashkafali.including Maharal • Donnitory facillties available functions of nations. If Judaism is but a religion - a personal faith - it can F& registration and information call: Harav Chaim Frledtndn not impose law. The ultimate arbiter of 1-800-33-TORAH • 1-800-338-61'24' personal faith is the person himself. If 38 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 we are to convince others to share our Ga/us on the road to Ge'ula. Torah im The Intrusion ofModern Nationalism faith, the "Reformers" reasoned, we Derech Eretz meant, in short: "Be Am Yis must make our religion appealing to roe/ in the full meaning of the term." ronically, the assimilationist ten them. Laws, difficult and no longer rel dencies) the "Protestantization" of evant, went quickly. The First Battlelines are Drawn I Judaism, led to new, more terrible - The Separate Kehilla forms of Anti-Semitism. Animosity no The Views of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch longer centered on the Jewish religion, f even in exile, Am Yisroe/ was to be but on the Jewish race. An assimilated bbi Samson Raphael Hirsch an Am Ha Torah; if in lieu of a state Jew of the West heard - and was iewed emancipation neither as I there was a kehilla; if the autonomy shocked by - the racial slurs. He K Divine gift nor as the work of of Judaism was the autonomy of sought to rectify the "Jewish Problem" Satan, but as a challenge to apply Torah Hashem; then how could Torah-true by enhancing the Jews' status - by to a new reality. In theory, the more areas Jews make peace with belonging to a of endeavor open kehil/a with to the Jews, the "Reformers" who HAT PLUS greater the possi systematically bilities to develop a sheared Judaism of comprehensive • its identity? Even if Your#1Stop Torah driven aza/ and the the general kehilla For national life. Fight Gorah itself would support Quality Hats ing to maintain the "Orthodox" institu tions and "ritual WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION past would suggest demand of us to retain & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONIM TIES lN BROOKLYN that Torah was requirements" - 1~11 \I > Cr i P en '''I weak, that it could our essence as a Torah how could a Jew in 483E.9thSTREET-•-• (718) 469-7420 • OU1 of Sta .. 1.ao The Jewish Observer, June 1996 39 empowering them, by seeking a land and ity, just as they once created the Torah .... Reform is not an alternative to real a country. He boldly spoke the language Herzl's Zionism came as a shock to Judaism - it has no place for an Am. of independence and Jewish national the West. He did not identify himself as Zionism is an alternative. It focuses on identity, as no man had done in the past an ''Austrian of the Mosaic faith;' but as an Am, but not on the Am of the Am two thousand years. That man was a "Jew, part of the Jewish nation:' The Ha Torah. Zionism)s nationalism is that Theodore Herzl. very idea turned many Jews on the verge of all the other nations. To the extent Simultaneously, the Maskilim of the of baptism back to their roots. Here lies that it has "Jewish values;' they are but East looked for a way to "renew" Jewish the positive aspect of Zionism, its suc the values of Mendelssohn's successors culture. Achad Ha' am held that Jewish cul cess at changing Judaism back from a - those of personal (or no) faith, not ture was stifled by the oppression of the faith to a nation. It restored the Jewish those revealed at Sinai. exile. Given its freedom in its own land, nation to the center of history, to its who knows what new spiritual achieve rightful place as a nation playing a deci The Challenges of The Twentieth Century ments the nation might attain? They sive role in the history of nations. might create some new book for human- Here too lies the danger of Zionism. urope's new culture lulled its elite into a false tranquility. Philoso Ephies of extreme individualism and libertarianism led the elite to for sake nationalism. But others took up the cause. A new, radical nationalism, drunk on national autonomy, arose, and nationalized laws to its own ends. Pow erful cravings for national autonomy consumed all the eighteenth century's visions of justice, good and beauty. After the war, briefly, the nations felt the need for a transcendent system oflaw that would bring true peace. To that end, GffLJGffTS they created the League of Nations. The ~E AND ff J ------EVERYDAYLIFE ~ REJUVENATE YOURSELF League established the British Mandate eFINDINGHAPPtJ!6i THETDRAH\VAY• in Bretz Yisroel. Miraculously, the nations FROM THE STATIC AND •A BUSSFUL~_A - -- -y TO GROWTH• of the world recognized the national NOISE OF EVERYDAY LIFE ; ADVERSITY_:_ A ooo&ri~ PURPOSE ; ------character of Am Yisroel. Social and AND SPEND A RELAXING • CREA.J'_lO~ __ ft..f::l_ ... "., .. __ .. .,.- · ,,.- · ---- -. - E BEAUTY OF Sl:IABBOS . -·------national emancipation had forced Am WEEKEND IN A WARM, • TH - · ------FILLAH • - THE TRLIEEFFECT __ OF T' -- -. --- - Yisroel into the arena of general histo 'HEIMISHE" ATMOSPHERE. • ------COURAGE TO SAY NO• ry. It now compelled us to engage in its HEAR INSPIRING WORDS - • CHINLIC!l:THE -ERlNG OU\1_SELV~S • • MIDOS:_B~TT------debate, to apply our destiny to new con IN OUR POWER PACKED ditions, to rise to new tasks. The man PRESENTATIONS COVERING 5 p £AK£ RS date was a challenge to utilize the para A WIDE RANGE OF • RA.BBl EZRtEL !A, Ulcr~;~11:1 s_p_caker '· fh V S RWOWl1Cll n mount tool of Divine autonomy, Bretz INTERESTING TOPICS LIKE Founder of_Sr,a c c · y • •RABBI MICHEL TWER_SK Yisroel. In 1926, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Son HAPPINESS, MARRIAGE, Rav, Milwakcc,_ .. ~.isconsm nenfeld ?":it asked Dr. Breuer: "What is CHINUCH AND THE BEAUTY HERSH FRIED, PHD • • RABBI A.RON C JI ge Ny Founder of__ ~hush with the Torah diaspora? Does it not see OF SHABBOS. ASIDE FROM Assistant Profe~~or, Stern o _c ... '. ...., RSKY ~ the etzba Elokim at work here? I now THE CAPTIVATING LECTURES, • EBBITZEN FAIGE TWE R MHwa~cc: Wisconsin understand the Musaf of Yorn Tov: YOU WILL RELISH SUMPTUOUS 'Because of our sins we were exiled from PREPARED MEALS, AND THE THIS WEEKEND JS HIGHLY ENDORSED our land and distanced from our soil: ELEGANT AMBIENCE OF THE BY RABBI HEINEMANN, RABBI HOPFER AND THE Redundancy? No! We were exiled from LUXURIOUS BWI MARRIOTT. BALTIMORE COUNCIL OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS. our land by Hashem, and then we dis B"'11 AIRPORT MARRIOTT tanced ourselves ...." FRIDAY SUNDAY The Role of Agudath Israel JULYS 7 I 9 9 6 he drive to found Agudath Israel ri:i~rrr,w FOR MORE INFO OR A BROCHURE CALL 914-356-3515 was born, in Germany, of two cat alysts: the pogroms in the East SHALHEVES OR 1•800•998-0400 T 40 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 and Zionism. The Agudah was to grap Rabbi loseph Elias for the above them. They declared war against the Am ple with these issues. Not as a worldwide insight.) of Am Yisroel - world over. National relief organization. Not as a mutual aid emancipation had succeeded in estab society in the battle against secular Zion World Status Between the Wars lishing Am Yisrods national identity. The ism. Not as a "religious" movement. Nazis recognized Am YisroeI's unique Rather, as the collective Am HaTorah, he peace imposed by the Allies role in history and fought it to the death questing to establish and enhance after the first World War was to - not army against army, but might Divine autonomy. To this end, Rabbi Tbe sustained by the League of against justice. Nazism knows no ethics, Salomon Breuer and Rabbi Chaim Nations. International relations, how no justice, no morality. It is National Soloveitchik ':>":ll agreed that the Agu ever, are not governed by ideals. The Socialism - social justice based solely dah would recognize autonomous union in a League was but a treaty. on nationalistic considerations and Orthodox organizations in each coun Treaties cannot redeem mankind; only race. It is the ultimate brazenness and try as scale models of the Am Ha Torah justice and law can save humanity. A violence of autonomy and nationalism in Galus and as its constituent elements. League of Nations, a forum for vying against the basic ideal of "Tze lem The Agudah was to raise the banner of national interests, is not a forum to ele Blokim."It is no less than the war of the Malchus in Kial Yisroel. vate human aspirations. Were the Sitra Achra against Hashem. The next step, Dr. Breuer contended, League to have embarked on a campaign was for the Agudah to act as the Am of universal education toward law and HaTorah. The Agudah was to take justice, perhaps it might have succeed DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM upon itself the historical destiny of Am ed. Local curriculums, however, Yisroel as a nation -with a vision and remained the curriculums of the local 'tnp'.7 ,n:J 'tnpC, a task in history. The Agudah was to ities and their nationalism. The tragedy 7•YT "1llll7K 7Klr.lVI l"1'1"11'11:l influence and shape the course of that that had beset mankind since the Dor Available at history according to the agenda of Hajlaga continued unabated. (Current LEKUTEI events in Bretz Yisroel reflect those dif Divine autonomy dictated at Sinai: clo Yit:zchok Rosenberg "Mamleches Kohanim v'Goy Kadosh!" ficulties. Shorn of Sinai's historical des 10 West 47th Street. Room 503 "... Agudism demands the preparation tiny, the struggles of Tews and Arabs in New York, NY 10036 and training of the Am Hashem and the Israel are but battles of opposing nation (212) 719·1717 Bretz Hashem, so that they should again al identities.) 20 Volumes on Turah, Perek, unite to form the state of Hashem under Medrash, Megllos and 'fillmud. the governance of Hashem's law<." What the Nazis VJ"' Knew Proceeds of sales distributed In line with this philosophy, Dr. among Yeshivos and used for Breuer and others proposed that no one ne of history's tragic ironies is reprinting of volumes out-of-print that our bitterest enemy realized could hold office in Agudath Israel if he PRICE: $8.00 PER VOWME the truth about us to a greater belonged to a Kehilla or other group not O Pirkei A vos av~ilable committed to the principle of an inde extent that any nation that preceded pendent Torah-ruled Orthodoxy. This proposal, however, was not adopted, The ac1ministration of Tom.che sflabbos of because in most of Eastern Europe, sep Bora Park mid l"fatbush wishes to thank aratist Orthodox Kehillos did not exist and indeed the idea was totally alien. Adopting this rule, Rosenheim and AGUDATH. ISRAEL Of' AMERICA others felt, would in effect write off the for extending much n~eded assistance bulk of Eastern European Orthodoxy. to th.e poocof our communities. (The author expresses gratitude to Thanks to Agudatll Israel's .efforts, ovet i From a 192 l essay: "The Agudist Vision," quoted in Moriah pp. 212-213. Dr. Breuer in Moriah details $1,220,000 the history of theAgudah and its accomplishments. worth of emer.gem:y food flas been donated to While that history is essential to any understand Tomche Shabbos overthe.past several years. ing of current events, it is beyond the scope of this May ttashem bless the staff and administration of essay. It is particularly fascinating to follow Dr. Breuer's description of the battle that the Agudath Israel ofAmerica for becoming autonomous Yishuv in Yerushalayim, newly affili the b1'ggest single contributor to Tomche .Shabbos In ated with Agudath Israel, waged against the Zion its history, ist institutions and their hegemony on religious issues. He sees that struggle as a replica of Rabbi Samson Raphael's Hirsch's struggle in Frankfurt. Committee.;... Tomche Shal>bos BQr(> Fark/l'latbush The Jewish Observer, June 1996 41 The Nazis' might was their god; their opment and volatile nature of modern equate for the task. Avinu Ma!keinu will law was derived from their might. The secular culture have intensified that help us establish His autonomy: "To most highly developed culture in history debate. Competing visions - none of unite all of Am Yisroe/ under the rule of succumbed to the drives of brazen which can truly resolve history's prob the Torah, and to establish the Torah's nationalism. It nationalized justice and lems - have lead to ever more frequent governance of all the spiritual, financial law, and in the process reverted to the outbreaks of war. Society becomes ever and political spheres of Am Yisroefs life most elementary and radical barbarism. sicker, as extreme libertarian individu in Bretz Yisroe/." Torah-true Jews in the Only a fool could believe that wars alism (the descendant of Adam HaRis diaspora must participate in the process caused by these forces cannot recur. Even hon's sin) clashes with extreme nation as weJI. We must raise the voices of a democracy will ultimately fail to restrain alism (the heir to the sin of Dor Messianic Am, an Am whose entire the power of such extreme nationalism. Haflaga). The destiny of Am Yisroe/ is to essence is Divine justice and Jaw. we· Only Hashem's law and justice can har bring the perspective of meta-history to must show the entire world that only our ness such forces. bear on history, and to shape its course. Torah can serve as the source of life and It is precisely in Bretz Yisroel that the peace. Upon us devolve the following 111. OUR TASK battle is most obviously pitched: A spir essential tasks: itual battle against the vision of Am Yis 1. Talmud Torah - kenegged kulam. r. Breuer challenges us to roel as a nation among nations. There 2. Kiddush Shem Shamayim: To dis approach history with a per must arise among us new Rabban play to ourselves and to our misled Dspective on the unfolding of Yochanan ben Zakkais to build new brethren the beauty of Torah life, both Hashem's master plan for Creation. His Yavneh v'Chachomehas, to promote the within our homes and in our interper term for this perspective is "meta-his meta-history of Divine nationalism. Our sonal relationships. tory:' History is the story of independent ultimate goal must be to answer the call 3. Awareness of our period and our man and his independent nations and of history and destiny: To unite the Am responsibility. To assess our lives from states. It is also the account of the debate Ha Torah with the land of Torah to forge the perspective of: What have we done between the will of the Creator and a state of Torah. to bring the Geu/a closer? man's egoistical will. The great 2 The Jewish Observer, June 7996 ~\". Write Your "L'Shana Tova" Message ~ ~"\.~ 1996 I ...... ----i_n_th_e_B_ox_o_f_Y_o_ur_C_'h_o_os_·in_g_.------, •:911st 1ti. HELP... ••• TH~WISH BSERVER I I continue to bringjewish l '-(_A_)_$_l_O_o______. news & views from a Torah I t This size entitles you to free ArtScroll Selichos t perspective to tens of thou- I sands ofreaders each month.1 just write your "L'Shana (B) $50 Tova" greeting in the box of your choosing (price indi- cated in lower left-hand corner), detach form across (C) $36 '-----;:::=:======~ dotted line, and mail the form with your check today. (D) $25 .______.. Please enclose payment with your insertion, and mail to: Your friends will see your The Jewish Observer I 84 William Street greeting in our next issue, New York, New York 10038 I am pleased to learn that my "Shana Tova" wishes in our Rosh Hashonah edition your columns will help The Jewish Observer greet the . . . and you will derive satis New Year with a reduced deficit . Name------faction that you helped us in Address our effort to bring the Torah I City, State, Zip ______Payment Endo To the Editor: To the Editor: I was very interested in Yaakov It was with great interest that I read Astor's, "The Singles Crisis;' in the April "The Singles Crisis': as there is a mem '96 issue. 1 myself experienced several ber of the single community right in my very difficult years of searching before immediate family. I witness with my encountering my wonderful zivug, own eyes the suffering of the singles that Baruch Hashem, two years ago. the author speaks of, and also the One point I would like to mention intense suffering of the parents, who is that the "Singles Crisis" seems to be watch their dreams of marrying off all nothing new, and in fact things may be their children dim with each passing REVIEWER'S NOTE better today than in previous genera year, as the single child wanders about, The review of Rabbi Akiva Tatz's tions. We have probably all heard sto frustrated, isolated from friends, some book Worldmask (JO, May '96) indicated ries about yeshiva bachurim in Europe times moving into his or her own apart that the book was not footnoted or who could not marry until well into ment. sourced. That is not entirely accurate, for their thirties, since few girls were inter I bear personal witness to the suf the book is sourced in a special reference ested in marrying a boy who didn't have fering of the siblings, who stand by feel section in the back of the volume. Foot a good job. And then there are stories ing helpless even as they try to offer notes were eschewed to permit a of girls in the shtet/ach whose hair words of encouragement or come up smooth flow of the text. turned white waiting for their parents with one more name that just might be RABBI LAIBISH BECKER to arrange a suitable dowry. Unfortu "The One." nately, in every time and place there have I applaud the author for the ideas set probably been a significant minority of forth in the article, and look forward to people who just didn't manage to get seeing such an organization become married for whatever reason until mid reality. Permit me, though, to address a dle age, and sometimes not even then. few words to parents of children Regarding those people who are approaching shidduch age, or who have We'll show you the future! We will take afraid of marriage, I would like to say already started the search for a shidduch: you on a full color, three dimensional that I myself was terrified; however, I Wake up! Wake up and hear the clock tick tour of your renovated home or found one concept that convinced me inglf! This is not the time to sit back and apartment, before you even start! to take the plunge: True, marriage is a relax. Now is the time to go on high alert dangerous gamble. There are no guar and make an all-out effort to find a shid Yaakov 0. Kasten antees at all of how it will turn out. How duch for your child .... Now, when they 718-853-4052 ever, turning down a reasonable offer is are young and still listen to sound words infinitely more dangerous. Who knows of advice from their parents .... Now if something better will later come when they are still well-enclosed with- along? And when? And what types of in the framework of the family. Once }>rincipal/Educator terrible spiritual dangers is a person these young people have had a chance exposing himself to until then? There to go out into the world, they feel that P'tach of llakitnore .seeks a qualified fore, going ahead and getting married they know better. Their expectations Prine:ipalJEducatof_ to imple~eJlr'it.s ifinovative and -oUtitaQdiiig'piogram Of_ when something decent comes along is change. They have time to observe their education for.leamuw d~abled ''"~"· simply the safer of the two options. friends' spouses and decide what they YAAKOV STEIN like or don't like. The picture that they Mlnitnum ~ir 44 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 years begin to slip by, shed all those lay he "settled" for less than the best. ers of insubstantial fluff in rapid suc And if you think twenty is too ,.., MALOHN cession. Forget about money, yichus and young for a boy to get married, just l=il MIFAL social standing. Leave behind your pre remember us-the suffering families of VISITING NEW YORK77 conceived notions of what country of the suffering singles; marrying off your Beautiful rooms, with kitchen origin you would most like your child on the young side will suddenly facilities, in heart of Soro Park prospective mechutanim to have hailed seem like a highly desirable alternative. by day or week. Near Shuls, from. By all means, swallow your pride Certainly, the above is not to be taken take-out foods, etc. Profits to and call back friends/neighbors/ shad to mean that parents are to blame, and Mifal Torah Vodaas. chanim who have mentioned shid certainly this cautionary note is not the ca11 l718) 851·Z969 duchim to you. Concentrate instead on answer for everybody. There are too NOT.V.'s the root of the shidduch-the boy or girl many different circumstances, and no your child will be marrying. Does she two situations are alike. And of course, have good middos? Is he a ben Torah?Not: there are those for whom eighteen or Is she a world-class beauty! Is he at least twenty is far too young. This is simply """' 11:>1\!1 5'10" with the latest Borsalino hat? Of food for thought for those entering the MARK A. FELDMAN~ ESQ. course, I am not challila suggesting shidduch parsha. Attorney at Law pushing your child into something And one final word. Pray. Let us all •-Divorce •Custody . he/she does not want. But do show your pour out our hearts in prayer that the • Collections • Adoptions child what is important, and impress Mezaveg Zevugim (the Divine Match • Real Estate •Change of Names upon her that it is time to get married, maker) will send the "Right One" to each • Landlord-Tenant • Wills If you carry on about what kind of and every one of those searching for a house the girl lives in, of course your son partner in marriage. GET/BEIS DIN COUNSELING will not be interested in anyone who ANONYMOUS, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS 1717East18th Street doesn,t match up, especially if more time Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn, NY 11229 goes by and you begin to get desperate. 718-627-7900 . . He simply won't want anyone to say that ·········· ····•1 ·•;1;••ti•1~.~~t·~(t~~~Se~rhn a:e• n.ow.il1 etpanded .editions. 4 · ··• <•~E!ll'~~J.1.~.oJ.1.~~e~~a: SEjt()r~ single · •• ·: The Jewish Observer, June 1996 45 :===~l~!::JTCILI! rI 1%:.L.UJ lt""fC84 Ilk. The WilliamNational Street/NYC Headquatters 10038~==::======of Agudath Israel ofAmerica An Opinion Unfit to Print Though the national media have repeatedly focused on the newly-increased religious party representation in the Israeli Knesset, and on its likely impact on American e((orts to export "Jewish religious pluralism" to the Jewish State, The New York Times declined to publish the opinion piece below, penned by Agudath Israel president and co-chairman of the Agudath Israel World Organization Rabbi Moshe Sherer. The "paper of record" claimed that the piece merely articulated a long-established position, one well-known to the American public. Were it only so. WHAT IS GENUINE JEWISH UNITY? groups have decided to expand the definition. set of standards over whose acceptability Most notably, the Reform movement has uni there is no controversy whatsoever? by: Rabbi Moshe Sherer laterally declared that anyone born to a Jew The an.<>wer was self-evident even at the very ish father is a Jew, regardless of the mother's founding of the Jewish State to no less a sec he wringing of hands is so intense it is religious identity. Also, both the Reform and ularist than David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Talmost audible. Conservative movements have loosened stan Prime Minister. In making his historic com The strong showing by religious parties in dards for conversion. A.$ a result of these "inno mitment to the Agudath Israel World Orga the recent Israeli elections has elicited cries of vations;' countless thousands of people the nization that the new State would look to clas dismay and anguish by Reform, Conservative world over are in a religious 1\vilight Zone: sical Jewish law in determining matters of and secular Jewish spokesmen who rail against counted as Jews in certain segments of the Jew personal status, Ben-Gurion wrote of the the "Orthodox monopoly" in the Holy Land. ish community, but as Gentiles in others. urgent need "to avoid the splitting of the Jew Most galling to these proponents of "Jewish The bottom line, therefore, is that people ish people:' The need is surely no less urgent religious pluralism" is that the increased who satisfy the Orthodox criteria for "Jewish today. Orthodox presence in the Knesset will likely ness" are universally acknowledged as Jews. We Orthodox Jews are profoundly pained assure that matters of personal status- mar Beyond that historical standard of classical Jew by the schismatizing of the Jewish population. riage, divorce, Jewish identity - will contin ish law lies controversy and disunity. We are, moreover, deeply saddened to hear our ue to be determined in Israel in accordance The same is true with respect to the issues selves blamed for Jewish disunity when we have with the standards of classical Jewish religious of marriage and divorce. Jewish law imposes done nothing but try to remain faithful to the law. The likely reaffirmation of the State's offi restrictions on whom a Jew may marry, and collective Jewish heritage. Pointing an angry cial embrace of Orthodoxy, they despair, will how a divorce is to be effectuated. But the finger at the Orthodox as the instigators and foster further divisions among a Jewish peo Reform movement has done away with many perpetuators of division, we feel, is like blam ple desperately in need of unity. of those restrictions. ing a faithful spouse for the breakup of a mar The truth, however, is quite to the contrary: The upshot: a clear dichotomy between riage. The fault lies with those who have Genuine Jewish unity is promoted, not under marriages and divorces performed pursuant to strayed. mined, by Israel's adherence to Orthodox stan Orthodox standards, which are acceptable to dards governing personal status; and it is cause all Jews; and those performed pursuant to ut we have hope. What is broken can be for celebration, not consternation, that Israel's Reform standards, which are acceptable only Bput together once again. Jews of all stripes electorate has strengthened the hand of those to some. are beginning to recognize that the greatest who favor retention of the religious status quo. challenge facing Jews today is how to assure aced with such pronounced differences Jewish continuity - the survival of Jews in onsider the most basic issue of Jewish Fwithin the Jewish community on the most future generations as a distinctive people with Cidentity. All Jews accept, and have accept fundamental issues of personal status, what a distinctive heritage and a distinctive religious ed for thousands of years, that anyone born to path is available to the Jewish State that is most mission. a Jewish mother or who converts to Judaism likely to promote unity? The path of"religious \.Vith that recognition, perhaps, will come in accordance with Jewish law is a Jew. pluralism:' whereby Israel would embrace stan reconciliation. For just as classical Judaism fur In recent years, however, non-Orthodox dards that deviate from classical Jewish teach nishes the one personal status standard around ing and are flatly rejected by many Jews the which all Jews can coalesce, so too does it fur Rabbi Sherer is president of Agudath Israel of Amer world over? Or the historical path of Jewish nish the one foundation on which Jewish con ica, and chairman of theAgudath Israel World Orga law, whereby the State would adhere to the one tinuity can be assured. nization. 46 The Jewish Observer, June 1996 Torah Educational Software, Inc. 750 Chestnut Ridge Rd. Spring Valley, N.Y. 10977 .'hone: 914-356-1485 Fax: 914-356-1343 Specia_!J0 $199 List $ 23 9 ,__-"" FREE... 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