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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. Periodicals postage paid in New York, N.Y. Subscription $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 William Street, N.Y'., N.Y'. 10038. Tel: 212-797-9000, Fax: 6 212-269-2843. The Gaon of Vilna-Two Hundred Years Since His Passing Printed in the U.S.A. Robbi Yookov Feitmon
RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EOlTOR 20 Their Outside and Their Inside EDITORIAL BOARD DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Robbi Shlomo M. Breslauer Chairman 21 RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS JOSEPH FRIEOENSON Less Than a Minyan, But Still a Community RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN Jeffrey B. Schreck
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~ A Bicentennial Appreciation ~
uch has been written about the Gaon:" On the other hand, it seems as interpretations - on all four levels of Gaon of Vilna during these if every story has been told, every acco Torah study, including the mystical. At M past two centuries. Even more lade conferred. The answer, it would this time he also had mastered the entire has been published and is in prepara seem, is to study the legacy of the Gaon Zoharand, in the description of his sons, tion 1 since his two hundredth Yahrzeit and mine it for the pointers and direc "at the tender age of ten he reached the this past Succos, 18 Tishrei. For us, a gen tion we can use on our own journey primary point, for he knew G-d:'S At the eration of orphans, and for this writer towards being servants of Hashem. age of twelve, he had absorbed all seven in particular, the task of saying anything branches of wisdom "in their ultimate meaningful at all about the Gaon of I. GLIMPSES OF GREATNESS TO COME and most perfect form."" Vilna is more than daunting. It rouses The most succinct summation of the the spectre of having to answer for sins t is well known that the Gaon was a Gra's childhood is, appropriately, that of of omission and ignorance, intellectu child prodigy. But there are preco his major disciple, Rabbi Chaim of al inadequacy and spiritual unworthi I cious children and there was the Volozhin, who declared, "After much ness. And yet, two centuries have passed, Gaon. Born on the first day of Pesach analysis, I have concluded that whatev this is a milestone year, and note must 5480 (1720), Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, er my brother, Reb Zalman, attained be taken. known later simply as the Gaon3 or the during his lifetime, the Gra had already Herein lies the paradox. Enough can Gra (acronym for "Gaon Rabbi accomplished by the time he turned never be said, because as the Gaon's great Eliyahu"), was unique virtually from thirteen:" In addition to the famous disciple, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin infanthood. His son-in-law, Rabbi story of how he completed the Talmu declared, "If my brother [the brilliant Reb Moshe of Pinsk, not known to exag dic tractates of Zevachim and Menachos Zalman] had lived a thousand years, he gerate, uses the phrase "from the day of on the night of Simchas Torah when he would not have reached the ankles of the his birth" to describe the moment was eleven,s there is a lesser-known when his life's mission began. From the vignette concerning the young Gra's Rabbi Feitman is the Rav of the Young Israel of age of seven, no one was capable of breadth of knowledge. Beachwood (Cleveland), Ohio. He is a frequent contributor to these pages, most recently with teaching the Gra and he studied Torah A group of the elder scholars of Vilna "And the Fourth ... Shall Return," Summer, '97. on his own.' By the age of eight he was decided to devote six months ofintense study writing chiddushim - original Torah to the topic of the Sanctification of the New
6 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 Moon. This complex subject, when analyzed there is to know at Bar Mitzva, where through the text of the Rambam 's Mishna does he go from there? Our task in this Torah, requires extensive understanding of milestone year is to obtain at least a general astrononty, the phases of the moon he Gra was primarily glimmer of that accomplishment. and its interaction with the other heaven Tinwa rd-di reeled, ly bodies. In order to concretize the issues II. THE POWER OF TORAH involved, these elders commissioned scien perfecting himself tists and artists to prepare spheres repre o begin, let us first focus upon a senting the solar system. Unfortunately, the spiritually, absorbing few episodes in the Gaon's life scientists and artists made a basic error in ever-increasing portions Twhich are each minor when taken their models, with the result that the rab out of context, yet indicate that the Gaon bis could not properly explain the laws of of the Torah, plumbing lived on a higher plane than everyone Kiddush Hachodesh with these flawed else, precisely because he was totally instruments. Nevertheless, the rabbis set a depths unattained for immersed in the Torah. In fact, when the date to share the results of their research and generations, and Gra spoke, quoting Torah, it created a study. reality all its own. The Gra, who was all of eight years old becoming the paradigm In Vilna, the Gaon had a disciple who at the time, heard the debates in the city i,~, becanze blind at an early age. Never about this subject. He decided to spend half of the Torah personality. theless, he continued to study Torah inten an hour a day over the course of ten days What does Kial Yisroel sively, and the Gaon found him a fine young studying this issue, after wl1ich he was sat woman who was willing to marry a talmid isfied that the entire matter was absolute as a whole gain from chacham even with this disability. The ly clear. Gaon was overjoyed with his talmid 's sim When the day arrived for the elders of that? The answer is it cha and turned to him just before the chupa Vilna to impart their conclusions, the Gra gains a Goon of Vilna. and said, "Our sages teach that it is for entered the hall as well, but remained at the bidden to marry a woman until one sees side listening respectfully and intently as the her" (Kiddushin 41a), and the young man sages presented solutions - only to soon a suddenly regained his sight for the rest of his
have them refuted by another rabbi. When The Development of a Prodigy life. IO all the explanations seemed to reach a dead A miracle wrought by a tzaddik? Cer end, the future Gaon spoke up modestly but he Gra had already embarked on tainly. But the approach - quoting a emphatically: "I, too, have been studying this his seven decades of incredible halacha to alter an ostensibly irrevoca dilemma for a while, and with the permis Tdiligence in Torah study. Sleeping ble fact - allows us a window into the sion of the esteemed rabbis, I would like to no more than two hours out of every greatness the Gra achieved over the offer a suggestion." The Gra then proceed twenty-four, eating only two water decades: He both personified Torah and ed matter-of-factly to elucidate the error of soaked pieces of bread a day, wasting no embodied it, to the point where his every the artists and scientists, and why that pre more time- by his own exacting stan expression was Torah itself. Residents of cluded an accurate determination of the dard - than three hours in a year, com Vilna would relate that every word the halachos in question. pleting Shas at least monthly (a hundred Gaon spoke - even seemingly uttered The rabbis of Vilna listened in amaze blatt a day), the Gra applied his heart casually- became fulfilled in every way. ment. They had known ofthe young genius and mind unceasingly to Torah. ls it any A merchant periodically delivered who had been born to Reh Shlomo Zalman wonder that he often had over a hun shipments ofyashan ("old grain") to the and Treina Kramer, but no one thought his dred and fifty interpretations to any Gaon from his daughter and son-in-law wisdom at the age of eight extended to the given pasuk? Is it surprising that the in Pinsk, since the Gra was scrupulous not sciences and their application to Torah. secrets of the Torah unfolded before him to eat chadash, the "new grain." 11 One This was the first time the Gra uti even without the heavenly Maggid day, when the dealer arrived, there was lized his profound intellect to attain whom he sent away, indicating that an unusually large crowd in the Gaon's worldly knowledge, to be used in turn Torah must be acquired by one's own home. The Gra immediately went over to for Torah. As mentioned earlier, the Gra efforts and toil? Should we be shocked the visitor, thanked him for the delivery was only four years away from mastery that such a giant can "disagree with his and explained what was going on. He of all seven branches of human knowl predecessors until the Rama just on a pointed to a young man and related that edge. But even then it became obvious sevara (logical judgment), and until the he had just obtained the funds necessary that for the Gra, all human knowledge Rosh with a proof"'? to free his father from a wrongful incar existed solely because of the benefit it No, all of this is not so astonishing. ceration. "Take the young man immedi could provide to the Torah and its study. If someone apparently knows everything ately to go ransom his father. There is not
The Jewish Observer, February 1998 7 a moment to lose in this mitzva ofpidy and proceeded directly to the marketplace, text. The child had stayed behind in shul on shevuyim. The faster you go, the bet but all stalls were closed. The very next afterdavening and suddenly found himself ter it will be for you as well." day, however, the price ofgrain rose unac face to face with the Gaon, ivho was pac At first the merchant protested, "But countably and the grain vendor sold his ing back and forth, imn1ersed in Torah Rebbe, today is market day. By the time wares at a great profit. thoughts. In his awe ofthe rnonzent, the child I return, all the deals will be concluded To the Jews ofVilna, every word the did not notice that he ivas standing on the and I will not be able to sell my produce." Gaon uttered, especially his blessing, was Gaon's tzitzis and fear rooted him to the "Do not worry, " the Gaon assured reality. spot. Perceiving the child's terror, the Gra him, "the merit of the mitzva will help A certain fa1nily once arranged a festive gently put his hand on the little boy's shoul you." Hearing this, the merchant left forth meal for the poor of Vilna in honor of the der and whispered, "May you live long, my with to ransom the captive. When the deed fact that their child had just received the son; could you please release n1ytzitzis?" The was accomplished, he returned to Vilna Gaon's blessing, albeit in an unusual con- parents' joy at hearing this offhand bless ing front the Gra - to the degree of cele brating its n1ere pronouncetnent- was not Mozeson/Malinowski Advertising (201} 801·0101 misplaced, for indeed the young tnan lived an incredibly long life. It goes without saying that the Gaon himself lived a life protected by Divine Ith providence. During his years of personal exile, wandering the com1nunities of Europe for reasons we have yet to fully con1prehend, the Gaon encountered many dangerous situations and was always rescued in miraculous ways. Most SllC of the details of the Gaon's adventures remain unknown to us. But one story that has been handed down tells of the anti-Semitic poritz (land owner) who seized every opportunity to humiliate Jews venturing into his do1nain. Spot ting a bearded Jew wearing tallis and • tefillin, stick in hand and bag on his shoulder, the poritz looked forward glee fully to his favorite sport. "Dance and sing for me, Jew," the bully command ed. As the Gaon was about to begin, the man was seized with an uncontrollable trembling which caused all his limbs to twitch and bang against each other. The man soon fell to the floor with just bare ly enough strength left to beg forgive ness. By the time the Gaon left, the poritz had promised - and meant every word - that henceforth every Jew he met would be treated with great respect. Thus, the Gaon not only was himself The Shalom Task Force saved but left behind a much improved Abuse Hotline is endorsed by situation. Sometimes a cryptic ren1ark of the leading Orthodox Rabbonim. Gaon's would not be understood for many decades, when it became n1anifest Confidential Hotline 718 337 3700 how far-reaching his vision was. Collect calls accepted. Do it for yourself. A rich man in Vilna once came to the Do it for your children. Gra 's defense when a simple pauper spoke disrespectfully ofthe Gaon. The affluent fel-
8 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 Yeshivas Eitz Chaim of Volozhin, founded by Reb Chaim Volozhiner. stove to warm her up. In the commo tion of the moment, Treina was momentarily placed on the stove itself and nearly burned but was removed before any harm could befall her. The tradition in Vilna is that the infant was saved in the merit of her future child, the Ga on of Vilna. In later years, when Reb Chaim ofVolozhin would pass that bridge, he pronounced the blessing, "Blessed is He who performed a mira cle for me at this place:'
Seeing With Torah Eyes
eyond the miraculous and the low lost his temper and screamed in agita please guard the remnant of Israel, do not supernatural, the most important tion at the ignorant indigent. The Gra allow the destruction of Israel, who recite Bperspective we need to attain turned to his prosperous defender in surprise Shma Yisroel." At that moment, the bridge about the Gaon is how the decades of and inquired, '}\person who does not even collapsed and the enemies of Israel were virtual immersion in Torah trans know whether he ivill be buried in his own destroyed. formed the Gaon's vision of the Torah shrouds - why should he lose his temper Interestingly, the Gaon's mother her itself, and by extension, our own, as his like that!" self had experienced a miraculous res disciples and heirs. Because the Gaon The wealthy man's family was devas cue involving a bridge when she was but was kulo Torah- totally and exclusively tated. What did the Gaon mean! The Gaon, an infant. Little Treina was being carried Torah - we need to examine whatev however, assuaged their apprehension with by her mother over the bridge crossing er aspects of the Gra's Torah that are the promise, "Do not worry, he will yet live the River Romanova when she lost her accessible, for us to gain an insight into long and die a rich 1nan!' footing and the child resting on her lit who he was. Many years went by, the Gaon himself tle pillow fell into the churning waters The Chazon !sh ':>"lit saw the Gaon in had already passed away, and one Erev Yorn below. The mother cried bitterly know the grand continuum of Moshe Kippur arrived. The old man was prepar ing that a child could not survive such Rabbeinu, Ezra Hasofer, Rabbeinu Haka ing for the Holy Day and his soul sudden a fall, yet a few moments later the cush dosh, Rav Ashi and the Rambam. ly left his body. In the Chevra Kadisha 's rush ion and its precious cargo floated Undoubtedly, one of the Gaon's great to bury their eldest distinguished citizen, toward the shore. The frozen tot was est contributions to Torah study was his they discovered to their dismay at the cen1e rushed home and brought close to the insistence on searching out the earliest tery that they had forgotten to take the silk tachrichim that the man had prepared for himself many years before. Given the pres sures ofsundown approaching, they took out some simple shrouds used for the destitute and clothed the prosperous gentleman in the clothing of the impoverished. Only then did some members of the family recall the Gaon's prophetic words so many years before. On another occasion, ivhen war had torn FOR the veneer of civilization froni Vilna, a gang THE FINEST of anti-Semitic thugs were heading, weapons ofdestruction in hand, for the Jew IN 1 ish quarter. The Gaon looked out the shul 1111111 window and spied the ominous scene. As the AND VIDEO menacing mob began to cross the bridge into the Jewish area, the Gra said softly - USA/ISRAEL -7N1V' i::IN" 7N171'1:-ren n~11'fV ill:!V 7Ni'V' 1l:ilV" 7N1'V' l.ll:i'I.? Wll:ilNil - Guardian of Israel,
The Jewish Observer, February 1998 9 possible source for every conclusive statement and halacha in Torah litera • ture. At the end of his life, when his dis he approach - quoting a holocho to alter an ciples describe him as studying only ostensibly irrevocable fact - allows us a Tanach, this took the incredible form of T seeing the entirety of Torah Shebaal Peh window into the greatness the Gro achieved over - the Oral Law - as traceable to the words of the Written Torah. the decades: He both personified Torah and The brother of Rabbi Raphael of Hamburg once asked him, "Why is it embodied it, to the point where his every that you tremble so at any mention of Torah itself. the Gaon, more than all previous Torah expression was giants?" Instead of answering, Reb •Raphael told his brother to get a certain sefer from the shelf. When he brought it, Reb Raphael held up the sefer and declared, "The Gaon knew this book - the Tanach - totally and absolutely. That is, he saw the entire panorama of the two Talmudim, the Midrashim, and all of the Oral Law in its pages and between its lines.»12 Presents An example of this ability may be his insight in the disagreement in the Gen1ora about one who is wandering in KIRUV L'MAASEH the desert and has lost all track of time. One opinion is that he should count six An inspirational and practical seminar designed for days and keep the next one as Shabbos, frum people who have contact with non observant Jews while the other opinion holds that he designate one day as Shabbos and then TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED: count six days. The halacha is in accor • How to approach a co-worker/friend/neighbor/family member dance with the first opinion because that • Kiruv at the Shabbos table • Answering tough questions is the order in which the world was cre • Why I became frum, by a recent Ba' al Tshuva ated. • The positive effects of Kiruv on our families • Questions & Answers The Gaon revealed that both the halacha and the reason were hinted at SPEAKERS: in the Torah. The Torah says in regard Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, Director, National Jewish Outreach Program to Shabbos (Shemos 31,17) o?v7N'i"!rnN Steve Eisenberg, Noted Kiruv layman - "She will be a sign forever;' and the Rabbi Eli Gewirtz, National Directo1; Partners in Torah, Torah Un1esorah word "forever" is written without at The Rabbi Avraham Goldhar, Educational Director, Aish HaTorah, NY Gra cites the Gemora in Pesachim 50a which quotes the pasuk ti:>v':> >r.nv m - Rabbi Yitz Greenman, Executive Direct - 10 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 rested .... " In other words, if you are in able to perceive these patterns long ago. a he'elani situation, in doubt about when Not only in Tanach, but even in Gemo to commemorate Shabbos, follow the ra, the Gra revealed the significance of pattern of creation: count six and then the count of words and letters, giving us one, just as G-d Himself did in the an added dimension of appreciation for beginning. 13 the words of our sages. Thus, studying the Gaon's Torah insights serves as a In the Field ofHalacha powerful antidote to those who trivial ize the Torah and see only a reflection he Gaon's great accomplishment of their small selves in its sacred words. in his commentary on the The Gra elevated for us the process of TShulchan Aruch was to look back Torah study, so that we approach it with beyond its pages to sources not obvious, a sense of the awe and majesty of this to nuances unnoticed by others, to holy occupation. understand clearly the context of every With all this in mind, let us review halacha. In addition, often - indeed, ing the same text thousands upon together several legacies the Gaon has many hundreds of times - the com thousands of times, how much tnore so left us, which inform and drive our spir mentary alters our understanding and should vve energize ourselves to learn itual lives in his two hundredth Yahrzeit practice of a particular halacha. The Gra Torah with the freshness and zeal of year. made Kiddush while sitting, did not someone who knows he is exploring insist that the challos be on the table dur new territory. Ill. CREATING THE TORAH WORLD ing Kiddush, used two matzos instead of Although today, some use comput three at the Seder, insisted that the ers to discover vvord and letter patterns ing Davis sings: "My cup runs Haftorah be read from a ritually pre in the Torah, the Gra through his over" (Tehillim 23,5). There is a pared scroll, was extremely strict that unparalleled way of seeing every letter K metaphor used in sefarim to everyone - both men and won1en - individually and in its context - was contrast two forms of teaching. One eat Melaveh Malka (the post-Shabbos meal), required that chometz be con sumed right after Pesach was over, did not recite nnV'I or i1'\!J1J 1:11"1 on Shab bos and Yorn Tov eve, did not allow the recitation of a blessing on the Yorn Kip THE YESHIVA OF NEW HAVEN pur candles, required sleeping in the is now accepting applications for Elul 5758. succa up to the evening of Simchas Torah, including all of Shemini Atzeres, • Shiurim with the read the Rosh Chodesh Torah reading dif Rosh HaYeshiva ferently from commonly accepted, and stipulated that the Blessing over the New • Warm atmosphere Moon be recited as soon as possible, not • Excellent Rebbeim \.Vaiting seven days, even before Yorn Kippur. • Solid high school These constitute the mere tip of the curriculum iceberg of the Gaon's novel interpreta • Attractive, spacious tions and halachic rulings that have dormitories come down to us. So given this incred ible greatness, originality and genius, A Mesivca for bochurim interested in serious learning what can we possibly learn from the life and preparing for more advanced general studies. of the Gra? Quite a bit If we have truly assimi N"D')l!I i)J)J'IJ)J) onJY.l ,, ) 11 n1n lated a sense of the Gaon's extraordinary i1:l''l"il 'VN1 hasmada - his tireless diligence in 195 Norton Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511 Torah study- coupled with his excep Approved by State of Connecticut Department of Education tional knowledge, we can only conclude that we have a lot to learn, indeed. If the Gra could find pearl after pearl study- For applications call (203) 777-7199 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 11 describes a pitcher that pours water into absorbing ever-increasing portions of undeniable, it allows us to believe that a series of glasses until they are full. The the Torah, plumbing depths unattained it can be replicated at least in part. And other relates to a pitcher surrounded by for generations, and becoming the par its result is no less than the Torah world cups. The vessel is filled to overflowing adigm of the Torah personality. we see today. The Gaon demonstrated and all the glasses beneath become full What does Kial Yisroel as a whole gain in the most dramatic of ways - with from the surfeit. from that? The answer is it gains a Gaon his life itself - that filling the cup to A contemporary Rosh Yeshiva ofVilna. His saturation with Torah, his overflowing is the most efficacious way N"l'•'::>w suggested to me this latter overflow of knowledge and wisdom, of nourishing the famished and "water image as the definitive model of the halachic guidance and ideal role-mod ing the thirsty flock:' Gra's role in the history of Mesoras eling can only result from his years of HaTorah- the eternal transmission of isolation and self-perfection. The Gaon Launching the World of the Yeshiva Torah through the ages. For most of his is the prototype of this method of life, the Gra was primarily inward-direct enhancing and uplifting Kial Yisroel. In he Talmud (Bava Basra 2la) tells ed, perfecting himself spiritually, him, the obviously dazzling result is so us that one person, Rabbi TYehoshua Ben Gamla, deserves credit for saving the 1brah, for devising Catering under Hashgocho ot@vaad Hakashruth of Lakewood, N.J. the educational system that we today know as elementary schools. Torah his * Ground floor rooms avail. TRANSPORTATION tory does not deal with "innovators" - also joining rooms who think of things their predecessors CAR • l hr. from Verrazano Bridge * Communal & private a.,10 were incapable of devising. Instead, these private family rooms avail. BUS from/to Port Authority giants anticipate new needs, assess con (NJ Transit OI Suburban) temporary dangers, and act in ways that * Shul on premises, Dally Spend ntJ!I in a every I /2 hr. (24 hrs. daily) were unnecessary for an earlier age.14 rush hr. every 10 min. Dtltl~ & '131' ft, heimeshe atmosphere The same can be said of the found a,,tV'v.t tor men & women at the BUS From/To Boro Park ing of the first great Lithuanian Yeshiva 47th corner 14th Ave by Rabbi Chaim ofVolozhin; the author * Special Diets Avail. Daily A.M. and P.M. ity and guiding force of this vital devel Vegetarian, Cholesterol Fiee, Sall Free & Sugar Free (908) 920· 7202 opment in Torah history was the Gaon ofVilna. In fact, for various reasons, the VAN From/To Monsey * Baby sitting first time Reb Chaim approached the Main St. cor. Maple Ave, service avail. Gaon with this project, the Gra reject Doily A.M. and P.M. ed the idea, only to propose it several (914) 352-8543 years later, when he was convinced that * Modern Mikvah the motives were on the spiritually nearby pure level necessary of this vehicle for * 24 hr.Tea Room We can arrange Torah transmission to become part of the door to door fabric of Kial Yisroel.15 * 2 Blocks transportation The curriculum of the Yeshiva Eitz Chaim of Volozhin, which became the from Yeshiva 10 ~Q.lfd- ped,a,c),, (l)..t., before and after Yorn Tov forerunner of almost all future yeshiv- * 5 Blocks from $900~ Lake Carasaljo • Special reduced rates FULi, SERVICE BROKER for large femmes CHOLHAMOED ADAM Z. RICE •No Gebroks TRIPP & CO., INC. Matzoh Shmurah hand & machine For reservations 8r: info ENTERTAINMENT call toll free * 20 minutes from Specialists - Tax Free Bonds * Free Transportation 1-800-CAPITOL Great Adventure Established 1938 to Shopping Malls (227-4865) * Bus to Sesame Place Member NASD & SIPC or Philadelphia Zoo 212-608-4710 * Medical - Hatzoloh Volunteer * Gome & Video Room also Kimball Hospital nearby Exercise and Aerobics 800-232-1013 40 Rector Street, New York 10006 Fax 212-608-9796 All prices ore based on double occupancy and do not include 6'%1 N.J, Sates Tax or tips. 12 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 os, reflected many of the Gra's own posi tions concerning Torah study. The pri macy of Talmudic study with the com mentaries of Rishonim (the classic medieval authorities), avoidance of pilpul (the intricate and sometimes far-fetched reasoning which was in vogue in many circles), and insistence on high personal standards in middos (morality and ethics): through the influence of the Gra, all became part of the standard approach of the Yeshiva world. sented critical and unreligious approach Inspiration For the Mussar Movement es to Talmudic scholarship was to point The Unity of Piety and Scholarship to the undisputed greatest scholar of all. corollary of this fact is the effect Contemplating the life of the Gaon, it has the character of the Gra had on ronically, during his lifetime, Rabbi always been clear that to be measured by ARabbi Yisroel Salanter and the Eliyahu of Vilna was called the his standard, unsurpassed knowledge of masters of the Mussar Movement. The I Chassid. 16 "Gaon" is generally trans Torah must be combined with equally primary influence upon Reb Yisroel was lated in terms of intellectual brilliance sublime middos, character and absolute Reb Yosef Zundel of Salant, who was a and Chassid is understood as pious or religious piety. One not totally commit prime disciple of Rabbi Chaim of devout.17 The Gra's universally recog ted to religious observance on the high Volozhin. The saintliness and stress nized genius was coupled with an est and most detailed of levels must be upon character development that radi equally acknowledged sterling person rejected as a Torah leader, even if he is ated from the Gaon to Reb Chaim was ality and character. an expert on texts, jurisprudence and the transmitted through Reb Yosef Zundel He was renowned for living a most Talmud itself. to the founder of the Mussar Movement, frugal personal life, abiding by an incredibly high standard of conduct whereby, for instance, he did not expose the city shammas for robbing him 'Ybur daughter d¢s~rves' weekly of his meager stipend from a a s6Jid foundati(m trust fund. This larceny went on for sev in Torah and middos eral years until the fellow confessed on his deathbed, but the Gaon and his fam ily suffered in silence for years rather than expose the thief. This and other such stories about the Gaon's noble character imprinted all sub sequent generations with the dual pre requisites for being accepted as a gadol. Indeed, the best answer to those who pre- HAT PLUS Hats • Shirts • Ties • Accessories Your #1 Stop for Quality Hats LARGEST SELECTION OF CHOSONIM TIES IN BROOKLYN y S; :;c)ribrlint on-campus cmnmuni'Jj •if stud'ents amfbrRt•r'dei[Kiule.•h~~;~~ 1368 Coney Island Avenue •;,;:.; lJi~ 99 minutes from (71 S) 377-5050 APPLICATIONS NOW Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS The Jewish Observer, February 1998 13 Reb Yisroel Salanter. 18 'I'h • You can create an endless source of z'chusim in It was the Gaon who taught that" all JS memory of a family member when you sponsor a service of G-d depends upon develop •t day's learning in the new ing one's middos'' 19 and warned that 7 e1 pocket edition of CHOFE1Z character improvement was a lifelong art--- - h I CHAIM: A ~ON A DAY. battle that never ceases.20 On the other This new version of the very hand, he taught that harnessing the evil O successful English sefer is expected to reach 10,000 people. inclination for good is one of the major D Your $250 sponsorship lets forces available to Man2I. their learning, year after Thus during the century after the SOllle thin g year, stand as a precious passing of the Gaon, Torah life took on a new dyna1nic direction as a result of 10 both his personal tzidkus and the Extraordinary f~~~s :~~ emphasis he placed upon purifying one's personality by constant examination and Call now to reserve your day! Reservations are on a first come-first served basis. improvement of every character trait. Call (914) 352-3505 or 1-800-867-2482 Wordly Knowledge in Service of Torah I HI, CHOI LIZ CHAIM HEIHlAC,J: IOUNDAllON he Gaon is sometimes mistaken i ly cited as the champion of secu Tlar studies for their own sake. Actually, quite the opposite is true. The To help harness the enormous spirit reverberating throughout the Americas Gra's writings and teachings provide in the wake of the historic Tenth Siyum incontrovertible proof that he saw all HaShas of the Oaf Yomi, Agudath Israel knowledge - worldly wisdom, science of America's Oaf Yomi Commission and other disciplines - solely as vehi reminds the public that. .. cles for understanding the parts of the • If you require assistance in the forma Torah that they illuminated. He used var tion of a new Oaf Yomi group and/or ious branches of mathematics to expli are in need of a qualified maggid shiur, the Daf Yomi Commission can help. cate the difficult "Arugah" Mishna in the tractate Kilayim, applied his vast under • For a laminated book-mark with a 16- month Oaf Yomi calendar, free of standing of music to explain the songs charge, our office can be written or of the Levi'im in the Beis Hamikdash, his faxed. A 32-page seven-year calendar intimate knowledge of astronomy to is also available, for a handling charge explain the esoteric laws of the sanctifi of $2.00 each. cation of the New Moon. One of his • If you are aware of a new Oaf Yomi major disciples, Rabbi Yisroel of Shklav, shiur, please contact us for a Shiur quotes him as saying," All branches of Registration Form, so that it can be human knowledge are required for the included in the new edition of the North American Directory of Oaf Yomi Torah and all are found in it."22 So Shiurim presently under preparation. indeed, the Gra encourages the mastery • In the meantime, copies of the 1996 of all human knowledge - but only as Directory - though it does not list the a tool for understanding the 1brah, as he myriad new groups established since utilized it.23 the Siyum - are still available. • You can also send for a free Directory Precision and Accuracy of Oaf Yomi Services, outlining the var ious programs and assistance avail elated to, but independent of, the able to participants in limud Daf Yomi. Gra)s use of mathematics is his Rwidespread interpretations show ing the arithmetic exactitude of every statement using numbers, whether in Tanach or the Talmud. The Gra demon strates the reason Efron's figure was 14 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 exactly 400 Shekalim, the significance of Yisroel in Parshas Bereishis.26 ed Torah SheBaal Peh - the Oral Law the amount of s'lav (fowl) that descend But these esoteric abilities aside, the - with Torah SheBichsav - the Writ ed from the sky in the desert, why it took Gra used his Torah literary output to ten Law - in the way in which it was exactly 300 kohanim to immerse the tighten the connections between the var given at Sinai, simultaneously and as paroches, why Achasheverosh needed ious parts of the Torah. In his master one. And so, the Gra becomes both the 180 days to exhibit his treasures, etc.24 work, the commentary on the Shulchan great defender of the Torah at the same The net effect of these and hundreds Aruch, he shows how every law and cus time as he is its great explicator. In fact, of other calculations is to convey the tom has its source someplace in the Tal the Gaon saw every single area of the almost scientific precision of the Torah. mud, either Babylonian or Jerusalem, Torah as unified with every other, so that To the Gaon, there are no mere Midrash or Tosefta. In this way, the Gaon there is no division between halacha and metaphors or exaggerations. One must implicitly refuted the allegation made by Aggada, Kabba/a and Parshanus (expli simply understand how the calculation those who attack the Torah by claiming cation). In the words of Rabbi Yitzchok came about. As the blueprint of the that the rabbis fabricated new laws not Hutner ':>"YT , "all the exertion in the t:> \vorld, the Torah is not only correct in mentioned in the Bible. The Gra weld- of t>Tl!l ( t:> standing for "T'lt:>, the secrets every detail, but is mathematically ver ifiable wherever numbers are used. ,,,., The Gaon actually anticipated the kind of hidden number and letter pat terns that have only recently been dis covered by computer analyses. To be sure, contemporary use of these meth ods are controversial and it is ques tionable how useful these approaches will be in the long run. But it is indis .,,.,n ,~,.,) ~~~"n' ~!>"l:i:i putable that the Gra over two centuries N"U'!IV !l'tl'!IN 'tl"'ill"I lit> OVNi!l ago was discovering meaning in math '11N ni111 ,,,, N"U'!l'U ),!U"'tl 'Ot'lll> 0"n ,, !l'11'1 l1N)1'1 l'lt.:>1 ematical arrangements throughout the Torah. He could recite the number of words and even letters in every book of The SEMINARY for SERIOUS STUDENTS Tanach, the number of statements by with the hills of tl'!l\!ll'I' right out ofour windows each Amora in the Gernora, and saw clearly the significance of each of these •.Where i!?lp '?IH'/is intensive and intellectually stimulating statistics; by occasionally revealing these •.Where the atmosphere is full of h/?, P'Hi! .hk?'and warmth previously hidden treasures, he charted a path that has already yielded some fas • Where ,?17./?tl generating skiffs are taught (Teaching Degree, Computer cinating results, as exemplified in the Programming, Shaitel Styfing, and more.,.) Aish Hatorah ''Discovery" seminars •Where everv .nPI! & Pld pf' is just like at home; where eveiy meal is served and other venues. Rabbi Dov Eliach's in the dorm and is filled with Heimishkeit and ,??I.h l?P?. No girl ever has recently published compilation of the Gra's interpretations on the Torah - the/)¥of looking to be "placed" for .nl.nPI!, P'PldP'H 1 & the P'??O N"1li11n'nn:l tJ")"l!:i- contains dozens of these kinds of numerical and alphabet In response to many requests, we will be accepting late ical patterns. applications (Sorry, at this late date, limited space available} The Unity of the Written and the Oral Law For more information, please call: IN ISRAEL: Sais Yaakov Ohel Sarah (Aish) Office s mentioned earlier, the Gra, at (972) 2·651-1594 or Fax (972) 2-651-1793 the end of his life, studied only IN. U.S.A.: Mrs. Sukey Gross (732) 364-8105 or ATanach.'' But what a Tanach Mrs. Kesha Weingarten (718) 998-1999 learning it was! He was able to see the Rebbitzen Vitel Kalmanowitz entirety of the Torah in the Five Books Rabbi & Mrs. Feigenbaum Administrators n~1nn n!1n1n of Moses. In fact, in response to a ques tion, he once admitted that he could read all of the mitzvos in the Torah and (~''M) 11.,~ ;111x !li'l'' '1'!1 all the major events that occurred to Kial P. 0. BOX 43186 HAR NOF, JERUSALEM ISRAEL The Jewish Observer, February 7998 15 of the Torah) do not diminish by an iota are asleep and removed from Torah and the toil in the~ of 1'T1!l (~stands for 1'1!"-l mitzvos. The next, they arise from their the more basic interpretation of the sleep like lions, seizing the opportuni • words themselves of the Torah). 27 ty to recite the Shma and declare f the Gra could find In order to get even a slight sense of Hashem the king ... : pearl after pearl the Gaon's achievement in his com A careful reading of the Gra's anno I mentary to the Shulchan Aruch, we will tation reveals a profound lesson and the studying the same text look at two examples from the very first answer to an ancient question. The section of Orach Chaim, the laws of daily source from Pirkei Avos seems adequate thousands upon life. The Shulchan Aruch begins with the for determining that the Torah advocates words: "One should strengthen oneself Divine service with leonine strength. thousands of times, like a lion to arise in the morning to But the question remains: since the serve his Creator." The Gaon cites Pirkei Mishna in Avos lists the attributes of how much more so Avos 5:20 as a source for the first three other creatures that can be useful phrase "strengthen .. .like a lion," since the in serving G-d, why not enumerate those should we energize Mishna there refers to "serving G-d with as well? In fact, the Tur does just that. the strength of a lion:' The answer the Gaon grants us is that ourselves to learn Torah This source is sufficient for most the lion is the prototype of a particular con11nentators. The Gaon, however, type of strength - not physical with the freshness and cites an additional source for the phrase prowess, but the persistence to reverse "arise like a lion:' He indicates the inertia by initiating movement after zeal of someone who Midrash in Bamidbar Rabba (20:19) being stationary. The lion is particularly pointing to the verse in Balak (23,24), representative of this trait, since it knows he is exploring "the nation arises like a young lion:' The sleeps for an extended period of time, Midrash teaches, "There is no nation in but when it arises, it does so swiftly and new territory. the world like them. One moment they with alacrity. • With the Gaon's short footnote, we understand why the Shulchan Aruch chose this aniinal to motivate us in the section entitled "A Person's Conduct in the Morning." Furthermore, we derive from the Gaon an insight into the par ticular type of strength required to act after having been apathetic or lethargic. One must move swiftly and forcefully, seizing the opportunities to accomplish spiritual action. A second example comes from the Gaon's comment upon the first gloss of Shul stocked with Seforim the Rama, who writes: " 'I place G-d Indoor Pool/Separate Swimming Only Sauna, Jacuzzi before me always' ( Tehillim 16,8) is a Heahh Oub & Exercise Room major principle in the Torah ...." The Private Sedorim Door to Door Traruportation Gaon cites what appears to be a sur Tunnis Court8 prising source - "Bar Kappara taught, Private Lake """Camp What is a small section of the Torah Daf Yomi & Other Shiurim upon which all the major themes of the Aerobics & Dancing By Chaykee Davidowitz Professional Development seminar for educators. Torah depend? The answer is 'Acknowl Seeaiona will be held & coonlinated every day by edge Him in all your ways and He will Dr. Mordechai Yaakov Summer. direct your paths"' (Mishlei 3,6, Berachos 63a). At first, the reference seems some what off the mark, since the pasuk is apparently about bringing a religious 16 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 sensibility to all that we do, while the IV. EPILOGUE: anzazed to listen to an apparently lowly Shulchan Aruch rules that we must wagon driver discussing intricate Talrnudic always be aware of the presence of G-d. Rabbeinu Eliyahu, the Gaon of Vilna issues in the n1ost rnatter-of-fact way. A glance at the Gaon's commentary on When he asked the baa! agalla (wagon dri Mishlei, however, reveals that "acknowl fter all the lists are enumerated ver) about this seemingly strange phenom edging Him in all ways" means per and the contributions cata enon, he answered simply, "Don't you forming every action l'shem Shamayim Ai ogued, a simpler yet more pen know that here in Vilna there lived the Graf" - "for the sake of heaven." etrating final statement must be made "But what ivas his position?" the trav The combination of these two con about the Gra. My Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzchok eler persisted. "Was he the rabbi? cepts directs us to the essence of the Hutner 7"~t,used to tell the following "No." Torah way of life. One can engage in story: "The judge?" many activities - eating, sleeping, A man was traveling in Vilna and was "No." working, etc. What will define them as part of a spiritual life is whether or not they are performed with G-d in mind, for the sake of heaven. Of course, these are just aspects of two tiny glosses upon the first halacha Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUST '1PAPERWORK" in the Shulchan Aruch. Although entire ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT METHOD works have been written to explicate the Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Yisrael Gaon's commentary, the work remains 1569-47th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 an infinite source of novel interpretation Day&N".ghtphone: (718) 851-8925 and guidance, each observation serving J))t»!lH1!lr.JHj7 ))l"i' - )>i:> 1Hl nl!lll)) 'll!l also to enhance our appreciation of this Ches00!1te!EMFSwidtMe!irasl\lfu;h..a;.-aod~byonea1ireinlheinduslryfilrmoredmhalfa"'11Ury. great treasure bequeathed to us by the BEWARE OF IMPOSTERS • fAHARAS HANIFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE COMMERCIALIZED Gaon. The Prototype ('Brisker" erhaps the single most enduring method of Torah study to emerge Pfrom the Yeshiva world of the past century or so is known colloquially as the "Brisker Method." 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One of Rosh Hanilcra •Fully Equipped Modern Gym• Underground Caves• Eilat •Glass Bottom Boat • Air Conditioned Dining Rooms • Banana Booting • Ein Gedi • Biblical Zoo • I the hallmarks of "Brisk" is the close Waferparks • Har Haziseim • Beautiful Campus & Dormitory • Snorkling • Paddle analysis that breaks down each subject Boating• Campfire• Tour the Gali/ •Daven Va'sekin at Kosel• light & Sound Desert I or law into various components. Once Experience• Golan Heights• Gamla •Cable Cars • Be'er Sheva • Make Wonderful International friends • Yad Vashem • Swim in Yam Hamelach • Bedouin Tents • I broken down, these segments are found Decoupage• Climb Incredible Mountains • Achdus • Tzipori • Arts & Crafts • Our Own to have different functions, variations or Olympic Pool• Grape Picking • Shmiras Halashon Rally• Rabbi Zev Leff• Ancient Susya I distinctions, which were not readily dis •Cairo Cenizo Museum• Jeeping• Hotel Hamerchazi in Tzefos •Hotel El Artzei in Eilat • Kanyan Ha'adom • Silk Screening• Meo Shearim • Rebbe's Tisch• Flower & fruit I cernible before being separated. Decoration• Camel Rides• Color War• Kever Rachel• Kever David Homelech • Mearat Even a cursory study of many of the Luzit • Meorat Chazon • Nachol Amud Nature Trail• Climb Sand Dunes • Mearat I Hakemach • Degem 8eis Hamikdash • Klei Hamishkan • Hay Rides • Banyas • Mode Gra's writings shows that the Gaon Wedding • Swim in Hatzbonei River• Sunset Kumzifz by the Ocean • Tzfas Candle I employs this method in many of his Factory • Cave of the Chashmonaim •Orange Picking • and Much, Much Morel interpretations. Throughout Mishlei, • Just Ask A!!X of our Wonderful Machone Bracho Campers! for instance, the Gaon dissects each sec tion into various parts, and contrasts the results until every point is absolutely I A Safe, Secure, Warm Atmosphere In Magnificent Y ad Blnyamln dear. This, too, is part of our legacy from Under the Direction of Rabbi Sholom & Mrs. Chaya G/nzberg I the Ga on of Vilna. L - 12:'!..£~3!:. ~"'!!! -&:.:".!!.":.."!.. ~.! .!.~el:!~ -- • The Jewish Observer, February 1998 17 4 he inspired are the result of See the introduction of the Gra's sons to his commentary on Shulchan Aruch-Orach Chain1. his very existence as much 5 Cl'i??N V'T' ':I iUlVN"m i1ilj7l7 "TV - Intro as anything he actually did. duction of the Gra's sons to Adderes Eliyahu on We are grateful to Hashem 1brah. that the Gaon of Vilna "iz 6 Ibid. doh ge'ven:' • 7 Tosefes Ma'aseh Rav, She'iltos, No. 111. Reb Chaim's apparent ongoing con1parison of his 1 Some of the n1aterial for this brother with the Gaon was not his own. His article was taken from the Succos beloved brother, knowi1 as Reb Zeln1eieh, was also 5757 Hebrew edition of the Yated a prodigy, \vho knew the entire Talmud and Codes Ne'eman. An i1nportant segment by heart, and was often likened to the Gaon. Since of that presentation was material he passed away at an early age, there were those frorn a forthcoming work by who projected that had he lived to old age, he Rabbi Dov Eliach, a noted expert would have reached the Gaon's stature. Reh Chaim Ksav yad of the Gra on the Gaon. The working title of felt compelled to respond to this conjecture. u11vu1 the sefer is rrin - lll'W"l. 8 Ibid. "The maggid (preacher)?" 2 Sa'aras Eliyahu, page 45. 9 Quoted by Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch in the "No." 3 See Landau, p. 35, nt. 8 for the genesis of nan1e of Rabbi Chaim ofVolozhin, in an inter "Well then, why did he have such influ this title. One interesting source is the story of the view in Yated Ne'eman, Hebrew edition, Succos ence and power?" Gra's meeting \vith the Shaagas Aryeh in Vilna. 5758 ( 1997). 'Veil er iz doh ge'ven - because he was The Shaagas Aryeh asked one of his famous Tal JO Quoted by Y. Yashfeh in Yated Ne'einan, here."23 mudic questions which had previously stumped Succos 5757. brilliant 1ninds, and the Gra instantly gave an inge~ 11 in contrast to refers to the Ultimately, the unique place of the nious answer \vhich resolved the difficulty in every Chadash, yashan, Gaon ofVilna and his impact upon Jew aspect. The Sliaagas Aryeh stood in amazement Torah prohibition against eating grain (or its declaring, "'vVhat a gaon, what a gaon." See, also, products) that take root after the start of the omer ish history 1nust remain an enigma. He on the second day of Pesach. This prohibition was what he was. The changes he Landau p. 114, for the fascinating tradition that the Gra's soul was the same as that of Rav Hai extends until the next omer, vvhen the grain wrought, the directions he charted, the Gaon. Thus they were both called "Gaon" with becomes permitted as yashan. revolution he initiated, the institutions out further identification. 12 Aliyos Eliyaliu, page 40. u See 38 v. :ruv 7v N .. -Ui1 ll'::J1 '11N'::Jl 'V'l'T'n. ~------~-~ 14 See Pachad Yitzchok on Shavuos, last !vfa'a- I I mar, p. 239. ARE You MOVING? 15 See Rabbi Dov Eliach, Reb Chaim of I I Volozhin, p. 53. I IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED I 16 See sources in Rabbi Betzalel Landau INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? Hagaon Hechassid !vliVilna p. 39, nts. 6 and 7. I I Many of the primary sources quoted in this arti I We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. I cle may be found in Landau's excellent work. Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and 17 See Pachad Yitzchok, Chanuka, p. 75. I computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. I rn See lVritings of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, ed. I Mordechai Fechter, p. 21. !9 See the Gra'scom1nentary to the beginning I of Shir Hashiritn; Esther 10,3; Mishlei 7,20, Affix old label here among many other places, especially throughout I the commentary to A1ishlcL I 20 Commentary to Shir Hashirim l,5 and I Mishlei 16,32. 21 See Commentary to Mish lei 25, l 7, Yeshaya I Name ------5,7 and Berachos 31 b. New Address ______I 22 Introduction to P'as HaShulclian. City, 2-'I See also Landau p.213-336. I 24 See, further, Landau, p. 218, ftnt. 3. State, I 2s Aliyos Eliyahu, page 20b. I Date Effective______2o Quoted by the author of the Tor11!1 Temi ma in his A1ekor Baruch. See, also, Landau, p. 132, I Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer Change of Address nt. 21. 84 William Street, New York, NY 10038 I 21 Sefer HaZikaron L'Baal Pachad Yitzchok, p. Please, allow 4-6 weeks for alt changes to be reflected on your mailing label. We will not be 76. responsible for back issues missed unless you notify us 6 weeks prior to your move. I 28 Ibid. p. 37. L------~ ------18 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 Does this _ you? of scholars of all You've just finished·1earning a p1~ in N1m, yet., ages, worldwide, You cannot recall., .., ..,. You cannot remember on the material You've taken time off your busy schedule to learn, they've covered. you've invested effort, but you are disappointed Participants com with your retention. mit to one of the various categories Mm:fal Hashas be vo!!lHI' s11Jlu'lio111: of learning and at We are dedicated to helping serious students to the end of each become true Tulmidei Chachomim. Our purpose is month, they con to help them master what they have learned. verge to one of It's a proven fact: To retain what you've learned, the many test you need to sites world-wide review and to take an exam review again. on the subject -----..:::::·----:.i..:~~J You need to matter. A study harder, stipend is granted based on the as you would grade. In a few years, they will have mastered for an exam. "Gantz Shas". That's what Sponsor a Mifal Hashas scholar. Mifal Hashas Mifal Hashas. Developing the leaders of tomorrow - does. It today. administers the exami nation and grading for Ylsoschor/Zewlun Partnership thousands I would like to become a partner in the wonderful work of Mifal hashas by contributing Cl $150 per month as a Shutaf Ha Torah' Cl $36 per month as a Mokir HaTorah :J $100 per month as a Parnes HaTorah :J $18 per month as a Chai Supporter Cl $50 per month as aTomech HaTorah Cl$ other Name MlalHashas Address ______where our aim is ... Telephone ______Nurtunng the Torah leaders *The cost of supporting one scholar. Any and all contributions to "Mital Hashas" are tax deductible and most appreciated. qf tomorrow, today MIFAL HASHAS, 4415· 14th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11219 (718) 436-7790 MIFAL HASHAS is an international non-profit orgamzatron dedrcated to the development of outstanding Torah scholars Jt administrates and directs the study and examinatmn process of the entire "shas'', and dispenses monthly stipends to only those who excel OUTSIDE/INSIDE: WHEREIN THE BOOK INFORMS THE COVER Rabbi Shlomo M. Breslauer V tir utri t & THEIR INSIDE I entered the Tower Air termi I thought, why couldn't I get a seat next al at JFK airport to check in for to one of them to enjoy their company? y recent trip to Bretz Yisroel, it I extended my hand with a Sholom ale was already crowded. I got into line scan • ichem, which he returned, and that was ning the scores of people who had gath II Ribbono Shel the end of the conversation. He resumed ered there before me and were quietly reading his paper and I took out my building up behind me. There seemed Olam," I thought Chumash and Gemora to make use of to be only Jews, but the variety was to myself, "is this a the time. a1nazing. There were those who were After about an hour into the flight, obviously Torah oriented and observant cross section of Kial my seat mate had finished his paper and - yeshiva men, Bais Yaakov girls, dozed off, and I had to leave my seat for Chassidic families and generally recog Yisroel? Is this the face a while. Upon 1ny return, I iinmediate nizable Shomrei Torah u'rnitzvos of ly noticed that my Chumash was miss all ages. With these I felt immediately at of Yaakov as it appears ing. My neighbor had borrowed it. And home. There were others, though, in the world? What a when he saw me, he pointed to the towards whom I felt various degrees of Chumash and to me and to his lips. I estrange1nent. Men with tiny yarmulkas, tremendous assignment smiled, said it was fine, genzuteheit - long shocks of hair, clad in jeans and bla and he kept it for an hour and a half till tantly without tzitizis. Bare-headed men Moshiach will have in he was finished being maavir Sedra. At with pony tails and golden ear trinkets the time of davening, his tefilla was and wo1nen whose clothes were the bringing all these hearts meticulous, and at mealtin1e his bera antithesis of tzenius, whether they cov back to You - in chos were said with care, and I was filled ered or not. They could have been from with regret for my initial disappoint any ethnic group but they chatted in thought and 1n action." ment and with the pleasure to have his lvrit and that hurt all the more. Between company. The "book" had exonerated these two extre1nes were those who, in the "cover;' and I had failed! varying degree, gave preference to sec • ular appearance over Jewish identity. hen traveling fro1n west to As the line inched forward and east, daylight comes early, between my efforts to look into a sefer, YisroeR Is this the face of Yaakov as it W and soon some minyanim I looked at people and formed opinions. appears in the world? What a tremen were organized. VVhen Shachariswas fin I judged each "book" by its "cover" and dous assignment Moshiach will have in ished, I returned to my sefarim. At some felt myself responding to the culture bringing all these hearts back to You - point, a family from Far Rockaway, sit shock. "Ribbono Shel Olam," I thought in thought and in action." ting directly behind me, was having a to myself, "is this a cross section of Kial When I boarded and found my loud discussion, so I turned around. assigned seat, I was disappointed to find Looking back, I noticed a young lady Rabbi Breslauer is Rav of Congregation Beth my seat mate, bedecked with a kippa she was one of those who, back at the Tefilla in Monsey, NY. The above essay original seruga, engrossed in USA Today. There airport terminat had not impressed me ly appeared in the Congregation's Bulletin. were so many bnei Torah on the aircraft, favorably with the extreme informality -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-- 20 The Jewish Observer,. February 1998 of her outfit - standing at the emer ters of history danced before my eyes. there are sparks and embers and even gency door corridor. She was davening Then he continued on his own: "! glowing coals which hold the warm Shemoneh Esrei, and what seemed to be have an eight-year-old son who comes potential for everything Kial Yisroel is her deep and intent kavana was some home from school every Friday destined to be. thing to envy. And again, the "pages" told enthused about his Shabbat party and And as far as my midda of prema a different story than the "cover;' and l wants my vvife to do the same. He \vants ture judgment is concerned, which l was wrong once n1ore. to go to the Beit Haknesset to pray and believe I may share with many of my The journey proceeded, we arrived in sing the songs, and l let him." fellow Jews and which impairs my Bretz Yisroel, and I thought I had learned We arrived at the airport, I paid the ahavas Yisroel, I beg Hashem to show the lesson of "Do not look at the flask, fare, said goodbye to him and asked him me more examples of how terribly but what is in it" (Avos 4:27). True, there to give my regards to his son. wrong I can be and how I can in the are modes of dress and outward appear future be nlore generous in my initial ances that must certainly be discouraged, ow I felt enriched and hopeful. assessment. As we judge others favor but they do not reveal the spark that Yes! Moshiach will have a ably, so may we be judged favorably shines or the fire that smoulders with N tremendous job to do, but from Heaven. Ill in. Garb does not ahvays reveal charac ter, but l still reserved the private opin ion that most of the tin1e it does. PRESCHOOL hile in Bretz Yisroel, I accon1- panied my grandchildren to D1REcroR W the park. We walked along a path, and there ahead on a rock sat a man with a little girl, and again I pre Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim judged. He was a heavy set man, with Talmudical Academy of Baltimore seeks what looked like a ten-gallon hat and a EARLY CHILDHOOD DIRECTOR "Mexican" inoustache, giving the gen Qualifications: dynamic, heimishe professional with a degree in early childhood erally undignified impression of a cow education. Competitive safary commensurate with qualifications and experience boy or stevedore. He was talking to the little girl and little did l expect to under stand the conversation. As I approached, his words, spoken slowly, came to me and I recognized them,"... borei nefashot rabot v'chesronan al kol ma shebarata lehachayot bahem .... " My embarrassment welled up in me and I smiled at him. The smile had son1e genuine ahavas Yisroel mixed into it and l felt like two cents. You can! Just call At the end of my stay, l was in a taxi to the airport. The driver - I couldn't The Yitti Leibel tell immediately whether he was Jew or Helpline. Arab - stuck up a conversation with HOURS: me. Noticing my clumsy Ivrit, he pro Monday-Friday ...... Sain -l 2pm ceeded in English. We spoke of politics, Monday-Thursday ...... Spin -1 lpm the economy, and traffic conditions, and Sunday ...... 9am -12pm, 9pm-llpm I concluded that he was obviously a 718-HELP-NOW Chiloni through and through. I asked (718)435-7669 him whether his mother lit the Shabbos Chicago ( 800) HELP-023 candles, and his voice changed. With •T Lakewood (732) 363-1010 unexpected religious reverence, he IL Cleveland (888) 209-8079 replied that of course she did and that Baltimore (410) 578-1111 her kitchen was kosher. I asked him from ' For addiction problems call our where his parents came, and he replied addiction therapist, Wednesdays that his father came from Iraq and his 11 :30pm to l :30am mother from Morocco ... and sad chap- The Jewish Observer, February 1998 21 OUTSIDE/INSIDE: ACHIEVING TRUE FREEDOM••• IN A PENITENTIARY Dear Editor: rticle about a Enclosed is a sh~r~~risou inmates. small group of ]e~~th our own ignorance While struggling ucracy that Less ~u~~:i~:~:eas~2:~~~~fg~~;;,:a!::r~sh have managed, y community. Rab Torah-observant nding us back a d * has been se f over a Than a t . 130 rchar h observer or . sues of The Jewis . passed among us 1s h'sue1s ar and eac is ur Torah yend, serves to increasedoers of The Jewish Minyan, a s· ce rea h mes knowledge. m xplore current t e ill be Observer seek to e. l think they w . Orthodox juda1~m, four small, in d . learning o intereste m 'ty But Still a . ue comm.uni .. un'irith Torah greetings, Y B. ScHRECK ]EFFllF lorado Community Walsenburg, Co Throughout the country, there are small pockets of Judaism existing and, in some cases, thriving in our prisons. Some of these pockets are relatively large, some may number only one. This is the story of one such group of which I am privileged to be a member, and how we became a community of Torah-observant believers. IT BEGAN IN KARNES COUNTY, TEXAS "pods" with no privacy and none of the When a box of Siddurim, Chu personal property, religious or other mashim and talleisim arrived from a gen bout 80 miles southwest of San wise, they had been allowed in Colorado. erous supporter in New York, the facil Antonio, Karnes County, Texas, As inmates are \Vant to do, we ity program manager decided we could A is not exactly a hotbed of Yid immediately started petitioning the not have them, because they were not dishkeit. In fact, except for the private administration for every hour of wor shipped in strict accordance with facil prison located there, Jews in Karnes ship or study time we could get. To its ity policy. This, along with some other County may very well be nonexistent. credit, the administration tried to n1eet minor disagreements, led us to the only In the first half of 1996, Colorado began the needs of the myriad religious groups logical course of action for a group of sending so1ne of its in1nates to private coinpeting for lhnited resources. We inmates: we prepared to file suit in fed prisons in Texas to alleviate over were eventually granted worship times eral court alleging religious discrimi crowding. Among these were half a of one hour on Erev Shabbos, Shabbos nation on the part of the program man dozen Jewish men wondering why morning and Havdala. We began hold ager. Into this morass came Rabbi Hashem had chosen them for what ing services with an assortment of Sid Chaim Block of Chabad Lubavitch of pro1nised to be a very trying experience. durim, one Chumash and limited South 1'exas, in San Antonio. The prison at Karnes County more knowledge of Hebrew. Since most of us were fairly new to closely resembles a warehouse than a 1orah observance, we decided we would n1odern phenological institution. *Rabbi Boruch Borchadt is executive vice pres~ delay any action until we could consult Inmates are housed in dormitory-style idcnt of Agudath Israel of A1nerica with the rabbi. About the only thing on 22 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 which we agreed was that we would praying together to a real Jewish com "[o our surprise, \Ve found we gained accept the rabbi's authority and heed his munity bound together by love of much respect as we refused not only the advice. Rabbi Block had made the long Torah and one another. "mystery meat," but the roast beef and drive to visit us once, and we anxious chicken as well. The more we grew in ly awaited his next visit. When he KOSHER CONCERNS Torah and Talmud, the more respect we arrived, we presented him with a copy VS. PRISON REALITIES saw coming from the staff, and the more of our formal complaint and waited as we rejoiced at the ways Hashem was he read it. Jn the next moments, we harsh reality of prison is that blessing us. learned why the Children of Israel, for inmates often seek to manipulate Between Rosh Hashana and Pesach 2,000 years of exile, have looked to our A the system to gain special favors we saw attitudes change from minimal rabbis for guidance in times of struggle. to which they are not entitled. Jn compliance with our constitutional Rabbi Block allowed us to voice all our response to this, prison officials are rights to genuine, heartfelt desire to complaints against the prison adminis somewhat skeptical whenever inmates assist us in any way possible. Arrange tration. Only when we had all said our begin making "demands" concerning ments for special High Holiday services piece did he offer his advice; he asked their religious entitlements. Rabbi and meals were granted reluctantly. At us to do nothing while he spoke to the Block's first order of business was to Chanuka, a menora and candles were officials on our behalf. Furthermore, he explain the basic tenets of Judaism to there in plenty of time, and everything strongly suggested we stop treating the people who, until then, had very little was arranged for nightly candle light authorities, especially the program interaction with Orthodox Jews. As the ing. Perhaps the greatest example of manager, as adversaries and begin show warden and program manager came to Hashem's blessings upon our meager ing them the respect due their positions. understand the unique requirements of efforts to do right came at Pesach. The He also suggested we voice our appre Torah-observant Jews, they quickly attitude shown us was, "\r\That can we do ciation whenever we received consider came to see the request for worship for you? Is there anything we can get for ation from the program manager. times, special diets and holiday needs you?" For the entire eight days, we ate Although it would be several months were not unreasonable. special meals after the dining hall was before we realized it, this was to be the Since kosher food was not available cleared of all other inmates, meals pre turning point for our group of men at this facility, \Ve ate vegetarian diets. pared by our ad hoc community leader, Is your teenager out of school?? Hundreds of teenage boys and girls ages 16 - JS from Orthodox FACT: Jewish homes in the Greater New York Area - & beyond - are P R O.J>E.C T currently no longer enrolled in any Yeshiva or school setting. The passage of mere weeks or even days out of Yeshiva can have Y.l,~S. FACT: a dramatic negative effect on these young men and women. Youth E'ftfrcnment-'Services a division of Guidance and direction for these teens at the earliest possible Agudath Israel of America FACT: time is critical to their positive development. Rabbi Yakov Horowitz Program Director FACT: Project Y.E.S. can help, ;i"v:i, if we reach out in time. 'Rii:~1t ~ltftrge · · · ~;11~~1s~~110 · · CarilJi.·•e~fferi~~~ep~(J~~fte~t~·~;~~~~i-1t\iW,h~~~J~~e,1'e{~~~."1t If you can assist this project in any way, please call the hotline during posted hours. The Projecr Y.E.S. Horline is dedicared by Reuvain and Mordechai Eissenberg & Raizel Harrar nnvn i:it'J their parents •:iiin ,, n:i 'J•uiiN! t1in1 JllN1 'i Jl t1n1•0 ,, The Jewish Observer, February 1998 23 6 is merciful and compassionate: Please inspir71Jsf~' strive to overlook one. another's faults and unite with ea~~&<>~~ .. help one another, as it says: "Let each man assist his fellow;;fj.°"d l1g!"' May we manage to overlook personal consideratiof!~ ·yithe Sages, we will be foi;-gi~7p.all our sins. We mustl,l · ·... IJ~e G-d wants to a;ous~;~s;tpTeshuva through t. Jhis is meant to help us impfove ourselves thrpP:J! :\t\') r~cognize that our friends' shortcomings are bLf~~L ··· ~elf-ipv01vement makes us so insensitive totb~fe our ~oQ:lJ>l~te dependency on Divine mercy1 ~hl<;h e o!J1: evecy achievement. We even forget th~~;our very . . es•>Yfhf!t are we but an embodiQ:l~llt of not~j~~~~. i t<>make us aware ofwhowe are ap(l~fi~t so we merit releasefrom the bitter:exne•w~ 0ur friends' ~µtj~i ~ii;~;1P? ;.~u;C~~~for, re will.achieve i:!leifipte11 .Yil~ringing us clos- l)i,,~r9Y,:1,from humility, as .• . : "Hashem is .~oµl!:l;.¥-'~f11il in these~f only be because ...... • e orts t0;~.~bup:iple .. U11(o ..•... , .. y,.i:>ur true goal is usually pts at serving Hashem:11re illusory. An~zWhen Hashem prods us d who annoys us, or depresses us, or lords over us, we become angry arillg to impinge on our glory. lssiiiO:to•G-d is only achieved through suffering, as King David said: "It was good for 11ffliqep; so that I could learn Your decrees." The greatest benefit man can achieve se.to Hashem, as it s~ys in Tehillim: "For me clo5~ness to G-d is my goodness." And as osh~Cordevero wrote in Tomer D~~~f;ir.~· ~rspn would, but know the degree to W11tion and suffering caused by o~h~[~~ · $e. him from the sickness of sin and evate hii'n an~~~~illg him close to his Creaton.:tie•:' tHhe street and chase after humili- in orderr~8'1!:J;tain the perfection of his:~() May it be His...villthat we merit to be '10.t silence out of anger~ll~·i\• · · hatred, but silence out of submission to ewho strikes us; the friend}s~gt His .staff Let us forgo our anger an~ <19 · Ith love ll!ld joy. May Ha~pe!J'Y~:• ,;11; Yisborqch remove from us disput~ ~nd. al1d give us forbearance, ttlede~ii;-E!and .... tl)~.~t[rngth to walk in His ways1 ~11~ attributes. AS the Sages s · st:as He · ,1sm~tciful,s(:)~l)J;1.g'l;i$t;tiJ1;iritJry~ salvatiQJ11 .~ -~ ·shine•in the darkness." · · · · · · · k. the Tzaddikim have assured u~,/f~~~ill'~~;~hit~d and us, we will remove from ourselve~ ~H;tl)~,7 '<.~ll 7N. lR#~tt~~~~i i~)V ht\ Nitf Tllj7l~~· •;•r: )'l oy O"'l?>Pm ~~ t~]~9.7=>1 ,"~~~ii .1" 17Pi1 'tl't ioN'l?> X'OY1!19'filOi{)lN pi , llU), . W\!tfin? nn•ON llil1llY l O"n llN 'i1 Il'tllYl Oll ,,., ,,.,y 'OY:ll no1ivn O•N?O ,•nl!-t 7•!:11?>0 lN 'P.~YO ,p•~O'l?> i:m::i .'l'll7'tll Oll!l7 Cll1 ioN'l?> 10:> D'lN:in 1tr pi N'i1 ,n•n•ONi1 i1YlJi1i1 7lN 'tti l'Nl ·"1'Pln 107N JV07 'Il'llV .'loin• 1ioo::i p•oin ::in:i1 ,"l1" ~'1~!ll nN o•plo n71mo 0•::1~39~ · · •inN 1111i1 ::imi::i yi n•n.)~"1)1l~?" tlw N? ,-i::in7 p1n1?>7 n.?~>~i~f~;. ib~l .7j7o pi Nli1 i:irtttlT z;-;;~X;o{'.'.AZ~:<:;,:_\_;; Yl:l. '"ll ll'l'l. i1Nl\!i ri~~I~~~ . Ill:l~jl :ll'N"n 7y D'lli"'Pi1 7J .i";;~~~b1 :J1ipl i107'l?>i1 i17lNli1 IlNl llp1~ ,..,.,, .. ,M.., ;\'"i'S)l tt''l'll'"\' ,1'\"t)'l')'l) "\)""\~ "\'ll~ '"\ :::S"i'"\i' '")' )1')) Yehudah-Aslan, who happened to be the ing talleisim-clad men davening daily in that nothing in our stumbling efforts to facility's special diet cook. our pods, oblivious to the chaos around be more observant has merited such As the staff grew accustomed to see- us, we were beco1ning accustomed to outpourings. Most of our benefactors witnessing the power of Torah in our have never even met any of us. Reading And Writing Classes lives. Each of us grew daily in his love On All Grade Levels of Torah and in his love of his fellow Jew. STUMBLING ON TO COLORADO Given by a Renowned One memorable Shabbos, we learned READING SPECIALIST about lashon hara, a term that was new hile the Karnes facility was not in the Teaching Profession to most of us. We quickly realized we where any of wanted to be, we had been sinning against Hashem and for Over 2S Years W all came to understand that each other in this area. We asked each Hashem had to get us out of our places -- r-·--- \ • 'fi"'.iJiiDfl,!, other's forgiveness and decided then and of complacency to show us the miracles c;.~!\!l!r+?;.-.. --.N ,···•~• there that lashon hara would have no we witnessed in our lives there. Finally, 1 • MA11M1ZE YoUR CJ11to s PoTENTtAl place in our community. We slipped, we after 18 n1onths in Texas, we were • P11JvATE SESSIONS A 11111tABtE ON Au stumbled, we fell, but somehow we kept returned to Colorado. Three of us were Cl/AOE lEVElS IN HEBREW AND ENGLISH getting up and coming back to the assigned to the same facility where we • lEAllNING IN A FUN ATMOSPHERE Source of our righteousness. continue to grow as a community and • CtAssES C1VEN AmR SCHOOL • SEPAi/ATE C 26 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 AUDIO CD ROM The entire Dial-A-Oaf Shas complete on 14 CD·ROMs. COMPUTER REQUIRED. WINDOWS 3 I & 95 COMPATIBLE ~ i CompleteSha~199 I AVAILABLE IN YIDDISH OR ENGLISH I AT BETTER JUDAICA SHOPS OR THROUGH OUR MAIN OFFICE OUTSIDE/INSIDE: THE ULTIMATE DISGUISE OF TzIDKUS Rabbi Yechiel Yitzchok Perr MY MUSSAR SEDER WITH REB YISROEL MEIR almost unavoidable, our arms around each other's shoulders you know - then the when the bad feelings came, as of tzaddik has given him- course they sometimes do. self away and you've In this sort of a situation one is not t \Vas not that Reb Yisroel Meir fl"V caught onto him. His disguise will no in a hurry to continue further in the had a need to be understood by longer fool you. But when a tzaddik is sefer. After all, the experience one is I myself- or by anyone, for that mat disguised and hidden inside a tzaddik, having at this very n1oment is the pur ter. It was not that at all. Reb Yisroel Meir then you can never catch on to hin1, pose of the whole undertaking. Expe needed nothing. Not understanding, not because you always think that you are riencing this moment deeply is more appreciation. He \Vas strong. He was seeing the tzaddik that everyone already important than seeing what the author strong with the strength of those who knows about. "That's nothing;) you'll say says further on. But it was a rather thick know with a total clarity who they are, when you see him do so1uething special, sefer that we had begun, and we had what they are doing, and where they are "that's just Reb Yisroel Meir. He's a tzad covered so little of it, and we both knew going. dik, you know:' It's the perfect disguise. that Reb Yisroel Meir might not have So it \'\'as not a need to be understood all that much time. So who would you that drew the two of us together. It was n the months before he passed think would be the one who would rather simply the fact that I did under away, Reb Yisroel Meir and I had a finally suggest going further? You're stand him, because at a certain point it I seder to learn mussar. We spent long right. Invariably, it was I who suggest became possible to penetrate his dis hours together in the quiet of the late ed going further. Reb Yisroel Meir had guise, so to speak; this was the source of evening, understanding the words the time, all the time in the world, to the friendship we shared. slowly, tasting them, so to speak. And spend right here on this line \Ve were You sometimes hear or read a story Reb Yisroel Meir would bring forth discussing. from olden times, from Europe, stories from somewhere inside himself all the of tzaddikim disguised as peasants or ideas and the memories, the experi ow a person faces a mortal ill water carriers or wagon drivers. Reb Yis ences of his youth, the things he had ness is the ultin1ate testing of roel Meir was a tzaddik just like in all heard or read, that related in some way H what he is. When Reb Yisroel those stories, except that Reb Yisroel to what we were learning. Things we Meir became ill, there emerged from Meir was a tzaddik who was disguised remembered that would make these inside himself a great Torah person who as tzaddik. words real and valid, and that would be stood tall and strong and luminous And this is really the ultimate dis made valid in their own turn by the among the shards of the much more guise, the very best way to hide one's self. truth of these words. And we chuckled ordinary person we had all once For if a tzaddik is hidden inside a water together often over the memories of thought him to be. carrier and you happen to catch a how it once was to be growing up in And when the inner Reb Yisroel Meir glimpse of him - and a glimpse is America, and we wondered a lot about stood revealed, it became clear that this many things of the past and of the pre man, who had been a teacher of small Rabbi Perr, Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Ayson of Far Rockaway, has had a nun1ber of arti sent. And he talked about his illness, too children, should have better been a Rebbi cles published in The Jewish Observer, including - very freely and very easily, without for adults. For it is we adults who need his tribute to Rabbi Binyainin Bcinush Finkel 7"~, fear, and with a total clarity. And there such a teacher. Children don't need a "A Light For the World," May'90.bio were a few ti1nes when \Ve stood \Vith teacher. Children already know every- 28 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 • ou sometimes hear or read a story from olden Ytimes, from Europe, stories of tzoddikim disguised as peasants or water carriers or wagon drivers. Reb Yisroel Meir was a tzoddik iust like in all those stories, except that Reb Yisroel Meir was a tzoddik who was disguised as tzoddik. Beautiful rooms, with kitchen facilities, in the heart of Bora Park, by day or week. Near Shuls, take out foods, etc. Profits to • Mifal Torah Vodaas. thing: Because children know who they know who you are, you have to observe are. Ask a child who he or she is and they yourself for a long time, and by Call (718) 851-2969 will answer you immediately. 'Tm observing yourself, you can get to No T.V.'s Berel," or "I'm Miriam," they will say know who you are. with an absolute certainty. But ask an Reb Yisroel Meir had all the time in adult who they are, and then if you lis the world because he lived in the pre ten, you will hear a little sigh. The sigh sent moment. The next moment could is because we adults don't really know not offer him more meaning or more who we are. And Reb Yisroel Meir, who richness that the present moment con knew very clearly who he was, might tained. The present moment was full and have been able to teach the rest of us alive because it was experienced by a how to find out who we are; which real human being who was full and alive; a ly means how to become the people we human being who connected this wish we were. moment and its wonders with all the To know who you are, as Reb Yis other such moments that had gone roel Meir did, you have to live for a before, and who made of them a sort of long time inside yourself, where no one a foundation which enabled him to face else can see you, doing right things that and accept those moments that he no one else knows anything about: To knew were yet to be. • The Jewish Observer, February 1998 29 Dr. Meir Wikler fjJ Parents Getting Down About Their Children ~ot Getting Up An Orthodox psychotherapist looks in on an all-too-common arena of conflict between parents and children - offering analysis, advice, and ... hope. ince the dawn of our people, the Although not all of us achieve that expel him from the yeshiva. So we ideal service of Hashem has always level of avodas Hashem, all agree that the knew he wanted to get up - or, at Sbeen performed as early in the day ideal daily schedule for a Jew should least, that's what we thought. The first as possible. The well-known phrase, begin before dawn. time I banged on the door until he "Vayashkeim Avraham baboker," (Berei answered. A few 1ninutes later I shis 22:3) is not merely a narrative detail PARENTAL DISAPPOINTMENT returned and repeated the same but rather a clarion call to duty for all method. Finally, l came into his room future generations. he intensity of a person's disap and pulled off the blanket. Two min Perhaps no one has emphasized the pointment is directly propor utes later I came back and he was premiu1n placed on early rising more Ttional to the level of his expecta under the blanket sound asleep, again. than David Hamelech. The famous tion. If I expect little, for example, I can "At that point I was really getting words, "A'irah shachar," "chatzos layla not be very disappointed. If I expect a angry. I had to get to work and was akum;' and" kidamti baneshef' ( Tehillim lot, however, I a1n risking much greater going to be late because he wasn't get 108:3; 119:72; & 119:147) all remind us disappointment. ting up. I knew that if I left the house, of the daily practice of David Hamelech Parents don't always expect their chil my wife would never be able to get him to get np before dawn for avodas dren to rise before dawn. But they do up by herself. I felt so desperate that Hashem. expect their children to get up in time I just didn't know what to do. It was Finally, as if to remove any vestige of for minyan, for the school bus or for the too early for me to call you so I... I... doubt regarding the importance of get car pool to yeshiva. When children over I picked up his negel vasser and ting up early, the Shulchan Aruch begins sleep or can't get out of bed in the morn dumped it on his head! with the following words of introduction: ing, parents often experience a crushing "That certainly woke him up ... But [A person should] strengthen him blow of painful disappointment which it didn't get him out of bed. He just sat self like a lion to rise up in the morn is indescribable. up straight, mumbled at me and went ing to serve his Creator. [He should get "\!Vhat do you 1nean, 'oversleep'?" back to sleep! I felt totally helpless." up so early that it would appear] that some might ask. "just go in there and he is waking up the dawn, ( Orach wake them up!" GOOD HOMES, GOOD PARENTS Chayim 1:1). Unfortunately, it is not always that easy. Listen to what one parent recent (( These must be kids from dys Dr. Meir Wikler, a psychotherapist and fa1nily ly told me. functional families," you might counselor in private practice, lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. "He asked us to wake him because say. "After all, what boy from a He is a frequent contributor to these pages, n1ost recently with "A Neglected Chessed: Co1nforting the Mashgiach had said if he misses normal home would act that way?" the Bereaved Who Are Not Aveili1n," h1ay '97. minyan one more time they would Although the scenario described 30 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 above was a more extreme exan1ple, didn't matter to you any more." the pattern of frustrated parents nag Other parents try to "get someone ging their adolescent children out of to speak with him." This often bed is repeated every morning in ~ involves arranging for concerned or many fine, Torah homes with con "" interested relatives, mechanchim or cerned and educated parents whose Rabbanim to "have a talk" with the other children all get up on time. oversleeper. These talks often take on When Yossi gets up late and i the character of a private mussar misses minyan, his parents are not j shmuess. only concerned about the poor start This approach also has some ben to his day, they are also looking / efit. First, it focuses the attention of down the road and shuddering at the parents away from the child. Who what they see ahead. should we get? How should we "If this is how he is acting now," one havior. At such times, a most powerful approach that person? When can we mother said, "where will it lead? He weapon the adolescent can wield in the arrange for them to meet? etc. Secondly, could stop going to minyan altogether, battle with his parents is not getting up it gives the parents something to do so chas v'shalom. He could get kicked out in the morning. they don't feel so helpless. Arranging for of yeshiva. Then what would we do? I'm Simply by missing the bus, the such "meetings" generally expends con afraid he could end up like some of minyan or morning seder in yeshiva, a siderable time, effort, and in some those 'yeshiva drop outs' we hear so child can disrupt the lives of both par cases, even money. much about. Frankly, I'm terrified!" ents beyond belief. Parents are then In the final analysis, even after such hurled into a dismal world of depres meetings are conducted, the problem is LOOKING FOR ANSWERS sion, anxiety and hopelessness. rarely solved. There might be some tem porary improvement. But in a few days arents of such children are WHAT NOT TO DO or weeks, the situation reverts back to hounded by painful questions: exactly where it was before. Only now, P n despair and feeling totally exas the parents feel even more frustrated. Why is this happening to us? What perated, parents of chronical late-ris The more desperate parents attempt did we do wrong?" I ers will try almost anything to cor the "stuck key approach." Most often, parents blame themselves rect the problem. One approach often Anyone who is having a difficult time for the misbehavior of their children. All tried is to ignore the behavior com opening a Jock feels frustrated quickly. children, however, are born with unique pletely by adopting a "business as A rational approach to such situations personality and character predisposi usual" attitude. is to check and see if you are using the tions for which the parents can only be While this approach does have merit correct key. Some stubborn people, how blamed genetically. Or, as I often tell par - at least it reduces the level of conflict, ever, refuse to consider whether or not ents, "You may not necessarily have con confrontation and conflagration - the they have the right key. They simply tributed to the problem; but you can offending child often feels uncared for apply more and more force until they contribute to the solution." by his parents. Months or years later he break the key, their finger, or both. Of course, sometimes there are may tell his parents, "When you stopped The "stuck key" approach to over strains in the parent-child relationship trying to wake me up, I felt you gave up sleeping adolescents is to increase the which provoke an adolescent to rebel on me. It was then that I felt really alone level of conflict. Parents who use this beyond the bounds of normal misbe- and abandoned. I thought that I just approach will try whatever has not !fyou dre thinking Qt movirzgJor/ewish GroWth Opportunities . . . Begin Thinking Milwaukee! Full Service Co111n1unity Total rforah Con11nunity • Healthy Job Market The 1brah Communi{y ofRabbi Jl;fichel Twerski Cheder • • Affordable Housing Bais Yakov • • A Nurturing Co1n1nunity invites your interest Yeshiva Gedola • • Learning Opportunities Sherman Park Jewish Initiative Kolle] • • Corn1nunity Activities 1-800-226-3129 J\1ikveh • Begin Thinking Milwaukee Begin Thinking Milwaukee Begin Thinking Milwaukee Begin Thinking Milwaukee The Jewish Observer, February 1998 31 worked so far but now will try it even Another purpose served is that harder. declaring defeat helps get the parents off This often includes threats and raised of the treadmill of searching for the voices which only serve to highlight the "right" approach to make their sleepy parents' mounting feelings of helpless head 1nore eager to rise and shine. ness. Declaring an inability is never as humil iating as demonstrating it. Feeling less WHAT CAN BE DONE! frustrated, the parents often become less angry and resentful, which reduces the hile all of the approaches parent-child conflict even further. outlined above may be useful • 2. Address the adult, not the child. arents don't always W at times with younger chil Adolescents, by definition, are made up dren, they will prove quite ineffective in expect their children of part adult and part child. When they dealing with an adolescent's chronic, P act immaturely and irresponsibly, they consistent and confounding inability to to rise before dawn. are acting like children, which usually get up. Once a child has reached the age prompts the parents to treat them like of 16, 17, or 18, other methods of deal But they do expect their children. But nothing incites an ado ing with this problem are indicated. lescent to rebel more than to be treat (The following suggestions, by the way, children get up in time ed like a child. may be helpful in other situations for minyon, for the The parents are then faced with a where parents of adolescents feel seemingly impossible dilemma: "He enough frustration to want to bang their school bus or for the says we should trust him, that he real heads against a wall.) ly wants to get up on time. But when we 1. Declare defeat. Just as declaring car pool to yeshiva. leave it to him, he sleeps until noon. And bankruptcy can ease the financial pres then, when we try to discuss it with him sure of someone in debt, acknowledg When children the next day, he complains we are ing defeat can reduce the parent-child oversleep or can't get demeaning him. What are we supposed struggle immediately. How is this done? to do?" The parents need to admit, first to out of bed in the Since you can't treat him like an adult themselves and then to their child, that and a child at the same time, address the they really are not able to physically force morning, parents often adult and ignore the child. Explain the an adolescent child up and out of bed new policy as follows: "Since you are 18 in the morning. experience a crushing now, you really are old enough to take This accomplishes a number of blow of painful care of when you go to bed and when things at once. It gives the child a sense you get up by yourself. Mommy and I of power, which may be all he was look disappointment which 1s will not be trying to do this for you any ing for in the first place. In some cases, more. From now on, you'll be in charge. this is all that is needed to get the child indescribable. If you need a different alarm clock, just back into a more productive daily let us know." schedule. Once he has won the war, there 3. Don't ignore the behavior. Sounds is no longer any use to his fighting. • like a contradiction? Not really. To ~" Invei B~"c~(fer Hagefen 'c-~t. ( The Shidduch service (] dvrie eer FREE SAMPLE tl,,.l for older singles for information on TEHILIM TAPE L A project or N'shei obtaining cemetery plots i~ Agudath Israel with Eretz Hochoim Beth Shemesh Yeshiva Fund Agudath Israel of America Hor Menuchoth - Hor Hoze'sim 6619 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 Box82 Staten Islaud, NY 10309 Tel. (718) 256-7525 •Fax (718) 256-7578 011-972-2-641-1923 ------"- 32 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 ------~l-1v ignore the behavior without giving any explanation is seen by the adolescent as • wholesale abandonment. It means you ll children are born just don)t care. You've given up. On the other hand, to explain, in Awith unique advance, that you are going to adopt a new policy regarding his getting up in personality and character the morning will send the message that predispositions for which you do care. Your not waking him up means that you expect him to assume the parents can only be IS THERE HOPE? that responsibility, and if not, to suffer the consequences. blamed genetically. Or, as o one can assure parents how But what if it means he gets kicked I often tell parents, "You their children will turn out. That out of yeshiva, stops daveningaltogeth N uncertainty is part of every er, or worse? These are frightening may not necessarily have parent's tzar gidul bannim -the agony prospects, for sure. But what's the alter of bringing up children. But if it will native? Stubbornly continuing the tug contributed to the reassure even one parent, let me report of-war will only make things worse. problem; but you can that whenever parents have followed the 4. Isolate the problem. Yes, not get outline above and stuck to it as a team 1, ting up on time is a terrible tragedy in contribute to the solution." they were rewarded with nachas beyond any Torah home. But it is not as bad their wildest dreams . as what you fear it might lead to. In On occasion, some of that nachas is addition, just because you fear it • even shared with me, such as when I get might lead to worse does not mean then the parents will act equally a call that goes something like this. that it should be treated as if it were alarmed for both. But if they do, the "Dr. Wikler, we thought you'd like to worse. A tooth ache can lead to gan child can think the following: I've just know that we just got off the phone with grene 7"i, but no one calls an ambu missed a day of yeshiva. My parents are Yossi's Rosh Hayeshiva, and he told us lance if they have a tooth ache. To treat treating me as if I've dropped out com that this z'man, Yossi has been learning moderate misbehavior with the level pletely. So I might as well not go back, up a storm in the beis medrash. He's at of concern normally reserved for since I'm already suffering the most the top of his shiur. He's well-liked by more serious offenses will only con severe reaction anyway. the other boys, and - I still can't believe fuse the child. In short, if parents react to smaller it - he's on time every morning for For example, if missing one day of problems with an intensity appropri minyan. • yeshiva is considered as bad as drop ate for major disasters, they may ping out of school altogether, since that unwittingly bring about their own 'See Hirsch's commentary on Deva rim 21, 18 for insight into the importance of parental unity and is what a day's absence could lead to, prophecies of doom. the consequences of its absence. Not just a cheese, a tradition... Hao!am, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping. All Naolam cheese products are made in the U.S.A. under the strict rabbinical supervision of: Cholov Yisroel The Rabbinate of K'haJ Adath Jei;;hurun, Washington Heights, l'fY THURM BROS. WORLD CHEESE CO. INC. BROOKLYN, NY 11232 Hao lam. The Jewish Observer, February 1998 33 Sarah Shapiro The Hunt for Buried Treasures in the Ukraine A Time to Sow Ukraine ... ;' appeared in the head lines of every newspaper. The June 30, 1941, Berditchev, Ukraine. In notorious murderer had made the dark of midnight, two fewish students no secret of his plans. Long in their early 20s, picks and shovels in hand, before the outbreak of war, his would have made a curious sight had any craving for blood and expanded one been there to see them as they feverishly living space (Lebensraum) for dug a grave in Misha's back yard. No sound the German people had been could be heard but the chirping of count made clear in his fiery speeches and in objects. Misha and Yaakov would con less insects. Tension mounted as they raced his book, Mein Kampf Defeat of the ceal the treasures, then take leave of their against time, opening the ground midway "inferior" Russian armies would give beloved relatives and relics until one day between two trees, not too near and not too him the rich agricultural plains of the when they would all be reunited. far from the trunks. This would be a night Ukraine, but that was only secondary to The young men worked with vigor, to remember. his main objective: root-and-bough lovingly wrapping the Torah finials or the two cousins, Misha Hecht eradication of the Jewish nation. they had held so many times on Shab man and Yaakov Koyfman, as for The Berditchevers had received bosos and Yomim Tovim. It was painful Fa number of the 2.4 million Jews reports that in other countries the Nazi to part with the Torah pointers, velvet living in the Ukraine before World War net was ensnaring the Jews, impover curtain and valance, crown, engraved II, life had a reasonably comfortable ishing, demoralizing and enslaving gilt candlesticks, and the carved and rhythm, the way a country dweller's life them, isolating them in ghettos and stained wood and glass spice box. The takes its rhythm from the seasons of herding them into concentration camps. young cousins tearfully packed the var nature. Despite overt government Yet for a Jew living in the Ukraine, there ious Chanuka candelabras, the brass oppression and the undercurrent of was still time to run-if one wanted to esrog box with copper and silver orna hatred from many of their Gentile take the risk. mentation, and all the other precious neighbors, being Jewish - even though artifacts, which they would entrust to the it was lived underground - was an Burying the Treasure care of a warm, motherly Earth. They established way of life for them. Days ruefully kissed each item as they lowered of celebration and fasting were secret isha and Yaakov were among it into the tar-lined wooden caskets, ly woven into the fabric of the Jewish cal those who were preparing to praying that the priceless possessions endar as they were into the Jewish soul. M flee in advance of the German survive the ravages of time, war, wet soil But the world was changing. arrival. Since the attack would come and insects. Half the treasures would be Just a few weeks earlier, Germany had from the west, the most logical overland buried in the spacious back yard and the attacked Russia, and rumors were route of escape was to the east, into the other half hidden beneath the dark base spreading that Nazi forces were advanc interior of Stalin's vast and exceeding ment of Misha's home. ing rapidly toward the Ukraine, where ly hostile anti-Jewish domain. Misha the enemy would mobilize its machin and Yaakov had attended secret meet The Escape ery for the mass murder of the Jews. ings, where the news of the impending Hitler's quotation, "If only we had the fate of Ukranian Jewry was heatedly dis ission accomplished, Misha cussed. The two cousins had been des and Yaakov returned home to Sorah Shapiro, who lives in Brooklyn, '"'rites and ignated to gather up and bury all of the M bid farewell to their anguished lectures on religious and general subjects. She is community's religious artifacts to pre relatives, who were either too feeble or a frequent contributor to these pages, 1nost recently with her translation of Mr. J. Frieden vent confiscation by the Nazis, who were too frightened to run. son's segment of"Novaradok to.... Paris", Dec. '97. known to sell or destroy religious The general populace did not fully 34 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 comprehend the dimensions of the II Yaakov's Return atrocities the Nazis were capable of com mitting. They felt little need for con he two cousins had hen the war ended and his cern, as, after all, they thought, it was partisan group disbanded, only the Jews who were being murdered. Tbeen designated to W Yaakov returned to Berditch And some Jews always believed that Ger ev in search of his family. It was after mans were a civilized, organized people gather up and bury all dusk when he reached his hometown. - and free traders, as well. Besides, the of the community's Although he recognized the houses, Jewish people had survived worse there seemed to be an alien chill in the threats. "If we just remain in our religious artifacts to air. Passersby looked at him with homes," they surmised, "we will survive unfriendly faces and a curious hostili this, too.'' But a small group of prevent confiscation by ty that seemed to imply "Oh, so you sur Berditchevers had no faith in the Ger vived?" He walked to the cottage where mans, and planned to join Misha and the Nazis, who were he used .to live, opened the unlocked Yaakov at the appointed hour of escape. known to sell or door and stole quietly up the steps, his At the train station, if some of the heart pounding fast. Jewish men appeared more portly destroy religious In the center of his former kitchen than they did a few hours earlier, it was was a long wooden table. Around it sat for good reason. They had coura objects. Misha and seven men dressed in overalls, heavy geously wrapped themselves in sacred boots and old worn hats. The room was Torah scrolls and megillas, disguising Yaakov would conceal filled with a stale tobacco stench from them with layers of shirts, sweaters and the treasures, then take their pipes. An eerie feeling possessed jackets to assure their exit from the him. "Have I stumbled into the under country. The Jews shoved their way leave of their beloved world?" he wondered. Numbed with through the throngs of fleeing refugees grief from not finding his family, he and forced themselves into the first relatives and relics until stammered, "I'm sorry, I guess I've come train eastward, willingly submitting to the wrong place," and hurried down body and soul to the discretion of one day when they the steps, wanting to be anywhere but Providence. would all be reunited. there. Outside, he turned to catch a glimpse of the back yard for signs of Yaakov's Fate change in the terrain. There was none. II "The treasures," he thought. "How will aakov chose to escape by bicycle Misha's Fate I ever get the treasures?" into the vast expanse of the Dar A small trickle of Jews began to Ynitsk forest, east of Kiev, where s Misha, a single man of military return to Berditchev. Some were sur Jews could take refuge, form their own age, traveled on the train, the vivors who had been in hiding; others fighting unit or join other partisan Astate police turned their trained bands to ambush the enemy battalions, eye on him and conscripted him into the derail military trains and burn bridges. Red Army. The Russians seized every Digest of Meforshim Some of these groups were comprised able-bodied man they could lay hands of Jews; others murdered Jews. As on, especially a Jew, who was usually bet ''-'1v7 in:l ''-'1v7 Yaakov proceeded toward the rising sun, ter educated and could serve in the spe ?"~ ivu'm ?Nir.nv l"mnr.l it was obvious he was a Jew in flight. In cialized branches of the military. Available at so1ne places he encountered stoning and Pulling him off the train, they enrolled derision, in others piddling hospitality. him as an observer in an artillery bat LEKUTE I do Yitzchok Rosenberg As he reached the countryside, three par talion. 10 West 47th Street, Room 503 tisans, armed with ancient muskets, At first, Misha railed against their ver New York, NY 10036 approached him. He was certain they dict, but - after reconsidering - wel (212} 719-1717 would soon rejoice in his slaughter. But, comed the opportunity to avenge the 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, to his surprise and relief, they invited murder of his people. His command Megilos and Tabnud. him in Yiddish to join their ranks. ing officer, a bitter anti-Semite, treated Proceeds of sales distributed an1ong Yeshivos and used for reprinting of Life in the timberland was harsh and him with flagrant abuse, but the colonel volu1nes out-of-print wKertain. The civilian forces moved from exhibited an almost benevolent attitude. place to place, foraged for food, fought for Halfway through the war, the colonel PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME All volumes now available survival and froze in the winter. revealed that he, too, was a Jew. The Jewish Observer, February 1998 35 were ex-partisans who fought the Ger bequeathed by European Jewry, and in mans in the forests or joined up with • this way testify to the tragic and cata the Russian Army; still others were t is the cousins' wish strophic destruction of the Holocaust. returning from concentration camps. Indeed, these cherished possessions Yaakov and a few acquaintances found Ithat world Jewry have vouch for the beauty and meaning of an abandoned apartment, and they put the Jewish communities that vvere together some semblance of conven the opportunity to benefit destroyed. In the 56 years that have tional Jewish life. passed, Yaakov and Misha have pinned from the extraordinary their hopes on recovering and sharing Misha's Route collection of artifacts, their family and community posses s1ons. fter his release from the Army at because they symbolize But as the dream should approach war's end, Misha made his way reality, the two octogenarians are beset Aacross Europe and then to the the precious legacy with qualms and questions of owner United States) where he married and ship, usage and retrieval. Consulting raised a family. Through the Joint Dis bequeathed by European their respective rabbis, Yaakov and tribution Committee, he launched an Misha have learned that anything found extensive search for family survivors, and Jewry, and in this way would revert to their personal owner finally located his cousin Yaakov, in ship, the same as in the case of one who Berditchev. Despite tensions between testify to the tragic and retrieves another's helongings from a the countries, Misha learned through catastrophic destruction flood. (If this precept applies to a coded correspondence that the flood, it is considered even more applic Ukrainians had usurped his ancestral of the Holocaust. able to the Holocaust.) As to what may home, but that the buried valuables were be done with the treasures, rabbis have still intact. determined that they may either be used for the purposes for which they were A Time to Reap • intended or given to a n1useu1n that ing, there is an opportunity and an honors Jewish law. In certain extenu ith Communist domination obligation to retrieve them. It is the ating circumstances, they may be sold prevailing in the Ukraine cousins' wish that world Jewry have the (e.g. to pay for a needy bride's wedding, W until recently, the cousins opportunity to benefit from the extra to build a mikveh, or other worthwhile were afraid to attempt recovery of their ordinary collection of artifacts, because contingency). treasures, but now, as freedo1n is en1erg- they symbolize the precious legacy The Problem t should be hoped that the chattels would now be transferred, lawful I ly and without penalty of confisca tory taxes, from the Ukraine. Howev er, requests to that government for amicable closure of the transaction have as yet gone unanswered. Since the cousins lack the financial and legal resources (as well as the physical strength) to pursue this project, they are at a loss as to how to proceed but are hopeful that "Lo alman Yisroel - we Jews are never abandoned.)' Perhaps there is a day on the horizon that will yet prove to be a happy one, one worth being remembered for Yaakov and Misha. • The basic facts presented here are true, but nan1es, places and certain terms have been modified to protect the treasures buried in the Ukraine. The Jewish Observer, February 1998 [5ECOND1 LOOKS twelve-man delegation from the Jndaic Studies side by side, in both Tem New York Board of Rabbis• - a ples and shuls., in spite of differences. "We A I 17-year-old group which in Merrick [L.I.];'this Orthodox rabbi inclndes Orthodox, Conservative, The New then had proclaimed, "are blessed Reform and Reconstructionist members because the rabbis here have a mutual - traveled to Israel last month to show respect for each other's convictions the Ne' eman Comn1ission how leaders [emphasis ours- N.W.]:' (Quoted in of the different denominations of York The Jewish Week, Mar. 9, '90.) Judaism can work together. As ( Ortho It is quite difficult to imagine an dox) Rabbi Marc Schneier of the Hamp Orthodox rabbi summoning up respect ton Synagogue, president of the Board, for a religious conviction that rejects the puts it: "The New York Board of Rab Board of divinity of Torah. Even more difficult is bis formula has been successful... to picture a revolving faculty, alternat [because the board members] appreci ing between Orthodox, Conservative, ate the fact that there are i.Ssues that tran Rabbis and Reform teachers as presenters, scend religious and theological differ convening classes in an Orthodox facil ences:' (The Jewish Week, Jan. 23, '98) ity one semester, in a Reform temple This purported "success" is not exact during another, achieving success in ly acclaimed in all circles. In fact, mem - Role Models imbuing uninformed teen-agers with a bership in the New York Board of Rab clear sense of Jewish identity. bis was pronounced halachically For Religious More challenging yet is the assump unacceptable - assur- in a p'sak din tion that this American-fashioned ide by eleven of America's leading Roshei ological-spiritual smorgasbord as rep Yeshiva representing a broad range of Cooperation in resented by this group of rabbis should Torah institutions some forty-two years whet any appetites in Israel. Most far ago, because belonging would appear to Israel? fetched of all is the claim that this del confer legitimacy on non-halachic egation would be coming to serve as an forms of Judaism. (See "All in the Fam "Exhibit X' of sorts for how splendidly ily" in The Jewish Observer, Jan. '98.) By delegation, one of the four Reform rab pluralism works in "issues that transcend the same token, Israel's rabbinical lead bis listed is infamous for expressing anti religious and theological differences:' ership had concurred with this p'sak din Torah views regarding basic principles Bear in mind that they would be when it was issued. So what purpose and practices of over 3,000 years stand appearing before the Ne'eman Com could there be in their "Show and Tell" ing. For example, this gentleman wrote mission, which is concerned with how junket? a letter to The New York Times several to establish acceptable criteria for con First, let us determine just exactly years ago decrying bris milah (circumci version into Jndaism for the Jewish State. what message the presence of these par sion) as a cruel relic from primitive times, Is there an issue more religious or the adigms of pluralism is meant to bring. no less. Is this the message this delega ological than determining the basis for Scanning the names of the men on the tion for religious pluralism is bringing being initiated into the Jewish religion? 'This organization in its press releases claims a to Israel, to inspire and instruct its Jews? Can rabbis who teach and preach the membership of 800, which they say includes 225 Perhaps he is there to offer a study denial of Torah, and serve as role mod Orthodox rabbis - not a very in1pressive rep in contrast, to highlight how the Ortho els for violation of all that is holy, offer resentation of the 2,000-plus rabbis presiding over dox rabbis are faithful to an uncom a clue on how to usher a gentile into Orthodox shuls and batei midrashirn in New York City. Unlike other rabbinical groups, which make promising Torah perspective, as the Judaism, to the satisfaction of Israel's available published lists of their membership, the Reform delegate is to his Reform ide religious leadership? New York Board of Rabbis has consistently ology. But unfortunately that jnst isn't On the other hand, it is just as well refused to reveal who its members are. the case. One of the Orthodox members that they come: as "Exhibit !\' for how These inflated figures are symptomatic of the of this delegation served on the faculty preposterous the whole idea of plural inflated sense of self-importance that besets this of the Merrick Community Hebrew ism is for people who take Judaism seri and other interdenominational groups, such as the demised Synagogue Council of America. (A let School on Long Island which was ously. The composition of this "odd ter from the latter, a copy of which is on deposit staffed with Orthodox, Reform and couple" group actually was the best in the Agudath Israel Archives, written to an inter Conservative teachers, meeting in a dif argument for continuing to determine national finn presents its president as "the religious ferent participating synagogne of these all issues of personal status in Israel in leader of the American Jewish Community. .. [sim ilar to the titular head of] the National Council "three denominations" each year. It accordance with halacha, the only of the Churches of Ch_" - no less, for the pres seems that the "mixed" faculty was con authentic, meaningful framework for ident of a lofty sounding debating society. vinced that it could succeed in teaching Jewish continnity. • ------The Jewish Observer, February 1998 37 ,------•sECON D LOOKS KEEPING JERUSALEM JEWISH stick it out have a much lower birthrate young couples. The university assis than that of the Arabs - who, inci tance is expected to be of special dentally, are not at all as likely to leave importance to secular Israelis. the city. In fact, the proportion of Arabs Over the years, The fewi;h Observer in the city actually has grown from 25% has featured articles reporting on how of the population since Israel conquered young families and new olim are seek East Jerusalem in the Six Day War to a ing affordable housing alternatives to current 29%; and by the year 2020, the Jerusalem, most recently Zev Roth's study projects, Arab residents will make "New Torah Cities in Eretz Yisroel up 38% to 40% of the city. Today" (Sept. '97). In fact, we applaud ow Jewish will Jerusalem be in What can be done to prevent the the growth of outposts like Ashdod, Beit another 25 years? The demog impending de-Judaizing of Jerusalem? Shemesh, and Kiryat Sefer. But we still H raphers at the Hebrew Univer According to a story on the subject in think that Jerusalem's Jewish character sity's Harmon Institute of Contempo~ Forward (Jan. 23, '98): should be saved, and would suggest that rary Jewry researched the scene for the Mr. Netanyahu will sit with Mayor the government would get more bang Holy City's municipal government, and Ehud Olmert and Finance Minister for its buck by subsidizing a more Jew it doesn't look too good. It seems that Ya'acov Ne'eman to craft an incentive ishly committed, more prolific seg the city's rentals are just too exorbitant package expected to total some $30 ment of the population - the Charei for Yerushalayim's yuppies to handle. As million each year. The moves, which dim. Yes, they'd love to live in the city a result, some 6,000 Jews, or 1.5% of the are likely to include reductions of up where G-d's Presence dwells, instead of Jewish population, move elsewhere to 75o/o in university tuition, generous pioneering barren hillsides. Yes, they're every year. mortgage assistance and business tax overburdened with growing expenses, In addition, many of the Jews who incentives, are especially geared to including tuition payments for bur geoning families, and spiraling costs for reasonable housing - all hardly TARGUM~ GUIDE TO SABBATH touched, let alone covered, by meager Kolle! stipends or salaries for teachers in PRESS NEW\ OBSERVANCE the chadorim and Bais Yaakov schools. presents by Rabbi Eli Pick So what can be done to keep them in Jerusalem? An ideal introduction, review or reference work - Imagine if the municipality would for teachers, students, and all the family. aim at attracting more "young, com • Clear English style mitted couples to stick it out in • Illustrations Jerusalem" instead of "drawing more • Practical and modern applications young and secular couples" to do the • Over 1,800 mr.npr.i nN1r.i same. The staying power of the Charei • Glossary and index dim is longer - way beyond the ter ... in one concise volume! mination of the stipends. And they will bring some 8.5 children per family into "I have no hesitation in highly recommending this book." the world, as compared to the 2.1 in sec Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu, Rosh Beis Din, London ular families. Aren't they more worthy of the investment? A TARGUM PRESS BOOK Distributed by Feldheim Publishers Or are there other groups besides the 200 Airport Executive Park, Nanuet. New York 10954 Tel: 1-800-237-7149 Arabs that must be kept from domi nating Jerusalem? • 38 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 Yonason Rosenblum s The Malbim Esther, Translated and rabbinic annotated by Jonathan Taub (Tar interpre gum/Feldheim, Nanuet, NY /Jerusalem, tation. He 206 pages, $16.95) gests resolutions, spells out - makes no where necessary - how the mention of Malbim derived his pshat Esther's mar he first of the Malbim's com from the text, compares riage to mentaries on Tanach to be pub other commentaries (in Mordechai, Tlished was that on Megillas Esther moderation), and notes and therefore in 1845. The Malbim's _i::ommentaries precedents for some of the renders her have long since attained classic status, Malbirn's conclusions. poignant decla but it is worth remembering that they The brilliance of the ration "Kaasher were originally written with an impor Malbim's commentary avad'ti ovod'ti" as, tant polemical purpose in mind. on Esther has long been "If I perish, so I The Malbim wrote in response to the recognized.' And indeed there are perish [but the Jew so-called Biblical Criticism introduced unexpected gems - sometimes many ish people will sur- by Christian theologians with a pro - on each verse. Even more impressive vive].>' nounced anti-Jewish bias and later is the Malbim's ability to weave com In a brief but useful appendix, Rabbi adopted by the German Reform move plicated themes through an entire chap Taub tackles these divergences between ment. His purpose was to show the ter, or even the whole Megilla. The entire the Malbim's pshat and the rabbinic absolute precision of our canonical texts first chapter, for instance, becomes, in interpretation. He follows Rabbi Yaakov - the wealth of meaning to be found his account, the story of how the com Kaminetsky's approach in Emes in every apparently superfluous word; moner Achashverosh transformed the L'Yaakov to similar disparities between the precision in the usage of seeming Persian n1onarchy from a constitution pshatand drash. At the beginning of Par synonyms. al monarchy into an absolute monarchy. shas Vayigash, for instance, Rashi As such, the Malbim's commentary Seemingly slight differences in phrase explains Yehuda's words to Yosef - "For not only elucidates the text under dis ology, like the difference between you are like Pharoah" - at the level of cussion; it provides one of the best pos ('Vashti) the Queen)' and "the Queen, pshat as an extremely respectful address. sible introductions to Torah learning in Vashti» are shown to reflect an argument Yet Rashi goes on to cite several general. From the Malbim's rigor and between Achashveirosh and Vashti as to Midrashic interpretations of exactly exactitude, one learns how carefully each whether his authority derived from hav the opposite import. of our classic texts must be read. ing married the granddaughter of Reb Yaakov suggests that these diver As he did in his earlier Malbim Hag Nevuchadnezzar or whether she had gent interpretations reflect different gadah (Targum Press 1993 ), Rabbi been chosen for her beauty alone. levels of emotion within Yehuda him Jonathan 1aub has rendered a signal ser The Malbim portrays Achashverosh self. Similarly, writes Rabbi Taub, the vice to the English-speaking public by as an innocent dupe of Haman. Other Rabbis revealed to us Achshverosh's sub translating the Malbim's commentary wise, he asks, why was Achashverosh so conscious acquiescence to Haman, even on Esther. He has rendered the Malbim's surprised and enraged when informed as at a conscious level he was unaware questions on each verse in a simple and by Esther of the genocidal plot against of the latter's true intent. elegant style, and has shown how they her people? Moreover, why would he are answered by the commentary. Rabbi have allowed Esther to record his role Taub's notes are helpful yet unobtrusive. for posterity ifhe were a willing accom He points out possible inconsistencies plice? in the Malbim's commentary and sug- That portrait is at odds with the rab ------binic portrayal of Achashverosh as Yonason Rosenblum who lives in Jerusalem is a regular contributor to The Jewish Observer, Haman's willing accomplice. Nor is this including his recent article, "An Appreciation of the Malbim's only departure from the RabbiYehudah Naftali Madelbaum 7r," (Jan. '98). A featured columnist in the he is 1537 50t.h Street, Jerusalem Post, 1 The Malbim's commentary served as the basis also the author of many works, including of Turnabout, Rabbi Mendel \Veinbach's narra Brooklyn, NY 11219 biographies on leading Torah personalities, tive retelling of J\1egillas Esther. (718) 854-2911 published by ArtScroU. The Jewish Observer, February 1998 39 Torah from the Internet by Rabbi dushim are offered as nothing more than examples of such "misquotations" in Mordecai Kornfeld (Judaica Press, 292 "embellishments" on classic commen Gemora. He then uses the Yerushalmi's pages, $17.95). taries, and Rabbi Kornfeld invariably conclusion that Shimshon's rule con surveys the relevant literature on the sisted of two twenty-year periods to topic under discussion and the suggested answer a difficult Bavli (Sota IOa). ear not. There is nothing cyber solutions of others before offering his There Rav quotes Shimshon as spacey about these essays on the own. Literally dozens of comments of pleading with Hashem: "Master of the Fweekly parsha and chagim.2 his "friends" are recorded. (Apparently universe, reme1nber me for the twenty Indeed, I would venture that these he belongs to some society of young two years that I led Israel...." Nowhere, essays are among the most incisive pub geniuses.) however, is there any suggestion that lished in any language over the last Even a brief listing of some of the Shimshon ruled for 22 years. Instead of decade, and that there are not a hand thorny issues that Rabbi Kornfeld tack twenty-two years, Rabbin Kornfeld con ful of young talmidei chachamim in the les will suggest how intellectually stim tends, the text should read "two [peri world who can match Rabbi Kornfeld's ulating his pieces are. The Gemora ods] of twenty years" - i.e., the same astounding breadth and creativity. (Kiddushin 30a) identifies the 1 in 11rn forty years inferred by the Yerushalmi. At a time when so many new works (Vayikra 11,42) as the middle letter in on the parsha are merely repackagings the Torah. Yet it would appear to be Patterns, Puzzles and Profundities of well-known vertlach for harried more than 5,000 letters removed from baalebatim with only ten minutes to the middle letter in our sifrei Torah. Sim ome of the pieces read like detec prepare for the family Shabbos table, it ilarly, Zahar Chadash comments that tive stories. Maseehes Sofrim is a pleasure to read pieces of such strik there are 600,000 letters in the Torah S(16: 11) relates that the years of ing originality that bravely confront while our sifrei Torah contain barely half Yaakov's life were equal to the number some of the knottiest and most that number of letters. Rabbi Kornfeld of chapters in Tehillim (Psalms)-147. intractable problems in the Torah. suggests that the Gemora and Midrash The only problem is that all standard Yet these essays are presented with a are referring to letter widths- not actu editions of Tehillim have 150 chapters. disarming modesty. Many striking chid- al letters - with' as the standard width. The Gemora (Berachos 9b) itself states The Yerushalmi (Sota 1,8) poses the fol that the first two chapters are really one. ' The volume's title derives from the fact that lowing query: "One verse says, 40 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 protestations of friendship. teshuva) After the Return, by tvvo veter more measured approach. Ibn E'zra No one should get the an educators at Ohr Somayach, is, as explains the opening words of the mistaken impression, how far as I know, the Haftora of Shabbos Shuvu - "Return, ever, that Torah From the first com Israel, to Hashem your G-d (Hoshea Internet is a collection of pendium of 14,2)" - to mean, "Return - little by brainteasers. Nothing sound advice little - to G-d." Of particular import could be further from the directed on this issue are the words of Rabbi truth. Nearly every essay specifically to Moshe Sternbuch: dramatically deepens the 1nodern One who returns in repentance has our appreciation of the baal teshuva. started on the right path, but is only richness of Torah. A Anyone con considered a ba' al teshuva at the end good example would nected with kiruv of the process.... We must begin with be Rabbi Kornfeld's \Vork over the a baa/ teshuva as with a child, who at interpretation of the years can cite first only lies flat, then progressively symbolism of Moshe piskei halacha for learns to sit, crawl, stand, walk, and throwing down his baalei teshuva from eventually to run. So, too, we educate staff before Pharoah the world's leading him according to what he is able to and the staff turn poskim that at first accept .... Certainly one who is bur ing into a serpent. glance seem quite dened beyond his ability, and is Pharoah would shocking. While each required to immediately conform to all of these p'sakim is of the requirements of the Torah, will necessity specific to sometimes be shocked and will forsake the particular ques [his return]. tioner, Rabbis Becher and Newman have nevertheless rendered an important service by raising our awareness of how suffering, just like the poison of the much room there is for asking she'eilos. snake spreads far beyond the point of (They repeatedly stress how crucial it is the bite. Secondly, Pharoah acted of his for the baal teshuva to find a learned and own volition, not as a Divine agent, just sensitive rav to guide him.) The exten as the serpent is considered the ultimate sive rnaterial they cite on a wide vari cause of death when it bites so1neone ety of halachic issues confronting the whose arm has been placed bet\veen its baal teshuva in process and those deal fangs (Sanhedrin 78a). ing with them• will greatly aid the baal Whether it is intellectual stimulation teshuva in framing his she'eilos. or deep insight one seeks, any reader of One of the greatest dangers for the Torah From the Internet is likely to find new baa[ teshuva is that he will proceed himself joining the legions around the too fast and adopt an outer lifestyle that globe who cannot start Shabbos without bears no relationship to his internal When Did You Last Do downloading Rabbi Kornfeld's latest development. Yet those guiding him will The Mitzvah of Gmach? offering. often feel reluctant to suggest a more >tiJJ 111'< n17n ~tiJ OJ! step-by-step approach, and the baa[ If you lend funds to ... the poor. After the Return, Mordechai Becher and teshuva himself, once he knows of cer This ·w is an obligation. (Mechllta). Moshe Newman (Feldheim/Targum, tain obligations, may feel hypocritical 200 pages, $14.95). For 1 5 years, our 14 branches in Eretz not fulfilling them. Yisroel have issued Gmach loans to the Yet Rabbis Becher and Newman struggling, Kolleleit, here are good books and there are show that there is ample support for a C1'7T 17111 Olim and the ill. important ones. (Of course, there are also wretched and worthless 'For example, there n1ust be fifteen PsalnH begin DoltTodayJ T ning Shir Ha1na'alos just as in our standard books, but they are less likely to be Your gift will become Tehilli1n (Mishnayos S11cca 5:4); any Psalm a revolving loon; an reviewed in these pages.) After the formed of an acrostic tnust have been indepen Return falls into the category of impor dent; an introduction such "Tehilla L'David' indi etemal Zchus! tant books because it fills a large void. cates the Psalm was not joined to the preceding OzerDalim OZER DAUM one; if one Psalm ends "Halleluka" and the next 28 West 25th Street, While there are a number of collec one begins "Halleluka, "they could not have been tions of inspirational stories of baalei joined. New Y0!1<, N .Y. 10010 + (212) 924-0023 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 41 The important thing is for the baal their philosophy of measured develop· instance, the initial focus be on nega teshuva to realize that he is involved in ment, the authors offer much sound tive commandments) whose violation a process aimed towards complete advice on establishing priorities in usually carries with it more severe pun acceptance of the Torah. In keeping with mitzva observance: Should, for ishment, or on positive mitzvos, which shape the character and create a sense of positive identification with other reli gious Jews? No issue proves more vexing for most baalei teshuva than maintaining For careful attention to your relationships with their families. I once heard Rabbi Simcha Wasserman individual needs, call us today! describe the baal teshuva's central task as showing his parents that the Torah (914) 354-8445 - with its stress on the mesorah from one generation to the next, and on the honor owed to one's parents - is a means of strengthening their bond, not Subscribe or give a gift of the opposite. Rabbis Becher and New man have many useful suggestions as to how the baal teshuva can demon· The Jewish Obseroer strate this. If I have one criticism of After the Return, it is that it is not long enough. and $ave! The authors could have drawn profitably on their vast experience in kiruvworkfor WHY NOT GlVE OR GET A PRESENT more anecdotal material. Though such THAT WILL LAST AN ENTIRE YEAR? anecdotes can be multiplied endlessly by anyone in the field, the inclusion of more Subscribe, or give a gift at these reduced prices material of this type would have helped and The Jewish Observer- filled with the views the baalei teshuva being addressed feel of leading Torah thinkers on current issues- will he how common are their particular prob delivered each month, directly lo your door. lems and stumblings. • cfhe longer you subscribe fOr, the larger your savings. •After the Return is a companion volume to the author's Hebrew work Avosos Ahava which Of course, this offer is unconditionally guaranteed; deals with the halachic issues involved in the you may cancel at any time and receive a refund for teshuva process, primarily from the point of view all undelivered copies. of the kiruv professional. So order today. and the very next issue will be on Unde Moishy, its way to you as soon as possible. Mordechai Ben David, J.t).------St 1 BSCRIP'l'ION SAVINtiiS CER'l'IFICA.'l'E and other top-of-the-line 0 YES, I want to take advantage of this 1noney saving otl'er! Enter my order as follows: Jewish enterJainers 0 NEW SUBSCRIPTION 0 RENEW'AL 0 GIIT Namee ______are available •()FJSil)E 42 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 misrepresentation of the photograph on tions) involved in borrowing money or the cover of the Jan. '98 JO. The caption items, dealing with employees or hired "Am Echad'' implied that while the chil craftsmen, honesty in sales and adver dren in sporty attire and those in Chas tising, etc. All the halachos are footnot sidic dress represent disparate groups on ed so that one could trace the source in the religious spectrum, they are Shulchan Aruch or she'eilos u'teshuvos nonetheless part of one nation. (responsa literature). EDITORIAL CORRECTION We were informed that the children It would be worthwhile for people to in summer clothes are members of an start learning this kuntras. Perhaps the The final paragraphs of Rabbi Joseph American family with a strong Torah author can translate his work into Eng Elias's article, "The Perversion ofTruth," commitment, who were visiting Bretz lish, giving it a broader audience. (JO Jan. '97) contained several typo Yisroel for the first time several summers This hopefully will lead to other graphical errors, which distorted the ago. They interrupted a tiyul (excursion) works and shiurim on the subject of fis intended message. We herewith reprint on a 90 degree August day to daven Min cal ehrlichkeit (integrity), which will be these lines in their correct form, with an ch a at the Kosel. Today they and their a great zechus in helping create a Kid additional paragraph (beginning with older siblings are accomplished students dush Sheim Shamayim. ''.Ari Shabit'') submitted by the author for in prominent Yeshivas. RABBI AARON BRAFMAN further clarification: We apologize to our cover figures if Far Rockaway, NY Indeed it is just in the approach to they suffered any slight in the way that Torah that our yeitzer hara seeks most they had been portrayed. AN ADDITIONAL SCENARIO FOR strongly to mislead us: untruth cannot ''ALL IN THE FAMILY (SOMETIMES)" tolerate truth- and, least of all, absolute JERUSALEM APPRECIATION FOR truth, as represented by G-d's teachings. "DENVER PLAN" ARTICLE To the Editor: This explains a phenomenon that just in I found the scenarios projected in ''All our days puzzles us. We can well under To the Editor: in the Family(Sometimes)" (Jan.'98) most stand that the Reform and Conservative Thank you very much for sending me engaging, for they helped me relate to the movements, engaged in a desperate bat Hillel Goldberg's article (The Jewish fact that there are limits to overlooking tle for survival and acceptance as legiti Observer Jan. '98) regarding the Denver other people's faults because, "after all, they mate forms of Judaism, will make every Joint Conversion Plan. I found it inter are family." The presentation was flawed, effort to present their case. But why do esting and useful and I appreciate your however, for not going one step further, they persist in accusing Torah Jewry of thoughtfulness. I am hopeful that our and portraying a case of outright betray things that they themselves know are not Committee will reach an understanding al. So I herewith offer Scenario #5: true - that we do not consider their by the end of this month. Cousin Seymour was caught break members Jews, that excrement was YAAKOV NE'EMAN, ing into Grandpa Harris's electronics thrown at the Kotel, etc., etc.? MINISTER OF FINANCE laboratory to rip off the design of his Ari Shabit is a journalist who iden Jerusalem state-of-the-art program, hoping to sell tifies with the leftist camp; but in a recent it to the competition. Here we are, ready article in Ha'aretz, he pointed out the PROMOTING FISCAL HONESTY to press charges against the man who is irrationalism of the Left, and explained robbing our common grandfather - in it very well: the Chareidim are an object To the Editor: effect, cheating me and the rest of the of profound hatred because their very There have been many suggestions aineklach of our share in Grandpa's lega existence represents a stubborn and made (some were printed in The Jewish cy - to fatten his own pockets and to determined disproof of a firm convic Observer letters) to implement an feed his high-living life-style. tion of the secular anti-religious camp awareness of the numerous halachic stric But wait! Cousin Seymour pleads that in our new world, these Jews will not tures and guidelines relating to our eco with us: Would you turn in your own continue to exist. They refuse to accept nomic activities, as proposed in my arti cousin? facts, preferring hatred as a response to cle ("The Crisis is Now-II;' June '97). . .. Or are there limits to the tolerance the destruction of their dreams. One individual has actually published that family loyalties demand of us? As our Sages put it, "Hatred perverts something which is certainly a beginning: The Reform and Conservative lead a straight line." Rabbi Moshe Kofman's kuntras ership's claims to respect and consider (pamphlet) entitled "Over I:socher'' is a ation are no less genuine than those of ABOUT LAST MONTH'S COVER: basic compilation of halachos relevant Cousin Seymour's. And their betrayal of to the most basic economic relationships the family legacy no less reprehensible. Several telephone calls to The Jewish we are all involved in. M.N.STEIN Observer editorial office alerted us to the It covers the basic issurim (prohibi- Monsey, NY The Jewish Observer, February 1998 43 :===~ru::JTf'JLtl1 I l:!.lfl 11-qi.- fl: The84 WilliamNational Street/NYC Headquarters 10038~==~~======of Agudath Israel of America Am Echad: ... meets the press Preserving One Jewish Nation The Am Echad Delegation. .. At Am Echad Headquarters m Echad was born at this past year's convention of Agu dath Israel of America, when Rabbi Moshe Sherer called A for a three-prong American Orthodox effort to help preserve the religious "status quo" in Israel and combat the largely American inspired movement for "religious pluralism" in the Jewish state. (The reader is referred to Rabbi Sherer's article, "A Call to Men of Integrity;' Jan. '98 JO.) The first component of the strat egy, a grassroots fax cam- paign from Orthodox Jews in the United States to key government officials in Israel, has generated hundreds if not thousands of communications, and has attracted considerable notice in Israel. The second component of the Am Echad campaign has been the placement of advertisements in some of the major national media outlets, including the New York Times and prominent Anglo Jewish weeklies from coast-to coast, focusing on the theme "Unity and Continuity." A copy of the first ad appeared on page 10 of the January JO. A copy of the second one appears on this page . ... at the Knesset 44 The Jewish Observer, February 1998 J""U."f"n-i (l''ti.-84 William Street!NYC 10038811111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 '1..tll 1 CL.UI IC The National Headquarters of Agudath Israel of Americal!I. A111 Echad Headquarters with religious caucus. - At the President's residence The third component of the Am Echad campaign was the organization of a broad delegation of Orthodox Jew ish leaders from the United States to visit Israel for the specific purpose of talking to key government officials about the The Prime A1i11istcr liste11s issue. The delegation, consisting of some 75 people from 13 different states, led by Rabbi Sherer, had an extraordinary series of meetings from Monday, Jan uary 12 through Wednesday, January 14. One of the most significant encounters of the 1nission \Vas a n1eeting with Pritnc Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who was especially intrigued when he was given the F-Iorowitz-Gordon study depicting the foture demographic trends of American Jewry (see JO May '97, page 14). The group also met with Pres ident Ezer Weizinann and with the top leadership of vir tually every political party in the Knesset. The Israeli media covered the mission extensively. In addition to the 1neet ings with the political establishment in Israel, and the encounters with the Israeli press, the Am Echad delegation met with nu1nerous rabbinic leaders. On Monday, the first day of the mission, the delegates had the zechus of meet ing with a number of the Gedolei Bretz Yisroel ~n:,,?w - Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, Rabbi Arye Leib Steinman, Clwcham Horav Ovadiah Yosef At the chief R<1bbinate ---·------·------·------~----·------The Jewish Observer, February 1998 45 11111 11111 The Delegaton meets the Gedolei Eretz Yisroel the Gerrer Rebbe, and the Vizniter Rebbe - who offered warm words of chizuk and beracha. Then, on Wednesday, the conclud ing day of the mission, the delegates met with the Belzer Rcbbe and Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef. Also on Wednesday, the group met with Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau and several other mem bers of the Chief Rabbinate. One then1e en1erged most strongly from the Am Echad n1ission to Israel, that such a visit should have been organized earlier on in the process. Nonetheless, despite the lateness of the hour, there is no ques tion that the delegation effectively disproved the widespread myth in Israel that all of American Jewry supports religious pluralism; and that it debunked many of the false statements and accusa tions being made by Reform and Conservative leaders about Orthodoxy - and exposed the failure of their movements. Rabbi Arye Leib Steinman 46 The Jewish Observer, February 7998 • 2 1/2 hour iio with n1n1i.:in & experienced 1:3'.:JJnD daily. July 9 nan n July l ! n;,;;r 1:3'.:JJnD. Touring Yerushalyim • Shiur in every evening before .:J'i.VD from prominent Welcome to 7xill"' rix Swimming in X•::iirr 7X1DI" i!lp Night Hike tu Satt:if • All the food is under y"7.:J. 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Blryafomt' Visit at nttJ.:m •n::i t"'tJtlr!T!pz:l&.~~"!:l; ::ixn Aug 12 ::Ul: ti Aug. !3 ;:II(' Aug. 14 !lX M' Aug. 15 :ui: :l' Aug. !6 ::ix l' Special Tuur of Western IN SHABBOS Wall Tunnels Mountain Bike Trip Midbar Yehuda Swimming In 11-.Yl.tl Along Burma Road Regular i7r:> ::ix.:i !TYWn :J7Y.:I Kinos at rn•nn.t1 .:111:7!.tl Desert Sports, Rappdling Herzeliya Beach Mincha at Kosel o•!>w1i• m.l'lm n-im• •irr at Mitzpl' Shakm 17 . ::i.K_ ,, AUg._ur: _ .·. . !lK in Aug 19 !lK tti Aug_ 20 •Round trip airfare, food, lodging, touring, DAY C.AMPllNG /'P'W.Beadi_ Shopping in Geula Departure from all admissions, laundry, health and O:~rttebatk ll:idio'g farewell & Dinuer Ben Gurion Airport Return tu OJ7JVM• !>m.:1at.:i•i.v.t1 & Rdurn to New Ynrk hospitalization insurance included. DON'T MISS OUT SPACE IS LIMITED RESERVE NOW!