“כי מציון תצא תורה ודבר ה’ מירושלים” e-mitzion NEWS & VIEWS “Lechu Banim Shimu Li Yiraat The official newsletter of Midreshet HaRova Hashem Alamedchem” These were the words inscribed on Chanuka 5771 the entrance to Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin, the most beautiful and substantial Yeshiva ever to be built on the grounds of Contents: Eastern Europe. The unique and unparalleled scholar, Rabbi Meir Shapira, founder of the Daf Yomi, almost News and Views literally built this Yeshiva with his own hands. Ironically, the first yeshiva in Europe to offer dormitories, cheder Dvar ochel, special rooms of limmud, would not even last a decade before the Nazis marched in to Lublin, and Letters from Students began to murder Polish Jewry. Rabbi Meir himself was to be spared the Holocaust, dying as a young man Race for the Cure very suddenly in 1933. Had he lived and survived the Holocaust, who knows what he might have achieved. This ‘rising star’ of Am Yisrael, already recognized by the Chag HaSigd Gedolei Hador as being the leader for the future, was relentless in his work for Am Yisrael and Torat Yisrael. He Announcements preceeded Rabbi Lau in Pietrokow, became the Rav of Lublin, and was rumoured to be on his way to becoming Rabbi of Lodz when he passed away. He was a Talmid Chacham, but did not just sit with his books. Rabbi Meir almost single-handedly traveled the world to raise the money for his Torah Empire. It is said that on one occasion, whilst visiting the United States in an attempt to raise money, he ran out of funds, and in order to keep himself sustained he began to work locally as a chazan, so stubborn was he to fulfill his dream. His other most famous program of Daf Yomi, has enabled hundreds of thousands of Baalei Batim around the world to go through Shas, and has by definition united Am Yisrael in their study of Torat Yisrael - wherever one travels the Daf from that fundamental year in , the more we have to will always be the same. stay in touch. However different life may appear four or And of all the verses in Tenach, Rabbi Meir Shapira had five years after , the basics we worked towards at the words “Lechu Banim” inscribed at the entrance to Midrasha can help us meet the challenges of life even so his Yeshiva. But why? Perhaps it is how he aimed to many years later. I am still proud to say that to this day I measure the success of his institution. A yeshiva cannot draw from the lessons that Rav Amital instilled within me simply be valued in relation to the level of study therein. twenty-seven years ago. So with our Shabbaton in Stern It is far more important to see how the students leave - coming up, please make the effort to come together and “Lechu Banim”, and to teach the fear renew, to spend a weekend in the middle of Manhattan “in the of Yerushalayim”. of God - “Yiraat Hashem”. Successful Successful students students cannot be defined by a Please contact Aviah Saltzman, moving messibat siyum, by siyumai cannot be defined by a [email protected] for more information or to register to attend. massechtot. Successful alumni are the moving messibat siyum, ones who take the yeshiva with them wherever they may go, the students by siyumai massechtot. If the first part of the verse inscribed who continually struggle with their Successful alumni are on the entrance to the Yeshiva in Lublin own self-definition and relationship relates to how we fair once we have left with the Almighty, not just in the the ones who take the yeshiva, the second part of the phrase Old City of Yerushalayim, but in the yeshiva with them relates to Yiraat Hashem. And here we universities of the world, be they in face the real challenge of our lives: What is Sydney, Jo’burg, Manchester or Boston. wherever they may Yiraat Hashem, and how can we teach it? We so often hear today that ‘so and so is As we travel the world recruiting for go, the students who a yirei shamayim’, yet I remain the skeptic. next year, we have the honor of meeting continually struggle with My Rebbe, Rabbi Isaac Bernstein of blessed up with our students wherever we go. their own self-definition memory, once commented to me that In mid-November, together with Rav “once there was one Gaon in Vilna, there Susman, I met up with many students and relationship with the was a Tzaddik called the Chafetz Chaim, of past. For me, these brief moments Almighty... but somehow today everyone is a Gaon, are so much more rewarding than a everyone is a Tzaddik!”. A person learns messibat siyum. To see our students when they are out of a little, does a few good deeds, and before you know it, the Rova, to see how they relentlessly try to bring the Rova they have reached the spiritual echelons of Rabbi Chaim into their lives in the Diaspora - that is surely the measure Ozer Grodzinski! The same goes for Yiraat Shamayim. To of success. Students often comment on how strange it is have the fear of Heaven, to my mind, implies a constant to see us in chutz la’aretz, but for me it is an inspiration. awareness of the Almighty, wherever we may be, and Unfortunately we don’t get to see everyone, but the emails whatever we may be doing. It is an incredible challenge, keep coming. My skype shiur at Stern is well attended and it always confronts me on my travels. considering that it takes place at 6 a.m. New York time. To be honest, living in Alon Shevut and working in the But I am writing also to those students who didn’t just Old City of Yerushalayim I feel safe and relatively protected leave last summer. I suppose it is natural for those that (though of course the challenges are everywhere, and attend a reunion to be the most recent alumni, but from complacency is one of the most dangerous of them), but my perspective, I want to see all of you. I don’t want our once I get that boarding pass, land in North America, and alumnus to ever get bored of a Midrasha reunion. On the wave goodbye to ELAL, traveling the four corners of this contrary - the older we get, the further away we become vast empire, the real yearly check-up begins. Hours of travel Two events are reported on in this issue, and they are and introspection remind me of how far there is to go before both very significant. When I was approached by two of I can even contemplate that incredible title of God-fearing. our students early on in the year regarding the march for So where do we start? The verse actually tells us: First “Breast Cancer”, I was extremely supportive, and amazed and foremost we must guard our tongue, we must teach at how the student body came together to support ourselves awareness of the Almighty through our actions the cause. We gave up an afternoon of classes but the and speech. Every time that we are about statement was so important. As we have to do something or say something, we Learning Torah should so often said, there cannot be ben adam must imagine that someone whom we leMakom if there is no ben adam lechaveiro. truly respect is standing right there, and have an impact on how There has to be an external expression of then once we do that, remind ourselves we behave; they cannot our learning, and to see the entire student that God actually is there. Once we body in specially made shirts marching in internalize this thought we realize that be two separate entities aid of this noble cause was heart-rending were we to be truly God-fearing then our to say the least. Kol Hakavod to Rachel lives would be very different than how they are now. Many and Caroline for all of their hard work in arranging our of us fear people, as Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakai said - we part in the event. are careful and reserved with what we do and what we say in front of them. We have to at the least equate our fear of God to the fear that we have of people; after all God sees In honesty, when Yonah Fish and the madrichot initially all that we do, hears all that we say, and most importantly suggested an evening on Ethiopian Jewry I was unsure. As knows our thoughts and intentions. When we are alone, far you all know, I don’t relish the thought of canceling evening from the madding crowd, we have time to see who we are seder. But in retrospect they were right, and I was wrong. and where we are, and perhaps come to appreciate that we The whole evening was an eye opener for the students. It are never really on our own. brought to life the ingathering of exiles, and exposed the girls to real examples of messirut nefesh. What Ethiopian A Midrasha cannot just be about accumulating Jewry did to get to Israel is almost comparable to Am knowledge; if it is it is no different than a university. As Yisrael in the desert, and how they managed for hundreds well as teaching students about how to confront and of years as an isolated community to preserve minhag channel themselves into society whilst The true goals of any is really quite unbelievable. It is rather simultaneously retaining their religiosity, humbling for those of us contemplating we must enhance the notion of fearing respectable school need through Nefesh BeNefesh, when God. Learning Torah should have an to be long term education, we see what these people were prepared impact on how we behave; they cannot to do to come home. be two separate entities. Sometimes I and Yiraat Shamayim feel that being classified as a spiritual school is often seen to be a negative, as if to say that you have to choose, And on a final note, regarding Chanukah, let us also intellectual or spiritual. But why can’t it be both? Were remind ourselves that this celebration is not only about our mentors only one or the other? Our learning must be oil lasting for eight days, it is also about independence. accompanied by an awareness of God - I do believe that For almost half the period of the Second Temple we lived that is what defines our limmud. We say a bracha before as an autonomous entity under the auspices of Persians we eat in order to try and combine a spiritual notion with or Greeks, but when the few overcame the many, after our physical need to eat, but why do we say berachot 200 years of that autonomy we regained independence, before we learn? To my mind, the answer is clear - our and we say full Hallel on Chanukah perhaps for that learning needs to be holy too, and the berachot serve to reason too. So when we light the candles and remember remind us exactly this point. the miracles of old, be sure not to forget or ignore the Rabbi Meir Shapira knew what he was saying. The true miracles of today that stare us in the face - bayamim goals of any respectable school need to be long term hahem, ubizman hazeh! education, and Yiraat Shamayim. It is a tall order, but we must do what we can to follow his lead. Chag Urim Sameach! Eight The Tur provides us with the source of our from the outset. Chanukah celebrations 3. On the first day, they poured all of the oil “Idolaters entered the Holy Temple and into the Menorah. They woke up the next Days a desecrated the oil within. And when the morning to discover that none of it had Chashmonaim consequently overcame the been consumed. And so it continued for Week enemy and entered the Mikdash with the eight nights until a new supply arrived. objective of re-dedication, they searched The Aruch HaShulchan also addresses the and only found a very small measure of question and adds a number of alternative The following dvar untouched pure oil with which to light the suggestions.3 Torah is from Rav Menorah. This oil still had the original seal of the Kohen Gadol, and was somehow left One is that the celebration for eight days is Milston’s upcoming 4 untouched in all the mayhem. But there also a reference to Brit Mila, circumcision. two-volume series, was such a minute quantity of pure oil, it The Greeks had forbidden circumcision Ki Va Moed, on the would never suffice for the time required during the period leading up to the Chagim and Moadim. to bring a new supply of pure oil – in fact Maccabean revolt. Once they had been Publication, upon there was just about enough oil for the first defeated, this fundamental mitzvah was completion, will be night alone. Yet miraculously, this small pure reinstated. In order to commemorate that announced on the measure lasted a full eight event, another day was website. days. In subsequent years, Appreciating God added to the seven days in celebration of this wonder, when He performs of the oil.5 our Rabbis fixed eight days miracles is one thing; Alternatively, we could of celebration to thank the suggest that the first Almighty for the miracles he day was added as a 1 acknowledging the bestowed upon us.” celebration of the re- The Beit Yosef asks why eight same God sustaining dedication of the Temple days and not seven. There Nature is another. itself whilst the seven was enough oil for one day days were there to reflect so the miracle was making it last for another the specific miracle of the oil. 2 seven, not eight. Rav Moshe Feinstein offers a most novel He offers three answers: approach to our question.6 His answer 1. It is possible that the Kohanim divided the serves as an explanation to a puzzling phrase remaining pure oil into eight small quantities in the penultimate verse of “Maoz Tzur”: “The for each of the days. Hence a miracle did Greeks gathered against me during the occur on each day. The tiny amount allocated Chashmonaic period for each day – normally expected to last but And they breached the walls of my towers a few hours – burned the entire night and and made all the oil impure well into the next day. And with the little remnants of oil, a miracle 2. After they had initially poured an amount occurred to the Roses7 of pure oil into the Menorah, the jug 3 Orach Chaim 670. remained totally full, indicating a miracle 4 Which takes place eight days after the birth of a boy. 1 Orach Chaim 670, in direct reference to the Gemara Shab- 5 The Aruch HaShulchan relies on the Shiltei Giborim for this bat 21b. opinion. 2 Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch and a com- 6 Drash Moshe, Chanukah. mentary on the Tur. Commonly referred to the Mechaber. 7 A term often used for Am Yisrael, initially used in Shir Men of understanding fixed eight days of song and is a miracle. The world has no other cause but the will of praise.” the Almighty. His deeds and conduct of the world are How are we to interpret the phrase “men of understanding the immediate consequence of His will. What He wills fixed eight days”? Surely, if one day’s worth of oil ‘burns comes into being without need of any intermediary. We without being consumed’ for over a week, call God’s act a ‘miracle’ when He wills an occurrence one needn’t have any special intelligence to The truth is that which is both novel and unfamiliar to us and which consequently makes us aware register that something very special has just there is no essential occurred. So why “men of understanding”? of the hand of God. We call God’s acts difference between ‘Nature’ when He wills that certain events Rav Moshe comments that the celebration the natural and should occur in a recognizable pattern of the first day of Chanukah is not a with which we become familiar. celebration of the miracle but of Nature the miraculous. itself. Appreciating God when He performs Everything that And it is this familiarity that presents miracles is one thing; acknowledging the occurs is a miracle. us with a challenge. We can choose to same God sustaining Nature is another. recognize that these events too have the unfettered will of Hashem as their sole Not only must we appreciate that a small amount of oil and immediate cause. Or we can imagine that Hashem burned for longer than it was meant to but we must also has delegated certain powers to a phenomenon called internalize the fact that oil burns at all. The point is that Nature, and that within the realm of Nature man too has both miracles and Nature derive from the same source. absolute autonomy to influence events by the process Therefore, “men of understanding fixed eight days” – of cause and effect. The whole concept of Nature is thus those with deeper insight fixed a festival of eight days, nothing more than a test for the human being. Nature adding a day to remember the miracle of Nature. has no objective existence; it is merely an illusion which When Chazal decided to establish Chanukah, they gives man a choice to exercise his free will. To err or to wanted to emphasize something choose the truth. fundamental to our understanding … Our challenge is not Indeed, if a given individual who, by of the world. In addition to the simply to wait around dint of an enormous spiritual effort, Almighty’s daily involvement in the for the Almighty to split successfully overcame the challenge of running of the world, He occasionally Nature so that Nature no longer presents the sea, but rather to intervenes using supernatural means. any problems to him, there would no In the midst of the cold and dark winter, note that our ability longer be any need for Heaven to deal it seems all the more appropriate that to breathe, see, hear, with him through the obscuring veil of we dedicate a day to celebrate routine communicate, give birth, Nature. Consequently, miracles would and mundane Nature. smell, etc. is worthy become commonplace for him. This could certainly be another reason of our wonder and There have been rare individuals of why we light our Chanukiot outside in gratitude. this sort in our history. One of them the darkness. Our objective is to find was Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa, whose God specifically in the darkness. daughter once mistakenly poured vinegar instead of Rabbi Dessler further clarifies the issue in an essential oil into the Shabbat lamp. She was dismayed at the essay called Miracles and Nature:8 knowledge that her actions were likely to ruin the forthcoming Shabbat, but Rabbi Chanina comforted her, “The truth is that there is no essential difference between “He who told oil to burn can make vinegar burn too.”9 the natural and the miraculous. Everything that occurs Indeed, the Talmud testifies to the fact that the vinegar

HaShirim 2:2. 8 In Michtav MiEliyahu. 9 See Ta’anit 25a. burned all of that Shabbat. Be that as it may, most of our commentators would It would appear that Rabbi Chanina had reached the agree that HaKadosh Baruch Hu is constantly level where he understood – not only intellectually involved in the world, and does not simply intervene but deep in his being – that there is no qualitative with miracles. If so, our challenge is not simply to distinction between the essence of Nature and miracle. wait around for the Almighty to split the sea, but As far as he was concerned, there was no longer any rather to note that our ability to breathe, see, hear, need to keep up the pretense of ‘Nature’, and so for communicate, give birth, smell, etc. is worthy of our him oil and vinegar were equally flammable.” wonder and gratitude. We can find the Almighty everywhere if we truly look for him. Clearly, Rabbi Dessler has taken the famous declaration of Chazal – “Everything is in the hands of Heaven Men of understanding will celebrate for eight days – except for the fear of Heaven”10 – in its most literal they understand the number eight sheds a revealing form. There is no real cause and effect in the world. light upon the seven. Just as eight symbolizes the It all serves as an optical illusion aimed at challenging supernatural that emanates from God, so the seven, the man into discovering God in his daily experiences of week, represents the natural God-given phenomena life. Man expresses his God-given free choice not by surrounding us every day. changing the course of history but by how he reacts So as we light our lights in the darkness of winter, we spiritually to the events controlled by the Almighty. are not only celebrating the miracle of miracles but The Rambam defines Chazal’s statement quite also – and perhaps more importantly – the miracle of differently.11 He says that since all of a person’s Nature. activities express whether he is God-fearing or not, all human activities are to be included in the phrase “fear Rav David Milston of Heaven.” According to the Rambam, Man certainly has a say in the cause and effect of this world and consequently in Nature too.

10 Berachot 33b. 11 Shemona Perakim, Chapter 8. Below is a letter from a bogeret of the class of 5765. We share her words, with her permission, as we found them both touching and inspiring to receive. As always, we welcome others who might Letters from Students wish to write in.

. I made

To the faculty and administration of Harova,

Since coming to Israel 6 years ago (7 Eluls now), I have come to view Harova as my large family aliyah by myself and had no close relatives in this country, so my friends really became the family that I needed here. For me, it all began at Harova, rediscovering myself (actually, more like discovering myself) , provide for your bogrot, my and getting on the desired track for my future. Granted, over the years I visit Harova less and less, as I become more steady on my own two feet, but I never stopped thinking of Harova for even one minute, and I enjoy visiting when possible. If not for you, the lessons you have taught me, the practical help you have provided me and the emotional support that you, the Harova family aliyah and klita into Israel would not have been as smooth and fulfilling as it was. In your classrooms I discovered who I was, and with your continued help I am becoming the person I want to be. Now, B”H I have enlarged my family, and it brings me great pleasure to bring my husband to Harova, to where it all , to give him the insight into why and how I became the person that I am today. began for me Thank you for everything you did and continue to do for me. I really appreciate it all…. . Also, thank you for everything you did to make this Yom Kippur at Harova as delightful as ever, from setting , there’s nowhere else I’d rather be up places for bogrot to stay to prepping the shana alef girls for Yom. Kippur with slichot and shiurim. When Hashem is going to judge me Thank you B’ahava, Anna Cohen (Hertzberg)

Race for the Cure he first ever Susan G. Komen Israel Race for the Cure, to raise awareness Tabout breast cancer, was held on October 28th in . Thanks to the initiative of two current HaRova students, Rachel Bernard and Caroline Guttman, the Midreshet HaRova Overseas Program came out en masse to show their support and walk with the multitude.

“I feel a strong sense of connection to the cause,” Caroline shared. “And feel people should be aware. Sharsheret, who were also involved in the walk, is an organization that especially is concerned about Jewish women, and it is nice to be able to make people aware in a Jewish way. We had an amazing response from the students and others told us it was so nice of HaRova to be there.”

The event, held in partnership with Hadassah and the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, began with registration and speeches in Gan Sacher and ended near Breichat HaSultan, in Gei Ben Hinom just outside the Old City walls.

Our students, eager and thrilled to be a part of this international effort, prepared pink and white shirts, with “Race for the Cure” on the front and “HaRova 10” on the back – see photos in the photo gallery at: http:// harova.org/pictures/album.asp?cat=71&subcat=463 – and surely were very visible among the crowd.

A bogeret sent an email just after the Race: “I was walking today for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and I saw HaRova walking. It was SO amazing to see! The girls were all there wearing matching HaRova shirts. It meant a lot to me as a bogeret and I think it’s really amazing that HaRova participated (rightfully so).”

Our students truly had a genuine sense of being part of something so much greater than themselves and knew that their actions can have an impact for so many women and their families who are struggling with the effects of breast cancer. Chag HaSigd known as Dabo. The chadar ochel itself was decorated to reflect the deserts of Ethiopia, students sat at low tables on cushions on the floor, and Ethiopian tunes played throughout the meal. Madrichot presented dilemmas including the challenges facing the population during their journeys toward Israel and the realities they faced when integrating to their new culture. After dinner, students were shown a film with a short history of the Ethiopian Jewish community and their arrival and absorption to Israel, and considered the place o mark the celebration of the E t h i o p i a n of a festival of longing for Zion in the past, and in the Tfestival of Chag HaSigd, Midreshet HaRova students present for the Ethiopian community of Israel. Students were treated to a special evening of food, music and were then joined by a special guest, Smadar Finley, and her explanations regarding the history of Ethiopian Jews and husband, Levi Yitzchak. Smadar, of Ethiopian descent, was their intense desire, throughout the generations, to be able to share her story in English, having been a shlicha reunited with all Jews in the Land of Israel. in the US in the past, and brought alive the longing, the journey and the challenges faced by the community and Chag HaSigd, held on the 29th of Cheshvan, 50 days after the individuals within when brought to the place of Yom Kippur, is a festival said to mark the aspiration to their dreams, to Israel. come to Zion and renew the acceptance of the Torah while longing for return. Marked in the Ethiopian community by fasting, strengthening of mitzvot, teshuva, and a coming together of “Beita Yisrael”, the festival brings Ethiopian Jews from throughout the country to Jerusalem where they celebrate and feast together. At the Midrasha, students enjoyed a dinner of special Ethiopian foods, prepared by kitchen staff, including a unique lentil dish, meat and potatoes, and special bread From the goings on at the Midrasha

Midreshet Harova wishes a Chanuka Sameach to all of its bogrot, students, Staff and Friends and to all of Klal Yisrael !

Mazal Tov’s & Announcements Engagements and Marriages Rachel Bender (5765) to Aurelien Marti Raizy Schwartz (madricha, 5768) to Ariel Lindenfeld A l i y a h Tanya Fredman (5764) to Len Pader Dana Leeds (5769) on her aliyah! Yael Feinberg (5768) to Daniel Beirstone Mazal tov to Nava Karol (5769) on making aliyah! Sarah Tehilla Koen (5768) to Gad Attar B i r t h s Esther Weitzenfeld (5765) to Dovi Sacho a son, Yosef Nachman Zion, to Sara (Rosengarten) (5765-6) and Saul Haimoff Leora Sluckis (5768) to Motty Korman a daughter, Shoshana Nesya to Anna (Hutt) Fredman (5765) and husband Bracha Rafael (MTA 2007) to Simon Morawetz a daughter, Ayala Malka, to Shulamit (Myers) Yitzchak Kirschenbaum Sophie White (5770) to Gideon Sacofsky a son to Abi (Offstein) (5752) and Jonty Blackman Nat Wicks (MTA 2007-8) to Gabi Gluck a daughter, Noa Hallel, to Tammy (Datnow) Levy (MTA 2000) and husband Amy Rubinstein (MTA 2007) to Daniel Burke a daughter, Avital, to Gila (Guskin) (5768) and Itay Ben Moshe Danielle Peeri (5766) to Netanel Greenberg a daughter to Elysia (Rothenberg) (5761) and Mark Stein Shira Schwartzman (5768) to Josh Greenspan Justine Brozin (MTA 2001) to Antony Seeff Staff Mazal Tovs Helen Lindall (5767) to Michael Brown Mazal tov to Rav Berg and family on the engagement of his daughter! Shanee Ovadia (5767) to Josh Kirschenbaum Mazal tov to Rav Shames and family on the birth of their new son, Matanya Yisrael Yair

Want to let others know your happy news? Have a story Shiur Dedications?? about your present work for Am Yisrael that might be Do you have an event or special person you would like to honor or good for other students, past, present and future, to see? remember? YOU TOO can dedicate Limmud Torah at Midreshet HaRova. Send it to Leiba at [email protected]. Information Categories include the email shiur, shiur klali or all or part of a day or week of particular relevance will be posted to the website and or learning. To dedicate, go to our secure website at www.harova.org, or contact Leiba at [email protected] for dedications in installments. could be included in future editions of E-Mitzion.

Please share your Simchas with Mishpachat Midreshet HaRova-tell us the good news!! Website Email Telephone Fax www.harova.org [email protected] 972-2-626-5970 972-2-628-4690 E-mitzion is the official e-mail newsletter of Midreshet HaRova Editor: Rav David Milston Contributing editor: Leiba Smith