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··' I nxtl "'IW:I It has to be lllSHER FORPl\SSIMR the new, improved parve unsalted margarine ~~ Established with the assistance and Haskoma Shiu rim: w Wide ranging subjects including Torah study with of the world renowned Manchester commentaries, Jewish History, Psychology, Mussar. i1:J'tll'i7 wx1, Rav Yehuda Zev Segal X"!Y'~. ® Stimulating and interesting approach. @ Focus on development of middos. Vocational Training: We Aim: m A variety of course options. w Courses offered include Teacher Training, Nurs"r:­ • To develop in our students emunah and Teacher Training, Keyboard Skills, Word~ Processing, Computer Programming, Book¥ yiras shomayim-belief in the keeping, Dressmaking, Art. e External examinations for recognised fundamental principles of Judaism. qualifications. • To promote a high standard of ethical Qualified Staff: w Dedicated team of professionals with many years values, chessed, and tolerance for others. of experience in education. Ill Experienced resident matron. • To equip our students with the skills they International Student Body: will require in their future lives. Ell Currently over 80 girls, aged 16-20 years. ® Around 25% UK, 25'% Europe, 50'X, Israel, USA, Canada, Australia. We Offer: Well Appointed Premises: "' Modern, functional buildings. An intensive two-year course combining advanced * Residential accommodations. Jewish studies with Vocational Training. The m Lecture rooms, dormitories, computer room, library and other facilities conveniently on site. program includes Shabbos and Yorn Tov during the Varied Program of Extra-Curricular semester and all our students live on the premises. Activities: This Seminary is quite different from other similar \\'I Swimming and fitness ui First aid course 0 institutions a·; it provides a much broader range of Cooking course $ Hairdressing course @ Music and drama Productions $ In-house magazine * subjects as you will see in our schedule. Outings and walking tours ® Social events @ Interaction with the local community and its institutions; students help with young families, the To Apply: elderly, the handicapped; they participate in the SEED program, and are involved in charity work. Applications for the coming 'l:OO-'l:SO 10-1o:so : 11:10-12:00 12~os.12,so · 12\so-1:00 3:40-4:10 4:30-6:30 6:10-7:30 i:30-8:45 year are now being '11111 J_~::'._'::.~ __ __'.1.~.~~-~-J.~10p V'_:~~~j M l1'1'1N'1J - 111''.lN".l )l1JJ) """ : '""!) '1 processed. Applications may x T vn1'1il __ u now be submitted for the ~ -~ -~11 ·_::r--~~~~~~l z ?! W )'1'\0i'OJ 11')~) ilV'1' , ilJ~l,., _j_ ilV1~:1 ')1') .., : ~ year 5753/54 (1993/94) as T -~~~~1g: __j__~,:~-~~~~:~1 __ n_'~N~~~l_~,:~i~~;;-~ _] well: 474 Bury New Rd, "~~n 0'11'~N OWlJ lo>I 111'11~ : $ l1'1'1N1J ilJ'.in ! 0')l'l1N O'N'lJ Salford M7 ONU I " _L______---- j ' ' x Manchester, England u ~ ~ ;~,J)n~~I~'.;;~~~:~L--.~;0_;j~·=.~- -;;;~ ____:-j z Tel: 061-792-7770 f1 W 11''.f>) il)"1' :1':>~!1 O~~~o ')PJO ~1)1'),1 ·~ i ~ ------·------+------' ' ----·-----1 1 T rnJN 'j:li~ n T11 ' ilJ~il ( 1'1'VN1l " 1 1 Fax: 061-708-9014 -~ ·•·-··1 F 1''VN11 1011 : O'JlVN1 O'N'J' I 1 American Tel: 914-352-2586 ni;·;~ Jewish histo may be lyi around 1nII your sement. Don't let it be lost to the world.

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liiliiiliiiliiiliiiliiiliiiliiiliiiliiiliillllllllll!!llliililll& THE CN!'ECiOB:!ES OF ITEMS REQUESTED: iilillliiliiili&L &ii ii&

~ Documentation of Orthod6x Jewish rescue work dur­ • Documents and photos pel'lllining to Orthodox activ- ing the .Holocaust. ism in the social service and civic action fields. • Phoros depicting life in the shtetl, the Orthodox com­ • Photos of Gedolei Yisroel past and present. munities of the cities,- the yeShiva world, and Chassidic , Sets of Orthodox journals and periodicals. centers of Europe before the Holocaust. • Documents and phoros relating to the religious Yishuv ~- Documents 1 records, letters, journals and newspapers in Eretz Yisroel, its institutions and. struggles for that portray Turah life in Europe as it was, and cast Jewish life. light on the issues and problems facing Jews at the time. • Documents and photos pel'lllining to world-wide Agudath Israel history, all Knessios Gedolos, and the 11> Documents 1 records, correspondence, newscHppings, development of the American Agudab movement since journals, memorabilia, and phows depicting Orthodox 1922. life in the U.S. from colonial times w the present. ({f you are htsita.nt Wpart with cherished items, arrange­ ' Documents and phows pertaining to the development ment.i; can bi made ro reproduce certain kinds of docitments of yeshivos throughout the country. and photos, leaving the original in your po.i:session.)

If you have any items in the above categories in your possession, or know where they can be obtained, please write or phone: ORTHODOX JEWISH ARCHIVES Agudath Israel of America 84 William Street, New York, N .Y. 10038, 212-797-9000 R

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 PEsAcn: is published monthly except July and August by Tm: F'EsTIVAL OF "AND YOU SHAlL TEIJ, YOUR SON ON THAT DAY, SAJ'ING .... " theAgudath Israel of America, 84 William Street, (BBEMosl3,8) New York, N.Y. 10038. Second class postage paid in New York, N.Y. Subscription $22.00 per year; two years, $36.00; 6 three years, $48.00. Outside of the United States "Discipline" and "Disciple" (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $10.00 Rabbi Noach Orlowek surcharge per year. Single copy $3.00; foreign $4.00. Send address changes to The Jewish 8 Observer, 84 William Street, N.Y., N.Y. 10038. Tel: (212) 797-9000. Foundations For Growth: Self-Esteem Printed in the U.S.A. Mordechai Blumenfeld

RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDfTOR 11

EDITORIAL BOARD Generation Gap, Israeli-Style OR. ERNST BODENHEIMER Yonason Rosenblum Chairman

RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS 21 JOSEPH FRIEDENSON The Straw Provision RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN RabbiNesanelKasnett MANAGEMENT BOARD NAFTOLI HIRSCH ISAAC KIRZNER RABBI SHLOMO LESIN Reviews of Children's Books NACHUM STEIN Lisa Herman

RABBI YOSEF C. GOLD!NG Business Manager 31 A Statement by Agudath Israel of America Published by Agudath Israel of America SECOND l..oOKS ON THE JEWISH SCENE RABBI MOSHE SHERER PRESIDENT Taking Leave as a Jew THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not asaume responsibility for the Kashrus Between Life and Death: Closing the Gap? of any product, publlc1tion 1 or service Dr. Irving Lebovics advertised In Its pages © Copyright 1992 Booka ln Review

APRIL 1992 VOLUME XXV I NO. 3 40 "Kavod Hatorah" Meir Zev Mark 41 Letters to the Editor Rabbi Noach Orlowek

PLEASURE AS A REQUISITE of the Talmud) tell us that a person Ing to obey even the simplest and FOR LEARNING should study what he finds pleasur­ most reasonable of requests. able [AvodaZora, 19a). For this rea­ Rashi tells us that when the Torah father taught me that the son, the beracha on Torah study con­ says "to take" a person, it refers to ord "discipline" is a deriva­ tains the phrase-"and make sweet convincing the person to come with . e of the word "disciple." A Your Torah in our mouths." This Is as you. How? 'With beautiful words"! 1 disciple is a student, someone who The "Alter" of Kelm, Reb Simcha learns from a teacher. Just as learn­ Zlesel Zeev, ?"llT, put the major ele­ ing cannot be forced. but must result Discipline that has its ments of discipline into sharp focus: from the student's desire to learn, Astudentmustknowtwothlngs true discipline TTUJSt also stem.from the roots in intimidation will about his teacher. which will in­ desire ID foUnw. spire him to accept his lessons with joy and willingness. One-that his Learning cannot be forced. As the evaporate as soon as the teacher is wiser than he is and Gaon ofVilna states in his famous let­ knows better than he does what is ter to his family, "Learning is retained student or child is for his benefit. only through gentleness." Rabbi Two-that he very much (itallcs Yitzchok Hutner ?··::ir, in Pachad freed-or frees mine) seeks his (the student's) good Yitzchok, Shavuos. Maamar 15:6, ex­ and not his own, or any other [Ital­ pressed this concept: "Just as the himself-of his fears. ics mine) tntention.' With regard to parents, the Alter ears hear through the medium of continues by saying that the major sound waves and the eyes see by re­ factor that causes a child to fail to love sponding to light waves, the mind his father fully is because "he thinks also has Its medium through which true with true discipline as it is with that his father does not know what is it connects to information. That me­ the development of a true disciple. best for his child's beneftt."3 dium Is pleasure. The mind learns "Discipline" that has its roots In intimidation will evaporate as soon as what it wants to learn, what it enjoys ! Rashi. Beretshis, 2:15. See also Rashi. Bamidbar learning." Hence Chazal (the rabbis the student or child is freed-or frees 27:18,22 and Devarim 1:15. See also Kiddushin himself-of his fears. Then, more of­ 22b. Rabbi Orlowek serves as a mashgiach in several ten than not, enmity and rebellion 2 Chachmn. U'Mussar. Volume II, Ma'amar225. Jerusalem yeshivas. This article is part of his 3 ibid. forthcoming book on chinuch themes. will appear, with the "disciple"unwill-

6 The Jewish Obseroer. April 1992 child most. Any fear that what the Parents who convey to child would learn in school would de­ tract from the respect accorded the their children that only parents is soon discovered as betng totally unjustified. If anything, quite the child's best interest is the opposite happens. AB the child matures, he finds himself thtnking, at the root of whatever "My parents care for me and want what is best for me. They understand advice they give, will life and people, and are worth turn­ ing to experts for adVice on how to live find that their child's love successfully." Good discipline is rooted in the and respect toward ability of the mentor to imbue in his child (or student) the desire to follow them will continue to his parents' lead. The child must know that the parent feels positively grow in step with the about him, wants what is best for child's emotional and him, and has the good judgment to direct him on the path to a success­ intellectual maturity. ful life. Learning to lay the ground work for this type of relationship, and pinpointing and dealing with the backgrounds enroll their children in problems which are likely to hamper Torah-oriented schools. Such par­ the development of such a relation­ ents are concerned solely with what ship, are the basic elements needed type of education will benefit their for successful discipline. •

TRUSTING ONE'S PARENTS :\~ . ,~ 1:1 ' ' n · v o n · n !I' w' ometimes more than a lack of \~I Talmudical Academy of Baltimore love can result from a child's S thinking that a parent does ~~-!'-}/ not know what is best for him. We have today a worldwide malady Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim-­ known as the "Generation Gap." Chil­ dren feel estranged from parents. AB Talm.udical.Al:ademy my Rebbe, Rabbi Simcha Wasserman is accepting applications to our High ~"1.?"'1:> put it: " 'My son the doctor' is the cause of the generation gap." School dormitory program frommoti~ When children feel that parents' ex­ pectations and the adVice and direc­ vated bochurimlooking to develop mto tion they give may not be with an eye serious Bnei Torah. OUr program offers: to the child's best interest, but as a result of other considerations, then ' limited Size sbiurim With regula.l' and a.dVan.ced trooks. poor-or no-communication will ' concerned, expel'ienced.Rebbeim. result. Far more than discipline is •. incliViduaJized and personalized attention. lost. ' a modern dormitor,y facilicy on a beautiful ten-acre subul>­ On the other hand, parents who ban oampug. convey to their children that only the ' fully accredited General Studies program. child's best interest is at the root of whatever adVice they give, will find ' interaction with the Vibrant com.municy of'.Ba.ltimore: that their child's love and respect to­ ':rtw .ftutl.lfl:t" ta.tbr.mat1cm,Pleaslt, oaJ1 OJ'w:r.ffe: ward them will continue to grow in YeaJlivaa Chofet. Cbaim-Nnmdical.AcaAemy step with the child's emotional and 4445 Old Court Bead, Baltimore, Macyland 21208 • (301) 484-6600 intellectual maturtty. A clear expres­ llabbl Yehuda :Lo!kDvitz Rll.bbi Hesb,yD8'lbs President. ~~ sion of this can be found when par­ Rabbil!hrage He-to ents from weak or even non-religious MAAbgiarih

The Jewish Obseroer. AprU 1992 7 FEW WORDS, GREAT IMPACT \Vhen Rebbe (Rabb!Yehuda can you possibly relate to G-d? You HanassiJ was told that Elazar Bar are a nobody. What difference can it "Thinking back, it's hard to believe Shimon, who had recently died, make if you do the miJzva or not do had a wayward son, he immediately that sofew words could have done so went and ordained him. He then the mitzva? Furthermore, you also much. The memories are so painful, sent him to learn. Every day the boy cannot relate to others. Ifyou do not it's dftllcult to recall exactly what hap­ would beg to be sent back to the respect yourself, why should anyone pened. street life he had become accus­ else respect you? If you don't like "I krww I had asked a lot of ques­ tomed to. His Rebbe would say to yourself, why should anyone like tions, perhaps too many. I know my him: "'!hey have made you a sage, you? spread over you a gold trimmed Rebbe had seemed initated that day. cloak [at the ceremony of ordina­ It is extremely difficult to escape I rww krww how ill prepared I was for tion! and designated you a Rabbi. the influence of the secular world that his sudden outburst. But his words and yet you want to leave!" Eventu­ paints man as a mere speck in the were words I will never forget. They ally he became a great scholar and cosmos or an irrelevant creature who ring in my ears as ifI heard them yes­ joined Rebbe's Yeshiva. (Babba descended from the ape. There is a terday. 'You think you krww how to Metziah 85a) tremendous payoff to the secular learn? You don't krww how to learn, There are many who would have world in supporting this position. and you will never krww/'" had harsh words for the son ofElazar Wbat would one expect from a mere n that day. this young man Bar Shimon and the corrupt life he speck or the great-grandson of an left his Yeshiva high school, was living. Instead, he was won over ape? What a convenient way to avoid O never to return. There was with respect and honor. He was per­ responsibility! Many of our talented nothing his parents could say to pre­ suaded to live up to the status he was youth are crippled because they fail vail upon him to stay. There was noth­ given-a model for all future genera­ to appreciate how important they are. ing they could say to convince him tions of how to win the confidence of Implied in the pasuk: "Love your that he had not wasted many years of a wavering disciple. neighbor as you love yourself' Is the his life. He was certain that he had Rabbeinu Yona says at the very concept that one loves oneself, which been living in a world of illusions and beginning of his Shaarei Avoda: 'The means to respect oneself. appreciat­ that all his hard work was in vain. first step for the individual who seeks ing what it means to be created In the to serve Hashem. is to know his own image of Hashem It means to have value, to be aware of his greatness. Rabbi mumenfeld taught at the Mesivta level for confidence in one's potential. It twenty-five years, and is currently involved in mar- and the greatness of his ancestors; means to feel good about oneself, tiage, family and personal counseling in Toronto their eminence, importance, and en­ knoWing the love and concern the Al­ and New York. He is author of F'undamentals and dearment to their Creator." Ifyou feel mighty has for each and every indi­ Faith. basedonshiwimbyRabbiYaakovWeinberg, insignificant and unimportant, how RoshHayeshivaof Ner Israel. vidual. 8 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 THE BASIC NEED FOR something outside of himself. A self­ ..A.... SELF-ESTEEM centered individual lacks the capac­ ity to intimately relate to anything M elf-esteem is necessary for outside of himself. He is stunted tn Ji!!!Ol!!lit Marbitz Publications growth and maturation. We the maturation process, and his S are all born With a basic need world, too, is void of"tov." A DISTANT DREAM to feel our self-worth. When this need The role of parents in affecting a Medieval Europe never made its Jews is met by warm and loving parents. child's sense of selfWorth ls obviously welcome. But in 1290, the uncomfortable when the child feels concern and car­ crttical, but there are many other fac­ became unbearable as the English expelled ing, encouragement and praise, a tors that can contrtbute to the pres­ their "heretical" neighbours. positive feeling of self-worth is cre­ ence or absence of self-esteem. In our A Distant Dream, traces the fictional ated. present educational system, the journey of four hundred homeless Jews as they chart a new and dangerous path of When this basic need of the child struggle to achieve a healthy self-es­ their own choosing. Sojtcover $10.95 is not satisfied, however. because teem ls a difficult one, withhighrtsks. parents are too involved With their The extremely competitive world of the yeshiva sees many casualties If you feel insignificant and unimportant, how can you possibly relate to G-d? You are a nobody. What difference where fragile feelings of self-worth can it make if you do the make many good boys vulnerable to mitzva or not do the a chance slight that can be deeply wounding. It is well known that a mitzva? critical father or an overbearing mother can destroy the natural con­ fidence of a child. It might not be as own problems to adequately give to well known that a "put down" from a their children, or worse yet. when the Rebbe or another significant figure in child faces criticism and perceives a child's life can also be devastating, himself as betng unwanted, or worst as in the opening anecdote. (To be of all. when the child is simply ig­ sure, many children can be motivated nored, this basic need goes totally through a negative comment, but its unmet. The child sees himself as be­ success is dependent upon being of­ ing Without worth, and searches and fered in a context of love rather than grasps at any means of validation. anger or initation, and, most impor­ Obsessively, he craves the approval of tant. upon the keen discernment of others. His self-worth is like a badly the Rebbe who knows and under­ sunburned arm where the least pres­ stands the child.) sure is painful. There is a great need for healing. AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT IN APPROACHING INFINITY The resulting self-perception of be­ THE CURRICULUM Enjoyable essays on some of the most ing different, the self-perception of mathematically puzzling selections from all not betng as good as others, paralyzes ur mesivtos and yeshivas. like Chazal. the child as he focuses completely on our girls' schools, concentrate Approaching Infinity is designed to himself. The destructiveness of his on their primary purpose: the acquaint the reader with the many O examples of mathematics to be found in self-centeredness is, in a remote way, all important tasks of presenting To­ Torah literature. Softcover $10.95 akin to the "Io tov" of AdmnHruishon rah in an attractive, understandable 1------··~------l ("It is not good-lo tov-that Man way, and developing important leam­ dwell alone"-Bereishis 2: 18) before tng skills in their students. Few ap­ ~Er~H~iMh ~~'BLIS~WRS he was given Chava. As a self-con­ preciate how much energy and talent 6 200 Airport Executive Park tained entity, Adam Harishon's sta­ is invested to succeed in these vital Spring Valley, N.Y. 10977 tus was "Io tov" because he lacked the areas. Yet, there ls another dimension '1 Tel. (914) 356·2282 opportunity to intimately relate to to chinuch. The Rebbe and teacher :J Toil free 800-23 7- 7149 T11e Jewish Obseroer. Aprll 1992 9 Competition creates pressures. Some children and PLEASE HELP adolescents thrive on these pressures. They become Young, disabled Yerushalmi, father of large family, needs masmidim, entering the world of learning with much financial help. Kindly ambition and drive. Others do not. issue tax-deductible check to: BIKUR CHOLIM INC., and mail to Rabbi Avrohom must remember that he and she are her). A Rebbe should try to be aware Blumenkrantz, 814 Caffrey Ave., significant figures in the lives of their of which students are struggling with students. A word of encouragement, issues of self-esteem, and then devise Far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691. a word of praise, or a mere demon­ strategies to deal with these problems stration of concern for a student can and reduce them. Sometimes a Rebbe make a world of difference to him (or might direct a particular student to a specific area where he can excel. Of­ ten the cause of the student's sense of diminished self-worth is so insis­ n·:i tent and incorrigible, the Rebbe must explore it, better to understand it, and You s~nt at least 12 years in Yeshiva. relate to it judiciously. Critical par­ ents must be made to understand the You never miss Daf Yomi. extent of the harm they can cause, and when necessary. famlly counsel­ ing should be encouraged. You daven with aminyan three times aday. Competition creates pressures. Some children and adolescents thrive Isn't it time you started learning Siddur? on these pressures. They become masmidim entering the world of learning with ambition and drive. Others do not. It may seem unfair to ask the Rebbe, who may already be overwhelmed, to address this other dimension of the learning process. especially since he must devote so much effort and creativity to kindling and firing ambition in hls students. Yet is he, and only he, who com­ mands so much influence and power. According the Gemora (Babba Basm2la), ourformaleducationedu­ cational system was developed for children who had no fathers to teach them. Until that time. education was RAV Sii/MON SC1/WAB, ~. solely a matter between father and RAV OF K'llALADATll JESIWRIJN son, as is mandated in the Torah. Announcing the IYUN TEFILOH shiurim of Surely the neglect of orphans only af­ Rav Shimon Schwab N"tt·?~ -- now on cassette fected a very small percentage of the It is easy to lose sight of what understand the meaning and [Qi";*~~~-;~;ofl)'Ull -1 children, and yet it precipitated noth­ davening is all about -­ significance of each iefiloh as Tefiloh tapes by Rav Schwab. Enclosed is my I checlt forSlOO payable! to Yeshiv• R.S.R. Hirsch. ' ing less than a revolution in chinuch. especially if you do it three times you listen to the divrei Torah of IQ I am intere:ited in sponwring a scriei of Rav I Nowadays. we are beset with a greater a day. Which is why Rav one of the true Gedolei Hadar. Schwab's tapes in hooorof a special occasion, or I in memory of a lo~ one. Pl.use contau me a1; crisis, for a far greater percentage of Schwab's weekly shiurim on ITolophooo( ) 'I our youth are ill-equipped to deal with The first set of 10 tapesu I I plclerto pay by credit card: 0 MIC D Visa tefiloh are so imponant. 1 pressure and competition, and might Now you can subscribe to covering Adon Olam through l~pirati0Rdlll~:Mor11hCredit Card # __ Yu<_ I' become victims of our educational these shiurim on cassette and Boruch Sheomar are now 1 Aulhori=I Sig.natun: system, as it is currently operating. We enjoy them in the comfort of available at a special must do what we can to meet the !Iyun Tefiloh Tapes 1 your car, office or home. introductory price of$100. Yeshiva R.S.R; Hirsch j needs of our you th for confidence and [ Finally you can fully ..!QQJt~ett Av~~~~YJ~~.. J self-esteem, to enable them to flourish ••Spon.,ored in h-0nor of .\1r. & Mr>. Le-0 Wanel,ky and Mr. & M ... lrving Gninborger by their cluldl'l'n and grandchildren. as bneiand bnosTorah. • 10 111e Jewish Obseroer. April 1992 Yonason Rosenblum Generation Gap, Israeli-Style A celebrated drop-out from Chareidi society, and the underlying causes of his notoriety

ven those long since inured to the disproportionate media E attention given to every event in -, story, and he was the guest on one Israel must have been surprised to find of the country's most popular interview the Nov. 15, 1991, WaU Street Journal shows. There is obviously a certain "man- l,, devoting its precious front-page space bites-dog" quality to this story. Just try to · ... to the story of a 20-year-old Israeli boy,· tmagine Israeli newspapers printing lengthy raised in an "ultra-Orthodox" home, interviews with any-much less every-ba'al who has adopted a totally secular · teshuva describing his reason for breaking lifestyle and founded an organization away from his resistant family. to assist others wishing to make the transition from the ultra-Orthodox to I.WHY THEY BELIEVED the secular world. Even the wholly SHAI'S STORY unsubstantiated claim that the orga­ nization "Chozrei b'Shaala [fhose y was Shai H.'s story so ea­ Who Return to Question)" has rly gobbled up by the Israeli "helped" 40 people would hardly W:dia and was he able to con;i- , seem of much interest to readers of mand support-financial and other:A__ ·. ' the WallStreetJoum.aL wise-from such groups as Prof.''7'' But if the attention given to Shai Yehuda Bauer's Committee for Secu- H. 's story in Amertca was surprts­ lar Humanistic Judaism and from promi- ing, in Israel it was truly remark­ nent members of the Citizen's Rights Move-11 able. Even before his organization ment? To answer that question, one must was officially recognized, no less first understand the collective Israeli psyche. than four major newspapers car­ As he contemplates the Israeli reality today, ried lengthy inteIViews with Shai in the average middle-aged Israeli cannot help but which he told more or less the same be struck by a sense of widespread societal break- ; down: Rabbi Rosenblum, a regular contrtbutor to • Fifteen years ago, drug use was almost un­ The Jewfsh Observer. is a member of a known. Today there are over 40,000 hard-core Jerusalen1 KoUeL The Jewish Observer, April 1992 11 drug users, and in certain areas the •Every day's paper-even the rela­ books and articles by children of the drug users have made it all but im­ tively sedate Jerusalem Post-ls filled Zionist elite, rejecting their parents' possible for anyone else to live. with new horrifying stories of child ideology as a hollow sanctuary. While • The most popular teen maga­ and wife abuse. this phenomenon deserves a discus­ zines contain large doses of what can The point is not that any of these sion of Its own, worth mentioning in only be described as pornography, problems are unique to Israel, but this context are two prominent cases: and assume, as a matter of course, that in the heady days of the new • Sociologist Oz Almog openly that all teenagers are promiscuous. State it was widely assumed that Is­ challenges the ideology represented •When asked about the most im­ rael would be different, that the ide­ by his father, Colonel Zev Almog, who portant goals in life, high school stu­ alism of the State's founders would had propagated the "myth of the he­ dents almost invariably answer: always serve as a protection against roic Sabra, the noble peasant that money. Teenage suicide-particu­ social ills. That has not proven to be belies the legacy of the weak, vulner­ larly among soldiers---is a major na­ the case. Even the most intensely able GalutJew."Their children, how­ tional concern. ideological sector of the society, the ever, have rejected their parents' ide­ • Over the past decade and a half, kibbutzim, is not able to hold 50% of ology, and no longer worship the mys­ the divorce rate has soared by 120% its youth today, as opposed to over tique of tilling the soil. They have be­ (though it Is still only half that of the 80% a generation ago. come cynical urban creatures, in­ U.S.). In fact there has been a spate of stead. • Yariv ben Aaron explodes the teachings of his father, Yitzchak ben Aaron, Secretary of the Histadrut and prominent ideologue: "As a generation of rebels, our parents thought they were going to re-build the world. They couldn't even build wholesome fami-

In Israel, as throughout FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY the Western world, the - featuring: - failure of secular I ELEPHANTS I TRAMPOLINE I UNICYCLE I CLOWNS I PONIES I JUGGLERS I ACROBATS I PUPPIES I HORSES humanism as a guiding I AERIAL ACTS I HIGH WIRE ACTS I MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT ideal is all too clear: The CHOL·HAMOED I KOSHER L'PESACH fOOD I FUNNY CAR &MUCH MORE... ideology of man as his MONDAY, TUESDAY 1 561h &16 h own creator has proven &WEDNESDAY Schoolyard at St Ave., Boro Park ADfl'llSSION APRIL 20, 21, &22 $8 incapable of generating ROJt Offl([ OrlrlS AT 10 A.1'1. OA!l~ a coherent value system. THREE SHOWS DAILY: 1130 130 330 lies." Yartv's older brother, Yishayahu, retreated from the kibbutz scene to a life of escape and drug addiction. "It is in the nature ofrebels against society," says Yartv, "that they have no true heirs. We sons are left without a hert­ tage to believe in." (quoted in Machn.e Hachreid~ Feb. 6, '90) In short, in Israel, as throughout the Western world, the failure of secu­ lar humanism as a guiding ideal is all too clear: The ideology of man as his own creator has proven incapable of generating a coherent value system. 12 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 And as Irving Krtstol pointed out in his brilliant article ('The Future of If the chareidim in general give their secular Amelican Jewry," Commentary, Au­ gust, 1991), "Nocommunitycansur­ neighbors the "willies," how much more so does the vive if it is persuaded-or even sus­ pects-that its members are leading existence of large numbers of ba'alei teshuva. meaningless lives in a meaningless universe." ba'alei teshuvaaftervisits to yeshivos pus to kiruv activists who arrange Compounding the Problem: as a part of aJeWish Heritage Aware­ Shabbos meals With religious fami­ ChareidiSuccess ness Program, the visits were discon­ lies. Foreign students are told at the tinued. Becoming religious is deemed beginning of their stay in Israel, "Your ompounding our average by the air force presumptive proof of parents Will cry if you go With Jeff Israeli's malaise is his aware mental instability and results in the Seidel like if you go With the Mor­ C ness that there exists a seg­ grounding of pilots who become mons." ment of the society in which many of ba'alei teshuva. Both Tel Aviv Univer­ A group called Parents Against the problems enumerated above are sity and Hebrew University have se­ Teshuva (the founder of which was unknown, and others exist only to a verely restlicted access to the cam- recently jailed for fraud) called for a dramatically reduced extent: the chareidim (or so-called ultra-Ortho­ 1"0J dox). Moreover. that segment of soci­ ety has a clearly articulated set of be­ YESHIVAH MESORES AVOS OF HUNGARY liefs, which will be shared by all !ts Girls Division offspling. PROUDLY PRESENTS And if the chareidim in general give their secular neighbors the "willies," how much more so the existence of • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • large numbers of ba'alei teshuva. • • Here is a large group, numbeling in • • the thousands, who have freely • • adopted beliefs and practices that EscAPE • were Widely assumed forty years ago • to be atavisms soon to disappear en­ tirely. Israelis do not have to be in­ formed about ba'a1ei teshuva by the newspapers; every Israeli knows one. ~SHEffFORD~• • More than a decade ago, Ma'ariv col­ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • umnist Amnon Denker wrote about THE PLAY his peers-"high school graduates, Based on the Book "SHEFFORD" officers, battle corps" -and the large PF.RFD RM ED IN EN GUSH BY THE GIR/5 FROM HUNGARY numbers turning up at Ohr Somayach. Sometimes, he wrote, he felt like the last apple left on the tree 3PERFORMANCES wondering when he too would be blown away: "It might be something CHOL-HAMOED PESACH in our genes. We are all Jews, aren't MONDAY, TUESDAY, & WEDNESDAY we?" Today. thirty to sixty adults are at­ APRIL 20, 21 &22 · 8:00 P.M. tracted tWice a week to lectures given by a group called Kav L'Kav right in YESHIVA OF FLATBUSH HIGH SCHOOL the middle of Tel Aviv's nightlife dis­ trtct on Disengoff Circle. Thousands attend intensive Arachim seminars every year. and of these a high per­ centage eventually become religious. A measure of the discomfort caused by the ba'al teshuva move­ ment is the hystelia With which Israe­ lis have responded to it. When too many soldiers began to become The Jewish Observer. April 1992 13 Knesset investigation of the brain­ washing techniques allegedly used in In a liberal society priding itself on its ba'alei teslu.wa yeshivos, despite the absence of a single shred of evidence freemarketplace of ideas, concerted efforts have of the employment of any of the tech­ niques classically associated with been made and powerful voices have been raised to cults: severance of ties with family and friends, sleep deprivation, limita­ exclude one idea: Orthodox Judaism. tions on one's ability to come and go at will. In response, the editor of Ma'ruiv, Shmuel Shnitzer, hlmself the as part of the "acculturation pro­ they would lose, secular Israelis acted product of a religious home, wrote: grams" of the 40's and 50's... as well to silence their antagonists. Where were the calls for Knesset in­ as with today's Ethiopian youth. vestigations when thousands raised Thus, in a liberal society priding it­ D. THE FLlMSYFABRIC OF in religious homes were caught up in self on its free marketplace of ideas, SHAI'S RECOLLECTIONS the enthusiasm for Zionism? concerted efforts have been made and Shnitzer did not mention the thou­ powerful voices have been raised to ith this background in sands or more that were virtually kid­ exclude one idea: OrthodoxJudaism. mind, we can begin to un­ napped from their religious parents Fearful that in the free clash of ideas W derstand why the secular press would have had to invent Shai H. if he did not already exist. On his slight shoulders Is being made to rest the entire refutation of the ba'al MIRIAM BORCHARDT CAMP teshuva movement. The Ma'ariv ar­ ticle makes the point virtually ex­ SCHOLARSHIP FUND plicit: "No one can tell Shai, 'Try our Sponsored by Agudah Women of America life of mitzvos and see how wonderful it is.'" (212)363-8940 Shai is clever enough to realize what the audience wants and has structured his presentation with this in mind. In virtually eveiy interview, Case #61~ 11 Neither Ima nor Aba has a job anymore. They always yell at each other and he comments on the irony that his fa­ at me. f wish I could get away, but they say we have no money for camp. Can ther, a major influence on many .... ____)'Qll_E~ase_h~lp!"______.__ -----·· ______ba'alei teshuva, could nevertheless Case# 75~ "Tatri died last year and Mommy says we don't have enough money to move, not prevent his own son from casting although our neighbors are drug addicts. If only my brother and I could go away off religion. And he assures his inter­ .. __tQ __c:_ifill_pJbiuv_mm_(;rc.,:.::,,______----·--·------___ ---~---·-----.. -______locutors that he knows from his fa­ Case #105- Young immigrant boy loves learning. Rebbe is worried he will forget ther that there are not nearly so many -··----··- Tora.~---~!!__d_~!tzvo_~ 1/__ rf_D! ___ i!}_p~ope_~ s~rr!_f!!_~~--atmo?P~~!_-~_:_ ____ ... _-..... ------ba'alei teshuva as people think, and To youngsters helped by our Miriam Borchardt Camp Scholar­ that there are probably thousands ship Fund getting away to camp is no luxury; It is a necessity. Boys like himself eager to escape the and girls whose home environment is beset with difficulty -parental shackles ofreligion. No support Is of­ illness, single parent household1, child'.1 infirmity, new immigrants, fered for either statement. (Ma'ariv claimed in Its review of unusual financial/actors ... We must help them!!! Shal's television appearance that ------, hundreds of calls poured into the Wont You Help Us? television studio in response to the More and more children apply each year. Camp fees are j program from chareidi youngsters spiralling. The need is greater now than ever before. I like Shai. The Idea that hundreds of Please ... Cive As Much As You Can. I chareidi teenagers were watching T.V. 0$18 CJ$25 CJ$30 0$50 CJ$72 0$100 O __ I at one time was on its face preposter­ Name I ous. In addition, Shai himself said I Street ----·· . I elsewhere that he received only one I c,ty/State -- -· z;p I call seeking help in response to the Phone ( )______... ------· .. ·------.------~. L ______~ show and that caller did not contact him again.) Please make your check payable to: Agudah Women of America - Camp Fund, 84 William Street, New York, N.Y. 10038 Shai relates how his parents had This is an independent campaign of Agudah Women. Allocations are paid directly to him talk to Rabbi Uri Zohar-once the religious camp the recipient will attend. All contributions are tax deductible. Israel's most popular entertainment

14 The Jewish Obseroer, April 1992 figure and today its most famous sive textual studies, or one of the ingwith a famous author: 'Whafs the ba'al teshuva-after the extent of his seminaries in which subjects as point? What he calls a beautiful ro­ estrangement from Judaism became pedagogy or special education are mantic theme we view as an act wor­ clear. We are supposed to understand taught at an advanced level, as more thy of kareis-ajudgment of death." from the fact that Shai was not per­ than a slight distortion. suaded from this one meeting that his In his interviews, Shai becomes a ID.WHAT MAKES SHAI RUN arguments proved more powerful convenient mouthpiece for standard than Rabbi Zohar's. secular opinions of the religious com­ ven taking Shai's story at face Shai also provides timely confir­ munity. It is so much more convinc­ value, it is clear that it consti­ mation for a number of the most ab­ ing to hear one who grew up within E tutes no response at all to the surd stereotypes about the choreidi this community refer to its inhabit­ challenge raised to secular Israeli so­ world. One article describes his child­ ants as "parasites" or as those "who ciety by the existence of thousands of hood as a happy one filled with the live off of special government mon­ ba'alei teshuva. Shai begins the story usual chareidi youth activities: ies." At the end of one interview, Shai of his transformation from the time throwing stones on the Ramot Road delivers a long peroration calling for he first sawT.V. while hospitalized at at those driving on Shabbos and at the apathetic secular majority to rise the age of 15. The experience was, by left-wing politicians. Given the infini­ up and cast off the chains ofreligious his description, so powerful that tesimal percentage of chareidi youth coercion, recognize "that these anti­ when he left the hospital he began who have ever done either, the claim ZionJsts, with their religious legisla­ hanging around hospital television is implausible in the extreme; tion, are living on our backs----the Zi­ rooms, taking money from his par­ coupled with some knowledge of onists who live tn this country." ents to spend on movies, and devour­ Shai's family, it becomes totally un­ As one of the articles sums it up, ing YediotAchronot(a paper not likely believable. The typical girl's educa­ Shai has chosen "a life filled with the to be confused with The New York tion. according to Shai, consists of"a love of man and life." Since much of Times} from cover to cover every day. little bit of sewing, a little embroidery, the article details his love of discos Having tasted the forbidden plea­ and reading 'super' holy books"-a and his fledgling steps learning to sures of the secular world, says Shai, description that will strike any gradu­ dance, one cannot help thinking of "it was a short path to the ideas of ate of one oflsrael's Bais Yaakov high the well-known remark by the kefira (denial of Judaism's principle schools, with their extremely tnten- Chazon !sh about a proposed meet- tenets)." In other words, the desire to

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The Jewish Observer. April 1992 15 partake of the "pleasures" of the out­ Thus Shai's story stands in radical yeshiva one hour a day. "I wanted him side world. preceded any serious juxtaposition to that of the average to reprove me." Sha! says, "And all he questioning of religion: the latter is at ba'al teshuva. Virtually all of the lat­ did was tell me, 'I love you.' " What­ most a post lwc justification for a ter have been at least in their twen­ everwas motivating Sha! at that point course already taken. One is re­ ties before becoming interested in surely had to do with some very per­ minded of Reb Chaim Volozhiner's their Judaism, and many have been sonal emotional problems. As Dr. response to a former student who much older. with spouses, children, Meir Wilder wrote in a letter to the had forsaken religious observance and steady jobs. Most importantly. Wall Street Journal in response to the and approached Reb Chaim many their decision is to choose a path of article. protesting against the years later to discuss his "questions." greater restriction on one's physical reporter's attempt to glorify Shai's "Since your questions came only af­ desires, indicating that they have teenage rebellion by portraying it in ter you started violating Shabbos." been reached intellectually. By con­ terms of some grand ideological con­ Reb Chaim said, "they are not ques­ trast, Sha! had severed all his ties flict. "... if !you] choose to view these tions. but answers." No one has ever with his past while still in his mid­ familial conflicts in simplistic terms of claimed for Judaism that it is a per­ teens and, by his is own admission. ideological struggles, with children fect antidote for forbidden desires. was not primarily moved by ideologi­ cast as the heroes and parents as the Such dangers have always existed cal considerations. Clearly. then, villains, the ranks of runaway chil­ and always will until the coming of Shai's case offers little solace to the dren will continue to swell." Moshiach: "Israel never worshipped secular Israeli, unless he find some In interview after interview. Sha! idols other than to permit immorality" comfort in the fact that a religious describes how he supported himself (Sanhedrin63b). Even the intellectual child could be attracted to his vices. after running away from home by issues that Sha! does raise tum out stealing from charity boxes and to be pretty thin gruel. indeed. "I A Catalogue ofPersonal Problems stores. ''Who would ever suspect a didn't see how the study of the 'ox chareidi boy wearing tzitzis of steal­ which gored a cow' had any effect on n addition. according to those who ing?" he says. On other occasions, he the world," he says. One wonders in worked with Sha! (as told to the collected money using the collection relation to what-disco dancing and I author in private interviews). he books of his father's yeshiva. Describ­ rap music? Or "I wondered why ifG-d was in counselling from the age of 12 ing this, he makes fun of the ease of is all powerful, He cares whether or and was in trouble with the police for collecting charity from the chareidim, not we observe His commandments." shoplifting even before breaking with ''who are always worrying about gain­ Hardly a question never before pro­ his family. At one point, Sha! relates, ing another mitzva for the World-to­ pounded or one on which our tradi­ his futher told him he could do what Come." This period ofliving by steal­ tion has not had much to say. he wanted if he would just go to the ing was. Shaisays, thehappiestofhis life. one in which he lived like a king. Later. while living in a hostel with ju­ ARE YOU MOVING? venile delinquents. Sha! eagerly ab­ sorbed their lessons on how to dress. IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED how to speak (presumably the slang INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? of the streets. since chareidi children We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the /0 to your home. Please speak Hebrew fluently). and how to talk to girls. attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address One can only wonder why Sha! is and computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the being paraded so triumphantly in address label. view of his problematic past. Is it re­ ADDRESS CHANGE FORM ally such a surprise that not every (Affix label here) chareidi family is equally successful raising every child? (It should be added that Sha! has nine brothers and sisters. none of whom manifest any of his problems.)

IV.HOWTHE "MOVEMENT" WORKS

Address------maining to be discussed is City, State, Zip------­ he operation of "Chozrei 'Shaold' itself. Sha! claims Date Effective------ru that he is not interested in encourag­ Please allow 6-8 weeks for all changes to be reflected on your mailing label. WE W!LL NOT BE ing others to leave the chareidi world RESPONSIBLE FOR BACK ISSUES MISSED unless you notify us 8 weeks µnor to your move. and that those he works with are 16 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 Shai's case offers little solace to the secular Israeli, unless he finds some comfort in the fact that a religious child could. be attracted to his vices.

BEHIND THE ICE CURTAIN above 18. Neither claim is true. Dina Gabel Of the less-than-a-handful of cases he is known to have influenced, all involved teenagers of 15 or so. In Behind the Jee Curtain is the one such case. he invited the young dramatic and inspiring story of an boy to his house to discuss his prob­ aristocratic young girl torn from lems. and afterwards asked the boy the security of her home and to bring him any other boys having community in Lida, Poland, by problems in his yeshiva. He also pre­ pared a questionnaire to be passed the outbreak of war and exiled out which describes a chareldi boy with her mother to Siberia. Filled whose mitzva observance has de­ with vivid images of exiles and clined sharply and asks those filling refugees adrift in an inhospitable it out to predict his family's likely re­ land, battling hunger and cold, sponse. Apparently the questionnaire conscripted into forced labor, is designed to identify kids who are constantly in terror of the K.G.B. having troubles with their parents and might be susceptible to Shai's Also includes vignettes of the lures. Chafetz Chaim, Reb Chaim Ozer It is precisely with these young Grodzinski, Reb Elchanan Wasserman, Reb Yeruchem Levovitz and teenagers-few though they may be-­ many other rabbanim and roshei yeshivah, zatzal. that Shai poses the greatest danger. Such children can only be removed Also in The Holocaust Diaries Collection: from their parents' custody If a social worker first petitions a court for an order that the chlld be placed in a fos­ ter home or some other facility. Shai has counselled children eager to es­ cape from home what to tell social workers and judges. to increase the chances that the child will be re­ moved from the custody of the par­ ents. In many cases. the social workers need precious little prodding. From their point ofview, the child will grow up to be a totally unproductive mem­ ber of society-not even going to the army-if left with his parents, but might be "saved" If removed from the home. In one case. Shai brought a P·U·B·L· I·S·H·E·R·S chareldi boy who wanted to leave New York · London -Jerusalem_, home to stay at the home of a law pro­ fessor known for his public anti-reli- 180 Park A.venue• Lakewood, NJ 08701 • (908) 905.3000 • Fax (908) 367-6666 The Jewish Observer. April 1992 17 gious stands. But the professor re­ outs within the yeshiva system. In studying in yeshiva; every week. it fused to keep the boy. on the grounds some cases, that dropping out is ac­ seems. another yeshiva ketana opens that it was illegal to do so, despite companied by a sharp decline in all its doors and is almost immediately Shai's assurances that there was no mitzva observance: in others. not. filled up. need to worry since he was well-con­ But in crucial respects these drop­ Yet the existence of several hun­ nected with the police and social outs differ sharply from Shai. Even dred dropouts within the yeshiva sys­ workers. who support him. those whose observance has de­ tem points to several problems-both Subsequently a court heartng was clined, generally do not attempt to institutional and familial. Within the ordered to discuss the boy's case. At justify themselves. They do not claim yeshiva world, there are basically no that time, the judge refused to grant to feel good about what they are do­ alternatives besides Torah study and the boy's request to got to a kibbutz: ing. To them, someone like Shai is more Torah study. Yet not every child "I don't care if you grow up non-reli­ simply a "rasha," someone who is at­ possesses the zitzjleish or the ability gious," the judge said, "but I won't tempting to transform his own failure to excel in learning. Those that do send you to a place where you'll be into a means of attaining fame and not, preceive themselves as failures in taught to be anti-religious." The money. These boys. by contrast. still the only thing they will ever do. To­ judge's order barred Shai from con­ dream that one day they will wake up day. there are only several institu­ tacting the boy. Despite that order, and everything will be different. that tions for high-school-age boys that Shai continued his contact with the they will one day be a rash yeshiva. offer some combination of religious boy, and the social workers in charge and vocational studies-such as of his case began permitting him to Darchei Shalom, which was estab­ spend almost every Shabbos on a kib­ Is there anything that we lished with the guidance of the lead­ butz. When the parents complained. ing Torah authorities in Eretz Yisroel they were told that he was "only visit­ can learn from Shai; (including Rabbi Elazar Schach. ing" the kibbutz and the order applied Rabbi Shlomo ZalmanAuerbach and just to living there. might the notoriety of his Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg. The boy's parents blame many of N"""'1!> among others) who are well their problems in dealing with their case serve as a warning aware ofthe problem; but these schools son on his continuous contact with can accommodate only a fraction of the Shai. for us? boys who need such a setting. and are laboring under heavy debts. V. SALVAGING ISRAEL'S Other boys. often quite intelligent. "KIDS ON THE FRINGE" No society or family is perfect: all could succeed in learning. but be­ experience failures both large and cause of learning disabilities, have e have already seen the ideo­ small. But we cannot stop striving to difficulty in keeping up with the rapid logical uses being made of correct those failures and to reduce pace in cheder from an early age. W Shai's story and how ill­ their occurrences. At the same time (These disabilities are estimated to suited his case is to the cause of those that we work to correct our failures, afflict one out of ten boys to some de­ so eager to broadcast it. Yet the ques­ we must not lose sight of our suc­ gree.) A Jack of understanding of tion remains: Is there anything that cesses. The numbers of those !earn­ these difficulties on the part of both we can learn from Shai; might the no­ ing Torah today is without precedent parents and principals, and a lack of toriety of his case serve as a warning in modern times and could barely resources to deal with them. results for us? have been dreamed of a generation in many more boys than need be who Those involved in the field estimate ago. in the wake of the destruction of experience school as a torture. that there may be hundreds of boys European Jewry. One out of every in Israel today who are basically drop- twenty 18-year-old in Israel today is The Parents' Contribution to Failure and Success

ronically. in many cases problems arise out of the very desire on the I part of parents that their children achieve greatness in Torah. Parents are constantly pressuring chadorim to give their children more and more material at earlier and earlier ages. And chadorim compete with each A Summer Camp experience~ for "frum" girls ages 11· 17 at the magnificent Kibbutz Chafetz Chaim. other in this respect (as well as in D'vora Zelman has joined a world renowed resort, in Israel to bring you the best in their ability to weed out any boys who an Israel Camping and Touring experience For information and application, please call D'uora. might hold the class back). 623 Cortelyou Road • Brooklyn, New York 11218 • Phone: 718-282-6350 • Fax:# 718-282-8913 There recently appeared a pam­ "------Bus1ilessMan09er:Rabbi Y. Yoon' ______.. phlet in Israel entitled Al Techatau 18 The Jewish Observer. April 1992 ~- ENJOYABLE PESACH READING ··-1 FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES

THE SHALOM ZACHOR AT NACHUM'S HOUSE B'Yeled, which was effusively praised by such leading thinkers and A young child learns to mechanchimas Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe. cope with a new baby The author. himself an educator With in the house. Wide experience dealing With boys floundering in the yeshiva system, defines chinuch (education) as the process of providtng the talmid With the ability to seek and to enjoy spirt­ THE UPSHERIN: tual pleasures. By this definition, EPHRAIM'S FIRST HAIRCUT punishment and cliticism-however important they may be as means to A little boy takes his first facilitate chinuch-should never be major step in the process confused With chinuch itself. Parents often fail to give much at­ of growing up. tention to their role as educators of their children until a problem artses, and at that point the response is al­ most invariably negative and coun­ THE HAPPY YOM TOV BOOK terproductive. Even parents who are consciously working on their child's spiritual development may at times Oversized and packed with vivid cause more harm than good. The fa­ holiday images. Guaranteed to ther who always stands next to his provide many hours of reading son in davening to ensure that he is fun. praying properly and concentrating may only succeed in creating a son whose fondest dream is of the day when he Will no longer be under his father's control and can stop davening altogether (as in one case cited in the above-mentioned pam­ TZVI TELLS THE TRUTH AND phlet); or of the stage tn life when he OTHER STORIES Will act out his father's role as grand supervisor to his own children. We must be ever careful that our children A colorful collection of exciting experience their religion as more than midos adventures in delightful a series of restrictions and frustra­ verse. tions. Of course. it takes far more time and imagination-as well as maktng ourselves into appropiiate role mod­ els-to imbue our children With a P·U · B · L· I·S·H · E·R·S positive attitude to spiritual develop­ ment. But ifwe do not devote our time New h?rk ·London ·Jerusalem..,, and energy to the task, we too run the 180 Pork Avenue, Lakewood, New Jersey 08701 risk that one of our children might 1"T1 (908) 905-3000 Fox (908) 367-6666 grown up like Shai. B ·---··-·--"···-·-··---- .______j The Jewish Observer, April 1992 19 have medals and have been and recommended by America's most revered wine critics. And, of course, Kedem's New York State Concord is the wine that's not )Ust special. .. but a LIVING TRADITION. So take a few minutes. Visit your local wine merchant, and get to know the Herzog Family. After all, you couldn't pick a better time-or wine. BARON HERZOG/CALIFORNIA. BARTENURA/ITALY. M&G SELECTIONS/FRANCE. GAMLA/GOLAN HEIGHTS, ISRAEL, AND NEW YORK'S OWN, KEDEM SELECTIONS.

--.~~~-~- ,...:.· To send a gift of kosher wine anywhere in the U.S. and Canada please can 1 BOO BE THERE (1 BOO 238~4373). Rabbi Nesanel Kasnett

MOSHE COMPLAINS Moshe's sin? Is there perhaps, after vantage of emuna (falth) occasioned his havtng witnessed the great deliv­ by the deliverance, were he and all of he Redeemer had arrived. He erance in Egypt and at the YamSuf, a Israel able to proclaim that G-d's glory had been met by his brother at new perception or at least apprecia­ was present even there, in the work T the mountain of G-d and been tion of the "az" - the "then" of the camps and killing fields of Pharaoh's brought to the leaders of the people. past? Beis HaLevi answers that, in­ "evil empire," as we shall see. They accepted his prophecy, "And the deed, Moshe and the Jews sang people believed" (Shemos 4:31). about the "az," and rejoiced as whole­ THE LAST STRAW So tensions were high as Moshe heartedly for the past suffeling and Rabbeinu and Aharon entered the persecution as for the present salva­ careful study of the Egyptian monarch's palace to demand tion. And so Moshe rectified his hav­ Chumnsh yields a three-day furlough for the enslaved ing complained about his people's af­ A what appears , Bnei YisroeL But Pharaoh's reply was fliction by now celebrating it. to be a major diffi~ ,.:· ·· swift-and unexpectedly vtndictive. Ohr Gedalyahu 2 elucidates for us culty with th\' ·· Why do you. Moshe and Aharon, this passage from the Beis disturb the people from their HaLevi, explaining that work? ... fro his taskmasters, Pha­ the very purpose of shira raoh commanded:} You shall no longer give straw to the people to is to proclaim the glory of make biicks, as before. Let them go G-d in the creation. At and gather strawforthemselves. Yet times that glory is re­ the quota of brtcks that they have vealed, and Hashem's be­ been making... you sha11 diminish neficence, His attribute of nothing therefrom (ibid 5:4-5, 7-8). goodness, is obvious to A dejected and despairing Moshe all. Other times it is con­ returned to G-d, and complained cealed, and at such times about the stunning setback: we may experience what L-rd, why have You dealt ill with appears only as misfor­ this people; why is it ibat you have sent me? For since (u'me'azJ I C'ame tune and suffering. The to Pharaoh to speak in Your nan1e, profoundest form of he has dealt ill with this people (ibid shirarecognizes that evil 5:22-3). is purposeful, that af- The Midrash 1 records Moshe's own assessment of these un­ justified remarks: Moshe said before the Holy One: "I know that I sinned before You with {the• word] az, as it says: "u'me'az-For since J came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has dealt ill with this people." There­ fore, I praise You with (the word) "az," as it says: "Az Yashir Moshe-Then Moshe sang.. ."(ibid 15: I).

THE GREATEST SHIRA

he Beis HaLevi finds Midrash difficult - how does T simply prefacing the Song at fliction and persecution are inher­ Bets HaLevfs interpretation of the the Sea with one of his ill-chosen entiy good-because everything de­ Midrash. For at what point in the words of complaint serve to rectify rives from G-d, who desires to benefit long. tortuous course of the subjuga­ man. Thus, when in the midst of the tion does Moshe vent his complaint? Rabbi Kasnett, an editor wilh Art Scroll Mesorah oppression that befell his people He has witnessed the slave labor, the Publications, is author of two books of essays on Moshe complained to G-d, It was be­ drowning of babies and the forced Torah thou~ht: A FUtiu-e and a Hope. and Ancient cause he could not at the time per­ separation of families. He has kept Mountains. Timeless Hills. He is a frequent con­ ceive G-d's goodly and beneficent di­ tributor to these pages. most recently with ""The his peace, for-presumably-he Milah ofEliezer Ben Moshe,'' in Mar. '90. rection of events. Only later, from the trusted that G-d was dealing kindly and purposefully with Avraham's 1 ShemosRabba23:3. 2 On &fer Shemos, p. 75. children. It is only when the King of The Jewish Observer, April 1992 21 Egypt discontinued the daily provi­ verse 14. the Z.Ohar (J,27a) reveals the sume thetr exalted role as "laborers in sion of straw that Moshe is aroused inner aspect of the Egyptian servitude: Torah," he was able to perceive Divine to voice a grievance. But why is he in­ "And they embittered their lives goodness operating in the terrible capable of acknowledging that this with hard labor- ba'avoda kasha" Egyptian exile. Hence, he remained relatively minor ini£juity is also part {this refers to} questioning - silent, even as he commiserated with bekushya. .. "with mortar - and parcel of some goodly providen­ beclwmer" - [this refers to] logical his oppressed brethren. When the al­ tial design-even though it resulted argument- bekal vachomer... "and location of straw was canceled, how­ from his petition to Pharaoh? Why, of with bricks- uvilveinim" ... [this re­ ever, darkness descended even for all the horrors perpetrated by Pha­ fers to} rigorous clarification of the Moshe-and in pain he spoke out. raoh, is the mere withholding of straw halacha - bilvon hil.chasa. .. "with Yet, again we are confronted with the uniquely charactetized by Moshe as work in the field" - (this refers to] inexplicable: How could this seem­ Baraisa. ... "all their work etc." - "evil"? ingly mlld addendum to the Egyptian something [this refers to] Mishna. 3 bondage impact so profoundly on Rav Tzaddok HaKohein writes - WITH MORTAR AND BRICKS in obvious reference to this passage Moshe? of the Z.Ohar- that the purpose of the e would benefit if we could Egyptian bondage was to purify the THE ESSENTIAL TOOL gain some understanding great souls that comprtsed the Jew­ W as to what straw represents; ish people. so that when thetr purtfi­ n regard to Torah she-be-al peh­ but before we can do that. we must cation was complete and they were the province of the rational hu­ probe the nature of the Egyptian redeemed, they could receive the To­ I man intellect-the Rambam pro­ bondage itself. The Torah states: rah, thereby exchanging their labor vides the quintessential definition of And the Egyptians forced the with "mortar and brtcks" for abstract the Talmudic learning expertence: children of Israel into a crushing ... and a third [of the day should senritude. And they embittered constructs in halacha, and their be spent] in contemplation, deduc­ their lives with hard labor, with "work in the field" for arduous toil in ing conclusions from premises, de­ mortar and bricks and with all thefie!dsoftheOrall.aw. Thus, to the veloping implications of state­ manner of work in the field, all their degree that Moshe understood that ments, comparing dicta, studying work wherein they made them the rtgors of bondage were in a cer­ the hermeneutical principles by serve with harshness (Shemos tain sense preparing the Jews to as- which the Torah is interpreted, un­ 1:13-14). til one knows the essence of these Jn a word-by-word interpretation of 3 Pri Tzaddik, Noa.ch2. principles, and how to deduce what

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Order direct from SHALHEVf.S. Add $2 for all shipping & handling. P.O.B. 361, Monsey, NY 10952, (914) 356-3515. Wholesale distribution by FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS. Read Rabbi Tauber's other books as well: I Shall Not Want (on working for a living), S.C. $7.95, H.C. $10.95; ~(~ To Become One {on marriage), "required reading"-JO Dec. '91, S.C. $9.95; Choose Lile! (happiness and meaning) S.C. $11.95, H.C. $14.95; ~~5MAUI~ Days Are Coming (teshuva prophecies of our time) S.C. $1295, H.C. $15.95. 22 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 is pennitted and what is forbidden intellect (daas) and understanding 5 from what one has learned tradi­ (tevuna)" - to mean that G-d gives tionally. This discipline is called man a power of tevuna - under­ CLlNICALPSYCHOtoGIS'l' Gemom. - Hilchos Talmud 1brah standing, which, in the context of the 1:11 DR. BENZION. The tool with which one accom­ Egyptian bondage expertence, he was plishes all this is tevuna, or bina - to exercise independently to effect his SOROTZKIN the power of contemplation and un­ purification. When the king discon­ N.Y. S'l:ATE LICENSED derstanding-btna. The Hebrew word tinued the provision of straw, how­ ADULTS for straw, teven, is cognate with un­ ever, Moshe realized that the verse AND derstanding-btna. Hence, commen­ really means that Hashem accords GHILlJREN taries 4 informs us that in the Scrip­ man understanding as a gift, and that (718) ..219'"3867 tures, straw represents understand­ man does not achieve comprehension ing; so that as long as the king pro­ by means of an independently vided straw-Pharaoh on his level wielded power of tevuna, Hence, the teven (the straw, symbolic of the no­ Rabbi Aryeh Schechter tion of an independent power of un­ derstanding) is scattered about-be­ To the degree that yond man's grasp and possession. SOFER S"TAM Thus, Moshe was greatly perplexed: 155841stSt. Moshe understood that If Hashem bestows understanding in the nature of a gift, for what purpose Brooklyn, NY 11218 the rigors of bondage does man make the pretense oflabor­ e make "housecalls." ing to understand, as if comprehen­ (718) 972-4003 were in a certain sense sion is gained by dint of human exer­ tion? tfll :i-·.,~­ preparing the Jews to / • - .,b:;)!P- TIMELESS PARADOX assume their exalted role n truth, Moshe found himself con­ ~ ~,~~,~ as "laborers in Torah," fronted with the timeless paradox I expressed by the Sages of the Tal­ he was able to perceive mud as "yagati umatzasi (I have la­ bored and I have found)," and by the Divine goodness philosophers as "mishpat veyichud" ~ AUTHORS &~RTISTS ~ For mishpatis Divine justice, the sys­ operating in the terrible tem that rewards only the deserving and punishes the wicked and which authors and artists to submit Egyptian exile. is predicated on bechira - autono­ manuscripts and artwork for mous man's freedom to choose. evaluation. We seek manu- Yichud, on the other hand, denotes 1 scripts in all areas of Judaica rJ G-d's indomitable will to confer good fl, publishing with originality, t and the King of Kings on His-the upon His creations, a will that brooks creativity and high literary Jews possessed the essential tool for no opposition - not even from the standard. Our editors develop achieving the purpose of the Egyptian sinners' reckless exercise of bechira and highlight the individuality servitude. Yet when this tool was Concerning yichud, Ramchal (Rabbi of the author and our graphics withheld, the hopeless condition of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto) wrttes, "For f I department gives each book rJ "and the people scattered abroad we see the assurances of the t its own identity. t throughout all the land of Egypt to prophets ... who have promised that ~ We welcome the opportu- 11.,! gather stubble for straw" (Shemos the Holy One, Blessed is He, will re­ - I nlty lo work with you. • 5: 12) ensued, which in essence re­ deem Israel regardless, even without vealed that they would no longer pos­ mertt Ion their partJ, and will remove sess straw, for the quota of brtcks the yeiizer hora (evil inclination) from could never be met if the Jews had to mankind and compel them to serve scatter about in search of straw. him. And, behold, all this stands in P·U·B.R\H-E-R·S This new state of affairs enlight­ opposition to !the gystem of] reward ~· No. Mr/,. LtmJa, ·]triwltm_, ~•• ened Moshe, who had ortginally un­ and punishment and in opposition to 180 Park Avenue • Lakewood ~ 0870 I ' derstood the verse - "For Hashem (man's! free will." 6 Jn UK 01·809-3723 gives wisdom; from His mouth come 5 Mishlei 2:6. .,; In Israel 02-538-935 6 Daas Tevwws (p, 32 in Friedlander edition); see • 4 Kehilas Yaakov, ImreiEmes. also K'lachPischei Chachma. beginning ofPesach 2. ~,;~,;: ~ The Jewish Observer. April 1992 23 Indeed, when the straw was with­ held, Moshe realized that If man has no independent power of under­ PINCHAS MANDEL standing-that ls, Ifall his exhaustive Over 40 Years Experience in Kvura in Eretz Yisrael toil ls pointless-then his own efforts •Dedicated to Kavod Haniftar with personal in no way effect his rectification; responsibility throughout service rather, G-d will purify and reward •Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador man notwithstanding, for He desires -Here and in Eretz Yisrael- only to bestow benefit on mankind. Hence, because Moshe could no 1569 - 47th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11219 longer see any purpose to the horr!f!c Day & Night Phone (718) 851-8925 Egyptian bondage, he called it ra - Honesty - Integrity - Reliability evil and senseless: "L-rd, why have CHESED SHEL EMES as understood and prarticed by one active in the industry more than half a century. You dealt ill with this people?" Taharas Haniftar Should Never Be Commercialized Moshe could not comprehend how apparently pointless human en­ deavor could, in fact, be meaningful and necessary, and could In some unfathomable way contribute to the attainment of rectification. He could not understand how, despite the ab­ Thousands of scholars solute certaln1y of G-d's will being done, man's freely-willed actions are can't live without Torah. Important; that both yichud and bechtra are true; that we must act on both even though we do not under­ stand how they can be reconciled.

ANEW SONG

fter the great deliverance at the Sea, Moshe Rabbetnuand the people sang a song of rejoic­ ing-for the bondage as well as for the miraculous salvation. "Az yashtt" - Or food. they sang praise for the very situation that had prompted the "az" of Moshe's lament before G-d. But, writes Olv Gedalyahu. 7 this acknowl­ edgment of the inherent goodness of The learning of Torah is an orphaned child does not freedom from want. .. freedom every aspect of the bondage came the foundation upon which the suffer from his fate. to continue in their holy only from an inspired power of Jewish people live. And the Today, more than ever, vocation. emuna. belief. For even durtng that dedicated talmidei Ezras Torah needs you to help Because many of our prophetic experience, Bnei Yisroe1 chachomim ... those precious those who keep the study of scholars who can't live withM had not solved the conundrum of few who have chosen to make Torah alive. Please make this out Torah, can't live without the study o fTorah their lives' Pesa ch for them, a Pesach of your help. yichud and bechira. devotion, are the cornerstone In the messianic future, however, of that foundation. Chaza!say, theJew!shpeoplewillsing Unfortunately, for many a "new song," a shlr chadash, in which hundreds of Torah families, they will proclaim with a perfect day-to-day living is a constant THE HUMAN SIDE struggle for survival. Of TORAH PHILANTHROPY knowledge that G-d 's attribute of Ezras Torah is dedicated goodness was constantly functioning, to the cause of keeping our r------Q JwouldliketohelpneedyTorahScholars.Pleaseacceptmy in even the most wretched recesses of needy Torah scholars learning. 1 taxdlXluct!b!econtributionfor: I For the past 77 years we have IOS36 osn os2so Ossoo Os I the goh.Ls. At that time, the purpose of been an anonymous source I Cl PleasesendmeaFREEEzrasTorahPocketLu ach I every aspect of creation, Including the of sustenance so that our I I place of unbearable human endeavor Makecheckpayableto: uNrua"'------scholars can cope with a I 1'.Zra>Torah I in the scheme of inevitable salvation medical emergency. So that I 235East:Broadway Adress I that is yic/wd, will be revealed. • couples may wed tn dignity I NewYork,NY10002 City State Zip I rather than poverty. So that I {212) 363- HXXJ I 10·2 ~Ph=o~ne'"=~~~~~~~~~~_J 7 '------~------On Moadim. pp. l 43M4. 24 The Jewish Observer. April 1992 by Lisa Herman

~ ~~~'~ REVIEWS OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS

f you're a reader, or a concerned adult who reads to children, then he Wonder Worm, by Ruth Brooklyn, NY, 1991, $6.95) is the I you'll welcome the plethora of Zakutinsky and illustrated by third level in the Easy Readers Series, Jewish juvenile books on the market T Aidel Backman (Aura Press targeted for children who are starting for a variety of age groups. In fact, we Brooklyn, NY 1991, $6.95) is the el'. to read on their own. The movingly have to put up a new book shelf to ementary level reader in this Early told story is based on the Talmud's contain this promising array of good Readers Series, designed to grow account of Nicanor, a wealthy man literature. along with a child's developing read­ who "loved G-d with all his heart and he Secret of the Leaves, by ing skills, while highlighting Torah soul." Nicanor's dedication to re­ Esther van HandeL illustrated values through clear storytelling. building the Beis Hamikdash in per­ T by ChagitMigron (an ArtScroll Here we meet Shamir who miracu­ ilous conditions is told lucidly and in­ Middos Book, Mesorah Publishers, lously helps to build the First Temple. terestingly, and not overly pedantic Brooklyn, 1991, $6.95) introduces us He, and we, learn the important les­ nor patronizing, which can so easily to Beryl who believes that he must son that each creature has a specific happen in a text such as this. The yell to get people to listen to him and place and purpose in Hashem's professional calibre of the illustra­ that he must get angry to get what he world. Colorful pictures accompany tions heightens the enjoyment of this wants. The problem is that it doesn't the story. volume. exactly work. He just seems to get oah's Noisy Ark. by Bracha lying with Daniel, by Malky angrier, while his teacher punishes Goetz and illustrated by Brailofsky, illustrated by him and his fiiends and family mem­ N Aaron Friedman (Aura Press, F Connie Frank (ArtScroll Youth bers ignore him. Luckily, Beryl lis­ Brooklyn, NY, 1991, $6.95) is the sec­ Series, Mesorah Publishers, Brook­ tens to the leaves, which share a pro­ ond in this Early Reader Series which lyn, 1991, $11.95 h.c., $8.95 p.b.) ts found secret with him that they teaches some lovely Torah thoughts: a beautifully crafted novel about learned from King Solomon: 'Wise that Noah was a giver who never com­ Daniel Wise and his family as they people speak softly." This powerful plained, and the importance of being tour Jsrael for a summer. There are message, so easy to learn, has mean­ an eved-a servant-of Hashem. ten neatly honed chapters in which ing and impact for everyone. Suc­ This is handled humorously and Daniel and his friend Yossi are in­ cinct text and expressive drawings clearly through rhyme. The lively. volved in challenging adventures, in­ combine to enhance this volume. masterful artwork makes this Easy cluding averting a hijack on their Reader a page turner. flight over, discovering a 2,000 year­ Mrs. Herman. a teacher of English in a Brooklyn icanor Knew the Secret, by old treasure, and returning a lost son Bais Yaakov hlgh school, reviews juvenile and Goetz to his distressed parents. This is a youth literature in 'TheJewt.sh Observer. Bracha and illustrated Nby NormanNodel (Aura Press, realistic and accurate portrayal of The Jewish Observer, April 1992 25 family dynamics spread across the dimension to the stories, which high­ panoramic backdrop of our Holy light the importance of developing Land, offering vivid sights, sounds good mid.dos, again and again. and aromas of time and place. he Very Good Fisherman, by ov Dov and the Treasure Yaffa Ganz, illustrated by Dov Box, by Yona Weinberg, illus­ T Moros (an ArtScroll Mid.dos D trated by Liat B. Ariel Book, Mesorah Publishers, Brooklyn, (ArtScroll Youth Series, Mesorah 1991, $6.95) is a heart-warming Publishers, Brooklyn, 1991. $10.95 simple tale about Five! the fisherman, h.c., $6.95 p.b.) is a fine collection of Gitel his wife and their somewhat warm-hearted short stories about cynical neighbor. "Every day Five! children-to be read to them and by brought home freshly caught fish for them. This volume is replete with all Gitel to cook. And every night Five! the skills a talented story-teller can would ask, 'What kind of fish would muster. Mrs. Weinbergwritesexpres­ you like to eat tomorrow.... ' " The sively and succinctly, conveying the beauty of the story is how Five! always depths of human emotions, as well as manages to bring home just the fish the attendant concerns of caring and his wife requests, in spite of the sharing, and of a Jew's desire for neighbor's taunts. Positive mid.dos closeness to Hashem One learns of and lively presentation make this how a youth shows his gratitude to book a real winner. his parents, of how a girl's pain of armer Greenfield's Big City loneliness is overcome and of how a Adventure, by Esther van little sister yearns to express her love F Handel and Miriam Adahan, for an older brother-the chassan. illustrated by Chagit Migron (an Throughout the book one is re­ ArtScroll Middos Book, Mesorah Pub­ minded-by example-to strengthen lishers, Brooklyn, 1991, $6.95) is one's mid.dos of Ahavas Yisroel and about Mendy who has a monopoly on Hakoras Hatov. Good reading for all. perseverance. Farmer Greenfield is gem of a book is The Diamond taking his family to the big city to cel­ Bird, by Yona Weinberg, illus­ ebrate Bubby's seventieth birthday. A trated by Esky Cook (ArtScroll Despite many obstacles-including a Youth Series, Mesorah Publishers, flat tire, a wrong tum, a brook with­ Brooklyn, NY 1991. $10.95 h.c., out a bridge, a runaway goat, and $6.95 p.b.). Fiction takes on llfe in even no vehicle-they manage to get these realistic chapters, which depict there on time, thanks to Hashem I the daily dilemmas of family and plus Mendy's positive attitude and school. The expressive graphics add good thinking. An excellent collabo­ immeasurably to this volume. There rative effort by a master story-teller, is something for everyone: a mystery Esther van Handel, and the re­ to solve, a robbery to prevent, a friend­ nowned middos/mental health ship to strengthen, self-awareness to (EME"IT) advocate, Miriam Adahan, gain, and a cousin with "special needs" this book offers fun and problem­ to teach. The character Yossi, a child solving techniques for children and with Down syndrome, adds a poignant adults alike. •

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26 The Jewish Observer. April 1992 ---~, ~ --· ... :'-:~~~.... -,"- ...... --~ the laws of Shabbos, there are of manner. Its beautiful photographs In­ More Books course some halachic controversies troduce Jewish children of all types - where the author was forced to take born in Israel, Russia, Iran and right For Jewish Children sides; however, the halachic refer­ here; from Chassidic and non­ ences quoted indicate on what he Chassidic homes, ba'alei teshuva he outstanding publishing based himself. The book is further families, even a sweet little convert; event of the year in Jewish enriched by colorful charts on the six boys and girls, healthy and handi­ T children's literature, in this days of creation, and on the desert capped. The message is spelled out reviewer's opinion, is The Thirty sanctuary and the melachos con­ clearly, in language easily understood Nine Avoth Melacha of Shabbath, nected with it. In his approbation, by the pre-school and primary set by RabbiBaruch Chait illustrated by Rav Scheinberg described this work (though the rhymes could have done Yoni Gerstein (B. and B. Septimus as "scholarship, creativity and origi­ with a bit of polishing); Jews are all Educational Publications, dis1rtbuted nality in one." Calling it the first in a so different, but Hashem wants us to by Feldheim, Jerusalem/NY, 1991, series of "Little Scholar" books, the be together, to help each other, and to $22.50). This is an outsized book publishers inform us that works on see good in every Jew! Come to think populated by thirteen children who other areas of halacha are in prepa­ of it, it is a pretty good message for appear on every page, engaged in a ration. We eagerly look forward to older people, too. variety of activities to illustrate all as­ them. pects of the various forbidden o You Know What I'm Go­ Melachos, with each double page de­ contributlon to the education ing to Be? by Ruth voted to one of the 39 Avos and its of our children, along entirely D Finkelstein, illustrated by various subdivisions; in fact, a special A different lines, is the series of Toby M. Cohen (Feldheim, Jerusa­ symbol indicates which of the subdi­ weekly Parshasheets, Avos Ubonim, lem/NY, 1991 $4.95). This is a beau­ visions is forbidden by the Torah and by Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz (Lake­ tiful book. Its hero is little Ylsroel, not which by the Sages. The colorful and wood, NJ). They contain selections yet three but already pondering what artistically perfect illustrations in ef­ from the great luminaries of Mussar, he is going to be. He looks forward to fect provide a pictorial presentation of presented on the level of children being a Yeshiva bochur; then a big all aspects of Shabbos (an introduc­ eight to thirteen in age. Each issue bochur, and -in due course -to be­ tory section illustrates the basic con­ contains three selection related to the ing a Tatti, a Talmili Chacham and a ditions which determine whether an Silira, each followed by concrete ap­ Tzaddik. Little boys will readily iden­ activity is permitted or forbidden, and plications, and a puzzle. It is remark­ tify with Yisroel and his aspirations, several pages picture the laws con­ able how readily basic Mussar ideas and parents will appreciate the help cerning the preparation for Shabbos can be expressed in a way compre­ he gives them in steering their boys and its proper enjoyment). A page hensible to youngsters. A Yiddish ver­ in the right direction. may contain 15 or 20 scenes, teem­ sion of Avos Ubonimis also available, ing with activity. and so are student question sheets Naturally, children will be fasci­ for use in schools that utilize Avos nated by what is going on in this Ubonim. However, any family can FREE OFFER• book, but even adults can use it to benefit from this original effort to If you teach English: good advantage e.g. for a proper un­ bring Torah thoughts to children. A sample copy of derstanding of such intricate "Writing English the Jewish Way." halachos as those connected with the e Are One Family, A Book production of cloth, or the details of AboutAhavas Ylsroe!-lov Please write muktzah In the back of the book, the ing your fellow Jew, by Yeshiva FUnd W Box 82, Staten Island, N.Y. 10309 halachic sources are given for each Reva Rubenstein (Aura Press, Brook­ picture shown, and a glossary of lyn, 1991. $9.95). This book carries for-orillrs terms not readily translatable is also an important message for our chil­ $5 • Nl:ll -10 Coples for $3$.0tl provided. In view of the complexity of dren, and does so in a most effective 'The Jewish Observer. April 1992 27 t About Me, by Bracha or the elementary school Nachman and a collection of his say­ einberg, illustrated by crowd, a number of new ings as well as of his disciple, Reb WEat Benyaminy Ariel F books have appeared. Nossan. While enjoytng the stones, (Mesorah Pu bl. Brooklyn, 1990 Gemarakup Super Sleuth, by Miriam the youthful reader will be tntroduced $6.95). is another valuable tool for Stark Zakon, illustrated by Channa to the world and thought of Braslav parents to use. It deals with the all­ Galitzer (Mesorah Pub!., Brooklyn, Chassidus. too-common problem of the little boy 1990, $10.95), may not have the most who feels left out when a new baby elegant literary title, but it can boast a Llvlng Nightmare and other joins the family and becomes the cen­ novel approach that will both tntrtgue stories, by Rabbi Eli ter of everybody's attention. As his and tnterest its readers. It offers a col­ A Teitelbaum (published by the parents help him deal with his jeal­ lection of stones, in each of which author, Brooklyn, 1990 $10.95), is a ousy, the children for whom the book Gemarakup solves a crtme or mystery collection of tales of faith and cour­ is wrttten will learn to deal with thetr on the basis of some Rabbinic dictum age, with a particular stress on rela­ own situation. Wntten on thetr level, or story; the stones themselves do not tions between man and man. Set tn and beautifully illustrated, it is gotng give away the sources, so that the the present, the stones are exciting to become a favonte. reader has to guess - or look in the and thetr message comes across very back of the book where the solutions clearly as each plot unfolds. One of here Are You, Hashem? are given. This is. a fine and painless the stones ls open-ended and there­ (Mesorah Pub!. Brooklyn, use of storytelling for instructional fore a particular challenge to the W 1989, $6.95), illustrated by purposes. reader. One would hope that Rabbi Liat Benyaminy Ariel is part of the Teitelbaum will continue to author Mesorah Middos senes. Very attrac­ he Friendly Persuader, by books teachtng middos tn such an ef­ tively produced, it seeks to teach the Shaindel Weinbach. illustrated fective format. young child that Hashem is every­ T by Yosef Derslwwitz (Mesorah where. This is an important lesson­ Pub!., Brooklyn, 1990, $10.95), is a he B.Y. Times, by Leah Klein but the book leaves this reviewer collection of tn..Ie stories, some new, CT'argum, Feldhe!m, Southfield somewhat uneasy. Is it smart to some old favontes, from all over the T 1991, $7.95). The B.Y. Times present the young reader with all the world and different times. They are senes ls set tn a Beth Jacob school. wrong ideas that the book's hero beautifully told and illustrated, and and the present volume juxtaposes thtnks about before he finally under­ transport the reader into a vartety of tnterpersonal tensions and rivalries stands that G-d is present every­ settings that come to life through the in a girls' school with the drama of the where? Of course, the omnipresence art of the storyteller. Gulf War, tn which one classmate is of G-d is tn any case not an easy idea caught up. The issues are universal for a child to cope with, as any ktn­ ast Wagon Out, by Zev Spektor and are presented clearly and dergarten teacher can confirm who (CIS Pub!., Lakewood, 1990 sharply, in the framework of an excit­ teaches her pupils the popular song L $11.95 h.c.,$7.95 p.b.), is an ing plot. Readers of the earlier vol­ about it and then finds them asktng exciting and fast-paced detective story umes w!ll be happy to meet old what happens when they clap thetr - the tale of a boy who saves his fa­ friends again. hands together. ther from a group of cnmtnals. Yet, set in the Ntneteen Twenties, this story andles In My Window, by goes beyond the plot to provide a pic­ Beth Firestone lfargum Press, ture of the histonc background and C Smithfield, Ml., 1990, $ .... ). VACATION IN A the turbulence that marked Jewish This is a realistic and moving por­ TORAH life tn Eastern Europe tn those years. trayal of a young girl discovering her At the same time, the story also beau­ Jewish hentage, her family secret and ATMOSPHERE tifully presents a relationship between herself. The author deals most sensi­ CAMPYESHWA parents and children that serves as a tivelywith the manifold problems and valuable lesson to the reader. issues that a young ba'alas teshuva or STATEN ISLAND has to face. Thus this book will speak IN THE CATSKILLS Chasid's Journey, written particularly to teenagers who come and illustrated by Dovid Sears from a secular or more modern envi­ • Spacious two-bedroom bungalows A (Mesorah Pub!., Brooklyn, ronment and will denve chizuk from • Three prepared meals a day $7. 95), consists of short Braslav tales it. By the same token, the depiction • Daycamps for boys and girts - not, tndeed, stones told by Rabbi of a secular family and its lifestyle, • Experienced rebbeim Nacham Braslaver but about him with some of its more problematical • Whole or half-summer rentals and his disciples. Very readable, each issues, makes it inevitably problem­ for.lllfonnatlon - call tale makes some potnt about faith, atic for readers from a more sheltered (718) 356·51 t9 reliance on G-d, devotion to Torah au­ frum background. For the public for or 356'-5412 thonty, etc. In addition, the book con­ which it was designed, it makes a very tains a short biography of Rabbi real contrtbution. •

28 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 IN CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM THEN AND Now

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All of our products are under the strict Rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Nochum Ephraim Teitelbaum J. ITZKOWITZ • MASPETH, N.Y. 11378 • (718) 497-4480 Upon consultation with its rabbinic leadeTship, Agudathlsrael ofAmerica issued thefollowing statement: 4 Adar I. 5 752 tolerable -wrongful, to be sure, but r------p,;b\~i~-lhi~;1~;=~~ \llflln\~f111 __ .,, ... Februruy 28, 1992 tolerable nonetheless. \ O ~0\11'" , « oM ' ~'~t'E. It is with a sense of profound Lettherebeabsolutelynoambigu- 1 ~f~. ". 1 shock and deep dismay that we ity: Intermarriage is not tolerable. \ "'' '·"'.-"d\£ · read of the broadly publicized Whether or not intermarriage in any proposal by the "RCA given case is an act of conscious rtjec- I __ ,, __ 1 ..... _,,,, - ~ ~-''"'" Roundtable"- the "Halachic tion or rebellion, it is always an act of '\~- ;:,.:;::;;"'" Think Tank" of the Rabbinical destruction - one that st:Iikes at the : ~§p,: ~i'.:§_ ~'.:. I ""'" ""'···:.: •. ., "",:-,.~·-~-, """-·~""""-- Council of America (RCf.) - con­ Very essence of Jewish identity. In its \ ~;,:.~,;:.~;~.~·,:!:~- !o i~: andproj.,,,!s_ Moep~,. cerning the place of the intermar­ own pernicious way, intermarriage \_§~~-~~·::~::~_::·:- --- · :!/~ br'!::~;~"~ 1 00~1Qc1ec1 acecp. oWsfiow! ried Jew within the Orthodox jeopardizes Jewish survival no 1ess a~"" ln>trnent 1heno "'ll"les./y Jewish community. · than the brute force of evil employed ''-ft.: ~·"' The RCARoundtable proposal throughout the generations by the .,,,,,_lrically P'l<>ll!e ostensibly relates only to the spe­ greatest enemies of the Jewish people. .:;:::,~;; cific halachic question ofwhether The appropriate response to the r,.~,·~--~-~-~--~.,~~~;;;;~~~ , tid fAm , J . h . t / Re-exmnine inlermarria l1 anlntermarriedJewishmanmay nsing e o encan ewis ill er- - .. :.:·:·."·" __ 'f:e, nhodoxrabbisurged be counted as part of a minyan. Yet it is clear, both from the lan­ guage of the proposal itself and from the attendant publicity gen- ~:{¥l~4E fii,ffi~ By questioning publicly the continued propriety and universal speaks about "the possibility of applicability of what it refers to as Orthodoxy's "traditional hard rescuing souls" through a policy line against intermarriage," and by proclaiming to the world that of greater tolerance toward Jews ! who intermarry. In our view, intermarriage today is "simply the mode," the RCA conveys the however, any such possibility is message that intermarriage has become tolerable-wrongful, to dwarfed by the far greater risk be sure, but tolerable nonetheless. that a widely publicized reap­ praisal of Orthodox rabbinic atti­ tudes toward intermarriage will erated by the RCA upon its re­ intermarriage, as the RCA Round­ lead to similar reappraisals by lease. that the objective of the table proposes, but rather to seek countless Jews who might other­ proposal is to prompt a funda­ ways to strengthen the sense of abso­ wise never even consider inter­ mental re-evaluation ofOrthodox lute taboo surrounding intermarriage. marriage. Jewish attitudes toward the trag­ That sense of taboo still does exist We urgently appeal to the mem­ edy of intermarriage. We take in many circles - including the bership of the Rabbinical Council strenuous exception to this mis­ circles 1n which the RCA's influence of America to reject categorically guided effort. is most strongly felt-and it remains the RCA Roundtable's public pro­ By questioning publicly the the single most effective weapon in posal. There can be no room continued propriety and univer­ the ongoing battle against intermar­ within the Torah camp for mixed sal applicability of what it refers riage. We fear that the RCA signals on this fundamental issue. to as Orthodoxy's "traditional Roundtable's proposal undermines We implore you to refrain from hard line against intermarriage," the effectiveness of that weapon con­ casting away the sturdy anchor of and by proclaiming to the world siderably. We accordingly believe that uncompromising rejection of in­ that intermarriage today is "sim­ adoption of the proposal by the full termarriage, lest the RCA drift ply the mode." "a natural out­ membership of the RCA would con­ away from its own moorings come of highly assimilated lives stitute a devastating blow to the in­ within the Torah camp as it plants led in an open society: the RCA tegrity of our people, and a chilul destructive seeds of ambiguity and Roundtable conveys the message Hashem of the first magnitude. confusion among the masses of that intermarriage has become The RCA Roundtable proposal American Jewry. •

The Jewish Observer. April 1992 31 I SECOND I n 3 Adar II, the 6th of March, HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages) of former Israeli Prtme Minister LOOKS Agudath Israel of Amertca asked for O Menachem Begin left this a meeting with him, he made a point world. Obviously these few lines are of traveling to the apartment of Rabbi not meant to be an assessment of his Moshe Feinstein ?":It for the gather­ life and accomplishments. The occa­ ing. When he entered Reb Moshe's sion should not pass. however. with­ Taking dining room, Rabbi Yltzchok Hutner out a few comments: ?"::It, the late Rosh Hayeshiva of Menachem Begin never fully aban­ Mesivta Chaim Berlin, greeted him, doned the Old World of his birth, and "Welcome, Mendele Brtsker"-for, in yet, at the same time, his ideology and Leave spite of the path he chose to follow, he many of his actions durtng his 79 never fully disavowed his birthrtght. years represented a decided depar­ Furthermore, the many gains re­ ture from Torah norms and practices. as a Jew alized by the religious community From the time of his youth in Brtsk, durtng Begin's prtme ministry, begin­ Poland, when he left the realm of the ning in 1977-abolition of military lkis midrash to follow the Betar conscrtption of religious women with­ Movement of his mentor, Vladimir bor Ministers in the Knesset. out subjecting them to review boards, Jabotinsky, through his years as the In spite of the B~tar-Irgun-Likud discontinuation ofunauthortzed au­ leader of the Irgun Zevai Le'Umi and aggressive ideology, Mr. Begin always topsies, cessation of El Al flights on Likud, to his tenure as Prtme Minis­ went to great lengihs to prevent the Shabbos-were not viewed by him as ter, Begin's policies responded to a vi­ spilling ofJewish blood. This was his begrudging concessions to a small sion that accepted Judaism only as consideration when he avoided an extremist group, but as justly earned one factor in the broader context of a open clash with the Haganah durtng rtghts of the religious populace, en­ secular-based "Greater Israel" ideol­ pre-State tensions of the mid l940's, hancing the Jewishness oflsrael. ogy. Torah per sewas not the source this was his motivation in trading Finally, upon his passing, when a of his values. As such, he could not Sinai for peace with Egypt in the lavish state funeral was in prepara­ possibly qualify as "a great Jewish Camp David agreements, and this tion, his last will and testament was leader of our time." may well have been the reason that found, abrogating the plans. His At the same time, he seemed to he suffered a political and personal wishes specified the starkly simple, make a point of highlighting the dis­ collapse following the costly Lebanon traditional Yerushalayim rttes, to be tinctively Jewish nature of the Jewish campaign, which was designed to re­ carrted out the day of his passing. State, as opposed to a Mid-Eastern duce loss of lives from terrortst at­ Featured on the front page of The expertment in Socialism, which often tacks from across the border. New York Times on the following day seems to be the Labor Party's goal. In On his visits to Amertca, he was (March IO, '92) was a photograph of all public appearances and pro­ especially conspicuous in his Mr. Begin's remains in a small room, nouncements, Menachem Begin Jewishness-for example, when a covered by a tallis with a lone shomer proudly displayed the Jewishness of national news magazine featured a (watchman) saying Tehillim his roots, weartng a yarmulke, and photograph of a be-hatted Begin fol­ Menachem Begin made a point even invoking G-d's name-a com­ lowing the reading of Megillas Esther that his exit should be the same as mon occurrence in Western capitals, on the night of Purtm, in Washington, his entrance: as Mendele Brtsker, as but never heard from the lips of La- D.C. When the Moetzes Gedolei the Rosh Yeshiva had said. •

Prime Minister Menachem Begin meeting with members of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah at the home of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, 1976

32 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 Dr. Irving Lebovics

of the last days of"Gov," Ms. Lyle's cat. had gone through a lot tn his life, hav­ Gov apparently had been suffering ing been shunted from facility to fa­ BE'IWEEN from cancer of the spine with attenu­ cility and institution to institution. ated other side effects and was put out Most recently he was living in a group of his misery by some form oflethal in­ home, but occasional violent out­ LIFE AND jection. Next came the predictable bursts and his inability to hold a job analogy to a fiiend dying ofcancer who without constant supervision pre­ was seemingly in a coma. with the plea cluded his staying there. In a nut­ DEATH: that society afford the same humane shell, Henry's options were running consideration as it does to animals out. What follows are the concluding and administer a lethal injection to two paragraphs of the article in which this suffering friend, as well. As out­ Ms. Lyle sums up her frustrations as landish as this may seem on the East an advocate for the handicapped: Closing "I know the arguments about the Coast, to us Westerners it is an old song. The State of Washington re­ abuses of kindly death, and I know cently defeated a "Physician assisted mental incompetents were the Nazis' suicide initiative" by a narrow margin, first victims. The money is certaJnly the Gap? not the point; I believe strongly that and efforts are underway to qualify a one canjudge any Civilization by how similar initiative in California. Odds decently it treats its sick, its elderly, IN-FLIGHT INSIGHTS are that it will eventually pass. its disabled. But money is a reality. The remainder of the article, how­ and adding up all the institutional, As I settled into my seat abroad a ever, was unbelievably shocking, medical and social services. Henry even to a Californian like me, who has already oostAmertcan taxpayers flight home to Los Angeles, I began to roughly $1.5 million. But my point is, reflect on my two-day junket to New thought he had just about heard it all. what does life hold for Herny now? I'll York. My wife and I had made this trip Ms. Lyle went on to describe a forty­ tell you: eitheradruggedhellofan ex­ for two ostensibly very different pur­ year-old. strapping. six-foot man istence behind bars; or, more prob­ poses. First there was the weddtng of named Henry, whose IQ fell in the ably, deinstitutionalization, street the daughter of a close cousin, an "profoundly retarded range." Henry life, an agonlzing death in a filthy al- event that more than lived up to its promise of the joy of new begtnntngs. Then. there was nichum avellim for a sister-in-lawwho had lost her mother ENHANCE YOUR SEDER WITH A after a difficult illness, and the sorrow over the loss of someone who had NEW HAGGADAH been so giving and had brought such happiness to her family and fiiends. FROM FELDHEIM We pondered the dichotomy of the two events, "one generativn leaves, @ The Commentators' Seder another comes." We had celebrated brings together insights the beginning of life and mourned the gathered from a host of end of life. In both cases we were contemporary Rabbinic author­ blessed with relatives whose prime ities, and the greatest Jewish concern was to mark these occasions sages throughout the ages. bederech Yisroes Sabba - in accor­ dance with our hallowed traditions. @ Many of these insights are How stark was the contrast, as I presented here for the first time. picked up my copy of Newsweek magazine and began to read a column @ Includes stories and under the heading of "My Turn" en­ inspiring halachic insights. titled "A Gentle Way to Die." The guest THE COMMENTATORS' SEDER author. Katie Letchner Lyle, was iden­ compiled by Rabbi Yitzchak tified as a freelance writer, actively in­ volved on three boards advocating on Sender: Your ideal companion behalf of the handicapped. The article at th is year's seder table! opened with a hear1warming account H.C. $16.95

Dr. Lebovics is active in communal affairs in Los '/'''V:',·••.•.·..·.···.·A.• •. ·.·... •.• .. ·,·.·.·•.·•.·.••· •.•·.·.•.•.·. Angeles, and serves as co·chainnan of the Com­ ...•.. mission on Legislation and Civic Action ofAgudath ··m······ Israel of California. •<·/ ..:ii'(' "'''···

The Jewish Obseroer, Aprll 1992 33 Jey. lt happens to others. everywhere. as humanely as we treat our pets." casion had to deal with our everyday. Well. there you have it. A major daughter's behavioral Issues. She of­ "I don't like the conclusion I'm American news magazine, engaged in ten needs extra supervision. Does forced to. But is a gentle death for a human being always the worst an­ examination of health care problems this mean that if we weren't there to swer? Laws can be implemented to plaguing the U.S .. sees fit to offer a provide for her. the state might deem prevent abuses. It seems patently national debate over an efficient way it more efficient to put her to death? untrue to me that any life is always to care for disabled persons: kill them. Is this how far our enlightened soci­ preferable to no life. I wish, more ety has come? than I can say, thatthereweresome THE PERSONAL DIMENSION The more I thought about the issue, place on this earth where Henry could live happily and freely and be however, I realized that I should have loved and understood. But since shudder went through my seen It coming. I have been involved in there isn't, I find it disgraceful. as body. I am the parent of a bioethical issues for quite some time well as ironic, that we cannot bring A beautiful, learning-disabled as a member of a hospital bioethics ourselves to treat our fellow humans daughter. My wife and I have on oc- committee and as an advocate on be­ half of Agudath Israel for Orthodox ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,~ hospital patients whose halachic sen­ sitivities were being overlooked. I have li>J1> discussed such issues at various con­ !lt~i ~\.i' >t; V~n. ~ --~-! ferences, including the National Con­ w.wi vention ofAgudath Israel. In these ca­ i·······"'·'i;4H,4Jt#\4.fillf1!¥jEEi ..... pacities, I have been exposed to the "new wave" secular understanding of : COMPLETE 10 VOLUME SET NOW AVAILABLE 1 I life. Ifyou can't be fully functional, ac­ : .,.~, 1"1'V~l' ,,.,n "N'i1' i1Vt:l ,, 1ir::i ""Pl~l :ni'lNt:l i•1r::iiN 11Nt:l 1 tive, and suffer from an incurable or I ~-~~- : trrerversable condition, you ought not : Profound essays on Parshlos HaTorah 1 be a burden to the fully functional, ac­ 1 Meaningful Insights to the P'sukim according to the Eyes of Chazal 1 tive and thinltlng individuals who 1 Useful for Educators • Fully Indexed 1 • ?"In ru:m •!!? a• 1Dlln •v1i!l1 nvilln 'l'lll::i a'll•m:i1 D"r.>11.)Jl a•iaNa ,.,.,,:i 1 must make use of our overburdened life. It only follows that one whose quality of life is not viewed as poten­ tially exciting ought to be eUmtnated. One can only tmagine where this "slip­ ====~------··------pery slope," now advocated In . ;;t:;ten!t~EL Newsweekmagazine, might take us. In view of this article, the com­ ,.,,~'ul·NE··.·· mandment "You shall not go in the ways of the nations," takes on whole new meaning. While there may be .. ·;.:;:,;~ttif~~[8~lYC6~~e4•f~~:,' disparate positions in halachic ctrcles .l)•Jt~l)~l~:i!JloO!Jlll~·i,:';'.·•····· on many medical and bioethical is­ ll) yqiu'Jamily that 9Qu !If.~ ~fl'lliil sues, one highest common denomi­ nator exists and is emphasized by our 0~tl~it~#a.~~e.•·t>fril>te~~··-··~ilt; ~¥~.· · Torah: "He takes life and He gives it." Life is not in our hands to be disposed ·~~~~~~~~-~er$.,iial ~rc iilt~i11~~it~1i' of when it becomes inconvenient. Our first obligation is to be an avda deKudsha Brich Hu-a servant of G-d-to find out what He wants of us and accept the responsibility it en­ tails. G-d wants us to guard and care for the precious gift oflife that He has created. That means caring for every precious person He created. The Newsweek article so clearly points out the dangers of the "me first," self-gratification world we live in bereft of such care and abrogating of such responsibility. It is a world where cruelty can be glorified in the name of kindness. • 34 The Jewish Observer. April 1992 rayer stands at the very core of Haggadah by Torah authorities rang­ Judaism, central as it is to our ing from Rabbi Nasson Adler and the Prelationship to G-d. Yet it ls Ben Ish Chai to the Steipler. The ma­ very difficult to pray properly. There terial is arranged as a running com­ are a variety of causes-wrong con­ mentary to the Seder, and a source of ceptions of the reason and purpose of inspiration and enlichment to any­ prayer, unwarranted expectations of body conducting a Seder. what it is meant to do for us, difficul­ Majesty ofMan, Torsh Insights Into ties in understanding the text of the Human Nature, essays on the weekly prayers we are supposed to recite, Torah readings adapted from the among many others. Perhaps, in our talks of Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz, time and circumstances, the greatest by Rabbi Aryeh Striks and Rabbi problem is posed by our difficulties in Shimon Zehnwirth (Mesorah Pub!., concentrating and the tendency to be Brooklyn, 1992, $15.95h.c., $12.95 superficial in what we do. Hence the p.b.). The Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas importance of The Art of Jewish Chafetz Chaim, in Queens, N.Y., heir Prayer, by YitzchokKirzner, with Lisa to the glorious traditions of the Aiken (Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale Mussar movement, is himself an elo­

~~· : .· . N.J., 1991, $30.00). Rabbi Kirzner quent teacher of the insights offered '\: <· :~ .:: . {. ', has been active for a long time in kfnw byit. The authors of this volume, dis­ .. ··.•·····.·.·..·.•·• ..a·· ..·..... ···11··..... ·.···.··.· .. ··.·.· .. ·.·.·· ...... ·.·.· ·...... ····a·······.··.··.·.···.··.j .... ·•... ····.. ·.······.··.··.·1·.········.···.···· ..··.·.· •.·.·····.·• ... ···.· work; he is presently Director of Edu­ ciples of Rav Leibowitz, draw on his . . .·•· ...... •· : cational Outreach for the Jewish Re­ talks to publish a weekly newsletter, naissance Center (Netzach) in New Mussar Hatorah highlighting some of York City, and this book is based on the Mussar lessons that can be de­ a course taught by him. Dr. Aiken, a rived from the weekly Sidra. The practicing psychologist, undertook to present volume gathers essays from present Rabbi Kirzner's philosophical the first three years of Mussar and psychological Insights, and has Hatorah In an overview. it introduces done so with great skill and sensitiv­ the readers to the world of Mussar, ity. The bulk of the book is concerned particularly from the vantage point of with the Amidah. Each of its Slobodka, with its emphasis on the berachos is the subject of a chapter challenge of greatness extended by that explains its theme in detail and the Creator to man. The study of depth, yet in a manner that keeps the Mussar and the Mussar talks of its interest of the reader and opens cru­ great exponents are not devoted to cial vistas of thought. Topics like res­ homiletic excercises or philosophical urrection, sin and forgiveness, and theories, but are halacha !'maaseh: redemption are effectively dealt with. practical and relevant expositions on Of particular importance are the in­ how to meet one's imperfections and troductory chapters on the relevance pursue perfection and greatness. of Jewish prayer and the intimate This is the theme that reverberates communication with G-d that it is through all the essays in this fine vol­ meant to provide. Without question, ume. It is introduced by a most per­ it is bound to be of immense help to tinent and important quotation from the reader in his or her effort at truly the work Sha'arei Avodah. (The au­ meaningful prayer. thors follow the opinion of its pub­ The Commentators' Haggadah, an lisher in identifying it as written by anthology of inspiring halachic in­ Rabbeinu Yonah. It should be noted, sights of Torah luminaries, by Rabbi however, that this attribution is Yitzchok Sender (Feldheim, Jerusa­ doubtful; thus Rav Hutner and Rav lem/SprtngValley, 1991, $15.50):As Bick ?"lit both disagreed with this at­ the subtitle indicates, the author de­ tribution on the basis of internal evi­ votes special attention to clarifying dence.) the laws and customs of the Seder Depth of Judgment, a guide to self­ and their deeper meaning (in connec­ improvement from the great thinkers tion with Chad Gadya, he quotes the of Judaism, by Rabbi Shalom Meir Divrei Chayim about the sanctity of Wallach (Mesorah Pub!., Brooklyn. traditional customs). But this and ArtScroll-Jerusalem, 1991, Haggadah goes far beyond this, by $14.95 h.c., $11.95 p.b.), offers an drawing on thoughts about the insight into the teachings of Mussar The Jewish Obseroer. April 1992 35 in a different manner-man's respon­ man's duty to work at meeting his re­ lication of the second volume. on sibility before G-d for what he does sponsibilities. Shemos ffargum/Feldhelm, South­ with his life and, concomitantly. his Ortginally wrttten In Hebrew. this field, MI. 1991. $12.95); it maintains need to be aware that he has to face book has been excellently translated the fine standard of its predecessor. G-d's judgment. After an Introduc­ by Yaakov Petroff and edited by and it will be particularly of Interest tory section on Rabbi Israel Salanter YonnsonRosenblum While it is of in­ at this time, since so much of it deals and his teachings, the author devotes terest and value to any reader, it with Yetzias Mitzrayim the second section to the topic of the should be particularly helpful to ere has also appeared a fur­ book, "the depth of Divine judgment those not familiar with the luminar­ ther volume of Eternal Herl­ and its causes"; subsequently, In the ies of the Mussarmovement to whom Tiage. An Anthology of Torah largest part of this volume. he offers they will be Introduced by this work. Thoughts, by Avraham M. Goldstein essays from all the outstanding e have previously re­ (Bash Pub!.. Brooklyn. 1990, Mussar teachers dealing with this viewed the Bels Halevl on $15.95.), which deals with the Sffiros topic from different perspectives. re­ w.Bereishis, rendered Into En­ of Shemos thru Yisro; like its prede­ flecting their varied approaches as glish by Rabbi Yisroel Isser Zvi cessors, it draws on a wide range of well as their unifying concern with Herczog. and now welcome the pub- Rabbinic works and deals with the main themes of each Sidm, often of­ fertng a vartety of explanations from different works. Thus a rtch treasure of thoughts and explanations on the hat rack Pesach can be found here. 5416 16th Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. Living Each Week, by Rabbi AbrahamJ. Twerski(Mesorah Pub!., ~i(718) 871-2278 Brooklyn, 1992. $16.95 h.c.,$12.95 p. b.), is In a way a follow-up to the r:fll!'!c author's Living Each Day. which of­ fered Inspirational and thought-pro­ .· '~~) /P[!s=TE=T=so=N=:-Jl voking Torah thoughts for eve!}' day .. 1\ -.!~~:· t,, of the week. In his new book, the au­ thor offers observations on each of '-- ~':(::-'. .: . ~ ~ . the weekly Sidros. drawn from Tal­ ~ mudic and Rabbinic classics, all the I I ';>,... !. KANGOL•LONDONFOG way to the great Chassidic masters. chosen to give guidance and strength CAPS• TIES to the Jew buffeted by the winds of .J the outside world. It is truly a hand­ ' book of Jewish thought covertng a whole range of issues on which a reader might seek enlightenment. The treatment is necessarily brtefbut to the point. and the author's com­ mand of style and expression makes this book a pleasure to read. €'.HEVRANETZA.CH•YISROEL Insights In the Torah. unlike the RF.BBEzrL FCJIJNr>EDs:toiiir m1;PkEV!OlJS1JOS1rJNal books reviewed so far, is not a collec­ F<>rthe ftrsttlm~ ln.11S filmry.ls now holding a membership drive. The usual lnltla: tion of thoughts on the Torah but a t!Ol!ifees areretiuced l>y half during .thls drive. Annual membership fee IS -cwrentlv complete commentary-the un­ $25, Ber\ellls are a.Hollows: abrtdged English translation of the classic commentary of the Lutzker ·· • 8ofueoneto c;!ll tb make ilriangements, In the tlnle of need, R'L. Rav, Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin (first • 'lllhara. • Ta~·.. •• Karka volume. Bereishis, Mesorah Pub!.. •. Althougll ~ are fllh;IY.~ ~ellfs, !lxpanS!onof benellls wDl be cofiSldered Brooklyn. 1991.$18.95 h.c., $14.95 ~the Chevra lncreaseS. p.b.). We find here the text of the $houkl Setv1ci!5of:a _Chevra hilt It.ls most mnllal· that everyone . Chumash and Hajtoros. with transla­ t.fo9ne i1ee.f tile tion. as well as the commentary. ex­ bek!ng. ~more )n!Oi'ntatton:talt or write to: cellently translated by Raphael .J.ft,llilvld$tiita,l'Mklellt'•.11s3954thSt.,llr<>oklyn,N;Y.·1121.9 • 718-851·1388. Blumberg and edited by Yaakov Mr.Plndias.Mandt!l,~1•4569.47tb5t Brooklyn,N;Y.112.19 • 713ll51-8925 Lavon. The Lutzker Rav of course did Rablli.llaludi W~~ • 962 45th St. Brooklyn,.N.Y. 11219 • 7184364254 not ignore earlier commentaries; but at the same time, as a scholar as well 36 The Jewish Observer. April 1992 as a great communal and national leader, he was able to offer deep origi­ nal insights that spoke to the prob­ lems and concerns of his contempo­ raries who studied his comments. Subscribe now to One looks forward eagerly to the completion of this project, which will The Jewish Observer be a source of guidance to the En­ glish-speaking public as the seven editions of the original work have been to those who studied it in He­ and$AVE brew. number of years ago we had Become a monthly subscriber the privilege of welcoming the to The Jewish Observer and A publication of The Call of To­ save up to 47% off the single­ rah. Rabbi Elie MW1k's commentary on Beretshis. translated from the copy price (a savings of over original French. It is only now that a $40.). 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The Metsudah Chumash does not have these words (which can be found in some Chumashim but which Yefey To'ar and the other com­ mentators declare a later and unau­ thorized addition); and in a footnote It points out that "the commentators stress that [TikunSofiiml is not to say that the text of the Torah was tam­ pered with (Heaven forbid), but that the Torah wrote it in a way compa­ rable to what scholars would amend in the statement of a king to make it more respectful." This highlights the importance of a truly reliable linear Chumash. /YOW AVAILABLE! ere has now also appeared a new, exclusively revised edi­ Tition of the volume on Bereishis of the Linear Chumash by Rabbi Pesach Goldberg (Feldheim, Jerusa­ for Lomdei Daf HaYomi of lem-NY., 1992, $12.95). It does not l'lesecbta l'loed Koton contain Rashi but follows his com­ mentary; whenever necessary. it ex­ from plains difficult English terms in pa­ rentheses. The prtnt is clear, and the pages are not crowded. 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There are. alas, few who, that distinguishes this entire series. in reciting Kinas, can follow their e other project is the Master­ meaning, and this inevitably inter­ A-Mesikhta series authored feres with the impact that the Tisha Tiy Rabbi Nachman Cohen ffo­ B'Av prayers should have on us. This rah Lishmah Institute, 25 Clifton volume contains a moving overview, Ave., Yonkers, N.Y.), ofwhich two new the tejillos of Tisha B'Av, Eichah with volumes have appeared by now an abridgment of the ArtScroll com­ (Pesachim I, 1991, and Rosh mentary, and-most important-the Hashanah, 1992). They follow the Kilws with translation and commen­ pattern of the earlier volumes; thus, tary. The layout deserves particular they contain an introduction explain­ mention: The Kinas are printed like ing the basic issues in the Mesikhta poetry and, as a result, are much followed by a detailed analytical pre­ more easy to read and recite correctly. sentation of the Talmudic discus­ ote should also be made of two sions, and notes based on the perti­ major projects in progress. nent commentators. as well as the N Mesorah Publications has Hebrew text of the tractate. Together published another two volumes in its they are meant to help the student Mishnahseries:Arachin(translation master the Mesikhta, serving as com­ and commentary by Rabbi A ..Y. mentary and study guide to the Tal­ Rosenberg, edited by Rabbi Y. mudic text. The author's truly heroic Adelman and Rabbi Y. 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The Jewish Observer. Aprll 1992 39 Meir Zev Mark

''KAVOD HATORAH'' Agenda of the Chassid of the Streets

This Chassid of the Streets does not fit any of the stereotypes that he first thing that comes to should be his by virtue of to be there. He looks around approv­ mind Is the word "homeless." ingly with a smile on his face, as ifhe T His physical appearance­ his appearance. He is were a nobleman of yore inspecting grooming. condition of his clothes his estates. Then he is gone. and demeanor_,,onjure up the deg­ fiercely independent and Not long ago, I had occasion to be radation lurking in the stairwells there early one veiy cold morning. At leading from Penn Station to the sub­ does not solicit about 10: 15 he shuffled in, wrapped ways, and under the bridges ofa cold, up in a big overcoat with a scarf indifferent metropolis. tzeddaka. wound tightly around his entire head To describe his clothes as rags as if It were an ace bandage. To my would ascribe to them a use of which surprise, he made his way over to the I am not sure they are worthy. In the tends to arouse pity within many who coffee stand. ''You see," I told myself, wanner weather I have even seen his behold him. In fact, many people of­ "even he gets cold once in a while." bare toes protruding from the front of f er him tzeddaka without being But then he turned his head this what were once shoes. Such is his asked, but he considers such well­ way and that, as if to see if anyone uniform of choice. intentioned behavior to be insulting. was looking at him. He slipped his So clothed, he proceeds on his That he is constantly forced to bear hand into the vast unknown encom­ rounds to nowhere. The sidewalks of such insults Is a great source of suf­ passed by his overcoat. His back was Boro Park are his foot paths, a net­ fering for him. turned to me, so I couldn't see what work of intricate trails tracing his f the stoiy ended here, he would he had taken. His eyes scanned the world. Somehow, while he shuffles, represent nothing more than an Reis Midrash once more from end to he manages reasonably long strides, I interesting counterpoint to main­ end - and POOF, he was gone. waddling like a street-level tide wash. stream Jewish life. His conspicuous I stared for a moment at the door Where he goes, what he does, poverty and integrity contrast sharply and then went to see if anything was where he sleeps. what he eats and the with our norm of behavior. missing from the coffee stand. The why of his condition are all a mysteiy There Is, however, yet one more various jars of coffee were all in place to me; and for the present, at least. I detail. Eveiy so often, I go to the Beis and there was even an unopened box intend to keep It that way ... .It allows Midrash Gevoha shul in Baro Park to of the usual brand of cookies, which me to develop a detached apprecia­ learn. (I use the word "learn" more as unfortunately hadn't been there tion for a rare kind of Jew. This a borrowed term rather than in any when I had taken my coffee ten min­ Chassid of the Streets does not fit any literal sense, because in relation to utes earlier. of the stereotypes that should be his the lomdim that can be found there ore often than not, things by virtue of his appearance. He is day and night, I have only observer just aren't as they seem to fiercely independent and does not so­ status.) Mbe. "You can't tell a book by licit tzeddaka. Eveiyone experiences From time to time, our vagabond its cover," Is the well-known expres­ suffering to some degree in this world. comes in, walks around a little, sits sion. Have you ever seen a mussar One might think that his source of down, opens a sefer, gives it a once seferwhose cover was so tattered that anguish would be his lack of material over, and leaves. He never takes a cup It looked like a homeless person? I comforts. His rejection of materialism of coffee or helps himself to the cook­ have. It is structured in such a way, Is so absolute that his appearance ies that are thoughtfully and regu­ that the perceptive student can learn larly provided by an anonymous out from it the entire concept of Mr. Mark, a lawyer by profession, lives in Far Rockaway, N.Y.1bis is his first appearance in The benefactor for the benefit of the b'nei KavodHaTorah-givingTorah and its Jewish Observer. Torah It seems that he Is content just students thetr due. •

40 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 politicians and publishers-though well meaning-9Te doing a great dis­ service to Kial Y!sroel Perhaps it should be made clear that when rabbonim and roshei ye­ shiva endorse the candidacies of such politicians, they are not endors­ Letterst~eEditor ing everything these lndivlduals do and say. Rather. these endorsements are In recognition of the fact that these indivlduals are dedicated pub­ lic servants and do expend great ef­ TALMUDIC SOURCES FOR The Vilna Gaon comments that vain fort to help our community. prayers include any plea to change SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS It would surely be wonderful If something which Is bound to take those who sought the endorsements place according to the laws of nature of our Torah leaders would also seek To the Editor: unless a miracle occurs. their guidance-which ls the guid­ In his article, "Modern Science and According to the deterministic na­ ance of the Torah-before speaking Emuna" (JO, Dec. '91), Dr. Alvin ture of classical physics, the distribu­ out on current events affecting Jews Radkowsky quotes K. Miyakoda of tion and velocity of all matter at any and other sensitive issues. the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics one time Inevitably results In the dis­ DAN Nfl'ZOTZI Laboratory as saying: "I believe tribution at any future time (this even Brooklyn, N. Y. weather was Invented by G-d and includes livtng beings and cloud seed­ there are certain features we will ing!). But the philosophy of modern RABBI BENGIS AND THE never understand about it.· physics Is completely different. I gave BRISKER DIFFERENCE Of course not! Chazalhave already examples In which "3-Use and effect told us that there are three keys that do not apply, and in which the Hashem Is holding on to, and they weather could be affected by some­ To The Editor: have not been gtven over to any agent thing so small that it Is impossible to The May'9 l JO featured an excel­ (see B.T. Taanis 2): the key to rain, the ever measure. Contrary to our Intu­ lent and very Informative article on key to giving birth, and the key to ition, what we cannot measure byany Rabbi Bengis by Chaim Shapiro. In techiyas hameishtm-recreation of conceivable experiment must be con­ one episode, Mr. Shapiro relates an life. sidered as nonexistent. (See Septem­ exchange between R' Chaim Brisker, This also explains the apparent ber Physics Today, p.84 for a fuller ex­ R' Zelig Ruven Bengis and R Boruch puzzlement referred to In footnote #3 planation.) Ber Lebovltz 'nit. on the Quantum Theory, to the effect Thus it Is legitmate and, of course, During their years In Volozhin, R' that ·a miraculous Intervention from obllgat01y for us to pray for rain. Zelig and R' Boruch Ber once got Into Hashem is necessary every time a liv­ As to life, I regard it as the ever­ a heated argument on how to pre­ ing organism reproduces itself.· present overt miracle (nes nigla): see cisely Interpret a certain passage In MRs. K. SffiINHAUS my article, "Miracles," in the book En­ the Rnshbo. After hearing both sides, SeaPoint, SouthA.frica counter. R' Chaim paskened: "The Shnlp­ DR. ALVIN RADKOWSKY pishoker (R' Zelig) says the Rashbo Dr. Radkowsky Responds: correctly. Jn truth, however. one must RABBINICAL ENDORSEMENTS, say as the Slutzker" (R' Baruch Ber). Jn reply to Mrs. Steinhaus, I was POLlTICAL CANDIDATES Mr. Shapiro concludes by comment­ trying to make a point which I think ...AND "CHUTZPAH!" ing: "Not being a Brisker, I am Inca­ much more fundamental than the pable of explaining the psak. • fact that we are unable to reliably pre­ With all due respect, Mr. Shapiro, dict the weather. I was addressing the To the Editor: one need not be a Brtsker talmid to question ofwhether It Is legitimate to I congratulate J.O. and Dr. comprehend the depth ofR' Chaim's pray for the weather we desire. Twerski for the very Important article words. R' Chaim meant to say: Liter­ The third Mishna In Chapter 9 of on proper Jewish response to anti­ ally the text supports R Zelig's view. Berachos defines a vain prayer as one semitism (Jan. '92). As I read the Upon deeper analysis. however, the which asks that an event that has piece, I could not help being dismayed Rnshbo must have meant to convey aleady occurred be changed: "Sup­ over the sad fact that certain promi­ R' Baruch Ber's view! pose someone was returning from a nent Jewish politicians and periodi­ I am reminded ofan Interesting epi­ journey and he heard a sound oflam­ cals (not J.0.) subscribe to Alan sode. About twenty years ago I had the entation In his city. lfhe says, 'May it Dershowitz's "Chutzpah" approach. It zechus of copying the H'Aros Hashas be Thywill that the misfortune be not ls clear from the writings of gedDlim, (marginal notes on the Talmud) of the In my house,' he has prayed In vain." which Dr. Twerskl cites, that these great Hungarian Gaon R' Chaim The Jewish Observer; Aprll 1992 41 CREATIVITY AT A CREATIVE PRICE Mordechai Yakov Gottlieb of Miskolc Secondly. we may see developing a ?"lit (the author of Sifrei Yg"l Yakov). In movement to outlaw circumcision. !•,l1ll one case he offers an exhaustive ex­ Professionals are describing circum­ COMMUNICATIONS VIDEO ~RotlUCTIOtlS • SC!llPT WR!TltlG planation of a complex Tosafos. The cision as: "mutilation." ''violating the V!OEO tOITltlG • Sl!DE PROOUCTIONS note covers the margins of the entire human rights and bodily integrity of Specializing In videos for fundraising page of his original Vtlna Shas. At the 914-425-1610 a minor who has not given informed end of the page Rabbi Gottlieb re­ consent," a "grotesque social wrong;· marks: I am sure that this is what the and "violates Article V of the United Tosafists had in mind. this Is what Nation Universal Declaration of Hu­ they are trying to convey. However, man Rights. 'No one shall be sub­ even if perchance they did not - well. jected to cruel, inhuman or degrading this is the true interpretation anyway treatment or punishment.' " - it will stand on Its own merit! Therefore. I would suggest the fol­ MORDECAI BERKOVITS. lowing: Sea Gate, New York A scientific study be made of brisim done by mohelim. Surely the health IN DEFENSE AGAINST ATTACKS risks will be proven to be less com­ ON RITUAL CIRCUMCISION pared to circumcisions done by doc­ tors and med students. These results DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM should be published widely. The frum To the Editor: community should start counteract­ 't,,p? il"l::l 't:>1p? I think that the religious commu­ ing all the anti-circumcision propa­ ':>"lll "1:Vt:i':>K ':>1<1l:lTIJ l";'1"1;'1l:l nity must be made aware of the grow­ ganda with pre-blis information. be· Available at ing anti-circumcision movement in fore it starts affecting large numbers America. Judging from what I am of asstmilated Jews. This pre-bris ac­ LEKUTEI reading in professional medical litera­ tivity must be done on an organiza­ clo Yitzchok Rosenberg ture. the tendency to not circumcise tional scale. and on a private one. (If 10 West 47th Street, Room 503 is growing very greatly. While we may your non-religious friend or relative Is New York, NY 10036 not be concerned about non-Jews expecting. speak to them or give them (212) 719·1717 circumcising, there are two big prob­ information, before they hear the other 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, lems which I feel will surface in the side.) Books and pamphlets must be Medrash, Megilos and Talmud. coming years. published and spread widely. First, non-religious Jews are being BEN ABRAHAM. R.N. Proceeds of sales distributed Bnai Brak, Israel an1ong Yeshivos and used for influenced to leave their sons "intact"' reprinting of volumes out-of-print (uncircumcised). They are being told that circumcision is dangerous and PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME QUESTIONS HAIACIDC inhumane. MARRIAGES AND PROLIFERATION OF MAMZElRIM

To the Editor: 1 In the March Jewish Observer. Beth ChaJnamn ri'J Rabbi David Cohen writes that Ortho­ dox "clergymen·· (his word) are per­ forming marriages between non-ob­ nr.i~ servant couples. and since there is a i1Jit:l~i High School for Girls 50% chance these couples will later divorce, It is the Orthodox rabbinate that Is responsible for the mamzeirim THERE IS A CHOICE IN EDUCATION problem. Rabbi Cohen writes "that Orthodox rabbinical organizations DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE should insist that no one perform a • Complete Limudei llodesh Program • Character l't personality marriage of a non-Orthodox couple • Fully accredited Secular program development where the couple Is not under the • Individualized attention • Extra curricular activities subsequent Influence of the Rabbi • caring. professional educators • Donnitory facilities performing the ceremony.·· • for infonnation and appointments call: Mrs. Susha Alperowtiz, (203) 795-5261 or write: As the rabbi of an Orthodox syna­ Beth Chana Academy High School for Gins. Derby Avenue, Orange. Ct 06477 gogue In a suburb of Baltimore, I 1Hll LllAD//YG JllWISH HIGH SCHOOL l/Y 1Hll /YEW ll/YGIA/YD ARllll wonder what Rabbi Cohen Is paskening for me. What is he telling 42 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 me to do in the following case? A Rabbi Cohen responds: tion l"n led me to refer to the Ortho­ member asks me to perform the mar­ dox Rabbonim as clergymen. If I have rtage of his son or daughter. I deter­ I am grateful to Rabbi Oberstein inadvertently offended anyone, I mine that both blide and groom are for his clitical letter. It gives me an apologize. halachically permitted to marry one opportunity to clarify my thoughts When Rabbi Oberstein wrttes, "I another. I get a commitment from the and to dispel any misconceptions wonder what Rabbi Cohen is brtde that she will go to the mikva be­ that other readers may have had. paskening for." I must also clartfy fore the ceremony, I make sure that Before responding to the major that I am not paskening-my letter the wedding will take place In a ko­ point, permit me to state that I used was not meant as a psak at all-and sher hall, and arrange for halacha to the phrase "Orthodox clergymen are that it was clearly not meant for those be followed in regards to the wit­ marrying non-observant couples" as who have others as mentors. nesses, kesuva, etc. Now Rabbi the counterpart of "their[i.e. Conser­ My letter was rather in the spilit of DoVid Cohen tells me that it is my vative and Reform] clergyman," be­ eitza wva-sound advice-to my col­ duty to refuse to perform the cer­ cause of my reluctance to brand their leagues. For many years, I have con­ emony. Either I should advise that clergymen as rabbis, and stylistic veyed this idea to Rabbonirn, that they live together without benefit of a habit rather than a form of denigra- with evety irreligious non-affiliated wedding or suggest that they go up the street to the Conservative Temple. What is Rabbi Cohen's definition of "subsequent Influence"? People move many times in their lives; there is no guarantee that even if the young couple join my shuland enroll In adult Large Selection Of education classes that they will still be • BORSALINO apart of the "synagogue family" In ten •BILTMORE years. How much ·subsequent Influ­ •STETSON ence" does Rabbi Cohen have on the • PANIZZA bnei1brah who subsequently refuse to • RAFFAELLI give a get to their frwn wives, making • SCHIAPARELLI them agunos? (I have a former room­ mate and chevrusha who has been re­ calcitrant In that regard for over two WE ALSO DRY CLEAN & BLOCK HATS years and all of us together have no - All Work Done on Premises - "subsequent Influence" that he give his wife a get) DAILY 11:30-7, Sun.10:30-6, Tues. 2:30-7 463 East 9th Street To accuse the Orthodox rabbinate (block of Torah VOdaath) ofresponsib!lityfor mamzeirus and to (718) 469-7420 advocate the solution he did, is not Eve. Hours Available. dealing realistically with the problem. Cannot Rabbi DoVid Cohen, a man of great prestige and erudition, suggest practical ways that theAmertcan rab­ binate can deal with this problem, both when the couple first comes to discuss a wedding ceremony and later if, Heaven forbid, the marrtage dissolves? What halachic methods are there to insure "subsequent Influ­ ence"? Simply branding me and hun­ dreds of other decent, G-d-fearing rabbis working in the field as "marblm mamzeirini' and advocating that rab­ bis of most Orthodox congregations outside of the "frwn enclaves" refuse to perform marliages of non- stlictly­ observant couples Is in itself tragic. RABBI ELCHONON 0BERSTEIN AGUDAS AcHIM-ANSHEI SFARD CONGREGATION Randallswwn. MD ERBA FOOD PRODUCTS BROOKLYN NEW YORK

The Jewish Obseroer, April 1992 43 couple that Is marrted halachically, and those of his colleagues who op­ YEARNING FOR YIDDISH, there is potential for the proliferation erate in hostile environments to TO SHTElG BECHER of mamzeirim maintain standards of Yiddishkeit. Two decades ago I had a telephone RABBI OOVID COHEN conversation with Moreinu Hagaon RAV OF GVUL YMBEIZ CONG. To the Editor: Rav Moshe Feinstein 7":11. He told me Brooklyn. N. Y. In response to Rabbi Frand's on­ that when he was In Russia, many target remarks (JO, Feb. '92) regard­ Communist couples came to him for AVOIDING MAMZElRVS, ing the need to "filter out the poison­ siddur kidushin because of parental THROUGH COUNSELING ous environment that surrounds us," pressure. He would dissuade the I'd like to mention some ideas I picked parents from coaxing their children to up at a gathering of over 1,000 high be marrted halachically. "I would ex­ To the Editor: school girls, teachers, and principals plain to them that they are not doing In light of Rav Dovid Cohen's that took place at the Armon Terrace the right thing, since the dissolution unique Insight and perspective Into in Brooklyn on January 29. The of the marrtage would not be through who shares the responsibility for the topic: the concept of"building a spiri­ a get." I told Rav Moshe that I had mamzeirns problem (letters, Mar. tual barrier" through revitalizing use been suggesting the same idea to '92), may I humbly offer the following of our Mamma Lushon-that Is, Yid­ many Rabbonim and he concurred idea. dish. that this was his stance as well. A pamphlet should be written con­ Now for the ideas: while America, Needless to say, it is wrong to send cerning Jewish laws and customs of as a maichus she! chessed (generous such couples to non-Orthodox clergy. marriage that should be given out by nation) par excellence, makes us very The Rav should simply state that as every Rav to the couple he is about to welcome, it must not be at the ex­ a matter of policy, he cannot perform marry. While the nature of the pam­ pense of our distinctiveness. Speak­ a marrtagewhere he cannot maintain phlet should obviously be upbeat, it ing English exclusively, amongst our­ contact with the couple. should include a section on the Jew­ selves, deprives us of that valuable In the case that Rabbi Obersteln ish way of dissolving a marriage if G-d havdala. Moreover, Yiddish is the relates, I would probably have ad­ forbid the couple w111 ever feel this trademark of a Yid wherever he trav­ vised that a Rav perform the cer­ must take place. The necessity of a els. "Vus macht a Yid?" has Inspired emony, since this is the beginning of Jewish get by qualified halachic au­ innumerable sighs of relief at discov­ a relationship with a Rav. By having thorities should be clearly specified. ering a fellow Jew. There is an instant the bride immerse In a mikva. and by Forewarned is forearmed, and warmth where Yiddish is spoken. ascerialnlng the kashrus of the wed­ thus, hopefully, the mamzeirus issue The haimish and picturesque images ding feast, isn't Rav Obersteln foster­ would be forestalled. that Yiddish expressions evoke can ing a relationship where he would RABBI PAYSACH K. KROHN never be matched in English. (How eventually be a positive influence in Kew Gardens, N. Y. many Yiddish words have crept Into their spiritual lives? I envy his zechus English because of their strong ap-

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44 The Jewish Observer, April 1992 peal!) This identifying code for the chinom fans the fires of anti­ from being anti-semitic, but ifwe pro­ Jewish nation has been sanctified by semitism, and although as adults we mote achdus through shmiras Tzaddikei and Gedolei Hadoros who realize the damage that lashon hora halashon, then others would be pow­ have adopted it as our national lan­ can do, a more-encompassing solu­ erless to hurt us. As is written in guage for close to I 000 years. ffhis tion is needed to arrest the habit at an Melachim I: 20, 28, when the Yidden sentiment was expressed by the early age. This would not stop others had achdus, even though they prac- Sulitzer Rebbetzin Shifra Rubin). Among our choices of expression for our Jewish distinctiveness, lan­ Considering a move guage should assume a top prtortty. toMOJVSEY? After all, man is distinguished from the rest of the animal world by his power of speech: man is called for careful attention to your "medaber-speaker" as opposed to individual needs, call us today! the "chai-liviog creature." Speech, then, should be further distinguished (914) 354-8445 amongst us as Jew&. An unusual incident in the shul of the Sulitzer Rebbe N"1"71!1, which took place on a Shnbbos several months ago, highlights the power of this µg:y9µ~·,--·:; ..''·· havdala: Duling the Torah reading, a Chrtstian minister entered and took a seat. Many eyebrows were raised, MIONi't!!:~l..l~flfsynagogues and take notes, so they may later reunite in the ·····.~~EW~~tJ~I;B~8~~;~~~;li'&;(g'' .. church and compare thoughts. When it was explained to him that it ARON KODESH &,BJMAHiMJENEEDa).; .. was inconsistent with the dignity of the Shnbbos to wrtte, and that fur­ thermore, this is a strtctly Ylddish­ ~eaiiti Cprttact: speaking shul, he left saying, "I must Mr. Sye at: 1-(8!)0) 886-

VERBAL ASSAULT AGAINST ANTI­ SEMITISM-THROUGH DISCIPLINE AND RESTRAINT E" FOR PASSOVER To the Editor: f\Nt\l.LY-A. KOSHE~ ST lMPOKfED COFFEES NETWL80Z.113G As I was absorbing your Januruy BLEND OF THE F\NE t\l.L YEAR ROUND\ cover, "Anti-Semitism! How are Jews to React," I'd like to share with your 1HA.TYOU'LL ENJOY • readers some thoughts on the prob­ lem. As we are all aware, sin'as ERBA FOOD PRODUCTS BROOKLYN NEW YORK The Jewish Obseroer, April 1992 45 ticed avoda zara, their enemies were V'ohavta L'reiacha Kotnocha and sue discussed prtrnarily In the Issue powerless against them. In response Kabeid Es Avicha V'es Imecha--lov­ of shikchas haTorah of forgetting the to this need. I developed a pre­ ing your neighbors and honoring Torah, rn, and that issue Is one of school/lower grade program to teach your parents. The emphasis on these grave danger to the Jewish people, I Shmiras Halashon as I was teaching mitzvos lays the cornerstone for would like to qualify Rabbi Rosenes' it to my own pre- IA class. Included in proper behavior and speech as we re- article with the following comments: the program are the mitzvos of late to our parents and friends. . Although the benefit of computer Rav Mordechai Schwab, shlita, of technology to Torah study is great, Monsey has consistently encouraged the absence of that technology does me in the continued development of not present a danger to Klal YisroeL this curriculum, stressing that The dangerof shikchas haTorahrests Shmiras Halashon should be taught within the soul, heart and mind of the to children from age four and up. The adult Jewish male who is responsible program w!ll 1'l"'N be published to know, to study. to review, daily and shortly. All efforts to further Shmiras consistently, to the best of his ability. Halashon are efforts in "The Fight The Jew of generations past did not Against Anti-Semitism." for YOUR need more than a Shas and a MRS. EsrnER WILNER Shulchan A111Ch to survive. This was FUNDRA/SING or Spring Valley, New York PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN his bread and water, the rest an added gift. CONSIDER a IMMEDIACY OF TORAH STUDY, The essence of Torah study is a CUSTOM DESIGNED WITHOUT TECHNOLOGICAL AIDS Shas and a Shulchan A111Ch. studied LUACH or DIARY and reviewed daily until it becomes as (718) 851-1314 "Ashrei' to the learner. The essence of To the Editor: Torah study is a process of indelibly In your February Issue, Rabbi imprinting the words of Torah upon Rosenes gives your readers some in­ the mind, heart, and soul of the sight as to the utilization of techno­ learner, there to eternally rest long logical aids both as a preservative after the words mouthed are con­ program and as a reference system sciously remembered. And, by the (''Technological Aids to Torah Study"). blessing of Hashem, neither the Shas As I read about the rare manuscripts nor the ShulchanA111Ch are rare, an­ that had been saved and about the cient or hard to come by. Technology ease with which one can find Torah as an aid to Torah study is a luxwy. knowledge, I cannot help but appre­ And if we can afford so many secular 49 I 6 13th Ave .. B'klyn. NY 11219 ciate the knowledge of Torah spread luxuries, we can well afford this (718) 854-291 I through the efforts of those who work luxury as well. these programs. However, as the is- The personal commitment of the adult Jewish male to Torah study and review is a necessity, the bread and water of the Jewish people. To not re­ member Talmud is the forgetting of Torah rn . And the individual who does not have a study and review pro­ gram In his life could well represent a danger to himself, to his family, to Klal Yisroel at large! Many speeches, well documented in your February issue, have been made about television, about tzentus, about busha. AU of those issues be­ gin where the study and review ofTo­ rah end. And the inherent danger of that ending is the personal responsi­ bility of the Individual, capable of be­ coming a storehouse ofTorah knowl­ edge, if only he believes he can! NAFTOU BASSMAN Lakewood, NJ

46 The Jewish Observer, Aprll 1992

... Demonstrate your solidarity with the coalition of Orthodox Jews who care by making reservations now to the

May 31, 1992/l11l'V1l1nN n11 ::> 5:00 P.M • New York Hilton

BENZION FRESHWATER International Guest of the Dinner MOSHE Z NEWMAN EsQ. LEVI YITZCHOK NUSSEN HaGacn Rav Aharon Kotler Memorial Award Reb Ekmelech Tress Memorial Award for distinguished service to Torah for preservation of the legacy of the Sbearis HaP/eiotob DR JACOB MERME!SfEIN Moreinu Yaakov Rosenheim Memorial Award I for dislinguished service to }y!,udist ideals I MICHAEL lANDAU Dinner Chairman

A commemorative journal with greetings and ads will he published on this occasion. If you cannot attend in person, let your journal ad speak /or you.

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