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THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by 3 the Agudath Israel of America, 84 William Street, Summertime: An Opportunity For Contemplation New York, N.Y. 10038. Second class postage of the Wonders of Creation paid in New York, N.Y. Rabbi Yoseif David Epstein with Rabbi Chaim Feuennan Subscription $22.00 per year; two years, $36.00; three years, $48.00. Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $10.00 8 surcharge per year. Single copy $3.00; foreign Yeshivos-Only for the Chosen of Our People? $4.00. Send address changes to The Jewish Rabbi Yaakov Bender Observer, 84 William Street, N.Y., N.Y.10038. Tel: (212) 797-9000. 16 Printed in the U.S.A. When Children's Leaming Handicaps RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, eorroR Are of Our Own Making Yitzchak Kasnett EDITORIAL BOARD DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER Chairman 21 RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS A Plea For Exercise in Yeshiva Programs JOSEPH FRIEDENSON Susan K. Schulman, M.D. and Robert H. Schulman, M.D. RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN
MANAGEMENT BOARD 25 NAFTOLI HIRSCH Horav Zelig Reuven Bengis, Rav of Yerushalayim ISAAC KIAZNER Chaim Shapiro RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN 34 RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Business Manager "Dear Ophra... " Ophra Chamas Published by Agudath Israel of America 42
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MAY 1991 VOLUME XXIV I NO. 4 46 Letters to the Editor Rabbi YoseifDovidEpstein ummertime
An Opportunity. for Contemplation of the Wonders of Creation
Rabbi Yoseif David Epstein, a talmid ofthe Mirrer Yeshiva in Europe and Shanghai, has been strongly influenced by the late Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz, the revered Mashgiach ofn1re-1'1!ar or in a forest; the landscape unfolds before you- the rolling hills. the trees, the fruits and the flowers. We spend most of the year in the numbing There is a dramatic sunrise or bril liant sunset...and you ignore it. You atmosphere of concrete cities, and we are oblivious to the sun. the moon and the stars. to the splendor and the become insensitive to our natural glory that permeates all Creation and surely to the greatness of the environment. We are constantly rushing, and Creator responsible for the beauty. Doesn't such insensitivity earn the lack the peace of mind necessary for Prophet's rebuke: "They look not to what G-d has wrought nor do they see the work of His hands!" meaningful thought and contemplation that (Yishayahu) Indeed, we spend most of the year would bringing us closer to G-d. in the numbing atmosphere of con crete cities, and we become insensi tive to our natural environment. We are constantly rushing. and lack the A GLIMPSE they take note of this} it is as if they peace of mind necessary for mean AT HIS INNER WORLD had been in His presence" (Commen ingful thought and contemplation tary on Berachos, end of Perek 5). that would bring us closer to G-d. We here are several abstract is Studying G-d's wondrous Creation are under the influence of secular sues that one should address provides us with the means to become science. which has adversely affected T as we think about contem familiar with Him. so to speak, and our trend of thinking to the extent plating nature. gives us at least some basis to come that we have become distanced from The Rishonim (early commentar to love Him. Thus, knowing His great contemplating Creation in any pro ies. circa! Ith- 15th Century) call for ness is an obligation. ductive manner. As a result, reflec such contemplation as a means for Now, wemustdealwithanappar tion upon the wonders of the Creator strengthening one's faith in G-d and ent contradiction regarding this ob has become the exclusive domain of achieving love for Him. We wonder: ligation: the select few who have the inclina how does contemplation bring love? On the one hand, the Rambam tion to be "seekers." Were we, for instance, to see a per emphasizes contemplation of Yes. we are victimized by the over son ofwondrous powers. performing "Hashem's great acts and wondrous whelming shadow of modern life, mighty and astonishing acts. we creations" as the ideal means to which blocks our vision from perceiv might admire him, or stand in awe achieving Jove for Him (see Hilchos ing the Divine glory inherent in Cre of his unique powers, but would this Yesodei HaTorah). On the other. he ation. All the more that we should cause us to love him? calls for contemplation of"Hashem's use our summer in the midst of I once raised this issue with commands and utterances" for this nature's splendor for the "magic mo HaGaon Rav Yitzchak Hutner, ':>"~. very purpose, in his Sefer Hamitzvos, ments" it affords us to contemplate and offered an explanation. which he quoting the Sifrt nature and to develop sensitivity to viewed favorably: How does one come to love G-d? We its ultimate meaning. Closeness between two people say inthe "Sberna": "And you should The leaders of the Mussar move love- is engendered by intimate love Hashem yourG-d... let these mat ment have pointed out that a highly knowledge of one another; that is, ters that I command you today be effective method of guiding a person when one person knows the inner upon your heart" (Devarim 6,5). to change or grow is one that utilizes world of the other. who opens his Through taking "these matters" - His readily perceptible, true-to-life ex heart to him. So, too, should it be in Torah- to heart, one comes to love amples, parables, and illustrations. regard to the relationship between G-d. To cite my beloved teacher and men humans and the Divine. The inherent Which, then. is the prime source tor, Rabbi Yerucham Levovits. ':>"~: dUficulty in coming to love Hashem of inspiration- contemplation of Cre "Contemporary educational meth lies in thefact that He is hiddenfrom ation and its marvels?- or delving odology stresses teaching through us-He is without corporeal form or into the wisdom of the Torah and its sensory experiences. We have no bet shape- so how can we come to know mitzvos? ter illustrated educational textfor our Him? However. Rabbeinu Yona In truth. both serve an important children than nature itself. .. .At every writes: "Even though G-d is not visible role. Involvement in Torah, however, turn, G-d created all sorts of 'paint to the eye, He can be seen through his is a key factor in coming closer to ings' and 'iUustrations' .... His handi mighty and wondrous acts .... Through G-d, for through Torah one can at workis so openly laidoutforus to see, His monthly renewal ofthe moon, He tain some conception of the Creator's hear, smell. taste and touch " reveals Himself to people and [when own thought and exalted wisdom,
4 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 over and above His wonders in the ments, examinations and the accu material world, for knowledge of mulation of statistical data. Every G-d's thoughts is more revealing of series of experiments leads to clear His essence, as it were, than study conclusions and new revelations. But of His actions. Moreover. deep con in the end, they attain no more than templation of Torah is not only more a superficial grasp of Creation and all vital and more far-reaching than tl)at it embraces. They have no no contemplation of creation; it is an in tion of the inwardness of natural phe dispensable pre-requisite to it- a nomena; they simply do not deal with kind of readiness-training and prepa such matters. Their studies focus on ration for arriving at the proper con the "what" and some surface aspects clusions from contemplation of na of the "how," but sidestep the "why" ture. as we will explain. completely. To approach the "how" and the "why," they would need the KNOWLEDGE: NO GUARANTEE frame ofreference provided by Torah FOR A LOVING RELATIONSHIP study. Indeed, on the deepest level, these nderstanding the relative secrets of creation are embedded importance of studying na only in the true hidden wisdom of the U ture and studying Torah can holy Torah. Those who are well help us deal with a troubling phe versed in Kabba/a attain some degree nomenon. of understanding in this area. While The Rishonim referred to above we have no knowledge of Kabba!o, we make clear that contemplation of do know that inanimate matter and nature leads to love of G-d and vegetation contain much more than strengthening our faith in Him. Yet can be perceived by mere mortal comes about by virtue of our Torah we see countless scientists engrossed eyes. There is a systematic order in study. in their research and study of natu creation, whereby spiritual forces Contemplation of the wisdom of ral phenomena, peering through mi that vitalize everything in existence Torah is thus a prerequisite, a prior croscopes at the atomic and sub find their way down to our world from obligation, to contemplation of the atomic particles of every minuscule the word of Hashem Everything that wisdom embedded in Creation. creature; nonetheless. these men are exists has its source and its root in People knowledgeable in the wisdom far from any notions of faith in G-d. spiritual spheres. of Hashem have the capacity to re Indeed, many of them are in the fore We also know that G-d's creatures spond emotionally to nature's mar front of those who deny the very con sing His praises and that each one vels because they are aware that be cept of a Creator. has a spiritual meaning and mission yond the miracles of nature that they How could contemplation of na of its own. In fact, there exists a can see and understand, even greater, more marvelous wonders ture lead to the opposite conclusions "Perek Shira" in which the purpose of those anticipated by the early com and the song of every creature is de can be found .... deep, deep within mentators? tailed. Even if we do not grasp the every thing that exists. By way of contrast, let us consider spiritual roots of matter, we still know While contemporary scientists can the Chafetz Chaim, for example. He that they exist. And this awareness split the atom and examine its sub responded emotionally to every dis atomic particles closely, the inner covery and invention of his time- te essence of Creation was understood legraphy, radio waves, recording of Which, then, is the more clearly by the Gaon of Vi!na. sound and image- and derived an Even though he did not examine cre ethical lesson from each one of them. prime source of ation through a microscope. the It would seem that the emotional re Gaon knew what is hidden within sponse should be even greater in our inspiration each and every creature. The scien generation. when we have succeeded tist can see only that which is before in splitting the atom, reaching the contemplation of him. moon, and attaining astonishing dis coveries and insights from the scien Creation and its ll. FROM THE PENS OF THE tific probing of creation. SAGES: WISDOM OF CREATION One might suggest that the great marvels?- or delving AND WISDOM OF TORAH... est obstacle for scientists to overcome to achieve spiritual growth is that all into the wisdom of the his concept- that under of their studies, research and conclu standing and recognizing the sions focus on dry technical areas. Torah and its mitzvos? T wisdom of Creation is directly Discoveries emerge from experi- dependent upon the wisdom of the Torah- is found throughout the wnt- The Jewish Obseroer, May 1991 5 ings of the early masters, as well as in those of more recent sages. The People knowledgeable in the wisdom of Hashem Ramban, in the introduction to his commentary on Chumash, wtites: have the capacity to respond emotionally to nature's
'Tue vital force of mineral, plant. marvels because they are aware that beyond the animal and human life, their cre ation, their potential, their essence, miracles of nature that they can see and understand, and their actions were all revealed to Moshe RabbeintL And all this is wrttten in the Torah, explicitly or by even greater, more marvelous wonders can be allusion ... in words or in numerical equivalents of letters, or in the found .... deep, deep within every thing that exists. shape of the letters which are wrtt ten in their usual or unusual forms, or in their tittles and setting in the west. Look at the sun its hosts. Then he will be filled with crown.lets." rise and sunset as if you had never reverence and love for Hashem Af before seen these wonders. as ter this. he should begin the bless The Chofetz Chaim dedicates a though you had been blind until ing: 'Blessed art Thou, 0 G-d .. .'." Perek (Chapter 11) in his book Shem now, and you were suddenly granted vision. These would then The obligation to contemplate the Olam to this concept. In it he wtites: be exceedingly wondrous in your eyes! You should do so each and loftiness of G-d before prayer was "When a person contemplates every day. As King David said, codified by Rabbi Moshe lsserles, the the words of Hashem in His holy 'Wondrous are your deeds, my soul Rma, in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Torah, he realizes that they contain is vetymuch aware of them.'" Chaim,98. infinite wisdom and understand The Ari zal said that a person ing. And so, when he delves into the In a similar vein, the Chazon !sh, should bear in mind the possibilities Torah and sees the wonders of G-d's creations in heaven above 7"'.:IT, wtites: of fulfilling this mitzva when select and on earth below, all of which He ing a place to live: sustains and controls at His Will "If a person is sensitive and has when one realizes that all this is al a quiet moment free from earthly "It is good for a person to dwell luded to in our holy Torah, as our desires, and his eyes sweep the in a house that has windows open Sages have said, and he sees from panoramic vista of heaven and to the sky. so that at all times he this thatHashem'swisdom, under earth, he is deeply moved, for the may lift his eyes heavenward and standing and might are bound world appears before him like an look at G-d's wonders in the cre less- he feels compelled to cling to unsolved puzzle, as enigmatic as it ation of heaven and earth, in con Him." is marvelous. And this enigma en sonance With what King David has velops his heart and his mind. His said: 'I see Your heavens, the work head swims, he becomes breath of Your fingers' (Tehillim 8,4). This less, as his entire being yearns to makes a person wise and brings ..• NATVRE AS A SOVRCEBOOK solve this enigma .... He feels as purity and the fear of G-d into his though he has lost touch with life ... heart. should he do so constantly, The words of the Rambam, cited its beauty continues to elude him. with regularity." at the opening of this article, that He is heart-sick, dizzy and mourn contemplating Hasherris works and ful in his yearning to know its creations is the way to achieving love source- but the gates are shut" (Emuna U'Bitachon). Ill. THE ESSENTIALS OF A of Hashem and reverence for Him, PRACTICAL PROGRAM are echoed in Orchos Tzaddikim (Shaar Zechira): ••• SET TIMES AND SPECIAL hile these thoughts apply PLACES to each and every one of "One should always bear in W us, they have special rel mind G-d's greatness and examine evance for Jewish youngsters, who the creatures of the world, both Earlier sages specified set obliga great and small. the sun, the moon tions for contemplation of G-d's cre are just embarking on their journey and the stars, how the planets or ation. The Shaloh, for instance, to faith in Hashem at its purest, and bit, how the rains fall, how the writes: are thus more open to absorb and winds blow, and other such phe fully integrate these impressions. nomena too numerous to recount. Our youth are spending long sum Because people see these wonders "When a person arises from his bed he should not involve himself mer days in leisure and play. Why all the time, they do not take note should we not open their eyes to see of them. But when an eclipse of the in any pursuit. but should think of sun or moon occurs, people are the verse: 'Lift up your eyes on high the glory of nature and their ears to surprised, because these do not and see who has created these' and hear the secrets that permeate it? occur with regularity, as does the consider the greatness of G-d's acts The hearts of our youngsters still rising of the sun in the east and its for having created the earth and all possess a fresh innocence which,
6 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 with the help of counselors and men cussions should be interspersed with tors, can readily be turned Into love references to the laws of blessings to and yearning for the holiness of Cre be recited upon beholding sights of ation. nature; e.g., "Oseh ma'aseh Practical programs, then, should bereishis ... Blessed are You who cre be implemented in our summer ated the Universe" .... "shekocho camps with the objective of raising ugevuraso malei olam- Blessed are the spiritual content of summer You whose might and power fill the camping by devoting time to contem universe," etc. These blessings re plation of G-d's creation. spond to the obligation to contem In the daily prayer. we say. "He It should be clear at the outset that plate creation. who gives light to the world with a program of this sort should be The key concept for us is not to mercy"; what is the meaning of the scheduled during the recreational forget that contemplation of creation phrase "with mercy"? aspect of summer camping only. The is a positive commandment- one of It has been recently discovered paris of summer camping devoted to the 613 mitzvos. that man-induced fissures in the pro spiritual uplift through Torah-study, Perhaps what we have presented tective ozone layer that envelops the prayer and ethics are not to be here is obvious. Yet there does not earths atmosphere are hazardous to touched. seem to be much evidence of wide our health and our very existence, illtimately, a recreational program spread awareness of these matters, for the ozone layer filters the suns that sensitizes the campers through or sensitivity toward them. Our gen rays, to prevent damage to the skin, nature study, under the guidance of eration, which has shown diligence as well as to ward off excessive and skilled counselors, encourages Torah In raising the level ofTorah study and dangerous "global warming." study and serves to inspire philo fidelity to halacha, should surely be Here we have a new discovery in sophical and ethical pursuits of a re come sensitized to this dimension of the wonders of nature. G-d created ligious kind. Divine service as well, which is one the sun, which gives light to the While a practical program• of this of the foundations of the road to faith earth and its inhabitants. But at the sort must be very detailed, and in in G-d. • same time, a special protective layer clude many specific points, here we The above essay is translated from a Hebrew was created to allow only the opti shall only present certain essentials: language article by Rabbi Chaim Feuerman, mal amount of light and heat to First, counselors accompanying EdD .. Headmaster of the Westchester Day reach us. That is among the implica the campers on nature hikes, excur School in Mamaroneck, N .Y. The otiginal article. tions of "He who gives light to the based on an interview, was originally published sions, and camping trips, should in the Erev Shabbat supplement of Yated world with mercy." keep a special eye toward sensitizing Ne'eman, Aug. 4, '89. campers to thoughts of emuna (faith in G-d) and reverence for Him. They should direct the attention of these youngsters to the fullness of nature and the richness of its landscape, to the beauty of sunrise and sunset, and should punctuate all of this with thoughts of religion and faith. Similarly, we can guide young sters' spontaneous reactions to star tling natural phenomena, such as electrical storms, as well as to reports of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. Their amazement can be directed toward a recognition of the miracles that lie hidden in the laws of nature, and in the orderly sys tems Mthin creation. This can be ac complished by highlighting relevant selections from Tehillim and tefilla (prayer), which are replete with Inspi rational verses about the wonders of ()a)1im<:: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM· t 2:00 Noon creation. (See the sidebar.) Such dis- Sunda\' 9:00 AM- 12:00 Noon Evening.-;: Monday thru Thursday 8,()() PM- I LOO PM Sunda\' 9,00 PM ·11,QO PM *A program of this sort that I prepared was pub lished in booklet form several years ago by To rah Umesorah.
'The Jewish Obseroer. May 1991 7 RabbiYaakovBender YESHIVOS
CHESSED FOR ALL dreds of children who want to learn -BUT OUR KIDS Torah but cannot, without some kind Only of encouragement and help. • "Chanoch lanaar al pi darko This is paradoxical, for beyond educate the child in his own way" - doubt, we are living in an era distin for the a pasuk in Mishlei quoted again and guished by chessed, possibly unpar again. alleled in recent history. And yet, • V chol bonayich limudei Hashem judging by the evidence, it would al - and all your children will be stu most seem as though our educa Chosen dents of Hashem's Torah" (Yisha tional institutions are conspiring to yahu 54, 13). Another pasuk heard disenfranchise large numbers of our repeatedly. children. of Our • Rav Preida taught each lesson to a slow student four hundred times, A FEW CASE HISTORIES until he mastered it. On one occa sion, the student still did not compre few case histories can illus People? hend it, so he reviewed it an addi trate this crisis situation (and tional 400 times ... earning Olam A I use the word "crisis" advisedlyj: Habba for his entire generation by I. In a discussion with the princi virtue of his dedication to this unre pal of a highly successful yeshiva, we sponsive ta/mid (Eruvin 54 b). Which touched on the topic of the weak stu Rosh Yeshiva or menahel has not dent. The menahel blithely informed quoted that famous Gemora to his me that if a child cannot read in the Rebbetmor faculty members ... hun first grade, he is transferred out. I dreds of times? asked, "Isn't it your responsibility to Such Maamorei Chazal (quotations take care of all your talmidtm?" from the Talmud) and pesuktm from "Certainly not," he responded. Nach (passages from Scripture) are "When we accept a child for kinder the substance of shmuessen (inspira garten, we inform the parents that he tional discourses) delivered to us in will be a student in our school only true sincerity. How often have we as long as we are able to service him. mechanchtm (educators) been galva Otherwise. we cannot accommodate nized at professional conventions to him." return to our schools and work with "Why don't you set up a Resource our talmidtm, sometimes under the Room to help these unfortunate chil most difficult conditions, to teach To dren?" I asked. (A Resource Room is rah to one and all bederech Yisroel a facility where specially trained Sabo, in keeping with our sacred tra teachers help children overcome ditions. None of us has ever doubted learning disabilities within a main the Torah-truth of these noble words. stream environment.) Yet something seems to get lost be "We do not have the space avail tween accepting the conviction and ability, nor is our school set up for canying it out. We would like to think such children." that we practice what we preach, but The menahel then mentioned a too many of us turn a deaf ear to hun- neighboring school that does accept such talmidtm. Rabbi Yaakov Bender is menahel of Yeshiva 2. Not long ago, I received a phone Darchei Torah, Far Rockaway, N.Y. His article, MMwnme Loshon is Precious, But is it Talking to call from a parent of an eight-year Us?fl was featured in JO, June '88. old child who is wheelchair bound,
8 The Jewish Obseroer, May 1991 with a difficult case of Cerebral Palsy. Shah of Iran was overthrown and portant ingredient so desired in While suffering slight learning dis Khoumelni took over, there was a today's high school- champion ca abilities, he tested with an IQ of over sudden influx of Iranian children to pabilities. (Our yeshiva attempts to 160, Is sweet, well-behaved, and has this country. Our yeshiva accepted make arrangements with Mesivta wonderful midos. But no yeshiva will some thirty Iranian boys. as did other high schools whereby acceptance let take him. schools. Most of them were from non ters are sent to all applicants. Actual Who gave this child CP? It was not Orthodox homes and their parents acceptance and rejection is conveyed self-inflicted. The Ribbono Shel Olmn, were not always supportive. Yet we from menahel to menahel. Weaker in His infinite wisdom, decreed that perSevered and we were il":l very suc boys are then told, "Yes, you were this child should have CP. Can we cessful in inculcating them with To accepted, but I believe you'd do bet contest that ruling? rah and Yiras Shomayim. Upon ter in school X. ") Accepting such a child into a con graduating, they were neither scho 8. How many principals have ventional school will surely tax the lastically nor emotionally prepared to heard the following rejections from school's facilities. For instance, go to out-of-town yeshivas; !heir goal high schools? These communica- someone will have to wheel this child to the rest room, or to the ballfield for a little fresh air and entertainment. We are living in an era distinguished by chessecl. That does not frighten me, for if my son were the one to be given this as And yet it would almost seem as though our signment, I am certain that he would shteig (grow) immeasurably from the educational institutions are conspiring to task, as he would were he to learn b'chavrusa with this young man. disenfranchise large numbers of our children. Must we run away from every situa tion that does not fit into a safe mold, trted and tested in the past? was simply to attend yeshiva high 3. Last year, a parent came to en schools in their communities. In roll "Avi," an eight-year-old, in our many cases, their applications were school. My first encounter with Avi was refused. Considering their family in !he hallway. While introducing my backgrounds, their ultimate enroll self to him. Avi noticed "Berel"- a ment in public high schools was all former classmate who now attends our but inevitable, as is the fact that yeshiva. Avi turned to me and said: many of them are today mechalelei .. This crazy kid is in your yeshiva? We Shabbos and ochlei neveilos. Who is all knew Berel was crazy!" accountable for this? Apparently, Berel was viewed as 6. The menahalimofMesivta-high "off the wall" in his former yeshiva. schools often call for the list of our and was therefore shunned by his Eighth Grade graduating class. (We peers. He is presently a wonderful do not have a high school.) These student in our thtrd grade, albeit with menahalim always mention, "Please certain learning disabilities. indicate which are the better stu 4. For years and years, we prayed dents in the class." Aren't the aver !hat Acheinu Bnei Yisroel would be re age and below average students en leased from their bondage in the So titled to a Torah education? viet Union. Others took !heir hopes to 7. Routinely, yeshiva high schools !he streets and demonstrated. Now send out rejection letters to appli !hat they are here. how many yeshi cants who have done everything vas (wilh the exception of those espe right. There are few things In life cially geared to !hem) are willing to ac more callous and cruel than these cept Russian children? Hagaon Rav rejection letters. Picture the feelings Yaakov Kamenetzky 7Yr had called on of an eighth grader-who works very all institutions to include at least I 00/o hard, and learns behasmada rabba Russian children in their total enroll (with great diligence)- when he re ment What can it possibly mean when ceives this offensive letter; his friend we beseech !he Ribbono Shel Olam to who is not serious in class, but is release them, only to abandon them gifted with exceptional intelligence. when !hey arrive on our shores? Is it receives a letter of acceptance. The !he fate of the children of refuseniks first fellow did everything that was to be refused forever more? expected of him. He has but one 5. Some ten years ago. when the problem: he is missing that all-im-
The Jewish Obseroer. May 1991 9 tions are authentic- and continue to children who suffer learning disabili the weaker children are gaining sig flow: ties: and children who do not mea nificantly. The sad part is that we are sure up to the higher academic stan inundated with requests on a daily dards to which a school aspires. basis from parents of children from Of course, schools may feel that all walks oflife and yeshivas; but we they have justification for each case cannot accommodate them all be It is not th of exclusion or expulsion. But it is my cause our capacity is saturated. Ac want hifn .. h . at We don't HeJust . e IS a nice b contention that with extra measures commodations for them should be Woufdn 't b Won t fit in he oy. e 900dfor hirn. re. It of compassion and determination, made closer to home. Why should the these objections can be overcome. eight-year-old son of a widely re Moreover, 1 believe that sd10olshave spected Rav be forced to schlep from a responsibility toward these chil another borough for 1-1 /2 hours ev Heon[ lov and y ';lade out b dren in spite of the objections. In fact, ery morning to our yeshiva and 1-1 I average; 1:_~lnonf fgoOdetween I would suggest that yeshivas that 2 hours home every night on a city · '1e won't and make fl ,__ refuse to make room for all types of bus, often with unsavory bus-mates? ''ere, children may be accountable for With this special program in effect, such treatment. our stronger students become even The major arguments against ac better students- not only in midas, ll n the bechi.na. He did we 0 But I have only cepting weak children into a yeshiva, but academically, as well, for they 0 He is a 9? d b;d 1 am holding and in defense of easing out those rate favorably with students from the two open1nps tawo superior boys. with difficulties, is that by accepting so-called "elite" institutions. v-· -, them..1or and keeping such children, a school Schools also plead lack of space, lowers its standards. This need not lack of equipment, and other expla bethe case. nations based on economic consid THE EXCUSES FOR EXCLUSION Ayeshiva can maintain high stan erations. Should an endowment dards, regardless of how it caters to come their way, these yeshivas would he case histories cited can be the needs of the slower students, as probably find the meru+s to accom reinforced with many more long as the brighter talmidim are modate students with special T such stories, to constitute challenged. needs- even to the point of hiring substantial anecdotal evidence that In our yeshiva, for example, we private Rebbeim. Perhaps the initia our schools are excluding children have n":J many hundreds of talmidim tive must come from concerned in for a variety of reasons, along the full striving for excellence and graduat dividuals, or the community as a continuum of their career, from ing into the mainstream institutions whole. After all, the yeshivas are Grade 1 through high school: of today's yeshiva world. Yet we find communal institutions, and gener Children who require special at it no contradiction to our mission to ally are responsive to communal ex tention because they are "different" have a Resource Center, with five full· pectations. Moreover, they receive for reasons of foreign birth, weak time teachers working with mildly support from the broad community, background, or physical handicap; learning-disabled children. Indeed, and can be expected to carry out the
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10 The Jewish. Obseroer, May 1991 community mandate: to teach all children Torah as long as it is within the realm of the possible. C.l.S. PUBLISHERS Let us bear in mind that at least one of every ten boys. and a smaller IS HONORED TO PRESENT percentage of girls, are born with learning disabilities. Certainly not all A DISTINGUISHED NEW SELECTION OF children are born with supertor in telligence. But we, as a community, have accepted the concept that our RAV SHIMON SCHWAB'S schools are for the superior children. Even worse, many or most ofour par MOST MEMORABLE SPEECHES ents insist on the fiction that their own children are superior, with the result that their children do not re ceive the sort of help and attention that would benefit them, because the classes are targeted for a level beyond I(--.~~ i :. The major argument against accepting weak children into a yeshiva is that a school lowers its standards. This need not be the case. their capabilities. And those schools that are flexible enough to permit learning disabled and slower chil dren to stay on their rolls, often leave these children to vegetate in their classrooms and become the class Over the years, Rav Shimon Schwab, shlita, the dummies or "nebs" ... because the Ribbono Shel Olam did not bless venerable Torah leader, has penetrated to the heart of his them with the high degree of func listeners with his inimitable style and fresh, thought tioning intelligence that the other provoking ideas, has engendered a very broad audience children in the class have. for his addresses. Selected Speeches, a collection of some NOT IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL of the most important and celebrated of these addresses, continues the published exposition of Rav Schwab's hen we speak of Mesivtos and Bais Yaakov high thought, which commenced with the publication of the W schools refusing appli previous volume Selected Writings. $15.95 h/c cants, we are not discussing young sters who have even slightly strayed I.~ off the well-defined derech- the boy with the so-called "bummy" appear ©-~~ ance, or the girl who has learned her street smarts. Most high schools will P·U · B · L· I·S·H · E·R·S not touch them! We are referring to 180 Park Avenue• Lakewood, New Jersey, 08701 • (908) 905-3000 • (908) 367.6666 the boy who looks like a ben Torah. In Israel: Rechov Mishkalov 18/16 • Har Nof, Jerusalem • Tel: 02-538-935 acts like a ben Torah, and behaves In U.K: 1 Palm Court, Queen Elizabeth Walk •London, England N16 •Tel: 01-809-3723 like a ben Torah, but cannot handle all the Tosafos in the ninth grade. Do
The Jewish Obseroer. May 1991 11 the "better" yeshivas agree to accept even for minor infractions. One ye such great leaders as Rabbi Eliyahu him? They do not. ... And the girl who shiva head says that It Is his policy Eliezer Dessler, 7"::.rr, and Rabbi Is academically weak will often be not to retain any boy who is sent to Chaskel Levenstein, 7"llt; and yet he forced to settle for a high school out him more than once a year for disci would never ask a talmid to leave of her immediate neighborhood. plinary reasons; he is too busy run Ponovezh without the consent of the And then there are those high ning the institution to be distracted. Chazon !sh! His reason. he stated, school students (usually boys) who Contrast this with the fact that the was that he deemed the question to are advised to go elsewhere for the late Ponovezher Rav. 7·~. would never be dinei nejashos- a matter of life and next year because oflearning difficul expel a talmid from his yeshiva for any death. and for such a decision he ties- not those who are disruptive reason unless he first consulted with needed the consummate poseik because of emotional problems. It is the Chazon lsh. 7"::.rr. This certainly The time-honored approach of the all too common thatin our day. ado makes us wonder about the compara gedolim of yesteryear has always lescent bachurim and even elemen tively cavalier approach in some of our been not to expel a talmid unless he tary age youngsters are told to leave yeshivas. Remember, the Ponovezher has a definite, clearly-identified det their respective yeshivas. sometimes Rav had at his side in the Yeshiva Iimental effect on other talmidim ... How many children are mechallel
1 Shabbos today because of this 7"1 u1 nNtn n·'P'l'n nN o:>? 1:i.n:> nn}J1 new policy to "transfer them out if With the writing of the SeferTorah in its final stage, they do not fit our educational stan the "R' Aaron Kotler ZT'L SeferTorah" committee, dards"! Let us remember that the in conjunction with Beth Medrash Govoha in non-student or yeshiva drop-out in the traditional European community Israel, invites friends, talmidim, alumni, and all had a safety-net of religious Jews. to whom the name of our great mentor is dear, functioning in a decent, self-con to share in the privilege of writing this tained social setting. Even as a com beautiful Sefer Torah in the name of parative illiterate. the drop-out had •71:>1p nnN ,, 11Nin 1•r.i 7N•V' '"' p1 7Yrin 1i>J1 a place, and was not in danger of straying from a life of Torah. Today. i1"i1'J?p1~t. however. any child not in yeshiva will The ;rnn 1£10 ntn:>n will il"'N take place ipso facto be destined for spilitual, in p 11 11y 0''7\!J11' witl1 the participation and possibly social, disaster. of the leading Gedolei Yisroel and distinguished talmidim of our A SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM great mentor. The entire religious major portion of the guilt lies community, both in Israel and with parents who insist that abroad, is hereby cordially A their children not attend a invited to participate in this school that accepts average or below joyous celebration to take average children. What objection place n"YJ during the last could they have to weaker children in the same school building? Status? week of JN onm v;m That is simply another word for "self (exact date and details ishness." There is another factor, and to be announced). it is not a matter of deliberate malice. Honors still available: Please consider Yeshivas and families are both this history mak $10,000 ...... onn '~Y subject to external considerations $5,000 ...... 7>yr.i ing event when that affect how they view and carry out their roles. Competition is one of planning your Sl,800 ...... mu•~ $720 ...... 0''1r.lY ') them. Baruch Hashem our major trip to Israel. population centers enjoy an abun $360 ...... '1r.JY dance of Jewish children with par $108 ...... p1t>~ ents who want superior results in $36 ...... n7>r.i their Torah education. This applies Please make checks payable to: to boys and girls almost equally. The performance of a school is generally Lakewood E. Yeshiva,Jerusalem-S. T. Fund measured by academic results, by Send check with specific instructions to: how well its students perform at the Lakewood E. Yeshiva, Jerusalem-S.T. Fund Shabbos table. and by how they are 1307 53rd Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219. ranked in the higher academies of Amelica and Israel. Parents also de-
12 7Jie Jewish Obseroer. May 1991 mand a rarified environment that is demand of our yeshivas that all chil free of improper influences. So it is dren feel welcome. Then, with G-d's common that parents, justifiably, in help, they will witness true hatzlacha quire as much into the quality of the with their own children. parent body and general hnshkafaof The intention of this article is not the school and its families as they do to elicit letters-to-the-editor pointing into the curriculum. out that here and there institutions Since schools compete for stu do cater to the weaker talmid. There dents, it is only natural that they will are some exceptional mosdos that do. seek to satisfy the "consumer." Rather, this article is an appeal to the The general trend is clear. Not only vast majority of mainstream institu do most yeshivas seek better stu tions to open their hearts and class dents, the rebbeim and teachers ca rooms to those members of the ter to them. The inevitable result is chareidi population that are now that the middle and lower end of a locked out. Do not be afraid to be the class- and every class has such a first one. It did not hurt any yeshiva mix-are not receiving their due. And to house a P'tach class. or to engage parents? They are thrilled with the special Rebbeim and teachers to pro prestige of being in the elite yeshivas. vide special attention to children with having the renowned rebbi, seeing special needs.
The yeshivos are communal institutions, and The Latest, generally are responsive to communal expectations. Exciting Sequel in the Rivka Gross Moreover, they receive support from the broad Academy Series community, and can be expected to carry out the The Whispering community mandate: to teach all children Torah as Wind long as it is within the realm of the possible. by Sukey Gross Sometimes the road to friend· ship leads uphill. At least that the notebook crammed with SOLUTIONS seems to be the case with Bracha chiddushim, witnessing their son on and Devorah as they embark upon the fast track to the Jewish equiva ll of our children deserve the a new year at the Rivka Gross lent of Harvard and a marvelous chance to become true bnei shidduch. That the picture is illusory A Torah and bnos YisroeL There Academy High School. doesn't matter. Most people don't are solutions to the problems. But Avid readers know they can know; the rest don't care. first, what the solution is NOT: We expect a gripping story full of The result is that the entire com must not set up ghetto institutions Jewish spiri~ suprises, and strong munity is in a trap. Yeshivas are not for children of average or slightly Jewish values, plus hours of read· doing what they know they should be lower, intelligence except where ab ing pleasure when they pick up a doing, parents are not receiving what solutely necessary. By perpetuating novel by Sukey Gross. they expect, and uncounted numbers the myth that these children do not of children are not receiving a proper belong in a regular classroom, we are $10.95 h/c $7.95 s/c chinuch. Those in the yeshivas, at labeling them for life. least, can feel a measure of satisfac The viable solutions may be as fol tion- but those who suffer the most lows: are those who are denied admission For the children who cannotfit into to schools or who, if admitted, are vir a regular yeshiva classroom· P·U·B·L" I·S·H·E·R·S tually ignored because they do not 1. Encourage self-contained class N The Jewish Observer, May 1991 13 they can handle. Certainly make sure ganize a chavrusa program where up to par. If learning problems are that they daven (where appropriate), regular talmidimcan tutor these chil dealt with at the Pre- IA or first-grade eat. have recess, and so on, with the dren in their free time. The experi level, they will not mushroom into rest of the school, and function as an ence is uplifting and inspirationaljor bigger problems later, and often will integral part of the yeshiva, unlike the tutors. Or: Form a second-track disappear altogether. The big argu the experience of some P'tach stu small class for them. ment will be: finances. If you- the dents who are made to feel by the For the children who can fit into a school, the administration, the par mainstream yeshiva as if they are regular yeshiva classroom- ent body- really recognize the prob less-than-welcome guests. !. Every elementary school should lem as your own, you will find a way. 2. Set up programs for children have a Resource Room for all those If funds cannot be raised, pass the who attend special schools such as children who cannot cope with par costs on to the affected parents Chush or Lexington School for the ticular areas of study. Engage profes who- in most instances- will be Deaf to be integrated with chaveirim sional staff for both limudei kodesh happy to find a way to raise these in their own con1munities- e.g., or- and limudei chol to bring the children funds so their child can attend a regular yeshiva. OR 2. Run a two-track system where ~--tS l3l/ts )-_ less is demanded of the B-class. At the high school level, children who ~ a~ ~~ cannot handle the work load will 0 :';-·;--,·,;· 0 thrive in a two-track system. But this works only if the menahel does not make these children feel that they are different and inferior. There are about twenty yeshiva high schools within a 100-mile ra i~'j dius of New York City. If each of these yeshivas were to open a B-class ev ~v~ ery four years (meaning five such classes per year), they would be able t'Mf"N1\~ to work with 125 new children every D Intensive studies in \?>ilp ,,,,,,.,at an advanced year within the regular and normal level framework of the system. By the time these children graduate from high D An opportunity to develop one's rnnl:> and JWTn school, most of them will have caught through the personal guidance of our warm up with their classmates in the A class and maybe even surpass their and dynamic staff level through their hasmadaand the D An extensive teacher training program including individualized attention they will have received. Special Education under the supervision of In short, as individuals we all do experienced Jil:>lnn our utmost to live up to our birthright as Rachmonim, Bayshonim, V'Gomlei D Stimulating electives to provide the Kollel wife Chassodim- merciful, humble, com to-be with home-based employment skills in passionate people. Let us open our cluding Computer, Bookkeeping-Accounting Mosdos HaTorah so that all children of Kial Yisroel- B'nei and B'nos Yis and Desktop Publishing roel- will have the opportunity to The Seminary will be under the personal direction of the learn the Torah that was given lo us Menaheles, Rebbetzin Leah (Ausband) Bursztyn. at Mount Sinai. Then we will truly be able to say "Torah tziva lanu Moshe ... Located In the residential Willowbrook area of Staten Island Morasha Kehillas Yaakov- Moshe ... Transportation from Lakewood and Brooklyn commanded us the Torah which is ... Housing for out-of-town students the inheritance of all of Kial Yisroel." Just as we have always been a com I OH Al'l'l.llATIONS ANIJ H llffllER INFOl!MATION, WRITE. passionate people, it would behoove us to go out of our way to have our IO Chicanos Dr., Lakewood, New Jersey 08701 Torah institutions do the same, <>H lAJ.I.. 908-:370-4371; Fax 908-363-5751 teaching and personifying the true Toras Chessed. • 14 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 Torah: Everyone:S Legacy Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: "If one withholds a halacha from a stu dent, it is similar to robbing him of his ancestral heritage. as the passage says. 'Moshe commanded the Torah to us. a legacy to the Congregation of Yaakov (Devarim 33.3).' It is a legacy to all of Is rael, from the time of Creation:· Sanhedrin 91 b This refers to a teacher who does not follow in the ways ofRav Preida_ __ . Should the teacher claim that the student is not 711 fit to learn the lesson. and it is impossible ... to teach him. that teacher is robbing him of his legacy. for from his creation. by his very nature. every Jew is fit to learn To rah. -Marharsho ad loc ....--:·~ L.~-·- Six Dramatic A Letter From Rabbi Yoseif Shalom Eliashiv and Rescue Episodes Rabbi Elazar Menachem M. Schach: Not to Close the Doors of Yeshivas To Children of Lesser Ability To Save A World Wednesday, 20 Sivan, 5750 David Kranzler and Eliezer Cevirtz profiles of To the Roshei Hayeshiva and others them with love and devotion. and not To Save A World involved in educating Jewish youth, in (forbid) to reject them with the excuse the Holocaust rescue efforts of every country. Shalom and blessings: that they can find some other place. six outstanding personalities: With pained hearts. we write to you Their own illusory prestige and that of Rabbi Michael Ber Weissmandl, regarding the education of Jewish chil their yeshivas will not suffer: For it is in Rabbi Avrohom Kalmanowitz, dren. with reference the terrible situa keeping with their honor and the Reb Elimelech Tress, Mr. George tion wherein the doors of study halls honor of the Torah to teach Torah to Mantello, Mrs. Recha Stembuch, and secondary schools (mesivtos) are all Jewish children in accordance with and Mrs. Renee Reichmann. closed before children who desire to their abilities. in keeping with the teach These stirring accounts are study Torah. because of their lack of in ers' effort and devotion. We have seen full ofinspiration and dedication. telligence. and other such reasons. many cases of success specifically with One cannot describe or fully assess students who hadn't succeeded in the Each narrative, each personality, the awesome gravity of the matter. and past and yet developed and became is a unique and steady beacon of the responsibility that rests on all ye great leaders. even though there were spiritual light-providing all read shiva heads that deny Torah study to others who were more gifted than they ers with new insight into what it Jewish children. It is as though they were. means to be 'responsible' to and were sentenced to spiritual annihilation Our blessings are directed to the 'intertwined' with the fate of the rr. to be tossed out into the streets. to committee of Torah scholars in Jerusa Jewish people. resort to any sort of school, sometimes lem who have accepted the responsi being forced to leave home. without bility to arrange the placements [of $14.95 h/c $11.95 s/c any parental supervision these students] in the yeshivas. that whatsoever .. with results that can well they succeed in their sacred undertak be anticipated. ing. which is literally saving lives. Similarly. we know the anguish of May all who teach. and who assist the parents who lose sleep over their others who teach Jewish youth enjoy P·U·B·L' I·S·H·E·R·S children only to see them go to waste, heavenly blessings. bestowing upon N The Jewish Observer, May 1991 15 Yitzchak Kasnett WHEN CHILDREN'S LEARNING HANDICAPS ARE OF OUR OWN MAKING THEEARLYPIACEMENTSYNDROME WORKING WITH THE LEARNING learning disability is identified after having spent two years in DISABLED CHILD... through comprehensive psycho-edu PTACH. cational testing. The teachers then uring my seven years as the develop plans for working with the ...AND THE BRIGHT EARLY Coordinator of the PTACH child. projecting goals for each child STARTER D Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin to pursue as he or she begins his or program. I spent my days (and many her (hereafter "he ... his") process of urprisingly, a child with evenings) with youngsters exhibiting remediation. In addition, the student learning problems placed in a a variety oflearning disabilities- au is taught to relate to his weaknesses S contained classroom can be ditory, language. memory, visual in a positive manner, externalizing far more assured of developing his or and/ or motor in nature. In the them as a part-and rwt the whole her potential for a successful future P'TACH program, the student's of one's self. With a healthy self-im than many children in mainstream age, the student can make great classes who are not learning disabled Rabbi Kasnett was the Coordinator of the strides in achievement- and usually at all. Throughout my years of PTACH program in Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Ber does. psycho-educational testing in my pri lin from Sept.'83 until June,'90. Presently he is the Principal of the Ocean Parkway Develop Indeed, PTACH and Yeshiva Rabbi vate practice in Brooklyn, I have mental Center {an early childhood and infant Chaim Berlin"s joint program suc found a statistically relevant and stimulation program) and Managing Director of ceeded in graduating over 900Ai of the troublesome profile appear over and The Center for Research in Applied Theolies of seniors in the PTACH program with over again: Many of the children re Education (a non-profit center for the develop regular high school diplomas. includ ferred for testing were encountering ment of curriculum and textbooks reflecting tra ditional Jewish values for use in the yeshiva ing one young man who became the difficulty with their school work. yet English Departments). valedictorian of his mainstream class they exhibited no evidence of a learn- 16 The Jewish Observer, May 1991 ing disability. Analysis of the data recorded during the testing ses sions 1, however, did reveal a disturb Many children were Coming Soon/ ing, yet interesting source for their difficulties. encountering difficulty Simply. they are too young for The lot1g--.Aw4it~d their class placement and lack the with their school work, Sequel to emotional. neurological and/or so cial maturity to succeed in a i1ighly yet they exhibit no "A Titne to Litte'' structured learning environment. In each case, the child scored at evidence of a learning .A Time to Beal the average, or above average, level by Chana Sb.vslq Rubin for his appropriate age placement, disability. but each skill area became devalu Simply, they are too A Tlml.! 1'o.1fe<1/.i~ a w~~ ated one or two steps when viewed in alld suspen.seful story that ca.r· terms of grade placement norms. young for their class ri~s the readers acr<)SS the ~obe Thus, the child will score at the av andbai:k,and brings themfa~to erage level for full-scale cognitive placement and lack the face. with assorted her<>~• ~d functioning for age norms- that is, villains, as \'tell ll$ a mystilrl()US his skills in listening, interpreting vi emotional, neurological sual information, short-term Genn The Jewish Obseroer. May 1991 17 member that time spent in school is hension and skill tntegration. In the The research findtngs reported that of taken from time spent at home. Ev prtmary grades children often resort the 104 Israeli 5- and 6-year-old first ery child requires quality time with to substitute tactics to cover up for graders participating tn the study, the his parents, time that is translated deficencies; for instance, they may older students scored higher on their into the subtle and consistent trans remember the brtef text prtnted on a achievement tests, were more ac mission of confidence. integrity and page from having heard it read aloud cepted by their peers, and had a self-respect, which become the foun several times. In the intermediate stronger self-image than their dation upon which this young life is grades, however. these compensatory younger peers. In addition, their to be built. Realize that the special strategies become over-run and no teachers rated them as adjusting bet moments you invest In your child longer work effectively. ter to school. While there is no reason when he is young become memortes to assume that Israeli schoolchildren that rematn for a life time, and will THE AGE ADVANTAGE are different from their Amertcan most probably become the blueprtnt counterparts, or that yeshiva children for his own attitude and conduct with he widespread existence and mature at a different pace than your grandchildren in the future. the sertousness of this phe mamlachti school children, it is in These special moments are forfeited T nomenon (distinct from the place to cite the optnions of two expe when the young child is in school. true learntng-disabled child) in the rienced Amertcan elementary school It would be beneficial for the greater school population was re yeshiva prtncipals, which corroborate schools themselves to adopt some cently supported by the published the Israeli findings. I thus invited crtterta for early admittance so as to results of a study 2 completed in Is Rabbi Yehudah Frankel, menahel of alleviate some of the lowered func rael, reporting "that students were the Mirrer Yeshiva Ktana, and Rabbi tioning that surfaces from the third more successful when they begin Shlomo Kletn, menahel of the Yeshiva to fifth grades. This is the period school at age six, rather than five." K'tana of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Ber when discrepancies appear, for the lin, both of Brooklyn, to comment on school work tn these grades demands 2 Joumal Of Genetic Psychology, Vol. 149. No. 4, the issue of early placement (see the more sophisticated levels of compre- 12/88 sidebars of these pages). L! n Enter the Fascinating World of the Rishonim ... Experience the radiant current of spiritual enrichment which emerged from the pens of the early Torah masters who molded Jewish thought and halacha for all subsequent generations. Through numerous citations, charts, maps, and footnotes, the era of the Rishonim comes alive before your eyes. SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER! \ 15% discount off s15:n list price! \ EARLY RISHONIM (288 pp.) LATER RISHONIM (288 pp.) Aho available Come ... hear the voices of the Rach and Meet the architects of the Tosafist at your local bookstore PERFECT GIFT! \ the Rif, Rashi and the Rambam. Stroll School - Rabbeinu Tam, Ri ha- ltishkalah Publications \ through the gardens of the Prov- Zaken, and the later Tosafists. 611-61 Selfridge St., Queens, NY 11375. (718) 261-6076. \ ence with Ravad of Posquiresand Share the tribulations of Ramban 0 9 vol., •120 0 3 vol, 140 0 2 vol., •27 0 1 vol., '13.55 Rabbeinu Zerachiah halevi. and Rabbeinu Yonah; Rashba and 0 brly Rishonim D Liter Rishonim 0 Lq.acy 0 Anvil \ Enjoy a taste of the classical Re'ah; Rosh and Ba'al haTurim. D Ch.allense of Sinai 0 13 Principles 0 Ethic.al Person•lity \ writings of the early mast- Witness the decline and the rebirth D Tor.ah Ethic 0 H.al.acha .and Beyond ers, Rabbeinu Bachya, of Spanish .Jewry - through the Add: '1 postage, plus 50¢ ea. add'! vol.; '3 mallimum. (limited offer) \ Rabbe Yehudah ha- compilation of the Shulchan Aruch \ Levi, and others. by Rav Yosef Caro, in 1553. City \ Long-awaited sequel to Legacy of Sinai 18 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 This article is meant to TIME FOR A RE-EVALUATION n expressing my full agree raise the consciousness of ment with Rabbi Kasnett's our parent body, I thesis, I would like to cite a passage from the Sefer haChinuch, so tliey will become more Mitzva419 (from the section Dinei haMitzvas): cautious when considering Among the spec!fic halachos (re early placements until garding thefelfillmentofthemitzva ofstudying and teaching Torah) is appropriate guidelines are the statement ofour Chazal: available. "When does a father's obligation to teach his son Torah begin? From the moment he starts to talk, he SOME SUGGESTIONS teaches him Torah tziva lanu Moshe' as well as the opening n light of the research and dis pasuk of 'Shema Yisroel.' and, cussion presented in this article, thereafter, gradually more Torah I it appears that (until the age of pesukim until the age of seven admissions is raised or standardized when he is to be brought to a by the yeshivas) it would be to the teacher ofyoung children. A Powerful and benefit to this group of children to It is essential, then, for any follow the recommendations below: thinking person to concentrate on Intriguing 1. Suggestion to the Parents: A avoiding needlessly burdening a Historical Novel careful evaluation of the child's de youngster with studies that strain velopment and an assessment of his him beyond his .frail physical and The Edge of Darkness or her social-emotional needs should emotional capacity. This, until he be completed before deciding on early grows su.Jficiently strong in heart, by Avraham Tzuri placement. To this end, there are sev body and mind to properly tolerate Culture, ideas and armies all eral good Early Childhood Screenlng the heavy demands dictated by clash in this exciting and riveting Instruments available. Jncluding in study so that he notfall victim to formal evaluation by a competent (emotionaU illness andfatigue as a historical novel, set in 12th cen learning specialist. result of inordinate exertion im tury Spain. 2. Suggestion to the Yeshiva: posed upon him" For Jews it was a turbulent Develop internal administrative Rabbi Kasnett's article, rein time: Moslems and Christians mechanisms to request and review forced by the words of the exerted pressure from without; screenlngs of early placements (upon Chinuch, would seem to suggest the Karaite sect provided pres application and not after acceptance) that current admissions practices sure from within. to identify those children who may be be re-evaluated. "Brooklyn" yeshi Full of exotic people and at rtsk for this early placement syn will most likely not make any vas places, this thought provoking drome. Certainly a comprehensive sweeping changes. True, as oflate questionnaire concerning the child's these yeshivas have been going book delves deeply into the con readiness could be developed (some beyond token effort to help the flicts and issues of the time and already exist) to be completed by the weaker student; yet these yeshi by so doing, provides readers parent with the standard enrollment vas generally cater to the better with a memorable work of Jewish forms. Should any doubt then exist talmid, who excels even if enrolled historical fiction. $16.95 h/c concerning the child's readiness, the at an early age. This emphasis on yeshiva could request further testing the top performers is- sadly- the (as mentioned above) before admis result of the competitive atmo sion is finalized. sphere that governs much of our In this manner, both the parents yeshivas' policies. and the yeshivas can be spared the The onus is equally shared by P·U · B· L' I·S·H· E·R·S burden of intervention at a later and many well-meaning parents. In more crttical time in the child's de fact, this so-called kinas sofrim New Ymi: •Ltmdm ·Jmaak"'-' velopment; of greater importance, (competition) is generated by the 180 Park Avenue, Lakewood, NJ. 08701 the child himself could be spared parents. Fathers, themselves (908) 905-3000 • Fax (908) 367-6666 In U.K. and Europe: 01-809-3723 what might be many years, if not a talmidei chachamim expect their In Israel: 02-538-935 lifetime, of failure. self-doubt, and (continued) lost potential. • 19 The Jewish Obseroer, May 1991 J7c~-~tinued) -·--~, sons to achieve, to shteig, to cover A "MESIVTA BOY" ground at an even earlier age then ONE YEAR LATER they did. This trend is then picked up by other parents who, no less fter spending many years feel he possesses, at some later than their neighbor, surely want in chinuch and observing date we can consider advanctng the best for their offspring. How A children develop, I am him. many times have I heard parents more convinced now than ever Parents should not pressure say, "I never push my children, that early placement is one of the principals and teachers for early but this one is ready- he is ex main causes for a child's failure tn placement. It is often a mistake to tremely bright. At the age of two he yeshiva. Time and time again, it is start early. Some children are al knew.... " But, as Rabbi Kasnett the child who is on the borderline ready betng put out of the house points out, the difficulties do not (birthdate between December and (tnto playgroups, etc.) at two years usually occur until the child March) that has proven to have of age, and this drastically reduces reaches third grade. Then, at that difficulties. I have pleaded with the important parent-child rela point, I, too, often find these "child many parents to consider their tionship that encourages and sus prodigies" suddenly lost. child's social and emotional devel tains the child's emotional, men I often think of "Dov" - a fine, opment above their reason for tal, and social development. In sweet yingale who was a border early placement- which is usually truth. schools do not want to ad line 3-1/2 year old when he en to make their son into a "Mesivta mit the 3 1 /2 year old; this type of tered Cheder. It was felt that he boy" as quickly as possible. placement is merely the attractive would better reach his potential if I have convinced some parents alternative when no better solu he would wait another year before not to view waiting a year as tion for filling the child's day is at going into kr'iah-Siddur-and "dooming" their child to a life-long hand. Each year in Chaim Berlin, then Chwnash at the Pre- IA level sentence in this younger class; on there are students tn ktndergarten (many times, even the average stu the contrary, a later start enables that are evaluated by myself and dent would benefit by waiting). For their child to be the "best" in the their teachers as to their readiness tunately, his understanding par class, gives him a good chance to to proceed into Pre- IA, and every ents agreed-which is the excep develop socially at an advantage, year there are students who are tion, rather than the rule. So Dov and makes the child a far more held back. It should not be the repeated kindergarten. This deci relaxed individual, instead of suf function of the Yeshiva to hold sion brought wonderful results: fering under pressure to con children tn ktndergarten until they Dov developed into an outstanding stantly compete with all the "big are ready to proceed with more student in all areas and graduated boys" in the class. formal learning. Chanoch l'naaral valedictorian of his class. As far as becoming that pi darko- proceed at the child's Is there a need for reevaluation "Mesivta boy" sooner, I assure the pace from the very start. parent that if, indeed, he does and change? I would say "Yes!" ...... 1 -Rabbi Yehuda Frankel._ show the superior skills that they Rabbi Shlomo Klein Coming to Israel[ K:now Sonieone(Who.Is? NOW AVAILABLE Be a Shaliaeh Mitzva! S;Jn~ us.~d cl 20 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 Susan K. Sch11lman, M.D. and Robert H. Schulman, M.D. A Plea For Exercise ~ ht Yeshiva Programs EXERCISE-IMPORTANT FOR appropriately, they are deprived walking every day. EVERYONE ... sorely deprived- of a major ingredi Many studies on aging 3 have ent in the formula of a healthy body shown that arthritis and the aches t is well known that there are cer growth: exercise. and pains of old age can be avoided tain basic habits of health and The Rambam in Mishne Torah and even reversed for many years I hygiene that are essential to the called for a person to "take active ex with regular physical exercise. growth and development of all chil ercise Ito be] ... free from disease and A person who exercises regularly dren. Parents are very concerned [enjoy] increased vigor." 'His wisdom, has better circulation and stronger. with proper diet, for example. They of course, has been confirmed by more effective heart activity than one monitor carefully the amounts and medical science. who does not. types of food their children eat each In a recent study reported in the Obesity- the American form of day as they proudly watch them New England Journal of Medicine, 2 malnutrition-is much less common grow. Parents are also careful to en the life expectancy of adults in differ in people who exercise regularly. sure adequate hours of sleep to give ent categories of physicill fitness was Exercise increases HDL, 4 "the their children a chance to recover observed. Those who did no exercise good cholesterol," and is considered from their days' events and labors. at all and would tire immediately on almost as important as diet in pre They keep their children clean and a simple walking test or on a tread venting coronary artery disease. dress them properly to prepare them mill were found to have a significantly Exercise causes feelings of well for the outside world and weather. shortened ltfe expectancy compared being, increased ability to cope with Coats, sweaters and of course boots to those who did even the simplest stress, and even increase in ability to and raincoats are the marks of car exercise such as regular vigorous concentrate on complicated tasks.' ing, nurturing parents. Overall, exercise can improve one's There is, however, one basic 1 1. The Rambam says:"Another great principle physical, emotional and mental health need that is very much ne of hygience is as follows: as long as a person health, and is known to be an essen glected in the urban Orthodox Jew takes active exercise, works hard ... he will be tial good health habit. free from disease and Will increase vigor. But if ish world. Although our children are one leads a sedentary life and does not take ex fed, rested, kept clean and dressed ercise ... , he Will throughout his life be subject 3 Cecil Textbook q{Medicine. 18th Edition, 1988, to aches. pains and his strength \vill fail him." page 45, "Exercise~ Dr. S. Schulman, a pediatrician, and Dr. R. Hilchos De'os, 4;14-15 4 Haskell, "Treadmill Exercise Test Performance Schulman, an endocrinologist, maintain their 2 Ekelunid, "Physical Fitness as a Predictor of and Plasma HDL" Circulation, page 62, Suppl. medical practice in the Soro Park section of Cardiovascular Mortality." New England Jour IV & XIV, 53-1 Brooklyn, N.Y. Their patients are primartly of the nal ofMedicine. Vol. 319 #21page1379, Novem 5 Brown, JD, "Exercise as a Buffer to Life Stress." yeshiva-and general orthodox population. ber 24. 1988 Psychology Vol. 7 #4, page 342-353. 1988 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 21 stairs and some even rtde bikes- but the problems that we see on a clini the chest muscles, shoulders, back cal basis are directly caused and and arms are frequently under-used. related to excessive sitting in the rounded position, which causes As the child grows in learning and muscle changes, vertebral body becomes a mnsmid, the day is often changes, and vertebrae changes. spent sitting down, learning over a While at school. the students sejer for hours and hours. The should have physical exercises so muscles of the chest, shoulders and as to build up their upper body. back become thin, and the spine There is a distinct wasting of the pectoralis muscles and the trape~ curves forward. zius muscles, giving the student a Dr. Stanley Hoppenfeld, a renown smaller shoulder or body stance specialist in pediatrtc and adolescent compared to his contemporaries. back problems, states the following: Unfortunately, Without exercises, "Excessive long hours of study this thinning and rounding be ing in the forward bent position, as comes permanent into adult life. A in sitting or in bending over a regular exercise program, including lectum, creates dorsum rotWldwn back stretching, is preventive medi •.• ESPECIALLY FOR GROWING (severely rounded shoulders and cine and will make a difference for CHILDREN back). This occurs because of the children throughout their life increased pressure on the verte span." brae anteriorly and the stretching Dr. Robert Siffert, former Chief of n growing children, exercise of the ligaments posteriorly. The plays a crttical role in body devel lack of exercises reduces the Pediatrtc Orthopedics at Mt. Sinai I opment. The muscles that are strength of the paravertebral School of Medicine, and author of the used regularly grow and develop nor muscles and the muscles of the book How Your Child's Body Grows, mal strength and size. Muscles that shoulder girdle, and the student is, states the following: therefore, unable to pull his/her are not used become thin and weak, "One of the major problems I see and unable to support their assigned shoulders back and bring them selves to the fully erect position. in the office is poor slouching pos part of the body properly. We have all The excessive long hours of study ture. Youngsters who have loose seen how thin a child's leg can get Without physical actiVity inflicts ligaments and sit over a desk all when immobilized in a cast for even upon the young student who is still day and who do not develop their a few weeks. This is called the "atro groWing a dorsum rotundum, or back muscles are subject to pro gressive structural round backs so kyphosis, which sometimes is jok~ phy of disuse." It seems logical, there common in adult life as a result of fore, that as a child's body grows, all ingly referred to as 'Yeshiva Bachur Syndrome.' In reality, it is the re this dangerous omission during of his muscles must be exercised sult of anyone studying for these growth. Not only does it lead to ar regularly to develop normally. long hours without appropriate ex thritis, fatigue, and poor ability to Infants and toddlers are in a con ercises. function, but can seriously endan stant state of motion. Just getting "Many of these children also ger vital organs. This chest and up per back deformity decreases the around their world requires a full have scoliosis or cutvature to the side; however, this is completely amount of air that can enter the day's exercise. Later, however, when lung on each inspiration (decreased the child reaches school age, less and independent of the dorsum rotundum and not related to it. On vital capacity), causes crowding of less time is spent on physical activ occasion, families do have slightly the heart and major blood vessels, ity. The legs seem to always get some rounded posture on a genetic or and interferes with endurance and use- everyone has to walk and climb hereditary basis. However, 99o/o of blood supply to the entire body." CWSER TO HOME n our own practice in Boro Park, we are constantly noting the ter I rtble posture and chronic back problems in our yeshiva children. It is time to face a very painful fact. Based on our own observations and those of other physicians and special ists who care for yeshiva students in our era, we can state the following: The current tendency of not pro viding sufficient exercise in the el ementary and high-school yeshiva day is causing harm to children and permanent damage to their backs. It also causes underdevelopment of the 22 Tiie Jewish Obseroer, May 1991 chest wall and general musculature, and decreases vital capacity, which can lead to a shorter life expectancy If we are really honest about this problem, we would and chronic illness. While calling for organized exercise programs and see it for what it really is-a health hazard. We scheduled competitive sports within the yeshiva system may have an alien would then do our utmost to find practical solutions ring, one must consider the alterna tive: Lack of any such provision is for this lack of exercise facilities proving harmful to our children, and- beyond question-there are prohibitations in the Torah against ery week for this purpose. After all, the Bora Park "Y' built in the ! 920's, allowing such harm 6 to take place. it is not an issue that deals directly is hopelessly inadequate. Many chil What remedy is possible? No one with Torah learning. There are, how dren seeking activity are "swim is "anti" exercise, per se. Most experts ever, many yeshivas outside of New ming," standing still in a jam-packed agree that learning is more efficient York City that do have gym and pool. Since these facilities are used when students are allowed to exer swimming facilities for their stu by all groups in our area, it seems cise. It is our assumption that our dents. Such activities are considered logical that newer, larger facilities Roshei Yeshiva also recognize that normal and do not interfere with the should be built to accommodate the exercise is important and want to intensity ofTorah learning. rapidly growing population of chil give their talmidimevery opportunity dren, adolescents and adults. There for a wholesome life, but have never THE NEW YORK HANDICAP are organizations, such as Hatzolah, felt the need to emphasize this im that service all of our people, from all portant health habit; nor do they feel ur New York yeshivas do segments of the community, and an that it is incumbent upon them to have a major handi other such group should come to designate some structured time ev- 0 cap- lack of space and lack grips with this pressing need. of community facilities that could be It is true that summertime pro 6 ~venishmarte1n me'od lenajshoseichem-And you should watch your soul to the extreme" used for such activity. For example, vides the children with much more (Devorim 4.15). the Wiiliamsburgh "Y," is closed, and activity in bungalow colonies, day cf' A serious & challenging cf' Daily shiurim in Bekiut & Halacba learning program besides the regular lyun Sedalim cf' An atmosphere that is warm, cf' Donnitocy & dining fadlities that are with a lot of personal guidance on an exceptionally high standard ... from the Magidei Shiur a true "home away from home" .. ·?°" .Klljf 11/al(t to l°'rfwi<-e- aioat rluiHi.t Mikdash Melech Jerusalem The Yeshivah for the motivated High School Graduate Located In Bayit Vegan, Founded by Harav Haim Benoliel shlita, Rosh Yeshiva., Yeshivat Mikdasb Melocb, Brooklyn, N.Y. Due to the delay the war has caused, we have extended the deadline for applications, and will continue to interview talmidim until July 1, 1991 For brochure & information or to arrange for an inter.iew, c.ontact: Rabbi Shmuel Beyda (908) 222-1262 or Mi.kdasb Melecb Jerusalem (718) 339-1090 I (718) 375-3753 ' L___ ------~------.. ------·--·------ TheJewishObserver, May 1991 23 camps, and overnight camps. There mer is over. the gains are slowly but If we are really honest about this is no question that these two months surely lost, due to the "atrophy of dis problem, we would see it for what it are good for them, but once the sum- use." really is-a health hazard. We would then do our utroost to find practical solutions for this lack of exercise fa Considering a move cilities and give our yeshiva students a proper environment for healthy toMOJVSEY? growth and development, without in any way compromising on the Integ for careful attention to your rity of their learning situation. individual needs, call us today! SOME PREVENTATIVE (914) 354-8445 SUGGESTIONS ''Yeshiva Bachur Back" can be prevented by following the suggestions listed below: 1) All desk tops should be equipped with a small shtender or >t.n,,i1>t'7 i'7,n book-holder large enough to lift a Gemora off the table top, up to a po Strengthen The sition where the text can be read with the student sitting straight. 2) Each child- from age 5 and Torah! up- should practice a simple set of exercises. They should be done rou Your support of tinely every morning and evening. These exercises include sitting and OZERDALIM standing with a book on the head, backwards stretching, and military will provide Gemach, interest-free loans for "chin tuck" posture exercises. These Kollel families and Bnai Torah in Israel. specific exercises should be taught to the home-room teachers, science Seven branches staffed by Ozer Dalim volunteers also teachers, or gym teachers (where ap issue loans to the poor, but proud who would rather plicable) so they can teach them to borrow and repay than take charity: their students. A brief training pro • the working poor • the crisis~stricken gram could be Instituted for this pur • large families • recent immigrants • the unemployed pose with the cooperation of physi cians and therapists. Mail Your Tax Deductible Donation, Today! By stretching the body away from the forward curvature, permanent Harav Chaim P. Scheinberg deformity could be prevented. HONORARY PRESIDENT 3) All children should be given • Harav Mordechai Gifter • Harav Dovid Singer ample time and opportunity each day • Harav Avroham Pam • Harav Moshe Stern for various types of physical activ • Harav Yosef Rosenblum • Harav Noach Weinberg ity- running, jumping, swimming, ball playing, climbing and bike r------riding. These exercises will help them 1 Yes. I will sponsor a loan for: build stronger muscles in their up _ $500 (A family) per body and shoulders as well as _ $300 (A couple) Increase their "vital capacity." _ $100. (I person) Proper health habits learned from _ $ (co-sponsor a loan) childhood are our best means of helping Hashem to give us health and OZERDALIM longevity. Exercises, started early 45 West Seventeenth St. and continued for a lJfetime, can help New York, N.Y. 10011 (212) 924-0023 to prevent ill health and promote well OzerDalim being. Let us not be responsible for depriving our families of this simple basic part ofliving. • 24 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 Chaim Shapiro HoRAv ZEuG REUVEN BENc1s, RAVOFYERUSHAIAYIM FROM SHNIPPISHOK TO Zelig Reuven, the BaalHadronim," for grow up to be a great talmid VOWZHIN his most widely celebrated talent, his chacham. And if he would only have greatness in Torah, which was to his kishron without being a masmid, he Ridv=. the Rav of Slutzk, connect logically one volume of the he would still become a gaon. But and author of a widely ad Gemora to the next. He called the now that he is blessed with both T mired commentary on the seven volumes of his published kishron and hasmada, he is certainly YerushalmL was visitingVilna and all hadronim "Lejlagos Reuven." destined to become the apple of the great talmidei chachamim of the re At the age of 17, Reb Zelig Reuven eye of the Torah World!" gion came to greet him. Among them Bengis arrived in Volozhin to study During the 1880's, the Czar's Cul was Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Bengis, Rav of in the famous yeshiva there, and im tural Ministry insisted that the stu nearby Shnippishok, who took along mediately became the darling of the dents in Volozhin study Rt:ssian lan his 9-year-old son, Zelig Reuven. In Rosh Hayeshiva the Netziv (Rabbi guage and culture. The Netziv pri the midst of a discussion between the Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin), soon to vately asked several outstanding tal guest and his visitors, the voice of a be recognized as one of the outstand midim, including Reb Zelig Reuven, little boy rang out: "You can find that ing students there. At 18, the Netziv to devote a small segment of time to in Mesechta Gittin!" The crowd was crowned him with the title 'The Liv picking up a bit of Russian, should astonished at the audacity of a little ing Shas." there ever be a visitation. The visita boy, as was the Ridv=. who said, "I In the end of Mesechta Horiyos, tion came, and the Netziv decided to don't recall any such Gemora." the Talmud discusses which is showcase his prize talmid, Reb Zelig To everyone's amazement. the greater, ''Sinai"- one who remembers Reuven. The inspector had but to child took out a Gemora, opened it up all Mishnayos and Beraysos- or mention a poem by Pushkin, and the and pointed to a relevant passage "Oker Harim"-he who uproots young man would rattle it off by fromRashL mountains- as Rashi explains, "He heart. The pronunciation was frac Born in 1864, he became famous is sharper in pilpul." (The choice was tured. but his recall was perfect. "You in his youth as the "Shnippishoker between RavYosef, who was consid seem to know Pushkin forward and Illuy" (the genius of Shnippishok). ered a "Sinai," and Rabba who was backward!" exclaimed the inspector Eventually he became known as "Reb an OkerHarim) incredulously. In that sense, the Netziv said of the "As a matter of fact! do," answered Chaim Shapiro of Baltimore, Md, is a frequent Shnippishoker Illuy: "lfhe would only the talmid, and proceeded to recite a contributor to these pages. His autobiographi be the masmid (diligent scholar) that poem backward, word-for-word, cal memoir, Go, My Son, was recently published he is, without his exceptional flawlessly. by Feldheim. kishronos (brains), he would surely "Titis young man does not prove TheJewishObseroer, May 1991 25 anything," exclaimed the inspector. "He is clearly a genius, and demon strates nothing as far as your school's curriculum is concerned!" (told by Rabbi Y.Z Diskin, Hamodia, 9 Sivan 5713). The Cultural Minister gave the Netziv another opportunity to com ply with his orders, but eventually - in 1892 - the Yeshiva was closed, by orders of the Czar. In his days in Volozhln, Reh Zelig Reuven learned bechevrnsa with Reh The Netziv Reb Isser Zalmen Meltzer Reb Boruch Ber Lebovitz Baruch Ber Lebovitz, later Rosh Ye shiva in Kamenitz, as well as with Reh lsser Zalmen Meltzer. The story The voice of 9-year-old Zelig Reuven rang out: ''You is told how Rabbi Bengis got into a heated argument with Reh Boruch can find that in Mesechta Giffin!" The crowd was Ber over how to interpret a passage from the Rashbo (an early commen astonished at the audacity of a little boy, as was the tator on the Talmud). Reh Chaim Brisker, hearing the voices raised in Ridvaz, who said, "I don't recall any such Gemora." argument, stopped to listen to both sides. He then paskened: "The To everyone's amazement, the child pointed to a Shnippishoker says the Rashbo cor rectly. But in emes (truth), one must relevant passage from Rashi. say as the Slutzker (Reh Baruch Ber)." (Not being a Brisker, I am In capable of explaining the "psak. '1 PRAYER HOTLINE TO JERUSALEM ENTERING THE RABBINATE 24 HOUR CRISIS SERVICE In time of illness, family or personal crisis, need success, hatzlacha, fter manying the daughter of or on any occasion when '~ Prayer Would Help," Rabbi Chaim Zvi Broyde, the special prayers will be recited at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. A Rav of Shverkina-Zhager, he Don't go through a crisis yourself. studied with incredible diligence for eight years. living in the home of his CALL: 1-800-545-PRAY in-laws. His first Rabbonus was in the town Our sages say, "prayer helps," especially tehillim recited with a minyon at the Western Wall. of Bodki, replacing the poseik Reh Malkiel Tenenbaum, who had moved on to Lomza (J.0. March 87). Before entering the field, he consulted the Netziv, who advised him: "You must go in the ways of Moshe Rabbeinu, wllo 'carried [the Jewish People] as a father-nurse carries an infant' (Bamidbar 11, 13). A father-nurse takes the child from the nursing mother, cleans up its filth, and makes it comfortable. This is your task as Rav." His second position was in Kalvarte, Lithuania. Duling the first World War, when the Russians forced KADDISH Mishnayoth, Yizkor & Yartzeit observed with a minyon all Jews to move eastward from the in our Yeshiva Heichal Rabbi Meir Baal Haness in Jerusalem. border cities, he became Rav in -Call: (718) 871-4111- Smolensk, deep in Russia. At that time, the Chafetz Chaim 26 IheJewish Observer, May 1991 was in flight from the Germans, and found refuge in the city ofShumyatz. While there, he heard of Reb Zelig Reuven's outstanding efforts for Shmiras Shabbos- so much so, that Subscribe now to he wrote a letter to him (taken from Rabbi Yoshor's The Life ofthe Chafetz The Jewish Observer Chaim, vol 3): Monday, the fifth day of Aseres Yemei Teshuva 5677I 1916 and$AVE To the honorable... Rabbi, Great Gaon ...Tzaddik. Zelig Reuven >'): To our impoverished view, the scat Become a monthly subscriber tering ofour peoplefrom one end ofthe to The Jewish Observer and earth to the other defies understand save up to 47% off the single· ing. To be sure, it is part of a Divine plan. But ifexile is meant as an atone copy price (a savings of over ment for sins, disturbances in one or $40.). The longer you sub two provinces would suj)lce.... Chazal scribe for, the more you save. (the rabbis of the Talmud}, however, state that Jews are destined to wan· And this introductory offer is fully guaranteed. You have but to ask and you will receive der theface ofthe earth so they might a prompt refund on any undelivered issues should you decide to cancel at any time, inspire those souls [estranged from for any reason. Torah} that they encounter to convert to a life ofTorah. As we approach the Each month, The Jewish Observer will be delivered directly to your door, filled end of days, thousands of Jews are with the views of leading Torah thinkers on current issues ... comments on the alienated from our heritage, and if strengths and foibles within the Jewish community ... analysis of contemporary they are not reached quickly, they will Jewish events ... inside reporting, interpretive commentary, inspiring biographies, assimilate totally into non-Jewish infuriating letters and illuminating responses-all within the covers of one magazine, society .... Who can describe the ter The Jewish Observer. rible evils that will befall them! So don't delay. Check the money-saving terms below and send in your order right As a result. the Heavenly design away. We'll try to get your order filled in time for our very next issue. has brought about the exile of hun· dreds ojRabbonim [during World War I into the Russian hinterland}. My ------SUBSCRIPTION SAVINGS CERTIFICATE mind is thus put at rest in regard to TllE~H Suite 1200 • 84 William Street the exile of His Honor [Rabbi Bengis}, OBSERVER New York, N.Y. 10038 who had accomplished so much until now on behalfof Torah study and ob 0 YES! Please enter my subscription for: USA •OUTSIDE seruance in our own country. and now ONLY USA is achieving so much more in our land 0 3 years-at 47% off the cover price $48 0 $78 of exile, especially in combatting the 0 2 years-at 40% off the cover price $36 0 $56 desecration of the Sabbath.... To be 0 1 year- at 27°/o off the cover price $22 0 $32 sure, you are not reaching everyone *Price reflects $10 extra per year to defray air shipping costs. Foreign that you would like. Picture. ifyou wilL payment must be made in U.S. dollars, either by check drawn on a bank a father witnessing his ten sons in the U.S.A. or by Visa or MasterCard. aboard a ship that suddenly capsizes NAME (Please print) ______and begins to sink. Someone jumps ADDRESS ______into the sea and saves two of the boys. In spite of his terrible loss of CITY, STATE ______ZIP ____ eight children, the father still rejoices 0 Enclosed: $ D Charge my 0 MasterCard 0 VISA over the two that were saved. No less is G--d's joy overall the people that you Acct./ influence to accept the Sabbath. No. I I I I I I I I I I IJ I I I J Observance of the Sabbath is so central to Judaism that the person Expiration date: [IJ (month) [IJ (year) who violates the Sabbath in effect re Signature ______moves himselffrom Kial Yisroel: the The lewish Observer is published monthly except July '!nd August. Please allow 4~6 weeks for delivery. wine that he touches becomes unus· able. his shechita (ritual slaughter} is ------· The Jewish Observer, May 1991 27 invalid, and so on. How much, then, on you and the members of your eighteen hours, sustained by a should you rejoice over your success household! doctor's injections, and then also in influencing others to observe the Yisroel Meir HaK.ohein perished. The question dealt with the Sabbath! Howfortunate is your lot in (the Chofetz Chaim) need for the surviving widow to se both this world and the world-to Questions of halacha were ad cure a chalitza from her brother-in· comel ... dressed to him in Lithuania- com law in Europe. After a long and com In reproaching others, it is certainly ing from all over the world, even from plicated dissertation on the halacha advisable to pursue a soft approach, Eretz Yisroel, where there were cer of chalitza, Rabbi Bengis concluded to explain to the masses the great re tainly many gedolim and poskim of with a common-sense argument: "No wards of keeping Shabbos .. Jor in re stature. For example, following an injection can sustain the life of a ward for Sabbath observance, G-d Arab pogrom in Tsefas (Safed) that dead person. Injections can only pro forgives one's sins .... killed many Jews, a query came to long the life ofa live person. The child May G-d bless your endeavors him regarding a young father who obviously outlived his father, negat with success and bestow only good was killed; his only child survived ing the need for chalitza." When the Netziv came to Vilna for a visit, his talmid Reb Zelig Reuven came to welcome him there. Asked the ta/mid: "Who [of stature[ is still left in Volozhin?" Replied the Netziv, "I still have Reb Avrohom Yitzchok Kook." After this conversation, Rabbi Bengis never This Rosh Chodesh Av will mork the start criticized Rabbi Kook, even when he later served as Rav of the Eida of the largest-scale effort ever in support of Huch.areiclIB ufYerushalayim, which Shmiras Halashan. For nine days, men, women strongly opposed Rabbi Kook's ide ology and many of his actions, for the and children by the lens of thousands will words of the Netziv, his Rebbe, car participate In a nationwide Machsam L'Fi, which Is ried the weight of a psak (halachic decision) and a tzava'a (charge from a "team effort" in refraining from lashan hara. his mentor). In addition, there had been an in cident in Dubelin, a vacation town tn The Nine Days are about exile and redemption, Latvia, where many Rabbonimspent and Shmiras Halashan, we know, is a key to their summers. Rabbi Bengis was there, and hav Redemption. You con help turn the key further ing Yahrzeit, had expected to daven at the amud. A wealthy baa/ habayis this year than ever before. (layman) also had Yahrzeit and had also expected to have the amud. He Volunteer to organize your camp, bungalow colony expressed himself disrespectfully to Rabbi Bengis during their negotia community or block for participation in the tions, and Rabbi Kook who was present slapped the fellow in the face, Nine Days Machsan L'Fi. Anyone, age 14 and up, reprimanding him: "Is that how you with a lirrle time lo spare, is qualified. And every talk to the Gadol Hadar? Is that how you show Kavod HaTorah?I" participant you bring in adds strength lo From great shame, the man left this high-powered effort. town for America. A few years later, the Ridvaz wrote to Rabbi Kook: "I am familiar with how you heroically in So make a lirrle lime to help bring the Geulah. For tervened in Dubelin. when someone dared to insult the Rav of Bodki, the information on volunteering, call Mrs. Klein, Gaon Reb Zelig Reuven. And you (718) 972. 0617 struck the man in the face mishum bizayon vezilusa detzurba de rabbanan- [to avenge[ the violation of the respect due a great rabbinical figure." 28 The Jewish Observer, May 1991 A FAR-REACHING APPROACH TO TALMUD bile the yeshivas in The Chofetz Chaim to Reb Zelig Reuven: Lithuania had followed the W derech hapUpul for many years, they eventually turned away "How much should you rejoice from pilpul and adopted the more analytical approach associated with over your success in influencing Reh Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk. But the Netziv and his talmid. the others to observe the Sabbath! Shnippishoker, continued to follow the old methodology. Thus, Reh Zelig How fortunate is your lot in both Reuven wrote his seven volumes of Ujlagos Reuven in that style, as he this world and the world-to-come!" explains in the hakdama (preface) to the third volume of the work:. ------1 David Hamelech describes our To come an object of beauty. One can pands the heart and lights up one's I' rah as ''.Yekara hi mi'peninim- it is never go too far in praising a string of eyes- there is an added dimension more precious than pearls. " The con· pearls, regardless of the intrinsic of beauty. value, and gratification trast with pearls also tells us that To value of the rope- as long as it suc when disparate thoughts are tied to· rah possesses the nature of pearls: ceeds in holding the pearls together. gether and united by the strings of Besides the value ofevery pearl unto And so it is in the nature ofTorah: pilpul. Hashem presented this itself. their value increases vastly Besides the incredible value and method of Torah study to Moshe when pearls are strung together on a beauty of every thought on its own Rahheinu, and he, Moshe, voluntar silk chord .... And even when a simple when it is clarified and polished- in ily. out of the goodness of his heart. string holds them together. they be- deed, it is like a diamond that ex- shared it with Kial Yisro_eu______j ~Xi~' 1~)1!> '~1 Yad Eliezer has already made~ weddings for desperately poor couples - entirely because of you. A Wedding Sponsorship is $500 The Gitty Perko\vski Simcha Fund of Yad Eliezer Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov \\i'eisel Mr. and Mrs. Zolly Tropper Kiryat Sanz, Jerusalem 1102 E- 26th St. TeL 812060 Brooklyn, N.Y. 11210 (718) 258-1580 Please send wedding sponsorship to: Rabbi and Mrs. Zevi Trenk Yad Eliezer 1586 E- 9th St. 1102 E- 26th St. Brooklyn, N.Y. 1123() Brooklyn, N.Y. 11210 1718) 258-1580 Rabbi and Mrs. Yehudah Rupp The Jewish Observer. May 1991 29 Thus Reb Zelig Reuven wrote seven When asked why he does not pub seforim of hadronim which tie to lish his she'ellos u'teshuvos (halachic gether one mesechta to the next, responsa), he replied, "The world ex through all sixSidrei Mishna. He was pects kulos (lenient decisions), and once asked, 'You have the capabllities this I refuse to give them." of a genius. Why not write conven Rabbi Shmuel Vltsick (of Balti tional Torah. tnstead ofhadronim ?" more), grandson of Rabbi Bengis, He replied. "If I write seforim of tells of an incident witnessed by standard pieces ofTorah, who knows Rabbi Pinchas Teitz, of Elizabeth, if anyone will ever look into them? N.J.: "Reb Zelig Reuven once said a But people will always be learning hadron for eight hours, in Kovno. Zn Gemoros to completion. They will be those days, lomdim could sit through making siyumtm- on one mesechta, an eight hour drasha, following the on the entirety of Shas- and they will subject, and hanging on to the string always find occasion to say that ties together the pearls. When he hadronim. That's where my sefer finished, Reb Zelig Rueven jumped comes in. My hadrontm will be their on to the table and danced in great Rabbi Yosey·zvi Dushinsky guiding light!" hislahavus (fiery enthusiasm)." Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss 7":1!, After the petlra (passing) of Rabbi the late Av Beis Din of the Elda Dushinsky, in 1948, Rabbi Bengis Hachareides of Yerushalayim, com succeeded him as Rav. His love for mented: "In his seven volumes ofTo Eretz Yisroel saved his life, for he left rah thought, one can see that he re Kalvarie for Yerushalayim just a year vealed but a 'tefacli (handsbreadth) before the outbreak of the Second of his greatness in Torah." World War. Reb Zelig Reuven lived in pov SUMMONED TO JERUSALEM erty- two small rooms, no kitchen. The Chazon !sh actually intervened b Yoshe Ber Brisker (Rabbi and asked one of his friends to make oseif Dov Soloveitchik, the a small kitchen for him. eis Halevi?":IT) was once of Rabbi Elyahu Nachum Porush fered the Rabbonus ofYerushalayim. Glickman, chairman of the Elda He rejected the offer, explaining that Hachareidus, described how Reb a Rav can only serve three genera Zelig Reuven readily responded to tions at once: the baalei batttm (lay each and every request for a letter of members), their fathers, and their sons. But in Yerushalayim there are people who live in a world of 300 When suffering his final years back, as well as others who are "'t"" from the author of MENDEL THE MOUSE 200 years In the future. Who can illness, Reb Zelig Reuven serve as the Rav over people of a 500- DO YOU KNOW WHAT year span? asked his bed-side l'M GOING TO BE? Rabbi Bengis, however, yearned to by Ruth Finkelsfein come to Eretz Yisroel. When Rabbi companion to test him by Yoseif Chaim Sonnenfeld, Rav of the Yisroel is not yet three but already he Eida Hachareides, was n!ftar (passed referring to random knows what he's going to be! away) in 1932, Rabbi Bengis was in Charmingly written and illustrated. vited by the Elda and Agudath Israel passages in Tanach. As 16 sturdy pages in full color, brimming (which had not yet parted ways) to be long as he could recite with Torah values and good midas. his successor. He refused, however, A book in which your yingele will see because he did not wish to clash with the previous passages himself and love it-and grow! Rabbi Kook, in deference to the Netziv's high regard for him. backward, he was still in The perfect gift for upsheren and any When Rabbi Bengis was nomi other time. nated for the position of Rosh Beis full control of his soft cover Din (head of the rabbinical council) at your Hebrew book store of the Eida Hachareidls of senses ... and so he was, only $4.50 Yerushalayim in 1937, he accepted until his last breath. 0Jstributed by feldhe1m Publishers Immediately. Rabbi Yoseif Zvi Dushinsky was then Rav of the Eich 30 The Jewish Obseruer. May 1991 Questions of halacha were addressed to him in Lithuania-coming from all over the world, even from Eretz Yisroel, where there were certainly many gedolim and poskim of stah.~re. BethJflCoblfigh ~h9ol of Depver recommendation or approbation: "l •••..• aY~ais"\(~ako~0foit~~ ~i~llt~!(l'~~t~tp~rl'gtd/, Ptd\fldi~g a!! advised him that his letters were so ou15ta~in~.'fot"a!t.9~1~uc~•• s.•. ... 45~(~~'\a.~~.. ta~!liti~s.c common that they were practically ~-·~atudng th:at ~ll\lf5c't13'11< ·.. !{u~;'. ;x ·· worthless. He'd do much better to . •i:Ol~talldrl! ..• ;ell~·······...... •• - •. •.rt)lit~l:Y_'i. c _., ;..~;.; save his letters for special petition · HighScll®Linffte-. Kim .• ·;·';-•.•... ·• i. ·.;, \•· > :.. · .. ,.\ .· ers. He replied, 'Since my letters have •··High: sc~<>tasti\: prl>gfafllt R~~!Ji~efl.~ ~'!;!f!h!l~Oll')'~s''~~emprary_.•••·.·"\ so little value, how can I deny the schi>ol~; .·...... ··-·:· ·.•-·;•."f)·_ , ••• _•. (";:-:,·;_. .;•ii•-::v···--•;•;; ••••..• -•. ·-····· ...... ">; next fellow my few lines of recom •;;Emphi\Sit-_ !>I!. Midos!l)~l)~.f!~h~l)~;~ndl~r~~i~'t~aini11g1 ·"•·· ••••••• ; •. <. ; mendation? People will say that his case or cause is so fraudulent that he · ···-·~~~Jor.~9'1"~~~,. .,pe.1ne~f·· c·.·•·········9Ul-.·1rt~...,....1acradel- :_.~ ::_-.·.>_•_ couldn't even get a letter out of me! - -:<------<--\--<<--_.-_!-~~:>---,<--·-:i-,,------>---- __, .. -.•.\_•_·_·•_.·•- __ That would be tenibly unfair!"' ;'·•••••···- i,·.. (qrfti(t~i16t~r~t~,~~tf~r.Wr1r~•.... c\. __.•.. i His home was always a-bustle Ra~!il•_MyerJ; $Cflwab; Dea!l;~IJ.l<1Cab_High.Sch00!_._>.-_.•. with visitors. Aside from petitioners .·••· .-•. _. S.100. W•. t The Jewish Observer. May 1991 31 printed text, as well as finger-tip re program) that I maintain during companion to test him by referrtng to call of the entire Rambam, Shulchan unscheduled waiting periods. You random passages in Tanach, As long Aruch, and countless seforim know- people tell me to be ready for as he could recite the previous pas He would constantly review Shas, a bris at 8 a.m., but they don't pick sages backward he was still In full making a siyumin honor of complet me up until 8: 15. Or they ask me to control of his senses ... and so he was, ing the entire Talmud regularly, ev come to a wedding at 6:30, and it until his last breath. ery five months. He once asked his does not start until 7. I have a special The day after Shavuos 5 714 I family to prepare a seudas siyumjust seder during those waiting periods, 1954, four days before his 90th birth a few weeks after a previous one had and I've just completed Shas in ac day, the Lejlagos Reuven was nytar. been held, on schedule. They asked, cordance with that seder." The classic words of Reb Jsser "Did you actually finish Shas again Reb Zelig Reuven completed Shas Zalmen Meltzer, in his hesped (eu in so short a tlme?" 101 times during his lifetime. logy). still ring out: "A day after "Not exactly," he explained. 'This When suffering his final illness, Kabbol.as HaTorah we returned the siyum is for a special seder (learning Reb Zelig Reuven asked his bed-side Sefer Torah to the Creator." • PLEASE HELP1 Young, disabled Yerushalmi, father of large family, needs much financial help. Kindly issue tax-deductible check to: BIKUR CHOLIM INC., , and mail to Rabbi Avrohom ! Blumenkrantz, 814 Caffrey Ave.,JI Far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691. i·---~- --- The Bas Kol of Torah is calling! irio\!JnYr n11rin ''l1tl' 1!lt1n Tl''.l What is PRESTWICH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL your answer? Applications are invited for the post of ?nm/Principal of this itm:i which Start a program of caters for some 400 children aged 2-11. The successful applicant will Mishna & Halacha, daily. be expected to assume responsibility for the entire l!liljJ >11r.i? programme We will send you and also to oversee the ?1n >1m? department which is government funded. -FREE- The school is located in Manchester, England, a Torah city with many a Luach for your daily guidance yeshivas and kollelim. of Mishna & Halacha. Your lives will be richer Salary will be generous and all terms and conditions of employment with the knowledge of Torah are negotiable. • Write or call: Applications should be made to the Clerk to the Selection Committee, RAB61 t:LIAS KARP Mr. Gavriel Rechnitzer, 16 New Hall Avenue, Salford 7, England. 1880 47th St., Brooklyn, NY 11204 Preliminary enquiries may be made to Mr. Rechnitzer by telephone on 718-851-0770 061-792-6571. In memory of Rabbi & Mrs. Charles Batt ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST OF CONFIDENCE. /fartford, Conn. 32 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 • CORRECTION • The address of: Keren Refoel Yehudo On 28 Tammuz, 5707 August 4, They need to be salvaged from the A special Tzedoka fund 1947, Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis and bleak atmosphere of despair that en i'.:»n l1Y.lWl '1''Y' Rabbi Yoseif Zvi Dushinsky, as head of velops them. We plead with your hon ii"Y i1i1i1" ?N~i the Beis Din and Rav of Jerusalem, re ors to extend help and succor to them. "'l 01nl 'N1Y.lW p spectively, appeared before a United It is certainly clear that more than "nnw ,n, nJ1:i1 Nations Commission considering the any other place of refuge that could be is fate of the British Mandate over Pales offered to them, the Holy Land should 1125 East 10th Street tine 1as Eretz Yisroel was then called). be recognized as their primary place. Brooklyn, New York 11230 The following is excerpted from Rabbi From the depths of our hearts, we Bengiss testimony: plead to you, on this international plat Most Honored Commission: form-we have a common Father, the The Chief Rabbi of the Eida Creator: respond to our pleas with a ~ ~'~~,..e~ Hachareidis of the Holy City and the sense of brotherhood that we all share Holy Land spoke before you in brief, with our unfortunate brethren. general terms. I would like to elabo Specifically, our experience has rate on some vital points. been that those religious Jews who May I open with a general state have safeguarded the historic, sacred ~ AUTHORS & ~RTISTS ~ ment that addresses an area of great bond between Israel and the Holy interest to us, from a religious perspec Land for centuries on end, have found tive. their rights to aliya usurped by those authors and artists to submit Aliya entrusted with immigration by the Brit manuscripts and artwork for Living in Eretz Yisroel to us is fulfil~ ish Mandate .... lmmigration has been evaluation. We seek manu· ment of a command from our Creator. controlled by the Jewish Agency, scripts In all areas of Judalca It applies in all times. In addition, a large which would necessitate our people to publishing with originality, portion of the Creators commands, in establish a relationship with them, creativity and high literary our holy Torah, revolve around the which would violate our standard. Our editors develop Holy Land. For this reason, religious conscience .... We therefore request and highlight the !nd!v!dual!ty Jews have always sought to fulfill this that any benefit as well as rights to im ofthe author and our graphics [command) whenever possible, migration be granted directly to those department gives each book throughout the generations .... who request it, without resorting to t its own !denUty. In these times, however, this ques bureaucratic channels. [e.g., the Jew TJ We welcome the opportu- 16 tion includes another, highly significant ish Agency). nlty to work wtth you. element, and that is-quite literally Land saving lives. Our brethren, those who Jerusalem, the Holy City, possesses ~ survived the sword of our enemies, a sanctity beyond that of all other cit and are now in various detention ies in the Holy Land, and religious Jews camps, are withering away day by day have always yearned to live there whenever possible .... Jerusalem is cur Nnl IOnl: ' LonJar '.Jmwfmt-., The transcript of Rabbi Bengis's testimony rently being included in a zone where 180 Parle Avenue• Lakewood fU" 08701 was made available to The Jewish Obseroer Jews are not permitted to purchase by the Orthodox Jewish Archives of Agudath land .... We urge that this ruling be In UK 01·809-3723 -.; In 1-d 02 53&-935 Israel of America, under the directorship of abolished. I Rabbi Moshe Kolodny. • !_____ , ______.------~,.~,;: ~ The Jewish Observer. May 1991 33 Ophra Chamas ''Dear Ophra ... '' Summer Comes to Yurmala 1- 1 Shalom Qphra Dear. . . . I'm writing this letter sitting .m 1 i ...... , room in _K11ibisheV, in the mid i ·~~ht. i. ~~n't even express how I \ miss you all my friends m Ii Yurmala. The atmosphere of ~u~ seminar which was so beneVO n and kind.... The contrast between my life there, when every. day brought something new and mter Leaming Jewish songs and esting, and here, is very shal]J. dances in Yunnala Forest There's no Jewish life here at all, though there are 20 thousand SSR-5751-All theJewsin Jews in the city, but they have no u by these spiritually and materially ideaofShabbos. kosherfoodand the cities busying them- 1 bereftJews. so on. Many of them are gomg to selves with visas, luggage We arrived at the airport loaded [eave the USSRforisrael. so they and purchases. One lonely 19 year down with Russian translations of can't discuss any subject but vi- old, Shoshana- a rose among Tanach and Siddur, Hebrew primers, e, purchases .. .I went thorns- busying herself with Torah children's Jewish puzzles and games, luggag Sas'the synagogue last Shabbos, and mitzvos. I smile when I remem- materials to make challah covers, to men and ber her effervescent personality, the pounds of yeast, dozens of snoods, but there were o nlY old they looked at me with great sur- sparkle in her eyes when she trans- and mounds and mounds of gum rise because nobody ke.eps. lated our lessons, her eagerness to do and candy. To supplement the mea pShabboS in our city. r study Pirkei anything she could to help us, and ger kosher fare in Yurmala- kasha, now myself and I have so her ravenous hunger for learning. potatoes and fish- we carried cases Avos When I read the tens of letters of American cheese, jello, peanut many questions.... from Russia, which are constantly butter and dried-out salamis. Our Your student, filling my mailbox, I think back to suitcases were bulging with gaudy , ·--~S•h•o•s•ha-n•a______,. that day when Rabbi Naftali Cukier, costume jewelry, cherry red lipstick, 'i the Lakewood coordinator of Agu purple and green eyeshadow, and dath Israel's Vaad L'Hatzolas Nidchei cartons and cartons of Marlboro Yisroel, asked me to participate in our wampum for bartering our way Vaad's Summer Seminar in Latvia. through this very foreign land. My husband magnanimously offered We were naturally apprehensive Mrs. Charnas, a teacher in the Hillel Yeshiva of to take care of our children and en about visiting this country, the set Deal. N.J., lives in Lakewood, where her hus couraged me to go. From the moment ting of so many harrowing stories band is a n1ember of the kollel of Bais Medrash we consented, I began frantically from our childhood. The gruff cus Govoha. She recently went on behalf of Agudath Israel's Vaad Lehatzolos Nidchei Yisroel to their gathering- and schnorring- what toms officials X-rayed our baggage, Winter Seminar in Kiev. ever 1 thought might be appreciated and we breathed a sigh of relief when 34 TheJewishObseroer. May I991 ------~ all of our religious "contraband" passed through with ease. Dear Ophra. 11 I wrote to you in last letter that Mother came back in We were signalled through the I have a very big problem with heavy metal doors. closing off the re Shabbos and she saw stricted realm of the airport, not Shabbos. Now BanJCh Hashem it's all right. Now I came to an candles, Sidduratonce. knowing what would be beyond. agreement with the director ofour Greeting us was a sight so incongru I've seen that it was very college. I will pass tests in the ous, it made us laugh with relief. We upset her. But when she had saw two men looking as if they had subjects which are on Shabbos. Right after I came back from walked out of the Lakewood Beis seen that I not use telephone Yurmala I spent Shabbos away Medrash- Sasha Rubinovich and .from home. But now I decided to she began crying, and she Ariel Berdichevsky- former Soviet have Shabbos at home with my citizens who had come back from the said that she lost me." parents. Also. because we. read USA and Israel respectively to coor all the family the translation of "Right after I came back dinate the Seminar. Their experience Torah and PirkeiAvos. I makefor from Yurmala I spent and guidance were to ease our ad them Kiddush. But.fro'," another justment to this alien culture. Shabbos away from home. hand I can't ask questiOns about what! learn. But during the week But now I decided to have I have very many questiOns espe Shabbos at home with my cially about Bereishis and I want .---·------·--·------some b ody to answer them.... / parents. Also, because we Dear Ophra: . wish you that all will be as you read all the family the 1 think about you all the time. want. translation of Torah and I'm gratejiJl to Hashem for send Love, ing you to me because contact Gila Pirkei Avos. I make for them ' with you turned my life over. Hon Kiddush." est! My Father and I remember e arrived at our Seminar in ' you often. I'm very grateful to Yurmala and we spent Hashem he not prevent me to ob W three weeks witnessing a For various reasons: Some ex serve mitzvos, because I have miracle, a miracle that left none of us plained that they had already applied some problems with my Mother. untouched. Rivka, a shy 21 year old, forvisas to leave the Soviet Union and She wasn't at home all Septem was always hanging on the fiinge of were jobless. Students were on sum ber. she has a holiday. Unfortu the group, observing. Who would mer vacation. Some were attracted by nately, she came back in Shab have imagined she would be capable the three meals a day, as there are bos and she saw candles, siddur of making such an uncompromising terrible food shortages now in Rus at once. commitment? And Gila. a delicate sia. I've seen that it was very up- but determined 16-year old, who had Most claimed an interest in the set her. But when she had seen once been found by Mrs. Shaindy Hebrew Language and Jewish cul that I not use telephone she began Pinter with Shoshana at 2:30 a.m. ture because they were planning crying. and she said that she lost learning Koheles from a translation. aliya. Whatever the reason, the result me. I love her very much, but I Gila snatched the mitzvos and was not what they had imagined. can't violate too. It's very heavy wouldn't let anyone renege on a Their souls were ignited with the fire for me. But I'm very hope th.at single one. One Shabbos afternoon, of Torah. Their hungry neshamos Hashem would prompt her. I m the indomitable Mrs. Pinter, who was cried out for truth and they begged . ht and she'll understand me. always the first up in the morning ~mKippuris tonight. /'llfastand and the last to sleep at night, decided pray. It's very specialdayforme. to take a short nap. She had not yet I'm glad for this day namely now begun to doze when Gila came thatit'sd![tlcultforme. But/ho~ knocking on her door. Through the that all will be good and I don t door she heard: "But Shaindy, you want to trouble you with my prob must come. Shalash Seudos is a lems. mitzval" The tables were turned. Mrs. Lots of love. Pinter went to Shalash Seudos. Rivka One hundred-seventy-five Jews [ ___ __;;;;;...--~ participated in the Seminar, coming from every corner of the Soviet Union- Kishinev Tblise, Kiev, Sibe ria. Gorky. Crimea, Moscow, Leningrad. Why had they come? The Jewish Observer. May 1991 beauty of the Jewish family. We HIDDEN TREASURES: taught ainayim. yodayim, and we SPECIAL TALENTS demonstrated negel vasser and Shema. The time was so short and hen we packed our bags they wanted to learn so much. last summer, we had no Because most participants expect W idea what would be ex to leave the Soviet Union, many have pected of us when we reached the already left their jobs or are no longer Baltic shores. We knew that learning caught up in the system. Further Hebrew was of utmost interest to more. all are disgruntled With the these future immigrants to Israel. So falsehood of the Communist Utopia. we brought plenty of Aleph Beis They now had time to learn, and in a books and children's learning toys Preparing for tomorrow's lesson vacuum of ideology, they are open to and puzzles. We did not realize that for more. Our prepared lectures di explore the heritage that has been our most valuable resources were the gressed outside our topics. Our dis denied them for decades. talents buried Within us.Talents that cussions continued until the wee Soviet Jews who come to the USA we might not even know we pos hours of the night. Our Hebrew or Israel before they are exposed to sessed. The first Seminar partici classes turned into hashkafa Y"iddishkeit are often too busy With pants we encountered were the chil classes. We taught "Abba-Imma" and the tremendous pressures new im dren playing on the court yard we were diverted to speak of the migrants face. to consider the Ortho about 15ofthem, rangmginagefrom dox alternative. Their struggle for 3 to 12 years old. We started a one material survival becomes too all room school for these children With DISCREET CONFIDENTIAL encompassing. On the other hand, an exciting learning experience. Tuey RABBIAVROHOM GoLDBERG, former Seminar participants leave sang songs, played musical chairs, M.S.,M.F.ri t11e cou11t.ry girded \Vi.th idealism and and made a train through the halls UNIVERSITY CERTIFIED FAt\1ILY COUNSEWR the expectation to live the beautiful to wash negel vasser. On the first Counseling: Torah life they were only able to catch day. we distributed yarmulkes and D Marriage D Individual glimpses ofin the Soviet Union. They tzitzis to the boys. The next day they D Family 0 Child are met at the airport by Vaad mem came without them. They had 0 PIT-Marital bers and guided into afrumenviron thought it was a costume for the day. (Help yourself make a decision ment. Subsidies are offered by the After that, they proudly displayed and commitment) Vaad for housing infrurn neighbor them wherever they went. For an appointment call: (7·18) 338-2170 hoods. for an extra set of dishes. for Children crave a feeling of roots a night Kol/el to continue their stud and tradition. These little children E?vtPATHE.TIC CARlNG ies. Students are encouraged to at who had never before heard a Jew tend special yeshivas and seminar ish word would jump out ofbed in the ies set up for their needs. No Semi morning and come in their pajamas nar participant leaves unchanged. begging for school to start. For a Most make a lifetime commitment. week. they enjoyed the special-ed ClS fl?ublishers I ----- invites lDear Ophra: ! S!TlCe we came .from Yur':"11". 11 experienced editors 1 we are tryfng to keep tn our life ev- We remember you I1 to apply for free-lance 1 \ erything that we learned there. ] l We are keepfng Shabbos with the very often. In editing assignments I \ whole family. My parents eat to- in both fiction and j \ ether with us and they have Kishinev we are trying non-fiction Judaica. ' 1 ~uch pleasure. Stella (6 years old) already reads Hebrew and to keep the kosher I, she is even teaching her grand- ' mother Aleph-Beis. Yanik (4 years laws we learned in old} says his berachos on food when he sits by the table· They Yurmala. We try to P·U·B·L" I·S·H·E·R·S remember you very often. In Nn!~·Lantlan·Jmualm.-' KishtneV we are tryfng to keep the get Kosher food but it 180 Park Avenue· Lakewood, NJ 08701 kosher laws we learned m (201) 905·3000 · FaiH201) 367· 6666 Yurmala. We try to get Kosher In U.K. and Europe: 01-809·3723 food but it is very difficult. is very difficult." In Israel: 02·538·935 We kiss you, Reva (translated .from Russian) 36 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 MALOHN MIFAL VISITING NEW YORK?? Beautiful rooms. with kitchen facilities. in heart of Baro Park by day or week. Near Shuls. take-out foods. etc. Profits to Mifal Torah Vodaas. Call (718) 851·2969 ~Every Friday we baked chaUah.... ~ expertise of Mrs. Rivka Cohen from Lakewood. She had been setting up a girls' Seminary in Moscow and she YESIDVAS joined us. Special talents were cer tainly needed as all of the teaching NACHALAS was passed across the language bar rier. But the message got through little 9-year-old Moshe loved show ZVI ing off the berachos he had learned and would tell everyone that he i1i)j7 ')\)))j)\) wanted to grow up to be a talmid Toronto, Canada chacham. We kept our pockets ... 1? 1nNl" :11n:m DI!' ?ll is pleased to announce stuffed with American chewing gum (U"' 'l ''O"'I') 11 ... ':J.~ n?ru that it will be accepting and candy- offering them up to any fn"T!:!n 11Nm ?'ti n:n?1 out-of-town bochurim child who could recite the appropri 11 {?i''l) '"'I ate beracha. ? ~t 'i'~'UN'OYV l:J.~ pn~' of high-school and beis The ruach was so infectious in the , 11J))lil O'lli'J 1'JJV illJ nlJ>11'J medrash age for the children's classroom that even some •n nl1J >JJY.l o,.1m:i n:i>v>n l1?:ipr.i coming year. adults could not resist. Bronya, a The Yeshiva offers a woman in her early 60's, came from ,11Jl111\J 1>))? '(lnY.l 0) ,n?YY.l1 comprehensive program, Gamel-a town near Chernobel .N?Y.l 111'01 nljJ!lJ had a mournful, troubled look on her dedicated staff of Talmidei face. and every few minutes she nJn u?Y!l •n m::11:i 1 Chachomim and educators, would heave a deep sigh. She would 1n u?r.ilJJ nJ1:i mr<1? small classes, coupled with sigh as she spoke, sigh as she ate, n1m l1JnN l1))>m:i a stimulating and pleasant and sigh as she observed those ruach. The Yeshiva has around her. Passing by the children's in nl1!lpvm nl11>pv achieved notable, measur classroom. she couldn't help but be o>r.iv l1N1' l1v1vn:i able success over the past intrigued. We offered her a Hebrew U'Jllil OVJ1 .l1Y1V> l111Y.l1 primer and before we knew it, she four years and looks was attending class with the chil nn?::1n? 1"0J 11:iyv o>JVJ forward to ever greater dren. From the day she started learn >))111N? 1? '1V1) 1"n))?J l11J>) success in the future. ing, Bronya was a changed person. ('1J1 1? >))>1> N?1 N1l1NJ l'lil!llN Parents interested in Hebrew and Yiddishkeit became her acquainting themselves obsession. She would walk around ,nn m11N 0>1J1!l 11:1)) with an Aleph Beis book under her with the Yeshiva's pro arm at all times. and ask whoever she 1\il!lN nJ>V>n >1101 grams, objective and past encountered to listen to her read. Af O)) 1Vpl1n? history, may contact the ter three weeks, she almost com (416) 787-4176 1!lor.in >!:!? n:i>v>n Yeshiva at (416) 787-4176. pletely stopped sighing. and she beamed with pride at her accom plishments. 'The Jewish Obseroer. May 1991 37 ~~--~~-~-~--~·~·-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ II DearOphra: I The seminar in Yurmala was Rochel and her questions! Her mind- UNDENIABLY A JEW \ very impOrtant event in my life be- boggling questions! She had come to I causeitchangedalDtofmyopm- Yurmala because her mother didn't oJewintheSovietUnioncan ! ions. I dtdn't note it when I _was want her to eat the radiated produce deny that he is Jewish. It is there so much- I now conceive a grown in Kiev. But there she was at N written on the identity papers lot ofthings not like before. Thank evety lecture. with penetrating ques- he carries with him at all times. The you very much. But now I miss tions forcing us to rethink concepts Jews of our Seminar came seeking a you_ I want to see you and talk to we had taken for granted. She never reason why we were singled out as a you to discuss philosophical pretended to believe what she could nation to be discriminated against. questions. I think you praise _me not yet believe and she was not em- To enhance their pride in being Jew too much. I don't merit it. I'm1ust barrassed to challenge us with her ish, we encouraged them to take a an ordinary girl like many others doubts. Jewish name. who want to.find the truth and to When I first met Rochel she was Almost none of the men were cir live honest life style. Your an- called Era. The women were all dis- cumcised. Rabbi Fischer, a mohel swers helped me to approach the cussing taking Hebrew names and specializing in adult brissin, came truth I try to .find. Don't you mind she asked me what Hebrew name she from Monsey later and circumcised my asking questions in letters? should take. Somehow her quiet, in- 73 men and boys in one week. You satd nothing is too small to tense nature reminded me of Rochel For the girls it was much easier to ask.fromHashem Why? Hashem Imeinu_ When I told her she reminded get a Jewish name. It was thrilling is king and when people come to me of a Rochel. she exclaimed, "Oh I helping each girl choose a name that the king they usually askfor the know her- she sold her hair so her suited her. We took the half-hour ride most important things, notfor husband could learn Torah." Of to Riga on Thursday so their names smaU things they can get then:- course, she was thinking of a differ- could be called out during the read selves or do without. Why is_ it ent Rochel, but she had the longest ing of the Torah; with our men there good to divert himfrorn rnore stg- thickest braid I have ever seen- and would be a minyan. There is one shul nijlcant business? the name stuck. left in Riga from sixty-one that ex Yow Rochel isted before the war. The Nazis had spared this one because it is next door to a church and the priest was . . . afraid that should they set fire to the Dear Friend, shul his church would burn, too. It has been a full year no"7 .si.nce the reniarkable...,-,yet tragic--'episode Nearly all the Jews of Riga were of little Yael Chaya bas !llanil 11")). killed by the Nazis. On Tisha b'Av, the Born to a stn1ggling Sephardi Kolle! family in Bnei Brak two years members of the Seminar visited ago, Yae\was diagnosed a.• needing a liver tr 38 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 hana and Binyomin became hoped to appeal to them by describ engaged at our Seminar. ing the beauty of a Torah-true home. AVROHOM GoLDBERG,. I C Chana lives with her grand The chupatookplaceoutdoors, in DIRECTOR '. i mother who sometimes makes gefilte the courtyard of our hotel. As the fish and heltzel and waits on line all kaUa stepped out of her room in her ~~=:::!~CES .1 night before Pesach to buy matzos for American wedding gown, everyone 0 Single O' Widowed 0. Oivorct.• The Jewish Observer, May 1991 39 ------·---i r Dear Shnindy: Now I'm going to tell a mysteri- \1 ous thing which happened to me. WhenI came back to homejiumour '] Seminar at the same day we went to my swnmer cottage. It was Fri- I day. I lit candles as you showed me and told about my new knowledge to my family. It was very interest \ ' ing for them My little son ergoyed 1, it more than anybody. He never 1 saw rondles before and it was very , unusual for him La1er every night he asked me to switch to rondles. \ But I said thnt he must wait till Sat '\ urday. In a week next Friday I came to dacha. -AgatnI wanted to '] light candles but it was very inter I esting detective movie on 1V and I decided thnt I'll hnve time to do it . after movies. Suddenly 1V and all I lights in house switched off by themselves. It was breakage of I'I clectr.ci..ty ofal! /1..otises in our small hen people ask, 'What was Our women came to the cafe Fri 1 w day night anticipating a new experi village. funderstandthntifl'Uwait your most touching expe- ence. They had spent the morning 1,[ til!theendofmoviesI'Ubelntewith rience in Russia?" I an- l candles.Itwouldbedarkalready. swer: "'Benching Licht."' Lighting learning to bake challah- 35 It made a great impression on me. Shabbos candles is a special time of pounds- and were thrilled with the Do you think it was simple coinei- communication between a woman results. We had told them to dress in their best clothes and most married I. dence? Electricity came back to our and Hashem Children have watched I small village only next momiJlg. I their mothers benching licht over the women came with hair coverings. . triedtoteUmyfamilythntthistsnot centuries. and all feel a comfort in The candles- approximately 150 I'I simple coincidence but they told me knowing that their mother is asking in all- were set out on the erstwhile that I am crazy. What do you think their Father in Heaven to fulftll their bar of our cafe. We made the berachn [ about all thts? I continue to light needs and secure their future. But in with each woman individually. As I candles before Shnbbos on time. a country where for seventy years held them gently around the waist, I belief in G-d has been taughtto be looked deep into their eyes and told Love, I Ina nonsense, this tradition has all but them, "Now is the special time that a woman prays for all the people she -w••••••••••••.. disappeared. FREE JEWISH CATALOGS IMPORTANT NOTICE Uncle Moishy, Check one or more TO OUR CANADIAN Mordechai Ben David, D Full color catalog from the leading pub AND OVERSEAS and other Top-Of-The-Line lisher of English language Judaica literature, for children and adults. SUBSCRIBERS! Jewish Entertainers 0 How-to books and cassettes on: reading Hebrew. learning to pray, leading the are available services, the Seder and Bar-Mitzvah prep, The simplest way to pay for to visit and unique educational gifts. - D The finest kosher vitamin and mineral your subscrlption is through Seriously Ill supplements. VISA or MasterCard. They D World's largest catalog of sheet music, Children cassettes and CD's-Israeli, Yiddish, change your payment into USA Klezmer, Cantorial, Children's music, thanks to instrumental, etc. currency without any sur mn l'1nY.ll!! To obtain your FREE catalogs_ charge. We cannot accept for nO\!ll i'.:117 CALL In NYC (718) 856-3882 lJ),7to :i.p~) 'i n:i. n'n Outside NY t-800-NET-TAPE eign checks (even Canadian A New Chessed Proiect Run By Apadath brae! of America or return this coupon \o\'ith your address to: checks In $U.S.}, only checks in conjunction with JUDAIC MEDIA Suki & Ding Productiono drawn on a bank In the U.S.A. To set up an appointment. call· 453 E. Ninth St., Suite 106, Brooklyn, NY 11218 (212) 797-90'.Xl ext. /:157, M-F, 9-5 40 The Jewtsh Observer. May 1991 loves. Ask Hashem for all that you tic. Our shalichim, full of the emo want Him to give.· Most had to be tions they had experienced on Shab· coaxed to speak to Hashem They bos, sang haunting songs oflove for had never prayed before. Some Hashem As they began singing Ani thought that praying was only al Maamin, something very unusual lowed tn Hebrew. Some questioned happened. All the people who had How? And then we prayed together been scattered in small groups a woman who has never before spo around the beach slowly gravitated ken to Hashem and a woman who towards the singers. And then, ever prays from habit. Many tears were so naturally. they joined arm in arm, shed each Friday night. men in one circle, women in another, swaying back and forth to Ani Maamin. Hashem surely heard our 111 wanted to light prayers deep in that Russian night. And we w1ll see Moshiach Tzidkeinu candles but it was very bim'heira. • individual in Yurmala had made an interesting detective effort to make the Shabbos special. And this brought down a tremendous movie on TV and I siyata d'Shmaya to feel the Me'ein OlamHabba. decided that I'll have Shabbos is over very late in Latvia. Yet, as the havdalacandle was extin time to do it after movies. guished, everyone's face showed their Suddenly TV and all disappotntment that this special day had come to an end. In small groups. lights in house switched we all meandered down to the Bal- Tue team off by themselves. It was breakage of electricity. It made a great impression he Source of on me. Do you think it Happiness ... was simple Choose Life! by Rabbi Ezriel Tauber is a book about the big questions: What is the purpose of creation? What is the nature of coincidence?" freedom? of choice? Why is it necessary to have a chosen people? What is happiness? ls it really attainable? WHAT MADE SHABBOS Covering the entire spectrum of the Torah DIFFERENT? outlook, Choose Life! shows how understand ing the basics of Judaism is the tool for obtaining y Shabbosos in Yurmala happiness. have added a tremendous Cast in the form of a dialogue between an depth and meantng to the educated, young man and a rabbi whom he M chances into, Choose Life! illuminates Torah Shabbosos I have made since. Sitting hashkafa in the deep and readable style of here in Lakewood, I can't recall what Rabbi Tauber's first two books. It is designed to specifically it was that made Shabbos help anyone and everyone turn the everyday so extraordtnary. It certainly was not into the uncommon, the meaningless into the meaningful. Imbue your life with Torah the herring and kasha, nor was it the and your Torah with life. spartan cafe we ate in. I can only re Choose Life! Read it. Enjoy it. Grow from it. H.C. $14.95 S.C. $11.95 member the women sparkling with Other titles by Rabbi Tauber you will enjoy: To Become One (on marriage), SS.C. $9.95; I anticipation as the men arrived from Shall Not Want (on working for a living), S.C. $6.95 davening. the aura in the silence be fore Rabbi Cukier made Kiddush, the Order direct from SHALHEVES Add $2 for shipping & handling joy on each face when the cafe rocked P.O.B. 361, Monsey, NY 10952 • (914) 356-3515 with zemiros and table banging. Each Wholesale distrubution by FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS 'The Jewish Obseroer, May 1991 41 L sures. Finally. there is a discussion THE of the importance of manuscrtpts INflNITE and the future of manuscript re CHAINrorah, search, to which Ofeg Institute is Masorah dedicated. Indeed, the manuscripts ilnd1'1\an already published under its auspices .. have been of great value to the stu ,.,, --,IV"'""' 'f'J dents ofTalmud, and Rabbinic works ft1!Jbi ~Jth,uiT, Lopes caru:iw: in brtnging new insights to bear (e.g. Rabbeinu David's Commentary on Pesachim). In reading the author's comments about the inaccuracies in our clas Books in Review sic Talmudic and Rabbinic texts and the importance of checking them Hebrew Manuseripts: A Trea ever, Rabbi Abraham Shoshana, against extant manuscripts, we sured Legacy, by Benjamin Richter founder and director of the Ofeg In should not forget the Chazon Ish's (Ofeg Institute, Cleveland-Jerusa stitute, pursued wider-ranging goals warning on this point. He stressed lem, I990, $29.95 h.c.). in publishing this work. It serves as that the texts before us have been a fascinating introduction to the his examined and reexamined by the This is a most beautifully pro tory of Hebrew manuscripts, and the scholars of the past and therefore can duced work. Even the casual peruser development of the different scripts be relied on, whilst unpublished will admire the impressive color (illustrated by many specimen), and manuscripts did not undergo this plates, and see reflected in them the various collections found in major li process and therefore cannot be au love for Torah and the devotion to braries. A special section, by Robert thoritative for us. Of course, this Hiddur Mitzva that have marked our Brody, is devoted to the famous Cairo should not cause us to underesti people throughout its history. How- Genizah and its inexhaustible trea- mate the importance of bringing them into the open, and the great contribution that they can make to our understanding of Torah litera ture. The volume before us will cer ·... ··.. ,. ········ . ~ ::,,'·;,·~,;i;;~ tainly serve to produce a wider popu Th~ Yeshi~a ·····Ba;is•••Tordh•.. ·.•·u11~er>t~7 ;(:fil'eftkn~~.;~~~ lar understanding and interest in spOI\SOr~hip .()f ··.f{llRap,Motdecai '(effet;;.~i'.~~~ g~?tt~~¥,· this subject. 42 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 method is based on generally ac cepted psychological principles; e.g. 1"0l the key provision that you may CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST smoke as many cigarettes as you like- but before smoking any ciga DR. BENZION rette beyond the number that you are committed to, you must tear up a SOROTZKIN dollar's worth of stamps or a money NY. STATE LICENSED order. The special edition of this work ADULTS for bnei Torah contains a lengthy He AND brew section that shows the roots of CHILDREN the authors' approach in Torah and Mussar works and also provides (718) 266-7151 haiachic source materials. This sec tion is a most impr€ssive scholarly achievement and, while it serves here to buttress a specific way of stopping smoking, it can readily be applied to O''n niin n:i''c!J' any self-improvement goal that we Yeshiva Toras Chaim/Denver set for ourselves. One of the problems The Beis Medrash offers a unique The Mesivta offers an exceptional setting, of Mussar study is the difficulty in program tor a motivated Bochur limited size Shiurim with dedicated achieving lofty goals; in this book we to develop in Torah and Midos. Mechanchim. Accredited school. find detailed guidelines for bridging Registl'ation now open fol' Elul Z'man 5751 the gap between good intentions and their actual realization. Fol' ful'thel' infOTmation Wl'ite OI' call Yeshiva ToTas Chaim/Talmudical SeminaTylDenvel' Classic Kosher Cooking, by Sara 1400 Quitman, P.O. Box 4067, Denvel', Colol'ado 80204 Finkel (Targum-Feldheim, South 303-629-8200 field, Mich., 1989, $16.95). RABBI YITZCHOK WASSERMAN RABBI Y/SROEL MEIR KAGAN This book had its origin in the food Rosh Yeshiva Rosh Yeshiva columns written by the author for the Jewish Woman's Outlook; and indeed RABBI YEHOSHUA GUTMAN Menahe/ lay-out and illustrations bring to mind the beauty of that magazine, Appointments for interviews in the East can be made by calling 718-376-9400 while the text breathes its sptrit. In Applications accepted from all Jewish youth without regard to the introduction, the author points race, color, national or ethnic origin or handicap. out that providing food is an act of giving, of loving kindness; and, be yond that, the particular foods asso ciated with Shabbos and the various Yomim Tovimimmeasurably enhance AMERICAN STUDENTS IN ISRAEL these special occasions. "Women possess intuitive insights into the PRIVATE AMERICAN STYLE MEDICINE Jewish home, the foundation of Jew ish life. One of our greatest opportu ~ TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR AMERICAN MEDICAL INSURANCE. nities to build this way of life lies in preparing meals for our famllies and ~ NO PAYMENTS MADE IN ISRAEL friends, and for the destitute and ~ A HIGHLY SKILLED STAFF OF PHYSICIANS INCLUDING downtrodden who should always find a welcome at our table." SPECIALISTS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES A special section is devoted to TO YESHIVAS AND SCHOOLS IN ISRAEL Shabbos and each Yorn Tov, with menus suggested for them. The reci FOR INFORMATION CALL or WRITE; pes themselves are arranged by cat AMERICAN ISRAEL MEDI-PLAN INC. egories; the directions are clear, and 847A 2ND AVE. SUITE 190 throughout the book useful hints are scattered. Conversion tables for mea NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017 surements, as well as facts on freez ing and microwaving and directions PHONE: (212) 319-1991 SUMMER PHONE: (914) 434-6246 for quick and easy decorations are The Jewish Observer. May 1991 43 included. I would have liked to see a This is a slim volume. of hardly analyzed. It should be noted in par section on the checking of vegetables 200 pages. Yet it contains an extraor ticular that the author has drawn to used in the recipes (especially since dinary wealth of information and great advantage on kabbalistic the dish featured on the cover is gar ideas-further eruiched by the many sources and concepts, which will nished with fresh parsley); and per references found in the notes- and. open new vistas to many readers. haps a few more Pesach recipes for overall, gives a profound and detailed (However, the discussion of the role the "non-brockers" might have been picture of the Torah, Wlitten and oral. ofTorah in Messianic times, pp. 33- useful. But such wishes of a de Thus, it deals with the highest spiri 5, poses problems and perhaps manding reviewer do not take away tual concepts, such as the holiness would better be omitted in a popular from the outstanding quality of this of language and the letters, as well text.) This is a masterful work. of flne book. as the many technical aspects. like value both to the novice and to the e.g. Tikun So.ftim The transmission learned Jew. The Infinite Chain, Torah, of the Torah, the classification of the Masorah and Man, by Rabbi Nathan by H. Chaim mitzvos and their authority, the role The Oral Law, T. Lopes Cardozo (Targum Press, of the Sages, the function of the Schirrunel (Feldheim, Spring Valley, Smithfield, Ml. 1989, $12.95). 1987, $12.95). Aggadah, and many other topics are This is a new edition of a book de voted to one of the major topics dis cussed by Rabbi Lopes Cardozo, ..... 9011ef~ttA-JLi~t@;.f~··i.i'. dealing with it in depth and greater RabbiAIUYa.'Ghill detail: the Rabbinic contribution to Torah Shebe' alPeh. This is, of course, a very crucial issue and the author upon~ei~&P~~~~t¢~;~t~.~~~ painstakingly examines both what Chazalcould and did contribute, and AVODAS.·••HAKODESW.AWAruJ. where their authority stopped. He at presents various areas of disagree tne···recoo~•69~~:~ntiu&i;i.>rrtiferoJ~ ment between later rabbinical Wlit ers, and renders a particular service Agudath}srael ()f ~TI"i8l to the reader by including at the end of each chapter the salient classic your exampk.ofc!evotierit9.{erah sources in Hebrew. TI1is is an impor tant book. and the publishers de and .. s,ervice .• to·t~ec~111111.%~iif:~; •. : serve credit for making it again avail is a11 insptrqtior;:;~~ ~lh~ y;,.;~~y x.>f able. 8 The Unity of Torah, by Rabbi W1ii.ii:SQEOMON' Yehoshua Honigwaches (Feldheim, Jerusalem/New York 1991, $18.95 h.c.J. This is the first volume of an enor mously ambitious work. The author THE [i] Make starts out with the observation that reservations upon a superficial perusal, the Chu for mash seems to show no clear struc SHAVUOS ture or organization of its content; CNITOL nor can we discern why certain his now! HOTEL + MOTEL torical or legal facts are included or omitted. Upon thorough analysis, LAKEWOOD, NEW JERSEY however, the author puts forward the Located on Madison Avenue; Corner of 7th Street thesis that there exists a "formula" GLATT KOSHER that guided the organization of the "Come Experience a Touch of Home" CHOLOV YISROEL Torah's content and that is acces sible to our mind. In short, he sug BAR MITZVAHS I SHEVA BROCHOS I SHABBATOMS I SEMINARS Under Strict gests that the two Luchos, each with (201)363-5000 I (201)363-9603 Rabbinical five laws, represent five basic prin Supervision ciples governing man's relationship 1-800 CAPITOL (227-4865) to G-d and to his fellow man-and Only 15 Minutes from Great Adventure these five principles in turn govern the content of the individual 44 The Jewish Observer, May 1991 Chwnashim and of their sections and which gives this book a particular subsections. In his forward, Rav interest. Yaakov Weinberg stresses that the reader will become "aware of con Prisms, Insights into Chumash Bereishis and the Yomim Tovim, by cepts and teachings inherent not Michael &hoen ffargum, Southfield, only in every word of the Torah but 1990, $8.95 h.c.). also tn the order and position of these words." As the author indeed ob This volume poses some obvious serves, even if his general thesis problems raised by each Sidrah and, should not be universally convtnctng, drawing on Talmudic and Rabbinic this book brings into focus a set of sources, the author provides an basic issues regarding Torah. The swers, many of them original and present volume only deals tn detail stimulating insights of his own. with Bereshis; three more volumes Mention should also be made of offers a collection of essays exploring are projected, which will deal with the the appearance of the third booklet critical topics and themes tn each of remaining Chumashim and the fmal tn the Ways of Peace Series, by Rabbi the Siliros of Bereshis. Drawtng par summing up, but the first volume al Dovid Vinitsky (Ways of Peace Pub!., ticularly on the Maharal and Rabbi ready shows the wide-rangtng scope Forest Hills, N.Y. 1984, $6.95); de Tzaddok of Lublin, the author tack of this undertaking. It is dartng- and voted to Vayikroh, it addresses itself les some of the profoundest existen certainly some of its tnterpretations to students, teachers, and parents. tial questions factng man- the rela will strike the reader as somewhat utstanding tn its depth and tionship of good and evil, holiness and far-fetched. But the basic ideas that scope is Rabbi Nasanel impurity, the nature of beauty and it emphasizes certainly deserve at 0 Kasnett's Ancient Moun love, among others. His penetrating tention and recapitulation. tains, Timeless Hills (Feldheim, treatment of these issues will leave the he inexhaustible wealth of Spring Valley, 1988, $10.95 h.c). It reader enriched and tnspired. • ideas that are suggested by T the Torah's words is reflected tn the flood of books that deal with the Torah themes found in the weekly Sidros. Bedibur Echod, Thoughts on the UnityoftheWeeklySidrah, by Asher Ben-Zion Buchman (published by the author 1874 E. 29th Street, Brook lyn, 1990), is devoted to the proposi tion that the division of the Torah tnto 54 Sidros must have been based on the thematic unity of each Sidrah with the theme generally reflected in its title. The idea might strike us as artificial, but the author's familiarity with Midrashic sources and his origi nality of thought enable him tndeed to put forth stiiktng and worthwhile suggestions. Taste and Know, Talks on the Weekly Sidra, by Rabbi Moishe Sternbuch (pub!. by the author, 13 Mishklov St., Jerusalem, 1990, $9.00). This book offers Torah thoughts of the renowned author on Bereshis and Shemos tn English translation (a second volume is projected). While many of his rich tnsights are based on the classical commentaries, he also brings many thoughts of more 01stnbuted by Feldhe1m Publishers, 200 Airport Executive Park, Spring Valley NY 10977 recent personalities (such as Rabbi Tel (914) 356-2282 /Out of state call toll free (800) 237-7149 /Visa & MasterCard accepted Y. L Disktn and Rabbi Elya Lapian), The Jewish Observer, May 199 I 45 Letters $$&@@@@1$@$>@ to the @!@@@@@\&@$@@ ···~•@€!@@®@ Editor Rabbi Aryeh Schechter rounded by a jostling crowd. I firmly ENHANCING THE DIGNITY OF believe that the time is ripe to en HAPPY OCCASIONS hance our smorgasbord setup with SOFER S"TAM the introduction of a mechitza or To the Editor: other divider, setting aside one part 1235 49th St. The April JO featured a letter on of the room for men, with women on Brooklyn, NY 11219 the other. (The same may be said for e make "housecalls.'' the follies of the conventional Ortho dox ("New York") wedding. It is re the reception at fund-raising din (718) 972-4003 freshing to see our standard celebra ners.) In a similar vein, a certain degree IP. :"'!-•-,~ tions through the eyes of others. As a long-time observer of the so of immodesty prevails when leaving / • - .,b~!P- cial atmosphere pervading our the chupa room, with a few hundred simchos, may I add my own com men a..'1d \Vomen convergL.'1.g on the ments? We have made great strides. exit at the same time. Invariably it is Baruch Hashem. in the way we con impossible to walk through without SINGLE I: DOUBLE duct our lives, and have been suc some indelicate, and even rude. en BREASTED MEN'S SUITS cessful in implementing a number of counters. I would suggest that men steps to protect and enhance the be instructed to exit through the side tzenius and kedusha (modesty and door and the women through the SILBIGER'S sanctity) of Kial Yisroel. Recently. main exit, where possible, so as to even so-called more modern wed facilitate a proper withdrawal from • Slacks • All Wool Coats dings. where men and women sit to the chupa room. gether, a mechitza is erected on the At first glance. these innovations • Rainwear • Sports Jackets dance floor to serve as a barrier be may seem somewhat outlandish. I tween the men and women dancing. discussed these ideas with some of SALE RACKS I would, however, like to point out the foremost Roshei Yeshiva in FOR that an additional improvement America, however, and they all en BIG BARGAINS would be in order insofar as the dorsed these suggestions. It is my smorgasbord is concerned. During fervent hope that in raising the stan 1769 51 St .. BrooR!yn, NY the smorgasbord. men and women. dard of tzenius in our community, we (718) 854-1196 boys and girls. are moving about in will be worthy of strengthening the Jewish family in appropriate ways. Daily 11:00 A.M.-9:00 P.M. a sometimes crowded setting. which S!MCHA LEBOV or by appointment obviously is not in keeping with mini Brooklyn, N. Y. mum standards of kedushas YisroeL · · Silbiger Suits You Best Men and women often bump into one another in their quest for the delica A HESPED FOR DERECH ERETZ cies on the table, which is sur- To the Editor: "MY CLIENTS ARE AMAZEO May I offer, for your readers. the following eulogy? AT THE SERVICE ANO Dearly beloved. We, who have SAVINBS ON THEIR braved the scorn and ridicule of our peers, have courageously gathered INSURANCE-BUS/NESS I N S U R A N C E together today to pay our last re¥ 011 l'ERSO/IAL" One Blue Hin Plaza. Suite 1024 spects to our dear ftiend Derech /RV/NB SAFRIN Pearl RNer. NV 10965 Eretz. :!i.. Tel' (914) 62().1800 Who will guide us in a life of 46 The Jewish Observer. May 1991 menschl.ichkeit? Who will show us the ways of politeness and cour tesy? Who will take your place, dear Derech Eretz? The place you have held since your childhood. We knew you were different, even then, when you refused to take the short cut because it meant cutting across someone's lawn. Oh, the many lessons you Y~-[J_>g~_b)~~~5yt_l9~;,_P'.£~::_::? :>Ll'iq~~:':o/?(crti_f~~i~~if:- OJrittotttj;:i_IOii~::to:,Jh'e_ taught us in your own quiet way: , >:'d~o/~-§~~~!a_page:?f>' i and--(rahsf;ited ~n_ttre-__ t~~-~~te:::~n ~(f How to stand in line patiently and tbec~assit)~ilJia-,Sh~s- _[:fT~~-:j~-ln-(t:id/~:::~~$~~~ --:_·,_,,··•··.··.···.::_·•.-.-necessary-,,<,_,, -.·.".·· .. ·.'.·.o···PK; .. •.. -t.·.·.·.w_:: ....·.·.·".·.· ..• .. ..··.' •...ev ... ·•. ·.• ..··.'.· wait our tum; how to hold the door _:-_tr~-ls_, qfa_r{fi_~_'>>-:__/-~ ~• 0,T~~:-~a-~ln'g:-an~, _o--_9t?s:~rx_-~pfains__ kef open for the next person- espe - ->-ff():~-_-ofeaC,h,:p_hi:a~ , _:;~~i:i,~e!;,!•iorys-i!l_each cially those older than us; how to are,, el