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RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR 13 The (In)Visible American Orthodox Jew Rabbi Yitzchok Isbee EDITORIAL BOARD DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Chairman 15 Our Mandate to Create Kiddush Sheim Shamayim RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS JOSEPH FRIEDENSON Rabbi Ytsroel Reisman RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN 21 In Challenge, Opportunity MANAGEMENT BOARD Rabbi Avi Shafran AVIFISHOF NAFTOLI HIRSCH ISAAC KIRZNER RABBI LESIN PESACH SUPPLEMENT NACHUM STEIN 25 Freedom RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Rabbi Noach Orlowek BuslnllSS Manager

Published by 31 Thank You, Hashem, For The Four Sons Agudath Israel of America Rabbi Yaakov Reisman RABBI MOSHE SHERER PRESIDENT 37 The Seder Anna Gottlieb

SOLE U.S. TRADE IDSTRIBUTOR EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVE 39 SECOND LoOKS ON THE JEWISH SCENE Feldbelm Publishers M.T. Blbelman 200 Airport Executive Park Grosvenor Works The New Vatican-Israel Relationship: A Step Towards What? Spring Valley, N.Y. 10977 Mount Pleasant Hill London ES 9NE, ENGLAND 41 The Next Challenge - Part II, A. Customer ISRAELI DISTRIBUTOR AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR Nechemla Rosenberg Gold's Book I Gift Co. Khyat Telshe Stone, 108A 36 W!ll!am Street 42 One Hundred and Twenty Reasons, MaUca Millman O.N. Hare! Yehuda, !SRAEL Balaclava 3183. Vic., AUSTRALIA 45 BOOKS IN REVIEW THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not The Yearning Soul: Essays For the Thinking Jew assume responsibility for the Kashrus reviewed by Yisroel Yehuda Pollack of any product, publication, or service advertised in its pages 46 The Pinkus, Rabbi Nachum Klein ©Copyright 1994 48 LE'ITERS TO THE EDITOR 1994 VOLUME XXVll I NO. 2 51 PoEmv: An Erev Shabbos Bath, Gavriella Bachrach port required to make an insurance are overloaded to the breaking point, comes acceptable, not deviant. It is claim. But no one has a thought of and society is numbed almost to the not criminal, it is normal. investigating the crime, because au­ point of acceptance? The same thing When you live in a society that de­ tomobile theft and simple burglary you do if most of your high-school fines deviancy down, and you listen have become so routine, that they are students cannot read on twelfth­ to that society's news, and you read considered mere annoyances. Such grade level: You take what used to be its magazines and newspapers, and ordinary crimes do not matter any the tenth-grade level and label it you do business with it, and you more. Marijuana does not matter any twelfth grade. And then a few years walk its streets, then you end up de­ more. Most narcotics crimes do not later, you do what is done in every fining deviancy down. And you say, matter any more. These things used large school district in this country: "The money is hejker, it is there for to be "deviancy," and were classified you take the eighth-grade level and the taking!" as criminal behavior. They used to be call that the twelfth-grade level. In my yeshiva-principal days, I intolerable. But what do you do ifthey "Defining Deviancy Down" means would often give mussar to students are so common that police depart­ that behavior that was unacceptable about their sometimes rambunctious ments cannot cope with them, courts is now defined as the norm. It be- behavior in the afternoon. They would respond, "But the teachers say that they love to come here after pub­ lic school, because here they don't have to worry about somebody pull­ ing agun or a knife." 1 answered, "Do you realize what you're saying? You're telling me that our code of conduct is not based on what the Torah says, or the says. Our code of conduct is based on what goes on in the worst public schools of the worst neighborhoods of this city. And if on a scale of one to ten they are at three, and we are at four and a half, then we are doing very well, because we are 50% better. But we are not doing very well. Our standard should be ten, not 4.5." We're so confident you will enjoy these cassettes OF AVAILABILITY AND that we're offering you a sample tape FREE! ENTITLEMENT

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8 The Jewish Obseroer, March 1994 - bringing in extra income through gov­ ernment programs has caused a great deal of damage in our commu­ nity. When you were in the koUeL" he said, "you were poor, and your chaveirim were poor. All of you struggled, but there was no feeling of jealousy that 'Someone else has something that I don't have, and why can't I get it? Why shouldn't I have it?' But today, with the availability of funding for qualified families, there is a temptation to become eligible, and there is jealousy of those who find ways to do it. That causes a great deal of harm." yeshiva." We Many years ago, the Telshe Rosh Reb Elya !mow why. Yeshiva, RabbiElyaMeirBloch, 7"~, Meir wept as he The Smak, one of spoke at an alumni gathering, and said, "If his plumber the Ba'alei Tosafos and a instead of the usual forty-five minute or electrician had asked him to cash great orator, used to travel shiurda'as (philosophical discourse), a check, would he have hesitated? and give mussar to Jewish commu­ he pounded on the shienderand said, But because it was a Rosh Yeshiva. he nities. He writes, "I used to preach In "Men wr nitganvenen! It is forbidden thought the check would not go Jewish communities that those who to steal!" And he sat down. through. He was afraid that I would lie to gentiles and who cheat are in Another time, he came back from not honor my check. Can there be a the category of michallelei Hashem, a fund-raising trip and he said in a greater chillu1Hashem?" because their behavior causes gen­ da'as that he had run out of These occurrences took place many tiles to say that Jews have no reli­ funds and asked his host to cash his years ago, but have attitudes gion, that Jews have no Torah." The personal check. This gentleman said, changed? If not, let us not ask why Smak was not speaking only to his "It's hard for me. I already gave to the they are saying those things about us. own generation.

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The Jewish Observer. March 1994 9 WHY ARE WE SAYING THOSE aditional, mainstream yeshivos THINGS ABOUT OURSELVES? gedolos-are rwttargets of the Senate investigation. Nearly all of our would like to pose another .. mosdos are members of the Asso­ question: We are worried about ciation of Advanced Rabbinical and I "Why are they saytng those things Talmudic Schools (AARTS), an ac- about us?'' I would ask, "Why are ~ • ' creditation organization that is rec­ we saytng those things about our- ' ognized by the US Department of selves?' When we hear about a fire in Education, and these yeshivos have one of our businesses or institutions, , not been accused ofany wrong-doing are we dan l'chaf zechus ijudge cir­ whatsoever. Yet the newspapers kept cumstances favorably), or do we talking about "" as if all smirk? What is our reaction to din To­ mosdos haTorah were one large un- rah in general? To the institution of ~ differentiated conglomerate. beis din versus the court system? The newspapers reported that A most serious illustration of our nearly two dozen "yeshivas"-again, own rush to negative judgment is an a misapplication of the term-were item that has been in the news as of deemed ineligible for federal funding. late: the so-called Pell Grant scandal, But here too, there is less than meets regarding certain schools and other the eye. The problem with these institutions that were getting govern­ tigative schools, says the U.S. Department of ment money to fund supposedly in­ '/ reporting, Education, is that they are not "voca­ eligible students. How many of us felt, blasted the Congress, the Depart­ tional," meaning that they do not con­ instinctively, that the overwhelming ment of Education, and colleges and fer a degree. nor do they train people majority of our institutions are above­ trade schools for looseness and worse for particular jobs or professions. board, and any wrongdoing is surely in their handling of Pell Grants and These courses were instead charac­ limited to a very small, fiinge minor­ student loans. Prominent targets of terized by the Department as ity? And how many of us clucked in criticism were Jewish institutions, in­ "avocational." Whether or not the in­ sweeping condemnation? cluding some that had always been stitutions in question fit the definition A reporter searches for tidbits that considered models of probity. These of eligibility is a technical question of will make headlines; we all know articles are further proof that the First statutory interpretation that will that an editor will not run a story Amendment is abused at least as likely be determined in a legal pro­ that says that the yeshivos are doing much as Pell Grants. cess. But these programs have been marvelous work. So the papers ran A revealing statement not publi­ in existence for years. In previous stories suggesting widespread fraud cized in the media was in the official years, when the schools in question and chicanery. staff report of Senator Nunn's com­ filed their curricula, the Department As a case in point, a recent news­ mittee on investigations. It said that of Education routinely approved the paper series, purporting to be inves- the "rabbinical seminartes"-i.e. the programs for fundingwithftill krwwl­ edge of what was being taught. The "vocational-avocational" distinction never became an issue until this year. Even if such "avocational" pro­ the hat rack grams are ruled ineligible, it is surely unfair to bludgeon the schools for do­ 5416 16th Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. ing what the government sanctioned (718) 871-2278 for more than a decade. Employtng a common reportorial technique, many stories brought to­ gether a hodgepodge of abuses found nationwide in many institutions, reli­ [(STETSON")) gious and secular, implytng that the institutions named in the story were guilty of them all, which was not the ~~ contention ofthe Senate Committee or the Department of Education. In a glaring example, one institution was KANGOL • LONDON FOG named in the papers as allegedly guilty of a particular charge; later, that very CAPS•TIES school was upheld by the Department's law judge, and that par-

10 The Jewish Observer, March 1994 ticular charge was withdrawn. Tilis news never made it into the press. I am in no position to judge the in­ stitutions under question. But one thing is certain: Media engage in their excesses. An editor at one of Amertca's leading newspapers once told me, "A reporter for a daily will be II-·fit· C~"j.f?,KD able to ask two or three questions of ~"''""' ;50,N<' a participant in a story, and that makes him more knowledgeable than his readers. But he really doesn't have the time or ability to become a real expert on a breaking story." Whatever may appear on the TV screen and emanate from the lips of sensation seekers, judgment is still premature, and therefore wrong. This leaves us a troubling ques­ tion: Why do we believe every accu­ sation we read?What happened to us and our own attitudes towards our­ selves? What has happened to our re­ ligious obligation to judge people fa­ vorably and give them the benefit of the doubt? True, there may well be rogues among us, but there are hon­ est people, too. A prominent politician tn the 80s spent two years and over $2,000,000 defending himself against a vartety of vety sertous cbru:ges. When ajwyfound him not guilty and he was mobbed by reporters asking him for comment, he said one thing: "Now, where do 1 go to get my reputation back?"

FOCUSING ON NUMBER ONE

have no illusions about the out­ come of these discussions: the I Sanzer Rav,'::>"~, used to say that when he was young he thought that he would change the world. Then he thought he would change Galicia. Then he thought that at least he Refund Offer$}50on1bottle would change Sanz. Then he thought he would perhaps change his For your refund Purchase I bottle of Camie! Wine and Save $I.SO. fill out this form and Chassidim; then he thought he would mail it in with the following proofs of purchase: I. The front labels of the Carmel Wine change his family. He concluded, bottle. 2. Cash register receipt with price circled. 3. This coupon completely filled out. "Now I'm trying to change myself." My Please mail to: Cannel Refund Offer• P.O. Box 1003 Conditions: Limit I refund per household. , Reb Gedalia Schorr, ':>"YT, once Department #3 •Grand Rapids, MN 55745-1003 Offer void where prohibited, taxed or said that a person should never ne­ A restricted by law. Facsimiles of the coupon glect "der yochid vos ruft zich 'ich'­ ge __ will not be honored. Officers, employee,., the individual called 'myself.' " and repre,<,entatives of Carmel Food USA, Indeed, let us think about our per­ Address------tnc., as we!! as licensed alcoholic beverage retailers and wholesalers are not eligible. sonal self-improvement. We have been City ____ State ___ Zip __ Postmark must be no later than April 31, brought up with the attitude that in 1994. Please allow 12 weeks for delivery of the aftermath of the Holocaust we 1 refund check. JOB must build and strengthen our own L------~

The Jewish Observer, March 1994 11 ------··---·---···------lective arrogance that would have us tact, unt.ainted by twenty years spent demption, become tarnished? If we self-righteously ignore criticism. We with the devious Lavan. Lavan can overlook small or even large acts must examine each accusation di­ searches through Yaakov's belong­ of fiscal Impropriety, how far we have ings and those of his wives and chil­ rected against us and see ifit has any dren. Almost unbelievably, Lavan strayed from the path of our father, validity, however minute, and re­ finds nothing-not a shoestring or a Yaakov. And if, tndeed, we embrace spond accordingly. hairpin-that could be traced to his deceit, condone it and defend it, and As the people of Hashem, our home. Such was the chinuch of then reassure ourselves saytng, 'This lives must proclaim the glory of Yaakov's house and such was his em­ is bustness," or "Everyone does it," Hashem to His otherwise ignorant phasis on honesty that. even from the how sadly tarnished has that glisten­ house of a grandfather, his young world. How careful we must be, children took nothing. Yaakov could tng core of truth become! then, that there are no tnconsisten­ stand tall in the awareness that he The Gemora tells of the students cies between what we preach and emerged from his long golus in the of Rabbi Shimon ben Shotach who what we practice, that no one potnt house of Lavan, unscathed, with his purchased a donkey for him with accustngly at flaws. For if such gaps middas ha'emes untainted.2 which to earn a livelihood. Upon dis· do exist, they testify to our failure in Kial Yisroe~ too, as it prepares to covering a precious jewel hanging on our vital mission of proclalmlng the leave its long arduous golus, must its neck, Rabbi Shimon ben Shotach insisted on returning it to its owner. honor of Hashem Rabbi Scherman examtne its middas ha'emes. Often, during times of oppression, we have To his students' query that the has discussed this extensively (see halacha might not require this, Rav previous article). I would like to fo­ resorted to underhanded methods Shimon replied, "Have I suddenly be­ cus on one specific area. just to survive. Before experienctng come desirous of wealth? Far more In Vayeitzei, the Torah tells us of our ge'ula, we must evaluate whether would I prefer that the Name of the debate between Yaakov and the shekker to which we have been Heaven be sanctified through me, that Lavan that centered on Yaakov's exposed and which, on occasion, we people will say, 'Blessed is the G-d of honesty and his dedication in car­ have been forced to adopt, has be­ Shimon ben Shotach.' " ing for Lava.n's sheep. Yaakov's so­ come part of our psyche. Has the With preciseness tn our actions and journ with Lavan represents his aspiration to do the will of Hashem stay in golus. Now, as he prepares middas ha'emes, so vital to our re- to re-enter Eretz Yisroel, he is re­ 2nus interpretation was heard from Rabbi Moshe may we each be thetnstrumentof true quired to give a fiscal accounting, to Eisenmann. member of the faculty ofYeshivas Ner glorification of His name, as "they" will prove that his mid.das ha'emes is in- YiSroel. Baltimore. say, "Blessed is the G-d ofYisroel." • pn~~ n1i':itn n'm RABBI YITZCHOK KIRZNER 7"~ His Legacy Lives On ... TAPES THAT INFORM, ENLIGHTEN, INSPIRE hrough carefully reasoned lectures that reached thousands well as a key Kirnv personality. This is your opportunity to Tof Nesbomos with their depth, clarity, and compassion, have his work ignite the spark in your Neshomo as they did in Rabbi Yitzchok Kirmer, z'1 was a key figure in giving so many others. Select a tape that speaks to you from a library committed Jews a profound appreciation of their heritage, as of over a 1000 cassettes. Sample listings below. $5.00 plus $. 75 postage, per tape. To request a free catalog or to order tapes, please call Mr. Feinstein - (516) 486-1764 or Mrs. Kirzner - (718) 234-9370, evenings

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14 The Jewish Observer, March 1994 "WHY ARE THEY SAYING THOSE THINGS Aeour Us?" Rabbi Yisroel Reisman

A MATTER OF drome. This aflliction occurs PERSPECTIVE when an individual hears certain stereotypes regarding hlomo Hamelech Orthodox Jews. He can meet provides an insight a hundred Orthodox Jews Sregarding human rela­ over a peliod of five years who tions: "Al kol pesha'im do not fit that stereotype, but techaseh ahavd'-all inequi­ when he meets number 101. ties can be overcome by love, the negative model. he glee­ whereby nagging faults be­ fully exclaims, "Aha! That's come viewed as inconve­ an Orthodox Jewl .. niences of life. Where there is We certainly realize that no love and caring, however, some criticisms are correct, even minor faults become but let us not lose focus of the major problems. And worse. whole picture. Indeed. we when there is animosity and have much to be proud of. hatred. faults are sought out. they are At the national conventions of amplified and enlarged. until they be­ Agudath Israel of Amelica, as well as come major problems which take at vartous inspirational gathelings. over a relationship. A Private we have the privilege of hearing As this is true in relationships be­ Gedolei Torah implore us to rectify tween individuals. so is it true regard­ our shortcomings. I cannot help but ing relationships between peoples. Matter think: "What a wonderful people we And certainly. this is the most telling are! In a society where elementary factor regarding the relationship of school children are taught birth con- Yisroel haUmos. - bein the Jews among trol, we agonize over the proper the nations. Yes. the nations com­ / length of hemlines and the cor­ plaln about us: they always Ever since tf1e second grade, rect height of a In a society steeped in Rabbi Yisroel Reisman. Rau of our Reh6e'im have im11ressed 011 us that our Agudath Israel of Madison (a com­ vulgarisms and pro­ munity in Brooklyn, NY). and a behavior is constantly 6eing ;udged 6y those fanity. our problems popular lecturer, is a member of the around us, and that our mission is lo see to involve talking in shuland Kollel of Mesivta Torah Vodaath, lashon hara. In a society and frequent contrtbutor to these flll' it she'yeliei sheim Shamayim misahev al that suffers from devi­ pages. most recenUywith "Mystery yadeclia-t{1at our behavior should cause of the Missing Years," (,Jan. '94). ,_, ant excesses, we study This article is based on a presentation at others to admire our dedication to moral the finite laws of tzenius. In the recent naUonal convention ofAgudath values and 11ro11er conduct. / a society where 60% of ten- Israel of America. " . year-olds have been exposed to The Jewish Observer, March 1994 15 drugs, we criticize lax kaslvus super­ vision. In a society steeped In greed and avarice, we have Tomchei Shab­ bos, Bikur Cholim and the selfless volunteers of Hatzalah. Today. more than ever before, we should hold our heads high and proclaim, Mi k'wncha Yisroe~ echad ba'aretz-Where In the world is there a people like Kial Yisroer?

CATCHING THE DISEASE

e secular world, however, does not quite see it this way. T:They do not compliment our community for our accomplish­ ments. They choose to highlight our eb etz1 shortcomings. And it hurts. Ever since the second grade, our Rebbe'im have impressed on us that our behav­ ior is constantly being judged by Esther Jungreis' those around us, and that our mis­ sion is to see to It she'yehei sheim For information Shamayim misahev al yadecha--that Inspiring & Powerful our behavior should cause others to on our exciting admire our dedication to moral val­ shiurim and ues and proper conduct. We call this Kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the programs Parsha Shiurim Name of Heaven, and we are taught please call: that this is one of the most important obligations that we carry. 212-496-1660 on Audio Cassettes! But carrying this obligation is fius­ trating indeed. We follow the rules, but the gentiles never seem to admire us. In fact, they deride us whenever they spot an opportunity. And yes, it hurts. ------! Unfortunately, in responding to Please check the tapes you wish to order and send a check or money order to: this disappointment. too many of us The Hineni Heritage Center• 232 West End Avenue• New York, NY 10023 begin to show symptoms of The OBereishis OVayeitzei OShemos OTerumah Smelly Jew Syndrome. Those of us who might dress In a more modern O Noach OVayishlach OVaeira OTetzaveh fashion start to criticize those who 0 Lech Lecha 0 Vayeishev 0 Bo 0 Ki Sisa still wear European shietlgarb. Those O Mikeitz OBeshalach OVayakhel of us who are articulate In English are tempted to criticize those who still OVayigash ' OYisro OPekudei speak with the "old-fashioned" ac­ OToldos O Vayechi O Mishpatim cents. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have been taught proper 012-Tape Bereishis Set- $60.00 0 11-Tape Shemos Set- $55.00 etiquette, respond harshly to those 0 Complete Bereishis and Shemos Sets (23 Tapes)-$100.00 who have not. Name All too often, when non-Jews criti­ Amount Encfosed cize us, many of us-precisely be­ Address Tapes $__ cause we are a people of conscience­ Shipping tend to jump on the bandwagon and City ______·------State ______Zip {perorder/ $2.50 join the chorus of abuse. It is bad TOTAL enough that we must suffer as vic­ Telephone ------··-·· All audio tapes are 90 minutes in length tims of The Smelly Jew Syndrome; It All payments must be made in US dollars and drawn on a US bank. would be terrible, however, If we ------·-·- ______! caught that disease.

16 The Jewish Observer. March 1994 PROJECTING KIDDVSHHASHEM. Anyone fami!Jar with the incident ened or jeru:JW. or because he hopes to of Yoseif and Potiphar"s wife knows be respected, but only because of [the atexactlyistheobligation that this incident did not endear will oj] the Creator. as when Yoseif re­ f Kiddush Hashem? Is it Yoseif to his gentile hosts. In fact. the strained himselffrom his master's wife, W prtmartly a matter of inspir­ Egyptians-totally unaware of this is one wlw sanctifies the Name. ing admiration from the gentiles? Yoseifs innocence-viewed his be­ In the third volume of Michtav havior as scandalous. and had him SANCTIFYING WHOSE NAME? M'Eliyahu, Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer imprtsoned. Clearly. the Gemords ex­ Dessler, ':>":it, explores "Kiddush planation of Kiddush Hashem sup­ y is it, then, that the popu­ Hashem-Ha'emiti Vehameduma ports the explanation of Rav Yisroel ar tnterpretation of Kiddush (Genuine and Imaginruy)." The essay Salanter. ashem requires that the be­ quotes Rabbi Yisroel Salanter. ':>":It. as Rambam(Hilchos YesodeiHatorah havior of a Jew be admired by the defining Kiddush Hashem in a man­ 5, IO). in codifying this Gemora, secular world? ner quite different from that which we wrttes: Michtcw M Eliyahu explains this as were taught in elementruy school: Anyone wlw turns away from sin or well. Every human being wants to be KiddushHashemdoes not necessar­ peifonns amitzva.for no [ulterior] motive liked by others. A Jew who desires to ily involve the presence or observa­ in the world. not because his is fright- be admired by non-Jews can be tion of gentiles. nor even of other Jews. It does not require that one's actions be admired by others. In fact. ' true Kiddush Hashem often takes place in prtvate. when one is alone. This is because Kiddush Hashem oc­ curs whenever a person acknowl­ edges that the Ribbono Shel Olam is in his presence, wherever he might be-whether he is home alone or out For Jews in Brooklyn and in Brookline? among people. The bo'ol hoBois and the deeply pious? When a person is home eating THE breakfast with an open sefer on his The economist and the botanist? CHOSEN table, he has created a Kiddush Zeide and your neighbor's Aunt Sadie? NATION Hashem Nobody has seen him; no For the Kiruv-minded and the yet HAGGADAH one is praising him. Conversely. chillul Hashem occurs undecided? The sage of any age? when one fails to sense the presence of Hashem in his life. The Hebrew WE HAYE THE word chillul is related to challal-a ONE HAGGADAH vacuum. One who lives tn a spirttual FOR EVERYONE vacuum, one who does not sense that the Creator is nearby ... such a person AT YOUR lives a life of chillulHashem, regardless SEDER TABU! ofwhether his secular neighbors criti­ cize him for it. or admire him for it. THE CHOSEN NATION The Gemora(Sota36b) tells us that Yoseif Hatzaddlk was rewarded for HAGADDAH's original commentary sanctifying the Name of Hashem The reveals the ONE unifying theme that Gemora questions, "Mai Yoseij?"­ ties together every passage in the where did Yoseif sanctify the Name of Hoggodoh, illuminating the entire Heaven? The response is that this took place during the incident of text for both scholar and beginner. Yoseif and the wife of Potiphar, when Yoseif was tempted to sin, but re­ The Hoggodoh is enhanced by striking frained from so doing at the last mo­ artwork commissioned specifically for LOOK FOR THE ment. Yoseif Hatzaddtk sensed his this volume. Additional features accountability to the Ribbono Shel CHOSEN NAnON HAGGADAH Olam as a member of Yaakov Avinu's include: limehnes of the Exodus, list· AT JUDAICA BOOKSTORES family-one of the Shivtei Kah (Holy ings of the Passover commondmenB, or order by colling 7l B-B49-67B7 Trtbes)-and therefore resisted the and o lull glossary of Hebrew terms. or lox your order to 718-847-8669 temptation to sin. This is Kiddush Hashem

The Jewish Observer, March 1994 17 driven by two different fac­ identify with our un­ tors: by a desire to sanc­ flinching loyalty to centu- tify the Name of Heaven. ries-old traditions that affect or by his own innate, per­ our every waking hour. They sonal desire to be liked. All see as queer our fidelity to too often our wires get "old-fashioned" laws of crossed and we fail to distin­ modesty, our failure to par­ guish between the two. ticipate in the telling of off­ Take, as an example. the Or­ color jokes, our aversion to en­ thodox Jew who travels away tertng a movie theater, and our re­ from home on a business trtp. If. luctance to socialize with them. Is this when among gentiles, he acts as "/ nerpre- chillut Hashem? Certamly not. they do, dresses as they do, talks as scribed by the Torah, those gentiles We have many true Mekadshei they do and eats as they do, he may who are seeking spirttuality will in­ Sheirn Shamayirn among us, and we find that they accept him wannly. But deed admire us. Sheirn Shamayirn should be proud of them. On the this does not necessarily qualify as [yihiyeh] misaheiv al yadeinu-the other hand, we cannot ignore the sto­ Kiddush Hashem. And if he steps Name of our Creator will indeed be ries of dishonesty or rudeness in our over the limits of halacha, and dis­ admtred by those who examine us in midst. G-d forbid! But we must re­ cusses what he is prohibited from their pursuit of ethical behavior and spond to these stories in a manner discussing, eats what he is prohibited G-dliness. that deals foremost with our relation­ from eating, or goes where he is not Sadly. in our day and age, the ship with Hashem, rather than with permitted to go, that constitutes secularists who seek to find spirttu­ our neighbor's response. chillul Hashem His gentile compan­ ality in the Jewish People are few and ions may truly appreciate him for his far between. When they do look at us, IN THE PRESENCE OF... conduct, but this is a "beautification" it is through lenses that operate by to­ RAV MOSHE, ?"lit of his own person, not a sanctification tally different crtterta. Our loyalty to of our Creator. His companions may ancient values and to an unchanging en we hear of a shameful admire his personality, but G-d has G-d is strange to their sensibilities. mcident in our own ranks, been left out of the relationship. Even when they are not burdened by W we must deal with it as a When we live our lives in the man- prejudice and hatred, they cannot symptom, not as the disease. Our pri-

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18 TheJewishObseroer. March 1994 mruy concern should be with devel­ without once wondertng, "But what this as a starting point in Kiddush oping a stronger sense of the pres­ are they saytng about us?" Hashem. In truth, this is a higher ence of the Ribbono Shel Olam tn our level of Kiddush Hashem, which homes. If we were to succeed tn this, ON AIUGHER LEVEL should come as a consequence of we would subsequently find Him ac­ one's being aware that he stands tn companying us when we step out­ iddush Hashem by its most the presence of the Ribbono Shel side, as well. This point can be made ommon interpretation. oc­ Diam clear with a mashal drawn from my urs when a gentile admires To quote MichtaV M'Eliyahu: own experience: thero moral and ethical behavior of an 7he basic Kiddush Hashem is to cor­ As an American boy, I enjoy getttng Orthodox Jew. Does this fit tnto our rect the chillul Hashem within ourselves behtnd the wheel of a car. Once there, explanation of Kiddush H asherrt? (bybeingcognizonto}Hashem'sconstant my aggressive, hurried style often Michtav M'Eliyahu explains that it presence). Only after this, can a person gets the better of me, and puts me in does. Most of us might understand rise to the level ofsanct!fi.Jing the Name of a position where my actions may, G-d forbid, cause unpleasant things to be said about Orthodox Jews. I don't condone this, and I accept criticism of my behavior, which my wife is of­ What do you think ten kind enough to provide. In my beis hamidrash days. I had the zechus of attending Rabbi Moshe of when you hear Feinstetn's Friday shiurim at Mesifta Tiferes Yerushalayim, for almost two years. Very often, my chaveirim and I had the opportunity to drive Reb ''''? Moshe from the yeshiva to his home ..A; -.,.,., on FDR Drive. I can assure you that 1? ," \ when Reb Moshe was tn the car, my wife would have loved my driving. There was no danger of chillul Hashem Why? Because Reb Moshe was looking. Ask yourselves: How would you drive ifReb Moshe were looking? How would you talk to others lfReb Moshe were listentng? How would you con­ duct your business affairs if Reb Moshe were In the office? We must learn to take this a step further and ask ourselves: How do we drive when the Ribbono Shel The enchanting snow­ capped Swiss Alps? Olam is looking? How do we talk The world's most out­ when He is listening? How do we standingtimepieces? conduct our business dealings with Definitely, but now there Him in the office? is something more. As you can see, the problem In not The natural goodness that we must worry about the gentiles of genuine Parveand who are watchtng. We would be far milk (CholovYisroel) better off worrytng about our Creator Schmerl ing Chocolates. chillul One taste and you will watching. The problem of never settle for "make­ Hashem is not that the gentile is spit­ believe" Swiss chocolate ting at us; he's been collecting saliva ever again. for a longtime, waiting for the oppor­ Taste the Schmerling tunity to find fault. The core of our difference. It's one of problem is in our relationship with those special things that makes Switzerland Hashem that we do not always sense SCJUIUrtimi famous. His presence as we should. If we were Switzerland chocolates & cheeses. to succeed tn being aware of His pres­ ence. we would avoid chillul Hashem U.S.:\. IMPORTER TAA'v! TOVFOODS. lNC-. BROOKLYN. :-.;y l 1232

The Jewish Observer. March 1994 19 ~ / -- A Jew w(w desires to 6e ad111ired terperson. 6y non-Jews can 6e driven 6y two The Gemora(Yuma86a) discusses different factors: 6y a desire to sanctify the concept of Kiddush Hashem and t(1e Na111e of Heaven, or hy (1is own the obligation of She'yehei sheim Shamayim misaheval yadecha-that innate, personal desire to 6e lilied. All too the Name of Heaven be praised be­ often our wires get crossed and we fail to cause of us. What was the response distin911isf1 6etween t(1e two. of our greatest Amora'im to this les­ Heaven in pub­ THE son? lic, in the proper, / "K'GOAN The Gemora tells us that Rav re­ pure manner; prima- ANNKRULE sponded with the statement, rily ID glorify G-d in the ~ _- "K'goan Anna... For someone like - me (whom the community holds to presence of(at least) ten " Wien I told a friend that I other Jews .... An individual who is on a ould address the topic of the highest standards of conduct) still higher level isonetnwhomthehonor "Why Are They Saying purchastng meat on credit is an is­ ofHeavenissogreat, thathestriveswith Those Things About Us?", he pre- sue of chittul Hashem (because all his might and all his resources to sane- sented me with a long list of problems people may suspect that I hope to tify the Name ofHeaven among the other besetting the Orthodox Jewish com- avoid paying)." Rebbe Yochanan peoples of the world. So great is his love munity, which he suggested I attack. said, "K'goanAnna. .. -For someone for G-d that he wishes that He be recog- I pointedoutthatnotoneoftheprob- like me ... ," and he too outlined the nizedbyallhumanfty.... " !ems that he considered of para- parameters for proper behavior that lbis is our challenge: to raise our mount importance to our community pertained to himself. The response level of awareness and responsibility was a fault of which he was person- of these people was "K'goan so that our every action give a sense ally guilty. Weren't there other prob- Anna.. .," this is what I have to do. of G-dliness to our surroundings. !ems, applicable to him, which also Their response to the problems of When we do so, we impart an aura of belonged on the list? chiUul Hashem was not to find the holiness to our own homes and we I am afraid that this friend suffers, faults of others, nor was it to ana­ can then seek to exiend that glow to to a degree, from The Smelly Jew Syn- lyze the critique of the gentile world our fellow Jews, and, ultimately, to drome. He hears negative things around them. gentiles as well. about Orthodox Jews, and feels that We should reject the feeling that he has to agree with some of the ste­ the problem of chiUul Hashem is the reotypes. His motivation is notto rec­ problem of "What are they saying tify the problem; it is purely to assess about us?" We must see it as a prob­ the blame. In seeking a guilty party, lem of our failure to sense that he naturally looks elsewhere. Finding Hashem is there with us at all times. the perfect review for daf yomi the faults of others is hardly the lfwe can begin senstng the presence method of combating the problem of of the Ribbono Shel Olam among us, chillul Hashem our everyday conduct will improve. A discussion of chil!ul Hashem The secular world will not start loving Chazar the oaf in 20 minutes on must seek to resolve the problem. us for it, but we will be living a life of Criticizing others for being different, Kiddush Hashem. And those who even where faults truly exist, does not seek spirituality, who· seek morals rour war to f f f anrwhere! remedy the situation. People enjoy and values, will indeed find it tn Kial finding fault in others. I doubt that YisroeL The Name of Heaven will tn­ Each tape consists of approximately 5 Blatt this causes anyone to become a bet- deed be loved because of us. • for only $3.00 (plus S&H). Tapes Now Available Are ... (6)l"l'J;)l"I (23)li'01li:l DR.ALAN .· (7);i'?"l?;) (13)!J'i,l TAJERSTEIN (6)JUi' ,m (ll)i'Tl Podiatric Medicine.& Surgery Foot Specialist (S);tl'ln (lO);"tP10 • BUNIONS . • CIRCULATION TESTING (ZS)li~::l' (19)]Vl • HAMMEllTOl;S • ULCERATIONS flliTi'p • INGROWN TOENAilS • X·RAY ON New Tapes Are Produced Constantly! PREMISES ·• SPORTS MEDICINE . • PHYSICAL THERAPY 1-800-213-6626 •Custom Made Orthoticsfor All Types of In Israel, 03-579-4067 Shoe Gear• MosUnsurance Plans Accepted 5421 • 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NewYork 11219 • 718·972-5000 "the!Cl latest addition to your ==library" 20 The Jewish Obseroer. March 1994 In

... BECAUSE WE LET THEM GET art of propaganda to cast us in as un­ wrtts, is almost commonplace in the AWAYWITHIT favorable a light as possible. Jewish press regarding the "Ultra­ So, what are we to do about it? Orthodox" (a pejorative epithet itself, hy are they saying those The single most important thing. of incidentally, if ever there was one). things about us? The rea­ course, is to redouble our efforts to The time is Iipe for us to make a more W sons are many, and. ac­ live the lives of dedicated Torah Jews effective, concerted effort to stop Or­ cordingly. our responses should be in eveiyrealm and eveiyway. For our thodox bashing, wherever it raises its diverse. But one thing is for certain: greatest influence, on both ourfellow bare, brazen head. Thewisdom of re­ our own imperfections and even out­ Jews and on the rest of humanity, in sponding to misinformation and mis­ Iight lapses can account for only the the end. dertves from what we are, conception would seem to be self-evi­ tiniest portion-if that--{)f the fictions what we do and what we don't. dent. The surest means of countertng circulated about us. But being all that we can Jewishly lies, after all, is obviously with truth. I wish I had a dollar for eveiy time be still cannot absolve us from also There are immediately compelling I have heard or read that "Orthodox doing whatever we can to counter the reasons, too, to use every means pos­ Jews don't consider the non-Ortho­ misinformation propagated by those sible, including the power of the dox to be Jewish," or that we Chareidi whose best interests are served by press, to set the record straight, both Jews "support the Palestinians"; that our denigration. on issues that reflect on Jews in gen­ we "oppose service in the Israel De­ Which brtngs us to the auxiliaiy eral and those that reflect on Torah fense Forces," or "look down upon answer to the question of "Why they Jews in particular. Firstly, while Jews women." Another dollar for each time are saying those things about us?": are not missionaries, a least not in the a more subtle (and hence more dan­ Because we too often let them get sense the word has taken on in the gerous) untruth was expressed or in­ away with it. vernacular, we most definitely do sinuated, and I'd retire forthwith to a have a mission, and part of it ulti­ large villa in Natanya. EXTENDING THE BOUNDARIES mately involves making humanity We need to face the fact squarely: OF POLITICAL INCORRECTNESS aware of the Divine. And while we we do actually have enemies, internal most meaningfully and essentially as well as external, enemies who do ne of the few "bashings" that fulfill that mission through our ex­ not hesitate for a moment to use the has not yet made the list of ample, as a "kingdom of Kohanim" 0 political incorrectness is "Or­ and a "light unto the nations," when Rabbi Shafran. menahel of Mesivta D'Provtdence thodox bashing.·· The sort of negative Jews or Judaism are presented by Boys' High School, in Rhode Island, is a published stereotyping that, were it applied to modem Eisavs or their allies to the author and frequent contr1butor to these pages. Jews as a whole, would bring the larger world as something they are His most recent book is Migrant Soul (Targum Press). A.D.L. barreling in, brandishing not, shouldn't those of us with a

The Jewish Observer. March 1994 21 nards about Chareidim, "Ultra-Orthodox" and "zealots," who do we expect will?

LET'S CLARIFY THE ISSUES

o very many is- - sues beg for S some response, some balance, some light. Whether the concern is a general so­ cietal issue about wWch the true Jew­ ish attitude has been distorted-such or she, though, has been-and is-a as abortion-on-demand, legal protec­ sitting duck for the propaganda as­ of idealism and determination. For tion of immoral lifestyles, crime and saults of those who do. If we do not every erstwhile Conservative, Re­ punishment, euthanasia, or censor­ do everything we can to carefully form or unaffiliated Jew who man­ ship-or a narrower, more parochial counter attacks on Torah and its ad­ aged to make his or her way back to one-say, internal Israeli politics, herents, to correct the misinforma­ our heritage despite all the bad press American-Jewish "pluralism," con­ tion and rebuff the insinuations, than we receive, there are likely several version mills, or government aid to we have, chas v' shalom, effectively temples-ful who might conceivably religious institutions-we have a re­ conceded the mindset of the average do the same if they were only pre­ sponsibility not only to make our po­ American Jew to the enemy. sented with a more balanced picture sitions clear, but to do so proudly and Most of us know ba'a1ei teshuva. of the modem J ewlsh religious equa­ publicly. men and women who came to tion. And if we don't provide the nec­ I can testify from personal experi­ jrwnkeit drawn by the twin engines essary counterweight to all the ca- ence, having written an occasional -;fhe Lommutefs LllavruSiih RABBI YISSOCHER FRAND, Maggid Shiur, Ner Israel Yeshiva

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0 277 TZAV - PESACH -THE MITZVAH OF 0 281 EMOR - KIDDUSH HASHEM - IS HESEIBA "GILUY ARAYUS" EVER PERMITTED?

0 278 SH'MINI - NETILAS YODA YIM ANO 0 282 BEHAR/BECHUKOSAI -THE CHATZIZAH PHYSICIANS OBLIGATION TO HEAL

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22 TheJewishObseroer. March 1994 op-ed colurrm for a general-interest couples, with the goal of convincing halachahas "always been responsive daily newspaper for some time, that the non-Jewish partner to "follow to special-Interest groups." the non.Jewish world has a veiy lim­ the path of Ruth to conversion." The The thousands of Innocently igno­ ited and often distorted idea of what author asserts that "we have a won­ rant Jews who have read that maga­ the true Jewish attitude is toward derful product to sell [to the zine have imbibed slow-acting spiri­ myriad concerns. And many In that world]-Vudaism." tual poison. They have been fed gfm­ world are pleasantly surprised when eral outrageousness and propaganda brought to realize that some Jews­ 3. An "Orthodox" feminist's demand about Torah-Judaism not a whit less and the "most Jewish" ones too, as for the of Orthodox women heinous than that of the Holocaust re­ they see us, those most visibly com­ . The writer argues that young visionists. (Is there, perhaps, even a mitted to what Judaism has always Jewish women presently lack for ad­ midda k'neged middaln the prolifera­ been-do not generally subscribe to equate "role models"; that the tradi­ tion of the latter?) Will we offer an an­ the louder and more visible Jewish tional role of observant women must tidote? The patient, after all, is our pa­ "establishment's" party line. I have change radically "because of the jus­ tient. The placement of accurate Infor­ found that many non-Jews come tice of it all," and that, in any event, mation in the press, moreover, is not away with not only a newfound re­ spect for Judaism but, more impor­ tant, with a newfound understanding of our tradition. That result may not necessarily be a main priority ofours, FINALLY... but it certainly can't hurt. And the Jews-our fellow Jews­ The magnificent second home who are out there being pummeled you've been waiting for - in a everywhere with images that make jrumme Yidden seem, at best, like development designed exclusively anachronistic Amish, and at worst like mindless fundamentalists, don't for B'NAI TORAH. they deserve better? Doesn't our ob­ Lauret ligation to be mekarev reclwkim re­ quire us to provide them with an ac­ curate picture of our heritage-their heritage? mtJ[(fl«lmiLeage AMONG THE OFFERINGS

unsolicited national Jewish eriodical recently landed on ,;'"'"' =· lovely expansellittas Afy desk, pushed there (as, presumably, to countless other adjacent to desks) by its aggressive publisher. Its Yeshiva South glossy cover should have been warn­ Fallsburg, New ing enough; it showed a well-groomed York, chosen woman pointing a yad at a sefer To­ especially to rah, smiling wisely, bedecked In tallis enhance the and (Tzidduki-style, just above yeshivishe her eyebrows). A glance Inside con­ ambiance of firmed my expectations. Among the LAUREL LEDGE VILLAS. offerings: Featuring 4,5,6 & 7 bedroom, one and two-story homes, this luxury 1. An article on the "Year of the development offers you two separate pools, tennis, basketball and ," asserting, among other handball courts, day camp and a spacious shuVbais medrash. Your home surprising revelations, that "few of will be air-conditioned and winterized, furnished with all floor coverings these [Orthodox] rabbis... are Inclined and appliances and include year-round security and maintenance. to stand up for a woman against her LAUREL LEDGE VILLAS will be designed under the accomplished husband," and demanding that rab­ supervision of builder Nachman Kanovsky, renowned for Vacation Village, binic leaders "address the veiy basic Woodlake Village, Luxor Estates, and Elm Shade Estates. anti-Woman, anti-family [sic!] Jewish LAUREL LEDGE VILLAS will only have 50 units, so call Elchonon at divorce laws." 718-092-4846 and we'll be happy to answer your questions about the 2. A piece lamenting the lack of Or­ brand new LAUREL LEDGE VILLAS. thodox "outreach" to intermarried

The Jewish Observer. March 1994 23 ..

only helpful for its power to dispel the AN ORTHODOX PUBLICATION false; it is helpful in and of itself. For SYNDICATE the very fact of an intelligent Orthodox response to all the badmouthing en­ o less than electronic or nobles us in the eyes of others. It is all communications technology, too easy to construe the reticence of a N public relations-of the infor­ negatively portrayed group as a weak­ mative, not obfuscatory, sort-is a ness of sorts, an admission of guilt; a tool that the frum world can and cogent and clear reaction serves at the should effectively harness. While it,,. -' very least to make an uninformed would be irresponsible to endorse the reader or listener aware that there is a wholesale reading of general-circula­ coherence to the position of the ac­ tion newspapers, or of many "Jewish" cused. And, ifthat reader or listener is periodicals, when something objec­ truly open-minded, the response tionable in one or another of them might well go further still. does come to our attention, we might

greatly benefit from seeing it not sim­ ply as a burden to be borne, but as an opportunity to communicate with considerably larger numbers of Jews than usually listen to us. Inestimable good has been accomplished by things as simple as letters to the edi­ tor and articles in Jewish and gen­ eral-circulation newspapers. What might well be the most effi­ cient, appropriate and prudent ap­ proach is the establishment of a To­ rah-true "publication syndicate" that could serve as a sort of central infor - mation bureau, fielding requests from Torah"'1ews across the country and around the world to respond to mischaracterizations in the press, or simply to address issues of import to the Jewish community, from a Torah perspective. Petitioners could be sent either unembellished information, guidelines for formulating their own letters or articles, standard policy­ pieces on particular isSues, or new, custom-written essays. What would result, hopefully, would be correc­ tions of misinformation about "Or­ thodoxy" on a mass scale, a procla­ mation of Torah-true attitudes that could touch thousands of hearts and minds. \ 199 Rt. 59(WaldPaVllion)Monsey, NY 1m'12 ~ It might not make those who truly resent us like us any better, but it just might make them think twice before saying those things. •

24 The Jewish Observer, March 1994 RabbiNooch Orlowek

:;t:<' /JAeJ:fts olZ'ma'lt,fhJiruseinu fu~irTorah-centeredlifeisfJ.sweeter stricted; our very life f~rce can be than any'~Jf-cente;-ed "fun"..Ortentect;. ···taken from us, but no one can take life can ~r hope to be, We cannot at- my mind from me. Actually, nothing e refer to Pesach as "z'man tack values of a decadent society and is truly mine unless it is intrinsic to cheiroselnu, the time of our hope to st!cceed, unless we offer our me. This is why the Mishna (Auos 4: I) W freedom." By studying the children and help them experience says that wealth, wisdom. and lessons implicit in Pesach, we can the divine feeling ofbeing truly free. strength are explained in terms of at - discovertheTorah's definition offree­ titudes of the mind (wealth is defined d om and learn how to achieve it. Thls WHO IS TRULY FREE? as satisfaction with one's lot; wisdom, is a vital issue, for ifwe do not formu­ as a love of learning; strength in late for ourselves the meaning offree­ hazal (the Rabbis of the Tal­ terms of inner control. etc.) for any dom, why we cherish it, determine mud) were very explicit about quantitative definition (treasures, or how we will utilize it, and communi­ Cwhom they considered to be amount ofknowledge. or physical cate this to our children, then some­ free. ~Nooneisfreeexcepttheperson prowess) relates to where you are, not one else will do it-with quite a dtlfer­ who labors in Torah" (Avos 6:2). Ifwe whoyou are (Maharal, ad loc). This is ent message. In today's permissive, trµly understand this statement. what meant when they said hedonistic society, there is a good then we have taken a giant step to­ that King Solomon, after he had lost chance that an alternative approach ward understanding what the basic his kingdom, was "king over his cane" to freedom could bring ruination to elements of freedom are. ( 20b). This means to say our children. The Maharal' tells us that a hu­ that even when all he had was a cane, On the other hand, if our children man being is essentially a composite people could still tell that he was a have a clear idea of what freedom of three things: Soul, Life Force, and king, for his royalty was tntrinsic, and truly is, then they will be able to re­ Body (including material posses­ not related to whether or not he had sist the seductive pleasures offered sions). The Torah, the Maharal says, subjects. (Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe. by the "free" society surrounding is the perfection of tntellect. It is only N"'\7'7\i!, relates that he was in Sweden them. Our children will know that in the mind that we can by truly free. when the King of Denmark fled to Our bodily movements can be re- Sweden during the Nazi invasion of Rabbi Orlowek. who serves as Mashgiach in sev­ his country. The King of Sweden went erdl yeshivas in Jerusalem, i» author of two re­ 1 Derech Chayim 6:2. 4:4: Nesivos Ola1n. Nesiv to the railroad station to greet the centfy published books on c/linuch

The Jewish Observer, March 1994 25 ing one makes when seeing royalty up to me. Some people are embittered preme happiness, for he felt a close­ (see Beraclws 19b). He was disap­ and unfulfilled in what others would ness to the Ribbono Shel Olam such pointed though, for instead of seeing have considered the most enviable as he had never before experienced. two monarchs he saw only two old circumstances. On the other hand, The absence of all that he had held men. They were not intrinsically others became close to Hashem un­ dear brought him closer to Hashem; kings-merely rulers of men.) der-and because of-the most un­ there were no other concrete bonds The concept that my mind is mine bearable situations. Rabbi Yltzchok that could distract him from this and all that it harbors within is totally Chaiken, <;··:ii, who headed the Ye­ most supreme of all relationships. mine, has an interesting ramification. Chachme Tzorfas in Aix-les­ The person who has sufficient No one can take away from me my Bains, France, foroverhalf acentury, control over his mind to be able to perception of a situation. The atti­ spent the World War II years as a cap­ assess his situation without the dis­ tudes that I form in my mind-how I tive of the Germans. He later de­ tortions and misconceptions that view the situation in which G-d has scribed those years, when he was sometimes creep in-that is, he has placed me, how I choose to react to separated from family, friends, and a clear picture of reality-such a per­ those around me-these are totally above all, students, as years of su- son is truly free.

CONTROUJNGTHEMIND Want to Share Your Judaism? abbi Mordechai Dolinsky, N",,,.,,., (Mashgiach of Yeshiva Not Sure How? Here's Your Chance! R Torah Ore, Yerushalayim), once described the decoration of the "Apisdorf understands the heartbeat of Menora, which represents Torah in­ our generation with incomparable tellect in the Mikdash, as reflective of clarity. The Survival Kit will help the various capacities of the mind. 2 thousands turn Passover the nightmare The Menora had three types of deco­ into Pesach the drean1." rations, Reb Mordechai explained, Rabbi Michel and Rebbitzen Feige Twerski and each type paralleled one of the "Good news! Another ground-breaking mind's wondrous capacities: Survival I

26 The Jewish Observer. March 1994 unwanted input by being involved with Hashem is tn total control of His Cre­ complete Hasherris control over His more productive thoughts. Rabbi Wolbe ation, then that knowledge frees me. Creation is. As a result, we are free to added that this ts what is meant by the live correctly, for we need fear no one Chazal /Gittin 62a) that Torah Sages are HASHGACHAPRATrISAND but Hashem. 4 called kings, for they are indeed rulers; FREEDOMACIDEVED We now have a working definition rnlers over their own minds. of freedom: The ability to live cor­ Mort VeRabbi, Rabbi Simcha Was­ ashem's constant and total rectly, and hence, happily, because serman, , ..Yr, commented that ifthe era control and interest in His Hashem Is In control. and people ojMoshiach were to be merely a time of H Creation are known as need not fear human beings. When leading a happy life, then wailing for HashgachaPrattis. Our awareness of Chazal tell us that the JeWish people Moshiach would not be a cardinal prin­ this Divine involvement contrasts exclaimed on the night of the Exodus ciple of Judaism. It is because With the assumption of the nations of that we were now servants of Hashem 5 Moshiach's time willbeoneofacorrect old, for whom "Hashem is high over and not servants of Pharoah , this life (and hence a happy one), that we the nations, His Glory is above the was a statement of what freedom is: continually hopefor his arriVaL Heavens." As for us, we say "[al­ the ability to serve Hashem This would seem to be one reason though] He indeed sits on high, [He As we recite the beracha "asher why Chazal use the word "She'­ still] observes this Lower World of oseik-who is occupied" to describe ours. [And not only does he observe, 4 See Midrash Tanchuma, Beshalach 9, and Sherrws Rabba21. See Ma'archei. Lev, vol. 2 pp. Torah study. For it is not the actual He intervenes-in the most spectacu­ 160-162, by Rabbi Moshe Schwab, ?n::tt, Torah Wisdom that protects the mind lar and benevolent way.] He raises the Mashgiachofthe Gateshead Yeshiva. from undesirable influences; it is the poor from the dust and the impover­ 5 YerushalmiPesachim.5:5. Pharoah's exclamation ability to think and be engaged in To­ ished from the garbage heap to seat that the Jewish Nation were no longer his servants, rah thoughts that achieves this. them With princes, the princes of His but rather servants of Hashem, reverberated 3 throughout Egypt, whereupon the Jews exulted It follows that freedom lies in being Nation." (Tehillim 123), MPraise, servants ofHashem land not able, on one hand, to control the in­ On Pesach, we were shown how servants of Pharoahj .... ~ The . at the end of flux of ideas that could distort my the fifth ma'amar, explains that this is the source of ability to think clearly, and on the 3 Tehillim l 13, 4-9. See Nefesh HaChayim. Sha'ar our desire to live in Eretz Y!sroel, in order to fulfill other hand. to attain the objectivity to Gimmel(3rd Gate), Ch. 9. the additional mitzvos that are unique to the Land. view the world as it really is: the do­ main ofa benevolent Father who pro­ Considering a move tects us, and whose directives for liv­ ing are the only means of attaining toMOJYSEY? true happiness. for careful attention to your LIVlNG BY THE ILLUMINATION OF TORAH UGHT individual needs, call us today! (914) 354-8445 ri VeRabb~ Rabbi Simcha Wasserman, once explained M:that Torah is compared to light because it gives you a panoramic glimpse of how the Creator views the N•W, ~R~E~fUURP~SlUll.llltDRDllE··uy world. Not only does Torah allow you to control your mind, it gives it direc­ MAKING AiSIMPLE·PllONE UiLL! tion, and truly sets you free. Freedom is valuable only to the degree that you 1-800.. 764-SUIT are capable of controlling and direct­ ing that freedom in a positive direc­ Just give us your size, color, style, fabric tion. 'Then you are free. Torah not only preference for men's suits, sportcoats; sets you free, it enables you to live cor­ trenchcoats and an accessories. rectly, for free men are fearless men. Being free does not refer to being • Super ldw pikes . • Great Quality able to do whatever one pleases. It re­ • Pre:teste4for shatnez •. •• Satisfaction Guaranteed fers to the ability to live correctly and We'#beat any reautarpriced sture by25% or more! Without fear. When my actions are controlled by others because I fear them more than I fear Hashem, then I MEN'S WBARUNLIMITBD cannot be truly free. Freedom from Morde~hal Bamberge~ fear of man is at the heart of Pesach' s ~999keis~~r"town ,Road #D, Bllltimore,Mb 21215 message offreedom. When I know that

The Jewish Observer. March 1994 27 go'alonu" at the Seder, we should If we do not formulate for ourselves the meaning of stress the phrase conveying that we were redeemed "to eat matza and freedom, why we cherish it, determine how we will marror"-to serve Hashem6 . We then can use our minds to view life cor­ utilize it, and communicate this to our children, then rectly, where happiness is not defined in terms of "entertainment," as a someone else will do it-with quite a different means ofescaping a less-than-happy reality, and "meaning" is not an message. In today's permissive, hedonistic society, empty phrase. Much of our ability to transmit this there is a good chance that an alternative approach concept to our children is dependent upon how our children view us, and, to freedom could bring ruination to our children. by extension, what we stand for. Be­ tng "different" can either be a badge of shame or a source of pride. (The Green Berets in the U.S. or GolanJ units in the Israeli army do not walk around shamefacedly because they wear distinctively different uniforms.) When you tell your children (in an ef­ fort to ward off the influence of the dominant culture) that "We don't do things like that around here," the "around here" had better be a place your child is proud of and likes to be. A mother, living in the States, told me that the most heartening compli­ Gemora. Rashi ment she was ever paid was when her cleaning lady said to her, "Mrs.. ., and Tosfos Series Rashi Series when I enteryour house, I feel like I'm Geared to 7-9 Grade For 7th Grade and Up For H.S. Level & Up coming into a different country!" May we, who are blessed to live in )'tm~ C'lV1 pi!l C'Yit iic n·w~i::i iDc n'lP'l nw~n piD 'TY1Q i1c n1Q'l1 iDc a land where we are free to be free, be ny::ii~'? ,,~ piD C'V1l i'TC ~ip•1 iDc able to transmit to our children what C'MC!l '::1,Y pi!l l'P'tl i1c i::i'TQ::l iDc freedom truly means. • C''TYn 'll'::l pi!l C'V1'lj7 i'TC

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28 The Jewish Observer. March 1994 r--· I Our Familx I Cordially Invites Yours to the Seder. You're invited to enjoy the fruits of an eight generation tradition. Kedem Selections. Because any member of our family is sure to bring pleasure to yours. ? BRE ONPESj •

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''Baruch Hamakom baruch shiurim (prescribed sizes, time Hu... -Blessed is G-d ... The frames, etc.) do not change, regard­ Torah speaks in regard to less of time, place, or age of the per­ four sons." As a prelude to the read­ former of the mitzva A kezayis, the ing of the Haggada, tn fulfillment of siZe of an olive, is universal; one size the mitzva of "Vehigad'ta levinchac­ fits all (except when considerations of you shall relate [the story of the Exo­ health come into play). So we all-big dus] to your son," we praise Hashem and small alike-eat our kezayis of for the four types of children that are matza at the approprtate time at the alluded to tn the Torah. Seder. No other mitzvaofthe Sedernight As another case in point, the Torah is tntroduced with similar words of obligates all boys thirteen years of age praise. For example, we are required and up, and all girls twelve years of to say" Pesach. matza, u'marror' and age and older, to believe in Hashem their respective messages, yet we do We do not find any variations in the not introduce this recitation With declaration of Kabbolas ol Malchus "Baruch Hamakom ... the Torah Shamayim for different degrees of speaks in regard to three mitzvos... :· maturity or intelligence. Moshe What is distinctive about the Rabbeinu and our children today de­ mitzva of Vehigad'td? clare uniformly, "She ma Yisroel. The Torah spells out pre­ HashemElokeinu, HashemEchad." cise directives for the perfor­ There is one exception, however: mance of each mitzva. These the mitzvaof"Vehigad'talevincha" It is incumbent upon each father to re­ As a prefude to the readins of the Hassada, in late the story of the Exodus to his child according to the child's level of fi,{fiffment of the mitzva of"Vehisadta fevincha-you understanding (see Rambam, Hilchos Chometz Umatza 7:2). That is, the fa­ shaff ref

The Jewish Observer, March 1994 31 with the former for thetr own shortcomings or failures child, he would So1netilne,.; pdrents try to make through thetr children, and when the nol be fulfilling junior editions mirror their elders' the mitzva. ll Uf' for fheir own shortco1nin5s or limitations. the parents vent their makes no differ· fadures throug/1 their chddren. frustrations on them. A story is told of ence how novel a fatber who complained to the Bais the divrei Torah and ivhen tfu: junior editions Yisroe1 (the Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yis· are, or how lofty the thoughts are­ roe] Alter, '?"lit) that his son was stub· he has not fulfilled his mitzva of mirror their cfder5' fi1nitatio11_.;" born in his ways even though the fa· Vehigad'ta levinchn. ther was strtct and did not hesitate to This may well prove to be a crncial the j)dt'ents vent their punish or hit him. "What will be of factor in why it is that we recite a hlrn?" The Bais Yisroe1 answered, "He berachacalling attention to the valia· frustrdtions on thern. too will grow up to punish and strike tions in this mitzva's performance, as his child, unless you change your we shall see. ways and become his positive role dents as their own creations. ergo ex­ model." ('The shortcomings of children CHILDREN ASAN EGO tensions of themselves. And just as are usually those that are genetically EXTENSION the left hand is not envious of the passed on to them from one of thetr right hand for its greater strength, parents, who is especially attuned and e parent-child relationship is because both are parts of one body, sensitive to these failures, and there­ ery powerful. It is also ex· so too does a parent view himself and fore reacts to them very strongly-a Tiremely sensitive. The Gemora his children as parts of the same discussion for another time.} tells us, "One is envious of everyone, greater entity. As a result, parents Parents see themselves incarnated except his child and student" tend to realize their own aspirations in their children to the degree that (Sanhedrin !05b). 1bat is, one is en· and dreams through their children. they view themselves as one organ­ vious of all-his siblings, his parents, (A woman walking with her two sons ism: so much so, that a boy can come even his spouse-except his child or on Ocean Parkway was asked their lo cheder in the summer with a scarf student. Why is this so? ages. Her response: "The doctor is and earmuffs; when questioned by Perhaps we can suggest that five, the lawyer is three.") his rebbe, he answers, "My mother people view their children and stu· Sometimes parents try to make up had the shivers this morning."

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32 The Jewish Observer. March 1994 Such parents are unable to ex­ viewed as man-made. One does not neshama created claim, "BaruchHashem-Thankyou, pronounce a blessing on something by Hashernand en­ Hashem for the four sons," as will be perceived as produced by man. trusted to him. explained. This understanding can help us That parent does appreciate two basically differing at­ not conceive his RELATING TO OBJECTS titudes that parents might have to­ role as a parent to THROUGH BERACHOS ward their children. One is the case be one of raising of the parent described above, who children according to his self-gratify­ bi Levi posed a question re­ views his child as his alter-ego, whom ing wishes so as to assuage his ego, or arding the apparent contra­ he has created to relive his life. One to heal his personal frustrations, but Rriction between two pesukim cannot pronounce a blessing to G-d sees it his task to raise that G-d-given 'To G-d is the earth and all that fills in regard to children such as these, neshama in the ways of Hashem ac­ it," and 'The heavens belong to G-d, for they are "man-made" children. cording to the wishes of Hashem while He gave the earth to mankind." There is, however, another type of Parents such as these may make His answer: The first pasuk desert bes parent who views his child as a a blessing on their G-d-given gift. the world before man says a beracha, the second refers to earth after man has recited a beracha (Berachos 35b).

The parent who views his child as his after-ego, whom he has created to rehve his fife, cannot pronounce a blessing to G.J in ~~ Y©U ~') v--' AirConditioned Shul ·Heated Pool ~ regard to children such as these, Scenic Lake -MagnificentGym ~$1111111?•••• ) Ga Carn -All Outdoor Sports for they are "man-made" children. ------·-·--- Action·Packed Program of Activities We know that one cannot derive any pleasure from this world without first blessing Hashem We therefore <. ~':~:;:.':~... is.c- say blessings on both tangible and ab­ stract benefits, such as food and the l ~ting summer of your life at '\ fragrances that emanate from spices. Why, then, one wonders, do we not make blessings upon hearing music, or seeing other artistic creations-ar­ chitecture or paintings-which also CAMP KESER give pleasure? Perhaps the answer lies in Rabbi Levi's statement cited FOR BOYS AGES 6112· 15 above. Bothpesukim although refer­ We are proud lo welcome lo our talented administration ring to different stages in man's rela­ the popular, wel~known mechanech tionship to the world-one before the RABBI EllYAHU M. TRAVIS beracha (everything is Hashem's), one Formely Head Counselor of Chaim Dey Comp after the beracha (the earth was Our learning and Ma.midim Programs ore under the leadership al Hashem's, and is now given to man HORAVCHANINAHERZBERG for enjoyment)-begin with the same and ..• Rabbi Shlomo Hyman, Rabbi Dov id Lang, Rabbi Chesky Shanfeld, Robbi Aharon Jacobi, point ofreference: Hashem Perhaps Rabbi Avi Kaptinsky, Rabbi Shmuel Waldman what the Gemora is teaching us is that a beracha can be said only on Our unique, wel~plonned program, combined with ourskuctu1Bd yet relaxed and hiendly something that one recognizes as atmosphere and hand-picked, mring Bnai Tor ah ~off, off er our campers a most fun-fHled coming from Hashem-which is the rewording wmmer and our poren~ a worry-nee summer. case in regard to both food and the By Day camp program also available. aroma of spices. contrast, music For brochure and video presentation, please coll us al and other art forms, although poten­ tial sources of tremendous spiritual uplift and aesthetic pleasure, can be

The Jewish Observer. March 1994 33 G-D BLESS THE capacity to grasp CHD.J>REN, GREAT what he is being told. AND SMAIL The parent who sees it bis task The Torah, how­ ever, made an excep­ ~ I f the mitzva of to raise tbat C-d-siven tion in regard to this ' Vehigad'ta levin- mitzva. Fulfillment of cha were similar neshama in the ways of "Vehigad'ta- and to all other mitzvos with standard pa­ you shall relate" is tailored to the spe­ rameters, equal for all to perform in Hashem/ accordins to tbe cific capaciiy of"levincha-your son." the best way they can, then it would Therefore, davka-especially before have been incumbent on the indi­ wisbes of Hashem, may make a the performance of this mitzva of vidual to relate the story of Yetzias Vehigad'ta levincha when one has to Miizrayim in the best way he can, do­ blessins on his C-d-siven silt. overlook his own wishes to use this ing all he can to transmit all his knowl­ opportuniiy to "show his wares" and edge to his son, regardless of his son's "give it all he has" to mold his son as he desires-should he take stock of the gifts granted to this particular C.I.S. Publishers of Lakewood, N.J., is child by Hashem-which one of the four sons he is most similar to. He presently involved in several impor­ should then communicate with him tant projects that require the services as Hashem wishes, in keeping with of talmidei chacbamim proficient in the trust Hashem has invested in him. the English language, and a limited When one has come to the realiza­ number of freelance assignments are tion that he has been entrusted by therefore available in translation and Hashem with one of His neshamos to editing. To apply, send a cover letter do with as Hashem wishes, he can outlining your particular abilities, then recite the beracha: "Baruch curriculum vitae, references (if pos­ Hamakom-Blessed is G-d, blessed is sible) and sample translations of all He; the Torah speaks in regard to four the following selections: sons." Thank you, Hashem, for chil­ M"l inll"W" ;yu>i1 ?:J :l.l oTmn :i'T7:i1:l nmw '1U'1 dren .... Thank you for each of the ;i-,,,, :D l

34 The Jewish Observer. March 1994 "In 1923, when Rabbi Meir Shapiro z"tl proposed Daf Yomi, few could imagine that participants would need Madison Square Garden for their Siyum. Those who were there from the beginning literally made history." Now- for $18 you have a chance to take yotir place in history.

Tehilim teaches us that Shmiras Haloshon has The Heritage Foundation has enonnous potential to bring brocha to anyone commissioned Artscroll/Mesorah Publications who embraces it. Speaking with kindness, judg­ to produce this beautiful volume. It presents ing others favorably, and avoiding Joshon hora for the first time an adaptation of the Chofetz are prime sources of merit for a good life in this Chaim's two masterworks - Sefer Chafetz world and the next. Chaim on Halacha (laws) and Sefer Shmiras Haloshon on Hashkafa (concepts) - in English, The secret to succeeding at this mitzvah, the divided into segments designed for daily Chofetz Chaim tells us, is to learn about it - a little learning. bit at a time. Shmiras Haloshon Yomi is the vision of the Sluni.tm Halomon Yomi: great Manchester Rosh Yeshiva HaRav HaTzaddik Rav A bright vision for a brilliant future. Yehudah l.ev Segal z"tl who created a daily learning calen­ der for the Chofetz Chaim's original Hebrew work. Rav Segal The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation is embarking on a momentous effort to bring this learning to each and every foresaw the tremendous impact of making the Chofetz Jew. Shmiras Haloshon Yomi, a new daily learning program Chaim's work accessible to all, and encouraged every Jew to spend some time every day- even just five minutes - learn­ is the cornerstone of this effort and you can have a part in its inception. ing from it and incorporating it into their daily '"~· OUR GIFT ,_.,, Your $18 contribution will help us undertake the huge task ,.,.. TO YOU. ,.,_.. of organizing Shmiras Haloshon Yomi. lives. As a token of our appreciation, for a Your name inscribed in the To be part of this historic contribution of $18 or more, you will Special Patron's Volume. effort, you must receive free of charge our two latest As a pennanent acknowledgment of your place in this great act now. With tapes on Seier Shmiras Haloshon by beginning, your name will be inscribed in the Special just $18 you can Rabbi Fishel Schachter, one of our Patron's Volume of the soon-to-be-published Chafetz Chaim: help move Kial most popular speakers. A Lesson A Day. This sefer will be used as the daily text for Yisroel toward a Shmiras Haloshon Yomi participants. brilliant future.

------,I Cl Yes. I hereby support the Shmiras Haloshon Yomi project with my gift. I I I 0 $36 - Please see that my name is inscribed in the Dedication Section to the I Manchester Rosh Yeshiva in the Special Patron's Volume and that I am given I advance notice of the volume's publication. Please send me 2 free tapes of Rav Fishel Address'------I I Schachter, and a shon tape by Rav Segal z"tl on Shmiras Haloshon. City______St.ate, ___~Zip. ___ I I 0 $18-Please see that my name is inscribed in the Special Patron's Volume and Telephone ______I that I am given advance notice of its publication. Please send me my 2 free tapes of I Please make your t.ax-deducoble check payable to: I Rav Fischel Schachter. I The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation I 0 Other ______620 Coney Island Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11218 I I As a patron you will be given advance purchase information of the publication of this important volume. TapesshippedinJ-5 weeks. NoCanadianorforiegn checks please. I ------~ Thousands of scholars can't live without Torah

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LOOKS ~,+,~ /V71~_Q,[r~ ~.i~t:..,.. f / .rr"'1- R .!;;,_...,_

The New Vatican-Israel R1 A Step Toward What?

fter 45 years, the Vatican has globe. And Israel should have the dip­ gious dialogue. Our frames of refer­ finally come to accept that lomatic means for communicating ence are mutually independent, and which the United Nation cre­ with the spirttual leadership of hun­ we have nothing to gain from such ac­ ated and the world at large recog­ dreds of millions of Catholics. tivity. Furthermore, such dialogue nized: the State of Israel. Now that So, after much behind-the-scene can suggest religious commonality, that is taken care of, one is not cer­ activity and some front-page posing, which would leave the unwary, un­ tain where this step will lead. Mer all, key negotiators signed a mutual rec­ educated Jew vulnerable to mission­ this act takes place against the back- ognition agreement on December 30, ary efforts. This is especially sensitive 1993. Perhaps the great­ in any kinds of formal dealings with est implications of this the Church, which are inherently signing are not a forget­ problematic, since it has hlstortcally ting or forgiving (who engaged in proselytization. can do that?) of the past, In fact. these very considerations but a decision to focus prompted Foreign Minister Shimon on the future, wherein Peres to write to the Ponevezher Rosh the tenor should be di­ Hayeshtva, Rabbi Eliezer Schach, the plomacy. The affairs of Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe the spirtt should not fig­ Hager, and the Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi ure in this opening of Pinchas Menachem Alter, ""vW, as diplomatic channels. the leaders of the Chareidi population First, as a people and as in Israel, regarding the goals of this a religious community, pact. In his letter, Peres wrote (Janu­ we do not engage in reli- ary 14,'94) tl1at their concerns in this

drop of a long history, wherein the 1"0::1 Catholic Church has been the source EVERY GIRL,S DREAM••. of close to 2,000 years of pain and T~~;;~ persecution for the Jewish People-­ ,,,;;,~ A summer in Israel of ca,mping and touring for ~tH from the wrttings of the Gospel, to the g;;.;;~ '· a select group of !rum girls ages f0-f8 ~2 •. •· , ... / <,; quisition all the way to the silence of -.,,,.~ Arts & Crafts, Conversational Hebrew & Oaily Shiurim. ~f ~ Pope Pius XII durtng the atrocities of World War II. And as far as the On Campus: Waterpark, Large Pools, Water Slides, p. si3! Vatican is concerned. the existence of Oairy Farm, Petting Zoo, Sports Field & Moret :\ '!1\1\l a Jewish State on the soil of the Holy Supervised activities for older teens, 9.~ Land is more than an irksome fly in Comparably priced to over-night !$.°" the sacramental ointment; according camps in the mountains. ~<:s to some, its very existence is contrary Under the dynamic direction ":>~~~ to the teachings of the Church. Yet, of special educator P. in the international community, it O'vora Zelman. -i:::2!iS:::=!S!!!! was important for each of the parties ~~~ ("""'\("""'\ to face up to the realities of our times: On the Grounds of Beautiful Kibbutz Chafetz Chaim the Vatican should be dealing directly with the coun[ry in political control of CAMP BNOS CHOFETZ CHAIM some of the holiest real estate on the 623 Cortelyou Rd., Brooklyn, NY• Phone 718-282-6350, 718-941-5500

The Jewish Observer. March 1994 39 regard could be laid t6 rest: The en­ YOUR tire agreement is purely a matter of "diplomatic relations." To underscore CAR IN that there is no intention to blur the fLDAN basic, insurmountable differences RENT-A-CAR ISRAEL between the two religious groups, he LS HS quoted the Prophet: "For each nation TYPE OF CAR 5.'1194· 2413194· 2313l94 714194 will go each man after his own god, FROM :ER WEEK and will we go in the Name of Hashem _/4__ .~!A!__ \,J~O-~!~_Q___ _ 126 $ l 26 UNLIMITED Elokim for all eternity." Peres also rec­ B ~':J~~T _2~~-14.~--- ___ 1_£_ C CITROEN ZX 1.4 168 • EXC. INS. MILEAGE ognized the need for caution in regard -fr' 'MAifi:ii323------__2~_1 _ to opening doors to possible -~T :_pE~~T-~j);:&~~~- 2s2 FREE CELLULAR PHONE rnlssionizing efforts-''which are pro­ M MINIBUS FORD 455 hibited by !Israeli] law," he added. AUTOMATIC CARS+ AC RENTAL IN EVRY CAR 0 CHARADE 1.3 182 After the reassurances from Peres. ------TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A UNIQUE SERV!CE E MAZDA 323 252 AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH ELDAN, there was apparently need for more ------· ----~ --- ALLOWING YOU TO HAVE CONSTANT CONTACT F NtSSAN SUNNY 287 W1TH YOUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, FAMILY, FRIENDS clarification. After all, the Vatican is G SIERRA 1.8 336 AND ALL NATIONWIDE ELOAN OFFICES. a religious institution, and its various _L SUBARU SW 392 PAYMENT FOR CALLS UN!TS AT THE END OF THE RENTAL PERIOD N BABY BUS 392 RESERVATION A PREPAYMENT offices and representives are not sim­ K GMC SAFARI PS 504 USA A CANADA ply laymen or politicians, but are gen­ X PEUGEOT-·------405 1.9 392 800-938-SOOO erally Princes of the Church. Thus, it -~ _M!I!?~_B!SJ:iJ_GALAtff ~ -~69 is worth noting that when Rabbi SX VOLV0940 511 IN NY: 212-629-6090 David Rosen, who was the key nego­ tiator of the Israel-Vatican pact, was considered the top candidate for the Israeli ambassadorship to the Vatican, the suggestion was nixed by the Church. As JTA reported it (Jan 18, '94): !JIJ/{o@Jim Bjdim~h@ Monsignor Andrea di Montezemolo, the apostoUc delegate to Jerusalem, has said openly that the first Israeli ambassador to the Holy See should be THE PESACH STANDARD smER a career diplomat. The Vatican has AT THE GRACIOUS OCEAN FRONT stressed that the bilateral agreement is a state-to·state rather than a theologi­ cal accord. It might be encouraging for the IBERKLEY CARTERET HOTEL I moment to hear the Vatican express views similar to ours on this matter. ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY But Rabbi Rosen, the Jerusalem­ based director of interfaith relations Highest Standard of Koshrus * Oceanfront Enclosed Heated Pool * for the Anti-Defamation League of No Gebrokts - Shmura Matzah all Yorn Tov Full Health Club * * B'nai B'rtth, has a different perspec­ Sefarim Stocked Bais Hamedrosh Professional Day Camp * * tive, and he may just be closer to the * 2 Shuls and Night Patrol ultimate direction of these events. * 3 Ball Rooms * Daily Dal Yomi QuotingJTA further: * 15 Private Seder Rooms * Guest Speakers Rosen declined to comment directly * Spectacular Tea Room * Entertainment in keeping on the controversy, but he stressed that with the Yorn Tov state-to-state relations between the * Oversized & Adioining Vatican and Israel had to be viewed Rooms Available * Famous Groaning Board Kiddushim within the wider context of inter-reli­ gious relations. The Hotel Where Kashrus Is Not Limited To Food "I wulerstand that the [Vatican/ sec­ retary of state is eager to ensure that Hashgacha Rabbi Avraham Juravel relations with Israel are of an exclu­ si1Jely bilateraldiplomatie nature, but it would be a mistake to ignore the The Newhouse Family broader ramifications of the relation­ ship," he said. (718) 435-3200 Tilis situation obviously needs fur- Reservations also accepted by The Solomon FamHy (908) 367-9199 ther watching. •

40 The Jewish Observer. March 1994 SECOND LOOKS A.Customer The Next Challenge­ Partll

Customer: Sholom Aleichem, Reh B.C. Are my pants ready? Clothier: No. rm really sorry. I've been so busy. The whole business is on my Avaiklble atyourJocal HebieW bookstore or

The Jewish Observer, March 1994 41 Mi:Dovid~~ is one of3,~$~5.); Will be dis~~·accordfug farmers wh~itate observ~ng' • &Dhalacha. Shmitah in. Etetz Y'isroel this r~j:: ~e will not b~ im1~to sell In an age .of rapidly expat1diilg z.~~F1'00uce this Y~.~{~~~?cat1 .···• market ppportuniti~s, the ··· 'do is ·hope hi~~elm pr~duce ic;;• ): .• [armers /~re .. .making . an profits nextyeitr:ButhQW·!l~s.~eµve this en()fmoussacrifice tp .. db~e1'ye ·Shmitah. year?'fb.at to the worldwide~~r;prters They .n~d your sl!f£Prt.ei£tq~ragement of~er¢~··~ashviis •• the Centetfor and helpjtoma~(!it thro~ll~e year. · Shrmtah. O~~?ryi~~.iff~mers, Dovid Will< B~come .·.a partn~l' j~ a mifa~ah whi~h still liavea gd~.ye~·thi§\~llf· He and his ··· comes around oril~~~~·~~ y~.)\li~er familyWill. notgp wantiuga'p.dltisproduce the call of the leactmg'~61¢tHa\f~tah. stimulating of the book's essays is the one devoted to a study of human per­ Books in sonality. The author's starting point is the Rambam toward the beginning of Shernona Prokim, where a hierar­ Review chy of essential human traits is ad­ umbrated. Two attrtbutes emerge as definitive of the human condition: will The Yearning Soul: Essays for the and reason. Sensory perception, Thinking Jew by Rabbi Moshe though not confined to humans, is Einstadter (Feldheim, Spring Valley, also accorded a pivotal role. New York, 1992, $13.95) The author argues that, ulti­ mately, only one of these is efficacious e twelve original essays col­ truth is identified with things that ex­ in the control of his action, namely, ected in this book are both in­ ist, and is portrayed as something la­ the will. The remaining two serve fun­ TiellectuaUy stimulating and mentably lacking, in the next. In this damentally in providing input for the emotionally inspiring. Well written, latter essay, a number of perceptive will, and compete for a position of these meditations employ conceptual observations on the contemporary strength in their influence upon it. analyses to shed light on some of the societal scene is offered, upholding Indeed, he suggests a model, depict­ major issues a student of Yahadus truth as a standard against which ing the dynamics obtaining among will encounter. An essay, typically, popular trends should be measured. these forces and resulting In a given tries to elucidate the meaning of a dif­ Other times, a common theme or course of action. The exposition can ficult passage in Chazal or the key concept will be found to run be tackled on a variety of fronts, and Rambam. or aims at reconciling dif­ through more than one essay. An in­ his central claim is open to the charge ferent texts that appear to conflict. In teresting example is the phenomenon of being unduly tendentious. Yet either case, the discussion Is logical of silence and its role in the expeii­ Rabbi Einstadter has done his read­ and systematic in its probe of some ence of a Jew. Th.is idea is most fully ers a tremendous service by ventur­ elusive idea. One completes an essay developed in the chapter on ltmud ing into such intellectually fertile ter­ with a sense of having gained insight haTorah. which stresses the special rain. We are much in his debt for the and clarity. appeal of the night as a time for learn­ keen thoughtfulness and erudition The essays cover a variety of top­ ing. A more subtle invocation of this he has exercised, greatly in evidence ics, ranging from Torah to tefilla, from concept, however, surfaces in the throughout the pages of this book.• education to the nature of truth, and author's discussion of tefilla, Here he from the akeida to the ba'al teshuva. explains that before a supplicant is Yisroel Yehuda Pollack While most are developed in an en­ enabled to entreat the Ribbono Shel gaging dialectical style, the excep­ Olam for the fulfilhnent of a particu­ tions are equally Impressive. In one lar need or needs, he must precede essay, "Impressions and Vignettes," his request with a general plea for the author relates sentiments arising mercy and deliverance from the from his expeiience in the presence of troubled state in which he finds him­ Sll~IGf R'S gedolei Torah. In another, ostensibly self. Thus, the petitioner initially re­ devoted to "Death," Rabbi Einstadter mains silent regarding his motives for fashions a compelling, grtpping par­ seeking help from Hashem (see in this ~fHfD t\rnswrnD able, guiding the reader movingly connection the discussion of the di­ 'Auenue Merchandise At Basement Prices' through a reflection upon the ur­ vision of tefillos according to the times gency of his station in life as a Jew. of the day, pp. 19-26). Theexpeiience Relevance and sensitivity are not sac­ ofsilence is now seen to permeate To­ rificed in this volume to the demands rah and tefilla, In particular. of rtgor and methodology. Learning and davening are not the s.JA ~ 1'. Lf q ~ 2..tltt s..iu only contexts that focus on silence. While most essays are free-stand­ Double Fine ing, some are inter-connected. Edu­ The whole of the final selection of cation, for example, is treated sepa­ Rabbi Einstadter's work is given over Breasted Dress rately from the vantage point of to an in-depth examination of silence Jackets Pants means and ends, and from that of a as an aspect of song (shira), paradoxi­ 50 teacher-pupil nexus. In one essay, cal as this may seem. Silence figures Only $35 Only $19 again In the excellent discussion of Yisroel Yehuda Pollack. of Brooklyn. NY. learned the nisayonha'akeida. Evidently, the 17695lstStreet · (718)854-1196 in Yeshiva Be' er Shmuel. Telshe {Ohio}. and author holds that silence has a sig­ Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin. He was fifth grade Avodas Hashem Rebbe in New England Hebrew Academy, ntficant role in Brookline, Mass. By far, the most intellectually

The Jewish Observer, March 1994 45 Rabbi NachwnKlein 'Tfie

1 , ~question knowledge of Torah. (Contrast our For centuries ~ ~o~ Warsaw visits to Gedolim: reverent, but un­ there existed in the ~ to ask the Vilna prepared.) He started his preparation Jewish cities of Europe a Gaon, Reb Asher for the visit, but the Gaon passed traditionofinscribinginacom- pressed to hear what the away before Reb Asher could finish. munity journal, known as "the question was. With some prod- Reb Asher-a merchant of the holy Pinl

46 TheJewishObserver. March 1994 At the appointed time, the officer brought the Rav to the cemeteiy. The Maharshal proceeded to place in the PINCHAS MANDEL coffin a brief Torah responsum Over 40 Years Experience In Kvura In Eretz Ylsrael sketching his reasons for permit­ Personal Responsibility Throughout Service-NO AFFILIATES ting the man's second maniage. ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT METHOD Movement was heard from the Highly Recommended by Gedolai Hador - Here and in Eretz Yisrael coffin, and the husband was 1569-47th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 resurrected from death. (Not Day & Night Phone: (718) 851-8925 only are the Maharshal's mi- raculous powers described TYO'IJNi!llJNp Yl"i' - pi:;, iNl n11JltY •il!l here; also, his legendary Chesecl Shel EMES with Mesiras Nefesh . .. as understood and practiced by strength of character and one active in the industry for more than half a century. his confidence that - Taharas Hanlftar Should Never Be Commercialized - Hashem would agree with his ruling and do what is necessaiy.) Rabbi M. Twerski re­ lates that the Pinlms here told of a second In KIDS SPEAK-- t miracle: Children Talk About woman Them1elve1 ... of Lublin was dying, and her husband swore that he would Chaim Walder's KIDS SPEAK is a book of essays for never remarry, and children ... by children. would always remain / n this very special book by loyal to her. After some Chaim Walder, 34 children between the ages of eight and time he changed his twelve talk about themselves: sharing their personal mind .... problems, concerns, joys, fears, and most unusual The wife of the resurrected man experiences. came to the Maharshalwith a further complaint. She could not bear living H.C. $14.95 /n these serious, touching, with a man who had been dead. (It funny, and sometimes painful was like living with a Zombie.) The essays, young readers - and parents too - are sure to find Maharslml, in his confident manner, episodes they can relate to - and through which - they can come said he would take care of that prob­ to better understand themselves as well. lem also, and he davened to Hashem that the wife should completely forget More than just entertaining, KIDS SPEAK is a vital, educational that her husband had died. (Her feel­ work - for children, for parents, for the entire family. ings were changed.) The Pinkus con­ cludes that the second miracle was greater than the first: changing the Available at a!J Jewish bookstores or direct from heart of a person is greater than res­ Visa & MasterCard accepted •'1 21)0 Airport Executive Park Spring Valley Ny 10977 Send for your free copy urrecting the dead!! • ~:J Tel (914) 356-2282/Toll Free 800-237-7149 of our caliJlog

The Jewish Observer. March 1994 47 Time for a Public Confessional continues to flourish throughout Rabbi Aryeh Schechter America, that with the same sensitiv­ I remember as a young rav an in­ ity, with the same devotion, we will SOFER S''TAM cident whereby my life was drasti­ work on ourselves to control this and cally changed. Davening in the ye­ other terrible damaging habits. 155841stSt. shiva world was at 7:30 a.m., and RABBI DR. Tzv! G. SCHUR, DIRECTOR getting there at all-even late-was OF JEWISH CHAPLAINCY Brooklyn, NY 11218 Milwaukee e make "houlec&Us.0 a challenge. Suddenly, as a rav, I was con­ (718) 971-4003 fronted with davening at 6:45 a.m. THE PARENTS' CRUCIAL ROLE IN IP. :"'P"'l~- Embarrassingly, I came after 7: 00 GEMORAHOMESTUDY /.• - .,b:>tv a.m. After continuous teasing from one of my ba'alei battim about going To the Editor: to sleep too late, I decided to make a In your April Issue, the article startling announcement from the "Whose Homework Is It Anyway?" pulpit that Shabbos. I proclaimed minlmizes the importance of the par­ that their rav was sick, that he had ents' role in helping children with an illness. There was total silence. All their homework Further, tn your No­ ears were at attention as I described vember Issue, you printed a letter to my sickness-that of coming late to the editor from a parent supporting the .,,. I ask: Do our Torah that position. In the face of silence I teachers who smoke tell their respond. And for the sake of both 4916 15th Ave., B'klyn. N.Y 11219 J talmid.im that the habit that they have children who deserve better and (718) 854-2911 is a terrible one and that what I do is those parents who know better, I wrong and should not be copied? state my own truth as a parent, for --- I pray to Hashem that as Torah anyone to take or leave behind. Tue years of fifth to eight grade are crucial tn the development of our sons' BIG DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM ability to master Talmudic text. It is ,n::i during those four years that basic APPLE '"ipt,, '"ipt,, Gemora skills are developed in our ClU l"i'l,i'lr.l sons; skills that will protect them from CENTER Available at being flooded at the high school level. 87 NASSAU ST. LEKUTEI Basic Gemora skill is extremely NEW YORK, NY10038 complex. It is like learning a new lan­ clo Yitzchok Rosenberg (212) 962-4282 10 West 47th Street, Room 503 guage and anew system oflogic simul­ (212) 267-9478 New York, NY 10036 taneously. and this, at the age of ten (212) 7'19·1717 to thirteen! There are no shortcuts. 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, First, to read Aramaic, without vowels. Medrash, Megllos and Talmud. Second, to translate each word accu­ rately. Third, to phrase sentences, Proceeds of sales distributed onceagatnwlthouttheaidofpunctua­ among Yeshivas and used for. tion. Fourth, to conceptualize ques­ reprinting of volumes out.of-print tion, answer, proof. rebuttal. F1fth, to PRICE: $8.00 PER VOWME organize who said what to whom, Pirkei Avos available when. Unless a child is remarkably t ~1 ;f;Srl Ii• gifted, all of this Is Virtually impossible Arranges the most exquisite . i 11ti:r to succeed at without a father's daily GIFI' PACKA

50 The Jewish Obseroer, March 1994 G.Bachrach

MORE STRESSFUL FACTORS IN f!l]M~~N THE SlMCHAEQUATION AnErev vi.smNGNE\flYOtiK71 To the Editor: Bea11tiflll rooms, . with .kitchen Your article. "The Ultimate f

The Jewish Observer. March 1994 51 • es, Talk/s Action

Alleviating the suffering of to assist out-of-work bread­ makes aVailable a source of skilled, OUHlf-work breadwinners and their fami­ winners-individuals who have responsible professionals, many of whom lies can be just amatter of talking to ~ lost their jobs due to the troubled have years of experience within their the right people. Your own - state of the economy-to regain fields and are qualified to move into high­ employer, for example. Or the §-(' employment. Thanks to the combined level corporate positions. personnel director at your ~ efforts of the Professional Management place of work. Speak to .... and Employment Services job netwotk AITENTION JOB SEEKERS fiiends, relatives, even the guy who sits and the many caring people who consis­ Ifyou are willing to relocate, next to you on the bus every morning. Ask tently keep us apprised of job open- Profussional and Management them if they have or know of job openings. ings, hundreds of families in our Employment Services' Then pass the information along to community have had their means new interstate network, Agudath Israel's Professional & of support - and, along with it, JOB TRACK, will keep Management Employment Services. their sholom bayis - restored. you apprised of openings in Restoring a family's livelihood For prospective other cities. can be just that simple. ' ,. employers, Professional Call for information regarding positions ProfessionalManagementand rc-~~, Managementand currently available in Denver, Los Angeles, Employment Services was created ~ ~f" Employment Services Chicago and South Bend , Indiana Professional Management and Employment Services • l~I • il~I, A DMSION OF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA ,,1rl \1 Jerry Schiflinan, Director, 620 Coney Island Avenue,Brooklyn, NY 11218, Phone (718) 436-1900, Fax (718) 436-1934 d"~~ I~; Please take the time to review this list. If you know of any positions available in the following professions, let us Account Executive Coml11\Jnity Affairs Industrial Engineer Program OirectorlSocial Services Accountant Coordinator Information System Managei; Programmer Actuary Computer Graphics Law Associate Project Manager Administrative Assistant Computer Technician Legal Editor Psychologist Advertising Executive Construction Supervisor Uligator Public Relations Banking Officer Consultant Marketing Executive Purchasing Agent Benefrt Consultant Controller Mechanical Engineer Quality Assurance BiOlogist Corporate Accbunt Manager Non Profit Administrator Real Estate Manager Bookkeeper Credit & Collection Manager Office Manager Researcher Business Manager Customer Service Representative Paralegal Sales Representative Buyer Director of OperatiOns Pharmacist Senior System Engineer Chemist Economist Physicist Staff Attorney Chief Financial Officer Electrical Engineer Plant Manager Stock Broi tnt:' 84 William Street/NYC 10038' _____ •Un I /;:,I.Ill (/;;:,The National Headquarters of Agudath Israel of America

GRANTS TO TOMCHE SHABBOS gress. The sentence, compristng the en­ many college students who were off for TOP $1 MILUON MARK tire "Title IV' of the act, stipulates that, an tntersession. Several have already with certain limited exceptions. no enrolled tn yeshivos in Russia and Eretz Agudath Israel of America has funds granted under the measure­ Yisroe~ while others will continue their topped the $I million mark in the total which introduces federal support for pursuit of Torah and Yiddishkeit in of grant monies it has obtained for various school reforms-could be used their local communities. TumcheShabbos, theall-volunteernet­ to benefit, either "directly or tndirectly", work that distrtbutes hundreds of food any non-public school. packages to the needy each week. The intent of the added title was to SEDER NOSHIM SIYUM MARKS HALF­ The milestone was reached with the bar the use of any funds awarded for WAY IN DAFYOMI CYCLE addition of another $120,000 in fund­ school choice programs at non-public Tens of thousands of students ofDaf ingAgudath Israel obtained this Winter, schools, a positionAgudath Israel vocif­ Yomi completed the last blatt of received from the Emergency Food and erously opposes. But the restriction Meseches Kiddushin on Taanis Esther, Shelter Program and channeled to could have even more damaging rami­ the day before Purim, thereby conclud­ Tomche Shabbos of Baro Park and fications for the general accessibility of ing the study of Seder Noshinr--the Flatbush and Tomche Shabbos of aid to non-public school children, the third of six Orders of the Talmud-tn Queens. Agudath Israel officials hasten Agudath Israel Washington Office has the current cycle of the page-a-day Tal­ to remind the public that Tomche warned lawmakers, in that it strtkes at mud-study plan. The milestone repre­ Shabbos continues to rely on tndiVidual "educational equity," one of the long­ sents roughly the half-way point generosity for the bull< ofits support for accepted guidtng principles of educa­ through . To celebrate the occa­ its food-for-the-hungry program. tional reform. It was Agudath Israel that sion, community-wide Siyumim were sounded the alarm alerting non-public held tn various locations throughout school groups across the nation to the the world. BATTLE lN CONGRESS TO RETAIN Senate's "11tle IV," which appears nei­ The main arena of New York City's CHAPTER 2 SCHOOL AID ther in President Clinton's bill as pre­ Madison Square Garden, as well as WASHINGTON-As the JO was go­ sented to Congress nor in the version of the adjacent hall, have already been tng to press, a major Victory had been the act approved by the House. reserved by Agudath Israel for the na­ won for yeshivas throughout the coun­ tional celebration, three and one-half try with the House Education and La­ years from now, of the Tenth Siyum bor Committee's vote to retain the ARACHIM KIRUV SEMlNAR, HaShas of Daf Yomi at the comple­ "Chapter 2" program as part of the re­ SPONSORED BY AGUDATH ISRAEL, tion of the current cycle. The date: authorization of the Elementary and SETS 120 ON THE ROAD TO the first day of Selichos, 5757 - Sep­ Secondary Education Act. But the JEWISH COMMITMENT tember 28, 1997. battle on behalf of Chapter 2 was still A powerful four-day seminar pre­ to be canied to the full House as well as sented by Arachim, the internationally to the U.S. Senate. acclaimed kiruv organization, and 31ST NATIONAL SIYUM Since 1965, "Chapter 2" has been a sponsored by Agudath Israel's Chizuk MISHNAYOS OF PIRCHEI AGUDATH major source of federal assistance to division, was hosted 1n White Plains, ISRAEL lN MONSEY both public and private schools, its New York, in mid-February, drawing Over 1200 children were expected in funds authorized to be spent in any of the aVid participation of some I20Jews early March for the 3 lst National Siyum seven different areas of educational from diverse backgrounds and walks of Mishnayos of Ptrchei Agudath Israel, need. The Clinton Administration's life.seeking to learn about Judaism. hosted this year by Ptrchei Agudath Is­ educational proposal sent to Congress Many have already committed them­ rael of Monsey. The event honors top would scrap the existing Chapter 2 selves to further steps in Torah study winners of the Agudath Israel youth and replace it with a funding program and mitzvah observance, and a follow­ movemenfs fumed Mishnayos B'Al Peh concentrating on teacher develop­ up program has been established to Contest, as well as participants in the ment. Yeshivos, which by nature of help them. Mishnayos L'Chvod HaBar Mitzvah their needs tend to use Chapter 2 program who have studied the entire funding most heavily in other areas, Shisha SidreiMishna. would suffer substantially if the VAAD L'HATZOLAS NIDCHEI YISROEL Clinton measure were passed as is. SEMINAR IN PUSHKIMA. NEAR Hence Agudath Israel's deep involve­ MOSCOW, DRAWS ISO JEWS BNOS CHAVIVOS'S SPECIAL GIRLS ment in the issue. The continuing success of Agudath CELEBRATE GROUP'S ROLE lN Israel's Vaad L'Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel THEIRLIVES tn its outreach activities in the former The girls of Bnos ChaVivos enjoyed FIGHT lN SENATE OVER Soviet Union was amply tn eVidence this an enchanting evening at the program's ENTITLEMENTS OF NON-PUBLIC Winter at the latest ofits series ofregu­ sixth annual Melava Malka this Winter. SCHOOL STUDENTS lar Torah Seminars, held at a retreat Created specifically for girls who are de­ WASHINGTON-Also as the J.O. near Pushkima, outside Moscow. Some velopmentally delayed, Bnos ChaVivos was going to press, a battle was betng 180 Jews from such locales as gives themaBnosAgudath Israel group waged on Capitol Hill over a one-sen­ Chilyalstnsk, Dnieperpotrovsk, Gamel, of their own to go to, to join with other tence section tacked on to the U.S. Kiev, Nizhny-Novogrod, Poltova, Sa­ children every Shabbos afternoon, to Senate's version of the "Goals 2000: mara, Saratov, St. Petersburg, and, of sing, to play, and to learn--just like all Educate America" act now before Con- course, Moscow,-attended, among them the other girls their age.

The Jewish Observer, March 1994 53 Now Cannel Wines have the Hashga(ha of~,~ "~~ i~ic crin ~in ...

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YOU CAN'T CHOOSE A BETTER MILK! Demonstrate your solidarity with the Torah Action Coalition of Agudath Israel The movement that brings together the broadest spectrum of Orthodox Jewry in America for effective action addressing the needs of Klal Yisroel the world over. You ENCOURAGE THIS UNITY BY JOINING THE DIVERSE ASSEMBLAGE PARTICIPATING IN THE

Jt!.nnual , New York Marriott Marquis ·HONORING: CHAIM GROSS MENACHEM LUBINSKY YITZCHOK GANGER HaGaon Rav Memorial Award Reh Elimelcch Tress Memorial Award Moreinu Yaakov Rosenheim Memorial Award for distinguished service to Torah for preservation of the legacy of the Shearis HaPleitoh for distinguished service to Agudist ideak Community Service/cm;m n71.:w Awards will also be presented at this occasion Please make your dinner reservation now. Acommemorative journal with greetings and advertisements will be published on this occasion. RSVP: $400 per couple or $500 in journal ads. (no appeals) • If you cannot attend in person, let your journal ad speak for you.