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' ' ' THE I , ,- ,, ' / .' It' i 'I ewts.···, IN THIS ISSUE 1 :BSEltvE.R SHARING THE BURDENS OF OUR FELLOWS THE JEWISH OBSERVER 7 SAVING KLAL YrsROEL W1TH CHESSED, {ISSN) 002.1-6615 IS Pl!llUSBt:O MONl'Hl.Y, EXCEPT JlJl.Y & AUGUSl Aryeh Zev Ginzberg AND A COMBINED JSSUI' FOR JANUA£1YiFEJHHJARY. BY HIE 10 THE AWESOME POWER OF HAMISPAl.E!L AGUDATH !SRAEL or AMHUCA. 42 BHOADWAY. NEW YOllK, NY 10004. BEfAD CHAVEIRO, l'ERIODICAl.S POSTA{;E PAID IN NEW Rabbi /-leshy K/einrnan YOllK, NY. SUBSCRIPTION S25.oo/ Yl-:AR; 2 Y!'.ARS. $48.00; 3 YEAllS. S69.00. Ou-rs1or-: Of THE UNITED 16 DIMENSIONS OF AN AMEil BATORAH: STATES (l'S HINDS DRAWN ON A \JS RABBI SHMUEL BERENBAUM,?'·::-Ir, BANK ONLY) S15.oo SllRCMAHt;E !'ER YEAR. SINGLE COPY $3.50; OursJDE Rabbi Shirnon Finkelman N)' AREA S:;.95; FOIH:H;N $4.50. 42 THE CLUTTERED NEST POSTMASTER: tvlarsha on1acw•1 SF:ND ADURf.SS CH,\NGES TO; TEL 212-797-9000, FAX 646-254• 1600 PIUNTED IN THE USA LETTER FROM RAUH! NtSSON WO!.PJN, Fditor 19 SOME LESS OBVIOUS LESSONS Fd1toriol Jiourd fRQf\/I THE MAYORAL ELECTION, RABBI AOBA 8RUDNY RAllBI JOSE!'!! EU.AS Yonoson Rosenb!urn JOSEPH fRIEl)ENSON RABBI YISROEL MElll KllO".NEH R·\Hf:ll NosSON SCIH·:RMAN PROF. /\1\RON TWERSKI HIGHER LIGHTS OF CHANUKAH /"i)(fndcrs DR. ERNST I.. BODENHEIMER Z"L 23 THE CANDLES AND THE STARS, RA!lBI MOSHE SHJCRER Z"J. Rabbi YorHson Goldson Mmmgcnwnt Board NAFTOU H1nsc1-1, ISAAC KIRZNEI~. 27 WAKE UP AND FIGHT, RAHIH S!H,OMO LUHN, DAVID SINGER, NACHUM STEIN Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Rcinrnan

Mas. LEAH ZAGEt.BA!IM, 31 PLEASE KEEP THE SHADES DovvN ! 4drcrtisin_q i\fonoqrr Rabbi Sholon1 Srnith PlJBUSIH:O W¥ A(;UOATll lsR,\El. OF AMEIOt;A 32 Zos CHANUKAl1, A POEM BY Liba Liehcrrnan

U.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTOR REALLY MISSING IT, A POEM BY Bracha Goetz FE!.DllElM PUBUSHERS 20/l Airport hrcutive /hr/; Nonurt. NY 10.'):>4. 33 "/SH YEHUDI": THE LIFE AND THE LEGACY OF A GREAT, RAv JosEPH Tzv1 CARLEBACH, Bl~lTISl-I REl'l~ESl'.NTArJVE M.1: llnn:l.MAN A REVIEVV ARTICLE BY Rabbi Yosef Gavrr'ef Bechhofer Crownmr \\hr/is Mmmll'/mwmtllilf 39 REMEMBERING THE PoNOVEZHER RAv, i,··~r, l.ondon !:[; yNL fNC!AND (HAPTER T\NO, FROM THE MEMOIRS OF l'RJ·.NCIJ ru:PRESENTATlVE RAB!ll BAMBERGf:R Rabbi Sh!onro Lorincz 21 llou/rrnrd /'aixhans 57000 Metz. IRA!\'Cf

lSRAEl.I !U-:PRESF.NT.'\TIVE COVER PHOTO: Rabbi E/iyahu Shllill l-l-v'>'n> helps an INTNI.. MEDIA PLACEMENT .-ivriech from Kolle/ Yesod Rcfoel get his van started outside l'Oll 11fJ5 I .'17./r_1f/CT h~x1d ofYcshi1'a Gedo/ah Matisyahu (}'e/111da Boltsha11scr) jcnm1/rm .'J4.J4.ll. ISl?Afl.

llEl.GIAN rtEPllESENTATIVE Ml~. E. APTER STATEMENT OF POLICY l.miye Kicvil~lr. 29 201/i An/"r1p. BF/.Gf( IM Ti-IE JEWISH 0BSl-:IIVl·:R llAS DEVOTED A (;HEAT DEAi. Of SPACI; IO rHF. PERILS OF THE INTEHNET AND TO THE NEEIJ Fon EVERYONE ro SOUTH Al-'HICAN RICPllESENTA­ BE !·:x·n~EM!-:1.Y VIGii.ANT IN ITS USE. WE HAVE Et: HOED TllE P!.EAS THE JEWISH OBSERVER DOES NO r ·'-SSUME nvr OF OUR GEDOUM fHAT IT SfiOULD NOT IH: IN USE. UNLESS IT IS AN MR. TAIJACK V. J~FSPONSllJIUTY FOR TIU: KASH RIIS OF ANY !'RODUCT, UNAVO!OABl.E NECESSITY. AND THEN ()NLY WITH Al.I. -~l!ITAIU.F !'(J Hox 51:>:>2. SAfEGl!ARDS. Wllll_r: ITS DANGEl~S MUST BE RECOGNIZED AND CON- Rardcnr·. Johmmc~b11rg l'UIH.ICATION. OR SEHV!CI-: AJ)Vf:RT!SF.D IN l rs Pi\(;F.s fHOl.l.ED ro EVERY !'OSS!IH.E DEGllU·:. OUH (;EDOLJM RECOGNIZF. THA'I : 2124 SO/r!l-IAFRIG' i MANY PEOPLE AND llllSINE.<;.'<;f;.<; REQUIRE IT.~ L'SE. AN!) l'Hlo'HEFORE Ir I' SlR,\! \AN NTATIVI R~PlHSl HAS NOT llEEN BANNFO. THIS JS \VHY WE ACCEPT .... DVEffrlSE'M·'''..·.·.'. ,',',.. •'' Dn A DlNNFN © COPYRIGHT 2008 (,!STING WUJSITE ADDRESSFS. !lUT IN NO WA'" 01n;s THIS IMPLY THAI l'Ht: Gr-:oouM OU THE JEWISH O!JSl·.nVER CONDONE Ci\SliAI. 77 ll1rnqa Road DECEMBER 2008 I VOLUME XLI NO, 9 '1k "" lid/ m ""' •\I '51R 11 IA fl-IE INTERNET. L ---- -""--- __J .. #i)/oY1t

"-Shin[() A(IOflbai 7">1'1

RABBI GAVRIEL NOACH HOLTZBERG, i"'i1 RIVKA HOLTZBERG, i"'i1 RABBI ARYEH LEIB TEITELBAUM, i"'i1 RABBI BENZI ON KRUMAN) i"'i1 NORMA RABINOVICH, i"'i1 Y OCHEVED 0RPAZ, i"'i1

OR DAYS, Kial Yisroeleverywhere was united in prayer, A recently widowed woman once came to the tzaddik concern, and longing for chasdei Hashem. Trapped Rabbi Aryeh Levin and showed him her Tehillim, pages Fin a building founded on chessed, menaced by thugs swollen from her tears. "What happened to all my tefillos whose own lives were as meaning1ess to them as those of the for my husband? Were they all wasted?" kedoshim they murdered, six holy elevated us through "No;' he assured her. "No tefilla is wasted. Your tefilloscould their ordeal, making myriads recognize that we are one in not save your husband, but they saved other women's hus­ our e1nuna and ahavas Yisroel. bands, other mothers' children, other Jews from suffering." The rabbi and rebbetzin who lived in galus to maintain A few weeks later, she came back. ", remember what a haven for fellow Jews in need of a , you told me then? Tell me again:' a kosher meal, a Jewish corner in a hotbed of Our tefillos were not wasted. They avoda zara. A great talmid chacham and tzad­ Our tefillos brought us together in ahavas Yisroel and dik, murdered over his . A Chassid were not in emuna. Let us still remember that when going into galus to assure the rest of us that our emotions are no longer raw. In that our food was kosher. A baalas teshuva pre­ wasted. They way, may we merit chasdei Hashem for paring to turn her back on her past and her brought us ourselves and Kial Yisroel. face to Eretz Yisroel. A young woman who .il"::l:llln yearned for a Jewish atmosphere. together in For all of these we prayed. And for all of ahavas Yisroel these we mourn. PI-TOTO: Part of the crowd at the funer­ and in emuna. al of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Teitelbaum.

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ii fiving Kial Yisroel ITH CHESSED We live in frightening times. No less a personality than the gadol hador himself, Maran Hagaon Rabbi Yoseif Shalom Elyashiv N··v,7iv, has expressed in recent months to those closest to him that this is the most dangerous and frightening time in Eretz Yisroel since the founding of the Jewish State.

IS GRANDSON questioned After Oslo, the expulsion from Gaza his illustrious grandfather - (not disengagement, but expulsion), H who is not usually known for and the debacle of the last Lebanese War, expressing these types of sentiments on he has come to the realization that not current events, unless asked by others one of the colorful cast of personalities for his opinion - whether that is not in leadership positions in Bretz Yisroel somewhat of a guzma (exaggeration). In today has a clue as how to move forward his 97 years in Eretz Yisroel, he's surely from here. witnessed indescribable difficulties and suffering. (In fact, Rabbi Elyashiv lost a TuRN 1 NG THE TIDE twelve-year-old daughter in one of the .. · .. · · · .. · · .. · .... · .. · .. · .. · .. · manybombingsofYerushalayimduring Is there anything that we can do to the War of Independence in 1948.) somehow turn the tide and bring And Rabbi Elyashiv responded briefly rachamei Shamayim (Heavenly and pointedly, "There is a madman who compassion) towards us in these trou- is consumed with hatred for Kial Yisroel bling times? The answer Ghazal teach and has or will have nuclear weapons, us is Yes. The relates that when and has every intent of using them on Avraham Avinu met Sheim for the first Bretz Yisroel. Is there anything more time, he asked him, "What did you do dangerous than that?" while you were in the teiva (Noach's If we are truly living in such a dan- ark) during the Mabul (Flood)?" Sheim gerous time, as the gadol hador posits, replied, "Our days and nights were spent what can we do about it - other than, providing food for the many animals of course, pour our hearts out in tefilla? that were with us on the teiva." Even the most ardent Zionist among The Midrash needs explanation. Why us, who always looked to some form would Avraham Avinu, who was not of political leadership to help us out of alive during the Mabul, want to know a mess, has:a~-change~outlook __ :o~they occupi~thei~me:] r-=···-_·------~-=---·----=·--DE-C=_--E M-H=;-R ·=--0 0 8··------~~~·-···········-=-i

teiva? What practical lesson could he potent method of arousing Divine ated with chessed, as the passuk testifies: derive from knowing this fact? mercy. "Titein chessed leAvraham:' The Philadelphia Rosh Hayeshiva, Avraham absorbed this message well Our gedolei Yisroel have taught us Rabbi N"P''nl, elucidated and derived the following lesson: If by example that every small act of this Midrash with an extremely rel­ caring for animals can provide merit to chessed is of paramount importance, evant thought. He explained that what save people during the total destruction that one must make time for chessed in Avraham Avinu wanted to know was: of the Flood, how much more effective one's daily life, despite the multifaceted When the Flood was raging in all would it be to care for human beings, responsibilities that they carry in leading its fury, what did you do to arouse created in the tzellem Elakim, to invoke Kial Yisroel. Hashem's mercy? Sheim responded salvation during a time of Hashen1's It was widely known that the Chofetz that their days were filled with feed­ wrath! And so Avraham Avinu dedicated Chaim 7··~r, even at an advanced age, ing the animals, which is pure chessed. his life to chessed to his fellow man to would personally make the bed for an Performing genuine chessed is the most the extent that he became forever associ- overnight guest at his home, despite the availability of others to do so. The Chazon !sh 7"lll, who never wasted a moment fron1 learning, would give of his precious time to talk to any­ one who would come to him, because, he would explain, he is obligated to perform chessed like anyone else. When the Manchester Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Yehuda Zev Segal 7"lll, would leave at night to return to his home, he would deposit the students' letters in a mailbox on his way, and before doing so, he would say, "Hareini mechavein • lekayeim mitzvas assei shel chessed." (It is my intention to fulfill the positive commandment of doing chessed.)

THE INDIVIDUAL DIMENSION It hurts e are a great community of chessed. We have Bikur W Cholim, , Tomchei Shab­ bos, Misaskin1, Hatzolah, etc. etc. Baruch Hashem, there are too many organiza­ tions to list in the space allotted to me. But these are community chessed projects. What about us, as individuals? It feels better just to talk about it. That's Do we let even one day go by without why we're here. Our staff is made up of doing chessed for another person (and caring and sensitive individuals. Together, this does not refer to tzeddaka which, we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals of course, is also chessed). for counseling, legal advice or help in The Chofetz Chaim 7"'11 in his Sefer finding a safe environment. We can also Ahavas Chessed challenges us to perform put you in touch with some very special . But in order for us to reach out to a cheshbon hanefesh (a spiritual account­ you, you must first reach out to us. ing) each and every night before we go Confidential Hotline 1.888.883.2323 to sleep, and ask ourselves if we did at (Taff Free) least one act of chessed for someone else on that day. That someone else 718.337.3700 can be a spouse, parent, child, sibling D0 I•t f or yourse If . (NYC Area) or stranger; it's not the identity of the Do it for your chi Id ren. Shalom Ta>k Force,., a 501(c){3) chantable organ1zat1on recipient that is important, it's the act i

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I If Rabbi Svei teaches us from the Then, Binyamin did a most incred­ Midrash that the only thing that can ible thing. He proceeded to change the arouse Divine mercy in a tin1e of din His individual tires on all of the other stranded cars (as Rabbi Elyashiv said we are living in in that spot, and that included people today), then it behooves each and every act of chessed from a wide range of races and nation­ one of us to do our part - to do a little was mezakeh alities. When they wanted to pay him, more chessed to our fellow . It is not the rabbim he refused. My daughter explained to a difficult assignment. We just have to her newly made friends that there is open our eyes a bit wider and then grab (benefited many). an organization called Chaveirim who the opportunities. An insignificant volunteer their time and their skills to I Years ago, the of help people, and they do it for free. (My I, 1nenaheil Torah Vodaath, Reb Sharaga Feivel act, no big deal, daughter did hand them envelopes from I Mendelovitz ';:r~r. came into his the reader may Chaveirim, in case they would want to I room to begin a session, and there be thinking. The send a donation to the organization to I were not enough chairs in the room. help defray their costs. They all said that He noticed that two students had gone Midrash begs to they would gladly do so.) out, and each had brought back just differ. The Midrash Then - to underscore the message - I one chair for himself. He said to them, the following occurred: As the various I "You each brought back a chair for says that it's these folks were getting back into their cars yourself, so you are each a 'shlepper.' very acts that to return to their own little worlds, If you would have brought in another they turned to my daughter and said, ' chair for someone else, you would be a avert Hashem's "You Jews are such special people. It's a ba'al chessed." wrath. surprise that with people like Benjamin Chessed opportunities abound. We that your still has not appeared. just have to open our eyes to notice You truly do deserve his coming:' the opportunities. Recently, the first If Chazal record in the for I real snowfall of the season came on leading from the Nassau Expressway posterity the statement of one Arab an early Friday morning. In my shul, to the Belt Parkway. Apparently, a large praising the honesty of the Tanna Rabbi there is, Baruch Hashem, standing room pothole had developed and caused one Shimon hen Shetach ("Blessed be the I only; yet, one fellow, quietly, without of her tires to be sliced in half. After G-d of Shimon ben Shetach") for his being asked, came early on Friday and her incident, another six or seven cars act of integrity, then I wonder what shoveled the walkway and steps to the hit the very same pothole with the very was going on in Shamayim when those shul, so it would be easier for people to same results. words of praise for the kindness of the con1e into shul. Stranded on the side of the road in Jewish People were expressed on the Everyone saw the need, but one an unsafe place, she called me for help. shoulder of the Belt Parkway one cold individual reacted. His individual act Not being in the area (and, truthfully, morning last year! of chessed was mezakch (benefited) the not knowing how to change a tire, Undoubtedly, those other drivers rabbim (many). An insignificant act, no either), l did not know what to do. I never heard of the Midrash that we big deal, the reader may be thinking. decided to try Chaveirim, an organiza- quoted earlier, or of Rav Elya's explana- The Midrash begs to differ. The Midrash tion of baalei chessed who give of their tion of it. But one thing is certain. That says that it's these very acts that avert time and expertise to help others in morning of chessed brought the foot- Hashem's wrath. distress. Within minutes, they called steps of Moshiach that much closer. back and said that one of their members In this time of great sakana (haz- A "CHAVEIR" IN NEED was driving in the area, and he would ard) for Kial Yisroel, let each and every · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · attempt to help. one of us do a little chessed for each nd then there are some acts Abouthalfanhourlater,mydaughter other. Let us not underestimate the of chessed that provoke such a called me with the most uplifting story great power and influence that a little A "tumult" in Heaven that you can that I have heard in a long time.A mem- chessed can have on arousing Hashem's hear the footsteps of Moshiach com- ber of Chaveirim named Binyamin (no mercy and bringing an end to all of ing from around the bend. One such last name given) stopped and quickly our suffering. act of chessed happened to a member changed the tire on my daughter's car. After all, it may truly be said one of my family a few months back. My The other stranded motorists expressed day that saving Kial Yisroel is as easy eldest daughter, Shoshana, was on her out loud to my daughter how"you Jews as changing a flat tire. May we truly be way to her Special Ed teaching job in are so special that you are always avail- zocheh to witness that glorious day in

Lklyn- a~d~u~n~d -onto-the~oad-- abl~t~hel~eac~oth~ out~- -- -- ~~ v~~ n~a~uture------~ RABBI HESHY KLEINMAN The Awesome Power of Hamispaleil Be1ad Chaveira Praying on Behalf of a F1·iend

T WAS A SINGULAR MOMENT in days later, he proposed a strategy to defeat "Imagine a couple that has been wait- time and history. One of the few this decree: praying for one another. ing three years for a child. Who can have I remaining roshei yeshiva of the pre­ He based his proposal on Chazal's1 an inkling of the pain they suffer month vious generation- Rabbi Chaim Stein of words that, "Kol hamevakeish rachamim after month, year after year? Imagine if Telshe-was marking the sheloshim (30 al chaveiro vehu tzarich le'oso davar, they invest their hearts and souls in tefilla days of mourning) of his beloved son, hu ne' eneh techila - If one beseeches for someone else who has been waiting for Rabbi Sholom Raphoel Yehuda Stein. [Hashem J for mercy for his friend and five or six years. What an amazing way What was paramount in the Rosh he himself is in need of that same thing, to arouse rachamei Shamayim (Divine Yeshiva's mind at this moment? Only he is answered first.'" mercy)!" 3 Kial Yisroel's pressing need for Divine "Imagine a girl who has already been Facing these situations or any of the mercy. At his son's funeral one month waiting three years and has still not been troubles that arise in life, one naturally earlier, he had conveyed his conviction blessed with finding her mate," the Rosh turns to the power of prayer. Indeed, that the Jewish people were experiencing Yeshiva said. "Imagine if that girl will a person's heartfelt plea to Hashem the effects ofa harsh Heavenly decree that invest her very heart and soul in tefilla on his own behalf is a potent conduit was resulting in the great heartbreak of to daven for another girl who has been of blessing and Divine assistance. But young women fruitlessly searching for their waiting four or five years .... Feeling the when those prayers emanate from an shidduchim (marriage partners). Now, 30 pain of the other is a truly effective way open heart - one that is connected to to arouse Divine mercy. and pulsing with the emotions of his "Imagine a mother who has been fellow Jew as well - they carry a vastly 4 RABBI KLEINMAN LECTURES INTERNATIONALLY searching without success for a greater power. Measure for measure, ON TEFll.LA, AND IS THE AUH-IOR OF PRAYING for her own daughter. Imagine if she Hashem rewards our compassion for WITH f'IRE: A F/VE·MINUT!O LESSON-A-DAY, AND would likewise daven and invest effort, each other with an abundant flow of PRAYING WITH F/RF. - 2 (ARTSCROLL MESORAH) making phone calls and inquiries into Divine compassion upon us. FROM WHICH THE ABOVE ARTICLE WAS ADAPTED. Ht~ JS CO FOUNDER OF THE V'ANJ Tt-:FILAH FouNDATION, fi nding a shidduch fior someone else's 3 Adapted from "The Shidduch Crisis: A Message DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THf: IMPORTANCE OF ~aughter. --~ of Chizuk From the Zekan Roshei Yeshiva in PRAYER AND EDUCATING FOR EFFECTIVE TEFU.LA. 1 Bava Kan1ma 92a America," by Avraham Birnbaum, Yated Neeman, HE IS ALSO COFOUNOER OF THE HAKHEL Pt.IBL.IC 2 See Sefer Ahavas Chessed, ch. 8, s.v. "Od yeish May, 2007. LECTURE PROGRAM IN , A MEMBER OF be'inyanei hachessed" that this applies even if 4 See Sefer Ahavas Chessed, Ch. 8, s.v. "Od yeish AGLIDATH !SRAEl.'S COMMISSION ON KEDUSl-IAS one prays for another and he himself is not "in be'inyanei hachessed"that praying for another to BAIS HAKNESSES, ANO A FREQl'ENT CONTRIBU­ need of that same thing," as we find that when be relieved from his difficulties is included in the rOR TO JO. _A_v_r_a-ha_r_n_A_v-in-11_p_r-ay_e_d_t_h_at_S_e_d_o"_m_b_e_s_a_ve--d-· ___m_1_tz_v_a_h_of performing kmdness for anoth~ 10 .-.--.--.-·--- --·--·---:--lHE--·-·-·-- JEWISH OBSl·.RVER-- -:--- -.-.------·-----·=-i - --.. --·------.. ·------.. --.--.. ------·-··------·------·-·--·------·---

The following letter to the author of language, e.g., "Refa'einu Hashem venei­ and that he is, in effect, praying on his 1 Praying With Fire on the 25th day of rafei, hoshi'einu ve'nivashei'a- Heal us, own behalf. " Tishrei, 5768 (October 7, 2007) provides Hashem - then we will be healed; save This empathy is easier to perceive testimony to the awesome power of us - then we will be saved." 7 between c]ose relatives. For instance, praying for another. What is the secret of this plural when a mother prays for her child, she Dear Rabbi Kleinman, form of prayer? If one person's suf­ is in effect praying for herself, as well. "Shalom! Do you remember me? fering is decreed in Heaven, then how There is no gap between the child's well­ I'm Mrs. Sara Altman5 from Toronto. can another person's prayer alleviate being and that of his parents. I wrote to you about my daughter it? While it is true that one can pray Although less obvious, all Jews are Chanie and her husband Shimon, for anything, including someone else's connected in a similar manner. The who had been struggling to have healing, prayer is effective because it affliction of any Jew, therefore, should a child. I described to you the many brings the one praying to a higher evoke prayers that are as urgent as they undertakings of tefilla, chessed, tzed­ spiritual state - a state which no lon­ would be if one were praying on his own daka (charity), receiving of berachos, necessitates suffering. 8 It therefore behalf. This is reflected in the custom etc. in which we engaged. would seem incongruous that Shimon's of the Ariza/13 that prior to praying, one "About a year ago, before the previ­ prayer, which elevates Shimon, can bring should accept upon himself the ous Rosh Hashana 5767, I was speak­ healing to Reuvein. "Ve'ahavta lereiacha kamocha - Love ing to my cousin in Yerushalayim. The Chasam Sofer9 explains that the your fellow Jew as you love yourself." She mentioned that she, too, had a concept of praying for others is based Michtav MeiEliyahu" concludes: daughter who had been married a on the fact that all Jews are part of the "Every individual prays for the whole while and had not yet had chil­ one body and soul called the Jewish community, and his prayers are a thou­ dren. I suggested that both girls nation. 10 Therefore, the affliction of sand times more valuable in this form exchange names and pray for the another Jew should make one feel as than if every individual had merely other. They did - and davened with though one of his own limbs is affected" prayed for himself. In this way each intense emotion for each other (as prayer is purer, because it is devoid of \ we - the mothers - also did). Well, 7 SefCr cl~idim,-;i~na~-·553-~See .. Michtav selfish interest, and communal spirit is I both young women had their first MeiEfiyahu, vol. I, bottom of p. ISO. fostered." . children on thesameday-TODAY- 8 Chovos Halevavos (Cheshbon Hanefesh 18); Sefer !-fa'ikarim, nia'amar 4, 18; Nesivos _ the 25th dayofTishrei, 5768- one in ch. and WITHHOLDING SALVATION Jerusalem, the other in !" Olam, Nesiv Ha'avoda, ch. 2. See also Praying With I Fire, Preface: "Prayers Are Always Effective," by ' If such a story doesn't show you the Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, p. xvi; ibid. Day 12: he hero of the story hangs by I remarkable effects of praying for others, "The New You;' p. 73 and Day 14: "The Inner three fingers over a 500-foot what does? Workings," p. 76. drop into a rocky crevasse. As 9 Derashos Chasani Sofer, vol. 2, p. 305, s.v. T "Ve'in1 ki"; She'eilos UTeshuvos Chasam Sofer, the hero struggles to save himself, the LOVE AND PRAYER Orach Chaim, siman 166. Also, see Yerushalmi villain looks on ruthlessly. He refuses • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • · • • • • • • • • • • • Nedari1118:4; Ya'aros[)evash, vol. I, Drush l;Anaf to lend a hand. The reader's heart f ahavas Yisroelis the Jewish People's Yoseif on Shabbos 3Ja, and Igros Moshe, Yoreh pounds with outrage. How could a treasure chest of merit, this level of Dei'a, vol. 4, si1nan 51, and Pachad Yitzchak on human being stand idly by and watch Pesach, ma'a1nar4l. I ahavas Yisroel- the ability to look JO Maharal similarly explains that the Jewish -12.Se~Michta;M~i.Eiiyahu,v~J:l;p.1s6~he~~ , beyond one's own suffering and fee] People are not merely a collection of disparate Rabbi Dessler cites an additional explanation, I the suffering of someone else - is the individuals; it is an integral unit - nluch like a namely, that the healthy person, through his tefiUa, diamond in the treasure. The power human body that, although made up of manydif- draws closer to Hashem. 1-Iis sick friend, who is the ferent organs and limbs, comprises an integrated catalyst for his prayers, also becomes "an instru- of praying for others is so great that and unified being. There are times when G-d ment in the revelation of G-d's glory," thereby the Anshei Knesses Hagedola, Men of causes certain parts of the "body" to suffer for enabling him to receive Hashe1n's blessings. the Great Assembly, established the the sins of the organis1n as a whole. The punish- See also Praying With Fire, Preface: "Prayers Are text for Shemoneh Esref in a plural ment is often directed against the essential part of Always Effective;' by Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, the organism, for, in effect, this is a punishinent p. xvi:" ... When people pray for the recovery of a -- .. -----·-·---·-~---~-·------· against the body as a whole. sick person and in the process draw closer to the 5 Names have been changed. Therefore, suffering nlay be directed against Alm-ghty, it is the sick person who has caused this 6 See Megillah l ?b-lSa; also, see Shitta Mekubetzes the most righteous of individuals, for they are the transformation, and the merit goes to him. The on Berachos 28b, s.v. "1'ilnnu Rabbanan:' Also, see community's support and lifeblood. The essential more people that pray for him and are elevated, Beis E/okiin Lehamabit Sha'ar Hayesodos, ch. 61 part of the community may likewise be deemed to the more merit he accu1nulates. Ultiinately, the s.v. "Unia sheshana beMegilla." The text was beitsschoolchildren,foritisthroughthe1neritof sick person hi1nself is transformed by all the established at the beginning of the era of the their innocent that the community merit he has accumulated, albeit without his Second Beis Haniikdash. Four hundred years later, draws its sustenance. Thus, schoolchildren may knowledge, and the decree against hitn may be I after the Beis Hatnikdash was destroyed, the text be afflicted for the sins of the generation Also, rescinded .." \ was rearranged Into our current format under see Maharsha, Ta'an1s 29a, s v "N1gzera gezetra" 13 Cited by Mage1n Avraham, beginning of s1man the direct~on ~ Rab~ban Gamliel, as the onginal 11 See Sifse1 Chay1n1 - M1ddos Va'avodas 46 and Kttzur , si11u1n 12, se'if2 nee ad een or gotten. Ha5hem, vol. 1, p. 398; and S1chos Mussar, Lereggel 14 See M1chtav Me1Eliyahu, vol. l, p. 150 and Ha1natzav, nia'an1ar 2, p 458, s.v. "Ule'e1l" Strive For Truth,], vol. 2, p 157. ll L:-----·------__ .... someone else suffer when the solution During the 1913 murder trial of knows that while one Jew stands on is right at band? Mendel Beilis in Russia, Jews from trial here, the outcome affects every "fhis, in essence, is the indictment all over the world contributed to the Jew, everywhere!',21 put forth by the Gemara" against one defense fund. Rabbi Mazeh, Chief Feeling for a fellow Jew's plight is not who refrains from praying for a fellow Rabbi of Moscow, served as bis chief only an imn1easurable enhancement Jew in need: advocate. Among the accusations to one's power of prayer, it is essential. Rabba bar Chinena the Elder said was that of a Moldovan friar; he Furthermore, it is a reflection of the in the name of Rav: "Anyone who claimed that the Talmudic state­ truth, not just from the view of Heaven, has the opportunity to beseech G-d ment" that the Jewish people alone but from the view of mankind as well. 22 for mercy on behalf of his fellow are called <

21 Daf Digest, Chicago Center For Torah and 1' Chessed, No. 855, Yevamos 61 22 See Sefer Alci Shur, vol. 2, end of p. 222. I See also Mesillas Ycsharim, end of ch. 19. , 1 23 Rambam, Matnas Aniyi1n, 10:2 1 24 Devarim 14,l 1 ------·-·------.. ------.. ------·-··-----··---··------· ------· . "M"'"'~~W"' ~·~"" N.,,, W:J ...... he stages of a man's life are many commandments I and varied. Each infant begins work in concert to Torah enables one to become capable • Tlife as a completely selfish being, b k of responding to the needs of others, I caring solely to be fed, comforted and help a person rea and ultimately, to emulate the ways cherished. Some individuals never grow free of the self- of G-d. beyond that point emotionally. Others serving attitude grow to such heights that they seem TAKEN To HEART almost superhuman in their ability with which he is to give to others while barely drawing born, and to step ilnon had been an accountant at sustenance from this world. They merge he same firm for 15 years. Reliable, themselves with Hashe1n's ways and into the thoughts Sccurate and astute, he had become become a vessel of His Torah, vvisdon1 and feelings of an indispensable tnember of the tean1 - and kindness. until one day, the "team" merged with One day, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein those around him. another firm and opted to cut costs by received distressing news. Before downsizing. The first to go were long-time, Mincha, he instructed the chazzan lifelong endeavor, and one of the key highly paid employees. Suddenly, Shimon in Yeshiva Tifereth Jerusalem not challenges in spiritual growth. was out of a job. to wait for him to finish his silent Because it is so essential to a mean­ He called his brothe1; Levi, hoping to Shemoneh Esrei. That afternoon, ingful life, this is the concept the find a sympathetic ear. "What's the big it took Rabbi Feinstein nearly one Talmudic sage Hillel chose to impart deal?'' Levi told him. "You'll find some­ hour to recite Shemoneh Esrei, as he when asked by a potential convert to thing else. Don't get so uptight." Then Levi poured his whole heart into beseech­ to encapsulate the entire Torah proceeded to discuss some difficulties that ing his Creator to come to the aid of in one directive. Hillel responded, "That he was having at work. Shimon listened those in distress. 26 which you hate, do not do to others:'" in silence, astounded that his brother Arriving at this level of compassion Sensitivity toward others is the com­ seemed unmoved by his plight. It was as for others is not a simple matter, for mon thread that runs throughout the if he were a total stranger. I even well-meaning people are caught up 10rah.29 In truth, however, Judaism expects in their own lives and challenges. There All work in a complete stranger - if he is a fellow is no question that when one, Heaven concert to help a person break free of Jew- to react with far more compassion !I forbid, undergoes suffering, he is able the self-serving attitude with which he than did Levi. A Jew is meant to live up to feel what another person is going is born, and to step into the thoughts to the dictum" nosei be'ol im chaveira"­ through. No one, however, would wish sharing the "yoke" of his friend. The to be afflicted with all kinds of suffer- 28 Shabbos 3 J a mere knowledge that someone is suf- ing simply so that he could empathize 29 See Sefer Sichos Mussar, 111a'a1nar 6, "Ahavas Haberiyos," p. 23. 30 See Sefer Machshevcs Mussar, vol. 2, p. 259,410. I with those in si1nilar straits. Pirkei Avas27 provides an alternative - "nosei I be'ol im chaveiro - sharing his friend's Why did the Chafetz Chaim & R' Chaim i burden." Ozer Grodzinsky start Ezras Torah? I Developing compassion for situa­ tions that lie outside one's own personal experience is a long-term process. As a child grows out of infancy, he begins I to discover that to interact positively TO SAVE TALMIDEI GHOGHOMIM FROM I with others, he must take their needs into account. At first, he shares his toys In an ide:1J \Wrld. those who~t~1~1h~~·l~"!~,~;·1~.~~!,~ J~~~'~O'~l~~.:.~he R:1l1bonim, /l;iyanim and \ li\l•' !O Tornh wo1•ld Ill' re<:ognilt"'ll as the Funds. \Veddf11J! Orpht/J/ A.<.rnh dt~·olion and scholars and families stand ·1 Jn l'.r<'l'l n,r:wl toJ1HHi1mt-'ll1 :m \'\'t'rlas!ing edifice thal strong! other people begin to have an inherent r ------· ------" 1 value to hi1n. He comes to understand I v. 'IW<>ll.lclJ1kc1nhdpE1rJs]iH"ah! Pit'aSl'c~ntac1mt>rcR:lrdin)!.e~tJbli~hiuga11Ezra.~.rornhfm1dfora: I Fndo.«'c!" my 1a~·dl'{lum1Jle _, b1dm11uncn1 nmd :J hmg. Mc1hcal hind :J fi'celoan Fund 1 l leS 1 1 that they, too, have needs. Nonetheless, I • crnunbuti<>nf

SETTING THE STANDARD 38

itzy was only five years old, one of 20 boys in Rabbi Bressler's" Alef­ Y Beis class. He sat with the other children around low, rectangular tables, as they pointed to the letters in their primers and pronounced their sounds. Yitzy noticed that Davi, who sat beside him, was lost. He quickly leaned over, turned Dovi's primer to the right page, Evaluation and a full range of and pointed out the place. Therapeutic Services provided How did little Yitzy find it in his heart at our Center or in the privacy to notice and respond to Dovi's plight? He of your home simply did for Davi what his father was Bilingual Services Available always doing for him - finding him the right page in the Siddur in shul, finding Services are provided based on the child's needs 31 Shabbos 67a him the page in the bentcher, helping 32 Vayikra 13,45 as detennined by the NYC Early Intervention him find the page in his workbook. Yitzy Program. The Early Intervention Officia1 will 33 A metzora is one who is rendered tamei by detennine the location and provider of any tzara'as - one of a variety of skin discolor- saw Dovi's need, and he knew just what needed services. This Early Intervention to do about it. Program is funded & regulated by the NYC Dept People learn by example. To forge a ofHealth & Mental Hygiene. Jewish nation characterized by the trait of sharing each other's burdens, Hashem Executive Offices: provided a vivid model to emulate. From 649 Thirty-Ninth Street the depths of their misery, the enslaved 11232 Jewish people called for Hashem's mercy. Brooklyn, New York Hashem then appeared to Moshe in the burning bush,40 signaling that "I am with Queens Office: them in their suffering."41 70-14 14/st Street Flushing, New York 1136 7 r-=~~_-_-_--_------~------~~~~~~·~_.:- ~~ ~~~~~======-i I Moshe, in turn, shouldered an I unimaginable burden that stands for effectiveness. While most people wish to to cre,ate a more_vivi,d image of the \ all time as the gold standard of em pa- have this trait, there are real obstacles: others d1fficult1es.4 Imagine his I thy for one's fellow. Raised with royal A lack of time and focus. If one hears anguished expression, his fears and , privilege and comfort, Moshe could of a situation that does not touch his hopes, even his family's feelings. I easily have insulated himself from the heart, it is usually because he has not Keep these images in mind as you suffering of the Jewish slaves. He keenly stopped to visualize the situation. That daven on his behalf. felt, however, that his fate was tied to may be because the person is harried 5.RabbiDessler''advises:"Jdentifywith that of his brethren, and he sought to and hurried, as so many people are, others both in heart and soul. A per- instill within himself the full measure and is "onto the next thing" before an son can come to look upon himself of compassion for their plight. emotional response can take hold. and his fellow Jews as one body if he "He went out to his brethren and Skepticism. Often, people protect acts with benevolence toward others saw their suffering."42 Rashi43 explains themselves from becoming emotionally with all his being. He will then feel that "He gave his eyes and heart to be involved in other people's difficulties completely united with them."" distressed for them:' The Midrash" by presuming that the difficulties are 6. The Chazon Ish"' suggests that "one further elaborates: either overstated, or that there are other should make an effort to do good Moshe Rabbeinu cried and said adequate sources of help available. and to help alleviate the other per- to himself: "I am so pained for There are several practical exercises son's pain, as actions influence one's them! I wish I could die for them! for one who wishes to develop a keener heart. Similarly, one should pray There is nothing as difficult as sense of empathy: regarding another's pain even if the making bricks!" He then offered his I. Be aware of your own emotions. As words do not emanate from one's own shoulders and helped as many you connect to the range of emo- heart ... :' Jews as he could with their heavy tional experiences within yourself, workload. you build a bridge to the emotions TAKING ACTION The example of Moshe Rabbeinu has of others. This motivates a person served as the paradigm to which every to step out of self-absorption and acing the current economic crisis true leader of the Jewish People has offer help. with all its uncertainties, we know aspired. They, in turn, set the example 2. Reflect on several situations in which Fthat the time has come to break for the ordinary people who are simply you were able to demonstrate empathy. through the rote habits and spiritual fog living their day-to-day lives and dealing Then compare them with situations that have locked us into galus. Vividly with their challenges, large and small. in which you missed opportunities feeling for and praying for the benefit From the example of Hashem to respond with empathy. of our fellow Jews is a powerful way to Himself, followed by Moshe Rabbeinu 3. Think of someone who is in a situ- reinvigorate our spiritual lives and bring and the great Torah figures of each ation for which tefillos are needed. renewed hope to all of Kial Yisroel for the generation, we come to understand that Imagine that you) Heaven forbid, refuos and yeshuos we long to see. li"il the challenges and adversities besetting were in that situation."' Contemplate others demand a response from us. They what you would want others to are our concern. Son1etimes) we are able daven for in that situation. 47 Michtav MeiEliyahu, vol. l, p. 45 to help in a practical way. Sometimes 4. When you hear of someone who 48 Ibid, vol. 3, p. 89. Sec also ibid, vol. I, bot­ tom of p. 37. we can only offer comforting words or needs your tefillos, use visualization 49 See Sefer Sichos Mussa1; ma'an1ar 6, a listening ear. Always, we can let their ·-·------··---- -·- botton1 of 25. 46 See Sichos Mussar, nu/an1ar 45, s.v. ''.4.havas Haberiyos'', p. suffering touch our hearts, and beg ''.'\sos Chessed."' p.191. 50 Letters of Chazon !sh, vol. 1, letter 123 Hashem through prayer to shower them with co1npassion. .PINC:u:AS lVCA.NDEL Over 50 years experience in Kvura in Eretz Yisrael STEPS TOWARD EMPATHY Serving the North Amcncan Public and Funeral Industry '/Nlt'~ 'l-'1N PN i111:li' (1N Vi7li7 Personal responsibility throughout sen: ice - NOT JUST "PAPERWORK" ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in llretz Yisrael 1628-421111 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204 ------flay & Ni..<.ht phone: (718) 851-8925 I I 42 She!nos 2,11 sea• ' 43 Jl,,d. )Vt>'r.!N1~r.!Nj7 Vl"j7 - )'1:l 1Nl n1r.lll)) 'll~

1 44 M•dcash, Shemos Rabba 1·27 Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved family. \ L""1 W••·~· "" ''"""'' ...... ""'"'""''"" """' """'" • ·-·'"""'"'' . . ~ r-==--==--=-=~-- sH ~ R-~~lii~U!~~~~s:__~-~ ER 5~-=--=-~=---= I

I RABBI SHIMON FINKELMAN I I . I Dimensions of an l

1 Amen 1

I Another's i Burden" - I One qf the · Crucial I Qualities ! for Aquiring 1 Torah I IRKEI AVos (6:6) enumerates forty-eight qualities through I which Torah is acquired: humility, a good heart, accep- I P tance of suffering, purity, sharing another's burden and I being beloved, to list a few. Rav Chaim Volozhiner stated that one's attainment of Torah knowledge is in exact proportion to his efforts I for acquiring these qualities. For just as in monetary laws, one can­ not acquire an item without a valid kinyan (method of acquisition) that is specified by the Torah, so, too, one cannot truly "acquire" Torah without these 48 qualities. In the words of Rabbi Aharon • Kotler, '?"':llT, "These qualities of the soul are necessary so that the Torah [that he has learned] will remain with him." Rav Aharon adds that through ameilus baTorah, one develops I these qualities on yet a higher level.' I The following anecdotes involving the late Mirrer Rosh Yeshvia, I Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum, '?"":lit, illustrates how sublime is the per· i sonality of one who dedicates his life to toiling in Torah lishma. i I l See Mishnas Rav Aharon, vol. l, pp. 62-63. I • RABBI fl NKE!.M."-N, A REBBI Ji'<: YESHIVA D1\RC!IEI TORAH, FAR ROCKAWAY, I ( NY, JS A FREQl_iENT CONTRIBl!fOR TO TllES!'. PAGES. HE JS THE AUTHOR OF _J' SEVERAL BIOGRAP~IES Pl 'Bl.ISHF.0 BY ARTSCROU.MESORAH PUBLICATIONS,

MOST REC EN I LY f/VE' GRE'AT Lt.ADER5, 6 ·---.--... ----·------0,----·------·-----·-·------··------·-·---.. ---··-·-·------·- ~~ ~ ~ -~~~~~ ,; .. ~ .. ;,,;.;.:.. ••• - --- =-1

' ...... IN His MOMENT OF GRIEF r The was visibly upset. 1 bbi Moshe Weintraub was a He never would have intentionally 1 ta/mid of the Mirrer Yeshivah 1 Rrn , , and then allowed his talmid's wife to remain I America. Eventually, he joined the staff standing alone by the door while of Mesivta Torah Vodaath where he was I

a beloved shiur for decades. her husband sat at his table. This, '1, Rebbetzin Weintraub took ill and he felt, was a slight to her honor. was hospitalized in the same facil­ ity as the Rosh Yeshiva's son, Rabbi Quietly, he said to his ta/mid, "Our Leib Berenbaum, ~··1. One day, Rabbi discussion until now was not in Weintraub arrived at the hospital accompanied by his talmid, Rabbi Yoseif the realm of limud Hatorah - it was Goldstein. They took the escalator to bittul Torah." Then, he hurried to the second floor and waited outside the the door and invited the young elevator bank while an attendant went to get them something. A yeshiva student woman inside. stepped off the escalator, motioned for Rabbi Goldstein to move out of Rabbi Weintraub's earshot, and said, ed to speak to me after Mincha. I was door open and no one present. The "Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum is wait­ nervous the entire morning, thinking ta/mid had been in the Rosh Yeshiva's ing at the bottom of the escalator. His that this would be some sort of bechina home on nun1erous occasions and felt son, Reh Leib, just passed away and (examination). comfortable enough to step into the the Rosh Yeshiva is on his way upstairs "After Mincha, I entered the Rosh first room and wait for the Rosh Yeshiva to the niftar. The Rosh Yeshiva just Yeshiva's shiur room. He smiled and there. His wife, however, was not com­ looked up and saw Rabbi Weintraub invited me to sit down. His first words fortable doing this and she remained standing here. Rabbi Weintraub were, 'Vem1nen gleichst du besser - de near the door. always asks him how his son is. The Yankees oder de Dodgers? (Whom do you The Rosh Yeshiva soon appeared, Rosh Yeshiva does not want to tell Rabbi prefer - the Yankees or the Dodgers?)' greeted his ta/mid, sat down and imme­ Weintraub the news of Reb Leib's petira With that opening line, the Rosh Yeshiva diately launched into a Torah discussion. and thereby cause him anguish. He put me at ease. After a few minutes, the Rosh Yeshiva asked that you find some pretext to take "For the next forty minutes, the Rosh noticed a woman standing in the door­ him away from this area so that he can Yeshiva asked me all about myself, my way. "Do you know who this person is?" go upstairs." family, my hobbies .... I knew that he the Rosh Yeshiva asked his ta/mid. "My (A few years later, Rabbi Weintraub really cared about me. wife;' came the reply. passed away during the summer and "l remained in the yeshiva for five The Rosh Yeshiva was visibly upset. He the funeral was held in Torah Vodaath's years. The Rosh Yeshiva made a point never would have intentionally allowed Camp Ohr Shraga. The Rosh Yeshiva of speaking to me at least once a week. his talmid's wife to remain standing traveled from Flatbush to the Catskills Sometimes, he would ask me something alone by the door while her husband sat to take part in the funeral and be related to what I was learning; other at his table. This, he felt, was a slight to maspid.) times, we would just shmooze." her honor. Quietly, he said to his ta/mid, "Our discussion until now was not in WARMTH FOR A NEWCOMER PERSPECTIVE ON the realm of limud hatorah- it was bittul BITTUL" TORAH Torah:' Then, he hurried to the door and aakov E. joined the Mirrer beis invited the young woman inside. midrash in 1982. In his words: newlywed who was a close ta/mid Y "I was not that comfortable of the Rosh Yeshiva came with his during my first days in Mir. My way of A wife to the Rosh Yeshiva's home dress, though not outlandish, was not t a wedding, prior to the chupa, as as the typical Mirrer talmid. a man sat down next to the Rosh No one said anything to me, but I was A Yeshiva and introduced himself uncomfortable nonetheless. as a talmid's father. They began talking, "The Rosh Yeshiva must have sensed and soon the conversation turned to the my discomfort. One morning, he approached me and said that he want- --~------··---·--·--·--- DECEMBEH 2008

my years in the camp," the man said, "I managed to put on almost every day:' Throughout my years in Upon hearing this, the Rosh Yeshiva the camp," the man said, sprang to his feet in respect. "! cannot "I managed to put on tefil/in remain seated in your presence;' he said. A year and a half later, the Rosh almost every day." Yeshiva was walking with one of his sons Upon hearing this, the when he metthis man's son (who by that time had left the yeshiva). Turning to Rosh Yeshiva sprang to his his son, the Rosh Yeshiva said, "Do you feet in respect. "I cannot know this yungerman's father ... ?" remain seated in your

A SHABBOS GUEST presence," he said.

round ten years ago, this writer spent a Shabbos in Flatbush and A davened in the Mirrer Yeshiva on Friday night. After Maariv, after As she sat in the Rosh Yeshiva's pres­ dim" to challenge his chiddushim, and everyone had wished the Rosh Yeshiva ence, the young woman burst into tears. two of those lomdim (Rabbi Naftali "Gut Shabbos," there was almost no one The Rosh Yeshiva offered her words of Jaeger and Rabbi Moshe Brown) took up left in the beis midrash, save for the Rosh chizuk along with a heartfelt beracha, the challenge. The Rosh Yeshiva invited Yeshiva, my host and his guests, and and his words had a calming effect on each of these distinguished talmidei a fellow who clearly was not a Mirrer her. Shortly thereafter, she underwent chachamim to ascend the aron kodesh talmid- he wore a yarmulke but no hat, surgery, and her condition improved. platform so that he could better hear and a sweater but no jacket. Almost two years later, the Rosh him. And there they stood, the elderly My host began to make his way Yeshiva asked his talmid: "How is Leah gadol beYisroel and the much younger towards the young man to invite him for bas Sarah?"3 The talmid said that he did talmid chacham, debating the sugya these' udas Shabbos, but he was stopped not know to whom the Rosh Yeshiva was before a spellbound audience. It was an by a signal from the Rosh Yeshiva. This referring. The Rosh Yeshiva reminded unforgettable sight. young man would be his guest for the his talmid of the appointment that he The program ended around 10:00. se'uda. had arranged for the young man and Rabbi Yaakov Bender escorted the Rosh As we walked home behind the Rosh his sister. The talmid then recalled the Yeshiva to the car that would take him Yeshiva and his guest, I said to my host, incident and replied, "I have no idea back to Brooklyn. But the Rosh Yeshiva «Everyone knows of the greatness of how she is. After I arranged the appoint­ was not ready to go home. "Rebbetzin the Rosh Yeshiva's Torah. Now, I've had ment, I forgot ahout it." Kaplinsky lives here;' he said. "She is a chance to see his chessed." The Rosh Yeshiva replied, "That is not the almana of a Mirrer [from Europe]. My host, a close talmid of the Rosh the correct way. All of us must continue I inust visit her." Yeshiva, replied that he knew firsthand to be mispalleil on her behalf." Rabbi Bender accompanied the Rosh of the greatness of his chessed. Yeshiva on this visit. He recalls the TORAH AND CHESSED astonished look on the Rebbetzin's face FOREVER ON HIS MIND when she opened the door and found hen Mesivta Chaim Shlomo the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva standing there. young man told a friend who dedicated its new building in She invited her company into the small, was a ta/mid of the Rosh Yeshiva: W Far Rockaway some twelve ground-floor beis midrash of the shul A"My sister is in need of a refua years ago, the celebration began with where her husband had been the rav ' sheleima. Please give the Rosh Yeshiva her a gathering on Thursday evening at until his passing. The Rebbetzin sat at I name and ask that he daven for her." which the Rosh Yeshiva delivered a shiur. the eastern wall while the Rosh Yeshiva i The talmid replied, "I suggest that Though some in the audience did not and Rabbi Bender sat at the western ' you take your sister to the Rosh Yeshiva understand , all were captivated wall. The Rosh Yeshiva inquired about , and receive his beracha directly." by the Rosh Yeshiva's obvious passion the Rebbetzin's family and her well- The young man accepted his sugges- and excitement over the Torah concepts being. After some fifteen minutes, he : · tion and the talmidarranged an appoint- that he was sharing. rose to leave and return to Brooklyn, ! ment at the home of the Rosh Yeshiva. Midway through the shiur, the Rosh following a very accomplished evening 5 L______------;:;:;: ~~v~:::h~:~~:: ;::~;:,a;,'.::.:_ -o-f11-o-rah-a-nd-ch-es-sed_. ___ __J YONOSON ROSENBLUM Some Less MISSING: VITALITY IN THE RANKS election. Not only did one significant group in the Chareidi community not Obvious support Rabbi Porush's candidacy, it N 1993, EHUD OLMERT was elected worked actively on behalf of Barkat's inayor of Jerusalem with over­ candidacy. And while Rabbi Porush I whelming Chareidi support, ending Lessons did gain support from some segments Teddy Kollek's 28-year reign and giving of the national religious community, the Chareidi public an unprecedented ftom the in recognition of his efforts on behalf voice in the affairs of Israel's largest of that community when he served as city. Ten years later, Jerusalem elected Deputy Housing Minister, he proved its first Chareidi mayor, Rabbi Uri to have far less crossover appeal than Lupolianski. Mayoral Lupolianski. Lupolianski's triumph misled some The election result has, not unexpect­ into thinking that the mayor's seat edly, triggered a good deal of blame would henceforth be safely in Chareidi Election casting within the Chareidi community. hands. On November 11, however, that Recriminations, however, are not our view was refuted. Secular candidate topic, and we leave the finger-pointing convincingly defeated the to those far more adept.. Chareidi candidate, Rabbi Meir Porush. Still, it must be admitted that Rabbi While Chareidi voters may constitute constitute a majority any time in the Porush's defeat represents one more the single largest bloc of Jerusalem near future.) proof of the lack of vitality of the voters, they do not yet constitute a In retrospect, it is clear that Lupo­ Agudah ideal in Bretz Yisroel. Or, to majority of Jerusalem's population. lianski's victory five years ago owed put the matter in a more positive light, (And given the extremely high hous­ to the serendipitous confluence of a it helps us to appreciate more fully the ing prices that have placed an apartment number of factors: a unified Chareidi success of Agudath Israel in America in Jerusalem beyond the reach of most voting bloc, high Chareidi voter turnout, in creating a broad-based ideological young Chareidi couples, it is far from low secular turnout, and Lupolianski's movement. clear that the Chareidi population will ability to attract secular voters because As the name Agudath Israel implies, of his widely admired work as founder the fundamental idea of Agudath Israel

RABBI RO~EN»LlJM, WHO UVES JN JERUSALEM, IS of Yad Sarah, Israel's largest volunteer is unity: The founders of the movement A CONTFHIHJT!NC EDITOI{ TO THI·: /EW/Sff Ott.'il!RVER. organization. at Kattowitz envisioned all the separate HE IS ALSO DmECTOR OF THE ISl~AEU DIVISION None of those factors were present groups in Kial Yisroel binding together OF AM f'.C!lAD, Tl-IE AGl!DATJ-l ISRAEL-JNSPJRED this time. Chareidi turnout was down by under the banner of the Torah and I EDUlAllON\I Ol'fl~fACIJ IFFORI .\"ID MIDIA 0 .__R_'_'~""~' ------a-t-le-ast-10-1<-of~m t-h-e-previou~mayoral- ~e~ by~~ Tora~rea~ of ~~gen~ -·-····-·--··-·-··-··-·-··-··-·-····-··-··-·-··-··-···-·-··-·-=-i DECEMBER 2008

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These successful efforts to achieve ation. That ideal has long since ceased I to be even a formal reality in Bretz electoral consensus do not by Yisroel. Twenty years ago, the Israeli themselves provide the groundwork political party Agudath Israel split into for a sophisticated professional two distinct parties - Agudath Israel and Degel HaTorah - each with its own organization to represent the many Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. Even prior to interests of the Torah community in that, a Chareidi Sephardi party, , had split from Agudath Israel. Today, Eretz Yisroel. Nor do they substitute Agudath Israel and Degel HaTorah are for a broad-based movement instilling once again one party, United Torah the ideal of service to Kial Yisroel. Judaism, for the purposes of national elections, but UT)'s two component But they at least suggest that bitter parts continue to function separately enmity need not be an inevitable in most respects, and each maintains its own Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. element of our electoral politics. Long before the 1988 split, the Israeli Agudah was functionally a collection of highly distinct factions rather than a cohesive organization. There were Treasured Issue on Special Memories long periods during which the Moetzes Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum, .., Gedolei Ha Torah did not meet, with each member receiving instruction and Rabbi Alter Chanoch Henach Leibowitz,."' from the gadol to whom he was close.

They're abuzz about the AGUDAH: POLITICAL OR May/lyar issue on A VEHICLE FOR UNITY? Halacha in the Business World n large part, the differences between the Israeli Agudah and its American I counterpart derive from the fact that since the creation of the modern State of Israel, Agudath Israel in Bretz Yisroel It's not too late to get the current has functioned almost exclusively as a November Jewish Observer Insights from political party. The political activities the writings of Rabbi Ekhanan Wasserman, ,.,n of Agudath Israel in the Knesset and on local city councils have dwarfed 1hesh111Ue$1!11of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, """'° every other aspect of the organization. ··A letter by Rabbi Yehuda Michel Lefkowitz, N""""" The only connection that the average Chareidi Jew in Bretz Yisroel has with Agudath Israel is when he casts his ballot on election day. That is not to denigrate Agudath Israel's political activities. No less vener­ ated a figure than the Chazon !sh ruled that participation in the Knesset was 42 Broadway I New l'ork, NY 10004 • Phone 212-797-7394 • fax 646<.'.54-1600 essential for the Chareidi community. Please enkr ".'1 my ."5criplio11 :'.I Ill)' gift ,---·--M~Ac'ifGiiAftA"l'rn~ The Torah public in Israel has grown '8·\n~lY n"I ,,,,, IJ,/orm•.< m:l.<.Y.mfll""·'"''"'-'""""'IHJ/ ""'\ft'fri.ywma• ""'"" fot/UIJS/ - $69 S l H Yoo "'""' op lo $49! )O/(f $Uh

Your ro,u' - $48 0 f.nclos~-d: $___ m· ."1 Charge ID}' Masterl:ard/VISA the past sixty years, and the efforts of CARDNO Cl l )~ar Yourro#-$15 Ho \'ou "'""op to $14! ~-.J~I]r-· the representatives of Agudath Israel I XA\ll fXPlRAT!O'.'; DSn; :1_p 1 ~; 11 :f!'l~ B (and its successor parties) in the Knesset ' '---L,,, . .L_l ill _,\1J_111;_f~_'------1MON'lHl cYEARl SlGN.\rtlRf played a significant role in creating that I un.:-T.. \IT Lil' ii flourishing Torah community. J Ma)' ;,,,,,~ vu rbim•c!J Th• J""No !)\>;;hed innolhl1. m

The Chareidi political parties have party. And because the act1v1t1es of quality of American bachurim was their been represented in the Knesset by many Agudah have been so heavily focused temimus. Elimelech "Mike" Tress, the men of great distinction, whose efforts on the Knesset and local city councils first great Agudah leader in America, not only won the approbation of the there was little room for a professional learned of Agudah primarily through gedolei Yisroel and the Chareidi public, apparatus to develop apart from the his reading about the movement. He fell but also found favor in the eyes of those political spheres. in love with the ideal of a united Kial far removed from the Chareidi world. Yisroe~ and he conveyed tlrnt enthusiasm Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz, for instance, to all those whom he raised on his knee served over three decades in the Knesset> in the Agudah movement, including his DIVERGENT the last ten as chairman of the powerful young cousin and successor as president HISTORICAL FORMATS Knesset Finance Committee. Upon his of Agudath Israel of America, Rabbi retirement from the Knesset, he was Moshe Sherer. appointed to head the Advisory Council ust as the nature of the Israeli True, there may have been a cer­ of the Bank of Israel. Agudah has been largely determined tain naivete about the early American But if that participation of the Torah by the particular historical circum­ Agudists. They were far removed from world in IsraeH politics was necessary, stancesJ in which it developed, so has Europe, where the inovement was it was a necessary evil. That political the nature of the American Agudah born, and knew nothing of the some­ participation has exacted a heavy cost been determined both by the historical times fierce ideological divisions of, from the Israeli Torah world, both circumstances in which it developed and for instance, of the pre-War German internally and externally. For the average the nature of the men who have led it. Agudah. They had no experience with secular Israeli, the best known Torah One of the keys to the development the \vays in which any movement 1nade figures have usually been the Knesset of the American Agudah movement was up of actual flesh and blood human representatives of the Chareidi parties, the devotion of its leaders to the ideal of beings will inevitably fall short of its who have primarily been visible in the Agudah. Reh guiding ideal. In their minds, the vision context of never ending wrangling over once remarked that the outstanding of Kial Yisroe/ united remained unsul- government budgets. Huge State budgets, which dwarf private philanthropy many times over, mandate Chareidi participation in the political process. But direct access to the coffers of the Israeli government has also served to magnify greatly the fac­ tionalism and divisions of the Chareidi co1nmunity. For 1nany decades, each Knesset member had the authority to parcel out n1onies to personally desig­ nated organizations and institutions - somewhat sin1ilar to "earn1arks" in the American political system. 1'hat power virtually guaranteed perpetual division within the ranks of Agudath Israel, as the nun1ber of representatives each faction could place on Agudath Israel's Knesset list and their placement on the list determined, to a large extent> which institutions would benefit and which would go empty-handed. As a consequence of the factional nature of the Israeli Agudah, there never developed in Israel either a grassroots Agudah movement or a large, profes­ sional Agudah organization. Ahnost all those active in Agudath Israel are paid employees of one or another of

Lvari~us-faction~ ~mpr~ing ~~ ------lied, and they guided the American as secretaries filling out the six-foot affiliations of Agudah employees within movement accordingly. long visa forms in quadruplicate, or the broader Torah world are irrelevant In the last decade of his life, no issue as yeshiva students combing the New to their employment status in Agudath took more of Rabbi Moshe Sherer's York City subways and buses in search Israel of America.' time and energy than making sure that of money for various ransom schemes) As a result of the diverging historical the rifts in the Israeli Agudah not find or, in the case of those slightly older, development of the Agudah movements their way into the American Agudah. soliciting affidavits of financial support, in America and Bretz Yisroel - the for­ Avoidance of division remained to the without which no visa could issue. mer, primarily a grassroots ideological end one of the great themes of his life. The obligation to act on behalf of movement, and the latter, primarily And there was no greater point of pride Kial Yisroel has always been the central a political party or parties - the two for Rabbi Sherer than that Agudath message of the American Agudah move- are virtually unrecognizable to one Israel was equally at the service of every 1nent's institutions, and one that was another. Visitors from Eretz Yisroelto an Torah Jew, whether he or she affiliated repeatedly emphasized at all age levels. Agudath Israel of America convention with the movement or not. In his view, It is doubtful that either Mike Tress or are vvunderstruck to find so many Torah no other approach was possible for Rabbi Sherer ever gave a speech to an Jews, who are not paid employees of Agudath Israel of America as the rep­ Agudah gathering, whether it was to the organization, actively involved with resentative of Kial Yisroel. campers at Camp Agudah or the annual Agudath Israel. And American Agudists convention, in \vhich necessity of grass­ are similarly uncomprehending when roots activism on behalf of one's fellow they hear of the divisions that plague Agudath Israel in Bretz Yisroel. A GRASSROOTS Jews was not mentioned. PARTICIPATING MOVEMENT Finally, Agudath Israel of America is One aspect of the recent elections not a political party and has no access helped mitigate some of the bitter­ to government budgets, except to the ness of the Jerusalem election results. he American Agudah movement extent that it is capable of persuading Under the guidance of Rabbi Aharon further benefited from the fact legislators through its public advocacy. Leib Steinman, all the religious parties Tthat from its inception it was That work requires a professional staff in agreed upon a single elec­ a grassroots, participatory movement. of attorneys, public relations experts, toral list and mayoral candidate. In Beit I When Zeirei Agudath Israel of America and lobbyists to advocate on behalf of Shemesh, a unified Chareidi list resulted opened its first offices in Williamsburg the Torah public and its institutions. in the election of the city's first Chareidi I in 1939, it was primarily to facilitate The sole criterion for employment is mayor. And in the new Chareidi city of the visa work on behalf of Jews trapped professional competence and the abil­ Eldad, a single list ensured that there in Europe. Most of those involved in ity to represent the Torah world with would be no repeat of last year's acrimo­ Agudah in those days had some part in a dignity that elevates the image of nious mayoral election in Beitar. Zeirei's relief and rescue work - whether religious Jews and the Torah. The group These successful efforts to achieve electoral consensus - the outgrowth of I much unhappy experience - do not by You can! Tust call themselves provide the groundwork for .i The Yitti Leibel a sophisticated professional organiza­ "I wish I could Helpline. tion to represent the many interests of HOURS: the Torah community in Bretz Yisroel. Monday-Friday ...... Sam -12pm Nor do they substitute for a broad­ speak to a Monday-Thursday ...... 8pm -1 lpm based movement instilling the ideal of Sunday ...... 9am -12pm, 9pm -1 lpm service to Kial Yisroel. But they at least frum therapist -~ 718-HELP-NOW suggest that bitter enmity need not be "'iP

Baltimore ...... ( 410) 578-1111 l By contrast, in Eretz Yisroel, in virtually every 1'

Detrnit ...... (877) 435-7611 city with a majority Chareidi population, there ,I' without giving San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 are rotation agreements between the various Tornnto ...... (416) 784-1271 factions over who will be mayor. No matter how The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Branch of the Yitti Leibel Helpline competent or effective a mayor is acknowledged ,.,"!' 0 XY1'::i'11 111'.l '::i:-:11.)\'.. 'j n:i ~''011 ;i•ln rtJJW) '17i•7 (Tl''::>'VJ"' 1"t-: ~·· ;r1VOJ) to be, he vvill likely find himself out of office after ] my name." ;i'l' il~l'.:i in ;i\':'D 'l p ;i·i:•t'' ·1 one term so that another faction can have its ]turnI {'T'Jl.'.•r: ]1'\:l ·~ '1V~ll Dedfcated b Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Boruch Wi!he!m at the helm.

----··--·---~--·-- ·--·-·---·------·----.. HIGHER LIGHTS.}~ --···-----·-··--·--·----·---·- '··.

[ BBi YONASON GOLDSON

GAINING ACCESS TO THE POWER THAT ILLUMINATED ADAM'S WORLD

WAS IT NoT So? AND HASHEM SAID, "Let there be light!" and there was light (Bereishis 1,3). Even as the first words of Creation set the stage for everything that would follow, they also set themselves apart from everything that would come. After every other stage in the genesis process, the Torah reports that Hashem spoke, "vayehi chein - and it was so." But after the creation of light, instead of saying vayehi chein, the Torah reports "vayehi ohr- and there was light:'

The Malbim explains that vayehi chein implies permanence: Every act sealed with this expression would endure forever. The heavens and the earth, the water and the land, the vegetation and the birds, fish, and mammals - all these would last until the end of days. But not the light. The kabbalists tell us that the light of Creation was not the light of photons RABBI Got.DSON TEACHES JEWISH HISTORY, NAVJ, AND 1-fAS/-fKAFA AT BLOCK YESHIVA HIGH SCHOOL that illuminate our physical world. The light of the First Day was, rather, the Ohr IN ST. LOUIS, MO, WHmlE HE ALSO WRITES AND Hamakif, the Divine light of Hashem's radiance projected into the spiritual void that Lf.CTURES. HIS ARTICLE, uTHE SUKKAH OF THE preceded the existence of the physical universe. This was the "light" that enabled WORLD," APPEARED IN /0, OCT. '08. Adam to "see" from one end of the universe to the other, to perceive the true

23 ~ == - •• ··. -- "' ~· .. ' ; ; .:;-; ==--= :_ =~ .•.. ·~

i co~ A essenceoftheworldandeverythingin I: WELLNESS n ·CHING it.' It was the light of absolute knowledge Cancer • Diabetes • Hypertension • Stress •Weight Management, etc. and absolute power. ] I But Hashem foresaw that, after • I. WHEN YOU WOULD BENEFIT FROM A LIFESTYLE CHANGE - DWANT... Adam's sin, this divine light would \

I YERAGHMIEL OONOWITZ M.S. threat:n the very existence of the world. 1· 1 ' Used irresponsibly, such power could [ Licensed Vlellness Coach • Member 01 NEFESH lnternadona/ wreak incalculable destruction. Hashem Call: 718.734.6601 for a free consultation. therefore concealed the light, storing it I www.wellcoaches.com away for the tzaddikim of future gen- www.navigatingbasics.com erations.2 Before the process of Creation HELPfNG NAVIGATE THE SEAS OF LIFE had ended, the light of Creation had been hidden away.

WHERE THE LIGHT WAS HIDDEN

n the Fourth Day, however, Hashem created the sun, moon, 0 and stars - the luminaries whose physical light would substitute for the spiritual light of the First Day. But how can mere physical light take the place of the light of kedusha? How can the lights of the sky replace the spiritual I illumination of the soul? And precisely I where did Hashem hide the original light of Creation? I Hashem hid His light in the Torah, preserving it there for the sages and THEVORT • The menu for the seuda is scholars who, through diligent study, ; 'Ttie "\1oi-i ·ceie6ration ·15 ·tci ·be limited to 3 courses followed by a would one day reveal the hrilliance of discontinued. The L'chaim (held at regular dessert. Divine wisdom before all the world the time that the engagement is • No Viennese table and no bar. once again." announced) should also not turn Until then, the physical luminaries into a Vort. THE MUSIC would have to suffice, with optic vision THE WEDDING • A band may consist of a maximum providing a barely adequate replace­ ; ·For· 'tYi>lca1· tamiiies: ·aniy' ··icio of 5 musicians (one of the musicians ment for the spiritual insight of Torah may act as a vocalist) or four musi­ wisdom. Through their familiar and invited guests may be seated at the uninterrupted passage above us, these cians and one additional vocalist. chassuna seuda. (The Guidelines heavenly bodies serve to reassure us make provision for exceptional • A one-man band is recom­ that the light of Creation, temporarily circumstances - see full text.) mended. removed, can be permanently restored • The kabbolas panim smorgas­ by the luminaries of Torah, the bright bord should be limited to basic FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR lights of scholarship and wisdom who cakes, fruit platters, a modest buf­ ; ttie· tota·1 ·cosi ot' itiese· items tor light the Jewish people's way through fet, and the caterer's standard the entire wedding should not the generations. chicken or meat hot dishes. exceed $1,800. Thus, Moshe says to his people: "Hashem, your G-d, has multiplied you, FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES and behold, you are today as the stars in the heavens" (Devarim 1,10). WITH ITS RABBINICAL ENDORSEMENTS ----·---· AND THE ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, I Chagiga l 2a; Bercishis Rablm 12:6 2 on Bcreishis 1:4 from Chagiga l 2a and please call 212.612.2300 Bcreishis Rabba 3:6 3 Tanc/1111na, Noacli 3

24 ======~~~~~~=~~~~~~~~~-======- ' The complex pattern I Was this so? Standing at the bound­ of human life is unique influence of successive historical , ary of Bretz Yisroel on the east side of eras upon the fortunes of the Jewish 1 the Jordan river, the Jewish nation was symbolized by the people. If so, perhaps we can articulate a I still relatively small, the numbers by changing faces of precise correlation between the celestial I no account comparable to "the stars the moon. As the luminaries that dispel the darkness of I in the heavens:' Rashi explains that night and the Torah luminaries that , Moshe meant something else entirely. radiance of kedusha dispel the darkness of exile. II The Jews were not as nu111erous as the dimmed, the universe The quality shared by Adam and luininaries of the heavens; rather, Moshe Moshe is their proximity to the Master declared that they were as permanent became darker. But as of the World. Adam was the proto­ and as enduring as the sun, the 1noon, the universe became type for all mankind, the first and and the stars. only human being created directly by Rashi's allegory seems to echo the darker, fainter lights Divine decree. MosheRabbeinuwas the narrative of Creation, in which we could shine bright. only human being after the expulsion understand the sun, moon, and stars from Gan Eden to speak "face to Face" to be an allegory for the Torah scholars feel it necessary to include the sun and with the Creator, the only individual I who would bring back the light of kedu­ the moon? Indeed, Hashem Himself entrusted to bring Hashem's Torah to . sha to a world of spiritual darkness. made reference only to the stars in His the world. These two alone occupied 1 If so, perhaps the connection goes promise to Avraham.' Why did Rashi a spiritual level so exalted that they I even further. consider the allegory of both Hashem radiated their own intrinsic kedusha, I 8 The Bnei Yisas'char suggests that in and Moshe insufficient? like the sun. ( addition to the idea that Hashem hid the In truth, we do find allegories similar All other human beings aspire not to light of Creation in the Torah, Hashem to Rashi's scattered through Chazal. radiate, but to reflect. It was Yehoshua I hid the primordial light in the candles Adam and Moshe are compared to the who replaced Moshe, leading the Jewish \I of Chanukah. The thirty-six flames of sun.'' Yehoshua and Dovid are compared people not only into a new land but the menorah correspond to the thirty six to the moon.' Although the Jewish into a new kind of existence, one with- I tzaddikim hidden in every generation, nation as a whole is compared to the out open miracles, in which the glory \ for it is through them that the light of stars, individuals within it are compared of Hashem was recognized indirectly kedusha is most prominently revealed. to the sun and the moon. through the workings of nature and This interpretation dovetails witl1 the Consequently, Rashi may have recog­ Divine providence. In this new world, Midrash that finds within the narrative nized something deeper within Moshe's of Creation an allusion to the four king­ metaphor for eternity: an allusion to the 8 Although Shimshon was also coin pared to the sun, we might suggest that this was not for what doms that would rule over the Jewish 5 Bereishis 15:5 he accomplished but for the messianic potential people in exile. In the opening descrip­ 6 l:l42b and Bava Basra 75a he possessed to permanently restore Hashe111's tion of Creation, the Torah records that 7 Bava Basra 75a and Rosh Hashana (with Rashi light to the world. See Sota lOa and Bereishis "there was void and nothingness, with ad loc.) Rabba 98:14. darkness upon the surface of the deep" ( Bereishis 1:2). Void alludes to Babylon, Most of us have several areas that con1- nothingness to Persia, and the deep peteforourtin1.eandattention. \'\~1en to Rome. Darkness alludes to Greece, L 'l e B a lanee these areas are 1n har1nony, you will ifi experience a W!lrn nnun - peace of whose secularist wisdom darkened the A Life-Coach mind- making you a more effective. happier person. eyes of the Jewish people.' can help you In 2-3 months, using weekly private phone sessions you can learn to It was the light of the menorah, develop and effectively take control of your life. restored by the Hasmoneans, that maintain a HOW MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE AND ENHANCED pierced through the darkness of Greece, wholesonre WOULD YOUR LIFE BE WITH BEllER LIFE BALANCE? bola WHY COACHING? fJnproving one's life means making change; and just as the Torah of the sages returns the nee people need support and stn1cturc to keep distractions and obstacles fron1 light of kedusha to the world. between the swamping their drea1ns and goals. Coaching provides that solid frainework important of support and structure. areas of I have over thirty years experience in helping people fulfill their drean1s, THE SUN AND THE MOON ..• /ii'. have authored books, articles and produced cassette progra1ns ...... your r:1e• on this subject, and have taken special Life-Coad1 courses . I As a commentary on the verse in FREE OFFER - r would be happy to give you a free telephone session, Please \ question, however) Rash i's alle- call USA 845-352-1175 for an appointment. Thank you. -MR. AVI SHULMAN gory presents a problem. Since Live a Life of Design, Not Default 1 Moshe compared the Jewish people __i_fi_ca_ll_y_t_o_th_e_stars,_w_h_y_d_id-Ras:

rcislus Rabba 2:4 25 ----- 0 E c E "~-~---: .. --;~--~-0-0-8··-··-·-··--·-·-··---·-·--·-----, ·----;;;;====·==·== .. . . ··------' r-=·--·! I ! the kedusha of Hashem was no longer gives way before a soft, intangible glow But this, explained Rabbi Bulman, is projected by leaders like the sun, but of illumination. So, too, a single Jewish precisely the point. Although darkness I reflected by leaders like the moon. neshama, shining bright by resisting the descends when we have neither sun nor As with Yehoshua, David Hamelech seemingly irresistible descent of spiritual moon to push back the night, in the also is described as a disciple of Moshe.9 darkness, combines with other Jewish absence of great luminaries, the myriad Not only does the moon reflect merely souls to prevent the light of kedusha tiny lights begin to shine, showering a fraction of the sun's light, it also lacks from being extinguished. One neshama their radiance as one until, collectively, the sun's constancy, waxing and waning added to another and another, like the they have conquered the darkness. as it courses through its monthly cycle. individual flames of the Chanukah Hashem placed Adam and Moshe at menorah, suddenly explode into the MYRIAD LIGHTS, the pinnacle of human existence and silent darkness like a symphony of ONE PURPOSE charged them with preserving the per­ light. fection of Eden and Sinai respectively. In In the depths of exile, we have no he Torah testifies that Moshe contrast, Hashem charged Yehoshua and single leader to shine like the sun, Rabbeinu was "extremely hum­ Dovid with negotiating the peaks and nor even to reflect the sunlight like Tble, more than any man upon valleys of human uncertainty. Rise and the moon. But the hidden tzaddikim, the earth" (Bamidbar 12:3). What made fall, victory and defeat, transgression each revealing the primordial light of Moshe so humble? The Zahar tells and redemption - these describe the Creation concealed by Hashem in the us that he saw the last generation of complex pattern of human life symbol­ Torah, each according to his own capac­ galus before the coming of Moshiach. '° ized by the changing faces of the moon. ity and his own efforts, collectively shine For Moshe Rabbeinu, who spoke to As the radiance of kedusha dimmed, forth with enough brilliance to drive Hashem "face to Face," who lived amidst the universe became darker. But as the away the darkness of corruption and open miracles and the revelation of the universe became darker, fainter lights impurity and superficiality. Shechina, who witnessed the redemption could shine bright. We allude to this every day of of his people from slavery after 210 years And indeed, the darkness intensi­ Chanukah in Al Hanissim, when we of crushing servitude, belief and trust fied. Sancherev drove the ten tribes declare that Hashem delivered in Hashem posed little challenge. For into exile. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the impure into the hands Moshe, even so exalted a quality as yiras the Beis Hamikdash. Prophecy disap­ of the pure, Shamayim was easily acquired. 11 peared from the world. And the spiri­ the wicked into the hands But to live in the depths of galus, in tual darkness of Greece spread over the of the righteous, an era of such spiritual blackness that to earth, disguising itself as a new aesthetic and the wanton into the hands many people, Hashem's presence seems wisdom and seducing mankind with of those who diligently study not merely a distant memory, but - a its self-serving, pleasure-seeking, and Your Torah. flight of pure fancy, and to retain under empty sop his try. Rabbi Nachman Bulman, ':nn. sug­ such circumstances the slightest sensi­ What had become of the luminaries? gested that the parallelism in this tivity to kedusha, much less devotion Without teachers like Moshe, without arrangement appears to be flawed. On to Torah and mitzvah observance - disciples like Yehoshua and Dovid, who the side of our enemies, the levels of evil before this, even Moshe Rabbeinu found would rally the Jewish people against are ascending: the merely impure are himself in awe. The knowledge that a their enemies? Without either sun or less evil than the wicked, and the wicked generation would succeed in doing so moon to guide them, how would the are less evil than the wanton - those left him profoundly humbled. Jews ever find their way? motivated not by simple desire but by At once humble and exalted - like They found their way by the stars. a philosophical commitment to do evil. the stars of the sky - are the lights of On the other side, however, the levels of Chanukah and the neshamos of the righteous seem to be descending, with Jews prior to the end of days. Flame .•• AND THE STARS the tahor- the servant of Hashem who upon flame and light upon light, they has attained purity and perfection in his ignite one by one in a common purpose, single star offers little light. But divine service - having more merit than joined together by a common founda­ a thousand, a million, a billion the mere tzaddik, who nevertheless has tion, illuminating the darkness of galus Astars burning bright across the greater merit than the simple Jew who with the sparks of Hashem's mitzvos, canopy of the heavens - here is light struggles in his study and observance. and spreading the light of His wisdom enough for all eternity. With each star Superficially, we would expect to find by revealing the light of His Torah. llil shining like a single flame, adding its the pure paired off against the wanton tiny pinprick of radiance to the light of and those who study Torah paired off a billion others, the darkness of night against the impure. 10 Ki Seitzei 3:282b 11 Berachos 33b 9 Shocher Tov 14:6 26 I RABBI YAAKOV YOSEF REIN MAN

HOW THE CHASHOMNA'/M CAME TO THEIR SENSES AND TOOK CONTROL OF THEIR OWN DESTINY

HERE IS SOMETHING missing The story of Pharaoh's dream Let us take a closer look at Pharaoh's from the Chanukah story. We in Parashas Mikeitz, which falls on dream. Actually, there seem to have Tknow that there was an uprising Chanukah, may shed some light on been two dreams. First, he dreamed that against the oppression and persecution this question. seven stout cows were devoured by seven of the Greeks. We know that there was emaciated cows. And then we are told a military victory, and we know that it PHARAOH WOKE UP (Bereishis 41,4-5), "And Pharaoh woke was 1niraculous. But there is no men­ up, and then he slept and dreamed a tion in Al Hanisinz or in the Midrashin1 he Torah describes how Yoseif is second time." In the second drean1, of a mass mobilization for fasting and taken from the dungeon, brought seven fat stalks were devoured by seven prayer. We hear no mention of the pure Tto the royal palace and told to withered stalks. And then (ibid. 41,7), voices of thousands of young children interpret Pharaoh's dream, which he "And Pharaoh woke up, and behold, it saying Tehillhn in unison. does to Pharaoh's great satisfaction. He was a dream." The first time, however, By contrast, the Megillah tells us tells Pharaoh that his troubling dream we are just told that he woke up, but not (Esther 4,16-17) that the miracle of is a portent of seven years of abundance that he was aware that he had been sent was preceded by three days of to be followed by seven years of famine, a message in a dream. All we are told is fasting and prayer. And the Midrash an extremely valuable prediction. But at that he continued to sleep and dream. describes (Esther Rahba 8:7) how the end of his interpretation, Yoseif adds The Rashham explains that there Mordechai brought together all the a strange statement. He says (Bereishis was indeed a difference between the young children, deprived them of bread 41,33), "And now, Pharaoh should iden­ two awakenings. Sometimes, a person and water, dressed them in sackcloth tify an intelligent and wise man and caught up in his dream may come and had them sit in ashes until they wept appoint him over the Land of Egypt." partially awake and then sink back into and cried out in prayer. But while there The commentators are puzzled by his dream world. Pharaoh did not come is no doubt that two centuries later, the this unsolicited advice. Yoseifhad been fully awake until after the second dream, Chashmona'im repented, fasted and summoned to interpret the dream. He but between the first and the second prayed before they went out to battle had never been asked to advise the dreams he had a partial awakening. the (;reeks, there is no written record king on how to deal with the looming Apparently, the Torah finds it impor- of anything of this sort with regard to crisis. Wasn't it presumptuous for this tant to tell us about this partial awaken- the miracle of Chanukah. man, who had just been pulled from ing. In fact, Pharaoh himself felt that a prison cell, to offer direction to the it was significant, because after telling RAB81 REINMAN IS TIH: AllTJ-IOR OF 5Uf1FHA king of Egypt? The conunentators also Yoseif about the bizarre dream of the lJISf-fTARA AN!J AIJJR YOSF.IF Al, /-fATORAll IN wonder why Pharaoh found Yoseif's cows, he says (ibid. 41:21-22), "And I Hf:BRF.W ANO Nt'MEROl!S WORKS IN THE ENGLISH

LANG\JAGE. 'fl II~ ARr!Cl.r;, AN EXCERPT FROM 5FFFR interpretation more persuasive than awoke) and then I saw in my drea1n, ABIR YOSF:JF Al. fiATORAJI, llAS llEEN ADAPTl-:D INTO those of the professional dream inter­ and behold, seven stalks ... " Pharaoh ENGJ.ISH BY 'fHE AUTl-!Ort. preters in the palace. makes it a point to tell Yoseif that he 1

27 DECEMBER·----. -----·------.-·-·---·-·------=-i 2008 ~­ . . . ' ' . ' " ' ,._,_ I ..• in memory They knew that if they outlawed I A of a loved one the entire Torah, the Jewish people r,rMrllrff meritsthem Ui;J H'-J "eternal would not comply. So they set out to ~ ~Jm.1a• pleasantness .LCJAIV and light to erode the Jewish morale and loyalty the soul In to the Torah, in a gradual program r, JAJftHe Gan Eden.· ru1wu f(hojetzChaim) reminiscent of the Nazi physical To establish a perpetual Memorial or Honorary Fund at assault against the Jewish people one of our 31 branches across Eretz YlsroeI, contact: two thousand years later. OZER DALl~I 0"7'T ,Tlll 1301 Avenue K. Brooklyn, NY 11230 awoke between the two dreams. What This, explained Yoseif, is what the ii! (718) 434-2228 is so important about this partial brief moment of semi-wakefulness in OzerDalim awakening? the middle of Pharaoh's nightmare sig­ If we look closely at Pharaoh's words nified. While it was true that the dream Eretz Yisroel's we notice that he doesn't even say that he was a portent of dire developments, went back to sleep. He just plows ahead Pharaoh was still the king. He could I Most Reliable Shomer Shabbos with the rest of his dream. It seems that still step on the brakes and say, "Wait a and English Speaking Car Service I Pharaoh considered the two dreams minute! Not so fast. I can still turn this Visiting Israel? Neal Transport? to be one continuous dream and his around and make it work to my advan­ -CHOOSE- partial awakening between them as an tage:' He could do this by appointing an important element in the continuum intelligent and wise 1nan as overseer of Menashe Sopher's of his extensive dream. This was the the Land of Egypt. Airport & Limousine Service element Yoseif was addressing when he This last statement was not a pre­ Celebrating 12 years o.f unbeatable service.' advised Pharaoh to appoint an intel­ sumptuous offer of unsolicited advice. OUR EfflCTEl\ff ENGLISH-SPEAKING OFFICE STAFF, ligent manager over Egypt. It was the interpretation of an important Fl)LLY-UCENSED. INSURED & AIR-CONDITIONED VANS, element of Pharaoh's dream. Pharaoh DRIVEN BY ]E\VISH, POLITE DRTVERS, ARE TAJLOR-MADE FOR ALL OCCASIONS WAIT A MINUTE! himself sensed that this moment of 1.718.360.5083 half-wakefulness, this interlude of self­ or 972.2.533.3425 ery often, when a person is awareness in the midst of his dream, was sales@msouhcra~rport com immersed in a powerful dream) important, and he stressed this point to ~WV\'.msophera1rport.com V he gets the feeling that he is Yoseif when he retold his dream. Yoseif In Israel: 02-533-3425 being swept along by events over which discerned the meaning of this element he has no control, like a rudderless boat while the royal dream interpreters did Unde Moishy, Dedi adrift in a strong tide. He moves from not, and this convinced Pharaoh that one nightmarish scene to the next, Yoseif's interpretation was correct. Avrohom Fried, overwhelmed by fear and dread of what and other leading is to come next. RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION Jewish entertainers But sometimes, in the midst of his are available dream, he says to hin1self, "Wait a min­ he Greek oppression that pre­ to visit ute! This is only a dream. I do not have ceded the miracle of Chanukah to submit to all of this helplessly. I have Tdeveloped over a long period of seriously ill some control over my destiny. This is time. lt was the first occasion of reli­ children not the direction in which I want this gious persecution in the history of the dream to proceed. I want to step on the world. Until then, forced submission to SIMCHAS CHAVA ,; ...~ ~ brakes and change course." pagan gods was politically motivated. nY.lVl~ ~~- ·• n"v ::it'V' i n::i mn ~.. ,:·:-·' And it happens. The dream continues, The pagans were religiously tolerant. AChessed project run by but the feral intensity is diminished. The They had no ideological issue with Aglldath Israel of J\Jtrerka ln conjunction with events that transpire are less threatening. other nations worshipping other gods. Suki & Ding Productions 'J And the final result can be quite positive. But when a pagan nation conquered To set up an appointment, cal!: , i, .... (212) 797.9000 Ext.235- --- A nightmare has been transformed into another nation, they demanded that a pleasant experience. I the conquered people submit and~ e:___-·-·-·-·-·-·------~------"-·---- r-=· =-=--= .• ~=- ----~ "·=- ' " ·~ ·;;;; , ' ;, ~ " •• . .· ...... ·.· •. ·~ ..• . .

[ homage to the gods of the conquerors. they were the true enemy. They were the laws designed to weaken Jewish obser-

,1 If they did so, they could go home and ones who posed the greatest threat to a vance of the Torah and ultimately tear worship their own gods as well. Hellenized world. And history proved the Jewish people away from it. If they , The rise of the Greeks was another them right, because the ideas and con- could Hellenize all the Jews, the Torah I story altogether. It was the beginning cepts of the forah ultimately did bring would cease to exist, Heaven forbid. So of true kefira, the rejection of all deities down Greco-Roman civilization and they instituted laws directed at specific I and their replacement by man's worship kept it down until the Renaissance. crucial observances with the idea that of himself. In the Greek view as it was That is why the translation of the ultimately they would undermine the I formulated in the late Hellenic and Torah was such a tragedy for the Jewish entire Jewish structure of belief and , Hellenistic period, the human being people, a tragedy symbolized by three I observance. I stood at the pinnacle of the world. He days of darkness. The Greeks now saw They forbade mil/a, circumcision. was the true object of worship. The the Torah as a mortal threat to their I\. They outlawed Shabbos observance. I traditional gods were retained only for ambitions, and they launched a relent- social and cultural purposes. The Greek less campaign to destroy it. Their attack s;flj'~,i $ox intelligentsia laughed at the gods. on the Torah was not for political rea- . ~ When Alexander the Great, who sons, as earlier persecutions had been. A ""111.\t r1111·e ...ir:t l!-;-z-7o:ix C1mlsfi.r ,;,,gtn, lllt'llf11r.~. 11111lrh11111A·us, der;o· amt e•·e11 p11re111.,·! always kept a copy of his teacher It was an ideological war, the battle 1 Aristotle's works under his pillow, con- between the Jewish idea of a world ruled LEARN: · Vv'hat to Ask quered most of the civilized world, his by the Alm-ghty and the Greek idea of l-lovv to 1\sk stated intent was to Hellenize the world a world ruled by the human race. It · 1-lovv to Fvaluatf', and spread kefira to its every corner. was the start of the grand struggle that cnrl And he was generally successful. The continues to play itself out in many Jewish people somehow escaped his forms on the stage of world events to notice. They were a small and peaceful this very day. 1 group centered around Yerushalayin1, After the translation, the Seleucid 1 and they did not seem to pose a threat to kings of Greek Syria instituted a series of his sche1nes. But then, during the reign r. ______l ______... of his successors, the situation changed I I dramatically. I I I Are You Movi 7 I A NEW THREAT: A BOOK IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED I INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? I I I bout seventy-five years after We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. Alexander's death, King Ptolemy I Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and I computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. AII Philadelphus, the Greek ruler I I of Egypt, ordered the Torah translated into Greek. Megillas Ta'anis records that I I when the Torah was translated, darkness I descended to the world for three days, I Affix old label here which is Chazal's way of expressing that they viewed the translation under these I circumstances as a terrible cala1nity. I Many explanations are offered for why I this was such a terrible thing. New Address I believe it was because this was the I first time that the Greeks realized that I City, their true enemy was not the Parthian or I State, ------~--~Zip any other army on the periphery of their I Date Effective empire. It was a book, an idea, the idea ------contained in the holy writings of this I Send address The Jewish Observer small group living in Yerushalayim and I changes to: Change of Address itssurroundingtownsandvillages.The 42 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004 Jewish people had no cavalry, no siege I Please allow 4-6 weeks for all changes to be reflected on your mailing label. We will not L:_'""""· "° '"'"'""' "' "'hm. '"' L _ ":.:."::'!:'::.."!:"::: ".::'.::?.:"'.::":!. "'.:!'::::" ::.""::::: _ ..J " -·------···--··---·----·---·---·-·-=-iDECEMBER 2008 - . " ·- . ·- . . ·------

They stripped the Jewish courts of the gedolim of that generation. She clapped power to control the calendar. They her hands to gain everyone's attention, decreed that Jewish brides must first and she ripped open her garments. Her submit to the local hegemon. And they family and the guests were scandalized, Specializing in High Quality instituted these laws slowly, one at a but she declared, "Listen, my brothers Silver Repair & Restoration time. They knew that if they outlawed and friends. If you're upset that I've 18.387.4207 the entire Torah, the Jewish people done this, why aren't you upset that I'll would not comply. So they set out to have to submit to the hegemon?" At that erode the Jewish morale and loyalty moment, the revolt of the Chashmona'im to the Torah, in a gradual program began.And the rest is history. The night­ Digest of Meforshim reminiscent of the Nazi physical assault mare came to an end. ~v1v? ~v1ji7 against the Jewish people two thousand in:::i years later.

Available at A FRESH START LEKUTEI LETHAL LEGISLATION: c/o Yitzchok Rosenberg ONE DECREE AT A TIME t the end of Parashas Vayishlach 1445 54th Street (Bereishis 36,3 ), Rashi writes that Brooklyn, NY 11219-4228 he Greeks issued a decree, only when a person gets married, he 718-854-6701 A one, and the people, in the face is forgiven all his sins. Why is this so? 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, of the overwhelming military Perhaps it is because when a person Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. T superiority of the Greeks, bowed to makes a new start, when he embarks in Proceeds of sales distributed arnong Yeshivos and used for reprinting of vol­ the inevitable and came to ter1ns with a new direction with the proper intent, umes out-of-print it, because they rationalized that they the Alm-ghty wipes the slate clean and PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME could still live an otherwise complete gives him the fullest opportunity to Jewish life. Then the Greeks issued a succeed. The chassan and kalla fast and second decree, and although the people pray on the day of their wedding and it were outraged and upset, they again is the turning of the page on the old and came to terms with the situation. And the embarkation on a new phase in life, HAT PLUS then another decree. And another. And with hearts full of hope and faith, which Hats • Shirts • Ties • Accessories time after time, the people adjusted to is the supreme cause of the forgiveness the inevitable and came to terms with they are granted. Your#l Stop it. Moreover, droves of the young and This, then, is what happened during for the not so young, known to us as the the time of the Chashmona'im. The Quality Hats Misyavnim, abandoned the Torah alto- people had sunk into a long period gether and became fully Hellenized. of torpor and decline. But then they WE ALSO ORY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONIM TIES IN Slowly but surely, the spiritual citadel came to their senses and decided to take (All work done on premises) BROOKLYN of the Jewish people was crumbling and control of their own destiny and turn 1368 Coney Island Avenue tumbling down. The Jewish people were in a new direction, and the Alm-ghty (71 B) 377-5050 caught in a terrible nightmare, swept rewarded them by wiping the slate clean Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS along from one calamity to the next, and forgiving all their sins. with the sense of inevitability that only The Chashmona'im were chassidei a nightmare can produce. elyon, men of stellar righteousness, as And then something happened. In the Ramban writes in Parashas Mikeitz, the middle of this nightmare, there and there is no doubt that they fasted was an awakening. In the middle of and prayed before they went into battle. this horrendous nightmare, a group of But there does not seem to have been a heroic Jews cried out, "Wait a minutel mass mobilization of fasting and prayer

1' We make "housecal!s" We do not have to submit to this. We of the sort that led up to the miracle of ] can gain control of this nightmare and Purim. Why was this so? Because the ' ~flli718) 972-4003 turn it around:' awakening itself, the decision to break I IP. :"i-'.,l:'(- As described in the Midrash ( Otzar away from the past and stand up and / - "'lb:;)W Midrashim, Chanukah 6), the daughter fight for the honor of the Alm-ghty I, of Matisyahu Kohein Gadol stood up and His Torah, that alone earned them ] I Ll I · JJ b f f t fi at her wedding feast in front of all the complete atonement. ;.i ,

~e:Zl:S:~m :pe~ec _t_. ------__J RABBI SHOLOM SMITH

A Chanukah message•, based on a lecture Please Keep the by Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov Pam, 7":n, late Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva and Shades Down! Mesivta Torah Vodaath. Yaakov perceived that there were provisions in Egypt; and Yaakov said to his sons, "Why do you make yourselves conspicuous?" (BEREISHIS 42:1)

HEN THE SEVEN YEARS of relevant to this joyous festival. There is a abundance in Egypt ended, the halachic requirement of pirsumei nissa, to W years of famine began, exactly publicize the miracle of the oil. For Jews liv­ as Yoseif had predicted.As the hunger inten­ ing outside Bretz Yisroe/, this usually expresses sified and spread, people from the Land of itself in the menorah being placed at the front Canaan journeyed to Egypt to buy food. At that window of the home. Yet, is it necessary for the time, Yaakov and his family still had food supplies window shades, vertical blinds, curtains, etc. to be available and were unaffected by the ravages of the famine. completely open to show off not only the menorah but the Yet, Yaakov directed his sons to join the thousands of hungry entire dining room or living room area? [Religious Jews have a Canaanites on their trip to Egypt to buy grain. As the Gemara tendency to furnish these rooms in a manner that underscores ( Ta'anis I Ob) describes it, Yaakov told his sons, "Do not show their function as a setting for se'udos mitzvah- meals where yourself when you are satiated, not before (the sons of) Eisav the family joins together in celebrating fulfillment of Torah or Yishmael, who are suffering from famine, so that they do com1nands on festive occasions.] And is it necessary that the not become jealous of you:' Rashi there says, "Do not appear window coverings remain open for hours after the last candle to them like a chassan among mourners." This can lead to has flickered out, thereby allowing every passerby, especially great enmity and jealousy when they see that you have ample non-Jews, to observe what is going on in the home and the provisions to deal with the hunger while they are starving. many possessions and luxuries contained therein? That is Yaakov felt it was worthwhile for his sons to take the long certainly not a part of the mitzvah and, in fact, can arouse the and dangerous journey to Egypt and stand in line among the jealousy of others when they see how "richly furnished" the peasants and paupers to buy food that at that point they did homes of their Jewish neighbors are. not really need. This was to avoid causing feelings of jealousy Jews must live their lives "low-key;' and not forget that to arise among their neighbors, who would see how everybody even in the hospitable, comfortable atmosphere of the medina else had to go begging for food while "those Jews" had plenty she/ chessed, America, they are still in galus. When non-Jews, to eat. especially poor ones, see the relative opulence in the homes Chanukah always occurs during the week of Parashas of their Jewish neighbors, it does not lead to good things .... Mikeitz, and Yaakov's request contains an important message Therefore, while taking all necessary precautions to keep the 1nenorah a safe distance from any window coverings that can

RAn 8 1 SM1 rH, A SF.N1oR MEMBl R or Ko1111 101~A11 VooAAifl, wAs A rA1 ...uv catch fire, it is prudent advice that the shades be kept closed I I or RABBI PAM. 7"Y1'. roR MORI n1AN rwo nrc ADF.s AND 11As AU1uor~1o1ouR as much as possible. !.@ SFJARIM BASl'O ON ll!S fEACHINGS Tllf Pl EASANT U'.1AY (ISRAf I BooKSHOP). I RAV PA\.1 nN C111 MASH. RA\ PAM oN rHr ftSTIVAI s, AND SHABllO'> w111t RAv ~From the soon-to-he published book by Rabbi Sholom S1n1th. A Vort j {ARTScR01 1 -MESORA!1) From R.1v Pan1, 7 ::n

31 L ------If I am willing The themes are to look long enough light in darkness into these flames that the few against the many burn like eight diamonds and winning. turned loose into the night Emboldened, even as the flames begin their I believe agonized journey to ash all I will ever need to know I pray with all will be revealed I've got to hold onto to me in one glorious (this absence offear) moment of light. this miracle this Zos Chanukah The sacred drama taking place before me in my very home on this stage of window sills in my very soul. and a backdrop of absolute night silences me. LIBA LIEBERMAN HAS BEEN A PROFESSIONAL WRITER FOR OVER THllHY YEARS. THIS IS HER FrnsT APPEARANCE IN TMESE PAGES.

BRACHA GOETZ Late for a big meeting, Dashing into the building Stuck in traffic en route, With just moments left to spare, The woman prayed to G-d for help, She hurried to the elevator Sweating in her business suit. But then all she could do was stare. etfl_,__&:' "! know I haven't been that good, "Out of order" read the sign, ~ But now I'll really try. Posted on the door. Please, I can't miss this meeting ...." "Oh, please G-d;' she cried out loud, ,_..._....,,·J,J1lf She was starting to cry. "My meeting's on the fifteenth floor!" T ~ Suddenly a road was cleared. _L (; The lady sped on through. The elevator door flung open, Then, no parking could be found - Out came a cheerful guy. What was she to do? "It's fixed now;' he called out. Soon she was soaring high. Frantically she prayed to G-d To find a parking spot. just as the meeting started, A man pulled out just as she spoke, She had made it down the hall. And that great space - she got! "Everything worked out so well;' she thought, "I didn't need G-d's help at all!" MRS. GOETZ OF BALTIMORE IS

A FIU'.QUENT CONTRIBUTCH~ TO THfCSE PAGES. REVIEW ARTICLE

YOSEF GAVRIEL BECHHOFER

ISHYEHUDI: THE LIFE AND THE LEGACY OF A TORAH GREAT, RAV JOSEPH TZVI CARLEBACH by Rav Shlomo Carlebach (Shearith Joseph Publications; Brooklyn, NY, 2008)

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following essay, a book review of a recently released Torah biography, serves a dual purpose. Many of us are accustomed to viewing the history of Eastern European Jewry between the two world wars through the prism of the records of its great yeshivos and Torah giants. There is a paucity of Torah literature dealing with the state of the hamon am, the great masses that made up Jewish society beyond the walls of the yeshivos. The Haskala movement, ignorance, assimilation and grave economic deprivation all had a strong impact upon Lithuanian and Polish Jewry. The confluence of these tides of change resulted in mass abandonment of the already struggling cheder form of education. At the outset, formal Torah education for girls and young women did not yet exist. This essay extracts from the book under review details of the manner in which educational methodologies of the great German school of Torah im Derech Bretz were being ------introduced to be employed in the Lithuanian Yavneh and the RAllHI BECHHOFER IS A FREQL'l'..NT CONTIHB11- fOR ro TH/!.SE PAGES, Wl'fH A PARTICUl.AR FOCUS Polish school networks to combat the problems

oN THE INTERACTION oF rin>WAR E .... sncRN AND of the day. This review has been reviewed by gedolei Torah 1 1 I :,E~:;~:: 1~:~~R~:,;~A;{:::)~;~:_:F;~s ~~~~s~~~ ~:~ ~~ and roshei yeshivos, who confirmed the picture drawn by [ nu::MESIVTAoFYESH!VASR'Yl'fZCHOKELCl!ONON, bb' l b h h k d h d \ AND 15 Ai.so Enno11: AT ARTScRoi.1.MEsonAH, Ra 1 Care ac in is new wor , an w o encourage us to I' j c 11nm Nn y woRKIN(, oN rin DA111 oos1 put his "new" historical insights before our readership. L ______------~-~ j r-=- DECEMBER 2 o o B

1 I "To them, the Torah is not a lesson in I religion but the very wisdom of life, the living spirit which penetrates I every fiber of existence, and defines I the structure of the soul, in which one thinks and forms concepts, which fills heart and mind, is guide and support for the whole spectrum I of life, giving creative inspiration, and anchoring the soul."

Rabbi Ssmson Raphael Hirsch

HE ENORMOUS UPHEAVAL in Chacham Bernays of Hamburg, Rabbi historical awareness: its highlighting •I the political and social structure of , of an insufficiently explored aspect of Tof Jewish society throughout the Rabbi of , early twentieth century Jewish history, land [of ] in the aftermath and the Wuertzburger Rav, Rabbi S. B. namely the impact of German Jews of the war threatened the stability and Bamberger. Both literally and figurative­ and their approach on their Polish and loyalty of Jewish youth. Under those ly, he was the captain who went down Lithuanian brethren. circumstances, these Torah leaders felt with the ship of German Jewry, when an urgent need to introduce a similar the illustrious history of Galus Ashkenaz EAST AND WEST: educational program, on a broad scale, was brought to its conclusion.' A Two-WAY ENCOUNTER by reorganizing existing schools and It is beyond the scope of a brief establishing new ones, where subjects in review essay to capture the greatness of hat the encounter of Western and Derech Eretz would be taught alongside the multi-faceted Rabbi Dr. Joseph Tzvi Eastern Europe made an impact Limudei Kodesh (Ish Yehudi, p. 74). Carlebach. In Ish ~ the author, his Tin the reverse is amply docu­ Legend has it that the Brisker Rav son, the renowned mashgiach, Rabbi mented. For example, upon returning said that the last true German gadol Shlomo Carlebach, a''jyls (building on an from a tour of Eastern Europe, Rabbi baTorah was the Aruch Lauer (Rabbi earlier work by his uncle, Rabbi Naphtali Joseph Tzvi Carlebach wrote: Yaakov Yokel Ettlinger, 1798-1871). Carlebach), does so in a comprehensive "The secret is ... the learning of Perhaps. Nevertheless, there arose in and gripping manner. Anyone interested Torah. Young and old, rich and poor, late nineteenth century (and in the history of Orthodoxy in the first everyone is learning, learning con­ even more so in the early twentieth half of the twentieth century (a group stantly, totally immersed, living and century) a cadre of rabbanim and that should include the entire reader­ breathing the Torah, be it the written tabnidei chachamim whose "superior ship of The Jewish Observer!), anyone or oral one. Just as their [Eastern scholarship in many disciplines, coupled interested in the European] Yiddish language is inter­ with extraordinary personal qualities, approach to avodas Hashem, and anyone woven and intermingled with idioms convinced multitudes of doubters that seeking role models to emulate should and phrases from the Talmud, so is those who advocated reform and aban­ read this biography. In this essay, we their very life pulsating and throb­ donment of the Torah way of life were would like to highlight one of the major bing with the echo of sacred writ. charlatans, exploiting a wave of dis­ contributions that Ish Yehudi makes to Everyone is learning and drink­ content among the masses to promote ing from the sources, not from the their own interests" (Ish Yehudi, p. 17). 1 Although it is not the focus of this review, one distilled and bottled excerpts and The sheleimus of these German leaders of the n1any contributions that !sh Yehudi makes to our literature is its description of the true role essences which we spoon-feed our comple1nented their greatness in Torah of a rav in tin1es of extren1is. To take the metaphor youth, but from the fountainhead scholarship. further, as captain of his ship, Rabbi Carlebach of Jewish wisdom, which is always Rabbi Joseph Tzvi Carlebach (1883- helped save as many passengers as possible - fresh and wide open, rich in spiri­ 1942) was the last, and one of the while declining opportunities to save himself. He remained with those passengers that he could tual nutrients. For us, Hebrew is a greatest, of the illustrious line of such not save, looking out for them and serving as a foreign tongue, as is German to a j Frenchman, laboriously acquired, ~ers that began with the Aruch-Lane_r_, --s-ou.ce of-s-tr-en-gt-h fo-r-them until the very end. I ______J r--- .. .. .• .•• .·.. ..• '~. ,. w ' , " "' ; " " ; " • •· • . ..· . ~.· ·---··~

CHANGES IN THE [ fragments diligently patched togeth- Their brother-in-law, Rabbi Dr. Leopold WORKPLACE er. To them, in contrast, it is the Rosenak, the Rabbi of Bremen, was · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · mother tongue, every simpleton's appointed the chaplain for the Baltic ne of the issues that greatly talk, as natural to children's babble sector. The brothers-in-law established concerned the German occupi­ as to mature people's talk. To them, close ties with the great rabbanim and 0 ers was the haphazard Eastern the Torah is not a lesson in religion rebbes of the occupied areas, and they European Jewish educational system but the very wisdom of life, the !iv- accomplished much for the Jews in beyond the rarified realm of the yeshiva ing spirit which penetrates every their respective sectors. For example: world. Following the lead of Rabbi fiber of existence, and defines the "He [ Rabbi Emanuel Carlebach] laid Samson Raphael Hirsch's founding structure of the soul, in which one the groundwork for organizing the Jews of the Frankfurt Realschule in 1853, thinks and forms concepts, which into a political power bloc,' established German Jewry had established system­ fills heart and mind, is guide and an Orthodox newspaper in modern for- atic elementary and secondary edu­ support for the whole spectrum of mat, and, together with Rabbi Pinchos cational institutions - both for boys life, giving creative inspiration, and Kohn,4 persuaded the Gerrer Rebbe ... and for girls - that incorporated his anchoring the soul" (!sh Yehudi pp. to join the Agudas Yisroel .. :' (Ish Yehudi, principles of Torah im Derech Bretz, 117-118). p. 70). combining Torah and secular studies. 5 German Jewish leaders quickly real­ 3 As a result, in the years between the World On the other hand, the Jews of Poland ized that, unlike the case in their own \Vars, several Orthodox Jews served as officials and the Baltic states, following centuries country, the entire culture - even the of the short-lived Eastern European den1ocra­ old customs, possessed only the infor­ secularist and Yiddishist elements of cies. For exan1ple, my great-uncle, Rabbi Chaim mal cheder model for the elementary Mordechai Hodakov, was secretary-general of that culture - of Eastern Europe was the Latvian Ministry of Je\vish Education. At the years, and no secondar)' schools at all. A grounded in the texts and lore of ti1ne, he was a staunch mcn1ber of Zeirei Agudas 5 For a detailed description of the progran1 (and . Yisroel, for a time he also headed the Torah im the history) of the Realschule, see Rabbi Samson Indeed, German Jewry could and Derech Eretz Gyn1nasiu1n in Riga, the capital of Raphael Hirsch (Artscroll/Mesorah, 1996), Chap. 19. The Realschule's program was the model for did learn 1nuch from its encounter with Latvia - one the many schools that en1ulated the Cartebach Gymnasiu1n in Kovno (see below). all subsequent Torah irn Derech Eretz schools, the great Torah centers and the great 4 Rabbi Dr. Pinchos Kohn was the Rabbi and remains the model for most contemporary Torah scholars of Poland and Lithuania. of Ansbach, and one of the founders of the yeshiva elementary schools and many yeshiva Accordingly, Western European spiritual Ao-1,,-hih high schools. luminaries such as Dr. Nathan Birnbaum penned such lines as this: "To achieve OUR STAND growth [aliya) in da'as Hashem [knowl­ ---•-- edge of G-d], there float before my NOW YOU CAN eyes Ithe following ideas J: ... 2. Festive gatherings of Chareidim, for spiritual PUT THE SPARK BACK purposes (such as the introduction of IN YOUR INSURANCE. the Eastern European Shalash Seudos, etc.)." 2 The constant flow of German Call me today to hear about these new Jewish youth to the great yeshivos of optional features: New Car Replacement. Telshe, Slabodka and Mir during the Accident Forgiveness and Deductible Rewards. '20s and '30s was also a manifestation of the influence of Eastern Europe. In Ish (718) 268-1700 Yehudi, Rabbi Sh!omo Carlebach traces the flow of influence in the opposite direction. During World War 1, the Germans overran Poland and a large part of the Martin Levy Baltic states, including Lithuania. The 103-20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE German High Command was inter­ FOREST HILLS ested in establishing positive ties to the [email protected] substantial Jewish populations of these You're in good hands. areas. To this end, they appointed Rabbi Call or stop by for a free quote Joseph Tzvi Car!ebach's older brother,

Rabbi Dr. Emanuel Carlebach, the Rabbi Feature is optional and subject to terms and conditions. Available in select states now and in most states by 1131(06 (subject to of Cologne, as the Chief Chaplain of all regulatory approval where required). Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL. ©2005 Allstate Insurance I the Jewish soldiers in the Polish sector. Company 2 Le'ohr I-Ianetzach-:P439 ---- ~ 35 ...__~ ------r-=--· D E C E M B E R ~ 0 0 8

! The gedolei Torah and the O/am Hatorah The network included separate teach­ of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and beyond ers' seminaries for men and women in Kovno, Gymnasiums in Kovno, Telshe, held the institutions and personalities that and Ponovezh, and approximately one emerged from the world of Torah im Derech hundred elementary schools - all of which brought the chinuch method­ Eretz in the highest esteem. ology of to Eastern Europe. Yavneh was intertwined with Zeirei Agudas Yisroel, and it was mostly relatively small number of outstanding development of young women, Jewish the idealistic Agudist young men and pupils, those destined for gadlus beTo­ girls were exposed to secular thought women who served as the leaders and rah, went on to study in . and culture. Many families elected to teachers of the Yavneh system. So long as the Eastern European send their daughters to non-Jewish The Yavneh system was the main economy remained rural and backward, schools rather than to no school at all. As Orthodox school system in the short­ the absence of high schools did not pres­ a result, many girls and young women lived independent republic of Lithuania.' ent the Jews with a problem. To become were in danger of losing their religious In the milieu created by this modern a craftsman, a young man would enter identity and assimilating. 7 state, the old-fashioned cheder became an apprenticeship, while to join the To deal with a problem of this extinct. 10 It is with a sense of deja vu vast unskilled labor force and become a magnitude, Rabbi Rosenak brought that one peruses the pages of the Telzer wagon driver or water carrier, not even his brother-in-law, Rabbi Joseph Tzvi periodical Hane'eman that served as that was necessary. To the extent that Carlebach, to the capital of Lithuania, the journal of record for both the it was feasible, such young men would Kovno (Kaunas). With the approval of olam hayeshivos (and the closely allied often make up groups who would study gedolei Torah, Rabbi Carlebach founded Agudah) and the Yavneh system in the in a local shul or kloyz when the time a Gymnasium (the European term for '20s and '30s. The issues that they faced 6 was available. an academic high school), based on the ---·-·~·----~--- 9 The author of this essay verified this phenom- By the time of the First World War, German Torah im Derech Bretz model. enon in a telephone conversation with Rebbetzin however) even Eastern Europe was Rabbi Carlebach brought in highly qual­ Chaya Ausband, shetichyeh, the Dean of the becoming increasingly metropolitan. ified teachers from Germany to assist Yavneh Se1ninary in Cleveland, Ohio. The jobs created by the emerging cos­ in the venture. Among them was Dr. IO Heard from Reb Zalman Alpert, ~"P'7v, in mopolitan economy required far more Leo Deutschlander, who later became the name of Rabbi Tuvia Lasdun, ~"P"7iv. Reb education and greater skills. The prob­ famous for his enormous contribution Zalman also related to me in the na1ne of his own rebbi, Rabbi Shimon Romm, that the vibrant lem of properly educating the young to the Bais Yaakov school system. young Orthodoxy that flourished in indepen­ men who were not cut out for the rig­ The school became known popularly dent Lithuania between the wars was known as ors of the elite yeshivas of the day had as the Carlebach Gymnasium. By its "Kovno Orthodoxy." {A similar Orthodoxy existed become acute. third year of existence, it enrolled one in Latvia.) It was anchored by the yeshivas of If the problem of boys' education thousand boys and girls in separate Slabodka, Telshe, Kelm and Ponovezh and the gedolei Torah that the yeshivas produced, but in was acute, the problem of girls' educa­ schools. Its remarkable accomplish­ the larger community outside the yeshivas it was tion (i.e., the lack thereof) was dire. ments made a deep impression on the dominated by ba'alei batti111 and movements such Hitherto, young women in Eastern gedolim in Lithuania, particularly on the as the Agudah. The rav of Kovno, Rabbi Avrohom Europe had had very little access to Rosh Hayeshiva of the great yeshiva of Dovber Kahana-Shapira was recognized as the leader of this Lithuanian Orthodoxy: By contrast, Jewish educational opportunities. Telshe, Rabbi . Rabbi in the part of Lithuania (Minsk, Slutzk, Bobruisk Whatever existed was informal and Bloch invited Dr. Deutschlander, in and east) that was annexed by the USSR, religion home based. collaboration with Rabbi Carlebach, to was banned. Only managed to maintain found the network of similar schools limited, underground . The part 8 of Lithuania (Vilna, Lomza, Bialystok, Grodno THE "YAVNEH" SYSTEM that came to be known as "Yavneh." and Brisk) that was annexed by Poland was also --·-·······------.-- -~-"------7 Of course, it was largely in order to address not as affected by the Torah im Derech Eretz et, the world was changing. As the same issue in Poland that the Bais Yaakov influence. By the outbreak of the Second World general society opened more 1nove1nent was founded - ahnost concurrently War, with the exception of the tali11idi111 of the great yeshivas (and a relatively nascent network of opportunities for the intellectual - by . Y 8 Several of my great-aunts attended Yavneh in schools founded by talmidim ofNovaradok), the Telshe, and n1y great-aunt Mrs. Leah Holtzberg's youth of this region had been lost to Orthodoxy. 6 These groups frequently went by the name of father-in-law, Dr. Raphael Halevi Holtzberg Only the Chassidi1n of the region - Chabad, Tiferes Bachuri1n. To go off on a slight tangent, (Etzion), was the director of the Yavneh Teachers' Slonim and Karlin-Stalin - fared somevvhat Rabbi Yosef Shalon1 Elyashiv, K"V'?v, sliteibel Seminary in Telshe. Fron1 my extensive conver­ better. Indicative of this trend is the fact that in is called Tifcres Bachurim, as one of his early sations with my great-aunt, I can attest to the 1936, Rabbi Elazar Menachen1 Mon Shach took "positions" was as a 111aggid shiur for one such extraordinary breadth, depth and scope of a a position as rosh yeshiva in the Karliner yeshiva group. Yavneh education. in Luninets.

36 ------·· ·-··--·-·--·---·----··-··------··-·--···---··--··-·---.--.. -···-··-··~ TJ-IE JEWISH OttSF.l{V!:R ------··--·---··------·------··------··------·------·----- r-=- For one, Dr. Nathan Birnbaum was among the most frequent contributors to Hane'eman's pages. Moreover, I

1 its columns on news from the Jewish world included I detailed reports on the affairs of German Jews. More ': significantly, the journal published many essays that \

were literary- often fictional - which explored 'I historical and philosophical issues. l)r. Nathan Birnbau111

in the chinuch of the younger genera­ in Lithuania by his nephew, Rabbi broader context of Eastern European tion in Lithuania read as if they were Dr. David (son of Rabbi Emanuel) Orthodoxy? coming from the minutes of the latest Carlebach, who served as principal of It is, of course, impossible to answer I Torah U'Mesorah convention! 11 A report the Yavneh boys' school in Telshe. The this question. But Ish Yehudi puts one in Hane'eman from a sumn1er teacher influence of the German methodology fact beyond question: that the gedolei training institute held in Polangen in of education and of German educa­ Torah and the Olam Hatorah of Poland, 1930 that Rabbi Carlebach attended," tors on the Bais Yaakov movement - Lithuania, Latvia and beyond held the and at which he delivered hundreds most notably through the offices of the institutions and personalities that emerged of hours of lectures on topics ranging Agudah's Keren HaTorah, directed by Dr. from the world of Torah im Derech Eretzin from child psychology to the age of the Deutschlander from - has been the highest esteem. It therefore behooves universe, reads as if it is the record of duly chronicled in numerous works. 13 us all to perceive the sheleimus and tzidkus a seminar that just took place this past Rabbi Carlebach himself returned to of the person who engendered that esteem sum1ner. Eastern Europe under the auspices of to the highest extent: Rabbi Joseph Tzvi Leafing through the extraordinarily Keren Ha Torah to help found and assist Carlebach, the individual who in so many impressive pages of Hane'eman also more schools, and, as we have seen, to ways reminds us of the original !sh Yehudi: i1npresses upon one the extent to which train teachers. i:rn 1r.iv';> ~'" W1"I 1>nN ~i? ,,,,.,, !J'>.,,.,,., 7m the Lithuanian yeshiva world embraced It is fascinating to contemplate the W117:l'nn'ro. llil elements of the German Jewish derech. "What if?" What if had For one, Dr. Nathan Birnbaum was not occurred and turned everything to among the most frequent contributors naught? Would the introduction of a GITTY (PINTER) to its pages. Moreover, Hane'eman's two-track school system have contin­ WEINGARTEN columns on news from the Jewish world ued to grow and further influence the Experienced Shadchan included detailed reports on the affairs J 3 See, forexmnple, Rebbctzin Grunfeld (Artscro!l/ for all age groups >' of German Jews. More significantly, Mesorah, 1994). the journal published many essays that 347.702.9494 were literary - often fictional - which explored historical and philosophical issues.the great This German was much Jewish in writers,the genre such of WORlOWIO[ C[llPHON[ R[NTAlS I as Rabbi Marcus Lehman. Finally, when J

they saw such works as inspirational and 1' elevating, the editors of Hane'eman did Incoming Calls FREE in many countries! not hesitate to publish (in translation, I' ' of course) poetry by Goethe and other h h • Lowest rates for Israel & Europe 1· I' non-)ew1s. aut ors. Thus, Rabbi Carlebach's influence • Overnight nationwide shipping I upon Eastern Europe continued to • Student & Group discounts 0II \' i grow even after he finally returned to 5 °10 Off PHONE RENTAL Ii Ger1nany to succeed his father as the • Corporate accounts

Utteredwor&-can fometiines.~e \-note revettlingthan thelfsJieii/cets intend.•Theycat} ~ell' sil.urce of. ~eefer unt}erstat1ding~ so~ yielding smiles; ~the ts;; tea~~· Withfheg~al of'!J~~!rig con1emp~il1J' quotatio~s for.insights, i~te~ded or otherwise, Th,e J~~~ Qbse~er- her~~~~tin~~~( its featuf(, •''Of Publii:Record," which presents illuminatingatations culled from •vatiou~rn-edif!•_ -.•. • Of Public Recor.d

"Ufe ·llke-AlntJI Fr-II"" d!"""I "{What.abolll} a mt11111nf1111t yollf.Alllsltndam sla)i """" to chocolate chip 11#HJ1des1" tlUl lceysRoom,''.·November 3 2004, at the_ ~o-'?dusi?n -of November 13 his answer to a Chicago Sun­ Tiiries-in,t~ryi~~e_r-~s-_qu~Stion aboutwhat he believes Beliejnet,.Noyeinber-11 l'f'ou-we1e "°"' to a--lfllSlim ~~ JeWlsh. State /Snot _a "Bargain" < fllthet, but you cllllse to monopoly. nrllblSflt's - V\lhat customers __ at a "Jewish at. _staml-in fife ra~ at. lhe what.each and.,,.,.., cafen i_tl_- Lviv;: lJktaine:-are: urged ,to do.with waiters, in -Metilies at. fife-~ teets· inside!' keef>il}g with the cafe's theme and pray fife prayer ot."'8 '- Israeli Foreign Mir!ist7r - Jewish.Telegraphic Agency, Ttippi Liv~i, atthe dosing November 21 - Al Qaeda's second ceremony of the_ United in command, Ayrriart Jewish, Communities_ General "Facts About Jews11 al" Zawahiri, in_ a message to A~sembly, afier calliiig th~ - Title of a book in the the President-elect Jewish character of Israelthe curriculum of the "Mahdi CNN, November 19 co_~ntr_y's ''raison :,-d_' etre') Scouts,"a Hezbollah youth Jerusalem Post, movement. The book, November 19 - according to a reporter, describes Jews, among oth_er things, as «cruel, cori'i1pt, ~-~~~ I I' The New York Times, [ November 21 [ ~------_:j ---·==----~------~-==---···=~--==----···-·--·--;;-;;;-;;;T-;:;;;H;;;;.;E-;:-;:-';;.··;:E-.;:w==·=·:-;:s_·_~~·~-0~~·~-s--_-,_.,~R~V~-;-·~R-·---·--··-··------·1

REMEMBERING THE

From the Memoirs ofRabbi Shlomo Lorincz

CHAPTER TWO "Man of Vision"

DREAM OR VISION? .-,,...... , ......

s SOON AS THE PONEVEZHER RAV came to Eretz Yisroel, he began to work towards realizing his great vision: A "In Bnei Brak, there will be a yeshiva with five hundred students!,, One must bear in mind that at that time, there were not five hundred yeshiva students in the entire hechadash. The Ponevezher Rav's words sounded more like a hallucination than anything else, but he saw it as a vision just waiting to be actualized. After extensive efforts and tens of speeches on the subject, the Rav succeeded in transmitting his enthusiasm to a few philanthropists, who came to his aid with modest contributions. The Ponevezher Rav's great vision was to build no less than eighteen yeshivos throughout Eretz Yisroel. At the time, no one understood why the Rav needed eighteen yeshivos, and who would be learning in them. RABBI LORINCZ Rf.PRESEN1ED AG!!DA'fll ISRAEL IN THE ISRAELI KNESSET FROM 1951-1984, DURING Today, we are privileged to see far more than eighteen yeshivos in Eretz WHJCll TIME HE WAS AN JNrJMATEOF A NUMBER OF Yisroel - and there is still room for more. TORAll !.liMINAR!ES OF THE PAST HALF CENTURY. While establishing the yeshiva and toiling to raise the necessary THE EXTENSIVE NOTES THAT HE KEPT ON THOSE money, the Rav was busy hatching another plan: The establishment of MEETINGS SErtVE AS THE BASIS OF BIMECH/1ZASAM the" institutions for war orphans who were beginning to 1 Battei Avos" - 'I Vo1.. ' Now AVAILABLE IN ENG1.1s1-1. ExcERPTSWERE tri"ckle 1"nto Eretz Yi"sroel. He was short of funds cor the yesh1"va, '-'et, as H:'.AT!lllED IN TllESE PAGES, THE SECOND VOLIJME, 1' J P1~0M wu1c!l THE r:o1.1.ow1NG ARTICLE is TAKEN, was his wont, he did what had to be done without making calculations. I 1 wAs oRAwN FROM ttis EARLIER EXPERIENcEs. ITwAs He relied on Hashem) with complete confidence that He would provide J L="' '"" "'" '"'" ••• "'"''"'' ·-whatever monies were neede~------·------~=~:·0·.-_i=:=~~~~~~------~·-· ------·---=-~---=--=-i

THE RAv's MESSAGE OF REBIRTH "The chachamim and nevi'im every bachur assist him in paying for (sages and prophets) did not long the plots ofland by buying one dunam ot long after the Ponevezher for the days of Moshiach so as to (approximately a quarter of an acre), Rav arrived in Bretz Yisroel, he gain control over the world, nor to for 48 pounds. I N penned words that, against the condemn idol worshipers, nor to be ''How can a bachur like me, who backdrop of that period, were nothing lifted up by the nations of the world, relies on the yeshiva for room and short of astounding. One must bear in and not to eat, drink, and be merry. board, possibly buy a dunam of land in mind that this article was written eight Rather, [they longed for the days Zichron Meir?" I asked the Rav. years before the State of Israel was of Moshiach] so that they could be The Rav responded with a question: I established, when Hitler's armies were free to [learn] Torah and its wisdom "How much is your weekly allowance conquering one European country after without oppression or reasons to from the yeshiva?" another, and had even come dangerously desist [from learning]. At that time, "One pound a week," I replied. I close to Bretz Yisroel. there will be no famine or war, no The Rav made a quick calculation The Ponevezher Rav wrote: jealousy or competition. There will and said, "A half a pound a week is "Am Yisroel is undoubtedly com­ be an abundance of good, and all the sufficient to cover your needs. Set aside ing closer and closer to the very delicacies will be as common as the the other half each week, and after two future that the nevi'im (prophets) dust on the ground, and the entire years you'll have 48 pounds - the price foresaw so many years ago.'' He world will he solely occupied with of a dunarn." then quoted the Rambam in Hilchos knowing Hashem." Whoever took the Rav's advice and Melachim (12:4): Every piece of land that is bought a dunam of land from him acquired is another step forward in eventually became truly rich. the inheritance of the Land, while every new student who comes to "YARCHEI KALLA" - learn Torah in cheder or yeshiva SOMETHING FROM NOTHING 'NEFESH INTERNATIONAL'.· signifies another step towards the ...... tJoeferen~ coming of Moshiach. The aspiration l2tli Bfnnua( and ultimate purpose of Kial Yisroel he Yarchei Kalla project, which •. ,· eG'nday & SYl.:nday .•·· is: Vechol banayich limudei Hashem with time became an integral January 4th & 5th, 2009 verav shalom banayich - All your Telement of the frum community at the Young Israel of Staten Island children will be students of Hashem, in Bretz Yisroel, was considered a pipe Staten Island, New York and your children's peace will be dream until the Ponevezher Rav made

abundant" (Yeshaya 54,13). it a reality. I' Any undertaking in the sphere of Rabbi Yehoshua Zelig Diskin, the rav ruchniyus (spirituality) that is not of Pardes Chana and a close confidante 11

consonant with the aspirations of of the Ponevezher Rav, relates: I' the Am Hasefer (lit., People of the "I participated in a number of , Book), our holy People, cannot be gatherings in the Heichal Hatalmud

considered an activity for the sake Yeshiva in , at which the 1' of our people's future. At most, it Ponevezher Rav detailed his plans

is a remnant of our dark past in the for a Yarchei Kalla. To me, it sounded Ii diaspora. The main, central focus like a sweet daydream. of building up the Land is to pro­ '"I know that there are those who mote Torah learning here. (From the laugh at my words; the Ponevezher

Halapid newspaper, Tel Aviv) Rav once said, 'but this vision is Ii going to be realized in our time.'" Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski,MD For a number of years, the Rav ONE DuNAM FOR 48 PouNos 111 C@he @•ther elotimwn :J£emoria( went around from city to city, speak- , ' Award for Contributions to Mental he Ponevezher Rav had just ing with ba'alei battim and describing I Health in the Torah Community bought the plots of land in the his great vision: For at least two weeks /},~·~>\ TZichron Meir section of Bnei of the year, every working man would ' ~~~s',., ~,f~ Brak for a small fortune, despite the go back to being a yeshiva student. He ,Ii ••-;-,··feshlntematlona·l~P".·-o'-~ .•• B,!10'x'·'.~3'·0~.;:_.2,,1')'.'.teaneck,N.J.076 fact that he did not even possess a spoke of returning the crown of Torah small fraction of the sum. He came to to its former glory: how the entire ' Tel: 201°384.(1084 fax: 201-384.0018 I j e-mail: [email protected] the Heichal Hatalmud Yeshiva (where I nation learned for two months of the , was learning) and asked that each and year in the ancient yeshivos of Sura . ~ --····-. ··-·····-····· ···-·······-··-- --·· ·-·-···- --··-····· - - ___ __J r-=:-- -~=-==-

the word: "Our yeshiva is one in which No matter was too small for the bein hazemanim is longer than usual, his involvement and nothing but don't forget that you always belong I to the yeshiva:' could prevent him from giving In the same vein, Rabbi Shmuel his shiurim in the Yarchei Kalla. Rozovsky, the rash yeshiva, commented, "The goal of the Yarchei Kalla is not When a dear student invited him limited to the two weeks in which it is I to participate in his wedding, active. Rather, every single one of the taking place in Yerushalayim hundreds of participants should live I off those two weeks for the entire year, during the two weeks of the wherever he finds himself." Yarchei Kalla, the Ponevezher The Ponevezher Rav would never sat­ isfy himself with words alone; he trans­ Rav apologized, explaining, lated the ideas into everyday, practical "Believe me, even if my own son actions. He established regular, weekly was the ba'al hasimcha, I would shiurim throughout the country- in Tel Aviv, Yerushalayim, Haifa, Petach Tikva, not cancel my shiur in Yarchei Rechovot and Ramal Gan - in which Kalla to travel to Yerushalayim." the participants continued to learn the masechta dekalla, the tractate studied in the Yarchei Kalla. Maggidei shiurim and I avreichim from the yeshiva traveled to and Pumbedisa - a beautiful idea with are two opinions on how one should these places to stay in touch with the seemingly no grounding in reality. live his life - one of" Torah im derech bnei Yarchei Kalla throughout the year. I At the chanukas habayis (dedication eretz" (learning Torah while working for Over the years, the Yarchei Kalla con­ ceremony) of the a living), and one of" Toraso u1nanuso," cept was replicated in many locations. To building in l 953, the Rav announced full-time Torah learning: be sure, the Ponevezher Rav was filled that the "Yarchei Kalla Yeshiva" was "There is no doubt that every Jew with joy every time that he heard of a going to open during the coming bein was created for the ultimate purpose "competitor" opening elsewhere. haze1nanirn (intersession). And so, after of toiling in Torah, and nothing but only three months of planning, the first Torah. After all, Chazal tell us that when Yarchei Kalla opened in the summer of one fulfills Hashem's will, his livelihood "ROSH YESHIVA'S l 953. With each passing year since, the is taken care of by others. Therefore, YARCHEI KALLA" nun1ber of participants has continued Rabi Yishmael's words were meant in a to grow. bedieved situation, after our conduct has while the Ponevezher Rav del- gone awry and we are left with no choice egated management of the "WE ARE ALL ADHERENTS OF but to personally carry out 've' asafta yeshiva to the roshei yeshiva RABI SHIMO N'S OPINION" deganecha- and you will gather in your throughout most of the year, he person- grain: Every Jew must remember that ally served as the Rosh Yeshiva of his orkingmenfromallsegments his true destiny is in line with Rabi brainchild, the Yarchei Kalla. No mat- of the community who par- Shimon Bar Yochai's views - to toil ter was too small for his involvement W ticipated in the Yarchei Kalla primarily in Torah. and nothing could prevent him from - men who, it seemed, had made "earn- "That is the goal of the Yeshivas giving his shiurim in the Yarchei Kalla. ing their main occupation and their Yarchei Kalla;' the Ponevezher Rav When a dear student invited him to Torah study [an] incidental;' following declared. "We should all be 'Rabi participate in his wedding, taking place the directive of Rabi Yishmael, who Shimon's type of people,' for at least in Yerushalayim during the two weeks said that one should work for a living, two weeks a year." of the Yarchei Kalla, the Ponevezher as opposed to that of Rabi Shimon bar Rav apologized, explaining, "Believe Yochai who asked, "If men will plow me, even if my own son was the ba'al during the plowing season and plant A LONG "BEIN HAZEMANIM" hasimcha,Iwouldnotcancelmyshiurin during the planting season, what will ' ' · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ' · · · · · · · · · · · · Yarchei Kalla to travel to Yerushalayim."

, become of Torah?" (See Berachos 35b.) The Ponevezher Rav would convey The demands of Yarchei Kalla even took I i1 But the Ponevezher Rav explained to the participants that Yarchei precedence over conventional simchas ! L .. ,"="'"" ,~...... ~"·= -- '": ,, :~·~·: .. ,~~~ _:.,, .. "*·~ .- .. . . j ·-·-··-·--·-·-·---==-i SHARING THE BURDENS OF OTHERS -· I

THE CLUTTERED NEST

FEELLIKEASANDWICH, been cloned. Someone had and I don't mean the actually cloned my cell phone I peanut butter kind number and made several that I enjoy making for my calls to Cuba from New York, daughter's lunch. I mean and I live in Chicago! My a club sandwich, as in husband asked me to handle clubbed over the head. Like this, and I prayed that this many baby boomers, I am would finally be corrected; jammed into the Sandwich after all, Hashem wants me Generation) cast into the to have shalom bayis, right? I "roll" of both parenting my had been assured the previ· own children and caring for ous month that the charges my aging parents. At times, had been cleared and would I feel that my sandwich has never show up on our bill. been spread too thin. I never heard of a cell phone beiug cloned, and THE JAMMED as a recent ba' alas teshuva, SANDWICH always searching for spiri· tual meaning, I wondered why recent experience this past summer caused me to feel Hashem chose mine. "Did I need to improve my connection more like a matzah sandwich, ready to crack into many to Shamayim; did I need to reach out and Above more?" I A chameitz-free pieces. I was driving my typical, almost asked myself. A friend offered her take: "Maybe it meant that thirty mile round trip to pick up my daughter and then my Hashem wanted to clone you because He wanted more of you son on a highway undergoing construction during rush hour around." I liked her interpretation more than mine. traffic. It was a rainy Thursday afternoon, and I needed to get As I tried to clear up the charges with the phone company, my children home, make dinner, and then cook for Shabbos there were incoming calls from my parents. I got concerned for both my family and parents. and ended the call; the de-cloning will have to wait. I learned As I drove, I needed to speak with the phone company to that my mother had just been rushed in an ambulance to clear up an over-$5,000 bill from when my cell phone had the hospital. She was in much pain and unable to walk. My stomach was churning. My proverbial matzah sandwich was MARSHA $MAGLEY RESIDES IN HIGHLAND PARK, ILUNOJS, WJTl:I HER HUSB."iND AND TWO CHILDREN. SHE HAS DEVOfF.D THE LAST NINE YEARS TO S'lt'DYll\IG crumbling .... TCJRAH, BECOMING OBSERVANT, GUIDING HER FAMILY IN TORAH LIFE, AND "I do not want my 1nommy to be in pain," was all that I RECENTLY' WRITING ARTICLES APPEARING IN THE )EWfSH OBSERVER, KASHRUS could think. I wanted to be the little girl once again that was MAGAZINE', HAMODIA, HORIZONS, BINAH MAGAZ/Nf:, ANO YATED Nt:'EMAN, being taken care of, but that was not going to happen now. j WHICHCONVEYHER!lEARTFEJ.TJOllRNEYTOTORAl:l.THISARTICLEISTOAPPEAR "Wh d"d l h d . Jl 1"] d d ' IN MIRIAM LIEBERMAN'S FORTHCOMING ANTllOLOGY. T111:: BEST Is Yvr To RF:, ro BE P!!B\.lSHED BY TARGllM PRESS. ----·------en 1 our roes c-an.ge so-ra-st1ca.-y.·-wo--n e--r-e ._ _J 42 .,.·--·---·--·----- ...... So MANY OF THESE CALLS

lamb offering and bitter herbs inside matzah on Passover. I can't believe it - the first sandwich is a Jewish sandwich! Known also as koreich, this sandwich served as a remind­ er to the Israelites of their bitter ( marror) enslavement in Egypt. The matzah symbolizes the Israelites' freedom, when G-d redeemed them from Egypt to become His treasured nation. The Hillel sandwich reveals that G-d is present and reigns even in the bitterest periods of Jewish history. A phrase from Tehillim (91:15) echoes this thought: "I am with him in times of suffering'' - Imo Anochi betzara. This discovery gave me strength. Everything is from Hashem, and He is always with me, especially during these trying times. Hashem is with my parents, too, and is lovingly at my mother's bedside, and I trust that He is giving me what I need to be there for my parents and family. I can not fathom why my mother- and my father, too, - have to bear so much pain. How I wish that I could take that pain away. I am, however, so grateful that I have my parents and that I can be of help to them, even though it feels limited. Since my mother has been ill, there has not been a day that I do not appreciate when she is well enough to be home with my father, when we can take them out to dinner, or share a happy occasion. Baruch Hashem, in a heartfelt gathering of family and old friends, we just celebrated my mother's eightieth birthday and my parents' fifty-eighth wedding anniversary! I am thankful l that I have a family to care for, that I am needed, and that I have them to help me through this. My sandwich is not open-faced. Each person and ingredient is precious and unique, and cannot be cloned, and the bitter­ ness is sweetened through the many blessings of my family, Baruch Hashem. I am most grateful to Hashem that He brought me to Him in the middle of my life and I became observant. I never knew of Torah and mitzvos growing up, or that I could reach out to so many Jewish neshamos, both observant and less observant, and ask them to pray for my mother's recovery. I know that each one of these heartfelt prayers is precious and heard. During the High Holidays, we pray, "Do not cast us away in POSTSCRIPT: the time of old age; when our strength wanes, do not abandon THE REDEEMING SANDWICH us:' I believe that this prayer speaks to both older people and to their children. Hashem will never abandon us. As I continue THE COKE AND PEPSI FACTORS IN OBSERVANCE. RABBI BRAFMAN'S REPLY:

To the Editor: I'm glad to see that you have adopted the practice of Rabbi I was saddened to read Rabbi Aaron Brafman's article Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev to be melameid zechus in every ("Staying On Track in Turbulent Times," JO, Sept. '08), situation. However, that was invariably when he spoke to the in which he infers, from the existence of Kosher lePesach Ribbono shel Olam to plead on behalf of Kial Yisroel, not when Coca-Cola and Pepsi, that the modern Western Jew is too he was trying to correct something that needed change. self-indulgent to allow himself to be deprived of such things Anyone even slightly familiar with the way marketing works for the sake of a mitzvah for an eight-day period. knows that the advertisements are geared to specific markets The truth is quite the opposite. The Coke and Pepsi cor­ that they hope to entice. It says much more about Pepsi and porations know that Kashrus-observant Jews will indeed Coke business acumen than about our convictions. withstand the test of eight days without their product if it is In my opinion and that of rabbanim and mechanchim, this not Kosher lePesach, and therefore go to lengths to not lose issue goes against the mesora of how Jews approached Pesa ch. eight days worth of our patronage! Do you know how many The whole gezeira of kitnyios (the prohibition against con­ non-Jews miss the taste of Coke sweetened with cane sugar suming legumes, such as beans and peas, on Pesach), which is rather than corn syrup? Millions. Yet the Coca Cola corpo­ practiced by all of Ashkenazic Jewry, has as one of its reasons ration doesn't change the sweetener they use for their sake. the fact that kitniyos are similar to grains in how they grow. Only for our sake, for eight days' lost business, do these giant They can thus be confused with the ingredients of pas- bread corporations go to the trouble and expense of sweetening - and using them is contrary in spirit to Chag Hamatzos. It with non-kitniyos sugar. This is because they know how firm makes one wonder: What would all the previous generations we are in our mitzvah observance and that we will indeed go say to Pesach rolls, pizza, and look-alike cereals? without if we need to. There are so many other stringencies practiced by differ­ I can only hope that Hashem recognizes such modern ent communities. Some do not eat dairy products, some do conveniences as a product of our zechuyos rather than weak­ not eat certain fish or chicken, etc., because of the fear of a ness in our will. mashehu - a small drop - of chomeitz. This has totally been CHAIM MArTrs KELLER undermined by all of these new products. This is only part of Flushing, NY a greater undermining of the Pesach Yam Tov that is taking place. But that was not really the point that I was trying to make in this part of the article. The list could go on, but I think my point is made: The issue that I raised concerns the strength of character needed to withstand the subtle and not so subtle nisyonos (challenges) people face today. I am concerned with the overall effect of our over-indulgence in many areas that undermines the building of strong character capable of withstanding real-life nisyonos. I wrote this article before the economic collapse. Tragically, the new realities may force families and our society as a whole to cut back and say NO to many unnecessary expenses .... Chaval that it has to happen this way. RABBI AARON BRAFMAN

'44 APPRECIATING MEMORIES OF RABBI BORCHARDT,., .. ,,,

To the Editor: through our gedolim disseminate their da' as Torah as applied to I was very moved spiritually by the tribute given by both our social prison context, in order to spread the ohr of Torah Rabbi Yitzchok Borchardt (of his father) and Rabbi Yosef C. to Yidden confined within an environment of mental despair, Golding in honor and memory of Rabbi Boruch Borchardt, ';""t hate, and human decay. As Rabbi Yitzchok Borchardt spoke of (JO, Sept. '08). With a humbled spirit and heart, I am grateful his father, Hashem gave every person strengths and skills (even for your consideration to include my soulful voice appreci­ Yidden who are in our correctional system in Arizona) and he ating his special mesiras nefesh in inspiring Yidden to serve must use them all to honor Hashem- "to return such Yidden's Hakadosh Baruch Hu. We were blessed to have known such a soul ( nefesh, ruach, neshama) to Hashem and Torah living:' I sweet Torah-true rabbi. am bound by Rabbi Boruch Borchardt's mesiras nefesh to reflect This letter seeks your assistance in that in his memory people his life as a manifestation of this Torah principle. take action with Agudas Yisroel to learn a , perform YJTZCHAK BEN YEHUDA/KENNETH ASHEI,MAN mitzvos with a deeper sense of holiness and devotion, and Arizona State Prison, Florence, AZ

45

The great merit of the Chofetz Chaim will shield and rescue all who participate in the writing of the Sefer Torah.

·FROM A LETTER WRITTEN BY RAY CHAIM OZER GRODEZENSKI TO KLAL YISRAEL UPON WRITING THE SEFER TORAH L'ZEC:HER NISHMAS TH£ CHOF'£TZ CHAIM ZT"L

Please ioi11 me, ilt a h'isrorl'e campaign to write a Safer T ora:h l'Zechet nishmas the Chafelz Chalim:, zt"f. withtlugoal a.f 1•tdsi11gnuntcj' tc teach n. new gr:ru:m:riou ofcltildrcn #Jc absolum tm:pttmi1't.~of Aharws "f'i..q'()f;[ nnd Sl:mifrru Hrtlnshon.

- RAlllll Smma. IV._\tl'J;1'.1Th1' Chf!inmm. fo•bMnicr..i l0anf ef:hr Oef= Ovi"' Hrrii11_r1r Fe1mdnrnm

Yes. I want to be part of the Serer Torah campaign. Please chl'Ck 11j_T box o( choiu: $36 u $36 u ss4 ·u $1001ss33 /'" ""' CC!ti'Charter 0 $180/$15 per nw 0 $360/$30 prr 11111 Members:htp 5769 0 $500/$41.66 per 111(111th CJ $1,000/$83 per mo I'm c11ch!Ji11g 11 chcck(.r) jiw .}.~------[J J>/;;ast d1111gt 1ny credit cmrl P!Cfl~chm;gc: Ofi1Unm(1/fl1t 011w111/Jfrpa._vmc11t 0FISA0AJ1EX [}JJC Name AdiGS oF THE CHoFETZ CJJAJM 361 SPOOK RocK ROAD, SufFERN, NY 10901 TEL.845.352.3505 ExT.113 FAX. 845.738.1421 EMAIL. [email protected]