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' Kiruv Rechokim ~ • The non-professional at work 1 • Absorbing uNew Immigrants" to Judaism • Reaching the Russians in America After the Elections in Israel • Torah Classics in English • Reviews in this issue ...

"Kiruv Rechokim": For the Professional Only, Or Can Everyone Be Involved? ...... J

The Four-Sided Question, Rabbi Yitzchok Chinn ...... 4

The Amateur's Burden, Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb ...... 7

Diary of a New Student, Marty Hoffman ...... 10

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN A Plea From a "New Immigrant" to Judaism (a letter) 12 0021-6615) is published monthly, except July and August, by the Reaching the Russians: An Historic Obligation, Agudath Israel of America, 5 Nissan Wolpin...... 13 Beekman Street, New York, N.Y. 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y. Subscription After the Elections, Ezriel Toshavi ...... 19 Sl2.00 per year; two years, S2LOO; three years, S28.00; out­ Repairing the Effects of Churban, A. Scheinman ...... 23 side of the United States, $13.00 per year. Single copy, $1.50 Torah Classic in English (Reviews) Printed in the U.S.A. Encyclopedia of Torah Thoughts RABBI NissoN Wotr1N ("Kad Hakemach") ...... 29 Editor Kuzari ...... JO Editorial Board Pathways to Eternal Life ("Orchoth Chaim") ...... 31 DR. ERNST BooENHEIMER Chairman The Book of Divine Power ("Gevuroth Hashem") ... 31 RABBI NATHAN BULMAN RABBI JosEPH ELIAS JOSEPH fRIEDENSON Second Looks on the Jewish Scene I RABB! MOSHE SttERER Of Unity and Arrogance ...... 33 If· MICHAEL RorasCHlLD I Business Manager Postscript TttE JEWISH OBSERVER does not I assume responsibility for the I Kashrus of any product or ser­ Return of the Maggidim, Chaim Shapiro ...... 36 vice advertised in its pages. I Letters to the Editor ...... 38 j4o JUNE, 1981, VOL XV, NO. 7 I ~· Kiruv Rechokim: A Field for the Professional Or Can Everyone Be Involved?

Introduction Pennsylvania, introduces the topic by sifting though the challenges, pains and triumphs of the kiruv he personally Kiruv Rechokim is a Hebrew expression that needs no experienced and observed. Through his anecdotal recount­ translation in most circles. It has become emblazoned on ing, he invites us to examine the possibilities for both banners waved by groups and movements that specialize in amateurs and professionals. "drawing near those who are far" from our heritage, and RABBI DA YID COTTLEIB,a "Bostoner Chassid" who is employ an army of both volunteer and paid Kiruv workers, a member of the faculty of Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem, professionals all. and was formerly an associate professor of Philosophy in I What about the amateurs? The well-meaning but Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, maintains that 1 unsavvy folks who don't know a "visitation" from a everyone-each according to his own capabilities-has a I Shabbaton? role in bringing baalei leshuva closer lo G-d and Torah. Two men who are deeply knowledgeable in the field To help each individual determine his particular role, draw from their vast experience from both ends of the kiruv Rabbi Gollleib sketches some of the conditions that lead I I spectrum. RABBI YITZCHOK CHINN.Rabbi of Congrega­ young people lo seek a new way of life in Torah, while tion Gemilas Chesed of While Oak, I near McKeesport), describing the experiences that will aid them in their quest.

3 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 I j Rabbi Yitzchok Chinn

The Four-Sided Question

Who is "close"? Who is "for''? To whom does one reach as kinfolk that are distant, and must be brought closer. oul? And who is responsible for inilinling the "reach-out" Thus, much effort was even spent on bringing the efforts? committed Jew, the karo11, closer. The Power of Infectious Amateurism A Page from Earlier Times: Reaching Out to Close Ones How professional were they in the old days? In retro­ spect, it is difficult to judge, but when there was plenty Luckily I grew up on the days before the term "Kirur of enthusiasm in their activities, their efforts were Rechokim" was popular, and anybody who simply wanted crowned with success. to could get into the act. Otherwise, I would not be In the early 1900s when my father was growing up in writing these words. Those were the days when the Baltimore, his teacher, a rabbi who was to gain great current president of Agudath Israel, Rabbi Moshe fame later in life, wanted to send him to a school in New Sherer, was an eltera bnchur (senior student) in Yehshiva York. However, the few pennies my father's paper Ner Israel of Baltimore. With his rhovl'r Freddie Wolf route brought home to his Cho bod family were needed to II (now Rabbi of Great Neck, Long Island), he was make ends meet, and luckily he was unable to leave. organizing the most important pilgrimage in America: Luckily for me, for had my father been sent to that bringing Hebrew Day School students to the great city particular institution, as recommended to him by his of New York to spend a Simchas Torah at Mesivta expert professional teacher, the entire complexion of Torah Vadaath, in the warming atmosphere of a true my family life would have been radically altered-for Mokom Torah. Those pilgrimages brought untold num­ the worse .... and 1 would not be writing these lines. bers of Day School students into the bosom of Torah On the other hand, another Talmud Torah teacher­ life. For those were not the days of kirul' rechokim, but of a relatively simple fellow, by contemporary sophisti­ kiruv kerovim*, bringing near those who were already cated standards-recognized the talents of another close, but who had not yet arrived. Those were days when young man on the sand lots of Baltimore and was wise our people looked upon one another not as rechokim, enough to direct him to the proper yeshiva, making it distant, no matter how alienated they may have been possible for that young man to become an outstanding from Torah. Instead, all were kerouim, members of the Rosh Yeshiva in Europe. same family, and it was understood that even those already religious also had a distance to travel to become Too Tough to Be Good? kerouim to G-d. The Klnusenberger Re/Jbe once commented that Avrahnm Was Teddy Davis right when in those years he Avinu, on his uJny fo the Akeidah (to offer his son as n created a youth organization for the Baltimore kids, and sacrifice), teaches us this lesson. The 11erse reads: "[when he the prerequisite for membership was Sabbath obser­ wns on the _journey] three days, he snu) the makom vance? Was he too tough? Too unbending? My late merachok-he sau) the place from n disfnnce. '' ... "Makom" mother 1i"~' was almost tossed out of her house then can also refer to G-d~only three days au1ny from home, and because, as a member of this group, she adhered to the already Avroham finds that G-d-the Makom-is distant. rules, and refused to help in the family store on the And u1haf shnll u1e say, who hatJe been on the rond from Sabbath .... Was he right? , ]erusnlem these scores of genernfions? That organization, "The Adas," today has to its credit Forty years ago, they saw the task not as kirutJ rechokirn the elite of Baltimore Jewry, and their children today but as kiruv kerotJim~looking upon all, even the religious, rank among the best of our people-serving as Roshei Yeshivas, rabbis, and most important of all frum ha/lei * Kerovim-lit. "near ones"; also "relatives" battim who exemplify a loyalty to Torah in everyday The articles by Rabbis Chinn and Gottlieb are ba5ed on their presentations al life .... a symposium on this theme at the 58th National Convention of Agudath Israel of f{ou1 professional must one be to know the right way to lead Jews America. bock to Torah?

The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 i 4 l l am a product of the early Camp Agudah, the days fully exciting scout presentation-I was thrilled, for l when today's leading rabbis, Roshei Yeshivas, and lom­ was in love with scouting. When l approached the head dim, were then counselors and staff members. As a child counselor for permission to leave to attend this program of twelve, my first time away from home in such a he refused .... l couldn't understand his harshness, nor camp, I found the environment strange, perhaps a little fathom his lack of compassion and basic human kind­ threatening. When the scout master of my synagogue ness. Didn't he realize how much if nieant to 1ne? I rebelled with troop from Baltimore visited me in Camp Agudah and all the passion of a young child thwarted in his desires. offered to take me for the day to visit the scout camp But the head counselor held his ground and refused, sol nearby to witness "the order of the arrow"-a delight- did not go.

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"Camp Agudah in Highmounf was fun, but to my mind if couldn't compete with the Boy Scout's 'order of the arrow:" '

The Jewish Obsen1er I Summer, 1981 5 i j Although I thought him cruel at the time, I can now These are questions that both rabbis and people who attest that had he given me permission, I would never work with baalei feshuva on a one-to-one basis must be have returned to Camp Agudah. I would have remained prepared to face ... and when the answers are negative, in that scout camp, and my religious life and that of my the emotional support must be there, to reassure the children and grandchildren would have been drastically /,aal feshutin that he's still a valued member of the com­ different. Who is more efficient, the slick expert or the humbling munity. ln the line of professional duty? Perhaps not. no11 ice? There are no set answers. But most definitely a task that calls for expertise.

The Amateur Lady of McKeesport A Postscript: Dealing With Those Closest of All

In McKeesport, there is a young lady who is an expert If we are interested in kiruii rechokim, we must endea­ in kiru1 1 rechokim in her own way. Every Friday she pre­ vor to keep people active in the field of working on pares twenty pounds of ground meat, six chickens, and behalf of the rechokim-as Rebbe'im and as teachers. This, several cases of Pepsi. Her home is covered with mat­ of course, entails raising the financial and professional tresses from wall to wall, and hordes of young people status of our teachers and youth leaders. But it must come each week to celebrate the Shablios with her fam­ begin with kiruv kerovim, serving the needs of those who ily .... Can one take measure of her professionalism? are closest to us-our Gedvlim. Indeed, we must also Today, young people from McKeesport are lalmidim in become experts-truly professional-in kiruv kerovim­ Brisk, Torah Vodaath, Montreal, Yeshiva University, in the full sense of the word. When those that are and almost every other Yeshiva around the country, as rachok-distant from our community-see how we we11 as in the Bais Yaakovs-because of such pros. (Even revere our great men, treat them with awe and defer­ the Gabbai of the Munkaczer Rebbe is a McKeesport ence for their station in life, they will take note of our young man, raised in a community of 11011-experts, but values and in turn become attracted to our way of life. with the compassion, love and appreciation for the karoP, Effective kiruv starts at the very center of our Torah the religious child, as well!) community and emanates outward. ~T

The Genuine Need for Experts

Yet we dare not fool ourselves. There is a genuine need for the professional. Cha bad, NCSY, JEP, and Pe'y­ lim, Ohr Hachaim and Ohr Chodosh, Ohr Somayach and JSS-we need their organizational apparatus and we need their expertise. And then, we need the experts outside of the professional circles who can answer the complicated she'eilos lhalachic questions) that the bani teshuva movement brings: B.T. as opposed to F.F.B. is a real question "Baal Teshuva or Frum from Birth." How do you counsel-or console-the young person who attended the Hebrew Day Schools from childhood, and has now fallen in love with the "yeshivaman?" The parents call and say, "Rabbi, we are very fond of ___ but tell us, are there problems with the cirucumstances of the young lady's birth? Did the family keep Ta hams Hamishpacha (the laws of Family Purity)?" How does the Rabbi answer the question? And how does he guide them? What about the B.T. who says his parents have agreed to keep Kashrus in his honor and buy strictly kosher meat for his sake, but "is there a she'eila of basar shenisalei111 min ha'ayin (meat unguarded)? How big an issue do I make about Cha/av Yisroel?" How do you answer? And what is the place of the B.T.? Can he occupy any and all positions in Jewish life? What about becoming a schochef? a mohel?The Ram barn speaks of certain positions in Jewish life that must be limited to a FFB, one who was G-d fearing from his youth (Hilchos Teshuva).

6 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 I ~ The Non-Professional Rabbi David Gottlieb and Kiruv Rechokirn

The Amateur's Burden in Reaching Out

I. Sharing with the Baal T eshuva "Of course," I answered. "How could you not know Two Stories of Our Time that?" "Well, in our Reform Temple they never told us about A Jewish boy was studying forestry at a university in that." Western United States. (I say a Jewish boy-when you And then came the clincher:"] see by your dress and ask a Jewish college student today about his religion, he your home that you believe in the Torah and are living is apt to answer: "My parents are Jewish." That is to by its commandments; are there any others like you?" 1 exclude himself: his parents are Jewish, but he is not.) This That such a question can be asked in a city that boasts boy had an "identity crisis," and to resolve it, he turned one of the world's great yeshivos and a strong Orthodox to the local Indian reservation! He arranged a regular community is tragic. This is a story of failure. chavrusa (study partnership) with the local Indian chief to Who can help these people? First we need to know discover the true meaning of his life. After a while they what they need. Why do some come and others not? both felt that progress was no longer being made. The Only then will we know how to help. chief asked him, "What is your background?" He answered, "My parents are Jewish." The chief Despair of a Life Without Values responded, "Jew, go back to your people!" Back on the college campus the boy noticed another The Gemora records a dispute: who is on a higher student wearing a yarmulke and tzitzis. He ran over to him spiritual level, the tzaddic gamur, or the baa/ leshuva-those and said, "I see by your hat and those strings that you whose lives are consistently pure and holy, or those must be Jewish. Tell me, what does it mean to be a Jew?" who returned from "the other side"? The explanation of The following year they learned the entire Chumash the opinion which elevates baa lei feshuva is simple: he has with Rashi. The erstwhile forester then went on to tasted the pleasures of sin and now must overcome learn Tor ah at Sh'or Yashuv, Rabbi Freifeld's yeshiva in great temptations. But what is the explanation of the Far Rockaway, New York. (The boy with the yarmulke opinion that elevates the tznddik?Rabbi Mendel Feldman and fzitzis had been to Jerusalem two years before. He of Baltimore explained that if this question bothers you, paid a casual visit to Yeshiva Ohr Somayach, which then you are assuming that a life without Torah is a extended itself into two years of study and a lifetime sweet, enjoyable one. You think that Torah demands commitment. When he returned to the U.S., he was that we give up Olam Hazeh (this world) for Olam Haba ready to draw in others.) That is a success story. (the world to come). But it is not true. The baa/ teshuva We also have another kind of story• A boy who had teaches this generation that the grass is not greener on joined the Indian cult Hari Krishna came into our home the other side of the fence. about a year ago. He was born, raised and educated in Baa{ei feshuva come out of disillusionment, out of des­ Baltimore. He said to me, "My father is Jewish and I pair. Some simply cannot face the world, their lives are want him to become interested in spiritual things. He in shambles, and they suffer emotional problems, physi­ can't accept my cult, so I want to see whether there is cal addictions and failure in their endeavors. Others, any thing worthwhile in Judaism for him. Tell me, does and I think they are the majority, have personalities too Judaism believe in a soul? Do you believe in an rich, ideals too high, and goals too profound to be satis­ after-life?" fied with a two-car garage in the suburbs and trips to

The Jewish Ohserl'er I Summer, 1981 7 Europe as the highlights of their life. The lures of mate­ You will deal with such "subtle" questions as: "If G-d rial "success" are empty for them and they come out of wants me to rest on Shabbos, why can't I smoke? That is despair. And therefore their approach to Torah is par­ tially motivated by the desire to avoid the alternative, and such motivation cannot compare with the purity of the tzaddik, who knows not the despair of the searcher. People who turn to Torah out of despair over secular values are not seeking philosophical arguments, but alterna­ tive values. It is sad to relate, but it is true, that I have rarely met anyone who made a major life decision on the basis of convincing arguments. The intellect is second­ ary. Its function is to justify the decisions we make for quite non-intellectual reasons. They come seeking beauty, commitment, and meaning, and this is what we must provide. And those who do not come-why do we lose them? Why do they turn to the cults and not to us? The primary cause it that they think they already know what Judaism is. They were educated in Reform or Conservative Sunday schools, Talmud Torahs, and even day schools, and they think that the hypocrisy, shallowness, and the intellectual dishonesty that they know first hand is the whole of Judiasm. And so, when they finally decide to ask the big questions about the ultimate meaning of life, Judaism is the last place they turn to.

The First Need: Authentic Information

How can we help them? First of all, we have to provide authentic Jewish information. When people hear this, they immediately assume: "This calls for genuine da'as Torah, it's a job for Gedolei Yisroel, and only for them." That is a mistake. Let me explain. A baal feshuva close to the Bostoner Rel1be descrihed the order of his Shabbos in his early stages of his return. When he my relaxation and enjoyment." Or: "The Torah forbids awoke in the morning he took a hot shower, cooked his eating pig because of tric)linosis. Now that we know breakfast on a hot plate, and then went to the campus chapel, enough to boil meat, weJlon't have to keep that com­ Bui on his way lo !he chapel he wound his handkerchief mandment any more." Or:'"The function of the mikvn around his wrist because someone had told him if is forbidden was to insure cleanliness. Now that we have modern to carry! bathing facilities, we don't need mikPa any more." Do Another Bostoner baal feshuva leads a class for non-yet­ you have to be a lr.mden to point out that the concept of frum adults. After a two-hour session with the Artscroll melachn has nothing to do with physical exertion or Breishis, one of the men remarked: "You knou1, you have an rest?-that kashrus is not a function of health codes?­ odd u1ay of expressing yourself. You speak as if this book is that spotless bodily cleanliness is a pre-requisite for true. Do you really believe that it is true?" This after a two immersion in the n1ik11n and hence cannot be its ra­ hour Shiur! The very idea that the Torah is not only beautiful, tionale?-or that Torah is unequivocally monotheistic? noble, morrd, inspiring, but also the actual truth, is a lnand The average educated Orthodox person is easily up to new concept to them . ... A Reform "rabbi" once explained the task. that Judaism is not really a monotheistic religion! He inter­ preted "One" in "Shma" ns (chns vesholom) a selection of one Of ]eu1ish Experieces and Role Models among sePeral gods! It is obvious that in order to deal with misconceptions Second, and more important, we must provide Jewish such as these, profound Torah knowledge is not neces­ experiences and Jewish role models. You cannot reach sary (though, of course, for an answer of depth it does the minds of the vast majority of assimilated Jews help). This is obviously not a matter of creating talmidei because their minds are not open. While you are chachomim, but of explaining "'Aleph-Bois."' expounding Torah, he is either counting the minutes

8 The Jewish Obsen1er I Summer, I 981 I t until you leave, or he is formulating his crushing reply mentioning the rampant curses of alcohol, drugs, vio­ that will show you why he has already made up his mind lence and crime, lack of values and purpose, and disres­ not to agree with you. Debate with people under such pect, which are daily experiences for a tremendous per­ conditions is pointless. Bring him into your home for a centage of the population. Shabbos. Let him hear a spirited "L'cho dadi"and "Kiddush," Consider divorce: approximately two out of every and then talk to hi1n. That was my experience in the five marriages is a failure. And, as any social worker will house of the Bos toner Rebbe, and I observed thousands tell you, divorce tends to be "hereditary"-a child who go through the same experience in that house and oth­ grows up in a broken home has very little positive image ers. Once the experience has opened their minds and with which to construct a successful marriage of his hearts to want to understand, then you have a chance of own. Imagine the impact when the outsider sees a Yid­ reaching them. dish family. We have something beautiful and great. If Rabbi Gifter said at the national convention of Agu­ we really appreciate this fact, we will not hesitate to dath Yisroel that the concept of "faam hamitzrios" can be open our homes and share our lives with those unfor­ explained via the concept of "taam hamaachol" (the taste of tunates who desperately need us. food.} The "taste" of a mitzria is analogous to the taste of food. The nutritional value of the food does not depend Shn'f Yourself upon its taste, but the taste of the food serves to make it attractive. How do you teach your children good nutri­ Imparting Jewish information and experience tooth­ tion? Not by explaining biology to them! Rather, you try ers are first steps, but even more is needed. The third to give nutritionally valuable foods a good taste. Sim­ stage is to share yourself. The Bostoner Rebbe said as ilarly with mitzrios: "Taamu u're ki ton liashem"-once you much in the hanl IPshuva issue of jO (June '80) and I have taste the goodness of Hashem you can then go on to see seen him practice this in thousands of hours: You have it, to perceive it, to accept it. Our responsibility is to to open yourself. That is very difficult, especially for our provide the potential /Jani feshurin with that taste. Share a community. The Torah creates in us a natural sense of Yam Tov with him, bring him along to bake matzos, let modesty, of embarrassment: Who, after nlf. is interested in so him feel the warmth of performing milzvos. insignificant person as me? If I can teach the newcomer a We suffer from a tremendous inferiority complex. Rnshi, I am communicating Torah and linking up a Jew We don't appreciate what we have, and the wide gulf with the Tradition. But felling him my experiences in Yeshir 1a, between our way of life and the rest of the world. We my pr(lhlems and surrrsses, my fear ..; and ioys, my personnl u1ny af read about it and hear it, but 1 don't think we really living the Torah, that is insignificant. Not sol Yau r1rr impor­ believe it. The average Torah home has a beauty and a tant! The newcomer needs to see how the Torah is nobility which stops an outsider in his tracks and forces actually lived, felt, and experienced. He needs role mod­ him to ask: What am I missing in life? els from whom he can gain a concept of what his life May I offer several examples: I was atten1pfing fa would be like if he camf.'> closer to Torah. This he can expluin to a non-religious friend 7vhaf a Rehbe is. I asked him, gain only from the openness of a living Torah Jew. The "Do you know anyone whose mere presence inspires you?" inscription in a sr_fer given to a rrhlie at Yeshivat Ohr When he answered "Yes," I nsked for a drsrription of this Somayach encapsulates this idea. It read: "saint." He said: "This fellow is an entrepreneur: he develops "1';1!"1 D'Wl1p" 'i~'J:. iiti11 il'li'ilii it.:;;y JiJlllJ r:~:.w:. shopping centers. He once had an opportunity fo cheaf someone ("For giving yourself and your Torah, and your help in out of hundreds of thousands of dollars inn legal but very nasty revealing the understanding of 'You shall be holy'") way, and he didn't do it. I feel privileged to stand in his The message by now should be clear: what is needed presence. is elementary Jewish information, Jewish experience, This means that the greatest tzidkus (piety) he can ronceivr and personal sharing. £i1eryone can participate in some way in of is not stealing! Can you explain to hi1n what if n1eans to he this process. in the presence of a person whose every thought, gesture and movement is full of holiness? II. Over-Share Consider the secular teacher who complimented me on the wide knowledge of my son, then eight years ol1i. When I There is a second side to sharing our community and commented that we don't haue a television in our ho1ne, she ourselves which we must face. When we share with the u)as shocked. "How is it possible that he has learned so 1nuch baa( feshuva, we inevitably share all of ourselves, and this without a TV?" she asked. calls for extreme vigilance and substantial lesl1111 1a of our "We haue a novel method," I answered, "We falk to him/" own, if we are not to be guilty of massive rhillul Hashem. In secular society, where the average adult and child One lmnl teshul'a spent years terribly upset about watches between four and six hours of television a day, talking during davening. There were talmidei charhomim in there is little or no talking between parents and child­ his shul and even the principal of a day school who were ren. To observe a Torah family on Shabbos beng together, constantly guilty of this n11eira (transgression). When he and sharing, is a unique experience to the outsider. approached them, they either ignored him or laughed at These examples could be multiplied even without him. One even went so far as to tell him: "That is the

The Jewish Obseroer I Summer, 1981 9 I l

.-.-.. -.·-.·~·' There is no shul that doesn't have haalei teshuva in it each nveir11: the act itself is a crime, and in addition, there from time to time, and hardly any that doesn't have is the loss of the resourt:es used in the act that should some regularly. Every act we perform in public is an act have been put to Torah use. There is a din for the chillu/ I that some boa/ teshuvn sees, Think of what happens all too Hashem that we cause in these impressionable people, ! often at a shalorn zachor. What are the topics of conversa­ and there is a cheshhon for the countless hours that must tion (aside from the perfunctory ten minute devar Torah}: be expended in explaining these tragedies away instead r Job, money, the elections, and if a Jewish subject surfa­ of teaching them positive Torah. The audience of baalei ces, it is likely to be Jewish politics, or the latest battle of teshuva magnifies the significance of our commitment to one group against another. But the baal teshwoa who Torah and increases the potential impact of both success comes for Shabbos wants an uplift to carry him through and failure tremendously. Let us be constantly aware of the next week Will he get it from that? He'll be crushed this factor and mend our fences! by it. problem with you baalei feshura-it takes a long time to IIL Beyond Hospitality find out what is important and what is not in Torah life. For those who go beyond extending hospitality to You'll learn." haalei teshuvn and become involved in counseling them, When I asked this baal teshuvr1 why this particular aveira there are many lessons that experience teaches which upset him so much (after all, rechilus-talebearing-is should be recorded and explored. One of the most criti­ worse, and he was not psychologically upset by that), he cal is illustrated by this following story. provided a deep insight: "l come to shui to daven for 45 A college co-ed once said to 1ne: "Dr. Gottlieb, I will never minutes in the morning. I look at these people, and my be {rum." ability to go to the campus and remain a Jew depends "Why not?" upon the inspiration l find here. When they don't inspire "Becnuse I know that n woman has to cover her hair and I me, I feel a rage against them because I can't niake it without u1ould never do that-I'm iust not capal1le of it." their help." I responded, "Listen-you're right. A woman has to cover Embarrasing Questions her hair. But I knoio people who habitually insult others in When they have these experiences, haalei teshuva ask public; the Gemora says you lose Olam llabbo for that. Do embarassing questions. "When I started to become frum, you think they define thnnselves as not frum? Of course not. l thought that Yorn Kippur was the day for teshuva and I When Yorn Kippur comes they say 'Al Chait' and promise fo made a tremendous effort to get a grip on myself, but it be hetter next year-·nnd sometimes they are, and sometimes wasn't enough. So then I thought: really l should have they are nof. They define themselves as fruni people with a started on Rosh Hashana-that will give me ten days. prohlem. To be frurn means to acknou;fedge the authority of the After a couple of years l started working on very diffi­ whole Torah, and by your very question I see that you already cult problems and I realized that Rosh Chodesh Elul is really do that. You should not think of yourself as hopelessly lost the beginning of the process. And l must say that I do because you find this prohlem insolul1le at the present tirne. see progress from year to year. On the other hand, l Each person's nvoda is where that person is no1v, and requires have spent many a Yorn Kippur infrum shuls with people a steady step-by-step process. The Pri Tzaddik says that if one I know and often there is no discernable difference person struggles to be the tzaddik hador and another struggles between their behavior at the beginning of Yorn Kippur to be merely decent, both tire dear in the eyes of G-d. The and their behavior at the end. Once, after Maariv of Michtav Me'Eliahu says that each person's free will is limited Motzaei Yorn Kippur, the gahbai made Havdnla and used to a small area-for each person there are many rnitzvos he is spices. One of the very learned members of the shul ran incapalile of performing, as well as many aPeiros he is unable up to him in public and yelled at him for his mistake. How to avoid. Not rvery individual is capable of speaking only of do you think that hit me and the other bualei teshuPn spiritual matters the entire Shabhos: if is a challenge to avoid present?" Can you answer his question? outright business discussions. Nor is everyone up the the level Consider tznius (personal modesty). ·rhere are min­ of rrfraining from losing timr from "forah study. On the other imum standards for covering the body, and there are hand, refraining from smoking orulafching TV on Shahbos is ways of satisfying those minimum standards and still natural to the long-frum individual, but can be a harrowing calling attention to oneself. This proves to be an obstacle prospect to some haalci fe:ihuva. Each ha:i his own area of to honoring "Lo sasuru·-Do not stray after your eyes. conflict, and it should he our goal to ~nave th11t aru1 to higher "l was told that a woman should cover her body and nnd higher rcaltns. her hair so as not to draw attention to herself in public. "As the Bostoner R..ehhe puf5 it: If u1e are all shooting for Why do l see high fashion and haute couture among the 100, and I'm mot'ing fro1n 32 to 3 3 uJhile you are passing Orthodox, and conspicuous display of gold and dia­ f ro111 96 to 9 7, if is Pery 1rnfur11! for you to to he very excited l1y monds among those who can afford them?" Can we your doseness to the goal and for me not to share that answer his question? And this is not the responsibility excitement. But lhnt is a false perception. If is the step that of women alone: they would not dress as they do unless counts. After all, who determined the starting pluce for each the men in their lives approved. individual?" The Vilna Gaon explains the phrase din v'cheshhon In capsule form, frumkeit consists of the total accep­ I (iudgment and accounting) as a double accounting for l tance of Tor ah as the goal of life, together with a scrupu- 10 rhe Jnvish ()hwrtia I Summer. 1981 I' lously honest and sincere effort to achieve that goal neshornos will end up on the garbage heap of the cults or I through a lifetime of progress. This gives the baa/ secularism. Yoseif was taken by force to Mitzraim-the feshuvo-and all of us-the most exalted ideal and realis­ root of lumoh-spiritual defilement. These children, tic means of achieving it. these men and women, have been raised at the contem­ porary source of fumah by their own parents and IV. Who Will Provide the Image? families-not unlike Yoseif. And they live in a material­ istic, hedonistic world that pulls at their sleeves and Who is qualified to be involved with boolei leshuvo? We screams: "Stay with me!" Who saved Yosief?-say Cha­ can all provide elementary Jewish education, expe­ zol (the rabbis): The image of his father. Who will pro­ rience, or counseling and encouragement. And if we do vide the image of Yaakov Avinu to this generation? That not provide it, others will, and our precious Jewish is our responsibility. lT

t '

I 1 11 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 I I ~ .------·----·------I @ l a r

extent. After all, no one "bends over lives once again. And this starts Opening Up backwards" to marry a baa[ teshuva. with shidduchim. There are some "New Immigrants" It is a disappointment to myself, Rabbis and Rebbitzens, shadchuns, as and to others as well, to see baalei well as other community members, to Judaism teshuva leave Yiddishkeil. Many a baa! who are instrumental in this area. leshuva has literally searched end­ Basically it seems that they all work (A Letter) lessly to find a proper spouse, to be separately. There is no coordina­ "turned off" as a result of failing to tion, and no cooperation. Whoever "Baal teshuva-hood." Many of us establish a {rum family, and then left they know individually, they refer have returned to Yiddishkeitandmore Yiddishkeit. Moreover,they left with to future prospects who also come are in the process of returning. the feeling that they did what they looking. There is no communication Hashem is always ready to accept could to identify with their heritage, among themselves and between the us in our return, but is the commun­ that a life of observance was not for communities. ity ready for us? Being "new immi­ them, and that their disappointment Must each individual baa/ teshuva grants," we require all of the neces­ will probably keep them from seek­ continue to search out all the indi­ sities of a newcomer, such as hous­ ing to return again. viduals with contacts by himself in ing relocation and education. But hopes of finding his basher!? This is more importantly, we need your unreasonable, and yet each of us is guidance, acceptance, and your help forced to do so. Why can't there be in order to adjust to our new lives. some organization established to Many of us have been forced into reduce the searching, which so many strained relationships, some even of us go through? Isn't it enough of having to break the ties with their a test to become {rum and take on the families, and past friendships. Some commitments which the Torah de­ baalei teshuva have either given up or mands of us? postponed careers, feeling the need This service is also needed by the to learn in yeshiva before complet­ general Torah community. It iS not a ing college, or giving up employ­ problem restricted solely to the baa/ I ment in order to sit and learn. teshuva, although they are in greater Where does placement and ab­ need, not having an understanding sorption into' the community begin? family to look after such arrange­ Does the Torah community have an ments. We look up to the commun­ obligation to help us? It is obvious ity as being our family, and look to that they do, and are trying to you to provide for our future. If the implement ways in which to help us. baal teshuva movement is to escalate There is still so much left to be done. successfully, then provisions will have to be made for more effective A Plea for "Intermarriage" marriage introductions. If you consider the baal feshuva an In the past I have been upset important part of the community, regarding the lack of intermarriages then help us make up for lost time. of the general Torah community Do not make us spend endless years with the baalei leshuva, and have searching. Allow us to spend pre­ I spoken openly against this. After cious time in fulfilling our aspira­ heated discussions subside on the tions of developing our own families subject, life continues as usual. No Communication dedicated to the precepts of the There has been a perceptible inc­ Torah, which we have chosen to rease of such intermarrying the past After we have become observant, fulfill. few years, but not to any great we must establish new families and NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST

12 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 198 I ,I

I Kindergarten class in Be'er Hagolah. Reaching the Russians: An Historic Obligation

"Sounds strange, a mix~up, hut first carne my son's bris, a year The two young teen-age hays had been anticipating Pesach for later his Bar Mitzvah, and then-my bris and pidyon haben. weeks now. This-their first year in yeshitia-had been full of fresh I knew that rny lifeu,ould /Je full of changes once 1enrolled1ny child in visfa5 and neul experiences, but none nzatched celebrating the redemp­ Hebrew school, hut I never expected such a rapid change-the tion from Egypt according to halacha-andHaggadah. M urh lo telescoping of so many years into so feu' 1nonfhs . ... That in itself is their disrnay, their parents wanted no part of it. The hays offered fo e11couraging though, because the fart that there's still so much left handle all the details-kashering, shopping, setting up, yd their unfinished to he done could be overwhelming. At this pace, hou1t't1er, 1 parents still refused. know that 1 have a chance lo catch up." Dismayed but no! defeated, the boys had a genuine Pesach in their bedroom. They cleaned in preparation for the holiday, shopped, and The speaker was 11 fonnt'r engineer from Riga, studying English­ prepared the food in f!!Cir room, conducted the Seder and ate al/ their as-a-Second-Language in COPE Vocafional lnstitute, descrihing his meals there. rapid metamorphosis from a Russian who happened to be a Jew into a The boys UJCrc Odessa-born Jews, fen months out of Russia, Jew u1ho happt'ned to be Russian. attending Yeshiva Be'er Haga/a in Brooklyn.

Thr }rwish 0/1sen1rr I Summer, 1981 13 I I J I. The Difficulties and the Differences in America. His agenda is so crowded with material concerns-such as getting an apartment, furniture, It may seem to be of little significance to the reader if employment, and education for advancement-that the hero of the piece is named Gregori from Riga or there is hardly time for spiritual considerations. Rabota Greg from Dearborn. The main point should be that a (employment) and ienge (money) are his concerns, not Jewish soul, estranged from Yiddishkeit because of exte­ kedusha. After getting an apartment, the first purchase is nuating circumstances, has found his way home to his usually a color TV set, the ultimate symbol of participat­ heritage. But it is not so simple a matter, as any Kiruv ing in the free market. Unfortunately, a mezuza for his worker will tell you. There are a wealth of differences doorpost seldom makes his shopping list. between working with Gregori or Greg, and they are significant. The Historical Factor The American potential baal teshuva-whether a drop­ out from the campus scene or a fugitive from corporate If reaching Russian immigrants and introducing them wars-is usually searching for some deeper spiritual to Judaism is so difficult, then why squander one's meaning in his life. Material gain has lost its luster to efforts on them when the yield is so doubtful? Wouldn't him; for that matter, he probably never experieced the same effort expended toward the American baal material need or insecurity in his lifetime, and therefore teshuva be much more productive, and much more views the acquisition of material effects with little worthwhile? excitement, if any. Moreover, he usually has some reli­ This cost-effectiveness assessment, while superfi­ gious frame of reference-either from reading or from cially a strong argument, is incomplete in one crucial experimentation. The concepts of "transcending expe­ way: it does not take into account a significant historical riences," "eternity," "divine guidance," and "ultimate factor, which puts a special premium on working with reward and punishment" are not foreign to him. They the Russian Jew. It is a point that was articulated by the only need redefinition and refinement in a Judaic Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky, at the annual framework. Yeshiva Be'er Ha'gola dinner in June: "Very few people today remember fhe Russia of sixty years The Russian Liabilities ago. If as a country with millions of religious Jews, includ­ ing countless fzaddikim and Tor ah scholars. Nou,, after three The Russian counterpart is different, for he is usually generations of Communist rule, one would assume that there is a second- or third- generation product of an educational no remnant of Yiddi.Aaron Kotler in his time, like all Gedolei Yisroe/ Wflr JI, so must we initiate reach-out efforts to save our Soi1iet these past sixty years, agonized over the fate of Russian brefhern in our midst from the ulfimafe destruction of Jewry. And no wonder that now that Russian Jews are nssirnilation," actually finding their way out of the Soviet system, they have no inkling whatsoever of common spiritual con­ cepts. "Chessed," "after-life," "tzeddaka," "divine inte.rven­ II. Overcoming Obstacles tion" -even the name of G-d-are all totally foreign to them. How, then, cant he American counselor or friend Viewing the situation from the historical perspective expect to inspire a Russian Jew with an interest in offered by Rabbi Kamenetzky, Russian Jews are worthy "returning" to Judaism? of an extra effort. The question is, what can we do? Furthermore, the recent Russian emigrant must deal Obviously, it makes most sense to begin by helping with a vast number of adjustments simply to get settled new arrivals meet their material needs-housing, furni-

14 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 l ' ture, employment, and so on. These are being handled describe Shabhos preparations and holiday celebrations by large organizations that are equipped to deal with through simple dialogues, setting a mood and imparting these areas--including Project RISE 1, COPE2, FREE-', information. Rav Tuv4 , NYANA:> and several local community •Assemblies are convened regularly at CVI at which groups that are involved in various aspects of this work. lecturers speak to Russian students on Judaic themes. Optimally,these groups should use their contact with The student response has been very positive.

their Russian clients to expose them to religious Jews "The rnbbi looked raid, shy, and unsociable. Buf he spokeu)ifh and their way of life, and to various degrees they do. infrlfigrnce nnd humor about our hi~fory, and hou1 thr Rus­ Once the immigrants have settled these matters, they sian Jru' is strong in frarlifion and humane-ness, and every may well be more open to religious influence. The most word !ouched my soul. He 1nade n1e proud." (From a student's effective means of contacting Russian Jews is through written rommenl affer a CVI assembly prograrn.J mass gatherings, such as Chanukah parties and Pesach sedorim: and to utilize existing platforms, such as English­ In addition to holiday-related information, instruc­ as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes, as well as Russian tion in mitzva observance, and columns of historical language publications (such as "The Bulletin" published nature, "The Bulletin" features a twelve-panel picture monthly by RISE). All of these are useful in establishing story rf'produced from Olomeinu (Torah Umesorah's I contact and introducing concepts. children's magazine) \Vith the dialogue balloons written • Parties and special assemblies sponsored by various in Russian. This is an entertaining format for teaching groups continue to attract hundreds of participants. basic concepts of Torah life. Yet it is not without its Besides food, entertJinment, and camaraderie, these problems. A ten-year-old American yeshiva student can assemblies offer lectures on the theme of the holiday at read a "Tale of Bitachon" illustrating Reb Zundel of hand. The general information assimilated at these Salant studying Talmud while his wife tends a fabric gatherings, while enriching, must ultimately be applied store, but the Russian adult balks at this "parasitic role." to be of true value. For the Russian language edition, a special caption •Text books specially prepared for CVI's' ESL classes explains that Reh Zundel is destined for greatness and his study is not self-indulgence, but an investment for 1. "Russian Immigrant!' Servke (Ind Education," Agudath IsraPl of the Jewish people as a whole.,,, Similarly, when the AmPrica's spPcial division that serves the needs of Russian Jews. King's Jewish physician is pictured saying: "The 10,000 2. "Career Opportunity and Prevaration for Employment," Agu­ gold pieces I gave away to fzeddakn are really mine-in the dath Israel's employment guidance division, which has interviewed World to Come. The 90,000 remaining are not truly and serviced 20,000 Russian jf'ws since its inception. mine, for who is secure with this-worldly possess­ 3. The Lubavitch Movement's "Friends of Refugees from Eastern ions?"-a number of imponderables present them­ Europe." 4. The Si!tmar sponsored organization that aids Jewish immi­ selves: fzeddnka, "true possession" in the metaphysical grants. sense, the World-to-Come. , While yeshiva children 5. "New York Association for New Americans," sponsored by the read this statement with no difficulty, the Russian NY Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. reader is totally perplexed. Special pains are taken to 6. Cope Vocational Institute, Agudath Israel's vocational training make these ideas intelligible to the Russians, to prepare division, whkh has a large Russian student population. them to derive inspiration from this little tale.

Thr }rWi$h Obsrn1rr I Summer, 19F 1 15 i \ J ' One on One should encompass more than religious matters. Anntoly Lukansky approached Nae hum Richards on 16th Facts can be interesting, concepts should be enlight­ Avenue in Baro Park, and asked him if he knew of an ening, but these only inform the mind. Changes do not apartment in the area. He was a metalurgical engineer from take place until the heart is touched. And the key to the Leni11grad, and he liked the open Jewishness of the Brooklyn heJrt lies in the hand of the individual: a personal invita­ neighborhood. Richards tracked down an aparlnient on the tion by an American host to spend a Shabbos or a Pesach outskirts of Bora Park and helped Anatoly and his u1ife, Irina, Seder is a good start, and the subsequent involvement pick up some used furniture. The genuine personal interest developed into a fast friendship. A Shabbos af the Richards was reciprocated with a visit to the Lukansky's on Friday night. Anatoly turned off the TV in honor of his visitors' Grandson's Bris arrival, ... Biggest Moment, .... The step-by-step study sessions went from ArtScroll 80 Year Old OverPiews to Nefesh Hachayim ... Anatoly relished abstract Russian Jew discussions, but Nachum pressed for "how-to" studies, gra­ Tells Project Rise duating fron1 Kitzur Shulchan Aruch to Mishna Brura in English, studying together once a week in person, anti almost nightly on the telephone. The struggles were many: Nachum repeatedly instructed Anatoly in how to say the Shmona Esrei, Dov but no! terribly interested, he would forget from time to "In the 80 years of my life, I have lived under the fi~ne. . . More progress: choosing a school for their little Soviet rule, was seriously injured in the Russian Sonya ... getting 11 _ioh with a consulting firm for Westu1ay~ army, and yet have been called 'Zhid,' but now I and losing it because of Shabhos . ... Then a turning point: the have the opportunity to finally live freely as a Jew couple's wedding. with chupa-kiddushin in the Richards' and see that my grandson should do the same," apartment, with a generous banquet and fipe music. ... The said 80 year old Mr. Dov Milman, celebrating the Richards had been warned: "Shabbos and Kashrus are diffi­ bris and pidyon haben of this grandson on June 14th cult to accepf but are feasible. 612 mitzvos are their ultiniafe at a celebration organized by Project RISE. Dov's capacity. Be satisfied with that. Don't over-reach by expecting grandson was one of a number of children and them to accept T11haras Hamishpacha, too." Several weeks young adults who recently had undergone a bris before their wedding, however, Anatoly and Irina asked for mi/ah in the special program sponsored by Project instructions in laws of family life and then made a mikva RISE. appointment .... Exactly one year later, Anatoly earned a Overtaken by the emotional experience of hav· fellowship in a large university situated in a Sunbelt city with ing lived to see the bris of his grandson, Reb Dov a large ]eu1ish population. While Anatoly was scouting for an said, "My mother told me on her death bed not to apartment in his new hometown, Irina spent her last Shabbos name any grandchildren after my father unless with the Richards. A newly arrived Russian couple was they had a bris milah. Although I have five grand­ expected for the evening meal, and when the doorbell rang, the children, I finally now have been able to give this members of the host family exchanged embarrassed glances, grand~hild my father's name, Yosef, instead of but Irina smiled: "They don't know about Shabbos. Well Igor." have to teach them." For the Russian Jews who were gathered at the The Lukansky's were young, intelligent and highly Agudath Israel of East Midwood (Brooklyn) this motivated. Not typical, one might argue. But no one is was yet another step closer towards their ultimate "typical." If each of us keeps our eyes, our heart and our return to authentic Judaism. Tears of joy could be home open, we will find another couple that responds to seen on the eyes of many Russian immigrants what we have to offer. who participated in the festivities. Many of the It is true that in spite of the large scale of their Russian Jews and their American friends joined in operations, organizations also have many opportunities a spirited dance to live music. for very effective person-to-person counseling, within Yosef Stern of Project RISE, speaking in Rus­ the limitations of their framework. The stream of tele­ sian, explained the significance of bris milah. Mr. phone calls and visitors to RISE offices, for instance, Stern has recently begun public presentations for result in countless individuals being steered to the right Russian immigrants on the subject of Kashrus. A yeshiva (or the most preferable college, if that be the film strip produced by Torah Umesorah, the need), a summer in a religious sleep-away camp, advice national Society of Hebrew Day Schools, with a on kashrus and Shabbos observance, a pair of tefillin for a Russian language cassette developed and pro­ grandson ... the broad range of Jewish experience that duced by Project RISE is used to illustrate the the Russian immigrant needs. The deepest, longest­ principles of Kashrus. lasting impression, however, is made by other individu­ als on an extended one-to-one basis.

16 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 III. Reaching the Children: Be'er Hagolah boys 6 to 10, and 11to14, and two similar ones for girls. Working with adults is a long range effort; they are Since children with no background are constantly enter­ finished products of the Soviet educational system, ing the school, the turnover in these absorption classes more set in their ways, offering mixed results for our must be relative fast, to make room for the new stu­ troubles, at best. By contrast, children can be more dents. As soon as they learn basics in Hebrew or Eng­ responsive, and can be dealt with for longer periods of lish, they are" mainstreamed" in that particular depart­ time in yehsivos-once they are enrolled there. ment, joining a class of children of their own age. (Some While their parents are not on a conscious search for enrollees transfer in from public schools and can adjust spirituality, many are ready to enroll their children in a to the English classes without need for the absorption Hebrew school, especially after sampling the permissive period in that area.) atmosphere of the public schools. Soviet schools are The transition to Torah study is relatively easy and can much more rigidly disciplined than their American follow a set program. It is the transition to Torah /ifethat ~ counterparts, and the yeshivos offer a safe refuge from is difficult-not only in terms of introducing the child­ the hazards of the street culture. But the decision to ren to a general Torah hoshkafa (outlook) and to individ­ I enroll Russian children is not the ultimate victory; it is ual milzvos, but to coach them on how to deal with their only one stroke in a constant upstream struggle, in parents. As mentioned, the choice of yeshiva education I which one moment's relaxation can result in irretriev­ is usually triggered by black eyes, welts or bruises that able loss of ground. the children bring home from public school. not by the The first problem is finding a suitable school for the parents' love for Torah. In fact, many parents are Russian child. Few yeshivos are willing or able to give extremely wary of any religious influence the school the entering Russian child-especially those above first may have on their children, and fight it quite vehe­ grade level-the attention he needs, with remedial work mently. As a result, children are often forced to resort to in English and Hebrew. This requires a special staff of deception to keep ntifzvos. low student-teacher ratio, with extraordinary resources Lillie Esther suffered agonizing headaches weekend afler of patience and interest. It requires a Jewish-saturated weekend-or so she claimed. To spare her front extra noise, curriculum to overcome the paucity of such information her parents kepi !heir TV shut off !he en/ire Saturday. After a and understanding at home, with conspicuous stress on while, however, they became suspicious and after some ques­ secular studies, to reassure the parents that their child­ lioning. Esther !old them !he truth: She had learned about ren will be able to matriculate to the public school sys­ Shahhos in her Be' er Hagolah class, and she couldn't bear to tem if desired. While these may be basic requirments in have !he TV blaring on !he holy day. Her parents finally wen! any yeshiva, as a rule, their absence is not tragic, for the along with her wishes. average yeshiva child has a positive home environment Because every home situation is different, and no to fall back on; for a Russian child, however, the absence teacher can possibly understand his or her students of any of these factors could be fatal to his growth. To witho~t knowing the home situation; and because par­ effectively provide all the ingredients the Russian child ents will be more responsive to their children's whims requires demands a concern that must go beyond book­ and demands if they are backed up by an intelligent, reas.o~able adult, a Be'er Hagolah representive attempts II learning to encompass every aspect of the child's life. The conventional yeshivos and girls' schools simply to v1s1t the home of every single student. The exchange have not responded to this awesome challenge. is refreshing and the insights gained helpful, and some­ To meet the needs of these children, a new yeshiva, times quite touching. Be'er Hagolah, was founded. The school is backed by a Visiting second-grader Rita's home in Brighton, the devoted corps of laymen, and is run by an active Board teacher found fastened to the door post a piece of construction of Education that is extraordinary in its makeup as it is paper with a hig Hebrew letter "Shin" colored on it. "What's in its deep involvement in every phase of the school's lhisl' asked the teacher. operation: Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky (Torah Vodaath), "My mezuzah that I 1nade in school," answered Rita with Rabbi Shneuer Kotler (Beth Midrash Gehova, Lake­ pride. Rita nou> has a genuine 1nezuzah on her door post. wood), Rabbi Avrohom Pam (Mesivta Torah Vodaath), Rabbi Elya Svei (Philadelphia), Rabbi Aaron Schechter By the same token, the bris, and the pair of lefillin in (Yeshiva Chaim Berlin), Rabbi Yaakov Perlow (Novo­ honor of a student's Bar Mitzvah (both courtesy of minsker Rebbe) with Rabbi Yisroel Belsky (Mesivta Project RISE). are practically begged for, after prepara­ Torah Vodaath), Rabbi Joshua Fishman (Torah Ume­ tion for these in the Be' er Hagolah classrooms. sorah), Rabbi Avner German (Starrett City), and Rabbi ... Typical of the long time it takes some of the Ephraim Oratz (RISE). best-intentioned students to fully comprehend their new teachings is the case of Boris, a Bucharian teenager, Introduction to Torah who joined his friends at McDonalds for a Big Mac and fries, but refused to order a milkshake because: "Don't ;o prepare a Russian child for entry into yeshiva life, you know we Jews are not permitted to eat meat and Be er Hagolah has four absorption classes: one each for milk together?"

The Jewish Ohsenier I Summl'r. 1981 1 7 Securing the Investment the child to as pleasant, yet comprehensive and all­ encompassing a religious experience as possible. This is The curriculum at Be'er Hagolah aims at built-in best achieved in a summer sleep-away camp. Yet, this obsolescence through ultimately sending on its students too involves difficulties-financial (needs no elabora­ to a conventional yeshiva or Bais Yaakov. Parents, of tion) as well as sociological. For instance, when the camp course, do not see the need, and are apprehensive over form recommends packing twelve pairs of socks, and enrolling their children in what they recognize as an the camper only owns ten, the Russian parent might openly religious institution. decide to cancel out. One must honor the list or else .... On a "field trip" organized for Be'er Hagolah parents ton At the same time, they might fail to beat the bus stop in well-known out-of-town yeshiua, the visitors were i1isihly time for departure. In Russia, 10 am could mean 3 pm. impressed with the handsome campus, and they approved of This mixture of awe and skepticism in dealing with the credit-equivalency arrangement the yeshiva had made for printed forms and other expressions of bureaucracy are ifs post-high-school program with a nearby university. But understandable, but difficult to predict in advance, then one of them chanced upon a Russian-born kitchen help Once they are in a camp-ideally, one Russian per and asked him nbout the yeshiva. "A very religious place. All bunk, so they do not retreat to their own Russian­ they do is study religion all day," he said, .. , Not one boy language-ghetto-they live with American kids of their from that group UJas enrolled. own peer group, do all the things city kids dream about, After the Be' er Hagolah alumnus has made the right within a round-the-clock, Jewish-permeated atmo­ choice and entered a yeshiva, the struggle is by no sphere. Moreover, the friendships formed in camp are means over. usually deep and long-lasting, Peer influence is far more By all appearances, Sonya was successfully 1nainstreamed effective than hours of lectures and classes. (As a matter info a Brooklyn yeshiva high school. During the summer, she of record, RISE placed 110 children in various religious landed a job as a 1nother's helper for a family vncafioning in sleep-away camps this past summer.) It is to be hoped the Catskills, She confided to fhe lady of the house thaf she was that after a summer in camp, the Russian child is ready transferring to a public school the next year because the Bais and willing to continue his growth as a Jew. f Y nakoP she had been attending was "too religious." i While this was not at all apparent, perhaps extended • • intensive counseling could have detected the problem and dealt with it successfully in schooL The best anti­ In summary, tens of thousands of Russian Jews have dote for rejecting a school as "too religious" is to expose reached these shores presenting us-members of the host community-with a rare opportunity and histori­ cal obligation to do all within our power to reunite them with their heritage. Unfortunately, only a very tiny minority these Jews have been reached. Most of them are continuing on their headlong plunge into American materialism, picking up absolutely no Jewish knowledge or values on the way. As a case in point, the first butcher shop of Jewish ownership to sell pork in the Brighton area of Brooklyn was recently opened by a Russian Jew. The Orthodox community simply must contribute large sums of money and more personal effort to reach their Russian brethern. Similarly, Be'er Hagolah easily could-and should­ be doubled to two parallel schools, not only one, Yet severe budget problems are threatening this institution, and it may have to cut its enrollment in half-a tragic comment on the Jewish community's response to this crying need. Ancillary programs such as the high school plan of placing each grade-level of Russian students in a differ­ ent host high school is a worthy experiment that needs more support and guidance-which it is not getting. lf the Divine hashgachn has favored us with a chain of events so extraordinary that they defy all expectations, and resist every logical explanation, shouldn't we sur­ pass past performance and be equal to this "call of the hour"? !..'i,

18 Thr Jewish Obsenier I Summer. 1981 l Ezri el T oshavi

After the Elections J I

Gerrer Rebbe casting his ballot. Why the Euphoria? First, Agudath Israel's "success" at the polls must be evaluated against the backdrop of a climate wherein the Four years ago, eminent rabbinical leaders urged the major parties dominated the scene, and the representa- religious populace to vote in Israel's national elections, Agudath M11fd11/ Poalei Agudath and to cast their ballot for Row Gimme/-Agudath Israel. Israel (Miz.rachi} Israel More than calling for a show of strength, the rabbis had Ninth Knesset: 58,652 160,787 23,571 anticipated a close election, and that with a strong show­ Tenth Knesset: 72,332 95,423 17,103 ing Agudath Israel would be able to provide the swing gained: 13,680 lost: 64,364 lost: 6,468 votes for the party closest to power when the ruling 1 coalition would be formed. As things happened, Agu­ (The Mizrachi's loss was due only partially to the votes I dath Israel gave Begin's Likud coalition the four seats he taken away by the Abuchatzeira list, Tami, which won three needed to lift his coalition count from 57 to 61-the seats.) requisite majority to rule the 120-seat Knesset. In reward, Agudath Israel did not exact payment in the lion of all other parties diminished (see the table)-some traditional tender of ministerial posts, but instead pres­ to the vanishing point. Of the so-called minor parties, ented a list of forty-plus poin!s to help guarantee the only Agudath Israel achieved an increase in its vote, and religious nature of Eretz Yisroel. The rest is history. actually came within a hairbreadth of increasing its In June 1981, the Moelzes Gedolei Ha Torah (Council of Knesset representation-only 1500 votes short of gain­ Torah Sages), Agudath Israel's rabbinical leadership, ing one more seat. again urged the Torah community to vote for Agudath To be sure, Agudath Israel does not delude itself into Israel; and again Menachem Begin was able to extend viewing its 4°/o share of the popular vote as an over­ his own lead over the Labor Party (48-47) to 61 because whelming mandate. But the turnout does demonstrate of Agudath Israel's participation in its parliamentary that those who substribe to the Agudath Israel ideology coalition .... And again it was with a sense of triumph are deeply committed to it, in contrast to other "minor" that Agudath Israel looked back at the election returns party members-erstwhile Mafdal (Mizrachi) voters, that granted it a four-seat Knesset faction. for instance, who could see their goals of a Greater At first blush, the celebration in Agudath Israel circles Israel better realized through Likud, or who find their seems ill-earned. Four seats are only four out of 120. Sephardic identity better protected through Abuchat­ And they are the same in number as Agudath Israel had zera's Tami Party, and assigned these particular inter­ won four years ago, with no increase in representation ests higher priority than the religious factor as repres­ in the Knesset. Why the euphoria? ented by Mafdal. ... One might also surmise that some who had refrained from voting in earlier elections out of Commitment and Principle principle were now convinced-by recent achievements in the Knesset as well as by the eloquent pleas of Gedolei These lines are being written only days after the Yisroel-that voting is an imperative. So in the context of coalition agreement between Agudath Israel and Mena­ voter loyalty, the note of triumph is justified. chem Begin's Likud was finalized and do not represent a full evaluation of the election results. Nonetheless, To the Victor Goes the Choice some comment can surely be made. This, however, is a rejoicing that smacks of partisan­ Ezriel Toshavi observes the Israeli scene for the readers of The Jewish ship, and this is precisely not the point. To the contrary, Observer. the rejoicing is that now-in addition to holding on to I

The Jewish Obseroer I Summer, 1981 19 j I the gains for Torah achieved in the Ninth Knesset­ spotlighting of attention on the amending of the Law of there will ii'"K be additional gains realized in the on­ Return (so as to limit recognition as Jews to converts going struggle to raise the level of Yiddishkeit a .. d only when they were converted in accordance with Torah loyalty in Israel-both among individuals and in Torah Law-thus excluding the spurious conversions the officially controlled functions of the community-at­ performed under Conservative and Reform auspices) large. created an uproar in the Conservative and Reform As in the previous election, the "spoils" to be shared camps (see Second Looks in this issue). Moreover, some with the Likud for joining its coalition will not be minis­ of the terms of the agreement, which follow, rankled terial posts-the conventional plums of patronage and the more militant secularists in the country, as well as power. Instead, all that is being asked in return are a others who may not fully appreciate the values being number of significant features that will aid in restoring protected or perpetuated by those measures. For in­ holiness to the Holy Land. The list, which follows-52 stance, the El Al employees claim that complete Shabbos of 82 points of the coalition agreement deal with reli­ shutdown of its facilities can cost the ailing airline an gious issues-has been hammered out between the par­ ties to the negotiations: Begin with the Agudath Israel The EIAI Hardship Case representatives-not in step with the back-room dic­ tates of political power dealers, but in accordance with EIAI personnel claim that eliminating ail maintenance and the wisdom and judgment of the Moelzes Gedolei Ha Torah, flights outside of Israel on the Jewish Sabbath will cause a the policy making board of Agudath Israel which loss of some $50 million annually to the company. , .. Truly, the argument as such need not be addressed. After all, consists of Israel's outstanding rabbis, roshei yeshiva and throughout our history we Jews have risked more than finan .. Chassidic leaders. cial security to keep Shabbos. Threat of loss of any propor­ I tion should not be a deterrent to strict Sabbath observance in Begrudging Respect the operation of Israel's national airlines. tn this case, however, the protests of financial loss are This putting of principle over personal and party gain found to be totally baseless. EIAl's Director General, Aryeh r was not lost on the secular media, which begrudgingly Grossbard-surely not suspected of being an undercover featured the Torah sages in their headlines, and paid Agudath Israel agent-argues _that elimination of Shabbos activities not onfy wilr not bri_ng a loss to the airlines, 'but may homage to this high-minded approach to politics. Even well prove a savings, The McKenzie Report (prepared by an The Jerusalem Post, known for its antagonism toward reli­ independent panel of experts that studied EIAI) established gious circles, made the following editorial comment: that many of EIAl's Saturday operations should be eliminated "To its credit, the Agudah is not after the spoils of office: its as- cost-saving measures. So why the outcry? several EIAI employees have admitted motives are really above impugning. The Council of Torah privately that total elimination of Shabbos activities would Sages would not even allow it to take an active part in the indeed constitute a tremendous financial loss-to their per­ government it is about to support. The Agudah is only after sonal coffers. Compensation for Shabbos activities are sub­ the advantages that power confers on the effort to make over ject to overtime rates, which run between 3001110 and 400111o of this country in its own image. To be sure, this means keeping te_gular weekday salary payments. Thus_ the protest. HAMOOIA Aug. 5, '81 up the flow of funds to such religious institutions as yeshivas. But in a more general sense it means causing Israel to behave annual loss of $51 million; members of Bnei Akiva are like a Jewish stale, Orthodox style. protesting the temporary deferral from army reserve "As one of its leaders has put ii, lhe Agudah want the duty to be granted to baalei leshuva; and, of course, the 'Jewish street' to look more Jewish and less like a street in Paris Reform and Conservative leadership are protesting the or Chicago." Mihu Yehudi Law. More comment on these at another from an editorial in THE JERUSALEM POST July 12, 1981 writing. (By contrast Abuchatzeira insisted on two ministerial posts for the three Knesset seats he brought into the The Specifics Likud Coalition, and the" eclipsed NRP [according to The Jerusalem Post] is now interested only in the spoils of office The specifics of the agreement continue to follow an and its own internecine battles and is weakened as the outline of the spiritual needs of the country, attempting chief guardian of Orthodoxy.") to close those loopholes that had permitted official dese­ In fact, when the Moetzes Gedolei Ha Torah convened its cration of the Sabbath, ignoring of the lznius require­ final decision-making session, newspaper reporters and ments of women, and the relegating of Torah study to camera crews attempted to record the process, but were third-class status. As part of the coalition agreement left standing outside the entrance to the Bnai Brak (reached on Tuesday, August 4-five weeks after the home of the Ponvezher Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Elazar election!): Shach, where the rabbis had gathered from various • all of Israel's seaports will be closed on the Jewish parts of Israel for the meeting, in deference to the Rosh Sabbath, including the Haifa port; Yeshiva's ill health. •El-Al will cease all flights in any part of the world on Nonetheless, the response was not all bouquets. The the Jewish Sabbath;

20 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 • no employee may be dismissed from his job for not • yeshivos for Baalei Teshuva and those located in reporting to work on Shabbos; development towns will obtain 40% more than the regu­ •a ministerial committee will review all existing Sab­ lar Torah institutions in order to offset their special bath work permits annually; costs; • the passage of stringent bill to prevent fraud in jtJTi'i DY nn1~ ilT Kashrus; •married women-even from the secular camp-will no longer be required to serve in the army; • any single girl serving in the army who becomes a baa/as teshuva will be granted the same exemption as girls from religious homes; •a baa! leshuva who completed his army service will be permitted to study for three years in a yeshiva with his reserve activities deferred until the end of that period; • exemption from military service for kollel fellows will be extended to include those young men who devote time to teaching; • college dormitories will no longer be permitted to house unmarried men and women together; •a sharp decrease of government emergency author­ izations to industries to work on the Sabbath; • government agencies in Israel and throughout the I world will be closed on the Sabbath; and • arbitrary archaeological digs among ancient grave sites will be halted. 1

Prime Minister Begin agreed to an Agudath Israel condition for joining his coalition, which grants the religious group the right not to vote with the coalition on any issue of religion, foreign policy or security. •ways will be explored for establishing an Institute As for the "Who is a Jew" issue, the "Kehalacha (in for Agriculture in Accordance with Torah Law, and to accordance with Torah Law)" amendment was in­ endow the existing Center for Mitzvah-Observing cluded as part of the Agudath Israel agreement, with Farmers with official status, so as to research and dis­ the Agudath Israel giving Begin four months time seminate means of observing "Land-related" mitzvos; after the beginning of the new Knesset session this • the Religious Councils (currently under the exclu­ fall to revise the concept of conversion to conform sive control of the Chief Rabbinate, which has made with halacha (Jewish law). Begin had originally asked them Rabbi Goren's private fiefdom) will be subject to for a 2-year period of time to corral majority support review by the Coalition Council (chaired by Agudah for this position, which he personally supported, but ~' MK Avrohom Shapiro); Agudath Israel narrowed the time down to approxi­ •foreign yeshiva students will be eligible for the same mately six months from now, allowing for the two stipends as foreign university students; month Knesset vacation recess. • government grants to yeshivos and kollelim will be The triumph, then, is justified-not for Agudath steeply increased: the government will henceforth Israel, the political party, but for the ideals that moti­ cover 40% of the budgets of Torah institutions instead vated its founders seventy years ago, and that moti­ of 22°/o as in the past; vated its supporters to go out and vote on June 30.

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22 The Jewish Obsen)er I Summer, I 981 A. Scheinman I' ,I Repairing the Effects of the Churban: Bringing the Pieces Together

I. Linkage and Dispersal for grinding is an act of dissolution. Grain ground into flour loses nothing of its substance. For every pound of grain one has at the outset, one remains with one pound Moshiach is described as a "poor man, suffering from of grain in the form of flour. The difference is only that leprosy, sitting outside the gates of Rome" (Sanhedrin the original cohesion of the particles has been lost. 98b). It is not the suffering of one lonely individual When the latter kind of dissolution occurs to Kial described here, but-based on the verse: "In truth he Yisroe/, churban takes place, and as a result, the body has borne our sickness and endured our pain" (Yeshayahu politic of Jewry suffers Go/us. The individual particles of 53,4) Moshiach's suffering is understood an an analogy Klal Yisroel become separated from one another. True, for the suffering of Kial Yisroe/. each individual remains essentially unchanged, but the Leprosy is a particularly appropriate metaphor for the cohesive force that unites them into one Kial has been travails of Golus, for the essence of the leprosy expe­ removed. 1 rience is fulfillment of the commandment ofJw-i;:i, the It is fitting that our current Golus, which is a punish­ I complete isolation of the leper from society. This pun­ ment for baseless hatred, should be characterized by the I ishment is in keeping with the causes of leprosy. The fragmentation of Kial Yisroel. Ahavas Yisroel, love for fel­ rabbis comment that leprosy is a punishment for sland­ low Jews, is the cohesive force that keeps the Kial ering, and since a gossipmonger tears apart the fabric of together. When Jews became separated from one society, separating friend from friend, his punishment another by hatred, the entire Jewish people was forcibly in turn is to be torn, isolated, from society. This isolation splintered by Go/us. is the essence of Go/us. The process leading to Golus, to isolation, is Churban, dissolution. As is so often the case in Hebrew, similari­ II Togetherness and Restoration ties between root words convey a likeness in meaning. The root of the wordpi1n, (churbon!is:iin, which has the This explanation of churban offers insight into the same letters as -i:in chibur, binding, or joining together, well-known passage from the Gemorn that states: "Who­ indicating that the state of churban is the antithesis ofi:in ever brings happiness to a bride and groom is considered (joining together). as if he had rebuilt the ruins of Jerusalem." When a bride There are two basic ways to destroy a structure. One and groom unite to build a home, no new substance is is to blast the building into nothingness, leaving no trace added. The bride was there before, as was the groom. of the original materials that went into it. The other New to the scene is the bond between the two, resulting method is to dismember the building, taking it apart in a new entity-a home. Added is the adhesive force of stone by stone. In the latter approach, the structure is in ahava, that was previously lacking in Kial Yisroel; and effect destroyed, since it is reduced to a collection of whose absence on a national scale had caused the chur­ stones. But the individual pieces are still extant. They ban. Marriage not only represents the additional ele­ are changed only in that they are missing the adhesion ment of ahava, but actually unites two of the dispersed that had made them into a single, unified entity before. Kial Yisroe/. Someone who helps in the creation of this Ch urban-the antithesis of chi bur, joining-is the state of bond is likened to a rebuilder of Jerusalem, for the being disbanded or dissolved. united home is the antithesis of the churban. The ele­ Understanding churhan in terms of dissolution is ments stand waiting ... waiting for the adhesive ele­ implicit in the expression used by the Gemora to describe ment of ahava that brings them together. Titus's destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh, grinding- Lack of adhesion is also the reason for Go/us­ 1mi--in~ Kl'n~; iland of Israel. Shmitto-the seventh year sabbatical from farming the land-is the link Rabbi Scheinman, an American studying in Jerusalem, is a frequent between the people oflsrael and its land, for by renounc­ contribufor to /hese pages. His 'Masada RePisited" appeared in /hr Mny '8 I issue ing ownership of the land, the Jewish farmer demon­ of JO strates his faith and his freedom from bondage to mate-

The Jewish Olisen•er I Summer, 1981 23 rialism through land-ownership. As long as Israel kept the Shmitfa. its bond to the land was totally spiritual, as it NOBODY BEATS was meant to be. Once the Jews failed to keep the I Shmitta, however, they broke their spiritual bond with OUR DEALS! the land. The people remained intact and so did the land, ~ but once that link was sundered they-the people and Israel from $599. the land-could no longer remain together. * Lowest Student Rates * Best Group Fares. * Year-Round Tours. A similar note of dissolution is struck by the prophet * Least Expensive Fares to all Destinations. who says ilnKOi~ nn~il i11li'l nKCi~~. This is a description Ba D ~Travel Associates of the sinning of Kial Yisroel, likening its sins to the 420 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017 defilement of the Niddah: defilement that separates the (212) 223-0484 (800) 223-1114 parties of a marriage, the strongest union. Similarly, Klal Yisrael by sinning drives a wedge into its relation with G-d. This wedge, should it not be removed, even­ Now Available for the First Time tually results in Churban, dissolution of Israel's divine relationship. (See Tanya, Likutui Emorim, 3 I, which ex­ CHOLHAMOED plains that Ahavas Yisroel is the force that forges the i1r.l'iW )1i:ll/i)l1r.li1 'i1r1 li1:l'ii1 G-d-Israel bond.) RABBI DOVID ZUCKER III. The Many Fragmentations of Jewry's Essence RABBI MOSHE FRANCIS This aspect of Churban, i.e. dissolution of the bond .,, ,.,_~ 1''~l --r~~-~4'- '"='"- between G-d and Israel, and of the bond between one This beautiful volume represents the Israelite and another, also applies to a Jew's own spirit­ ~ first comprehensive guide to rhe laws of Chol HaMoed ever pubtished for d;o{ H:Mool ual composition. We find several examples of this frag­ I the English-speaking public. Enthusi­ mentation of the Jewish essence: I astically recommended by leading 1. The Chazon !sh once lamented over the splintering Torah authorities, this work explains of Torah in our generation. He said that while we have in an eminently readable and lucid rabbeim to teach us Torah, or avoda (service, i.e. prayer), style many unfamifiar halachos rele­ or middos (character refinement), rare is the single out­ vant to modern day festival observance. standing figure who can teach all three. (He cited the Chasam Sofer as being one of the last Gedolim who could.) Among the topics treated are: 2. The Ohr Hachaim said that he was able to discern the e washing dothing e writing e shopping• conducting Torah Sheba'a/ Peh (Oral Law) as if directly expressed in business • photography • typing e wearing tefillin e the Torah She'bichsav (Written Law-the Pentateuch). home and auto repairs• sewing• shaving• operating a factory • school work• medical and dental visits SPECIAL SECTION: Never before published halachic decisions and responsa of Hagaon Rav Moshe Feinstein K 11 ri~7w and Hagaon Rav Moshe Stern K't:i''i!V (the Debri- ciner Rav) 240 pages Hard Cover $8.95 * Paperback $6.95 * (*plus Bc4 shipping. Cant.Ida & Foreign $1 .30) Available at your Hebrew Bookstore or direct from Distributor:

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24 The Jewish Ol1server I Summer, 1981 ir Similarly, the She/ah wrote that the optimum state of affairs is when Torah Sheba'a/ Peh is one unit with Torah I She'bichsav, Golus, which is an unnatural state for Kial Yisroel, destroyed this unity, and drove a wedge between I the two, fragmenting our heritage. Analyzes. Reports. 3, The Sifri (Parshas Eikev; also Shobbos 13b) records a Evaluates. Reviews. 1 debate on the nature of Torah in the generations to come, The majority opinion is that many parts of Torah Comments. Reflects. will be forgotten, while Rabban Shimon Bar Yochai says that Torah per se will never be forgotten; rather, there Inspires. Projects. will be many disputes without a clear consensus emerg­ ing. He was referring to the proliferation of arguments among the Amoraim (in the Gemora), beyond that of the Tonnim who preceded them, about which it is said 17N117N C"n C'P17N ,,,~, (both sides are the words of G-d), mean­ THE ing that what each one is saying is related to truth. Would we have a complete understanding of the entire point in question, we would comprehend the context JEWISH wherein each viewpoint is valid, (See Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto's Dans Tevunos for a fuller explanation,) Because we do not see the whole picture, just the frag­ OBSERVER ments of it, we are left with moch/okes-dispute, This, indeed, is one of the curses of our Golus: the Wedo more ~ fragmentation and refragmentation of Torah, with I tJJJ)J ':JTt TO~ than just obseive. I

j~::rt'D'J~ ~:'.) Subscribe, Renew or Give ~~!'.l 1"11:'.nN T'P:'.l p".:l ~ J11'1j1 The Jewish Observer now and save, n::i)-cnn ~•. -prmn 'DMJ)!l ::nn ~ >::'T1 • One Vear/$12,00 (for ten Issues) t:J;'1) • Two Vears/$2LOO (a $30value) For Bochurim 17 and up • Three Vears/$28,00 (a $45 value) looking for a Mokom Torah (Add $1 per year for overseas subsaiptions) 1 ' with an emphasis on Halo- Clip and- cho in a warm atmosphere integrated with ' a Chaburah of Kolel Yungelelt of high The Jewish Observer caliber. 5 Bee1mum Street I N-Yoat. N.Y. 10038 I • Daily Shiurim on the Mesechte 0 One Vear $12,00 0 Two Years $2LOO!I • Daily Shiurim in Shulchan Aruch 0 Three Years only $28,00 ' "'' Send magazine to, • A Nightly Seder at The Yeshiva k\1f We are pleased to announce that the well-known Mechanech =~,::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: HORAV SHLOMO BRAUNSTEIN City,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,-/Zip,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Distinguished Musmoch 1From,

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Thus we have Ch urban, not as a destruction of the Kial, KARKAINISRAEL Take advantage of the opportunity to purchase but rather as its dissolution. Redemption does not cemetery plots in Eretz Yisroel in Mifgash Shimshon require a creation of a new entity, but rather a reunion near Yerushalayim through our newly established of its disparate parts into one entity. CHEVRAH OSEH CHESED OF AGUDATH ISRAEL Each Jew must come to appreciate what his fellow can Membership in the Chevra entitles one to all benef­ offer him, and not perceive him as a threat. The close- its which accompany the services of a Chevra Kadi­ s ha and interment. When you purchase a plot from the Chevra Oseh Chesed of Agudath Israel, you are supporting the many Agudist activities especially the Pirchei and Bnos activities as well as a Free Loan BORED ON AMTRAR, Fund in Israel. (212) 791-1800 THE METRO, OR -"Help Peylim Do Unto THE "A" EXPRESS? Others as Peylim Has TARE THE Done Unto Us*" "JO"! Help P'eylim establish Mesiftos across the map of Israel as in the past 30 years, to revive the glory of Sefardi Heritage as P' eylim did with: • Rabbi Tanami of Ohr Chadash • Rabbi Grossman of Migdal Ohr • Rabbi Goldenthal of Ofakim • Rabbi Shtembuch of Rosh Haayin • and 19 others. Help P' eylim expand the programs that make the difference between a new T orah·loyal Se­ phardi generation, and alienated youth drag· ged down by the street culture.

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A division of Institute Agudath Israel I of America Registered by the New York State Education Department I ' 28 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 ~ I illi BOOKS I ~ Torah Classics in English

One of the many symptoms of the growth of an and while many of the thoughts presented are basic and indigenous American Torah Jewry is the rate at which will be known to the informed reader, he will find many Torah classics become available in the vernacular. True novel insights and observations. enough, we would have vastly preferred a level of Jew­ ish scholarship that would have enabled everyone to Heyman's Pharmacy study these works in the Hebrew original; but it must be rem em bred that even in the golden era of Eastern Euro­ 510113thAvenue pean Jewry, it was necessary to publish classic works Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 with Yiddish translations. There is a place, nay a need, for outstanding works of Jewish thought in the popular 435-5644 tongue, Such efforts as the Torah Classics Library of Shomer Shabbos Feldheim Publishers and the translation of the Ranban's The store that speaks your language works by Chavel, set a remarkable standard of excel­ lence for this genre of Torah literature. Lately, a number of new works have appeared. Rabbeinu Bachya's"Kad Hakemach" has been trans­ ~_.. lated by Rabbi Chavel under the title Encyclopedia of _ Torah Thoughts (New York, 1980, Shilo Publishing ~---- House $19.50, hardcover; $14.50, softcover). This work contains sixty essays on a variety of topics arranged YESHIVA & MESMA according to the Alef Ba is, ranging from Emunah to Tefil­ lin, In clear and lofty phrases, avoiding abstract philoso­ ZICHRON MEILECH phical reasoning but making full use of Midrashic sour­ OF EASTERN PARKWAY ces and the ethical writings of his predecessors (such as 3121 Kings Highway, Brooklyn, N.Y. Rabbeinu Yonah), Rabbeinu Bachya presents the fun­ (Near Ave, N & E 32nd St) damentals of Jewish thought. Rabbi Chavel has suc­ REGISTRATION ceeded in preserving the smooth flow of the language Is Now In Progress For and thought of the original in his English rendering. Pursuit of this goal prompted him to omit in the English KINDERGARTEN version some of the Hebrew text; it would have been 9:00 AM.-2:00 P.M. Session desirable to have these omissions summarized or at least indicated in the notes which accompany the text PRE l·A and which the reader will find most useful. 9:00 AM.-3:45 P.M. Session The work is beautifully produced and easy to read, The yeshiva encourages a close relationship be­ tween rebbe, parent, and talmid to ensure the fullest development of each student The educational program, throughout all the grades of the yeshiva, especially stress the importance of J1w19·. ' . IBUNE midos tovos, chesed and derech eretz. Organ o ., o l•h Orlhodoxy Door to Door Transportation Available to 97, Stamford Hill, London, N. 16, England Aatbush, Canarsie, Remsen Village Annual subscription Airmail $35, Surface mail, $25.00 and Sheepshead Bay Write now for your free sample copy Call 338-6100 Published by Agudath Israel of Great Britain THE YESHIVA WITH THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE I The ]twish Obsen1er I Summer, 1981 29 I J In 1965, one of the Gedolim of our time, Rabbi Yechez­ kel Sarna, published a new edition of Rabbi Yehuda n")l:l Halevi's classical Kuzari. The original work was in the form of a dialogue between a Rabbi and the King of the ni11"\ 'in1W1 •::i::iin7 )1'11n'i UK C:l'i:l:ll"\t:I Khazars, which made it difficult for a reader to gain a n711; n::i•w• nnn!lJ iWK systematic understanding of the profundities of the .piK' 1'J ''CJKt:l:l n'i)lt:l'i1 17 'i•Jr.i o•;in::i'i text. Rabbi Sarna, therefore, restructured the work, n::i•w•n WKi 'iw imp!l1 m'imn nnn arranging its material in ten sections according to the K"t!i•'iw 111'i::i 1r.i'it ric1• i"n;1r.i J"n;n main topics discussed in the Kuzari. This work has now been made available to us, with the Hebrew text fully ewpm 111?j 1'110 "'II ., j1n P'1l11 J111ln 110 ;w llj) vocalized and with an excellent translation with intro­ I :M'i1 ii::l.'tt''i1 7tv Cl'1iN1"i duction, notes, and index, by Rabbi Avrohom Davis (New c"''n rv n::l.'W' York, 1979, Metzudah Publications, $9.95). 10 Maple Terrace, Monsey, N.Y. 10952 The translation is free; where necessary, clarifying (914) 434-4916 phrases, based on the interpretation of the commenta­ tors, were added. Sometimes, however, a free transla­ 1111•?i1i ;iyj 11yc;1 1~0111? jnin ?npno iix C'Wpjc tion may miss points made in the Hebrew text (thus, on p. 57, "the relationship of the Divine Influence to the •.. C'P' iwx mij i~ijl1' Jewish people" is compared to that of heart to body; iiccn iy1 instead, in keeping with the basic idea of the Kuzari, it should have been compared to that of soul to heart). In any case, the greatest value will accrue from the perusal of such a profound work if it is studied rather than read, and if the translation is used as an aid to the understand­ NEW! ing of the Hebrew text, rather than by itself. The stu­ by dent would also be well advised after completing this Rabbi work, to go back to the Kuzari in its dialogue form for Pinchos futher insights. While the structured work provides a Bodner much easier way to an understanding of the basic ideas, inevitably some fine points of the original are lost (e.g. • Comprehensive, the Kuzari, in book Ill section 5, links the role of the three authoritative guide prayer times to that of Shabbos and Holidays-in this to the Halachos work they are discussed in separate sections on pp. of M uktza on Shabbos 267/7 and 288/9). and Yorn Tov. Needless to say, this in no way detracts from the • In clear, easy to comprehend English, with ext, value of the work before us, and from the debt of Hebrew footnotes and references. gratitude we owe to Rabbi Davis for making this edition • 330 pages, extensively indexed. available to us. It is to be hoped that it will further the study of this classic of Torah thought. • Practical applications such as: LCD watches, toys &games, electrical appliances, etc. • Approbations from: Yeshiva Chayei Dovid Rabbi Moshe Feinstein K"10''71U for young men with limited background seeking to Rabbi Shneur Kotler K"ti'71U maximize their efforts to fully realize their potential. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Aurbach K"e'°:'IU Staffed by Rebbes with vast experience in teaching at Dayan Weiss K"10''71U the high school and college levels. We cater to a limited Hard Cover $9.95 number of capable, strongly motivated students with (Pl"-' 8o¢ ihipping Canada & Fmeign $1.30) potential of eventually becoming teachers and leaders in Israel. Utilizing the facilities of Yeshiva Chofetz with special 15 page section of hitherto unpublished responsa from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein K"e,.,?U and Rabbi Shlomo Zal­ Chaim in Forest Hills, NY. man Aurbach K"e,.,te'. Available in Hebrew Bookstores or from For information call: the distributor Rabbi Zecharia Mines at HALACHA PUBLICATIONS (212) 544..0986, (914) 647-9481 418 Twelfth Street, Lakewood, N.J. 08701 or Rabbi Avrohom Pernikoff at (212) 254-1194 (201) 363-3980 or write: 67-23 Harrow Street Forest Hills, NY 113 75

JO The Jewish Observer! Summer, 1981 A major classic of Torah ethics, albeit small in size and widely studied (included, indeed, in many Siddurin1Jis the collection of ethici!I and religious maxims known as the Orchoth Chaim (Paths of Life) of the Rosh (Rabbenu Asher, the great Rabbinic personality of the 13th Cen­ tury). These maxims have now been published by Ra/1hi M.Y. Elefm1!, as Pathways to Eternal Life (1977, New irt113Jarob wrar!irra' d that a copyist or printer confused the original arrangement of the maxims. A closer Rabbi S. Aisenstark study of the text would indicate that the last 23 maxims of the work Principal may have been the opening section followed by the 24 that come first in our text (these are the ones written in the infinitive); they are then Rabbi P. Hirschprung followed by numbers 25-47 which are in alphabetical order (only Chief Rabbi of Montreal letters Tzaddik and l~aish appear later, as numbers 68 and 69); and President finally there follows the direct A111ssrir ("Don't ... ") contained in numbers 48-131.

The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 31 Boro Park Educational Institutions , Call for Support of NOACH DEAR for City Council The heads of Boro Park's largest and most impor­ tant Chinuch Mosdos, as well as prominent leaders and activitists of the Boro Park Jewish commun­ ity, issue a call to the broad Jewish community to back the candidacy in the coming primary elec­ tions of the dedicated communal worker NOACH DEAR, who has demonstrated through concrete accomplishments his devotion to all institutions and his achievements on behalf of yeshivos, girls' schools and kollelim, as well as for the community's general welfare. University Microfilms Noach Dear International is most qualified to be our representative in the City Council. We call upon all voters to support and assure his victory at the polls. Please send additional information for--· ····--·-···--· ... - ... ----··-·-- (name of publication) Noach Dear Name is an individual whose good deeds have won him a Institution ---· worthy reputation and have earned him the con­ fidence of the overwhelming majority of Boro Park Jewry. Street---···· . -·-···--- City_. Rabbi Dovid Greenzweig Rabbi Elimelech Naiman (Mosdos Bobov) (Mosdos Ger) State __ -·-ZiP----·--- Rabbi Beryl Friedman Rabbi Chaim Rosenberg (Mosdos Satmar) (Mosdos Munkach) Rabbi Eliezer Lieberman Rabbi Zev Greenwald 300 North Zeeb Road 30-32 Mortimer Street (Mosdos Krasna) (Y eshit1as Chasan Sofer) Dept. P.R. Dept. P.R. Ann Arbor, Mi. 48106 London WlN 7RA Rabbi Moshe Biegeleisen Rabbi Osher Ehrenreich US.A. England (Mosdos Belz) (Beth Jacob of Boro Park)

32 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 l' I I the Written law (Pentateuch) and the Oral Law (recorded in the Tal­ mud and later codified in the Shul­ second looks chan Aruch). Both are binding and un­ changing, yet they apply to all situa­ tions. We Jews grew rich in spirit from our adherence to Torah, and at the jewish scene not incidentally, became prime con­ tributors to civilization. Through­ out the ages, there have been large factions and lonely individuals must you come here alone, as well?' among our people that have chal­ Of Unity and "Look here," Joe said, "you may lenged the validity or binding nature as well face up to it. You're behind of one part of the Law or another­ Arrogance the times. You're living in a dream notably Hellenists, Sadducees, and world of long ago, where you Karaites. They may have been a think nothing changes. You're majority at times, and they may a parable simply out of step with the crowd. have parlayed their Jewish gifts of As for me, I find Dottie too ethical values and their special abili­ demanding, not understading of ties to articulate ideas into positions Everyone admired the Goodson my needs, nor responding to my of leadership in the world cultural sisters-talented, sensible, friendly, temperament. She's a relic of the scene. But with the passage of time, energetic-model young ladies one past. If you'd get wise, you'd do the they fell by the wayside of history, and all. They married well, too, same thing I've done and liberate their tracks covered by the shifting and-to no one's surprise-were yourself. Besides, I send Dottie and sands of time. And their rivals, such model wives and mothers, in keep­ the kids a generous check every as the Parushim (Pharisees) who held ing with the passage from Pro­ month. I haven't in the least for­ steadfast to their heritage, are still verbs: "The wisdom of women gotten them." here and will continue to prevail, built her house." The senior brother-in-law grew come what may. Thanks to a modest inheritance, ashen at Joe's brazen attempt at The most recent groups to go the couples invested wisely, self-defense. ''I'm not interfering astray from Torah are the leaders of became wealthy and joined one with your personal life. I'm afraid Reform and Conservative Judaism, another in various other business that's your concern. But here, at whose predecessors apparently ventures. They remained a closely­ the Goodson Circle, right in Father identified more strongly with the knit group, and from time to time Goodson's own house, with our goals of Western culture than with the families got together in the old kids milling around, observing you, classical Judaism. In one vv·ay or Goodson mansion to exchange you've got no place." another, they have denied the divin­ notes on progress and celebrate "I have as much place here as ity of Torah, and either dropped all milestones. you," countered Joe. "I parlayed the of its imperatives, or "softened" For a while all was well in the Goodson inheritance into a for­ those that clash most uncompromis­ extended Goodson family; but tune, not you. Without me, you'd ingly with contemporary life and then Joe Billinger, one of the still be little clerks behind the culture. brothers-in-law, was stricken with counter at Goodson enterprises. I the "footloose syndrome" that hits fail to understand your lack of * * * * some insecure or restless people appreciation, and your divisiveness during middle life. In quest for in trying to cut me out of the The recent effort to form a coali­ more "personal freedom," Joe took scene.-You? You can stay vv-ith tion government in Israel has fo­ a bachelor apartment near his your little old Goodson girl as long cused attention on the claims of office and left his wife, Dottie, as you wish, but telling me that I these deviationist groups to holding home with the children. have to is more arrogance than I an intrinsic approach to authentic The next time the Goodson can take." Judaism. This attention results from Family Circle met, the sisters, their Replied the senior: "Not arro­ the controversy centering on the husbands and children were joined gance. Fidelity. Law of Return, which in its present by Joe-but not Dottie. The eldest unamended state can confer recog­ brother-in-law stopped Joe in the • • nition, as Jews, on non-Jews "con­ corridor and pulled him aside: "It's verted" to Judaism by Conservative bad enough that you've left Dottie The Torah was presented to the or Reform rabbis. By and large, to take care of the family, but Jewish People at Sinai in two forms: these conversion rites are empty

The Jewish Obsenier I Summer, 1981 33 ' J THE WORLD FAMOUS charades. Some do not even require that would result from amending DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM levila and mila; and others that do, the law. still lack the essential ingredients of We, too, believe in unity. But 't:,i'; in:: 't:,i'; Jewish belief. Since these groups do unity must have a criterion, and as '"~! iw'iK 'iKTOlD ,, l";Ti;io not accept basic principles of faith, the People of the Torah, the Torah Available at how can they possibly usher a non­ itself provides that criterion. Pleas LEKUTEI INC. Jew into Judaism on their terms? for unity emanating from the very c/o I. Rosenberg The "converts" are simply uncon­ people responsible for introducing verted. Thus religious political par­ divisiveness into our ranks by lead­ 10 West 47th Street, Room 702 ties in Israel, in their post-Knesset­ ing people away from Torah is an New York, N.Y. 10036 election negotiations to form a coali­ irony too extreme to ignore, too (212) 719·1717 tion government, included among obvious to require lengthy elabora­ 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, their demands a requirement that tion. Medrash, Megilos and Talmud. this law be clearly amended with the Instead, picture if you will the sit­ Proceeds of sales distributed among additional word of "kehalacha-in ac­ utation twenty years from now Yeshivas and used for reprinting cordance with Torah Law," to clearly (should Moshiach not be with us), of volumes out-of-print exclude such spurious converts from when a .young yeshiva student PRICE $7 .50 PER VOLUME instant recognition as "Jews" when chooses to marry a girl from a baa! they enter Israel. teshuva school ""·hose parents were The Reform leadership has not olim from America. Is one of the parents a Pincus Mandel been taking all this silently. In a convert? Or did one of them undergo a Cemetery Consultant press release based on a strong let­ divorce before remarrying? Who officiated at Representative of Chevros ter to Menachem Begin, Alexander the conversion? Who administered the di­ Kadisha of Jerusalem M. Schindler, president of the Ame­ vorce? If it was done by a Conserva­ with karka available on Har Ha· rican Hebrew congregations, tive or Reform rabbi, it was proba­ zaitim, Har Hamnuchot and warned against "a serious rupture bly invalid, and the girl in question Sanhedria. Karka also obtain· of the unity of the Jewish people" may weU be a non-Jew, or-\i\r·orse- able on all other Community· Oo you have any questions owned Cemeteries in Eretz Yis· rael, controlled and maintained about today's Da{? Photocards of by the Chevra Kadisha of the Dial Gedolei Yisroel Community. 337·5729 35 glossy, postcard size (3Y," x Sy,") portraits of 1569 47th Street Rabbi Shmaryahu Karelitz Gedolei Yisroel Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 will be pleased to answer all your for your set, send $4 Day and Night Phone questions. It no answer call: to: Photocards (212) 855-5121 Agudath Israel of America 791·1835 Honesty - Integrity - 5 Beekman Street a public seNice of Responsibility NYC 10038 Daf Yomi Commission Over 25 Years of Dedicated Service to the Orthodox Jewish Community Agudath Israel of America Notjustacheese, -:.J • • L a trault1on... ~~ Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. ~ A reputation earned through 25 years. of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashnuh.With 12 delicious vaneues. Under the strtct Rabbtntca! supervision ofK'hal AdasJeshurun, N.Y. Hao!am, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping:

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34 The Jewish Ohsrn'er I Summer, 1981 a mamzeres. This will not only affect Agudath Israel adherents, but any­ CONSIDERING one who respects Torah law·-even COMPUTER PROGRAMMING? if only in regard to marriage, divorce, WHY NOT THE BEST? and conversion-probably the ma­ jority of Israelis. The only way to deal with this phenomenon would be by erecting an insurmountable barrier between Jew and Jew, dis­ couraging social mixing and allow-­ ing no intermarriage between the two-in effect, creating two Jewish Peoples in Israel-talk about divi­ siveness? The Conservatives also objected most vociferously to this stand. At­ tempting to rebut the Orthodox position as articulated in a letter to the editor in The New Yo,k Times from an Agudath Israel spokesman (July 14, 1981), the Conservative leader­ ship wrote (NY Times, July 21): "We in the Conservative Movement have undertaken to interpret Jewish law in the spirit and mode of the tradi­ tion in order to respond to ongoing daily issues. The assumption by Or­ thodox religious bodies of exclusive validity to their point of view rep­ resents spiritual arrogance." To this we say," Arrogance"? No. Simply fidelity. "T Vocational Skills Division CopeVocational Institute CHAIM LEllER'S 5 Beekman Street, Suite 700, New York, N.Y. 10038 Prefabricated Packaged U..nNd br "'9 N.w '°" Sf9''9 fdw.tfon 0.pottrMnl SUKKAH

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The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 35 I I j ply of salamis and other smoked "nikoleim," others "nikosheil. 'The girl­ meats, as well as a number of gallons bot h stubborn and energetic­ of shnapps. While conversing, the brought down an entire shelf of Sid­ passengers would take a few bites of durim stored in the library, a total of food, down a couple of shots of 40 Siddurim, and each one said "niko­ whiskey to keep them warm, and leim." The melamed was indeed nikoleim then would fall asleep. Winter days (humiliated). From then on, when­ in Russia are very short, with only a ever he passed a bookstore he looked few hours of sunlight, followed by for a Siddur with the word nikosheil, night again. So it happened that for indeed, where from did he pick whenever the passengers would up that nussach? Finally, months later, wake up for a bite it was always he spotted a small Siddur and, to his night. Said one passenger to the delight, it stated clear and plain: "velo driver, 'Reb Berl, such a long night? nekosheil." He bought the little Siddur, Will the sun ever come out?' Replied marked the word "nikosheil" with an the driver, 'Reb Yanke!, it was al­ arrow and mailed it to the librarian. ready daytime and then again night Months later, the melamed received Return of the time. You simply overslept!'" an invitation to a wedding. The And the Maggid of Radun con­ names were strange to him, but that tinued, "That is what the passuk says did not deter him from attending. Maggiddim 'i,'io i'it.:l it.:l1W. You, ShOmer Yisroel He would often receive invitations Chaim Shapiro (Guardian of Israel)! Such a long from his former lalmidim (students) terrible night for Kial Yisroel, such a and though he did not remember 1 The week the March issue [featuring long terrible golus (We need the niggun their names, he would recognize Chaim Shapiro's article on Maggiddim] now. Printer, please try to put the niggun their faces at the wedding. He came arrived in Baltimore, Rabbi Sholem in.) And the Shomer Yisroel replies: to the wedding, and for the first Schwadron, the famous Maggid of Yerusha­ TI7•7 Cl 1 ;p1~ Kl"\K "101W "1tlK'. time did not recognize the rhosson. lyim visited the city, where he spoke at the There already was a morning, and "Were you ever a ta/mid of mine?" he Glenn Avenue Synagogue. Many non­ now it's night again, but Klal Yisroel asked the chosson, and the reply was Yiddish-speaking people were present, yet the overslept! Klal Yisroel seems to negative. Maggid overcame the communication gap by awaken only when there is real dark­ "Then who sent me the invita­ resorting to a language that is above words, ness. Mir hobben farshloffen, we missed tion?" the many occasions when Moshiach namely the niggun (melodyJ-the language "The kalla 1" of the neshama, which can awaken another was ready to come!" It was the university librarian. neshama to teshuva, without words. She explained to the melamed, "I was I would like to share with the readers of II. going out with a-non-Jewish boy. The Jewish Observer two of Reb Sholem's He asked me to marry him and I gems: A dardeki melamed (teacher of child­ ren) in Yerushalayim had to re­ hesitated. Even though I am not religious, marrying a non-Jew was I. search a topic in the library of the Hebrew University. (Reb Sholem hard for me. Finally I told him I needed time to think it over: 'On There was an old Maggid in Rad­ added, "I would not have gone there, Friday, a month later, at 12 noon, I un, known as Reb Binyomin Ha­ but he did"). Realizing that he would will call you if I accept the offer. If I tzaddik. Once the Chofetz Chaim spend the entire day there, he took don't call you at that hour, it means complained to him with a sigh, "Oy, along his lunch, ate there and bentched we will not marry.' Reb Binyomin, such a terrible long there, just as he bentched at home. golus, such a terrible long night for After he said the passage; "Within me a battle was raging, Kial Yisroe/I" 1Vi o'iil)'i 'iW:.i K'l'i Wi:l.i K'iW but I decided to marry him anyway. Replied Reb Binyomin, "Rebbi, let ("So we may never be ashamed or On that fateful Friday at 12 noon, I me give you a moshol: Five business­ ensnared forever"), a young librar­ went to make that decisive phone men hired a driver and his four­ ian approached him and said, "I'm call. As I was approaching the phone, horse sled to take them from Mos­ not religious but if I remember cor­ the mailman brought me a small cow to Odessa, a trip that takes rectly from my school days, the text package. In it was the little Siddur from ten days to two weeks. Need­ calls for c7=i K7 (never be humil­ with the arrow pointing to 'itv::Jl K'i1 less to say, they wrapped themselves iated) not 'itu::J.i K'i (never be en­ 'We shall not be ensnared.' These in heavy clothes to protect them­ snared)!" two words hit me like a sledge­ selves from the terrible Russian The melamed replied that there are hammer. I never made that phone winter, and packed a generous sup- various nusrha'os (texts). Some say call. Instead I became a haalas teshuva

31' Thr ]rwi5h Ohsrn1rr I Summer, 19/'l I I ~ and my chosson is also a Shomer Torah u'mitzva (observant Jew)." "Ay, Morei p'Rabbosei/' continued the Moggid of Yerushalayim (Get the There are 64 hotels in Jerusalem. But there is only 1 hotel in niggun!J"Who knov-.rs, who can decide Jerusalem that is Shomer Shabbat publicly and privately, which is the right nusach? Is it K7W and serves exclusively non-frozen, Glatt Kosher meat. c7~J or7W~l K7W? Which word can hit Visit Israel now and stay at the you over the head like a sledge­ hammer, to save you from a terrible Central Hotel move that will ruin your neshama 6 Pines Street, Jerusalem forever, and guide you into the right Tel: 02-223111 Telex: 26157 I Cables: CENTOTEL path? Never to be humiliated, never to be ensnared!" . . tT...... l J &·SHELLY .. . . Agudath Israel World Organization, Publications Department, is ...... pleased to announce that it has a limited amount of M.J. Gleicher's ~ LADG ...... book, iiii ll'chestra ...... : .... = 438-3402 . . "FROM AMSTERDAM TO JERUSALEM" (;n Y;dd;sh) (the biography of Dr. Jacob DeHan.) PRICE: $J 0.00 Donate your back issues of Send your order to Agudath Israel World Organization, Room #925, The Jewish Observer and 5 Beekman Street, New York, NY 10038. Olomeinu to,

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The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 37 HaTorah in Toronto. Leners to rlic Fd1tor My experience has taught me that unless we, the Bnei Torah, start feel­ ing the obligation that weighs upon us, then the potential to really start a movement will never be realized! As Rabbi Shneur Kotler K"~'7tu stated at the Agudath Israel Con­ vention: "It is time where we all feel the sense of mission that G-d has overall situation, I realized that we Reached By JO bestowed upon us." had not even begun to scratch the AHARON HOCH To the Editor: surface. As was stated in a later Jerusalem, lsrael The greatest compliment a maga­ issue, one thousand baalei teshuva, zine can receive is when one of its when there are still millions to be issues compels a reader to take ac­ reached, does not a movement make! A Kolle! for Teachers tion. I was deeply moved after read­ I had been studying in Kolle! with ing through your issue on the Baal the intention of returning to New A number of readers commented Teshuva Movement this past Sep­ York to divide my time between on Rabbi Zev Schostak's suggestion tember, especially with the article learning and working. However, my that yeshiva teachers' salaries be written by Rabbi Noach Weinberg. I new awareness forced me to change supplemented through a Kolle/ Le­ subsequently met with Reb Noach my plans. With strong encourage­ Mechanchim-a fellowship program and began helping-out in Yeshiva ment from my rabbeim, I decided to to support growth in Talmudic scho­ Aish Ha Torah during my spare time. join a group of dedicated people who larship for yeshiva teachers. One As I became more aware of the will be opening a branch of Aish correspondent (Rabbi Yaakov Wein- RE-ELECT CITY COUNCILWOMAN SUSAND. ALTER We the undersigned, recognizing Councilwoman Susan The Admorim (Rabbis) of Satmar-Sighet, Bobov, Belz D. Alter's continued commitment to Jewish ideals and her and Munkatch gave City Councilwoman Susan Alter praiseworthy record of accomplishments as a member of the New York City Council, do hereby wholeheartedly endorse and their Brachos (Blessings). support SUSAN D. ALTER for re-election to the New York City • Rabbi Moishe Elias • Rabbi Mordechai Apel •Grand Rabbi Y. Landau Council. Mosdos Bobov Cong. Wishnit:, Soro Park V eretskier Rebbe e Mr. Ma:< Grossman • Rabbi Meir Fund • Rabbi Zudak Adler Pres. Agudath Israel. Director, Hillel, Cong. Beth Mair Ha!evv •Councilwoman ALTER has written over $1,000,000.00 Soro Park Brooklyn College •Mr. Shalom Weinreich into the New York City budget for the purpose of helping to revitalize • Rabbi Za\man Lichtman • Rabbi Aaron Fried, Ph.D. Bobo' and stabilize our neighborhoods. Satmar Kehila, Soro Park Jewish Center for • Mr. Moishe Aftergut e Rabbi Gedaliah Solomon Special EdU01tion B. of Dir., Diamond aub Honorary Pres. Bai.s Yackov •Rabbi Lurer Weiss •Mr. Yiachok Wahrman • Councilwoman ALTER has invoked the assistance of &. other worthy Institutions Unser Kloz Union of Orrhodm< Cong. Superintendent of Insurance, Albert Lewis, in order to establish a group • Rabbi ISl'ae! Schorr &. Cong. Neir Barucli • Rabbi Shimon Sussholti type of insurance for shuls and Yeshivas which will significantly lower Temple Beth El &. Chain:nan, • Rabbi Yehuda Joel Deutsch • Reh Dov Schechtor their insurance rates. Vaad Harabonim, Soro Park West Side Mirrachi • Reh Mordechai Fink • Rabbi Irving Ebert • Rabbi Kalman Friedman Agudath Israel V aad Harabonim of Flatbush Kl06et1burg Sanz • Rabbi Sandor Kohtch •Councilwoman ALTER was the first Brooklyn pubUc offi~ • Rabbi Josef M. Berkoviti e Rabbi Naftnli GUck Russian Immigration cial to campaign against President Carter's anti~Jewish policies. Sigheter Kehila, Boro Park Chason Sofer&. Kashau Rescue Fund •Rabbi Solomon Gross e Mr. Mayer Stern • Mrs. Esther Bohensky • Councilwoman ALTER has personally intervened on Pres. Minchas Eh.tzar, Chasidei Spinka Pres. Neshei Agudath Israel behalf of numerous Sabbath observers to help them retain their jobs and Munkatcher _Xeshiva • Mr. Beryl Josephovic • Mrs. Esther Neufield • Dr. Hillel Seidman Sighet &. Spinka Gemulath Chasodim ofFlatbush not lose their vacation leave. Chairman of the Org. of Jewish e Mr. Sholom Dresdner • Mrs. Riva Weisner Nazi Victims m America Ungvarer Beis Midrash Bikkur Cholim Recognizing these accompUshments and her many other achieve~ • Rabbi Moshe Zwick e Rabbi Israel Leifer • Mrs. Sara Schwartzman E>

Pa1d for by the Citizen's Comnui= to re-eloct Councilwoman Susan D. Alm- (Otganil:ations are listed above for identification PUl'}X>SI':').

38 The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 berger, Brooklyn) wrote of such an afternoon program, Yeshiva Meor HaTorah, which currently has 20 members. At a fund-raising func­ tion for this institution, Rabbi Yaa­ kov Kamenetzky underscored the Kollel's function: "If a Rebbe spends his afternoons selling insurance or working in computers, when he teaches the talniid Gemora the next morning, he is doing so with a busi­ ness kop~not with a Gemora kop." The Kolle! makes the reverse pos­ sible." The Editor The Rabbinate-a Field Without Stature To the Editor I read with great interest "The Yeshiva Graduate in the Rabbinate, a Re-Examination," (April '81) and I would like to raise a few points. Describing the Rabbinate as "not problem-free" is an understatement, and I wonder if the yeshivas today should gear their graduates for this particular field. Out of New York City (or any large city), an Orthodox rabbi has many of the same problems that existed before. Ignorance is wide­ spread and assimilation is on the rise. It matters not how big a ta/mid chacham the rau is. What does count is CALL TOLL FREE: 1-800-233-7177 that he be a prolific writer and speaker on current events, like polit­ TELEX: 84-2538 EKP MFLT ics and sports. He must be both charming and charismatic so that EMPIRE KOSHER POULTRY, INC., MIFFLINTOWN, PA. 17059 U.S.A. the sisterhood feel free to ask im­ portant she'eilos like "What color scheme should be used for the spring luncheon?" Agudist Benevolent Society QINKWEL[= Gmillas Chesed or Lapidus Bros. PRINTERS I Gemilath Chesed Assn. of the Crown Hts. INNOVATIVE INVITATIONS \ Agudath Israel Inc. HEBREW AND ENGLISH for applications call .• :~ OPEN SUNDAY Rabbi Joshua Silbermintz at '791-1800 or write Coney Island Ave,, Brooklyn,~.. N.Y..•. c/ o Agudath Israel 5 Beekman St., . (212) 253-9736 . . . .. , I New York, N.Y. 10038 ,i:&-c..,. ·~ ~ .. ~ .... «'~.. ;· .. , ·.,~

The Jewish Ohserver /Summer, 1981 39 True, our baa lei battim are not forced instead of on the majority, who­ by circumstance to desecrate Shabbos when faced with a genuine rav-will or violate kashrus, as they were gen­ respect his authority in public, if not In the large cities, a different pic­ erations ago, but unfortunately the in the privacy of their homes. There ture did emerge. The ranks of baalei dream that parnosah stems from a is a decided trend among yeshiva battim (laymen) do include "more solid education is still imbued in the graduates who are banding together people with a solid education ... hearts of even the most religious of in alumni minyanim and Agudath people capable of giving shiurim etc." families. How many positions are Israel branches to seek a rav who is I'm sorry to say that these people available for the yeshiva graduate both a lalmid chacham and equipped to may be more knowledgeable, but without a college education? Unless "pasken she'eilos"-in short a rav of sta­ they use this knowledge to tell the a rav has the means to open up a ture. I emphasize again that the only rav what to do! Many of these people shfiebel-how many positions are way to produce these rabbonim of sta­ feel that they, too, are capable of be­ open to him? ture is from the traditional yeshivos ing a rav. Maybe it's a complex on As for salary, for the most part, where the objective is greatness in their part (that they did not choose rabbonim do not get paid as well as a Torah learning and where, given the rabbinate and/or the rabbinate better paid rebbe-a topic much dis­ the opportunity, this knowledge can did not choose them .... ) But the cussed these days. It is any wonder be translated in to Torah lema'aseh­ fact remains that they too down­ that rabbonim are forced to sell insu­ applied knowledge. If we turn a deaf grade rah bonus. Have you ever walked rance at night? Many of the baalei ear to the cry for authentic rab­ into a shul where a rav was trying to baftim, who are financially more se­ bonim-where learning and psak are speak for a group of these baalei bal­ cure, look down at the rav because of primary, versus sermons and pas­ lim? What can a rav offer people who this. They feel that giving the rav $5 toral duties-then indeed the cries think they they already know? What or $10 for an aliya also gives them of the frustrated baalei ballim will can a rav teach people who feel that the right to criticize (even publicly) continue, undermining rabbinical they, too, have smicha and are capa­ every action the rav takes and every honor and authority. ble of paskening she'eilos? Are you policy the rav sets. If they make While the author may have been aware of the fact that most "Toradike enough money and shout loud correct in his generalization regard­ baa lei battim" do not even need a rav, enough, they expect "Shishi" no less, ing communities far from major as they daven in the yeshiva? If they and storm out of shul if they don't population centers, there is ample are capable of asking a rav a real get it. possibility for the development of she'eila, it is to the rosh hayeshiva they Undoubtedly, the rabbinate is Torah-centered communities in mid­ turn. gratifying and it is this feeling that western and southern cities to be led As far as kavod harabbanus goes, makes it all worthwhile. by a rav of stature. (Memphis and when was the last time you saw a However, if we want to see a Atlanta are two examples that come local rav being a mesader kedushin (pre­ "renaissance of the noble institu­ immediately to mind.) siding at a yeshiva student's wed­ tions of rabbonus on these shores," There are most assuredly com­ ding)? Who thinks of honoring the we first have to educate our baalei munities of unlettered, sincere Ame­ local rav by giving him sandekaos (top baffim how to treat the rabbinate as a rican families that do not think they honors at a bris)? Were all the years field of traditional status and glory. know it all nd ·are indeed willing­ in the kollel and shimush spent to NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST even anxious-to learn. Here the rau know how to officiate at a funeral or as teacher as well as halachic guide unveiling? It that what you mean by Rabbi Chill responds can play a major role. (Of course, for a rav's busy season? How great a Constructive criticism is always the rav to continue in his develop­ gaon must one be to sell someone's appreciated, and the author of this ment as a Torah scholar, it would be chometz for Pesa ch? letter has made some valid points. ideal if his community hosted a kol­ But I believe he missed the main lel or mini-kollel-see JO Apr. '81- thrust of my article. In suggesting but that of course is still rare.) KEREN HATORAH IA division of Axudas Yi.,oel) that yeshiva students consider rab­ Concerning difficult halachic 97 STAMFORD HILL, LONDON N.16 bonus as an alternative to chinuch questions, the writer mentions with JUST RELEASED------(education), I recognize that the field tongue in cheek the gaonus needed to is a difficult one, and for this reason, sell chomelz. What is the procedure I suggested a non-committal intro­ for a congregant going to Israel for duction to practical rabbonus, through Pesach, who will have entered the "apprenticeship." "prohibition-of-benefit" time period, Though the author recognized before the sale is consummated in my point of the resurgence of Torah­ America ?-When is the last time a educated baalei ballim, he chose to Torah'dike baalhabos asked his rash concentrate on those frustrated ones yeshiva a she'eila? Only Rav Moshe

40 The Jewish Obseroer I Summer, 1981 i l '

Feinstein, Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, Rav Moshe Bick, and Rav Shimon Schwab are quoted, when halacha is ATIENTION discussed.-Where will the halacha Enrollees of NEVEH YEHOSHUA/ giants (who can make decision on j.t\71if1 if 1j respirators, on abortions, on finan­ in Israel for year 1981-1982 cial din Torahs and even in such com­ mon occurrences as divorces, i.e. ANNOUNCING A "NEW" YESHIVA writing a getJ come from, if our yeshiva alumni are discouraged from entering the area of halacha NEVER ZION lema'aseh? At the entrance to Yerushalayim Admittedly, the financial rewards of rabbonus are not such as to attract "New"-but not really new. Its features are familiar and have won a candidates. There are ways to sup­ large contingent of loyal talmidim, alumni, and friends: plement one's income aside from selling-such as giving lectures, shi­ • STAFF - Rabbis B.Z. Sobel, S. Goldberg, Y. Blumenfeld, urim, or tutoring, as well as from S. Price, G. Marcus, M. Parker, M. Kornfeld, and S. Katz. standard rabbinate-related activities, such as weddings and-yes-un­ Yeshiva and Masmidim programs, pro­ veilings. The Chasam Sofer explains • PROGRAM- that just as the people of Levi had to viding graduates of yeshiva high schools with two yeshivas in depend on the other tribes for their one, offering different levels of study to accommodate stu­ sustenance to prevent them from dents with either advanced or limited learning skills. becoming arrogant, so too are community workers throughout the • ATMOSPHERE- Small classes led by young, expe­ generations dependent on the com­ rienced, American staff members living on premises, mod­ munity, which prevents them from ern kitchen and dormitory facilities plus adequate sports feelings of superiority. The truly fields, and regular tours of Eretz Israel, provide a comfort­ great rabbonim have always been giants in humility-which should not ably warm atmosphere in which the student feels the com­ be mistaken for subservience. When forts he is used to in the States, plus the holiness of Israel, necesary, they were decisive and together with the very close talmid-rebbe relationship. firm, and it was their total personal­ ity that earned them honor and • CREDIBILITY - Recognized by all yeshivas and respect. So, too, in our times, Torah major institutions (including The Jewish Agency) for our greatness, humility, and strength of full year and T ochnit Yud-Gimmel programs. character are needed to reestablish the status and glory of the rabbonus. The writer is quite correct that an • LOCATION - Kiryat Yearim (near Telshe-Stone)- education of baalei baffim is needed, 12 minutes before Yerushalayim (arriving on the Tel-Aviv but who better than a rav-a rav of highway) Torah stature-can be the educator? MICHEL CHILL If everything except the name and location sounds familiar, then truly: "Neveh" is the same; only "Yehoshua" has changed. Notice to our Israeli Subscrib· ers: Kindly inform us of your zip NEVEHZION code to insure prompt delivery; KIRYAT YEARIM without it you may have to wait 1 longer for your copy of AT THE ENTRANCE TO YERUSHALAYIM The Jewish Observer. I

Male wanted For additional information contact the office of: I Girls' School seeks experienced American Friends of Neveh Zion I ad.ministrator excellent opportun· 3 W. 16 St. I N.Y.C., N.Y. 10011I212-929-1836 ity. Call 853-1136 I The Jewish Observer I Summer, 1981 41 about which I would be pleased to 6% were not all awarded. Testim­ receive some clarification. On p.18 it ony from a number of sources­ states that in the pre-State period then-American ambassador to Tur­ the Agency "Refused most religious key, Laurence Steinhart, and hatzaia No Visas for the Religious? applicants" for Aliyah. hero Dr. Jacob Griffel, forexample­ This serious charge is quite new showed that the Paiestina Amt in To the Editor: to me and I would be grateful if the most countries used a very narrow I read with very great interest the author would substantiate it. interpretation of who qualified for series of articles in your issue of RABBI PROF. LOUIS RABINOWITZ aliya permits, limiting them almost May/Sivan 57 41 on "Voting in Israel: (Chief Rabbi Emeritus, South Africa) exclusively to Zionists. From Dilemma to Sacred Obliga­ Jerusalem EZRIEL TOSHA VI tion," but there is one sentence in the first article by Ezriel Toshavi Why Were They Excluded? Clarification on To the Editor: "Sabbath Telephone" HOME In the May 1981 issue on Page 15 Ezriel Toshavi wrote that the Jewish ATTENDANTS Agency refused visas for most reli­ In the March edition of THE JEW­ gious applicants. Does this mean ISH OBSERVER, The Institute of needed for that the "schlissel" apportionment Science and Halacha (of 1 Hapisga HOUSEKEEPING AND was the cause? Or that such appli­ Street in Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem) PERSONAL CARE cants were not suitable by age and placed an advertisement announc­ health for pioneering? Or do you ing the Telrad Sabbath Telephone, have documentation that it was for stating that "the Sabbath Telephone for the "causeless hatred"? is intended for the Sabbath-observ­ J. SAIDEL ing public, enabling the use of the DISABLED AND Albany, NY telephone for essential needs ... HOMEBOUND (e.g. medical and other essential ser­ Ezriel Toshavi Responds: vices)." This provoked a number of good pay and benefits Hundreds upon hundreds of able­ inquiries as to who authorized the use of this telephone, and for whom. Boro Park, Bensonhurst and bodied young men who trained for According to correspondence Flatbush Area farm work in hachsharot throughout Poland under the auspices of Zeirei from the Institute: "All the work full-time live in positions only Agudath Israel and Poalei Agudath and developments of the Institute, Israel applied for visas and were including the development of the Project OHR Inc. refused. While their training was Sabbath telephone, are with the recognized by the Jewish Agency as knowledge of the Chief Rabbi Ova­ dia Yoseph, Rabbi B. Zolti, Rabbi (Office for Homecare Referral) preparing them for what it deemed a productive life in Israel, only 6% of Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rabbi Elyashuv K"t:i"7W. Many questions 3920 13th Avenue the papers were officially to be awarded to Agudah-affiliated appli­ are referred by these rabbis to the Brooklyn, NY 11218 cants. Institute and to its Halachic Depart­ 853-2700 In the end, however, even these ment, headed by Rabbi L. Halperin. All the Sabbath facilities at Shaare Zedek Hospital, including the Sab­ bath Telephone, are approved by SORRY - we must stop sending Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and THE JEWISH OBSERVER when your Rabbi Yitzchok Yacov Weiss, K"~"'iW. In addition, the telephone-which subscription runs out ... RENEW NOW ! employs the principle of "indirect causation" (see JO, Oct. '80: "Tech­ nology in Service of Torah,'' by Aryeh Kaplan)-was designed to be used exclusively for the medical ISRAEL"~!l~g~.!!,~!?.~n~c"!!!>" needs of a person suffering from an COMMANDTRAVEL~~~~(800)ZZ14840 illness that is not life-threatening. 6 East 45th Street. New'lbrk. New 'ibrk 10017 NY State call collect (212) 490-1213 -NW

42 The Jewish Obsrn'er ! Summer, 1981 Agudath Israel Displaced Yeshivos to Receive $100,000 in Attention: Nazi Victims Homemakers Program Moves to Energy Grants Expanded Headquarters The New York State Energy Office, which A special office was established in The special counseling and job training administers the federal energy grant pro­ order to expedite the processing of program of Agudath Israel of America for gram for schools and hospitals under the applications to the Claims Confer­ widowed, divorced and separated women National Energy Conservation Policy Act of ence Hardship Fund from Jewish vic­ expanded its program recently, moving to the 1978, has recommended that grants of dose tims of Nazi persecution residing in Agudath Israel Brooklyn Community Service to $100,000 be awarded to 22 yeshivas in the the United States. Center at 805 Kings Highway. The Fresh state, according to Shmuel Prager, Executive This office is located at: Start Training Program is one of a number of Secretary & General Counsel of the Com­ 225 Park A venue South, 10th statewide projects to he!p "displaced home­ mission on Legislation and Civic Action of Floor makers" return to the job market after a Agudath Israel of America. The grants, New York, N.Y. 10003 change in their persona! status. which are expected to be approved by the TeL (212) 677-9610 The special Agudath Israel program, which federal government, are part of the third The Claims Conference Hardship offers comprehensive counseling, has already cycle of the national program. While less than Fund is intended primarily to handle served more than 800 widowed, divorced or a handful of yeshivas participated in the first applications from such Jewish victims separated women seeking to return to the job and second cycle, a growing number of Torah of Nazi persecution who left Eastern market. The range of services offered at the institutions have become interested in the Europe after 1965 when the deadline new center includes job orientation, personal program. for filing claims under German in­ counseling, career and education counseling, Mr. Prager, who is a member of the Non­ demnification laws expired. Other job development, vocational counseling and public School Advisory Comittee for the persecutees who failed, for very valid placement, group counseling, as well as nu­ grant program, said that twenty yeshivas will reasons, to file timely claims in the merous workshops and field trips. receive funds for Technical Assistance to past years may also apply to the Hard­ According to Risa Schmookler, director of review current energy capabilities and to plan ship Fund. the project, more than 300 women have for improvements in the schools' energy effi­ Applications may be obtained by already been placed in jobs and 160 women in ciency. Two yeshivas will receive funds for calling the Claims Conference Hard­ training programs as result of the federally actual conservation measures, which include ship Fund al lhe above number and must be funded program. Fresh Start is unique in that the installation of more efficient equipment. filed before December 31, 1981. it caters to the needs of the complete person The grants to the yeshivas range from $500 rather than just concentrating on the voca­ to $15,000. tional aspect. Said Miss Schmookler: "When Agudath Israel, which played a major role Sunday at Bramson we serve a woman who has been either in the development of the program for non~ Don't waste your sunday'S widowed or divorced, we know that they are public schools, hopes that the program will - use them constructlvelyl a combination of problems that must be dealt eventually be expanded to "reflect more rea­ with prior to satisfactory job placement. Our listically the actual energy needs of our If you work during the week, counselors are trained to respond to the yeshivas." In presenting the case of the Torah go to Yeshiva or seminary, many adjustments that these women have institutions to a meeting of the State Energy are busy with the family.. been forced to make. Our new center will Office in Albany on July 22, Agudath Israel then BRAMSON's new expand uJ'.X)n our 'multi-service' approach." pointed out the rapid expansion of the Jewish sunday Program is for you. The new location of the Fresh Start Train­ educational system, "which obviously in­ study the f0How1ng highly marketable ing Program is 805 Kings Highway, which is cludes plant expansion and thus the need for certificate and associate degree programs, the site of the Brooklyn Community Service energy assistance." • Accounting Center of Agudath Israel of America. The • Computer Programming new telephone number is 627-3500. • secretarial and Word Processing inx011r.i O'ltv'1 o•:rn' • Sales & Small Business Management • Electronic ~chnology Correction DID YOU STUDY TORAH TODAY? • Ophthalmlc 'll!chno1ogy la there always a reason Outstanding placement record. transfer credit Several readers have brought to why you think you can't? oDtiOns. Jaw tuition, full range of financial atd, our attention an inaccuracy in the add!t1ona1 day and evening courses avallable, No one to learn with 1 women's career Center. easily accessible In conven­ biography of Rabbi Joseph Breuer ient and safe midtown Manhattan. for free assistance Is llndln1 7'"Xi featured in the May '81 issue. Please send me a reservation for your His immigration to America was a suitable Chavr11soh coatach "SUNDAY AT BRAMSON." sponsored by Yeshiva College. When Chovruaoh Matching service GRAND OPENING: FALL 1981 he arrived here, however, he chose 791-1800 ······························· to assume a teaching position in Admit one Aft.,noon1 1 .. 6 P.M, "SUNDAY AT BRAMSON" Mesivta Torah Vodaath. NAME ADDRESS·­ TELEPHONE_ ISRAEL FLIGHTS BRAMSONOR"!; 44E.23St. NYC10010 212-677-7420 c largest selection of most economical one ways and round trips ++ BRAMSON•r.T COMMANDTRAVELi~~~(800)ZZ1·4840 A College Serving Business and Industry • • ' •· • I NY State call collect (212) 490-1213 ---····--·--··--··------•····························•· Thi' jrw1sh Ohrrvcrl Summer, 19R 1 43 Agudath Israel Chapters Appoint One Thousand Placed in Yeshivos by Jewish Education Program New "Rabbonim" The annual report of the Jewish Education she could not help but be satisfied with this Program included another impressive mile­ development, especially since she professed Agudath Israel chapters throughout the stone for the reach-out division of Agudath to have been concerned about the Jewish country appointed new spiritual leaders dur­ Israel of America. Culminating its seventh future of her children. ing the past year as part of a nationwide goal year of operation, JEP placed its one thou­ Eleven year old Eitan wrote his Shabbaton to install Rab/1onirn in each branch of Agudath sandth child in a yeshiva under its special host, "Baro Park is great. l really loved stay­ Israel, according to an announcement by yeshiva placement program. ing there. It's really exciting to see so many Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, administrative director According -to Rabbi Mordechai Katz, the Jews like yourself. I hope that I can visit Baro of Agudath Israel of America. During the director of JEP, 225 children, a large number Park again ... the people are so nice." past year, such appointments were made by of them from uncommitted Jewish homes, Twelve year old Norman who lives in a Agudath Israel chapters in Baro Park and Far were placed in yeshivas in the school year Philadelphia suburb wrote, "My parents, not Rockaway in New York City, and in Balti­ that just ended. In 1980-81, the Agudath keeping kosher and not very religious, just more, Los Angeles and Toronto. Israel agency provided scholarships for 100 of look at me as if I was insane for wanting to One of Agudath Israel's largest local chap­ them at a cost of over $8,000. The seven year return to Baro Park or even consider becom­ ters, the Fourteenth Avenue branch in Bora figures provided by JEP do not include an ing religious. What should I do? Nothing will Park, appointed Rabbi Eliezer Horowitz to additional 500 Russian Jewish youngsters stop me from writing, and l am very deter­ serve as their Rat'. Rabbi Horowitz, who was placed in yeshivas in a separate effort. mined to visit you on Pesach." already a leader of his own congregation and Equally as impressive was the revelation who initiated shiurim for senior citizens in the that some 800 children were placed in Ortho­ One-to-One community, is a widely respected young dox summer camps during the seven year JEP's chavrusah program is a unique one-to­ Tor ah scholar. In Far Rockaway, the Agudath period. In the current summer season, 250 one relationsip between children from Heb­ Israel of Long Island asked Rabbi Nissan children were placed, divided equally be­ rew day schools with older students from Alpert, a prominent Rabbi and mechanuh, to tween sleep-away camps and day camps. 100 yeshivas and Beth Jacob schools. In this past lead their congregation. ln one of the newest of the 250 children received scholarships to year, 320 children-180 boys and 140 girls­ chapters of Agudath Israel in Flatbush South, go to camp at a total cost of more than participated in the once a week Torah study Rabbi Abba Brudny succeeded his late father, $10,000. According to Rabbi Katz, the camp program. The yeshivas that participtated Rabbi Shmuel Brudney 7"~L in becoming the placement program has been responsible for included Torah Vodaath, Chaim Berlin, Mir­ Rav of that chapter. the fact that at least 80% of the youngsters rer, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Prospect In Baltimore, Rabbi Moshe Heineman has eventually continue in a regular yeshiva. Park and Beth Jacob. been appointed the Rav of the local chapter; in JEP recruits these youngsters through its One of the most successful projects of the Los Angeles, Rabbi Avrohom Teichman; and multi-faceted year-round program. During Jewish Education Program over the years has in Toronto, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Lowy. the year, dozens of volunteers fan out to 25 been its release time program in the public Rabbi Bloom added: "The addition of a Rat> in institutions in New York and New Jersey to schools, in which youngsters spend at least each one of these chapters has already made a give youngsters in various day schools an one hour a week on Wednesdays in nearby big differe'nce. In each case, the results of the opportunity to interact with older yeshiva fat:ilities to study the fundamentals of Tor ah. new appointment was intensification of and Beth Jacob students, who serve as role More than 300 children from 16 different Torah study. New shiurim were started by models, in an attempt to encourage these public schools were registered in this year's most of the branches beyond their current children to continue in yeshivas. 2,400 chil­ release time program. JEP volunteers who slate of learning activities. dren participated in this program during the lead this project also worked diligently to past year. The volunteers came equipped strike up a warm relationship with parents of with Jewish music and inspiring stories, many children, dose cooperation will obviously be Overseas Subscribers to times arranging special trips and rallies. necessary for eventual yeshiva placement. The Jewish Observer: Shabbaton Program Publications The Shabbaton is another successful pro­ To complement its slate of activities, JEP An airmail subscription will gram which gives JEP volunteers access to a continued to strengthen its publications de­ bring you your copy of The large number of youngsters. In this past partment. A monthly Mitzvah Manual was Jewish Observer within a school year over 1,200 children spent a Shab­ distributed to thousands. The second in a week of publication (subject bos in such Orthodox neighborhoods as Baro series of publications on Torah ideology, to local delivery conditions) Park, Flatbush, Far Rockaway, Kew Garden Lehovin U/ehaskil, was also distributed. The Hills and Monsey. The number of children third, Lishmor V'laasos, will be released shortly. @ $30 per year for 1 o issues. that participated this year marked a 40°/o In addition, JEP distributes special recordings, Send your check to The increase over the previous year. There were workbooks and other publications to assist Jewish Observer/5 Beekman Shabbaton programs in ·other cities as well, both volunteers and participants in better Street/NYC 10038. including Edison, New Jersey; Cleveland, understanding the basic principles of Judaism. All subscriptions to Israel Ohio; and several cities in Pennsylvania. JEP branches continue to expand in many One young volunteer participating in the cities throughout the United States. In the are being transported via air­ Shabbaton program was stunned when a past year, JEP opening a branch in Phi\idephia freight at the total cost of $16 mother of one of the children remarked, "It's under the leader hips of Faige Kaufman and per year to each subscriber. your fault" that my child now attends a Dina Perman. Other chapters in Toronto, yeshiva high school. The woman admitted Cleveland, Chicago and Monsey have also that despite her non-religious background, stepped up the activities during the past year.

44 The Jewish Obsenier I Summer, 1981 Warn Violators of Consumer World Agudath Israel Executive to Fraud law Meet in Jerusalem Stern warnings were issued to a number of The entire international executive of the Traditional vendors, from whom monitors of Agudath Agudath Israel will meet in Jerusalem De­ Israel of America purchased non-kosher me­ cember 29-31 to assess the progress and poli­ Premium zuzos, requesting a confirmation in writing cies of the movement since the Knessla that they will immediately comply with the Gedolah (World Agudist Congress). This Quality New York State law which bans such sales as decision was made at a meeting last June of consumer fraud. The warning was sent by the American members of the global Agudist Kosher attorney Marc Z. Newman, chairman of the executive held at its headquarters at S Beek­ Consumer Protection Task Force of Agudath man Street in New York City, conducted by for Over 3 Israel, whose monitors have been making its world chairman Rabbi Moshe Sherer. purchases of mezuzo> since the !aw went into The meeting evaluated the impact of the Generations effect on October 6, 1977. Knesset elections in Israel and hammered out According to the law, whose passage was proposals to build stronger bridges between initiated by the Commission on Legislation the diaspora and the religious Yishuv. Among and Civic Action of Agudath Israel of Amer­ the other issues discussed at the meeting ica, to protect unwary Jewish consumers were discreet efforts to help Jews in lands of from being victimized by unscrupulous ven­ peril, the problems of Russian Jews in Europe dors, every mezuzah or pair of tefillin sold in and those stil! remaining in Soviet Russia, the New York must have the name and address work of the Baal Teshuva Department of the manufacturer, fabricator or importer (Chizuk) of the World Agudath Israel office of that religious article clearly set forth on the in New York, the activities of the Rescue face of the packaging. In the event that the Department of the World Agudah in Zurich, Accepted and Preferred mezuzah or tefillin fails to conform with "Or­ the spiritual problems facing Polish Jewry, worldwide without thodox Jewish religious law," then the wrap­ and the organization's relationship with the reservation ping must be dearly labeled "non-kosher." Memorial Foundations and Claims Confer­ The Most Trusted Violators of the law will be subject to the ence. Name in Kosher provisions of the consumer fraud practices The meeting also set plans to suitably mark Poultry and Foods section of the General Business Law of New the 70th anniversary of the founding of the York State which authorizes the Attorney international Agudist movement which will General to obtain an injunction against the take place next year on the 12th day of Sivan firm conducting such unlawful activities and 5742 Oune 3, 1982). requires restitution, including all court costs The publication and the worldwide distri­ with the right to sue for civil penalties for bution after the summer of a book on Shmirns each violation. HaLoshon {preventing slander), a project of the Mr. Newman informed the vendors who Education Committee of the American region had sold non-kosher mezuzos to Agudath Is­ of the Agudist World Executive, was an­ rael's monitors that after this initial warning, nounced at a meeting. appropriate steps to enforce the provisions of the statute will be taken if further violations are found. Mr. Newman also issued a call to the Jewish public requesting that anyone with information about the illegal sale of Are you going to Israel? non-kosher mezuzo> or lefillin write to his attention, c/o: Commission on Legislation Your visit to the Holy land will have more meaning when you utilize and Civic Action, Agudath Israel of America, the free touring information seivice available from: 5 Beekman Street, New York, New York 10038. Tomfst Depastment Agudath Israel Wodd Organizatfon Several burial plots (karka) 5 Rechov Shomre Hakosel (opposite Kikar Hacherut) for sale on Har Zeisim (Jer­ Jerusalem, 02-223-357 usalem) near chashuva Ro­ ··- shei Yeshiva and Rabbe'im. Come To Formerly Kosher King All proceeds from sale are for the furtherance of the work of Yeshiva Chayei Dovid in Forest Hills, NY. For information call (212) 544-0986 Whitehead Hal! Brooklyn Colle e

The Jewish Obsen1er I Summer, 1981 45 Hails Supreme Court Decision on Women's Draft The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 25 upholding the constitutionality of registering only males for possible military draft was hailed as a "major victory for the American family and for the rights of the Orthodox Jew in particular" by Agudath Israel of America. The 6·3 decision over­ turned a lower court ruling that former Pres­ Jerusalem's exciting new housing development for the Orthodox Jew. ident Jimmy Carter's registration of men Buy with a name you can trust only was unconstitutional. The Supreme From the Prime ft!inister, .------,-,.,-,,,.,..-,--, Court had stayed that decision permitting Please accept my hearffe!t J:.Jessings on the the registration to continue prior to its his· occasion of the groundbreaking of Kiryat toric ruling. Chofetz Chaim. May your new development In its statement, Agudath Israel said: "Or· grow and e"pand. Orthodox Judaism have ruled that Jew­ throu~h Klita. We hdieve- in your project and feel confident jt wi1J 1'e a gn.•at success. ish law prohibits Jewish women from res· I11ushe Mann ponding to any form of conscription. The decision by the Court is also a major victory for the traditional American family." Today. Kirya1 Chofetz Chaim is one of lhe fes~ionals. Included are Rabbis. teachers. most popular developments in Jerusalem businessmen. lawyers. doctors and den· Agudath Israel also revealed that it had becau'it': tist~. who will create a un~ue religious conducted discussions for over a year with • It is a picturesque suburb located less lhan atmosphere. the Selective Service System in ti)e event that fivt> minutes from Jerusalem's central bus women would have been required to register. Kiryat Chofetz Chaim is not affiliated with station. The Selective Service System agreed that • Prkes are at least 30'} less expensive than any political organization. Orthodox Jewish women "because of their comparably styled homes in other choice The only authorized representative in areas of Jt"fusalem. religious training could not submit to military the U.S.A. is Rabbi M. Grunberg. • A totally self-sufficient community with discipline and thus could not participate in the shopping. malls, synagogue<;, day care centers. schools, medical clinics, mikvaot. A fifteen minute film on Kiryat Chofetz Armed Services or in war in any form." The yeshivot. parks and garden'>-all within Chaim is aYailable upon request. To arrange System had even gone to the extent of assur· the immediate vicinity. a meeting in your community and for a full ing the Orthodox community that Orthodox color brochure call or write our office: • AH the money you invest in your Jewish women would have been able to per· apartment will be insured by a bank in Israel Construction has already begun form alternative service which would "meet • The confrwtors ln"olYtd are well In l.srael: your standards off amily or religious supervi­ established reliable builders working In United States: Kiryat Chofeti Chaim sion, as well as our standards of public ser­ together with Israel's most prominent Kiryat Chofeti Chaim vice." In its response, Agudath Israel pointed architet:ts. Rabbi M. Grunberg P.0.B. 18087, Jerusalem • 1'-lore than.JOO.apartments ha\'e already (212) 263.0604 Rabbi B. Chait out that the rabbinic authorities equally op­ been sold to a divemhed e.roup of pro· Tel. Day: 02-810186 pose any form of conscription, even involving Evenings: 02..810238 non·military duties, for Jewish girls, as con­ travening traditional concepts of the family structure. Campaign Against Unauthorized Autopsies Responding to several recent incidents of to have a great deal of discretion regarding All Seforim reviewed in unauthorized autopsies in New York State, post·mortems, which in many cases are to­ THE JEWISH the Commission on Legislation and Civic tally unwarranted. He said that while some of Action of Agudath Israel of America estab· the cases have been extremely complex from OBSERVER lished a special task force to study solutions to a halachic point of view, the issue is that no the problem, according to its chairman, Pro­ procedure for the involvement of religious are available at fessor Aaron Twerski. Attorney Chanoch leaders exists. Lubling will head the new effort of the Agu­ In accepting his new assignment, Mr. Lub­ Eichler's dath Israel legislative commission. He will ling said that he would work with other 1429 Coney Island Ave. work to expedite legislation to protect against Orthodox Jewish groups to expedite legisla­ autopsies without family consent and to tion which is already being considered. In (between J & K) monitor individual cases that come to the addition, he said that he would attempt to Brooklyn, NY 11230 attention of the commission. work out procedures for future communica· (212) 258-7643 Prof. Twerski noted that recent experience tions between medical examiners and his task has shown that medical examiners continue force. -·------·WE SHIP WORLDWIDE

46 The Jewish Obseroer I Summer, 1981 Decries Presidential Commission Decision on Brain Death A recommendation by a Presidential com­ mission that the states endorse the concept that human life ends when the brain stops functioning was termed "unfortunate be­ cause it is contrary to Jewish !aw," by Rabbi}. David Bleich on behalf of the Commission of Legislation and Civic Action of Agudath Israel of America. The President's Commis­ sion for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioural Research, chaired by Morris B. Abram, heard testimony last year from Rabbi Bleich, an eminent authority of Jewish law and medical ethics. Rabbi Bleich, a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University and Professor of Law at the Car­ dozo School of Law, testified that Jewish law demands that all respiratory and cardiac activity cease before a patient may be pro­ nounced dead. He declared: "This is the accepted Jewish definition of death of which the renowned Rabbi Moses Sofer wrote:' All the powers in the world will not budge us Kosher Poultry from the position of our holy Torah,' and is also the common-law definition of death. Brain death criteria which are advocated by some members of the medical profession K'HALADATHJESHURUN provide that a patient may be pronounced dead on the basis of certain neurological criteria alone. Such criteria do not indicate Washington Heights, N.Y. that the brain has been destroyed, but dem­ onstrate only that certain portions of the brain are no longer functional. The criteria advanced by the Harvard Ad Hoc Committee Available from Butchers under Kehillo Supervision would serve to equate death with a diagnosis of a state of irreversible coma." Agudath Israel expressed regret at the President's Commission's recommendation ADAS POUL TRY that a!I 50 states adopt a uniform law defining death as the irreversible cessation of all func­ 212 ·253·7733 tions of the entire brain, including the brain stem. He said that this is an issue which affects the civil and religious liberties of many citizens. Its statement continued:" At present the courts have ruled that the wishes of the Moshe Feinstein strongly opposing govern­ to determine the time of death, an issue patient and his family must be considered in ment intervention on the subject of deter­ which is sointerf aced with religious and ethi­ determining whether or not treatment should mining the time of death. At that time he cal considerations. be continued when, in the opinion of physi­ stated that the Union of Orthodox Jewish cians, there is little hope of recovery. This Congregations of America joined Agudath Mashgichlm wanted. We will train. principle was developed in the Quinlan case Israel in his policy statement. If qualified after a period of time, and applied in a number of other cases The states were urged to demonstrate sen­ we will train as shochtim. Send brought before various courts and recently sitivity towards their Jewish citizens and resume and qualifications to Box served as the basis for the decision handed reject any proposal which compromises the down in the case of Brother Joseph Fox. A religious liberties of citizens, who as a matter #40, The Jewish Observer, 5 policy decision that a patient be pronounced of conscience cannot accept the Commis­ Beek man Street, NYC 10038. dead on the basis of neurological criteria sion's brain death criteria. The Commission i1'5li1 ~~1i alone would effectively eliminate the option on Legislation and Civic Action of Agudath of any further treatment." Israel of America has over the course of many EV 7-1750 In his testimony in the spring of 1980, Pro­ years made presentations to state and federal 17".,!: .,!!!: fessor Bleich introduced a letter offered by legislators and government officials, asking -=:vwi.,.,,,~t.' the world-renowned Torah authority Rabbi the government not to interject its authority 117wi.,'=i't1

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