KISLEV 5728 I D,ECEMBER 1967 VOLUME 4, NUMBER 9 THE FIFTY CENTS
The Other Side of the Coin A New Torah Institution A Plea for Humanity The Drury St. Shul
Second Looks at:
"Shuckling With McLuhan" JTA's Golden Anniversary The W odd Conference Conservative "Overalls" Before the Chulent THE JEWISH .·· ... OBSERVER
In this issue ...
CHANUKAH-THE OTHER SmE OF THE CoIN, Avrohom Feuer 3
A Pl.EA FOR HcMANITY, Menachem Porush .... . 5 THE JEWISH ()BSERVER is published monthly, except July and August, THE DRURY STREET SHUL, a story by Ursula Lehman by the Agudath Israel of A1nerica, 7 5 Beekman Street, New York, N. Y. 10038 Second class A NEW TORAH INSTITUTION, Elisha Roseman 11 postage paid at New York, N. Y. Subscription: $5.00 per year; Canada and overseas: $6.00; single BooK REVIEWS 13 copy: 50¢. Printed in the lJ.S.A.
READERS SURVEY ...... 16 F,ditorial Board SECOND LOOKS AT THF JEWISH SCENE: DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER ("hairn1an TllE WORLD C'()NFERENCE ...... 15 RABBI NATHAN BULMAN RABBI JOSEPH ELJAS .LT.A.-A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 18 JOSEPH FRIEDENSON ''SHUCKLING \VITH MCLUHAN'' ...... 20 RABBI MOSHE SHERER Advertising Manager CONSERVATIVE "OVERALLS" ...... 23 RABBI SYSHE HESCHEL "WHY DOESN'T so:rv'IEONE TELL ME?'' 22 Managing Editor RABBI YAAKOV JACOBS A JEWISH EDUCATOR ...... 26 BEFORE THE CHlJLENT ...... ,...... 26 THE JEWISH ()BSERVER does not assume responsibility for the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ...... 27 Kashrus of any product or service advertised in its pages.
DEc. 1967 VOL. IV, No. 9 ...... @> Avrohom Feuer Chanukah- The Other Side of the Coin .Why Victorious Warriors Failed as Kings
The Chashmono'im, as the heroes who made possible remain in the house of Y chudah. But .we can re-con~ the rededication of the Beis Hamikdosh, are responsible struct their thinking along these lines: for having given us the Chanukah celebration. But their "Of course the monarchy must be held only by further history, and its significance is not as widely Y chudah-in normal times; but these are not normal known as their glorious victories, though it offers us times. Kial Yisroel is achieving political and religious an equally important insight into the special nature of independence for the first time since the destruction of the Jewish people. In essence, we celebrate the spiritual the Bcis Hamikdosh. Two hundred and eighty four elevation of the Chashmono'im at the time of the years of exile and domination by foreign powers is now Chan11kas Hamikdosh, and close our eyes to their anti coming to an end. We are witnessing the liberation and climatic downfall: rebirth of our nation. At such a critical juncture ill the history of our people, we cannot entrust leadership • Jn the period following the rededication of the simply on the basis of a hereditary claim. There must Beis Hamikdosh, four of Matisyohu's sons were killed be at the helm of our nation the most saintly priests in battle or murdered by their enemies. ( Kohanim) whose dedication and abilities have been • The entire I 03-year reign of the Chashmonean proven on the field of battle and in the sanctity of the dynosty was scarred with bloodshed and turbulent in Bcis Hamikdosh. We have suffered the inroads of the ternal strife. Hellenist culture with its wordly philosophies, its athe ism and hedonism, its antipathy to Torah. The masses • Finally, the last remnants of the family were have been weaned away from Torah, and the sover assassinated in a n1ost disgraceful manner by their eignty of Torah in Jewish life must be restored. Surely servant Herod. we who have fought and bled for the Derech Hashem, What was it that toppled the Chasmono'im from the for the Way of G-d, are most capable of leading our height of glory to defeat and disgrace? people through this critical period. "Eis /a'asos /' Hashem .. heferu Sorosecho"-"In a time when we THE RAMBAN in his comments on Parshas Vay'chi must stand up for G-d, we may momentarily annul explains: His Law." Our father Yaakov decreeded: "1.0 vossuR SHEVET Ml'YEHUDAH," "the staff of 1nonarchy Lofty Thoughts . .. shall rest only with Yehudah." For any other These were machshovos shel kedusha-lofty thoughts, tribe to assume the monarchy lt'as to defy the nobly motivated, but the grim fate of the Chashmo will of Yaakov, and to encroach upon the right no'im, the Ramban observes, proves that they sorely ful domain of Yehudah. This was the sin of 1nisca1culated. the Chasmono'im who assumed the 1nonarchy in the period of the Second Beis Hamikdosh. Though Precisely because of the disbelieving spirit of the they were saints of the righest order-lvere it not times, an era of philosophical questioning and search for them Torah and mitzvos would have been ing, an age when all human thought was being heJd forgotten in Israel-they were punished 1nost up to the probing light of logic, and that which man's gravely. limited mentality failed to comprehend was deemed false-precisely in such a period Patriarchal traditions We can hardly believe that the Chashmono'im were and Torah law had to be unswervingly guarded. It was unaware of the expressed desire of Yaakov, and the in such a time, more than any other time, that the law of the Torah requiring that the monarchy must Jewish people dared not pit the human intellect against the immutable, eternal, unfathomable word of G-d. AVROllO~l CHAIM FEUFR studies in the Kolle! of Telshc Yeshiva. This is his first contrihution to THE OBSERVER. The Jewish nation was fully aware of the superiority
The Jewish Observer / .Decen10er, 1967 3 of the Chashmono'im in every way. Were they not the belief in the sanctities of Torah would have been wiped most faithful, fearless and unflinching servants of G-d, out from amidst Kial Yisroel with such an awesome proven by their courage to take up battle against over measure of faith? Who can tell how much Kovod Ha' whelming odds? Had not the Almighty shown them a Torah would have triumphed with an act of surrender special sign of Providence and affection manifested by to the divine will? the miracle of the menorah? Were they not of the most aristocratic lineage, unparalleled for purity and nobility, The Glory of Victory renowned for their service to Kial Yisroel for genera tions? And mo:o;t important and decisive, the reins of The Chashmono'im had just experienced a miracle government were theirs-free to do as they wishcd which enabled them to use only the purest materials and worthy of the highest reward for their heroic ef in serving G-d. and saved them from resorting to defiled forts? Who could the house of Yehudah present to oils which may be used only in cases of emergency. An equal these uncontestable prerequisites in a bid for expression of the divine will was inherent in this mir the throne? acle: At this crucial moment Torah must be kept pure and whole-without compromise. Perhaps it was the glory of victory that blinded these tzaddikim ever so The Sovereign is His to Choose slightly and caused them to misunderstand the mes If at that moment the Chashmono'im would have sage of the Chanukah lights. stood up and boldly proclaimed: "Bi me/oclu'm yim Our brothers in Israel have seen miraculous event.:; Iochu," "It is G-d's will which crowns kings"-the in our time. The celebration of Chanukah should re sovereign is His to choose, and no human calculations fresh our memories of the miracles which throughout can dispute His choice. Lo yossur shevet mi'Yehudah. the ages have kept us alive in violation of all of the Yaakov Ovinu expressed G-d's wish that Yehudah 'laws' of history. May the Chanukah lights illuminate should reign, and no human reason could annul this the pages of Jewish history that we may clearly read divine stamp of approval. Who can tell how much dis- its n1essage. L~~
i1 "v ,1Vllli1 '1N1\!J> .,
On Monday morning, the second day of Kislev, craftsman who refused to allow any piece of work R' Yisroel Hunger departed this life. For twenty to pass through his hands that did not reflect the five years Irving Hunger was a well-known figure highest standards of his craft. For this he was in the field of Jewish publishing. He was in charge loved and respected by the many ta/midei chacha of production at the famed press of Shulsinger mim whose writings he brought to the press. Brothers. It is safe to say that at any given mo ]RVING HUNGER was dedicated to his craft and ment in America today a Jew sits in a Bcis his work. He often bemoaned the passing of the Medrash or in his home and studies Torah from printer's pride in his work. But he lavished on a sefer that passed through the hands of Irving the pages of THE JEWISH OBSERVER, a special Hunger-a sefer that is more beautifu1, more mixture of love and craftsmanship, because he 'learnable,' because of the love for Torah which believed so strongly in those ideals which stim motivated him in his work. He often reminded me ulate and motivate all those who labor to produce that when as a young man he had to leave the our magazine. He left behind a generation with Bcis Medrash sooner than he had wanted to, to a dedication to Avodas Ha'Kodesh which was help provide for his family, his revered Rebbe inspired by his M'leches Ha'Kodesh and his love counseled that he find work in the field of printing. for Torah. May his devoted wife and family be :Printing is known in classical literature as M' lee hes comforted together with all those who mourn H,1'Kodesh, a sacred craft. Irving Hunger was a for Zion a!ld Jerusalem. Y. J.
4 The Jewish Observer / December, 1967 Menachem Porush A Plea for Humanity Autopsy Abuses in Israel Continue Unabated
pita! categorically refuses to give such assurance. (If On November 22, 1967, Rabbi Menachem Porush, anyone doubts these facts, I have available a tape Me1nber of Israel's Knesset, moved for debate on re 'recording of the conversation with the family.) And it vision of the law which governs autopsy proceedures. should be emphasized that the hospital concerned has The following is adapted from his address to the Knes the highest standards of service; the doctor is known set supporting his 111otion. LJ for his eagerness to do all that is humanly possible for his patients. But, his liands are tied by the directive of the Ministry of Health. and by the law which this It is with a heavy heart that I arise to once again place Knesset has enacted-and the end result is that this before the Knesset the painful issue of governmental man's life lies in the balance. refusal to honor the citizen's desire that post-n1ortem operations not to be performed. Were it not for the "Take him out of the country . . " recurring abuses in this area-documentary proof is readily available-where it not for the fact that these On the 22nd of Nisan a listener to Kol Yisroel (the horrible abuses give me no rest, I would not have official government radio) asked one of the broadcast proposed debate on this subject. ers what he could do to avoid an autopsy for his grand father who was afraid to enter the hospital. The answer I ask only this of you: Listen to what I have to say, was: "The only suggestion I can make is that you and arrive at your o\vn decision from the inner re take him out of the country." Surely, members of the sources of your hearts. Set aside, just this once, coalition Knesset, we are not prepared to accept this suggestion. considerations, f!nd arrive at a conclusion as Jews, as men, in terms of how this matter touches on the spirit My colleagues of the Knesset, these arc not isolated and the soul of man. cases-there are all too many. And while for many On July 7, 1966, the Director General of the Min reasons it is distasteful to me to cite more cases, I feel compelled to do so. A year ago, a very close relative istry of Health issued a directive to all hospitals stating: "No medical attention shall be offered when the patient became ill. His doctors told him of a hospital which is technically equipped to cure him. Neither the family. or his family make any conditions or express any de mands concerning the manner of treatment or the nor J, was able to convince this patient to enter the hospital in the absence of any assurance that his hody performance of a post-mortem." I cannot adequately describe to you the anguish and the pain that has been would not be subject to a post-mortem in the event of his death. He now lies seriously ill, his body wasting engendered ever since that directive was issued. away so that he is unrecognizable. May G-d in His The effect of that directive was to force every phys mercy cure him. ician and hospital official to reject out of hand any Why are we unable to grasp such an elementary hu request that a patient's body not be dissected after man sensitivity? I am not at this moment referring to death This in turn has caused observant Jews-be the halachie aspect of the problem, but simply to the lieving as they do in the eternity of the soul and the human aspect. We who have been blessed to demon dignity due the body-to deny themselves the medical strate before the world the unique nature of our peo attention they desperately need, thereby endangering ple . . . we \vho are ready to make every sacrifice to their health and their lives. save a single life . . . we whose sons gave their lives I have turned over to the chairman of the 'Knesset to save other lives-why do we find it so difficult to the name of the patient and the name of the hospital understand that a Jew who has lived his life in the involved in one recent case. The patient and his family spirit of Torah, will never agree that after his death his are aware of his critical condition, and they fear the body should be treated in such a manner as to violate worst. They asked a prominent Torah personality to a fundamental belief upon which he based his life. intercede with the hospital in their behalf, to assure Why arc you prepared to undertake such a responsibil them there would be no autopsy after death. The hos- ity with the realization that human life is at stake?
The Jewish Observer / December, 1967 5 _~I.!! Qf rrle~ia:~ital O!nrttt itgt.at -~· Vol. 5, No. 9 ,..... -·-,,_.. -...... ~ .... - Sept«n!Mr 1967 Mo.o-W-11< ...... _ .. _ ....
-UNAUTHORIZED AUTO~Y IS MJTILATION M MENTAL ,6.NGUISH DAM.AGES ALLOWED fuinch v. Odisn•r Cl;nie, 200 S< .2d 371, (Loui1iana) Court of Appeal of loui1iono, Ju ~7
Action for dCl'Tiages for me,tul onguhh, pail'I cind iufferlng re1ultlng from on1.111- outhorized i::ulopiy. PlointiH1 on rhe w;dow and two children of decedent. It OP?"ats thot following e:
IT IS MOST unpleasant to cite precedent from other The Minister of Health will forgive me if I note the lands, but you leave me no choice. Here before us Jies surprise which greeted his denial that in the State of the September l 967 copy of The Ecclesiastical Col/rt Israel the autopsy rate is higher than ninety per cent. Digest issued in the United States, reporting a decisi•)ll He said there was "no sembJance of truth" to the rendered by the Court of Appeals of the State of Lcu charge. I have here a copy of a citation in the Hebrew isiana. The court upheld a lower court decision gra11t Encyclopedia (l 966 edition) in the supplement to ing damages for "mental anguish, pain and suffering volumes 1-l 6, page 432. It reads: resulting from an unathorized autopsy," and the Ap peals court saw fit to increase the damage award. The The autopsy rate in hospitals in action was brought by a widow and her two sons af1 er Israel is ;n excess of 50% and as their husband and father died of lung cancer. Jmn.c high a' 80% of patients dying in diately after his death, the family was asked to sign hospitals. a form granting permission for an autopsy, but they refused. When they later learned that the body had Already there is even more than a "semblance of been dissected, they sued in a civil action and wt:re truth" to the charge, and the Minister will forgive me awarded damages for mental anguish and suffering. if I point out to him that his experts have misled him, The Appeals Court decision noted that, "the courts and the Knesset was similarly misled by his statistics arc not primarily concerned with the extent of the on autopsies in the United States. physical mishandling, injury or mutilation to the body per se, but rather with the effect of the same on the I have before me a copy of an official letter from feelings and emotions of the surviving relatives who the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare have the duty of burial ..." Rather than taking the dated, Washington, January 13, 1967 which states time to read all of the details, I am making the docu that the total autopsy percentage in the United States ment a part of the record. (SEE CUT ABOVE) 1s l 9. l % . Jn some states the percentage is lower and
6 The Jewish Observer I December, 1967 in California which has the highest rate, it is only 37%. At this point Uri Avneri of the Olam Hazeh party interrrupted: "It is shameful to talk of such things The Minister of Health has cited the National Jewish on the floor of the Knesset," and Rabbi Porush Hospital in Denver which has a ninety percent rate, replied: but he must be aware that this is a specialized institu tion for tubercular cases, and even there autopsy is These are facts-it is not I who have made them performed only with the approval of the family and public, it is the Tel Hashomer Hospital. the counsel of an Orthodox rabbi. Are you aware, members of the Knesset, to what extent the law permits indiscriminate autopsy without permission? This is a most serious prob1em, going to A MOST UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT has been kept from the roots of the sacred beliefs of tens of thousands of the public and the members of the Knesset should know Jews, who are prepared to give their lives for these of it. Yaakov Cohen, a member of the crew of the beliefs. destroyer Elat sunk by Egyptian missiles, was wounded Gentlemen, let us debate this matter, not nccessari1y and was brought to the hospital in Tel Shomer. His brother died in the same attack. When he died, the from a religious perspective, but simply out of concern for the right of each man to determine the disposition family objected to an autopsy. But the doctors turned of his own body after death-a right which should a deaf car to Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, the father, who not be compromised. I therefore propose that the had lost two sons in defense of their country. and Knesset open debate on the question of revising the who pleaded that his son's body not be abused. An present law and revoking the directive which is en autopsy was avoided only by the strenuous physical dangering human life. [] objections of the family which resulted in a doctor being hurt. Can anyone in this house justify inflicting such (The Knesset voted down the request for debate.! pain on an old father, a rabbi, who had lost two sons. and had to resort to force so that his sainted son's body should not be mutilated. I must cite one more point-and frankly I would not have believed the charges myself if they were not The Drury St.Shu! so well documented. But it is here for all to see: a research report from the Tel Hashomer Hospital which Ursula Lehmann indicates that there are monetary considerations in volved in the autopsy abuses. It is shameful that I YOUTH WILL LIKE MY STORY. Some of the older gen should have to mention this matter; the report concerns eration will too. That is, some will think it is a story a research project on "the coronary arterial intima of of progress ... Yemenite Jews" for which 160,000 lira was paid. The It concerns a shul; an old majestic shul and a proud report further indicates that there was stiff competition one; a shul aware of its full heritage of the past, and confident in the promise of tomorrow. Do you know o·i.~·i_ :: this shul?-well, maybe you do; maybe we all know . REPORT of Di,ctJ<>ions of CarJio''"' ,, ~ul•f Ros.3'ch Qpp~f!unitie> in hrae\ one such ... and we respect it as a remarkable insti by~ Group of Mod,ool ftc,~arch Scicn· tio!• from th< l!nilcd St>i.s •nd """!. tution and an enduring one. Tel-A,;,, h1ad, Septombor 2 · H, 1?62 (W,<0''" ,,,\•.,l, '"' ,, .. 1,--. · That's what the members of the Drury Street Shu! thought. That wasn't the official title, but it served its purpose well enough. Most folks liked it's homey sound
\i~) '·"'·· . . . . 'Tm going to Drury Street this Shabbos . . ."
The Jewi"·h Obser;1er / December, 1967 7 November 28th, the fourth Shabbos of the month when Now Jet me explain how the whole board of directors Mr. Grossbaum was first seen davening in Drury Street. of so respectable an establishment as the Drury Street Now don't get me wrong-this doesn't mean he was a Shu! could have such poor judgement of human nature. stranger. On the contrary, since he lived only three Maybe your shul is something like this, as I said at houses down the block from the shul, his round flushed the beginning, and then you'll understand, but if not, face was a common sight on Shabbos morning. Then then I'll have to try and get you to see how it is when why was this the first time he davened in Drury Street? the same men run a shul for years and years and eons. True enough the elders of the Drury Street Shu! did First of all, with all that experience they get so darn see him every Shabbos morning, but he was going 'capable' that they never make a mistake and not only the other way! Everybody knew that on Shabbos morn can't you criticize them but you know very well that ing Mr. Grossbaum walked seventeen and a half blocks you have to vote them in again at every election because over to Linden Avenue and went to shul there. Not there just isn't anyone who can do the job as well. that he especially liked the shul on Linden Avenue; he That, at least, is the way my father explained it to me. just didn't like Drury Street. So you see why I even He seemed perfectly satisfied with the way things were, remember the date when he first davencd there. The and so did all the other adults. But Jet me tell you, our thing is, Mr. Grossbaum was a macher. Or anyway, crowd wasn't satisfied at all. he thought of himself as a big-shot and I guess that's the same thing. Now whether or not it was a good idea Now Drury Street wasn't a poor congregation by far for Mr. Grossbaum to think of himself as a big-shot, -our people not only built Drury Street, they did is not the point, though I have some opinions of my much good for other institutions also. It was made up own on the subject, but one thing I know for sure; of what outsiders would probably call "aristocratic Drury Street Shu! was not the place for Mr. Grossbaum, families" (even if I don't sound like an aristocrat), and or any outsider for that matter, to become a big-shot. its reputation was so good that it was known through and that's a fact. I guess Mr. Grossbaum knew it too, out the city. Now if anyone would say one wrong word and that's why he took that walk over to Linden Ave about our shul, we young people would be the first to nue every Shabbos. You see there are some people stick up for it, but on the inside, we sure weren't happy who just have to have a job to help run things, and about things. In the first place we thought the execu if one place has no work for them, well, they just go tives and their assorted hangers-on were a bunch of some place else. But I better stop philosophising and bigoted, opinionated, high-hatted men who were en tell you what happened. tirely out of touch with the world and insisted on running things in their old established ways. Now WHEN MR. GROSSBAUM showed up that Shabbos, every instead of being smart and letting us have our way body had a theory. The theories didn't agree with each in a few little things, they were stubborn. Of course other very much, but everyone who witnessed the extra they realized that the congregation's future depended ordinary event had some private opinions as to why on us, but since the future seemed comfortably far Mr. Grossbaum-after having waged his own personal away, and since they still felt hale and hearty, and "cold war" for these many years-blandly took his seat since they more often than not disagreed with our at the front of the Drury Street Shu! this Shabbos Va views on almost anything, and since we were a group yishlach. Now let me tell you, I am not so dumb as of immature adolescent 'troublemakers' who thought some of my friends like to think me, and I knew, as we were smart but were really too big for our britches, sure as my name is Yochanan, that some sort of foul they let us do a slow burn. So you see the time was intrigue was being planned behind Mr. Grossbaum's ripe for Mr. Grossbaum. Very ripe. And you see too newly-acquired innocent look, but of course I can't how the board members were too smug and filled with prove that now and I can't even say, "I-told-you-so" their own importance to see anything threatening in since I was discreet and never mentioned a word of my Mr. Grossbaum's sudden peace offensive; all they forebodings to anyone. I must admit that some of my thought was that their overpowering personalities had friends, in fact most of the younger crowd, didn't trust won out at last. Mr. Grossbaum's seeming capitulation, but the big wheels of our shul-they were as proud as punch. To The first week, they really could think that Mr. a man, they were firmly secure in the knowledge that Grossbaum was a model of co-operation throughout Mr. Gro8'baum had declared a truce at last. They the minyon and even made a real effort to be jolly and thought he had come to terms, and they fairly strutted! polite by turns after shul, with those very men he had previously snubbed. I do think that he slapped some
MRS. IEHMANN (nee Sitz~nan) studied at Wayne University and of them on the shoulder a little harder than was nec Beth Jacob Seniinary. She is a staff ·writer for OLEMEINU, and essary since I sa\V one or two of them wince, but they a frequent contributor to .JEWISH LIFE, and various other may just have had colds, of course, and they did con publications. She wrote this story a number of yearJ ago, and it is published here for the first tilne. tinue to be condescendingly gracious.
8 The Je1vish Observer / December, 1967 AS I SAID, ALL WFNT SMOOTHLY. No one seemed to That is, I never really realized just how homogeneous connect Mr. Grossbaum's appearance on that particular we were until we weren't any more, if you see what Shabbos with the large general meeting to be held the I mean. Somehow during those eight nights Mr. Gross next week. But Mr. Grossbaum did. And seeing that baum managed to find out just what the main issue the one prerequisite for admission to our general meet was between the adults and the "youngsters." I never ings was to have davened at our shul at least once, I found out who told him, and I probably never will, am surprised at our stupidity. In fact even that Wednes but once he had his finger on a firecracker, you can day night when Mr. Grossbaum appeared, the only be sure he knew how to explode it to the best advan reaction was a ripple of amused surprise. The amuse tage. ment lasted exactly ten minutes which was the amount of time it took the president to get to "new business." It ~asn't _a big thin.g really, but I guess you know Actually, the new business slated for that meeting how little things grow mto whirlwinds when there is an in fact the reason the meeting was called at all-was issue at stake. And when the issue at stake is an hour the voting on whether we were to continue this year, longer in bed every weekday morning for seventeen our tradition of having the community gatherings every high school boys, the whirlwind practically turns into night of Chanukah for the purpose of playing draidlc a tornado. Now really, I'm no lazier than the next guy (us "youngsters"), smoking pipes and talking stocks but when there is a way that I can stay in bed for an (the men), and .iust plain gossiping (the women). We extra five minutes, Jet alone an extra forty-five, you never got to voting. Before anyone knew what was can be sure I'll willingly move mountains to do so. happening, Mr. Grossbaum had the floor. I think a And to tell you the truth, I really can't see that boys trumpet call should have announced that moment to who don't have to be in school until nine o'clock should herald in a new era, but no one knew it, so nothing have to attend a seven o'clock minyon just because happened. Anyway, Mr. Grossbaum began a tirade the men have to leave for work by eight. Mr. Gross that lasted over twenty minutes and no one could stop baum couldn't see this either (once he'd found out it him. The upshot of the harrangue was that the vouth was our pet. peeve) and proceeded to air his opinions of the Drury Street Shu] was shamefully opp;essed on that sub1ect to anyone who would listen-and to and that everyone under thirty-five was "being denied quite a few who wouldn't. Pretty soon he got us so his inherent civil 1ibcrties" in that he was allowed no wound up on the subject that we, who had previously voice in the shul's government. You can be sure that objected only sporadically, suddenly found our courage after his first few lines, when it became apparent what and protested loudly. What added insult to injury, was Mr. Grossbaum was talking about, I was all ears. So the reason that the men gave for not Jettinrr us have a was everyone else under thirty-five! And even those late minyon of our own. They not only to;k our sleep who saw that Mr. Grossbaum was out for trouble cou1d awa~ from us but offended our new-found teen-age not accuse him of speaking for himself, since he was d1gmty to0, by telling us that they did not want to forty-two. So we listened. And let me tell you, he made leave us in the building without supervision, they didn't sense! Not that we were fooled, you know; we didn't want to leave us with the key since most of the time know just what his game was, but we were pretty darn we'd forget to lock up (which was probably true), and sure by now that it wasn't youth, but he just managed that they didn't want our kind of high-jinks in their to hit a sore spot that, like I said before, was about shul. Before Mr. Grossbaum, all this was couched in ready to blow up from underneath anyhow. So it blew. nice polite language, but afterwards-well everybody When he was finished someone else jumped up and got blunt. In fact, at the beginning they even said that gave him a verbal pat on the back and practically ~he main objection to a second minyon was the "unity" before I knev,r it I was agreeing with hin1 too. After of the congregation; there had never been two min that our general meeting turned into a free-for-all of yonim before so why begin now; the youth should not words, V·lith everyone trying to get his two cents in, be alienated from the older ones, and that sort of thing. and no one hitting the real issue at all. We never did We, of course, didn't believe that hooey and thought get to voting that meeting and the Board just decided that it was just a cover-up, but now, to tell you the by themselves not to change anything this year. truth, I've begun to understand that this is reallv how they did feel, and the other reasons were just e~cuses Well, if letting Mr. Grossbaum into that general when we refused to accept the truth as an honest meeting was their first mistake, having the Chanukah objection and made the men sound ridiculous and parties was certainly their second. That gave Mr. old-fashioned. Of course, when they then said in effect, Grossbaum eight complete evenings for lobbying for that they didn't trust us, there wasnit nearly as much his pet project-only lobbying is hardly the word. J we couJd say in return, except that we were "grow-up'~ never saw anyone inject so much discord so fast in now too, an answer we used so often at home for so what had been before so homogeneous a community. many things that it sounded flat even to our own ears.
The Jewish Ol>sen'er / Decen1ber. 1967 9 Now, of course, I see that we were all a little hasty our advantage too. So we decided in less time than it and could have handled things differently; like maybe takes to tell, if Mr. Grossbaum wants to be a big-shot, finding some adult to keep the key for us, to take care we'll let him, but at least we'll have our rninyon. Any of the "trust" pait, and then trying to demonstrate way, we were smart enough to know that we needed that we could not be alienated from the older members a grown-up to help us run things, and if Mr. Grossbaum because we loved our sbul. The adults would have had wanted to be in complete charge of everything, why to take a bit on faith then, but it would have been a we'd just help him to think so. That was our verdict compromise. What they did do of course, was to sec and I was the one who got up to give it. They all red, and we saw redder! And this simmering brew was listened. Can you imagine? The whole congregation constantly stirred by Mr. Grossbaum. actually listened to what one of us had to say, almost as if they were at last beginning to realize that we were We finally found out what he was up to. By the able to think and plan and make decisions too. They time the sixth day of Chanukah came around, nobody even tried to argue, but of course that only made us came to play draidle anymore, or even to gossip. We more firm in our decision. We won. all just came as spectators to watch a live play, all the more intriguing because we were sometimes ahle to TODAY, WE'VE GOT just what we want. We can't even forget our assumed roles of spectators and get into the be considered part of the Drury Street Shu! anymore, act ourselves. Our members were so carried away by not that we want to be, of course, since we've drawn this unprecedented upheaval that no one even bothered so many other boys that we're a minyon in our own to say polite helloes or offer a smile any rnore; we just right now. We're happy, and Mr. Grossbaurn's happy, frowned and said nothing, or immediately reviewed the and sometimes one of the old shul's members lets loose latest events and quotes. In fact, I understand that in with something like, "Well, at ]east we're rid of those the neighborhood we were now known as the Drury hotheads now." So I guess they think they're happy too. Street Scowl. lt's almost Chanukah again. Only this year there won't be a community get-together after supper. Oh, the shul is having theirs as usual, but we won't go to GETTING HACK to 'Mr. Grossbaum; it was the last night that of course, so we'll probably have a draidle party of Chanukah that he exploded his bombshell. Every of our own. Everybody but me thinks that's fine. You body who was anybody \Vas there since we all had a know what I think? I think it's a darn shame that the feeling that this night Mr. Grossbaurn's endeavors old feeling of family togetherness we used to have at would bear some kind of fruit. We were so right. With those parties, just won't be there this year. In fact, I out any preliminaries, Mr. Grossbaum announced that guess I'm the only one that's not so happy! be had the solution to our difficulties. With such great discrepancies between the youth and their ciders, and AT THE BEGINNING I said that some of you would think with the rift growing wider this last month-he didn't this is a story of progress. I guess it is in a way; before mention whose loving care had fostered this growth- we had only one shul on Drury Street and now wc have and ¥1ith the situation in general becoming a deterrent two. lt even looks like ours might grow into something, to the proper running of our shul, said Mr. Grossbaurn, and of course it's progress when you get a modern, he advocated the forn1ing of a separate minyon hy the forward-looking Orthodox shul like we're going to boys to be located in the basement of the neighborhood continue to be. But somehow all this progress just isn't community center, whose permission he had already my type anymore. I've been doing some thinking, and requested and received. it seems to me that there won't ever again be anything The silence was absolutcly sticky, hut so complete, to replace the Drury Street Shu! for us. Since it's youth the room could a1most have been c1npty. Fina1ly one is gone, it's got to happen someday that the shul begins of the old-guard rose. We expected fireworks, but all to decline. In fact~ I guess it reached it's climax on be said was, "Well, boys, what do you think about that eighth day of Chanukah when wc decided to leave it?" More silence. Fina1ly a murmur started in our ... or maybe it was before when no one would give corner. We all sort of got into a football huddle and in even a bit. We've got our shul of course, but you in about the time it would have taken the referee to know, we'Te not so proud or so stately and we never blow his whistle, we'd planned our tactics. It was will be because we have no tradition behind us, and suggested by someone that \VC try one 1ast time to I've begun to think that history is a very important con1promise. But it was too late for that; we were thing for a shul; it gives you something to live up to. just too wound up and had gone too far to run back I do have one hope. It's a funny thing, corning from now. We knew now that all Mr. Grossbaurn wanted was me; I have to have it though, because I don't like the to be a big-shot in a new shul of his own making, and picture I'm painting. I hope that next year at this time we were to be the guinea pigs. But the idea was just we'll be planning our Chanukah party together with too good. Why shouldn't we be the stooges, it was to the Drury Street Shu!. It would he a start, anyhow. D
10 The Jewish Observer / December, 1967 Elisha Roseman A New Torah Institution Orthodoxy Confronts the Challenge of the Broken Home
Torah Jewry is n1aturing; Orthodoxy is corning into between friends and neighbors, with great mutual loya1- its own. This growth is evident in many ways: ty. The community-the live kehilla-provided a sound foundation for meaningful social relationships. These • Orthodoxy has demonstrated the ability to look at positive forces stabilized and strengthened family life. its own problems with a complete lack of self Concomitantly, they also served to protect and shelter, consciousness. both physically and emotionally, those comparatively • There is an ever-growing circle of American-born, fe\V people who suffered the consequences of fa1nily yeshiva-educated laymen, loyal to the Gedolim and disintegration. eager to follow their lead. • Orthodoxy is learning to formulate its own view The Dehumanizing Society points and to function independently of the Jewish Today, in our competitive industrial economy \Vith Establishment. its strains, pressures, and other de-hun1anizing forces, • Orthodoxy is being strengthened by broader co the extended family has been broken down to its operation among its different trends. smaller, more vu1nerab1e nuclear components. Far too often, relationships, friends and neighbors, arc tran The practical manifestation of maturing Orthodoxy sient. The kehillos are all but gone. 1n those few cases is multi-faceted; it ranges fron1 the increase in yeshiva where they do function they lack the broad scope of gedo1os and the growing acceptance of the concept of former years. The family is left exposed to the debil Kolle!, to independent political action based on Torah itating forces of our environment, while at the same perspectives, rather than the cliches of the Jewish time little physical and emotional shelter or protection Establishment. is provided for those peop!e---cspecially the childrcn We will here focus our attention on one specific new who suffer the consequences of disrupted family life. development which clearly demonstrates the ability of Many Orthodox Jews seem to think that the curses various groupings within Orthodoxy to function to of our modern society such as family breakdown fol gether in diagnosing a problem and creating an in ]o\ving the death of a parent, en1otional i11ness, and dependent, Torah response under the guidance of the rest of their tragic genus, are so rare that they do Torah leaders. not present a serious communal problem. Whether The problem of the homeless Orthodox child has this is due to lack of information or to an unconscious for years plagued the Torah community, and it has suppression of what we \vould rather not think about, until nov.' been met in a piece-meal fashion. l'he found is not clear. Yet the fact is that many families do suffer ing of the Ohel Children's Home in Brooklyn, New the full impact of these shattering problems with 1heir York, is the first step forward in meeting this problem tragic aftermath of demoralization, confusion and de on an organized basis. spair. The follmving typical cases, and their broader implications, tell the story. Certain questions must be answered to establish the background of this new development in Orthodoxy: CASE HISTORY: A brother and sister fro1n a reli What arc the problems confrondng hon1clcss children? gious hon1c \Vere placed by an agency in a ho1ne where How have they been resolved in the past? they were well provided for-but it was a non-observ ant, non-kosher home. 'fhe children ran away-even ~N THE EUROPEAN shtetl and even in, the cities, 1nen1- though they had no place to go. bership in a family meant belonging to a closely-knit, Very often, displaced yeshiva children were placed extended family. Ever-present were deep relationships in institutions that, at best, had no kosher facilities~ and no significant program for religious education. The attitude of the institution official to the religious ELISHA ROSEMAN is a Mus111ach of Torah Vodaath and studied at the Beth Medrash Elyon in Spring Valley. He is a teacher needs of their charges varied from indifference t; rid in a New York City High School. icu1c-and worse.
The }[wf.'Jh Observer/ Decen1ber, 1967 II CASE HISTORY: A youngster in a Jewish institution family disintegrated before his eyes, but his children in upstate New York asks for tzitzis and kosher food. face the constant threat that they will be shorn of their The officials decide he is disturbed and have him com Yiddishkeit. The committee is informed of this tragic mitted to a mental hospital. Officials of the hospital case. Visits to the wife, as well as consultations with .released him because they found no abnormality. her doctors are arranged. Tireless efforts are expended . The two older children are finally transferred to proper Attempts by individuals to find suitable homes for yeshiva youngsters often ended in anquish, frustration, foster homes. However, the resulting financial burden and despair. Unbelievable as it may appear, in all of is becoming too much for the hard-working father to New York City-with its multiplicity of institutions, bear. Meanwhile, the father is notified by the children's home that his youngest child will be placed in a foster there 111as not a single agency to help Orthodox mem bers of broken homes with their problems, and there home. Clearly the child must be removed immediately. was no residence facility to house ()rthodox children The father, with a representative of the committee, without parents. visited the child. Physical attempts to restrain them were unsuccessful and the father succeeded in "kid napping" his own child. During this whole period the The Rosh Yeshivas React committee had utilized its contacts with city agencies effectively. It is now seeking a suitable housekeeper to The first to appreciate the gravity of the situation care for the mentally-ill mother who was released from were the Roshei Yeshivas. They had to deal with the the hospital and it will be possible for the two older many shailos and problems resulting from this void. children, at least, to live at home with their parents. Consequently, they were keenly aware of the need for Thus, while many problems still remain unsolved, the a family social service agency, and a residence home, work of the committee was eminently successful in both to be under Torah auspices. The oft-repeated myth re-establishing the home. that the Roshei Yeshivas are confined to an ivory-tower and are not concerned with "real live problems" was once more proven false. Not only were they concerned Seeking Foster Homes -they were the first to become involved and their efforts brought tangible results. Their call went out At the outset, the major thrust of the committee was and it was answered. directed toward finding appropriate foster homes for Orthodox youngsters who couldn't Jive at home or had no real home. Every aspect of the work was done in A ST\IIALL BUT DEDICATED group of volunteers stepped consultation with Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi into the breach. With a filing cabinet and telephone as Yaakov Kaminetsky, Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld (the an office they commenced their sacred work. When Matcsdorfcr Rav), and Rabbi Reuvain Feinstein. In word spread that there was an Orthodox group, dealing deed, it was these men who often referred cases to with Orthodox people in a Torah-true manner, many the committee. However the difficulties of finding foster serious problems which had been tragically neglected homes were not always surmountable, and many young in the past, were now brought to light. The committee sters, despite the debilitating effects of their present acted as a vital liaison agency between clients and life, could not be placed in foster homes. existing municipal agencies, and also counseled and advised troubled families. CASE HISTORY: A young boy, student of a well known yeshiva) cannot be given proper care by his CASE HISTORY: A member of a large chassidic com grandmother. His drug-addicted mother will not permit munity, in a chassidic neighborhood, has a wife and him to be placed in a foster home, but she will not three small children. The wife became unstable and object if the y0ungstcr is placed in a children's resi had to be committed to a municipal mental hospital. dence facility. A Jocal group of sincere, wen-meaning chassidic women took an interest in the case. However there was little The urgent need for a children's home operated they could do. They lack the contacts as well as the under Torah auspices was most evident. A prerequisite experience needed in such circumstances. There was for such a project is the granting of a charter by the no choice-the children were placed in a so-called State. Legal counsel was retained, the proper papers Jewish children's home where the Jack of kashrus in were drawn up and submitted. The committee's appli the kitchen was exceeded only by the traifkcit of the cation was subjected to innumerable delays and un atmosphere. Furthermore, the children stood in con explained postponements. It is sufficient to state that stant danger of being taken in, on a permanent basis, the efforts of the committee were stymied. At this by a secular or religiously indifferent foster family. critical juncture, the committee was able to enlist the The distraught father is overwhelmed. Not only has his aid of several prominent Orthodox communal leaders
12 J'he Jewish Observer / December, 1967 who wrote letters to and intervened with state officials. been undertaken by a group of laymen-many of them Finally, a State Charter was granted for the creation newcomers to this country-who have zealously thrown of the Ohel Children's Home. themselves into this work. The increasing burdens of such an ambitious en The building of the Ohel Children's Home* will be terprise brought to the fore a number of b'nai Torah another witness to the ability of the Torah community who are in the fields of social work, psychology and to meet the challenges of modern society in the ways guidance counseling, who gave of their time and talents of Torah. without any fees. l n the very near future, a modern, fully-equipped Rabbis, principals, and other interested parties are invited residence home for children will grace the Boro Park to refer cases to the OHEL CHILDREN'S HOME by telephoning 494 7978, or writing to the Honie at 1481 58th Street, section of Brooklyn. The financial responsibility has Brooklyn, New York 11219.
BOOKS
This book is "a study of the origin and historical de these Azhoros. usually recited on Shavuos, were to velopment, from the earliest times to the present day, counteract the possible error that only the "Ten Com of the tradition that the written Torah contains six mandments" were G-d given, and to demonstrate the hundred and thirteen Mitzvos." The author demon inner organic unity between the Written and the Oral strates that this tradition is not-as some modern scho1- Law. ars \Vou1d have it-a mere educational device, or based We have touched on some of the many interesting on numerical symbolism, but grounded in Halachah. points made in this work which covers a wide range of matters in a mere 169 pages. Perhaps as a result of this brevity, a few issues are left unduly vague-such TARYAG as the Sinaitic origin of the taryag concept-or even by A bra ham Hirsch Rabinowitz quite misleading-such as the relationship of Halachic discourse to the Written Law (p. 68). The author Jerusalem, Boys Town Publishers, 1967, $3.75 occasiona1ly advances some highly speculative theories and interpretations (the passage in Zevochim 11 Sb,
Hence the great importance of the concept, and the attention given to it by the Rabbis. ••Leave the Carin.I!, to lis" The mitzvos explicitly ordained by the Torah have, A Superior Hotel in various respects, a legal status distinct from those for Senior Citizens rooted exclusively in the oral tradition or derived from the Torah text by interpretation. The principle that there are six hundred and thirteen such mitzvos, by necessity Jed to the various efforts by the Rambam and others, to determine which of the mitzvos belong MIAMI HOTEL to the 6 J 3. The author analyzes the points of disagree 375 WEST BROADWAY, LONG BEACH ment between the various scholars and provides a Te!. 516 GE 1-5500 tabulation of the 613 according to the different mitzvos Under the personal Management of views. MR. aod MRS. ISAAC WALDMAN Rabbi Rabinowitz also points out how the tarya11 who have many years of experience. tradition entered the liturgy in the form of special Strict Kashrus observed • Friendly, homey atmosphere piyutim, the so-called A zlwros; many of them listed Delicious balanced meals • Special diets upon request the 613 mitzvos grouped under the ten sections of the Telephone in every room • Shu! with Chazan • Entertainment Decalogue, or linked with its ]etters. He suggests that • Elevator servieto • Very reasonable rates.
The Jr'wish Ob.~erver / Dece1nber, 1967 13 major area of Jewish thought-of particular interest to the scholar who will appreciate the extraordinary ,'%c f!&d ,Ya,,,,,( «/l/,(oo//b/' ~14 range of references given in the hundreds of footnotes. an outstanding Beis Chinuch where leading mechanchim entrust their children. THE EAST-WEST CONFLICT co/'r//a/(rr t/tutU.1 cyo1£. /o dt't; by Dr. Rafael Eisenberg New York, 1967,· Diplomatic Press, $4.95 sxk/lt£a/ !!J/z/le/' honoring a true y' rai shoma;iim and This book, subtitled "Psychological Origin and Resolu dedicated lvorker for Torah causes tion," is a study of the conilict between Western indi vidualism and the communist world. It finds the roots uti. fie£ Xe/ of this conflict in the modern identification of happiness and material advancement--capitalism and communism a/ld uti.>. Xe/ arc both fruits of this development, and generate con fiicts that cannot be resolved except by rejection of the quest for material happiness. Dr. Eisenberg argues that no proposal for world peace can succeed unless it is based on the sublimation of man's material strivings by religion-specifically, by the realization of G-d's concern for each individual. The yearning for G-d is inherent in man's psyche, even if temporarily submerged. He points to regular his torical cycles of dependence and independence of G-d, and he sees in our age signs of a revulsion against Reception 6:1' 5 P.M. Dinner 7:00 P.M. n1ateria1isrn and pleasure-seeking which cou]d and should be channelled into a real return to G-d, in order to prevent a world cataclysm. The ideas expressed by the author represent of quoted on p. 48, certainly does not bear out the point course an application of the Torah teachings to which he makes in connection with it). The epithet "zealot,'' he is committed, to the understanding of world history applied to Rabbi Moshe Hagiz, grates on the reader)s in all its facets. It is most remarkable that this work. cars (p. 139), and so do the remarks on the origin expressing the worldview of a Jew in the very fullest of the Zahar (pp. 140-141). sense of the word, should have received the kind of In general, however, this work will prove a very welcome it got from the world at large. Perhaps we valuable and stimulating source of information on a may sec in this a hopeful portent for our future. r--1
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14 The Jewish Observer / December, 1967 second looks at the jewish scene
ously broken down in the past. In The World Conference the present instance, given the mix tnre of ideologies of the Conference A WORLD CONFERENCE of Orthodox been vigorously opposed by leaders participants, and the refusal of the synagogues would appear to be a of the Torah Yishuv, including Conference to heed the warnings most worthwhile endeavor- cer Rabbi Yechezkel Abram sky, former of the outstanding Torah leaders Jn tainly beyond any reproach. Yet, head of the London Beth Din, America and Israel, the fears of the the forthcoming World Conference Rabbi Elazar Shach, the Ponevehzer possible outcome of such a con of Orthodox Synagogues to be held Rosh Yeshiva, and the famed Stip ference arc all the more aggravated. in Jerusalem has become the focal eler Rav, Rabbi Yaakov Kanivsky. point of the latest manifestation of Opponents of the Conference in THERE IS ALSO great concern about an ideological split in American America point out that UOJCA has the impact of the Conference on Orthodoxy. among its constituents, congrega the Israeli scene. The confusion of The Conference is being spear tions which by the Onion's own boundaries in American Orthodoxy headed in this country by the Onion standards are far from Orthodoxy. -the 'Orthodox' shul which is in of Orthodox Jewish Congregations On the European scene, many of distinguishable from the Conserva of America. The National Council the participating congregations and tive . . . the 'Orthodox' rabbi in a of Young Israel, with over a hun their rabbis are manifestly un-Or Conservative congregation ... and dred OrtJ1odox congregations in thodox; and authentic rabbinic lcad the "three-branch" mentalitv which America, is a1so participating, but ,ers : of these communities whose places Orthodoxy on an eq~al foot over the objection of some of its Orthodoxy and scholarship is firmly ing with non-Orthodoxy-all these rabbis. A meeting of the Young established-including the London arc unkown in Israel, where what Israel Council of Rabbis called tb Beth Din-have refused to support ever the magnitude of the religious discuss the Conference-after the or participate in the Conference. problems, there is only one kind of lay leadership had already endorsed The pitfalls inherent in any Ortho Orthodox shul. To introduce these it-found the rabbis sharply divided dox, world association were enun <\mbiguitics and co1npromiscs into and ended in a deadlock. ciated by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grod Israeli life is a disservice to all of Orthodoxy in Israel and could set The Conference has been public zensky, 'i"lT in reaction to demands ly criticized by the Agudas Harab for the creation of a world rabbinic off a chain-reaction of unpredict bonim, the Onion of Orthodox body. More recently the famed able proportions. (Cont. on p. 18) Rabbis, in a statement signed by Brisker Rav, '":\Ti expressed similar presidium-member Rabbi Moshe opposition to any world religious Feinstein. center which could be construed to Young Israel of be ·a central religious authority. ON THE SURF ACE, the Conference They feared that such a body would Staten Island seems innocent enough. It was be :.prone to enter into sensitive invites you to locate in a planned as a demonstration of the areas of Ha1acha, undermining the dynamic new Orthodox community. renewed strength of Orthodoxy leadership of Gedolei Torah, and Choice of 1 & 2 family homes - throughout the world, and its goal creating irreparable divisions among 5 minllltes from Bridge, near is to bring about closer relationsips Jews committed to Torah. While new Young Israel and Orthodox between Orthodox synagogues, par sponsors of the Conference have yeshiva. For information call: ticularly between Ashkenazic and agr¢cd to avoid any discussion of Herb Moscot at 273·8423 Sephardic groups. ha!achic questions, such distinctions Avery Gross at 273-9852 Jn Israel, the Conference has are , unworkable and have notori-
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The }(-wish Obsen'er I Decen1ber, 1967 17 World Conference sition of the foremost Torah author Yeshiva world in the Holy Land ities in the world. and the United States. (Continued from page 15) • A world conference of Ortho Leaders of the Agudas Harabbo The proponents and the oppo dox congregations will take place nim have urged, at the very least, nents of the World Conference of With the conspicuous absence of postponment of the Conference, so Orthodox Synagogues will debate rabbinic leaders who represent the that its structure and implications the issues at the heart of the matter hard-core of the surviving Orthodox can he better explored outside the for months to come, but out of the communities on the European con public arena. The absence of Torah smoke that beclouds all such dis tinent. leadership from this Conference, for putes certain facts emerge in clear whatever reasons, makes it hardly outline: • A world conference of Ortho an opportunity to do very much • A world conference of Ortho doxy will convene with the absence for the future of Kial Yisroel. doxy will convene against the oppo- of the acknowledged leaders of the
serving all elements of ... Jewry." J TA. - A Golden Anniversary The journalistic inadequacies of .JTA during Smolar's tenure have A large manufacturer of candy was their sales went up. Some time ago been summed up in a study, The once enjoined by the federal gov we bought a pair of shoe-laces made Religious Press in America (Holt, ernment from using dextrose-a of nylon in the hope that they would Rinehart & Winston, New York, cheap form of sugar-unless they never break. The wrapper read 1963) in these words: indicated its use on the candy wrap WILL NOT UNTIE. The laces never per. T·he company wasn't fazed; broke, but we had to throw them It is almost impossible to they emblazened their wrapper with away-they wouldn't stay tied. This secure a comprehensive ac the words: CONTAINS DEXTROSE; advertising technique of anticipating count of news-worthy Jewish made the words their new s1ogan a weakness in the product by mak religious events. There is no in a large advertising ca1npaign, and ing a big thing of it or by saying English-Jewish daily newspa it isn't so, often manifests itself in per either secu]ar or religious. other areas of American life. (In The major Jewish news agen cidentally, it is interesting to note cy, the Jewish Telegraphic that in American life specific types Agency, provides both the de of anti-social behavior are called nominational and the a-de by different names on different le nominational press with news vels. What is a "technique" on one and feature articles. Despite a level, or "persuasion" on another, career dating back to 1919, one of is on a lower level simply a "lie.") however, it is woefully ineffi AMERICA'S LEADING cient with regard to news of All this comes to mind as the CAMERA STORES Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which Jewish religious institutions. Wall Street supplies news to virtually every But, inadequacy is a relative term Jewish newspaper in Atncrica, is -innacuracies are more easily Camera Exchange celebrating its golden anniversary. pinned down. Mr. Smolar writes Retiring editor :Boris Smolar, rem and this goes to the heart of the 120 Wall Street iniscing about his forty-five years New York, N. Y. matter-that other news agencies with JTA. recalls that attempts were failed because they were not im Telephone: WH 4-0001 made to create other news agencie~. partial as the .JTA. He lists among Complete Line of but only .TTA survived. Why didn't those who were partial a Jewish Cameras, Projectors the efforts of the Jewish Agency and news agency sponsored by the Jew and Photo Supplies the World Jewish Congress to es ish Agency, leading the reader to tablish a world-wide Jewish news Closed Saturday believe that JTA itself never was agency succecd?-"Because of the burdened by such a relationship. Open Sunday - 10-2:30 partiality they showed in their news Wholesale Retail -and they could not do otherlvise On May 23, 1963 an official of Mail Order -they only strengthened the JTA the Jewish Agency testified before position as an hnpartial news agency a committee of the United States
18 The Jewish Observer / December, 1967 Senate. The following i5,,(ln ·e.xtract• today, which JTA in the past seems about Jewish sanctity? Who is Smol from the official tranfi<)fipt. to have been not quite aware of. ar to dare to speak so vilely, and to POST SCRIPT Mr. Smolar has poison the minds of innocent Jews THE CHAIRMAN. '. c'. himself written a post script to his who are exposed to viciousness un Mr. Hammer, are you acquainted absurd claim of impartiality. In a der the guise of journalism? And with an organiwtion known .. ~s the column reporting on his "Impres what of the Orthodox "uncle-toms" Jewish Telegraphic Agency; Inc. sions of Old Jerusalem" he writes: who grace the board of directors of (JTA)? ... Of the Temple itself nothing was JTA-where arc their protests? And MR. HAMMER. Yes sir. left, except the ground where it stood. where is the integrity of the Jewish These grounds are on a mountain known establishment which gathered at a THE CHAIRMAN. Prior to March as "Har Habais" (The Mountain of the luncheon honoring JTA's anniver 13, !960, what was the relationship Temple) and to reach them one has to sary, and hailed the agency as the of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc. climb stone stairs from the Wailing Wall. "eyes and ears of the Jewish world," to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency? Orthodox Jews stand at the stairs, which start from the Wailing Wall, and warn and honored Smolar for his "de Mil. HAMMER. The Jewish Agen voted and dedicated service?" D cy for Israel, Inc. held the voting JN A RARE INSTANCE of criti shares of the Jewish Telegraphic cism of JTA in an 'Anglo-Jew Agency. ish' newspaper, Philip Hoch And in addition - stein H'l'ites in 1'he Jewish THE CHAIRMAN. Was the Jewish Weck (Nov. 9, '67): Telegraphic Agency a corporation? .The JTA .•. is co111pelled MR. HAMMER. The Jewish Tele by circu1nstances that the Es graphic Agency is a corporation. tablishn1ent has not seen fit to correct to function prilnarily THE CHAIRMAN. Did you own all KOSHER for the purpose of serving and of the stock? satisfying those lilnited thou -but strictly! MR. HAMMER. With the excep sands of people who control tion of a few shares, I believe we the purse strings of contribut held all of the voting shares. ing organiz.ations fthose 11'/zo THE CHA!RMAN. But you did, support .JTA-ed.] in the cities through the Telgraphic News Agen of the nation. cy. of course, control the Jewish The millions who should be Telegraphic Agency? You had all helped to beco1ne 1Vell-in the stock of the Jewish News Agen for1ned Jews are not served, cy? except as an after-thought. MR. HAMf\1ER. Yes sir; we had the voting shares, we owned the you not to cli1nh then1. "It is forbidden Agency, that is right. to ascend." they tell you. 'fhey are being hrushed aside by people who know better THE CHAIRMAN. And it in turn and by Israelis who guide touris!s. owned the voting shares of the Jew There is no regulation forbidding to Cleaned, Fresh·Eviscerated ish Telegraphic Agency? go up to the 1nountain \vhere the Te1nple Soaked & Salted stood, hut religious Jews believe that no MR. HA1\1MER. Yes sir. Jew should stand on the soil of this holv READY-TO-COOK And Mr. Smolar would like the place before the Messiah conies. An~i ze:ilots try to in1pose 1his religious prohi Fresh and Fresh-Frozen hundreds of thousands of readers bition on any Jew seeking his way to Supervised and endorsed by The of Jewish newspapers which carry the 1nountnin .... Union of Orthodox Jewish Congre his column to believe that his agen But there is much more in his words @ gations of America. Inspected for cy, unlike others, is totally unbiased than partiality-he betrays a hostil wholesomeness by the U.S. Dept. because it has never been beholden ity to Orthodox Jews of such in Agriculture. to anyone. tensity that he has evidently lost any SOLD COAST-TO-COAST Hope springs eterna11y from the semblance of sensitivity to all things Jewish heart. Perhaps Mr. Smolar's sacred. Every rabbinic authority in The Most Trusted Name successor may achieve a greater cluding the Chief Rabbinate of Isra in Kosher Poultry measure of objectivity, and be more el, has pleaded with Jews not to go willing to recognize the existence up to the Har Habayis. Who are Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc., Mifflintown, Pa. 17059 of a vibrant Orthodoxy in America those people who "know better"
The Jewish Ob3ervpr / Dece1nber, 1967 19 edge of their tradition is our an "Shuckling With McLuhan" guish. But, hundreds of thousands of such Jews are fed a constant diet When we read about Orthodox Jews The Summer/1967 issue of Jew of illiteracy and nonsense which in newspapers and periodicals, even ish Heritage (published by B'nai leads to a spiritual malnutrition that the Jewish ones, we often feel a B'rith) contains an article called can destroy them. If our words will little like an aborigine might feel "Shuckling With McLuhan" by a reach even a small number of these reading about himself-if he could spiritual leader from Massachussetts Jews, and make them question the read-in a textbook on anthropol who has dicsovered "the custom of literacy of their spiritual leaders, ogy. The mood of such articles is swaying the body during study or perhaps they will be willing to send often aloof; the writer seems to be prayer (known to most Jews by its their children to a yeshivah or a saying, "Isn't this all very quaint, Yiddish term, 'shuckling') . . . the day school, and the spiraling illiter and wouldn't it be fun to study these most immediately visible character acy may be checked. people in their natural habitat." istic of these activities." Although Our writer, however, takes an With the new interest of the gen he notes that non-Jews who visit interesting turn on the question of tile in the Jew, and the concurrent a synagogue find shuckling fascinat shuckling and his article becomes interest of non-Orthodox Jews in ing, he admits that "untraditional an even more valuable prototype. their Orthodox brothers-"if goyim Jews usually find it upsetting ... He makes a startling prediction: are interested in Jews, then we they prefer a form of worship more "instead of disappearing, the cus should be interested in religious restrained and decorous. The cus tom of 'shuckling' will become more Jews"-there has been a toning tom has been in decline." common in the synagogue a decade down of the anthropological ap from now than it was ten years proach. The new mood seems to MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID: "It ain't ago." Has he discovered the Or be, "Say, maybe these primitives the things people don't know that's thodox renaissance; has he heard have something; after all, didn't we a problem-it's the things they do about the blossoming of yeshivas develop penicilin from bread mold." know, that ain't so." We could not across the country; perhaps he has possibly react to the dozens of ar discovered the world of Chassidus, ticles that appear in Jewish period albeit through Buber, or Norman r 1 icals written by people who "know" Mailer in Comlnentary? But ... let Yours for things "that ain't so," but we have him answer for himself: singled out "Shuckling with Mc The authority for this predic the asking Luhan" as a prototype which sheds tion lies not with any Jewish light on the species as a whole, and scholar, but rather with the Delicious GLATT KOSHER Break is therefore worth exan1ining more famed professor of the Uni fast, Lunch, Dinner served to you closely. versity of Toronto, Marshall by most Airlines at no extra cost. Now the writer says that shuckl McLuhan . .. When arranging for your next air ing is on the decline; if he means A word is here in order about the trip be sure, request "Schreiber Kosher Air Meals." Available in in Reform temples, it's not on the phenomen so inadequately called over 50 cities. decline-it just isn't there. If he "Marshall McLuhan."* McLuhan 1neans among Orthodox Jews, we is an authority in the field of mass Prepared under Rabbinical super· 1:7\U hadn't noticed any decline. We often communications who has some star vision of the Union of Orthodox: ~ Jewish Congregations. U, S. Govern· differentiate between non-Orthodox tling things to say about electronic ment Inspected. ---"".:...__..,.._.....__ ....,...,_ Jews who are so easily misled media. He believes that the medium they may often be classified as koton of communication is more signif sh'nishba, a child captured and icant than its content; as he puts it, raised by non-Jews who is not held "the medium is the message." When responsible for his non-observance man relied on the printed word for -and the spiritua] leaders who mis communication. the orderly nature lead them. But there is a new spe of the lines of type caused his think cies of spiritual leaders who are so ing to foJlow an orderly, linear pat far removed from the mainsprings tern. The electronic media, notably of Jewish learning as to qualify television which involves communi themselves as koton sh'nishba. We cation on various levels at the same do not say this critically; we say it time, have radically altered the painfully. These are our brothers; thought patterns of electronic man. the anguish which their souls must The non-traditional Jew, our writer suffer, being cut off from the know!- tells us, who stands erect as he
20 The Jewish Observer / Dt~cember, 1967 prays, is 'linear'-like lines of type. Insert PRAYER FOR TRAVEL ON SU In a world that has gone mad The traditional Jew who freely PER-SONIC AIRCRAFT." But, there is where a diplomatic crisis of the stands, sits, sways and moves, is a more practical solution to the smallest proportions conjures up more like electronic man. And so problem of staying "modern"-a fear of the mushroom cloud, our he concludes: return to the traditional siddur and non-traditional brothers still crave the traditional mode of Jewish wor to be modern and take solace in the the "traditional" form of Jew ship which binds Jews together not thought that the Jew who shuckles ish service is actually 1nore only geographically, but in eternity is really more modern than some contemporary in .feeling and as well. Does the author of "Shuckl one who prays while standing per form than the "modern" serv ing with McLuhan" really think that fectly still. Isn't it time that we ice found in many Reform and Jews, for example in the staid con purge the word 'modem' from the Conservative or modern Or fines of Temple Emanuel, will soon lexicon of Jewish life, and replace thodox synagogues! be shuckling to the sonorous tones it with the word "eternity" embody WE HA VE OFTEN noted the difficul of organ music? ing the concept of Netzach Yisroel. ties our non-traditional brothers find in generating what some have caBed "creative prayer," and their flirta tions with new forms of 'prayer' such as the jazz and 'happening' JI Personal Nole services. Recently, the chairman of Reform Judaism's committee on The average reader is totally has left his mark on every liturgy bemoaned the antiquated unaware of the process of con page of THE OBSERVER. character of their Union Prayer verting a written manuscript Book, which has not been revised into a printed page. This is His willingness to help at for thirty years. He cited, among as it should be; the mechanics any time was an act of per others, a prayer for coal miners sonal kindness to the writer "those who dig far away from the of type-setting and printing are sun," which he says may have been a vehicle for transmitting ideas of these words, but everyone relevant in 1940 "but is meaning from the writer to the reader, who has ever read our mag less today," and he proposes that and should not intrude be azine and found it readable, the prayer book be revised or re tween the two. But it is pre easy on the eye, and esthetical placed. But given the rapid changes ly pleasing, is in his debt. taking place in our age of technol cisely this ability to use type ogy a in such a subtle manner that new edition of the Union THERE IS A feeling of utter Prayer Book will be obsolete before is an art-specifically, it is the futility in the awareness that it comes off the press. art of typography. Perhaps this problem could be someone who was cJose in 1ife licked by using the technique of When confronted with the is no longer among us. You stock-market-report publishers who need to use this art, it was my want to pick up the phone and distribute to their subscribers a very good fortune to be able call; to get on the subway to loose-leaf binder so that it can be to turn to a dear friend \vho sec him about a particularly quickly added to and brought up to date. New prayers could be issued was a master of this art, for vexing problem. The futility is with instructions like: "Rcn1ovc instruction, for !:,tuidance, and compounded witb the aware page 53, PRAYER FOR JET-TRAVEL. for inspiration. For the past ness that a debt remains un six years I have had the ben paid. Perhaps in such a case, We are not here quarreling with efit of the teaching and the all that is left is to record the McLuhan. Jn his Undt'rstandiny Media, (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1964). and friendship of Arnold Shaw, a debt-to let it be known how McLuhan / Hot & Cool (The Dial truly human and artistic sou] great it is. And to record our Press, New York, 1967)-a critical sym posiurn in which he participates-Mc -until, on the last day of debt to Arnold Shaw in the Luhan offers many insights into the im- Succos he was struck by a medium that he had mas plications of the new electronic media. Orthodox Jews will have to confront the heart attack, and left this life. tered he would perhaps have influences of these media on traditional Apart from all else that he deemed to be payment in beliefs and McLuhan, one of the first scholars to "probe' these media, may leaves behind, Arnold Shaw kind. Y. J. have much to offer, in nleeting these new challenges to Torah.
The Jewish Ob.~'erver / Decen1ber, 1967 2! Malka . , . parlor meetings for ye "Wiry doesn't someone tell me?)) shivas . . , banquets he had to attend. HE WAS TIRED. The day had not the ordinary-the regular routine of During the afternoon. his wife been unusual; just an ordinary day a busy office that required his total called to remind him that they were in the life of Israel Goodman. It concentration and demanded deci supposed to look at a new sofa started in the early hours of the sive solutions. they badly needed on their way to morning with a dash to make the IT WAS AT lunch that he recalled see a sick aunt they hadn't visited .first minyan, a hurried cup of coffee his promise to study his Mishnayos since she was taken to the hospital. at home and the race to catch the with Chaim and to help Malke express to Manhattan. with her report on the significance It was snowing as he left the On the way to the station, where of Hachnosas Ohrchim. 'Tve really office to fight for the privilege of he would shove and be shoved be neglected them," he thought. "How being crammed into a standing fore finally getting squeezed into many evenings a week should I room-only train that would bring the crushed, rush-hour train, he re spend with them," he asked himself him home after an hour and eight membered there was to be an im as he thought of the regular evening minutes of near suf-focation. portant meeting that night at the shiur that he had been attending He was tired though the day had local yeshiva. They called and told less and less frequently. His excuses not been so unusual. Trudging slow that his presence was urgent . . . were not only good, they were noble ly home in the sleet and slush, he jt would be a brief meeting ... it -he tried to convince himself. thought to himself, "What should would start on time . . . it would There was an emergency at the I do tonight ... tomorrow night ... end no later than 10:30 P.M. Re girls' school . . . a crisis in the the next night. Where does my re luctantly-he had agreed to come. community youth program . . . sponsibility to Kial begin and where There were many problems Israel problems with the mikvah ... pre does it end?" "Why doesn't some faced in the office. _Nothing out of parations for the annual Mclavc one tell n1e?" AVRAHAM DAVIS
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22 The Je1vish Observer / Decen1bcr, 1967 provides for better understanding of the Conservative "Overalls" holiday by non-Jewish neighbors ..• A holiday project of the United Syna gogue Department of Education (Con During the Depression-so the sto ment never quite managed to shake servative*) encourages each child attend ry goes-a clothing dealer rented a off the ambivalence of their Reform ing a Conservative religious school to store on Stanton Street, located be big-brothers. Sklare documents this acquire his own "Julov" and "etrog" ... tween two other clothing stores that ambivalence in a chapter on "The The ceremonial objects are being used across the continent for educational as were themselves having a hard time. Question of Ideology" which any well as ritual purposes. When a friend asked him how he one who wants to discuss Conserva expected to make a living in his tism intelligently must read and The release then describes the new store, he proudly pointed to a ponder. Sklare documents the most celebration of Sim ch as Torah and large sign he had hung over his scathing criticisms of Conservatism concludes, "Children find particular door-MAIN ENTRANCE. Conserva emanating from within their own joy [in Simchas Torah] since they, tive Judaism, located somewhere ranks. Robert Gordis, for example, too, have an opportunity to partic between Orthodoxy and Reform, is a leading ideologist, wrote in the ipate in the celebration of the holi more and more anxious to bring the first issue of Conservative Judaism: day." uncommitted Jew under their 'wing' But, the all-inclusiveness-read by presenting Conservatism as the Our failure to evolve a phi losophy bas led to several "unclarity"-of Conservatism, is MAIN ENTRANCE to Judaism. unhappy consequences. Con not being confined to these shores; There's nothing new about this, servative Judaism has been in a neat little package it is being of course. Conservatism came into accused of seeking to straddle merchandised for the Israel market. its own in this country after 1901, the issues by making a prin And if we would believe their PR when the Jewish Theological Sem ciple of unclarity ... Char man, Conservatism has received a inary was reorganized by a group of acteristically, when the Na new impetus in Israel since the Six philanthropic German-Jewish bank tional Academy for Adult Jew Day War. How?-it's very simple. ers, merchants, and attorneys. The ish Studies wished to publish Read all about it in a release dated Seminary had floundered since its a n1anua1 on Conservative Ju September 3, 1967-the beading creation in 1866. Its purpose was daism, it could only issue a now reads NEWS-the words OF to counteract the growing influence coUection of papers concern CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM have been of the Hebrew Union College, the jng which it confesses that dropped. "Members of the Israeli Reform seminary which opened its "the points of view expressed doors in 1875. are often at variance with One "' Their parentheses-ed. another." Marshall Sklarc in his classic work, Conservative ludais111, points Gordis puts it quite well-Con out that the group of men who servatism has made a "princip1e of . 0 0 . poured money into the Seminary in unclarity," and there is an apparent J 90 I, were themselves not inter campaign emanating from the pub ested even in the traditionalism of lic-relations mill at 3080 Broadway the Seminary. But they were worried to capitalize on their unclarity and UHITED about the masses of Russian Jewish convince American Jewry that theirs immigrants, who they knew would i' the MAIN ENTRANCE to the em reject Reform, and they feared they poriun1 which is Judaism-"you Chevra Kadisha would build congregations that na1ne it-we've ROt it." We first D'chasidim • Har Hamnuchot 1night become, in the words of H. noted this new campaign in a news Founded 1856 P. Mendes at a, convention in 1898, release issued before Succos, headed BURIAL IN JERUSALEM "the shame of American Judaism." NEWS OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM. AND ALL CEMETERIES IN ISRAEL Sklare writes, "The philanthropists New York, N. Y. - The Jewish Fes recognized that Reform had little tival of "fhanksgiving, Sukkot, known as 1maal1n sakobesh appeal to the immigrants. They felt the Feast of Booths, will begin at sun that a modified Orthodoxy, stripped down Wednesday, October 18, and will society of ghetto characteristics, would be be observed by Orthodox and Conserva 44 CANAL ST. tive Jews for nine days, and by Reform the type of Judaism most suit Jews for eight days ... NEW YORK CITY 10002 able ..." for the poor cousins from Nr. E. Broadway Sta. "D" '!'rain Eastern Europe. While Conserva A recent trend throughout the country has been the building of family home Day & Nite Phone tism eventually developed support "sukkot," bringing the holiday back into WA 5-2277 from its own adherents, the move- the home ... The home "sukkah" also
The Jewish ObsPrver I Dece1nber, 1967 23 Anny, including Defense Minister, elis from all walks of life . . . are ism would be teaching together at Moshe Dayan, have expressed the asking me to explain the Conserva an American Jewish seminary," and belief that 'an aura of mysticism, tive point of view ..." With this he called it "an effort to prevent a the supernatural perhaps, or God whirlwind of excitement about Con new sectarianism within Judaism." guided them during the War."' What servatism, Mr. Rapaport wants a Dr. Michael Wyschograd, the has this to do with Conservatism? "stepped-up program to send Con "Orthodox rabbi" of the teaching "These views, representing both re 'Servative personnel to meet with the team, is a philosophy professor at ligious and secular clements of the Israeli people on the grass-roots City College, and is not a member Israeli army, were related to Henry level." But, he cautiously adds, of any Orthodox rabbinic body. He N. Rapaport, Scardsdale, N. Y., "This does not mean any acceptance is a self-designated spokesman for president of the United Synagogue of American Conservative Judaism; of America, during his recent visit on the contrary. Israelis will eventu Orthodoxy. (The public relations office of the Seminary informs us to Israel." ally develop their own interpretation that they made no claim that Dr. The director of the Seminary's in the same way that South A mer ican Conservative Judaism differs Wyschograd is a rabbi, but neither branch in Israel nails down the the Seminary nor The Times made from North A1nerican Conservative Conservative angle on the story by any effort to correct the error.) reporting that since the War "Isra- Judaism." They're just selling "un clarity"-Israelis can do whatever When the Rabbinical Council last year withdrew from the controver they want with it sial "Boston dialogue," leaving them (A report in The New York without an Orthodox spokesman, NewFeltlbeimPublications Times of the recent Conservative Wyschograd mounted his charger A HEDGE OF ROSES by Rabbi Normrn Convention referred to "the World and rode to Boston to fill the gap. Lamm. This best-seUing book was out of Council of Synagogues, a Conser He explains his participation in the print and has just been re-published in a new revised second edition. An intel vative Judaism over-an organiza Seminary course in this way: ligent. and lucid inte_rpretation of Taha tion . . . "-if it's not MAIN EN rath Hamishpachah I_ Family Purity). TRANCE, it's overalls.) From an Orthodox point of $1.95 view both Reform Jews and AHAVATH CHESED (Kindness a$ Re· The newest project of Conserva Conservative Jews are in re quired by G-d) by the Chafetz Chaim, tism's "overall i, program is a course bellion against the faith, so zt'l. Translated into English for the first time by Rabbi Leonard Oschry. ____ ...... $4.75 at the Seminary for rabbinical stu this course is bound to arouse TARYA(; bv Abraham Hirsch Rabinow dents to be taught by "Orthodox, a certain amount of opposi itz. A study. of the origin and hfatorical Conservative and Reform rabbis." tion. But I think a new gener developnient from the earliest times to In a New York Times report, ation of Orthodox Jews now the present day, of the tradition that the written Torah contains six-hundred and Dr. Louis Finkelstein notes that feels secure enough to respect thirteen ~Iitzvos...... $3.i5 it is "the first time that representa and co-operate with the other JEWISH CHRONONOMY. The Calen 24 The ]e}rish Observer / Decen1ber, 1967 Wyschograd has often manifested Conservatives?" The attempt of lines which separate belief from an ability to becloud issues which Conservatism to mislead the Amer non-belief. It makes use of the pow is unseemly for a philosopher. He incan Jew is itself an attack on erful media of the press to implant raises the spectre of insecurity, Orthodoxy; it is an attack against the idea that the differences between shoots it down, and q.e.d.-wc must Torah and traditional belief; it is the branches are due to-these are now respect and co-operate with a planned program of confusing the the words of the Reform member the other "traditions." But there are hundreds of Orthodox rabbis with much more scholarship than Wysch ograd, and that much more security, From the Crown of Torah Publication Society of America who would not do what he has done-but that's really not the Dear Chaim: Judaism in the Space Age point. The Seminary is prepared to Nineteen Letters of Torah Dialogue 'ordain' Wyschograd-that sort of defeats the purpose-and accept by RABBI DAVID EIDENSOHN him as an Orthodox spokesman, $1.20 (Half rate for students) just to pump a little more neon into their MAIN ENTRANCE sign. NEW EDITION of Dear Robert: A Jewish College Student Seeks the Great Truths from a Talmudist, by RABBI DAVID EIDENSOHN Now, DEAR READER, let us reason together. We can hear some of you 60(' (Half rate for students) saying with a trace of anger: "You fellows at it again; got nothing bet WRITE TO: 2201 Clover Drive, Cinnaminson, N. J. 08077 ter to write about than attacking the Orthodox Jewry takes a major step forward You are cordially invited to attend by establishing the very first and only Groundbreaking Ceremonies for the Jewish Children's Home & Family Service OHEL CHILDREN'S HOME under Torah leadership Sunday Jan. 14 (13 Teves) at 2:00 P.M. Every Jew must help in this great mitzvah Chairman: Mr. Mechel Rabinowicz at the Beth Jacob of Boro Park, 1371 46th Street, Brooklyn Guest Speaker: RABBI PINCHAS M. TEITZ Musical Rendition: by CANTOR DAVID WERDYGER the world-renowned cantor & composer - cantor of Talmud Torah of Flatbush THERE WILL BE NO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS. BOARD OF GOVERNORS: Harav Hagoan Moshe Feinstein, Harav Hagoan Yaakov Kaniinetsky, Harav Hagoan Shmuel Ehrenfeld (Matesdorfer Rav), DEAN: Harav Reuvain Feinstein, STAFF PSYCHOLOQJS"f: Rabbi Moshe I. Selengut, M.A., PRESIDENT: Mechel Rabinowicz, VICE PRESIDENTS: Leo Gartenberg, Kieve Stubenhaus, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY: Mrs. Bathsheva Mandel, TREASURER: Bernard Tepper, PRESIDENT LADIES AUXILIARY: ll1rs. Rose Stub-enhaus, ('HAIRMAN OF BUILDING COMMrrTEE: Stanley Mitchel, LEGAI. ADVISOR: Leonard J. Fasskr (of Buchner & Fassler), ARCHITECTS: Paul Feld111an & George Mandelbaum. A II work for the oHEL CHILDRI!N's HOME is done by volunteers. The .lr:H1ish Observer / Deceniber, 1967 25 of the Seminary's teaching team-a not reach anywhere near the num their efforts to make their own "un lack of "tolerance" that is "fanat ber of Jews who read-and believe clarity" the hall-mark of all Jews, ical'' and "tyrannical." A similar -The New York Times. and take down the MAIN ENTRANCE program of subterfuge embarked on If Conservative Judaism wants to sign, we pledge a moratorium on by, let us say the White House, compete in the market-place of criticism. Until then, to remain si would have loyal Americans up in ideas, it is their right as Americans lent would be a betrayal of our arms shouting "news management." to do so. But we challenge their beliefs as Jews, and a failure to We cannot allow their attack to go right to deceive American Jewry. meet our responsibilities to our unanswered, even though we wilJ When they stop trying to disguise readers. D miraculous victories, Louis Kaplan A Jewish Educator? was addressing a rnlly of Jewish teenagers, for support of the Israel THERE IS NO AREA of Jewish life perts' in Jewish education. Emergency Drive. Pointing to a sign which will escape the refining influ Louis Kaplan is President of the on the wall of the auditorium which ence of Israel's latest battle for sur Board of Jewish Education and the read: "Not by might, nor by power, vival. The weakness, the mediocrity Baltimore Hebrew College in that but by my spirit saith the Lord," of 'Jewish education' has been obvi city. His approach to 'Jewish educa [Kaplan] "shouted 'Israel would be ous to even its own exponents. We tion' is fairly well-known, but it in one hell of a place if it weren't have often noted criticism of the took the war in Israel to bring forth for power!' " (Reported in the non-sectarian Hebrew School and from his own lips the severest indict Baltimore Jewish Times. June 16). hoards of education coming from ment of his right to control the Jewry is in "one hell of a place" non-Orthodox and even secular destiny of Jewish children. having entrusted the sacred task of sources. We have questioned the While Jews throughout the world traininf.{ Je1vish n1inds to such as credentials of many so-called 'ex- were basking in the light of Israel's Louis Kaplan. D had indeed been delivered. Before the Chulent Needless to say, this create 26 The Jewish Observer / December, 1967 Jcwry in one generation and the sec ularization of Jews. whose desire to in Letters to the Editor tegrate was thwarted, and who chose national secularist Zionism as a desper ate n10ve to maintain their se1f~respect. These Jews had all been raised in the sh1etl-in the isolationist environment, and had rebeUed at the first opportunity SOME KEY Cj)UESTIONS ••• WHAT IS THE AUTHENTIC JEWISH AP all the 47 years of his life worth living PROACH TO DATING AND MARRIAGE? Wants Helpful Articles in retrospect-that the 130 "poor" years 0 IS JEWISH "MORALITY" THE SAME had suddenly assumed a ne~' perspective. AS NON.JEWISH? 0 WHAT IS THE When he blessed Joseph's children HIGHER PURPOSE AND MEANING OF To the Editor: "through you will Israel bless; may G-d HUMAN SEXUALITY? 0 WHAT IS THE ... Wouldn't we all benefit more if make you as Ephraim and Manasseh," JEWISH ANSWER TO THE "NEW MO we had articles of a helpful nature rather he presumably set up Joseph's children than of a tear-them-apart type? as examples to teach us for all times RALITY"? 0 WHY MUST A NEW WORD, I'd like to know how, as a middle class how to cope with the "golden eras of "TSNIUS", FIND ITS WAY INTO OUR earner, I'm expected to pay $4,000 a year Spanish exile," how to assimilate and VOCABULARY? 0 retain our identity. to educate my kids in Torah. Couldn't ~-AANY YOUNG PEOPLE know how to your editors and contributors deal with l am familiar with the famous comen behave ''instinctively''-or because parents this and sim·ilar problems? Resolution of tary of the founder of the T orah-im these matters is really of more concern, dercch-eretz shittah, Rabbi S. R. Jlirsch, have set a good "example". But will they at least to this reader, than is all that that Isaac stayed among the Philistines be able io defend these standards when stuff about SCA. etc. only as long as antisemitisn1 manifested they are challenged by the new professors MANFRED J, SCHMIDT itself through the dispute over the own of "situationfll ethics", "the new morality" Washington, D.C. ership of the wells, but that as soon as or the "hippie',' "beatnik", or "playboy" the Philistines acquiesced at Rehoboth crowd? he felt the new cli1nale was too danger ous for him to raise his children in, NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN CLEAR, J ervish Survival and he moved on to Beersheba, Notwith LUCID LANGUAGE - ~tandine the above, no one will accus~ To the Editvr: Rabhi l-Jirsch of preaching the "isola tionist" approach. A Mordecai at the THE ROAD TO RESPONSIBLE I find it difficult to encapsule my com court of Ahasvcrus or a Nehemia at ments on Prof. Weinberg's article The the court of Cyrus certainly did not Challenue of Jewish Survival (Nov. hurt Jewish causes and had they not JEWISH ADULTHOOD 1967) .... been engaged in a measure of partic I wish to address myself to the main ipation in-at least the political life of points Prof. Weinberg n1akes, namely: the host country if not its cultural life JEWISH INSIGHTS INTO l) the Spanish Jew did not assimilate to such benefit would not have accrued to DATING AND MARRIAGE his milieu and keep his identity; proof: us. The comparison of Spain and Poland he turned Marrano at the cruciril mo is not valid as Jews in Poland were BY PINCHAS STOLPER ment. 2) "only" the isolationist ·with all admitted to provide skills not possessed published by his limitations survived. by the host country. Polish Jews there In drawing historical parallels to doc fore had nothing to gain by cultural. in National Conference of Synagogue Youth / ument his case, Prof. Weinberg is highly terchange with the host na1ion. The NCSY / Youth Division I UOJCA selective. What exactly does Avram's amazing aspect of Spanish Jewry's his soft cover edition $1.25 / $1.00-5 or more stay in Egypt prove regarding our own tory is, that after over five centuries relationship to host countries that we of meeting the challenge of intergration make our home in? When Jacob spent offered them, there was still the need to NCSY PUBLICATIONS the last l 7 years of his life in Egypl, force them out, that five hundred years 84 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10011 the Torah states "he lived in Egypt"- of freedom· had not produced wholesale not in Goshen where he had established sc/11nad, wholesale defection. Con1pare Enclosed is $. for ...... copies of a home base so as not to lose his iden this with the latter-day Western Euro THE ROAD TO RESPONSIBLE tity, but in Egypt. No less a comentator pean countries and see the wholesale JEWISH ADULTHOOD than the Ma/binz quoting the Yalkut defection in less than two generations. states that this span of 17 years made Similarly, the ravages visited upon Polish To/Name ...... Be sure to notify us in Address advance so that your copies MOVING? will continue to reach you. State/Zip The Jewish Ohservcr / Decen1ber, 1967 27 when isolation was no longer imposed his error lay in misunderstanding the use upon them from lvithout. Esau made of his talent to move freely Historically, one may summarize our in the world, there was nothing basically attitudes thus: Jacob blessed twelve sons wrong in being an ish sodeh or Isaac HELP WANTED individually, recognizing the dictum of would not have loved Esau for this very Proverbs 22:6, Chanoch lanaar al pi trait of his. We have jobs for all types of darko, "make allowances for the indi In conclusion, statistically speaking it office personnel with salaries vidual differences between children in is probably true that Western European ranging from $70 to $150. Our the way you educate them." By and large Orthodox Jewry has shown at least as we fall into several categories. Some of high a percentage of loyalty to Torah clients are looking for the kind us thrive on difficulties and challenges, ideals as those whose conduct was based of people who read The Jewish others are extroverts by nature. We do on cultural isolationism and who have Observer. See us NOW. not all respond equally to identical often failed to carry their children with challenges. Whe-n the Talmud enumerates them. Open Monday nights - dozens of reasons for the destruction of ELIAS MUNK by appointment only. the Temple, it ascribes part of the guilt Downsview, Ontario to all strata of society; the Rabbis and Canada the laymen each bore their share of the Tradition Personnel guilt. Similarly, the challenge of regain ,.e,.;1.. p'"· • 147 WEST 42nd ST,, N. Y., N. Y. ing the presence of the Schechinah can ... _v Room 1111 Tel. 563-3994 only be met by meeting our former shortcomings on their various levels. If, broadly speaking when on our own Land our people could not resist the Jure of a MEMO foreign culture, then we must overcome thi:l by proving ourselves within a forc To: Program Chairman Auto Service cign environment. Since obviously such a task would be too gigantic to be mas The contributors to the col tered in a short space of time, such 16th AVENUE GARAGE CO. D E>pert challenges will face us step-by-step. Only umns of THE JEWISH OB when we will have learned how to retain Repairs, Free Road Service D Big Discount and deepen our identity in a society that SERVER have demonstrated on Tires D Plaid Stamps with Every Sale permits us to submerge in it, will we their ability to articulate the 1602 - 62nd Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 11204 finally have proven ourselves worthy of D DE 1-0229, BE 2-9513 D GULF GAS redemption. How this is to be achieved positions of Torah Jewry differs, however, according to our indi vidual makeup. Some of us like the on the problems confronting nazir, the nazarite, will voluntarily i1n our people throughout the Real Estate pose upon ourselves a measure of isola tion similar to that of the shtetl-avoid world. ing the pitfalls of contact with t1anah, LOFTS-FACTORIES To Rent or Buy 0 contamination. Others, not out of a These outstanding persona All Arn" D EARL H. SPERO 0 33 West spirit of bravado or exaggerated self lities of Torah life in Amer 42nd Street, New York, N. Y. 10036 D confidence in their ability to withstand BR 9-1539 such tumah will immerse themselves in ica have authorized us to such environment to acquire the choch n1ah, wisdom, which it is permitted to arrange a limited number learn from goyim, and at the same time of lecture engagements for be careful to examine every shred of For wisdom gained through the lenses of them to discuss before inter Service and Savings Torah to see if it is contaminating or ested audiences throughout on your enhancing our Torah personality. Let us General Insurance not force one another into a straight the country matters on Mutual Fund5 jacket of believing that there can be only and one legitimate approach. which they have written in L I F E call When Isaac loved E WRITE TO: 189 Montague Street A week-day Bar Mitzvah, Speakers Bureau Brool:lyn,• N. Y. UL 2-8200 either with or without Krias THE JEWISH OBSERVER Hatorah, can be an inspir List Your Business or Service. ing experience and will 5 Beekman Street New York, N.Y. 10038 Call WO 4-1620 for information avoid Chilul Shabbos. on LOW Annual Rates. 28 The Jewish Observer I Decen1her, 1967 45th Convention of Agudath Israel Calls To Channel Religious Stirrings into Torah Commitment A ca11 to religious Jewry to "channel the new religious stirrings among Jews in the aftermath of Israel's Six Day war into positive Torah commitments" was issued by the 45th National Convention of Agudath Israel of America. One thou sand delegates from 30 cities in the United States and Canada participated in the convention, and the attendance at the Saturday night keynote sessions swe1led to over 2,000 persons, in what turned out to be the largest convention in the history of the American Agudath Israel movement. The president of the executive of the Agudath Israel World Organization, Rabbi Yitzchok Meier Levin, flew from Jerusalem to join in the discussions. The convention was opened on Thurs day afternoon by Rabbi Chaskel Besser, member of the organization's presidium. U'ORLD AGUDAFJ LEADER AT CONVENTION Rabbi Yitzchok Meier Levin tufd,.es.srnR the Shabhos niglit session-a convention highlir:ht. Under the chairmanship of Rabbi Mendel Chodorow, the ~ssion heard greetings fron1 R<'lbbi Moshe Feinstein, chairn1an dath Israel's efforts to obtain government reflected in the reports heard at the of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah (Coun support for non-public schools~ the de Friday morning session, chaired by P. D. ·cil of Torah Sages), who described Agu fense of Shechitah; a youth progran1 hy Schonfeld of Far Rockaway. Rabbi Bo dath lsrael as "a major weapon in the 650 volunteer group leaders; the pub rueh Borchardt, director of the Organiza struggle to preserve authentic Judaism." lication of two monthly magazines ex tion Division and Rabbi Syshe Heschel, Rabbi Nochum M. Perlow (Novominsker pressing 'forah views: The Jewish Ob Director of Youth Activities, presented Rebhe) n1emorialized the Jews and Jew server and J)os Yiddishe Vort; the huge encouraging statistics on the progress of ish communities lost in the Holocaust. summer educational program of Camp the affiliated chapters and moving vig Yitzchok Pinter, presidium-member of Agudah and Camp Bnos; the battle nettes of the manner in which these Pirchei Agudath Israel Leaders Council, against inter-religious dialogues; mobiliz activities affect the lives of thousands in his greeting on behalf of the Agudist ing Orthodox Jews for the physical and of Jews, young and old. The reports on youth organization pledged "disciplined spiritual survival of Israel, and its on out-of-town Agudah branch activities loyalty to the Torah authorities who going struggle for an independent Or were rendered by representatives of the shape the Agudah's policies." thodoxy. delegations from many communities, in· eluding Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chi The keynote address was delivered by l'he Thursday evening session, chaired cago, Montreal, ·roronto, Baltimore, De· Dr. Isaac Lewin, chairman of the An1cr by Rabbi Dov Greenbaum of Spring troit, Cleveland and Boston, ican section of the Agndath Israel World Valley, New York, was the occasion for intensive soul-searching on "relating Organization, who traced the history of Tl-IE SHABBOS SPJRIT With the arrival Agudath Israel since its inception 50 Agudath Israel to the American Jewish mainstream.'' The participants in a sym· of Shabbos, a new spirit of sanctity and years ago as a positive force for Jewish religious fervor pern1eated the entire survival. He also greeted the convention·s posium· on this topic were: Rabbi Gedal ia Anen1er of Washington, D. C., Rabbi convention. At Kabolos Shabbos, the guest from Israel, Rabbi Yitzchok Meier delegates were inspired by the unusual Yitzchok Kerzner of Wilkes Barre, Pa., Levin. Rabbi Levin was greeted with a scene of Jews from so many diverse and Dr. Marvin Schick of New York, thunderous ovation when he rose to backgrounds-chassidic Rebbeinz, Roshei president of COLPA. The panelists briefly greet the convention in behalf of Yeshivos, professionals, businessmen, ye· pointed lo the huge opportunities for the organization's world executive. shiva students, academicians, chassidini reaching into the hearts and minds of America's young Jews who are groping and 111isnaRdi1n-all united through the ACTIVITIES REPORT Agudah movement by their common At this session a for :inswers and being offered the wrong 16-page written report by Rabbi l\1oshe .o.olutions. ''fhey called for a more direct con1mitn1ent to Torah Jaw. The sh'liach Sherer, executive vice-president of Agu relationship between the Torah camp tzibur for Friday night and Shabbos dath Israel of America, was distributed, represented by the Agudah movement morning was the famed Dovid Werdyger. Following Kabolos Shabbos, an inspiring outlining the organization's activities and and the grassroots of America's Jews. accomplishments since its last convention A lengthy discussion ensued into the address was heard from the distinguished Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who called upon two years ago. The report, which was early morning hours. warmly received, covers a broad range Orthodox Jews to improve their own of activities on the American scene and The growth of Agudath Israel's organ· religious standards and concentrate on throughout the world. Included are Agu- izational activities in recent years were self development, together with their The Jewish Observer / December, 1967 29 efforts to lift the religious levels of the flow crowd and became an impressive recently-departed leader and founder of entire Jewish community. Rabbi Fein demonstration for the ~·Torah ideals of the Agudah movement in the United stein also praised the educational work Agudath Israel. Rabbi Sherer asked Or· States, Elimelech G. Tress zichro livro of the Agudist youth movement. thodox Jews "to take a more militant cho. was rendered by Rabbi Yaakov stand in coming to grips with Jewish Goldstein. Rabbi Yehudah Oelbaum, a 1'he Friday night symposium on the issues, so that a distinctive 'forah-orient dynan1ic young Agudah leader, delivered recent historic events in Israel, which ed Jewish voice be clearly heard in every an incisive portrayal of the role of Agu~ was chaired by Rabbi Levi Yitzchok area of communal relations and internal dath Israel on the American scene in Horowitz of Boston, turned into a pro JeVi'ish affairs." The opening speaker, building an independent Orthodoxy. Rab~ vocative analysis of the Six l)ay War Rabbi Moshe Horowitz (Bostoncr Reb hi Shneur Kotler, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth and its spiritual implications for world bc), chairman of the administrative com Medrash Gevoha of Lakewood, was Je\vry. Rabbi Boruch Sorotzkin, the Rosh mittee of Ag:udath Israel, called upon greeted by the assemblage. Yeshiva of the Telshe Yeshiva of Wick all Jews to see the hand of Ci-d in what liffe, ()hio. described the "wondrous transpired in Israel and to draw the The address of the guest speaker, events that saved the Yishuv from immi natural consequences in their own per Rabbi Yitzchok Meier Levin, was in~ nent destruction" as a "challenge to sonal lives. terrupted many times hy applause, when Torah Jews which can be met only by he outlined a series of practicaJ programs constructive activity." Rabbi B. W. Hen A moving memorial tribute to the as a meaningful response to the wave dies, presidium member of the organ ization, warned that the exultation over the recent victories in Israel should not make -rorah Jews lose sight of the peril of national assimilation which threaten Are you a sidewalk superintendent'! Jewish survival as a result of secular Zio:!:ist philosophy. The Shabbos morning d'roshoh was Don't watch from the sidelines ... delivered by Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman, Rosh Yeshiva of the Ner Israel Yeshiva of Baltimore, who was while the battle for Torah rages introduced by Rabbi Shmuel Blum of Baltimore. Rabbi Ruderman projected on all fronts the world over. 1'orah as the centrality of Jewish aspira tions, and urged Torah Jews not to be dazzled by penacea<;; that aggravate in· • The pace-setter for this battle is Agudath Israel, led hy 'Stead of cure Jewish problems. He also urged Yeshiva students to involve them the Torah authorities. selves in the youth movements of Zeirei and Pirchei Agudath Israel. At the Shabbos Seudah, Joseph Fried • YOU can help achieve more gains for Torah by strength enson, editor of Dos Yiddish Vort in troduced Rabbi Jeruchem Gorelick, who ening the voice of Agudath Israel through your personal interpreted the events in the Holy Land identification with independent Orthdoxy. against the backdrop of 2,000 years of Je\vish experience. The distinguished Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaas, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, was the guest • The leading Torah authorities have called upon loyal speaker at the Seudah Shlishis, and on Jews to join Agudath Israel and become part of the behalf of the Agudas Harabonim· he clarified the objection of many prominent struggle for authentic Yiddishkeit. Torah scholars to the World Conference of Orthodox Synagogues scheduled to convene in Jerusalem in January. He was introduced by Dr. Henry Biberfeld, Answer this call now ! president of the Agudath Israel chapter in ~fontreal. I KEYNOTE SESSION The keynote session 1 Agudath Israel of America/ 5 Beekman St., New York 10038 1 of Saturday night, chaired by Rabbi I I hereby apply for membership in Agudath Israel. Enclosed is $10.00 I Moshe Sherer, was attended by an over- 1 : for the n•tional membership dues for the current year. Invited to a I l Name .. SIMCHA? I Address.... Send a ' THREE-YEAR i City ...... State ...... Zip No .... SUBSCRIPTION TO THE JEWISH OBSERVER 30 The Jewish ()bserver I Decen1ber, 1967 NEW AGUDAH LEADERSlllP ACTIVE AT CONVENTION .P;ctured above addressing convention sessions are (left to right) Rahbi (Jedaliah Anen1t'r, of Washington, D.C'.; Rabbi Yaakor Goidsteb1; Dr. Marvin Shick; Rahbi Yehuda Oefbou1n; and Rabbi Yttzchok Kirzner, of Wilke.1·-Barre, Pennsylvania. of religious fervor that overwhelmed Agudath Israel's effort to project an in nachem Shayovich, and David H. Turkel. Israel after its miraculous rescue by the dependent Orthodox Jewish position, ex The Finance Cabinet consists of W. K. Aln1ighty this past sumn1er. He also panding the Agudist youth movement Friedman, Chaim Hertz, Frank H. Klein, called for a huge emigration of religious v,rhich now e1nbraces over 10,000 chil Julius Klugmann, lrving Schonbrun, Jews to Israel. Rabbi Levin pointed to dren, increasing the organizations' ac~ Aaron Seif and ]). H. Turkel. Joseph Agudath Israel's uncon1promising pro tivities for religious projects in Israel, Friedenson was re-elected general sec~ gram as the only true means to restore vnd spreading J)af )Tomi study groups rctary, and Rahbi B. Borchardt, record the Torah soul to the Jewish people. to every possible area. ing secretary. A Vaad Hanhala of 31 A resolution was also adopted "deplor persons and a Vaad Hapoel of 75 per Rabhi Gcdalia Schorr, 1nenahel of sons was elected, as well as an honorary Torah Vodaas. and Rosh Yeshiva of ing the convening of a world conference of Orthodox synagogues in lsrael this presidium, secretariat and regional vice Beis Mcdrash Elyon of Monsey, was the presidents. main speaker at the Melave Malke. In \Vinter without the advance sanction of an inspiring address, he lauded Agudath leading Torah authorities, who have since expressed strong disapproval of Israel for keeping Torah authority intact, P. Fe1dheim nff\V has a lin1ited and asked the delegates to spend more an international religious gathering in number of copies of a rare classic. time in Torah study. Hershel Rubenstein which the overwhelming majority of Is MA GI CIA NS, THEOLOGIANS of Toronto was chainnan. rael's Torah scholars refuse to participate AND DOCTORS by Dr. H. J. as a matter of principle." The convcn· Zimmels, (Jews' College, London). The Sunday 1norning session began tion also resolved to "continue the or A contrihction to Jewish Folk· with a detailed financial report rendered ganizations maximum efforts to help Lore itnd Folk-1\.fedicine derived by Wolf Friedman, on behalf of the save lsrael from its physical dangers, from the Respon~a of the 12th· organization's treasurers. llabbi Avrohon1 1vithout foresi1king its historic struggle 19th centuries... A_ reitl gem of this Davis, Director of Development of Agu to prevent the corrosion of Israel's soul interesting subject which "'as out dath Israel described the groups V .J.P. by national assimilation, which threatens of stol'k for a long time ;vith ex• Plan. Julius Klugrnann chaired the ses Israel's spiritual survival." tensive notes and Bibliography. sion. 302 pages ...... $6.95 The delegates warmly received a greet (See our listing on p. 24) The nominations session headed by ing fron1 President Lyndon B. Johnson, Rabbi Chodorow, and the slate of non1- who commended Agudath lsracrs "local lnees was submitted by the chairman of chapters throughout the land for their the election hoard, C:hai1n Hertz. The diligent work to perpetuate the enriching election of the new administration was traditions of a great religious heritage." HELP held by secret ballot. yourself .. The following plenary session, di NE\V A01'1JNJSTRATJON The new ad rected by Rabbi Anshe! Fink, took up ministralion elected at the convention is the organization's Israel resolutions. A headed by a 5-man presidium, consisting to the products and services long debate ensued, with over 40 dele of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Rabhi Mor· gates participating. dccai S. Friedman (Boyoner Rebber), &dvertised in our pages ... Rabbi Moshe Horowitz (Bostoner Reh· The convention closing banquet on be), Rabbi Benjamin .Hendlcs and Rabbi Sunday afternoon, at which David Klein Chaskel Besser. was toastmaster, featured as its guest HELP US ... speaker Rabbi Isaac Small of Chicago. Rabbi Moshe Sherer, who had served Rabbi Leiserowski of Philadelphia ex as the organization's executive vice-pres by telling our advertisers tended greetings. The convention was ident for many years_, was elected exec utive president. closed by the distinguished guest from you saw their message in Israel, Rabbi I. M·. Levin. The vice-presidenls are: Dr. E. L. The convention adopted a series of Bodenheimer, Rabbi S. B. Friedman, The Jewish Observer resolutions cal1ing for increased govern Wolf Friedman, Chaim Hertz, Julius ment aid to Yeshivos, intensification of .Klugm-ann, P. D. Schonfeld, Rabbi Me- The Jewish OhserFer / Decc1nber, 1967 31 g 1ve• a gift ... get a gift free it's very simple - no gimmicks for every gilt subscription you give we will show our appreciation by sending to you this beautiful plaque that will grace your home (richly laminated, lvith built-in hanger, 11" x 6" - created by ARTSCROLL STUDIOS) * * * GIFT CERTIFICATE * * * * * * Glf $5.00 is enclosed $5.00 is enclosed * * * GIFT CERTIFICATE * * * * * * GIFT CERTIFICATE * * * Start a gift subscription for: Start a gift subscription for: Name...... Name...... Address...... Address...... Rush your free gift to: Rush your free gift to: Name...... Name...... Address...... Address...... $5 .00 is enclosed $5 .00 is enclosed Write: Gift Dept. I THE JEWISH OBSERVER I 5 Beekman St., N. Y., N. Y. 10038