IYAR 5747 /APRIL 1987 VOLUME XX, NUMBER 3 USA: $2.50/FOREIGN: $3.00
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~~,i7~ ~6 ~~·\.. ~o ,;''~~~ ti 44 45 (fi'v\ll'1 46 .:1191 "~:r~Ena& ~~::;.;!i~.r~~;f ....~:~i .... ···/if> / · .. •· •···.. : ··· • ···· '·' .'\ ·· .. c;•c;•.· "~~~"'~~ ~...,---,---,.;:;. / ..• /· • t sX;\. . ···.···•·· "'~";"'"'...:§l::ir· ••• . t \/ ... { ,. \.. '.. . 3 ••.. '\~~~~\>-~ .. ···············•· •.. ~~l' BUii.DiNG A BRIDGE ACROSS HISTORY
And now, we can see the fruits of their labor growing in Israel as never before. Every year thousands of additional children enroll in Chinuch Atzmai. In the last 3 years alone, over 5,600 children were added to our schools. Today Chinuch Atzmai can change the face of Israel. The Baal-Tshuva movement is bringing thousands of new students to our doors. Parents are begging us to give their children the Torah chinuch they themselves didn't receive. But our resources are stretched to the limit. We need hundreds of new classrooms and teachers to accomodate these children. Are we going to let these Neshomos fall due to lack of dollars? nwrrpn n1'l1:u :i•n,n'l The 34th Annual Dinner of Chinuch Atzmai is dedicated to ex panding the borders of holiness in Israel- to continuing the holy work and vision of our sages. We hope, with Hashem's help, to enroll at least 10,000 children more in the next 3 years. To achieve this purpose we are creating a $10,000,000.00 Torah Fund, under the direct supervision of our Gedolei Torah; to make this dream a reality. f t's 5:30 AM in the Israeli Negev. On a lonely stretch of road, a small group of children stand with their shoulder packs waiting for a school bus .. .to them it's just another school day. A cross Israel, in thousands of villages, towns, and cities- a huge network of buses & vans are beginning to carry over 40,000 children to their local Chinuch Atzmai school. The children come from backgrounds as varied as the nations of the earth: Hungarian, Polish, Indian, Iranian, Russian, Yemenite, lraqui, Syrian, Czechoslovakian, African, American, and many others - all united by their parents' wish to give their children a true Torah education. Today is very special. It's the birthday of Chinuch Atzmai. Born 34 years ago as a dream and vision of our sages, who worked tirelessly and gave countless precious hours, days and weeks for this visionary goal. Who can forget how Rav Aaron Kotler, Reb Issir Za!men Meltzer, the Gerer Rebbe, and Reb Moishe Feinstein, of blessed memories, would leave their 'Gemoras' and spend weeks traveling to meetings-urging, begging & cajoling baalai baatim, politicians & yeshiva people to help build the foundations of the greatest force for Torah we have today- Chinuch Atzmai.
$10 Million Is Needed Today! Subsidize A School For A Year $75,000 Sponsor Prefab Classrooms $10,500 Playground Facilities $3,600 Nassilayom $1,800 Memorial Plaque $1,000 Child Sponsorship $360 Annual Membership $200 r------~TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL CHINUCH ATZMAI I I 167 M~diso11 Av<'nue. New Yurk. NY !0016 {212) 889·0606 •NIQ ~ iunn l''ll) I I I D Reserve my place for the Annual Dinner I I C Enclosed find my contribution of $ I Our goal is to reach every Jewish child I D Please accept my pledge of I in every community and settlement I Name I in Israel. I Address I I I 1.------L------•• ------.I My NAME is YossiE. I AM A MEMbE1~ of A pRoud JERUSAIEM fAMily. BECAUSE of ME, My fAMily HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERE TRiAls ANd TRibulATiONS. I WAS boRN wiTH SEVERE biRTH dEfECTS THAT WERE lifE THREATENiNG. FoR THE pAsT six YEARS I HAVE uNdERGONE MANY HiGH Risk SURGERiEs. My pROGNOsis is EXCEllENT buT I STill HAVE TO UNdEl~GO MORE SURGERy. I ATTENcJ A REGUIAR YESHiVA WHEN NOT iN TREATMENT ANd I AM A livEly ACTivE CHild. By THE CRACE of THE CREATOR I liAVE suRvivEd, ANd if iT is THE Will of THE A-IMiGHTY I will SURViVE.
THE pRiCE foR My suRvivAL ~1As bEEN TERRibly GREAT. My fAMily HAS bEEN dEVASTATEd. My pARENTS HAVE NOT bEEN AblE TO MAkE ENds MEET, ANd ARE dEEply iN dEbT. THE pHysicAl buRdENs ANd MENTAL STRAiNs, wHiCH I HOpE NO ONE WHO REAds THis IETTER will EVER HAVE TO UNdERGO, ARE MORE THAN difficuh TO OVERCOME. My PARENTS ANd MY fAMily ARE slowly bEiNG WORN dowN bECAUSE of ME.
I AM AskiNG, plEASE, if you could fiNd iT iN youR HEARTS, To HEip My pARENTS MEET THEi1~ fiNANCiAI obliGATiONS ANd MAkE THE TERRiblE buRdEN of My illNESS A linlE biT EASiER foR THEM TO bEAR. I THANk you fooM THE bonoM of My HEA1n.
PLEASE SENd youR GENEROUS CONTRibuTiON TO: CiRil STERN, 1654 58dt STREET, BRooklyN, NEW YoRk 11204 CHEcks pAyAblE TO BikuR CHoliM FuNd ARE TAX dEducTiblE.
ThE followiNG pRoMiNENT RAbboNiM ENdoRSE This AppEAL ANd Ask foR youR AssiSTANCE: RAbbi Yonf ShulEM ElyAShuv R•bbi ShloM ZAlMEN OhRb•ch RAbbi PiNchAs ShEiNbERG Ji IH \f\ll M Ro..,11 Y 1 \l1i\ i\, Kol l 01v\lt Ho\!1 Yr'>ltiti\, To1ud-1 ()!tH
R•bbi MoshE SnRN RAbbi AvRAhAM PAM R•bbi Ch•iM YosEf TAubrn 1)1 h1H cir-<1 n l~f\\, l~o ... 11 Yt'>!-ti\A, 101~"\!1 Yod''"Hli Bobo\111 !),"\\:\'\, ADDRESS
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I would Uke to become a partner in the wonderful work of Mital Hashas by contributing o $150 per month asa ShutafHaTorah* o S36 per month as a Mokir Torah o S100 per month as a Parnes HaT orah o S18 per month as a Chai Supporter o SSO per month as a Tomech Torah o S other
•The cost ol supportJf19 one schow My and all contnbutic.ns to "Mlfal Hasha.s" ere uix deductible end most appreciated. Mlfal Hashas 4606 16th Avenue, Brooklyn, H.Y. 11~04 (718) 436·7790 J30 L ------' In This Issue
7 THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly Shmittah in Israel Today except July and August. by the Agu a report by Nissan Wolpin dath Israel of America. 84 William Street. New York. N.Y. 10038. Second 15 class postage paid at New York. N.Y. Postscript on "Religious Subterfuge in Israel" Subscription $18.00 per year; two Ezriel Toshavi years. 830.00; three years, $40.00. Outside of the United States {US funds only) 810 surcharge per year. 18 Single copy: $2.50: foreign: $3.00. Building a Ghetto of Our Own Send address changes to The Jew Edith Krohn ish Observer. 84 William SL. N.Y.. N.Y. 10038. Tel.: 12121797-9000. Printed in the Li.SA. 27 Books in Review RABBI NISSON WOLPIN. Edaor Waking Up Jewish/Collected Writings of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch/A Future and a Hope/Torah Treasuries/ Editorial Board DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER A Time For All Things/Ways of Peace/Aiding Talmud Study/ Clwirman Breakthrough lo Learning Gemora/Gateway to Talmud/ ArtScroll Mishnayos RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS JOSEPH FRIEDENSON RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN Second Looks on The Jewish Scene RABBI MOSHE SHERER Manage1nent Board 33 NAFTOLI HIRSCH Where Does a Russian Jew Find Refuge? ISAAC KIRZNER RABBI SHLOMO LESIN 37 NACHUM STEIN Food. Food. Food-A Matter of Taste•
RABBI YOSr~F C. GOLDING Busi11css Marwgn 41
THE JEWISH 0BSEHVER does not as Letters to the Editor sun1e responsibility for the Kashrus of any product or sl:'rvice advf>rtised in its pages.
11'> Copyright 1987
APRIL '87 •PHOTOS BY HARRY FRAZER VOL. XX. NO. 3 Checking lo see if the seeds sprouted b(tfore Rosh Hasf1ana. '47. in Talrnei EliyahtL SHMITTAH
THE EARLY YEARS Shvi'is, in which Rabbi Avraham Rabbi Binyomin Mendelsohn J""' Yeshayahu Karelitz J""' renders de· serving as its Rav, guide and men tailed halachic decisions on the tor, making it into a model of preser or centuries, the Jewish pop· practical problems that arise in vation and propagation of kedushas ulation in Eretz Yisroel was modern·day farming. This sejerhad haAretz for others to emulate. F primarily concentrated in four a tremendous impact on hoth the ln 5719/1958-9 the "Institute for or five cities. with hardly a rural batei midrashim of Eretz Yisroel Agricultural Research in Accordance presence at all, and as a result. scarce and its religious farmers. The Cha· with Torah Law" was established by involvement in Shmittah and other zon !sh later remarked. 'When I was Poalei Agudath Israel to aid farmers mitzvos related to the Land. After all, learning Mishnayos Shvi'is, little did in coping with Shvi'is. And in the crops were generally raised by I dream that people would come to 5 733/1972-3 Rabbi Mendelsohn es non·Jews. About a hundred years ask me detailed questions for prac· tablished the Merkaz-"Center for ago. this began to change with the tical application-halacha l'maa· Shvi'is Observing Farmers"-to emergence of various movements to seh!" guide people in the practical. opera settle the Holy Land and farm it. and Indeed, the growing awareness of tional aspects of keeping Shmittah, the introduction of a hetter. permit· Shmittah went beyond the flow of without resorting to the Chief Rab ling some limited farming, based on words. From their very founding in binate's hetter. That year his efforts sale of the land to a non.Jew. [See the 1930's, the PoaleiAgudath Israel resulted in some seventy independ box on page 8). kibbutzim and moshavim kept the ent farmers joining in Shmittah The trend for farmers lo rely on laws of Shmittah along with the observance .... the hetter of sale of the land con· other mitzvos of the Land, following In 5740/1979-80, Shmitlah was linued until the 1930's. The year the decisions of the Chazon !sh. And observed in over80 settlements. with 5698/ 1937-8 saw the publication of the Zeirei Agudath Israel founded over 1300 farmers involved in ho the Sejer Chazon Ish on Hilchos Moshav Kommemius, with the late noring the Sabbath of the Lord.
6 The Jewish Observer, April 1987 Nissan Wolpin
This year, 5747, the Biblical commands relating to the Shmittah-restricting farming and commerce with crops grown during this final, Sabbatical year in the seven-year cycle-are experiencing a vigor and acceptance unprecedented in modern times. This can be seen in markets and grocery shelves around Eretz Yisroel; it can be witnessed in yeshiva and day school classrooms all over the globe; and it can be felt most keenly by visiting the settlements where the mitzvos related to the Land are kept, and Shmittah observance virtually radiates to surrounding communities. But it cannot be appreciated without a brief backward glance at the recent history of the keeping of this mitzva. IN ISRAEL TODAY
"EREV SHMITTAH"-THE EVE breakthrough in the overall pattern OF THE CURRENT SABBATH of indifference to Shmittah that once plagued the Land. ust as it is impossible lo celeb The Merkaz operates on several rate the weekly Shabbos levels. First, it fosters the study of a without preparing for it in ad J hala number of Kolle! fellows of the vance, so. too, must one prepare for chosof the Shmitlahyear, in Jerusa the septennial Sabbath of the Land lem and Bnei Brak. in advance. Thus, preparation for the currentShmittah (5747 /1986-7) In addition. the Merkaz sponsors began a year ago. The concern in a Hasbarah program, whereby Kommemius was not: 'What shall members of the Kolle! joined repre we eat in the seventh year? Behold sentatives of the Merkaz from we do not sow. nor gather in our Kommemius in fanning out to mo increase ..." (Vayikra 25:20), but shavim across the land early last rather: "How can we increase the spring to explain the importance of number of Sh vi 'is observers in Is Shmiltah observance. rael?" To date, over 180 settlements This begins with mounting dis have been aided by the Kommemius plays in selected moshavim, includ sponsored Merkaz this year. involv ing a letter from Rabbi Binyomin ing close to 3,000 farmers in keeping Mendelsohn and various other proc Shvi'is. As a result. some 40,000 lamations, posted on the public bul Rabbi Binyomin Mendelsohn.founding dunam of farmland are "resting" letin board, inviting inquiries and Rav Qf Kommemius. this Shmittah-an appreciable offering lo appear in person to ex-
The Jewish Observer. April 1987 7 Fourteen Shmittas Ago ... * ourteen Shmittas ago, in 5649/ It is therefore not surprising that the also done by non.Jews. The poor among F 1888-9, leaders of the Chovevei Rabbinate of Jerusalem-together with the settlers. who did not have the where Tzion Movement (basically a religious Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin and Rabbi withall to hire non.Jewish workers, might group)decidedthatwayswouldhavetobe Shmuel Salant-were adamant in their be permitted to do certain types of work found to circumvent Shmittah observ opinion to maintain the sanctity of the only those that are rabbinically forbid· ance if a new yishuvbased on agriculture Shmittah. The Torah authorities abroad den-but only according to the instruc was to be developed. Keeping Shmittah could only judge the situation in accord· tions of the rabbinic court in Jerusa would set a difficult precedent for all sub ance with reports from Eretz Yisroel. Bas· lem-and all that only for this one time sequent Shmittah years that would follow. ically, they all deferred to the Rabbinate of (the year 5649). Some of the officials of Moses Montefi Jerusalem, but nonetheless expressed The crude economic pressure imple ore's settlement program launched a their views in terms of what the halacha mented by the settlement program of campaign to prevent the settlers from would permit under extreme circumstan ficials-together with the above halachic keeping this mitzva. Since they knew ces. Most of the authorities insisted that opening-resulted in a widespread non that the settlers would obey the Rabbinic the Shmittah must be observed accord compliance with Shmittah laws that year. authorities, they approached these with ing to the halacha. Among these were: Thus, in 5649. only a handful of farmers, the exaggerated report that there was Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Berlin (NeTziV}--one in Petach Tikva, observed the Shmittah. danger to life if the mitzva were, indeed, of the greatest supporters of the new set In the subsequent Shmittah years, the implemented. Among themselves, how tlements, Rabbi Yoseif Dov Soloveitchik process continued. Its eventual denoue ever, the secular Zionists talked differ (Brisk), Rabbi Dovid Friedman (Karlin), ment is well known; the common practice ently. For instance, M.L. Lilienblum, the Rabbi Yoseif Zechariah Stem, Rabbi Ger today (with notable exceptions, described secretary of Chovevei Tzion, wrote: "Even shon Henoch (Radzin), and others. There elsewhere) is to sell all the land to a non if it were necessary to increase the sup were. however, four authorities who per Jew, with the Jewish owners working it, port (to the settlers) by a few thousand mitted certain alleviations, out of the more or less, as usual. Regretfully, with francs because of the Shmittah observ expressed concern, lest the fledgling set too great a frequency. the conditions are ance, that would not have warranted tlement be totally destroyed-conditional not being kept nor are the bases on which shaking up the world. But, as one of the to the approval of Jerusalem's rabbis. the original permission were granted re· great Maskilim declared, 'I look upon this TheywereRabbiYitzchokElchononSpek ing examined to see if they still apply.' and matter from an entirely different point of tor (Kovna), Rabbi Yehoshua Trunk (Kut· the "temporary decision" has become, in view. I know the ways of the observant na), Rabbi Shmuel Mohilaver, and Rabbi effect, permanent-even though it might among us.... Therefore, if the settlers will Shmuel Zeinvil Klepfish. They permitted not even be such a difficult task to find a observe this first Shmittah they will, selling the land to a non.Jew provided modus vivendi for keeping the Shmittah thereby. provide arguments for approach that the agricultural work, in general, is laws today.s es that are restrictive ... and then it will no longer be possible to relax the Shmit· inerechLa'avorGolim.pp. 131-2Cited in Ref22 2Amongthe bases for the permission cited by Rabbi A. Y. Kook were the following: ( 1) that the land tab laws. Therefore ... one must avoid, owned by Jews in Palestine is a miniscule fraction of the total land: and that (2) "under present from the outset, giving encouragement to circumstances." the total commereial position would be destroyed by keeping the Shmittah (both of these cited in Shabbas HaAretz.. Introduction. Chapt. 14); and that {3) the land is legally owned the restrictive ones and must prevent the by the [non-Jewish} government (Mishpat Kohen 63)-All of these do not seem to be applicable observance of the Shmittah altogether.' "1 today.As a matter of fact. in 5712/1951 ~2-the first Shmlttah since the founding of the State ChiefRabbi Yitzchak Halevl Herzogjoined in the call for Shmittah observance because he felt the •Th1ssect1on ls based on "Shmittah: ItsMerutlng. State sale of farms to Arabs as means of avoiding Shmittah restrictions was of doubtful validity. Laws and History," by Dr. Leo Levi. SSee rough outline of a plan suggested by Rabbi S. Weiser. HaMa C.yan 131• 1-6 {Teves 57331.
plain the details of Shmittah-list- how observing the Biblical command intimate encounter with Divine ing a telephone number. Calls have to keep the land fallow serves as a Providence-a responsive chord is come from a surprising range of harbinger of Moshiach. Such mem struck. locales, including Poalei Mizrachi ories prod even dyed-in-the-wool The average moshav is populated settlements, where relying on the socialists to consider keeping Shmit by some 75 families: half may come Chief Rabbinate's sale of the land is tah, influencing others to join them. to the Merkaz presentation, and of practically an article of faith, to One way or another-whether by those, perhaps two or three may be Mapa! moshavim, where religion is citing Biblical texts, halachic sour ready to assume keeping the taxing conspicuous by its absence. Some ces, Midrashim, government agri laws of Shmittah. And not all of how. settlers of Sephardic descent cultural surveys and some of the these always hold out the entire recall memories of their parents tell miraculous Shmittah experiences year-plus of Shmittah observance. ing them of Midrashim that teach that make honoring the year an But Shmittah observance can be
8 The Jewish Observer, April 1987 The prospect of abandoning one's normal means of earning a living for an entire year is quite overwhelming, to say the least. impressive, inspiring. even compell tyish farmer, whose black wooly ing-and contagious. beard and payos frame a smiling For instance. in Tzofariya to the friendly face animated by intelligent North, where only one farmer com· eyes-Ovadia. His assistant is Reb mitted himself to keeping Shmittah Shloime, as fair skinned as Ovadia is in 57 40, this year, all 80 families of dark, as obviously of Hungarian des the Yishuvhaveregistered as Shmit· cent as Ovadia is Yemenite. Between tah observers. Only nine members of the two, they cover the Negev. Ovadia MoshavChemed (in the Gali!) signed is remembered by local farmers as up as Shmittah observers in advance the Likud kingpin for the region a of 5747. But unseasonally early decade ago, and he still maintains rains, which benefitted the Shomrei his seat on the national party coun Shvi'is of Chemed, who had sowed cil. When a farmer in Shibolim com their parched fields in August. also plains that he'll go broke ifhe doesn't made the same earth inaccessibly plant his winter crop in Cheshvan, muddy for the rest of the villagers. By Ovadia answers from practical ex the time Chanukah had arrived. they perience-underscoring his agro realized that they were keeping nomical points with relevant quota Shmittah anyway, and the step from Hasbarah. one-on-one. tions from Midrash or Zahar. resignation to active acceptance of !ah observance of their respective The prospect of abandoning one's Shmittah observance was an easy regions, and are responsible for fil· normal means of earning a liveli but highly meaningful one for them. ing reports to the Merkaz headquar· hood for an entire year is quite over Not all inquiries are spurred by ters as well as for distribution of whelming, to say the least. Shmittah spiritual motivations. A call from the salaries and subsidy checks to needy need not be all that foreboding, and old-time HaShomerHatzair moshav farmers that qualify for help. The it is the task of the Merkaz to make Nahalal was greeted with disbelief by regional directors are selected from all other options for making a living the Merkaz people: "Are you kidding? among the area's farmers-men clear and available to the farmers. Why don't you ask us about basics known and respected as successful, This includes identifying marketable such as Shabbosand Kashrus first? knowledgeable in their field. The skills that farmers develop in line Then come back for Shmittah in directorate of the Southern region, with their usual activities. For in· formation!" for instance, includes a burly, for· stance. most successful farmers to- Replied Nahalal: 'We are not choz TheJann animals celebrate Shmittah, too-no plowing! rim beteshuva. We are in business we supply animal fodder to the mo shavim in our area. Some have be come Shomrei Shvi'is and they will not use grain that we will plant dur ing this coming Shmittah. Send us the information. Send us a man to tell us how to do things your way. We need your hechsher or our custo mers will go elsewhere and perhaps not come back."
THE MERKAZ IN ACTION
he Merkaz administration also includes seven regional T advisory councils, whose members are available for practical advice, generally oversee the Shmit-
The Jewish Observer, April 1987 9 day are accomplished in auto mechanics, plumbing and various phases of construction. In addition, the Israeli Agricultural Ministry of fers moratoriums on loans to Shmit tah-obserVing farmers, and here. too, the Merkaz can be of assistance in dealing with the government bureau cracy. Moreover, the Merkaz offers stipends to these farmers, based on need, forfeited income, and available substitute incomes: The usual monthly stipend is in the $200-$300 range. The regional superVisor dis tributes the checks to a representa tive of participating farmers in each moshav. The Merkaz's fiscal affairs are controlled by an international board of governors that meets monthly to Explaining the significance of Sh mi.ft ah in Moshav Patish. review needs, disbursements and policies. determining how to raise Shabbos LaShem this year's $3 million budget. and helping decide how to get the most oth Shabbosand Shmittah are called "a Sabbath for G-d." The similarity goes mileage out of available funds. B beyond nomenclature: The weekly Sabbath, as a respite from a harried weekday schedule. could bring all the pitfalls of idleness and indulgence in its wake: yet when . utilized properly, it is an unmatched opportunily for experiencing a taste of the World-to-Come. So, too, does the Sabbatical year present both format for lazy empti ness and an opportunity for spiritual growth. The key to proper utilization is in the title: "A Sabbath forG-d," when the activities of the unharried laborers are geared to bring them closer to G-d. -Rabbi Aharon Leuine cg Raisha. in Hadrash VeHalyun.
his parallel between the weekly Shabbos and the septennial Shabbos has T further implications. In the same way that the weekly Sabbath endows tbe preceding six days and the succeeding six days with a sanctity by Virtue of man consecrating all ofhisactiVities to a holy cause, so too does the Shmittah year infuse a holiness in nature. proclaiming a sanctity that invests the other years with a higher purpose. How does this operate? The holiness of the Sabbath day carries over to the next six workdays, resulting in an added holiness for the following Sabbath. This increased holiness in tum carries over to the next work-week in an eternal ascent toward ever increasing holiness. Asimilar process infuses the seven-year cycle that is consummated by the Sabbath year-an entire year of holiness, which spills over into the succeeding years of plowing, planting and harvesting. A bountiful crop, after Shmittah. 5740. This reinforcing dynamic of Shabbos/Shmittah can help us understand how the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of JelVJ)'by Nebuchadnetzarwas attributed to Violation of Shmittah. along with the cardinal sins of idolatiy, murder and adulteiy THE OTHER SHMl1TAH KOLLELIM (Avos V.Il). The inclusion of Shmittah with the other three surely begs for clarifica tion: One should normally expect that Eretz Yisroel would cast its aura of sanctity on his year, a new, rather daring its inhabitants, and ward them away from immoral or Violent conduct. But the Land's element has been added to spirituality must be nurtured by tbe Shmittah cycle. Wben Shmittah is Violated, T the Merkaz Shmittah prog however, there is an erosion of the Land's capacity to guide the Jews liVing there to ram. One need but take a brief "ex greater spirituality. Idolatiy, murder and adulteiy are the result of Violation of the cursion" to a vantage point in Torah Sabbath of the Land and its resultant loss of sanctity. Thus all four sins bring about literature, for a spiritual perspective the exile. -Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler. in Mtchtav Me'Eliyahu on the concept ofShmittah. For this, we refer the reader to the box on this page, where the similarities between
10 The Jewish Observer, April 1987 Shmittah and Shabbos are both described in the Torah as "a Sabbath for G-d." Both offer unrivaled opportunities for spiritual growth, if utilized properly. The question is how to do this.
Shmittah and Shabbos as times for spiritual growth are expounded upon. This abstraction can become very immediate by paying a visit to several unassuming moshavim in the Negev where the standard crops of grains. fowl and cattle have been joined bya bumper harvest ofTorah. Here one can witness first-hand the miraculous growth of both Shmit tah "crops"-produce and Torah. Does it make sense to influence 3.000 farmers to lay down their plows and harvest combines for a year. and not provide them with some gainful activities? Substitute forms of earn ing a living will surely fill some of the time. In addition. certain types of agricultural activities are permitted. such as specific labors to prevent permanent damage to orchard and farm lands, and harvesting as a paid laborer for the Otzar Beis Din.4 But this still does not always fill the day. The author had the delightful ex Nor does it fill the prescription of"a perience of dropping in at several Sabbath to G-d," which is the theme Shmittah-Kollelim in session. No two of Shmtttah. Torah study does. were alike. The fourteen men in With this in mind. the Merkaz Nachala were seated in a humble invited all Shmittah-observingfarm tzrij(a makeshift hut), enthralled as ers from Adirim in the Galil to Ami- their Rosh HaKollel (a member of a nearby fulltime Kollel-a Yemenite, Book listingjarmers like them) expounded on the five 4 Shmitlah calls for fanners to renounce the own enrolled in Shmittah Kollelim. ership of their crops-to declare them hejker. blessings bestowed upon wedding Harvesting of produce that grows by itself or that Oz deep in the Negev to enroll in spe wa.s planted before Shvi'is is supervised by the cial study programs. convened at the beis din of each moshav or region, as is the dis tribution of the crops after they are picked. This time of general convenience agreed body, called the Otzar Beis Din, engages the upon by the participants. tailored to owners of the fields as laborers to conduct the harvest in a limited fashion, actually engaging their level. The curriculum ranges them anew in this capacity ever:y week that they from a series of short sessions in work the fields. All of the fruit and vegetables various subjects-Chumash and harvested are then gathered in a central location from which they are dispensed. Rashi, Mishna, Ben Ish Chai-to Since it is forbidden to sell Eretz Yisroel pro intensive shiurtm in Gemora with duce that grows in Jewish fields during Shmit commentaries. Those who attend tah. the Otzar Beis Din only charges the consu mer for the cost of bringing the fruit to market. regularly for the three-hour per day plus whatever is paid to the farmer for the sessions are entitled to a $100 per expenses that he has incurred in caring for the crops in thos1;> ways that are permissible. month stipend; four-hour Kollelniks The sanctity of Shvt'is affects the fruits that receive an additional $50. From a grow during Shmitlah. so that they may not be total of 800 Shomrei Shvi'is in the wasted or destroyed. The Beis Dln distributes its Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter (Rosh Ye fruits with great care. basically to people who can Negev, for instance, some 120 farm shiva, Sjas Emes. Jerusalem) on visit to be relied upon to adhere to the laws. ers are regular Kolle! fellows. Nir Banim. Shmtttah, 5747.
The Jewish Observer. April 1987 11 Uri's Drasha
e arrived at the shul in Zero'ah IBereishis 2.5]. The prayer-that's the W during Maariv, too late to catch avoda, that's the work! Don't you all know the conclusion of the 2:00 to 5:00 pm what it says in Pirkei Avot? "The world shiur, but not too late to survey the stands on three things .. .'." weather-worn faces of the fanners-long Everybody joined Uri in completing the time settlers who had come from Iraq in quotation: "Torah. avoda, ugemilut has the 50's. When they had been told how the sadim'' (Avos 1.2). mitzva of Shmittah still applies today and "No abstract drasha, my friends,'' said that the official sale of Jewish lands to an Uri. "but a definition: Avoda-work-re Arab is not the preferred option, they fers to tefilla, prayer. Now, let me talk lamented. 'Where were you seven years about a very holy avoda. On Yorn Kippur, ago, and fourteen years ago?" Now they the holiest day of the calendar:the Kohein were reaping a spiritual benefit from the Gadol entered the holiest spot on earth, "Shabbos for Hashem" the Kodesh HaKadashim for just a few AfterMaariv, they returned to their pla minutes and did his avoda. His request ces around the lecture tables and listened was: 'Please. G-d, give us our needed rain attentively while their maggid shiur. a full and do not listen to the prayers of travel time member of the Kolle! in nearby Neti ers: Do you realize what this concern of vot, introduced us as '\isitors from Amer· the Kohein Gadol was? Let me tell you a ica who are here to give you words of story, and you will understand. chizuk (encouragement)." Neither I nor "Jn olden times, fanners traveled by my companion was prepared to deliver horse and wagon. Well. a farmer was driv chizuk to these "Giborei Ko'ach osei de ing his wagon on a stormy night when a varo (men of valor who cany out His wheel sunk into a deep mud trap. Much as word-Tehillim 103,20). I mumbled a few he urged the horse to pull and even beat words to the effect that I came to draw him, it could not dislodge the wheel. Picking_fruitfor the Otzar Beis Din. inspiration from them, not the reverse. (Olden times? It's happened to me! guests that rejoice with the chassw. Piping hot tea was served and we looked chimed in one old fanner.) The rainpour and kallah (Berachos 6b): "Do you at each other in expectant silence, wond continued and therethe fannerspent the think a wedding is an opportunity to ering how to fill the time while the tea night, getting soaked to the skin, until eat a fancy meal. enjoy some music, cooled. Uri. our driver, saved the day, and help came in the morning. and nothing more? Not at all! It's offered to say a few words. (Uri is a native "Several weeks later, on a sunny after your job to get up on your feet and ofYerucham-a development town to the noon, the fannerwasdriving the horse on dance for the Chattan and Kallah!" South-who had joined a yeshiva for sev a country road when suddenly-splat!-a One Kolle! fellow was not at his eral years after serving in the anny-"The drop of rain hit his brow. The sky had place. The resident mystic-"Harav Good L-rd put some sechel in my head" clouded. The fanner raised his head sky Hatzaddik HaMekubal Rabbi Yissa and now lives in Kommemius. He gave up ward and pleaded to G-d: 'Please, please char Doreinu Shlita," as he is listed a seforim sales route servicing Kolle! hold back that rain! Spare me the terrible in the rolls of the Kollel-was in the towns in the Negev to join the Shmittah suffering I endured two weeks ago!' In his midst of receiving a petitioner, whom Kolle! in Jerusalem for the year. One of his utter helplessness, the farmer knows that he could not leave until completing assignments is to drive personnel to ap only G-d can help him and his pleas have the writing of his spiritual prescrip pointments. An unassigned task is to the power to influence G-d to hold back tion (kamaya). the rain. Such earnest, desperate prayers In Melilot, the farmers-cum-Kolle! relieve visitors from embarrassing situa can only be countered by the Kohein men were deeply involved in Babba tions.) Uri's words: Gadol 's Yorn Kippur avoda in the Holy of Metzia l 9a, and did not even take "Morai Verabbotai!You think that this note of our arrival. Eyes darting is a year free from farm work? Not at all! Holies. between text and lecturer, fingers Do you know what the Chumash says? "You men may think that your avoda is divided between the place in the 'For G-d had not caused it to rain upon a six-year stint and this year finds you Gemora and the relevant Rashi, the earth [because] there was no man to free from work. Not so. This year, Shmit challengers gestured with their el work the ground.' Rashi explains. 'to tah. is when you can devote yourself to bows, punctuated their comment work-la'avod, ·as awaiting the appear true avoda-service to G-d, prayer-and with defiant chins. These men were ance of man who could appreciate the assure yourself six fruitful years ahead." obviously at home in the Talmud. We rain. He would pray and then rains come Uri's words put the men's Shmittah left as inconspicuously as possible. down, and the trees and grass sprout activities into perspective. Ami-Oz, where a group of search-
12 The Jewish Observer, April 1987 ing French intellectuals settled, had invited the Merkaz to address them on Shmittah and wouldn't let the representative leave until all their questions were addressed. Not satis fied, they called for a return visit, finally committed themselves to Shmittah observance and-an extra bonus-enrolled eleven members in the Kolle!. Their leader is a fulltime Kolle! fellow from Ofakim.
A STROLL IN KOMMEMIUS
eb Yossel looked the part of a teacher in a cheder in Geula R or Meah Shearim. He spoke with the enthusiasm of a super salesman, as he led us down a road that cuts through Kommemius. By profession, he is one of Israel's top accountants who only works half days and learns in a Kolle! the other half days. On Shmittah he puts his practice aside and directs the finan cial management of the Merkaz. "These thorns and thistles"-they formed a prickly barrier, chest high-"they cannot be cut," he ex Rabbi Elya Svei (Rosh Yeshiva, Philadelphia) on visit to Komniemius, Sh1nittah, 5747. claimed, "for that would constitute From the Files
he Merkaz has become a repository They did. And another bumper crop could not bring themselves to take a Sab T of stories of unusual "natural" oc· again in 5742. After that, he did not care batical from .their rounds of profiteering currences benefitting the Shomrei She· to stretch his luck and cleared the fields and they decided to rely on the hetter vi'is. for a fresh planting. mechim instead. They tilled the soil as Shmittah 5740, a cultivater of aromatic normal that Shmittah. flowers in the Central Region followed the ast spring, the "Kolami'" brothers Pangs of guilt set in, and, with Shmit directives of the Merkaz and planted his Lwho owned a farm on the edge of a tah 5 74 7 on the horizon, the Kolamis had fields well enough in advance of the New moshav in the Kommemius area ap· an urge to keep Shmittah again. But what Year to permit a harvest, with distribu proached the Merkaz to register for the could keep them from succumbing to the tion controlled by the Oaar Be is Din. The current Shmittah. The Merkaz was taken profit motive again? They had an idea. If following summer, hOwever, he was not aback by the application as well as by the they effect the dress and appearance of permitted to till the soil or plant It was petitioners' appearance: beards and the Charedi population of Kommemius, still Shmittah. How was he to make a !iv· payos. Fourteen years earlier, in advance they would be reluctant-even embar ing? His flowers are annuals and required of Shmittah 573311972-3, these two men rassed-to break discipline. So here they uprooting and replanting, and after Rosh had registered with the Merkaz, observed were-the Brothers Kolami, in beards and Hashana would be too late. Shmittah meticulously and enjoyed an payos,readyforShmittah 5747, readyto The Merkaz poseik found no loophole exceptionally bountiful harvest in the combat temptationto break ranks. Hop to permit him to engage in any kind of Spring of'74. Somehow, their handsome ing the outer expression of inner convic farming that summer. He did, however, profit got them caught up in a cycle of tion would protect that conviction from suggest that after Rosh Hashana, 5741. expanded investments and larger return erosion. the farmer water and fertilize his old that went to their heads. With the ap Thus does Shmittah create miracles in plants. Who knows? Perhaps they would proach of Shmittah 5740/1979-80, they the most important of growths-"the yield another crop. •an assumed name man, tree of the field" (Devarim 20,19).
The Jewish Obseroer, April I 987 13 "Wihen I was l earning . Mis. h nayos Shvt'is,.. little did I dream that people would come to ask me detailed questions for practical application!" -THE CHAZON !SH ?"::it improving the farmland. But come So, after the harvest of our spring plowed until Chanukah-too much this way, and I'll show you some· grains, we purchased seed to plant rain made them unapproachable. thing even more impressive. These the fields. The plows only kicked up And our oats prospered as never oats, which will be cut eventually to dust, no receptive fertile earth, but before.-See? No head on the plant feed our animals, should not be here, we planted anyway. Then-well, the yet. The stalks are still soft and by all predictions. The agronomists rest is meteorological history. A to· green, reaching our shoulders. all said that we were insane, wasting tally unprecedented, unseasonal They'll still grow until they blossom, thousands of dollars of good seed by downpour came three days before fulfilling the promise of 'I will com· planting oats this past Av (August). Rosh Hashana, drenched the soil mand My blessing upon you in the You see, it had been an exceptionally and the seeds took root. By the New sixth year and it shall bring forth dry summer. The earth was dusty Year, our fields were all carpeted produce for three years' (Vayikra clay. But we had no choice. green. That was not all, however, for 25,21)." .. According to the Chazon Ish's the entire calendar moved up two Rcb Yossel He carressed the oats: decision, whatever takes root before months: After Succos, we had our "These stalks sing songs of faith, Rosh Hashana of Shmittah, later usual mid-winter rainstorms. In fact. fairly shouting emunah and bita· can be utilized to feed the livestock. 60% of Israel's lands could not be chon."o
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14 The Jewish Obseroer. April 1987 Ezriel 1bshavi
ISRAEL: Poli tics of Religious Subterfuge
plinaiy action he intends to take Is there another Western democracy where against the defiant Nineteen Daya counsel, offerect by clergymen, based on nim under his ministiy's authority. In response. Hammer issued a let adherence to religious convictions, would ter to the dayanim taking into ac be similarly condemned in the courts as count their action as "men of hala cha exercising their right of free "contemptuous"? expression"-which should be for given as "an abberation of style." But he felt it necessaiy to add that he was confident that they did not in I. UPDATE ical judges) calling on all rabbis to tend their action as "mutinous" in ignore the Supreme Court's ruling, nature. In other words. they were heJanuaiy '87 issue of the JO agreeing with the Interior Ministiy exercising free speech as citizens of reported on the confrontation that Ms. Miller as a reform convert educated opinions. but outside of T between Israel's Supreme had never accepted Torah and mitz their role as dayanim. Court and Interior Minister Rabbi vos in their fullness. and was not an Yitzchak Peretz over the minister's actual convert. inclusion of the word "ger'' (convert) In the meantime. the Court or NO APOLOGY FROM THE DAYAN in the "Jewish" identification papers dered that Suzanne/Shoshana Mil of Reform convert Suzanne Miller: ler's identification papers were to be everal of the dayanim also The additional word was necessaiy prepared, with the word "Yehudi" issued a letter of clarification to alert any rabbi who might deal entered without qualification .... Ms. S to the Court explaining that with her in a halachic frame of refer Miller never reported to the Ministiy their role was as religious decisors, ence to her questionable status. The oflnterior to pick up her papers; she and not meant to be contemptuous Supreme Court ruled that the iden returned to Colorado Springs, ap of the court. The leader of the nine tifying word could not be added be parently giving up any plans to settle teen, Rabbi GedalyaAxelrod (of Hai cause it would create prejudice. in Israel. fa), however, maintains that he owes Faced with an untenable order from Mapam MKYairTzeban petitioned no one an explanation or apology. To the Court, Peretz resigned. At that the Supreme Court to issue a con the contraiy, by Israeli law, jurisdic time a letter was issued by nineteen tempt order to the dayanim for urg tion over religious identity is solely of Israel's leading dayanim (rabbin- ing defiance of its judicial opinion. in the hands of the leader of the The Court obliged, and in turn gave respective religious group, i.e., an Ezriel Toshavi observes the Jewish scene for Religions MinisterZevulun Hammer individual's claim to be a convert to readers of JO. 35 days to answer as to what disci- Islam is to be assessed by the qadi.
The Jewish Obseroer. April 1987 15 and a claim to Jewishness is to be into an ecclesiastical ghetto. with Miller's identification papers. This determined solely by the rabbinate. limited influence-not even an arti court decision related to the Interior ... This was the law under British culate voice-in the affairs of the Ministry. which is still guided by the mandate and this procedure still State. as-yet-unamended Law of Return, obtains by Knesset law. For the which recognizes any convert to Supreme Court to pass judgment in II. COMMENTARY Judaism as Jewish. Rabbi Peretz any way on the religious identity of recognized that as Minister of In Ms. Miller or any other claimant to The Miller-Peretz-Harish-Hammer terior-asecular, non-religious post Judaism is a blatant invasion of a story is not over, but a few items at he could well have been required to secular body into affairs outside of this writing are apparent and are follow the Court's directive, no mat its jurisdiction. Israel's Attorney worthy of comment. ter how ill-advised he considered it, General Yosef Harish, however. is and for this reason he resigned his under orders to inform the Court as A. ON THE NATIONAL SCALE: post. (Rabbi Axelrod, as reported, to what action he plans to take STATE-RUN RELIGION views the Supreme Court's decision against Rabbi Axelrod and his fellow as reaching outside of its area of "contemptuous" dayanimand he is hen Israel's Supreme Court jurisdiction, and irrelevant as far as now initiating an investigation into ordered Zevulun Hammer the rabbinate is concerned.) their conduct. W to justify the expression of By contrast, any marriage involv In the meantime, the Conserva an halachic opinion by dayanim. as ing Ms. Miller will be under the tives sponsored two converts for though it constituted an act of con jurisdiction of the Rabbanut and in recognition as "Yehudim" but both tempt of court, it seemed to cast a her present status she would not candidates were struck down on shadow over the degree of independ qualify for marriage to a Jew, regard technical grounds; the Reform ence the religious establishment en less of the identifying word on her movement is reputedly searching for joys in Israel. papers. This would be a decision of a another test case to create more In truth. the rabbinate's jurisdic beis din, not subject to appeal to a precedents for acceptability of Re tion over personal status-religious secular court. form as a legitimate form of Juda identity, marriage and divorce-is But the matter does not end there, ism; while Mapam-niks and other unaffected by the Supreme Court for a sense of outrage is very much in anti-religious elements seem to be decision that the word "gef' not be place here: Because the nineteen seeking still more ways to back Torah added to the word "Yehudi" on Ms. dayanim had simply expressed a view based on halacha, the Supreme Court found it necessary that action be taken against them. Ms. Miller on her conversion Would it really have been "muti nous" (Hammer's word) for daya Rabbi Kline gave me books to read and That's one of his theories which I do not nim to urge respect for halacha just started teaching me about the life cycle agree with him on, that people who con because it seems to be counter to the events, the festivals, and I started coming vert, convert themselves and the rabbi is a sentiment expressed by a secular on Shabbat and lighting candles. Actually, teacher. He assists, but the rabbi does not court? Granted that in Israel "Cea it was a matter of just a few months-a do the conversion. He has said that before. I sar" and "G-d" have discrete areas of couple months. And I went to him and disagree. responsibility and jurisdiction said, "How long should I do all of this which in itself is repugnant!-but before I can go to the mikveh?" He made an appointment to go up to the these areas inevitably overlap, espe He said, "Well think about it a week and Denver Mikveh. cially in such a fundamental con we'll talk again." So I thought about it !JN: Who was there at that time? cern as the definition of Jewishness. another week and I said, "When will this Were you there alone, or was he there? Israel. after all. is aJewish State. and happen? What do I have to do?" as such it is impossible for the ques He said, "Well, it looks like you're He was there, and two witnesses went along-Roz White and Henny Levine. tion of Jewish identity to be conve ready, and I'll leave it up to you." niently pigeon-holed into one cate He never demanded. He never does that !JN: These were women from the gory or the other. One simply cannot with someone who~s converting. He never Temple in Colorado Springs? deal with it in a sterile secular envir demands, "You have to do this or I won~t Yes. onment (even putting aside for the convert you." But he teaches us what we have to do; he makes it quite clear that it IJN: How much Hebrew did you moment Rabbi Axelrod's argument enhances our Judaism and makes us more know at that point? that the issue of Jewish Identity has involved and makes it a more important Very little. I knew the shema. I had absolutely no place in a secular court thing to be a part of-the more we partici memorized the hamotzi, the kiddush. ... in the first place). Thus, dissent pate. And we participate on ourown. It's a based on adherence to religious choice that we make. --from the lntermountain Jewish News convictions cannot be dismissed as "contemptuous"-certainly not from
16 The Jewish Observer, April 1987 that her Reform conversion would not be recognized in Israel. As she For the Supreme Court to pass judgment in tells it. she "felt drawn to Judaism" any way on the religious identity of Ms. for many years, but Rabbi Kline of Colorado Springs, who had presided Miller or any other claimant to Judaism is a over he conversion, made the fatal blatant invasion of a secular body into error of making Miller into a "Jew ess" without having her fulfill basic affairs outside of its jurisdiction. requirements-and short-cuts born out of misapplied compassion can only beget tragedy. (see box) a Jewish perspective, and not even mentation within the Torah com Once Ms. Miller arrived in Israel. from a democratic perspective. Think munity can only lead to further ef she was recruited by Uii Regev, an for a minute: Is there another West forts by an encouraged anti-Ortho Israeli lawyerwho graduated Hebrew ern democracy where counsel pro doxy to flex its muscles. Union College, to serve as a test case ferred by members of the clergy. for recognition of Reform conver would be similarly condemned as sions. ("I said yes ... I do want to bea contemptuous? B. ON THE PERSONAL SCALE: test case.... I was thlilled because my What we are faced with. then, is MS-ING IN ACTION? name was mentioned in the Knesset. another chapter in the ongoing ef I was thrilled out of my mind.'') forts of the secular establishment to he Jerusalem Post which had Why did Ms. Miller leave Israel chip away at the religious under backed Suzanne Miller's peti before her case was concluded? Be pinnings of Israel by narrowing T tion to be recognized as an cause her father was sick and alone down the rights of its rabbis. No unhyphenated Yehudi, granting and needed her. Because she realized doubt the political onslaught of the unqualified recognition to her Re that "I was turning the secular Conservative and Reform groups in form conversion, felt betrayed by Ms. against the religious. I really didn't the United States, with their huge Miller's yerida. It was as if the entire go to Israel to stir up trouble, al public relations campaigns in Israel. country had been set on its head though it happened." And because "I are beginning to bear fruit, for a because of the human dimension of was really off-track. ... I had not stu frightened government leadership an ideological dilemma, and then died Hebrew like I should have. I did fears that its flow of dollars will be the human being disappeared. They not go out to really find a steadyjob. I diminished unless the wings of the were left with an abstraction with felt toward the end that !just couldn't Orthodox are clipped. The only via out persona. do it." ble solution to this dilemma is for But there was a human side to One might say that Ms. Miller Orthodoxy in Israel to close ranks this episode, and it is laced with the ended up a tragic footnote in an ideo and recreate the unity in the Torah tragedy of a confused person being logical controversy. Unfortunately, community which in previous ad misled and exploited. In an exclusive when a movement pulls individuals ministrations had helped stave off with Denver's Intermountain Jew out of their personal arena of needs the incessant attacks against To ish News (Mar. 6, '87), Ms. Miller and makes them into symbols, it is rah's sovereignty. Continued frag- reveals that she had not been told at the cost of their humanity.o Not just a cheese, a tradition ...
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The Jewish Obseroer, April I 987 17 "Behold, a people that dwells alone and is not counted among the nations" (Bamidbar23, 9)
"You write that the Torah isolates us. True! if it did not, Yisroel would long since have lost its identity. Look what struggles are required to preserve the purity Qf Yisroel's spirit within our people despite this isolation." -Rabbi S.R. Hirsch, Nineteen Letters. Letter 15.)
e are all aware of our need to follow our own path and destiny as Jews, separate W from that of the world at large. Usually we think in terms of spatial, physical separation-not to get entangled in the society that surrounds us. Yet, the first to be given the name of"Hebrew," Ivri, meaning one who stands on one side, with all oth ers on the other side, wasAvrahamAvinu-and he very much interacted with his world. He com manded the respect of his contemporaries, who saw him as a prince; he drew them into his home, he taught them, and he prayed for them. He most certainly lived within his world. This should make us aware that separateness is not necessarily a matter of physical proximity or lack of it; rather, it is a state of mind. Even where we cannot-or should not-withdraw into our own "four cubits," we must culti vate a sense of being different. the ability to "tune out" and internally distance ourselves, at whatever price this may cost. In a physical ghetto, this may not be crucial-but, faced with the presence and openness of American society, it must be perceived as vital to Jewish survival. The following remarkable account of a time antedating the Day School, Yeshiva and Bais Yaakov era, shows that even under the most difficult conditions one can develop the inner independence that is the work of the G-d conscious Jew. Today. in the large cities, we do have our schools, our glatt-kosher pizzerias, and all other amenities, within the confines of our densely populated Orthodox neighborhoods. Yet the lesson taught by the account that follows-the impor tance of an inner detachment from the secular world -is still most relevant, challenging us to be as successful as the writer's parents were in developing and inculcating in our children a proud sense of our uniqueness. Let us begin by reading "Building a Ghetto of Our Own" by Edith Krohn. BUILDING A GHETTO OF OUR OWN
hat does the word ghetto pattern of living spanning from the All children went to public school, suggest? An old-time, self hour he awakes until the hour he America's great contribution of free W contained shtetel? China goes to sleep, he knows what he may and compulsory education to civili town? Little Italy? Born Park? Mon or may not do, what he can or cannot zation. Among these children was a sey? Scarsdale? An enclave where an do. He builds an inner defense. If the 14 year-old lad in the first year of appreciable number of the same type defense is honest and effective, one high school. The transition from of people live together, whether by can hope that there will be no crack elementary to high school is heady decree or by choice? This is the way a in the barrier. and traumatic, changing from a child "ghetto" is usually understood. to a fledgling adult in one step. Her But there is another type ofghetto. LONG AGO, shel had to contend not only with a Self-imposed, self-reliant, indestruct NOT SO FARAWAY new curriculum. a lunchroom where ible: The ghetto of the mind. A ghetto everything was treif, but also with that the outside world can touch but ong ago but not far away, Mr. Classon, a gym instructor who not infiltrate: where concepts and there was a tiny group of peo encouraged potential athletic stars strength comes from within, and do L ple who lived in Philadelphia to tryout for the various sports. Her not rely on the "without." ... a lovely city-genteel and gentile. shel. a boy with a slow smile and an Succinctly and briefly, the concept The parents were Jrum and they unusually quiet approach to every ofaghetto of the mind is the barrier could not conceive that their chil thing, was tall and solidly built for the Jew erects between his Jewish dren should be anything butjrum his age, and a candidate for the ness and the secular values of the even as they were, and their parents instructor's campaign. outside world. This does not mean in Europe before them. Having dis The gym outfit was short pants that he hibernates or becomes a tanced themselves from Czarist and a white T-shirt. Hershel's prob recluse. Rather, having learned a Russia, the Revolution and i ls af lem was how should he wear his termath of destruction, they were tzitzis-under the shirt or over the grateful for America and its freedom shirt? Obviously not over the shirt. Mrs. Krohn nee Ackerman lives in Kew Gardens, New York. Her artide,"A Down·Home Pesach in and energy. But first and foremost But then again, his father had told Philly" appeared in the April '86 JO. they were f rum Jews. him that tzitzis must not be worn
The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 19 "I f you wear those fringes, Harry, I can't let you try out for the track team. And I think you could make it."
against the skin-only over an un SWEET ABSTINENCE dershirt. Hershel solved the problem by wearing a sleeveless undershirt, hiladelphia was not note his tzitzis, then the gym T-shirt and worthy for jewish publica shorts. All would have been well, had P tions. There was The Moming the tzitzis not had a tendency to slip Joumal, to be sure and the For out of his pants with the fringes ward, the Socialist, anti-religious hanging over the sides. daily. And then one day out of the After gym class, Mr. Classon called fabled city of New York we received Hershel over and asked him, "What THE JEWISH LIGHT(Der Yiddische are those strings hanging over your Licht) and it had a section in Eng pants?" And if you wear those fringes, I can't lish. Glory be! Mother read the Yid "These are tzitzis," he said. "Jew let you try out for the track team. dish and we kids read the English. It ish boys wear them under their top And I think you can make it. passed from one to another until in a shirts." Mr. Lettinger was strait-laced, week it was dog-eared. 'What are tzitzis? And why do you proper and lived by the rules. He While it was not considered holy, wear them?" asked Mr. Classon. would not bend. The note became a we could nevertheless identify with Slightly taken aback, Hershel said, ball pitched from Mr. Lettinger to what it said. And then one day, there "They are a part of our religion. We Mr. Classon to Hershel's father and a pronouncement in the Yiddische wear them all the time." back again, round and round. After Light that all candy was treif! One "There are a Jot of Jewish boys two weeks of note-pitching, Hershel's could not tell what was in it except here," Mr. Classon said kindly, "but I father said to him. "There is a way by chemical analysis. The children never saw anybody wear them. Any out of this, Hershel, if you want to were dumbfounded. No candy? All way, next class, don't put them on take it. If you don't wear a begged Olam Hazeh was suddenly gone. No when you change for gym. The gym (garment) with four comers. you are candy? Schoolyard? Two recesses a outfit is pants and gym shirt. pattur (exempt) from tzitzis. So if it day? The Sunday walk to the candy Nothing else." He put his hand on really means so much to you-well, store? The world was suddenly be Hershel's shoulder and smiled. He don't wear them while in gym." Her reft. Why for a nickel you could get- really liked the boy. shel's father searched hisson'seyes. 1 Tootsie Roll, 1 Jawbreaker. a large "Pop, I just don't feel like a Yid hunk of chocolate, a nice lollipop A NOTE, BALL, AND PINS without wearing tzitzis." Hershel any color, and two licorice sticks. A said. Then he smiled gently, "Nu, so I nickel could keep you going for 3 or 4 hat night, Hershel told his won't be a track star." days. father about his dilemma. 'TH Mr. Classon was not happy when It was a measure of our parents' T write your Mr. Classon a note,'' Hershel told him he would not be strength that the children could be Hershel's father said. "I think it will trying out for the track team. "Is imbued with such character that be all right.'' your father a rabbi?" he asked. not one chlld touched a piece of It wasn't. Mr. Classon read Her "No sir, he works in a factory." candy for years, until much later, shel's father's note: "Please allow 'Well. keep those fringes pinned when another pronouncement came Harry to wear his tzitzis under his up inside the shirt. I don't want to out that Hershey's Chocolate Bar gym shirt. It is a Jewish law and I see them flying around." He paused was kosher. don't think it will interfere with Har a moment, "I don't know anything Meantime, after the first shock of ry's gym work" about Jewish law, but I do know a deprivation, a kind of silly numb Mr. Classon was not pleased. 'You fine boy when I see him." He smiled ness came over us. If we couldn't eat will have to see the principal, Mr. and walked away. it, wecouldatleast talkaboutit.And Lettinger, Harry. You cannot be dif At fourteen, Hershel had begun to talk was all we did because talk ferent than any of the other boys. build his own intellectual ghetto ... was not treif. Then it was Val-
20 The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 entine's Day. Valentine's Day in the early grades of public school was mindboggling. It was equated with RIKA BREUER TEACHERS SEMINARY candy and cards. All the children 95-103 Bennett Avenue, New York, NY 10033 sent each other Valentine cards and 212-568-6200 notes. These were all put into a makeshift mail box on the teacher's In connection with the forthcoming placement test for the school desk. Two children would then year 1987-88, interested students who have not yet submitted deliver the cards to all the others in the class. (Every year I got two their applications are reminded to do so immediately. cards-from the teacher and one Special arrangements made for students who have completed that I had addressed to myself. ... ) one year of seminary in Eretz Yisroel. The teacher gave out small bags of candy hearts and other candy goo dies. Candy, candy, candy. There is a special fragrance in a room filled with candy. Everybody tasted. ate. munched, and chewed candy. Only the Creator Himself could have given us the courage not to touch a single POSITION piece of candy on Valentine's Day in school. ANNOUNCEMENT We didn't know it, but we were already building our own ghettos of the mind. D.M. Rein & Co. is a rapidly expanding management THE GREEK DISCONNECTION consulting firm active in the U.S .. Europe and the Far East. Our clients include venture capital ublic schools had names groups. investment bankers and high technology that a child identified with: companies, ranging from start-up companies to the P John Hartranft. Joseph C. Ferguson. John Welch. No numbers. Fortune 100. P.S. 16, P.S. 127 would come a gener ation later. Nor were there Bais Yaa At this time we are accepting applications for the kovs orYeshivos yet. No yellow buses ferrying children around. You walked position of Associate Consultant. Successful to your public school. with books applicants will be given full training and will have tied up with a strap and slung over substantial growth opportunity, both professionally the shoulder. There was something and financially. invitingly jaunty about it. In school children were taught the basics-not only for reading. writing The qualified candidate must be resourceful. and 'rithmetic, but the basics of articulate, highly energetic. personable and a good patriotism, public weal and the pol communicator. itical system. We learned early on that it was a privilege to be educated for free. It followed, then, that the Contact: Library was the next door to open. Mordechai Schreiber Teachers and parents advocated the Library. They wanted the children to D.M. Rein & Co .. Inc. learn. The children wanted enter 100 Highway 70 tainment. The Library had every Lakewood, NJ 08701 thing, from Plato to Winnie-the (201) 367-3300 Pooh to the Pyramids: from history to novels. sports and the study of the honeybee. One day. my beloved Uncle Kal man, a talmid chacham. came to
The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 21 Not all ghettos are physical structures. There is also an invisible ghetto that separates a person's sense of Jewish identity from the secular values of the outside world. our house. My school and library wooden rocker and asked. 'What lady-gods. Nobody believes that stuff, books were stacked neatly on the kind of books do you take from the anyway. Then I got a book on Plato. dining room table, the homework library?" He was a big man in law and philo area. Idly he looked at some titles: "Oh, I like everything. I used to sophy as they understood it at that Marcus Aurelius, Essays. Plato's read fairy-tales, stories that were not time-but l don't really understand The Republic, Stories of Greek for real. but now I like fiction books all of it. In a way. though. I think he Mythology. "What are those books that are about things that could be, believed in Hashem because he said about?" he asked. but are not. really: and biographies, that there was a Higher Being Who "About Greeks," I answered books about people and the times created everything and kept it going promptly. when they lived." according to a system that he "Greeks? Hellenistehf' he thun 'What were the books about that created." dered. "Does your mother know?" made Uncle Kalman so upset?" "Did you get any other books?" On the Shabbos following my Un "J don't know. We're learning Greek cle Kalman's outrage at my "Greek" history in school so I got some books "On the way out, I picked up one books, after Mother had read to me about Greeks. There's something called MarcusAurelius. It was on the the Parsha in the Tzenah Rehna. called Greek Mythology, about nutty same shelf. He was called a Stoic. I she closed the sejer and placed one things like a horse with wings couldn't figure out what that is. He hand over the other, as it rested on (Pegasus) and statues of stone that said he was a man of peace and he her lap. She leaned back in her are supposed to be man-gods and was called a Peaceful Emporor. but he was in a lot of wars anyway. He didn't like Christians so he threw them to the lions. I don't know what Uncle Kalman was excited about." My mother smiled."! think you're right. You don't know what the books HAVE YOU HEARD ? are about. Maybe they are too old for you. But anyway, did you know that WENE GROWING I when the Greeks were in Eretz Yis roel they were responsible for a lot of lHE lV!lAH COAIAIU/11/TY OF young Yiddishe kinder (young peo ple) to schmad (convert)? MATAWAN I ABERDEEN & HAZLET, NJ "They introduced ways of living that were against the Torah and lots *DAILY MINYANIM AND REGULAR SHIURIM of Yidden followed them. They, the a:MGll!iaf1UWBET JE"A!AH Greeks. became the beginning of the *EXPANDING ELEMENTARY YESHIVA second churban. Uncle Kalman is a &fWHtJ/!Ei'EllllEll'A 22 The Jewish Obseroer. April 1987 STAND-OFF AT VALLEY FORGE laws of the Torah and Tradition. and "You are free to leave this house. Do must live by them." you want to?" she said softly but ne day. one of my brothers "Then we are not free," Simon said firmly. Why is she saying that? l announced. "Teacher is tak tn a kind of anger. "You can't be free thought wildly. He might! 0 ing the class to Valley Forge. l and not free.'' Simon replied. "Ofcourse not. why wanna go. I need a dollar for bus l had a sense offear. l think Mother should l?" fare." also had a sense of something inex "You don't want to because you Said another brother."! was there plicable, something l couldn't quite feel safe here. You are secure. The two years ago. The whole class went grasp. We exchanged a glance. Then Torah and its laws are our security. into a church. Teacher said that Mother looked squarely at Simon. We are free when we live by those that was where George Washington prayed when the Revolutionary War was not going so good." "Did you go in?" l asked. PINCHAS MANDEL "Almost,'' he said carefully. "Then I said, we're only allowed to go into Over 35 Years Experience in Kvura in Eretz Yisrael synagogues not churches. I'll wait •Dedicated to Kavod Haniftar with personal right here by the steps." responsibility throughout service "What did your teacher say?" •Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador Mother asked. -Here and in Eretz Yisrael - He hesitated a moment. Then. "Nothing. She just said, 'In America 1569 - 47th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11219 thereare no ghettos. You're free to go Day & Night Phone (718) 855-5121 where you want to go.' " Honesty - Integrity - Reliability This was heresy. We looked from Cl 1ESED SHEL EMES d~ under'.>tood The Jewish Observer, April 1987 23 have happened?" He walked in, I guessed fiercely. He walked in. "Ifin America we don't have to live in "Mein kindt (my child). from the outside, nothing. From the inside. ghettos, doesn't that mean we are free?" you would have made the first break 'We are free. but we are not free." of your sacredness as a Jew, your holiness, your dignity, your differ laws. lf we go away from them. when world. We can be with them, but not ence from any other boy on the we join and try to be like the rest of of them. We can do what they do, but 'street'." the world. we have no security and only up to where our laws of frum Simon stared at Mother. His face we can be pulled into a current of keit allow. Then we draw a line. We was tight and his eyes glittered with disaster." She spoke in a rich Yid cannot go further with them." a hint of tears. "A small cut is dish. Where did she get those big "I don't understand you, Mom," nothing," Mother said nonchalantly. words? I wondered. Simon said in a strange kind of "It's easily mended. The ghetto of the "The ghetto of our mind builds a anguish. "Suppose I would have mind is a whole system of lines, line of defense against the outside walked into that church. What would where we may and may'not go, what we may and may not do. And the mind is the window of the neshama." "Mom," Velvel broke in, "if 1 don't \Vhat would you do go to Valley Forge, can I have the dol lar for myself?" ifxou could not work Evetyone laughed. Mom took down the cookie jar and brought out a for one full year? glass quart of milk. We fell to it How would you pay for food, clothing hungrily. No more tension. We ate and lodging for the entire year? happily. Years later. I asked Mother if she h~s n1L~v sound. ridiculous to _\:nu no\\', but to sc:vral ~hou~a1.1d fr1n1i'.ies in Er('~Z had ever asked Simon whether he Y1sroel \Vho \v1ll not \Vork this vc I wish to respond to the appeal of the Moetzes Gedolei, HaTorah by enclosing my ron- tribution of$ to Keren HaSh'viis. OS1000 0$500 Ds::H:;o OS180 0$100 0$50 Dother Mail 10: Nanw _____ ------Keren HaSh'viis Olt needed for housekeeping and personal care for the disabled and homebound good pay and benefits Boro Park, Bensonhurst and Flatbush Area full-time live in positions only Project OHR Inc. (Office for Homecare Referral) 1308-40th Street Brooklyn, NY 11218 (718) 853-2700 !iJ1"11i1"1 11"11J 11Ji - 1"1i:s71:JW ii::::i:::i17 ttEBRJ\\CJ\ CLEARANCE SALE ,uoJ\\CJ\- WARE\-\OUSE AT CLEARANCE PRICES! * T 11ke advantage of this unique * The annual Otzar Hasefarim * Books in Hebrew, English, Yiddish. opportunity to e11large your library or Shavuoth sale has hooks of t111 Out of print/almost out of print. stock up on gi~s at ma;or price publishers at substantial savings! Recently printed Judaica and reductions! Hehraica all at giveaway, dramaticall!I reduced prices! A Colle Anatomy ofa Search Exciting, profound. and thoughtful - this fascinating book is the story of many brilliant and accomplished people who found their way to Teshuvah in unbelievable settings. Here are just a few: D A South African physician in a bush country emergency room O The head of a Buddhist monastery in Thailand. who sends a Jewish searcher to a yeshiva in Jerusalem O A leading Israeli Air Force ace five miles up in the sky DA comparison between a "Torah wife" and a "secular wife" This beautifully written. eye-opening book is can't-put- down reading. by Dr. Aklva Tatz Hard cover $9 .95 Paperback $6.95 Available at your local Hebre..,v bookstore or direct from publisher: "Teshuvah is in the air now, inflammable; one has only to" .k ~ light and it flames up '~,~ fiL, 1969 Coney Island Ave/Brooklyn, NY 11223 stn t a R 26 The Jewish Observer, April 1987 BOOKS WAKING UP JEWISH, by Uri Zahar, translated by M. COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI SAMSON RAPHA Weinberg (Hamesoreh Puhl., Jerusalem, 1985, 811.95- EL HIRSCH, Vols. II and IV (Feldheim Puhl., New York hardcover: $8.95-softcoverl. Jerusalem, 1986, $14.50 ea). This is a masterful translation of a most remarkable In an earlier issue of JO, tribute was paid to the great book-the autobiographical account of the author's path undertaking of the Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer Foundation to teshuva. Until he turned to Torah, Uii Zahar was the and the S.R. Hirsch Publication Society in sponsoling top comedian, satirist, film producer and talk show host the publication in English of these collected writings. on the Israeli scene-the embodiment of modem secular The two most recent volumes in the series more than live Israeli society. Obviously he was a man of great intellec up to the high standards set by the earlier ones-both in tual gifts. When he accepted the challenge of investigat the excellence of the English translation and in the bril ing whether there is a G-d who gave us a Torah at Mount liance. importance and timeliness of the contents. Volume Sinai, it was these gifts and his inner integrity that II completes the series on "The Jewish Year" by offeling forced him, reluctantly, to accept the truth of Torah. And the author's essays on the months of Elul to Adar. There these same gifts are evident in this record of his pil are few topics of concern to the contemporary Jew that grimage. are not dealt with in these essays. Of particular signifi It is not easy reading. for it is addressed to people who cance is the essay on "Belief and Knowledge" and the want to make a real critical effort to get at the truth. In discussions of Hellenism and secular culture, of writing for them, the author deals with many major top science-its promise and its pitfalls-and ofChlistianity. ics of concern to modern man. This reviewer wants to Volume IV is devoted to "Studies on Isaiah" and to single out only two: the discussion of the adequacy of "Essays on the Psalms.'' The Latter Prophets are to most modem scientific and pseudo-scientific approach to of us almost a closed book: they seem repetitive in their reality, and the demonstration that there is no way to admonitions, outdated in their targeting on idolatry, and account for the Tanach except by accepting the Revela impenetrable in their style. Yet, they were written down tion at Sinai as a fact. But this book must be read in because they have a message for the ages-and Rabbi S. toto-an experience the reader will not readily forget. R. Hirsch in this volume provides a translation of many of The Jewish Observer, April 1987 27 KASHRUS MAGAZINE the salient passages in Isaiah together with an inter· pretative commentary that addresses itself to our con @&@~ cerns (e.g .. the meaning of exile. section VII. and redemp tion, section VIII). Likewise the essays on a number of the 40 page bimonthly magazine chapters of Tehillim effectively dispel the view that Tan· for the kosher consumer achcontains exaggerated. hyperbolic, and inflated ideas, and show. e.g., the profound ideas and emotions ex 'vVc monitor for you pressed in the Psalms. In the process, such concepts as • l\·lislabckd Products • Parcvc I Dairy • New Products the relationship between individual and community. • Unauthorized Syrnbols •Supervision (~hanges moral corruption and Divine providence are discussed. It (1thcr features: The Kashrus Traveler, Consun1cr Alen, should be noted that the reader will derive the greatest Kosher Services, \Vhat's The Bracha, Ask Dr. Zin11ncnnan benefit from this volume if he studies it against the 5 - 40 page issues I yr. background of the author's major works. notably his commentary on the Chumash. SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM' AIDING TALMUD STUDY, by Aryeh Cannell (Feldheim, U.S Ol\·1 Sl(l 0 yr~ $180} S26 0 ' If all else fiJils. POSITION AVAILABLE Study the Vibrant Torah Insd.tufi(i!'.l· i.n large out.offo'-"f) sources of this booklet. community seeks capable Ben. To.rah for exciting · position .Involving educational·· outreach a!'.ld Discover the secret to wealth and Birkas Hamazon. Ask financial development. your local bookstore to order from Eichler Publications, 1429 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, New York I 1230, Please call3l.2·262.11s1, 718-258-764-3. Special rates for bulk orders with imprint for fund raiser events or celebrations. 718, 788·6'/00, <>r 718-854'2596 28 The Jewish Observer. April 1987 Rabbi Zobin's book pursues a somewhat different objective-to describe problems commonly encountered by the beginning Talmud student and to help students and Rebbeim diagnose and solve these specific prob· !ems. As he points out correctly. frequently intelligent and gifted people are not successful in Talmud study because they were never properly given the skills needed. In an impressive. systematic. manner he deals with prob lems of reading.language. attention, interpretations, etc.. breaking each down into its basic parts and offering concrete advice on how to handle them. This book deserves the careful attention of anyone concerned with Talmud study-and particularly of those who are charged •Analyzes. •Reports. with teachingyoungstersand older beginners. While the scope of this review does not permit listing all the various •Evaluates •Reviews. issues touched. it is obvious that the author has master· •Comments. •Reflects. fully devised a way to solid advancement in learning. Rav Bergman's book is a scholarly work that reflects •Inspires. •Projects. the tradition of the distinguished author. It was tra,ns· lated from the Hebrew original into English by Rabbi N. Kasnett. and edited by Rabbi T. Z.Aram. It is a systematic THE exposition of the history. development and principles of Torah Shebe'al Pell-from Sinai to the Vilna Gaon. The author presents the chain of tradition and the founda· JEWISH tions of the various works that make up the Oral Law Mishnah. Talmud. Midrashim. and later works. He includes the rules determining how questions of law are OBSERVER to be decided: a very important section giving the exact meaning of Talmud terms: an exposition of the rules of biblical exegesis. and a listing of Talmudic weights and Wedo more measures. Source references and copious footnotes en able the interested reader to pursue further any aspects of than just observe. particular interest to him. As Rav Shach stresses in his Haskamah to the Hebrew work. it will make it possible for all students of Torah to obtain the fundamentals ------Subscribe, Renew or Give presented in this work from a reliable source. This work is indeed a remarkable achievement. cover The Jewish Observer ing as it does the entire range of background information now and save. needed by the Talmud student for a proper understand· ing of the material he deals with (if there were anything 0 One Year/$18.00 (for ten issues) additional that could perhaps be desired. it would be a 0 Two Years/$30.00 (a $50 value) somewhat more elaborate treatment of the origin of the 0 Three Years/$40.00 (a $75 value) Mishnah, with reference to the work of the Daros Hari· 0 Outside the U.S.A. add $I 0 a year shonim. since this subject is so crucial from the angle of for each year ordered. hashkafa and historical understanding). The original U.S. FUNDS-DRAWN ON A U.S. BANK ONLY Suite 1200, 84 William Street, New York, N.Y. 10038 Send magazine to: Name Address ______ City ______State _____~iP·--- 0 Enclose gift card 0 Master card 0 Visa Account No. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Expimion date DD (month) DD (year) Signature ______ The Jewish Observer, April 1987 29 Hebrew work has gone through several editions and this can surely be expected from this English edition. YESHIVA RAMACH In the preface to Rabbi Cohen's volume on Ta'anis, the Talmudical University of Florida author analyzes the reasons why many former yeshiva students do not study Gemora. In all too many cases this is due to a lack of basic skills which are needed to derive is now accepting a limited number of serious satisfaction from Gemora study. Hence the Master A and capable Bochurim for a special program Mesekhta series. of which this is one volume. It provides combining Iyun, B'kiyus and Hashkofa. necessaiy background material. gives a summaiy outline ofeach Sugya, delineates the discussions of the Gemora Under the personal direction of the and the analyses offered by the commentators. and even Rosh Yeshiva explains the aggadic sections. The book, which has Has Horav Yochanan Zweig, Shlita kamos from Rav Ruderman"'""'"'· and Rav Gifter "'"'"'"'· has been written primarily for those who have a back Interviews in the New York area for the ground in Talmud study: but it will be veiy helpful at any coming Z'man can be arranged by calling level. since it is in effect a companion to the text of the 305-534-7050 or by writing to Gemora. explaining its basic thrust and then the mean 4014 Chase Avenue ing of the commentaries-all in veiy systematic outline Miami Beach, Florida 33140. form. The author deserves great credit for devising such an effective aid to Talmud study. Scholarships are available. The volume on Nedarim has already been published and the one on Sanhedrin is scheduled for publication in the fall. The monumental ArtScroll Mishnah series. offering l'IOW IS THE TIME TO: Thank Hashem for your ears. the text of the Mishna with translation. anthologized Study verse 17.:24 in MiShlei. commentaiy. charts and diagrams, has reached the half 8Uy a new &fer. way point to completion. with the publication of these Contribute 101 30 The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 A TIME FOR ALL THINGS: The Weekly Portion, a New Dimension, by Nachman Cohen (Torah Lishmah Insti FEIVEL KIRSHENBAUM, Ph.D. tute. 25 Clifton Ave., Yonkers, N.Y., 1985, $6.95-hardcover, Registered Investment Adviser $4.95-softcover). Money Management This interesttng little volume is predicated on the principle that "time is the fundamental quality in the and Financial Advising universe," and therefore the changing seasons of the year each have their special significance. The medium that Fee only. No sales or commissions. alerts us to the varying nuances of the year is the weekly Sidrah, and the author has set out to show the connec (914) 352-1919 tion between each Sidrah and the time of year when it is read. Drawing on a wide range of classical sources. he provides many interesting insights. An example: Chaya SINGLE&,, DOUBLE BREASTED Sarah is always read in Cheshvan-the month in which Sarah died (as well as Methushelach and Rachel), and * MENS' SUITS * which calls upon us to give attention to the significance for us of the death of the pious. This is a particularly useful work for teachers. but provides material for SILBIGER'S thought for any reader. •Slacks * Rain\vear • All Wool Coats * Sports Jackets WAYS OF PEACE, by Rabbi David Vinitsky (Darkey Sholom, Queens: Shemos 1985, Vayikra 1984: $3.00 Unbelievable Prices each, plus shipping and handling). 1769 51 St., Brooklyn, NY {718) fl54-119{) Daily 4:00 p.111.-9:00 p.nl.; Sunday All Day One of our most serious educational problems is the inculcation of good midas. To get children to give more Silbiger Suits You Best thought to their behavior toward others and to apply Torah values to daily life. has proven to be a most difficult task in a world so bereft of self-discipline and ethical ANNOUNCING A MAJOR STUDY AID FOR EVERY standards. Rabbi Vinitsky has therefore rendered a real STUDENT OF THE TALMUD. YOUNG OR OLD service to the community by designing a six-step Midas development program, based on the weekly Sidrah, for students of grades five through nine. Each of the little SEFER KOL HAMIKRAOS volumes contains self-contained units on each Sidrah devoted to one concept and with review questions. The SHEB'TALMUD BAVLI higher grades will find the text easy to grasp; in the younger grades the teacher may have to help the stu ~ dents to some degree. Since this work is primarily I. Every Single Posuk Quoted Anywhere In Shas, designed for school use. a school discount for quantity With Clear Vowels and Trop. orders can be obtained from the author (68-49 Bums St., 2. A Simple, Clear Explanation Of All Difficult Forest Hills, N.Y. 11375 ). It is to be hoped that he will be Words Or Phrases. able to complete the entire work before long. By Harav Hagaon Mordechai David Rubin Vacation in a Torah Atmosphere at Admor Of Sasregen This Sefer 1s being sold 1n all Hebrew book stores CAMP YESHIVA or send $20 tax deductible donation to Kinyan Sforim K'Hal sasregen OF STATEN ISLAND 1279 East 24 Street, Brooklyn, New York J 1210 (718) 338-9633 in the Catskills Please Note! Spacious Bungalows & Deliciously Prepared Meals. We are seeking memorial grants ( 1:i1:> or rn:n:i ) from individuals, foundations, heritage funds, endowment funds etc. to We are proud to announce that the well known Rabbi sponsor the publication of this sefer in the regular full size Yisroel Kleinman will be Leaming & Day Camp Director. Mesechtos of the entire Shas. For further information. please Call (718) 356-5119 or (718) 356-5412. contact us directly. The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 31 A FUTURE AND A HOPE, Shiurim on Chumash and Jewish Thought, by Nesanel Kasnett (Feldheim Pub!., the beanstalc Jemsalem, 1987. $8.95). Where every man This volume is slim in size but most impressive in content. It discusses a number of basic issues crucial to · and young man should an understanding of the Chumash-the nature of crea tion, Adam's sin, the role of woman, Jewish nationhood, be outfitted in the to cite a few-drawing on Maharal, Nefesh Hachayim, season's finest. Pri Tzaddik, and many other sources. The essays are brief but profound, and will stimulate the reader to think An outstanding updated collection for more deeply into the topics raised, and perhaps even to your spring and Pesach wardrobe. search for complementary or alternative interpretations found in Torah literature-the author's approach is by Our personal attention guarantees no means the only possible one, but it is always worthy of a perfect fit every time. consideration and buttressed by an array of Midrashic and Rabbinic quotations. Trenchcoats, Suits, Slacks, Shirts, and more Loaded with values and selection TORAH TREASURES, compiled and annotated by Dov Hrs: Sun, Tut>s, Wed, Thurs 11-.5 Furer (C.I.S. Publications, Lakewood, 1987). 1314 Avenue P Mon 2-6, Fri 12-4 Brooklyn, NY 11229 Evei, Mon, Wed & Motzi'i Shabbos 7:30-10 P.M. 718~627-8724 We ship UPS ' We have here a selection of thoughts and insights, culled from more than a hundred of the classical com mentaries, on the Sidrosof Bereishisand Shemos. Excel lently translated by Avraham Yaakov Finkel, and pres ented in most attractive layout and design. the comments range from penetrating insights to intriguing Gemat Famous riyos. They cover the entire spectmm of Torah thought, from Meshech Chachmah and Panim Yaojs to Malbim The Dairy Restaurant and Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, to Baal Shem Tov 222,West 72nd Street{212J 595-8487 and Ksav Sofer. Of particular value to those who find it difficult to pemse the original works in Hebrew, this CholovYisroel •Shomer Shabbos work will undoubtedly find a place at many Shabbos Under the SupeNision of K'hal Adath Jeshurun tables. One shares the hope, expressed in his introduc Open for Breakfast, Luncheon and Dinner tory Jetter by the Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaas, that the Catering • Parties~ Meetings author will continue this effort to bring Torah before wider circles.a S. R. "EZRA" 'BNOTCHAYILCOLLEGEfORWOMEN in BAYIT VEGAN, INFANT AID FUND JERUSALEM, ISRAEL 11tis is an URGENT APPEAL to aid mothers in Eretz Yisroel who are in dire need to furnish Offers: their new born infants with layettes, blankets, • Intensive Umudei Kodesh Program sweaters, etc. • Emphasis on Middot & Character In merit of this great mitzvah mqy the A/. mighty ble&\"you • Personal & Warm Atmosphere in all walks of life • Te_achers Training Program • In-Depth Study of.Eretz Yisrael Endorsed By • Relive Tanach With On Spot Tours Rebetzin Rashel Krawiec Mrs. Dora Weiss • College Accreditation Rebetzin Dobe Levovitz--Rcbetzin Esther Shain • Fall and Spring Semesters Rebetzin Bessie Safrin-Rehetzin Baila Suzholz • Community Chesed Programs We also furnish linens to needy kallas Rabbi Yehoshua Freilich, Dean CONG. OHEL YITZCHOK For Additional Information 202 HewC's StrC'et, Brooklvn. :-.JY. 1J211 !T.V< l"l<_·dncl!hk') call (718) 441-9495 or 846-4695 or write P.O.a 16406, Jerusalem, -Israel 02-431483, 32 The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 Second Looks at the Jewish Scene Where Does A Russian Jew Find Refuge? ne of the most time-honored atrocities against the Jews at the concerns ofJews throughout height of the War, World Zionist 0 our millenia-long galus has spokesmen would not accept the con been to provide rescue and refuge to demnation resolutions unless they fellow Jews suffering oppression. also included a call for the establish Jewry"s collective memory is rich in ment of a Jewish State in Palestine. heroic endeavors at saving fellow Both countries balked at this and the Jews in distress. as well as some resolution remained unpassed. heroic failures. After the war. when concentration Outstanding in many a frame of camp survivors were interned in reference are the precious few suc Displaced Person camps, Jewish cessful attempts to save lives from Agency emissaries meticulously des Hitler"s genocide. in a setting of gen troyed affidavits that would have eral helplessness and almost uni Palestine to committed Zionists, facilitated the refugees' emigration versal indifference. Ardent Zionists leaving a measly 6% for would-be to Western countries. Without the have argued that would there have emigres from Agudath Israel. In its affidavits, they had no recourse but been a Slate of Israel in 1938 as perverse line of reasoning, securing to go to Israel. The individual's right there was in 1948, millions of Jews Jewish lives may have been impor to choice of destination. fmding a would have been spared the destruc tant but not as much as was the quiet haven in a stormy world. these tion of World War II. While we have prospect of building a Jewish State. took second position to the ideal of no way of knowing for sure. the This is not speculation. It was the building a State. argument is that a Jewish State spoken credo of Chaim Greenberg. serves asa safetynet,in ir miklat,an Chaim Weitzmann and other Zionist THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED institution in service of saving Jews leaders. Moreover. it was the agenda threatened in life and limb. for their lobbying efforts during the hydowerakeoverthedead Now historians have documented war. when rescue possibilities were ashes of history? Because that this was simply not the case in given second priority to the cause of W things have not really the 30's, when the Jewish Agency as building the State. Indeed, when the changed. a matter of policy gave priority to U.S. Congress and the British Parli Hundreds of thousands of Soviet applications for visas to (then) ament both offered to decry the Nazi Jews are sufferingvarious degrees of The Jewish Observer. April 1987 33 anti-Semitic opression, and a large ance. In dismay, Israel saw as many far more remote in Israel than in proportion of them want to leave as 80% of the Russian emigres be America. Upon further thought, their country for more freedom in come noshrim-dropouts-chang however, by their very choice of Israel or the West. In the early l 970's ing their destination from ls.rael to America over Israel, the noshrim the Kremlin permitted tens of thou America. Since then, the flow has have already expressed their lack of sands of Jews to leave the country frozen to a mere trickle. interest in Jewish values and ex annually-as many as 51,000 in Now that we seem to be on the periences. Wherever their ultimate 1979-with Israel as their claimed threshold of a possible thaw in Rus destination, these Jews will require ultimate destination, ostensibly to sia's oppressive climate (glasnost as a large measure of attention-unless they simply choose to remain in Russia. Mr. Shamir said that if Jews leaving the Soviet Union did not come to Israel, then "there is no importance in NO PLACE FOR COERCION their migration." n either case, coercion surely "It is very sad to hear such remarks," Mr. Natan has no place and yet it was to Sharansky responded. "If Mr. Shamir wants Israel to be I coercion that Prime Minister Shamir has resorted, actually urg the center of Jews all over the world, he must express ingAmerica to discontinue granting concern about all the Jews, even those not ready to come Soviet Jews refugee status, arguing to Israel." that since they possess Israeli visas -N.Y. Times {April 5, 1987) they are not truly refugees. Furth ermore, he has accused HIAS and various other groups facilitating be reunited with their families. Many Gorbachev calls it), the status of the their emigration to the U.S. of help of them, however, "revised" their Soviet refugees is being reconsid ing them for self-serving motives: as plans while in Vienna, the first stop ered, and indeed a good case can be refugee-relief organizations, he over on the longjourney from Russia. made for wanting these Russian claims, they trade in these Jews' Here they were able to ake advantage Jews to stay with their original refugee status, and need them the of their status as refugees and appeal choice of destination-Israel.At first way charity hospitals need patients. to the U.S. for special visas and to glance, chances of further cultural Without them, the relief groups American relief agencies for assist- assimilation and intermarriage seem would be without clientele. Shamir has even gone so far as to suggest that the USSR permit Israeli planes to carry Soviet Jews directly .THE YITIY LEIBEL HELP-LINE to Lad, for the purpose of avoiding A Free Service of the the Vienna stopover where destina tions are revised, to ensure that they Yitty Leibel Chesed Fund stay true to their announced in • Marital problems? • Fear ofbreak..cJ.own? tentions-actually inviting the Rus •Overpowering stress? •Parent-child friction? sians to clamp down on those elect ing to go elsewhere. (According to a Do you have problems like these and are afraid or ashamed to talk to news report in the N. Y. Times, March anyone? ... Do you want a trained, wise, warm professional who will 31, there are possibilities that the talk to you on the phone? stopover will be in Communist Ru mania instead of Vienna, ruling out Some ofthe Torah community's highly skilled psychologists, social any possibility of change of destina workers, and therapists are ready to help. Your consultation will be tion.)After they have sampled Israeli treated with the utmost discretion. You may remain anonymous if life, says Shamir, they will have had you prefer. They understand. They're trained. They have Ahavas an opportunity to see how unfounded Yisrael. the Russians' anti-Israel propaganda actually is. If they wish, they can Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00-12:00 a.m. then opt for America, but at least it will be an informed choice (although Sunday through Thursday 9:00-11:00 p.m. they will then be in the category of ordinary yordim, waiting for their Dial (718) HELP-NOW(435-7669) turn for entry to the USA, without any of the benefits that come with This proje<:t has been approved by leading Torah authorities. For information only call (718) 43&-'1706. refugee status). 34 The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 migration policy. suggesting a mood benefit of the State sounds suspi of atonement for sins of the past. ciouslylike an echo of the old story Why They How unseemly. how self-defeating the Medina ls the primary value, to then. for the leader of a Jewish State which the Jewish People are subser ])ropOut~ to plead with the American presi vient. rather than the reverse: the dent to close the doors of immigra State exists to serve Jewry. and when Shatansky tion to Jews seeking refuge, no mat it can be a medium of rescue for the ter what their motive! people. in any way that it can. that By Andrea Kino. Enlisting the aid of other govern becomes top priority. Would Shamir JERUSALEM (JPl's)--Natan Sharansky ments to close off preferred lands of but respect history and its lessons at scored what he called the failure of the refuge to Jews in distress for the least as much as America does.o Jewish Agency.anl:!Absorption Ministry to absorb new Russian imll)igtants; This failure, said Sharansky, was !he main reason why many Soviet J.ews pre· Th.e covet ofthe Marth '87: JeW:ish: Ob~rver :was ~ 0n a p115sage in ferred America to Israel..... Shem~ 19, 4, in. Which the. reclempti Shamir's motivation is obvious. ?N1'l''> n11)N n)n>J The high proportion of noshrimadds injury to insult by denying Israel CAMP AGUDAWMIDWEST much-needed population growth. n11)1 P''l "'ltY'?N o·nn ,., y;ny But this does not justify interfering with the free movement of Soviet ocated near the shore of Lake Michigan, in the picturesque Jews to the destination of their L resort town of South Haven, Michigan. This beautiful set choice. ting, just a 21/2 hour drive from either Chicago or Detroit, was This is especially sensitive in view formerly a four-star hotel, complete with Olympic-sized pool of the countries involved. Barely a and all recreational facilities. The luxurious accommodations, half-century ago. Jews were desper coupled with the famous "Camp Agudah Ruach Country Spirit;' ately attempting to find refuge from the growing Nazi onslaught. but promise to make this the greatest summer your son has ever had. America's exclusionary immigration The inaugural season will run from policies kept thousands of would-be July 20 I nm1 l"=> - August 24 I :IN \J":> refugees from finding shelter here. For more information contact An entire shelf of literature has Rabbi Yosef Chaim Karmel, Director, 201-370-0046. emerged on this subject, from For registration information and applications call Morse's While Six Million Died. to 312-267-7174, 267-1442, or 761-8873. David Wyman's award-winning study The Abandonment of the For staff information and applications call Rabbi Leibel Trainer, Jews, to be the soon-to-be-published Head Counselor 312-743-3022. Thy Brother's Blood. by Dr. David Kranzler. America has not been im A Chinuch Project of Agudath Israel of Chicago pervious to this flow of criticism, Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Levine, Moshe Kahn, Yisrocl Gluck, Presidium and has engaged in serious soul David Langsner, Chairman, Can1p Con1mission searching and liberalization of im- The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 35 New! International Kosher Foods from Empire ... Borekas Indulge yourself with these delicate Grecian pastries. These fluffy, all natural borekas come filled with creamy cheese or spinach. Apple Strudel Europe's favorite dessert, filled with apples and raisins, will bring smiles to your table. It's all natural, kosher and delicious! Pizza Siciliana Zesty Pizza Siciliana topped with onions and peppers or with mushrooms brings you the best from Italy. You'll love the delicious blend of tangy sauce and Cholov Yisroel cheeses' Imported from Bring some joy from the old country to your table with ISRAEL! these kosher taste treats. Empire bakes them to perfection, naturally. So convenient... all you do is heat, serve and enjoy! Ask your grocer for these new kosher pleasures from Empire. THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN KOSHER FOODS. 1 (800) EMPIRE-4 ~ ~ kept in stride, even to the point where a number of non-Jewish manufacturers felt it worth their Second Looks at the while to exhibit at the Expo.Accord ing to one estimate, over 16,000 dif Jewish Scene ferent products with Kashrus su . pervision are now available in the American market. FOOD, FOOD, FOOD A Matter of Taste as history being written? in 1988. Something notPworthy has Not really. But a milestone transpired in Jewish life. So we offer W of sorts is certainly being a few observations. passed, when an entrepreneur can First, the ob•ious: •People will pay rent an exhibition hall at New York a lot of money and suffer a long wait City's spanking new Javits Conven in line to (a) experience something tion Center for a Kosher Foods & Jewish, (b) find a distraction. (c) get Jewish Life Expo. and lease out every a free sample of food, (d) discover inch of available space, with other some new ideas in food preparation, would-be exhibitors trying to (e) learn about the newest titilating squeeze in; when 60.000 people line to-the-palate imports, (fl see the up for hours for a chance to pay $5 to look at displays of kosher food, to sniff and to sample; when the said Expo proves so successful that com peting publicists are spotted photo graphing every booth and display, and the entrepreneur behind it all has already negotiated for an Expo II CELEBRATION OF THE "DOOMED" latest in Jewish books and music, (g) here was also an element of have fun, (h) do what everybody else celebration at the Expo that seems to be doing. T went beyond the gustatory. • Behavior at food counters in a There was a sense of good feeling midtown-Manhattan convention that comes from knowing that the hall. at a heimische Kiddush, or at prophets of your doom were dead an upscale smorgasbord can be wrong. equally reprehensible. Turn the clock back to forty years •The Kosher market has grown in ago. The steady descent of Ortho numbers and sophistication, and doxy in America during the first half the food industry has more than of the 20th Century prompted social The Jewish Observer. April 1987 37 scientists to predict that Kashrus visitors, but the joy was most pro Fine arts and photography, crafts was on the way out. The common nounced on the faces of the children and kitchen ware have their place, wisdom then was: Who in the next from day schools who never had too. (Imagine dietary color-coded generation would care about the realized before that Kashrus can be plastic storage containers, and dis subtleties of the little letters and so plentiful, so accessible. posable Pesach sinks, if you will!) other Kashrus symbols? Well, the And so do social concerns such as next generation has arrived, and A DISTURBING ELEMENT Kayama (see J.O. April '86), a free concern for Kashrus has mush dental clinic for Jerusalem children, roomed. The burgeoning yeshiva n a more analytical note, there and the Jewish Braille Institute.... population, multiplying Chassidic was also a disturbing element The inclusion of a booth for the communities, expanding Orthodox 0 of confusion in the exhibi Research Centre of Kabbalah in the synagogues, baalei teshuva-all tion. The title in full read "Kosher carnival-like atmosphere of the Jav contribute to what took place in the Food & Jewish Life Expo." In explor its Center was puzzling, to say the Javits Center in March. A sign of ing the booths that came under the least. But United Synagogue of health and expansion rather than label of Jewish Life, one became America's pitch for Conversative demise. So there was joy in the air. aware that not all of them could fit sponsored settlements in Israel-as Undoubtedly, the sense of triumph under the "Kosher" rubric. Ofcourse, well as some of the vacation-and that grows from the historic pers no one would find fault with this wig educational-theme booths-certain pective was felt by the middle-aged company or that publishing house. ly gave one pause. Yes, the Conserva tives do deal with Kashrus. But the Conservatives do not adhere to the laws of Kashrus as they are com )( monly understood. . . . And their ideology is far from Kosher. "Kosher ... Jewish Life"? This, in turn, put the "Kosher" of the entire Expo under the cloud of a questionmark. Not that every food didn't have some kind of supervi sion. And not that the exhibitors' guide to the booths didn't state in bold letters, "Show management as sumes no responsibility for the Kashruth ...."After all, JO also has a disclaimer alongside the Table of Contents regarding the Kashrus of foods advertised. But it is quite a leap from advertising foods of as IN 10 JvtINU'Il:s1 sumed Kashrus to offering them free to passersby-indiscriminate ite into the freshest -ever kosher cookies! adults and unk.nowledgeable school Nothmg could be easier-slice them children alike. It is one matter to mix Bstraight out of the freezer and pop them meat and cheese ads on the same in your oven. In just a few minutes the mouth· page. It's quite another to have one watering aroma of fresh-from-the-oven cookies booth offering free hot dog samples will fill your kitchen and bring the family running. and another dispensing cheese and Choose from chocolate chip, oatmeal/raisin or . . sugar-and they're ,,,,.~-+~ pareve, too. Ask for _, .. ··•···. ~ · Kineret Slice 'N Bake · ~- Cl_ Cookies at your local -~~i!l!··~~"ciioC .. store or kosher ,. -~ " butcher. All you do is 1406-45tlt St. ~~~ 38 The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 dairy delights just a few steps apart. (The organizer of the Expo was ap prised of this problem and he ex Ev:erythingfor yourJJ.oor .. Atyourdoor. pressed his intention of correcting this potential stumbling block in SBIM()~'s,·.-••.18(} future Expos.) .. Other items needed attention: CARPET•TILE •.LINOLEUM some kind of control mechanism to Becfrooms.~itcheils,Dining · determine that the food samples of :rooms, Stairs,_ Uvipg rooms, etc. fered are identical to the foods ad OVER EXPERIENCE vertised; that the supplementary 38YEAR~OF. foods-the crackers. the ice-cream cones. etc.-are at least as "Kosher" vvhataPl.EA!>Uf!El as the primary foods-the spreads, Stay at l\_ome and enjoyquali\y by professioDals; a\ S"'.~et prices_, the tofu creations, the wines and Nigl\t and Sundayappointments cheeses, et al. available SYMPTOMS OF LARGER SCENE rhaps some of these points are symptoms of the problems P caused by the contemporary expansion of food production and CALL $AiM6N;i:i; AND£!NJOY!' the proliferation of supervisory agencies ... questions like: Who's in 718·376""7343,,, , charge? Does the superoision cover the ice-cream only, or also the cone? HAPPINESS, .• is aJ1oor:hjJS,himon'$• How do I know that I'm eating what the wrapper says I'm eating? Is the supervising rabbi really Orthodox? And is the Orthodox rabbi really ARE YOU MOVING? superoising? IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS One can assume in good faith that those who so carefully planned Expo PRINTED INCORRECTLY ON THE JO '87 will respond to the suggestions offered here and elsewhere when the MAILING LABEL? details of Expo '88 are on the draw ing board. As for the problems in the We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the JO to your home. Kashrus scene in American-let's Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly not be forced to wait until 1988 for your address and computer processing numbers that are printed the answers.o above your name on the address label. DIGEST OP MEPORSHIM ADDRESS CHANGE FORM ,D1 p? ,in:J. ,D1 p? (affix label here) ?"YT 1:vu7x 7xmv l"n1;n:i Available at LEKUTEI INC. do I. Hasenberg Print correct (or new) name and address below: 10 \Vest 47th Street, Room 702 Ne\V York, N.Y. 10036 Nan1e (212) 719-1717 20 Volumes on Turah, Perek, Address Medrash, Megilos and Talmud. City, State, Zip------ Proceeds of sales distributed among Yeshivas and used for Date Effective ------reprinting of volumes out-of.print Please a!lo\V 6-8 iveeks for a!I changes to be reflected on your n1ailing label. \\'E \VILL \\:OT BE PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME RESPONSIBLE FOR BACK ISSUES MISSED unless you notify us 8 \Veeks prior to your 1no\'e. The Jewish Observer. April 1987 39 YESHIVA BIRKAS REUVEN 1221 Ave. S, Brooklyn POST HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM Moed/Orach Chaim Personal attention • Full time Rebbeim <> SEMICHA PROGRAM Chulin/Yoreh Deah Shiurim I GOT MY JOB Practical halacha <> THROUGH TAHARAS HAMISPACHA PROGRAM Hilchos Nidah Shimush in maros pnp;ect COPE Three Sedorim • Dormitory Facilities A DIVISION OF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA <> Harav Shamshon Brodsky, Rosh Hayeshiva JOIN THE MANY YUNGELEIT WHO Harav Asher Zimmerman, Yoreh Deah HAVE FOUND CAREERS THROUGH For information, call Rav Wikler: OUR FREE PLACEMENT CENTER (718) 375-8611/(718)998-3201 CALL (212) 363-5660 Offices located in BoroPark, Flatbush and Manhattan TORAH EDUCATORS INSTITUTE ill1!1 ':J)f')>JJ l)'>Jt> V1>J'V!1 lN l1>J!1- O'J'l.111' Registration is now open for the summer program of 5747 which will be held IYH in Yerusholayim. Once again, the program which has been recommended and Are You A Young Kolle! Couple endorsed by Gedolei Yisroel, will present on intensive course of Interested In Living In Israel? study, prepared for Bnei Torah to enable them to develop their full potential as Mechanchim in Yeshivos and Day Schools. Our dedicated staff of Roshei Yeshiva, professional Rabbeim, and KIRYAT CLEVELAND prominent Mechanchim, will present the full range of subjects vital to the success of the rebbe in the classroom. In Haamna. one of Israel's fastest growing cities. We invite motivated individuals possessing higher Yeshiva and (or) centrcilly loca1ecJ 15 minutes from s·nei [3rcik cnid Kolle! education, to participate in this program. I hour from Jerusalem. is srcking St'.rious 13·nci Tcirah wr10 arc interested in living ancJ Imming in Scholarships Are Available Recognized for a Yeshiva Teacher's License a cornunity-tvpe kollcl with gcxxJ opportunities in For further infonnation contact oulrcach to Englisli-spcaking families. Rabbi Hillel Mandel Rabbi Gershon Brafman If you arc intcrcsteri. please call Dean of Education Dean of Administration (312) 478-1776 N.Y. 718 805"1191 Jerusalem 2-810-240 40 The Jewish Observer, April 1987 Letters THE AUTHOR REPLIES The source of the reference to the ••••••••••• to the "Gaon 's Goral" is Rabbi Bezalel ••••••••••• Landau's highly regarded biography, ••••••••••• HaGaon HeChassid MiVilna (p. Editor 408, Jerusalem 5738). According to Rabbi Landau, he was told the story by "A. Elzenblatt, of Yeshivas Mir, a former student at Lakewood." I intended no slight against Ye story could be made known to me. PERSPECTIVES ON THE shiva Rabbi Jacob Joseph, which Having made somewhat of a study EAST SIDE, RABBI MOSHE had maintained an exceptionally of Reb Aaron's life; studying under FEINSTEIN AND RABBI AARON high standard of Torah scholarship KOTLER7"'1 him for nigh onto a decade-and and pedagogy. It should be noted having written (J.0. May '73) and that a disproportionate number of To the Editor: lectured extensively on RebAaron-1 outstanding Torah leaders received must frankly state that the story, at YourTishrei issue in appreciation their grounding in "R.J.J." My point of Hagaon Reb Moshe Feinstein'"" least at first glance, simply does not was certainly on par with your usual ring true (not having anything to do standard of excellence as was the with their mutual greatness or es 1i'T':1N 1':1~11 outstanding article by Rabbi Nasson teem for each otherl. Scherman of Artscroll. While the point may seem insig LOST &.FOUND I would like to take note of several nificant. historical accuracy is cer To announce an object found historical points. When Reb Moshe tainly important, as is understand Please Call: (7111) 436-4999 moved to the East Side. where I grew ing the background of Reb Aaron's coming to America and the nature of To find out if your object was up a few doors away, the Agudas found Please Call: 718 438..0592 Horabbonim and the offices ofEzras the relationship between these two giants. APublic Service of Torah Communications Torah headed by the revered Rav Producers ol Dial-A-Dal Henkin were not on East Broadway, RABBI SHAUL KAGAN Dlal-A-Shlur, Mlahnah-On-The-Phone but on Nassau Street in the financial Kolle/ Bais Yitzchok Pittsburgh, Pa. & Sponsors ot Cnavra Ml1hnayo1 Bal-Peh district, not far from the offices of the Agudah. They did not come to East Broadway till well into the l 950's or even sixties after the pass ing of the late Rabbi Israel Rosen berg. the eminent long time Presi AN URGENT REMINDER dent of the Agudath Harabbonim. FROM The outstanding institution on the East Side at that time was the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School, which CHEVRA DOR YESHORIM even in the forties boasted a good thousand students or more. R.J.J., YOUNG PEOPLE OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE MUST BE TESTED as it was known. was a block and a in order to prevent the scourge of Tay-Sachs disease from half away from M.T .J. and in men striking the next generation, in accordance with the directives of tioning the institutions of the East Side, this is a startiing omission. the Gedolei Hadar. The relationship between Reb Aaron and Reb Moshe was indeed SCHOOLS and YESHIVOS: one of great mutual respect. Please contact us if you are interested Rabbi Scherman relates an inci in having testing done for students. dent concerning Reb Aaron making use of the Gaon's Goral. indicating Call for an appointment: that he-RebAaron-join Reb Moshe (718) 384-6060, (914) 783-1370, (914) 425-4466 in the United States. A reputable No fee. Confidentiality assured. writer of Rabbi Scherman's stature no doubt carefully researched his CHEVRA DOR YESHORIM, INC. sources, and I would be deeply grate 33 Spencer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11205 ful if the source of that particular The Jewish Observer, April 1987 41 your recent column about Elie Wie TROUBLED WITH COMMENT ON ELIE WIESEL sel (Jan. '87). First of all, I don't think that he To the Editor, falls into the category of an apiko rus, therefore any public ridiculing I have been troubled by the con of him falls into the category of tents of your "Second Looks at the lashon hora. Secondly, even if he in the article was that Reb Moshe Jewish Scene" column ever since its did, I feel that your point against '""· quickly took his place among inception. I am not totally convinced him was a mistake for two reasons. the leaders of the rabbinate and of the necessity or properness of a Ever since the end of the Holo chessed activities, which were column that is constantly devoted to caust the Jewish People (I include all represented by the Agudath Harab criticizing other people and organi Jews, Orthodox, Conservative, Re bonim, Ezras Torah, and Vaad zations. I assume that the basis for form, etc.) have constantly been re Hatzalah. this column is the halacha that it is minding the world of the terrible fate As to the Lower Manhattan loca both permissible and required of us that befell us. The time has come, tion of the above organization, I to ridicule views that are heretical in though, that many gentiles feel that stand corrected and am grateful to the eyes of the Torah and those who they have heard enough about it ad the writer. express them. This may be true in nauseum. The constant reminder the case of most of your articles; awakens the latent anti-Semitism RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN however I don't find this to be true in resting within many of the descend ants of Eisav. Kial Yisroel could do ii"::l without that. When, upon accepting the Nobel Prize, Mr. Wiesel says that MONSEY SEMINARY FOR TEACHERS he feels for the oppressed and perse cuted of all the nations he dispells Maplewood Lane, P.O.B. 107, Monsey, N.Y. 10952 some of the potential hatred. Instead of reacting by saying: "The Jews are Under the direction of Horav S.M. Breslauer J<"U'7'D once again crying about something that happened forty years ago,'' the reaction will be that he is thoughtful is pleased to welcome to its staff and caring about others. fOT the coming year (n"r.nun) Secondly, it is true that we have suffered more than any nation. And we are not like the others; we are the REBBETZIN ESTHER ROSENBERG''"" Am Segulah, they aren't. Yet we (formerly Sais Yaakov T cache rs' Seminary mustn't forget that all people deserve and Bais Yaakov, Ferndale, N.Y.) to be treated properly and decently. It is a tragedy when any people are MRS. RIVKA SAMSON """ (formerly Rik.a Breuer Teacher's Seminary) c:2J1ATANA * One year intensive program * Culminating in Teaching Certificate yALLEI(Y n1,r.:i:J1 .nu1T"f'l:::i rn.Y,:::i nr.i?wii * 4906 18th Ave. * Supervised Dormitory facilities Brooklyn, N.Y. (718) 851-4448 * Outstanding Mechanchim * Unique ru.Tal Tarah community Jewi. 42 The Jewish Observer, April 1987 killed and persecuted. It is a tragedy when millions of Cambodians are slaughtered, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians are mur HELP WANTED dered and when blacks are gunned Exe.C:utive secretarial position available atthe Jewish Observer. Must be down in the streets of South Africa. And this may surprise you, but it is excellent typist, word processing experience preferred. Excellent even a tragedy when Palestinian opportunity for post high school or seminary graduate. children are killed by Israeli bomb· ers. We must never allow our posi Call 212-797-7394 tion as the Am Hashem to allow us Clerical secretary also needed-typing, light bookkeeping, phone, etc. to discount the worth and value of others. CHAYIM LANDO Los Angeles, CA EDITORIAL RESPONSE While halacha does indeed call for pointing out the follies of those who would promote attitudes or conduct contrary to Torah, there was no such intention in the article referred to by Mr.Lando. You Can Learn The Skills Necessary We did, however, fault Mr. Wiesel To Be Successful Jn Today's Modem Office. for universalizing the very unique trauma of the Holocaust. He isa pub lic figure, he spoke publicly on behalf BOOKKEEPING/ SECRETARIAL of all Jews, and in fact was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace as a repre sentative of the Jews who suffered, LEARN: those who survived, as well as their children. As such, it was in place for Introduction to Data Processing us to comment if we saw fit, and we did. Word Processing It was our contention that he had no need to go beyond the context of the award-the specific Jewish ex Computerized Bookkeeping Applications perience.! cannot imagine any other awardee-South African, Irish, or Computer Literacy Argentine-who would have brought in Jewish suffering in his accep Typing tance, as did Wiesel for the Arabs, the Poles, and so on. Bookkeeping Even a quick reading of the article should reflect the message as one of 111\'.\NCIAL ,-VIJ GI~\NT.S l'Oll ELJ(;,.\IH,E l',-\llTICIPANT.S compassion, admiration and res pect-not ridicule-with a measure APPLY TODAY! of criticism. Such was our intention. RABBI NISSON WOLPIN call: (718) 436-1700 Al:: credited by the full Twtion Asscx:iation of ZAVE Scholarship <'lv.:11lable Independent College's & in conjunct1on \Mth Schoors Ucensed by the SHER UN Rnanc1a! AJd Grants COPE New York St.ate for ehg1bfe Educational Depart~nt A ORCHESTRA parnc1pant5 INSTITUTE D111s1on of Agudath Israel The Computer Programming Training of .. The Jewish Observer, April 1987 43 REVIEW ON BOOK REVIEW salem's leading theatre, and perhaps one could ask the question, "Liaison even Jerusalem's largest building for what?" The point of this letter is that is equipped for such events, not to give the ICF..J any unwar To the Editor: lends their facilities to an organiza ranted publicitywhich will help them I should like to thank you for your tion which is frankly missionary in in their insidious anti-Jewish fine review of Israel-The Christian character and which operates pro agenda, but to alert the entire Jew Dilemma (Book Review, May 1986). grams that have been designed spe ish community, in Israel and in the How sad, though, to think that 40 cifically to convert as many Jews to Diaspora. Today, there are approxi years after the founding of the State Christianity as possible, to pervert mately 190 active anti Jewish/anti of Israel we should still be at the the national religion of the Jewish Israeli missions at least. working in mercy of the Church and the people, and to do this in their own Israel. The majority are led by ex Church's hirelings. It is even sadder Jewish land! treme right wing fundamentalists still to think that our country is up I enclose some publicity that ap (ICEJ heads this group) who are for sale. piece by piece, to the highest peared at the ICEJ's congress this based in the U.SA bidder. One of the finest examples year. It is interesting to note that But they are not the only culprits. today is Jerusalem at the Binyanei requests for an itemized and audited The mainline churches have now Ha'uma Theatre. accounting of monies sent to Jewish joined with charismatic pentecost Each year, the International causes, social and otherwise (in Is als, with Hebrew-Christian organi Christian Embassy Jerusalem rents rael) by the ICEJ for the year ending zations run by Jews and by Chrts almost the entire building during 1985-6, elicit evasive replies, or a tians, and with any organisation the week of Succot to hold their no-response. no matter whether they are on the international missionary congress Since establishing its mission to extreme left or the extreme right and week-long seminars under cover the Jews, under the original title of politically-who will help them to of the International Feast of Taber The Almond Branch, the ICEJ has, reach their goal. This is the control nacles. Despite a number of articles in the space of six years, succeeded of Jerusalem. in The Jerusalem Post, not known in its efforts to buy its way into cer Should any JO readers require for its pro-Orthodox Jewish report tain segments of Jewish/Israeli so any reports on the subject of The ing, in which ICEJ's youth mission ciety to the point where it actually New Religious Political Right Move to the Jews/Israeli on the kibbutzim employs a Jew in its Jerusalem head ment in the USA and their work in was reported on at great length (refer mission office. Mr. Zvi Givati is des Israel: The Mormon Church and Is 'Project Kibbutz'), the Managingand cribed as the ICEJ's Israeli Liaison. rael: The International Christian Administrative officers of Jeru- Liaison between what? Better still, Embassy Jerusalem and its Root You're Readyto Leave HOTLINE NewYorkCitjr ... Bur ... TO JERUSALEM CAPITAL In time of illness, surgery or You \Vant to continue to have a crisis, special prayers will be choice of schools which oHCr a high quality of Orthodox and secular recited at the Western Wall and at our Yeshiva in Jerusalem. education ... [Ml You \Vant your farnily to experience a CALL 24 HOURS close knit, \Varm conununity dedi MATERNITY (718) 871-4111 cat('d to Torah,Avodah and Ge1nillus A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE OF Ch 44 The Jewish Obseroer, April 1987 and Branch-Noah Institute in Israel; Bush", we could only sigh with an Christian and Hebrew-Christian guish. Missionary Activity in Israel (an However, when evenjrumJews are overview which I researched. ana starting to imitate some of these lysed and wrote for Yad L'Achim in things, this is very disturbing. We !983/4);TheJewsForJesusand Dr. should realize that the practice of Billy Graham Israel Missionary Se giving gifts is firmly rooted in com minar-Lausanne Consultation for memorating the gifts brought toJ- Jewish Evangelism 1986: Jordan when he was born. Something that 491613thAve.,B'klyn,N.Y.11219 College Blossoming Rose IrOvot and we should not want to imitate. (718) 854-2911 Rose Wohl Garden mission projects BORUCH YAAKOV FELDMAN in Israel; and various statistical re Brooklyn, N. Y. ports. please directly enquiries to my home address. GMNGGIFl'S MRS. SYLVIA VICKERS ANYTIME-ALMOST Apartnient 8 18 Ben Gurion FROM FACTORY Azor 58077. Ismel To the Editor: REPRESENTAT/VE SAVE!!! In your December issue the very n:JUt ,,,,UI interesting article. "By The Way. ON NOT GMNG GIFl'S ANOTHER DIMENSION What Happened to Chanukah?" was amiss In one point.The author wrote To the Editor: that presents "can be given on Wed nesday on Pesach, Shavuos. Succos. p>7i 1>Nr.> on1:iN Rabbi Emanuel Feldman's article Shabbos. ... " Halacha forbids giv N"7Jl1 N"7JlJ 1r.lt>1r.l 111J "By the Way, Whatever Happened to ing presents on Shabbos and Yorn o>y1:ipn o>J>i >n:i:i >i:i1 )Y1\J1 Chanuka?" was overdue. For a very Tov since one must make a kin For Practical Assistance in long time in American Jewry, Chan yan-that is, take possession, which Settling Financial Disputes uka has, in one degree or another, is not permitted. It should have said According to Din Torah in been turned into a "Jewish" version "in honor of Shabbos"-but not N.Y. and Vicinity. of the non-Jewish December holi "on." Rabbi Avrohom Meir Gluck day. When our non-frum fellow Jews MRS. YAFFA DAYAN (914) 356-5572 went so far as to make a "Chanuka Howell, New Jersey BIG FREEDA® APPLE COPY &PRINTING CENTE~ sinct> 1928 87 NASSAU ST. 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It takes a neighborhood banker to understand the beauty of a unique lifestyle including its large families. That is why at CNB you'll always our sta:ffunderstanding and willing to listen. John J. Amodio, President ofCNB COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK .ind J..-u~t Company of ~e"' York Located in the heart ofBoro Park at 5005 13th Avenue, (718) 436-6900. Equal Opportunity Lender Member FDIC 65 IS NO TIME TO RETUlE. It's no time to retire ... from the struggle to protect authentic Yiddishkeit from being undermined and distorted by deviationist groups. ... from the grave hatzoloh responsibilities that arise in each generation. be they in Europe or Asia or anywhere Jews are oppressed or in peril. ...from defending the legal rights of Orthodox Jews and from advocating before government the interests of Torah institutions. ...from the constant training of future generations for responsible Torah activism under the leadership of Gedolei Torah. IN THE WORK IDR TORAHt ITS A TIME TO STRIVE EVEN HARDER This year marks the 65th anniversary since Agudath Israel of America began building coalitions to help solve the problems of the Jewish k'lal and the individual in the spirit of Torah. The milestone. is not, however. meant to signify a time to rest; it means celebrating the commitment of a growing number of Orthodox Jews to an ever-increasing agenda of activism. DEMONSTRATE YOUR SOLIDARITY WITH Tms ACTION COALITION THAT IS PROVIDING TORAH WITH AN EFFECTIVE VOICE AND ARM by coming to the 65th Annual Dinner Agudath Israel ofAmerica May 24, 1987 / Iyar 25. 5747 The Grand Ballroom. New York Hilton US Secretary ofEducation ''.4VODAs 7 WILLIAM J. BENNETT COftfllIVNIllAJ(OD£S/f" 1987 Humanitarian Award A.IVJI:El{VJCE U•l7/ be 'S Please make your dinner reservation now. H. Presented to: irsch C Wu111ger · A commemorative journal with Willtamx. Fri, greetings and advem:<;emenrs will MemoriaJAedrnon Ward be published on this occasion. Rabb; Yeches R<;VP. $300 per couple or Michael L ket I AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA 84 WILLIAM STREET NE\VYORK NY. For reservotiort<; and information call (212) 797-7395