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ith the help of Hashem, Yeshiva Derech Chaim The immediate need is: Much more space to house is almost at the half-way point in the construc the yeshiva's round-the-clock Torah activities. W,tion of their new building. The roof has been This is the same Yeshiva Derech Chaim that has won installed, the outside walls have been strengthened, the world-wide recognition for its success in building a way staircases, sub-floors, and basement have been built and of life for each student through its old-fashioned, heart· the windows are now being installed. to-heart, mind-to-mind, one-to-one contact between But our students still need inside walls, electricity, rebbe and talmid, disciple and mentor. flooring, ceilings, plumbing, heating, and furnishings to This is the same Yeshiva Derech Chaim with students be able to enter this future edifice of Torah learning. from 21 cities in 8 different countries, ranging in age At present the facilities are unbearable. Students and from 17 to30. From post-high school to post-graduate staff are suffering from unbelievably crowded conditions, level. With a legacy of devotion to the individual student. where libraries become study halls, and double as lee· Please don't turn this page without helping the yeshiva lure rooms, except when they are converted into dining move into its new home. rooms ... where faculty meetings are convened in the Hundreds of thousands of dollars are still needed. , . kitchen ... where meals, cooked in the deans' homes, Please help generously., .today! are brought to be warmed up ... where the office is wher· Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Rabbi Yisroel Plutchok ever the registrar happens to be sitting, and his lap serves Rosh HaYeshiva Rosh Yeshiva as his desk ... where "the campus" consists of scattered Rabbi Mordechai Rennert Dr. Yehuda A. Sorscher rooms, converted apartments and borrowed quarters. fvlenahel Chairman of the Board
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THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August. by the Agu dath Israel of America. 84 William Street. New York. NY I 0038. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription $18.00 per year; two years. $30.00; three years. $40.00. Outside of the United States (US funds only) $10 surcharge per year. 7 Single copy; $2.50; foreign: $3.00. Are We Still in Golus? Send address changes to The Jew Rabbi Aaron Brcifman ish Observer. 84 William St.. N.Y.. N.Y. 10038. Printed in the U.SA Tel.; (212) 797-9000. 11 Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan il"l!: An Appreciation RABBI NISSON WOLPIN. Ect;to, Devora Kitevits
Editorial Board DR ERNST BODENHEIMER 27 Cltainnan Using Secular Government to Promote RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Religious Interests: Where Are The Boundaries? JOSEPH FRIEDENSON Chaim David Zwiebel RABBINOSSONSCHERMAN RABBI MOSHE SHERER Management Board Bringing Torah to the People NAFTOLI HIRSCH 35 ISAAC KIRZNER From Denver: Reaching Out to Small Communities RABBI SHWMO LESIN Rabbi Hillel Goldberg NACHUM STEIN 39 RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING From Baltimore: Shiur Enjoyment Bmtncss Manager Gary Rosenblatt
THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not as sume responsibllity for the Kashrus of 43 any product or service advertised in its pages. Postscript
© Copyrtght 1987 44 FEBRUARY "87 Letters to the Editor VOL. XX. NO. I A WINTER 1986 BOROPARK~AGE THE GROL:\D HAS Borough President How· ty, with the crews careful arate recreation rooms. All BEE:\ BROKE!'i: ard Go/den m feasting on not to destroy the quiet complete with convenient BORO PARK VILLAGE gefilte fish, chopped liver, ambience of the sur city living_ • IS COMING kosher Chinese food and rounding streets. "The Bnght yellow #Boro a variety of hors 52nd Street Block Associ Joel Kaplan of PRG. Park Village is Coming" d'oeuvres. With the ation has been terrific co-developer of the com buttons were pinned on Neginah Orchestra play and looks forward to we/ plex, says "Boro Park Vil· the lapels of jackets and ing lively Jewish wedding coming their new neigh /age will be known for the on dresses last Septem music in the background, bors," according to the most creatively designed ber 28th at the ground the ;ub1fant crowd con spokesman.• layouts in Brooklyn. We gratulated the developers. have a variety of floor breaking ceremonies Boro Park Village will the contractors, La Sala plans available from marking the beginning of be a major showplace in Construction and the which our future residents construction of a unique dicative of Manhattan local d1gnitanes such as can choose." Shmuel community, Bora Park Vil type style and fast paced Congressman Charles Lefkowitz, Mr. Kaplan's lage, a multi-faceted de yet careful construction. • velopment located on Schumer, State Senator partner, adds, "Boro 52nd Street between 18th a complex that is "just Martin Solomon and Park Village is cer and 19th Avenues and what the community or Councilman Noach Dear tainly keeping 19th Avenue between 51st dered." Co-developer tor supporting the up with the and 52nd Streets will in Charles Reiss of Housing Brooklyn complex • times in clude condominiums of Futures Inc. in Manhattan terms of various sizes with many cal/ed it "a dream project DEMOLJTI0'.'11 JS architec four bedroom maison for any borough but of COMPLETED Al\D ture and ettes (see separate story) particular significance to CONSTRt;CTIO:'\ BEGINS day-to day liv and special units with fa Brooklyn where there is a Interior demolition for ing." Mr. cilities designed for sen need for such housing."• Baro Park Village has Lefkowitz ior citizens and smaller been completed and the added, families.• new housing complex is "Each unit under construction A will have spokesperson for La Sala a porch leading Construction, the well· from the master known New York con bedroom and sepa struction firm, said that a FRENCH STYLE rate entrance, some from plans tor the complex are MAJSOl\ETTES lN grass-covered interior well ahead of schedule. BOBO PARK? courtyards."• He added that their work reflects the high stan French style "Maison Boro Park Village is an dards and approach typi ettesn are coming to Boro ideal setting for a grow cal of Manhattan luxury Park, Brooklyn. They best ing family, which hopes developments which his describe Boro Park to be close to schools, firm will be bringing to Village's multi-level four synagogues and shop Boro Park Village. The bedroom units with pri ping. The convenient lo main site, 52nd Street, vate front entrances, eat cation has the best to has been the scene of in kitchens, private patio, offer in religious and cul major construction acttv1~ rooftop gardens and sep- tural life in Brooklyn. •
The ceremonies were Under a huge tent opened by Shmuel which had been especial Lefkowitz, Chairman of ly erected for the occa Prime Resources Corpo sion, leaders of the ration, the co-developer community joined City and marketing agent for Comptroller Harrison J. Boro Park Village. With Goldin and Brooklyn partner Joel Kaplan, Lefkowitz helped to struc- ture Boro Park Village into (Top) Brooklyn dignitaries attending the important groundbreaking ceremonies ol Boro Park Village included Borough President Howard Golden (left) and Councilman Noach Dear. (Right) Soro Park Village notables included (1 to r): Rita Gluck (PRG, Salesperson); Shmuel Lefkowitz (PRG); Charles Reiss (HF); Lee Weintraub (Landscape Architect); Steve Goodstein (investor); Al Olin (investor); Joel Kaplan (PRG); Richard Ferrara (architect).
This advertisement is not an offering. No offering can be made until an offering plan is filed with the Department of Law of the State of New York. This advertisement is made pursuant to CPS-1 issued by the Attorney General of the State of New York.
SPONSOR: Boro Park Town House Assoc1atesa445 Fifth Ave. New York, N.Y. 10016 •SELLING AGENT: Prime Resources Group, Inc. a 1847 52nd St. Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204 •(718) 232 2200 Rabbi Aaron M. Brafman
ARE WE STILL INGOLUS?
recently conducted a workshop awareness is the real reason for many may well be partially responsible for at a convention of several Bais ills of our society that have been the un-Golus·like attitude we have I Yaakov high schools. The girls written about in the past. developed; and it is also part of our came from the New York metropoli battle against this lack ofawareness tan area and other parts of the East that these opportunities have to be Coast. The workshop was ti tied, "The THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF utilized properly. AMERICA Jew in an Alien Society." There are three levels on which a It was during the week of Parshas Golus--0r lack-of-Golus--awareness here is no doubt that the Lech Lecha, and I had developed operates. One is the internal percep· several approaches to the subject. all present Jewish experience in tion, within our community, ofwhat America is unique and un based on the idea ofAvrahamAvinu T Golus means. The other two deal standing alone against the rest of paralleled in all of our history. Never with how we conduct ourselves the idolatrous world. To get the dis· before did Jews have the opportuni· amongst ourselves. on the one hand, cussion started, l posed the ques· ties to have what they want without and our behavior vis-a-vis our ostensibly having to give up any tion. "Did anyofyoueverexperience neighbors, on the other. In all of any anti-Semitism?" To my surprise, thing. When before did doctors walk these areas we must re-train our not one girl responded with a "yes." the hospital corridors with yarmul· own thinking and re-focus the em· kas on their heads? Or when did In my disbelief, I repeated and re phasis of the chinuch (education) of phrased the question. thinking that obviously ChassidicJews teach at all our children. None of the root causes perhaps they had not understood it levels of the university or practice in of the problem are easy to deal with. at first. Yet the response was the Wall Street law firms? During the nor are any of the solutions easy to same. This led me to think about our peak periods of Jewish involvement put into effect. But we must begin situation here in America and the in non-Jewish society-the Golden somewhere. title of this article. Age of Spain or Post-Emancipation Obviously we are still in Go!us, Europe-there was always a price and a deep fear attending any such THE STRUGGLE and I believe our position in Go!us is always precarious. Yet for a major involvement. portion of the Jews in Orthodox Never have Jews been able to earn herearetwoforcesstruggling for pre-eminence in our so enclaves, the reality of Golus hardly as much money from so many di· verse types of occupation. The reli· ciety. One is the tremendous exists. Perhaps this lack of Golus· T gious community seems almost un spurt and growth of Torah Judaism touched by the economic cycles af. and Torah learning on a level and Rabbi Brafman, menahel of Yeshiva Derech Ayson of Far Rockaway, NY, ls a frequent contrib fecting the rest of the community. scale undreamed of in recent times; utor to these pages. This is an unparalleled situation. It the other is the trend towards in-
The Jewish Observer, February 1987 7 creased materialism and hedonism. We must strive to achieve an can become a totally animalistic in The second pattern is the atzas awareness ofwhat the ChurbanBais dividual.... The process can ulti hayeitzer to undermine the first. Hamikdosh and exile from Eretz mately lead one to stray totally from After all, with what can the yeitzer Yisroel really mean. Have we not G-d and Torah. For the passion to hora (evil inclination) tempt the relegated the destruction to a few have and indulge will ultimately lead American Orthodox community? He hurriedly said Kinoson TishaB'.Av? him to transgress, and partake of certainly cannot lead them astray It is not merely a ritual to break the what is forbidden. Then, needing with opportunities for Chillul glass under the chupa and to have justification, he will begin to deny Shabbosornon-kosher food! But he its import ignored the rest of the the validity of the Torah itself. This can create a kosher lifestyle with a year! is illustrated in the statement of stress on designer Judaism and the Have we forgotten the spiritual Chazal that the deeper motivation pursuit of pleasure, which can cor disappearance of millions of Jews to behind Klal Yisroel'sworship of the rode the society from within. It can Klal Yisroel in our own time? Do we Golden Calf was the Isearch for I rob us of the time and will to learn, as not have to yearn for the time when license to indulge in immorality." more time must be spent at work we are restored to the level of our Reb Moshe goes on to discuss the and in pursuit of the hedonistic ancestors?-when the Shechina will importance of impressing young lifestyle. And that. as we all know dwell openly in our midst?-when children with these concepts and from Rashi in B'Chukosai (Vayikra "all your sons will be learned of instilling in them an appreciation 26,14), is the beginning of the pat Hashem"? Do we find ourselves ob and reverence for elevated behavior tern that leads to destruction. It also livious of what the Beis Hamikdash and living, demonstrating his point robs us of the Golus awareness, meant to us as well as to the entire with an insight into a Rashi (Va which, if remembered, makes us world? There is still so much to long yikra 26,5 ). The Torah describes the more sensitive to the spiritual sta for and pray! idyllic state of Eretz Yisroel when tus of Klal Yisroel. In summary, we must endeavor to G-d will shower it with a bounty of This "who's in Golus?" illusion is place a greater emphasis on those good. After foretelling of an over already at work. Witness the millions very things we yearn for as part of abundant harvest ofcrops, the Torah of dollars being sunk into more lux the Geula, while beginning the pro says, 'You will be satisfied with your urious edifices, which are beyond cess of scaling down the trend of bread." Quoting the Midrash. Rashi need or even comfort. Let us take needing everything and trying to explains this to mean. 'You will eat a note of what the Shela Hakadosh have everything. small amount and it will be blessed (R' Yisroel Halevi Horowitz, 1560- in your insides." Asks Reb Moshe, 1630) writes at the end of his com 'Wouldn't this blessing be totally mentary to Mesechta Succa: A LESSON FOR OUR TIMES unnecessary after the Torah has "It has always incensed me to see described an abundance that would Jews building palatial residences lin his awareness, and all that we enable everyone to eat to his heart's the Diaspora!. thus sinking roots must internalize in ourselves desire?" But the answer, says Reb into this world and into an impure T and our children, are essen Moshe, is exactly as discussed. For a land.... It appears to be. G-d forbid, a tial parts of the chinuch process. Of person striving for perfection con diversion of attention from the re course, these ideas are not new. They trols and limits his indulgence and demption. Therefore. my children. are found throughout Sifrei Mussar his desire for physical pleasure, even even if G-d grants you great wealth, and Chassidus, and more recently when he has an overabundance. He build homes according to necessity, they've found their way into a te realizes that the great bounty G-d and not more. Do not build towers shuva (halachic responsa) by Rabbi has showered upon him is not so and walls in arrogance, but a home Moshe Feinstein '"" (Yoreh De'ah that he may become a glutton, but in which you can, according to your Ill, 71 ). Reb Moshe outlines some of rather that what is essential to his means, live comfortably. with rooms the essential concepts a Yeshiva health should be more easily obtain to find solitude for Torah and re rebbi should try to inculcate in his able, and that the pleasures that one pentance.'' talmidim. He writes in part: "In our needs for a normal life, or for Shab Thus, the first step is the creation country IAmericaJ, which G-d has bosos, Yomim Tovim and other sim of an inner awareness of our Golus blessed with material abundance. chos shel mitzva. should also be easi status and a modification of our there is a strong desire and obses er to come by. materialistic lifestyle. If the reason sion lin people I to have and partici Thus, the Torah adds the blessing people do not move to Eretz Yisroel pate in all the available forms of of satisfaction with even a little, to is a legitimate philosophical or hala earthly pleasures and to have what spare the adam hasholeim-the chic one, so be it. But woe to all of us is called a 'good time.' This attitude complete man-from over-investing forthe bizayonof Eretz Yisroelifwe destroys the individual, for it fosters resources of time and money in eat stay here merely for the sake of com the habit of always desiring things ing and drinking. This ceriainly im fort! ... Which brings us to our next one does not need. It corrupts a per plies that when we are blessed with point. son's character and ultimately he an abundance of wealth (as we are
8 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 Sabbath desecration or laxities in Kashrus no longer tempt us. Today, we are plagued by designer Judaism and the pursuit Qf pleasure, which can corrode our societyfrom within. now), we should not conclude that it so grandly as to appear as if he pos der. Coming so close on the heels of is G-d's desire that we pursue the sesses many thousands. This prac the Holocaust. our responsibilities earthly pleasures to a greater degree tice antagonizes the nations and vio become more awesome. for we must than before. Rather the wealth is lates, 'Tum to the north-tzefona!' question ourselves-did the Hash ours to facilitate occupying ourselves This practice has spread among gacha save American Jewry solely with Torah and maasim tovim, many of our brethren and is a cause for the purpose of living the good which is the ultimate goal in both of many of the difficulties which life? Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler this world and the world-to-come. befall us. Those with the proper un '"" (Michtav Me'Eliyahu, Vol. IV) derstanding should take this to heart discusses the Emancipation of the and understand how to act." Jews of Europe in the 1800's: 'We IBE OSTENTATION FACTOR In addition to flaunting our wealth, stand in shock over the terrible des we sometimes are guilty of flaunting truction that our nation experienced side from how conspicuous our power, making news in ways !during World War II] and we ask consumption limits our that I doubt would have taken place ourselves. why did G-d do this to us? A awareness of our Golus situ in European lands or should be made ... What was the cause for such ation. and quite apart from how this into issues here.Just as we decry the anger? But let us think for a mo misappropriation of funds costs us bravado of the militant-type organi ment. The entire period prior to the dearly in missed opportunities to zations, which seem to ignore that rise of Hitler was a time when the accomplish more for Torah and we still are required to follow the oppression lwe had experienced in Yiddishkeit. ourostentation and ex pattern of our Avos' conduct in Europe] was getting lighter and life ternal show of wealth feeds the la Golus, so too is this same lack of was becoming easier for Jews.... tent anti-Semitism of Eisav. This is awareness exhibited in recent cases The Emancipation had given Jews expressed very succinctly by the Kli where non-Jewish communities are equal rights in many European Yokor in Parshas Devartm (2,3). angered by excessive assertiveness countries . ... The nations even be Regarding the command, "Tum to for "rights" on the part of Orthodox gan to talk about granting Jews the the north (tzefona)," the Kli Yokor Jews-all in the name of Torah, of right to settle in Eretz Yisroel in explains a deeper meaning. "It ap course. peace.... It is clear that G-d granted pears to me that the Torah is teach While I do not advocate compro us this opportunity to help us pre ing us that if a Jew is financially mise in issues where Yiddishkeit is pare for the coming of Moshiach. successful. he should conceal it from at stake, there have always been This is why the Golus became Eisav I tzefon-hide, alluded to by areas where the halacha of "Eiva "is easier." the word 'tzefona']. For they, as a applied-to avoid antagonizing the Rabbi Dessler goes on to describe people, are extremely envious of us, gentile population unnecessarily. In the spiritual preparation necessary and view whatever fortune we have each case, we must ask: Is this be to receive Moshiac/i and how this amassed as stolen from them. This havior sanctioned by a particular would be difficult in a position of stems from Yaakov having taken the gadol or poseik?Or is it being pro total suppression.. .. "However, since brachos from Eisav. Similarly, Yaa mulgated without prior thought or we misinterpreted the purpose of kov told his sons (Parshas Miketz), consultation by people who fail to emancipation and, instead of view Why make yourselves conspicuous?' realize its potential harmful results? ing it as an opportunity to prepare [Rashi explains this to mean-Why To this writer, such conduct often for Geula in joy and harchovas appear before Eisavand Yishmael as represents a failure to perceive our hada'as. we used it to assimilate being satisfied?']. ForYishmael con true situation, beyond the illusory and become more enmeshed with siders Yitzchak as having taken his comforts of the here and now. the gentile world: ... this misused wealth, and Eisav blames Yaakov for opportunity ultimately has to lead to the same. Therefore the Torah A TIME OF destruction"-as he discusses at commands us here to specifically UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY length. He then ends by saying, "If skirt Eisav's territory. This is con after this awesome destruction we trary to the practice today by Jews ur unusual affluence and again experience a period of tran living in the lands of their enemies. upward mobility are sure in quility and opportunity, let us not One who has hundreds of dollars to O dications of tremendous op repeat the mistakes of the past. but spend dresses so lavishly and lives portunities that we dare not squan- rather recognize the message from
The Jewish Observer, February 1987 9 "Do not build towers and walls in arrogance, but a home in which you live comjorably,find solitudefor Torah and repentance." -SHELA HAKooosH above and use the opportunity to reach out and share our spiritual desty and sensitivity ... to contem return to Hashem." riches with others. The response is plate the true position of Klal Yis Complementing our unequaled most remarkable. roel and to turn the financial and wealth and opportunity is an un All this means embarking on a spiritual energies that we"ve been precedented willingness to listen and concerted effort to be mechanech blessed with to achieve even greater receptiveness to Torah on the part of the young generation that one need mchnius growth and chessed, in our alienated brethren. It is only a not have everythingjust because ifs which zechus we will be zocheh to matter of those of us who have been there. and for the senior generation the geula and be spared any further favored by a superior education to to embark on an effort toward mo- chevlei Moshiach. •
Yes! You can dance /6.J/1<6 I<' /6p /6N at two weddings! ! nljlnn •II..? '111<
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10 The Jewish Obseroer. Febrnary 1987 Devora Kitevits
AN APPRECIATION OF REBBETZIN KAPLAN Tl''~
INTRODUCTION Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan, a disciple of Sarah Sche nirer, toiled for 49 years, carrying Sarah Schenirer's hroughout the ages, certain gedolim have stood message to America. She founded the first Bais Yaakov out as the rabban shel kol bnei hagolah-the High School and Teachers Seminary in America. Not only T master teacher of his generation. These past four did she keep Jewish daughters loyal to their faith, she generations had two women who served as great leaders. guided them in creating Jewish homes and founding a Sarah Schenirer who passed away almost 52 years ago tradition, the llkes of which America had never seen. She on 26 Adar. 5695 (1935), stemmed the tide of assimila imbued her students with a philosophy of life, and tion of young girls enrolled in Polish "Gymnasiums" through them and their households. through their (high schools) by founding Bais Yaakov schools. thus children and their students. her impact was far-reach preserving Yiddishkeit as it had been in the past. ing-fomenting a viriual revolution in American Jewish • ALL RJGHTS RESERVED life. Mrs. Kitevits, agraduateofBais Yaakov Seminary. is principal of the evening Whereas the influence of gedolim generally filters department of the Seminary. This article is excerpted from a full biography in down to women through the medium of the man's preparation. She expresses gratitude to Rabbi Avrohom and Rivke Kaplan. who are the source of much of the material In this article. world-the yeshiva, the psak, the tisch-Rebbetzin Por!rail espf'<'ial!y· <'X<'f'uted !Or The Jewish Obscn'Cr by Elie Bcru.nqucn (sec pa pp 29) Kaplan's influence was directed towards the women and
The Jewish Obseroer. February 1987 11 girls themselves. We felt that she belonged to us-the 7">i, the famed mashgiach in Reb Elchonon Wasser girls and women-someone whom we could embrace and man's yeshiva in Baranovich, and his wife, daughter of confide in, who not only understood our problems. but the gaon, Reb Yoisel Horowitz, "The Alter of Novarodok." had experienced them ... someone through whom we Vichna Eisen, her cousins, and friends attended "Mese could become great by listening to her speak, by walking levsky's," a private religious school for girls. with her. by sharing in her work, by doing some humble When sixteen. Vichna read about the Bais Yaakov task for her. Seminary in Cracow and set her heart on going there. We lost our personal gedolah. Now, when we aspire to But the Seminary refused her application because she greatness in our daily life, we must look for the path she lacked a diploma from preparatory school. Not content paved for us. We have no choice but to live with the with the refusal, Rebbetzin Kaplan wrote directly to memories she gave us and learn from them. Sarnh Schenirer: "Should my whole future be changed because of such a small matter?" Still she did manage to earn that diploma by taking private lessons. However, she had no funds to pay the Seminary tuition and was only able to attend because of Reb Shmuel (Dr. Leo) Deutschlander '"'"who obtained a scholarship for her.
Sem Rules and Regs
pon arriving in Cracow as part of a group of some 150 young girls. she was presented with the con U ditions that Seminary students were required to sign before beginning their two-year course of study: Upon completion of Seminary every girl would have to teach for two years. This could not be in the graduate's hometown, where presumably she would be too busy with her own family to devote herselffully to her teaching career. After the initial three months in Seminary, the administration would evaluate each student's perfor mance. Girls judged to lack the potential for teaching would be asked to leave. The girls were deeply upset by the mies. They feared that their opportunities for marriage would be seriously limited if they were forced to live away from their home town. Others worried about the blot on their reputations if they would be sent home from the Seminary. Her former classmates.' who had met Rebbetzin Kap lan in Warsaw on the way to Cracow, recall how she had encouraged the other girls not to despair. but simply to get started. They also remember her as the top student in her class. Besides knowing much more than the average girl, she Bais Yaakov Serninary building in CracouJ. had a superior intelligence, and made memorable pres entations at assemblies. In time. young Vichna began to assist Sarah Schenirer in various ways, such as collect I. EUROPEAN YEARS ing tzeddaka from house to house for her fund to sup port poor families. The Seminary program was quite intensive. The entire Her Heart Was On Cracow day was dedicated to formal classes and study. with no distractions whatsoever. The only breaks in the schedule ebbetzin Vichna Kaplan was born in Slonim, were the Pesach and Succos intersessions. Even one Russia, about 1913. Her father. Reb Ephraim additional visit home required special permission. R Yehoshua Eisen was famous for his tzidkus. Her The only other allowance for travel was to help start a mother, Mereh Gitel. was the daughter of Rabbi Chaim new Bais Yaakov school in one of the small shtetlach of Rav Leib Lubchansky '""• of Barnnovich. 1 Rebbetzin Basya {Epstein) Bender and Hebbetzin Chava {Shlomovilz) By the time she was eleven both her parents had Wachtfogel. who joined the high school and Seminary in 19a9 and 1944. passed away. She and her brother, David, went to live respectively. greatly assisted Rebbetzin Kaplan in many matters. Many of Rebbetzin Kaplan's colleagues from her own seminary days taught in her witb their mother's brotherand sister-in-law who had no Bais Yaakov, d('spite lucrative offers to teach elsewhere. Together with her children of theirown-Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky they forged a strong, unique link to the original Bais Yaakov in Cracow.
12 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 The same self-effacement that made her see herself as a messengerfrom the last generation made her the living examplefor our generation.
The Years in Brisk
he two years in Cracow came to a glorious end on her graduation night-an event that Rebbetzin T Kaplan often recalled for her talmidos: "Sarah Schenirer danced and sang 'Vetaheir Libeinu (Purify Our Hearts)' with us the entire night." Rebbetzin Kaplan was sent to Brisk where, for some five years, she served as the only teacher for limudei kodesh in the school, besides studying with girls in their older teens before school hours. She frequently consulted the Brisker Rav, Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik J"'l, who was responsible for the school. Rabbi David Soloveitchik N"IJ'JV, of Yerushalayim, writes: "! remember how ... my sainted father and teacher would be extremely lavish in his praise of the chinuch for the Torah and yiras Shomayim that IReb betzin Kaplan I implanted lin herchargesJ. He would add that she had a great advantage in that she was raised and educated in the home of her uncle, the gaonand tzaddik Sara Schenirer Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky o"'l and that she had absorbed much Torah, yiras Shomayim and exemplary Poland. This was usually launched by a team of a teacher midas from him, which she drew on to be mechanech and a Seminaiy student. Rebbetzin Kaplan was once (educate) her students." dispatched to Baran0\1ch with a teacher, Miss Ham Twenty some years later, an American girl undecided burger. to lobby for opening a Bais Yaakov school there. about which seminary to attend in Eretz Yisroel, con Her speech had unusual impact,2 and Baranovich opened sulted the Brisker Rav in Yerushalayim. He advised her: its Bais Yaakov school. "Return to Vichna Kaplan's seminary. There you will Dr. Judith Rosenbaum" would teach Shir Hashirim learn how to educate the next generation." Friday nights. After Shabbos the girls would approach When she was in Brisk, the Jewish community was Rebbetzin Kaplan: "Vichna, please tell us over the shiur threatened with a pogrom. In response to her query, the so we can write down notes. You know it the best:· With Brisker Rav advised her to leave, since she could not help her characteristic humility, she would say."! don't know in the situation. On the last day of school before the it the best, but I'll tell it to you anyway." And then she feared pogrom, Rebbetzin Kaplan was preparing to flee to repeated the shiur verbatim-not using her own lan Kamenitz, but first she hired a taxi to take home several guage, but the teacher's words. girls who were stranded at the school. Only then did she Rebbetzin Kaplan told her children that when she left leave. for her first intersession trip home, Sarah Schenirer Once, before returning home for vacation, Rebbetzin confided in her, "From the first letter you sent me, I saw Kaplan decided not to return to Brisk. The city lacked that you are going to help me in the movement." Others funds for her salary and she could not afford to work who were present remember Frau Schenirer saying, 'You without pay. She later received a telegram from the will succeed me, but you will be greater." Rebbetzin Brisker Rav telling her to come back, so she returned Kaplan, of course, never repeated this. only to discover that the telegrain had been forged! She Indeed, all her classmates knew that she was the clos stayed on anyway. Perhaps she reasoned that if the peo est lalmidah to Sarah Schenirer but no one was jealous, ple in town had to lie to keep her they must be in desper because they all recognized that she had earned the spe ate straits. cial relationship. In view of her financial situation, the following inci dent becomes more poignant. Rebbetzin Kaplan and the 2 According to her Baninovich frit'nd, Sora BaJla Gut1nan (Rebbetzin Mt'ndel writer were once discussing a specific book for use in our Kaplan) :i Hebbetzin Dr. Judilh (Rosenbaurn) Grunfeld. the Seminary girls' favorite Child Guidance classes in the Brooklyn Seminary. Be teacher, Jives in London now. cause ofa questionable anecdote in the book, Rebbetzin
The Jewish Observer, February 1987 13 ~·------·---~ y1c (JI• f''?P /' r~1, ft~< (r:V" _,lv:.r'J' ·.IJ .,. (T·31tJ) .;;J'•i' t"'·'" -;--.Lr, ~· 1 /" M f..,c .:f·f. cf. r, ....r.a oT.H ' .,.,,,,.,. ')~ ~ ' ~~~---- HA A.ll~l:;'i1 ·<1 !wt>.if (-i'•'' 1..;,';:lf /'~ ~p,. ·~ ,,._ ,)i,-s c~c;f'»"c_1 ~' '>•/'{ •.• 1,Jl.siu .l.\MA I M£ wd'lll'OJC 'WAR/%AWA 'f' CC!rf .'{.Jr> ft$.,.., rc-
14 The Jewish Observer. February 1987 "Dr rom the letter you sent me, I knew that you were going to help me ... You will succeed me, but you will be greater." -SARAH SCHENIRER TO VICHNE KAPLAN
Il. THEBAISYAAKOVCOMESTOAMERICA Mrs. Genauerrecalls: "Rebbetzin Kaplan was an answer to my parents' prayers. The only other Jewish high Early Attempts' schools were far to the left in religious orientation, and many parents later did not eat in their children's homes. n the l 920's the only Hebrew schools for girls were We had heard about Sarah Schenirer and the Bais Yaa afternoon Talmud Torahs and Sunday schools with kov in Cracow from Rebbetzin Pincus8 when she had I co-ed classes. and boys' Bar Mitzva classes. which come back and called a meeting to organize us. We fell in some girls joined. These schools were basically culture love with her. She had so inspired us that we were pre oriented and not religious in content. Some more reli pared for Rebbetzin Kaplan and her plans. gious girls studied privately at home. "As a fifteen year old, I went to public high school. then Inspired by Sarah Schenirer in Europe. Reb Binyomin travelled to the Bronx to teach a Talmud Torah class, and Wilhelm together with his brother-in-law. Ben-Tzion then returned to Williamsburgh. From 7 to I 0 PM every Weberman, and Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz om01 night we learned around the dining room table in Reb m;~o(menahel of Torah Vodaath) and other community betzin Kaplan's house. leaders founded the Beth Jacob Hebrew School for Girls "Rebbetzin Kaplan's devotion was always apparent. in I 925-the first all-girls afternoon school. She knew what each one of us needed and lacked. She Two Bais Yaakov-type elementary day schools later 8 Rebbetzin Chava (Weinberg) Pincus. born in America. studied in Sais Yaa opened in Williamsburgh-Bais Sarah and Bais Rochel. kov Seminary in Cracow. ShP taught for Rebbetzin Kaplan until she and through the initiative of Mr. and Mrs. Avrohom Spin Rabbi Avroho1n Chaim Pincus moved to Eretz Yisroel in '64. They are cur ner-but these attempts did not last more than two or rently in Santiago de Chile. where Rabbi Pincus is connected With the Kolle!. three years. Then, through the Herculean efforts of this enlarged group of askonim, the Beth Moses Hospital building was purchased, and the Bais Yaakovelementary (day) school in Williamsburgh was opened in the winter of '37 with a kindergarten and several grades. The found ing principal was Rabbi Kreiser. followed by his succes sor. the late Rabbi Avrohom Newhouse.5 This Bais Yaa kov grew and blossomed for many years. Mrs. Fruma Laya Mandel. mother of Rabbi Manis Mandel,6 startedfrum girls' groups on Shabbos in East New York and then in Williams burgh. These Bnos Yisroel groups became part of Bnos Agudath Israel. Rebbetzin Mandel also held night classes for girls in Williamsburgh for a year or two .... When Rebbetzin Kaplan arrived, there was as yet no religious school for teen-age girls. Rebbetzin Kaplan began with a class of seven eager girls' of high school age. who gathered around the dining room table in the Kaplans' small apartment at 134 So. 9th Street in Wil liamsburgh. Here the beginnings of the Bais Yaakov High School and Teachers Seminary took place.
4 The historical background was furnished by Mrs. U:>ah (Wilhehn} HerskoWitz fi Rabbi Newhouse Oi"Y ied the elementary Bais Yaakov school for many years. He also pioneered the concept offru.n1 girls· camps. as we know them today. when he open('d his famed Machane Bais Yaakov in Ferndale. 6 Dean ofYeshiva of Brooklyn, which includes separate schools for girls and boys. 7 Sylvia (Pi!chik) Tehillim, Faigy (Pikhikl Genauer. Sora Wolfson. Rochel Rose (WolO Git el is. F'aigy (Rubin) HoroWitz. Chanie (MendloWitz) Greenbaum.and the late Rivky (MendloWitz) Karp i1".l.I Dais Yaakov building in Williamsburg.
The Jewish Obseroer. February 1987 15 Allottedfifteen minutes to address the audience, she practiced again and again with a timepiece, to make certain that she would not be using time that was not hers.
had an all-encompassing memmy about each of us. I was Friday nights. at Bnos Agudath Israel groups on Shab ambitious at eighteen and could not decide whether to bos afternoons, even had Seudah Shlishis and Melave many then or not. Through her influence I married my Malka with them. This Shabbos spirit drew many girls late husband, an American who had learned in Kelm. to join her school. "I visited her in the hospital after she had given birth. Rebbetzin Esther Weissman (who joined Bais Yaakova She was preparing her shiurim in the hospital bed! ... few months after it opened) recalls one stormy Friday She took our notebooks home to mark-even the spell night when Rebbetzin Kaplan came to the Bais Sarah ing-making notations, i.e., 'This thought is not written Talmud Torah building where the Shabbos group met. out clearly." When they entered the building they found the lights "From Rebbetzin Kaplan's house we moved to Keap were off. Someone called in the janitor to put them on Street, then to the 'old Mesifta building· lat Bedford and Rebbetzin Kaplan left into the rainy night for a few corner Taylor]. BY then we were already two classes. Then, minutes. She had gone to inquire if it was permissible to to 143 South 8th Street. the address that thousands of use the room now that the lights had been opened espe Bais Yaakov students will always remember. We thought cially for them.... There were so many halachos that the it a beautiful building! !Rabbi Baruch Kaplan then left girls never even heard about-which she taught them by his position as a maggid shiurin Mesi via Torah Vodaath example. to help his wife carry the financial administration ofBais After five years, the first group of girls graduated. The Yaakov.] My father, Reb Nissan Pilchik, used to go out school was growing. Yet the love and attention for each nights soliciting money for the school. .. student was not diminished. Rebbetzin Chana (Fish bein) Lubart9 came from Chicago straight to the Kap Jans'
BETH JACOB TEACHERS SEMINARY & HIGH SCHOOL home. They had found her a room with the Pilchiks, 4421 -1511\Avenue Broo~lyn, N.Y. 112111 walked her over to her new quarters, and gave her $7 to pay for the room-and-board for the first week-as they @) continued to do for several weeks, until her older sisters, alumna€ sull€t1n who were working, could support her. This ad hoc approach changed in 1944. when a dormi tory was opened in the South 8th Street building.
The All-Day High School
abbi and Rebbetzin Kaplan opened the full-day high school in January, 1944. It was the seventh ear of the school's existence, but attending a Bais Yaakov high school was not a matter of course as yet. Rebbetzin ChanaAdlerWesseJI0 was about to graduate public elementary school in January 1945, and saw nothing wrong with staying on in public high school. The Ruach Dimension Most of the girls in her class were religious, the mode of dress was proper-boys were permitted to wear only he Kaplans borrowed money to open a summer white shirts, ties and slacks, and girls were required to 'learning· camp at Engl's farm in Connecticut. For wear dresses with some sort of sleeve. There were separ T many of the girls, it was their first adventure in the ate entrances and separate seating for boys and girls, and country. As in the city, Rebbetzin Kaplan was the only a chapter of Psalms was recited at the opening of each teacher in camp, and taught the girls all morning, despite assembly! The public school building's physical plant her young, growing family. She even tried to bring Yid and the honors given to a bright student were attractions. dishkeitto the people in the area, and invited people from New Haven to special events, such as the campfire. \l Formerly principal in Crown Heights and Williamsburg branches of Bais Yaakov High School, currently assistant principal ofBais Yaakov Elementary Rebbetzin Kaplan strove to bring the ruach of her School in Bora Park. Cracowyears to Williamsburgh. She met with the girls on 10 Teacher in Bais Yaakov High School since 1954.
16 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 She acceded to her father's wishes and went to Bais Yaakov in fall '44, with the understanding that if she chose she could return to public school after several months. "I feel that Rebbetzin Kaplan saved my life," says Reb betzin Wessel. "If not for her, I dread to think what would have happened to me and my sisters, who followed in my footsteps. She gave me a feeling of worth, importance. Rebbetzin Kaplan taught this class all the subjects (sometimes with a child on her lap when her babysitter didn't show up) with infinite patience, despite the class knowing so pathetically litile. She built our confidence by keeping her beautiful lessons simple and not beyond our grasp.... She broadened our horizons. She gave us a dream, a purpose: We were pioneers, building Yiddish keit in Amertca. We learned that there's a Jewish future for the Jewish woman. "There was another facet to Rebbetzin Kaplan. She was approachable, she listened and took things to heart. A girl could share her teenage dreams and problems with Rebbetzin Kaplan, and even 40 years later tell her things that she could not tell anyone else. She never failed to ask later how this one or that one was doing." Duling the war years. the Kaplans applied for thou sands of student visas to enable many refugees to enter this country. The Bais Yaakov Seminary was far above all other educational institutions in the number of girls that it saved from Europe, despite harrassmentfrom the when 5,000 women and girls gathered to commemorate Immigration Department, which had difficulty accepting the 50th YahrzeitofSarah SchenirerinAdar 5745,Reb that one institution could support and guarantee for betzin Kaplan was a leading force in the assembly. such a large amount of girls. She felt that her responsibilities extended beyond the school walls. In the past few years, Rebbetzin Kaplan called camp directors together to discuss the ruach in Growth and Expansion their camps: it should be a continuation of what the schools strive so hard for during the year, to be reflected s the Orthodox community grew, so did the Bais in the camp activities as well as in conduct on days off. Yaakov School. In September '58 a branch was Whether it was a man from Toronto crusading against A opened in the Born Park section of Brooklyn, soon the evils of television or a teacher from Flatbush con to equal-and then surpass-the main Williamsburgh cerned about the erosion of tznius, an educator doing school, which eventually closed, in '77. The one-year kiruv work in New Jersey or a former talmidah begging Intensive Seminary program began in September '68-a her and n"JJ' Rabbi Kaplan to say Tehillim for a sick new concept in its time-in which girls immerse them family member-each one found his way to Rebbetzin selves fully in limudei kodesh from 8:15 AM to 3:30. The Kaplan's office. observation and student-teaching programs have be come fine-honed and demanding. Rebbetzin Kaplan's students are today teachers and ID. LEADER OF THE REVOLUTION principals all over the world-from the largest Bais Yaa kov High School and Seminary in the world (Yerusha n the past fifty years, women have changed the face of layim) to the largest Bais Yaakov elementary school (In Jewish Orthodoxy in America, with Rebbetzin Kap Boro Park)-from Tifrach to Flatbush. Chassidic schools I lan at the helm of the revolution. And now.just study sprang up, and again Rebbetzin Kaplan's students helped the contrast: In 1937, thejrum Jewish girl wore pants establish them. teach in them, and head them-in and sleeveless garments. Now the discussion is whether Puppa, Ger, Bobov, Lubavitch and Satmar. knee socks are "good enough".... Married women cover Despite the fact that Bais Yaakov schools in America ing their hair was an unheard-of rarity: now they are are not affiliated in any formal way, Rebbetzin Kaplan's grappling with what style sheitl is suitable for a young advice and suggestions were sought after. 'What does the Rebbetzin .... No one was called by his/her Jewish name: Rebbetzin say?" was a constant consideration. When today it's almost an oddity to hear a yeshiva boy or Bais Bais Yaakov-type schools organized a mass tzniusrally at Yaakov girl called by an English name .... When a match the Brooklyn Academy of Music some 15 years ago, of was proposed. the first question the young lady asked course Rebbetzin Kaplan addressed the audience. And was, 'What does he do for a living?" Today, it's: "How long
The Jewish Obseroer, February 1987 17 will he learn?" When the highest level offrumkeit was that only set in after all the children married. While her identified as a home where the father davened and children are in school, doesn't a mother have enough to attended a shiur, Rebbetzin Kaplan taught the girls to do in the home?Why should a woman feel useless simply dream of being worthy of manying a talmid chacham. because her children are away from home for several Rabbi Aharon KotlerJ"i''" is quoted as having said, "If hours?" not for Bais Yaakov, all the yeshivos would be forced to She then went on to describe the anguish and inner close!" conflict that she had expertenced every day that she left His late Rebbetzin. Rivka Chana Perel Kotler J"l, said her children when they were younger. 'Why must I leave that Reb Aharon held that Rebbetzin Kaplan did more my children with someone who will tell them the story of than all the roshei yeshivos. Rabbi Ely-a Lopian J"'1 con the 'The Three Bears' while feeding them, when I could curred: "The yeshlvos are very Important, but the Bais give them so much yiras Shomayim with every spoonful Yaakov is more important. Without the Bais Yaakov the of cereal? And. even in the best of cases, when I would yeshivos could not exist."_ .. The Satmar Rebbe J"'1 once dispatched his hoiz bachurto say "yeyasher koach" to Rabbi Boruch Kaplan, thanking him for making it easier for his boys to find suitable shidduchim. She demonstrated to the girls and the women how to elevate oneself to the highest level. The prevalence of chessed and tzeddaka organizations. shiurim for women. shmiras halashon classes and telephone chav f1lSOS-and the joy that her students find in being devoted mothers and teachers of Yiddishkeit-these are the embodiment of her teachings. The fervor in contem porary women's avoda, the integrity of their emuna, their aspiration to true shleimus-and the will to per petuate these ideals to future generations-these are the fruits of her labor.
The Power qf Personal Sacrifice -~--- ow could one person create so many followers, and evoke such a strong response in them that l \. H they pattern their very Jives after hers? Perhaps it was the personal sacrifice that was invested in her work. Rebbetzfn Kaplan ivith a grandchild, 1973. Rebbetzin Kaplan's greatest dream for her students have the most wonderful babysitter, I agonized over why I and for her own children was that the girls marry talmi must leave my children's chinuch to someone else while I dei chachamim and the boys should be talmidei chach leave them behind to tend to someone else's children!" amim, never to leave the koslei beis midrash. When She added that for years she had wished she could meet someone brought her regards from one of her sons say Eliyahu Hanavi and he would tell her what to do. If he ing that he is known to be a great talmid chacham. would tell her to go home, she would do so joyfully. If he Rebbetzin Kaplan commented, 'You know just what to would tell her to continue on to school. then she would at say to gladden a mother's heart!" She avoided disturbing least know that she is doing the right thing. her sons during their seder (learning period), and when When her first graduate married a Kolle! man. put on a forced to do so, she would ask him to please pay back the sheitl, and taught in a Bais Yaakov School, then she time of their conversation during free time, and to ask knew she had made the right choice! The conflict was his chavrusa to do the same. resolved, but the anguish ofleaving her children at home And despite her profound love and respect for learning, never left her.... and despite Rabbi Boruch Kaplan's success as a rosh yeshiva in Mesivta Torah Vodaath-he was ready to IV. MASTER TEACHER make the almost unbearable move of leaving the Beis Midrash to help the school: that was the first sacrifice. ebbetzin Kaplan taught by example-not only by Rebbetzin Kaplan's second sacrifice was the time not what she did, but by what she was. "I feel as if I spent with her own children. In an interview for a maga R grew up under her. I received my education in zine article about the working mother, Rebbetzin Kaplan Eretz Yisroel, but my l'maaseh (practical application) was asked what type of work is suitable for the woman came from Rebbetzin Kaplan"-in the words of Rebbet who seeks something to do with her time once her chil zin Dvora Zoberman.11 dren are in school. "Do you mean dealing with the empty nest syndrome?" asked Rebbetzin Kaplan. "I thought !l On the faculty of the Bais Yaakov High School and Seminary since '57.
18 The Jewish Obseroer, February 1987 Anivus ebbetzin Kaplan was an ordinary housewife at home. So much so. that her own daughter-in-law R said that it took years for her to realize that she was a public figure. Even in school. despite being the dean-head of all the departments and principal of the Seminary-Rebbetzin Kaplan did not put on airs. Those close to her saw how nervous she was before delivering a speech, despite a career of over 55 years of speaking! "The world is made up of two halves," she told a close worker, "the fortunate and the unfortunate. And the unfortunate have to speak." She refused to allow a car to be sent to pick her up for a •Analyzes. •Reports. N'shei Ahavas Chessed speech. "The bus stops right •Evaluates •Reviews. there." And yet, she would worry about the same extra curricular trip being too strenuous for other senior staff •Comments. •Reflects. members and insisted that the school provide car servfce. Rebbetzin Kaplan's youngest daughter, Blumie (Ros •Inspires. •Projects. engarten), was making a sign 'W. KAPLAN" for her moth er's office door. "That's all you're going to write? Won't THE you write 'Dean' on the sign?" a student demanded. Her daughter explained that she was bound by kibud av vo'eim-that is what her mother told her to write. 'Well," said the girl. "someone else can add a word or two." So she JEWISH put "REBBETZIN" before the 'W. KAPLAN" and added "DEAN" at the end. Rebbetzin Kaplan looked at the com pleted sign, and-not wanting to insult anyone-just OBSERVER never used it. When entering a classroom to take over for a master teacher, she told her: "It will be hard to teach this class Wedo more after they had an expert like you on the subject." Rebbetzin Kaplan always convened meetings to weigh than just observe. any decisions or changes in the school. Good ideas were always given consideration no matter who presented them. A radical change was once seriously considered, ------Subscribe, Renew or Give and a protest was voiced: "But you've been doing it the The Jewish Observer other way for 50 years!" Rebbetzin Kaplan answered in her quiet, but firm way: "I will listen even to a child if it's now and save. the right thing." She was not embarrassed to admit that we may have overlooked something for 50 years. 0 One Year/$18.00 (for ten issues) Rebbetzin Kaplan's yardstick till her death in guiding 0 Two Years/$30.00 (a $50 value) her own school was, 'What would Sarah Schenirersay to 0 Three Years/$40.00 (a $75 value) this?" The same seif-qfacement that made her see 0 Outside the U.S.A. add $10-year herself as a messengerfrom the last generation, made for each year ordered. her the living examplefor our generation. U.S. FUNDS-DRAWN ON A U.S. BANK ONLY Kavod Habriyos 5 Beekman Street/New York, N.Y./10038 Send magazine to: ebbetzin Kaplan dealt diplomatically and gra ciously with every situation. With two phones Name------~ R ringing, a third line buzzing, someone knocking Address ______on her office door, and someone already seated in her City ______State _____~ip ___ office, Rebbetzin Kaplan took care of each one without slighting the others. Always careful to offer a visitor a 0 Enclose gift card D Master card 0 Visa seat, to offer her teachers lunch when it was lunch time, Account No. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD she realized her visitor's needs before they themselves Expiration date DD (month) DD (year) were aware of them. At staff meetings, she always took the time to explain Signature ______the situation and to give every person a chance to express
The Jewish Observer, Februmy 1987 19 his or her opinion. She only interrupted-'We have to be about you! When my daughter-in-law called the agency careful to sayonlywhat is noge'ah (relevant)"-when she they recommended you so highly." A bright smile lit up sensed that a remark was leading to lashon hara, avak the nurse's face. lashon hora or rechilus (slander or gossip). When she To an alumna of 20 years, Rebbetzin Kaplan said, "J had to reprimand someone, she did not wait for the was waiting many years to meet you. I've been wanting to situation to become embarrassing, but nipped it in the ask your forgiveness." bud-in advance. Rabbi Uri Hellman, principal of the The talmidah expressed astonishment. to which the Bais Yaakov High School, describes how Rebbetzin Rebbetzin explained. smilingly, 'You remember how you Kaplan would remind the staff at the opening of class often came late to class. I once commented, 'Late again!' meetings that only what is relevant may be said, and Please forgive me for the remark." nothing maybe said about any party who is not involved. Indeed, Rabbi Baruch Kaplan remarked that in all the Her Responsibility and Love to Each Student years he knew her, he never heard his wife express a ta'anah (complaint) about anyone, nor ever say a word of very school has to make crucial decisions about lashon hara. accepting students into the school, about expell She was meticulous in avoiding hurting others: Rabbi E ing students when necessary. One administrator Hellman says that in the 40 years that he worked for postulated that if Bais Yaakov would accept a below Rebbetzin Kaplan he could not recall a single incident in average student in the freshmen class, it would reflect which she issued a command. badly on the school. Rebbetzin Kaplan answered, "J The writer's mother n"Y, who worked for the ladies couldn't care less for our reputation as long as we do the auxiliary of Bais Yaakov, told her children: "Rebbetzin right thing. ls she basically a good girl, or will she l"n have Kaplan never hangs up the phone first. She waits to hear a bad influence on others? Each and every girl is entitled you hang up." to a Bais Yaakov chinuch." When announcing a simcha to her children. she called Rebbetzin Kaplan could spend hours deciding an indi· them in order of age to avoid making an older child vidual girl's class placement. There were times that she wonder why he was called after a younger one.... Reb· spent sleepless nights out of concern that each girl betzin Kaplan always asked the director of the school should be in the right place and develop properly. Ifa girl plays to make sure that the script contain no line that wasn't accepted into the group, she would call in key might prove insulting to a public school janitor who students and discuss with them ways to make the stu might watch the play.... When a new private nurse dent feel accepted. walked in during Rebbetzin Kaplan's confinement in the Rebbetzin Kaplan would convene a faculty meeting hospital, she complimented her with, "l heard so much before demoting a student from full-day Seminary to the
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20 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 half-day program. camp, paying from the school's meager funds, or some Rebbetzin Renee (Adler) Hershberg" recalls a meeting how getting the money together. If the school decided a weighing expulsion of a girl from the school. When it student would be better off in a Seminary away from seemed as if her fate were sealed, Rebbetzin Hershberg home (such as Gateshead), Rebbetzin Kaplan would even said, "Yes, but. ... " foot the expense. Rebbetzin Kaplan interrupted her-'We're keeping Rebbetzin Kaplan added,,,., on a girl's record if it were her." A mere "but" about expelling her was sufficient noted that she was orphaned or otherwise marked by reservation to warrant keeping the girl in the school. misfortune, needing special treatment. One of the students in question later commented: "She At school plays, she checked that each performer had did not expel me. [sensed that she had some kind of trust transportation home. in me. She saw something that no one else could see, an During a visit to Eretz Yisroel, Rebbetzin Kaplan met a expectation that [had to fulfill. I remember the first time talmidah who had been active in drama and dance. Not she called me by my first name-I was shocked that she seeing the heavy grandmother standing before her, Reb knew me as a person. I remember feeling loved when she betzin Kaplan asked, "Do you still dance?" said it. ... She never reprimanded me. Once or twice she Years ago, a group of former students decided to travel questioned me very softly. very quietly. She made the to Eretz Yisroel by Zim Lines, leaving on Erev Shabbos, decision to keep me. I owe a lot to that.'' Imagine Rebbet which is contrary to halacha. In addition, Rebbetzin zin Kaplan's nachaswhen she learned of the marvelous Kaplan feared a harmful precedent, so she personally work for Yiddishkeit this student does in her town! visited the most influential girl of the group to convince Rebbetzin Miriam (Weiss) Oissin 13 writes in Hamodia: her to change her reservation. While she was talking to "Rebbetzin Kaplan would call in a girl and talk about the girl, a call came from the Kaplan house that one of the various subjects, and then say, 'I was told you did this children was hurt, to which Rebbetzin Kaplan said, "I and this, and I said it's impossible.A girl like you couldn't don't care what the sotton will do, I'm not leaving till she have done that. There might be a mistake. Or maybe you agrees." The girl changed her reservation, as did the rest fell in this one lime.' The girl couldn't disappoint Reb of the group. betzin Kaplan." An applicant to the Seminary lived in the Southwest. Adas Rebbetzin Engelsrath,14 "!never saw a girl come Rebbetzin Kaplan arranged for some seniors to corres out of Rebbetzin Kaplan's office crying. She always had pond with the girl, and even meet her at the airport. On something positive to add with the mussar." Orientation Day Rebbetzin Kaplan opened with: "Usu She arranged private meetings with small groups of ally, I speak in Yiddish, but I'm sure there are many girls Seminary girls, and would even sit in at conferences on here who don't understand Yiddish, so l'll speak in Eng high school students, to get to know them all. "One ofour lish." Staff members were certain the switch was made in main goals," said Rebbetzin Kaplan, "is to discover every deference to that one student. who needed special kiruv, Seminary girl's talent and develop it." because the following year the orientation speech was in A broad range of extra-curricular activities were sche Yiddish again. This student was very unhappy, despite duled lo encourage each girl to find her particular niche. all the efforts of the hanhala and her fellow students. Among the many actiVi!ies, however, never did she per Rebbetzin Kaplan gave her carfare to visit her parents mit a Broadway production to be used as school plays for round-trip, of course. The girl never did come back, but the public. she left feeling Rebbetzin Kaplan's boundless love. Rebbetzin Kaplan sent many a student to summer At limes, Rebbetzin Kaplan would direct a full speech to an individual. A former talmidah wrote her that she 12 Guidance Counselor. Bais Yaetkov Higl1 School. former talmidnh. i:i Rebbetzin Kaplan's secretary and program coordinator in the early 60's. feels as though she failed Rebbetzin Kaplan because 1" An associate of Hebbet.zin Kaplan sinf'f' J 963. she's not a teacher. Soon afterward, Rebbetzin Kaplan Notjustacheese, a traCJition ... \~ · Haolam, the most trusted name In Chok)v Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth.With 12 delicious varieties. Under the stnct Rabbinical supervision ofK'hal AdasJe$hurun, N. Y Haolam, atradition vou'l~:::v::: I I ~jo THURM SRO:.. WORlO CH~ESE CO. INC" . NEW YORX. N Y _u ......
The Jewish Observer, February 1987 21 spoke about the beauty of motherhood, and fulfillment understood the source of the problem from a distance achieved in the home.... When she heard that some girls and had written a letter to this principal, explaining that felt like second-rate citizens because their chassanim the students should not disrespect this teacher simply were not going to sit and learn, at that Seminary gradua because she wore cosmetics. It is the American fashion. tion (5745) she spoke about the talmid chacham who "!, too. wear lipstick at times," wrote Rebbetzin Kaplan. 15 has to go to work In essence he's a talmid chachameven though necessity forces him into business. Just like the Ne'emonus VEmes/Trust and Integrity Schneider (tailor) in Mir who repaired shoes, but was still called the town Schneider not the Schuster (a er secretary of twenty-five years ago noticed her cobbler-his temporary occupation, but not his true pro marking down every time she ate a school lunch, fession) .... H and paying for it at the end of the week-even A graduate teaching in Eretz Yisroel wrote her that she though she offered lunch to her staff and considered it felt shunned by students and staff alike, without know part of their salary. ing why. Some time later, the principal of her school • Clips or rubber bands in her house that may have walked into her classroom and announced to the class, come from school were excluded from personal use. 'We don't know what a treasure we have amongst us. • Even though complimentary tickets to the annual This teacher is one of the choshuv'steh talmidos (out school play were given to staff members, Rebbetzin standing students) of Rebbetzin Kaplan, and she is mar Kaplan always paid for hers. ried to a great talmid chacham." This was the turning • Whenever her children called her in school she point in her career. It seems that Rebbetzin Kaplan marked down how many minutes she spoke to them and deducted the time from her salary base. (She was paid on a per-hour rate.) She kept a small notebook to record these and similar notations. • She was allotted 15 minutes to address the audience at the Sarah Schenirer 50th Yahrzeit gathering. She practiced her speech with a timepiece again and again, to ADWE make certain that she would not be using time that was not hers. • Her co-workers never heard her discussing her own LABORATORIES, INC. personal matters on school time. When asked about a family member, she answered briefly and went on with her work. "Sometimes we worked together for hours at a stretch. I do not recall her once mentioning family in the middle of work,'' reports Rebbetzin Engelsrath. • Jn the '40's, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kaplan faced a crucial decision. They had to part ways with Mr. X, the school benefactor, who felt peeved when his offer to sponsor a "charm course" for the girls was summarily overruled by the Kaplans. The financial burden was awe some; no other laymen had been cultivated during the time that Mr. X underwrote all the bills. Rebbetzin Kaplan called an assembly and explained the situation
is Rebbet.zin Kaplan opposed the use of heavy make-up. It was a theme in her last letter to her talmtdos in the Bais YaakovBulletin. She never failed to put it into the context of how wonderful her talmidos are-if only their "outer selves·· would reflect their pure "'inner selves." Manufacturers of Kosher L:Pesach Products: 1 I I I Toothpaste, Mouthwash, j ,, .J Lipsticks, Baby Powder, • ~- Compact (Facial Make-up), . - Handcream, Dishwash, and - - ~·- Shabbos Soap , •D I ~a·! Available at your local grocery or drug store; - - li •0 ·sA If your local store does not carry our product, - - .. ~ ra! r ask him to call us at (718) 788-6838. r·· • K~ \ - I \
22 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 "T.if notjor Bais Yaakov, all the yeshivas would be forced to close." -RABBI AHARON KOTLER 7"~l carefully to the students. She would not compromise, dren crying. To whom should she give her attention even when the school's veiy existence was at stake. first-to the baby who's most helpless, or perhaps to • Many years ago, Rebbetzin Wessel applied to Reb another child whose need is more urgent? She would betzin Kaplan for a teaching job and was turned down. listen to each child's stoiy, and then decide who earned She had six years of teaching experience, was highly priority. successful-and could not understand the rejection. She Rebbetzin Kaplan never raised her voice, not at pressed Rebbetzin Kaplan for an explanation, who said, home-even when the nine boys and four girls n11YJ were 'Your school is about to establish a high school. I don•t veiy lively youngsters-and not at school. Rabbi Avro want to take good teachers away from them." Only after hom Kaplan does not remember his mother ever order assuring Rebbetzin Kaplan that she was leaving the pre ing her children to do something. She always said, "If it's vious school, regardless of whether she was accepted in not too hard, maybe you could do this or that. .... adding, Bais Yaakov. did Rebbetzin Kaplan accept her. "If you don't do it, you won't be oveir kibbud eim" derelict in honoring your mother. Seeds of Chessed n his hesped, Rabbi Avrohom Kaplan related how his parents spent hours trying to gain the release of two I old women from a mental hospital where they had been coerced to commit themselves. It was close to sun down on Friday when the Kaplans finally found an old age home to which the ladies could be transferred. The Kaplans left their belongings behind and walked home. "SHABBOS DELIGHT" The Kaplan children visited these women with Shabbos food eveiy Friday.and BaisYaakovgirls visited with them during the week. ... Veiy likely, this was the beginning of SERVE YOUR FAMILY the expansive chessedand bikurcholimactivities in this THE.ALL NEW school. as well as schools all over the globe. Rebbetzin Kaplan had her own agenda of private chas sodim. For instance, she used to visit a giyoress on Shabbos and study with her. Later, she traveled by bus to have her sheitl done by this woman. to keep up the contact. She never lost control of herself, even in the most trying situations. She once told Rebbetzin Bender that arriving home from work she would sometimes find all the chi!- GEFILTE FISH BALI.S POSITION AVAILABLE WITH A REAL HEIMESHE TASTE & LOOK
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The Jewish Observer. February 1987 23 KASHRUS MAGAZINE Shir HaShirim @£@~ "o,\!.rrp \9i1p \9 11 n\91 \9i1p 0'i'\9n ?:::>" ''All the scriptures are holy, but Shir HaShirim is the 40 page bimonthly magazine the holiest of the holies." for the kosher consumer s growing administrational responsibilities forced Rebbetzin Kaplan to curtail her time in the We monitor for you A classroom. she still taught the graduating classes • Mislabeled Products • Pareve I Dairy • Ne'v Products one subject: Shir HaShirim. She taught it simply and • Unauthorized Symbols • Supervision Changes beautifully, explaining the most complex Rashis in a Other features: The Kashrus Trave1er, Consumer Alert, lucid manner. Kosher Services, What's The Bracha, Ask Dr. Zim1nerman 'When she mentioned 'The Shechina says' in her Shir 5 - 40 page issues I yr. HaShirim class. we felt as if she were the author," recalls a 5744 graduate, "with tears flowing ...." She had not SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM: changed. Early graduates (5720) remember the same mail to: K;ishnts. sub_ Scr•icc DepL POR 17305. lvlilw;lllkec. \\IL 53217 scene-"She would teach Shir HaShirim with a tissue in u.s Dlyr./SlO 02yrs /Sl803yrs /526 Q NE\\' her hand, the tears rolling down her cheeks, wiping them Can 0 l yr/ 518 D 2yrs./S34) S US.dwwn 0 RENf\11/AL Overseas 0 l yr / 520 0 2 yrs./ S38 on NY. Bank D C~lfT as she taught" Her office: Lunchtime, and hundreds of girls are mil NAME_. ______------ling about. there's laughter and music, and you're stand ADDRESS ______------ing next to Rebbetzin Kaplan's door-knocking. You strain your ears to hear the melodious "Come in," lest you cause her to run and open her door for you. You take a deep breath to gain composure, tum the knob slowly. and prepare yourself-to face the Shechina that rested upon AGUDAH WOMEN OF AMERICA her. Others may question this, but this is how we talmidos is pleased to announce that the felt Maybe that explains her hatzlacha. She said 'Tzeis ' chem l'shalom "to a busload of students leaving to a Bais ANNUAL LUNCHEON Yaakov convention and told them they should make a Kiddush Hashem. will be held il"'N on great That group ended up in eight newspapers and on many radio stations-because, Sunday, March 1, 1987 caught up in a blizzard, they refused to violate the Shab bos and elected to stop in a village midway to their desti Rosh Chodesh Adar, 5747 nation.... When a student requested permission to work in a camp where there were not many Bais Yaakov girls NEW YORK HILTON but she felt she could influence others-Rebbetzin Kap lan wished her hatzlacha, and the following year many Guest of Honor: Mrs. Daniela E. Buxbaum girls from that camp joined the Seminary. Her own children were also amazed: If Rebbetzin Kaplan said, "l don't see what you'll have from this job," Hanna_h Jacobovits Mrs. Fanni Loeb the job didn't work out If she said, 'Yes, this could be," Men1onal Awardee: then it did workout No wonder we'd be eager to discuss Miriam Borchardt Mrs. Peska Friedman our plans with her; we felt that her bracha would make Men1orial Awardee: things go well .... Bella Schlesinger M T . h S hi • Memorial Awardee: rs. z1pora c esmger Awardees Famous Mrs. Shelley Berger, Mrs. Goldie Friedman Reb. Leah Gruber, Reb. Rose lsbee, The Dairy Restaurant Mrs. Rachel Koplowitz 222 West 72nd Street (212) 595-8487 Couvert $45 per person Cholov Yisroel • Shomer Shabbos or Under the Supervision of K'hal Adath Jeshurun $150 in Journal Ads Open for 13reokfast, Luncheon and Dinner For Information Call: (212) 363-8940 Catering • Parties • Meetings
24 The Jewish Obseroer, Febmary 1987 FEIVEL KIRSHENBAUM, Ph.D. Registered Investment Adviser
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FROM EZRA TO THE STEIPLER GAON News clipping about girls trapped in the blizzard. 1960. by Rabbi Avraham Zvi Antokol Goals V. CHANGING OF THE GUARD • To n1ake Jewish history real and alive • To make our youth proud of their historical and revShabbosNachamu. Rebbetzin Kaplan jumped religious heritage out of bed two hours before lichtbentshen: she • To instill ethical values and teach Hashkafa E had dreamed that she missed candle-lighting. She • To fulfill the Mitzvah of "Zachor Yamos Olan1;' bentched right then because she knew her family would remembering the days of old. not wake her again to light the candles. She refused to come to the Shabbos table. She was too weak to dress for Highlights Shabbos. and said it would not be a kavod for the Shab • Learn Jevvish History by exan1ining the bos table. lives of our Sages As she was leaving for the hospital on Sunday. the • Easy to read and intellectually appealing phone rang. Rebbetzin Engelsrath was calling about cer • Teach yourself and your children Jewish tain decisions. Rebbetzin Kaplan told her that she (Reb History in a pleasant way betzin Engelsrathl. together with Rabbi Kaplan·s son •Jewish History from Torah sources and with a Reb Yisroel Yaakov. and Rebbetzin Bender should make Turah perspective the decisions.16 "Hashem should give you the da·as to • Approved by leading Roshei Yeshiva make the right decisions." • Exciting themes of Jewish History explored "Omein, .. answered Rebbetzin Engelsrath. -Exile At that moment Rebbetzin Kaplan transferred her life -What was it like to live in the times of Rav Ashi? work to others. -What y.,ras a day like in a Yeshiva in Bavel? The doctors did not give up. 'You·re a diamond and we -Who arranged the Talmud? have to polish you up;· they told her. They recognized the • Other themes shining brilliance of this patient who. when requesting • Authentic photographs of The Chasam Sofer, something, cautioned her children. "Maybe there isn·t Rav Aharon Kotler, the Satmer Rebbe, the Steipler enough for the other patients:· Gaon and others Her condition deteriorated rapidly. Nothing could be done. and our diamond was taken from us. In the midst An explanation and exan1ination of the lives of our of the frenzied calls to all camps and yeshivas to say Sages for Ages 10 to Adult. Tehillim. the message was changed: We can·t davenfor her refuah anymore. Again calls were made. and we gathered to perform the Available at your local Sefori1n Enclosed Please find 58.95 plus store or order directly fron1 S l.00 for postagC and handling. final act of charity that we could do for our great leader. the author. Name --·-·-----·-- Rabbi A. Antokol
16 Rebbetzin Kap!an'sdaughter.Rebbetzin FrumieKirzner. has rnovr-d to New 1835E.14thSt. Address -···---·-··--· York from Los Angeles to become a member of the school leadership. which Brooklyn, I'\Y. 11229 consults Rabbi Baruch Kaplan. Rebbetzin Kaplan had 1nentioned several times that she would like Fn1mie to conie and work With her.
The Jewish Obseroer. February 1987 25 SINGLE {_;., DOUBLE BREASTED POSTSCRIPT * MENS' Surrs * ''Mommy. are you in aveilus for Rebbetzin Kaplan?" asks the writer's 5-year-old when she sees the tears streaming down my SILBIGER'S cheeks. Yes, the tears were hot under my lids when I " Slack... <; * Rain\V('ar wanted to say Modeh Ani, because Rebbetzin Kaplan is •All Wool Coats ~ Sports Jackets my conscience. 'What would she think?" is always in mind when making a bracha, because her brachos were [ T11 be[ icvo.hlc Prices always loud and clear ... when taking a bentcherin hand 17()9 51 St .. Brooklyn, j\ry ( 71H) 854-1 lDG to say Birchas Hamazon, because Rebbetzin Kaplan Daily ,f:OO p.111.-9:00 p.rn.; Sund<.~v 1\ll Da_v always reached for her Siddurafter lunch.... What would she think of my davening-she, who put on her sheitl Silbig;er Suits You Best and slipped on her shoes and, when asked by her chi!· dren, "Ma, where are you going?" answered, 'Tm not going away; I'm going to daven Minch a" ... Would she YESHIVA GEDOLAHTORAS CHAIM OFMONSEY approve of my aspirations, she who ended her brae hos POST HIGH SCHOOL BAIS MEDRASH with :nn) )J.Nn 7Nt )J"'lJJ.l lY1 rN lr:ny l)Ji tN "The main thing is 65 Route 306"·"P.O. Box 767, Monsey, Nrw York l0()52 that Hashem should have nachas''. ... When I want to (91-1)425·1.516 i {914) 3)2-6420 answer my children, my students, impatiently-and when I do answer them impatiently-what would she In1cnsiYc f u!l dav Hai:; ;'vlcdrasb. Shiurei (f 'morah on }\'lorning & Afternoon Lin1udltn think? ... There is so much I still wanted to tell her. so Chuin:t''ll & N1u~sar Siliurln1 •Full Dnrn1itory facilities much more time that I wanted to spend with her. so Hora\· Menachem Gross or Horav /wr:i.ham titnniln much more to learn .... (914) 5 78-56(,4 (914) 352·8276 When Sarah Schenirer passed away. the little girls in Bais YaakovofBriskcried. They saw all the adults crying. Rebbetzin Zeilberger remembers someone telling Rebbe tzin Kaplan to calm down the little children. Rebbetzin Kaplan answered through her tears, '" l'"'' -1Yl"11 "' 1JN1 1Yl"11 "Let them cry. They should cry." And so should we.• AVIRA D'ERETZ YISROEL A unique opportunity for the Ben Torah (ages 15-16) interested in a fulfilling experience of Ruchnius growth. Spend 6 weeks in Eretz Yisroel • Learning under respected I GOT MY JOB and experienced Rebbeim • Shiurimin B'Iyun, Bekius, THROUGH Halacha, including Mitzvos Ha'Tluyos B'Aretz ~COPE • Visits with Gedolim A DIVISION OF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA • Tour Eretz Yisroel B'Ruach HaTorah JOIN THE MANY YUNGELEIT WHO HAVE FOUND CAREERS THROUGH For information write: OUR FREE PLACEMENT CENTER AVIRA D'ERETZ YISROEL Rabbi Moshe Lieber PO.B. 4515 CALL (212) 363-5660 Highland Park, N.J. 08904 LET US HELP YOU FIND i2011 985-0909 A JOD WITH A FUTURE!
26 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 Chaim David Zwiebel
USING SECULAR GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS INTERESTS: What Are the Boundaries?
AUTO PARTS, DESIGNER JEANS down on the perpetrators of this moreover, to impose its will with the AND ''TASHMISHEI KEDUSHA" consumer fraud, the California Al· use of the state's power, is outrage tomey General's office issued its ous." ("Bill on Misrepresented Me· n early 1986. at the request of legal opinion that "it would be ex· zuzos Stirs Controversy Among Agudath Israel of California, As· tremely difficult" lo address the Jews," Los Angeles Times. April 19, I semblyman William Filante in· problem under existing anti-fraud 1986) traduced a bill in the California law. Hence the need for new Iegisla· Another Reform spokesman, Rab· legislature requiring sellers of reli· Uon. to ensure (in Rabbi Schnur's bi Leonard Thal, Pacific Southwest gious articles such as tefillin and words) that "purchasers of religious regional director of the Union of mezuzos to disclose to consumers articles receive no less consumer American Hebrew Congregations. the identity of the manufacturer of protection than those who purchase echoed the same theme: the article and any supervising mislabled designer jeans or defective "By and large, Refonn Jews will not authority. auto parts." care very much whether it [Le .. a rnez The genesis of Assemblyman Where Agudath Israel and the At· uza] is done by hand by a scribe ... or Filante's bill, according lo Rabbi tomey General's office saw enhanced whethf'r it is 1nass-produced . Chaim Schnur. director of Agudath consu1ner protection, however, oth "If this were the only bill of religious Israel of California, was a series of ers saw dangers lurking in the consequence promoted by Agudat Yis complaints brought to his office shadows. The local Reform Rabbi· roel, that would be one thing. However. concerning blatantly unkosher tefil· nale, especially, took strong excep· these are the sa1ne individuals who pro lin and mezuzos that were flooding tion to Assembly Filante's bill. Typi moted the unfortunate ... Gel (Jewish divorce) legislation, the Kashruth legis the California market. Asked to crack cal was the protest voiced by Rabbi Sanford Ragins of the Leo Baeck lation Hnd who now have initiated a time·-of-death bill which would establish Mr. Zwiebel, an at torn!"y, is lJir{'dor of Agudath Temple in Los Angeles: 'Tor any rela separatf' criteria for Jews. Israel of A1nerica·s Office of Governnwnt Affairs. tively small group within the Jewish His "Where Do Our Secular ,Jf'wisli Brethren "{I object] to the continuing efforts of a Stand on Govt'rnmentAid?" was fea1ured in,JOof comm uni ly to seek to impose its will s1nall spgn1ent of the Jewish ('On1munity Nov. '85. upon the rest of the community and. to turn to well-intentioned legislators in
The Jewish Observer. FebruanJ 1987 27 Discharging our responsibilities of being a light unto the nations and rebuking Jews who stray from the path of righteousness requires us not only to lead by example, but to raise our voices and make our position known.
an effort to use the legislative process to • the contention of some prominent solely to safeguard the civil liberties impose their own Jewish practices and NewYork·based Reform Rabbis that of individual patients whose reli· obseniances on others who, in our open a bill mandating hospitals to advise gious beliefs regarding the defini· society. have chosen to embrace a differ parents of newborn baby boys that ti on oflife and death do not coincide ent set of Jewish practices and obser·· hospital circumcision may not satis with government's. vances." (Ibid: letter of April 24, 1986 to Assembly Filante) fy religious requirements was de· signed to force bris mila k'halacha TESTING OUR CRITICS' Apparently these protestations upon willing parents, when in fact it UNDERLYING PREMISE proved persuasive. Assemblyman was designed to protect parents who Filante's bill failed to pass. want their son to have a proper bris ften, then, our critics' charge mila but in their ignorance assume that we seek to use the WOEFUL IGNORANCE OR that hospital circumcision satisfies 0 machinery of secular gov· WILLFUL DISTORTION halacha; ernment to compel an unwilling public to observe halacha is trans· • the charge that New York's "get he charge that Orthodox law" was developed by Agudath Israel parently false. But there are contexts Jews in general, and Agu· to "impos[e] ... Orthodox Jewish in which the charge is not so easily T dath Israel in particular, religious requirements upon virtu· dismissed. seek to utilize the secular govern· ally all New Yorkers" (September In recent years,Agudath Israel has spoken out on a host of contempor· mental process to impose their own 1984 letter to The New York Times view of Jewish law upon those who from the Director of the New York ary social and moral legislative is· do not share that view, is hardly a Federation of Reform Synagogues), sues. We have opposed "gay rights" new one-although, as Rabbis Rag· when in fact the law would encour bills and the Equal Rights Amend· ment. We have supported proposed ins and Thal so eloquently demon· age the giving of a get only where the strated, it is often a frivolous one. couple had initially been married by laws to restrict the availability of Consumer fraud statutes, indud· pornography and abortion on de· a rabbi who would insist on a get as ing labeling requirements and full the means of terminating the mar· mand. Having taken such positions, disclosure provisions, have been en riage: are we not guilty as charged of utiliz· acted throughout the United States. ing government to impose on others To press for similar legislation to • the argument that our endeavors our own parochial religious views? protect consumers of tefillin, mezu· to obtain tuition tax relief and other Before entering a plea of innocent zos and the like, is a perfectly ap· forms of public aid for parents whose or guilty, let us pause for a moment propriate exercise of political advo· children attend religious schools are to consider a more fundamental cacy. On the other hand, to resist aimed at obtaining special status for question: So what if we are guilty? such legislation on the patently false religious education, when in fact we Our critics' charge of impropriety ground that it represents an effort are fighting only for the right of tax· is based on the premise that there is by the Orthodox to use government paying parents to recover a fraction something sinister about enlisting to impose halacha on the non· of their educational tax dollars to the secular law to help promote ha· Orthodox, is to seek lo deny Or· help defray the costs of exercising lachic values. Some in our commu thodox Jews the same legal rights their constitutionally guaranteed nity would contest the validity of the enjoyed by other consumers. Who, right to educate their children in premise. They would argue that it is then. was really guilty of manipulat· non·public schools: perfectly proper for organized Or· ing California's "well·intentioned • the claim that Agudath Israel's thodoxy to employ whatever means legislators"? efforts to secure a legislative exemp· available, including political advo· There are numerous other recent lion to the commonly accepted cacy and legislative enactment. to contexts in which our critics bet "brain death" standard "would es· encourage respect for and observ· rayed either woeful ignorance or tabljsh separate criteria for Jews" ance of the eternal truths embodied willful distortion of Agudath Israel's (Rabbi Thal, supra), when in fact our in Torah. They would further argue legislative objectives. Some examples: efforts in this regard are designed that government inevitably teaches
28 The Jewish Obseroer, February 1987 when it legislates, and that we in lative priorities requires us to iden It is thus in our community's ul tum have the right to seek to influ tify those issues in which our stake timate interest. I believe, to recog ence the substance of that teaching is substantial and direct. and those nize the secular character of Ameri on the basis of our religious beliefs. in which it is only peripheral and can government and the limited re Others in our community would indirect. Where our primary motiva sources that we have for influenc agree with our critics' basic premise tion in seeking legislation is not to ing government, and to formulate that enlisting secular government preserve our own rights, but to com our legislative priorities accord as an active partner in promoting pel society at large to act in confor ingly. In that limited sense, critics Torah values and observance is a mance with halacha, we should like Reform Rabbis Ragins and Thal mistake. Orthodox Jews in the Uni think twice before committing our may have a point. American Ortho ted States are, after all. a minority selves to such an initiative. Granted, dox Jews should not focus their within a minority. Thus. the argu we have a responsibility to promote energies on persuading government ment goes. American Jewry has a Torah values and observance among to make halacha the law of the land, great stake ln preserving the so the ignorant or forgetful. (More on thereby converting the police power called wall separating church and that subject in the final section of of the state into an enforcement arm state; were it to crumble, it is indeed this article.) Enlisting the secular of the Shulchan Aruch. Rather, our the church-not the synagogue law to help us discharge that res domestic legislative agenda should that would dominate the state. Ac ponsibility, however, is no easy task, be designed primarily to preserve cording to this view. in the long run could prove counterproductive. and and advance our right to lead full our community is better off keeping is a questionable use of limited re lives as Torah-observant Jews in the Jewish religious values out of the sources. United States. legislative process, else majoritarian religionists could utilize the same process to imposeanth.Jewish values Presenting two original works in charcoal on us. from the artist Elie Benzaquen
THE IMPLICATIONS OF OUR LIMITATIONS
ithout taking sides in this debate, I believe that cer W tain basic facts dictate the posture the American Torah com munity should adopt vis-a-vis gov ernment. (The reader is cautioned to take note of the two disclaimers implicit in the previous sentence: that what follows is my own personal view; and that I offer my opinion only lleb Hwkov ~ Reb lvloshe in the context of the American sys The young artist who has ivon recognition .for his talent in portraying our tem of government.) Gedolim with liveliness and depth offeeling has produced these portraits of Reb Orthodox Jews in the United Moshe Feinstein '"~t and Reb Yaakov Kaminetsky ?n::n in a limited edition1 States are a community of limited commemorative issue. Each portrait is signed and numbered by the artist, means and limited political clout. embossed for authenticity, and is produced on high grade heavy offwhite Common sense dictates that we textured art paper: Each portrait is presented in a high quality, acid free, bevel must husband the resources we do cut presentation mat and is seal wrapped and ready.for framing 116" x 20"). have and establish a hierarchy of 1b order, send S36 for eac'1 print, or sirnply call 201-538-9755. Be sure to legislative priorities. With all due specify mat color: pebble black, offwhite, pastel grey, dark grey; dark blue, respect to those in our camp who sauterne (neutral). Postage and handling included. Orders sent via [JPS. would press government to make Rosh Hashana and Yorn Kippur na tional holidays. and to those who ------N11nu; -----·------Send to: F~li Bcnzaquen C1V 1996 would expend their energies on hav Address A1orristown, N.J 07960 ing certain street blocks renamed in ::J fl.ch [Vloshc '"~n Ciry ------·State__ Zip ____ honor of leading Orthodox figures. CJ Reh Y.1ako\' '"!:rt
we should be concentrating on is r1 :,;hould be noted tha1 the rarliest numlwr~ in a limited edition arc mosl pdzed 11nd 1·1llucd and these may sues that are more fundamentally be SPcurPd by e;11'ly ordel'. OnlPJ'~ sent inmwdiately upnn ;1pprnn1l. A cel'!ificate h included with P;1cb crucial lo our ability to survive and po1·tr;1i1 and a conlp](~!l\Pl1t;ir.v gift is sent with P11ch order of a set thrive as a Torah community. •As appP.arcd on the cover of lhe .Jeu'ish Observer, October 1986. Establishing a hierarchy of legis-
The Jewish Observer, February 1987 29 OSMOSIS AND BEYOND I think not. Our stand on these Thus, we oppose "gay rights" not types of issues is designed primarily so much because of the negative o return now to the question to protect ourselves and our fami moral impact such legislation is like posed above, have we not lies. The Torah community's way of ly to have on society at large, but T strayed from our basic pur life is threatened when government because parents whose religious and pose in speaking out on the broad encourages or permits conduct that moral convictions demand that they range of social and moral issues that leads to social and moral decay. I shield their children from conduct come before legislative bodies in refer not merely to the indirect threat they believe to be deviant should not contemporary U.SA.? ls it not a posed by the osmosis of contempo be required by law lo violate those misuse of our limited resources to rary secular mores into our own convictions. We oppose E.RA. not so seek Jaws that promote general social homes and values-vie es kristalt much because we want government morality? Are we not in fact guilty of zich, azoi yudelt es zich-but to a to deliver the message that woman's asking secular government to im direct and substantial threat to our role in life is different than man's, pose our religious views upon society ability to lead our lives in accordance but because E.RA. could lead to a at large? with halacha. "gender neutral" military draft and the withdrawal of tax exempt status from single-sex religious institu tions. We support curbs on porno graphic materials not so much be \Vhat would you do cause proliferating pornography ifyou could not work debases society at large, but because it makes it impossible for our fami for one full year? lies to walk the streets without being assaulted byoffensiveimages. Stated How would you pay for food, clothing otherwise, in each of these contexts and lodging for the entire year? we seek first and foremost to protect our own civil rights. his 111av sound 1idicu lous to \UU llO\\', but to SC\'!.'l'<1l thou.:-;.:-1nd fiu11ilie,:; in Erctz Yisroel '"ho "'ill not "'Ork tl;is \'c 30 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 gious groups (l'havdil). In fact, when tragedy. An estimated l .5 million one of evety four pregnancies now we have spoken out on the subject, legal abortions annually have been end in abortion, at the rate of ap we have expended as much energy in performed in the United States since proximately 4,000 each day. Indeed, insisting that anti-abortion legisla the Supreme Court's decision 13 as a recent cover story in a national tion not preclude abortions in cases yearsagothatabortion isaconstitu magazine makes clear, the legaliza where halacha would permit or tionally protected right More than tion of abortion may be only the first require them-a classic example of advocating Orthodox Jewish civil rights-as we have in expressing our basic support for laws prohibit CAMP S'DEI CHEMED ing abortion on demand. INTERNATIONAL ,,,,,, Nonetheless, we have expressed our support for such laws, and in no ~ Modern luxurious campus in the beaulilul resorl cily of Nelanya •The ~ finest best. most comprehensive and intensive touring program uncertain terms. 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ALLATSUPER St. 1.,...... • • ~'1114-145?J14 43l-40'2t Silntr Sp.Ina; . . . • l01 5'19--4111 DISCOUNf PRICES! Name------Tel.----- Toronto ...... , , (41') 71J-4J74 Address----- Ci1y __ s1ate __ z;p __ ="£';Im·: ...... :.<~J)~.m The Jewish Obseroer, Febmary 1987 31 The Torah community's way of life is threatened when government encourages or permits conduct that leads to social and moral decay. step down a slippery slope leading to I stated before that our communi point on issues of contemporaiy re unfathomable depths: ty's stake in the debate over legalized levance, Klal Yisroel has a responsi "'I don't think abortion is ever wrong,' abortion is neither direct nor sub bility, collectively and individually, argues psychiatrist and anthropologist stantial, In a very real sense, that is to serve as ohr la 'goyim, a light unto Virginia Abernathy of Vanderbilt Uni incorrect Jews, especially, should the nations: and to fulfill "hochei" versity's School of Medicine. 'A._~ long as require no reminder that a society ach toe hi 'aches amisecha. Rebuke an individual is completely dependent that permits euthanasia and other your fellow Jew" when he strays upon the mother. it's not a person.' In forms of killing the innocent is a from the path of righteousness, this view, which is shared by other pro society that desanctifies and de Discharging that responsibility re· choice theorists, an individual becomes values human life-and, ultimately, quires us not only to lead by exam· a person only when he or she becomes a pie, but to raise our voices and make responsible moral agent-around age pennits or encourages the destruc three or four, in Abernathy's judgment. tion of Jewish life, our position known. Until then, she thinks, infants-like We can and should tell the world fetuses~are nonpersons; defective chil that there is a Supreme Being who DELIVERING THE MESSAGE dren, such as those with Down's Syn created the entire universe and who WITHOUT GOVERNMENT'S HELP drome. may never become persons. The commanded Noach and his descend claim they have on persons, she says, is ants a series of laws that are univer compassion, not a moral right to life: overnment, I have argued, is sally binding upon all mankind: that 'Compassion is always very important. not an ideal partner to help human beings were created b'tze but litl loses when weighed against the G Torah Jewry deliver the mes lem Elokim, in the Divine Image, rights of a person.' " (Newsweek, ''Amer sage ofTorah to the ignorant masses, and are accordingly entitled to life, ica's Abortion Dilemma," JanuanJ 14. That does not mean the message 1985) dignity, respect and sustenance: that should not be delivered, men and women have different roles Dare we remain silent in the face of We can and should make better to play in G-d's master plan for the attempts to legitimize the unthink use of modem media to articulate human race: and that activities and able? and disseminate the Torah view- policies that undennine the tradi tional family structure strike a body blow at the very foundation of civ ilized society, By the same token, we can and AN URGENT REMINDER should tell our brothers and sisters FROM who are ignorant or forgetful of Torah that the Jewish nation is the am hanivchar, chosen by HaShem CHEVRA DOR YESHORIM for a special mission on this world and a special portion in the world to YOUNG PEOPLE OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE come: that Torah is both the legacy and responsibility of every Jew: that MUST BE TESTED the rabbinic leadership of those ex in order to prevent the scourge of Tay-Sachs pressions of Judaism that are pre· mised on the denial of the simple disease from striking the next generation, in fact that Torah as it was given at accordance with the directives of the Gedolei Hador, Sinai is both eternal and constant are falsifiers of our heritage whose Call for an appointment teachings have led countless Jews (718) 384-6060, (914) 783-1370, (914) 425-4466 astray, No fee, Confidentiality assured, And, yes, we can and should let our fellow Jews know that tefillin and CHEVRA DOR YESHORIM, INC. mezuzos are acceptable only if they 33 Spencer Street• Brooklyn, N.Y, 11205 conform precisely to the require ments of halacha,• 32 The Jewish Obseroer, February 1987 I can hardly hear myself Ari think. I really had no idea in the that helicopters were so Clouds... noi.1y from the inside of one. But the 1•ieu• of our homeland from this altitude at 11:00 Plvf is diuerting enough to screen out the hum of the propellers aboue me. The pilot tell> me we'll be landing in ten minutes at the Army base from where he picked me up just hours ago. And it was onlv yesterday that Alex, my diuision commander, shocked me with the news that I'd he receiuing private helicopter seruice to Yerushalavim in order not to mis~' the 111/FAL HASHAS monthly e:x:amination. Seueral times he "caught" me with my tiny flashlight illumi nating my tiny "Pesachim" at an hour before day break. His lips told me to "get some rest," hut bis c:ves .1poke uolumes about pride, conviction, and commitment. The double message was ohuious hut not confusing I responded by learning And he responded u•ith special orders and trauel arrangements. But my s111prise paled in comparison to the stunned faces of my fl.JJFAL HASHAS "char·erim," when they saw me enter the exam auditorium. The send-off thc:v gave me after· t!'ard.1~ surrounding the belicopter with chee1:> and tears, will f oreuer he branded in my memory. No 1natter where I am in 8 .vears, uhen I make 111)'. "Sivum". on Gantz Shas, I'll make sure that Alex is there with me. Even if I ha1 ·e to send a helicopter. MIFAL HASHAS... de1 ·eloping scholarship into leadership. /11/FAL HA~I!A~' is an international, } lSSCJC! !FN.i /F\ ·r i!J .'J'v' l'Al(!i\"FN.S/-1/P ACiNFF1\!F1VT non-profit organization dedicated to the / 11v11fd like /I! /1<'c<1111c a /!111'//l('r ill /be l1Yilld<'1f11! 1rrwk 1d ,l/i(a! / lasbt1s In crmtn/J11ti11µ D S/ 'irl /1t·1· 111<1111/J "'" V>11fr(f I loJi,mh' o $)() ;wr 1110>11!1 "-'ti .lff,I.·,,- Jim1h deuelopment of outstanding ToralJ scholars. O t/(Jl!fwi' 1111i111h m·t1 /'t1n1<'' !lt1!i""" 0 Sl8 /!<'i' Iii()////! d> a !}Hll \Uf'/!ril'l<'I" D S:Of! fwr mr,,,1/' "' d '/im1ed' Jfira/, It administi·ates and directs the study and ,\/!.\//" ------ examination process of the entire "sbas", Af)/)f<.f::'lS ------··--·----- and dL'fJenses month(v stipends to 'f"!JJ]'f!O.\J:" ______ onlv those who excel 1111· mrd t1/! ,~JIFAJ. I !AS! VIS .:/()()6 /(Jtb Al"l"Jllf(', nrookfJ'll, ;\'.}, J J.104 (718)436-77()() Home Attendants needed for housekeeping and personal care for the disabled and homebound good pay and benefits Baro 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 YESHARIM DARCHEI HASHEM Reaching Out To Small Communities Rabbi Hillel Goldberg esharim darchei Hashem. But: yeshartm darchei Hashem. I hear this phrase from The path of Hashem is upright. Why Y Hoshe'a (14.10) reverberat· should it not penetrate there. too. ifa ing in my mind, over and over. end· Jew is honest in his search? Who lessly. l hear it because the man who said that any Jew is premanentlycut quoted it. Rabbi Yitzchak Orlansky off from Torah?Who issued the het· one of the last surviVing disciples of ter for despair? the Alter of Novarodok-said it over And. actually, if you think about and over. endlessly, as his credo for it-as I have in astonishment and disseminating Yiddishkeit: gratitude for some months now When a person banishes every why should the path of Hashem not thought or act that deviates from penetrate therewith a special ease, a the derech of Hashem, then only special receptivity, a special ruach good can come forth.for "the ways and power? Wherever there is a of Hashem are yesharim ": upright. Torah vacuum, should it not be es· straightforward, the essence of pecially likely for Torah to fill it? integrity. Yes, I said. I cannot do other than follow the derech Hashem wherever Do. Act. Follow the darchei Hashem. it leads. There is a message here. a Because they are yesharim, abso· Message, if you will: something spe lutely nothing but good can come nlikely? Unlikely, absolute cial, something powerful, something from acting on them, no matter how ly-or so I thought. A Reform I must listen to. IfTorah is Eternal. it unlikely the prospects qf success, U temple in a small town in the can reach everywhere. no location no matter howfarfetched the pos Southwest wishing to consider the excluded, no Jew precluded: yesha· sibility of such action working a possibility of installing a mechitza? rim darchei Hashem. sacred effect. no matter how un Members of said temple building a Rabbi Orlansky's lesson kept re· realistic the direction that the kosher mikva?-kashering their verberating. derech of Hashem seems to be lead· homes?-paying big telephone bills The new development, now, is that ing in. to hear Torah shiurim because there this message is taken by my friends is no appropriate teacher within 500 and disciples and co-workers-I do Rabbi Hillel Goldberg is Senior Editor of the Denver lntennountain Jewish News, and Hala miles? Unlikely indeed. not know what to call them-in a chic Adviser ofTonih Community Project. Or so I thought. certain small town, in a separate The Jewish Observer, February 1987 35 'We" is the Torah Community Pro· It started with a simple lesson, learned ject. founded by Gilbert and myself, energized by a small group in the 1 7 years ago: When a new face appears in East Denver Orthodox Synagogue. shul, go over to him; welcome him; make Denver. In July we hold this Shabbaton in him feel at home. a hotel in that city. How does one show up, suddenly, with a mechitza? How does one get kosher food for 80 building of whose temple Jews now Gilbert, my partner in all this, and people to a non-kosher hotel in a city savor the sanctity of Torah. I say to him: We shall come to your with only one kosher kitchen? Ye· And this revolution is just begin· city and make a Shabbaton. We shall sharim darchei Hashem. When the ning. bring a major Torah personality. will to do the will of Hashem is And we shall fund it. straightforward, a way is found. You want Torah? We shall find a We arrive. Straight from the air· t started with a simple lesson, way. port we travel to a half-built mikva! learned 17 years ago from ano· Our guest demurs. "Too heavy, too We flinch. I ther great teacher in our genera· soon. Better: let us come up to you." The sense of wonder is over tion, the Bostoner Rebbe: When a Fine. whelming. newface appears in shul, go over to We make a Shabbaton in Denver, These Jews have constructed the him; welcome him; make himfeel last May, to strengthen our own mikua with their own hands, exca· at home. community, also to strengthen vating the earth, pouring the con· Last April, a new face appeared in theirs. One of our rabbis-Rabbi crete. The two families then observ· shul. I went over: I welcomed him. Rafael Grossman-a powerful ora· ing taharas hamishpacha use a This guest is from out-of-state. He tor, opens eyes to Torah. An intense lake, accessible in winter only by tells an incredible story: Jews in his discussion takes place with our vis walking through a mile of snow. small town are genuinely searching. itors around one issue: how do Jews "This is the Western Wall of the They have a spark, initially nurtured in a small city, with precious little Western hemisphere," pronounces by Lubavitch, and others. Of Torah access to Torah, proceed? our rabbi. they have almost no definition and The rabbi says: I cannot judge What other metaphor is possible? no knowledge, but one thing they without being in your city. We proceed: Shabbos, dauening, have: a thirst. We plan a Shabbaton for that city. seudos, divrei ~rorah into the wee ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF HOTLINE TO JERUSALEM In time of illness, surgery or crisis, special prayers will be FOR GIRLS AGES 12-16-SUMMERS747-1987 recited at the Western Wall and at our Yeshiva in Jerusalem. 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N.Y. 10038 36 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 hours, then all the next day, then all A letter arrives from another small We'll start where you are ready to motzaei Shabbos, city, this time in Colorado: "From start, we told them. We leave, both effects and causes your article in the Intermountain We want lectures, they said. of a great hisorerus, a deep awaken Jewish News on the Shabbaton, we Fine. I lectured on the Mussar ing. see that you care about Jews in small movement. A Lubavitch shaliach in We leave behind a commitment to towns. Will you come to our city, to Colorado lectured on the Hassidic tum a "traditional" minyan, held in help us?" movement. Another local musmach. a Reform temple, into a halachic I fly to that city. a computer programmer by trade, minyan, to be held in a separate Torah Community Project estab lectured on our ties to Eretz Yisroel. building. lishes a lecture series there. All this, for starters. In that city, they had no link to Perhaps we could provide a candi· ver the course of the next six davening, to mikva; no interest in a date for a scholar-in-residency at the weeks: aliyos for women Shabbaton. local college? 0 cease: counting women for a Fine. As ! write, a Rav from a well· minyan ceases: a permanent me chitza is fastened into the floor. . We talk extensively on the tele· phone. After a while, the calls move . in the opposite direction. Calls arrive in Denver: I wish to go kosher. Kollel Chacham Zvi Head of the Vaad Hakashrus of Denver flies to this city, kashers four of An1sterdam, Holland homes. Calls arrive in Denver: We want Torah. A rash yeshiva at Yeshiva Toras is happy to announce it is now in a position to acrept Chaim in Denver and his wife travel two new Yungelite to this city to spend Shabbos, to give shiurim. He is given no rest: hours and hours of shiurim. She is given IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, no rest: hours and hours of ques . tions and camaraderie. * an inlensic1e high level prog1am oj'learning B -'own until lialacha L '1'4a 'as ah Calls arrive: our local rav and po· and Shi1nush B'lwroh conibi,ned u1ith a u-'e!L strurtured b'ke_)'US program. seik is asked sheilos in hilchos nid· dah (the mikva. whose construction * a Rosh Kollr,! who is a/u,ia_ys a1 1ailable in the Bais Ha Jfedrash and is not was supervised by our Denver rab I bu.~y roith JUnd-raising or administration. binical authorities, went into opera~ ft practical experianceforjl1ture uJOrk in Rabbonus, a!! levels o_f chinuch and tion last December). " kiruv Reclwkim through shiurirn, Drasltos. and daily interaction lf)ifh Ba 'a!C)' Halim. "ti: a lir'able sala~y 1vitlwut the need for other sources qf incorne. * a Kolle! in a con1muni(y zoith a seperateji·urn !Jay School ofexcellent /evfl, U!iJh AJe!rundim Yira)1 Shornayiln and an enrollment oj'ovfr JOO children. \??t ',>,',,, 1z- an ability to learn to relate to people in a environrnent df[ferent.fi·om the one ,n"iin '1!11'1'1'! 9ti1R you 're used to, amidst a l.tJarm and friendly Clzahoralz of Bnei Torah inclu dirt/!, trDo A1nericans. . ,m:::nwm 1117.t The Jewish Observer, Febrnary 1987 37 known Eastern seaboard Kehilla is negative preconceptions arising out special Jewish talent. Sometimes due to arrive in this city next week, of intimate contact with non-hala sooner, sometimes later, people will for three weeks of fruitful teaching chic or anti-halachic institutions give of their time or money to a in a small community yearning for barely exist. coherent program. activity and direction. There is a second point: anybody In sum: Some people in small can do this work. Of course, Torah towns are touched by learning, oth nvitations go out from Denver: learning, proper sensitivity, and ers by observance of this or the other Please attend the Torah Com funding help. But that all comes. mitzva, others by simple friendship. I munity Project Shabbaton-Den Those factors are critical, but they Look for the point of contact. Each ver, in late January, with the Bos are not the starting point. which is person, each community, has its own toner Rebbe. love of Torah, the desire to see it point. Replies: eight times as many peo lived. Of course, there are knotty prob ple as the original response to our The desire is of the essence. Ye· lems-intermarried couples and first Shabbaton; and they arrive not sharim darchei Hashem: the way of non-halachic converts, to name the from one state, as originally, but Hashem goes straight. everywhere. most prominent-but. with good from four states. They come not from Every Jew and every Jewish com thinking and consultation with the one city, as originally, but from seven munity can be touched, no matter proper halachicauthorities, forevery cities. how remote. problem there is a resolution. I could go on and on. The details A third point: Don't take your own here, in Colorado, are not the point. community for granted. It probably very time a community con The point is this: Jews await us. has many valuable resources you tacts us, we go: and sooner or Jews in out-of-the way places have might not have thought of in out E later we locate its point of the same potential for Torah, for reach terms. Mobilize all of these contact. its link to kedusha. kedusha, in their neshamosasJews resources: rabbanim in pulpits and It all starts, however, by asking to anywhere. not in pulpits: lay people skllled in go. We look for opportunities. Still more. Torah knowledge, in singing, in ke Whoever looks, will find. Jews in out-of-the way places have riyas HaTorah, or in organization: You start by giving hisorerus--the one advantage. Almost always, no shomrei Shabbos families; learned inspiration you hold within you. You one else reaches them. The various or friendly women: anyone with any end by receiving hisorerus-the in spiration your Jews give you. Can it be done? There is nowhere it cannot be done. For the first com munity you touch sooner or later becomes not so much the object of HAVE YOU HEARD ? your outreach. It becomes the origi nator of its own outreach. WE1lE GROWING I A secret source of Yiddishkeit: small towns. That's where the Alter of Nova lliE 1lJRAH COMMl./IVITY OF rodok was active. That's how he MATAWAN I ABERDEEN & HAZLET, NJ molded disciples, like Rabbi Yitz chak Orlansky, who, 90 years later, still plants the seeds that transform *DAILY MINYANIM AND REGULAR SHIURIM precious neshamos. ~1TON8ET7EFJ'LAH Yesharim darchei Hashem: the *EXPANDING ELEMENTARY YESHIVA ways of Hashem have integrity, they &lfr.!i'hf}/!1EHC:llHEW ACADEMY are communicable-to any Jew, to *LOCAL YESHNA HIGH SCHOOL every Jew. lllS1T1VTE OF TO/UH 4 TE'CHNOL.OOY Anywhere.• * SHOMERSHABBOSGLATT KOSHER BUTCHER * ERlNNDESIGN PHASE, MIKVAH IN CLOSE PROXIMITY p>'.:>l ,,NY.l on,:'.lN * ON..Y451'1HJTESTOEllHER BROOKLYN OR LAKEWOOD w•?:in N"'.:>:i1:i 1r.io1r.i ,,,:i * .AJST12MNUTES TO BELL COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH 0>)11'.lpn O>J>; >n'.l'.l >J:i, ))11\Jl *FAST, EASYCCWl.VTETO N.Y.C. BY EXPRESS BUS OR TRAIN For Practical Assistance in * l-IOM:SMOREAFFORDABLE THAN IN MOST JEWISH COMMUNffiES Settling Financial Disputes RABBI ARYEH SOKOLOFF According to Din Torah in (201) 583-6262 583 - 5617 583- 1229 N.Y. and Vicinity. .UFT1Mt:EH10V£Jt!T ff?AOFTHEG41/PENSTATFPARKWAY Rabbi Aw-ohom Meir Gluck (914) 356-5572 38 The Jewish Observer. February 1987 'Shiur' Enjoyment Rabbi Yissacher Frand's weekly Torah 'shiur,' or class, is the largest one qf its kind in Baltimore, attracting more than a hundred men. Gary Rosenblatt is a rabbi with no congre would otherwise be immersed in and more recently as a member of gation but a large and loyal Torah study at a synagogue on the faculty. Rabbi Frand clearly is R oil owing. Thursday nights or sitting home tuned into both worlds. the secular Every Thursday night at 9 p.m. watching "Cheers," they adjust their and the spiritual. His weekly Thurs more than a hundred men. young hectic schedules to make time for day night shiur, for which he pre and old. from various segments of Rabbi Frand's shiur. pares about three days and spends the Orthodox community. some The rabbi's appeal is not only to six to 12 hours on Wednesdays writ - wearing black hats and suits and men. He recently gave a lecture. ing it out. includes numerous refer others wearing knitted kipot and sponsored by the Mikvah of Balti ences to modern-day situations jeans, converge at theAgudath Israel more, for husbands and wives on the (from child-rearing to sports) as a congregation on Park Heights Ave topic of shalom bayis, or family means of casting light on age-old nue to hear Rabbi Yissacher Frand harmony. and drew an overflow ideas. He recently dealt with the give his shiur. or class, on the weekly crowd ofabout three hundred people. question of whether an army is obli Torah portion. gated to rescue soldiers who had The most popular lecture of its native of Seattle who has endangered themselves against or kind in town is exactly an hour, to been affiliated with the Ner ders and were captured by the enemy. the minute, and each week it deals A Israel Rabbinical College here He refers to a class he gave on Hal with a relevant halachic issue that is for more than 20 years, first as a ley's Comet as "a rainy day sugya." alluded to in the week's Torah read high school and rabbinical student or topic. ing, ranging from medical issues like abortion to the obligations for giving charity or the halachic status of Ethiopian Jews. Rabbi Frand's OFF{/\ 1\RT LrD: J1\CK KLAUSNER pattern is to trace a topic literally EXCLUSIVE HEPHESLC:0:Ti\TIVES through the ages. researching and summartzing opinions offered by OF different scholars from different generations, up to and including JAQUESKASZEMACHER modem times. Often there is no clear-cut practi GEOMETRIC ART cal conclusion but that is not the ~2! 0 . . l p . - p ' ~~ purpose of the class. which, accord ...-:;;:-~ . ng1na s. nnts. · osters re- "" ing to Rabbi Frand. is "to discuss relevant issues and show how the Also Available: halacha (Jewish law) deals with them. We try to show the process Michel. 01achshon. Gilacli. 1-iar'e-l & how decisions are derived so people Other Fine Israeli 1\rtists understand that they are not arbi trary or capricious." Inquiries: Ofra Silk Screening. LTD. The loyalty of attendees to the Moshav Ofra . .Jerusalem !-!ills. Israel class is strong, and whether they Phone: 02-976288, 02-976445, Gary Rosenblatt is editor of the Baltin1oreJewish Times, where this article originally appeared In 02-663504 expanded form. The Jewish Observer. February 1987 39 (Rabbi Frand is the first to admit the yeshiva to the community. Rabbi Shmura Matzah-and more about that his speech pattern is a pep Frand takes pride in the fact that incorporating religion into their pered blend of English and "yeshiv· during that time he has not repeated daily lives. People want Jewish ish," filled with Hebrew, Yiddish and a topic. "We're trying lo expand our guidelines for practical situations Aramaic phrases from the Talmud, sensitivity for a large and diverse like raising children, getting along Al least one regular at the weekly group," says the modest rabbi, who with in--laws, having a working wife, shiur was surprised to learn that rarely uses the word"!." He says that dealing with non-Jews, and other Rabbi Frand is native-born."Around he tries to strike a balance in his areas not explicitly found in halacha. here," he says, pointing to the Ner approach. being neither loo arcane "These are tough subjects to pre· Israel study hall, "I hardly speak a nor too scholarly. pare because you can't just look it up complete sentence in English.") in a s<;fer(scholarlyJewish text), you Last Shavuos marked four years abbi Frnnd feels that one of have to glean from everywhere," says that Rabbi Frand has been giving the outgrowths of the re Rabhi Frand. "The areas of strict his weekly class, a program started R surgence in Orthodoxy is halacha are the easiest to deal with, by the Ner Israel Kolle!, or post· that people need less instructior1 on like how to kashera microwave oven. rabbinical department, as a means the mechanics of Judaism~how to It's the human, psychological issues of spreading Torah knowledge from lightShabboscandlesorwhen toeal that are tougher, but they're very important. There are so many more pressures on people now. life is not as simple as it was in the 50's." Purim-Paks are Back! (That's when Rabbi Frand grew up Shalach Monos Tu Your Son or Daughter and attended a modern day school in Learning in Yerushalayim Seattle.) He is clearly satisfied with his ,-\gucli:i. l~clz. l~dcLJiz. chosen calling. "Part of being a Jew (:fklS PLTRl;\l-PAKS/(i Enl('.'=' Ldll('. \lo11~cy. :"..Y j(JD.:12 definition of a rebbe as one who !11fo: Dl4-352-1516 C'\"( ·nir 1gs tutors G-d's children. Rabbi Frand says that he tries to stress that there is a difference be· tween a halacha and a chumra, between fulfilling a law and insist ing on the strictest interpretation of that law. FREEDA® "Sometimes we get too caught up in minutiae and we lose perspec tive," explained Rabbi Frand, noting VITAMINS SillC't' l!J28 that some novices have trouble dis THE BEST IN THE VITAMIN WORLD tinguishing between what is and what isn't important. But he notes Over 250 Vitamins, Minerals and Amino Acids to cover with pleasure that the level of a!! your vitamin needs. Our vitarnins are made on the knowledge among observant Jews premise~ under strict-pharmaceutical and kashrus stand- 1 • ards. Freeda Vitamins are parve and vegetarian and are ../:P1-c"t-d;l over the last decade or two has in· 1 creased, having progressed, he says, under the Rabbinical Supervision of.The Ortho. dox Union· .• "--· · ·. ; :'_ll·'.. 11 c-~ and Rabbi Mordechai Kohn frorn New Square, N.Y. ~- . "from the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch to • no sugar • no sulfates • no coal tar dyes ~ the Mishna Brura," citing two au • no starch • no salt fill(>r • no animal st.earates thoritative texts, the second more . ,! l·J-c..: ': l'kas<: Wn!P for our brodiure and comphmentary article on, ·: \tiTA-C" "How To Get Enough Calcium". .,. _.,_, detailed than the first. The growing popularity of the Thursdaynightshiur attests to how NEW! much the attendees enjoy the ses "A-Free Prenatal" sions. Rabbi Frand also enjoys his Prenatal vitamins without Vitamin A Thursday night community shiur, seeing it as somewhat of a platform FREEDA VITAMINS where he is free to offer his views 36 East 4 lst Street New York, New York 10017 without fear of reprisals from dis (212) 6854980 gruntled congregants.11 40 The Jewish Observer. February 1987 HOW MANY CHILDREN CAN YOU SEE IN THIS PICTURE? Answer: There are nearly 1,000,000. ever. Hagaon Harav Shach Shlita, one of There is a lot more to this picture than Israel's sages, said recently, "If we had the fun meets the eye. There are almost 1,000,000 ding today, we could add thousands of chil Jewish children in Israel today. More than half dren to Torah education." The Baal-Teshuva of them don't even know the meaning of movement in Israel has brought thousands of "Shema Yisrael". Only a small percentage re young parents to the awareness that their ceive a quality Torah education. Of these, children need the Torah education they them 40,000 strong are enrolled in the Chinuch selves didn't receive. Atzmai school system. With over 300 schools But the average Israeli's family budget and kindergartens throughout Israel, Chinuch allows little for paying for a Torah education. Atzmai has lived up to the dream of its great The government's education budget, instead founders Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Zalmen of increasing, has been drastically cut. Our ex Sorotzkin, and the Gener Rebe of blessed isting schools are bursting at the seams. No memories. Chinuch Atzmai has become the money is available to build the new schools dominant force for spreading Torah education and classrooms that are needed today. in Israel. In the last 5 years alone we have It costs only one dollar per day to subsidize grown by over 35 % . a boy's or girl's Torah education. Give them Today the opportunities are greater than the chance. Give them life. Torah for One Dollar A Day! TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL CHINUCH ATZMAI "''° •KDnn iunn mo 167 Madison A11enue. New York. NY 10016 (212)889-0606 Ye•, I want to buy Torah fof a child In IMael. Plea" send me: (',:;;;~·~\m C~a year of Torah for_ ch1ld/ch1ldren a! S360 ::;a half yeilf of Torah for_ ch1ld/ch1ldren at S180 t-..,:_\ ·,.,I month of Torah for_ child;choldren al $30 c;_ dity/daysof Tor<'lh fo, ~ ch1ld/chi!dren a1 SI Our goal is to reach every Jewish child in Cl would like to b«ome a 'Volunteer for Torah. 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The dayan questioned the necessity to so honorone's wife, After all, his love for her should be enough of a guarantee of her honor, without requiring "honoring her more than ZAVE himself," Dayan Abramsky's question (and his answer ultimately) becomes en SHER UN hanced by Rabbi Gottlieb's description of "The husband and wife who ORCHESTRA achieve the T relationship [as] not being a two membered group in the 'we' mode, but rather a new organically integrated whole" (JO-Nov, '86), Having (718) 434-3540 assumed a shared identity, there is the ever-present danger that the hus Also Available As ONE MAN BAND band will then behave in his wife's presence with the same relaxed, totally undignified manner that he may permit himself in solitude. "After all," he will reason, "it's only I in the room-Tin the corporate sense, that is." And loving her no less than he loves himsef, he can be guilty ofoffensive behavior BIG that compromises his privacy and violates her sense of dignity, Thus, says the dayan, the necessity of"honoring her more than himself," APPLE even though he already "loves her as much as himself'-to respect her COPY & PRINTING dignity even when he personally senses no need for enhanced privacy, S,N, CENTER 87 NASSAU ST. NEW YORK, NY 10038 (212) 962-4282 'YOU WANT IT WHEN/" (212) 267.9478 YOUR JOB IS READY! Young Yerushalmi had heart attack. His wife takes care of hirn and 8 children under 16. Need is Marketing/ Advertising/Graphics great. Kindly send tax deductible National Media Consultants contribution to: Bikur Cholim, Inc., c/o RABBI AVROHOM RACHAEL KRAWIEC ASSOCIATES BLUMENKRANTZ . 814 Caffrey Ave., far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 43 the Chasam Sofer, when there were attempts to expand the curriculum Letters in Jewish schools to include more general education, the Chasam Sof @>®!lll®"&i @tt@i@i@ to the @i@}@@~@-1$7\W®'@I\% er's objection to changes in the cur $®®$%1'®'®11»@1>~ riculum was based not on any prob Editor lem with general education as such, - but rather on the lack of Orthodox Jewish teachers. The Chasam Sofer appears to have held that It was for GENERAL STUDIES IN THE schools In London which had non bidden to allow secularist Jewish or YESHIVA-BY A NON-JEW? Jewish head teachers and as far as non-Jewish teachers to teach in To possible non-Jewish teachers for all rah schools, and this view appears to limudei chol. After seeing the grave To the Editor: have been the basis of the ban on moral danger the children faced, I secular education in Jerusalem's Mrs. Oiskind's article offers a spent time studying halachic sour yeshivos and chedarim In the Nine wealth of insights into limudei chol ces for this non-traditional practice. teenth Century, because in Jerusa in Torah schools, but I fear there Is None of the sources I found permit lem, as in Pressburg, yirei Sho among many gems one dangerous ted the option of using non-Jewish mayim teachers for general studies fallacy. "The availability of teachers or non-religious Jewish teachers. were in short supply. That this was of general studies who are imbued The Maharal of Prague, for in the reasoning comes out clearly in with Torah and Yiras Shomayim stance, distinguished between using the ruling of RavYosef Chaim Son and are attuned to the delicate re books written by non-Jewish schol nenfeld, atthe height of the ban, that quirements of tznius and other ars-which he permitted-and en yeshiva students could receive pri mitzvos and hashkafos, Is actually a tering into a pupil-teacher relation vate lessons In general subjects on mixed blessing." ship with a non-Jewish teacher condition that the tutor was known From the point of view of halacha which he prohibited on the grounds to be a yorei Shomayim. as handed down by Gedolei haDo that the subtle influence exerted by In Western Europe, Rabbi Samson ros, such teachers are in fact the only such a relationship could not be Raphael Hirsch, writing in Jeschu teachers allowed to teach in Jewish controlled. In modem terms, one run in 1854 (translated In Judaism schools. Part of my twenty years in might say that attitudes are "caught" Eternal, pp. 155-173), rules unequi teaching was spent in two Charedi rather than "taught." In the times of vocably that all education In Jewish schools must be presented from a Torah perspective and that if a community says it cannot find To THE YITIY LEIBEL HELP-LINE rah-true teachers for general educa A Free Service of the tion, then it must continue looking! It is worth reading Rav Hirsch's view Yitty Leibel Chesed Fund in full as the point he makes most • Marital problems? • Fear ofbreak-down? eloquently is as relevant today as it was in 1854. For a child to be influ • Overpowering stress? • Parent-child friction? enced by his/her teachers is un Do you have problems like these and are afraid or ashamed to talk to avoidable, and this Influence Is neither conscious nor of a particu anyone? ... Do you want a trained, wise, warm professional who will larly academic nature. talk to you on the phone? Some ofthe Torah community's highly skilled psychologists, social workers, and therapists are ready to help. Your consultation will be treated with the utmost discretion. You may remain anonymous if O?r\j~"O:"r ~~ you prefer. They understand. They're trained. They have Ahavas Yisrael. 1406-45th St. Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00-12:00 a.m. TEmLIN, MEZUZOS Sunday through Thursday 9:00-11:00 p.m. SIFREI TORAH We make "house calls" Dial (718) HELP-NOW (435-7669) Rabbi Aryeh Schechter This project has been approved by leading Torah authorities. For information only call (718) 435-1706. 718-851-1637 44 The Jewish Observer, February 1987 In our own centuzy, in Fortress of chol appear to be not only non AUTHOR'S RESPONSE: Faith, the Chafetz Chaim cries out Jewish but unmanly to boot. I can against Rabbonim who sanction the assure Mrs. Diskind, as a rare Jew I thank Mr. Feld for pointing out appointment of teachers in Jewish ish male to have taught in that the misleading implications ofjrum schools who are not yirei Shomayim school, that all teachers of young secular teachers being "a mixed In the post-Holocaustera, when Ge children exert an enormous influ blessing." I am in full agreement dolei Chassidus rebuilt their com ence, to the extent that one heard with him and it was a wrong choice munities in the West, they incorpo young boys bragging that when they of words. What I intended was that rated general education in varying grew up they were going to marzy we should avoid complacency, in the degrees into their schools and che Miss X.. their non-Jewish teacher. recognition that students are likely darim, and not surprisingly they fol with whom they were infatuated! to accept our teachings without any lowed the lead of earlier Gedolim; In matters of chinuch, as in all question and we are in an extremely and the late Satmarer Rav, for in other matters, we must accept that influential position. We, therefore. stance, made it a policy that no Chazal got it right and that it is at must recognize and accept the res teacher could be appointed to any our own peril that we tamper with ponsibility of teaching secular stu Satmar school unless it was known rulings handed down by generations dies in the complete spirit of the that the teacher kept basic mitzvos ofGedolim Torah, regardless of accepted cur like Shabbos, Kashrus and, where JOSEPH A FELD ricula, readings. etc., heretofore. applicable, Taharas haMishpacha. London. England FAIGA DISKIND There is today in London one Chassidic boys school which goes so ls your name and address printed incorrectly on the JO mailing label? far along with Mrs. Diskind's sug Are you moving? Help us deliveryourJO to you as effo::ienrly as possible. gestion that non-Jewish teachers Please attach current mailing label in space below; or else print dearly exert less influence. that it hires as far as possible non-Jewish women your address as we now have it. for limudei chol, making limudei Name•----~------__;--~- Address ------'-~ PINCUS MANDEL City, State, Zip --~------...... ,---- Cemetery Consultant Ptint yout correct (or new) name and address here: Over 30 Years of Dedicated Name------~-~ Service to,the Orthodox Jewish Addfess-~------~-,----C-----,....-,.,.-~ Community City, State, Zip ----~---...----'...... -__;..-..,.~_._-- Mail to: Karka available on .The Jewish Observer all cemeteries in 84 William St./N.Y.C. 10038 Eretz Yisrael controlled and (212) 797-9000 maintained by the Chevra Kadisha of each community, Jerusalem, Tiberias, Tzfus, Miron, Holan, etc. WE NEED YOUR HELP Recommended by A young yeshiva student in Jerusalem is suffering from a Gedolai Hador- grave liver ailment. He needs immediate high-calibre here and in Eretz Yisrael for honesty-integrity medical attention, at great cost-which the family cannot and responsibility afford. NO compromises in kovod baniftar Letters from Rabbonim and hospital documents both stress as evaluated by a the urgency of this case. Won't you join us in helping this cemetery expen. worthy young scholar enjoy a long life of good health? A serolce from the beart wttb a beart Please make out your generous check to Mifal Tzeddaka VaChessed and mail to: J 569 47th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 Moshe Yaakov Wolpin/305 Avenue F /Brooklyn, NY 11218 Day and Night Phone-(718) 855-5121 TIZKU l'MITZVOS The Jewish Observer, February 1987 45 NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY CORRECTION AS TO STUDENTS The Yeshiva Zichron Mayir of Moun The couple that took in a foster child suffering from Down's Syndrome tain Dale school admits students of ("A Special Visitor." JO. Jan "87)were misidentified in the introduction any race, color, national and ethnic to the section on special children last month. They are David and origin to all the rights, privileges, pro Naomi Greenwald of Spring Valley. New York. grams, and activities generally ac . corded or made available to students at the school. It does not discrim inate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in admin After Hours, We're Still Cooking istration of its educational policies, admisssions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and AT THE DAIRY PLANET other school-administered programs. A Landmark In Fine I 46 The Jewish Obseruer. February 1987 \ BAKfENURA A KEDEl'I SELECTION IMPORTED BY l\EDEM WINE CO,, "1E\lr'YORK r"' Y Overcome STRESS & ANXIETY. Gain Greater SELF AWARENESS. Reach Higher Levels of HAPPINESS. MIRIAM ADAHAN EMETT a step-by-ster guide to Emotional Maturity Established Through Torah Hardcover $14.95 '' ... 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