Because they aren't in R'tzahd. Without the benefit of a yeshiva education, Jewish children reach for sandwiches on Seder night instead of . And when they do, it's not just the taste of unleavened bread they're missing-it's their heritage; their pride; their place in history That's why we at R'tzahd have been working so hard to offer all Jewish children, regardless of background or financial situation, the opportunity to receive a true, education. Since 1969, hundreds of children with little or no Hebrew background have entered our open doors and emerged as proud, observant who have gone on to study at the finest secondary ln this endeavor we at R'tzahd are long on drive, conviction and eager students. But we are painfully short on money, classrooms and staff Don't let the burden of our budget inhibit our success' Give what you can. Help make sure that the night of Pesach is different than all other nights and that all Jewish children know it

\ \ During a recent visit to R'tzahd, I saw these children, wearing tzitzis and yarmulkas, J 1 learning Chumash and Mishnayos .... I am personally aware that ... !they! have a wait­ ing list of parents who want to enroll their children but cannot, for there is no room to accommodate them and no money to expand facilities or engage more personnel. - Avrohom Pam, Shlila Rosli Ycslil!'

Monthly payroll 520.000 Room Ded1cat1on 10.000 Yearly Scholarship I.KOO Patron '500 Sponsor 180

Endoscd 1s my donation of S------·- R"lzahd wdwmc! mquirics ro11ccrn11Tii endawrncnl orporlu111/w1 Mail ID YESHIVA R'TZAHD-KESHER HEBREW ACADEMY OF 965 East l07th Street Brooklyn. NY 112'36 {7181272·8484 ... i'T!l''CU' ,:i,tu,i'TW ,,n,,~:i ,i, ,W3.7 .,,:i:n And they honored him after his passing. They gave permanency to (his) yeshiva ... Maran Hagaon Harav l"l"l"lr,r,j:mrt, the prince of Torah and teacher of all his people, was our "father" for the last 50 years. The world's greatest as well as the humblest lew knew that they could turn to him and they did. He was accessible to anyone day or night - whether for rulings in halacha, counsel, prayer or brochos. Now he is gone! Did we lighten his burden Tl'''\U'1lY::l We turn to our Jewish brethren wherev~~ they l~~e,a~~o ~~~::~~nT~~~~aann~ f~~;ho~ when he was among us? passing of our teacher, the devo~~' hu~ e, ;:ast~r R~BBI MOSHE FEINSTEIN '-'''p1::>t His selfless service to us and all of Kial G-d, the f~ther and teache~ of a fo~s;~: 'c~~munit; and the individual. He acted and whose entire concern wa~ a ways rk f ithful father, to provide assistance and Yisroel was legendary, However, teaching 1 accomplished for every single person de r' 'h

P until his final years, Reb Moshe, as he was known, was an active presence in the leadership Kial Yisroel-Rosh haYeshiva ofMesivta Tiferethjerusalem, chairman of the MoetzesGedolei U HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages) of Agudath of America, president of Agudath Horabonim, on the Board of Governors of ChinuchAtzmai and Torah Umesorah ... but he was much more. As a poseik (halachic decisor), he was without peer; there was no area ofTorah law where he was not master. Even those who were of different traditions in psakwere in awe of his command of the entire Talmud, the four sections of ShulchanAruchand their classical commentaries-and his ability to draw on his vast knowledge and apply it to every conceivable situation ... but hewas much more than a great poseik. Reb Moshe's fountain ofwisdom flowed through his prolific pen, in the form of his seven volumes ofdefinitive halacha in Jgros Moshe and his Talmudic shiurim (lectures) contained in DibrosMoshe . .. but he wJS much more than an author. Reb Moshe was both a caring father and a humble servant to his people-incredibly modest, unusually accessible. At the same time hewas also very much a servant of his Creator, an eved HaShem. His tefillawas total concentration, consuming in its devotion. And he lost no opportunity to study and review and review once again-, an astonishing 200-plus times-ShukanArucb, over countless times! An eved Hashem with no personal agenda, no private, self-centered interests .... Rabbi Moshe Feinstein '"l!l embodied a greatness that belonged tb earlier, more pure, more pristine times-to an era that was clearer in Torah, closer to Sinai. In the words ofthe late Brisker Rav Maran HoravYitzchak Zev Soloveitchik7"lll: "Had Reb Moshe lived 150 years ago, he would have been reckoned amongst the Gedolei Hadar, the giants ofthat.time." Thus, his passing leaves us bereft of a link to those earlier times. It is a loss without replacement. A shattering without repair. In his infinite mercy, Hashem Yishorach permitted us to enjoy the richness of Torah, Yiras Shamayim and Ahavas Yisroelthat Reb Moshe succeeded in embodying in one human being. In his absence we have but the legacy of his prolific writings and his towering example. May we be granted the wisdom to learn from both. E

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS 0021-6615 is published monthly ON THE ROAD TO TESHUVA except July and August. by the Agudath Israel ofAmerica,5 Beek­ man Street. New York. N.Y. 10038. 7 Second class postage paid at New Four Lives, a Revolution in Microcosm York.N.Y. Subscription$15.00per a symposium led by Rabbi David Gottlieb year; two years. $27.00; three years. $36.00. Outside of the United 15 States (US funds only) $20.00. An Interview With Eliyahu Essas $25.00 in So. Africa and Pacific Pinchas Raphaelowitz countries. Single copy: $2.00; for­ Hgn: $2.50. Send address changes 23 to The JeWish Observer. 5 Beek­ The Arachim Approach man St.. N.Y .. N.Y. 10038. Printed In theU.SA Dr. Joseph Sutton

RABBI NISSONWOLPIN Editor 25 Jewish Routes, Jewish Roots Editorial Board Dr. Bemard Fryshman DR ERNST BODENHEIMER Chalnnan 31 RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS A Down-Home Pesach in Philly, 1920 JOSEPH FRIEDENSON Edith Krohn RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN RABBI MOSHE SHERER 35 Managemenl Board Jewish Life in America-Then and Now NAFTOL! HIRSCH (Book Reviews) ISAAC KIRZNER People Walk on Their Heads/La America/All For RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN the Boss/The Silver Era/The Struggle and the Business Manager Splendor/The Day Schools and Torah Umeso­ RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING rah/Haven and Home/On Equal Terms/The Renaissance of the Torah /Dimensions of THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responslbiltty for the Orthodox /The Coming Cataclysm/Holy Kashrus of any product or ser· Days vice advertised in Its pages. 43 © Copyrtght 1986 Second Looks on the Jewish Scene News Clippings APR 86. VOL. XIX. NO. 4 45 Letters to the Editor Introducing the Greater All-In-One Account. Looking for a Greater way to manage your money? r------, Check out the one checking account that has every The Greater New York Savings Bonk I feature you'd ever need: The Greater A!Hn-One Account I PO. Sox 1, Von Brunt Station, &ooklyn, NY 11215 This is what you with a minimum balance of $1,000: I \wont to have it am Please send me your All-In-One Account brochure. I ·High money-market earnings with an annual interest rate of 5.969°/o* I NAME (PlEASE PRINT! I • GreaterFund unlimited checkvvriting ADDRESS • Oterdraft privileges (if qualified)

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FOUR LIVES The 'liialsAnd 'liiumphs On The Road To Teshuva Introduction: Rabbi David Gottlieb They do not come to a Torah life from weakness or personal crisis. It is the strong who come, seeking greater meaning in life, greater challenge. - he Teshuva Movement has excited the inter­ ments:-because in the United States during the 60-s est of the Jewish world. Within the Torah camp there was widespread unrest and political dissatis­ T there is the fascination with others discovering faction.-Because their lives are falling apart, they're fail­ truths by which they have been living for generations, ing in school, they have a sickness in the family, they lost while various other groups are taking note because this a girlfriend.-Because people are interested in an emo­ movement is an obvious and pointed reminder of their tional experience without intellectual content-How failures to accomplish what we are accomplishing. else can these groups justify their inability to meaning­ Assimilationist movements, movements that preach fully reach out to young people searching to fill a void? compromise, felt that logic is on their side: It is easier to The members of this symposium should lay to rest reach out to a person if you can present an image with those false allegations. at least in the minds of those who which he is familiar, if you can participate with him in are objective. We have four outstanding young men from his activities as an equal. if you share some of his values four countries-spanning three continents-people who ... so went their theory. But as so often happens. faced very different challenges. with different cultural human logic is disproved by history. The truth is that we, backgrounds. These young men show that the move­ who in Eretz Yisroel are affectionately called the "blacks;· ment has a worldwide character.and that it is the strong are being successful in reaching out to these people. Our who are looking for greater challenge, greater meaning success has generated jealousy and anger and, in order to and greater accomplishments in life who become at­ explain their failure, false hypotheses have been for­ tracted to the Movement. As these gen­ mulated. ilemen present their reflections, the reader is urged to Why did people become baa lei teshuva ?These are the use their words as a mirror with which to examine him­ explanations emanating from the anti-Torah move- self. Their wonderful experiences and difficult encoun­ ters can give us an insight into ourselves. to guide us in Rabbi Gottlieb, a member of lhe faculty ofYeshlva Ohr Somayach In Jerusa­ lem, lectures on Torah topics in Israel as well as virtually every English­ regard to those facets of their experiences we should speaking country on the globe. reinforce and those which we would do well to eliminate.

The Jewish Observer/April 1986 7 (fearofHeaven).Alittle more time goes by and the bachur DATELINE: ISRAEL is a model yeshiva bachur. You can't tell that he's the same person he was before.

Entering the Bachur's World

ut if we enter this bachur'sworld, we will find a lot of stumbling blocks in his way. A bachurwho was B in yeshiva for four years was a Shabbos guest at the home of a very fine family. After the first course, the baaleboss (head of the family) and the bachur ex­ changed divrei Torah. Everyihing went fine. After the chulent came the usual questions: How many years are you in this yeshiva? Where did you learn before? Did you learn in Kolle!? In college? You didn't learn at all? What did your parents tell you? Did they send you to yeshiva? YEKUDA, born in Eretz Yisroel, is now studying And the conversation came to, "So you're a baa! teshuva. in Yeshiva Kol Yaakov in Monsay. You don't look like a baa! teshuva!" (What does a baa! teshuva look like? The man siting right next to you might be a baal teshuva.J It Started in Europe The baaleboss called the family together to tell them about the baal teshuva and to hear his story. The ike all good stories, mine also started in a small bachurfelt like an exhibit in a museum. The bachurwho village in Europe. about a year and a half ago. I was a few minutes before was a talmid in a yeshiva. a talmid L on a tour of Europe and suddenly felt a very strong chacham, became a baal teshuva. inexplicable urge to visit my grandfather's village. I soon The next week our bachur was Invited again to the found myself standing in front of his kever (graveslte). same family. They hadn't heard enough about his past On the tombstone was carved my name: Menachem and they kept opening more and more closed wounds ... Yehuda Halevi Gross. I was the first in all my family, after try to put yourself in his place and feel his pain, and don't 40 years, to visit my grandfather's kever. and I started to forget. "He who embarrasses his friend in public forfeits cry. When I had been in the army in Israel. I had had his share in the World-to-Come." enough reasons to cry and didn't let myself. but now I Unfortunately. people don't realize how much damage couldn't stop crying. they do with their curiosity. Of course, not everybody I wanted to say. "Grandfather, do you hear me? I'm your behaves in this manner. A friend of mine was a regular oldest grandson," but I quickly stopped. Would he have guest at a family-a ben bayis (member of the family). been proud of me? For my long hair. my T-shirt and shorts? "How can I carry your name? Were you expecting a grandson like me? In 40 short years we changed from few minutes before, be was people like you to people like me!" I started to daven. I A asked what I asked. made a few promises, and at that another talmid in yeshiva, a moment decided to live a life of Torah and mitzvos. But I began to worry-not about the reaction of my talmid cbacbam at that . And family or friends. or about all my plans for the future. I now be was a baal tesbuva. worried about where I would find my place. who would give me direction. and what the reaction of the people around me would be to a new stranger entering their Everything went fine until a shadchan suggested a world. between the daughter in this family and this Baruch Hashem (thank G-d), I soon found my place in bachur. Then all the problems began. This fellow is a Yeshiva Kol Yaakov. I always thought that a yeshiva is a talmid chacham, has yiras Shamayim, outstanding big building with a big dormitory, big classrooms, big midos ... he has fine (ancestry). But he is a baal lunchroom-everyihing big. I found all of this squeezed teshuva. One wonders: doesn't a bachurwho worked so into a very small one-family house, with a lot ofgreat guys hard to build himself from nothing into a talmid cha­ sitting and learning, shteiging (advancing). Even when cham deserve a good shidduch with a decent family to the utility company turned off the electricity. Baruch continue the yichus of his ancestors. and to be able to HaShem, our bachurtm (young men) have enough fire to build a strong bayis ne'eman bYisroel? Don't the chil­ light up the dark. In the yeshiva we learn everyihing. from dren of this bachur deserve at least one set of frum Netilas Yodayim (laving our hands) in the morning to grandparents? If this bachur is the zivug--predestined Krtyas Shema in bed at night. After a while the bachur for their daughter-isn't it a thousand times better that looks at himself and sees that Baruch HaShem he looks he became a baal teshuva than v•n they should lose a and feels like afrumJew. And he is in a place where he daughter and grandchildren? The boy's past is not his can continue to grow in Torah and Yiras Shamayim fault. All his hope is for the future. To keep reminding

8 The Jewish Observer/Apri~ 1986 him about his past and to hinder him from marrying is treating him as though he has a negah (biblical leprosy): DATELINE: SHIRAZ "Let him sit alone, outside the camp." Should a rabbi sin and do teshuva, nobody would think of reminding him about his past. So why a baal teshuva? In the time of Moshiach we will all be baa/el teshuva­ Why not today?

DATELINE: MOSCOW

DAVID, who is formerly of Shiraz, Iran, is now J.earn1ng in the of l\Ter Israel in Baltimore.

Upon the Shah's Impetus

was born in Iran, where I spent the first fifteen years of my life. Becoming a baa! teshuva was not a sud­ I den radical development in my life. My parents. like most of the families in our city. keep kashrutat home and :MICJIAEL, a Ph.D. in mathematics from Russia outside, taharat hamishpacha is honored. and nobody who earned certification as a sofer (religious works on The connection to Torah is there. acribe),iscurrentlyJ.earninginKollelShvutAmi Among most Sephardi communities, the Reform or Con­ in Jerusalem. servative movement is non-existent. Everyone believes that Torah was from Shamayim (Divine): it's just that everyone feels a different degree of kesher (bond) with n two short generations the Communists have been Torah. For me it was easier to come back to Torah life able to almost completely wipe out religious life in than for others, because everyone in our community I Russia and, therefore, the movement of baalei te­ knew that it is the right way: it's just that somehow not shuva in Russia must be regarded as a miracle. If you all are equally committed to Torah. wish to help a Jew in Russia, ifhe is not in prison (other In 1977, the Shah wanted to nationalize all day than the great prison of the USSR), it is dangerous to schools, which would have closed down the Hebrew day mention his name in the public media. If you do so. you schools. Otzer HaTorah, which runs the Jewish schools endanger his life and his freedom. Therefore. every effort in Iran, had to find some way to pressure the Shah to should be made not to mention the names of people in change his plan. They came to the U.S. and approached Russia who are "" or who are involved in the Agudath Israel and Rabbi Naftali Neuberger, Vice Presi­ and are not yet imprisoned. dent of Ner Israel. and convinced the Shah not to close There is great need for help for those who are now in the schools: they are still open. Rabbi Neuberger realized Eretz Yisroel. baalei teshuva who are enrolled in various that talmidei chachamim would never emerge in Iran: yeshivos. They have one yeshiva of their own where there so, when he returned to America, he worked out a plan aren't enough books. not enough room in the beis mid­ with Otzer HaTorah. 1 and a group of my friends were rash. and the physical plant itself is deteriorating. informed that we had an opportunity to come to the U.S. There is another problem generally found with baa lei to a yeshiva where we could learn Torah while attending teshuva. There is a tremendous interest in the baal college, which, at that time, was crucial to me and my teshuva until he cuts off his long hair. Once he has a parents. In 1978, two groups of Iranian boys came to the short haircut and wears regularly. we move on to yeshiva in Baltimore. the next long-haired fellow to try to help him. But the first What really happened along mywayto becoming what I fellow still has a tremendous need for continuing help am, and wanting to learn in Kolle!? One important factor even after having made the commitment. for he still may was that the few times that I was invited to people's not have the resources to learn. In particular. he and homes for Shabbos or Yom Tov, I saw that being reli­ others would benefit from a publishing facility for Rus­ gious doesn't mean not having any happiness in life and sian-language books on an introductory level on Jewish being restricted. I saw how warm and wonderful it is to subjects. which is the only way to reach most Russian have a Shabbos in keeping with halacha. the children emigrants. This would be a crucial step in trying to reach sitting around the table and singing zemiros. I wanted to out to them. be part of this elite group.

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 9 Fragile: Handle with Care perhaps he just doesn't know the halacha. One must put oneself In the other fellow's shoes and tiy to imagine his circumstances, how he feels. did encounter a few problems that come from one One of my friends told me that when he first came to basic mistake in dealing with baalei teshuva. Some the yeshiva with his long hair, eveiybody came over to I people are Involved because ifs a mitzva to help someone becomejmm. No special Interest in the person per se. they just want to do a mitzva. Being mekarev someone should come from love for a Yid, to feel how I was invited to people's homes unfortunate it Is that he is ignorantofTorah, and to want and saw how warm and wonder­ to give him the wonderful things in life. I think this is an underlying factor in the few problems I have observed. ful it is to have a Shabbos in Another circumstance: a baa! teshuva comes to shul, he Is called to the Torah and he does something wrong. keeping with halacha. The adults know not to laugh, but the children do snicker, and nobody stops them. There is so much to him and tried to be mekarev him. Several weeks passed know, It takes years and years to learn everything and and he did not get a haircut.After four weeks passed, they eveiydifferent shul has its own . Nobody is sensi­ decided that he's not going to amount to anything: Let's tive to the baa! teshuva's efforts. These children will forget about him He had considered conforming, but grow up and behave in the same manner.... This is how wanted time to get used to the idea. This is not being we teach them to deal with baalei teshuva. sensitive. Or in yeshiva: My friend walked into the Beis The biggest problem, as Yehuda already mentioned, Is on erev Shabbos with a pen in his pocket. He was Sho­ that after the baa! teshuva has gone through all his mer Shabbos but he didn't know all the detailed laws. stages he still carries the baa! teshuva label. Let us deal People became angiy with him; they didn't realize that with each person as an individual.

attended had one teacher who was veiy Interested In DATELINE: PHIL.A.DELPHI.A Yiddishkeit and through her lnitlativeJEP came to Phi­ ladelphia. First they arranged a Shabbaton (concen­ trated Shabbos weekend get-together). A group of fifty kids went to New York for Shabbos In 1975. (Some of them becamefmm; the vast majority did not. I was the only one who went on to yeshiva.) It was the first time that we really saw Shabbos and Yiddishkeit There is a yeshiva in Philadelphia; there is a fmm community there. I lived two miles from the jmm com­ munity, and I did not even know anything about it. I had never even seen an Orthodox Jew In Philadelphia For that. I had to go to New York. In Boro Park I saw Shabbos, I saw a tight Jewish community. and !twas really beauti­ ful. I kept contact with the young men working in JEP through writing letters. About six months later I went back again through this Conservative shul. Again I saw

(!HAJM1 born in Philadelphia, is learniJlg in Bilis Shabbos and I became more inspired. The kesher be­ Jledrash Govoha in Lakewood. came stronger. Our correspondence became regular, and I was going to Boro Park about once a month. The Way It Was Summer, and the Living is "Frum" y transition to Yiddishkeit began when I was eleven years old and it happened throughJEP. •I M was living In Philadelphia, where my grandpar­ n Februaiy 1976, JEP made a concert In southern ents had come from Russia in the 20's. They settled in Philadelphia Part of the program was a door prize-a Philadelphia and their Yiddishkeitwas basically forgot­ I free trip to a summer camp In the Catskills. I won the ten through the hardships of not being able to earn a door prize. so I was off to camp In the summer of I 976, to living while keeping Shabbos. The Conservative shul I be exposed to a month of Torah living. Shmiras hamitz­ vos, davening three times a day. Shmiras Shabbos, • Program, Zeirei Agudath Israel's Outreach Effort. learning. I really felt good.

10 The Jewish Obseroer/April, 1986 My counselor was learning in the Yeshiva of Phila­ vague and I did not know exactly what my neshama was delphia-that's when I found out there was a yeshiva in telling me, except that something was missing in my life. Philadelphia. He arranged for me to learn in the yeshiva One time, sitting on the bus, returning from one of these for four hours eveiy Sunday morning. from I 0 to 2 p.m .. Shabbatons, I knew that my dream was one day to with different bachurim. All my learning before, in the become a yeshiva bachur. Conservative , consisted of Chumash and barely any Rashi. Here I started learning the weekly par­ shios (portion from the Chumash)with the Rashi, a little The Plusses and Minuses Gemora, Navi and halacha. After a year. when in the ninth grade, I transferred to a religious day school in he JEP guys were veiy warm. They showed a Philadelphia. While there for a year, I also met certain genuine interest in me. I still have contact with families who were veiy friendly to me. I became a ben them.Some of them live in Lakewood and some in bayis in one of them-and that was veiy important.After T Boro Park. When I got married in the South, one of them a person decides to keep mitzvos, the family becomes like came to my wedding. The fellows who worked with me did a second set of parents to you because your own parents not do it for a mttzva, theydid it because they really have are not exactly the way you would want them to be. Ahavas Yisroel and really meant it. Through that entire period, I had "second families" in There were some mistakes. Baruch HaShem they did New York, in Philadelphia and in other places-this not have a lasting effect. but I do remember them. People greatly helped to strengthen my foundation of ob­ should take note of these things, because even a veiy, veiy servance. small error can ruin a person for life. After a year in Ner Israel in Baltimore, I spent several I was 13 years old when I was in camp. It is bad enough years in the Yeshiva of Staten Island ... some time in that you come from a non:frumhome, while eveiyone el;;e Brisk in Yerushalayim, and then I returned to the States, is basically from a religious home; so you feel inferior. You to Lakewood about eight months ago. I recently got mar­ don't know anyone, you don't have any friends, you come ried and am attached to the Kolle! there. from a weak background. Then I was placed into a learn­ ing group with boysfourorfiveyears myjunior, because I was on a lower academic level. I felt terrible. That could The Amazing World Qf Religious Jewry have turned me off. Afterwards someone woke up and put me Into a group of boys my age, gave me a (study companion), and worked with me on my level. I nfortunately, sometimes people become baalei was strong and the experience did not sidetrack me. But teshuva because the Ribbono shel Olam causes my neshama could have been lost that way. Uthem to suffer. Through that they realize some­ Another occurrence: The JEP volunteers always com­ thing is wrong in their life. Baruch HaShem that was not plimented a fellow when they found an opportunity. If a the case with me. I had a fine family. Financially eveiy­ boy was just putting on tzitzis, even though he was thing was secure; in school I was doing veiy well. mechalel Shabbos (not keeping Shabbos according to halacha}, theymade sure that he nevertheless knew that he was doing a good thing. One fellow. thinking he was doing a mitzva, asked me Every Jew on the street what I was daventng. I was only saying selected introduc­ dressed in Shabbos finery had toiyprayers-Baruch She'omar,Ashreiand Yishtabach, as I was reading slowly. So he asked ''Why don't you an effect on me, even though say the whole thing?" Strange that I should remember the incident. He did I never spoke a word to the not mean it in a bad way. But a little remark could ruin person. somebody. A chance comment referring to someone's past can hurt him and negate all the good accomplished before that. People do not realize what a small statement People are under the mistaken impression that to can do to somebody-especially someone who is sensi­ return somebody to teshuva, you have to engage him in tive. Generally, a baal teshuva has a certain sensitivity philosophical discussions. That is not true, especially about his past, although there are some exceptions. with the young kids that JEP works with. The thing that In retrospect, I would say that 85 percent of my expe­ inspired me was the amazing sight of the community in riences with the religious community were gevaldik­ Boro Park, of tens of thousands of Yidden walking tremendous. and that is why I am here today. The reli­ around on Shabbos and looking like Jews. It is like enter­ gious Jewish community must realize, more than they ing into a different world, and I was overwhelmed. already do, that even people who are not directly involved Eveiy Yid who was walking on Shabbos, who was with baalei teshuva have a powerful influence over oth­ dressed in his or her Shabbos fineiy and kept Shabbos ers. Religious Jews are on display and the world is look­ had a hashpa 'a (effect) on me, even though I never spoke ing at them-non-Jews. religious Jews, and Jews who to the person. By the mere fact that they're living a Torah need chizuk. That ability to influence others is so potent; life, people can influence others. Something inside me if only used properly, we would succeed in making an was telling me that I wanted to be like these people. It was even bigger Kiddush HaShem than we already do.

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 11 A Revolution In Microcosm a Summary by Rabbi David Gottlieb

A LIVING ALTERNATIVE with their Creator. having a spiritual experience, he par­ ticipates In that experience; later when he hearsa far-out wo themes emerge from our brief glimpse into the remark from his professor or from a friend, he can tell life stories of these four brave young men. First is himself. I know where the truth lies, I know what my T the factor of personal example. The mere fact that neshama ts telling me. It's telling me "Shema Ytsroel"­ we exist. the mere fact that we present an alternative to that I said this morning in shul. the materialism. defeatism. and cynicism of the world But ifhe sees people talking or wandering around shul around us, is an enormous contribution to the Baal haphazardly; lfhe sees a person racing through daven­ Teshuva Movement. Everyone of us knows someone who ing (he assumes that this person davened in twenty became "more Jewish" simply by participating in a minutes because he must keep a very important ap­ Shabbos Tisch-a Sabbath meal. Most of us have been pointment ... until the same person has twenty more witness to many such table-side metamorphoses, from minutes to shmooz with his friends after shul), he asks one side of the exchange or the other-or both. himself, Is this what I want to join? Is this the inspiring I would like to offer another example of the living alter­ ruchniyus I was told about in the books?-that I heard native: I met an Israeli fellow in Glasgow. His parents. aboutfrom my JEP instructors? This ts not what I was Shomer ShabbosJews, had sent him to a Talmud Torah. promised. By the time he reached high school, he had absolutely no The Baal Teshuva Movement Is watching. You can interest in Yiddtshkeit After graduation, he served in never know when you are Influencing someone sitting the army and then went on to college where he did next to you in shuL or walking past you on the street. extremely well. He earned degrees in engineering and What do you talk about at a Shalom Zachar? ... at a manufacturing, and by his mid-twenties he was manag­ chassana? I've attended those where Torah thoughts ing a factory of 500 workers. He had an apartment in are exchanged; and those where the talk centers on "how Jerusalem, a car, made frequent trips to Chutz L'Aretz many snow days you got off from work," and how to do (abroad)-he had achieved the Israeli dream. But some­ better on your taxes. People are celebrating a milestone in thing bothered him: I'm beginning to lose my humanity. life-with eternal values or with trivia? Not everyone has I feel myself turning into an animal. I can't live with the strength or the will to overlook our shortcomings In that self-image. He found his way to the Kolle! Chazon the society he would like to join. Ish In Bnel Brak, he sat down to learn, gave up his job, his Every technological advance, we have been told. teach­ car.and his apartment. He marriedajrumgirl and is now es us something. Cinematography, for instance, reminds in Scotland, working to stimulate the Glasgow Jewish us that our actions are recorded in Heaven for all time. community to teshuva. And now "instant replay" teaches us that you can fool This Israeli fellow's experience as a child In a Talmud yourself that you have time "after 120" to straighten out, Torah was not one of studying philosophy and debating but this Is now. Someone is looking and someone is various popular ideologies. It simply served to create an learning from what we do, now. How will the next mo­ Image, a living alternative for him. When floundering for ment's foolishness look to your neighbor? How will it an alternative. he referred to that image stored in his play? memory. That Image Is our most precious asset, and we must guard it with our lives. Any chink in that armor, any ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM THE MIRROR failure in that image may result in loss of Jewish neshamos. he second aspect of the mirror that the baal teshuva holds up to us is our sensitivity to indi­ SHUL IS WHERE WE ___ T viduals. We must never forget that we are dealing with individual people, with neshamos. A baa! teshuva et us take one example of risk: Do you know what asked me, "It's a mitzva to shake the lulav and it's a shul means to a baal teshuva, or a potential baal mitzva to give tzeddaka. What's the difference?" L teshuva ?It is often his only link with Yiddishkeit The person on the receiving end of tzeddaka is not just He may be studying In a college; parents-not frum; a medium for performance of a mitzva: he has a ne­ friends-notfrum His sole taste of Yiddtshkeit is when shama. That aspect must come through in your dealings he's In shul. Ifwhen there he sees people communicating with each person. Of course, special education Is crucial,

I2 The Jewish Observer/April. 1986 and counseling is crucial, but your acceptance and con­ some people are more interested in asking: 'Were you cern for what the person is must be projected. He is not into drugs? What kind of things did you do in college? just raw material to be squeezed into a baal teshuva What kind of problems did you have With your family?" mold. This can be vety painful to a baal teshuva. With that One yeshiva student of three weeks approached me kind of probing alone you can be certain to disqualify With "a terrible problem. I had a fight with my girl friend. yourself from effectively helping this person. How can I make it up to her?" In the discussion I learned In a confused world, littered With failed ideologies, we that she was not Jewish-he had come to a rabbi for have a unique opportunity. We know who we are, we advice on how to make up With his non.JeWish girl know what we stand for, and we are riding the crest of a friend, and I regarded that as a mark of success. This wave that is making progress. Let us not squander our meant that he felt he could trust me, that I would be profits by alienating them With voyeuristic questions. interested in anyproblem he had-because I cared about him. My answer? I advised him that "the fact you are not THE ETERNAL BAAL TESHUVA getting along with her is probably related to your midas (character). Someday you will want to get married, hope­ teacher in Moscow who is responsible for hun­ fully to a JeWish girl. It's worthwhile bettering your dreds of baalei teshuva remarked that Russian midas now, to prepare for that day." If my answer bore A officials often ask him. "How can you change your any fruits, I attribute it to the guidance that I received life so radically in two years, and be normal? It must leave from my , the Bostoner Rebbe, N"IJ'Ol'I. you confused." He answered. 'You're right. One cannot successfully become an entirely new person in two years-unless you're coming home. Unless you're becom· REACHING THE PERSON WITHIN THE MITZVA ingwhatyou really were meant to be. Then it's a smooth transition.'' We must show these people that they are able notherexample: You Invite a girl for Succos. First to come home and that we are there to welcome them. night-you're sitting in the succa-she comes It is true that the baal teshuva is impatient to shed the A down and says, 'Wait a minute." She runs into label. It is my conviction-and I apologize in advance for the house, comes back and says. "Hold it," and snaps a any hurt my candor may cause: Once a baa! teshuva, picture. "It's so beautiful. I didn't want to miss it." always a baal teshuva. A person can never throw away What do you do? Confiscate the film? Explain to her fifteen or twenty or twenty-five years of his past. If we the melacha (forbidden labor) involved? We are dealing create an environment in which a baal teshuva can only with a neshamaand she is an innocent victim of ignor­ feel comfortable by hiding the fact that he is a baal ance. is definitely the key to a person's devel­ teshuva, we are creating an impossible challenge for opment in Yiddishkeit and is the primary anchoring of him-to make up for a lack of experience, a lack of mold­ his commitment. But even Torah study must be handled ing, alack ofschooling-and that is something he cannot with sensitivity, not with the unperceiving voice of do. If we force him into that task and he falls, we create for dogma him a lifelong set of disappointments. When dealing with new students in Yeshiva Ohr In arguing against this point. a friend quoted a vort (a Somayach, each young man enters with his own orienta­ Torah thought) that he had heard from his father. That tion: The business major who insisted. "Forget the strengthened my argument: 'TU never be able to say that Gemora stuff, teach me the rules, the parameters for 'I heard it from my father.' " I countered. 'Tll never recall conduct-you know, . "After months of Pirchei experiences I had as a child. I Will never celebrate pleading ("Talmud is in a sense more important than a Seder with my grandparents.'' A person can develop Chumash") and months of persistence, he began to see into a lamdan (a Talmudic scholar); he can become more the light. Today, he's a devoted masmid. sensitive to aliyas haneshama (spirituality) than many Or the boy who had been a Big Man on Campus for people from religious families. He can be more attuned to JeWish causes. He organized Shabbatons and he en­ hisgadlus (constant improvement) than others-how gaged speakers. He did not take to Gemora, and felt many of us feel that by the time we are twenty-two we are defeated from the start. After a year and a half of push finished, and halevai we should be no worse by the time and pull. we designed a schedule for him, consisting of we reach I 20 ! But a baal tesh uva associates being/rum part-day learning and part-day organizational assign­ with development and advancement because commit· ments. And it works well. ment to religion to him means personal growth from An individualized program of Torah and mitzvos has square one. The Baal Teshuva as a genre is a blend of to be tailored to the capacities of each person. It cannot advantages and disadvantages, each individual present­ be done With an unfeeling categorizing eye. ing a unique mix of the two. As we cannot blind ourselves to the reality that there QUESTIONING THE QUESTIONS are strengths and weaknesses that are unique to all baa· lei teshuva, we must understand them and relate to wo of our panelists mentioned probing the past. them in terms of their individuality. Once we understand There are two different ways to approach this. You the uniqueness of each person, the title of baal teshuva T can ask: 'What brought you to Yiddishkeit?What will no longer be a stigma and the baal teshuva him- or difficulties are you having? How can we be of help?" But herself Will no longer feel a necessity to put on a mask.•

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9'0

AN INTERVIEWWITH ELIYAHU ESSAS

hispered rumors together our scattered ...." had tenaciously After krias HaTorah he of­ W persisted and stub­ fered a few words: "On Mon­ bornly refused to go away­ day I received Shlishi: 'And "Eliyahu is getting a visa." the Children of Israel left Newspapers began making With a mighty hand.' in the veiled references to visas Moscow Shu!, and one of the that had been promised and old men said to me. 'On petitioning U.S. senators Thursday you'll have an ali­ that had recieved assuran­ ya in Jerusalem.' I tell you ces. And then during Chan­ that I did not believe it.'' uka it became official. "Eli­ The first Friday night at yahu Essas is coming to the Kosel, mobbed by hun­ Eretz YtsroeL "After fourteen dreds of people from all years of waiting, he finally shades of the spectrum, With was coming. aheartyhandshake.aheart­ The days dragged on and felt gutten Shabbos and a then it was Wednesday. V.l.P. gutten ytshuv. Even now, government ministers. party officials, kollel Yungeleit whenever he Is spotted in the religious neighborhoods of Russian talmidim of his, and other activists vied With Jerusalem, the scene repeats itself. each other to get the coveted police pass to the V.l.P. The first Shabbos at an apartment in Jerusalem lounge at . And then he was here. To people streamed in uninvited from all parts of town. quote the Agudah daily , "A tall man With a big Eliyahu got up to speak: "I was misled.... I was told that beard adorning his archetypal JeWish face, a broad Ionly) two families would eat here tonight. but I see that warmhearted smile radiating forth toward his wel­ we are in reality one family." comers: 'I thank you for greeting a Jew arriving in Israel.' .. Outside, a crowd of many hundreds of yeshiva liyahu Essas. one of the foremost leaders of the bachwim. students and well-Wishers gave him a thund­ Teshuva Movement in the Soviet Union. was born erous welcome. E In Vilna shortly after the Second World War. His The next morning at the Kosel he was spotted by fellow family applied to leave for Israel in 1956 and then again mispallelim.A warm handshake and another ... dozens in 1962, Without success. In 1970. he married his Wife who recognized the distinct face ... and hat.And then he Anya (Chana) and a year later they moved to Moscow, was swept up With the song 'Vekoreiv pezureinu-Brtng where he was among the front rank of aliyaactivists. He Rabbi Rap.baelowitz, a native of the United States, lives in Jerusalem, where again applied for permission to leave in 1973 and was he studies In a kollel and engages in kiruv actlVities. again refused.

The Jewish Observer!ApriL 1986 15 FIRST ENCOUNTERS

I had the opportunity to spend some time with Essas in Jerusalem a month after his arrival, at which time I he agreed to answer some questions. JEWISH OBSERVER: What was your background in Judaism when you moved to Moscow in 1971? ELIYAHU ESSAS: All my life I've wanted to live in Eretz Ytsroel thanks to my parents, who dreamed of altya since the end of the Second World War. 1 did not know Hebrew before 1971 and my knowledge of Judaism was poor. I had, however. read several books about and . JO: What made you apply to leave for Israel in 1973? EE: It would be better to ask why 1 did not apply earlier. My wife, whom I married In 1970, worked foroneyear In a firm that had some connection with the military indus­ trial complex. We waited to apply for over two years after she had left that job and had every reason to believe that our chances to leave were not bad. We could not imagine that Soviet paranoia about state secrets would cost us thirteen years. The so-called "state secrets" factor for being refused was groundless. My wife had no access to classified material. Her firm was connected to the mil­ itary, but not her work. If such a person has to wait for thirteen years, it shows how the whole rationale of delay Two months ago, as he puts It, "During the week of Is groundless and Inhuman. Parshas Bo el Paro ("Go to Pharaoh"), I was called to the J 0: Were there any dramatic turning points In your life? Ovir office and given a visa. The week of Pars has Beshal­ EE: The desire to leave for Israel did not come suddenly ach ("When he sent out. .."),they told me I must get out." when we moved to Moscow. In 1971 the gates of Immigra­ He left behind a community numbering a few hundred tion were just opening. Since I had anticipated moving to souls who learn Torah and observe mttzvos. There are Israel I made it my business to find a teacher to learn shiurim at all levels from beginners to advanced, and Hebrew. As a new Moscovlte, it was very difficult. It was a whoever knows a little immediately teaches others. year and a half before I was able to read Hebrew well Among his talmtdim are bachurtm and Yungeleit who Then, by "accident" (one of may other so-called accidents are first rate bnei Torah, some of whom could enter in my life), I happened upon an old man who was willing advanced yeshtvoswith no difficulty. There are men and to teach me Rasht script. As a youth, he had studied In women refuseniks who are scrupulously observant Jews the Volozhiner Yeshiva.• whose entire goal in life Is to learn more Torah and JO: When did you begin to study Torah seriously? perform yet another mttzva. Their lives are guided by seforlm such as the shmuessen of the late Mlrrer Rosh EE: My first encounter with Torah was with the sefer Hayeshiva. Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevltz '""· Rabbi Yltz­ Yeshayahu (Isaiah). which I studied In Hebrew In 1972. chok Hutner's Pachad Yttzchok. Rabbi E.E. Dessler's Unbelievable as It may seem, the next seferwas Iyovwith Michtav M'Eliyahu, writings of the Mirrer Mashgiach Rashi and Metzudot. I must admit that I did not finish Rabbi Yerucham Levo vi tz, and the Telsher Shiurei Daas. this sefer but It gave me very good experience, so that Responsible for much of this is Reb Eliyahu Essas.* who when I eventually found a Chumash Mikraos Gedolos It was their teacher, leader, and father In a spiritual. physi­ was. from a technical standpoint, relatively easy to study. cal. financial and emotional sense. As a student of his put it. "Even someone who thinks that he is not taken care of CHOOSING TORAH Is being looked after." JO: What influenced you to choose a religious way of life Today Reb Eliyahu lives with his wife and three chil­ and not continue on the path of secular Zionism? dren in Jerusalem and spends several afternoons a week studying in the MirrerYeshlva there. EE: When one looks for the meaning of life, for Its real basis, one cannot be satisfied with any philosophical •Formerly "Hess," from a family of German Jews. Hls maternal grandfather system unless it contains profound and true concepts. was a shochet in Telshe. and his mother grew up In Telshe. A visitor In Moscow, who had once studied In Telshe. was told that that very evening *It Is fascinating to note how the hashgacha pratts had the last remnant of Eliyahu had repeated a sh!ur daas (phtlsophlcal discourse) from the late the once thriving Yeshiva ofVolozhin become the teacher of the leader of the Rosh Hayeshlva ofTelshe In Cleveland, Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch '"~n. movement of the Torah renaissance tn the Soviet Union.

16 The Jewish Observer/AprtL 1986 ,,,,..... J. here was no revolutionary stage in my life, but rather a step-by-step deeper understanding of life and its meaning."

When I started learning Chumash, it became clear to me university when we applied to leave for Israel in 1973. My that I had discovered a book of life. My studies began in record was not especially bad as far as the authorities thesummerofl973WithParshasVo'es'chanan.Wheni were concerned. So I applied to study in the so-called read the words ofKriasShemaand AseresHadibros (the Yeshiva of Moscow (now non-existent). It was not a real Ten Commandments), it was as if I heard them on Har yeshiva, of course, but rather five or six strange people Sinai. It was both an intellectual and a spiritual expe­ who pretended to be students and In reality did nothing rience. The studies of Parshas Hashavua (weeklyTorah and did not even learn Hebrew. readings) inspired me greatly. I felt as though each word JO: Do you think that they were working for the au­ was directed to me personally. thorities? I must stress that the studies were not purely philoso­ phical or poetical, although these two elements were also EE: One cannot say something that has not been proven. present. The Torah became more and more a way oflife, Everyone who works in the official commun­ commandments that every Jew must fulfill. ity has to report to the authorities. As for the students. JO: Did your Increasing awareness of the religious char­ they seemed to do nothing all day, and the teacher was acter of Judaism precipitate a sharp break With your often sick. So I sat there alone. past? But there were many seforim that one could not find in EE: There was never a radical change in my life, but any other place. There were Chumashim, Tanach, Mish­ nayos, and even volumes of Shaalos UTeshuvos (hala­ rathera step-by-step deeper understanding of!ife and its chic responsa). When the teacher came, we started study­ meaning. There was no revolutionary stage. ing Gemora. But this continued only for a few months JO: How long were you alone in your search? until the synagogue authorities discovered that I was a EE: I lost my job as a lecturer of mathematics in the . They expelled me the same day. TORAH EDUCATORS INSTITUTE ni1n ''.:))nn? i)'>JtJ V1>J'V)1 '.J.N ')>J)l - 0'J'V1i' Registration is now open for the summer program of 5746 which will be held IYH in Yerusholayim. Once again, the program which has been recommended and endorsed by Gedolei Yisroel, will present on intensive course of No Jewish home sn1dy, prepared for Bnei Torah to enable them to develop their full potential as Mechanchim in Yeshivos and Day Schools. should be without it. Our dedicated staff of Roshei Yeshiva, professional Rabbeim, and prominent Mechanchim, will present the full range of subjects vital Available in Hebrew bookstores, to the success of the rebbe in the classroom. selected variety stores and We invite motivated individuals possessing higher Yeshiva and (or) supermarkets in Brooklyn, Queens, Kollel education, to participate in this program. Far Rockaway, etc. Scholarships Are Available Recognized for a Yeshiva Teacher's License If you wish to sell it in your store at no risk to you-call For further infonnation contact Rabbi Hillel Mandel Rabbi Gershon Brafman Mr. Markowitz Dean of Education Dean of Administration (718) 387-0164 N.Y 718 805"1191 jemsalem J.810"240

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 17 ''"T" l. he first time I read the words of Shema and the Ten Commandments in the Chumash, it was as if I heard them on Har Sinai."

Shµbbos. The old Jew In Riga, Reh Sholem Yakobson '"~'·was alone. I experienced the beauty ofa Jewish home on Shabbos at the apartment of Reh Sholem. JO: How do you explain the fact that most of the old people could not keep their children observant? EWE: I ask you to bear In mind the horrors of the Stalin era. You'll then understand how wrong It Is for any of us to pass judgment on anyone from that era. But the fact is that there was no such thing as a family In Moscow with ail its members keeping Shabbos In the mid '70s. JO: What made 1977 a watershed year? EE: Things had to change. Anya and I did not have a community. We did not even have a circle of friends. There were no chavrusos (partners) to study with. I also started thinking of the future. So I decided to attempt to teach, to form a chug (group) of Torah studying Jews. .During the spring of 1977. I started looking for pupils. All I asked of them was to come to hear about Judaism. About half of the group of fifteen knew Hebrew; the oth­ ers did not.

Eltyahu Essas and his wife Chana in the Soviet Union, Nov. '78. (Ed. Nole: Those who came to the shiurtm were told that they were allowed to ask any question they liked but for JO: How did this happen? the first two months were not to ask about metz!us EE: The president of the synagogue, Efraim Kaplan, Hashem-the existence of God .... After that time no one called me to his office and said that that morning he had ever found it necessary to pose the question.I learned that I was a refusenik. "The Jewish community of The first session was right after Shavous. There could Moscow considers those who wish to leave for Israel to be not have been a better time to start. I remember the first traitors." When I argued that we say "L'Shana Habba lesson very well. It was Parshas Nasso: We discussed the BYerushalayim." he told me that his minhag (custom) Twelve Tribes' preparation to journey. And so, we too, was to say "L'Shana Habba Po! (Next year here!)" started moving.

TO RIGA FOR SHABBOS STUDENTS BECOME TEACHERS

JO: How did you learn after that? JO: I understand that many of your students became EE: I continued learning Gemora with an English trans­ teachers later. lation. Later, a Stelnsaltz edition helped a great deal. I EE: We felt that we did not have time to wait. So they became more and more observant It was not easy to would start teaching after six or seven months of study­ study from books alone. For example. I had to travel six ing. Twelve our of fifteen who came to the first lesson hundred miles from Moscow to Rlgatn order to learn how became observant Jews. to keep Shabbos properly from one lonely old Jew. I heard JO: How did the K.G.B. react? of him through Rabbi Pinchas Teitz of Elizabeth, New Jersey, who helped me a great deal In starting to learn EE: There was no open harrassment during the first during his visits to the Soviet Union. three years. They did try to influence some of the pupils and even threatened them personally. The main group JO: Couldn't anyone be found in Moscow? grew in 1980 to forty-five members. "AndAmaleikcame." EE: There were-and there are-old religious Jews. They It happened during one of our regular shiurtm. a little cerialnlyobserve Shabbos, but In the same room you can before Chanuka: the police and K.G.B. broke in and took see their children and grandchildren watching T.V. So ail the sefortrn. Theysawyoungpeople sitting around the the atmosphere was far removed from the sanctity of table. Some of the participants were arrested and spent a

18 The Jewish Observer!Aprtl 1986 night at the police station. It was a period of open har­ Torah who study Gemora with Rishonim and Acharo­ rassment. We were then forced to use different methods nim. and Shulchan Aruch with nosei keilav (major for our meetings. commentaries, printed on the page). They also study. JO: What was the attitude of non-religious Jewish acti­ Mussar (ethics) and mach'shava (philosophy). For vists towards your activities and your group? example, we have studied and completed as a group the three volumes of Shmuessen by the Mirrer . EE: At first nobody paid attention to us. We always pre­ Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz J"~l. ferred to work without advertising our activities. Also. fifteen people could not even be considered a sizeable PROFILEOFACOMMUNl'IY minority of the larger group of activists. That was eight years ago. Today, 70 percent of Moscow activists are reli­ JO: Can you describe the kehilla that you left behind in gious. At the beginning. nobody took notice of the new Moscow and in the other cities? developments, probably not even the KG.B. EE: There are hundreds ofyoung observant Jews in Mos­ JO: Can you tell more about these Torah studies? cow. Over a hundred women use the mikva. (Ten years EE: After the first year of teaching Chumash. the most ago almost none did.) There are young shochtim (ritual capable talmidim began to study Gemora. We started slaughterers) and sqfrim (scribes) and there is Torah with Berachos. which was the only mesechta that we study on all levels. There are similar gourps. albeit much had with Steinsaltz. It was veiy helpful for me and for the smaller. in other cities that can also be called religious talmidim. We have since broadened and deepened our communities. Most of theirmembersare under the age of knowledge. Today. one can find in Moscow young bnei foriy.

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The Jewish Obseroer/Aprii 1986 19 ''Many secular Jews in the Free World had a choice and they elected to reject Judaism. Soviet Jews did not have this choice and hence they are in a category all their own."

Most of this community of refuseniks live in dire pov­ EE: I could not imagine the strength of kedusha that erty as they are thrown out of their jobs for wanting to pours forth from Eretz Yisroel, the land where moun­ leave for Israel. yet one will never hear a word of complaint tains and houses talk to me. from them. To quote one of the women, 'We have JO: What are your Immediate and long-range plans as far everything-until a few years we did not have shiurlm; as learning and Harbotzas Torah (Torah dissemination) now we have that, too. So what are we missing?" Lashon are concerned? hara is avoided like the plague. Every mitzva is special to It is the most Important thing for every Jew to study them Many months after Succos one can still see the EE: Torah. One who lived in Moscow sees that there Is lulav displayed proudly In a place of prominence in the nothing more Important. living room. One woman tells how her husband would walk one-and-a-half hours each way to a succa in the The Imperative is to find new ways for Soviet Jews who are already In Israel to become closer to Torah. One can forest on the outskirts of Moscow. There are several women who spend a complete day In transit In each openly practice Torah In Israel and help others to learn, direction so as to be able to use the mikva in Moscow. but this opportunity has not been exercised sufficiently The men who have not lost their jobs make it their busi­ as far as Soviet Jews are concerned. It is necessary to create new possibilities for Soviet Jews to become bnei ness to be consclen tious during the week so as to be able to leave early on Fridays. Some tell how they ultimately Torah and hopefully we will see many, many Soviet Jews appreciate the taunts, beatings-even being rolled in the studying Torah in the foreseeable future. snow-for being Jewish, for in this way they learned that they're Jewish and thus decided to find out what their HELP BEYOND THE CURTAIN Identity means. One of them, when asked how he came to become Jrum, replied that he had once heard divrei JO: How can the Jews of Israel and the Diaspora be of Torah; lying on his heart, they were like the drops of assistance to those of your brothers and sisters still In water Rabbi Akiva saw dripping on a stone, eventually the Soviet Union? making a hole In the stone. Thus. too, was his heart penetrated. (It brings to mind the Vort of the Kotzker EE: It would seem that detente helps If the opportunities Rebbe regarding the passage from Krtas Shema: 'Ve­ It opens are properly directed. This policy can create a hayu hadevartm ha'eileh al levavchem-and these situation of less harrassment in the U.S.S.R., freer con­ words shall be on your heart"-words of Torah need only tacts between Diaspora and Soviet Jews, and it might be to be on one's heart, and in time they will gain entry.­ easier for Soviet Jews to make aliya. We should not forget P.R) that there are three million Jews who were cut off from their tradition, and now many of them are ready to make positive steps toward Yiddishkeit There are groups and organizations that help. I want to mention especially the BASKING IN THE SANCTITY OF THE HOLY LAND increased Involvement of Agudah's Vaad Hatzolas Nid· chei Yisroel during recent years. JO: Could you describe the of your family and JO: You mentioned detente. Do you mean that U.S. Jews yourself In Eretz Yisroel. especiallyyour feelings as a ben should encourage the American administration to take a Torah? softer position vis-a-vis the Soviet Union? EE: The first sensation after stepping down from the EE: The Soviet Union understands its interests. If the U.S. plane at Ben Gurion Airport was that I had come home will convince the Soviets that it is In their interest to let and that all the Jews in Israel are my family. This feeling the Jews leave or live their lives as Jews, they will act does not leave me. My main thought after my first Shab­ accordingly. The most important thing Is that U.S. for­ bos In Jerusalem was-How can a ben Torah who has eign policy must Include Soviet Jews. We must stress been granted the opportunity to live in Eretz Yisroel that we are not pro-Soviet or anti-Soviet, but strongly stay somewhere else? pro.Jewish. JO: How do you find Eretz Yisroel as compared to your Of course we are against the godless ideology of Com· dreams and expectations? munism, which Is the state religion in the U.S.S.R We are

20 The Jewish Obseroer!Aprtl, 1986 also against many other "isms" that exist not only in Russia but in other places as well. JO: There has been great controversy In the U.S. about the propriety and effectiveness of activism (demonstra­ tions, petitions, etc.) on behalf of our Soviet brethren vis-a-vis quiet diplomacy. What is your view? EE: 1 believe the controversy is a little artificial. We need both. It is true that the Soviet authorities do not listen and do not care too much about demonstrations and open activities in the West. They do, however, listen to what politicians and diplomats say to them. Quiet •Analyzes. •Reports. diplomacy Is the only means that has a direct effect. But •Reviews. because of the nature of the political systems in the West, •Evaluates politicians in the West only include a problem on their •Comments. •Reflects. agenda when it Is raised by Influential groups and has public support by voters. So demonstrations and open •Inspires. •Projects. activities are necessary in that sense. What is difficult. however, is to find the correct timing and place for diplomacy and negotiation-some public demonstra­ THE tions if not properly planned or If they are not in the proper time and place, can be very damaging to delicate negotiations. JEWISH JO: How can we help those Jews who managed to leave Russia and now live in Israel or elsewhere? EE: Sometimes Western Jews forget that Soviet Jews OBSERVER were totally cut off from their heritage during the last 68 years. We simply cannot expect them to have a real inter­ est in Judaism. They know next to nothing and the little Wedo more knowledge they do have is totally distorted. We should encourage them and help them find a genuine under­ standing of Judaism. It can start With our expressing a than just observe. genuine human interest in their lives, and it can con­ tinue With our showing them authentic Torah living. ------TheyWill then become more interested, and one can help Subscribe, Renew or Give them eventually embrace Torah and mttzvos. We must The Jewish Observer not forget, however. that they've had a total lack ofJeWish background of any kind for several generations. There now and save. are many secular Jews in the Free World but they had a D One Year/$!5.00 (for ten issues) choice and they elected to reject Judaism. Soviet Jews did D Two Years/$27.00 (a $40 value) not have this choice and hence they are in a category all their own. D Three Years/$36.00 (a $60 value) D Canada, Israel and all Europe-$20.00. D Australia & South Africa-$25.00. US. FUNDS-DRAWN ON A U.S. BANK ONLY FEIVEL KIRSHENBAUM, Ph.D. FINANCIAL ADVISER 5 Beekman Street/New York, N.Y./10038 Send magazine to: Name ______Expertise in financial planning, Investment selection, tax strategies, retirement and estate Address_ planning. City ____ State ______~ip. ___ Registered Investment Adviser. Twenty years D Enclose gift card D Master card 0 Visa of experience in financial analysis. f'fo sales or Account No. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD commissions. Absolute confidentiality. Expiration date DD (month) DO (year) (914) 352-1919 Signaturt.·------

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 21 SOME LESSONS FROM MOSCOW of us find the true Torah way. Seven years ago, I could buy kosher meat in Moscow JO: I certainly recognize that Western bnei Torah, who without having to wait In line. Last year it would take five have no restraints on learning Torah and the perfor­ or six hours of staying in a line of one hundred and fifty mance of mttzvos, have much to learn from the bnet people wating to buy kosher meat. Recently. I saw a young Torah of Moscow about complacency and about genuine man whom I did not recognize learning Chumash on the mesiras nejesh for Torah and kiyum hamitzvos. Would train in Moscow and it caused me great joy that the you care to elaborate? community of bnei Torah In Moscow had grown to the EE: The lesson is very clear. If there are a growing number extent that there were finally some members whom I did of Jews in Russia who are becoming bnei Torah under not even know. This growth of the community of obser­ extremely difficult conditions. we can see the true poten­ vant Jews in Moscow makes one hope that many Jews in tial inside every Jew, and their experiences can help all the Free World will follow their example. II

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22 The Jewish Observer/AprtL 1986 THE ROAD TO TESHUVA Dr. Joseph D. Sutton

Prototype qf an Organized Reach-out Bdfort

They entered sporting leather jackets, gold chains, long hair and jeans, and left proudly wearing tsitsiyot and kippot for the first time in their lives.

his past decade has seen an human intelligence. Much of this THE ARACHIM FOLLOW-UP unusual openness on the part material is not well-known to most T of the non-religious Israeli to Bnei Yeshiva and is truly astound­ Torah accented reach-out efforts. ing. The material is presented from a he seminar really is just the Arachim was organized approxi­ several hundred page source book, first step, for much guidance mately eight years ago to offer in­ which Is available both in Hebrew T Is required by each Individ­ struction and guidance to these and English. ual, each family. Volunteers visit Jews. Using a carefully developed At the conclusion of the presenta­ homes to kosher the kitchens and technique, Arachim has grown In tion, most participants feel a need to teach the people the basics of kash­ scope, having sponsored fifty semi­ reevaluate their lives from scratch, rns. Teaching Shabbos observance nars

The Jewish Obseroer/Aprtl, 1986 23 AN AMERICAN DUPLICATE major cities for the follow-up work. ishjolned the regularstaffofT.O.V., New York City and the surrounding led by Rabbi YosefYagen. Fourweeks astyearanefforttoduplicate suburban areas amazingly are not of intensive lectures as well as living Arachlm's success in Amer­ equipped to handle large numbers of with Monsey families led these girls L ica was attempted by a New seminar alumni. These newly reli­ make major changes in their lives. York-based organization called giousJews are not content to daven Several entered a school for baalos T.0.V.-Time Out for Values. The In the conventional synagogue. For teshuva in Monsey and others went principal Arachlm leaders were example, members of one group In to Israel to study. The rest returned joined by speakers from New York to the Queens were so repulsed by the to Mexico as fully Orthodox young lead a six-day long seminar In the noisy synagogue in their area that ladles. Tarrytown Hilton. they convened their own in This has been succeeded by sev­ Much effort was exerted in reach­ a private home. And, then, some eral week-long seminars In a resort ing non-frum Israeli yordim. Former seminar alumni live in areas where hotel in Cuemavaca (near Mexico famous Israeli actors, such as Uri there is no follow-up and have thus City) with most encouraging results. and "Puplk" Amon, were fea­ lost much of their momentum They The Mexico City Sephardic commu­ tured speakers to attract the audi­ had gained an awareness and strong nity has been instrumental in well­ ence. desire to advance and to learn more, concerted follow-up measures, pro­ One hundred thlriy-five people at­ but lack the means to do so. viding a building to house the acti­ tended the seminar. They entered vities and a support group to help sporting leatherjackets, gold chains, VARIATIONS ON A THEME individuals. long hair and jeans, and left proudly The rewards of success are as­ wearing tsitsiyot and kippot for the ven on a smaller scale much tounding. The Jay people involved first time In their lives. Of greater can be done, as several of actually become stronger In their Importance, the majority expressed E the T.O.V. activities illustrate. own commitment as a result of deal­ their intention to live as Orthodox Over these past six years, a public ing with the baalei teshuva-as I Jews and to continue to attend lecture is given on Wednesday nights personally can testify. Moreover, classes to fill in the large gaps in in a large synagogue in Queens. The Chazalspeakatlengthofthereward their knowledge. lectures are delivered In Hebrew to of someone who is able to reach the Today, many of those who attend­ attract non-religious . Mate­ non-committed Jew. The Zohar ed, both men and women, are study­ rial similar to that used in the longer states: "Come and see: everyone who ing in yeshivos and seminaries here seminars is discussed, serving to holds the hand of a wicked person and in Israel. Husbands and wives spur many people on to further and tries to help him leave his evil are attending shiurim on a regular study. It Is a remarkably successful ways ... rises to a level that no other basis several nights a week. They are forum. person can reach. He causes a sanc­ now mainstream Jews, anxious to Another pilot project ofT.0.V. was tification of G-d's Name and Is res­ to reach their relatives and friends a mini-seminar for 15 non-religious ponsible for the continuity of the to share their new-found lifestyle. girls from Mexico, held In Monsey world. He merits to see grandchil­ In contrast to IsraeL where Ara­ during August 1985. Volunteers dren and merits both this world and chim has a network set up in all the from thecommunityfluent in Span- the world-to-come."B Notjustacheese, a ttcKJition... r:. Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisruel Kosher Chee$e. A reputation earned rhrough 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth.W1th 12 delicious varieties. Under the strict Rabbinical supervision ofK'hal AdasJeshurun, N.Y. H~>lam, atradition you'l~:::.k::: I Iao THURM BRO::.. WORLD CH~ESECO. INC. NEW YORK. N. Y ,A_llllol... '1111'-'

24 The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 THE ROAD TO TESHlWA Bernard Fryshman

•;: .. ?~~~~'i~:.i··-· Jewish Routes, Jewish Roots Notes by an obseroer at an American spin-Q[f Qf the intensive Arachim weekend, which has been so succeseful in Eretz Yisroel at reuniting estranged Jews with their heritage.

was on my best behavior, partly breathing without the reassuring Did their grandparents display the because of clear, unequivocal 'body' of New York City air, a large same hesitation, the same reluc­ I instructions from my dear wife, spider. a garter snake (or was it a tance, when they were marched partly because of a cryptic message copperhead?) scunyingby. Quite an into public school, fifty and sixty in the conference materials ad­ adjustment for a city boy. years ago? dressed to "frum participants: un­ The first session was cancelled.As less you are part of the trained, always. buses were late, participants assigned staff, please refrain from TRAVELLERS straggled in throughout the after­ discussing any issues of halacha or noon. and the cool, fresh breezes hashkqfa." hey came off the bus. some were much more attractive than a 1 walked over to the coffee shop, wearing yarmulkas, mostly session in Kibbud Av Ve'im. ordered a coffee, and asked whether T not. Typical college-age boys I can't say I was sorry. The pano­ the milk was Cholov Yisroel. Evi­ and girls, but strangely subdued. rama unfolding before me was like dently myfaux pas wasn't too seri­ somewhat insecure. They stood the mise en scene of a mystery. ous. because it seemed to pass with­ around waiting for their luggage. "Blond hair" got out of a veiy new out incident. and I could sense their unease. Cer­ car, dressed in a suit that didn't All in all, I think I adapted quite tainly the young people I teach would come from Gimbel's basement. Two well to what was a strange environ­ have been a lot louder. a lot more girls were walking around, enjoying ment: grass without "keep off' signs. boisterous. They loosened up as they the sun. "Jogger" was running trooped into the hotel. but it was Dr. Fryshman, a regular contributor lo these around, not much different from the pages, teaGhes physics at the New York Institute clear that there was an air of cau­ people 1 see eveiy day running up of Ttthnology. tion. of hesitancy about them. and down Ocean Parkway.

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 25 .Are these the people whose children will be Torah Jews, and whose grandchildren will bring the Geula closer? Looking at the uncovered heads it was hard to hnagine.

Are these the people whose chi!· reached headquarters. Were the by the realization that l had finally dren will be Torah Jews, and whose boys in the coffee shop scarredfor met an individual who is a better grandchildren will bring the Geula life by my unthinking blunder? teacher than I. closer? Looking at the unshorn. un· Two hundred dissimilar indivi­ "Don't overpower them with the duals. each placed in an appropriate covered heads it was hard to black hat syndrome," intoned imagine. category, tuned. tested. and then Weisberg. merged by a maestro bringing the Yeshiva cars with New Jersey "Some Baalei Teshuva don't res­ dissonance of an overture into sym­ plates stopped too, emitting a pond because they fear having to phony. Rising and falling, humor standard issue of parents. children. become like 'them' ...." and emotion-by the end of the hour, and Pampers boxes. Evidently Lake­ "Bytheway," Silver added, "take it we had formed an entity. accepting wood was here to lend a hand. One cool. Don't be uptight Be yourselves." the ideas of the Torah. of Truth. young man. tzitzis flying, friendly Got it Peifectly clear. I know exactly Ready and trusting; waiting for what and outgoing came over to say "hel· what to do. I'll be fine. Just keep follows. lo.'' A real yeshiva-mahn! everyone away from me and I I later learned that five years ago promise not to confuse a souL Culture shock. A Shabbos meal he had been touring Europe with away from my family and conversa­ knapsack and little else. He met tion with very pleasant (nonjruml someone in Israel who invited him GE1TING OUR FEET WET people. Feelings of discomfort as­ in to a Yeshivafor a 'little while.' suaged only by all the other Bnei science talk, masterfully del­ Torah spread throughout the din· So many Jewish kids. searching. ivered. By the time it was ing hall. all visibly as uncomfortable And so many Jews anxious to teach. over. some fascinating evi­ as I. Does a torch bum because of the A dence had been presented for 'our' Do these Aish HaTorah people do fuel or because of a small match? side, and several challenges by evo­ this all the time? When I next see lutionists in the audience had been Reb Noach Weinberg. I plan to tell AND GUIDES dealt with in a charming. disarming. him I am almost as impressed by and scientifically effective manner. his ability to get Bnei Torah to vidently, Rabbi Yehuda Sil­ A scientist myself, I picked a few spend Shabbosim in this way. as I ver is of serious mind when it nits and approached the lecturer am by his ability to create baalei E comes to clear communica­ somewhat later-expecting at least teshuva. tion. By 6:30 p.m. all thefrum guests minimal resistance. No such luck. He proved anxious to listen, to learn. Another lecture. The famous Dr. were gathered together for a staff Shalom Srebrenik. one of the found­ meeting where we were communi­ He was delighted with my comments and made me promise to leave him ers of the Arachim Institute, would cated to by the Alsh HaTorah repre­ be speaking. It would be a treat. they sentatives. my card. 'We should work on it" was his parting comment. said. "Leave the hashkafa questions to Dr. Srebrenik Is certainly an in· us," he said. "If you're asked a ques­ Was this the secret of the program's teresting person In his own right. tion. evade it-or steer it to Moshe success? The people involved seem Saddled with a name sadly deficient Zev Weisberg or me." totally committed to the end goaL In vowels, a successful career as a ''There's nothing wrong with say­ Nowhere did I encounter the slight­ physicist. an Israel chess champion. ing 'l don't know'," chimed In Weis­ est hint of personal ego. Every ac­ formerly nonjrum. how did he come berg. tion, every skill. designed to bring here? "The wrong answer can undo a Jews back to Torah. As if reading my mind, he pro­ whole weekend of carefully con­ Kabbolas Shabbos. A rousing ceeded to tell us In his inimitable, structed learning blocks. You can speech by Sliver who set the stage for graphic fashion. Can a person with affect their whole lives!" added Silver. the weekend by propounding the such a vocabulary. such a command I could feel their eyes boring into thesis that "everyone has an obliga­ of the language still have an Israeli me. No doubt reports of my earlier tion to seek the truth." A command­ accent? No matter. He drew us along 'Cholov Yisroel' question had ing performance. spoiled for me only as he described his conversations

26 The Jewish Observer/April 1986 with his Creator: "Where have you been my son? I have been waiting for you ...." Did their grandparents display the same He kept us in stitches; his inno­ cent humor drew gales of laughter hesitation, the same reluctance, when from the audience as he made his they were marched into public school, fifty points. There were stitches, too, as Srebrenik repaired the fabric of and sixty years ago? Western Civilization that Silver had rent earlier. Only, Srebrenik used patches of a different kind: oflove, of family, of fidelity and of Kedusha. TABLETALK girl brought her dog along to the I should admit that I didn't hear hotel, and she and some friends the entire talk.As one who can barely went for a walk. Amazingly. however. stagger to bed immediately after the ascinating the way the con­ most people participated in the semi­ Shabbos meal, I found it astonish­ versations at the table became nars. Amazingly. too, I was able to ing I stayed up as late as I did. The F more directly oriented to reli­ stay up all Shabbos afternoon. interesting thing was that so many gious observances as the Seminar of my new found (non:frumJ friends wore on. I had been asked to sit next Shalosh Seudos. The group was had stayed to listen.and were able to to some of the participants during talking about the lecture on pro­ repeat what Srebrenik had said. meals, and as luck would have it, I phecy. Again they had been shaken As a yannulka-weartngJew, I have ended up with a congenial group of out of their previous perceptions, been a target of colleagues at one young men and women. It was easy down to their very roots, (and per­ University or other for over thirty to become part of the conversation, haps back to their "Roots" as well). years. I've developed, on my own, to exchange names, cities, occupa­ There were proofs Silver offered many qf the arguments and ideas tions and ideas-always peppered which had convinced even the most in use at Arachim. But I have al­ with a few laughs. I was ever mindful cynical reprobate among them. ways maintained that the basisfor of the order not to discuss hashkqfa the Torah Jew is, in the end, emu­ and halacha-so I simply partici­ Motzael Shabbos. A crescendo na (faith). Proof in the conventional pated in the light banter. building to a climax. A hot. stuffy Only to find that as time went on, room packed with people suffused sense is not possible. But Arachim with speeches, groggy from lack of was going to try . ... they found it necessary to talk about their grandparents or other relatives sleep. and a gargantuan Shalosh One Author. There was another who had been observant Jews. More. Seudos just concluded. Yet. every­ talk Shabbos morning after Kid­ some began to talk about their own one, from the young Gemora-kop dush, this time with the special Ara­ experiences, and their own degree of who barely knew the Aleph-Bais, to chim volume in hand.Ostensiblythe knowledge and observance. the Lakewood Kolle! yungennan, sat purpose was to address the multi­ The stories poured out. I won't there with open-mouthed amaze­ author thesis developed by secular repeat them-partly because some ment as Tzvi Inbal showed that each Bible critics. By the time the talk was of these people are now friends, and letter of the Alef-Bais has an opera­ fifteen minutes old, the audience because most of us have heard the tional meaning. One letter combines was totally convinced there was but stories. Any group of non-Orthodox with its fellows and the resulting one Author to the Torah. By the end Jews will have its share of people word leads inexorably to the object of the lecture the array of secret whose recent forebears left Torah for or action described. patterns, the secret messages, had the usual reasons: having to work on For those present. it became crys­ some members of the audience liter­ Shabbos. no Jewish education, con­ tal clear that Hebrew is indeed a ally jumping with excitement. Many tact with bad people who observed Lashon Kodesh. a sacred language of the sophisticated, analytic mem­ the rituals.... fashioned by G-d to use in describ­ bers of the secular audience were ing the world. There is no arbitrari­ visibly disturbed-and it was a good One particularly wrenching mo­ ness in assigning a word to an object. forty-five minutes after the end of mentfor everyfrum Jew present at The Torah assigns meanings to the the talk before the speaker could the Friday night lecture came when letters, and the words for everything tear himself away. Rabbi Silver pleaded with the par­ in the world simply fall out. ticipants: "Don'tjudgeJudaism by 'Proving' that Torah is Min Hasho­ Jews." From Motzaei Shabbos until the mayim-qf Divine Origin-is great end of the seminar, people kept talk­ But what will participants think ing about this session. No doubt about Torah study? That it consists ROUNDING TiiE CLOCK lnbal's preparation and presenta­ of playing puzzle games with tion played a large role in this ~uc­ Torah? Will any of these people. habbos afternoon. More lec­ cess-but in essence it was the ma­ captiVated by the patterns in the tures. Reinforcement of con­ terial itself, the natural manner in Torah, ever be able to toil over a S cepts. "Ask the Rabbi." Partici­ which the word carries the meaning piece of Gemora? pants are free to go and come. One which captivated the audience. By

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 27 ON HIGH It became crystal clear that Hebrew is he session ended on an emo­ indeed a Lashon Kodesh, a sacred lan­ tional high. Peoplewere asked T to express what the Seminar guage fashioned by G-d to use in describ­ meant to them, and l was very im­ ing the world. There is no arbitrariness in pressed to hear comments such as: "Nobody was talking down to me, I assigning a word to an object. appreciate that." "It's worthwhile pursuing." "I hope to treat the Torah properly, this time. everyone was convinced lunch-seemed to materialize. It otherwise I would betray Hashem." that there is something supernatu­ seemed as if Arachim were anxious "I feel it was a science and math ral-even G-dly-about the Hebrew to give everyone an opportunity to proof." language. The calm. cool, rational discuss the session with colleagues; "I was privileged to see it." individuals that came to the session to clear their minds of cobwebs­ "I wish I had more Rabbis like you would never be the same. and to sharpen their challenges. when Iwasa kid." l really can't be sure why the Ara­ If I had to judge, I would say the Silver et al were sure of themselves. audience was a little self-conscious, chim arranged for a Melave Malka As well they might be. Carefully, event for this quiet intellectual a little less open than they might very carefully, the audience was have been, had the Seminar (origi­ group. One school of thought has it taken through the various charac­ that the Melave Malka was designed nally designed for four days) not teristics ofa proof. And then master­ been compressed into two and a half. to give the older folk a few hours of fully, all ofthe elements ofthe week­ sleep. I readily complied. I don't know what follow up is end were shown tofit Like pieces in planned, and I would therefore not The younger folks thought other­ a puzzle. every requirement was wise. The emotion-packed, joyous even hazard a guess as to how many locked in, a complete picture was will ultimately become frum. Such Melave Malke, the music, mood and developed- The crowd.for that mo­ food bonded the intellect to the heart. Seminars. to be meaningful, must be ment at least believed that HaShem recognized as one module in a com­ did indeed speak at SinaL plex organism. Alone, it is incom­ COMING BACK plete. But I would be surprised to learn that any participant in the BUT NOT EVERYONE unday was designed to be the Seminar will ever marry out of the climax of the whole program, Jewish faith. There is something overheard one participant, a special in Torah, and everyone pres­ S the ti me when all the blocks professor of mathematics at a ent now knew it. were designed to be cemented, to nearby community college talk­ lead to the inescapable conclusion I ing to a young lady, a micro-biologist that HaShem spoke to the Jews at from the mid-west. "The proof is not AT HOME Sinai. a complete one," he argued, "even Sunday morning we were all herd­ though it was impressive." wo incidents were reassuring. ed into a vast, cavernous hall-lo­ On my way out, I overheard a cated some distance from the other What he meant of course. was that T girl talking to her husband, hotel facilities. By th is time everyone the proof did not fit into the neat "But what am I supposed to do with was as putty in Silver's hands. The conceptualjramework of a mathe­ my dishes?" group was ready to hear, ready to matical proof. For him, a proof beg­ A week later I was in the Midwest, believe, ready to emote in whatever ins with axioms, 'self-evident truths'; and called one of the people I had way the speaker directed. It would and using the elements of deduc­ met at the Seminar. After a pleasant have been simple to take advantage tive logic. absolute truth emerges. chat, he told me-"wewereshopping of the situation ... last week, and just before we reached The Arachim would have none of Dealing with this kind of objection the checkout counter, Nancy said, is not overly d!fficult but in a ses­ 'let's not buy shrimp'. 111 bet you're it. In careful, almost excruciating sion with several hundred other detail, the previous discussions were people present, it is hard to envision happy to hear." He'll never know how reviewed. Conclusions were exa­ a practical means ofdiscirnsing the much. mined~and participants were en­ Were these the only outcomes? couraged to challenge. Again and intricacies of what constitutes a Surely not But even if they are, it's again, the audience was dragged 'proof. important to realize that the loss of into the give and take; time and The Arachim people should be almost five million Jews to the Amer­ again a hesitant questioner rapidly aware that possible challenges ican experience didn't come at once. became an enthusiastic participant. from American audiences might be in one fell swoop. Immigrant Jews, And each time itlooked as if a cru­ much more creativefrom those seen newly arrived in America didn't just cial point had been reached in the in Israeli sessions. But the success wake up one day and suddenly stop development-a coffee break-or here will be so much the sweeter . .. beingfrum.

28 The Jewish ObserverI April, J 986 Person by person. mitzva by mitz­ literally terrified at the number of just general "glitches" in the inten­ va, the bonds to Torah were severed. people whose lives were changed by sive two and half day program­ And maybe that's another part of the the highly intellectual, highly analy­ originally designed to be delivered secret of the AJsh HaTorah success. tical approach of Arachim. over a period of four days. One by one, mitzva by mitzva, they Several years ago. Rabbi Noach But somehow, it didn't seem to are fashioning bonds between these Weinberg, Rosh HaYeshiva of Aish matter. The sheer force of personal­ people and Torah. They do it effi­ HaTorah. contacted Arachim about ity of the lecturers just drew every­ ciently. they do it well, they reach lots using some of the material that had one along. Almost from the first. one of people-but they also touch them been developed. A close relationship lecturer after another had the audi­ one at a time. developed and soon afterwardsAJsh ence in the palms of their hands. Perhaps as the Jews left Torah, so HaTorah undertook to adapt the Lecturers departed to standing ova­ will they return. program for use in the United States. tions. From typical Jewish young Arachim was originally developed A team headed by Rabbi Yehuda people. From professionals. from for use in Israel and by 1984 almost Silver was assigned the task of Yuppies. from college teachers and 30 seminars involving over two translating all the material into Eng­ housewives and accountants and thousand had been held. lish and modifying it for American drifters. People who, only three days The response was little short of audiences. earlier, thought of "pay" as some­ overwhelming; there is no question The Seminar described in this thing to put into a wallet-and who that the recent tumult in the Israeli article was only the second one of­ now think of "n" as a letter with a press over the Baal Teshuva Move­ fered in North America. There were special meaningand special connec­ ment was stirred up by observers loose ends. unpolished edges, and tions.II

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The Jewish Observer!April, 1986 29 "J.,000,000 CHILDREN NEED YOUR HELPI, Hagaon Horao Elazar Sch'1ch, Shlita WE LOST A MILLION CHILDREN TO THE NAZI HORROR. WE CAN LOSE ANOTHER MILLION DUE TO OUR OWN NEGLECT.

Anexaggeration?Anoverstatement?Con­ CHINUCH ATZMAI TODAY f Governors and sider thi_s-there are close to 1,000_,000 ChinuchAtzmalhasmadeenormousgains The Board 0 cmrimittee of . I Dinner I Jewish children-in Israel today, The vast ma-' the past few-years, Following the words of our Nationa for Israe joriiYof them are growing upwlth no associa· great leaders of yesterday of blessed memory, Torah Schoo 1s ti on to our glorious past and without hope for we-have established schools in areas never ':'"I .,,~"'~ ,~... ".O the future. A poll recently reported in the dreamed possible before. 40,000 children "'"t'°':l "'t'".0°1?• d the ot1 10 airen Israeili press showed that a large percentage of learn every day in our schools. 1·ally invite Y . Dinner cor d • d Natwna 1 thi':!:se Childreri Would rather -live someplace SO LITTLE TO DO SO MUCH fl·drty-thir_ of }Vlay, J98 6 the eighreenlh other than Israel. A huge number hOMQr Prefab CJasstoom'& $10.500 to save them. Please give them a chance to asked, "You had the chance to save a whole • PlaY!il'OUnd Facilities $3.600 learn Torah," Whole communities where no generation for Kial Yisroel but failed to act." • Nustt.ayom $2.500 Torah schools exist are begging os to open What we do ls not for them alone. It is for • Memorial Plaque 11,000 • ChtldSponsorshlp .... schools for their children. But there are no ourSelves and our future generations. • Annual Member.ship .... classrooms, no teachers, and no books to fill Every dollar counts! Please do not • Don.. the need. wait--act today! •••

,.,... HEIP US,_ SAY YES TO EVERY CHILD ___FOR YOURSELF ______, FORAfRIEND r----~------TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL I 1 I 1 TORAH SCHOOLS FOR ISRAEL CHINUCH ATZMAI ..,., ,...... , ,,,,,., '"o CHINUCH ATZMAI '""" '"""'" ,,,,,., .,..., 167 Madi.ron Avenue, New York. NY 10016 (212) 889..()6()6 I I 167 Madison Awnue, New York, NY 10016 (212) 889.()6()6 I I OReserve my place for the Annual Dinner ___ I I OReserve my place for the Annual Dinner__ _ DEnclosed find my contribution of•----- I I DEnclosed find my contribution of•----- 0Pleaseacceptmyp1edgeof______I I OPleaseacceptmypledgeo(______Name'------­ I I Name'------­ Addre"------I I Addre"'------I ! Edith Krohn

~111,~ .___..'-; l'------1 A DOWN-HOME PESACH IN PHILLY CIRCA 1920 RUSSEL TIME IN THE CELLAR cellar. not too far from the coal bin. But the jug was covered With many layers of cloth so the ash and soot esach-ltwastheworstoftheyear,ltwasthebest never got Into It. Cooked With soursalt. lots of sugar of the year. The backyard was awash With green. and-If the husband like It meaty-a few beef bones, the P Early weeds, crabgrass. spindly stems of garlic end result was a brew ofa deep. clear. claret color, tasting bulbs and an occasional robin picking up an unsuspect­ somewhere between a sweet acid and a tart appetizer. ing worm. The old apple tree was bursting to wear her Ladles sampled. smelled and judged the clarity of each yearly bridal gown and the breezes had a velvet touch. It other's brew With the deftness and concentration that was Pesach time. Indeed. French Winemakers reserve to judge the product of their Inside there wasa quiet pandemonium. Mother always vineyards. It was one of the rituals of Pesach. began to worry about Pesach around Chanukah time. Before the lastlatkewas digested, she had already settled In her mind when to make the "russel"-Don't know AFTER , COME MATZOS what "russel" is? It's fermented beet juice out of which ubiquitous borscht was made. Pounds and pounds of he first Sunday after Purim. the Orthodox men of beets were peeled and cubed and steeped In gallons of the community arranged for a matzah baking In water. They were left to drown In the liquid for weeks. T the only bakery In Philadelphia that would give after which the russel was tasted. If It was sharp enough them time-Friedman and Son, all the way In South to scratch your throat Into ribbons, It was considered Philadelphia. The men cleaned and scoured the ma­ done. It was stored In a cool. dark place. preferably In the chines, and meticulously supervised as the proper Mrs. Krohn nee Ackennan lives in Kew Gardens. New York. This Is her first amounts of flour and mayim shelanu (guarded water appearance in these pages. drawn the previous day) were put together. and closely

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 31 Shemura matzah, imported from New York, was wrapped ever so gently, and carried home on the trolley, guarding it so that no one came near, to even crack it. watched as the machines mixed and baked the matzos in on the trolley. holding It and guarding It so that no one less than the prescribed 18 minutes. Not rabbis, teachers came near to break or even crack it. A father usually took or scribes. they were all businessmen, workers, shop­ along his eldest child who paid the fare, scouted for a keepers-earnest baalabattm of old Philadelphia. who seat. and In general was proud to be the lieutenant who strived to be holy before G-d and man. To them. the came along to escort the shemura home. !twas placed on mttzva of baking their own matzos In a city where kash­ top of the china closet. away from busy little hands and rus was always a process of elimination, was an act of awkward adolescents. gentle glory, little spoken about. If you understood and Cleaning and scrubbing went on relentlessly. Everyone felt the beauty of zehtrus (caution) In kashrus. you were pitched In, from toddlers who could hold the dustpan welcomed Into the charmed circle. Otherwise the local and bring a diaper for the baby (cloth, please, there were grocery could supply you with matzos ... kosher, no no Pampers yet) to Bubby, who joined us to polish the doubt. silver after she did the chores in her own house. Every child was responsible for his and her own drawer. GUARDING THE SHEMURA

hen there was shemura. Since no one baked FOOD IN ITS FINITE VARIETY shemura In Philadelphia. It was Imported from T New York. Only your personal rabbi had the hen mother made the food list. When you came shemura which you bought with your life's blood In right down to it, there was quality, huge quan­ work. One wrapped It ever so gently and carried It home T tity-but no variety. JEWISH TRIBUNE famous O

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32 The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 Milk. We had no supervised milk. so only children under three had any to drink. Evetybodyelse drank tea or The mitzva of baking your milkless hot water, sweetened with sugar and on occa­ sion honey. Why on occasion? Because not everyyear did own machine matzos in a the honey get a hechsher. The variables of hechshelrim city where kashrus was an was as unpredictable then as it is today. except that today we hang our emunah on symbols, in their infinite var­ act of elimination, was an act iety. Then, most Orthodox women were non-believers. If of gentle glory. the local Orthodox rabbi supervised it personally, mother used it. If not-not! The only "confections" we knew then were sweet home­ Teabag&. Not yet invented. Sweetouchnee Tea came in made applesauce and candied orange peel. (Sometimes enchanting little red-and-black metal treasure chests. mother would cajole us into doing some of her endless You had to place an early order with mother for the metal chores. and In return. she would make a nut brittle. Now. box when the tea was finished. since evetybodywanted it. that was candy fit for angels-but not really, because we Coffee. This was imported. The Rav could give no were no angels. As soon as it was cold enough to handle assurance that it was all right for Pesach. He suggested and break into pieces, we attacked It with glee.) chicory-a distant cousin to the real thing. Coffee drink­ Flab and chlcken were the mainstays of the Pesach ers killed the taste with sugar. No milk. diet. There were no freezers, so the week before Yomtov Cannedfoodsandcandywereanabsoluteno-no.Asis, was utter hysteria Mother went to the chicken market Orthodox Jews used practically no canned foods all year on Marshall Street. chose her chickens and bought them long. There was no surety on anything. (Somehow, sar­ to her shochet Then for a shiny dime, a boy would lug the dines were an exception. I never figured out why.) For chickens home. where all the kasherlng was done (natu­ many years candies were also verboten, and when by dint rally). The salt and waterran freely .... Then mother went of much investigation, we were finally allowed a Hershey to the fish market and chose her catch live from the big bar, paradise had opened its doors. But never on Pesach. tank, and watched as the fishmonger dressed the jump- HOME ATTENDANTS needed for BENNY'S HOUSEKEEPING AND PHOTO • ELECTRONICS • GIFTS (718) 853-8888 PERSONAL CARE 4717 13th Avenue•Boro Park, B'klyn. for the LOWEST PRICES! BIG SAVINGS! DISABLED AND COME IN AND SAVE HOMEBOUND WE CARRY A FULL LINE OF CAMERAS • RADIOS • TVs good pay and benefits STEREOS • VIDEOS • TELEPHONES Boro Park, Bensonhurst and GIFTS• WATCHES• WALL CLOCKS Flatbush Area AUTHORIZED SEIKO, PULSAR, BULOVA, DEALER full-time live in positions only WE HAVE A FULL LINE OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES FOR EXPORT 220 V RECORDS • TAPES PROJECT OHR INC. (Office for Homecare Referral) DEVELOPING SEWVICE 1308-40th Street Brooklyn. NY 11218 50%0FF 853-2700

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 33 A hundred pounds ofpotatoes melted within a week like Ycrushalayim of Old schmaltz on a hot frying pan.

Still Exists! Ing carp. For another shiny dime, a boy would lug that home, too. Fishmongers did not grind fish, and "fillet" There are still Kollel-leit receiving was a French word In the dictionary. Ben-Z and Unger no stipends, dedicating themselves had not been born yet. entirely to Torah, Harbotzas Torah and In the world of fruits and vegetables, we knew of pota­ toes, carrots, onions. apples, oranges. and an occasional Tikun HaMidos. pineapple. Things like leeks, artichokes, and rutabaga were 8th grade spelling words. and beets were already If you would like a share in their learning, accounted for In the "russeL" It was too early In the send your support to season for cucumbers and tomatoes-no airlifts of pro­ Jewish Observer duce from California or F1orida Sometimes there were strawberrles-"hothouse strawberries," they were called. Box #136, NYC 10038 As much as 50 cents a box (a small fortune). they usually This ad was paid for by Ma"aser. were not sweet. so we dunked them In sugar for a bit of flavor. Potatoes were in a class for themselves. Mother cooked them, baked them, scraped them. ground them. fried them raw, fried them cooked, made kugels, latkes and hashbrowns out of them. They were served hot. cold. and mixed with carrots. No one was ever hungry. for there was always something made out of potatoes to eat. A hundred MERCAZ BEmJACOB pounds of potatoes melted within the week like schmaltz IN ERETZ YISROEL on a hot frying pan. Speaking of schmaltz (today it is euphemistically called "shortening"), we must have had a digestive sys­ (02) 244-455 55 ?N"l\!-" ':>?)'.) :nn"l tem made out of refined steel Chicken schmaltz Is heavy, 1'.lJ"11 '.71)r.l l"lil )r.l"ll '' )il'~\(I) l"lil fat and tolerable. Beef fat, the mainstay of most frying, ~tllY.l was processed by rendering the white fat from beef cuts. It takes an hour or more on the fire just to begin the We are pleased to announce that our well rendering, and when It is completed, about another hour known seminary in Yerushalayim will be later, It Is pure white. opening its doors to girls from "Chutz L'Aretz" for the academic year '86-'87, THE PAYOFF V'Y.l\ljl'1. The seminary is under supervision of he day before Pesach finally arrived and with It, Gedolai HaDOr. It has the best educational the kaleidoscope of preparations. cooking. chil­ T dren-Ing, once-over lightly cleaning, chometz­ staff with an enrollment of students from burning. and finally the setting of the Seder Table. the finest homes. Nothing. absolutely nothing In this world, can match Mercaz Bais Yaakov seminary will be the wonder and the glory and the sanctity of that Seder under the expert guidance ofthe renowned Table. The days and the work fell away like a wind-swept "mechanechess." mist and here before our dazzled eyes was the silver. the lighted crystal candelabra. the beautifuly colored cover of REBETZIN SORAII SPIRA "nl'1\lj the matzah plate, the immaculate settings. the items set Forrrwdp Principal qf Bais Rochel Hiffo School qf Mon.sei• out for the Seder Plate that only father could assemble. It was almost too much to behold. It was the culmination. For further infonnatlon call: the goal that had been reached-it was the reward for Gobioff/914-352-6839-425-8757 I Monsep which we had worked. Rabinowltz/201-370-1048 / J,akewood This was how we prepared for an old fashioned, down­ Spira/02-814-639 J Yerushalaim home Pesach in Philly-with beauty. sanctity, and simplicity.•

34 The Jewish Observer/April. 1986 BOOKS

On American Jewry, Then and Now

CHOOSING NOT TO BE CHOSEN of Ladino-speak!ng Sephardic Jews, issue, "Forgotten Fiction: Amertcan particularly from the Balkans. is Jewish Life. 1890-1920." is the eople Walk on Their Heads described in La America by Marc I. wrenching change from the past to a (New York, Holmes and Meier. Angel (Phila.. Jewish Publication new world. Allen Guttmann (The P 1982, $24.50-hardcover. Society, 1982. $15.95). This book Jewish Writer in America, Assimi­ $12.95-softcover), is J.D. Sama's concentrates on the losing struggle lation and the Crisis of Identity. translation ofJews and Judaism in of these Sephardic Jews to maintain New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1971) New York, a brtlliant and perceptive their ethnic and cultural identity. at ascrtbed the remarkable creativity of report written in 1887 by Rabbi a time when religious loyalties were Amertcan writers of Jewish descent Moses Weinberger, a Hungarian eroded, even among their most pro­ to the tension between their tradi­ immigrant. The author descrtbed a minent figures. (It should be noted tional background and the Amert­ remarkablyvaried Orthodox life both that a rather different picture can scene, to neither of which they "uptown" (represented at that time emerges from Joseph D. Sutton's feel they belong-and he, therefore, by Harlem) and on the lower East Magic Carpet: Aleppo in Flatbush­ projected the end of this creativity as Side, marked by much dedication New York: Thayer.Jacoby. 1979-a he saw the process of assimilation and self-sacrtfice; but at the same study of the Syrtan Jewish commu­ coming to its predictable completion time, he accurately depicts with nity which has been able to a much among the bulk ofAmertcan Jewry.a great pain the disastrous impact ofa greater degree to preserve its tradi­ "generation that no longer chooses variety of factors (notably the prob­ tional values, thanks to Its close-knit to be chosen." lems of Shabbosand education) that spirtt.) boded ill for the future-and the The alienation of the Amertcan SWIMMERS AGAINST situation worsened as wave after Jew from his herttage and Its values THE STREAM wave of Russian immigrants flooded is perhaps expressed most clearly In New York. the work of Amertcan Jewish writ­ en In those same bleak days It was not only the Ashkenazim ers. Thus, the overrtding theme of o eloquently descrtbed by who were caught up in the great the writers represented in the Amer­ E Moses Weinberger, there melting pot. The similar expertence ican Jewish Archives' Aprtl 1985 could be discerned an entirely dif-

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 35 loyal to Torah. As a result. this book gives us an Insight Into the budding world of Torah and yeshlvos in America, and we encounter In Its pages most of the personalities that were to be Its builders, as well as most of the Gedole! Torah of the Twentieth Century who visited this country at one time or another. This, by Itself. would explain why this book has become an Immediate bestseller, though It Is also most readable. written with skill. verve. humor and human Insight; an extra bonus Is provided by the section In which the author describes, In the form of letters, her years In pre-war Mir, . where her husband ferent development. Even then there determination became one of those studied after their marriage. In All were Individuals swimming against Torah pioneers and a particularly for the Boss, there can be discerned the stream of assimilation and lay­ outstanding personality among those qualities that enabled Indi­ ing the foundation for a flourishing them. He was not only totally un­ viduals, by the sheer uncompromis­ Torah life In America. All For The compromising In his Avodas Ha­ ing strength of their personalities. to Boss, by RuchamaSha!n (New York, shem and devotion to Torah. but plant the seeds for the flowering of Feldhelm, 1986, $13.95) Is the life succeeded In Implanting this spirit Torah In this country. story of the author's late father. in his children and disciples-the PARTIAL VIEW OF A Rabbi YaakovYosefHerman 0"1, who very thing In which most of the reli­ BRILLIANT CAREER came to the United States In 1888 at gious Immigrants so tragically failed the age of eight, and through Iron even when they themselves remained he Silver Era by Aaron Ra­ k'![fet-Rothkopf (NY: Yeshiva T University Press-Feldhelm, 1981,$13.95) lsanotherbookdedl­ Whether you are married cated to a figure that had a profound Impact on the rise of American Or­ 5 days or 50 years, thodoxy: Rabbi Ellezer Silver O"~'· who arrived In the United States in this tape is for you. 1907, to become outstanding In the American Orthodox Rabbinate and theAgudath Israel movement. Where Rabbi Herman was essentially a pri­ vate figure. Rabbi Silver was a public personality that was prominently associated with the evolution of a vibrant and self-confident Ortho­ doxy. His life covered several stages SHALOM BAYIS of American Jewish development. His Initial pioneering work was con­ and cerned with the role and nature of HOW TO SURVIVE OUTSIDE THE YESHIVA the Orthodox rabbinate; In due course the emergence of Agudath (50 practical sug\festior1s) Israel on the American scene and, Price per tape: $6.00-5 for $25.00 through it, the self-assertion of an These tapes and others can be obtained from independent Orthodoxy demanded one of the world's leading authorities agreat deal of his attention. particu­ larly when World War II made neces­ on practical suggestions for self improvement. sary the founding of the Vaad Hatz­ write to: alah. To document such a career, It Rabbi Reuven Biala, 1 Sunrise Blvd., Monsey, NY 10952 is obviously necessary to utilize all the sources available; unfortunately.

36 The Jewish Observer/Aprtl. 1986 The Silver Era draws only on part of and kollelim that are fundamental handful of books on Orthodox Jew­ the material. notably failing to util­ to the full flowering of Torah in ry-and even these provide little in­ ize the rich material available in America. The author covers a large sight. Thus Isidor Margolis' Jewish Agudath Israel Archives and publica­ number of topics and generally does Teacher Training Schools in the tions (such as the Orthodox Trib­ justice to them. The exception is the U.S., published by the Mizrachi.lists une). and as a result the picture that question of coeducation of boys and Graetz College and the Teachers In­ emerges is incomplete and even, in girls: in discussing the decisions stitute of the Jewish. Theological spots, misleading. In general. the Issued by the Roshei Yeshiva at the Seminary. but not Beth Jacob author does a fine job in nailing Lakewood Conference of 1955, the Teachers Seminary or Beth Rivkah. down dates and incidents-but author omits the formal ruling The only Orthodox personality ap­ when It comes to the clarification of against coeducation in all but the pearing in the list of biographies is issues. the reader Will not receive lower elementary classes (p. 60)­ Dr. Bernard Revel. satisfaction, whether it be a matter and In a remarkable understatement of defining Agudath Israel Ideology Writes on page 69 that "most of the "A YOUTHFULAND or explaining the deeper forces be­ members of the Rabbinical Admi­ VIGOROUS ORTHODOXY" hind the emergence of the leader­ nistrative Board believed that ideally ship of the Roshei Yeshiva and 'Ye­ boys and girls should be separated. nly very lately has there shiva Yiddishkeit" in general. Yet ..... In actual fact (despite the ten­ olated into more recent Without a clear understanding of sions referred to on p. 97). the Roshei Qbooks a recognition that. as these issues. Rabbi Yeshiva never wavered in their stand Charles Liebman put it, the future of himself cannot be fully understood. that coeducation below grade 7 is Orthodoxy in America was misread. most undesirable and above that and that in fact it ls "the only group SELF-IMPOSED LIMITATIONS level is totally unacceptable. which today contains Within it a Overall. there is still a pitiful lack strength and Will to live that may yet he emergency of Agudath Is­ of adequate books on the rise of an nourish all the JeWish world." In rael on the American Jewish intensive and independent Torah quoting this statement. Professor T scene is the subject of The Jewry in America. Thus when Pro­ Abraham Karp (Haven and Home, a Struggle and the Splendor, a pictor­ fessor William W. Brickman pub­ History of the Jews in America; N.Y .. ial overview of Agudath Israel of llshed The Jewish Community in Schocken. 1985 $24.95-hardcover. America (New York. Agudath Israel America (NY: Burt Franklin & Co .. $9.95-softcover) speaks of the tri­ of America. hardcover $11.95. soft­ $18.95 ). an annotated and classified umphalism of today's fundamental­ cover $8.95 ). Rich in detail and bibliographical guide to American ist Orthodoxy. but does not believe beautifully produced. this volume Jewry, he could list only a mere in its influence on the community at covers a Wide range of topics and issues related to the groWih ofTorah life in America. However. the book suffers from a self-imposed limita­ YESHIVA OF THE tion: "Many other organizations and individuals were involved in the 1$LSHEALUMNI struggle for Torah life.... This book 4D04<'.fhdcpendence Avenue, Riverdale, NY 10471 ~·· , ""' i.l!l--.,...,... __ _ omits mention of them because it is not meant to be a full history of Torah Jewry in America" but of Agudath Israel. As a result. the read­ er ls left With an incomplete picture (such as references to the growth of Torah in this country Without men­ tion of Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlo­ witz). It ls to be hoped that a future edition Will be enlarged. so as to pro­ vide a full perspective. The Day Schools and Torah Ume­ sorah, The Seeding of Traditional Judaism in America. by Daniel Zvi Knauer (New York. Yeshiva Univer­ sity Press. 1984 $14.95) is a well­

documented study of the rise of the 1Ji111uT f)u1irnw11 Co-Chair1ru111 ]011r11al (;}u1in1uu1 Day School movement and its deci­ Sin1cl1a Kirin Ycrarh1nicl l3t.zrY.1Bh Eli6cr J\1. Gros.srnari sive role in preparing the soil for the for Rt'Sf'r1'ation il!fbrn1atio11 Call (212) 601-3523 emergence of the advanced yeshivos

The Jewish Obseroer/April, 1986 37 Early Years ojthe Day School Movement in America t was the dream of Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz '""to guide his talmidim into a career in chinuch. His ultimate goal was to establish Torah schools in every Jewish community In America-a goal that I ultimately became translated into Torah Umesorah. the National Society for Hebrew Day Schools. One of the first steps RebShragaFeivel took In directing young men toward teaching was to establish the Aish Dos Teachers' Institute on the Monsey. New York. estate that eventually became the home of . The Aish Dos summer seminar in 1943, headed by Rabbi Simcha Wasserman N''l»7v (pictured in the center)-currently heading Yeshivas Ohr Elchanon in Jerusalem-included a large number of yeshiva bachurim (mostly from his own Torah Vodaath), most of whom eventually dedicated their lives to chinuch. Pictured in the photograph taken that summer in Monseyare (identified by position assumed later In life): (front row, from the left) Rabbi Meyer Luban, for many years on the faculty of the Esther Schonfeld Bais Yaakov on New York's Lower East Side: Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, currently Mashgiach Ruchani In Mesivta Torah Vodaath, Brooklyn; Rabbi Berl Schwartz. Yeshivas Bais Yitzchok. Brooklyn; Rabbi Wasserman; Zissel Wackenfeld. for a time assistant to the principal, Mesivta Torah Vodaath High School; Rabbi Shmuel Mendlowltz, Menahel of Mesivta Beth Shraga. Monsey; the late Rabbi Sholom Goldstein 7"1. Menahei Beth Jacob Division of Beth Yehuda, Detroit; (second row) Meyer Strassfeld, Boston; Rabbi Yisroel Spinner, Mesivta Be'er Shmuel, Brooklyn; Rabbi Moshe Weitman, Menahel, Torah Academy for Girls, Far Rockaway, N.Y.; Torah Academy for Girls, Far Rockaway, N.Y.; Rabbi Shlomo Weinberger. Rav in Passaic, N.J.; Rabbi Heshie Mashinsky, Yeshiva of Spring Valley, Monsey; Yitzchak Schwinder, in business; RabbiAvrahomAbba Friedman, Yeshiva Beth Yehuda. Detroit; (top row) RabbiAbish Mendlowltz, formerly with Yeshiva ofSprtngValley; the late Rabbi Moshe Shisgal '"'·formerly with Mesivta Torah Vodaath, then Mesivta Be'er Shmuel; Lennie Kestenbaum, lay supporter of Torah education projects; Rabbi Milton Terebelo, recently with Yeshiva OhrYisroel, Forest Hills, N.Y .. currently in Jerusalem; Rabbi Mendel Eller, Rav in Belmar. N.J. Not in the photograph, but in the program, were Rabbi Morton Berkowitz, formerly Rav In Far Rockaway, now in Jerusalem; the late Rabbi Berl Merling J"l, founding editor of Olomeinu.; the late Rabbi Moshe Samuels o"l, Mesivta Torah Vodaath; Rabbi Joseph Schecter, director ofCommun! ty Relations in Yeshiva Ner Israel. Baltimore; Rabbi Shubert Spero, formerly RavofYoung Israel of Cleveland Heights, now in Jerusalem; Rabbi Monroe Weisberger. formerly director of placement In Torah Umesorah. large (not surprisingly his book gives It little space). Lucy Davtdowtcz"s latest work, On Equal Terms, Jews In America 1881-1981 (New York, Holt. Rinehart, Winston, 1982 $12.95-hardcover, $6.95-softcover), like her earlier writings falls to do justice to the Hatzalah work of Or­ thodoxy during . as well as to the failure of the Jewish establishment; but the concluding section of the book does have "Or­ thodoxy emerge youthful and vigor­ ous In the decade after the Six-Day War to transform the landscape of American Judaism"; she pinpoints some of the factors that character­ ized the new Orthodoxy-their tra­ ditions, their learning, their sacrifi­ cial efforts for yeshivos, and notably their passion by which they shamed the established American Orthodox and Conservative Institutions.

DAY SCHOOL FOUNDERS shlva University and the World ­ therefore offensive to the Intelligence ist Organization, which Informs the of the reader to suggest that this uite recently, however. there reader In no uncertain terms that psak din was a snap decision, on the has appeared a work entirely thecatalystforthegrowthoftheDay spur of the moment, by people who Q devoted to this theme: Saul School and high school movement were unfamiliar with the facts in the Bernstein's The Rf'na!uanoo of the In America. indeed the front line case. Even more important. this Torah Jew (Hoboken, NJ: Ktav, 1985, soldiers of this phenomenon, came suggestion is an outright insult to $20). Very obviously, a great deal of from the Modern Orthodox com­ the Gedoltm who Issued this psak effort went into this book. which munity. I was glad to see Bernstein's and repeatedly reaffirmed It. (The presents the history and revival of setting the record straight by his reader Is referred to the list of signa­ Torah Jewry In the different parts of unqualified tribute to Torah Ume­ tories on the copy of the psak.J For the world. In the painting of such a sorah and its "continuing Inspira­ Mr. Bernstein to suggest-and be It wide panorama there will necessar­ tion," Rabbi Mendlowltz; in the at somebody else's Instigation-that ily crop up some Inexactitudes and Nineteen Forties, the latter's disci­ "the o!Thand conclusions were pain­ omissions; and the author's firm ples headed almost all the non-Has­ fully out of keeping with the exact­ commitment to Mizrachi Ideology Is sidic day schools in the USA except ing, objective and exhaustive re­ very obvious (cf. p. 80). However, he for those run by Telshe graduates.) quirements of Halachlc determina­ seeks to offer a balanced approach, tion" cannot be passed over. We In particular In trying to give their DISTORTIONS ON should remember that. at the time. due both to "Modern Orthodoxy" SYNAGOGUE COUNCIL "PSAK" almost preciselythirtyyears ago, the and "Yeshiva Orthodoxy.'' Thus, question was referred by the Rab­ while he elaborates on the work and owever. I was deeply dis­ binical Council of America to Its achievements ofModern Orthodoxy, tressed to read the author's Halacha Commission, headed by he gives full credit to the extraordi­ H account of the famous psak Rabbi J. B. Soloveitchik. and up to nary Impact of Rabbi Shraga Feivel din issued thirty years ago against now no answer has come forth: If the Mendlowltz o">i and Rabbi Aaron participation in organizations aim­ psak issued was so clearly not In Kotler O"~l In literally changing the ing to represent the Orthodox. Con­ keeping with halachtc require­ American scene, through the crea­ servatives and Reformers as the ments, surely we would already have tion of the National Day School "three branches" of Judaism-spe­ been told! movement and the realization of new cifically the Synagogue Council of This regrettable chapter is furth­ standards of Torah learning In this America and the New York Board of ermore not Improved by Its cheap country. respectively. (Having just Rabbis. This is, of course, one of the suggestion that Agudath Israel was received a memo from a newly formed most fundamental and basic Issues really In favor of the Synagogue service center for Torah Education divldingModernOrthodoxyfromso­ Council ofAmerica and only changed In North America, sponsored by Ye- called 'Yeshiva Orthodoxy.'' It is Its position as a public relations tac-

The Jewish Observer/April. 1986 39 tic. The author's "proof': Rabbi Her­ unexpected and remarkable success considers heartless separatism bert S. Goldstein was one of the of an approach that challenges the (Charles Liebman, In his essay. does founders of the SCA In 1926 (when very foundations of their course and better on this point) or ill-placed no American Agudah existed as yet. that, as a result. they cannot deal dtkduk bemttzvos. Particularly in­ only Zelre! youth groups) and re­ with dispassionately. Take, for teresting is his treatment of the rift mained active In It even after he example. Dimensions of Orthodox between the Roshel Yeshiva and the joined the Agudah. In reality, Agu­ Judaism, a collection of essays on congregational rabbis; In taking the dath Israel was as little responsible Orthodoxy. edited with Introduc­ Roshei Yeshiva, "with some notable for Rabbi Goldstein's poslt!on on tions by Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka exceptions,'' to task for their" cynical this point as, say. for the height of (NYC: Ktav. 1983, $15.00 hardcover, and humiliating attitude,'' and ye· the mech!tzalnanAgudah-member $9.95 softcover). It Is an Interesting shiva graduates for tending "to be­ rabbi's synagogue; the truth ls that volume covering a wide spectrum of come gutter-sniping fifth column­ Agudath Israel, by the logic of its contributions. many of which de­ ists,'' the author does not at all seem general ideological poslt!on, could serve comment. However, ofobvious­ to understand that there are real not then or ever approve of "inter­ ly particular Importance ls the edi­ problems underlying this sltua· denominational groups,'' just as it tor's introductory overview, which tion-the revolutionary change from could not join the Zionist movement. sets out to deal with the achieve­ the European Rav to the American The whole chapter on Agudath Is­ ments and problems of Orthodoxy. congregational Rabbi and what this rael. full of historical Inaccuracies, ls The achievements are assessed quite has meant In practice as far as the most regrettable. (I wonder what, fairly-but when it comes to the stature of all too many congrega­ e.g., all those members of the She'et· problems, the attentive reader will tional rabbis Is concerned, and their rts Hapletta who came to this coun­ quickly notice that they are all, or ability to project strong Torah lead­ try through the Hatzalah work of almost all, laid at the doorstep of the ership, personality and uncom­ Agudath Israel will say to the au­ "right wing," those who are "frumer promising idealism. thor's truly funny suggestion that than thou,'' who have superiority In fact, the reader Is struck by the only the Synagogue Council con­ complexes, etc. This leads sometimes violence of the language used; thus, troversy energized the American to truly ludicrous conclusions. such the author criticizes those whose Agudah and brought new pace and as that the "increasing Incidence of "respect for Gedolim Is too often scope to Its work?) divorce In religious circles ls a phe­ contingent on their measuring up to nomenon not unrelated to the su­ the mold created for them by those DEALING WITH periority complex emanating from REMARKABLE SUCCESS who should be respectful followers. pseudo-religiousness"-the author ... Instead of a Judaism which leads t must, indeed. be realized that ls so wrapped up in his thesis that and shapes, theywould have aJuda­ those committed to connected he does not see the simple explana­ ism which Is shaped in their nar· I with the basic policy decisions tion: the general spirit of self-in­ row-minded image." (It Is, of course, made by Modern Orthodoxy over the dulgence. which unfortunately has Interesting how well these words flt last decades must find It hard to infected our society too. all those who constantly describe arrive at a fair assessment of con­ themselves as disciples of Rav Solo­ flicting positions and organizations. SELECTIVE LOYALTY veitchlk. but. e.g.. disregard his psak They are so sincerely convinced of against davenlng In a shul without the correctness of their approach, turally, the author cannot mechttza even on Rosh Hashana, that they are taken aback-and, In­ muster much real under­ or ignored his objection to the ho­ deed, feel threatened-by the totally N standing for what he readily norary degree bestowed by upon the Prime Minister of!srael. It ls equally Interesting how INSURANCE BROKERS & CONSULTANTS the au thor takes up the cudgels for Commercial, Industrial. Residential, Life & Health Rabb! Felnste!n's psak on artificial Insemination while disregarding his psak on the Synagogue Council of America.)

MUST THE CATACLYSM COME?

• PROFESSIONAL SERVICE • he failure really to understand • QUALITY INSURANCE CARRIERS • • COMPETITIVE PREMIUMS • the position of 'Yeshiva Or· T thodoxy" has very practical Implications. Thus. In The Coming BARBARA GOLDGRABEN/HESHY SCHWEBEL/EZRA HES Cataclysm, the Orthodox-Reform Rift and the Future of the Jewish

40 The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 People (NY: Mosaic Press, 1984, $15), just means certain defeat. But how might hope that there will still be a Rabbi Bulka eloquently and con­ do you get that message across to delayed impact; but meantime we vincingly outlines the coming crisis people who think along "modem," should perhaps take from this epi­ In American Jewiy: due to non­ "practical" lines? sode a warning-in the spirit of the halachic divorces and conversions, a Kotzker Rebbe's famous paraphrase disastrous split appears unavoid­ TREMBLING FROM AFAR of a verse in Chumash: "The people able, with Orthodox Jews unable to saw and they trembled-but they intermarry with the majority of f Orthodoxy in general has only still stood from afar!"• . (There are already received limited literary atten­ enough children of inter-marriages I tion, this is even more true of around to have led to the creation or Chassidic communities. It is this HOTLINE a special organization, Pareveh.)The facet of the American Torah scene Reform "solution" to the problem is that was recently treated in Holy TO JERUSALEM simple: redefine standards of con­ Days, the World ofa Hassidic Family, In lime of illness, surgery or version, Jewish descent, marriage, by Lis Harris (NY: Summit Books, crisis, special prayers will be etc. But this Is not going to satisfy 1985, $18.95). Originally published recited al the and anyhodybut them. Rabbi Bulka puts as a series of essays in The New al our Yeshiva in Jerusalem. forward his own suggestion which Yorker, this book is the account of a CALL 24 HOURS calls for certain concessions from totally secularized, in fact intermar­ (718) 871-4111 both the Reform and Orthodoxy. ried, Jewish woman exploring over a However, as a British reviewer of his period of years, the life of a Luba­ A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE Of' book put it, he has no constituency vitch family in Crown Heights. Lu­ bavitch has started early and has The American Rabbi Meir for his solution: the Reformers do Baal Haness Charity not need It, and the Orthodox can­ continued to make a significant not accept it. Here is where the fail­ contribution to Yiddtshkeit in Ame­ KOLEL AMERICA ure to truly understand the Torah rica, and so an insight into its ways position comes home to roost: it should be welcomed. While there leads to a tragic self-delusion about may be this or that inaccuracy in her what we can and cannot do-and a recounting of Chassidic history and failure to realize what we should and ideology. the author has drawn a must do. remarkably perceptive picture of a The truth is that the emphasis on world whose ways and values were observing the Torah to the best of truly strange to her. our ability is not a "separatist pol­ Yet, the very perceptiveness of her icy," which leaves the rest of Kial account raises an inevitable ques­ Ytsroel, G-d forbid, to perdition. tion in the mind of the reader: How There are, of course, a number of could one give such a sympathetic things that we can endeavor to do to account of Chassidlc life and yet re­ 132 Nassau St.• N.Y .. N.Y. 10038 meet the crisis-an intensive cam­ main quite uninfluenced by it? We paign to inform our non-Orthodox brethren regarding the nature of the BNEITOBAH problem and what they can do about c2H'ATANA CAR AND VAN SERVICE it; and an organized effort such as 1''))1>1tl )~ll1 )lN 1Np l'11U'l >):J the one being launched by"Kayama," l/ALLEJzy' 'iN Wl1Li.AMSI3URG: lN BORO PARK: which is dedicated to gaining the 342 Marcy Ave. 5010 12th Ave. cooperation of Conservative and Re­ 388·7058-384-7492 851·2022-851·2072 form leaders in securing gittin for 4B06 18th 1\ve. those of their members that need Brwklyn, N.V. (718) 1'51-4448 GUARANTEED LOWEST llA'rE 105, Van:s Station Wagoris and Cars them. These steps are not likely to 1 fully resolve the crisis. But does that mean that we can compromise on JewL5h hooks, }udaica, Taleisin1 halachic requirements? And then, Mez.,11::..os, pcrsonaliz.ed Talis hags, he who truly believes in the power of Tclfilin hag;, Yannu(ka.sa11dChalal1 cover:">, rrcorlL'> and tcipcs, lucite, ZAVE the spiritual, believes-nay, knows-­ silver, semi-precio11.ssto11es and gold that even though our physical re­ jewelry SHER UN sources and organizational influ­ ence fail, the merit of our mttzvos, ORCHESTRA prayers. and sighs, may make the ALLATSUPERDISCOUNI (718) 434-3540 difference-and that, instead, to PRICES! Also Available As ONE MAN BAND compromise for the sake ofour goals

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"Indict Rabbi For ..."

"Rabbi Accused of ..."

The headlines scream it and the TV reporters intone it withall the gravity of a judge pronouncing an irrevocable verdict. I am not aware ofany mechanism for nullifying someone's semicha. Nor am I convinced that we should want to do so, on the basis of a news stoiy, for Indictments and accusations in and of themselves are not grounds for con­ Catalog sent upon request. demnation. But the pain and the chillul HaShem that emanate from these Send $1.00 for bandling to. headline-making stories are unmistakable. They bring to mind an incident of HElllW ACADIMJ some thirty-five years ago that deserves to be forgotten ... except for its PUIUCATIOllS DEPI'. nagging relevance. 1860 South Taylor Rd. Rabbi Yehonasan Z., scion of a well-known Chassidic rabbinical family, was Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 indicted as the key figure In a gem smuggling operation. Rather than free himself by fingering the true culprit, Reb Yehonasan-in fact, an unwitting participant-took the rap and went to prison... Well, not exactly. Reb Yehona­ san "disappeared," to be replaced by a clean-shaven fellow. sans payos, in a PINCUS MANDEL business suit. "Johnny" Z. Cemetery Consultant When a shocked Chassld reported Reb Yehonasan's transformation to the late Rav7"'1, he allegedly commented, "Reb Yehonasan earned him­ Over 30 Years of Dedicated self Olam Habba with that clipping." Service to the Onhodox Jewish Now, there's nothing necessarily wrong with Jews in traditional or Chas­ Community sidic garb engaging In the professions or business. Nor are matters made worse by the fact that they were once ordained as rabbis. But so much pain Karka available on and unfavorable publicity could be avoided if all people who devote their all cemeteries in major efforts to pursuits outside of the religious arena would be content with Eretz Yisrnel controlled and the pride they derive from their proud semicha certificates on the walls of our maintained by the studies, while they head their business/professional letterhead and tele­ Chevra Kadisha phone listings as "Mister." of each community, Honesty and integrity are eveiybody's obligation, but titles should be the Jerusalem, Tiberias, Tzfas, exclusive domain of the practicing clergy. Miron, Holon, etc. Recommended by GARY HQNICK Gedolai Hador- ~\t.,.ttJ:i~lf~Jqijoot · (J01) 764·8676 EDDIE SINGE!\ here and in Eretz Yisrael . OF flttlRTft.. : (301) J58·40J7 for hone•-ry-integrity /!Wite~ aRe~~fo fead1 ·!TS neyijy and responsibility act9edthirt1.anct fC>ft11grades. 'lhisi!> N<) compromises in kotiod bani/tar as evaluated hy a ··ll ... l!nicnie.· ~Pi:>Gf!IJ!litY.tt> join.··.. ~. <:~tive,. pr~fes$l0.n~1 ·staff Which Js cemetery expen. ·.1:>1.1flt1Yogtlje newest,most.excifllJS A sen,ice from the heart.­ .T!lr~b\Jmesorall d~ sch()Ol set. in a with a heart •··• 1.af$e,.vib_rant()~ox community: · 'fhepesitiono~rsan-~cellentsalary I 569 47th Strccc, BrookJyn, N.Y. I 1219 • and\)eo~.Qill(labBliYHinsky\4()4.) [}J.}' and Night Phonc-(718) 85')-'i 121 9.82·9001 ; .

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 43 ~time for celebmting our heritage ...... and wishing you a happy holiday.

In observance ef Pesach, we will be closed on: Thursday, April 24 · Friday, April 25 l#dnesday, April 30 · Thursday, May 1

Head Office: Rockefeller Center• 630 fifth Ave., NY 212•541 •8070 Branches: Boro Park, Brooklyn• World Trade Center

CLOSED ON ALL MEMBER FDIC Letters to the Editor Go with the Best ... FORLORN PARENTS OF the reading of the Torah despite the BAALEI TESHUVA/ tumult caused by the young ones. In NOISY CHILDREN IN SHUL the same way, says Rabbi Adler. par­ ents have an obligation to bring e their children to synagogue even SIMCHA VIDEO To the Editor: though this may disrupt the deco­ PLUS The article "The Sad Sad Triumph rum. Rabbi Adler's comments are of Opher Mahler" by Miriam Stark quoted in the Iturei Torah on that • Broadcast Video Zakon was a tragic eye-opener. The verse. • Candid Photos account of the resistance Opher met RAilBIYOELScHONFELD by his parents serves to underscore Congregation Beth Yehuda (718) 438-6010 Staten Island. N. Y. a very neglected area of concern as we bask In the glory of the Baal Teshuva movement-the plight of the forlorn parents. As Mrs. Zakon Indicated, we all too often view our­ selves as the victors and the non­ f rum community as the defeated. I think If we would place ourselves In the position of these parents we would realize that we are not so guilt-free. How do we react when one of our children (non-Chassidic) suddenly decides to become Chas­ BAVAKAMMA sldic or adopt a more stringent •Are yom a yeshivah graduate who remetnbe.rs commitment to Yiddishkeit? Do not struggling tlirough the intricate .laws and lomdus many Orthodox parents accept this regardihg ·destructive ani111als and dangerous With some degree of consternation? obstacles? We have to understand that to non­ •A re you an educated .a du.It who ls beginning .to religious parents seeing their chil­ explore the profundities of the Talmud? dren adopt a new form oflife as baa­ •Are you a yeshivah stude.nt. looking for th<> lei teshuva can be a verywrenching broad framework in. which to place your daily experience. It is time we realized that shiur? these parents are not necessarily Then the ArtScroil Mishnah with the lamed Yael resha'im or spiteful. They simply Awaham. comtnehtary will be a stimulating Tor ah have seen their dream for their chil­ experience for you. dren take a sudden turn. Don'f m'rss it! It is imperative upon the frum By Rabbi Avrohom Yoseif Rosenberg community involved With baalei te­ .Edited by Rabbi Tzvi Zev Arem shuva to become equally involved With the concerns and emotions of Hardcover $•6.95 Paperback $f3o95 their parents. Mailable a! your local Hebrew bookstore or di red from publisher> As to the Letter to the Editor re­ questing a mekor for those rabbo­ ~~ fi£> 1969Coney Island Ave. /Brooklyn, NY 11223 nim allowtng children to come to Dir«t mall: Pfeaselidd$1.9S peroi-der for post.rige & handttng; NYS residents add appropriate sales taJC, shul despite their noisiness, the fol­ /sraelidistribr.Jtor: J.GtouftWl-Mesorah ~/Rechov Harav Uiief111 I Bayit Vegan, Jeriisaletn lowtng may be helpful: Rabbi Nosson AN INDISrlNSIBLl TOOL FOR OAf YOMI rARTIClrANTS - Adler (rebbe of the Chasam Sofer). THE ARTSCROLL GITTIN-KIODUSHIN IN ONl VOl.UMl on the pasuk in Devartm (31:12) states that With the mitzva of "Hak­ heil, "parents have the obligation to bring their small children to hear

The Jewish Observer/April, 1986 45 U.S. Attorney General Senator Alfonse D:Amato Secretary of Education Vice President Senator Alan Cronston Senate Mqjortty Leader EdwtnMeese (New York) William Bennett George Bush (Co.lifomta) Robert Dole (Kansas)

Rep. Stephen J. Solarz Senator Daniel Inouye Rep. Jack Kemp SerL Edward M. Kennedy Senator Daniel Patrtck Secretary of Housing and (New York) (HawaW (New York) (Massachusetts) Moynihan (New York} Urban Development Samuel R Pierce Among the four Cabinet members and the key Senators and Congressmen that addressed the National Leadership Mission ofAgudath Israel of America in Washington, D.C., on March 12. consisting of200 Orthodox Jewish leaders from 15 states and 30 cities. For detailed reports on this and other news items, see COALITION: News and Currents in Agudath Israel of America. You can receive a copy free of charge by writing COALITION, 5 Beekman Street. N.Y.C. 10038, or calling 212-791-1800.

Torah Scholus Lead Agndath Israel Uonal co-president of Agudah Women of Conference: "Contemporary Society vs. America, as moderator. p>?l ,,NY.l Oi,,JN the Jewish Family" was the theme of a Participating in a workshop on "Mod­ N"JJl1 N"JJ1:11Y.lt11Y.l ,,1J gathering called by Agudath Israel of eration in the Age of Ostentation" were O>)l1Jj7n o>l>"T 'l1JJ >)J, 1ll1\J1 America on Sunday. April 6 at the Ed­ Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz. Rav of Telshe For Practical Assistance in ward R Murrow High School in Brook­ Alumni Beis Midrash and Rabbi Yisroel Settling Financial Disputes lyn. The deliberations included presen­ BelskY. Rosh Yeshiva in Mesivta Torah According to Din Torah in tations by Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller, Rosh Vodaath. chaired by Rabbi Nisson Wol­ N.Y. and Vicinity. Hayeshiva of Telshe. Chicago. Rabbi pin, editor of JO. Rabbi Avrohom Meir Gluck Mattisyahu Solomon of England, mash­ giach ruchani of the Gateshead Yeshiva; (914) 356-5572 and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, general Zelrei Agndath Israel's Annual Con­ editor of ArtScroll Publications. clave: Over five hundred Yeshiva stu~ Rabbi Eliyahu Essas. former refusenik dents, Koll el Yungeleit and working Bnei BIG and "rebbi" of the ba 'al teshuva move­ Torah will gather on Sunday, May 2nd, at ment in the Soviet Union brought spe­ the Agudath Israel of Boro Park to ana­ APPLE cial greetings. lyze the Mitzva of Emunas Chachomim. COPY & PRINTING A forum on Inter-Family Relation­ The event will commence at 2:00 P.M. CENTER ships-Sholom Bais V'Chinuch Bo­ with a Shiur Pilpul by Rabbi Yekusiel 87 NASSAU ST nim-divided into two sections: "The Bittersfeld. Rosh HaYeshiva, Harbotzas NY 10038 Responsibility of Men" led by Rabbi Torah Beer Shmuel. A symposium will Moshe Eisenmann. mashgiach of Ye­ begin at 3:00 P.M. chaired by Rabbi Aba (212) 267-9478 shiva Ner Israel of Baltimore, and Rabbi Brudny. Menahel, Yeshiva Rabbeinu Shmuel Dishon, Menahel. Yeshiva & Me­ Yaakov Yosef-Edison and Rav of the s Ma Karlin-Stolin. Agudath Israel of F1atbush/South. The "The Responsibility of Women" was speakers will be Rabbi Avrohom Chaim addressed by Zahava Braun­ Spitzer, Rav of Congregation Orech stein on faculty at Bais Yaakov Academy Chaim and Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Levin. in Brooklyn and director of Camp Shira Rosh HaYeshiva Telshe-Chicago. for girls. on "The Role of Wife,'' and Reb­ The assembly will conclude with a betzln Chaya Zimmerman on faculty at keynote address by Rabbi , Rosh Beth YaakovTeacher's Seminary in Boro HaYeshiva, Yeshiva Gedola of Philadel­ 4916 !Jth Ave., B'klyn, N.Y. 11219 Park and director of learning at Camp phia and member of the Moetzes Gedolei (718) 854-2911 Bnos with Mrs. Esther BohenskY. na- HaTorah.

46 The Jewish Obseroer/Apr!~ 1986 Receive one or two ofJEP's brand new educational releases

as a token of our appreciation.

Elewn of the best ''The Best ''Lilmode The second ofa recordings from the • series on The first four JEP records, ofJEP'' Ul e l ama d e' Prophets, each now available on one cassette tape. Songs chaptC'r has been incluck: Brnjy the Soldier De

Send your tax-deductible contribution today to: JEP Tape/Book Offer The]l'l1" 1Lsh Education Program 425 Ecwt 9th Street BrooklJ!n, NY 11218 The Best ofJEP is also avail­ Lilmode Ulelamade is also able through Aderet Records, available at your loca)Jewish Menorah Records, or at your book store or through: Iocaljewish record store. Feldheim Publishers 200 Airport Executive Park Spring Valley, NY 10977 BECAUSE YOU CARE . .. about the struggf.e to protect authentic Judaism from being distorted and undermined by deviationist groups. Because you care ... about the civic and legal rights of Orthodox Jews and the governmental concerns of Torah institutions. Because you care ... about making Torah learning possible as part of the daily routine of masses ofJews. Because you care ... that the needs of the foresaken, deprived, and unfortunate among our people in this country and abroad should be provided with a Torah flavor. Because you care ... about the training of youngJews for responsible Torah activism under the leadership of Gedolei Torah. Because You Care About Providing Torah With An Iif.fective Voice & Arm ...

. . . Demonstrate Your Soli.darity With The Coalition Of Orthodox Jews Who Care by coming to the 64th Annual Dinner AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA

HONOF£ES June 1, 1986 / 23 Iyar, 5746 EMfRlEDMAN The Grand Ballroom, New York Hilton JERl CH JUished sen' Please make your dinner Jor to Torah reservations now. LEIBEL~ "AVODAS HAKODESH" Reb Elimetech rd Memorial Awa h COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS to a Shearis Hapl:tO for Toroh senitce will be presented at this occasion. . lLBERMJNTZ A commemorative journal with greetings and advertL<>emenis will be published on this occasion. RAJ3Bl JOSHLl~ """enheim Morein« y ·at Award Memo~ ,vice to RSVP: $300 per couple or $360 in journal a.ds. for distingtnshcd scad (no appeals) .l\

___.;;..~~-~AG~,UDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA 5 Beekman Street I New Yori<; NY i0038 I (212) 7g1-1son