The Jewish Observer

Kislev 5765 • December 2004 • VOL XXXVII/NO. 10 U.S.A. $3.50 (Outside NY area $3.95)/Foreign $4.50 Click here for TABLE OF CONTENTS THEJJewishewish OOBSERVERBSERVER Kislev 5765 • December 2004 • VOL XXXVII/NO. 10 THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021- 6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of This is the full Table of Contents of the print edition of the America, 42 Broadway, New York, NY10004. Periodicals postage paid in Jewish Observer. The web edition contains only a selection of New York, NY. Subscription $24.00 per articles (indicated in COLOR). Click on the title to go to the year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the United States beginning of that article. Navigate using your browser’s menu (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single and other options. copy $3.50; foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NY, NY 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000, Fax: 6 Grasping the Kedusha,Avoiding the Pitfalls,When American 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. Families Move to Eretz Yisroel, Yair Spolter RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR EDITORIAL BOARD 14 The Liberal Left Versus Religious Faith in the Public Arena, RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Chairman Yonoson Rosenblum RABBI ABBA BRUDNY JOSEPH FRIEDENSON 22 The Battle for the Menorah, Rabbi Yisroel Gr eenwald RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN PROF. AARON TWERSKI 27 Empowering One’s Tefilla with Enhanced Kavana, Rabbi Heshy DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Z”L Kleinman RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z”L Founders 34 Mrs. Fruma Leah Mandel h”i,A Pioneer of Girls’ Chinuch in MANAGEMENT BOARD AVI FISHOF, NAFTOLI HIRSCH America, Rabbi Shimon Finkelman ISAAC KIRZNER, RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN 40 An Exercise in Avodas Hashem, Rabbi Yisroel Rutman RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Managing Editor Published by Agudath Israel of America BOOKS IN REVIEW U.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTOR ISRAELI REPRESENTATIVE Feldheim Publishers Intnl. Media Placement 200 Airport Executive P ark POB 7195 / 97 J affa Road Nanuet, NY 10954 Jerusalem 94340, ISRAEL 43 In Every Generation:The Life and Legacy of Rav Shmuel Aaron BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE BELGIAN REPRESENTATIVE Yudlevitch, by Dovid Yudelevitc h, revie wed by Yisroel Yehuda Pollac k M.T. Bibelman Mr. E. Apter Grosvenor W orks Lange Kievitstr .29 Mount Pleasant Hill 2018 Antwerp 45 Tefillin and Mezuzos, by Rabbi Yerachmiel Askotsky, reviewed by London E5 9NE, ENGLAND BELGIUM FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE SOUTH AFRICAN Rabbi Labish Bec ker Rabbi Bamberger REPRESENTATIVE 21 Boulev ard P aixhans Mr. V. Taback 57000 Metz PO Box 51552, FRANCE Raedene ,Johannesburg 2124 SOUTH AFRICA 46 Letters to the Editor SWISS REPRESENTATIVE Mr. S. Feldinger Leimanstrasse 36 4051 Basel, SWITZERLAND Statement of Policy THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not The Jewish Observer has devoted a great deal trolled to every possible degree, our assume responsibility for the of space to the perils of the Internet and gedolim recognize that many people and Kashrus of any product, to the need for everyone to be extremely businesses require its use, and therefore it publication, or service advertised vigilant in its use. We have echoed the pleas has not been banned. This is why we accept in its pages of our gedolim that it should not be in use, advertisements listing website addresses, unless it is an unavoidable necessity, and then but in no way does this imply that the © Copyright 2004 only with all suitable safeguards. While its gedolim or The Jewish Observer condone dangers must be recognized and con- casual use of the Internet. December 2004 VOLUME XXXVII/NO. 10 SUBSCRIBE TO THE JEWISH OBSERVER! CLICK HERE. Yair Spolter THE OPPORTUNITIES the words of our chachamim (sages), who the natural way of life. They have resis- AND THE CHALLENGES extol the virtues of Eretz Yisroel in count- ted the influences of the outside world to less Gemoras and Midrashim, the Jewish an unparalleled degree, and the insatiable here are few zechuyos as great as people have always possessed a strong thirst for material gains and pleasures that the opportunity to live and raise emotional tie to the land, and desired to plagues the modern world is practically Ta family in Eretz Yisroel. Eretz be among its inhabitants. Certainly, foreign to their inhabitants. It is thus no Yisroel is the land to which Hashem gives someone who has spent time studying surprise that thousands of families from constant attention. This means that in Israel has experienced the sanctity of across the globe are seeking refuge in these Hashgacha prattis (Divine guidance) is the land permeating his being, and feels spiritual greenhouses, and planting their more tangible in Eretz Yisroel, and that the magnetic draw of Eretz Yisroel. children in their institutions, where they life there is more naturally imbued with These feelings stem from Avraham can develop as genuine Torah-true meaning and spirituality. The Land of Avinu, who, ever since he responded to Yidden. Moving to Eretz Yisroel, then, is Israel is the porthole through which the command of “Lech lecha,”implant- certainly a great opportunity, but it is also kedusha enters the world through which ed this longing in the soul of every Jew. a challenge. And as with all challenges, cer- our tefillos ascend to Heaven. Living in Today, it is not only the love of Eretz tainly in the spiritual realm, there is also Eretz Yisroel means kirvas Hashem, Yisroel that draws Jews from abroad to a possibility of regression or even failure, being close to the Ribbono Shel Olam.It make aliya. Many are seeking an escape Heaven forbid. facilitates siyatta diShemaya (Heavenly from the materialistic Western world, The successful integration of assistance) in limud haTorah and kiyum which is replete with non-Jewish ideals American families into Israeli chareidi hamitzvos (observance). It is the land and undesirable influences. In a time when society is not guaranteed. While some where all Klal Yisroel is meant to be. most of the civilized world is uncivilized families make the adjustment with ease Indeed, throughout the two-thou- and common sense is uncommon, the and embark on their new lives in Eretz sand-year galus, Jews have yearned to live search for a wholesome, sheltered envi- Yisroel with great success, many find the in Eretz Yisroel, making great sacrifices ronment in which to raise a family has change from an American kehilla to an simply to reach its holy soil. Inspired by drawn many to settle in the Holy Land. Israeli chareidi neighborhood an enor- Rabbi Spolter lives with his wife and four chil- The chareidi communities of Eretz mous challenge. These families often find dren in Kiryat Sefer, and is a rebbe at Mosdos Yisroel, in particular, are oases of Torah themselves at odds with the Israeli men- Kesher, a Yerushalayim-based yeshiva for ideals where the pursuit of spirituality is tality and educational system, and have American youth at risk. The Jewish Observer acknowledges Rabbi Yona Taube of Kiryat Sefer alive and well. Torah values thrive in their difficulty getting their children acclimated for his contribution to this discussion. purest form, and Torah and mitzvos are to an unfamiliar environment. For some 6 The Jewish Observer, December 2004 families, the bumps along the road to aliya other hand, are brought to Israel by their from there.” are simply insurmountable, and their only parents, and may have more difficulty Rabbi Zev Oratz has spent the past solution is to head back to the U.S. coping and fitting in. five years working with young adults How does one prepare for a success- from English-speaking homes who have ful aliya? What are the factors that deter- AMERICAN YOUTH IN ISRAEL strayed from Yiddishkeit. Two years mine success or failure? What kinds of – NOT A SIMPLE SITUATION ago, he opened “The Zone, a teen hang- families are more likely to acclimate to out located in the center of town on a Israeli society with ease? What do rab- roblems with children can range street lined with bars and nightclubs. The banim, mechanchim, and gedolei Yisroel in severity from an unhappy child Zone is staffed with counselors who try say about these issues? Whom can one Pwho just gets by, to a depressed son to make a connection with these kids and turn to for advice? This article is an or daughter who doesn’t want to go to help them sort out their lives. The clien- attempt to survey these areas of concern school, to a rebellious teenager who is tele is mainly American teenage boys and and to offer some answers. turned off from religion completely. girls (on separate nights) who have come GETTING ACCLIMATED aking aliya is not only a spir- hen a parent says to his kid, ‘Yeah, that’s itual or geographical move. It “Wwhat the chareidi rabbanim say, but Malso means completely alter- ing your social atmosphere. Rebbetzin we’re different,’ the child learns quickly that there Yehudis Salenger gives parenting class- es and is a source of personal guidance is ‘us’ and ‘them.’ This can be very dangerous.” for hundreds of Anglo families living in Eretz Yisroel’s chareidi neighborhoods. “When someone goes to Russia or to Africa,” she comments, “he expects to Unfortunately, the latter is becoming a on aliya and turned to the streets. Rabbi encounter a different culture. But for reality all too familiar to chareidi com- Oratz estimates that between ten and some reason, people think that when munities throughout the country. twenty-percent of children who make they come to Eretz Yisroel, it won’t be Children of American olim who don’t aliya in their teenage years end up going that way.

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