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Sivan 5762 • May 2002 U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 •VOL XXXV/NO. 5
THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of America, 42 Broadway, New York, NY10004. Periodicals poSlage paid in New York, NY. Subscription $24.00 per year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 sur charge per year. Single copy $3.50; for eign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NY., NY. 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000, Fax: 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. REDRAWING THE TORAH MAP OF AMERICA
RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR 6 "A Time to Build;' Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller EDITORIAL BOARD RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS 16 Report From Dallas:"You're the Beracha;• Chairman Kenneth Broodo RABBI ABBA BRUDNY JOSEPH FRIEDENSON 10 An Open Miracle:And the Rains Came, RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN Alan Haber PROF. AARON TWEASKI 13 Kol Yisroel Areivim:The Kiruv Imperative, OR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Z"L Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z"L Founders 19 Is it Time to Celebrate? Robert}. Kurtz
MANAGEMENT BOAAO AVI FISHOF, NAFTOLI HIRSCH JO Reh Shraga Feivel Mendelowitz ';"lit, a review article ISAAC KIRZNER, RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN by Rabbi Aaron Brafman
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FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE SOUTH AFRICAN Rabbi Bamberger REPRESENTATIVE 21 Boulevard Paixhans Mr. V. Tabacll 43 A Summons to Greatness, a review article of 57000 Metz PO Box 51552, A Gi~ of Speech, by Rabbi Moshe Eisemann FRANCE Raedene, Johannesburg 2124 SOUTH AFRICA Letters to the Editor SWISS REPRESENTATIVE 44 Mr. s. Feldinger Leimanstrasse 36 4051 Base!, SWITZERLAND THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product, publication, or service Cover photo courtesy of Partners in Torah, a project of advertised In i1$ pages Torah Umesorah © Copyright 2002 REDRAWING THE TORAH MAP OF A.MERICA ''A nme to Build'' nil:J? n An Historic Perspect on the American Tora. Renaissance, Current Tre and Future Prospects
I. AMERICA AND EUROPE: spiritual and material beracha in Amer k'vod Hashem-the glory of the Ribbono A STUDY IN CONTRAST ica, in Bretz Yisroel. We witnessed an Shel Olam- should not be undermined astounding growth of Torah and Yid in the world?" He quotes the Gemora in "What is Going to Happen to Our People?" dishkeit. Now we are going through hard Temura (14b): "It is preferable that the times again. But we cannot become Torah should not be observed than that t the most recent Agudah con despondent. We will weather this storm Torah should be forgotten from the Jew vention, a young woman with too. We'll still be around, vibrant and ish people." He explains that should A tears in her eyes approached strong ad bias go' el tzeddek! -till Moshi someone transgress a mitzva of the me, "Rabbi, we've heard so much talk of ach comes!" Torah, even though he will have to give September 11 and the tzaros in Bretz Yis But it is precisely in ti1nes such as an accounting for it in the World to roel, the uncertainty of the whole world these that we have to try to understand Come, he still is included in the Jewish situation, and the long list of gedolei Yis what is required of us. If there are omi people. If, however, chas v'shalom, Torah roel who have left us this year. What's nous clouds on the horizon, we must is forgotten from the people of Israel, we going to be with our people?" continue to build. And in order to build cannot imagine the awful consequences. I said to her, ('We're going to survive. Torah, we must step back and look at the He continues: But we're not only going to survive, we're history of what has developed into one "At the present time, because of our going to thrive and grow. of the greatest Torah renaissances in the many sins, we see something entirely "We have the berachos that were given history of our people, and try to draw new in the world. Just a few years ago, to our forefathers Avrabam, Yitzchak chizuk and lessons for the future build the strategy of the yeitzer hara was to and Yaakov. In our time, we lived ing of Torah throughout the country. entice a person into some aveira through the almost complete destruc The situation that we have now, in (transgression), but not to touch the tion of European Jewry. A thousand 5762, in America, is extremely different Torah itself. Thus, when the individ years of Polish Jewry were finished in a - almost the exact opposite- from what ual Jew would begin to learn Torah and few years. The thriving communities of was in Europe between the wars, and would find that something he had Lithuania, Hungary, Germany were even before the First World War. done was against the will of Hashem, wiped out. Russia had already been spir he would be aroused to do teshuva. But itually destroyed, by Lenin and Stalin. A Century Ago: Europe From the now, the yeitzer has begun to use all So many thought: What's going to be Chofetz Chaim's Perspective of his forces to cause Torah to be for with the Jewish people? Baruch Hashem, gotten, and to entice baalei battim not the Ribbono Shel Olam showered us with he Chofetz Chaim in Chomas to give their children a Torah educa HaDas, published over I 00 years tion, except when they are very young Rabbi Keller is Rosh Hayeshiva of Tel she, Chica ago ( Petrikov 5660/1900 ), to teach them Aleph Bais, to daven, or go. This article is based on his address on the topic T addresses the question: "In what area do a bit of Chumash. Now, one out of "Redrawing the Map: Creating Torah Commu nities Across the USA" at the most recent nation we have to strengthen ourselves most at I 000 will arrange for his son to learn al convention of Agudath Israel of America. this time in order that chas v'shalom the Mishna and Gemora, which are the
6 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 basis for the covenant between ranks of shlomei emunei Yisroel. day schools in the whole United States, Hashem and His people. In a matter and only five or six outside of the New of a few years, there will be many cities America Today: On The Way Up York metropolitan area. Reb Shraga where not one ben Torah will be Feivel had a dream of a day school in found. Even now, in many towns and n contemporary America, the situ every community of a thousand Jewish villages, the batei midrash are closed ation is quite the opposite. We look families. That goal has more or less been all day. A generation ago, the chadarim I back at a past when Torah study and reached.' You have to understand that were filled with young boys learning observance were at best minimal. Amer all of these day schools are not exactly Gemora, Rashi, 1'osafos, the yeshivas ican Jewry, at the time of which the the same kind of day schools which Reb and Talmud Torahs were full, and all Chafetz Chaim wrote, was struggling to Shraga Feivel envisioned because there the batei midrash were full of baalei start from almost Ground Zero. And is a very wide ideological and educa battim and young men engaged in today, by contrast, we are witnessing a tional spectrum in the day school Torah study with great devotion.And remarkable aliya in Torah. 1novement.2 Torah Umesorah now has now, one generation later, we have fall But, having pointed out the difference 600 day schools in its directory in just en to the point that it is rare to find betweens the two periods, we must real about every state in the Union, cover boys who are even proficient in ize that the priority must be the same ing the whole gamut of Orthodox Chamisha Chumshei Torah as they - chizuk Ha Torah, strengthening Torah schools, servicing some 180,000 Jewish should be." study. children, including boys' and girls' ele Therefore, the Chafetz Chaim goes I am not going to introduce a mas mentary and high schools. on to say, strengthening Torah study, ter plan for the future of Torah in Amer There are now 55 yeshivas gedolos in which is the lifeblood of Kial Yisroel, ica. But I do know something about the twelve states recognized by AARTS, the must be the first and main item on our growth of1orah in America - since I've Association of Advanced Rabbinical and agenda. lived through and experienced a good Talmudic Schools, an accreditation He offers a parable: Somebody has deal of this Torah revolution. agency recognized by the United States fallen into a pit and has been terribly Let us look back at a bit of that past, government. Another 30 or 40 yeshivos wounded. People rush to pull him out, and make some observations on certain gedolos are not yet recognized by and patch up his wounds and abrasions. present tendencies in Hafotzas Torah and AARTS, many of them in various stages The doctor arrives and says, "Why are you the kiruv movement, and what they por of the recognition process. worrying about his superficial wounds? tend for the future of Torah and Yid Don't you see that the man is about to dishkeit in America. Humble Beginnings expire? Let us first revive him, before he I'm not going to discuss that which dies altogether. Then we'll take care of his for me is pre-history, the founding of the he first still-functioning yeshiva wounds." (Chomas Hadas Ch. 4) first yeshiva, Yeshivas Etz Chaim in 1866, gedola outside of New York was So, says the Chafetz Chaim, before we later merged with Yeshivas Rabbeinu TYeshiva Ner Israel in Baltimore, think of curing all other ills, we must see Yitzchak Elchanan, or Yeshivas Rabbi founded by Rabbi Ruderman 7""'11 in to revive the 1nain source of its life ... its Yaakov Yosef, which started in l 899, or 1933. Bais Medrash Govoha (Lake essence: Torah Study-"It is your life and Yeshiva Torah Vodaas (the elementary wood) was founded in 1943, led by the length of your days." Our people is school in 1918, the Mesivta in 1926), or Rabbi Aaron Kotler 7"''11. Telshe Yeshiva suffering spiritual wounds in all parts of Mesivta Chaim Berlin, in 1936. The first was founded in Cleveland in 1941 by my its collective soul. But first breathe Torah yeshiva gedola outside of New York was Rebbei'im, Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Bloch 7"'11 back into the soul of the Jewish people. Rabbi Levenberg's Yeshiva in New and Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Katz 7"''11. And then all of the other spiritual ills will Haven, which started in 1922. It subse Bais Medrash Elyon in Monsey, found be healed as a matter of course. quently moved to Cleveland and failed. ed by Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, A hundred years ago the Chafetz I was once at a meeting of the Ladies' opened in 1944. Chaim was looking back to a glorious Auxiliary ofTelshe Yeshiva in Cleveland -1-l-have ~at v;;i"fied ~Ji the sf~tistic~· that-~-re us~d past. Even during the time to which he where an old lady got up and said, "You here, but they are from reliable sources. was referring - to his own generation - know why the Telshe Yeshiva was suc 2 In the Census of Jewish Day Schools in the the majority of Kial Yisroel were still cessful? Because Rabbi Levenberg was United States edited by Marvin Schick and pub shlomei emunei Yisroel - faithful Jews; here and he had a Yeshiva Gedola in lished by Avi Chai in January, 2000, there are a number of categories; Con11nunity day they were shomrei Torah u' mitzvos - fully Cleveland." schools, Centrist Orthodox day schools, Mod observant. But they were suffering a ter Let us begin in l 944, when the ern Orthodox day schools, Yeshiva day schools, rible yerida - a down-spiraling slip immortal Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz Chassidic day schools, and Chabad day schools. page in 1brah study and, hence, in (Mr. Mendlowitz, as he insisted on being The day school concept has been so successful Torah observance. He was talking called) founded Torah Umesorah. In that even the Reform and Conservative move ments have adopted it, and these schools are about a colossal defection from the 1944, there were less than 40 yeshivas and included in that census.
The Jewish Observer, Moy 2002 7 Baltimore, Cleveland, Lakewood, baalebatim in the town, only a minyan he would speak at the Telshe Yeshiva ban Monsey. Would anyone question their in the front building of Bais Medrash quet they wouldn't lose by it. He is pur status as Torah communities? Were Elyon. ported to have offered a substantial con they Torah communities in the time of Baltimore, in a previous generation, tribution to the Yeshiva for that honor. the Chafetz Chaim? When Bais had been called the Yerushalayim of Until then it was the accepted norm that Medrash Govoha came to Lakewood, America because there were a lot of he was a featured speaker at all Ortho it was a winter resort, with a few frumme Yidden there; but it was far from dox functions in the city. The Rosh Yeshi Kosher hotels. I remember when the the Torah community that it is now. va sent back an answer, which was essen Yeshiva was housed in an old house on Cleveland? It was referred to in Yid tially: "Thank you. But no thank you:' Seventh Street. dish as "Kelev Land." It was completely And the Telshe Yeshiva survived. That is I remember Bais Medrash Elyon dominated by Abba Hillel Silver, the a very important lesson. when it was called "Spring Valley" famous Reform Zionist rabbi. When What was Detroit like before Rabbi because Monsey was just a little suburb 1elshe Yeshiva first came, he sent a mes Simcha Wasserman and Rabbi Avrohom of Spring Valley. There was no shul for sage to the Rebbe, Reb Elya Meir, that if Abba Friedman. Rabbi Shlomo Gold stein n:ri:r.7 crrot and company came to Yeshiva Bais Yehuda in Detroit? I saw them in action. Yeshivas Bais Yehuda was one big kiruv organization; but it did not call itself a kiruv organization. It was a They were a healthy,· happy family. Earnest parents; talented children. yeshiva. Its goal was to get the kids from the street into the afternoon school, and One son suffered a massive breakdown. Asecond son followed. from the afternoon school into the Swi~ action saved a daughter from the same fate. yeshiva. Reb Avrohom Abba had a tremendous influence on many boys who came from non-shomer Shabbos homes. After davening on Friday night TWO SHAftERED PAREllTS ••• in Yeshivas Bais Yehuda, he would make Kiddush for them, serve a complete Can a mother's heart take such pain? Her's couldn't seuda for them, sing zemiros with them, She suffered a heart attack. Her husband gave up and say a d'var Torah. Only after the seuda was over did he go home and his job to care for his stricken family. make Kiddush for his wife and children. It is quite obvious that those Torah communities struck root and flourished OllE RESOUllDlllG OUTCRY ••• around the yeshivas, even though - or rather, because - the primary purpose A$2000 -monthly medication bill. Doctor's fees. of the yeshiva was limud haTorah, which the Chafetz Chaim refers to as the Overdue utility bills. Hungry children. And - lifeblood of the Jewish people. And this process was duplicated in cities like Chicago, Denver and Scranton, and con ZERO lllCOME!! tinues with great momentum in cities like Passaic; Riverdale; Milwaukee; South Bend, Indiana; Waterbury, Con necticut, and many more where Torah communities continue to grow and thrive around the nucleus of Torah insti tutions.
II. DYNAMICS OF THE J"•ik :pc 1f0> >'f'' TORAH REVOLUTION Rabbi Tovia Goldstein Rabbi Yaakov Perlow ow do we understand the stark Please rush your tax-deductible donation payable to. KEREN HACHESED" and send to· contrast between the period - RABBI TOVIA GOLDSTEIN c/o Rabbi Osher Berenbaum - 702 Avenue P, Brooklyn, New York 11223 H which the Chafetz Chaim
8 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 describes as one of spiritual yerida- and ca1ne here - were in1bued with an all hedonism of America. The Yiddishe our own here in A1nerica that is in a state encompassing, passionate sense of 1nis neshama was longing for the word of of phenomenal growth? There's no sion that all that had been destroyed Hashem and they were attracted to these co1nparison between the numbers now must now be rebuilt ....That is a natu talniidei chachamim, these men of spir and then. Then the percentage of ded ral cause. it. ...That, too, is a natural cause. icated Jews was much greater. But they And they were successful because There were also two supernatural, were descending. Today in America it is they found eager talmidim. The Navi heavenly causes. One is that davka after the exact opposite - secular Jews are the Amos (8:11,13) foresaw such a period: the churban in Europe, there was a preponderant majority, but the pendu "The time will come, says the Ribbono unique ratzon Hashen1, a Divine Will, to lum is swinging the other way. Shel Olam, that I will send a famine in rebuild that which had been lost. Just as During the Chofetz Chaim's time, the the land. Not a famine for bread, and not after the Flood in Noach's time, Divine Jewish people suffered greatly from thirst for water, but to hear the words Providence willed that that which had poverty and the overt hatred of the Gen of Hashem. On that day, the beautiful been destroyed should be rebuilt; so too tile world. At the same time, the world young girls and the bachurim will faint was there an extraordinary siyata d'Sh at large \Vas seething with all sorts of rev from thirst." The Radak explains that maya after the destruction of all of the olutionary and nationalistic 1nove even the young boys and girls who nor European citadels of Torah that the Jew rnents. rfhe air was saturated with a mally indulge in worldly pleasures will ish people should be blessed with mate desire to overthrow the old order and be tbirsty for the dvar Hashem - a thirst rial and spiritual growth. to save humanity with all sorts of magnified by the length of time that it A second supernatural cause, I would panaceas for the world's problems. had been taken away from them. suggest, is comparable to the attraction Comrnunisn1, Socialism, Haskala, Sec Tbere were many such young people of a magnet. The closer a nail gets to a ular Zionism were all very popular and who had been denied their Torah magnet, the stronger the magnetic pull. appealing new solutions to the Jew's birthright and longed for something The closer we get to Acharis Hayamim problems - and they emptied out the more spiritual. Some could not tolerate - the End of Days - the stronger is the batei n1idrashin1. In America, this climate the materialism and the inordinate pull of kedusha. This too results in did not exist. pursuit of wealth. Others rejected the extraordinary siyata d'Shmaya.
Where The Natural And Super-Natural Converge
believe that the unbelievable phe nomenon of the ascendancy of ! Torah in America can be attributed to two natural causes, and two causes • Full Day, Half Day, Or Part Time Programs that are l'1na'alo n1in hateva - which • Includes Intensive Limudei Kodesh transcend nature. I • Endorsed By Leading Gedolei Yisrael I The first of the natural causes for • Dynamic Shiurim By The Foremost Mechanchim America's spiritual aliya immediately • Hundreds Of Successful, Maalot Graduates Worldwide I preceding and during World War II and I • Choice of Regular or Lishma Program • A Warm Bais Yaakov Atmosphere· Select Group Of Students in the post-War period was the influx • Option of Eight Week Summer Program In Yerushalayim I of gedolei Torah and frume Yidden to I • The Exciting Alternative To A Full Year In Ereh: Yisroel these shores. They did not come here Renowned Mechanchim Include: Rabbi M. Blum, Rabbi Avraham Blumenkrantz looking for Goldene Glicken. They sim Rabbi Dovid Gibber, Rabbi Yoel Kramer, Rabbi Zev Merzel, Rabbi N. Rabinowich I I Rabbi Aron Rapps, Robbi Ben Zion Schiffenbauer1 Rabbi Yisroel Dov Webster ply had to escape Europe before and Rebbetzin Y. Davidowitz, Rebbetzin M. Eisenberger, Rebbetzin Chaya Ginzberg during the war, or they were forced to Rebbetzin Devora Kitevits, Rebbetzin Naoma Lermon, Rebbetzin Rivka Oratz find a place of refuge after the concen I Rebbetzin Bruria Rubin, Rebbetzin Esther Twersky, Rebbetzin Fayge Wolpin 1 tration camps, or exile in Siberia or Summer In Eretx Yisraeh Robbi Dovid Refson w Deon, Robbi Oovid Koss - Director Rabbi Nosson Geisler, Rabbi Leib Keleman, Rabbi Y. Monat,, Rabbi Meir Treibitz Shanghai. And the gedolim that came - Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, Rebbetzin Zehava Kou, Rebbetzin Rena Tarshish my Rebbeim, Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch and I 1 Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Katz, the Klet ..."' zker Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Aharon Kotler, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Rabbi Joseph Breuer, the Satmar Rav, the Klausen RABBI SHOLOM G. GINZBERG, DEAN berger Rav and the many other gedolei 931 Coney Island Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11230 Torah and Chassidus 11~1~? c?i~urwho • For More Information Phone Or Fax:(718)377-0222 ------"' The Jewish Observer, May 2002 - - - 9 Right People, Right Places, Kolle!. Rabbi Dessler attributed such be successful in that which he does. Right Time heavenly aid to the needs of the com Because whoever is needed for the ben munity: efit of the world, even though he is not he "natural" and supernatural "It is possible for a person to ele really fit for that work, nevertheless, causes converge as the Hash vate himself by accomplishing things since there is no one else able or will Tgacha puts the right people in the that are really above his level and by ing to engage in that matter beside right places at the right time. The merits that are not his own. A person him, will merit all the Heavenly assis Gedolei Torah who came during that who works at something that is tance that is required for that matter. period to Bretz Yisroel and American required for Tikkun Haolam-the bet In that process, he himself is built up. were such people. Rabbi Eliyahu Eliez terment of the world - merits there "In this impoverished generation of er Dessler was one of the Gedolei Torah by siyata d'Shmaya- Heavenly assis ours, the main work must be in who came to England and sparked the tance - to raise his own level; that is, rebuilding that which has been Torah renaissance in England and West if he engages in these matters faithfully destroyed and in reestablishing the ern Europe by founding the Gateshead and in search of truth. And he will also ruins of Torah and yira (fear of G-d). "And even though we, in our low liness, are not worthy or fitting for this - since there is no one else but us to stand in the breach, it is incumbent on us to put ourselves into the thick of the responsibility and with this we will merit great siyata d'Shmaya." {INTRODUCTION TO MICHTAV M.EUYAHU Voe. I) NESS TEFllAH .S~R.IES #1 ~~1or~s·· Chol Hamoed Pesach-An Evening of Inspiration R' Pinchos Breuer/R' Pinchos Jung . The Ribbono Shel Olam put the ·_2. Te_filal'I__ As 1i Lifestyle_· cc. Gr_asping the' <:o_ n__~~p.l' 3._A_chi ___e_ ving Pe_r_ son__ al Growth Th~u Tefilah • • right people into the right places at the 4. Mot1vat1ng The Young In Teiilah • SrSlial)bos Da\\€rnng-.Making It Meaningful right time, and He gave them siyata · • ·_ _ ~11!the Unexplored Oppbt1llnity--" ~ersonalizetl;Tdi!PS_._____ · .• · • • R' Pinchos Jung · i1'' · · d'Shmaya. Yeshivas were built, and around them grew Torah communities. AWARENESS TEFILAH SERIES #2 6AUDIOTAPES This type of growth would have been impossible without the mesiras nefesh of I. Do We Believe in Our Own Telilos 4. Chan~ng Our Life Drastical~ Through Tetilah R' Matisyohu Salomon R' Moshe Meir Weiss the nashim tzidkanios (righteous, ded icated women) educated by the Bais 2. Removing the Tefilah Roadblocks 5. Tefilah: AWay of Connecting R' Pindtos Jung R' Paysach Krohn Yaakov movement. Rabbi Aharon Kotler 3. The Power ofTefilah 6. The Shu!: he We Too At Home in 'His' House' said that if not for Rebbetzin Kaplan, it R' Chaim Kaufman R' Lipa Geldwerth would have been impossible to build yeshivas. Starting with a few girls around AWARENESS TEFILAH SERIES #3 6AUDIOTAPES her dining room table, Rebbetzin Vichne Kaplan founded the Bais Yaakov I . Kedushas HaMokom -- The Sanctity of Place .R' Shmuel Kamenetsky/R' Pinchos Jung 2. Revering the House ofTefilah ...... R' Benjamin Yadin/R' Pinchas Jung movement, giving the girls an appreci 3. Preparing for the Peak Day of Yorn fJppur...... R' Yaakov Haber/R' Pinchos Jung ation for Torah, and imbuing them with 4. Tef1lah -- Women Taking a Leading Role • 5. Tefilah -- Gazing at the Spiritual Mirror • i1i 6. Emunah -·The Golden Key to Tefilah...... R' Pinchos Jung ~ HELP FOR PARENTS OF cosr PER sER1Es '36 s SPEClllL: sgg TEENS IN CONFLICT BUY 2 SETS & SAVE: ONlY 70 BUY ALL 3 SETS & SAVE: ONLY I Ail rates include shipping and handling • Discounts for Bnei Yeshfva and Torah Tape Libraries available. I would like to order: 0 SERIES I 0 SERIE:S ll 0 SERIES Ill M~~~ MOTHERS & f'ATHERS.. IU..IONEDSK &AVINO KIDS
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10 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 an ambition to marry bnei Torah and to are quite pessimistic. Let n1e quote an He's not leaving." So he stayed. But after teach Torah to the next generation. outreach professional writing in one of a while, Ben fell out of the picture. the movement's publications. One day on my walk home from the Ihe Kiruv Movement "The ultimate litmus test of the Yeshiva, I noticed a fellow walking toward movement is not, of course, how n1e: a well-groon1ed, clean-shaven, young esides the yeshivas ketanos and many dollars it raises, but how many man wearing a suit, neck-tie, and a yar gedolos, and the Bais Yaakov people are affected.And this picture is mulke. (I should mention that the first time Bschools, which are full-time Torah very disappointing. The world Jewish I 111et Ben, he had come to our house for study institutions, there has developed population is estimated at 14 million. Shabbos dressed in blue jeans, flannel shirt, over the last decades a vast, burgeoning The total number of baalei teshuva sheepskin vest, wool-stocking hat and boots, kiruv movement comprised of 1nany dif worldwide is a maximum of 9,000 a with bushy hair and a bushy beard. He was ferent organizations and institutions year. Of these, half are Israelis who are from that generation. I had to recite a whose specific mission is to bring Jews not in too much danger of assimilat beracha with hin1, and teach hin1 what who have little or no knowledge of their ing, anyhow3. And the maximum bentching means.) We got closer, and he heritage close to Torah and Yiddishkeit. number of baalei teshuva in North greeted me, "Rabbi Keller, shalom ale Besides the large, well-known organi America, which represents two thirds ichem." zations-Ohr Somayach, Aish HaTorah, of Diaspora Jewry, is 3,000 per year. I saw he was a ben Torah. "Ben," I said. N.C.S.Y., among others - and net The annual number of baalei teshuva "Is that you?" works like Shalom Torah Center, Gesh represents no more than .06o/o of the "Yeah!" er, and Gateways - there are over 45 world Jewish population:' "What happened to you! community kollels spread out over 21 Three thousand baalei teshuva in "I went to Eretz Yisroel to Yeshiva Olzr states and 4 Canadian provinces, plus America every year, and he's wringing Somayach. And I sat down to learn." He told perhaps a couple of hundred outreach his hands? In all of pre-war Poland, the me the names of his rabbe'im. "And the institutions in 42 states. l'here is even number of baalei teshuva could be Rebbe learned a K'tzos HaChoshen with an Association of Jewish Outreach Pro counted on the fingers of one hand. me. It blew my mind." fessionals - A.J.O.P. The preponderant Here we are speaking of thousands, and This fellow had been asking apikorsishe majority of these mosdos are spin-offs we are pessimistic! Can we estimate the kashes. What got him into Yiddishkeit? from yeshivas or were created by their value of one individual - nefesh achas Torah. Torah b'iyun (in-depth). And he talmidim. They are doing wonderful miYisroel, one true baal teshuva that became a ben Torah. things with remarkable results. does not settle for being a shomer The story is not over. The night before Besides its involvement in founding 1nitzvos, but beco1nes a ben Torah - the Agudath Israel Convention, Ben made and servicing day schools, Torah Ume whatever his level of learning, but con a vort for his daughter, a sen1inary student. sorah has branched out into ambitious siders himself a ben Torah! Let me share She had been afraid to officially become a Hafotzas Torah and outreach programs. with you one story: kalla because the head of the seminary SEED, this past year, sent out 300 kollel In our yeshiva, we had organized a would not permit her to continue in the Yungeleitand yeshiva talmidim to 51 dif class to be mekarev mature, post-college school if she were engaged. So she told her ferent cities to spend their summer vaca age people. We had shiurim for them a tions learning with Jews. Partners in few times a week. One of the students - New for the 15-16 Torah has one-to-one chavrusos involv Ben (not his real name) - can1e regular yetar-old bCIChur ing 1200 students in 41 locations. Tele ly three times a week. The rebbi who partners in Torah has over 1350 active taught the class came to me one day and Bcfbcl filrm students in some 550 cities. I was told said, "We have to get rid of Ben. At every that not a week goes by that Torah Ume session, he asks all kinds of apikorsishe Summer Prttram sorah does not get calls from people kashas (heretical questions), and disrupts 4-8 weeks· r>~ whose lives have been changed by these the class." Learn under Rabbi ~ ~ • programs. I answered him, "If Jjen co1nes three Shmuel Brazil. renowned ~ § times a week to Telshe Yeshiva to ask kashas mechanech and mashpiah. ~ ~ Misplaced Pessimism - in emuna that are bothering hin1, he's Do genuine farm work: sheep, • The Numbers Game going to stay here. Instead of going to the g cows & chickens, gardening, movies or to worse places, he's coming to construction, and more! I e are witness to an impressive, Telshe Yeshiva to ask questions in emuna. 2·4 day intensive backpacking. dynamic present, and, given mountain biking, hiking and/or the current trends, we can fJ-~find-"this -:;bse;·vaii-~;q-~~ite-dist~~bi~·g, a~-Ta canoe trips with Frum NY lk. guide. W generation of Israelis growing up without Torah look to the future with great optimism. is not so terrible, as long as they don't 1narry Yet some people in the kiruv movement Arabs. 718-327-6322
The Jewish Observer, Moy 2002 71 "Rebbetzin, if you don't let me into class, I'm nervous. So they sent sorneone to talk to him III. TENDENCIES THAT going to do as Hillel did when he couldn't in learning~ to see if he could learn. (\!\!hen BEAR SCRUTINY afford to enter the Beis Midrash. He went I heard this, I commented, "If they would up onto the roof and listened through the have done that to n1e, none of my daugh s great as the kiruv movement is, skylight. I'm going to stand in the hall and ters would have gotten 1narried!") He there are certain tendencies that listen by the door." passed the bechina, they had the vort, and A I believe bear scrutiny. These The Rebbetzin could not resist that. She I attended the wedding with great simcha. trends most probably are born from the permitted her to re1nain in class. And the Such stories are being repeated over praiseworthy desire to be as attractive girl became engaged to a ben Torah. and over in our day, all over the coun and to appear as inclusive as possible to Hashgacha was such that thechassan's fam try. Let us not look at numbers-which, the greatest number of people possible, ily did not know in advance that Ben (who by the way, are truly impressive. Let us so as to bring them closer to Yiddishkeit. now called himself"Binyo1nin") came fro1n look at the individuals brought closer to But this causes some problems. a non-religious home. When they learned Torah, at their families and their future In the sixth perek of Avos, Rabbi that he was a ba'al teshuva, they got a bit generations. Yose ben Kisma says, "One time I was going on the way and a man met me and he gave me Shalom, and I returned the greeting. And he said, 'Rebbi, where do you come from?' I told him, Tm from a great city full of chachamim and sofrim.' He said to me, 'Rebbi, would you like to come and live with us in our place? I'll give you a mil lion golden dinarim and precious Helping each &- every Professional, warm, stones and pearls.' I said to him, 'If you talmid sulued in his dedicated Refibeim (earning and read1 and staff give me all the money and all the pre (1is potentiaL cious stones in the world, I will not live in any place but a makom Torah."' In view of the great mitzva of spreading rforah, we have here a very difficult question. The man wanted to give Reb Yose a million gold dinarim. He could have built yeshivas and accomplished a great deal for Torah Secular studies State of the art department incorporating with that money. Why did he refuse to computer lab vocational skills go? Today, we would ask him, "Are you going to sit in Lakewood your whole life? Aren't you going to go out and accomplish something for Torah?" The answer lies in how the man expressed himself to Reb Yosi: "Retzoncha shetadur imanu bi'me'komeinu?" Would you like to Nightly Cfiavrusa Program - come live with us in our place? In other one on one witf1 tfie T(1e Yesfiiva is 20 words, Come and live with us. You will Kol/el & avreid1(m from minutes from Lakewood, lend prestige to our city. You'll be like BMG. Lakewood. one ftot 1t~~·~~,--'.\~~~~1t:~\3 PLEASE CONTACT: remain our city. Reb Yose told him, "If the 2002-2003 / "'""'l"l-""'n sdioo[ year. Rabbi Yosef Posen, Mena/tel you give me all the money in the world, • • 732. 776.6504 °' I'm not going to live anywhere but in 732.905.0726 a makom Torah - a place of Torah study .,Mesivta High School Fax: 732.905.!039 and Torah life. If you want me to live New Lakewood Kolle/ I full r l of Bradley Beach MAIL.INC ADDRESS with you, to be like you, and it's going day Big Brother Program in T T .. 1'..::i_;: !J?.::.'.:'_?ci .. i-ts:r ..:i.'r-~ PO Box6 to remain your place, and I will not ~ succeed in making it into a makom ----·--··-----·------··------12 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 Torah, all the money in the world is not honor philanthropists whose listed and try to amuse then1 in short, to get going to bring me." credentials may include affiliation down to their level. Lakewood was not a makom Torah with unacceptable move1nents and But let us not change the mesora of when Reb Aharon moved there - but institutions. While there may be noth limud HaTorah. Rabbi Shach ?"~t. in he made it into his place) into a makom ing wrong with honoring a person for one of his letters, says, "What has to Torah. his financial support for 1brah, espe be done now is to build more schools I must stress that I have the great cially a person who is coining closer to and chadorim and yeshivas al pi meso est respect for the tremendous niesir Torah, it is certainly out of place to ra - that which we saw in the previ as nefesh and phenomenal work that is praise him for supporting anti-Torah ous generations." You can use new being done by all of these outreach movements. techniques to fit new situations, but groups. Nonetheless, there is a ten don't lower yourself. Don't compro dency evident in some aspects of the The '1manu - With Us" Syndrome mise k'vod ha Torah. Of course, we have work of some groups to go along with to be friendly and warm, but there the concept of imanu bi'me'kon1einu hen there are an1ong the n1ost should be a certain aura of kavod ('with us, in our place." These outreach dedicated groups and individ ---··------.. ·----·------·-- 4 I am aware that there are different p'sokin1tend groups are willing to go into their ual, fine, ehrliche bnei Torah in T ing to leniency in these matters. I believe, hov·: places - places that represent other so the kiruv movement, those who have ever, that the situation is getting out of hand. First, called "wings" of Judaism and syna fallen into the "imanu- with us" syn in approaching a gadol in these 1natters, the group gogues that do not observe halacha. drome. With the purest of motives, should seek guidance, not hetteirit11 (dispensa Their purpose is, of course, to be they believe that to be successful, they tions). Not every situation is pikuach ncfesh. Sec ond, the n1atter should be presented in a way that mekarev. At the same time, however, must demonstrate to their prospective takes into consideration all factors in the local they are in a sense legitimizing these baalei teshuva that they're just like situation. I a1n aware of cases in which the per 4 aberrant forms of religion . them. So they attempt to look like son issuing the p'sak was not correctly informed. As for individuals - no matter how them, talk like them, dress like them, Third, as in many cases of other halachos in this country, a hora'as sha'a, a decision for a specif little they know or how far they've engage in the same type of social, ic case of limited applicability, has become a strayed - every Jew is precious. But entertainment, recreational activities, l'chatchila, across-the-board hetter. movements and institutions that do not accept Torah Min haShamayim, Yesodos Ha'emuna and the authority of halacha, have no place in bringing peo ple closer to Torah. Let us not, in our enthusias1n to raise the numbers of our baalei teshuva, make the mistake of speaking on their turf In the present A professional and experienced staff climate of religious pluralism, these will dedicate themselves to build up "I/eel confident that any parent wha will send his or her daughtef td this school will be fully satisfied with the educational program which it will other wings have no problem with the self-esteem and positive thinking offer" inviting teachers of Torah or lehavdil of each student. liam Aharoll Feldman, Rosh Yeshiva, Ner Israel of Baltimore Christian clergymen to their institu A wann and nurturing environment "As a' principal Of a girls high School,-! can attest to the need of an tions. They provide the host institution will provide the girls with the outlook institution of this -son." with interesting programming. And and ideals necessary to build a .Rabbi. lierscbel Grossman,Principal, llanna Sacks with the swing to the right, they need Jewish home. Rais Yaakov liigh S.hool us to give them legitimacy more than A unique cunicu!um will combine we need them. They can use us in their "They are both excellent mechanchos with extensive experience ,in the academic classes in Hashkafa and fields of gffleral and special education." places, too. If in the desire to present Halacha and a comprehensive life J\frs, Miriam Sclroen, Direcwr of Ptaeh Yerushalayim ourselves as loving all Jews -we use skil!s program. such phrases as "no matter what their "This comes as ,- ..- a professio1ull endorsement for the 'need of a seminary for academically challenged young-ladies:' religious affiliation" - we tend to Mrs. Ruchama (Spiro) Feldman Program Director Dr. Feige Sorotikin, Expert Edncational Psycho!Ogist and come dangerously close to overstep Supervisor ping the fine line that must be drawn Mrs. Orab (Shurkin) Sanders between emuna and kefira, faith and Academic Director "A marvelous idea, one which definitely fills a void." Mrs. Shifra Spiro, English Principal, Bats Yaakov of 'lbronw denial. We should simply say, "We will Information and Applications ''!am thankful that these devoted and talented teochers are taking reach out to all Jews;' period. Tel: (02) 581-4489 or (02) 581-8226 There is also a tendency not only on the initiative," Fax: (02) 532-4368 Mrs. Zissel Mandlecorn/Bhnnenfeld, ChildAdvoeate, the part of kiruv groups, but also on E-mail: [email protected] PR Limudai liashem, Jerusalem the part of other mosdos HaTorah, to --·-·--·----·---·-·----· The Jewish Observer, Moy 2002 13 haTorah so that these people look up Otherwise, the result can be a say, "Get a degree and you'll have a to bnei Torah. Bnei Torah should rep hybridization of Judaism - "feel good life." Now, in the midst of the resent that which they aspire to, and good,'' and do-it-yourself religion, intifada, the terrible losses in Bretz Yis not get down to their level. and in the worst scenario, introduc roel and the increased isolation of the There is another aspect to the tion into messianic cults. Not all out Jewish People by the world commu "with us" syndrome: Give us what we reach is kiruv. nity, Jews are losing their sense of smug want. "We want spirituality," so we security and beginning to want to give them spirituality. "We want And Now - New Opportunities know what life is all about. meditation," so we respond with lec There are tremendous opportunities tures on meditation. "We want Kab et us end this discussion by ask for kiruv and hafotzas Torah. In the bala," and we deliver Kabbala. This, ing ourselves:" V' atta Yisroel, ma frum community, we must capitalize it can he argued, is only used as a L Hashem Elokecha sho'el m'imcha? on our people's feeling that they must means of attracting them. But then And now, Israel, what does Hashem ask do something to raise their own sights we have to "bait and switch." And of you?" Now, after September ! ! 'hand and those of others through volun "bait and switch" does not always the Intifada, what is required of us? I teering to be mekarev Jews to Torah. work. A person coming into Judaism believe that there is a tremendous And at the same time, there are many searching for mysticism and Kabbala opportunity and a challenge to us to more Jews seeking to identify them may not be so happy to be sold the rethink our priorities and become selves with their people, to find out halachos of Shulchan Aruch. And much better. what Judaism is all about. when he's not satisfied with our A recent newspaper headline read There are opportunities for every brand of mysticism, he may explore "Volunteering up Since September committed Jew to reach out on an indi other forms of mysticism. 11 111 ." "Americans young and old are vidual level to his neighbors and his Our goal is not to produce Mitzva responding by volunteering for civic business associates - to volunteer for Machines, but to make bnei Torah, and duty. Young people are saying, 'I want programs like Partners in Torah, to to spread Torah, which is the lifeblood to give more than blood. September help in other kiruv and Hafotzas Torah of the Jewish People. "Spirituality" 11 111 has made me more aware of programs and organizations - to help seekers are in reality "hungry to hear what's important.'" build Torah schools and yeshivas. the words of Hashem." When people The letter was a quote from Sarah Not only in locations distant from are hungry and thirsty, you do not feed Melendez, president of a group that the New York metropolitan area, like them potato chips and diet cola with tracks volunteerism nationwide. The Portland, Oregon, where when the Rav cotton candy for dessert. And when gentile world is beginning to under came, there were three shomrei Shab- they really want to hear the word of stand that there is more to life than 5-For exa-~ple, ;·brocb~~;~ntitl~ "Jn;;;d Bot~-~d Hashem, you do not feed them puff making money, living in grand hous Seminar~ Kabbalistic 1bols for Meaningful Liv and platitudes and pop Kabba/a before es, pursuing a life of pleasure. There's ing and Personal Growth," has among other ge1ns: you teach them the basics of Torah'. more for us to do for our children than "Is Judiasm only Moses, Matzo and Manische witz? Or does the religion that changed the world have some deeper spiritual truths and secrets to teach? C',an its ancient teachings enhance your lite even if you are skeptical, have no firm religious "PEOPLE WHO beliefs or have only li1nited knowledge of Judaism? Inward Bound begins with a seminar that takes you from learning through group study DOM'THAYEAM and discussion, and into meditation, guided visu alizations, games and interactive exercises - all AGEMT-WHO TAKES in just 4 1/2 hours!. .. "Inward Bound will help you: discover the mysticism and passion within your soul, gain dearer focus on your unique indi CARE OF THEll1" viduality, enrich your ordinary activities and make everyday life more meaningful, provide exercises to help deepen your spiritual awareness': CAll ME FOR A FREE 1be Inward Bound Progra1n includes three steps, -OTECTIOM REVIEW. the last of which is "become part of the Inward MARTIN LEVY Bound Circle with a special password and Tel (718) 268-1700 access to the Inward Bound Website. Participate e-mail: [email protected] 103-20 Metropolitan Avenue in 'Kabbala Chat' with a community of friends Forest Hills, NY 11375 and take advantage of exclusive comn1unications and lectures." The program is produced by a group which "has been on the forefront of teach © 200! AN ------··-----·------···----·------·----- 14 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 hos and now there are thirteen; or in toric period. But let us keep the out redeemer will definitely come to Zion Bensalem, Pa., where the mikva for reach on track. - in what zechus? - In the zechus of Bucks County was built, and the Rav Let us remember to follow the teshuva. >n•i~nNPlNt.."And I [says the comes every Shabbos from his home in order which Chazal formulated in our Ribbono shel Olam], on My part, what Lakewood are there opportunities. Tefilla - "1i•~N U~''lr.l [First] bring us will I do to see that this comes about? But even the New York area presents back to Torah, [then] 111-n:w':>u:l'mmlj?l This is My covenant with you. That a wealth of opportunities to create bring us close to Your service, and ruach that I put on you, the ruach Torah con1munitics. I received a letter [finally] help us do a complete teshu hakodesh, and the words of Torah that from a lady crying out for help to reach va." Torah, service, and then teshuva. I put in your mouth, will not leave your out to the Bucharian Jewish commu mouth nor the mouth of your children nity in Queens, who are falling prey to A Closing Tefilla and children's children." assimilation and missionaries. Torah will never cease from Kial Yis The horizons are limitless - if we et me close with what we say roel. It will be in your mouths, in the can harness the tremendous spiritual every morning in davening. mouths of your children and your potential that is within every /rum Jew, L:Jj?l:l':J. ).?'V!J ~::iv71 ?Nu 11~y7 N:J.1 grandchildren ad olam. This will bring and can capitalize on the inner spiri "'1 lJ"INl. "The redeemer will come to about true teshuva. And in that zechus tual longing that has been awakened Zion, and to those who turn away from may we be zocheh bi'me'heira to Moshi within the not-yet frum during this his- sin in [the house of) Yaakov." The ach Tzidkeinu. • RABBI PESACH STEIN n~i:i7;7'1:l1~t e join Kial Yisroelin express entitled Likutei Shiurim. on through the night, to learning, ing our profound sense of Rabbi Stein was born in the Polish learning, teaching and learning. W loss with the passing of cityofBreinskin 1918.As Soon after his arrival Rabbi Pesach Stein, ?'"ll! on 28 Iyar, a young teen, he learnt in in America, he married May 1O, at the age of 84. For decades the Yeshiva of Slonim his Rebbetzin, Naomi Rabbi Stein served as a Rosh Yeshiva under its Rosh Yeshiva Bloch, daughter of in the Telshe Yeshiva of Cleveland. He Rabbi Shabsi Yogel, ?'lit Rabbi .Zalman Bloch, had a profound influence on genera with whom he was •p;i, the menahel tions of talmidim who saw in him the extremely dose. ruchani of the Telshe embodiment of love of Torah as He then went to the Yeshiva in Europe. They reflected by his tremendous diligence Mirrer Yeshiva where, settled in Cleveland and dedication to Torah study, which despite his .. relatively where he eventually he transmitted to them by example. young age, he quickly joined the faculty of Rabbi Stein's petira is the loss of one became known as one of the Telshe Yeshiva in more link in the chain of mesora con the yeshiva's prize Cleveland, which had necting post-World War II America talmidim. His entire life, he would talk been under the leadership of his with .the great pre-War Lithuanian about his years there with great nos uncles Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch and yeshivas. Rabbi Stein lived and talgia and reverence. Rabbi Stein Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Katz. In breathed the pathways of Torah and spent the years of World War II Telshe, he imparted to thousands of avoda as taught in the Torah centers together with the Mirrer Yeshiva as students, the unique system of of Europe, and transmitted its lessons, they fled the German onslaught and learning that he brought with him both through his shiurim (lectures) eventually made their way to Shang from Mir. and his personal conduct. hai, China, When asked by his Thousands attended the three His shiurim were masterpieces, talmidim later in life to relate some of funerals held in Cleveland, New York, models of clarity, depth and insight. his experiences in Shanghai, be would and finally in Bretz Yisroel, where he In addition to drawing large crowds answer, "In Shanghai, we learned and was buried. of avid attendees in the Yeshiva of learned and learned.'' His devotion to learning, his shi Telshe, the shiurim became famous This, indeed, was the story of urim, and his genuine modesty, care throughout the yeshiva world Rabbi Stein's life, a life devoted from and empathy for others will be sore through his multi-volume sefarim the early hours of each morning and ly missed. i1":rl)Tl The Jewish Observer, May 2002 15 REDRAWING THE TORAH MAP OF AMERICA Kenneth Broodo REPORT FROM DALLAS u're the Beracha'' allas, Texas, is quite a location BAAL TESHUVA STORY NO. 6,372 later, my wife and I received a flier in for a community kollel. It is a the mail about a DATA Purim semi D major hub for the Southern earing the reaction of a seasoned, nar, but what we walked into had no Baptist Convention, Jews for), the Mor Torah-observant audience, the last semblance to a seminar. It was a room mons, and so-called Messianic Syna Fthing I wanted was to present Baal at the local )CC, filled with several gogues. It is near the buckle of the "Bible Teshuva story number 6,3 72, describing large round tables, and there they Belt." It is also a very modern, hi-tech the same rise from the ashes of secular were: the same bunch of guys in black city, with all the baggage you might life, with the same challenges, miracles, hats and dark suits, only now, there expect from that description. Still, innocent gaffs, and happy end-of-the were more of them. No longer smil there are about 50,000 Jews living in beginning. On the other hand, every ing amiably, they were sitting there Dallas, myself and family included. Why rabbi that I consulted said that none of arguing and carrying on, each group did Hashem put us out here, instead of us have heard enough baal teshuva sto at their own table. in Boro Park, or Monsey? I do not ries.1 Their advice was reassuring, and They showed us a list of topics by know. But what I do know is that by liv I would venture to add that, until the table, and I chose The Hidden Mask of ing and trying to build Torah in Dal number is somewhere around Nature. At that table, Rabbi Aryeh las, we qualify as an "out-of-town" com 9,006,372, none of us have heard Feigenbaum informed us that in the munity. Understand, as someone new enough baal teshuva stories yet. Book of Esther, you never find explic to the ways of Agudah Conventions and So, let me give you a few images. The it mention of Hashem's name. He Yated Neeman reporting, until about first is of my office on the 27•h floor of explained the long series of coinci 1995, when my wife and I together Thanksgiving Tower in downtown Dal dents in Megillas Esther, which in their became baalei teshuva, "out-of-town" las, where I was working feverishly as a totality eliminated the possibility of meant anything North of the Red labor and employment lawyer at an old coincidence. I understand now that this River, dividing Texas from Oklahoma. line Dallas firm. Someone told me that concept is probably not news to most When I think of that phrase now, and a Rabhi Becher was going to speak in our observant Jews, but it was news to me. look back over the last seven years of boardroom for a lunch-and-learn ses I became so excited that I "helped" spiritual discovery, it seems to me that sion. So I went, but all I noticed were Rabbi Feigenbaum teach the rest of the until we all make it back to Yerusha four guys dressed in dark suits, and black group. It is fair to say that from that layim, we're all from "out-of-town." hats, and - smiling amiably. I sat moment, we recognized that we would through the talk, found it interesting, get to know each other. Mr. Broodo, an attorney, is a partner in the Labor and got back to my billable hours. I needed some time with this and Employment section of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, in Dallas. This article is based on his Rabbi. I had questions to ask him. speech at the 791h Annual National Convention NO COINCIDENCE Where are you from? What are you of Agudath Israel of Ainerica where he addressed doing in Dallas. How do you explain the the theme "Redrawing the Map: Creating Torah t the lunch talk, they managed Holocaust? I wanted him to help me Communities Across the USA''. to get my address, which put see with Jewish eyes. So, we met at his 1 This includes Rabbi Aaron Schechter (Rosh me on the mailing list of DATA house. We went to lunch, and talked Hayeshiva of Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin) and A Rabbi Hillel David, who each pre-reviewed and - the Dallas Area Torah Association - on the phone. He would call just to approved this presentation in its original form. our community kollel. Six months say hello. 16 The Jewish Obse1Yer, May 2002 Did I have any idea that he was learn something extraordinary happened, ing in kollel 8-10 hours a day? That he when Rabbi Feigenbaum took eight of and the others had packed up and left us balabattim on a trip to New York. I centers of Torah such as Yeshiva Chaim was the only one on the trip who was Berlin and Lakewood-to come to Dal not shomer Shabbos. We went because las? No. All I knew was that he seemed we wanted to see the Yeshiva world. We to be open to a relationship, and that no wanted to visit the "planet" that these questions were foolish questions. So for rabbis came from. the next three years, I sat at his dining table every Thursday night, and asked WEARE ONE C:hiltl Development questions. We did not learn a sefer. We just talked. ur first stop in New York was the Spe~ia[ists serying Once I trusted him, I was able to tell national headquarters of Agu · infantsltotkl}er~ him about things, the things that I was 0 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 17 Finally, I got up out of my chair, walked to the end of the table, and said, "Mr. Fruchthandler, I'm sorry that I inter rupted your beracha:' He grabbed my hands, looked me in the eye, and said, Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUSf "PAPERWORK" "Listen: You're the beracha." ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD On Sunday, we met with Rabbi Aaron Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz ''israel Schechter at Yeshiva Chaim Berlin. When 1043-42nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 we first saw him, he smiled and said, "We Day&N'ightphone: (718) 851-8925 are one. We are one." He told us that Torah is the source of life; that it is the )))t>'l:lN1~l:lNji ))l"ji - 1'1' 1Nl nm~)) '1l~ Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved family. neshama of Klnl Yisroe~ that it is not a step TAHARAS HANIFTAR SHOULD ~EVER BE COMMERCIALIZED in itself, but the source of all the steps we take in growing as Jews. When we got home from that trip, 1"UJ. there was one more Shomer Shabbos Yid Dear Friend living in Dallas, Texas. Aperson who always devoted himself to helping others now needs our help. His story WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE touched our hearts. and will touch yours too. This couple started life together like all lease excuse the Texas slang, but others, looking foiward to setting up a house through all of these experiences, filled with Torah, and the happy sounds of Pin trying to find my way back to children. where I knew I was supposed to be, I often told Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried, the 1 ci' '1 ~:t;n:h~:: :~:~~~t:; t~~; ~:~~s Rosh Kollel of DATA, that I felt like a "pig on roller skates." When I was informed 1 that my convention talk was scheduled ~noc+u1r ~~:b :g~ :~:~~;~;0:E~~:e~~:~::E~~~::~;::~~:se for a plenary session and not a round added up and payments were due. table discussion (as I had thought IJllTn And then tragedy struck. This mother, who waited so long to see her when I originally agreed to do it), I told lltl.f .ll nachas, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. him that I felt like a "deer in the head Boruch Hashem two surgeries have removed her tumor, but left her with lights." He said, "Well, at least we've R:EM OVED lasting side effects, which leave her unable to cope without help for herself moved up to a kosher animal." In Dal and her young children. las, Texas, that's kiruv. Early in 1999, we started a new shul A father has become father and mother, with the full responsibility in Dallas, Congregation Ohr HaTorah, HER of parnasa and raising his children primarily on his shoulders. affiliated with Agudath Israel. Somehow, He copes cheerfully and bears his burden with Happiness, but the billl through no choice of ours, it was start BRAIN keep coming. The combined costs of treatments and surgeries have left ed in our living room. For two years him with enonnous bills and no way for him to obtain funds needed to before this, my wife and I had been try pay. ing to have children, only to face sur TUMOR, Your generous contribution will help this father pay off his debts and get geries, drugs, and repeated heartbreak. back on his feet so that he can be a true father to his little ones. The Shabbos before the shul started, May we all merit to hear of no more illnesses or tragedies amongst Kial Rabbi David Goldwasser was in town but. .. Yisroel. for a DATA Shabbaton. He benched us that we should have children within the year in the merit of the shul's inaugu ~/in{lft Vuft 11("2> f' ("'~ ~·11 ":JIJ',, ration in our home. Rabbi Fried gave us iRabbi Shmuel Auerbach Rabbi Yaakov Perlow Rabbi Matisyahu Solomon Rabbi Malkiel Kotler a similar beracha. kiJsh kshivas Maalot Hatorah Novominska Rebbe Mashgiach Ruchni. Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva, Lakewood The first minyan of Congregation Please make tax-deductible checks pa~ able to Darchei Chesed & Refuah Ohr Ha Torah was Mincha on 14 Shevat, 5759. One year later to the day, on 14 and mail to: Darchei Chesed & Refuah c/o Rabbi Malkiel Kotler Shevat, 5760, Hashem blessed us with 521 Fifth Street • Lake\\ ood, NJ 0870 I Rachel and Leah Esther, healthy twin ------·-- 18 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 girls (kein ayin hara). They're 2-years Mike Tress, 7"'1l, and other books deal who are learned in Torah call you to say old now, and if you ask them, "When do ing with the history of the Holocaust, I that they have been given an opportu we get to have cake?" they'll tell you, was in shocked disbelief that the Reform nity to join the community kollel in Shabbos Kodesh. And the shuR It's and Zionists, and others would put any Topeka, Kansas, what will you tell them? grown from 20 families to I 25 families thing above saving their brothers' lives. Most Jews in America are living bli Torah. since that same I 4 Shevat. Forgive me if this is a chutzpa, but it What's going to be with them? We can In Dallas, right now, thanks to the seems to me that now the tables are not expect them to love something that kollel, we have a makom Torah. There is turned. According to published statistics, they do not know anything about. What not adequate space allotted here to in America thousands of Jews every year can only one person do? From every Jew describe the conferences, seminars, become lost to their heritage in differ that has yet to know a Megillas Esther retreats, courses, shiurin1, chavrusas, ent ways, and yet, there is an army of from a Mesechta Megilla, to every Jew the tape library, the Shabbos fax, the Torah encamped in New York and New who knows and loves them well, let me magazine, the radio show. Besides, jersey alone. What will history say about suggest an answer: "Listen: You're the DATA is more than all that. The rabbis us, who live today? When your children beracha!' • and their wives save Jewish marriages and foster new ones. They teach us how to raise our children. 1'hey counsel us MESNTA ~nJmn on every kind of personal and business MEORYITZCHOK pn~,,,~n problem imaginable. They can do this, Yt il'l'tl -ni 'Jl ., µ p1tt1 JP"' ., n because they have the Torah. Most of us in Dallas do not have the Dykstrn's W[ly East, Monsey, NY 10952 • Tel: 845.426.3488 • Fax: 845.425.5415 depth ofhackground in Torah that you would wish for us. For myself, I'm both pleased and somewhat embarrassed to say that 3 Shabbasos before the Agudath Israel Convention, I made my first siyum, on Mesechta Megilla, after learn ing through it with a chavrusa for a year o•Jw ;;r.iJ ;;n ,1,r.ivr.i Sv Nn:>•ru;; 11>< p1JS 1lJ,, 11N otm n•Sy;;w ,,111< and a half, struggling through the Ara n~ i1:1v11J in•SY;; o•Ji o•,•r.h111 ,111J•NJ1 J11r.>JJ Sm1 1S10w maic and arguing through every last ninD? t1"?v:::in niiv? n"•rvmv:::i iit1?nn Artscroll footnote. But perhaps what you need to know from Dallas, and all places out of town, ~ii~M M.,: .,,}'~ is that what we are missing in our learn ing, we make up-in our desire for it. You have probably heard the saying, "I :iC,ii: M:.,~.,, may not know how to play the piano, but I know what it's supposed to sound like:' I think for most Jews who are lost to 17112 "'~~ Torah-which is most of us-you could c•ivw::i viu iow iJ•n::i•w• wici L,w inion nnn iiov•w say the same thing. We just need some ~ti•?rv fNCOj'llm i"IC~tv C'i.!:IN 1i l'nin one to come, who knows how to play. Ji™O 1)iT'1 C'-rd?ni1 ion' '''YJ1 ,0'J'Vj?Oi1 0'1'0'11' 11.ll'J 01' 1J1 11V'V ,,l'l WHAT WILL YOU TELL THEM? .l'(So '-re-I'( ov 011 1 n::ini ii:iJ i•o;i•::i::i '';t' ;iSnl ;i::i•ft'•;t ver since September I I'\ there has ~ been a lot of talk to the effect that EHashem is shaking up our comfort .n1•1Kn?1 n11n ?•iln? n•?Y' u•i•::i oivn )'Dntv pYi •;;• 7.Dne in America, to encourage us to bet ~ ter our ways, and to prepare us to return 845-426-0483 :p!l?ti '00 ;-J:J'll'';"I 11tvr.i? ;;)!l' 1"l1).'0;"J to Bretz Yisroel. As an official out-of towner, let me pose a question to those who are learned in Torah: Are you plan ning on taking the rest of us along with you? When I first read the biography of The Jewish Observer, May 2002 19 Alan Haber ame y wife and I have been and Laurie - who had become our already teasing Aaron, "Why do we need involved in teaching Family friends - decided to close the business a mikva on the island? How many peo MPurity to engaged couples in in New York, and move to Curacao, ple are going to use it in a month? Three? the Sephardic community in Brooklyn, where Aaron's father had a large retail Are you so religious that you should NY for many years. One couple - not business. have a mikva in your home?'' The proj the typical Sephardic community mem The first question that came up was ect seemed to be floundering, but with bers - stands out in particular. what to do about a mikva on Curacao. a little encouragement it got back on On a shopping expedition in Man Although the first synagogue in the west - track. hattan, my wife was introduced to the em world was built in Curacao in 1664, owner and designer of a women's cloth with a mikva on premises, it had not n the summer of 1999, Rabbi Maleh ing company, Aaron Abadi, a Syrian Jew, been used in many years. In fact the syn was sent from Mexico City to exam born in Curacao, then residing in Man agogue was now a museum, run by I ine the mikva, and give approval so hattan. Curacao is a small island under Reconstructionist Jews. water could be gathered in the borot Dutch control, just north of Venezuela. Yes, the ocean could be used as a (storage chambers). Although the con During this visit, someone mentioned mikva. Nonetheless, we blessed Aaron struction was fine, the rabbi found a leak to Aaron that my wife, Carol, and I were and Laurie that they should eventually in the mikva (not very common) and teachers of Family Purity in our com build a kosher mikva on the island. until the problem was solved, the mikva munity, and that since Aaron was Upon their arrival, Aaron and Lau was not kosher. Aaron began looking for engaged, he might like to attend our rie took a very active role in the religious the right material to seal the leak in the classes. activities on the island. Shortly there pool. Aaron politely, but emphatically, after, Aaron decided to build a home It is important to know that although declined the offer, but he did mention there. He had plans meticulously drawn Curacao is very close to the equator, and it to his fiancee, Laurie, who had recent up, including a wing with a mikva and there are breezes on the island, it could ly returned from two years in a seminary dressing room. Construction of the be described as having a desert climate. in Israel where she became a baalat mikva would be supervised by Aaron In fact, over the past ten years, the aver teshuva. Laurie immediately accepted the with constant contact with Rabbi Isaac age rainfall during the rainy season opportunity for the classes. Aaron's Trieger, an expert in the field. The Abadis (November through March) was less friends were also getting married at the were very excited to have such a worth than an inch per year. All drinking water same time, and had readily agreed to while addition to their home; in fact, the on the island comes from a desaliniza attend the classes with their future first part of the foundation to be tion plant. When flying over the island, brides. So he and Laurie also joined. poured was specifically for the mikva everything looks brown instead of the Although Aaron had a limited wing. green one might expect. Hebrew background, he was very hon Construction on the island is a long, When Laurie and Aaron moved into est, and by the end of the sessions he was drawn-out affair. The mentality on the their home everybody asked them, convinced that this was the only formula island is that "manyana" (tomorrow) is "Why are there gutters and down for himself and Laurie to follow in their just as good as today. Approximately spouts on the roof? It barely rains here!" married life. After their marriage, Aaron two-and-a-half years later, the home was The answer was, "We have a mikva wing, ready to be moved into, although the and the gutters are to collect the rain Mr. Haber lives in the Flatbush section of Brook lyn. This is his first appearance in these pages. mikva was not ready. People were water to have a kosher mikva." This 20 The Jewish observer, May 2002 response always drew a chuckle and the cally suitable? In December, 1999, as verify that the mikva is kosher, and to reply, "It will take 20 years before you Aaron was leaving on a business trip, teach our friends about Family Purity:' will be able to collect enough water to Rabbi Trieger gave him the O.K. to unplug We were overjoyed to make the trip fill a mikva!" In the meantime Aaron was the downspout and wait for the rains to and see a beautiful mikva, with a sepa working with Rabbi Trieger to find a fill the borot. Aaron called Laurie and gave rate main entrance, a beautiful dressing material to seal the leak, but even he was her instructions on how to do this. room .... By the way, when we flew over experiencing doubts about the project That night a storm appeared and it the island, it was really green - with by now, "Will this project ever end? - started to rain. After two days of con promise and hope. • And, of course, what about the water?" stant rain, Laurie went to see what was To add insult to injury, 1999 was a going on in the mikva. Both borot were year of drought. In November, I 999, overflowing and the water had actual AGEMACH there was a brief rain spell on the island. ly spilled over into the main mikva, Friends called in excitement asking which by this time was already half full. LoANFUND••• Aaron, "Are you getting rain for the Miraculously, it continued to rain until .•• In memory of a loved one mikva?" When he explained about the the entire island turned green. It rained merits them "eternal spout being stopped up and that he so much that there were many places on pleasantness and light to the couldn't even begin to accumulate the the island where lack of adequate soul In Gan Eden.· water until the rabbi gave him permis drainage caused small lakes of accu (Chafetz Chaim} sion, it was too much for anyone to mulated water. The local government lb establish a pel'J)efual Memorial or understand. "That's ridiculous! If you decided to put guppies (small fish) in Honorary Fund at one of our 20 lose the opportunity, you will not get all these "lakes" to control the mosqui brandies across Eretz Ylsrael, contact: more rain till next year, and anyway, it toes, which were starting to accumulate will take many years to fill." around the stagnant water. There was OZER DALIM nothing on record to compare to this. 1301 Avenue K., inally, Aaron found a building In January, we received a phone call Brooklyn, NY 11230 material that worked perfectly to from Aaron and Laurie, "Our borot are (718) 434-2228 Fseal the mikva. But was it halachi- full. Please come down to Curacao to n•~ ,,, THE NEW BAIS YAAKOV SEMINARY Earn MAXIMUM _\}pend the upcoming year within CHINUCHL__.. ~-----·--· M; Outstanding content and quality of training credit for c.::;;::J" the right institution, with the M Prerequisites for training as a SpeecM,Mguage Pathologist Limudei Kodesh right chevrah, with the right content. !'C. Special Education exceptional program in both &"Professional" Umudei Kodesh and General Studies M Challenging program of Lin1 udei Kodesh Courses COMPUTERS;~~~~~~~~~~ M Faculty of Exceptional Caliber M Cutting edge technology M Fully networked M; Weekly Guest Lecturer Series !'«: Learn 4 (or more) Pro, 1' The Jewish Observer, May 2002 21 We put the 11 organize 11 into Organizations. You work tirelessly for Kia! Yisroel. You're involved requirements - completely integrated with the in raising thousands of dollars each year. Do you fundraising features! With no additional know which of your efforts get the best response? programming or setup, V-MANAGER gives you Which fundraisers are most successful? Which dozens of point-and-click reports, as well as a donors need more attention? complete custom report writer -- allowing you to get the information you need right now! Organizations from coast to coast are discover· ing V-MANAGER, the most sophisticated Ready to put the "organize" into your organiza fundraising software system available. tion? The people who depend on you deserve the Organize your contribution, pledge, and bestyoucanoffer: V-MANAGER. billing data. Arrange banquets, journals, event attendance, mail response tracking, Call us. 773-743-7240 or [email protected] and more. The educational version prints report cards and transcripts, tracks tuitions and scholarships, and manages pledge-to-raise REDRAWING THE TORAH MAP OF AMERICA Rabbi Yitzchak Schwartz The Problem cumstances. Yet, the return ofthe entire antor, the halacha states that if a bor Jewish people is a prerequisite to expe rower or trustee does not act on his 3 he sad reality today is that the vast riencing the long-awaited redemption • responsibility to remit money or a majority of Jews in the world borrowed object on time, the lender or Tknow very little about our her What Can We Do About It? owner may then collect from the guar itage. With the exception of Orthodox antor. In our case, the owner is Hashem, communities, most Jews practice only he Sh'la Hakadosh ';>··:.r quotes Rav who is Master of all souls. Everyone of a minimal level of Torah observance. In Shlomo Alkabetz4 7":.r that the us is a trustee for his or her own soul most cases, it is limited to bris mila, spo Tmitzva of returning a lost object to and a guarantor for every other Jewish radic synagogue attendance, and a its owner is not limited to material pos soul. In the event that a Jew fails to bring nominal Pesach seder. Unfortunately, we sessions, but also applies to a person's his neshama closer to his Master have learned to accept this grim state of neshama. In other words, every Jew is through the mitzva of teshuva, Hashem affairs with a shrug of helplessness and obligated to return the lost soul of his may take, in its place, the neshama of any a sigh. Such a reaction is tantamount to Jewish brother or sister to its owner, i.e., guarantor that He desires. And we are acquiescing to the decay of Kial Yisroel all guarantors for those lost neshamos! - an intolerable attitude. The Sh'la Hakadosh explains that it is True, we have been privileged to thus not only incumbent upon us, but see the return of thousands of it is in our own best interest to young people to Torah devote significant time and observance - a phenom thought to how we should act enon that is described as on our obligation to help the Teshuva Movement. our estranged brothers do So there is a bright spot teshuva. The Sh'la then on an otherwise gives an interesting reason gloomy landscape. The as to why it is permissible regrettable truth, how to make an appeal on ever, is that in compar Shabbos for financial sup ison to the millions of port to help fulfill this obli non-observant Jews assim gation: the final redemption is ilating at an ever-increasing being held back until all of the rate, a few thousand returnees a Jewish people do teshuva. year, at best, can hardly constitute a compensatory n1ovement. The Curse Rather than resign ourselves to await Hashem. We are all guarantors for each ing the arrival of Moshiach to rectify this otl1er's neshama, as our sages have taught he Rambam explains the verse unbearable situation, let us see how our us in regard to the passage, "And men will in Ki-Savo, "Cursed is the one sages address this topic. The Rambam1 collapse over each other" ... ( Vayikra Twho does not uphold the states clearly that the final redemption 26,37; see Rashi and Rabbeinu B'chai): Tfiii~hos .Tesh·~-~a 7;·5~--"··----····------... - is predicated upon teshuva; i.e., first Our sages have taught us that each man teshuva and then redemption, leaving no will collapse, i.e. be punished, due to the sins 2 Based upon the discussion in the Talmud San hedrin 97a as to whether the Messiah will come room for ambiguity'. of his fellow man because all fews are only after the Jewish people do teshuva of their It may be difficult to visualize the responsible for one another. The Jewish peo own volition, or that there will be need for probability of all of Kial Yisroel return ple have been likened to a mound of apples. Hashen1 to raise up a tyrant like Haman who will ing to Hashem under the present cir- Just as the entire mound tumbles down prod them to do teshuva by means of evil decrees. One way or another, the Jewish people will do Rabbi Schwartz, Ro5h Hayeshiva ()rchos Chai1n when just one apple is removed, so too the teshuva and subsequently bring about the long in Jerusak:rn, is director of Pathways, an outreach Jewish people-when one ofthem is affiict awaited redemption organization affiliated with Orchos Chain1. The ed, all of them feel the pain, i.e., the entire 3 Based on the opinion of Rebbe Yochanan in the author has created a program that is now being community is punished. Talmud Yon1a 86b. in1ple1nented to address this crucial issue. Details 4 are available at [email protected].. In the classic case of a financial guar- The end of parshas Ki Seitzei --~·- ·-··- -···-···-·····-····--·-···---·--·-··----· The Jewish Observer, May 2002 23 Torah" (Devarim 27,26), in the fol we should be concerned for our own Better yet, let us stop calling it kiruv. lowing manner: "Cursed is the one - welfare at least as much as if we were Let's call it arvus - accountability: We even if he is a complete tzaddik - who cursed by a great tzaddik (chas need to build a strong culture of arvus has the ability [to help J the wicked v'shalom). Why are we not fTightened by in our communities - and we need a [repent and] uphold the Torah, but the implications of ignoring our obli plan of action. does not do sol" gation to help every Jew return to The Chofetz Chaim remarked that if Hashem? The Plan one fears the curse of a holy person, as our sages have taught us, how much Whose Duty Is It To Do Kiruv? !though a major public awareness more so should one fear a curse campaign must be launched to expressed by the holy Torah (ch as :eryone surely ag~ecs that .kiruv is aise public consciousness on v'shalom). The Chofetz Chaim is giving important, even 1mperat1ve, yet this crucial matter, every individual us an important lesson in how to Ethe sacred obligation of kiruv can begin immediately. Most of us understand the Chumash. Whenever the rechokim is not on the front page of the have to ability to share some of the Torah includes a curse in association Orthodox agenda, alongside kashrus, wealth of knowledge that we already with the violation of a commandment, shmiras halashon, tzeddaka, and taharas possess with our less fortunate, but hamishpacha. equally entitled brethren. Unfortu Many a rabbi and layman are under nately, many of us do not fully appre the false impression that kiruv is already ciate the value and power of this wis being taken care of by the organizations dom, and are unaware of the pleasure, that devote themselves to it. All respon inspiration and strength it can bring sible kiruv professionals are in agreement to those who are introduced to its that they cannot possibly reach the vast beauty. This has been verified count majority of unaffiliated Jews due to a less times by those who have had the severe lack of manpower and financial privilege to learn Torah with our 1 copy for resources. less-educated brothers and sisters. $12. There is no monopoly on kiruv. just stop and think: How can we While the Torah does not require all of expect the masses of non-observant 2 copies for us to become professional kiruv work Jews to embrace Torah if they lack $18. ers, it does require each of us to make even the most rudimentary knowledge Yeshiva Fund sure that the job gets done. At the very of Torah, Mishna and Midrash - not !'. O. Box 82, Staten Island, NY 10309 least, we must see to it that every Ortho to mention the foundations of emuna? dox community - with the Rabbanim I would like to offer a list of possi "Two are Better than One" (Kohefes) leading the way- assumes the respon bilities - some tried and true, others "A Friend or Death" (Bava Basra 166) sibility. somewhat innovative - that we could each consider and then use as a means for acting effectively on our arvus for SIXTY YEA HS. our estranged brethren. THOCSA~DS OF LJVES. I. The Rabbis of every commu \ .~jll'\'ial Se{(>rToral1 is lwing 1\ril!P1J for Thi' nity - Roshei Yeshivas, mechanchim Boslorwr lkblH' 10 honm· sixt.' ,H'Hl's of his dws1•d. and mechanchos, on all levels - Make Tlw Bos toner Hehhe's should get out the message of Scfcr Torah Your Sefor Torah. "Arvus: the Kiruv Imperative," and f'm1iripate in f\Jlfilling your obligation lo write a Sr·fpr 'J(w:ih in make a concerted effort to educate _vour lifl'linw hy fHm,hasiHg a pm1 o/'The lkb!w's SPft>r'fom!i. and motivate their congregants to get involved. Kiruv activity in our communities will undoubtedly lhrith p:irsha.,. .,.: ... S~liO() .!\mml ...... ~S·: tjttsuk .. . •• ' <><>0, .. $.Jf\() and inspiration that is so necessary Ll"11'N'.. •• .,., ... ·...... s:m in our shuls. Better yet, make the All cm1trlhntions. <)f $5()1) (•r 11lnfi' il"idwk atl t.r11amrrttei1 ('OJ.).\' community shul the focal point of Of;t1TI1r 1i11r;J~11 m1rl ·~n i1witJJtion Ifni 1iri1nw pre-H:whn%.1~ fkkr most of the kiruv efforts that takes Ttll'l1l1 W"i'l'>lion with tlw. lkhiw. Pl<'a>1•·r.:·s1)tmt\ lwfoft' J1m1; 7, 20:12. place. We simply cannot expect THE BOSTONER SEFER TORAH PROJECT most people to pack off to Israel 1710 !Jel!C(ln St. Brooi ---- ____,, __ ,., ______,. -- ---...... --- 24 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 2. All of us know at least one per Concerns son who has demonstrated some interest in Judaism, but is not yet ou may ask yourself: Why should committed to its observance. He or a successful, well-educated, secu she n1ay be a relative, acquaintance, Ylar Jew be interested in Judaism? co-worker, employee, or neighbor. Doesn't he have his own weltanschau Reach out to one Jew! Even if his ung that rejects our religious values? We make u housecalls" response is less than enthusiastic, The answer may be: "Yes, but it is you have at least made an attempt. more likely than not that he only has a 718)972-4003 Do not be afraid of rejection. This shallow outlook on life, based for the person will almost certainly appre most part upon the transient values of IP. :i-~.,tot- ciate a Shabbos or Yam Tov invita public opinion plus whatever he may 1.. - ib:::i!v . tion, welcome an opportunity to have absorbed from his home:' It is also hear some of the wisdom of Torah, quite likely that he feels a vacuum in his and experience the beauty of its practice. Take it upon yourself to adopt this person as your brother or sis ter (even if it is your brother or sis ter). Offer to learn with him on a AMOTHER AND 8 regular basis (preaching, and offer ing proofs are unnecessary, and at YOUNG CHILDREN LOST THEIR times harmful). Find something in which you both share an interest - FATHER AND HUSBAND. Aday of celebration and Pirkei Avos, Chumash, Talmud, happiness for all turned tragic and lonely for this family whose youngest is only Mussar, Chassidus. You will open up 4 weeks old and whose oldest is only 11. worlds of wisdom that were previ ously sealed off from him. , Join communities across America which are opeing their hearts to assist a 3. The community should when • heartbroken widow and her young orphans. ever possible engage a kiruv coor · This family has no life insurance, no weekly pay check, no income whatsoever. dinator (volunteer or paid profes sional) to oversee all communal The Fund KEREN YESOMIM USHER ANSHEL FUND (tax deductible) has been kiruv activities. Participants should established by nationally renowned Rabbanim and lay leaders to provide the network together with the rabbi family with their basic needs and expenses. and/or kiruv coordinator, and dis cuss difficulties and challenging We need your help and generous support to provide for this family's needs. issues that they deal with. Please do not delay, the family is counting on us Every community should con to insure their future. duct a beginners' service. This is an In the merit of this tzedakah may Kial Yisroel essential program that has proven to be successful. only share in Simchas, good health and 4. Plan communal Shabbatonim, hatzlacha. / bringing interested families togeth er with observant families. This can 6~-- ti1~CJi 9{~ be a tremendous source of bonding Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky Rabbi Eli 0. Wachtfogel and inspiration for all concerned. Often one can achieve more in one M('';'I ,,.ft r' ·>Jlc Shabbaton than in an entire year of kiruv work. Individuals and fami I Rabbi Ephraim S. Wachsman lies can then be networked into the shul to become full members of the community. This stage requires special skills that most laymen do not have. The Rabbi must be inti mately involved. life for lack of any genuine spiritual con riage, when it flourishes through laws of correctness, and philosophical rela tent Think for a moment what modern modesty, fidelity, and mutual respect. tivism. The security of a strong tradition secular culture does not have to offer, The emphasis on kibbud av v'eim - that will not shift with the sands of time, then present the fulfillment experienced respect and positive communication offering a sense of stability and conti in a Torah life, and invite him to witness between parents and children. Recog nuity with our history, our existence, and it, to taste it. Each point, on its own, is nition of honoring elders, and how our future. worth mentioning, and possibly much there is to learn from the previ Spirituality, sanctity, raison d'etre dwelling on, when the occasion permits. ous generation! We have a purpose and important Shabbosand Yorn Tov- respite from function in this world; we can live a life Prayer - How powerful and mean the rat-race that modern society impos that has meaning beyond the emptiness ingful is a tefilla with kavanal What a gift es upon us; time to think and be reflec of coarse materialism. it is to have a direct line of communi tive of the deeper and more meaning Tradition and continuity - the cation with our Creator whenever we ful aspects of life; quality-time for strength, stability, and security of our chose to speak with Him, in addition to family bonding. time-honored heritage. our strength-building regimen of tefilla Rock-solid ethics, morals and laws - Eternity-What a refreshing concept b'tzibbur three times a day. objective truths that withstand the when faced with the darkness of our Family Values - The beauty of mar- vicissitudes of public opinion, political mortality! The list goes on and on .... With a message so timely, so relevant, and so Rabbi Shlomo Besser & Mrs. Aliza (Besser) Grund vital, we should not procrastinate. We Invite you to join them and have so much to offer. For millions of Jews, this may be their last opportunity to be reconnected with our people. The chances of them I,ive fl I,earn intermarrying or simply assimilating into spiritual oblivion is more likely than AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE IN EXPLORING OUR HERITAGE not. .. Time is running out. IN EASTERN EUROPE The Blessing TOUR A TOURB TOURC "The name of Heaven is elevated JUNE 30-JULY 09 JULY 29-AUGUST 8 AUGUST4-15 and sanctified when the wicked return POIANDU POLAND/CZECH REP. CZECH REP. to Hashem and they are included SLOVAKIA/HUNGARY among the community of the right C7J!'CRREe HUNGARY Warsaw/Ger/Luhlin-Majdanek/ For Women & Girls eous!"5 Tour A Plus Bardajuv-Presov-Koske Kot~k!Lancul/Lizensk/Dynow/ SLOVAKIA e must remember the anguish Rymanow/RzeszQw/Sanz/ Ujhel-Kerestur-Kalov-Bratislava-Budaprst Krakow/Anschwitz/Radomsk WE ARE VERY PlE.\SED TO BEJOl"iED BY: POLAND and pain of the Shechina over Prague!Iereinzenstad1/Mikulov MRS. BLJME BIRNBAUM Same Itinerary as Tour B these lost precious neshamos. Trcbitsch/Brno (in reverse "rder) W NOTED MECllANECH£S & LECTURER In contrast, let us consider the tre1nen 1TlNEAAAY & OATES ARE -.SUBJECT TO CHANGE Inquiries Welcome TOQRl HATUU; dous sanctification of Hashem's name From Euro,,e E.r Israel Expert guides • Lecturers and educators who will enhance our when our Jewish brothers and sisters programs with shiurim & commentary. Family f.( Partial :Round trip air • Superior accommodations • 3 meals a return to our Creator! The joy and hap Programs Availdble day • Air conditioned buses • Man extras piness that we can bring to Hashem yis INTRODUCING OUR SPECIAL C1J01'i l'" TRIP, FOR BEIS MEDRASH BOCHURIM (18+) borach by restoring these holy souls to their original splendor is unimaginable. July Z1·Aug. 1 / OK COlo J''O-O .. , • LITHUANIA·POLAND-UKRAINE There can be no greater blessing for our Sites in Poland as above, plus Vilna, Radin, Volozin, Lvov, Mezibezh, Zhitomer, Uman, Berditchev, Anipoli, Polnoye, Ziditchov, Komarno, Belz communities than the merit of kiddush Hashem! We will be privileged to be joined by the renowned Marbitz Torah, The Talmud6 teaches us that wherever K"tti"?W 1iK'V Ci1i:J.K :lii1 .:i"nin the Torah threatens a curse for those and the renowned Mechanech, l'l"t:i'7t7 t:ll))D'l> 901' D17t7 :i;;i who violate its mitzvos, it promises a Program Directed by: Rabbi Sh!omo Besser blessing for those who fulfill them. • For furthtt informatfon, plea,c;e eontad: MRS. ALIZA GRUND Tel: 718-258~0709 •Fu: 718»25'8..0243 • E-m'ail: voyagc:[email protected] 5 Rabb~inu B~~h:;i, She~~os Ch.3o---·--·-- Ol!R1\iA/\-fI SPl-\KSJORl1Sil1 . OVIR ~6llARS:OJ IXPlRIENC[. 6 Sota 37 ----··--·~---~··---.... --··--· ·--·-- .~------·---····-----···----- 26 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 Practical methodologies to teach both Dmim and Tefila in an interestmg, informative. and motivating manoe.r Instructor: Rabbi Dov Leibenstein. Educationa! Supervisor 8. TEACHING GEMORAH How to systematically present the Gernornh develop thinking skil!s, and build language sk\\\s Instructor: Rabbi Menachum Meisels, Rebbi Hebrew Academy of Cleveland. Cleveland Heights. Ohio 9. LEARNING TD REMEMBER The course wr!I demonstrate how to select material to be committed to long term memory. how to set it up !or easy rnemorization. and how lo deve\op a system that will l1elp students remember and understand what they learn. Instructor: Rabbi Zev Meiseis: Menahel. Joan Sachs Bais Yaakov-Yeshivas T1feres Tzvi: Chicago. IL 10. TEAMING UP FOR DISCIPLINE A comprehensive _a_pproach to classroom di_scipline beginnlflg wiih classroom management. and including effective ·,ndus1on oi parents and adrnm1straJ;on. Instructor: Rabbi Zev Meisels: Menat1el. Joan Bachs Sais Yaakov·Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi· Chicago, IL 11. TEACHING CHUMASH TO THE OLDER CHILD Prac't!Cal and motivational iechniques to incrnase translating skills ancJ comprehension proficiency. (Grade 4 and up) fnstwctor.- Rabbi Menachum Meiseis, Rebbi Hebrew Academy ol Cleveland Cieveiand He:ghts. Oho 12. TEACHING PRIMARY GRADES p1·act•ca: techrnques to help the child !earn the sl !r:structor: Rabbi lvb1she Bak. Dean. Yeshiva fi,1er·kaz Hatoral\'FUJ. Sta~en Island, NY 15. THE ART OF TEACHING Learn the basic eien 15. THE ART 4. DISCIPLINE THROUGH 1O. TEAMING UP OF TEACHING 17. THE ACTIVE LEARNING PROCESS COMMUNICATION FOR DISCIPLINE 10voive your students .so that .1hey will ex_y.-orience tbe jcy ol 16. TEACHING NAVI anc be an aclive part1c•pa1111n the learning process t :inlt:J 11n:ir.:i instructor Rabbi Moishe Bak, Dean. Yeshiva MerKaz Hato1ah,HJJ. Staten ' Island. NY 5. MAKING PARENTS YOUR 18. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT BIGGEST SUPPORTERS 11. TEACHING CHUMASH 17. THE ACTIVE LEARNING Learn how to s!ructure the ciassroom seti1ng throuql: management 6. PRINCIPALS'/ i- TO THE OLDER CHILO PROCESS techn1que2, and classroom atfr-'t-1des :n order to produce a pos11ive lean 1ng ADMINISTRATORS' SEMINAR 12. TEACHJNG 18. CLASSROOM at:nosphere. 7. MAKING D!N!M ANO TEF!lA PRIMARY GRADES MANAGEMENT fnstruelc:r: G.abbi Shatom Storch". Uera11ei Yeshtvos Nesi0os Oi1r MEANINGFUL I ' Lakewood. NJ Attendance of Summer Seminar is credited towards Torah Umesorah Yeshiva Teachers Lakewood, NJSeminar catslcill Mountain Seminar License. A certificate is awarded upon completion All sessiOns will take place In the-Capital Hote1!; Roi.tte'9 Lake'Wood;- of a m·inimum of three courses. 1 NJ THE ART Of'. TEACHING 11-10 PM (Mineha ~:45-Maaflv 10:001 For more information tncrease your mot!vafronal sK!Us,- st_udenf about courses and fees, please contact TlittiOn SchedU!e:'$100 pet course. Rei:ilstratirin wllt take plat(! afth6 door. involvement and c!arfty,ot_ pres&ritation of Rabbi Yltzchak Merkin or RabbJ Shmarya Rennert, yout lesson, c/o Torah Umesorah Summer Seminar, DISCIPLINE THE ART OFTEACHl.N.G !NsrRuGroR: Rabbt YitzChcik Metkln, Mena.he!, 160 Broadway, NY 10038, THROUGH HASHPOAH increase your motlvat!ona!,,sl5ms, YeShiva Of Greater VVashlngto11, (212) 221-1000 ext 10 Fax (212) 406-6934 Learn how· to handle dlsclpfine s_tudent rnvolvernent_ and c1anty Of SHverSp1ings, MD prob!etns whfle being- Mashpiya_on rumoN SCHEDULE _preserw.:itlon -o1 ~our_!e~son. PLACr: Ohev Shalomlf.aureltedgeVilla, your Ta!mlditn. lM.frRUCl'OR: 'Rabb! Yitz.chok 700 Laurel Ave" Fallsburg. NY No. of lNSTRUCTOR-: Rabbi Zev_ Katt, Prlndpal Courses 1 2 3 '10 M_erkin 1_M_e:nahEH_,_Ytis1Jtva-oi July 22,.23, 24, .25 for each --"_Judaic Dept, Yeshiva of Greater Greater W.ashi_ngton, SiJver IMO PM (Mln~ha 7:45) Clly Time Tuition i180 s260 $340 add'! course wash_lngton, _saver Spr,t,ngs, MD Springs, MD -·· .1--_ iuifiot1:i$u'itt1erwtittel'I. Tht!ftria: a $5o teg1slralion .fefl P&Yable_at ttUHirst S&SSIC)n. Registration Fee~ $25 July~, 3, 4, 5 July 8, 9, 10, 11 Registration will take place at the door, Fj~Wllttake_piaceatthlitl®t. Head in the Sand? ilies welcomed me into their homes and na, didn't know Yaakov Aveinu wasAvra showed me what a Jewish life is all ham's grandson - but he wanted to was a recent speaker at the Hineni about. All the seminars in the world know, and that's all we needed. Tuesday night lecture. The Rebbitzen don't equal one good Shabbos table, Have you ever had the wonderful I started this class a few years ago with trust me. Welcome an unknowing Jew experience of going to a chatuna where a half dozen women in her home. Last into your home, let them see your Shab the kalla, who until a few years ago, Tuesday there were fifteen hundred peo bos table, the glow of your candles, the never experienced a single Shabbat, who ple, all with Chumash in hand. Aish sound of your Kiddush. Let them hear didn't know that the Jewish women Hatorah, Ohr Somayach, Machon Shlo your eight-and ten-year olds give their saved the Jews in Egypt, had never mo, and hundreds of other outreach d'var Torah while trying nervously not learned that Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and institutions all started with a handful of to look at their homework sheets. Let Leah had all guided the Jewish people students; now there isn't one of us who them talk to your 14-year-old son through wisdom and their kindness. doesn't know a friend or relative who who's the first teenage mentsch they've And now this kalla, a model of tzenius, hasn't been through their doors. ever met. is renowned for her knowledge of new So is it time to celebrate? Only if you Don't be afraid that they'll be a bad kosher products, and teaches young believe we have done all that we can to influence on your children, instead women how to have Shabbos in their bring about this Torah revolution. And realize that their coming to your home home. I have seen such a kalla; she if you believe that, then you are truly liv to observe and learn from you and your walked around me seven times under ing with your head firmly embedded in family is the greatest endorsement of the our chuppa. the sand. While the growth of those values you have taught your children returning to Torah has been remarkable, that you could possibly have. Your chil The Miracle of Our Times we have not kept up with those we lose dren will realize that these adults are every day - intermarriage by inter coming to learn from them. This is clearly the miracle of our marriage, lousy afternoon Hebrew Yes, it's possible that a young lady times and it is yours to take part in. Let school by lousy Hebrew school, college might come to your home carrying her me ask one crucial question to help us dorm by college dorm. We are losing pocketbook, or that a young man might understand how important kiruv is to more than we are saving, and I can't not be wearing a yarmalka. But instead the Almighty: Why did Hashem choose believe that is Hashem's desire. Who will of these young Jews being in a bar or at Abraham to be the first Jew, and that all serve as the shaliach for Hashem in a movie, they are in your home experi blessing would come through his off returning His children home? We in the encing Shabbat, and for that, I truly believe spring? Some think it's because he dis frum world, that's who. We who know Hashem will take care of your family, covered Hashem. But we know that can't the beauty of a life of Torah will be held because you have taken care of His. be true because Hashem had a sub accountable. stantial relationship with Noah. The I live on Manhattan's Upper West The Joy of Watching Them Grow Commentators tell us that Noah was a Side. While I believe it is the most won good man, who did what Hashem told derful community of Jews I have ever he joy of watching these people him to but did not try hard enough to known and I am humbled by the gen grow into the beautiful Jewish change the world around him. Abraham, erosity and hospitality I have seen fam Tneshamos they didn't even know on the other hand, tried to reach out to ilies there show to people new to Torah, they had, is indescribable. I have sat at wed all of mankind, even trying to save I am also deeply disappointed at the dings so many times watching a cha tan in Sodom from destruction. Because Abra number of frum people who are not his kittel davening under his chuppa, ham reached out, because he cared, he reaching out. remembering the first time he came to me became the first Jew, Hashem's source of I am frum today, because frum fam or my friend's home for Shabbat He knew blessing in this world. Robert J. Kurtz is a former writer for several nothing then, had never washed for The Torah is clear on what Hashem prime time television sit-corns. This is his first bread, didn't know every Jew builds their wants from us. The question is, will we appearance in these pages. own sukka, had never heard of the Mish- respond? • The Jewish Observer, May 2002 29 REDRAWING THE TORAH MAP OF AMERICA Rabbi Aaron Brafman Reb ShraCJa ieivel Mendlowitz, J 0 ~r A Review Article Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, ':>"Oil, The thrive when Mr. Mendlowitz assumed In this, as in his every effort, Reb Architect of Torah in America, by the principalship in 1923. After seeing Shraga Feivel was able to combine and Jonathan Rosenblum, (Mesorah Pub!. many of the graduates of s•h grade being embody many contrasting programs Ltd., Brooklyn, NY, 2001 $24.99 h.c., lost to Yiddishkeit, he decided in 1926 and concepts, for his motives were total $21.99 s.c.) that it was imperative to start a high ly l~hem Shamayim. school that September. Aside from Similarly, he conjoined the analytic The Sheer Magnitude and Immense Scope financial and social pressures, which study of Talmud of the Lithuanian made the opening difficult, Reb Shra yeshivas with the warmth and fervor of his writer, who was a talmid in ga Feive1 was launching a revolutionary Chassidus. Reb Shraga Feivel studied and Yeshiva Torah Vodaath from I" step in Torah education by combining taught diverse sefarim from various Tgrade through Kolle/, and then a a Torah education of an Eastern Euro streams of thought, weaving a tapestry rebbi there for three years, realized upon pean-style yeshiva with high-school of different thinkers from across the reading this book how much of his atti level secular education, in the afternoon. spectrum of Torah: Moreh Nevuchim tude towards Yiddishkeit, chinuch, and If one reads his correspondence with and Maharal, Rabbi Samson Raphael Kial Yisroel were shaped by Mr. Mend Hirsch and Sfas Emes, Reb Tzaddok and lowitz ?"~l. Although I was too young Reb Yerucham of Mir, Tanya and Nefesh to have known him, his legacy was trans Hachaim. To him, they embodied a col mitted to me and others through his What was and what lective insight into Taras Hashem, and talmidim, Rabbi Nesanel Quinn N"'""'1!1, • as a result of his effort, became integral Rabbi Gedalya Schorr ':>"Oil and Rabbi IS. parts of his personality. Avraham Pam ?"Oil. Even Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky ?"Oil, who was of a com Sense of Mission pletely different background, never What did he have theless embodied and transmitted many b Shraga Feivel was concerned of Reb Feivel's ideals and attitudes. to say. bout Kial Yisroel and always One is struck by the sheer magnitude lliemanded of others to share that and scope of Reb Shraga Feivel's accom concern, and to devote their time and plishment, particularly when one reads of What might he say energy to serve the needs of Kial Yisroel. the strong opposition he faced every step As an outgrowth, he was one of the piv of the way from an at-best apathetic and today. otal personalities in hatzala work dur sometimes hostile Jewish community. ing World War II, and inspired and Reb Shraga Feivel shaped Torah directed Mike Tress and Rabbi Gedalya Vodaath first by turning the elementary European Torah authorities carefully, Schorr along with key baalei battim in school into a frum yeshiva and eventu one sees that he received begrudging their hatzala work. ally adding a mesivta. This was at a time approval from Gedolei Hadorin Europe, Reb Shraga Feivel was keenly aware when most Jewish children from reli Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski and the of the need for kosher reading materi gious homes went to public schools, at Rogatchover, as a hora'as sha'a- a spe al and English hashkafa sefarim, as well a time when most parents were obsessed cial dispensation in view of the unique as newspapers, which motivated him to in their concern that their children situation in America, taking into publish at great financial sacrifice Dos "make it" in American society, and account its compulsory education laws. Yiddishe Licht (The Light of Israel), looked away from their growing laxity The courage and conviction to do so which contained English articles as in shemiras Shabbos and mitzvos. probably secured Torah in America, and well, by Dr. Leo Jung. He tried to use this Founded in 1918 through the super formed the groundwork for much that as a vehicle to combat the general Yid human determination of Mr. Biny followed. (This is similar to Sara Schenir dish papers, which were under the omin Wilhelm, Torah Vodaath began to er's revolutionary step of starting formal control of Socialists and Secular Zion Bais Yaakov education for girls in East ists. He had Marcus Lehman's histori Rabbi Brafman, 1nenahel of Yeshiva Dercch Ayson ern Europe.) Reb Shraga Feivel then went cal novels translated into English, as well. of Far Rockaway, NY, is a contributing editor to The Jewish Observer. His most recent essay in JO on to build a beis midrash where gedolei He would have danced for joy had he was "Freedom vs. Limits" Jan '00. roshei yeshiva were n1aggidei shiur. seen the various catalogues of Judaica ------··------30 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 and the hundreds of sefarim and books In addition, Reb Shraga Feivel had a remains in galus:' And he could not con available today to the English-reading passionate commitment to Torah and tinue. (page 110) public. He would wonder how, with all Yiddishkeit. His classes and vaadim As he was able to combine the mes that is being published, there are still so (small discussion groups) in the numer sages of different sefarim, so too could many Jews who do not avail themselves ous sefarim he taught were never dry, but he blend together and yet differentiate of the many works in every area of Torah brimming full of emotion, throbbing between various ideas and distinct peo and hashkafa that exist. with an effort to inculcate their teach ple. Similarly, Reh Shraga Feivel found ings within himself and his talmidim. Reh Shraga Feivel was strongly ed Torah Umesorah, with the mission One day, he was teaching Tehillim 84, opposed to secular Zionism, yet had a to open day schools in all communities which expresses passion for aiding and building Eretz Yis of 5,000 Jewish souls or more. It was roel. He rejected Mizrachi, but helped Torah Umesorah's assigned task to lit establish Bnei Brak (where he is buried), erally go out and canvass children for and through his late son-in-law, Rabbi yeshivas. Alexander Linchner, realized the dream He opened the first summer ca1np to of building Boys Town in Jerusalem. learn and relax in a sylvan setting - Though a passionate anti-Zionist, he Camp Mesivta, which took yeshiva saw a special blessing of Hashem in the bachurim out of the city and its nega establishment of the State as a vehicle tive influences to the Catskills. In the of Hakadosh Baruch Hu's plan, precise early years, he did the food preparation ly so the non-religious retain their himself, and personally opened the connection to Kial Yisroel. He told his talmidim's eyes and hearts to appreci talmidim, "If I were your age, I would ate the marvels of the world that Haka take a gun and go to Eretz Yisroel." At the dosh Baruch Hu created. same time, he worried about the effect He founded Aish Dos - a teacher boys' learning to shoot and kill would training institute to prepare young have on their Jewish soul. yeshiva men to be mechanchim. His last weeks were very revealing He dispatched Torah Vodaath the Jew's eternal about his lifelong passion and emotional talmidim to help launch the yeshivas of yearning to return to Yerushalayim and involvement with Kial Yisroel: Telshe, Lakewood, Nitra and Yeshivas the Beis Hamidkash. David Hamelech Two weeks after the declaration of the Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin as talmidim; and says, "Even the sparrow finds a dwelling, State of Israel, the Jewish Quarter and the in a time when funds were very difficult and the swallow its nest:' The tears ran Western Wall were captured by the Arabs: to raise, he directed some of his wealthy down his cheeks, as he lamented, 1'here were 111any captives taken as well as board members to help other yeshivas "Everything has its place except for the a number of casualties. During bentching - such as Mr. Benzion Fruchthandler to Shechina (the Divine Presence), which on Friday night, upon reaching the words help Chaim Berlin. II Jewish Roads Lead to New Have Profile of an Inspiring Personality Welcoming Yeshiva Community hat were the elements of his • Appealing Mikvah personality that made him so • Friendly Shuls W inspiring? The san1e as the 0 • Kosher Eateries qualities that mark all truly inspiring • 90 Minutes from New York, manhigei Yisroel (Jewish leaders): A ""f 'f easy access by car, train & bus strong emuna (faith) aud bitachon Excellent Chinuch (trust in Hashem), an unswerving love • Yeshiva Elementary School for truth) along with uncompromising • Tuition" Bonus Affordable Housing honesty when it came to money, a lack • Mesivta • Down Payment Loans " of concern for material wealth and • Beautiful Beis Medrash & Grants ,' ,,., 1naterial success, and true humility, • Kolle! in Formation • Subsidized ' ' ' , shunning the spotlight. Reh Shraga Apartment Rentals ,,..., Feivel had all of these. The simplicity • Attractive Housing Stock with which he lived, never sitting in a place of honor, shunning public acclaim Yeshiva of New Haven - these were all his legacy. 765 Elm St. • New Haven, CT 06511 203·786-3096 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 31 ''n'V 0>""'11> ?vi ir.iv 'm-ren ?v ... N.l cm - broke out in uncontrollable sobbing, which after Churban Europe. He would cer Have mercy, Hashem, on Israel, Your brought on a massive heart attack. Being tainly be overjoyed by the many dif nation, and on Jerusalem, Your city," he confined to his bed in an oxygen tent, he ferent Chassidic courts that have re could be seen beating his fists on the side of established their dynasties and his bed, saying, 'Voss vet zein mit Eretz Yis expanded their institutions on a scale Digest of Meforshim roel! What will be with Eretz Yisroel !" greater than before. He would take pride in the 600 day '"1i77 in:i '"1i77 Today: From the Perspective schools established throughout the U.S., 7"llT •vv?N 7Nlr.re> l";n;ir.i of Sixty Years Ago affiliated with Torah Umesorah. Available at He would be immensely proud of the LEKUTEI f Reb Shraga Feivel would return hundreds of bachurim who give up their l/o Yitzchok Rosenberg today, he would be witness to how summer bein hazmanim (intersession) 1445 54th Street Brooklyn, NY ]]219-4228 I so many of his dreams have become to teach and be mekarev their brethren 718-851-5298 reality. He would be overjoyed by much in over 50 cities as part of Torah Ume 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, of what he would see, and pained by sorah's SEED program. Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. other things. He would be overjoyed by Undoubtedly, he would also be pained Proceeds of sales distributed a1nong the number of yeshivas, shuls and kol by much that he would see, as well. Yeshivos and used for reprinting of lelim servicing our communities. He Reb Shraga Feivel was an uncom volumes out-of-print would be amazed by the thousands of promising ish ha'emes, a man of truth PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME kollel yungeleit and the thousands of and humility in all his dealings. He baalei battim learning Daf Hayomi, in abhorred money and the pursuit oflux joining different learning groups early ury, which he saw as a corrupting in the morning, afternoon or night. influence. He never saved money, or In his day, children were abandoning took more in salary than he required for Torah and Yiddishkeit. By contrast, he his basic needs, giving and directing all would be thrilled today by the number of his monies to tzeddaka. He implant • Each Daf is read, of younger people who have advanced ed this attitude in many of his talmidim, translated, and explained beyond their parents' generation's level who reflected this lifestyle, and viewed slowly and clearly in just in Torah study and dikduk b'mitzvos. all their talents and possessions as uo 20 minutes He was always concerned about more than a blessing from Hashem • $4 per tape (plus S&H) • Subscription rate: $3 per tape implanting Chassidus in his talmidim, invested in them to be used to help oth (plus S&H) and indeed was one of the first to con ers. (A most recent notable example was tribute large sums of money to both the Rabbi Avraham Pam 7":.rr.) He would Satmar Rav and the Klausenberger thus be appalled at the vast sums of Rebbe, upon their arrival in America monies being spent on luxury and overindulgence. He would probably say to us, Forget about whether it's per missible or not; think of what you might accomplish with all the money you allo cate on unnecessary luxury. (Let's grant everyone the right to invest in quality and reasonably comfortable living.) Counseling for He tried desperately to fulfill the command of "Hatzne'a Zeches im At-Risk Youth Hashem Elokecha - to do things in a and for issues related to humble, hidden manner," and shunned Shiduchim and Shalom Bayis sitting at the dais during the Chanukas Habayis of the new Mesivta build ing .... When his talmidim placed an ad in the Jewish Morning Journal upon the Jules Brotsky, A.c.s.w. engagement of his son, he protested, 35 Years experience "Why do they have to make a show out 908-289-0 ... of everything? Whose business is it that o ... I made a shidduch for my son?" Licensed in NY & NJ Elizabeth, N. J. Endorsed by Rabbonim He would be distressed at the 32 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 dropout problem. But I would venture action and to teshuva. He would have that his response would not be to label possibly asked, as he did during World them and give them subculture status. War II, How can you go about with your He would most likely see a great part nonnal indulgences and nonsense ivhen of the problem as emanating from the Kial Yisroel is in such an eis tzara - a 28 Weaver Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 tilne of crisis - and there have been so attraction of the decadent culture sur Tel.: (401) 849-0051 •Fax: (401) 847-5902 rounding us, and would stress the need many korbanos already? He would www.kosherbedandbreakfast.com to develop and inculcate more yiras have demanded and shown by exam Shan1ayin1 as well as a passion and love ple that we must change and do Enjoy the freedom and convenience of a for Yiddishkeit in our homes and in our something real to empathize with kosher guesthouse, located only minutes away from yeshivas, as he did in his talmidim. our brothers in Bretz Yisroel, and the Touro Synagogue, He would delight in the flourishing bring ourselves to teshuva. the oldest synagogue of the thousands of bachurim in yeshiv "What is the most important thing in North America as here and in Bretz Yisroel; the amaz in life?" he asked his talmidim. "It's chesh Group discount available for 5imdios and Shabbos ing proliferation of sefarim and kolle bon - to judge honestly if one is living For reservations call: 1-888-465-0051 lim dedicated to all parts of Torah; the up to his potential" (page 203 ). Perhaps recent publishing of sefarim here and as a community, we have to ask ourselves in Bretz Yisroel on Taharos- a seder that that question in the area of our pursuit Uncle Moishy, has hardly been studied in recent his of luxury and self-indulgences. Mordechai Ben David, tory. He would point to the many Among his many accomplishments and other top-of-the-line sefarim in English on all the intricate was spearheading the start of Bais topics of halacha - Shabbos, Yam Tov, Yaakov for educating Jewish daughters, Jewish enterJainers Berachos, Kashrus, Nidda. in Williamsburg. He brought his two are available He would point with pride to the daughters to Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan to visit many kollel wives who work and raise ;rv, and with that the Seminary began. families at great sacrifice of time and When Rebbetzin Kaplan asked Reb seriously ill wealth so their husbands should learn Shraga Feivel what the focus of her mes children thanks to at levels never imagined in his time. sage to her students should be, he mnnmw And not just in the metropolitan replied, "They should avoid luxuries:' ,,,,,,,.,,,., New York and New Jersey area or How far have we come? Perhaps we can ~ :im» ., mmn major Jewish centers, such as Los make a cheshbon in regard to today's AChessed project tun by Agudath lsratl of America Angeles or Toronto, but throughout matzav in Bretz Yisroel as to what we are iii conjtmctlon with America - from Cincinnati to Hous really supposed to do with our unprece Suki & Ding Productions ton, Palo Alto to Minneapolis, and dented wealth in America. What we To set up ah al'J'Clintment, ca!!! (212)791·9000 Ext.235 I M·F, 9. dozens of other such cities that are really need is heart. • thirsting for Torah. What would Reb Shraga Feivel do in reference to the situation of his beloved Eretz Yisroel? I am sure that he Jonah's Fashion Inc. would have raised a storm and mobi lized us to rally all of Kial Yisroel to • We make skirts.. and jumpers, solids and plaids, from size 5 thru junior and pre-teens • Bais Yaacov blouses made from our own custom made (extra heavy) material •. Ji'ab~l~~fej~>·.· •...••.•. >;·> )~·{ Home: •.. (718) ~38'-1765 P er: (917). 486"5655 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 33 as a sign of openness, honesty, and whom they love so dearly, do whatever acceptance. We are big boys and girls they can to evaluate their child's needs, now. despite the possibility of stigma? I think However, what we can't handle is the that most mature parents would realize patronizing kid-glove sensitivity and that in the long run, dealing with the real separateness that Rabbi Horowitz's arti issues is a lot healthier than avoiding the cle advocates. Task forces, special B.T. stigma. And a child whose issues were education, special Rabbanim (what is confronted has a much greater chance regular daas Torah about, if not to of overcoming them, than one whose "KILLING" BA'ALEI TESHUVA WITH address unusual situations?) - all of it parents know deep down that he has MISPLACED CONCERN is horrific. But the message given to our issues, but were reluctant to deal with friends and community, namely, hands them. To the Editor off-don't ·touch -leave-it· to· the-experts The real question is, are there really In our community there is an office - this is the most appalling of all. so many issues? All I can say is, based building with a four foot yellow sign But it gets worse. For those of us with on many years of following the progress proclaiming"Attention Deficit Disorders children in the parsha of shidduchim of many hundreds of young men as they Clinic." I have always thought that any (which truly is a murky and sometime grow in Torah and Yiddishkeit, and go help a child could get there would sure· bizarre world for anyone), this inaccu· on to start families and raise children ly be negated by the experience and stig· rate portrayal of B.T. families as people within the frum community, many dif ma of walking into that building. In your fraught with difficulties, trauma, and ficult situations could have been avoid series of articles on ba' alei teshuva, it inept child-raising is unjustified and ed had there been more sensitivity to the seems to me that you have performed extremely dangerous. Sure, any sane par specific needs and challenges that ba' alei a similar disservice to all ba'alei teshu ent will conclude, these are holy and teshuva face. va, and to your entire readership. noble people, but to consider such a Of course, many, many ba'alei teshu By highlighting isolated pockets of Complicated Situation for my child? I va have been able to integrate smooth· dysfunction, you have portrayed a don't think so. ly into the yeshiva and Chassidic com murky and bizarre "World of the Ba' al And to close the series of articles by munities. The episode that the writer Teshuva" (Dec. '01) that is frightening calling for "integration into the fabric describes concerning her husband is a and inaccurate. How many ba'alei teshu of Kial YisroeI'' is bitter irony. When? remarkable testimony to his character va are not emotionally ready for rela· After three generations? and secure sense of identity. But it is my tionships because of the crippling effects Please set the record straight. If the feeling that relatively few ba'alei teshu of secular society? Not so many. How ba'al teshuva families you know "seem vacould walk away from that kind of sit· many parents of ba'alei teshuva greet the to be doing all right," in the vast major uation so gracefully. news of an einekel with a "tepid ity of cases, it's because they are. So often, the very significant changes response"? (In fact, this event is uni NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST in thought, feelings, and action that are versally a catalyst for closeness and heal part of the process of teshuva are ing.) Most of your situations are RABBI KOKIS RESPONDS: accompanied by pressures to conform extreme and far from the norm. Are externally to "fit in" to the frum com· deviations from the high school uniform First of all, let me say clearly that the munity. This conformity in dress and and misbehavior at the Shabbos table intention of my article in particular, and behavior often becomes a substitute for confined to B.T.s' children? I think not. I believe the series of articles in gener the gradual but genuine development And any parents who can't keep up with al, was not to paint "all ba' alei teshuva" that would very likely address the real their fourth grader should go back and as being a "murky and bizarre" popu· issues of adjustment more effectively. learn more. lation. What was addressed is an all-too· This does not mean that ba' alei We ba'alei teshuva can handle a lot. common tendency to avoid acknowl teshuva are destined to remain a sepa We can survive insensitive chavrusas and edging and understanding the real rate" shevet." There is no question that bad advice from friends who just don't issues that often accompany the process the goal of chinuch for ba'alei teshuva is understand. And worse. Many years ago, of teshuva. to mainstream smoothly and seamless my husband was involved in an over To use the writer's analogy, a promi· ly into the Torah community. But heated argument about a Lakewood nent sign about an Attention Deficit mainstreaming is just that: a goal. It is community matter, with both sides treatment center might indeed be stig· not the method through which the goal going for the jugular, when someone matizing. But how should concerned is achieved. spat out at him, "They should have left parents react if they suspect that their In a personal conversation several you frei!" My husband laughed and for child could benefit from this service? years ago, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe K"'O''nl got about it, but I treasure the incident Should they not, for the sake of the child described with real anguish how many ------.. -·------34 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 problems of shalom bayis, chinuch in a healthy and nurturing environment. habanin1, etc., are the results of choic Ultimately, this is much more important es that should have heen made with than whether the parents are ba'alei more attention to the specific needs of teshuva or not. And an important com the individuals involved, as ba' alei ponent in creating that kind of envi teshuva. ronment is a family's ability to deal hon estly with the specific contours of their Sufficient Honesty to Recognize Challenges life. The goal of discussing these issues in It goes without saying that ba'alei a public forum was to help more and 1537 50th Street, teshuva aren't the only ones who have more families become "engaged)) in this Brooklyn, NY 11219 issues. But each part of the communi· process. ty has to be honest enough to under· RABBI BENTZION KOKIS (718) 854-2911 stand the nature of its specific chal lenges. For example, a cheder or Bais Yaakov student whose grandparents, aunts and unc1es and cousins aren't reli gious (or Jewish, for that matter), has to Subscribe or gi,ve a gi,ft of have sensitive guidance about relating to their relatives. And the grandchildren often can't look to their own parents for The Jewish Obseroer that guidance, because the mother and father themselves may be struggling with the same relationships. and $ave! A mother once told me that her ele WHY NOT GIVE OR GET A PRESENT mentary-school aged daughter said to THAT WILL LAST AN ENTIRE YFAR? her one day, "Mommy, you're a giyores, right?" The surprised mother answered, Subscribe, or give a gift at these reduced prices "No. Why do you say that?" The young and The Jewish Observer- filled with the views girl answered innocently, "Because Grandma and Grandpa aren't Jewish." of leading Torah thinkers on current issues- will be What probably happened was that a delivered each 1nonth, directly to your door. teacher spoke about "living in a Jewish 'Ibe longer you subscribe for, the larger yotu- savings. way;' which meant Shabbos, kashrus, etc. And the child made the simple calcula ()f course. this offer is unconditionally guaranteed; tion that her grandparents don't live like you 111ay cancel at any tirne and receive a refund for that, so .... an undelivered copies. What this means, I believe, is that a So order today, and the very next issue will he on secure sense of identity and self-defini its way to you as soon as possible. tion, which is obviously crucial in a child's progress and development, don't ------necessarily come automatically for the children of ba'alei teshuva. (At the risk 0 YES, I want to take advantage or dris n1oncy saving offer! Enter n1y order as follows: U ~ELF U GIFT Nana ______of repeating 1nyself, of course there are !;SA •rnc1':'Jm: ONl.Y I'S~ exceptions, and likewise children of non \ddnss _____ ------0 3 years Cover Price $ l OS Your cost $60 $96 ba'alei teshuva families also may have Cit)- ______this challenge for various reasons. But Cl 2 years Covf'r PricP $70 Your rost $44 $68 the better we understand the configu CJ ] Yt' ------The Jewish Observer, May 2002 35 was entering a neighborhood per new, straight, unstained and lovely raised their family of many children in haps not more than one 1nile square, pink stoned-faced apartments rose, a single room. Here, he said he didn't I but it could just as well have been a with nary a centimeter between them even need a soap dish; if the soap rest whole city and, at that, on an entirely dif and the old homes. Neither psycholog ed on the floor of his shower, that was ferent continent (which, in fact, it was). ical nor physical transition found a place just fine. The radiance of Jerusalem was How well and how casually it shielded in the juxtapositions ofNachla'ot. more than enough for him. Here his itself. A row of two-story stone-faced I was lost, and pleased. We were head recently departed son, Reb Refoel Biny houses runs along the entire length of ing to a well-known address, but happy omin Levine, zt''l '(received the public" Bezalel Street. Who is to guess that any for the distractions. These lanes, some - 20 to 40 people, mostly strangers - for thing lies behind them? It never even so narrow that not even two bicycles a few hours each afternoon. This visit entered my mind to ask. could pass at once, arranged themselves took place several months ago, before his My daughter, though, assured me according to logic. Everywhere we sudden passing. that the most charming neighborhood turned, a new surprise awaited us: a park in all of Jerusalem lay behind the hous of green, a broken playground, a very ere I arrived, with my youngest es of Bezalel Street. She knows, she is a small auto somehow squeezing its way son and daughter, not knowing resident of the Faithful City. It took her along, a run-down shop with elegant, H quite what to expect. I had met expert eyes to point out a small open cut-glass menoras inside. Occasionally tzaddikim of Jerusalem years ago and ing between two of the homes; no a placid eucalyptus spread its branch alas, most of them were now in the doubt, I had walked or driven up and es, moving almost imperceptibly in a World of Truth. I had pored over the down this street hundreds of times and slight wind. Soon, we were no longer in book about Reb Refoel Binyamin never noticed. Nachla' ot, she called the Nachla' ot; I had left that behind a block Levine's father until its pages turned gray area, and, of course, it rang a bell. or so earlier. This was Shomron Street, and tattered. I knew his father as well as I passed through the small opening. near or in Mishkenot, a neighborhood one ever could, not ever having met him. Within a few steps I had left the busy even smaller than Nachla'ot. Here, in And, of course, no one could live up to traffic and steep grade of Bezalel Street. Mishkenot, the tzaddik of Jerusalem, Reb his father's reputation; at the same time, All was quiet, empty and inviting. Aryeh Levine, had lived until his pass what a privilege it would be to see his These lanes were so narrow that on most ing in 1969. Here, in a structure that reflection in the visage of his son. In of them no cars could pass. Some homes might as well be a broken kaleidoscope, truth, I had stumbled through the were old, weather-beaten, small, the the yeshiva on the second floor, over his winding streets and over the bending, poverty wafting from their insides. former home, now stood. The winding broken, twisted fences leading to his Bent and crooked window bars pro stairs, asymmetrical archways, oddly lev son's home in nearby Machane Yehuda tected ineffectively against would-be eled apartments, tiny study houses, some 25 years earlier, on one of the criminals. The stains on discolored corrugated roofs, outdoor privies and intermediate days of Sukkos. I had want stones fell together in no discernible pat artless metal solar heaters bore no ed my children to meet the son of the tern. Incongruous, bright red flowers resemblance to any plan one might tzaddik and knocked on the door. He and dark green leaves on window sills imagine. Here, the unassuming tzaddik received us then as if we were long-lost recast the mix. Suddenly, three floors of of Jerusalem and his saintly wife had relatives. Then, he was large, with a full, 36 The Jewish Observe', May 2002 round face, black beard and warm tory, but living Torah. A tzaddik in his nderneath ceilings that were peel eyes. That is how I remembered him. own right. Very quickly, the encounter ing, alongside an effective gas Waiting in line to see him, standing became humbling, awe-inducing, uplift U heater, just inside a patchwork of alongside us, were married women in ing. Such utter, simple, childlike joy steep stairs, rusted railings, crooked their fifties, single girls just out of high emanated from his face. These were porches and windows, was this man, gen school, yeshiva students young and moments I wanted to hold onto. I knew tle, penetrating, unassuming, indescribably old, Sephardi and Ashkenazi. Many it would be a sin to extend our visit one sweet, and reputedly wise in the ways of came to Reb Refoel Binyamin Levine in moment beyond what was necessary, the world. It was worth the entire trip from straits: sickness, defeat, financial disas given the long line and heavy burdens one continent to another for just these few ter) family quarrels. Many waiting in line awaiting their own turn with this man minutes, trading a few ideas and intro carried themselves with a heavy mien or who "received the public" day in and day ducing my youngest children to Reb Refoel downcast visage. I had come just to see out, without taking a penny for himself Binyamin Levine. He was not only tl1e son this person who, in the intervening quar (one did leave whatever sum one want of the tzaddik of Jerusalem, but a light, a ter century since I had last seen him, had ed for him to distribute to tzeddaka). foundation of the world, himself. • acquired an outsized reputation as a unique spiritual resource for advice and Alas! A te1'1'ible story• is unfolding befol'e OUI' ve1y eyes! blessing. I had wanted my youngest chil dren to meet him. The day was chilly We dare not be oblivious to it. and cloudy, with an occasional drizzle and occasional burst of sun through the clouds. Having arrived a little early, I took advantage of the time to daven Mincha - to pray the afternoon service - in his yeshiva. The one-room study This past August, a six-year-old little hall was filled with books, about fifteen boy was diagnosed with Acute men studying Torah, and very worn, smooth wooden tables. A rather small, Lymphoblastic Lukemia. He is undergo graying man prayed inconspicuously in ing intense treatment at Schneider the back corner. This, I guessed, was Reb Children's Medical Center. Refoel Binyamin. After the services, al! left as the rabbi The father, a cherished Yeshiva Rebbe prepared himself for his daily visits; per was forced to give up his job. The haps he ate a little lunch. As our turn to medical costs involved are astronomic. enter his plain abode finally came, we The family finds itself in a dangerous saw a curtain stretched across the back third of the yeshiva to allow a modicum & precarious situation! of privacy. The floor was hard, as were Their financial situation is unbearable a couple of plain wooden chairs. Reb Refoel Binyamin was sitting. I remind and is reaching critical proportions! ed him of our previous visit and of my They must be helped immediately! devotion to the book and inspiration of his father. He responded immediately: My father loved every person, and Act today before it is too late! every person loved him. May you and your loved ones enjoy only good health and Very quickly, within a minute or two, Simcha in your own family always. my entire mental set changed. This man was not only the son of his father, not -:r;> J;j a-//i;> /.'.>!}.°'•Jr /(~ 'INI merely his reflection. This was not some ff& hc.1 o/ The Jewish Observer, May 2002 37 Moshe Schapiro Our qmera:twn:r Tzaddik of Jerusalem Rahbi Refo.el Bi,ny~ Lettiff.e, )"XT he passing of Rabbi Refoel and Yeshiva, where he developed a founded by Rabbi Shmuel Salant. Binyamin Levine on 6 Iyar has left close relationship with the rosh yeshi Although over the years Reb Refoel Ta great void in the Torah world, va, the legendary Rabbi lsser Zalman developed strong relationships with particularly in Eretz Yisroel. Reb Refoel, Meltzer. He later learned in the numerous gedolim, his father remained the son of the legendary tzaddik of Chevron Yeshiva in Jerusalem and the his role model throughout his life. Jerusalem, Rabbi Aryeh Levine, carried Lomza Yeshiva in Petach Tikva, where Many years ago, Reb Refoel paid a on his father's legacy of chessed and he studied b'chavrusa with Rabbi shiva call to a Yerushalmi family. Dur ahavas Yisroel, devoting his life to bring Reuven Katz, the Rav of Petach Tikva, ing the visit, one of the mourners ing simchaand yeshuos(vital help) to Jews and was very close with Rabbi Eliyahu lamented that the generation was one of of every stripe, from all over the world. Dushnitzer. orphans, since Kial Yisroel has lost so But Reb Refoel was more than just his He married Chana Liba, the daugh many great leaders, particularly Rabbi father's son. He was a great tzaddik in ter of Rabbi Chaim Shraga Feivel Frank, Aryeh Levine. Our one comfort, con his own right whose extensive Torah the Rav of the Yemin Moshe neighbor tinued the mourner, is that we have knowledge, humility and ahavas chessed hood in Jerusalem, and the brother of Rabbi Refoel Levine, who is just like his left a lasting impact on tens of thousands Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank. After his father. of Jews. If anything, his yichus kept the marriage, he learned in the Mirrer Reb Refoel was distressed by the com average Torah Jew from recognizing his Yeshiva, where he became a talmid ment and, after leaving the family's greatness. And that was just fine with muvhak (close disciple) of Rabbi Eliez home, he commented to one of his him - Reb Refoel wouldn't have had it er Yehuda Finkel. talmidim, "They are wrong. They think any other way. At the instruction of the Chazon Ish, I'm like my father. But it's not true. My he then assumed the position of rebbi father was from another time; he had HIS FATHER'S SON in the Eitz Chaim Yeshiva. He held that other musagim, concepts beyond our position for ten years, during which time reach. We can't even imagine the extent eb Refoel was born on 11 Kislev, the Chazon Ish advised numerous stu of his greatness. I am not even in the 5685, in Jerusalem. He studied dents to learn under him. shadow of my father." Rin the Eitz Chaim Talmud Torah When his father established the Beis Following his father's passing, Reb Moshe Schapiro is a journalist who lives in Aryeh Yeshiva, Reb Refoel became its Refoel took over the shiur (lecture) his Jerusalen1. His byline appears in a number of menahel ruchani (mentor of the stu father had delivered for many years in English-language publications around the globe dents), a position he held until his pass the Ohel Rachel Shul. In the process, he including the English language Yated Ne'eman, ing. He also served as a dayan (judge) completed Shas several times. And even where he is a regular columnist. A frequent con tributor to these pages, he was last represented in the beis din tzeddek (rabbinical court) though it was "his father's" shiur, Reb by"They Called it Petach Tikva" (May '01). of the Ashkenaz-Perushim community, Refoel's own delivery was so enlighten- ··---··.. -----·---···~---·---- 38 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 ing and inspiring that he attracted noon, Reb Refoel met with the aguna "I have the mshei teivos (initial let dozens of new people to the shiur, and told her that he would learn with ters <>fa series of words) that consti including some who lived outside of her son once a week. A short time later, tute the word Shacharis," the man Jerusalem. the aguna passed away. Reb Refoel kept began. Even so, Reb Refoel never acknowl his Motza'ei Shabbos limud seder with "Really?" Reb Refoel encouraged edged his own strengths. Instead, he the orphan tenaciously, pushing aside him. would always downplay his accom all other responsibilities, including The man began mumbling inco plishments by accrediting them to his family simchos. herently, but Reb Refoel listened atten father. "I'm my father's son;' he would tively and then praised his chiddush. say. This attitude was reflected in every '** The man's face positively glowed. aspect of his life - even in the way he Some time later, Reb Refoel again listed his name in the phone book: eb Refoel's care and concern for ran into the fellow. This time, howev "Refoel Levine, son of Harav Aryeh every Yid - and particularly the er, Reb Refoel opened the conversation Levine 7tt:s-r ." Runfortunate - was legendary. by reiterating the 1nan's incoherent There was a mentally ill man who "chiddush," word for word. The man JUST THE RIGHT WORDS roamed the streets of Zichron Moshe. was an1azed - it was the first time in His breath often reeked of alcohol and years that anyone had taken him seri eb Refoel's name was also often no one would go near him - no one, ously. associated with that of another that is, but Reb Refoel. From then on) every time Reb Rillustrious gadol, his sister's hus Reb Refoel greeted everyone he Refoel met the man, he would wink at band, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. met) regardless of the person's appear him conspiratorially and say, "We Every Motza'ci Shabbos, after davcning ance or de1neanor. Once, when he know the roshei teivos that constitute Maariv in the Zoharei Chama Shu/, greeted the drunk, the man announced the word Shacharis, don't we?" The where he served as Rav, Reb Refoel that he wanted to share a chiddush man would beam a wide smile at Reb would head to the Kosel, and from (original insight in Torah) with Reb Refoel and bob his head up and down there, continue to his brother-in-law's Refoel. in agreement. home. During these visits, he would present the s'fcikos and she'eilos (doubts and queries) he had encoun tered during the week. This chavrusa (study partnership) with Rabbi Elyashiv lasted many years, but so did another, lesser-known one. Every Motza'ei Shabbos, in addition to learning with Rabbi Elyashiv, Reb Refoel would learn b'chavrusa with an orphan who lived near Rabbi DOMESTIC CORPORATE ACTIVATIONS Elyashiv's home. • Cellphone Rental tor over 110 Countries Rabbi Elyashiv's wife, Rebbetzin J Shayna Elyashiv 11")1, was the one who • Same day Next day delivery arranged this particular chavrusa. A • Voice mail & text messaging neighbor of hers, an aguna (woman • Guaranteed lowest rates whose husband is missing, unac counted for) with a sick child, had told • 24 hr. customer service Rebbetzin Elyashiv that she was very • Fax & data service concerned about what would happen • Itemized bill to her son once she passed away. Who would take care of him? She and her • Call waiting son had lived together for many years, •Caller ID and had only each other to depend on. Rebbetzin Elyashiv told the woman, "Don't worry. 1 have a brother, Rabbi Refoel Levine, who is a true tzaddik. 877.235.5746 He'll take care of your son." Sure enough, that very sa1ne after- www.travelcell.com The Jewish Observer, May 2002 39 upon him, and then asked him to send AREIVIM regards to his family. Just before they nee, Reb Refoel was heading to parted, Reb Refoel told the man, HOTLINE the Kosel on a Motza'ei Shabbos "Know that I'm davening for you." 0 when a man greeted him. Reb A talmid who was accompanying From crisis to control. Refoe! returned the greeting and, Reb Refoel at the time was surprised Helping our boys and girls sensing that the man wanted to unbur that his Rebbe had given the man so den himself, inquired about the man's much of his time, particularly on a Parents: 1·866·6AREIVIM health and that of his wife and chil Motza'ei Shabbos. Teens: 1-866-0URGUYS dren. ·rhat touched a raw nerve, and "Who was that man?" the talmid Email: [email protected] for the next few hours the man poured asked out of curiosity. Alf ca//s are confidential. out his feelings. Reb Refoel paid close "I have no idea," responded Reb attention to his every word. He com Refoel, hurrying along. "This is some i?i>•?K "1X P 11'll l"Y'> 1~ forted the man and showered blessings thing I learned from my fathe» If some one approaches you and greets you as though he recognizes you, you should It hurts relate to him in the same manner." 1oc here were many other dis om es traught people to whom Reb TRefoel literally gave life by his simple greetings and warm smile. 58 There was the time Reb Refoel motioned to the baal tefilla at the tli Zoharei Chama shul not to start Chaz • aras Hashatz until a certain congregant had finished the Shemoneh Esrei. The mispallelim were surprised, since the congregant was a simple man who owned a vegetable stand in the It Machaneh Yehuda outdoor market hurts next to the shul. Reb Refoel later explained his r actions: "I noticed that this man was very depressed, so I thought that if I honor him a little and wait for him to o. finish davening before beginning Chazaras Hashatz, he would feel important and it would give him It feels better just to talk about it That's some comfort." why we're here. Our staff is made up of caring and sensitive individuals. Together, At Reb Refoel's shiva, this man's we can help you explore your options. We children related how, in fact, the man can refer you to recognized professionals had come home and described excit for counseling, legal advice or help in finding a safe environment. We can also edly to his wife and children how Reb put you in touch with some very special Refoel had waited for him to finish Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to davening. The incident was a turning you, you must first reach out to us. point in his life. Confidential Hotline 1 . 8 8 8. 8 8 3 . 2 3 2 3 And then there was Reb Zusha, the (Toll Free) 80-year-old childless man who felt all 718.337.3700 alone in the world. Reb Refoel found Do it for yourself. (N Ye Area) a way to cheer even this distraught man. Reb Zusha had an unusual habit Do it for your ch ii d re n. Shalom Task force IS il 501(c)(3) (haritable orga111zat1ori ofleaving lokshen (a raw noodle) in the ---···--·--... -----·····------·----··-----·---·--·--··------40 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 Gemora to mark the place where he warmly to her. He told her, 'You're such had been learning. Reb Refoel would a tzaddeikes. You couldn't have offend open the Gemora and every time he ed anyone.' He then told her to drink a found some lokshen, he would cry out glass of tomato juice every day and she in the earshot of Reb Zusha, 'Tm so would feel better. happy- I found more of Reb Zusha's "Suddenly, her glum expression lit lokshen!" And Reb Zusha found the will erally vanished and her former happy to live for another day. expression returned. From that day on, R Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Brim '>"lit she got better and better and, within two once said of Reb Refoel: "No one in the weeks, she was back to her old self." On RA entire generation can be compared to the same day the woman went to Reb him as far as giving and greeting oth Refoel, her family received a phone call 49 ers are concerned. No one ever man from the doctor that all her tests were aged to precede him with a 'Shalom."' negative. The only thing the doctor sug- THE" PESUKIM" AND OTHER BLESSINGS very day, dozens of people would gingerly make their way up the Esteep, rickety staircase in the Beis Aryeh Yeshiva that led to the small porch Dear Friend, that served as Reb Refoel's "office:' For The household - always in shambles- now totally dissolved. The child was years, Reb Refoel sat in that room and up for grabs. Nobody wanted him. Born and raised in a home with two doled out advice and blessings to thou dysfunctional parents, the boy was no more mature than a baby. It was a sands of people, from bnei Torah and challenge that only very special people could undertake. elderly Jews from Mea Shearim to kib Meet a very special couple, indeed. butzniks clad in sandals, and camera bearing tourists from the United States They lacked a lot in life. His livelihood as a porter barely helped them and Europe. scrape through the month. Sadly, they had no children. But one thing they had in Stories abound about the efficacy of abundance: love. his blessings, with many people in They welcomed the neglected waif into their home and hearts, and with need of yeshuos receiving them after much toil made a functional lad outofhim. But naches was not to be their lot. As their visit to Reb Refoel. he matured, he started exhibiting the kind of behavior that testified to his More than 20 years ago, a young unfortunate roots. His uncontrollable moods soon had him ejected from school. woman in Jerusalem suddenly devel His loving (step) parents were forced to hire private teachers for his lessons and oped what her neighbors thought was chaperones to supervise his extracurricular activities. mental illness Tragically, this coincided with the fourth hernia surgery that "She was a fine, well-adjusted the porter-father endued, after which his doctor forbade him to woman:' recalls a friend, "and sudden ever lift a load again. ly, it was as though she had fallen into Unemployment, soaring debts, heartache, and a deep depression. Her posture, move cramped quarters have merged into a nightmare ments and expression were so glum that for this noble couple. it was literally obvious from a block away Let us contribute generously to this cause that she wasn't well. I think she had that so eloquently speaks for itself and for the some guilt feelings or perhaps had hurt z'chus of righting such a tragic situation may we or offended someone, and couldn't merit many happy returns. forgive herself. Or maybe it was just a nervous breakdown." Sincerely yours, The woman was taken to several doc tors, but nothing seemed to help. Then 1 i(oC> ------··--·--···--·------The Jewish Observer, May 2002 41 gested was that she get more iron, since And every time he gave someone a THE BAD NEWS - she wasn't eating properly. blessing, he would take out a coin from AND THE GOOD NEWS "I think," recalls the friend, "that she a bag and hold it in his hand. Then he felt that Reb Refoel is such a tzaddik, and gave the person the coin and instruct hroughout the years, Reb Refoel if he says that she had no aveira, then ed him or her to give it to tzeddaka. spent countless hours counseling that must be the truth. And that was all Reb Refoel also believed in the spir Tand helping people in need. He she needed to hear." itual significance of a person's name would often remark to his talmidim, "I On rare occasions, Reb Refoel also to the extent that he would even tell don't know why people come to me. used another technique he had learned a person to break off a shidduch if he What do they want from me? Only one from his father, the Goral HaGra. For the intuited that the intended spouse's thing gives me the strength to go on - most part, however, he gave his visitors name was "not good." Many parents to see people who came into my room berachos and encouraged them to say the also came to him to tell him the name with a sad face leave with a happy face. "pesukim." they were thinking of giving their For that pleasure, it's all worth it." The "pesukim" are the 10 verses that newborn child. In some cases, he Reb Refoel would also lament the fact begin and end with the letter Nun - would suggest that they choose that people always had such an abun "Nega tzora'as" is the first one -which, another name. dance of bad news to share with him, but according to the Ramban, are a segula A talmid recalled that when people never good news. "Why don't they come for protection from tzaros if a person came to see Reb Refoel for a beracha, he to tell me when their problems are says them every day. would often tell them that the word solved?" Reb Refoel would always won If a visitor had not yet said the "d'aga - worry" contains all of the first der. He found it emotionally taxing to pesukim, Reb Refoel would hand him a five letters of the Alef-Beis except for Beis. hear people's tzaros, and he would occa photocopy of the pesukim and urge him "Reb Refoel would explain;' says the sionally become physically sick after hear to hang it on his bookshelf where he talmid, "that Beis stands for' bi tac hon - ing a particularly harrowing account. would see it everyday, saying he per faith' When does a person have da'agos "Come back and tell me the besuros sonally did the same thing. - worries? When he is missing bitachon." tovos (good tidings);' he would urge peo ple after giving them a beracha. And if someone asked for a blessing to have chil dren, he would always insist, "Come back in a year and bring the child with you:' They rarely did. For careful attention to your But on those rare occasions when individual needs, call us today! people did come back with good news, (845) 354-8445 Reb Refoel's face would light up with joy. hortly after Reb Refoel's petira, a woman knocked on his door and asked to see him about an urgent YOUR CAR IN ISRAEL TYPE Of CAR !'ER WEEK$ S matter. One of his children told her that ~ A FIAT PUNTO 3 DR Ill there was no kaballas k'hal (public recep f B FIAT PUNTO 5 DR FROM - FORD FIESTA "'147 tion) that day, but the woman insisted Id ~ c Cl , PEUGEOT 306 182 that they ask their father, certain that he MT MINIBUS 10 SEATS 518 D ,' OPEL CORSA 189 would never turn a needy person away. ~ < E DAEWOO LANOS 217 It was only then that they explained < F SUZUKI BALENO 1.6 245 that Reb Refoel would never again be 15.90 ~NT.En ~ XL ' PEUGEOT 406 2.0 357 Per day, weekly rate, unlimited mileage, exc. ins. a vx , VOLVOS-70 630 able to accept visitors. That woman - EX : MERCEDES E240 770 and thousands of others throughout the KX MAZDA MPV FREE* SHABBAT "Unlimited mlleage.exc.lns."' Torah world - was broken. This gener * Minimum 3 days renial. *Valid till 30 jun 2002, exc. ins. " Valid low season only ation's tzaddik of Jerusalem was gone. May his memory be a blessing. • FREE* ONE DAY CAR RENTAL U.S.A New-York Toll Free: FOR EACH NIGHT SPENT AT ELDAN HOTEL JERUSALEM 1-800-938-5000 *Valid low Season Only: Group 8 in NYC Tel: 212-629-6090 Erected in all Cemeteries car/exc.ins. www.eldan.co.il Call Toll-Free: 866-851-1314 Rabbi M. Premock Recommended by many Rabbonim 42 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 BOQ. S ~~~rw A Summons to Greatness The Gift of Speech by Rabbi Shimon A Review Article Finkelman, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publica by Rabbi Moshe Eisemann tions, 2000. Hardcover $19.99, soft cover $16.99 bidden. Our habits cians has come up with a formula that of thought seem captivates as it castigates. It is non recall a story I once read, that when embarrassingly threatening and, once you have the Chofetz Chaim published his limiting. Too absorbed the lessons it has to teach, I magnum opus on the laws of lashon often they draw on makes you happy to be an ehrlicher Yid. hara, someone complained that the another's discomfiture, our own supe It teaches its lessons by telling ordinary book was making it impossible for peo riority, or any and all of the dozens of everyday stories in which the characters ple to have a norma1 conversation. categories that this wonderful, refresh seem vaguely familiar until we realize Everything suddenly came under the ing little book pillories with such grace with a start that it is ourselves whom we scrutiny of halacha. The sage is reput and clarity. are looking in the face. ed to have answered that, on the con And that brought me to a new The book, as Rabbi Finkelman him trary, it was only with his compendium insight, which alone would make the self makes clear, cannot stand on its in hand that people could really begin price for the book worthwhile. The lit own, it is not a complete Hilchos to talk. Now they would know what was tle bits of law and lore that populate it, Lashon Hara, and therein lies a lot of permitted and could talk to their hearts' the minutiae of halacha that seem con its charm. We know that in order to content. stantly to get in our way, the constant master all the laws, we need to either Whether the story is true or not, I do prodding that forces upon us awareness learn Chafetz Chaim in the original or not know. But it certainly did not work of what we are saying, have a task greater make use of one of the wonderful that way in my sukka this year. I had and far more encompassing than just the learning aids which have over the past innocently brought along the book, The laws of permitted speech. They summon few years begun to proliferate. This Gift of Speech, in order to share some of us to greatness. They insist on dragging book allows us to be a little less stern its inspiring vignettes with family and us out of our pettiness like so many fish, in our efforts. We can browse, we can guests. I bad also thought that it would with hooks fixed firmly in their lips, skip around and be selective, often we prove interesting to read some of the being inexorably drawn out of the can smile, if somewhat ruefully, at the real-life scenarios that are used to comfortable and familiar milieu in human foibles and failings that it demonstrate the application of the var which they love to cavort, into a world brings to our attention. We feel that the ious halachos, and to test ourselves on that is not their own. author loves us and cares a great deal how knowledgeable we were. And then This book, gently but firmly, sends that we be good. it happened. Conversation began to flag us a message. It is unpleasant to hear. And while we are on the subject of as time and again we found ourselves And it is this: "If you want to be a loving, there is another aspect to the becoming aware that what could be con decent Jew, you have to change. You book that delighted me with its decep sidered "Kosher" was certainly not have to change profoundly and mean tive simplicity and profundity of pur "Glatt Kosher," and uncomfortably ingfully. You have to clean out your pose. The Gift of Speech ends with an often, was "treif' as" treif' can be. mouth, and you cannot clean out entire section on Ahavas Yisroel. Why? So we had nothing to say. your mouth without cleaning out your Because that, at the end of the day, is And that set me to wondering about mind. You have to learn to be sparkling what it is all about. N)W ::liilNi'l 1~N, (•one the thought-world that we inhabit. If we and scintillating in your conversation who loves does not hate" ( Rambam, exclude actual "talking in learning" or while drawing upon your very own Peirush haMishnayosto Avos). Love ele Parasha analysis and the like, we seem resources. You have to think pro vates us, it allows us to break the incapable of being thought-provoking, foundly enough, experience in suffi shackles of our own timidity and small witty, or informative without teetering ciently bright colors, analyze with a ness. It leaves no room for the con dangerously on the brink of the for- degree of acuity, to make what you have stricting terrors that breed bate in our ~----·----~Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, a Rebbe in Yeshiva Ner to say interesting and compelling. You hearts. Ultimately, loving others allows Israel of Baltimore, is author of the translation have to, in short, grow up." us the greatest gift of all - to love one and commentary of the ArtScroll/Mesorah self sufficiently to dare grasp for great Yechezkel, [)ivrei Hayamim, and Iyov, as well as he Gift of Speech is truly a gift. ness. What a gift! other books under private label, including The Rabbi Shimon Finkelman in con Thank you, Reb Shimon, for helping Machzor Companion and Lighting up the Night. He is a frequent contributor to these pages. T sultation with the Mesorah magi- us to learn to love. • ------·----~------~--~·-~------···--·--···------·- The Jewish Observer, May 2002 43 Hematology Oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center, presided. In attendance were a large group of parents of children who were cancer survivors and who were eligi ble for shidduchim. At that time, we resolved to embark on a campaign to educate the public about these issues and many articles on this topic appeared in the media. "RACHMANUS" ... AND ACCEPTANCE '02), was an outgrowth of a historic Par A group of parents agreed to be ents Caring and Sharing, Inc. meeting interviewed with the hope that their To the Editor: in May, '96, at which Rabbi Yaakov Per situation and that of their children The article "Rach ma nus Rejection low, Novominsker Rebbe, and Dr. would be heard and understood by the and Reality;' by Mrs. Seryl Sander (Jan. Michael Harris, Director of Pediatric general public. I would like to thank Mrs. Sarah Bulka, principal of Bais Yaakov Hachadash, for her careful edit You can! Just call ing and pulling together the article. wish I could The Yit:t:i Leibel Lest the article leave the reader with ''r Helpline. feelings of dejection, frustration and HOURS: rejection, may I point out that < 44 The Jewish Observer, May 2002 CORRECTION: HAT PLUS In my rendition of "New Problems, Hats • Shirrs • Ties •Accessories Time-Tested Solutions" (Mar. '02) based on an address by Rabbi Pam':>"~!, men Your#J Stop tion was made of how beloved the kor for ban (offering) of the poor person is to Quality Hats Beautiful rooms, with kitchen facilities, in Hashem. The prime ingredient of this the heart of Boro Park, by day or week. korban is soless, which is fine wheat flour, WE ALSO ORY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION Near Shuls, take out foods, etc. Profits to not barley. I am indebted to Mr. Yisroel & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONIM TIES IN (All work done on premises) BROOKLYN Mifal Torah Vodaas. Strauss of Washington Heights for pointing this out to me. 1368 Coney Island Avenue Call (718) 851-2969 AVROHOM BIRNBAUM (718) 377-5050 Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS No TV's Lakewood NJ DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE Bais Yaakov Academy Seminary IS OPENING Call Rabbi Gavriel Beer for A 2ND CLASS FOR SEPTEMBER 2002 information on obtaining OFFERING cemetery plots in Beth Shemesh A TWO TRACK PROGRAM and other locations in Israel. 011-972-2-656-9427 CHEVRA OSEH CHESED OFAGUDATH ISRAEL BURIAL PLOTS IN ERETZ YISROEL Intennent in a ShOfuer Shabbos Beis Olam near Beis Shemesh Please phone or U.!rite to; Chevra OsehChesed of Agildath Israel 42 Broadway, New 'fork, NY 10004 (212) 79'1-9000 BYA HAlf DAY SEMINARY OFFERS: + In depth 'V1'V l1)Y.)~? +Panel discussions on 5ubjects of +Job Placemen/ Jewish concern +Interactive visits with o,;,;;i + ()ptional mid-winter trip to • Credit fo1· c!J.1>work can be app!icd to ;N1\!I) Y1N +FACULTY+ po. 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Rabbi Weinrib, a master craftsman, has deftly used a dazzling array of media: pen and ink, calligraphy, micrography, 22K gold (in the origina manuscript), paper-cut. laser cut, airbrush and scratchboard in nearly 50 beautifully illuminated art pages. And his incisive commentary speak, volumes about Judaism's timeless messages found in Pirkei Avos. You'll be enriched by the teachings, fascinated by the intricate detail, and inspired by the synthesis of art and Torah. Almost four years of artistic endeavor and the wisdom of Judaism's ethical teaching are richly merged, creating a rare visual and intellect" al experience. With this edition, Rabbi Weinrib has written a new chapter in the history of manuscript illumination. Enjoy it today! Introductory price through June 30, 2002: $99.99 _/1.------~ ;;II Available at your local Hebrew bookstore or call: 1-800-MESORAH • In NYS: (718) 921-9000 • FAX: (718) 680-1875 • www.artscroll.com