VOL. 2 No. 4 JANUARY 1965 / ADAR I, 5725 THE BSERVER
The Great Society and Aid to Schools
•
N atzeret Alit A City in Crisis
• Rav Amnon's Dialogue
•
How Good is Your Day-School? Tl-IEJEWISH ·· .· .. ··.· . .·.. · . OBSERVER
contents
articles
THE GREAT SOCIETY AND An'> To RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS, Morris Sherer ...... "...... 3
NATZERET ALIT, A CITY IN CRISIS, Yaakov Jacobs ...... 6
RAv AMNoN's DIALOGUE, Reuben Gross ...... · 9
How Goon IS YouR DAY-SCHOOL?, S. Joseph "...... ,...... 12 THE JEWISH OBSERVER is published monthly, except July and August, by the Agudath lsrael of America, THE PoRTABl.E HOMELAND, Meyer Levi ,, ...... ; .... ;.;...... ;.... 14 5 Beekman Street, New York, N. Y. 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y. How THE LETTER OF MORDECAI BECAME THE SCROLL OF Subscription: $5.00 per year: single copy: 50¢. Printed in the ESTHER, Shubert Spero ...... ;...... ,...... ·16 U.S.A. A WARSAW GHETTO TALE, Moshe Prager ...... ;;.; .. ;...... ;;...... 19 Editorial Board DR. ERNST L. BooENll:E.JMER KtrLTURKAMPF- WITHOUT KULTUR,Ben Amrom "'· ...... 21 Chairman RABHI NATHAN .BULMAN RAllTII JOSEPH ELIAS JOSEPH FRIEDENSON features RABBI MORRIS SHERER Art Editor SECOND LOOKS AT THE JEWISH .SCENE ...... ; ...... ;. 24 B ERNARD MERLING RABBIS IN QUOTES Advertising Manager WHO WANTS SURVIVAL? R ABBI SYSHE HESCHEL
Managing Editor ·LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ...... , ...... ,...... ,;·;.... ;.;.~., ...... ,;.; ...... , .· 27 RABBI YAAKOV JACOBS
THE Jr,w1su OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product or service advertised in its pages. the cover JAN. 1965 VoL. ll, No. 4 Youngsters studying in an Amfrican day-school. See: THE GREAT Socrnti AND AID To RELIGIOUS S CHOOLS on page 3, and How GOOD IS YOUR DAY ~~ SCHOOL? on page 12. . . . The Great Society and .A.id to Religious Schools ·· An analysis of die-bard Jewish opjJosiiion to the iie1v education
. President Johnson's Great Sodety made its grand flicting declarations; many reappraised their stand. The debut with a major breakthrough in the struggle for result: Today many of the opponents of school aid ·· the principle that all school children are partners in have switched and others who equivocated lost their the American educational structure. shyness and are joining this battle. Slowly the pendu- Let it be clear at the outset: The .Administration's lum of tbe Jewish consensus has swung toward the aid-to-education bUl avoids coming to grips with the .. pro-federal-aid camp. controversial issue of direct aid to the secular studies The President's education bill is the factor which .·· . program of religious schools. From all indications, crystallized some of this new sentiment. Because it this Great Debate regarding the definitive boundaries limited the scope of its benefits to the student, omitting of Church-State separation will rage for years to come. any direct grants to schools, this bill narrowed down ·· What the Great Society has accomplished is to put the · ·· the area of controversy to the point that even the Great Debate into proper perspective: the sole issue votaries of Church-State separation could accept it of direct grants to religious schools. The new educa without compromising their convictions. This was best tion bill, by bestowing its benefits upon the disadvan demonstrated when the staid American Jewish Com taged religious-school children along with their public mittee jumped on the bandwagon and issued a warm school counterparts, serves to remove the cherem public endorsement of the basic provisions of this which doctrinaire devotees of Church-State separation .· legislation. · . have sought to place on religious school students. .. It is this principle of recognition accorded to the Yeshiva student, over and above any immediate finan However, two groups mnong Jews - the American cial advantages, which makes the President's education JeW:ish Congress and Reform Judaism -'- are deter ·· bill a document of major importance to the Jewish mined not to budge one inch in their stubborn stand ·community. to deny federal-aid, not only to religious schools, but It is now five years since Agudath Israel, afone to their students as well. among Jewish organizations, took up the cudgels for The first shot in their latest offensive was fired in this principle and conducted a continuing campaign early January, not in tbe direction of the education bill, in Washington and in other areas for this cause. Dur but this time at the anti-poverty work of the Adminis ing this ha:lf decade the general climate has radically tration. The American Jewish Congress un1eashed a changed among all segments of America's citizens; the sharp blast at the government forces engaged in the atmosphere has become increasingly favorable to the war on poverty; for utilizing religious school facilities demands of the religious schools. As the American in the impoverished neighborhoods of four cities for public learned the true facts, it gradually discarded extra-curricular programs. This attack on the anti many of the myths spread by the opponents of religious .poverty program brought in its wake a rash of such school aid. This change in public opinion has been scare headlines as: "U.S. ANTI-POVERTY FUNDS .· clearly indicated by the Gallup Poll. GO INTO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS (Jewish Press, January 15, 1965); PARISH SCHOOL AID FOR New POVERTY HIT (The New York Times, January JO, WindsBlowing l 965); A.J.C. CHARGES MISUE OF FEDERAL ··· Within the Jewish community too, new winds began ANTI-POVERTY FUNDS (Rhode ·. Island Herald, to stir as individuals and groups had second thoughts. January 22, 1965)~A.J.C. CHARGES ANTI-POV As the justice of the religious schools' demands gradu ERTY FUNDS GOING TO PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS ally pierced through the clatter of confusing and con- (Jewish Standard, January ] 5. ] 965). When Agudath Israel publicly exposed this unwar sub~committees were warned by the American Je\Vi~h ranted attack as a malicious slander of one of the Congress: nation's greatest humanitarian efforts and as a dis- "There is the serious danger of fragmenting the public service to the Jewish people, the American Jewish Con sehool system by encouraging proliferation of private gress leaders feverishly tried to mobilize support for schools ••• the fragmentation of the public school system would be but one of the muny unfortunate consequence~ their extreme stand among other secular groups. But of the initiation of a policy of dividing governmental edu· no one would bite, and they remained isolated. cation funds among religious groups. We can expect Shortly thereafter, when hearings began on Capitol bitter rivalries in seeking a •fair share' of the pie. One Hill on the Administration's education bill, the Ameri can expect high priced lobbyists to represent various private school systems, and perhaps even the formation can Jewish Congress dispatched spokesmen to Wash of religious political parties to push for government funds. ington to sound the alarm about the impending doom It is not unreasonable to expect that the public schools, of America's public school system if the legislation lacking 1mch well-organized and committed groups will in would be enacted. The House and Senate education time become the stepchildren of the t~ducational system, receiving from tax-raised funds 011ly what is left after the sectarian forces hav(' had thefr shares." Highli9hts of Education-Aid Bill The A.J.C. did not stop with this nightmarish por .The ''Elementary and Secondary Edu~a+ion Ad of 191,5" trayal of the religious school system growing into a presented to the Congress of the United States has the mighty colossus which would grow and grow and following Titles: ultimately overwhelm the public school system. Its .0 Title I is a )-year program (firot year authorization $1 spokesman, in reply to a question from Senator Robert . billion) designed to meet the special needs of edu~ationally . deprived children of low-income families. School district. F. Kennedy at the Senate hearing, even expressed op with concentrations of disadvantaged children (the original position to such accepted programs for the religious hill sets the formula at famiiies having an annual income schools as school lunches and bus transportation. of less than $2,000) will benefit from special educational · ·services, remedial education, pre-school or afier school pro· The spokesman of Reform Judaism also appeared grams and additional instructional personn2I. It includes at these hearings to help fan the flames of fear con provision~ for shared services which would bcnefi·f sludents cerning "mushrooming" religious schools. He declared: of non-public schools. O Title II provides for a 5.·year program ( fir~t year author "By tending to equate pub1ic and churl'h schoo]s in iwtion is $100 million} to make available textbooks and the l'Yl'S of the law as equally entitled to public support, school library resources to improve the educational quality this bi11 will greatly stimulate the c1·eation of sepnratc of the schools of the nation. It also would provide periodicals, parochial school systems in every denomination. The documents, magnetic tapes and phonograph records for all temptation to sup at the trough is uot one to which n~ost school children where needed, over and above the present religious denominations have shown any exceptional re· · expenditures for this purpose by public and non·public sistancc. As a network of parochial schools mushrooms, schools. The textbooks and other instructional material must support for puhlir. s.-hool., would f'onstnntly be diluted." . be the same as those used or approved for use in the public schools. Oddly enough, the spokesman of Reform Judaism O Title {// is a 5-year program (first year authori~ation is prefaced his statement with a declaration that "Our $100 million) to provide urgently. needed educational services traditional love of learning has impelled us to create, not presently available in the schools. and grants for sup· as our own religious responsibility, a vast network of · plementary educational centers a nd service organizations. These programs, which would benefit studenh of public and private educational institutions for the perpetuation of .non·public schools, would include such services as guidance Jewish religious values" and, he added, "without re counselors, school health. programs, mobile educational serv ceiving any federal aid." This spurious contention does . ices, specialized instruction and equipment such as new not even merit rebuttal. No intelligent person could science laboratory facilities. ·• (The three Titles listed above represent the a reas where compare the financial costs of the all-day Yeshivos, and students of. religious schools could receive benefits. The their heavy budgets for religious and secular depart main emphasis of this bill is evident from Title I which ments, with the relatively tiny costs of the Sunday ··.receive~ the maior portion of the grant, and zeros in on the Schools of Reform Judaism. Instead of a "traditional ·hard-core of poverty-stricken areas. For a better understand ing of the impact of the granls .of the firot three Title., the Jewish love of learning," the statement of the Reform following are the official estimates for the State of New York: Jewish groups reeks of their traditional abhorrence of Title I: $75 million dollars; Title II: $0 million dollars; and the "separatist" religious parochial schools - a "mitz Title Ill: $8 million.) vah" of Reform Jewish dogma which most of their O Title IV (first year new authorization $45 million) pro. spiritual leaders have been fulfilling with great fervor. vides for the training of research personnel and improved dis semination of information derived from educational research and development. Also, 1t would provide for the construction .·and operation of centers to improve the quality of teaching. Unwarranted Fears O Title Y is a 5.year program {first year authorization $10 If these two major Jewish opponents of this bill million) to strengthen the leadership resources of State would have studied it more carefully, their fears would .educational C>geneies. have vanished. The Act specifically states that its
4 - THE JEWISH OBSERVER grants can only supplement andincricise the expendi tures of the schools in such areas as textbooks, and ·· cannot. be used to supplant current expenditures. Therefore, their anxieties are completely unfounded: The Yeshivos and the other religious school systems e The first order of business, since funds frorri the will be as heavily plagued with their constant financial provisions of this bill will be channelled through the crises as in the past in order to meet their heavy states, is the organization of associations of Jewish standing maintenance budgets. The alarm bells were all-day Schools on a state-wide level. This Will assure\ sounded for nought ...... · that the local education authorities negotiate directly: Fortunately, the President's education... aid-bill has with the heads of the Yeshiva movement, and not with" received the overwhelming support of American organ ···any self-appointed non-Orthodox Jewish educational ··· 1 izations and educational groups of all faiths. The . agencies. Sad experience of the past has shown that: prestigious 900,000-member National Education Asso Where Orthodox institutions were not united, the non-: ciation, long a foe of any aid to parochial schools, Orthodox took advantage of this division to step inl endorsed this bill, as have many other groups tradition and claim rights to represent Yeshivas for whom they ally opposed to direct grants to religious schools. In have no right to speak. Torah Umesorah could be this general atmosphere of consent, the rabid opposi- the logical group to undertake this· huge organizational, .· tion of the American Jewish Congress and Reform effort, which should unite all segments of the Yeshiva ·· Judaism sticks out like a sore thumb. and Ba.is Yaakov movement in this country on state-wide h Youngsters being taught the funda mentals of electricity in the General Studies program of a typical Amer . ;can day school. It is for such pro grams that a continuing struggle is being waged for government aid to teligious schools. Y aakOl' Jacobs Alit in.. '.· c ris1s.. . tlsrael's latest "a//air" focuses attention on religious coercion !. For many years, dtiiens of N azeret Alit have been On last December 3rd, some one hundred workers .. tt>attiing a mayor they never elected. to secure the re appeared at dawn at the three improvised schuls and ~igious rights which are taken for granted by most methodically dismantled them, leaving the city without !other Israelis. Failing in their efforts to convince any facilities for worship and religious assembly. This iMayor Mordecai (Motke) Allon of the need for a act, perhaps unprecedented in Jewish history, of Jews }o:chul, they have had to be content to install an Aron tearing down and desecrating schuls, caused hardly a !.Kodesh and a Sefer Torah in various apartments and ripple of comment in the Israeli press. It would likely .. shacks scattered through the city. Under a pre-man have gone entirely without notice where it not for ~iate Turkish law, still valid under Israeli law, this another issue which brought Natzeret Alit into the procedure gives the schul legal status. ·news and made it the focus for secularist attack against ~ ..Leaders of the religious community have on numer- the religious leadership . .· ·~us occasions petitioned the mayor to build a central Mrs. Rina Eitani, a member of Mayor Allon's city . ~chul; to desist from discouraging new immigrants from council (it has no religious representation) was asked egistcring their children for religious education, and by the Ministry of Interior to surrender her passport, ~o meet the growing needs of a growing religious com having ruled that she is not a citizen of the State of ·eunity. They have failed to make any progress with Israel. She had come to Israel in 1947 with her moth .· Hon, and have failed in their attempts to rally public er; her father had been killed by the Nazis. Registering ... pinion in their favor. as a Jew, she was automatically granted Israeli cit- 6 - TlIE J EWISH OBSERVER . . . izenship mlder the Law of Return.> When it was re.;; .. .· sufficient He wants; he claims, to'builda schtJerusalem Post arhitrary and cruel ruling." reported, had suffered a cruel invasion of her private life. The Law of Return The Israeli press began beating the drums and sound ing the alarm -that th~ rabbis w~re at it again, declar Raising again the pseudo-question, "Who is a Jew?'" ing a woman who was a loyal citizen of 1srael to be under such a flimsy pretext, is a sign of desperation non-Je\vish simply because her mother \Vas not of in the anti-religious camp. The Law of Return has the Jewish faith. In their deep concern for this woman granted automatic citizenship to every Jew who chooses who had been wronged, they could find no room for to come to Israel. Non-Jews are granted citizenship ·compassion on behalf of the scores of Jewish children under naturalization procedures similar to those in in Natzeret Alit vvho had been weaned from their effect in most nations of the world. ·rhe rationale for ·ancestral faith; for their fathers who were the victims this law was recently stated in these words: of economic boycott because they chose to 1naintain "Israel is open to all Jews, now and forever, no their beliefs in the Holy Land; nor did it matter that 111atter froni what country or area they come. The on holy soil, Jews had demolished Jewish houses of Jews of the world are our brethren, our people, flesh worship. (Surely, had an overzealous religious citizen of our flesh, bone of our bone." desecrated a Christian missionary center, the practition If these words manifest a "streak of bigotry" and ers of righteous wrath would have been kept busy for constitute an invasion of the private lives of citizens days and weeks.) or potential citizens of the State of Israel, we must refer the critics to the President of the State who spoke "A Streak of Bigotry" those w<-rds in his inaugural address. 1"he question of who is a Jew is a religious question; The defenders of democracy who deny it to religious nothing more and nothing less. Israel has chosen Jews, even managed to reach acroSs land and sea to wisely to accept religious authority in an~wering this enlist the support of The New York Times. Visiting question, because even hardened opponents of Torah ·Israel on a trip around the world, the Times' Brooks realize it is the only assurance of the integrity of the ·Atkinson, once the nemesis of Broadway playrights, Jewish people in the Holy Land. Any other criteria opened his column of January 19, 1965, datelined used to determine Jewishness would open the flood . Jerusalem, with these words: gates of intermarriage and assimilatiori, in the Holy "Under the bright and busy surface of this small Land, a problem which has suddenly become the con country there is occasionally a streak of bigotry. It cern of Zionist and secular leaders in the diaspora. .expresses a fanatical belief in racial, national or re Every social or political unit, from the United Na ,·ligious purity, and it probably also expresses the tions to a fraternal lodge has the right t'. 8 - THE JEWISH OBSERVER . Christian~Jewish dialogue in dox Jewish variants, and the limit 10 - THE Jnw1sn· OBSERVER ...... ··· ''Th6 li~~stlC's art is a;i~fyon~. The clesireto,c~me•~ .that · together :as brothers must not Jead to a· wateri'ng-dowh 1 ·.···cai.·welfate of br subtracting from the truth. Our dialogue must not but that by wisdom born of centuries of an· weaken our attachment to our faith. ·.faith derived from the Divine promise, they believe an "In out apostolate we cannot make vague compro- ..··know that physical welfare and survjval is best as mises about the principles of faith and action on which sured by loyalty to Torah; and that pursuit of safety our profession of Christianity is based . . . Only he like the pursuit of happiness, is won not by the direc who lives his Christian life to the full cari femain un chase but by the artful pursuit of a greater ideal. contaminated by the errors with which he comes b1to Bargaining for the purchase of a better reputation.·· contact." or engaging in a public relations campaign to improve We need not fake exception to the reference to.non one's reputation is to confess bankruptcy of chara".ter .. · Ch.ristian beliefs as "contaminating errors" because this For this reason it has been instinctively unthinkable ·.· enclyclical was not addressed to us but to his own for a Jew with any sense of pride in his tradition, td· flock. But we may well ponder on the wisdom of attempt to negotiate for the acquisition of a more . permitting ignorant and uncommitted rookies of ours vorable "image" in gentile eyes. The traditional Jew to engage in a fateful debate and discussion with a proudly sees in his own people, elected to receive and powerful antagonist that fears to release into this to convey the Divine communication from Sinai, thf? ideological fray any person unless "he . . . · lives his nucleus of Mankind's spiritual life. In ·an orbit about ·· Christian Jife to the full." them revolves those members of Mankind that .-c•"..,.'"''' ·· the principle of Monotheism and accept the principle But even as he invites the wotld to join in dialogue of Noachide commandments; and further out stand •·· with the Church, Pope Paul has revealed with crystal .·· those who are yet sunk in the idolatries of lust anq clear candor, for any Jew with patience to read his power, whateve1' their masks may be: Astarte and words, how impossible is this project. After referring Eros and Zeus, or Ho11ywood and. Wall Street. "to the children, worthy of our affection and respect, of the Hebrew people, faithful to the religion which we call that of the Old Testament, to the Moslem re 1 ''Ohe True Religion' ··· ligion . . . and also to the followers of the great Afro- Asiatic religions," he states with admirable candor: Pope Patilhas suggest~cl in his encyclical a different system of orbits with Rome as its center, surrounded "Obviously we cannot share in these various forms _by Christianity, Monotheism, and Mankind in the of religion nor can we remain indiffereiit to the fact successively outward orbits. Mindful of Galileo, we that each of them, in its own way, regards itself as may suggest that again the Vatican is basically correct being the equal of any other and authorizes its followers in its construction of an orbiting system, but erred not to seek to discover whether God has revealed the again only in the placement of the center of the system. perfect and definitive form , free from all error ... Since the ·pre-supposition ·· of the proposed ~ .... ~.-.~~ Indeed, honesty compels us to declare openly our / the conviction that the Roman Catholic interpreta-" convi<:tion that there is but one triJe religion, the re- is tion of Christianity is the "one true religion" there can ··ligion of Christianity." be no genuine dialogue with a .giving and faking of In the light of these conviction( the des~ripti6n of ideas wherein truth is elicited from such an interchange. the Jew as "perfidus" is a simple statement of fact, The proposed dialogue would at its best be a sterile not an invective. Its deletion, therefore, from their ··debate, for neither can Judaism give lip its tenets, nor liturgy is bound to be regarded by them, not as an act will the Church - however little our secularists un- .· of justice, but as the warmly proferred hand of friend derstand that. However, let them at least tealize that ship, which, if not accepted, may result in the fury of the course which they pursue is not only futile, but the scorned. In the age old historical memory of the dangerous. ··.When the eminent and authoritative Jew there rises the image of Luther and Mohammed, spokesman for Catholicism says in utter candor that each of whom in their early years offered friendship he canno,t remain indifferent to the fact that "other to the Jews in the hope of obtaining converts,.but whq forms of religion/' e.g. Judaism, should regard them in their later years, in chagrin and disappointment; . selves as being the equal of any other, e.g. Christianity,.· spewed hate and venom at Jewry. . we are put on notice that such debate· will have· emo The key to the difference in approath tb Christianity . tional overtones as well as intellectual sterility: The by Torah-true Jews and heterodox Jews is this: The result can only be to arouse resentment and to scratch Torah-true Jew is primarily concerned with the preser .. emotional sores. . And that brings · us ·. back Rav vation of ludaism while the heterodox Jew is primarily > Amnon and the Bishop·"of Mainz. . concerned with the preservation of Jews: It is not . , :Dye l' S jOJeph The resurgence of Torah life iu this country is The following questions - grouped by major areas inextricably bound up with the growth of the Day - are designed to help parents rate the institutions School movement. It has been the day schools which that seek to provide a Torah education for their chil have provided the students for the Mesivtos and the dren: Are they Torah institutions in the fullest sense Beth Jacob High Schools, the future Talmidei Chacho of the word, or are they mere grade schools offering mim and Noshim Tzidkonios of our people. How some Hebrew subjects and some religious instruction? ever, just because of the great importance of our day These questions are based on the axiom that the schools, we must keep close watch that they should character of a school is not determined by a one-time carry out their functions effectively. We must face the declaration of principles, but by a multitude of details fact that the Day School label is today applied to a that go into the daily operation of a school. The ques variety of institutions, ranging all the way from real tions here presented cover only some aspects of a Yeshivas Ketanos, to schools that are almost undistin school's program - but the answers to them will guishable from those sponsored by the Conservative indicate where a school stands, and where improve movement. n1ents, more or less drastic, are called for. Yes No Yes No SCHEDULE: 4. Married women teaclJers must cover their hair. D I. Religious Studies are offered D in the morning. D D ,,. CURRICULUM: 2. There are regular sessions· ·on public religious holidays. D D 1. No use is made of abbreviated 3. Hebrew classes are not cantelled Chumoshim or other Hebrew during General Studies examinations. 0 D textbooks contrary to Halachah. D D 4. There are 17 hours of Hebrew 2. The course of studies proceeds studie.<>;, at least, over six days a week. [J D directly from Alef-bais through Siddur .to Chumash STAFF STANDARDS: (latest by 2nd grade.) D D I. No Religious Studies teachers with 3. The boys' curriculum leads to, and doubtful religious standards are emphasizes Gemoroh, and the girls employed, just because of their curriculum excJudes it. D D mastery of the Hebrew language. 0 D 2. All Religious Studies teachers must EDUCATIONAL APPROACH: be products of Yeshivas or I. Instruction is tied in with insistence Beth Jacob Schools. 0 D on practical mitzvoh observance. D D 3. No Religious Studies teachers are 2. Instruction is geared not only toward employed who also teach in gaining knowledge, but toward institutions not committed inculcation of Torah outlook to the .Shulchan A ruch. 0 0 and attitudes. D 0 a2 - THE JewisH 'OssERVER 'Emphasis is not placed on pertectfon · ··Boys , and girls ·are ·not.· instructed . in Ivris at the expense of fullest together in Grade One to Six. · ·· student understanding of Torah content and ideas. Separate buildings artd playground facilities are provided for boys and girls. l ... Guidance is primarily handled through the Religious Studies Department. 0 'GENERAL ··STUDIES: · 2. Personal relationship between l. The General Studies Department is Religious Studies teachers and under the overall control of the students is encouraged and fostered. 0 0 Religious Studies principal to assure 3. Extra-curricular and G.O. activities · attainment of the school's are directed by the Religious Studies educational ideals. Department, to intensify Yeshivah .· 2. The General Studies principal is spirit (i.e. outings to Mesivtos, himself a Ben Torah. Y om T ov celebrations, publications). 0 0 4. Provision is made for the summer 3. Teachers are guided and supervised (day camp, summer session, study wherever curriculum and textbooks assignments, camp counselling). . .· CJ D · raise religious questions. BOARD OF EDUCATION: · 0 ' ' 1. Board of Education has exclusive control over educational and religious policy of.entire' school (including General Studies Department). No 'rabbis are admitted to Board of Education whose views and synagogues· are .not in ,keeping with Torah. 3. Membership of the Board of, Education is limited to Bnai Torah. · EDUCATIONAL GOAL: (fotschoo1s with girls) 1. Students are trained in a sense of COMMuNITY PARTICIPATION: community responsibility (for youth·· ' work, Jewish education, etc.) D D 1. The school does not seek community 2. Students are inspired toward support through fund-raising activities contrary to the Shulchan Aruch. continuing their Torah studies in .· keeping with the spirit of Beth Jacob. D D 2. The school does not participate in T· Attainment in General Studies is not community events that violate the promoted or accentuated at the ·· Shulchan Aruch or our expense of Torah training. 0 D educational goals. ·Students are trained to participate in c()~EDUCATION: .. the communal concerns of Torah I. Boys and girls are not instructed Jewry (Tzedokoh, Chizuk Hadas) , ·· together (in either Religious Studies and to demonstrate respect for Torah ··· or General Studies) above Grade Six. 0 D leadership and Gedolai Hatorah. Meyer Levi The Portable Fatherland !Some reflections on the recent World Zionist Congress In commenting on Jewish con HNothing new wa!< offered. No their efforts are not stemming the action was taken (the parties were too claves, one must often wade through wave of inter~marriage and assimi busy jockeying for positions). The a 1nound of press releases issued Congress couldn't even agree to elect lation. prior to the opening session out an Executive." Dr. Goldman, reacting to this lining monumental goals, and problem, told the delegates: through the enthusiastic releases Ben Gurion, who boycotted the '"1'he Jewish people has survi\·ed issued during and after the conclave for centuries in the Golus because it Congress, spoke his mind in the maintained a distinctive way of Jife reporting that all said goals have press and expressed the hope that based on the strong power of our been achieved. One must then sift the 26th Congress would make Zi religious faith. This portable father out the wheat from the chaff and onist history by implementing at land expressed itself in a Jewish come to some conclusions as to manner of living which began its day least some of the resolutions passed with putting on Tatis and T'fillin and what really happened. by previous congresses. His hope ended with the saying of Krias She1na In the case of the recent World was in vain - the Congress simply before retiring at night ••• We now Zionist Congress, this painful pro rehashed previous resolutions never live in a period in which a very large cedure is not at all necessary. acted upon and had nothing new part of our people, especialJy the young generation, is threatened by an Speaker after speaker at the open to say. anonymous process of erosion, of sessions echoed the belief that the The theme of the 26th Congress disintegration. This process, if not Zionist movement is serionsly ill. was, Facing the Diaspora. Follow halted and reversed, threatens Jewish Dr. Nahum Goldman, president of survival more than persecution, in ing the creation of the State, a blow quisition, pogroms and mass-murder the World Zionist Organization, told from which the Zionist movement of Jews did in the past." the Congress delegates that their has not yet recovered - if ever it movement is "suffering from hard will - the call went out for Aliyah. We agree whole-heartedly with ening of the arteries." Commenting Now that statehood had been Dr. Goldman's formulation of the at the close of the Congress Gold achieved, the Zionist organization problem, and with his statement man stated: saw its only salvation in creating a that: "The State itself, through the "I have never experieneed a de· new image for the Zionist as one fact of its existence is no guarantee bate such as this. There is practically who goes up to make his home in yet for Jewish survival.'' nothing for me to reply to. As no· body delivered an Opposition address Israel. But they have found it im To meet this challenge Gold (most of the delegates seem to have possible to escape the pattern which man lists three forces available to slept through the proceedings) I wilJ gave rise to the cliche that "a strengthen Jewry: have to do so my.self. Zionist is a Jew who gives money ••• the knowledge of the unique ''The Zionist movement with its for another Jew to go to the Holy history and fate of our people as a present party system suffers from source of pride and determination to such hardening of the arteries that Land.'' In fact, the bulk of the olim remain Jewish and continue the great nothing can change. The notion of from Western countries in recent heritage of our people. democracy in the Zionist movement years have been Orthodox Jews, ••• Making "the religious form is a fiction.'• hardly motivated by secular Zion of Jewish life more and more a sourf"e ism, but rather seeking the fulfill of Jewish consciousness • . • Eliezer Whartman, writing from The third and most potent for('e ment of Torah life in Eretz Yisroel. Israel in the Baltimore Jewish Times for securing our survival is the State Zionist bureaucrats, who are not of Israel. It is a continuous source had this to say: of spiritual and emotional strength "'A merciful silence has al last so worried about hardening of the for our people • • • It is our task to descended upon the convention hall arteries, as long as they can keep find the ways how to enable thos<' in Jerusalem where the 26th World the patient alive. are desperately Jews who are not ready for aliyali Zionist Congress met this month . • • seeking new 'projects' for the Zion to take a hand in this tremendotts All that is left of that expensive fiasc.o enterprise and give them the feeli1111t ( unoffic.ial estimates place its cost at ist movement. In their desperation, that they are 'junior partners' in thi'° over a million dollars) is a Jitter of they have latched on to 'Jewish great common venture of our people. press releases and texts of speeches education' and 'Jewish survival' (translated into five languages), some Goldman is not alone in the mis unswept scraps of food, a few torn to justify their anachronistic exist banners - and heartache. ence. But, again by their admissic:in, taken belief that one can synthesize 14 - THE: J~wiSH OBSERVER : . .· .·· ·.. human values. .. Technology has tiorishipof the Jew tO Ereti. Yfsroel poses t~ "enrich'' the Zionist inove~ made iCpossibJe in the realm of it is clearly a function of the Jew's ment, and Jewish life, by syntheti material things to synthesiie fabrics, belief in the Torah, which deeds cally re-introducing the factors metals and other substances, when the Holy Land to the Jewish peo- which have been destroyed. ·wheth natural resources are depleted or ple for all times, and ties the Jew er or not processed flour can ever the natural product becomes too to the Land in a most intimate be "enriched" to its natural state, · expensive for mass distribution and mariner. (It is interesting to note "enriched" Judaism can never be consumption. Plastics and synthe- that. Zionist efforts to inculcate a substitute for the commitment to . tics may do the job in consumer youth with a de.sire for aliyah have Torah that is so finn, that a Jew goods, but similar techniques fail had meagre results. The effect of .. ·· is ready to face death, rather than miserably when applied to the in- yeshiva and day-school training, barter his belief for his life. Only · tangibles of human existence. . ·where aliyah is not a major em such an . unflinching commitment The first two forces that Gold phasis, has motivated many young can sustain Jewi5h life, and win man lists are real forces; they derive people to visit and to settle in our youth to those values which from Jewry's relationship with the Israel, a most natural consequence Dr. Goldman seeks but will not Almighty and their commitment to . of their exposure to Torah teach- find. uphold His Torah throughout the ings.) . . What ails the Zi6nisf movement, ages. This is the "unique history Secular Zkmis1n, and Dr. Gold · is what ails a Torahless Jewry. So and fate of our people" which ac man as well, has . countenanced long as Jews arc separated from counts for our "determination to the distillation out of JUdaism of the their G-d and from their Torah, remain Jewish and continue the most basic elements, from which their problems will grow and defy great heritage of our people." Only alone could .flow the results he solution. Dr. Goldman has put it . this relationship and commitment seeks. Like the manufacturer of ·quite well: The weapons for Jewish can make "the religious form of processed flour, who in the course survival are the Talis and Tefillin Jewish life more and more a source of making his product "white" and and proclaiming each day, at morn:.. of Jewish consciousness." marketable has destroyed its nu ing and in the evening, the Oneness · As to the third force, the rela:- . tritive value, Goldman now pro- of G-d . . .-·· __ ...-· .. _. __ .- .· -· ..... _ . .- .. - _.-· .·· _:·_.:: _ · . _ ..-·· ....-· .· ·. _. .·· :·.. · RENT-A-CAR ....1--:;oi-:+h~Agudi -st -;enevol~nt--;-ocie+;- By DAY - WEEK - MONTH We offer a service that is a necessity • to every Jewish family LOWEST 1. Complete cemetery and funeral benefits members and their families • 2. Free Loan Fund available to members Closed Shabbos 3. Bikur Cholim Committee 6523 -15th Avenue 4. Low cost group life Insurance . Brooklyn, N. Y. .Write or call our office: ...· UL l -6690 AGUDIST BENEVOLENT SOCIETY 5 Beekman St., New York 38, N. Y., WO 4-1620 Open to Agudath Israel llfom~bPrs .~O Y ears E.xperienc(> a.t Leading llOtP!s Gourmet Caterers, Inc. 40 EAST 54TH STREET, NEW YORK CITY (Miss) D. LEVY-'-- PL 2-8890 Shubert Spero How the Letter of Mordecai Became the Scroll of Esther ''. .. and the order of Esther confirmed these matters. .. and it was written in a book" WHEN THE READER IS ABOUT TO BEGIN THE MEGIL of the two stages Purim had to go through before it Jah. he does something strange. He unrolls the scroll became an official festival. For we must remember completely and folds it back in the form of a letter that the events of Purim took place after the return an iggeres, and proceeds to recite the b'rachah. This of the Babylonian captivity, after the men of the Great is done, says the Shulchan Aruch, in order to further Assembly instituted by Ezra and Nehemiah had started demonstrate the miracle of Purim. Now, it is true that their work of determining which books were to be in in the Book of Esther, Mordecai's epistle which he cluded in the Kisvai Hakodesh. The traditional Biblical sends forth to the Jews is called an iggeres. But what Jewish holy days and festivals had, of course, been is its significance, that its memory should be so pre fixed and practiced from the day of Sinai. served in so graphic a manner? As we read the latter part of the Megillah, we note From Sorrow to Joy what appears to be a redundancy of passages describ ing the dispatching of communications by Mordecai The first task of Mordecai, therefore, was to request and Esther to all the Jews urging observance of these and receive the acquiescence of the Sanhedrin and days of Adar as a holiday of thanksgiving for all gen Jewry as a whole, to celebrate the 14th day of the erations. First we are told: "And Mordecai wrote down month of Adar each year as national days of "festivity these events ... to take upon themselves to celebrate and joy." This to commemorate the rescue of the . . . each year . . . because of all the words of this Jewish communities of the far-flung Persian empire letter (iggeres) ." (Esther 9 :20) from destruction and their sudden transformation from death to life and from sorrow to joy. The judgment Immediately thereafter we read: "Then wrote Esther to accept Purim as a national holiday or not, hinged the Queen and Mordecai the Jew in full strength to upon the question as to whether Purim was to be re confirm this letter of Purim the second time ... words garded as an event of simply local significance; or did of peace and truth to confirm these days of Purim in it contain elements and teachings of universal value their times ... as they have confirmed for themselves and timeless significance for all Jews. and their seed the matter of the fasting and their pray ers ... and the order of Esther confirmed these matters The second communication, in which it appears of Purim and it was written in the book (sefer) ." Esther played a dominant role, urged not merely con (9:29-31) firmation of Purim as a national holiday, but acceptance of the record of the events of Purim, i.e., the Megillah -as written with the holy spirit, as divinely inspired Two Communications and as worthy of becoming part of that division of The point we wish to make is that the second writ the Torah known as Kesuvim-Holy Writings. In ing by Esther and Mordecai was not merely a con fact, this is Rashi's understanding of "and the order firmation of the first but rather involved a totally dif of Esther confirmed these matters of Purini and it was ferent matter of immeasurably greater significance. In 1vritten in the book." deed, one cannot truly appreciate the deeper meaning Understandably, this latter request is fraught with of the miracle of Purim unless one understands the much graver problems .and requires much greater dis different purposes of these two communications. cernment. That this is so can be seen in the instance Symbolic of the difference is the fact that the first of the later festival of Chanukah which achieved the message is called an iggeres-a simple letter which first stage but never attained the second stage. Chanuka, indicates a specific message, while the second com like Purim, became a national holiday but the record munication is called a sefer (short for megillas sefer) of its event-the books of Macabees-was not judged which signifies material of more enduring significance. to be a manifestation of Ruach Hakodesh. What we really have before us, then, is a description Reb Moshe Chaim Luzzatto writes that when a per- 16 - THE JEWISH OBSERVER ...... sori experiences insight which···•origiriaies·in Rtiach Ha-·· The key is a passage in Zachariah: ;'Thus saith the kodesh, he will be aware of it as such. Thus Mordecai lord of Hosts,· the Fast of the 4th Month and the Fast and Esther themselves were undoubtedly convinced of ·· of the 10th Month ... shall be to the house of Judah, the sacred nature of their composition. Everyone joy and gladness and cheerful seasons; therefore love else, however, such as the Sanhedrin and the Jewish thee TRUTH AND PEACE." Crucial, of course, is the people as a whole, would have to have trust in Mor · ·occurrence here also of our phrase, "truth and peace," decai and Esther, and would have to rely upon certain In connection with the fast days. The particular con-' features of the text itself. Let us consider some of the text, however, in which it is used here sheds light on characteristics which convinced posterity of the sacred its meaning. nature of Megillas Esther. What is being· foretold about the national fast days by·· the prophet is that in the days of Moshiach, they The.Strength of the.Miracle will be transformed from days of mourning into days of joy. This does not simply mean that they are being In speaking of the "order of Esther," the Megill ah abrogated or will lose their relevance because Israel uses the phrase, "kol tokef," which we translated as will regain the land and the Bais H amikdosh will be "full strength." Rashi comments on this: "The strength rebuilt. The novi is suggesting here not a replacement of the miracle of Aha:sueras and of Haman and of of the fast days but actually their inner fulfillment! Mordecai and of Esther." Were there separate mir- For the very purpose of the national days of mourning .· acles associated with each of these individuals? Rashi is to disclose and impress upon the consciousness of explains in his comments on 9:26: "What did Aha Israel the moral lapse and spiritual weakness that sueras have in mind when he used the holy vessels brought about the national disaster. The purpose of • of the Temple and what actually happened when it the fast days is not only to keep alive the memory of resulted in the death of Vashti; what did Haman intend Zion but to prophetically interpret the events lending when he waxed jealous of Mordecai and what actually to the Churban. ln these terms the coming of Moshiach ·· happened when it led to his being hanged; what did means essentially the correction of the old sins, of the Mordecai have in mind when he refused to bow down overcoming of the old weaknesses. Messianic fulfill- .· and how did it lead to the edict against the Jews; what rnent will mean that the national fast days accomplished did Esther have in mind when she invited Haman ...." their purpose, performed their role and therefore that The miracle of Purim is composed of a numter of they are no longer needed because they were so sue- sub-miracles involving each of the characters in the .· cessful. This is the inner meaning of the words, "all .·. story. The insight of Ruach Hakodesh is here two who mourn for Jerusalem," i.e., who perceive the fold: first, to be able to perceive how, "many are the · prophetic reasons of its destruction and resolve to re thoughts in the heart of man but the counsel of G-d pent, "will merit to see it in its joy," i.e., are them is upheld;" how each person launched an action out selves contributing to make Israel worthy of redemp- .· of personal and sometimes selfish motives, and yet the .tion. · · consequences of each turned out quite differently. The second characteristic is the ability to weave to~ gether these differing accounts in a manner which · shows how they all are elements in a master mosaic Thus the phrase "peace and truth" is used to char~ in which man's freedom and G-d's providence inter acterize an approach to the observance of a holiday penetrate and intersect. Thus, a drama is composed where (1) a prophetic analysis of the events under in which the hand of G-d becomes manifest without lying the holiday is available-truth, and (2) where even having to mention His name. Above all, the there results a collective resolve to apply the insight Megillah is able to present the historic events with thus learned to the future-shalom (to create a con such pro;:ihetic clarity-"in full strength"-that some dition of peace between ourselves and our Father in thing concrete happens, the Jewish community ex- Heaven). .. periences a wave of repentance and following this, Let us now turn back to the Megillah. In teporting .. "many of the people of the land convert to Judaism." the acceptance of the Megillah as holy writ, Esther and In the reference given above, comparison is made Mordecai point out that in this respect Purim is similar by the Megillah between the days of Purim and the to the fast days. For here too there is now Shalom national fast days, calling Esther's communication and Emes-a prophetic interpretation contained in "words of peace and truth." Few really compelling the Megillah and a commitment by Israel to apply its explanations have been offered for the comparison or concepts. for the mysterious phrase: "words of peace and truth." Even as the holiday of thanksgiving,·Purim ·pcissesses In the light of the special nature of Esther's request to certain features which endow the Megillah with central accept the Me.gillah as holy writ, an interesting inter importance. One of the reasons given by the Rabbis . pretation suggests itself. as to why Hallet is not recited on Purim is be- .JANUARY 1965 .::__ i7 cause since we have a Megillah - N7i7ii N"l"t iT :"11'1""1ii of cognition and will, and apprehended the Scroll of "reading it is the praise"; but since when is reading a Esther as bearing the stamp of prophecy. Surely, there historic narrative the equivalent of singing the praises fore, they would have done the same if confronted of G~d, or worshipful adoration9 with the Torah of Moshe! The answer is that Purim differs in a singular manner Indeed, aren't we who are three thousand years re from, let us say, Chanukah and Pesach, both also moved from Sinai and yet who daily commit ourselves festivals of thanksgiving. Pesach commemorates the to the Torah. being called upon to do the very same liberation from actual slavery; Chanukah marks the thing! As we study the Torah, therefore, our objective victory over actual tyranny and persecution. ()n must be not simply to amass information but to per Purim, however. we were saved only from the threat ceive therein traces of Divinity; to hear in its cadences of destruction! We can easily imagine some contem the voice of G-d. With the Psalmist we must pray: porary cynic denying that there ever was any danger "Open Thou my eyes that J may behold wondrous to begin with. It is therefore imperative that on Purim things out of Thy Torah." we first read the Megillah and become aware of both When the reader unfolds the Megillah and folds it the danger and the deliverance. In so doing, in ap back into the form of an iggeres. he is doing something prehending history as the hand of G-d-this in itself extremely significant. He is offering a graphic portrayal is the great praise. of not only how, through the help of G-d, the day of Much has been said concerning the well known com Purim was changed from sorrow into joy but how ment in the Talmud on the words: "The Jews confirmed through the saintliness and courage of Mordecai and it as a duty and took upon themselves ..." (9:27) Esther and the ability of our people to recognize a i7::i.iii i~"V - i::i.:> i7::lVW' i1~ ~7.)""V· "They confirmed now work of prophecy, the Megillas Esther was granted a what they had previously accepted." place among the Kisvai Hakodesh. Since <1Ccording to the (;emoroh there is some ques tion as to whether Israel's acceptance of the Torah at Sinai may have had some element of coercion or com Join the Elite of American Orthodoxy pulsion, the voluntary character of Torah commitment at the is restored by the event of Purim where Israel re affirmed in freedom its acceptance of Torah. Hencc 4-..!/'c/ d/tt/fte/,1a~ !!J:-z/le/' keey1nu vekiblu. On the face of it, the comment of the Gemoroh of seems to wrest these two words completely out of con text. For the Megillah is talking about the acceptance ~act'ad ,f£,a;e/ryf.X'tne/'/ca by the Jews of the day of Purim only, not necessarily about a reaffirmation of the entire Torah. An ex planation offered by the Maharal Mi 'Prague, however, SUNDAY EVE., FER 28/ ADAR I, 26 fits most aplly into the entire theme of our analysis. at the What were the coercive elements at Sinai? Actually. Hotel New Yorker they were the overwhelming overt manifestations of New York City divinity, the spiritual equivalents of the thunder and lighting and sound of the Shofar which thoroughly ter rified and thoroughly convinced the human spectators ~eJ/ r;/~J/?on.{), .. that G-d spoke to them. In order for the Jews to have made a free and uncoerced choice, it would require ~"~''till \UllY\ 'i'2i\ ili1~' :lilll' 'l l"iilii that they be confronted by nothing "supernatural" or wondrous acts, but simply be presented with the Scroll ,;Y~/'alft ~akw Y !Jlade/'Pta/t of the Torah and asked whether or not they accept it. The distinguished Torah authority But this is really equivalent to the question--do you perceive in this writing the word of G-d: the spirit of Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel, Baltimore prophecy, the influence of Ruach Hakodesh? Would Demonstrate your solidarity with the world-wide efforts Israel have been capable of answering in the affirmative9 of AGlJDATH ISRAEL for the sovereignty of Torah Purim demonstrates that they would have. For as we authority, by attending this outstanding event. have seen, the acceptance of Purim as a permanent Reservations: only $12.50 per convert festival involved not only its annual observance but also recognition of the Megillah as holy writ! Certainly Mail your reser\.'ations NOW to: in connection with the Megillah there were no overt AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA miracles. no coercive elements! Yet the people of 5 BEEKMAN STREET N, Y. C, 10038 Israel made the leap of faith which is a combination 18 - THE JrWISH OBSERVER . THE StrABBOs H~s DEEN A COMPANION .fo THE Shabbos will soon be hete. It is alm~st knocki~g··. Jewish People from their early history. Under its . our door. Remember, in G-d's name!" .. · . Jmaginalive monogram:! & Jnvilalion:J designed by (llteir ~fotol»it3 862 LINDEN BLVD., BROOKLYN, N. Y., Tel: HY 5-6086 Creafive .Ari Wor£ • .Jlebrew & Gngf;,£ J!efferin'J /or: Awards • Letterheads • m~in: • m:'r.>O • Diplomas • Trademarks 20 - THE JEWISH OBSElt.VER KULTlJRKAMPF .. WITHOUT KULTUR ·· A look. at the current cultural scene in Israel IN THE IlITTER STRUGGLE BEtWF.EN REtlGtOUS AND foreve1-.' Where is die sag~ wlu> cnll reveal .What is good secular elements in the State of Israel, spokesmen for entertainment and what is b"d?" (Al Hamisltni.ar, 20 Nissan) the secular camp often raise the threat of Kulturkampf. They are in effect saying, "If you of the religious camp A letter to the editOr of one ()f the newspapers ex do not abandon your demands for religion in public presses fear as to where this wave of vulgar entertain life in Israel, we of the secular camp will have no ment will lead: ·choice but to raise the cry of all-out cultural war." "I must admit that I am shocked. Where will this fuad Whenever we hear this threat we are tempted tci race after entertainment and all kinds of cirr.us attrac ask our secular brothers, "are you in fact prepared to tions lead us? At times it seems that tl1is small nation in wage such a war of cultures? Let us examine objec the Middle East has become an international center for . tively the state of modem-day culture in Israel and let the business of entertainment. This is a shockingly poor r~'commendation for a nation that pretends to being a us see if you possess a culture that can compete on an People of tlr.e Book and a Ligltt lo the Nations. And what intellectual and moral level." is ev.-.n worse, right before our eyes spiritual and cuhural The state of Israel's culture is best reflected in the .deterioration has set in among those people who arc nation's secular press. devoted wid1 all their might to entertainment and making .a living." (Maariv, 26 Sivan) The Entertainment Cult.· Another letter writer dares to point a :finger at one All the secularists agree that one of the most im source of this muddy stream - the government radio portant branches of modern culture is mass entertain netwOfk, Kol Y isroel: ment; theaters and movies, festivals and carnivals of "It must unfortunately be said that mir go~et•nment all kinds. Israel is flooded with many kinds of enter radio service has failed in hs duty to set the proper cul· tural 'tone' to our community... .Instead it occupies itse]f tainment and diversion. Everyone wants to be enter~ witli disseminating and glm·ifying noisy entertainment by tained. But what is the cultural level of Israel's world bl'oadcasting loud songs day nnd nighl aud 5pending tax· of entertainment? Here is what the art and literature payers money on infantile programs. Has .the time not critic of the Jeft-wing Al Hamishmar has to say on arrived when we must build a strong dam .. to . stop this harmful trash?" the subject. ' This is a point with faMeacliing implications "One who' · glaiic~s at aii .Israeli newspaper noticr.s iriimediatelr that tbe greater pa1•Lof it is devoted to the cause fr suggests that even the government contributes · world of entertainment. Advertisements, pictures, gossip, to lowering the cultural level of the people. views, interviews - everything pertaining to "entertain· ment' - receives the greatest attention of the public ••. * * * "HEBREW THEATER" WAS ONE OF THE GREAT ..· In other countries the youth is interested mainly in s}JOrts, A the women in fashions and house work and the m en in dreams of secularists of all kinds; an independent Israeli politics and economir. Jll'oblems. But in our country the Theater it was believed, will certainly raise the dignity most popular topic is entertainment - entertainment on of the People of the Book and serve as a Light to the we.ekdays and on the Shabhat and holidays. Statistics Nations. But in fact the greatest embarrassment awaits show that Israel has the highest per capita rate of mo,•ie attendance in the world. the patrons of the Israeli theater - as illustrated in "But the times have passed when the concept of 'en· this sharply critical letter to Haaretz. tertainmcnt' was related to culture and art. In this field today complete chaos reigns not only in our country, but all over the world, Ir is now difficult to define what in "A Disappointing Play" .entertainment serves lo satisfy the hunger for culture, and "I saw the play Victor and I was ashamed• . Ashamed .. what the thirst for amusement. · of the theater in its desire for 'box office' and ashamed "What is immoral today is moral tomorrow, .and what of the public that streams en masse to be 'educated' in . today is devoid of values is 'inscribed in our mem()ries this manner. ··.: · ... ,..·· .. · ·· . I have ficver yet seen a . play that combines so much study); 'This fact is most evident :imong the 'secular - obscenity and filth with a lack of any thought, conwnt youth. Not that we can place the blame of the young .. · or moral. I was embarrassed for my neighbm·. •. l\'.ly complaint is thre•~·folrl: people alone because this is the state of modern society .. .. • • • again;it the theater compan:-· Oh.Pl that·. $peaks as a whole, as one reader of Haaretz tells us: : · . gl'atidly, together "ith the other theaters in the countr.Y, . "The >;imple question is, what have we done? ~'hat · · ·about original 1>lays, hut presents in~tcacl J>ile~ of trash .. cXltmplc have the p11rents 8hown in their bi~haviour; cli>- ... from. other c'ultures. . - cipline, education anrl tradition? •• , I would give a Yt•ar ••• against tlw audierwe that laughed at every vtt]gat• of my .life to t~e person who could tear the card pla~·t·r~ joke and wa8 gra1cful to 1he actors for a wonderful 'ex· away from then· tables to more fruitful activities. Th•·r·c· I nn· perience.' was the only one who cried 'shame' but is no end to the po@sibilities for improvement. Pm·e;.,,. voice was drowned in the a(>plause. . of the heart and sou) are not the exclusive problem o.f ••• a1t3inst the critk.s whos<> duty it is to educate th•· youth. We who have lost our ability for original creathit~· · · public in good tMtc hut instead bow to every absurdity, we who with our ••. feeling of inferiority have become especial1y if it i~ imported. After reading their favorable shadows of ourselves and of others; we who have bc~<·m11e .reviews I was treated to this enlightening 'cultural intelleetuaHy bankrupt and have abandoned rnaUct'!i of .::·...... experience.' '~ .. ,• •he spirit to the specialistl; and permitted oursches to .: . . . h<>come ~laves to the 1natcrial , • ," "Killing Time" .· One of the favorite secularist claims is that they are And what is the response of the secularists _:__ -thev · tired of the "ghetto life." They are fed up with the continue to raise the threat of a. Kulturkampf. · colorful and beautiful traditional life of the Jew. They yearn for a life without "chains"; to break through · People of the Book the limitations to a "free Shabbos." More exactly . .. ·. : they wish to create a new and original Israeli form of There were times not long ago that the secularists expression that would be more satisfying to the spirit, endeavored to capture adherents with the slogan of ...... · :· more compatible with modern times and with a more "enlightenment." The most dangerous seduction that "cultural" character. was used to ensnare many innocent souls was the belle What then are these "mcxlern" manifestations of the lettre. secular Israeli scene? What today is the state of Hebrew literature for which many confused souls bartered the entire spiritual .· "It seems to me the most ·popular form of amusement heritage of Judaism? What does it have to offer? What · lil the State is card-playing. Mainly Friday night, but on need does it fill? .·.:·.. ·· :. ...·.: .... : weekdays as well, you can pass the length of entire streeb "It is a fact that ·People of ilie Book do not read book~. ··· in North Tel Aviv, or Hadar Haearmel in Haifa, or sec· We can sec tMs in the state of the public libraries in the tions of Ramal Gan and the scene , • • will bfc' the same: cities, towns and villages, including the new settforncnt~ ·a lighted balcony, two tables - one for men and one for recently established. A 8Ur\•ey made by the Office of Edu· women - and cards, There is hardly any con·.-ersation. cation and Culture in 1961-62 showed that in the 64-0 Drinks are 11wallowed hurriedly. The hostess begs in vain communities that replir.d to the quei1tionnaire, 268 com· for the players to interrupt their game and taste the re• munitie• had no public library at all. freshments. Finally she give~ up and she serves the players, who swallow their food without knowing what These facts on the very sad state of the libraricl' were · they are eating . • • Concentration on the game is abso• reported at a news conterenc-,.e by Yitzchok Navon, Director . lute. Only the delay of one of the players in throwing of the Culture Section of the Office of Education and out a card interrupts their concentration , • , There are Culture." (Yedioth Ahoronot, 18 Av) of course no exact statistics but it would seem, at )east Modem literature was supposed to take the place ·' ~· in the non-immigrant community, that one out of three of the seforim of the Bais Hamedrash. It was to serve families spends its Friday nights pl.. ying card§." (Yediol as a source of "spiritual nourishment" Even the an : . ~ .. Aharonot, I Ellul) cient and honored term People of the Book was to be Even if we do not take seriously the statistical esti applied to secular literature. And what were the re mate that one third of the Israeli community has sunk sults? The statistics show two facts clearly; the masses ..· . . ,•'' . · so low that it can find no better expression of Oneg are not interested in reading books nor in organizing .: ·. ··. Shabbos than card-playing, the picture revealed to us and supporting 1ibraries. is still quite gloomy. Card-playing not only demon But yet there is one branch of "literature" that does strates a desire for easy gain, but even worse, it shows attract many readers. Jt has a wide circulation and a desire to kill time, spiritual deterioration, and other exerts a very profound influence on its readers; this negative aspects. is pornographic literature. .. ''How to kill time?" is the most important problem that faces the secular community. They have no spiri "Our shelves are stacked high with the worst kind of porn.ographic material. Obscene sex stories, that destroi· ·:.·:·_.: ..··.· · . tual.Jife or public spiritual activities such as Tefilzoh the best in· our youth, undct":.tnine their morals and poiso;i : ~ ,: . · Betzibur {public prayer) or Limud Hatorah (Torah their souls •••. We llr~ crushing the souls of our youth. 22 -~ 'Flt& JE.w1sH· OBSERVER .· . . . ~: .. ~· . : ··.· .· What is i()rl>idderi hi J,ond(lt1 · Jerusnfom aud Tc1 Aviv." w-• I These word~; reported fo Maariv, were spoken in I! Bank Koschland & Hepner Ltd. I the Knesset by Member of the Knesset S. Y. Gross, \I 6 Selnaustrasse, Zurich, 1 of Agudath Israel. Although the secularist majority in the Knesset rejeded Mr. Gross' proposal for the enactment of a special law against pornographic litera ture. voices were raised in the community supporting \i his stand. Brarich al MONTREUX: 96 Grand' Rue ill .. Tel~phone: (021} 616444. Telex: 24268. "h may he assmri;~a tlmi the dis1ing1iishcportunity to see with .thcfr own Investment.. ·· e~·es the shocking situation in this field. ··•· \ .. Scotch Whiskey for "h is rlifficuh to understand the apathy of the pe;5~ ··.. 1 ·The Bank is closed on the Sabbath. j)ll''s elected representatives, to this serious problem. Year after yeal' varions committees have aUempted to find a j_ solntim1 to the problem. The police. who have been ac- 1he in a nun1ber of case~, have for som;., time re«1uestcd a drnnge in the law, afte1· }mblishers and distributors of Be An Informed Orthodox ~neh material hav;, been freer! by the courts. Our youth .is bring fed 'culture' of quc>stiom1ble origin and ti"' Join Our .le:ulers of tlw Stale have rlemm1~trate Heartiest JWazel Tov to Yom•D>U>n nlVIJ Contribution RABBI & MRS. SOL GREENBERGER .· and MR. & MRS. BENJAMIN KLEIN upon the OPENING of their New TEL AVIV GLATT KOSHER RESTAURANT Otwrsefls P,mover Canipaign 171 EAST BROADWAY NEW YORK CITY Formerly at 202 Rivington St., N. Y. C. 5 Beekman Street SYSHE TrESCHRt and FAMILY basis of his instruction. Since I en RABBIS IN QUOTES courage the use of Jewish customs, ceremonies and ethical advice, I It was bound to happen. Ameri the sum total of all good in the function within this definition. Re can Jewry has produced Jews with hearts of all men. Milton Steinberg, form has always encouraged its ad out Torah, Jews without Shabbos who for many years was a disciple herents to select and preserve those and Jews without Judaism. Our so of Kaplan, asked his mentor, "who ideas and rituals that are meaning ciety has spawned "rabbis" without adds up the total?" and hearing no ful and discard those ideas and s'micha, "rabbis" without learning. satisfactory reply, returned to a rituals that are not meaningful." It was bound to happen . . more conventional re1igious be1ief. (emphasis ours) America has now produced a ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT "rabbi" without G-d. ramifications of this affair is the Not so, says the learned Dr. Free Sherwood T. Wine of Birming light which it sheds on the positions hof, and proceeds to imprison ham, Michigan, built his congrega "Rabbi" Sherwood T. Wine in tion in the pattern of other success quotes. "There is no question of his ful "rabbis," from eight families (Wine) right to declare himself an two years ago to the present total atheist on the ground that his of 140 families. Recently, he an powers of reasoning cannot dis nounced to his congregation, and cover G-d in the universe .... But SECOND he has no right to deceive the un to the press, that he, "Rabbi" Sherwood T. Wine is ... an athe wary. Using tho word "rabbi" ist. He indicated that members of (quotes are his) and using the his congregation had heen aware word "congregation" constitute a of his position for some time and deception. A rabbi means a teacher that they approve of his unique lOOKS of Judaism." "religion." at the Jewish scene "No one would object," Freehof The National Jewish Post and continues, "to 'Rabbi' Wine and his Opinion, in a manifestation of cre group, if he has a Doctor's degree, ative journalism one sees too little of Reform Judaism. Wine's pre to call himself Dr. Wine, and his of in the English-Jewish press, wrote decessors set aside the Torah She group The Rationalist Association to Sherwood T. Wine and posed b'al Peh (Oral Law); they repealed of Detroit. But when he uses the several questions. The questions, the laws of Shabbos and Kashrus, title 'Rabbi' and the term 'syn and Wineis answers were published and every aspect of Torah which agogue' or 'temple' he is luring in on January J, 1965 together with did not pass their rationalistic scru new members by false and heartless comments by Dr. Solomon B. Free tiny. Rather than permitting the pretenses." hof, a leader of Reform Judaism. Torah to master their lives, they Obviously troubled by Wine, JN ANSWER TO A REQUEST THAT chose to become the masters of the Freehof asks, "What, then, is to be he outline his attitude to the exist Torah, treading its sacred parch done with this man and this group? ence of a Divine Being, Wine re ment and choosing and rejecting We do not have ways of defrocking plied, "If you mean by the phrase by their own caprice. a rabbi ... but we must protect the ('Divine Being" a conscious person And now, Sherwood T. Wine, Jewish community against the de who made and runs the world, there trained by the Hebrew Union Col ception which will drag innocent exists no empirical evidence to lege as a liberal "rabbi"; taught children and unsuspecting elders suggest the existence of such a that he must question even that into a group dedicated to the pro person. For this reason, one can which is most sacred; infused with paganda of atheism." study the nature of the world in the invigorating air of the "modern "In the 1neantime," Freehof con a modem university without finding university," decides that he wishes cludes, "the Jewish congregations any need to assume the presence to 1nake yet another change, to re in Detroit, in order to protect their of a Supreme Being." move the Divine Being from Juda children and themselves from the Perhaps Wine will be disappoint ism and fron1 Jev,1s. teachings that God is not necessary ed to know that his new faith is not "In the light of your beliefs," the in Jewish life, should not associate really new. Dr. Mordecai Kap Post asks him, "do you feel that you Yvith it (Wine's congregation) and lan, founder of Rcconstructionism, can serve as a rabbi in the accepted should not acknowledge it as a Jew American Judaism's fourth deno sense of the word?" ish congregation.'' mination, has anticipated Wine's "The title rabbi," said Wine, "re Dr. Freehof is known in Reform position. fers to an ordained teacher who circles as a "Halachic authority." According to Kaplan, "God" is uses the Jewish tradition as the We should like to call to his at- 24 - THE JEWISH OBSERVER . . .• . . tei1tfon a supra-Ha~achiC pri~cipl~: · Yisroel, V'oraysa, Y'Kidush Hu Brich Hu Chada, the people of Is WI-Io WANTS SURVIVAL? rael, the Torah and the Almighty As the non-Orthodox Jewish secure in its bdiefs and its goals, is .· are One. By a simple arithmetic community in this country sinks · arousing the anger and often hos procedure we may then restate Dr. deeper into despair over intermar tility of its non-Orthodox brothers. Freehof's last paragraph as follows: riage, assimilation and the pitiful Jewish congregations, in order to Let us examine a case in point. state of "Jewish Education" (sec The college campus .has been a protect their children and them- any issue of an English-Jewish hot-bed of scepticism and cynicism, .. selves from the teachings of Reform newspaper) one might almost be that absolute obedience to Torah tearing to shreads whatever religious lieve that they are totally unaware convictions the freshman brought is not necessary in Jewish life, of the dynamic growth of Ortho with him to college. We will never should not associate with them and .. doxy and the increasing number of know the number of Jewish stu young people who are firmly com The Pot Calls the Kettle Black dents who were weaned from their mitted to Torah as their guide in .· Jewishness by the "liberating" in "Recently, a . . . situation arose in life. ~hich a rabbi, serving ,,. the spiritual fluence of university professors leader of a congregation, declared that Orthodox growth and its pheno anxious to save their young charges ..· . neither he nor the congrsgation accepted menal success in recent decades in from "out-moded" religious beliefs. · any idea of God. They mainiain tl1at the reclaiming lost Jewish youth through various modern alternatives to the tradi intensive Torah training in day Now that a new type of student . tional idc,J of G.d as a personal Being schools and Yeshivas should serve is appearing on the college campus, are vague And mP-Aningle.s .... as an example to those who serious · what is the reaction? The National In our opinion such a position is un· .· director of the Hillel ·Foundations tenable for a rabbi. or for anyone w:10 ly desire Jewish survival and are assumes the role of teacher within " willing to pay the price for it. at a meeting of the National Com · Jewish religious institution. ff might be Surely, Orthodoxy deserves at mission, deplored "the growing ef consis}ent with that of the Jewish sec least "honorable mention" for its forts to fragmentize" Jewish youth ularisf; but certainly ono who calls him along sectarian lives. He termed the self a "raLbi" is making use "of the contribution to Jewish survival and term" in a way which is "confusing rather for creating a new generation with move "a divisive approach that than helpful." If ho wishes to serve Jew the stamina to resist those forces tends to dilute, not strengthen, the ish religion, he should consider adopting which decimated previous genera- students' ties to Jewish people a conception of God w:1ich is undor hood ." standable." . tions of American Jewry. Yet - From an editorial in The Re·~o~structionisf the reverse seems to be true. A "This.· increasi~g / elTiph;sis 011 · January 22, 1965 growing Orthodoxy; an independent separatism (the national director Orthodoxy; an Orthodoxy which is said) also points up 'a striking para- should not acknowledge them as ·· Jewish congregations. "Rabbi" Sherwood T. Wirie (the· quotes arc ours and Dr. Frechof's) has performed a service for Ameri can Jewry in demonstrating the Naturally good! ·.·.... · operation of the logical principle Tastiest snack with any dish... .··· .. of reductio ad absurdum in Reform grand for canapes, dips, and munching I ·· theology. Having cast away the Torah it was inevitable that the ":wo wholesome .·· Author of Torah would ultimately "naturals" be rejected. Unfortunately, logic in a delicious has hardly been a strong point in combination .•• Reform thinking and so we suspect the sensational that the lesson of Wine will be Jost Egg-Onion .on The Rationalist Association of ···Crackers •••. America, better known as "Re form" Judaism. Nevertheless, we naturally from fervently pray that some members Horowitz-Margareten!'; ..of the association will seek to re store Torah to their "Judaism" as they desire that Wine should restore the Almighty to his "Judaism." dox.' It tends ... to weaken intra sister organization functions, known M SCHECHTE~'S strictly kosher Jewish relationships among students as the Newman Club. The Newman CROMWELL at a time when genuine approaches Club, for Catholic students is an Dote1 • Pool • Private Beach • Cahanae Operaled by Sam Scheehler of the Pionen to mutual understanding' intensi official adjunct of the Church. It Co!lntry Club, Gnenfi..Jd Park, New York fied by the spirit of ecumenicism advocates Catholicism as the onlv Under @ supervision only GLAT Kosher meals served prevalent in the Christian world, "option" for the Christian, and re;; daily, per person INCLUDES are developing between Christian staffed by a Catholic priest who double occ. STRICTLY and Jewish campus organizations." conducts Mass for the students, $12 10 of 105 rooms KOSHER Jan. 20·Mar. I 0 MEALS (The New York Times, J 2/21 /64) takes confession, and attempts to FREE: Ch11iHe Lounget & Mab, 21" TV in This veiled attack on Orthodox create for his folJowers, a miniature every room, ulf.paddni; adjoin9 hotel Catholic community on the college N.Y. MU 6°1709 19·5 P.M.I college youth testifies to the fear FA 7001742 (Eves. & Sun.) of a vibrant Judaism by those who, campus. Miami Beach • 534·2141 Air Cond. & Heated (Ind. Control) in the eloquent phraseology of The But - it should come as no sur On the Ocean at 2Clth St., Mi~mi Beach, Fla. Nelv York Times, "advocate none prise -B'nai Brith Hillel Founda of the specific options (sic) in tion must be more "ecumenical" Judaism ... and require the rabbi than Rome itself, and disparages Now Available who supervises Hillel activities on attempts to introduce divisiveness In Pocket Book Format campus to fulfill the particular re when understanding is growing be ligious needs of the students, re tween various religious campus in~ THE WORLDS gardless of his own orientation." stitutions. Yet neither the Catholic FENCE And what precisely is the objec Church, nor the Lutheran Church 0~'1)1 i'Tl tion against introducing Torah and other denominations, have any by the CHOFETZ CHAIM study, t'filoh b'tzibur, and an Or fears or inhibitions in maintaining religious campus gronps separately '"!:It thodox commitment, into Jewish fransfatecl by: campus life - it rocks the boat by from the catch-all Protestant groups. Rabbi Murray I. Friedman introducing alien elements into the Jn spite of Hillel's oft-expressed price: 30 cents scene, jeopardizing the spirit of concern about Jewish indifference (postage included) ecumenicism. and assimilatory tendencies of col write to: On most every campus where a lege youth, it deplores the intrusion Zichron Shlomo Publications Hillel Foundation exists, and on of the only type of program that 15 Pearl St., New York, N. Y. 10004 many where there is no Hillel, a can offset these tendencies. Experience Counts! Fer a su1nmer vacation with long~lasting benefits~ do v.rhat thousand~ of satisfie Two trips: 4 weeks and 5 weeks REGISTER NOW ! GIVE YOUR CHil,D THE VERY BEST For information phone, write or visit the City Office TODAY: CAMP ACUDAH · CAMP BNOS 5 Beekman Street Telephone: WO 4-1620 New York, New York 10038 26 - THE JEWISH OBSERVER pei-~onal religions scfupl~s; and ;;rn~srras nefesh" are beyond question. He is in cidentally, an enthusiastic proponent of Agudath Israel. The Halachic issue> ~ettelz4 · involved were weighed by men whom To the Editor: you have referred to on occasions as This letter is written with reference to Gedolai Torah. They were considered an item ,in the December issue of the and reconsidered. not in .generalities, bnt Ob.frrver, under the title Orthodoxy a la on the merits of this instance alone. Lincoln Square. .The notice was based tt>.t~ .· That the decision on the part of the on a correspondence of Mrs. Trude rabbi would be misunderstood by some. Weiss Rosmarin to the London Jewish was a foregone conclusion. It behooved Chronicle, and reflected the anguish you, however, to look into the matter which all Orthodox Jews must feel over l'efore passing judgment. .. Not to have the manner in which .the Lincoln Square .done so, is not only unethical journalism, episode was . used to expose the incon- ?&datPt but a breach of the basic decency that sistency of American Orthodoxy. . .···. should be characteristic of B'noi Torah. ·. Now with reference to your essential SAYS WE ARE PARTISAN RABB( MACY GOR.DON . opposition to placing young Orthodox Teaneck, New Jersey rabbis in synagogues which violate the Halacha publicly, whether it be in the To the Editor: matter of mixed seating or .in the other Like many other American Jews com the jewish Observer came into exi.\·- tence to meet the need for a journal that areas, the undersigned wholeheartedly mitted to Torah, I rejoiced at the initial espouses your position. However, a full appearance of The Jewish Observer. . would come to grips with the crucial problems facing the Torah community in disclosure. of all the facts in the Lincoln ·While I may not have agreed with every Square episode sheds a different light thing that was written. nevertheless the America. While we seek objectivity, we react to the.\'e nrohlems from a Torah on the matter than the one reflected by high standards and integrity of the jour your citation of the Rosmarin account. nal seemed to bode well for the Orthodox perspective. We. deeply regret thnt what we consider to be forthright opinions -The facts are as follows: community at large. Differences of l. The failure of the Lincoln Square -Opinion alone would never lead to re on admittedly controversial matters, ;~J10uld be viewed as partisanship. Congregation to engage a graduate of buke in any form. I regret deeply that the Jewish Theological Seminary. was for the past few issues, I have felt the We agree that "an honest expressio1i . not due to the desire to .get away with overpowering grasp of partisan politics df opinion that is within the framework a lower salary. The officers and the .of Halac/1a" does not warrant nmdem entering not only the editorials but the membership bad lieen almost unanimous articles of the journal. nation. Rabbi Elias, in his article, con ly in favor of organizing their synagogue tended that tire views expressed by Rabbi A most painful issue which I take under Conservative auspices. Which leads With the Observer concerns Rabbi Elias' Rackman in the brochure under con us to the second point. editorial in the issue before the last, re· sideration, are not "within the frame 2. The present rabbi of the congre· . work of Halacha," and are therefore "iewing a recent publication of Rabbi gation happens to be one of the most Emanuel Rackman. Rabbi Rackman has a matter of wave concern. gifted and inspired of the younger Ortho· ·held many controversial views, but an In regard to our piece concerning· the · dox rabbis to have recently entered the }1onest expression of opinion that is with co11grcgatio11 in Lincoln Square, we are rabbinate. His personal dedication to . in the framework of Halachah certainly pleased to publish in this issue, a letter limud ha-Torah and his personal yiras does not deserve the accusation of being containing additional informatio11 011 the slwmayim are beyond question to those .·aimed at undermining Torah. There was subject. However, together with the who know him. Nor does the slightest .no need for the polemics of that edi· writer of the letter, we feel that the facts taint of expediency adhere to bis be· 1orial, for the rallying cry to a holy do not alter our general opposition to havior at every crucial point in his asso war, and for the unwarranted attacks on sending Orthodox rabbis to Conservative ciation with the congregation. After that work. The tone was far from ob- congregations. initially persuading the congregation - .jective. the implications spurious, if not -THE EDITOR against tremendous opposition - not to insidious. . The makkeh b'pattish, so to speak. was your editorial comment in the most · recent issue, entitled "Orthodoxy a la LET US HEAR FROM YOU Lincoln Square." Here you were, in my opinion. not only misguided, but ill-in The Jewish Observer invites your comments on · formed as to the background, and in sensitive to the issues and personalities issues discussed in our columns. Letters addressed involved. The young rabbi who accepted to the Editor should be brief and preferably typed, · the position is a man whose erudition. double-spaced, to insure legibility. Letters must be FOR SALE signed but the writer's name may be withheld Near Cj>11eens Yo11n9 Israel . quest. Lengthy letters will be condensed. Semi Attached, 2 bedrooms $22,000 • Detached, Center Hall, Extra large Your reactions are essential to the Rooms, Study, Finished Ba•ement $37,500 • 4 Bed-Rooms, Detached, .· of The Jewish Qbserver and we earnestly solicit your $35,000. correspondence. Ccill Agent 658°6841 .· .· organize under Conservative auspices, he Let it again be emphasized, at this accepted the invitation to heco1n2 its point, that the undersigned holds no A Bar Mitzvah, celebrated rabbi only on condition that he was not bri.ef for the policy of those who advised to receive a salary. He has set himself hin1, to accept a mixed-pew position. on a week-day, can be a time limit beyond which he will leave, In ninety-nine out of a hundred cases, meaningful, impressive, and should he have failed to install a that policy has functioned against a inspiring. mechitza in the synagogue by then. Ever background of expediency; the young since his entry into the post he has rabbis "sent into the lions den" in order To the Editor: to serve the "'long range interests of bent every nerve to inspire in his con· I feel remiss in not wntlng to you gregants acceptance of the principles of Orthodoxy'' showed themselves - in the sooner to express my deep appreciation the Halacha as mandatory, and has al overwhelming majority -- to have been for the high degree of excellence which ready won over a sizeable percentage of lacking that rare combination of disre marks The Jewish Observer. Its format his people towards his position on the gard for financial gain. eloquence, per is attractive; the articles superbly writ~ niechitza. He has already indicated to suasiveness, and unyielding integrity ten. Moreover, they treat subjects which his congregation that it violates a hal which characterize the present rabbi of every thoughtful Jew would do well to lowed principle of Judaism, in pennitting the Lincoln Square Congregation. ponder. mixed-seating, and he himself davens In any event, the Rosmarin account The leading article in the Kislev issue of the who!e episode was a clearly biased before coming to his synagogue services on the Vatican Council and the Je1v Slutbbo,v morning. one. And as for those of us who are sr.ows thorough preparation and docu loyal to Torah, one is sure that if the mentation. rabbi under discussion succeeds, we I hope that our people will give you would all congratulate him for his the support yon so richly deserve by achi~vemcnt. If, clialilah, he does not, subscribing personally and persuading tiine wil! be his judge. But at this their friends to do likewise. moment. it is certainly not a service to LEO S. HILSENRAD todl\cr·~ Torah to torpedo his efforts l'tovah, or to victin1ize hin1 for a policy which has Brooklyn, N. Y. become a n1akas niedinali - not only tt 28 - THE JEWISH OBSERVER ..•. -·.- ... .. , ',. .. , .....~ .... ·. .. · ..-··' ; political philosophies of such ·groups ·as ·ica's rabbis are against federal aid · for TEXT ·oF WASHINGTON · .the Goldwater Republicans, for example. · religious schools. Reading the news ·. . 1ESTJMONY ON FEDERAL AID ( MRS. ) RACHEL REISS item, you learn that it refers to the New . AVAILABLE FREE Chicago, Ill. York Board of Rabbis. In response to many requests, the full This whole story had an ironic ·twist · text of the testimony delivered before THE P'SAK DIN · ·· when one of the discussants brought a Congressional committees in Washington . • clipping from the Day-Morning Journal, in early February by Agudath Israel of in which their reporter relates that only ·America, is now available. To the Editor: 40 members of the New York Board I found your article concerning· the ·_ out of its claimed membership of 850 To obtain your free copy of this in~ · · P'sak Din against the Synagogue Council rabbis-participated in the meeting which teresting testimony, write to: Agudath and New York Board of Rabbis very adopted a policy on such a serious issue. Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, interesting. While the New York Board I feel that your readers should be aware New York, N. Y. 10038. (Please enclose of Rabbis is only a local institution, I of this interesting fact. a 5c. stamp.) just experienced some harmful effect StoNIW WEINSTEIN from this group in my own community, · Washington, D .C. STATEMENT OF OWNERS HIP, MANAGEMENT .. far from New York. AND Cl~CU LATION (Act of October 23, 1962; Section 4369, Title 39, United States Code) Jn a discussion about federal aid for ·1. Date of Filing: Octo ber I, 1964 ·religious schools, someone produced the 2. Tille of Publlcation: The Jewish Observer Hear, Here! 3. Frequency of Issue, Monthly, txc<>pl July and .· front page of our local English-Jewish ·August weekly paper. the National Jewish Ledg · 4. Location of Known Office of Publication: .. 5 ALL NEW FROM Beekman Street, New York, N. Y. 10038 . er which had a front page headline: · 5. Location of the Headquarters or General Busi RABBIS ALARMED OVER FEDERAL Af!> ness Office of the Publishers (Nol Printers): 5 SONY@ · Beekm.sn Street, New York, N. Y. 10038 . PROPOSED FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS. This 6. Nomes and Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and · headline gave the impression that Amer- Managing Editor: Publisher-Agudath Israel of ·America; Chr. Editorial Board-Or. Ernst L. Bo .·.denheimer, 5 Beekman Street , N.Y.C.; Managing . Editor-Rabbi Yai11kov Jacobs, 5 B•okman Street, The struggle of the American . N.Y.C . . 7. Owner: (If owned by a corporation, its name Negro for human rights should · and address must be stated and also immediate· · · . ly the reur.der the names and addresses of •tock- be the concern of every Ji::w. holders o,,.ning or holding I percent or more of If you i!lgree, and you share the -total amount of stock. If not owned by a cor poration, t he names and addresses of t he indi- ,. · conviction that Martin Luther Model 102 vidual owners must be g iven. If owned by a King's battle is your own, send ·· partn"Crship or othor un"1neorporc'ttcd firm, ih name Tape Recorders and address, as well as t hat of eaeh individual me your check to support hi; must bo given.) Agudalh Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N. Y. .. 10038 work. A 8 C TRADING CO. 8. Known Bondholdors, Mortgagees, and other There is tio new organization · Security Holders Owning or Holding f Perce.nl or Wholesale Distributors More of Tota l Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or being set up for this purpose, other Sec:uriH es: None Electrical Appliances 9. P4ragraphs 7 and 8 include, in ease• where the and, therefore, no expenses in stockholder or security holder appears upon the volv-ed. I am bearing the cost Silverware - China. books of the company as l ru•te& or in any other .fiduciary relation, the name of the person or of this advertisement. .corporation for whom such trustee is acting, also 31 CANAL STREET ..the statements in t he two p~ragraphs show the Make your check payable ·to: . affianl's full knowledge and belief a• lo the cir- New York, N. Y. 10002 cumstances and condition• under which slockhol DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ·ders and •ecurity holder> who do not appear upon CA 8-5080 " the books of the company as trustees, hold stock -:1nd mail it to me: and securities in a capacity other than of a .· f'..omplcte line for export · bona fide owner. Names and addresses of indi Michael Kaufman, Dox 532 · ·'.!20v. 50 r. for Israel and other viduals who are stockholders of a corporation .'which itself is a stockholder or holder of bonds, Far Rockaway, N. Y. 11690 countries. " mortgage• or other securit ies of the publishing corporation have been included in paraqraphs 7 ·and 8 when the interests of such individuals are ..,,quiva:lent to f percent or more of the total amount of the stock or securities of the pub lish· The Air-Conditioned \, A +I I .· , ing corporation. , .. 10, This item must be complet ed for· all publica• .. lions except those which d o not carry advertising HOTEL other than t he publisher's own a nd which a re Waldman named in sections tl2.231. 132,232, a nd 132,233, Post11 I M•nual. (S•ctions 4~S5a, 435Sb , and 4356 .·Reserve now for PASSOVER ·of Title 39, United States Code\, A . Total No. Cantor Copies l'rinted (Not Press Run) : Averaqe No. MUNI BALABAN Cooies Each Issue Ourinq Prer•dfng 12 Months, will conduct .· 16,000: Sin'11e Issue Neare•I to Filinq Dale, 16,500. Sedurim and .IL Pain Circulation: I. To Term Sub•cribers by Holiday Synagoeue Mail, Carrior Delivery or by other Means. Aver Services ,.qe No. Cooies Each Issue During Precedinnt~s, 450: Single ls•ua Nu•~st to Filina Date, 475. D. TotAI No. of Copiu Distributed (Sum of · Jines RI , Bi Md Cl: Ave,.ne No. Cooie• Each · Issue Ourinq Prec ...... i;.,q I'. Months. 14 ,950 ~ Singfe Issue NeMest to Filinq Date, 15.n5. I certifv t hat t~e stM•ments made by me above · are correct and complete. ;.qudath Israel of Amerir~ .- Rabbi Morris She rer. Executive Vice-PrM. JANUARY J 965 - 29 .· ..· . .-··· AGUDATH ISRAEL DINNER AGUDATH ISRAEL CONTINUES AGUDIST YOUTH TO HONOR FAMED ROSH STRUGGLE FOR FEDERAL AID TORAH FUNCTIONS YESHIVA FOR YESHIVOS: TESTIFIES IN The national Siyran Hashas sponsored The elite of American Orthodoxy will WASHINGTON by Zeirei Agudath Israel, which during attend the 43rd anniversary dinner of Agudath Israel of An1erica, which has the year divided the Shas among aU its Agudath Israel of America, which will been fighting to obtain recognition from groups. will take place on May 16th. honor the distinguished Torah authority the Federal Government for the right of The second annual national Siyu1n Hara\' Yaakov I. Ruderman, Rosh Yeshi yeshivos to obtain support for their Mishnayos sponsored by the Pirchei va of Yeshiva Ner Israel of Baltimore. secular programs, for the past five years, Agudath Israel of America, will take The dinner will take place Sunday eve has made another important contribution place on April 3rd. It is an outstanding ning, February 28th in the grand ball to this effort with its testimony before project for Torah, and the Siyun1 brings room of the Hotel New Yorker, New Congressional hearings in Washington. together children from all Pirchei York City. Rabbi Morris Sherer, executive vice branches throughout the Eastern United Jews from every walk of life, including president of the movement, testified in States. pro1ninent rabbinic and lay-leaders, will Washington before the House Sub-Com join in marking this important milestone mittee on Education on February lst in the history of Agudath Israel, and in and before the Senate Sub-Committee JERUSALEM ROSHAI YESHI paying tribute to a leading member of on Education on February 2nd. VOS ON TOUR FOR MESJVTOS the Moetzes Gedolei lfatorah who has been a pioneer builder for Torah. Harar In his testimony, and during the ques NETWORK Ruderman, whose students are active in tion period that followed, Agudath Israel's spokesman hailed President John Two distinguished Roshai Yeshivas Jewish life throughout the nation, played fron1 Jerusalem, Harav Sholom Schwad an important role at the Fifth Knesiah son's aid to education bill as a major breakthrough in the principle of treating ron and Harav Yisroel Grossman, are Gedola in .Jerusalem. now on a national tour of the United The dinner committee is headed by American school children equally, re gardless of the type of school they at States to mobilize support for the new Rabhi Yechezkel Besser, chairman of the 1'1esivto-division opened hy Chinuch Atz~ executive board of Agudath Israel and tend. lie scored the attempts of the Reform movement and of the American mai in Israel. This new Mesivta program noted communal leader. Dinner reserva~ Jewish Congress to cotnbat this bill, and was launched by the (;edolai Torah in tions at $12.50 per person, should be the Holy Land, in order to provide con~ made at the national headquarters of he described these groups "as a vanishing ininority." tinuation yeshivos for the large number Agudath Israel, 5 Beekman Street. New of students graduating from the Chinuch York City, Atzmai elementary schools. MONTREAL MASS-MEETING CAMP AGUDAH, CAMP BNOS All the Roshai Yeshivas in the United REGISTRATION UNDER WAY States have issued a proclamation this HEARS KNESIAH REPORT month, calling upon the Jewish com A well-attended mass-meeting in Mon Registration is now open for Camp munity to extend its fullest support to treal, chaired by the prominent commu Agudah for boys and Camp Bnos for this ambitious (,'hinuch venture, which na1 leader Mr. Edward Reichman, warm girls, and is proceeding at a very fast they described as "an urgent necessity ly received a report on the 5th Knesiah pace. Both camps, which are located for Jewish survival in the Holy Land." Gedolah, rendered by Knesset-member respectively in Ferndale and Liberty, Rabbi Sblomo Lorincz. The guest from New York, will open the new summer ·i.. : .. :..: .. :..:..: .. :..:+:+x..x ...... Y.+>+'-.M!..ti: Israel was introduced by Rabbi Pinchas season with many new features, including .,. >~ Hirschprung - presidium member of new cottages and all existing facilities ;~ Interment In The Holy Land ;;: Agudath Israel of Montreal, which spon are being overhaule~. j; Possible Within 24 Hours l sored the gathering. The Agudist cami)s, which have benew An evaluation of the accomplishments fitted thousands of ypungsters from every i: PINCUS MANDEL 1 of the Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe, Reb part of the United :States over the past ~.:. Cemetery Consultant :}& Chaim Mordechai Katz, z.t.1. was given two decades, are reCon1mended by lead by Rabbi S. Walkin of New York, who ing educators as the best vacation sup was introduced by Rabbi A. D. Niznik. *•:• Representing •Chevra Kadisha t::: plement for the eduCation of Jewish chil Mr. Fred Pfeiffer closed the evening dren. For information and registration, 3: Haraishis '''Haklalis Perushim t'.t with a report on the local youth work write to the city Office of the camps: •'• Ashkenazim D'Jerusa1em of the Montreal Agudah. 5 Beekman Street, .New York City, or A T y ·} y call worth 4-1620.' FORM BORO PARK ;i: Cfi'er 35 years experie;ce in ll: ;( a cdemdetbery m~tters, ech edm- PIRCHEI COUNCIL LAUNCH OVERSEAS ·'· men e y prom1nent 0 rt o ox A community-wide Pirchei Agudath PASSOVER CAMPAIGN ;l; Rabbis, All arrangements per- Jsrael Council of Boro Park was formed ·'·A formed in strictly Orthodox • Jast month to coordinate the activities The annual Overseas Passover Cam :}. Traditions. t of the many Agudist youth groups scat paign of Agudath Israel, which provides }, T 1, tered throughout the area. Rabbi Moshe Maas Chitim aid for Pesach to needy Weinberger was elected chairman of the Jews throughout the; world, was launched ·'· Pincus Mandel ·'· new Council, and Rabbi Chaim S. Kasten this month. ''fhe scope of this program ;l: Ill PENN STREET f has been expanded in recent years to f t was named executive director. This is ;l; Brooklyn, New York 11211 :l; the first of a network of neighborhood include various areas where this type of coordinating councils to be organized for Maas Chitiln assistance is most urgently + Day & Nite Phones: UL 5-5121 ;. the youth groups of Agudath Israel. needed. ....y : .. : .. : .. : .. : .. : .. : .. : .. :..: .. :..: .. : .. :..: .. : .. : .. : .. : .. : .. : .. : .. : .. :..) ' 30 -- THE JEWISH OBSERVER .· . · . IF: .. you save us the expense and save! of addressing the labels .•. and do it yourself ·-·· - --· -..:.- .:,;.._. - ··-··· ___ ;.,. _.:.:· -..:... · ·..... · I I To: ..... ;: ...... :...... I .... .,.,; .. ...: ... : .... .: -~. :. ; ..: ...... trial subscription to .· .. ------·-· -- ...... I '.ro·: ·...... ; ...... : ...... :-...... :. :.. : .. .: . ...: ...... THE JEWISH.· I .. 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