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S1<'. THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 IS PUBLISHED MONTHl.Y EXCEPT Jrn.Y & AUGIJST BY IN THIS ISSUE ... THE AGUOATH IS!lAEL OF AMERICA 42 BROADWAY. NEW YORK, NY 10oo4. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID IN NEW YORJ(, NY. SUBSCRIPTION S25.00/YEAR; 6 NOTED IN SORROW 2 YEARS, $46.00; 3 YEARS, S69.oo. 01JTSll)E OF THE lJNITEO STATES (US MINOS DRAWN ON A lJS BANK 7 READERS REACT •.. AUTHORS RESPOND ONLY) $15.00 SURC11ARGE PER YEAR. SINGLE COPY SJ.so: 0UTSIOr-: NY AREA S3.95; FOREIGN $4.50. 16 RABBI ABBA BERMAN ?··'11, an appreciation by POSTMASTER: Binyomin Wolpin SEND AIJDRESS CHANGES TO: THE JEWJSll OBSERVER 42 fil{OADWAY, NY. NY T0004 23 A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH ... TEL 2.Hil-797-9000, t'AX 646-254.-1600 PRINTED IN THE l!SA FOR MECHANCHIM, Rabbi Label Steinhardt RABBI N1sSON WOL!'IN, f:ditor 27 IGNITING A SPARK FOR MEANINGFUL TEFILLA, f-:ditorial /Joan! RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS, Chnlrman a review article by Rabbi Labish Becl / Managl'mrnl Board A TRIBUTE TO THE BEN TORAH-BAAL HABAYIS NAFTOU HIRSCH ISAAC KIRJ:NEli. RABBI SHI.OMO i.ESIN, NACllUM STEIN 38 RAas1 JuDAH D1cK '.n Mana9inq f.ditor RAll!U YOSEF C. GOl.OING 42 LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP: RABBI Y!SROEL BLOOM ':n Pl!Bl.ISllED BY AGunATH IS RAEL Of' AMEJUCA U.S. TF!ADE DISTHIBLITOR FEI.DliEIM PliBLJSHERS BOOKS IN REVIEW 208 Airport l:Xrcutivc Ftirh Nrmuct NY HJ!J54 45 GUTTA, BY DR. DAVID KRANZLER, BHITISH REPRESENTATIVrC M.T. BIBH.MAN reviewed by Dr. Sara Kadosh Growrnor \HJrhs 1\1011111 Pleasant I-fill l.o/Jdon Fs 9NL FNG/AN/J FRENCM REPRESENTATIVE RABBI BAMBF.RGhR 21 81)(1/cvard H:iixhnns 57000 Metz. N?ANCI:· ISRAEl.I REPl!ESENTATIVE INTNL. MF.DIA PLACEMENT POB 7195 I .97 JoffO Road STATEMENT OF POLICY }rniso/rm .'J4J40. ISRAl:"L THE JEWISH OBSERVE!~ HAS DEVOTED A GREAT DEAL OF SPACE TO BEi.GiAN IHOPRESENTATIVf THE PERILS 01' THE INTERNET AND TO TllE NEED FOR EVERYONE TO MR. E. 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BUT IN NO WAY DOES TfilS IMPLY THAT I DR A DINNE1'i I j &/I< nB'""l"il L"""'" Nl\V,,,,~11\/RAI/~ ~°''"'~ :5 I VOL=-=~ ~O~----r~JNn"~------__J ------·---~------... -- ·-- --~---. ---··------··-·····-----····-·-·-··-~---. Noted in Sorrow The Jewish Observer joins Kial Yisroel in As the winds of war gathered over [Yaakov Yitzchak] Ruderman:' He enrolled mourning the recent petira (passing) oftwo Europe in 1939, Reh Binyomin fled Poland in the yeshiva, and began working in its leading figures in the Torah world. together with the Mirrer Yeshiva to inde administration in 1940. In 1942, he mar- pendent Vilna, then across Russia to Japan, finally settling in Shanghai, China, where it spent the duration of the war. In Shanghai, Reb Binyomin learned with phenom enal hasmada and developed into a gadol baTorah. After arriving in America together with the yeshiva in 1947,hecontinued learning in the newly established Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, and married the daugh ter of Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Kaplan, '7'llt (son-in-law of Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz), Mashgiach of Beth Medrash Elyon of Monsey. Reb Binyomin then joined Yeshiva I. Beis HaTalmud which had recently been ried Yehudis Kramer, younger sister of Continued on page 41 Rebbetzin Ruderman. odays before YomKippur, theven Rabbi Neuberger was a key figure in the rated Rosh Yeshiva ofYeshiva Beis yeshiva's growth -from erection ofthe Ner TiHatalmud of Bensonhurst, Rabbi II. Israel Building on 4411 Garrison Boulevard Binyomin Zeilberger, ?'lit was niftar. He in 1943 to the subsequent building and was one of the last links with the pre-war bbi Naftoli Neuberger, ?''lit. late expansion of the yeshiva in its current 90- Mirrer Yeshiva, embodying the ideals of resident of Yeshiva Ner Israel in acre campus, which includes housing for greatness in Torah, total dedication to has ru altirnore, was niftar in his home 95 faculty and kollel families in suburban mada in Torah, and middos tovos that were on the Ner Israel campus on Friday night Pikesville. He was the guiding force in the molded by dedicated avodas hamussar. Chol Hamoed Sukkos. He was gifted with yeshiva's ruchniyus development from a Rabbi Zeilberger was born in 1921 far-reaching vision, limitless energy, fine small school to one of today's premier in Koenigshaufen, a village not far from honed administrative skills, and fidelity Torah institutions. Wurzburg, to his parents, Reh Yehuda to the highest standards of integrity and Rabbi Neuberger was uniquely creative and Chana. Under the influence of the dedication to Torah and Kial Yisroei This and widely influential in many communal well-known Rav and mechanech, Rabbi extraordinary combination commanded and educational endeavors, and worked with Shamshon Raphael Weiss, he and Naftali the respect of roshei yeshiva, government Rabbi Moshe Sherer '7'llt on many under Neuberger set out for the Mirrer Yeshiva figures, community leaders, and politi takings. Together, they were instrumental as 14-year-old bachurim. Arriving in Mir cians, as well as the love of the talmidim in gaining crucial government support for after Pesach of 1936, he managed to hear of the yeshiva. yeshivos. They joined with Rabbi Yaakov several shmuessen from Rabbi Yeruchem He was born in 1918 to Reh Meir and Weissberg .,..lit in the founding of AARTS, Levovitz '7'llt, the mussar giant, some two Breindel Neuberger in the town ofHassfurt, an accrediting agency for yeshivas gedolos, months before his petira. The Mashgiach~ Germany. His father was niftar only fuur accreditation by the U.S. Department of approach to mussarhad a profound impact weeks after his Bar Mitzvah.Although they Education is a prerequisite to receiving on the young bachur. moved to Wurzburg, home to a yeshiva for federal funding. This proved a major factor Reb Binyomin Zeilberger's phenom teen-age boys, Reh Naftoli subsequently in the growth of Torah in America. enal progress in learning could be attrib enrolled in the Mir, Poland, to continue his Rabbi Neuberger was consulted uted in part to his ability to attach himself studies on an intensive level beyond what constantly by roshei yeshiva, political to distinguished senior Mirrer talmidim, had been available in Germany. leaders, and Jewish community leaders. who were worthy of being roshei yeshiva Just before Kristallnacht in 1938, Rabbi His horizons went far beyond the needs in their own right, including Rabbi Neuberger's relatives in New York sent of Ner Israel, and he became a pivotal Leib Malin, ?-lit one of Reb Yeruchem's him papers to immigrate to the United figure in the growth of Torah institutions closest talmidim; Rabbi Yonah Minsker States. When in Baltimore that year, Rabbi everywhere. ?''lit (Yonas Eilem); and Rabbi Michel Neuberger visited Ner Israel, and was In the late 1970's, foreseeing the need J ~t~~stein ?"lit, with whom he shared a taken by the spirit of the yeshiva, and for Torah leaders for Iranian Jews, he began Lnzia (room in a boarding house). - in his words - "fascinated by Rabbi bringing Iranian bachurim to Ner Israel, Continued on page 41 .....,, I L A FORMER TALMID, rather than with spiritual peers, in order rigor of the seder hatefilla, the spartan AT HOME IN AYESHIVA SETTING to facilitate shteiging - without which nature of the gashmiyus of the beis there is stagnation. What better place midrash in comparison with the local To the Editor: for a ben Torah who finds himself in shtiebel (few elaborate kiddushim here!), I was taken aback at Rabbi Pinchas the workplace to do that than a yeshiva, and the "early to rise" schedule, discour Jung's negative d1aracterization of baalei where he is in the company of individu age "lo lishma" attendees. And besides, battim who choose to make yeshi als who are learning full-time, and in anyone who harbors the notion that vas their permanent mekomos tefilla the presence of roshei yeshiva? Where he can hide from the local communal ("Where Do You Belong?," JO, Tishrei else is he most likely to sit down with a mosdos by davening in a yeshiva will 5766). As a bachur, I learned - and sefer himself for at least a few minutes quickly discover that they will manage assumed that every ben Torah learned after davening? to find him notwithstanding. - that this is an objective that not every And where else but a yeshiva is one Rabbi Jung does not do our roshei yeshiva 1nan can achieve, but is an ideal most likely to find "quality" davening yeshiva justice with the statement that "A that every ben Torah should strive for. - where zen1anim and other hilchos competent rash yeshiva's expertise will In one of his Igros (Collected Letters), tefilla are strictly adhered to, the baalei be in his own field," implying that "the Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner 7"'1t compared tefilla and kria have the appropriate roshei yeshiva who guide their talmidim yeshivos in our days to Noach's teiva credentials without compro1nisc, there through all stages of family life" are the (ark), in that they provide shelter from is ample time to daven with full kava exception rather than the rule. What is the many negative influences that per na, and distracting sichas chulin back the basis for that conclusion, and for the meate the "mabuI'' outside their walls, ground-conversations during davening implication that the typical shul rabbi is and thus serve not only as places for and leining are not tolerated? better versed or trained? In any case, a Torah learning, but also as places where What better chinuch can a father give typical yeshiva has not one but several talmidin1 who wish to retain their 1brah his children than to accustom them to a roshei yeshiva, in addition to maggidei values can anchor themselves. The need yeshiva daveningas the norm? I venture shiur, a mashgiach and sho' eil umeishiv for this oasis of sanity only increases to say, after reading the full text of Rabbi or two, and probably a poseik or two. when a talmid can no longer make the Wolbe's 7"'11 letter, that Rabbi Wolbe How many battei midrash outside the yeshiva his full-ti1ne hon1c. would have heartily concurred. yeshiva realm can boast such a wealth It is also an established fact that a In the 35 or so years that I've been of resources? person is influenced by the company davening in my yeshiva (about 25 of My yeshiva, and most others, are he keeps, and baalei mussar therefore them as a baal habayis), I cannot recall full kehillos in every sense of the word, recom1nend that one associate with anyone "drifting" in to avoid the com and those fortunate enough to call people who are on a higher madreiga, mitments of kehilla. On the contrary, the them spiritual home lack for nothing. 7 ------·--··------··---·-- -·------·------·------______. NOVEMBER 2005 MY YESHIVA, AND MOST OTHERS, ARE FULL to re-direct halacha enquiries to poskim KEHILLOS IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, AND i.e. baalei hara' a. They would even present their own personal she'eilos to THOSE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CALL THEM the recognized experts in these fields. SPIRITUAL HOME LACK FOR NOTHING. Lehavdil, a top oncologist will refer - ELI WILLNER heart problems to the cardiologist, it would be cause for alarm if he would attempt to tackle them himself... (See THOSE WHO, LIKE HIM, SUCCEED IN FINDING Rosh, Bava Kama, peirek 4:4: "Rav and ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF THE IDEAL KEHILLA Shmuel"). WITHIN THE YESHIVA OF THEIR CHOICE ARE The Sfas Emes (Behar 5641) points out that totality in wisdom cannot be FORTUNATE INDEED. ASHREICHEM! found in any one person. Rather, one - RABBI JUNG expert complements the other. This is the meaning of (Avos, 4: l) the true They, their families, and those around every sense of the word. That being so, chacham is he who learns from each them are all beneficiaries. It may not be his situation is precisely what the article expert in his field. everyone's cup of tea, but for those who intended to encourage. So this distinction between catego relish it, ashreichem! However, many would question ries of Torah sages should not be taken Eu WILLNER whether this is true of "most other as an injustice to anyone. It should be Brooklyn, NY yeshivas;' particularly the smaller ones. seen as a realistic approach in view of In fact, some yeshivas are known to the infinite amount of Torah knowledge THE AUTHOR RESPONDS: discourage baalei battim from becom to be mastered. ing «members," arguing (as mentioned From the point of view of environ Many thanks to Eli Willner (and in my article) that they do not feel ment, serious davening, and spiritual others) who took the trouble to pen equipped to cater to the needs of family growth, however, who would argue their observations on my recent article men. This discussion prompted me to with Eli Willner? The desirability of the "Where Do You Belong?" speak to some experienced local rab yeshiva as an "oasis of sanity" is too true. The title (and photograph) convey banim. As a result, it was confirmed that Those who, like him, succeed in finding that, primarily, the intention was to one cannot generalize (as implied in the all the ingredients of the ideal kehilla challenge those who do not belong any original article), but that it is unreason within the yeshiva of their choice are where, or those who frequent places of able to expect even an accomplished rash fortunate indeed. Ashreichem! no meaningful content or structure. yeshiva to be as at home in p'sak as a PINCHOS )UNG Mr. Willner concludes his letter stat competent rav or dayan would be. ing that his yeshiva is a full kehilla in Renowned gedolim have been known STATEMENTS OF COMPASSION NOT BACKED UP IN ACTION NEW BROOKLYN OFFICE NOW OPEN To the Editor: Yonoson Rosenblum makes a valiant Torah-Based Cognitive Therapy • EMDR Level II Certified effort to explain why the Chareidi world Parent-Child Relationship • Marriage Enhancement has been "almost completely silent on the Gaza withdrawal:' Unfortunately, School Social and Behavioral Issues his defense falls short. Career-Life Objective Testing & Counseling Rabbi Rosenblum explains that the UT)'s decision not to vote against the disengagement was due to "the strong preference of the Torah leadership to avoid casting the decisive votes on mat ters of national security, and especially Zalman lachman, LM.S.W. not against the will of the majority of Licensed Master Social Worker • Career Counselor Israeli citizens." How does Rabbi Rosenblum explain 845-362-4556 the fact that the Agudah parties consis For Appointments in Brooklyn or Monsey tently (and correctly) voted against all , 8 I THE JEWISH OBSERVER that it related to Israeli security and be spoken. The disdain for Religious YONOSON ROSENBLUM REPLIES: was against the will of the majority of Zionism and its adherents has blinded the people. the Chareidi community to the extent Rabbi Schonfeld's letter appears to Rabbi Rosenblum goes on to recall that it could not bring itself to rise to conflate two separate issues under the HaRav Shach's opposition to settle the occasion. A pity that all the talk we rubric the silence of the Chareidi world: ment moven1ent as further justification hear about the evils of sinas chinam (I) the lack of condemnation by gedo of the silence of the Chareidi world. (baseless hatred) and the importance lei Yisroel of the Gaza withdrawal on Yes, Rav Shach was opposed to settle of the unity of Kial Yisroel could not be halachic grounds; and (2) the lack of ments for reasons which are becoming put to practical use during these most sympathy for the settlers on the part clearer with time. I-Iowever, what does difficult times. of the Chareidi public. I am accused this have to do with caring about the Let us hope that the year 5766 brings of defending both. plight of these fine Jews being cruelly us better tidings. As to the first, the position of expelled from their homes, shuls, and RAB81 Y OEL SCHONFELD the gedolei Yisroel that the halacha even cen1eteries? Wouldn't a collective Kew Garden Hills, NY does not forbid renunciation of Israeli sigh of grief in their behalf have been in order? Moreover, what about the passuk of"Lo sa'amod al da1n rei'echa" -Do not stand by idly as your comrade's blood is being spilled"? A Tehillim gathering for their sake during this awful time would have offered them sorely needed com fort. Sadly, only the Boston er Rebbe, the Sadigerer Rebbe and the Stoliner Rebbe seemed to promote this. Rabbi Rosenblum proudly quotes the statement of Agudath Israel of America, which says that we must "pause and share in the pain and anguish of our Jewish brethren in Gaza." How exactly did we share in their pain? This kind of empty platitude is so out of character for THEVORT • The menu for the seuda is Agudath Israel that it seems to under • The Vort celebration is to be limited to 3 courses followed by a score the organization's ambivalence discontinued. The L'chaim (held at regular dessert. on this issue. the time that the engagement is • No Viennese table and no bar. Perhaps the n1ost convincing evi announced) should also not turn dence that the silence was not for the into a Vort. THE MUSIC reasons outlined in the article is the THE WEDDING •A band may consist of a maximum fact that virtually no Chareidim were of 5 musicians (one of the musicians present at the funeral for the dozen or • For typical families, only 400 invit so Jewish bodies that were removed ed guests may be seated at the chas may act as a vocalist) or four musi from their resting place in Gaza and suna seuda. (The Guidelines make cians and one additional vocalist. reintcrred in Yerushalayim. Thousands provision for exceptional circum • A one-man band is recom of religious Jews from throughout the stances - see full text.) mended. country felt compelled to join in the • The kabbolas panim smorgasbord FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR sorrow of these newly bereaved families. should be limited to basic cakes, For some reason, Chareidim chose not fruit platters, a modest buffet, and • The total cost of these items for to attend this almost unprecedented the caterer's standard chicken or the entire wedding should not sole1nn event meat hot dishes. exceed $1,800. Here, there were no issues of security or of settlements. This was a time for all FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES caring Jews to come together and offer WITH ITS RABBINICAL SIGNATORIES AND THE i chizuk. What a squandered opportunity I for a real display of achdus and a kid- ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, please email I dush Hashem! [email protected] or call 212-612-2300 L~-afraid the real truth dare not ------·------····------···------9-' NOVEMBER 2005 ~ sovereignty over territory where that munity. For the former, the withdrawal I renunciation will increase the safety was not only an immense personal of Jews has been reiterated many times tragedy for those whose communities in recent decades. With respect to the were destroyed; it was a dramatic set practical question of whether Jewish back to realization of the fervent hopes life will be more secure, the gedolei centered on the settlement movement Child Development Specialists Yisroel have been reluctant to render from 1970 onwards. Not so for the Helping Infants &Toddlers a decision contrary to the opinion of Chareidim. And it was also natural the majority of Jews in Israel, especially that on a human level, the National with Developmental Delays and Disabilities where the matter is one of substantial Religious community would identify doubt. with the suffering of the evacuees more Oslo does not, as Rabbi Schonfeld intensely. Members of that community claims, furnish a counter-example. were far more likely to have friends and There was no clear-cut majority for relatives whose lives were destroyed by the Oslo Accords, certainly not at the the evacuation. inception. The initial Knesset approval But the empathy of the Chareidi was only obtained by "purchasing" the community for the suffering of those votes of two obscure backbenchers, expelled from their homes is real and who had been elected on the far-Right deep. There was nothing platitudinous wing Tsomet list, with particularly about the expressions of sympathy for brazen political bribes. And by the time the Gaza settlers or the admiration for of the assassination of Prime Minister their courage and faith contained in the Yitzchak Rabin, the pendulum had statement of Agudath Israel of America. once again swung against Oslo. Polls I spoke at length to the person who taken prior to the assassination showed guided the drafting of that statement Binyamin Netanyahu, an outspoken prior to its issuance, and there is no critic of Oslo, with a clear lead over doubt that the statement reflected his Evaluation and a full range of Rabin. deepest emotions. Therapeutic Services provided The reasons for opposing Oslo in At the same time, it was understood at our Center or in the privacy a situation of an evenly divided elec in advance that the statement would of your home torate were precisely those stated by never fully satisfy those to whom it Bilingual Services Available Rabbi Shach in his famous speech at was directed. The Chareidi community Yad Eliyahu when he instructed Degel was incapable of offering the National Senices are provided based on the child's needs Ha Torah not to join in efforts to bring Religious world what they wanted as determined by the NYC Early Intervention down the national unity government most: agreement that the government's Program. The Early Intervention Official will detennine the location and provider of any headed by Prime Minister Yitzchak actions clearly violated the imperatives needed services. This Earlv Intervention Shamir of Likud. If forced to choose of yishuv ha'aretz. That inability is not Program is fuoded & regulated by the NYC Dept. between allying with the Left or Right, due to any ambivalence on the part of o!Health &Mental Hygiene. Rabbi Shach said at the time, the natu the Chareidi world, but due to a dif ral preference of the Torah world must ferent halachic perspective. (Perhaps Executive Offices: be with the" amcha Yidden," those who it is worth noting that official state 4228 Tenth Avenue have not lost their pride in the name ments of the more "modern" Orthodox "Jew." Union similarly confined themselves to Brooklyn, New York 11219 As to Rabbi Schonfeld's second expressions of sympathy for the plight point, my article did not address of those uprooted from their homes Queens Office: whether the Chareidi community and communities, and did not address 70-14 141 st Street might have missed an opportunity to the wisdom or halachic permissibility draw closer a disillusioned segment of of the withdrawal itself.) Flushing, New York 11367 the national religious community by In his eagerness to berate the failing to reach out with more concrete Chareidim for their indifference, Rabbi SERVING BROOKLYN, QUEENS, help to the evacuees. What I did point Schonfeld infers too much from the STATEN ISLAND & MANHATTAN out was the reasons why the reaction to lack of Chareidim at a particular event. the National Religious community to Hundreds of thousands of National www.chclllenge .. ei.com the withdrawal was of necessity much Religious Jews also did not attend the stronger than that of the Chareidi com- reburial - the type of ceremony gener- 10 L---~------0 ally though~ to be;rivateand fa~ilial. ··--T-~' " w "_'' "_' ; " ;-; " -_ ~ ..•. ..~·· - • _- -· I Were they also indifferent? THE EMPATHY OF THE CHAREIDI COMMUNITY Over the last fifty years, Chareidim FOR THE SUFFERING OF THOSE EXPELLED have manned the barricades alone in FROM THEIR HOMES IS REAL AND DEEP. demonstrations against chillul Shabbos, wanton autopsies, and the like. But THERE WAS NOTHING PLATITUDINOUS would we suggest that the National ABOUT THE EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY. Religious community stayed away - YoNOSON ROSENBLUM because it is unconcerned with chil· lul Shabbos, or because it harbors a disdain for Chareidim? The different choices made by the work and me in his "On the Agenda" col· Jewish terrorists" is unspoken is because Chareidi and National Religious worlds umn (Sept. '05) was titled "Fundamental I neither believe it nor have said it. To as to where to devote their main Foolishness!' No title could better suggest I do is like my suggesting that energies reflect differing ideological describe his characterizations of what because Rabbi Shafran has begun his viewpoints. Nothing will be gained I wrote or what I believe. Although I am column by quoting Corinthians 13:11, by pretending that these differences reluctant to point out Rabbi Shafran's in which Paul uses the phrase "through do not exist, even as we extend to our many sins at this time of the year, I am a glass darkly," he draws his inspiration fellow shomrei Torah u'mitzvos the full afraid that he leaves me no choice, given from the New Testament. That is the measure of love and support. his slanderous assertions. To begin with, unspoken but unmistakable message. YONOSON ROSENBLUM he asserts that what he is really going Rubbish. after is my"unspoken but unmistakable Had the rabbi accurately explained ACCUSATION DENIED message." Of course, the reasons that my position (which any JO readers can this "message" in which he claims that see for themselves at the Jewish Political To the Editor: I see or present American and Israeli Studies Review http://www.jcpa.org/cje/ Avi Shafran's recent reference to my yeshivos as "incubators of dormant cjc·heilman-s05.htm), he would have When it comes to mortgages for overseas investors. only the Bank of Jerusalem MORFOW mortgage features all of the following: I Mortgage specialists whose native language is English; I Peerless expertise in Israeli mortgage law; I Asterling reputation in real estate financing for over thirty.five years; I Aspecial personal service branch in the heart of Jerusalem·s hotel district; I Custom·tailored loans witl1 no additional collateral or guarantors; I Flexible payment terms and no prepayment penalties. 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The latter, I explain, want compromised by social insecurity ...." talism," a stance taken in madrasas no to simply keep the toxic and destructive I doubt that my four sons, all of whom less than in yeshivas. I have urged that contemporary culture at arm's length, attended yeshivos both in America and both these types of settings create in engaging in what one Chareidi rabbi Israel, would agree. What I pine for, if their students a feeling that life outside called "the heroic retreat" from con anything, is an Orthodoxy that is not the place they learn, which both groups cerns and entanglements in the modern characterized by"sinas chinam;' baseless believe is surrounded by a kind of wall world. Both these types can be found hatred and vilification, an Orthodox of virtue, is culturally dangerous and among Jews and Moslems. Judaism that rather than seeing in the even toxic, that they are convinced that Perhaps Rabbi Shafran has not world outside of Judaism only use the texts they study offer the only real looked at madrasas and cannot under less wisdom and toxins, instead - in truth and a recipe for life, that in some stand that there are parallels. To be sure, the words of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein of these schools there are people who violence can and sometimes does occur - "encourage a sense of complexity and believe that by their actions they can from both these communities. Alas, we integration" and "rejects [s] the kind of "hasten the Messiah;' and that by their have had some yeshiva boys who have black-and-white solutions appealing activity, they are set apart from those engaged in it, and surely the madrasas to others." "who have hopelessly compromised have produced their share of violence. Rabbi Shafran accuses me of demon G-d's will." I have said that both those But neither the word "violence" nor the izing a part of the Jewish world. For in yeshivas and those in madrasas often word "terror" appears in my article. The shame. He should know better. I did not, believe «that G-d is on their side." fact that there are parallels between the nor would I, do this. On the contrary, In my work, I also distinguish worldviews of both the Islamic madrasa I have been maligned, demonized and between "active" and "quiescent" types. and the Jewish beis midrash is food for misrepresented by him. And the good The former are "willing to challenge the thought. rabbi has done this during the month status and engage in world-transform Another mistake that Rabbi Shafran of Elul. This cannot be appropriate ing activities" - examples include those has made is in his assertion that I "pine for one whose position is to be direc tor of an organization that calls itself ,,,,_------'""'"II "Am Echad." The late Rav A.I. Kook was quoted as saying that the previous Beis Hamikdash was destroyed by sinas chinam and the next one will be built only be ahavas chinam. Sadly, it seems 'AIS YMKOVOF PASSAIC the only thing still left from the Beis HIGH SCHOOL Hamikdash these days is sinas chinam. May we all merit a time when we can ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS disagree with one another on the basis of ahavas chinam. for the 2006-2007 /1"crz:ri SAMUEL HEILMAN school year Distinguished Professor of Sociology & Holder of the Proshansky Chair in will be administered Jewish Studies Queens College (CUNY) December 4/i~c" ·~ Flushing, NY at 10:00 AM RABBI AV! SHAFRAN RESPONDS: at the school building 181 Pennington Avenue It is gratifying to read that Professor Heilman disowns the assertion that Passaic, NJ yeshivas are incubating potential Jewish terrorists. Unfortunately, his Jewish Political Studies Review paper, despite his For information and applications, indignation, suggests precisely that. please call 973.365.0100 To be sure, as I noted in my earlier essay in these pages, he does not baldly state as much; he indeed omits words 12 I T H E JEWISH OBSERVER I ---"···---- like "terror" and "violence." But some times the worst slander is the subtle sort I JOIN RABBI SHAFRAN IN OBJECTING TO (see Megilla l3b ). As it happens, though, HEILMAN'S PORTRAYAL OF TODAY'S ROSH EI the professor was not even terribly subtle. I join him in encouraging read YESHIVOS AS FUNDAMENTALISTS BECAUSE ers to examine his essay for the1nselves; THEY REJECT PURSUIT OF SECULAR STUDIES. I will happily fax a copy to anyone who IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN SO WERE THE calls my office - 212 797-9000, ext. 307 - to request one. CHASAM SOFER, THE CHOFETZ CHAIM, ... AND Any careful reader will readily make ALMOST ALL GEDOLEI YISROEL FOR AT LEAST out the paper's thesis, which is that THE LAST THREE HUNDRED YEARS. both radical Islamists and "fundamen talist" Jews (including, prominently, - PROF. AARON TWERSKI the yeshiva world) are convinced that their beliefs are true, and that, as the former group has proven dangerous to reading of the paper. He responded: the Rebbes of Ger, Vizhnitz, Bobov, and society, we must be wary of the latter. "Professor Heilman's essay does almost all gedolei Yisroel for at least the The distinction the professor makes indeed characterize the post-Holocaust last three hundred years." between "active" fundan1entalists and yeshiva world as a counterpart to that In fact, Professor Heilman's very use "quiescent" ones is a scholarly red her of the Muslim fundamentalists, and that of the word "fundamentalist" to refer to ring;" quiescent" means "inactive," with is simply ludicrous. Moreover, I join Torah-dedicated Jews is itself worthy of future activation always a possibility. Rabbi Shafran in objecting to Heilman's condemnation. So is his ugly and errant My post-secondary education was at portrayal of today's roshei yeshivas as characterization of "fundamentalist" that hotbed of fundamentalism, Yeshivas fundamentalists because they reject Jews - "Chareidi Jewry, and in par Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, so I asked pursuit of secular studies. If that is the ticular, the world of the yeshivos" - as Hofstra University Law School's dean, case, then so were the Chasam Sofer, the being "much better at fighting against Professor Aaron cfwerski, to give me his Chafetz Chaim, the Alter of Slabodka, something than at simply defining what ATTN: ATTORNEYS - Learn CHOSHEN MISHPAT & RIBBIS And Get C.L.E. Credits Pirchei Shoshanim, in conjunction with the Shulchan Aruch Learning Project of Yerushalayim has recently received permission from the California Bar to give programs in Choshen Mishpat and Ribis where one can earn up to 34 credits for each program while learning Torah What better combination? Most state Bar Associations recoginize the calif program. One can take portions of the program or learn the entire program. Most can learn up to one credit hour per week. just sign up and be sent the lessons and hear the audio from the comfort of your own office. Biblical and Rabbinic Ribis, Lending Goods (Siman, How Devaluation Affects Ribis, Services which the Borrower may not Provide to his Lender, Ribis Problems Encountered in Sales BUSINESS ETHICS COURSE 1. Oni Hamehapaich Bacharoro: One Who Purchases an Object that Someone Else Agreed to Purchase 2. Locating a Business: Locating a Business Which Attracts Customers or Causes Noise in a Residential Building 3. The Laws Governing Organizations: The Talmudic basis for organizing a union, Are strikes Iegal,etc. 4. Sales of Defective Merchandise, Incorrect Amount, Fraud part a 5. Sales of Defective Merchandise, Incorrect Amount, Fraud part b 6. Speech that Hurts another Individual's Feelings 7. Genaives Da'as--Deceit 8. Employer/Employee Relations Ill: For information please call in the U.S 732-370-3344 I or Toll Free 800-747-2434, j L Or write: [email protected] www.shemayisrael.com L __ ------~ I= =------;=N=O=V=E==M=B=E=R==·=o=o==5::;; ! .. h d c ,, It IS t ey Stan !Of. gourmands - since, like cannibals, they knowledge of assassins or murderers '''I Professor Heilman goes on to lament too take pride in the preparation and lurking in Lakewood, Ponevezh or ' that what results from "Jewish funda- consumption of their meals - would the Mir? If so, he would do us all well mentalism" is that "the complexity of not be taken seriously. One hopes. to share it. If not, he would do both Judaism is lost.. .devolved into a few But the most such a paper would himself and us well to confine his fundamentals." evoke would be laughter. In the case imaginings to his imagination. And then, he pointedly closes his of yeshivos and, lehavdil, madrasas, It is regrettable that Professor paper as follows: the con1parison is not only risible, Heilman's main reaction to my cri "Ifone considers what has happened to it is irresponsible - to the point of tique is to accuse me of sinas chinam, the rich culture ofIslam as it has devolved dangerousness. It is all too easy these as if defending the most spiritually into Islamist fundamentalism as a model, days for such insinuations, no matter vibrant part of the Jewish world from the fews who espouse this option would bow outlandish, to find their way to slander is somehow an expression of do well to rethink their strategy." 1nillions of sinister eyes) those that hatred rather than love. I assure him The professor's comparison (which enjoy gazing at the multitude of pub that I have no hatred whatsoever for he seems to ignore in his letter) of lications and websites specializing in him; I think I have met him once, an the yeshiva world with the sewer that the demonization of Jews and Jewish interaction that was entirely pleasant. I produces Isla1nist outrages is explicit, beliefs. have, moreover, spoken with one of his revolting, and wrong. At a time when The irresponsibility would be strik sons, a journalist, on several occasions, every conscious human being readily ing even if the insinuation contained and been greatly impressed by his intel and rightly associates "Islamist funda some seed of truth, but here is it is ligence, fairness and good will. What I mentalism" with attacks like the one on even worse, as the professor)s co1n expressed, and still express, is not, chas our country four years ago and more parison is baseless. I don't know which veshalom, anything remotely akin to recently in England, with shootings "yeshiva boys" he refers to in his letter hatred, but rather astonishment - at the and beheadings, with suicide bomb to whom he attributes acts of violence, dangerous falsehood that the professor ings and vows to conquer the world but the perpetrators of the few acts of has placed in the public sphere. That by, yes, terror and violence, the blithe violence by Jews over the years (like is neither sin'a nor china1n. insinuation that bnei yeshiva have any the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin a Finally, "through a glass darkly" has connection, however potential, to that decade ago, the massacre of Arabs in indeed become an English idiom by blight is beyond shameful. the Me'aras Han1achpeila eleven years way of a Christian religious text. But it The professor protests that there ago, or the recent 1nurder of several originates in the Talmud and Midrasb; are indeed parallels between madrasas Arabs in Shfaram) stemmed from it is a translation of the Greek/Aramaic and, lehavdil, yeshivos. Well, yes, just as nationalist sentiments, not Chareidi phrase ''aspaklaria she'eina mei'ira." there are between French gourmands ones; all of those inexcusable acts) Which, I reiterate, is no way to view and cannibals. But any acade1nic who 1noreover) were strongly condemned Jews dedicated to ahavas haTorah and penned a scholarly paper warning by the leaders of the yeshiva world. yiras Shamayim. of the "quiescent" danger posed by Does the professor have some secret AvI SHAFRAN FREE CARD AVAllABlE Eretz Yisroel's .. .in memory Most Reliable Shomer Shabbos A of a loved one Reminder and English Speaking Car Service rM"'GH merits them GICJ H "eternal May Hashem respond Visiting Israel? 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His unusual discourse given by the revered Mashgiach, Mir for a talmid short of funds to "speak intellectual abilities caught the atten Rabbi Yeruchem Levovits ?"'lit. He was in learning" with Reb Abba to pick up tion of great scholars of that genera advised by an older acquaintance that something original and impressive to tion, starting with the Chafetz say over to the Rosh Yeshiva. Chaim (of whom his father When Rabbi Abba Berman 7"llt was niftar this past On more than one occasion, was a talmid muvhak), who 3 lyar/May 12, he left behind five sefarim (thus far) bear the Rosh Yeshiva said, "That tested him at age six on ing the name "lyun Hatalmud" - also the name of the sounds like Abba Lodzer's Tosafos in Peirek Hamajkid. yeshiva he headed - personifying his legacy of profoundly insights:' The Chafetz Chaim told his deep, analytical commentary on the entirety of Shas. Generally, one who is father not to publicize his intellectually gifted requires • special genius. He said that During his student years in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Europe less effort to do as well as the Vilna Gaon would have and Shanghai, then, as a Rosh Yeshiva in America and his colleagues, if not better. been much greater if not in Eretz Yisroel, he established his legacy of chiddushei Although this was definitely for the public attention that Torah (original Torah insights) and, ultimately, hundreds the case with Reb Abba, it did was accorded him. At age of dedicated talmidim, many of them marbitzei Torah, not deter him from exert 9, he had a seder in Sefer who keep his unique approach alive. In the pages that ing vast energy and effort in Ketzos Hachoshen (as was follow, Rabbi Binyomin Wolpin, a ta/mid of the last learning and understanding told to his grandson, who 20 years, shares his impressions of his Rosh Yeshiva with things to the utmost. wanted to learn Ketzos at age the readers of The Jewish Observer. He once described how he 7 - "Zaidy didn't learn Ketzos approached a sugya (topic in until nine"). nobody understood the Mashgiach in Talmud): He would sit down for a few At the relatively young age of 14, he the beginning, and it wasn't worth the hours and "take in" the Gemara, Rashi, joined the Mirrer Yeshiva, where the time. Reb Abba went anyway. Upon Tosafos, Rishonim and Acharonim (ear general practice was to enter in one's late hearing the shmuess, he was convinced lier and later commentaries), until he teens or early 20s. Nonetheless, he broke that he had plumbed its depths, as was had a clear picture of the entire sugya, into the tight elite circle of established verified by a skeptical older bachur. including all of the apparent inconsis talmidei chachamim, where his fame The Rosh Hayeshiva of Mir - Rabbi tencies and difficulties in understanding RABBI WOLPIN HEAOS A KOLLE!. IN KJRYAT SEFER. Lazer Yudel Finkel ., .. lit - would grant the subject matter. He would then pace 16 THE JEWISH OBSERVER ---w.. ----··-.rn•-·•••------·------·------·------·••-••-----•••- the floor, back and forth, for hours on who enlightens others - to the extent to be illuminating. The joy of under end - even over days and weeks - to that his name was changed to Meir. standing the light shed on a difficult delve into the depths of the sugya. His He applied his inborn gifts of light to topic convinced him to continue to toil involvement was literally 24 hours a illuminate Torah for others. for more fulfillment, which he was sure day. He would later demand from his In his way, Reb Abba also passed wis would be forthcoming. talmidim that they go to sleep with a dom and insight to others beyond the Rabbi Yeruchem Olshin, N"""71!>, one kushya: "Don't you know that the mind lines of conventional communication, of the Roshei Hayeshiva of Bais Medrash continues to work even while you're using his own light to enlighten others, Govoha in Lakewood, was maspid ( eulo sleeping?" His family members would as Rebbi Meir did. gized) Reb Abba in the yeshiva, noting relate how he would remain awake, often He would, in effect, take his talmidim that while he had had the privilege pacing the floors in deep thought, in the "by the hand" and lead them to deeper of hearing many shiurim from highly middle of the night. vistas in understanding. This included regarded Roshei Yeshiva, the shiurim When yet a bachur in the Mir, he clearly mapping out deep abstract con that he heard during his years under was known to be the first one in the cepts, giving clear guidelines and direc Reb Abba were "fun an andere velt" - of beis midrash in the morning, and the tions in a depth that at the time was not a truly unique quality. last one out at night. He described his explained or articulated elsewhere. Not Similarly, Rabbi Yigal Rosen N"l»'ro, learning schedule in Shanghai in the only did the talmidim gain from the Rosh Hayeshiva of Ohr Yisroel in Petach winter of 1942: actual explanations of many difficult Tikva, commented that whenever he The morning seder was Maseches sugyos, they also received a mahalach thinks of the shiur that he heard from Kiddushin, which he completed until - an approach - in understanding that Reb Abba years earlier, it assumes the daf Nun. At night, he learned Maseches they continued to use in all areas of same freshness and clarity that it had Nazir and Mishnayos Ohalos with Torah. when he first heard it. And Rabbi David Rambam, Hilchos Tumas Meis with Another factor was the willingness of Kohein, Rosh Hayeshiva of Chevron, the 104 hasagos (challenges) of the the talmidin1 to invest tremendous effort who also heard shiurim from Reb Abba, Raavad, all of these be'iyun rav (great in understanding the Rosh Yeshiva's remarked that his was a greatness of depth). shiuri1n - as much as eight hours were earlier generations. dedicated to reviewing each shiur. Reb Yeruchem Levovitz used to empha REACHING ACROSS THE size that a talmid can only plumb the GIVING EXPRESSION GENERATIONAL GAP depths of his rebbi's thought if he has TO THE ABSTRACT the cheifetz and the ratzon - the desire hen we contemplate Reb and will - to understand his shiurim. There were many abstract concepts Abba's combination of intel So it was with Reb Abba's talmidim. A in Reb Abba's shiurim, and he would W lectual genius and arduous novice talmid invested the effort, and toil tirelessly to find the precise word toil, we might wonder how he reached found the newly acquired knowledge to convey the fine point that he was so many tabnidim in our own gen eration, which is so distant from the greatness of the previous generation. A large percentage of these talmidim are currently marbitzei Torah of the highest caliber, including many Roshei Yeshiva For careful attention to your in A1nerica and Eretz Yisroel. How was a individual needs, call us today! connection made to facilitate con1n1uni cation between rebbi and tallnidi1n? ( 845) 354-8445 An answer can perhaps be suggested from a Gemara (Eiruvin 13b): "His nan1e was Rebbi Nehorai, but GEFEN •~ he was known as Rebbi Meir because he would enlighten the eyes of the FI~AJk9.AL(. chachamim in halacha." The name of a Regi.ie'ed Mortg•ge Brnke" ..... person describes his essence. The word NYS Dept. of Banking • ., "nehorat' literally means light, and his ("'lX>talc Hea trying to express. dently, based, of course, on the full ACHRAYUS-CONCERN Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk understanding of the words of Shas AND RESPONSIBILITY was known for his original, deep and the Rishonim. His approach was concepts. Reh Chaim was once in not really new, but, in some measure, he Rosh Yeshiva felt a deep the crowded central train station in exactly what Reb Chaim had been sense of responsibility for kevod Warsaw, deep in thought as usual, doing. In this manner, Reb Abba was TShamayin1, in general, and spe with his son Reb Velvel';··,., at the other indeed a talmid of Reb Chaim. cifically, for the dignity of Torah. He end of the station. Suddenly he called Rabbi Elazar Schach ., ..,,, would would constantly ask himself, when out: "Velvel! I got the right word!" advise his talmidim to seek out Reb making a decision, if this is consistent Reb Abba used to tell this story Abba's shiurim. He said that some with his purpose in the world. This to stress the importance of preci people could always benefit from most approach goes back many years: sion in wording when explaining a shiurim, but everyone could benefit When the Rosh Yeshiva was a child concept, teaching this through both from Reb Abba. This is due to the of 6, two younger siblings succumbed anecdote and example. Indeed, Reb special effort Reb Abba invested in the to a deadly epidemic. This affected the Abba considered himself a talmid of power of hasbara - explanation - and family and, as the only surviving child Reb Chaim, having been initiated as literally being ma'amid talmidim harbei in the family, young Abba took the situ such when he spent his lunch hour - that is, helping the talmidim to stand ation to heart and developed a severe one winter z'n1an in Shanghai dining up on their own. He would quote the speech defect that accompanied him to on Reb Chaim's sefer. Gernara in Berachos that questions an a degree for the rest of his life. Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik <;··~r inconsistency in the passuk in Tehillin1 When he arrived in the United had introduced a "new" analytical that first summons a person to study States after World War II, his speech approach to understanding the con "Taras Hashem," then refers to it as was still difficult to understand. The cepts of Shas. He and his talmidim (i.e., Tomso, his Torah. The Gemara explains joint Distribution Committee tried to Rabbi Shimon Shkop, Rabbi Baruch that before a person fully understands prepare him for gainful employment, Ber Lebovitz, and Rabbi lsser Zalman the lesson, it is Toras Hashem, but and for two years sponsored sessions Meltzer, among others) established afterwards, the Torah is called Toraso in speech therapy several evenings a many basic definitions for Talmudic - the person's own Torah. So, too, week, with no success. The Joint then principles (yesodos). The approach he would say with regard to his own informed him that he had no hope of of the following generation generally shiur, "First it's my Torah, but when a becoming a rav or a rebbi, since his involved working out different sugyos talmid toils and fully understands it, it speech was unintelligible, and recon1- (topics) based on the yesodos that were becomes Toraso - his own:' He would mended that he become a physicist. His established by their predecessor. Reb tell his talmidim, "I don't want you to intellectual strengths would guarantee Abba was recognized for establishing become another Reb Abba, I want you him success, and they would sponsor new yesodos and definitions indepen- to become Reb Yoseif." his education. He could spend his spare time learning while supporting his family. The Rosh Yeshiva, however, asked himself-ls this what Hakadosh Baruch Hu brought me here for? Is MOTHERS AND FATHERS ALIGNED SAVING KIDS this the purpose of my intellectual abilities? He decided that, come what Support for Parents of Children-In-Conflict may, his life would be dedicated to CONFIDENTIAL HOTLINE harbotzas Torah. Parent Support Groups Several years later, he suffered severe Yeshiva Liaison back pains. The doctor prescribed a medication that failed to relieve his E-Mail Support Group back ache, but restored control of his Sibling Support Groups speech. He successfully gave shiurim STARR Fetttaie Sibling P:rograttt for half a century thereafter. He always I Private Consultation attributed his recovery to his kabbolas Referrals ol Torah - assuming the responsibility , EducaffonalFo:rurn.s to teach Torah Ii I Prevention and Awareness He would remind his talmidim to Parent Mentoring Group constantly ask themselves: "What does i Lending Library the Creator want from me now?" He i -- ~ "~" ho•O '~"" There was a period tvhen the yeshiva was going through difficulties; financial support fron1 the community was not forthcoming. This had a detrimental affect on his health and mood. One day, however, he was in an ecstatic state. When asked for an explanation, he said that he was visited by an old tahnid with a special request. One of the large yeshivos was planning to open a branch just across the street, where he'd be heading the kollel. He was wondering if the Rosh Yeshiva could help him solicit funds from the neighbors. The Rosh Yeshiva tvas over joyed with the opportunity to try and help in harbatzas Torah. lVhen he lvas challenged why he was so eager to help others while he's in such dire straits, he responded sharply, "Torah is not a private enterprise. It's the Eibishter's Torah!" He would constantly quote a Mid rash Tanchuma. "Should a person learn Torah and not teach it to others - his learning is void:' Even what we learn is not our own, but meant to be passed on. In his , later years, his many physical ailments I began to affect his memory. Someone Lo~omfort h~m by q~otmg ~hazal- -- NOVEMBER 2005 demand of his talmidim, "I don't know FRUM LIFE COACH how many more years the Ribbono shel Olam has for me to live. Please see to it Coaching clients as they actualize their life goals that you continue spreading our divrei Torah. I'm relying on you." Mrs. Malka Schulman,cTAcc Cooch • Cutolust • lj;r·turer DEVEIKUS BATORAH -TOTAL IMMERSION IN TORAH Helping newlyweds and married couples enhance their marriage he Rosh Yeshiva's deveikus baTo (416) 782-1462 [email protected] (416) 781-9116 rah was exceptional. He would telesessions • face to face workshops Ttell the talmidim: "'The Ribbono shel Olam has nothing - ein Lo- in this world but the four cubits of Torah: If Ghazal say 'ein Lo; that means that that is all that exists for Hakadosh It hurts Baruch Hu. Nothing else counts!" And that was just about all that existed 1oc for the Rosh Yeshiva. Over the years, he underwent many galuyos - exiles - starting in Lodz, and then to Mir, where, after a few years, he joined them in their exile across Russia to Japan and Shanghai. Then, on to New York, where he taught in the Mirrer Yeshiva • in Flatbush, then in Kaminetz, then Bnei Brak ... Boro Park to Far Rockaway, then Monsey, to Yerushalayim, then Kiryat Sefer. Somebody asked him if all of these wanderings ever bothered him. He answered: "One is required to go It hurts into galus to a mekom Torah. 'Baruch HaMakom Baruch Hu: My makom is where the Eibishter is. I'm always with Him, no matter what the place is called." He would comment on the Gemara (Shabbos): "When Rebbi is involved in one Gemara, do not ask him about a It feels better just to talk about it. That's different one." "This is not due to the why we're here. Our staff is made up of lack of Rebbi's power to answer else caring and sensitive individuals. Together, where;' he said. "On the contrary, his we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals involvement in this masechta was so for counseling, legal advice or help in complete that nothing else existed, not finding a safe environment. We can also even another masechta." This concept put you in touch with some very special Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to was "beautifully preached and beauti you, you must first reach out to us. fully fulfilled." His family members recall him sitting Confidential Hotline 1 . 8 8 8. 8 8 3. 2 3 2 3 with the family, with deep furrows on his (Toll Free) countenance - obviously contemplating 718.337.3700 very difficult passages. Suddenly, he (NYC Area) Do it for yourself. would break into a broad smile, clapping Do it for your children. Shalom Task force LS a 501(c)(3) charitable org;rn1la\1on his hands in joy - a breakthrou~h! The entire family (wife and jsix ~------~------···-··------~-.. THE JEWISH OBSERVER ------·----·---.. ---·---""'______··-··----·--·------··--·----·---·------·--- daughters) lived with the masechta that I was being studied in the Yeshiva. "That happened in Yevamos." "Wasn't that in Bava Kama zman?" TORAS EMES he foremost aspect of the Rosh Yeshiva's teaching was his adher Tence to the exact teachings of the Rishonim. The most basic issue in learning was that it should be Toras Emes. He would toil for hours and days to understand a deep concept, only to discard his conclusion because it didn't fit perfectly with the terminology of the Rishonim. He would instruct his talmidim to approach the text without any preconceived notions. The Rishonim say exactly what they mean. Especially the Ramban. The Ramban is known by scholars to be especially difficult, due to his cryptic, concise manner of writing, leaving no room for creative interpretation. This made it a favorite for the Rosh Yeshiva. He would explain the tefilla "Ahava duchim almost fell through until things TO RAS CHAIM Rabba," where we ask for hatzlacha were explained. When his Rebbetzin · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · in our Torah study: "lishmo'a, Ii/mod, n.. 7'.ln would tell someone, "Thanks a The first and most prominent u'lelameid - to listen, to learn, and to million;' he would ask: "A million!?" aspect of the Rosh Yeshiva's teach." Note the sequence, he would He would not give haskamos (letters approach to learning was how say. To begin to learn, we must first be of approbation) on sefarim written by the Torah was alive and real for him. shomei'a- to absorb what we are being talmidim, because that would put him This was palpable in every single shiur, told. Otherwise, as nice as our comment in an uncomfortable situation when he when he would delve into the depths may sound, it is not emes. There's no would have to decline others. He would of the most abstract concepts of Shas. such a thing as" !av davka - not neces- not consider writing something that The Gemara quotes Shmuel regarding sarily as it is expressed" in the statements would not fully be emes. his expertise: "The paths of the heav- of Rishonim. And of course, a sevara But more than anywhere else, the ens are as clear to me as the paths of (rationale) must be soundly based and midda of emes was manifest in his efforts Naharda' a [his hometown]!' Such was fully understood without distorting to assure that his Torah be Taras emes. the Rosh Yeshiva's clarity in the depths or twisting the text; otherwise, it does There was no be'erech - fuzzy assess- of every single topic in Shas. While not fully meet the test of emes le'amito ment. He would take pains to precisely participating in a shiur on a kinyan - uncompromised truth. There were define and explain concepts that were (formal act of acquisition), one could some shiurim that he discontinued generally taken for granted and used by actually see it taking place, and feel the saying after many years, because he no others. He had no use for vertlach or chalos (ultimate effect of the act) as it longer felt the emes in them. plain drashos. When asked to speak at happened, be it by the gavra (person) or His strict adherence to emes was not a bris, he declined, pointing out that he the cheftza (object). The most abstract only limited to his derech halimud. It already explained the inyan of bris on concepts came to life. As one ta/mid touched every aspect of his life. When another occasion. Why say it again? remembered: "When the Rosh Yeshiva people would inquire about talmidim He was not embarrassed by the would say over the Chafetz Chaim's for shidduchim, he wouldn't exaggerate. demands of emes. If there was some- quote of the Yerushalmi on Pei'ah, that He would say the precise truth with- thing that he didn't fully comprehend, all of the mitzvos do not measure up to I out embellishment. He was not always he would openly, unabashedly admit one word of Torah, you could see the L~tood properly,and~me shid--to it______------scak in front of your eyes, and watch 21 NOVEMBER 2005 Hu really care if I smoke on Shabbos? How could it bother him if I take one Other Areas of Concern small puff?" Reb Abba didn't miss a beat, and In the days before his petira, he would spend a few minutes cours quickly responded: "What about a drop ing through a sefer on Jewish history. One evening, he was immersed ofcyanide? Just one drop? How would it in contemplating the era of the Rishonim (the early commentaries, bother you? Oh, because that's a metzi yus (palpable reality) of lethal poison! 11th-15th centuries). His countenance glowed with joy and pride: "In Well, the Torah is the greatest metziyus. the world at large, it V>Jas the Dark Ages, and look how much light of When the Torah says 'Mechaleleha mos Torah we were zocheh to through the Rishonim!" yumas - Those who desecrate Shabbos The next evening he was involved in the era of the Tanna'im (the will surely be put to death,' that creates the most lethal poison!" rabbis of the Mishna). His face was darkened with pain from the chi/ He lived, learned and taught with the Ju/ kevod Shamayim: "How is it that the Tzeddukim (Sadducees, who Torah being Taras Chaim - alive and denied the validity of the Oral Law,) had so much power and such a existing on the highest level of existence presence in the great era of the Tanna'im?" He was greatly disturbed - ( Sheindol (Jeanne) Warman responded with a query: "If your chil (Xf(1J'HI ll'i\ft101l dren were on a boat in the middle ofthe Pinchus LNl'lf?!' Ph.D Cl\l to do the same, each on his own level, 1 within his own personal sense of unde; 3914 15TH AVENUE. BROOKLYN, NY 11218 • 718 853 9700 • WWW.Jt1mpstarte1p t.:om l taking. ~ 22 TUE JEWISH RABBI LABEL STEINJ.IARDT THE DISCOMFORT FACTOR simply cannot escape the subject itself. .. ASSUMING A TORAH when a child loses a parent or a sibling, PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE ... eath is probably the most avoid the group loses a classmate, or - most AND DEATH ed topic in the world. People unavoidable of all - a faculty member D not only shy away from the passes away. eveloping the knowledge and topic, but the word "die" itself is almost On the whole, many teachers and the awareness of helpful and taboo. We hear of individuals 7"1 "pass rabbei'im are very uncomfortable Dappropriate practices is an ing away;' being" niftar;' or"going to the approaching their students' bereavement ongoing process, far beyond the scope Olan1 Ha'emes," but alinost no one ever issues. They fear saying the wrong thing, of this article. But the following dies! Despite the fact that many people or they are not sure as to what would be anecdote highlights the benefits and in the field of mental health attribute helpful or not, and many are not famil importance of this approach. this choice of words to yet another iar enough with the approach of Ghazal This past summer, a rav in a camp attempt at evading this most painful to present the subject properly. was asked to speak to "Chaim" - a topic, it would seem that the reason In truth, this topic is not included thirteen-year-old boy who had been goes much deeper than just avoidance. in most yeshiva curricula or in teacher called by his mother to inform him In reality, using these euphemistic terms training programs. Thus, the tendency that his father and brother had gone reflects an affirmation of one of the is to avoid the topic, even though to Eretz Yisroel because his grand most basic yesodei ha'eniuna, the very the shadow it casts on the classroom father was close to death. The young foundations of our belief. These expres is undeniable. In addition, everyone boy became quite perturbed and sions articulate our belief that every brings with them a host of observations somewhat depressed. The rav asked individual is endowed with an eternal from personal experiences, as well as Chaim, "Why are you so upset?" neshan1a, which does not perish; only impressions and opinions regarding Chaim answered, "Because my grand the physical dimension of a person dies. this topic. As a result, when such a father is dying." In that sense, these modes of expression dispiriting occurrence takes place, the When questioned, it was ascer also help us cope with the enormous school administration may invite out tained that Chaim had met his grand pain and grief that accompany death. side help to guide the staff. Obviously, father only once, and usually spoke to In addition, we avoid mentioning the these consultants must be in command him once a year on the telephone. threat of death in explicit terms in of the relevant comments of Ghazal and The rav asked, "Ifyou hardly knew keeping with the Talmudic admonition, the Torah-based hashkafos that grow your grandfather, why do you think "One should never give Satan an open out of them. They can then assist oth you're so upset?" ing" (Berachos 19a). ers - mechanchim and mental health He responded, "I don't know." In school situations, there are times professionals - to honestly confront and The rav shared some thoughts when the subject of death intrudes. We come to grips with their own feelings with Chaim. "Some young people may resort to veiled and indirect refer concerning death. Educators can then feel bad in such a situation because ences in our conversations and class utilize this introspection as a catalyst their father is in pain. Some may truly roon1 discussions, but there are times to develop their own counseling skills be worried that this may happen to when the teachers and the principal and grow in this area. Ultimately, an them. But I believe that most boys informed, perceptive staff will ensure your age would be upset because they RABBI STEINHARDT JS PRINCIPAi. Of GENEl~AL ST! ;DIES, YESHIVA RAB131 CHAIM BEHUN, DIRECTOR that our chinuch, and attempts to advise think that dying means it's the end, OF EZRAS Dov VOLUNTEEI~ SERVICES I'OR THE and console, will not be tainted by per everything is all over. We members of BEREAVED, AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR IN CAMP sonal sensitivities, and that our views Klal Yisroel, however, don't believe MOGEN AVRAHAM. will be in line with daas Torah. that at all. We believe that our pres- ______23 ..... ,_ ___ ------ence in this world, while we're alive, me feel much better." enough. The depth of one's belief is very temporary. 'Dying' is when Knowledge of the basics of our should be reflected in the manner we move on to our next existence, emuna as taught to us by Ghazal is in which he or she relates this to the preparing and waiting for techiyas crucial to supporting the bereaved. bereaved. When one's existence, and hameisim (resurrection of the dead) But it doesn't stop there. It is insuf especially that of the bereavement and the World to Come. As a matter ficient for the "helper" to simply counselor, is permeated with emuna, of fact, in due time we will see and be familiar with "Kol Yisroel yeish then he will view death, although be with our beloved niftarim once lahem cheilek laOlam Habba All painful, in a very different manner. again." Jews have a share in the World to It no longer signifies the end, but This seemed to help, and Chaim Corne," Moshiach, techiyas hameisim, rather an integral part of an ongoing was encouraged to return any time reward and punishment, "da mei'ayin life. It ushers in a new existence and he wanted to talk again. A few hours basa ... know from where you come represents a significant step closer to later, Chaim came back to the rav to and where you are destined to go ...." a Jew's ultimate goal. say, "Thank you very much. You made To just kuow such concepts is not A DELICATE PATH TO BRINGING COMFORT ichum aveilim can also be a delicate task. Not only are the N halachos important, but it is a mitzvah that requires sensitive and sensible responses. What to say, and how and when to say it are important insights one must have in mind when performing this mitzvah. The object of the mitzvah is to console. Unfortunately, when done improperly, it can have an opposite fubscribeJ or give a gift at these reduced effect. When trying to be menach prices: as muth as 40% off the newsstand eim, professional practice teaches price; the longer your subscription, the greater your savings. You and your fami(y will benefit from the the importance of being truthful. many articles of information and inspirer· Nevertheless, frightening mussar state Each month, The Jewish Observer will ti on that they cannot get anywhere else. arrive at your door; filled with the views of ments, which may be true, are far from leading Torah thinkers on current Of course, this offer is uncondftional(y helpful when attempting to bring issues ... ana(yses of Jewish events, focus on guaranteed; you may cancel at any time nechama (consolation). There are burning issues, inside reporting, interpretive and receive a full refund for all unde/iv· enough uplifting, appropriate hash commentary, uplifting biographies, infuri ered copies, no questions asked. ating letters and illuminating responses - kafos and anecdotes to promote and all within the covers of one magazine, So order today, and the very next issue will bolster the healing process. When used The Jewish Observer. be on its way to you as soon as possible. appropriately, the words of Ghazal are full of nechama and genuine hope. Just reciting tefillos and Tehillim is 8 I year fourrosl-$35 $40 YuuS •fl1reif!11 prk<' n.,1/fi1S $15 crlmfwr_iwr /<, d 24 THE JEWISH OBSERVER------· 1 -·-----·-·---·------.. ---·------.... --.------·-·----- study as a merit for the deceased) THE ROLE OF GRIEF professional «grief tea1ns" into their and special projects upon themselves. COUNSELORS schools when faced with the death ?··i Nevertheless, they should be made of someone whose passing impacts \ aware that grief is not a petur (dispen n light of the above, there is rea greatly upon the school population. sation) from performing mitzvos or son for another serious concern. Although this initiative is laudatory, living up to our usual high standards I In recent years, many yeshivos it also calls for some inquiry and of conduct. Allowing children to say and day schools have opted to bring analysis. The members of these teams whatever they please publicly, or even privately, to enable them to express themselves, can be counterproductive winn i!ro and irresponsible. Would we accept cursing or obscenities from a grieving student without question or delicate ··otun nitn .. , direction? It is apparent that good judgment by Rabbi A. Portal is critical in this sacred endeavor. "Do-gooders" who lack the requisite The SEFER everyone has been waiting for! knowledge and keen wisdom have It is the key to mastering the Daf Hayomi easily and efficiently. the ability torn create problems that did not exist before. It is unquestion Chazoras Hashas is now complete in eight beautiful volumes ably important to provide a forum covering the entire 39 Masechtos of Shas! for students to question and express themselves. But it must be done with BENEFITS YOU CAN GET FROM THIS SEPER ? understanding and insight, in keeping 1. To be well prepared for the Shiur with the guidelines set down for us 2. To be ready to review intensively after the Shiur by Chazal. Rabbei'im and moros must 3. To be able to test yourself also be aware that sometimes there 4. Have Chazoras Hashas serve you as your Chavrusa are questions that can not be fully In honor of the publication of the entire Sefer Hachadash discussed within a large group. There L'Chazoras Hashas, we offer incredible savings - are instances when it is best for the $130.00 instead of $145.00 leader to delay answering questions PLUS a bonus of three pocket size masechtos: and challenges to a more appropriate Brachos, Shabbos and Niddoh, valued at $24.00 time and setting. Yet, the delay must be Free S&H! Total savings: $39.00 done in a manner that gives credence to the question and shows the leader's (718) 544-6544 interest in answering it. E Mail: [email protected]; Subject: Chazaras Hashas Not just a cheese, a tradition... Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you"ll enjoy keeping. i\ll Hao lam cheese products are made in the U.S.A. under the strict rabbinical supervision of: Cholov Yisroel The Rabbinate of K'hal Adath Jeshurun, Washington Heights, NY THURM BROS. WORW CHEESE CO. INC. BROOKLYN. NY 11232 Haolam. NOVEMBF.R 2.005 I should be Torah-observant Jews. They mental health professionals. Rather, health professionals extend to our must be knowledgeable of the Torah we must define where and how their children, they also have much to offer hashkafa on death, bereavement and expertise can be best utilized in our our mechanchim (educators). Their nechama. More specifically, the rel schools. While their involvement is expertise can undoubtedly be utilized evant Torah hashkafa must be at the essential in assisting those individu in making educators cognizant of I core of the counsel that is presented. als who have had severe reactions, when it is appropriate to show over I Too often, professionals' beliefs and when an entire class or larger group is flowing rachmanus (compassion) and practices are at odds with the chi being addressed, the task should fall to at what point it could be detrimental. nuch we aspire to transmit to our sufficiently knowledgeable rabbanim It is incumbent upon rabbei'im, moros, students, and their services cannot and mechanchim who are capable of teachers, and certainly menahalim, be utilized. setting the tone suitable for Torah to become familiar with the nature I By no means do we mean to cast institutions. of grieving children's responses and aspersions on the important role of Along with the support mental behaviors. What is normal and to be I expected in one situation) may) under different circumstances, be considered a red flag calling for intervention. Age, maturity, intellect and experience all play significant roles in determining Oi~~ ~!t,i'\ ~!t.i ~~ ~~ how best to respond to a bereaved child. i'\~~ 0~'\t '\"!\ 0'0'\M ,~~'O ~~ i"~~ t'\~!t.0 IN SUM ... n sum, it is imperative that each i~~~ i"~'\~" '"i::l'\ school, led by the menaheil or a I designee, set up a program to edu cate and train the staff in how to help bereaved students. On one level, we must educate the staff so that they understand and can present the Torah perspective on issues relating to dying. It is also important that the staff of mechanchim be encouraged, through This magnet workshops and group sessions given for your refrigerator or elsewhere, by Torah-guided mental health profes sionals, to develop an awareness and is available as a nt:>t appreciation of the nature of children's responses and behavioral changes that 7"St 17.Dp 11iJ Jii1 jJ Oi1iJ~ Jii1 nr.:i~J '17:v7 may occur. Minimally, one or two mechanchim could be trained to be "the experts" of the school. The ones chosen, From childhood on, he exercised utmost care obviously, must have the warmth, sen not to speak or listen to ir1n )Wh. If he hap sitivity and good judgment needed to pened to hear y.,n )1\ljJ, he put in great effort advise others in this avodas hakodesh. not to believe it. His entire life was a life of Through increased knowledge and skill, our rabbei'im and moros will be ready, complete )1\lj?n 11.,>Y.l\lj. willing and able, ;-rv:i, to provide the direction and leadership required to suc cessfully fulfill their mandate. May we To obtain this magnet, call soon merit the day when all the above Bais Yaakov Seminary will be obsolete, in keeping with the prophecy: "He will eliminate death for 718-851-2900 ever, and Hashem Elokim will erase tears from all faces" (Yeshayahu 25,8). ll!I THE JEWISH 0BSEHVER -·-----·---- -·-----·------··----··------·------·------·--·-···------·------.. --.. --- ·------··--- - REVIEW ARTICLE BY RABBI LABISH BECKER Igniting a Spark tor Meaningful Tetilla Praying With Fire: a Five-Minute "Unesaneh Tokef' have come to pass. faced with total ruin. He soon returned Lesson-a-Day, by Rabbi Heshy Kleinman, When we recite "Mi bamayim ... who to the Baal Shem Tov, begging his for published by Mesorah Publications by water, who by fire, who by sword, giveness and promising that from that in conjunction with the Ani Tefilah who by beast, who by earthquake, etc.;' day on, when asked how he was doing, Foundation, Brooklyn, NY 2005, $22.99 it seems that it was written with our he would always say Baruch Hashem.' HC, $19.99 SC. generation very much in mind. For he now understood that all his People have the distinct feeling that possessions, all of his wealth, and all no matter what material possessions of his success came from Hashem and LIVING IN A STATE theyowntoday-whetheritbealarge, Hashem alone. He now knew that the OF VULNERABILITY elegantly appointed and spacious house, name ofHashem, Ribbono she/ Olam, · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · a beautiful car, or magnificent art- means what it says. ataclysmic and catastrophic work ... the trappings of material and events seem to have become economic well-being-they could all be the order of the day during the gone tomorrow, or even today. DEALING WITH pastc few years. Ever since September The Baal Shem Tov once asked a THE TRUE CAUSE 11th, when terrorists flew hijacked air- man how he was doing. The man's • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • · • • • • • • • • • • • • · • planes into the World Trade Center, the reply was, 'Tm doing well, thank you. The genius of the Jewish people has world seems to have entered a period I have many fields, many servants, I always be en to understand of increased vulnerability. There is a own ships at sea, and I have consid- that while events that occur in pervasive sense that terrorism and all erable holdings in many companies. the world may on the surface seem to its attendant horrors can strike at any Everything is fine." follow a visible pattern of geopolitical time, anywhere, to anyone. The Baal Shem Tov remonstrated cause and effect, the true cause and This feeling of fragility is not just with him, '~ren't you going to say effect is a ruchniyus matter, relating to precipitated by acts of human beings, Baruch Hashem? After all, all ofyour the behavior of the Jewish People and but by so-called acts of G-d, as well. bounty comes from Hashem." their relationship with the Ribbono In this past year alone, the world has The man refused to do so, saying, she/ Olam. When people feel a sense experienced a tsunami, which killed "Look, even if Hashem would take of unease, of foreboding, the Jewish more than one quarter of a million away my fields, I still have my ships. response has always been to turn to the people, devastating earthquakes, hur- If He takes away my ships, I still have Ribbono she/ Olam in tefilla - to pray, ricanes, floods, and numerous other my stocks. If He takes away my stocks, to beseech and to implore the Master of natural disasters. It would seem that I still have my bank accounts. What the World for help in understanding and th_e_iirescient words of Rav Amnon in are the odds that all that could possibly overcoming the challenges of the day. , happen?" 110Arn lsRAl 1 01 AMF:nlCA Shortly thereafter, the man was further reading matenal on this subJect 27 L ------NOVEMBER 2 0 0 5 ---··------ Like our friend in the story, who children (and perhaps hasn't changed learned the hard way, we have seen in very much since), to a very deep and the past few years a tremendous upsurge rich appreciation for teftlla. in interest in effective tefilla. An increas The chapter titles attest to this ing number of books have been written, progression. They include Chapter lectures delivered, and shiurim initiated One, "The Immeasurable Power of We make "housecalls" to help people daven better. Indeed, Teftlla"; Chapter Two, "How We Can (718) 972-4003 Agudath Israel last year launched the Achieve Personal Growth Through our National Tefillah Initiative as a project Teftlla"; Chapter Three, "How We Can :i-•"'IN• of its Commission on Kedushas Beis Understand What Kavana Means"; ... .,b=tv Haknesses. It was highly successful in and most importantly, Chapter Six, bringing hundreds of shuls together, "What Practical Strategies Are There For Specializing in small biltim for a perfect fit. offering them shiurim on teftlla and Us to Actually Achieve True Kavana?" assisting people in improving their dav In truth, it is impossible to review a ening. This is but one of many excellent book such as this, which has so many programs that have been started. hundreds of separate insights into effec As part of this trend, the Ani Tefillah tive teftlla. Nonetheless, I would like Foundation was established, with the to share just a few of the profound purpose of increasing awareness of thoughts that are key to understanding the importance and power of teftlla, teftlla and its importance. and providing education, inspiration In the lesson for Day 2, Rabbi and tools for more sincere teftlla. The Kleinman writes: Foundation's initial effort in its initiative According to Rav Tzodok is the publication of the book Praying Hakohen2, every problem is struc Ge;t a cell phone With Fire, which has already become a tured in such a way that teftlla can classic in the field. At the time that this overcome it: "Anything that Hashem frol11thepeople review is being written, it has already desires to bring to the world or to an reached its third printing within two individual can ... also have opposite you can trust! months! There are many reasons for effects, Heaven forbid ... and when this success, not the least of which is the person feels an appropriate fear that Praying With Fire is well researched and prays, the result is that good and well written. It is divided into "89 occurs." lessons," each dealing with a different Elaborating on this crucial aspect of the teftlla experience. As the point, Rav Yeruchem Levovitz3 ?"Yt, book cover promises, each lesson takes Mashgiach of the pre-War Mirrer about five minutes to read and digest. Yeshiva in Europe, says that it is ~ .... Total Communication Not a great chunk of time, but one that our feelings of fear that cause us to solutions can make an incredible difference in a pray, which in turn enable good to person's entire day. Rabbi Kleinman occur. Our usual way of thinking is l·866·TALK•N·SAVE has gone to great lengths to make the that when trouble occurs, we must book readable, including numerous sto pray to Hashem; we would prefer, {l·&66•&is-s672) ries, parables, and astonishing insights. however, that the difficulty not arise .e,moil: info@talknsa~e.net Tough questions are not avoided: 'Why, in the first place. Cus.tomer service now available if I davened so hard, are my teftllos not Rav Yeruchem explains that this from 9:00 o.m .• 12:00 midnight• Israel time! answered?" and: "How can some one so perspective indicates a lack of under "'Cellrom Certified A0ent$ imperfect and small as myself reach out standing as to what is actually tak and be heard by the Omnipotent?" ing place. In reality, the purpose of the trouble or pain is to rouse Groups/Missions us to pray and to pour out our (GET SPECIAL RATES/SERVICES) A KEY TO THE SEFER'S hearts to Hashem, and for Him to Call toll free from USA/Canada: EFFECTIVENESS then respond with the salvation. He conveyed this point with an anal- 1-866-403-8454 ------·---·- e-mail: his sefer can move us from our 2 Tzidkas HaTzaddik, Os 170. [email protected] ossified understanding of teftlla, I Twhich took form when we were Vol. 2, Maamar 72. ~-- ··---·------·--·---___ _, THE JEWISH 0RSERVER ogy: Before a tree can bear fruit, the ground must be plowed and the saplings planted. Similarly, the afflictions that we must endure in life represent the plowing and sowing IT IS NOT THAT WE DAVEN TO CHANGE AN that compel us to pray to Hashem so that we can then reap the fruit of EVENT, BUT THE VERY PURPOSE OF THE EVENT His salvation. WAS TO ENGENDER OUR TEFILLA. REALIZING Thus, misfortune must be recog HOW IMPORTANT TEFILLA IS GALVANIZES US nized as a necessary component of Hashem's deliverance, to the point TO ATTEMPT TO BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE IN that perhaps it should be referred to THAT VERY TEFILLA. as "a part of our salvation." When the Chazon !sh, the leader of his generation, was told of bad news or faced a troubling situa· tion, he would often comment, "Nu, Hashem must be eager for us to (You will have to read the selection to today? How about some breakfast? daven!"4 understand what this means.) Well, whatever?' If we can see the troubles in The book is also enhanced by a touch One of the best ways to achieve our world and in our own lives in of gentle humor and irony that begins excitement in tefilla is to read books this light, the anxiety we endure many lessons. For example, in the les such as Praying With Fire. This will help will serve its purpose. Instead of son entitled "A Spirit of Excitement a person become reenergized about draining us, it will energize and Part n;· we find an opening paragraph something which perhaps many have activate us, bringing us to call out that may make many of us feel slightly forgotten to Hashem with all our might, uncomfortable. which in turn will bring us the "Oh, hi;' said the man to his salvation for which we are so fer friend, whom he had met in the THE COMMUNAL FACTOR vently longing. same spot every morning for the We now perceive the entire concept past twenty-two years. His voice was inally, the book tackles a real of tefilla in a totally different lighL It is a perfect monotone as he recited issue for Kial Yisroel: tefilla on a not that we daven to change an event, the same words he said each time. Fcommunal level. This is arguably but the very purpose of the event was '(Nice to see you. You're great. I'm one of the most important tasks of to engender our tefilla. Realizing how desperate. Think you could give me the Ani Tefillah Foundation. Praying important tefilla is galvanizes us to and my family a day of life again With Fire takes on one of the most attempt to become 1nore effective in that very tefilla. I coach people to help then1 realize their Can a Life-Coach own drea1ns and ambitions. I help thc1n help you realize plan, progran1, and stay 1notivated. WHY COACHING? Improving one's THE PRACTICAL your dreams? life means making change; and people need PERSPECTIVE support and structure to keep distractions and obstacles from swan1ping their drean1s and goals. n addition to being inspiring, Moreover, people rarely see their own capabilities in full 1neasure. A coach is a per son who by temperament, experience, and training is dedicated to help you grow and Praying With Fire gives eminently achieve your own drean1s. A coach never loses confidence in his client's ability! I practical suggestions on our road to I have over thirty years experience in helping people fulfill their drea1ns, have daveningbetter. The chapter on practi authored books, articles and produced cassette programs on this subject. In 2~3 cal strategies for achieving true kavana 1nonths, using weekly private phone sessions, you can learn how to effectively take control of your life. includes daily readings on Quieting FREE OFFER - I would be happy to give you a free telephone the Mind, Take Time to Prepare, conference. Please call USA 845H352-1175 for an appointinent. Feeling the Need, Understanding the Thank you. - MR. Av1 S11ULi\1AN Meaning, Revise Old Habits, Find Live a Life of Design, Not Default Joy, A Spirit of Excitement and most importantly, The Power of Visualization. ---·--·--··--·"'------"-·------4 Cited in Kovctz Sichos Maamar Mordcchai, Ll~!23 ______=-i distressing problems - not only daven Dear Friends, responded, "Yes, but it's much bet I ing effectively, but the tzibbur's entire Three weeks ago in Bretz Yisroel, I ter lately." Rav Chaim immediately relationship with the Ribbono shel had the z'chus to have an incredible said," That's not enough. The talk Olam. The lesson for Day 88 confronts and inspiring visit with Rav Chaim ing must stop completely!" ... Rav head-on the plague of talking during Kanievsky, which I would like to Chaim point[ed] to the Mishnah davening. It consists basically of a let share with you. Berurah that says that one should : ter of a business man who, through I asked Rav Chaim if he would be not speak the entire davening. an interaction with the gaon Rabbi mispallel (pray) for a refuah shelei "Speak to the people in your shul;' I Chaim Kanievsky, came to understand mah (recovery) for a good friend of Rav Chaim continued, and tell them I the workings of tefilla. The following mine from our shul. You can imagine that they should all be mekabeil excerpts provide a glimpse of his own my reaction when Rav Chaim asked (accept) on themselves, b'li neder, awakening: me, 'Do they talk in your shul?' I not to speak at all during davening, and in that z'ch us your friend will have a refuah sheleima. "That's not enough," I said. Hats • Shirts • Ties • Accessories Rav Chaim looked at me ques tioningly and asked, "What do you Emulating Your #1 Stop mean?" for Our Creator I replied, "Nowadays, sometimes Quality Hats Based on the quoting the Shulchan Aruch is not teachings of WE Atl>O DRY CLEAN enough. I need to tell them that Rav Rav A\'igdor Miller; zt"l & RESHAPE HATS Chaim personally requested that (All w1Jflidnnel!J1 pmmlfiis) Rabbi Moshe Goldberger there should be no talking in shul." & Sam Gindi 1368 Coney Island Avenue "All right, you can tell the con f7'18) 377-5050 gregants, in my name, that in this z'chus your friend will have a refuah sheleima and I will be mispallel not only for him, but for the success of all the congregants of the shul as well." I left Rav Chaim feeling very moved and eager to convey his mes sage .... The other night my doorbell rang, and my friend who had been ill stopped by for a visit. I was shocked! I knew that as of the day before, he still had not been doing well, and i there he was in my living room, ! looking wonderful. To my great joy, 1, he told me that he was really feeling much better ... :' '1 Enough said. This book belongs in Call me today for the attention you deserve. , the home of every Jew who wishes to 1,' (718) 268·1700 improve his commitmentto and under- standing of the awesome power of tefilla. [ Martin Levy l'fYfl This book will take him on an awesome i 103·20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE ~ journeywithaveryhappyending,witha 1, FOREST HILLS relationship with Hashem that he could [email protected] Allstate, not have possibly imagined when he 1 began his trip. You're in good hands. ' Call for a free quote. May Hashem grant that Praying With I Fire be an important vehicle in opening 1 ] the hearts of Yidden everywhere to the . 1 Insurance subject to availability and qualifications. Allstate Insurance Company and Allstate Property and Casualty unlimited potential in their relationship 1 I.!__ - . - with Mis 1e'amar ve aya a'o am~~ lo L-•·->~ """"' -><~•-•-·-_'_ -- ·--···--···--·····--···· " I h h l " ' I YISRAEl. RUTMAN · ·~\;.:·.,.:::-.·:. .. >'.'>> ."\·.·r2·.:>·:"<'GR'... '.'-'·>· .. --. · • creation, our souls reach for the Heavens "When one considers His wondrous and great creatures and deeds ... they will be a gateway for the understand ing man to love Hashem" (Rambam, Yesodei Ha Torah 2:2) "The study of science reveals G-d as Creator. The sacred writings of Judaism, Rabbi Hirsch asserted, are filled with summonses 'to keep our eyes and senses open to the revelation of G-d in the phonemena and laws of nature: Thus the Jew studies science for one primary reason: to reveal Hashem as Creator of the Universe" - Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, pp. 204-5. he Talmud Yerushalmi ( Chagiga) Borchi nafshi es Hashem! essence. He can be kno\vn only through asks: "Why does the [letter J lleis Bless Hashem, my soul! His deeds. That is why the Torah begins Thave two uketzin [spurs J, one with Ma'asei Bereishis, because it is pointing upward, the other pointing The Ibn Ezra explains that the struc through comprehension of the physical backward? We say to the lleis: Who cre ture of Borchi Nafshi parallels that world that Hashem has created that we ated you? It points upward [to Hashem J. of Ma'asei Bereishis, and so it begins can have knowledge of Hirn. That, he And what is His Name? It points to the with light, which is mentioned first in says, is also the message of Borchi Nafshi. letter Aleph [preceding it in the Aleph the Torah, and then moves on to the It begins with the declaration, "Hashe1n lleisJ, which means to say that His Name other ele111ents of Creation. Thus, it is Elokai, gada/ta me'od;' meaning that He is One." customary to read Borchi Nafshi and is beyond our comprehension. From Parashas llercishis, which tells of other Tehi/lim that speak of the won there the Psalmist goes on to delineate the creation of the physical universe, ders of Creation, co1nmencing with the wonders of the Bri'a, because that is begins with the letter Beis. The Beis is the Shabbos afternoon after Sukkos, how one n1ay con1e to know I-Iashen1. adorned with uketzin that teach us that Parshas Bereishis, and continuing until as we approach nature, we 1nust ahvays two weeks before Pesach. . .. oteh ohr kasalma bear in mind the One Who created it. . .. He enwraps Himself Like llereishis, chapter l 04 in Tehillim Hashem E/okai, gadalta me'od in light like a garment is referred to by its two initial words, Hashem, My G-d, You are very great! "Borchi Nafshi," which begin with the Rabbi Dessler flags the paradox: letter Beis. For its message is the saine: Commenting on the passuk, "lo yirani in the Torah vocabulary, light signi- Hashem reveals Himself in nature. ha'adam va'chai" (Shemos 33,20), the fies revelation, whereas a garment is 1 fi~RA~L R~T~-~EA;;·HF.s ci.:~;~~~;vAs Sefer Ha'ikarin1 (2:1) says that it is not a fabric of concealment. How does i Hashen1 enwrap Hi1nself in revelat:J.on L~AAwvz""""NYAAwv - - - - -~'ossible ~1-~~~o~n~w:a~heni~ 31 ------NOVEMBER 2 0 0 5 ---···------·---- that is concealment? The answer is that rent to either one starting a nuclear - including all living organisms from Hashem created a world in which He war. Why start a war in which your own tigers and penguins down to plankton hides Himself - the Hebrew word olam destruction is assured? and rhizomes - is said to be upwards is related to heleim, concealment. But The Jewish view is not based on of 1.5 million. since the purpose of existence is for us MADness. We do not believe that the Now, for most of us, a shark is a to seek Him out, and since the purpose self-serving pragmatism of nations can shark, a finch is a finch, a beetle a of a thing is its essence, then the essence serve as humanity's safeguard. Nor is it beetle. In fact, however, although the of nature (garment) is, in fact, revela due to any blind force of nature. The star of "Jaws" was the Great White tion (light). Alshich comments here that thirty tzad Shark, it is only one of a cast of hun dikim * in every generation guarantee dreds (350) of different kinds of sharks. ... hod vehaddar lavashta Creation's permanence. The world was They include such distinctive specimens ... You have donned created for Bereishis, as Rashi famously as the hammerheads, lemon sharks, splendor and majesty tells us, for Kial Yisroel and Torah, threshers, sawsharks, cookie-cutters, which are called Bereishis, and if they pygmies, lanterns, spotted wobbegongs, The physical creation is a garment are absent or failing, the existence of megamouths, and more. for the Divine Presence (Radak). Hod the world is at risk. The variety of finches is fascinating is an inner splendor relative to haddar to behold. Some are fitted with slender (Malbim). There are levels upon levels Harim hagevohim la'ye' eilim ... bills for insect capture and nectar-sip of the glory of Hashem in creation. The high mountains ping. Others are equipped with thick The more that astronomers probe the for the wild goats ... bills, designed for tearing apart fruit and heavens, the more billions of stars are cracking open seeds. Vampirical ground discovered; the more biologists study "At first glance, the remote and finches peck at the feather roots of!arge the human body, the more awesome barren mountains appear to serve no seabirds called boobies, and drink their the complexity they find. purpose, but in fact they were created blood. (Never promised you a rose to provide a habitat for the wild moun garden.) And, lest we think that the Hamekareh vamayim aliyosav tain goats (Rashi, Radak). Contrary to Creator's inventiveness is limited to the He Who roofs His upper the theory that species survived only diversity of bills, there is the woodpecker chambers with water by adapting themselves to hostile envi finch for us to contemplate. This bird ronments, the Psalmist says that G-d Jacks the curved bill or extrusive tongue This refers to the clouds, which are created the setting to suit the needs of that others use for getting insects out of made of water vapor, that are stretched the species" (Rabbi Nasson Scherman, the crevices of tree bark. Instead, it uses out across the sky like roof beams to Siddur Kol Yaakov). its bill to pick up twigs, which are then shield the earth from the sun's rays Regarding environmental issues, the wielded for probing and picking out its (Radak). As we have come to learn in focus has shifted somewhat over the prey, one of the rare instances of tool recent years, if the ozone layer would years from the endangered star species manipulation in nature. be torn beyond a certain extent, there such as whales, tigers and songbirds to Naturalists have a rule: the smaller would be nothing to shield us from the the habitats themselves. An ecosystem the creature, the greater its diversity. lethal effects of ultraviolet radiation will survive the Joss of one or two of its The beetle, for instance. There are some emanating from the sun. prominent members, but the habitat 290,000 species of the little beasties that supports them, made up of soil, worldwide, and they come in every kind Yassad eretz al mechoneha, bacteria, insects, etcetera, depends on a and color imaginable. (Some of them bal timot olam va'ed delicate balance that scientists are as yet very pretty, too.) He established the earth upon its groping to understand and are unable to Why are there so many different foundations, that it never falter replicate. Without that support system, species? Wouldn't one kind of finch or nothing survives. one kind of beetle be sufficient? For Some are of the opinion that MAD function, perhaps. But the purpose of saved the world from destruction during Ma rabbu ma'asecha contemplating the Bri'a is, as Rambam the Cold War. MAD is an acronym which How great are Your works and others have said, to discover the stands for Mutual Assured Destruction. *1-~Sukk·~-~(45b ):;;fj~d the ·-more .... f~~ili;~ Both the U.S and U.S.S.R. possessed a The word "rabbu" in this context may numbec of 36. In Chullin (92a), howevec, the nuclear arsenal that was (and probably be taken to mean either great or numer- number is 45· The Maharsha in Sukka points out the apparent contradiction, and resolves still is) sufficient to destroy the world ous (Radak). Contemporary studies of the problem by explaining that the tzaddikim many times over. 1'he knowledge that the biosphere can help us to update our in Chullin are righteous "merely in good deed<;," each side had of the other's retaliatory appreciation of what numerous might whereas in Sukka they are chachamim muskalim b ·1 · d f~ · d Th b f k · - perceptive wise men. b:11tyI serve as an e ectlve eter- _:~ e num er o~own species ____ ------.. THE JE'\VISH OBSERVER glory, the wisdom and kindness of cell in the human body is 1/10,000th soldier caste of one kind of South the Creator. Accordingly, each member of an inch thick; that the mass of an American army ant. Coral reefs are of each species exists as yet another electron is 9.1 X 10-28 grams; that the beautiful end product of mutual re1ninder of the Divine Presence. And the volume of the sun is 1.3 million aid between the jellyfish-like polyps because we are creatures of habit, whose times that of earth. Yet, we have only that are the primary organisms of the appreciation diminishes with famil the vaguest notion how many organ reef and the single-celled algae that iarity, Hashem has provided us with isms are sharing the planet with us. supply them with energy. Mycorrhiza an inexhaustible inventory of natural Extrapolations from the available is a term that describes the ongoing wonder to inspire us. data lead to an educated guess of as exchange of nutrients and carbohy many as I 00 million species. Some drates between plants and the fungi ... malla ha'aretz kinyanecha experts say that a final number will that attach themselves to the root ... the earth is full of Your possessions never be assigned. systems. Without this food-for-food program, most of the world's vegeta just as Chazal say of every passuk in ... chayos ketanos im gedolos tion would disappear. the Torah - "Im reik, mikem hu reik (If it ... small creatures with the large ones appears to be empty, the void lies within you)" - so, too, it may be said of Creation: This phrase has been rendered else Do you If there is a place on earth that is empty, where as "creatures great and small:' But it only seems that way because we are one has to weigh the gain in euphony empty; we lack the tools of perception. versus the loss in accuracy. For in Lashon l 1 1 ... ve'el afaram yeshuvun see it. That we are spared the sight ... yismach Hashem be'ma'asav I ... and to their dust they will return of this incessant morbidity is surely ... Hashem will rejoice in His deeds ! another chessed of the Borei Olam. He I- I The best-kept secret of the life cycle has programmed His creatures with "... and all the hosts of heaven ] ,_' is death. Everything from elephants an instinct for unnoticed exit when have dissolved, and the scroll of the , to aphids are biting the dust around the instinct for survival has run its heavens has been rolled up, and all I us all the time - yet, we hardly ever course. the hosts withered ..." (Yeshaya 3,4). 1 On a deeper level, Rabbi Hirsch The stars in the firmament dissolve I has explained that tumas meis, defile- from pain and grief when they do ] Digest of Meforshirn ment resulting from contact with the not reach their fulfillment rolled j' dead, has a key philosophical purpose: up like the book of heaven, like a , ')viv? in:i ')"1i7? Death is the inexorable fate of all liv- book into which no one inquires , ing things, and it reminds man that he, (medakdekim) ... (from Introduction j Available at too, is subject to natural forces beyond to Ha' ameik Davar) _I' LEKUTEI his control. As such, contact with it But if our inquiry into the wonders c!o Yitzchok Rosenberg undermines belief in his own free of Creation inspires us to love and fear 1445 54th Street will, so integral to the Jewish world- Hashem and to keep His Torah, then Brooklyn, NY 11219-4228 view (Hirsch Pentateuch, Vayikra 7,19, Hashem will rejoice in His deeds, the 718-854-6701 Bamidbar 19,22, Horev, "Additional physical world He created, for it has 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, Notes of Dayan Grunfeld;' p. 582). thereby been brought by man to its Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. Similarly, it may be that Hashem has fulfillment. Proceeds of sales distributed a1nong for the most part shielded our eyes Ycshivos and used for reprinting of vol umes out-of-print from it, lest we forget that we are not ... yitamu chatta'im min ha'aretz, merely physical entities, but possessed u'resha'im od einam PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME of neshamos that transcend the forces ... may sins perish from the earth, of decay that prevail in nature. and the wicked no longer exist It is the Psalmist's hope that one's contemplation of nature will result mrs?t"'~~ in such an awareness of its Creator's IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED existence, that he will, as the Rambam INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? says, be filled with love and fear of the We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. Creator, and that thereby sins will perish Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and from the earth. (Indeed, one may take computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. the phrasing in reverse: from the earth - from a study of its countless miracles - will sins perish.) ... borchi nafshi es Hashem, Halleluka! Affix old label here Here, at the completion of his dis~ ' course of praise for Hashem's creations, I the Psalmist returns to the declaration with which he began. That which was Narne~------initially intuitive is now manifest. That New Address which was always known to the nefesh City, is now evident to the faculties of per ception and reason, as well: that every State, living thing depends on Hashem for its Date Effective ------ existence, and each one is a reflection of Hashem's infinite wisdom. Therefore, Send address The Jewish Observer changes to: our praise is directed not toward any I' Change of Address of the parts of creation, no matter how I 42 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004 wondrous, but to their Creator. Borchi , Please allow 4-6 weeks for all changes to be reflected on your mailing label. We will not nafshi es Hashem - Hashem, and no be responsible for back issues missed unless you notify us 6 weeks prior to your move. 1 I other. lliJ 1 ~ ______J THE JEWISH Oasr::Rv DAN Roni The Power of the Unwritten Word TRANSCRIBE, RELAX... people is to write it down, thereby pre- where does the Written Law fit in to AND FORGET serving it forever. Rabbi Akiva informs the scheme of things? · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · us that the opposite is true, The best oday's technology has provided way to preserve the Oral Law is not to the Chareidi world with new and write it down, By keeping it unwritten, DELIBERATE AMBIGUITY Tmore efficient ways of spread- people feel responsible to remember ing Torah, Devices such as DVDs and it. Knowing that the weight rests solely he answer is that the Written Law MP3 players store massive amounts of on their shoulders, they will work day itself was not written in such a information and are increasingly being and night to ensure that no law escapes Tmanner that it could be under used to record and retain Torah shiurim. them. They will not go to sleep until stood on its own. If not for the oral I Obviously, Chazal never had such tools, they are certain they have memorized interpretations, we would have no way so you won't find any explicit mention it completely. By writing the Masores of understanding what the Written Law I of them anywhere in their writings. As down, though, that tension is lost. is teaching us. For example, we would I hope to show in the following article, Feeling secure that the information is have no idea that pri eitz hadar refers however, Chazaldid deal with principles on paper, people breathe a sigh of relief to an esrog, that totafos is translated to that relate directly to the use of such and relax, knowing that the information be the tefillin on one's head, or which equipment. can always be verified.' Transmitting the melachos (labors) are forbidden on In the third chapter of Avos, Rabbi Torah by word of mouth as opposed Shabbos. Thus, the fact that the Written I Akiva says, "Masores seyag la10rah - to recording it is, therefore, the surest Law is written down does not obviate Masores is a protective fence around protection against forgetting Torah. the responsibility of remembering it. I the Torah." Masores means something The idea that writing down the Rabbi Shimshon Refoel Hirsch com- I 'I that is passed down verbally from one Oral Law weakens the impression it pares the Written Law to shorthand generation to the next, and refers to 1nakes on one's being is stated by notes.3 Unless one heard the original the Oral Law. One would have thought the Mabit2 (1500-1580) and Midrash lecture, the shorthand notes themselves that the way to ensure that the Oral Shmuel (1540-1605). However, G-d are meaningless and look like nothing I' Law never be forgotten by the Jewish did command us to write down parts more than scribble. To the student I ------of Torah, namely the Written Law. If who heard the lecture, however, the '11 DAN ROTH LIVES \\!!Tl! HIS FAMILY l!'i HAR Nor, writing so1nething down really weakens notes enable him to repeat the entire .IERl)SALEM. T!IE f\BO\IE 1\Rf!CLE JS AN EXTllACl j r-RoM 111s Fo1n11cnMrNG BOOK oN PJRKEJ Avos _!~~. i11.1J?E.£5-.sio~j_!_~.~-~-?~-~~_!_SO~ lecture verbatim. Every word jogs his 1 rnAI' s11ows now EACH M1s11NA 1s R1-:1.EVANT TO I Midrnsh Sl1111ucl Ill_err1()1)'~n_cl ,rem i,rid_s_hi,irr_ll f_whall he 3 Sheinns 2 J :2 L"""'"" . .. --- ,'"'"'' «•· •• '·: "f· I ------·------"---·-·-·------·--"------~ ------·--·---·--·-----~ NOVEMBER 2005 ------ lecturer said. Thus, one could argue that they still need the explanation of a the whole shiur but fails to internalize I that not only does the existence of the teacher. ln this way, although the Oral any of it. In the words of Erich Fromm, Written Law fail to contradict the idea Law was written, it still retained its oral " ... the content does not become part of that writing something down weakens nature.9 Thus, there is no contradiction their own individual system of thought, the impression it makes on a person; it between the writing down of the Oral enriching and widening it. Instead, they I actually strengthens the idea. After all, Law and Rabbi Akiva's point. transform the words they hear into fixed G-d specifically chose to have it written The Chazon Ish and the Steipler clusters of thought, or whole theories, in an ambiguous form, thus making strongly encouraged students to write which they store up. The students and i it necessary for man to remember the down every insight they had.10 The the content of the lectures remain details. Maharsha even went as far as to say that strangers to each other, except that each In our Mishna, Rabbi Akiva is mak the main benefit from learning comes student has become the owner of a col- ing a profound point about human from that which one writes down.11 lection of statements made by somebody nature: Knowing that something is Writing helps crystallize one's learn else." 13 In our Torah study, we conform recorded elsewhere removes the burden ing. One often thinks he understands to Hashem's desire that we not become I of embedding it in one's mind. an idea clearly, but when he tries to robots who can regurgitate a lecture G-d wants the Torah to be alive in write it down, he realizes it needs fur word for word, but respond as people I every Jew's heart. Thus, writing it down ther clarification. But at the same time, who take the information to heart. would be detrimental, as it would deny one needs to be aware of Rabbi Akiva's The same is true not only of writing, people the feeling that they are playing a warning - namely, that the writing not but of owning sefarim. It is not how vital role in its transmission. Only when become a substitute for the Torah's big your library is, but how much of a people feel that they alone carry the residing in the person himself. Listening, living Torah you are. Take the Shaagas burden of storing its information does learning, absorbing and integrating the Aryeh, for example. He was so poor I it occupy all their thoughts, becoming knowledge must precede writing, lest that he only had one Gemara. If he the air they breathe. People then identify these be displaced by writing. Erich wanted to learn a new Gemara, he with the Torah so closely that they will Fromm, a German-born psychoanalyst had to exchange it for another volume. I never forget it, just as they will never and professor of psychiatry at New York Yet, his lack of sefarim did not hinder forget their own identity. University in the 1960s, noted this nega his learning; it pushed him harder to I tive aspect of writing. He comments, learn. When he came across a new sefer, "Teachers can observe that the students he committed it to memory, knowing WHEN TO TAKE NOTE ... who carefully write down every sentence that that was the only way he would of the lecture will, in all likelihood, have access to its contents. He once hat is not to say that today understand and remember less than stayed with a wealthy talmid chacham we should not write down any the students who trusted their capacity who had a large collection of sefarim TTorah. Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi, to understand and, hence, remember at and was amazed that his host was so who lived after Rabbi Akiva, saw that least the essentials."12 knowledgeable - despite his having so with the passage of time, the gen many books! Ghazal say: Take heed erations were growing weaker, and of the poor, for from them Torah will therefore wrote down the Mishna so How TO ABSORB AN come forth.14 Said Rabbi Chaim Ozer that it would not be forgotten.4 But, IMPRESSION Grodzensky, "Do you know why Torah as Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner points out, will come forth from the poor? Because even Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi made sure he main purpose of a Torah lec they have no sefarim!" to write the Torah in such a manner ture is the impression it makes on In our generation, Rabbi Akiva's mes that the teacher-student link would not Tthe listener, not on his notebook. sage is even more poignant. Technology be lost.' For example, although Rabbi If the notes just sit on the shelf gather has opened new ways to record infor Yehuda Hanassi was known for his clear ing dust, then of what use are they? A mation. For a small price, you can buy language,6 his Mishnayos do not always student who comes away from a shiur Tanach, Midrash, Talmud and every other follow a chronological order,7 and at having understood only one point, hut sefer you are likely to need on one com times even have sections missing/~ such who is deeply touched by it to the extent pact disc. That so much Torah is available that it becomes a part of him for the at our fingertips and can be accessed eas 4 Rambam, Introduction to Mishnch TOrah rest of his life, is a thousand times bet ily is a wonderful thing. But let us never 5 Pachad Yitzchak, Chanuka, first topic. See p. ter off than a student who understood allow this surge of information to prevent 180 for his source. is easy 6 Rarnbam, Introduction to Peirush 9 Pachad Yitzchak, ibid us from internalizing the Torah. It Han1ishnayos. 10 Igros Chazon Jsll 1:4; Karyana De'igressa 1:5 to fall into a false sense ofsecurity,feeliilg 7 Ein seider /eMishna 11 Bava Basra I Ob 13 Ibid. p. 29 ~rel mKha>ea______-~ Ecich Frnmm.. To Have or To Be? p_. ._32 _____ 1_4-Nedarim 8la THE JEWISH----·-·-·--·--·---·------·=-i OBSERVER -~-----.----·----·----·----·-·------·-···--··------·------·--·----·----- that one knows 1brah when really it's feeling, thinking person, our character to draw attention to a potential danger the computer that "knows:' G-d wants is becoming as thin and shallow as a - namely, the possibility of destroying us, not our computers, to become living digital memory card. What started as an an event's impact because we know sifrei Torah. He wants us to think about aid is quickly turning into a handicap, that it's being recorded and can always 1brah constantly, making it the center of preventing us from being touched by be seen later. our lives and the longing of our souls. the magic of the moment. In conclusion, Rabbi Akiva's mes If Rabbi Akiva said that writing could This does not mean one should never sage about the significance of an oral detract from identifying with Torah, how take pictures. Photos provide mementos tradition has not faded with time. If much more so can the knowledge that of special occasions. They also enable anything, it is even more relevant in one has the whole Torah available at the those who could not be there to join in our day. Knowing that something is click of the 1nouse lessen one's attach the event. Photographing is no worse recorded elsewhere weakens its effect. ment to Torah! Technology is meant to than writing down, which, as we men Our challenge is to see and hear every help us further our Torah knowledge, tioned earlier, Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi thing with open eyes and ears, and not to be a substitute for it. When the saw was a necessary memory aid for - most importantly - with an open Heavenly Court tests a person at the end the weaker generations. My point is just heart. u;J of his life regarding his Torah knowledge, laptops will not be admitted. FROM- To PRESERVE THE MOMENT•.. *US$ OR INTERNALIZE IT? 15 .90 nother application of Rabbi PER DAY Akiva's principle in today's world is photography. A FIAT PUNTO 3 DR Like many others in Jerusalem, I pre OPEL CORSA fer to do kaparos on Erev Yorn Kippur HYUNDAI GETZ 1.3 with a real chicken. It is a powerful expe TOYOTA COROLLA rience. Being only a few hours away fro1n MAZDA6 the holiest day of the year, and knowing MAZDA MPV 8.M.W 520 that this animal will soon be slaughtered U.S.A as atone1nent for me, never fails to move Tel: 1·800..938-5000 me. Last year, though, I saw someone 718-998-5500 taking pictures of his children holding www.eldan.co.il the chicken over their heads. This kills any feelings of holiness one can draw from the event. We are no longer able to You can! Just call savor the 1norncnt without reaching for The Yitti Leibel our cameras. When going to the Kosel, Helpline. some tourists see everything through Ho UR s: their viewfinder instead of focusing on Monday-Friday ...... Sam -I2pm the intensity of their prayers. Even when Monday-Thursday ...... 8pm -1 lpm Sunday ...... 9am -12pm, 9pn1 -llpm visiting tragic places such as Auschwitz and other death camps, I have seen ~.It.~ 718-HELP-NO.W people busy taking photos instead of ·~..w (718) 435-7669 using the heartrending moment for Chicago ...... (800) HELP-023 deep thought and reflection. Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 On numerous occasions, Rabbi Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 Shlomo Wolbe ?·~1 told his students Baltimoce ...... (410) 578-1111 who were about to go on an outing that Detrnit...... (877) 435-7611 San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 I photographing a scenic view comes at Tornnto ...... ( 416) 784-1271 the CXpCilSC Qf "living the experience." The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Branch of the Vitti Leibel Helpline . . l il"l' o;,-il;'l' -;n:i )~1Dt' ·1 ro ~'Pn ;i·'n nnv1 i1 "..'' 'I 1 By turning every event into a p 1oto op, Fr'Jt>·n 1·•1-: !'{' ;iwo11 1 1 we are becomingnun1b to what it means i1:t' ilt.::..,~,,.~n~~~ J ~6~ 11 ;i':t'1:.n I Dedicated b Mr & Mrs Shmuel Boruch Wilhelm :J THE BEN TORAH~B~~~~-;;;~~ION~-;:------·------=-i '=• o;•m• ,. inner selves in accord with the spiritual core, or reflects were, indeed, prototype I I description~•· "Ben Torah· world they are inhabiting atthe its values. In fact, we refer B'nei Torah-Businessmen or Businessman/Professional" as moment - living a spiritually the reader to the words -Professionals: self-contradictory. How can one schizophrenic life, as it were. of the late Rosh Hayeshiva, • "Rabbi Judah Dick~,-,," by become engaged in the outside Others actually succeed Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner 7":n, Avrohom Birnbaum; world and still maintain the at this attempt by making on the topic, taken from • "Lessons in Leadership: pristine, unspoiled character their Talmudic studies and one of his published letter The Life of Rabbi Yisroel of a person fully immersed in efforts at self-improvement (see sidebar on facing page). Bloom 7·r," by Rabbi Yaakov Torah? the focal point of their lives, To give a human dimension Bender and Moshe Benoliel, Some people try to recon· its defining element. All else to this concept, we present with a sidebar by Avrohom cile the two by dividing their is either supportive of that two profiles of men who Birnbaum. RABBI AVROHOM BIRNBAUM Rabbi Judah Dick, 7"t FOUNDATION OF TORAH was brilliant and motivated. He was THE INTERPLAY never content with perfunctory knowl BETWEEN HALACHA bbi Judah Dick 'n - a lawyer edge of anything that he learned, but AND SECULAR LAW by profession - was a prime plumbed to the depths of even the most xample of how a person can obscure and sometimes neglected areas ithout a doubt, one of)udah surround himself with the walls of of Torah. Dick's important contribu· the beis midrash even when outside of As a 20-year-old learning in Beis W tions to the world of Torah their confines, thereby ensuring that Medrash Elyon, in Monsey, N.Y., he and halacha was his seminal work on every action is performed through the engaged in correspondence with Rabbi the interface between halacha/Torah prism of Torah and halacha. Indeed, Moshe Feinstein, the leading poseik of law and (lehavdil) secular law. Any he was the epitome of the Shulchan the generation, in a range of halacha sugya (topic) in halacha that contained a Aruch's explanation of" Bech al derache· topics. These responsa formed the basis component related to contemporary law cha da' eihu- Know Hashem in all your of Reb Moshe's well-known decision was learned by Rabbi Dick with depth, ways" (Drach Chaim 231): Both on a to rely on government inspection of clarity and an emphasis on its practical personal and professional level, his con· dairy farms in special circumstances, application. Indeed, he was intimately duct was dictated by the concern, "What permitting the milk even if there is no familiar with the field oflaw from many does Hashem require from me at this supervision by a Jew. angles, and was instrumental in the moment?" Without question, his many Throughout his lifetime, Judah Dick enactment of numerous laws to protect accomplishments, both in the rabbinic published numerous in-depth Torah religious observance, which Orthodox field and in the legal world, were rooted chiddushim in Torah journals such as Jews today take for granted. in his lifelong pursuit of Torah study at Hapardes and Hamesivta. Even after he Another major contribution to this the most advanced levels. left yeshiva, he continued to immerse field was his trailblazing work in estate Even as a young man, Yehuda Dick himself in complex areas of Torah. In planning, spelling out how to write a fact, Judah Dick published a fascinat· will in accordance with both halacha RABBI BIRNBAUM, AN EDLICATOR LIVING IN LAKEWOOD, JS A COLUMNIST FOR Hamodia AND A ing sefer, drawing on his wide-ranging and state laws.' Until he wrote on this FREQUENT CONTRIBUTOR TO THESE PAGES, MOST knowledge, compiling a minyan hamitz- subject, almost all written wills did not RECENTLY WITH HIS ADAPTATION OF AN ADDRESS VOS (precise count of the 613 mitzvos) 1 His article was published in the RJJ Journal aY RABBI MAnsYAHu SAt.oMoN: "THE EssENcE oF according to the Ramban, as opposed to of Halacha and Conte111porary Society, Vol. III, 0 Spring '82. L "--,. ''' •_l______o-th_e_r_m--e-th-o-ds-of grouping them. ~------=--~~~~~~~_"_~~~~~~ -_ -=--=--=--=-= ==-=-i comply with halacha. He was, in fact, JO AN INDIVIDUAL often consulted on this matter by rab- binic figures. He also did pioneering EMBARKING ON A CA.REER work in pre-nuptial agreements and their halachic validity. . .. I do not need to tell you that And you, my cherished one, Indeed, his rav at the Agudah of 9th I have never, under any circum Heaven forbid that you turn dou Avenue (Baro Park), where he davened, stances, consented to a double ble vision on yourself and see Rabbi Elozer Yonah Ginsburg, related life .... yourself leading a double life. that he had known Judah Dick for I recall my visitto the hospital "Whoever prolongs the 'Echad' twenty years and, during that time, of Dr. Wallach (Shaarei Tzeddek) [of Shema] has his days and years he had spoken "in learning" with him in Yerushalayim, when 1saw him prolonged." To the contrary, your virtually every Shabbos. "Throughout approaching the bed of a patient entire life should be as one who that entire period;' said Rabbi Ginsberg, about to enter the operating prolongs the "Echad" - unified, "I never came across a Talmudic or room. Dr. Wallach asked the and not double .... halacha topic with which Reb Yiddel patient the name of his mother A multitude of points scat [as he was affectionately known J was so he could pray for him before tered, one under the other, cer not intimately familiar. The less known the operation. When I related this tainly has the quality of disunity; portions of Torah were his specialty." incident to one of the great men but that same multitude of points of Yerushafayim, he exclaimed, arranged around a central point "How envious one must be of is ONE circle. ON BEHALF OF THE this Jew, who has such marvel This, my friend, is your obli COMMUNITY (ASKANUS) ous opportunities to serve as gation: put the "Echad" at the an instrument for the honor of center of your life, and do not at n the early 1960s, under the initia Hashem!" all concern yourself with duality. tive and guidance of Rabbi Moshe Tell me the truth, my dear Each new "point" you acquire I Sherer, a group of Orthodox law friend: Does the doctor's reciting will but extend the circle, without yers established COLPA (the National Tehillim on behalf of the well disturbing its integrity .... Jewish Commission on Law and Public being of a patient .about to enter Affairs), with Judah Dick as one of its the operating room constitute a ThANSl.ATION OF THE ABOVE LETTER FROM RABl31 founders and most active members. double life? YJTZCHOK HtlTNER .,~~TIS BY ELI AKIM WILLNER, The mandate of COLPA was to harness • • • A TALMTD OF THE LA'tE ROSH HAYF.SHIVA, the talents of Orthodox Jewish lawyers and professionals for the benefit of the broad community. Another important issue was the with leading poskim of the generation, Undoubtedly, one of his most impor amendment to the New York State and much trailblazing work in this area tant accomplishments was drafting the autopsy law. At that time, the law dic was to his credit. Sabbath law that prohibited employers tated that whenever the cause of death In the years before Agudath Israel had from discriminating against employees was unknown, the state had the right to its own in-house legal staff, Judah Dick for being Shabbos observers. This was to order an autopsy. This law created dif was one of Rabbi Moshe Sherer's closest remedy the tragic situation in America ficulties for the observant community, confidants on a host of legal matters. during the first half of the 20th Century which deems kevod hameis a sacred The two would speak on a regular basis. - Jewish immigrants being forced to obligation, and forbids any form of He was involved with Agudath Israel in choose between desecrating the Shabbos mutilation of a corpse. Rabbi Dick drafting legislation for allocating gov or not having a job and starving. Jn argued before the courts that the law ernment funds to parochial schools. He fact, when New York Governor Nelson was unconstitutional. In the end, largely played a major role in helping develop a Rockefeller signed the bill that Judah due to his brilliance and perseverance, halachically acceptable approach toward Dick helped draft, Rockefeller presented the law was amended to require the gov helping agunos through the secular legal him with the pen as a token of his ernment to demonstrate that there was system. He also helped draw up laws to appreciation. The New York State law reason to suspect foul play or a poten control how defunct or non-functioning served as a precedent for similar rul tially dangerous public health epidemic shuls disposed of property and assets, ings in other states. Who knows how before ordering an autopsy. often worth large sums of money; many Jews would not have been able to Another major legal battle that he unfortunately, unscrupulous trustees maintain their Shabbos observance and fought was in regard to ascertaining the had pocketed substantial amounts of I their Judaism had Judah Dick not been time of death from a halachic and legal such funds. around to protect their interests? standpoint. Here, too, he was in contact In 1984, The New York Times Magazine i 39 .______------·--··---···----- NOVEMBER 2 0 0 5 published a major story on Orthodox the bank loaning the money for the working on the will, I was afforded Jews. When preparing the article, they mortgage Jewish-owned? - posing the the opportunity to clarify many approached Rabbi Moshe Sherer for an possibility of the prohibition of ribbis halachos that were relevant to your interview; he sent them to Judah Dick, (usury). For two hours, the prospective case. I derived such satisfaction from whom he deemed qualified to present parties sat waiting in his office. Judah this learning that I almost felt as if I the authentic Orthodox viewpoint on Dick refused to proceed with the deal should pay you." legal issues. until he verified that the bank was not The beauty of Judah Dick's life was under Jewish ownership. how he used his gifts as an erudite ta/mid For a time, he worked as a lawyer SELFLESS CHESSED chacham and skilled lawyer to increase for the City of New York. A religious the honor of Heaven. co-worker noticed that whenever he e dispensed free legal advice to photocopied a personal document, he people from all walks oflife, as would go to the lobby, insert a dime in a H an act of chessed. FAITHFULLY CONDUCTING public copier, and make his copy there. When the government's Section 8 BUSINESS While employees would periodically use program was instituted, assisting low the office copier for personal copies, income families in paying their rent, n today's society, many view lawyers what everyone else did had no effect on Judah Dick recognized that this pro· as lacking integrity. Judah Dick, Judah Dick. For him, right and wrong gram could benefit struggling members I however, was a paragon of yashrus were the only determining factors. of the community. He immediately - fidelity, not only to the letter of the law, Despite the fact that law was his went to the government office to pick but to the spirit of the law, often general· source of income, on countless occa up forms for a distinguished talmid ing a tremendous kiddush Hashem. His sions, especially when his services bene- chacham who neither had heard of the program, nor would know how to fill out the forms. Judah prepared the application, brought it to the family JUDAH DICK WOULD REFUSE ANY CASE THAT to sign, notarized it on the spot, and WAS NOT COMPLETELY ABOVE BOARD; IT DID mailed it in, bringing immeasurable NOT MATTER WHO THE CLIENT WAS, WHAT relief to this family. His brother, Reb Nochum Dick, THE CASE WAS ABOUT, OR HOW MUCH MONEY is deeply involved in helping Jews HE COULD EARN. from the former Soviet Union redis cover Torah Judaism. Reb Nochum was friendly with a Russian medi cal student who had emigrated to dealings seemed to anticipate Chazafs fited the kla~ he would not charge for his America and was now was studying statement, "One of the first things a work. This often involved hours, days, or in an off-shore university. When the person will be asked when he reaches weeks of painstaking work; nevertheless, young man was ready to start his the Heavenly Courts is, 'Did you con- when Judah Dick saw an opportunity to residency, he was met with a seemingly duct your business affairs with emuna increase kevod Shamayim, money was intractable problem. The university - integrity?"' not part of the equation. would under no circumstances allow Indeed, Judah Dick would refuse In his early years as a lawyer, a di- him to take Shabbos off Judah Dick any case that was not completely above ent sent someone to him to compose offered to represent the student at board; it did not matter who the client a halachically binding will. Judah the University's hearing on the mat· was, what the case was about, or how Dick spent much time working on ter and presented the dean with a much money he could earn. the will and, after it was completed, copy of a law that was written 40 A talmid ofthe Philadelphia Yeshiva circumstances dictated that it be years earlier for the New York Board who was leaving to train to become redone. It was a complex will that of Regents that stated that an insti- a lawyer consulted his Rosh Yeshiva, spurred him to draw on many dif- tute of higher education cannot force Rabbi Elya Svei, N""P"n>. Rabbi Svei ficult halachic sources until he could one to take exams on Shabbos. Even advised him, "If you want to be an feel certain that it was correct. The though the cases were not completely ehrliche (upright) lawyer, speak to client received a bill fora paltry sum, analogous, the off-shore university-a Judah Dick." (Years later, Judah Dick's not at all commensurate with the foreign school not bound by American son married Rabbi Svei's daughter.) enormous amount of work done. law-accepted Judah's argument. Reb I' One client recalls how, at a real Judah Dick explained, "I hesitated Nochum commented that, besides the 0 lo<;• '"""' ~•'•"• -• - .. ~ =' <•~ • b'>b=~ ili 1 by his sense of obligation to increase BURIAL PLOTS ·~-• =--=--=-=-.. 'I the honor of Hashem, constantly asking =~:::.."='='"'-~'==-,. - ---- himself first and foremost, "What does IN ERETZ YISROEL ~""""'"--'-",,::-'"'-"•~,,_..--'~-.r~~-t---"''-- Hashen1 want from me?" - should serve Interment in a Shomer Shabbos f:::::::. ..1 ~=~:-..::-'1---- ...... '1· as a model for all observant Jews in the Beis Olam near Beis Shemesh ·:::.:=:~... -..., t', workplace. He took the values of the Please phone or write to:,.·,:=-:c--=-c:·-----·--~+---=c--t-"'c---1 beis midrash with him wherever he went Chevra OsehChesed Of Agudath Israel , ::-.::: ••=- I j ~:~~h;: :~ ~~:o;;;,:::::~::; ~·~~~)~~;~"" --~~~~~j . THE BE~~~H-BUSIN~~~~~SIO~AL -_:--·--·--·-----=-i ! RABBI YAAKOV BENDER AND MOSHE BENOLIEL lessons in leadership from the life of Rabbi Yisroel Bloom 711 t uch has already been written its share of shuls, a boys' mesivta, and "I will personally guarantee him; of about the life and achieve an elementary school for girls - but no my own hand you can demand him" M ments of Rabbi Yisroel Bloom cheder in the immediate vicinity. (Bereishis 43,9), Yaakov relented. He 7"t, who passed away Erev Yam Kippur That very year- with his son's entry was assured by this assumption of last year, at the age of 66. A multi-faceted to Pre-!A a good four years away- Reb responsibility. Moreover, because of individual, Reb Yisroel was a successful Yisroel resolved to create a yeshiva his sense of achrayus, Yehuda was businessman whose primary occupation loyal to the mesora in Far Rockaway. zocheh to malchus, to be the progeni was learning, and a devoted father and Immediately after Yorn Tov, Rabbi tor of the kings of Israel. husband whose myriad klal activities Bloom convened a meeting around Rabbi Bloom took care of all the had an iinpact on countless Jews across his kitchen table with five like-minded details, from getting the school char the globe. baalei battim, and informed them that, tered, to serving as de facto principal In this era, when our burgeoning with their help, a yeshiva would be for the first six years of its existence. nation is acutely in need of askani1n established, and he would accept the Working alongside him in the admin (activists) involved in chessed and klal burden of fundraising. Beginning on istration was a young Rabbi Yehuda work, Reb Yisroel's record of devotion a shoestring budget, Yeshiva Darchei Frankel, now the menahel of Yeshiva of and productivity can surely provide us Torah was founded. Spring Valley (NY). There is no question with critical lessons and instruction. During those early years, whenever that Far Rockaway's development into the yeshiva could not pay educators' one of America's finest Torah commu salaries on time, Reb Yisroel would call nities is due in large part to his efforts. IN YEHUDA'S FOOTSTEPS an emergency meeting - again, around his kitchen table - and politely, yet ost striking about Reb Yisroel firmly, inform each participant of his Gt.OBAL REACH was his sense of achrayus expected contribution: "Berel, you'll M (responsibility). The obvious bring in a thousand. Chaim, I'm sure example of this would be his founding you can deliver two thousand." And of Yeshiva Darchei Torah. so on. On the first night of Pesach, 5732 This sense of achtayus was Reb (1972), Reb Yisroel and his wife were Yisroel's secret, the essence of his leader I blessed with their first son. His thoughts ship. It brings to mind the following: immediately turned to the chinuch he When the sons of Yaakov Avinu would eventually have to provide for the returned to their father from Egypt, infant. Their Far Rockaway neighbor informing him of the demand of often arriving for a meeting in Riverdale hood was a fine Jewish community, with its viceroy, Yoseif, to meet their late at night, after a long day's work. RABBI BENDER IS THE ROSH HAYESHIVA OF youngest brother, Binyamin, Yaakov The yeshiva recently published a tribute YESHIVA DARCHEI TORAH IN FAR ROCKAWAY, NY. adamantly refused. None of his sons' to him entitled Reb Yisroel Bloom: The MR. 8ENOLIEL IS TllE YESIHVA'S DIRECTOR OF arguments held sway - except one. Life of a Great Man. In addition, their I PUBLIC AFFAIRS, When Yehuda promised his father, soon-to-be expanded campus will be 42 __J ----·----·------·----·--·-----·----··--·--···------"··--· ... ------···- ---~--~~·~-:~.~~.-~~~-~------1 renamed in Reb Yisroel's memory- an could not be even remotely responsible askanus, Rabbi Bloom always deferred 1 indication of his critical role as a pillar for a potential bar bi'reshus harabbim- a to daas Torah, as testified by Rabbi of the institution. spiritual pit in a public thoroughfare. Avrohom Ausband, Rosh Hayeshiva in About 20 years ago, Reb Yisroel learned When he saw a need, he jumped to Riverdale. Indeed, Rabbi Bloom was that the kollel stipend in Lakewood's fill it. He was at the front lines - and his guided throughout his career of chessed Beth Medrash Govoha had not been contemporaries could not help but be and Torah support by the instruction increased in forty years. A weekly pay inspired, and follow. This trait expressed that he received from Rabbi Shach, 'r"1. ment of $40 may have been acceptable itself not only in the "big projects;' that his primary focus be on helping in the 1940s, but in the 1980s, it was far like his involvement in yeshivos, but yeshivos and kollelim. from adequate. Together with Mr. Dov on a "small" level, as well. There was Wolowitz, Reb Yisroel approached the an elderly widower who lived on the Lakewood administration and personally Blooms' block. When this man took ill, CONCLUSION: OUR MANDATE undertook to cover the doubling of the he had no one to take care of his per weekly check. For a number of years, he sonal needs. For a number of months, ial Yisroel today is in desperate was involved in almost every adminis Reb Yisroel went to the man's house each need of leadership, and it is trative decision, big and small, that the evening to undress him and put him Kincumbent upon those who are yeshiva undertook. His day started on into his pajamas. He could have sent able to fill such a role to step forward the phone with Lakewood and finished one of his children to do the mitzvah. and get involved. The needs are many, on the phone with Lakewood. He helped He chose instead to lead by example ranging from finding shidduchim for hire the administrative staff and was - quietly and without fanfare. older singles to assisting the poverty moseir nefesh to ensure that the yeshiva stricken Jews of Bretz Yisroel to ensuring met its financial obligations. He brought a respectable income for our yungeleit fundraisingtoanewlevel,tryingliterally THE ENGINE OF His SUCCESS and mechanchim here at home. hundreds of different innovative ideas · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · • · · · · · · · · · The message ofYisroel Bloom's life is to help raise the requisite funds. Not all Alove all else, Reb Yisroel was one that should resonate with the young of them were successful, but his drive, genuine talmid chacham. people of our nation - as well as with zeal and refusal to give up ultimately othing could stand in the way the less young. We must take achrayus. ensured success. of his learning. He could be found We should be the initiators, and not Reb Yisroel was not an alumnus of studying at home from the crack of wait for others to get involved. In the the Lakewood Yeshiva. When he realized dawn, and would resume after daven- process, we must not neglect the study that they needed help, however, he did ing, not leaving for work until l 0:30 or of Torah and the lifelong process of tik not wait for someone else to step in, 11:00 in the morning. kun hamiddos. And we need to consult but rather saw it as his Heaven-sent As a true ben Torah, Reb Yisroel never with the gedolei hador, those beacons of mission. sought physical or material luxuries, light in the darkness of galus. Among the many other mosdos that but was always alert to possibilities of Each one of us can truly make a benefited from his involvement was spiritual gain. difference. Bnei Brak's Yeshivas Rashbi, headed by Initially, he found it challenging to Rabbi Meir Tzvi Bergman N"'""'· Rabbi learn for long periods of time with- Bloom hosted the yeshiva's annual Far out interruption. So he purchased a Rockaway parlor meeting in his home calendar, and in it recorded the hours until his petira." and minutes spent studying each day, Reb Yisroel's sense of achrayusmani- aiming at surpassing the previous day's fested itself in other ways, as well.As part total. For a period of time, he was a LOWEST RATES IN ISRAEL & EUROPE of his real estate holdings, he managed member of a small chabura, a group • Cellphone Rental for over 150 countries a building situated at a very prominent of men who would gather in Brooklyn • Nationwide deUvery available location. A billboard company wanted to study mussar and encourage each • Voice man & text messaging to rent part of its exterior wall to sell other in tikkun hamiddos (character advertising space. It was a lucrative improven1ent). Reb Yisroel arranged to . Fax&dataservke proposal, but Reb Yisroel insisted on have the Mashgiach, Rabbi Matisyahu ·-~••bill veto power over each ad's content, and Salo1non N"V'~. address them on a • eaowa1t1ng the deal subsequently fell through. His monthly basis. His learning and his "'""""0 associates suggested that he seek a het- focus on character improvement were 877.CELL PHONE ter- not to be accountable for what the undoubtedly the fuel that enabled him 8 7 7 • 2 3 5 • 5 7 4 6 t::'.:.: '"·'~ ""'"""_ "' .. "~':':·:::~::~:·;; :~~~';"""' ______------_j THE BEN TORAH-BUSINESSMAN/PROFESSIONAL During his years in Yeshiva striking portrait of Reb Chatzkel Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, Reb to adorn Reb Yisroel's room. should I? Every Rosh Hashana, Yisroel Bloom developed a close During that hospital stay, Reb Hashem decides how much relationship with the Mashgiach, Yisroel would constantly gaze at I am going to make. Why Rabbi Avigdor Miller ?"lit, from the picture and derive strength would I want to do it dishon whom he absorbed the phenom from it. Merely looking at his estly?" enal midda of using every second countenance enabled Reb Yisroel Even when in excruciating of the day to the utmost. There to better bear the burden of those pain during his final illness, he was no such thing as "wasting final, pain-racked weeks. In his would constantly say, "I accept time" with Reb Yisroel. Indeed, last week, an object was obscur all of my suffering be'ahava, with no one, not even close family ing his view of the picture, and he love." Once, a family member members, ever remembers seeing insisted that it be removed. came into his hospital room and him sit idle; he was always learn Perhaps the most prominent found him doubled up in pain. ing or busy with other spiritual lesson that he absorbed from Rav He bent down to try to help pursuits. It was Rabbi Miller who Chatzkel was his iron-clad midda him, and heard Reb Yisroel whis encouraged Reb Yisroel to begin pering through clenched teeth, 1 delivering chaburos in the chal "Be'ahava, be ahava." lenging and stimulating sefer A close friend came to visit Sheiv Shemaatesa every Friday him before Rosh Hashana. Even night. This was the first of many though he was suffering, he chaburos and mussar vaadim that greeted his friend with conta Reb Yisroel organized throughout gious excitement, "Look, a new the years. ATalmid sefer came out with some of Rav A defining period in Reb Chatzkel's Elul!Yamim Nora'im Yisroel's life was when he was a shmuessen translated into English. ta/mid in the Ponovezh Yeshiva Let's learn the first one." He then in Bnei Brak, where he bound olHis proceeded slowly and deliberately himself to the Mashgiach, Rabbi to learn the shmuess with his Yechezkel Levenstein, ?"lit. friend. Indeed, he lived with Rav Although he was a ta/mid in the Chatzkel's teachings continually Rebbei'im on his lips ... and that is the way yeshiva for a short period, the impression that the Mashgiach he died. • • • left on him lasted a lifetime. He AVROHOM BIRNBAUM would constantly repeat divrei In his early married years, when Torah and mussar that he had Reb Yisroel lived in a one-bed heard from Reb Chatzkel, as well room apartment and had three as experiences he had shared with children, he was faced with a him. Even years later, he would problem. ff his children would often remark, "Reb Chatzkel's sleep in the living room, he would shmuessen had penetrated my not be able to learn at night. So very bones." (In later years, he of emuna and bitachon. His was a they all slept in the one bedroom would return to Eretz Yisroel rock solid, deeply ingrained bita while he learned peacefully in the each summer and renew his con chon that could not be swayed. living room. nection with gedolim in Bnei • • • Brak with whom he had forged One of his young grand At his levaya, one of his chil a relationship, including Rabbi daughters interviewed her dren said, "He never once took Elazar Shach, ?"lit, and n"'>:l'. Rabbi grandfather for a report on a vacation, but he did travel to Shach's son-in-law, Rabbi Meir the subject of honesty. "Did Belgium, France, Switzerland, Los Tzvi Bergman.) you ever have the tempta Angeles and numerous other plac There was always a picture of tion to deal dishonestly?" es on behalf of yeshivos. He raised Reb Chatzkel prominent in his she asked. astronomical sums of money for home. During his last months in "No," was Reb Yisroe/'s Lakewood and other yeshivas, the hospital, a friend brought a immediate reply. "Why traveling at his own expense." ~·------~---- I I Gutta: Memories of a Vanished World: information on religious life in the A Bais Yaakov Teacher's Poignant BOOKS IN Warsaw Ghetto, on the rabbanim and Account of the War Years, with a yeshiva students in the Ghetto, and on Historic Overview by Gutta Stembuch REVI the activities of Dr. Hillel Seidman, Dr. and David Kranzler, Feldheim Publishers Rabbi Orlean and others. The book is (Jerusalem, 2005) $23.95 HC one of the few sources of information on the fate of some three hundred Polish utta: Men1ories of a Vanished Jews with Latin American passports who World, by Gutta Sternbuch and were transferred by the Germans from GDavid Kranzler, traces the expe Warsaw and elsewhere in Poland to the riences and struggles of a Chassidic girl internment camp Vittel in Northern from her youth in pre-War Poland, France. Among these Jews were Gutta through her imprisonment in the and her mother. Gutta Sternbuch's Warsa\v Ghetto, to her miraculous escape descriptions oflife in Vittel, of the efforts and survival. It portrays her experiences to keep the mitzvos, observe the Jewish as a student in a Jewish gyn1nasiurn in holidays, and provide an Orthodox Warsaw, torn between her desire for Jewish education for the children, are an higher education and loyalty to her important addition to the few existing Chassidic upbringing. It follows her 1nen1oirs of Vitt el written from a non intellectual and spiritual development as Orthodox or non-Jewish perspective. a student at the Bais Yaakov Seminary in Gutta Sternbuch's memoir is espe Craco\v, and her career as a Bais Yaakov cially important because it describes the teacher in the small village of Stopnitz. deportation of the majority of the Jews It describes her heroic acts in the in Vittel to Auschwitz, while document Warsaw Ghetto, where she conducted an ing the iniraculous escape of Gutta, her underground Bais Yaakov school, wrote mother, and a handful of others. articles for the Ghetto newspaper, and organized Orthodox religious activities A MOVING PERSONAL STORY in the orphanage of the famed educator, Dr. Janusz Korczak. It documents her part from its historical signifi REVIEWED BY rescue from the Ghetto by means of a cance, the memoir presents the Latin American passport, her imprison DR. SARA KADOSH Amoving personal story of Gutta ment in the internment camp Vittel in Sternbuch herself. It also sheds light on Northern France, and her miraculous Rabbi Orlean, who sent Gutta to teach in escape fro1n deportation. Reb Berel Gefen, a Chassid of Mezeritch; the small village of Stopnitz, where she Gutta Sternbuch's memoir presents Rabbi Yehuda Leib Orlean, the head of was inspired by the emuna of the village a rare, authentic portrait of Chassidic the Bais Yaakov Seminary; and Rivka Jews even as she taught their children. Jewish family life in pre-War Warsaw Alter, granddaughter of the Gerrer Rebbe Gutta Sternbuch's memoir describes her and in the small villages of pre-War (the Imrei Emes). brief career as a student at the University Poland. It describes the daily life of the The 1nen1oir is an important of Warsaw, where the at1nosphere was Chassidic Jews, their poverty and their Holocaust document. It brings to light anti-Semitic and where the university struggles. It describes the challenges posed to young Chassidic men and women by secular ideologies, and the way in which Gutta and other young e women attracted by these ideologies • Each Daf is read, were strengthened in their emuna and translated, and explained in their co1nrnitment to an Orthodox slowly and clearly in just Jewish way of life through the Bais 20 minutes Yaakov Seminary in Cracow. The book • 54 per tape (plus S&H) 'forlilli!g'egriirij>( >·-.·· brings to life figures who had a major • Subscription rate: S3 per tape for the. btthodoxJewish community. influence on Gutta - her grandfather, (plus S&H) Rabbinical refetenees available B!llJ!llJl!l!!llll DR.SARA KADOSH IS A HISTORIAN AND DmECTO!( Home: (718) 338·1765 OF Tf-lE JDC Ali!C!l!VES IN JERl!SAJ.EM . Pager: (917)486·5655 ...___ ------···-·--·------·-····---·-·- ·-···-···------····---···-~ NOVEMBER 2 0 0 5 studies appeared to her as superficial in charm, the memoir draws the reader G-d for a healthy child who is learning contrast to the more profound, spiritual gently but compellingly into the world to walk. We picture the hungry children climate at the Bais Yaakov Seminary. The of a Chassidic family in Warsaw. We coming to the Bais Yaakov school in the spiritual strengthening she received at can picture Gutta's grandmother danc Warsaw Ghetto with increasingly thin the Seminary enabled Gutta to cope ing around the kitchen table with her and pinched faces until they come no with the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto women friends to celebrate the comple more. What Roman Vishniac did with and with her personal tragedies, includ tion of preparations for Shabbos. We see photographs, Gutta Sternbuch has done ing the death of her beloved brother and the poverty-stricken mother walking with words. Her memoir evokes the the disappearance of her father. Gutta down the street in Warsaw on a cold spirit, the neshama of Jewish life in that Sternbuch's men1oir is a tribute to those winter's day with a single piece of coal Vanished World. who helped and supported her and who with which to heat her tiny room. We enabled her to rebuild her life after the see the vegetable seller in his stall, offer Two HISTORICAL ESSAYS war. It is an inspiring story of hope. ing a few rotten vegetables for sale. We This book brings to life a world hear the schocheifs wife in the town of utta Sternbuch's memoir is that exists no more. \¥ritten with great Stopnitz singing to herself, thanking supplemented by two excellent Gessays on Jewish life in pre-War Poland. The first traces the development of Agudath Israel and the Bais Yaakov movement, and the second describes the emergence of the secular ideologies Obtain the precious negatives from your that so attracted Orthodox Jewish youth. Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or other event. Researched and written by Dr. David Please provide the following information: Kranzler, the noted historian of rescue Date ot your Simcha/event ---·-·· Year during the Holocaust, these essays bring together for the first time the informa tion necessary for an understanding of Bride_._...... the history of Orthodox Jewish educa Mail your che[k, with this form, in the amount of $120.00, made payable to: Zelman Studios Attn: Negatives. Mail to: 623 Corte/you Road, WEDDINGS& tion and communal life in pre-War Brooklyn, NY 17218-4803. Your negatives will be shipped within 30 days BAR MITZVAHS Poland. The essays explain in detail how (Please print] Your name ______----·...... - .. ------.. ---- Since 1966 the Bais Yaakov movement was founded, how the seminary in Cracow developed, 623 CORTELYOU ROAD and what challenges it faced to attract City ------____ ---·· ST Zip-~------(Off Ocean Parkway) BROOKLYN, NY 11218 and influence Orthodox Jewish women. E-mail"------·------Email: [email protected] The essays provide an understanding of Mail Orders only. (718) 941-5500 the social and political changes in the Orthodox Jewish community that form the background to the events described in Gutta Sternbuch's memoir. Although it is possible to read and enjoy the mem oir on its own, anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the life of Chassidim in Poland and of Gutta's experiences would do well to read these essays. Gutta: Memories ofa Vanished World is a book the reader will come back to again and again. Written in a fast-paced, MASORES BAIS YAAKOV HIGH SCHOOL easy-to-read style, it is a book that, 1395 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11230 once begun, is difficult to put down. Dr. Kranzler has done an admirable job For applications for the school year T"tmm, 2006-2007 of organizing the book. His scholar please contact Masores High School, 718-692-0537, ext 224 ship and attention to detail are evident throughout. The book is a major con Rabbi Yosef M. Geln1an, Menahe! Rebbetzin M. Isbee, Menaheles tribution not only to our knowledge of Mrs. S. Pinter, Principal, General Studies Mrs. T. Yanofsky, Asst. Principal the Holocaust, but also to the history of i Orthodox Jewry in Poland. !S I L:_--···----·· ·-----····--·------··· - __ __J The newspaper that belongs in your home... Please enter my year subscription to Yated Ne'eman. .. 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