Jewish Observer, January 2004

Teves 5764 • January 2004 U.S.A. $3.50/Foreign $4.50 • VOL XXXVII/NO. 1

CLICK HERE FOR TABLE OF CONTENTS THEJJewishewish Teves 5764 • January 2004 OOBSERBSERVERVER U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 • VOL XXXVII/NO. 1

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021- 6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of This is the full Table of Contents of the print edition of the America, 42 Broadway, New York, NY10004. Periodicals postage paid in Jewish Observer. The web edition contains only a selection of New York, NY. Subscription $24.00 per articles (indicated in color). Click on the title to go to the year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the United States beginning of that article. Navigate using your browser’s menu (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single and other options. copy $3.50; foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NY, NY 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000, Fax: 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. 6 A Separation Between Light and Darkness, RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon

EDITORIAL BOARD RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS 10 The Enduring Impact of Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler l”xz: Chairman

RABBI ABBA BRUDNY On His Fiftieth Yahrzeit, Yonoson Rosenblum JOSEPH FRIEDENSON RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER 16 Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Kaplan l”xz, Rabbi Hershel Waxman, RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN PROF. AARON TWERSKI with Rabbi Israel Flam

DR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Z”L RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z”L Founders INSIGHTS AND IMPRESSIONS MANAGEMENT BOARD AVI FISHOF, NAFTOLI HIRSCH ISAAC KIRZNER, RABBI SHLOMO LESIN l”xz NACHUM STEIN 21 An Encounter With the Chofetz Chaim , Mrs.Anon

RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Managing Editor

Published by 23 Simcha… True Joy, Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginzberg Agudath Israel of America

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A Separation Between &Darknesslight

Based on an address by Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, Mashgiach of Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, NJ, at the recent National Convention of Agudath Israel of America. Adapted for publication by Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman.

HAVDALA:SAYING IT… MAKING IT there, whether we establish it for ourselves or whether others force it upon very week, when the magnificent us. It is inescapable. spiritual experience we call Shab- The challenge of our generation is Ebos comes to an end, we greet the to enjoy the blessings the Ribbono Shel new week with a solemn statement. We Olam has granted us without losing sight bless and express our gratitude to the Rib- of that critical line of separation. It is far bono Shel Olam Who “separates the holy better that we establish it ourselves on from the secular, the light from the dark- our own terms than to have other nations ness, the Jewish people from nations of do it for us, not so gently. the world.” We know that to keep our- The Chovos Halevavos says that just selves pure and holy, we must make a as it is impossible for water and fire to clear separation between our own soci- coexist in one vessel, so, too, is it ety and the decadent cultures prevalent impossible for the love of Olam Hazeh, among other nations. this world, and the love of Olam Habba, The Beis Halevi draws a comparison the next world, to coexist in the heart among these three separations. We can of a faithful person. Put water and fire see plainly that the separation between together in one vessel, and one of them light and darkness is demarcated by twi- will displace the other. Either the water light, which is the closest light and dark- will extinguish the fire or the fire will ness can ever come to each other. evaporate the water. But they cannot There are also similar lines of demar- remain together in peaceful coexistence. cation between the holy and the secu- In the same way, a person cannot have lar, between the Jewish people and the a passionate love for both this world and cultures of other nations. Just as it is the next. Of course, he can love and enjoy impossible to bring light and darkness many aspects and experiences in this fully together, so too is it impossible to world and use its benefits to help him bring the holy and the secular, the Jew- of demarcation, the Beis Halevi con- prepare for the next. But to love this ish people and the secular world, fully cludes, and try to come close to other world with a fierce passion? To yearn for together. There is a line, a margin that nations and participate fully in their cul- it for its own sake? That is impossible simply cannot be crossed. That is how ture, the nations themselves will push for a person that passionately cares about, the Ribbono Shel Olam designed the him away. The space of separation is loves and yearns for Olam Habba. world. unbridgeable. Should anyone try to cross these lines From painful knowledge, we know THE LITMUS TEST that this is true. Our history has shown Rabbi Reinman,a Talmudic scholar, author and very clearly that the separation between ow do we know where we are? historian, lives in Lakewood, NJ. His most light and darkness, between the Jewish What litmus test can we apply recent appearance in these pages was “Don’t Judge the Book by Its Cover” (Feb. ’03). people and alien cultures is always Hto determine our true atti-

6 The Jewish Observer, January 2004 tudes? There is a beautiful piece in the ing to them? How have we used the great Someone showed me an advertise- Sefer Chareidim that gives us an answer. blessings of prosperity and opportuni- ment in the Chareidi papers that states He writes, “Shuls and batei midrash are ty the Ribbono Shel Olam has given us? in large, bold type,“This Pesach inspire like an orchard for the tzaddik and a Have we used these blessing to encour- your soul − and the rest of your senses prison for the rasha.” Two people go into age the love of our children for the time- as well.” What does that mean? Is this the same beis midrash.For one of less rewards of Olam Habba? Or have we what the holy Yom Tov has come to mean them, it is like an orchard, a wonderfully perhaps allowed indulgences and temp- to us? I understand that some people pleasant spot to spend a morning. For tations to enter our homes that can only need to go to a hotel for Pesach, and I’m another, it is like a prison, a place from inspire love for Olam Hazeh? not taking them to task for it. But how which to escape. One of them is davening Have we clearly marked for our chil- about the rest of us? Because we can with concentration and intensity, and dren out the havdala bein kodesh lechol, afford to go to hotels, should we use the enjoying every minute as he draws clos- the boundaries between the holy and the Yom Tov as an opportunity to indulge er to the Ribbono Shel Olam; he feels he secular? Let me mention just a few some- “the rest of our senses”? Where is the is in a fragrant orchard. The other is look- what unusual examples to highlight the focus on vehigadeta levincha, passing on ing at his watch impatiently, thinking, almost unconscious blurring of the our traditions and memories to the chil- “So when do we finish already?” This is our litmus test. When do we look at our watches in the beis midrash? When do we feel that time is dragging on interminably? Is it when we are wait- ing for a chavrusa to arrive or for the shiur t is our responsibility to pray for our to begin? Or is it when we have had enough and cannot wait to escape? I Some people may become impatient children constantly, and any parent who and look at their watches simply because they do not have the ability to concentrate so hard for such a long peri- does not do so is irresponsible. od of time. They go strong for perhaps half an hour, and then they get tired and restless. I am not talking about these people. Everyone has to find a subject they enjoy, a chavrusa they like and a shiur they find stimulating. That takes some boundaries. dren? Where is the focus on family time? doing, but the effort is eventually Recently I saw a child with a balloon Where is the focus on the purity and holi- rewarded. I am talking about the peo- tied in her hair. A little child. ness of the Jewish neshama? All right, the ple who don’t want to be there in the first So I asked her,“What’s a balloon doing hotel has two swimming pools, but is that place, who are looking at their watches in your hair?” what has become of Pesach? from the first minute, and cannot wait “Today I learned Beis,” she told me Not long ago, someone told me, with to escape. proudly. “Beis is for balloon.” quite a bit of pride, that he took his whole Whereto are these people escaping? The Aleph-Beis is much more than an family to Orlando on Chol Hamoed What awaits them outside the beis alphabet that enables one to read. It is Sukkos.“We had a sukka.There were midrash? Is it Olam Hazeh or Olam part of the very Torah itself. For many minyanim and even a Daf Yomi shiur. Habba? Which do they love with all their children, learning the Aleph-Beis is There were hundreds of frum Jews there hearts? Which is their source of true their first introduction to learning − many of them bnei Torah!” pleasure? It has to be one or the other. Torah. So why can’t we connect the let- Many bnei Torah? If that is so, then It cannot be both. ter Beis to bayis, as the Gemora does, and I must be mistaken in my definition of speak about the concept of a Jewish bnei Torah.While it is certainly impor- MESSAGES TO THE NEXT GENERATION home and Jewish hospitality? Why con- tant to make Chol Hamoed an enjoyable nect this holy letter to a balloon? Do such and memorable experience for the chil- hese are the critical questions we methods of educating children inspire dren, is it necessary to make a faraway have to ask ourselves, especially them to kedusha, holiness? I didn’t ask amusement park the focus of this expe- Twhen we consider our responsi- whether Gimmel was for girl, or whether rience? Will a Chol Hamoed spent in this bilities to the next generation. How con- Daled was for jellybeans. But something fashion enhance their overall apprecia- cerned are we about the future of our is askew. Why are we mixing the holy tion for the Yamim Tovim? And I’m not children? What messages are we send- with the secular? even talking about all the questionable

The Jewish Observer, January 2004 7 aspects of going to such places. What life of kedusha? happened to the time-honored traditions We are not making the proper hav- of sharing the Yom Tov joys with grand- dala, and the results are evident all parents and other family, perhaps even around the world. Why are other visiting gedolim − and taking the chil- nations turning against us today more dren to a park for a few hours? Why than they had just a few short years ago? shouldn’t the children come away from It is because we have come too close. a Chol Hamoed with a little inspiration? Since we do not keep our distance, they What have we come to? Where have make the havdala for us. we lost the separation between the holy There is an old Yiddish saying that and the secular, between the Jewish peo- “Ven a Yid macht nisht Kiddush, macht ple and the rest of the world? der goy Havdala.” Roughly translated, it means that when the Jewish people do HAVDALA ON THE MENU not make Kiddush,when they do not have kedusha in their lives, then other hink of this. Every single new food nations make Havdala; they put up the that is developed for the market separation that we have failed to con- Timmediately sparks a competition struct. That is it in a nutshell. If we do for who gets to give the hechsher and who not set our own boundaries, if we are gets to package and distribute it for the not conscious of what it means to be Jew- kosher market. Has it ever occurred to ish, there are other, more painful ways anyone that there is no mitzva to expe- for the separation to be effected. rience every possible taste and texture? This has been part of our national That on the contrary, there is a mitzva experience for thousands of years, ever of kedoshim tihyu,ofkeeping our pleas- since we came too close to the Egyptians urable indulgences under control? and they reacted. Do we have to wait for A dayan in England asked me about them to make the separation for us? Isn’t a certain new food made from ingredi- it time to wake up and make the hav- ents that simulate exactly the taste of dala ourselves? And above all, isn’t it time pork; that’s how it’s advertised in the we fulfilled our responsibilities to our mainstream press. Someone in the children? community had approached this dayan and asked him to give the hechsher on THE FOCUS OF OUR PRAYERS this product for the kosher market. He wanted to know if he should do it. he Chofetz Chaim writes in I don’t understand. Should a Jewish Mishna Berura (47:10),“It is the person go out and buy a product whose Tduty of fathers and mothers to advertised selling point is that it tastes be accustomed to praying that their exactly like pork? Is this the point that children be lomdei Torah, tzaddikim and we’ve reached? Should we be so intent baalei middos.They should concentrate to share the experiences and the pleas- on this plea with special intensity in ures of the gentiles? Is this how to estab- ‘Ahava Rabba,’ and in Birchas Hatorah, lish a separation? when they say, ‘May we and our off- Where is the sensitivity to kedusha? spring and the offspring of Your peo- And without that sensitivity, how are we ple, the House of Israel, know Your to protect our children from the terri- Name and learn Your Torah for its own ble scourge of the Internet, videos and sake.’ And also in ‘Uva Letzion,’ when the images that confront them on every they say, ‘So that we should not strug- street corner? gle in vain nor give birth in confusion.’” If we do not tell the children about The Chofetz Chaim writes this in kedusha when they are young, if we do Mishna Berura; it is a halacha.It is our not impress on them that we live a dif- responsibility to pray for our children ferent life, that there is a separation constantly, and any parent who does not between our world and the outside do so is irresponsible. It is pure negli- world, what chance do they have for a gence, and I dare say, to use today’s lan-

8 The Jewish Observer, January 2004 guage, we could call it abuse. mak? Because their friends and families What can you expect if you do not did not pray for them sufficiently. pray for them? You do not know with f we do not tell the “Arise and sing in the night,”says the whom they converse. You do not know Navi at the end of Eicha,“at the begin- whom they meet. You do not know what children about ning of the watch. Pour out your heart they see. You really can not control them I like water before Hashem.Lift up your perfectly once they are out the door. The hands to Him for the souls of your chil- only thing you can do is shed a tear for kedusha when they dren on every street corner.” them when you pray, and do it every day. Our galus today is a galus of the street What precisely do we pray for? The are young, what corner. The children are swooning, Chofetz Chaim tells us to pray in Bir- fainting away on the street corners. That chas Hatorah,which beseeches, chance do they is where their kedusha drains away. That “Veha’arev na.Make the Torah sweet to is where they get lost. our taste.”That is what we ask for. Give And what is the Navi’s solution? our children a geshmak.Ifwe would be have for a life of Prayer. asked to institute a tefilla for Torah, what Prayer will give us and our children would we recommend? We would be kedusha? a geshmak in Torah and mitzvos.Prayer clever, no doubt, and ask for wisdom, will enlighten us and lead us to love Olam insight and understanding. Habba rather than Olam Hazeh.Prayer But that is not what Chazal tell us to will give us the wisdom and the insight ask for. If we want to guarantee a durable get a geshmak in learning. to establish clearly the boundaries attachment to the Torah, it has to be We need each other, and the children between the holy and the secular, sweet. It has to be geshmak.And they also need us most of all. Ask any of the unfor- between the Jewish people and other instituted that we should ask for all other tunate children who have not been suc- nations of the world. And only through Jews as well, for the entire House of Israel. cessful, and they will tell you that they prayer will the Ribbono Shel Olam send Why? Because every Jew needs millions had no geshmak.That is why they went us Moshiach and lead us out of this galus, of prayers to support him and help him astray. And why didn’t they have a gesh- speedily and in our days. ■

The Jewish Observer, January 2004 9 Rabbi Hershel Waxman, Rabbi Israel Flam

Recollections and reflections of a genuine Baal Mussar of our times, in commemoration of his 34th Yahrzeit, 2 Shevat, recalled by his close talmid and chavrusa, Rabbi Hershel Waxman, as related to Rabbi Israel Flam

BACKGROUND NOTES it is not a matter of what you know in PERSONAL MATTERS Torah, but how you know it and how it hazal tell us that since there are affects you. One could be perfectly flu- abbi Yisroel Chaim Kaplan l”xz so few true tzaddikim in this ent in dinim and Torah passages, and yet was one of the last giants of the Cworld, Hashem Yisborach chose be removed from G-dliness. We may RMussar Movement. This tzaddik to plant some of these special people in know much conceptually, but nonethe- was an extraordinary example of how each and every generation (Yoma 38). less be far, far away from what Hakadosh a person can seemingly be walking this How fortunate was our generation that Baruch Hu wants. To incorporate the earth as an ordinary human being, but Hashem allowed Rabbi Yisroel Chaim concepts into the way one acts calls for to whom reality consists of living on a Kaplan l”xz,one of the last giants in the feeling strongly about the ideas at different plain, subject to different laws, mussar world, to present us with a liv- hand, to be meishiv al haleiv.Depth of customs, goals and aspirations. His ing example of the accomplishments of feeling is not something that is acquired very being represented a transplant of the Mussar Movement. easily. It is an “avoda”that requires deter- a Ba’al Mussar into Western society’s While this article is not meant to serve mination, concentration, love, and – atmosphere of self-service, greed, lust, as a history of the Mussar Movement, above all – hispa’alus,a burning desire and selfishness. Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Kaplan and the way and passion to reach the high level of Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Kaplan l”xz was he lived his life certainly provide us with ahavas Yisroel (love of one’s fellow a talmid in the Yeshiva of Mir, where his a glimpse into the world of mussar. First, Jews). father-in-law, Rabbi Yerucham Lev- however, it would be in place to men- Small wonder that the Mussar’niks ovitz, an exemplary proponent of the tion a few basic facts. The Mussar would concentrate on a phrase or pas- Mussar Movement, was the Mashgiach. Movement, which was founded by suk and repeat it hundreds and perhaps Reb Yerucham sensed that Reb Yisroel Rabbi Yisroel (Lipkin) Salanter l”xz thousands of times until they really felt Chaim was far from the average person (1810-1883), stood for three principles, that the words had penetrated not only that others saw. Reb Yerucham once which are essentially one. Pursuit of their hearts and minds, but reached the remarked that he took Reb Yisroel shleimus – perfection: perfection in Torah very depths of their neshamos. Chaim as his son-in-law “because I want- study, perfection in performance of The Mussar school defined and cre- ed someone who would bring me to mitzvos, and perfection in character. ated conditions most favorable for Olam Habba.” When taken all together, they constitute these repetitions to be effective – mat- Before coming to America, Rabbi the adam hashaleim, the man of per- ters of form, content, place and time Kaplan insulated himself with the spe- fection. especially conducive to stir and excite cial aura and light of mussar.This was The school of mussar also taught that emotions. This activity became a main- evident in a visit that he made to Rabbi stay of its educational method. Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik, the Brisker Rabbi Hershel Waxman is Rosh Kollel of Beth Rav, in Jerusalem, in 5714/1954. They had Medrosh of Monsey, NY. Rabbi Israel Flam is the former dean of the Yeshiva of Spring Valley, in • • • not seen each other since before World Monsey. War II. After they had finished their dis-

16 The Jewish Observer, January 2004 cussion, the Brisker Rav remarked, does not just leave a makom Torah eas- “Reb Yisroel Chaim, it is impossible to ily and willingly; he had to be moved as discern that you spent 14 years in if by “force”! He showed his reluctance America! You appear to me to be exact- to leave by tarrying as late as possible. ly as you did on the first day that you came to me when you became Rosh • • • Yeshiva in Brisk!” From the mid-1940’s until his pass- On the surface, Reb Yisroel Chaim ing in 1970, Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Kaplan seemed to be living in a world all by served as Mashgiach of Beth Medrash himself, with only a very superficial Elyon in Monsey, NY. contact with the world around him. How wrong this perception was can THE KABBALOS – be learned from an episode that WINDOW INTO HIS SOUL occurred as he and his family were fleeing from Vilna during World s he was leaving this world, Reb War II. They found themselves on Yisroel Chaim confided to his a train that went through Rus- Afamily and bystanders that he had sia on its way to Vladivostok. accepted upon himself an impressive Everyone was hungry and number of kabbalos –self imposed dis- tired. At one of the infre- ciplines – a number of years back, when quent stops, the Rebbet- he was 70 years old. The acceptance of zin decided to get off the these kabbalos would have been extraor- train with the hope of dinary for a person in his youth, but Reb buying some fruit or Yisroel Chaim was a person who was other food for her always on an upward-course aimed at tired family. Sud- reaching shleimus. denly, the train An abridged list of the kabbalos will started moving. shed light on Reb Yisroel Chaim’s deter- We must under- mination to perfect himself, inter- stand that in spersed with anecdotes and remarks that wartime Russia, exemplify his adherence to these reso- being stranded in a lutions. [The kabbalos appear in bold Russian hamlet type.] without a passport, • To learn Mussar each day with con- proper identity, or templation to awaken my soul by feel- money could well ing in my limbs the pains and anguish result in death. The of those who transgress the words of G- moment he realized d; to remind myself of the day of death that his wife had been left and the pains in Gehinnom…. behind, Reb Yisroel Chaim When he was the Mashgiach in Beth did not hesitate for a second. He Medrosh Elyon, Reb Yisroel Chaim quickly pulled the emergency cord, that the conductor had the train go into would travel every week to New York, which caused the train to come to a reverse, until the Rebbetzin caught up where he would stay over Shabbos, grinding halt! Reb Yisroel Chaim with the train.) Incidentally, the train returning on Sunday. One of his devot- explained in broken Russian to the con- brought the family to Vladivostok, ed students in Monsey would drive him ductor that his wife had been left from where they sailed to Japan. From to New York each Friday. Strangely, Reb behind at the last stop. Japan they traveled to America on the Yisroel Chaim would never leave at the Stopping the train was in itself a grave very last ship that came to the United appointed time. Why was this so? offense in Russia that could easily States before Pearl Harbor. Reb Yisroel Chaim later explained that bring a jail sentence. On seeing Reb Yis- he considered the Beis Hamidrash not roel Chaim’s angelic, shining counte- • • • only as his home, but also the very nance, the conductor showed essence of his life. He was aware that he extraordinary understanding, and wait- The effect of Reb Yisroel Chaim’s spe- had to leave each Shabbos.But deep ed till the Rebbetzin was able to rejoin cial hadras ponim – the impact of his inside, it was important to show that one her family. (One version of the story is face’s aura – recalls a similar story that

The Jewish Observer, January 2004 17 happened many years later when Reb Yis- and immediately drew back. With a had apparently not realized that the rental roel Chaim was Mashgiach in Beth voice of awe and respect, he said,“ I’m had been made to a family with many Medrosh Elyon. sorry for having stopped you. You may children, but did not press the matter. One night, two prominent members continue your trip. I did not know who At the end of the lease, Reb Yisroel Chaim of the Kollel, as well as Reb Yisroel the passengers of this car were, and that decided to move to Williamsburg, Chaim, drove to JFK Airport to pay their you were carrying such an important where he felt the accommodations final respects to a friend of Beth personality.” would be more consistent with his fam- Medrosh Elyon who was being taken to Another example of the recognizable ily’s needs. The landlord was absolute- Eretz Yisroel for burial. They were late, greatness of Reb Yisroel Chaim: When ly devastated. How could he lose the and unwittingly exceeded the speed the family reached New York from Japan, privilege of having such a great tzaddik limit. They were stopped by the police they experienced much difficulty in find- living on his premises? To persuade the and the officer turned on his flashlight ing a house to rent. The Rebbetzin was Kaplans to remain in East New York, he to inspect the passengers. He took one delighted to find a flat the in East New offered the family to live in his home a look at the face of Reb Yisroel Chaim York section of Brooklyn. The landlord full year, rent-free.

• • •

Just a few days before he was niftar, I went to visit Reb Yisroel Chaim in the hospital. He was lying in an oxygen tent, as the medical world provided at that time. His entire body was covered so that it was difficult to see what was going on inside the tent. Suddenly I saw through the plastic window that Reb Yisroel Chaim was awake and alert. What was he doing? I was shocked to see tears flow- ing from his eyes. On further exami- nation, I observed that he was holding the Sefer Sha’arei Teshuva – (a mussar classic by Rabbeinu Yona of Gerundi – 13th Century) in his hands. I will never forget how a tzaddik prepares himself to come before his Creator with an open sefer of Sha’arei Teshuva. • To think of the virtues of other people, and achieve Ahavas Yisroel;to have kavana during each beracha in davening,that one’s requests apply to all of Klal Yisroel (as advised by the Sefer Hayira). “Moshe zacha v’zik’a es harrabim. Moshe merited and brought merit to the public.”Reb Yisroel Chaim used to point to this Mishna as a lesson in how to bring zechuyos (merit) to the public. First comes “zacha”– the person must ele- vate and purify himself. Only then can he turn his attention to correct others and do great things for them. • To be careful not to become angry or even feel inner anger; not to speak in words of ga’ava (arrogance); not to praise myself…. To run away from kavod (honor) as far as possible; for “kin’a,

18 The Jewish Observer, January 2004 ta’ava, and kavod – jealousy, lust and love for Israel, Hashem said: “You, for the Mashgiach to quote Rabbeinu honor – remove a person from this world.” Moshe, abandoned all your preoccu- Yona in answering a question of Tosafos • To accustom myself to the midda pations and instead went to investigate (Sota 10). The Gemora tells us that of anivus – humility; to devote at least the pains of Israel, conducting yourself “No’ach lo le’adam…. It is preferable for 10 minutes a day to considering how as a true brother. I, too, will leave over a person to allow himself to be thrown insignificant I am. all proceedings in Heaven and earth, and into a fiery furnace rather than to embar- • To carry the burden of my fellow I will speak to you.” From here we see rass someone in public.”Regarding this Jews; to uproot jealousy from my heart. that the midda of “carrying the load of Chazal, Tosafos ask,“ If that is the case, • When delivering a shiur,I should our fellow Jew” resulted in Moshe’s being why are there only three sins that are not be occupied with trying to be suc- the one who was the mekabeil Torah – ye’hareig ve’al yaavor – for which a per- cessful in the eyes of my listeners. who received the Torah for Klal Yisroel. son must give up his life rather than • I should eat slowly. I will try to find Reb Yisroel Chaim, too, demonstrated transgress them? (The three are giluy ways to do mitzvos of Hashem with an extraordinary feeling and love for his arayos, avoda zara, and shefichas damim hatzne’a leches – in a humble way, for talmidim:A talmid once came into the – prohibited relations, idol worship and that is the preferred way of carrying out Mashgiach’s office, and found his Rebbe murder.) Why don’t Chazal also men- G-d’s will. sobbing and crying uncontrollably. He tion the sin of embarrassing someone • If anyone will insult me – even asked for an explanation, but the Mash- in public (halbanas panim be’rabbim)? deeply – I will not respond in any way. giach refused to explain. After much per- Rabbeinu Yona answers that embar- In many yeshivos in Europe, and even suasion and cajoling, however, Reb rassing someone in public is an integral more so in American yeshivos,some Yisroel Chaim finally agreed to tell what part of the sin of shefichas damim – talmidim failed to understand or appre- had happened on condition that it be bloodshed. ciate what the Mashgiach was saying in kept secret. (After the Mashgiach passed Reb Yisroel Chaim reminded his stu- his shmuessen.This was especially true away,Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled dent of the Chazal that embarrassing with regard to the frequent repetitions that it was permitted to reveal what had someone in public is similar to killing that were so common in the Mussar happened.) him (Bava Metzia 58b).“ Now I ask you, Movement – words were repeated with The background: It was customary if you read in the newspaper that your a special niggun appropriate for specific passages of Torah or Chazal.Conse- quently, some talmidim would miss the shmuess. After seeing these kabbalos,one could more easily understand his con- duct: It was noticed that Reb Yisroel Chaim would skip one or more of the courses that were offered at the meal following his shmuess. Only after the rev- rpx elation of his kabbalos, was it evident that cegh ,uccus he would punish himself for even being makpid (annoyed) at the absence NOW AVAILABLE IN SEFORIM STORES of talmidim from his shmuess.[See final ON THE FOLLOWING ,u,fxn: kaballa, also.] • To carry the burden of my fellow 'tne tcc 'ihaushe 'ihyhd ',ca ',ufrc 'ihkuj Jews (Li’sa b’ohl im chaveiro). ihrsvbx ',uguca 'ohrsb 'tghmn tcc In the very last shmuess that Reb Yis- roel Chaim gave, he mentioned the Each packed with ,ucua,u ,ukta that words in the Torah “Va’yaar besivlosam review the thryu tkea of the trnd in – Moshe saw the pain and anguish of accordance with ,upxu, and hWar his brothers.” Rashi comments,“Nassan written in Hebrew. Volume aynav velibo lihi’yos meitzar alayhem – Discount Moshe set his eyes and heart to be trou- On orders bled over them.” This teachers us that Recommended and used by ohfbjnv hkusd of 5 or more Moshe was nosay be’ol im kol echad miY- isroel.Moshe carried the burden of each as well as ohshnk, and oh,c hkgc for over 20 years. and every Yid.The Midrash tells us that following Moshe’s expression of great For more information please call D. Eisenberg (845) 356-4390 (718) 259-9472

The Jewish Observer, January 2004 19 dear friend had been murdered, would especially serious because one cannot it not shock and dismay you? You would physically repay the gezeila.So how could Digest of Meforshim suffer and become terribly upset. How I possibly awaken you?” yjvkl rtb yjvkl much more so would a person be shat- • To accustom myself to sit in places tered and distraught if he actually saw that are not the most honored; sitting l”xz rijla lavms g”hrhm his friend being murdered by another where honored people sit destroys the Available at Jew! Wouldn’t he be driven to tears? How soul. LEKUTEI then can I help but cry since I witnessed • Should I fail in carrying out any of c/o Yitzchok Rosenberg a murder, a talmid embarrassing some- the above kabbalos,I will accept as pun- 1445 54th Street one in the Beis Midrash a short time ishment to refrain from eating certain Brooklyn, NY 11219-4228 ago!” courses of my meals as teshuva. 718-854-6701 • To concentrate on the problems of Once when learning with Rabbi other people and to actually feel the pain Hershel Waxman, the latter noticed that 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, of others. his Rebbe would raise his head and close Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. A few days before he passed away, one his eyes. Thinking that Reb Yisroel Proceeds of sales distributed among of the talmidim rushed to the Mash- Chaim was having trouble with his Yeshivos and used for reprinting of giach’s chavrusa,Rabbi Waxman, to vision, Reb Hershel arranged for an volumes out-of-print inform him that the Mashgiach was not appointment with an eye doctor. But PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME feeling well. Rabbi Waxman was taken nothing wrong could be found. Once to his Rebbe and found him in pain, with again, only after the revelation of the a terrible complexion. The Mashgiach kabbalos was this enigma solved. Reb Yis- was rushed to the hospital where it was roel Chaim had undertaken not to raise HAT PLUS determined that during the night he had his eyes from the holy Gemora for the suffered a heart attack. Rabbi Waxman first hour of each seder halimud (study Hats • Shirts • Ties • Accessories asked, “Why did you not wake me up session), so as not to be distracted from in the middle of the night? Why did you the holy Torah. Thus, when lifting his Your #1 Stop wait till the morning to report your head, he closed his eyes. Reb Yisroel for pains?” Chaim maintained this practice for Quality Hats Answered Reb Yisroel Chaim,“How many years. could I possibly awaken anybody WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONIM TIES IN because of my difficulties? Just a few day • • • (All work done on premises) BROOKLYN earlier, I had delivered a shmuess on the 1368 Coney Island Avenue seriousness of gezzel sheina (robbing ow is Rabbi Yisroel Chaim (718) 377-5050 someone of his sleep). I had explained Kaplan spending his sojourn in Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS that robbing someone of his sleep is HOlam Habba? The Midrash Tanchuma tells us regarding someone who is rich in Torah, who spread the words of Torah during his life, that even Important Notice though he passes away from this world, he is not dead. His talmidim do not allow e are now finalizing Rav Pinchos Jung, Shlita’s speaking schedule him to sleep, for when they are occu- Wfor the coming year. Rav Jung, Shlita is a dynamic speaker and pied in the Torah, in Talmud – in hala- lecturer on a wide variety of Torah topics from parenting, sholom bayis and chos and aggados – and they mention halachos and shiurim that he had said kiruv to self esteem. A noted author, he is internationally renowned as the here on earth, they do not allow him to spokesman for the Awareness Tefilla project. If you are interested in choice sleep in his kever (grave). It says, dates for your community, organization, shul or school, please contact us to “Doveiv sifsei yesheinim.” The lips of a tzaddik who taught talmidim in this arrange an event, a Yom Iyun Tefilla or an ‘Evening of Inspiration’. world are activated after his death as the talmidim continue his work that was ‘AWARENESS’, POB 753, Monsey, NY 10952 done on this earth. We are confident that 845-426-1999 Ext 106 the remarkable impact of Rabbi Yisroel email: [email protected] Chaim Kaplan on this world will bring beracha and hatzlacha to all, ad bi’yas ‘Countless thousands are having their lives enriched through this program’ Goel Tzidkeinu, Omein. ■

20 The Jewish Observer, January 2004 Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginzberg Simcha… True Joy!

In Search of that Elusive, Evasive and Misapplied Emotion

SPORTS: THE PLUS SIDE obsessed with sports. The obvious was known throughout the world not problem is that it takes them away from only for his sagacity, but for the depth n Rabbinics 101, future rabbis in Torah study and doing chessed. On the of his ahavas Yisroel.He would often training are taught several invaluable flip side, however, we live difficult, high- receive invitations to weddings that he Ilessons for survival in the world of ly pressurized, busy lives, and are in need was unable to attend. Yet on the night the rabbinate. One of those key lessons of distractions. Focusing on the enter- of the simcha, he would dress in his is that one dare not speak his mind about tainment aspect of sports may be cru- Shabbos clothes, prepare a festive meal, overindulgence of sports obsession in the cial for our mental health and and invite others to join him, as he was month of October, especially if the NY well-being. so joyous that in another town, in anoth- Yankees are in any way involved. But sometimes, people do take that er place, a Jewish simcha was taking And so, while there is something that obsession a little too far, resulting in the place at that very moment. I do find somewhat troubling, reflecting misappropriation of time and energy, While returning home in the car, late upon that important timeless lesson learnt which are in such short supply. one night after a simcha,I commented, years ago, I held my tongue (and pen) “How difficult going to all these simchos until the season finished, and the “shiva” TOO BUSY TO THINK OR TO FEEL are (especially trying to keep up with a period for the Yankees was officially over. 5:45 AM daily Daf Yomi schedule).”My “Sports” is really a good thing. After n fact, our lives are so filled with activ- wife, as usual, pointed out the obvious: all, the Midrash Rabba relates that it is ities, that we not only have lost the “Here we are, able to participate in so a special endowment given to Eisav’s Iability to think, we have lost the abil- many Yiddishe simchos (kein yirbu). How progeny in Yitzchak Avinu’s beracha, that ity to feel. We’re so busy with parnassa, can anyone complain about that!” they should enjoy sports so they will be with raising our children, with tuitions, True, how can one complain! But even too busy to devote their days and years with charitable and family obligations, more so, why can’t we genuinely feel true killing each other; and more important, that we just run the marathon of Jew- simcha for others? they will be too preoccupied to go after ish living without taking a pit stop to The answer is, Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe Klal Yisroel.(See Midrash Parshas Vay- catch our bearings. a”jyls writes, that to be able to express ishlach 80, and the Yefei Toar commen- An example is our attitude towards genuine simcha and complete joy is so tary on the Midrash.) simchos.How many of us open our mail difficult in the best of circumstances, and Is it good for us in more direct ways? and respond, “Oh, no, another invita- in the overwhelmingly stress-filled lives A debate has been ongoing since the days tion, another simcha that I have to go that we live, it’s near impossible. How- of Babe Ruth, whether Torah-observant to.” Or hang up the telephone with ever, it is our obligation to try. Jews are too preoccupied or too “Another Shalom Zachor on a Friday And that is my problem. night, another bris on an early Sunday The unabashed emotions of adults Rabbi Ginzberg,founding Rav of Ohr Moshe morning, and a Motza’ei Shabbos for (grown men and women) who were so Torah Institute in Hillcrest, NY, is currently Rav another L’Chayim.” What is happening besimcha at the Yankee victories, and so of the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center of Cedarhurst (Long Island), New York. He is a fre- to us? Why can’t we feel simcha for anoth- morose at their losses, just seem mis- quent contributor to JO, most recently with “Back er person’s simcha? placed. to Normal” (Nov. ’03). The Gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger, l”xz, If Rabbi Wolbe says that to feel real

The Jewish Observer, January 2004 23 joy and euphoria is so difficult, then how Rabbi Gifter, and his talmid imme- The Rebbe responded, “The simcha was can we draw such deep emotions from diately began to say Viduy and Krias missing from your Yom Tov.” a sports game? Shema,followed by Tehillim,while other Even our Simchas Torah celebration I heard the late Telzer Rosh passengers called out to the stewardess has become so much about ritual – Hayeshiva,Rabbi Mordechai Gifter l”xz, for alcohol so they could enjoy the few focusing on the aliyos, the Kiddush, and recall that he was flying with a talmid minutes they had left on this world. the children – that feeling true simcha from Cleveland to NY. There was a prob- It may be acceptable to share the non- and joy for the culmination of the Yom lem with one of the engines on the plane, Jews’ interest in sports (see Midrash, ibid, Tov season seems to pass us by. and the pilot announced to all the pas- and Peleh Yo’etz), but not their passion sengers to prepare for a possible crash for it, as tempting as it may be. A DAY LIKE NO OTHER landing. The Vilna Gaon l”xz explained in his writings that there are four major types n sefarim,we find mention of a truly of yeitzer hara for each and every Jew. unique day, unlike any other day of They are: 1.) Taiva (pleasure), 2.) Chem- Ithe year, called Hoshanna Rabba.The da (desire), 3.) Eiruv Rav (idolatry), and Midrash tells us that Hakadosh Baruch 4.) Hiskarvus bagoyim (being like the Hu said to Avraham Avinu with great other nations). The Gaon adds that the love,“You are a ‘yachid’ (singular) on the fourth yeitzer hara is the most consuming Earth, and I am a ‘Yachid,’ in the world, of all. Even more recently, the late Rosh so I am going to give you a ‘yachid,’ one Hayeshiva of Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, Rabbi special day for forgiveness of your sins, Yitzchak Hutner l”xz, was asked short- and that day is Hoshanna Rabba.” ly before his passing by a group of The commentaries explain this mechanchim, as to what is the overrid- Midrash: the reason this particular day ing yeitzer hara of our current day. He was given to Avraham Avinu was because immediately responded,“To be like the he lived in the twenty first generation from goyim.” Creation, and Hoshanna Rabba is the twenty first day of the month of Tishrei. TIME FOR TRUE JOY But another factor that makes this a truly special day, so significant to Klal he Yom Tov of Succos is called Yisroel, is that it’s the Ushpizin of David Z’man Simchaseinu – Our Season Hamelech.Each day of Sukkos is hon- Tof Joy. This doesn’t mean to ored by a different Ushpizin – one of our crack a smile; it means, to the best of our forebears who visits us in our sukka. ability, to experience true simcha to the David Hamelech is the Ushpizin of very depth of our souls. Hoshanna Rabba. But our Yom Tov observance is so hec- The Zohar says that there is no day tic and busy, from putting up the more opportune for the re-establishment sukka, finding the best lulav and esrog, of Malchus Beis David than Hoshanna preparing the home, etc., that we are just Rabba.It has always been a day of too busy to be be’simcha.This does not extreme joy for Klal Yisroel.It is a day mean that we do not enjoy Yom Tov; when special piyutim and tefillos are said hopefully we all do. What this means is about the greatness and the future of achieving a deep-down, heartfelt joy at Malchus Beis David. the celebration of this majestic Yom Tov. I vividly remember one Hoshanna And this we fail to do. Rabba more than twenty five years ago, dur- One of the Chernobyl Rebbes once ing a year of learning in Eretz Yisroel.My accused one of his most dedicated and loyal chaveirim and I reached a great level of sim- Chassidim of not observing the Yom Tov cha on that Hoshanna Rabba.Following a of Sukkos properly. The Chassid was so dis- night of learning Torah in the holy city of traught that he ran home to re-inspect his Yerushalayim, we all gathered together with lulav and esrog, and then his sukka, and our Rebbeim, and began to dance through could find nothing wrong. He went back to the darkened streets of Yerushalayim to reach the Rebbe and said, “What was it about my the Kosel in time for Vasikin (prayer at day observance of Yom Tov that the Rebbe found break). Together with thousands of other inadequate?” yeshiva students and residents of Yerusha-

24 The Jewish Observer, January 2004 layim, we joined together in our joyous march to feel such joy and simcha for this truly Jonathan Pollard is locked up in a cage to the “srid Beis Mikdasheinu”(remnant special day? Why is it only there for the like an animal for close to two decades? of our Holy Temple). We stopped briefly at Yankees? As I shared my thoughts about Har Tzion where there is a cave marking Hoshanna Rabba with a friend, he the kever (burial place) of David Hamelech WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? underscored the ultimate irony. On this (author’s note: though it is an accepted fact day, we should pray for the return of that it is not really David HaMelech’s kever). nd finally, what about the chil- Malchus Beis David,which comes from Hundreds of Yemenite Jews were spending dren? When our children see that the legacy of David’s great-grand- the night there singing the “Psalms of David,” Aour excitement and true simcha mother, Rus HaMoavis – Ruth, the together with ancient songs about the is not in the Yom Tov,but about a ball Moabite princess. Lehavdil,the Yankees coming of Moshiach ben David.Together game, what message is sent to them? had a “Ruth” of their own. Apparently with these Yemenite Jews, many of whom The afternoon after the Yankees lost some of us feel more connected to Babe we lifted upon our shoulders, Jews from all the World Series, I was passing through Ruth’s legacy than they do to the lega- over the world descended down Har Tzion Central Avenue (in Lawrence). As I cy of our foremother Rus, who merit- to begin with words of Tehillim authored stopped at a local bagel store, I noticed ed being the progenitor of Malchus Beis by David Hamelech,whose Ushpizin was one of my good friends in the commu- David.Maybe that’s why Hoshanna being celebrated that very night. We then nity sitting and having lunch. I Rabba is not as inspiring to us as it should began to daven, and along with perhaps tens approached him and asked if everything be – because we don’t recognize its of thousands of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel, was all right, as I know he’s always to be importance and fail to feel its significance. reached the moment of neitz (sunrise). All found in his downtown Manhattan office If that is so, then we now have a strong of a sudden a thunderous silence was expe- at that time. He replied matter-of-fact- obligation – perhaps we should call it a rienced; I was sure that we could make out ly that he was just too depressed about great opportunity – to work on ourselves the distant sounds of David Hamelech’s harp the Yankees that day to go into the office, and reinforce our connection to the chag- playing to this wonderful “sound.” so he took off a day. gim (festivals) now, during the off-sea- That was Hoshanna Rabba.That was I offered some words of nechama, and son. With several months to spring pure spiritual joy and a true celebration left. As I entered my car, I thought of his training, we can use the time to think of Malchus Beis David.And while not children. What message was sent to the of why our passions for the chaggim are everyone can capture such feelings on children when their father was too lacking, and how we can recapture the Hoshana Rabba each year, it’s important depressed to go to work because of a World Series-like euphoria for the days to understand that for many Yom Tov- baseball game? Did they see their father of true simcha.And if we do, then with- inspired-Yidden, it can be done. too depressed after a bus bombing in out a doubt we will be truly zocheh to Yerushalayim to go to work, or was it just see in our lifetime, the real House that A NIGHT THAT GLOWS ALONE like any other day? How many days did “Rus” built, with the rebuilding of he stay home in depression over the years, Malchus Beis David in Yerushalayim Ir his past Hoshanna Rabba night, knowing that a fellow Jew named Hakodesh. ■ there were many G-d-fearing TJews in New York who experienced great joy; just not for the right reason. It was the night of the “Game of the Year.”It was the seventh game of the play- offs, and the Hashgacha decided, as a nisayon for Torah Jews, that it run late into the special night of Hoshanna Rabba. WEDDINGS & I went with my sons to a beis midrash in Queens to learn for a while, and found BAR MITZVAHS a sparsely filled room. We stopped by FOR Since 1966 another sanctuary and found more of THE FINEST the same – or should I say less? Passing IN by a local kosher restaurant with a huge 623 CORTELYOU ROAD TV screen, we saw a huge crowd loud- PHOTOGRAPHY (Off Ocean Parkway) ly cheering the team. AND VIDEO BROOKLYN NY 11218 While some may not consider this very significant in the big picture, I can’t USA / ISRAEL help but feel sorry for Hoshanna Rabba. (718) 941-5500 Why do so many of us lack the ability

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he Israeli Supreme Court recently prevail today, they may do so in the future. democracy primarily in terms of ends, not heard oral arguments on petitions Majority rule necessitates some basic means, as a set of rights rather than as pro- Tchallenging local ordinances in Beit rights, such as freedom of thought and cedures for preserving majority rule. The Shemesh, Karmiel, and Tiberias, either lim- expression and freedom of the press, but concept of majority rule plays no very large iting the sale of pork to certain designated little else. (The American Bill of Rights, place in his judicial world weltanschau- industrial areas or banning it altogether. it should be recalled, was not part of the ung, and he shows no preference for leg- The case forces the Court to define the original U.S. Constitution, but only islatures over courts as the proper body meaning of Israel as a “Jewish and dem- enacted later in the form of amendments.) to determine the fundamental values of ocratic state.” While almost all democratic states rec- the society. In the course of the arguments, Court ognize rights besides those guaranteeing Thus in the Mealreal case, the Court President Aharon Barak remarked that the the freedom of political speech, those rights struck down an administrative regulation case would be an easy one if Israel were are by no means necessitated by the con- banning the import of non-kosher meat only a “Jewish”state or only a “democratic” cept of majority rule. Certainly “the right to Israel. Israel is not a “theocracy,”wrote state. In other words, the statutes would to eat pork”is not one of those basic rights Justice Barak in his opinion. When the be obviously valid in a Jewish state and without which representative democra- Knesset subsequently passed a law ban- equally obviously invalid in a democrat- cy is inconceivable. ning the import of pork, Justice Barak sar- ic state. castically referred to it as a “law for the That statement is based, however, on The Only Questions That Matter circumvention of the Court.” a faulty understanding of democracy. Rep- Justice Barak seems to view any leg- resentative democracy is first and foremost ccording to the view that democ- islation that has its source in tradition- a system for majority rule through the racy is basically a framework for al religious belief as somehow elected representatives of the citizenry. As Amajority rule, the only questions “theocratic.” But that is ridiculous. In a such, democracy depends primarily on an to be asked regarding a piece of legisla- theocracy, all law is religious law, as inter- agreed upon set of rules that ensure a level tion are: Was it enacted according to the preted by a group of clerics. For better playing field for each group in society. Each agreed upon procedures? and: Does it con- or worse, Israel is in no danger of group must have the travene any superior law? becoming a theocracy. confidence that By that standard, the municipal reg- From the point of view of democratic even if its ulations restricting the sale of pork are theory, it should make no difference views clearly valid. Each of them was enacted whether legislators derive their values do by a duly elected and representative city from the writings of French existen- not council, and pursuant to the authority tialists, or from traditional religious granted municipalities by the Knesset to texts, or from some combination of the regulate the sale of pork products. two. Most people, including legislators, Certainly the statutes are not incon- derive their values from a hodgepodge sistent with democracy. A number of different sources, and few can give of Western European countries, a philosophically coherent defense of for instance, ban shechita.By those values. But that does not mean doing so, they impose hardships that only philosopher-kings can be leg- on Jews and Muslims in the islators (even if the justices of the observance of their religion far Supreme Court think themselves wor- greater than those imposed on thy of the title). would-be pork-eaters in Beit Why should values derived from tra- Shemesh.Yet no one would sug- ditional religious teaching be uniquely sus- gest that these nations are not pect? Does Israel become a theocracy democracies because they out- because it outlaws murder and it is writ- law shechita. Versions of this article appeared in the Hebrew Barak, however, conceives daily Maariv and in the Hebrew weekly Mishpacha.

26 The Jewish Observer, January 2004 ten in the Torah “Do not murder”? ment “It’s wrong because I feel it is wrong” every other Western democracy, and that Justice Barak would treat legislation is not entitled to any preference over the any law whose origins lie in Jewish tra- based on religious values as uniquely sus- statement “It is wrong because G-d says dition and which does not have a ready pect. He mentioned during the oral argu- it is wrong”as a basis for legislation. And parallel in other Western democracies is ment that Sabbath closing laws might be the empirical observation that certain val- ipso facto invalid. valid if enacted for a secular purpose, but ues continue to be maintained even by The aversion to pork, typically referred invalid if based on religious values. those who have abandoned religious faith to only as “davar acheir,” has been one of Thus, Shabbos closing laws in Israel, with does not somehow entitle those values to the defining traits of the Jewish people its large religious population, would be a preferred position. throughout history, and it remained strong suspect in Barak’s eyes, but Sunday clos- If the expanded panel of nine justices even among many whose Jewish observance ing laws designed to promote family strikes down the municipal ordinances in had begun to wane. It would be a strange togetherness unproblematic in secular question – as a panel of three justices result indeed for the Israeli Supreme Sweden. already has – it will in effect have Court to declare that in the “Jewish state,” Or as one Maariv reader noted in a let- declared that the public square in the “Jew- a legislative body can no longer give ter to the editor, the Israeli Supreme Court ish state” must look exactly like that of expression to that historical revulsion. ■ would have less problem with the present ban on the sale of dog meat, designed to prevent household pets from appear- ing as delicacies on the plates of Thai laborers, than with bans on the sale of pork in specific locations.

No Preference to Non-Religious Values

othing in democratic theory renders traditional religious val- Nues an improper basis for legislation. Indeed, much legislation – e.g., the prohibition of murder – is ultimately founded on traditional religious values. True, many people who are not religious oppose murder. But few, if any, can enun- ciate a theory of values to distinguish those traditional religious values that they still accept and those they do not. The state-

Rav Zev Leff, Shlita has worked tirelessly for Klal Yisrael, whether at home on Moshav Matityahu or around the world for more than two decades. Please join us in expressing our Hakaras Hatov. An Evening of Appreciation and Thanks for Rabbi & Rebbetzin Zev Leff, Shlita will be held Sunday evening, the 8th of Adar, 5764, February 29, 2004, at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem. To participate in our Tribute Journal or to make reservations, please contact our Dinner Office at: Telephone:011-972-8-914-4760 Fax: 011-972-8-976-5107 or Email: [email protected]

The Jewish Observer, January 2004 27