SIVAN, 5732 / MAY, 1972 VOLUME Viii, NlJMBER 5 fHE FIFTY CENTS

Is There Shabbos • 1n the Soviet Union? ·

also: An Epitaph For Conservative • Jewish Social Service and Jewish Tradition • Crisis in the Jewish-Israeli Equation THE JEWISH OBSERVER

in this issue ...

Is THERE SHABHOS JN THE SOVIET UNION? Nisson Wolpin . 3

WHAT JS A ... ? Yisroel Spiegel, translated by Miria1n Margoshes ...... 6

JEWISH RELIGIOUS TRADITION AND JEWISH SOCIAL SERVICES, JJaul Weinberger and Dorothy Z. Weinberger ...... 8

A VICTORY CENTENNIAL, Shniuel ,5inger . 13

AN EPITAPH FOR CONSERVATIVE ]UDAISJ\1 16

MY STUDENT, MY TEACHER, Elkanah Schivartz . 22

TILL SHILOH Col\1ES, a poem by Aaron Blech ..... 25

SECOND {_OOKS AT THE JEWISII SCENE

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D Enclosed: $ ...... ~.~ ...... D Series I D Series II MAY, 1972 VOL. VIII, No. 5 D Bill nie: S.... D Series Ill ·~~ NiJron Wolpin Is There Shabbos in the Soviet Union?

When l entered the room, l thought Dr. Silber was inspiration from any stories you might tell. Also, they late for our appointment. The only man present that are curious-is this Jewish awakening in Russia of I did not recognize was a slender, neatly dressed, national.istic origin or does it have religious roots? bearded fellow in his mid-forties, who looked very Give them your assessment." much the typical American mesifta principal. "You want me to put courage in a test tube . .. . Of I had been told that Dr. Yitzchok Silber is a brilliant course, for many there is an eleme11t of nationalism, physicist, who-unbelievably-is also thoroughly versed but I can say that it is surely more than that. in all volumes of the ; who defied Soviet au­ "The first American visitor that l ever met-it was thorities for years, keeping Shabbos while he studied, on a Shabbos Mikeitz-quoted Joseph's query in the taught, and helped prepare the launching of Sputnik l; weekly portion: 'Js your father liying? Do you have who spent years in prison; who immigrated to Israel brothers? Does our Father in heaven still live in your this past February, and was now in America for a hearts? Do you know that you have brothers in Amer­ brief visit. ica?'-So he had asked me. Tell your readers in my The stranger seemed neither the worldly scientist nor name, and on behalf of those l left behind: Yes, we the freshly released fugitive. But after our introduction, still have our Father in heaven. And we know of our and in the course of our three hour discussion, I was brothers in America. ... Tell them!" he repeated, treated to a man throbbing with Yiddishkeit, as un­ grabbing my arm. daunted by Soviet oppression as it was untarnished by American materialism. -References to a passage from Then he tugged at my sleeve, and added, "And tell Jeremiah or Amos or an obscure were backed it to them with warmth. . .." by free-flowing quotations from the original.-He could Dr. Silber then began to rerninisce. His stories dealt not fathom the function of a banquet souvenir with quiet heroism of a personal nature and brazen journal which was lying on the table. ("It runs counter defiance on the part of individuals as well as masses. to everything l was taught about 'Hatzne'a leches­ In total they spelled out a determination on the part and ye shall walk modestly with thy G-d!' ") of the most estranged Russian Jew to find his Jewish "What do you want to know?" he asked me in core, and a will for spiritual survival by all. fluent, r;chly accented . "What shall l tell your The few tales recorded here describe a sampling American readers?" from the constant battle to keep Shabbos. Rather than "They want to hear of a living Yiddishkeit in de­ despair, they signal victory, simply because the battle fiance of an atheistic system. I'm sure they'll draw is being waged.

Shamor: Guard the Shabbos from desecration them aside by playing absent-minded professor. When I knew of a Shabbos inspection in advance, I would bandage my hand the day before, to I gave up my career in physics to teach mathematics appear incapacitated. Then I could be a "good because I found it easier to avoid chillul Shabbos teacher" without writing. Once we had n surprise as a teacher. I must say, that even though schools inspection. The visitor was impressed with my operate six days a week in Russia, never-never!­ lesson and asked me to wtite some notes for him did I compromise the Shabbos. Students always on it. I was in a sweat. I never wrote on Shabbos and did the writing on the chalkboards. I even entered I did not intend to. Nor would I confess my religious my daily -the questions I asked and my evaluation convictions to him. That would have meant sure of the students' responses-on Fridays, in advance. demotion, possible imprisonment. "Of course I I was seldom inaccurate in predicting my students' will," I told him, "but allow me to take care of a ratings. personal matter for a minute." Supervisory inspections were often on Shabbos. I left the classroom and kept on going-out of The district superintendent would sometimes review the door, off the campus, and walked the ten my log and find discrepancies, but I would wave kilometers home.

Tire Jewish Observer I May, 1972 3 I met him again on Monday. "What happened to Mordechai gritted his teeth, "I'm not good with you? J waited over an hour for you!" words. You write it.'' "Oh, yes," J blushed. "J got involved in something "But it's your request. It's not for me to write it. else and forgot. How silly of me." You put it down on paper and I'll countersign." Better to be shamed in this world than in the "No. Please, you write it." \vorld-to-co1ne. "It doesn't make any sense. I can't write your request!" The dialogue continued for thirty minutes, while My wife was a graduate electrical engineer. She the visitor's mood shifted from vexation to exasperation also gave up her career to teach-for Shabbos's to fury. Finally he exploded: " me a pen. I'll sake. As luck would have it, her assignment sheet write it myself!" had a 3 P.M. Friday class. Jn our country, that runs into Shabbos during the winter months. She's far too spontaneous a personality to plot I was doing a term in a prison work camp. The questions in advance and predict student responses. head machinist was also local party secretary. When Consequently her classroom log was blank. Her he checked his new "recruits," he pulled me aside: 1 head-teacher caught wind of it, and reported her ' Zhid?" inefficiency to the supervisor. This was late Friday. "Da." She stayed at the school overnight and all day "What do you need to make life liveable here?" Shahbos. Late in the afternoon, when it was sufficiently I did not hesitate: "Not to work on Shahhos." dark, she "borrowed" the custodian's key ring, and "0.K. See inc later." frantically tried all the keys till she found the one He showed me a fenced-in area. "The job is that fit the cubby where the planbooks were stored. picking up sacks of sawdust and stacking them She pulled hers out, wrote in all she could possibly in the corner. Is it permissablc for you to carry here?" remember from all the classes to date, slipped it This time I hesitated. This was not digging or back in place, and locked the cubby. carrying-merely moving 1nateria1, hut halachically First thing Monday, the head-teacher grabbed her it couldn't be used on Shabbos and was therefore plan hook and showed it to the supervisor. He muktzah. I told him my reservation. He smiled. thun1bcd through the pages. "Very impressive," "Then you'll be my secretary." the supervisor said, "but J don't see what you were co1nplaining about.'' J did not accept his offer for fear of exposing our "understanding." I was able to get a different clerical job, "hiring" substitute labor on Shahhos. Mordechai ;;"y, a simple Jew, managed a huge Again he asked me: "What can I get you to make plant-one of the largest in the country, employing life liveable?"-My wife was permitted to bring me tens of thousands of workers. What could he know parcels of Kosher food that lasted me from visit to of Yiddishkeit? He, his brothers and sisters, even his visit. father, were all factory hands. Shofar, ­ Another time I told him of my need for a machzar thcsc were unknown to him. But his father had for the approaching Rosh Hashona. Books of this taught him three fundamentals: not to work on sort were highly contraband, and found in either Shabbos; to eat only Kosher food; and to give at of our possessions would earn us severe punishment. least a tenth of his earnings to . He The next afternoon at five, he pulled me aside and performed all three most scrupulously. He would slipped a worn mac/izor out from under his shirt. I frequently sell private household possessions to help gasped. But it was Shabbos, and I couldn't rightfully others, and to purchase Kosher meat. Can you take it from his hands. He looked at me with in1agine the financial burden of hosting a Kosher consternation. He was risking position, home~ and dinner at home for a delegation of twenty fron1 family for this favor, and now I wouldn't take Moscow? it from him! Whatever additional J would teach him, he was "When is Shabbos over?" he asked. willing to keep. After J had told him about the laws "In an hour." of family purity, we constructed a secret mikveh "But my shift is over now and my family is waiting!" together. I shrugged sheepishly and he turned and walked Mordechai had put in a requisition to Moscow for away. a new piece of machinery for his plant, and a tean1 An hour later he reappeared and beckoned to me. of inspectors came to review the request-on Shabbos. "Here," he said. "Remember-if you're caught with He delivered an impressive presentation. The it, let them rip your guts out, but don't betray me." chief inspector pulled him aside: "Great job, Mick. When I was freed, my wife offered him a gift Just put it in writing, and I'll see it through." of money. He paled and stonily turned away.

4 The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 "Do you think I need payment for helping a mentioned that the first step every Jewish male must fellow Jew?" take is to ascertain that he is physically Jewish­ Then he faced her again: "One thing you can do. that is, circumcized. "Boris" anxiously asked when My niece is a beautiful girl. She is very popular this could be arranged. among the party officials. Here is her address. Find When I privately told the Minsker of my surprise her a Jewish boy." at "Boris's" willingness, he related an incident regarding a mohel who was engaged by an engineer The stories of quiet gritty heroism were legion but to circumcize his newly born son. After the bris milah they all centered around avoiding Shabbos desecration. was performed, the father called the mohel aside and I asked Dr. Silber. "Did you experience any positive asked if he would also circumcize an adult-the aspects of Shabbos?" baby's father. ... He replied: "The Midrash tells us of two precious Then there were the four literature students who stones. If you lose one-then take double care of the were imprisoned for printing a Russian translation of other one. These gems are the two Shabbos commands: Leon Uris's Exodus without official permission. Once Shamor-the negative warning to guard from doing in their cell, one of the fellows immediately began forbidden. labor; and Zachor: to remember the holiness fashioning a knife out of a spoon handle. When asked of the day. Some of us felt our efforts to keep Shamor what he planned to do with it, he replied, "Circumcize slipping away. So we threw ourselves into Zachar." myself. We're locked up here for being . Let us at least be worthy of the charge." And he used the Zachar: Remember the Day to Keep it Holy "knife" four times. ... l met "Boris" several months later, on the day before my departure from Russia. lt was Shabbos Two times every Shabbos we immersed ourselves Parshas Yisro, and he had come to shul for the fully into the spirit of the day. First, from six to morning prayers. He had just started taking Hebrew eight in the morning, we would get together for lessons and couldn't read yet; so during permissible davening. During the few minutes remaining after intervals, I cued him regarding the proceedings. He Mussaf, we would open a bottle of schnapps for seemed restless, and finally told me he had to leave. Kiddush, nibble some cake, learn a Midrash or two, "Today they will read the Ten Commandments and hopefully wish one another a "Gut Shabbos," from the . If you could stay.... " each calculating to himself how much Shabbos he He stayed, and l explained the Commands to him would salvage from the remaining hours of the day. -dwelling on Shabbos at length. Finally he told Two hours. That was all the time we had for me that he could not remain any longer. His the whole davening-cven on Rosh Hashona, including brother was getting married, and he had to appear shofar. Then, lechayim, a greeting for the day. as a witness. He saw my face cloud for a moment. and we started a count-down to Shalash Seudos. "Is there anything wrong with that?" he asked. An old fellow from Nevaradok used to walk several My father had instructed me to refrain from spelling hours to join us for Mincha and the Third Meal, out Shabbos restrictions too exactly, lest they be and to study A vos with us. Winter days he would construed as the prerequisite warning for mortal arrive when it was almost dark, but no one brought punishment-hasra' ah. up technical matters about the Shabbos day having "We just read of Shabbos in the Torah. Jews do already passed. We would wash, eat some crusty not write on Shabbos." bread and herring, and sing into the night. The "Boris" was in a quandary. "Then I won't write­ Nevaradoker had a tremendous repertoire of but what will my brother say?" Zemiros, and he would sing it through in its entirety "Well, if you happen to show up too late for the every week. registration, I'm sure he'll find another witness." -1 know that the telling of Zachar is not as dramatic as Shamor and our skirmishes with chillul "I can't do that," he blurted out. "My brother Shabbos, but these two sessions every week were was engaged to marry a shikse. r talked him out our me'ein olam habo, our taste of other worlds. of it. The regime is trying to destroy our Jewishness. He mustn't help them. He went along with my Shamor ve'Zachor Bedibur Echod: argument. Now he's marrying a Jewish girl. How Guarding and Remembering at the Same Time can I not be there? What will he make of jt?" "If you must be there, you can tell him your reason. You'll witness the wedding anyway. What ''Boris" is a young historian. I first met him will be if someone else signs the document? It's outside the Moscow shul on Simchas Torah. He only paper." said that he was searching for ways to be Jewish. "Boris" accepted the suggestion, but he couldn't An older fellow from Minsk was with us, and he pull himself away. He sensed that there was more to

The Jewisl1 Observl'T /May, 1972 s 1narrying Jewish than registering with a clerk. will I overstep his willingness to accept, to absorb, "Is there anything else to do?" to consent? But his capacity was limitless. We stepped outside the shul. Again I weighed "Thank G-d my brother is a Jew, his bride is how much to tell him. "It can only be done after a Jew. It will be a Jewish marriage in every respect. Shabbos." "Fine.-Wc'll wait." "It involves assctnbling l,eave out nothing!" ten Jewish men." "That can be done." "-and someone versed in the rituals and laws." "-1'11 find Dr. Silber tugged 1ny sleeve again. "Tell theni our someone. C~ontinue. Tell me everything." Father lives within each and every one of us . ... /_et I hesitated. How much more dare l say? When our brothers know."

Yisroel Spiegel • What lS a Jew ... without his Land? - uiithout his People? - uiithout Torah? A close look at two interviews-one in Spring, 1967, the other in Spring, 1972- which finds a deficiency in the Jewish-Israeli equation. from a column in HAMODEA, translated and adapted by Miriam Margoshes

DURING THE YEARS i1nmcdiately following the estab­ five years after the Six Day War, as l interviewed lishment of Medina! Yisrael, the question of the day academicians and students, and they spoke cri­ was "Who is a Jew?" Today, discussion centers on tically of the Russian aliya, l thought: Those who "What is a Jew?"; in other words, what tnanifests Jew­ so readily would send these olim back to gala ishness, what criteria establish a Jewish norm and 1night be lacking something 1nore than hornes or assure the continued survival of a Jewish people? comforts. Perhaps they are also missing a feeling Purveyors of in its various guises have of belonging to the Jewish Nation." tried desperately to convince themselves that Jewry can exist even without Torah-that is to say, without Ultimately, Miss Cohen sees the basic reason for these twin rejections-of the Land in '67, and of the Jewishness. . . . They would like to believe that a People today-in a failure of Zionist education in the land and a language of their own are enough to pre­ public schools. Elad Peled, Director of the Office of serve the Jews in their essentia1 Jewishness, just as they arc enough to make, say, Englishmen English. Education agrees with her, and so, indeed, do we; it is a fact that in the interviews reported by Miss Cohen, But the secularists have heen bitterly disappointed. They themselves are being forced to admit today that the young people who spoke in a derogatory way about the Russian aliya were from secular schoo1s, land and language are not enough. They are shocked while, by contrast, the students of religious schools that young people arc expressing open resentment of the new Russian aliya-abdicating any interest in and gave it warm support! responsibility for the continued existence of the Jewish Mr. Peled admits, "Since the public schools were nation. established by law, the only place where education in Jn a recent series of articles in Maariv (March moral values has been available is in the [separate] 17-24 ). Gcula Cohen compared interviews she con­ religious school network." To prevent such shameful ducted among high-school and college students five manifestations as young people demanding an end to years ago (before the Six-Day War) and just recently. new aliya because it might deprive them of some of the The problen1 then was a wave of e1nigration from creature comforts, it is necessary to introduce ethical fsrael by the young and educated. Today, it is opposi­ values into the public schools. But this is a very tion among a shnilar group to the resett1ing of Russian difficult task, according to Mr. Peled; because while im1nigrants in Israel: the religious children enter school with a receptiveness "H1 hen I interviett1ed public officials and acade­ to Jewish values, that is by far not the case in the micians before the Six Day War, and they at­ public schools. tempted to defend the yordim (those leaving Israel) Here is a clear indication that denial of religious I thought: Those who so readily abandon Israel training doesn't result simply in non-observance of 1night be lacking something more than employ­ Torah, as might be expected; it jeopardizes one's very n1ent opportunities. Perhaps they are also missing existence as a Jew. In fact if all would follow such a sense of belonging to the homeland. ... Today, a course the very existence of the Jewish nation would

6 The Je1vish Observer I May, 1972 be at stake. The fruit of a secularist education own party who demand separation, in the same breath threatens to be self-obliteration. rages against the Rabbonim and the religious com­ The Problem: Disavowal of Our Treasures munity, blaming them for the current tension-fraught situation-accusing them, of all things, of a lack of THE SECULARISTS ARE PREPARED to admit today that ahavas Yisroel (love for one's fellow Jew)! by turning its back on the treasures of the past. Jewry forfeits its continuity and its future. As Mr. Peled con­ Mrs. Meir refers specifically to the halachic attitude toward giyur (conversion). She complains that we insist tinues, " In the final analysis, Jewish consciousness and belong not only to the religious sector on making giyur complicated and full of tribulations. Of but to the entire nation!" course, giyur to us is not an administrative pro­ No less a figure than Premier Golda Meir has cedure, but a scrupulously delineated in the Torah; and the Torah alone can outline the procedure. surprised her own party by making a similar point. The subject under debate in the Mifleget HaAvoda (Labor But even assuming this were not the case-is everyone who enters a country naturalized immediately, off­ Party) headquarters a few weeks ago was the future relationship between the medina and religion. One handedly, just upon expression of "good-will"? Is this faction wanted to cut the few remaining ties between done anywhere in the world? And should a group them-to allow civil marriages, to cast the state in which has been forced to battle every conceivable threat a totally secular mold. On the other side, old and to survive be the most liberal, in inviting all comers? respected party leaders warned that separation would In the same speech, Mrs. Meir admitted that wide­ mean more than just a separation between the Torah spread fear of mixed marriages in the Russian aliya and lhe State-it would lead to an irreversible break did not materialize. "Probably there are such cases," between Israel, the State, and Israel, the Jewish Nation. she conceded, "but we must conclude that those who "Medinat Yisrael means nothing to me if it does not are involved are not likely to be the ones who want consider itself responsible for the existence of the to come to Israel ..." Nation," Mrs. Meir said. "In such a case it has no If so, what is the point of all the inflammatory lan­ raison d'etre, and every drop of blood shed for it is guage in connection with giyur? wasted." The Measure of Ahavas Yisroel What Kind of Religion? WHAT EXACTLY IS HER YARDSTICK for ahavas Yisroel? IF EVEN THE CHIEF SECULARISTS agree in principle that What is ahavas Yisroel if not an overriding concern separation of religion from the medina is not a viable for the continuity of the Jewish people, which lies, solution to Israel's tensions and problems, the question as all admit, in that strong and permanent commitment remains: What kind of "religion" do Mrs. Meir a11d to true Jewish traditions and Jewish values; in other her anti-separation colleagues have in mind? " What," words, in the provision of an education for T orah and in fact, "is a Jew?" Will a Jewishness whose entire mitzvos? The fact that we support, at great sacrifice of essence is clzillul haKodesh assume responsibility for blood and treasure, a Torah education for tens of the continued existence of the 11ation? Does salvation thousands of children-is that not ahavas Yisroel? lie in the adoption of more empty slogans, more After all, these tens of thousands of children will be discredited experiments, more odd hours of lessons the counterweight to the other hundreds of thousands about Judaism? (Editor's note: Thirteen years ago the who are being educated to divisiveness, alienation, and Mamlachti (public) schools initiated a program of hatred of their own and those with Tocla'a Yehudit, designed to acquaint Israeli children whom they share it! with their religious heritage through classroom lectures It is beginning to seem as though the secularists' and displays of , artifacts of seasonal mitzvos, unceasing battle with the religious community is rooted and so on. The hope was that the students would in disquiet, doubt, and unwillingness to come to terms develop a feeling for their own historical-cultural con­ with the fact that secularism is bankrupt; that it has text. Academically, the results were a boring failure. not succeeded and cannot succeed in raising its young In terms of developing a national-historical awareness, with even a modicum of the Jewish Jove and Jewish the results speak for themselves. ) klentity without which a State of Israel is a farce and Or can we finally agree that there is 110 halfway a delusion. Jewishness; that an upgraded ersatz Yiddishkeit may Just as the secularists admit, in 011e form or another, be a better imitation-but is still nothing but a worth­ that there is no answer to the question "Who is a less mockery; that a thirst for religion can never be Jew?" but that which the Torah gives, so will they quenched with even the finest tooled, man-made article; admit, sooner or later, that there is no other answer that there is no Jew without Torah and without a to " What is a Jew?" A Jew is someone who lives by strong and permanent commitment to the basic content Torah and mitzvos. This is the secret of the continued of Judaism? existence not just of Torah-true Jewry but of Jewry, Yet Mrs. Meir, while fighting the members of her period, as well as of Medinat Yisrael. O

The Jewish Obs,,ner /May, 1972 7 Paul Weinberger and Dorothy Z Weinberger Religious Tradition and Social Services Can One Be Valid Without the Other?

The Secularization of Jewish Social Agencies poverished co-rcligionists.3 Their principal objective was to assimi1ate the newcomers as thoroughly and THE HAS TRADITIO.NALLY SERVED as the quickly as they themselves had gone through the focal point for the three major life activities of the process, not only to help them adjust but also to remove Jew: , correct living, and the doing of the odium of strangeness. good deeds. Jn the United States during the period They did not wish to have these Jews too close from 1820-1880 the functions of the synagogue were to them. These Russians were all right . . . hut gradually decentralized. Many community functions, ... they had to keep their place. All sorts of including philanthropy, became secularized as Reform philanthropic enterprises were undertaken in their Judaism, introduced by the German Jewish immigrants behalf, but in the management of these enter­ of that era, brought not only ritual reform but com­ prises the beneficiaries were given no voice ....i munal reform as well1 Jn the process, the Jewish com­ Understandahly, the Eastern European immigrants re­ munity became less cohesive and the synagogue was sented the spirit in which they were helped, and no Jonger its center.:.! relations between them and their Gennan Jewish German Jews who came to the United States in patrons were strained, at best. increasing numbers during the 1840's and 1850's es­ This latter group of immigrants was much more tablished a range of Jewish social services in this willing to shed its old country ways than has previously country which served a community of 150,000 by the been assu1ned. Those who immigrated to America im­ time of the Civil War. Many of these settlers began mediately after 1880 were less traditional and less as peddlers, and soon wound up as leading pioneer committed to Judaism than their relatives and neigh­ citizens in new comn1unities that sprang up with the bors who came much later. Compromise on religious opening of the West. Others participated in the rapid rituals and practices was widespread among pre-World industrialization which engulfed the United States after War I immigrants. Of the older men who went to the Civil War. These developments created a sizeable work, most succumbed to violations of the Sabbath.'' group of families who attained great wealth in one The secular welfare system of the German-Jewish generation. patrons was soon augmented by secular social services Such families frequently aspired to achieve the secure set up by Eastern European Jews who resented the social position of the "old rich." Following the example patronage and disdain of the former. However, they of their Protestant counterparts, nouveau riche Jews did not question its secular orientation. Social agencies tried to elevate their community standing through seldom looked to the religious tradition or its leaders publicly visible charitable activities. (The traditional for knowledge and guidance. Instead, professional injunction to give anonymously was no longer heeded.) agency leadership increasingly came from graduates Memberships on social agency boards provided com- of schools of social work while community leadership 1nunity exposure and a vehicle for achieving higher was provided by lay boards where Reform Jews gen­ social status for the upwardly mobile newly rich. erally played a major role. When the massive influx of Eastern European Jews The existence of a basically secular Jewish welfare began in the l 880's, an affluent and highly aristocratic establishment was not seriously questioned until about German-Jewish upper class had evolved which was a decade ago when mounting concern with alienation heavily involved in charitable activities. For the earlier from Jewish life made it necessary to reexamine the immigrants, the Eastern European influx was a source role Jewish social agencies were playing in perpetuating of resentment, embarrassment, and worry over what Jewish survival in America.<1 their non-Jewish neighbors would think of their im- The Goals of Jewish Social Services

DR. PAUL WEINBERGER is a professor in the School of Social DESPITE THE ABSENCE of formal religious ties, one Work of San DieRO State University, obvious assumption underlying the existence and con­ DOROTHY z. WEINBERGER is a fonner supervisor of the Home~ tinued support for a network of Jewish social agencies maker Services, Child Welfare Division of the San F"rancisco Department of Social Services. has been and is that they are instruments of the Jewish

8 The JP-wish Obsen·er /May, 1972 community designed to further Jewish survival. This ning to review their programs and goals. The Jewish assumption is open to considerable question. family service agency provides an excellent example Critics have asserted that Jewish-sponsored hospitals of the complications and dilemmas currently besetting are almost totafly devoid of Jewish content or identifi­ secularized Jewish social agencies on the American cation. In the past they provided a Jewish atmosphere scene. and kosher food for sick Jews. This is no longer the A number of Jewish family service agencies in small case. The majority of patients in Jewish-sponsored Jewish communities where relations between Jews and hospitals are non-Jews, Jewish religious symbols are non-Jews are cordial have found to their surprise that absent while Christmas trees abound, and kosher food, they are serving a large percentage of non-Jews. In when requested, has to be purchased from outside some instances the non-Jewish clientele is larger than caterers. the Jewish clientele. This has occurred in communities Jn terms of Jewish content and purpose, many types which also maintain a non-sectarian family service of agencies were found lacking, and a group of critics agency, and has raised questions on the part of the began to press for greater emphasis on Jewish distinc­ United Crusade as to what is the specialized, sectarian tiveness. The Jewish identity of such organizations as function that the Jewish agency is performing. Similar Jewish family service agencies and community centers questions have also been raised by some Jewish welfare has consequently come in for more attention than it federations. Resultant uncertainty about the appro­ has received in the past generation. Fortunately, there priate stance of the Jewish agency toward Judaism is evidence that this process of focusing on the Jewish has led to serious re-examination of policy and nature of such agencies is gathering momentum. function. Many agencies under Jewish auspices have little or The Jewish tradition clearly acknowledges that help no manifest Jewish content and duplicate services to the stranger is an imperative in Jewish life. But the available in the larger community. In essence, most basic principle of the mtizvah is that relatives and Jewish social agencies pursue a dual set of goals. neighbors take precedence over strangers.8 Let us ex­ These include a formal commitment to service of the amine how this imperative can be put into practice in Jewish community together with a frequently increasing a family service agency. volume of service to the non-Jewish community. From a different vantage point, non-Jewish welfare The Dilemma Discovered funds are finding it increasingly difficult to identify the LONG BEACH (CALtFORNlA) J EWISH FAMILY SERVICE religious or ethnic uniqueness which Jewish family affords one example of an agency with a large propor­ service agencies and community centers claim for them­ tion of non-Jewish clients which engaged in a thorough selves. As a result, the utility of mergers with non­ self-study process to try to define its Jewish purpose. sectarian agencies is actively being proposed and In the fall of 1970, two graduate students at the School discussed. These internal and external pressures have of Social Work, San Diego State College, conducted a forced Jewish agencies to reflect on what their distinc­ descriptive survey of cases which received service at tive attributes are, or should be. Long Beach Jewish Family Service between April and September, 1970.9 A total of 189 families were served. Assessing Social Service Priorities Most people had come to the agency requesting help THE CRUCIAL ISSUE in Jewish social services today with problems of parent-child relationships, marital revolves around what should be the appropriate priori­ conflict, personal adjustment, and physical or mental ties for service. Research find ings show that segments illness. Clients were referred primarily by the public of the American Jewish community differ considerably school system (29.6 percent), by family or friends about the importance of various social services to (26.4 percent), or were self-referred (25.6 percent). Jewish communal life.7 The critics of the existing Physicians, psychiatrists, , and attorneys together priority system contend that Jewish social services must provided less than 10 percent of the referrals, and have as their primary goal the maintenance and sur­ other social agencies made 9 percent of the referrals. vival of the American Jewish community. We are When the religious affili ation of the clients was as­ currently faced with an accelerating intermarriage rate, certained, it was found that 45.5 percent were Jewish low birthrates, and limited commitment to Judaism, if and 54.5 percent were not. Analysis of referral sources not downright alienation from Jewish life, of many showed that referrals from the public school system of its potentially most able members. Paradoxically, were primarily of non-Jewish clients. The religion of college education serves as a spur to intermarriage. clients was not considered by this referral source de­ In light of these facts, it is held that services which spite the fact that there is a non-sectarian family agency st-rengthen Jewish identity must receive priority over in Long Beach. The high quality of JFS services may programs which benefit the larger society. have been related to the decision to refer to the The present state of affairs is a challenge for the Jewish agency. Jewish soci al service system, and agencies are begin- The findings on religious affiliation of the client

The Jewis/1 Ol-server / May, 1972 9 caseload provided the basis for study and policy change The conventional at JFS. The board affirmed that Jewish agencies had a preferred commitment to serve the Jewish community, approach is rooted and that non-Jewish clients needed to be alerted to in psychotherapy, the existence of a non-sectarian family service agency existentialism or in their community. Two po1icy changes were made: situation ethics. in relation to the people to be served and in relation to the services to be offered. First, interpretation of In the past decade the reliance on psychoanalysis the function of the agency was made to the public as a model for counseling has been challenged by school system, and to such potential referral sources newer philosophies which are currently in vogue. These as physicians, rabbis, and other professionals who include existentialism and situation ethics. The former were encouraged to refer appropriate cases. Second, reflects a pessimistic view of the future and therefore based on some of the demographic findings in the focuses on self-fulfillment in the here and now while survey, the agency proceeded forthrightly to initiate situation ethics provides a convenient rationalization a range of new services designed for those potential for unrestrained impulse gratification. clients who were underrepresented in the agency's The gist of situation ethics is that a behavior or caseload. This applied particularly to older Jews, to specific act cannot be evaluated in absolute terms as adolescents, and to young married couples. Aggressive right or wrong, but has to be judged in the context of reaching-out services to older clients living in isolated the particular situation in which it occurs. Thus, an circumstances brought much-needed help and support affair between two married people may he justified if it to a group which includes a major segment of the meets the needs of the persons involved. Imbued with Jewish poor in this country. Special programs for such relativistic notions during their schooling, J cwish adolescents, and family life education programs for social workers would have obvious difficulty in coun­ couples were begun. seling clients to adhere to standards of conduct which The new approach yielded relatively rapid tangible are not subject to change as a result of fashion fads in results in changing the religious composition of the the larger society. agency caseload. Implemented in Fall, 1970, the new For many years we have lived with the fiction that policy saw a rise in the proportion of Jewish clients the therapist is non-judgmental, and that the client is who now constitute over 85 percent of the clientele left to make up his own mind on the issues for which served. On a tangible level, the agency modified its he sought help. In fact, it is obvious that the counselor program and policy so that it currently serves the has a point of view which he gets across to the client pressing needs of a predominantly Jewish clientele. through verbal and non-verbal cues. An alienated The remarkable openness of the agency, its director Jewish therapist will unavoidably be instrumental in and board in dealing forthrightly with a situation that "helping" an observant client to shed his religious threatened its viability can serve as a model for other beliefs and practices on the assumption that he is agencies. Some agencies have acted on the questionable freeing him from rituals which inhibit his potential. assumption that if a problem is not examined, it will Another fiction has been that psychological theories go away. It will not go away; instead, the problem can are based on empirical evidence. Numerous examples only get worse. in the social work and related literature document that The issue which requires further attention and has theories of psychology are not rational, scientific thought yet to be addressed centers around the Jewish content systems but rather the secular equivalents of formal of Jewish social services. Are there uniquely Jewish religions. Their elaborate scholarly veneer beclouds the approaches to counseling as there are in the general fact that we are dealing with untested belief systems areas of social justice and personal welfare? which may be helpful to those who have faith in them. Their scientific validity remains to be established. Professional Orientations and Practices Judaism has a clearly enunciated position on ethics, JEWISH SOCIAL WORK AGENCIES have long been guided on morality, and on sensitivity for the needs of others. in their professional activities by a psychoanalytically­ Rather than hiding behind the dubious facade of oriented approach.10 The psychoanalytic method is scientific rationality, as do secular psychological based on the presumed utility of releasing repressed theories, its value system is out in the open. That feelings and inhibited drives. In this manner neurotic value system is at odds with many of the notions that character patterns can be changd, and alterations in have pervaded this country during the last generation. behavior may be achieved through insight into the It does not adhere to excessive permissiveness in child psychodynamic causes of the undesirable behavior. rearing nor to its adult version: untrammeled self­ However, there is considerable research evidence which actualization which can lead to hedonism. Instead, indicates that insight does not necessarily do away Judaism stresses the performance of personal obliga­ with a longstanding behavior patternu tions and of service to others. Happiness is not the ro The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 In the Jewish view, tion. Not only formal credentials but also character qualifications thus become important. Ideally. the the counselor must be a graduate of a school of social work who expects . to model .Tew, repression is practice in a Jewish agency must have a clear Jew~sh encouraged, moral discipline world view and a personal commitment to Jewish is an imperative. survival. A s it happens, ambivalence about being Jew­ ish is a real problem for many Jewish social workers. While schools of social work stress the need for self­ primary goal but is a product of meeting one's awareness, this focus rarely extends to examination of obligations. mixed feelings about being Jewish. When such social workers function as therapists, they provide a role The .lewish View model that can negatively influence the client's Jewish THE TORAH PROVIDES GUIDELINES for every aspect of identity. human conduct. Thus, it also provides a framework for counseling in a Jewish context. The Reform move­ Re-Orienting the A gency System ment not only "reformed" the Jewish mode of worship; MANY NEW AND PRESSING SOCIAL SERVICE needs must it also served to drastically modify the nature of be met. Preferred attention should be given to such Jewish communal life. The secularization of Jewish preventive services as homemakers to keep families social agencies has introduced new professionals who together during a crisis affecting one or bo~h parents, family life education about the full meaning of the carry out tasks which previously had been in t~e Jewish tradition for newly-weds, and counseling: and domain of religious authorities. In the wake of t~1s change-over, the uniquely Jewish approach to social referral services for an increasingly mobile population service was abrogated in favor of the theories and moving to new communities for career reasons. practices of the non-Jewish world. Second thoughts Services for the elderly need to be improved and about this shift in orientation are multiplying. personalized. Many old persons are trapped in bleak and depressing life situations. The current two-genera­ Abraham Amsel, a rabbi and social worker, has tion family does not make adequate allowance for the provided some pertinent clarification about one par­ needs of aged parents, and living arrangements for the ticular Jewish approach to counseling and how it differs elderly are in need of major overhaul. Many fa!11ilies from the theoretical and philosophical notions of most could benefit from the presence of grandparents m the social workers. The Jewish view holds that habitual home. Jn addition, small. cooperative group homes behavior becomes second nature (hergel na'ase teva would provide an attractive alternative to large apart­ sheinee). Thus, in Amsel's view, a Jewish approach to ment complexes for senior citizens. counseling stresses that changes in behavior can occur With the increase in divorces, personal counseling is through repetitive doing, through the imparting of in­ needed for the family members affected. Herc there formation, and through skillfully administered rebuke can be reaching-out by means of case-finding of these or correction without giving the impression that the families. The Jewish children of mixed marriages should counselor is condemning the client. also receive intensive counseling to help them clarify Another Jewish approach in psycho-therapy stresses their identity. probing the kochos hanefesh, which are being per­ For the one-parent family and for families where verted in destructive activities, for rehabilitation and both spouses work, adequate day care and nursery redirection. More wholesome behavior patterns emanate facilities are an urgeot necessity. The appropriate locale from a more positive orientation on the part of the for such programs are day schools, community centers, patient. and . R ecognition of this need, and adequate These, or any other Jewish approach, incorporate federation financing, can fill a gap which is not properly a view of morality and conduct in which such practices covered at present. as adultery and homosexuality are not condoned. In This very limited listing of required social services contrast to psychoanalytically-based therapies, the re­ underlines the unmet need for a new type of Jewishly lease of repressed drives and emotions is not the goal committed social worker, as well as for agencies willing of treatment. The Jewish view actively encourages to re-orient their programs. Professionals now em­ moderate repression of unacceptable impulses. A we11- ployed would require extensive socialization and/ or known in Avos reads: " Who is strong? He re-socialization to further their utility in Jewish settings. who subdues his (evil) inclination."12 While social work education can provide a basis for A Jewish approach to counseling is based on recog­ general agency practice, it does not address itself to nition that the job of counselor is to educate the client the needs for specialized knowled~e requirerl of to a life style based on Jewish values and practices. practitioners engaged in the task of aiding Jewish To accomplish this goal the counselor should be a role survival. model of a Jew and a human being worthy of emula- This omission has been recognized and is eeginning

The Jewish Observer I May, 1972 11 to be addressed by a number of new educational pro­ Conclusion grams. The Hornstein program in Jewish communal THE ,JEWISH RELIGIOUS TRADITION provides both a service at Brandeis University was begun to combine philosophy and a practical methodology for persons professional social work education with a background requiring guidance and counseling. Estrangement fro1n in Judaism and familiarity with contemporary Jewish Judaism is a problem area calling for intervention by life. A 1nore n1odest progran1 along similar lines has Jewish social agencies. In the furtherance of this task, been inaugurated in Southern C~a1ifornia. These pro­ the Jewish social agency system can play an important gran1s approach Judaism from a cultural and/or part by initiating new programs to enhance a sense of Reform perspective. Ultimately they will be found Jewish identity among its clients by exposing them to wanting. An intrinsically Jewish social service program Jewish values and practices. A change in orientation cannot result from grafting assin1ilationist values on will require a shift in federation priorities and the existing structures, hut 1nust be created from a Torah­ re-education of Jewish social workers. true perspective. For several generations, Jewish social agencies have A more promising proposal enrrently being discussed operated without Torah guidance just as generations envisages a joint program between a leading yeshiva of individual Jews have grown up without benefit of and a school of social work. Day school and yeshiva Torah education. Ironically, pressures from the non­ graduates should be advised of career opportunities Jewish society have begun to force Jewish agencies to in the Jewish social service field. Jn this way, an in­ document their religious and ethnic distinctiveness or creasing supply of knowledgeable, positive Jewish social n1erge with their non-sectarian counterparts. In the workers can infuse authentic Jewish perspectives into face of this challenge, Jewish social agencies have the agency system. Finally, there will be some Jewish another opportunity for a rapprochement with their agency employees for whom this change in direction tradition which will allow them to become a vital will not be palatable. They should be encouraged to force for improving the quality of Jewish life in use their skills in less specialized settings. America. D

REFERENCES I. Hern1an D. Stein, "Jewish Social Publication Society of America, 1965), ment of Priorities in Jewish Comm-unity Work in the United States," in I\1orris p. 30. Services," Journal of Jewish Conimunal Fine, ed., An1erican Jewish Year Book 6. Eli Ginzberg, "The Agenda Re­ Service, Winter, 1971. 1956 (New York: American Jewish considered," Journal of Jewish C'omnut­ 8. : Yore Deya: 251. Co1111nittee and Jewish Publication So­ na[ Service (Spring, 1966), pp. 274-82; 9. Candy Fagan and Judith Perry, '"A ciety of America, 1956), p. 12. Paul Weinberger and Eugene Brussell, Descriptive and Exploratory Study of 2. Stuart E. Rosenberg, The Jewish "Religious Leaders' Assessment of Jewish JFS Long Beach," January, 1971. Conununity in Rochester (New York: Social Service Priorities," Journal of 10. Abraham Amsel, Judaism and Columbia lJniversity Press, 1954), pp. Co1nn1unal Service (Winter, 1967), pp. Psychology (New York: Feldheim, 42-47. 184-91; Paul Weinberger, "The Effects 1969); see, also, "Is There a Jewish of Jewish Education," in Morris Fine Psychology?" Jewish Parent (January, 3. Stephen Birmingham, Our Crowd and Milton Himmelfarb, eds., American April, 1970). (New York: 11.arper and Row, 1967), Jewish Year Book 1971 (New York: Jl. See, for example, Henry J. Meyer, p. 249. American Jewish Committee and Jewish Edgar Borgatta and Wyatt Jones, Girls 4. Louis Wirth, The Ghetto (Chicago: Publication Society of America, 1971 ), at Vocational High (New York: Ru8sell The lJniversity of Chicago Press, 1928), pp. 230-49; Abraham Duker, "Changing Sage Foundation, 1965); Hans J. Ey­ p. 183. Values in American Jewish Life," Jewish senck, "The Effects of Psychotherapy: 5. Charles Liebman, "Orthodoxy in Education (Winter, 1970), pp. 13-22. An Evaluation," Journal of Consulting American Jewish Life," in I\1orris Fine 7. Paul Weinberger and Eugene Brus­ Psychology (October, 1952). and 1\1ilton Himn1elfarb, eds., A111erican sell, "Religious Leaders' Assessment of 12. Amsel, "Is There a Jewish Psy­ Jewish Year Book 1965 (New York: Jewish Social Service Priorities," op. cit.; chology?" Jew1:'>h Parent (January, Atnerican Jewish Committee and Jewish Paul Weinberger, "An Empirical Assess- 1970), p. JO. Dagim Fresh Frozen Fish Fillets & Dagim Finest Quality Canned SALMON & TUNA c?t:t ~17.'.l C'i1M7.'.l l:l•~1 • ?l'lit7' ?1t7':l • Jli1'17.'.l? it7:J

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12 The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 Shmuel Singer A Victory Centennial in the Battle for Supremacy Between Orthodoxy and Reform in Hungary The history of the Reform movement and and his students. Rabbi Moshe Sofer believed in fight­ its effect upon our people is well known. The story of ing the Reform openly with everything he had. He its growth and expansion is fully documented, and ade­ considered conciliation or compromise impossible. quate sources exist in most languages, including Eng­ The Chasam Sofer publicly branded the Reformers as lish, for its history to be studied. Indeed, there are modern-day Saducees and Karaites and therefore hala­ very few informed Jews who do not have at the very chically non-Jews. Through his vigorous letter writing least a general knowledge of that era. Quite different and other activities he stopped the spread of Reform is the history of the Reform movement in Hungary. This and almost single-handedly put Reform on the defen­ era has not been sufficiently documented in any lan­ sive in Hungary. This at the time that Reform was guage, and material on it is especially scarce in English. reigning supreme in Germany and crushing all that Yet the story of the Reform in Hungary and the stood in its path. valiant battle the Chasam Sofer (Rabbi Moshe Sofer) Of Decentralization and Money and his talmidim waged against it is one that must be told, for we can learn a great deal from it regarding With the death of the Chasam Sofer in 1839, the the nature of the Reform movement-its sources and threat of Reform became strong once again in Hungary its goals-some of the pitfalls of cooperating with the -especially when the Austrian Empire was decentra­ Refonners, and the various methods used in combating lized in the middle of the nineteenth century. Instead Reform. of directing the entire state, each nationality The Reform movement entered Hungary from Ger­ was granted a certain measure of autonomy. As a many. Hungary at that time belonged to the Austrian result, the Magyars became co-rulers with the Germans Empire and was therefore in the German cutural throughout the whole Empire and supreme in Hungary sphere. Thus any new movement affecting the Jews of itself. The Hungarians followed up their newly acquired Germany was bound eventually to affect those of Hun­ autonomy by introducing a strong Magyarization policy. gary. The first leaders of the Hungarian Reform were All the minorities Jiving in Hungary, such as the Ru­ Aaron Chorin, rabbi of Arad (now in Rumania), and manians, Slovaks, Croats and, of course Jews, were Eliezer Lieberman. Aaron Chorin started out as an to adopt Hungarian culture, speech, and dress. A Orthodox rabbi; indeed, he was somewhat of a talmid uniform Magyar state was to be created. Needless t<' chacham. His defection to Reform began with small say this new official government policy was greeted things, such as justifying the reading of the Torah with j?y by the Reformers an? with corresponding without the traditional musical notes, and became mourning by the Orthodox. Until then the Reformers' progressively worse. Eventually Chorin became a true major goal had been total assimilation; this was now Reformer who publicly profaned Shabbos and ate pork. the goal of the Hungarian government, as well. Eliezer Lieberman started out as Orthodox d([Van of Money was another factor in the resurnence of Re­ the of Hummene. He became the main- editor form in Hungary. The Hungarian Jews had loyally sup­ of the tracts, Or Nogah and Nogah Hatsedek, which ported the Hungarian revolution of 1848, led by the appeared in 1818 justifying all the innovations of the famous Lajos Kossuth in which Hungary had unsuc­ infamous Temple. Lieberman eventually con­ cessfully fought for its independence from . As verted to Christianity. Under these two leaders, aided a punishment, the Austrian government imposed a fine by the cultural drift from Germany, Reform made of two million crowns on the Jewish community of great progress in Hungary. Hungary. Emperor Franz Joseph, who was partial to The obstacle which stopped Reform in Hungary was the Jews, later remitted this fine and promised to give the strong resistance to it put up by the Chasam Sofer the Jews one million crowns back as a gift for their community needs. The Reformers tried to~gain control SHMUF.I. srNGER studies at Be1h Medrosh Yt•slturun of the of this money for their own purposes. They maintained Yeshiva Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, in New Y ork. His that it was absolutely necessary to have a modern "Wanted-JewLrh Historians" appeared in a previous edition rabbinical seminary in Hungary to train new rabbis Of JEWISH OBSERVER. under their leadership. Government approval for this

The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 13 use of the money was eventually secured. The Re­ formers further desired that only graduates of their seminary should be empowered to accept rabbinical posts in Hungary. The rest of the money was to be Rabbi Mashe used to found a "1nodern" Jewish elementary school network in Hungary. Sofer ?"l! The Orthodox rabbis met in an emergency meeting -the Chasam Sofer in Satoraljaujhely (known Jewishly as Ujhel) and re­ ( 1762-1839) solved immediately to send a delegation to the Emperor. The great danger of the Reform plan was apparent to -ivho initiated the all. The seminaries of Paris, Padua, and Breslau had battle against destroyed the rabbonus and kehillos of their respective Reform. countries, and the same was about to happen in Hun­ gary. The delegation consisted of Hungary's leading rabbis: the Ksav Sofer of Pressburg, Menachem Eisen­ stadt of Ungvar, Jeremiah Loew of Ujhel, Isaiah Benet, Meir Perls, Judah Assad and David Deutsch. Franz w Joseph received the delegation cordially and agreed M to their requests. The pJan for a central seminary and school network was rescinded. Meanwhile, an Orthodox office known as Shomre Hadas was established in Buda­ pest to keep an eye on the Reform activities in the /Ifs son, capital. Rabbi Avrohom The Jewish Congress of '68 Shmuel Binyomin On July 30, 1868 the Hungarian government issued 'f"lT a royal decree to call a Jewish Congress. This Congress ( 1815-1872) was to finally bring order out of the tangled, chaotic -the Ksav Sofer­ affairs of the Jewish communities in Hungary. It was carried on his also to ultimately decide how the Imperial gift of one father's struggle to 1nillion crowns was to be spent. These affairs assumed a special urgency after the in a victorious Hungary in 1866. The Jews now had legal civil rights conclusion just and were expected to organize themselves on a nation before passing away. wide basis. The Reformers possessed a powerful ally in Baron Josef Etves who was Minister of Culture. Baron Etves was in charge of the Congress and had consistently sided with the Reformers in previous conflicts. w M On August 5, 1868, all Hungarian mayors were in­ structed to choose Jewish delegations to be sent to the Congress. According to Etves's rules, drawn up to favor the Reformers, rabbis were not supposed to be delegates. Due to strenuous efforts by the Shomre Ha­ das office in Budapest, however, this provision was Emperor repealed. Nevertheless, the government supported the Franz Joseph Reformers all down the line and great electoral frauds of Austro-HMngary occurred. It was thus no surprise when the results (1830-1916) showed 132 Reformers and 88 Orthodox as delegates. After the Congress convened it became apparent was a valuable ally that the Reformers were in control. No tolerance for to the Orthodox the views of the Orthodox minority was shown. The ca1np. Refom majority simply ignored them in appointing officers and giving out committee assignments. After weeks of work, the committees brought a resolution to the floor for the establishment of a rabbinical seminary. The Orthodox vigorously fought this proposal claiming

14 The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 that it was a religious question and thus not within the national kehilla organization. The long fight for legal Congress' jurisdiction. Austritt had finally been won in Hungary. A second resolution was soon introduced stating, "A The Orthodox lost no time in setting up a national Jewish community which is formed must have a shul, organization. A strong, centralized, nation-wide kehilla cemetery, and schools like other schools." To this the was set up with kehilla branches in all Hungarian cities. Orthodox proposed to add the words, "and follow the and Chassidim joined hands in this sacred laws of the Shulchan Aruch." This was naturally unac­ endeavor. The Landeskanzlei, as it was known, had its ceptable to the Reformers. After considerable debate central office in Budapest, the Hungarian capital. The a vote was taken. Not surprisingly it was 132-88 for gedolim (Torah leaders) of Hungary, such as the Ma­ the seminary and against the added words. harani Schick, declared it a religious duty for every After the vote tally was announced, Rav Jeremiah Jew to join the Landeskanzlei. Certain keliillo.1· such as Loew of Ujhel rose to his feet on the Congress floor Ujhel and Szighet were reluctant to ioin the national and called out, "Cursed is the man who remains with organization, but were gradually united with it. Even­ these sinners!" Immediately all 88 Orthodox delegates tually most of the Reformers' children assimilated, walked out, led by the Ksav Sofer and Maharam Schick. and the Orthodox became the over-whelming majority The Reformers greeted their exit with hoots and calls of Hungarian Jewry. By 1915, a government study of of "We will bury the Shulchan Aruch!" the Hungarian kehillos gave the Orthodox 318 large kehillos and 1274 small kehillos while the Reformers The Congress continued its work without the Ortho­ only had J 82 large and 302 small congregations. dox, ending on February 23, 1869 and gave its resolu­ In the period after World War I the Orthodox pre­ tions to the Minister of Culture. Baron Etvcs thereupon ponderance became even stronger. Indeed, the success proclaimed these resolutions as law for all Hun~aria n of the Landeskanzlei can be seen in that most people Jews. The Orthodox Jews knew that they w;re in today have never even heard of the Hungarian Reform great danger. An emergency delegation of rabbis led movement. It quite simply fell apart. The Chasam Sofer by the Ksav Sofer, Jeremiah Loew and Menachcm was truly victorious. [J Eisenstadt was sent to Vienna to see the Emperor. The delegation made a strong impression on Franz Joseph and he promised to help them. "I will not allow your brothers to force you not to keep your Torah," was the Emperor's final word on the subject. Centmmial for Independent Or1hocloxy Despite the Emperor's good will, however. the question was also up to the Hungarian Parliam~nt to decide. Letters from the Chief Rabbis of and France, from Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and Baron Rothschild of Frankfurt, were gathered by the Ortho­ dox to support their position. On , J 870, the Hungarian voted that the Reform laws only apply to Reform Jews. On November 15, 1871, Theodor Pauler, the Hun­ garian Minister for Religion and Enlightenment, recog­ nized Orthodox Jewry as a separate religious group and granted them the right to organize their own

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The Jewis/1 Observer I May, 1972 15 Nisson Wolpin @n

Marshall Sklare, noted sociologist and recently brought this study up-to-date, and professor of American Jewish Studies at his findings-which describe the Conser­ Brandeis University, who has made a ca­ vative Movement as looking exceptionally reer of studying , has es­ healthy, but actually ailing in spirit-give tablished an enviable reputation with his the Orthodox community much to think incisive book: : An about. American Religious Movement. He has

Conservative? - So What! mental ties with their Orthodox childhood, they Jews secure in their Orthodoxy tend to respond with had friends and relatives who had remained Or­ total lack of interest to anything that deals with the thodox.... While conceding Orthodoxy's historic Conservative Judaism. Like , it is contribntion, they were convinced that it had a deviationist philosophy that disregards the Divine run its course. Orthqdoxy, was viewed as a kind source of Torah, and defies the immutability of Torah of moshav z' kanim_:__a home of the age

16 The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 Schools' faculties-and even some Temple pulpits­ hancement of status, expansion of influence, mainten­ are often staffed with Orthodox Yeshiva graduates, ance and increase of numbers. For these valuable gains, who would probably find similar assignments in Reform rabbis and lay leaders have permitted mechitws to establishments repugnant. shrink to the disappearing point; secular oriented boards • The traffic flows in both directions: not only do of Jewish education have been permitted entry where community Jewish day schools enroll a goodly number they do not belong; propagators of bogus Judaism of children from Conservative homes (sometimes sal­ have been granted de facto recognition through Ortho­ vaging Jewish souls, sometimes diluting the school's dox participation in "inter-branch" groups-such as religious atmosphere), but as a result, rabbis of Con­ the Synagogue Council of America and the New York servative congregations often attempt to elbow their Board of Rabbis-under the quixotic assumpti..on that way onto the ruling boards of the schools. the Orthodox would succeed in "containing" the others; · • Conservative''J'-!qaism is striving for equal respec­ politicans in Israel have been silent .on issues· where·. tability with Ortlioooxy in several key areas. Conser­ they should cry out in dissent; and rabbis and teachers vative rabbis are : cfemandi11t~ . clerical legitimacy in have accepted placement where they have qp ~ bu~ness Israel, which would grant them rec"C5gnition as religious preaching and teaching. Many will continue to a~f.etnpt functionaries .in rega.ri:l to marriage, divorces, conver­ to justify "tiny" compromises such as these as W©rth­ sions, and spi.titilal··.Jeadership of communities (see while investments in growth and stability. Conserv'ative quote from Daily' New.i:). It was once assumed that Jewry's simultaneous rise and decline-rise in number the thorny ~6u)d nev~r accept a watered-down and decline in substance-should give all reasonable religion--either a full-strength commitment or a re­ gentlemen who opt for compromise pause for th.ought. jection of equal potencf T~~y , the popular sentiment The Primacy Report has swung toward. . recogn1k!on of the need for a Dr. Sklare's up-dated study indicates that Conser­ religious presen~ .i.n lh-e Land-but a?.. a complemen­ vative Judaism has achieved a primacy of sorts in tary aspect to ·;a· ~secular-. eJ\istence nither than as a dominant fo~c.e .." C.opservati:ve Jud.aism may yet ·prove American and international leaders of Reform more attractive.-J\tJ.d. more workqblc to the average and Conservative Judaism warned Israeli Prime Israeli than an OI'(hOdoxy led by a "moderate" Chief Minister Golda, Meir yesterday that renewed ef­ Rabbi.... forts by the Orthodox rabbinate to "revis~ the law • The Conservatives have become increasingly aware of return [by including the phrase "acc<1,r,ding to that they have missed the boat in holding on to . their flalacha" as applied to new immigrant converts] youth. Afternoon schools and Sunday schools are could discourage further immigration and divide ineffective. Day Schools are almost completely under the world's Jews. Orthodox auspices, so if a child does assume a Jewish They said the proposed change aims to exclude awareness, it would probably be as an Orthodox Jew. from Israel "all converts and their progeny ac­ So the Conservatives are promoting day schools of cepted into the Jewish people by Reform and their own with increasing vigor; thus far they claim to Conservative rabbis and even by Orthodox rabbis have 41 in America. whose credentials are not recognized by the lsrneli As Federations are expressing more willingness to chief rabbinate . . .. fund day-school education, the Conservative day New York DAILY NEWS, May 10, '72 ~chool will not only compete for the education dollar, "In theory, it is difficult to conceive of such a it can corner the education-grant by alleging to provide school program . ... But in practice, there are across-the-line community-wide representation in its practically no problems. The yarmulkes are there, programs, and thus be more "deserving" of com­ but there is no coercion to wear them. A visiting munity funds, while the Orthodox will still be accused Reform rabbi does not wear the kippa; many of of being limited and factional. As an example of the the other teachers do. The meals are kosher, but lack of definition the Conservatives will accommodate we do not teach the kids that their parents are Conservative Rabbi Howard Singer of West Hartford'. sinners if they do not observe . The sanc­ Connecticut, is promoting a Liberal Day Scho.ol that tity of the Sabbath is taught, but we do not is almost non-sectarian in its fluidity (sec box). Two teach the kids that their dad sins if he feels that such schools already exist in West Hartford and in he must put in some hours on a Saturday. Laurelton, N. Y. "Let the learned scholars at the Jewish Theolo­ • Perhaps of greatest importance, Conservative Ju­ gical Seminary and Hebrew Union College argue daism must be examined as a case study in reluctant about the differences between Conservative and compromise based on holy motives. Jn Orthodox Jewish Reform; there are just not enough differences to life there is scarcely an area that is not subject to make much dif/erence to our kids." pressure to adopt a more tenable or flexible position Rabbi Howard Singer, quoted in the St. Louis .JEWISH l.IGHT, March '72. for most worthwhile rewards: unity, financial aid, en-

The Jewish Obse1 i•er /May, 1972 17 America: Although he has no figures on the New York tiplied in number, size, and fundamentalism; the area, which he recognizes as a stronghold of Orthodoxy, Orthodox rabbis became ever more intransigent; he has compiled data on New England and the Mid­ the influence excerised by Orthodoxy in Israel West, and in these areas more Jews allegedly consider hcc:ame dearc!r. . . • Even Hassidism was trans· themselves Conservative than either Orthodox or Re­ forme

18 The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 a renewal of obser,·ance, has proven to be young American Jew of the 50's could most easily illusory ••• identify with Conservative Judaism, they are no "This can he demonstrated in almost every a1·ea longer confident that their formula has that appeal. of Jewi!,;h ohservance. Sabbath observance is a '"lnasinuch as Conservatism assuines so1ne con· case in point ... rising prosperity of Conservativt~ tinuity with the East European past ••. and some .Jews .•. increased popularity of the five-day-work· familiarity witJ1 genera11y, it has week ..• the suburban Jews' life style •.. [which] been deeply affected ••. hy Jewish tleculturation. stresstid tlte lmiJding of a meaningful pattern of ... Without its older foundation of Jewish culture idcntitv for one's children •.. and the IH'l~(l for on which to build •.. Conservatism finds itself sm·ct!a~e from tl1e increasingly hectic pace of life pla<:e(I under the uneomfortah1e neceRsity of win­ appeared to offer new justification for Judaism's ning adherents to its cause, aml having lo nera­ Yom Tov package tours, embarking: tion; while 41 % of tlw first gcmeration maintain June 20 July 4 July 18 August 1 August 15; two sets of dishes, only 20% of tlw third genera­ tion tlo so ... if anything, the fovel of ohservancc ROSH HASHONA: Sept. 5; SUCCOS: Sept. 19 in Providence tends to he higher than among For more information, call or write: Conse1·vative Jews in the nation-at-large .••" AGUDATH ISRAEL TRAVEL DEPT. The Future to Whom? 5 Be

T/1e Jewish Observer I May, 1972 19 attendance at classes, and the implications of an F~nglish-language presentation of 'Hair.' ••. What· 10 YEARS ever the case, the movement decided not to open (FOUNDED IN 196 J ) Palmer in 1971." ' That is, another Conservative problem is: "It is rooted in an older American l\.fifldle-class SWISS BETH JACOB SEMINARY culture which is currently out-of-favor with a sig­ Offers your daughter a thorough Jewish nificant segment of Conservativt~ youth.... " education and character-development More Than Fraud in a friendly, stimulating atmosphere. Dr. Sklare has held up Conservative Judaism for Director: RAV J. EHRENTREU examination, and it has proved an object lesson in the BRUCHSTR. 47 inevitable eroding effects of religious compromise. More 6000 LUZERN I SWITZERLAND than self-deception and religious corosion, however, Conservative Judaism has wrought irreparable damage to the integrity of the Jewish nation with the advent of conversions under Conservative auspices and the entry of Conservative rabbis into the sensitive arena of gittin (administering divorces), These determine entry into Jewry as well as the purity of Jewish perpetu­ ation. Through their "innovative'' or "liberalized" ad­ ministration by Rabbis who either lack the halachic background or are not fastidious in performing these ritua1s properly, a shadow comn1unity is emerging. consisting of non-Jewish "converts" and "married" couples still bound by previous marriages. Children of such unions are either non-Jewish or mamzerhn, and are halachica1ly ineligible to inter­ marry with other Jews .... In addition to creating these tragic situations, the c:onservatives officially sanction marriages between Cohanim and divorcees--in bJatant violation of the Torah's explicit prohibition-----creating further havoc in the sacred progression of Jewry from one generation to the next. The guilt of those respon­ sibile for such practices goes beyond fraud to the subversion of Netzach Yisroel-the Eternity of Israel. The Swiss Beth Jacob Seminary, in its tenth Although Dr. Sklare's analysis only examines Con­ successful year, is under the supervision of servatism by its own criteria, our view as Orthodox RAV J. EHRENTREU and a qualified staff. As Jews must take this phenomenon into account with a supplement to the thorough education in all its implications-both as an assessment of what Limudai Kodesh, foreign languages, typing c:onservatism is and where compromise under any and sewing courses are offered. After a tested banner may lead. curriculum in the two year course, the grad­ In summary, a Jewish movement in religion attempt­ uates are qualified for educational activities ing to insure Jewish continuity by actually breaking in schools and youth movements. with tradition and defying halacha may have moments of apparent success. Ultimate1y, however, it is doomed This international Seminary, with dormitory to failure, even by its own terms, and can have facilities, is situated in one of the most beau­ damaging ramifications beyond the confines of distort­ tiful areas of Switzerland and offers many ing the permissible and the forbidden. opportunities for sports and outings, Students Conservative Jews who read these lines are either of different countries finish this course in a already aware of the Conservative plight or will con­ peaceful and harmonious Jewish atmosphere. tinue to ignore it. It is the rest of us, who may become Special attention is given to individual momentarily blinded by the brilliant appeal of ap­ development in character and studies. parent advantages of accomn1odation and compromise, who must guide our judgment with the inherent failures For further information and brochure, of Conservative Judaisn1-or any other movement that please contact RAV J. EHRENTREU tramples on Judaism in the name of its perpetuation. Bruchstr. 47, 6000 Luzern/Switzerland []

20 The Jewish Observer/ A1ay, 1972 SMOKING

DOES HALACHA SANCTION IT? Are you over-tolerant al your friends? - your associates? - yourself? Consider: • U.S. Federal law requires the printing of a warning on every pack of cigrarettes despite protests from the powerful tobacco lobby: "Warning: the Surgeon General has determined that cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health.'' • An overwhelming majority of medical groups discourage smoking as a health hazard: AMA, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American T.B. Association. • The life expectancy of the average smoker is 8.3 years less than his non-smoking counterpart: • Such mitzvos as Shabbos, Kashrus, and the Yorn Kippur fast are suspended in a situation where life is threatened. • Except in time of Sh mad (forcible conversions) violating all sins except the three cardinal sins becomes secondary to the preservation of life. • The halacha recognizes the judgment of physicians - non-Jewish as well as Jewish - as to what constitutes a damage to health (Orach Chayim, 618). • Leading Torah authorities have condemned smoking as contrary to Torah practices.

The Rishon L', Chief Rabbi of Israel, RABBI iii:i: i;ii~W ' T~ivil iTY'7N , ,,, ;i::i::i? YITZCHOK NISSIM commented : " If cigarette my:i 'rl?:l'i' m,,,,,c l,w,y:iw i'Tlil l'.lY:l i:::in::i~ .nny vi 1:l'lt'il7 'l"lY).il ni :ni~il miioii '.l!:ll:li smoking shows certain damage to health, then it ni'il'Oil n':i,:in ?iv il!.ruy;i nNi ii~N:l:l nN 'ni::iyn is prohibited by (the Biblical passage) 'You shall 'n:it?~m ?NilV' n?tv~l:l:i .l"liN:'i:in iw':i ' 'N nn?TVw guard your lives' (Oeut. 4, 15 ) ; even were there ?11!J'U)7 7y 0). i1ii"ITNil l"lC!J1il l"lN :l" n? 7iv'lll' W P~!J:l .?N:iW'::l 111',).'Cil to be doubt regarding the damaging properties of i'lJ mim:i ciil n,,,,,,c;i TWl'Y cN: .J'J>7il c:i:y? smoking- those who observe the Torah and mitzvos cnil:lWJi,, c 'w~ Nin iioN 1iW' Yil , ,il riiN' i:l':i 'i~iw 7y - 1::17::1 j;'!JO i1).::l Niil i'TJil ON: ."C::l'tli!V!J.l7 should be stringent and abstain because of this .j;'!JOil T ~ ,7iw' Yil l~ il:lllJ'il':ii ,,~nn ':i mm~i n.,in doubt." D'OJ il n~' .:ii ii::i::i::i

COULD ONE NOT SAY THAT SOFEK D'OREISA LECHUMRAH APPLIES HERE?

Paid advertisement, by PHYSICIANS FOR TORAH OBSERVANCE Leonard Zuc:kerman, M.D. Chairman Samuel Tarter, M.D. Sec:'y For more information write: PHYSICIANS FOR TORAH OBSERVANCE Box 18 / Jewish Observer / 5 Beekman Street / New York, N. Y. 10038

T he Jewish Obsnver / May, 1972 21 My Student, My Teacher a story by Elkanah Schwartz

getting free from me what he'd have to pay for from At first I thought it rude someone else. of Mr. Goldin to impose upon me. But I subsequently My father had overheard the conversation and hadn't came to rather like the idea. said a word, but he could read my mind. Later he His son Zev had just transferred to a new yeshiva said: "Why not? It's good for you. If you weren't high school in his third year, and was assigned to making a living, they'd pay you. This way you Rabbi Stollinski's class. Respected by his students, should be happy you're not paying for the opportunity." the Rebbe demanded a lot from them and got it. Zev, So I decided to accept. Not being paid had an however, was afraid of falling behind. advantage: I could make any schedule I wanted and Mr. Goldin did what a good father should do-but I could pull out any time I chose. what not enough fathers actually do: he went one Sunday morning to discuss the situation with Rabbi I met Zev at the agreed Stollinski, who said that with a bit of assistance Zev hour. We were to study a difficult section of Baba would come through. Not additional instruction, he Kamma I had never studied before. My lack of pointed out carefully, and not a substitution for the familiarity with the Gen1ora made him concentrate class. But if Zev would know that after class he could more-not only couldn't he fall back on me, but to review the studies-if only for a few minutes-it would teach me he had to know it better himself. give him the ability to go on. The project proved a blessing to me. Sometimes I'd Mr. Goldin was interested in following through, be sitting at work in a dismal bar or a cramped office except he wasn't sure how. He is intelligent enough in a dark loft, going over someone's sloppy ledgers and and had studied as a child, but a war in Europe and asking myself if this was what I was born to. Then a depression in America got in his way. Rabhi Stol­ I'd remind myself of my session with Zev and I'd feel linski suggested an older student, and quoted the going that I'm good for something worthwhile. I even reached rate for private tutoring. While Mr. Goldin is not a the point where I could recommend a siinilar arrange­ stin.gy n1an, neither is he wealthy, and he said he'd ment to my friends-that they shouldn't wait to be think it over. So the following Shabbos in shul he approached but should look for it themselves, although approached me, and after a few pleasantries asked: all they did was nod in agreement-and nothing more. "If you're not busy Shabbos afternoons maybe you From the Goldins' side, it was a double blessing. can spare an hour to learn with Zev?" Every few weeks Mr. Goldin would visit Rabbi Stol­ Should I have said "Yes?" It wouldn't have been linski, and his favorable reports encouraged me in the truth. "No?" It wouldn't have been nice. So I said: knowing I had a hand in helping a young Jewish "Let me think it over." fellow get along in the most important thing in bis "Certainly," he said, Htherc's no rush." The look life. He was no powerhouse, which was good. I was in his eyes told me he was hoping I'd be available. out of yeshiva long enough to know that many power­ I certainly had no objections to learning. Double houses lost their steam soon after they left yeshiva. certainly, I had no objections to teaching anyone­ What was important was that Zev was consistent, cven for free. And I thankfully didn't need the money. pacing himself accordingly. He told me more than I was an accountant for six month already, with a once how his session with me, and the thought of it B.A. on my wall, going two nights a week for my all week, was often the extra push that got him over masters in business administration; and I was working many a hurdle. for a C.P.A. so that after three years I c•mld qualify for the State exam .... I had gone to college at night while in yeshiva, and after graduation stopped for two Our time together was years till I got semicha-my folks wanted to say their almost entirely for studying. After all, about what son is a rabbi even though he doesn't practice. Now I could I shmooz with him? There was an eight-year felt good that someone could still think of me as gap between us. We each had different circles of friends being able to understand a blatt Gemora. What both­ and different interests. Be that as it may, I often found ered me was the thought that Mr. Goldin would be myself asking a lot from him, and through his answers reliving some pleasant hours of my earlier years. ELKANAH SCHWARTZ is associate edi1or of Jewish Life, and is The life he was leading was the same as I had Ied­ Director of Conununal Relations of the Union of Orthodox and would still want to lead, except that accountants Jewish Congregations of An1erica. His American Life: Shtetl Style was published by Jonathan David & Co. who wanted to earn their salaries had to adapt them-

22 The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 selves accordingly. There's a wholesomeness about the the bookcase, the hat was returned to its hook, the way yeshiva students act toward one another which jackets were removed, and all returned to their study. is often out of place with non-yeshiva people. especially When Zev was relating this incident he expressed a in business. Contrary to the "other world's" principle sensitivity for this man or boy whom he had never of mind-your-own-business there is no such thing as met, and he felt gratified that he at least had a non-involvement for a yeshiva student. When some­ chance to try to help him. As I agreed with him, thing .ioyous happened to one of us, everyone was somehing funny happened. Don't forget I'm an ac­ happy. When something unfortunate befell someone, countant and my reflexes behave accordingly. . . . I everyone else cried along. And now Zev was going couldn't help but picture deducting medical expenses through the same thing. I was able to observe two from the tax reports. me's-the one from yeshiva eight years before. and the one from the ledgers now. I saw that attitudes L ere are many things a developed in yeshiva did not always fully survive fellow learns in yeshiva that he doesn't come to ap­ outside, but I was happy for their cultivation so at preciate until sometime later, when he misses them. least a person could know their taste. For example, when Zev was promoted to the Beis I once asked Zev how things were coming along, flamedrash, he complained that the combination of and he gave the traditional non-committal yeshiva.she noise and smoke that filled the room was too much. answer-"Boruch Hayhem." I asked for particulars and J recalled how difficult my own experience had been: he related th.is incident: . l had been used to the public library where I wasn't Rabbi Stollinski began the Tuesday morning session allowed to whisper, while here I had to shout to make that week with a brief announcement that the learning myself beard. The next time I entered the library, I was to be dedicated to Aryeh Chaim ben Leah who was shouted from habit, until the librarian shushed me. unfortunately ill, and for whose recovery they should The Beis Hamedrash hum had been music to my ears, offer their study. Zev said the study that morning like a cash register to a retail merchant. (There I go was with greater zeal and seriousness-with less accounting again!) horsing around than usual. Now none of the students Zev had told me that he noticed that the Rosh knew who Aryeh Chaim ben Leah was, and none Yeshiva stood up front, near the A ron Kodesh, but would ever know how their study was of help. But since not next to it. A chair and a lectern, both of which they were in a position to be of help, even to a no one ever used, stood in between. Later Zev found stranger, it was with that thought in mind that they out why. The 's father, the founder of studied. There was no such thing as non-involvement. the school, used to si t on that chair and use that The next morning, Rabbi Stollinski again asked that lectern until he passed away. Ever since, they were they bear in mind that their study be dedicated to left in place, an eternal respect by the living for the Aryeh Chaim ben Leah, for whom it is hoped the dead-not in a cemetery where people seldom go, but Almighty would send a refuah sheleimah. Again the in the middle of a live, action-packed yeshiva. Zev students began in earnest, but since it was no longer never knew him, but couldn't help but share the respect a novelty, there was a bit of horseplay, though less given a man already gone. than usual. At best, boys-no matter who or where­ This made me think of a certain client's office. The will still be boys. manager of twenty years renovated his room, and his About an hour later, the principal entered the happiness was a delight to behold. Shortly after that, room as be did at least once a day. The first time that be suddenly died. A week or so later, I was up in that he entered each day, all the students rose in respect, office and found the assistant manager, for the past as they did for every visitor. This day, they read a five years, sitting in that same chair at that same gloomy look on his face as he whispered a few words to Rabbi Stollinski, who quickly announced that everyone should take a Tehillim from the bookcase. SCHECHTER & HIRSCH'S "Chapter 121," he announced, as he donned his hat and turned to face the wa11 with the "MiV'ach" sign. Those who had earlier removed their jackets now put ·:~·lla7i88£11~·@ ~· them on as the wailing voice of their teacher began ENTlllE OCEANFllOHT llOCK - 371h " 311h St. MIAMI BEACH the responsive reading for the Shir Hama'alos. And ... is a GREAT Kosher Hotel - you'll love it! with the ebbing of the last echoes they heard the • DfAl For Reservations Speak to whispered recitation: "Mi shebayrach . . . es hacholeh MIAMI SAM SCHECHTER FREE PARKING Aryeh Chaim ben Leah ..." and they responded with BEACH 800 - 327- 8165 PRIVATE POOL a heartfelt "Omein!" The way they answered, Zev FREE! Or Cati N .Y.' Off: PL 7-4238 SANO~N~EACH remarked, even a sleeping angel would have been Evenings & Sunday FA 7-1742 stirred into action. The Tehillim'!ech were returned to

The Jewish Observer / May, 1972 23 desk in that same renovated room that just days before burst into a grand wedding dance and the boys had been occupied by a man who now was dead. The stampeded down the aisle to escort the new couple to new man must have understood what was in our their private chambers. I told Zev how I used to race minds, because he told us that the firm was having a a friend until he got married, when he got too fat to portrait made of the deceased to hang on the wall race .... Zev said that it was new to him to see the near the rcpectionist's desk. Then he got down to men and women seated separately at the n1ea1. business, appearing quite pleased with where he was He completed his report with a description of a sitting. Sheva Brachos celebration in the yeshiva a few nights later. He couldn't get over having participated in the Zev also told me of his celebration for a couple of people whom he hardly first visit to a yeshiva wedding. With a dozen other knew, but with whom he now felt a strong kinship. fellows he went by subway in response to an invitation Jn fact, the intensity of eating and drinking and singing posted on the bulletin board with the inscribed mes­ and dancing, and hearing remarks about the attributes sage: "All the bnei yeshivah are invited to participate of the groom (to make his bride feel good) kept him in the festivity of the chuppah." None of these fellows up that night because his emotions were straining from knew the chossan too well, but that was irrelevant. having grown up so quickly in such a brief three hours. The invitation had to be honored. As he was detailing this adventure, I envied bis He went on to describe what was to him a first thrill. By now I was feeling that nnlcss a wedding experience, but what to me was second nature: 1~he was of son1eone c1ose, the music and the chicken were special reception for the chossan, whereunto all the always the same. The more I earned, the more of a personages would come upon arrival and where the gift I had to deliver. I didn't begrudge it, except that fellows would whip themselves into a dancing frenzy, I sometimes wound up giving an expensive gift I wasn't as a preview of things to come .... Then at the right interested in giving, to a couple that didn't need it. moment the groom would rise and march to place the Occasionally, a client would invite me to a wedding, veil over the face of the bride, only he wouldn't be and I'd stay around long enough to keep up appear­ 1narching alone: dancing in front, 1noving backwards ances and leave a nice gift, which would give me an were the boys accompanied by the band .... At the opportunity to compare notes. Often, when I left such ceremony the ladies sat on one side of the aisle and an event, I was one of the few still sober. I ate little the gentlemen on the other. Zev was so impressed by it and drank not at all. With the frantic antics that stop all that he remained dormantly still during the ccre- barely long enough for the ceremony and its endless 1nony, unaware of the unwelco111c whispering surround­ procession of bidesmaids, ushers, maids of honor, best ing him. And if baseball fans keep scorecards of ball­ man, flower girls, page boys, cantor and sometimes games, yeshiva boys keep them on who gets which choir, and, of course, a fat soprano singing "I Love honor at wedding ceremonies. Often a wedding was You Truly," it was easy to overlook the stars of the rated according to which great rabbis participated in event-the bride and groom. There were formal dif­ the ceremony. . . . The moment the groom put his ferences besides the religious ones between a chuppah foot down-literally-and smashed the glass, the band as we know it and a ceremony as others do.

BURIAL IN ERETZ ISRAEL So from my student whom I was to be teaching I was learning much, through Chevra Kadisha -Ashkenazim his reminding me of the values I had long taken for granted, but was now beginning to forget. . . . We OF parted company when he graduated from high school Founded 5616 (1856) and transferred to an out-of-town yeshiva. We still sec each other twice a year, when he comes PINCUS MANDEL, sole representative in for Pesach and for in the summer. Over 21 years experience On Seder nights, when we meet in shul, his father interment in all parts of Eretz Yisrael jokingly complains that I taught Zev too well, for now the boy refuses to go to college. In the joke I see some remorse, but how can a Jewish father seriously 175 LEE AVENUE, BROOKLYN, N. Y. 11211 complain that his son is learning too much?-And Day and Nite Phone 855-5121 when Zev comes in during the summer, he looks me A dedicated, dependable, expeditious service up at whichever bungalow colony I'm staying. I n1ust say, his every visit gives me a newer sense Agudah Member-over 42 years. Charter Member, Brownsville Branch of achievement. And to think how, at first, I had almost turned him down! D

24 The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 Till Shiloh Comes Aaron Blech We can scarcely discern it. Advancing, advancing, its journey now ended­ Yes, yes-there it is! would it hut be. Come just a bit higher to where the cliff juts out The markets are empty. The fields lie fa llow. Sweet into the sea. blossoms sprout, only to w;ther on the vine. Look, bend, stretch, dream, search beyond the The vessel's beacon shines by night and day, shores- whetting our hunger for its precious cargo. Now you can see it. Doubters lie in l1:ait, attem['ting to extinguish our Slowly it weaves through the fog, closer, closer­ hope, and they succeed in thinning out our oh, how close it sometimes seems. ranks. Those who stood here before us had seen it There have even been those who contended that approaching, but never yet has it landed. the vessel has already f.'Jnded, that our cravings So stately does it ride the waves-rising, falling­ have amply been fulfilled. barely staying in sight. But, alas, the markets are yet empty, the children so lean. Times past, when clouds descended, blocking the They wish then, to draw us to the decrepit shops, view, to the withering fields, to sell us their inferior The vision was so far and distant, if visible at all, wares. That there were those who claimed that there was We must then beware not to empty our purses, no vessel at sea- before the ship has arrived. Just a memory, or a comforting tale, at best. Lest we stand empty-handed with no coins left But my father had seen it and his father before him, for buying. for they stood where I do now, on a peak above the clouds. When shall it land? Alas for those who remain in the low-lands Where will its port be? complaining they cannot see over the That nourishing ship seems only to seek some sign mountain. of inhabitants, some remnant of humanity. Would they but climb and stand with us above So come up beside us and stand on this cliff, where the clouds! the view is clear and no cloud intervenes. Yes, now we see it, as it battles with the raging So the captain may spot us, marooned as we are. sea, floating deep ... how laden with nourish­ Advancing, advancing its journey now ended­ ment we know it will be. would it but be. For the markets are empty and the children are AARON m .ECH studies at Beth Medrosh Gevolw. of Lakewood, New Jersey. so lean.

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26 The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 Assured second looks KASHRUTH When_One Look QUALITY is Sufficient VARIETY The Second Looks columns in when you ask for The Jewish Observer are devoted to taking the reader beyond the obvi­ ous-by calling attention to a little known item; relating today's news with yesterday's and tomorrow's; or venturing beyond the stated to the intended. Glatt Kosher Occasionally a news item as it appears speaks for itself and needs :·:.::~ ...- , ;;'· .- c_;_~_.., Airline Meals no elaboration - providing you've ·,-:,.- ._,.... .; .,.,. ··· ·~· c:s wherever you travel by air on heard of (Refonn) Rabbi Sally: major national and international Fine Reproductions of Originals airlines. INSISTON SCHREI BER'S • Suitable for fram ing • and be SU R E. . . . D'elicious STRICTLY KOSHER Breakfasts, CONSERVATISM STEALS A In clear black f:r white. Lunches, Dinners, Snacks. MARCH 9" x 12"; $2.50 Postpaid. Specify number when ordering. The Conservative Theological P.O.B. 725, Huntington Village Serninary of A merica has gone Huntington , Long Island, N. Y. 11743 R eform one better as it has added a woman as a Talmudic I nsfructor to Heart of Boro Park Schreiber its faculty. She is Judith Hauptm an, 6 ~ LARGE ROOMS DOCTOR Ai rl ine Caterers. Inc., 9024 Foster Ave .. Bklyn . N . Y. 11236 who holds a Bachelor of Hebrew or DENTIST OFFICE AVAILABLE (Phone) (2! ?) 272-9 184 Letters Degree from the Seminary's 51st STREET, Corner 14th AVENUE College of Jewish Studies and is (Previously Dentist Office) currently seeking a M aster's Degree Call 438-1080-90 in Talmud . . . . A groundswell DICTIONARIES ~q . Bus. M'gr. movement is developing in the Con­ Yitzchok Braun WEBSTER servative Movement to grant equal­ (21 2) 633-338 1 Library size, 1971 edition, ity in religious practices to women. ~a fli~ brand new, still in box. (The Jewish Post and Opinion, Michael Harbater Cost new: $45.00. (212) 327-5526 April 14, 1972) 0 WILL SELL FOR $15 ISRAEL INTERMENTs===-======.-1 Deduct 10% on orders of 6 or more. Mail to RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL CHAPEL, INC. NORTH AMERICAN 16th Street & Amsterdam Avenue, N. Y. C. LIQUIDATORS Tel. EN 2-6600 1450 Niagara Falls Blvd. Dept. SHLOMO SHOULSON Tonawanda, New York 14150 Announces: C.O.D. orders enclose $1.00 good With a feeling of Responsibility and Personal Vigilance we make all necessary will de posit. Pay balance plus C.O.D. arrangements for BURIAL IN MEDINAT YISRAEL at ALL cemeteries. shipping on delivery. Be safafied on Everything is done with the greatest exactitude and according to Jewish Law. inspection or return within I 0 days fo r full refund. No dealers, each vol­ SOLOMON SHOULSON CARL GROSSBERG ume specifically stamped not for re­ Directors sale. - Please add $1.25 postage & Chapels Throughout New York, Miami Beach 6- Miami handling. New York State residents add applicable sales tax.

The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 27 Letters to the Editor shiva to the United States, Horav The Exodus Begins: Kaln1anowitz had a great share in raising funds and transferring them. What now? He was definitely one of the prime F ... movers in obtaining visas for bnei Torah to the U.S.A. I would also like to correct Hatzalah During World War II Chain1 Shapiro on another item. Not a single ben Torah had been To the Editor: left in Kobe at the time of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, but all had With all fairness to the devotion already been living in Shanghai, of Horav A. Kalmanowitz '?"ll, it which had fallen under Japanese must be mentioned that the Vaad military control. Hatzalah had been established be­ TOVIYA LASDUN fore his arrival to the U.S.A. during New York City World War II. Headed by Rabbi '?"ll, Roshei Haye­ shiva, and laymen such as the late Zero Population (;rO'\\'th­ Mr. Michael Tress '?"ll it worked aml the Jews for the support and rescue of Euro­ Read the fascinating story of the pean and bnei Torah. As To the Editor: the representative of the Mirrer Ye- imn1igration to Israel of the hero­ I received your January issue and ic Jews of Russia. You will be I must admit it affected me pro­ treated to a remarkable account of the history of these Jews, in­ Have an original sketch made foundly. I was very much taken by terviews with young Georgian from your favorite photograph Dr. Fryshman's article "Come Out, Jews and short stories. Complete of a landscape or seascape - Come Out, Wherever You Arc." for your home or office, or to with unique documents and pie~ adorn your personal stationary. But my main concern was and is tures never before published. with your article "Whatever Hap­ NO ORTHODOX HOME Ideal for gifts - pened to Motherhood?" wherein SHOULD BE for a nominal $45. you state that there has been a drop WITHOUT THIS ISSUE! of 8 % in the Jewish population Only $1 {includes postage and handling} from 1939 to 1970 whereas world Also ask for our ofher special issues: THE JEW IN RUSSIA-PART I (50¢) population has grown by 50 % . I RABBI YITZCHOK MEIR LEVIN {50¢/ have been shouting from the roof­ THE THREE KEHILOS ($1) tops that the only solution to Jewish limited Supply Available. Write to: troubles is a tremendous increase in ZEIREI AGUDATH ISRAEL our numbers. l do want to make it OF AMERICA clear that while it is very desirous 5 Beekman St., New York 10038 that we have quantity, 20 million Jews who have no Jewish feelings is Weddings ·Bar- Write to: not our goal and quality is surely essential. The problem. and your U.S.A. / Israel "E:tching BROOKLYN. N.Y. 11218 e'lp Looking For A Shomer Shabbos Person? For Fast, Efficient and Courteous Service ·-' 18 W. 4Sth St., New York, N. Y, 10036 • 563-3994 (212) 633-5500 Open Monday night by appointment only

28 .The Jewish Observer/ May, 1972 NEW PROGRAMS LAUNCHED FOR RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS IN ISRAEL

A new ro~tcr of programs designed to the immigrant youth with an extensive grams include lessons in Hebrew and facilitate the Russian immigrants in Is­ introductory Torah chinuch. T his en­ Jewish Law. rael has been launched by the Russian ables t.hem to continue to pursue a • Older children who continue in in­ Immigrant Rescue Fund, the major Or­ higher Torah education. stitutions of higher learning receive thodox rescue agency for the religious special subsidies from the Fund. For • Georgian Chacharnim have been en­ absorption of the Soviet Russian immi­ example, the Fund provides supple­ gaged to maintain a link between the grants in Israel. As hundreds of Rus­ mentary grants for the education of a school children-who adjust more ra­ sian immigrnnts continued to arrive in large number of immigrant girls in the pidly-and their family communities. l sracl every week, the American com­ Beth J acob School in and Ohr millee of the RIRF headed by Mr. • A new school building was pur­ Chadash in Kfar C hassidim. Others at­ Sander Kolitch has inlensified its efforts chased in the Negev city of Dimona, lending religious vocational schools also to mobilize American Orthodoxy for the which has a significant concentration of receive special grants. great need of the hour. G eorgian Jewish immigrants. It houses • The Rl RF has also helped in the A delegation of leading Torah au­ the special educational programs for the spiritual absorption of these immigrants thorities and leaders of the RIRF visited hundreds of the olim as well as their in many other ways, such as the steady Toronto to launch a major campaign for shul, youth center and . distribution of much needed religious the Russian immigrants in Israel. T he • Specially e q u i p p e d kindergartens articles; the organization of central Bar Gedolei Torah were Rabbis Moshe Fein­ were begun in Nehariya and Natanya. Mitzvah celebrations in cities throughout stein, Nochum Perlow (Novominsker They are of particular importance, caring hrael; the distribution of thousands of Rebbe). Boruch Sorotzl-.in, a nd Shncur for the children while their mothers Mishloach Manos packets on Purim, Kotler who a re members of the Presi­ must work away from home. Plans are and of special food parcels for Pesach; dium of Agndath Israel of America. under way to open a number of day­ and the establishing of community Se­ T hey were accompanied by Mr. Sander care centers for nursery age children dorim in almost every city where Rus­ Kolitch, chairman of the R.l.R.F., Mr. to help the greater number of working ~ian immigrants are concentrated. These Moshe Braunstein, tre11snrer, and Rabbi mothers. Sedorim allowed the olim to turn down Baruch Nussbaum, chairman of the • Special Ulpanim, which teach the invitations from the Leftist kibbutzim hoard. immigra nts Hebrew, have been launched (where chametz is publicly served) ex­ The lsraeli committee headed by Mr. in many cities for men, women, and tended in the hope of winning over the Moshe David LewenMein has increased working youths. Ulpanim are already olim. its field activities many fold. The effort functioning in , Ashkelon, Bnai The RIRF, which was organized at to help these Jewish olim is accomplished Brak, Oimona, Beer Sheva, and Kiryat the 49th National Convention by Agu­ wilhout publicity or fanfare. From the Atta. dath Israel of America last November first months since its inception the RTRF in Atlantic City, is chariered a~ an in­ • The RIRF fi nances the busing of has already chalked up a long list of dependent agency, and its work embraces children from remote towns and villages impressive achievements. Programs have Jews of all persuasions. Hs American to central areas for their Torah edu­ been under taken in almost city every­ activities center at 5 Beekman St., N. Y., cation. where the new Russian immigrants live and are sponsored and directed by the to protect them from the influences of • Adult education programs are being n11tion's foremost Torah authorities and the secular Israeli society. established in many cities. These pro- Orthodox laymen. 0 A partial listing of projects already undertaken by the Orthodox rescue agency includes: • Youth centers have been established in a number of cities and towns in Israel. These centers arc of prime importance for keeping the youth off the streets and saving them from the irreligious in­ fluences of the "street." Officials of the Russian Immigrant Rescue Fund are convinced that by providing the Jewish youth wilh a full-day Torah atmosphere 'fff://!/he/

The Jewish Observer I May, 1972 29 NEW PRESIDIUM OF AGUDATH AGUDATH ISRAEL MEETS WJTH NEW YORK NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL ISRAEL TAKES OVER LEADERSHTP H.EW. SEC'Y RICHARDSON AID BILL, SIGNED BY Since the 49th National Convention Agudath Israel of America joined a GOV. ROCKEFELLER of Agudath Israel in Atlantic City last nu1nber of Jewish defense agencies in a "A TINY STEP TO MEET GIANT November, the mantle of leadership of meeting on ~1 ay 18 with EJ:iot Richard­ PROBLEM": AGUDATH ISRAEL the movement was taken over by a new s()n, Secretary of the lJ .S. Dept. of l"he New York non-public school aid presidium, which actively sets the poli~ Hei1lth Education and Welfare, and J. bill signed in May by Governor Rocke¥ cies of the organization and oversees its Stanley Pottinger, director of HEW"s feller was described as a "tiny step to activities between the monthly meetings office for Civil Rights. meet a giant problem," by Rabbi Moshe of its Vaad Hanhala. crhe meeting discussed the improper Sherer, executive president of Agudath The new presidium consists of Rabbi 111anner in \Vhich the government's "af­ Isn:iel of America. 'fhe new law, which , chairman; the Bostoner firn1ative action progran1" to increase could provide as much as $56¥1nillion in Rebbe Rabbi Moshe Horowitz, vice 1ninority group representation in univer­ state funds for the non-public schools chairman; the Noveminsker Rebbe Rabbi sities, has resulted in n1ajor abuses af­ consists of three major vehicles, which Nochum Perlow, Rabbi f~cting the livelihood of many of the assist low income families with tuition (Rosh _Hayeshiva, Beth Medrosh Go~ non-1ninority groups. They emphasized grants, other families with incomes voha), Rabbi (Rosh the use of quotas and proportional per­ under $25,000 a year with state tax Hayeshiva, ), Rabbi centage hiring as hannful to properly benefits, and schools in high intensity Chaskel Besser (chairman of the Vaad qualified Jews atte1n-pting to obtain gain­ poverty area<> with maintenance grants. Hanhala), and Rabbi Moshe Sherer ful en1ployment and promotions in i1ni~ In a statement for Agudath Israel, vcrsities. After a frank exchange of (executive president). which has played a major role in ad~ views during an hour and a half con­ The presidium has been meeting regu­ vocating government aid to non~public larly, and since it has taken over the fc:rence, Secretary Richardson and Mr. schools on the state and federal levels, reins of the movement, a new upswing Pottinger gave assurances that they he declared that "while this new law of interest and activity has been felt would attc1npt to correct the illegai will offer minimal assistance to the nationally. O misuse of the government's goals for hard-pressed parents of non-public minorities to hann other citizens. D school children as well as maintenance CAMP AGUDAH AND CAMP BNOS grants to a very small number of schools, TO OPEN JUNE 28 the state and the nation has still failed 'O 0 . Camp Agudah (for boys) in Ferndale to con1e to grips with the just claim for and Camp Bnos (for girls) in Liberty :issistance by the non-public schools." will begin their third decade of service The Agudath Israel leader expressed to the Jewish youth of the nation on "confidence that the new law will be UNITED June 28. Besides children from· every upheld as constitutional, because it con¥ part of the l.Jnited States, the Agudist forn1s with the guidelines established by camps also have special facilities for the June 28 decision of the lJnited States Chevra Kadisha Spanish-speaking youngsters fron1 Mex­ Supreme Court." He also stated that D'chosidim • Hor Hamnuchot ico and Venezuela. "there arc solid reasons to believe" that Founded 1856 The two camps, which are a non­ the U.S. Supreme Court will uphold the profit educational service sponsored by N. Y. Mandated Services Law, which BURIAL IN JERUSALEM Agudath lsrael of America, have stimu¥ was banned by a lower court last month. lated thousands of youngsters to a deep­ AND ALL CEMETERIES IN ISRAEL ()n the Washington scene, Rabbi er commitn1ent to ·rorah Yiddishkeit. Sherer pointed to the nationwide mobi¥ Rabbi Boruch B. Borchardt is the lization of non-public school adherents • adininistrator of both camps. O to obtain federal inco1ne tax credits for non-public school parents, by a new national coalition: CREDIT (Citizens maat1n sako0€sh SERVICES ARRANGED IN Relief for Education by Income Tax), SOCl€ty YOUR COMMUNITY of which he is the chairman. 0 44 CANAL ST. NEW YORK CITY 10002 Norman L. Jeffer Nr. E. Broadway Sta. "F" Train COMMUNITY CHAPELS, Da'.\' & Nite Phone Inc. WA 5-2277 47th Street & Ft. Hamilton Parkway In Canada: Sroo~lyn Phone UL 3-4000 Chevra Kadisha of United Jewish Congregations Mik.vah under Supervision ol Bik.ur Cholim of Boro Park Montreal Tel.: 273~3211

30 The Jewish Obser\·er /May, 1972 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA HEARS RABBI MOSHE FEINSTEIN ~ii&~~~~~#~ j~~; "

Over a thousand guests filled the in an atmosphere that was so permeated Rabbi Yehuda Oelbaum, principal of Grand Ballroom of the Statler Hilton with the pursuit of materialism : "If a the Mesifta Kamenitz High School of Hotel in Manhattan on Sunday evening, person views service of G-d-keeping Brooklyn, dramatically summarized the May 7, to celebrate the Fiftieth Anni­ Shabbos and kashrus, studying Torah­ 50 years of Agudath .Israel's accomplish­ versary Jubilee of Agudath Israel of as a burden, it becomes unpleasant, im­ ment in Torah activity in hatzalah; youth America and to honor fifty-four gentle­ possible- even ugly. Reducing the load work, leadership-training and camping; men who pioneered the founding of the does not make it lighter. By rejoicing and articul ation of the interest of Torah organizat.ion as Zeirei Agudath Israel in the spiritual elevation of Torah and Jewry and Yeshivos. in New York's Lower East Side. mitzvos-as did these men fi fty years A report on the massive undertakings The upper dais of the ballroom was ago-their service becomes a joy, to of the Russian Immigrant Rescue Fund's reserved for the Agudath Israel pioneer them and to G-d." Rabbi Mendel Chod­ spiritual hatzalah activities in Israel founders and the evening's program was row who was introduced by Mr. Joseph was given by the Fund's chairman, Mr. devoted to a flashback to the organiza­ Friedenson, editor of Dos Yiddishe Yort ~ander Kolitch. This was underscored tion's early years and its accomplish­ who opened the dinner. depicted tbe de­ by greetings (in Russian) from Rabbi ments since then. 111e tone, however, votion of his fe llow founders to the Menachem Leviov, a recent oleh to was not one of sentimentality, celebrn­ principles of Torah supremacy that per­ Israel from Samarkand, USSR, in which tion, and self-congratulation, but focused sonifies Agudath Israel. Isaac Strahl, he bore personal testimony to the Fund's on the gritty determination required of chairman of the evening, recalled the f; eroic accomplishments. the pioneer founders to overcome the inspiration he and his fellow Zeireim Rabbi Moshe Sherer, e:xecutivc Presi­ hostile atmosphere of early 20th Century drew from participating in the Kenesiah dent of the Agudath Israel of America, U.S.A.; and how it is still essential today. Gedolah of the distributed aw:irds to the Guests of An adjacent dais was graced by Rab­ in Marienbad in 1923, and by subsequent Honor, poignantly recalling for them binical dignitaries, prominent Roshei Ye­ visits from world Torah leaders to Amer­ and the participants incidents in the un­ shiva, deans of twenty Yeshivos, prin­ ica, such as Rabbi Asher Spitzer, Rabbi certain founding days of the movement, cipals of numerous Jewish Day schools. Dr. Meir Hildcsheirncr, Rabbi Meir Don and how bold initiatives of the hardy and community leaders from all over Plotzke, Rabbi Yosef Lev, and Dr. Na- group are truly responsible for a flour­ North America- including Horav Moshe than Birnbaum. ' ishing Agudah today. Feinstein, of the Mesivtah Tifercth Jeru­ A souvenir album with photo-offsets In accepting the plaques on behalf of salem; Horav Yaakov Yitzchak Ruder­ of early Zeirei Agudath Israel publica­ h is fellow awardecs, Mr. Shea Gold, man, of Yeshiva Ner Israel, of Balti­ tions from the I 920's that was distributed who has been leading a more; Horav Nachum Perlow (Nove­ at the dinner featu red photographs of study group regularly in the Agudath m insker Rebbe) ; and Horav Shneur visiting Gedolei Torah, as well as edi­ Israel branch in New York's East Side Kotler. (Beth Medrosh Gevoha). torial. comments and urgin gs to devote for half a century, pointed to the vast In addressing the gathering, Horav more time to regular Torah study. unanticipated fruits of early pioneering Moshe Feinstein, singled out the charac­ G reetings from the Gerer Rebbe, efforts as being rivalled by the personal ter attribute responsible for young men shlitah, in Jerusalem, were delivered by Torah-nachas e:xperienced by each of to succeed in establishing the Torah­ Rabbi Moshe Prager, noted journalist the honorees, who placed Torah interests centercd organization of Agudath Tsrael and historian. uppermost in their lives. O

Tl1e Jewish Observer /May, .1972 31 .JERUS1\LEM c;noWS! SO TOO MUST ITS PIONEER MEDICAL INSTITUTION Bikur Cbolim Hospital THE HOSPITAL AT THE HEART OF JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM'S HOSPITAL (founded by the GEDOLEI YERUSHALAYIM) has - throughout a century and a half of cataclysmic events - served the medical needs of the Ir Hakodesh with distinction, and devotion to halacha and daas Torah.

During 1971 Bikur Cholim provided hospital & medical services for: Bikur Cholim / Rechov Strauss • Almost 40''0 of the births in Jerusalem • 10,000 hospital patients • 17,500 clinic patients • 158,000 laboratory tests • 215 general hos­ pital beds •JOO beds for chronically ill.

Bikur Cholim is staffed by:

• 40 doctors 11 112 nurses •25 laboratory technicians • 138 service personnel • 72 students of Bikur Choli1n Nursing School.

Bikur Cholim's total operating budget is almost $3,000,000.00, only half of which is paid by patient lees, medical insurance and government subsidies.

Jerusalem grows and Bikur Cholim's service must grow: • A DC\V surgery department • new blood banks • newborn intensive care unit • new beds for the chronically ill • restoration of the "" buildings of Bikur Cholim as a clinic • all this and much more n1ust be done.

Respond to the call of Horav Yechezkel Abramsky, shlita, dean of Israel's rabbis: "Bikur Cholim's record is most admirable. Its needs are most pressing. Great is the work of Bikur Cholim and great is the reward of those who Nursing School aid it with generosity." Letter of 26 Adar, 5732

I wish to participate in Bikur Cholim's great mitzvah of healing. Enclosed is my gift as a oii? 0'71n v:nn -Patient Aid Donor for a Day for:

l_J Medicine ...... $400.00 [~:i Clinic Series 50.00 C Food Services 260.00 [i Surgery Bed . 32.00 ['; Laboratory 225.00 Li Pediatric Bed 25.00 0 Emergency Room . 150.00 [J Nursery Bed ...... 20.00 !__j Hospital Ward 100.00 L] Chai Member 18.00

NAME ...... ADDRESS . CITY...... STATE...... ZIP ... . American Association for Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem 119 Fifth Avenue Suite 301 New York, N. Y. 10003 Phone' (212) 260-4260 RABBI OSWALD BESSER RABBI HYMAN FRIEDMAN Presidenf Treasurer REUVEN SAVITZ Executive Vice President Chronic Disease Division