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~·1. Adar II 5763 •March 2003 U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 •VOL XXXVI/NO. 3

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of America, 42 Broadway, New York, NY10004. Periodicals postage paid in New York, NY. Subscription $24.00 per year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single copy $3 .50; foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NY.. NY. 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000, Fax: 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. Repairing Hashem's Family, Yaakov Salomon RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR

EDITORIAL SOARD RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Chairman PURIM REFLECTIONS

RABBI ABBA BRUDNY JOSEPH FRIEDENSON 12 Unmasking the Megilla, Rabbi Yosef Levinson RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN PROF. AARON TWERSKI 17 Shoshanas Yaakov, a poem by P/oni Almoni

DR. ERNST L BODENHEIMER Z"L 19 "Gather in the Children;• Dovid Freund RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z"L Founders

MANAGEMENT SOARD AVI FISHOF, NAFTOLI HIRSCH 26 Conversation at a Bar Mitzva, Sara Shapiro ISAAC KIRZNER, RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN 33 "lvri Anochi" - I am a Jew;• Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Managing Edllor

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March 2003 VOLUME XXXVVNO. 3 . Over the past several months, 1he Jewish Observer has been· feafuri~ . lo:Ways in which the readers .could identify with our brother.s and sisters in Eretz Yisroel aiid share their att1em1't to allevi- ate their crises on all levels - national, communal, and individual. •·< ";ii. Among the suggestions offered were: Deny yourself some comfort or luxucyin er!JJ\l.~thyl; atleast cry for them or write to them2; improve and enhance our tefi/los'; arrange for American communities an~;;,snu/s to adopt a family of sur- ~rn ~~- ·...... $~ We could - and probably will - 00ntinue with more explorations and suggesu99.~; .l)y\·~t this juncture we might ask ourselves: Why isn't this kind of empathy and level of response automatic? Why)'Q.p~twe•be prod?ed to feel, think and react? At the recent National Convention of Agudalh Israel of America, Yaakov Salomon offereijsome valuable insights on the topic. The following article is based on that presentation.

Making Israel's Pain Our Own

ome years ago, Rabbi Chaim The bachur was all too willing to ful­ davening Ma'ariv at Rabbi Landau's Mintz, mashgiach ruchani of the fill the simple mission. famous Beis Midrash in Flatbush. SYeshiva of Staten Island, was rush­ Upon his return, the bachur ques­ On my way out, a note, posted on the ing to another location and had inad­ tioned his Rebbe. "Excuse me for pry­ lobby wall, caught my eye. It read: vertently left his wristwatch behind. ing;' he said, "but I couldn't help "Shmuel G. is sitting shiva at Uncharacteristically, he asked a bachur noticing that the Rebbe's watch has the ____. His wife was the only Amer­ if he wouldn't mind retrieving it for incorrect time even though it seems to ican fatality in the S'barrn's bombing in him. "I wouldn't trouble you if I was­ be working. Shall I correct it?" Yerushalayim." n't so short on time,'' he explained. '(No, no," replied Rabbi Mintz. "You My friend, Shimon, read the note Yaakov Salomon, CSW, is a psychotherapist in see, the time on my watch is actually along with me. Neither of us recognized private practice in Brooklyn. He is a frequent con­ precisely seven hours ahead of New York the name. Both of us exited in tributor to these pages, most recently with "Tin1e City time. I always keep it set to Israeli silence .... How tragic. to Move On" {june '01). time so I can keep a constant reminder I joined Shimon for the short ride 1 "Reflections on Guidelines for VVeddings," by for myself about the matzav(situation) home. As I bid him good-night, he Dr. Aaron Twerski, June '02, and "Terrorism, in Bretz Yisroel." asked me, "So, when shall I pick you Sugar Cubes and Filet Mignon," by Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg, June '02 Years before, there had been a ter­ up?,, 2 Rabbi Ginzberg's above article, as well as "The rorist attack in Yerushalayim. Many lives "Pick me up for what?" I respond~ Fifth Item on the List," by Rabbi Boruch Leff, and were lost and Rabbi Mintz wanted to be ed. (I was unaware of any previously "Breaking Down the Walls," by Debbie Shapiro, certain that he never forgot it. made plans.) fan. '03 3 "Tefilla and Teshuva in Response to Today's No. Keeping them in mind is not "Well, for the shiva visit, of course;' Troubled Times:' by Rabbi I-Ieshy Kleinman, April necessarily automatic. came the reply. '02; Be a Better Baal Tefilla:' by Rabbi Pinchos "The shiva?" I pondered innocently. Jung, Nov. '02; Bringing our Prayers to a High­ A Personal Story .... "I don't really know the fellow er Level;' by Rabbi Heshy Kleinman, Dec. '02; and "A Modest Proposal," by Rabbi Avi Shafran, Jan. and hadn't planned to go. Do you know '03 t happened about a year and a half him?', 4 "PostScript: A Call to Arms," by Rabbi Aryeh ago. It was about 10 PM on a Tues­ "No;, he said, "but how can we not Z. Ginzberg, Oct. '02 I day night, and I had just finished go?"

6 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 Never had a lump appeared so quickly in my larynx. It was the lump of shan1e. The contrast was oh, so • clear. .. and painful. To Shimon, visit· ouldn't the simple manifestation of our ing and consoling this grieving survivor genuine concern be the precise was instinctively mandatory and thor­ C oughly obvious - his unfamiliarity unwritten prescription to cure this ghastly notwithstanding. To 1ne, it was never even a consideration. Why would I visit decree? someone I don't know? But the story does not end there. Les· son learned, I asked Shimon to pick me • up at 9 A.M. the next morning. He did. We arrived at the bais avel and awk­ may just be the solution as well? Could· painfully obvious. So the proposals pre· wardly ventured in. In a feeble attempt n't the simple manifestation of our gen· sented here have a decidedly spiritual at teshuva, I led the way. To my surprise, uine concern be the precise unwritten bent - with an inclination toward the the ave/ greeted me immediately. prescription to cure this ghastly decree? concept that truly feeling their pain, "Yaakov Salo1non, so nice ofyou to come." Sadly) our current predicament is and showing it, may be a road to res­ I recognized Shmuel immediately as hardly unfamiliar to us. Our storied his· olution - not just to compassion. a Shabbos guest of the past, who had tory is sated with tribulations that seem The exhortation by the Moetzes graced our table several ti1nes. His name to always threaten our very existence. Gedolei HaTorah to recite chapters of had eluded my failing memory. Shmuel "Zechor yemos olam," the Torah Tehillim daily-particularly 83,130, and then turned his attention to Shimon, implores. We must keep our eyes on our 142 - should, of course, be a given for our hero, and asked, "And who are you?" history. There is much to learn. Guid­ every caring Jew. Tehillim has, is, and We sat down - me, with my over­ ance may be lurking in those yellowed always will be our first mode of action sized lump; Shimon, with studied com· pages. in times of crisis. passion. People trickled in. And as each Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman ;~'i1, in one arrived, he was greeted by Shmuel his classic Kovetz Ma' a1narin1) pro­ But What Else Can We Do? with the same refrain, ''And who are you? vides some of that guidance. He clas· Did you know my wife?" sifies the perils that we have constant· o enhance our sensitivity and Within ten 1ninutes or so, we were ly confronted into two categories - strengthen our identification joined by about a dozen people. In a dis· threats to our physical existence (such T with our family n1embers in play of startling irony, the only person as the Purim saga) and threats to our Eretz Yisroel, we must begin somewhere. that Shmuel knew in that room was me! spiritual existence (as in the Chanuka We need something as a daily The rest were, like Shimon, just won­ era). And our responses to those clan· reminder, besides the demoralizing derful compassionate Jews - demon­ gers must serve as guideposts for all of news reports and accompanying gris­ strating their kinship and concern. Mi time. ly photos. And what better daily ki 'amcha Yisroel. "Threats to our spiritual survival," reminder than our daily tejilla? Con­ So, perhaps many of us DO feel their writes Reb Elchanan, "are best met by sider, if you will, the following little­ pain, but many of us ... I included .... our willingness to take military action. known opinion in halacha. seem to be lacking. This is best exemplified by our battles, The Rama (Orach Chaim 113:1) and improbable ensuing victories explains that we are not free to bow We Are Not Helpless, .. against the Yevanim (Syrian-Greeks). down wherever we desire in Shemoneh And the frightening specters of physi· Esrei. Bowing is only permissible in the ome 1nay argue that "reme1nber­ cal annihilation must be answered by specific places decreed by the ing" their travails and their pain clarion calls of teshuva, tefilla, and Chachamim. But the Mishneh Berura Sdoesn't accomplish very much. tzedakka. Nowhere in Megillas Esther is quotes a Maharil who opines that we "They don't need us to cry for them;' the notion of a military campaign should bow down at the beginning or goes the refrain, "They need the mad­ against Haman suggested. the end of the beracha of" V'leyerusha­ ness - the terror, the funerals, the grief And so, I humbly offer the sugges­ layim ircha," when we entreat Hashem -to STOP." tions that follow. With over 700 to rebuild Jerusalem. And the Magen But might that not exactly be the neshamos gone and many thousands Avraham adds that perhaps a slight def· point? Is it so farfetched to posit that more crippled and injured - both phys· erential bowing would be appropriate. the crying we do for them, and the ically and emotionally - the illogic of We do not pasken like the Maharil. resulting tefillos that are sure to emerge, a military solution should, by now, be Fine. We need not follow the Magen

-·-·-··-·-·--·-·---·-·-·-···---··-·-··-·------··-·-···------··---·- The Jewish Observer, March 2003 7 Avraham. Well enough. But here we But let us not stop there. Why not terror has become an overwhelming have a highly respected halacha author­ make a beginning attempt at the fine feature of everyday life. ity, "suggesting" that we bow down dur­ plan that was outlined in these pages' You understand that it is not only ing the beracha of "V'leyerushalayim by Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginzberg. Rabbi important and proper and a chiyuv ircha"! None of the other 12 berachos Ginzberg has spearheaded a marvelous (obligation) to make their pain your of the bakasha section (where we and most compassionate movement to pain, but you have an inkling ... a con­ make requests) of Shemoneh Esrei get every shul in America to "adopt" an viction, that feeling their anguish and appears to qualify for that special con­ Israeli family who has suffered a recent their grief could actually be a signifi­ sideration. Doesn't that mean some­ loss in the reign of terror. cant ingredient in the formula for help­ thing? Shouldn't that propel us to have Besides the tremendous s'char ing it vanish. You have grown tired of at least a bit extra kavana (concentra­ (Divine reward) involved, I can guar­ listening to the news, and weary of tion) during that beracha? Prostration? antee, psychologically, that adopting a worn-out and hackneyed military, Maybe not. But concentration? Defi­ grieving family as part of your own is political, or strategic solutions that have nitelyl This is our chance to connect nothing short of a magical formula for never worked and never will. You our own thoughts with a genuine setting your life's priorities in proper don't doubt that, painful as it is to yearning for (\v'chisei David meheira order. And the message it communi­ admit, the Ribbono Shel Olam is send­ l'socha tachin - may You speedily cates to your children is one that ing all of us a harsh, horrific and glar­ establish the throne of Your servant could never be taught in a classroom ing message that something is very David within it." At the very least, it or communicated from a book. Can wrong in our camp. And that His very guarantees that we think of them you think of a more important goal? I specially selected family needs a major three times a day. ((Baruch atta Hashem can't. spiritual overhaul. Bonei Yerushalayim - Blessed are You, The above mentioned strategies Needless to say, I am certainly not Hashem, the Builder of Jerusalem." A may not be necessary for those read­ privy to the incomprehensible workings perfect start for everyone searching for ers who possess a true appreciation and of the Ribbono Shel Olam. But one an opening of awareness in his or her deep respect for the hundreds of thou­ observation, if you will allow. heart. sands of families for whom everyday * O~l-'02, as i~~~tioned in-t·b~ Introd~cti~

'?~ Elyashiv ""''"'"" ''"'-,_: __e,_ndor5ement of Rabbi -~:J__,_t_o, this plea should

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8 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 The At-Risk Connection ... Modeh Ani), have never shaken a lulav, than that would be too painful for us), have never braided a cha/la, and have How would one of us actually feel if nine ur co111munities, here and never even heard of the Chafetz Chaim! out of ten of our children, Hashem yish­ abroad, have, for the past years, Let the numbers startle you! Nine out mereinu, knew nothing about Yahadus? 0 been suffering with another of ten of His children are lost to apathy, Would we just choose to focus on the overwhelmingly excruciating crisis. It is ignorance, inter1narriage and assin1ila­ positive? the one that has been termed "Kids at tion ... and the numbers grow as you "Oh, at least I have one child who Risk" - the shocking and agonizing read this. is shomer Shabbos, learns a little, mar­ process of watching some of our most Be honest. Do we feel His pain? And ried Jewish -Baruch Hashem for that. talented and engaging youngsters aban­ could the agony and anguish that we The other nine? Well, what can you do? don the derech Yisroel sabba (sacred tra­ experience with our at-risk kids be a At least we tried. I guess you can't win ditions of our forebears) for the scourge message to us to feel His pain? them all. Pass the pretzels, please:' of aberrant behaviors. And while much Imagine for just a moment (1nore Or, more than likely, would we total- is being done to attempt to an1eliorate the situation, the battle rages on. It is still very, very painful. And we wonder, and maybe we always will wonder, why do kids leave the derech ha'emmes - the tried and true THEVORT • The menu for the seuda is limited to 3 path? Why do they veer from a life that • The Vort celebration is to be courses followed by a regular dessert. can bring them enormous satisfaction? discontinued. The L'chaim (held at Why do great kids from great, loving • No Viennese table and no bar. families reject nearly everything they are the time that the engagement is THE MUSIC taught? And why do we suffer from this announced) should also not turn into a devastating plague, more than any pre­ Vort. • A band may consist of a maximum of vious generation? THE WEDDING 5 musicians (one of the musicians may act as a vocalist) or four musicians and one Perhaps ... just maybe ... Hashem • Only 400 invited guests may be wants us to feel His pain, kaveyachol (so additional vocalist. seated at the chassuna seuda. to speak). Let us for a moment compare • A one-man band is recommended. His family with our families- in the "at­ • The kabbolas panim smorgasbord risk" category. should be limited to basic cakes, fruit plat­ FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR No one can minimize the heart­ ters, a modest buffet, and the caterer's • The total cost of these items for the entire breaking and tragic pain of watching, standard chicken or meat hot dishes. wedding should not exceed $1,800. or living with, a youngster on the fringe. Each and every nesha1na is so very dear FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES and cherished. But despite the dis­ AND THE ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, heartening at-risk numbers, it is some­ please email [email protected] or call 212-612-2300 how rare that more than one child per family suffers this terrible malady. The We the rabbinical signatories - barring familial obligations - and unusual and collective family pain of having even extraordinary circumstances - will not participate in or attend a wedding celebration that one such child seems almost too much disregards these guidelines. (Rabbinkal Listing in formation) to bear. It does happen, but it is Rabbi Shmuel Birnbaum Rabbi Eli Simcha Schustal Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel uncommon. Roih Hayeihiva, Bais Binyomin, Stamford Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshiva Gedo/ah of South Fallsburg But Hakadosh Baruch Hu also has a Rabbi Elya Svei Rabbi Yisroel Rokowsky Rosh HayeshiviJ, Yeshiva Gedoia of Philade/phra Rabbi Yisroel Simcha Schorr Rabbi Chaim Boruch Wolpin family. He is Avinu Malkeinu, our Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva Kerlin Stalin Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky Roshei HaYeshiwt, Yeshiva Ohr Somayach Father; we are His children, bannim Rosh Hcyeshiva, Ye5h1va Gedo/a of Philadelphia Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler Rabbi Zecharia Gelley attem laShem Elokeichem. Let us look at Rav. Khcl Mas Jeshurun Rabbi Yaakov Perlow Rosh Hayeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha. Lakewood His family. How are they doing? Not Novomimker Rebbe Rabbi Yisroel Tzvi Neuman Rabbi Lipa Margulies Rosh Hayeshiva, t'eihiva & Mesifta Torah Temimah nearly as well as our families. You see, Rabbi Yosef Yilzchak Feigelstock Roh "''"hi",'"" Medco>h ''""'· L•ke~od Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva of Long Beach in His family, it's not one child who is Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Schustal Rabbi Dovid Kviat Rabbi Moshe Wolfson Charrman, Conffftmce of Synagogue Rabbonim Rosh Hayeih1va, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood off the derech. He doesn't have two chil­ Mashgiach, Yeshiwi Torah Vodails of Agudath Israel dren who are at-risk. In Hakadosh Rabbi Aron Moshe Schechter Rabbi Yeruchem Olshin Rabbi Shlomo Mandel Baruch Hu's family- known as Knesses Rosh Hayeshivo, Yeihiva Chaim Berlin Rosh Ha yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva of Brooklyn Yisroel - nine out of ten of his children Rabbi Yosef Rosenblum Rabbi Mattisyahu Salamon Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman do not know how to say Kriyas Sh ma (or Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva Shaarei Yosher Mashgiach, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood Rosh Hayeshiva, Mesivta Meor Yitz(hok

The Jewish Observer, Morch 2003 9 ly fall apart from grief and heartbreak waiting for? I don't know. No one It's about using your valuable learn­ and never sleep well again? knows. But if 90% of your family had ing time to learn with others - through Maybe, only maybe, Hashem feels drifted away, what would you want to Partners in Torah or Aish Hatorah or that we need to experience at least a frac­ see? other programs. tion of that heartbreak. And according to the Chasam Sofer It's about seeking out your neighbor But if that is so, or even if it's only (Taras Moshe, Vayikra 19), performing - on the block, at work, on a plane or partially true, then the kiruv efforts of acts of kiruv rechokim is actually the wherever, and befriending him - invit­ this advanced group can be a resound­ essence of the great mitzva of ve'ahav­ ing him for Shabbos or just to shmooze. ing message to our Father that we do ta l'rei' acha kamocha- love your neigh­ It's about telling them about a class care about the family, after all. And that bor as yourself. The din of chayecha kod­ or a seminar or a fabulous weekend and it is not acceptable to us that 90% of our min - your own life takes precedence then going with them! family members never said a beracha in over another's - says the Chasam Sofer, It's about giving them a book or a their entire lives, and define their Jew­ only applies to inyonei olan1 hazeh, mate­ tape or a website ... or a hug or a smile. ishness by opposing prayer in public rial or physical pursuits. It's about overcoming your fears of schools and voting (or not voting) for "However, in matters of spiritual­ rejection and exposure, and demon­ Joe Lieberman. ity, meaning Torah study, we are obli­ strating to the Ribbono Shel Olam that And similarly, when we experience gated to learn with others even at the we can no longer bear to watch the fum­ over 29 months of constant terror, and expense of forgoing our own learn­ ily .... Hisfamily ....our family ... go from we know that our response must be a ing! ... which is why Rabbi Akiva ''at-risk" to disintegration. spiritual one, then the kiruv efforts of describes this 1nitzva as a 'Klal gadol That's what Jews who are sensitive, this group can announce to the Borei baTorah.' Specifically 'in Torah,' we who care, and who respond can do. Olam that there IS arvus (unity) in must love our neighbor as we do our­ That's what all of us can do to help Kial Yisroel. And yes we truly do care selves." put an end to the tragedies and devas­ about every single Yid - even those \t\!hen it con1es to limud Torah, that tation. We can den1onstrate real ahavas that seem so different from us, or so is when teaching your brother or sister Yisroel, genuine care and love. far from us. co1nes first. Ve'ahavta l'rei'acha kamocha. He is Is that really what Hashem is truly That's what kiruv is all about. waiting. 1111

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10 The Jewish Observer;. March 2003 Gomlei Chesed has a list of hundreds of needy families whose degree of poverty.and desperation has reached rock bottom!

The money that this carnp-Jign distributes on Purim is vital in rehahilitating ,.elf:./, 7' ![. /, so many broken indi\iduals and families. How gre-J! the merit of one who ;- r r;,.-u allows them the ability to do their holy work by contribllling to their fund. K•bht Shmu•I B.....,b.um

It is my gre-Jt honor and privilege !O lend my support to the annual Matonos /'} ., The situations of the needy families Iha! Gom!ri Chcsed helps on 'i°-"ft'.T/) ·'~')}(. J.e'e~·yonim campaiWJ, which is gmded by the inspired leadership of llarav {!~lit ~'11 •M ti Pnrirn are hcITTibITaking 10 hear. Sad!y, they're all too true. ;,o.' i ... ~,, ...... t> Yoscf Rosenblum Sh!ita. For over ten years, this important campaign h~abbi Matisyahu SalGm(ln Your ilpt::i money can go to no het!er cause. Rab bl MalkJel Kntl«r

Please rush your tax-deductible contribution payable to Gomlei Ctiesed and sent to: Rabbi Matisyallu Salomon 637 Sixth Street, lfakewood, New Jersey 0870 I You Can Now Drop Off Your Contribution Toward Our Gedolei Yisroel's Gomlei Chesed Matonos Le'evyonim Campaign Every day till Purim day at 4:00 p.m.

r··------·-- ·-··-··--·-··-· I You can call our hotline until Purim 4:00 p.m. I "'"'"· I 718-972-3549 I 347-203-2897 I c,,y- ______S•a"· ____ hp _ _ ! I_. or fax 718-871-7721 I ~:~:PQQ~L pooo oooqpg_oo ,., ""' DIJ DIJI <... ~------.. --·-·------·--·------·------·--' Eacll & Every, Dollar C:ollecte'a is Distri6ute'H llnil.er Tiie Supervision ol Ge8olei Torali. No Monies are Held Back for 'Ail.ministration or Overlieatl I I'uRIM RliFLEGTIONS Rabbi Yosef Levinson

"··"·~~~f~~·~eneatht~:suda~,~e.~ " ''<<,',\, ,<->''_>:,<,:''\''" ,,, ~ne~~~i ~()~~~~~f;alif.- the Yad Hashem - the Divine Hai.a"•! ·"· .... " • . .< ree SJta,s stil\jii\t;~ffoct, rf lhl:~i~~~J;i~'. ;:d one of the throughout the Purim story. We must and his mhlioious plans could proceed first things that comes to mind is then bring this lesson home and see without obstruction. Esther and the minhag (custom) of mas­ Hashem's hashgacha, His Providence, in Mordechai beseeched the king to querading. We disguise ourselves and our own lives. As we shall see, howev­ rescind the dreadful order against the hide our faces behind a mask. This er, the Megilla teaches us that there is Jews, to which Achashveirosh answered reminds us that our salvation on Purixn even more in this world for us to that a royal edict cannot be revoked once came about through a neis nistar, a hid­ unmask issued. He allowed) however, a new den miracle. Hashem did not alter the We are all familiar with the story of decree to be issued, which Esther and natural order of things. He did not split the Megil/a. Haman planned to kill all Haman could word as they saw fit, and the sea or cause a single jug of oil to burn the Jews, and he offered King he would ratify. What did Mordechai for eight days. After witnessing a chain Achashveirosh a huge gift to the king's write? The Jews were permitted to of seemingly chance occurrences, the treasury to win his consent. defend themselves and to slay their Jewish people realized that Hashem was Achashveirosh told Haman to keep his adversaries, and to destroy all those who with them all along) coordinating events money and that he may do as he pleas­ threatened them. for their benefit. es with the Jews. The events that follow This is very puzzling. Even after this When we see someone wearing a are well known to the reader. Let us new edict was issued, it would appear mask, our curiosity is piqued. Just who advance to the second banquet for that the Jewish people's enemies were is it behind that mask? We concentrate Achashveirosh and Haman. When still permitted to exterminate them. and try to guess his identity. This is one Esther revealed that she was a Jewess and Haman's original edict, horrific as it was, of the lessons of Purim, as the Gemora1 that Haman had planned to kill her and had not prohibited the Jews from asks: "Where is there an allusion to her people, the king was furious. To add defending themselves. Esther in the Torah?" The Gemora insult to injury, Charvona informed Yet, after the royal couriers delivered answers: "Ve) anochi hasteir astir panai­ Achashveirosh that Haman had erected the new message, the Megilla relates: And I shall surely hide My face." 2 If we a gallows fifty cubits high to hang "The Jews had light, happiness, joy and 3 Rabbi Levinson, a member of Kollel Beth Hatal­ Mordechai, who had saved the king honor." Why were they so ecstatic? How mud of Melbourne, Australia, is the founding edi­ from assassination. This was the final could they be so confident that they tor of Mo'adim Uzen1ani1n, the Kollel's Yorn Tov straw. The king ordered Haman exe­ would prevail over their many enemies publication, where his article first appeared. His after they were so sure they were article, "From Mourning Till Dawn," was featured cuted on those very gallows. in J() May '01. Although their archenemy was now doomed to defeat?

______" _____ -.. ---""______" _____ " ____ 12 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 REMOVAL OF THE RING "HaMelech, the King," without men­ tioning Achashveirosh by name, it is an he Gemora states', "Rabbi Abba allusion to Hashem - Malka shel Olam, bar Kahana said, 'The removal of the King of the Universe. In these T[Achashveirosh's] signet ring places, Achashveirosh, the king of this which he had given to Haman (signify­ world was mirroring the actions of ing his consent to Haman's evil decree) Hashem the Melech Malchei was greater than the forty-eight Nevi'im HaMelachim, the King of Kings, in the (prophets) and seven Nevios (prophet· Heavens8• Let us now revisit the passuk: esses) who had prophesied to Israel. For "And the King removed His signet ring Child Development they were all unable to stir the Jews to and gave it to Haman:' It was the Malka repent, whereas the removal of the signet she! Olam who removed the ring, and Specialists serving ring did stir the Jews to repent:" this was what frightened the nation to Rabbi Abba bar Kahana's message is sincere repentance more than all the infants/toddlers obvious. The people knew that the prophecies of the Nevi'im. Nevi'im who ca1ne to rebuke then1 were & their families repeating what they had heard directly NO LONGER DIRECTLY INVOLVED from Hashem, nevertheless they were not inspired to repent'. In the time of he Bnei Yisroel enjoy Hashgacha Ha1nan, however, the Jews saw the Prattis, Divine Intervention. dreadful decree in writing and his THashem plays a direct role in the 1nalicious intentions were read publicly lives of the Jewish People, both on a for all to hear. What can stir a nation to national and individual level. When, repentance n1ore than seeing their own over the course of time, the Jewish death sentence signed and sealed? Nation sinned, the Nevi'im rebuked Yet, the Gen1ora inakes no mention them to mend their ways. If the people of the decree itself. The Gemora only dis­ remained co1nplacent, the Nevi'in1 cusses the hasaras hataba'as, the hand­ warned of dire consequences. Foreign ing over of the signet ring. What sig­ armies would attack and plunder their nificance does hasaras hataba' as have, possessions; fa1nine, disease and plague and why would that awaken the people would strike the people. This, however, to repent? did not arouse them fron1 their slum­ Every king has a cabinet of ministers ber. For who was punishing them? to assist hi1n in ruling the country. The Hashen1! Hashem is our Father, and a 1ninisters do research and advise the father tempers his punishment with king. 1~he king issues his decisions. It is mercy. More importantly, if Hashem then the cabinet's task to carry out their would cause them to suffer, that meant EARLY· INTERVENTION• MAKES• A~ DIFFERENCE ruler's wishes. At all times, the king is He still cared for them. They were still in command. If the king would com· His children, under the guidance of His Evaluation &Therapy 1nission one of his ministers to carry out ever-watchful eye. at our center or in the a royal edict, there would be no reason In the times of Purim, however, privacy of your home to transfer his signet ring to the 111inis­ Hashem turned away from the people. ter. The ring is a symbol of authority. He removed His ring and gave it to the Free of Charge The minister is only an emissary, per­ wicked Haman. It was, kaveyachol, as if tOrming his duties. 1"he king remains in they were no longer being guided by Bi-lingual Services Available 9 charge. their loving Father in Heaven • Natur­ Achashveirosh's act of giving his al events and circumstances would Executive Offices ring to Haman was a declaration that he decide the fate of the Jewish people. This 4228 Tenth Avenue, was no longer ruler over the Jews. is why the ring was transferred to Brooklyn, New York ll219 Achashveirosh was ridding himself of Haman, a descendant of Amalek. the Jewish problem. Haman was now in Amalek personifies teva (nature) and 6 718•972•0880 command, to do as he saw fit • mikreh (happenstance), and aims to UIMNG BROOKLYN, ®UNt STAtEH ISIAND & MAHHAttAN Although Hashem's name is not deny Hashem's existence in this world 10• 7 i'Med & Regofated by NYS Dept _of lkril1h& NYC Dtpt. ofMffllal l'!eallh. mentioned in the Megilla, the Midrash This is what stirred the Jews to teshu· M01Jud R•l:iroolion &Akoho!;sm Ser\'lte• explains that when the passuk says va. It was as if they were being cast out

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 13 of their Father's house. They felt that He could still kill and destroy the Jewish This passuk also makes no mention was no longer concerned for them, and Nation, and the Jewish people could of Achashveirosh when referring to the that terrified them. At this frightening fight back and kill their adversaries as king. Once again, the King was Hashem. time, the people prayed and repented. before. Now, however, Hashem had He removed the ring from the hand of They realized that they were dependent reconciled with Bnei Yisroel and they Haman, who personified mikreh (hap­ solely on Hashem. Their efforts bore understood the wording of the second penstance), and gave it to Mordechai fruit and Haman was executed. They saw decree as another Heavenly sign that Hatzaddik, who exemplified trust in that after they returned and put their Hashem would fight their cause - they Hashem in all circumstances. If the peo­ trust in Hashem, He began to carefully could slay all those that rose up against ple would follow Mordechai, they would look after them again. Although them. Furthermore, this edict was pub­ prevail, as it says," Tzaddik be' emunaso Achashveirosh did not rescind Haman's lished after the king took the ring that yichyeh - The righteous person shall live ominous decree, he did permit them to he had given to Haman and handed it through his faith 12." It did not matter issue a new edict. Yes - on paper noth­ to Mordechai l 1• Mordechai was now in that 127 nations were preparing to attack ing changed. The enemies of the Jews charge of the Jews. them. "Eileh varechev ve' eileh va'susim, va'anachnu b'sheim Hashem Elokeinu nazkir. Heima karu v'nafalu va'anachnu kamnu vanisodad. Some come with chariots and some with horses, but v,re call out in the Name of Hashem. They slumped and fell, but we arose and were ILDING invigorated 13.""Surely this v,ras cause for celebration. And rejoice they did: "The J'Oill THE Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor." 14 UTURE A TIME OF SPIRITUAL REVIVAL his was not only a time of phys­ our years ago, \Ve set nut to build a first class, ical joy; it was also a time of spir­ Fout~of~to\vn yeshivah ~ including a Mesivra, Bais Titual revival. The Gen1ora 15 inter­ Medrash and Kollel ~ right in the heart of the New York prets this verse, "The Jews had light and metropolitan area. We chose leafy, upscale Manhattan Beach, gladness, and joy and honor", as follows: located n1inutes fron1 the Vcrazzano Narn)v.'S Bridge, fdr enough to be "Light refers to Torah ... gladness is Yom Tov ... joy refers to milla, circumci- secluded yet close enough for convenience. sion ... and honor is tefillin!' The climax l)uring these four years, \Ve have expanded of this renewed interest in 10rah our facilities tv,1ice to accomrnodatc our rctpid occurred after the Jews had conquered growth. We have now purchased a large build: their enemies. After their stunning vic­ ing and are launching a n1ajor building cam tory, they accepted the Torah anew, as to renovate and prepare it for our future ne they had at Sinai. '"Kiymu v'kiblu- the Jews established and accepted"'.' They Reserve your share in the most exciting established [in the times of Purim] what new Torah institution ht the New York area. Call now for dedication opportunities. they had accepted already [at Har Sinai):' Rashi explains that it was due to the love for the miracle that Hashem per­ formed for them then that they re­ 17 accepted the Torah • How did Mordechai and Esther's MESIVTA & BAIS MEDRASH OF decree cause a Torah renaissance, and MANHATTAN BEACH what was so special about the Jews' vic­ tory that they re-accepted the Torah because of this miracle? There were countless miracles and salvations that were performed from the time of Kab­ ba las HaTorah (receiving the Torah)

------14 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 until the Purim episode. What aroused their love on Purim that they felt this great devotion and commitment to the • Torah? Interestingly, Rashi does not say he Purim miracle taught Bnei Yisroe/ to that they accepted the Torah because of re-evaluate well-established ideas and love of Hashem, for His having per­ T forn1ed a miracle; rather it was due to beliefs. If they could uncover new purpose love of the miracle itself. \A/hat does Rashi 1nean? in the events that had transpired in their In comparison to the other miracles performed on behalf of Bnei Yisroel, daily lives, then they could surely discover Purim is unique. Factually, the decree proclaiming tbe Jews' right to defend new understandings and approaches to themselves was no different from tbe original edict. Yet they understood that the Torah that they had already learnt. this new declaration signaled their redemption. It drew into focus the sig­ nificance of all the events that had • transpired in order to reach this point. Specifically, Vashti was deposed APPRECIATION IN RETROSPECT had a special affinity for the miracle of because she had aroused Achash­ Purim. Throughout their history, Bnei veirosh's anger. Subsequently, Esther ow that they understood the Yisroel had witnessed many a miracle. was found to be the most beautiful true meaning of these events, Hashem had delivered them from cer­ maiden in Achashveirosh's kingdom, N the Bnei Yisroel related to these tain death on numerous occasions. No and he selected her as his new queen. past occurrences as if they were hap­ doubt, in their excitement and joy over Mordechai happened to overhear pening in the present. This is why they these miracles, they approached the Bigsan and Seresh plotting to assassi­ nate the king and foiled their plans. His deed was recorded in the royal ledger, then totally forgotten. Haman built a gallows to hang his archenemy, Mordechai. In retrospect, we see how these events were l)ivinely orchestrated. Vashti was removed to make way for Esther. Esther would now be able to beseech Achashveirosh and save her peo­ ple when the need would arise five years hence. Furthermore, the belated reve­ lation of Mordechai's role in foiling the assassination plot, resurfaced at a most opportune time and played a significant part in Haman's downfall and the Jew­ ish people's salvation. The fact that Haman built a gallows to hang Mordechai, who had saved the king's life, showed Achashveirosh that Haman was not concerned in the least with what was in the king's best inter­ est. Haman had his own agenda) which he would strive to carry out even if it proved detrimental to the governn1ent. Also, the gallows was prepared for a swift execution, before the fickle ruler could change his mind.

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 15 Torah and mitzvos with new-found enthusiasm. Also, in all likelihood, they resolved to be more diligent with their learning, in appreciation for all that Hashem had done for them. They still, Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUST "PAPERWORK" however, did not "re-accept" the Ti:>rah. ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD Bnei Yisroel learnt the Torah and were Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Yisrael well versed in its laws as well as observ­ 1043-42nd Street, Brooklyn, Nl' 11219 ing the mitzvos. How could they utter a Day & N'.ght phone: (718) 851-8925 new kabbala (acceptance), if they did not receive any mitzvos or laws that they had JVt"T.Jl'l1~T.Ji'lj7 Vl"i7 - ri~ 11-ll mr.i~v '1l~ Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved family. never learnt before? Whatever they would learn would only be a review of TAHARAS HANIFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE COMMERCIALIZED lessons from the past. The Purim miracle taught Bnei Yis­ roel to re-evaluate well-established ideas and beliefs. If they could uncover new Bais ¥aal

MRS. fAIGIE SELENGUT learnt. If Bnei Yisroel would look COcriittator beneath the surface, they would find many new meanings that remained hid­ den until then. They could then see Torah in a new light. This is the meaning of the Gemora. The passuk does not say that the Jews had Torah, Yam Tov, milla, and tefillin; rather, the passuk relates that they had light, gladness and honor. Bnei Yisroel already kept the Torah and mitzvos. They were lacking the light and joy that emanates from the Torah and niitzvos. After Haman was executed and a new decree was issued, Bnei Yisroel began to perceive the light of the Torah through BYA HALF DAY SEMINARY OFFERS: the new interpretations that they uncov­ • Dual class programs for the Sais • tt.mors dass with in depth ered. Through discovering new purpose Ya.alwv graduate who desires v;ip 'F')'.)'';:I for the motivate.I to fulfilling the Torah's precepts, they continued v1ip 1;in1';:1 and student who wants a greater +FACULTY+ development ofa solid '1!'.li)'IJFI for intellectual challenge began experiencing the joy of the R'Nafta!iBruck her adult years n1itzvos 115. R' Yosef Mitnick R' Eliezer Sandler PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: These feelings continued to grow R' Shlomo Teichman * Interactive visits wilh D';:>l;J * Optional mid-winier trip lo until the Bnei Yisroel's ene1nies were ;NiCI' '(FN Mrs. Yehudit Dav1dowitz * Varied and mu//i-iacf'ted extra defeated. Then, they actually experi­ Mrs, Surie Dymchitz curricular programs *Joh Pfacemcnt enced Hashem's hidden miracles. They Mrs. Miriam Eisenberger * Trips to /cwi.>h comrmmities ,ind * Credit for classwork can be Mts. Miri Kroizer institutions outside Brooklyn applied to post hrµh school degree witnessed the slaying of all those who programs and ,ijOV('rnmcnt Miss Rochel Licht * Guest speakers on the European had planned to destroy them. Hashem Mrs. Breindy Reiss and immigr,wt cxperil'nc('S, thf' (unding is available for the Ba,1/ Teshuvah muvemcnt <1nd accrf'dited student redeemed them without altering the nat­ many other lopics ural order of the world; there were no * Panel di.scussions on su/Jjects of 51 warm, invofverf at1111.1spfu-rc with an Jewish conccm empfia.sis on illrfivirfuaf attention. innovations. Kiymu v'kiblu: once again Bnei Yisroel shouted "na'aseh v'nishma, 1213 Elm Avenue• Brooklyn, New York 11230 • 718.339.4747 Ext. 115 we will do and we will listen."

16 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 3 WHEN FRESHNESS CURES Esther 8, 16 4 COMPLACENCY Megilla l 4a 5 There were definitely times when the Nevi'i1n Shoshanas his is another veryi1nportant les­ motivated the Jews to repent, writes the Sifsei Chacha1niin. The teshuva that was inspired by the son for us. Familiarity breeds removal of Achashveirosh's ring, however, was TtUdtov Tcomplacency. We assume that unparalleled in our history. since we have learnt the Megil/a so many 6 See Rashi 3,10; Maharal, Or Chadash Purim is perfect times, we fully understand the Purim 7 Esther Rabba 3: l O; Midrash Abba Gurion I; Pesach - wondrous, Shavuos - story and tl1ere is no need for us to re­ Yalkut Shimoni lOSl, IOS7; Zohar, Rei'a Mei­ awesome, Succos ~.celebration. exa1nine it. But, as we have demon­ himna, Behar (defus yashan 109a) Purim is perfect. strated, n1erely scratching at the surface 8 Sec Maharal, Or Chadash of the Megilla uncovers new treasures. 9 See Ohr Gedalyahu, Mo'adim, p. 44. See also Purim is a parable The same is true regarding much of Rarnban, Rabbeinu Bachya, Bereishisl8,19 Parts played to perfection: what we were taught in our youth. Rabbi JO This punish1nent was midda k'negged midda, Pompous perfidy, pious Simcha Zissel Ziv, the Alter of Kelm, in direct relation to the sin of that generation. They participated in Achashverosh's royal ban­ penitence, poetic payment - in 19 writes that as we grow older and quet. Although this banquet was no place for a full. mature intellectually, we learn new Jew, they argued that they needed to maintain good relations with the king. By ingratiating subjects and mitzvos with our advanced Ponder the pattern - abilities. Yet, we still approach the the1nselves to Achashverosh, they placed their trust in him, instead of relying on Hashen1, Sec Parallel processes mitzvos and learning of our youth as we Ohr Gedalyahu, Mo'adiin, p. 46 Pieced together precisely, did then. As the Gemora says "Kasha 11 Esther 8, 2 atika meichadeta- it is harder to learn Profound puzzle of Providence 12 Chavakuk 2,4. Perhaps the Divine salvation Divine. something old than something new2° :· came in this manner to remind them that if they The Alter says that this is why Chaz­ would lapse again and trust again in Man, then al taught "B'chol yam yihiyeh b'einecha their enemies would rise against them. Only if Perfect.as a rose of perfect k'ilu hayom nitna - We should con­ they would remain steadfast in their faith in petals, Hashem could they defeat their enemies. stantly view the Torah as if it were being 13 Proposal of purest love to that 21 Tehillim 20,8-9 given today" • most patient of Peoples. 14 Esther 8,16 No matter how many times we have Accepted. 15 learnt something or performed a par­ Megilla l6b 16 Perennially, passionately, ticular mitzva, we should try to Esther 9,27 With party and promenade 17 approach it as if it were the first time we Shabbos 88a Forever. 18 are learning or observing it. Often, when See Sefas Emes, Purim S648, See also Michtav we truly apply ourselves, we raise diffi­ Me' Eliyahu III p SS. The Malbi1n explains that the Ploni Almoni is the nom de plume of an decree that Mordcchai and Esther issued was a American studying in -a 'Jerusalem yeshiva. culties and wonder why we never asked reinterpretation of the original edict. The first His poem,''.Shir Shel Shavuos?-appeared in these questions before. When we view edict could be understood in one of two ways: JO, April '77. the Torah and mitzvos as something new, either the enemies of the Jews would destroy the we too will come away with a wealth of Jews, or the Jews would crush their enemies. The second decree merely clarified that the latter Sack after Its. 1st insights, and in that sense, it is a new understanding was the correct one. SuctessfUI Year! 22 • Gemora or a new mitzva 19 Chachma U'Mussar 1:83 f6f the l6~17 vi'·old bochOr When we see our children mas­ 20 Yoma 29a querading on Purim, let us remember 21 Rashi, Devari1n 6:6,l l ,13 Bethel that we must search and find how the 22 Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzky7"Yl brings out this Yad Hashem constantly affects our lives. Livestock farm point beautifully with the foUowing mashal Farm & Wildnerness Summer Program And if we examine it closely, we will also (parable). A boy who turned three received his see how we benefit today from our past first tallis kata11 (pair of tzitzis). The child looked leom under Robbi ::le experiences. May we also always view the adorable in the small tallis kattan, it fit him well. Shmuel Brazil, renownedi--~­ At the age of four, it was no longer a perfect fit, mechanech and mashpiah. d'var Hashem, the Torah, as something but he could still wear it. If the boy were to don Do genuine form work: sheep, ;13 new. Let us explore and strive to unmask the saine tallis kattan at the age of ten or bar mitz­ cows & chickens, gardening, ~ the Megilla, deepen our mastery of va, he would rightfully be the subject of derision. construction, and more! ~ For an adult to continue wearing the same gar~ U Torah, and make our fulfillment of ment would be ridiculous. If we do not re-eval~ Intensive backpacking, more meaningful. • 1nitzvos uate our approach and knowledge of niitzvos, then _,.. mountain biki~g, hiking !.~ and canoe tnps i'Chulli~LJ9b·---··-----~·-·-.. -----·- we resemble the child who continues to wear his first tallis kattan into adulthood ( T!te Laws of 2 [)evarim 31,18 Berachos, ArtScroll). 845-425-4559

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 17 j~~~~~ C,"t :lt:(t 1'1Mt:( '1" bp-i-in .,:lY ''1

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C/his magnanimousfi/f~;:· kes possible !he reflremenl oJ.:fi!tlmorfgage on !he 'Jjeshio.tl~ii'z~w building.

Lthe 9J..esbio ..4 ...·.· .... is nomed J·p~~ltj~fi~hich,<:-_c,\'(-,h'c-"i' .·..•.. .9r1l· • !7JtUeH, ,C',t an hour of Torah learning on Purim ai itself. Since then, Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzaddik has been no less phenome­ he Gemora (Megilla l 7a) relates HaTzaddik, as that hour came to be nal. Five years ago, Rabbi Naftali Meir that when Harnan went searching known, has filled the main beis midrash Falk - another Gateshead native - Tfor Mordechai HaTzaddik, to of Gateshead Yeshiva every year. posted the first announcements for dress him in the royal garb and lead him Yeshivas Mordechai Hatzaddik was Purim learning in the Ezras Torah around Shushan on the King's horse, he the outgrowth of a weekly father-son neighborhood of Jerusalem. The two found him in the beis midrash teaching learning program, Avos U'Banirn, which hundred calculator watches he ordered the laws of the kemitza (separating flour) also started in Gateshead. The basic idea as prizes proved to be only half of what from the korban mincha (meal offering is simple: Provide children with incen­ was needed. in the Temple). Said Haman to tives - snacks, prizes, raffles - in a beis The next year, Rabbi Falk joined Mordechai, "Your [study of] kemitza of midrash where all their friends are also forces with the Avos U'Banim national flour pushed away my ten thousand tal­ learning, and they will drag their fathers organization to spread the idea around ents of silver [with which I purchased along to learn with them. Eretz Yisroel. As an indication of the size the authority to destroy the entire Jew­ Today Avos U'Banim/Yeshivas of the enrollment, over 14,000 prizes ish people]:' Mordechai HaTzaddik is without a were distributed that year, growing to In light of the close connection doubt the fastest growing program of over 25,000 by the next year. Last year, between the Torah study and the mir­ Torah learning in the world. Gateshead 35,000 children participated in an hour acle of Purim, it is ironic that few days native Rabbi Dovid Hershkowitz of Purim learning in 453 different on the Jewish calendar have tradition­ brought the idea to Bretz Yisroel in 1998, branches in Israel. This year, well over ally been so free of Torah learning, espe­ and opened the first branch in 700 branches have registered, with new cially the sweet words of Torah of tinokos Jerusalem's Bayit Vegan neighborhood. postings corning in every day. A total of shel beis rabban (children) upon which By the second week, he had to find a fifty thousand children are expected to the world exists. By the time the Megilla larger beis niidrash, and the expansion participate. is read, costumes donned, mishlo' ach has been non-stop ever since. By 2001, The excitement generated around manos are wrapped and delivered, and the program was so successful that the Bretz Yisroel on Purim by Yeshivas rebbes visited, the hour of the Purim Mirrer Rosh Ha Yeshiva Rabbi Nosson Mordechai HaTzaddik spills over to the seuda has arrived. Tzvi Finkel encouraged Hershkowitz to rest of the year and leads to the open­ Recently, however, that scenario has travel to America to help organize ing of hundreds of new Avos U'Banim begun to change. Nine years ago, Rabbi branches there. To date, more than 100 branches. Matisiyahu Salomon, then Mashgiach in groups have sprung up in America, and the Gateshead Yeshiva, had the idea of dozens more in England, Europe, Aus­ A Force of Unity - National, offering special prizes as an incentive to tralia, and South America. At present, Communal, Generational entice children to bring their fathers to there are over 700 branches in Bretz Yis­ Rabbi Freund of Jerusalem is an occasional con­ roel alone, in which an average of ore than an organization, Avos tributor to these pages, most recently, "A Story 42,000 children under bar mitzva come U'banim is an idea that has That Just Won't Die" {Sept. '94). to learn with their fathers every week. M proven itself and can be e1nu-

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 19 '"t :~t ,,ii~ ,~ v""M "::t ,, j"VJ'i , Ji!ltO. "!l'j #ff!Vienna l 923 with the to it) which at times gave a negative cast 40% of the fathers had any idea of how announcement of the Daf Ha Yomi has to both the father-son relationship their children were learning. Today the a concept shown itself to have such and to the son's attitude towards Torah figure is over 80o/o. broad popular appeal. And the reason learning in general. The hour spent together each week is the same in both cases: Just as every­ Now it is the sons who are fairly is sacrosanct time for both father and one can learn the Daf Hayomi on his pleading with their fathers to come and son. In many large families) it provides level, so can each father and son use the learn with them. No one wants to 1niss the son with his only opportunity for hour together to learn at their level. being in a packed beis midrash with all undivided parental attention. Over an In some branches, where most of the their friends, who are also learning with open Gemora or Chumash, confi­ youngsters are the first members of their their fathers. Mechanchim have noticed dences are shared and the natural families to receive a Torah education, it a tangible difference in students' bond between father and son is deep­ is the sons who primarily teach their progress as a direct consequence of Avos ened. And because this takes place in fathers. The national office of Avos U'Banim has begun to develop learning materials that can be given to fathers in advance to help them prepare for the learning session. And like Daf Hayomi, Avos U'Ban­ im demonstrates that the only basis for Jewish unity is the Torah. The more­ than-seven-hundred branches in Eretz Yisroel stretch from Eilat in the south to Metulla in the north. Recently a branch even opened in the almost exclusively secular enclave of Lapid. Every community has adopted the concept - Chassidish, Litvish, and National Religious. What other program has received favorable notices in both the Satmar publication Der Yid and Ha­ Tzofeh, the journal of the National Religious Party? As a consequence of Avos U'Banim, there are close to 100,000 hours of extra Torah learning a week in Eretz Yisroel. During the winter months, the learning takes place on Motza'ei Shabbos, and during the su1nmer months, late in the This Purim, when you send afternoon on Erev Shabbos. your little ones out to deliver Greater than the impact of Avos Mishloach Manos, send U'Banim on the quantity of Torah alongsomethingspecial-Haolam Cheese. Cheese, you're giving wholesome gocidness Haolam Cheeses add variety -natures finest gifts tor this special holiday. learned, says Rabbi Elya Meir Schein­ co "Shalach Manos"-a wheelofHaolam So this Purim, don't give stale cake, er1nan, co-director of Avos U'Banim, Gouda or Muenster, our popular Smoked loose popcorn, or crumbling cookies. has been its impact on the father-son Cheese Sticks, or your favorite triangles. Give the gift that's good for you ... and bond of those participating. In fact, a And when you give a bottle the little ones, too! of wine, a nice piece of fruit, and Hao lam This year, smile, give cheese, and say.,. weekly study session - valuable as it is unto itself - 1nay or n1ay not inspire HAPPY PURI.Ml more hours of independent learning. But the father-son factor is bound to have positive ra1nifications. Prior to Avos U'Banim, too many fathers and THE l'IOST TRUSTED l'IAl'IE IN CHOLOVYISROEL CHUSE sons never learned together, or if they did, it was only under duress from the

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---·····--· ------. ·---·-··-- The Jewish Observer, Morch 2003 23

(.AYEAR OF 11

Ill ·~~~:i·.:·..;:.·;:.:::.':·: .. ·: .. ·:· • J~CE itsinception one year ago Zaka Rescue & Recovery -Life ·~W'!ng Motorcycle Rescue Unit, it has been called to hundreds of .~:~~fi!tgency calls by Magen David Ad om; at which they assisted J~~~usands of wounded and saved many lives. ·~IJ~ Ufe Saving equipment and quick response have resulted ;f;••i9 n.iaking the Zaka unit, the elite and foremost leader in the · • medical emergency response service. THIS year we plan to expand our fleet to 100 throughout Israel, / "' •·)~;{ 2,1; 'l\tula in cr>njunction with the 51 Motorcycles C!Jf,ffi!l1~ J Jt. ;)·:.1 4 Arad MANYlives were saved . ! 2 Ashdod :\ ,. 2 Beer Sheva •.·..·.•.·.·.·.·.•.·.·.·.·.··.·.·.·.·.···· ~),, 32 BeitBitar Shemesh Elite j•ij\ 4 Bnei - Brak • J• \1 Elad l!j. Haifa 1\ Hertzliah 9 \Jerusalem 1 \Kfar Saba 1 (Kiryat Gad 2 lod 1 Modiin• Elite 1 Ni!haria 1 Nehtnya 2 Pet~ch Tikva 2 Recttpvoth 1 Rish~ L'zio 2 Tiberies 3 Tel Aviv 1 Tzfas 't 1 Yesodo(h 1 Zichronll: 51 To s one of the Arab waiters removes them in the cattle car had brought along crushed up against my mother who kept our dinner plates, the bar mitz­ a kerosene primus and was trying to get pushing against her, saying she had to A"a boy's aristocratic-looking and it lit when it got knocked over and have more room. She was pushing elegant grandmother, seated to my exploded in her mother's face. "My against her with her feet, so I told my right, makes some comment under her mother was on fire - her face, her hair, mother I'd move over and sit on the suit­ breath about not throwing food away. everything. It was like a nightmare. cases - everyone's baggage was piled up This poignantly evokes for me a mem­ Somebody threw a blanket on her - high in the corner of the car. My moth­ ory of my mother, which elicits a mem­ that probably saved her life. And after er said 'No, you stay here; but I crawled ory of her mother, a question, an a while somebody moved over and let over and climbed up on top. I don't know answer, then another question, which her sit where there was some air com­ how long I was there - I fell asleep - when leads to the cattle car in which she had ing in. From one of those openings. You all of a sudden, boom!" She touches her been deported to Siberia. know what cattle cars look like:' nose. "A heavy suitcase - it must have I ask, tentatively, how long she was "No, not really." been a trunk - it slipped and fell down in a cattle car. She says six weeks. She and «Well, those cars were made for ani­ on me. I think I still have the scar:' her mother and brother had been sent mals, you know, and there were these lit­ "So did you go back and sit next to to a Russian labor camp. tle openings on top, so she sat like this your mother?" "How old were you?" -"Mrs. S. tips back her head and clos­ «No, no." "Oh ... in 1941. I was ten. Eleven." es her eyes. "To get the air. She was in "Did you tell her what happened?" "So you didn't have to work, too, did torment. It was horrendous. She told us "No, no." She gives a dismissive lit- you?" the air helped. For some reason she had tle wave of her hand. "We were so hard­ "Of course, I did," she says, shrugging. brought along a little bottle of oil in her ened already. We had never experienced "My brother, too. The Russians took us suitcase and she said 'Hurry, get me the such things ... never imagined .... People even though we were underage. That oil; and she kept applying it to the burns. were so terrified. We had no idea where was the only way we could get a food She said it helped:' they were taking us. Can you imagine?" ration." I ask why, and she explains that She pauses and peers at me suddenly. their mother wasn't eligible because she "Can you imagine that? Not knowing was too weak to cut down trees; there'd ne question after another. ... My where you're going?" been an accident on board the train, and curiosity feels akin to greed. I'm momentarily taken aback. She in the camp she fell ill in one of the OShe says forty-five or forty-six really seems to be asking me, and of typhus epidemics. strangers were crowded together in the course I can't. I can imagine none of it. "\Nhat accident?" dark. "There was such confusion. Such "My mother thought we were being She says the woman sitting next to chaos, I can't tell you. Everyone was so sent to England, because that's where she Mrs. Shapiro of Jerusalem is a frequent con­ terrified. So bewildered. There was one had told the Russian authorities we tributor to these pages, most recently with "That bucket for everybody. Somebody tried to wanted to go. But it turned out that I Can Survive" (Oct. '02). Her most recent book hang up something for privacy. It was everyone in the car had been told is A Gift Passed Along: A Woman Looks at the World Around Her - ArtScroll. horrendous. There was one woman something different. Some thought we

26 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 were going to Palestine. Some to Amer­ strips of burning bark before their eyes. a maid for a gentile family. The wife was ica ... Canada .... V\fherever people had "I can't describe the cold in Siberia; any­ German, the husband Russian. They said they wanted to go, the Russians said, thing that was exposed - even one hair were very good to me."

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 27 the neighbors, and even some of her said, 'Just wait, she)ll be back,' and 1nountains "- and my grandfather was a friends, they used to say, 'Are you crazy? sure enough, late at night, when distinguished talmid chacham, and was How can you take such children into everybo-" extremely successful in business. We your home? How do you even know always had maids, and a nanny for the those children are really theirs? Maybe ne of her other grandsons, children, and lived in a big house sur­ it's a fake! They'd say things like, 'It's around seven, appears at Mrs. rounded by gardens. So, my brother not just that they're poor - it's that 0 s:s side with a toothsome could not accept what had happened to some of them don't have a conscience.' inquiry as to whether she wants dessert, us. Conditions had changed. Our Jives But my mother didn't care, she stood and her face blooms in smiles. Taking changed. That's life:' her ground. She loved the children. My his face in her hands, she asks, "What "The two of you cut down trees?" father used to say, 'Watch out, one day do they have?" whereupon he runs off "Yes, and it was our job to cut up the one of those women is going to leave in a flash. logs and put them into cubic meters. We a child behind and then what will you "Such a wonderful boy." She shakes weren't so tall, so we were cutting like do? You'll be stuck: But my mother her head, marveling. '(Such a wonder­ this:' She leans her head back, and reach­ refused to believe such a thing. It went ful boy. I am so blessed." ing upwards with both arms held against her instincts. She refused to "The mother came back?" straight and parallel, demonstrates a believe any mother would abandon her "Oh, yes:' Mrs. S. sits silently a back-and-forth sawing motion. ''I'll child. One time a mother didn't come moment or two, thinking, then she says: tell you something:' She leans toward me back when she said she would. It got "My brother was thirteen when the Ger­ slightly and gives a confidential little dark. Still she didn't come. So my mans invaded, and he was very bitter. smirk. "If I had to support myself with mother sat the child down to eat with Very angry. You see, before the war, we logging today, I could make a very nice us. It got later and later and still the had a very nice, comfortable life. My living. I was so good with an ax, it got mother didn't come. So my mother father was a lamdan, and a successful so I could cut the wood exactly. You put the child to bed. My father was businessman, and my mother came know, you can't cut through the knot. muttering, 'You see! I told you so!' from a very wealthy family in Silesia - I learned how to cut exactly around the but my mother stuck to her guns, and the town was surrounded by beautiful knot. And we knew how to cut off the branches. We made good logs together, r.------~ my brother and I. But my mother was I too delicate. The very first time she I swung an ax, she got a double hernia. IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED It's as if you took a princess and set her I down in the forest and gave her an ax INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? I and commanded her, 'Cut down this We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. tree!'Would she be able to? She was too Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and delicate for logging and the Russians computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. knew it. I remember one time, one of the overseers saw her working and he pointed to a tree stump and he said, 'You sit down, Mrs. B.' Affix old label here "She did other work in the camp, believe me, she did everything she could to help us. In the summer- in the Name ______summer it was bright at night - she raised vegetables in back of our hut. The New Address soil was black and wonderful in Siberia. We grew peas and carrots, all kinds of City, vegetables. We had a rose garden. State, ______Zip I thought we would be there forev- Date Effective ------­ Send address The Jewish Observer KARKA IN BRETZ YISROBL changes to: Change of Address Call Rabbi Gavriel Beer for information on obtaining cemetery plots in Beth 42 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004 Shemesh and other locations in Israel. Please allow 4~6 weeks for all changes to be reflected on your mailing labeL We will not L be responsible for back issues missed unless you notify us 6 weeks prior to your move. .J

-----· ··--·--·-----"·------~'"------·------~------~------~------The Jewish Observer, March 2003 28 er. When we left Siberia, we left it all­ butcher said to her, 'Mrs. B., I killed it, down into - I don't know how to all the vegetables, all my mother's you don't have to worry: And she said, begin ... how to describe it. I remember, roses - to the Russians. But it was a 'You're a butcher, not a shochet: He after the war, saying to someone, 'I am pleasure. insisted he knew how to do it, but she so happy to be human again: In Siberia "My mother washed, she scrubbed. wouldn't eat it." he and I used to lie on the bed - it was She made our hut as livable as possible. "Did she let you and your brother eat a board covered with straw - with our We lived in a one-room log cabin - of it?" mother lying sick between us, she was­ wood there was always enough - and we "We wouldn't have stood for it if she n't able to walk anymore, and we'd had a wood stove. We shared the hut hadn't." watch the rats running back and forth with another family. Their bed was on across our feet. It was like an enter­ one side of the hut, ours on the other. ((you were saying, about your tainment for us. We used to joke. "All our clothes were always crawling brother being bi-" At this 'There goes the father! Look, the moth­ with lice. There were lice in the seams. moment the sound of an er! Here come the kids!' My mother would take all the clothes ambulance appears, swells, and shrieks "He was always saying to my moth­ out behind the hut and scrub until they past in a flash. Will this be followed at er, 'It's not fair! They have no right to were completely clean. We'd put them once by another? do this to us!' And she would press a fin­ on and an hour later they'd be crawling I sense Mrs. S. watching me. "It does­ ger to her lips, like this, and say,' Sindig with lice again. And the walls of the hut n't have to be terrorism," she says. "It nischt! Sindig nisch~ Don't sin! Don't sin! were always covered with bed bugs, could be something normal. Somebody Thank G-d for what is! And just pray teeming with bed bugs. They were sick, may they have a refua shleima. that it shouldn't be worse!' So he'd say, polka-dot walls, winter and summer:' Maybe a mother giving birth." 'Yeah, sure, and how could it be worse? The grandson reappears, grinning. I'm mentally bolting through the How?' and she'd say, 'Shhhhush! It He reports that there's green jell-a and checklist of the various members of my could be worse! It shouldn't be worse! yellow jell-o. Chocolate mousse, pink family. Where are they all? Don't test G-d to punish us. Hashem ice-cream, white cake with whipped Thirty or so seconds pass without shouldn't test us, G-d forbid! Be happy cream, fruit cup, and pears colored red. any sirens. I ask about her brother being for what is!' That's what she was always 'Tl! have the ice-cream;' says Mrs. S., bitter. saying, to be grateful for what is and to whereupon he vanishes. "But of course, it was understand­ Mrs. S. takes a slice of bread and lays able. Before the Germans invaded VISITING NY? it upon the hotel's white tablecloth, Poland, he had been enjoying his life. between our water glasses. "Each day the His school, his friends. And my moth­ MIDWOOD Russians gave us each a piece of bread, er and father were wonderful parents. GUEST SUITES like this." She takes her knife and cuts the Just wonderful. He liked everything Ave. J, Brooklyn bread in half, then examines it and trims about his life, and all of a sudden, to be 718·253-9535 it again, into a somewhat smaller rec­ pulled out of his life like that and set tangle. "Like that. That was the food ration. My mother used to say to my brother and me, 'Here, here's another piece for you; and I used to say, 'Where's yours?' and she'd say, 'It's in my mouth! See?' and she'd smile and go like this:' For careful attention to your Mrs. S. makes big, distinct chewing individual needs, call us today! movements and smiles smugly as if she's eating something utterly delightful. (845) 354-8445 "Until today, I cannot throw away bread. I'll make it into crumbs. I'll toast it when it gets old. But I just can't bring myself to throw it away. GEFEN IP...... 1. "There was a kosher butcher among the people there, and one time he got FI~1b~~AL(. hold of a calf and killed it. Everyone was Registered Mortgage Brokers , •• so excited, it was like a holiday. Every­ NYS Dept. of Banking body got a piece and put it under the 800 Manor Road, Suite #1 Staten Island, New York 10314 roof of the house to keep it frozen. But Phone 718-983-9272 • 914-MORTGAGE my mother wouldn't take any. So the Lwns arrangM ltrrough 3rd party providers

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 29 pray it shouldn't be worse, but I was that my father would come to get us. he grandson enthusiastically praying for HaKadosh Baruch Hu to And in the end, he did. They spent the plops a bright pink dessert down please, please take us out of our lives next thirty-five years together. My Tbefore her, along with a dish hold­ sooner rather than later. I was just a mother always had a lot of faith and ing two pears tinted red and a piece of child, but I felt sure we were all going that's why I have a lot of faith. That layer cake topped with whipped-cream. to die - people were dying left and right whatever is, is not of my doing. It has She again takes his face in her hands, - so I'd pray, 'Please, please let us die fast, to do with Hashem. thanking him profusely. Radiant, shin· so we don't have to suffer so much.' Dur­ Miracles happen all the time. ing, he disappears. ing one period when there was nothing "You know, at one point in the camp, "What a wonderful boy. Just won· at all to eat, Yorn Kippur came and I I got malaria and died.'' derful. Such a wonderful boy.'' She remember saying, 'At least I'm fasting for My face must register my surprise. takes a small taste of the pink stuff. a reason.' "Yes. Nowadays they call it being din· She pauses, sets down the spoon, dis· "But my mother - she never lost ically dead. I saw my body from up concerted. '(\r\That is this?" she murmurs. hope, never. She always had faith. She above, lying on the bed, and saw the peo­ "It's not ice cream." never let us fall. She used to say, 'All this ple standing around me. Then all of a She makes a half-gesture as if to push will pass. We will all be together again,' sudden I was being pulled away to away the dish, but her hand stops, and,' Baruch Hashem, Baruch Hashem', another world. It was like a big magnet returning uncomfortably to her lap. and 'Just wait, everything's going to be drawing me, drawing me. My grandfa­ Then she brightens. "Would you like to all right, don't worry, you'll see. This ther was coming towards me. I was on have this, maybe?" won't last forever.' She always tried to my way to join him. I was so happy. It l decline, saying I think I'll go get keep up our spirits. She always had hope was so beautiful. So beautiful there, I some chocolate mousse, then find cannot tell you. It felt so good. Then all myself inexplicably possessed by a sud· of a sudden, it hit me: 'No! I can't leave den childish zeal. . .like the grand­ FREE SAMPLE my mother!' and the next thing I knew, son's ... to be the one to serve her. If you teach Mesechtas Makkos I was back in myself. When I opened my "Would you like some, too?" We have available eyes, it was a great shock for the people "Well, maybe some tea." She rises there. They thought it was techiyas from her chair. ••GEMS FROM hameisim (revival of the dead). They She's tall, statuesque. I wouldn't DAF YOM1•• told me later I had had no heartbeat. My mind having higher heels at a time like on this mesechta. breathing had stopped entirely. this. Off we set across the dining hall, Or if you just learned it with Daf "Fron1 then on, I was no longer towards the big, happy, noisy crowd sur­ Yomi and are eager to review. scared of death. I saw that death is some· rounding the buffet. Please write to thing wonderful. Until today, I'm not Yeshiva Fund scared of dying. Not at all. I know some· *** Box 82 • Staten Island, NY 10309 thing good is waiting for me.'' ack at the table, I finish my mousse, and Mrs. S is looking You can! Just call Baround now with a pleasant The Yitti Leibel expression, hands folded on her lap. She Helpline. says, "Here I am now at this wonderful HOURS: simcha. Thank G-d. Look, I am here with Monday-Friday ...... 8am -12pm all my loved ones. Monday-Thursday ...... 8pm -1 lpm "!went today to their graves on Har Sunday ...... 9a1n -12pm, 9pm -1 lpm Hazeisim - my mother and my father. »'i718-HELP-NOW I invited them to come here to the bar (718) 435-7669 mitzva. t~ "I hope they came. Chicago ...... ( 800) HELP-023 "When my husband and I were in Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 New York after the war - this was about Baltimore ...... (410) 578-1111 thirty-five years ago - we had Detroit ...... (877) 435-7611 Jonathan's bar mitzva and my parents San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 came from London for the simcha. All ;i·v c?v;i"11 iro 1:-~i.-.,v ., n:i ~'01-: ;i'TI nsc•1 "17,,;? (;;•';or,:tn "1"!I ~··;;it::!l!) the time I kept pinching myself and ;"\"j) l1~7,,:p;~~:;;.:i·~; 1;i'",,;W '1 pinching myself - I am here with my Dedicated b Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Baruch Wilhelm parents and my husband and my chil-

-·------·-·------30 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 dren! l kept going all the time back and but when the Jews came to pray, He life. And when I didn't do something forth in my mind, back and forth. l should give them what's good for them:' right it was just because I didn't know could not believe it. lt was like a dream. She shakes her head, smiling. "Isn't that better. For example, the way I forced my Can you understand that? We never something? That l should hear that? The children to eat! Oh, I really tortured thought we would ever come out of the woman who was talking kept repeating them about food. Years later when I camp, and l have the zechus to be with to the other one, 'It's written. It's written: looked back, I realized I had been out my parents and my husband and chil­ 'Tm so grateful to have the zechus to of my mind, forcing them like that to dren at our son's bar mitzva? I was all be here with my family, I can't begin to eat, and I asked their forgiveness." the time pinching, pinching, pinching tell you. It's such a special, special, spe­ She tips back her head and laughs n1yself. Is it true or am I drea111ing? Is cial zechus. heartily. <'And \vhen I said I was sorry, it true or an1 I dreaming?" "It's amazing what you can go Jonathan said to me, 'What are you talk­ Her cheeks are all at once shining through, and that you can accept it and ing abont? You didn't force me to eat.' with tears. She takes a napkin and wipes go on. I don't have any hard feelings. I "I am so grateful. I am overwhelmed. her eyes. can die very peacefully. I have a very clear G-d is so good to me. My birthday is ''It was such a zechus to experience conscience. I did everything I could in every day.'' • this wonderful thing - to have a fami­ ly.] Jived to have children. "!had a very happy childhood.] am so grateful, I cannot tell you - so grate­ ful - that l had such good parents. "It wasn't easy in Siberia. Many, many suffered. Many died. If it is meant for you to die, you die. Whatever happens is min haShamayim. Hashem does things the way He thinks it should be and we cannot argue. FOR "Things changed. Nothing lasts for­ THE FINEST ever. It's like circles going around. IN· Nothing stays the same in life. Nothing. All things in life pass. The bad things, and unfortunately, the good things, too. AND VIDEO 'Tm a very fortunate person. I had a wonderful youth. lt was a wonderful life. Even though I went through a lot and there were a lot of obstacles, I am very grateful for every day because Hashem has always been so good to me. YOUR CAR IN ISRAEL FROM- Bad things happen. Life is life. Do you * US$ think it's supposed to be smooth sailing .90 p~::AY all along? 15 "We thought that being sent to TYPE OF CAR PER WEEK $ Siberia was our biggest misfortune, that A FIAT PUNTO 3 DR 112 nothing worse could happen. But it B FIAT PUNTO S DR 126 turned out to be our luck. Our good for­ FREE* c FORD FIESTA 147 tune. We were the ones who were bet­ Cl PEUGEOT 306 182 ter off. We weren't sent to concentration MT MINIBUS I 0 SEATS 518 camps. SHABBAT D OPEL CORSA 189 "After I arrived here from New York * Minimum J days rental, exc.ins. E DAEWOO LANOS 217 on Monday, I went to the Kotel. l was sit­ subject to offer regulations. F SUZUKI BALENO 245 ting there outside the Kotel and I beard U.S.A New-York XL PEUGEOT 406 2.0 357 two women talking in Yiddish. One of 1-800-938-5000 212-629-6090 vx VOLVOS-70 630 them was telling the other that when www.eldan.co.il EX MERCEDES E240 770 Shlomo HaMelech was building the Tem­ KX MAZDA MPV 651 ple, he prayed that when the goyim came * unlimited mileage, exc. ins. to pray, He should grant them their wish, ...... * Va1id low season only

---··---·· The Jewish Observer, March 2003 37 ··~o.urdttlto•Aff!~arpc:htf/9e:0•WHf(".fi<;h Hal'a.lrillalkiel .K•tler, •shlita .· ;(/~sh Yeshi~aBais Medfe~1J6~dhiI, Lake~66J · Ii.rd Pi~-h~•··Bteiler, sblita Ra~?tAgudas f1sr~e!B81§.Bf1~8~illof"Ff~~Dsfi Who,wi/lq{s/5(~l1t8.'lf!Ur·fji?f}ey~e!JtCOf)tributiOr •'! llJil'im,whil:;pwill•IY,tfnggre~tjoylntothe h".Brts otpoor wi,dows f1rrd~r.P&ans, · ·· · ··

•. "--- ·.~.. •• •.•·.> .•. :· .•:: .. ·.:·.•.• ..:;;··.•.·.· .. ••.. •.··.·.•.:',,•.·.t::.•.•.·.;.·::.· .. <· ..:.·· .. ·:>:.•·.: ..:;.;.··.::.·.t.·.Y.•.·.·.•.•.··.{.:}.:--.:: ..• •.·.··.:-.• ... :· .. ::::~ ... ·.·.;.•. ·.i·.:;.•.--·· ···•.>···· ..••'•>···.·.··•c>.:v Your generous contribution will be accepted from now until Purim 4:00 pm, and still be distribu on the day of Pu m.

·'· ·:·.f:·.:.·:ti.Ye;.;;:·:';:>'?:;,':/>·/:'":~.::: .. :·,·.·.·.·.>:.·.·.'>>···.; · ·~~~ ·~~i~~i~~i1~iel~K~t1~r . ···· .. ·•·· ·'··•··§~1 ~tH.•.~treet.,·, L.akewoo·~;.NJ·os1n~ "OURS IS NOT TO REASON ... " called me back asking incredulously why occupation?" and he replied, "I am a -ORIS IT! I declined his request, only to accept a lawyer." The Brisker Rav criticized his request from another school for the very response, and explained, "In Sefer t was Sunday morning, the day after same time slot. Yon a, as the ship is about to capsize and the tragedy of the loss of the Colum­ My response was simple: "It's all in Yona steps forward, he is asked 'Ma I bia, that I received a phone call from the title:' I explained my decision with melachtecha - (What is your profes­ the principal of one of the local ele­ an insight of Rabbi Samson Raphael sion)?' Yona responds 'Ivri anochi, mentary schools. He requested that I Hirsch, 7"Yl, on the passuk in Tehillim va' es Elokei haShamayim ani yorei address the student body on Monday "Keili, Keili lama azavatni" (My G-d, - I am a Jew, and I fear G-d in heav­ morning at a special assembly. When I Why did You.forsake me)? He said, "Don't en: asked him what the theme of the read it Lama (Why), but rather 'L'ma' "What kind ofresponse is that to the assembly was, he responded, "Under­ (For what purpose) did You forsake me?" question that was asked? After all, he standing the Why of Tragedies." I polite­ We have neither the ability nor the right was asked to state his profession." The ly declined. to attempt to answer the "Why" of the Brisker Rav explained, "Yona was not Later that evening, I received a tragedy; however, the ability and the asked how he makes parnassa, he was phone call from a different principal of responsibility to ask "For what purpose asked his profession, meaning 'Define another yeshiva in the comn1unity and (for what message) and/or what can we who you are, define your essence.' was asked the very same request, learn from it?" is our obligation. The Yona's essence was that he was a Jew. "Would you be available to address the topic of his assembly was "Why," and I That was his definition; everything else students at an assembly on Monday am not an authority on why Hashem lvas secondary. You," the Brisker Rav morning?" Again, I asked what the does things. The title of the second continued, "are a few, and that is theme of the assembly was, and he assembly was "The Lessons to be what defines you; being a latttyer is sim­ responded, "Lessons to be Learnt From Learnt;' and I felt that I could humbly ply how you make your living." Tragedies." I readily accepted. share some thoughts that I had heard The inevitable third call came late from my great Rebbe'im over the years. THE ASTRONAUT'S SELF-DEFINITION Monday night when the first principal Allow me to share briefly some of Rabbi Ginzberg, founding Rav of our ()hr Moshe those thoughts. lan Ra1non was not an observant Torah, Institute in Hillcrest, NY, is currently Rav The Brisker Rav, 7"::·,n, once greeted Jew. He did not keep Shabbos nor of the Chafetz Chaiin 'JOrah Center of an American visitor who had come to Kashrus; and in his four years in Cedarhurst (Long Island), New York. He is a fre­ I speak with him at his hon1e in Yerusha­ Houston, he did not even send his chil­ quent contributor to JO, most recently vvith "A Call to An11s" (Oct. '02). layim. He asked him, "What is your dren to a Jewish Day School. Yet for the

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 33 entire world, he defined himself in his something called Mezuza for the first things are Hakadosh Baruch Hu's last sixteen days on earth - and above time in their lives? And how many domain, and His alone. What is our it- as a Jew first, "Ivri Anochi"; being an Tommy Lapid's in Bretz Yisroel spent a domain, is: What we can learn from this astronaut was just his line of work. How sleepless night after reading on the front tragedy? One answer, I would suggest, is many millions of people around the page of Maariv that the "modern day the kind of impact that can be made by world who have never heard of Shabbos, hero" of Jewish recited" Shema YisroeI" proclaiming out loud for the whole now understand that it is something at the sight of the majestic holy city of world to hear," Ivri Anochif'' very special? And millions more, who Yerushalayim while deep in space! have buried the memories of the six mil­ For those who can't get past his not RESPONSES GREAT AND SMALL lion kedoshim of the Holocaust were being a Sho1ner Torah and mitzvos; or awakened to the need to keep the that he was supposed to return on Shab­ ne synagogue in Manhattan memories alive, through the Sefer Torah bos day, violating the holy day; or that had the largest attendance on he took along. How many Jews through­ a sefer Torah was brought into space 0 that Shabbos afternoon for Min­ out this country may have learnt about improperly, is missing the point. These cha services since Yorn Kippur, by the many who came to identify with their own personal "Ivi-i Anochi."... The Shinui party cancelled a public victory concert for their supporters that very }AoayGn Semi,.,.. Shabbos day, sparing a tremendous chillul Shabbos for the expected tens of We are pleased to announce that registration thousands of people. for the 5764 school year is now starting. When Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky N"P°'7V, a person who counts his every Our Mission Is To Develop Each Gins Skills and word carefully, was asked if these pub­ Attitudes That Are Essential for Achieving Her Full lic expressions of Shabbos and of Kial Potential As A Bas Yisrael. Yisroel could be considered "Kiddush •A professional and experienced staff dedicates themselves to build Hashem," he responded with great con­ up the self-esteem and positive thinking of each student. viction, "Bevadai, bevadai, bevadat'' *A warm and nurturing environment provides the girls with the outlook (three times "Surely"). and ideals necessary to build a Jewish home. We have no real understanding of the *A unique curriculum combines academic classes in Hashkafa and eternal reward of an act of Kiddush Halacha and a comprehensive life skills program. Hashem by any Jew at any time. The Information and Applications Gemora ( Gittin 57a) comments on how Mrs. Ruchama (Spiro) Feldman Mrs, Ora (Shurkin) Sanders the offspring of Haman Harasha taught Program Director Academic Director Torah in B'nei Brak. What merit did Tel: (02) 581-4489 or (02) 581-8226 Fax: (02) 532-4368 Haman have to reap such zechusim? Yes, he was the epitome of evil, but through his evil decrees, B'nei Yisroel were ~Jfeelconfldentthatanyparent whowlllsend his "Before I came to Moayan Sem. I or her daughter to this .school wiff be fully inspired to do teshuva, and as a result had trouble with schoolwork, social satisfied with the «lucational program which It of that the miracle of Purim wlff offer: Hatav Aharon Fe!dmr.n Rosh Yeshiva, problems, and keeping up in class. teshuva, Nerlsrael of8a!timl'.lf8 Now in Maayan Sem, I have every took place. Since indirectly he was the assignment finished. I am working 'They are both eKct!lfent mMhanchos with on my social skills, and if I have cause of this Kiddush Hashem in the eyes exten.sive experieflCe in the fiefds of general and trouble with schoolwork, I can ask of the entire world, he merited to have >!peciafeducation. • for help. I recommend anyone who his offspring teach Torah in B'nei Brak. Mrs Miriam Schoon, D1reciorof Ploch Yeruc.hti

34 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 that he had a very special Rabbi sitting of the shul for direction. Having no burial, and instructed them to bwy him behind him. After several minutes, he alternative, he motioned for everyone right next to the plot that was reserved reached over to the seat next to hirn for to do as they were told, with tears rolling for him in the Rabbonim Section. He his baseball cap and gently placed it onto down his aged cheeks. And the town folk explained, ''What an honor it would be his head. Afterexitingthe taxicab, Rabbi began to dance on the sifrei Torah. for me to eternally rest next to some­ Hutner, commented to his student~ One man was frozen in his tracks. one who died Al Kiddush Hashem!" ''Who knows how niuch nitzchius (eter­ It was Yossele, known in Krakow as a Why this tragedy happened, or how nal reward) that secular driver earned thief, a corrupt individual who was he is viewed in the Olam Ha'emes are the by placing a cap on his head in honor shunned by everyone. He just stood wrong questions to ask. What is right, ofthe old rabbi in the seat behind him!" frozen. A Nazi soldier spotted him not though, is to learn from his example of In the same vein, who knows what joining in the desecration of the sifrei what a great impact a Jew can have by special nitzchius (eternal reward) awaits Torah, and ordered him to start danc­ proclaiming for all the world to hear this individual, who in his last days on ing. He just continued to stand frozen. "lvri Anochi!" II earth proclaimed to the world "Ivri The Nazi raised his gun to Yossele's Anochi"? The words of Chazal, "Yesh heart and said, "Dance, or I will kill you koneh olamo be'shaa achas - One can right now where you stand!" acquire eternal life in a single n1oment," Yossele ripped open his shirt with his has become ever more vivid. t1vo hands, exposing his heart, and said One final story: in a controlled rage: ''Shies

gather together the men of the city in upon my G-d's Torah)." Enjoy the freedom and convenience of a front of the big shul. They took out the Yossele became the newest addition kosher guesthouse, located sifrei Torah and unrolled them on the to a long list ofKrakow's Jews who gave only minutes away from the Touro Synagogue, ground. They then ordered at gunpoint up their lives Al Kiddush Hashem. the oldest synagogue all the fews to dance on top ofthe sifrei The elderly Rav delegated the in North America Group di5<0LJr>t awl/able for Simchos and Shobbm Torah. All eyes 1vere on the elderly Rav Chevra Kadisha to prepare his body for For reservations call: 1-888-465-0051

The Netanya explosion and other terrorist attacks not only Our response must be the very opposite, to bring relief and a destroyed the lives of our brothers and sisters, they caused modicum of holiday cheer to those who suffer daily from fear and economic devestation, especially for those on the lower rung of economic stress. Please join in our efforts to provide for the poor the Israeli economy, leaving thousands of families in poverty during the upcoming Yorn Tov. You will thereby make their Pesach without the basics for the holiday. more joyous and bring seder {order} to their chaotic lives. SHOULD WE LET THEM SUCCEED? HO!! HELP THEM TASTE THE FREEDOM!!

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oday's advanced able innovation, enables us to be con­ technology offers us nected with each other better than ever. Tso many alternatives But were you ever having an interest­ by which to communicate ing conversation with someone when almost anywhere in the his cell phone rang and suddenly you world, and receive just became invisible in deference to a about any type of informa­ person perhaps hundreds of miles tion more quickly and effi­ away? In an engaging anecdote ciently than ever - cellular related by Reb Avi Shulman, an iso­ phones, e-maiL Internet, fax lated farmer installed a telephone machines. in his farmhouse. One day, as he sat The Torah world has also and talked with a visitor, the profited; lessons and messages phone rang but the farmer of inspiration of Torah have ignored it. His friend incredu­ reached places far removed lously suggested that he take the from Orthodox Jewish life. The call. The farmer replied, "I put in that CD-Rom offers Torah texts in a teller in the bank. phone for my convenience. Right now, very convenient form. The Inter- The writer of these lines is admittedly it ain't convenient!" net and E-mail are sources for Torah the owner of a cell phone, utilizes e-mail, Cell phones are a mixed blessing in articles and halachic inquiry. and, at times, uses a telephone answer­ other ways. The availability of a phone Yet, the benefits notwithstanding, one ing machine. Yes, there are monetary in every conceivable setting has wonders to what extent these advances and time-saving advantages both for removed the sense of privacy that the have improved the overall quality of our commerce and the individual. Yet, upon telephone used to offer when it was con­ communication. A few examples will reflection, hasn't the widespread use of fined to the home and office. And this illustrate. Phone a large company and this technology somehow created a is not to mention the vulnerability of various menus are provided to connect tear in the social fabric of life? speaking on the phone while driving, a you with the desired individual or The cellular phone, truly a remark- practice which studies show seriously department. But sometimes you can't help feeling that you reached your party more rapidly and with less frustration in the old days when a secretary answered and simply connected you with the e6rowing Jewish Community appropriate extension. Complete family Resources E-mail and voice mail allow for •Healthy Job Market entire conversations to take place with­ •Affordable Housing out speaking with anyone. •Nurturing Community Even a routine task such as making •Learning Opportunities a bank deposit using the convenient •Shomer Shabbos Medical Residencies ATM machine saves you the "bother" •Community Activities of a friendly Good morning to the Total Torah Environment •Cheder •Bois Yakov Rabbi Ges~er pr~~ently resides in M~~ico C-ity, •Yeshiva Gedola •Kollel where he learns part-time in a kollel. A writer whose articles have appeared in various publi­ • Mikveh • Eruv cations, he has assisted in the production of many •Wisconsin School Tuition Vouchers published Torah works in English. His article, for Qualifying Families "From Slavery to Freedom ... From Darkness to Great Light," was featured in JO March '01. The Torah Community of Rabbi Michel Twerski invites your interest 1-800-226-3129

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 37 impair one's driving ability. (Some often this is not done. And the invasive makes it clear that often this is not the states have passed laws requiring a ring is still jarring. case. Is it critical that one's neighbor in hands-free device for con1municating to Certainly, com1nunication plays a shul know that his wife could use some address this problem.) vital role in 1orah living. Enhancing per­ onion buns and cheese danish picked And who hasn't been taken aback by sonal relationships, presumably an up on the way home? The modern mir­ phones incongruously ringing and objective of better communication, is a acles of communication truly consti­ being answered during davening, in the priority, affording openings for ahavas tute a blessing, but they are also a midst of a shiur, during a chupa, or dur­ Yisroel and chessed. responsibility. ing, G-d forbid, a levaya? A partial - and Rabbi Moshe /Shulchan Aruch:' words of friendship and encouragement The modern-day miracles of the meant as much to the man as the money. 0 communication revolution" should We make "housecalls" Of course, a different standard be viewed not merely as an end unto 718)972-4003 applies for individuals who need to be themselves, but rather as a means to an reached at a 1noment's notice for end - to better the quality of our lives, IP. :i-'.,N- urgent matters (such as Hatzola vol­ and to bring us closer together. The key / • - .,b:;)tv unteers). But listening to many of these words - "quality" and "closer together" cell-phone conversations (often not should not be lost in shuffle ... or over­ through any choice of our own!) ruled by the buzz. Ill

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38 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 ------·- .SECOND Dr. Meir Wikler LOOKS . .

Commentary on the Blizzard of '03 from a Jewish Observer

he blizzard of'03 has now been *** an emergency. Everyone should stay entered into the meteorology Or consider: indoors until the blizzard is over so that Trecord books. But before it "Governor Pataki has declared New the Sanitation Department can complete fades completely from center stage, let York City a disaster area. Mayor its job.'' us listen in on some of the sounds that Bloomberg is asking everyone to stay at As opposed to: could be heard during that 36 hour home and not drive anywhere unless it's "Do you think you can make it to shul storm that buried the Northeastern United States under more than two feet of snow. Comparing and contrasting those sounds can remind us once again of Rabbi Shmuel Dishon N"'"1!1 said at this past year's Agudath Israel Convention. He said it is appropriate to call ourselves the '

Dr. Meir Wikler, psychotherapist and fa1nily DON1\TJONS ARI; TAX DFDllCTll31.~ counselor, lives in Brooklyn, NY. He is a frequent OZER DAUM 1301 Avenue K • Brooklyn, NY 11230 • {718) 434-2228 contributor to these pages.

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 39 tonight! What's it like on your block?" York City school children an extended Against: "Kids were certainly out there all after­ holiday:' "I had a tough time just getting from noon. I'm sure I won't have to miss our Compared with: my house to the street! The drifts in front seder tonight. I'll try to make it if you "The yeshiva will be open tomorrow of my door were so high, I wasn't sure feel you can:' for an optional seder only. Please be there I'd be able to open it. And the snow is "Im yirtzeh Hashem, I'll see you in shul if you can. Whatever learning we can do so deep it kept filling up my boots as I at the usual time.)' is better than nothing:' tried to walk:' '** *** "Me, too. But there were plenty ofpeo­ Or lww about: Measure: ple besides me at the minyan." "Eighteen to twenty-two inches of snow "Most offices, schools and business­ *** have fallen already and another four to es are closed today because of Presidents' Or parallel: eight inches are expected before it's all Day. Everyone is just staying at home until "The wind is gusting up to 40 miles over. All public and parochial schools will the storm is over:' per hour, making it feel like 16 degrees be closed again tomorrow, giving New below zero. I'm reporting live from Times Square in midtown Manhattan, and it is practically deserted. Except for a few tourists taking pictures, everyone else is staying home:' It hurts With: "Eli ayin hara, look how packed the 10 c II beis midrash is! Except for the rows of wet boots in the hall, you can't even tell om es I there's a blizzard in progress." *** .,•• ome of these sounds were not • broadcast from the media, and Sexcept for these pages, will not appear in print. But they were certain­ ly heard by the Ozen shama'as- the all­ hearing Ear - as they illustrated the It hurts words of Chazal: "Rav Nacham bar Yitzchak said to Rav Chiya bar Avin, 'What is written r inside the tefillin of the Master of the Universe?' He answered him, 'Mi ka'am­ cha Yisroel gay echad ba' aretz. Who is o. comparable to your nation, Israel? [They are J a unique nation on Earth:' (Berachos 6a) • It feels better just to talk about it. That's why we're here. Our staff is made up of caring and sensitive individuals. Together, we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals AREIVIM for counseling, legal advice or help in finding a safe environment. We can also HOTLINE put you in touch with some very special Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to From crisis to control. you, you must first reach out to us. Helping our boys and girls Confidential Hotline 1 . 8 8 8. 8 8 3 . 2 3 2 3 (Toll Free) Parents: 1·866-6AREIVIM 718.337.3700 Teens: 1-866-0URGUYS Email: [email protected] Do it for yourself. (NYC Area) All calls are confidential. Do it for your children. Shalom 1:0sk Force 1s a 501 (c)(3) charitable organ1z3t1on ,.,,.,,,,~ ,,,. ,,, 1"" ,,, , .. ~,,

40 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 • SECOND LOOKS

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he world is rich with messages to proved to be a carrier. The illness us. The miracles of nature, which would probably manifest itself in her late Twe so take for granted, testifying 40's or her so's. to G-d's unrivaled creativity; the crises The author reports: - personal, communal and national - I asked the patient how she looked back which prod us to pray, as though we now on her decision to be tested. mean it; little blips on the screen that "It's the best thing I ever did," she Hats • Shirts • Ties •Accessories nudge us in the ribs and tell us to open replied. Slowly she smiled. "Because I have our eyes, our ears, and hearts. That tell tools to make my life better," she said. "I Your #1 Stop us to wake up. now enjoy my life to the fullest." for When I flip through the pages of a Instead ofliving her life scot-free, she Quality Hats newspaper or scan a science article, I try lived each day to the fullest. After all, to learn what's happening or take note how many years did she have left? WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION & RESHAPE HATS OF CHDSON/M TIES IN of a matter of interest. Scan, spot, focus, Focus and analyze: (Alf work done on premises) BROOKLYN analyze the find, and occasionally try to Don't Chazal 3 exhort us to «do teshu­ apply a lesson learned to my own life. va" even on the day before we pass away? 1368 Coney Island Avenue Under the title "Questions That Can one really know when that day is? (718) 377-5050 Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS Have No Answers" 1 - a sure eye-catch­ So many people leave the world sud­ er that said, Hey, stop and see what you denly, without a day's advance warning. can focus on - Dr. Robert Klitzman tells What are they to do? And those who are of a patient who had tested positive for ailing and can guess that they are on the Huntington's disease. She was the eve of that "last day" - how convincing daughter of a woman who is their resolve to change? Can one test had died ofthe disease, developing psy­ the commitment of a deathly ill person chosis and slowly losing her bodily con­ to lead a life faithful to Torah, graced by trol and mind. And because of Hunting­ devotion, integrity and compassion? The ton's hereditary nature, the daughter had battle is over before it really starts. a 50 percent chance of carrying the gene But, as Dr. Klitzman's patient realized, 1537 50th Street, herself. 2 "My days are numbered. I'll lead them as Brooklyn, NY 11219 The author agonizes with the patient: productively as possible. I'll spend qual­ (718) 854-2911 "Will we want to know?" And if we do ity time with my children ... and enjoy my find out, whom will we tell and from life to the fullest." who will we keep the secret? And how "Productively... to the fullest:' What powerful will the secret be to maintain?" a way to live! ... Come to think of it, is Ultimately, the patient decided: "It there any other way to live? was harder to live with the uncertainty of Does one need a medical test, having this disease hang over my head. with positive results (rn) to see the IfI had it, I could plan my life accordingly: wisdom in such focusing and pur­ spend more time with my kids, so they get poseful living? •

to know me before I die. If I didn't have '-----··-- it, I could live scot-free. I wouldn't have ] Science Times section of The New York Times, to worry about it." Jan. 2 l, p. FS 2 All italicized sections arc direct quotations from ·!fabbin!Cdtre1~ a11ai~k111 The uncertainty was harder than the the Times article. knowledge of her fate. 3 Rabbi Eliezer, in Avos II, l ,5 Ho1De:. (718) 338-1765 So she took the test at age 42, and P er: (917) 486-5655

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 41 Yisroel Yehuda Pollack s end-product is a whole that shines forth III as a most compelling monument to this adam gadoI's venerated legacy. s the exposition advances and the concern with raising children and II A providing them with a true-to­ Torah education comes in for discus­ Rabbi Avigdor Miller Speaks - Vol. I: he book begins with an account sion) an emphasis on integrating one's Marriage, Children, Shabbos and Lov­ of ten important things to bear in Torah with one's total personality begins ing Hashem, compiled and annotated by mind in regard to Shabbos. The to take form. Such words of sagacious Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen (ArtScroll T first is that Hashem created the world in counsel are imparted as: Don't rely Series, Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn, the mode of yesh me'ayin (ex nihilo). excessively on institutional education; NY, 2002) $19.99 h.c., $16.99 Before creation there was unfathomable mosdos hachinuch can go only so far. The nothingness. With creation, essences exposure received in the home is the came into being and, by the time the most decisive in shaping the child's des­ process of creation was drawn to a close, tiny, and no one)s influence is more piv­ on the day of Shabbos, the elements had otal than that of the mother. Another been developed and arranged to form exhortation is: Don't rely on the things hroughout this discussion, 1 will a fully functioning universe. On Shab­ you have learned in your youth. By the be speaking as if I were review­ bos we are bidden to enjoy the fruits of same token, though, don't belittle the Ting a book that Rabbi Miller':>"~! significance of early childhood learning had written. In truth, however, the work and instruction. This is not a contra­ under consideration is not such a book. diction. A recurrent theme is that every In his lifetime, Rabbi Miller did author admonition ingested-however inat­ a great many works of hashkafa-their tentively-in childhood remains with names are renowned-that have had an the child, even if merely in a dormant enormous impact in drawing far flung state. The challenge of adulthood is to Jewish hearts to their Father in Heav­ reshape those early inchoate lessons into en. In this instance, however, the situa­ precepts that conform to "grown up" tion is different. Over the years, Rabbi standards. This relates as much to the Miller gave, before the members of his understanding of a blatt Gemora as it kehilla as well as others who would come does to the assimilation of maxims that to learn fron1 him, what came to be govern one's day-to-day conduct of known his Thursday Night Lectures. affairs. Consequently, chinuch is a life­ They were of course taped, and in the this labor. It is our way of affirming, as long process. present volume-the first in a series in it were, Hashem's declaration that every­ When we turn from the howoflearn­ preparation-Rabbi Simcha Bunim thing He had done was tov me'od. Here ing to the what of learning, we Cohen, of the family of Rabbi Miller, a is where a theme that is to recur encounter Rabbi Miller at his most char­ close disciple, and a reputable Torah-fig­ throughout these talks first sets in-the acteristic. Teach children) he says, such ure in his own right, has taken a selec­ idea that we are supposed to enjoy this things as that: the sun is very good. A tion of these taped lectures and brought world. slice of bread is wonderful. A glass of them together in an orderly and high­ But it is merely the beginning. From water (in preference to soda) is superla­ ly readable fashion. this point on, enjoyment persistently tive. And the belt you are wearing is The volume comprises as well a stir­ returns to highlight the treatment of utterly invaluable. Convey also the idea ring appreciation of the thought and most any topic. In the second chapter that: the fragrance of a rose is breath­ career of Rabbi Miller, by (1Yn':>:l') on Shabbos, we catch our first glimpse taking; while daylight is a wonder of Rabbis Avrohom Leshinsky and of a style of mantra that is to become wonders. The composition of a banana Yehezkel Danziger. Capped by a chap­ increasingly familiar as our reading pro­ is a marvel of nature. And so on, in a ter reproducing an impromptu ques­ gresses. Appreciate the wonderful mir­ seemingly endless series. In many tion-and-answer session covering a acle of bread, Rabbi Miller urges, and instances, Rabbi Miller will go beyond wide-ranging spectrum of issues, the pay due regard to the splendor of salt identifying an item that is such a source (yes, ordinary salt). Not, however, to the of pleasure and good fortune to edify­ Yisroel Yehuda Pollack was most recently rep­ neglect of water or) for that matter, to ing us with some of the scientific resented in these pages by his review of Well­ the exclusion of air. For, he says, ('let us details that underlie its operation and springs of Faith, by Rabbi Moshe Wolfson (June '02). always be happy about Hashem's phe­ coming into being. So what is the nomena (p. 32)." upshot? What you want to impart is the

42 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 enjoyment of life, an appreciation of the v VI myriad kindnesses Hashem has bestowed upon us. This is the lesson to f enjoyment is so diffuse as to abbi Miller's teachings are be drunk in youth, and to be refined in affect whole regions of Yiddish liv­ known for the element of sur­ step with the successive stages of living. I ing, it is, also, not without its Rprise and forthrightness they are thorny problems. The author takes shot through. In a penultimate section, IV them up in two places in the book. titled "Ten Easy Steps to Greatness;' One is a chapter called "Deep Truths much of what is said can be assimilated aking its unpredictable twists in a Shallow World," where the issue without arousing incredulity. Think and turns, the handling of chin­ is cast in the form of a paradox.On the about Hashem 's great miracles. Think Tuch leads to a meditation on the one hand, the enjoyment of this world about the kindness He bestows upon us vicissitudes of marriage and on the is subordinate to the enjoyment that incessantly. These number among the building and maintenance of a proper awaits the righteous in the world-to­ propositions that are offered up for the Jewish home. And enjoyment returns to come. But on the other hand, enjoy­ reader's digestion and implementation. regale us in this connection as well. ing Hashem's provisions leads to an They present little cause for wonder. Rabbi Miller points out how Hashem appreciation of Hashem's beneficence But when we encounter something makes it so that the kalla comes so beau­ and to a recognition of our indebted­ like: Mean it when you greet someone tifully packaged on the day of her chupa, ness to, and dependence on, Him. How or wish someone well, the putative as to constitute a delectable gift that he, are these conflicting standpoints to be "greatness" of the item begins to prove the chassan) is so happy to receive. reconciled? elusive. When we meet another, like, His remarks on the ho1ne are simi­ Insofar as it answers this question, the Try to impress people (at least one per­ larly comported. He adjures us to make chapter on "Deep Truths" should, I son), we are at a loss to fathom the it a cozy, feel-good place where children think, be looked at as the hub of the basis of the recommendation entirely! can roam contentedly, collecting fond entire discussion. Here is the resolution's But this is precisely the point. We need memories that will serve them in good gist: Enjoying the accouterments of this to read this book in order to broaden stead later in life. And then there follows world is, indeed, a noble pursuit-pro­ our horizons and sharpen our outlook. a list of specific recommendations. vided it is undertaken with, as Rabbi It presents us with challenges in the Here is what he bids you do ... Enjoy Miller terms it, da'as. For when it is, it realm of thought, and with rousing snow, enjoy rain, enjoy sunshine, and is seen as merely a mashal-an allego­ stirrings to ponder. Only after we have enjoy air. "By implanting this happiness ry-pointing in the direction of a true reflected hard and long will we have and optimistic outlook in the minds of and real form of enjoyment that can absorbed these lessons in the way they your fa1nily 1nen1bers, you are giving only be realized in another sphere-in were intended. • them a gift (p. 204):' Find time, he says, Olam Habba. This understanding to say "I love you, Hashem." Evidently, serves, I think, to inforn1 the entire one just can't get enough of the enjoy­ emphasis on enjoyment that pervades ment theme. the pages of this book. Erected in all Cemeteries Call Toll-Free: 866-851-1314 NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY Rabbi M. Premock AS TO STUDENTS Recommended by many Rabbonim The Rabbi Naftali Riff Yeshiva Inc. admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activ­ CHEVRA OSEH CHESED ities generally accorded or made available to students at tl1e school. It does OF AGUDATH ISRAEL not discriminate on the basis of raee, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship BURIAL PLOTS and loan programs, and athletic and other school administrated programs. IN ERETZ YISROEL Interment in a Sholner Shabbos Beis The Rabbi Naftali Riff Yeshiva Olam near Beis Shemesh South Bend, Indiana Please phone or write to: Chma Osehthesed of Aj!udath Israel 3207 S. High Street, South Bend, Indiana 46614 • (574} 291-4239 42 Broadway, N~wl'o.r~. NY 10004 Applications are now being accepted for Elul 5763/August 2003 (212) 797-9000

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 43 Rabbi Moshe Schapiro s case in support of the following con­ it okay for Avram to take a hammer to his clusion: what we consider to be truth father's inventory of idols? Or to ask Sarah and integrity often is not in tune with to lie and tell the Egyptians that she was his the Torah's definition. sister? Priceless Integrity is the first English­ Rabbi Travis grapples with these and language work to deal with this subject other questions by collating relevant Priceless Integrity - Exploring the in a systematic way. This is quite sur­ statements of Ghazal, Rishonim and Parameters of Truth and Falsehood, by prising, considering Rabbi Travis's claim Acharonim. Most of his conclusions are Rabbi Daniel Travis (published by Tar­ that "in a recent poll of 40,000 Ameri­ sourced, but at times he courageously gum Press, Southfield, Ml, $21.99) cans, 93 percent admitted that they lie formulates his own educated opinions. regularly." In many instances, he goes the extra mile n his newest book, Rabbi Daniel and applies these ideas to hypothetical Travis examines a commodity that modern-day situations. I many people crave and too few Can one deviate from the facts in order attain: integrity. to avoid transgressing a halacha? Can one In the endless flow of Jewish litera­ mislead a storekeeper in order to avoid pay­ ture, there are two types of books: the ing an excessively high price? Should one trail blazing kind that leaves everyone withhold bad news from people to whom it wondering why no one ever wrote on is highly relevant? that particular topic before, and the Rabbi Travis deals with these and reassessment and re-reassess1nent vari­ other everyday questions. But in general, ety that takes the trailblazer's flash of he refrains from overstating his case. inspiration and attempts to clarify and "I have attempted to introduce Jew­ tame it. Priceless Integrity is a collection of ish standards of integrity," writes Rabbi There is no doubt that Rabbi Daniel short essays on selected portions of Sefer Travis in the preface, "in a way that is Travis's latest work, Priceless Integrity, Bereishis which, when placed under palatable, showing that it is altogether belongs in the first category. Using Rabbi Travis' microscope, shed remark­ feasible to live a fully honest life in the extensive research in a wide range of able and, at times, disturbing insights. modern world." Torah sources ranging from Chumash to Why does the Torah tell us that G-d cre­ Feasible, perhaps; a cinch, definitely Midrash, Rabbi Travis has built a strong ated the world through speech, when in fact not. After reading Priceless Integrity for He created the world through a form of the first time, what lingers is a sinking ·~~-~--· - Rabbi Schapiro, a journalist who lives in thought? When a child asks you a question sensation that you may just be part of Jerusalem, is a frequent contributor to these about a verse in the Torah dealing with a the 93 percent majority. pages, most recently with "Our Generation's Tzad­ dik of Jerusalem" (May '02). delicate subject, should you give a straight And that maybe it's time to do answer, or fabricate an explanation? Was something about it. • Jonah's Fashion Inc.

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44 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 ing topic of the muscovy duck. He is cor­ rect that the most famous and one of the earliest teshuvos regarding this New World bird is that of Rabbi Illowy. Rabbi Illowy's letter on the subject, as found in his Milchamos Hashem (published by his son, Dr. Henry Illowy, in 1914), was included in our source-book (pp. 52-57) and featured prominently in the shiur on the topic at the dinner. Rabbi Illowy's stature and importance are unquestioned. But he was neither the CRIES "FOUL'' ON MENU or did not describe them correctly, as can only nor the last word on the subject. OF "LIVING THE LAW" plainly be seen from his correspondence He did have some of his facts wrong, in the responsa of Rabbi Samson such as the shape of the egg, a fact that To the Editor: Raphael Hirsch in sefer Shemesh Marpeh featured prominently in Rabbi Hirsch's The article "Living the Law" (Dec. (sirnan 39). response. Other important New World '02)- on the search for rare species of About grasshoppers: it is true that the rabbis, such as Rabbi Goldman of fowl and animals that are really kosher Yemenites have a tradition that permits Argentina (1906) and Rabbi Leeber - is a delightful change of pace from eating them. The Ohr Hachaim, Parshas Cohen of Memphis (1916), seem to have the more intense articles that are the Shemini, however, has very harsh words permitted it. Several Israeli rabbis, such hallmark of The Jewish Observer. It on the mattirirn (those who permit eat­ as Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank and Rabbi adds some zest to the gravity of your ing them). He says that they are "sheketz Yaakov Moshe Charlop, permitted it, publication. (repulsive):' How can someone who has and as recently as 15 years ago, one of On second look, however, I find no 1nesora rely on a mesora of an isolated the major Israeli poultry producers was parts of it somewhat troubling. The community, when other gedolim of selling it under rabbanut hashgacha. Per­ article states that a seuda was n1ade equal or superior status rule otherwise? haps the strongest point in favor of per­ from the authors' findings - halacha Also, I would appreciate it if the mitting the muscovy is the fact that it l'rnaaseh, including the muscovy duck authors would explain how they per­ voluntarily hybridizes with known and certain species of crickets. From formed shechita on the giraffe. kosher ducks. A final testament to its the holdings of the Orthodox Jewish RABBI MOSHE KOLODNY kashrus is that this mating (with a mal­ Archives, I found that during the Brooklyn lard duck) yields the widely accepted American Civil War, the Rav of the mulard. Additional details can be found South, Rabbi Dov Ber Illowy (see JO THE AUTHORS RESPOND: FAIR FOWL in a forthcoming article in the Journal May '76), who headed a congregation of Halacha and Contemporary Society. of Gern1an Jews in New Orleans, We are delighted that Rabbi Kolod­ Regarding chagavirn, Rabbi Kolod- banned the shechita (slaughter) of the ny enjoyed our article, and even more muscovy duck, even though the con­ so that he took the time to investigate gregants had claimed to have a tradi­ several of the issues and share his find­ tion that it was kosher. He backed up ings with the JO readership and us. Digest of Meforshim his p'sak by sending the question to Clearly the space allocated for an arti­ ')v1p7 in:i ')v1p7 Rabbi Samson Rephael Hirsch and cle in the JO is insufficient to cover all ';>"YT 1VV7N 7N'ir.l1!' l "i1"1r.l Rabbi Nathan Adler, the Chief Rabbi of the myriad details ( halacha, historic, of England. They both unequivocally and practical) that went into our Available at said that the fowl is not kosher. Rabbi halachic event. As noted in the article, LEKUTE I Illowy was not an am ha' aretz; he had the dinner included several hours of shi­ clo Yitzchok Rosenberg 1445 54th Street learned in the Yeshiva of the Chasam urim and a 150-page source book, in Brooklyn, NY 11219-4228 Sofer. His activities included defend­ addition to the 3-page pre-dinner mail­ 718-854-6701 ing the authenticity of the Zahar ing that all participants received. 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, from the attacks of the Reformers. The Torah permits four categories of Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. Indeed, he was one of the few great living creatures: quadrupeds, birds, Proceeds of sales distributed a1nong fighters against Reform Judaism in fish, and grasshoppers. Rabbi Kolodny Yeshivas and used for reprinting of An1erica. has raised issues on all three types we volu111es out-of-print It is difficult to believe that he did not served (the dinner was fish-less). PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME know the basic halachos of kosher birds Regarding birds, he raises the fascinat-

The Jewish Observer, March 2003 45 ny raises essentially two points. He chagavim is an interesting and open sounds like we are discarding the con­ implicitly questions anyone eating topic. Each participant was therefore ventional definition of the term. While grasshoppers, following the Ohr advised to ask his own poseik. Some taking care of our bodies is surely Rat­ Hachaim's harsh words (which also were indeed told not to eat; others, zon Hashem, our main concern is appear in his commentary, Pri Toar, on based on rulings from some of the lead­ undoubtedly our neshamos. The most Yoreh De' ah 85, the version that was in ing poskim ofYerushalayim, were told upsetting and devastating "kids at our source book). The Ohr Ha Chaim that they may eat. risk" will always remain those that are was amongst the giants of the early Finally, Rabbi Kolodny raises the at risk for leaving the ways of the Torah. acharonim. But many communities, issue of the giraffe. This question is The new type of "kid at risk" that is both during and after his lifetime, did perplexing. We are not sure why he described in the article might add an not heed his ruling. Jews in many areas thinks we shechted giraffe; it appears additional meaning to the term, but as of Morocco and all of Yemenite Jewry nowhere in the article. Halevei we had! long as there is even one Jewish child continued to eat chagavim based on We are also not sure what aspect he that is at risk for leaving Yiddishkeit, the their strong mesoros dating back mil­ wants explained. Indeed, such a shechita primary definition of"kids at risk" will lennia. A detailed look at this issue can would be technically difficult, but we remain the way we have been using it be found in the article in Techumin 19 see no halacha impediments. For a until now. (5759) by Rabbi Chananel Seri and Dr. short discussion of one of the report­ URIEL HINBERG Zohar Amar. Rabbi Kolodny also finds ed problems, you can see the article in Baltimore difficulty in relying on the mesora of Jewish Action, Fall 5761/2000. another community. The issue of rely­ We hope this short explanation ing on another community's mesora for clears up some of the aspects of our THANKS FOR "REDEFINITION" dinner that Rabbi Kolodny found troubling. To the Editor: Uncle Moishy, ARI ZIVOTOFSKY AND ARI GREENSPAN Thanks for the refreshing and eye­ Mordechai Ben David, opening article, "Redefining Kids at and other top-of-the-line Risk" (Dec. '02). As a mother and a Jewish entertainers PROTESTS REDEFINITION mechaneches, rve seen too many chil­ OF "KIDS AT RISK" dren in our community who are over­ are available weight, sedentary, and maintaining a to visit To the Editor: very unhealthy lifestyle. If we don't seriously ill I read with interest the article, address this issue soon, these kids are children "Redefining 'Kids at Risk."' The issues headed towards disaster. thanks to raised by the author are ones that The Jewish Diabetes Association is ,,,,.,,,,,.,nm l"1Tm1!I should be carefully considered by all doing a great service by making us aware ll'"'l'ml ::Ji'V't '1 TO mn who want to guard their own health of the risks of Type II Diabetes in chil­ AChessed project run by and that of their children. I was, how­ dren. Please let your readers know how Agudath Israel of America in conjunction Y..1th ever, disappointed by the implication to get in touch with them. Suki a Ding Produaions that was conveyed by the title of the MALKIE HOROWITZ To set up an appointment. call: (212)797·9000 Ext.235 • M-l'-. 9· article. Although I am certain that this Monsey, NY was unintentional, "Redefining," They can be reached at 718-787- 4JDA (4532) or at their website: www.jewishdiabetes.org. - Editor

CORRECTION

In his article, "The Rise of Tommy Lapid and His Shinui Party" (Feb. '03 ), Yonason Rosenblum cites "Ha'aretz journalist Shahar Han's fantastic claim that the average chareidi family is sub­ sidized by the state of the tune of 17,000 shekels monthly;' which is the equiva­ 931 Coney Island Ave Bklyn 11230 (718)377-0222 lent of $3,500, not $35,000.

46 The Jewish Observer, March 2003 RASH I

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