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t is more than two months since the which we should make a cheshbon hanef one heart" (Shemos 19,2: Rash1). war with Hezbollah broke out, start esh-engage in introspection - in matters We are also united with our fellow I ing with their unprovoked bombings that need tikkun (repair), particularly in members of Am Hashem in our tefil of towns in the North of Bretz Yisroel on our interpersonal conduct. After all, this los. May Hashem have merey on all His Shiva Assar BeTammuz, and the kidnap currentgalus, which began over 1900 years children in this time of stress, especially ping of several Israeli soldiers and the ago with the destruction of the Second all wounded, sick and ailing, wherever murder of a number of others. As the Beis Hamikdash, took place because of they maybe. hostilities broke out, one million Jews our terrible shortcomings in how we dealt In the pages that follow we present were driven from their homes in the with one another. Each individual should the insights and calls for improvement North - some seeking temporary refuge in concentrate on those areas that he or she expressed by our Torah leaders in the areas underground bomb shelters, the majority recognizes as needing improvement, in of general hashkafa, placing our current fleeing to communities in the South. keeping with "The heart knows the bit crisis in a Torah frame, beginning with In the battles that followed, over a terness of:its soul" (Mishlei 14,10). "In the Footsteps of Moshiach;' by Rabbi hundred Israeli soldiers and citizens In addition, he pointed out that we also Aharon Feldman,N''t»'n> Rosh Hayeshiva lost their lives, many of Yeshiva Ner Israel. more were seriously This is followed by a :injured, while thou summons to act on sands of dwellings our responsibility for were destroyed and those who need our tens of thousands of LESSONS guidance and support businesses and liveli - especially children hoods were displaced brought up distant or wiped out. And from Torah - by while, at this writing, Rabbi Matisyahu a cease-fire has been Salomon ~"""'1!1, declared, the tension Mashgiach of Beth and threat of further Medrash Govoha. hostilities T'n hang We also feature a call heavily in the air. to enhance our own Our deep concern Torah study and that for our brethren and of others, based on their safety prompt an address by Rabbi ed many occasions Shmuel Birnbaum for people to gather ~--1,,':>1?1, Rosh together in earnest Ha yeshiva of Yeshiva prayer on behalf of Mir, in Brooklyn. "Acheinu kol Beis The article that fol Yisroel hanesunim lows, by Rabbi Hesby betzara uveshivya .... Kleinman, spells out Our brothers, the our duty to intensify entire family of Israel, who are delivered would benefit from chizuk in our general our emuna and bitachon, giving them :into distress and captivity ... :' Many of mitzva observance, and specifically, in our fullest expression in our tefillos. these gatherings were addressed by rab Torah study. As the Gemara says, "Our To assist us in our obligation to identify banim and roshei yeshivas, teachers and feet were standing within your gates, 0 with the suffering of our brothers under mentors with urgent messages touching Jerusalem!" (Tehillim 122,2).All who are fire, we present reports from Bretz Yisroel on many vital areas where all present immersed in Torah study are, so to speak, by Rabbi Yonoson Rosenblwn, Rabbi benefited. We believe that they can be of togetl1er within Shaarei Yerushalayim. AryehZevGinzberg,Mrs.SorahCohen, inspiration and instruction to our read Torah study is Klal Y=el~primarysource and Mrs. Sheindel Weinbach. ers, as well. of safety and security for all - including Undoubtedly, tl1e messages conveyed At a Kinus Tefilla in Mesivta Chaim those Jewish youtl1s who are caught up to us by the events of the previous month Berlin on Rosh Chodesh .Menadzem Av in the midst of warfare. All of us - even are still relevant, and are worthy of our (August 26), the Novominsker Rebbe, those of us who are in far-flung parts of contemplation, to be absorbed in our RabbiYaakov PerlowN'·""'1?>, in his brief the globe-stand together with our brotl1- minds, to be taken to heart, to inform our I L: opening___ - remarks,··- ---outlined the areas in ers in the Holy Land, "Like one man, with neshamos, and to inspire action. SEPTEMBER 2 0 0 6
RABBI AHARON FELDMAN
of
I. As DESCRIBED BY THE not be pitied. MISHNA "The Galil will be ruined." With feelings) that this can be understood Kiryat Shmona and Nahariya in sham in light of the rest of the passages of am often asked these days how bles, and Haifa and Tzefas and most of our Mishna which describe the pre I see the recent Lebanon War in the other cities in the Gali! evacuated, Messianic era. I the light of the Torah and in the what could be more accurate? The following is the full text: light of Jewish history. Only some " ... the Givlan will be desolate." Rabbi In the footsteps ofMoshiach, audac one imbued with prophecy or ruach Yaakov Emden writes that this refers ity will triumph; prices will soar; the hakodesh (Divine inspiration) can claim to "an area outside the mountain of vineyards will be fruitful, yet wine will to know definitively the ways of Heaven. Lebanon" - a description that quite aptly be expensive. I can only express my personal feelings fits present day Lebanon.2 The government will turn to heresy; on this matter, basing them on how I " ... and the border dwellers will wan there will be no rebuke; the assembly perceive the wisdom of the Sages. der from city to city and will not be pit places of the wise will turn to immoral It seems to me that we are witness ied." Ninety percent of the Gush Katif ity. ing the fulfillment of the Mishna in settlers, who were brutally uprooted The Gali[ will be ruined; the Givlan Masechta Sota that describes the era from their border homes last year, are will be desolate; the border dwellers will known as Ikvesa deMeshicha, when (so still wandering from city to city in Israel wander from city to city and will not be to speak) one can hear the footsteps without employment or housing, while pitied. of Moshiach resonate throughout the the government does nothing to sup The wisdom of the Torah scholars will landscape:• port them. be repulsive; the fearful of sin will be The Gali[ will be ruined, the Givlan Current events certainly seem to be abominated; truth will be absent. will be desolate, and the border dwellers a fulfillment of the predictions of this Youth will mortify elders; elders will will wander from city to city and will Mishna. However, it is still puzzling stand in respect before children; a son will 1 Sota 49b, SanhC-drin 97a, Derech Bretz Zuta - why did the Sages foresee this set of humiliate his father; a daughter will rebel 10:1 circumstances as precursors of the days against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. RABBI FELDMAN IS Rosu HA YESHIVA Of Yi-:SHIVA of Moshiach? I feel (again, my personal I One's enemies will be one's own fam NH~ ISRAEL IN BALTIMORE AND IS A Mr·:MBER OF 2- Hagahos Yaa;etz to Sanhedrin 97a. See also I THE MOETZES GI-:IJOLEf HATORAll OF AGUDATH Maharsha ibid. The passage regarding the Givlan ily; the face of the generation will be the L'"'_R_•C_A __ _ does not appear in Derech Eretz Zuta ibid. face of a dog; a son will not be ashamed --- ·- --- -···-·····---- THI~ JEWISll OBSERVER ·-··-----··------"______,, ______-__ -_-_ -- ·---=-----=--i
of his father. The glory of G-d, because it is the commerce, to build highways- in short, And upon whom will we rely? Upon goal of history and of each individ to glorify man and his power. For the I our Father in Heaven. ual life, is the ultimate good towards Jew, man was meant to subordinate his The Era of Moshiach is the era which which man should always be striving. appetites and his passion for conquest the prophets foresaw as the culmination Conversely, anything which stands in the to the will of G-d. With their dia of history, when mankind enters an era way of reaching this goal is evil. We have metrically divergent world-views, the of perfection, in which evil is subdued an indination within us) known as the Romans and the Jews could not inhabit and wisdom and knowledge of G-d yeitzer hara, which drives us to glorify the same world. Keshezeh kam, ze nofei/9 are as widespread "as the waters cover ourselves. When we make ourselves the - "when one stands upright, the other the seabed."3 Why should the depress object of our glory, it becomes impos must fall:''° ing descriptions of the Mishna be the sible for us to strive towards recognizing This, too, is the struggle that has harbingers - or even the prerequisites the glory of G-d. Therefore, making taken place in the 2000 years since the - of that idyllic epoch? the glory of man the goal of our lives destruction of the Temple, as the Jewish Let us first remind ourselves of the is the ultimate eviL because it causes us nation seeks to maintain its Torah in the purpose of Jewish history, and based on to avoid the true purpose of our exis face of the nations of the world who this, how the Era of Moshiach fits into tence. The struggle of man is to ensure would uproot it and substitute for it this. Then, let us arrive at the common that he maintains a clear focus on his the worship of man. denominator of the pre-Messsianic era true goals. If the goal of man on earth is to described in the Mishna. The struggle of the history of human recognize the glory of G-d, the era of ity is the struggle to ascertain whether Moshiach will be the time when man the glory of G-d or the glory of man kind will finally come to this recogni II. A STRUGGLE FOR GLORY reigns supreme. It is the struggle that tion. There is a prerequisite, however, BETWEEN MAN AND G-o began with the sin of the first man. for 1nan to come to this recognition. Adam Harishon was given the choice He must first come to the realization he Prophet Yeshayahu, in a for of serving G-d or making himself"like that the glory of man is the wrong mulation echoed by innumerable G-d who knows to choose between good solution for man's situation, and that Tpassages of the prophets and the and evil."6 The choice that faced the first he needs G-d to solve his problems. He Sages, encapsulates how Judaism looks man was: Shall he worship G-d or shall must recognize that the race after glory at history. he worship himself! leads mankind to destruction on all "The earth will be as filled with It is the struggle that took place levels of his existence - international, knowledge of Hashem as water covering between Yaakov and his brother, Eisav. national and individual. He must learn the sea bed:' 4 Yaakov was "a man who sat in the tents that the glory of man is a dangerous Everything, he proclaimed, was cre [of Torah ]"7 while Eisav chose to sell fantasy, which leads only to human ated lichvod Shamayim, for the glory his privilege of serving G-d in the Beis dissolution. When mankind realizes of G-d. Hamikdash (Holy Temple) for a pot of this, when he realizes that only G-d can But what does "the glory of G-d" lentils. solve his problems, the stage will be set mean? It does not merely mean that man The same struggle was replayed in for Moshiach to come. must spend his tiine reciting the praises the wars between Rome and the Jewish Enter the Mishna at the end of of G-d. It means n1uch more. V\!hen we people, which ended with the destruc Sota. give glory to humans, we recognize that tion of the Temple. The Romans, who 9 ·RaSh[B~~iS/1is 25,23 .. ------.. ·------··--·- they have qualities that are unique and the Sages tell us were the descendants l 0 The Romans recognized that their cultural not shared by anyone else. Giving glory of Eisav,s saw Jerusalem as the antithesis antagonists were the Je,vs. This is why they cel to G-d follows the same lines. It means of their world-view. To Rome, man was ebrated their conquest over the Jews more than any other victory. The Arch of Titus, in the I a recognition that G-d is exalted beyond meant to conquer lands, to develop center of Rome, has the triun1phal caption, Israel anything else in Creation. In particular, it Captus ("Israel is captured"), adorning a relief I 1neans to recognize that there is nothing AC-Cordi.ng iO-tT1~-great JeW-ish {hink"ers~-G.:-;:J\;ani-S depicting the utensils of the Beis Harnikdash of value comparable to the value of draw to bestow upon n1ankind the greatest possible taken as booty. good, and this good can only accrue to those who ing dose to Him and carrying out His perfect thcinselvcs by coining to this realization Once in seventy years, the Romans celebrated will. Thus, to recognize that we were put that there is nothing else for them but the glory with a parade where S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 6 IN THE SHADOW OF MAN'S THE FOLLY OF IT ALL GREATNESS udacity will triumph." Jn the CH.. he Sages envisioned, with their footsteps of Moshiach, the Divine inspiration or prophet "A supreme value will be man's T ic tradition, that throughout self-interest. Audacity is assertiveness Child Development Specialists history, most of mankind would of the self, an assertiveness that makes Helping Infants & Toddlers pursue the path of self-glorification, no consideration as to whether it fits in the antithesis, as above, of the glori with any value system. There is no value with Developmental Delays and Disabilities fication of G-d. Nevertheless, if man other than man's welfare and advance chooses to follow this path, G-d will ment. The man who believes in this give him free rein to do so. value more than others becomes their In his quest for self-glorifica acknowledged leader. tion, man will be given full mastery " ... prices will soar; the vineyards will over nature. He will be permitted be fruitful, yet wine will be expensive." to plumb the depths of the sea, to To proclaim his glory, man will enlist ascend to the heavens, to conquer technology to master the production disease, to turn the world into a of his fields. But even though the yield global village with vast communica of his vineyards will be high, wine will tions systems, to overcome distance still remain expensive. The greater his with intercontinental air travel, to success in the mastery of nature, the build skyscrapers and superhigh greater will be his unhappiness. The ways, and to develop worldwide more fruitful the vineyards, the more commerce. will he need to drown his unhappiness Man empowered and enamored of in his drunkenness.11 his own glory, turns away completely "The government will turn to heresy." from the worship of the glory of The government of man, having reached Evaluation and a full range of G-d. G-d, he thinks, is for ignorant its full-blown glory, will deny that G-d Therapeutic Services provided people who need protection from exists. As we have said, G-d is irrelevant at our Center or in the privacy the ravages of nature. But for man to man who is so empowered. who has mastered nature, there is " ... there will be no rebuke." Rebuke of your home no need for G-d. (Of course, man is implies that there is a better form of Bilingual Services Available intermittently disabused of his belief behavior than that motivated by selfish Services are provided based on the child's needs in his own power by the tsumanis ness. But where man's self-interest is the as detennined by the 1'11'C Early Intervention and other natural disasters that cast ultimate value, all morality is relative. Program. The Early Intervention Official will doubt on his assumptions. But these What place is there for rebuke? determine the location and provider of any needed services. This Early Intervention rude awakenings are only temporary; " ... the assembly places of the wise will Program is funded & regulated by the NYC Dept. when they pass, he returns to the turn to immorality." For the same reason, ofHealth & Mental Hygiene. illusion of his omnipotence and the in the academies of learning where the irrelevance of G-d.) values of society are taught, there is no Executive Offices: If we recall, the era of Moshiach education in morality. Morality implies 649 Thirty-Ninth Street comes to the nation that recognizes restraint in deference to behavior that how futile it is to believe in the expresses a greater value. But where Brooklyn, New York 11232 glory of man. This is the point of man's glory is the ultimate value, what the Mishna. If, in spite of man's room is there for morality? Queens Office: total 1nastery of nature, man does "The wisdom of the Torah scholars 70-14 14/st Street not discover happiness or fulfill will be repulsive; the fearful ofsin will be Flushing, New York 1136 7 ment in his life, if his life is filled abominated; truth will be absent."What with strife and battles, if society can be more repulsive and revolting to ceases to function properly, this will a society that worships the self than the SERVING BROOKLYN, QUEENS, prove that his self-glorification was STATEN ISLAND & MANHATTAN a chimera, nothing more than a bad 11 For the same reason, one of the best-selling drugs in the world is the anti-depressant, Prozac. dream, which yielded only destruc Paradoxically, the amazing wisdon1 that enabled www.challenge-ei.com tion and which solved none of his n1an to produce this drug is unable to relieve him true problems. from his loneliness and despair. ~------~- ______J ,~-- 1 ------... -- .. --- - ; .;:::;, : '~;;--0 ~; ,,-;,-; :__ _:__:__ :__:__:__ l wisdom of the Torah, which teaches that man must worship G-d and be fearful THE PRECURSOR OF MOSHIACH's TIMES IS THE 1, of violating His commands? Similarly, what room is there for truth in such a SUCCESS OF MAN IN HIS SELF-GLORIFICATION society? AND YET, DESPITE THIS SUCCESS, HIS "Youth will mortify elders; elders will ABYSMAL UNHAPPINESS. HUMANITY OF THAT stand in respect before children; a son will humiliate his father; a daughter will rebel TIME WILL BECOME DISILLUSIONED WITH ITS against her mother, a daughter-in-law MASSIVE SUCCESS. against her mother-in-law. One's ene1nies will be one's own family; ... " Because man worships himself, he has no respect for authority or tradition. Tradition people becomes widespread, and fami its massive success. implies that previous generations pos lies beco1ne dysfunctional. Divorce rates "And upon whom will we rely! Upon sess a wisdom from which the present soar; there is a generation gap where our Father in Heaven." The generation generation can benefit. Where all that children consider the older generation that recognizes this will be the genera 1natters is "doing one's own thing," what irrelevant; and the leaders of the genera tion to whom Moshiach will appear. room is there for tradition? tion, like dogs, think only of their own "One's ene1nies will be one's own fam aggrandizement. ily; the face of the generation will be the Thus, there is a co1nmon denomi Ill. FAILURE, DISILLUSION ... face of a dog; a son will not be ashamed nator for all the elements listed in the AND REDEMPTION of his father." Interpersonal relation Mishna. The precursor of Moshiach's ships can only be successful where tin1es is the success of man in his self here is, therefore, a clear pattern each person has the other's interest glorification and yet,despite this success, to the Mislrna. There seems to in mind. In a society where one's own his abysmal unhappiness. Humanity of Tbe one passage, however, that is interest reigns supreme, strife between that time will become disillusioned with an exception to this pattern. This is the In response to numerous inquiries, we are pleased-to announce to the n'1inn o?iy the availability of the following: ,n.::>ilh ,n1.::>iti-n::i.w ,o,,u:i.::>n en, ,l"llUTn UTK, ,ni:vi.::>w ,ht1n ,J1,.::>tl"I iDtl ,1:1,.::>..h.::>1 ni,l.K ,Cl,"'11£> .n1.::>it1 - ph:ir, "!Mn ,.,l::i.Kt.J '1£>1:11 Most of these Seforim are now in expanded editions. They may be obtained as a set or as single volumes. For information contact: Rabbi Aryeh Laib Chaifetz Rabbi Yeshaya Thau In Eretz Yisroel: Rabbi Ahron Lasker 718-377-0777 718-376-1265 02-537-2257 I ~-·- --- ·------·-·------·------:J ----·---· ··--···---··------·---.--.... F~=-· SEPTEMBER 2 0 0 6 I an inability to submit oneself to author ity - for there is no greater authority than each person to himself. A govern ment turned to heresy loses the capacity A JEWISH NATION BASED ON THE MIGHT AND to inculcate patriotism in the hearts of GLORY OF MAN IS AN OXYMORON. THE DESTINY its youth. Patriotism implies that there OF THE JEWISH NATION IS 'i\M ZU YATZARTI is a greater value than that of the indi vidual, but in a heretical society, there LI ...- I CREATED THIS NATION TO PROCLAIM MY is no greater value than the individual GLORY." THIS NATION IS G-D's HOPE FOR THE self. WORLD; WITHOUT IT, THE GOALS OF CREATION Without submission to authority to ensure discipline, and without patrio CANNOT COME TO FRUITION. tism to arouse motivation, the nation's army, which previously was the full personification of the nation's glory, will slowly lose its effectiveness. Despite its large forces and sophisticated technol passage with which we began: mortify their elders. ogy, and the fact that it will be powerful "The Galil will be ruined; the Givlan With this vision in mind, we can enough to turn Lebanon into ruins, it will be desolate; the border dwellers will understand why the Mishna tells us that will be unable to prevent a primitive wander from city to city and will not be Galil will be in ruins and that the border enemy from turning its own Galil into pitied." dwellers will wander from city to city. ruins. How does this passage fit into to the This, too, fits perfectly into the pattern Man-made idols do not survive the rest of the Mishna? of the rest of the Mishna. era before Moshiach. The philosophy This passage makes sense if we posit If Moshiach comes to a mankind of the redefined Jewish nation - which that the Sages foresaw that the values of that is disillusioned with serving its would make the Jews a nation like all Rome would not only spread through man-made idols, the Jews are no excep others - like all philosophies based on out the world, but they would infiltrate tion to this rule. When they become a the power of man, will end in failure the Jewish people as well. Not only nation built on the worship of power and disillusionment. The nation will would the nations of the world turn to and self-reliance, that believes that the be forced into a recognition that it has heresy, but so would the Jewish nation. Jews are a nation like all others, devoted strayed. It will come to the realization The nation that was created for the glory to enhancing the glory of man- that that " ... upon whom will we rely? Upon of G-d will begin to seek the glory of culture cannot sustain itself. Like every our Father in Heaven." man. Their assembly places, as well, will thing else in the era of the footsteps of A Jewish nation based on the might turn to immorality, and they- not only Moshiach, 1nan's self-worship contains and glory of man is an oxymoron. The the nations of the world - will consider the seeds for his own failure, and a destiny of the Jewish nation is "Am Torah scholars repulsive and will abomi Jewish nation based on the false premise zu yatzarti Ii ... - I created this nation nate those who fear sin. In this nation of of man's self-glorification will meet the to proclaim My glory." 12 This nation Jews gone astray, audacity will triumph, same fate. is G-d's hope for the world; without there will be no rebuke, and youths will With the triumph of audacity comes it, the goals of creation cannot come to fruition. G-d loves this nation and (416) 782-1462 (416) 781-9116 r=···-·· l"HE JEWISl-I 0BSERVE1t I - ·-····-· ·_·-·······-·-····_····-.. ===-i " I ACall tor Justice, Compassion and Commitment BASED ON AN ADDRESS BY RABBI MATISYAHU SALOMON N"D>JV MAY OUR EYES HAVE IT tection for Kial Yisroel, we beg Hashem's ways in which to convey urgent mes compassion for our eyes as well: After sages to us. One of them was pointed out he Prophet promised us that having witnessed Kial Yisroel's suffer by the great leader of pre-War Europe, "Tziyon bemishpat tipadeh ing in our long, painful Galus, we are the Rosh Haycshiva of Baranovitch, T veshaveha bitzeddaka - Zion will confident that the time will come when Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman "T'">;i. Ninety be redeemed through justice, and those Tziyon bemishpat tipadeh. But who says years ago, much of Europe was astir who return to her, through charity" that we will be there to witness this? So over the infamous Beilus Case, wherein (Yeshayahu 1,27). This passage seems to our tefilla is that our eyes, too, should Mendel Beilus was accused of kidnap indicate that while Hashem will select be treated to Hashem's compassion ping and murdering a gentile boy to use the precise time for Zion's redemption and should merit seeing the Ribbono his blood for baking matzos - in line with His attribute of justice, not everyone sh el Olam's return to Zion. In the same with the blood libels of the Medieval will merit to see this happen. An element way, we look forward to Yirmeyahu's days, vvhen Jews were tiine and again of tzeddaka - charity - will come in to prophecy that Hashem will temper His being accused of this hideous crime. play to determine who will be zocheh to usually immutable justice with mercy, Reb Elchonon remarked that the fact witness this awe-inspiring event. and include us in that return, with that such an obviously preposterous l'his same concept is reflected in a Divine tzeddaka. charge was being considered must have familiar passage from our daily tefillos: deeper implications and must be part of "Vesechezena eineinu beshuvecha leTzi Hashem's plan to alert us to an urgent yon berachamim - May our eyes behold REFLECTIONS OF OUR need. This is in line with an established Your return to Zion in con1passion" ATTITUDES pattern when Yidden go astray. For (Shemonch Esrei). A simple reading of example, whenever Jews tend to stray this tefilla ascribes Hashen1's compas here are specific ways in which from devotion to Hashem's will, it has sion to His return to Zion. Rabbi Elya we can achieve this Divine justice its roots in a vestigial imprint from the Lopian 7"~l explains it otherwise - that Tand the compassion that accom Israelites' worship of the Golden Calf in just as we seek to promote Divine pro- panies it, but first we 1nust exa1nine the desert. Yes, the Calf was destroyed, --.. --.... ------·~-···--···---~-~ RABBI MATISYAHU SALOMON IS THE iHASIJGIACH our own attitudes and actions, to see and the primary worshippers were duly OF B>\lS MEOllASH GOVOl-IA IN LAKl>\VOOO, N.f. TllE where we are lacking, and where we killed, but some remnant of that sub- ABOVE AlfflCLE JS BASED ON Tll1' MASf/GIACtf's need tikkun. versive force persisted amongst son1e 1 ADDRESS A'l A T!Sl-fA f31:'AVGATHERJNG !N !l!HJOKLYN The Ribbono shel Olam has many of the rest of the Jewish People. They ii --···•m-·•••m-·---·-·-•••--- L"~'"''" - ·- -·- - ·- -· ··-· ·- -· ·-·- - - ~ SEPTEMBER 2 0 0 6 Hbd> "" ""'" .. - If, in our enlightened,,~ .,.rn] Twentieth ! Century, an absurd blood libel can gain i currency, stressed Reb Elchonon, it must I THE VILNA GAON SAYS THAT WHEN THE be due to our own shortcomings and i RIBBONO SHEL 0LAM WANTS TO CALL OUR to the way in which we bring up our ATTENTION TO OUR WEAKNESSES, HE PUTS HIS own children. The Vilna Gaon says that when the Ribbono shel Olam wants to MESSAGE INTO THE MOUTHS OF OUR ENEMIES. call our attention to our weaknesses, he WHEN THEY COME WITH BLOOD LIBELS, IT puts His message into the mouths of our ECHOES ACCUSATIONS BEING MADE AGAINST enemies. When they come with blood libels, it echoes accusations being made US IN SHAMAYIM. against us in Shamayim. We have not yet corrected the sin of sinas chinam. There is still too much strife in our midst. We must ask our selves, Are we guilty of"dipping the coat never succeeded in folly uprooting that tunic or not?" (Bereishis 37,22). As long in blood," covering up or even falsely justi fatal tendency to avoid total submission as we are accused of a blood libel, it is fying our petty quarrels and divisiveness? to Him from their inner make-up, and based on the brothers' never having This lack of consideration and sensitiv it invariably causes other sins. Thus, done perfect teshuva for their conduct, ity for each other breeds an indifference whenever Hashem sees fit to punish Kial with complete remorse for their envy to feeling responsible for each other. Yisroel for falling short of His spiritual over Yoseif's special relationship with Hence, when the government prosecu demands, He includes worshipping the their father, and for their planting false tor says "Beil us," the Ribbono shel Olam Golden Calf in this list of sins. evidence of Yoseif's death to cover up is calling us to task for our indifference Similarly, said Reb Elchonon, when their selling him into slavery. All our to, or even complicity in, the kidnapping ever a blood libel emerges, and gentiles aveiros in interpersonal relationships of thousands of Yiddishe neshamos by actually go so far as to kill their own stem from that crucial imperfection in "enlightened" secularists, Socialists and child to create a pretext for accusing Jews Yoseif's brothers that was never cor other subversive groups. The Accuser of using Christian blood for matzos, it rected. Over the years, we have contin holds the blood-stained garment in His has its roots in an incident in our early ued to harbor these same defects of envy Hands and asks us, "Is this your son's history: Yoseif's brothers' slaughtering a and false pretexts in our interpersonal tunic or not?" lamb and dipping Yoseif's coat of many relationships, and as a result, we are Kial Yisroel is under threat. Let us colors into the blood, and then sending reminded of these faulty attitudes and dwell on what has to be done- and what it to Yaakov, asking "Is this your son's actions time and again by the blood we can do - for the protection of Kial Yisroel, in response to the introspection Most of us have several areas that com- that should be inspired by our current pcte for our tim~ and attention. W~en CflSlS. L l e B a l ance these areas are 111 harmony, you will i.fi experience a \17!'.nn nnU)'.) - peace of A Life-Coach mind - making you a more effective, happier person. can help you In 2-3 months, using weekly private phone sessions you can learn to TODAY'S COUNTERPART develop and effectively take control of your life. • • i HOW MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE AND ENHANCED s Israeli forces seek to uproot main.a n a WOULD YOUR LIFE BE WITH BETTER LIFE BAIANCE? the sources of Hezbollah mis- wholesome WHY COACHING? Improving one's life means 1naking change; and balance people need support and structure to keep distractions and obstacles from A siles raining destruction on Bretz between the swamping their dreams and goals. Coaching provides that solid framework Yisroel's north by bombing their launch- important of support and structure. ing pads, the media take note of the I have over thirty years experience in helping people fulfill their dreams, death of Lebanese people being held areas of have authored books, articles and produced cassette prognuns your life. on this subject, and have taken special Life-Coach courses. hostage with the terrorists' Katyushas, FREE OFFER - I would be happy to give you a free telephone session. Please and they accuse the Jewish soldiers of call USA 845-352-1175 for an appointn1ent. Thank you. -MR. AVI SHULMAN murdering women and children. They Live a Life ofDesign, Not Default ignore the guilt of those who plant their destructive weapons among civilians, and instead blame the Jews for the loss ---o-f-human lives caused--by::J ----·---·------·-··------THE JEWISH OBSERVER The result - we are being branded as ing Hashem's infinite strength,) for fight for you with your enemies, to "killers of women and children:' In a Hashem, your G-d, is with you, Who save you" (Devarim 20, 1-4). court of law, we would have no prob brought you up from the land of [Rashi tells us that if the Jewish lem in turning the accusatory finger Egypt. It shall be that when you draw People have no merit other than at the Hezbollah launchers of deathly near to the war, the Kohein shall their fidelity to those first words of missiles from the homes of civilians, approach and speak to the people. the Kohein's summons to bravery, but the accusatory n1essage is aimed at He shall say to them, "Shema "Shema Yisroel;' that is enough for us, instead. And, indeed, we may well Yisroe~ you are coming near to the them to be victorious. It is as simple be guilty of indifference to a different battle against your enemies; let your as that.] deadly attack - the regular assault of heart not be faint; do not be afraid, Before we go to battle, we do not invasive and corrupting 1nessages in do not panic, and do not be broken need to make new com1nitments. We the media and on the Internet, inflict before them. For Hashem, your G-d, need to honor our old ones. - Do we ing harm on the precious neshamos of is the One Who goes with you, to fully commit ourselves to the declara- Jewish children. Are we only concerned that children should excel in their knowledge, and ignore what is going on in their minds, their hearts and their neshamos in the process? What about their exposure to harmful material? And if our own children are indeed insulated from noxious media, what about other people's children? Can we be indifferent to the harm that befalls the1n? Do we daven for our children? Do we daven for other people's children when we see them going off the path? Are we expressing our concern for hun dreds of thousands of Jewish children - in America, in Europe, and yes, in Israel - who are not being exposed to Torah knowledge and values( Are we THEVORT • The menu for the seuda is acting on that concern? We must all : "ftie ·1;c,;.t ·ceiebrat.ion · 15 ·to. ·tie limited to 3 courses followed by a feel responsible, and calculate - make discontinued. The L'chaim (held at regular dessert. a cheshbon hanefesh - on how many the time that the engagement is • No Viennese table and no bar. children we can save. And then act on announced) should also not turn that calculation. into a Vort. THE MUSIC THE WEDDING .- ·;,.band.may.consist ot a·.n;,,~;,n~;n THE KOHEJN'S CALL TO ARMS .- ·F°cir' 'tyf>1ca·1 · tamiiies: ·0ri1}i· ·4oo of 5 musicians (one of the musicians invited guests may be seated at the may act as a vocalist) or four musi es, we arc at war - on the north chassuna seuda. (The Guidelines cians and one additional vocalist. ern border of Eretz Yisme~ in Kial make provision for exceptional • A one-man band is recom Yisroel's status, and in the narrow circumstances - see full text.) Y mended. turf of our own private lives. How do • The kabbo/as panim smorgas we prepare for battle? How do we secure bord should be limited to basic FLOWERS 8r. CHUPA DECOR victory? The Torah prescribes the precise cakes, fruit platters, a modest buf : 'rfie· iota·1 ·co.si ·.;t' ities·e· items to; formula for success: fet, and the caterer's standard the entire wedding should not When you go out to battle against chicken or meat hot dishes. exceed $1,800. your enemy, and you see horse and chariot - a people 1nore numer FOR THE FULL VERSION OF 1nc :>11v1\..nA GUIDELINES ous than you [better equipped with missJes and murderous weapons WITH ITS RABBINICAL ENDORSEMENTS than you are J - you shall not fear AND THE ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, I them, [don't be afraid of them, for please call 212-612-2300 Lhey are powerless, when consider- . ··------"~------ SEPTEMHEn 2 0 0 6 of KriJo< %rm; Jo><., ooo that we possess or aspire to stems TuRNING To OuR TRUE r=, GUARDIAN I examine a protective shield for possible~o'd only from Him, whether it be power, flaws or faults before securing oneself parnassa (sustenance), or health. behind it, so, too, should we review our Everything is directed by Him. t the conclusion of Tachanun, fealty to the demands of" Shema Yisroel," The One Who is all-powerful, the which is recited at Shacharis before relying on its protection. One Who controls everything, the One Aand Mincha on weekdays, we say • "Shema" - In addition to being a call Who guides, the One Who cares - He "Shonieir Yisroel," addressing Hashetn to physically hearthe message that is Echad. He is the only power in the as the true Guardian of Israel. In these follows, Shema also implies a com world. Everything, every little detail, few lines, we declare how we invest our mand to the listener to comprehend emanates fron1 Him, is directed and trust in Hi1n as the sole - and ultimate the message that is forthcoming. controlled only by Him. Echad - only - Shomeir Yisroel - Guardian of Israel. Moreover) it demands that one Hashem. Whether it is power, whether it Yes, as the first verse states, \Ve are accept the obligation to harken is parnassa, whether it is health, every those who proclaim" Shema Yisroel;' and to its summons and to confonn to thing is only Hashem. endeavor to live up to its directives. its directives. Let us listen. Let us We live with this emuna, and we We follow with "Shomeir Goy Echad understand. And let us respond revive that faith daily with a fresh view - Guardian of the unique nation," a positively and actively. on life each moment - or at least each people whose singularity is the result • "Yisroef' is the recipient of this time that we say Kriyas Shema - to of our recognition of His achdus - His call, and each of us who hears it accept upon ourselves the Ribbono shel Divine immutable uniqueness. We sees himself or herself as part of Olam as the Melech, and we as His give everything over to His protection, this national unit. And each us avadim. The only way to prove that to because we know that He alone controls should include all of Kial Yisroel in myself is by saying that I am prepared everything. accepting this command, and feel to give my life away for Hashem, because And then we conclude with" Shomeir a responsibility that they do so, as Hashem is tov urneitiv: He is the ulti Goy kadosh;' Hashem is "Guardian of the well. mate source of what is best for us. In holy nation." To merit His protective • « Elokeinu" denotes Hashem's com addition, there is Olam Habba, there Presence, even in the battlefield, we must plete control over all that exists. is yemos haMoshiach, there is techiyas insure the sanctity of our encampment, Every single detail of creation and hameisim, there is an entire spiritual in keeping with "Vehaya machanecha all that occurs emanates from Him. future that grows from the present, from kadosh:' If there is no kedusha, He will This must be uppermost in our our obedience to Hashem. turn away. Our sanctity is under con minds. We proclaim "Bin od milevado - stant assault - the purity of our homes, • "Echacf' - Only He is all-inclusive Nothing exists outside of His realm:' the modest manner in which we dress, and eternal. He directs and controls Such is His overwhelming presence in how \Ve conduct ourselves .... Isn't it everything in the world. - Echad, all our lives. worthwhile in a time like this that we seek to merit the protection of "He [Who J neither slumbers nor sleeps - the Guardian of Israel" (Tehillim 121,4)? He calls on each of us to inspect our protective "clothing" for possible flaws or areas of vulnerability, and to repair GE SELECTION OF them when necessary. Our current crisis, coming after so BORSALINO HJ\TS! many millennia of galuyos, is a most We i'Uso Carry opportune time to contemplate all that Expert fitting • Courteous service Brand Name we have endured, and examine how we Individualized attention • Hat cleaning & Shirts & Ties, for managed to survive - indeed, to flour Big & Tall as .vell, ish. And then to fortify ourselves with Renovating •Follow-up care long after sale al Disco1.1nl Price§ all the factors of protection that were effective in 1naintaining us until now, so we may merit Hashem's delivering us from this ultimate Galus to the full, complete Geula speedily, in these days. It depends on us to enlist all the faculties He has given us to merit this. ll'J l-.. ------·-···· ------··------··········------·--·-·----- __J T H E -<' ;'A Response to the Thi'eilt to 111iJt , Come Home to Toran BASED ON A SHMUESS BY RABBI SHMUEL BIRNBAUM N"l)>Jl'J uring times of war, when lives 1nuch more so do parents experience scorn and rejection, like a lone sheep are threatened and lost, and agony and despair if they lose a child! among seventy vicious wolves. D many 1nore people are injured, Our Divine Father suffers along with What should we do to defend our the situation is of the greatest urgency. his children, so to speak, on an even selves? Of course, we must resort to After all, any or all mitzvos (with only greater scale. How relevant this is to our tefilla, and pray to Hashem. But that is three exceptions) are overridden by the current situation. insufficient. obligation to save a person fron1 death. We are somewhat unused to the The Creator Himself also takes such desperate straits of Jews in the conte1n situations to heart (so to speak). porary global scene. We fail to realize RESTORING A HIGHER The Mishna states that "Rebbi Meir how little things have changed from the RELATIONSHIP said [in regard to a criminal convicted status of Jews in the world community of a capital offense]: At the time that seventy or 1nore years ago. Men1bers of et us refer to the Jewish People's a person suffers [for his sins], what the senior generation 1nay recall hearing historic response to a similar 1ife expression does the Shechina articulate? of how Jews fared in pre-War Poland. L threatening situation - Ha1nan's "Ka/lani mciroshi kallani mizero'e:' (So Jn those days, a Pole had no problem sweepingly brutal decree, "To destroy, to to speak, G-d says: "I am burdened by verbally abusing or striking a Jew. But kill, to lay waste to the Jewish People:' My head; l am burdened by My arm.") should the Jew strike him back, all fury What could have possibly made the If Hashem is so pained for the spilled would break loose. Such was the lot of Jews vulnerable to such a brutal decree? blood of the wicked - how much more the Jews in the past. We are under the Chazal tell us that this type of decree so is He pained for the blood of the impression that in today's egalitarian is part of the dynamics of Kial Yisroel's righteous! (Sanhedrin 46a) cli1nate, ]e\VS are treated as equal citizens existence, in keeping with the pas- To appreciate Hashem's reaction, of the world. Yet, when Israel's security suk: "Ba'atzaltayim yimach hamekareh think in terms of a human family: a is violated by Hezbolla's murderous - Through slothfulness the ceiling child is not feeling well, and his parents acts, the world as a whole stands ready sags" (Kohel/es 10,18). As Rashi (ibid.) suffer with him; his legs or stomach to conde1nn the Jews for their acts of explains, "When Jews becomes lax in hurt and they suffer headaches. How self-protection. Only America, under Torah study, they whither away, and the leadership of President Bush in an the structure of their glory and strength RABBI SHMUEL BIRNBAUM[~ THE Rosh 1-loyeshiva or J'llE M!RREH YESllIVA IN BHOOKJ.YN, TllE ABOVE ARTJ- extraordinary departure from the world decays and falls to ruin." No sooner 1 Cl.F: IS BASED ON 'I !lE RosJI HAJ'ESflfVAS· REMARKS AT norm, comes to Israel's defense. As for did the Jews of Achashveirosh's emp~'reI .., PARl.OR MEETING ON BEHALF OF S11uv11. the rest of the world, Israel is subject to grow derelict in their Torah study, than 17 ------~------5 E _P_T_E_: __B_E_. -~--- -.-0-0_6__ . ·· 1 r=-- . . ==~ .. --- ·- ' Haman passed his decree to annihilate conclude that, as mentioned, Israel is indifferent to Hashem as the source of ' the Jewish people. Such are the workings blessed with the loyal, protective friend· the intellectual powers that He bestows of Jewry's existence, and any threat to it ship of America, under the leadership of upon them - well, He just holds back; that arises. Mordechai's response was to President Bush. It can only be a result they have removed themselves from His declare, in keeping with Esther's request: of the intervention of Hashem in the favor, and ultimately, they suffer. "Go assemble all the Jews [in houses of affairs of man. When the Ribbono shel This pattern was elucidated by Rabbi study and worship]" (Esther4,l7). The Olam threatens or afflicts Kial Yisroel Ekhonon Wasserman ·pn, as pointed Jews of Shushan not only declared a fast in any way, it is not as a punishment out by the Chafetz Chaim 7"llt. In the of three days, they also repaired to their for abandoning Torah. Rather, Hashem late 1920s, the Polish Sejm was consid· study halls and immersed themselves limits His investment of power to those ering a bill to outlaw shechita (ritual in Torah. And their fate was reversed: who appreciate it. Those who involve slaughter of animals for consumption). "Unto Jewry there was light!" themselves in Torah study enjoy His spe· The general wisdom had it that the law In our current situation, one must cial protection. If, by contrast, they are would never be enacted. After all, over It hurts 10 c II I Ge~a·cell.phone • fromth~·ip~ople you con trust I It hurts ~ ..... Total Communication solutions l·866· T4LK-N-SAVE It feels better just to talk about it. That's why we're here. Our staff is made up of (1 •&6o~825'~S672) caring and sensitive individuals. Together, we can help you explore your options. 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(NYC Area! e~moil: Loo it.to' you' •.fREE incoming calls in many countri~······ CONTEMPORARY RUSTLINGS •lowest short/ long term rates worldwide s of late, one could say, we •f'ickup/ delivery available nationwide had somehow earned Hashem's • Qroup/ corporate discounts A protection - perhaps, through the steady growth of advanced Torah study, and the burgeoning of serious learning in so many far-flung places - not the least of them, the dedicated :(877) CELLPHONE involvement of Shuvu in the chinuch of the children of Russian olin1, transform- www.travelcell.com --~·--··------·-··------·-·------·---- W!e C,a,n•t Te 1ll ;Vo1u .UJ'h,o ;T,h.e;~ Are ••• 1 1 t. Tha. •s' ,Because' ' - ', '· ' ' - •,_ 'You' ·- ,K,n.o,w' ' \ ' T' ' hem' ' ' ' 'We1lil!!< \ •,, ' >, These are healthy, thriving families with working parents. They may be people that you know. Even people that you are related to. They are respectable and proud to be self-sustaining households. In truth, though, their income only suffices for ten months of the year, because comes the yomim tovim, and these families fare no better than year-round paupers. There's no money to buy a winter coat for their big girl or new shoes to replace their little boy's torn sandals. They have no means with which to pay the larger fish or meat order, so they'll just do without, all the while hoping that no one will notice and expose their shame. No one will notice! And thafs because Gomlei Chesed did their homework. In Gomlei Chesed's possession lies a list of just such families who simply cannot afford the basic necessities for the holiday season but are too proud to ask for help. <)<.ts• Cleaners • Groceries l,uluv •And Much More .. We need your urgent and most generous contribution. Move these wonderful families up the financial scale so that they can make it through these Days of Awe unashamedly, and in return may you meritto have the Divine Scale tipped in your favor, too. - Sincerely yours, (,_~ ~ // /) f f' '· .1 ~rv_, ;f;.71), _,{'>Jc 1 , L'D <) I u(t. ft JI,.. ,J.' <:',11/e ltll) 0 c··~ ·Ni,. J~ / g,., <'fl ,_,~,. > Rabbi Yaakov Perlow Rabbi Shlomo F. Shusta! Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon Rabbi Malkiel Kotler Please make your tax-deductible donation payable to: "GOMLEI CHESED" and send to: Rabbi Shlomo F. Shustal 1043 E. 17th St., Brooklyn, NY 11230 24 HOUR HOTLINE 718-431-1575 THE JEWISH OBSERVER ----··------·--"----·--···---.... ------ RABBI HESHY KLEINMAN Emuna and Tefilla: Our Antidote for Terrorism This summer, thousands of Jewish ten,3 'and [he] became a roveh kashas that experts say extend well beyond sons were forced to lay their lives on the - an accomplished archer."' its home base in Lebanon's predomi line to defend Eretz Yisroel. The world Yish1nael's identity as an archer is nantly Shiite south. Operating freely seen1s to recognize that we are up against eternal. The fact that a radical elemeut in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah, an eneniy that is, as soldiers reported among Yishmael's progeny are tapping which means in Arabic "The [so from the frontlines, "ruthless, smart and into his skil1s as a warrior with expert called] Party of God;' receives finan willing to die." Face to face with an army aim has had a profound influence on cial and material aid from Iran, that traces its powers and its nzission to world events in the beginuing of the with many of the weapons being Yishmael, it is itnperative to understand 21st century, as evidenced recently by transferred through Syria.' what is unfolding, and how to use the Hezbolla. The ultimate battle with those who weapons with which Hashem has armed The name Yishmael in Hebrew means wish to obliterate us is not a battle of us to succeed in fighting this battle. "Hashem hears you." His very entry into armies but a battle of faith. If we Jewish this world is testimony to the power of people are resolute in our own faith prayer. Extremists among his offspring in Hashem, then Hashem will have no I. THE THREAT are invoking Hashe1n's Name in their need to awaken us through threatening battle against Bnei Yisroel. armies. If the Jewish people falter, how UNCIVILIZED IN THE NAME OF G-D • "All the world is a battlefield open in ever, bloodthirsty terrorists will be given front of us;' said the Egyptian-born power in their chosen brutal manner. he Midrash 1 tells us:' "Yishmael al-Zawahiri, second-in-command to was born with a bow, and was Osama bin Laden. "The war with Traised with the bow, as it is writ- Israel does not depend on cease II. THE BASIC DEFENSE fires .... It is a jihad for the sake of 1------y;irkei JCRabt'Etieze~, bcgitlning-of c11:-3()-- God and will last until (our) reli EMUNA - FAITH IN HASHEM 2 See Scfer Mima'a1nakin1 on Parshios Ha Torah, gion prevails ... from Spain to Iraq;' RABBI KLEINMAN LECTlillES !NTr:RNATIONALLY al-Zawahiri said. "We will attack ust as a soldier going into battle ON TIT/I.I.A, IS Tl-IE AtJTHOR OF PRAYING Wtfl-f everywhere .... My fellow Muslims... must understand thoroughly the FiRE: A Fl'l/E-MINUTE f.ESSON-A-DAJ', PIJBUSHED BY ARTSCROl.L MESORAll. HE IS ALSO COFOUNDf.R OF you are alone on the battlefield. Rely workings of his weapon, so must THE NF.Wl.Y 1.AUNCHED V'ANJ T"F!!.AJ-1 fOUNDATJ(lN, on God and fight your enemies:'' e Jewish people become serious and DEDICATED ·ro JNCRF.ASIN(; AWARF'Nl·:ss OF THE I • Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim group focused in preparing for the battle !Ml'ORTANCF. AND POWER OF PRA)'ER AND TO PRO that captured two Israeli soldiers in ahead. VIDE !ODUCATION, INSPIRATION AND TOOLS FOR July 2006, has long been one of the If faith is the weapon for this battle MORE SINCERE, POWERl'VL AND EFFl:OCTIVE PRAYER, 'flllS ARTICLE IS ADAPTED FROM A FORTHCOM· deadliest militant organizations in with these sworn enemies, then it !NG BOOK ON 'IFF/I,/A, RELF.ASE DATE, Bf(/:J.R!\S the Middle East and one of!srael's is imperative for every Jew to fully HAS//EM, ELI!!., 5768, BY RABBI l-IESl:IY KLEINMAN, most potent foes. The group was understand what our faith is, how BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF PRAYING Wf/'ll ft Rt:. I-IF. IS born in 1982 .. .it now has tentacles to strengthen it, and how to use it to ALSO COFO\JNDFI~ OFTllE HAKl-!EL PUBLIC LECTURE prevail over the enemy. In fact, we can PROGRAM IN BnoOKLYN, AND A MEMBER OF 'fHE COMMISSION 0"< KEOUSllAS BAIS l·IAKNESSES OF 3 Bereishis, 21,20 5-----.<:HezboifahD'emOfistrates MilitarY, Poli-lical AGliOATI\ ISRAEL OF AMERICA, AND A FREQUENT 4 ''Al Qaeda: War \Vith Israel is'Jihad,"' Associated Muscle," By Todd Richissin, The Baltin1ore Sun, CONTRIBUTOR TO THESf PAGES. Press, July 27, 2006 July 14, 2006 21 r--=- SEPTEMBER 2 0 0 6 counteract terrorist groups' claims The Gemara7 explains that because the desired manner. Beginning with to having a monopoly on G-d's ear the spiritual level of the Jews had David Hamelech, followed by a series 1 through using our own powers of declined over the ages, people required of prophets, each delineated a shorter tefilla. 6 a simple and more direct approach to list of ethical requirements as the basis fulfill all the 613 commandments in for leading a life of Torah.' Finally, 6 See-Sefer Min1a'amaki'tn on Parshios Ha Tora Ti; 7 Makkos 24a Chavakuk established one overarch Bereishis, p. 112. ing ethical requirement-"A righteous person will live because of his emuna (faith):' The Alter from Kelm' explains that since Chavakuk was of the last of the nevi'in1, he paved a path for future For careful attention to your generations by focusing on en1una. individual needs, call us today! What is emuna and how does it manifest itself on a practical level? The (845) 354-8445 Rambanio explains: "Emuna and bitachon are two different qualities. Whoever has bita GEFEN IP --t chon is called a ma'amin, a believer. Not everyone who believes, however, FI~A~ EMUNA CHUSHIS 1nuna means that one recog nizes that everything comes from uvvhat gives us success in u1a1·? Please use my donation to: Hashem. 15 The strength of one's The spiritual fortresses of Turah." • tlelp a young Choson E Rabbi Ychoshuah bcn Levi OHakos) emuna is n1easured by the degree to J(allah get n1arried! which one recognizes that Hashem is For thousands of years, the Torah has kept A 111 • Give a 'TI>rah scholar in Yisrocl alive. need of surgery peace the source of everything. Keep the learning of Turah alive. of inind! A small child watches a pot bubbling • Enliven the lives of a on the stove. He knows that his mother Due to severe reductions of 80o/r1 or n1ore in Israeli Torah fa1nily 1vith a Yo1n governn1ent subsidies, Yeshivas and "forah fa1nHies forbids him to touch it because "it's Thu grant! arc turning to us V\'ith ever-increasing requests f()r • Help provide a home hot." He knows that "hot" is son1ething 7 assistance. V\ e cannot let the111 dovln. Ezras Torah fOr a ne\vly\ved couple! harmful, something his mother states now more than ever needs your help. • Endovv a Free Loan with fear in her voice. As long as he Beco111e partners vvlth Ezras Torah and send in Fund or Medical only hears about "hot," the concept your generous contribution today! E111ergency Fund! resides in his intellect alone. He has Call The 24-Honr Ez.ras Torah lzetlekab Hotline 1-800-514-0348 no basis for an emotional reaction to the word, until one day, he touches the .1'~R6~l£~~ l~~~b~!!~:.~i:~~~.~~~~!~~;~h- --. pot. At that point, both his mind and I "'\T.es would like to help Ezras Torah's needy. I 'IEnclosed is my tax deductible contribution for: his heart understand-"hot" is some .LI • thing harmful. I D $18 D $36 D $50 D $100 D $180 D $250 D $360 D $500 D $1,ooo D $ ___ _ People, by nature, have difficult y I Method of payment: D Check D Visa D MIC 0 A/E Ac. #: _____, Exp. Date: __ _ feeling that which is not direct and per I Please contact me regarding establishing an Ezras Torah Endowment Fund for a: I 0 Free Loan Fund D Medical Emergency Fund sonal in their lives. Prayers for a casual I Please send me an Ezras Torah Ha!achic Pocket Calendar & Guide, for the current year. (checked friend's recovery from illness might well I below, contribution enclosed) I 0 Pocket-sized Hebrew Luach D Pocket-sized English Luach D Wall-sized Hebrew Luach I 13 Cited in Michtav MeEliyahu, Vol. 3, p. 161 I Name Tel. ( 14 Ibid. I Address City State Zip 1 15 Sifse1 Chay1m - A11ddos Va'avodas lJasheni, I Please make check payable to Ezras Torah, 235 East Broadway, New York NY 10002 • (212) 227-8960 JO L_296------~~~~~-~-~~~~-~~-~~~~~~~~~~~~ be heartfelt, but they cannot compare Through the Exodus, they were allowed Master of the universe. to one's prayers for a close friend or to feel Hashem's power personally. Tefilla reinforces our faith, by rec relative, and nothing can co1npare in ognizing Hashem's control over the depth and sincerity to one's prayers for things we request. Thus, we pray for oneself.WhenHashembringsaboutthe Ill. EMUNA-THE ESSENCE OF everything, strengthening the avoda in saber-rattling and bloodshed the Jewish TE FILLA AND BE HACH OS all aspects of our lives. people are now experiencing, it is to · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · • · A person's full faith in Hashem's transfer the concept of emuna from the Aperson's sincere prayer springs singular control over every occurrence theoretical realms and embed it, alive from emuna - his belief that can catapult that individual above every and pulsating, into every Jew's heart. Hashem is the source of all. His other force influencing his fate. As Rabbi When Moshe Rabbeinu came to tell prayer also strengthens his emuna, for Chaim Shmuelevitz" teaches, "The emi his nation that they were about to be the act of connecting to the Divine nence and love of prayer is based on the redeemed from Egypt, the verse 16 testi- Presence creates a tighter bond with fact that through prayer, one reaches the fies that, "And the nation believed, and Hashem. Emuna is in essence an intan- depth of the recognition that There is they heard that Hashem had remem- gible internal recognition or feeling. none besides Him."' bered the Children oflsrael, and that He Tefilla and berachos give expression to The same is true regarding reciting a saw their affliction ...." Yet, on the day this recognition or feeling, allowing it blessing before deriving benefit from this they saw the Egyptians dead on the sea- to have an impact on the world. At the world, which is designed to awaken in us shore after the Jews had crossed the Sea same time, they serve to exercise one's an awareness that lfashem is the source of of Reeds, the verse11 states: "Israel saw emuna, causing it to becon1e stronger. all the good we enjoy.24 Ramchal explains the great hand that Hashem had inflicted Rabbi Aharon Kotler" explains: in Sefer Derech Hashem25 the purpose of upon Egypt; and the people revered "The foundation of the concept of making a beracha as follows: Hashem, and they had faith in Hashem prayer is that we should be bound ''Before one makes use of the and in Moshe, His servant." Although to the Creator and turn to Him world [for his own enjoyment], he they had already believed in G-d, their and recognize that everything is should invoke Hashem's Name and belief was now strengthened. from Him. And through tefilla, it declare that He is the source of all This concept of varying degrees of becomes established and takes root berachos, and focus on the fact emuna is the basis for the Jewish empha- in us .... that this good comes from Hashem. sis on the redemption from Egypt. This "The fact that we see ourselves He should also consider the true dramatic exhibition of Hashem's power as lacking and are required to con- nature of that good-that it is more - one miraculous episode out of the stantly turn to the Creator, that than just physical and material plea thousands recorded in the sacred texts itself acts to strengthen and make sure; rather, it actually is Hashem's -is singled out as the basis of belief, even ourselves complete in our convic- means for bringing about genuine above the seminal event of Creation. tions [and our belief] in Hashem .... good [man's perfection and spiritual The Biur Halacha " includes the [ Chazaf2o say] tefilla was instituted elevation]." belief in one G-d, Who continuously by the Patriarchs,21 because they Rabbi Chaim Friedlander,2" citing supervises the world, as one of the revealed to the world [the concept the Rashba,27 expounds that the word six constant mitzvos. The Exodus is of] belief in Hashem, and the idea "baruch, "2s which we recite when the epitome of Hashem's supervision of bitachon ... is connected in the saying a blessing, is derived from of history: Hashem redeemed us from tenets of emuna, which is established "bereicha" - a pool or spring of flow servitude in Egypt. through prayer." ing water.29 Thus, when one recites The emphasis on the redemption The Mabit 22 writes that the goal of a beracha, he recognizes Hashe1n to from Egypt arises from the personal, prayer is not to ask of Hashem that He widely witnessed involvement with answer us. Rather, it is to teach us that 2:3 SichOs Mussar (Sha'arei Ch;i)~i111), M;;;~inar which Hashem engaged His people there is no one worthy to pray to, other 101, p. 433, s.v. 24 Chinuch, Mitzva 430 (in some editions, throughout this episode. In the spiri- than Hashem. The objective of prayer Mitzva 428) tual sense, this was the Jewish people's is to establish the reality that there is 25 Derech Hashem, Vol. 4, Ch. 9 first "hands-on experience" with what no other power other than G-d, who is 26 Sifsei Chayiin, Middos Va'avodas Hashein, had been, until that time, largely an 19--Mishnas RCbbi Aha(O~il·; ..VoJ. l, p·:9-2---·- Vol. 2, p. 310 intellectual concept. Like the child who 20 Berachos 26b 27 Rashba, Chiddushci Aggados on Berachos, 7a had never touched the hot pot, they 21 See Ma/1arsha, ibid., who writes that this and She'eilos Uteshuvos HaRashba, Vol. 5, 51 only understood Hashem intellectually. refers to the fact that one should pray three times 28 For further elucidation on the meaning of ·----·------·- a day. It does not n1ean that they composed the "baruch," see Sefer Nefesh Hachayim, Sha'ar 2, i ~She1nos 4,Sl------text of prayer, as it was forn1ulated by the Men of Ch. 2-4. ' i 17 Ibid., 14,31 the Great Assembly many generntions later. 29 In each blessmg, we "Y "Baruch [Atta] l ~'"=----- ··---··--- -~'" Elokrm~ S~'ar Hatefilla, Ch~pte~. - \You are] the source of be~ac.ho_s_.. __ __j l H E JEWISH 0BSEHVEH =-i ! be the Source of all bemchos in this wonders of Creation and clarify to In his writings, Rabbi Elya \¥orld.J0 himself that these are all the works Lopian' explains that there is a great of Hashe1n and are clear evidence gulf between the most basic level of of His infinite \visdon1. belief- emuna sicl1lius, an intellec IV. MORE METHODS TO The purpose of Birchos Hashachar is tual belief-and that greater level of STRENGTHEN EMUNA to connect us to Hashem for the dura belief - emuna chushis, a belief of tion of the day,Ji by taking the normal experience that reaches the heart: abbi DesslerJ1 suggests several life we live, and acknowledging every "Just as there is a ... great difference methods to strengthen one's detail of it as a channel for Hashem's between one who knows and one Re1nuna. kindness to us. This includes, for exam who does not know, similarly, the • Say "Thank G-d" - The first way ple, our capacity to see, the clothes we gap is just as great between know is to train oneself to engage in wear, our ability to stand and to walk, ing something intellectually and en1una in an external manner. In each breath we take, and the strength taking that knowledge to heart:' our daily lives, we are blessed with Hashcni gives us.34 Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz writes good fortune, great and small, and Within the Birchos Hashachar is the that his rebbe, Rabbi Yeruchem thus subconsciously recognize that blessing "Asher Yatzar," which thanks Levovitz ~"lit, always emphasized every blessing comes from Hashem. Hashem for the proper functioning of the following when speaking to the To establish that realization in our the body: public concerning trust in Hashem: hearts, we 1nust turn it into action, "Blessed are You ...Who fashioned "One must speak about it in tangible which can (at a minimum) be in man with wisdom and created within and simple language, which is close the form of saying a simple phrase: him many openings and many cavi to a person's emotions, and not "L~aruch Hashe1n," or"G-d willing;' ties. It is obvious35 and known before with intellectual depth." The reason, or "With G-d's help."32 Your Throne of Glory that if one of added Reb Chaim, is because the During the peak of the intifada, them were to be ruptured or if one main trust and belief in Hashem is when every day brought news ofter of them were to be blocked, it would through feelings and emotion, not · rorist bombings in buses, cafes, malls, be impossible to stand before You. through intelligence.z schools and marketplaces throughout Blessed are You, Hashem, Who heals Israel, Sarah's morning goodbyes to all flesh and acts wondrously." IKVESA DE'MESHICHA her family took on an new urgency. Closer scrutiny of the structure of the "See you later, be' ezras Hashem," human body reveals that it is an act of On Tammuz 20, 5766 (July 16, she would say. They were the same great genius. An understanding of the 2006) Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv words she always had said, but now body's ability to function highlights and Rabbi Aaron Leib Shteinman she understood them. There was no the wonderful miracles that constantly wrote an open letter to the Jewish guarantee that anyone would return occur. That Hashem "fashioned man nation concerning the situation home. with wisdom" is evidenced in the precise in Bretz Yisroel (Israeli-Lebanon "The amazing thing is" she said, balance of a person's organs and their conflict): "that when that particular crisis died functions.-10 If one of the cavities, such Kial Yisroel finds itselfin a great down, I still maintained this sharp danger and "ein lanu lehisha'ein el/a 33SCeRam;:-s;n~~--s2·Da-t the--end ), iliat--if awareness every day that my family's one was unable to say Bircl1os Hnshachar in the al Avinu shebaShamayi111- we have safe arrival home was an incredible inorning, he should nevertheless say all the bless no one to rely on except .our Father beracha. 'Be'ezras Hashem' became ings that one was obliged to say in the morning. in Heaven ... and it is very possible very real to me, and it was an aware The J\1ishna Bcn1ra, Ibid, Se' if Katan 10, rules that that this [trouble] is from the plan they may be said at any time during the entire ness that carried over to all other day. See, however, Biur Halacha, ibid., d.h. "Kol of the chevlei Moshiach - the birth parts of my life. Saying those words ha/Jerachos," and Aruch flashufcha11, ibid, Se'if pangs of Moshiach ... " [the trou reminded me that nothing happens 8, concerning which of the Birchos Hashachar bles that will accompany the final unless Hashem makes it so." inay be said during the day. Also see Jgros Moshe, period of exile which precedes the ()rach Chayii11, Vol. 5, 20, 12,and Ral' Pe'ali1n (hy • Reflect on the Wonders of Creation the author of Sefer Ben !sh Chai), Vol. 2, Orach coming of Moshiach]. (See Rabbi - This is a more internal activity. Chayint, Sinian 8, that if one forgot to say the Aharon Feldman's "The Footsteps A person should think about the Birch as Hashachar in the morning, all the bless of Moshiach;' on page 8.) ings 1nay be recited during the entire day. -~,-,~~~-~=~-~- 30--~s·~;jCr iiCiChiniJ~h 430'.(inSO~ne Cditi0l1.S, 428) 34 Sefcr Nefesh Shi1nsho11, p. 45 1 Leiv Eliyahu, Parshas Va' eira. Also see . Also, see Pachad Yitzcliak, lgaros Ukesm'im, let- 35 See Gra, Jn1rei Noam, who explains that this Ohr Yechezkeil, Emuna, pp. 22-30. ter 52, p. 86. refers to that which is revealed. 2 Sichos :MUssar (Sha'are'i Chayiln), 31 Michtav MeEliyah11, Vol. 3, p. 161 36 See Peirushei Siddur Hate.fl/la LeRokeach. Ma'amar 70, p. 304 ~2 See Praying Vlith !·ire, Day 45, "Baruch See also Eitz Yoseifin Otzar Hatefillos, who says I Haslwn;~ pp 15:5~ ------that this phrnse refm toHashe~\%0 gave ma~---·-----.m~------·-·---- "'--·-~----·m·~-2-5_. SEPrEMBER 2 0 0 6 as the heart, stomach, or intestines,37 in its clarity, since he drapes his eyes were ruptured, or if an opening were in Hashem, he sees with his senses blocked, the body would cease its opti Hashem's supervision of everything, mal functioning. and he will experience the clirect loving We conclude the blessing, "Blessed care of Hashem in ways not accessible are You, Hashem, Who heals all flesh to other people:' and acts wondrously:' Abudraham" The Chazon Ish44 writes that bitachon (718) 972-4003 explains Hashem's wondrous act as the does not mean that our hopes will be body's ability to identify and extract the fulfilled. Rather, bitachon is the firm con n-~.,~ usable elements of food consumed, and viction in Hashgacha Prattis, that Hashem .,~:::>lv eliminate the rest. Rama39 maintains is watching over us, and that whatever that Hashem'swondrous act is that body happens is not haphazard, but because Specializing in small bdom for a perfect fit. and soul co-exist within a person; the He willed it. He knows all our tzaros, all body is of the material world, while the our worries and all our thoughts, and He soul is spiritual. listens to our tefillos. Things happen to Rabbi Yehonasan Eibshitz40 writes: us because Hashem wants them to hap Do you "One who is proficient in anatomy pen, and therefore, only good can occur recognizes Hashem's great love for from them. l RABBI ARYEH Z. G!NZBERG 01 Bombs and Burials A PREMATURE FAREWELL The rav was watching him, and asked call Rabbi Ginzberg, tell him what hap ••••• •' ••••••• '> ••••••••••••••••• him why was he burying his siddur in the pened to me and ask him for an explana- e call came from one of my old ground. He explained that he was confi- tion:' ba'alei battim, whose son was serv- dent that one day, Jews will return to Gush The call touched me to the core of my Timg in the Israeli anny. Several years Katif and to this moshav. He didn't know neshama. I explained to the father that I earlier; his son had gone to learn in Bretz when - maybe in ten years, or twenty or am not on the level required to even begin Ytsroel after high school, like many of our fifty- but one day maybe a Jew will find to understand the meaning of this incident children do, and had fallen in love with hissiddur,andrealizethatJewswerehere andwhatHakadoshBaruchHuwastelling Bretz YisroeL He joined a hesder yeshiva and left their hearts behind. With that his son. But I had a suggestion. "There is and promptly entered into the army. being said, the soldier and rav embraced, an adam gadol inBnei Brak who lives in a Quickly advancing in the anny ranks, and then together, arm .in arm, got onto world of kuk> Torah. Maybe he can answer after just three years, he becrune an officer the bus and left. you:' I told him I would arrange a private in charge of a large group of men. Last visit for him on Motza'ei Shabbos. He summer, exactly one year ago, he was should go to Bnei Brak and tell his story assigned to lead a group of soldiers to ELEVEN MONTHS LATER to Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky~. evacuate one of the settlements in Gush • • • ' • ' • • • ' • · • • • • • • • • • ' • ' • ' • • • • • I called Rav Chaim's son, explained Katif. He begged to be released from that T:e story continues some eleven the matter, and arranged for him to meet assignment, as he was totally opposed to months later. This soldier, now Rav Chaim on Motza'ei Shabbos. He was the government's decision to remove the an officer in the Engineers Corps, received with the utmost seriousness. settlersfromtheirhomes,butwasordered received an order to enter Gaza with his Rav Chaim responded to his question to do so anyway. On the morning of the men under the cover of darkness and immediately. evacuation,heenteredintoasmall moshav set up a headquarters from which the He asked him what he did to prevent and went directly to the shul, where soldiers would be sent for missions deep the expulsion from Gaza. The soldier said, everyone had gathered, including the rav into Gaza. "I davened constantly, and pleaded with of the moshav. He entered Gaza, proceeded to the des- my superiors to ignore the government's After davening and crying together, ignated spot, and set up the headquarters directives, all to no avail:' both the rav and the soldier spoke about tent When it began to get light, he looked ''.And after the expulsion, what did you the need to exit peacefully, so brother around,andallhesawwastotaldestruc- do?"askedRavChairn. would not have to fight against.brother. tion.Mountainsofdebrisanddevastation The soldierresponded, "What could I With tears, everyone exited the rear of the abounded; he had no idea exactly where do? It was all over:' shul onto the buses, waiting to escort them he was.All of a sudden - he doesn't know Rav Chaim said, "The power of tefillais ' from the only home that many of them whatcompeliedhimtodoso-hedropped not to be underestimated. Youshouldhave I', had ever known. The rav and the officer to his knees and began to dig furiously taken your siddur in hand and continued exited together at the end of the line. at the dirt with his hands. After several davening. Who knows what Hakadosh ' I, Beforethesoldiergotontothebus,he moments,hefeltsomething:Ashereached Baruch Hu would have done, if we had '[ I stopped in his tracks, reached back into in further, he pulled out his own siddur, the still stormed Shamayim with tefillos! You I' '\I his knapsack and withdrew his personal very siddurthat he had buried just eleven instead chose to bury your siddur in the siddur from it, opened it up and wrote in months earlier. ground. For you it was over. But Hashem that day's date. He then got down. on his Hewasinshock.Afterseveralmoments, says,'Itsnotover.Hereisyour siddur.Pour [1 knees, and with his bare hands started his entire body began to shake uncontrol" your heart out again for Eretz Yisroel and digging a hole in tlle ground. After a few lably. He cried out loud, "Hashem, why? for Kial YisroeE" minutes, he kissed the siddur, placed it into What are you trying to tell me? What is What an inspiring· and· powerful I the ground, covered it with the dirt, and the message that I am to get from coming response. Through continued tefilla, I then stood up. back to the very spot where I buried my through inspired tefilla, anything is pos- , it.ABBI GINZl'IERG, T'OUND!NG RAVOF0HR MOSHE sidduronly eleven months ago and find- sible and everything is possible. Things \ TORAH }NSTITUTl<: IN HILLCREST, NY, JS CURRENTLY ing it again?" change so quickly in Bretz YisroeL Not in ' RAV Of' JHE CHOFF.TZ CHAIM TORAH CENTER OF cr::oARHuRsT (LoNc Isl.AND), N1:.wYon:11.. HE 15 A He called his father in New York and monthsorweeks1butindaysandinhours; i, ~"''m°""'"''°"""-'~" . Mhl~rn~:cy:~_~:· ~·~~~~ j And whether we like it or not, the phenomenon is spreading, and even children from some of the best families are no longer immune to the temptations and tribulations of youth and their dire consequences. Just watch the pattern: A boy is sitting and learning with his partner. Facing a difficult issue, they ask for help. Still not fully understanding the answer. they are embarrassed to ask again. But one boy's parents have the money to hire a private tutor, while the other is left out. Continuing to fall behind in his studies and with no possibility of receiving vital - but expensive- private help, the boy becomes more and more frustrated, the learning gap becomes ever wider, and finally, he can't take it anymore. Blaming himself for his lack of understanding and weak learning skills, he concludes that there is no reason to continue learning, and All parents or future parents want only the best for their then begins to deteriorate ... it starts slowly but rapidly chilch"en. We shower them with love. educate them in the increases in speed and intensity. Totally forgetting from way of Torah and do all we can to make sure that they where he came, and not even thinking about where he is become good Jews. heading .... We picture them sitting in yeshiva in the company of Torah scholars. and look forward to they're becoming budding Orphaned, Underprivileged scholars, teachers and leaders. and Neglected But it's so dangerous out there in the streets these So how can we help them? How can we save them? days ... everything is so attractive and tempting ... everything so open and beckoning ... How can we win? How can we First of all, we have to recognize and identify these special ensure that our children not be pulled in by all the hedonism individuals. and material pleasures that cry out from every comer? What Many were already youth-at·risk beforehand: Difficult family can we do? backgrounds, including orphans and poverty-stricken Obviously, we are not magicians or supermen .... Even if a children, whose parents or guardians could never provide child could sincerely promise that he will lead a Torah-tme either the physical or emotional support they needed while life, can we really rest assured that he will succeed? If money growing up. Such boys are already overburdened with could guarantee such success. then would anyone hesitate emotional and spiritual baggage when they arrive. Their to buy such a 'wonder' drug? Obviously not! special backgrounds already stigmatize them, and the Yet despite these challenges and trepidations, our Sages newfound pressures of yeshiva study and striving for have found a way to ensure that your children not stray achievement only compound their problems seven-fold. off the Torah path.•• In fact, not only have they promised, They are tired, emotionally exhausted and often apathetic they have even determined the best segula for ensuring to any real desire or motivation to learn or achieve. They your child's safety and future: make a donation to the feel like failures and can't find themselves. "Ezer LeTalmidim" organization! So they look elsewhere for comfort, friendship and How can they publicize such an unequivocal and definitive companionship ... and the street provides what they arc ruling? Please read on ... looking for. There they are accepted ... there they face no challenges, no deep thinking, no conflicts- and no failure ... The Downfall And the process is swift, the deterioration almost We all know what "youth-at-risk" or "alienated youth" irreversible ... But at the very last minute before the final means: Good children who have strayed off the straight and fall, if someone grabs them, if someone shows patience, narrow for many reasons. Instead of sitting and learning, concern, if someone is willing to explain things over and they hang out on the street, looking for themselves, confused, over and over again, there is still a chance. confounded. And that is what "Ezer LeTalmidim" does: Assign them For donations by credit card: Please make checks payable to: ''-''·'""' • Healthy children: name~---·· and send to: • The right shidduch: name __ • Refuah she1eima: naine ---- 1 c/o l:Iara'\ Mattisyahu Salo1non shlita m Parnasa: na1nc ------637 Sixth Street, Lakewood NJ 08701 all dfJIR1lati<)l!1S a.re tax il*.~dtxctiblc~ tutors who study with them patiently and diligently for as long as it takes to get them back on track. And not only to stop the downfall and deterioration, but also to rehabilitate, renew and push them forward ... to provide the support, love, respect and confidence that they never knew ... to show them that they can succeed, that they are important and that they, too, can become Torah scholars l The Methodology How is this accomplished? There are many methods, like providing scholarships and other material incentives for achievements and progress in learning. Such incentives inspire these boys to study more, to strive for accomplishment. They build up their own self-confidence and gain a sense of self esteem and self-worth. Bagaonllarav Haf$aon Harav M.Y, Lefkowvitz sh.lit' a, A. L. Shtci.runan 'Shlit'a Just a little love, concern and acceptance goes a long way in helping these boys, and the potential is almost limitless. From Whoever donates at least $180 will merit delinquency and anger to a Torah life and happiness - all it the prayers and personal blessings of the takes is patience, love and the proper incentive. Torah giants of the generation, So just think of the thousands of children who could be helped Hagaon Harav A. L. Shteinman shlit'a, if we just accepted them, loved them, encouraged them ... Hagaon Harav M. Y. Lefkowvitz shlit'a, thousands of children whose lives could be changed and even Hagaon Harav C. Kanyevsky shlit'a. literally saved if we only face the challenge of bringing them back ... taking them back from the street. ad "'4«'f IUwe w uiuatUm tu tk morit So is it any wonder that our Sages have proclaimed that oltk~oltk~. helping Ezer LeTalmid will guarantee the success and security of one's own children? Is there any better segula and reward that one could ask for? Aud long after you may forget that you once donated money ~:1 ~ to Ezer LeTalmid, our Father in Heaven will not! He will always remember the joy and happiness you brought to Him by helping these precious children ... by saving just one life, which is like saving an entire world! What could be a better way to help? Where does your money go? Not to clothing, not to material needs·- important as they may be - but to spirituality, growth and Torah! It's Up to You Thousands of children and youth-at-risk eagerly await the opportunity of having their own 'avrech', their own mentor ... And it can only be accomplished through your help. Only your kindness and generosity will ensure that these precious jewels remain polished and shining. So don't miss out, and don't wait until it's too late ... Help us help them, and may you be blessed with good health, happiness and all of Hash em's blessings! Mother's nan1c ______r;n"j)':ll11Ulf• Mother's nan1c ------!1li1)1!'!• Mother's namc ______iJn•'Jl!JilN!!llB Mothc1·'s nan1c------i10ll!! m SEPTEMBER 2 0 0 6 ------======-····-·-········-· ------· YONOSON ROSENBLUM I. SHARING OUR BROTHERS' Protests by his commanding officers and in the paratroopers. PAIN the soldiers serving under him succeeded In the middle of the war, one oflsrael's in having him reinstated in time to be papers published a plea for forgiveness uring the more-than-a-month killed in Lebanon. from a Haifa resident to those expelled of warfare on Israel's northern As the nightly news programming from Gush Katif last year. The author Dborder, I added a new night suggests, our enemies are right about had beeu forced to close his business time ritual: listening to the 9:30 p.m. one thing: Jews love life, and weep at and wander with his family from one news. On average, about half of each its end, especially when that end is friend to another. He recalled his indif night's broadcast was devoted to the day's premature. ference to the fate of those expelled from funerals, replete with .-~-c-=.,-.,-~==,.,.,,===="' their homes just a year thumbnail sketches earlier, and concluded, of the soldiers killed, "I am not a religious one or two poignant man, and not of a details - e.g., he was mystical bent, but who to be married in three can ignore the deep weeks, tomorrow relation between my would have been his attitude towards you 21st birthday - and a and the price that I brief interview with a am paying now.') sobbing relative. My friends and Each of the snip I have no desire to pets tore the listener find ourselves one day apart, and some were seeking forgiveness for too much to bear) even our indifference to our at the remove of one's fellow Jews. We are living room. Major acutely aware of how Roi Klein, a 31-year far removed we are old father of two from from what others are the West Bank settle going through. The ment of Eli, threw The,\ overwhelming major himself on a grenade ity of the Chareidi to protect the lives of population lives far soldiers, while calling removed from the out, "Shema YisroeZ:' Sources missile fire that held When his chavrusa the North hostage for came to console his more than a month. wife, she told him, "I And few of us have want my children to ot Survival children in combat - a grow up like Roi, but fact brought home as now who will show L__------' we watched the faces them how?" THE NIGHTLY ORDEAL of our friends and neighbors with chil Lieutenant Amichai Merchavia's par dren in Lebanon grow progressively more ents also sat shiva in Eli. Last summer, Ydid so many of my friends haggard by the day.1 he was relieved of his command and nd I subject ourselves to this dismissed from the army, after sending W ightly ordeal? The simple I In that, the Chareidi conu~~i"fyiS not alone. a letter to Chief of Staff Dan Halutz answer is that we wanted to join together Ha'aretz's Ari Shavit accused the country's elites of no longer sending their children to combat units. criticizing the withdrawal from Gaza. with the rest of Kial Yisroel at a time of General Elazar Stern, head of the IDF Manpower suffering. For that same reason, 1nany Division, confirmed Shavit's accusation when he RABBI ROSENBLUM, WHO LIVES !N JERUSALEM, IS black hats were seen at the Tisha BeAv noted that the combat units are disproportionate A CONTR!Btl flNG EDITOR TO THE Jr::w1s11 OBSERVER. funeral in Jerusalem of Michael Levin, ly drawn from the national religious, Ethiopian, HE !S Al.SO DIRECTOR OF THE ISRAELI DIVISION and Russian communities, and the kibbutziin. OF AM ECHAD, THE AGUDATH ISRAEl.·INSPmED a 21-year-old Philadelphia native, who He threatened to start publishing data by high EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORT AND MF:OIA rushed back from a visit to his parents school of where graduates serve in the anny to RESOURCE. in the United States to join his comrades embarrass the elite Tel Aviv high schools. ---~ II. THE CHAREIDI took over from him.) Meanwhile, his SARAH SHAPIRO ...... COMMUNITY PITCHES IN school became a temporary home for I 00 refugees from the North. The proprietor ere is a widespread perception of a small on-line toy business spent the In This lull mong secular Israelis that the entire war packing $50,000 of toys and In this lull between now and the TiChareidi community views itself as games, many of them given her at cost by unknown, summertime blooms. Up having no connection to them or interest her religious suppliers, to be distributed north, the missiles stopped falling. in their fate. Nothing could be further in bomb shelters and community centers In Jerusalem our house is cool - we from the truth. Many in the Chareidi throughout the North. have air-conditioning - and I know world saw the war as an opportunity to The most crucial need of those who .where my toothbrush is. I awake in the overcome) if only momentarily) the divi fled the North was for a place to stay-and morning, come down and make coffee, sions that separate us from our fellow a host of individuals and organizations read the paper out on the porch, on the Jews, and to give concrete expression to quickly became shadchanim matching rocking chair. our vision of a united Kial Yisroel. those in need with those who either had In this lull, when history's around the The government basically abdicated a temporarily vacant apartment or some nextbendandromingatushead-on-a all responsibility to those residents of the space in their own apartment to offer. collision course - our home's still our North who fled, and did not do much Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman went castle. We open our refrigerator. Take more for those too poor to leave, who were from bomb shelter to bomb shelter in the baths. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Oean forced to live in bomb shelters for more North in the early days of the shelling to sheets, Until the future becomes present, than a month. Private organizations and offer encouragement. The fear and suffer we take towels from thewashingmachine individuals were left to take on the burden ing he witnessed convinced him to try to and stick them in the dryer. Upstairs, of feeding, housing, and providing child remove as many people as possible from downstairs, bookcase, bathroom. They care for the hundreds of thousands of the shelters. He began by renting premises say the best way to love something is refugees and those left behind. Chareidi for 800 children for ten days. By the end to know it can be lost, so OK, I get the individuals and organizations played a of the war, he had taken over 22 different message! Closets-shirts, skirts and suits major role in this effort. sites, and was providing temporary hous hanging in a row, Knives, forks, spoons. The major food organizations - Yad ing for 7,000 people. Table. Chairs. Our telephone. Eliezer, Chazon Yeshaya, Meir Panim, Yad The SHUVU dormitory in Jerusalem A place to lie down and a place to Ezra VeShulamit, and others' - immedi was turned into a hostel for SHUVU rise up. Pillows to lay our heads, and ately began distributing food in the North families from Nahariya and Acco. The dream, and to refugees, many of whom were Bnei Brak municipality provided two One mother's son is held captive in staying with families who barely have school buildings for families to sleep in, the south, other sons - captive in the enough money to feed themselves. Yad and another five locations for child care north. Eliezer not only created a soup kitchen centers and camping activities. And the Between my friend's third round for residents of Tzefas and environs, but Beit Shemesh municipality offered seven of chemotherapy and the fourth, we began distributing sandwiches in nearby school buildings to Lema' an Achai for the walk to the Kosel Shabbos morning. army bases, after they discovered soldiers housing of hundreds of refugees. She's gotten her energy back. The sky's without adequate food. Chareidi medical organizations-Ezra so intensely gentle, such a sweet, deep Much of the initiative came from pri Le'Marpeh, Ezer Mitzion, and Yad Sarah blue! And the trees, shining green in this vate individuals. A Chassidic yungerman, - continued to function in the North horizontal light. who runs a smaller food distribution orga through out the war, transporting patients Between Jews expelled from their nization, mortgaged his hon1e in order to to desperately needed treatments, and, in homes in the south and Jews who fled purchase $300,000 in foodstuffs to be dis some cases, from hospitals in danger wnes their homes in the north, we in the tributed in bomb shelters in the first week to those further South. center stand in this green, flowering of fighting. The directorof Lezion B'Rina, The war also led to greatly intensified space. Dreading and hoping, anticipat a yeshiva high school for Russian-speaking Torah learning. The anti-Zionist Eidah ing the future's arrival over the crest of boys in Beitar, heard of groups of elderly HaChareidis called for a cancellation of the next hill. Russian-speakers who had taken refuge bein hazemanim (summer recess)"while And the world holds its breath. in the center of the country, including in Israel's blood is being spilled like water, MRS. SHAPIRO Of' Jt:;l'!:USALEM IS A FREQlJENT one case in a monastery, and undertook and to immerse in Torah study with CON'TRlllUTOR TO THESE PAGES, to personally purchase and deliver 400 greater vigor;' and the major Chassidic Most of the major Lithuanian yeshivas meals a day. (Eventually Chazon Yeshaya yeshivos lin1ited intercession to a few did not cancel bein hazemanim entirely. 2·T11;-n·a·1ncS--;:ncntiorieda·retnustr·ativC~~t days, or did away with it altogether. Rabbi But a letter from Rabbi Yosef Shalom I 1 exhaustive Many other 01 gan1zat1ons did extra or Ovadiah Yosef called on the Sephardi Elyashiv, Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman, yeshivot to do the same. L:cywmk,aswdl- -- """ "1>b• M.m.,o '"'"""' """"'" I 31 ------=--····-, --~----~-TE--:.--B ,-.~-- 2 0 0 6 -----=---i_ r-=·--==---·- ----·~·-----··------~ / urged yeshiva students to continue their home front faced a threat of similar could not live with constant suicide ! learning "without any break at all;' and magnitude. More than a million citizens bombings; and they understood on July expressed support for those yeshivas that were in range of Hezbollah missiles. 12 that Nasrallah must be confronted.1wo cancelled vacation. All yeshiva camps were Many of those spent a full month cooped of the countries leading left-wing intel cancelled, and a greatly expanded program up in underground bomb shelters that lectuals, Amos Oz and David Grossman of bein hazemanim learning was quickly were totally unprepared at the outbreak (whose son, a tank commander, would be established in batei midrashim all over of fighting. They shared unventilated killed on the last day of fighting), wrote the country. rooms with dozens of strangers, during in the Los Angeles Times on successive The intensified learning was an act of the hottest part of the year, with little to days to proclaim the justness of Israel's solidarity, as well as an expression of belief do and no way to entertain the children. response to a provocation that no nation in the protective power of Torah. During Others were left to travel as vagabonds could afford to ignore. the first week of the war, we had a family from one temporary lodging to another. There are few Israeli left - at least for of seven from Haifa staying with us. They Thousands of businesses closed, many now - who do not take at face value the repeatedly asked us whether our sons' never to reopen. \Vage earners could expressed determination of Ahmadinejad yeshivos would continue learning through not work, and were left with no way of and Nasrallah and Hamas to wipe Israel bein hazemanim. Implicit in that question paying their bills. off the face of the map. Terms like "good" were others: Do you care about us? Will you The \Var in Lebanon was another and "evil" may still provoke laughter make sacrifices on our behalf one of those periodic awakenings that among sophisticated Europeans and characterize Israeli society. A similar Americans) but not in Israel. one occurred after the 2002 Seder night Israeli Jews have been forced to III. A NATION UNIFIED massacre in Netanya, the cultnination acknowledge the spiritual dimension of a month in which Palestinian suicide of our struggle for existence, and that sraeli society, in general, discovered bombers claimed over 130 Jewish lives. national will as the Am Hashem counts resources that it did not even know In response, Israel launched a major anti as much in that struggle as superior I it possessed. Not since the War of terrorist operation in the West Bank. firepower and a stronger economy. They Independence in 1948 had the Israeli Israelis recognized in 2002 that they have learned that the IDF is not the kol I yachol, capable of fulfilling any mission, and that when Hashem blinds the eyes of the leaders, turning "the wise backwards and mak[ing] their knowledge foolish;' there is no protection. Little more than a year ago, Ehud I Olmert proclaimed, "We are tired of by Rabbi A. Portal fighting, we are tired of being coura geous, we are tired of winning, we are The SEFER everyone has been waiting for! tired of defeating our enemies:' The It is the key to mastering the Daf Hayomi easily and efficiently. goal, he said, was to turn Israel into a fun place to live. Chazoras Hashas is now complete in eight beautiful volumes I Every part of that dream lies in tatters. covering the entire 39 Masechtos of Shas! The Jews of Israel now know that they BENEFITS YOU CAN GET FROM THIS SEPER ? have no alternative to being brave and to winning. But that starts with recogniz 1. To be well prepared for the Shiur ! ing that Hashem has not preserved us 2. To be ready to review intensively after the Shiur among seventy wolves, only so that 1el 3. To be able to test yourself 4. Have Chazoras Hashas serve you as your Chavrusa Aviv should assume its place among the world's fun spots. In honor of the publication of the entire Sefer Hachadash A renewed dedication to our true role L'Chazoras Hashas, we offer incredible savings - as the Am Ha Torah charged with reveal I $130.00 instead of $145.00 ing Hashem to the world is required in PLUS a bonus of three pocket size masechtos: order for the Jews of Israel to tap into Brachos, Shabbos and Niddoh, valued at $24.00 the sources of national will needed to Free S&H! Total savings: $39.00 I survive. 718) 544 6544 (The above article is excerpted from I ( " a longer discussion of the recent war in E Mail: [email protected]; Subject: Chazaras Hashas 1 ~- THE J1'\VISH 0BSEBVER INTERVIEWS WITH SURVIVORS OF THE HEZBOLLAH MISSILES en the first missiles fell this in Haifa. Rabbi Weiss is the son of the would have gone up in flames - not ummer in Northern Eretz late, revered Rabbi Samson Raphael to mention the financial deficit for the W;Yisroel on the fast day of the Weiss of New York, and the son-in-law entire country. It was nothing short of Seventeenth of Tammuz, the Jewish of Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz 7"011, Rosh miraculous that this didn't happen. civilians there were pro1npted into a Hayeshiva of Mir. "The city of Haifa got more than new, formidable reality whose bite was "The bachurim achieved this level its fair share of bombs. One day a mis- louder than its bark - although the of responsibility for the klal, 'The city sile fell only two kilometers from the bark hit high decibels bordering on needs us even if we don't realize it!' They yeshiva and the entire building shook. sonic boo1ns. were able to actualize the knowledge that The yeshiva nearly collapsed, and the "When the war began;' remarked the shemira of Torah is really the only sonic boom was deafening. Yet Torah Elisheva Phillips of Tzefas, "! was no shemira we have-like the Gemara that learning continued as usual. longer just saying Tehil/im for my seri tells how Rav Yehoshua ben Levi took "The progress in middos was also ously ill friend. Now I also had myself in upon himself to learn Torah with the obvious;' Rabbi Weiss added. "When the mind; now it was me that was in danger. public to protect them from contracting air raid siren went off, no one pushed to It was a whole new experience.)' a contagious disease ( Kesubos 77b ). get himself into the shelter faster. On the This indefinable, dreadful reality was "In our case, two hundred bachurin1, contrary, each one wanted the other to as daunting as it was compelling, as plus rabbanim, were learning, hearing go first. It was just extraordinary:' haunting as it was coercive, and it ush sichos mussar and divrei chizuk, and dav- The day after that missile landed ered in a new wave of personal growth ening for an entire tzibbur. It was clear near the yeshiva, Rabbi Aharon Leib and advancement. that 'Torah magina umatzila -Torah Shteinman wrote a letter to the rash "This period in the yeshiva was learning protects and saves; both when hayeshiva and the rabbanim of the marked by incredible chizuk in all one is involved in learning, and when yeshiva urging them to persist in their areaS:' related Rabbi Yisroel Meir Weiss, he is not" (Sota 2la). struggle: "As we all know, the situation in Rosh Hayeshiva of Nachl~Halevi'illl Rabbi Weiss continued. ''In a time your area is very critical, and the Torah MRS. COHEN L.IVES JN JERUSALEM, WHERE SI-IE of \var or danger, it is wrong to run which is being learned at this time is a JS INVOLVED JN WRITING, TRANSLATING, EDIT· away and say 'Peace is with 1ne.' We as shen1ira for everyone. Of course, when 11\fG AND PROOFREADING. HH? ARTICLES HAVE bnei Torah have a cheilek in all of this. the siren sounds, you must go down to APPEARED IN nH".SE PAGES, AS WEI.I. AS IN YAHOO, Hundreds of bombs were supposed to the shelters. Yet, the Torah which one 1 z~:i:~~A5:, -~::~~~:~(~~:~ ::::R~l~~-:·;H~~~(::; 1::: hit the oil refineries of Haifa, and they learns with great struggle is very pre- I SHE ExPRESSEs sPEc1A1. THAN Ks To LrnA KELLER 1 did not. If the missiles would have in cious in the eyes of Hashem Yisbarach, L '~'::· ~ ------~ct hit !~refineries, -the entire oty ~~~s faithf~~pay you~e:d ..------, ______8 ,:b~: ,~:,:.-er__s_~~-e-m-.p-h-~~-:-al-~y-.---W-h-e-~•d h.. OO '" •k •«d :,~ m I - each one will become a great talmid chacham and no disaster will come his "This fact gave me the internal strength an explosion, it was a powerful tool ' way." to continue despite the sirens and mis- for teshuva." Rabbi Yitzchok Schechter, the head siles." He alluded to the parsha of that of the kollel in Nachlas Halevi'im, mir week where Moshe Rabbeinu rebuked rored this view as well. Rabbi Schechter the tribes of Gad and Reuven for not THE VIEW FROM TZEFAS is also the Rosh Kolle/ of Ateres Eliyahu, wanting to enter Canaan, generating and Rav of the Bnei Beis' cha Shu! fear among the people. eah Costa, a Tzefas resident from - both in Rechasim. Rabbi Schechter He also told of his own spiritual Sydney, Australia, not only heard traveled each day by car - amidst the growth, despite - or even because of Lthe explosion of a missile, but she sirens - from his home in Rechasim - the sirens and the shelling: "The actually saw it right beside her. to Haifa in order to be sure the kollel Gemara tells us that the purpose of "I was standing on my balcony say would not disperse. thunder is to straighten out the crook ing my daily Tehillim, and just as I said "A makom Torah cannot be closed," edness of the heart (Berachos 59a). the words 'As I walk though the valley of the shadow of death,' I heard this explosion and a great whoosh flew past me. As it zoomed by at lightning speed, I crouched down on my balcony. When I jumped up, the dust of the place where it hit was coming down. A thick layer covered me, and I felt this incred ible strength of Hashem covering me. It was like being tapped on the shoulder from Above and being told that I had been saved for a higher purpose. It was a moment of inexplicable growth in faith and thankfulness to Hashem - something I will just never forget." "Our support of each other keeps us fubscribe, or give a gift at these reduced going,'' Elisheva Phillips of Tzefas told prices: as much as 4ouro off the newsstand me. Elisheva is a retired social worker price; the longer your subscription, the greater your savings. You and your famify wilf benefit from the from the United States. "Support of many articles of information and inspira· friends and family abroad also gives us Each month The Jewish Observer will 1 tion that they cannot get anywhere else. strength. In my family, we handle things arrive at your door,. filled with the views of leading Torah thinkers on current Of course, this offer is unconditionally with humor. When my family invited issues, .. anafyses of Jewish events, focus on guaranteed; you may cancel at any time me to come join them, I told them I am burning issues, inside reporting, interpretive and receive a full refund for all undeliv staying. It's important for those who commentary, uplift-ing biographies, infuri· ered copies, no questions ashed. ating letters and if/uminating responses - bave remained to have people who are all within the covers of one magazine, So order today, and the very next issue will strong and supportive." The Jewish Observer. be on its way to you as soon as possible. Elisheva's husband, Dr. Moshe Phillips, is a retired psychotherapist ~ from the Washington, D.C. area. "You u~ihrER SUbscription Discoum Cerlilicate ask me what growth this war has brought me? This kind of experience I 42 Broadway I New York. NY 10004 • Phone 212-797-7394 • Fax 646-254-1600 is a test of where there has already MONEYBAC:KGl!ARAAIEE been growth. When people tell me, 'I Please enter':) m}' subscription ;:i my gift (ffi,,.m•y rt"""" al «1'•· lim••.1"'" ""'not ."11i. 'II Cl ;'>)'ear~ Yourcost-$6') SJJ.j Yousaveuploh9! ."'.JEnclo.•ed:$ -- orCJCharg<"myMas!er<;ardll'ISA sure it is correct. I think they already I ;J 2 }"\'ars Your cost- $48 S78 You save up to $31! have G-dliness within them, and that's n 1 year Yo11rros1-$15 s10 \'ousave11pto$l41 ExrmMJONDATE been awakened when they're in the foxhole." KAME ~·····------~-··------.,,--,, "Every day, when I leave the safety of I r=_:: ·. ···~· -- -·.•• '. .::- ... ~ .~. 0; .~ ;, ; ••• : -_ •••• - .~ :__:_~ my home to get to the minyan, a rocket IN THE SHADOW o F Her father survived Auschwitz and was j can explode and take me away. Yet, CHURBAN EUROPE liberatedfromDachau.Hermotherwas I what motivates me to continue? The · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · liberated from a smaller work camp.As knowledge that Hashem is a loving For others, it's the loudest, most a child, Chana was taught that life is a I G-d, and therefore, it is important for powerful experience ever. Chana setting for misery and doom, and it will me to be in shul, where I'll affirm that Besser was sitting in her apart- be better in the grave. . spiritual dimension of life. In other ment in Tzefaswhen "the atomic explo- "Before the war, I struggled with the I words, I continue walking down the sion" sounded. It seemed louder than issue of whether or not Hashem really . deserted streets - at risk to my own anything she had ever heard. loves me. My faith had been halfway 'I life - not because of personal cour- "Why am I experiencing this?" She down in its journey from the head to the age, stamina or physical factors, but did some heavy soul-searching. Chana heart. It was some place near the neck. I I because I am driven by this ineffable, is the daughter of two Holocaust survi- would ask myself, 'Chana, do you really spiritual energy!' vors and grew up in the shadow of their believe that Hashem is there for you, or I unrelenting men1ories and pessimism. are you just reiterating the party line?' GOING TO SHUL ... UNDER FIRE r. Phillips walks twice daily from his home near the Artists I D Colony to the Abohav Shu! in the Old City of Tzefas on Rechov I Simchas Abohav. Built in the 1500s, ' it was named after the saintly Rav Yitzchak Abohav who died al kid- dush Hashem in the 1400s in Spain. The Spanish immigrants from the Numerous victims I Inquisition salvaged the sefer Torah of Arab rocket written by Rabbi Abohav's own hand attacks. Families and brought it to Tzefas. He would displaced, homes and possessions destroyed and business and workday immerse in a mikveh twenty-six ti1nes income lost. Millions of traumatized Jews struggle to before writing the Sheim Hameforash rebuild their lives. in this sefer Torah! After the destructive War or peace, Rosh Hashonah and Succos will earthquake of 1759, when the survivors soon arrive with their many extra - and unaffordable came to the Ahohav Shu! to uncover the - expenses. In desperation, the poor and the crtsis stricken apply for the only aid that preserves self- rem nants, they found the entire aron respect and dignity. A GMACH INTEREST-FREE LOAN. kodesh intact! The Abohav Shul stands Rosh Hashana/Succosfood close to the Alshich's Shul, named after The Ozer Dalim Victims of Terror Program is in full and necessities 1· operation. And our thirty-three all-volunteer staffed a disciple of Ra b bi Yosef Karo, who also branches across Israel are swamped with requests for Yorn Tuv loans. We cannot \ lived in Tzefas. possibly answer all of them! This war added yet another chapter ' to the five-hundred-year legacy of tJlllYY,tJrltJJ!lNllifllll,lltlllflf!!llJJI' I these two shuls. A missile hit the build- I ing standing between the two shuls, SEND YOUR MOST GENEROUS DONATION TODAY! t', yet left the two unscathed. "When the When repaid, your gilt will be recycled, becoming , blast occurred) the sheliach tzibburwas a perpetually revolving Gmach loan, aiding the near the window," said Dr. Phillips. struggling and the crisis-stricken in so many I "We were sure the glass was going to ways, every day of the year. ·1 shatter, yet, nothing happened, even RavChaimP.Scheinberg(HonoraryPresidenV though the blast was so close! When RavShmue/Auerbach RavMattisyahuSalomon tl''l11!1ll OZER DAUM I see things like that, I see it as a con- RavYosefS.Elyashiv RavShimonSchwab* RovChaimKanievsky RavMosheSt£rn- 1301 Avenue K 1 firmation that Hashen1 takes care of RavNissimKareJttz RavAaronY.LShteinman I His holy places. This intensifying of Rav Michel Y. Lefkowitz Rav Noach Weinberg Brooklyn, NY 11230 my faith is more of a quiet kind of :.~·:O,"ef~~';.:::,: RavOvadiaYosef OzerDalim (718) 434-2228 I I experience. L ______------·------·-~ r=--·.-._ ..-._- ·=···=·=····-·s-<_P-T·E=M "_--E ". _··-.o_._o -~-··--=---··-._····- ... __····-.---.-·····=-i But all at once, the explosion had blown right out of the pages. It gave me a clear they required ready-to·eat canned food. I away all the emotional and mental veils realization of what our people have Babies? Diapers? Formula? All of these that were covering my heart. My soul endured through the ages - especially concerns had to be addressed. was a calm, clear sea. 'Yes,' I answered during Bein Hametzarim." "Although it was dangerous to cir· I myself honestly. 'Whether He chooses to Yaffa and her husband are the found· culate in the streets, we had to keep end my life, or to make it difficult with ers and core members of Lev U'Neshama on knocking on doors. There were no wounds and suffering, or whether He Chessed Organization in Tzefas, which telephones in the shelters and few people chooses to protect me, Hashem loves offers free dental assistance, eye exams, had reception on their cell phones. me just as much. He loves me even if shoes, clothing and food parcels to the People need to eat - and we had to I cannot comprehend it in this finite poor. The incessant deluge of calls, the find them.'' world.' I said, 'Thank you, Hashem.' The $40,000 budget, a Tzefas-line com After thirty-one years of a peaceful explosion had completed the journey of munity bulletin board, and a local life in Phoenix, Arizona, and another five my faith from head to heart and from newsletter are only a sampling of the in Denver, Moshe and Yaffa Smolensky heart to the gut." enormous chessed that they offer their came to Tzefas with the intention of recipients. Understandably, when the lending a shoulder to others. "It's a privi· war broke out, those needs doubled lege to be here and it's a privilege to help I ROSH HAS HANA ... ON TISHA in size and in severity. The daily food people and to make a difference!" I BEAV parcels had to be delivered despite the It was difficult to conduct an inter sirens and the rockets - people had to view with Yaffa, as it was afternoon, and oul ·searching seemed to have eat. Since many people had left town that was the designated time for many enveloped Tzefas as if Rosh and others had moved into the bomb falling missiles. Each time the air raid SHashana and Yom Kippur were shelters, they had to collect informa siren went off, our conversation was coupled with Tisha BeAv this year. tion as to who still needed food, what interrupted, as she had to run to a safe "When I read the words of Eicha on type, and where. In some shelters, a gas area where there was no telephone. Once Tisha BeAv," said Yaffa Smolensky, "I burner had been set up, so they could the "all-clear" signal was given by the saw the smoke and fire right outside be sent basic staples, which could be Home Force Command over the radio, my window. It was as if the words came cooked. In others, there was no gas, so she called me back and we resumed our conversation - until the next siren. Yaffa reflected on the effect the war has had upon her: "My has become OUR STAND davening -··--·- so much more intense. VVhen you're in NOW---·-· YOU CAN danger of losing your life, you cling to PUT THE SPARK BACK your Source. No other salvation." IN YOUR INSURANCE. AN INJURY AND A LESSON Call me today to hear about these new ara Kaplan, a seminary teacher optional features: New Car Replacement. Accident Forgiveness and Deductible Rewards. in Tzefas, recounted the saga of Sher son's injury - and the lesson (718) 268-1700 intertwined with it. "The day the war started, I gave a girl who was staying in my house a book on Yiddishkeit that I had bought for myself - but I decided it might really change her life. Later that Martin Levy day, I regretted it, thinking that I had gone overboard in my generosity, but 103-20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE the smoke of that first missile turned FOREST HILLS my mind to other concerns. The mis [email protected] Allstate® sile had hit the apartment right below You're in good hands. Call or stop by for a free quote my married son's apartinent, the shat tered windows and plants leaving debris Feature is optional and subject to terms and conditions. Available in select states now and in most states by 1131/06 (subject to everywhere. Later that afternoon, my I regulatory approval where reQuired). Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL. ©2005 Allstate Insurance son drove to the police station to report ~- - --···-----'"' d~•••· '"d '"m~ m~O•:J landing on the side of the car. Shrapnel .:.. : :,.,, " "'""""'" " lj flew at the car, shattering the windows, interrupt'~~~,:~~ me nor was it a crashing:~~ ~i~ mis- ~"' was coerciverom~""'' - and for many spiritual leaving holes everywhere. Bleeding all sile or the noise of new arrivals from seekers, it ushered in a new wave of over, he continued driving - this time Tzefas. This time it was a silent, pro- personal growth and advancement. to the hospital. He stopped the car and found realization that this indefinable, A time of trouble is a time to hitched a ride to the hospital, where dreadful reality of war was as daunting grow. i1'l they removed the glass fragments from his eyes and treated the other injuries. When he was released a few hours later KARKA IN lllTZ YISROlL with nothing more than a few scratches Call Rabbi Gavriel Beer for information on c1nd a temporary patch on his eye, I P1'ic'¥la obtaining cemeteiy plots in Beth Shemesh appreciated the gravity of this real Experienced Shadchan and other locations in Israel. for all age groups miracle. Might it have been the result 011-972-2-656-9427 of my generosity that morning? I saw 718.338. 1765 • Pa er 917 .486.5655 that we must push ourselves beyond our comfort zone when it conies to giving to another person in need .... As it happens, a week later, my mechutaniln gave me a copy of that book." Sara reiterated the miracle, not the pain, the blessing and not the suffering - although both went hand in hand. Her optimism seemed natural, but it also came fro1n effort, and a new per • become a Ben Torah? • grow in Yiras Shamayim? spective. "Because of this war, I feel I cannot Yeshivah Gedo/ah of Midwood believes that a bochur who go back to looking at the negative in truly wants that opportunity deserves one!! people, focusing on their flaws. This war has taught me that we are all members Yeshiva Gedolah of Midwood has a dedicated and talented staff with a proven track record of of Kial Yisroel and we are all in the offering bochurim the resources to fulfill their potential. We are geared for bochurim ages 17 and same boat. It's also clearer how we are older who possess a sincere desire to grow in Torah and Avodas Hashein. In Yeshiva Gedolah of totally in Hashem's hands when I see Midwood. a bochur who m;pires to be al! he could be has the opportunity to attain that vision. the helplessness of the political and military leaders. At this point, I believe only Hashem can help us:' Yeshiva Gedolah of Midwood Dr. Phillips echoed the same senti was created with the dream of empowering ment. bochurim to attain THEIR dream. "It's so easy to be sucked into the Western thinking that some other coun Yeshiva Gedolah of Midwood offers moderate-sized shiurim taught on several levels. try or political body will protect us Our Rabbeim focus on developing skills, confidence, middos tovos, and a geshmak in when the crunch is on: the UN, the learning, in a mature Bais Medrash setting. The Hanhalah is dedicated to being mechazek USA, Europe, etc. It's an illusion. The a serious-1ninded bochur confronting earnest questions and concerns as he ascends to the only one who can protect us is Hashe1n. lifestyle and outlook of a true Ben Torah. We offer an accredited Regent's Secular Studies I am convinced that we must intensify program for a Talmid who needs to complete his High-School diploma. We have the our davening and really concentrate on experience and knowledge to help our talmidi1n reach their goals. And most importantly, at every word, reflect upon it, and try to Yeshiva Gedolah of Midwood, we truly respect and care for you. incorporate its reality into the very fiber of our being. That way, we can effect And our 1nany talmidim who have been matzliach spiritual changes even when there is no beyond their wildest drea1ns are a living testimony! war and no great spiritual awakening. For YOUR chance to succeed, please call now: Change must be accompanied by daily participation on the behavioral and Rabbi Mendel Y. Belsky Rabbi Chaim Paebtman spiritual level through intensive effort Rosh Yeshiva Mena he! in davening, learning, and stringency in 917-696-7652 718-757-5898 mitzvos. This is real change." 37 ...__~·--···-····- MRS. SHEIN DEL WEINBACH lhe.11111&01 the Storm AReport From Ille Heart of Eretz Yisroel "Who knows where terror soldiers exchanging a few shots. You'll and Magog to end all wars, and if the s-t-r-i-k-e-s at the heart get used to it." Six Day War did not herald in a new era of man?" A taste of war. Then came the Six but an error, then when, 0 when, would This is a paraphrase of the opening Day War. And the Yorn Kippur War, fol it come and how much suffering would line of a radio program of yester-century lowed by smaller, in-between wars. And we still have to undergo? ["The Shadow"], when we innocents then came the Gulf War, where terror still derived some entertainment as really gripped you again and sent its children through the popular media. clammy fingers running up and down • • • Oh, sure, terror always struck at hearts, your spine. even then, fifty years ago: in subways, But then, by Purim, we saw that it his time round, it seems so much walking down dark streets and in radio was all staged, Divinely. I mean, one closer. The final presagers of the thrillers. just had to see the Hand of Hashem TMessianic era already predicted Today, terror has a different con choreographing events to a grand finale sprang out of the pages of our Tanach notation throughout the world, even with a happy ending, like the scrolling and the Gemara. Reassuring emails to New Yorkers. Today, it conjures up of the Megilla itself. And the fear of the were flying about the two final signs terrorists and a different kind of global terror subsided. of Moshiach's imminent arrival: the fear, and is no longer a personal dread. By then, we had learned that history wandering of border residents (the Nine/Eleven put the new terror on the playing itself out in front of our very Gush displacement still in effect) and world map. eyes had nothing to do with martial the destruction of the Galilee. Terror struck us as a new family warfare, with Scuds and stuff, or with Who would have ever dreamt that on our very first night of aliya back in the IDF, either, but with Hashem's idyllic Meron, ethereal Tzefas, or com 1963, when, less than half a kilometer Patriots, those who guard the cities and placent Carmiel would become enemy away-yes, just a few street blocks away their people, the Torah watchmen who targets? from the Jordanian border - we heard prevented a hair from falling from an our first real shooting. "Oh, that's noth eyebrow in Bnei Brak or Yerushalayim. ing,'' our host reassured us. "Just so1ne We had learned that Hashem's eyes • • • MRS. WEINBACH IS EDITOR OFTME HOME & FAMILY were very literally on the Land from the SECTION IN THE YATF.D Nt:'EMAN INTERNATIONAL beginning .... "S heindel, would you believe it? EDITION, AND IS A COORDINATOR OF BEGED YAD But the end had not yet come. If the There are only four families left LEYAD CLOTHING Gl:.'MACffS. Holocaust was not yet the War of Gog ill om boildio' of ornclf ""j 38 ======Tl-IE JEWISH 0BSERVEH ------ ments!" said my writer-friend, Rifca the shirts on their backs. And it was the Goldberg, from Kiryat Meor Chaim in Nine Days, with no spares and no laun war- Dav bV Dav dry. We decided to advertise in the two Tzefas. Her husband is a pharmacist, a by Rifca Goldberg, Chareidi dailies (a $I 00 ad was given profession considered strategically vital Meor Chayim, Tzefas during warti1ne. Had he ('run away" free) that we would be open one day in at such a time, he would have been the Nine Days. And they came .... July 11th - Thursday imprisoned. So Rifca stayed put for as "I've never been to a clothing gemach Yud-Zayin Tammuz long as she could, for about two war before. Really. I have plenty of cloth weeks, providing her friends with a ing at home, but here ... ;' said one I went to a class this morning. It play-by-play phone and email report Haifa middle-class woman apologeti was fantastic! It lasted five hours.The of what was going on, and writing her cally. They came, took, and exchanged Rav spoke about fear, about different impressions in two very moving articles experiences in cathartic and therapeutic people in Chumash, looking at the printed in Yated Ne' e1nan's International meetings at the Beged Yad Leyad Geula lives of the Avot and what we can Edition, briefly excerpted in the sidebar premises. learn from them.One woman, from to the left. 'Tm staying at a huge auditorium Australia, was scared because of the . After two weeks of constant bom on Har Tziyon which was organized bombing at 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. bardment, sleepless nights and ragged, for about a hundred families. We des I told her that I've lived in Safed raveled nerves, Rifca finally left with perately need playpens for the babies nearly two decades and there's never her children when her newest grandson and sheets for 'room dividers: Can you been anything in Safed! Nothing at provided her with a legitimate excuse: help us?)' One hostess turned to me, as all! Safed is the safest place in the his bris in the safe zone of Modiin. she gave her guest a guided tour of what world. And from there, she relocated to a to find where. After the class, I went to buy veg kind, generous, warm-hearted friend "! brought a carriage with today's etables in a store on the main street. in Kiryat Sefer, who herself is a new shipment, but we rarely get playpens. As I was paying, there was a huge grandmother. Besides, they take up much too much "boom"; the store shook, the glass They weren't reporting things cor space;' I said. I had organized as much shattered above us, and I started rectly, she kept on telling me. Where the dean underwear and linen as I could screaming, then covered my mouth · media said dozens, there were hundreds from the drop-off spot in my front with my hand to stop myself since of Katyushas, wreaking deadly damage yard, knowing that these would he in there were two children in the store on ancient Tzefas, already crumbling great demand. "But I have a much bet and I didn't want to frighten them with age. ter idea. How about exercise mats from more than they already were. I fin We gave Rifca and her hostess' community centers? That way, babies ished paying with shaking hands and daughter a reprieve from the terror could sleep comfortably and only roll walked home as quickly as I could. by inviting them to Jerusalem for the off to the next mat ... :' People in the street were crying from day, where they "browsed" through The idea was immediately taken up. fear. As I came down the hill, I could a shipment of clothing that had just "The Achinoam school has plenty of ' ·see Mt. Meron smoking and I could come from Manchester's pheno1nenal those, I know;' said another woman from hear sirens wailing. Ladies Relief Committee, which floats the Rova (Old City Jewish Quarter)."! I heard later that the woman a thousand cartons of excellent clothing can arrange that for you. No problem from Australia caught the next taxi almost every month for distribution at all:' to Jerusalem. flil to the Torah communities throughout The Chassidic community of Kiryat the country. Vizhnitz, located on a mountaintop in There's nothing like shopping to Haifa, had emptied out on Friday, Erev comfort in our Jerusalem nights. That soothe jagged feminine nerves, I guess, Shabbos Chazon, many without their was also arranged. no n1atter where you are .... Shabhos clothing. We were able to put My neighbor down the street in together packages of Chassidishe beki- Mattersdorf took in her postpartum • tshes, which we don't usually keep, but daughter from Carmiel. Her daughter • • which one of our volunteers channels had just given birth to her tenth child, to an outlet in Batei Ungarin, complete and his bris was celebrated in a shelter, coordinator of the Beged Yad with white shirts of all sizes and clean under live fire, before the evacuation. Leyad clothing gemachs in affili- underwear. Their blessings kept us going The grandmother kept them for as long tion with Yad Eliezer, I was for the rough period ahead. as her nerves could take it, and then, getting calls all the time for help. People Then there was the request for warm fortunately, civic chessed groups took had come from Tzefas, Haifa, Afula, blankets. lt seems the refugees were over and found alternate lodging. , cerya,I Carmi el, with hardly more th~ -not sleeping well and ~ede~h~extra---~Our homes shook each tim~bomb 1 39 ~-- ::: ==- =---= '~"', ." ·:_--.. ;_--oo__ G_--·-·----==-----·- •• _------=--1 1 i ABus Storv cooked meals and so on for dozens of organizations. Fifty busloads of I (told to me on a bus by a reader) we in Jerusalem had the eerie secular children from the North were • feeling of being in the eye feted to a day of activities which began I got off the bus the other day of the storm and of having with tearful prayer at the Kosel, their together with another woman, a many eyes upon us. Many of us olim, first exposure, perhaps their first I stranger. I was about to continue on and certainly the locals, had experienced prayer .... my way, when she stopped me and war, but here it was, swirling all around In the middle of the war, one said, very emotionally: us while not affecting us directly, which family came representing the Los "I am beside myself. I must tell made it all the more imperative for us Angeles Persian community; they you what just happened on the bus as individuals to try and help as best distributed financial help right and before you got on. Someone stood we could. left. The Chareidi dailies were filled up, he faced all the passengers and If "From out of Zion comes Torah;' with offers and reports of help of all announced: 'There is a family from so does chessed, and in a big way. kinds. Bar mitzvos and berissos were the North which is looking for a place Communities such as Bayit Vegan organized, even weddings, for refu- te stay. They are desperate and are and the Old City were better equipped gees from Haifa, Canniel and other willing to pay $125 per week. Does to set up hostels, but many dozens of danger zones. anyone know of anything?' families hosted relatives and friends. I cannot begin to chronicle them all. "There were no takers. The man There were those who cooked, others Surely, books will be written about the pamed and then began again, 'There who coordinated; everyone commiser- miracles of so many lives spared in the is a family here from the North, ated. Our clothing gemach got a call midst of the terrible destruction, and desperate for a place to stay. Is there asking if we could do laundry for a the amazing personal Divine Providence anyone willing to take them in for family on the Tenth of Av. We don't extant. free?' have any such volunteer setup, but The war did not deter tourists from "And, believe it or not, quite a few we managed to accommodate that coming. On the contrary, atthe Kosel at hands went up!" U'l service, too. Mincha time, you could hardly bow for Jerusalen1 and Bnei Brak chadarim, Modi1n. One visitor relates: fell in Haifa;' confided a mother from most of which were still in session until "[ saw a little girl in Geula holding Rechasim, some twenty minutes away. Tisha BeAv, welcomed all erstwhile hands with a playmate her age who was Fortunately, there were no hits there, newcomers. wearing short sleeves and short shorts, but you don't get much sleep from It was the big-time organizations and it see1ned a strange combination. At rockets' glare and falling bombs. The that took up the lifeline. Jerusalem's first I thought that it could be a ... secular first decent sleep she got was a peaceful mayor, Rabbi Lopoliansky, provided cousin visiting, but then I thought either four-hour stretch on Shabbos afternoon a wide range of services and attrac- she would have co1ne dressed right or not in Jerusalem. tions. Ezer Mizion organized activities, [come J at all. My husband realized that i -v-OU c·~ ~.r fust cal. the little girls had been brought together [ .11. • ~i 1 because the Chareidi family was host- ; The Yitti Leibel ing some irreligious refugees from the . Helpline. North." ] H 0 u R s : You felt the solidarity on the streets, l Monday-Friday ...... Sam -12pm the buses, in the air. In fact, you almost I,' Monday-Thursday ...... 8pm -I lpm felt uncomfortable if you weren't do , Sunday ...... 9ain -12 P01' 9pm -l 1pm something for the "wretched, homeless ones ...." e 11s<;¥sr!3r-;~~w Everyone is still uneasy and queasy. Chicago ...... (800) HELP-023 How long with this "peace" last if Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 Hezbollah refuses to disarm? Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 What will we have lost, what will we ..... (410) 578-1111 have gained, when this terror will be Detrnit...... (877) 435-7611 behind us? San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 A f h Tornnto._ ...... (416) 784_1271 stronger sense o toget erness, I The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Branch of the Yitti Leibel Helpline communal responsibility, unity. And >1":.' nl:ir-n1::r·11 11;J 'Ji-:1JJt' ., r:J l"'Pn :-rn r:nvJ •1J:.•J · f l El 1 d v · 1;i'';l'.'r ., .. ft ft' ;:-i~·~i1 a more meaning u u an Iamtm :1'!,' jlt•n;J '"lrt '1'.:')J 'i p '1'):'1') '1 C I 1;-r';n;:n 11'\;' ·:::; "'t'~J1 Nora'i1n - 1or sure. ~ Dedicated b Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Boruch Wilhelm d J ------Thee=Or the beginning? U'l ·'mend. Friday: 9 am:.:1 pill Your call will be responded to by a seasoned professional with expertise in areas such as: u mental illness lJ marital/parent/child conflict lJ developmental disabilities u school-based problems u geriatric mental health ---···---- -~-- r-==······-..- .. ---··---...-._-_·_··_----- .....- .. ------.-- ... _S_E_P··-~;-,-: -M--:··--E-R ___ ~-0-0··----.--·· .. RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON A WIDELY-PUBLICIZED MISINTERPRETATION he Jewish Observer has received species and only allows itself to develop BETWEEN FACTS AND several letters and oral commu within the appointed narrow sphere of HYPOTHESES T nications on the topic, "Evolution its kind .... That G-d ... pronounced the Versus Intelligent Design" (JO, May great lemino law, the great law of purity he explanation lies in a misread '06), maintaining that Rabbi Samson of species which governs every tiny plant ing (and, I am afraid, in some Raphael Hirsch accepted the possibil in its innermost being ... and still works Tcases, in an actual misquoting) ity of evolution of the species as an on and on and is revealed with all its of a passage in one of his articles. In explanation for the emergence of our governing forces, in every plant and accord with the required practice of that world as it is. Some writers suggested every seedling:' time, each of the annual reports of his that he either would have uncondition In the expansive discussion that fol school submitted to the Prussian govern ally endorsed the evolution of species lows, he clearly negates any possibility of ment contained a major article by Rabbi were he to have been aware of various one species developing [read: "evolving"] Hirsch. These reports were subsequently advances in scientific knowledge in beyond the precise limitations within included in his Collected Writings - all the years since his writings) or claimed which it was created. except the last one, published initially in that he actually did accept it as a strong Similarly, these defining features are 1873, under the name, "The Educational possibility. This idea has been widely to be honored by mankind in avoiding Value of Judaism." Why was it omitted publicized in a number of books and kila'yim mixtures and hybrids. from the Collected Writings when the publications. It would thus be in place In regard to the creation of Man, Rabbi book initially appeared? When it was to examine what Rabbi Hirsch actually Hirsch stresses how, in contrast to other published separately in 1937, it appeared wrote on the topic. living creatures, which were produced by with an introduction from Rabbi Joseph Any student of Rabbi Hirsch's the earth, Man was formed directly by G Breuer that stated that it was omitted "for Chumash Bereishis (notably ch. 1, verses d, rather than simply emerging from earth unknown reasons:' Rabbi Breuer added 11-12, and ch. 2, verse 7) can have no by G-d's direction. In addition, advanced that "the somewhat unusual title as well doubt about his firm commitment to animal life clearly did not evolve from as the author's presentation with regard G-d's direct creation of man as well as lower forms of life; each emerged from to style and content reflect the purpose other living species, and that this is a key the earth independently. And Man was of these graduation essays to acquaint a factor underlying many mitzvos (such formed byG-d's hands, with a living spirit wider non-Jewish public. .. :' Perhaps, in as kila'yim). breathed into him by G-d ... leaving no the light of our recent experiences, we Specifically, in his commentary on room for an evolutionary process. This is may venture to guess that in this par the creation of organic life, Rabbi Hirsch based on Rabbi Hirsch's commentary on ticular essay, Rabbi Hirsch felt a need to comments on Hashem's use of the term the above indicated verses. (The reader is deal with the subject of evolution (then "lemino - for its species" - to the effect advised to read these concepts as expressed of burning concern), but necessarily in that"each [seed] works solely for its own in Rabbi Hirsch's own poignant words in a gingerly manner that could easily be the text.) misunderstood. As we read it today, his RABBI ELIAS, WHO sr-:RVES AS CHAIRMAN OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF Tf-ff JEWISH 0BSf.R\Jf-:R, IS How, then, could the idea have arisen reservations and warnings are very clear I AUTHOR OF NUMEROllS WORKS ON HASJtKAFA. that he approved of the theory of evo - but unfortunately are ignored and his 1 INCLUDING AN ENG US II TRANSLATION OF RABBI 5. R. lution, which is promoted by various words are misinterpreted and misused]y HIRSCH\ NINETEEN Lt'lT/iRS (Ff:l.DHF:IM). writers? those seeking support for evolution. 42 '---~--··-··--··· ·--····--··· -- --- ·- --- . ---- - .••. ··~- __::: _ __.~, ;,; ''.:,;.-o:;:,~,;,; .••• - .- ••.-_ .• -·· ___.. - -~ In Collected Writings Vol. 7 (where forms on earth can be traced to one facts. Even though it may appear from I his discussion of evolution starts on p. single most primitive primeval form of parts of his essay that he might accept the I 257), after stressing that Judaism has life should ever appear to be anything general idea of evolution from a simple high hopes for the advancement of sci- more than what it is today, a very vague form of life, it is quite obvious that this , ence, the author adds that"on the other hypothesis still unsupported by facts. accommodation is clearly predicated I hand, Judaism knows how to distinguish Even if this notion were ever to gain on two conditions that Rabbi Hirsch , between facts and hypotheses:' complete acceptance by the scientific repeatedly stresses in his essay- one, the I Moreover, he draws attention to the world, Jewish thought unlike the rea- theoryprovidesfortheroleoftheDivine fact that trying to arrive at a complete soning of the high priest of that notion, Creator, and two, it can be incontrovert- ·1 understanding of nature without see- would nonetheless never summon us to ibly demonstrated as true. He declares ing the role of G-d as its master must revere a still extant representative of this repeatedly that these conditions have not fail (see page 259) - and he points out primate form as our supposed ancestor been fulfilled, and it is extremely unlikely the vast number of natural phenomena of us all" (pp. 263-4; thus Rabbi Hirsch that they ever would be. that are unresolved by scientific enquiry. clearly rejects the ultimate crowning (Let the reader also bear in mind Physiology has not succeeded thus far - glory of evolution - man's descent that the final edition of the Hirsch and until we receive proof to the contrary, we from ape). Chumash was printed in 1883, ten years dare say it will never succeed- in explain- Here again - as also in the question after the essay on "The Educational ing the creative force behind the origins of the geological theory of the earth's Value of Judaism," and thus represents of a specifically oriented cell structure, development-Rabbi Hirsch underscores his definitive views on the creation of not to speak of the impulse that triggers the need for evidence (see page 265) man and of all species of plants and the union of specific cells into functional before vague theories are declared as animals.) organs) or the union of functional organs into specific, homogeneously coordinated CHEVRA OSEH CHESED forms of life .... It may be easier for the physiologist... to obtain information OF AGUDATH ISRAEL about the physical composition of the BURIAL PLOTS • Each Daf is read, sun or of even more distant stars than translated, and explained to use the formulas of mechanics and IN ERETZ YISROEL slowly and dearly in just physics to explain that"something" which Interment in a Shomer Shabbos 20 minutes Beis Olam near Beis Shemesh I everyone can sense deep within his own • $4 per tape (plus S&H) soul which remains untouched by the Please phone or write to: • Subscription rate: $3 per tape I physical changes around it, which alone Chm'a Oseh thesed Of Agudath Israel (plus S&H) 1nakes consciousness possible and which 42 Broadway, Rew Yoti, NY 10004 I non-physiologists presume to define as ( 212) '19'1-9000 "the spirit'' (pp. 260-261). Let us turn to --· the mysteries of the organs such as the eye that is "subject to the laws of physiology and optics, but in its operation is subject to an act of free will, of which we are all conscious .... Indeed, each discovery in the natural sciences only confirms the fundamental truth, first set forth by Judaism: There can be no thought without a thinker, ... no law without a law-giver, ... no world without G-d" (p. 261). Thus he stresses that "in the halls of academe I I does it become clear to us how many I I. hypotheses of ours ever lack the support . I of reality ... even though everyone acts as I . if they had already been proven correct . I beyond the shade of a doubt:' \ The author stresses that the basic I 1 teachings of Judaism will never change, ;yv};i>-'l/,d1f! I I ) "Not even if the latest scientific notions ______:di I Lenes1s ofal~1~mult1tu~: ~g~i~ ---- 43 ------~-----·=---=-==~=~-~~~~~~~-=~===:=:=-==1 ACCOMMODATION? which Rabbi Hirsch already singled out I - MOST UNLIKELY - are even more puzzling now than they were in his days: the spontaneous origin bbi Nosson Slifkin, author of of life, the development of perception everal books on Torah and sci and consciousness, the nature of the I nce, who himself believes that creative force for cell and organic devel "Evolution is an established fact;' has opment, and speech and language. I written that Rabbi Hirsch, in his time, Moreover, totally new problems considered evolution a vague hypothesis: have appeared (note, e.g., Professor "It is unknown how he would rate it Radkowsky's article dealing with evo today .... Rabbi Hirsch himself was skep lution and quantu1n mechanics in tical of the validity of scientific method Encounters, published by the Association ology that existed in his day, ... but would of Orthodox Jewish Scientists). In light of • presumably have been more convinced Rabbi Hirsch's stress and insistence upon kinarcJatxBic by modern science." The conviction, so incontrovertible proof, it is puzzling to readily put forward by Rabbi Slifkin, find those who want to believe that he A family Hotel that by now, Rabbi Hirsch would have would have changed his mind. on the Kinneret shore changed his opinion, is totally unwar The truth is that most scientists Summertime -and the Kinncret's soothing ranted. In fact, developments have, if today accept evolution - not because anything, confirmed his skepticism. the numerous problems listed above have waters await you. Springtime - the flowering I In the first place, there is the continued been solved and requirements of scien green Calif. In autumn, pamper yourself in absence of proof. For example, Darwin tific proof that are generally considered the northern hot springs. Wintertime, himself declared that the verification of essential have been met. Evolution is so niarvel at the Golan's sparkling strean1s. Get his theory depends first and foremost on widely accepted because it is the only to know Israel fro1n a new perspective each I the fossil record, which in Darwin's time theory that seeks to explain the origins season - on a vacation that is a con1pfete was totally skimpy, but which he expected of species on a purely naturalistic basis. experience. Con1e to the Kinar Classic. to he fleshed out with continued research. To those who reject any religious basis for W..nn Israeli atmosphere In actual fact, this has not happened; to Creation, the theory of evolution is the family meals wilh high standard of Kashmt the contrary, with greater knowledge only explanation. Thank G-d, we are not Gommient lo all nortJrem regimt tourist sires of fossils, the problems have greatly compelled to subscribe to it. (I remem multiplied (such as the discovery of ber with great respect the experience of Beach on the Kinneret * Gym * Sauna extremely complicated identical organs a very bright City College student who *Jacuzzi Children's Activities* Sports grounds in different species, totally unrelated to presented in his biology final the basic for each other). principles of evolution but added the reservations: 972·4·673-8822 In the same way, the biggest problems problems that beset it - and was failed www.kinar.co.il of the evolutionary theory - many of by the instructor.) IJij Eretz Yisroel's Uncle Moishy, Dedi Most Reliable Shomer Shabbos Digest of Meforshim and English Speaking Car Service Avrohom fried, '>V1j77 in:i '>V1j77 and other leading Visiting Israel? Need Transport? 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I In Israel: 02-533-3425 (2J2) 797-9000 Ext.235 --· ~------··------·--·---· - ______J ..--~··-·-··-··-··-·-···-·-··~-··-····-··--·-····-·-··-·-·------··~-- ... "!'"DJ Mr. & Mrs. Berish Fuchs Wtshing all of our.clients andfiiends a and Happy and Healthy New Year Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Fuchs I Michael I. Inzelbuch wish all oftheir friends and relatives: Attorney-At-Law Real Estate • Serious Pers.anal Iryury Special Education Best Wi.shes for a . n:i1t> nr.:i,nn1 n:i,n::i 1r.:innn11:imn n:i1t> ill'l?h Mordechai and Rechi Friedman Shmuel 13 ..& Simi Friedman Best wishes to all our friends and Cheskel and Meita G. Heimlich relatives for a happy, healthy and Yosef Sholom & Esther Wertheimer Moshe Yaakov & Leah Friedman prosperous New Year Yael & Sara Y. Schlesinger Yaakov Shia and Mimi Klein Motshe Yosef & Rivky Knopjler Phyllis and Chaim Shroot Mordechai and Ruchi Semp Better Health Fitness & Recreatian Brooklyn, N. Y. . 5302 New Utrecht Avenue •Brooklyn, IVY 11.219 (718} 436- 4693 . Best wishes to aU my friends. relatives and Kial Israel for Mr. & Mrs. William W. Wealcatch a Happy. Healthy and Prosperous New Year. wi.sh all theirfriends & relatives a KsiVa Vachasirna Tova Dorothy Liebman . 1r.:innn11:in::in n:i1t> ill'l?h 1r.:innn11:in::in n:nt> nl\?h Best Wtshes. to all our friends and relatives for a Best Wtshes to all our friends and relatives for a Happy. Healthy and Prosperous New Year Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year Mr. & Mrs. Chaim H. Leshkowitz Mr. & Mrs. Alan Jay Rosenberg Mr. & Mrs. Yossie Leshkowitz Kew Gardens, N.Y. . · n:m' ilr.>'ntn il::t'to Best W!Shesfor a year Mr. & Mrs. Israel Mr. & Mrs. Yossi .Stern ofjoy, prosperity Dembitzer and family i1V11!n'I i1"1~ wi.sh Klal Yi.sroel a Edison/Highland Park, New Jersey for all of Kial Ytsroel n:n" i1r.l'Tlrn n:iin::i . . . Mr. & Mrs. Willy W'tesn.er ir.:innni i::iron n::iiv rn'l?J? il:llV nr.i>nn1 il:l'l'i;:) n::3i::t Wishing All a K'siva VaChasima Tova ::U'l!lli1 iiiU» nmvmn raiir.:. Les (Eliezer) Zakutinsky, Esq. ;:m;> ilM~il 7::>l nm i11'1»'1 t:t;.1;:) 'WP'l" Real Estate and Bank Attorney n1::i1 O'l'\?17 i::itn •. tt>'l!I ::i:i?::i imn nl'l?llh 845-426-6180 [email protected] Levi & Davida Reisman 1n,))"11 ~"?7~ ~Nr.> :J1il Member NY and NJ Bars , , , , 45 ------. SEPTEMBER 2006 Ir - Avenue Plaza Hotel 4624 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 718-552-3200 WAXMAN REALTY The Avenue Plaza Hotel wishes all their past and.future guests a Monsey, NY n:i11' nr.i,nn1 n:t'ro Lakewood, NJ We wish to thank aU. of you for helping us complete our seventh year so successfully Best wishes to all our friends •• and relatives for a happy, healthy To all our family and prosperous New Year and friends and to all of Klal Yisroel THE GOWMARK GROUP Mr. & Mrs. Yonah Blumenfrucht Mr. & Mrs. Nutti Goldbren:ner Mr. & Mrs. Yisroel Blumenfrucht Mr. & Mrs. Shiya Markowitz . n:n'P ill:l'nrn n:i,n;:, roi:i:i n::nv nr.i'l"lrn n:im::i To Yaakov Ho.ffrnan l1::rTl:lr.ll i1:llV i1W The Staff of Al of A and the JO: and staff To aU. our family &friends Thanks for the Memories Tri-State Surgical 409 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, NY I 1231 Shia and Susi Bernath Rabbi Yosef C. Golding Mr. & Mrs. Chaim J. Banker wish one and all a Mr. & Mrs. Norman Freedman Mr. &Mrs. and family n:n" i1r.J'nrn i1:J'n:J Isaac Kirzner Boston, .MA You are welcome n:iw nr.i>nrn n::i>n:i to join our daily David Kohn Eli and Rochie Jeidel Dl1ar Torah from &Family Coaching Program &Family Yaakou & Bryna Bender Tam Graphics Send your email address to and Family [email protected] . The Shmuel Oelbaums i1::111' i1lW n:n1' rn'l!h Mr & Mrs. Lawrence S. wish friends 1r.i:nnrn 1::i:n::i:n and relatives To My Farru1y and Friends Bootin & Family 1)>:ll'I'~ 7N'W' Peska Friedman wish one & all a happy & i1j7111r.J1 i1:t11' i1lW healthy, sweet new year 46 THE JE\\liSH OBSERVER i''\7.:l D;JJTX ot'i:i~ Wil tttrinl"T tJJVit )TX:"lp', oi,nx oun JT.Jit1ti1 n;1w tJJtr Nn7.)"ill )TtfJ ;J.1"'1 tJV JTl.)11'1 JTl~·.vJ JTl).'1 tJ1JV7 tJlJTtT jl.)'i •ift Wfshing You a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year Yoel C. Goldberg Ben z. Goldberg President Vice President Alan and Lisa Avrohom Yaakov, Rachel Bracha & Sarah Rifka Stern of Los Angeles, Califomia to all relatives and ftiends Wish all of their friends andjamily in Los Angeles, New York, London, Dr. Sheldon Zinn Milwaukee and Israel Hewlitt, NY ir.innrn i:::in:::>n n::iw ill'l!h A Happy and Healthy New Year We wish ourfamily & friends We wish all our friends, relatives, and all of~ 77::> and Jews everywhere n:nv nr.:i>nrn n::i•n::i ! n:r1.:11 tn'n> rnv n:n" ilr.>'nni n::i,n:::> Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Katz &Family Mr. & Mrs. Max Berg n:nv i"lr.i>nni n:i>n::i ir.irmrn t:ui:::>n n:nv nl'l!h ir.innni i::iron n::ii" ill'l!h to the Jewish Observer family to our family and il)J1~1 i1'7l~ T'll'I?> to all of Kial Yisroel and to Klal Yisroel :ii" 7:::>i .nnm Mendy and Chavie Pollak Mr. & Mrs. Abish Brodt Akiva & Chava Last and Family and Family Mr•. Charles Richter l1:Jl1' ill'l:I? 1:Jl"l::ll"1 i1:111' l1l1!>7 and Family To all our relatives and jiiends il:Jl1' i1lv? to all our friends wish all a Mr. &Mrs. Mr. and Mrs. Mr. & .Mrs. Michael Joseph Sittner Jacobovits Simon Hexter West Lawrence. NY. '>rn::i1:i1 niv 'mn n::in:i ill'l:I? i1:J11' ill:l>l"lnl il:l'l"l::l ilj71l"1l:l1 l1:J11' ill'l:I Mr. & Mrs. Leibish i1:111' ill:l'Tll'11 i1:1'l"1::l to all.our family Chaitn and Suri Rapaport Yanky and Ella Adler and friends Kuperwasser Brooklyn, New York Yosef and Edie Davis 47 " ___" _____" ___ " ___ _ SEPTEMBER ~ 0 0 6 May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good year. from Ephraim & Chaya Rochel The Weinbergs Nierenberg and Family of Cincinnati, Ohio Brooklyn, New York nm::r.n n:ri::i to n::ii" nr.i,nrn n::i'n:i Dr. David Diamond 7~ n':i 7:i7 n:inwYJ n7ii-u rn~ on your move. Wishing you and your staff a happy and healthy new year. Mr. and Mrs. David Singer n::iw nr.i~nrn n:i,n:i Feivish and Esti Loewy L'Shana Tova n::iw nr.i,nrn n::i,n:i to our dear friends to all our relatives and.friends and family Rabbi & Mrs. Josef Loebenstein Max and Rose Wasser Vineland, New Jersey i1:111'i1l~ Wishing all of Klal Yisroel a happy and healthy New Year Tracy& Larry Loigman Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Treitel &Family Joshua & Daniel Los Angeles, California n::ii" nr.i,nrn il::t'ro 1l:lnnn1 i::in:in n::i1" ill~ Avi & Renee Herskowitz To Rabbi Yosef C. Golding Yehudah & Gitty Goldberg, Moshe & Yehoshua and Rabbi Nissan Wolpin Shmulie & Chaya Diamantstein. Chaim & Nechama Malka Yisroel & Rochel Golding and Family Yitzchok and Rotse Kew Gardens Hills, NY Reisman Brothers Bakery In Honor of the Staff ofAgudath Israel of America wishes a year of sweetness. joy and ilj'm1l:l1 il:J11' illW7 prosperity to all of KlaL Yisroel Shimon Zeldes • ACM INC. i1:i1v i1r.i'nn1 i1:l'TI:> 732-90"1-1500 718-331-1975 Lakewood, NJ 08701 ------·------·-·------·-·-- THE JEWf-SH- OBSERVER i"1':J 1onnn11:in:>n n:il'-'.nren 1:in:in n:i1"' nl~ Greetings from 1N' '-'1?.'lV:JVl '-'1l N THE WEISS-RY.ES.KY FAMILY Rabbi E.B. (Bunny} and Shaindy of East Northport, NV: Freedman Kenneth H. Ryesky, Esq. OakPark, MI Dr. Tamara E. Weiss Hayim Ryesky We would like to wish 1r.>nnn1 i:in:>n n:iw nl~ all of Klal Yisroel a Shana Tova U'mesuka, V'shnas Geula V'yeshua Steven H. Sholk, Esq. 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Canada Best wishes to all our friends Rabbi & Rebbitzen Wolpin I L'Shana Tova to the and relatives for a Happy, Healthy Aguda of St. Louis and Prosperous New Year May Hashem grant you the good health to continue your good deeds Dr. and Mrs. Moshe Katz Harris J. Heyman Lawrence, NY 11559 Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Slater Benyamin Heyman In Honor of the We would like to wish all of Klal Yisroel a Shana Tova upcoming 60th Anniversary ;p~ tli1'\!) rnr.njir.l '::>J:i U'mesuka, Vshnas Geula VYeshua of Osher & Ruth Lehmann Peretz Chaim & Zahava Sidney and Ellen Gevirtz F1atbush, New York Levin & Family ~------··------·------~----·----·------·-----·---·-----·- n:n" no.,nrn n:i.,n:i nv1~1 n?1~ nlwr COMMl::'RCIAL, INTELLECTUAL 'PROPERTY AND COMPUTER~RELATED LAW• RATED ~V" May our collective n,?~!ln penetrate the heavens 'fl:l11:J 885 THIRD AVENUE'.. ONE'.. GATEWAY CENTER SUITE: 3040 SUlil:: 2600 NEW YORK. 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Yernshalayim Mechi & Duv Fendel &family qfS'derot n:::i," n~nn, n:::i~n::i Pnina & Yitzchok Wilk &family ofRanaana Mr. & Mrs. No.ftoli Hirsch Menachem & Lea Friederwitzer &family of Har Nof ti>r.irn::i )1>)1':> 1::iw::i i:r:rv rn>tl'1l'11 . and family Reminder: May Hashem respond to all of your prayers... One may not talk during certain parts qfthe prayers, One who does speak i.S a sinner - whose sin is too heavy to bear and we must rebuke him. (ShulchnnAruch 124:7) Rabbi and Mrs. Chaskel Besser See, also Mishna Brurah - We have seen many Shuls destroyed because of this sin._ .._ . L'Shana Tova to our family; Ksiva V'Chasima Tova n:ii" i1l'V our friends, and to all of .,~,'\!>'I ??;:,? to all our friends · Kial Yisroel and relatives Mr. and Mrs. Avraham Mr. and Mrs. Fred Pfeij]'er Aufrichtig Montreal ------~-- S€PTEMBER 2006 ------, __ ', n::np nr.i'>f1t1'1 n:i. 'n::i n:Ji::i We wish all our family, May the New Year usher in peace, relatives and friends prosperity and fulfillment for n::iiP nr.i'nrn n::i,n::i Am Yisroet and each and every 1i1W ))PWl))::l))l P1l N 'ON member of Klal Yisroel. Reuven and Leah Gluck Dr. and Mrs. David Diamond and Family n::iiP iir.l'nni i1::l'n:J to n::nP nr.i,rrni n::i,n::i All our Family and Friends and for all of 7~ 77::i Mr. and Mrs. Moshe Gold Mr. and Mrs. Akiva Hirth & Family Passaic, NJ 1r.imrn 1::m:>n n:::iro rn\!>7 r:::inl'6 n:::iro nr.i'nM1 n:::i,n::i n::ii:::i I i1).)WYI i171N) MW Best Wishes to all ourfriends, relatives '0"1':111WIN11WI)) and clients for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year o~ mro:run::n ivr.iNii' m::in ''l1iN I Mr. &,. Mrs. Yitzchok Oberlander (I) lseec Obetlendet&Co. BC. cfilf1~~ ,,~ , Certified Public Accountents 1534-62 Street, Brooklyn. NY 11219 • 718-256-5660 •Fax 837-6040 Hours: Sun. 12PM - 6PM, Mon. - Thurs. 1 lAM - 6PM n:::i1v nr.i~m1 i1::l'n:::l To all our clients, friends and relatives n::iiP nr.l'nrn n::i,n::i Mr. & Mrs. N. Benjamin Perlman, C.P.A. & Son Mr. & Mrs. Menachetn M. Shayovich Baruch and Helen Greisrnan wish aU our friends and family &Family i1::l1'P i1l:i'MM1 i1::l'n:::l 52 ----·------ MASK is committed to the community by helping parents through life's challenges in raising a family. Through its hotline, referrals, support groups, and vast array of services, MASK's staff and professionals provide the guidance needed to ensure emotional wellness in our children. From prevention to perseverance, MASK is there. MASK IS MORE SAVING A LlFE.,JT'S SAVING A SOUL. PRESENTING THE FINAL VOLUME INJHEElRLYiRROP;dETS kINGSI~iI.·'.... '}.·.··.··.·········· .•.. ·· ...... :<:·· .•. · ·:·. ·. ~~~,.'Q. ·· .... · ··.·... ··•··.·•· .. ·•.·.. •.. •·····•· ...··.•.··.·••· 41 :»'11l •• ·_,· Complete if!.01).~Volµme · you knoW and use the .Storie Edition, which has become the standard English~language Chumash. But what about the rest.of the Written Torah, the Prophets.and the· Writings?_ Where tan we go for a sweePing understailding of the· text, as understood by the Sages., arid. the cla.ssic commentators - presented in a way that makes it •••.,, ·"I accessible and enjoyable to· scholar and 18yman .alike?' The Rubin Edition provides.the an~wer"Jhanks to the brilliance of .the ArtScroll/Mesorah team.: of 5!CholarS ·and writers led. by.· Rabbi Nosson.Sche.rtnat.:··~.is transl~tion .and ·.·commentary . on the · ·Prop.hets is ·sweeping the English-speaking' world, providing new· ·dirriensions of ,understanding and beauty. Dedicated by David and Gitel Rubin (los Angeles) ALSO AVAILABLE: Jo.shita/Judges - tl'"!:!llV /YW'lf1' .Samuel Ml - ~CR ?l'l\i?W : i• "ASHRAY." If you can read this, you can pray in TOE SEIF EDITION Transliterated Tehillim/Psalms for thousands of years, Jews have been reciting Tehillim (Psalms). In times of joy. Jews express their gladness and thanks to the Almighty through its soaring prose; in times of distress, they pour out their hearts to Him in earnest entreaty and petition through its powerful words. But what if you don't comfortably read Hebrew? ArtSCroll's new Seif Edition Transliterated Tehillim is your answer! Like the widely popular Transliterated Siddur. Machzor, and Haggadah, this new rendering of Hebrew text in phonetically accurate English characters makes it easy to enjoy the beauty, rhythm, and power of the sacred language. If you have friends or family that struggle with reading Hebrew, this is the volume they've been Waiting for. Features an insightful. abridged commentary and a schedule for daily, weekly, and monthly reading. Dedicated by Heshe and Harriet Seif Also available: The. .Weekday . . . and. . Shabbos . . . .Siddur, . . .The . Rosh. . .Hashanah . . . .and . .Yorn . .Kippur . . Machzor...... 5torie5 for tl1e Jewi511 tte<1rt "Pulses with inspiration!" fteal stories about real people have a profound capacity to transform our lives. Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky has mastered the craft of weaving everyday life events with extraordinary Torah insights. Jn this unique collection of Jewish anecdotes, readers will find poignant accounts of struggle, irony, hardship, resolution. kindness, dedication, ahavas Hashem, and ahavas Yisroel. Stories for the Jewish Heart reveals the steady pulse of hashgacha pratis at work in the lives of Jews around the world. 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