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POSTMASTER: 11 WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, WHAT WE MusT Do: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: WAKE UP Now!, BY RABBI YAAKOV BEAR, BASED ON TEL 212·797·9000, FAX 646-254·1600 DISCUSSIONS WITH RABB! MOSHE 5TERNBUCH, N"'\J~7V PRINTED IN THE USA 15 AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE AT THE KOSEL, RABBI N1ssoN WOLPIN, Editor Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz Editorial Board RABBI ABBA BRUONY 16 WAR IN GAZA - SUMMING UP, Yonoson Rosenblum RABBI El.I AS JOSEPH fRIEOENSON MAN OF WAR, A POEM BY Yossi Hutt/er RABBI YISROEL MEIR K!RZNER 20 RABBI NossoN SCHERMAN PROF. AARON TWERSKI 21 AGAINST ALL Ooos, Mrs. Sarah Cohen

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~~hutz (1690-1764 > .urvival of the Jewis 'orehruiraculous than the .S~' 3I700 y~ars agcii'Each era in our millenni a distinct kind of<;f!9Uenge, with its own.~J

UR RECENT HISTORY, the end of World War II, is Omost instances, the threats that we faced were not ol' discrimination, persecution and annihilation, as in the past. et us go back to 70 years ago. At that time, the These were falling away and were being replaced by invitations ofthese lines was in a primary grade in a public school of acceptance and assimilation, and pressure to conform. Lin Seattle. I was no different from my older brothers After witnessing years of surrendering to an unyielding six­ or other Jewish children in Los Angeles, San Francisco, day work week and difficulties in keeping kashrus, and then, Vancouver. .. or Detroit. The closest Hebrew Day School in the 1940s and '50s, responding to new opportunities in was over 2,000 miles away, in Chicago. In fact, there were the business and professional worlds, one could well have no more than five day schools outside of New York City predicted the end of Orthodox Jewry in America. on the entire American continent. At that time, there were [ 1 Instead, there were stirrings of spiritual awakening, some three mesivtos, and no kollel for advanced study. When my 1 dedicated pioneering individuals, and the injection of ener­ oldest brother got married in 1952, and was accepted in Bais gizing, inspiring, heroic souls who survived Ch urban Europe Medrash Elyon in Monsey, NY, he was one of ten yungeleit and began to transform An1erica from a spiritual wilderness there. Add another ten in Lakewood's Bais Medrash Govoha, on the threshold of disappearance to a tentative pause in and a few more in Bais Hatalmud in the East New York sec- the melting away of Orthodoxy, and an ultimate, totally tion of Brooklyn. There were less than thirty in the entire unanticipated growth and revival. Western hemisphere.

Photo: Smoke is seen billowing from Gaza following an airstrike that was part of the ID F's Operation Cast Lead (Yehuda Boltshauser) 5 JANUARY FEBRUARY 2 0 0 9

Today, there is a day school in every Living in an age whatever bones were thrown its way American community of at least 10,000 by its Zionist masters. One might families. In fact, there are over 780 day of miracles has as well have dreamed of planting schools across the continent, and over ramifications on a lush garden in the midst of a 200 -Bais Yaakov high schools, parched desert as of sowing the seeds servicing over 250,000 students.' the battlefield. of a Chareidi community in such Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood It is incumbent unpromising soil. has five thousand students, including Today, the yeshiva world in Bretz several thousand married kollel fellows. on us to take Yisroel is burgeoning. Chevron, With the spread of community kollelim, Ponovezh, Mir, Brisk , , . in Yerushalayim, there are over 30 such institutions scat­ note of these , Modiin, Tifrach .... Chinuch tered across the continent. Today, the miracles and to Atzmai - a network of chadarim - was American Torah community is led by founded by Rabbi Aaron Kotler, .,.. ~, rabbanim, dayanim, and roshei respond to them just 55 years ago. Today, close to I 00,000 of high caliber who are American-born in a variety children are enrolled in these Torah and for the most part were brought up Schools, plus 45,000 in private chadarim. and educated in American yeshivos. of ways. And every town and city that has had And what was Bretz Yisroel like 75 a Chinuch Atzmai school for ten years years ago? We quote from Rabbi Shlomo can today boast a yeshiva ketana-high Lorincz's memoirs, published in JO one or two small yeshivos in which school, a yeshiva gedola-beis midrash, Jan.'06: the learning was al taharas hakodesh. and a kollel. Readers cannot imagine what a To send one's son to a yeshiva high • The declaration of Israel as a Jewish spiritual wasteland Bretz Yisroel was school, which combined secular and State in 1948, the massive immigra­ in those days. In 1933, not only was religious studies, was considered the tion that followed, and the phe­ the "well empty, lacking water," but pinnacle of Orthodoxy. nomenal build up of the religious it was filled with "snakes and scor­ Even those who remained loyal yishuv is beyond anyone's dream, pions.'' The concept of a ben Torah to Torah values did not dream of let alone anticipation. was completely foreign to this public. challenging the Zionist leadership, • In the 1950s, Mesivta 1orah Vodaath The new yishuv could only boast of or even the ideology of Mizrachi, and Telshe had scores of dormitory permeated as it was with compro­ students who hailed from Santiago 1 Statistics from Torah U1nesorah mises and grateful acceptance of de Chile, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogota, and Mexico City. There was no yeshiva south of the USA border. Today, most of these cit­ ies boast their own yeshiva and kol­ lel. We can go on, citing , reathtaking_ in scope, this superlative text Manchester, and Bcombines history, halacha. hashkafa, Ta'ame1 Ha'mitzvos. together with Rav Hirsch's unique London in England,

approach to Lashon Ha'Krah, to create a com­ as well as Melbourne1 mentary that stretches brilliantly across all of Australia. And let Chamisha Chumshei Torah. And now, with this us not forgot the clear. accurate new translation, the full extent of return of Torah to this magnificent work is available to readers as the Former Soviet never before. Union. Now available: Bereishis, Shemos, , • Chassid us and Bemidbar. Sefer along with sixty years ago was complete, slip~cased sets available, IY"H, in April, 2009. a few scattered shteiblach housing hopeful survivors, with treasured memories, and a I 6 ~·~··---~ I....----~...... -- ...... -···~·-· THE JEWISH OBSERVER ·~-·-·--··--~·---··--·-=-i

smattering of innocent but promis­ of how it has commanded the scene alongside their comrades in arms, to I ing children. Today, we celebrate the there, and makes demands on us. protect their countrymen. In addition, a revival of the thriving Chassidishe Living in an age of miracles has report on the homefront by Mrs. Sarah world. Merely saying the names­ ramifications on the battlefield. It is Cohen, "Against All Odds,'' conveys to us Satmar, Vizhnitz, Ger, Boyan, incumbent on us to take note of these the extraordinary chessed performed by I Bobov, Stalin-Karlin - brings to miracles and to respond to them in a the Torah community in Eretz Yisroel in I mind flourishing battei midrash, variety of ways. This is not one man's reaching out to displaced families and I elevating tischen, yeshivas, girls' observation. This has been expressed meeting their needs. ' schools, and all the appurtenances by gedolei Torah both here and in Eretz Yes, we have been witness to the of vibrant kehillos hakodesh. Yisroel. In the pages that follow, we combination of Torah and chessed that • The profusion of fully observant - present translations of the remarks and Chazal prescribed. In fact, every vie· I even Chareidi - in the profes· insights of the revered rash hayeshiva, tory- major or relatively small - must sions, including medicine, law, and Rabbi Aaron Leib Steinman, ~n.:n?v, as give us pause. First, it reminds us that politics, was never dreamed of half well as shiurim and shmuessen by Rabbi we are, indeed, living in extraordinary a century ago. Moshe Sternbuch, N"1"""1, Raavad (Rosh times, giving us much to contemplate, • Another area of phenomenal Av Beis Din) of the Eida Hachareidis. much to admire, and much to inspire growth: the ever-expanding pub· They both made it very clear that battles and guide us in our struggles to measure lishing of sefarim, classic and origi· n1ay have raged in Gaza, but an even up to the messages Hashem Yisbarach is nal, in both Hebrew and English, more fundamental war was being fought sending us. I by Feldheim, ArtScroll·Mesorah, in the beis midrash. As the Novominsker Moreover, many world powers Targum, and C.I.S., as well as the , Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, N"1"""1, responded with outright rejection of proliferation of Chareidi newspa­ pointed out in a shmuess2 in his yeshiva, Israel's military action against Hamas I pers and magazines, such as Yated the Gemara in Makkos (!Oa) makes it in Gaza, including most of the members Ne'eman, Hamodia, Mishpacha, very clear: of the European Union. In addition, I and of course The Jewish Observer, Rabi Yehoshua hen Levi said, Turkey has backed a Saudi Arabian among others. "'Omdos hayu ragleinu bishe' arayich plan that calls for Israel to pull back Step back and realize, once again, that Yerushalayim - Our feet stood firm to the pre-1967 borders, surrendering I World War II· Ch urban Europe left the within your gates, 0 Jerusalem!' vast amounts of settled and developed Jewish People decimated, devastated, (Tehillim 122,2). What has caused areas. In fact, overt anti-Semitic acts of gasping for breath. One could hardly our feet to stand firm in the war vandalism have been taking place in I have expected America to step in and [and us to be victorious]? The gates Turkey and Venezuela. foster a rebirth of Orthodox Jewry and of Yerushalayim, where they were Also, at this writing, the rather tenta· Torah as we are experiencing. It toiling in ." live cease-fire appears to be short-lived. I has not only been a matter of avoiding When undeniable miracles take place, While some look with hope to the assimilation, but also an extraordinary it is incumbent on us to recognize them, appointment of former Senator George I experience of numerical growth and and to respond to them. Since, as the Mitchell as President Obama's choice as spiritual attainment. Beyond doubt, Gemara cited above states, and as our Mideast envoy, his record is marked by more than the product of one, or a contemporary sages have underscored, a number of statements that put Israel I group of builders, or a system of vision· we must do what we can to contribute and the Palestinians on equal footing, ary, pioneering builders, this triumph to the learning of Torah - through while Israel has an ongoing record of I is a testimony to Hashem Yisbarach's both our personal participation and making concessions compared to none involvement in our individual, com­ our financial support for institutions whatsoever by the Arabs. Mitchell has munal and national lives. This is incon­ dedicated to Torah chinuch as well as credited the Palestinians with possessing I trovertible evidence of His Hashgacha, for those who are totally immersed in one "overriding objective ... an inde­ I His directing of our lives. the beis midrash. pendent state,'' with no mention of their And as Yonoson Rosenblum points refusal to recognize Israel's existence. I I II. THE SPECIFIC Focus: out in his article «war in Gaza - We draw immense encouragement RECENT MIRACLES IN Summing Up," we should also note with and strength from the fact that the £RETZ YISROEL awe and admiration how the religious Ribbono shel Olam has not deserted soldiers in IDF generated an uplifting us. We, in turn, must continue to have n the above context, I would like to kiddush Hashem with their tefillos and His expectations from us uppermost in I summon the readers' attention to admirable conduct, risking their lives, our minds and hearts, directing us in I how recent events in Eretz Yisroel 2 Presented to initiate several sessions of four our general policies and our personal I have offered us a glimpse into more hours of uninterrupted Torah learning as a zechus conduct. !ill i aspects of His Hashgacha, the evidence (source of merit) for the IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza, and civilians living in the region _:J Ok GUI~bi£ dfotv.· To Develo'- Strength in Torah & Emuna The Rosh Hayeshiva's Defining Words

During the recent Gaza war, the esteemed , Hagaon Rabbi Aharon Leib Stein1nan, N"V''::>'V, addressed a family gathering on the tenuous state of security in Israel. Appended to his words are cmnments of other respected rabbanim.

E ARE INFORMED IN Tanach: "Hashem's wrath We learn from here that the sole reason why G-d let the flared against Israel, and I-le said, 'Because this dwellers of the land remain is so that the coming generations W nation has transgressed My covenant that I would know that it is sin that causes them to be forced to commanded their forefathers, and they have not heeded study warfare. Sin; nothing else. My voice, I shall no longer drive out any man from before Everything, then, comes from G-d. Today, the Palestinians them, from among the nations that Yehoshua left when he are not the true combatants, and the army does not defuse died.' - Hashem will test Yisroel through them - whether conflict. Everything is from Him, He is the source of all they will keep the ways of Hashem, as their forefathers did, berachos. The moment that sin beco1nes causative, giving or not." So Hashen1 let those nations remain, without driving rise to retribution, the Arabs are but G-d's rod, in the sense them out ... "to know whether they would observe Hashem's of"Assyria, the rod of My wrath" (Yeshayahu 10,5). When commandments that He had commanded their forefathers sin is an active force, war is imposed upon us. through Moshe" (Shoftim 2,20-23, 3,1-3). A state of war, then, puts the onus on each of us to turn comments, "Only for this reason alone did He let away from sin. Each of us knows what is in his heart, the them remain, so that the coming generations of the Children nature of his sin, and what is incun1bent upon him to perfect. of Israel wonld know and ponder what sin causes, for now We must recognize that everything at the core is spiritual, a they are forced to study warfare.'' matter of faith, tied into reward and punishment, as conse­ quences of our actions' spiritual effect. It is incumbent on TRANSLATED BY PNUEL PERl~Y FROM 1-fAMODIA each of us, then, to greatly strengthen one's faith and not lose \flt-:£1(/,Y MAGAZINE, 13 TEVESJANIJAR)' 9 '09. 8 .... -~------r=------THE JEw1su OnsEHVER

1 awareness that there is nothing besides Today, the Palestinians I G-d, and that whatever occurs comes are not the true from Him. Therefore, in addition to intensifying one's Torah study- which combatants, and the serves to shield and save us - one n1ust army does not defuse also increase one's study of those texts that inspire faith. conflict. Everything I is from Him, He is No IRON ON THE ALTAR the source of all berachos... the Arabs I osefta Bava Kama (7:2) states, "'There you shall build an altar I are but G-d's rod Hagaon Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman I T to Hashem, your G-d, an altar of stones; you shall not raise iron upon I them' (Devarim 27,5). Why did the upon the inhabitants of the Holy Land, RABBI SHMUEL MONTAGUE: I Torah disqualify iron over and above is it unconscionable to raise a sword of OUR PRIMARY STRENGTH all other metals? Because the sword is ignorance and malevolence upon the I fashioned from iron, and the sword is bnei Torah. The generous supporters n light of the Rosh Yeshiva's words, a symbol of retribution, while the altar of Torah must be aware that in times we would like to assess and express I is a symbol of atonement. Shall we pass such as these, one inust bolster bnei I our appreciation for the strength something that is a symbol of retribu­ Torah sevenfold, for they are the very of the Torah communities during these I tion over something that is a symbol of atonement of the world, and Heaven times. Hagaon Rabbi Shmuel Montague, atonement?" forbid to now minin1ize their support! N:"V'':rv, Rav of Netivot's Torah commu­ I Is this not a kal vachomer (an infer­ nity, told us that our primary source of ence from a minor to a major)? Because * * * the stones of the altar effectuate atone­ r.------~ ment upon the Jewish People from I their Heavenly Father, the Torah states I I regarding these stones, which cannot I Are You Movi ? I see, hear or speak: "You shall not raise I IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED iron upon them." All the more so must INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? I bnei Torah, who are a source of atone­ I I We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. I ment for the world, never be harmed I Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and I by any destructive force. computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. In such times as these, we n1ust I I I increasingly care for bnei Torah, and I I not, heaven forbid, "raise iron upon them." If only the decision makers I knew that even in peaceful times - and I Affix old label here I especially in trying times - it is sin that I causes punitive suffering, atonement I that obviates the need for war, and I bnei Torah who bring about the world's I atonement. They would surely be much I New Address more careful not to bring harm to bnei City, Torah, never seek to limit their means I or compromise their sustenance. On I State, the contrary, were they aware of the Date Effective------­ contribution of bnei Torah to the Jewish I Send address The Jewish Observer People, they would do everything to I changes to: protect them, care for them, and even I Change of Address shield them from being forced to pause 42 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004 [ for an instant from their learning. All the I Please allow 4-6 weeks for all changes to be reflected on your mailing label. We will not be responsible for back issues missed unless you notify us 6 weeks prior to your move. • more so, "\vhen iron and sword arc raised L ------j 9 f ------JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 I strength is the Torah study of the bnei as usual or cease all actlVlty to fol­ IMAN Torah who have remained in the kol­ low the security protocol - the Rosh lelim, their regular learning schedules Yeshiva, Hagaon Rabbi Aharon Lieb ILVER unchanged. "We believe that the merit of Steinman, N"V'?v, informed us to fol­ Specializing in High Quality the Torah protects us," he declared, "and low the security protocol and fulfill Silver Repair & Restoration those who study it are the area's true our obligation of taking active steps to 18.387.4207 protectors. I have informed many that, protect ourselves." obviously, we must insure that our bein Hagaon Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Pinkus, adam lechaveiro (interpersonal conduct) 1'<""""'1, Rav of the Ofakim Torah com­ and modesty are up to par, but above munity, quoted the following Rambam all other forces, it is Torah study that (Hilchos Ta'anis 1:2-3) in order to stir Hats • Shirts • Ties •Accessories protects us and secures our safety." and strengthen his co1nn1unity: "For Regarding our obligation to take when calamity comes and they cry out Your #1 Stop active steps in protecting ourselves from because of it and sound the shofar, for the war, we consulted with rabbinic everyone will know that it is because Quality Hats leaders, and they instructed us to guide of their wicked deeds that evil has beset WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LARGESTSELECrtON each individual according to his inner, them, as it is written (Yirmeyahu 5,25), & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONIM TJES JN spiritual capability. Someone living in 'Your transgressions have overturned (All work done on prem/f1es) BROOKLYN a threatened region who is fearful, or these, and your sins have withheld good­ 1368 Coney Island Avenue whose family is fearful, is counseled to ness from yon ... : However, if they do (718) 377-5050 leave the area in light of the situation. not cry out and sound the shofar, but Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS Even Yeshivas Hanegev, led by Hagaon say, 'This thing has befallen us as part Rabbi Yissachar Meir, 1'<""""'1, recently of the world's natural course, and this relocated to Netanya. Someone who is misfortune is happenstance,' this is the not afraid and whose family is willing to path of cruelty and causes them to [fur­ stay, however, should do so while rein­ ther] cling to their wicked deeds:' forcing his Torah study and prayer. In Netivot's main beis midrash, Beis Yitzchak, Rabbi Shmuel Montague NOT A NATURAL posted the following announcement: COURSE OF EVENTS "Regarding my question as to how we must respond should an air raid occur e are living in difficnlt times during scheduled times of prayer or and must remember that study - whether we should continue W this is the hand of Hashem. We must perceive all events in this Specializing in small batim for a perfect fit. fashion. Do not listen to the media's various interpretations. Rather, know that this a Heavenly decree and is in Digest of Meforshim Unde Moishy, Dedi no way part of the natural course of Avrohom Fried, events. Additionally, we must increase '1'1p7 in:i '"1i'7 and other leading our prayer and strengthen our faith. 7")111V1'°m 'mir.iw l"'1Tll:l Jewish entertainers We may add here the well known Available at are available segula (protective act) of Rabbi Chaim LEKUTEI of Volozhin, 7":it, to focus one's mind c/o Yitzchok Rosenberg to visit on the words "Ein od milvado - There 1445 54th Street seriously ill is no other besides Him;' and this segula Brooklyn, NY 11219-4228 children will shield one from all harsh forces and 718-854-670 l judgments, as is known. During the 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, ~~~~S CHAVA ,~ ·. f4.~ air raid siren, we suggest that children Megilos, , and Tehilim. i"l')l :J.Pl'' ., n::i ;nn ..... ~~ be told to bind their hearts to their Proceeds of sales distributed an1ong AChessed project run by Heavenly Father and remember that it is Yeshivas and used for reprinting of vol­ Agudath Israel of Amerka •• • not falling missiles that are key. Rather, umes out-of-print ln 'onjunction with ~ • -~, ••1 ,:...,._,,., Suki & Ding Produ,tions 1· Hashem is reaching out to awaken in us PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME To set up an appointment, ;;all: , l , 7 (212) 797-9000 Ext,235 ,. an awareness of Ein od milvado. May this segula protect us. IJil JtUMi\Jf~ Oeu WMd:Mi A(dDo Wake Up Now! The Defining Words of Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, N"V'7'!! The Zohar states that it is a mitzvah not only to tell of the great miracles Hashem performed during Yetzias Mitzrayim (the Exodus from Egypt), but also to relate the miracles that He performs in every generation. Whoever elaborates in relating those miracles is worthy of praise. Hashem gathers together all the heavenly hosts of angels to listen to our telling over His miracles. By reflecting on every aspect of what Hashem has done for us, we strengthen our awareness of Hashem's Hashgacha (Divine Providence) in the world.

VIEWING MIRACLES AND THE As of late, we have been witnessing open miracles the DEMANDS THEY IMPOSE likes of which have rarely been seen since the times of the Beis Hamikdash. In that era, the wonders mainly took place HERE ARE THOSE who describe all world events in inside the Beis Hamikdash, whereas now they occur all over terms of natural phenomena or accidental occur­ Bretz Yisroel. The vast majority of the missiles being fired Trences - teva. They include astute strategy, the quality on inhabited regions are hitting open areas, and even those of soldiers, and advanced technological equipment as fac­ striking populated places have caused minimal damage. How tors in military success. Others, by contrast, see evidence of is it possible to witness thousands of missiles falling in Israel miracles everywhere. For example, all the newspapers, both with only a handful of casualties and not to see the open secular and religious, admit that miracles had been occurring hand of Hashgacha Prattis over these last few years? in Bretz Yisroel as oflate, but the secularists are not prepared When a radio interviewer asked a spokesman for Hamas to say that it was done by the hand of the Almighty. Why this why they are so off-target, he said that during training, reluctance? Unattributed miracles do not obligate, whereas they always hit their targets. "The only explanation is your seeing the hand of Divine Providence does. Their attitude Elokim." Some Israeli experts claim Hamas-firing ability is has a precedent in the Torah. The meraglim (spies) in the inaccurate. Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch says, on the contrary, if wilderness did not want to enter Bretz Yisroel with open they were scatter-shooting thousands of rockets, there should miracles, because should Hashem perform such nissim, He have been many more casualties. We clearly see the hand would demand more from them. They therefore ruled that of Divine Providence. During the current Gaza War, many the people should not go to Bretz Yisroel more Israeli casualties were anticipated, as Hamas had laid many minefields. A double miracle occurred: Firstly, Hamas made a map revealing the location of the mines; secondly, a I RABDI BEAR IS A SENIOR TEACHER AT SEMINARY FOR copy of this map was found by an Israeli soldier. Yeshayahu GIRLS, AND A LONG-TIME Cl.OSE TAf.MIDOF 1-!AGAON RAV MOSHE 5TERNBUCH. the prophet exclaims, "Yada shor koneihu vachamor ~ ~iANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

As of late, we WHAT IS OUR DUTY?

have been shem's open miracles and witnessing open abundance of Divine mercy H and kindness place demands miracles the on each and every one of us as Torah­ observant, thinking Jews. Some of these likes of which responses are broad-ranged, others are have rarely been of narrower focus. • Teshuva - Self Improvement seen since the We must not point fingers at others Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch times of the Beis in terms of where they should improve themselves, but should rather focus on ba' a/av; Yisroel lo yada, ami lo hisvonan­ Hamikdash. improving ourselves. We learn from An ox knows its owner and a donkey In that era, the Yona Hanavi, who took responsibility its masters' trough; but Yisroel does not for the storm at sea that threatened the know, My people do not comprehend" wonders mainly ship he was on. He had refused to go (Yeshayahu 1,3). to Nineveh to prophesy on the coming Only through in-depth analysis of took place Divine retribution should they not do Hash em's protection of the Jewish People inside the Beis teshuva. He knew that they would go at large, and in Bretz Yisroel in particular, through an external teshuva, which will we merit to catch a glimpse of His Hamikdash, would cast aspersions on the recalcitrant hand. If, however, we fail to view the whereas now they Jews. When the ship was about to sink, miracles as Hashgacha, but rather as the captain asked Yona: "Who are you?" natural occurrences, then the Al-mighty occur all over Yona answered, "I am a Jew and I fear may withhold His involvement, turn His the Al-mighty, who made the sea and mercy into the wrath of judgment, and Eretz Yisroel. the dry land:' The sailors became very deliver us to so-called natural "acciden­ frightened, for Yona then told them that tal" forces. The consequences of such a (plagues), demonstrating that He con­ he was a prophet refusing to fulfill his course of conduct would, G-d forbid, be trols the world and performs miracles mission. They asked Yona what to do too frightening to contemplate. to protect the Jews. If, however, there to calm the sea. He answered, "Throw Rashi taught us this lesson in regard were Jews who were spared, yet related me into the sea, for I know that because to the plague of darkness, when Hashem to these miracles as merely natural of me this strong storm is upon you" killed a number of Jews. Why did some occurrences, they apparently did not (Yona 5, 10-12). Jews deserve this severe punishment? internalize the lessons of the plagues. The Brisker Rav, 7"llt, asked, Why did V\That are subsequent generations to They failed to respond to the miraculous Yona accept responsibility? Why didn't learn from this? Hashem had already makkos by doing teshuva, and thus did he say that since the sailors had been smitten the Egyptians with eight makkos not merit to be redeemed. praying to their false gods, they were Not just a cheese, a tradition... Haolain, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping.

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responsible? The Brisker Rav answered few of us even recognize the hand of the total submission. The Israelis initiated 1 that the degree to which a Jew is obser­ Almighty in our daily activities. a unilateral cease-fire, with the Hamas vant, so is he responsible. As a result, he • Shemiras Habris - chain of command and fighting poten­ I blames himself, not others. Guarding the Covenant tial still existing. Yet, we Jews did win a I I • Prayer Rebi Chiya (in Zohar, Parshas Lech spiritual war. We cried out to Hashem I We should pray with a deep, heartfelt Lecha) says that until this very day, and He answered us, as it says in Tehillim i cry, as opposed to prayers by rote, as descendants of Yishmael derive merit for (8,20), "Eileh varechev ve'eileh vasusim the Rambam writes in Hilchos Ta'anis fulfilling bris mil/a.' We, in turn, must va'anachnu besheim Hashem Elokeinu (Ch. I: 1-3) strengthen our guarding of the cov­ nazkir. Some come with chariots and I r In the face of war, plague, or enant (bris) by accepting to pursue the some with horses, but we call out in the I drought, it is a biblical command­ obligation to pursue purity of thought, Name of Hashem our G-d." While the ment to cry out with a great and speech (milla also means "word"), and battles were won, the war is not over. I heartfelt cry (Bamidbar !, 9). This is action. We must counteract exposure to part of the process of teshuva- when immodesty as displayed and written in 2. In Daily Life I tragedy befalls the Jewish nation television, newspapers and books. Our The world perceives miracles in I and we cry out and sound the trum­ strengthening of os bris- the holiness of unnatural events, whereas we see even I I pets, everyone should know that it the covenant - in contrast to the unre­ natural occurrences as resulting from is because of their evil deeds that strained immorality of Bnei Yishma'el, Divine Providence. We have thus wit- I I evil oppresses them, as it is written weakens the power of our enemies, even nessed many open miracles - in par­ in Yirmiyahu, "Your sins led you if other nations join the1n in inciting ticular, how each missile has its address. i I astray .... " That will negate the destructive wars. This open display of Hashgacha Prattis evil oppressing them. If, however, calls for a more detailed discussion of I we do not cry out, and we dismiss REINFORCING BASICS ... this basic concept of Judaism. I the tragedies as happenstance, then The first of the Rambam's Thirteen we are cruel, for this will cause us ... Such as saying a hundred berachos Principles of Faith states: "I believe to continue in our evil ways, and a day with kavana (intent), as insti­ with complete faith that the Creator, Hashem will add additional suffering tuted by David Hamelech at a time of blessed be His Name, creates and guides I to arouse us to do teshuva. national calamity; also: responding with all creatures, and that He alone made, • Chessed ninety Ameins a day, and answering makes and will make everything." There If we extend ourselves in doing "Yehei Shmei Rabba'' aloud with kavana. is nothing hidden from the Almighty, ! chessed to each other, Hashem will act Chazal (the Sages) promise us that, as a and all of man's achievements accord toward us with chessed. On a previous result, Hashem will forgive all aveiros. precisely with His will. Rabbi Chaim I occasion, during the first Gulf War, Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch heard from Soloveitchik, 7''1T, explains that while the Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch explained that the late Manchester Rosh Hayeshiva, whole Torah is ikkarim - fundamental I this is why tzeddaka is mentioned in Rabbi Yehuda Zev Segal, ?··:>IT, that he principles - whoever does not believe the Yamim Nora'im tefilla as one of the had a kaballa (sacred tradition) that at in Hashgacha excludes himself from the three key ways in which an evil decree a time of distress, one should say Psalm Jewish People. It is a basic cornerstone I is overruled: If we go above and beyond 20 twelve times. ofJewish faith. our norm in tzeddaka, Hashem will do Let us not forget: We also must inten­ Similarly, the Ramban explicitly the same with us. sify our in-depth Torah study. states, "Through [accepting] the great • Self Sacrifice - Mesiras Nefesh open miracles [displayed in the com­ I The Chafetz Chaim said that we pos­ • Reinforcing Our Recognition ing out of Egypt], man acknowledges sess emes, truth, but we fulfill it beshek­ of the Hashgacha - the hidden miracles [cloaked in the I ker, without integrity. The enemies regularity of daily life J, which are the I have shekker, falsehood, but they do I. In War foundation of the whole Torah. For I it be'emes, with genuine motivation. In war, Hashem is testing our emuna a man has no portion in the Torah ['

,1 "Me'ovai techakimeini mitzvoseichu - (faith) and bitachon (trust). Ifwe fail to of Moshe Rabbeinu unless he believes

From my enemies make me wise, to do engage sufficiently in introspection, He that all occurrences that happen to us '1 ,1 mitzvos" (Tehillim 119,98). Hamas com- will, G-d forbid, leave us in continual are miracles, and not merely natural ) mits evil with self-sacrifice; we must per- troubles, at the hands of our enemies. occurrences nor the ordinary way of the I

form mitzvos with self-sacrifice. Tens of After three weeks of war in Gaza, we world-both when concerning the com- ,I' 1 .I' thousands of the enemy would be happy had a significant military victory, but munity and the individual." (Ramban , to die, as they convince themselves that did not succeed in beating Hamas into end of Parshas ) I the Almighty will thus send them to I Theirs is an incomplete circumcision, s We are witnessing the fulfillment of [ Lse-whereas, unfortunately, very hernalin velo por'in. Sh lo mo Hamelech's prophecy:" Kol d:ddi'

13 ----- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

Ii dofeik. Pischu Ii - My beloved is knock­ We must recogmze that there is us, You have already raged sufficiently ing [on the door]. Open it for me:' (Shir no way out, and that by teva (natural against us. Hashiveinu Hashem eilecha Hashirim) Hashem is knocking loudly means), salvation is impossible. If I venashuva, chadeish yameinu keked­ on our door to wake us up; He is pro­ remember that the Almighty made both dem - Bring us back to you Hashem claiming that He is here to protect us. the heaven and earth from nothing, yeish and we shall return; renew our days as me'ayin, then we will be saved. This of old" (Eicha 5,21-22). The Yeshuas 3. In the Economy principle should guide us as we eagerly Yaakov explains that even if Hashem Hashem is also speaking to us through anticipate redemption. '!Ve must cease to is exceedingly angry with us, the fact the economic crisis in America, in which delude ourselves shekochi ve'otzem yadi that He punishes us is a sign that He billions of dollars have been lost, with asu Ii es hachayil hazeh - that our own has not utterly rejected us and truly disastrous consequences. The focus, military strength brings salvation - for wants us. For if He did not want us, He however, should not only be on the then the Almighty removes His help, and would simply discard us and show no monetary loss, but rather on the realiza­ He leaves us in the hands of our false interest in us. tion that lives are at stake. Our present god - kochi ve' otzem yadi. ( Chachma essential obligation is the proclaiming Veda' as - Pars has Vayeitzei) CLOSING MOMENTS of Divine Providence and acting upon it by doing teshuva, which will protect THE PRE-MESSIANIC ERA he says that each us from all sorts of troubles and snf­ day of Creation corresponds to fering. It is, then, the duty of each and ecognizing Hashem's Hand in Tone thousand years in human every one of us, particularly , to open miracles can spare us from history. According to the Gaon, then, teach boys and girls to recognize that R mpending cruel decrees, as the the period in which we are currently we are seeing with our own eyes the Sages comment: "If they do not repent, living is Erev Shabbos after chatzos (late unfolding of Hashgacha to the extent will they not be redeemed? Rather, the afternoon). Erev Shabbos, Rabbi Moshe that when simply recounted, it serves Holy One, blessed is He, will appoint a Sternbuch explains, is a time of teshuva, to protect us. king over them whose decrees over them a time when Hashem sends away all the David Hamelech draws a distinction with be as harsh as [were] Haman's:' The accusing angels and turns to Kial Yisroel between the non-Jewish and Jewish Almighty is unfolding His plan of the and pleads with us, ('I'1n alone. Just a outlooks regarding Divine Providence coming of the Moshiach. It is explicit little teshuva, and I will forgive you." But when he says: "High above all nations is in the book of Daniel that "before the that little bit of true teshuva is crucial. Hashem, and above the Heavens is His coming of Moshiach, there will be a It is a time when Hashem speeds things glory:' To others, Hashem's Providence multitude of wars and there will be a up and takes control Himself. He leaps extends downward until the heav­ time of troubles as there never was since over n1ountains of sins, skips over hills ens, whereas the Jewish vie,vpoint is there was a nation to that time" (Daniel, of bad deeds. expressed in the next verse: "Who is ch. 12). Only then will the salvation Our redemption is dependant upon like Hashem, our G-d, who is enthroned of Hashem con1e. The Gemara cites, emuna and Divine Providence. A story on high, yet deigns to look upon the "An apparent contradiction from the is told of a great Rebbe, who, before he heavens and the earth? He raises the prophet Yeshaya 'Hashem will save us died, said that he would do his best to needy from the dust. He lifts the desti­ be'ita (in its time-in the future) achish­ hasten the coming of Moshiach. After tute from the trash heaps, to seat them enah (I will hasten it): Rabbi Yehoshua he died, he appeared in a dream to with nobles" ( Tehillim 113, 5-8 ). The ben Levi explains: 'Zachu, achishena - another great rabbi and said that from Almighty supervises and leads the entire that if [the Jews] are deserving, I will the vantage point from heaven, it looks world, as Chazal say, "In the place where hasten it. If they are not deserving, be'ita different. For once he had seen how you find His greatness, there you find (the redemption will come in its time"' great the reward for every mitzvah was, His humility- that He descends to take (Sanhedrin 98a). This means that if we he could not do as he promised to hasten care of all onr mundane needs." This is do not do teshuva on our own accord, the coming of Moshiach becanse if we our approach. the Almighty will compel us to do so. are able to stand strong and continue to We also need to understand the He will bring hard times upon us, bitter do mitzvos in this period of darkness, deeper meaning of Tehillim 121, 1-2: persecution and terrible trials, and then the reward will be immeasurable. "Shir lama'alos essa einei el heharim we will have no option but to return Now is the time to wake up before me'ayin yavo ezri. Ezri me'im Hashem to Him. The essential point is belief in it is too late. What does it take to wake osei Shamayim va' aretz. A song to the Hashgacha Prattis, even through difficult us up? If, through the merit of pro­ ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the situations. claiming of the presence of Hashgacha, mountains - from v.,rhere will con1e my At the end of Eicha, it says: "Ki we act upon it in all the above men­ help? My help comes from Hashem, im ma'os me'astanu katzafta aleinu ad tioned ways, we will help hasten the Maker of Heaven and Earth:' meod- Even if You had utterly rejected rom;og oC Mmh;,mh . j 14 WAR RABBI SHMUEL LEFKOWITZ l ./ I ' . I An.. .. ~ I

.. Unift•~.·.·.····~ . ·o~·· .·.: •ettablel I . .. . . Ii R.... ·· ence 1 at the Kosel I

AN ENCOUNTER DURING make place for the soldiers. Everyone and then the lone voice cried out seven THE RECENT WAR was standing in awe, quietly, not mov­ times: "HASHEM HU ELOKIM;' fol­ ing, watching the scene. You could hear lowed by the soldiers crying emotion­ S I WAS LEAVING the Kosel on a pin drop. That is how quiet it was by ally: "HASHEM HU ELOKIM:' Everyone • Sunday, approximately 50 Israeli the Kosel - people just stood there with standing around was joining in the tefil­ A soldiers, young boys - maybe a tears running down their faces. los, and crying uncontrollably. few of them were frum - came to the The lone voice was an elderly man Then the shaliach cried and the Kosel wearing their army uniforms and who was the sheliach tzibbur. He was soldiers repeated, "Anna Hashem hoshi­ I carrying their machine guns. In the past, standing behind the soldiers with a ya na. Anna Hashem hatzlicha na ... I've seen soldiers come to the Kosel to tallis over his head, and shouted out: Hashem yim/och le' olam va' ed. Vehaya participate in some kind of ceremony "Ezri mei'im Hashem," and the soldiers Hashem lemelech al kol ha'aretz," ... and and leave. At first, I thought that this is repeated those words. Then he said then they said the first parasha of Shema what they came for, and I continued on "oiseh Shamayim va' aretz," which the and Acheinu kol Beis Yisroel. my departure. soldiers repeated. I was completely taken by this experi­ Suddenly I heard a loud lone voice: Everyone standing in the Kosel area ence, crying like a haby, watching this, "Shir Hama'alos;' followed by a chorus was literally frozen in their places, and thinking, "What is going on in the of voices shouting: "Shir Hama'alos." unable to move, yet emotionally moved mind ofeach and every soldier? Will they The lone voice cried out: "Essa einai and crying. It was obvious that the sol­ live? Will they come back injured?" el heharim," and the voices responded: diers had come to the Kosel as a group The davening ended, and the sol­ «Essa einai el heharim"; the voice cried before they went to Gaza. diers went on their way. I and others out:•< mei' ayin yavo ezri," and the voices The sheliach tzibbur said a few more remained there, unable to move, hav­ echoed: "mei'ayin yavo ezri." kapitlach Tehillim, passuk by passuk, ing witnessed such a kiddush Hashem. I looked back and saw an incredible and then went on to kaballas ol Malchus I just stood there, thinking about those sight. The 50 armed soldiers in uni­ Shamayim. young boys, the dangers that they are form had their hands on the Kosel. The He shouted: "Shema Yisroel;' and the going to encounter, and reaffirming I front of the Kosel was lined with the soldiers shouted: "Shema YisroeC' He that deep down in every Jew, there is soldiers. All others who had been stand­ yelled out "Hashem Elokeinu;' and the a pintele Yid. Yes, there is a war going ing directly at the Kosel moved away to soldiers responded: "Hashem Elokeinu." on, and it is an opportune time to get He yelled out: "Hashem Echad," with closer to Hashem.

RA6BI LEFKOWITZ SERVES AS VICE PRESIOEN1 a long Echad, and they did the same: Only in Bretz Yisroel and only FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES OF AGUDATH ISRAEL "Hashem Echad." They said "Baruch with Yidden can such an experience j OF AMERICA. Sheim kevoid Malchuso le'olam va'ed," take place. ___Jll!l'

15

~~~~~~·~~~~~~~~ LESSONS FROM WAR I YONOSON ROSENBLUM

aza I. A WAR LIKE No OTHER cease-fire resolution. Over thirty Israeli soldiers were killed in the last two days T THE OUTSET of Operation of fighting, in an action that had no Cast Lead, the major question Summing chance of achieving any goals. A was which one of Israel's most Israel's deterrent capacity has been recent military campaigns would this restored to a large extent by Operation be like: Operation Defensive Shield, Up Cast Lead. Even in Henry Kissinger's initiated in response to the murder by terms - a guerilla army wins if it does Palestinian terrorists of 130 Jews in not lose - Hamas cannot claim victory. March 2002, a month which culmi­ The fighting ended with Hamas lead­ nated with the Seder Night Massacre in clusion of the war in the summer of ers cowering underground, its fight­ Netanya, or the Second Lebanon War, 2006, Hizbullah has tripled the number ers having fled the field of battle, and which began with the kidnapping of two of missiles it had at the beginning of Gazans embittered by the destruction Israeli soldiers by Hizbullah in July 2006. the fighting and extended their range, that Hamas had caused to be visited The answer appears to be neither. despite the presence of U.N. peacekeep­ upon them. Hamas could not point to a On the one hand, Operation Cast ers in southern Lebanon. In addition, single achievement as a result of having Lead was no repeat of the disastrous Hizbullah has become the dominant dared Israel to strike. Second Lebanon War. The Winograd power in Lebanon's government. At the sa1ne time, the achieve1nents Commission found grave failures in Operation Cast Lead did much to of Operation Cast Lead fall far short the conduct of the Second Lebanon remove the stain of Lebanon. IDF Chief of those of Operation Defensive Shield War at both the political and military of Staff Lt-General Gabi Ashkenazi in 2002. The latter transformed Israel's levels. After 34 days of inconclusive whipped into shape the army he inher­ security situation. The reentry of the fighting, Hizbullah was still able to fire ited after the Lebanon debacle. And IDF into West Bank cities brought an 300 missiles at Israel on the day the Chief of Southern Command Major­ almost total end to suicide bombings cease-fire went into effect, and claiin, General Yoav Galan! led a disciplined from the West Bank, after a period in not implausibly, victory. Since the con- ground operation, in sharp contrast to which Israelis had begun to feel like the aimless moving about of troops in ducks in a shooting gallery. RAEilll ROSENBUJM, WHO LIVES JN JERUSALEM, IS Lebanon. The Israeli government did Operation Defensive Shield stands A CONTR.llllJTJNG EDITOR TO THE h.'\\'fSH 0BSlo'RVER.

I-IE IS ALSO DIRECTOR OF 'JllE ISRAELI DIVISION not authorize a major ground offensive for the proposition that ultimately only OF AM ECllAD, THE AGUDATH !SRAEL-TNSPIRED in 2006 until time ran out and the U.N. IDF troops on the ground can control EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORT ANO MEDIA Security Council convened to vote a what comes out of a particular territory. RESOURCE.

16 T M E JEWISH __-----~-=-i

That is why the results of Operation Cast Israel's d.eterrent cease-fire followed the pattern already I Lead may prove short-lived and indeci· established during Operation Defensive capacity has ! sive. If Hamas is able to quickly rebuild Shield. Prime Minister Olmert, Defense the tunnels through which arms are been restored to Minister Ehud Barak, and Foreign I smuggled via the Philadelphi Corridor, Minister Tzippi Livni - of which the then Operation Cast Lead will likely a large extent by latter two are in election campaigns I have achieved no more than a brief for prime minister - publicly disagreed interlude before the next round of mis· Operation Cast about the goals of the war. sile attacks. Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin Their disagreements had the effect told the cabinet, as a cease-fire went into Lead.Even in of confusing the Israeli populace and effect, that it will be no more than a few foreign governments. They also caused I months before Hamas has rebuilt the Henry Kissinger's the military at various points to have I smuggling infrastructure and is once to halt its offensive pending further again bringing in Iranian· supplied terms - a guerilla instructions from the government. I missiles of ever increasing range. Those halts not only cost the IDF its ! The key to preventing that smuggling army wins if it mo1nentum, but left soldiers in station­ rests with Egypt. Without Egyptian ary positions and thus vulnerable to ! determination to interdict arms smug­ does not lose - Palestinian attack. I gling, the various side agreements and Hamas cannot Above all, the conduct of Israeli commitments by the United States, political leaders served as a reminder I Britain, France, Germany, Spain, , claim victory. of how our current leaders completely and Czechoslovakia to provide techni· lack the ability to set aside personal i cal assistance to prevent smuggling are considerations and the demands of ego meaningless. Egypt has little love lost gain from the fighting. "Israel has never that has characterized Torah leaders I for Hamas, which is an offshoot of the let an external body decide its right to throughout the generations. Moslem Brotherhood, the greatest inter· protect the security of its citizens," he A diplomatic spat with the Americans I nal threat to Hosni Mubarak's regime. At responded bluntly. highlighted the lack of self-control. After I the same time, Mubarak has little desire Nevertheless, the government seemed the passage of U.N. Security Council to be seen as Israel's policeman. to have no clear end gan1e in mind, Resolution 1860, Prime Minister Olmert I The threat of a sharp cut in American even though it had had many months told the press that he had made a last aid might pressure the Egyptians to act to plan for the operation. There were no minute phone call to President Bush more decisively against arms smug­ surprises in the diplomatic sphere. The to get him to order Secretary of State i gling, but that is not likely to happen. hysterical European reaction to Israeli Condoleeza Rice to abstain on the Meanwhile, the repeated denials by air strikes and the pressure for an early motion, of which she was the principal I Egypt's foreign minister that any signifi· cant arms smuggling takes place via the Philadelphi Corridor and Egypt's insis· \/Vhy did the Chofetz Chaim & R' Chaim I tence that it will not allow any foreign Ozer Grodzinsky start Ezra.s Torah? troops on its side of the border are not I good omens with respect to what can be expected from the Egyptians. I II. THE POLITICAL ECHELONS TO SAVE TALMIDEI CHOCHOMIM FROM I THE PAIN AND SHAME OF POVERTY rime Minister Ehud Olmert and In an icbil worl

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aged, perhaps beyond repair. The entire ' Moslem world would have concluded that Israel is a spent force that will not or cannot act to defend itself. Fortunately, that did not happen. There were also aspects of the opera­ tion of particular significance for shom­ rei Torah umitvos. Operation Cast Lead brought to the fore the increasing domi­ nance of the national religious com­ munity in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The exact opposite might have been expected after the Gaza withdrawal in the summer of 2005, in which the army forcibly evacuated 8,000, mostly religious, residents from settlements in Gaza. A very high percentage of national Such a large number of national religious youth participated in protests - religious soldiers in the combat units some violent - against the expulsions. Moreover, national religious youth inevitably had an impact on other has to contend with the fact that the soldiers. The press reported many settler movement (which is largely reli­ gious) is the most demonized segment non-religious soldiers donning tzitzis of Israeli society. The settlers are por­ before going off to battle, requesting trayed as inhuman thugs who spend their time uprooting the olive trees of sifrei Tehillim, and even joining innocent Palestinians and who would gladly sup on Palestinian children. In minyanim, some for the first time. the eyes of much of the mainstream media, the settlers are the major, if not draftsman. "I made Rice sizzle;' Olmert ing Israeli actors. There was scarcely a only, impediment to peace, at least on boasted. Both the White House and person in Israel who thought that their the West Bank. the State Department responded that life and death decisions were entirely And yet, the national religious com­ Olmert's story was a pure fabrication, disinterested and free of personal con­ munity, which is little more than I 0% and that Rice had always intended to siderations. For Israeli citizens, who of the population, supplied close to abstain. are more likely than citizens of almost half the combat officers in Gaza, and But whether or not the story is true any other country to have to send their roughly the same percentage of the is entirely beside the point. What could sons to battle, the loss of faith that Israeli casualties. have possessed Olmert to publicize it Israel's leaders, whatever their personal Stories of young men from the even if was totally accurate? To make foibles and weaknesses, put the good of national religious community inspired himself look like a bigshot? His political the country above their own personal the entire nation: Dvir En11nanueloff, career is already over so there was not interests is devastating. the first soldier to fall in battle, who left even any tangible personal gain involved. his officer training course in order to

Surely he realized that the story would rejoin his combat unit. Aharon Karov1 not only infuriate Rice, with whom Ill. FROM THE STANDPOINT OF an officer in the paratroopers from there would still be upcoming negotia­ THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY Karnei Shomron, who was critically tions about ending the fighting, but also wounded less than two days after his President Bush, from whom Israel still he outcome of Operation Cast wedding. Yonatan Netanel, an officer needed one big present: a pardon for Lead was of direct and immedi­ from Kedumim, who left behind a wife Jonathan Pollard. But none of this was T ate consequence to every single of less than a year and a four-month- sufficient to prevent the prime minister resident of Israel. Had Hamas been able old baby daughter. At the shiva house, from a little bragging. to claim at the end of fighting that it Yonatan's mother, Malka, beseeched For the entire duration of Operation had defeated Israel, as Hizbullah did in President Shimon Peres to do everything Cast Lead, the press was filled with the the summer of 2006, Israel's deterrent he could for another Yonatan ben Malka, j political calculations of the three lead- capacity would have been severely dam- '""'"'" '"'""'· _ J 8 r=----­ Tl-IE JE\VISH OBSERVER

Such a large number of national reli­ Far more worrying, however, was the the number of Chareidi families who i gious soldiers in the combat units inevi­ way that so many "respectable" people can afford to buy one apartment, much tably had an impact on other soldiers. proved totally incapable of a moment's less eight or nine, for their children I The press reported many non-religious rational thought when it comes to dwindles. soldiers donning tzitzis before going off the Jews. Those protesting Israeli "war One of the few options for young bnei to battle, requesting sifrei Tehillim, and crimes" felt no need to even respond to Torah are apartments on the so-called even joining minyanim, some for the the questions like: Did you protest when periphery, where apartment prices are first time. At least one of the miracles Israeli civilians were targeted by 8,000 one-third to one-quarter of what they I reported from the fighting resulted missiles over the last eight years? What I from tzitzis. A group of Israeli soldiers would you want your government to ,vas on a roof in Gaza, with an Israeli do if you and your family were under bomber bearing down on them, its pilot constant missile attack by missiles shot GITTY (PINTER) I unaware that they were not Palestinians. from amidst civilian populations? WEINGJlHTEN I Only when they held up and waved their A few hundred Palestinian civilian Experienced Shadchan tzitzis did the pilot realize that they were casualties in Gaza aroused more concern for all age groups >' I fellow Jews. and fury around the world than the 347.702.9494 I The increasing dominance of nation­ 400,000 black Moslems killed by their al religious boys in combat units also coreligionists in Darfur, or the 800,000 buttresses a point that we have made Tutsis slaughtered in Rwanda (both of frequently in these pages: Only a strong which the world could have done much Jewish identity can provide the deter­ to stop). While Operation Cast Lead was mination that Israelis will need to going on, the Sri Lankan army was over­ survive and prevail in a perpetually running the last stronghold of Tamil hostile environment. An Israeli identity rebels far more brutally and at a higher detached from Jewish sources will not cost in civilian life than in Gaza. Yet, be enough. who even heard about it? More people have been killed in interethnic fighting IV. WORLD REACTION in Sri Lanka than in all Israel's wars from 1948, but who cares? The Tamil orld reactions to the fighting rebels specifically targeted the island's provided yet more evidence minority Moslem population, killing far Wof Jewish chosenness, and more Moslems than Israel killed in Gaza, that Israel and the Jewish People will but what Moslem group ever demon­ never be treated like any other nation. strated or even protested? Moslems have The world's 3,000-year-old obsession killed each other by the millions in the with the Jews is an outgrowth of Jewish Iraq-Iran war, the Algerian civil war, chosenness. That obsession was on the Syrian city of Hama, etc., without full display throughout Operation Cast occasioning demonstrations. Eretz Yisroel's Lead, as Europeans took to the streets Only when the Jews are involved Most Reliable Shomer Shabbos to protest Israel's "disproportionate" does the world take note. That may be and English Speaking Car Service assault on Gaza's civilian population. anti-Semitism. But it is also a sign that When a British colonel being inter­ we are His chosen People. VJSiting Israel? Need Transport? viewed on BBC offered his opinion One little discussed aspect of -CHOOSE- that no army in history ever did so Operation Cast Lead was its import Menashe Sopher's much to prevent civilian casualties as for the future of the community of Airport &: Limousine Service the IDF, the interviewer looked like she Torah learners in Bretz YisroeL There would faint. is a dire housing shortage at present Celebrating 12 years of unbeatable service! Some pro-Israeli commentators in the Chareidi sector. Almost no new QUR EFFICIENT ENGLISH·SPEAKING OFFICE ST.'\FF, Fl.;1.LY·LICENSED, INSURED & AIR-CONDITIONED VANS, focused on the overtly anti-Semitic building has been authorized in the DRIVEN BY JEWISH, POLITE DRJVERS, comments on placards and shouted new Chareidi cities of Kiryat Sefer, ARE TAILOR-MADE FOR ALL OCCASIONS at the demonstrations - e.g., "Jews to Beitar, and Elad. Thousands of young l.718.360.5083 or 972.2.533.3425 the gas" and "Back to the oven" - and couples are living in tiny, windowless sales@msoP,hera!rport.com the failure of those participating in the storage rooms, with little more than a www.msopheratrport.com demonstrations to disassociate them­ bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. And selves from such hateful sentiments. as the world financial crisis worsens, In Israel: 02-533-3425 JANllARY/l'E8RUARY 2009

Miracles are not only cause for rejoicing. They obligate us. When Hashem has visibly shown us His love, MAN we are called upon to reciprocate and draw nearer to Him. That is OF the immediate task before us. WAR ... •' ...... Hamas and Hizbullah out of employing that had exacted such a high cost in those missiles, one of the few avenues for Israeli lives in the Second Lebanon War. drab green nniform camouflages expansion of the Chareidi community Hamas preparations included extensive everything .about him and providing affordable housing for networks of underground tunnels from young couples will be cut off. which it could surprise Israeli troops sacred Let us end on an upbeat note. We and perhaps capture other soldiers to black leather boxes, straps were privileged over three weeks to join captive soldier Gilad Shalit. garlanding head witness continuous miracles. In one In any ground action, Israeli soldiers authenticated story, a group of reli­ would be fighting on Hamas's home turf, entwining arm gious and non-religious soldiers had in densely populated areas, against an like his Ish Milchatria just begun to daven Maariv on leil enemy often dressed in civilian clothes, wrapped in His own -armor Shabbos, when Palestinian sniper fire and among booby-trapped buildings. broke through the window. The bullets (One Israeli soldier told Israel radio of intimately inscribed with an affirma­ all passed harmlessly over the soldiers, being warned against entering a certain tion: who were bowing at" Barchu es Hashem Palestinian home, by a woman dressed Who is like Your people Israel Hamevorach:' A group of ground troops in black, who identified herself only as was holed up in a Palestinian school Rochel, moments before the house blew A unique nation on earth? building. Just before going to sleep, two up.) In those circumstances, the IDF was -YQSSI HUTTLER of the soldiers left the building briefly, justified in expecting high casualties and noticed an electrical \Vire running upon entering Gaza's cities. from the building. It had not occurred No less miraculous was the low YoSSI HtJTTl,ER, WHO LJVES IN Los ANGELJ2S, CA. to them that Hamas would booby-trap number of civilian casualties from the IS AN, ORAL HI{iTORIAN. HE lS A f'REQllENT a school building. missile barrage mounted by Hamas. COl\l'fRl,6UHlR TO Tttl>SI:'. PACES. The ten soldiers killed and dozens Hamas scored nun1erous hits on school wounded, n1any of then1 seriously, were buildings and playgrounds in Ashdod, by no means a light price. It is forbid­ Ashkelon, and Beersheba, but always are in Jerusalem or Bnei Brak. The catch den to ever describe Jewish casualties at hours when they were empty. A shul is that the Chareidi settlements on the as "light." Yet, it remains true that the was hit by a missile on Shabbos between periphery - Ofakim, Tifrach, Netivot, Israeli government had long predicted Shacharis and Mincha. In Ashdod, the Kiryat Gat- and the new Chareidi cit­ casualties many times greater in any siren failed to sound to warn of a mis­ ies currently on the drawing board, ground action in Gaza. The main reason sile headed towards the port. Had it are all well within range of missiles in that Israel hesitated before reentering sounded, hundreds would have been the possession of Hamas or Hizbullah. Gaza, even after tnissile fire from there huddled inside or rushing to the only Ashdod, with the third largest Chareidi had shot up 500% after the 2005 Gaza shelter in the vicinity, on a narrow strip population, has been hit repeatedly by withdrawal, and agreed to the six-month of land jutting out into the water, pre­ Ha1nas missiles in recent weeks. There cease-fire that ended on December 19, cisely where the missile fell. is a potential for 30,000 new building was the fear of heavy casualties in any But as Rav Moshe Sternbuch noted units in Beil Shemesh, which just elected ground operation. in a shmuess given in the midst of its first Chareidi mayor, but the city is Hamas had been training and pre­ Operation Cast Lead, n1iracles are not also only a few kilometers beyond the paring for an Israeli ground action for only cause for rejoicing. They obligate range of Hamas missiles. years. It had 25,000 trained fighters us. When Hashem has visibly shown us Thus, if a way is not found to neutral­ under its command, and had received His love, we are called upon to recipro- ize the missile threat oflran's proxies in thousands of tons of munitions from cate and draw nearer to Him. That is the Gaza and southern Lebanon, or to scare Iran, including the types of weapons immofa< c~ b

T WAS A WAR AGAINST TIME as much as it was a war "A missile fell in Be' er Sheva," he began. "It hit one build­ against people. There were only fifteen seconds from ing just as a mother of three young children arrived in the I the time an air-raid siren was sounded until the mis­ stairwell. When I arrived, the building collapsed, and I saw sile crashed. Fifteen seconds for parents to scoop up their the mother and her little ones bent over and covered with young children and run to a "safe zone": bomb shelters, the falling debris, screaming. They were unscathed - a veritable stairwell of the apartment building if there were two floors miracle. I told her to write down this date on her calendar, above them, etc. Fifteen seconds for a bus driver to stop and and remember it: the day she was reborn into this world. let the passengers exit and run to the nearest building. Like surviving clinical death:' No one had more than fifteen seconds to tell me much; Chaim himself was practically "reborn" a month ago they were too busy responding, rescuing, and reviving. Instead when he survived the difficult rescue mission in India with of the "every day is another dollar" mentality, it was the "every second is another life" philosophy. Literally seconds. Chaim Weingarten, Project Manager for ZAKA Interna­ tional Rescue Organization, sat in the army's Home Front Command post in order to provide the fastest, most profes­ sional rescue services. Highly sophisticated, costly equipment informed them fifty-five seconds before a missile attack, plus the predicted vicinity. In some cases, once the signals were received, he alerted his volunteers to advance to the site, and he directed the operation from afar. In other instances, he also arrived. given special kochos from Hashem to deal with these things, and I want to serve in this way." MRS. COHEN LIVES IN JERUSALEM, WHERE SHE TEACHES UMUDE/ Kial Yisroel KODESH AND JS A PROFESSIONAL WRITER, TRANSLATOR, AND EDITOR. But even serving the deserved had its set of unconventional l-IER ARTIC!.ES HAVE APPEARED IN JO, AS WELL AS lN fATED, HAMOD/A, oddities. Atrocious scenes. Entering the twilight zone. Incessant I MISHl'ACHA, THE ]E\\llSH TRIRUNE, HORIZONS, SOFERf;.'T AND '"""' m "rnri

emerged with a deepened and enlarged capacity for faith, for gratitude, for sen­ sitivity, and for recognizing the purpose of our existence. Yehuda himself was also in a war against time, fielding calls and respond­ ing to beeper messages every night of the war until two a.m. He would leave Bnei Brak and drive home to Yerushalayim with the beeper ringing the remainder of the night. Then he would drive back the next morning for another round. "A missile fell in Ashdod;' Rabbi Cholak said, "and a family had a dis­ traught elderly relative, an MS patient Ezer Mizion Medical Equipment Loan Center with serious disabilities. He became hysterical, and I had to speak with him "Yet, my wife knows this is a sacred ference for mental health professionals to remind him that Hakadosh Baruch mission for Klal Yisroel. There is a war to review basic strategies. In spite of Hu had saved him." going on here, and people mnst be their own heavy workload, many pro­ With a huge picture of Rabbi Shach, saved. So she encourages me to do it - fessionals volunteered for the help-line ?"Oil, on the wall, sandwiched between despite the odds:' and traveled all the way to Bnei Brak to pictures of Rabbi Steinman, N"1''7w, man the phone lines. Others received and Rabbi Lefkowitz, N"V'?w, it seemed ALL IN A DAY'S cell phones to work from their homes. to me that Rabbi Cholak's unflag­ (AND NIGHT'S) WORK The support line was inundated with ging commitment to round-the-dock callers from 8:00 a.m. until midnight, humanitarian services was intertwined nd there were many odds. In seeking advice, support and guidance. with the guidance he received from one settlement, a missile killed In so1ne cases, psychiatrists were even his mentors. Every regular day - and A a chassan only two days before sent down south to their doorsteps - or night - is a challenge of impossible his wedding, while he was distributing bomb shelters. One young, frum preg­ possibilities, and that's without the invitations. In Sderot, there was a dire nant woman began her ninth month added weight of the war. Besides the economic crisis, as people had been out of pregnancy and was afraid she'd give standard thousands of sandwiches dis­ of work for a long time. In Ofakim and birth in the shelter. Another frum family tributed daily, another I ,200 hot meals Netivot, there were large frum families was left completely alone in their build­ were distributed each day of the war to with panic-stricken children, special­ ing, since all of their neighbors had gone guests from the south and their hosts. needs children, and elderly people. north. The mother was at loose ends. After all, how could the average Bnei "A family called me from Be' er Sheva," She was left alone with one mentally Brak family of some eight to fifteen noted Rabbi Chanania Cholak, founder retarded child, another child obsessed people be expected to feed another five and director of Ezer Mizion, Eretz with death, and a teenager who raised to fifteen people? Notwithstanding, they Yisroel's largest health support organi­ questions in emuna. had already divided up their two-by-two zation, with 25 branches throughout "Our telephone line;' began Yehuda living quarters - and in many cases, for the length and breadth of the country. Silver, one of the directors of Ezer complete strangers - for an indefinite "The father of a large family needed Mizion's mental health services depart­ amount of time. Not to mention the to go for chemotherapy every ten days ment, "gave people the feeling that they needs of the children. in Siroka Hospital there. We brought are cared about. Also, we validated their him to Oranit, our guest home for feelings and explained to them that their CHILDREN: children with cancer, and arranged for behavior is completely normal in these SEEN BUT NOT HEARD him to receive chemotherapy in Rabin abnormal circu1nstances." Medical Center (Belinson Hospital), in But the real point was to help the Entertaining all of those "refugee'' Petach Tikva." individual draw upon his dormant or children from the south was a Ezer Mizion's national headquarters battered spiritual resources. Like the project in itself. Dina, Chasdei in Bnei Brak worked literally around the pruned tree that rebounds with colas- Naomi's representative in Bnei Brak, clock to create a special trauma support sal growth, many bruised individu- told me that they took upon themselves hotline for war victims. When the war als tapped into the depth of Hashem this essential task, in order to help the broke out, they arranged a two-day con- Yisbarach's Divinity in the universe, an--d--c-hild'" " ~II $ ,,,;, h- '"

Periodically, His brainstorm became a reality and Chasdei Naomi was blessed with real siyatta diShemaya. Several parents agreed, and the young sent out its large boys left Ashdod with their cherished truck, stocked rebbi. Rabbi Gershoni placed them with a wonderful family who treated them with massive "as their very own,'' for two and a half I weeks: They provided them with warm amounts of Shabbosos, gave them daily meals, spoke food products with them, etc. Then, he secured a place i for them to learn every day: the Batei for hundreds of Avot of Ponevezh. After , destitute families Rabbi , the Ponevezher Rav, 7-,,,, first established in Ofakim, Netivot this institution for homeless refugees. I Eventually, the building became a dor­ Ezer Mitzion volunteer and Sderot. mitory and a school for boys from troubled backgrounds who could not I wedding hall, Armonot Chein, on l 6 route, since "people needed to eat and live at home. Shlomo Hamelech Street, they blocked we needed to find them:' "I told the boys,'' Rabbi Gershoni I off 1,500 meters each afternoon to serve But feeding and clothing people was explained, "that \Vhen there is extreme as a recreation center, so that their hosts not the only immediate concern. There darkness, there's a purpose behind it. I could see them at night without hearing were many special-needs children who We used this time for reviewing the them all afternoon. Separate hours were simply could not function under war material I'd taught since the beginning I designated for boys and girls, and only conditions, and needed to be trans­ of the year. I also told them how we see southern youngsters and their hosts' ported to appropriate frameworks up how Hakadash Baruch Hu is actually I children received entrance. north. Autistic children. Children with holding us in His Arms, the way we "Many children from the south began cerebral palsy and spina bifida. Mentally hold a baby." to release their pent-up tension," she retarded children. Elderly people. Sick His classes - and his entire demean­ explained, "as they jumped on trampo­ people. Mothers with young infants. or- revolved around making the most I lines and inflatables. It was a blessing for The list of special needs was so stagger­ of the life Hashem had given them: I everyone. While we ran this project, we ing that "normal" children of families accepting the cards handed to them and also received calls from many parents who remained in the south were nearly heading for destiny through meaningful I in Ofakim and Netivot that didn't have ignored. Nearly. choices. And there were many hands-on coats and warm clothing, since the stores experiences. I closed up as the war began." ONCE A REBBI, "Before we left, I asked the boys to Periodically, Chasdei Naomi sent out ALWAYS A REBBI thank the boys of the institution who its large truck, stocked with massive were so gracious in giving up their amounts of food products for hun­ abbi Yitzchak Gershoni, a sev­ playroom, library and playground for I dreds of destitute families in Ofakim, enth-grade rebbi in Ashdod's us. They were very impressed, espe­ I Netivot and Sderot. Hundreds of winter RTalmud Torah Ponevezh, worried cially considering their backgrounds, coats and clothing items were placed in about his seventh-grade talmidim as he and it was a real learning experience the trucks. The drivers from the main worried about his very own children. for them." headquarters in Bnei Brak brought the "When the war began;' he said, ('I Commitment and dedication: a Di- shipment to the Chasdei Naomi pickup called up every one of the boys in my vine task with ripple effects. station in the given towns. Then, against class and spoke with them and their all odds - and several missiles - drivers parents. I sensed there were some boys BEYOND SELF and organizers from the different locali­ who were in great distress, especially ties transferred the numerous items to those in close proximity to crashing mis­ ut Rabbi Gershoni was not the bulletproof vehicles and brought the siles. As seven in our class had already only one of his breed. Many goods to designated pickup stations. left for Bnei Brak to stay with relatives, Bkehillos in the south needed When the sirens went off - more often I offered the other ones to come with their spiritual leaders as badly as they I than not - they stopped driving and ran me to Bnei Brak. I told the parents that needed shelters and food, and fortu­ / to the nearest shelter. After the all-clear I would find them a place to stay, and nately, the leaders tapped into this, and I LI was given, they continued their we'd learn." ____J F----· J A N u. A R y I '-E B R u A R r-y __'_0_0_9 __ ___,,.-----,,---,.,,..., , "When my beeper went off, ' and I had to run to save Jewish lives, I often worried about my own family. But my wife always told me she would fend for herself and all of the children in wartime. 'You are needed elsewhere now.' By now, even my own children have adopted this attitude toward helping others." Ezer Mizion Ambulance Transport

did not head north just to "save their to save my own skin. And surely, this is homes to occupy the public shelters. own skin." Hashern's will for me right now." Unlike the shelters in the homogeneous "! am staying here;' said Rabbi For 28 years, Rabbi Montague neighborhoods, these were populated Shmuel Montague, the Asheknazi Rav served as the Rosh Kolle! of Yeshivas with religious and secular Jews living of the Chareidi community in Netivot, Hanegev, and now he is the Rosh Kolle! side by side - even on Shabbos. And «as long as there is even one person left ofYissachar Beohalecha, in addition to Rabbi Montague, the spiritual leader, here. As the rav, it is my sacred privilege being the rav. When the war began, the needed to circulate among the people, to worry about my people- and not just Home Front Command ordered all the arbitrate their disputes, and console and residents of Netivot livine: in wooden encourage them. "In our neighborhood," said Nissim Yishai, the director of the Religious --•---OUR STAND Community Center of Netivot, "many secular Jews took npon themselves not NOW YOU CAN to smoke on Shabbos for the sake of the PUT THE SPARK BACK soldiers in Gaza." He, too, was snowed under a mound of requests for basic IN YOUR INSURANCE. necessities in the shelters: 1nattresses, food, diapers, baby bottles, hooking up Call me today to hear about these new electricity and gas lines to the building's optional features: New Car Replacement. lines, medical supplies, blankets and Accident Forgiveness and Deductible Rewards. much more. In fact, one day, on his jour­ ney out of Netivot, there \Vas a shachar (718) 268-1700 adorn (siren), and no buildings nearby for shelter. He stopped his car and lay flat inside until the all-clear signal, and then proceeded on his journey. But not everyone caught in his car Martin Levy as the wailing cry of the shachar adorn 103-20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE went off had such an easy time of it. FOREST HILLS "A missile crashed in Ashdod;' said [email protected] Yossi Landau, a ZAKA volunteer who Allstate. lives in Ashdod, and is formerly of Bora You're in good hands. Call or stop by for a free quote Park. "! was the first on the scene, and when we arrived, we saw the missile

Feature is optional and subject to terms and conditions. Available in select states now and in most states by 1/31/06 (subject to [had] hit the middle of the road right regulatory approval where required). Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company Northbrook, IL ©2005 Allstate Insurance Company near [a] bus. All the passengers [had] escaped into shelters. Nearby, I saw a

24 !=------THE JEWISH OBSERVER 1 NEW NEIGHBORS, AGAINST ALL ODDS car with a person sitting with his head NEW FRIENDS between his knees, by the driver's seat. At ndeed, this war really challenged I first, it seemed he was killed, as he was ositive thinking spells giving. many to discover their own spe­ I immobile, but I realized he was breath­ When you open your hands to I cialness, their Divine task, and the ing; he [had] passed out from shock.An Pgive, you receive a great deal in chance to share it with others. Judging iron ball from the missile went right return. Especially in wartime. life by its length rather than its depth, I through his front windshield, across the "Recently, we moved into a mixed or by its peaks rather than its valleys, headrest, and through the back window secular and religious neighborhood;' is often shutting the door on spiritual I on to the street. By crouching down, his said Rabbi Azriel Siegel, a resident of ascent - our true purpose here. life was miraculously saved:' Ashdod, formerly of Baltimore. "As The war ended. The Southerners who I Another Chanukah miracle, "in those there were no lights in the stairwell were camping out across the country days, and in our time." But that was not on Shabbos, we put in a fluorescent packed their bags - and souls - with all I the only one. bulb right outside our apartment for their belongings and cherished memo­ I I Shabbos. When the war began, each ries. Feeling they were cared for - even, time a siren went off, many neighbors in some cases, by total strangers- they i gathered in the stairwell, a "safe zone," headed south hoping to find their SMASHED WINDOWS, I I NEW WINDOWS right outside of our door, as we kept the homes intact. Their neighbors who had fluorescent light burning throughout remained in the south also unpacked he miracle in Tifrach crashed the war. It gave us a chance to meet their bags - and souls - with all their I everyone's logical thinking. On our new neighbors and speak with cherished moments of feeling the Hand I I TShabbos morning in Bretz Yisroe~ them, which otherwise might not have of Hashem accompanying them in the as on every other day, Birkas Kohanim happened. Hopefully, this will enable camp, grateful to be alive. I is standard. As is custon1ary, the young us to ignite their dormant sparks of But it was indisputable. Many leaders children, who generally play outside the Yiddishkeit:' and laymen, parents and children, teach­ I shul, come in and slip beneath the tallis Yossi Landau also spoke of giving: ers and students, organizers and drivers, I I of their father at this point. Just as the "When my beeper went off, and I had rose to the (Divine) occasion, and didn't sheliach tzibbur began the words, "May to run to save Jewish lives, I often wor­ think twice - or even once - that the I Hashen1 bless you and watch over you,'' ried about my own family. But my wife odds were against them, that their small, a missile crashed in a nearby empty always told me she would fend for her­ pure efforts would make it. i shul only l 0 meters away. All of the self and all of the children in wartime. But against all odds - or even I men - and children - went through 'You are needed elsewhere nov.'.' By now, BECAUSE of them - their efforts were an odyssey of terror as the windows of even my own children have adopted this blessed. A Chanukah miracle in the war I I their shul were blasted and the walls attitude toward helping others." that began on Chanukah. !liJ quaked. Walking through the valley I of the shadow of death, but emerging I alive, in the pink of health, opened new I windows of intense faith. A blessing I in itself. "There is a sense of unique eleva­ I tion when a person is in danger," said WORlOWIOf ~f llPHONf Rf NTAl~ I Rabbi Montague, only a week before this incident in Tifrach occurred. "At Incoming Calls FREE in many countries! that moment, he feels intensely that his only salvation is from Hashem. I This realization arouses a deep bond • Lowest rates for Israel & Europe between man and his Creator. We feel • Overnight nationwide shipping i that Yad Hashem holeich bamachaneh, • Student & Group discounts I the Hand of Hashem accompanies us PHONE RENTAL • Corporate accounts welcome 50% OFF in the camp. But you need a positive homo Code JOOS I outlook to discern it." I Positive thinking. Those were the new windows that replaced the smashed TravelCell' 1.877. CELLPHONE I windows, and turned new neighbors Global Cellular Rental Solutions into new friends. www.travelcelI.com I ~I Based on an address by Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, N"l.?"nJ, of Mesivta Torah Vodaath and Rav of Beis Medrash Emunas Yisroel This address was given at a Hakhe/ gathering at Agudath Israel of lvladison, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.

N PARASHAS , following nine in the Torah includes both Chushim hit Eisav on the head and killed him, Yoseif's revelation to his broth­ ben Dan and Serach bas Asher! and Yaakov was then buried without I ers, Yaakov Avinu and his fam­ Yefei To'ar answers that because of delay. 3 ily descend to Mitzrayim. The Torah his or her special in1portance, either True, both Serach and Chushim had enumerates the members of Yaakov's Chushim or Serach is connted as two. achieved something great. But did this family and concludes, "All the souls v\That was so special about these two make them more important than Yaakov of Yaakov's household who came to individuals? and his sons? Why should either of them Egypt- seventy:' When the sons ofYaakov returned to be counted as two and not one? The Midrash' notes that the names Canaan after their reunion with Yoseif, listed in that parasha add up to only they were concerned as to how to break PESACH AND TISHA BE'Av sixty-nine. Who is number 70? The the incredible news to their aged father. Midrash offers four possible answers. The solution was found in the person n Megillas Eicha, we read: "He filled The first, cited by Rashi, is that Yocheved, of Serach bas Asher, granddaughter of me with bitterness; sated 1ne with the daughter of Levi and mother of Yaakov, a young tzaddeikes who played I wormwood:'' The Midrash links the Moshe Rabbeinu, is the 70th soul. She the harp. Serach played a joyous tune Hebrew"vameromim" (with bitterness)­ is not mentioned in the Torah because to which she sang the words, "Yoseif with "marror;' the bitter herb eaten on she did not actually"descend" from the still lives." Yaakov's spirit was revived the Seder night. In any given year, the Land of Canaan; rather, she was born as and Serach was rewarded with unusual first (and in Eretz Yisroel, the only) Seder her mother entered the gates of Egypt. longevity. She subsequently entered Gan always falls on the same night of the The other three answers are: Eden alive. 2 week as Tisha Be'Av. The 70th is Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The Gemara relates that when Yaakov The Midrash is telling us that there is The 70th is Serach bas Asher. was brought from Mitzrayim to the Cave a deep connection between Pesach and The 70th is Chushim ben Dan. of Machpeila for burial, Eisav interfered, Tisha Be' av. On the surface, this is quite The last two answers, in particular, claiming that the remaining spot in the perplexing, for, as we know, Pesach is the demand explanation, for the list of sixty- cave was reserved for himself. The fleet­ Yam Tov of ge'ula, redemption, while footed Naftali raced back to Mitzrayim Tisha Be' av represents galus (exile) and to get the contract that stated that Eisav churban (destruction). Bereishis Rabba 94:9 had relinquished his rights to the cave. The answer to this is simple and

RABBI FINKELMAN, A REBBJ IN YESHIVA DARCHEl Chushim ben Dan, a deaf-mute, could instructive. A fundamental truth of TORAH, FAR ROCKAWAY, NY, rs A FREQUENT CON· not follow the conversation, but he Judaism is that all that the Ribbono shel TRIBUTOR TO THESE PAGES. HE lS THE AUTHOR OF understood enough to know that Eisav Olam does is for the good. This is espe­ SEVERAL BIOGRAPHIES PUBUSHED B)' ARTSCROLL was holding up the burial of his righ­ cially true of the galus experience. The MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, MOST RECENTLY f/VE GREAT LEADERS. teous grandfather. Chushim took a stick, 3 Sota 13a 26 2 See Targum Yonasan to Bereishis 46:17. 4 3,15 THE JEWISH OBSERVER

Torah and the Sifrei Nevi'im are replete demanded that they bring their youngest and in which their princes offered sac- i with Has hem's expressions of His great, brother Binyamin to him; imprisoned rifices at the Mishkan's inauguration. [ unconditional love of Kial Yisroel. And their brother Shimon; planted money in Yehuda, who led the way in the Midbar

as we say in Shacharis every morning, their sacks; and finally, planted his silver and at the Chanukas Hamizbei'ach, 1

"Ahavas olam ahavtanu . , , With an eter- cup in the sack of Binyamin and said corresponds to the first month, Nissan, .1' nal love You loved us, Hashem, our G-d:' that Binyamin would have to remain in the month of Pesach and redemption. Hashem did not send us into galus to be Mitzrayim and serve as his slave. Shimon corresponds to the fifth month, [ rid of us, Heaven forfend. Caius serves At that point, the situation became Av, in which Tisha Be' av falls. ·

an important, positive purpose. intolerable for the brothers; realizing In Tanach, we find a close associa- [ The Gemara teaches that the Jewish this, Yoseif could no longer restrain tion between the tribes of Yehuda and 11 I people were sent into exile so that himself from revealing his identity. "I Shimon. At the end of his life, Moshe geirim, righteous converts, could be am Yoseif!" he declared, and suddenly, Rabbeinu blessed each of the tribes - I [ broughtunderthewingsoftheShechina. the picture changed for the brothers. with the exception of Shimon. Rashi6 While this statement is certainly meant With those two words, everything sud- explains that Moshe was upset with I literally, it has a broader meaning, as denly made so much sense. As Yoseif Shimon because of the terrible incident well. Throughout this world, there are explained, the entire story that had of Zimri and the Midianite princess.' [

nitzotzos, sparks of holiness, that have begun with his being sold into slavery However, notes Rashi, Shimon was 1·, been separated from their source and was actually Hashem's way of providing included in Yehuda's blessing; the words

are in need of "redemption." When a for Yaakov's family during the years min,?wnvr.warean allusion to Shimon. 1· Jew studies Torah, engages in prayer, of famine. Furthermore, the family of Furthermore, when Yehoshua bin Nun , or performs other mitzvos in galus, he Yaakov knew of Avraham's prophecy at apportioned Eretz Yisroel among the ' redeems some of the nitzotzos in that the Convenant Between the Parts, when tribes, Shimon's portion was found 1 ! particular place. Hashem informed him that his descen- within the portion of Yehuda. Yehuda [ I This is only one purpose of galus. dants would be slaves in a foreign land. and Shimon, Nissan and Av, are inter- I , When the Final Redemption will come, Now, after Yoseif's revelation, it became twined. The blessing of Av/galus is root- , we will be given to understand why this clear that his slavery and subsequent ed in the blessing of Nissan/ge'ula. I long galus, with all of its great difficul- ascension to the throne was Divinely As long as the galus lasts, the hid- 'II ties and tribulations, was necessary and orchestrated so that Yaakov and his den blessing of Av is no more than an , I ultimately for our benefit. Until that family could descend to Mitzrayim allusion. But when the Redemption 1 ' time, we live with the firm belief that with dignity. arrives, we will perceive that Av is, in

all is for the good. Similarly, the time will come when fact, a month of redemption on a par 11 Maharal teaches that the words ge'ula Hashem, in His infinite wisdom, will with Nissan - and even greater, for the

''I and galus are phonetically related. He decree thatthis galus must end.And just holy sefarim teach that Tisha Be' av is '1 I explains that galus is the preparation as Yoseif declared, "I am Yoseif;' Hashem destined to become the greatest of all I' for ge'ula. We need the galus; we could will declare, "Behold, I have redeemed yamim tovim.

II not merit ge'ula without it. you in later times as in earlier times ... This is the symbolism inherent in the I am Hashem, your G-d." At that time, AT THE GATEWAY TO EGYPT linkage of the Seder night and the night we will view the galus in retrospect of Tisha Be' av. Tisha Be' av, with all its and perceive what we accomplished In Chazal, we find the concept sadness and tragedy, contains within it over the course of time, and we will be that Hashem prepares the "cure" the roots of redemption. And, as the happy with what we have achieved. At before the "malady:' For example, Midrash informs us, Moshiach is born that time, the nations of the world will Providence placed Esther Hamalka in on Tisha Be'Av. also perceive that all along, the Ribbono the position of queen before Haman's I she! Olam was doing that which was for ascension to power. In a similar vein, [' ; YosEIF AND THE BROTHERS our ultimate good, and they will praise Hashem does not send Kial Yisroel into I [ .T... .· ~~. ~t~.r~· ~·f· ·;0~~if. ~~t~~~~;~ ~~~~~'t:i:s~:~i:~:~r. ~:/~J;e~i~~~!~~ :~:!:~;~~~:e;1:e:t~~: redemption have I I and his brothers mirrors the has overwhelmed us .... " Let us return now to the four expla- I · galus experience and subsequent nations of how the total of 70 souls was , / redemption. From the moment they YEHUDA AND SHIMON completed. [ first descended to Egypt, the broth- .... · ...... · • · · ...... · Yocheved, the motherofthe redeem- '1 , ers were unfairly singled out by the Tur' writes thatthe twelve months er, Moshe Rabbeinu, was born at the I [ ruler of Egypt, Tzafnas Panei'ach, who, of the year correspond to the gateway, part of her linked with Eretz I' I unbeknownst to them, was th err brother Twelve Tribes, in the order of how Yisroel and the other part of her in j Yoseif. He accused them of being spies; they traveled in the Midbar (Wilderness) Mitzrayim. Even before the Jews actually [

L__ ---5-H-ilchos Rosh Chodesh ·-----~ ; ~:v::i~~;;, ;~: 25~~=- 1 ---- 27 JANUAl~YfFEBRUARY 2009

entered their place of exile, the Divine indeed, the day would come when death, I will fear no evil, for You are plan for their redemption had already Moshiach ben Yoseifwould appear. Her with me." 12 been set in motion. There is an added tidings, therefore, allowed her not only message in this. It was as if Hashem to be momentarily accompanied by CHUSHIM BEN DAN were saying, "Do not think that your the spirit of Eliyahu, but to have the exile is an insufferable punishment. spirit ofEliyahu remain with her forever. n the Torah, the Tribe of Dan appears In fact, it also serves as a preparation Therefore, like Eliyahu, she merited to be most inferior. While Dan led for redemption, a redemption that will unusual longevity and ascended to I one of the degalim, tribal formations bring you to a spiritual level that you Heaven alive. in the Wilderness, it brought up the rear have never before attained. And the Because she was accompanied by the as the Jews marched from one encamp­ seeds of that redemption have already spirit of Eliyahu, she is counted as two ment to another. "The division of the been planted." among those who descended to Egypt, camp of Dan ... they shall be the last thus completing the count of 70, allud­ to journey."" The Midrash relates that SERACH BAS ASHER ing to the fact that the impending galus members of Dan were expelled by the was rooted in ge'ula. Clouds of Glory because of their sins, n the zemiros of Matza' ei Shabbos, and it was these Jews whom Amaleik we sing of Eliyahu Hanavi: "The attacked soon afrer the Jews left Egypt. I man appointed over all good tid­ WITH Us IN OuR SUFFERING The city of Dan in Bretz Yisroel was a ings." Sefer Me'or Einayim' writes that place of idol worship. whenever someone relates good tid­ hen Hashem spoke to Yaakov Throughout their 210 years in Egypt, ings, he is accompanied by the spirit prior to his journey to the Jewish People, despite their being of Eliyahu. This is why people want W Mitzrayim, He said, "I shall enslaved, maintained their high stan­ so badly to be the first to relate good descend with you to Egypt, and I shall dards of morality - with the exception news. The soul yearns to attach itself also surely bring you up."'° Pirkei Derabi of one person. Shelomis bas Divri of Dan to the spirit of Eliyahu. Furthermore, Eliezerstates that Hashem completed the was lax in maintaining the barriers of the moment when good tidings are total of 70 when Yaakov descended, and tzenius 14 that are so crucial, and this led conveyed is a most opportune time for He completed the total of 600,000 when to a tragic sin. both the bearer and the recipient to the Jews were redeemed from Egypt. As And who was the sole offspring of engage in teshuva. As Sefer Malachi says the passuk states: "I [Hashem] am with Dan ben Yaakov? Chushim ben Dan, of Eliyahu, "He shall return the heart him in distress.') 11 a deaf-mute. Chushim ben Dan serves of parents to children and the heart of That prophecy was told to Yaakov "in as a metaphor for our generation. In children to parents."9 visions of the night;' and Hashem called comparison to previous generations, The previous verse states, "Behold! I his name twice, "Yaakov, Yaakov." As we are spiritually deaf and mute. We send you Eliyahu the Prophet before the Rashi states, the double use ofYaakov's are so consumed by our troubles and arrival of the great and awesome day of name is leslwn chiba, a sign of special by distractions which we bring upon Hashem:' Eliyahu's primary mission is to love, as if to say: "Do not fear the dark­ ourselves, wittingly and unwittingly. We bring the news of the Final Redemption ness that is galus. My love for you is as find it so challenging to express a word to the entire Jewish People. strong in gal us as it is in times of ge' ula, of tefilla with proper intent, to compre­ As the three Avos of our people, and I will be as close to you then as I was hend a daf of Gemara with our minds Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov each in brighter times. I am the seventieth fully focused. Yet, this is the unique mis­ encompassed within himself the entire member of yonr family as you descend, sion of our generation, the generation Jewish People. When Serach bas Asher and I will be the 600,000'h member when of Ikvesa Dimeshicha, the period that sang before her grandfather Yaakov that your descendants depart." heralds the arrival of Moshiach. Previous Yoseif was alive, she was not bringing A Jew must believe and internalize generations suffered all forms of ter­ good tidings to an individual. She was that when he is experiencing the travails rible persecutions, but they had one paralleling the future action of Eliyahu of galus, be they personal or communal, advantage. Their awareness of Hashem in bringing good tidings to the entire the Ribbono she/ Olam is with him, suf­ \Vas clear, their minds were focused. Jewish nation. And like Eliyahu's, her fering as well, as it were. He was with the These generations possessed scores of message was one of redemption. From Jewish People throughout their sojourn great tzaddikim endowed with ruach Yoseif Hatzaddik will come Moshiach in Egypt, and He has been with them­ hakodesh who imbued their fellow Jews ben Yoseif, whose arrival will precede and continues to be with them - in every with a deep awareness and connection that of Moshiach ben David. Serach exile. As David Hamelech said, "Though to the Ribbono shel Olam. Our genera­ was informing the Jewish people that, I walk in the valley of the shadow of tion, though it does have its outstanding

-~~------·-- ---·--·-·-··----- 8 By the Chassidic master, 10 Bereishis 46,4 12 !bid. 23,4 R' Nachum of Chernobyl 11 Tehillin191,15 13 Bmnidbar2,25 & 31 9 3,24 14 See Rashi to Vayikra 24,l l. 28 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-;;;=T==H==E==J=E=.=W==•=S==''==O==B==S=E==R=V==E;;;;;;R· The economic crisis that has hit This is a time when a Jew n1ust America and the rest of the world has strengthen his emuna, faith in Hashe1n. In earlier times, the simplest Jew pos­ caused people to watch their money sessed emuna that was rock-firm. In carefully and to spend less. our generation of Chushim hen Dan, in our world of tzaros and confusion, As a result, some have also cut this is not always the case. One should note that the onslaught of tzaros in our back on their tzeddaka giving. times should give us reason to hope that the Redemption is near. "If you see a This is a mistake. generation in which numerous troubles come upon it like a river, expect him [Moshiach], as it is written, 'For distress tzaddikim and Torah leaders, lacks the of 70. We, our generation of"Chushim shall come like a river with the spirit of spiritual state of mind that was typical hen Dan," can be the one to merit greet­ Hashem devouring within it,' 19 and next of the average Jew in days gone by. ing Moshiach. We can bring about the to that it is written, 'A redeemer shall We are beset with worry over our fulfillment of the verse, "The saviors come to Zion.'" financial situation, health issues, prob­ will ascend Mount Tziyon to judge A Jew is required not only to believe lems with shidduchim, children at risk Eisav's mountain, and the kingdom will that Moshiach will come and that he and other serious matters. We live under be Hashem's." 16 Chushim has the same can come at any time, but to await his the threat of terrorism and concern for letters as Moshiach: n>tn:l. c>vn. arrival. "For there is yet another vision I our brethren in Bretz Yisroel. Yes, we are about the appointed time ... though each a "Chushim ben Dan." Nevertheless, FAITH IN THESE TIMES it may tarry, await it, for it will surely I as Chushims, with our limited focus and come; it will not delay.""' And as the our many tribulations and distractions, e are living through difficult Gemara teaches, when a Jew departs we relentlessly carry on and strive to times, times in which there is this world, one of the first questions he I serve Hashem with devotion to the best W much that we do not under­ is asked by the Heavenly Court is, "Did of our ability. Precisely because our stand. It is at such times that a Jew must you wait in hope for the salvation [of service of Hashem is performed amid strengthen himself with the words of the Final Redemption ]?" 21 I such difficult obstacles, every mitzvah David Hamelech: "If I were to take the There are individuals who are plagued that we perform, every tefilla that we wings of the dawn, and dwell in acharis by fear that their emuna is lacking; they I utter, every word of Torah that we study yam - the uttermost part of the sea [an are burdened with sfeikos, doubts, con­ is so precious to Hashen1. 15 Because of allusion to Acharis Hayamim, the End of cerning the fundamentals of Jewish the many spiritual obstacles that we face, Days, the period before Moshiach ]-even faith. This is another device of the Satan, I including the immoral society that sur­ there, Your hand would lead me, and to depress a Jew by making him think rounds us, our avodas Hashem is even Your right Hand would hold me." 17 that he does not truly believe. more precious than that of previous The Chafetz Chaim and other great A Jew once came to the author of I generations. We are the generation to tzaddikim of his era declared that Tzemach Tzeddek and poured out whom Hashem calls "Yaakov, Yaakov" in their time, the period of lkvesa his woes. "Rebbe;' he wailed, "I have I with special fondness. Dimeshicha had already begun. No one sfeikos in emuna! What should I do?" Of all the members of Yaakov Avinu's knows how long this period will last, but The rebbe appeared not to compre­ family, it was Chushim ben Dan who they pointed out that the signs given hend the problem. "Nu, so you have I killed Eisav and made Yaakov's burial at the end of Masechta Sota for lkvesa sfeikos in emuna. So what?" possible. There is a deep symbolism in Dimeshicha were all there. 18 Our times The Chassid became more agi­ this. Chushim ben Dan brought about are certainly no different. tated. "Rebbe - sfeikos in emuna ... a redemption of sorts, and therefore in emuna ... and I cannot rid myself of them!" I merited, according to one opinion, to be 16 Ovadia 1,21 counted as two and to complete the total 17 Tehillirn 139,9-10 The Rebbe responded softly, "Do 18 "In lkvesa Din1eshicha, insolence will increase, you see how much it bothers you I JS Translator's note: Rav Wolfson frequently inflation will soar, the vine \vill give its fruit but that have these sfeikos? Isn't that exhorts his taln1idim to make every effort to wine will be expensive, the government will turn to the biggest proof that, in fact, you minimize the distractions to avodas flashem that heresy, there will be no rebuke, the meeting places 22 I modern technology presents. Inside Beis Medrash of the wise will be used for immorality, the Gali! do have faith?" ------·--·~- Emunas Yisroel, cell phone use is strictly banned, will be destroyed and the Gavlan will be desolated 19 Yeshayahu 59,19 I even for learning purposes. In an address to the .... Those who fear sin will be despised and the 20 Chavakuk 2,3 I kehilla this past Asseres Ye111ei Teshuva, members truth ·will be hidden .... The face of the generation 21 Shabbos3la i were instructed to purchase "kosher phones" that will be like the face of the dog .... On whom do 22 It should be noted, however, that lac:dof do not allow for text-messaging. '"'e have to rely? On our Father in Heaven." vigilance in matters of kedusha can cloud one's 29

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ESCAPING CHEVLEI MOSHIACH strengthen one's co1nmitment to Torah, persecute guests, not to welcome them. tefilla and gemillas chassadim. As the Midrash relates, those who acted eople are fearful of the chev­ The economic crisis that has hit kindly toward strangers were liable to be lei Mashiach, the "birth pangs" America and the rest of the world has killed by the people of Sodom. Pthat our Sages say will herald caused people to watch their money The Zahar states that the two angels Mashiach's arrival. The Gemara teaches carefully and to spend less. As a result, who appeared before Lot were a "gift" that to escape these troubles, one should some have also cut back on their tzed­ to him from Hashem, for they presented busy himself with Torah study and daka giving. This is a mistake. him with the opportunity to earn the acts of chessed. 23 Now is the tin1e to When Hashem decreed that Sedam zechus he needed to escape the destruc­ be destroyed, he sent Lot two angels tion of Sedam. Hashem was granting e1nu11a. This topic has been dealt with by Rabbi disguised as wayfarers. Lot welcomed \Volfson in a s!11nuess that has been rendered into Lot a chance to risk his life to fulfill the English and can be obtained by contacting Rabbi these wayfarers into his home at risk to mitzvah of hachnasas orchim. Lot rose to Mordechai Brown at 917-613-0824. his life, for the policy of Sedam was to the challenge and thus he was saved. 23 Sanhedrin 98b It is the same in our times. The eco­ nomic crisis makes our tzeddaka giving even more potent in Heaven. We should seize the opportunity and give tzeddaka with mesiras nefesh. 24 There is another mitzvah that is a primary means of escaping chevlei Moshiach: "Whoever observes the three meals [of Shabbos] will be spared three tribulations: chevlei Moshiach, the judg­ ment of Geihinnam, and the war of Gog and Magog." 25 One should experience the Shabbos meals in the proper way, combining culinary delights with divrei Torah, zemiros, and avoiding conversa­ tion that is contrary to the spirit of Shabbos. THEVORT • The menu for the seuda is We should take a lesson from the •· .. ftie ·vaii ·ceie6rat.ion· 15 ·to· ·t:ie limited to 3 courses followed by a Satan. The Satan knows that when discontinued. The L'chaim (held at regular dessert. Moshiach arrives, his job will be over, and so he is using every means at his the time that the engagement is • No Viennese table and no bar. announced) should also not turn disposal to try to pull us away from into a Vort. THE MUSIC anything spiritual. Each day, we see the appearance of some new technological THE WEDDING • A band may consist of a maximum device that in moments can, G-d forbid, .- ·F«ir· ·tyf>lC:a1 · tairiiiies: ·ori1"y· ·4aci of 5 musicians (one of the musicians wreak havoc on one's neshama. invited guests may be seated at the may act as a vocalist) or four musi­ Let us respond to the Satan's final chassuna seuda. (The Guidelines cians and one additional vocalist. onslaught by going about our avadas make provision for exceptional • A one-man band is recom­ Hashem with renewed energy and joy. circumstances - see full text.) mended. In this merit, may all of Kial Yisroel soon • The kabbolas panim smorgas­ witness the arrival of Moshiach and the bord should be limited to basic FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR building of the Third Beis Hamikdash, cakes, fruit platters, a modest buf­ ; 'rfie.tcitai ·cost ·cit' itiese· ftems ioi amein. fet, and the caterer's standard the entire wedding should not ------~----~·-~ chicken or meat hot dishes. exceed $1,800. 24 Rav \Volfson mentioned the daily miracles that the Je\'/S in Southern Israel have witnessed these past few weeks, with so many rockets miss­ FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES ing their target or causing mini1nal damage. He WITH ITS RABBINICAL ENDORSEMENTS suggested that this may be in the zechus of the hachnasas orchim being performed by the scores AND THE ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, of fainilies in other parts of Eretz Yisroelwho are please call 212.612.2300 opening their hon1es to the Jews of the South, despite the difficulties involved. 25 Shabbos l l8a

30 THE JEWISH OBSERVER =--i I Rf,JB,JB,I SAMSON Rf,1°1 IJ',EL '1 i HIRSCH'S, COMMENTARY I I I ON CHUMASH I -AN APPRECIATION- I ! i One hundred and twenty years ago, on 27 Teves, I 5649 (1888), Rabbi Shimshon Refoel Hirsch, 7":::n, I passed away. What can be a more appropriate way of marking this Yahrzeit than taking note I of the publication of a new English translation I of his classic commentary on Chumash, by Daniel Haberman (published by Feldheim Publishers, Judaica Press)? The following I essay is based on a delivered by Rabbi I Yissachar Frand at a gathering sponsored by the Rabbi I Dr. Foundation commemorating this occasion. I HIS SHIUR Isnotmeantto be his­ ary. Usually the word "revolutionary" torical or biographical in nature. I conveys the idea of discarding the past T am not a historian nor an expert and setting out on a new path. But r on the life and times of Rabbi Hirsch. Rabbi Shimshon Refoel Hirsch, in his Rather, this shiur is meant to offer the essence, was a traditionalist in every reader a taste ofthis most unique peirush sense of the word. The bedrock of his on the Chumash in connection with the commentary is Ghazal, drawn from I completion ofthe new English translation Midrash and Gemara, as interpreted of Rav Hirsch's peirush (commentary) by the classic mefarshei haChumash, on Chumash, with the hope that it will and the entire corpus of thousands of I spark a renewed interest in the peirush, years of mesora. and that people who in the past may Yet, his use of linguistics, etymol­ I have found the previous translation too ogy, and sociological and psychological I cumbersome to plow through will be able insights to uncover the Torah's wis­ to explore this treasurehouse with relative dom is nothing short of revolutionary. I RABBI fRAND, A RF.BBi IN THE BE/5 MIDRASN OF ease and rewarding insight. Perhaps his most unique contribution J YESHIVA NER ISRAEL IN BALTIMORE, IS A T\/OTED Rabbi Hirsch's peirush (commen­ was his use of phonetic relationships - I LURER AND AUTHOR. tary) on Chumash is truly revolution- the concept that words that sound the

31 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2 0 0 9

same in Hebrew are somehow related. tasks:' But Rabbi Hirsch points out that such, it is not a reflection of people's I Rabbi Hirsch was a traditionalist revo­ it is only possible for her to do this task view of the world, but projects how the lutionary. as an eizer kenegdo, not imo - an eizer Ribbono shel Olam sees things. Lashon One could also describe his peirush opposite him, not with him. He writes, Hakodesh thus informs people rather as a symphony: Just as the composer 'The eizer should not work with him in than expressing what the people are and the conductor of a symphony use the same place, but opposite him: in the thinking. string, wind, and percussion instru­ same line, beside him - each one working Rabbi Hirsch continues: "As long as ments to create a masterpiece, so did within his or her own special sphere:) they are called ish and isha, man does Rabbi Hirsch orchestrate various modes This comment not only exempli­ not need to be freed from woman and of con1mentary within his peirush, as fies his unique approach to Lashon woman does not need to be freed from we intend to demonstrate. Moreover, Hakodesh, but is prescient in under­ man. For neither of them ever made this peirush was published over 150 scoring the roles of men and women the other into a slave, or into a god or years ago, yet it speaks to modern man in Yahadus. The concept of "women's goddess:' A 21" century statement writ­ as it spoke to our l 9'h·century prede­ liberation" did not exist in the 1850s, ten by Rabbiner Hirsch circa 1850. An cessors. yet this co1nment speaks to our genera­ eternal truth, it does not change midor In the lines that follow, I will high­ tion in how to approach the role of the ledor, from generation to generation. light some examples of his unique sexes in Yahadus. In contradistinction to approach. current thinking, that inen and women must have the right to assume the same A MATTER OF NUANCE PHONETIC RELATIONSHIPS roles to achieve equality, the Torah says that equality can be achieved with each nother example of Rabi Hirsch's et us start with Sefer Bereishis person knowing his and her specific and classic exegesis is the nuances and work our way through the different tasks. A of words of Lashon Hakodesh. LChumash. Rabbi Hirsch addresses the equality In Parashas Mikeitz, Yoseif accuses his First, an example of the concept of sexes in the context of another of his brothers of being spies. They defend

of phonetic relationships from Rabbi concepts - the psychology of language, themselves, saying: <( We've come to Hirsch's comment on the passuk that if you will. Rabbi Hirsch points out that Egypt to get food. We are all sons of one defines how the Ribbono shel Olam languages inform us about the people man. Your servants \Vere never spies." created woman, using the \Vords "e' eseh who speak them and how they view the Rabbi Hirsch takes notes that in this eizer kenegdo." This is loosely translated world. For instance, the word in German passuk, they use the words "nachnu" and as "I will make a helpmate for man." for people is "volk" - as in Volkswagon­ "anachnu." Both words 1neans '\ve;' but The word eizer comes from the similar to the English word "folk," and "nachnu" is a very uncommon form shoresh (root) azar - which means to is related to the word "folgen," which of the word. This passuk starts with help. Rabbi Hirsch points out that words means to obey. This implies that the "kulanu bnei ish echad nachnu- we are related phonetically to the shoresh azar people's existence depends on its leader, all sons of one man," and then changes have in co1nmon the concept of limita­ and that all are obligated to obey him, to« keinim anachnu- we are upright" - tion. For instance, the words asar (to as in "folgen." your servants were never spies." bind), otzar (vault), and azar (assist) This Weltanschauung says much Rabbi Hirsch focuses on a nuance. all involve limiting. As Rabbi Hirsch about the German people, and can "Nachnu" is a more 1nodest form of writes, "An ozer (aide) relieves his friend lead to disastrous consequences. the word. When one does not wish to of part of his obligation, enabling him assert himself, he will use "nachnu," the to concentrate his energies in a more THE INTER-GENDER diminished form. limited sphere:' SIMILARITY When referring to their exalted yichus, That is why, for instance, the court­ "Kulanu bnei ish echacf' - we're the sons yard in the Beis Hamikdash is called the he words for male and female in of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov- they azara. The bulk of the karbanos were Lashon Hakodesh- ish and isha- used the word nachnu, with the intima- sacrificed in the azara, facilitating the Tcome from the same shoresh. tion of modesty. We're just stating who designation of the Kodesh and the rest Rabbi Hirsch points out that we find we are. We are not out to glorify ourselves of the Beis Hamikdash- inner chambers no such parallel in ancient languages. with being bnei Yaakov. of the sanctuary - for specific tasks. Lashon Hakodesh, he writes, is the But when their integrity is challenged Thus, Rabbi Hirsch writes in regard Divine language, the language of the and they are accused of being spies, to \voman's function: "Eizer kenegdo Ribbono shel Olam. As the Ramban they respond unequivocally. They say, , assumes part of the prodigious task of al haTorah says, it is called Lashon "Keinim anachnu; lo hayu avadecha i mankind, thus enabling her husband to Hakodesh because it is the language in meraglim." They assert themselves. We which the Ribbono shel Olam speaks. As are truthful people They do not shy I t""'""' "" w= of '" '""'"'"" ------·· . ___J THE JEWISH 08SER\

Rabbi Hirsch I back. The worst insult one can inflict on somebody is to question his integrity. personified the I Thus, in the very same breath, they quintessential use the \Vord "nachnu" to demonstrate I theirmodesty,andforcefullysay"anach- hallmark of nu to defend their honor!" German Jewry I Sometimes, a person's vort offers an ! insight into his personality. It strikes me that we still

,1 that whenever Rabbi Hirsch's integrity See today. _ was impugned, he would assert himself That is the

1 as forcefully as the brothers did. After extraordinary message implied • all, Rabbi Hirsch personified the quint- honesty,. a.nd in the expression "Elokei Ha'ivriyim." I essential hallmark of German Jewry You do not know with whom you are ' that we still see today - extraordinary integrity, starting up. Each one of us is an Ivri­ I honesty and integrity, exemplified in the each one of us has in our spiritual I expression: Something must not only be exemplified in DNA that ability to take on the world. glatt kosher, it must also be glatt yosher, the expression: Elokei Ha'ivriyim is the G-d of every uncontestedly honest. single Ivri. A close friend and colleague, Rabbi Something Shlomo Porter, referred me to the fol- mUSt not Only. lowing story: FROM CONCEPTUAL TO By contract, Rabbi Hirsch would be 9/atf kosher, ACTIVE TO EMOTIONAL be paid his entire salary for the approaching year on January !". it must also be This shiur is not a historical I During the year that Rabbiner glatf yosher, account of Rabbi Hirsch's life. ' Hirsch was niftar, he feared that Yet, even a superficial knowledge I he would not last until the year's uncontestedly of Rabbi Hirsch recognizes that he took end. So he informed his family that honest. on many challenges. In Frankfurt-am- I should he pass away in the middle Main, he not only battled against the I of the year, they should prorate his Reform, but also against anyone who ! salary and return the balance to the he felt was compromising Yahadus. ,1 government. As Hashgacha would from "eiver" - across a barrier. A Jew He started out with barely a have it, Rabbi Hirsch was niftar on is known as an Ivri, reflecting how in Frankfurt-am-Main, a small, seem-

1 27 Teves of that year, corresponding Avraham Avinu was an iconoclast who ingly insignificant kehilla, and he fought I to December 31 ". took on the entire world, and intro- against the world. Today, more than 150 ' duced the concept of monotheism to years later, that strength is still alive and I ON THE OTHER SIDE a polytheistic world. As Rabi Yehuda well in the kehilla that he built. That ' · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · said in the Midrash, "Kol haolam kulo German kehilla is still influenced by that !I Another example of a vort that mei'eiver echad vehu mei'eiver echad. koachoflvriyim-theabilitytodowhat I offers an insight into Rabbi Avraham was on one side of the river is right and to take on opposition, no 'r· Hirsch's personality is a com- [so to speak] and everybody else was on matter how hard it may seem. , ment he makes in the beginning of the other side." In Sefer Shemos, Rabbi Hirsch high- [ Sefer Shemos. When speaking about Kial One of the special kochos (attributes) lights a concept on the Asseres Hadibros · Yisroel in Mitzrayim, the Ribbono she! that Avraham Avinu passed on to his that I have not seen in other mefarshim. I Olam assures Moshe Rabbeinu that the descendants - to you and to me - is As is well known, the first of the Luchos i Jews will harken to him, and instructs the ability to be an Ivri, the capacity to (Tablets of Law) contains mitzvos bein I him to go to Pharaoh and say, "Hashem take on the world and say, "This is the adam laMakom- between man and the I Elokei Ha'ivriyim nikra aleinu-Hashem, way that I will do it. We don't care what Ribbono she[ Olam - while the second the G-d of the Ivriyim, happened upon anyone does or says." Tablet is made up of mitzvos bein adam I us" (Shemos 3, 18). Rabbi Hirsch points Rabbi Hirsch writes, "Moshe, in pre- lachaveiro - mitzvos between man and I out that this is the only time in all senting his demands to Pharaoh, is in his fellow. . of Torah that the expression Ivriyim essence saying, 'Each one of us is an Further on, Rabbi Hirsch points out I appears. Otherwise, the word Ivrim is Ivri. Each one of us has the courage that the mitzvos bein adam laMakom I used. He cites the Midrash in Bereishis to uphold the nation's mission, alone begin with intellectual concepts, more f Rabba that the expression "Jvrz" stem_s __a_g_a-in_s_t the wh-o-le_w_o_rl_d_.'_" ______th_e_o_r_y than practice: "Anochi Hashem 33 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

Elokecha" - the conviction that there is The epilogue to the Ten a Ribbono she/ Olam; "Lo yihyeh lecha" Commandments emphasizes ... - the prohibition of avoda zara, idol that these three major.sins worship. Those are mitzvos that have to "undermine our retationship do with conceptual, cerebral ideas that a person has to en1brace. to G-d. To banish them,. to Yet, that side of the Luchos ends with eradicate every trace of them the mitzvos of Shabbos and kibbud av from our midst is the.object va'eim, honoring one's parents, going of the Divine Lawgiving." from the realm of the transcendental to the practical. On the other hand, he points out that ABBI SHIMSHON REFOEL HIRSCH, ?"lit, had a gift for approaching the mitzvos bein adam lachaveiro deal what at first glance might appear to be a rnndom listing of Torah with deeds that we should or should ommands and perceiving a message of profouJ1.d implications. For not do. Lo sirtzach ... do not n1urder, example, it is well-known that to avoid violating a Torah command, one do not steal, do not commit adultery, must be prepared to go to a11y expense or inconvenience-except for giving do not bear false witness - all mitzvos up one's life.. In regard to.such a situation, the Torah commands us: "Vechai involving action. The last of the Asseres .bah em - and you shall live by them [the commandments]" ( Vayikra 18,5). Hadibros, however, is" Lo sachmod beis There are, however, three cardinal sins which are governed by principle of rei'echa - Do not covet your friend's ''ye_hare'ig ve_' al_ya' avoe_',- ofie,must rather_ give up',_one,s life th'3n transgress house:' They begin in the realm of activ­ any of them: avoda zora - idol worship, shefichas 4amim - bloodshed, and• ity and end in the conceptual, addressing gillui amyos-immoral acts. Where is this stated or implied? emotion - how we should feel towards Rabbi Hirsch points out that the Asseres Hadibros are followed by an another person. epilogue .that focuses on how "the altar that you build up to Me should That is his point. Mitzvos bein adam represent the earth being raised up to G-d:' This is followed by three laMakom cannot only be conceptual, commands: intellectual things. To be a Yid baleiv­ a Jew at heart - is not enough. The • "Do not make gods of silver and gods ofgold" (Shemos20, 20), commandments must translate into forbidding idolatry. ma' asin1- the realm of action. On the other hand, mitzvos bein • "lfyou make an altar ofstone do not build it of hewn stone ... adam lachaveiro must begin with the using a sword" (ibid 20,22). As Rabbi Hirsch elaborates: "The tangible: Don't kill. Don't harm some­ altar over which you have swung an iron tool is desecrated body. But ultimately they should trans­ for the altar of Gcd." Something that is associated with taking form the person into a being with human life clashes with serving G-d. different approaches and attitudes. The person has to reach the madreiga (stage) • "You shall not ascend to My altar with steps [-instead, a ramp where he does not covet that which his was to be built for that purpose], that your nakedness not be friend has. ei

34 THE JEWISH OBSERVER f !=-=·~··-!

Yes, says Rabbi Hirsch. Because Lo laws of owning a Jewish slave? Yet, Melachos are usually creative acts, I sachmod addresses Hashgacha Prattis: Parashas opens with "Ki bringing about changes, showing my I Hakadosh Baruch Hu 1s intimately sikneh eved lvri - If you buy a Jewish apparent mastery over things. When involved in our lives. The house that I slave" (Shemos 21,2). I plow my land, I'm master over that I own, the spouse that I have, and the car Rabbi Hirsch explains that a person land. When I abstain from plowing on I that I drive ... the Ribbono she! Olam becomes an eved ivriby stealing. Lacking Shabbos, I'm saying, in effect," Ribbono wants me to possess those things, so He the money to compensate for the theft, she! Olam, You are really the master." I granted them to me. When I aspire to he is sold into bondage and the money And so it is with all melachos, with acquire something that does not belong from the sale goes to the victim. Parashas the exception of hotza'a. When I take to me, I am, in effect, attempting to Mishpatim, then, begins with how to this paper clip from my house to the beis I thwart the will of G-d and denying that treat such a ganav. midrash, my act does not alter it. There is I the Ribbono she! Olam really runs the When hearing "ganav;' people recoil no expression of mastery over it. What, world. "Lo sachmod'' mandates emuna with disgust. Thief! Dregs ofsociety!Yet, then, is the melacha of carrying? in Hashgacha Prattis. the Torah instructs us to treat him with Rabbi Hirsch alludes to a state- I The Aseres Hadibros begin with emuna dignity. As opposed to other societies, ment in the Rishanim's commentary on in theory: "Anochi Hashem Elokecha" - a where a thief is thrown into a dungeon Masechta Shabbos. They describe hotza'a lofty concept - and end with accepting to rot, the Torah entrusts this person as a melacha gerua - an inferior mela­ that the car that I drive is the one that to a Jewish home, to observe how cha - because one does not change the I the Ribbono she! Olam wants me to have responsible people interact) how men substance of anything when one carries. ... emuna in practice. treat their wives and families. We thus Rabbi Hirsch points out that this depic­ In su111, emuna in theory is ''Anochi." rehabilitate him. tion actually predates the Rishonim, i.e., Emuna in practice is that this year's sal­ The Torah demands that we treat Tosafos in Masechta Shabbos. ary is what the Ribbono she/ Olam wants an eved Ivri in this fashion, informing It is expressed in a passuk in Yirmeyahu, me to have. No more, no less. us that every person, even a thief, is a where Yirmeyahu says: "Do not carry bur­ That is why Lo sachmod is in the tzellem Elokim, created in G-d's image. dens from your houses on the Sabbath Aseres Hadibros. That sets the tone for all mitzvos bein day, and you shall do no melachos, and adam lachaveiro. you shall sanctify the Sabbath Day" PHILOSOPHIC (Yirmeyahu 17,22). Yirmeyahu Hanavi divides the Shabbos restrictions: Do not UNDERPINNINGS OF CARRYING I carry, and do not do melacha. Hotza'a is uch of Rav Hirsch's peirush something different. on Chumash is devoted to ne more example of the phi­ Here is Rabbi Hirsch's symphony. He M explaining the philosophi­ losophy behind mitzvos also quotes Rishonim in Masechta Shabbos, cal underpinnings of the mitzvos. The 0 illustrates the metaphor of and then turns to Yirmeyahu Hanavi in Rambam, before him, wrote Moreh symphony for the interplay of vari­ Tanach to declare that hotza'a is unique. I Nevuchim in response to his generation's ous interpretations mentioned earlier, He says that hotza'a represents social need to understand the rationale bebind wherein Rabbi Hirsch brings together interaction - by bringing something I the mitzvos. So, too, did Rabbiner Hirsch so many different aspects of Yiddishkeit. to you, I am relating to you. The sum provide his generation with a glimpse Here, he explains the melacha of hotza'a-­ total of all social interaction is called I into the reasons behind many of the the prohibition to carry on Shabbos. history, for history is the relationship rnitzvos. On Shabbos, we refrain from doing between man and man, between states, There are almost as many examples the other 38 melachos- creative acts or between countries. It then becomes of this as there are mitzvos. To cite but labors - thus declaring that the Ribbono obvious that not only is the Ribbono she! I a few, in the beginning of Parashas she/ Olam is Master over the physical Olam Master over the physical world, Mishpatim, Rabbi Hirsch introduces world. I cannot plow, I cannot sow, He is also Master over history. When mitzvos bein adam lachaveiro- how one I cannot harvest, I cannot launder, I I refrain from carrying on Shabbos, should treat another person; what one cannot write on Shabbos - to declare I am declaring precisely that. Thus, does if he causes damage to someone; that the Ribbono she! Olam created the says Rabbi Hirsch, we refer to Hashem how one should borrow from another. world. "Sheishes yamim assa Hashem through Shabbos in two ways: Zikaron The whole corpus of Choshen Mishpat es hashamayim ve'es ha'aretz. For in six lema'asei Bereishis" - a memorial to the (the section of deal­ days Hashem made the heavens and the Ribbono shel Olam's mastery as Creator ing with financial matters) begins in earth ... and He rested on the seventh of the world - and "Zeicher litzias Parashas Mishpatim. day" (Shemos 20,11). Refraining from Mitzrayim"- a reminder of the Exodus If you were formulating a Parashas doing any of these melachos is my dec­ from Egypt, marking the Ribbono shel I Mishpatim, would you begin with the laration: "You're in charge!" Olam's mastery over history. __d JANUARY/FEBRUAl~Y 2009

A MATTER OF WHEN TO COUNT potential of each child. If there is one latent in the depths of his personal­ area of life in which one size does not ity - and thus should be educated will conclude with a sampling of the fit all, it is chinuch. both as a man and as a Jew." great wisdom of Rabbiner Hirsch on Rabbi Hirsch expresses the same I the subject of chinuch.1 thought in Parashas Vayechi. After CARVED IN STONE Why did the census of Sheivet Levi recording how Yaakov Avinu blessed include all males who were at least thirty all of his children, the passuk concludes: he matzeiva (tombstone) of days old, whereas everyone else in Kial << Jsh asher kevirchaso beirach osam - He Rabbiner Hirsch reads in part: Yisroel was counted only if they were at blessed each according to his blessing" T least 20 years old? (Bereishis 49,28). How does one bless Ohr chadash hei'iru When a man reached 20 years old, he so1neone "according to his blessing"? P'nei teiveil hizhiru was subject to conscription in the army. To quote Rabbi Hirsch: Ve'emuna tehora le'am That is when he was counted. By that "After characterizing them, he kodesh heitziru logic, a Levi should have been counted blessed each one in keeping with the Tuv taam hamitzvos from the time he was eligible to serve blessings appropriate to his individ­ Sod chukei Boreinu. in the Beis Hamikdash, at age 30. Yet, uality. After describing the individu­ Those few words encapsulate what Rabbi Hirsch points out, a Levi was ality and the significance of each of he accomplished. The peirush, indeed, counted from the time that he is 30 days his sons, he blessed each accordingly was and is an ohr chadash - a new light old, because the avoda of a Levi was not ... that each one should find blessing shone on the words of the Torah. merely to serve in the Beis Hamikdash. and happiness by remaining true to Ohr chadash hei'iru. Ve'emuna tehora He was generally entrusted with the his individuality:' le' am kodesh heitziru - his commentary spirituality of Kial Yisroel. To have written such a concept strengthened the emuna, not only of his The Levi'im were the teachers of in 1850 is truly revolutionary. Truth generation) but of generations to co1ne. Kial Yisroel, and as such - as guardians be told, it is consistent with Shlomo Tuv taam hamitzvos sod chukei Boreinu­ of the Jewish faith - their own chinuch Hamelech's advice: "Chanoch lana'ar al pi his commentary gives insights to so began not at age 30 nor at 20. It began darko- train each young man in accor­ many precious secrets of the Torah. at 30 days. A Levi was entrusted to dance with his way:' But Rav Hirsch Someone who visited the kever of fulfill "yoreh mishpatecha leYaakov;' to articulates it: You have to look at every Rabbiner Hirsch told me that he found teach Torah to Kial Yisroel (Devarim child, see who he is, and work with what the matzeiva covered with little stones. 33,10). This called for a special chinuch you have. Trying to fit a square peg in a Such is the minhag - when visiting a that began at the tender age of 30 days. round hole never works. kever, we put a stone on the marker. These Chinuch must be tailor-made to fit the Rav Hirsch writes in Parashas Toldos: little stones were testimony to the many I I an1 not citing a commentary from Devarim "Each child should be guided in people that had visited his grave. because, as of this writing, it has not yet been pub­ accordance with the path intended Not far from the kever of Rabbiner lished. I 1nust mention that the greatest challenge especially for him - the path that Hirsch is the gravesite ofa member ofthe for me in formulating this was not in deciding what to include, but what to exclude. suits the tendencies and qualities Rothschild family, who in their heyday were the wealthiest people in the world. I coach people to help then1 realize their In fact, they financed some of the wars of Can a Life-Coach own drea1ns and ambitions. I help them different countries. There are no stones help you realize plan, program, and stay motivated. on his kever. WHY COACHING? Improving one's If one were to have predicted 200 years your dreams? life means making change; and people need ago, 150 years ago, who would have a support and structure to keep distractions and obstacles from swa1nping their drean1s and goals. greater impact on the world - Baron Moreover, people rarely see their own capabilities in full measure. A coach is a per­ Rothschild and his family, or this little rav son who by temperan1ent, experience, and training is dedicated to help you grow and in a small town in Europe, who eventually achieve your own drean1s. A coach never loses confidence in his client's ability! became Rav in Frankfurt - one would I have over thirty years experience in helping people fulfill their dreams, have have said the Rothschilds. And yet, we do authored books, articles and produced cassette programs on this subject. In 2-3 111onths, using weekly private phone sessions, you can learn ho\v to not hear from the Rothschilds anymore. effectively take control of your life. But we hear from Rabbiner Hirsch. He FREE OFFER - I would be happy to give you a free telephone endures, and his peirush endures, because conference. Please call USA 845-352-1175 for an appointment. the Torah endures. And because authentic Thank you. - MR. Av1 SHULMAN Yiddishkeit will endure until the end of Live a Life of Design, Not Default time. That is why this peirush is a classic, because a classic is defined by whether it passes the test of time. !l!l

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I llllntl 1711

ARetrospective Appreciation

FROM VISION TO REALITY

o R MANY DE CAD ES, Shmitta observance was confined to a number of individuals or to certain groups, such Fas the kibbutzim of Poalei Agudas Yisroel, or Aguda settlements such as Yesodot, Kfar Gideon, Komemiyus and others. It was the towering sage, Rabbi Mendelsohn, Rav of Komemiyus, who brought Shmitta observance into the public domain and made it into the birthright of each Torah­ Keren Hashviis, and the legions of brave Jews who observe observing Jew to the degree that it is as much a part of his life Sh1nitta, that our representation in the Israeli parliament was as are Shabbos and the festivals. Rabbi Mendelsohn fervently able to induce the government to allocate the money. Lest believed that all the obstacles to Shmitta observance could be someone ask If so, why is money collected for this purpose?, overcome with perseverance and devotion to the cause. here is the story. Of the over 2700 farmers who observed this This was the dream of all to whom the Holy Land and past Shmitta year, only some 200 (!) could conform to the the commandments associated with it were dear, but as with sometimes draconian criteria established by the Ministry of all visions, it had to be implemented. To this end, in 1973, Agriculture. This left the remaining 2500-plus forced to rely Rabbi Mendelsohn established Keren Hashviis, which not on the benevolence of their fellow Jews. only took upon itself to convince individual religious farmers Still, Shmitta has been brought to the attention of the that this great mitzvah is not dead, or something that can be public at large and Shmitta observing farmers are no longer circumvented in one way or the other, but also assumed the lone individuals who are doing (or rather not doing) some­ obligation to assist them in achieving this goal. thing that the public cannot understand. As a matter of fact, Since that time, Shmitta observance has become a perma­ when a highly unusual frost brought extensive damage this nent feature in the agricultural economy of the Holy Land. year to crops of non-observing farmers, which reduced the As the number of Shmitta-observing farmers rose from year agricultural produce output to the point that some staples to year (2000 farmers in the previous Shmitta in 5761, over had to be imported in massive quantities, the Minister of 2700 farmers in the most recent Shmitta), it left its imprint Agriculture declared in public that "we are going to have not on the entire country and could not be ignored by the gov­ one, but two Shmitta years." erning bodies. The Ministry of Agriculture appointed a high­ A cursory examination of the parshios in the Torah that ranking official to deal with the changes in crop production discuss Shmitta might give one the initial impression that that Shmitta observance entails. In fact, for at least the past a farmer who does not work his fields or orchards during three Shmittos, the government has participated in financing Shmitta would face a grave problem in providing suste­ part of the burden carried by the Shmitta observing farm­ nance for himself and his family. Further reading, however, ers. It is quite obvious that it is only due to the existence of underscores that there is blessing associated with Shmitta observance. One must be aware, however, that this bless- RABBI Lf:DEltMAN, OF BNEI BRAK, IS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TREASURERS OF

KEREN HASHv1'1s. His AHTICLE, "OF SEVENS, SABBATHS, CYCLES, AND Scrn1Es," 1 drl>W,, whm ""'] APPEARED JN JO. APR. '07. '"' '"=''' '"'" m 5hmi•• L. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2.009

may well decide not to rent it to that observant farmer when FRUITFUL Sh1nitta is over. BYPASS Nonetheless, the recent Shmitta was strikingly different ... ,...... " ...... from those preceding it. Not only did the number of Shmitta observing farmers increase by 35% from the prior Shmitta, but RUITS GROW BY THEMSELVES, and can be picked Shrnitta observance encompassed 270 locations in the Holy and distributed under the aegis of Otzar Beis Din, Land as compared with I 97 during the previous Shmitta. F(an agency acting under beis din's guidance), which But most dramatic is the rise in the land areas that were left sells the-frnitat no profit. The Otzar BeisDin compen­ fallow in the observance of Shmitta. It was 18,460 hectares (or sates the grower for his expenses and pays him wages over 45,000 acres) during the earlier Shmitta, and it was 30,000 for the work that he performs for them, while charging hectares (over 74,000 acres) this past Shmitta (close to a 65% the populace for the above plus the costs of storage and increase). This does not include orchards under Otzar Beis distribution. Jn this way, the grower regains the money Din arrangements, which account for another 5000 hectares he spent on safeguarding the tree - something that is (12,350 acres). permitted on Shmitta - and .is left with some money to But this is not all. With Shmitta so solidly entrenched into buy food. This arrangement, however, does not apply the fabric of Israeli life by the extensive activities of Keren to grains, vegetables, flowers (which are· ordinarily a Hashviis, the current chairman of Keren Hashviis, the inde­ "red-hot" export item), spices (same) and similar crops. fatigable Rabbi Ben Zion Kugler, was able to arrange with Quality suffers, however, since frµits are not sprayed nor the rabbi of Keren Kayemes that no forestry plantings of any otherwise treated because of Shn#tta, and are often not kind would be carried out during the Shmitta year. The total of a calibre that can be distributed. The grower, then, produce-growing land area in Jewish hands in the Holy Land is will n.ot realiz~ ~n,y.proc;:eeds from such fruit and Keren 110,000 hectares, with another 110,000 hectares of forests and Hashviis must step in. similar uncultivated lands. Taken together (and including the Otzar Beis Din arrangements), a total of I 45,000 hectares of the Holy Land out of 220,000 hectares in Jewish hands, amounting to 66% (or 2/3), rested on Shmitta!! This is as unprecedented Shmitta is fulfillment of a Torah command. When its status as it is mind-boggling. And it would not have happened if it is mide Rabbanan (of rabbinic origin), as it is today accord­ were not for the all-pervading presence of Keren Hashviis. ing to most poskim, one must be moved by pure motives to merit Hashem's special blessings. Thus, only truly deserving THE LEAP YEAR "BONUS" individuals would merit this blessing nowadays. While this may sound limiting, more people would very likely qualify his past Shmitta was different from the preceding ones currently than in the past. in a number of other respects, as well. One of them is Tthat this was the first time that Shrnitta was observed at COMPLICATING FACTORS such an unprecedented scale in a Jewish leap year, which lasted 13 months (as compared with the standard Shmitta duration ther factors are present that complicate the scene. of 12 months). Moreover, it is not entirely correct to regard We are living in a technologically advanced era, Shmitta as something that lasts a year (regular or leap). 0 which removes substantial backbreaking toil from Preparations for Shmitta must begin months before it starts. the farmer, but also harbors a number of problems. Gone are For most farmers, this means being thoroughly instructed in the days when a farmer would work a patch of land that he preparations for the coming Shmitta year, and Keren Hashviis owned. Today, farmers till increasingly larger areas that they bears the expenses of this instruction. For some of them, rent from the land's owners. This is necessitated by the use Shmitta actually starts at that time because their crops "run" of highly expensive machinery such as tractors that sell for into Shmitta and can no longer be harvested then. Some crops $650,000 (at least half of the cost is provided "courtesy" of can only be seeded or planted during the summer or the early the Israeli tax system), and similarly expensive items such as spring, and this again means that the farmer has nothing to plows, seeding machines, sophisticated irrigation equipment, harvest for months after Shmitta is over. and vegetable or fruit pickers. The only way in which a farmer But this is not all. Keren Hashviis faced a new challenge in can obtain use of such equipment is by a leasing agreement, its care for Shmitta observers. It was called upon to address the with all the payments that this entails. Since there is no regular problems of people who earn a living by tending private house income during the Shmitta year, the farmer finds it impossible gardens and those who drive farm tractors, who could not work to keep up his payments. In addition, he has to continue pay­ during Shmitta. Many of them came from the ranks of ba'alei ing rent for the land that he was tilling. True, there exists the teshuva who had returned to their spiritual roots these past alternative of turning the land over to its owner for the Shmitta several years. During the previous Shmitta, there was less than year, but then the latter will not only work it on Shmitta, but a handful of them, and it was possible to help them without

38 AMA'ITEROF 1WOAGENDAS ...... -..... , ...... ECAUSE OF STATUTOJW restrictions, Keren Hashviis Bis divided into two depart­ ments. One is. the National Center for Shmitta-Observing Farm.ers. Headquartered in Komemjyus,it is directed by its pres­ ent rav, Rabbi Mena.chem Mendel Mendelsohn, who renders al1 the halachic decisions, and, in general, guides and directs, with a small but very efficient staff, alt the preparations for Shmitta, and determines what kind of work may or may not be performed on Shmitta, dealing with a host of halachic iI1tricacies. The second is Keren Hashviis, also presided over by RabbiMendelsohn, which is responsible for all the finan­ cial affairs, This body is made up of public personalities who have party affiliations as individuals, but leave j:hein behind .when they enter _the Keren Hashviis meeting room. Then, their only concerns are _the proper condu.ct of the fund and the benefit ofthe farmers. One of its members. is the past president of Israel's Accountants Union, whose expertise made it possible for the fund to avoid. major pitfalls and to. conduct its activity in a most exemplary way; Another member (who also happens to be an accountant) is a Komemiyus resident and all expert in crop production; his timely advice aided the fund's board of treasurers in making the proper decisions. As above, there were questions. that.even thi.s dedicated group with all their expertise could not resolve; At .the suggestion of Rabbi .Elyashiv, N"1"7w, all these questions were referred to a special beis din headed by Rabbi Nissim Karelitz, 11"1"'>1!>, nephew of the Chazon !sh and head of Kolle! Chazon Ish, to whkh all the problems were presented and resolved by: FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Kolle! ofShmitta-observing farmers; Visit of rabbanin1 to Shmitta farm; Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky at kever o/Radvaz, pioneer ofShmitta observance.

digging deep into the funds designated for farmers. This past by providing a $100,000 loan so that work could be started. Shmitta, the Keren Hashviis governing body dealt with several Keren Hashviis was privileged to have the unstinting coopera­ dozens of such non-farmer Shmitta observers, and the decision tion of then-Executive Vice President of the American Agudah, as to what should be done was too complex for these devoted Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, and Agudah's treasurer, Rabbi Shlomo people to make. In addition, there arose a number of priority Gertzulin, who put in great effort to make the American Keren questions concerning certain farming occupations that were Hashviis campaign as successful as it was. They were assisted by too knotty for the group to resolve. Rabbi Moshe Borenstein, who coordinated the weekly Shabbos appeals, and Rabbi Avi'ezri Wagshal, the American "Mr. Shmitta:' They were "seconded" by Rabbi Ezriel Shechter of PRE-SHMITTA EFFORTS AND BEYOND London, responsible for the success of the appeals in England. He was joined in this effort by Rabbi Yisroel Meyer Bloch in s mentioned, observing Shmitta starts months before Switzerland, Rabbis Chaim Mandel and David Glaksbard in Rosh Hashana. This requires having money before Antwerp, Mr. Hans Rosen in Holland, and Rabbi Shlesinger, A appeals can be made and before any money comes in. Rav of Strasbourg, France. I In other words, Keren Hashviis needed "seed money;' but not It should be acknowledged that the public support in the Lds. Here, Agudath Israel in th_e_U_S_c_a_m_e_t_o_t_h_e_r_e-sc_u_e__ H_o_l_y_L_a_n_d_a_n_d_a_b_r_o_a_d_(_w_i-th_U_S_i_n_t_h_e_l_ea_d_)~has been over- 39 ...... ~~.AN~.QPQT.~.~~P~.NG~ ...... We all draw inspiration from stories of miracles that occur during Shmitta. As befits a year that deserves the title of"A Shmitta Like No Others;' we present two unusual stories. I. I I.

FARMING FAMILY CONSISTING of nine brothers owns VRAHAM AND TSILA ARE A COUPLE who were not obser­ fields not far from Bnei Brak. One of the brothers decided vant. They live up North, dose to the Lebanese border, A on his own initiative to observe this past Shmitta for A and work in their hothouses and plantations. They are the. first time in his life. Yes, he was observant to a degree, but a family that "had everything:' and could have expected to "live he had never observed Shmitta. Nobody had come to him to happily ever after;' if not for the fact that one of their sons had explain the greatness of the mitzvah, nor did anyone offer him been childless for manyyears. The parents did not spare any effort any financial assistance. He simply got up and said, "This is what in assisting their son and his wife in this respect. Recognized .I am doing:' experts in the field were consulted, but after a while, they had to Heimmediatelyfaced acknowledge that they had exhausted all that modern medicine two problems. One - could offer. he owned the fields in Avraham and Tsila heard .that prayer in Meiron at the graveside partnership with one of of Rav Shimon barYochai is a segula (spiritual influence) in such his brothers, who did a predicament, and decided to go there. There they met a group of not observe Shmitta. young Chassidic men who, after inquiring of the purpose of the The other - he did not visit of such a visibly non-religious couple, told them, "Observe have any visible means Shmitta. This mitzvah carries within it a special blessing." of support. A halachic At the beginning, our couple had no idea of what Shmitta way was found to sepa­ was all about. As they pursued the subject, they were directed to rate his part of the fields Rabbi Zimmerman, the Keren Hashviis coordinator in the North. from his brother's, and The couple hesitated. To them, it was a journey into a double a fence was erected to unknown: observing a mitzvah as such - after all, they were not divide the two land por­ religious; and, primarily, doing so at such a great sacrifice. Rabbi tions. Zimmerman guided them gently but firmly at each step, and Then, he suddenly provided all the assistance that Keren Hashviis extends to Shmitta found that he had some observers. Our couple also had to overcome the tremendous peer monies here and there pressure that was applied by all the other residents of their village, on which to live. But this who did everything they could to dissuade them from observing supply ran out after a Shmitta, to the point of offering to work their land for them. But, while. In the meantime, with Rabbi Zimmerman's assistance, tl1ey held fast. the hero of our story They suddenly found that they had spare time, something that decided to dedicate the a farmer rarely has. They went for extended visits to the childless time on his hands to couple who lived in the South. Tsilah even went to the US to visit Farmers and visiting rabbaniln learning more than he a son who lived there. celebrate year ofShn1itta. had before, and started A few months passed, and then, on an Erev Shabbos, the young attending a number of couple suddenly appeared in their parents' house with the happy the shiurim that abound in the Bnei Brak vicinity. This not only announcement that was immediately transmitted by phone to brought him much closer to more dedicated mitzvah observance, their mother, who was still in the US. Because of Shmitta obser­ but also established a relationship with one of the maggidei shiur vance, the young couple now has a baby girl. Not only this. The (lecturers). The latter started inquiring as to what his new shiur son who lived in the US decided to come back to Israel, something participant was doing, and was surprised to learn that he was that was very much his parents' desire. And Abraham and Tsilah, the only farmer in the entire country who had started observing after confronting Shmitta-observance - deliberate desolation of Shmitta on his own initiative without contacting Keren Hashviis, their fields- are now starting to realize their dream of many years. and was now lacking any means of sustenance. The maggid shiur They want to plant a vineyard, and are also considering opening contacted Keren Hashviis, and an appropriate check was on its up a winery. Even now, Avraham is deep in consultation with way almost immediately. Rabbi Zimmerman concerning the halachic aspects of planting One of the gedolei Yisroel, who had never gone on any of the and running a vineyard. Avraham is eying another farmer residing visits to farmers, was so impressed with this person's story that in this highly non-religious village as a candidate for observing he decided to pay him a personal visit. Our hero declined this the next Shmitta. A part of his enthusiasm stems from the fact unusual honor because he did not want to embarrass his brother, that the family's fortunes continue to improve at an incredible who was not Shmitta observant. pace since they became Shmitta observers. 40 r---- THE JE\VISH OBSERVER

whelming, to the point that ultimately, We all hope that Moshiach Tzidkeinu 1 Keren Hashviis expects to be able to will be with us by the next Shmitta. If distribute to the farmers more than this does not happen, Keren Hashviis, threefold the amount of money that it with the assistance of world Jewry, will did in the previous Shmitta. be there as it had been until now. This There is no doubt that a part of this Shmitta demonstrated that with suf­ success is due to the personal involve­ ficient funds, it is possible to bring ment of gedolei Yisroel, who spared Shmitta observance to at least the major­ no time or effort to assist in this great ity of Jewish farmers. May we surpass mitzvah. Some of our gedolim were our accomplishments during the next mispalleil at the burial places of Rabbi Shmitta, and succeed in promoting 100% Shach and the Steipler Gaon for con­ Shmitta observance. May we then be tributors to Keren Hashviis, whereas zocheh to welcome our Redeemer. fJ!l others visited farmers to encourage them in performing this great but chal­ lenging mitzvah. You can! Iust ca.II Prayers were also offered at the graves­ The Yitti Leibe.I ite of the Ridvaz, the Rabbi of Slutzk, He.Ip.line. who in his later years moved to Tzefas. HOURS: He was the first major Torah personality Monday-Friday ...... Sam -12pm to raise the flag of Shmitta observance Ntonday-Thursday ...... Spm -l lpm in the budding agricultural settlement Sunday ...... 9am -12pm, 9pn1 ~llpm that had started in the 19'" century. He • 718-HELP-NOW pleaded with and encouraged the farmers ~~ (718) 435-7669 of that era to observe Shmitta, but with Chicago ...... (800) HELP-023 little response. Even those who under­ Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 stood the importance of this mitzvah Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 could not cope with the problems that Baltimme ...... (410) 578-1111 its observance entailed. (In other words, Detroit ...... (877) 435-761 l San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 there was no Keren Hashviis.) The farm­ Toronto ...... (416) 784-1271 ers recently came to pray at his graveside, The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Branch of the Vitti Leibel Helpline ;t'·~· o7i•;i7i11 111::i 7)'ltl'l' ·1 r:J N''D1'1 ;-nn nnvJ i17r7 as if to say, "Look, Slutsker Rav. We have (;r'1"l" 1''N N'' !lJJ It was with a feeling of great accom­ Dedicated b Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Boruch Wilhelm plishment that farmers gathered in Netivot in the south and in Afula in the north to celebrate the end of the Shmitta year. They were joined in these celebra­ tions by an impressive gallery of Israeli Torah Sages and by personalities such as Rabbis Shmuel Bloom and Avraham Heilprin. The latter, the son of Rabbi Nachum Heilprin, the mainstay of Keren Hashviis almost from its inception, had spared no effort in encouraging the American Jewish com1nunity to rise to its task. Special mention should be made of the Chareidi newspapers, the Israeli Yated, and the Hamodia, both in its Hebrew and particularly the English versions, that put their resources and the talents of their writers at the disposal of the Keren Hashviis campaign. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009

REJIEJIBE

From the Memoirs ofRabbi Shlonio Lorincz CHAPTER THREE: "Adam Ki Yamus Ba'Ohel- Self-Sacrifice For Torah"

THE PONEVEZHER And although he remained that same RAv's SELF-SACRIFICE Torah genius and leader of a genera­ FOR THE YESHIVA tion, he removed the title willingly, because he saw that he had one life HE PONEVEZHER RAV was mission and one only: the rebuilding involved in a myriad of activi­ of Torah and the establishment of Tties, including the building of yeshivos for bnei Torah, yarchei kalla Torah institutions and the numerous yeshivos for working men, and Torah other projects in which he partici­ schools for children. 'The deed of a pated- such as his many heartwarm­ righteous person brings life' (Mishlei ing addresses to ba'alei battim - that 10: 16) - to the rest of Kial Yisroel." took up so much of his time that he once con1mented, "I sacrificed the YOUTHFUL ENERGY Ponevezher Gaon for the Ponevezher Yeshiva." relinquished his personal advancement he Ponevezher Rav collected Indeed, the Rav knowingly and will­ in Torah for the sake of a Torah future money piecemeal by traveling ingly sacrificed himself in order to estab­ for Kial Yisroel. Tfrom city to city and from one lish a center of Torah that would produce In the words of Ponevezher Rosh philanthropist to another. His monu­ Torah leaders for all of Kial Yisroel. From Yeshiva Rabbi : mental projects give the i1npression the time he was a youth, the Ponevezher "\Vhen he was still a young man, in that he convinced great philanthropists Rav was renowned for his burning love the generation before the Churban­ to donate large sums of money with for and unceasing toil in Torah. Yet, he the generation of the Chofetz Chaim, ease. But that was not the case. He ran Reh Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky and around with the vigor of a young man, RABBI LORINCZ REPRESENTED AGUDATH !SRAEJ. other Torah giants - the Ponevezher expending superhuman energy to collect IN THE ISRAELI KNESSET FROM 1951·!984, DURING WHICH TIME HE WAS AN INTIMATE Of A NUMBER OF Rav was already included among the the necessary funds, penny by penny. His TORAH UJMtNAR!ES OF THI' PAST HALF CENTURY. greatest Torah scholars and leaders talmid, the -Lugano Rebbe, 1<"1"':"11, THE EXTENSIVE NOTES THAT HE KEPT ON THOSE of Kial Yisroel. recalls that one of the rebbei'im in the MEETINGS SERVE AS THE BASIS OF BTMECHITZASAM ''After the terrible Churban, the yeshiva once joined the Ponevezher Rav VOL. I. NOW AVAii.ABLE IN ENGLISH. EXCERPTS Gaon of Ponevezh took the crown of on his travels. But after a few days, the WERE FEATURED JN THESE PACES. THE SECOND VOLUME, FROM WHICH THE FOLLOWING ARTICL£ Hador and recognized Torah rebbi returned to the yeshiva. He simply IS TAKEN, WAS DRAWN FROM HIS EARLIER £XPERJ· genius off his head; he removed the lacked the stamina to keep up with the ENCES. !TWAS TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY MRS. mantle of a leader in Kial Yisroel. Rav's hectic pace. 0, BREINES.

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! The Rav described his activities in They must up and ushered into the occupation-=-i of a letter to his son, Reb Avraham: "My dedicate Torah learning - they are my sefer." work can be compared to the avodas I hakemitza (closing one's fist, using the themselves to "BETTER SOMEONE LIKE ME" three middle fingers to grasp part of their students a mincha meal offering to be put on oever watched the way the I the mizbei'ach) in the Beis Hamikdash, even at the Ponevezher Rav dedicated which Chazal say was the hardest avoda W: is time and his entire self of all. I - a kohein - have to open expense of their to his enterprises saw the above-quoted I tight-closed fists (yadayim kemutzos in own personal words of the Chafetz Chaim regarding Hebrew, a play on the word kemitza) in one's ultimate dedication to spreading order to fill my hands." growth in Torah come to life. In his great devotion I But in Heaven, his hard work was Torah. They to the future of Torah, he gave up his acknowledged, and from time to time very self and his greatness in learning he saw extraordinary siyata diShmaya are responsible and accepted the role of Zevulun - the I (Heavenly assistance) completely dis­ entire generation's supporter of Torah. proportionate to the efforts he invested. to Hashem to The Ponevezher Rav once said jok­ "I see that I do not have enough merit to sacrifice their ingly to Rabbi Shmuel Wasner, "Just as I be absolved from the yoke of troubles;' the world cannot survive without the he wrote to his son. "Perhaps it is in the precious time to tanners and the spice manufacturers, so merit of the suffering and worry that give their students it cannot exist without those who study Heaven brings about miracles in the Torah with diligence - or without those last minute." a solid foundation who never learn Torah at all. So if there in Torah must be those who are lax in their Torah I SACRIFICING ONE'S study, better it should be me - because GROWTH IN TORAH as a result of my not learning, thousands nuch - roshei yeshivas, maggidei shiur, of other people are." I he Ponevezher Rav learned this or rebbei'im in cheder. They must dedi­ i approach from his revered men­ cate themselves to their students even FOREVER IN HIS LEARNING' T tor, the Chafetz Chaim. at the expense of their own personal "The Chafetz Chaim once gave growth in Torah. They are responsible to espite all his involvements, the me an insight into the passuk of Hashern to sacrifice their precious time Ponevezher Rav's head - his 'Ve'ahavta eis Hashem Elokecha to give their students a solid founda­ D very essence - was always in bechal levavcha uvechal nafshecha tion in Torah, and arouse within the1n his learning. His vast command of the uvechal me'odecha,"' related the love of Hashem (Peninim Mishulchan entire Talmud was astounding. Ponevezher Rav. "Ghazal teach us Gavo'ah). Rabbi Yaakov Edelstein was one of the that the words 'uvechal me'odecha­ first students in the . and with all your resources,' are His father-in-law, Rabbi Mordechai "ZEH SEFER TOLDOS I directed at those whose money is ADAM" -THE ACCOUNT OF Shmuel Karol, Rav of Kfar Chassidim, dearer to them than their bodies. The ADAM'S DESCENDANTS told him a number of times that even words' uvechal nafshecha - and with the students of the yeshiva did not I all your· soul' are directed at those hen Rabbi Elazar Menachem know how to properly appreciate the whose bodies are more precious to Man Shach, ?"lit, eulogized Rav's greatness in Torah. "There is no them than their money. This teaches W the Ponevezher Rav, he told Tosafos, big or small, in all of Shas that us that we must take that which is the following story: is not stored in his [the Ponevezher dearest to us and give it up for aha­ Once, Rabbi Shach asked the Rav a Rav's] memory as though it were actu­ I vas Hashem (love of G-d). What is question. "Why doesn't the Rav commit ally placed into a box;' he said. our most precious possession? The his chiddushim to writing and publish When the Rav returned to the yeshiva Torah! Is there anything more pre­ them?" from his extensive travels, his very face I cious than the Torah? So we have no "I don't have time to sit and write mirrored his exhaustion. Yet, he would choice but to extrapolate that one down my chiddushim because of my immediately go to the beis midrash to must also sacrifice part of his Torah obligations to the yeshiva;' answered the see what the bachurim were currently for ahavas Hashem." Ponevezher Rav. "I am writing a differ­ studying. There were even times that he The Ponevezher Rav presented this ent kind of sefer. It is a sefer toldos adam, gave a shiur, on the spot, on the topic I lesson to all who hold positions in chi- a sefer of people. All whom I've built 1 "Mtshna lo zaza mimekoma," 1n the on:J1nal

43

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under discussion - despite having had wrote to a friend. "Their advice to eat, Rebbe what had brought him to incur no time to prepare. sleep and rest in an orderly manner is such heavy debts, he answered, "I can­ difficult for me. I place my trust in the not bear to see a Jewish child roaming GRUELING LABOR One Above, and baruch Hashem, all is the streets and losing all semblance of well with me." Yiddishkeit. I must help him, and so the ociety at large came to view him debts continue to mount:' as a public-service version of King When I happened to be in Rav Shach's SMidas. It seemed that every proj­ SOLITARY SHABBOS house, I asked him his opinion on the ect in which he was involved became a issue. thriving success. he Ponevezher Rav suffered "There is no hetteir( dispensation) to incur But the Rav himself saw things through many difficult periods, debts if one does not have the means to differently. "May Hashem have mercy Tboth physically and spiritually. repay them," Rav Shach answered. upon those in whom the public has I heard him say that when he trav­ He continued by telling me that at complete confidence, and therefore eled to the United States, it happened the beginning of the z'man, the Chofetz absolves itself from helping them;' he more than once that he was unable to Chaim had told the gabbai of his yeshi­ told me repeatedly. pray with a minyan because the local va, "If there is not enough money in The superhuman effort that he invest­ mechitza was inadequate. Apparently, the yeshiva's coffers to sustain it for ed in raising money abroad is incom­ the Shabbos se'udos (meals) that he ate one z'man, then I have no intention of prehensible. He ran from one place to alone in his hotel room were also a far opening the yeshiva." Why? Because the another with literal mesirus nefesh. cry from mei'ein Olam Habba (a taste Chofetz Chaim did not want to fall into He once traveled by train from of the World to Come). the category of"the wicked one borrows Manchester to London. After a while, He once wrote a letter to his son in but repays not" (Tehillim 37:21). his family members tried to get in touch which he described Shabbos spent in a with him at the prearranged address city with no appropriate place to daven. 'f\VEIRA LISHMA" in London, but were told that he had "My hope is that I will leave as I came, not yet arrived. Panic seized both his entirely for the sake of that most holy of inancing the yeshiva building, as family and the yeshiva in Bnei Brak. places - the yeshiva,'' he concluded. well as various other institutions, Those who escorted him in Manchester Fcaused the Ponevezher Rav to attested that he had boarded the train "IF THERE Is No FLOUR, incur enormous debts. His mindset as planned, and those awaiting him in THERE Is No TORAH" on this issue can be discerned fron1 a London could not trace him. conversation he had with Rabbi Sholom The Rebbetzin turned to me and he Ponevezher Rav's testimony as Noach Berzovsky, ':>"lit, the previous asked me to help locate the Rav. It to the Chofetz Chaim's opinion Slonimer Rebbe, who at the time was turned out that he had arrived in Ton opening a yeshiva with no the Slonimer Rosh Yeshiva. London burning with fever and was financial base corresponds to that which Rabbi Berzovsky described the barely conscious. He did not have the I heard from Rabbi Elazar Menachem intractable financial state in which his strength to disembark at the station, Man Shach, ';r:n, in the name of the yeshiva found itself, and asked the Rav and had to be transported directly to Chofetz Chaim. what he should do. "Without a doubt, the hospital. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe was suffering the Chofetz Chaim would have paskened "I cannot and do not wish to heed the from unbearable indebtedness, and he that one may not found a yeshiva frightening [words] of the doctors;' he turned to me for help. When I asked the under such circumstances," replied the Ponevezher Rav. Aware of the Rav's personal approach to the subject, the Slonimer Rosh Yeshiva reacted with surprise. "So we are going to build yeshivas, and then, in the World to Come, we will be punished for doing so?" he asked incredulously. The question caused the Ponevezher Rav great excitement, and he cried out emotionally, "Ober vi zis vellen zein di shmitz - how sweet and pleasant will those swats be!" Commented Rav Berzovsky: "Now I hear the voice of the Ponevezher Rav!"~

------~·------THE JEWISH OBSERVER -~--~ -~______-__ ---=-i-

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STATEN ISLAND &MANHATTAN f www.challenge-ei.co~! 45 ---- TORAH STUDY AT THE makes a kiddush Hashem. Also, if there deeply engrossed with my at WEDDING CELEBRATION is no company at the table, by all means, a simcha, as we are engaged in redden do not waste your time. But if there is, in lernen, then we are not ignoring the To the Editor: they certainly come first. How many other guests at the table. If, however, In Eliyahu Mayer's article" Hasmada stories of gedolim do we need to recall we also refer to photocopies of a daf of IOI" (JO, May '08), the author singled that show us how much they worked Gemara during our discussion, then, out for praise a pair of chavrusos (study on kevod haberios! according to Mr. Winegarten, we have partners) at a bar mitzvah celebra­ I think the ma' aseh of Rav Bengis, 7""1, totally abandoned all menschlichkeit. tion who took photocopies of a daf of may have been misquoted. I heard that As far as the other bnei Avraham, Gemara ... and transformed the cater­ soon after he arrived from Europe, Yitzchak and Yaakov at the table are ing hall "into a beis midrash while I made he was dismayed (aren't we all) at the concerned, I believe that they are more small talk with the guest on my left." so-called minhag Bretz Yisroel to suffer likely to join us once we have pulled out A se'udas mitzvah is not meant to be enor1nous delays in the commence­ our photocopies than they would if we an alternative beis midrash. Nowhere in ment of a simcha. So he embarked on were speaking in learning without the Ghazal do we find that in the various a new machzor (cycle) of Shas, and that aid of a printed text. Whenever I see se'udos mentioned in the Gemara and second siyum was the result. 1hat fits in two guests speaking with each other at elsewhere, the participants broke off for with delays experienced while waiting my table, I do not feel slighted. I also do a learning session! 'Redden in lernen' - for a train or a bus. It is certainly not not feel free to enter their conversation, sure thing! What else do bnei Torah any makor (source) whatsoever for the however, as they could be discussing talk about when they meet? They may conclusion reached by Mr. Mayer. something private or personal. even talk milei de'alma (worldly affairs) One can spend a highly reward­ Were they to open sefarim, however, I where there is a tachlis (purpose). But ing Torahdik evening at a simcha with might feel more inclined to join them. But to pointedly ignore other bnei Avraham, almost anyone. Just come prepared with I certainly would not feel ignored because Yitzchak and Yaakov at the table, or one or two discussion points in mind on they were learning from sefarim. worse still, to clearly demonstrate to Torah subjects and a good vort or two. Mr. Winegarten cited the example of the ba'al simcha and kol hamesubin You will be amazed at how most other rabbanim who may carry a sefer in their kan that they are bored with the simcha people can match or even surpass your pocket but are never seen at simchos and with the rest of the company at the offering, even unprepared! learning bechavrusa from sefarim. Were table, and that their attendance is only to SHIMON WINEGARTEN my chavrusa and I on their level, we politely share the simcha, and thereby be London, England would be able to learn be' al peh as they masmidim at the cost of menschlichkeit, do. It is well known, for example, that appears to me to be a rudeness which Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, 7""1, was capable ill behooves us. of reviewing Mishnayos be' al peh, even I have often seen rabbanim and bnei ELIYAHU MAYER RESPONDS while having a conversation. Torah come with a small sefer in their Until we see a kol korei banning pocket, which they use quietly when I very much appreciate Mr. Wine­ the practice, my chavrusa and I plan there is no company, but which they garten's thoughtful letter. It is only to continue taking advantage of those correctly put to one side if there is through the feedback of readers and the simchos where we are both in atten­ company at the table. subsequent responses of authors that the dance to maintain our seder. And if Mr. Sure, if the start of the simcha is JO can fully achieve its vital mission of Winegarten is there as well, and is seated delayed, no one will be offended if one lehagdil Torah ulehadira. at our table, he is more than welcome goes off to the side and is tzanua and Mr. Winegarten suggests that if I am to join us. 46 GOLDA VS.ZAHAVA ... whose daughters bear the names of their self-image, as we have done in so n1any WHAT'S IN A NAME? Alteh Bobehs to avoid using "" other areas in Jewish life. names? Or suggest that yeshivishe fami­ In 1962, I was one ofthe first people to To the Editor: lies in America avoid names like Golda wear a yarmulke while teaching at a uni­ I I read with interest the "debate" or Faige? These may embarrass the versity. Now, baruch Hashem, Torah Jews ! on the issue of naming children after bearers of those names in Israel - but wearing yarmulkes at universities and in grandmothers with unpopular Yiddish certainly not in Lakewood. corporate America alike are a norm. names (JO, Nov. '08). Dr. Fryshman is I believe that we were being given Every step taken to a more open critical of those who avoid naming their guidelines that encourage us to use good expression of our Torah way of life I children after Bobbehs with names like sense, and that's the spirit in which my involved a challenge. I would hope that "Bryna" or "Zlata" or those who trans­ article was written. We can both col­ young Jewish parents will be encour­ ! late the Yiddish names into Hebrew, lectively and on a small scale choose to aged - and reassured - in addressing while Rabbi Weinbach feels that: "The bring ourselves further back to an earlier this challenge, as well. ll!l I veneration we have for the Bobbehs ... is expressed in raising our children in I their image, even if we don't call them by their names." I This issue was addressed by the Chazon !sh, 7":

It feels better just to talk about it. That's DR. FRYSHMAN RESPONDS why we're here. Our staff is made up of caring and sensitive individuals. Together, we can help you explore your options. We The Chazon !sh did not publish a can refer you to recognized professionals teshuva relating to the naming of chil­ for counseling, legal advice or help in dren, but rather) he enunciated a general finding a safe environment. We can also I statement to the effect that "parents put you in touch with some very special Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to ! shouldn't give children names that you, you must first reach out to us. might embarrass them when they grow up." Rabbi Sorotzkin concluded that the Confidential Hotline 1.888.883.2323 (Toll Free) Chazon !sh was telling us to be restric­ 718.337.3700 tive. I choose to conclude that we were I being told to use good judgment. Do it for yourself. !NYC Area! ' Would the Chazon !sh tell the Do it for your chi Id re n. Shalom Task Force is a 501(c)(3} charitable orga11izat10n I Yiddish-speaking, Chassidic community ~~ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2 0 0 9 ,, ,,,,,;i1n111~111~r111101tr"' THE JEWISH OBSERVER VOL. XLI Nos. 1·9

AUTHORS June '08; Dimensions of an the Esrog, Oct. '08 Bechhofer, Rabbi Yosef Gavriel East Ameil Ba Torah {Rabbi Shmuel Grossbard, Simcha Leib The Fourth Meets West: Ish Yehudi: The Life Berenbaum, 7"~), Dec. '08 Redemption, Apr. '08 and the Legacy of a Torah Great, Friedenson, Jospeh A "Forgotten" Halpert, Elozor translation of A Rav Joseph Tzvi Carlebach, Dec. '08 Event with Historic Consequences "Forgotten" Event with Historic Becker, Rabbi Labish Review of (translated and adapted by Elozor Consequences (by Mr. Joseph Traveling With the Maggid: A Halpert), Apr. '08 Friedenson), Apr. '08 Journey to Great Torah Centers Fryshman, Dr. Bernard We Loved Heber, Yosi From Kolle! to the of Yesteryear, by Rabbi Paysach Our Alteh Bobbeh, But Her Name Workplace, Sept. '08 Krohn, May '08 Will Never Do, Nov. '08 Hoff, Rabbi Naphtali Keepers of the Bender, Rabbi Yaakov A Talmid's Furst, Rabbi Shlomo Purim: The Fine Faith?, Nov. '08 Appreciation (Rabbi Shmuel Line of Wine (based on lectures of Horowitz, Mrs. S. A Double Dose, Rabbi , March '08 Berenbaum,'?"~!), June '08 Birnbaum, Rabbi Avrohom Rabbi N"t»'?v), March '08; The One Horowitz, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Who Is in Charge Here (based on Feeling Easy in the Harness, June Zeidel Epstein,'?"~!, Biographical Notes, Jan.. -Feb. '08; My lectures of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas '08 Relationship with Rav Shmuel Scheinberg, wv"n>), Nov. '08 Huttler, Yossi Mincha Reflections, Berenbaum,.,.. ,., (told by Ruben Ginsburg, Rabbi Eliezer Bin Tov Ella March '08; Aleinu on Tisha Be'Av Schron), June '08 Torah: Impressions of Hagaon Morning, June '08; They Neither Biser, Rabbi Mordechai Lawyers HaRav Shmuel Berenbaum,'?"~!, Wither Nor Fade: The Mitzvos of vs. Doctors: The Need for Legal June '08 Sukkos, Oct. '08 Action to Save Patient's Lives) Jan.­ Ginzberg, Rabbi Aryeh Z. 70 Years of Jakobovits, Lady Amilee Dialogue in Feb. '08 Kiddush Sheim Shamayim (Rabbi Harmony, Oct. '08 Bloom, Rabbi Shmuel Hearing With Henach Leibowitz,'?"~!), June '08; Jung, Rabbi Pinchos Tone it Down!, Your Brain, Apr. '08 Saving Kial Yisroel with Chessed, Nov. '08 Borchardt, Rabbi Yitzchok Inspired Dec. '08 Kleinman, Rabbi Heshy The Glaser, Rabbi Eli Food For Thought, Awesome Power of Hamispaleil by Rabbi Boruch Borchardt,'?"~! (written by Reuvain Borchardt), Oct. '08 Be'ad Chaveiro, Dec. '08 Sept. '08 Glixman, Mrs. Shari A Big Man With Kosman, Mrs. Miriam "Why Aren't Borchardt, Reuvain Inspired by an Even Bigger Heart, May '08 All Religious Jews Vegetarians?", Rabbi Boruch Borchardt, '?":

Rabbi Yerucham Levovits, Jan.- Scheinberg, Rabbi Chaim Pinchas the Same?, Sept. '08; The Story [ Feb. '08; In the Aura of the Purim: The Fine Line of Wine Behind the Esrog, Oct. '08 Kopycznitzer Rebbe, Apr. '08; (written by Rabbi Shlomo Furst), Zwiebel, Rabbi Chaim Dovid No Remembering the Ponovezher March '08; The One Who ls in Ordinary Tuesday, March '08; Rav, ':nil, (translation by Mrs. D. Charge Here (written by Rabbi Changing the Landscape of Torah Breines), Nov. '08; Remembering Shlomo Furst), Nov. '08 Jewry in the United Stales (Rabbi the Ponovezher Rav, 7"":>1t, Part II, Scherman, Rabbi Nosson Moshe Sherer, ?"":lit), May '08 (translation by Mrs. D. Breines), Remembering Rabbi Moshe Nov. '08; Sherer, 7ttYT, May '08 SUBJECTS Mae!, Rabbi Fishel, Ph.D. Ben Torah Schmidt Mrs. Shira A Quiet Voice Agudath Israel" Zechor Yemos Olam in the Workplace, March '08 in the Thunder (review of Mrs. . .. "/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Apr. Marburger, Rabbi Ari Sup-Prime Esther Farbstein's Hidden in '08; A "Forgotten" Event With Mortgages - Sub-Prime Halacha, Thunder: Perspective of Faith, Historic Consequences/Joseph May '08 Halacha, and Leadership During Friedenson (translated by Elozor Mayer, Eliyahu Hasmada IOI, May the Holocaust), Nov. '08 Halpert), Apr. '08; In the Aura of '08 Schonfeld, Mrs. Rifka What Do I the Kopycznitzer Rebbe/Rabbi Neff, Andrew J. From Bear Stearns to Say? What Should I Do?, March Shlomo Lorincz (translated by Bava Metzia, Sept. '08 '08; Motivating Our Children: Mrs. D. Breines), Apr. '08; Rabbi Olevitch, Barbara A. Ph.D. Health Whose Job Is It Anyway?, Nov. '08 Moshe Sherer, 7":>1t: His Tenth Care: Where ls the Mashgiach?, Schonfeld, Rabbi Yoe! Dialogue in Yahrzeit!Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Jan.-Feb. '08 Harmony, Oct. '08 May '08; Remembering Rabbi Perlow, Rabbi Yaakov Eternal Sebron, Ruben My Relationship with Moshe Sherer, ?":>It/Rabbi Nosson Source of Strength, Jan.-Feb. '08; Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, ?-'1! (as Scherman, May '08; Changing Memories of the Mir's Early Years told to Avrohom Birnbaum), June the Landscape of Torah Jewry in in America (recorded by Rabbi '08 the United States/Chaim Dovid Shimon Finkelman), June '08 Shafran,Avi Neither Hekhsher, Zwiebel, May '08; Remembering Polskin, Yaacov Mirrer Image, Apr. nor Tzedek, Sept. '08; Time to Rabbi Boruch Borchardt, ?":lit I '08 Reconnect .... and Disconnect, Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, June '08; Reinman, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Dance Nov. '08 Of Responsibility and Goodness/ With Joy, Oct. '08; Wake Up and Smagley, Mrs. Marsha The Cluttered Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Fight, Dec. '08 Nest, Dec. '08 June '08; Inspired by Rabbi Reiter, Dr. Levi The Music Is Too Smith, Rabbi Sholom Please Keep Boruch Borchardt, ?'':>It/Rabbi Loud!, Nov. '08 the Shades Down!, Dec. '08 Yitzchok Borchardt (prepared Rockove, Rabbi Moshe Reh Zeidel's Twerski, Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. for publication by Reuvain Inner Life (Rabbi Zeidel Epstein, Chinuch at its Best, Jan.-Feb. '08 Borchardt), Sept. '08 7"'11), Jan.-Feb. '08 Verschleisser, Naftoli Never Again ... Berenbaum, Rabbi Shmuel, 7"'11 Rosenblum, Yonoson Beyond Again, Sept. '08 Noted in Sorrow: Rabbi Shmuel Yerushalayim, Jan.-Feb. '08; Wasserman, Rabbi Elchanan Bunim, Berenbaum,?-"' /Rabbi Nisson Growing Pains, March '08; A ·p·n The Current Crisis and its Wolpin, Jan.-Feb. '08; Rabbi Tragedy Close to Home, Apr. Causes (based on an essay), Shmuel Berenbaum, 7"'1!/Rabbi '08; Israel at 60, May '08; Can Nov. '08 Yaaakov Bender, June '08; Ein the Chareidim Save Israel?, June Weinbach, Rabbi Mendel Second Tov Ella Torah - There Is No '08; Unity Is Not on the Horizon, Thoughts on Naming for the "Good" Other Than Torah/Rabbi Sept. '08; Separate Swimming Bobbeh, Nov. '08 E!iezer Ginzberg, June '08; Rav at Harvard and Us, Oct. '08; Weinberg, Rabbi Yaakov Vesein Shmuel Berenbaum, ?":>It/Rabbi Demoralizing Obstinacy: Prime Belibeinu, May '08 Moshe Tuvia Lieff, June '08; My Minister Olmert's Refusal to Go Wikler, Dr. Meir The Financial Relationship With Rav Shmuel Quietly Into the Night, Nov. '08; Market Meltdown: An Berenbaum, ?":>It/Ruben Sebron Some Less Obvious Lessons from Opportunity and a Challenge to (as told to Avrohom Birnbaum), the Mayoral Election, Dec.'08 be Nosei Be'ol Im Chaveiro, Nov. June '08 Rutman, Rabbi Yisrael A Lesson '08 Books in Review Traveling With from Global Warming, Jan.-Feb. Wolpin, Rabbi Nisson "Zechor the Maggid: A Journey to Great '08 Yemos Olam .. .';Apr. '08 Torah Centers of Yesteryear (by . Salomon, Rabbi Matisyahu The Zivotofsky, Rabbi Ari Z. When Do Rabbi Paysach Krohn)/reviewed 1 I Challenge of Kol Yisroel Areivim We Bake the Matzah This Year?, by Rabbi Labish Becker, May '08; I LZeh Laze~~an.-Feb_.'_0_8____ Apr. '08; Shofaros: Are They All A Quiet Voice in the Thunder/ ~

49 --- JANUARY/FEBRUA R y 2 0 0 9 ----=-i Loved Our Alteh Bobbeh, But Her Leib Grossbard, Apr. '08; Zos I "'·-"'""'"~;~o·Mrs. Esther Farbstein's Hidden Name Will Never Do/Dr. Bernard Chanukah!Liba Lieberman, Dec. in Thunder: Perspective of Fryshman, Nov. '08; Second '08; Really Missing It/Bracha Faith, Halacha, and Leadership Thoughts on Naming for the Goetz, Dec. '08 During the Holocaust), Nov. '08; Bobbeh!Rabbi , Food Food for Thought/Rabbi Eli Beloved By All (by Rabbi Shimon Nov.'08 Glaser, Oct. '08; "Why Aren't All Finkelman}/reviewed by Rabbi Chinuch Readers' Forum, Jan.-Feb. Religious Jews Vegetarians?" /Mrs. Yosef C. Golding, Nov. '08; East '08; Interview with Rabbi Moshe Miriam Kosman, Oct. '08 Meets West: Ish Yehudi: The Life Goldstein/translated by Libby Guidance Interview with Rabbi and the Legacy of a Torah Great, Lazewnik Pheterson, Jan.-Feb. Moshe Goldstein/translated by Rav Joseph Tzvi Carlebach!Rabbi '08; Chinuch at Its Best/Rabbi Dr. Libby Lazewnik Pheterson, Jan.­ Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, Dec. '08 Abraham J. Twerski, Jan.-Feb. '08; Feb. '08 Borchardt, Rabbi Boruch, Vesein Belibeinu/Rabbi Yaakov Halacha When Do We Bake the ?":>rr Remembering Rabbi Weinberg, May '08; Dialogue in Matzah This Year?/ Ari Z. Boruch Borchardt, ?"lit /Rabbi Harmony/Mrs. Amilee Jakobovits, Zivotofsky and Ari Y. Greenspan, Nisson Wolpin, June '08; Of Rabbi Yoe! Schonfeld, Oct. '08 Apr. '08; Reaching for Tzeddek Responsibility and Goodness/ Ch urban Europa A Quiet Voice in Umishpat/Yisroel Lazerson, Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, the Thunder/Mrs. Shira Schmidt May '08; Sub-Prime Mortgages June '08; Inspired by Rabbi (review of Mrs. Esther Farbstein's -Sub-Prime Halacha/Rabbi Ari Boruch Borchardt, 7"::.rr/Rabbi Hidden in Thunder: Perspective Marburger, May '08 Yitzchok Borchardt (prepared of Faith, Halacha, and Leadership Hasbara Keepers of the Faith?/Rabbi for publication by Reuvain During the Holocaust}, Nov. '08 Naphtali Hoff, Nov. '08 Borchardt}, Sept. '08; Rabbi Dialogue Dialogue in Harmony/Mrs. Hashkafa Eternal Source of Strength/ Borchardt Is the Daddy of Us Alli Amilee Jakobovits, Rabbi Yoe! Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, N"i>>'ro, Jan.­ Rabbi Yosef C. Golding, Sept. '08 Schonfeld, Oct. '08 Feb. '08; A Lesson From Global Business World Reaching for Economic Crisis Messages From Warming/Yisrael Rutman, Jan ... Tzeddek Umishpat/Yisroel Our Current Crisis/Rabbi Nisson Feb. '08; Purim: The Fine Line Lazerson, May '08; Sub-Prime Wolpin, Nov. '08; The Current of Wine/Rabbi Shlomo Furst Mortgages - Sub-Prime Halacha/ Crisis and Its Causes/based on an (based on lectures of Rabbi Chaim Rabbi Ari Marburger, May '08; essay by Rabbi Elchanan Bunim Pinchas Scheinberg, N"i>'?v}, From Bear Stearns to Bava Wasserman, i"~i"I, Nov. '08; The March '08; No Ordinary Tuesday/ Metzia/ Andrew Neff, Sept. '08; One Who Is in Charge Here/ Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, March From Kolle! to the Workplace/Yosi Rabbi Shlomo Furst (based on '08; The Fourth Redemption/ Heber, Sept. '08 lectures of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Simcha Leib Grossbard, Apr. '08; Calendar The Arba Parashiyos, The Scheinberg), Nov. '08; A Letter Vesein Belibeinu/Rabbi Yaakov Four Stages of Renewal/Rabbi From Rabbi Michel Yehuda Weinberg, May '08; Feeling Easy in Yonason Goldson, March '08 Lefkowitz, N"1"':>\!>, Nov. '08; The the Harness/Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Chanuka The Candles and the Stars/ Financial Market Meltdown/Dr. Horowitz, Bostoner Rebbe, N~~, Rabbi Yonason Goldson, Dec. '08; Meir Wilder, Nov. '08 June '08; Dance with Joy/Rabbi Wake Up and Fight/Rabbi Yaakov Epstein, Rabbi Zeidel, ?"lit Learning Yaakov Yosef Reinman, Oct. YosefReinman, Dec. '08; Please From Reh Zeidel Epstein, ?"lit/ '08; The Sukkah of the World/ Keep the Shades Down!/Rabbi Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky, Jan.-Feb. Rabbi Yonason Goldson, Oct. '08; Sholom Smith, Dec. '08 '08; Rabbi Zeidel Epstein, ?"lit/ They Neither Wither Nor Fade: Chareidim Israel at 60/Yonoson Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum, Jan.­ The Mitzvos of Sukkos/Yossi Rosenblum, May '08; Can the Feb. '08; Reb Zeidel's Inner Life/ Buttler, Oct. '08; "Why Aren't Chareidim Save Israel?/Yonoson Rabbi Moshe Rockove, All Religious Jews Vegetarians?" I Rosenblum, June '08; Unity Is Jan.-Feb. '08 Mrs. Miriam Kosman, Oct. '08; Not on the Horizon/Yonoson Ethical Conduct A Lesson From The Current Crisis and Its Causes/ Rosenblum, Sept. '08 Global Warming/Yisrael Rutman, based on an essay by Rabbi Chassidus In the Aura of the Jan.-Feb. '08 Elchanan Bunim Wasserman, Kopycznitzer Rebbe/Rabbi Ethics Neither Heksher, Nor Tzedek/ "l"'l1, Nov. '08; The One Who Is in Shlomo Lorincz (translated by Rabbi Avi Shafran, Sept. '08 Charge Here/Rabbi Shlomo Furst Mrs. D. Breines},Apr. '08 Family The Cluttered Nest/Marsha (based on lectures of Rabbi Chaim Children Readers' Forum, Jan.-Feb. Smagley, Dec. '08 Pinchas Scheinberg}, Nov. '08; A '08; Motivating Our Children/ Festivals and Fast Days The Letter From Rabbi Michel Yehuda Mrs. Rifka Schonfeld, Nov. '08; We Fourth Redemption/Simcha Lefkowitz, N"V"':re>, Nov. '08; Saving T H E JEWISH OBSERVER _--=-i Kial YisroelWith Chessed/Rabbi Gavriel Bechhofer, Dec. '08 Tragedy Close to Home/Yonoson , Aryeh Z. Ginzberg, Dec. '08; The Interpersonal Relations The Rosenblum, Apr. '08 [ Candles and the Stars/Rabbi Financial Market Meltdown/ Jews in the USA Remembering Rabbi Yonason Goldson, Dec. '08; Wake Dr. Meir Wilder, Nov. '08; Saving Moshe Sherer, 7"llr/Rabbi Nosson Up and Fight/Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Kial YisroelWitb Chessed/Rabbi Scherman, May '08; Changing Reinman, Dec. ,08 Aryeh Z. Ginzberg, Dec. '08; The the Landscape of Torah Jewry in Health Care Where Is the Awesome Power of Hamispaleil the United States/Chaim Dovid I Mashgiach?!Barbara A. Olevitch, Be'ad Chaveiro/Rabbi Hesby Zwiebel, May '08; Memories of Ph.D., Jan.-Feb. '08; The Need Kleinman, Dec. '08; Dimensions the Mir's Early Years in America/ I for Legal Action to Save Patients' of an Ameil Batorah/Rabbi Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, 1'<"1"'ro, June Lives/Rabbi Mordechai Biser, Jan.­ Shimon Finkelman, Dec. '08; '08; 70 Years of Kiddush Sheim I Feb. '08 Please Keep the Shades Down!/ Shamayim!Rabbi Aryeh Zev Health Readers' Forum, Jan.-Feb. Rabbi Sholom Smith, Dec. '08; Ginzberg, June '08 '08; Food for Thought/Rabbi Eli The Cluttered Nest/Marsha Kashrus Neither Heksher, Nor Tzedek/ Glaser, Oct. '08 Smagley, Dec. '08 Rabbi Avi Shafran, Sept. '08 I Hearing Damage Toue it Down!/ Introspection Lessons from Bypass Kids at Risk A Big Man With an Even Rabbi Pinchos Jung, Nov. '08; Surgery/Rabbi Aaron Mordechai Bigger Heart/Mrs. Shari Glixman, Enjoy the Music, While You Can/ Brafman, May '08; Staying On May'08 I Rabbi Joseph Elias, Nov. '08; Track in Turbulent Times/Rabbi Kiruv The Challenge of Kol Yisroel The Music Is Too Loud!/Dr. Levi Aaron M. Brafman, Sept. '08; Areivim Zeh Lazeh/Rabbi I Reiter, Nov. '08 Never Again ... Again/Naftoli Matisyahu Salomon, l<"P''ro, Jan.­ Heschel, Rabbi (Kopycznitzer) In the Verschleisser, Sept. '08; Readers' Feb. '08; Keepers of the Faith?/ I Aura of the Kopycznitzer Rebbe/ Forum, Oct. '08 Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, Nov. '08 Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz (translated Islam Aggression A Tragedy Close to Leibowitz, Rav Henach, 7"llr 70 Years I by Mrs. D. Breines), Apr. '08 Home/Yonoson Rosenblum, Apr. of Kiddush Sheim Shamayim/ History "Zechor Yemos Olam ... "/ '08; We Mourn the of Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginzberg, June I Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Apr. '08; A Mumbai/Rabbi Nosson Scherman, '08; Moreinu Harav Alter Chanoch "Forgotten" Event With Historic Dec. '08 Henach Leibowitz, 7"0lt/Yitzchok Consequences/Joseph Friedenson Israel Growing Pains/Yonoson Brandriss, June '08 I (translated by Elozor Halpert), Rosenblum, March '08 Levovits, Rabbi Yerucham Meeting Apr. '08; Agudas Yisroel and the Israel: Politics Israel at 60/ Rabbi Yerucham Levovits/Rabbi I Poalei Agudah/Rabbi Joseph Yonoson Rosenblum, May '08; Shlomo Lorincz (translated by Elias, Apr. '08; In the Aura of Demoralizing Obstinacy: Prime Mrs. Malky Heimowitz), Jan.-Feb. I the Kopycznitzer Rebbe/Rabbi Minister Olmert's Refusal to '08 Shlomo Lorincz (translated Go Quietly Into the Night/ Media Of Public Record - monthly I by Mrs. D. Breines),Apr. '08; Yonoson Rosenblum, Nov. '08; feature Mirrer Image/Yaacov Polskin, Some Less Obvious Lessons from Memorial We Mourn the Kedoshim I Apr. '08; Remembering Rabbi the Mayoral Election/Yonoson of Mumbai/Rabbi Nosson Moshe Sherer, 7"0lt/Rabbi Nosson Rosenblum, Dec. '08 Scherman, Dec. '08 Scherman, May '08; Changing Israel: Religion Can the Chareidim Mitzvah Observance When Do We the Landscape of Torah Jewry in Save Israel?/Yonoson Rosenblum, Bake the Matzah This Year?/ Ari Z. the United States/Chaim Dovid June '08; Unity Is Not on the Zivotofsky and Ari Y. Greenspan, Zwiebel, May '08; Israel at 60/ Horizon/Yonoson Rosenblum, Apr. '08; Shofaros: Are They All Yonoson Rosenblum, May '08; Sept. '08; Remembering the the Same?/Rabbi Ari Z. Zivotofsky Traveling With the Maggid: A Ponovezher Rav, 7"llr/Rabbi and Ari Greenspan, Ph.D., Journey to Great Torah Centers Shlomo Lorincz (translated Sept. '08; The Story Behind the ofYesteryear(by Rabbi Paysach by Mrs. D. Breines), Nov. '08; Esrog/ Ari Z. Zivotofsky and Ari Krohn)/reviewed by Rabbi Labish Remembering the Ponovezher Greenspan, Oct. '08 Becker, May '08; The Life of Rabbi Rav, 7"llr, Chapter III Rabbi Motivation Motivating Our Shabbesai Hakohein/Rabbi Hillel Shlomo Lorincz (translated by Children/Mrs. Rifka Schonfeld, Goldberg, Oct. '08; Wake Up Mrs. D. Breines), Dec. '08 Nov. '08 and Fight/Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Israel: Security Eternal Source Music Tone It Down!/Rabbi Pinchos Reinman, Dec. '08; East Meets of Strength/Rabbi Yaakov Jung, Nov. '08; Enjoy the Music, I West: Ish Yehudi: The Life and Perlow, 1'<"\:,,'ro, Jan.-Feb. '08; While You Can/Rabbi Joseph I the Legacy ofa Torah Great, Rav Beyond Yerushalayim/Yonoson Elias, Nov. '08; The Music Is Too Loud!/Dr. Levi Reiter, Nov. '08 L'Tn; "''""'-bbiYo.t ___R_o_s_e_n_b-lu_m_, J_a_n_.-_F-eb. '08;A 51 JANUAHY/FE B R U A R y 2 0 0 9 ·-----1 Musings Typesetter/Rabbi Hillel Of Responsibility and Goodness/ by Mrs. D. Breines), Nov. '08; Goldberg, Jan.-Feb. '08; No Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, June Remembering the Ponovezher Ordinary Tuesday/Chaim Dovid '08; Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum, Rav, ., .. ,., , Chapter II/Rabbi Zwiebel, March '08; Lessons from 7"llt/Rabbi Yaaakov Bender, June Shlomo Lorincz (translated by Bypass Surgery/Rabbi Aaron '08; Bin Tov Ella Torah - There Mrs. D. Breines), Dec. '08 Mordechai Brafman, May '08; Is No "Good" Other Than Torah/ Principles of Faith Keepers of the Feeling Easy in the Harness/Rabbi Rabbi Eliezer Ginzberg, June '08; Faith?/Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, Nov. '08 Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, Bostoner Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, 7"llt/ Purim Purim: The Fine Line of Rebbe, ~"1''71!>, June '08 Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Lieff, June Wine/Rabbi Shlomo Furst (based Names We Loved Our Alteh Bobbeh, '08; My Relationship With Rav on lectures of Rabbi Chaim But Her Name Will Never Do/ Shmuel Berenbaum, 7"llt/Ruben Pinchas Scheinberg, ~""''=""), Dr. Bernard Fryshman, Nov. '08; Schron (as told to Avrohom March '08; A Double Dose/Mrs. S. Second Thoughts on Naming Birnbaum), June '08; 70 Years of Horowitz, March '08 for the Bobbeh!Rabbi Mendel Kiddush Sheim Shamayim!Rabbi Religion Neither Heksher, Nor Tzedek/ Weinbach, Nov. '08 Aryeh Zev Ginzberg, June '08; Rabbi Avi Shafran, Sept. '08 Nomenclature Neither Heksher, Nor Moreinu Harav AJter Chanoch Religious Authority Time to Tzedek/Rabbi Avi Shafran, Sept. '08 Henach Leibowitz, 7"llt /Yitzchok Reconnect ... and Disconnect/ Noted in Sorrow Rabbi Eli Brandriss, June '08; Inspired Rabbi Avi Shafran, Nov. '08 Teitelbaum/Rabbi Nosson by Rabbi Boruch Borchardt, Religious Observance Separate Scherman, Apr. '08; Harav AJter 7"llt/Rabbi Yitzchok Borchardt Swimming at Harvard and Us/ Chanoch Henach Leibowitz, 7"on/ (prepared for publication by Yonoson Rosenblum, Oct. '08 Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, May '08; A Reuvain Borchardt), Sept. '08; Reminiscences A "Forgotten" Event Glimpse of Our Beloved Rebbe, Rabbi Borchardt Is the Daddy of With Historic Consequences/ 7"llt/Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginzberg, Us AJI/Rabbi Yosef C. Golding, Joseph Friedenson (translated May '08; Rabbi Uri Shraga Sept. '08; Readers' Forum, Oct. by Elozor Halpert), Apr. '08; HaKohein Hellman, 7''llt/Rabbi '08; The Life of Rabbi Shabbesai Agudas Yisroel and the Poalei Nisson Wolpin, May '08 Hakohein/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Agudah/Rabbi Joseph Elias, Personalities Noted in Sorrow: Oct. '08; Remembering the Apr. '08; Inspired by Rabbi Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum, Ponovezher Rav, 7"llt /Rabbi Boruch Borchardt, 7"llt/Rabbi 7"on/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Shlomo Lorincz (translated Yitzchok Borchardt (prepared Jan.-Feb. '08; Learning From by Mrs. D. Breines), Nov. '08; for publication by Reuvain Reb Zeidel Epstein, 7"llt /Rabbi Dimensions of an Ameil Batorah! Borchardt), Sept. '08; Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky, Jan.-Feb. '08; Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Dec. Borchardt Is the Daddy of Us AJI/ Rabbi Zeidel Epstein, 7"llt/Rabbi '08; East Meets West: Ish Yehudi: Rabbi Yosef C. Golding, Sept. '08; Avrohom Birnbaum, Jan.-Feb. The Life and the Legacy of a Torah Remembering the Ponovezher '08; Reb Zeidel's Inner Life/ Great, Rav Joseph Tzvi Carlebach! Rav, 7"on/Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz Rabbi Moshe Rockove, Jan.-Feb. Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, (translated by Mrs. D. Breines), '08; Meeting Rabbi Yerucham Dec. '08; Remembering the Nov. '08; Remembering the Levovits/Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz Ponovezher Rav, 7"llt, Chapter II/ Ponovezher Rav, 7"llt, Chapter II/ (translated by Mrs. Malky Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz (translated Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz (translated Heimowitz), Jan.-Feb. '08; In by Mrs. D. Breines), Dec. '08 by Mrs. D. Breines), Dec. '08 the Aura of the Kopycznitzer Pesach The Fourth Redemption/ Self-Improvement A Lesson From Rebbe/Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz Simcha Leib Grossbard, Apr. '08; Global Warming/Yisrael Rutman, (translated by Mrs. D. Breines), When Do We Bake the Matzah Jan.-Feb. '08; Chinuch at Its Best/ Apr. '08; Mirrer Image/Yaacov This Year!/ Ari Z. Zivotofsky and Rabbi Dr.Abraham J. Twerski, Polskin, Apr. '08; Rabbi Moshe Ari Y. Greenspan, Apr. '08 Jan.-Feb. '08; Ben Torah in the Sherer, 7"llt: His Tenth Yahrzeit/ Poetry Zos Chanukah!Liba Workplace/Rabbi Fishel Mae!, Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, May '08; Lieberman, Dec. '08; Really Ph.D., March '08; What Do I Say? Remembering Rabbi Moshe Missing It/Bracha Goetz, Dec. '08 What Should I Do?/Mrs, RiJka Sherer,7"llt/Rabbi Nosson Politics No Ordinary Tuesday/Chaim Schonfeld, March '08; The Arba Scherman, May '08; Changing Dovid Zwiebel, March '08; Time Parashiyos, The Four Stages of the Landscape of Torah Jewry in to Reconnect ... and Disconnect/ Renewal/Rabbi Yonason Goldson, the United States/Chaim Dovid Rabbi Avi Shafran, Nov. '08 March '08; Staying On Track in Zwiebel, May '08; Remembering Ponovezher Rav Remembering Turbulent Times/Rabbi Aaron M. Rabbi Boruch Borchardt, 7"o;i/ the Ponovezher Rav, 7"llt/Rabbi Brafman, Sept. '08; Never Again ... Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, June '08; Shlomo Lorincz (translated Again/Naftoli Verschleisser, Sept. '08 THE JEWISH OBSERVER I ------======------Shabbesai Hakohein, Rabbi The Life Aaron Lopiansky, Jan.-Feb. '08; Rosenblum, Jan.-Feb. '08; A of Rabbi Shabbesai Hakohein/ Rabbi Zeidel Epstein, 7"Yr/Rabbi Tragedy Close to Home/Yonoson Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Oct. '08 Avrohom Birnbaum, Jan.-Feb. Rosenblum, Apr. '08; A Big Man ShelomBayisReaders'Fonnn,Jan.-Feb. '08 '08; Reh Zeidel's Inner Life/Rabbi With an Even Bigger Heart/Mrs. Sherer, Rabbi Moshe, 7"'11 Rabbi Moshe Rockove, Jan.-Feb. '08 Shari Glixman, May '08 Moshe Sherer, 7"'11: His Tenth Torah Study Vesein Belibeinu/ Yeshiva World Meeting Rabbi Yahrzeit/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Rabbi , May '08; Yerucham Levovits/Rabbi May '08; Remembering Rabbi Hasmada 101/Eliyahu Mayer, May Shlomo Lorincz (translated by Moshe Sherer, 7"'11/Rabbi Nosson '08; From Bear Stearns to Bava Mrs. Malky Heimowitz), Jan.­ Scherman, May '08; Changing Metzia/ Andrew Neff, Sept. '08 Feb. '08; Mirrer Image/Yaacov the Landscape of Torah Jewry in Transitions From Bear Stearns to Polskin, Apr. '08; Rabbi Shmuel the United States/Chaim Dovid Bava Metzia/ Andrew Neff, Sept. Berenbaum, 7"'11 /Rabbi Yaaakov Zwiebel, May '08 '08; From Kolle/ to the Workplace/ Bender, June '08; Memories of Shmitta Hearing With Your Brain/ Yosi Heber, Sept. 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Over three ae.mcles

THIS IS AGENUINE MASTERPIECE­ ONE OF THE FINEST BOOKS WE HAVE EVER PUBLISHED BIRCAS ATALE OF TWO WORLDS Cl-IAMMAl-l lilbBlliifitlll~lilbB~~\2U{ofill,j lllf~ll!ID!!Ji_tgfilllli [ll!sll91.'l!lf ~ BACK IN A NEW This is the story of today's Torah world taking shape: EXPANDED EDITION! · Pre-War America, Mir and Sais Yaakov n We®esday morning, Erev Pesach 5769 - · The new world of American Torah institutions April 8, 2009 - Jews around the world will line · A man and woman giving their lives to other people's children, but not neglecting their own streets and took up at the sky as they reclte a · Historic photos, many never before published ing and prayers that have not been said ~ince • 656 pages of human interest, warmth, love, history, inspiration 1. • Thumbnail biographies of scores of famous and not-so.famous people >What is it? " Why is It so rare? >Why only on a Wednesday morning? It's all told through the fives of Rabbi Dovld and Rebbetzln Basya Bender')"t, two of >What are the conflicting astronomical calculations? the truly great, though self-effacing builders, of the world we live in. > How is it reminiscent of Creation? · What word can describe this magnificent book: important, fascinating, appealing, gripping, valuable, beautifully written, exhaustively researched - which word? All of the n a major and fascinating work of scholarship, RABBI J. DAVID BLEICH above! Devora Gliksman has written a masterpiece! inates the bac~rc>und of Sirc!is HaChammah. Jrlcludes an overview by 0SS08 Atl. u 11111 rea11-111111111111Y an mr-lhis s11ou111 11e 11111 llallll tt's a classic that you'll treasure year after year, after year •.• & Bring Parshivos Teru1Dah The •Historic Visit of the Minchas Eluzar of Munkacz etzaveh to lifel to the Saba Kadisha The MlnchaS Eluzar, the gaon and tzaddik Harav Chaim Eluzar Shapira '::i":iit, was one of the great­ est Chassklic of pre-war Europe. The 5aba Kadlsha '::i":l!T, the 120.year.-old Sephardic gaon and tzaddik Harav Shlomo Eliezer Elfandri, was living in Jerusalem after a distinguished career in Tur­ key and Iraq. No two Torah giants could be more dissimilar. Yet they This multimedia ~ propam is !Ill as1Dumlin1 and unprecedented longed to meet. achievement in ibe audio-visual present:atiDtl of Jorah ~edge! In 1930, the meeting took place. Rlr more than a week, the Just load this new Multimedia DVD into your two great men met and spoke in computer and you'll begin e•ploring the Mishkan, an aura of holiness, affection, and respect. Thanks to Rabbi Moshe its Keilim !sacred vessels!, and !he Bigdei Goldstein, who accompanied the Kehunah [priestly garments) in amazing detail! Rebbe, we have an account of the historic visit. Now it is available in English for the first time-with 3 PROGRAMS IN 1: a wealth of photos and biographies of the two great tzaddikim. Dedicated by the Vegh Families, Staten Island, NY I 0 YERSE-BY•VERSE EXPLORATION 0 UFEUKE ANIMATIONS 0 INTERACTIVE WALK.THROUGH NEWPOCIETCROllBOOK-0NlY$9.99 The sun Will Shi~e When the going gets tough, When he was eight years old, the tough get ••• TWerski! little Leibish had to grow up. Quickly. With all the many Holocaust histories and memoirs written Rabbi Dr. Abraham lWelskl has helped tens of thousands of poo. in the past years, surprisingly few focus on what it was like to pie lead better, more meaningful lives, through his Insightful books. be a child during those dark years - for the painful reason Now he offers us his wise advice ln dealing With today's troubled that so few children remained to tell the story. Arye lelblsh ___,---,,~_economic times. Rabbi lWerski draws upon the wisdom of Friedman - was one of those few lucky ones. And he has a Torah, his vast experience as both a psychiatrist and a remarkable story to tell. rabbi, and his endless fund of true stories to offer us Told by acelaimed author Nachman Settler, Leibish's practical strategies to keep our marriages, our families, story of his remarkable survival in wartime Budapest is a and our own sense of self worth intact in these tough dramatic and absorbing tale of faith, miracles, and love. economic times.

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