20 Th Anniversary 17 Elul 5748
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1 CROWN HEIGHTS NewsPAPER ~September 19, 2008 כאן צוה ה’ את הברכה CommunityNewspaper פרשת כי תבוא | יט' אלול , תשס”ח | בס”ד WEEKLY VOL. I | NO 44 SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 | ELUL 19, 5768 20 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR 770 17 ELUL 5748 SEE PAGE 6 SHABBOS SELICHOS THE REBBE'S LETTER ABOUT REB CHAIM AVROHOM A LEXANDER SENDER YITZCHOK RAININ TELEVISION THE CHOSSID THE REBBE INVITED TO STAY IN HIS HOUSE page 2 Beis Din of Crown Heights 390A Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Tel- 718~604~8000 Fax: 718~771~6000 Rabbi A. Osdoba: ❖ Monday to Thursday 10:30AM - 11:30AM at 390A Kingston Ave. ☎Tel. 718-604-8000 ext.37 or 718-604-0770 Sunday-Thursday 9:30 PM-11:00PM ~Friday 2:30PM-4:30 PM ☎Tel. (718) - 771-8737 Rabbi Y. Heller is available daily 10:30 to 11:30am ~ 2:00pm to 3:00pm at 788 Eastern Parkway # 210 718~604~8827 ❖ & after 8:00pm 718~756~4632 Rabbi Y. Schwei, 4:00pm to 9:00pm ❖ 718~604~8000 ext 36 Rabbi Y. Raitport is available by appointment. ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 ☎ Rabbi Y. Zirkind: 718~604~8000 ext 39 Erev Shabbos Motzoei Shabbos Rabbi S. Segal: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 ❖ Sun ~Thu 5:30pm -9:00pm or ☎718 -360-7110 Rabbi Bluming is available Sunday - Thursday, 3 -4:00pm at 472 Malebone St. ☎ 718 - 778-1679 Rabbi Y. Osdoba ☎718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 10:0am -11:30am ~ Fri 10:am - 1:00 pm or 6:39 7:36 ☎ 718 -604-0770 Gut Shabbos Rabbi S. Chirik: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 5:00pm to 9:00pm 2 CROWN HEIGHTS NewsPAPER ~September 19, 2008 The Vaad Hakohol Letters us to watch? They will argue that if their what to speak from his own pulpit in parents watch it, they too can watch his Shul! He told this innocently, even whatever they want, especially here in under the impression that he does it for To the Editor: America where children don’t listen to holy motives (L’sheim Shomayim) so I am pleased that the Shidduchim column is their parents as much as they should. he’ll have material to speak in his Shul, once again being featured in your paper. without realizing how this transgresses And who can guarantee for the parents a serious Torah prohibition! I found it surprising that Mrs. Junik quoted the themselves? Today they’ll watch a Rebbe when she discussed wearing a sheitel and program they feel is allowed, and tomor- At one time Jews sacrificed their lives not a tichel but she did not quote the Rebbe in row they’ll catch a glance at another not to hear a priest’s sermon; today, the paragraph about TV's. TheR ebbe was very program, and gradually they’ll come to with television, they bring the priest into strong about not having a TV in the house. feel that everything is permitted. their home, and clothe this practice in Kedusha — “L’Sheim Shomayim.” Keep up the good work, We should especially ask: How did the world get by ten years ago [a decade That was the attitude of the early Sincerely before 1954] before television became [secular] Maskilim, whose motto was: BG (Crown Heights) prevalent? Didn’t the world proceed in “Be a Jew at home, and a human every respect just the same as now? being outside.” Among them were even ordained rabbis. On the surface, what’s Another problem results when others wrong with it? The Shulchan Aruch has find out that such a respected person, no prohibition against it, nor indeed do Sarah Junik responds: VISTA Operating System, it has a built who wears a full beard, has a television. we have to go outside and announce that in parental control program. They don’t know, of course, whether he I did not quote the Rebbe when talking we’re religious. So what was wrong with watches only such programs that he about TVs because to me it was such an I am taking this opportunity to reprint that motto? Nevertheless, experience feels are allowed, so they’ll watch all obvious and well-published fact that the (with permission from Sichos in English) has shown us what happened to them programs, even those forbidden, relying Rebbe absolutely disapproved of TVs. a sicha from the Rebbe given in Elul and their children and descendants, upon that person’s stamp of approval. Perhaps though, as the writer says, I 5752 about TV. It is very interesting to among whom not a trace of Jewishness should have mentioned it, especially me that the Rebbe actually also speaks Some may ask why others who are remained. in view of the fact that we seem to be about Sheitels and Tichlach at the begin- religious or even Chassidic Jews have [Long ago,] a certain Shochet in a much more maikel about letting the ning of this Sicha, just before the Rebbe a television. However, we should not [Russian] township started wearing outside world in to our homes than we addresses the inyan of Television. look at them as an example. By way of galoshes (rubber overshoes), for which were just 10 years ago. analogy: The 248 organs of the body "...Television is an unparalled departure he was fired from his position. We may aren’t always all well. Some people I don’t believe that the level of program- from the bounds of Torah morality. Even ask: what was wrong with that? Even have weak eyesight, others a problem ming that is offered on television these non-Jews have recently raised a storm my father-in-law [the previous Rebbe] with some other organ. Would anyone days is worthier than what was offered of protest against television because used to wear them. However, at that say that because someone else’s eyes then. In fact, if one just sees the caliber of its destructive influence on youth, time when the Shochet started wear- are not well, he wants his own eyes not of movies that are advertised in papers and they’re looking for ways of limiting ing them, it was an innovation — the to be well? It’s the same on the spiritual and on the radio, one has to wonder it as much as possible. It’s a disgrace only Jews who wore them were those plane: No one’s perfect — everyone what is the attraction of having a TV that Jews have to learn this from non- who dressed and acted in imitation of does as much as they can to observe in the house. Jews. the non-Jewish nobility, attending their the Torah and its Mitzvos. So why learn dances and dissolute celebrations. If One more comment: not having a tele- This is especially so after the recent from someone else’s faults? someone would wear them, it was sign vision in the house is not enough. The cases of killings and murders by young No one who has a television will argue he had become spiritually corrupted. internet is very capable of introducing people, which are partially a result, that he bought it for the purpose of Eventually it was discovered that the everything the TV offers and much everyone agrees, of television and improving his Yiras Shomayim or good Shochet and his family had indeed worse as well. movies where one sees how people are Middos. Everyone has an excuse — become corrupted. killed and shoot each other. If one has a computer with internet either he bought it as a piece of furniture Someone once came to the Rebbe in the house, using the internet only Furthermore, even if someone thinks for his home, or for his wife’s sake, or RaShaB in Lubavitch and asked: What’s with a kosher browser is the safest, and he’ll watch only the “kosher” television else he says he got it as a present, so so special about remaining a religious definitely if there are children, a parent programs that he feels he’s allowed how can he throw it out? Jew when you live in Lubavitch, closed supervision program must be used to to watch, how can parents guarantee At one time, Jews would take care to off in your room? Walk in the streets limit the sites that can be accessed that their children won’t watch other avoid passing a church, preferring to of Petersburg and avoid committing a and the amount of time the kids are programs that the Torah explicitly forbids make a detour. A mother wouldn’t allow sin — that’s an achievement! allowed to stay on. If anyone has the her child anywhere Actually, he continued, that’s also not near a church, nor enough. Sit at a show in Petersburg with to see a cross. your eyes closed to avoid committing a Newspaper Today, with televi- Community sin — that’s a real achievement! In fact, sion, people bring Watch Out! he went on, sit at the show in the Peters- 392 Kingston Avenue the church with the burg theater with your eyes open and still Brooklyn, NY 11225 priest and the cross [email protected] Everyone has received in avoid committing any sin — that’s even into their homes — greater! But even that’s not enough. Go Published & edited weekly by the Vaad Hakohol the mail various new Cal- may G d save us! of Crown Heights. into the theater, close to the stage where endars for the New Year. A young rabbi, who the actresses are performing, and still Moshe Rubashkin, Rosh Hakohol Dr.