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Are You Anticipating the Redemption? also Torah in the Negev• An Open Letter to Arye Dulzin The Fraudulent "Yizkor" Books • Second Looks THE JEWISH BS ERV ER in this issue ... Are You Anticipating the Redemption? Rabbi Avrohom Pam 3 Poem, Avraham Yeshayahu Rotbard 7 "Dear Mr. Dulzin" an open letter . .8 Streams in the Desert, Yaffa Ganz . 10 How Not to Write a "Yizkor" l JOk Chaim Shapiro . 18 Revelation and Search, A. Scheinman . 26 Books in Review My Jewish Roots . 31 The Study and Practice of Judaism . 33 Juvenile Literature . 36 THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN 0021-6615) is published monthly, Postscripts except July and August, by the The Sixth Knessia Gedolah .42 Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York. N.Y. Noted in Sorrow . 45 00 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription Second Looks at the Jewish Scene $9.00 per year; two years, $17.50; When Charity Begins at Home, Bernard Fryshman .. 47 three years, $25.00; outside of the United States, $10.00 per year. Thank You, Elie Wiesel . 49 Single copy, $1.25 Letters to the Editor . 51 Printed in the U.S.A. RABBI N ISSON W OLPlN Editor ubscrlbe f"- The-Je;l;haOb;erver --, Editorial Board Renew I 5 Beekman Street/ New York, N.Y. 10038 I DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER Chairman • IDOneYear$9.00 0TwoYears$17.50] RABBI NATHAN BULMAN or GIVe I o Three Years only $25.00 I RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Now I Send Magazine to. I JOSEPH FR!EDENSON RABBI MOSHE SHERER and l ::::~s .................... ........ ........ .... •·······• l City..... State/Zip.... ........... ... ......... THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not SAVE I I From· 1 assume responsibility for the I . I Ka6hrus of any product or ser­ I Name......................................... ................ ! vice advertised in its pages. I Address.............................................. ..................... ..,City ....................................... State/Zip ............................................... I 0 Enclose gift card O Bill me: $.......... 0 Enclosed: $ .......... APRIL 1980, VOL. XIV, NO. 8 ! _______________ I Rabbi Avrohom Pam Are You Anticipating the Reden1ption? through the windows, and I. National Introspection An eminent Rosh Yeshiva "maitzitz min hacharakirn" - "Remember the days of old, peering through the cracks. understand the years of every examines the implications The former type of hash­ generation" (Devarim 32:7). gacha can be likened to a father The fruits of historical reflec­ of the question who sends his children out to tion are three-fold: It gives one play, and stands by the window an understanding of the general that every man to watch over them. Whenever course that the generations have must ultimately answer the children look up from their followed; it helps one better play, they see their father comprehend our present situation; and it offers insight observing them. The father derives pleasure from see­ into what the future holds in store. ing his children, and the children in turn are secure in All three of these play a role in helping us yearn for the knowledge that their father is keeping watch over the yeshu'a - or in broader terms, the ge'ula, the ulti­ them. This is "mashgiach min hachalonos." mate redemption. The latter, more subtle form is that of "peering The ge'ula - the culminating redemption that will through the cracks." This can be compared to a father put an unequivocal end to our millennia of suffering whose children so misbehave that he banishes them and wandering, and eliminate all evil from the world - from his house. In such an instance, the father does not will openly demonstrate G-d's intervention in the stand conspicuously by the window to keep an eye on affairs of man. them. When the children turn toward the house, they do not see their father, and it appears to them that no one is looking or cares about them. In truth, though, the Two Forms of Providence father is constantly watching them through a tiny aper­ Surrounded as we are by the darkness of go/us, we ture, to make sure that no harm befalls them. might find it difficult to see G-d's hand directing our The same is true, says Rabbeinu Saadia Gaon, with affairs. First, then, we must take into account a basic the Divine Providence over the Jewish people. G-d is tenet of our faith; that the Divine Providence guides all watching over His nation constantly without interrup­ that transpires in our world - particularly, the fate of tion. Only when we follow His precepts and doctrines, Kial Yisroe/. This hashgacha (Providence) manifests however, do we readily discern the hashgacha - itself in two ways, one obvious, the other subtle. Both through the miracles and wondrous deeds that He per­ are described by Shlomo Hamelech in Shir Hashirim forms for us, such as those that our ancestors witnessed (2:9): "Mashgiach min hachalonos" - watching with their own eyes. By contrast, when our conduct is not consistent with G-d's will and we suffer punishments and trage­ Rabbi Pam, Rosh Yeshiva of Mesi/ta Torah Vodaath, Brooklyn, dies, it may appear that G-d is no longer interested in delivered these remarks at a gathering of Torah Vodaath alum11i. This essay was originally published in Hebrew in HAMESIVTA, a journal our welfare and has abandoned us. In truth, G-d never of Torah thought and novellae. Matis Blum, a student in the Beis forsakes us - even in the darkest hours of go/us - He Hamidrash of Mesifta Torah Vodaath, prepared for publication both merely veils the hashgacha under the cloak of natural the Hebrew and English versions of this essay. events and phenomena. The prophet describes this rela- The Jewish Observer I April, 1980 3 ,' tionship when he says: "Behold You are the G-d who died in the land of Canaan on the road, only a kivra of hides; the L-rd of Israel who saves" (Yishayahu 49:15). land before Efras ... I buried her on the path to Efras, Even when G-d conceals His actions under the guise of which is Beis Lechem" (Bereishis 48:7). Rashi reports natural occurrences, He is constantly performing acts of more of Yaakov's conversation: salvation on our behalf. But not until Moshiach has I am imposing on you to take me for burial into come will we be able to look retrospectively at the the Land of Canaan, even though I did not do as annals of our history and discern the hand of G-d much for your mother - I did not even take her to throughout our existence. nearby Beis Lechem to bury her. I know that in your heart you have misgivings. Know, however1 that I buried her there by the command of G-d so Sowing the Seeds of "Ge'ula" she might help her children in the future, when How difficult it is to be aware of G-d"s involvement Nevuzaradan will take them into captivity. For in our salvation while we are suffering! In many places, when they pass along that road, Rachel will come Chazal (Rabbis of blessed memory) emphasize the con­ forth and stand by her grave and weep, beseech­ tinuous, albeit unseen providence that G-d exerts over ing mercy for them, as it is said (Yirmiyahu Kial Yisroel. For example, the Mid rash interprets in just 31:15): "A voice is heard in Rama (the sound of such a manner the juxtaposition of two seemingly un­ weeping) - Rachel weeping for her children and related portions of the Torah - one, dealing with the G-d replied to her, 'There is a reward for your selling of Yoseif; the other, the incident of Yehuda and work,' says the Lord ... 'for your children will Tamar. return to their territories."' Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman began: "For I The Almighty had prepared the remedy more than a know the thoughts that I am thinking about you, thousand years before the tragedy ... It was impossible says G-d, thoughts of peace, and not for evil, to for Yoseif - the brilliant, foresighted viceroy of Egypt give you future and hope" (Yirmiyahu 29:11). - to comprehend his father's treatment of Rachel, his The tribes were occupied with selling Yoseif. beloved wife - why he did not give her a proper burial; Reuvain was involved with his sack cloth and and, as Rashi says, Yoseif bore a grudge against his fasting (to repent for. the incident regarding father for this. Bilha). Yehuda was searching for a wife. And Imagine Yoseif's feelings at the time that Yaakov while all of this was taking place, G-d was creat­ disclosed the reasons for his action to him - that by ing the light of Moshiach (that came from the burying her on the roadside, he insured that her de­ union of Yehuda and Tamar). "Before the birth scendants would return home from exile and thereby pains she delivered ... " Before the birth of the safeguarded the future of Kial Yisroel. He undoubtedly first oppressor of the Jewish people (Pharoah), the thought: How could I have been so blind as to question final savior had already been determined. my father's motives for even one moment! In addition to offering an insight into the working of the hashgacha, the Midrash teaches us another important lesson: While mere mortals perceive occur­ Mortals - Creatures of Hindsight rences while they are taking place, through myopic Our perception, our intelligence, and our prescience vision, from an isolated vantage point G-d views all are of absolutely no significance when compared to events in history concurrently, and weaves together those of Yoseif Hatzaddik. We surely cannot fathom the seemingly unrelated, insignificant incidents, to create meaning behind events if he, in his time, could not ..

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