~~ are eordiatfj- invited to attendan evening q/'rememlranee: ASHES TO RENEWAL A MULTI-FACETED EVENT COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OFTHE END OF WORLD WAR II AND THE END .OF CHURBAN EUROPE.
TO TAKE PIACE AT THE 73rdrfflitnuaf~'nner q/' np·..,~;:i ~.,'121, Jlii~ dl{ju£rt£ ~raefq/' rfftineriea
MAY TW'ENTY :ERST, NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY FIVE i111)\!J!1 )))N N"'.:> FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING NEW YORK HILTON 54TH STREET AND AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS NEW YORK CITY
ren RASlltN.\V. DESSL'ER please contact: Bf,NJAMJN c. FISH'oFJ:, ST.EPH£N KtmN, Z"L AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA RABBI LEll> G'fLIE'BTER} Z"L PrNC'Ht1s KLEIN 84 William Street PHILTl' Hom:mFELD FRED S, LANG EFltAlM KLEIN, Z"L THE RIEDE:ft FAMILY New York, NY 10038 212-797-9000 "Ashes to Renewal" will also include a Family Album section depicting the heroic stories of individual fumilies plus a Megillas Zikoron listing the names of friends and relatives who perished during World War II. THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of America, 84 William Street, New York, N.Y. 10038. Second class postage paid in New York, N.Y. Subscription$24.00 per year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. FIFTY YEARS SINCE THE END OF WORLD wAR JI Single copy $3.50; foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: 4 The Jewish Observer, 84 William Street, N.Y., N.Y.10038. Tel: (212) 797-9000. Overlooking the Obvious: Printed in the U.S.A. The Continuity/Catastrophe Nexus Rabbi Avi Shafran RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR 8 EDITORIAL BOARD OR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER The Glory That Was Eastern Europe - Chairman As Appreciated Through Western Eyes (1931) RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Rabbi Dr. Joseph Carleba.ch ~">;i, JOSEPH FRIEDENSON translated by Joseph Wechsler RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN MANAGEMENT BOARD AVIFISHOF "Not Totally and Not Forever... " NAFTOLI HIRSCH Yosef Friedenson ISAAC KIAZNER RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN The View of a Child of Survivors RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Rabbi Avraham Ausband Business Manager Published by Agudath Israel of America Return Flight to Cracow - a letter and a poem RABBI MOSHE SHERER Bas Kedoshim PRESIDENT SOLE U.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTOR EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVE Life Feldhelm Publishers M.T. Bibelman A Glimpse at the of a Giant in Our Times: 200 Airport Executive Park Grosvenor Works Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach :i·?pm Spring Valley, N.Y. 10977 Mount Pleasant Hill London ES 9NE, ENGLAND Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried ISRAELI DISTRIBUTOR AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR Nechemla Rosenberg Gold's Book & GIH Co. Kiryat Telshe Stone, 108A 36 William Street O.N. Harei Yehuda, ISRAEL Balaclava 3183, Vic_, AUSTRALIA The Man Who Fled From Honor - And His Entourage of 300,000 Mourners THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not Sarah Shapiro assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product, publication, or service advertised in its pages Letters to the Editor ©Copyright 1995 MAY 1995 Photo credit. cover: Shaul Morgenstern VOLUME XXVlll /NO. 4 FIFTY YEARS SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II RabbiAvi Shafran Overlooking the Obvious: THE CONTINUITY/CATASTROPHE NEXUS n this fiftieth year since the end of ever having pronounced the words Churban Europe, there has been The only honest and truly "Shema YtsroeL" without ever hav I much discussion about reflection ing seen a Siddur, knowing nothing and commemoration, about how best effective memorializing about Shabbos or Jewish holidays to honor the memory of the six mil who cannot even recognize a He lion precious Jewish souls who per brew letter, or know in which direc of the Jewish martyrs of tion the language Is read. ished in the Holocaust. 1bis has been a year, too, during Churban Europe must It is heartening that the challenge which a large segment of American that lies in those decades-old words Jewry has voiced serious concern mourn not only the lost has finally been endorsed by a larger over Jewish continuity, about how Jewish world that has, to its great best to ensure an identifiably, mean Jewish lives but the lost credit, come to recognize and em ingfully Jewish future. brace the mission of creating Jewish It is puzzling how the two topics Jewish life, the timeless continuity. Unfortunately, however, have remained unlinked in the Jew the means thus far discussed for ish public's collective mind, how the ideals and principles of reaching that laudable end have been latter concern's pertinence to the sadly inadequate to the task. former has somehow escaped the pre-Holocaust Jewish A free trip to Israel for every Jew arena of public discourse. ish teenager is a positive gesture, no Sometimes, though, the obvious is Europe - and not only doubt; there is much to be said for overlooked, and needs to be stated experiencing a society of identifiably clearly, even bluntly. mourn them but re Jewish Jews-and much more, of course, to be said for the sublime im OF ORPHANS AND ARSONISTS establish them. pact that the Holy Land-and its To rah communities and institutions he Ponovezher Rav, Rabbi can leave on a young person. But a eratiDn, though, is a generation with Yoseif Kahaneman, ?"~. once travel-campaign, in the end, entirely said something that would out children." begs the essential question of conti T In an essay in B'shtei Einayim, serve well as a motto for the Jewish nuity. What holds the key to the Jew world's "Continuity Commissions." Rabbi Moshe Sherer, Agudath Israel ish future is not the State of Israel, "An orphan," he remarked, "is a per of America's president, writes: nor even-at least in the short run son without parents; an orphan-gen- Hitler, V"\ made us all orphans, Eretz Yisroet what can unlock the but we Jews ourselves, sadly, bear Jewish future is what created the Rabbi Shafran. who serves as the Director of Pub the responsibility for turning our generation into an "orphan genera Jewish people in the first place and lic Affairs for Agudath Israel of America, is a fre what sustained-and sustains-us quent conbibutor to these pages, most recently tion." ... Across the Jewish map. with 'They're Still Saying Those 1hings: A Journal hundreds of thousands of Jewish forever thereafter, throughout our ex ism Outrage Update.. {Mar. '95). children are growing up without periences in the countless crucibles 4 The Jewish Observer. May 1995 and continents that have held us over the ages. "Our nation is only a nation," as Rav Saadiah Gaon wrote, "by virtue of its Torah." The assured inefficacy of so many of the efforts to preserve the Jewish identity of the younger generation is all too painfully signalled by the play ers enlisted to craft the continuity ini tiatives. As Rabbi Sherer noted a year ago in his pointed letter to the chair men of the Commission on Jewish Identity and Continuity, it is hard to imagine how "an Orthodox-Conser va tive-Reform-Reconstru ctionist - Secular Jewish body" can possibly "combat the plagues of assimilation, ignorance and intermaniage" in the Jewish world today. The arsonist, he who recently spent several months went on to note, does not a good fire watching the comings and goings at By doing more than man make. Auschwitz has incorporated a truly shocking modern-day Auschwitz remembering the Jewish THE LIMITATIONS OF SYMBOLS photograph into one of his exhibits. It portrays a tourist-family. fully loss of the war years, by e other Jewish question of the dressed the part, smiling for the cam ear, how to properly com era in almost Disneylandesque fash actually overcoming its Timemorate the Holocaust's ion-tight beneath the "Arbeit Macht kedoshim, has brought a multitude of Frei" -gate at the death camp. effects, at least on the responses. Monuments and muse No one. of course, condones the ums abound, testimony to the deter cheapening of history's horrors. But spiritual stratum, the mination of survivors and their chil it happens. dren to preserve. through symbols. Thus, the Jewish people finds itself Jewish world not only scholarship and artifacts. the details squarely faced with the challenge of and horrors of the indesclibable de faithfully remembeling the Jewish reconnects to its struction Jewish Europe endured. past and, at the same time. of produc Oflate, it has become almost com tively facing the Jewish future. illustrious past- but monplace for Jews to make pilgrim And what is both obvious and yet ages to Poland, to pay homage to the so often missed by so many is that the reassures its shining memoties of the Nazis' Jewish victims two challenges are tightly, profoundly future. on the very soil that absorbed their intertwined. blood, to breath the air that once ear ned their ashes. NOT "HOW" BUT "WHAT" ciples of pre-Holocaust Jewish Eu The trips and ceremonies are, rope-and not only mourn them but without question, inspiring; the emissinglinkhere, the nexus re-establish them. When Torah Jews monuments and museums, thought f the Jewish world's catastro mount a campaign to remember the provoking and soul-wrenching. But Tiphe and continuity, is embod kedoshei ChurbWl Europe, the effort they have their limits, especially as ied in a simple but, to many, still must revolve around the study of the histolical vividness of the Holo unfaced fact Europe's Jews didn't Mishnayos l'zeicher their neshrunos, caust has begun to fade, when de just die; they lived, too. and the education of the present and niers of its essential histolicity have While remembeling the Holocaust future generations about not only come to be called "scholars." must certainly include the fact of the what happened to the European Jew The very populality of those means heartless annihilation of incredible ish world ofyesteryear, but what that for memorializing can sometimes numbers of Jews, that is not itself world stood for and lived for. even threaten to swallow their mean enough. The only honest and truly ef What we Jews need to dwell upon ing. They then Iisk becoming mere fective memotializing of the Jewish is, in the words of historian Moshe caricatures. photogenic ends in martyrs of Churban Europe must go Halberstal, "not how we lost, but what themselves instead of determined much further. It must mourn not only we lost"-and, we might well add.just means to the larger goal of truly re the lost Jewish lives but the lost Jew how we can get it back. That, in the membeling. A photographer/ artist ish life, the timeless ideals and ptin- end, is the truest, most meaningful The Jewish Observer, May 1995 5 memorial to the lives that were de similation before us: Torah and holy minds of our young. And it is stroyed: the perpetuation of what de mitzvos are what preserved us as a tethered in a singular way-by fined those lives, of what continues to people in the past. Only they can do Sejiras Ha'Omer-to another Jewish define true Jewish life today-and the same for the future. holiday mere weeks beyond it, one what will continue to tomorrow. Holocaust-Remembrance Com that celebrates the engine of that That is precisely the solution to missions and Continuity Commis Jewish continuity, what assures that the modem Jewish "'continuity cri sions should be merged. Whether netz.ach Yisroel lo yishaker. sis," too. By doing more than remem they realize it or not, they seek the Pesach \Shevuos, that binary star bering the Jewish loss of the war same thing. in the firmament of the Jewish year, years. by actually overcoming its ef There is, of course. a Jewish holi speaks eloquently to the topic at fects, at least on the spiritual stra day of continuity, one that, as it hap hand. For the peoplehood created on tum. the Jewish world not only re pens, we only recently celebrated. the very first Pesach in history re connects to its illustrious past-but Pesach is the time of "'And you shall ceived its mission and empowerment reassures its shining future. Our col tell your children," the time for plant from what took place fifty days later lective Jewish heritage is the solu ing the seeds ofJewish identity, of the atHarSinaL tion to the frightening scene of as- Jewish future, in the fertile, tender, And, most importantly, it still does.• THE COMMUIER'S CHAVRUSAH' n" us--'HA': i Tum your commute time into learning time. You'll explorefasdnating halachic issues in the latest series of tapes from Rabbi Fl-and's popular weekly shiurim./uin him as he examines the ie&PiioNS progression ofhalachafrom the Chumash through poskim to current responsa. Each tape concludes with hashkafa and ethical applications related to that parsha. Every fall sefer Hearing the Timeless Message of Torah ordered comes in a convenient album. It's afine giftforafrien4 relative, or yourself. Pars ha Perceptions, a compilation ofthe inspi BAMIDBAR SERIES VIII rational //ilshkafa sect.i series for '40 Tel AmOllllt Enclosed$ 6 TheJewishObserver, May 1995 DIAL·A·DAF • . In 718 area: Beginning of current n,o~ to 2 weeks · .' ahead of today's Oaf, expanding toward the entire Shas! · In 914 area: Access to 4 weeks of Dafim, ranging from 2 weeks before to2 weeks after today's Oaf. Access to 40 different Shiurim & Lectures on a . wide variety of topics by today's leading Maggidei Shiur. led into the Yeshiva hall where chairs had been set up for them on both sides of the lecture desk. The chorus of"learners" in the crowded room had only been briefly silenced by the en try of the strangers, when suddenly a strongvoice intoned: "Yechiadoneinu, moreinu verabeinu, rash yeshi voseinIL ... " Everyone jumped up from his seat and responded: "Yechil" The Rabbi had entered and was striding through the hushed room to the dais. One student handed him a Gemora opened to the day's text. Then everybody sat down and stud ied the text in his own Gemora. The lecture proceeds immediately. AReport on the Keren Ha Torah Tour of the Every word is examined and presented in a strong, lively voice; Rashi and the Torah Landscape of Eastern Europe, ~ummer rn31 questions ofrosaios are enunciated, ev ery nuance is analyzed and all pertinent THE ITINERARY Meforshim-Rishonim andAcharonim --are discussed. Awe-inspired, the stu Excerpts from areport by ur pilgrtmage to the lands of dents listen until the shiur comes to its Torah began in Vienna. It led end. Again the "Yechi" is intoned by all 0 us first to the sites hallowed as the RabbL striding past the standing Rabbi Joseph Carlebach, n, by the Chasam Sofer (at a tip of assemblnge, leaves the ha!L Czechoslovakia. formerly part of translated by Joseph Wechsler Hungary): then to Cracow, the cradle n of the Bais Yaakov movement (in Introductory Note Galicia); on to Lublin (Congress Po Lithuania: land): further north to the modest The tremendous hall was rever The idea of the 1931 tour abode of the tzaddikofRadin; and fi berating from the voices of the "learn (''Studienreise nach dem Osten') nally to a gathering in Vilna (Polish ers," most of them standing, as we en was Dr. Leo Deutschiander's. All Lithuania) graced with the presence tered and took any available seats. Up participants were men of stature: of Lithuanian Torah giants. front at the Mtzrach wall, several Rab foremost among .them was the The fact-finding tour became a dia bis and yeshiva lecturers were stand leader of the tour, Rabbi Joseph logue between East and West, be ing, also immersed in the blatt. as a Carlebach~the charismatic, elo tween people who had been sepa short, unassuming man appeared in quent .Rav of Hamburg. {Nine rated by mountains and rivers-and front of the aron halcodesh. years later, Rabbi Carlebach re estranged by prejudice. Like every Delicately and simply, he starts his fased an opportunity to escape the genuine discovery, it required a reap shiur. and the students look up. The Nazis, so as to stay with his praisal of oneself. Rabbi presents the problem of owner Kehilla-an act of devotio1< that As if by magic. our hearts were ship and possession based on the sugya cost him his life. Keren HaTorah transformed, and we were turned of 'Tokfo Kohein," with penetrating was established by the Agudath into yeshiva bachurim into Gerrer analysis ofa Rambam, and various per· IsraeL World Organiiation tn the Chassidim; we became "Children" of tinent Talmudic passages. Only one early 1920'stogivefinancialsup the Lublin or Pressburg communi other Rishon is mentioned. The shiur is port to the.Yeshivas ofwar·-rav· ties. Without exception, we all seemed listened to with critical attention witil its aged .EastemEurope.~ditor] to be absorbed in these new worlds. unceremonious end. The writer of these lines was privileged to be the Reiseleiter, Le. VARIATIONS OF THE m the organizer and. travel guide TORAHWORW .from the beginning ofthe prepara Galicia: tion to the end of the trip, which On Shabbos afternoon we entered lastedfiilly two weeks. I the magnificent lecture hall of the Ye shiva. The Rebbe. attired in his full I -David Turkel. Hungary: Chassidic regalia, was sitting on his Mr. Wecbsler,along-timeAgudist. lives in Brook The guests had been invited to the chair behind a little table that had lyn. 1his is his first appearance in these pages. daily shiur by the menahel and were been placed in front of the aron 8 The Jewish Observer. May 1995 hakodesh. Gallelies had been set up Lithuania is the land of Torah, of Chassidus arose as a protest for outside guests who were inter learning, of supreme spilitual cul against an aristocracy of scholar ested in the discourse. and hoped to ture. There the Rabbi has been a ship. Emphasis on knowledge tends establish a biidge between the ye "man of the people," differtng from the to erect barriers, to create discrete shiva and them. masses solely because of his greater strata in society, to isolate people With love in their eyes, the students from each other. Chassidus created cling to the words that grace the lips of the community of love. Love unites, the lecturer. Frequently they interrupt Here humility, there it bridges gaps and equalizes; it ties him with questions and comments. He together heaven and earth. man responds lo each of them, some with adoration, and in the and his fellow. The soul is the do warm praise. A passagefromZevachim main of love, prayer is its manifes is worked through and transformed into third instance tation. and the intimate communal an independent problem Solemnly the meal uplifts it to enthusiasm. Sur sonorous voice reverberat.es and the ten acknowledgement of rounded by his faithful followers sion rises, until a solution is presented who flock to him with adoration and andjoWUJly accepted. supremacy. These three trust, the Rebbe unites them all into Everyone flocks to the Rebbe who, one family. In a family. one disre descendingfrom the dais. is sWToW1ded different postures of gards a child's mental faculties-es by his students and reliving with them pecially when all children are seated the experience. Hungarian, Chassidic at the same table and enjoying the same privileges. The head of the BACKDROP TO THE THREE and Lithuanian Jews family is beloved and respected by VIGNETTES all of them. may be traced to In Lithuania, the Rabbi is the ese three settings reflect the "Primus inter Pares" as teacher, re ewish worlds we visited. In the historical developments. searcher and scholar; in Poland, the Tif rst, self-effacing reverence Rebbe is the beloved father and and all forms of homage are extended saint; in Hungary, the Rabbi is the to the Rabbi; in the last, a relation knowledge. The attitude oliginated moreh de'asro, the ruler of the city. ship of fondness and attachment with the Gaon ofVilna, whose talmid, the king. the plince. The autholity of binds together teacher and student; Reb Chaim. established the first ye the Lithuanian Rabbi must be rein and in the middle setting, the student shiva in Volozhin; it was reinforced by forced daily; the authority of the is free to view his teacher objectively, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spector, Chassidic Rebbe is axiomatic, an without any personal considerations, whose unaffected amiability abol outgrowth of the devotion of his fol and to submit himself only to intellec ished any distinction between himself lowers whose souls would have to be tual and spilitual supeliolity. Here and the humblest person; and it was recast completely should the rela humility, there adoration, and in the further accentuated by Reb Yisroel tionship ever be terminated. In Hun third instance acknowledgement of Salanter. who proclaimed simplicity gary the Rabbi's authority is abso supremacy. These three different and gracious kindness to be the hall lute. imposed as if divinely ordained; postures of Hungarian, Chassidic marks of the Torah scholar. who his hand is being kissed while his de and Lithuanian Jews may be traced achieves recognition only through his cision is being awaited. His position to histolical developments. greater knowledge. was necessitated by the bitter The Jewish Observer, May 1995 9 struggle with the Reform movement. wave of assimilation, which had by a host of conditions. In Hungary Hungary, like Germany, had been been fostered by the government, fa everything is tightly regulated and most severely menaced by the tidal vored by society. and driven onward cast into a structure not to be tam pered with. This strategy requires complete submission to authority and it has tremendous educational validity. but it is impersonal, based on strict discipline. The Polish Chassid does not fight. He ignores the adversary; he devotes all his energies to his own inner circle. No separate Reform institutions en joy governmental support and the dissenters are left to go their own ways. The bond of love is so encom~ passing that all polemics are dis dained. All the more emphasis is, however, placed on all existing social relationships, on the specific Chas· sidic garb, and on the joyous religious meals that provide an impenetrable shield against the enemy. The balance is most delicate in Lithuania where there is no internal or external separation from those willing to compromise with the out side world, or even from the radical enemies of Jewish tradition. The spiritual superiority of the Torah gi ants provides the only guarantee for a continued Torah-true life as they also represent the power of the ye shiva and the leader model. Life is ~i~··ma~~~~«~~~ap~te1Jia·pr~talllthath~dreds unrestricted except for the limits of halachic stipulations. and yet nobody .; ;at~!nJisn~·~~11~~~v;~~~m1nth~.1asts2. • seems to worry. No Reform exists in ·~r~-i'K4~~~W·i~~ff S~mtna~.·~~\topiq ?i~~ssed RABBI Lithuania. even though only some of the schools are still "traditional.'' .·s··~a,;~.rQ.LJ;i~~~t~~an~~[c~u~gin?~ In sum: Hungary's loyalty to tradi •-·.. ,. 1trxliund•andtonstrrict abi!tter tomorrow. · flit fl 1A~~fi tion was retained through organiza tion, Poland·s through the inner ties TOPICS INCLUDE: of the Chassidic community. but RABBI Lithuania's was achieved solely ""' through Torah learning and excel lence. They all have succeeded in as ~HIM~H~H P/H(H~~ serting themselves with indomitable courage in our times. ··ii1~~~i:~ijNttA¥·~i¥i2&.2ii199)· REB;;;EN POLAND'S PREMIER YESlilVA e large populat;on centers of 1 Congress Poland-Warsaw. in J~~i~Jl·s:~~·~~r~.. ... f Hlu mm T;particular--<:onvey the almost insurmountable plight of the Jewish ··--./~-if~f.~.Aib~rrP~rk,NewJir~ masses. Their problems defy all at SHALHEVET I 1270 48th Street I Brooklyn, New York 11219 tempts at communal action. For ex ample, to provide proper education .······.•···_··•>·i•.••' tO~EGISTE~t>l.EAsi:.tAtL:. for all Jewish children in Warsaw, z1$'43~1o41 118-4;s..ii3:z 11s-63s.3005 914-356-35.15 thousands of Talmud Torah schools would have to be built. and that IO The Jewish Observer, May 1995 would completely exhaust the re inglights: chachma. binaand daasin sources for all other communal insti order to unite it with the Chassicfs tutions-hospitals as well as social rich emotional world; and wedded to welfare agencies. There are so many gether the mystical, super-rational impovedshed people in these cities, symbols of kabbala, the mysterious, that the problems cannot be mas stiffing world of religion, with the tered. The yeshivas are so over clear, logical exploration of the law. crowded, that hundreds of applicants Following this leitmotif, a Yeshiva had must be sent away at the beginning been set up in Lubavitch that has of each term; there is simply no room now found refuge in Warsaw. for them. One cannot think of this Rabb< Meir Shapiro. ;·;yr In other yeshivas one would rarely world of misery and tlibulation with hear a word of kabbalaor a quotation out being overwhelmed With pain and as a Rav and Rosh Yeshiva .. capable from the Z.Ohar. Here it represents an compassion . of penetrating the hearts of his people equally valid supplement to That Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin and Winning them, while in his heart halacha. ... The discourses impart to Iises from the very midst of this mis of hearts he yearns only for a life of the student a searching intuitive ery is a tnbute to the unnvaled ac Torah and mitzvas. note, an expression of apprehension complishments of the Lubliner Rav, and transcendentalism. Rabbi Meir Shapiro. He has demon OTHER YESI:llVOSIN POLAND strated to the world at large the im A Mussar Yeshiva portance of providing Torah study e various learning institutions with a magnificent edifice to counter we encountered reflected the nother group ofTalmud schol balance all the wretchedness sur iversity of Jewish spintual life ars, the Perushim had set out rounding it. in Eastern Europe. To the stranger, o intensify and refine the edu Rabbi Shapiro's vision struck a re they all seem to have the same coun cational work of the yeshivas sponsive chord in America, where one tenance, the same aim, and the same ·1 devoted admirer donated all the land method. This is not so. A number of 1----· for the main building, the rear annex yeshivas that had been spread over and the spacious garden in front. The the Czarist empire had to be re-estab 1r;ic;;:ivl1:l]j-o; I tremendous costs of construction lished in the narrow region of "Con I r.l\11h~' IFr ' .1 il!i.WCY IJ ""' JLl were raised and the current expenses gress Poland" and neighboring Polish review for daf yomi are completely covered, through Llthuania. Their diversity is now also the perfect tzeddaka boxes from surrounding apparent within the confines of the communities and through gradual same city. redemption of penny pledges from the Taped live From A very poorest, because the Yeshiva is The Lubavitcher Yeshiva so popular. To apply for admission, a prospec or me, the most novel type of Oaf Yomi ~niur In fnu/isn tive student must have mastery over institution was the Luba 250 blattGemora. and the waiting list F vitcher Yeshiva in Warsaw. We Each Daf is read TRANSLATED, E: The Jewish Observer. May 1995 11 through the Mussar movement. It aimed to edify the dialectically The various learning trained students of halachic discus sion with a determination to be also institutions we the most ethically refined. noble hu man beings. encountered reflected the Nothing novel about this effort, it simply placed more emphasis on diversity of Jewish some aspects ofTorah that previously may have received insufficient atten spiritual life in Eastern tion. Daily facing the inherent danger of unrestrtcted, unconditional intel crttical self-analysis and arouses con Europe. To the stranger, lectualism, the Torah student's con science in his sichos. The Mashgiach sciousness was now being impressed thus maintains a closer and more they all seem to have the with his ethical duties, his responsi personal relationship to his students bilities, his relationship to the mate and is revered by them with love and same countenance, the Iial objects of this world, to enjoyment respect. Yet, because of his superior same aim, and the same and performance, to possessions and scholarship, the Rosh Hayeshiva al restraints, his limitations and the ways has the first and the last word. method. This is not so. dangers of his inner nature. "Know yourself' is the first rule: give yourself The Mirrer Yeshiva an accounting ofyour desires and dl1- ties, your aspirations and your capa he Mirrer Yeshiva (which the Beth Jacob schools, in so many bilities. comes closest to the Chafetz cities and hamlets. We had to con While we visited other yeshivas in T Chayim's establishment in fine ourselves to just the fountain Novograd, Volozhin, and so on, we Radin) was the largest Yeshiva we vis heads of this sparkling life, the Jew particularly admired the mussar ye ited. I was profoundly impressed by ish Teachers' Seminary in Cracow shiva in Warsaw because both the the Mirrer clan of men, its chorus of and the summer home of the teachers and the students had been 400 voices, their energy in learning, Viennese Teachers' Institute in martyrs of Bolshevism. Neither the their intellectuality, their devout Sobor, near Neutra. In Cracow, the religious persecution nor the regime's prayer which, from the huge hall. original center, the seminary now hatred of all religions separated them reached our hearts as we ap has a home of four floors. From its from their Gemoras. They hid their proached, at the edge of the forest. roof terrace, one can see the wide books under their garments while be This authentic mussar, represented tracts ofland around the Vistula, as ing taken to prison. They braved by the Mirrer Rav and Rosh Haye well as the far-away Carpathian snow and ice to flee over the border shiva, was so imposing and magnifi Mountains, as if to symbolize the while facing mortal danger. cent. so simple and liberating, so influence of this edifice over the en With tears in our eyes we listened strong and inspiring that we felt com tire Galician-Polish world. The fu to the lectures of teachers whose lips pelled to say "Amen." ture teacher trains herself for her still tremble from the horrors of terrt In Mir and Radin we met 30 stu profession by living closely with a fying experiences and whose lives dents who had come fromAmertca to wide mix of young women because, resonate with their mussarideals. study. In Mir there also were 15 as a teacher, she will have to create This peculiar dual character of the young men from Germany. Far away a milieu rather than merely impart MussarYeshiva has resulted in a dual from home, they realize what the knowledge. leadership of the institution. Along yeshivas mean. Their proud Torah Through a rtgorous course of self side the Rosh Hayeshiva, represent consciousness will strengthen the denial the teacher transcends self ing Talmud authority, stands the backbone of all spiritual leaders in Is involved pettiness; the ideal become Mashgiach, the pedagogue, the men rael because the spirit of the Torah is second nature, and moral excel tor of the students. He stimulates our only strength. lence a foregone conclusion. Keren HaTorah was fortunate to find per The Beth Jacob Schools fect role-models to lead both semi naries: Dr. Leo Deutschlander, n Poland, Galicia, and now also in whose pure enthusiasm led him to The Service and Thrift Relocation Service will reduce your moving cost at least 42% on the Czechoslovakia, a network of devise grand designs for creating a moves within the Continental U.S. For information I Beth Jacob schools has been es suitable educational system for and a free estimate call Cindy, CORD northAmerican: tablished, providing some 20,000 girls; and the two seminary leaders, 1-800-873-2673 girls with spirttual strength, drawing Dr. Judith Rosen-baum and Ms. on religious, ethical and practical Eva Landsberg, who devote their (:,: northAmerican. sources. considerable talents and services to VAN LINES/AGENT It was impossible for us to visit all Beth Jacob. 12 The Jewish Observer. May 1995 PERSONALITIES WHO ARE ZekeinimJ. Thus, in its Golus, Israel ers accomplished lamdonim) to pub INSTITUTIONS has provided all the spiritual precon lish the Vtlna Shas, the most impor ditions for its redemption. Hence it tant printing of all time. Even today surely will be accomplished if we all Vilna is a city of Torah learning, al do teshuva, which of course is the Piligrimage to a Cottage hope for Israel's redemption. though its yeshivas and particularly in the Forest He insisted on being the plain the Ramailes Yeshiva with its dormi Lithuanian Rav. "When you do tory are relatively small. This is due e traveled by motor car to teshuva," he said, "you are being to the high level of Torah scholarship the wooden cottage in blessed by G-d. Strive to do teshuva prevailing in the Jewish population. W1d then you will not need nny special and also thanks to the great leader W which the greatest rabbinic blessing." authority of our times, Reb Yisroel The old sage wanted to rtse as we ship of Reb Chaim Ozer Grodzenski Meir Hakohein, the Chafetz Chaim, again bent down to him and guided his who. through his Merkaz was spending several weeks of re white hand to our lips. Exiting back Hayeshivos, has established a center spite. Passing through the smoke ward, we looked longingly at the room for the administration and coopera filled kitchen of the farm house, we in which we had seized a ray of the tion of all Lithuanian yeshivas. entered a small room and were stand Shechina. of the Divine glory. whose As a whole. the Jewish population ing before the 92-year-old sage of di luster is independent of all external of Vilna is extremely pleasant, free, minutive stature, sitting in an arm splendor, and which radiates the strong, diligent and intrinsically ma chair and attired in a black silk robe, ecstacy and bliss of redemption. even ture. Here we were welcomed by a with a black summer cap on his head. to the remotest recesses of the soul. group of Torah-observant Jewish He had been waiting impatiently for Outside, the pine trees were exud university students dedicated to a his guests all day long. Sublime de ing a fragrance around us, as we reconciliation between "then" and light lit up his face as we approached caught sight of the sun's golden rays "now." Here arrangements have been him. "Sholom Aleichem to all of you!" setting below the tall tree trunks. No made for the establishment of a he whispered in soft-spoken joy. We body spoke a word as the motor car teachers' seminary and here were set shook hands with him and, remark brought us to Radin, the site of the up the first chadorim mesuknim, Tal ably, each of us bent down humbly to Yeshiva, the site of the Chofetz mud Torah schools that availed kiss his hand, although the old. Chaim's vibrant and life-fulfilling themselves of some of the current gentle man repeatedly attempted to achievements. pedagogic innovations. This old uni draw it back. versity town is also a city of Jewish We are accustomed to holding Reb Chaim Ozer: spirit. Compared to Cracow and our heads high. Why in the pres The Crown ofVilna Lublin, Vilna is a city of modem Ju ence of this old man did we feel so daism and thus also a battleground humble, so enthralled, and yet so lna really was the heari and for the Jewish soul of our time. exalted? Undoubtedly we were over mind of Lithuanian Jewry. All of this was fascinating, but we whelmed by the realization that we V:Only in Vtlna could the print were looking forward to meeting Reb were facing the greatest halachic ing plant of the Widow and Brothers Chaim Ozer Grodzenski. Whereas the authority of our time. There was Rom have been set up (with all prtnt- Chafetz Chaim had imparied to us a also some other intangible factor. Devoid of all sensual stimulant, stirring Janguage, or provocative idea, it was the very lack of these el ements-his basic humanity-that overpowered us. We were yielding to the humility of the Torah. which for goes all externals for the self-suffi ciency of greatness. We were invited to have tea with the Rabbi and to partake of the pre serves that the Rebbetzin had brought in. For a full hour we sat with him around the wooden table Full JteA FrJndlng 1(, ~UIK1ioii Wdh l'ttJerol FIMitdal Ald For Eriglbre Al>¢kanft . in the wooden hut. and listened to his words: Includes C and Advanced C with Unix, C++, SQL with Oracle. All the aims qf our teachers have 8 month program meets on Sundays and evenings. really been achieved, a comprehen • For experienced programmers• only sive study of halacha has been ac • Very limited space • Classes begin tight after Pesach. TRAINING complished through the Rambam, • Free job placement assistance upon successful AT Tur, ShulchanAiuch and Rema (and completion of traininq. sflently we added, through his ·~-~Wv-1,,,,,.. COPE Mishna Berurah and Asifas Call today: 212-809-5935 Ext. 13 INSTITUTE The Jewish Observer. May 1995 13 thinker, full of humor and wit. exu We shook hands with the Chofetz Chaim and, berant with worldly wisdom, sharp and critical in verbal sparring and remarkably, each of us bent down humbly to kiss his repartee. Every thought is spiced with the salt of the Talmud. hand, although the old gentle man repeatedly He, too, speaks little and softly. Yet each word hits the nail on the head. attempted to draw it back. He reads the mind, and sees into the innermost heart. His authority is im glimmer of the future world, of the gifts of eloquence. Both are unpreten mense: all Lithuanian rabbis look up Shabbos stillness of eternity. we were tious, selfless and natural, outwardly to him as the highest judge for all now facing a more lively personality. indistinguishable from all others, theoretical and practical questions of These two Jewish spiritual giants placing emphasis on spirituality and halachaand Jewish life. His relation were both formed from the same ele the invisible, intimate crevices of the ship with them is fascinating, com ments. devoid of any ostentation or heart .... Here we met an ingenious pletely democratic and informal. His superiority is indisputable. It pro vides the basis for absolute confi dence. One hint-and he knows what they are contemplating, what they want to ask, and what their problems are. His affinning nod of the head as sures them of the propriety of their opinion. He is the uncrowned spiri tual sovereign. It is indeed absurd that short sighted politicians excluded this Gaon from the Chief Rabbinate of Vilna. !Another Rav of far lesser stat ,~. ure was elected to that position-see ·.. • rust in Hashem JO, March '84, page 37.] All this was overshadowed by the reality of his With All authority. Even his opponents be came aware of the tragi-comedy of Your Heart ... " their designs. The crown of the Torah is not dependent on any chair or of fice, but gravitates to its bearer be Trust in G-d - bitachon - is an.essential cause of his higher sanctity and in component of Jewish faith. But what herent qualities. This contrast be does it mean to trust in G•d? How .does tween the official and unofficial posi one express this trust and make. it a part tion has only tended to increase thou of one's daily life? sandfold the luster of his nobility. With All .Your Heart by Rabbi S, Wagschal provides a practical yet CIDsing Notes comprehensive guide to bitachon as it applies to daily living. Nothing of the trip, which then made Drawing upon verses from Tan~h as well as a host. of traditional history, is left today or is still of rel· commentari¢s, Rabbi Wagschal discusses, topics such as ... the way to evance. Not the participants, not the attai11 trust in Gcd; ·levels of trust; individual effort versus trust in G-d; places we visited, not the Gedolim we chi>osing a trade; trustin times oftrouble; the relationship of trust to met, not the institutions reviewed. Even mitzva peiformance, Torah study, and prayer; and much more. the validity of Rabbi Carlebach's masc terly analysis of the nuances of various WithAll Your Heart: It's essential reading for everyone- from strains ofJewish Orthodoxy (Hwigruy, Feldheim Piiblishers ! Galicia, Poland, and Uthuania as com t;.C. $12.95 Pocket EdltlOr\ $7.95 pared to Germany) has evaporated. But ...... : ...... the details of this report cannotfail to transport the reader to an earlier time FELDHEIM J5 PUBLISHERS and distant places, to infonn and in 1/Jrah Literature of Quality spire.-David TI.trkel {Mr. Turkel a pio 200 Airport Executive Park, Nanuet,NY 10954 Tel. \914) 356·2282 • Fax (914) 425· 1908 • E-mail [email protected] neer member ofAgurlath Israel Uves in Toll Free: 800·237-7149 • Ask for our NEW catalog. Brooklyn.) • 14 The Jewish Observer, May 1995 YosefF'riedenson THE MIRACLE OF SURVIVAL I remember in our camp in Starachowitz, how a years after the end ofWorld ar II and our liberation from e concentration camps, I, as Jewish policeman was shot for hiding a Jewish child. a member of the survivor generation, am deeply moved to recite a "Haller' "Kein Jude werd sich uns entzie'en-No Jew will and profound "Hodu laHashem ki toll' for the great nes (miracle) of our escape us. Not even a child!" shouted the S.S. survival. Some have characterized our sur Obersturmfuhrer Kolditz. But through nissim and vival as a triumph. A stirring word perhaps. but inappropriate-espe cially to those of us whose memories chasdei Hashem we-the she'eiris Hapleita-that are still stained with fresh blood and undried tears. 1 find it hard to use a last remnanHid survive. better word than nes. To help the reader appreciate this nes, permit me to review what we saw ish child. "Kein Jude wird sich uns mv?:l 0''11'>1'~ ... O"TN'll'?vC'lj?J. u?mw 'i1%. and what we experienced. This calls entzie'er>-NoJewwill escape us. Not "Had not Hashem been with us when for going back to 1942-1943. when even a child!" shouted the S.S. men rose up against us. then they the Germans began implementing Obersturmfuhrer Kolditz. would have swallowed us alive, when their design of Lehashmid ule'harog But through nissim and chasdei their anger was kindled against us." ule'abed, carrying out their "Final So Hashem we-the she'eiris haple!ta Ci1~l"VT1~1mu N':7VJ ·nin:i ... "Blessed is lution." Upon learning of a Jewish that last remnant- TheJewishObserver. May 1995 15 the new arrivals was a man older him to accept Goldstoff in our smithery that made use of large, ex than us-at least 40 years old - we group, which was under his super tremely hot ovens, there would be no learned later that he was a Gerrer vision, with conditions that were difficulty actually baking the matzos Chassid. Akiva Goldstoff was his more tolerable. Since I was serving if Pape said yes. name. On the first Friday night that at times as Pape's Polish-German When I came to Pape with our re he was there, he promptly con interpreter, he accepted Goldstoff quest, he looked at me incredulously. vened a 6 p.m. minyan for to our group. "You have no other worries?" he Kabbolas Shabbos. This is a special Reb Akiva Goldstoff, as we all later asked. He shrugged, and said: "If you person, I thought. If he's going to be called him (whose family had been can get the flour, go ahead." Actually, assigned to back-breaking work by wine importers in Cracow), tena Pape ended up helping us obtain the the Lagerrat, he would never sur ciously kept track of the passing sea flour while he was acquiring special vive. So I decided to approach the sons. When Pesach was approaching, food for himself. My wife, among oth head of our factory. a relatively de he asked me to request Pape for per ers, prepared the dough, and ... we cent German. a rarity, of course, by mission to bake matzos. Since we had matzos. the name of Bruno Pape. and asked were working in a large mechanical During our morning meal, at 10:00 a.m. on Pesach morning, we were served the customary soup with TORAH, CAMPING & TOURING slices of bread. Most of us put aside IN ERETZ YISROEL the bread for a possible later emer gency, and enjoyed our soup, which was not "chumetz be'en," with Experience six fun-filled weeks of matzah. Not Reb Akiva Goldstoff. He excitement and history in a Torah did not touch the soup, left the bread environment. in the basket and munched only his • Visiting the t1"w1pn :nltlli'tl matzah. Pape took note of this and suddenly became agitated. "What • Meeting our o•~l'I) kind of idiots are you? Fress Broft • Hiking • Sports Consume your bread!" he shouted. •Camping And as an afterthought, he added: "Don't you realize that Der Lieber G-tt • Snorkeling hatt euch oerlaszen? Your dear G-d •Tubing has forsaken you?!" .... and more! Pape looked at us, waiting for some kind of response. There was none. Until Akiva Goldstoff replied. (amp Eshel Avrohom offers a He rose from his seat, and in a loud unique touring experience for Bnei and clear voice said: "Nicht total, und Torah that combines a sightseeing nicht auf eivig. Not totally. And not experience staffed by licensed forever." guides with an intensive learning Yes, Goldstoff was right. There is no other logical explanation for our program featuring prominent survival to the end of the war other o•:nntl and guest o•iu1•'11 from than Goldstoffs response: Not to renowned m:i•'U• •'llMi. tal1y-notforever. Suddenly, and for many of us, unexpectedly, an order AT Eslld AvRolloM had been issued from Above that WE MAkE You FEd AT HoME said to the Malach Hamashchis, the IN ERETZ YisRoEl! Angel of Destruction: "Enough! Stop! I must keep My promise of 'Lo me'astim vela go'altim lechalosam- 1 did not despise them nor did I re ject them totally, to annihilate them."' Yes, the same Navi who warned, "Hineni meivi aleichem goi memerchok - I will bring upon you a nation from afar," closes his nevua (prophecy) with: "Vegam bayamim haheim lo SPACE IS LIMITED: PLEASE RESERVE EARLY AT OUR LOW RATE OF $2,995 e'eseh bachem kallah-Even in those days I will not reduce you to naught." 16 The Jewish Observer, May 1995 THE MANY MIRACLES: same trap. Let us not deceive our NO ROOM FOR FACTIONALISM BEYOND SURVIVAL selves. To be truly secure that we should "Never Again" suffer, we would add one more challenge must pray to be zocheh to be spared that our new generation ofTorah ot only do we survivors offer any such su11erlng in the future. testimony to an incomparable I true Jews must face, and this is N nes, we are its beneficiaries. I am saddened when I see scme of avoiding a sense of communal supe The nes is even greater when we take the finest among the new generations rimity, a belief that has sneaked into our children into accol1nt, the so taken in by the slogans ofdemagogues, the thinking ofsome of us. or perhaps called "Second Generation of Survi who have simple solutions for all prob vors." And what a wonderful genera lems, who believe that they can suc tion this isl 1 am often struck with cessfully fight and overcome To bellow "Never wonder. and I ask myself how we were antisemitism and all the other curses ever zocheh to such a generation. of Golus by staging demonstrations or Again!"-or similar What nachos it is for us to see our by exercising what has become glorified children and grandchildren frumer as "Chutzpah!"-never before consid slogans that we hear so than us; more dedicated in their ered anadmirableJewish midda(trait). often today-means avodas Hashem more scrupulous in Clearly, I am saddened by the fact their performance of mitzvos, more that the better the conditions of our casting aspersions on the generous in their tzeddaka, more lives, the more we benefit from this selfless in their chessed! malchus hachessed-the generous Kedoshim, as if they But these wonderful generations host country where we make our both of them-face a number of chal home-all the more does our new were guilty of complicity lenges that we were spared. 1will only generation forget that we are still in dwell on one of them, and this is the Golus, surrounded by so many en in their slaughter, and we challenge of being misled by self-ap emies and so-called mends who we pointed spokesmen for Kial Y"isroel must always be wary of. who are so much wiser who have captured the attention of I am not only saddened, but also would not fall into the the media, and inferred erroneous deeply concerned, because I remem historical and political lessons from ber that, thanks to these militant same trap. the destruction of European Jewry. slogans, rabbim chalolim hipilu Permit me to quote an English-lan many have fallen away from Torah guage translation ofseveral lines that Judaism. When I was growing up, that of almost all of us: that only my 1 wrote twenty years ago, when I had many of the best and finest of my ye way, my nusach is right; that only my heard for the first time the slogan shiva and shtiebel chaveirim were led Rebbe is the Rebbe of all of Kial "Never Again!" The message that 1 astray by the siren call of these mes YisroeL Each of us must extend our wrote two decades ago is unfortu merizing, hollow slogans; they spiri respect and our tolerance to the nately still relevant. tually destroyed many of our pre nusach and leadership of all our fel cious Jewish youth. As a survivor, I am saddened low members of the Torah camp. when I see how some of the best of our younger generation believe that 1'P:J all that happened to us-the The YESHIVA OF GREATER WASHINGTON, serving KLAL YISROEL since 1964, is Churban, the Holocaust-happened not because G-d caused us to be the proud to announce the opening of a Bais Med rash program this Elul (third most vulnerable of all nations, the year Bais Medrash level and above). The R'M will be Horav Aaron me'at mikol ha'amim. and because Lopiansky, Shlita, of Mirrer Yeshiva, Jerusalem, close disciple of Hagaon of Hestar Panim, G-d's conceahnent of Divine Countenance. It hap Horav Nochum Partzovitz, z"I. pened, they claim, because we were Registration is now under way for serious Talmidim with well-established meek and submissive, and did not learning skills. The program features: summon up the gallantry, force, and the strength to resist and fight back. • /yun - Based on the unique Mirrer Derech •We/I-planned Bekiyus program with compre· I am saddened because they do not hensive Chazarah and written examinations.• Close Rebbe/Talmid realize that by believing this lie, relationship •Pleasant setting conducive for /earning they malign their parents and grand parents, along with the majority of Interested applicants should contact Rabbi Yitzchok Merkin at 301-649-7077 the Kedoshim who perished. (day) or 301-593-7577 (evening). To bellow "Never Again!". or simi lar slogans that we hear so often to Rabbi Gedaliah Anemar day, means casting aspersions on Rabbi Yitzchok Merkin the Kedoshim. as if they were guilty Rosh Yeshiva Menahel of complicity in their slaughter. The Arrangements have been made with the University of Mary/and tor implication is that we - who are so credits leading to a B.A. or B.S. degree. much wiser-would not fall into the The Jewish Observer, May J 995 17 Chassidishe Yid. He was once re quired to remove his head covertng at an offical funcion in a public building. For weeks afterwards, he suffered se vere headaches, as a result of his Your#1Stop deep discomfort and ongoing remorse For for this act of accommodation. Quality Hats Yet, when he spent time with the leaders of Agudath Israel in Ger WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION many, and was exposed to a type of & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONIM TIES IN BROOKLYN Orthodoxy that he could not identify 1~11 \I rl< {) """"Pren "'I 463 E. 9th STAEETlblDllkllfttllll""""! Even in pre-War Europe, we mem with, he was nonetheless filled with (718)469-7420 • OutofSll1•1-80o-449-HATS bers of different groups learned to re awe over the way these heirs to Rav 8m10:30-l,M,W.ThtDO-7, TIM92:30-7,frl11:30- (Ew!Hrslnl.) Most CtedtCtrdsAc ·We9J UPS spect one another. My late father was Shamshon Raphael Hirsch kept their an uncompromisingly devoted, mentor's unyielding approach to Or thodoxy alive. My father's deep admi 0 ration found expression in the name rrf~·.,, EVERY GIRL'S DREAM... ,. , he gave my younger brother: Shamshon Raphael Frledenson. J~ A summer in Israel of camping and touring for ~t'T As a survivor, I feel more entitled ~~·~· a select group of frum girls ages f0-f8 *'""~ to issue this call for achdus-more ·c;::::·- ' :\-<;; 6 Weeks of 22 Exciting 71Jurs, Orama, Music, Oanc~~?;: ,c;~ ~~ obligated to do so - as a fulfilhnent of the Ponovezher Rav' s explanation Arts & Crafts, Conversational Hebrew & Oaily Shiurim. ~ ~<:::> Featuring: of the words of the Navt "You will be On Campus: Waterpark, Large Pools, Water Slides, I\.~ The Only Oairy Farm, Petting Zoo, Sports Field & More! :\ ~\11\ "Kosher" marked for survival, one [remaining Waterpark alive! in a city, two [surviving! from a Supervised actMties for older teens. '!..~ ·CCLAIMrn'BY . E!}l)CATORS. PA.llENTS in the world ANO CAMfEnS fROM THE U.S.A .. family" (Yirmiyahu 3, 14). Comparably priced to over-night ~'? EURO PL SOUTH AtRICA Atm ISRAEL Asked the Rav (Rabbi Yoseif camps in the mountains. ~ Kahaneman ':>"llT), "Don't several fruni Under the dynamic direction ~~~ lies usually reside in one city? of special educator I\. Shouldn't the numbers have been re O'vora Zelman. ~r/i:S:=li!B\! ... versed: 'Oneperfamily, two in a city'?" ~ ~ .I.I.II~- ("""\("""\ The Rav answered, "A sense of On the Grounds of Beautiful- Kibbutz Chafetz Chaim frunily is a feeling of closeness that is relative to a person's circum CAMP BNOS CHOFETZ CHAIM stances. If one has a large nuclear In New York: 718-282-6350 •Toll free; 800-Hl·BCC95; (800-442-2295) family, he feels close to his siblings and perhaps to several cousins. Other relatives are not counted as family. By contrast, an only child Boro Park "Y" Day Camp will even view distant cousins as 'frunily.' When only one person re Yeshivu boys ages 5 ~ 12 • Yeshiva girls ages 5 - 12 mains from a city, a vaguely famil iar face from a neighbortng town is The only "yeshivishe" day camp with pennanent out-of- a brother, close frunily, because he has no one else who is closer." oar facilities in Staten Island: ballfields, hiking ?:'.: ~) 1 After the war, we survivors num trails, late nights, cookouts, arts and crafts, ) bered one or two per city. A person music, all sports, special events and trips. from the next village was virtual fam ily ... just as the Navi had said. Could • Boys learn daily at the Y from 9 - 11 am. 0 parochial feelings of plide, group rt • • Swimming daily in two Olympic size pools valries, and a misplaced sense of su taught by licensed and experienced lifeguards. peiioiity have any place in that post • Free transportation included in camp fee. libration setting? Of course not! To • Also Nursery Day Camp for children, 3 - 5 day, we are all still survivors. Al at the Y building. though we number more than just "one from a city," we are-all of us Call 438-5921 for brochure and information. members of the same family. This Soro Park YM-YWHA, 4912 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 should be reflected in our mutual love Member agency of UTA/Federation and respect. • 18 The Jewish Observer. May 1995 ·!!! FIFTY YEARS SINCE THE END OF WORLD wAR II RabbiAvrahamAusband Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Katz 7·sr THAT SENSE OF MISSION, In the Haftorah for "Machar of notes on a shiur (lecture) that the A HALF CENTURY AGO Chodesh," we read from Tanach Rosh Yeshiva was writing thai day, (ShmueU 20, 22) how Yonasan had ar we find: any of us who grew up im ranged to signal Dovid that he was in "I am not able to concentrate (on mediately after World War II danger from his father King Shaul's this writing) as I should, for that M have a particular contribu wrath. Yonasan toid htm "ifltell the boy which I feared has reached me-the tion to make regarding reconstruct The arrows are beyond you'-go,for tenible news of the death of ... at the hands of the accursed German mur ing some of the tragic losses of that Hashem has sent yolL" derers. May Hashem avenge their Churban. My family was completely Yonasan should have advised Dov id: blood and have mercy on His people. decimated. I was never priVileged to ..Flee! Runfor your life!"- not simply. Should someone look at these writ meet either of my grandfathers. "Go." ings, let him not judge me as callous That's the way we grew up. I may not When one recognizes G-d's and cruel for having delved into the be qualified to be a "zogger," one who Hashgacha (Providence) in all that oc words of Torah after such terrible tells others how to respond to this curs. he realizes that when people are news. Aside from the fact that the news did not surprise me-for the challenge of "remembrance and re impelled to leave a place because qf im terrifying knowledge {of what had construction"; so I will attempt to per pending danger, this is not flight, but a transpired in Europe} had already form as an "ilber-zogger." one who re signal of a mission on which they are prepared me for these terrible tid peats that which others have said. being dispatched. ings-I feel that I can never come to Over the years. I heard on numerous A Yid never rnns away. A Yid never peace [with myself] without the toil occasions our revered Rebbe, Rabbi flees. A Yid always goes somewhere be of Torah... without fulfilling the sa Mordechai Gill:er, 1<""""'1 relate how in cred duty which now falls on us sur cause he has a mission to per:_form We vivors. Having learned of my awful 1940-41, Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch, and too are not refugees! We are not running tragedy, my first call of duty must Rabbi Mordechai Katz ?"t-two rem away.from Europe; we were sent by the be laboring in Torah. I am inden nants of the Yeshiva of Telshe, Hashgacha with a miss ton to felfill in the tured in the service of my people.... " Lithuania-{'ame to these shores, with United States of America. We came to He concludes with one more out the slightest idea of what was in this country to build Torah, to build a ye thought; store for them. Darkness was on the shiva, to build mosdos. It's all part of a "To cry over the tzaar-the hori7..on. They had left behind large fami Divine plan. pain-of my nation, there is no end. lies, extended families, a community, a Those were the words that Reb Of what importance are the woes of yeshiva-everything-and had come to Elya Meir said as soon as he anived the individual when compared to America on a mission of mercy. And on these shores. one's duties to the Kl.al?" then they were stranded here. They did Such was the stature of Reb Elya not know how to speak the language, Meir: Ofwhat sign!ficance is personal and surely did not understand the men FULFILLING THE MISSION grief when I consider what must be tality of the American people. The entire done for Kial Yisroel? I have to build a scene was totally foreign to them. our years later, the fate of his yeshiva, and I have to say shiurim I Reb Elya Meir called a meeting of family was still unknown. His have to be "mechadesh" Torah. I must some 20-25 talmidim of pre-World F heart was trembling. What bring the youth to limud haTorah and War II Telshe in Manhattan's Broad happened to my wife? What hap iyun baTorah. That's why I was way-Central Hotel. He came to them pened to my children? My brothers, spared, and that's what I'm herefor. with the following message; my sisters? My whole community? That is the way he lived. And he They suspected the worst, but the implanted in each and every one of us Rabbi Ausband is the Rosh Hayes/liva of the Ye in shtva ofTelshe Alumni, In Riverdale. NY. This ar news was not clear as yet, terms of that same sense of mission-that we ticle was adapted from an address at the 75th Na who had survived and who had not are here to serve Hashem's designs. tional Convention of Agudath Israel of America. until the winter of 1945. In the midst Many years later, my uncle, Rabbi The Jewish Observer, May 1995 19 C.I.S. PUBLI8 IATE SHADOWS Jt/nnem Moshe Holcz/er BY MALA KACENBE THE TENTI THE HOLOCAUST ] TIIEY CALLED ME FRAU ANNA Chana Banet ~twelve-ye the district of Lub primitive facilities • ment and the thrill the Poles could not Then war~ blonde hair and bk DARE TO SURVIVE slip away from the Chaim Shlomo Friedman upon returning fro1 people being herde Alone in the of Polish peasants audacity and extra< from the loving er often imagines thal live her life accordi BEIIlND THE ICE CURTAIN Dina Gabel gfe Holocaust Diaries Collection has become G remembrance and honor to our holy martyrs, and as become a fundamental part of home and school librari~ the overall holocaust experience. Several more volumes . preparing their holocaust memoi'IS for publication ani memoi'IS set in the Wa'ISOW Ghetto, Germany, Holland, l' A com}Jlekeatalogue ofC.1.S SISfERS IN THE SfORM For itt/omlation abo#four Prl1'ileged Rel. RS PRESENTS ~f?ftorea" ITTIK, BE STRONG ,ONDON, ENGLAND) Yitzchak Pomerantz OLUME IN ~RIES COLLECTION SONGS OF HOPE Duvid Werdyger lala Szorer, life in the small Polish town ofTarnogrod, in an unbroken succession of golden days. Poverty and )t diminish the joys and warmth of her Jewish environ ssoming education. Even the worsening anti-Semitism of 1 young Mala's exuberance and joy of living. nd Mala's idyllic world disintegrated. Because of her and her fluency in the Polish language, Mala was able to and forage for food for her starving family. But one day SOMEDAYWE'LLBE FREE f her forays, she discovers the ghetto surrounded and its Leibel Sanik ·deportation. From this point on, Mala is alone. s the story of a young girl's survival in the hostile world COUllT£Rr£1T ~rs and forest people. It is a story of resourcefulness, llU£S r heroism but also of excruciating loneliness. Torn away of her family and all contact with Jewish people, Mala :he last Jew on earth. Nonetheless, she is determined to eJewish values she absorbed in the home of her parents. COUNTERFEIT LIVES Avraham Krakowski ~ed part of our Jewish heritage. It brings everlasting is widely-acclaimed collection of inspiring memoirs has volume stands on its own, presenting a different aspect of ently in production. We are willing to assist survivors in :um in the Collection. Of particular interest to us are nd Shanghai. tions is available upon reques:f. 'flltbenhip Qub please tall 1-8 22 The Jewish Observer. May 1995 Similarly, Aaron, too, would not have Shevatimfor all eternity. Aaron had a collectively-<0an do so much l'tovas contented himself with going forth to share in ushering in the Geulah; and Klal Yisroel. and ultimately for our greet his younger brother, Moshe, "with the selfless joy that throbbed in his own benefit. joy in his heart" iShemos 4, 14)-withno heart also had an eternal value. If animosity, no envy-when Moshe was only they had known! A VERY SPECIAL LEGACY returning to Egypt to redeem the Jews. We too have opportunities to link Had he realized that G-d was to record our actions and concerns with eter ur weeks before Reb Baruch his unadulterated haPPiness in the To nity by becoming involved in Torah. Sorotzkin was niftar he trav rah. he would have welcomed his return Too many of us dismiss involvement eled to New York-in spite of to Egypt with a fall orchestra! in a yeshiva or other Torah projects his wracking illness - to be mena Reb Elya Meir Bloch. '>":il. ex as being the exclusive domain of chem avel (offer condolences to) a very plained the above Midrash in a com "those fellows on the board." We dis good mend of ours. The deceased fa pelling manner. To be sure, neither tance ourselves from the arena of ac ther of the avel (mourner) had been Reuvain nor Aaron were viewing tivity and accomplishment. This we exceptional in his devotion to Klal their actions as potential media would never do, should we but cor Yisroel causes. events: had they known it was being rectly assess the potential signifi When Reb Baruch returned to the covered, the would have .... Rather, cance of our every gesture, and rec yeshiva on Sunday morning, he was they were responding to their newly ognize that such involvements are very pale. and physically shattered. "l gained awareness of the signifi truly enviable opportunities to had to be menachem avel," he ex cance of their actions with a natu achieve some measure of eternity. plained. "Let me tell you what 1 said ral yearning common to all hu Do we realize how much of signifi to our mend: 'Have you already di mans. Every person-man. woman, cance is contained in our every car vided your father's inheritance?'" Jew, Gentile-no matter who ing act? Chaza! tell us that there was "What?" 1 asked in disbelief. craves to somehow achieve eternity. a time when, should someone per Said Reb Boruch, "I explained, 'l Either his deeds or his thoughts form a mitzva. the Naviwould record don't mean the millions. 1 mean the should be remembered. Didn't the it in Kisvei Hakodesh. Today. (they inheritance of responsibility for Kla! Kedoshim in the concentration ask,) when somebody does an act of YtsroeL Your father was involved in camps request: We're going to our consequence, who records it? How cause X, your father accomplished so death for Kiddush Hashem, so re does it become eternalized? much for institution Y and Z. Who's member us! Say a Kaddish! Learn a Chazal answer that Eliyahu taking over? Who's going forward Mishnafor us! Remember what we Hanavi sits in the Shamayim and with this spiritual yerusha?'" were! Remember! writes down these deeds together That is the sense of mission with The need to achieve eternity was with Melech HaMoshiach, and which our predecessors lived .... planted by HaKadosh Baruch Hu in Hakadosh Baruch Hu signs beneath Hashem Ylsborach listens to the every person. Reuvain and Aaron their notations. Do we recognize how discussions of Klal Yisroel. May He were faulted by Chaza! for not realiz seemingly random acts are actually find our words and subsequent deeds ing the importance of their respective opportunities to make our actions worthy of immortality. What a fitting deeds. Reuvain's act of saving Yoseif eternal? Each and everyone of us, as memorial they would be to those who maintained the integrity of the an individual-and all the more so. perished in the recent Churbanl • Not just a cheese, a tradition... / Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A 't• reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam. a tradition you'll enjoy keeping. All ttaolam Cheese products are made In the U.SA. under the strict rabbinic.a! supervision of: 11fe llabblute of lf'ltal Adath Je.slhlnm Cholov Yisroel Washl--"-- nel•llH- ffr THURMBROS.WORLD CHEESE CO. INC. Haolam BROOl'iLYN. NY 11232 • TheJewishObserver. May 1995 23 ~ FIFTY YEARS SINCE THE END OF WORLD wAR II Bas Kedoshim mains of my father, ?":it, a korban who left this world truly at kiddush Hashem. These remains, at least, were brought to kever Yisroe1, and laid to rest beside my grandfather's grave. Shortly after, on a date I will never know, the rest of my family perished at the hands of the ac cursed Nazis. s impossible as it seemed, a '''",,,·) 0 little girl, but one year old A when it all began, lived A Leittft:'tfi through the fires of the Warsaw Ghetto, the hell that was the extermi nation camp Bergen Belsen, until by e youngest of four siblings, I rived in Cracow to assume the posi way of miracles which I cannot de m the only one to miracu tion of Rav. scribe in tills Jetter, she was brought Tiously have survived the The bishop politely ushered my fa to the shores of the United States. Churban. My father, ?":it was the last ther, together with two other repre There she was raised by a loving fam Rav of Cracow, a city that before sentatives ?"!,into his study, where ily, ke'ilu yolada mamash--as though World War II boasted a population of deliberations immediately began. they actually gave birth to her. I am 60,000 Jews, a city flourishing with Sometime later, he "graciously" ac that little girl. Torah and aristocratic Yiddishkeit quiesced to intercede on behalf of the Many years have since passed. I As the clouds of destruction hung Jewish population of Cracow. As the am now n":l a mother and a Bobbe ominously over Europe, there still were three gratefully stood up to leave, a many times over, ;rv:i. and that of those who could not fathom the depths door to another room suddenly the other kedoshim of my family, of the cruelty of the Nazi beast, 1'"'. opened, and they were seized by a that has enabled us to raise a family The year was 1939, my father, as band of Nazi gendarmes, 1'1"'. dragged of true bnei Torah, who in turn are Rav of the city, together with two off to prison, never to be seen by their doing the same. and thus are being other representatives of the commu families again. mekadesh Shem Shamayim in a nity, went to the bishop of the city, to I was but a baby, but one can well manner that I am certain makes beseech him that he intervene on be imagine the anguish that my mother their ancestors proud. half of the Jews of Cracow. that they and my three siblings, ;rv. suffered. not be deported from Poland. This Several months later, the Nazis, ecently, my husband and I was the very same bishop who years organized as they were, sent a spe traveled to Poland, having de earlier had so "warmly" welcomed my cial messenger to my mother, bear R cided that the time had come grandfather, ?":it, when he first ar- ing a small jar of ashes, the last re- for us to go to kever avos. As I sat on the plane, confusion and doubt besieged me. I wondered whether I was doing the right thing by visiting this cauldron of hate. Out of this state of confusion, how ever, came the inspiration to write this poem. By the time I had fin ished writing it, I found that I was at peace with myself and with my TO ERETZ YISROEL mission. My children 1'Tl'1!>, have urged me to write to you and to submit this A REVERED TZADDIK OF YERUSHAlAYIM WILL DAVEN FOR: piece of writing to you. As difficult •Health •Parnoso •Shalom Bayis •Shiduchim •Conception as it is for me to do this, I yield to their wish. We live in an era of complacency ,,,,i1 n:a•w• YESHIVAT HARAN and insensitivity. I trunk it is impor •Founded by the Steipler Gaon '"Jr tant for all of us to realize where we •One of the Largest Kollelim in Yerushalayim with Over 350 Torah Scholars are, how we came to be here, and to •ENDORSED BY RAV PAM, RAV ELYASHIEY; RAV AUBERBACH whom we owe a debt of gratitude. I feel that the words I write speak not 24 HOUR HOTLINE: f718J 258-NEEDf6333J only for myself, but for many more. 24 TheJewishObserver, May 1995 THE JOURNEY Across the oceans to this cursed Hot tears flow to mix with pouring Have them come sometimes this earth, rain, way Watered by blood and tears, this They help to bathe the hurt, to ease A "kaddish' el," for us, to say. land of my birth. the pain. It will pierce the heavens far above. Do I really fly this bird, is it I? I see my father, arms stretched Our sacrifice will speak for them How heavy is my heart, liow I sigh. high. with love." I hear the soulful cry. What is it that draws with dread I will bring them, I will come again. To this place I dare not tread? "Dearest child, please do not weep, I'll assure tliem that their torturous This blood-soaked earth, I can hear For with the angels we do sleep. death was not in vain. it scream, Though once we wept such bitter I will listen to the sounds I can almost touch the dream tears, That have drawn me to this strip of You have now allayed our fears. hallowed ground. Of the millions young and old, Who have left it now so cold. "Each child's another link in one I must leave now, my head so bent. Of those who called it "Home" long chain, I am glad some time I spent, And now have left it all alone. Our blood runs thick through all his Grateful from the very start, veins, For this place to express the essence I still hear the whistles shrill Attesting to the path we paved, of my heart. Of the beasts, their prey to kill. Our bodies broken, yet our spirits Yet in a lonely field a haunting song saved. I walk away with heavy sigh, beckons me to come along. No longer wondering is it I "As you return from whence you've Who came flying here on high. "Do not leave us here forsaken come, For now I know the reason why. In this world so greatly shaken. Do remember we are one. BAS KEDOSHIM Come around from time to time, Though miles and miles apart, So far, yet so close, dear child of Distance shrinks when of one heart. mine." Uncle Moishy, .. ·.. "Through the children, as they Mordechai BettDal'ld, And so, with head so bent, strive, and other top-of-the-line I have come some time to spend We forever will remain alive. Jewish enfertabters By these graves so old and worn, Teach them now so they may know are avllilable · · With those so cruelly from us torn. to visit The righteous path on which to go. serioJ1sly ill I will tell them I have not forgotten, "They must be told the age-old 'hildren lhanksl6 That in their merit I have all story rnn nnr.w begotten. Of life and death in all its glory. """".,,,,, """""' "i'l"' , """"' That though their blood had flowed In flames consumed, yet on our lips AChmol p1o)eefl1l' by so free, AIW!lth-ol.lmlia His name. ~ ""i'"""'·Wllli Siik! & llillJ 1'1'1du The Jewish Observer, May 1995 25 Rabbi Yerachmiel D. Fried A Glimpse at the Life of a Giant inOurTimes "My headstone should be of conven teemed Rabbi Shlomo Zalman tional size, and certainly no higher Mara11Hagaon·•Harav Porush. In 1906, Reb Chaim Yehuda than those of my parents 11")1. You Leib, at age 20, established the Ye may add to the headstone the follow Shlomo Zalman shiva Shaar Hashomayim of ing words, 'He developed students in Kabbalah. During the day, a regular the Yeshiva Kol Torah and dissemi Auerbach :i"7pi:::n yeshiva schedule was followed, but nated Torah to the multitudes .. .' throughout the night the students Should someone wish to say words of panied him to his _final resting place, immersed themselves in the writings eulogy, 1 strongly request that they and the countless more who loved him of the Ari zal and the Kavanos should be concise and not say words and revered him for all that they had HaRashash, both exalted kabbal of praise about me {as even now, heard about him istic works. Soon after, Reb Chaim when I am alive, I am pained by These lines are culled from words I Yehuda Leib established a kollel of praise) ... only words that inspire love have heard.from Reb Shlomo Zalman's seventy members and a Cheder for of Torah and the fear of Heaven, per distinguished sons, daughters, and children. fection in deed and middos (charac sons·in·law, from his close students of From the time Reb Shlomo Zalman ter traits) .... "-from the tzavaa (will) 11.<4f a century, and.from the little I mer· entered the Cheder of Eitz Chaim it of Reb Shlomo Zalman ':>"oit. ited to obseroe over the past decade. Vol became evident that he was no ordi The Gemora, (Bava Basra l 5a) cites umes would not suffice to describe a nary talmid. When his father taught an opinion that thefmal eight verses of man whose feet walked upon the same him the first Mtshna in Bava Kama, the Torah, which recount the death of earth as ours, but whose head was high the child noted the cases regarding Moshe, were written by Moshe himself [n the heavens, and wlwse heart was cattle in the Mishna and asked what with tears rather than ink. It would the heart ofthe Jewish natton. would happen if the chickens in thetr seem that besilies the standard mode courtyard would damage or eat an of writing, there is a type of script in· EARLY YEARS: SPIRITUAL other person's possessions. Reh scribed in tears. This brief tribute be· RICHNESS, MATERIAL POVERTY Chaim Yehuda Leib later commented iongs to the latter category, written with that his child had then revealed his pen dipped in the tears ofall who knew eb Shlomo Zalman was born propensity toward becoming a him, the 300, 000 melavim that accom· on 23Tamuz. 5670 (1910), to poseik, one who applies his learning R fagaon Rabbi Chaim Yehuda to actual practice. Rabbi Fried, who serves as Rosh Kollel in Dallas, Leib and Rebbetzin Tzivya Auerbach, As Reb Shlomo Zalman grew into Texas, is author of the sefer Yorn Tov Shefni scions of great rabbinical families of a young man, his peers and teachers K'hilchoso as well as Kuntress Tziunim L'Ramban al HaTorah, and Sejer Minchas Erev Al Arvei Yerushalayim for generations. His all marveled over his unusual bril Pesachtm mother was the daughter of the es- liance as well as his intense love for 26 The Jewish Observer, May 1995 Torah and his unwaveling hasmada (intensity of study). He became very Volumes would not close to the revered Rosh Yeshiva. Hagaon Rabbi Jsser Zalman Meltzer suffice to describe a man l "x+ who chose him as chavrusa (study partner). Reb lsser Zalman of· whose feet walked upon ten spoke with lavish praise of this young, budding scholar, and his des· the same earth as ours, tiny as a gaon. He once remarked that as a 23-year old, his talmid possessed but whose head was elements that were rare among Torah scholars of 40. high in the heavens, Reb Shlomo Zalman once de· scrtbed the shiur of his Rebbe: "Reb and whose heart was lsser Zalman would begin reading the Gemora, immediately posing simple the heart of the Jewish queries. In attendance were great scholars, many of whom could recite nation. the tractate by heart. Some were cliti· cal of the shiur, commenting that the his students, his remarkable com answers to those queries are explicit mitment to always adhere to a statements of the Gemora in other schedule. He kept to this strtngency places, or of classical commentaries throughout his life, even durtng his on the spot. Many of them dropped later years when he won the love and Reb Shlomo Zalman with his son n~' the shiur to learn on their own. But appreciation of the masses because Reb Shmuel N"1'W there was more to it. By the conclu· of his accessibility to one and all, re· chavrusa for this undertaking relates sion of each of these magnificent sponding to every type of request, that at times people knocked on the shiurim, an entire thought system petition, and halachic query. door during morning hours with had been projected. From the way he Through it all, he had maintained a great insistence. When the avreich structured the sugya (passage) to· room in the Shaare Chessed neigh· would rise to get the door, Reb gether with us, I learned how to borhood, where he went daily to Shlomo Zalman would say, 'This is learn." learn undisturbed, before his public the time I learn. There are others The Auerbach home often lacked hours. (A close talmid discovered the whom they can ask. And if they need basic necessities. As the oldest child, location of this hideaway, and ap· me, they'll come back at 2:00." much of the burden of providing for proached the Rosh Yeshiva there to the household fell upon young discuss a Torah topic with him. Not ILLUMINATING THE WORLD Shlomo Zalman's shoulders. There abandoning his r-.haractelistic smile. WITH IDS WRITINGS were times he forfeited his own por he said softly to the talmid. "I came tion of bread to a hungry sibling, and to this room to escape the crowds, uring the years around his then engrossed himself in Torah, including yourself." And that ended Bar Mitzva, he would become which stilled his nagging hunger. the well-intensioned invasion. Tl1is D upset when reading halachic talmid, today a highly regarded literature written by great contempo· That Unswerving Resolution talmid chacham, notes that this en· rary scholars, challenging rulings of counter instructed him in the un earlier Acharonirn He would on occa e once commented that in yielding dedication necessary to sion attempt to justify the opinions of light of the abject poverty of grow toward greatness in Torah.) those authorities and send his re H the times and the responsi When Reb Shlomo Zalman was sponse to these giants, undaunted by bilities he earned, he was halachically older and too weak to walk daily lo his youth, the fire of defending what exempt from Torah study. "I was only this room, he would learn at home, he thought to be the truth burning in able to continue to grow in learning," jealously guarding his plivate hours. his heart. Often these rabbis publicly said Reb Shlomo Zalman, "because of In his final year and a half, when he yielded to his sound arguments. my resolution to keep sedarim--set had resolved to annotate the com· At age eighteen, Reb Shlomo hours for learning, come what may ments and piskei halacha (decisions) Zalman authored a magnificent com· never to budge from those appor cited in his name in Sejer Shn1iras mentary on the classical work Shev tioned times, and to take care of all Shabbos K'Hilchaso, wlitten by his ShemeiJza. His father was impressed other matters. no matter how press ialmid Rabbi Yehoshua Newirth, his with the work, which shows an un ing. outside the framework of those ahavas Torah drove him to overcome canny mastery over much of Shas, its set times." physical infirmities to fulfill this commentartes, and Shulchon Aruch, It was then that he forged his rtg monumental task. The avreich(KoUel but asked his son to put it away. Its orous strtngency with himself and fellow) who merited to be his contents were unusually perceptive for The Jewtsh Observer. May 1995 27 their family of Torah greatness: Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka, the daughter There were times young of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Ruchamlen, a noted teacher in Yerushalayim. Shlomo Zolman forfeited After their wedding, the couple moved in with the Ruchamlens. 'The his own portion of bread Rebbetzin assumed the major role in raising the children when they were to a hungry sibling, and small. enabling Reh Shlomo Zalman to devote himself fully to his learning. then engrossed himself On occasion, when I would pose questions to him regarding chinuch of in Torah, which stilled his small children, he would say, 'Tm not Reb Shlomo Zalman in his youth sure what was done in that case with nagging hunger. someone his age, and the father feared my children, because I entrusted that the attention it would attract might such matters with my Rebbetzin, who cause his son to become arrogant. Out was a wise and pious woman and the (1935) of Ma'oreiEish, a work ofrare of respect for his father, he kept it un daughter of gedolim" erudition on the then-undefined sub published, until his family prtnted the A kollel Yungerman once com ject of use of electricity on Shabbos manuscript a few years ago. plained to Reb Shlomo Zalman that his and Yom Tov. His Rebbe, Reb lsser During those years. he became children cause such a ruclalS at home Zalman, in his approbation to the very close with two of the great that it's impossible.for him to team. Reb sefer, described the work as possess poskim of the generation, Rabbi Zvi Shlomo Zalman 1.va..5 surprised, saying ing a breadth and depth of knowledge Pesach Frank and Rabbi Zelig that when his children were small they befitting an accomplished sage. The Reuven Bengis, both heads ofJewish were so well behaved and quiet that his sefer is also crowned with the appro courts in Jerusalem. Through their learning was never disturbed. The bation of a leading authority of his influence, he was guided to his even Rebbetzin overheard their conversa time, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzensky tual role as poseik. in addition to Rosh tion, and intem.lpted saying, "Excuse ofVilna. Reb Chaim Ozer. upon learn Yeshiva. me. but that's not entirely accurate. Our ing that the author was but 25 years On Purim Meshulash' of 5690 children were as loud as any other old, exclaimed: "OhrchadashaITzion (1930), Reh Shlomo Zalman manied kids. Ijust shielded you from the noise ta'ir! (A great light will illuminate the woman of valor who was to en so you could concentrate." Zion)." After completing this sefer, sure his continued growth and raise Reb Shlomo Zalman decided to de Reh Shlomo Zalman left Yeshiva Eitz velop a special proficiency in the Chaim to join Kolle! Kerem Tzion. an I .When Purtm (14 Adar) falls on Friday. cities such tractates Beitzah and Bava Kama, institution of advanced scholars as Jerusalem. which keep Shushan Purim {15 which remained his "favorites" for his where Hikhos Eretz Y'1.Sroel the many Adar). mark different aspects of lhe holiday over a three·day pertod. Hence the name. which means entire lifetime. His study of Beitzah complicated laws linked to the Holy !riple Putinl. - culminated in the publication in 5695 Land, were studied in depth. He pub lished articles on the subject in the Kollel's publications, and remained n11n <>:>)no? 1)'?J1' there until the publication of his MaadaneiEretz, in 5704 (1944). This n ")'\?Jn ~N / r1on-o<>?'\?J'li<> comprehensive work on the laws of Shmitta, the sabbatical year in Eretz YisroeL was published a year before TORAH EDUCATORS INSTITIJTE Shmitta, and immediately won ac Registration is now open for the summer program of 5755 which will be held lYH in claim as the authorttative work on the Yerusholayim. Once again, the program which has been recommended and endorsed by Gedolei subject. It was followed by two simi Yisroel, will present an intensive course of study, prepared for Bnei Torah to enable them lar works on terurnos and maasros to develop their full potential as Mechanchim in Yeshivos and Day Schools. (tithes). which received similar praise. Our dedicated staff of Roshei Yeshiva, professional Rabbeim, and prominent Mechanchim, When the Steipler Gaon received will present the full range of subjects vital to the success of the rebbe in the classroom. these works of Reb Shlomo Zalman, We invite motivated individuals possessing higher Yeshiva and (or) Kolle! education, to participate shortly after the Chazon lsh's passing in this program. in 1953, he said, "I thought that when the Chazon !sh died, Taras Eretz Recognized for a Yeshiva Teacher's License Yisroel vanished with him (Batla For further infonnation contact Taras Eretz YisroeO. Now I see that Taras Eretz Yisroel is still alive." In a RABBI HILLEL MANDEL, Dean RABBI NACHMAN ZAKON, Administrator letter to Reh Shlomo Zalman con NY (718) 805-ll91 Jerusalem 02-519-739 cerning terumos, the Steipler ends by 28 TheJewishObserver. May 1995 stating that "whoever has this sejer Zalman. relates that Rabbi AHAVAS TORAH cannot move without it in related Mertzbach later confided in him, matters." "Do you know why Reh Shlomo b Shlomo Zalman's son Reh Reh Shlomo Zalman frequently Zalman was appointed to his posi Shmuel eulogized him as lov mentioned his intense devotion to tion? When I asked him that ques R ng Torah and only Torah. Eretz Yisroel. He was under great tion, and he answered 'I'm mis From when he began to learn Gemora pressure to attend weddings of taken,' it was clear to me that with until his last day, he lnvested all his grandchildren in England, but once that calibre of emes, he's our Rosh thought and energy to probing the commented that that's one thing he Yeshiva!" depths of halacha A correspondent will be taking with him: he never set Reh Shlomo Zalman once re once asked why we call Talmudic foot outside of Eretz YisroeL marked that he will not be rewarded academies "yeshivas," the wliter of for accepting truth, because he sim fering the explanation that Torah is ROSHYESlilVA ply fmds greater joy in agreeing with learned sittlng down (yosheiv), hence the truth than 1n defending his posi "yeshiva." Reh Shlomo Zalman re efore completing a second tion, if the two seem to conflict. jected that answer, because the Avos work on tenunos, he was of B fered the position of Rosh Ye shiva of Yeshivas Kol Torah. Reh Shlomo Zalman was in a dilemma, Helping each and every talmid wanting to complete his commentary to the fifth and final chapter of succeed in his learning and Rambam Hilchos Terumos. He dis reach hie potential. cussed his quandary with his Rebbetzin. who pointed out that the The only yeshiva high school in mertt and tmportance of teaching stu dents might be even greater than America offering a vocational completing this much needed work. program in conjunction with Considertng this, he decided to enter its secular studies. this new stage of his life, the Rosh Ye shiva (Before his passing, he com Profeeeional, warm, dedicated mented that he "earlies" five more unpublished volumes of Maadanei Rebbeim and staff. Eretz 1n his mental files, but as long as he can serve as Rosh Yeshiva, pub Personalized attention to lishing them will remain secondary each talmid. among his prtortties.) Reh Shlomo Zalman was invited Chavruea program with to deliver a pilot shiur at Kol Torah, which would determine his suitabil talmidim from Beth Medrash ity for the position. Near the begin Govoha, Lakewood. ning of the lecture, Rabbi Yonah Mertzbach 7"'17, one of the founders Supervised Dorming facilities of the yeshiva, interrupted with a question. After a few seconds, Reh 20 minutes from Lakewood; Shlomo Zalman unflinchlngly said, 'Ta'isi-I made a mistake," and went 1 hour from Brooklyn. on to a different subject. When he returned home and the Rebbetzin asked how it went, he said, "Not so well. I admitted to a mistake hardly into the shiur. Although I had three answers to his question, I felt the question was closer to emes (truth) than my answers." He did not know why he was ac We are currently accepting eurolln1e11t cepted for the position in spite of for the 1995-96 school 11ear. the "bad showing," until many Plca:-,e contact Habbi Yosef Posen at 908-776-6504 years later: Hagaon Rabbi Yehuda or 905-0726. Pax: 908-905-1059 Mailing Address: Addas, Rosh Yeshiva of Kol Yaakov l 1i46 1'vlonn1outh Ave, Lake•vood, NJ 08701 and a close talmid of Reh Shlomo The Jewish Observer, May 1995 29 nedunya (dowry). which he with a story told to him by the tzaddik was advised to invest in a Rabbi Aryeh Levin about the great bank (owned by a non-Jew mekubal, the Baal HaLeshem When so it would be free of his kabbalistic work Leshem reached ribbis/usury problems). the Ben !sh Chai in Baghdad, the The principle would thus chacham instructed his followers in remain and he would not Yerushalayim to don Shabbos gar need to worry about earn ments and express gratitude to the ing a livelihood. He asked. Leshem for the wonderful sefer he "What would be involved in had written. When the Leshem told maintaining the fund?" He this to Reb Aryeh, he began to cry, "If was told that he would be I would have known this work is so required to spend a half important, I would have written an lwur or hour every Friday other volume." Reb Shlomo Zalman at the bank to take care of compared this to Chazals comment the investment. He an regarding Aaron HaK.ohein. Had he swered, "If so. it's not for known that the Torah would record me. That would take me his joy upon greeting Moshe, he 'out oflearning.'" would have welcomed his brother RabbiAddas, when re with an orchestra. Reb Shlomo lating this story, added Zalman concluded, exclaiming, 'The that his strongest im Leshem was like a Malach Elokim, an pression of Reb Shlomo Angel of Hashem, and even he did not Zalman is his willingness realize how important his seforim to undergo any hardship, were. How much more must we con difficulty or embarrass stantly remind ourselves of the great had yeshivas. and for close to 2.000 ment so as to learn one more Tosafos. significance of our Torah study!" years. until the time of Rabban He delivered his shiurim with im He knew no exemptions "because Gamliel, people stood while learning mense concentration, laced with joy. it's Friday,"-"it's Rosh Hashana," Torah. The actual reason, he wrote, In the early years, when the talmldim or-"its Erev Pesach." During these is because Torah is "ikar yishuvo were fewer in number, he delighted in times, one must find moments to shel olam," the primary means of de sitting with them for hours, delving learn with depth, with full concen veloping the world; all else is subser into a difficult sugya And if a talmid tration. vient to it. would come up with a good. original This letter personifies his philoso sevara (explanation), his face flushed "L'ORER L 'YIRAS SHAMAYIM" phy oflife. red with joy. His love for talmidim was TO INSPIRE FEAR OF HEAVEN His son Reb Ezriel relates that he that of a father; their children were once entered the house and found his his grandchildren. hen Reb Shlomo Zalman father with his head wrapped in a Rabbi Addas was once discussing davened. one saw the vi towel, learning a very difficult topic of with him the concept of Ahavas W sion of a man standing be Gemora (the entire commentary of the Hashem, love for the Almighty. He fore the King. He stood Shemoneh Chazon !sh on the sugya of Matbe'os became excited and said with sweet Esrei for 15 minutes on an ordinary at the beginning of Perek Hazahav in ness and intensity: "For us, Ahavas day, without flinching, even during Bava Metzia). As brilliant as he was, Hashem means Ahavas Torah!" He times of great weakness, his devotion he spared no effort on each new ac conveyed this love to his talmidim. etched upon his face. quisition of Torah knowledge, con One must never be discouraged, Rabbi Chaim Brim, a well known centrating intensely until it became he would say, and never lose sight of mussar personality, once remarked part of his lifeblood. the awesome importance of the Torah that should one want to see how to When he married, he received a large one is studying. He illustrated this speak to the Ribbono Shel Olam he should watch Reb Shlomo Zalman say "ShehakoC' on a cup of water.... I Considering a move once overheard him recite "Asher Yatzaf' with the intensity we associ toMOIYSEY? ate with Ne'ilahon Yorn Kippur. for careful attention to your I was walking with Reb Shlomo indi1Jidual needs, call today! Zalman to daven an early Mincha in the us Yeshiva in Shaare Chessed during the (914) 354-8445 bein hazmanim (intersession) break. A yeshiva bachur passed by, and Reb 30 TheJewishObserver, May 1995 Shlomo Zalman asked him what time Min cha is. The bachur did not know. He tu.med to me and exclaimed, "Lo Tov! That's not good! Chazal say, Shohin sha'ah achas kodem hatefilla-one should prepare for an hour before davening. lfone doesn't know what time davening begins, how could he prepare himselfbeforehand?" Rabbi Addas once told him that a large group ofbachurim began to come early to Shacharis in the yeshiva. to have tallis and tefillin on before the tzibbur begins. He reacted with great joy-"That's truly wondeifal! AU my life I'd love to get to davening early, and say Korbanos slowly." He once remarked that a day that he managed to daven aU three Shemoneh Esrei tefillos with b'iurei millos-concentration upon the simple meaning of the words-'bei mir iz a groyse yomtov, " is a great holiday former After having spent a Shabbos in Kol Torah, in Bayit Vegan, he commented to The Moshe and Esther Brandman Memorial Tape library's comprehensive and profound lectures address a most fascinating array of topics. Insights from scholarly to mystical will lead you to exhilarating new his son-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchok Yeru understandings. Involve yourself in the exciting give-and-take of a stimulating class. Hear the audience chamBorodtansky, "I have always had anticipate your questions. This Shavu'os season. take advantage of this unique Torah resource, an intense desire to daven in yeshiva. Each tape costs $5.50 (includes postage and handling). Please send your name, address, this form, and payment to The Fnuni Noble Night Kollel, Yeshivas Bels HaMidrash LaTorah, 7136 N Carpenter Ave, but I never merited it. " Skokie, IL, 60077. For more information please call (312) 764-6035. A catalog of our ove,450 tapu, Rabbi Borodiansky suggested that including our other ongoing series will be sent with all orders and upon request. Recent tapes include: he daven Shabbosos at Maalos Ha· Nach b'Machashava: Sefer Shoftim DLE24. Concluding Psak Halacha torah, his son Reb Shmuel's yeshiva Rabbi Vosef Gavriel Bechhofer (now located in Shaare Chessed), in ONB1. Chap. 1: Failing to Conquer Topics In Hashkafa stead ofthe shul hefrequented. ONB2. Chap. 2: Overview of the Period Rabbl Vlsroel Leichtman DNB3, Chap. 3: Ehud and Eglon DLE25. Don't be so Quick to Judge! Replied Reb Shlomo Zalman, "The DNB4. Chap. 4: Yavin, Sisra, Barak, Yael DLE26. What's in a Name? yeshiva minyan does not function bein 0 NBS. Chap. 5: Shir as Devora DLE27. Jewish Views on Success ONB6. Chap. 5-6: Shiras Devora pt 2, Gidon hazmanim; if! daven in the yeshiva all ONB7. Chap. 6-7: Gidon pt 2 Men of the Miahna year and then return to the shul dur· ONB8. Chap. 7-8: Gidon pt 3 Rabbi Avraham K.Jvelevitz ing bein hazmanim. I'll insult the 0NB9. Chap. 8-9: Yeruba'al and Avimelech DIJ96. Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi ONB10. Chap. 9: Avimelech pt 2 DIJ97. Writing the Oral Law baalei battim by demonstrating that ONB11. Chap. 10: Vair, Thirties, a New Nadir 0 IJ98. The Netziv' s Perspective theirminyan is my second choice. 'That 0NB12. Chap. 11: Yiftach pt 1 0JJ99. Fluidity, Form, Freedom I cannot do. " DNB13. Chap. 11 ·12: Yiftach pt 2 and lvtzan DIJ100. Rav Sa'adya Gaon's History DNB14. Chap. 13: The Birth of Shimshon DIJ101. Rav Sherira Gaon to the Rescue During his last year, Reb Shlomo ONB15. Chap. 13·14: Dual Personality DIJ102. The Six Hundred Sedarim Zalman was approached for advice on ONB16. Chap. 15: Shimshon's Revenge OIJ103. R. Meir, A. Nasson: Plot and Project behalfof a man with formidable prob ONB17. Chap. 16: Delila DIJ104. Rabbi David Tzvi Hoffman I DNB18. Chap. 17: Pesel Micha pt 1 OIJ105·106. Piecing Avos Together pts 1 &2 lems. He wanted a suggestion for I DNB19. Chap. 18: Pesel Micha pt 2 OIJ107. Hillel I some added stringency to assume, as DNB20. Chap. 19: Pilegesh Ba'Giv'a pt 1 I DNB21. Chap. 20: Pilegesh Ba'Giv'a pt 2 Midrash and Zohar on the Parasha a source of merit. The Rosh Yeshiva I DNB22.Chap. 20-21: BringingBinyaminBack Rabbi A vraham Klvelevitz I answered that he could not tell oth DNB23. Chap. 22: The Dances DMP1. The Dogs of Egypt !Bishalach) I DMP2. Sinai Ad Infinitum (Yisro) ers what to do; he can only share I I Contemporary and Practical Halacha OMP3. Beyond Civility (Mishpatim) what he himself was working on pres I Rabbi Vosef Gavriel Bechhofer OMP4. The Right and the Left !Teruma) ently: to concentrate on his berachos, 0CH127. The 5754 Milk Controversy OMP5. Moshe Aabbeinu: Night (Tetzaveh) OCH132-133. Yissaschar·Zevulun pts 1 &2 DMP6. Moshe Rabbeinu: Defender (Ki Tisa} "that'Baruch'. should be a Baruch, my I 0CH137·139. Halachic Times of Day pts 1-3 DMP7. Change of Command (Vayakhel) I 0CH145. Child Abuse OMP8. Mesorah of Gold (Pikudei) 'Attd should be an Alto, and that the I 'Shem' should be a Shem. If I can DMP9. Outrageous Child (Vayikral I The Halachlc Process OMP10. Against Asceticism (Tzav) achieve this, it's more precious to me I I Rabbi David Rlceman 0 MP11. Wine of the World (Shemini) than all that syrei mussar offer." I DLE22. What is Halacha? 0MP12. Milah: A Mizbei'ach (Tazri'a) I DLE23. How Halacha Develops HTC • • i-..i--,, ol oho J_, Fodor"'''"' ol ~•o c._.. The family later discussed this I L------~ The Jewish Observer. May 1995 31 confession. What could he mean that Reb Shlomo Zalman At a shiur in Yeshiva Kol Torah his "Barucli' be Baruch, and so on? went on to say, "What His recitation of berachos was already ever Reb Isser Zalman exemplary! They concluded that the said, he felt in his hemt, potential kavana (concentration) for and what he felt in his a beracha is infinite, and he, with all heart, he said," adding his gad/us (greatness), fear of Heaven, that he personally was and eight decades of accumulated profoundly moved by practice, decided now to apply effort this public confession. that his "Baruch" should be as close Dozens of times, as possible to the ideal Banu:h, his when he still had his "Attoli' approach the ultimate Attoh, strength, he would get his "Hashem' truly address Hasheml angry at me for at tempting to open the "AND THE MAN SHLOMO WAS car door for him. THE HUMBLEST OF ALL MEN" "What! 1 can't open it myself?!" This refusal ose who spent time with the reflected his fierce repulsion at ac me, very annoyed, "Why didn't you Rosh Yeshiva were astonished cepting any type of honor. stop for him?!" I said that the boy Tiy his simplicity and true He spoke to us as though we were seemed to have changed his mind. anivus, his indescribable humble his peers---nay, like he were our peer. "How could you not stop for a boy ness. It was manifest in his every ac 1 would have a list of she'ei1os pre who needs a ride?" he exclaimed. "l tion, tbe simplicity of his home and pared for each car Iide. Once some don't understand!,'' continuing to ex furnishings, and his relationship one needed to speak to him on the claim his wonder throughout the ride. with others. way, leaving no time for my queries. For many years, he rode the #12 Reb Shlomo Zalman would often re He later thanked me kindly for the bus from Bayit Vegan to Machne late how Reb Isser Zalman Meltzer, in ride and apologized that "today we Yehuda, and from there took the long one of the mussar shmuessen (dis didn't converse in learning together." trek home by foot. Only when he be courses on ethics) that he would deliver Not "l didn't answer your she'eilos to came weak did he allow the yeshiva in Yeshiva Eitz Chaim before Maariv ev day." to call a cab, and then to accept rides ery Motza'ei Shabbos, mentioned the We were once driving past Shaare home. (It was during those rides halacha that a sefer Torah found to be Tzeddek Hospital on our way to the home that this writer merited to dis pasul (invalid) rrwst be tied with agartel Rosh Yeshivds home. A yeshiva stu cuss most of the halachic aspects of (belt) on the outside to reveal to all its dis· dent hitching a ride to the Chevron Yam Tov Sheini, as well as hundreds qualification. Reb Isser Zalman broke Yeshiva nearby, took a step back of other questions. Many people's down in tears, exclaiming, "How many when he saw who was in the car. I had lives were built from his breaks and gartelach do I need to wrap around my· no intention of stopping anyway, to his moments of transit.) selfto publici7,e all my disqualiflcations!" delay the Rosh Yeshiva. He turned to After becoming Rosh Yeshiva in Kol Torah, he would ask Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky l "xz who resided in Bayit Vegan, to say shiurim in the yeshiva. He would listen attentively, and then review the shiur with bachwim. Once Rabbi Abramsky en tered the beis hamidrash when the Rosh Yeshiva was delivertng a shiur klalli (a lecture for the entire senior student body). He rushed to the door to greet him, and asked him to deliver FOR a shiur instead. Rabbi Abramsky re THE FINEST fused, saying he's not prepared; Reb IN Shlomo Zahnan should continue. The PHOTOGRAPHY latter replied that he cannot give a shiur in Rabbi Abramsky's presence. AND VIDEO Rabbi Abramsky answered, "Ich bett eich-1 implore you to continue." USA/ISRAEL Slowly Reb Shlomo Zalman went back to his place, apologizing to the students: "What can 1 do? He re quested it of me and 'Ein mesarvim 32 The Jewish Observer. May 1995 legadol-you cannot refuse a great man."' After Reb Shlomo Zalman got up from shiva for his Rebbetzin, Rabbi Addas remarked to him that we learned many things from the Rav during the past week. He answered. "I'm very far from being one whose actions can be learned from" He had a profound hatred for titles of greatness being bestowed upon him, and felt they were utterly false. He asked me to remove the titles de After the shiur: the ride .from Kol Torah to scribtng him tn the preface to Yam Tov Shaarei Chessed, with the author shiva; he would not even allow the Sheini K'hilchaso: "All this is unnec word "posetk' on his headstone. This essary. Besides that, it's not true." His POSEIK reflected his anivus. his deep humil son Reb Baruch recently published a ity. But when he rendered a p'sak, it sefer tn which he referred to him as en giving shiur in Kol To was with the full weight of his mas "Maran." He became visibly upset: ah, besides the usual joy tery of Torah, fused with the fear of "You're my own son and even you are W with which he delved into Heaven not to make a mistake.3 doing this to me. If you don't remove every topic, he would radiate when a We once discussed a question of it, I'll remove my letter ofblesstng." special glow when his explanations Yorn Tov Sheini at length, with him fi He would laugh at the titles con would result tn a halacha l'maaseh, nally rendering a kula (lenienLy) be ferred upon him tn some letters. other with practical application. It is ex cause, he said, "It's a question of a times getting angry al the correspon tremely rare in recent generations for d'rabbanan (rabbtnical law) and one dent, especially if he were close with one man to be a Rosh Yeshiva who need not fear to be lenient as one need him. He once rebuked a talmid, say has developed thousands of talmidim, be regardtng hilchos Shabbos." Several tng it's downright ugly that he write and be a poseik on all phases of titles on the envelope. "Do you need halacha, without exception. The 3. His greatness as poseik is evident in eveiy page of to tell the postman I'm some kind of writer has asked him questions in all his masterful work Minc/lQS Shlomo, in which his responses and treatises pave nte>w avenues in every gaon?" Near the end of his life he re four sections of Shulchan Aruch, and area of halacha. It is replete with his renowned ceived a letter which bore the title the "fifth" as well, and his answers al straightJOrward and dear logic and lucidity in the g"hbcsz- he became furious, and said, ways reflected not only clear knowl most difficult areas ofTorah. It immediately became 'The sender is a meshuganer," and edge and understandtng, but gadlus a classical work, forging halachaforour generation, refused to read the letter, tnsisting it (true greatness) in every nuance of found in Torah Iibrartes everywhere. This is in addi tion lo his many hundreds of decisions brought be put tnto sheimos for burial. halacha forth in Shetniras Shabbos K'hilchasa, a seJCrfound Two year ago, Rabbi Addas called 1 heard him say countless times in Torah homes everywhere, ensuring a proper ad before Rosh Hashana to arrange to that he's not a poseik but a Rosh Ye- herence to the halachoso[S/iabbos in today's world. visit him before Yam Tov. He an swered, "This year you need not come." Rabbi Addas asked, "Why not?" g~~ATERERS~ He answered, "Ghazal say to visit makes your Catered Affair AFFORDABLE! a Tofeis Yeshiva, and I no longer head Because we offer so many fine locations throughout the a yeshiva." metropolitan area, we are able to tailor our prices to the Rabbi Addas, disturbed by that style, size and location you choose. Our three decades of comment, immediately traveled to his 7- experience is your guarantee of a lavish and spectacular home and said, 'The Rav is Tqfeis « 3, Glatt Kosher Affair. Here's a partial fisting of locations hador lado-the entire generation." ·~?'""""'~ available to you! At that, Reb Shlomo Zalman was ...... BROOKLYN =-Y-=-=s=RO::;N::;X-:= Many Other Choice Locations In NASSAU COUNTY Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, close to tears: "Are you also dotng this EL CARIBE RIVERDALE CREST HOLLOW COUNTRY CLUB JEWISH CENTER Westchester, New Jersey COUNTRY CLUB to me, calling me poseik hador'? 1 lN ucLllS1VE "'ILL BASIN RIVERDALE TEMPLE & Connecticut. don't know Mishna k'tzurasa (the LAMER VILLA BARONE OFF PREMISES LEONARD'S STOUFFER$ INN OF GREAT NECK WHITE PLAINS proper meaning of a Mishna).and QUEENS CATERING SEPHARDIC AT THE LOCATION OF MARRIOTT RYE TOWNSHIP FAR ROCKAWAY UNIONDALE RYE TOWN they're calling me poseik hador!'" JEWISH CENTER YOUR CHOICE INCLUDING HILTON OF KEW GARDEN$ CONG. OARCHA Y NOAM YOUR HOME, TEMPLE, SUFFOLX COUNTY CLUB OR OFFICE. CONG. BETH SHOLOM NEW JERSEY WHITESTONE HUNTINGTON LONG BEACH 2. His sons expressed wonder how the t:"ntireJew· JEWISH CENTER Hll TON SOMERSET TOWN HOUSE ONE CONVENIENT ish world recognized his singular greatness. \vith H!l TON MEAOOWLANO LITTLE NECK ALL LEADING TELEPHONE NUMBER CONNECTICUT the exception of himself, similar to Moshe JEWISH CENTER N.Y.C. HOTELS HILTON PARSIPANY CONG. AGUOAS SH!RATllllC!HTR!IY!'if/J Rabbeinu in that only he was not aware that his UTOPIA WAlDtJRfJPl!RRUKYATII 718 SHOLOM MAITTllOTI GLENPO!NTE JEWISH CENTER P!"lMIOOS!V!l lflll HllTOll STAMFORD TEANECK face shone. 1 1 849-8817 The Jewish Observer. May 1995 33 months later. regarding a different when he utilized such a profound un him, made changes, additions, notes question of Yorn Tov Sheiniwas raised, derstandtng of the reasoning of the and deletions. Often his changes he expressed fear of being lenient. I halacha that he could say it does would be tn subtleties, from "forbid- asked htm. "But the Rosh Yeshiva said or does not-apply tn situations with den" to "one should not...... From one need not fear betng lenient con no precedent. 1his was similar to the "should not" to "improper...... From cerning a doubt tn Yorn Tov Sheini. .. greatness of Maran Rabbi Moshe "improper" to "better to refrain ...... He answered, "I only said you don't Fetnstetn 7"llt, who paved new roads From "obligated" to "should ...... From need the same fear as one must have in unexplored territory tn halacha In "should" to "befitting...... or "nice ...... I regarding Hilchos Shabbos. Aval a halachic dispute with Reb Shlomo mentioned that the Rosh Yeshiva for pw::had yeish-but fear is tn place!" Zalman, Reb Moshe, in Igros Moshe, bade a certain garment. He an He had the sense of authority stated that the halacha is like Reb swered, "I never said it's 'forbidden.' I (breite pleitzes) to render decisions Shlomo Zalman tn Eretz YisroeL said it's 'ugly' to wear such an item ... that were not explicitly dealt with tn He lived tn a fine-tuned, exacting When we would discuss problems any of the classical works, and some world, where every nuance and baalei teshuva face and the difficul times even seemed to contradict them phrase was weighed. He complained ties they go through. or of Jews betng at first glance. He often would not that today people like to hear .. assur, lost to assimilation, he would shake quote any specific source for his it's forbidden." He took tremendous his head, dicktng his tongue, his face psak, because the source was kol responsibility for any p'sakwritten tn twisted with pain. haTorah kulo, the entirety of Torah. I his name, andwith YornTovSheinihe After publishing the second edition witnessed on numerol1s occasions reviewed every comment attributed to ojYom Tov Sheini, incorpomting many new decisions from the Rosh Yeshiva, I approached him wWt new she'eilos on the subject. I received a rebuke: PINCHAS MANDEL "Enough of this subject, go onto some Over 40 Years Experience In Kvura In Eretz Ylsrael thing else! Do you think you can finish all ojYom Tov Sheini? Even ifyou, your Personal Responsibility Throughout Service-NO AFFILIATES children and your grandchildren will ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT METHOD spend your entire lives stw:Jying noth· Highly Recommended by Gedolai Hador - Here and in Eretz Yisrael ing butYom Tov Sheini, you still won't 1569-47th Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 11219 finish it. The Torah is infinite, which means that each and every halacha Day & Night Phone: (718) 851-8925 within it is also in.finite. If the Chofetz Chaim would have added every new p.io•l:lxi!:ll:lXp l7l"P - 1'1=> ixl nil:l:'ll7 •il!:l she'eila to the Mishna Berurah, it Chased Shel EMES with Meslras Nefesh . .. as understood and practiced by would be like this [stretrhing his hands one active in the industry for more than hall a century. apart}! Nobody would learn it! Leave something overfor the Jewish people to - Taharas Hanlftar Should Never Be Commerclallzed - use their own seichel on, and work on something new." (Jn spite of that re buke, there are ten new pages of YOUR CAR IN /SRAEL p'sakim.from him. which he wmotated like the rest, in anticipation of the next edition.) Another incident: I received a book of chiddushim wri.tten by a person not cel fLDAN l7"fi ebrated for his Yiras Shamayim, and 1------'"F~,~.==i==~H~.~ asked Reb Shlomo Zalman if I am permit TYPE OF CAR 6/1/95- 8/4/95- 7/4/95 30/4/95 ted to stw:Jy it, and he WlSWered in the af firmative. I asked him. "What about the A FlPJ UNO STING 126 statement ofChazal, 'If the rebbe is sUni B PEUGEOT 20S AC 175 lar to an angel of G-d, only then learn To c CITROEN ZX 1.4 224 c' MAZOA323 245 rah.from his mouth ... c·• PEUGEOT 40S 1.e 280 He answered, "That halacha only deals M MINIBUS FORD 476 with a case ofa talmid and Rebbe, as we N BABY BUS 7 SEATS 322 seefrom the beginning ofthe pasuk: 'Sifsei • kohein yishmeru daas' when you're com 0 SUZUKY 231 E MAZDA3:?3 294 ing to learn rwt only what the rebbe says, F "NISSAN SUNNY 322 but also from the sifsei kohein, from his G --SUBARU LEGACY 1.8 420 lips-how the rebbe says it, to study his K *GMC SAFARI PS 595 every gesture, his manner of speech, to~ x *PEUGEOT 40!S 1.8 476 gether with his Torah; then there's a pre XL "TOYOTA CARINA 560 USA & CANADA: 800·938·5000 requisite of 'ki malach Hashem tzvakos sx "VOLVO 940 I SIMILAR 630 hu. he must be like an angel of G-d. · But • POIM::R S"TEERJNG & ELECTRIC WINDOWS IN NY: 212·629·6090 when leamingfromasefer, you'reabsorb ISRAEL ·s No. 1 ing the chiddushim and rwt the rebbe, so it is permitted - providing, ofcourse, that 34 The Jewish Observer. May I 995 hatov (gratitude) is of awesome pro portions. He even cherishes taxi driv ers, whom he paid to drive him, for the good they did for him. and consid ers them friends." (Indeed, taxi driv ers were seen weeping at his funeral). Eleven years ago, his beloved Rebbetzin passed away on Shabbos. When he was told, he continued his singing and davening as usual! The moment Shabbos was over, however, he broke down and sobbed the entire night for his tremendous loss, and his lifetime accumulation of appreciation. At her funeral, he said he knows it's customary to ask forgiveness of one's departed wife. but for 54 years they lived together according to Shulchan Aruch, and had nothing to ask forgive ness for, except that because of his many sins she died young. Al a tefilla rally, with Gedolei Yerushalayim, }Or Shmiras Shabbos Rabbi Ezriel Tauber once said that and respect for sacred burial places that startling statement helped him understand another story. About to the sefer has no apikorsus (blasphemy) began.finding them movedfor her. One enter his home, Reb Shlomo Zalman and that the author is known not to be morning she hid and discovered the buttoned his coat, brushed it, and guilty ofthat." identity of her benefactor. When did he smoothed his beard. The avreich with This response indicates how the Rosh find the time for it all and how did he him asked if he's preparing to go to a Yeshiva learnedfrom his rabbeim, convey ing so much to us, for whom shimush manage to keep it hidden? simcha. When the answerwas No, he talmidei chachamim has nearly beenfor He was not a" chessed seeker." All asked why the Rosh Yeshiva is gotten. of his acts of chessed were part of his grooming himself. He answered, amal baTorah, a feeling of halachic "Chazai tell us that when there's AHAVASHABRIOS/LOVE FOR obligation, as a man whose every peace between husband and wife, the FELLOW CREATURES thought was governed by halacha. Shechina-the Divine Presence He once noticed a boy of eight recit rests on them. I'm about to be uring the shiva and ing Kaddish in shul, not knowing the mekabel P'nei Hashechina-to re sheloshim mourning his proper pronwteiation and niggun, and ceive the Divine Presence." D passing, a new dimension of feeling uncomfortable. The boy would the Rosh Yeshiva was revealed, in only come to shul sporadically. Reb HAMELECH SHI.OMO volving thousands of personal stories Shlomo Zalman sat down with the boy, of tzeddaka and chessed previously explaining the beautiful meaning of e Rabbis teach that one who unknown. He married off untold Kaddish. Another time, he explained tudies Torah for its own sake numbers of orphans and paid for what reciting it does for his father's souL T:acquires malchus (majesty) their wedding celebrations. He sup On a thtrd occasion, he coached him in (Avos Ch. 6). Indeed, our sages are ported, monetarily and morally. so the proper niggun and recitation. The called kings (Gittin 62a). The sifrei many young widows. He visited hun boy began to come regularly, and today mussar expound on this, explaining dreds of sick in their homes and in is an ouistanding talmid chacham who that the true king is one in complete the hospital. The Chareidi newspa attributes his love for Torah to those control of himself. This maste:iy was pers and magazines in Eretz Yisroel early conversations. manifest in Reb Shlomo Zalman. are filled with incredible accounts of The Rosh Yeshiva's appreciation of Whoever saw the Rosh Yeshiva felt he his helping poor. elderly and sick others for the smallest favor was leg was viewing a king, HaMelech people. endary. Rabbi Y.R. Borodiansky vis Shlomo: A man who throughout his Upon hearing ofa young womanjust ited us late Friday night at the sha tumultuous life had overcome hard widowed in Lakewood, he askedfor her lom zachor of my son, and 1 informed ships through rigorous discipline and number, spoke to her on the telephone him that his father-in-law, the Rosh commitment, had forged nerves of for a half hour, and brought her back to Yeshiva, would be the sandek at the steel to withstand the greatest pres life. bris. He commented, "I'll tell to you a sures from within and without, and An old woman who could barely secret: anything in the world you ask remained in complete control. carry the daily delivery ofeggs from the of him, he'll do, because you drive He suffered from a severe neuro street to her smaU store, mysteriously him home once a week. His hakoras logical disorder that necessitated The Jewish Observer. May 1995 35 stain be removed from his sweater. Fliday morning he woke up early to daven. His loyal talmid and shammes, Rabbi Chaim Swissa, put his tefulin on for him, staying with him and davening, reciting Vidduy (confessional) for an hour and a half. Then came the ftnal blow, when his lungs began to hemorrhage. Reb Shmuel said afterwards, that when he heard that blood was entering his father's lungs, he thought; What kind of blood is that? 'That's the blood he spilled all his life over his study ofTo rah. Now it's bringing him through the gates of Heaven. Hamelech Shlomo, Reb Shlorno Zalman with n'?:i' Rabbi Yosej Shalom Elyashiv (l.) and our rebbe, poseik, advisor and father, Rabbi Yitzchak Kolitz H"P''1?1 has left us. high-Iisk brain surgery many years and all types ofJews. The respect that The 300 children, grandchildren ago, and then suffered from pain that he attained brought a third of a mil and talmidim present when the Rosh affected his facial muscles and one eye lion Jews of all customs, back Yeshiva's holy neshama was re for decades. At times. he would sud grounds and loyalties, to the largest turned to his Maker, all rent their gar denly jump from pain in the middle of levaya since that of Rabban ments, and a great wailing was heard a shiur. as ifbit by a snake, would hold Yochanan Ben Zakai. It was the throughout the hospital, soon to re his face for a moment, and continue malchus that graced the simple name sound throughout the world. where he left off, with his simcha and "Reb Shlomo Zalman," with no titles, HamelechShlomowas surrounded ahavas Torah undaunted. uttered affectionately by all types of by talmidei chachamim and lay Once, duling a dlive home, I told Jews; as Ghazal say "Gadol m'rabban people, talmidei yeshivas and physi him that I have a life-and-death shemo" (Edius ch. 3)-his name was cians, Jews of all factions, jolting the she'eil.a to ask him, when he had a the greatest title of all. secular press with how the religious severe attack of pain affecting his eye. The Rosh Yeshiva prayed through world is in complete agreement that 1 suggested forgetting the she'eila, out his life to remain in control of his this man was everyone's poseik. and I'd rush him home. He answered, faculties until his final day. G-d "You said it's a she'eila of pikuach granted that request. and he re e Gemara relates (Berachos nefesh. Pull over to the side for sev mained with his regal demeanor un 3a) that the talmidim of Rav eral minutes and explain the she'eila til his final moment. The last week of T:were sitting on the banks of the to me," which I did. He answered me his life saw him render a p'sak in River Dank with their clothing rent in despite the pain. Hilchos Shabbos for all of Klal YisroeL mourning, following his bulial. They With all his sweetness when Wednesday of his last week, he at were unable to resolve a question speaking to a talmid, he could be tended the bris of a talmid's son, is concerning Birchas Hamazon. Rabbi harsh too-especially when he de suing an important p'sak there, as Adda Bar Ahava stood up, turned the tected laziness in thought or practice well. Afterwards. not feeling well. he torn front of his garment to his back, in the student, or sloppiness in logic. returned home and completed wlit and tore the front again, proclaJming, I often observed others trying to ing some checks, balancing his ac "Rav has passed away and we have coerce him into signing statements he counts, sending off support for poor. not mastered the halachos of Birchas preferred not to sign. or to make and then receiving people that night. HamazorL" statements concerning matters he Thursday morning he fell while We have only begun to feel the loss had opted to remain silent about. No walking to shul, his legs giving out. He of Moreinu v'Rabbeinu Gaon Doreinu matter how strong the pressure. he insisted on continuing on to shuland Reb Shlomo Zalman Auerbach l "kvx.z would not yield. Especially duling a hear the Torah reading. Once in shul, the loss of that towering figure of recent election, when the frum com he davenedwith his usual concentra truth, love of Kial Yisroel and every munity was split, he had resolved to tion, albeit sitting down. Jew, and ahavas Torah. We will yet make no comment, in spite of monu He was diagnosed with pneumo feel his loss in all areas of halachaand mental pressures from both sides. On nia, necessitating him to spend diverei Torah. and rend our garments two occasions, I attempted to probe Shabbos in the hospital. It was al again. him on the matter, and he rebuked readyThursday, so he asked the fam All we can do is to heed his request me. "Are you calling me about Yorn ily to help him dress for Shabbos. His and desire, that we should, in his Tov Sheini or about elections?!" leg was immobile, but they managed merit, have a new awakening of Because of that determination, he to dress him in fresh Shabbos cloth Ahavas Torah, Yiras Shamayim, remained the poseik of all factions ing. fulfilling his insistence that a tikkun hamaasim u'middos. • 36 The Jewish Observer, May 1995 Sarah Shapiro The Man Who Fie~ From Honor an~ IDs Entourage of J~~,~~~ Mourners ''Who was this man?" said a polic~man redirecting traffic in downtown Jerusalem a few weeks back. "If I knew my funeral would be like this. rd drop dead right now:· I overheard that remark while standing on a street corner, craning my neck. trying to see something anything-over the passing sea of heads. I know what you mean. I thought. If proving oneself worthy of other people·s love and admiration is one's underlying. though unacknowl edged. goal in life. then by that yard stick this particular life was a re markable success. And if honor is what one craves, then a final ovation such as this would almost make it worthwhile to die on the spot. But the irony is that Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. whose funeral on February 20 /20 Adar I was attended by an estimated 300-400.000 people. did not in his eighty-four years foremost. halachic authority, but called for an appointment. achieve visible success, as success plen1y of great halachic authorities go The phone was answered by a would probably be defined by most to their graves without anythtng ap woman who said that her father-in people. including the policeman. He proaching that kind of mourning. law didn•t really make appointments, had never amassed wealth, he was How could anybody be at once so ex but that! could show up at their home unknown to the world at large. The travagantly renowned and utterly at midnight any night of the week. and day afier his death, the big-circula unknown? that if! wanted to be first in line, per tion Israeli newspapers were full of haps I could come a little early. I knew bemused speculation as to how this y own attendance at the fu he would meet with me without rabbi's death had managed to bring neral came about as the re charge. but thought it appropriate to together religious Jews of all stripes, M sult of a personal experience offer some sort of payment for his time and how the largest funeral in the dating back nine or ten years. At the anyway. She said. "Oh, no." country's history had been held in time, I had been caught in the That evening at 11:30, having lo honor of a man whom the journalists crossfire ofan ongoing inner war with cated the house with some difficul1y in themselves. and most of their reader myself over an agonizing personal de the old neighborhood of Shaarei ship, had never heard of. He was re cision. a daily battle between yes and Chessed, I ascended a rtcke1y flight of ported to have been a great. even the no. I decided to consult Rabbi Shlomo wooden stairs that trembled beneath Zalrnan Auerbach. Revealing myself my feet. and arrived at a cramped, Sarah Shapiro, a published author who lives in Jerusalem, is a frequent contributor to these to a respected Rav on personal issues high-ceilinged apartment around a pages. Her most recent article, "Beyond the White was an unappealing, embarrassing hundred years old. Someone who I Tablecloth," appeared in JO, Feb. '94. prospect, but the war was such that I gathered was Rav Auerbach·s son Jed The Jewish Observer, May J 995 37 me into a livlng room where four or five understanding of my predicament. Call 1-800-KIRUV-84 children were sleeping; the living room He considered me more important, (1 ·800·547-8884) doubled as the children's bedroom. evidently, than I considered myself. I was seventh in line. There was a When I went out into the starry To contact Agudath Israel of America's row of folding chairs for those who night-all the little houses silent and Information Hot Line waited and each of us sat submerged darkened in their pre-dawn still in his or her own world. At two-thirty, ness-I realized that I was feeling in Rav Auerbach's son ushered me past explicably buoyant. and it occurred to The Yitti Leibel the children into a teeny, book-lined me that it hadn't been awkward or chamber. As the rabbi rose-a little embarrassing, after all. The ancient- HELPLINE manl-to welcome me, what struck looking Yerushalmi, born and raised No Problem Is Too Big .. me was his utter frailness, as if he in this neighborhood, seemed to iden No Problem Is Too Small ... were a weightless and pale winter tify with me: I, halfacenturyyounger, 0 Is there some terrible thing hawening in your family that you are afraid or ashamed to tell leaf. But then, when he smiled (I won who'd grown up an assimilated Jew anyone? dered, does he know me from some in a distant Connecticut suburb. 0 Are you a teenage or young adult having where?) his smile was of such a pure A decision emerged of itself, by the problems that are JPO difficult for you to and lucid light that something in me way, during the next few days. I real handle?? melted from the warmth. I didn't ized only later how his nonjudg 0 Are you single or-married, and experiencing personal or inter-personal conflicis?? know it at the time, but that momen mentalness towards my self-en 0 Are you simply confronted with a situation that truy vision of his smiling face would tanglement had enabled me to move requires you to find an objective listener? remain with me from then on in my on. Some of the Torah community's highly skilled mind's eye. "What shall we discuss?" therapists are available to talk to you on the he inquired. phone, with total anonymity. en I flagged down a cab to For the next for1y minutes or so, he ush home for my H*O*U*R•S listened to my words as if the fate of hildren's return from Monday-Friday (Day) 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon Monday-Thursday (Eve.) 8:00 PM-11:00 PM school, the driver asked if I was com- Sunday 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon ing from the funeral. I nodded. "I de 9:00 PM-11:00 PM livered a letter to that rabbi one time," DIAL (718) HELP- NOW (435-7669) he told me. "He was tzenua." In Chicago, call 1-800-HELP-023 That word, meaning modest, hid In New Jersey, call 1-908-363-1010 den, concealed, constitutes an apt This month's service of the helo line has beeen dedicated n"1!1l '1>...,,,, summation of Rav Auerbach's power. n"v tf.:ivrf.:i'1i in ::i 71-nr.:iw ., m N"Vli iT'n We're Recognition-the very thing that n·"n?m jt'IN N~ iTlt'!XI people could sense he wasn't seek ing-was precisely that which the po liceman could joke about giving his ready life to acquire. What is it that fuels the policeman's desire for recognition. just as it fuels my own? A feeling of Wlimportance. Because of that sub Men's Smft~?& Coats when you are. merged feeling, we unwittingly devote 1769 51st street'~, Cft8) 854-1196 our lives, no matter how worthwhile Abuse hurts. our deeds, to the cause of self-glorifi You are not alone. cation, and would heartily enjoy the 'fine Jr1 ~n/5~,f;/itfitng Confidential Hotline eulogies at our own funerals. "Averiue 'llierdffnrlise 718.337.3700 To Rav Auerbach there was noth ing to prove. A Jew is a Jew, a human Pe:o=t;l?I -,,, being a human being... unquestion !~ty ably, eternally precious. - 3 • sms• .?, ... - What was it that drew us there " ~ .., that day to say goodbye? Rabbi it-t.Fott-'- Auerbach's light. Like moths drawn i~ to a flame, each of us had sensed in _' · 38 The Jewish Observer, May 1995 secular learning with Torah learn APPRECIATES PURIM MESSAGE ing-"the study of science and hu ALL YEAR 'ROUND ••••••••••• manities is, in effect, the study of ••••••••••• Gemara and thus a fulfillment of the To the Editor: study of Torah" (p. 165)-he is not I would like to commend Rabbi only forced to grapple with these Letters to Feitman for his perceptive and questions, but is unable to prOvide a thought-provoking article on "Plant satisfactory account of why the an- ing the Seeds of Joy" (Mar. 95). 1 have swerisno. the Editor found, in my professional practice. YONASON ROSENBLUM that the need for perfection and the ------.,.~1 simcha rum> mW ':rn.nn'n 'T1'l:tt7 Hl SOURCE FOR INTERPRETATION: inability to derive from the ,.,,., '1)1~ "SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL" process of avoda, to be a major cause of depression and lack of hatzlacha in ilr.l~ ~ O'~ our community. '"l ,.., ili>'I?' 1:1 To the Editor: Those who grow up in an environ ll'W '!l1T11'1nl 1read with interest Dr. Meir Wikler's ment that emphasizes the signifi "When Things Spin Out of Control," cance of process and means (as op (Feb. '95) thoughts about anger and posed to product and goal) are hap how to control it. Who has not been pier and more productive. challenged by this over the years? DR. BENZION SOR Rambam, Hilchos Dei'os 2,3) "Kol ' '_,--, hakoes ke'ilu oved avoda zara (A per son who is angry is like one who wor 49.fal3thAvc.,l:fkl)'tl•N.Y. 11219 In my March, 1992, review of ('118) 8'>4'2911 ships idols)." According to the com Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm's Torah mentaries, this was the text of the Umadda, 1 wrote that Dr. Lamm Rishonim in Nedorim 22b. "entertain[s) sertously" the following Finally, his source for the questions: "Should one recite birkat i1":t interpertation, which explains why ha-Torah on entertng the chemistry YAD anger is likened to idolatry, is from a lab? May one study calculus all day contemporary talmid chacham, and thereby fulfill his obligation of YISROEL shelita. An earlier source worth not Talmud Torah?" (pp. 163-164). While ing (and perhaps his source's source) Dr. Lamm does raise and attempt to English Index to the Entire is the Baal Hatanyaand author of the answer these questions, the words Rav Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Schneur "entertain seriously" might be con MISHNA Zalman of Liadi, known to strued as implying that he contem Lubavitcher Chassidim as "The Alter plates the recitation of a beracha as Rebbe." This explaination is in an BERURA halacha le'maasseh- That is not the (71 8) 835-2981 USA epistle in the third section of the case, since he labels such a practice Tanya, Iggeres Hakodesh (siman 25). as absurd. In Ma;or $eforim RABBI GERSHON SCHUSTERMAN To avoid ambiguity, 1 should have Stores Worldwide Long Beach, California wrttten: Once Dr. Lamm has equated ------1 Rabbi Aryeh Schechter [ . ~MALOHN SOFER S''TAM I c';;:n~~;;;~' I l::IJ. ftlllfAL I SOROTZKIN I VISmNG NEWYORK?? 155841stSt. I N.Y. STATE LICENSED Bealltfful rooms, Witti-._ kitchen Brooklyn, NY 11218 ADULTS facilities, in heatt_ of Bbro ~ark e moke "houseulls." I I by day_ or week. Near Shuls. take-0_(11: foods, etc. Profits to (718) 972-4003 I \ cm~ I Mifal Torah Vodaas. (718) 633-3248 I I ire :i-~.,~ .. Callf71•J ISl·Z969 • L- 'ib=IP_~j IL __ (71~) 219-3867 ____ j NOT,V.'s The Jewish Observer. May 1995 39