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RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR 11 Yamim Noraim, All Year Through EDITORIAL BOARD OR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER RabbiEznelTauber Chairman adaptedjor publication by Yaakov Astor RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS 17 JOSEPH FRIEDENSON RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN Through the Tears - Celebrate! Nissan Wolpin MANAGEMENT BOARD AVIFISHOF NAFTOLI HIRSCH 20 ISAAC KIRZNER Our Hands Did Not Spill This Blood RABBI SHLOMO LESIN Mordechai Schiller NACHUM STEIN 26 RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Buslfless Manag4'r Let's Shmooze About Davening Jacob I. Friedman Published by Agudath Israel of America 33 RABBI MOSHE SHERER PRESIOENT The Many Forms of Chessed Judith Weil SOLE U.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTOR EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVE Feld helm Publishers M. T. Bibelman 200 Airport Executive Park Grosvenor Works PosTSCRIPTS SpringValley,N.Y.10977 Mount Pleasant Hill London ES 9NE, ENGLAND 39 Farewell to Shmittah, Miriam Samsonowitz ISRAELI DISTRIBUTOR AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR 43 As We Were Saying, Yonason Rosenblum Nechemia Rosenberg Gold's Book & Gill Co. Kiryat Telshe Stone. 108A 36 William Street D.N. Harei Yehuda, ISRAEL Balaclava 3183, Vic., AUSTRALIA SECOND LooKS ON THE JEWISH ScENE 44 A Story That Just Won't Die, David Freund THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus 4 7 Seek Peace and Pursue It, Sarah Cohen of any product, publication, or service 50 Noted With Sorrow and Outrage, Prayer and Hope advertised in its pages 51 Letters to the Editor ©Copyright 1994

SEPTEMBER 1994 POETRY VOLUME XXVll /NO. 6 57 The Spider, Libby Lazewnik TESHUVA, TEFILLA AND TZEDDAKA REMOVE THE EVIL OF THE DECREE Rabbi Noach Orlowek

Striving to Forgive, Leaming to Forget

While for some it may be difficult to ash for e Gemoratells us that sins be­ forgiveness, the other side good health, for people who nurse old tween man and man are not grudges eventually wear away at their Tiorgiven by the Ribbono Shel of the coin, the ability to own inner strength. Olam without the hurt party being Let us examine the concepts of placated'. The Genwra gives a poi­ honestly forgive and judgment and forgiveness as they re­ gnant example of this when it re­ late to interpersonal affairs. counts the story of Rabbi Elazar forget, is even more B'Rabbi Shimon, who had insulted TWO FORMS OF JUDGMENT someone and then had to beg the difficult for many people. person's forgiveness, to the point of bi , ?":Ir, de­ prostrating himself before him2• neates the basic difference This, it would appear, is one of the tells us that n'7rnr.l 1,nm:i 7v 1':un:in ?:l tween how Man judges his RE 4 proofs ofthe Divine ortgin of the Torah. 1'll1!1~ ?~ ?v 1?- "Whoever overlooks fellow Man and how G-d judges Man • The greatest sage of his generation his own feelings on a matter is for­ No person has the rtght to judge an­ must plead with some unknown, given for his sins," this would suggest other "... for judgment is for G-d. "5 simple person for his pardon, and can­ to us how really difficult this task is­ When a human court does pass judg­ not find atonement, even with the for even D'lll!I~. sins done (chalila) as ment on another human being, it is most rtgorous and sincere penitence, an expression of rebellion against only as the emissary of G-d. without the forgiveness of the insulted Hashem. are also treated leniently, A human court, then, is permitted party, even if he has to lower himself should a person be able to forgive and ob1(gated to decide whether a to beg for forgiveness. No human mind with a full heart wrongs committed certain act was committed and then 3 would ever recognize this truth. against him . It would therefore be to pass judgment on the perpetrator. While for some it may be difficult worthwhile to try to gain some per­ There is no room, however, for the to ask for forgiveness, the other side spective on how people can find court to grant clemency, even were of the coin, the ability to honestly for­ within themselves the ability to sin­ they certain that the defendant has give and forget, is even more difficult cerely and completely forgive those sincerely regretted his action. The for many people. When the Genwra who have in some way wronged them. court's function is not to determine Not only does this ability brtng in its whether the defendant is a good per­ son or not-that is for Hashem to de­ Rabbi Orlowek serves as Mashgiach in several wake bountiful rewards vis-a-vis yeshivas in Yerushalayirn. A published author - one's relationship with Hashem (as in cide. The members of the court were My Disciple, My Child and My Child. My Disciple Rosh Hashana I 7a). it bodes for never given such a responsibility, for ()-several of his essays have healthier interpersonal relationships, in truth they are incapable of deter­ been featured in JO. and is no small factor in maintaining mining this in any definitive way.

6 The Jewish Observer, September 1994 "Man sees with his eyes !hence, su­ Gemora tells 11 us-ifone sees a talmid perficially!. while G-d sees the heart"." chachom sin, do not suspect him of It is for the court to decide only as to rematning sinful. for he has certainly whether a certain act was indeed done teshlllJa committed under circumstances As a first step, a person must learn where it would be obligated to execute toseehisfellowmanasa totality, and the Toralis mandated sentence. strive to understand why he behaved Hashem, however, takes the entire in a certain way. An tncident from my person's situation into consideration teaching career brings this into focus. when passtng judgment. He knows Avremel was, to say the least, a how to weigh the person's actions, problematic student. Unreasonable and stubborn, he was sullen and unco­ say that things have changed and taktng into account all sorts of vari­ operative and tested my patience and ables that are beyond a human ability to stay in control. That is, until that the past need not continue on court: s capacity'. the day I met his father. He "excelled" into the future. This concept can explain many his son in stubbornness and being un­ statements by ( of the cooperative. In addition, he was violent LIVING IN THE PAST, PRESENT, ) that are otherwise dlfficult to wtth his son-I was witness to his lash­ AND FUTURE understand. For example, it is well ing out at him without any provocation whatsoever. From that day onwards, I known that a human court will pun­ had no trouble relating to Avremel. e Sfas Emes tells us that the ish a person for murder far more se­ Whenever the going with him got a bit etter "Vov" is called the letter of 12 verely than for Lashon hora (slander). rough, I would.flip the image of his fa- Titruth • We know that the word But our Sages tell us that Lashon hora Tlr.lN (truth) begins with the first letter is comparable tn gravity to murder, of the alphabet. continues with the idolatry or sexual immorality". The No person has the right to middle letter and closes with the final Gernoraexplatns that Hashemjudges letter. This is because truth is perma­ the habitual speaker of lashon hora judge another ".. for nent - always there-embracing far more severely than the person past. present, and future. 13 How is who conunitted murder tn a burst of judgment is for G-d." this propertY embodied in the letter passion because the habitual "Vov"? Perhaps the explanation is as speaker of lashon hora is in a far When a human court does follows: worse state ofspiritual decay than the We know that our lives are com­ murderer who committed his act pass judgment on another posed of past, present, and future. once, recognizes what a terrible thtng The letter "Vov," in Hebrew grammar, he has done, and repents stncerely. human being, it is only as serves as the connector between The human court can only judge the items (" Vov hachibur"). and as the act itself, and certainly the act of the emissary of G-d. connector between past and future murder canies with it a far heavier (" Vov homehapech''), whereby a past- punishment than the act of speaking tense verb is rendered future and a lashonhora future-tense verb is rendered past by ther into my mind's eye, and would re­ We can now begin to discuss our flect on what this boy endured at lwme. the addition of a "Vov" as a prefix to subject. I would then.find new reserves of pa­ the verb, because these items are re­ tience.for him. ally connected and tnterrelate to each KNOWINGWHEREPEOPLEARE other. Someone whose present and COMING FROM Intellect tseche!J vs. Emotion future are not related to his past, is (RegeshJ in store for a good deal of regret. en, as private citizens, we Healthy people take their past and are asked to judge another I The intellect has a grasp of past, use it as a springboard for planning W person favorably", we are present, and future, while emotion their future. They are not prisoners of betng enjotned to take the totality of knows only the present. We have all their past, but refer to it, using it as a the person tnto consideration; is the experienced emotional upheavals compass of sorts. person considered to be generally that we thought would last forever­ Some people live only in the righteous (or wicked), etc. 10 This and didn't. present-this is typical of immature means that the Torah is commanding 2. The intellect has the capacity to people. One of Eretz Yisroe1s wise us to take in1D consideration where a connect the past and the future. This men, Rabbi TZVi Greenhaus, N"tn?w, person is coming from-why he did is done by either comparing or con­ once said that the reason why in­ what he did - and then to realize that trasting the past and the future. us­ fants cry themselves to sleep is be­ perhnps he is not as heinous as he at ing the present as the bridge between cause to an infant sleep is death-he first seemed. Or, based on the past and future. That is, the intellect has no concept of tomorrow-and all person's total personality, that the is able to connect past and future by liVi.ng creatures have an instinct to person is sincerely contrite, as the contrasting the past to the future, to fight off death.

TheJewishObserver. September 1994 7 Some people only live in the fu­ which controls the memory of the ture-these are the dreamers. Lacking the capacity to past, must intervene to tell the emo­ Some people live only in the past­ tions that what happened today is not that is, their present is focused solely forgive is actually the necessarily connected to the past. on their past. It is these people who TI1is calls for explanation and practi­ have a difficult time forgiving-their result of an accumulation cal application. past is also their present, with all the The ability to make or break a con­ emotional implications that the of many experiences. That nection is a function of intellect, in the regesh is capable of producing for the same way that comparing (making present. (When we talk about reliving is, the person is not connections) and contrasting (break­ something in an emotional way, we ing connections) are factors of intel­ really mean that we take the past and reacting emotionally to lect, for they reflect the ability to sepa­ make itourpre..o:;ent. Under some cir­ rate important factors from unimpor­ cumstances, the past can become an what just happened, but is tant ones in a given situation. A per­ unbearable and unshakable burden son must, therefore, learn to contrast when it virtually takes over our connecting what has just the past and the present: the offen­ present.) sive person has changed, either his or occurred with all the other her mistakes occur less often or less THE ROOTS OF UNFORGIVENESS times that the same intensely. Or one must learn to com­ pare the present with the past: the acking the capacity to forgive is upsetting event took place. guilty person has been weighed down actually the result of an accu­ by a difficult past - and other such L mulation of many experiences. mitigating circumstances. That is, the person is not reacting emotionally to what just happened, People who are slow to forgive have a A Grudge as a Type ofDebt but is connecting what has just oc­ difficult time separating the present curred with all the other times that from the past. An additional root of unforgiveness the same upsetting event took place. If this is the problem. the intellect, is the perceived need to put the other person down and have some sort of superiority over him. Holding on to the past is akin to refusing to cancel a debt owed. Somehow I have it over you, if you still need my forgiJ.Jeness. ·· I' We take pride in it}forming the public qfthe writing A person with a healthy self-image qfa sefer 1brah in the sacred memory efthe Bostoner Rebbe, has no need to have the other person HaRav Moshe HaLevi Horowitz 7''P':Y'T. at a disadvantage in order to feel For close to a half century. the Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi good. So it would follow that helping a person achieve a healthier self-im­ Moshe Horowitz ':>•'j?iYT, enriched the spiritual landscape of American Jewry by initiating great strides in the dissemi­ age would be a big step toward help­ ing him (or her) become more forgiv­ nation of Torah and reuniting of Jews Chassidus, neshamos ing. If the person can be given an al­ alienated from Torah with their heritage. And as is well ternative way of feeling worthy, he I known, throughout his years, the Rebbe was an active she may not need to hang on to old force in the leadership of Agudath Israel of America scores. A group of his followers and admirers recently arranged for a Sifer 1brah to be written in his memory. Patticipation Childhood Memories in this is a valuable source of merit especially during these Yemei HaSelichos V'din - these Days of judgment and Forgiveness. There can be no doubt that we can We invite all who share with us an appreciation of the Bostoner Rebbe's notable also learn to hang on to old scores achievements - especially fellow members of Agudath Israel-to join in this mitzVah from our parents, both vis-a-vis how of writing a Sefer 1brah, while expressing your bond with the late Boston er Rebbe. they kept bringing up our misbehav­ iorwith us ("You're always doing such ------·------~-----·-~------·------I would like to partidpate in the which is being written in honor ifHaRav and such!") and with how we heard HaTzaddik R' Moshe HaLevi, the Bostoner Rebbe zt"/. Name ______them speaking to one another. Recog­ nize the source, and wipe it out. Re­ Address member that often parents are deeply City/State/Zip------affected by their children's or spouses' 0 Enclosed is "1Y tax -deductible check. shortcomings because of the deep Jove Q Please call me at ------. Best time to call: they feel for them. What we heard as children need not affect our present.

8 The Jewish Observer. September 1994 We as Parents

One last point. We, as parents, should never scold our children with the mentioned-before words: "You're always doing such and such!" Be­ sides the intimation that they are be­ ing labeled as habitual wrongdoers (and children often live up to how they feel we perceive them), another ter­ rible side effect occurs. When we say "You always ... " we are communicat­ ing to our children that their previous wrongdoings have not been forgotten by us. We are keeping a sort of men­ tal score card on them, and continu­ ing to add to the list of all their fail­ ings. When we do this, not only do we jeopardize our relationship with them, we serve as role models for them as having a long memory for past misdemeanors. 11lis will not au­ ger well for their future relationships. Be more forgiving-and a bit more Become a More Effective Rebbe forgetful.

HOW WE VIEW OURSELVES

he Gemora14 tells us that in order to merit amelioration in This course taught by leading T areas where we suffer even the mechanchim and principals is worst failings, we must be able to act beginning its 15th year. Classes on the basis of viewing ourselves with humility, and hence forgive the af­ include classroom front to us. This is not easy (Rash~ management, practicum, ibid}, and hence doing so merits us the highest form of Divine Mercy on discipline, methodology, parent the Day of Atonement. May we all relations, child development merit that Mercy. • and other important topics. l.Yoma85b 2. Taanis 20a-b ] oin the hundreds of 3.Rosh l-fashana l 7a mechanchim who have 4.Pachnd Yitzchok, Shavuos, 44:8 5.Devariml,17 benefited from the Mercaz 6.Shmuel I 16.7 training. 7.Rwnbam. Hilchos Teshuva3:2 8.Eruchin 15b 9.Vayikru19.15

IO.See Chafetz Chaim. section 4, for an ill~depth treatment of these vital but complicated laws. 11.Berachos I 9a 12.Vayeitzei p.138, wherehebringsthisasawell­ known fact. See also the Maharal, toward the end of Chapter One of Nestv HaEmes, where he ex­ pounds on the shape of the Jetter "Vov~ as intimat­ ing stability. 13.Shabbos 104a. See also the Maharal. ibid. to­ ward the beginning of the chapter, 14.Rosh Hashana l 7a

The Jewish Observer. September 1994 9

Rabbi Ezriel Tauber, TESHUVA, TEFILLA AND TZEDDAKA REMOVE THE EVIL OF THE DECREE adapted by Yaakov Astor

Yamim Nora'im, All Year Through

orn Kippur. the holiest day of the could achieve that, we would revolu­ year, is the climax of a progres­ There is a natural and tionize the world. But are we meant Ysively intensifying forty-day pe­ to live in that state all year 'round? Is riod starting the previous month with inevitable letdown after there at least some way in which we the first day of Elul. One who dili­ can transform Yorn Kippur from an gently works on himself day by day YomKippur. ... experience that lasts a single day into during this period is sure to attain one that lasts an entire year? great spiritual heights by the time the conclusion of Yorn Kippur," he an­ effort culminates on Yorn Kippur. OUR APEX swered, "and saw all the people To describe the effect a proper Yorn dressed in white. 'They were like an­ Kippur can have on a person and he answer is no - and yes. gels. Their faces were beaming and those around him, consider the fol­ First, we must realize that shining. There was an other-worldly lowing testimony of one well-known there is a natural and inevi­ radiance to them. Then I realized that T ger tzeddek (righteous convert) who table letdown after Yorn Kippur. We they were the faces of the Jewish lived in Nitra, Czechoslovakia. before cannot expect to maintain that friends I had business dealings with World War II (until he was murdered madreiga - that level of spirituality during the year. I could hardly recog­ by the Nazis). He had converted just - throughout the year. Nevertheless, nize them. l said to myself, 'If there after World War I, during a particu­ the heights we experience on Yorn exists such a religion which can larly dark period for Europe's Jews. Kippur can affect the rest of the year transform simple working people into "What led you to convert?" some­ if we realize that they are not the ex­ angels. then that religion is the one I one asked him. ception to who we are, but the rule. want to belong to.' " "I once passed a at the They represent our true level. Imagine maintaining that Yorn On Yorn Kippur, G-d raises us to a Kippur state the entire year! If we Rabbi Tauber lives in Monsey, N.Y .. where he is certain height to show us where we active in communal affairs. He is the author of a belong. He shows us our personal self number of books on Jewish themes and is the founder of Machon HaHoyroa, a netwo•k of at its apex. And in so doing, He shows Kollelim designed to prepare young men to func­ ... Nevertheless, the heights uswhowereallyare. This in tum gives tion as daycmimand poskim. as well as Shalhevet, we experience on Yam us a high water mark, a personal stan­ an outreach organization that sponsors a seminary dard, against which we measure our­ for helping women discover Torah , and selves during the entire year. conducts weekend seminars in Y!ddishkeit. Kippur can a.ffect the rest This is not to suggest that come Yaakov Astor, also of Mousey, is a published au­ thor whose articles have appeared in these pages of the year. .. the middle of winter, you should feel - most recently, "Day ofinfamy~ {Dec. '93). as you did at the climax of Yorn Kip-

The Jewish Observer, September 1994 11 pur. Your true level-your natural, THE "DEVICE" innate spiritual self-does not always If Yam Kippur is the day manifest itself to the same degree. It tis not an easy task. of course, to should, however, become part of your bring Yorn Kippur into the whole when we become intrinsic being to the point that you I year. But the Jewish calendar has feel lacking when you do not feel built into it a device designed to help immersed in G-d and aware ofit. Therefore, in order to ben­ us do so. That "device" is called efit from the experience of Yorn Kip­ Succos. surrounded by Him to a pur. we must diligently keep before us During Succos we sit in a succa. the image of that spiritual, innate self which is essentially a flimsy hut. By supernatural degree, then we experienced when we rose to the definition, it is a temporary dwelling, most sublime heights. This is the key but in essence, it represents the com­ Succos is the period we to making Yorn Kippur manifest in mon man's Beis Hamikdash (the learn to make that our day-to-day living throughout the "House" of G-d). And that is how remainder of the year. Succos ties into Yorn Kippur. Just as supernatural experience a natural one to us. You would NEVER want your childl SOID£ emotionally .involved, ifyou knew , onYomKippurtheKoheinGadolcame it would result.in heartbreak and l into direct communion with G-d when hurt feelings! . he entered the Kodesh HaKadashim ----, (the innermost chamber of the Beis THIDGS You would NEVER consider a Hamikdash), so too. through entering shidduch ifJOU knew it was and dwelling in the simple succa. an genetically incompahole! ordinary Jew can be in his own per­ sonal Kodesh HaKadashim. He re­ VOU lllOU LO I flects some glory of the Kohein GadoL You would.NEVER allow your child j who is a paradigm of the level a mor­ to begin a relationship ifyou knew I tal has the potential to attain. And we both parties were Tay-Sachs carriers!\ can attain at least an essential aspect U£U£R of the Kohein Gadors level by dwell­ DO' ing in the succa. If Yorn Kippur is the day when we SO UJHV UJRIT?? become immersed in G-d and Sllf­ rounded by Him to a supernatural Delaying this crucial piwne call can complicate an obvious tkcision, degree, then Succos is the period and lead to heart/Jreak and wasted time and emotion. when we learn to make that super­ THE TIME TO CHECK FOR COMPATIBILITY IS natural experience a natural one to BEFORE us. It is the time we impress upon our A PROSPECTIVE COUPLE MEETS OR SOON THEREAFTER. souls that no situation is devoid of the potential to feel that we resemble. to some degree, the Kohein Gadolinside the KodeshHaJ{adashimon Yorn Kip­ pur. Succos is the device that helps us realize the potential ofYom Kippur all year through. Call the Dor Yeshorim Hotline to check compatibility SUCCOS UNDER THE NAZIS as early as possible. Individuals tested prior to January 1994 S point can perhaps be illus­ (718) 384-6060 may have only been ated with a personal experi­ Due to the sensitivity tested for Tay-Sachs. nce durtngWorld War 11. Aswe of the information, TI know. there was no time more devoid compatibility should h?~ Call our Hotline for of apparent G-dliness than the Holo­ be checked Uy the COMMITTEE FOR PREVENTION information on how caust. There was no land more devoid individuals themselves OF JEWISH GENETIC DISEASES to arrange testing 160 WILSON STREET, SUITE lB of G-d's presence than Nazi-occupied or their parents. BROOKLYN, NY 11211 for Cystic Fibrosis. Europe. I know this firsthand. I was a little boy growing up in that unholy

12 The Jewish Observer. September 1994 land during that unholy time. not attain some aspect of the stature Our fwnily had made the decision to of the Kohein GadoL disguise ourselves as to avoid deportatioTL Yet. despite that. we llike so THE PROTECTION OF many others in similar circumstances) THES'CHACH tried to secretly keep the Torah as much as possible. One of the commandments S point is further illustrated we were able to observefor two consecu­ y the law that the succamust tive years (1943-44) was dwel[ing in a TIe covered with s'chach. sueca. S'chach is culled from the p'soless, There was a lwnber yard a block the "rejected" 1 part of the tree: the away from where we lived. My father cut-down branches, twigs, etc. In bribed the watchman and then ar­ fact. anything possessing intrinsic ranged a few stacks oflwnber in such a 1 S'chach is the "rejected" part of the tree because way that though they looked like ordi­ when G-d created the world, He ordered the earth value-such as fruit or a wooden nary wood piles from the outside, on the to "give out fruit trees yielding fruit." The Sages plate-is disqualified as s'chach. Yet, inside they formed a smal[, cleared-out teach us that originaJly G--0 commanded the tree symbolically, the s'chach parallels areajust large enough to constitute a vi­ to sprout from the earth so that every part-indud­ one of the holiest objects in the able succa. My father then bribed the ing the branches-were as edible as the fruit itself: Kodesh HaKadashim: the golden the branch of the apple tree would taste just like watchman again. and on the first night an apple. In actuality, however, the earth ~gave out Cherubim, those winged, angelic ofSu.ccos, after the yard was closed, we a tree [not afruittreej that produces fruit." In other creatures that sat atop the cover to went inside our succa and consumed words, the earth brought forth trees as we have the aron hakodesh (holy ark) that the required amount ofwine and bread. them today, where the trunk, branches and twJgs housed the tablets of the Ten Com­ This experience personifies the are only vehicles for producing the fruit-but are not the &uit themselves. Here iS not the place to mandments. Jn the same way the message of Succos. Succos teaches delve into why the earth would not obey the com­ Cherubim served as the "covertng" of us that there is no place that cannot mand of G-d. The point is that ortginally the mate­ the ark (sochachim b'chqfneyhem, be turned into a miniature Kodesh Iial world was designed to be infused With intrin­ Shemos25,20), so too the s'chach(lit­ HaKadashtm No time is devoid of the sic holiness. In actuality, it possessed only partial erally, "covertng") bedecks the su.cca holiness. The rest, though having the potential to possibility of becoming a Yorn Kippur. become vehicles for holiness. were essentially "re­ S'chach. then, serves to illustrate that No person is so far gone that he can jected," like the cut-offtwigs and branches of trees. holiness-as represented by the

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The Jewish Observer. September 1994 13 THE KOHEIN GADOL WITHIN S'chach, then, serves to illustrate that holiness-as EACH OF US represented by the Cherubim-can be replicated in a orn Kippur in essence demon­ strates that even in the world day-to-day setting. An aspect of the holiness of the Y after Adam's sin there is one place (Kodesh HaKadashim). one Cherubim can be found in mundane, earthly materials time (Yorn Kippur), and one represen­ tative human being (Kohein GadoO like twigs and branches. that can contain the holiness of the original Garden of Eden. Succos in essence represents the idea that we Cherubim-can be replicated in a it produces wild growth that is essen­ can indeed draw from that single con­ day-to-day setting. An aspect of the tially worthless, that is essentially centration of holiness and spread it holiness of the Cherubim can be "thorns and thistles." S'chach, how­ out to the entire earth, for the entire found in mundane, earthly materials ever, demonstrates that we can take year, and to every person. And that, like twigs and branches. this "rejected" part of the earth's pro­ too, is why Succos lasts seven days, Indeed, this idea echoes back to duce and use it for holiness. We can paralleling the Seven Days of Creation. the beginnings of time. After the sin use it for the covering of our succa In Succos is the time to repair the world of Adam, the earth was cursed that it a deeper sense, it informs us that we of its original shortcomings. We take would produce "thorns and thistles." can transform any mundane place or the "rejected" part of the tree, which is And today we take it for granted that situation into a kiddush Hashem, the product of sin, and use it for the if a farmer leaves his field unattended into a manifestation of holiness. s'chach of the succa. which is the es­ sence of the mitzva of succa, and thereby turn the lowest element of the material world into one of the holiest. In Europe, the Chassidim used to ?? say: "When you go into the succa. you ® or © go in with your boots and your mud." • • When you enter the succa, you im­ Teachers. Famllles. The working Poor. merse your entire self in it. And you Large Famllles,The Unemployed and New Ollm do so no matter how muddied with all struggling in the harsh Israeli economy earthly goings-on you may be. In fact, They barely make it through the week and Shabbos. The extra the commandment of succa is the only one that can be fulfilled while expenses of Rosh Hashonah and Succos are a burden - a crisis. one is asleep. TI:ris conveys the con­ These proud Jews won't take Tzdokoh. But a Tl''T.I~ interest-free cept that even a person who is spiii­ loan, extended in warmth and dignity, saves the day. tually asleep-the diametric opposite of the Kohein Gadol--<:an fulfill the Ozer Dalim's ten volunteer staffed loan branches throughout commandment of succa Succais de­ Eretz Yisroel are swamped with loan requests. signed to remind us that whoever we are and wherever we may be, we can ONLY YOUR HELP WILL PUT A SMILE bring the experience of the Kohein Gadol in the Kodesh HaKadashim ON THEIR FACES THIS YOM Tov! into our everyday lives. The potential Mall Your Tax-Deductible Donation TODA YI to be the holiest human being exists in even the most humble Jew. The Gemach is revolving. Your loan will help now and forever! In the future, the entire world will Jlura:u Cliabn P. Scliein6er9 (JltJllOTllTY ~) • J{q,.a:u 'Moridiai

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SHADOWS ON DAYS OF JOY rying children, to the left-to the thers davened. Now, I entered the "showers" and instant death. Before courtyard With tefillin bag in hand, Mornings, I often walk to the train with her turn came, Mirtam grabbed our anticipaHng only yawning emptiness. Reb Leibush He never fails to draw my niece's hand from Chai'ela, and then Ahead of me walked a man with tallis attention to the ejfervescent.floclcs oflittle followed her to the left, as directed by bag under arm, with a little boy in girls waUcing to their Bais Yaakov, the the monster making the selektion. tow. A four-year-old child! Where had lively packs of little boys skipping and She made her own choice. he come from? How had he survived? running to , happy clusters wait­ After the liberation. I returned to Why wasn't he part of the void? The ing for their school buses-such beauti­ my village in Hungary. It was de­ sound of his hippity-hop on the ful scenes! Such stirring testimony to the serted. So I went to the nearby town. cobblestones only dramatized the ab­ resllienceoftheJew, totheetemityo.fKlal The shul was at the end of a long sence of the others. The sight of that Yisroell And then he'd krechtz, heaving courtyard of sorts, with smaller one little boy brought tears to my a sighfor the kids who never made itfifty kloizen opening from the sides into eyes. for all the others who would years ago.... For him, no celebration oflife the central space. Before the war, the never be there again. pa..<;ses undampened by tears. Some­ yard had teemed with little boys. dart­ That was 1945. I have been that times, however, the... tears give way tojoy. ing to and fro, playing while their fa· way ever since. Whenever I see Jew- It was the week ajterSimchas Torah, andReb Leibush wanted to share a Yorn Tov insight with me. As he ofiendoes, he began with a reminiscence from 50 years before:

ou know that I was one of eleven brothers and sisters. Y My oldest sister, Chai'ela. was manied and had two children when the Nazis took over our village. I stHI picture her carrying her infant son while holding onto her small girl with her free hand. I see her that way be­ fore me as they rounded us up in the plaza. I see her that way as we stumbled out of the cattle cars into the blinding sunlight in Bergen Belsen. She was followed by my sis­ ter Mirtam who looked older than her sixteen years. Miriam was watching intensely as the women in front of her were being separated: girls and young women to the rtght-presumably for the pleasure of the Nazi officers; small girls, older women, and mothers car-

The Jewish Observer, September I 994 17 Three generations together! PATHWAY$ OF THE PROPHETS I felt myselfjumping to the Rabbi Visroel Reisman rhythms of their happiness. Join Am.erica's most popular weekly shiut Singing. Swaying. as halachic and hashkafic issues are applied to contemporary times; Clapping. My eyes crinkled A collection of the alfctime favorite.Navi Shiutim with joy! And-much to my arranged bytopic and packaged in a custom surprise-no tears. binder. Each series consists ofsixtapes. ish children. my joy is indescribable. But the sight always becomes. SERIES J; STAllTING A FAMILY: clouded by my tears. SHIDUCflIM. MARRIAGE &.CHILDREN +.Shiduchim.:. Finding The. Righi.Match + Yiclmd; Mitzva Tantz; .T.rue Love ••• +-The Marriage C9remdny-- + Children: Helping Them Gro.w Up his past Simchas Torah I took +The First-Year of _Mar,riage;: Na_ming Childien­ a respite from dancing, and + Patience With Children; One Body: Parent and Child T watched the others. My neigh­ bor, Asher G., has several sons; one SERIES 11; MOODS of them, Gershon, has a little boy of + Moods: Getting A Hold of Yourself + Life, Liberfy & The ,Purs'uit of _Happiness: inner Strehgth his own, Shmully. There they were-­ +Shalom Bayis Asher, his sons. Gershon and Yanky. +Facing Uncertaintieis: Bitachon--and Fear and Asher's grandson Shmully, all + Controlling The Mood-!Jealin!l With Insults dancing for the simcha of the Torah! +Actions Set The Mood Three generations together! I felt my­ SERIES Ill: MYSTERIES OF THE SOUL self jumping to the rhythms of their +The Golerii in 'Halacha arid Fact happiness. Singing. Swaying. Clap­ +The Body & Soul After Death ping. My eyes crinkled with joy! And­ +Magic much to my surprise-no tears. I + Gilgul: Coming Back? could not remember such unadulter­ ,>Maze! and Astrology ated joy in fifty years! I was puzzled, +The Forces of.Darkness; The Effects of.a Curse but preferred not to dwell on it. SERIES JV; MONEY M.AmRS Then, I heard our Rebbe speak at + PdbritieS_-iil Charity; _GaihbliriQ Ne'ilas Hachag--

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Our Hands Did Not Spill This Blood

This is an appeal. from Reb Shimon Shalom of lchanan was a loner. Except Relax, I'm not asking for money. Amshinov. Discussing the custom of for one aunt and a cousin. he Tills is an appeal to remember. To re­ observing a Yahrzeit with a seuda, E had no close family. He never member a simple Jew... who endured Reb Shimon Shalom referred to the married. He did have a number of a complicated life. And to remember Midrash in Kohel/es on the celebra­ good friends. But. I know in my own him in a way that will leave a lasting tion of completing the reading of the case, he was more devoted than I. monument, not of marble, but of Torah on Simchas Torah Whether because of his loneliness, deeds. A human being, he says, corre­ or in spite of it, Elchanan was ob­ Wait! Don't turn the page. This is sponds to the Torah: 248 limbs (the sessed with the idea of community. not a hesped AB you will see, this is same number as positjve Command­ He threw himself into doing an open forum. What I really want to ments) and 365 sinews (the same chessed-both on a personal and a do is to pick your brain-and your number as negative Command­ communal level. heart. ments). When a man completes his Yearafteryear, he never wanted to But first, just so you understand, purpose in this world, it is as though come to us for Pesach. Instead, he I need to give you a glimpse of the the Torah itself were completed. So took on the responsibility of organiz­ man... and the issues raised by his the seudaofa Yahrzeitis comparable ing community Pesach sedorim for short life. I won't impose on you with to the seuda of Simchas Torah our own Jewish "homeless." And he the particulars. I will just say, as The other idea was from Reb took on the complacency and apathy Shlorrw Hamelech said in Kohel/es, Simcha Bunem of P'shis'cha. He ex­ of those who saw no need for it. "His days were filled with pain; at plained the significance of dancing at night he found no rest." a chasuno. or on Simchas Torah The And the elders ofthe city closest Still, for all the tragedy of his life, word meraked-

20 The Jewish Observer, September 1994 Hashem are almost negligible in our circles. What little there is becomes hyped out of proportion by the media, simply because it is so bizarre. Dog bites man isn't news. Man bites dog lbe II is news. 1J'.1. ercaz Still, our community is not im­ is pleased to announce mune to the plague of alienation. The utter desolation of being alone--dis­ the following courses connected from other people-infects being offered our society and our souls. There are still small towns where just going to the same shulmakes you family. But the city is a concrete desert-a wilder­ ness strewn with the victims oflone­ Master Teacher liness. Workshops Year after year, Elchanan never wanted to come to us for Pesach. Instead, he took Basic on the responsibility of organizing community Russian Language Separate beginner and intermediate Pesach sedorim for our own courses in Brooklyn and Northern New jersey/Monsey area Jewish "homeless." And he took on the complacency ... and apathy ofthose who Conversational saw no need for it. Hebrew And the elders shall wash their hands over the calf... and they shall say, "Our hands did not spill .... this blood and our eyes did not see it... " (!bid 6-7). Workshop in Andwouldweeverthinkthatthe elders ofBeis Din are murderers?! We should understand this to mean Methods &Materials that the elders say, 'We did not see him, nor did we send him away for Preschool without food and escort" Whoever accompanies hisfriend for fourarnos in the city, ensures that his friend will come to no harm. Whoever dnes ... not accompany his friend it is as if he spilled blood /Rashi, ibid). Administration/ e all know what the story is. Places to go. Things to do. Principals hip W I'm busy. You're busy. The only way I get through supper at night is by letting the machine answer the

The Jewish Observer, September 1994 21 phone. I keep in touch with people on eyes and ears. And learn to care. in thL<> world that he L5 accompa~ a need-to-know basis. I'm the last one Every one of us knows someone nied, so too will he be escorted to give mussarto people for letting the who is alone-someone who needs a from above. And G-d Himselfshall daily grind overwhelm them. How doctor... a job ... a shidduch... an protect him. many of us can honestly say that they apartment. .. a place for Shabbos ... a do not put their own responsibilities friend to talk to. keep thinking of what someone over the needs of others? once said to me ... a Jew I had But I also know I'm going to have The idea of escorting a guest I never met before, but who was not to answer for every time people the first four of his jowney a stranger. needed my help-and I was not there is to show that he is not discon­ It was a few summers ago, on my for them. nected, separatefrom the commu­ first trip in years to the mountains for I think that what we have to real­ nity. On the contrary, the corrunu­ Shabbos. Following unclear direc­ ize is this: Nobody says you have to nity isjoined together with him as tions, I missed the exit to Route I 7 and be a candidate for an ArtScroll or one entity. And he is Wl insepa­ kept heading north on the Thruway. I Feldheim biography. It does not take rable part ofthe whole. As a result, finally realized my mistake and legendary mesiras nefesh to help he will be protected from all evil on doubled back. Before long, I saw that people. All you have to do is open your his jowney. For just as we show I was going to have to tum off the high­ way into the first place I could stop. With minutes to go, I pulled into the Considering a move first driveway off the exit to Mountaindale. We knocked on the clos­ toMOIYSEY? est door and were greeted by a man with a beard and kapota. My daughter, for careful attention to your struggling to get out one word at a time. individual needs, call us today! blurted out. "We're lost."' 1--Iis response? "You're not lost. (914) 354-8445 Yo11're among Jews!" We had a delightful Shabbos-an.d a lesson I hope I will never forget. Somehow, there has got to be a way Take an exciting voyage imn im<:> ii))'l111!1 ,,u of reaching out and telling our fellow Jews that they are not lost. ThLJ' are through 4800 years of Jewish history not alone.

'The idea of the law of "break­ Charting the Mesorah ing the neck of the calf' is dear: The city nearest to the victim by Rabbi Zechariah Fendel brings the calf Usually the mur­ derer is from that vicinily. And the In attractive large format, includes elders call upon G-d as their wit­ 33 beautiful original charts, and 20 ness that they kept the roads in descriptive narrative essays, good condition, have protected them, and have directed everyone providing a remarkably concise that asked his way; that the per­ panoramic view of the authentic son has not been killed because sequence of Torah transmission, they were careless in their duty. And the procession, the measur­ from the earliest years of Prophecy ing, and the taking of the calf will through the end of the Geonic era, bring people from all around. And documented with numerous source perhaps by making the matter public, the murderer tvill be dis" references from Talmud, from covered. Midrash, and from Seder Olam. t first. I thought of forming Available at Hebrew Bookstores, or direct some kind of keren named from Publisher. Hashkafah Publications, 68-61 Selfridge St., A "Yad Elchanan... But, I'm not Price, 510 (postage included) Forest Hills, NY 11375. (718) 261-6076. an organization man. And the last An invaluable aid for students of Talmud and of Jewish History. thing I think we need is another Com­ Special discounts for quantity orders available for Veshivos/Teachers/ and Libraries mittee. Or another fund to raise money for. What we do need, though

22 The Jewish Observer, September 1994 I know I'm going to have to answer for every time people needed my help­ TheMercaz and I was not therefor is o.ffering new Advancement them. Opportunities

(to use a phrase from the 60s, now appropriated by the women's move­ ment), is to raise consciousness. As the old P'eylim pushkasused to Administration/ say, 'Yes, I am my brother's keeper!"

And to demonstrate this idea Principalship thot the traveler is not alone, it is enough to escort him for even a distance of only four amos. After all, it is impossible to go on with himforever. People have to return to their own homes. Just starting Dealing Effectively out together with him binds him to the People. Letting someone leave without escort, on the other hond, With the deprives him ofhis natural protec­ tion as a member of Kial Yisroel. Thus does the Torah say thot such Special Child an act is like spilling blood.

o what I am appealing for is not money, but information and S ideas. What is a do-able way of providing a road map to lost souls? At a gathering of Elchanan's friends Master Teacher for his shloshim, a suggestion was made to compile a directory-a list­ Workshops ing of bikur cholim groups, shadchanim. .. and phone numbers of hachnosas orchim. There are, I'm sure, already such listings in print. Jewish travel guides, local community directories, the Agudath Israel Mincha Minyan Map, Dikduk and others. A good book I found is How to Perform the Great Mitzva of Bikur Cholim, by Rabbi Aaron Levine ofToronto. It comes complete with di­ rections on how to launch a Bikur Cholirn group in your own commu­ nity. Conversational There are drawbacks, though, to printing any such listing. The first is that, by its very nature, a directory is Hebrew out of date by the time it is printed. Constant updates must be compiled and distributed. And distributed

The Jewish Observer, September 1 gg4 23 where and houf? o don't reach for your check How many directories get to the book. All I ask of you is fifteen people who really need them? And S to twenty minutes ofyour time. how do you deal with hachnosas Just sit down tonight and think: Do orchim? You cannot just go ahead and you know of a source for medical in­ publish the addresses and phone formation-like ECHO or Rofeh, or numbers of those wonderful families MRA? Let me know. Do you know Give vourself 20 minules ... who open their homes and their someone who can help with jobs, I hearts to "kol dichfin" and "kol shidduchim a place to live, or a place ditzridi' all year round. for Shabbos? Let me know. So, you see? Now you know why I Have you any ideas on how I can we'll give rou aOaf! need you. I need a network of infor­ best organize this information and get mation-hard, cold data-to put into it to the people who need it? Let me This is not just a summary. a directory. And 1 need ideas and know. Do you want to help? Please... Each tape consists of approximately 5 Blatt compassion-soft, warm hearts­ let me know. Write to me tn care of this in their entirely for only $3.00 (plus S&H)I and minds to help guide me tn dotng publication. Just say it's for Elchanan. (13)C"""lil (6)l"l'l3'l"I something useful, not just doing (11)i'Tl (8):'17'.li'.l something. "Forgive Your People. Israel, wlwm You have redeemed. .. and (10);n,'IC (6)~ i!1V;) ThE basic idea of providing es· let there not be innocent blood in (19)r1:1l

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hmoozing in shu! may Those who indulge in con­ to begin doing this than at the begin­ be a universally recog­ versation must be convinced ning? Wouldn't it make a significant S nized problem, but I that they are not being fair to difference if the yeshivas and Bais doubt if it will ever be solved if themselves. If the obligations of Yaakov schools would start teaching the emphasis continues to be on bein adam 1aMakom (between man the meaning of the words of davening convincing people to refrain from and G-d) and bein adam lechaveiro in the primary grades? With a rela­ talking. People do not talk in shutout (interpersonal commands) are not tively minimal investment of time, of disrespect for G-d or their fellow compelling enough on their own, per­ young children can be taught the lit­ mispalleUm. As a matter of fact, many haps we could reach them by stress­ eral meaning of the words of the people who are fastidious in their ing the obligations bein adam tefiUos. By the time they become bar mitzva observance and would not le'atzmo-we simply owe it to ol1r­ or bas mitzva, children can attain an dream of uttering a word after selves to daven better. The addicted understanding of the basic tejWos "Baruch She' amar" or

26 The Jewish Observer. September 1994 a week and systematically study the words of davening, or arrange for a People do not talk in shul out of disrespect for G-d or regular shiuron tejilla. It is a sad com­ mentary that of the 570 shiurimlisted their fellow mispallelim. Why do they talk? in the F1atbush Guide to Shiwim re­ cently published by Agudath Israel of Because they are bored. And they are bored America, not one was a on tejilla. We are blessed with Siddwim because they do not look forward to that translate davening into Hebrew and English, along with extensive davening. commentary, and we should make liberal use of them. Shuls and private libraries should expand their collec­ Thus, the first step must be to arrive start at the designated moment. tion of seforim on tejilla. A contempo­ on time, which means before the Too often we treat most of the rary author of a sefer on tejilla Writes scheduled time, so that one is ready to davening as if it were Shemoneh in his introduction that we will be truly embarrassed before the Heav­ enly Court when we are questioned about the meaning of "mashlich karcho chefiiim," a phrase we all say thousands of times during our life­ time .... Will we have an adequate re­ sponse when we find out that "evredui' in Ma Tovumeans kneeling, A not blessing? A person should not be satisfied with understanding the gen­ High eral meaning of most of davening. He should consider it an intellectual challenge to know the meaning of ev­ Schbol ery sentence of davening. After all, people who enjoy golfing, tennis or other sports take pride in their im­ Education provement in the game as years go by. Those lea.ming a language or engag­ ing in some other academic pursuit Is For will periodically evaluate their progress. Do we sense a comparable A Lifetime degree of growth in our davening af­ ter the passing of a year... of five years... of twenty years? -Invest Just The Shloh's son, Rabbi Shefte! Horowitz, ?"Yr, Writes (in his work, 2Hours Yesh Nochlin) that when he was a dayan in Frankfurt-am-Main, he es­ Our commitment to Torah values • Innovative, challenging curriculuni tablished chaburos (study groups) for and excellence in Jewish & •State-of-the-art facility the purpose ofleaming the meaning • Outstanding faculty of the tefillns of weekdays, Shabbos general studies can make a • Emphasis on midas, character, & skills and Yom Tov. He states that this pre­ difference in your daughter's life • Small classes, ensuring individual attention vents the davening from becoming like the "mere chattering of birds."

THEACTUALDAVENING n1J:i~ :ipy~ 11:Jn MANHATTAN HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS e all know the scene. People 154 E. 70th St.(off Lexington Ave.), New York, NY 10021 walk in late to shul, engage Tel. (212) 737-6800 W in cordial greetings, catch Mrs. Sora F. Bulka, Principal up on the news, and then start The school has been named in memory of Mr. Jacob Safra,?·1 davening. At that point, it becomes Scholarships and Transportation available Virtually Impossible for them to articu­ late every word and to daven properly.

The Jewish Observer. September 1994 27 Esrel by davening inaudibly, silently. usually do and a bit more spirttedly, starts daveningproperly, he begins to The key to enjoying davening is to the talkers will feel out of place. It is enjoy the expertence. enunciate the words, feel their incumbent upon the abstainers to An added factor leading to a spir­ beauty, sense their poetry. Once a help the indulgers by generating the ited davening is a unified responsive davening atmosphere is created, idle proper esprit de corps in shul Acting "Omein" and "Yehei sh'mei rabba." conversation will simply disappear. on this obligation is a function of And think of the poor sheliach tzibbur When someone walks into shul he "ve'ahavtale'rei'ru::hakamochfr-love and how disheartening it can be for will sense that he is in a place of your neighbor... ," which in any case him to be abandoned at the amud He davening--even if he wanted to, he should be the first kavana before should be encouraged by the tzibbw's would be embarrassed to talk. Before davening, according to sejorim. In response to lead an exuberant long, he too will be caught up in the time, others will be carrted along with davening! spirit of davening. the group spir1t, and will steadily lose There is a simple test to determine The non-conversers play a major the desire to prattle away the tefillos if you are finally enjoying your role in creating this atmosphere. If to the point of oblivion. Once a per­ davening: Do you look forward to they daven a bit louder than they son understands the davening and davening or do you find davening a

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Yad I: Achim -A world of activities and deeds. What are you doing chattering of birds." to strenghten their work? Help us grow; support our urgent work and give us strength! Remember, the destiny of thousands of Jews lies in your/our hands! You cannot and must not stand on the chore? Granted, davening can ac­ sidelines! Join hands with us in this life saving endeavor! complish a great deal even if the mispallelis bored. But isn't it a shame Send your generous tax deductible donation today: to spend so much time engaged in stimulating spirttual activity and fail to sense the joy? Davening with en­ YAD L'ACHIM gagement of mind and heart can be an adventure, a fulfilling expertence. 1554 - 50th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y 11219 rendertng the joy of exchanging news Phone (718)633-077 6. 4 36-0875. 633-1323 • Fax: 633-1669 and views ephemeral by compartson. When you are in Israel, visit our Mosdos· One need only observe the seasoned Central Office in Israel: Rechov Nachum 8, ; Also: Acco, , Beer Sheva. , davening of a Rav or the fresh at­ Cholon. Hadera. Haifa, Kiryat Shrnonah, , Ramana, Ramallah, Rechovoth, Tel-Aviv. In Germany: Aachen Koln tempts at tefilla ofa young child to be When you are in Russia, please visit our offices in Moscow and St. Petersburg convinced that proper davening is far, far from bortng.

28 The Jewish Observer, September 1994 ,------LEARNING DURING DAVENING ••\\' s Not That flq l any people seem to find davening the most oppor­ • It is possible that Je//j'1 '' tune time to learn. Indeed, akeytowinningthebattlefortalk- '9 You W; \3Ut··· I M free davening lies in framing it as a hat To D0 1 I especially for Daf Yomi learners, learning during davening frees up be1n adam fechaveiro (interpersonal) do with mussar. I am not telling you other time. Moreover. there is a ca­ issue rather than a bein adam what you should do----just refrain from I chet of intellectualism in public learn­ faMakom (spiritual) one. For various doing it where it disturbs me. ing during davening. Yet, one rarely reasons. people are resistant to mussar • Talking inflicts all kinds of collateral ! finds a Rav or other talmid chacham in any bein adam faMakom matter: damage no less painful because it is learning during davening. ·we recognize our chesronos (faults), unintended. I recently attended a bar The learner-davenermust share but we will deal with them at our own mitzva where you could barely hear the blame with the shmoozer for the pace. thank you, without input from /einingor the Ha~orah (both by the Bar noise-level in a shul. The learner­ busybodies." There may be no area in Mitzva boy) over the din. No one in the davener is proclaiming that he is Jewish life where the ma'amar Chazaf shulwould have walked up to the boy just as bored with the davening as thatkaivonshe'ovaraveirav'shinabo, and flicked him on the ear or whis- the addicted conversationalist and na'aseh lo k'hetter(once a person com- pered something hurtful to him during is projecting a message that mits a sin and repeats it, it becomes the leining. How. then. did they think davening is not important. He con­ permissible in his view) is more clearly he felt, having prepared for so many bibutes to the non-davening atmo­ demonstrated than in talking during months only to find the majority of the sphere in the shuL davening. At the same time, we are shul neither listening nor permitting Rav Waldenberg (Tzitz hesitant to give anyone else mussar, others to listen, unless they snuggled Eliezer, Vol. IX, 10) cites a commenta­ cognizant as we are of our own fail- up to the bima? tor who homiletically explains the ings. None of this has any relevance to • What we are asking of our fellow Gemora "pishpesh v'lo matza, yitleh the realm of bein adam /echaveiro. Jews is not cruel (although in many b'bitul Torah," that one who endures If you are blowing smoke in my places it is unusual). Those who've physical suffering and cannot find a face, I have the right to demand that sampled it tell us that a conversation- spiritual reason should blame it on the fact that during davening he had you stop, and you have no right to free, "yeshivishe' davening is pleasant failed to abandon his Torah study... refuse. If your talking during a shiuror and uplifting. Once experienced for a for the sake of davening. a lecture is disturbing my concentra- period of time. its appeal is undeniable. It is reported that a highly re­ tion, I have the right to ask you to stop. Emunatel/s us that Chazafwere neither garded Chassidic Rebbe recently If I cannot hear the /eining or the sadistic nor unrealistic in their demands walked around his shul during a Fri­ chazoras ha'shatz clearly due to your on Jews. If their conception of tefiffa day night davening and closed the talking, I have the right to tell you to b'tzibburwas one in which private con- seforim of the learner-daveners. stop. And it has absolutely nothing to versation did not take place, then this is The Mishna Berurah (124: 14) how maximum emotional and spiritual writes that one should not learn Excerpted from a larger article on the topic by benefit from davening is attained. during Chazoras Hashatz, even if YehudaRostker. who lives in Far Rockaway, NY. one answers Omein at the end of ev­ ery beracha, because it senres to demonstrate that it is acceptable IF YOU ARE A not to pay attention to the davening. SHAARE The less-learned will, therefore, talk Rabbi, Doctor, and the learner-dauener must shoulder the blame. TORAH or Lawyer The ChasamSofer, 7""'1, was once asked about the seemingly inordinate a leading yolj may be able to help: amount of time he spent on davening Orthodox Congregation A frumyeshiva couple is and whether it would not be better to in Pittsburgh spend that time in Torah study. He looking to responded that the Gemora is seeking a Rabbi. (Berachos 54b) teaches us that one adopt aJewishinfant. who devotes extra time to daveningis Send resume to: Please contact: blessed with a Jong life, and he plans to make up any lost learning during Dr. Amiram Roffman, 7l8C871-5337 evenings that extra time. 2755 Beechwood Blvd., 914-425-2740 • 914,42scso1s The Chasam Sofer even utilized Pittsburgh, PA15217 Referent ts available;_confidt»ti_ality guaranteed humor to stress the importance of

The Jewish Observer, September 1994 29 concentrated davening. In the intro­ duction to the Siddur Chasam Sofer, Davening with engagement of mind and one of his students relates that the Chasam Sofer quoted the Midrash heart can be an adventure, a fulfilling where Reb Yochanan exclaims that "he wishes that people would daven experience, rendering the joy of exchanging all day" (Tanchuma, Miketz). If so, when would people learn? The news and views ephemeral by comparison. Chasam Sofer explained that the yeitzer hara wants a person to learn during davening. Thus, Reb Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz, ':>"lit, will not see success in his Torah Yochanan jestingly meant that a per­ the late Rosh Hayeshiva in Mir­ studies. He based this on the son who intends to daven all day Jerusalem, in a recently published Gemora at the end of Nidda (70b), would ultimately spend the entire day mussar shmuess, proclaims that where Rabbi Yehoshua ben learning. someone who treats prayer lightly Chanina asked for the formula to acquire wisdom and the Gemora states that he should increase the time spent on learning and de­ crease the time spent on business. To the empirical question that many who have followed this for­ mula have not been successful, the Gemora answers that one must first pray to G-d, who is the source of all wisdom.

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eallarein need of Chessed W-both as an activity we engage in and The Many Forms a largesse from which we benefit. For the recipient ofChessed the acts ofkindness can range from something that improves his quality oflife to a benevolence that affects his entire being. The following are examples of four chessed frameworks in Eretz Yisroel, geared to four

totally different types of Lev Malka blood drive

situations. I. THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE SICK they have no "insurance." It is not easy to round up six, eight or more ev Malka was set up to help the (sometimes well over 100) able-bod­ here are many other many Israelis who found that ied fiiends, who had not already given L they could not readily obtain blood during the previous few chessed activities the medical help they required, or months, and as a result surgery is of­ and organizations that it was delayed, with possibly fa­ ten delayed. Thus the significance of T tal results. the blood diives Lev Malka conducts The Jerusalem-based organiza­ all over - in yeshivas and work in Eretz Yisroel as well as tion, with branches inAshdod, Beitar, places, religious centers and banks­ Netanya, Kiriat Gat and Safed, is nec­ to collect the life-giving fluid. in Chutz L'oretz, but these essary in spite of the country's many 1"'he organization has its own "ac­ four have been selected for hospitals and sick funds. One way in count" at the bloodbank, and donors which Lev Malka helps is by ensur­ can request that Lev Malka be cred­ ing that a person who requires blood ited with their pint, thereby ensuling their variety in scope and receives it. In Israel, it's forbidden by credit for the others it helps. Israeli law to pay donors for blood and A further problem is that of rare focus, to inspire us in our this results in shortages. blood groups, especially the 0-nega­ own communal and indi­ There are two main avenues of tive. These universal donors m.ay do­ blood collection in Israel: Volunteer nate blood to just about anyone, but donors, who are then "insured" - can receive blood only from another vidual involvement in they and their dependents are en­ 0-negative person, only 3% of the titled to receive as much blood as they population. chessed. may require during the following The demand for 0-negaUve is far Mrs. Weil, a professionalwrtterinJerusalem, writes year; and patients' friends and rela­ greater than the amount donated, be­ regularly foo the Jewish Tribune, a weekly newspa­ tives, who supply the hospital with cause after an accident there is fre­ per published by Agudath Israel of Great Britain. the requisite number of pints when quently no time to test for the patient's

The Jewish Observer, September 1994 33 were found in Jerusalem and two parties in hospitals. were brought there by cab from towns Lev Malka recently opened a"Shab­ some distance away. bos and Yorn Tov clinic" manned by Non-Jews and located in North The Volunteers and Their Jerusalem where a high proportion of Activities the capital's religious Jews live. Some 20,000 children are in the area, and ev Malka is run by unpaid vol­ children do have a propensity for fall­ unteers, all of whom have other ing on Shabbos and Yorn Tov! In the Loccupations. Rabbi Avraham case of serious injury, i"n, a child is Leib Aberman, who heads Lev Malka, taken to the hospital by ambulance, teaches at the Vizhnitz Cheder, refus­ but with a minor injury he (or, less of­ ing to take salary for his Lev Malka ten, she) can be taken to the clinic. work. He carries a beeper and a two­ Blood supply remains one of Lev way radio so that he can be reached Malka's chief concerns. On one occa­ Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, dayan of Agudath immediately in an emergency. Rabbi sion, only 200 pints of blood were left Israel of fllinois, donating blood at a Lev David Schlessinger, volunteer direc­ in the country's central blood bank. Makla drive. tor of Lev Malka, is a businessman Terrorism and soldiers' training acci­ who divides his time between Bnei dents are factors in the need for so specific blood type and he must be Brak and the U.S., and has direct much blood. given this rare blood, just in case. contact with hospital directors and In fact, when the intelligence arm Recently when a 32 year-old doctors as well as with patients. of the LD.F. learns of threatened ter­ woman required heart surgery, eight Among the organization's other ac­ rortst action, Lev Malka is informed pints of 0-negative blood were tivities are teaching volunteers how to so that they can ensure a build up of needed; two were supplied by family draw blood; organizing first-aid blood reserves through extensive members. It was midnight, the night courses; providing medical equip­ contacts in the religious sector, sta­ before. Tisha B'Av, and a further six ment to individuals, Kupat Cholim tistically the most generous when it more pints had yet to be found. Rabbi clinics, and hospitals; referring pa­ comes to donating blood. A recent Moishe Halberstam (Rav of the Eida tients to the best specialist for their Magen David Adorn appeal for blood Hachareidis and president of Lev particular situaUon, and accompany­ broadcast over the radio yielded 14 Malka) paskened that anyone who ing him or her to the specialists; sit­ pints, while a parallel drtve by Lev gave blood for this patient would be ting by the bedside of patients who Malka yielded 120 pints. exempt from fasting. Four donors require it; and arranging frequent Ki hadam hu hanefesh-Because blood is life.

II. TORAH AT ONE'S FINGERTIPS

henayim Mikra v'echad Targum - an expression S known to every Cheder child. To read the Parsha every week, twice in its ortginal Hebrew, and once in Aramaic, is a routine activity for ev­ ery Jewish male, and yet, for Rabbi Avraham Lavi, who is thirty years old, and has always beenfrum, the expe­ rience is still new. He describes his feelings as "marvelous." It was only last year that the Targum Onke[us was published in Braille, for the first time ever. You see, Rabbi Lavi has been blind since birth. There is so much you can do. To find out more YOU ARE! Now married and a father, his early about your closest kiruv organization, Torah study center, the next education followed the usual Israeli scheduled outreach program or weekend, or for the closest pattern for youngsters in his position. '"""'" "" om K

All of this prompted Rabbi Lavi to ,ln '"')"fo/wlir1f!11&to1/1mlua/Jn~lnjiw111/l(!m/ .1'110~. ]1Jl'!D 'Jt> '''<-'; )J -1"Jn:l )~' '"lll lll''efl ll~'J Oil an an//iofogy oj'forah \fodom. (),,., 611/!0qu-Ol" nn·M ~1.~)J): D"'"Y UP Cl11JD~l 011,~: \'~~I. ~1-:) found Mesilah-the Hebrew acronym /!f'rlafoing In 48 1mpm1anl l"/J!r,, 2 Volumes o•)i) 'l .D';'))J~ r~J'1J 101)~ ';~ )p;i'; 'l) OT~ for "Institute for Jewish Literature for the Blind and Visually Impaired." He­ brew texts were set into Braille by vol­ The Path of Improvement O""m niin "/1iiJ bo!!h prrta11'-< lo t/v >lud) oj mom/ d1lfor .>fdrmm thnl lu>' used to be. o·~·J;~ ;r:n" :J~'m w1 nx o;i-:1~ mn·D ~·x>r~ One change lies in modem meth­ The Marvelous Wonders of Creation ods which allow for printtng on both An m·drplh, smn!ifi1 .' rxislrna of u Mmtrr Plmmrr and n,,ignn _Jdo/,/rd 11,,,, '} .01.~017n1;,~ -~~nJ ~D .i1N•1r; KJ:t -~~nJJ massiveness of Braille texts - al­ from thr """*-' flj Nab/11 .~i

The Jewish Observer. September 1994 35 ~------1';.q,r~~~ti . »J•,, the "Torah Braille Library" and con- ID. WORKING OUT THEIR / A. ·.... " f,_,,,. sult various references, without ever PROBLEMS ·... ~, needing to print out the information. True, Mesilah serves a relatively en mental illness strikes, small number of individuals. but elp is imperative, but is all Rabbi Lavi maintains: "When some­ the more difficult because one is sick, no one says it is only one of the stigma involved. We are a life. For a religious person, a reli­ strange society. There is no disgrace gious book is like oxygen. If he can­ in false teeth--{)ften the consequence Giving the shiur is a major not learn Torah, he is cut off from of lazy brushing habits; there's no society. Each person brought back shame in a broken leg, frequently challenge because of the by Torah counts." caused by a person's carelessness; large intelligence range. Blindness prevents people from but there is a stigma attached to men­ enjoying the light of day, but no tal illness, even if it is the conse­ One patient is a university longer precludes them from basking quence of an accumulation of pres­ in the light of the Torah. sures sufficient to throw the stron- professor, several are talmidei chachamim, while others have fairly low I.Q.s.

gest person out of gear. Doctors argue about how much of this is due to physical causes-chemical changes in the brain-and how much is emo­ tional-due to unhappiness, stress or •Rates in U.S. dollars the like. Some admit that they do not • T.L.D. W • $6 per day· understand. mandatory if C.O. Wis not purchased One way to help those who are "out •Free car phone (Pay tor calls only} of their minds" is to keep them occu­ •Based on 7 days minimum rental pied, to fill their minds with other •High season supplement things-work, friends, study-leav­ ing no room for wony, no space for brooding, no leeway for unhappiness, and to get them into the habit of cop­ ing with life. On a sidestreet in Jerusalem's Meah Shearim neighborhood is a printing plant where 55 men, aged 17 the hat rack to 57, are occupied operating equip­ ment, sorting papers, counting, stick­ 541616thAvenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. ing, binding, packing, ensuring that the customer will be satisfied. All (718) 871-2278 these men have anxieties: "I have been hospitalized several times," said one. "and am always afraid I will be taken in again.'' (!STETSON·)) Each patient is under psychiatric care, and the devoted supervision of Rabbi Binyomin Rosenthal and his ~ J#' wife, Chana, who give encourage­ ment and guidance to each client. The plant is part of a comprehensive rehabilitation system, known as KANGOL •LONDON FOG Chessed Ve'emuna. Some men sleep CAPS •TIES at home, some go back to the hospi­ tal at night, and about I 8 live at its

36 The Jewish Observer, September 1994 hostel. They daven Shacharis at one IV. " ••. THAT THEY SHALL blue one to a red one, and continued: of the district shuls, or beyechidus, or SERVE ME" "Take care of your son. Buy him do not davenat all-there is no coer­ whatever he wants. I did not have the cion-then they have breakfast and "Dear Retwen, iechus to have a Daddy like you and I clock in for work. "Mazel Tov on the birth of your son. , feel you are my Daddy. Work continues until early after­ May your son become a tzaddik. May ' "Aryeh" noon when there is Mincha and your son never be ill. He should learn eh is one of forty boys, aged lunch. There are social activities, oc­ weU wid receive 100 percent in his tests, ix to shortly past bar mitzva, casional outings to nature reserves and listen to you and to his Mommy. He N t Achiezer in Haifa, an insti­ and other places of interest, and should have a good life." tution for children from southern shiurirn One of the children at Achiezer's former-USSR, including Azerbaijan, Giving the shiur is a major chal­ home for new immigrant boys was Bukhara, and Kafkaz. lenge because of the large intelligence writing to its director, Rabbi Reuven Whereas olim from the north are range. One patient is a university pro­ Meir. After completing the above, the mostly academically trained doctors, fessor, several are talmidei chacha­ youngster changed his pen from a engineers, teachers, and so on, those mirn, while others have fairly low I. Q.s. Officially recognized by the Minis­ try of Health, Chesed Ve'emuna re­ ceives a small grant for each patient­ less per month than a hospital re­ ceives per day. There is lots of indi­ vidual contact, varying from teaching the patients how to buy their own clothes and keep their rooms clean and tidy, to teaching them how to work and providing spiritual guid­ ance. Some government inspectors are deeply impressed with the Rosenthal's devotion, while others fault their 'round-the-dock involve­ ment as "non-professional." But, then, how do parents take care of their own children, ifnot with bound­ r------, less concern? LIST PRICE Patients are paid an incentive of ~ ©lJlJ HALACHOS OF THE FOUR SPICIES two to eight shekels per working hour. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATI:D The higher sum is close to the legal [!ji) AUARTSCROU WITH FULL COLOR PICTURES minimum wage, and a visitor gets the MACHZORIM / SUCHOS A MUST FOR EVERY JEWISH HOME A FELDHEIM CLASSIC impression that a small number of c:;::::J FOR THE YAMIM NORAIM patients are almost ready to venture REG '27" NOW $ 21 SO outside the center's sheltered envi­ L------J ronment. SPECIAL TO JEWISH OBSERVER READERS r------~ The center originally served only : 2 VOl. l!ATHER SET Rosi! 'G".3 : 10% Off UST PRICE ON ALL ENGLISH JUDAICA l HASHONAH & YOM KIPPUR - l 15 men, but over the years, with the 1 FRIE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER 100°° l MACHZORIM FROM MILLER [!:!) l help of donors, it was able to move to SAtE IT£MS !:XClUO{O I PUBLICATIONS OF JERUSALEM ~ 1 larger premises and accept more pa­ I ONLY L-=:J I tients. Chesed Ve'emuna feels that If,,, utdk.u ~ """alL f'U'4 f"4aic ~­ ~- 'lf...... JJ.,,;, ?.+J. there is also an urgent need for a cen­ e,.,w. s+w-, 05 ~'¥*' V"'-4, a-I MNCI.., -"*-' i.$54 0[;)[3@0Bl1@ i ter for women, perhaps even more vi­ tal than for men. L------J Coaxing, counseling and guidance WE CARRY THE lARGEST SELECTION OF TALLAISIM, KlnULS, are effective, but opting for extra work SHAS, SHILCHAN ARUCH, TALLIS BAGS FOR THE hours for overtime, and responding to CHOSSON AND KALlAH CUSTOM IMPRINTS FOR other incentives, is ultimately up to the individual clients. In the end, YARMULKAS & BENCHERS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE. making a sucess of life depends on the person himself. Chesed Ve'emuna simply teaches the ABC - and the Alej-Beis-of how to do it.

The Jewish Observer, September 1994 37 ist at all, are not easily transferable to shalom bayis lead to violence in the Children arrive at Israel. The result is that their aliyais home. extremely traumatic, and many fami­ Israeli papers feature stmies about Achiezer in the middle of lies that were coping in the past dis­ children who have dropped out of integrate after they arrive in Eretz Yis­ school, who sleep on the streets, who the night, unannounced, roeL This is all the sadder because scrounge for food in garbage pails. most Jews from the southern USSR Everyone talks about it. but it seems unplanned. They are had retained some remnant of that hardly anyone does anything Yiddishkeit. about it. In fact, Achiezer's parallel simply dumped there. The close-to-half-a-million immi­ home for girls was closed down for grants who arrived in Israel within lack of funds. They come covered with the past few years have put heavy Rabbi Meir estimates that there pressure on housing, and rents have are some 2,000 former-Russian chil­ bruises, and sometimes SkY-rocketed. The resultis that many dren living under conditions of vio­ olimrent slum rooms in industrial ar­ lence and abuse in dtfferent parts of with cigarette bums. eas, and their children are exposed to Israel. He added, "This aliya is not the worst elements Israeli society has like the aliyot in the early years of the to offer: criminals, drug addicts, child State. Now there is direct absorption. from the south were shopkeepers. molesters. There see violence in the We no longer have to fight anti-reli­ shoemakers. small artisans or the streets; and poverty, frustration, a gious groups who force children into like. and their skills. such as they ex- feeling of uselessness and a lack of secular kibbutzim. Now parents can send the children where they choose, . and they are clamoring for us to take PINCHAS MANDEL their children. But we are unable to Over 40 Years Experience In Kvura In Eretz Ylsrael accept them all." Personal Responsibility Throughout Service-NO AFFILIATES ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT METHOD "Hi! My name is Igor. Highly Recommended by Gedolai Hador - Here and in Eretz Visrael . I Come ••• From the Night." 1569-47th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 hildren arrive at Achiezer in Day & Night Phone: (718) 851·8925 the middle of the night, unan­ ll70'DNiDllNj' l7l''i' - ri::> iNl nillil7 •ilD C nounced, unplanned. They are simply dumped there. They come Chesed Shel EMES with Mesiras Nefesh. •• as understood and pracliced by covered with bruises. and sometimes one active in the industry for more than half a century. with cigarette burns. When asked - Taharas Hanlftar Should Never Be Commercialized - . . where their parents live, they say that they have been forbidden to say. Typi­ cal was a boy who said he had not YOUR eaten that day: "My father said you would give me something to eat so he CAR IN ate my sandwich." fLDAN The boys are housed. clothed, and RENT-A-CAR ISRAEL cared for at Achiezer, and attend one LS of Haifa's Chinuch Atzmai schools. TYPE OF CAR 2215194· 3117194 When the boys complete eighth FROMs12a *PER WEEK I grade-at age 13 or 14-they go on to A FIAT UNO STING 126 UNLIMITED yeshiva katana, most to Zichron 175 8 PEUGEOT 205 AC • EXC. INS MILEAGE , Yaakov, some to the Negev. The third c CITROEN ZX 1.4 224 c" MAZDA323 245 class ofAchiezer youngsters is gradu­ c• PEUGEOT 4051.6 280 FREE CELLULAR PHONE ating this summer. Former pupils re­ M MINIBUS FORD 476 turn to Achiezer on their free 'FROM N SUBARU BABY BUS 322 IN EVERY CAR TYPES Shabbosos. • PAYll£NT FOR USE ONLY AT T!IE END OF Tll£ RENTAL PEfflOD "Let my people go," begged Jews D CHARADE 1.3 231 the world over, in an effort to have E MAZDA323 294 F NISSAN SUNNY 322 SPECIAi. CAii FOi HANDICAPPED DllVIH their brethren released from Soviet Russia. Achiezer's concern for the G SIERRA1.8 420 .....vAnON a -•AYM~ K GMC SAFARI PS ... U6AA CANAOA physical well being of young immi­ x P£UGEOT 405 1.9 476 grants is coupled with an awareness XL MITSUBISHIGALANT2~ 560 B00-938·6000 IN NY: ara-619·6090 of the conclusion of the pasuk "... that sx VOLVO 940 630 they may serve Me." •

38 The Jewish Observer. September 1994 Miriam Samsonowitz

Farewell to The Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, N"l;:I'~. giving Shmittah words of chizuk to a Shmitttah­ ith the approach of Rosh observing farmer. Hashana, a 354-day mitzva W ill be coming to an end. the world takes on anew hue. stream of siyata d'Shmaya Miracles Shmittah that glortous declaration by • For Zecharya Vahav from Moshav happened throughout that year. We His devoted nation Israel that the Ami-Oz in the Negev, keeping Shmit­ stood aside with our mouths agape earth and all that is in it is the L-rd's, tah was not easy. He says honestly, and admitted, We don't decide any­ will finish at the end ofElul, and sev­ "You feel restrained. It was hard not thing. Hashem is the owner of the eral thousand farmers all over Israel to touch the land for an entire year. world.' That year I received full com­ will be taking out their tools and ma­ But I found a job as a maintenance pensation for my expected losses chtnes again to start another six-year man in a school, and I wouldn't let durtng Shmittah and each of us in cycle of work. Shmittah observance myself be bothered by whatever sup­ the moshav personally expertenced a will still linger on tnto the next year, posed losses I was sustaining by not salvation in our personal health or in since the fruits and vegetables that working the land. our families. grew during Shmittah still retain "Just not having to think about the kedushas Shvi'is, the sanctity of the land all the time-making invest­ ~ !,f~!.'~ sabbatical year. In addition, the laws ments. managing the workers. wor­ of bi'ur-formally declartng the pro­ rying how the crop was doing - that duce ownerless-must be canied out itself was a great gatn for me. Not hav­ as each species (i.e. grapes) and its ing to worry about these things gave dertvative (i.e. wine) near the end ofits me the peace of mind to do more ~ AUTHORS G- t\RTISTS ~ respective season. learning. I can't say I felt joy to keep Fruits and vegetables that were Shmittah; it was more a feeling of tended and grown durtng Shmittah in shleimus---completion. I felt that here authors and artists to submit violation of halachaare prohibited for was a great mitzva that I was doing manuscripts and artwork for consumption. The only way to be sure totally l'sheim Shamayim, for evaluation. We seek manu­ to avoid violating this law is by buy­ Hashem" scripts in all areas of Judaica tng only produce sold under a reliable • The realization that there was an publishing with originality, rabbinical certification. One should abundance of produce in the country creativity and high literary not use cans without reliable rabbini­ motivated Yochanan Moshnino from standard. Our editors develop cal certification. since they may con­ Moshav Azrikam, age 59, to begin and highlight the Individuality tain forbidden Shmittah produce. keeping Shmittahseven years ago. "It ofthe author and our graphics Vegetables that appear in the mar­ was hard not to plant my fields of t I department gtves each book rJ ket after Chanuka can be assumed to wheat. But, Baruch Hashem the first t its own identity. t be produce of the new year, devoid of Shmittah I kept 1 had a very good year rJ We welcome the opportu· 16 kedushas Shvi'is. before and after Shmitiah, so finan­ nity to work with you. cially I was set. ut for many farmers, life will "Shmittah gives me the chance to e not be "back to bustness." Af­ rejuvenate. I go to Torah shiurim all B ter living in a spirttual time the time. I'm stronger in keeping mitz­ capsule where pamassa (suste­ vos, and feel good that I know more ... nance) and hishtadl:us (effort) take on •ToYehudaFeiner, age47, a madrich !.Jn,~ • I...an4on •ftrur4/tm_, different dimensions, and man is mo­ for Keren Shvi'is from Talmei Eliyahu, 180 Park Avenue • Lakewood NJ 08701 tivated to pursue spirttual concerns, Shmittah was a special, almost meta­ physical experience. "When our In UK 01809-3723 Mrs. Samsonowitz is a published writer who lives moshav accepted en masse to keep '• In Israel 02-538.935 in Jerusalem. This is her first appearance in these pages. Shmittahfourteen years ago, we felt a ~,;:~,;: ~ The Jewish Observer. September 1994 39 brtngs an intimate tie, a sort • His feelings are echoed by Sholom of kiddushin to Hashem. Cohen, from Moshav Gadish, who is Maybe one who hasn't lived keeping Shmittah for the second time the experience can't under­ inarow. "Shmittahgavemeachance stand this, but I feel grateful to recharge my batteries. We don't to Hashem for giving us such have daily shiurtmin our moshav, but a wonderful mitzva" I'm learning from many sejorim that 1 • The spirttual opportunities wouldn't have touched otherwise. I ~~,··;, American boys, on a Camp Sdei Chemed inherent in Shmittah is how feel my trust in Hashem was tour, enjoying the fruits of Shmittah Ofer Cohen (30 years old), from strengthened, and feel that Hashem Moshav Prozon in the Gali!, sums up is more in my life." "Shmittah is still a trial. I'm very the year of Shmittah "It gave me the •Mrs. Chana Schwartz from Shadmot tied to the land and love to work it. opportunity to learn Torah every Devorah explains her unique perspec­ But keeping Shmittah and the other evening, after a long pertod of not hav­ tive: "If Hashem told us not to work the mitzvos that apply to the ground ing touched a sefer." land, He knows what's good for us! Should we try to be smarter than He? When my husband and I began to Only The Judaic.a Press completely keep Shmittah seven years ago, we had a tremendous crop the M Ikraoth Ge'doloth Chumash year after Shmittah. We saw that Has All These features! Hashem gives compensation when we fulfill His miJzvos. "1his year I worked as a nurse in a hospital in Afula, and made 1, 500 shekels a month. Then I was asked to work in a hospital in Teverta. Unex­ pectedly, my wage increased signifi­ cantly, and I received several bonuses and benefits. The money has been lllnminating t"orilmentary flowing in to us; we have never had digest or such a blessed year like this one! mariyofilw Mikraoth "My husband and I work together in the fields. This year, when we look mefotshim,C..edolotf1 _G~?:~t~,,·,,;·:~:'.;_:fc including ~ery mplete""' Rashi,p1 Hebn:w at our field laying fallow, I see the Ramban .• lbn Mikrilvth glory of Hashem, Who made every­ .Keli Yekar Gdt.it11tk :mdmon::! thing from nothing. Shmittah rein­ forced my trust in Hashem I feel it is This Chumash MikrMth Gedoloth will soon complete our a conduit which brtngs us blessing. bestselling Nach series that earned the unstinting "I used the spare time, which would approbation of Rav , 7"~t. have ordinarily been expended on ag­ ,.. F,,ach volUme contai'nS· the cornplete r Hundy ontlitie prefaci!S each volume rtcultural work, on spiritual endeav­ Hebrew MikrtllJth Gedoloth plus: r Translation and sele<:tion of ors-reading Torah, saying Tehillim. I _.An absolutely new English translation commeot.ators has· been superbly hold many talks with Hashem I tell of the Chtimash text that fa faithful to done by Rabbi A. J. Rosenberg, a Him, 'I can't do a thing without You! I Ras hi. former student and teacher at in M-esivtha Tifereth Jerusalem. don't trust anyone but You. When .,... A "Verbatim translation of evtry single will You build your BeisHamikdashso with elucidation by leading Rashi • _A lodd translation of mariy of thti super--commentarie.s such as Mit.rachi that I can brtng my home-grown pro­ most irriporta·nt-commentators­ duce as a present to you?"' and Gur Aryeh. Ramban, Sforno, Rashbam, lbn.Ezra, _...All the Haftaroth ha'Ve been included Ohr Hiichayint, Keli Yekar, .ilnd with a new translation of both the Malbirn plus a vast colleetion trengthened and spirttuallzed, text and Malbim. of Midrashim the Jewish nation takes leave Ust: $22.50 hardcover Sped.ti until October 31, 1994-$19.95 S of the sublime year of Shmtttah for another six years of working to r-BI.RESHrrH VoL I: Brrrs/iith, Noach. !£ch ln;ha, Vayera I B~~t.SftltH Vol, 2: Chayr Sarah, To!edoih.. Va.mu (lf(d Vayi.shlach discover the Divine in a physical, tir­ L Nnr/8tRtsHllHVOl.3t Vayesllev,_Mlkeitz, Vaylga.rh, Vayechi ing, mundane existence. A yasher ko'ach to those heroes of our nation Israel Book Shop who live Shmittah to the fullest, and 410 Harvard-Street, BrooJdlne, M.l\-0Zt46 BOO~:Jtj~1172J who were rewarded with Hashem's THE JUDAICA PRESS, Inc. shining countenance and our deepest 1 Z3. Dttmas Ave., Brooklyn1 '.NY'11218 IJ00;91t--6:ZOI OT 118;972;6t(J(} admiration! •

40 The Jewish Observer, September 1994 again! Dovid Malka, Ovadia Levy, Mordechai Ofir support for these heroes of the spirit and to and the 3,493 other farmers who observed participate in a mitzvah that comes around only Shmitah this year will be back in the fields soon once in seven years - by sustaining the Shomrei after Rosh Hashanah, but they will not have Shviis until they can once again earn a any income until the fields produce again, some livelihood from the land. 4-6 months later. Help make the mitzvah complete! Support In fact over $1,000,000 is still needed to Keren Hashviis so that it can continue to tide the farmers over until then. subsidize the farmers until their fields are Now is the final opportunity to show your productive again. ,------, I ~ I wish to help the rnore than 3,..J-0() fa.rnll'rs who dl"l' observing Shn1ita 5754 in Eretz I I lli:lll Yisroel. Enclosed b n1y contnhut1on of$______to hl'lp su~ta1n these I I herol'S of the spirit until their fields can once Jg~iin becnnlL' productive. I

I N,11/f: ------I

I /l[)l)/(fS,\' ------··------·· I I Crn!Sr-mh'.w: ____ _ I

: Please send )'OUr tax deductible contributions to: : I KEREN HASHVIIS, U.S. Office, 84 William Street, New York, NY 10038 • (212) 797-9000 I L __ _!reas~s: Rabbi ~abbi Yaako:_!'erio_::- Noi•ominsker Rebb'_ __ _J ADVERTISEMENT Buying Israeli Ethrogim During Shmittah Absolutely Permissible under the strict controls of Otzar This year, more than any other year, a sacred obligation lies upon every Jew In every part of the world to purchase an ethrog from Eretz Ylsrael. uch uninformed speculation surrounds the use of Israeli the Otzar Beth-Din of Beth-Din Zedek Vaad HaRahonim of ethrogim during the Sabbatical year. The fact is that Agndath Israel. M under properly controlled circumstances the export and WHAT IS TH£ OTZAR BETH-DIN? use of Israeli ethrogim is halachically permissible. Indeed, in view Fruits of the Sabbatical year are free for everyone. For the pub­ of the circumstances, the use of ethrogim from Eretz Yisrael actu­ lic's benefit, to ensure the distribution of the fruits of the ally should be encouraged even more than in any other year. Sabbatical year in a desirable manner, the Sages of the Talmud WHY IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO US£ ISRAW £THROGIM appointed the rabbinic court to gather the fruits of the Sabbatical It is unnecessary to elaborate on the superiority and reliability year into the treasury of the court, and distribute them to the pub­ of the ethrogim of Eretz Yisrael. The great Rabbis of past genera­ lic during the Sabbatical year (Tosefta Sh 'vii th, ch. 8). The court tions have already established that "it is fitting and proper for also sends workers to care for the fruits in the permissible way every G-d-fearing man to purchase an ethrog of the produce of and then to harvest the fruits (Chazan /sh, Sh'viith, 12:6,8). Fruits Eretz Yisrael for the mitzvah, in order to fulfill the mitzvah proper­ found in the Otzar Beth-Din need not be eradicated, since they are ly"(Rabbi Sh'rnuel Salant zt"l, Rabbi of Jerusalem). Since then already eradicated (Chazan !sh, ibid. 7). Obviously, the court does and always, the gedolei Yisroel living in the Diaspora strove to not profit from the fruits, but simply collects repayment for fulfill their obligations with ethrogim imported from Eretz Yisrael, expenses from the recipients of the fruit. upon whose fitness no doubt was cast. Moreover, it is well-known As agents for their supervising Beth-Dins, Israel's Ethrog that many gedolei Yisroel, namely Rabbi Joseph Karo, author of Center and Ethrogei Hadar have accomplished all these actions the Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Yitzchok Luria, the kabbalist, and so that they can to supply customers all over the world with beau­ Rabbi Moshe ben Yorn Tov zt"l all used Eretz Yisrael ethrogim. tiful kosher ethrogim, in connection to which the mitzvah of In recent generations, we have had the privilege of using shmittah has been fulfilled. For the expenses and the labor ethrogim grown by G-d-fearing men in Eretz Yisrael. All the pre­ involved in supplying the ethrogim, Israel's Ethrog Center and cepts are fulfilled with these ethrogim, and halachic authorities Ethrogei Hadar collect payment according to the Beth-Din's have thus established that "a holy obligation lies on every Jew, instruction. This year the export of ethrogim from Eretz Yisrael by wherever he Jives, to give preference to fulfill the commandment Israel's Ethrog Center and Ethrogei Hadar is being done following of the four species with ethrogim of Eretz Yisrael." (Rabbi Zevi the instructions of the Beth-Din in accordance with the decision of Pesach Frank zt"l). By using ethrogim from Eretz Yisrael we the Gaon Ridbaz in his work, Beth Ridbaz (5: 18}-namely that it is moreover strengthen and support the yishuv in Eretz Yisrael. pennissible to export ethrogim of the Sabbatical year out of Eretz The gedolei of the generation, e.g. the author of Imrei Binah of Yisrael. Kalish, and the author of Nefesh Chayah put great effort into dis­ Moreover, according to all authorities, an ethrog exported from tributing the ethrogim imported from Eretz Yisrael. The author of Eretz Yisrael is fit to use in fulfilling the mitzvah even according Nefesh Chayah even planted "ethrogim for the mitzvah, without to those who do not concur with Ridbaz, as is found in Chazon­ any doubt whatever of their fitness." Through his initiative, the lsh, Sh'viith 11 :6. Likewise, Rabbi Pinchas Epstein zt"l, head of gedolei of the Diaspora engaged in an enthusiastic appeal to give the Beth-Din of Edah Chareidith in Jerusalem, promulgated a the ethrog grown in Eretz Yisrael preference over those grown halachic decision to permit export. He wrote: "It is true that we elsewhere. Thereafter, the gedolei Yisroei among them Rabbi Isaac gave out a decision that it is permissible to export ethrogim of the Elchanan of Kovna, Rabbi Jacob Etlinger, author of Aruch Lener, Sabbatical year according to the decision of the great of the greats, Rabbi Shalom Mordecai Shwadran, known as Maharsham, and Ridbaz ... and as has been practiced for many shmittoth by the many others, took arms against those who gave preference to "the geonirn of Jerusalem like the gaon, the head of the Beth-Din of fruit of the son of the hated wife over the ethrogim of the son of the Jerusalem, Rabbi Chaim Berlin, zt"l." beloved wife" (Aruch Hashulchan). SHMITTAH LAWS STRICTLY FOLLOWED BY ETHROG GROWERS The Gaon of Plonsk discovered an allusion to this in the verse: This year, Israel's Ethrog Center and Ethrogei Hadar have ful­ " .. .if I do not raise Jerusalem over my greatest joy." The Hebrew filled the mitzvah of the Sabbatical year in every manner. One word for I will raise is il?YK. These four letters are also the initials who purchases an ethrog from the Otzar Beth-Din, in addition to for: Ethrog, Aravah, Lulav, and Hadas-irnplying that we should having obtained an ethrog that is fit and beautiful according to all insist upon fulfilling the obligation of Sukkoth with produce of views, is aiding those who observe the Sabbath of the land. Hashem's land. Therefore, especially this year, more than other years, a sacred This year, a shmittah year, Israel's Ethrog Center and obligation lies upon every Jew in every part of the world, to pur­ Etbrogei Hadar, the major growers and exporters of Israeli chase an ethrog from Eretz Yisrael, over those produced in other ethrogim, have announced that they have fulfilled the laws of the countries. As Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt"l, wrote in a letter of Sabbatical year in all the ethrog orchards under their jurisdiction. Shevat 16 5740, ''. .. We may buy Israeli Ethrogim this year The orchards were relinquished; no labors interdicted for shmittah (Shmittah) as in all other years, provided we buy a lulav at the same were performed in them; only those labors permissible in shmittah time." (See also /groth Moshe Orach Chaim 1:186). were performed, according to the rabbis' instructions. The Israel's For information on where to obtain Ethrogim of the Otzar Beth Ethrog Center ethrogim were delivered to the Otzar Beth-Din­ Din, contact Israel's Ethrog Center, Ltd., 125 Ditmas Ave., the treasury of the rabbinic court-and they are serving merely as Brooklyn, N.Y. 11218. Tel. 718-972-6200 or 800-972-6201. agents of the Beth-Din. Ethrogei Hadar is under the supervision of Yonason Rosenblum

said the minister, "is that the move­ tations of this urge to self-destruct. ment grew out of a rejection of the Megged notes that it has become prophet's words, 'Only you have I fashionable in Israeli historiography chosen from among all the families of today not just to question the moral­ the earth.' Prtor to Zionism there had ity of the post-1967 occupat;on. but always existed among Jews a feeling to portray the enHre Zionist enter­ that the Jewish people and the other prise "as born in sin," as nothing peoples of the world stood on oppo­ more than another aspect of Euro­ site sides of the river. in order to give pean impeiialism aimed at suppress­ the Jew a sense of identity with the ing the rights of indigenous native other nations of the world." populations. The task confronting Zionism to­ All attempts to stress the Jewish day, said Tsaban, is to create a na­ people's religious. cultural, and emo­ tional identity unconnected to Jewish tional affinity to the land - in religion - "a secular Jewish ident;ty." Megged's words, "the most important As We While admitting the difficulty of com­ reason for our existence here" - are pletely severing the link between reli­ dismissed by leading academics with gion and naHonal idenHty due to the "sheer contempt," as nothing more Were fact that the two have been indistin­ than "nationalism, fundamentalism, guishable throughout most ofJewish fetishism ... , and even fascism." history, Tsaban gave some examples The result, Megged concludes, is a of his efforts in this regard. Non-Jew­ phenomenon without parallel in his­ Saying ish Russian immigrants who have tory: 'The emotional and moral iden­ come to live in Israel without show­ WleaHon by the majority of Israel's Pursuing a Secular Jewish ing any inclination to convert to Ju­ intelligentsia, and its print and elec­ Identity daism are, in his opinion, exemplars tronic media, with people committed of a "secular Jewish identity." Jn to our annihilation; people who n 'The Chickens Come Home to other words, his definition of a secu­ openly declare their intention to ex­ Roost: Zionism's Internal Contra­ lar Jew is a Russian Christian living pel us from this land, branding us vil­ I dictions and the Peace Process" in Israel. lains without conscience, worse than (JO June, 1994), we examined the Blitish, French, and Spanish impeli­ ideological and ,psychological under­ A Loss in Vtsion alists." pinnings of political Zionism, the wan­ While we agree with much of ing of that ideology tn Israel today. and n the second section of the arucle, Megged's description of the Israeli in­ the significance of that trend for the we argued that the oliginal Zion­ tellectual scene, his account leaves current peace process. Since publica­ I ist vision has lost its sustaining out any explanation of how such a tion of that article, two veterans of the power, and t11e result has been a situation developed. For that we Israeli left have tn different ways con­ widespread loss ofidealism and sense would refer him to Mr. Tsaban's defi­ firmed essential parts of our thesis. of purpose in Israel today. Above all, nition of Zionism. Is there any other Political Zionism was, we argued, Zionism has failed existentially by not state whose founding ideology em­ an attempt to do at the national level providing a basis to the Jewish claim phasizes its own lack of uniqueness? what it had proven impossible for late to Eretz Yisroel in the minds of many - whose people are convinced of nineteenth century Jews to do at the Israelis. their own lack of distinctiveness? individual level: assimilate. Only by Jn mid-June, well-known author And this from the descendants of creating their own state indistin­ and long-t;me Labor party member those chosen to stand on Sinai and guishable from other Western states, Aharon Megged published a cri de hear the Divine word. • Zionists believed, could Jews hope for coeur in Israel's leading Hebrew and an end to anti-Semitism. English language newspapers. He In a recent symposium at Tel Aviv began, "Zionism appears to be enter­ University, Absorption Minister Yair ing a stage of Spenglerian decline. f!~lMcf&~~ Tsaban was quite frank in identifying And, as it approaches this stage. it Zionism with the philosophy of "like seems to be propelled by a latent bio­ VISITING NEWYO~K?? all the nations lsrael." logical urge to self-destruct." Beautiful rooms, wiib ~itcljel'l "My understanding of Zionism," On the political level. Megged sees facifities, .in heart .of Bor0 Park. the urge to self-destruct in the con­ by day or we.ek. Near :Sryuls. Yonason Rosenblwn lives in Jerusalem and is a cessions made to an enemy still ex­ take-Out foods, etc. Profits . to regular contributor to JO. He is the author and plicitly pursuing a strategy of con­ MifarTorah Vodaas. translator of many works, including most recently quest by stages, with the "peace pro­ The VUna Gaon. published by ArtScroll. He is cur­ cess" as Ws tool. But even more trou­ ca11f7t8J ·8St~l9" rently at work on a biography of the legendary Reb N'OT,V:'s Elimelech "Mike~ Tress. bling to him are the spiritual manifes-

The Jewish Observer. September 1994 43 David Freund

Though the Israeli police successfully avoided a Waco-style denouement, In his rantings the siege ended tragically with one of Meshullam's young followers killed Meshullam typically links by police. SECOND Meshullam may well be a danger­ all Ashkenazim to the ous megalomaniac, as he has been LOOKS portrayed by the media: in his conspiracy to kidnap rantings he typically links all Yemenite children. But it is clear that his claims strike a raw nerve within the Yemenite community and are given widespread credence.

Behind the Sensational Ashkenazim to the conspiracy to kid­ child was in Pardes Chana, and still Headlines nap Yemenite children. But it is clear later that she was in Hadera. Several that his claims strike a raw nerve years later, the missing girl's older sis­ ecent events, which were within the Yemenite community and ter was told by one of the nurses who given extensive media cover­ are given widespread credence. In or­ had been at the Ein Shemer camp, "It age in Israel and abroad, der to understand recent events con­ would be worth your while to find out R cerning the Yemenite community, it is what really happened to Shoshana." have once again brought to the fore the question of the absorption of necessary to first recall the circum­ Despite all her efforts, Mrs. Merchavi 50,000YemeniteJews by the State of stances of their absorption in the '50s. was never able to find her daughter. Israel in the early '50s. Prominent A Mrs. Tananii came one day to among these was the seven-week Commission ofInquiry, visit the infants' home in which her confrontation between Israeli police circal966 son Yehuda was housed, to find two and Uzi Meshullam ("Rav Uzi" to his women standing next to his bed ar­ hundreds of devoted followers), end­ e issue raised by Meshullam guing over who would get the child. ing in the early morning of May 11. f the disappearance of She also overheard a nurse say, Durtng the course of the siege, police TiYemenite children is not a new "What's it matter? They have such big and soldiers surrounded a com­ one. It has already been the subject of families anyway!" The next day she pound in which Meshullam had bar­ two State commissions of inquiry. The was told that her son had died. rtcaded himself along with approxi­ first was appointed in 1966, after a The government commission of in­ mately one hundred men, women, number of parents, who had been told quiry at the time received 342 com­ and children. that their children died in the camps, plaints from parents who had been Residents of the sedate town of received draft induction notices for told that their children had died, but Yehud near Ben-Gurton airport were those children. An article at the time were never permitted to view the al­ treated to Meshullam's nightly ha­ in Israel's leading newspaper, Mamiv, legedly deceased child, or told where rangues, amplified by a battery of found a widespread pattern of parents' he or she was buried. Of these, the loudspeakers, in which he attacked being told that their children had died commission concluded: 316 had, in the government for systematically suddenly in hospitals or in children's fact, died; 22 could not be accounted kidnapping 4,500 Yemenite children homes, without being given access to for; and four were still alive and living in the early '50s from the camps in the body for burtal, or even being told with different families. which the Yemenite immigrants were where their children were burted. In Disease and malnutrition were in­ housed. Meshullam's prtncipal de­ many of these cases, the mothers had deed rampant in the refugee camps­ mand was the establishment of a gov­ seen their children only hours before largely as a result of the treacherous ernment commission of inquiry to or the previous day, when the children journey the Yemenite Jews had un­ look into the disappearance of had appeared to be perfectly healthy. dertaken on foot to reach Aden, prtor Yemenite children from the camps. Yosef Zuriel, the Maariv writer, to being airlifted to Israel. Over five talked to a Mrs. Merchavi who was hundred died in Aden alone. David Freund, who lives in Jerusalem, wrote lbese Days of Awe in Israel," which dicussed the first told that her daughter had died. But even if, as the commission of peace process (Jewish Observer. Oct. '93). Later, however, she was told that the inquiry found, the vast majority of the

44 The Jewish Observer. September 1994 children did in fact die, the manner In 1988, a second government The Commission's Report in which the families were informed commission of inquiry into the disap­ betrays a massive callousness. pearance of the Yemenite children e outcry raised in the early Saadah AviVi remembers being told was appointed. That commission has 50s by religious Jews in the by a doctor in the camps when her yet to issue any findings. Nor is it TiDiaspora forced the Israeli gov­ son disappeared, "Don't worry, likely to do so any time in the near fu­ ernment to appoint a commission of maybe he turned up somewhere ture. To do so, Dov Levitan charges, inquiry into the absorption of good." And during the siege of the would be to reopen the issue of the Yemenite Jewry. (Interestingly, the Meshullam compound, an elderly complete contempt in which the mandate of the commission was as Ashkenazi man betrayed the same at­ dominant Labor Party in the '50s held much to determine whether any titude that seems to have been preva­ the whole religious culture of Jews groups were guilty of wrongfully de­ lent in the camps: the kindest thing from Arab lands. That is something faming the State abroad as to deter­ that could be done for the children which the present Labor government, mine the truth of the charges made.) was to remove them from their par­ with its tenuous hold on power, Though the commission refused to ents. He shouted at some of the surely does not want to do. explicitly find that the officials in Meshullam supporters, "They were raised in good homes!" HowManyAreReallyAlive? The Cannel Wine ere is good reason to believe I hat the commission under­ Kosher Cookbook T: tated the number of disap­ pearances. Bar-Ilan University re­ Sweepstakes searcher Dov Levitan has investigated 650 cases of Yemenite children who Twelve lucky winners will receive disappeared. As many as ten percent, a remarkable library collection of he believes, may still be alive and have seven best-selling Jewish cook­ never been accounted for. Since books. Meshullam first holed himself up in his compound with his followers, one Carmel. You don't need our gourmet Toronto man and another in Israel cookbooks to be a winner. have come forward to say that they But you do need our wines were told by their Ashkenazi parents to be a gourmet. that they were among the Yemenite children who had "disappeared." t~t The larger number of children be­ Israel's #l wine. lieved by Levitan to be yet alive does not inelude the many eases in which CARMEL parents succeeded in tracking down Our Vintage is Divine. children whom the officials in charge of the camps had decided would be @p ~ To Enter Sweepstakes New Kosber Cuisfnl' more suitably raised by others than ~o Purchase Is Nrtessa11'. F SJ Refund Coupon io this ad and you arc attend a DafYomi shtur, told me this automatically emen'tmarked by Oc!ober J ;, JlJ94 and l"('ti'il'l'll by J a toddler, he wandered away from his Olioher .)!. !99'L Odds of \\innin~ depend upon f<'or }'our refu11d: Purd1asc I llDule of Carmel Wine and Sal'e $ .00. Fill out ihe number of cligiblf l'lllrics n•cdved. limit one this form arid mi.•L1 of~ Mshcr Cookbook:; K1timall'd Please mall to: Carmel Jloli(~I\ R('fund Olkr rc1ai! 1·aJ11e. $150 each pri~i'- No ~ub1!illl!ion or Jewish Agency. He was about to be PO. Box !2.l" • DeirJrtmmt A•Grand Rapids. Minm".>oL1 'i'i~·-15-!Z.F put on a plane with a large group of transfer r1f pri1l's permined. All prize.1 will be awarded Name ------Age ___ other children, when his mother ,\o one ! EUGlBl!.IT\": under the age of 2 may Address ______found him and reelaimed him. Later, emtr. Nnt eligible art• employel>s of Canncl l'ood L'~A. lhrir immediale families. affi!ialcs. suh­ he was removed from the children's sidiarit'S. advcnisioi: agenq: This swccp~lakcs is City ______State_Zip _____ :;uhjcC! In all federal, slate. and !nm! laws. Void house at Rosh HaAyin without his whrre prohibited f,ondition.~: Llmit l rclund per hou~hold. Offer wiid where prohibited. tmed or rcslric1cd by parents' knowledge. It took them two Wf'.\~ERS !JST AND COMPtETE SET Of Rl'tf.S· law. Facs·1mllr:. of the cmipon 11ill not be honored. Officer>. ffilployccs and repn'Sl'ntalil'l'S of years before they finally found him. Send a stamrwd. w!f·addr('ssed cnvdope 1w Gannel FooJrt• Carmel !'ood t:SA, P.O. Box 6.~0ii09. !.ittle ~('ck. ._mll eligible. Poslmark musl be no laier than October 15. 1\l9

The Jewish Observer, September 1994 45 children's camp who had ordered the Mrs. Merchavi was first told that her daughter had died. Later, wholesale removal of payos. The com­ mission recognized that the removal she was told that the child was in Pardes Chana .... Despite all her of the payos, to which the Yemenites attached great importance as the sign efforts, Mrs. Merchavi was never able to find her daughter. of distinetion between Jew and gen­ tile, was likely to lead to the feeling charge of absorption had been con­ pressed in the community at large." that other, more fundamental re­ ducting a deliberate inquisition to Specifically, the commission found quirements no longer applied. And root out religion among the new im­ that "the shaving of sidelocks was not indeed, children's guides told them migrants, it basically said the same a chance occurrence, but a methodi­ that "Shabbos is not for Eretz Yisroel." thing in other words: "The Depart­ cal practice." In Beit Lid, the commis­ and took them on hikes on Shabbos ment for Language and Cultural Ab­ sion found children adding in on which they were encouraged to sorption of New Immigrants viewed bentsching a prayer that "the Merci­ pick oranges, as did their guides. its prime objective as the adaptation ful One remove from us Zippora." The commission found further of the child to the mode of living ex- Zippora was the director of the that "the disturbance of traditional religious study was also a methodical practice." The were locked throughout the day to prevent children from gathering for religious Special classes. Anyone religious-looking was All six days systematically barred from the Only $300 camps. And in Ein Shemer, one of the per person largest of the camps, all Yemenite in­ stn.Ictors were forbidden to teach on the grounds that "they have no con­ ception of a school." Only math, He­ brew, and Zionism could be taught.

Reliving History

S painful history was relived uring the previous summer TIwhen, for the first time since the early '50s, Jews were once again free to leave Yemen. The experience of those who came showed that precious little had been learned in the interven­ ing years. Their absorption was once again placed in the hands of those who are so far removed from their Judaism that to them, the religious commit­ mentofthe Yemenites can only appear as primitive culture. Predictably, the Large Selection Of new immigrants, who had never in • BORSALINO their lives seen chillul Shabbos or im­ •BILTMORE modest dress, reacted with horror to • STETSON find themselves suddenly placed in • PANIZZA the middle ofmodern Israel, and there • RAFFAELLI were a number of riots in the absorp­ • SCHIAPARELLI tion centers in response. And once again, the response of the Israeli establishment,' whether WE ALSO DRY CLEAN & BLOCK HATS tacit or explicit was: it may be cruel - All Work Done on Prem1ses - to remove children from the ways of their parents, but ultimately it is the DAILY 11:30-7, Sun.10:30-6, Tues. 2:30-7 463 East 9th Street greatest kindness, for how else will (block of Torah Yoduth) they adapt to the modern society we (718) 469-7420 have built? It is this attitude to which Eve. Hours Available. we should be responding. •

46 The Jewish Observer. September 1994 SECOND LOOKS

Seek Peace and Pursue It aftermath of recent tragedies, par­ livered in thirty four different neigh­ Tenth Annual Shrniras ticularly the sudden death of young borhoods in Yerushalayim. From a women in the community, an idea spontaneous grassroots movement, Halashon Rallies in was proposed: An entire day should the project blossomed into a large be designated asa Yomlyun, for hear­ greenhouse for personal growth. Jerusalem ing different lectures, in Kiryas From Grassroots to Greenhouses Mattersdorf. On the eve of the Yorn Hebrew-Speakers' Kenes Iyun, a Kenes (communal gathering) n Eretz Yisroet after the Yorn Kip­ would be held in the Mattersdorf shuL tnyanei Hauma was filled with pur War of 1973, a heightened This would be scheduled for the Nine women, waiting to be ad­ I sense of hisorrerus arose in many Days, a propitious time for teshuva. B dressed by prominent religious communities and small Forthreeyears, theKeneswasheld Rabbonim from Yerushalayim, Bnei groups began meeting to study the in the Mattersdorf shuL until the walls Brak, and as far away as Paris. As the halachos and hashkafos - laws and were bursting with participants, and international flags at the entrance life perspectives - of shmiras the evening Kenes moved on to the fluttered in the nighttime wind out­ hala.shon, guarding one's speech. Central Hotel. Daytime shiwim ex­ doors, the internaHonal flag of yira.s The publication in 1975 of Guard tended to several other neighborhoods Shamayim was unfurled within: We Your Tongue, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, in Yerushalayim. By the fifth year, the are one nation one goal, oneflag. whose father Rabbi Shmuel Pliskin four halls of the Ramat Tamir Hotel The lights dosed. The audience fell had studied under the Chafetz Chaim could not adequately host all of the silent. "Mizmor l'David," began Rabbi in Radin, made the subject much participants. The next year's rally was Yisroel Gans, Rav of Kiryas Matters­ more accessible to the English­ held in Yerushalayim's largest audito­ dorf, and RoshHayeshivatn Yeshivas speaking public. In 1980, a shiur for rium, Binyanei Hauma, the site of the Kol Torah, "Hashem mi yagur shmira.s hala.shon formed in Kiryas Knessia Gedolah be' ohalecha, ... lo rogal al leshono... " ("A Mattersdorf in Yerushalayim. One This past July's Kenes marks a full psalm unto David: Hashem who will evening in 1984. an intense discus­ decade of Yemei Iyun and Ktnnusim dwell in Your tents, ... onewho does not sion followed the weekly shiur. In the Over 9 ,000 women attended the He­ bear tales... ") Rabbi Gans sensitized brew-speakers' Kenes on the fifth of us to the atrocities ensuing from con­ Mrs. Cohen, who lives in Jerusalem. has taught Av. 2.500 women came the following tenHon. malice and slander, and urged Limudei Kodesh at the high school and seminruy evening for the English-speakers' level for a number of years. 1his is her first appear­ us to transcend our baser natures. ance In JO. Kenes. Yemei Iyun lectures were de- "Hein Keil Kabir lo yim'a.s tefilla.s

The Jewish Observer. September 1994 47 rabbim," declared Rabbi Gans, and son-in-law of Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eretz Yisroel for the Kenes. "If one nine thousand women rose to recite Eliyashiv, N"l?'7v, spoke of the great­ rectifies his misdeeds, and improves Pirkei Tehillim. The silence was reso­ ness of his late motl1er-in-law, his character naws, he in effect re­ nant, the moment was intense. "Shir Rebbetzin Chaya Shaina Eliyashiv moves the barriers distancing him Hamaal.os, mimaamakim kerasicha ;i::n::i'm:ir1::n. The Rebbetzin had passed from his Creator." Rabbi Reuven Hashem -from the depths l beseech away only three weeks prior to the Karelenstein, Rav in Bnei Brak, re­ You" ... and each heart murmured its Kenes and was a paragon of virtue for minded us of the Chazon Jsh's expla­ innermost plea. "AvinuMalkeinu., our all Jewish women. Rabbi Zilberstein nation of the cause of some of the Father, our King, be merciful .... " The effectively captured the myriad as­ worst suffering endured by our Gemoraalludes to the recital of"Avinu pects of her personality that were em­ people in our long golus: sins between Malkeinil' at massive hisorrerus gath­ bedded in self sacrifice and goodness. man and his fellow. erings. The zechus of the tzibbur Rabbi Yaakov Toledano, Rosh Twenty five buses and a windy pierces the heavenly gates. Hayesl1iva of Yeshivas Chazon Jerusalem evening greeted the nine Rabbi Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav of Baruch in Paris, the son of Rabbi thousand inspired women, to trans­ Ramat E!chanan in Bnei Brak and Rafael Toledano, l1ew specially to port them to their homes, where they prayed to actualize these ideals. Twenty four hours later, some 2500 women arrived for the English-speak­ ers' rally.

English-Speakers' Kenes

"~e power created in this audi­ torium," began Rabbi Zev Leff, av of Moshav Mattisyahu, "the kedHsha and tahara-the sanc­ tity and purity - imbued in these walls are a zechus for all individuals ,'fawt:S/, ,908UH;y- who need a yeshua. It is a zechus for all of Klal YL,roel who need a yeshua. AROUND THE JEWISH YEAR PIRKEI AVOS • Part I HISTORY I - 400 B.C.E TO 1000 C.E. This auditorium should be used for 30 cassettes - $180.00 set Significant days. 12 cassettes · $72.00 set kedusha HISTORY II - 1100 C.E. TO 1800 C.E. 12 cassettes - $72.00 set PIRKEI AVOS • Part II and lahara. ... exclusively." 30 cassettes - $180.00 set REFLECTIONS • REB ZADOK 10 cassettes - $72.00 set Rabbi Leff identified the "walls" HISTORY Ill - 1800 C.E. TO 1943 C.E. Provocative insights THE HOUSE OF RASH! 12 cassettes - $72.00 set An In-depth study wit11in us tl1at prevent us from at­ 27 cassettes - $160.00 set 8 cassettes - $60.00 set taining true harmony in our lives. HISTORY IV - CREATION TO 900 C.E. HAFTORAH I THE LIFE OF THE RAMBAM 30 cassettes - $180.00 set weekly portion/Prophets Poor self-esteem generates jealousy 30 cassettes - $180.00 set s cassettes · $60.00 set and malice, resl1lting in slander and {JJJiqraphie& HAFTORAH II - VAYIKRA & TREI ASAR ·THE 12 PROPHETS strife. 1-Iaughtiness detacl1es one BAMIDBAR Their times, personalities. GREAT BIOBRAPHIES I 30 cassettes - $180.00 set dilemas/solutions etc. from his peers, putting him "above Biograp/es of Famous Jewish HAFTORAH Ill - DEVERIM & 12 cassettes - $72.00 ~ and beyond" their reach. Bitterness People. & Gedofim, 1800 - 1950. YOMIMTOVIM !until 121941 ~ and incessant negativity is venom­ 30 cassettes - $180.00 set 27 cassettes -$160.00 set GREAT BIOGRAPHIES II ous and only fosters contention. 30 cassettes · $180.00 set I v $9.99 And, the desire to freeload on your ppmg & handlingl neighbor's account is yet another barrier to genuine peace. Please send me thefOHowlng: ------Dayan Aharon Dunner of the Lon­ OTY DESCRIPTION TOTAL QTY DESCRIPTION TOTAL 0 MasterCard 0 VISA 0 AMEX don Beis Din truly captivated the au­ ___ History I $180 _ The Rambam $60 _ History II $180 _ Trei Asar $72 card No Exp. Date dience. "Yes it is possible in our age History 111 $160 Intro Pack $9.99 YOUR NAME to be like the Chafetz Chaim," pro­ -- History IV $180 comes with complete claimed Rabbi Dunner. "At age eig11ty catalogue at no cost ADDRESS --· Haftorah I $180 the Chafetz Chaim said 'It is fifty _ Haftorah II $180 Add $5 for shipping & ____ _ CITY STATE I PROV ZIP I?. CODE years now that I haven't heard or spo­ _ Haftorah !II $180 handling in US, Add $20 PHONE ken one word of lashon hara'; and he _ The Jewish Year $72 --·· for Canada or overseas __ Great Bio's. I $180 Tota! Enclosed "' ______SHIP TO made a seudas lwda'a for the occa­ ··- _ Great Bio's.11 $180 Allow 4·6 weeks for delivery ENClOSE Glf'T CARD TO READ sion." After bringing to life the saint­ _ Pirkei Avos I $72 Please make checks payable to liness and ideals of the Chafetz _ Pirkei Avos II $72 SHAAREI TORAH OF ROCKLAND NOTE: 10% discount for orders of Chaim, there in the Binyanei Hauma, Telephone: 19141 368-0960 _ Reflections $72 $500 and up!! Dayan Dunner outlined a pragmatic _ Rashi $60 24-hr Fax line: (914l 368-0940 IBW41 daily program to tighten up control of Ma!/ vouro!del to SHAAR COMMUNICATIONS, P.O.B 577, 321 Route 59, Tallman, N. Y. 10982 one's speech.

48 The Jewish Observer, September 1994 directly. The Chofetz Chaim recog­ Yemei lyun lectures were nized that head-on confrontation was a tall order for weaker generations delivered in thirty four and thought it more within reach for people like us to put a handle on the different neighborhoods situation. He said, "If you heal the tongue, you heal middosl" in Yerushalayim. From a In this light, guarding one's tongue was no longer a self-contained, iso­ spontaneous grassroots lated element of character improve­ ment. Rather. it is a segment of a movement, the project larger integrated system of self-im­ blossomed into a large provement. eeking peace and pursuing it is greenhouse for personal a lifetime endeavor. Learning growth. S and practicing shmiras hala­ shon calls for great resources of Dais at the English Kenes: Rabbi strength, self-discipline and character. Nachman Bulman speaking early, it will progress to the area of For some of us, it is only a step away emotions; a person will become defi­ from where we are, for others it is al­ cient in his character. And setting ready a tangible reality. But for each Healing Speech: A Handle on one's emotions straight is a subject of and every one of us, shmiras halashon Healing Emotions much discussion by the baalei is an attainable goal and a goal worth mussar. Rabbi Yisroel Salanter striving for. This was the message we bi Nachman Bulman, au­ delved into all aspects of treating ail­ two-and-a-half-thousand women thor, lecturer, former Rav of ing middos. His approach was to walked out with that bright night in ffiryat Nachliel. and Menahel tackle the problematic area of middos July in Yerushalayim. • Ruchni of Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, spoke about how to "heal" ailments of speech. "There are four major aspects of our personalities," noted Rabbi Bulman. "There is the life of the mind, the life of speech, the life of the emotions (middos, behavior and feel­ ings), and the kochos of action. Any illness in one aspect will inevitably carry over to its counterparts. Con­ sequently, healing one aspect of our personality will automatically have a therapeutic effect on the rest." If one senses he is spiritually ill in his intellectual life, he continued, he must ask himself, "What is wrong with my hashkajos, what exactly are From the Prison Rehab Program, complete with a Bais Medrash and electronics classes my outlooks on life?" Only honest in­ at Beer Sheva Prison to the hundreds of families & individuals who participate in our trospection of one's hashkafos can Adult Education Programs. our 'Kolle! Erev' for the Israeli Defense Forces, our After promote the healing of one's mind. If School Program for children, Rabbinic Training Program, Beil Hamaayan Museum of Torah & Mitzvos - Hamaayan is making a difference in the lives of thousands of people a debility at this level is not treated, by bringing the true freedom of the spirit that Torah can provide. For more information then the illness will spread from the and to make a contribution fill out the coupon below and mail to the address at bottom. head to one's throat, and affect one's speech; perverted speech is clearly indicative of an ailing mind. From a religious stand point, if one is ill in his speech, and he slanders, gossips and - ... ridicules others, he must learn the - Torah of guarding his tongue Make your tax dedUCtlble Checlc payable to: HAMAAYAN INSTITUTE, Nathan Spector, Dlrectnr, (shmiras halashon). -Jo 1118 Ea8t 24111 St. Brooklyn, NY 11210 If one does not treat the malady

The Jewish Observer. September 1994 49 SECOND July 15th killed over 100 people, and LOOKS left scores more wounded .... The downing of the Panamanian plane on July 19th brought 21 people (includ­ ing 12 Jews) to their death.... Great Britain, which has had a Jewish pres­ ence (off and on) for the last thousand With years or so, today boasts a prominent Jewish population. While terrorism is not a stranger to London, particularly because of!RA sabotage, the destruc­ Sotrowand tive blast that ripped through the heavily-guarded Israeli Embassy in the posh, exclusive Kensington area, Outt'8ge, injured 12 people, and brought the threat of terror much closer to home. We join the families of those killed inmourningtheirloss; asfellowJews, ~yerand we are all members of the bereaved families, and weep with them; and our fervent tefillos go to the Ribbono Shel Olam that He send a speedy re­ ··.110~ covery to the injured, and bring peace to our stricken people. At the same time we look to the international com­ munity to assert greater control over everal terrorist explosions population in the Western Hemi­ terrorist elements, especially these rocked the Jewish world this sphere. Under fascist Juan Peron's anti-Semitic groups traced to Iranian S past summer, leaving over I 00 control during World War II, the coun­ government officials. victims in their wake, shattering our try was a haven for tens of thousands Finally, we direct a few thoughts to sense of sercurity. The Jewish com­ of Jews escaping Nazi terror in Eu­ ourselves; as we say in our Rosh munity building in Buenos Aires is in rope. Most remained after the War. Hashana tefillos: "Regarding coun­ ruins, a Panama-bound jet exploded and today, Buenos Aires, the Argen­ tries, it is said on this day which is and crashed, and several sites in Lon­ tine capital, has a flourishing Jewish destined for the sword and which for don were rocked by bombs. Each act community (including a Yeshiva peace.... Who is not recalled on this of terror carries its own scars. Gedola and an Agudath Israel pres­ day? For... the remembrance of every­ Home to some 220,000 Jews, Ar­ ence). The explosion that destroyed thing fashioned comes before You ... " gentina has the second largest Jewish the Buenos Aires Kehilla building on (Musajj*. We tend to become compla­ cent, foolhardy, even arrogant, wher­ everwe may find ourselves ... comfort­ able in our adopted homelands, se­ ~~ATERERS~ cure in our ancestral homeland. But makes your Catered Affair AFFORDABLE! there is no security, save by the grace Because we offer so many fine locations throughout the of G-d. And there can be no comfort metropolitan area, we are able to tailor our prices to the except by His decree. No police on the style, size and location you choose. Our three decades of corner, no guards at the embassy i.'. experience is your guarantee of a la vi sh and spectacular gate, no patrols on the border, no "3, Glatt Kosher Affair. Here's a partial listing of locations bolstering pride at the thought of be­ available to you! ing a "normal." nation among na­ tions - none of this can make us se­ Many Other Choice Locations In NASSAU COUNTY Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, CREST HOLLOW GLEN ISLAND cure. We have enemies around the Westchester, New Jersey COUNTRY CLUB CASINO & Connecticut. NEW ROCHELLE· globe, and only the mercy of the LAMER OFF PREMISES LEONARD'S STOUFFERS INN Ribbono Shel Olam, as He remem­ VILLA BARONE OF GREAT NECK WHITE PLAINS QUEENS CATERING bers the glory of our progenitors and AT THE LOCATION OF MARRIOTT RYE TOWNSHIP SEPHARDIC UNIONDALE RYE TOWN JEWISH CENTER FAii ROCKAWAY YOUR CHOICE INCLUDING HILTON the merit of our children who per­ OF KEW GARDENS CONG. DARCHAY NOAM YOUR HOME, TEMPLE, CONG. BETH SHOLOM SUFFOl.X COUNTY CLUB OR OFFICE. NEW JERSEY petuate their Torah heritage, can WHITESTONE LONG BEACH HUNTINGTON Hll TON SOMERSET JEWISH CENTER TOWN HOUSE spare us further pain and loss. May ONE CONVENIENT HILTON MEADOWLAND LITTLENECK ALL LEADING TELEPHONE NUMBER CONNECTICUT JEWISH CENTER HILTON PAflS!PANV we be worthy of His mercy. • N.Y.C. HOTELS CONG. AGUDAS UTOPIA SK!R~TOM CEMlRf!VISTAI SHOLOM MARRIOTT GLENPOlNTE WAlllllAf/Pl!RP.ilHYAnl (nB) TEANECK JEWISH CENTER Pl'HlMUlOS<~EUlllY Kil TOH 849-8817 STAMFORD *translation from the ArtScroll Machzor

50 'The Jewish Obseroer. September 1994 ACCOMMODATING BNEI BRAKIS that if you make your permanent home IN YERUSHALAYIM? in a place where they hold a more le­ nient approach than in your former place of residence, you are allowed to To the Editor: assume their kula (lenient approach). TheupdateonShmi11al1observance Furthermore. even if you intend to re­ in Eretz YISroel(JO, April '94) was truly turn, you are not allowed to publicly enlightening. One point. however, left flaunt your stricter approach. The ar­ Letters to me in the dark Rabbi Goldblum de­ ticle implies that the allowances for the scribes haw fonner residents of Bnei people from Bnei Brak are a matter of the Editor Brak who moved to Yerushalayim are public record. (See Shulchan Aruch. able to maintain their stricter practices Orach Chaim, 468:4, and Mishna regarding produce grown by non-Jews Berum, ibid 19 .) in Eretz YISroeL in accordance with the YISROEL STRAUSS Chazon Ish's view. I always thought New York City TO REPRINT "LETTER FROM ANONYMOUS TAI.MID"

To the Editor: We were especially gratified to read the "Letter From an Anonymous Talmid" in The Jewish Observer (Dec.'93, p.43). I would like your permission to translate it into Hebrew, then to offer it for reprint in vartous media, and the schools in which my daughters teach. I feel that it is so important to help all those unfortunate students who Looking for could develop so wonderfully if only they were to receive the right, loving inspiration approach. for the Yamim E. GUTERMAN-STERNBUCH BneiBrak Nora'im? Permissiongranted. -NW Then enter THE QUESTION: BT OR NOT BT,,, THE PALACE GATES ... To the Editor: In your magazine, I have encoun­ tered the acronym BT(ba'al teshuva). Exalted concepts, This appellation is insidiously belit­ p'sukim, and tefillos tling, and deserves to be abolished. For example, we do not refer to a per­ -relating to the Yamim fectly righteous tzaddik as a ''TG" Nora'im season-are explained in the insightful and (tzaddik garnwj, nor do we employ the acronym MGH when we speak of inspiring manner of moshol and nimshol. the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. The ba'al teshuva, who occupies a more Eye-opening, mind-opening and heart-opening-THE exalted position than even the totally . PALACE GATES will give your Yamim Nora'im new righteous tzaddik (see Berachos 34b), life, meaning, and understanding. should be treated with no less re­ h~·\ (( '\ spect. The Jewish Observer should ,'--1.J_) Available at all Jewish bookstores or direct from editorially eschew the usage of this acronym, regardless of its origin and widespread acceptance. ISRAEL SCHNEIDER Euclid, Ohto

The Jewish Observer. September 1994 51 ome es, Talk Is Action

Alleviating the suffering of ~ to assist out-of-work bread- makes available a source of skilled, out-of-work breadwinners and their fruni- winners-individuals who have responsible professionals, many of whom lies can be just a matter of talking to ~ lost their jobs due to the troubled have years of experience within their the right people. Your own («ill state of the economy--to regain fields and are qualified to move into high­ employer, for example. Or the §t employment. Thanks to the combined level corporate positions. personnel director at your ~ efforts of the Professional Management place of work. Speak to ~.... and Employment Services job network ATTENTION JOB SEEKERS fiiends, relatives, even the guy who sits and the many caring people who consis­ Ifyou are willing to relocate, next to you on the bus every morning. Ask tently keep us apprised ofjob open­ Professional and Management them if they have or know of job openings. ings, hundreds of frunilies in our Employment Services' Then pass the information along to community have had their means new interstate network, Agudath Israel's Professional & of support - and, along with it, JOB TRACK, will keep Management Employment Services. their sholom bayis- restored. you apprised of openings in Restoring a family's livelihood For prospective other cities. can be just that simple. ' • employers, Professional Call for information regarding positions Professional Management and rc~~, Management and currently available in Denver, Los Angeles, Employment Services was created ~ ~f'- Employment Services Chicago and South Bend , Indiana. Professional Management and Employment Services t!~tilf !!l!f A DIVISION OF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERJCA !!~ l~iz Jerry Schiffinan, Director, 620 Coney Island Avenue,Brooklyn, NY 11218, Phone (718) 436-1900, Fax (718) 436-1934 2" '"

Account Executive Community Affairs Industrial Engineer Program Director/Social Services Accountant Coordinator Information System Manager Programmer Computer Graphics Law Associate Project Manager ~Assistant Computer Technician Legal Editor Psychologist Advertising Executive Construction Supervisor Litigator Public Relations Banking Officer Consultant Marketing Executive Purchasing Agent Benefit Consultant Controller Mechanical Engineer Quality Assurance Biologist Corpooite Account Manager Non Profit Administrator Real Estate Manager Boolr~mm ~"~imm!tf their city (or country) of origin. This THE YOM TOV STANDARD SETTER has been the case in previous Shmittos, as well. The difference this In Conjunction with The Yeshiva of South Fallsburg year is that the relatively large num­ bers ofBnei Brak natives who have re­ succos located to Yerushalayim have resulted at in the exertion of a certain degree of pressure on the Yerushalmi kashrus \ 71.e w·11111111 organizaUons to accommodate those 1 who wish to observe kedushas Shevi'is on non-Jewish produce. ilM' 'ined This leads to the writer's second A magnificent resort complex in South Fallsburg. New York point. namely, that halacha requires THIS RESORT HAS EVERYTHING one who wishes to be stringent in a • Highest standard of Kashrus place where the lenient minhag pre­ • 400 acres of manicured lawns L_ •SPA Cl 0 US Heated SUCCAH • Golf & Mini Golf vatls, to maintain discretion tn his con­ • Luxurious and super luxurious • Babysitters and child supervision rooms and suites duct. so as to avoid causing argu­ • li'opical magnificent Indoor pool - ments. The fact that this year, the • Daily Dal Yomi and Halacha Shiurim (separate swimming only) community of machmirim has adopted • Shul and Sforim stocked • Health club, sauna, jacuzzi a high profile, with even the Eida's Bais Medrash always open • Indoor Tennis Complex • Entertainment in keeping with • Horseback riding shops making provision for shlichus, Yorn Tov Ruach seems to go against this halacha. The response of the machmirim is that the concept of minhag hamakom World Class Kashrus At AWorld Class Resort applies only when there is one, uni­ HASHGACHA RABBI AVROHOM JURAVEL fied community, with one beis din. In Yerushalayim today-and indeed, NOW throughout the past few centuries-­ ALSO AVAILABLE there has been a number of distinct groups, each of which retains the EXCLUSIVE SIMCHAS customs and practices of its country YEAR ROUND I of origin. The fact that until the arrival THE NEWHOUSE FAMILY of the Chazonlsh. it was virtually uni­ I versal amongst all the communities of the old Yishuv to actleniently with ~ 718-435·3200 i regard to kedushas Shvi'is on non­ Jewish produce, does not confer the status of minhag hamakom on this

The Jewish Observer, September 1994 53 cloth was important for the mainte­ always know which is which? nance of the Shabbos spirit, and that When the Old Country predilec­ nr.>?'ll nN1!l1? ??!lnn?1 -r1r.1?? NJ vegetable soup and a Hawaiian pine­ tions of our tradition-locked compa­ 'J71n -ry::i apple chicken served on a blue table­ mots strtke us as strange, we should cloth (that the woman had experi­ not be quick to laugh them off. Some enced at the home of another ba'alas of them have sacred sources, and our nn?lll ?N1'll' o"n teshuva) was just not Shabbos'dik. lack of appreciation of them may well Mrs. Shapiro offered an eloquent de­ reflect our shortcomings, born of our fense, but I found it inadequate. tastes, nurtured in golus, not neces­ '") '' ni''ll )J May I share my perspective on the sanly products of G-d's plan for our issue with Sarah Shapiro? The Hun­ betterment. garian section of Jewry has never By the way, did someone really ask been faulted for lacking good taste in Mrs. Shapiro's friends to "leave my home decoration, cooking, or dress. I artistic talents behind me when I be­ can almost guarantee that the came jrurrf? Why would someone do Uncle Moishy, woman on the telephone could whip that? One of the leading Chareidiau­ Mordechai Ben David, up a table setting and a meal that thors in America today was a gradu­ and other top-of-the-line would inspire your appreciation. But ate of an Ivy League college in English it wouldn't be Shabbos. before becoming a ba'al teshuva, Jewish entertainers You betrayed yourself when you spent a dozen years in KoUeL and now are available said "even a dozen white Shabbos uses his talents in the translation of to visit tablecloths sent from Hungary can't classic Jewish literature and original alter the reality: Ba'alei teshuva de­ Torah compositions. seriously ill veloped in another culture, bubbeleh No, don't throw out the baby­ children And it was none other than the Al­ your talents and your insights-with thanks to mighty Himself Who put us there." the bath water. But, by the same to­ mn nnr.iv True, through the Divine wisdom ken, you don't have to keep all that nr.ren-or? of the Hashgac/1Q, each of us is born bath water to save the baby. It's sim­ :wT?Nl :l1?Y' '1 ro iTIM AChessed project run by in a setting and circumstance very ply a matter of knowing which is different from one another, and we which, and acting accordingly. ~o~~~c~:;~~~i;: America ·:.'· are profoundly influenced by these ELCHONON NAKDIMEN Suki & Ding Produ,tions 't': Monsey,NY To set up an appointment, call: , , . factors. Some of them are meant to be (Zl2)797-9000 Ext.75 • l'll-F, 9-5 channeled, to be used for our avodas Hashem Others are spiritual liabili­ Sarah Shapiro Responds: ties, nisyonos--challenges to be over­ The Yitti Leibel come. Some are precious "babies" to Mr. Nakdimen's letter deals with HELPLINE be nurtured; others are "bathwater." interesting issues, but to my mind to be discarded along the way. Do we they are not the issues dealt with in No Problem Is Too Big .. No Problem Is Too Small ... my article. I was not questioning the signifi­ 0 Is there some terrible thing happening in your family that you are afraid or ashamed to tell cance of sacred traditions, nor was I anyone? "defending" Hawaiian pineapple, Mr. 0 Are you a teenage or young adult having You CAN partake Nakdimen is invited to our home for problems that are too difficult for you to In celebrations handle?? Although you're not In Israel ! Shabbos the next time he is in Eretz 0 Are you single or-married, and experiencing YisroeL so that he may dine upon our persona! or inter-personal conflicts?? 1;1 ;f;tt1 Ii• white Shabbos tablecloth and enjoy 0 Are you simply confronted with a situation that my delicious chicken soup with mat­ requires you to find an objective listener? Arranges the most exquisite zoh balls! Gll'f PACKAGES and delivers it . Some of the Torah community's highly skilled My focus was 1) the bafflement therapists are available to talk to you on the Throughout ISRAEL I phone, with total anonymity. that some frum-from-birth Jews feel Special Occassions • Holidays • Thank You towards the unfamiliar ways of some Children Studying In Israel • Get Well Wishes . H*O*U*R*S ba'alei teshuva, and 2) the bafflement Monday-Friday (Day) 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon CALL 24 HOURS, Monday-Thursday (Eve.) 8:00 PM-11:00 PM and intolerance that some ba'alei Sunday 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon (201) 866-7667 9:00 PM-11:00 PM 1 ·800·685-9218 DIAL (718) HELP-NOW (435-7669) In Chlcag-0 caU 1-800-KELP-023 lo New Jersey, Call 1-908-363-1010

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54 The Jewish Observer, September 1994 teshuva feel towards themselves. Most human beings feel put off by TAPES l'ROM cultural differences. That's just natu­ JUOIBI AVIGDOR MJU:ER ral to us mortals. Nowadays, how­ ll\ayofie ~To Buy. ever, when so many dtfferent kinds of ·Tapes Wltethot a..·:rap. °" Jews from so many dtfferent cultures Maar Cu Order Prom S.11 are feeling drawn to their Jewishness P.O.B. 190797 and to Judaism, we're called upon to Brooklyrt,;N.Y.11219 do what does rwt come naturally: to l\t $2.00 P¢t tap¢ understand those who are culturally Please Make Check Payable dtfferent from ourselves, or at least to to S.Y.K. Ifyoowish. to obtain a list of recognize this prtnciple: if someone lh¢ tapes plea"." stnc! a .self seems strange, he is strange to me, addressed """"1ope to the and my own ways may be equally above addiess: strange to him_ Ba' alei teshuva and converts, as is well-known, are often quite stringent with themselves as far as halacha is concerned. That is not the question. The question is to what extent, in his quest to fulfill his utmost potential as a Torah-observant Jew, an individual tOPULllll 0 must adopt other people's various cultural habits above and beyond the requirements of halach.a. ~'\o ~4/~ There will be as many answers to that question as there are individuals ' Beth Jacob Hebrew Teachers College ~ asking it, and the more insightful the 1213 Elm Avenue ~ Rav to whom a person goes for guid­ ance, the more perfectly-tailored the solution will be to his personal history A special 11).JW for women and girls and highest aspirations. Mr. Nakdimen says that discriminating B. Y.A. is happy to announce the establishment of a special between the baby and the bath water llll1?! il:Jliil on the subjects of: is "simply a matter of knowing which is which." For some people, Baruch Hashem, it may be simple. For oth­ •:• 1mv::l1 illll:ll'< in today's turbulant world ers, Baruch Hashem, it is an •:• D':J1i1?! and n'Vl!l ilnl1?!il wisimple, unending process. ·:· n':J 01'/iv and In reply to Mr. Nakdimen's ques­ •:• raising your children tion, "By the way, did someone really ask Mrs. Shapiro's friends to 'leave (our) artistic talents behind (us) when (we) became frum ?" I can speak only The lll>'IV will be given every Wednesday night from for myself. I alone was responsible for 7:30 - 8:30 by the putiing aside, for many years, much famous teacher and n:iinr.i of what! had formerly valued. No one dictated that; it was a natural process. Rebbetzin Yehudis Karelitz The point I wished most to stress in the article was that whatever path a person has tread on the way to To­ Questions, answers and discussion will follow. rah observance. we may bear in mind Registration is going on now. that Hashem's hidden Hand guided him along. I do not understand in Call and ask for Mrs. Esther Goldman at 718-339-4747. what sense Mr. Nakdimen feels 1 "be­ trayed myself' by saying "it was none other than the Almighty HimselfWho put us there." That is what I believe. SARAH SHAPIRO

The Jewish Observer. September 1994 55 overhead cable. The paragraph (p.32) sag and/ or sway in the wind between CORRECTION should read: the lechayayim (fig. 5). The trend,

An inadvertent omission in the ar­ THE OVERHEAD CABLE FIGURE 5 ticle on Eiruvin in Modern Metropoli­ tan Areas, by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel he Mishna Berurah ( Orach Bechhofer (June '94), conveyed a Chaim 362:66) cites a dis­ misimpression of the Chazon Ish's T agreement as to whether the view regarding sagging lines on an cable must be absolutely taut or may

based on the Aruch HaShulchan and others (OrachChaim362:37), is to be lenient-as long as when there is no wind, the cable at rest runs due straight from lechi to lechL As we noted previously, overhead cables of­ ten weave back and forth. A typical

BS'D question which arises concerns the following case (fig. 6): Three utility ~f~!~~~l~r~~~J~Prr lmag1nary FIGURE 6 • stra1ght 1 ina Can't find 111111r size? Want an extra pair 11f pants? actual .Need mix-malek sizes? cable

OR tlAYBE ••• YOU'RE .JUS'I' 'l'IRED 011 poles, each consisting of an upright • .Na Skatnez tesfin11 pole and a cross bar across the top, stand in a row. The overhead cable Just call us • H111k Prices runs directly across the first and third for the most • Ins11ffitienl 1l11alil11 pole in the row, but is connected to inexpensive & convenient • Jfedi11ere Sales Staff the cross bar of the middle pole. In shopping experience available this case, even when at rest, the cable does not run directly from lechi to Please have your measurements ready & call: 1-800-764-SUIT lechL The Chazon /sh (Orach Chaim, Eiruvin 71: 1 O) considers such a 11 '"k/luj okp, in a dYie ifr we M!.Hd d k tpM c/,oo;,,? tzuras hapesach definitely invalid. It No hassle returns • All major credit cards accepted • Mordechai Bamberger is worthwhile emphasizing again that one p'sul can invalidate an entire eiruv. GUIDE TO MIDOTH IMPROVEMENT Two by Naftali Hoffner DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM Carefully organized by "giant" subject, this specially ,n:l designed text makes the 't31pC, 't31pr, texts study of mi doth easy, ?"YI i:v1'?1< ?1

56 711e Jewish Observer, September 1994 Libby Lazewnik

CHEVRA OSEH CHESED PLEASEHEll ·· eSpider OF AGUDATH ISRAEL \ A boy of a family pf _10 souls. I11 tbe vast panorama of Life I BURIAL PLOTS IN was. hit by a niuc.ki .Shomer I Shabbos .driver was not fo. M,IJ own pun,\) span ) ERETZYISROEL sured .. Boy. los(speeeb, Is ln . Is but a smiogin \ Interment in a Shomer Shabbos Beis wheeld1air, mr.>therdepressed. Olam near Beis Shemcsh Need is grest. Ktndly issue tax A toenail \ de.duetible check. to . Bik ..r Please phone or write to: Cholim Inc. and mail to: A cobweb, wbose greater gossamer Chevra Oseh Chesed of Agudath Israel network ( 84 William Street, New York, NY 10038 RABBl A;Vlt()HOM (212) 797-9000 BLUMl!NKltANTZ Stretches to !nfinit,I). I 8_14 Caffr•v A~. · In tbe sweep of existence \ Far Rockaway, N,Y, 116!>1 I oangle i11 m,\) obscurit,I) I B,IJ a tbreail. '\ L/ _. t~-3'7 ;"/ :;, lr~_sJ\---·\ A110 ,\)et ( --.--···~ I must not cease to spin Nor iole tbrougb tbese few precious Hours in tbe sun Bemoaning tbe insignificance of m,\) particular tbreail. I wi[[ not biile From tbe obligation ToaM M,I) one solemn incb To tbe tapestr,\) of Eternit,I).

Tbougb be lacks wings Tbe spiiler toils-ever upwaril Ano so In jo,IJ Must I.

Libby Lauwnik., a published poet and author of stories for youth, lives tn the Har Nof section of Jerusalem. Her "And Thou Shalt Love" was fea­ tured in the April '93 issue of JO. fQJ11)111 f:)JDJ1 u)ftJ WJOS

491<> HthAvc., B'klyn,.N.Y. I 1219 . (718)854·2911

The Jewish Observer, September 1994 57 'lllllfl!ll!ll I.Inrt~ I 1=Utl (l"t~84Wi@amSffeet!NYC100381~~~~~~::======::: (1= The National Headquarters of Agudath Israel of America ling governmental interest. . Furthermore, the brief argues, the Agudath Israel Cites Religious Freedom In Appeals evidence clearly establishes that the vil­ lage was formed, and its zoning code Court Plea On Airmont Zoning Code adopted, in a manner that discrimi­ nated against OrthodoxJews-indeed ALLEGES ANTI-ORTHODOX BIAS a 7..oning code that appears to forbid re­ for the specific purpose of discouraging ligious services in private homes, and Agudath Israel of America has ftled them from residing in the community. that requires that churches or syna­ an amicuscuriaebrief in the U.S. Court Stated as well in the brief are indica­ gogues be built only on two-acre parcels ofAppeals. challenging a municipality"s tions that the judge in the lower court adoption of z.33..33'48 e:i:m~nt ever brought a Fair Housing To contact Agudath Israel of Amenca·s (718) 219-3867 \ CIVIi nghts claim in support of Jewish Information Hot Line rights. •

58 The Jewish Observer. September 1994 Sincere wishes to the Mr. & Mrs. Berish Fuchs Jewish Obseroer and for this coming New Year. Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Fuchs May success and prosperity be with youthoughout all its days. wish all of their friends and relatives:

Max Burkin

Best Wishes for a 1nnnn1 1:ircn n:i1" nlw7 n:n" nn,nrn n:i,n::> Best wishes to all our friends and Mordechai and Rechi Friedman relatives for a happy, healthy and Shmuel B. & Simi Fri.edmon prosperous New Year Cheskel and Meita G. Heimlich Yosef Sholom & Esther Wertheimer Phyllis and Chaim Shroot Better Health Fitness & Recreation 5302 New Utrecht Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219 Brooklyn, N. Y.

n:t11' i1r.l'nrn n:i,n::> Mr. & Mrs. William W. Wealcatch from wish all their friends & relatives Ephraim & Chaya Rochel a Ksiva Vachasima Tova Nierenberg and Family 1r.lnnn11:in::>n n:i11' rnw7 1nnnn11:in::>n n:i11' i1l'e>7 Best Wishes to all ourfriends and relatives for a Best Wishes to all ourfriends and relatives for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year Mr. & Mrs. Chaim H• Leshkowitz Mr. & Mrs. Alan Jay Rosenberg & Family Mr. & Mrs. Yossie Leshkowitz Kew Gardens, N. Y. iti,11 'l:J. n::n" nl:l'nn1 n:im::> Best Wishes for a year of L'Shana Tova Kashrus Letter joy, prosperity to all our people P.O. Box 172 ill'Wnl i1'7!N) Lakewood, NJ 08701 for all ofKial Yisroel Sara & Miriam Perez available to Yeshivas, shuls. Mr. & Mrs. Willy Wiesner

1r.innrn 1::in:>n n::i1" ;in?h 11::11" 11r.1mn1 m':n::i :n::i'1:l :::UVl11 ll1W' :Mlr.l'l!l:t:ni1 :nw? Happy Rosh HaShonah to ::i"' ':i::J'l ;in':i:m :n~ 111~ ti?l::i Wl"l" all my Jewishfriends ::i::i?:l 1ltr1 :nwv? rn::ii c~w71:Jtn ... r:tro Susan Torrance Levi & Davida Reisman m'v-n ~i?w i;~n :iin

59 il"l~

mw ~nm i"tl'n:> n:>'tl Wishing all our dear.friends ~ m 1ll~ ,1ror¢ ,1llltnnr.i7 and relatives a Shana Tova, a year of ~ itJ"tl ti»n nw n nw i-tnn health and happiness ~l:l Mr. & Mrs. Louis Glueck 'tnn£Wr.l~ 'i7~lr.lj7 t:lm:t~

Best wishes to all our.friends To all our family and relatives for a happy, healthy and and.friends prosperous New Year and to all ofKial Yisroel Avrohom Schonberger Yonah and Fraidy Blumenfrucht and Family Sruly and Chanee Blumenfrucht

i"l::in:> m::rinrn n::i'ITl:l n:ri::i::i We wish our family &friends and aU of'm"run ?':>::! Harry N. Hirsch n::i1" no~nrn n::i~m Yaakov Ho.ffm.an n:tlP nr.i•nrn n::im:i Mr. & Mrs. Menachem M. and staff 1n:n::n r::tmJ rnv Shayovich Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin &Family Tri-State Surgical Katz 409 Hoyt Street. Brooklyn. NY 11231 &Family

L'Shona Tova tl:llP nr.l'>l 11"11 l'tl'l"O Best wishes to all our relatives and.friends Norman & Lesley from Freedman Yaakou & Bryna Bender Mr. &Mrs. Yaakov D. Nussbaum andfamily and Family David H. Turkel andfamily Brighton. MA

Mr. & Mrs. Chaim Banker L'Shanah Tovah to aU wish one and all a Maury Deutsch Bemard Kuperstein Peter Benerifeld n::in:> nr.rir n 11 n::i'l'l:>

The Shmuel Oelbaums Shana Tova n::iw nr.:mrn n::i•n:i M"uiam & Mendy Prqfesorske wish.friends Baruch & Adina Cohen to ourfamily and to and relatives &Family Sora. Yossie, Ari, all ofK1al Yisroel Esti, Nissan & Elly i1j?U1l:l1 i1:ln:> i1W Los Angeles, California Akiua & Chaua Last Staten Island, N. Y.

60 e take great pleasure in inviting you to join the broadest coalition of Orthodox Jews, headed by eminent Torah

authorities, for a four-day Torah

experience at

Theme: FIFTY YEARS LATER: ANation of Survivors Faces New Challenges

The Parsippany Hilton Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey An elegant location, conveniently located less than one hour's drive from New York City. Thursday through Sunday - Nov. 24-27, 1994/i1"l'Vn171':::>i:::>-N:::> For reservation information, please call (212) 797-9000