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' . f • Teves 5761 •January 2001 U,S,A, $3.50/Foreign $4.50 ·VOL XXXIV/NO. I

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath of America, 84 William Street, New York, N.Y 10038. Periodicals postage paid in New York, N.Y. Subscription S24.00 per year; two years. $44.00; three years. $60.00. Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single copy $3.50: foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Obseiver, 84 William Street N.Y., NY, 10038. Tel: 212-797-9000. Fax: 4 The Kiddush Hashem Imperative, Yonason Rosenblum 212-269-2843. I 2 Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky ?·Olr Printed in the U.S.A. I 3 Bidding My Rebbe Farewell, Rabbi Yissacher Frond RABBI N!SSON WOLPIN, EDITOR I 8 Remembering Rabbi Kulefsky, Rabbi Eliezer Gibber

EDITORIAL BOARD 19 "Dear Mrs. Kulefsky,'' a letter from Rabbi David Kapenstein RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Chairman THE WORLD OF THE RABBI ABBA BRUDNY JOSEPH FRIEDENSON RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNEA 2 I Israeli Kiruv Trends: One Destination, Two Very RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN Different Paths, Moshe Schapiro PROF. AARON TWERSKI

DR. ERNST L BODENHEIMER Z"L Founding Chairman Focus ON HALACHA 2 S Short, But How Sweet? The Use and Abuse of the MANAGEMENT 80ARO AV! FISHOF "Hoicha Kedusha,'' Rabbi Matis Blum NAFTOLI HIRSCH lSAAC KIRZNER RABBI SHLOMO LESIN The "Potch," Pnuel Peri NACHUM STEIN 28

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FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE SWISS REPRESENTATIVE BOOKS IN REVIEW Rabbi Bamberger Mr. S. Fe!dinger 21 Bot:le--1ard Paix!imis Le1mans!rasse 36 57000 Metz 4051 Basel 3 S Inner Peace: Achieving Self Esteem Through Prayer, FRANCE S\rVITZERLANO by Yisroel Roll I Rabbi Moshe Eisemann THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not 3 7 Rav Dess/er, by Yonason Rosenblum I Rabbi Joseph Elias assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product, publication, or service advertised in its pages 3 9 Letters-to-the Editor © Copyright 2001 42 Index to Volume XXXlll: Subjects and Authors January 2001 VOLUME XXXIV/NO. 1 Yonason Rosenblum

h Hashem ative•

I. CHILLUL HASHEM -AN a Chillul Hashem, an even more serious ing the government would be tolerated, UNCONSCIONABLE HORROR transgression. That we have not yet suc­ and the result was a large-scale Chillul ceeded in doing so is quite apparent. A Hashem years later. he time has come to place the friend recently described watching a mitzva of Kiddush Hashem at the group of first and second graders pour II. FROM THE MOST ETHEREAL Ttop of our educational agenda. out of cheder and deliberately fill up the TO THE MOST MUNDANE The most obvious reason is the damage adjacent street and block it to traffic. to the image of Torah every time a Jew Young as they were, none of those chil­ he mitzva of Kiddush Hashem, outwardly committed to its observance dren would have deliberately put a however, is far broader than sim­ and study is involved in a Chillul non-kosher candy in their mouth. Tply avoiding its opposite: Chillul Hashem (desecration of the Divine Nor is a young child's lack of concern Hashem. The rnitzva provides an over­ Name). Yet a stress on the mitzva of Kid­ that his actions will cause others to think arching framework for every thing we dush Hashem is not only outward direct­ poorly of religious Jews a blemish that do. Rabbi gave ed; it is also a means of providing our passes automatically as he or she grows eloquent expression to the Kiddush children with a deeper and richer attach­ older. A woman, who is justly known as Hashem imperative. A Jew's every ment to Torah. an exceptional tzaddeikes, was shocked action, he stressed, n1ust reflect the refin­ Every time we are confronted with to learn that her teenage son \Vas using ing power of the Torah: another of the periodic scandals involv­ a friend's city bus pass. Her son \Vas no "And the Luchos were written on ing a shomer Shabbos Jew, the same ques­ less surprised that she saw anything both their sides, on the one side and tions come to mind: True, religious Je\vs an1iss in his actions, and considered her the other were they written" (Shemos are not immune to the temptations that insistence that she pay for his bus fare 32, 15). afflict the rest of mankind, but why was­ nothing less than baa! tashchis (waste­ The word from Sinai must not grip n't the fear of causing a Chillul Hashem ful). A few days later, he came back to us only superficially and one-sidedly. enough to forestall such violations of her and told her that he had discussed It must penetrate us through and both halacha and civil law? Didn't the the matter with his friends and they all through, it must set its stamp indeli­ person in question ever learn in Pirkei agreed that he was right. bly on every part of our being, and Avos that even unintentional Chillul Unless vve succeed in inculcating a whichever way we are turned, the writ­ Hashem is punished as if it vvere inten­ horror of any taint of Chillul Hashem in ing of G-d must be visible on us clear­ tional? our young, we will continue to suffer ly and legibly .... Be a Jew through and The fact that such scandals are no from it. Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky once through. Whichever way you are longer easily dismissed as isolated events expelled a bright teenager from Torah turned, be a Jew .... strongly suggests that we are not paying Vodaath for taking the New York State In relation to G-d there is no enough attention in our chinuch (edu­ Regents exam for another student. reverse side and no opposite side; cation) to issues of Kiddush Hashem and Decades later, that former student was everything is turned to G-d and must Chillul Hashem. Every Orthodox child implicated in a major financial scandal. be taken equally seriously, on every instinctively recoils at the thought of eat­ Reb Yaakov commented that the respon­ side the stamp of the Divine will is to ing non-kosher food. That sensitivity is sibility for the scandal rested on those be placed with the saine force and care instilled at a very young age. Our task who had been quick to admit him to and directness. Let yourself be pene­ today is to instill the san1e instinctive another . If he had learned then, trated through and through from all revulsion at the thought of committing said Reb Yaakov, that cheating and sides with the Divine word! Yonason Rosenblum who lives in Jerusalen1 is a deception are absolutely forbidden, the This ideal has guided all the great contributing editor to The Jewish Observer. He lesson would have stuck with him. Torah leaders in every generation, and it is also director of the Israeli division of Am Echad, Instead he received a message - unin­ is one that they worked hard to impart the Agudath Israel-inspired educational outreach tended as it may have been -that cheat- to their talmidim. ln the early l 930's, long effort and media resource.

4 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 before he entered the public eye, Rabbi has to be applied to seeking out new the clerk dearly understands that it is a Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler gathered around opportunities for Kiddush Hashem. One frum Jew returning the money." himself a group of young students in Lon­ time, Rabbi Miller arrived for his lesson The Kiddush Hashem perspective don with whom he learned privately. at Rabbi Dessler's apartment and found informs both the most mundane activi­ Rabbi , the editor of the a workman installing a window sash. ty and the largest undertakings of our posthumously published Michtav Rabbi Dessler asked the workman gedolim. Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky once Me'Eliyahu, was one of those students, whether he was using good material, and found himself in a doctor's office togeth­ and Rabbi Mordechai Miller, '>':>It, the the latter replied, "Only the best:' er with a five-year-old boy. Reb Yaakov recently deceased principal of Gateshead Rabbi Dessler told him, "I don't found a ball and began playing catch with Seminary, another. Rabbi Dessler require the best. Only what is serviceable:' the youngster. "I can't speak English with instructed the young Aryeh Carmell to Later Rabbi Dessler explained to his him;' Reb Yaakov explained," but I might walk to his lessons down a certain street talmid that the workman knew he was be the only Jew with a white beard he ever in which a larger number ofbeggars were renting and that the general practice was meets, and I want the memory to be a lined up and to drop a small coin in the for renters to order the most expensive positive one." tin can of each. repairs and then deduct them from their In the course of a death march near the Mordechai Miller was given a differ­ rental payment. He wanted the repairman end of World War II, the Klausenberger ent way of bringing honor to the Torah. to know that a religious Jew would not Rebbe '>""1 vowed that if Hashem gave him Rabbi Dessler instructed him to always go take advantage in this fashion. the strength to survive, he would one day to the upper deck of London's double­ As leader of K'hal Adath Jeshurun of build a hospital. The purpose of that hos­ decker buses. Since the journey to Rabbi Washington Heights, Rabbi Shimon pital was to provide a living example of the Dessler was a short one, there was a good Schwab constantly stressed the ideal of Torah perspective on healing and the sane - chance that the conductor would not Kiddush Hashem. He was always on the tity of life. It took the Rebbe fifteen years reach him before young Miller had to get lookout for opportunities for Kiddush to make good on that vow, but he did. off. If that happened, he was to walk up Hashem, a sensitivity he made every effort Such stories of the sensitivity of our to one of his fellow passengers and to transmit to his children. Once Rabbi gedolim to the implications of Kiddush announce in a loud voice, which all were Schwab was taking a subway with one of Hashem should be a mainstay of our sure to hear, "The conductor has not taken his sons when the latter exclaimed hap­ chinuch. When we tell these stories, how­ my fare and this is my stop. Here is my pily that he had found a silver dollar at ever, the point is not to prove the great­ fare. Please pay him." The purpose of the the turnstile. Though according to ness of our Torah leaders. Rather, it is to whole exercise was to demonstrate to all halacha there was no question that the sil­ teach our children how their actions are the passengers that a religious Jewish boy ver dollar belonged to the young yeshi­ models for our own, and that those would never think of evading payment. va student, Rabbi Schwab told his son to actions are equally within the ability of Rabbi Miller learned from Rabbi return the money at the ticket counter. a simple Jew. (There are plenty of exam­ Dessler not just the importance of Kid­ "And when you do;' he added," I'll stick ples of Kiddush Hashem by ordinary Jews dush Hashem, but how much intelligence my big beard into the ticket window so to reinforce this point.) Not just a cheese, a tradition... ··· Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping.

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The Jewish Observer, January 2001 5 After Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky's existence. Having done that, we n1ust to find favor in the eyes of a world igno­ passing, the Mother Superior of a near­ somehow use our imaginations and rant of the Torah. Kiddush Hashem is not by convent, on Saddle River Road in human empathy to try to understand the a hetterfor any departure from the Torah's Monsey, told so1neone how n1uch she world from their point of view. Both these commandments. The mitzva is: to and the other nuns missed the old rabbi qualities develop naturally as one's sen­ become an example of a personality who always used to greet them when he sitivity to the Kiddush Hashem impera­ shaped only by the Torah's values, not to passed them. But then she added some­ tive grows. distort those values. thing that should give us pause: "No one 'fhe more we concern ourselves with Nevertheless, adopting a Kiddush else ever greeted us." Most of us will Kiddush Hashem, the more we become Hashen1 perspective forces upon us an never be the of Torah aware that we are constantly being awareness that everything we do is poten­ Vodaath or the leader of the generation, observed by others. (An awareness of our tially observed and requires that we ask: but each of us can smile as easily as Reb flesh and blood audience also increases How will this look in the eyes of others? Yaakov could. our awareness of the audience of One What message will it convey about 1brah A talmid of Rabbi Shmuel Kamenet­ Who is always present.) Conversely, an and Torah Jews? An awareness of the zky, Reb Yaakov's son, once told me how indifference to the impression we make "other" is thereby forced upon us, as is the he was driving with his Rosh Yeshiva in on others is a major source of Chillul need to consider that "other's)' perspec­ a deteriorating neighborhood when Hashem. A friend of mine once consid­ tive, even if we do not adopt it as our own. they saw a black man standing by a car ered putting up a sign in downtown Understanding where someone else is with a flat tire. Reb Shmuel immediately Lakewood, "We don't drive this way coming from is a precondition for any told his talmid to stop so they could help because we are religious Jews but because effective con1munication with others, the man change his tire. Again, not we are New Yorkers:' A good joke. But it including the teaching of Torah. If we can­ everyone can be the Philadelphia Rosh reflects a sad reality. 1bo many religious not understand how someone else sees the Yeshiva, but most of us know as much Jews are either unaware of the impact of world and what makes him or her tick, as Rabbi Kamenetzky does about chang­ their actions on others' feelings about there is no way to communicate with him. ing a tire. By stressing this message to Torah scholars, or they don't care. Much of the animosity directed at reli­ our young) we provide each of them Every successful Orthodox parent gious Jews could be avoided if we just with an arena in which they can excel today devotes much energy to teaching learned the simple trick of putting our­ no less than the most revered figures of his children to shut out the ubiquitous selves in someone else's shoes. In IsraeL our ti1ne. 1nessages of the surrounding society for instance, every Remembrance f)ay the that are antithetical to all Torah values. papers and news broadcasts are filled with Ill. THE KIDDUSH HASHEM Sometimes, however, we are so success­ pictures of chareidim going about their PERSPECTIVE AND FOSTERING ful in this regard that our children lose business during the sounding of the siren COMMUNICATION sight of the fact that the surrounding soci­ calling for a moment of silence in honor ety is composed of our fellow human of those who fell in Israel's wars. n order to communicate effectively beings- and for those living in Eretz Yis­ How many of those who carry on with others, we must first care about roe~ our fellow Jews. The line between oblivious to the siren have asked them­ I them enough to acknowledge their blocking out the surrounding society and selves how they would feel if they were a losing all awareness of the individuals who parent of a fallen soldier and they saw make up that society is a thin one. members of the community least likely Yet the distinction is a crucial one. We to serve in the army apparently unwill­ all interact with the surrounding society ing to acknowledge their son's sacrifice. on a constant basis - on the subway, in One who did ask that question was Rabbi our cars, at the bank. If we allow ourselves Chaim Shmulevitz, the great Mirrer to become blind to all those who do not Rosh Yeshiva. During the Yom Kippur War, Bring light and joy to your life by learning come from our own community, we will Rabbi Shmulevitz limited the amount of Torah every day. We will send you tree the rn., conduct ourselves very differently than if time bachurim could spend looking for for n1'lml and n~'m. Join the thousands we are acutely aware that we are being the arba minnim (the four species used who follow the nl'> daily constantly observed and judged - and on Succos - e.g. lulav, esrog, etc.) to the with us, the Torah. Developing a Kiddush bare n1inimum. He explained to then1 Write or call: Rabbi Elias Karp 470115th Avenue, #3C, Hashem perspective thus is the key to that the sight of bachurim looking as if Brooklyn. NY 11219 maintaining the distinction between out­ they had all the time in the world would side society and the individual members great cause pall1 to those whose sons were 718·851·0770 of that society. on the front lines or had been killed in In memory of Kiddush Hashem, it must be stressed, the battle. Y- ~ °S"' "' ~ does not mean that we shape our actions V\lhile the argun1ent is sometimes

·------· 6 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 made that a moment of silence is not a Jewish form of mourning, that is not an l Now you can Enjoy Dluminatine Torah Insights lro;l idea that can be conveyed in a public set­ ting and certainly not by ignoring the I RJ\881 YOSEF VIENER siren. The way to make that point is to recite Tehillim or learn Mishnayos during [ Mara D'asra, A!!udas Yisroel 01 Flalbush I the siren rather than ignoring it altogether. I Captured for your Convenience on Tape (I have never seen a religious Jew who chose the for1ner course criticized for doing so.) ~~l':I Spousal Responsibilities: Ha lac has and Hashkafas al the The failure by some to stand in pub­ ~llllUn_,_ .. Husband/Wife Relationship lic during the memorial siren is but one -,-- (2 tapes) example of a more general phenomenon of arousing animosity to religious Jews by • The Right and Privileges af virtue of our insensitivity to the feelings the Husband and af the Wife of others and inability to even understand •Specific Halachic Obligations those feelings. • Practical Solutions ta Everyday Issues III. COMBATTING MITZVOS Ambassadors of Torah (2 tapes) ANASHIM M'WMADA Parents: Presenffng the Halachas & Hashkalas Responsibilities &Obligations al Yiddishkeit ta the Outside World: he development of American (2 tapes) • Kiddush Hashem I Chillul Hashem • Responding ta Sensitive Inquiries Torah Jewry over the last sixty years • Moving Away from Parents •Teaching Tarah ta an Akum T- the rapid growth in numbers, the • Issues with In-Laws ever higher halachic standards in every • Marriage and Kibbud area, from tzenius to kashrus, and the • oa·mg What They Want vs. nu1nber of young men who have conse­ What They Need crated their lives to Torah study at advanced levels- has been nothing short

of phenomenal. lffll;m miiu :_ d~ From Galus lo Geulah: The American Torah world takes jus­ fl'Om6111111'Ji-tt1~"') Concepts and Misconceptions tified pride in what has been built. But ·-== ~~\tr,~r (2 tapes) success brings in its wake its own set of •The Dynamics af problems. Our children will not have to Ntl\t:-•ni NJ"lji7Y Contemporary Hashkafo Series battle the tides all around them to • ii'O)i!) during (Each volume- 6 tapes) re1nain observant, as their grandparents the era of rrt.n-J Among the many topics discussed: and great-grandparents did. They are • Understanding the Change • Avoiding the Curseaf 'Adam &Chava' born into a world of well-established in our Daily lives • Sibling Rivalry Orthodox institutions, and from an early • Democracy vs. Monarchy • Gambling with Mitzvas age, most, if not all, of their friends will come from homes much like their own. For them, the challenge is to keep their :J Enclosed 1s my check for ______payable to mitzva observance from becoming To order by credit card please call: Agudath Israel KerenYad Avrohom mitzvos anashim m'unzada - tnitzvos 718-438-3904 u Please charge my credit cart!: .J Visa U MasterCard observed by rote. Signature------·---·------If we took a snapshot of today's yeshivaleitand Bais Yaakovgirls and com­ pared it to a snapshot of the group of From Gui us toGeuloh ($14) young men and women who went with ------+-- Name AmbosSlldors of Toro!i {Sl 4) Reb Elimelech (Mike) Tress to meet Rabbi Address Con!empmory Hoshkafa Series {$34) at Penn Station in April 194 l, the comparison at first glance would City State z,p seem to inure entirely in favor of the for­ Ma.i.!..12;. Torah Tapes, 1814 SOth St., Brooklyn, NY 11204 mer. Many of the young women in the older snapshot might have still been wear-

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 7 ing short-sleeve dresses. And few of the If we want our children to be similar­ vides an overarching context within young men dreamed ofleaming for years ly alive, to live their with passion, which to place the mitzvos so that they do past high school and certainly not of kol­ we must inspire them with goals that call not come to seem like so many details. lel after marriage. forth all their youthful idealism. An The goal of our every action is nothing But the group that accompanied Mike emphasis on Kiddush Hashem can pro­ less than to bring out the Divine image Tress were idealists. Many of them spent vide that goal. within each of us: "He is gracious and several late nights a week packing parcels merciful, so should you be gracious and for Jews trapped in Nazi-held or A. Halacha as a Checklist merciful." One's Yiddishkeit becomes in filling out the four-foot long forms richer to the extent that one continually required for visa application. Whatever oo many of our children view asks oneself the question: What does it they possessed of Yiddishkeit had been halacha - or at least some aspects mean to be created in the image of G-d in hard won. Tof halachic observance - as a the situation in which I now find myself! And they had been inspired. They had checklist of do's and don'ts. The teaching Without providing such a context, heard Mike Tress repeat the name "Rav of tzenius is one glaring example. Many halacha too easily becomes something dry Aharon Kotler" so many times that they teenage girls, for instance, come to think and uninspiring in the eyes of our chil­ were prepared to follow his leadership, of tzenius purely as a dress code rather dren and students. and that of the other great European than as an entire attitude towards life and A stress on the importance of Kiddush gedolim who arrived in America during a way of defining one's essence. (Too often Hashem is the antidote for an attitude the War, despite having had little expo­ the problem lies in the way they are towards mitzvos as obligations that must sure to the intense Torah learning tl1at Reb taught.) Yet without cultivating that be paid, after which one is able to Aharon and the others hoped to rebuild inner attitude, the dress code becomes a reclaim one's life for oneself: Modeh Ani in America. source of resentinent, something to be cir­ - check; Birchos HaShachar- check; Krias One of the veterans of that era, when cumvented, if not in the details themselves Shema - check. The mitzva of Kiddush asked to compare her youth to that of her at least in the message conveyed by one's Hashem destroys the false dichotomy grandchildren, did not hesitate: "Then we dress. between time "owed)) to Hashen1 and our really lived; today they only compete." The mitzva of Kiddush Hashem pro- time. Every moment is an opportunity to sanctify ourselves to a yet greater extent, and to thereby bring into a world in which the very concept of holiness has been lost another example of what it means to devote one's life to the pursuit of holiness: "Be holy because I, the L-rd Your G-d, am holy." We are happy to announce the completion of the whole t>"'I! JOIN THE HUNDREDS WHO ARE BENEFITTING B. Restoring a Lost Idealism ne aspect of the achievements of FROMMASTER DAF religious Jewry in this past cen­ Otury that has not received suffi­ cient attention is the role played by young • 4-5 blatt per tape men and women, some in their middle ~ •A tape series where you can review/prepare the teens. Many of the first Bais Yaakov teach­ Daf in your car, on the subway, or on the bus ers sent out by Sarah Schenirer were no • Each Daf is read, translated, and explained slowly more than fifteen or sixteen years old. and clearly in just 20 1ninutes After Sarah Schenirer accompanied them to the small shtetl where they were to • Mishna tapes also available (approximately one establish a Bais Yaakov school, she left OEO Mesechta per tape) them all alone - far from their family, .. . . •Subscription rate: $3 per tape (plus S&H) without any friends, and without a pre­ Call for Order Form: existing infrastructure into which they could fit. They had to create something 1-718-435-5438 • 1-800-966-6026 totally new all by themselves. Fax: 1-718-851-2236 The Agudath Israel Youth Council was A roject of the Slabodka Yeshiva the most effective organization attempt­ ing to secure visas for desperate Jews

8 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 trapped in Europe during . I Not so long ago, I had three students instead of smiling, at that moment, Almost all of that work - which involved from a nearby ba'al teshuva yeshiva at there would likely be three less religious filling out four-foot long forms in sextu­ my house for a Shabbos meal. They had families in the world today. plicate, soliciting affidavits of financial all been working in Hollywood, and each Our children and students have to be support from strangers-was done by had already begun to attain a certain constantly ex-posed to such stories so that young volunteers, many of them still in level ofsuccess in the film industry. One they understand that they are a walking high school. When the War was over, Shabbos morning, they were eating a late advertisement for or against Torah every other groups of teenagers \vould come to breakfast in a restaurant when they time they walk down the street. A lot of 616 Bedford Avenue late at night and pack noticed a young, frum family walk by on responsibility to be sure, but with it goes packages of desperately needed food and their way home from shul. The image of the feeling of being involved in a world­ religious articles destined for the survivors that family struck a responsive chord shaping task in the Displaced Persons camps. within each of them, a sense that for all That responsibility is equally incum­ A decade later, a small group of yeshi­ their successes to date, something was bent on every Jew, and as the story of the va bachurin1 in Eretz Yisroel - the lacking in their lives. From that initial anonyn1ous fumily de1nonstrates, one that founders of P'ey/im - laid the foundations encounter with an Orthodox family, every Jew is capable of discharging in his for the resurgence of Oriental Jewry in our merely observed from afar, each found own way. day. In the refugee camps into which the his way back to Torah. Today they have One byproduct - perhaps an Oriental Jews were herded, the Yemenite all started their own families, and each inevitable one - of the paran1ount children had their peyos cut, and children is learning or has learned in a major i1nportance our world attaches to excel­ were separated fron1 their parents and yeshiva. lence in Torah learning is that many of our taught that neither Shabbos nor the The family who passed by at that youngsters feel themselves to be medi­ other mitzvos any longer applied in opportune n1oment will never know that ocrities and failures if they do not excel Israel. Torah learning was discouraged, they had such a major role in three lost academically. That, in turn, often creates and in some cases banned entirely, and branches of the Jewish family being re­ resentn1ent towards a society that has, in those who sought to teach Torah barred grafted to the tree of Torah. Had the father their eyes, caused them to feel this way, from entering. But for the young P' ey/im been yelling at one of his children, and that seems to provide so fc\v outlets activists who burro\ved their way under the barbed wire fences in the middle of the night to teach the young immigrants and who later created the first makeshift tOr them, an entire generation would have been lost. Obviously, what primarily drove the young people I have described was not a I > , J concern with Kiddush Hashem. They were I • e Z'c us o Liv;ng, Brea ing on Experiencing e e us a o Eretz Yisrae • I responding, first and foremost, to a par­ •The Torah Touring Experience ol a lifetime! •Daven by the Kosel Ha'Maravi •Climb I Matsado • Inspiring Shiurim • Shobbos in Tzlos • Meron • Amukoh • Amazing I ticular crisis within the Jevvish world. I Workshops • Kevrei Tzaclikim • Experience Yerusholoyim in Depth • Delicious Hotel I Equally obviously, we cannot expect of I Style Meals• Swim in the Kinneret • Shobbos in Yerushalayim •See Gedolim •Kayaking I today's Bais Yaakov students and yeshiva I in the Yarden •Rosh Hanilcra •Fully Equipped Modern Gym •Underground Coves• I I Eilat •Air Conditioned Dining Rooms • Banana Boating • Ein Gedi • Biblical Zoo • Har I bachurim that same passion and idealism Hatzolim • Beautiful Campus & Dormitory • Snorlcling • Paddle Booting • Minharot that fueled the early Bais Yaakov move­ I Hakotel • Campfire • Tour the Galil • Meara# Eliyohu Honovi • light & Sound Desert I I Experience •Golan Heights• Gomla •Coble Cars • Be'er Sheva •Make Wonderful I ment, or the Agudath Israel Youth Coun­ I International Friends • Yael Vashem •Swim in Yam Homelach • Bedouin Tents• Meorot I cil, or P'eylhn. Great events elicit such I Shem and Ayver in Tzlos • Climb Incredible Mountains • Achdus • Tzipori • Our Own I responses. I Olympic Pool •Har Hamenuchos • Shmiras Holashon Rally •Rabbi Zev Leff •Ancient I Susyo • Oceanorium Experience• Jeeping •Nacho/ Ma;'rasa • Konyan Ha'adom • I Nevertheless we can pity our children I Meo Shearim • Rebbe's Tisch •Flower & Fruit Decoration •Camel Rides •Color War • the want of a feeling of being involved in I Kever Rochel• Kever Dovid Hamelech • Simcho Dancing • Teverio •Meara# Chozon • I a great cause. And that is where an I Nachal Amud Nature Trail • Climb Sand Dunes • Meara# Hokemoch • Degem Beis I I Hamikdash • Hay Rides • Banyas • Mock Wedding • Swim in Hotzbanei River • Sunset I en1phasis on the imperative of Kiddush I Kumzitz by the Ocean • Cave of the Chashmonaim • Pekien • Coral Reel • I Hashern can provide a partial antidote. I Underwater Observatory • Breathtaking Vistas• • and Much, Much Morel I By reinforcing for our children the :•sf ask anMf our Wonderful Machane Brachy-mersl potential significance of every single action, we can help them find another .NMttmJiililiiQt:\wlfJta ' outlet for their idealism and passion. • A Safe, Secure, Wann Atmosphere In Magnificent Yael Blnyamln Being Hashem's ambassador to the world 1 Under the Direction of Rabbi Sholom & Mrs. Chaya Glnzberg 1 is, after all, not a small task. I 1066 E. 23rd Street Brooklvn. NY 11210 (718)377·0234 1 I 1 ------~------The Jewish Observer, January 200 I 9 for their own talents to flourish. Once, as \Ve have seen, the best and the brightest were not necessarily seen as syn­ onymous. Packing at 616 Bedford Avenue from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., for instance, Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUSf .. PAPERWORK" was another way of excelling outside of ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD the acaden1ic realm. Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Yisrael When we place Kiddush Hashem at the 104.l-42nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 top of our pantheon of values, we con­ Day &Night phone: (718) S.>;1-8925 vey the message to our children that nei­ )))t>'r.lN1Qr.INj7 ))l"i7 - ]'1::> 1Nl l'11r.lll)) 'llQ ther their status in Hashem's eyes nor our Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved family. own is exclusively a function of their aca­ TAHARAS HANIFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE COMMERCIALIZED demic achievements. Kiddush Hashem is a mitzva in which every Jew is equally capable of excelling. Those committed to the observance and study of Hashem'sTorah are the bear­ It hurts ers of His Glory in this world. Whatever trace of His holiness remains in this world 1oc II depends on all of us. We cannot ignore our responsibility for Kiddush Hashem, om es IC and the avoidance of its opposite, Chillul Hashem, without betraying Hashem . Stressing the mitzva of Kiddush Hashe1n, however, is not only good for the •,.i image of Hashem and His Torah; it is good • for us. A Kiddush Hashem sensibility helps us develop the empathy and understand­ ing of another's point of view necessary for all meaningful human relationships. That same sensibility also forces us to think about every single action and whether it It hurts reflects the kedusha for which we as a peo­ ple were chosen. A.5 Y..'e become aware of the impact of every action, we recognize r the crucial role that each and every one of o. us has to play in Hashen-z's creation. •

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10 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 20 min. from Miami Beach •Oversized Rooms with Balconies 30 min. from NYC & Brooklyn • Indoor Pool & Health . Ocean & Bay Views Golf Course-Par 72 • Pools, Fitness Club Professional Fitness Center & Spa • Large Rooms & : Center & Sauna • The New Diplomat World Class European Closets Many Suites • 30,000 Sq. Ft. Banquet Facilities · Style Health Club & Spa • 22,000 Sq.Ft, Banquet Facilities Shopping & Malls Nearby • Golfing & Six Flags Great Boardwalk• Eruv • Everglade Safari with Jeeps •Entertainment . Adventures Theme Park & Safari Nearby • Entertainment RABBI YAAKOV MOSHE KULEFSKY i1:J1:1'? j7')j~ 1:J1'

he Torah world suffered an During World War II, he received a erman ':>"lit. Soon after joining the yeshi­ in11neasurable loss with the pass­ draft notice. Sent before a rabbinical va, his magnetic appeal to bachurini was Ting of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kulef­ review board to obtain an exen1ption, he so compelling that he was assigned the sky ':>"lit, Rosh Ha Yeshiva of Ner Israel in explained that he was learning Torah for second-year beis n1idrash shiur- a posi­ , this past November 30, 3 Kislev. its own sake. The draft board rejected his tion through which he reached gener­ Among the first American-born-and­ request, for they only exempted students ations of taln1idin1, for over 47 years. educated yeshiva students to become a studying for a "purposeful" reason. After Learning and teaching Torah were the leading Torah figure, his understanding 14 months, his father, protesting the essence of his life, the pulse-beat of his of the American mindset helped him board's decision, managed to obtain a existence, his foremost joy. become a remarkably effective transmit­ court injunction releasing him ti-om the With the passing of the previous Rosh ter of Torah to American youth. arn1y. Hayeshiva, Rabbi '>"lit, Rabbi Kulefsky was born in Chicago Rabbi Kulefsky returned to Torah during summer 1999, Rabbi Kulefsky in 1925. His family then moved to St. Vodaath and later \vent on to Beis succeeded him to this position. Louis, Mo., \vhere he attended cheder. Medrash Elyon, in Monsey. He married Even though his levaya took place on Before his bar initzva, his parents sent Sarah Gartenhaus, and became one of one of the shortest Fridays of the year, him to the Beis Hamedrash Lerabban­ perhaps two rninyani111 of young 1nar­ grief-stricken taln1idin1 made it their im in Chicago, where he experienced his ried couples in America continuing to business to travel to Baltin1ore fn)n1 all first exposure to in-depth Torah study learn after their wedding. over the country to bid farewell to their in the European style. ln 1954, he was invited to become a beloved Rebbe. He leaves behind a wife, Then, he transferred to Torah sho'el u'meishiv (resource person in the thousands of devoted talrnidin1, gener­ Vodaath in Brooklyn, where he blos­ beis midrash) in Yeshiva Ner Israel in ations of children and grandchildren, somed under the guidance of the Roshei Baltimore. He developed an extremely and a legacy of Torah knowledge Yeshiva, Rabbi ':>"lit, and close relationship with the Rosh enhanced by a joy that spread to all who later, Rabbi Reuvain Grozovsky7"llt. Hayeshiva, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rud- had contact with him. II

------12 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 Rabbi Yissacher Frand

Bidding My Rebbe Farewell Excerpts from Rabbi Yissacher Frand's eulogy for Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky ?'17, the late Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva Ner Israel in Baltimore.

s Shlomo Hamelech says in him - in Nashim, Nezikin, Moed or So it was with the Rosh Hayeshiva. Kohel/es ( 12,9):mn n':r.1p;i>;w1T1~ Kadoshim. Rabbi Elazar Shach N .. V,?v eulogized Ao~?\!lr.l 1v11 1rN cvi'I nN nv1 .,r.r;. i1:V And he was a poseik ( decisor ), as well. Rabbi Shmuel Rosovsky ., .. lit (Rosh .i'l:11il He knew Shulchan Aruch thoroughly, Yeshiva in Ponevezh until his passing 20 "Besides being wise, Kohel/es also exhaustively. He knew Yoreh De'ah like years ago), quoting the Midrash in Shir imparted knowledge to the people; he the palm of his hand. He knew the clas­ Hashirirn Rabba: listened and sought out; and arranged sic con1mentaries - Pri I'vtegadim, Rabbi Yosi said, "When presenting many proverbs:' The import of that Chavos Daas and the Pis'chei Teshuva. words of Torah in public, they should pasuk is truly astounding. As wise as You could discuss virtually any area of be rendered (sweeter than honey and Shlomo Hamelech was - and indeed, halacha with him. drippings from the combs.' If not, it Chazal say that Shlomo's chachma ( wis­ But he had one attribute that exceed­ would have been preferable that he had dom) exceeded even that of Adam ed all of these accomplishments. not said them." Harishon - Shlomo possessed an He was the constunmate, unrivaled Whenever Rabbi Shmuel Rosovsky attribute that even exceeded his wisdom: maggid shiur (teacher of ). In his taught Torah in public, Rabbi Shach He was able to convey the Torah's wis­ ability to convey Torah thoughts with said, their sweetness met that exacting dom to the people, as well. clarity, to create "handles" with which standard. Or in the words of the Midrash on to grab 10rah, he was peerless. I an1 convinced that the same can be Shir Hashirirn, he created oznayin1 Yes, there are those who are excep­ said about Rabbi Kulefsky, for he saw it le Torah - he fashioned "handles" with tional la1ndanirn, but are not poskirn. as his n1ission to give a bachur a gesh­ which to gain a grip on Torah. There are others vvho have expertise in rnak in learning. Let him taste the sweet­ He made the words of Torah acces­ halacha, but do not excel in lomdus. And ness, and then he will continue to study sible to the people. In contemporary there are perhaps a few that are both Torah for the rest of his life. parlance, he made them user-friendly. /amdanim and poskim, but do not have A Yungerman last year took his As a result, all were able to quench their the ability to convey their thinking to three-year-old over to the Rosh thirst for knowledge with the cool others. Hayeshiva for a beracha before his refreshing waters of the Torah. He was all of the above. opsheren (first haircut). Rabbi Kulef We can paraphrase the words of the sky responded: "You should always pasuk and apply them to Rabbi Kulef­ THAT EXTRA FACTOR: MESIKUS find a geshmak in learning." He was not sky: he was an extraordinary ta/mid in a position to bless the boy to be a chachatn in virtually every area that is n that role of maggid shiur, he was talmid chacham, because that is up to crucial to the making of a ta/mid able to transmit to literally thou· the person. But ifyou endo1v a person chacham - lomdus, halacha, hashkafa, I sands of talmidirn an extremely with a geshmak, that is as close as you and machshava. precious commodity: rnesikus - the can get to guaranteeing that he will The Rosh Hayeshiva was the kol bo. sweetness of Torah. Indeed, countless always learn, and eventually become a He was the extraordinary latndan - an talmidirn testify that it was the Rosh talmid chacham. in-depth thinker - who not only knew Hayeshiva who gave them the very first the reid (popular analytical discussion) taste of that rnesikus. SHARING HIS AHAVAS HATORAH on any sugya (topic), but had his own Have you ever given a baby its first original insights on any sugya that one lollypop? The child puts it into his ot only did he share that would bring up. There was virtually no mouth, not knowing \vhat to expect, and ntesikus with us, he also gave us sugya in which one could not speak with you can literally see him thinking, Hey, N an insight into another of his -~~···---- Rabbi Frand is a n1ember of the faculty of Yeshiv- this is good! And a life-long attraction to treasured possessions - his remarkable as Ncr Israel in Baltimore. sweet things is formed. ahavas Torah.

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 73 Those of us who have been in Yeshi­ before teki' os absolutely gripping. This to himself, but must share with others. va Ner Yisroel for a number of years will coming Rosh Hashana, hearing those Few people enjoyed a vort more than he always associate tekias shofar (the blow­ pesukim before teki'os will be a haunt­ did. And, indeed, that is one of the many ing of the shofar) on Rosh Hashana with ing experience, increasing our awareness things that we will miss; he won't be the Rosh Hayeshiva. And indeed he was, of his absence. there for us to offer him a geshmak' e vort, in addition to all of his other achieve­ One of those pesukim in particular a kushya (puzzling question), a ma'aseh ments, an accomplished baa/ toke' a. His seemed to define who he was '~lN """ (story). tekios (shofar blasts) had a certain .~i ?7w ""'"~ inir.iN ?v "I rejoice over I would tell him a kushya and be on eidelkeit (delicacy) about them - they Your word like one who finds abundant the verge of telling him the terutz (res­ were pristine and pure, aln1ost like the spoil" ( Tehillim 119, 126). olution) when he would say"Vart- Wait classic kol de'mama daka - a frail, His simcha was like that of a person a inoment!" He would pause, so as to whispering sound. As the teki' os were who finds a n1etzi'a - a real "find"; but formulate a terutz of his own. When he inspiring, so was the manner in which not just an ordinary metzia; a bounty, could not come up with his own he said the six pesukim (passages) a bonanza, that one cannot possibly keep approach, I would offer him mine. If he liked it, a broad smile would wreath his 1 1·v:i face, and he would maintain that pose ~~0~RNH~THR0~GHR0EtMSTD as he savored the terutz. Then the smile would disappear, and one could almost see the wheels turning. Invariably he would have something to add, to expand on the insight. But now he is gone, and every time I encounter a geshrnak'e vort, I will think Educational Tours to for of how I will tell it to Rav Kulefsky. But Bnei Torah & Seminary Students then I'll catch myself, because he is no longer here .... Ahavas haTorah. It explains so much about him. It explains why he would Bnei Torah Tour For Bnos! Bais Yaakov insist on asking a bar mitzva bachur to Pesach Bein Hazmani Legacy Tour tell him his shtikel Torah (Talmudic dis­ course) if he was unable to attend the Date: March 25-April 1, 2001 Date: June 13-19, 2001 bar mitzva personally .... Because Torah is Torah, and did not matter if it came from a thirty-year-old or a thirteen-year­ Led by HaRav Meir Wunder, old. renowned Historian of the Cedo[ei Yisroe[ "When my son Yaakov was nine or ten, 1 completed Mishnayos Shabbos with Be a part of the Nesivoe experience! him, and arranged for Rabbi Kulefsky

OVisiting sites in Warsaw1 Crackow1 Lub[in1 Cer1 Lizensk & more. to give him what I thought would be a

OLearning about the Re1nah, the Maharsh.111 the Bach1 short, even perfunctory, bechina (oral

the Chozeh of Lublin1 the Netziv1 Rav Chaim BTiskeT examination). But he kept him there for and others whi [e visiting their shuls &t davening close to an hour because 1brah is at the kevarim of the T zaddikim. Torah. My son still remembers walking OShiurim and special lean1ing Sedari1n on a variety out of his apartment with not just a lit­ tle treat, but a bag full of candy corn, of topics relating to the Mesor.1h1 the Gedo[i1n1 and the H o[ocaust. thinking how he had struck it rich. Lit­

OConfronting the camps: rt\usch\.\litz1 tle did he know that ten years later, he Majda.nekand Treblinka. would still be taking leave of Rabbi Kulefsky with a treasure trove of sweets, as I did a generation before him, and others did a generation before me, and still others did after him. That was one of the things that struck me at the levaya (funeral): there were talmidim (disciples) there who are in

·----- 14 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 their sixties and talmidim still in their rett in lernen mit Rav Kulefsky." For Rosh Hayeshiva after the latter was nif­ teens. Close to fifty years of harbotzas certain, he was discussing a Torah topic tar. He honestly and sincerely felt that Torah. Fifty years of giving people that with Rabbi Kulefsky. he was not worthy. special taste that is "sweeter than honey Ahavas haTorah: it explains anoth­ The last vort that I had wanted to and drippings from the combs." er thing about him. That same Gemo­ share with Rabbi Kulefsky was a His ahavas Torah also explains why ra in Eruvin refers to a pasuk in Mish­ Chasam Sofer 2 on Parshas Shemos. It he never tired from saying over a vort lei, that Torah is a source of 1n - grace was the type of vort that I knew he - the same vort, even year after year. He and pleasantness. One must say that the would enjoy. The Chasam Sofer explains could repeat the sa1ne shiur again ... Torah endowed him with an addition­ the dialogue between Moshe Rabbeinu and again ... and never lose a geshmak al glow that endeared him to so many and the Ribbono Shel Olam when He in it. How did he do it? Because if you people. first asked him to lead Kial Yisroel out love something so passionately, you You could share a clever remark \Vith of Egypt. Moshe Rabbeinu demurs, never tire of it. him, tell him a good line, and he would saying: "Who am I that I should go to Someone who had learned in Rabbi enjoy it. He was so accomplished in Pharaoh?" Kulefsky's shiur more than twenty years learning and yet he was so normal. He Hashem responds by telling him: ago came back to visit, and sat in at the was so ruchni - so spiritual a person - "This is the sign that I sent you, when shiur. I asked him how Rabbi Kulefsky and yet so human. you will lead the People out of Egypt, had changed in those twenty years. "Not He was so great, and yet so humble. they will serve Me on this n1ountain." a bit," he said. "He delivered with the A talmid from the ?O's remembers The obvious question is: There was same bren (excitement), the same gesh­ how in his year the shiurpresented Rav need for a Divine sign now. How could mak and the same enthusiasm as he had Kulefsky with a tall is bag, with his name a future event serve as a sign for now? twenty years ago." "Harav Yaakov Moshe Kulejsky" embroi­ The Chasam Sofer explains that the "Burn-out" had no relevance to him. dered on it. He would not use the bag fact that Moshe's initial reaction was Ahavas haTorah: It even explains why until they removed the word "Harav." "Who am !?"is the strongest indication he was often late in ending his class or And that explains why he did not that he, indeed, was worthy to be the his shiur. For many, many years, lunch want to succeed Rabbi Weinberg'> .. ,,, as manhig, the leader. was an abstract concept, not an entic­ ing, waiting reality to the bachurim of Rabbi Kulefsky's shiur. If you were in the middle of analyzing a Rav Akiva Eiger, 1 who could think about food? Rashi explains the pasuk: ,,,,~,,,..~ ESHIVA 1'l:l11'1ll!IT1 - "Through love of an object, one comes to constantly err" (Mishlei of New Haven 4, !9) to refer to how a person becomes so enamored with Torah thoughts, that • Shiurim with the Rosh Yeshiva he simply abandons other pressing • Mesivta Sedorim plus Novi, Jewish History and morel involvements to pursue divrei Torah, • Small Classes and Individual Attention even if he appears to be a fool in the • Beautiful, Spacious Campus and Dormitory eyes of onlookers. As an example of this phenomenon, the Gemora cites Rabbi • Superior Secular Studies Program Elazar ben P'dos who was so great that • Excellent Preparation for PSAT, SAT and AP Exams he would be totally immersed in say­ • Experience in Layning, Davening for the Omud ing a shiur in one place, unaware that • Exciting Field Trips in the Connecticut Countryside the tallis he should have been wearing was in another place (Eiruvin 44b ). The A Mesivta preparing bochurim for the best Yeshivos, Netziv adds that when a person advanced general studies, and communal responsibilities. becomes so enraptured with his Torah study, this serves as a source of glory Rabbi Emanuel Gettinger .K"t:i"'=7tv, Rosh Yeshiva for him. Rabbi Daniel Greer, Dean Rebbitzen Ruderman n":V com­ 765 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06511 mented on more than one occasion For applications call when the Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Rud­ ermanf:,··::n, was late coming home from 203-777-7199 the Yeshiva on Shabbos morning, "Ehr

------··------·------The Jewish Observer, January 200 I 15 PERSONAL CONTACT in later years. It was an opportunity to tune to observe a 1naster. learn from Rabbi Kulefsky how to Finally, I would just like to share with or several years I had the privilege deliver a shiur. I saw and heard why he you an insight that I gained over the last to serve as Rabbi Kulefsky's assis­ chose to include this piece and where to few years: Several years ago, Rabbi Ftant, in helping his class revie\V his include it; how he crafted a shiur so that Kulefsky lost his mother. As halacha daily shiur. As such, I would meet with every piece fit so perfectly. Any success requires, he changed his seat in the beis Rabbi Kulefsky every day after he had that I enjoy in saying a shiur is due in midrash for tefilla, and sat next to me. delivered his shiur, to allow 1ne to hear large measure to that which I gleaned The circumstances that brought him the shiurand be prepared to answer his from him. there were unfortunate, but for me it was bachurim's questions. I enjoyed the If learning can be (le'havdil) likened a windfall. I looked forward to Shabbos assignn1ent in11nensely; it gave n1e an to a science, then saying a shiuris an art. because I had additional time with opportunity to maintain n1y relationship One cannot n1aster an art through read­ Rabbi Kulefsky. I gained an opportuni­ with him many years after I had left his ing about it. One 1nust experience it. ty to see, as never before, how he dav­ shiur. But I did not realize then the pro­ And one v.1ay to experience it is to ened. His yiras Shatnayin1 \Vas almost found impact that it would have on me observe a maestro. It was 1ny good for- palpable. Two things were especially notewor­ thy during that special year. By that time, his eyesight was very poor. Yet he strained himself to say" Ve'hu Rachu1n"3 on Mondays and Thursdays. It would have been so understandable for hin1 to allow himself to forgo saying this tefilla. But he would hold the Siddur up to his face and say every \Vord. Nor will I ever forget that Yorn Kip­ pur- how he bent over to say the Viduy (confessional) and the Selichos, his face literally buried in the Machzor. When he 1n nn;~~N~~~,~~~ finished one of those Viduys, having been bent over and wrapped in his tallis, he emerged - his face dripping with per­ .n::>c~ 7y spiration ....

believe that some of his Ahavas ha Torah actually rubbed off on me, I and I learned hovv to say a shiur from him. But, to paraphrase what Rabbi l:'J1il 'iiy'tV said regarding the Beis Haleivi'i when he vvas niftar. "He , l:'J1 7y l:'J1 .niiNili .niiyil 77i::>il took his capacity to understand p'shat (plumbing the depths of the meaning 1'lN~ '"tVi~i Ni~l::l C'iiN'::l i C'tVi1'n of a passage) with him to the grave." I can say the san1e about the yiras Shan1ayitn that \Vas distinctive of Rabbi C"i:l ;ilN j'"t"'N M~ :liil Kulefsky. I witnessed it from close. And c7'i1 CJiiio 1'i':l pn:s' n7m i'"i'i i"::i~i :ii now it is truly gone. 1111

1n rin.:ir..i o" nr..i y::i 1 Leading figure and Taln1udic con11nentator of bis ti1ne ( 1761-1838) ~Rav of Posen, whose dis­ cussions are prototype fOr the analytical approach to Talinudic study.

C"1~0i1 lii" .ln:J. l "iZii17 2 Leading rabbinical figure, co1nn1entator and i:in~il 7::tN iN poscik ( 1762-1839) - Rav of Press burg. -1 A long penitential prayer added on those days. Tel. 718-520-0115 •Fax 718-268-0186 4 I-lis father, Rabbi Yosef Dov Solovcitchik, referred to by the naine of his s~(er.

16 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 FROM A The War Afiainsf PURE FIRE: G·d & His People: A Series of Shmuessen by A Guide to the Holocaust for Young People Rabbi Moshe Aharon Stern By Rabbi Shmuel Burstein Transcribed and Translated byYitzchok Meir Goldstein Po we keep moving further away from the Holocaust, we must ask ourselves: how do we explain this tragic yet vital chapter of Jewish his· Rabbi Moshe Aharon Stern tory to a new generation of Jewish young zt"I was the esteemed people? And the answer is: with books Mashgiach of the Kamenitz Yeshiva in such as The war Against G·d And His THESE Jerusalem. He embodied Torah wisdom and People. Especially designed for Jewish piety, and through his regular shmuessen he youth. this unique text succeeds in inspired and influenced Jews from around offering young people an accurate the woM. Now, for the first time, 32 of the history and Torah perspective on the Mashgiach's powerful and uplifting Holocaust. Includes rare photographs GREAT shmuessen are available in English. These of European Jewry, first hand brilliant essays will enrich and strength· accounts, and astonishing stories of NEW en the hearts of all who read them. faith and self-sacrifice. PORTRAITS Of 1nr ~ovrMrNT GREATNESS: Biographies l!uthie Pearlman of Gedolim of the Past Two Centuries By By Yisroel Friedman When a diabolical cult gets involved with Jewish families in London, it leads to suspicions of Breathtaking in scope and beautifully writ· murder, and the detective team ten, Portraits In Greatness presents of Colin & Leora Sommers is inspiring biographies of 16 Chassidic giants called in to solve the mys· of the spirit - distilling the highlights, wisdom, and tery. The Movement picks accomplishments of their lives - in pages filled with up where Ruthie Pear/man's uplifting stories, rare photographs, anecdotes. and best-selling novel, Dark historical insights. Tapestry, leaves off. and once again, this popular Biographies include: Rav Shimon Sofer • The Maharsham author stirs up an intriguing The lmrei Yosher • Rav • The Boyaner mix of tension, drama, and Rebbe • Reb Shlomke of zvehil • The Jmrei Emes • The suspense. where questions Shatzer Rebbe • The Tchebiner Rov • The Skverer Rebbe of Jewish values collide • The Minchas Yitzchok • The Satmar Rebbe • Rav Yidele with a world of treachery Horowitz • The Tolodos Aharon Rebbe • The Tolna Rebbe and deceit. • The Pshevorsker Rebbe.

Do you have to return the lost object? Can you keep it? Do you have to take care of it? How do lost in time you know who to return it to? one thing is cer­ This innovative game is an interplanetary, time· tain: Players ages 7 and up will have a great time traveling treasure nunt that actually helps you learning the answers to these and many other learn the laws of returning lost objects to their questions · all relating to the laws of ha'shovas owners. aveidah. Now get Lost ... Jn Time! Rabbi Eliezer Gibber

Remembering Rabbi Kulefsky '"~j

abbi Kulefsky was my Rebbe and expressed. No preparation, no shiur." us and carried us away \Vith hin1. still is - in so many compelling Rabbi Kulefsky lived by this same His infectious enthusiasn1 in learn­ R\vays. There were three corner­ credo. I recall one occasion when he ing had early roots. (An oft-told tale is stones to the way he presented his shi­ delivered a shiur to his regular class on no less relevant simply because it 1nay uritn that could serve as a model for a Friday - after assiduous preparation, be familiar to many readers.) As a child, what every teacher, every Rebbe, every of course. On Sundays, he would deliv­ young Yaakov Moshe so enjoyed his Rosh Yeshiva, should strive to emulate. er a shiurto older bachurim and Ge1nora studies, that he had no interest (At least I try.) fellows. He decided that Friday's lecture in sports and childhood games. His des­ 1. He was exceptionally well prepared. would be suitable for this group, too, so perate mother took the pale, drawn boy One could say that his motto was - ''Pre­ - again - he prepared diligently. Later to the family doctor for advice. "The boy pare! Prepare! Preparel" that week he went on an AARTS accred­ must spend time playing outside with He once recounted how, as a bachur iting visitation to Yeshiva 10ras C~hain1 his friends," he prescribed. in Mesivta Torah Vodaath, he would in Denver, where he was scheduled to The next day, Mrs. Kulefsky sent her attend a weekly shiurin Nach (Prophets) deliver a shiur to the beis midrash. The son back outside as soon as he can1e given by the legendary menahcl of the topic selected \Vas the san1e as the one home from school, and locked the Mesivta, Reb he had addressed the past Friday and door in his face. A while later, she dis­ ?''Yr. On one occasion, he - a1nong many Sunday. So he gave the same shiur again covered him in his room, an open others - filed into the lecture room - but only after preparing ... industri­ Gen1ora in his sooty hands, and a jubi­ where the class was to be given. Reb ously, of course. lant smile lighting up his blackened face: Shraga Feivel entered, sat down, looked 2. There was beauty in his presentation. he had climbed into the cellar through around the full classroom, and It \Vas an aesthetic experience to hear the coal chute, and now he was reunit­ announced, "I'n1 sorry bachurim. There Rabbi Kulefsky lay out the problem, ed with his precious Gemora. will be no shiurtoday. I did not have an examine crucial texts, and weave the The triumphant smile continued to opportunity to prepare." strands together to present a resolution. light up his learning and teaching for the With that, he arose from the chair One could sit back and relax, the next sixty-five years. and walked out. process of listening was so effortless. His 4. Other aspects of his imprint on oth­ "We knew that he could shake com- questions, his resolutions, sliced through ers: Total constant immersion 1nentary, explanation and inspiration the sugya (topic under discussion) like Rabbi Kulefsky's uninterrupted out of his sleeve, without any advance a hot knife through butter. The entire involven1ent in Talmudic discourse was preparation;' commented Rabbi Kulef­ process was one of startling clarity. The so integral to his personality, one sim­ sky. "But he had wanted to devote time classic term" K'Shulchan Aruch" - a set ply cannot think of him without his to selecting what he would be present­ table, with each course following its pre­ learning, talking or thinking Torah. His ing, tailor it for whom it was intended, decessor by logic and protocol- was fully son-in-law, Rabbi Dovid H.. osenbaum, and decide how it should best be realized in the way he spoon-fed the recounted how he had been summoned shiur to us. to his father-in-lav./s house son1e twen­ Rabbi Gibber, R;;f1 Yesl1iva cl· New En-gland Rab­ binical College, in Providence RI, spent fifteen 3. And then there was his contagious, all­ ty years ago; Rabbi Kulefsk7 was not feel­ years in Yeshiva Ner Israel. The above article is consuming joy that he exuded as he ing well. As soon as Reb Dovid entered, based on an interview with Rabbi Gibber. developed his thesis ... a joy that caught Rabbi Kulefsky engaged him in a dis-

18 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 Dear Rebbetzin Kulefsy, Written by a Former ta/mid, Rabbi Dovid Kapenstein

With great sorrow and feeling ofloss 1 Rebbesnearlyperrnanent state of sim­ about something much more conven­ I attended Rav Kulefuky's ?"lit funeral this cha was contagious. His smile could tional, such as when non-kosher meat past erev Shabbos. Having had time to break through the most melancholy feel­ mixed with kosher meat, or a drop of collect my thoughts, I want to share them ings of tense situations. One day when milk fell in a pot of meat. Rebbe just with you. Rebbe was asking a bachur whether he leaned his head back, stroked his beard, When I came to the Yeshiva about 17 understood a particular Tasafos, he looked at me through the bottom of his years ago, Rav Kitlefuky's shiurwas the first asked the talmid to explain the second glasses and said, "Didn't you learn place I went. From the first time I heard answer that Tosafosgave to a question on Rabbi Akiva Eiger?" Rebbe give shiur, I was hooked. It was like the Gemora. The bachur thought and Of course, we learned Rabbi Akiva being a child in a candy store. Rebbe's clar­ thought, but could not remember what Eiger's glosses on the Shulchan Aruch; ity was legendary, and he never disap­ Tosafos said. In desperation the bachur however, many of them seemed far too pointed us. The most difficult concepts said, "Could Rebbe help me start the esoteric in our eyes to spend any length and thought-provoking insights were answer, and then I am sure I'll remem­ of time committing them to memory. explained so thoroughly and clearly ber the rest?" Rebbe looked up, smiled After all, people are not supposed to make that we used to joke that by the time from ear to ear, and said, "Sure I can help. vows, and no one we know was vowing Rebbe finished the shiur, the walls under­ The second answer in Tosafos is ... :' not to eat meat. Still, Rebbe wanted to stood the Gemora. Still, it wasn't just so Rebbes simcha had defused the anxiety­ send me a message. The breadth and much instructing as navigating us filled situation, while maintaining the depth ofTorah knowledge go far beyond through the choppy waters of the Ris­ dignity of the nervous young man. the requirements of a s'rnicha exam. honim and (earlier com­ We marveled at his dedication to I recall one unsuspecting young man mentaries - 11- lsth century-and later Torah and how, when he drove out to who took his s'micha bechina. There was, commentaries- post-ls th centuty). the store to shop for groceries, he as you_ can imagine, an ('oral tradition" He would painlessly and methodically would sit in the car learning. He never about which topics Rebbe would query. build up a principle that he wanted us even noticed the hustle and bustle of Everyone knew that Rebbe never asked to understand. He remained constant­ people passing by. I recall the trepidation any question on the topic of k'chaL These lymindful that there were bachurim with I had when I once went to Rebbeto ask are the detailed laws surrounding the varying levels of understanding. As permission to go to a wedding that halachic status of milk found in a cow's such, he would repeat and repeat the would necessitate missing shiurone day. udder after it was slaughtered. Sure concepts always approaching them from Rebbe listened intensely while I described enough, Rebbe asked this young man a slightly different vantage point. This why I felt that it was important for me some questions about k' chaL After some way, the slower learners caught on, while to go. After r presented my dissertation, hesitation, the bachur, told Rebbe that he the faster learners marveled at his pre­ I waited for what seemed like an eternity didn't really learn the laws of k'chal cision and depth. for a response to my request. Finally, I because it was well known in the Yeshi­ Rebbe shared with us not only his broke the silence by asking if it was OK va that Rebbe never questioned anyone Torah insights, but those of his rebbeim. for me to go. ccDovid;' he commented, about k'chal Rebbe immediately sent him When Rebbe taught us a novel thought "I can't tell you whether it's OK for you back to the beis midrash with explicit from his Rebbe, Rabbi Reuvain Grozovsky, to go. I have enough problems worry­ instructions that Rebbe does indeed ask you felt the excitement he had in sharing ing about my bittul Torah; I can't speak questions about k'chal. a chiddush. You weren't just sitting in the for yours." You and your children and grand­ blatt room at Ner Israel, but we were r will never forget the trip to the air­ children were so very privileged to have somehow magically transported to the port when Rebbe agreed to start testing Rebbe at the helm of your family. I know shiurwhere Rebbe himself first heard the. me on the material r learned for s'micha. that he will be missed greatly. r know that chiddush, as though we were hearing it I had studied over and over again the I speak for thousands of talmidim when from Reb Reuvain himsel£ We were con­ material I anticipated being asked. To my I thank you for sharing Rebbe with us. nected, through Rebbe, with Gedolim great surprise, Rebbe began the test ask­ I had fervently hoped that my children whom we never saw - hearing their ing me what is the halacha if a person would also someday be able to be in thoughts so masterfully explained by our makes a vow not to eat a certain food and Rebbe's shiur. Rebbe who understood them so well. that food falls into a mixture of other 1 I also know the reason he was able to Rabbi Kapenstein serves as Director of Devel­ food. He wanted to know under what devote so much time to talmidim, both opment in the Torah Day School of , circumstances the forbidden food would in and out of the Yeshiva, was because . In deference to the author's rela~ become annulled into the larger mixture of the support and encouragement you tionship with Rabbi Kulefsky, he usually refers to him as" Rebbe," rather than byname. and thus be permissible to eat. I was gave him. We are forever grateful to you. dumbfounded. r expected a question DOVID KAPENSTEIN

The Jewish Observer;. January 2001 19 cussion regarding a specific statement telephone call: Rabbi Kulefsky took a his face away from the oxygen mask by the Ran, a classic commentary, on turn for the worse and was taken by to tell Reb Dovid, "] have a terutz to Mesechte Nedarim. After a brief ambulance to the hospital. Rabbi explain the Ran!" exchange, Rabbi Rosenbaum deemed it Rosenbaum rushed there, to find his Reb Dovid wondered, When did he safe to leave. father-in-law connected to life-sup­ have an opportunity to think through the Shortly afterwards, he received a port systems. Rabbi Kulefsky pulled troubling Ran? Jn the ambulance on the way to the hospital? 5. Extra-Curricular Concerns Rabbi Kulefsky felt a special kinship t THE ADMINISTRAT1¥£·"""---·-- with the Iranian students who can1e to l,1ttMS£-'.:~...... f;;m'tDNVfN/fNTLY the Yeshiva during the unrest fifteen ·····:¥Sj;::%~f)"'' ::::fq~~'lif" CDCS SITE: years ago. He was involved in arranging shidduchim (suitable matches for them), ··· $.i~1s YMKov oF 1BTH ·- .. :· ::::: and even earned himself the sobriquet, !18th Avenue "Father of the Iranians in the Yeshiva." One particular Iranian bachur became engaged to a young lady with a unique name - a name that appeared on the label of a rather exotic liquor, surrounded by stars. How appropriate for their vort (engagement party)! he thought. He visited several local liquor stores in search of the beverage, to no avail. Eventually, he had the chassan and kalla over for a Shabbos meal, at which this elusive brand of liquor was served, to everyone's delight. When asked later where he found the bottle, he replied that he had originally seen it during a visit \Vith his children in Montreal. He had asked his son to send him a bottle of this choice drink spe­ cial for this occasion.

I • Full Doy, Half Doy, Or Port Time Programs I cannot sum up my debt to Rabbi • Includes Intensive Limudei Kodesh Kulefsky any better than he himself I • Endorsed By Leading Gedolei Yisroel And Educators I did during his last class, on the day • Choice of Regular or Ushmo Program ! I • Dynamic Shiurim By Renowned Mechonchim I before his passing. As Rabbi Berel Weis­ • Hundreds Of Successful, Moolot Graduates Worldwide I bord recounted at the levaya (funeral), I • A Worm Bois Yookov Atmosphere· Seled Group Of Students he closed the shiur- and his life- com­ • Option of Eight Week Summer Program In YeruSholoyim n1enting, '(I hope I made nlyself clear." I • The Exciting Altemotive To A Full Year In Ereb Yisroel I He did. Most eminently. Ill Our Mechanchim Include: Rabbi Matis Blum, Rabbi Avraham Blumenkrantz, I I Rabbi Yehuda Cahan, Rabbi Dov Eichenstein, Rabbi Dovid Gibber, Rabbi Yoel Kramer, Rabbi Nason Dovid Rabinowich, Rabbi Mechel Spitzer, Rabbi Yisroel Dov Webster, I Rebbetzin Yehudis Davidowitz, Rebbetzin Chaya Ginzberg, Rebbetzin Devora Kitevit., I Rebbetzin Naama Lerman, Rebbetzin Rivka Orotz, Rebbetzin Esther Twersky, I Summer In Eretz. Yisrael: Rabbi Oovid Ref son - Dean, Rabbi Oovid Kass - Director, I Rabbi Nosson Geisler, Rabbi Leib Keleman, Rabbi Y. Monat,, Rabbi Meir Treibitz, Rebbetzin Tzi rah Heller, Rebbetzin Zeh ova Kass, Rebbetzin Rena Torshish. Brooklyn NY I 1218 We make "housecalls"

RABBI SHOLOM G. GINZBERG, DEAN 931 Caney Island Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11 230 I- For More Information Phone Or Fax:1718\377.0222 I 20 ------•am&---- The Jewish Observer, January 2001 ISRAELI KrRUV TRENDS Moshe Schapiro One Destination, Two Very Different Paths Teshuva For Ashkenazi Israelis Not the Shortest Distance from A to B

iruv in Israel is often a topical the tough exterior, and enthusiasm for ferent kind of kiruv. It is a sknv kiruv and item. Many of us have heard and the Mesorawill push forth. This isn't nec­ it is a quiet kiruv. But it is a kiruv that Kread stories about how, after just essarily an easy task - in fact, it can be is taking place more often than most of a single encounter with a real Shabbos, quite difficult - but usually one is us think. an entire non-observant fan1ily- n1oth­ handsomely rewarded for the effort. er, father, kids, uncles, aunts and cousins But dig beneath the surface of your GETTING A FOOT IN THE DOOR - decides to take on a life of Torah and typical Ashkenazi university professor mitzvos. Such accounts are liable to give or high-tech professional and, instead lthough Arachim gives 120 out­ one the impression that kiruv \vork in of hitting a wellspring of enwna, you reach sen1inars in Israel and Israel is a n1atter of stirring the e1nbers will hit a solid wall of intensely cyni­ A elsewhere around the globe each smoldering under the surface and fan­ cal atheism. Go beyond that wall, and year, it is perhaps best known for its ning the flames of spirituality back to you will run head-on into yet anoth­ series of"academic se1ninarsn for secu­ life. And while in some cases -probably er wall, this time comprised of icy lar Israelis. (These, by the way, comprise a sn1all minority- this is a fair descrip­ intellectual doubt. After that, you the foundations of a nun1ber of simi­ tion of the process, it is only one side of reach the wall of emotional denial, fol­ lar programs, including in the story. lowed by the wall of fear, and only then New York, Maor in Los Angeles, SEED Think about it. When is the last time can you start talking about G-d. in England, Aish Ha Torah's Discovery, you read a "quick-change" baa! teshuva rfhis is not to say there is no progress and others in France and South Africa.) story about son1eone of Ashkenazic being n1ade in the Ashkenazi comn1u­ The four-day events are held seven background? About someone who in the nity. Arachim, one of Israel's largest kiruv tin1es a year and focus on intensive last election voted for Meretz, not Shas? organizations, has proved that Torah can analysis of contemporary topics from a The reason is that most Israeli Ashke­ be brought to the secular citizens of Tel Torah perspective. Leading rabbinical nazin1 just don't become observant Aviv. lt's just a matter of using the right personalities deliver the lectures, but the this way. Theirs is a different approach approach. general atmosphere 1nore closely resem­ altogether. All caustic declarations a la Yossi bles the university lecture hall than the Kiruv professionals explain that with Sarid aside, the fact is that members of beis midrash. most Sefardi Israelis, the main challenge this reluctant com1nunity can be Planners adapt the program to fit is to find a way to tap into the deep well­ brought to the well. Only it has to be with changing trends. Reconciling the spring of ernuna sin1mering just beneath done one step at a time) one question Torah account of the Creation with sci­

-·------·------~ Moshe Schapiro is a journalist who lives in at a tin1e, one lecture at a ti1ne, one entific theories was a popular subject five Jerusale1n. His byline appears in a nun1ber of se1ninar at a tin1e. ~fhen "suddenly/) years ago. But more recently) upscale English-language publications around the globe after four or five years of intellectual Israelis have joined the rest of the West­ including the English language Yated Nc'erna11, deliberation, everything falls into ern world in a search for alternative where he is a regular colutnnist. I-fc was repre­ sented by"Drawing Lines in a Moving Field" in place. sources of spirituality, so no\v the orga­ 10 Mar. '00. This) then, is a story about a very dif- nization)s sen1inars are decorated in the

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 27 more avant-garde vestments of the lat­ its media-savvy professional and upscale average North American) but it makes est craze. constituency. a very big impression on the universi­ Left-wing Ashkenazim may have For instance, at the back of their ty-educated Israeli, who rarely regards derided Shas's use of amulets to win glossy magazine is an advertisement for the terms «rabbi" and "professional" as votes during the last election, but that a raffle. The prizes include a silver synony1nous. does not n1ean they are not discussing mezuza - and a silver Mazda. Request It is common knowledge that today mysticism and holistic healing in their information about the organization in Israel, as in most places in the West­ Tel Aviv coffee houses. So to attract the from the main office and you receive ern world, infor1nation is king) and the crowds, Arachim will put together a eye-catching pamphlets in modish earth ability to present this information well seminar on Torah and Kabbala, and colors. Illustrations consist mainly of is paramount. Therefore, the well-spo­ another on ancient "falmudic secrets graphs and charts. Photographs of ken lecturer is crucial, the glossy mag­ about alternative healing. These topics smiling kids making Kiddush are con­ azine is a must, and the well-designed are not used merely as tantalizing bait spicuously absent. brochure that announces an upcoming to lure errant souls - they are actually Attend a lecture sponsored by the seminar is critical. It's all a n1atter of discussed in-depth, albeit from the organization, and the rabbi who is marketing. Torah perspective. speaking will be dressed in a neatly But the differences in approach And the crowds come. pressed suit one notch above anything required to have an impact on Ashke­ the executives in the crowd are wearing. nazic Jews are not limited to snazzy pre­ A MATTER OF COMMUNICATING He is organized and articulate in his sentation tools and sharp suits. Accord­ speech, illustrates his points with a ing to Rabbi Yosef Walis, founder of rachim)s success is not only due Power Point presentation run from his Arachim and director of its 500-mem­ to its ability to keep its finger on laptop and directed on the wall with a ber staff, "You also need to know how A the pulse of secular society. It also laser projector, distributes impressive to reach out to them." places heavy emphasis on perfecting its printed handouts, and even provides lecturers' com1nunication skills to resources for further reading. This may WHERE OTHER KIRUVPROS match the sophisticated expectations of not seem out-of-the-ordinary to an DARE NOT GO

abbi Walis, an American-educat­ ed native Israeli whose OV•ln eturn to Judaism began with an academic lecture many years ago, says For careful attention to your thing like religious radio stations broad­ individual needs, call us today! casting Tehillim to the lilting tunes of (914) 354-8445 Middle-Eastern music just don't do the trick with Ashkenazic Jews. Instead, Arachim activates the exist­ ing network of seminar graduates and friendly contacts to send its brochures into places where most other kiruv orga­ Direct Dial To Israel nizations would never be able to set foot: high-tech companies, banks, hospital staff rooms, universities, and the stock market. If the organization doesn't have a "mole" in the company, howev­ er, getting the brochure placed there becomes more difficult. But even then the organization does its best. "We explain to the reluctant company executive," says Han Buzaglo, Arachim's Director of Academic Seminars, "that although we are a religious institution, our seminars are on topics that have uni­ CUCUmBERCl.soo. tat. s6t3) versal interest and practical applications, I. 800. such as parent-child relationships or Agents Welcome All Proceeds to Oorah improving interpersonal dynamics. We

22 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 stress that since the Torah has unique informal, very non­ and worthwhile information to impart threatening, very conve­ about these issues, the employees would nient and - excuse the benefit by attending the lecture." expression - very cool. Once the company understands that And as the following the seminars are about an exchange of story shows, it works. information - that magic word in Menachem and Tulin today's society - they are usually will­ Weinberg are good ing to post the brochure. exarnples of ne\v But Buzaglo concedes that most of Israelis. He manages his the people who attend the seminars are own accounting firm, as \vell as three wasn't in September - vacation month not people who have signed up after one publicly traded companies. She has a - so the busy executive didn't have time glance at a brochure. good job in hotel management. Every to attend. But he and his wife did agree "For many people, the seminar is the September the affluent, well-educated, to host a "chug bayif' at their home. step that comes near the end of the secular couple and their children would The Weinbergs invited their neigh­ teshuva process," Buzaglo continues. "It's pack their bags and head to Ben Guri­ bors and friends, and the evening was a big step. Spending two or three days on airport for a well-earned month-long a major success. l"he next step in their in an atmosphere of intensive learning vacation in the Far East. They prided con1mitment was attendance at a three­ is a real commitment, and it usually only themselves on their open outlook and day seminar, which also went well. And happens after someone has been in con­ their willingness to expose themselves when September rolled around the fol­ tact with us for a long time:' and their children to foreign cultures lowing year, the Weinbergs traveled to What, then, does the brochure and custo1ns. a place they had never been to before­ accomplish? But their openness to foreign cultures Tishrei in Eretz Yisroel, where their chil­ It is often enough to make a person was only in direct proportion to how far dren heard the shofar blown for the very pick up the phone and call Arachim. they had traveled from their own. They first time. And these people usually express only may have been knowledgeable about a vague interest in finding out more Buddhist rites and rituals, but their chil­ KNOWING WHAT TO ANSWER about Judaism. But give the organiza­ dren had never been in a shul on Yorn tion's kiruv workers an opening as Kippur or held a lulav in their hands he Weinbergs' connection with small as the eye of a needle, and they will during Succos. Arachim - and Judaism - all create an opening that may not yet be In other words, the Weinbergs were Tbegan with that chug bay it. And as large as a banquet hall, but is definitely just the sort of people that organizations outreach professionals say that while the as large as a door- the front door of the such as Arachim are on the lookout for. chug bayit demands a great deal of orga­ person who called. It was while they were traveling in nizational effort, it is a very important India that the Weinbergs got their and effective tool. HOME DELIVERY wake-up call. While visiting a shrine they At the initial lectures, the rabbi asked a monk about his traditions. But doesn't speak about mitzvos, but about fter receiving that phone call, when he discovered the family were Jews the wisdom that can be found in the Arachi1n sets into motion a par­ from Israel, he told them to go home. Torah. If the topic under discussion is Aticularly Israeli institution "Your tradition is the source of all," Shabbos, it is not the 39 melachos (for­ known as the "chug bayit,'' where a s1nall the monk said. "I have nothing to teach bidden labor) that are analyzed, but the group of friends and relatives get you." together at someone's home to hear a When they returned home, the lecture or have a discussion about a cur­ Weinbergs decided to learn more about rent events issue. The setting may Judaism. resemble that of an informal Torah But as they settled into their busy shiur, but at this early stage the phrase routine, Judaism was quickly shifted to "Torah shiur" is still taboo. the back burner, soon to go into deep The organization initiates further freeze. contact by asking callers if they would Then one day Mr. Weinberg related learn a quick method by like to host a "chug bayit" in their homes. his bizarre experience with the monk to a from professional Arachim provides the lecturers, and the a client, and it was from him that he first Call Mlchoel at callers produce the audience, which is heard about Arachim. Weinberg called usually comprised of relatives, friends to find out more details about an and business acquaintances. It's all very upcoming seminar in Herziliya, but it

------·~----- The Jewish Observer, January 2001 23 way that Shabbos enhances the quality answers. \iVhen you compare the reli­ intellectual acumen and their ability to of life of the individual, the family unit, gious response to the Holocaust as being think things through logically. and society as a whole. sin1ilar in complexity to the recent Israeli So after every se1ninar, Arachin1 Of course) the lecturer comes pre­ withdrawal from Lebanon, secular arranges a reunion "\vhere participants pared to answer questions relating to the Israelis understand that you're not just can get together and discuss "\Vhat sort topic, but n1ore often than not, at son1e trying to dodge the question." of effect the seminar had on them. And point in the evening a member of the In addition, the lecturer will suggest if groups \.Vant to continue to learn group will raise his hand and ask one of that if the group is really interested in together, Arachim helps them form their the "big" questions, such as why the receiving an answer to a difficult ques­ own periodic n1ini-seminars. Holocaust happened. tion, Arachim \Nill arrange for then1 two Of the 1,200 people who attend the According to Buzaglo, this is the or three evenings of discussions on this acade1nic seminars each year, about 80 n1ake-or-break 1non1ent for the evening topic alone. Or else the organization will percent continue to learn at other - and often, for the future of the group. refer them to books or tapes that discuss Arachim programs. Everyone follows his If the lecturer chokes under the pressure the subject in-depth. In other words, the own path, participates in what he wants and begins to fumble for words or, on burden of answering the question is to participate in, and the organization the other hand, glibly replies with a placed back on the individual and the stays with him on this journey that can superficial answer, the group can be left group as a whole to either tackle the take anywhere fron1 t"\vo to six years. with the impression that the Torah has issue in a serious 1nanner, or admit that Of this group, approximately 40 nothing meaningful to say about the they, and not the Torah, do not have the percent drop off along the way. The time really important issues of life. answer. and energy spent on them, hovvever, is How do Arachim's lecturers handle Sometimes a couple will attend a chug not a total loss, since their outlook on such situations? bayit for six months or a full year before Judaism in general and on the religious "The first thing the lecturer does;' they shows signs of wanting to move for­ co1nn1unity in particular changes rad­ says Buzaglo, "is acknowledge that the ward. The next step may be a request for ically in the process. question is an in1portant one. The sec­ private study or, finally1 attendance at a But in the end, each year between 600 ond thing is to point out that the sub­ sen1inar. and 700 people eventually become ject is complex, and so there are no easy baa/ei teshuva. And since the majority THE SEMINAR - of the sen1inar participants are parents, THINKING THINGS THROUGH the real long-tern1 in1pact is even greater. rachin1's seminars are intense. In addition to the full schedule of IN SEARCH OF A FAST TRACK A presentations by rabbis and pro­ fessionals from the field, staff members ust one question: With all its com­ are available to speak to participants on puterized follow-ups, profiles and a one-to-one basis at any hour of the day statistics, can't Arachim find a way or night. This is the opportunity for an speed things up just a little? 0 R C H E S T A A S I individual or a couple to ask any ques­ According to Buzaglo, the answer is 516 569 4949 tion under the sun, and s1nall groups no. The Ashkenazi Israeli has to go 718 237 2988 huddled together in deep discussion can through the entire process. There are no be seen scattered about the hotel lobby shortcuts for him. Each layer of skepti­ until the small hours of the morning. cism has to be peeled off by the sharp But despite the powerful impact of edge of intellectual challenge and the sen1inars, where people spend three counter-argument. The person has to be full days immersed in 1brah learning, forced to delve deeper and encounter the this is not yet the end of the story. next iron curtain of doubt. It's the only Re1nember, these are Israeli Ashkenaz­ \.Vay. im who were fed atheis1n along with And then what? their mother's milk, and who are 1nen1- "We do what \Ve can," says Buzaglo, bers of the country's intelligentsia to "but we knovv that creating that special boot. While others may be moved to moment when everything finally falls change their entire lives on the basis of into place is really not in our hands. the emotional impact of their exposure When everything is said and done, it's to Torah life, it is not the case with these all still a matter of Hashgacha Prattis. It's people, who pride then1selves on their in His Hands:' 1111

24 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 Rabbi Matis Blum Short, But How Sweet? The Use and Abuse of the "Hoicha Kedusha"

THE HISTORY OF TEFILLA development of the Tejilla is beyond the to fulfill the decree of the Rabbis." "What nation is so great that they scope of this article.9 THE RAMBAM'S ENACTMENT have G-d close to it, as Hashem, our THE CHAZORAS HASHATZ G-d is, whenever we call to Him?", !though the Rambam writes in a he unique relationship between n addition to the silent prayer, the esponsun1 u and in the Yad JlaC~ the Jewish people and their Cre­ Rabbis established that the Shali'ach azaka,., of the importance of the Tator is exemplified by their prayer I Tzibbur (the one who leads the con­ silent Shmoneh Esrei as well as the Cha­ - an outpouring of love and devotion gregation) repeat the tefilla ( Chazoras zoras Hashatz, a situation arose in Egypt and heartfelt entreaties for all of their Hashatz) when there is a (quo­ during the tin1e that the Ra1nba1n served spiritual and physical needs. Tefilla - rum) present during Shacharis, Mussaf as the Rav of the co1n1nunity (as well as prayer - is called "Avoda She'baleiv'' - and Mincha.w Rabban Gamliel was of being the royal doctor) which prompted service of the hearF because it involves the opinion that Chazoras Hashatz is the him to abolish the silent Shmoneh Esrei fol­ the very essence of the person in serv~ primary tefilla, and the silent Shmoneh lowed by the Chazoras Hashatz. What hap­ ing and con11nunicating with his Maker. Esrei was established as an opportuni­ pened was that those who were capable Tefil/a has been an integral part of the ty for the Shaliach Tzibbur to prepare of praying on their own did so, and when Je\vish nation since its inception. Our himself for the repetition of the the Shaliach Tzibbur recited Chazoras Rabbis1 tell us that the Patriarchs estab­ Shmoneh Esrei. The Rabbis disagreed, Hashatz, they would talk and act disre­ lished the various prayers, and those saying that each person must pray pri­ spectfully. (Unfortunately, this scenario is prayers were later n1ade to correspond to vately for his needs; the Chazoras not entirely unheard of today, too.) Upon the sacrificial service in the Holy Temple. Hashatz was merely for the benefit of seeing this, the illiterate people followed The Midrash1 relates that Moshe instituted those who were illiterate or other\vise their example and paid no attention to the that Jews pray three times a day. King incapable of praying themselves.'' Chazoras Hashatz, and consequently did David proclaimed in Tehil/im: 5 "Evening, Regardless of the reason, it was not fulfill their obligation of tefilla. This morning and noontin1e I pray ... " accepted by the Talmud Bavli and I Dcvarim 4, 7 Although the Brachos of Shmoneh Yerushalmi, the Ge'onim and the Ris­ Esrei are alluded to in Chana's prayer honinz) that the congregation first 2 Ta'anis 2a and in Tehillim'', the formal structure of recite the silent Shmoneh Esrei and that 3 Brachos 26b the Shmoneh Esrei (which is referred to the Shaliach Tzibbur then repeat it out 4 Tanchu111a, Ki Savo l as Tefilla) was established by the Anshei loud. Even when the entire congrega­ 5 55, 18 Knessess Hagedola (Men of Great tion is literate, the Shaliach Tzibbur 6 Shrnue! l: 2 see Yalkut Shi1noni, Shn1uel I, Assembly), and when it was forgotten, must repeat the Shmoneh Esrei in order Ra1naz 80, 2; Sefer Ha'eshkol and Avudrahan1 quoting the Yerusahln1i; Tosefta Bra­ re-established by Shimon chos J, 25 Hapekuli in the presence of 7 i'vkgilla l 7b Rabbon Gamliel in Yavneh.7 8 Brachos 28h The nineteenth was added by 9 see, for instance, Yesodos HatefiHa, 8 Shmuel Hakattan. A more by Rabbi Eliezer Levi for a detai!ed detaile...i discussion on the discussion 10 see Ra1nban1, Hi!.Tcfilla 8, 4; Tur, - --~-·------~-~~- Rabbi Blum co1npi!es and edits Orach Chai1n 124 T,1rah Lodaas, a weekly co1n­ l l see Rosh Hashana 33b, 35a pendiun1 of co111111entaries on the 12 Teshuvos HaRan1ban1 (Frie1nan) Parsha, which has been appearing #37; Avudrahan1 (Shacharis Shel regularly for the past nineteen Chol); Beis Yoseit~ l)rach Chai1n 124; years. He a!so lectures in various and Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chain1 Bais Yaakov high schools in the 124, 3 New York area. His article "Is Any­ one in Charge rrere?" was foaturcd 13 ibid. in j(), Scpte1nber l 995. 14 I-Iii. 'ICfilla 9:

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 25 caused a great Chillul Hashem (desecra­ Talmudic practice, writes the Radvaz, is colloquially referred to as a Hoicha tion of G-d's Name) because those who was because the problem that the Kedusha (literally: a loud Kedusha). One observed the goings on concluded that Rambam hoped to solve, was not situation is when it is late and it will be prayer \-vas unimportant to the Jevvs, and solved. "I testify that I witnessed with impossible to daven both the silent that it was a time of frivolity and light­ my own eyes that the Shaliach Tzibbur Shmoneh Esrei as well as the Chazoras headedness. To ameliorate the situation the had not reached the halfway point of Hashatz before the end of Z'man Tefilla Rambam instituted that the Shaliach his Tefilla (out loud) when most of the (the latest time when one may recite Tzibbur begin reciting Shmoneh Esrei out congregation had concluded [their Shacharis or Mincha).2' loud immediately, while those who were silent Tefilla J and began talking among Another situation that would justi­ capable of daveningwould quietly daven themselves, and so, the original prob­ fy a Hoicha Kedusha is where there is along, and the illiterate people would lis­ lem has returned. What has happened doubt concerning whether there will be ten quietly and answer "An1ein."15 is that we are going against the words ten men listening and answering Amein of the Gemora, the poskim and the to the entire Chazoras Hashatz. By RETURNING THE CHAZORAS HASHATZ Ba'alei Kabba/a, and nothing had been making a Hoicha Kedusha, the Shaliach TO THE DAVENING solved with the enactment [of the Ram­ Tzibbur precludes the possibility of bam J since the Rav [the Ram barn J ?··1 reciting brachos in vain.2s uring the times of the Radvaz,1' established that they should pray with Additionally, if the minyan does not who served as the Rav in Egypt the Shaliach Tzibbur word by word .... include at least six men who had not D approximately three hundred And since we have accomplished noth­ davened yet, they should not daven years after the Rambam, the situation ing, we should return to the law of the silently and then have a Chazoras changed and the Radvaz ruled that the Gemora, since we are certain that if he practice established by the Rambam be (the Rambam) were still alive, he 15 Teshuvos HaRan1ban1 (Frietnan) #35-38 abolished and that they should return would return the matter to the law of 16 Rabbi Dovid ben Zimra (1480-1574 CE) to the original practice of having a the Gemora .... This is very clear." 17 Teshuvos HaRadvaz, JV, 94 silent Shmoneh Esrei followed by a As mentioned earlier, all poskim- the 18 Beis Yoseif, Orach Chaim 234 Chazoras Hashatz. The Radvaz writes Rambam, Tzir, and Shulchan Aruch - 19 ibid. in a responsun111 that everyone - rule that all tefillos (with the exception 20 Teshuvas Mabit III, 190 including the Rambam - agree that of Ma'ariv) require a silent Shmoneh 21 The Beis Yoseif writes that in Tzefas, they according to the Talmud Bavli and Esrei followed by Chazoras Hashatz decreed Nidui (a forn1 of exco1nn1unication) on Yerushalmi, the Ge'onim and all the where a 1ninyan is present. anyone who did this. The Mabit says that it is a poskim, it is necessary to have two At the time of the Beis Yoseif, it was inistaken custom. The Mabit writes that he arranged a con1pro1nise of sorts in his con1mu­ Shmoneh Esrei's- one silent, and one, standard practice in a nu1nber of nity whereby the first Minyan for Mincha in shul out loud. (By that time, most of the Sefardic communities that the Shaliach which had a large number of people attending communities in Egypt had already Tzibbur begin reciting the first three bra­ \\'ould have a silent Shmoneh Esrei and a full Cha­ abandoned the Rambam's enactment.) chos of Shmoneh Esrei our loud, then zoras Hashatz. However, the later n1inyan[in1] - where it v.'as doubtful if ten people were answer­ One reason for re-establishing the said the middle brachos silently with the ing Amein to all the brachos - would have the congregation, and then resumed saying Shaliach Tzibbur begin the Shmoneh Esrei out the last three brachos out loud. is How­ loud. ever, n1any poskiln including the Reis 22 Orach Chaim 124, 3 Digest of Meforshim Yosei/19 and the Mabit20 were strongly 23 It should be noted that there are two n1eth­ ~v1j77 in:i ~v1j77 opposed to this practice.21 The Rema in ods of doing this. Some begin reciting the Darkei Moshe22 also writes that the cus­ Sh111oneh Esrei with the Shaliach Tzibbur and say '?"::it ivv'?N '?N1r.:iw l"";iT.1r.:i the first two brachos with hin1 word by word, tom of the Ashkenazim was to have a Available at then recite the appropriate portions ofKedusha silent Shmoneh Esrei followed by Cha­ for the congregation, and finally conclude the LEKUTEI zoras Hashatz for Mincha. third bracha with hi1n. After this they conclude c/o Yitzchok Rosenberg the Shmoneh Esrei silently (Raina, Orach Chain1 JO West 47th Street, Roon1 503 124, 2). Others listen quietly while the Shaliach Ne11' York, NY 10036 WHEN A HOICHA KEDUSHA IS Tzibbur recites the first two Brachos, then (212) 719-1717 PERMITTED answer Kedusha and An1ein to the third bracha, 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, and only after this, they begin reciting the entire Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. here are, however, certain exten­ Shn1oneh Esrei silently. (Mishna Berura 124, 8 cites a ntunber of Acharoni1n who maintain that Proceeds of sales distributed a1nong uating circun1stances under Yeshivos and used for reprinting of this is the preferable n1ethod unless there are tin1e volu1nes out-of-print Twhich it is permissible for the constraints.) Shaliach Tzibbur to begin Shmoneh 24 see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaiin 124, 2 PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME Esrei out loud immediately without 25 Tcshuvos Yechava Da'as III, 16, quoting inany waiting for a silent Shmoneh Esrei.23 This poski1n

26 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 Hashatz. Rather, they should recite a people to add the appropriate sections Chazal say12 that if one sees that his Hoicha Kedusha.26 to the tejilla. Thus, if one forgot to prayer was not answered that he A fourth instance: in Telshe, as well recite Ya'aleh V'yavo, it can serve as a should daven again, it means that he as Slabodka and its satellite yeshivas in reminder to him to repeat Shmoneh should listen to Chazoras Hashatz.35 Europe, and some n1ajor yeshivas in Esrei. The Ohr ChadashJ" writes very strong­ America, Hoicha Kedusha was utilized Additionally, the silent Shmoneh ly against those places that are robbing in Mincha to maximize time for Torah Esrei followed by Chazoras Hashatz the public [of an important mitzva]. study. Nowadays, some yeshivas have give latecomers who cannot daven The Ariza/ is quoted as having stat­ dropped this practice because Mincha Tefilla B'Tzibburwith the congregation ed that, according to Kabba/a, the Cha­ is usually recited immediately before or an opportunity to daven with the Shali­ zoras Hashatz is more lofty than the after a large break for bein hasedarim ach Tzibbur. This is better than dav­ silent Shmoneh Esrei, and both of them (the lunch break between the morning ening privately. (Some consider this are obligatory.·" and afternoon study sessions). Tefilla B'Tzibbur while others consid­ er it Te/ilia im Hatzibbur.) 31 CONCLUSION ABUSE OF THE HOICHA KEDUSHA It is said that the Vilna Gaon 7"'1t emphasized the importance of the e have discussed briefly the lthough there are a number of silent Shmoneh Esrei and the Chazoras history and significance of situations in which a Hoicha Hashatz. He explained that when W Chazoras Hashatz as well as Kedusha is acceptable or even the Hoicha Kedusha. We have seen that, A 26 see Magen Avraham 69, 4 preferable, there are other situations in while there are certain extenuating cir­ 27 If the time saved is used for a Daf Yon1i Shiur which it is abused. There are times in and the like, one should consult "''ith a compe­ cumstances under which a Hoicha which people rely on a Hoicha Kedusha tent Halachic authority concerning whether a Kedusha is acceptable, it should not be for merely convenient purposes: to Hoicha Kedusha would be appropriate in that sit­ used simply as a timesaving measure. In allow more time for their lunch break uation. the merit of following the enactments at work," on Chol Hamo'eid trips at 28 124, 6 of Chazal, as well as respectfully listen­ amusement parks, and at weddings. 29 Magen Avraha1n, Ma'atnar Mordechai, Magen ing and responding to Chazoras Giborim, and other Acharonim These are situations in which the Hashatz, may we merit that all of our extra five minutes are better spent lis­ 30 Brachos 53b, Shabbos l l 9b prayers be accepted. • tening to Chazoras Hashatz than on 31 see Eishel Avraham (Butkatch) 52; Teshuvos Chasan1 Sofer Hechadash (3); Pri Megadim, other matters. Eishel Avraham 52, I; I 09, 4; Iggros \tloshe O.C. VISITING NY? The Mishna Berura28 cites many III, 90. Shaln1as Chaim 91; Ishei Yisroel 12, 9 MIDWOOD· Acharonim'' who permit a Hoicha 32 Brachos 32a GUEST SUITES Kedusha only "b'sha'as hadechak" - 33 Ma'aseh Rav Hasha!eim 43, 2 under very difficult circumstances. Ave. J, Brooklyn 34 cited in Ma'aseh Rav Hashalcim ibid 718-253-9535 None of the aforementioned scenarios 35 see Kaf Hachaim 124, 2 could honestly be classified as a sha'as hadechak. By reciting a Hoicha Kedusha instead of a regular Chazoras Hashatz, Jonah's Fashion Inc. in addition to deviating from the original enactment of Chazal, one is losing the opportunity to answer six­ teen "Ameins." The significance and great reward for even one Amein is • We make skirts and jumpers, solids emphasized by Chazal in a number of and plaids, from size 5 thru places.JO One who davens Mincha at junior and pre·teens work every day where a Hoicha Kedusha is recited - as praiseworthy as • Bais Yaacov blouses made from it is for him to daven with a Minyan - our own custom made loses more than 3,000 opportunities (extra heavy) material per year to answer Amein. Another benefit of having a silent Shmoneh Esrei followed by a Chazoras Hashatz is that the Chazoras Hashatz serves as an additional reminder to

The Jewish Observer, January 200 I 27 Pnuel Peri

t was a particularly trying Monday Shmoneh Esrei began. line. To his credit, the king bore his n1orning in shul. "1~he quintessential ba'ale bos)" I shame and changed the habit of a life­ I thonght, regarding him with mild time, yet I still resented his self-impor­ Pesukei d'zin1ra rushed past iny lips, disgust. tant air, which he sensed and repaid and I thought, "Oh no! There's a long Until quite recently he wore his tefill­ with icy indifference. Only once did he Tachanun and a kriah today! So much in she! msh far too low upon his forehead. breach his aloofness) when one for making my bus!" When he would survey the congregation evening, as the shul emptied and I stood Barachu sum1noned us. alone in prayer, he approached and Krias Shema and its blessings whispered "Tircha d'tzibura!" girded us. because a light had been left burn­ We stood before the King of ing just for me. Kings, and train-like, Shmoneh Esrei I listened to the ba'al tefilla repeat­ sped and abruptly halted. I bowed, ing Shmoneh Esrei and scowled. His stepped back and stood, gazing at the Sof was a Tav, his ko1netz a patach, praying congregation. and I did not need to guess which "VVhat a supreme fool that one is," kind of Kippa he wore beneath his I thought, staring at a n1an in a green hooded tallis. hat and white socks. He was Ameri­ ((These Ileligious Zionists are can, newly religious and childish, an shameless," I thought, as though assessn1ent that I ventured within sec­ hearing the modern Ashkenazic pro­ onds of first seeing him and had not nunciation for the first tin1e. "1"his is since had occasion to a111end. For a not davening. 1~his is street slang! period we even glared at one anoth­ Must the evolved language of the street er in the n1ikva1 where he would be regurgitated in the beis n1idrash?" inscrutably close every window and Of course) there lies the problen1, shut down the ventilating fans, trans­ I mused. They think that in the new forn1ing the place into an unbearable Medinat Israel the street, army, uni­ sauna. with deadly seriousness) as now, or dis­ versity, job and beis n1idrash are one, for An impeccably dressed man with a tribute aliyos to the Torah with the air everything is Torah. And if everything is short, graying beard stood in the center of a king apportioning fiefdoms, one had new and holy, why shouldn't a vestigial of the roon1, frowning as he scrutinized to suppress a smile at the sight of the ghetto-kometz be reborn a patach, bold, each person to discern who had finished large, black leather box, a crown of brawn, liberated? praying. Finally, he signaled the waiting a1nharatzes, resting one centin1eter above "Nebuch," I spat and glared at his ba'al tefilla, and the repetition of his eyebrows. hooded, bobbing head. Risking banishn1ent from the realn1 Pnuel Peri of Jerusale111 is a frequent contribu­ and perpetual obscurity during Torah achanun was recited. "VVe have tor to these pages, n1ost recently \Vith his article readings, some brave soul had advised becon1e guilty; \Ve have betrayed; on Birth Right Israel in Sept. '00. him to raise the tefillin above his hair- T we have robbed; we have slan­ dered; we have perverted; we have vili­ ""fUE'JtE''S %.Af fied ... " Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap .... Yet is the newest eplso even here the heart slept. of Zoidy Himmelstetn Two enormous lamps flanked the his grandson Eli, bima, the large, elevated table upon which in a fantastic tole of the Torah is read. Each bore thirteen incan­ "Hoshgocho Protis". descent bulbs, perched like frozen white SUMllE'I.. """""l;il'A 'S flames atop thirteen metal arms that joined latest classic is filled with excite at the center in a heavy pillar of thirteen drama, humor ,music, songs, · ·· metal cylinders. Moored in wood atop the and edge of your seat odventurelll enclosure surrounding the bima, they A"'llt&le At y.., i..al Solwl• Store Ftt Fot!hH llllt.C.11 flJ stood eight feet above the stone floor below.

28 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 Before a sefer Torah was removed apartment, and now, every aspect of this priests and a holy people?" from the black marble ark at the front building of stone and marble bore his May we merit the insight to come of the shul, a man reached beneath the meticulous mark. That his shul should be together without such terrible blows.II large wooden base of one lamp and an instrument of someone's suffering lifted the switch. Click. The room's seemed unbearable to him. light intensified. He dutifully skirted He gave the man the third aliya. The the bima and bent toward the base of man recited Gome/, the blessing of the second lamp. Click. Slowly, imper­ thanks for surviving life-threatening ceptibly, the lit wreath of white glass, danger, for had he been sitting, the lamp steel, and wood fell forward, away from would have struck the back of his head, the bitna, down, do1vn, and crashed perhaps killing him. upon the upper back of an older man When the man returned to his seat, I 1537 50th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 standing in the second row. Bulbs shat· approached and asked, "Are you all tered on impact. The man slowly bent right?" (718) 854-2911 beneath the mass. His loud, long "My rebbes prepared me for this!" he groan filled the frozen room. declared, a reference to the clisciplinary "Oy vey!" someone shouted. tactics of his rebbes in yeshiva some sixty "Ribbono shel olam!" another cried. years ago in New York. We laughed. He Several people leaped from their had received quite a patch indeed. seats, a flurry of falling talleisim, and I found the release of laughter oddly together removed the lamp from the soothing, as though having been patched 1nan's back, resting it gently upon the rovv myself. The whole room, in fact, seemed of \vooden seats. jarred or somehow altered. The toppled Incredibly, tl1e man slowly straightened lamp, its bare and jagged sockets, its twist­ and looked around, dazed. His hair and ed wires drawn taut, was surreal in our tall is were filled with frosty white shards. midst as the service resumed. People's Hands carefully plucked the glass. movements were slo\ver, more flowing, The fool in the green hat hurriedly lift­ their pauses more graceful, their gazes ed the man's tallis and the back of his shirt more clement. The fool was a gentle man and tenderly examined the spreading of action behind his awkward social bruise. He hardly seemed foolish. His mask; the king vvas a coin passionate man alacrity and courage shan1ed me as I of the people beneath his stern commu­ stood, horrified, in my place. After a nal crown; and the ba'a/ tefilla was a nice minute, he seemed satisfied. No cuts. Jewish boy amongst elders and peers who Nothing broken. No extreme traun1a. for better or for worse embraced the new. An army of technicians descended upon the prostrate lamp, and possible he latter third of the morning causes were argued. In the end it was prayers is characteristically anti­ agreed that portions of the aged wood­ Tclimactic. It is a winding down. But en base had rotted, rendering its secur­ oh how we spoke to G-d that morning ing screws useless. as Shacharis waned and our hearts 1vere softened by near tragedy! he service resumed. A sefer 10rah How we sang and savored each psalm! was brought to the bima and read. How we listened to our own \vords and TStanding to the side, his hand rest­ closed our eyes, each verse a love song! ing upon the ornate wooden handle of Ho\v we lingered at the end, reluctant to the opened parchment scroll, the king leave, and finally, slowly left! repeatedly glanced down upon the fall­ I walked home, gazing at people and en lamp, its exposed wires still feeding the passing traffic, and suddenly Evoluatlan & Therapy are available in the p.rlvacyafyourhomert: ,{Cfiard!/ into the electrical outlet beneath its splin­ paused. "Dear G-d," l thought, my eyes or ot ourcenter :r ref.JO; V tered perch. He was deeply hurt by the slightly tearing, "if it takes such a patch mishap and had apologized to the man for twenty Jews to pray together as Jews, 'liill~ profusely. He had been part of the lay what terrible blows could befall us all leadership of the shul since its inception before we are again kno\vn, both to our­ forty years ago in a sn1all neighborhood i selves and the world, as a kingdom of

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 29 SECOND LOOKS Rabbi Pinchas Jung eSilence folution -One Man's Initiative

ow a n1odest, insult the culprits. family. There could be no more appro­ unassuming 111an, He would just priate way of perpetuating Max Safrin's H sitting in his base­ smile at them - memory than by dedicating to him the ment, managed to 1nove or present them booklet he was planning to put togeth­ Heaven and earth all on his with one of his tan1ous er himself had he been granted the extra own! bookmarks complete with a slo­ tin1e. Max Safrin 7"t of Elizabeth, gan - thus his n1essage vvas well Wisely, during the painful yet pro­ , taught all who knew him received. ductive evening of his life, Max turned and countless others a powerful lesson. It is worthwhile recording that Max his efforts toward the younger genera­ He proved to them that one man, with Safrin did not limit his interest to his tion. He established the Silence During drive and determination, motivation own shul alone. He single-handedly suc­ Davening Club (SDDC) with all the gim­ and enthusias1n can in1pact a world. ceeded in setting up an organization micks required to attract the kids. These My father 7"t would say that the best called "Awareness" which threatens to included membership cards, special cer - con1mittee is one of three people with n1ake socializing in shul out of fashion. tificates, illustrated posters, bookmarks two absent. Max never even bothered He built up a most impressive inven­ with relevant slogans, which he collect­ to co-opt the two sleeping partners. His tory of pamphlets, posters, bookmarks, ed by way of contests for the youth. resolve to act when he saw an intoler­ reprints, certificates, and any other lit­ able situation was enough to propel him erature relevant to the promotion of his robably the most effective tool in to success. campaign. These he sent to shuls and rv1ax's ''Awareness" campaign is the Max refused to con1e to tern1s with schools as well as individuals all over the Pannual" Shabbos Tacharishun" pro­ the lax behavior and tendency to social­ USA and beyond. He reprinted an in­ gram. Many hundreds of shuls, with the ize that is all too common, sadly, in so depth study entitled, "Talking During support of their Rabbanim and Gabbo' im, many shuls. Doubtless, many others Tefilah - Understanding the Phenom­ participate in this event. The idea is ever have been upset by this widespread mal­ enon" ten tin1es over, a total of more so simple - at least one Shabbos per year ady. The difference was that Max decid­ than 10,000 copies. - Parshas Beshalach - participating shuls ed to do something concrete about it. A second booklet, entitled, "Let's ensure that things are done right. There His method was not to add to the com­ Shmooze About Davening" (reprinted is an all-out effort to ensure that silence motion by shouting at offenders or from The Jewish Observer- September replaces chatter and davening replaces thumping his fist on the bima. His '94 issue), a collection of several short­ socializing. The Rav explains the purpose approach was not to hurt, abuse, or er features was subsequently published of this exercise several weeks before, and and distributed in sin1ilar quantities. the Gabbo' im publicize it with posters and Rabbi Pinchos Jung, serves as Mashgiach of Yeshi­ va Kol Yaakov, as well as Dean of Beth Rochel A third collection, "Proper Decorum handouts. Thousands of shul-goers are School for Girls, both in Monsey, NY. His "Let the in Shu/;' was prepared and released since thus involved, and the results reported Reader Bevvare" appeared in JO Nov '00. his passing by members of his close tended to be almost unreal. And once a

30 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 person has tasted the flavor of genuine well as the house of tefilla. tory attacks. Our best weapon is our tefil/a, there is every chance that he will Our response to the current crisis in mouth, the kol of Yaakov. It only be inspired to continue. the Middle East is surely similar. By now requires a little awareness and a little Countless thousands of adults and all can see the dismal failure of political more determination. Max Safrin 7~r has youngsters have thus had their lives negotiations and peace talks, not to men­ shown us the way. We must keep up the touched and their tefilla experience tion military interventions and retalia- good work. • enhanced as a result of the extraordinary efforts of a inan who n1ust have knovvn You can! Just call that tin1e was running out. One cannot begin to in1agine the ''1 wish I could The Yit:t:i Leibel extent of zechus of this determined indi­ Helpline. vidual. Whilst struggling with an acute­ HOURS: ly painful terminal illness, Max was not speak to a Monday-Friday ...... Sam -12pm only preoccupied with enhancing avo­ Ntonday-Thursday ...... 8pn1 -1 l pin das hatefil/a, he was engaged in chessed Sunday ...... 9am -12pm, 9pn1-l lpn1 Extra hours Sat. night. .... 7pm - 9pm projects for the sick and elderly, too. frum ·therapist ~lJ;.718-HELP-NOW he world is poorer having lost \, (718) 435-7669 Max Safrin. But he left us all a on theph9ne C:hicago ...... (800) HELP-023 Tloud and clear message together Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 with a major project to continue. The C:leveland ...... (888) 209-8079 group of family members and friends without giving· Baltimore ...... (410) 578-1111 Detroit...... (877) 435-7611 who assembled to try to fill the void are working hard to achieve together what For addiction problems call our addiction Max managed so efficiently all on his .my ~ame.'' therapist, Wednesdays l 1:30pm to 1:30am own. There could be no more appropriate time than the present to focus on this all­ r.------~ in1portant issue. Everyone is a\vare of I I those staggering lists of cholim (sick peo­ 'ARE'YOl..J. MCJVING?' ple) appearing in the press, of those I I countless names in the Mi-Sheberach I IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED I after leining. Surely tefilla is the defini­ I INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? I tive answer to this dile1nma. But we must We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. ensure that our tefil/os are accepted. To I Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and I achieve this we have to respect tefilla as I computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. I I I I I I Affix old label here I I I I Name ______I I I I New Address ______I MBS· I City, I • MAXIMIZE Y()f/1/ CHllD's PoTENT!Al State, ______Zip • PRIVATE SESSIONS AVAllABlE ON All I I GRADE lEVflS IN HEBREW AND fN<;l/SH Date Effective______• lEARNIN(; IN A FUN ATMOSPHEllE I I • ClASSES GIVEN AFTER SCllOOl I Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer Change of Address I • SEPARATE CtAssEs F011 GIRl.s & Bors 84 William Street, New York, NY 10038 For More Information I Please allow 4-6 weeks for all changes to be reflected on your mailing fabeL We will not be I Call Mrs. Schonfeld I responsible for back issues missed unless you notify us 6 weeks prior to your move. I (718) 376-5545 L------~ The Jewish Observer, January 200 I 31 Don Mishell

y wife and I were in Israel for Ashkenaz. The next challenge has to do observation, that whereas it is an Pesach. Erev Shevi'i she/ Pesach, with concentration. With niinyani1n inspiring and uplifting sight to see M we decided to daven Mincha at going on to your left, right, in front of fathers and sons praying together, it the Kosel. We weren't the only ones who you and behind you, each in a differ- son1etimes happens that there are had this idea. When we got into the fathers who inappropriately nu1nber t\vo bus in bring their young sons to shul. Matersdorf, it was These are little boys of three or already crowded, and it four years of age who have no got more crov.1ded as desire to be brought along. They we proceeded. Not would rather be playing, or with only was the bus their mothers. These little boys crowded, but the have a way of co1nmunicating streets \Vere also their displeasure to their packed with throngs fathers... they wait until of people converging A Shmoneh Esrei, and then they on the in have a fit. buses, taxis, cars and on foot. To add This was the situation in a bit of Middle Eastern spice to the which I now found myself: voyage, our bus was subject to soine After being a sardine in the stone-throwing as we passed number two bus, after being through . stoned, having found the per­ Finally we arrived, left the fect minyan, and finally, strug­ crowded bus, and joined the gling to concentrate, I a1n now crowd afoot. When davening at the treated to a small boy, some­ Kosel, one has a variety of chal­ where off to my left quadrant, lenges. The first two are: finding throwing a fit." Abba, Abba," he a minyan that is just starting and is crying. "Concentrate, con­ finding a 1ninyan that will daven centrate," I am saying to 1nyself. your nusach. My luck was quite "Abba, Abba." "Concentrate, good as I walked right up to a concentrate." Suddenly it occurs niinyan that was just starting, and it ent stage of fulfillment, one needs to to me: Why am I here? What am I quickly revealed itself to be nusach sumn1on all of one)s resources to focus doing? Why did I come to Israel? Why Mr. Mishell recently n1ovc to Jerusalcn1 fron1 Cal­ on one's prayers. did I come to Jerusalem? What am I ifornia. This article originally appeared in The Ohr At this point, I must seemingly doing at the Kosel? Am I not, myself, say­ Torah Newsletter. digress and state that it has been my ing "Abba, Abba"? To whom am I try­ ing to talk? Well, of course, to Hashem, . . .. . whom I often address as Hashem, or L.S. Ribbono Shel Olam, or Hakadosh TYPE OF CAR OR SIMILAR PRICES Baruch Hu; but when I really want to con11nunicate in tefilla, what is n1y rela­ A FIAT PUNTO 3 DR. H2 B FIAT PUNTO 5 DR. •26 tionship ... or what would I really want c, PEUGEOT306 •a2 it to be? Abba. Abba, Abba. If only I C• MITSUBISHI CA_Rl_Sl\,1~ 224 NT MINIBUS 7 SEATS 4.S.S could say ''Abba, Abba" with the inten­ MT MINIBUS 10 SEATS .s•a sity and passion of this child! AUTOMATIC CARS Suddenly, the tension melts away. D 0P~l,--~9_ft$_A •&9 E DAEWOO LANOS 2'1.'.?" "Give n1e some inore 'Abba, Abba,"' 1a1n F _sU_Zi,.iKi~_f3_~i;~~q-~:~1> ____ 24.S thinking. "Pour it on." It is inspiring nle G __TOYOTA C_C>,f~O_L_LA; 1.6 273 x CHEVROLET CAVALIER ?~~ and driving me on. XL PEUGEOT 406 2.~ 357 And later, in retrospect, I realize that SX CHEVROLET MALIBU 3_'?? vx VOLVO S_~?~- _ ---~30 here is another example of the Ribbono EX ME_R9_121?ES E240 770 Toll free: t-800-938-5000 Shel Olam being in charge and always giv­ KX MAZDA MPV 693 KT GMCSAVANA 763 Tel in NYC: 212-629-6090 ing us the best. Every little boy who ever annoyed n1e in shul was preparing me for fRll' one d'!Y car rental '"· ··. www.eldan.co.il for eath nignt spent at . ii.DAN ·, this little boy, and this little boy was here ELDAN HOTEL JERUSAUM • /J.?.~ just for me. I only had to come to under­ 'VAiid L(lw Suson Only • Grollp B «lr I Exe:. Ins. stand it. II

-----~·-~·------32 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 Leah Oriel

Dear Judy, her friend had returned to school, and Through the years, she noted each of I haven't "\Vritten in a \vhile, so she replied almost nonchalantly, "Oh yes, my pregnancies with her toothless smile thought it about time \Ve resume con­ she just leaves a little early each day in and hand gestures, then asked me, tact) especially since this has been a par­ order to make her transportation" - a obviously full of joyful anticipation, ticularly "interesting" past month to be special bus for Beit-El residents, which "Ibn?" when I replied, "Baf' (daughter), living in Bretz Yisroel. shuttles back and forth with a tank each time, she (not I) sighed, then lift­ At the outset, I reassure you that here escort! ed her arms heavenward and said some­ in Sanhedria, Jerusalem, we haven't been Seventh-grader Batya said Gila thing clearly meant to "console" me - directly affected by the recent Arab friend and family had spent part of Chol about it being from "Allah." unrest. My husband has had a longer­ Hamoed touring the tanks touring the than-usual- Tishrei kollel break since tanks stationed near her hon1e. uring these 23 years, about the disturbances have resulted in inter­ Although, as I say, my family hasn't twice a yea when my parents vis­ city road closures, which have prevent­ been directly affected by the current Dited from the States, the Arab ed him from getting to Maaley Adumim Arab "intifada" in any major way, it woman spotted the proud grandmoth­ to teach. resulted in the older children in our er holding my baby, and conveyed But, vve don't have major trans­ building having to wash the four flights what was unmistakably the Arabic portation difficulties as do residents of of stairs because the Arab \.Votnan who's equivalent of "May you have much Betar. A Jerusalem-Betar bus trip now been doing it for at least the least 23 nachas!" takes about two hours each way, since years that I've lives here hasn't come. I V\Thenever it was my turn to pay after the 40-minute short cut, opened three can't ren1ember what happened during her approxin1ately 40-n1inute job, she years ago, has generally been closed the the Gulf War - she probably didn't come again banged on my door with her past few weeks. then either, but aln1ost every other non­ "Giveret, Giverct!" I counted out the Baruch Hashem, my family and I sat Yom Tov Wednesday, she's been pre­ coins of what I thought was the payment in our succa the whole holiday without dictably conscientious. (Judging by the she wanted into her hand because I fearing shots from Arabs, as in . My state of her pants, dress and head scarf, could never con1prehend the amount eleventh-grader told me that her friend I think she also needs the 30 shekels she she said (and she raised it every few in Gilo and their neighbors even had gets paid each week.) even during the years). Invariably, if some of the "tele­ reason to fear dismantling their succas big Jerusalem snowfall of 1991, she tain" (my husband shays this is 30) I her and did as much as possible while crawl­ came, although with a slight limp say­ was in individual shekel coins ((it used ing on the ground in order to avoid Arab ing she'd slipped on the ice. to be liras), she'd return one coin to my gunfire. Of course, the experience of "doing hand and say a few words which even a On schools days, my daughters have sponga" didn't harm my girls, but I non-linguist like me understood to been walking the 20-minutes from found myself wondering whether the mean "a present for your little girl." I home through every day as Arab hadn't come because prevented by sensed I'd offend her if I didn't accept usual. Sixth-grader Elisheva reported her Arab family of neighbors, or because her heartfelt gift, and put the coin into that her teacher requested that anyone she feared Jews might taunt her of harm our tzedaka box with a mixture of emo­ with a fax machine relay class news to her. I was disturbed by either proposi­ tions. a student who couldn't attend school tion, but most upset to note y ambiva­ The \Veek before the current wave of because in her neighborhood of Beit-El lence about the latter possibility. Arab disturbances, I thought it was my everyone was in shelters, not to mention I felt a bond with this woman. I don't turn to pay the cleaning lady, but I had being cut off from the immediate sur­ even know her na1ne, since she hardly to leave home before she arrived. I left roundings due to road closures. This speaks Hebrew and I speak no Arabic, a bucket of water outside my door with girl's family had spent Rosh Hashana in but for over two decades she has banged a plastic bag containing 30 shekels tied Jerusalen1, then returned to a nearly on the eight apartn1ent doors of our to the handle, hoping it wouldn't be foodless home. entrance and shouted, "Giveret, Giveret~ stolen by other workers in the neigh­ This week, I asked Elisheva whether Mayim!" as she came to each landing borhood, and being a little sad to Mrs. Oriel lives in Sanhedria, Jerusale1n. This is and wanted her pail refilled to contin­ deprive the wo1nan of her chance to give her first appearance in these pages. ue her washing. me her little "present." When I returned

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 33 home that afternoon, my neighbor Yorn Kippur. (The religious radio sta­ I don't know. gave me the plastic bag with the money, tion "Radio Esser" also reported a third There is still no "gush katif" on the saying that the Arab woman had left in Druse soldier whon1 Rav Bentzion market, the specially-grown bug-free let­ for me because it was not yet my turn. Mutzafi N"1"'>11> blessed together with his tuce, etc. it is still deemed too danger­ The Wednesday before Shabbos comrades.) ous for the mashgichim to get hot Berisheis, the Arab woman returned to A certain 22-year-oid Betar woman houses near Arab settlements. "do sponga" as usual. Our language bar­ moved out of Betar only a month ear­ What's the bottom line? I told you, rier precluded me from discussing her lier. She happens to be my oldest I don't knovv. I summarize and conclude absence with her. I felt the confusion of daughter, mother of my first grandson, this letter with words I overheard yes­ en1otions I've so often felt in this coun­ and I find the whole episode kind of terday in the street from a middle-aged try. Baruch Hashem, maybe everything eerie. Jewish mother chatting with her friend is back to norinal again. But is it? A few weeks ago, the price of cucum­ (both clad in pants with hair uncov­ bers tripled because the unrest made ered): Moshiach has to come. It has to y family's still among Jews Arab-grown produce unavailable, so be really soon!" worldwide praying for the Shmitta observance mandated flying I told you this is an "interesting" M release of"Avraham be Edna" vegetables in from Europe now cucun1- country. and "Adi ben Tzipporah," the Israeli sol­ bers in stores are back to near-normal All the best, your former "Sem" diers whom Hezbollah kidnapped before cost. Is everything back to normal? roomn1ate • We put the "organize" into Organizations. You work tirelessly for Kial Yisroel. You're involved requirements - completely integrated with the in raising thousands of dollars each year. Do you fundraising features! With no additional know which of your efforts get the best response? programming or setup, V-MANAGER gives you Which fundraisers are most successful? Which dozens of point-and-click reports, as well as a donors need1nore attention? con1plete custo1n report v.rriter -- allowing you to get the information you need right now! Organizations fron1 coast to coast are discover­ ing V-MANAGER, the most sophisticated Ready to put the "organize" into your organiza­ fundraising software system available. tion? The people who depend on you deserve the Organize your contribution, pledge, and bestyoucanoffer: V-MANAGER. billing data. Arrange banquets, journals, event attendance, mail response tracking) Call us. 773-743-7240 [email protected] and more. The educational version prints report cards and transcripts, tracks tuitions and scholarships, and manages pledge-to-raise

34 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 Rabbi Moshe Eisemann

The Last Frontier

Inner Peace: Achieving Self-Esteem and the lash, the spit and the degrada­ Prayer [Targum/FeldheimJ. It is really an through Prayer by Yisroel Roll, Tar­ tion, the poverty and the killings - with account of a personal odyssey through gum/Feldheim 1999, $17.95 flying colors. Through it all, perhaps the Siddur, in which each well-worn path because of it all, we had remained loyal becomes a road to discovery of unchart­ recall a tradition, even a kind of pre­ to the Ribbono Shel Olam and to our­ ed terrain, the inner man where real diction, attributed to Rabbi Chaim selves. Not all of us, of course, but the things are really happening, the insights I Volozhiner, that America would be She'ar Yashuv, the remainder of that he offers brought me face to face with <(die letzte stanzi'e:' the last stop on our Yeshayahu's vision, had made it through, another aspect of the pasuk: :i1ip '~ long, long trek towards Moshiach, ;urn the time had come for the more difficult 1l'1W)f;>l:J:l7.Jll"J:l, "'1:JUT.l l";N, Things are N1:l'W 01' 7.:>:i 17, let us long for his com­ challenge. Could we maintain our really very, close to you; it is your mouth ing, every single day. I think that we all feel integrity in the land of freedom and plen­ and your heart that must be active in mak­ it in the air, particularly in these last, dif­ ty? Could embracing love smother more ing them happen. ficult few weeks. The strands seem to be dangerously than the vise-grip of hatred? Here are my thoughts on Galus coming together, our ears seem to pick up All of us, I think, are wondering. I doubt America. the seismic rumblings that herald the shift­ that any of us have a really convincing ing forces harboring a new and terrible answer, convincing, that is, in the depth he fulfillment of the mitzvos has earthquake in their awful power, N'l omm of our hearts, to ourselves. How well are ceased to be a problem. All of us, ono1 w~ onm1 7YN 7N CJ'11i1 "l V"l" ".:J '>1i1 we doing? Tor most of us, have the wherewithal ~ 'il N:n i1T!l1" l"1J i1'1V ~"::J VV1i1 "J!J~ I was thinking about this when I saw to pay for the most beautiful Arba Minim "]r.ll' O'Wlj7 7::>, And you will flee to the val­ Yisroel Roll's wonderful book, Inner sets and matzos that meet the most strin­ ley of the mountains, for the valley of Peace: Achieving Self-Esteem through gent standards. We can give tzeddaka !av- mountains will reach Atzal, and you will flee as you fled from the earthquake that was in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah. And Hashem, my G-d will come; all ofHis holy ones will be with you. We are not "ir"ntt Service e"fflninntt't quite sure what it all means. But I think • HEALTHY JOB MARKET that, for most of us, this pasuk awakened • AFFORDABLE HOUSING greater anticipation, when we heard it this • NURTURING COMMUNITY last Succos, than it ever had before. e LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Why America? • SHOMER SHABBOS At a recent Agudah Convention, the MEDICAL RESIDENCIES

Philadelphia Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Elya • COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Svei ><""""'1, made a revolutionary sug­ gestion. Kial Yisroel had passed the test of the vicious Gal us centuries - the rack Rabbi f\.1oshe Eisemann, a Rebbe in Yeshiva Ner Israel of Baltimore, is author of the translation and con11nentary of the ArtScroll/Mesorah Yechezkel, l)ivrei Hayamim, and lyov, as well as other books under private label, including The Machzor Companion and Lighting up the Night He is a frequent contributor to these pages.

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 35 ishly and educate our children as we accomplishments. New yeshivas and Batei "Empowerment" [ Pesukei D'Zimra], "The would wish them to be educated. [I know, Yaakov open up regularly and, within a 'I' of the Matter" [the third Parasha of Krins I know. On this issue not everyone v.rill short time, burst at the seams. In n1any Shem a, 'Ni th its stress on self-control], and agree. I know the problem and do not of our gilded ghettos we practically have many, many more just like these. Every· know a solution. J We visit the sick, sup· to hire a detective to find anything that thing is fresh, everything is personal, and port our Mosdos HaTorah and often have is not glatt kosher or chalav Yisroe/, and none of it can, in my opinion, be copied. the time to learn ourselves and learn with because of the determined efforts of so1ne There is always the first dance and then our children. We send them to prestigious very special people, many of us can and there is the second one.' The first, the nat· yeshivas and shep nachas from their do honor the halachos of chaddash, ural bursting forth of bubbling exuber· something that was not always possible. ance that refuses to be contained; the sec­ Unde Moishy, And the list goes on and on. ond, a pallid reproduction, drained of the Mordechai Ben David, We serve G-d, and serve Him well, with force of originality. The premise of Inner our hands. What they do, can - to a greater Peace seems to be that the author can and other top-of-the-line or lesser degree - be bought. But not never tell us what to think and feel. To Jewish entertainers everything is up for sale. How much of this paraphrase a well-known pasuk, are available penetrates to our hearts? How much of .,rn::nmr.i '!'lrn:nvnr.i 16, His thoughts cannot to visit "us" is really involved? These are questions and ought not to be mine. All he can do, that should keep us awake at night. and does very well, is to beckon us to seriously ill And the answer, for better or worse, undertake our own path of discovery. We children lies in our shuls, our batei midrash and, probably will not find a "morning hug," thanks to mn nnr.il?I in the final analysis, in our Siddur. Yis· but something else, equally personal TllJ'IV.li:>l? roe! Roll shows us how that wonderful and equally unexpected, is sure to turn up. n'Tm:i. ::ipvi ,, ro. nm book supplies the map to the maze, the This book is a new take on Chazal's admo­ AChc~sed project run by Agudath Israel of America directions for the trek il1\vards. It is a long, nition: m= l'CHESED the former, the less I will have of the lat· OFAGUDATH ISRAEL ter. Mattering n1atters and responsibili­ ~" Invei ties weigh heavy. BURIAL PLOTS In Inner Peace we learn so1ne of the B~"c~(fer Hagefen beauty that can lie at the end of the rain· IN ERETZ YISROEL bow. If it is true that we have a hard road Inten11e11t in a Shomer Shabbos Beis ~~(., ( The Shidduch service to travel, it is equally true that it is diffi. Olam near Beis Shemesh b...l for older singles cult to think of a more pleasant com­ panion than Reb Yisroel Roll to lighten Please phone or write to: L A project of N'shei Agudath Israel "'ith our journey as he lights our way. Ill Chevra Oseh Chesed of Agudath Israel Agudath Israel of America 84 William Street.New York, NY 100!8 661913thAvenue.Brooklyn,NY 11219 l See Yehudah Gcll1nan, "Tes/1uv11h and Authen­ (212) 797·9000 Tel. (718) 256-7525 •Fax (718) 256-7578 ticity;' TRADITION, Fall 1982

36 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 A Review Article by Rabbi Joseph Elias GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF RAV DESSLER

Rav Dessler: The Life and Impact of arated from each other for, in complete that a shiur of his had been advertised in Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, the harmony, one complemented the other. the Morgen Journal. (However, he did not Michtav M'Eliyahu by Yonason Rosen­ But each made its own powerful impact say that it would have been better not to blum, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, and deserves attention. have had the shiur. He always felt an oblig­ 2000, $23.99 ation to teach Torah whenever he could The Imprint of His Personality - rather, he said that he would have pre­ elve years are not a long period in ferred a handful of listeners instead of a hich to inake one's mark in the bbi Dessler's towering personali­ crowd attracted by an ad; indeed, num­ T:world. In the beginning of this biog­ ty was the ideal embodiment of bers were never significant to him.) raphy, Yonason Rosenblum points out that llielm - a small town that repre­ He totally subordinated any personal Rabbi Dessler's public life stretched over sented unique spiritual heights. Rabbi concerns of his to the demands of the klal. no more than twelve years- fron1 1941, Rosenblum, carefully and at length, makes IJavening before the an1ud at his vener­ when he came to Gateshead to found its us understand the community, the Talmud ated father's Yahrzeit was extremely Kolle!, to his petira (passing) in 1953 in Torah (as Kelm's famous mussar yeshiva important to him - but one year, when Bnei Brak, when he had moved to become he was called out of town on con11nunal the Mashgiach of Ponovezh Yeshiva. Yet 1natters, he sacrificed this personal com­ during this period he played an extraor­ mitment (a similar episode involving dinary role in the growth of Torah Jewry, Rabbi Dessler is recounted in the biogra­ leaving a lasting iinprint on posterity. phy of Rabbi Elya Lopian, p. 238). Our Sages stress that men of great But Rabbi Dessler was not only con­ stature are rare, and therefore Divine cerned with the klaL He felt equally strong­ Providence scatters them through the ly his obligation to every fellow Jew. He ages. Rabbi Dessler was such an out­ insisted, when he headed the Gateshead standing personality - and he was cho­ Kolle! which he had founded, that he sen to live in a remarkable period and to should not be considered - and treated - make a seminal contribution to it. Rosen­ any differently than the youngest mem­ blum, who has previously earned our bers of the Kolle!; but he was extremely gratitude for his outstanding biography concerned that each of them should of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky, among receive utmost respect and consideration. other writings, has succeeded in this work After speaking at the Kolle! on Wednes­ to capture the essence of his subject. Rabbi day nights, he would take the night train Dessler's life encompassed the traumat­ was known), and the personalities who to London. However, there were always ic destruction of the Eastern European molded Kelm. Their goal? To create indi­ talmidim who surrounded him with Torah world, and the efforts to rebuild viduals who were totally absorbed in serv­ questions after the shiur, he would never 'forah in new locations; as product - and ing G-d, with their emotions, desires and cut anyone short or reveal impatience, guardian - of the very best that pre-War impulses, thoughts and actions, their rela­ even \Vhen it meant n1issing the train. Jewry possessed, he was able to transmit tionship to their fellow beings, and to G­ After Seuda Shlishis in the Kolle!, he it to the new centers of Torah. This d Himself, all controlled by Torah alone. would deliver a shiur, while at the same required not only greatness in Torah, but The means? The unique brand of Kelm time a shiurwas given in the yeshiva. Fre- also a profound understanding of this mussar, a clear understanding of one's self, new world, and the ability to address it and a commitn1ent to the ways in which HAT PI.US in language that it understood. It is these one could perfect himself.' qualities that emerge from this book. Rosenblu1n cites 1nany telling instances There was a twofold way in which of how Kelm in general, and Rabbi Rabbi Dessler placed his imprint upon his Dessler in particular, put these demand­ Your#l Stop for time: through his personality and through ing concepts into practice, and indeed Quality Hats his teachings. They cannot really be sep- many more examples could be added. Self­

------·~·--~~- effacemen t and utter humility were WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION Rabbi Elias, Chainnai1 of the editorial board of The absolute prerequisites. Thus Rabbi Dessler & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONIM TIES IN Jewish Observer, is the author of a nun1ber of pub­ (All work done on premises) BROOKLYN • saw in honorific titles and public acclaim lished works, including a new translation and con1- 1368 Coney Island Avenue n1entary on Rabbi S.R. J-Iirsch's The Nineteen Let­ real danger for the recipient. As recount­ (7"1 8) 377-5050 ters (Feldhein1). ed by Rosenblum, he was most distressed Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 37 quently a number of yeshiva boys sneaked His Teachings Dessler dealt with them in his own way over to the Kolle! to hear Rabbi Dessler. and drew on an encyclopedic range of He never commented - until one time et us now turn to Rabbi Dessler' s sources, from Zahar, Kabbala and Chas­ when a short circuit plunged the Kolle! teachings. As Rosenblum points sidus to the great thinkers and commen­ into darkness. Only then, when nobody Lout, his writings exert an extraordinary tators of all ages. Most important, how­ would be embarrassed, he spoke out in influence, and this is further reinforced by ever, while he always emphatically stressed objection to this practice.2 Rabbi Dessler the works of his disciples. Notably, Rabbi the need to work on improving oneself, was extremely careful, deliberate and Chaim Friedlander's Sifsei Chaim, of he set his teaching into a wider and deep­ thoughtful in what he would say. I was which five volumes have so far appeared, er fra1nework, which we 1nust not over­ therefore momentarily taken aback to read elaborates and opens up deeper vistas on look and for which he drew on all the in Rosenblum's book that he told the Kol­ many issues that are presented in a 1nore sources mentioned. Rabbi Dessler saw le! members many bitter, funny, and scorn­ concentrated forn1 in the five volumes of himself as a teacher of Torah faith and ful stories about his experiences in the Michtav M'Eliyahu. thought- necessary prerequisites for the English rabbinate of that time (p. 122). In drawing a magnificent picture of Toral1 Jew which, in our generation, can­ But, of course, it was not idle talk; he Rabbi Dessler's time and personality, not be taken for granted, in the face of would not have spoken that way unless Rosenblum modestly declares (p. 353) that intellectual, social and moral challenges there was a constructive purpose in his no summary could do justice to the wide posed by our environment. Hence he mind.As explained in p. 221, "to those [in range of his thought and that, in any case, stressed man's role and responsibility the Kolle!] who needed an additional such an assessment of Rabbi Dessler's against the background of the cosmic incentive to fight against the temptations thought is far beyond his competence. unfolding of the universe's history, from of a prestigious position, [Rabbi Dessler However, this does not exempt us fron1 Creation to Moshiach, resurrection, and told] of the humiliations he suffered as a the obligation to try, if we want to do jus­ the World-to-Come (thus his many ref­ congregational rabbi." tice to Rabbi Dessler's impact on our age. erences to Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto; The picture drawn in biographies of Actually, both in the body of the book cf. Michtav M'EliyahuIV 150-156). He saw gedolim is all too often wooden and unin­ and in the appendix, Rabbi Rosenblum his particular function in helping his dis­ spiring. In contrast, the image that very clearly delineates a number of ciples to an understanding of the profound emerges from the pages of this book is a themes that are crucial in Rabbi Dessler's teachings of the Sages contained in Agga­ living mussartext tl1at will inevitably chal­ thought- notably those with a close rela­ data, following the lead of the Maharal. lenge the reader to examine his own stan­ tionship to man's ability and need to grow It was the depth of his teachings, and the dards of conduct. Indeed, somebody spiritually (the make-up of his inner self, light which they shed upon the major commented that it is so overpowering that his free will, the overcoming of his innate questions of life in our world, that it might discourage any effort to follow in selfishness, the need to becon1e a ''giver," account for the attraction and influence its footsteps. However, while the overall and his role in the community). These top­ that they exercised on the n1ost varied cir­ goal is so high, an effort to get closer is ics are the subject of traditional mussar; cles in Torah Jewry, and that undoubted­ surely within every reader's ability. 3 but as Rosenblum points out, Rabbi ly will continue to serve as a guiding light for our times. •

1 Rabbi Rosenblum in this connection refers to the Prima Palace division by the "Alter" of"desires" into physical and spiritual ones; this is actually found in n1uch ear­ OW'7X9 ilU'19 lier sources, and is brought in the Gra on Jyov and IJ ~ '1 "' 1 , • Hotel PRIMA. PALACE in letter 5 of Rabbi S.R Hirsch's Nineteen Letters. JERUSALEM (Formerly "MERKAZ") 2 Recounted by Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, fron1 his ~Glatt Kosher years in Gateshead, ~Luxuriously Refurbished 3 An in11nense an1ount of research has gone into this book. Inevitably, some n1inor slips crept in. ~Close to Admorim, Yeshivot Rabbi Ehrentreu \Vas not "a rav in Chesha1n" but & Kotel. the rav of the kel1illa (p. l 86 ). Rav Dessler did not congratulate a student on the birth of a child three ~ Shul &Mikva on Premises years earlier-he sent her a blessing on the birth of For Further Information & Reservation a child after she had been out of touch for three years Please Call: (p. 164). The "Alter" certainly did not describe the Prima Palace Hotel opponents of 1nussar as "fools" (p, 153); the ter111 pesi should rather be translated as "unaware." Rav 2A Pines St. Jerusalem Dessler's vvarning to his talmidirn to treat even silly Tel: 972-2-5311811 :Fax:972-2-5381480 she'eilosseriously (p. 122) is actually enjoined by the Prima Hotels Israel LTD poskirn. 105 Hayarkon St., Tel Aviv Tel: 972-3-5275660 Fax:972-3-5275665

38 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 therefore be guilty of educating them in son beneath it, leaving him with bitter­ a manner that is not consistent \Vith ness and frustration. emunas Hashem. Is there a place for anger when No! We do not respond to 'i1 'V!l'Vr.l we know that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is with anger but with hachna'a to ratzon N1i1 W'1 i''i~ ,':riv 1'N1 nJ1l'JN7p? Hashem. We have to understand that we are to APPROACHING HASHEM: I quote once again: "Ho\v does a be Ovdei Hashenz in \vhichever situation NO ROOM FOR ANGER young widow struggling to support eight Hashem puts us and that the difficulties orphaned children say the words: the we encounter in life are not a source of To the Editor: orphan and the widow He encourages?" anger but a catalyst for growth, not a It was with a feeling of great distress Surely, this is not the correct question punishment but a personal challenge that I read the article in the Elul edi­ to ask even if it is followed by the pre­ that will ultimately enable us to attain tion (Sept. '00) of your publication sentation of an answer. greatness. entitled "From You to You." Specifical­ Every person who has endured Even if we cannot react initially to ly the section dealing with "Angry at ·n '1'n\!lr.l knows that Hakadosh Baruch ·n 'V!l'Vr.l in this manner, we have to Whom?" left me feeling that there was Hu always has prepared for us a silver understand that this is our goal and our something deeply amiss with the per­ lining to every cloud and redeeming fea­ aim, and our thoughts have to be ception and grasp of 'i1 '1'!1Wr.! as pre­ tures in the bleakest situations. We need focused in this direction. sented in the article. only a discerning eye to see them and NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST I quote: "No matter how many times an understanding heart to comprehend London we tell ourselves that we must accept the that they are indeed present. will of Hashem with love, there is often Anger can only bring to bitterness. The author responds: a strong surge of anger and resentment Where will that lead the person? It will When I wrote the article in question, when things do not seem to be as they certainly also close all avenues of per­ I anticipated a reaction of this sort from should." sonal growth from within the situation, some readers. However, I did not expect Could these possibly be the emotions because this emotion crushes the per- it to come from such a formidable of B'nei Yisroel who are tl'MNr.l 'D c>MNr.l? I myself am a survivor of four concen­ tration camps. Even in the bleakest hours of our existence (just prior our liberation from Bergen-Belsen) we were only too happy to get hold of a Siddur and daven to Hashem. Never a thought of anger or anything similar entered our n1inds. How would we have restarted and rebuilt our lives had these thoughts been present? This is not how one reacts to 'i1 ''P!JWr.J! We are b'nei Avraham, about whom we learn n":ipn '::7w l'n'!Ttr.J mN 1ilT1 N'7!, • Lowest Rates Guaranteed! • Fax & Text Message Service despite all the personal travails and • Same-Day / Next-Day delivery nationwide • Student Specials tribulations he endured. Travel Agents & Corporate Accounts Contact Josh Mehlman, President True, there may be some people who require guidance with regard to anger Discount Student Rates! in difficult situations, but these are the exceptions. The presentation of the arti­ cl' suggesced that the reaction of anger is an accepted approach within the nor­ mal parameters of the thought process of an ehrlicher Yid. As a result of artic­ ulating the question, you are legitimiz­ ing the approach of anger to ·n '1'Q\!lr.>. The average teenager or even the adult reader may feel that this is chas v'shalom the appropriate response and we would

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YES, I want to bring the great z'chus of Limud HaTorah Address:------I and Middos development to a beloved member of my family. I I Please reserve one day in: SEFER AHAVAS CHESED Phone # ( (Day) ( (Eve.) I I 0 Yartzheit DRefuah Shlaima 0Z'chus PLEASE CHECK METHOD OF PAY!vfENf. One day's dedication is $360 I Dedication Date: 1st Choice: 2nd Choice: ___ 0 Check enclosed 0 Bill me I Hebrevv name of dedication: ______Enclosed: 0 6 post-dated checks for $60 0 lO for $36 I I English name of dedication: ------­ 0 Charge my credit card 0 Visa 0 MC I I Dedicated by: (your name) ------# Exp. Date: ___ I I $ The Chafetz Chaim Heritage Foundation • 6 Melnick Drive, Monsey, NY 10952 • 845.352.3505 I 9 • - - - - -«fi"l:Ieitl:!@'Jf:fjoiifi§illjj,jl!lotfti!!f i![oJ.! --- - .I source. The rebuke lFeled against me their faith as a result of their experiences In order to do so, one must be is most humbling. Do I dare to argue under the Nazis, and many more who allowed to validate his feelings. That about the capacity to rise above anger had to struggle mightily in order to hold does not n1ean accepting the1n as cor­ with someone who did so successfully on. It is certainly elating to know that rect or proper. It means only the recog­ in four concentration ca1nps? As the let­ there are those who are above feeling nition that his feelings are not always ter makes very clear, a person can align anger towards Hashe1n - so far above it under his control and they do not always his emotions with the values of the that they cannot even tolerate its vali­ coincide with his faith and beliefs. Torah - even at the most basic gut level. dation. But there are many others who Thus, when gripped by unholy emo­ And I am forced to plead guilty to the are not. Even people who are sincerely tions, he must accept their presence and charge of under-emphasizing that con­ righteous and devout - many such peo­ seek ways to shed them rather than vil­ cept. I should have stressed that any ple - do experience these emotions. If ify himself for having them in the first approach to processing anger at Hashem I assumed as much before I wrote the place. Otherwise, he will place himself is merely a stepping stone. The ultimate article, the responses I received since in an emotional trap from which there goal is to transcend such feelings and to have strongly reinforced my opinion. is no escape. accept His Will with love and joy under These people do not experience such In other words, I did not legitimate all circumstances. I can only hope that feelings by choice, but because emotions "an approach of anger;' only the recog­ whoever read my article will also get to cannot be legislated. All of the valid nition that feelings of anger often come read the above response. argu1nents against one's anger will not unbidden. The correct approach to Nevertheless, I cannot accept the free a person from its grip when it Hashem's judgment includes all that the basic position being espoused. It is truly occurs. E1notions are not rational; they writer expresses. But the correct inspiring to hear about those who do not submit to the dictates of logic. approach to unwelcome feelings of 1naintained their fierce devotion to the One's only route toward humble sub­ anger is to deal with them honestly - Almighty throughout unimaginable mission to the Will of Hashem is to work possibly in the manner described in my horrors and suffering. But many others through contrary emotions until he can article. did not. There were many who let go of rise above them. RABBI MAns ROBERTS INDEX TO ARTICLES THE JEWISH OBSERVER VOL. XXXIII Nos. 1-10

SUBJECTS Feb. '00; The Ultimate Salesman: Meir berger, Dec. 'oo Schuster/Mrs. Zelda Cutler, Feb. '00; Of Bloch, Rabbi Elya Meir Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch Aging Quality of Life vs. Equality of Coats and Fires/Eric Simon, Feb. '00; Kav '>"lll, 45 Years Since His Passing/Ephraim Life/Moshe Borowski, Dec. '00; 'J\nd You L'Kav, Opening Lines of Comrnunica­ Lever, Jan. '00 Shall Live by Them"/Mrs. Karen Shoff, tion/Ezriel Toshavi, Feb. '00; A Train on Its Bobover Rebbe Rebuilding the Glory of f)ec. '00; "Lasting In1pressions" Tracks/Israel Goldman, May '00; "Kol Bobov/Rabbi Aaron Twerski and Rabbi (poem)/Mrs. Bracha Goetz, Dec. '00 Yisroel Areivin1 ... "!Dr. Meir Wilder, May Benzion Twerski, Oct. '00; Days of Awe in Agudath Israel Dr. Ernst L. Bodenheimer: A '00; Redeeming the First-Born ... and Bobov: Some Personal Glimpses/Mrs. Man of His Word ... and of Ours/Rabbi Then Came the Tears/Mrs. Leah Dolinger, Sudy Rosengarten, Oct. '00 Sheftel Neuberger, Dec. '00; Working May '00; Notes From a Prison Cell in Books in Review The I-Iolocaust and Jewish With Dr. Bodenheimer'"'1/Rabbi Nisson Villepinte, France/Eli Freedn1an, June '00; Destiny/Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Jan. '00; Wolpin, Dec. '00 Learning from the Baalei Teshuva's Pro­ The Jewish Seif Recovering Spirituality in Agunos Helping the Agunos- Halachic Solu­ fessional Secrets/Simcha Schreiber, Oct. '00; the Modern World!Yonason Rosenblum, tions: Myth and Reality/Rabbi Yehuda Leib Confessions of the Mother of an Apr. '00; A (;uide to the Passover Lewis, May '00; Letters, Sept. '00 FFB/ Anonymous, Dec. '00 Seder/Rabbi Labish Becker, Apr. '00; The Animals The Wild Side of Chinuch/Nosson Biographies Rabbi Yehuda Davis 7"lll, Builder Ethical Imperative/David Singer, Oct. '00; Sli!kin, Jan. '00 of Torah and Kiruv in A1nerica/Rabbi Zvi Partners With Hashem/Rabbi Labish Beck­ Art Art for Art's Sake: Chanuka Rumina­ Lampel and Mrs. Faygala Safran, May '00; er, Oct. '00; Jew vs. Jew: Cmcks in the Amer­ tions/Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair, Dec. '00 Rebuilding the Glory of Bobov/Rabbi ican MosaidEytan Kobre, Nov. '00; The Gift Baal Teshuva "Media "Darlings"/Yonason Aaron Twerski and Rabbi Benzion Twer­ of Speech/Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Dec. 'oo Rosenblum, Jan. '00; The Wild Side of ski, Oct. '00; In the Pathways of Brisk: A Books The Marketplace of the Mind/Hollis Chinuch!Nosson Sli!kin, Jan. '00; Making Tribute to Rabbi Binyan1in Paler Dorman, Sept. '00; Let the Reader Beware! My Way Homeward/Mrs. Debbie Mai­ 7HYt/ Avrohom Birnbaum, Nov. '00; l)r. (SL)/Rabbi Pinchos Jung, Nov. '00 mon, Jan. '00; Israel's Children: Battle­ Ernst L. Bodenheimer 7'1: A Man of His Calendar Sod Ha'Jbbur!Rabbi Aaron Lopi­ ground for the Future/Rabbi Uri Zahar, Word ... and of Ours/Rabbi Sheftel Neu- ansky, Feb. '00; The Rabbi Sa'adia Gaon-

42 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 Rabbi Aharon ben Meir Controversy/Rabbi Feminism Helping the Agunos- Halachic Solu­ the Grief... and the Sense of Y.G. Bechhofer with Rabbi A.Z. Zivotofsky, tions: Myth and Reality/Rabbi Yehuda Leib Mission/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, June '00; Apr. '00 Lewis, May '00 The Grand Escape From to Chassidus Listening to the Music of the Festivals and Fast Days Project Esther Japan/Dr. David Kranzler, June '00 Angels/Dovid Sears, Apr. '00; Rebuilding Purim)/Shana Kramer, Feb. '00; Pesach in Holocaust The Holocaust and Jewish Des­ the Glory of Bobov/Rabbi Aaron Twerski Autumn/Rabbi Yisroel Greenwald, Apr. '00; tiny/Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Jan. '00 and Rabbi Benzion Twerski, Oct. '00; Trials of Faith and the Festival of Faith Hutner, Rabbi Yitzchak Rabbi Yitzchak Hut­ Days of Awe in Bobov: Some Personal (Pesach)/Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Apr. ner '"'.'11: A Talmid's Reflections/Rabbi Glimpses/Mrs. Sudy Rosengarten, Oct. '00 '00; A Guide to the Passover Seder (review) Yitzchok Alster, Dec. '00 Children At Risk Entire Mar. '00 issue devot­ /Rabbi Labish Becker, Apr. '00; Naomi's Image Of Coats and Fires/Eric Simon, Feb. '00 ed to response to Special Issue, Nov. '99; Return: A Challenge to our Sensitivity Internet Caveat Emptor: The Ubiquitous Letters, May '00 (Shavuos)/Rabbi Abba Zvi Naiman, May PC/Editorial, Feb. '00; Making Things Children Caveat Emptor. The Ubiquitous '00; Torah Wasn't Given to the An~els Better at Home/ Anonymous, Feb. '00; PC/Editorial, Feb. '00; Making Things (Shavuos)/Rabbi Henoch Plotnik, May 00; Internet Alert (PS)/Editorial, June '00 Better at Home/ Anonymous, Feb. '00; "On This Day Was The World Conceived" Israel Speaking of Stunning Accidents/Mrs. Internet Alert (PS)/Editorial, June '00; (Rosh Hashana)/Rabbi Moshe Lieber, Oct. Sarah Shapiro, Feb. '00 "Don't Rush Me"/Rabbi Shlomo Goldberg, '00; Art for Art's Sake: Chanuka Rumina­ Israel: Children Drawing Lines in a !'v1oving Sept. '00; The Marketplace of the tions/Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair, Dec. '00 Field/Moshe Schapiro, Mar. '00; A Safety Mind/Hollis Dorman, Sept. '00 Halacha The Weekly Discussion (review) Net of Telephone Lines/Sara Schapiro, Mar. Children With Special Needs 'Pizza, Anyone!" /Rabbi Labish Becker, Jan. '00; Beyond the '00 (PS)/Randy Dorfman, June '00 Letter of the Law (SL)/Rabbi Yosef Gess­ Israel: Politics On Religious-Secular Strugeles Children: Guidance Teamwork/David Man­ er, Feb. '00; The Rabbi Sa'adia Gaon-Rabbi in Israel/Rabbi , Feb. 00; del, Mar. '00; Letters, Mar. '00; Drawing Aharon ben Meir Controversy/Rabbi Y.G. Whither Jerusalem?/Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Lines in a Moving Field/Moshe Schapiro, Bechhofer with Rabbi A.Z. Zivotofsky, Apr. Klugman, Sept. '00; Israel on the Mar. '00; A Safety Net of Telephone '00; Helping the Agunos- Halachic Solu­ Brink/Yonason Rosenblum, Nov. '00 Lines/Mrs. Sarah Shapiro, Mar. '00; Con­ tions: Myth and Reality/Rabbi Yehuda Leib Israel: Religion On Religious-Secular Strug­ sequential Conversations... Without Lewis, May '00; Quality of Life vs. Equal­ eles in Israel/Rabbi Aharon Feldman, Feb. Being Confrontational/Rabbi Aharon ity of Life/Moshe Borowski, Dec. '00; 00; Israel's Children: Battleground for the Kaufman, Mar. '00; Dealing with "The ''And You Shall Live byThem"/Mrs. Karen Future/Rabbi Uri , Feb. '00; The Ulti­ Wicked Son"/Rabbi Avraham Peretz Fried­ Shoff, Dec. '00; A Summons to Greatness mate Salesman: Meir Schuster/Zelda Cut­ man, Apr. '00 (Review of The Gift of Speech)/Rabbi ler, Feb. '00; Kav L'Kav, Opening Lines of Children: Prevention Letters, Mar. '00 Moshe Eisemann, Dec. '00 Co1nmunication/Ezriel Toshavi, Feb. '00; Children: Salvaging "Better Late Than Halberstam, Rabbi Shlomo '""' Rebuilding the Whither Jerusalen1?/Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Never"/Rabbi Aaron Brody, Mar. '00 Glory of Bobov/Rabbi Aaron Twerski and Klugman, Sept. '00; [srael on the Chinuch The Wild Side of Chinuch/Nosson Rabbi Benzion Twerski, Oct. '00; Days of BrinkJYonason Rosenblum, Nov. '00 Slifkin, Jan. '00; Some Kids on the Brink Awe in Bobov: Some Personal Israel: Security Whither jerusalem?/Rabbi Can Be Saved/Rabbi Yisroel Wolpin, Mar. Glimpses/Mrs. Sudy Rosengarten, Oct. '00 Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Sept. '00; Israel on '00; Letters, Mar. '00; A Rebbi's Role in Hashkafa (Torah Philosophy) Freedom vs. the Brink/Yonason Rosenblum, Nov. '00 Building Kial YisroeVRabbi Chaim Epstein Limits/Rabbi Aaron Brafinan, Jan. '00; Sod Jews From Former USSR Redeeming the First­ ~-1"7\!I, Oct. '00; Let the Reader Beware! Ha'/bbur/Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky, Feb. Born ... and Then Came the Tears/Mrs. (SL)/Rabbi Pinches Jung, Nov. '00; A '00; Speaking of StunninP, Accidents/Mrs. Leah Dolinger, May '00 Principal of Principle: Rebbetzin Sarah Shapiro, Feb. 00; Pesach in Jews in Former USSR A journey to the Ends Soloveitchik il"V (SL)/Mrs. Sarah Cohen, Autumn/Rabbi Yisroel Greenwald, Apr. '00; of the Earth/ Yaakov Yosef Reinn1an, Apr. Dec. '00 Trials of Faith and the Festival of 'oo Commentaries Reb Tzadok of Lublin Faith/Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Apr. '00; Jews in Israel Revivim (SL)/Rabbi Nisson '"'11/Fishel Mae!, June '00 Dealing with "The Wicked Son"/Rabbi Wolpin, Dec. '00 Conversion A Train on Its Tracks/Israel Gold­ Avraham Peretz Friedman, Apr. '00; The Jews in Prison Notes From a Prison Cell in man, May '00; Unsung Victims (SL)/Pnuel Jewish Self Recovering Spirituality in the Villepinte, France/Eli Freedman, June '00 Peri, June '00; "Dayeinu"/Israel Goldman, Modern World (review)/Yonason Rosen­ Jews in USA Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch .,.. '11, 45 Oct. '00 blum, Apr. '00; Reb Tzadok of Lublin Years Since His Passing/Ephraim Lever, Jan. Daas Torah Facing Churban Europe; The '"'11/Fishel Mae!, June '00; Whither '00; Rabbi Yehuda Davis'""'· Builder of Anguish, the Grief... and the Sense of Mis­ jerusalem?/Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Torah and Kiruv in America/Rabbi Zvi sion/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, June '00 Sept. '00; "From You ... to You" - The Road Lampel and Mrs. Far,gala Safran, May '00; Davis, Rabbi Yehuda Rabbi Yehuda Davis '"'11, to Meaningful Prayer /Rabbi Matis Kiruv? I'm Just a 'Regular Jew!"/Rabbi Builder of Torah and Kiruv in Roberts, Sept. '00; "On This Day Was The Leonard Oppenheimer, May '00; Remi­ America/Rabbi Zvi Lampel and Mrs. Fay­ World Conceived" (Rosh Hashana)/Rabbi niscences of a Former "Kid on the gala Safran, May '00; Letters, June, '00 Moshe Lieber, Oct. '00; The Call of Shmit­ Fringe"/Rabbi Shnuer Aisenstark, Sept. '00; Divorce Helping the Agunos- Halachic Solu­ ta/ Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, Nov. '00; Art The Lieberman Phenomenon (PS)/Rabbi tions: Myth and Reality/Rabbi Yehuda Leib for Art's Sake: Chanuka Ruminations Yaakov Feitman, Sept. '00; Rebuilding the Lewis, May '00; Letters, Sept. '00 /Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair, Dec. '00 Glory of Bobov/Rabbi Aaron Twerski and Ethics The Ethical Imperative/David Singer, Hatzala (Rescue) Facing Churban Europe; The Rabbi Benzion Twerski, Oct. '00; Jew vs. Jew. Oct. '00; Ethics, Etfiics, Ethics/Sarah Lip­ Anguish, the Grief ... and the Sense of Mis­ Cracks in the An1erican lvlosaic/Eytan man, Dec. '00; A Sumn1ons to Greatness sion/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, June '00; The Kobre, Nov. '00 (Review of The Gift of Speech)/Rabbi Grand Escape From Lithuania to Japan/Dr. Kashrus Kashrus in the Year 2000 (PS)/Judith Moshe Eisemann, Dec. '00 David Kranzler, June '00; Letters, Oct. '00 Leff, Sept. '00; Letters, Nov. '00 Euthanasia Quality of Life vs. Equality of History The Rabbi Sa'adia Gaon-Rabbi Kiddush Hashem"Kol Yisroel Areivim ... "/Dr. Life/Moshe Borowski, Dec. '00 Aharon ben Meir Controversy/Rabbi Y.G. Meir Wikler, May '00 Factionalism feiv vs. few. Cracks in the Amer­ Bechhofer with Rabbi A.Z. Zivotofsky, Apr. Lev I:Achim Israel's Children: Battleground for ican Mosaic/Eytan Kobre, Nov. '00 '00; Facing Churban Europe; The Anguish, the Future/Rabbi Uri Zohar, Feb. '00

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 43 Media "Media "Darlings" /Yonason Rosen­ Baalei Teshuva's Professional Secrets/Sim­ Aaron Brafman, Jan. '00; Jewish Education blum, Jan. '00; Immorality and Violence­ cha Schreiber, Oct. '00 (SL)/Pnuel Peri, Sept. '00; Jew vs. Jew. The Torah's Vie~oint (PS)/Rabbi Shimon Personalities Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch ';·~, 45 Cracks in the American Mosaic/Eytan Finkelman, Feb. 00; Dr. Ernst L. Boden­ Years Since His Passing/Ephraim Lever, Jan. Kobre, Nov. '00 heimer 7""t: A Man of His Word ... and of '00; Rabbi Yehuda Davis ';·~, Builder of Stammering "Pizza, Anyone!" (PS)/Randy Ours/Rabbi Shefte! Neuberger, Dec. '00; Torah and Kiruv in America/Rabbi Zvi Dorfinan, June '00 Working With Dr. Bodenheimer7"t/Rabbi Lampel and Mrs. Faygala Safran, May '00; Technology Caveat Emr,tor. The Ubiquitous Nisson Wolpin, Dec. '00 Rebuilding the Glory of Bobov/Rabbi PC/Editorial, Feb. 00; Making Things Middos (Character Building) Letters, Mar. '00 Aaron Twerski and Rabbi Benzion Twers­ Better at Home/ Anonymous, Feb. '00; Missionaries Confronting Missionaries in ki, Oct. '00; Days of Awe in Bobov: Some Internet Alert (PS)/Editorial, June '00 the New Millennium (PS)/Editorial, Jan. '00 Personal Glimpses/Mrs. Sudy Rosengarten, Tefilla "From You ... to You" - The Road to Mitzva Observance Project Esther/Shana Oct. '00; In the Pathways ofBrisk: A lhb­ Meaningful Prarer/Rabbi Matis Roberts, Kramer, Feb. '00 ute to Rabbi Binyamin Paler 7"~/Avrohom Sept. '00; Israe on the Brink!Yonason Music Listening to the Music of the Birnbaum, Nov. '00; Rabbi Yitzchak Hut­ Rosenblum, Nov. '00 Angels/Dovid Sears, Apr. '00 ner':>"'Olt - A Talmid's Reflections/Rabbi Yitz­ Telshe Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch ';··~, 45 Years Narrative Making My Way Homeward/Mrs. chok Alster, Dec. '00; Dr. Ernst L. Boden­ Since His Passing/Ephraim Lever, Jan. '00 Debbie Maiman, Jan. '00; Israel's Children: heimer 7"t: A Man of His Word ... and of The Jewish Observer Dr. Ernst L. Bodenheimer Battleground for the Future/Rabbi Uri Ours/Rabbi Shefte! Neuberger, Dec. '00; 7"t: A Man of His Word ... and of Zohar, Feb. '00; Of Coats and Fires/Eric Working with Dr. Ernst Bodenheimer Ours/Rabbi Shefte! Neuberger, Dec. '00; Simon, Feb. '00; Tuesdays With Morrie - 7"1/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Dec. '00; A Prin­ Working with Dr. Ernst Bodenheimer on Saturday/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Feb. cipal of Principle: Rebbetzin Soloveitchik 7"t/Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, Dec. '00 '00; Beyond the Letter of the Law ;rv\SL)/Mrs. Sarah Cohen, Dec. '00 Torah Study Torah Wasn't Given to the (SL)/Rabbi Yosef Gesser, Feb. '00; A Jour­ Poetry 'Dayeinu"/lsrael Goldman, Oct. '00; Angels/Rabbi Henoch Plotnik, May '00; A ney to the Ends of the Earth/ Yaakov Yosef "Lasting lmpressions"/Mrs. Bracha Goetz, Paradigm ofBrisk: A Ta/mid Remembers Reinman, Apr. '00; A Train on Its Dec. '00 Rabbi Binyamin Paler ';·~/Rabbi Moshe Tracks/Israel Goldman, May '00; "Kol Yis­ Politics The Lieberman Pheno1nenon Einstadter, Nov. '00; Rabbi Yitzchak Hut­ roel Areivim ... "/Dr. Meir Wikler, May '00; (PS)/Rabbi Yaakov Feitman, Sept. '00 ner 7"'1r -A Talmid's Reflections/Rabbi Yitz­ Notes From a Prison Cell in Villepinte, Portland, OR KiruVI I'm Just a "Regular chok Alster, Dec. '00 France/Eli Freedman, June '00; Schnorrer Jew!"/Rabbi Leonard Oppenheimer, May Translation and Adaptation "On This Day Was or Tzeddaka Gabbai in Training?/Rabbi '00; The World Conceived"(Rosh Joseph C. Karmel, June '00 (PS); Footnotes Post-Zionism Whither Jerusalem?/Rabbi Hashana)/Rabbi Moshe Lieber, Oct. '00; A to a Cover Scene (PS)/Rabbi Nissan Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Sept. '00; Israel on Rebbi's Role in Building Kial YisroeYRabbi Wolpin, Sept. '00; ·~nd You Shall Live by the Brink/Yonason Rosenblu1n, Nov. '00 Chaim Epstein N"1>"n>, Oct. '00 Them" /Mrs. Karen Shoff, Dec. '00 Purim Project Esther/Shana Kramer, Feb. '00 Women in the Torah Society Helping the Orthodox Jewry "Media "Darlings"/Yonason Reb Tzadok of Lublin Reb Tzadok of Lublin Agunos - Halachic Solutions: Myth and Rosenblum, Jan. '00; Of Coats and 7''0lt/Fishel Mae!, June '00 Reality/Rabbi Yehuda Leib Lewis, May '00; Fires/Eric Simon, Feb. '00; Jew vs. few. Of Coats and Fires/Eric A Principal of Principle: Rebbetzin Cracks in the American Mosaic/Eytan Simon, Feb. '00; Unsung Victims Soloveitchik n""p (SL)/Mrs. Sarah Cohen, Kobre, Nov. '00 (SL)/Pnuel Peri, June '00 Dec. '00 Outreach (Kiruv) The Wild Side of Chin­ Reminiscences Reminiscences of a Former World War II Facing Churban Europe; The uch/Nosson Slifkin, Jan. '00; Israel's Chil­ "Kid on the Fringe"/Rabbi Shnuer Aisen­ Anguish, the Grief... and the Sense of Mis­ dren: Battlegrouod for the Future/Rabbi Uri stark, Sept. '00; Days of Awe in Bobov: sion/Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, June '00; Foot­ Zahar, Feb. '00; The Ultimate Salesman: Some Personal Glimpses/Mrs. Sudy Rosen­ notes to a Cover Scene (PS)/Rabbi Nisson Meir Schuster/Zelda Cutler, Feb. '00; Kav garten, Oct. '00; A Paradigm of Brisk: A Wolpin, Sept. '00; Letters, Oct. '00; Letters, L'Kav, Opening Lines of Communica­ Talmid Remembers Rabbi Binyamin Paler Dec. '00 tion/Ezriel Toshavi, Feb. '00; KiruV. I'm Just ';··~/Rabbi Moshe Einstadter, Nov. '00; Yeshivos Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch';·~, 45 Years a "Regular Jew!"/Rabbi Leonard Oppen­ Working with Dr. Ernst Bodenheimer Since His Passing/Ephraim Lever, Jan. '00; heimer, May '00; "Kol Yisroel 7'1/Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, Dec. '00 Some Kids on the Brink Can Be Areivim .. . "/Dr. Meir Wilder, May '00; Sanctity of Life Quality of Life vs. Equality of Saved/Rabbi Yisroel Wolpin, Mar. '00; Jewish Education (SL)/Pnuel Peri, Sept. '00 Life/Moshe Borowski, Dec. '00; 'And You Rabbi Yehuda Davis 7"'0lt, Builder ofTorah Packaging The Marketplace of the Mind/Hol­ Shall Live byThem"/Mrs. Mrs. Karen Shoff, and Kiruv in A1nerica/Rabbi Zvi Lampel lis Dorman, Sept. '00 Dec. '00; Ethics, Ethics, Ethics/Sarah Lip­ and Mrs. Faygala Safran, May '00; Remi­ Parenting Reader's Forum, Jan. '00; On Being man, Dec. '00; "Lasting Impressions" niscences of a Former "Kid on the A Trusted "Friend" to Your Children/Rabbi (poem)/Mrs. Bracha Goetz, Dec. '00 Fringe" /Rabbi Shnuer Aisenstark, Sept. '00; 7"'0lt, Mar. '00; Letters, Mar. Shabbos Tuesdays With Morrie - on Satur­ A Rebbi's Role in Building Kial '00; Parents' Perspective/Rabbi Nissen day/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Feb. '00 Yisroel/Rabbi Chaim Epstein N"""""1, Oct. Wolpin, Mar. '00; The Kids Speak, Mar. '00; Shmitta The Call of Shmitta/Rabbi Matisyahu '00; In the Pathways ofBrisk: A Tribute to Chinuch Habannim Workshops/Rebbetzin Salomon, Nov. '00 Rabbi Binyamin Paler 7"~/Avrohom Birn­ Malka Kaganoff, Apr. '00; Its 4:30 p.m. Do Social Comment Media "Darlings" /Yonason baum, Nov. '00; A Paradigm of Brisk: A You Know Where My Mommy Is? Rosenblum, Jan. '00; Caveat Emptor. The Ta/mid Remembers Rabbi Binyamin Paler (SL)/Anonymous, May '00; "Don't Rush Ubiquitous PC/Editorial, Feb. '00; ';··~/Rabbi Moshe Einstadter, Nov. '00; Me" /Rabbi Shlomo Goldberg, Sept. '00; Immorality and Violence - The Torah's Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner 7"'0lt - A Talmid's The Marketplace of the Mind/Hollis Dor­ Viewpoint (PS)/Rabbi Shimon Finkel­ Reflections/Rabbi YitzchokAlster, Dec. '00 man, Sept. '00; Partners With Hashem man, Feb. '00; Helping the Agunos - (review)/Rabbi Labish Becker, Oct. '00 Halachic Solutions: Myth and SL Second Looks; PS Postscript PC Caveat Emptor. The Ubiquitous PC/Edi­ Reality/Rabbi Yehuda Leib Lewis, May '00; torial, Feb. 00 Schnorrer or Tzeddaka Gabbai in Training? For reprints or back-issues) write to The Personal Growth Freedom vs. Limits/Rabbi (PS)/Rabbi Joseph C. Karmel, June '00 Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NYC Aaron Brafinan, Jan. '00; Learning ftom the Social Comment Freedom vs. Limits/Rabbi 10004, or call 212-797-9000

44 The Jewish Observer, January 2001 ing With the "Wicked" Son, Apr. '00 to the Ends of the Earth, Apr. '00 AUTHORS Gesser, Rabbi Yosef Beyond the Letter of Roberts, Rabbi Matis ''From You to You" the Law, (SL) Feb. '00 - The Road to Meaningful Prayer, Sept. Aisenstark, Rabbi Shneur Reminiscences Goetz, Mrs. Bracha «Lasting Impres­ '00; of a Former "'Kid on the Fringe," Sept. sions" (poem), Dec. '00 Rosenblum, Yonason Media "Darlings," '00 Goldberg, Rabbi Hillel Tuesdays With Jan. '00; Discovering the Essence of the Alster, Rabbi Yitzchok Rabbi Yitzchak Morrie - On Saturday, Feb. '00 Jewish Self (review of The Jewish Self Hutner 7":tt: A Talmid's Reflections, Goldberg, Rabbi Shlomo "Don't Rush Recovering Spirituality in the Modern Dec. '00 Me!;' Sept. '00 World), Apr. '00; Israel on the Brink, Anonymous, ¥akin~ Things Better at Goldman, Israel A Train on Its Tracks, Nov. '00 Home, Feb. 00; Its 4:30 p.m. Do You May '00; "Dayeinu," (poem), Oct. '00 Rosengarten, Mrs. Sudy Days of Awe in Know Where My Mommv ls? (SL), Greenwald, Rabbi Yisroel Pesach in Bobov: Personal Glimpses, Oct. '00 May '00; Confessions of the Mother of Autun1n, Apr. '00 Safran, Mrs. Faygala Rabbi Yehuda Davis an FFB, Dec. '00 Hisiger, Rabbi Yisroel Book Review of The 7~:yr, Builder of Kiruv and Torah in Bechhofer, Rabbi YosefThe Rabbi Saadia Fifth Conunandtnent: Honoring Par­ America, May '00 Gaon-Rabbi Aharon ben Meir Con­ ents, Jan. '00 Salomon, Rabbi Matisyahu The Call of troversy, Apr. '00 Jung, Rabbi Pinchos Let the Readers Shmitta, Nov. '00 Becker, Rabbi Labish Book Review of The Beware (SL), Nov. '00 Schapiro, Moshe Drawing Lines in a Mov­ Weekly Discussion, Jan. '00; Book Kaganoff, Malka Chinuch Habannim ing Field, Mar. '00 Review of A Guide to the Passover Seder, Se1ninars, Apr. '00 Schreiber, Simcha Baalei Teshuva's Pro­ Apr. '00; Book Review of Partners With Karmel, Rabbi Joseph C. Schnorrer or fessional Secrets, Oct. '00 Hashem, Oct. '00 Tzeddaka Gabbai in Training? (PS), Schwab, Rabbi Shimon Chinuch - On Berman, Rabbi Mayer Tzvi A Rebbi's Role June '00 Being a Trusted "Friend" to Your Chil­ in Building Kial Yisroel (translation and Kaufman, Rabbi Ahron Consequential dren, Mar. '00 adaptation), Oct. '00 Conversations (Without Being Con­ Sears, Dovid Listening to the Music of Birnbaum, Rabbi Avrohom A Tribute to frontational), Mar. '00 Angels, Apr. '00 Rabbi Binyamim Paler , .. ,,, , Nov. '00; Klugman, Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Whither Shapiro, Mrs. Sarah Speaking of Stunning The Call of Shmitta (translation and Jerusalem? Sept. '00 Accidents, Feb. '00; "A Safety Net of adaptation), Nov. '00 Kobre, Eytan Jew vs. few. Cracks in the Telephone Lines;' (an interview) Mar. Borowski, Moshe Quality of Life vs. American Mosaic (Review of few vs. '00 Equality of Life, Dec. '00 Jew), Nov. '00 Shoff, Mrs. Karen "And You Shall Live by Brafman, Rabbi Aaron Freedom vs. Lim­ Kranzler, Dr. David The Grand Escape Them," Dec. '00 its, Jan. '00 From Lithuania to Japan, June '00 Simon, Eric Of Coats and Fires, Feb. '00 Brody, Rabbi Aaron "Better Late Than Lampel, Rabbi Zvi Rabbi Yehuda Davis Sinclair, Rabbi Yaakov Asher Art for Art's Never," Mar. '00 7-YT, Builder of Kiruv and Torah in Sake: Chanuka Ruminations, Dec. '00 Cohen, Mrs. Sarah A Principal of Prin­ America, May '00 Singer, David Book Review of The Ethi­ ciple: Rebbetzin Soloveitchik n·v (SL), Leff, Judith Kashrus in the Year 2000 (PS), cal bnperative, Oct. '00 Dec. '00 Sept. '00 Slifkin, Nasson The Wild Side of Chin­ Cutler, Mrs. Zelda The Ultimate Sales­ Lever, Ephraim Rabbi Elya Meir Bloch uch, Jan. '00 man: Meir Schuster, Feb. '00 7".Yt,45 Years Since His Passing, Jan. '00 Twerski, Rabbi Aaron Rebuilding the Dolinger, Leah Redeeming the First· Lewis, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Helping the Glory of Bobov: A Biographical Trib­ Born ... And Then Came the Tears, Aguno£ Halachic Solutions - Myth and ute to the Late Bobover Rebbe, Rabbi May '00 Reality, May '00 Shlomo Halberstam ?·yr, Oct. '00 Dorfman, Randy "Pizza, Anyone!" (PS), Lieber, Rabbi Moshe "On this Day Was the Twerski, Rabbi Benzion Rebuilding the June '00 World Conceived;' Oct. '00 · Glory of Bobov: A Biographical Trib­ Dorman, Hollis The Marketplace of the Lipman, Mrs. Sarah Ethics, Ethics, Ethics, ute to the Late Bobover Rebbe, Rabbi Mind, Sept. '00 Dec. '00 Shlomo Halberstam,.,,,, Oct. '00 Einstadter, Rabbi Moshe A Talmid Lopiansky, Rabbi Aaron Sod Ha'Ibbur, Wikler, Dr. Meir "Kol Yisroel Areivinz ... ," Re1nembers Rabbi Binyamirn Paler Feb. '00 May'OO ?·yr, Nov. '00 Mae!, Rabbi Fishel Of Uniqueness and Wolpin, Rabbi Nisson Readers Forum, Eisemann, Rabbi Moshe Plumbing the Unity: an Appreciation of Reb Tzadok Mar. '00; Facing Churban Europe: Depths (review of The Holocaust and of Lublin ?·yr, June '00 The Anguish, The Grief... and The Jewish Destiny) Jan. '00; A Summons Maimon, Mrs. Debbie Making My Way Sense of Mission, June, '00; Noted With to Greatness, (review of The Gift of Homeward, Jan. '00 Sorrow & Grief, Sept. '00; Footnotes to Speech) Dec. '00 Mandel, Dr. David Teamwork, Mar. '00 a Cover Scene (PS), Sept. '00; Revivim Epstein, Rabbi Chaim A Rebbi's Role in Mendelson, Rabbi Yehuda Basic Princi­ (SL), Dec. '00 Building Kial Yisroel, Oct. '00 ples of Parenting: PostScript, Mar. '00 Wolpin, Rabbi Yisroel Some Kids on the Feitman, Rabbi Yaakov The Lieberman Naiman, Rabbi Abba Zvi Naomi's Return: Brink Can Be Saved, Mar. '00 Phenomenon: Opportunities and A Challenge to Our Sensitivity, May '00 Zivotofsky, Rabbi Ari Z. The Rabbi Saa­ Challenges (PS), Sept. '00 Neuberger, Rabbi Shefte! Dr. Ernst L. dia Gaon-Rabbi Aharon ben Meir Feldman, Rabbi Aharon On Religious­ Bodenheimer 7~1: A Man of His Controversy, Apr. '00 Secular Struggles in Israel, Feb. '00 Word ... and of Ours, Dec. '00 Zahar, Rabbi Uri Israel's Children: Bat· Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon In1n1orality Oppenheimer, Rabbi Leonard Kiruv? I'm tleground for the Future, Feb. '00 and Violence - The Torah's Viewpoint Just a "Regular Jew!," May '00 (PS), Feb. '00; Trials of Faith and Fes­ Peri, Pnuel Unsung Victims (SL), June '00; SL Second Looks; PS Postscript tival of Faith, Apr. '00 Jewish Education (SL), Sept. '00 Freedman, Eli Notes From a Prison Cell Plotnik, Rabbi Henoch Torah Wasn't For reprints or back-issues, \Vrite to The in Villepinte, France June '00 Given to the Angels, May 'oo Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NYC Friedman, Rabbi Avrohom Peretz Deal- Reinman, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef A Journey 10004, or call 212-797-9000

The Jewish Observer, January 2001 45 Shmitah. Every seven years, thousands of Israeli farmers are out of work. This year is one of them.

Ovadia Levy is taking a that come from non­ year off. So are hisJields. religious backgrounds, is Levy is one of some immense. Many will take 5,000 Israeli farmers who on part-time, non-agri­ are not harvesting their cultural work, while crops this year in obser­ some .. \Viii sttidy .in spe­ vance of Shmitah, the cial. J

I I wish to help the more than 5,000 farmers Help make it YES • in Eretz Ylsrael who are observing Shmitah. aspecial year Enclosed please find my contribution of $______for 5,000 Israeli ADDRESS

farmers and CITY/STATEiZIP ------their families! PHONE ______FEBRUARY 4, 2001 • 7:30 P.M. METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE TORONTO KOL CHAVERIM CHOIR CONDUCTED BY HARVEY ERLICH NEGINAH ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY YISROEL LAMM GUEST CONDUCTOR SThfCHA (STEVE) BILL

SHLOMO PERL, ROSEMARIE WEINGARTEN, CONCERT CHAIRMAN DINNER CIIAIRPEF1SON