NISSAN, 5744/APRIL 1984 VOLUME XVII, NUMBER~ 1 THE $2.00
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Dateline, the World: Countdown to "The Day After" Dateline, New York: "Jewish Life in America" a critique Dateline, Jerusalem: Defusing "The Love Bomb" Dateline, Petach Tikvah: Battle of the Seventh Day On these days, you can transact business at any bank in Manhattan. t ExceJ!.I one. I
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THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN in this issue ... 0021-6615) is published monthly, except July and August, by the Agudath Israel of America, 5 Beekman Street, New York, N.Y. Countdown to the Day After, Aaron M. Brafman .•.•...... 4 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription Battle of the Seventh Day, Ezriel Toshavi . ..•...... •. 9 $15.00 per year; two years, $27.00: three years, $36.00; out Jewish Life in America-an Exhibit, side of the United States, US funds only. $20.00 in U.K. and reviewed by Moshe Kolodny ...... •...... 12 Israel. Single copy, $2.00. Printed in the U.S.A. The Love Bomb, Nehama Consuelo Nahmoud ...... •.•.•...14
RABBI NissoN WotrrN In Search of freedom and Independence, A. Scheinman ...... 22 Editor Shedding Light on Recent History (book review) ...... 29 Guardian of Jerusalem Editorial Board Heroine of Rescue DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER i Chairman Responsa from the Holocaust RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Escape to Shanghai I JOSEPH FRIEDENSON The Yellow Star j RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN The Butcher of Lyon RABBI MOSHE SHERER Books on "Nach" (reviews) ...... 32 Management Board Samson's Struggle j NAFTOLl H1RSCH Tz' enah Ur'enah ISAAC K!RZNER Shir Hashirim 1 NACHUM $TE!N Ruth Business Manager Koheleth PESAC:H H. KONSTAM Second Looks on the Jewish Scene .... , ...... , THE JEWISH OssERVER does not assume responsibility for the Centrists: Between the "Right-Wing'' and Whom? ...... 34 Kashrus of any product or ser And He Who Knows Not How to Ask, Shanie Perr ...... 37 vice advertised in its pages. Of Peace and Pieces, Faygie Borchardt .•...... •. , .... 39 ®Copyright 1983 Letters to the Editor ... , .... , .. , . , ...... , ...... 41 APR. 84, VOL. XVII, NO. 2 NISSAN 5744 Aaron M. Brafman
' Countdown to the Day After Does the Torah Jew Have His Own Approach to Dealing with Doomsday?
Doomsday talk has its cycles. Wherever a new wea polled on the likelihood of a Soviet-American nuclear pon is unveiled, or international arms reduction talks War before the year 2000, concluded the odds to be at a falter, or a TV special on nuclear disaster is screened 1-in-20 or a 1-in-50 chance-giving mankind security of such as the widely-watched "The Day After" last sorts under an umbrella of paralysis from fear of mutual winter-the spectre of nuclear holocaust casts its sha annihilation.* The view is not surprising, for without dow across the people's consciousness. optimism, man could not survive. But history continues The reactions are varied: Some people find hope in a to serve as the most accurate guide for predicting the unilateral nuclear freeze and even demonstrate for it. future. And even a cursory perusal of world history I Some see salvation in outclassing the Soviets in mega shows a continuous pattern of war and conquest, of kill power. Some simply ignore the problem as too domination of the weak by the mighty, of internecine overwhelming to deal with-it won't go away by ignor struggles for power, and of surges of power from unex ing it, but neither will it disappear by attempting to fight pected quarters. it. And then there are those that contend that it is not a When gunpowder was invented, it was considered real issue. No national leader capable of destroying too awesome and destructive a force ever to be used in r another country is deranged or irresponsible enough to war-and so too with most increases in the power of i actually do so. weaponry. Yet, in the end they were almost always Do we Jews have a particular Tor ah-directed response used. For at the heart of the issue is not weaponry, but to this dilemma, or are we to follow personal inclination man-his desires, his weaknesses, and his goals. If and move along with one of the other groups? (There's national character is merely the expression of the [ no shortage of impressive passages from Scripture, aggregate of the entire poplation's strengths and weak Talmud and Midrash ready to be quoted within- or nesses, then all the pent-up violence so close to the I out-of-context to bolster any opinion.) surface in individuals need only be magnified multi-fold 1would suggest that nuclear doomsday is a real issue. to give us an idea of the potential for violence in our It is a possibility we must deal with. Moreover, we, as peace-loving nations. Jews, can make a difference in the outcome when dealing We Jews are nurtured on the concept that only Torah, with the threat of nuclear annihilation, and this invests with its potent Mussar message and its powers to neu us with a special degree of responsibility. tralize base impulses, can help man overcome his des tructive and self-indulgent urges. But what can we The Real Issue: Man, Not Weaponry expect from the nations that do not have Torah as a The majority of a group of strategic experts recently moderating force?
Rabbi Brafman is Mena he I of Yeshiva Derech Ayson, in Far Rockaway, NY. ~Leslie Gelb, "Is Nuclear Threat Manageable?", New York Times Maga His "The Crisis is Now" was featured in the December '82 JO. zine, March 4, 1984.
4 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984
- - -.,.. How Vast a Destruction? Lot alerted his sons-in-law to the fiery fate awaiting Sodom, they mocked him. As the Midrash elaborates, We may accept, then, that nationalistic pride and na they said to him, "Fool that you are! Harps and violins tural tendencies toward violence may combine to thrust are playing, people are partying in the streets, and you a nation into an aggressive posture and thus precipitate say that Sodom is to be destroyed?" Today, too, most nuclear destruction. Still one may question whether people are too caught up in pleasure seeking pursuits to ' G-d would permit such wholesale destruction to take accept the sobering possibility of a bitter end. Facts may l place. speak, but people prefer not to listen. • Again, historical precedents point the way: G-d Him Even when facing the shocking truth of their own self did destroy vast cultures, and where this did occur, mortality, people tend to look the other way. As Eisav the factors responsible for large-scale destruction are told Yaakov when he sold him his birthright, "Behold I recorded to instruct us. Foremost in human experience am going to die, what need do I have for the bechora (the is the Flood of Noach's time, which was preceeded by a duties and privileges of the first born)!" Some interpret period marked by corruption in interpersonal affairs. this as a dismissal not only of bechora, but of spiritual Worst of all, according to the Talmud, was their pursuits in general-a restatement of the classical, but chamas-robbery. decidedly non-Jewish: "Eat, drink, and be merry, for The destruction of Sodom-limited though it was, by tomorrow we shall die." comparison-can be considered another case in point, Moreover, Rabbi Dessler in Michtav Me'Eliyahu JI cites for the cities of the area were totally wiped out. The the death-bed confessional prayer that disavows in Ramban writes:" According to our Sages, [the people of advance any blasphemy a person might utter in his last Sodom] were notorious for every kind of evil, but their moments. Encountering the prospect of his soul depart fate was sealed for their persistence in not supporting ing from corporeality must trigger an extreme reaction · ~poor and the needy. They were continually guilty of in the person-either an excited rush toward re-union tr"- •in, and no other nation could be compared to with the Infinite One-ness of G-d, or an agonizing Sodom in cruelty." rejection of Him who is responsible for his final leave taking from the physical pleasures of this world, which prompts the blasphemy. Death is never confronted How Helpless is Man? with indifference. If G-d puts His seal of approval on plans to destroy a particular culture or the entire world, it may seem futile to expect man to change this. But we are not expected to view the world crumbling, simply standing at the side lines. Again we have precedents: G-d commanded Noach to devote 120 years of his life to constructing the ark-starting with planting the trees from which it was built-as an ongoing demonstration of warning to the l world of impending disaster. The people scoffed, and his warnings went unheeded. Yet the Prophet called the , deluge "The Waters of Noach," blaming him for not doing enough to save his generation. I In contrast, Avraham interceded on behalf of a cul ture diametrically opposed to everything he believed in. He was the pillar of lovingkindness, while Sodomites were the epitome of selfishness and exploitation. Yet 1 Avraham pleaded, begged and bargained for their sur l vival, while Noach accepted the decree of "the end of all flesh has come before Me" in silence. The concern, the commitment, the prayers of Avraham set a course for future generations to follow.
Facing Mortality: Warnings and Responses
Even if the world is tottering on the brink of extinc tion, it is not enough to rely on the general populace's growing awareness of this impending apocalypse, and expect them to help themselves. People prefer not to take note of crises if they can avoid doing so.... When Anti-nuke demonsfrafion.
The Jewish Obstrotr I April, 1984 5 Yet, Chazal (the rabbis of the Talmud) advise overcom tive" can face the threat of death with responsibility ing an evil inclination by "recalling the day of death." primarily the Torah-steeped Jew. This may sound like How can the individual be certain that he will respond another page in the World-Crisis-and-the-Jews-Syn with discipline and responsibility rather than with drome notebook. But the world is ruled by Divine Prov indulgence and rejection? By following the prerequi idence, and we see ourselves as children of Avraham, sites to the "day of death" approach: As first steps in whose insistent prayers for Sodom were a plea-bar combatting an evil impulse, the Gemora prescribes recit gaining session, hoping to gain lives by finding meritor ing "Shema" and studying Torah. If one is imbued with ious citizens in the Cities of the Plain . ... Our prayers the two elements represented here-faith in G-d and can carry the same import, and we have the responsibil dedication to Torah and its values-then the recognition ity to offer them. of one's mortality can give add~d significance to every Moreover, the writings of Chazal and rabbinic litera moment. It can elevate a person's sight above the small ture are full of references to cataclysmic events befalling ness of his daily concerns and it can be a spur to achieve mankind in general as Divine summonses to Jewry to greater spiritual heights.Without the requisite prepara teshuva. Indeed, in letter after letter, the Chofetz Chaim tion, however, awareness of mortality can lead to the reacts to floods, earthquakes, and economic depression nihilistic, destructive hedonism that we witness around as calls to teshuva. (See Box, and Collected Letters of the us today. Chofetz Chaim 10, 12, 13, 41). The individual can better Apocalypse and the Jew himself, to the advantage of his community, of Kial Yisroel, and even of the world at large. It would seem, then, that only a person whose under In 1936, Rabbi Dess/er wrote his son (Michtav Me standing of life is based on a "Shema-and-Torah perspec- Eliyahu Il) of the tragic suffering of Jews the world over their terrible economic plight and the growing incidence of anti-Semitism-and he begs him to prepare for the upcoming Letters of the Chofetz Chaim-#10, Judgment Day, with an awareness of its significance. He then (1927) adds, "What should our thoughts be? If an individual or group of individuals resolve lo repent and accept the yoke of We were recently shocked by the report of Heaven in earnest, they can create a cloak of protection against the earthquake in Jerusalem, our holy city .... suffering . ... Don't we all realize that each of has the ability We also hear of many frightening events lately to protect himself and to increase our communal merit for the occurring around the world-such as the floods protection of the entirely of Kial Yisroel?" in America and Germany, and other events that No, political and social activism in and of themselves makes one's ears ring in fright. will not shield us from impending destruction. One must G-d forbid that we dismiss these events as be blind to the evil inherent in certain world powers to mere accident or happenstance, for we must believe that we can change them for the better in their ; know that G-d rules the world, as the Torah goals and policies through our speeches and public pro I states: "So that you shall know that the earth test. But we do have influence where it truly matters, belongs to G-d." Obviously these are signs where the real decisions are made-in the Heavenly ' from Heaven calling to us to do teshuva and to tribunal. As mentioned, prayer is a potent force in better our ways. reversing a judgment against life. But more than that, t the Prophet cries out (Yirmiyahu 5:1): I In Letter #12, written later, "Run to and fro in the streets of Jerusalem the Chofetz Chaim writes: See and know; search in her streets If you can find a man, If there be only a person t Several weeks ago I wrote an essa~ concern that practices justice, that seeks truth, and I ing the earthquake in Eretz Yisroel in which I I will pardon her. " called Jews to teshuva, pointing out that the One righteous individual can make a difference and earthquake was a warning to the world to tip the scales. repent. ... Now we have heard more frightening The Rambam, in Hilchos Teshuva states it clearly: "A news-a flood in Poland and an earthquake in person should view himself as being half righteous and Russia, in which thousands of men, women and half guilty, and so with the rest of the world. If he children were killed or injured .... It is certainly commits one sin, he then tips his scale as well as that of cause for every sensitive individual to ask what the rest of the world to the guilty side, and brings about has Hashem done to us. Isn't G-d good and destruction. If he does a single mitzva (good deed), he tips merciful to all and not desire the untimely death the scales and that of the world to the side of merit, and of even the wicked? Obviously, Hakodosh Ba saves himself and the world." Until now we were wont ruch Hu is urging us to teshuva. to view the Rambam's statement in allegorical or meta-
6 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 physical terms. Today, however, the description "all of better aspects, as the late Rosh Ha Yeshiva of Beis Medrash the world hangs in the balance" can be understood very Govoha, Rabbi Shneur Kotler '/":!!, emphasized in a literally. And it is up to each and every one of us to speech: The importance of seeing the good in everyone determine how the scale will tip, with his every deed is implicit in the passage in Tehillim: "Who is the man carrying the potential to make the difference. who desires life, loves days that he may see good? Guard your tongue from evil" (34, 13). That is, to avoid Target Areas For Concentration slander, first dwell on the good in people, for if a person sharpens his critical eye to see everything's negative Facing the prospect of nuclear annihilation, burdened aspect, he will tend to find fault, become angry, bitter, by the awareness that every individual's conduct can be and make the world virtually as miserable as he views it. pivotal in deciding the fate of our civilization, we search (See n•w C).l'J, p.60) for some guidance regarding which areas to single out We must learn to feel an affinity with our fellow Jews, for improvement. The Chofetz Chaim, ever-mindful of share his joys and his problems, so as to create a sense of the demands of the hour, ever aware of the particular oneness amongst our people, and acts of chessed, such as needs of our people, put emphasis on interpersonal the marvelous Bikur Cholim activities of our community, affairs, n:n'I C,K 1': (see the adjoining box). While which extend help to all without discrimination. This type of unquestioning chessed has a salutary impact on Letters of the Chofetz Chaim Jew and non-Jew alike, creating an admirable Kiddush Letter #13 Hashem.
World of Love ... or War By all indications we are on the threshold of Moshiach'scoming .... The many crises we are The last words of prophecy recorded in 'Nach speaks facing are part of what Ghazal call "Chevlei to us on the eve of Moshiach's coming: "I am sending for Moshiach-the birthpangs of Moshiach," sim you Eliyahu Hanavi, before the Great and Awesome Day. ilar to the labor pains a woman suffers before And he will return the heart of fathers unto the chU The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 7 The !Yeighborhood Banker listens to the neighborhood leailers. You're looking at John Amodio, President of Community N~tional Bank. He's listening to some of the most respected Left 10 Right leaders in the Bdro Park neighborhood. Menachem Shayovich Shmuel Lefkowitz. Leaders who are involved in the John Amodlo·CNB Preskknt comn;iunity and know it well. Joseph Piazza They're businessmen. Professionals. Ordinary homeowners. And they are part of our very own Baro Park Advisory Council. Their role? To confer with John regularly and advise h'im on ways Community National Bank can best serve the community. This relationship is something quite special in Boro Park. However, our commitment to the neighborhood goes beyond just listening to advice. At Community National Bank we reinvest the deposits we receive from our customers back into the neighborhood. We lend money to neighborhood merchants, to help keep its Avenues busy. We provide dollars to families to finance education, vacations, or pay important medical bills. We help finance the construc tion of housing projects that provide a better living place for our neighborhood people. We1 ll come to you before you come to us. In order to understand the needs of the neighborhood first-hand, John Amodio visits the neighborhood regularly. He listens carefully to your needs and suggestions. And he explains how you can take advantage of Community National Bank's full range of services. You see, Community National Bank's philosophy is to do everything it can to provide its customers with a friendly and trusting atmosphere to conduct their banking. Come say hello to John Amodio, or any one of his staff, and feel how good it is to do business with your neighborhood bank. COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK and Trust Company of New York ''JD«ll{uPeH!lviee /Ye,ig~~, '' Ezriel T oshavi The Battle of the Seventh Day Keeping the Gates of Hope Secure in Petach Tikva Status Quo. It is written with capitalized initials always been alert to such erosion of the Status Quo. because it is a noun of very uncommon implications in Egged buses pulling out of their garages before the Israel. In 1948, Ben Gurion recognized that he would setting of the Sabbath sun, the recent threat of running never win the cooperation of Agudath Israel to join in public transportation in the seaside resort of Nahariya, the declaration of Israel's independence unless certain relaxation of standards for "mitigating circumstances" ongoing religious features of life in the Yishuv, the Sta- to permit the running of essential industry on Shabbos- "Carry no burdens on the Sabbath ... Perform no labors and sanctify this day ... so you may enter the gates of the city ... [and it] will stand eternally" {yIRMIYAHU 17:21-25). tus Quo, were guaranteed-prominent among them, all of these have triggered the protest of Israel's reli the cessation on the Sabbath of all public transportation gious populace, as well as the objection of much of the and other government activities that would involve vio non-religious, tradition-respecting citizenry. But lation of the Sabbath.' nothing in recent memory has inspired as incensed a Attempts have been made to challenge or whittle protest as the outrageous events in Petach Tikva. To away this agreement, but the religious community has fully appreciate these events, one must first take into l' i 1 I l *In addition, the Status Quo agreement guarantees religious criteria for matters of personal identity-marriage, divorce, and conver Ezrie1 Toshvai reports on the lsrneli scene for THE JEWISH OBSERVER readers. sions-and Kashrus in all government sponsored jurisdictions. The Jewish Obseroer I April, 1984 9 ' account the background of this particular city, once In the interim, the entire area grew, and a small known "The Jerusalem of the New Yishuv." settlement founded subsequently in the Petach Tikva area-Tel Aviv-eventually dwarfed this town as it When Petach Tikva Set the Pace grew to become the major megalopolis of the Holy Land. But even with the change, Petach Tikva always One hundred and three years ago, on 25 Sivan remembered its origins. 5641/June 22, 1881, a group of brave citizens of Jerusa lem ventured to a swampy wilderness near the coast, Labor at the Helm risking malaria and other diseases, to establish the first religious settlement outside of the long-standing estab This past fall the muncipality elected Dov Tabori lished communities. Petach Tikva, "the Gateway of (Labor Party) as mayor of Petach Tikva. One of his first Hope," opened the way, and the others followed. acts as mayor was to write a letter to the city's Religious Council: "Last Friday I was very disturbed in my house by the blowing [of the shofar] before the beginning of Shab bos." He demanded that it should be stopped immediately. He continued: "It has no use anyway, and the whole idea of the blowing is, in my view, similar to the ringing of church bells." Adding injury to insult, Tabori sponsored a law in the municipal council empowering him to issue licenses to businesses and places of entertainment permitting them to operate on Shabbos. His request was granted, but the council action does not become law without the approval of the Interior Minister, Dr. Joseph Burg (Miz rachi). Not content, Tabori also requested that the Council give him the power to withhold-or with I draw-licenses of establishments that refuse to open on ' Shabbos, making it impossible to run a Sabbath-observing ' business in Petach Tikva. I At a hearing on this bill, the city's chief rabbis and dayanim came to personally voice their objection to such ,' an anti-religious measure. The debate erupted into an I' uproar, with some secular members actually raising their hands against the rabbis. It is difficult to imagine I such goings-on in Israel, in general, and surely in the I Jerusalem of the New Yishuv, yet such were the ten Under arrest: Rabbi Baruch Shimon Salamon of Petach Tikva. I sions of the confrontation. The mayor then urged the Heichal Cinema, the local The spirituality of Jerusalem was not abandoned in movie house, to open on Friday night, offering free the move. The by-laws of the community, drawn up on tickets to entice reluctant residents to fill the theater. f the day it was founded, had a special section on Shabbos He also pursuaded the Garden of Eden Coffee House in and the Festivals. We quote: the same area to open, inspiring an outrage throughout I On Erev Shabbos and [rev Yomtov afternoon a flag the land, which incidentally had the positive effect of should be raised on the highest spot, visible to the uniting diverse elements in the broad spectrum of reli entire region, and a shofar should be blown as a signal gious Jewry that work should be stopped because of the approach of For instance, on the first Friday night that Petach Shabbos. Work in the fields should come to a stop. Tikva had "legalized" Chillul Shabbos, an outdoor peaceful Whoever will be late by two hour after this flag is demonstration was convened in Jerusalem's Kikar Ha raised and will violate this three times, will be pun~ shabbos, with over 5,000 men joining in Kabbolas Shabbos ished. Shabbos and festivals should be holy for Torah and tefilla, for Oneg Shabbos and Yomtov. No one Maariv. The crowd included the broadest representation should inspect his properties on Yomtov. Shabbos and of Chassidic groups and the full range of yeshiva stu Yomtov are to be reserved for Torah study. Shabbos is dents, many of whom normally shun outdoor demon for educating our children, and we should not change strations of any kind, as well as Sephardim, various this. non-aigned groups and others. 10 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 No Peace in Petach Tikva religious leadership is deeply concerned that one muni cipality legalizing public Sabbath violation will start a In Petach Tikva, however, matters were not so peace domino action, toppling the sanctity of the Sabbath ful. The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Baruch Shimon throughout the land. Agudath Israel representatives to Salomon, led a large protest march against the public the Knesset threatened to bolt Shamir's coalition if the Sabbath desecration-in the spirit of similar such Status Quo were not restored in Petach Tikva. More marches that have been held whenever a breach was recently, when the Shamir government did fall, Agudah threatened in Sabbath observance-in New York, in MK Rabbi A.Y. Shapira met with Shimon Peres and Kamenitz, in Telshe, wherever Jews lived by the Torah. made it very dear that under no circumstances could he On the following week, an outdoor Mussa{ service count on Agudath Israel participation in a Labor-led was held in Petach Tikva's Guttman Street, opposite the coalition if Tabori is not brought back in line and Shabbos Sabbath desecrating cafe, with thousands of people par is given its rightful due in the Holy Land. ticipating. But contrast, only a handful of die-hards Puzzling, however, is Dr. Burg's reluctance to state were patronizing the cafe. Then Rabbi Salomon entered unequivocally that he does not intend to put his stamp the cafe and requested of the proprietors that they close of approval on Tabori's anti-Shabbos law, declaring once their establishment on Shabbos. Several customers ob and for all that his actions are not only reprehensible, jected to the "intrusion," and hurled bottles and chairs in but without legal basis, as well. For his part, Tabori is a the rabbi's direction. After he left and returned home, a bitter reminder of the fierce anti-religious convictions patrol car drove up to his house and asked him to return of the Socialist founders of Israel's Labor movement. to the station to "answer some questions." Rabbi In the meantime, every Shabbos is an opportunity for Salomon insisted on going the considerable distance by religious Jews of all affiliations (and non-affiliation) to foot, accompanied by several hundred sympathizers. demonstrate their allegiance to the sanctity of the Sev Once the rabbi arrived at the station, he was arrested enth Day-both in Petach Tikva, and in the country at for precipitating a riot. After reconsideration, the police large. During the last week of March, for instance, a released him to avoid serious repercussions from the huge demonstrations of tens of thousands of Jews took aroused crowd that was awaiting him. place in Jerusalem, protesting the ongoing defiance of Since that unconscionable act-a Jewish police court Shabbos in Petach Tivka. actually putting a city's rabbi under arrest for protesting Shabbos is the foundation of our people, testifying to Chillul Shabbos-the entire religious community of the our belief in G-d the Creator and His Providence. And, land has galvanized in protest against Tabori's conduct not incidentally, it is a prime guarantor of our physical of affairs. The country's Chief Rabbis as well as a security-not to be dealt with so capriciously in these number of yeshiva and Chassidic leaders-the Gerrer beleaguered times. As Yirmiyahu said, "Sanctify this and Vizhnitzer Rebbes, among others, have expressed day ... so you may enter the gates of this city ... [and it] their backing of Petach Tikva's rabbis. Moreover, the will stand eternally." 1.1: At the demonstration: Gerrer Rebbe, Slonimer Rebbe, Machanovke Rebbe, Rabbi Shomo Zalmen Auerbach, Part of the 50,000 that crowded Kikar Hashabbos in Rabbi S. Y. Elyashuv, amongst others. protest of official Sabbath violation. The Jewish Obsen1er I April, 1984 Americanization Becomes Evident Jewish Life In America A pictorial exhibit reviewed by MOSHE KOLODNY "Jewish life in America ... Fulfilling the American dream ... Images of American Jewish life." These were the promises headlined on a flyer heralding a "unique exhibit" documenting the American Jewish experience from 1654, when the first group of Jews arrived in New Famll1· Reunion, about 1920 Amsterdam, until the present day. The exhibition was Three generations of the Freund designed to serve as a vehicle for Jews to learn about family demonstrate the process of their heritage and for other Americans to be more famil acculturation in America. iar with Jewish contributions to America-so proclaimed the flyer. The exhibit, sponsored by the Anti Defamation It.lung American Patriots, League of Bnai Brith, the N.Y. Public Library, and the about 1928 American Jewish Historical Society, prepared by the Bert and Aaron Kruger of Wichita Allon Schoener, author of the book The American Jewish Falls, Texas, dressed in patriotic costumes. Album, from which much of the exhibition was drawn, was shown at the N.Y. Public Library. Having more than passing familiarity with our Jewish heritage, and somewhat aware of the enrichment our heritage has gained in the many countries where Jews have been hosted, I did not want to miss this exhibit. I went to the presentation, hoping to see how Jewish life has become enhanced by our being here.... The exhibition, which consisted of mounted photo graphs and printed books from colonial times until the present, was divided into discrete time periods, with ' hundreds of items in each. The panorama of the Jewish I existence in America did appear to be conveyed and I flowed smoothly throughout the exhibit. i "Land of Opportunity • , , and We Made It" ~ Battlefield 6rareyard In France A beautiful showing indeed: The Colonial Period, Cemetery memonal for World War II soldiers who parl1c1pated with the Sephardic emigration and acclimation to the in battle rn Normandy. The cemetery is located in St. Laurent. American scene ... the merchants, printers, and sol Calvados. France diers were all represented ... The Jewish struggle for economic and social survival could be discerned, as the II period of the German influx of the 1820's was captured on the mounts. Portraits of the Jewish founders of Inspecting Passm>er Wine, Brook~vn. Macy's, Gimbels, Abraham & Straus, Sears and Roe N.Y., 1945 buck-cigar manufacturers, political leaders of the old Rabbi S. Cohen at the South ... they all gazed at the viewer and seemed to say: Manischewitz Winery in Brooklyn inspecting "This is America, land of opportunity-and we made it!" Passover wine. As I viewed more recent history-after the great Eastern European influx in the late lSSO's-the Jews Rabbi Kolodny, a musmach of Yeshiva Chaim Berlin, is chief archivist of the Orthodox Jewish Archives, maintained by Agudath Israel of America. 12 The Jewish Observer I April, 19 84 represented became less recognizable as Jews in appear men and professionals in American society who are ance: Pioneers in the entertainment industry were recognizable as Jews? What about the harnessing of represented with many photos. From Yiddish theater to modern techniques to convey Torah to the multitudes, vaudeville to radio to movies to TV ... from labor through radio, TV, and the brand-new Dial-a-Oaf? unions to politics, Jews were getting more and more "Maybe today's youth is more interested in movies into the mainstream of American life. The last 20 years' than in those things," she answered, apologizing for the 1 segment displayed names of famous personalities preponderance of photos of Jews in the entertainment some of whom I did not even know were Jewish. world over those engaged in religious pursuits. Yes, there were some illustrations of Jewish heritage. "It just isn't so," I replied. "I'm sure you've heard of the A scribe who looked like an ancient patriarch writing a return of many youths to authentic Judaism-it's called Torah scroll, a Jewish wedding, a kosher wine cellar.... the Baal Teshuva movement. Pehaps the sponsors of Yet there was something obviously missing from this the exhibit are squeamish about such things, like the display. I was trying to look at the exhibit without my proverbial ostrich pretending that nothing has really strong yeshiva-bred prejudices, and to my surprise I was happened, as long as it doesn't see it ... trying to reas helped by a group of mature ladies and gentlemen who sure themselves that these conspicuously Jewish fea came on a tour from East Hempstead to view the dis tures were all left behind on Ellis Island. All it does is play. I asked them their impression of the exhibit. make our experience one of giving of the Jewish genius "Wonderful!" they exclaimed. to America, keeping nothing Jewish in the process "Was this really the Jewish heritage in the American W ASPing ourselves into ethnic oblivion, stretching setting?" I asked. anti-defamation by way of invisibility to the ridiculous." "Well," the spokesperson said, "they don't have much on Zionism and Israel." The Story to be Told "Perhaps the Bnai Brith didn't want to show that," remarked another. "It's not American; it's just Jewish, There is a story to tell. After all, in each country period." where Jews dwelled, their Jewish awareness and scho I continued: "What about Yeshiva University? It's had larship was enriched by the cultural climate of their host an impact on American Jewish life, you know. It wasn't country. The rivers of Babylon, in terms of the thou represented at all.-And what about Jewish holidays? sand years of tranquility and autonomy enjoyed there, The days of Succoth-the booths, the lulav and esrog, nurtured the Talmud Bavli. The Arab lands helped re Simchat Torah. And as for Judaica-what about Art kindle the thirst of knowledge for the Hebrew tongue, Scroll publications, Feldheim books of Jewish classics developing schobrship in grammar, poetry and piyulim, translated into English?" producing the Ziknei Lashon Hakodesh and Meforshei Hamikra, "You're absolutely right!" she exclaimed. "I didn't the translations of Saadya Gaon, and were incorporated think of it." in commentaries of Rashi, Tosafos ... and so it has continued. The Absent Renaissance America has a very distinctive story to tell. Its gift of technological innovation in service of Torah, which I i To be honest, the exhibit did show some Jewish cele mentioned, could be documented with vigor and ex- 1 brations. It did picture a succah, constructed inside Temple citement. America as the haven of the oppressed has 1 Emanuel. There was a group of people on a beach fostered the regeneration of many Jewish communities j dressed in sporty clothing running toward the waves. and traditions-from Satmar and Bobov to Mir and The caption read: "Tashlich Rosh Hashona, Los Angeles, Kletzk (Lakewood)-far beyond anyone's ability to pro- l 1978." A bride and groom under the ch'upa. A typical ject fifty years ago. America the Melting Pot has American family scene, captioned: "Seder." brought together divergent streams of our Jewish heri- But one could not find evidence of the genuine Jewish tage and mixed them so that we find a Sephardi Kolle!, a heritage, especially during the last forty years, without Lithuanian Rosh Yeshiva heading a Chassidic institu- 1 resorting to the quaint or the cutesy. A real succah booth tion, a Chassidic scion leading an authentic German- I under the stars. A traditional Seder. Baking matzos. Jewish Kehilla, Hungarian-bred computer programmers Jewish children in present-day yeshivas. Day Schools. and Yeshiva deans davening together ... the list goes The Beth Jacob school system-all of which perpetuate on, beyond the glatt shishkabob, kosher pizza level to a Jewish survival, depicting the marvelous growth of Jew hybrid mixing of spiritual traditions, a truly American ish Jewry on American soil. phenomenon. The Lower East Side is represented, wrapped in squa lid nostalgia. What about the more comfortable com For the meantime, the story of how America, with all munities in contemporary Americal such as Boro Park, its New World gifts, has added to the perpetuation of Monsey, Monroe, Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, and our Torah and our heritage, is left for the thinkers and other places where the Jewish spirit is alive and vibrant? writers to convey. It wasn't exhibited at the N. Y. Public What about the role of successful Orthodox business- Library. \T The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 13 Nehama Consuelo Nahmoud ,:i.l)) .h!>•h:i. tl>h>tlM n:i11 >'J>J)~ ~JI nlt.ll •"ni•bn "lr.nn v'mn ,"l•)l!I "rl::i1'1:i. 'JJ!!lll:l >itn>:i' n•lnl'I t:i>?i:I' '1)1 "TMllD!I 1':1'1nn'> l'DJl)i ,'1)'!11):) ,'1Jl!>b:I 11'11 n.'l:i1t1nn in1'Pll!I l,y 1''1nl'n '!'.l'll!lo"I >'1;f.'l The Love Bomb TI~ i>'D!l111 "ll'lt11' lDW "IU>~tl 1i'l ,i:>>:i.~ .'1''ll'n 11';1'1i •l!l~>Jl!I ~) Dealing With the . . Missionary Threat in Israel . ' . Yad l'Achim" "warning" handbill. In 1980 the Lausanne Committee for World Evangel old Arab house in Bak'a, Jerusalem, enticed poor fami isation held a conference in Thailand, with the partici;:>a lies with "We pray on Shabbat too, and by the way, here tion of Moshe Rosen, titular head of Jews for Jesus; and is a little something to tide you over." Then a law was Menahem ben Haim of the Israeli Hebrew Christians' passed which curtailed the Dugger-type operation, i.e., Alliance. This conference issued an instructive report missionizing with money-but not missionizing per se. called Christian Witness to The Jewish People. Except for this law, there is nothing in Israeli codexes According to this report, the founding of the State of that forbids missionizing. Israel produced a new type of Jew who is extremely Since the overwhelming majority of people in the difficult to convert. This situation requires a different government-at all levels-are personally very far from technique, according to the report, one which would any kind of religion, and their private lives are not open the hearts of Jews on kibbutzim, in the army, and in affected by Jews being converted to other beliefs, they I development towns. The technique in question is called are incapable of grasping what all the fuss is about. 'I the "love bomb" by anti-missionary workers. There are, however, a few government officials who are I The Thailand conference recommended the training more receptive, who do assist anti-missionary efforts of experts specifically for each of the above-mentioned from time to time. I areas, who would remove from themselves the label of "missionary" and, through friendly relationships and ~ financial aid, would destroy the barriers to prepare the Heroes and Villains Jewish heart to receive the Gospel. It works: at this time missionaries are making suc I would like to tell the stories of some of the heroes cessful inroads into the army, the universities, the kib and villains of this ongoing struggle, beginning with the ! butzim, the immigrant absorption centers, and even hos heroes. pitals. Experts in the anti-missionary field estimate Dr. Samuel Golding is a warmhearted, dynamic indi ! around 2,000 Jews now pray with Christian evangelical vidual with a red beard and British accent. Displaced by groups, while 10,000 more are caught in non-Christian World War II, he was raised by a non-Jewish family; he cults. later graduated from Sandhurst (England's West Point) Back in the "old days," as near as ten years ago, and worked in military intelligence. When he left the missionary methods consisted of outstretched hands, army, he went on to study Christian theology, but one holding a Bible and the other a wad of bills. Brother when he discovered his true origins when 31 years of Dugger, a Seventh Day Adventist operating out of an age, he became a baa/ teshuva. This background was a perfect preparation for his present work. Dr. Golding is into every facet of anti-missionary Mrs. Nahmoud, a frequent contributor fo THE JEWISH OBSERVER as well as work: lecturing, counseling, intelligence gathering, and other publicatwns, resides in Jerusalem. Her biography of Ribi Ya'akov Abu-Hasira many kinds of active measures against individual mis was featured in the November '83 JO. sionaries. He has a large staff of "workers"-actually 14 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 undercover agents, at least one of whom was a profes Yad l'Achim's combat techniques include publish sional private detective in his pre-teshuva days. Others ing-booklets with pictures, addresses and methods of are paid investigators. They are efficient-the Golding various missionary groups and cults, and a regular bul archives occupy a room to themselves where there are letin with the most recent bad news on the subject. hundreds of files on missionaries operating in Israel. When a missionary is rumored to be in a given neigh Some of his missionary-discouragement methods will borhood, Yad l'Achim may send an investigator, posing be illustrated further on in this article. as a prospective client, to check him out. Yad l'Achim's agents are men and women of all ages, personality types and ethnic backgrounds who volunteer full- or part Old House, Effervescent Basement time to fight the missionary menace. A missionary can never know if the longhaired kid or the demure little The facade of the old house on its quiet street in grandmother he is talking to has a tape recorder run Geula belies the effervescence in its basement. Here is a ning in a pocket or under a shawl-as they frequently maelstrom of people and paper, reminiscent of a 1930's do. press room. Rabbi Porush, department head, sits at a Yad I'Achim's investigators also interview neighbors beatup desk counseling a distraught woman whose about their suspect's lifestyle. If their man (or woman) husband is being wooed by an evangelist; the archives proves to be a missionary, then the next phase starts. If man shuffles through a ream of papers; an undercover he has a regular job, the organization may inform the agent types the report of her latest assignment. Others missionary's employer of his extra-curricular assign sit and stand around waiting for assignments, answer ments; landlords are often influenced to evict the ing telephones, delivering verbal reports and newly troublemaker. acquired missionary tracts, or digging in mountains of Sometimes Yad l'Achim gets a photograph of the documents. This is Yad I' Achim. missionary and prints handbills with a picture and des When I inserted myself into this scene, notebook and cription of him, his habits and activities, similar to an FBI ballpoint in hand, one of the agents generously supplied "Wanted" poster, and it is put into all the mailboxes in me with a pile of literature and detailed answers to my the neighborhood. Other times, a missionary may questions, between phone caHs. One call came from an awake in the morning to find a row of pickets outside his Orthodox man, a concerned citizen, who wanted to house, carrying placards announcing "This is a mis report suspicious activities on Jabotinsky Street. He told sionary." of a group that had moved into one of the apartments. Non-Jews corning to Israel are usually given a tourist Neighbors thought it unusual to see streams of non visa of three months' duration. On occasion a mission Jews constantly going in and out; then when one person ary has been surprised to find that his visa renewal mentioned seeing a known missionary among the vis application has been refused-thanks to Yad l'Achim's itors, our informant called Yad l'Achim. information on his non-justifiable activities. i l I I' The Jewish Observer I April, 1984- 15 conversion certificate. The last two categories cannot be KORE.CH c.,,,,b,,.,,,'!J,,,,,f=h,,,,,,;f,,tt,.,.;,,,,.o .THC SO!' thrown out of the country for bad behavior as can e/,,,,.w.,,;,,.,,,i Z/.JU ~ IOod)""'"'f someone bearing a tourist visa. ¥,,,t..,..,,-'-fk~-,d/L~,,,,,, ~fi~;;;;~~~~;~",~i:~;~'.! .L..,..,,,,r,,4~4H.£._.d,,-'4t-~ A McDermott family moving into a solidly Jewish tAtJwn/~.(-n.d h,..,.; ,,,,,d btf;,..J-6. fk/ sh.If,,,( (F,n,•.N-:.•J:J7.W~·Q..~-~ ':;.,:·~'.:~~:~r~· .~:r;~:::;r·:;.~ neighborhood such as Ramat Eshkol or Bait Vegan ,..t,~,,~~1;i,/&-,.,.,_,i.~...... J. '1/~,h---~ would certainly be conspicuous; someone named Abra Ye<0>Hu&1 S<>,d_ "O»• "F you w•ll b,,t"'i ,:,:::::,Ii;~~:~.~:,~~::::~ ham Levy would not, especially if he put in regular me Jo;,.,, ly"'~ dosE fothe br00;0( ~fYeshu"-, ="-''~ \~., ~"'' r~-'" "'"~ <>•~•" ·LORD, "h" ,. ,t ?• ,,~d y~,i,~~ 5 a.,d >c<>C•'"~·''"'c:''>"';r<''1'.'l'<'l ,,,,_, appearances at the synagogue on Shabbat. Again, a born •He, '" w~om I shall '.l"e t\oi• ..,.,r,,.1, ~h<'-n --,,_.c:--<-,.-<'~ ,_,, ~!" ,,,,.. F" I have d•f'ped ,t" A.,,;. H._ d'pped •t, <>.nd '1'-> ,------,_,,,.,>-. .,...,,,,~~ '-,c;yr< Jew knows how to talk to Jews, whereas a non-Jew 'J"""- ct !-o ]i. 16 The Jewish Obseroer I April, 1984 Although many Hebrew Christians work with all the letters from the church and the m1Ss1onary churches and evangelistic groups, there are a)so the organization. I then handed him a one-way flight reser independents. These, needless to say, are the ea~iest to vation, telling him that he could pay for it with the funds neutralize. Dr. Golding tells the following story of one that had been mailed to him, and advised him to get out, of them: fast. He did." "Harlem Louis Weinstein's mother was not Jewish, but his father obviously was. His parents were more The Army drawn to Christianity than to Judaism, and Weinstein grew up in a Christian atmosphere. Deciding to become "Is it true that there are missionaries in the army?" I a missionary and go to Israel, he first enrolled in a ba'al asked Dr. Golding, incredulously. teshuva yeshiva in New York. With a name like Wein "And how!" he exclaimed, pointing to the archives stein, no one thought to ask details about his Jewish room. "I have a pile of files in there just on that subject. status. Here is a typical story: "Here, look at his file: a major in rabbinics with nearly "An army officer told me that he and three fellow straight A's. And what do you think of this photo? officers had been going to the Beil Immanuel in Jaffa for Beard, hat, black suit, lzilzis. Normal. a weekly Saturday-night party with food, girls, and "Weinstein came to Israel with the Bnei Akiva youth music. After a while the officers were sucked into the aliya and immediately got a job at the Conservative thing and got baptized. Bernstein Youth Hostel in Jerusalem. Our office got "My informant found out that the two officers were wind of it, and I acquired copies of his birth certificate, issuing passes and giving privileges to soldiers in their transcript from the yeshiva, and so forth, showed the charge if they attend the Beit Immanuel parties. That file to the rabbi in change of the hostel, and informed was enough for him, so he decided to come to me. him that he had a missionary on his hands. The kid was "I went to someone in the Ministry of Defense who out of there in an hour. Then Weinstein went on to acted immediately. The next week the officers were in three more jobs in the social services, and each time I jail and there were signs on Beil Immanuel: Off Limits to had him fired; his last one was with handicapped Military Personnel-any soldier caught on the premises children. would be arrested by the MPs." "About this time Weinstein started running out of Dr. Golding went on to tell about a new army tech money and wrote home. This was what we had been nique: hitchhiking. Missionaries pick up hitchhiking waiting for. One of our workers monitored his mail. soldiers on leave at the Lebanese border and take them Mind you, the letters-and presumably, money-came home. The long drive provides an ideal opportunity to not only from his parents but also from a church and an give the message. evangelical missionary organization. Yad l'Achim reports that a nefarious establishment "After a time, we invited Weinstein to the office here. called the Christian Embassy is beginning to worm its I confronted him with his file, now updated with a list of way into the Soldiers' Welfare Association, an Israeli 'I I I 1 j l '' Yad I'Achim demonstration against Chrisfinn Embassy. The Jewish Observer I April, / 984 17 version of the USO. This organization maintains can Dafna. With an appreciation of the culture and lifestyle teens and clubs as well as rest homes for soldiers. in Israel, the volunteer will be prepared to discuss a wide range of issues with kibbutz members. The Kibbutzim Once the volunteer is sent to a kibbutz, the missionary movement keeps close tabs on his actions. A supervisor One Christian Embassy brochure says: PROJECT KIB to whom the volunteers must periodically report is BUTZ, with a picture of a man blowing a shofar, a tractor, assigned a group of fourteen. Refresher courses are and the walls of the Old City. At the bottom of its cover given every two months to still any doubts which may we see: arise, and the volunteers go back. "And they will rebuild ancient ruins, and they will Here is what a Christian Embassy newsletter says to raise up the former devastations, and they will repair its missionary volunteers: the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. "Don't arrive at the kibbutz with missionary zeal, ready to And strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, and convert the natives. But rather arrive quietly with the love foreigners will be your vinedressers" (Isaiah 61:4,5). which God has put into your heart for the land and the people. The passage may well be apt, but not as envisioned by Talk about this first rather than of your love for the savior. the Prophet. Become a living witness by punctuality, work well done, and a All kibbutzim accept volunteers to pick fruit, work in cheerful spirit. Show them that you love them and want to the kitchens and the cowsheds, and sometimes even in know them and be their friend. Often you will have to 'break the children's quarters. Hundreds of non-Jews come the ice' and then you will be amazed how warm and friendly every year to work on kibbutzim, many from sincere these people are. One by one they will begin to invite you to motives or for a" different" kind of vacation. But not all. their homes for afternoon coffee and cakes. In time, and with Two missionary organizations have been reaping rich patience, the kibbutzniks will begin to see that you are not the people-harvests at the kibbutzim. usual run-of-the-mill volunteer." "Because so many volunteers come and go over the "Kibbutz Shalom" is the name of an almost identical years, kibbutzniks protect their feelings by avoiding project sponsored by another big-money missionizer, closeness with new workers," cautions an Embassy the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. newsletter. The Embassy therefore requires that volun teers commit themselves for a period of not less than Immigrant Absorption Centers one year of service to become "part of the family." All candidates accepted by the Embassy's Project Kib Israel has immigrant absorption centers all over the butz attend a six-week orientation seminar at Kibbutz country where new families can stay at low cost until l t I Dr. Golding lecturing on refuting' missionarie5. 18 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 they learn Hebrew and find housing and jobs-usually Our Task for around eight months. People who come on aliya to Israel usually come with I am not an anti-missionary specialist, but I am a ideals and are most likely to be a bit disoriented follow concerned citizen of Israel. I am taking the time from my ing a major uprooting. Such a set-up is custom made for work as a researcher of Sephardic studies to researchf missionaries, of whom there are plenty at every ab interview and write this article. I believe as many others sorption center in the country. do that if more people knew what was going on they, Dr. Golding believes that while there may be organi too, would be concerned. A neighborhood where the zations involved, most of the missionaries in absorption general thinking is a shrugged "Well, it doesn't touch me centers are probably independents. Mostly Jews, he personally" is the kind of spot most favored by mission said, but a few non-Jews as well. aries and cults. A neglected spot in a kitchen-for "Non-Jews?" I asked. "How do they manage it?" example, a dark, rarely cleaned area behind the ref "Easy. Easy. Salvator Constantino and his friend rigerator-is the one most likely to become a breeding Fuoco are examples. Salvator paid $200 for a Reform ground for roaches. conversion-see, here's our photocopy of his conver "But what can I do?" sion certificate. After that, his immigration was per There are many things. If you hear of a missionary or fectly legal under the Law of Return. His daughter came a cult in your neighborhood, get the address. (Yes it could to Jerusalem to a school for Jewish children run by happen in a religious neighborhood; it already has.) If Youth Aliyah, and he went to the absorption center in you see literature being handed out on the street, resist Beersheva. He has been there eighteen months now. He your temptation to shout angrily at the missionary; just can't get a job because we inform all his prospective walk on by. Pick up a discarded brochure and pocket it. employers." Then convey what you have, phone numbers and "Is he evangelizing?" I asked. addresses imprinted on the paper, to one of the fol "Not now. I went to Beersheva and arranged to give a lowing: lecture to all the residents of the absorption center. l If you live in Israel: told them the details about Constantino and Fuoco and Y ad L' Achim/ 4 Rechov Yonah/Geula, Jerusalem/ stressed that they should not speak to the pair nor have 02-288-008 anything to do with them. Fuoco left the country after Dr. Samuel Golding/2 Rechov HaMa'alot/Jerusa that; but Constantino is still around, and l must say I lem/226-896 admire his courage!" The United States is by no means free from the missionary-and-cult menace. The cults in particular claim many young Jewish minds every year. Slum Neighborhoods-Bad Tidings for Musrara Scope & Vision When l was interviewing at Yad l'Achim, a woman lnaddJllonto!hooin.ss""~·lf-.lslhe , ~ momooy, Kibbutz •...0-~pl'al"lf-~ far from the border of Mea Shearim, there is a quiet "Vur In lnfff" Prlortoboglnn!ng!ho-Ol'l•lilbbott,allaro• looking little church surrounded by a carefully tended d"'-me!1Wf10b< .....Uol __ nn. doys me ,....., to cl...... ,dios Condldotes ""' gtven "' garden. The sign on the church, in Arabic and Hebrew, ,.,._,,, In 1'ltlnw, lfraell cultur.. Jewish Hi ·.••••• ....··.·.<. s,·'.I···············.··....•....•.. ·.• .·.tW~ hiofN':ll\:ti°"l'n~itite:~~~'CO~~il~~:~:!:i'::~~~~11~nn h'J111p11"Jl.LI fa1:J1orn-)n ..K~xu ,,:,,:,',- ', ,', ' ,, ' ,'> ', ',','''' ,-,_-,':--,''-:-:,",',, ,' '"'' We are delighted that.'~ci)Jwi!lh tovisi.t .an Israe).i {~i.ry ;' t~j;s.J~ft giy~,yolf a first-hand opportunity to learn more about conten1porary lif.e in this }.~n~ l!tlil' af~o 5g.ive you a C.h~n<'~i;<> !Ohflw 20 The }wish Observer I April, 1984 Ive got a Money Market Fund. Thats a great idea. ~ Enjoy GreaterFund Savings... with the Otherwise, the account earns our N.0.W Want unlimited checking? Ask about earning power of a Money Market rate (currently 51/4%) while the balance GreaterFund Checking. It's another Fund ... the safety of an insured savings remains below the minimum. Greater Idea that lets you write as many account ... accessibility to check writing, FDIC Insurance. 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Scheinman In Search of Freedom and Independence Contemplating the Jewish Calendar From a Pesach Perspective Liberty or Death bring a person to the discovery of G-d in nature, eventu The concept of "Give me liberty or give me death" is a ally leading to the discovery of the laws of the Torah deeply rooted sentiment in the human psyche. One deeply embedded within nature. While in that pre might wonder why. After all what is objectionable Sinaitic state of existence, Israel had no means of about living a pleasant life under conditions dictated by national self-realization, and Mitzraim succeeded in somebody else? Basically, however, a human being is in imposing corporeal slavery upon the Israelites. Under essence a bocheir-a creature that exercises free will. It is Egyptian control, the Jews had lost all semblances of this feature that distinguishes him from the animals, on independence except for their language, their names one hand, and the angels on the other. Just as most and their manner of dress, which they managed to people would welcome death over a vegetable exist preserve. ence-albeit a comfortable one-so too does a more With the Ten Plagues and the Exodus, G-d not only sensitive person realize that he is the equivalent of a freed Israel from Egyptian dominion, but initiated the vegetable unless he is free to choose his own destiny. A process that ultimately redeemed them from any possi nation, too, gains its existence on its independence day, bility of future subjugation. For instance, with the in the same sense that an individual exists only when he Tenth Plague, the killing of the First Born, the ruling is free to make his own choices. class of the country was destroyed; Israel was no longer At what point did the Jewish People begin its national enslaved to Egypt and instead entered bondage to G-d existence? The S'far Emes' explains that the geula from (Vilna Gaon in Siddur HaGra). In their earlier state, con I ' Mitzraim-the redemption from Egypt-was eternal, trol of the Jews' destiny could easily have been trans and the day it took place, Pesach, brought about our ferred from one national group (i.e. Egypt) to another I permanent freedom. Pesach, then, is not merely a com be it Greece, Canaan, or Assyria. Once they became memoration of a historic act of redemption; it is rather G-d's charges, however, no other nation could ever gain the day that "freed us forever." control over them, for "belonging to G-d" puts them into an entirely different realm. In The Realm of the free All the occurrences in the seven weeks that followed added to this special status. Splitting the sea for Israel's How do we understand this eternal freedom, in the sake, for example, raised it above all other groups, light of the millennia of personal and national bondage which are identified by their attachment to material that the Jews have been suffering? The answer lies in concerns. (See Maharal in Gevuros Hashem Chapters 40- that Geulas Mitzraim was actually the beginning of a 42.) This metamorphosis was completed with the giving progression that culminated in Mattan Torah-the Giv of the Torah, when Israel completed its assumption of a ing of the Law, which lifted us into a different realm of new dimension of existence, and gained an entirely new free choice, a realm in which the other nations do not stratum for exercising its bechira. function: The S'fas Emes explains in numerous places that Since that time when the Jew achieved a higher level the era of the Patriarchs was characterized by derech eretz of existence, he is always free to choose, even under the kadma laTorah. This was a seemingly normal pattern of harshest of conditions. His hands may be bound and his life enhanced by profound contemplation, which can mouth sealed by his oppressors, but in his heart he is still free to choose to fulfill the mitzva of emuna-belief in Rabbi Scheinman, an American-born Kolle/ fellow in Jerusalem, is a frequent contributor to these pages. *Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yehuda Arye Leib Alter (560711847-566511905). 22 The Jewish Observer I April. 1984 G-d. True, he does not at all compare with a person free to choose to fulfill all six-hundred-and-thirteen milzvos with everyone of his limbs. But his life is still not on the vegetable level. It is the life of a Jew, using his most human of capacities: free will. Peoplehood With a Difference As an example of Jewry's elevated field of choice since achieving its elevated people hood, the Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, commented on Rashi's remark that when the Canaanites fought Israel, they came dressed as Amaleikim (see Bamidbar 21). Israel overheard them talking in Canaanite language, and was confused as to their identity. So the Jews simply prayed, "Deliver this nation into my hands," without specifying whom they wanted vanquished: By appearance their foes were of Amaleik, by speech they were of Canaan. But if the Canaanites were interested in confusing Israel, asks the Rebbe, they should have spoken Hebrew, and presented themselves as Israelites! National iden tity, he explains, is based on speech and appearance. Thus a Canaanite who dresses and speaks like a member of another nation, is ipso facto a member of that other nation. Just as Jews whilst in Egypt preserved their identity by not changing their language or their clothing, so too can arlyone today become a member of l'lifal Hashas is an organization founded by the SANZ..KLAUZENBERGER REBBE SHLITA, which to-date has over 1..300 "yun geleit" on its payroll SARA SCHENIRER SEMINARY whose only requirement is that theysubmitto'a stringent written test each Rosh Chodesh "'~"'~m ':\1\JJ~ nrirc7 71~~ covering 30 blatt of gemora and tosfos. is now accepting registrants '&'from continental U.S. Acclaimed by the Gedolim as a modem-day Yrsachar/Zevulun investment opportunity, 4 and for communities abroad to its I DAY SEMINARY CLASS l'lifal Hashas looks to you to take part in this j of 5745 (1984-85) most ambitious undertaking. and to its Sponsorships are available to those who RESIDENCE HALL wish to take a partnership role in producing a generation of yungeleit who can recite Rabbonim,, Mechanchi·m, and Baale·i Batim are "gantz shas''. invited to a.rai1 themsel-nes of a Ba is Yaakou educa~ t?:on for the1:r daughters 1.rith accompanyi11g stand ards of ei:cellence 1:n C'hinuch. $1,800 - Shutaf Hatorah - Torah Partner (}ur curriculum covers all major a re as of Tana.ch, $1,200 - Parnes Hatorah - Torah Sponsor IV!usi:;ar, ~Wachshara. History, and Halacha, in ad $600 - Mokir Torah - Torah Donor dition to a 1.·ast array of supplementnl top·ics, such as $180 - Chai Torah Supporter Special Educati.on, Speech Therapy, and Art Skills. :i:i. tl'?'tn~' N'l'l tl"n "(31 Interested parents and principals m.ay call or u1rite for clarifh·at1:on and /or registration Make Contributions payable to Mila! Hashas Rabbi M. Meisels, Dean MIFAL HASHAS Sara Schenirer Seminary 4606 - 16th Avenue 4622-14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 Brooklyn, N.Y.11204 (212) 633-8557-8 (212) 436-7790 Schedules for Evening Seminary and Institute for Special Education sent upon reque5t. The Jewish Obsen1er I April, 1984 23 .~ .- JOIN KIAL YISROEL IN THE TORAH OPPORRJNDY OF A I.IFEl'IME t Never before did such an opportunity exist Jn the past, we had to knock on doors to beg parents to send their children to a Torah school. Today, thousands ' of parents, realizing the terrible results a purely secular education has had on their families, are pleading with us to open Torah schools in their neighborhoods. 38 COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL WANT CHINUCH ATZMAI TORAH SCHOOLS . We need $5,000,000 Today! In response to the call of Hagaon HaRav Schach, the Gedolei Torah, Board of Governors of Chinuch Atzmai - Torah Schools for Israel have designated the 31st NATIONAi. rnNNER to initiate a $5 million fund for new schools. Say "yes" to thousands of families who seek Torah Schools for their children! Join us. ' ' The 31st National Dinner The place: New York Hilton The date: May 20, 1984/18 lyar 5744 ' '1•Ja., DIUrtl, Inscribe your name in the National Journal ,,Jn:ot For reservations and journal information: 'RJ>':'I Torah Schools for Israel· Chinuch Atzmai 167 Madison Ave. New York, N.Y. 10016 (212) 889-0606 INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF GOVERNORS AMERICAN SECTION HONORARY CHAIRMEN' CO· CHAIRMEN' RABBI LEVI KRUPENIA RAB81 YAAf'.OV KAMINETSKY RABBI MORDECHAI GIFTER RABBI AVROHOM CHAIM LEVIN RABBI YOSEF D SOLOVEICHIK RABBI BINYOMIN PALER RABBI DOVID UPSCHITZ RABBI ISRAEL SPIRA RABBI YAAKOV PERLOW PRESIDENT' RABBI AHARON SCHECTER RABBI MOSHE FEINSTEIN RABBI LEIB BAKST RABBI EL YA SVEI VICE PRESIDENT' RABBI S.B. EHRENFELD RABBI MORDECHAI WEINBERG RABBI YAAf'.OV Y. RUDERMAN RABBI SHMUEL AVIGDOR FAIVELSON RABBI YAAKOV WEINBERG SECRETARY' RABBI YOSEF YITZCHOK FEIGELSTOCK RABBI AVROHOM PAM RABBI S.M. KALMANOWITZ IBEASURER' RABBI SHMUEL BERENBAUM another nation by fully assuming the culture of that nation. Thus we find today that the Palestinian Arabs demand their own nation so as to have their own flag and their own passport; for these are not merely the trappings of a nation, for them they are the essence of nationhood. Not so is Israel's lot. When Israel was given the Torah-that is, when G-d made the covenant with Israel, proclaiming them a nation, His treasured na tion-ii7UC tiy-Israel was transformed, and its essence could no longer be contained in its language, its government, its anthem or its army, but rather in the Torah-and only in Torah. Had the Amaleikites spoken Hebrew, the Amaleikites would not have become Jew ish. An elevated status as members of the Torah Nation • is also required for such a transformation. Torah as Our National Essence Should Israel ever be threatened with shmad-spiritual extinction-its people are enjoined to sacrifice their lives even on account of the minutest of customs bear Now famous for our Glatt ~ Kosher Catering at ing religious significance (see Rashi who explains the reason for the wearing of KlNOt.:ii NJipiy-see Sanhedrin ~~S of Great Neck 74b). On the other hand, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai now also available at was even willing to surrender the capital city of Jerusa YOUNG ISRAEL Remember not only rs lem to spare Jewish lives once he was assured of the OF STATEN ISLAND our food Glatt and Del1- continuity of Torah in Yavneh, with no fatal loss to CREST HOLLOW Country cious, but vve are '·Gian" in our business practJCes with Jewish nationhood. Torah guarantees Israel's integrity, Club. Woodbury, LI. lhe EL CARIBE, meticulous attentJon to the conventional trappings of nationhood do not. Sheepshead Bay. Brooklyn every detail Our word 1s as Pursuing this line of thought, one will not question SAIS YAAl ~::_...1'..()-~~~~~~"-o_t~fo_rw~a-r_d~m~a-g_a_z_i_n_e_s~to~ your new address. The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 25 worsev1n. However, statehood is never an end or a goal unto itself. It is only a means for further accomplish ment. In this context, rabbinical leaders have directed Agudath Israel to participate in Israel's national affairs, M.esivta Ohr Yisroel to secure Torah interests and the nation's security, without evaluating the desirability of the creation of the 66-20.Thornton'Place.• FotestHills,NY11374, well State per se. kno:Wn (or its intensive htghschool program, distin We can find parallels to this in the milestones that guished by a shiudyun and shiuur bekiyus on each occur in our personal lives. People are apt to celebrate class level, announces registratk>n for the coming their wedding anniversary, for they feel that on the day school year: of their marriage they became a more complete person. Acquiring a home is a different matter. To be sure, a 5745/September 1984 person without a home or dwelling place cannot form a Fotinformation onppointrnent call family, which is why people rejoice upon acquiring a (212}263-6242 house, and even celebrate the acquisition with a chanukas habayis-a house warming dedication. Yet, no one would think of celebrating the occasion on a yearly basis. For the house is but a means, while the family is a goal unto itself. The book that swept The Essential Renaissance Eretz Yisroel lka Israeli, a celebrated artist who today is one of -now available in America! Israel's more prominent baalei teshuva, was once asked on a radio interview why he does not celebrate Independ ence Day. He retorted sharply, "In my opinion, the day Irresistible, inspirational reading for all ages, of the founding of Yeshivat Ohr Somayach (a leading acclaimed by Rabbis school for baalei teshuva) is a more significant day in the and principals history of Israel." The answer was more than just a throughout the smart-alecky retort. If one wishes to celebrate the Anglo-Jewish world. rebirth of Israel, one must seek signs of spiritual rebirth. The Ramban, when explaining the characteristics of "Ideal reading for every Jewish home, by the author Moshiach and his era, clearly defines him as a spiritual who has delighted JO readers with his stories and giant redeeming Israel spiritually; the physical redemp reportage." tion that marks the Messianic era merely serves as the -Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, Editor of final proof that G-d's spirit has indeed rested upon the THE JEWlSH OBS ER VER man chosen to be Moshiach. Refraining from celebrating Yorn Ha'atzmaut is not a (Includes some stories that were featured in JO and JWO.) protest against the character of today's State-justified JO Readers: SAVE 10% when ordering as such a protest may be. It is a proclamation that your copy statehood is not an essential part of Israel's self. G-d has of Once Upon a Soul. I' "lifted us from amongst other nations," and since the Exodus from Egypt and the Giving of the Torah, we Send ($10 less 10% reduction=) $9; I have never been dependent on other nations or their plus $2 for postage and handling to: recognition of us. We may have been oppressed, beaten or humiliated, but in our essence we were always inde New York Publishers ~ pendent. We are thankful to G-d for every opportunity 4th------ Floor/37 W. 37th St/NYC/10018 for widening our range of bechira but never are we in a position that life has lost meaning or challenge for lack Gentlemen: Kindly send me __ copies of Once of choice. Upon a Soul@ $11 each, including p&h. Name for Whom the "Mi SheBeirach"? Address------The revered Mirrer Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz 7"1!, would proclaim on Yorn Kippur that a City, State, Zip soldier who is killed for Kial Yisroel's sake is on the level of Harugei Lud-the martyrs of Lud-who have the great- 26 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 t. est share in Olam Haba-the World-to-Come. If the role SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH: of the soldiers is so held in awe, why does the Mirrer Yeshiva-and all such places, for that matter-not say A LEADER A CENTURY AGO "Mi Shebeirach" prayers for the well-being of the State A LEGEND TODAY. and the army? As is, the Shabbos liturgy already includes two "Mi Shebeirach's" in the form of the "Yekum Purkan" prayer for two institutions that are the mainstay of Kial Yisroel: the Kehilla (organized community) and the talmidei chachomim (Torah scholars). It is not the prime minister and/or the over 400 pages parliament that give Kial Yisroel its shape. It is the Kahal the gathering of the people in achdus and in union that is beautifully* bound Klal Yisroel, per se. The same is true of the inner core of Kial Yisroel. which is its talmidei chachomim. An army is a hardcover * necessity of the moment and, to be sure, Tehillim is said as an ad hoc tefilla for its welfare. But the army as an $15.75* institution, and the Jew as a soldier is not a permanent or intrinsic fixture of Kial Yisroel. The army does not "bring out the best in a Jew," the Beis Midrash does. The army is a temporary answer to a temporary problem. The Beis Midrash is eternal. In a similar vein, Rabbi Avra ham Yitzchak Kook 7":>t once commented that all impor tant institutions in Israel pass on from the father to son, except for Kohein Moshiach Milchama, who was in charge of the wartime obligations of the priesthood. He explained that since war in essence is temporary, so too does the wartime office have no lineal continuity. Come let us celebrate Independence Day together, on the fifteenth of Nissan! Let us sing a new song (ruin i•tu) of geula! For this song of geula renews itself each time an oppressor assumes that he can succeed in enslaving us. I Had G-d not granted us this wonderful day, we and our 1 The philosophies of Rabbi Samson Raphael children and children's children would still be en I Hirsch, the Torah giant of nineteenth cen slaved-if not to Pharaoh, then to every other oppres ' tury Germany, are as relevant today as they sor who subjugated Israel in his time. But now that G-d has bestowed upon us the gift of true freedom, every were in his own lifetime. person in every generation can indeed view himself as if Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch is known he had left Milzraim! I.I I for his spiritual leadership and his persua I sive teachings. His reputation as a scholar I and prolific writer is evidenced in this, the inaugural volume of a projected 8-volume l series which will ultimately include the l bulk of Hirsch's philosophical writings hitherto inaccessible to the English speaking public. Exclusive Caterers at the Elegant 1 Volume I consists of essays on different COTILLION TERRACE themes pertaining to the five months from 7307 18th Avenue Nissan through Av. Brooklyn, N.Y. Open Chupa-Glatt Kosher Accommodations Up To 700 Persons We also cater for all your simchas 6 Avail~bie ~t Heb~' booksto~s o~ order di~ct from: Bris, Kiddushes, Sheva Brochas, etc. r.; FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS at home. synagogue. or the hall of your choice t-:J 96 East Broadway• NY• NY 10002 CALL MR. GREENFIELD 436-2112 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984- 27 Sponsor a THE YESHIVA OF THE SOUTH INVITES YOU TO ATTEND A YARCHE KALLAH* Yeshiva MAY 20 - 27, 1984 in the Airport Hilton Inn, Knoxville, Tennessee Bachur's *The Talmud refers to the ancient tradition of Jews coming together for study as Kallah, Ka!lah means a large conference, or general assembly, of students. 1t wn held twice a year· before Pesach and before Succoth. Hente, the months of Nissan and Tishri were called Yarche Kallah ·The months marking the Genera! Assembly Meeting5. 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Chairman Co-Chairman We are now offering you a chance to MEMPHIS ISRAEL "Adopt" an outstanding yeshiva scholar by If you wish further information regarding sponsoring one or more of his examinations. this Yarche Kallah, write: As a sponsor, you will receive an outline of his past achievements, progress report updates, Yeshiva Of The South and you will be able to monitor his growth. 5255 Meadowcrest Cove Memphis, Tennessee 38117 SEND YOU GIFT OF: D $50.00 for a first~ycle exam. Cost: $250. per person Minimum of SO Daf Gemora. D $100.00 for a second~cycle exam. Minimum of 100 Daf Gemora. D $250.00 for a fourth cycle exam. Minimum of 200 Daf Gemora. Address------To: V'SHINANTOM, 4533 16th Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204 City ------~tate ____ Zip _____ (212) 438-2100 28 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 . 111111 ;~ ,111 BOOKS Shedding Light on Recent History Guardian of Jerusalem, The life and Times of Rabbi Heroine of Rescue, The incredible Story of Recha Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, adapted by Rnhhi Hillel Sternbuch who Saved Thousands from the Dan::igcr from the Hebrew biography by Rabbi Shfon10 Holocaust, h.11 Joseph Fricdcnson and DnPid Krn11zlcr (New Zalm1111 Sn1111c11fc!d (New York, Mesorah Publications, York, Mesorah Pub!. 1984, $12.95 hardcover, $9.95 1983, $15.95 l.3rdcover, $12.95 paperback). paperback). This is yet another volume in the Artscroll History This new volume in The Artscroll History series is Series. It is dedicated, in the first place, to a women a worthy successor to the previously published who, with her husband and associates, worked with biograpy of Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman. (In this extraordinary self-sacrifice through the war years context, it should be stressed that Mesorah and - overcoming the lethargy and outright Publications has just published a special version of opposition of governments and even Jewish this biography for young readers, admirably written organizations and leaders - saved uncounted by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman and beautifully individuals and families. The incidents recounted illustrated by Rabbi Yosef Dershowitz - New York, rival any fiction for sheer excitement - but they are I I 1984, $9.95 hardcover, $6.95 softcover - a must for fact and they provide insight not only into the every boy and girl.) Whilst the biograophy of Rabbi heroism of the rescue workers but into the l Elchonon Wasserman went beyond the life story of personalities and politics of that terrible era. Being this outstanding Torah personality to give the reader focused on one person, this book is not a systematic an insight into the world of the yeshivos and Ccd(Jfl'i study of the various aspects of the Halzoloh problem; l Hn To,nh, the biography of Rabbi Yosef Chaim but it throws a light on a wide variety of problems and Sonnenfeld also goes beyond the life of its hero to issues that kaleidoscopically arose. convey to the reader an understanding of Jewish life in Erfio Yisrocl during the last hundred years - the glory of the Old Yishur>, the rise of secular .Zionism, Responsa from the Holocaust, by /\abbi Ephraim Oshni the battles that pitted causes and personalities against (New York, Judaica Press, 1983, $14.95). each other, and the deeper meaning of the issues involved for Torah Jewry. All the famous names of This is another work that takes us back to the war modern Jewish history, from the secular camps as period with searing impact. It is an abriged English well as from the Torah community, appear in these version of the author's five volumes of Rabbinic pages. At the same time, story after story touches our responsa issued under the most tragic conditions in heart with its message of total commitment to Torah, the Kovno ghetto. In these responsa, Sh'ci/os love to the Holy land, and longing for Moshinrh. U'TcshuPos MiM1111n111ki111, there was not only reflected Without doubt, this volume will become a textbook the horror inflicted upon the victims of the Nazis, but for the study of Jewish History. also - and above all else - their refusal to let themselves be dehumanized. The questions posed to The original Hebrew biography, on which it is Rabbi Oshry show that the Nazis could torture or based, was criticized in Neturei Karta circles as in even kill these Jews, but they could not break their some respects depicting Rav Sonnenfeld in too spirit or take away their commitment to G-d and "liberal" a fashion; these critics will probably take Torah. The questions (such as whether to recite a Pxception to this or that formulation in this volume blessing before undergoing martyrdom) will deeply too - but there can be no argument that the picture affect the reader. The abridgement of the replies of Rav Sonnenfeld that emerges from this volume is makes them more readable for the lay reader, since authentic. the details of the halachic reasoning are omitted; of The Jewish Observer I April, l9R4 29 .-. --- course, this makes the volume of less interest to the informed student, but he can always turn to the Hebrew original for the details desired. FOLLOW THE Escape lo Shaghai, by Rab/,; E/cho11on Yosef Herfzman. translated by Rabbi Dr. C. U. Lipshifz (Published by Bais moon Veyelepole, N.Y. 1981). A JOURNEY THROUGH This slim volume, attractively designed and THE JEWISH YEAR prepared by Shimon Katzman, is the author's by Yaffa Ganz personal account of the odyssey of the Lithuanian yeshivas, from the early days of the war to their stay illustrations by in China and Japan and their final reestablishment Harvey Klineman after the war in Erefz Yisrorl and the United States. The Hand of Providence is clearly visible in many of the details recounted, and many of the personalities we What do you know encounter remain firmly etched in the reader's mind about the Hebrew year? - not only Gedolei Yisroel but some most unlikely How many beginnings heroes such as the Japanese consul in Kovno. The does it have? photographs and documents included add further to Why did Jews of old the value of this book. Unfortunately, there are some gaze at the sky? printing errors, especially in the rendering of names, And what happened in which should be corrected in a future edition. the year 2448? You'll find all the answers and more The Yellow Star, bu Simcha Bu11im U11sdorfer (N.Y., Feldheim, 1983, $6.95 hardcover,$4.95 softcover). in FOLLOW THE MOON - A JOURNEY THROUGH THE Personal experience of a different kind is the subject of this autobiographical volume, describing JEWISH YEAR. A fantastic, new the ten months - in real life, an eternity - from the book with album-sized pages, each author's deportation from Hungary to his liberation covered with super-special full-color in Buchenwald. It is impossible to read this book illustrations and overflowing with (which was briefly mentioned in the J.O. when it appeared) without being deeply touched. important things you'll want to know about the Jewish calendar and year. For a first grader or a fifth, to be The Butcher of Lyon, The Story of Klaus Barbie, by Brendan Murphy (N.Y. Empire Books, 1983, $13.95) read alone or read aloud, FOLLOW THE MOON is a book of r This book, which is another addition to the ever growing Holocaust literature, occassioned by the knowledge and a work of art which f arrest and deportation to France of Barbie, every Jewish child, home, school and I documents the indescribable crimes of this war library deserves to have. criminal. In the process, it throws a painful light also on the attitude of many French toward the persecution of Jews. As one closes this carefully And it starts with the month of I researched book, he has gained much information on Nissan ... just in time for a perfect a variety of topics - yet the central figure of the book Pesach gift! remains a mystery; the reader is no closer to an understanding of this neat, civilized, competent, bureaucratic mass murderer, his mind and mental processes, than at the outset. Indeed, the flood of Feldheim Publishers Young Readers Division Holocaust literature leaves us, in general, with this 6 Jerusalem - New York puzzle. Perhaps there may be found a profound r,; $8.95 at all Jewish bookstores or directly I warning: we must be aware of what a perfectly ~.J from the publisher Kmdly add Sales Tax where appl!<."able ~ normal human being is capable of doing if he frees himself of the G-d-given moral restraints. 30 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 ,-'\1711.7 l:)'..:i -0-0;,~"'~;-b > ';y~'!l\\lpn11"JiJY' 1)1,i ,,,, '') l',?1ll '"' ,,,'T:"llJ~ i'tl:> Kosher Le'mehadrin Under the hash!{ocho ol Rahhi J.J. Spei!{el A series of Shiurim for men regarding Monetary Issues and Business Law ol Brooklyn. is being offered by MECHON HAHOYROA as a service to the public. If you are a Ben Torah, businessman, merchant, employer, rea! or personal ask for Dagim property owner, agent, contractor, broker or custodian. 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Jn Our Elegant a~d Private Hall Ctrtifiedb;i Vaad Mishrire!'es ~m R<'serve Your D.ate Now 1 Flight Up. . .· . 1.Undt''- 'J'Ju;- 811p1•t,,I ~frjir ()f R>afibi .Pinf'h'us Ji '/(dl'v'tl.•iJ.Z.-.Chit,~t~'t [N.1.1;} Will Pick Up Your Meztizos To Ch~ SQ09 •.16th Ave~ Brooklyn, N,.Y. 1120<1 (lift) .8S1•tU7 ~ The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 31 Torah teachings-one of the most difficult-to-grasp Samson's Struggle, by Rabbi Gershon Weiss, in collabora personalities in Jewish history, and some exceedingly tion with Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (Kol HaYeshivah Publica complex and misunderstood chapters of Tanach IShoflim tions, 1984, $11.95). 13:2-16:31). This volume, subtitled "The Life and Legacy of Sam Shimshon would seem to have been a man of profound son, Reflecting Two Thousand Years of Jewish contradictions-chosen by G-d to judge the Jewish peo Thought," is the first volume in a Jewish Heritage Ser ple, yet drawn into marriages with Philistine women ies, devoted to exposition of the lives and struggles of and provoking wild brawls with the Philistines. The Biblical personalities, made relevant to the contempor reality, as it emerges from the comments of our Sages, ary Jew. Without any question, this volume makes a and as is masterfully presented by Rabbi Weiss, is quite most important contribution in clarifying-according to different. In following his exposition-consisting of translation of the .Biblical text, commentary and elabo rating footnotes, as well as several appended essays the reader receives an insight not only into the role of Shimshon, the meaning of the events in which he acted, and the working of Divine Providence, but also into many related teachings of the Torah, such as the Messi anic drama in Jewish history, the meaning of good and evil, and what marriage should be like. This volume will keep the reader spellbound-and it must be considered absolutely essential for any teacher. Tz'enah Ur'enah, the Classic Anthology of Torah Lore and Midrashic Comment, translated from the Yiddish, by Miriam Stark Zakon (Artscroll Judaica Classics, 1983, vol. 1, Bereshith, $12.95 hardcover, $9.95 softcover, vol. Remember the that has been organiz~tion. pl~n· 2, Shemos-Vayikroh, $13.95 hardcover, $10.95 softcover). ning tor Torah, speaking for Tora'h and takmg decisive action tOr Torah for close to six decades ... As Meir Holder, of the Hillel Press, co-publishers when you make your will. with Mesorah Publications of this work, points out in It is the best way to use your wealch of wisdom his introduction, the Tz'enah Ur'enah has truly been for and experience from the past, to devote your finan .. centuries an indispensable feature of the traditional cial resources to the securing of future generations. Jewish household. Written in Yiddish, it brought to the Only Agudath Israel of America has been ta.king masses the contents of the weekly Torah reading and care_ of children in youth programs, pioneering in Haftorah, together with illuminating, enlightening, and summer camps, sponsoring contests and study pro instructive comments culled from Talmud, Midrash and grams ... later Rabbinic classics. The message was always clear; Only Agudath Israel of America has been pub the reader was to be guided to the eternal spiritual lishing The Jewish Observer, Dos Yiddishe Vort and verities of the Torah. The present English edition, illus position papers ... trated with woodcuts from the 1726 Frankfurt edition, Only Agudath Israel has been running COPE is most readable, and it will hold the interest of the fOr our community's vocational needs, Project RISE for Russian immigrants, J EP to reach out to kids who are far from Torah ... FEIVEL KIRSHENBAUM, Ph.D. Only Agudath Israel of America speaks for you FINANCIAL ADVISER with dignity and force in the halls oflegislature and befOre government agencies .. , Expertise in financial planning, investment Shouldn't Agudath Israel of America continue selection, tax strategies, retirement and estate to do this for you-after you no longer can? Our legal advisors can guide you regarding cor planning. rect fOrms and procedures, tax advantages, and Registered Investment Adviser. Twenty years annuities (guaranteed income contracts). of experience in financial analysis. No sales or Write us today. commissions. Absolute confidentiality. Agudath Israel of America 5 Beekman St, New York City, 1oos8 (914) 352-1919 32 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 ------. --- ,,._ - reader throughout; the rabbinical comments selected lished by Feldheim Publishers in an attractive softcover were of course not chosen for their specific relevance to edition. Moreover, companion volumes in the same our days, but there are only few places where today's format have at the same time been published of the reader might want further explanation of comments author's translation and commentary on Ruth, originally given. It is always worth noting again how the teachings published in 1975, and of Koheleth, which sees the light of of Torah retain their immediacy from generation to day for the first time. Every volume contains the generation. Hebrew text, faced by a very readable English transla tion, and the commentary, drawn primarily from Mid Shir Hashirim/Ruth/Koheleth, Translation and Com rashim but also utilizing later classical works. The mentary by Rabbi Yitzhak I. Broch (Feldheim Publications author does not provide a major interpretative intro $8.95/$7.95/$9.95; $2.00 less for softcover). duction or summary of the main themes of each work; In 1969, The Jewish Obseroer reviewed a translation of rather, his commentary seeks to highlight the lessons to Shir Hashirim, with a Midrashic commentary, by Rabbi be derived from each verse or segment of the text, Yitzhak I. Broch, and in particular praised the way in through liberal use of the sources. As he points out in which the author had succeeded in integrating the Bibli the introduction to Koheleth, the reader will not find a cal text with the interpretations of our Sages. It is new systematic account of its philosophy, "the purpose therefore a source of gratification to note that a second is merely to collect and select the sayings of our and enlarged edition of this work has now been pub- sages ...."This Rabbi Broch has done exceedingly well, and the reader will find himself very well rewarded. 1.T · Subscribe, Renew or Give The Jewish Observer now and save. D One Year/$15.00 (for ten issues) D Two Years/$27.00 (a $40 value) i D Three Years/$36.00 (a $60 value) ,i D *Overseas-$20.00 per year D *Australia, South Africa: $25 .00 per year * air delivery l • Fully comprehensive program includes BASIC, US dollars, drawn on a US bank only. INTRO. COBOL, JCL and BAL •Extensive hands· on terminal time ·JJith The Jewish Observer professional supervision •Training on state·orthe·art IBM mainframe and I 5 Beekman Street/New York, N.Y./10038/ PRIME 550-1! super-mini I • Profession..t! placement assistance fron1 the Send magazine to: school with a proven reputation I Financial aid available for eligible students l Full Scholarship assislilnce available for income Address ------eligible students under JTPA I FOR APTITUDE TESTING City ______State _____ Zip ---- AND ENROUMENT PROCEDURES CALL (212) 436-1700 From: l Name ------Address ------COPE City ______State ____ Zip ---- INSTITUTE 4419 18th Avenue. Brooklyn. NY 11204 0 Enclose gift card 0 Master card D Visa A< neclu,.d hy 1h1• fic,•.<>cl·>l•on "I lndqwnd The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 33 ---·- who are at the right. We are intimidated by the right. We react to events and ideologies around us, but frequently lack the courage lo initiate because of the fear that we may be second looks challenged by our brethren on the right." "Why, for example" he added, "if! daven daily, Shabbos, Yam Tov and Yomim Noraim (High Holidays) in a yarmulka, must I pul on a black hal lo officiate al a with this term, those associated with wedding with other rabbonim (rabbis) who Centrists: the RCA have as oflate shunned the are thus attired? We do not have lo collapse title Modern Orthodoxy. It seems into miserable surrender because someone Between the that they see it connoting a rush who claims greater piety favors a certain toward modernity, even if ha lac ha is form of dress. There is a tyranny in self watered down in the process. Yet declared piety that is as objectionable as the ''Right Wing" the extremes are una.ttractive to scorn of the left. them, so rather than choose to iden "I know of no major theological difference and Whom? tify with a position that might be or religious belief that separates us from the labeled as maximal, this segment of so-called right wing Orthodox groups. When the president of a major Orthodoxy is staking out the mid Among our chaverim (colleagues) there are rabbinical group speaks at his or dle-of-the-road turf for itself, leav greater talmidei chachamim (scholars) than ganization's national convention and ing the extremes to everybody else. there are in that camp. Certainly, we are a report on his address is given To be a "centrist," however, one talmidei chachamim enough and intelligent prominent coverage in a popular should be equally accommodating to enough to justify our being more secure in publication, it should give the reader both extremes, or equally negative our practices and way of life." some insight into the thinking of the toward them both. How does Rabbi It is difficult to defend the "right man and his organization. A case in Klaperman place his group in rela wing" against Rabbi Klaperman's I point is the convention address of tion to the groups at "the extremes"? fault-finding because his criticisms ! Rabbi Gilbert Klaperman, president are not very specific. As for his atti of the Rabbinical Council of Amer Decrying the "Tyrannical" Right tude toward the right, he wears it on ica, which was featured prominently his sleeve-as the headline of the in the Long Island Jewish World (March According to Rabbi Klaperman, * article puts it, he "Decries the holier l, '84). RCA members are being "drawn lo the than-thou allitude of the right wing." So In it, Rabbi Klaperman declared right by the adamant inflexibility of those they are sanctimonious and smug. himself in the "Centrist" camp of But one is at loss to find out if Rabbi Orthodoxy. For those unfamiliar *dl quotations from the LI. Jewish World Klaperman is equally hard on the NEW!! 8 oz. HAOLAM Shredded Mozzarella perfect for home-made pizza! Notjust a cheese, a traClition ... ;.,-, Haolam. the most trusted name tn Cholov Yisroel Kl)Sher Cheese. ;~ A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashnith.Wirh 12 delicious varienes. Under the strict Rabb1n1Cal supervision ofK'hal Adas Jeshurun, N. Y. Ha<>iam, atraditrn you'l~::::vk:~:: l lao THl'RM !\RU~ - \l.'URLl'UiHSEl.l) INC ~EWYORK_ NY J ....."'"'~ 34 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 ------left-wing Orthodox, for he neither us so deeply." Again Rabbi Klaperman all shades, and then they wonder identifies them, nor comments on indicates that there could be a modus aloud why the "Ring-Wingers" are their sins. He does express very vivendi with Reform in regard to troubled with them. Is it really such clearly, however, how he views the conversion. But halachic Judaism a puzzle? leaders of Conservative and the Re cannot even accept a Conservative In the name of Achdus (unity), form Judaism, and it seems that conversion. Central to the conver perhaps Rabbi Klaperman would but perhaps he should be permitted sion process is unconditional accep consider creating a new mood by to speak for himself: tance of the divinity of Torah from severing his ties with the Conserva Sinai. Should the Conservative or tive and Reform-organizationally, Reform candidate for conversion by leading his group out of the Syn Be Nice to the Deviant Left? accept this, he would cease to be a agogue Council of America, and Conservative-or Reform-sponsored ideologically by stopping to try to • On the Reform movement's convert, because these groups do please them with his statements. outreach program aimed at conver not themselves accept the divinity Instead, let him attempt to establish sion of "unchurched" non-Jews: "We of Torah. As such, a requirement of "confidence and a relationship" with have to teach and proselytize and attract our this sort would never be acceptable the so-called Right Wingers. If he own people firs/ and then perhaps look lo the to the Conservative or Reform lead stops looking toward the deviation others. "-"and then''? Is it all possible ership. Yet anything less demanding ists, he might find that the "Right that the "Centrist" Orthodox believe would be halachically unacceptable Wingers" aren't half as intimidating that a change has come about in the to the Orthodox. Where is there as he thought. lT halachic attitude of discouraging room for accommodation? converts, and that at the approp The "Centrists"~or at least the riate time we should engage in active RCA president, if not the organiza proselytization, a la Reform out Can we send you tion he speaks for-seem unusually FREE-what? reach? soft and accommodating in their • In regard to the widely-decried, dealings with deviationist groups of A LUACH! now defunct Denver conversion The Luach for Mlshna-Hala program, in which RCA-member cha Vomit-guides for yoru to rabbis put an Orthodox seal of ap Ye&hi.va of· follow a daily schedule of learn ! proval on Reform conversions: The ing two mishnas a day and ! I Traditional rabbis who participated in the .•.· .. _ .. Btook_lyn Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim. ' joint conversion program with Conservative .•·Summer Ptogr~s Hundreds, perhaps thousands, and Reform Rabbis in Denver had in their throughout the world now learn "excessive zeal" come "dangerously close" to < 3.. 1$ ·.. . Torah every day by following the Luach. sanctioning conversions that were invalid. (Seflll?•~~itn-Ji<>v~~ .giflsci~\\dillg ~ebbeittt &t We all need help to learn True, Klaperman did add that their Torah. The Luach may help you! llfi>•·-~tlts"~iUll·of actions "have raised serious questions as to Try and Ha-shem Yisborach will their reliability, credibility, and integrity as it1n •. help you. Learning Torah every rabbis." But "dangerously close" is a day will brighten every day for cautionary description that also ex you! Please write to: j presses acceptability. In other words, the hundreds of Reform-sponsored Rabbi Elias Karp ' and educated"converts," who comp 1880 47th Street ~ lied with the rituals but not the sub Brooklyn,N.Y.11204 I stance of a halachic conversion, were In memory of Mr. & Mrs. only"close" to being invalid .... Charles Batt n"V· • As to the general tendency ~ amongst the Reform toward runa ' way _radicalism, in conversions as well as other areas, Rabbi Klaper Are you going to Israel? man s~ys: "If it were po$5ible lo have had a set of minimum requirements that would Your visit to the Holy Land will have more meaning when you utilize have satisfed the halacha and if we had the the free touring information seivice available from confidence and the relationship with the Toadst Department Reform group, I have reason lo believe that Agudath Israel Worfd Oraenlzadnn some accommodation could have been made 5 Rechov Shomre Hakose! (opposite Kikar Hacherut) with them that could have avoided the pat Jerusalem, 02-223-357 rilineal descent decision that has anguished ·-·· _____::.=.;:.=::..::...:=::;:_:.:______. The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 35 A Mother's Prayer Help me to remember Sometimes I get very confused that nobody else can raise my children about all this. not neighbors, or maids, or babysitters. A deep nagging voice insists It can't be done that nothing is more important by yeshivos, than raising my own children-in the only or camps, or shuls, (important as they are) place they can truly be raised: their warm Yiddishe home. Not by Rebbes, Counselors, In these rooms, teachers, at their own table, with both parents present. Or by the hundred and one other people to whom we entrust our kinderlach, Where else can they learn manners, for so many hours. or how to talk to each other, or the lessons (not just in theory, but in I am sometimes bewildered practice of consideration, I by this army of other people, and emes, and love? • (good, important people for the most part) Who else (however dedicated) I'm grateful to them; can possibly care as much as we do but often I feel a little guilty whether they learn these lessons, and concerned, too. and what kind of people they become. I It's all too tempting The years of growing up to depend on them, are so precious to say: and so fleeting. '~ "You teach the children, Don't let me shirk the responsibility I guide them, that was given me along with the children. I keep them busy-make them happy! Help me to sort out my priorities, ! I've got so many other important things to; and to drop any activities that separate this family ' for the community, instead of strengthening it. for tzedakka organizations, for my husband. Give me K'r.ltv1 Kl"l))'D in the challenging job I mustn't forget myself either! of raising my children. The experts say that I should feel free, and a proud new joy in building a to study, to take a job, to express myself. 7K1W':l 10Kl l"l':l. The family's better off, Anonymous (they say) if you don't live just for them. The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 36 from washer and dryer whispered knowledge, they taste and touch the the message that work was getting things they see. They test every And he who done, releasing me for the moment. thing grown ups take for granted. He was lying on the floor with the They want to know. They dare to ( knows not abandon only known to children, ask. observing the world from a new His little world had categories, perspective. Soon the others would information filed in tiny discs, I how to ask arrive-big and small, each waiting amassed from his tiny wealth of to be seen, to be heard, to be listened knowledge. He made associations, Open for him to, to be loved, each one claiming his drew conclusions. inalienable uniqueness. But not just Chickens lay eggs, cows give milk, yet. crying produces tears, and laugh Shanie Perr "How come nothing comes out ter??? when you laugh?" he asked from It was a magical moment. We nowhere. were alone in the kitchen, just the I had been stunned before by the Please Register two of us-mother and child caught workings of his little mind, the scope to Vote in a fragment of time. of his imagination. "Prunes are rai As a concerned citizen, who Bright sunlight streamed in from sins when they grow up," he once really cares about your city, the window, unusual for a brisk announced using all the reasoning make your voice heard! November day. Supper, half cooked In New York City, to obtain and experience of his four years on a voter registration form on the stove ... productive sounds this earth. "I love you till the end of counting," he once declared with all Dial VOTER '84 the poetry and intensity of his little In order to vote in a Primary in Mrs. Perr is Program Director of Camp Bnos in being. New York State, you must be Liberty, NY, Counselor and Therapist with Torah enrolled in a party, therefore Umesorah Counterforce Program, and is currently in There is nothing second hand please indicate the party of your private practice. Her "They Don't Make M11ms the about children, I once read; no lay choice when you register and ers, no levels. In children, we see Way They Used To" appeared in the December '82 Please VOTE in every election! JO. learning at its freshest. Hungry for ,>,-,; , ,,,,, ,_,' ,:<:---,"- ,,,,,,,,,',_-,"" , --, __ ,_::,,,'/ , '----::' -: __ --,:,:_,---:,, '',,' / ,>: :-,,,'- :;', ' '. ···.·;.!·<······ · .·...... ···.y~~lti~·~·· ~~<1 ~~11~1 a~~llQt~lls• Tora1t.·•· •. · • <· ... ··••··•········· ...... ···.·•·•···• lt4"si1Tt~·l~~r ~Jimµel··.. •····· ·· · ••·• i ·· .. ·····. ···.· ·•. ·. ···. ·.······· ..•. •·.· •· 4107 I~tp .Av.~nue .•. · ( \ • • ; . . Brguk~~.u,,;Jj.]'eW. XO'~k ... ·· .... · ...... ·...... •.. J~plf!a:!ied .• tO ~llll~llllce.th~J:.reJl'!Sytatioll fo-r,the '8~·'8~:.s~ooJ ;;.ear jg 00\¥ under w.fiy •.. ·· .... ··· ~Jlllf'.Pceri~~d:.R11J.>baifj;j The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 37 iii1nii·',1il r1l~1C r1~C iiW1iP ii~'iP "How come nothing comes out O"'P1n li:J.O 'T !'1Ki'P' 'l:J 1l'nK "K when you laugh?" D"''" ynnn ?',Y:-t 1J":l, ?w inip7no:i~ i1l1V' c,w,nn in?n 1:l:> When was the last time I had c•r'>piirt asked a fundamental question? n,,.,,ynn n1J1int< D"ltU:i 1l"l<, n":i1 .1iw7n ni"r.lVI t,y ,,,!lo:i Cli!:l:J1 Finding the universe as it is, we continue, accept the status quo, fol ,,1')"" 11YDM' o•yi7x n::i,p ,tut< D",t.>?r.>1 D"l:J, ,,,,y, ,,.,,,:J ii:Ji low the daily routine. Our inability .c11w"1 Di1'!l:l ,i11i1.,1 11w?i1 ni'D1U1 .. D'"" f!lM,. i!>O MK ,ni.,r,, to ask results in our inability to r,,:J' .,.,:i, ix7n cilU l"K'P 1111n iitc7 o,Kn n::it' n1,,n1:i ni:>t:n dream. n'>J11:1t11 ?·1 :rn;i ?111 ,,T.ll The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 38 unwittingly shattered. What you hear THE from the distance as 'War!' is really a Of Peace. cry of, 'Danger, Careful-keep fFUlfDJAISEB.l away!'" A computer aid designed for yeshivas, institutions and talen And Pieces ted administrators • Why Do I Struggle? •increases productivity by Faygie Borchardt • enhances your effectiveness l If peace is so good, why do I get • pays for itself Peace. Poets extol it, soldiers fight involved in a struggle? Impulse ver This integrated, on-line, state for it, painters portray it in oils, sus knowledge; comfort versus ful of-the-art system includes: sculptors in marble. And our people fillment; apathy versus compassion. • tuition and pledge processing • donor profiling pray for it every day. Wild creature caged within me fighting to overpower me-strug • dinner planning/accounting People dream of peace . . . we • Yartzheit management yearn for it ... and its elusive quality gle-conflict-war. And regarding this inner struggle, G-d said, "And it is • journal maintenance and makes it more precious than time ... accounting disappearing rainbow to pursue on a very good." (See Ramban, Bereishis 1:31) • selective reporting grey morning. "'Very good' -this is the evil in • automatic letter writing The other day, I heard a woman clination." • word processing talking. A child, really. She was a But what of peace, which we • A/P - G/L captive child, a prisoner of history; dream of and pray for? I don't want • list management an unfortunate who walks darkly a battlefield! I want a lovely garden. I • mailing labels/rolodex/ with a rosy veil on her face. · don't want to challenge, and over statements/receipts For more information or a dem "Why do they care about details?" come mighty forces. I want to pluck succulent peaches from dark green onstration attach this ad to your she wanted to know. "Why can't letterhead and mail it to: they tolerate differences? One com foliage and drink from gentle streams. Autocomp Systems Corp. mandment less, one ritual omit 32 Alturas Road ted .... There are so many ways to If peace is good and desirable, G-d Spring Valley, NY 10977 be part of a people. Live and let live. must want it for us. What is i~? or call: Let there be peace. The traditional (212) 484-0911/(914) 425-0221 Jews have no monopoly on obser I HOME L vance. Why the fire? Why the out rage? Let them be silent-and then \A'l IENDANTS incus Mandel there11 be peace." .Cemetery Consultant Representative of Chevros I approached the woman and told needed for her, "Our fight is not with you. We r Kadisha in Jerusalem with, karka on Har Hazaitim ,:san wish to be at peace with all of you, HOUSEKEEPING AND 1 I hedria and Har Hamnuchot; also we're members of the same family. PERSONAL CARE sole agent for the "AOMATKO· But can we be in harmony with your OESH" Cemetery in.SEFAT, near ideas-with bits of broken pottery? for the the " TZIYON" of. R'PlNCHAS Torah is not a plaything, raw clay to Ben YA!Rand MERONCemetery, sculpt into what-you-will. You ask, DISABLED AND in_- the _vicinity of the "HOHEL" of 'Why the fire? Why the outrage?' If R'SHIMON BAR YOCHAI. Karka you had an exquisite china vase in HOMEBOUND also available on all other COM your home and I smashed it, MUNITY -OWNEOCeme.teries in wouldn't you protest? If I harassed good pay and benefits Eretz _Yisrael,_ coiitrotled_and mai'n~ tained bytheCHEVRA KAO!SHA , your family, would you ignore me? Soro Park, Bensonhurst and of the COMMUNITY ... Not a When someone-completely unin Flatbush Area PRIVATELY -OWNED BUSI tentionally-tampers with our most full-time live in positions only NESS. sacred treasures, it's impossible to 1569 47th Street conceal our shudder. Brooklyn, N. Y. 11219. "We cry out-not against people, Project OHR Inc. Day and Night Phone but against the fragments of china (212) 855-5121 (Office for Homecare Referral) Honesty - ·integrity - Responsibility 1308-40th Street Mrs. Borchardt, a teacher in Torah Academy for Over 30 Years of bedicated Service to Girls in Far Rockawa)f, NY, also wrofe "Post~ Brooklyn, NY 11218 the Orthodox Jewish Community Blizzard Musings" (jO, March '83), 853-2700 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 39 Would you like to Peace is shalom-related to shaleim Donate your back issue:-1 Review your study complete-whole. When am I at of The Jewish Observer of "Dal Yomi"? peace? Not when I attempt to still and Olomeinu to: Subscribe to the the raging forces, but when I accept Jewish Youth Library Dal Yomi Review their presence and walk on, beyond 1353 51 Street $18.00 annually. them, unafraid. Not when I walk / Brooklyn, NY 11219 Write for free sample. tranquilly on broken shard; 111 only c212i 435.4111 Yeshiva Fund-D.YR. cut myself if I ignore its hazards. L Box 82/Staten Island, NY 10309 Peace is when I help to bandage cuts so they can heal; when I stitch Yomim Noraim 1984/5745. Ex together the raw pieces within me perienced Baal Tefilla available to and help mend the fragments with daven Musafim for shul with out-to bring about C17W and mo?w, EV 7-1750 kosher mechitza and no micro shleimus ... and shalom. ~""~C ·.~C phone. Salary negotiable. Res Peace is achieved when we are 1?)WT'i"CVtt "C'?,.'WT'i-;'it:t: pond to: "Baal Teti Ila" 154 N. Mer with our Creator ... when there is kle Rd./Columbus, OH 43209. harmony between heaven and earth, and between people. When I peace fully look away from my friend in trouble-that is war. When I strug gJe against joining a gossip session famous that is peace. When I see brazenness replace respect, and I peacefully go the dairy restaurant along-that is war. When I fight my laziness, my anger, my apathy 222 West 72nd Street that can only bring me greater peace. How can I know? What wisdom (212) 595-8487 instructs me when to protest, and when to be still ... when to break, Cholov Yisroel - Shomer Shabbos and when to build? Under the Supervision of K'hal Adath Jeshurun There's only one way to know. "Shivti ... Sit in the House of Open for Breakfast, Luncheon and Dinner Hashem all my days to see the sweetness of G-d ...." With that Catering - Parties - Meetings awareness from that perspective, I can come closer to knowing. i..T I ''·~rul~~e5sprinted incOl'l'ectly on .the JO mailing Jit~ll l I · · ··.•. . us- deliver your JO to you as effieiently as I ¥irorrent malling la.be\inspace below; or else print • ·••llS!,we now have it. l I ,' ! I ,.,._., " '' ~ 1 ~ . I \~~-~ CALL T~~ VISIT ~ BIG APPLE ; I \~COPY' PRINTING CENTER~ I ~~~ ,Ia1 NASSAU STREET ! ~"~.~.~.. :~"( / ICOR FULTON 1 FuGHT Ul'I ,:;; .,~\Y, .4, -_ - ·" NEW YORK, N.Y. 10038 ; \ \~ ~;-:,.;; \ ~J 9s2-42s2 I _.· __. __j \111~ l 40 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 ·- - --~ - ---""'- ...... - -· - bigger place. I am sure that all his Letters to the Editor children approved of his choice of utilizing the evenings. My beloved Bubby worked endlessly by doing 1 factory"homework" at night. There were times when she could not afford a baby carriage and she had to I J carry her youngest in her arms .... When my grandparents died, they were surrounded by eleven children, to read his letter to him once a week, The Contagion of Teshuva all Torah observant and all finan so too would we parents all benefit if cially comfortable. They all gave To the Editor: we would read this article regular their parents the highest respect, so I have just returned from a brief ly-perhaps marking paragraphs much so that most parents would visit to Eretz Yisroel where I expe that are most pertinent to us. have envied them. All our bribery rienced first-hand the growth of the Most parents are too critical. In rarely yields the return that parents movement to teshuva. There, one can our defense, our sharp words and most covet: deep love and obedience. easily sense the depth of commit impatience are often the result of It is only the true value of life that ment and the beautiful spirit. This undue daily strain. On the other we are obligated to pass on to our was exemplified by the experience hand, most of us overwork not out children, and that yields results. of a university physics professor of necessity, but to obtain a newer NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST turned Rebbe, as well as my taxi car, a larger apartment, a better A mother, grandmother driver David, who now learns and vacation spot. We women insist on and great~grandmofher, says Tehillim while waiting for a producing fancy pastries, attending by Hashem's blessing. passenger. too many luncheons-when we The series of articles in the Nov could be excused with a mailed-in ember JO penetrates so well to an contribution. Parents often have an understanding of the personal feel insatiable appetite for attending sim ings of so many of our brethren chos, social events, and testimonials, world-wide. The phenomenon now staying until the last /e'chayim, and is that teshuva is all around us and the then the next morning, letting it out sincerity of those we encounter is so on the children, not having the very contagious. I feel humble when patience that is needed to"Train the I view these people, their sincerity, youth in his way." We forget that, in !309 48 St., B'klyn, N.Y. 11219 and their accomplishments. its literal sense, Shema commands us 854-2911 Thank you for continuing to in- to talk with our children about To spire in your own very creative way. rah-morning, noon, and night. In (RABBI) JOSEPH M. GELMAN stead, the baby sitter is often ex Principal, pected to take over our parental OTLlll-- Torah Academy for Girls duties. No wonder if our children TOJERUSALEM Far Rockaway, New York repay us with like measure in our old age and transport us to some In time of illness, surgery or nursing home. crisis, special prayers will be We must realize that there is recited at the Western Wall and nothing that money can buy which at our Yeshiva in Jerusalem. • can substitute for GIVING OF OUR CALL 24 HOURS ~· SELVES to our children. My maternal J Zeida and Bubby raised eleven chil (212)871-4111 • dren, working long hours for small A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE OF wages here in America, but the The American Rabbi Meir ·1 evenings belonged to their children. Lacking a Bais Yaakov, he was his Baal Haness Charity Criticism, Toys, and Love daughters' Rebbe. My mother would KOLEL AMERICA tell me how much his wonderful 132 Nassau St.• N.Y., N.Y. 10038 To the Editor: stories from the Torah and his in "The Critical Parent's Guidebook" structions meant to her. He could To Order Our Pushka, "A Segula (JO Nov '83) was truly wonderful. have worked harder and bought For Good Health, Happiness And Just as the Ramban instructed his son toys for his children, or moved to a Success", Call (212) 871-4lll. The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 41 .,,ll:i oi:ii:ix i1:i'Y 1"0:? i"t''-'lX , ixuotul73 nur.i':> wp:ir.i '"lil' '1111'\'.ll~ ti'T1'1 '?'tn~ v"v N"\J")\U l)NJ.}J}J)'lJ .Y.) .n '1 )"i11i1 i"JN l'TM73, 73 !."", 73 min r:ii;i'n ;ixim mim':> :in:i:i nmi? 0 1wp:inr.i D"l'Y"'I D'"lr.lll1r.l mvp~ miv C'1V'~n:i 'Jo'7 "io'miv n'iin" 1l'n'7"v : ':> X D'U"l!l l']1i'Y:l 1'1N'1'1'1 1'1'1'~' l"'T Hon S(·c-rt'i.ar.v :n. V\1atl·rpark Rd. Rd. ,ilxii:i n11171i,, ,niiw:> "J'Jli' 1,y np::i', '";'l' 1i'ptln ip'Y Salford 7, Manehl·HhT,Eng!and "iv1ip" 1l'n'7"p'7 ivm'1V ';y:i1 1~01~ "Ki1;i ';y:i p;i:i1~ n"n ivp1:i~ p'7 1l'n'7;ip:i ;i11n m::ii":i ~nniv'1V C'O~~ '7"Jo i:i'7~ f''7~;i'; o~111V '~ 1K C'l'l1Y~o BORED ON AMTRAK, Mr. S. B. Rothbard 117. Leicester Road THE METRO, OR Manchester 7 THE "A" EXPRESS? England TARE THE Telephone: 061 740 9504 '10"! I MORNING CHIZUK Don't Leave Home Without It! Tune in at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday to 91. ! FM and hear Morning Chizuk with Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser. Morning Chizuk is a daily radio program produced b~· The Jewish Observer Chizuk-"The Torah Link." An agen~~· of Agudath Israel World Organization. Each day .. Mqming Chizuk features a Torah view The Jewish Train-of-Thought on contemporary Jewish hnng with exciting D1vre1 Torah. laws and cus!om::.. stonl'S and parables ihat rebte to tod<-l\··s timt'S. AVAILABLE AT SELECTED Morning Chizuk is part of the Hebrew Jewish NEWSSTANDS NOW! Program of t 1PSA.LA College hosted by Zalman l.Jmlas. 42 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 100,000 MISHNA YOS BY HEART IN MEMORY OF THE CHINUCH A TZMAI SIX MILLION MARTYRS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR FUND FOR NEW SCHOOLS New York-In memory of the six million ing and emphasized how important they and In response to a call by Rabbi Elazar "Kedoshim" (holy martyrs) who lost their their learning are to the Jewish nation, Schach, t-l"t:i'7W, for a special fund to make lives in the Nazi Holocaust, Pirchei Agudath Major awards were then bestowed upon Torah education available to children in Israel of America conducted its 21st annual four new members of the "One Thousand communities where there is no Torah school, Siyum Mishnayos last week at the Yeshiva Club" (those who learn over 1,000 Mish the Board of Governors of Chinuch Atzmai Taras Emes Kamenitz in the Bora Park sec nayos by heart): Yudi Glustein, Yechezkel Torah Schools for Israel has called upon all tion of Brooklyn. In what certainly has be Lehrer, Naftoli Leiser and Aharon Olshin. friends of Torah among American Jewry to come the largest annual gathering of Jewish Honorable mention was given to 12 boys join in a $5 million Fund for New Schools. As youth in the world, where the only entrance who learned more than 500 Mishnayos by Rabbi Schach had told members of the Lead fee is the knowledge of Torah, over 100,000 heart. ership Mission to Israel last Succos, "The Mishnayos were learned this past year. His Also on hand to receive honors were Pir problem used to be getting the children, tory was made when, for the first time, a 12 chei Agudath Israel's newest Bar Mitzvah while now we have the children but the prob year old boy, Yisroel Stern, memorized the participants, a program in which some of the lem is getting the facilities for teaching entire six volumes of the Mishna-a total of youngsters reaching the age of 13 study at them." 4, 190 Mishnayos B'a/ Peh (by heart). least one of the six Sedorim of Mishnayos and The Fund will be initiated at the organiza~ say the Hadran at their Bar Mitzva. This hon's 31st National Dinner, to be held Sun Over 1,400 children, Pirchei leaders and year's major honors went to Zvi Hersh Rosen day, May 20, 1984/18 Iyar 5744 at The New parents watched with respect as the Hadran baum, Ephraim Ginsberg and Shlomo Yitz York Hilton. Distinguished leaders of the (completion) was said by Yisroel Stern, the chok Lauer (all from Monsey) and Dovid Torah community will be honored at this Mishnayos B'a/ Peh champion, and the first Yitzchok Korn of Staten Island, who learned function. A National Journal being prepared Mishna was then said by Mordechai Hirsch all six Sedorim. Another 26 boys were re for distribution at the Dinner will be present feld and Aharon Stern-the two runners-up, warded for learning at least one Seder of an overview of the Chinuch Atzmai-Torah The overflow crowd heard an inspiring ad Mishnayos in honor of their Bar Mitzvah. Schools network as "The Lifestream of Torah dress by Rabbis Henoch Leibowitz, Rosh Pirchei Agudath Israel is now preparing for in Israel," as well as greetings and tributes to Ha Yeshiva (Dean) of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim the next major contests: the Hasmodoh Con the educational program in Israel. Reserva in Forest Hills, who praised the children for test as well as the Mishnayos Bifnim and tions and information may be arranged attaining such great heights in Torah learn- Kedushas Shabbos Contests. through the Executive Offices at 167 Madi son Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016, or by calling (212) 889-0606. AGUDATH ISRAEL: YES TO SCHOOL PRAYERS, NO TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT While Agudath Israel favors the concept of prayer in public schools, it cannot support the current constitutional amendments before the U.S, Senate, according to a statement released for the organization by David Zwie bel, Director of Government Affairs of Agu dath Israel of America, The statement dec lares: Yisroel Stern, all-lime winner. Aharon Stern and Mordechai Hershfeld (pictured with Rabbi Silberminfz) "In principle, Agudath Israel favors the second place winners. return of American society to religious beliefs and values, and we feel that prayer in public schools could indeed serve as a vehicle to elevate the tone of religion in this country. "On the other hand, we oppose any consti tutional amendment, including those being debated in the Senate at this time, which is couched in terms that would leave the door open for the institution of sectarian prayers in public schools by parents or other groups with vested interests." According to a spokesman for Agudath Israel, the ambiguity of the current versions of constitutional amendments under discus sion could lead to unacceptable interpreta tions, which would encourage classroom dis putes and the unwarranted intrusion of any Part of /he crowd al the Siyum. particular "majority religion." The Jewish Obsen1er I April, 1984 43 """· .0) •. • ' The Seasons Torah of the Personality Soul a treasury Religious, of historical, biographical and sketches philosophical perspectives on the Jewish Year Reb Chaim Brisker, the Chofetz Chaim, Reb Pesach is here, followed by Chaim Ozer, the Ohr Someach, the Rogatchover Seflrah, and Shavuos. What did the great classic and Gaon, the Satmar Rav, the Gerrer Rebbe. the contemporary thinkers say about these and a// the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, and many, many more... leading days in our spiritual year? Such names awaken feelings of nostalgia and in The Maharal, Sefas Emes. Bais Yisroel, Shem spiration. The Torah Personality brings them to you MiShmuel, Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch, Rav Eliyahu with warmth, color, anecdotes and insights. Eliezer Dessler, Rav Yitzchok Hutner are here. This is a book to savor and read again and again. Among contemporary leaders - the Lubavltcher It is a book for every member of the family, a book Rebbe. Rav Mordechai Gifter, Rav Nachman that brings our heritage alive - by introducing us to Bulman. and many more. Nearly thirty authors in all. some of the Torah legends of modern history. Add meaning. understanding, depth. beauty. and Thirty-two articles that present a picture of the Torah insight to every occasion of the year. Make people who symbolize The Torah Personality. your every observance a Season of the Soul. ' r collected from the pages of The Jewish Observer by Rabbi Nisson Wolpin. editor 95 each volume: hardcover S11 paperback SS 95 Published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd. in conjunction with Agudath Israel of America Special Discount Judalscope I Agudath Israel of America I 5 Beekman Street I N.Y.. N.Y. 10038 Gentlemen: to readers of Enclosed is my check in the amount of$ ...... (I deducted 10% and added 90¢ for shipping per order). Please send me the following: The Jewish Observer: ...... copy(ies) hardcover I ...... copy(ies) paperback of The Torah PersonaUty. Order direct ...... copy(ies) hardcover I ...... copy(ies) paperback of Seasons of the Soul. Name ...... ata 10% Address ...... discount City ...... State ...... Zip ...... • ORTHODOX JEWRY BACKS PET ACH TIKV A RABBI'S FIGHT ------~---~------FOR SHABBOS OBSERVANCE 1-1~.- "Torah Jewry in America has been follow ing with deep concern the developments in Your Assurance Petach Tikva and stands with you in full sup port of your struggle to preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath," Rabbi Moshe Sherer, presi dent of Agudath Israel of America, declared 1 of the Highest in a cable to the chief rabbi of Petach Tikva in Israel, Rabbi Baruch Shimon Salomon. Quality Koshercwand "May it be the will of G-d that you succeed in your unbending efforts to prevent the desecration of the Sabbath in the City which is the 'mother of the settlements' in Eretz Superb Taste. Israel," the cable states. The message concludes: "Strengthen and fortify yourselves for the honor of Hashem and His Torah; the gates of hope and the doors of repentance are never dosed. May the grace of G-d be upon you and may your actions meet with favor." Agudath Israel of America also sent a strong cable to Prime Minister Shamir in Jeru salem, requesting that he personally inter vene to put a halt to the Mayor of Petach Tikva's unprecedented brazen torpedoing of Israel's traditional "status quo" policy, which guarantees official Sabbath observance in the cities. The government dare no permit such a precedent to be established, for it would create a new worldwide controversy, which the Jewish people could and should do with out at this crucial time. In the cable to the Prime Minister, Agu dath Israel also requested that the Ministry of Police apologize to Petach Tikva's Chief Rabbi for arresting him for the "sin of doing his duty as a rabbi, to halt the Sabbath violations in his community." c211ATANA yALLE~ i Lucite, Zirconia, Pearl and Semi-Precious Stone Jewelry; J ' Personalized Challah Covers, Talis Bags and Yarmelkas; Jew 1 ish Books, Judaica; Taleisim, Mezuzos, and Lots More- Come To Formerly Kosher King All at Super Discount Prices. Open Sunday and Wednesday 11:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Other Times by Appointment. 1163 East 10th Street r£~~t'Y Bet. Kand L 252-1222 Whitehead Ha11 Brooklyn College The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 45 YESHIVOS TELL N.Y. BOARD Of REGENTS: AGUDATH ISRAEL FIGHTS DON'T TAMPER WITH EDUCATIONAL DIVERSITY GAY RIGHTS BILLS IN Albany, N.Y.-The New York Board of mudic instruction. He suggested that course CALIFORNIA AND Regents was told here today (Wednesday, requirements in subjects which touch on a RHODE ISLAND March 14), in a testimc,ny delivered by school's religious and moral sensitivities "are As part of the ongoing campaign since Shmuel Prager, general cousel of Agudath best integrated within the total school pro many years of Agudath Israel of America Israel of America, that the Regents'" Action gram and should be devised to fit the school's against the passage of "Gay Rights Bills" in Plan" to upgrade education in the state, while eductional philosophy"; that standardized City and State legislatures, leaders of the it contains many commendable and positive tests administered by the state should be free organization this week continued this battle aspects must, however, make sure that its of cultural, religious or linguistic bias; a in the states of California and Rhode Island. requirements would not do harm to the school should be permitted to devise alterna In California, the newly-organized Com unique role played by the yeshiva day schools. tive means of measuring student achieve mission on Legislation and Civic Action of The Board of Regents hearings related to a ment; languages other than those specifically Agudath Israel of Los Angeles appealed to Revised Action Plan, which mandates in mentioned in the Revised Plan, including Governor George Deukmejian to veto the creased curricula requirements for all grade Yiddish, should be recognized for purposes of Gay Rights Bill which had been passed by the levels in public and non-public schools. Speak the Plan's second language requirements; State Senate and Assembly (AB 1) "because ing for the yeshivos in New York, the Agu non-public schools be permitted to offer the purpose of this legislation is not simply to dath Israel spokesman pointed out that des second language instruction as an elective in protect the civil rights of homosexuals, but an pite the Board of Regents' revisions of its the pre-high school grades; and that the attempt to obtain official government sanc original Plan to delete many of the aspects Plan's local diploma sequence options should tion for a 'lifestyle' that goes against the social which were objectionable to religious-spon be expanded to enable schools to offer their and moral fabric of society." The California sored schools, nevertheless, the yeshivos still students a more flexible program of elective Governor subsequently vetoed the Bill. have a deep concern about "both the tenor courses. This week, Agudath Israel of America's and certain specific provisions of the Revised Mr. Prager asked that Agudath Israel and general counsel and executive secretary of its Plan." representatives of other non-public school Commission on Legislation and Civic Action, According to Mr. Prager, the Plan's specific groups be given the opportunity to assist in submitted testimony to Representative Henry unit requirements in grades 7 and 8 would the drafting of regulations to resolve the Boeniger, chairman of the House Labor Com force many yeshivos "to cut back significantly Plan's numerous ambiguities and other con mittee in Providence "vigorously opposing" on the hours they devote to Judaic and Tal cerns. He concluded his remarks by observ the "Gay Rights Bills" (84H7627 & 84H7618) mudic instruction, thereby seriously under ing that the yeshivos were asking the state pending before this Committee. mining these yeshivos' ability to carry out only that attempting to upgrade education, The Agudath Israel attorney stated that their singular mandate." "the state not lose sight of its longstanding "although Agudath Israel opposes discrimi Similarly, the Agudath Israel attorney, commitment to educational diversity and nation of any kind against any individual speaking for the entire diverse spectrum of respect for the uniquely religious and moral group based on race, creed, religion or other yeshivos in New York, urged that in deter components of our community's educational factors, the 'Gay Rights Bill' by seeking mining whether a yeshiva requires remedia system. We remain confident that New government sanction for their 'lifestyle' tion through state action, the state should York State, whose enlightened and tolerant would have a detrimental affect upon school recognize that many of the objectives of the policies have long served as a model for the children, families and the community in gen proposed Plan are accomplished through the rest of the United States, will tread carefully ' eral." A previous effort by Agudath Israel in yeshiva's unique program of Judaic and T al- in this most sensitive area." Providence to defeat similar measures four years ago helped cause their rejection by the local Legislature. THE WORLD FAMOUS DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM '~1i''i iil:l '~1i''i 'i""ll 1\)IQ'il'l 'il'l1QJU 'j "'i 9 i1i1C Available at LEKUTEI INC., cl o I. Rosenberg 10 West 47th Street, Room 702 NYC 10036/(212) 719-1717 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, T ehiUim, Close to 400 women al/ended !lie Amwa/ Luncheon of Agudi!h Women on Februl!ry 26 l!f ll1e Vis/I! lrr.ternalionl!/ Medrash, Megilos &. Talmud. Hotel. Tribute Wl!S awi!rded lo Rebetz.in Chaya Fmnke/, Guest of Honor. lo Mn. Esther Ki!lz.tnslein. Belli! Proceeds of sales distributed among Sc hlesi ,1ger Awarder, i!lld to Rose Feifer, Esther Klitnick. Rose Sommerfeld. Celi I! Zanz.iper l!nd the Ju rr.ior N'shei Yeshivas and used for reprinting of Offan Parkwav. Rabbi Joshul! Fishmi!n, Exerulit'f Via-President of Tom/i U'Mesorah, Wl!S the ,\;l 46 The Jewish Observer I April, 1984 ------• • "11 JIJ\,I JJ.)P~ill ll"ni'l'Lf ;ii:i .,,,~, ~"'tlp ,,£>t7 ORTHODOX LEADERS MEET WITH CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS Los Angeles, California-A delegation of Orthodox Jewish leaders from the State of California was warmly received by a host of legislators and government officials, led by Senator David Roberti, in the State's capital, Sacramento, on March 1 when they pres ented a "shopping list" of Jewish legislative I concerns. The group consisted of members of the newly-formed California chapter of the Commission on Legislation and Civic Action of Agudath Israel of America, headed by co chairmen Dr. Irving Lebovics and Stanley Treitel. The goal of the day-long chain of meetings was to "establish a voice for Orthodoxy in HEBREW RELIGIOUS BOOKS CO. California", according to Dr. Lebovics, "and Wholesale & Retail to garner support for a long list of legislative 1462 - 39th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11218 issues that concern the Orthodox Jewish community of California, especially autopsies (212) 435-2294 • 633·5500 and divorce problems." Don't miss this once a year opportunity for your largest During an unusual conference aboard the selection of Sifrei Kodesh with prices too low to mention plane flying from Los Angeles to Sacramento, ""'"'"" $2QOO $) 200$) QOO $890 $700 $500 State Senator Herschel Rosenthal discussed !:!~'!'~ with the Agudath Israel commission leaders the various intricate aspects of the autopsy bill which he submitted, and expressed his hope that it will be passed into law in the near future. One of the day's highlights included pri vateconference with the majority Floor Lead er, Assemblyman Mike Roos, where he spoke at length concerning these issues, specifically ,' the autopsy and "Get" legislation, similar to the NY State "Get" Law. At a luncheon meeting, Senator David Roberti, President Pro Tempore, agreed to sponsor a number of measures relating to the special needs of the Orthodox Jew which the California Agudah commission brought to his attention. 't.: Joe Holsinger, Deputy Superintendant for in our huge warehouse Public and Governmental Policy, pledged his full support for yeshivas to obtain their right 1462 - 39th Street. Brooklyn. N.Y. ful share from existing programs and to help April 11 thm May 2 Hours: 10:30 - 7:00 P.M. Torah institutions overcome any administra eee OPE!Y CHOL NAl'IOED eee tive problems in dealing with the local govern ments. Open t·reu Shabbos & Erev Shvii Shel Pesach from: 9:.30 to I :00 P.M. 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' oG::oaaaaacccac~oeac:cacaaa:c:oe We uJi5h you a Chag l\osher V'Someach Salford 7, Manchester WA.Rt:UOUSE WU.tut: OPt:N A.t.Tt.:K SA.1.t.: PERIOD fOR lARGt: ORDERS I England ~-- ...... ______, 19 DIVISIONS FOR TORAH AND MITZVOS NEED YOUR SUPPORT! Demonstrate your solidarity by participating in the &2nd ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA Sunday Evening, June 3 I 3 Sivan in the New York Hilton AVROHOM A. MOR DECH Al SCHONBERGER RABBI DOVID E. will be honored as the FRIEDMAN SHEARIS HAPLEITOH FISHMAN will receive the MAN OF THE YEAR will be presented with the HAGAON RAV AHARON KOTLER with the MOREINU YAAKOV ROSENHEIM MEMORIAL AWARD REB ELIMELECH TRESS MEMORIAL AWARD for distinguished service to Torah MEMORIAL AWARD for distinguished Service to Agudath Israel "Avodas Hakodesh" Community Service Awards will be presented to several community leaders in recognition of their activities for the K'lal. Please make your dinner reservation NOW 1$200 per couple-no appeals) AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA 5 Beekman Street, New York, New York 10038 (212) 791-1800 A half-page Greeting Ad of $250 includes 2 reservations to the Dinner r------6'"2nd"li'N"'Nlv~ils'A"8Y-~ou-R'~Jii______: Agudath Israel of America Five Beekman Street• New York, N.Y. 10038 Advertisement Contract Date _____ Gentlemen: I hereby authorize you to insert my (size) page advertisement at $ in the Anniversary Journal to be issued at the 62nd Anniversary Dinner tendered by Agudath Israel of America on Sunday I June 3, 1984 RATES o Diamond Page .. $5000 o Full Page ...... $500 o Eighth Page ...... $100 Name ...... o Gold Page ...... $2000 o Half Page ...... $250 o Greetings ...... $50 o Silver Page ..... $1000 O Quarter Page ..... $150 0 Complimentary ....• $36 Address ...... (Each Ad of $250 or more includes admission for one couple to the dinner) D Please make reservations for ...... 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