Jewish Observer

APRIL 2005 • NISSAN 5765

VOL. XXXVIII NO.4 USA $3.50 (Outside NY area $3.95) Foreign $4.50

CLICK HERE FOR TABLE OF CONTENTS This is the full Table of Contents of the print edition of the Jewish Observer. The web edition contains only a selection of articles (indicated in COLOR). Click on the title to go to the beginning of that article. Navigate using your browser’s menu and

THE ELEVENTH SIYUM HASHAS OF DAF YOMI THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July & August by the Agudath Israel of America 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004. 6 6 THE “ECHAD” MOMENT, Rabbi Nisson Wolpin Periodicals postage paid in New York, NY. Subscription $25.00/year; 2 years, $48.00; 3 years, $$69.00. 14 THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, Rabbi Yechiel Spero Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $15.00 surcharge per year. 16 MY TURN…, Sarah Spero Single copy $$3.50; Outside NY area $3.95; foreign $4.50. 18 FROM THE SIDELINES… TO THE FRONT LINES, E.T. Rubin POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer 20 THE SIYUM HASHAS IN ERETZ YISROEL, Yisroel Rutman 42 Broadway, NY, NY 10004 Tel 212-797-9000, Fax 646-254-1600 Printed in the USA 31 THE DAY AFTER, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg

Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Editor 36 INTRODUCING THE EIGHTH HOUR, Editorial Board Rabbi Joseph Elias, Chairman Shlomo Gottesman and Gedaliah Weinberger Rabbi Abba Brudny Joseph Friedenson Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kirzner 38 Rabbi Nosson Scherman Prof. Aaron Twerski ON THE AGENDA Founders Dr. Ernst L. Bodenheimer Z”L Rabbi Moshe Sherer Z”L 38 HURTLING DOWN THE SLIPPERY SLOPE, Management Board Avi Fishof, Naftoli Hirsch Isaac Kirzner, Rabbi Shlomo Yonoson Rosenblum Lesin, Nachum Stein

Managing Editor Rabbi Yosef C. Golding Published by PESACH JOTTINGS Agudath Israel of America U.S. Trade Distributor Feldheim Publishers 208 Airport Executive Park 41 THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION, Nanuet, NY 10954 47 Simcha Leib Grossbard British Representative 47 M.T. Bibelman Grosvenor Works RAISE WORTHY RADITION Mount Pleasant Hill 44 A “P ” T , Rina Berger London E5 9NE, ENGLAND french representative 47 …AND RASHA MAKES FOUR, Rabbi Avi Shafran Rabbi Bamberger 21 Boulevard Paixhans 57000 Metz, FRANCE israeli representative Intnl. Media Placement 50 TAX FILING SEASON – AS REQUIRED BY HALACHA, POB 7195 / 97 Jaffa Road Jerusalem 94340, ISRAEL Ari Z. Zivotofsky belgian representative Mr. E. Apter Lange Kievitstr. 29 2018 Antwerp, BELGIUM

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he preparation for this Torah-inspired event began, Then came the taxing schedule, the logistical plan- in its way, over eighty years ago, when Rabbi Meir ning, setting up communications centers and mailings, TShapiro introduced the idea of learning through leasing of arenas, meeting halls and auditoriums, the entirety of Shas – one page at a time – Daf Yomi setting up satellite networks, making and confirming – at the Knessia Gedolah of Agudath Israel in Vienna. seat reservations, and the countdown to the end of It was advanced when the Gerrer Rebbe l”xz ushered in Masechta Nidda. the New Year 5684 by learning the first folio of Shas, The long-awaited day came, and highways, skyways, Berachos daf Beis, and tens of thousands of Chassidim trains, buses – all were crowded with mesyemim (Shas com- followed his example. The more immediate preparation pleters) and fellow celebrants. The confluence of Yidden for this Siyum began on September 29, ’97/27 Elul 5757, outside Madison Square Garden and the Javits Center in when Jews on six continents began the Eleventh Cycle Manhattan, Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey, Walt of Daf Yomi, which has just come to a close. Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Rosemont Theatre in The arduous task ahead was approached with trepi- Chicago, Ricoh Center in Toronto… the streams of joyful dation… and enthusiasm, explaining one phrase at a people converging outside of the entrances of these gath- time, exploring meanings and implications, analyzing ering places, pulsating with love for Torah, dedication to disputes, absorbing sugya after sugya, paving one’s limud HaTorah, ambition for growth in Torah. All entering way through a perek, completing an entire Masechta. for a defining sort of celebration, declaring, in effect: I am “Hadran alach Masechte Berachos,” and on for 2,711 a Torah Jew, and nothing could be more fulfilling than this pages, for seven and a half years. event, as a catapult to a yet more exciting future.

6 The Jewish Observer

or the hundred thousand plus people locking unity. Yeshiva students, Chassidim, who participated in the Siyum HaShas Sephardim, Jews of Polish, Hungarian, Fof the 11th Cycle of Daf Yomi in German, Russian, Moroccan, Syrian and America and around the world, there was red-white-and blue American extraction… an incredibly wide range of overwhelming, men, women, children… Rabbis, Roshei inspiring moments. In this writer’s view, the Yeshiva, Chassidic leaders, mechanchim, most embracing one was the crying out of the teachers… manufacturers, professionals, first passuk of Shema during Maariv, conclud- entrepreneurs, clerks, laborers, full-time- ing with the word “Echad!” Yes, the tens of at-home mothers – all were one in their thousands in the New York City area and at appreciation of Torah study as the life

In the Aftermath of the Siyum I can not put into words that which we just experienced. From the moment we walked in, to our amazing seats, to the last Kaddish. From Rabbi Wachsman’s “we want more” to Rabbi Matisyahu’s “we must commit ourselves,” we left a few feet taller and feeling like we have reached a new level. Rabbi Aryeh Feigenbaum Rav of Congregation Ohr HaTorah and leader of the 100 member Dallas delegation to the Siyum. over seventy other locations across America, force of Klal Yisroel: its crowning glory and yet more in far-flung settings joined by in the ideal setting, its saving grace under satellite, all these people covered their eyes pressure, its key to survival in the worst of and intoned the declaration of Hashem’s circumstances. indivisible Unity. And in The achdus amidst doing so together, dem- diversity was under- onstrated that just as “You scored by Rabbi Shmuel are One and Your Name Bloom, Vice-President is One,” one must affirm of Agudath Israel of with equal certainty, “who America, in his address is like Your people Israel, one at the Siyum gathering: nation on earth.”1 When the Gedolei A look at the dais, a Torah convened to glance across the audi- found Agudath Israel, toriums, a scan of the Harav Meir Shapiro l”xz list of locations, and one wondered aloud in the speech in which realizes the extent of the range of partici- he introduced the concept of Daf Yomi pants. Indeed, diversity made for an inter- how it would be possible for the kadosh

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Rav Chaim Brisker to discuss matters cheering everyone else, from wherever The Joy of Completion with a German Rav from Frankfurt, they were sitting. or how a cultured Jew from Holland Perhaps to those of us who were part Rabbi Goldberg also captured the would find common ground with an of the massive New York area assemblies, explosion of joy at the conclusion of Eastern European Jew from Poland. the Maariv following the Siyum – after the actual Siyum: However, when he sat down to completing Shas – had suggestions of The body rejoices. Not just the learn a daf Gemara, he realized that Ne’ila – the final prayer on Yom Kippur, mind. Not just the soul. a blatt Gemara contains these diverse marking the last moments before the The last words of the Talmud are groups. The Gemara was written in doors close on Hashem’s compassion- recited and duly explicated, then Bavel, which today the formal comple- is Iraq; Rashi was tion ceremony and written in France; the accompanying, and the perushim unique Kaddish is of the Rif, Rashba, also recited, and R i t v a a n d then – then – Rambam were No instruction. written in Spain No sooner is and North Africa. the last word of That is what this Kaddish recit- Daf Yomi is all ed than the entire about, and that throng breaks out in is the ratzon of spontaneous dance. Hakadosh Baruch Have you ever Hu. The unity of danced together with Klal Yisroel should tens of thousands of come – and could people? only originate It takes seven from limud haTo- and a half years of rah.2 daily intellectual and “Echad,” in awe, spiritual struggle to in joy, in dedication explain this dance. and determination. People lock arms. Somehow, on this People sing. Children occasion, the place and teenagers move one occupied did to the front, hop the not define one’s role. security barrier, form Regulars at sporting circles and dance in events at the Garden or Continental ate forgiveness. I cannot comment for front of the sages on the dais. The Arena know what to expect when they those whose connection to the event sages themselves, some very old and enter: The players are in the rink or was electronic, but the memory of the infirm, rise and dance in circles, too. on the court. The coaches are on the hushed, silent devotion, almost palpable Young. Old. Eminences. Unknowns. sidelines. And the stands are full of fans, to us daveners, still inspires a chill in Dancing, all together. The body rooting and cheering “their” team. This my bones. (See sidebar for description rejoices. Body. Mind. Soul. The ulti- time, the major bulk of the players were of Maariv at the Siyum by Rabbi Hillel mate unity. in the stands, the coaches were seated Goldberg, editor of Intermountain Jewish Before G-d. on a dais, and everybody seemed to be News, IJN.)3 “Our G-d.”

Rabbi Shmuel Bloom* *Photo captions were printed only for those speakers quoted in this article.

8 The Jewish Observer

Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman

The joy of celebration over the com- One of the highest points was from within, not an opportunity to pletion of Shas leaped over geographic viewing tens of thousands of people let loose. I was thinking: G-d, look distances and was joined by a multitude in New York and at all hookups how much your children love You of smaller groups. break out into spontaneous song and Your Torah! Back in Denver, 500 cele- The sense of togetherness was brants crowded the local JCC genuine, as we watched a color- to participate in a local Siyum, ful display of different types watching the New York event of Jews of all ages in Toronto, by satellite connection. Rabbi Chicago, New York, Los Angeles Aaron Yehuda Schwab, a Rosh – and even Lublin, Poland. Kollel of the Denver Community The excitement was picked up Kollel, recalls:4 in Houston:5 Denver was one of the 70 … A satellite hook up to the cities connected via satel- East Coast celebrations, Mara lite to more than 120,000 D’Asra Rabbi Yehoshua Wender Jews gathered also made a local in stadiums Siyum, followed and theaters From the intermountain Jewish News by a communi- throughout When I watched the previous event And the group gives context to the ty-wide Seudas the world. in 1997 via satellite transmission to a individual yearning. Mitzvah. There People sitting video screen in Denver, I saw, and faintly And the groups expands the spiri- was a genuine around me heard, tens of thousands of Jews pray- tual consciousness. feeling of being at the JCC ing in unison. The 20,800 voices – in unison part of the Theater were I was jealous of that. “Shema Yisrael” – “Yehei Shemei national Olam moved to tears I wanted to be there. Rabba” – put each of us on eagles’ HaTorah, and of joy and sad- I, too, wanted to say Shema Yisrael wings. the crowd erupt- ness at numer- and Yehei Shemei Rabba with tens of Soaring. ed into song and ous points thousands of Jews, together. Enveloped. dance every time throughout I made a seven-and-a-half year men- Elevating each Jew around us, and, there was sing- tal note: Be there, G-d willing, in 2005. so much more powerful, elevated by the hookup. ing and dancing [Hillel Goldberg did come. The lines this futuristic, vast assemblage envel- R a b b i that follow describe Maariv in 2005 in oped in earnest prayer. at the other loca- E p h r a i m the Continental Arena.] On the wings of eagles. tions. Wa c h s m a n The fourth word of the Eighteen Privileged. The thrill was brought this Blessings is “our G-d,” followed by “the To be with the democracy of the experienced in gathering into G-d of our fathers.” Who is “our G-d”? Jewish people. Calgary, Alberta, focus: “There This is the G-d of the minyan, of the With “our G-d.” led by Rabbi are thousands individuals, we pray with on any given Jealousy consummated. Zev Friedman, of us gathered Shabbos or weekday. who extended here to sancit- The group encourages the individu- – Rabbi Hillel Goldberg the celebra- fy Hashem’s al’s spiritual quest. Editor tion to Florence, Name, but the Montana, cour- generation before us was gathered and dance. Local participants danced tesy of contemporary technology. to sanctify Hashem’s name in a dif- on the JCC stage, meshing with the And the joy also reverberated in ferent way. The Nazis gathered even ecstasy of the celebration of Torah Moscow, in the former USSR, as reported more people…. They died as Jews, on the screen directly behind them. by Betzalel Mandel: we must live as Jews!” The dancing was an expression of joy Although the school day ends

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Rabbi Chaim Stein

at 3:30 PM, 38 boys from the oldest Siyum, completing the last lines of the The Gemara tells us regarding the three grades in the Etz Chaim school Gemara Nidda – described the elation asara harugei malchus (the ten holy remained for the event. In order to experienced at the Siyum at the close of martyrs in the time of the Roman prepare them for the Siyum, the the second Daf Yomi cycle. It was then occupation), “gevilin nisrafim ba’eish Kollel Avreichim arranged for a pro- that Rabbi Stein began learning Daf Yomi ve’osiyos porchos ba’avir – the parch- gram for the boys running through- – in 5698 (1938), nine cycles ago! ments were burnt, burning in the out the afternoon flames, but the let- and evening until ters were hovering in the live hookup the air.” During the began. At 2:00 PM, Holocaust, all the holy we brought the yeshivos were deci- children into the mated, but their spir- auditorium where itual ko’ach remains we were joined by with us until this very the participants day. The very spirit from other mos- of Yeshivas Chachmei dos. We alternated Lublin still thrives between translat- with the tremendous ing the speeches power of Daf Yomi, from New York and although the and local speech- great yeshivos have es in Russian, been destroyed, it is although the their spiritual influ- video was stream- ence that has accom- ing throughout. panied us and has The highlight was been instrumental in the Siyum itself ensuring the rejuve- and the danc- nation of Torah ing following, as today. everyone real- The suffer- ized that we were ing through the celebrating the Holocaust and the event with rive- survival and subse- vos alphei quent revitalization Yisroel (tens of thousands He was present among the multitudes of Torah study and Torah life were of Jews)! who celebrated that day with many more than points of reference at this Gedolei Torah of the time, including the celebration. Since the Seventh Siyum great Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Elchonon HaShas, in 1975, the Moetzes Gedolei Blossoming of Torah, Wasserman d”yh l”xz. HaTorah (Agudath Israel’s Council of Rooted in the Past In those days [prior to WWII], Torah Sages) has called for dedicating one was able to feel the imminent the Siyum to the memory of the Six While most of the senior members “puranuyos.” Chazal say about the Million Kedoshim who perished at the of the gatherings could recall hum- suffering during Ikvesa DeMeshicha hands of the Nazis s”y in World War bler times, Rabbi Chaim Stein, Rosh (in the era before the advent of II. To give us a sense of how they kept Hayeshiva in the Telshe Yeshiva in Moshiach) that it will be so intense, the flame of Torah alive in unbearable Wickliffe, Ohio – who made the actual they prayed that they not witness it. conditions, we quote from the recollec-

10 The Jewish Observer

tions of Reb Yosef Friedenson, editor feelings welling up within me are will not be able to finish it. Promise of Dos Yiddishe Vort, former talmid of difficult to commit to paper. me that when you get out of the Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, and survivor The Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Levi concentration camp, you will finish of the Warsaw Ghetto as well as five Yitzchok Horowitz a”jyls added a stir- it for me….” concentration and labor camps: ring anecdote of the wartime mesiras And then he added, “Tell your The Nazis understood that the nefesh for Torah, and its post-War children and the remnants of Klal secret of the eternal survival of ramifications: Yisroel when you will be released that the Jewish Nation was their attach- There was a man in Vilna who they too must finish the learning that ment to the they began….” Talmud, and they Our perspective thus sought to for appreciating what utterly annihilate the Bostoner Rebbe Poland’s Jews, aptly described as “an who to them event unparalleled, symbolized Jews as far as the num- totally attached to ber of people gath- the Talmud…. ered together, since I recall cele- the time the Yidden brating the third received the Torah at Siyum HaShas Har Sinai,” must also in 1946 in the take into account the DP camps in remarkable changes G e r m a n y. We in the spiritual land- were a tiny group scape in America of broken survi- – both in terms of vors, remnants of intensity and sheer Polish Jewry that demographics. had all but been Rabbi Chaskel wiped out. At the Besser, Presidium time, all we had member of Agudath were two volumes Israel of America, of Gemara – sym- Founding Chairman bolic of the piti- of the Daf Yomi ful conditions of Commission, Jewry at the time. remarked: At the previous The Siyum is for Siyum in Lublin, there had been took out time from his busy sched- the zechus of the kedoshim who thousands of Yidden with thousands ule to learn Torah. His entire family were murdered in the Holocaust. of Gemaras, and now we were only perished in Auschwitz. Even there, in The Nazis relished destroying every a few broken Jews with two solitary the Valley of Death, he and a nephew vestige of Yiddishkeit, burning volumes of Gemara…. spent time learning. One fateful sefarim, cutting beards and ripping Today, as we celebrate the Siyum night, the uncle told his nephew, up anything Jewish. What would be HaShas together with more than “I know that tomorrow I will be left after such destruction?… Who 100,000 Jews in North America, taken away and killed. I am now would have believed sixty years ago and many more in Eretz Yisroel in the middle of learning Maseches that a day such as this would ever and Europe, words to describe the Mo’eid Kattan, but I know that I take place? Sixty years ago, no one

Rabbi Fischel Hershkowitz

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz

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would have believed that there would learning, is what has preserved the Rebbe immediately paraphrased the be so much Yiddishkeit left in the Jewish people throughout the ages. Torah’s words about Noach who world, and especially in America, The Imrei Emes of Ger miracu- survived the deluge: “Vayisha’eir ach where Yiddishkeit was non-existent lously made his way to Eretz Yisroel Noach – and only Noach remained.” at that time…. in the middle of the Holocaust. Then the Imrei Emes turned to his Sixty years ago, there were scarcely 100,000 of his Chassidim and over grandson and said, “Noach, for so ten yeshivos gedolos in the Western one hundred of his own descen- many years you have not been able hemisphere, less than two minyanim dants perished at the hands of the to learn. Go run to a beis midrash of kollel yungeleit, and an Orthodox Nazis s”y. There was one grandchild and take a Gemara.” lay community Learning Torah, succumbing to the learning Gemara pressures of “mak- Appreciation – from the Perspective of a Survivor is the only thing ing a living,” in pur- My father (a Holocaust survivor) and I attended the Siyum together. that we have. It has suit of financial and The next day, he recalled: remained constant social advancement, “As we walked toward Madison Square Garden, I saw all those frum and unblemished even at the cost of Yidden surging towards the front entrance from all sides, and I saw throughout the shemiras Shabbos. the big sign on Seventh Avenue lit up with the words Siyum HaShas. I entire history of The kedoshim’s just stopped and remembered where I was just a little over sixty years Klal Yisroel. “letters hovering ago – and I started to cry. I probably did not stop crying all night. We not only cap- in the air” settled That I should be seeing this, with my own eyes, when I remember ture the holy let- on the untouched a time when Yidden looked in wonderment when they saw a single ters that escaped parchment of the Yiddishe child. And now this, in this ‘treifeneh’ city! Who would have the destruction of next generation. believed such a thing?” Churban Europe, Inspiration from we have much to shearis hapleita (sur- NUTTI GOLDBRENNER (FROM PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE) learn and to emu- vivors of Churban Monsey, NY late from Klal Europe), coupled Yisroel’s resiliency. with the dedication As Rabbi Elya Ber of America’s Torah Wachtfogel a”jyls, pioneers, blessed with Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva incredible siyata diShema- Gedolah Zichron Moshe ya, made this transforming (South Fallsburg) empha- miracle take place. sized: R a b b i E p h r a i m The Yaavetz (Rabbi Wachsman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yaakov Emden l”xz) said Meor Yitzchok (Monsey), that the survival of the posed the question: Jewish people in galus is Jews went to their a greater miracle than the death with “Shema Exodus from Egypt and Yisroel” on their lips. the Splitting of the Sea. From where do the This survival is only due Jewish people derive this strength? who survived; his name was Rav to their cleaving to Torah. But we This strength comes from the Torah, Noach Joskowitz. When he came yearn to go on to the next stage, the pure and unblemished Torah – it to Eretz Yisroel after the war, he after galus. is our lifeblood, our strength. Toiling ran to his grandfather’s home, and The Gemara points out that each in Torah, unceasing dedication to upon setting his eyes on him, the of the three previous galus experi-

Rabbi Chaskel Besser

12 The Jewish Observer

Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel

ences was of a precise, predestined the main manifestation of sinas chi- rebuilding. Through control of our duration: Egypt, 210 years; Babylon, nam is through talking lashon hara. speech, and the resultant enhanced 70 years; and so on. Why is this He cites the Zohar that teaches us purity of our intense Torah study, current exile, Galus we can bring the galus to Edom, seemingly with- an end and usher in the out end? much-longed-for Geula. The Vilna Gaon explains that the sins of the First Beis Taking the Hamikdash – idol wor- Message Further ship, immorality and murder – were external Rabbi Matisyahu to the human being. S a l o m o n a ” j y l s , Its impact is finite. Mashgiach of Bais Medrash The Second Beis Gavoha (Lakewood) Hamikdash was focused on one of destroyed, ush- the lessons we can ering in Galus – and must – pick Edom, because Outreach through Daf Yomi up from this remark- of sinas chinam Just two days after the Siyum HaShas, at a wedding in Lakewood, able gathering, and – baseless hatred, I found myself sitting next to two (not-yet-frum) relatives, who had internalize. an internal cor- traveled seven hours by car to participate in the simcha. He recalled that ruption, not so “Are you part of the Orthodox group who learns the 2,700 pages his rebbi, Rav Chaim easily cleansed of the Talmud?” one of the brothers asked. Shmuelevitz l”xz, the from the national I told him that anyone and everyone can learn. It is not limited to a Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, neshama. segment of Orthodoxy, whether they “do the Daf” or have other study had asked a former The Gra says sessions. He asked a little more about the Gemara, until I delicately camp inmate, “How that sinas chi- offered, “If you want to learn Gemara, I’m available. We can do it by did you survive nam is a midda phone with telephone conferencing; you, your brother, and I.” five years of forced that not only It was basically that simple. labor? How did you manifests itself For years, we had reached out to these relatives to try Discovery remain a ma’amin? between man and or Arachim seminars. Not even a nibble. But when 100,000 Jews How could you his fellow man, got together to celebrate the millions of blatt learned since the last come out with but can also cause Siyum HaShas, the media picked it up. A little national coverage of the same love for a person to reject the Siyum HaShas and two Jews bought their first ArtScroll Gemaras, the Ribbono Shel the Torah itself. cleared their Wednesday nights to learn Torah, and have committed Olam?” While he may to master at least a little of Shas. As Rabbi Frand said, “It’s never too The survivor learn, it is diluted; little. It’s never too late.” responded: “The it is not learning RABBI YOSEF WIKLER (EDITOR OF KASHRUS MAGAZINE) Nazis s”y deprived that stems from a Brooklyn, NY us of every oppor- true ahavas haTo- tunity to keep mitz- rah. It is not the vos. We didn’t have learning that Chazal speak of which that it is due to lashon hara that the Shabbos or Yom Tov. We couldn’t can bring the Geula. Beis Hamikdash was destroyed and learn; we could hardly daven. We The Chofetz Chaim explains that it is lashon hara that prevents its were taken out in the early morning,

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Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon

marched to the forest, worked all day, “He boomed forth: vrmamb rsa the womb [i.e., the Jewish People], and at night marched back. Mykus arb. those who are destined to renew “But one thing they couldn’t take “We would echo his words. And themselves like it, and to glorify away from us – the levana. The moon those words penetrated our hearts: their Molder.’ was always there. Some people kept ‘Blessed are You, Hashem… Who “Suddenly we were inspired with track of Rosh Chodesh, and they with His utterance created the heav- a sense of hope. Just as after the would look into the sky. When the ens and… all their legions. A decree moon has disappeared from view, moon made its first appearance, and and a schedule did He give them that leaving the sky in total darkness, it we were being marched back, with they not alter their assigned task…. reappears – first as a sliver, then a soldiers on each side of us, we would They are joyous and glad to perform crescent, and a half moon – so, too, make Kiddush Levana. We used to the will of their Maker. To the moon do we Jews seem to be on the edge of hold hands, and as we were march- He said that it should renew itself, oblivion. But we too ‘are destined to ing, one man in the middle would which will be a crown of splendor renew ourselves like the moon.’ ” lead us in Kiddush Levana. for those borne [by Him] from For a month, these prisoners had

the Torah world. ished his fourth He was pres- cycle. Proud of The Last of the Mohicans Rabbi Yechiel Spero ent as a young my father in- man when law and Pappa the dynamic who had fin- As I stood dancing with my chil- less treasure, a priceless gift. I glanced had finished Shas throughout his other Lubliner Rav, ished their dren in section 109 in the Continental over to see a large section of seats, Talmudic travels. But this time, they Rabbi Meir first together. Airlines Arena on March 1, 2005, I could separated by a mesh net, in which proud were not sure they would be able to Shapiro, came Proud of my not help but feel one distinct emotion. mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters finish. They couldn’t have been. Because to Cleveland. older brother This just might be what it will be like came to celebrate their sons’, husbands’, Pappa was 85 when they started the The Lubliner who also was when Moshiach arrives. I watched a fathers’, and brothers’ accomplishments, cycle. But that was no impediment for Rav was young making his first group of yeshiva boys in section 232 beaming with pride and thrilled to be Pappa. It never has been. at the time, perhaps in his mid thirties, Temple, one of the largest Reform siyum. Proud to just be a Yid. But what bouncing back and forth, imbued with part of the learning. Their very pride and Pappa comes from a different world, but he was already a worldwide recog- Temples in Cleveland. At a citywide was he feeling? a sense of purpose. I wondered if any of joy a visible testament to who they are. a world where Yiddishkeit was not taken nized figure. Spending a Shabbos meal gathering, Rabbi Brickner referred to On the way home, I found out. He them had finished Shas. Probably not But perhaps what touched me most for granted. He grew up in America in with this gadol in his parents’ home had the Orthodox Torah Jews of the world wouldn’t and perhaps couldn’t fall asleep. – they would have been too young to was the sight of my father-in-law, Rabbi the early 1900s. It was a country almost made a distinct impression on Moshe. He as a dying breed. Those stinging words “A man lives 93 years for a night like have started 7 1/2 years ago. But they Yehuda Lefkovitz, and his father, our completely devoid of Torah educa- remembered receiving a sefer from him burnt a hole in young Moshe’s heart. tonight.” I couldn’t tell if he was crying, were celebrating Torah and having the “Pappa,” Rabbi Moshe Lefkovitz, stand- tion and Torah learning. And although and learning one of his many beautiful nig- The declaration regarding Torah Jewry although I knew that his children who were privilege to be a ben Torah. ing on the floor directly across from Cleveland, where he grew up, had almost gunim, the composition of “Libi Uve’sari.” had been spoken. Torah Jews were, in present were. So were his grandchildren I watched as two men near me, us. You see, they aren’t just a father eighty Kosher butcher shops, none of He knew that a world of Torah existed in Rabbi Brickner’s cutting, callous words, and great-grandchildren. But Pappa? His apparently from completely diverse and son coming to watch as observers the children went to a full-time Hebrew Europe. But what about him and his kind? “The Last of the Mohicans….” tears were mixed with laughter, perhaps the backgrounds – one wearing a knitted in this historic kiddush Hashem. No. Day school. In fact, many of those What about Torah in America? • • • laughter that Dovid Hamelech refers to… yarmulka, the other a black hat, bent They are much, much more. They are “kosher” people themselves would head Perhaps this anxiety stemmed from Az yimalei sechok pinu… upwards – holding onto each other, to chavrusos. out to work immediately following shul when Moshe Lefkovitz was a young So I watched and wondered what He thought of the over 120,000 each other’s neshamos, bound by a time- Seven and one half years ago, my on Shabbos morning. As the old adage man. He was present when Rabbi Barnet Pappa Moshe was thinking, watching the individuals who had participated in Rabbi Spero, a rebbi in the Talmudic Pappa and father-in-law began learn- went, Es iz shver tzu zein a Yid…. Brickner got up to speak in front of a Gedolei Yisroel celebrate with the larg- tonight’s life-altering event, and he Academy of Baltimore, was represented in JO by a Purim article, “Baths, Bullies, ing Daf Yomi. For my grandfather, this And although Moshe was one of the packed audience of Jews in Cleveland. In est celebration for limud haTorah since thought of Rabbi Brickner…and his and Barley” (Feb. ’01). wasn’t his first time. It was at least his few fortunate ones, he wondered. He feared those days, things were different. Rabbi Har Sinai. I was proud…. Proud of my seriously flawed prophecy of so long third, although I am almost certain he what might be, what might become of Brickner was the Rabbi at Fairmount father who, although not there, had fin- ago. Last of the Mohicans, indeed. d

14 The Jewish Observer

Rabbi Osher Weiss

no spiritually uplifting experience, the very same breath we say, “Hadran again, afresh. but they knew that after four weeks, alach vehadrach alan.” We’re coming Part of the completion exercise there would be another “Kiddush back, and we are starting all over is for the participants to carry away Levana.” with themselves We Jews From Down Under… to Shas Yidden the enthusiasm have that and the glory power of After our own Siyum HaShas on Sunday evening, February 27, with close to of the evening, his’chadshus 1,000 participants, Wednesday morning, March 2nd is again the scene of a kiddu- mobilized with a – renewal sh Hashem that surely reigns supreme in the annals of Australian Jewish history. sense of resolve. – and as we As Rabbi Yosef At 10:00 am, right in the middle of a busy workday morning, almost five hun- bid farewell Harari Raful dred people arrive to view the satellite transmission from the North American to Masechte a”jyls Rosh Nidda and the venues. A sense of pride surges through the audience when Lublin comes up on H a y e s h i v a , entire Shas, in the screen, for Dayan Yonason Abraham shlita, currently on the London Beth Yeshiva Ateret Din and former prestigious member of the Melbourne Kollel, has been invited to recite the hadran in Poland. This Siyum is truly global! the Torah world. At the conclusion of the event, when all rise to declare kabalas ol Malchus ished his fourth He was pres- Shamayim, everyone instinctively rises to join with their brothers across the globe cycle. Proud of The Last of the Mohicans Rabbi Yechiel Spero ent as a young in accepting Hashem’s Kingship. The only segment we could not participate in my father in- man when was davening Ma’ariv, because it was 2:00 pm Wednesday afternoon! law and Pappa the dynamic The landscape of Australia is forevermore transformed. No longer shall who had fin- As I stood dancing with my chil- less treasure, a priceless gift. I glanced had finished Shas throughout his other Lubliner Rav, Australia be known as the land Down Under; henceforth it shall be known as the ished their dren in section 109 in the Continental over to see a large section of seats, Talmudic travels. But this time, they Rabbi Meir land of Shas Yidden! first together. Airlines Arena on March 1, 2005, I could separated by a mesh net, in which proud were not sure they would be able to Shapiro, came – Rabbi Moshe Yudkowsky, Melbourne, Australia Proud of my not help but feel one distinct emotion. mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters finish. They couldn’t have been. Because to Cleveland. older brother This just might be what it will be like came to celebrate their sons’, husbands’, Pappa was 85 when they started the The Lubliner who also was when Moshiach arrives. I watched a fathers’, and brothers’ accomplishments, cycle. But that was no impediment for Rav was young making his first group of yeshiva boys in section 232 beaming with pride and thrilled to be Pappa. It never has been. at the time, perhaps in his mid thirties, Temple, one of the largest Reform siyum. Proud to just be a Yid. But what bouncing back and forth, imbued with part of the learning. Their very pride and Pappa comes from a different world, but he was already a worldwide recog- Temples in Cleveland. At a citywide was he feeling? a sense of purpose. I wondered if any of joy a visible testament to who they are. a world where Yiddishkeit was not taken nized figure. Spending a Shabbos meal gathering, Rabbi Brickner referred to On the way home, I found out. He them had finished Shas. Probably not But perhaps what touched me most for granted. He grew up in America in with this gadol in his parents’ home had the Orthodox Torah Jews of the world wouldn’t and perhaps couldn’t fall asleep. – they would have been too young to was the sight of my father-in-law, Rabbi the early 1900s. It was a country almost made a distinct impression on Moshe. He as a dying breed. Those stinging words “A man lives 93 years for a night like have started 7 1/2 years ago. But they Yehuda Lefkovitz, and his father, our completely devoid of Torah educa- remembered receiving a sefer from him burnt a hole in young Moshe’s heart. tonight.” I couldn’t tell if he was crying, were celebrating Torah and having the “Pappa,” Rabbi Moshe Lefkovitz, stand- tion and Torah learning. And although and learning one of his many beautiful nig- The declaration regarding Torah Jewry although I knew that his children who were privilege to be a ben Torah. ing on the floor directly across from Cleveland, where he grew up, had almost gunim, the composition of “Libi Uve’sari.” had been spoken. Torah Jews were, in present were. So were his grandchildren I watched as two men near me, us. You see, they aren’t just a father eighty Kosher butcher shops, none of He knew that a world of Torah existed in Rabbi Brickner’s cutting, callous words, and great-grandchildren. But Pappa? His apparently from completely diverse and son coming to watch as observers the children went to a full-time Hebrew Europe. But what about him and his kind? “The Last of the Mohicans….” tears were mixed with laughter, perhaps the backgrounds – one wearing a knitted in this historic kiddush Hashem. No. Day school. In fact, many of those What about Torah in America? • • • laughter that Dovid Hamelech refers to… yarmulka, the other a black hat, bent They are much, much more. They are “kosher” people themselves would head Perhaps this anxiety stemmed from Az yimalei sechok pinu… upwards – holding onto each other, to chavrusos. out to work immediately following shul when Moshe Lefkovitz was a young So I watched and wondered what He thought of the over 120,000 each other’s neshamos, bound by a time- Seven and one half years ago, my on Shabbos morning. As the old adage man. He was present when Rabbi Barnet Pappa Moshe was thinking, watching the individuals who had participated in Rabbi Spero, a rebbi in the Talmudic Pappa and father-in-law began learn- went, Es iz shver tzu zein a Yid…. Brickner got up to speak in front of a Gedolei Yisroel celebrate with the larg- tonight’s life-altering event, and he Academy of Baltimore, was represented in JO by a Purim article, “Baths, Bullies, ing Daf Yomi. For my grandfather, this And although Moshe was one of the packed audience of Jews in Cleveland. In est celebration for limud haTorah since thought of Rabbi Brickner…and his and Barley” (Feb. ’01). wasn’t his first time. It was at least his few fortunate ones, he wondered. He feared those days, things were different. Rabbi Har Sinai. I was proud…. Proud of my seriously flawed prophecy of so long third, although I am almost certain he what might be, what might become of Brickner was the Rabbi at Fairmount father who, although not there, had fin- ago. Last of the Mohicans, indeed. d

15 A p r i l 2 0 0 5

Torah, a member of the Nesius, Agudath If all of us here tonight would just beautiful thing, but we can always Israel of America, said, spend one hour per week learning, improve and enrich our learning The plan of Daf Yomi is a plan for either in person or on the telephone, even further. The typical Daf sched- quantity. It causes people to cover with a fellow Jew – one who has not ule allows for seven hours of learning a daf a day, which adds up to large been as fortunate as we have been, per week, one hour per day. Perhaps amounts over time. Let us hope one who has not been privileged it is time to add an eighth hour: an that it will also contribute to the enough to have had a Torah educa- extra hour devoted to gaining a more quality of limud Torah, and cause tion – this would be a great way to in-depth understanding of the daf, people to delve into the depth of fulfill the Torah’s command to “learn or to reviewing the week’s study regi- Torah. Quantity in learning should teach, keep and do.” We must focus men, or perhaps to incorporate regu- be followed by an enhancement in on what we, as a community, should lar halacha study into the schedule, quality. take from the Siyum. Above all, we or time dedicated to study of mussar. This theme was also addressed by Rabbi must leave here with a new sense of If we come away from this Siyum Yaakov Perlow a”jyls, Novominsker commitment to Torah study. with such a commitment, then the Rebbe, Rosh Agudas Yisroel: Learning Daf Yomi is a wonderful, Siyum will truly have accomplished

Rabbi Yosef Harari-Raful Rabbi Pinchos Friedman

16 The Jewish Observer

An extraordinary number of ladies were present at the Siyum Rabbi Friedman quoted the well-known story of Rabbi Akiva son (our mechutan), grandson and great- think of it as intrusive or obligatory. It is to commit to a study cycle of learning gatherings, as fellow-celebrants for their investment of quality and his tribute to his wife, Rachel, the daughter of Kalba Savua: grandson. What a privilege! simply there. One’s day revolves around it. Torah that is empowering. time and encouragement to those learning the Daf. The Bostoner When Rabbi Akiva returned to his home after 24 years of This must have something to do with It is Torah in its Oral form written down My participation in the Siyum tonight Rebbe said it quite succinctly: intensive Torah study, hailed as the Gadol Hador, with 24,000 touching eternity. and passed to generations. You are either was as a spectator who has embraced We have to remember that this Siyum is enabled by all of talmidim, he proclaimed, pointing toward his wife: “What ever • • • starting your day with the Daf or ending this event with reverence. I am not only those who helped us get to this minute – our families, and I and you have learned is totally to her credit.” your day with it, or learning it somewhere the wife of a participant, but I am also especially our wives, who have given up many amenities to The same applies to the wives of the maggidei shiur and That is what the Daf is all about. It is a in the middle. the mother of another. I am humbled by enable us to study Torah. the lomdei hadaf: “Sheli, veshelachem, shela hi. The Torah commitment to the past and a promise to Learning the Daf has nothing to do the enormity that this entails. This form This sense of appreciation was reinforced by Rabbi Pinchos that I have acquired, and the Torah that you have acquired, the future. It is something that I have shared with school or yeshiva. It is simply a way of study is male dominated, but I do not Friedman a”jyls Rosh Hakollelim of Belz in Eretz Yisroel. is mainly to her credit.” with my life’s partner for think of learning Torah the past four cycles. (Each Hakaras Hatov as anti-women. I will cycle is about 7.5 years) not apologize to those That’s a ‘lotta’ years. It is To the Editor: who want me to feel it My Turn….. Sarah Spero weddings and births, sick- The Torah Communications Network would like to express is. My soul is neither ness and death, and every- gratitude and appreciation to Agudath Israel for arranging the male nor female. That lot has happened to me in the Garden, as well as venues in New Jersey, with 1500 others, and I don’t know if their thing in between. He likes magnificent Siyum HaShas, that just took place - as it does every is only my body. The seven and a half years since the Los Angeles, Chicago, Lublin, Poland, reaction was similar to mine. Some of the to say that he has either seven and a half years. It was truly a Kiddush Shem Shamayim Torah learned in our Alast Siyum HaShas. Some things Moscow and others. All done in an effort sniffles and red eyes may have made us slept through or turned berabbim. Hopefully, we will all celebrate the next Siyum together family belongs neither good, some things better, some sad and to unite us as one, across the world. All I members of the same club, but I doubt the pages during most of in Yerushalayim ir hakodesh with Melech HaMoshiach as the fea- to him nor to me, but some sadder. I anticipated the event, but wanted was to be alone to wrap myself that was it. the cycles. But that is not tured speaker. to the soul within us, as by the time I had found my seat I was in the arms of generations past. I did not This eleventh Siyum Hashas was attend- true. What is true is that We would also like to thank all our outstanding maggidei shiur who a couple, as a family, as perfectly happy to be by myself. When the want to make small talk or be pleasant ed by over 100,000 men, women and I have watched with awe brought the voice of Torah over the telephone to thousands of listeners a unit and as a nation. I lights went down, the floodgates opened. with my seatmates. I was overcome with children across the world. It is probably and respect, a commit- worldwide. We also wish a hearty mazal tov to our thousands of daily am a part of it. I was overwhelmed by the entire eve- emotion and I was too embarrassed to the largest gathering of Jews in modern ment that has changed listeners, who have been on-the-line with us for the past seven and a Tonight I stood with ning. There was a video hookup con- have anyone else notice. I am trying to times. One of my sons was in Continental our lives. The Daf, and half year Daf Yomi cycle, upon their completion of the entire Shas. It’s those past, present and necting us to speakers in Madison Square figure out what it was that made me feel Airlines Arena in New Jersey along with everything it entails, has our dedicated listeners who are with us almost 365 days a year that future, to celebrate the Mrs. Spero lives in Cleveland. Her article, like this tonight. 25,000 others. He went as part of four become an integral part deserve the credit for their persistent, unwavering, and relentless daily eternity of our Torah and “Report from Cleveland, A View from the Was it the numbers? I was seated in an generations: his wife’s grandfather, who of who and what we are. commitment to Torah study. May Hashem grant them the strength our people. And my soul Other Side,” was featured in JO, Nov. ’97. auditorium on a snowy Cleveland night completed the learning along with his So much so, that I do not and health to continue for many siyumim to come. soared. d RABBI ELI TEITELBAUM (ON BEHALF OF THE TORAH COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK) its purpose. Brooklyn, NY The Secret of [The Rebbe then Jewish Survival: added,] we members We, in turn, extend our deepest admiration and hakaras hatov to Savoring of the Torah commu- Rabbi Teitelbaum for directing his extraordinary vision, remarkable skills the Sweetness nity should engage in and talents, and unwavering dedication to initiating, fine-honing, and of Torah introspection in sev- expanding the Torah Communications Network to bring a wide range eral aspects. Tonight is of Torah shiurim to the ears of tens of thousands of Jews, whenever and Rabbi Yisssachar Frand 21 Adar, the Yahrzeit wherever they are able to tune in. The amount of Torah being spread a”jyls, Rosh Yeshiva in Ner of the renowned through his pioneering efforts is beyond our calculation. N.W. Israel, Baltimore, address- Noam Elimelech, Rav ing a Siyum gathering of Elimelech of Lizhensk. In the famed good qualities of one another and not 5,000 in Chicago, noted two factors in the tefilla that Rav Elimelech composed their failings.” This beautiful event, virtual doubling of the number of people and that many Jews say before daven- which so symbolizes unity between who are finishing Shas as compared to the ing in the morning, it states, “Put in all segments of Jewry, should spur us previous Siyum: our hearts that we only focus on the to focus on the message of achdus. One, is the inspiration generated

The Novominsker Rebbe

17 A p r i l 2 0 0 5

by the Siyum HaShas itself. Sefer The second factor is that the nish- story of an assimilated Jew – a boxer Hachinuch comments concerning mas Yisroel can only achieve satisfac- by profession – who, seeing the enthu- the Yoveil year that a master must tion through the sweet and fulfilling siasm of his newly observant son for free his eved (slave) – undoubtedly a study of Torah. The neshama thirsts Gemara learning, was determined to hardship for him. Yet, when he hears for something, but temporal pleasures share in the experience, despite his the shofar blown and remembers can be compared to junk food – it lack of background. It took more than that everyone else is also freeing his cannot provide nourishment. We all a year of persistence for the man, with slaves, this realization makes it easi- must leave here tonight committed his son’s help, to master one daf. The er. Similarly, seeing so many involved to accomplishing more. The inspira- father wanted to celebrate his achieve- in Daf Yomi, despite the discipline tion will find expression in various ment with a formal siyum, but his son it demands, creates a ripple effect extremes. While some will be moved thought it unjustified. He brought the and drives home the message that to undertake Daf Yomi and finish Shas, matter to Rav Moshe Feinstein l”xz, it is feasible. Daf Yomi is no longer others will encounter their first daf of who concurred with the father. So the an elitist enterprise. “If you can do Gemara. son organized a seuda to mark the it, so can I.” May I share with you an actual long-awaited milestone – celebrating From the Sidelines… To the Front Lines E.T. Rubin A Mother’s Reflection on the Siyum HaShas he excitement was mounting, should be arriving soon. And then came this particular point in my life? Baruch the countdown had begun. Each the big question. Hashem, I have been blessed with a T morning, two shining black eyes “Mommy,” came the inquisitive house of children. I work part of the would peer at me. “Mommy,” a voice voice, “are you coming to the Siyum day away from home. I often feel like I would begin, “when is the Siyum HaShas? HaShas?” am swimming against the tide, trying to I want it to be today.” Clearing my throat, I responded, keep house and ensure that my children Laughingly, I would tell him the exact “No, I don’t think I will be able to go are cared for physically, emotionally countdown and gently remind him that this time.” and spiritually. If I am out late, even his job is to concentrate on his learning, Deep down, in the dark recesses of one night, it can adversely affect my and when the big day would come, it my mind, however, an active conversa- household for the rest of the week…. would come. The day would then pass, tion was taking place. One voice kept No. I shouldn’t go….” filled as usual by the myriad obligations repeating, “Why don’t you go? You And then, a conversation with my of a mother, working, cleaning, cooking, will get such an enormous amount of grandmother came to mind. We had shopping, caring for the children and serv- chizuk! Imagine, joining with a crowd been discussing working away from ing supper until… The door burst open, of thousands of Yidden for one purpose, the house versus staying home with the “Mommy, Mommy!” My heart plummet- to celebrate the momentous occasion of children. My grandmother reminded me ing, I quickly ran to the door to see what the completion of Shas! What could be that the Gemara says that a woman earns tragedy had occurred. “Mommy! Did more sublime? It is not every day that sachar (reward) for Torah by sending the tickets come yet?” Breathing a sigh of such an opportunity comes your way! her husband and children to learn, by relief, I explained that no, the tickets had Go, go, go!” being home to greet them when they not yet come, but they were ordered and And then came the second voice. “Yes, return, by enabling them to learn. She Mrs. Rubin lives in Lakewood, NJ. This is her I agree that I would derive tremendous added, “Any decision that you have to first contribution to these pages. inspiration from the siyum, but is that make in life should center around those what Hashem really wants from me at goals; the learning of your husband

18 The Jewish Observer

Rabbi Yissachar Frand Rabbi Dovid Dunner

the siyum of one daf of Gemara, with ing the Siyum celebration at Madison be transforming. Being part of the Siyum Reb Moshe in attendance. Later that Square Garden is a Wall Street executive was even more than that.” night, the gentleman passed away in who “re-discovered” his tefillin a year ago, The imprint on all of us was far from his sleep. Reb Moshe spoke at his levaya and has been assuming Torah learning little. It was not too late. And surely, it can- (funeral) and said that just as Chazal and additional mitzvos in the weeks since. not be enough. d tell us that there are those who acquire In his words: “I’ve been hoping that my Olam Habba with one deed, so too, one growth through assuming more mitzvos 1 From the Shemoneh Esrei of Mincha on can accomplish this with one daf of shouldn’t just be incremental. I want it to Shabbos. 2 Gemara. The lesson Quotations based on transcripts published in is that it is never too Echoes from Seven and a Half Years Ago Hamodia, Mar. 3, ’05. late and never too 3 IJN Mar. 4, ’05 little, but yet, never Rabbi Frand mentioned two reasons why there were so many more 4 From IJN Mar. 11, ’05 enough. people involved in Daf Yomi during the eleventh cycle than there were 5 Reported in Yated Among those attend- in the tenth. I would suggest a third reason: Rabbi Frand’s address at the Ne’eman, Mar.11, ’05 Tenth Siyum HaShas. When I think back to that event, I remember listening to Rabbi Frand’s acknowledgement of the wives and mothers who make it possible for the men to learn, and in particular, I recall his description and children should of the mother of Rabbi Meir Shapiro, and how she instilled in her son everybody’s lunch- always remain top the recognition of the importance of learning each and every day. I was a es, and pick them priority. If you ever newlywed, married less than one month, and at the time, I did not really up from school to have a question understand what it would mean to make this kind of a commitment. But ensure that they whether you should after hearing Rabbi Frand’s words, I decided, then and there, that I would would make it to go somewhere, or do support my husband in this monumental task. I don’t believe that I was the Siyum on time; something, consider alone in being motivated by his words. when I took out whether or not it their white shirts GOLDIE HUTLER (IN A LETTER SENT TO RABBI AVI SHAFRAN) will assist you to and vests, and saw achieve this goal.” their eyes dancing Remembering this conversation, I Another thread that ran through our with excitement; when I closed the door realized the decision had been made. conversations was the sense of anticipa- behind them, wishing them a chizuk- Yes, it would have given me enormous tion, not for the upcoming Siyum, but for filled evening; when I turned around to chizuk to personally witness, by attending the next one, in 7 and a half years, when, care for my daughters, and we discussed the Siyum HaShas, how much our hus- “I will be sixteen years old and I will be the Siyum HaShas over a special dessert bands and children can accomplish. Yes, able to begin learning Daf Yomi from in honor of the Siyum; when I was able I would personally grow from the experi- Masechta Berachos together with Klal to tuck my daughters in and put the ence. For me, however, at this particular Yisroel!” This zest for Torah, this thrill at telephone to their ears so that they went time, it was more important to send my being able to see and hear Roshei Yeshiva, to sleep to the sound of the songs being children for the experience of their life, Rabbanim and Admorim, as displayed sung at the Siyum HaShas; I knew that while keeping things running smoothly by my sons, was my very own personal although I was only participating vicari- at home. Speaking for myself, I know Siyum. It was seeing the fruits of my ously through the male members of my that by not going to the Siyum HaShas, efforts “to send them off to learn.” family, this was the greatest manifestation I will be more capable of achieving my of the Gemara’s words regarding how a • • • goals as a mother. woman reaps reward for Torah learning. Looking back over the past few weeks, When my son woke me up bright and I was accomplishing my purpose. So I realized that dominating my children’s early on the day of the Siyum HaShas, – although I was seemingly participating conversations, their focus of excite- shouting ecstatically that he cannot wait only from the sidelines – in truth, I, too, ment, was the upcoming Siyum HaShas. for the evening; when I ran to prepare was on the front lines. d

19 Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg

Photo: Pinchas Orbach

Everyone’s Mitzvah by homicide bombers in Tel Aviv, or by Kiddush Hashem in the world than to wit- the sudden deaths of young fathers and ness the overwhelming and breathtaking uch has already been written mothers in our local communities), in sight of these Neviim walking around in and much will yet be written order to be mechapeir (atone) for the the fire and emerging unscathed? What Mabout the recently celebrated colossal Chillul Hashem (desecration of is meant by that question? Siyum HaShas. Clearly, the theme is – and His Name) of our forefathers in the days Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler l”xz explains will continue to be – about Kiddush of the Churban Bayis. that we learn a vital and important lesson Hashem. And, if so much was invested by the from this Midrash. Kiddush Hashem is not Kiddush Hashem is not just a good organizers of this great event – in terms generated by an event per se, no matter thing; it is vital for the very future of of effort, time, and money – to assure how powerful it may be; it is the response Klal Yisroel. The Rambam writes that that a Kiddush Hashem be realized, it to the event that determines the level of every person is metzuva (commanded) would behoove us to understand what Kiddush Hashem. to perform Kiddush Hashem. In some truly makes a Kiddush Hashem. If the idol worshipers who witnessed generations, that responsibility entails this open miracle would have returned giving up of one’s life; in others, it’s liv- home and gone about their business as ing in a manner that sanctifies Hashem’s The Crucial Factor on every other day, then this miraculous Name. Some are given the opportunity to event would have been many things do so with their great wealth, and others We may be able to offer a defini- – wonderful, inspiring, miraculous do so in the midst of their great poverty. tion with a closer look at a perplexing – but what it would not have been was While the situations and the times vary, Midrash. The Midrash in Shir Hashirim a Kiddush Hashem. But the Midrash the underlying theme is the same. Every (1-15) describes the famous incident reports that all the idol worshipers man, woman and child is metzuva in when the three prophets, Chanannia, who were present at that great miracle Kiddush Hashem. Mishaeil and Azaryia, were thrown into returned home, took their axes in hand Even more so, Chazal teach us that the fire for not worshipping an idol. After and smashed their idols to pieces. This only a great, colossal and unified act of three days and three nights in the fire was the Kiddush Hashem. Kiddush Hashem will ensure our redemp- (according to one opinion), they emerged And so when the historians, colum- tion and salvation from a world where unhurt and complete. Even their clothes, nists or political observers of current Jewish blood still flows freely (whether Chazal say, were unsinged, nor did they events will need to know how to classify Rabbi Ginzberg, founding Rav of Ohr Moshe have a smell of fire or smoke. This took this Siyum HaShas – whether to refer to Torah Institute in Hillcrest, NY, is cur- place before the eyes of all those gathered it as a massive Kiddush Hashem, possibly rently Rav of the Chofetz Chaim Torah there. unmatched anywhere in the history of Center of Cedarhurst (Long Island), New What is so perplexing is that the American Torah Jewry – they will have York. He is a frequent contributor to these pages. Midrash then asks, “What was the Kiddush to focus their attention on “the morn- Hashem?” Could there be any greater ing after.”

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How did we, the participants, react hakodesh, and maybe most important of this event were well worth it, because on the morning after? Did we return to all, the idol of the American dream that we achieved a significant and massive our homes, pick up our axes and smash climbing the ladder of corporate America Kiddush Hashem. away at our idols – our idols of apathy, is the ultimate goal and achievement? If of cynicism, of spiritual void, of lack of we did so, then, in Rabbi Dessler’s view, commitment and discipline in our avodas all the energy and resources spent on Calling In the Response

Obviously, with over twenty thousand Torah-loyal Jews at Madison Square Garden, from all types of backgrounds and commitments, the reaction on “the day after” would be greatly varied, as well. Around 9:30 Wednesday morning, I received two calls on my cell phone, within minutes of each other. Despite the proximity of these two calls, they were as different from each other as they could possibly be. The first call came from a good friend who is a prominent attorney and community leader in Silver Spring, Maryland. Years ago, Judah Lifshitz began leading a Daf Yomi shiur in his community, and despite a very busy practice and involve- ment in every aspect of the growth of the Torah community there, he dedicates his evenings to preparing and teaching the Daf to a small group of friends. He had traveled by railroad with other members of his Daf Yomi shiur to celebrate their siyum together with thousands of others also being mesayeim. Without any hint of exhaustion, only with an infectious sense of enthusiasm and excitement, he said, “Rabbi Ginzberg, I have a problem. On Monday, I couldn’t go to work because I was busy organizing my shiur’s community-wide siyum held that evening. On Tuesday, my chaverim and I traveled to New York to attend the Siyum, and returned late that night by train to Silver Spring. The train was filled with people returning from the Siyum HaShas to Baltimore, Washington, Silver Spring, and environs. We were even privileged to have the Rosh Hayeshiva of Ner Yisroel, Hagaon Rabbi Ahron Feldman, a”jyls, traveling with us. And now it’s Wednesday morning, and I’m in my car driving to my office in Washington, and to tell you the truth, I just can’t go in. After such an evening of inspiration and hisorerrus (inspiration), how do I just go back to the ‘real world,’ to the chol, when we are filled with so

32 The Jewish Observer

much kodesh from the Siyum HaShas?” I shared with him Chazal’s description of the schedule of the Chassidim Harishonim, who would devote three FRUM PSYCHOTHERAPIST hours to each tefilla: the first hour to prepare for tefilla, one hour of tefilla itself, and the third hour after tefilla. ELI SCHOSTAK, C.S.W. The commentaries ask, “The need to Specializing in Children and Adolescents prepare before tefilla is understandable, but what was the purpose of the hour 917-930-5793 after tefilla?” They explain that when one davens properly, with concentra- BROOKLYN, NEW YORK LIMITED EVENING HOURS tion and feeling, one’s neshama is raised to a higher dimension, and thus needs an hour afterward for his neshama to return to the mundane world that we live in. So, too, I advised my friend, you should dedicate an “hour after tefilla” to allow the return of your neshama from kodesh to chol. Two or three minutes passed, and another call followed, from an old friend who lives on the West Coast. He explained that while he doesn’t learn Daf Yomi, he thought it was important to attend, and so he traveled with his wife and two children to New York for the great event. I asked him how long he would be staying in town, and he replied that once he was already here, he would make the most of it. He had arrived on Tuesday, went to a five-star restaurant, and then proceeded to the Siyum HaShas. He slept over at a hotel, would be attending a show that afternoon, and would return home later that evening. After hanging up the phone, I was struck by the significant difference between the two early morning calls. One person was so uplifted and inspired with the event that he was finding it difficult to return to his office, and the other finds no difficulty with the transi- tion from the ethereal treat of the Siyum HaShas to the bright lights of Broadway. The first caller saw the Siyum as a source of chizuk and hisorerrus; the latter saw it as just another event, another place to go, another venue of entertainment. According to Rabbi Dessler, Kiddush Hashem is measured by the event’s ramifications “the morning after.” How fortunate are those whose priorities and values enable them to fulfill this criterion of Kiddush Hashem!

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Closer to Home morning. I wanted to share this experi- say the world is not the same since 9/11. I ence with so many of my fellow Jews say our world is not the same since March Another reaction came from one of from around the world, even if only for 1st, the day of the Siyum HaShas. Look my own baalei battim, who showed up on one day.” at how our attendance has so multiplied, Wednesday morning to begin the 12th cycle He hesitated for a moment and then that we’re forced to move to larger quar- of Shas at 5:30 a.m. in my shul (the Chofetz added, “You probably think that it’s not ters….” Chaim Torah Center of Cedarhurst). As he really that much, to just come for the first In Monsey, Rabbi Yisroel Rokowsky’s came in, he must have noticed my expres- day.” shiur grew from an average of 30 to over sion of surprise at seeing him at that early I responded, “Not much?” Referring to 100, necessitating an expansion of the shiur hour. We have had numerous conversations Rabbi Dessler’s insight, I offered, “This is room. In Denver, two new shiurim sprouted about the significance of learning in the Kiddush Hashem in all its glory, and there’s up, and the old one went up from eight early morning hours, and he had explained absolutely nothing in this temporal world members to over 20. Similar responses are that his work finds him staying up to very that we live in that is more significant being heard from all over the USA…. Rabbi late hours on the Internet, researching than that.” Chaim Veshnevsky, who brought a busload the latest activity in the foreign markets. We may have wasted much time the of “searching” congregants from the Jewish His schedule requires him to attend a late morning after, with discussions at the water Learning Center in Manalapan, NJ, called Shacharis in the morning, and precludes cooler as to who spoke how long; whether the day after the Siyum with the following the possibility of an early morning learn- too much Yiddish was spoken, or too little message: “To the Siyum organizers: You ing session. Yiddish; and who did and who didn’t speak. blew them away. You exposed my friends He approached me quietly and shared That’s all insignificant. What is significant to Orthodoxy in a way they never would the following with me: “Rabbi, my late is how many people pulled themselves out have – nor ever – imagined. The next day night work schedule hasn’t changed, and of bed early Wednesday morning and, for there were 13 members who signed up for so I am unable to participate in your early the first time ever, began the first Mishna my Daf Yomi shiur! In Manalapan! Many morning Daf Yomi shiur. However, after in Shas. Early reports indicate a four-fold of them didn’t know which way to hold coming home last night from the Siyum increase of the average Daf Yomi shiur…. the Gemara. But they were there. Thank HaShas so full of inspiration, I just had to In Flatbush’s Young Israel of Avenue J, you!” come at least once, at least the very next Rabbi David Levine commented, “People Kiddush Hashem, indeed. d ...Your only real choice when it comes to Foreign Residents’ Mortgagesin Israel … and a great deal more

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Rina Berger

A “Praise”worthy Tradition

“My Favorite Part” conductor. The beautiful nusach, which “Hatovos she’asisa im avoseinu ve’imanu we all learned as small children, united – The kindnesses that You did for our “Tatty, can you guess my favorite part us throughout the seder. The aromas fathers and for us.” At first, it was for the of the Pesach seder?” My brother, age six, coming from the kitchen let us know usual things that Mommy cried. Baruch looked up at my father with expectant a delicious shulchan aruch was in store Hashem, she was seeing Yiddishe nachas eyes and awaited my father’s reply. after the matzah and marror. And then from her children. And she had the zechus “Watching Tatty choke on the mar- came Hallel. of having her mother and mother-in-law ror?” For as long as I can remember, my join us year after year at our seder. “Uh uh!” father took my brothers – as his father “Opening the door for Eliyahu had taken him – to Boro Park from our Hanavi?” Flatbush home to join Rabbi Moshe The Changing Message “No!” Bick l”xz at the end of the second seder of the Words “All right, Tattele. Tell me, what is for the first counting of sefiras ha’omer. your favorite part?” My brothers commented that the simcha Then, as the years went on, the words “Hallel and Nishmas.” of aliya leregel at the time of the Beis seemed to arouse a personal thanks to How could so young a boy appreciate Hamikdash must have felt similar. My the Ribbono Shel Olam for the yeshuos Hallel and Nishmas? In our family, it’s family, generally arriving in time for the family had experienced that year. really no question at all. At our Pesach Hallel was warmly welcomed. The same Eleven years ago, just four days after seder, my parents were truly transformed nusach that they heard at Rabbi Bick’s sitting at the sedarim with Tatty, two from ordinary baalebattim into shining seder, and every Yom Tov in his shul, was of their married children and their royalty. Tatty in his kittel, and Mommy used at our table. families, and me, Mommy was rushed to in her embroidered apron, sat at the The feelings with which every word the hospital with unexplained stomach heads of the table, with the children in was said by my father was reflected in pains. Over the last days of Yom Tov, between. Throughout the seder, we were his son’s voices. My sister and I, how- before my eyes, she fell into a coma. as players in an orchestra with Tatty as the ever, took our cue from our mother For days, we feared that she would h”i. She swayed back and forth in her never awaken. Finally, she opened her Mrs. Berger is a mechaneches, who lives in armchair, and whispered the words with eyes, and two days later uttered her first Lakewood, NJ. This is her first appearance in these pages. their nusach. The tears streamed down word – “amein” – to a wish from her her cheeks as she thanked Hashem: cousin for a refua sheleima. She made

44 The Jewish Observer

a miraculous recovery from a terrible Baruch Hashem, three and a half years heina azarunu rachamecha velo azavunu infection, and came home three weeks after Mommy got sick, she was zoche to chasadecha – until now, Your pity has after entering the hospital, but more walk me to the chupa. The medication helped us and Your kindness has not was yet to come. had changed her outwardly, but nothing left us” – were the last words he heard Two months later, Mommy was diag- could hide the smile on her face. as he walked out the door. When he nosed with an incurable form of the dreaded disease. She committed herself to a strong fight – after all, she wanted to walk me, her youngest, to the chupa. For six months, she went through agonizing chemotherapy treatments, telling no one The emotions aroused by the words but immediate family. Every Shabbos, I sat next to her in shul, and heard her of Hallel and Nishmas grew as we daven Nishmas quietly with our nusach. understood more and more how How thankful she was for every day. much we had to be thankful for. She told me that she really knows the meaning of the morning declaration, “Modeh ani… shehechezarta bi nishmasi bechemla – Thank You… for returning my soul to me with compassion.” Finally, when Pesach arrived again, she was in Hashem gave her the strength to returned two hours later, he found her remission. We sat at the seder with com- dance at my chasuna and join us for still on the same words of Nishmas. “Ad pany again, and when we got to Nishmas, Sheva Berachos. The next day, severe heina azarunu rachamecha velo azavunu there wasn’t a dry eye at the table as we medical complications forced her to chasadecha.” Mommy’s mind was not davened, “hame’oreir yesheinim vehamei- be hospitalized. Most of her remaining kitz nirdamim” – Hashem, thank You for time was spent in the hospital. allowing Mommy to awaken from a deep Each week, one or another of my slumber, and allowing us to have another brothers would spend Shabbos with Pesach together as a family. Mommy. She insisted that a white sheet Two more years passed with their ups be placed on her hospital tray, and that and downs, but the seder remained the all zemiros be sung. My brother Yaakov highlight of the year. The emotions aroused spent her last Shabbos with her. She by the words of Hallel and Nishmas grew began davening Shacharis early Shabbos as we understood more and more how morning. When Yaakov left for shul, much we had to be thankful for. she was in the middle of Nishmas. “Ad NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS The Rabbi Naftali Riff Yeshiva Inc. admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administrated programs. The Rabbi Naftali Riff Yeshiva South Bend, Indiana 3207 S. High Street, South Bend, Indiana 46614 • (574) 291-4239 Applications are now being accepted for Elul 5765/August 2005

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entirely clear, but still, my brother was had gone to the Skulener Rebbe a”jyls Mommy wasn’t there to join us. As we shocked that she seemed to be stuck on during davening to ask him to daven for approached the highlight of our seder that line for more than two hours. our mother. “She is only 51 years old,” – Hallel and Nishmas – we would just The following Shabbos, Shabbos my brother lamented. The Rebbe had picture Mommy in her white apron Hagadol, Tatty and the children joined been standing at the Aron Kodesh to telling us, “Be thankful for the time we Mommy one last time at the hospital. remove the sifrei Torah for leining when did have together – Hashem’s chessed has Right before the zeman for hadlakas they entered. He stood at the open Aron still not left you.” Of course, the tears haneiros, Tatty helped Mommy do her Kodesh and said “Ana Hashem hoshia flowed, but the nusach and feelings were erev Shabbos mitzva one last time. He NA” – Please, Hashem, save the woman stronger than ever. lifted her almost lifeless hand, placed whose years of life equal the numerical • • • money between her fingers and helped value of NA – 51. On her last complete Seven years have passed since then, her release the coins into her Rabbi Shabbos, Mommy had repeated, “Ad and now I sit each Shabbos and Yom Meir Baal Haness pushka. After Kabbalas heina azarunu rachamecha velo azavunu Tov with my three-year-old daughter, Shabbos, the men sang Shalom Aleichem chasadecha” – You helped us Hashem, her Bubbie’s namesake, next to me on and Eishes Chayil for her one last time, and Your chessed has not left us.” the couch. I open my Siddur and daven. and that evening she returned her pure We got up from shiva and sat at the When I reach the words of “Nishmas neshama to her Maker. seder that night. My husband and I kol chai,” I say it with the nusach that I After Shabbos, we sat together and and my oldest brother and his fam- learned at my parents’ seder. I daven that recollected our last weeks with Mommy, ily joined my father at his house for a Hashem continue to treat us with chessed and my brothers noticed something difficult evening. The food had been so that I can watch my children grow to incredible. When she had been sick cooked by us in Mommy’s Pesach kitch- daven and thank Hashem with the words four years earlier, two of my brother en with her utensils, and her recipes, but of Nishmas as their Bubbie did. d HAT PLUS CHEVRA OSEH CHESED Rabbi Aryeh Schechter Hats • Shirts • Ties • Accessories OF AGUDATH ISRAEL SOFERRabbi S’’TAM Your #1 Stop BURIAL PLOTS Schechter1558 41st 2" Street for IN ERETZ YISROEL Brooklyn NY 11218 We make “housecalls” Quality Hats Interment in a Shomer Shabbos

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