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10 Rus AND HER VISION. BASED ON LECTURES Of RABB!

.B.SE.ltVER (HAIM f'INCHAS 5CHEINBERG ~·,,,~." THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021·6615 !S PUBUSHEO MONTllLY EXCEPT JULY & AUGUST llY Rabbi Shlorr10 F'urst THE AGUOATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA 42 BROADWAY, NEW YOl{K, NY !0004. PERIODICALS POSTAGE f'AIO IN NEW YORK. NY. SUBSCRIPTION S25.00/YEAR: SIXTY YEARS SINCE CHURBAN EUROPA 2 YEARS, $411.00; 3 YEAllS, S69.oo. Otl'J'SIDI' OF TliE {JNITED STATES {US HiNOS DHAWN ON A lJS BANK ONLY) S15.oo SIJRCHAH(;~; PEil YEAR. S!NGl.E COPY $3.50; OUTSIDE NY AREA $3.95; FORUGN S4.50. 11 THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED AND How TO TEACH

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Since the prev10us issue of The the Bobov institutions. For over five His vast knowledge in every aspect of Jewish Observer, Kial Yisroel has suffered decades, he exerted an enormous influ­ Torah, both nigla (revealed) and nistar several irreplaceable losses among its ence over mesivta bachurim, as well as (mystical), was unexcelled. And his Torah leadership. While each of these per­ the entire Bobover community. He concern for fellow Jews was accompa­ sonalities is worthy of a lengthier trib­ combined in himself awesome humili­ nied by selfless dedication to helping oth­ ute, at this time we are mentioning each ty, untold acts of chessed, and an uncom­ ers in need. His impact on the talmidim with a brief description of his unique role pro1nising view that all human action of Mir was so profound that the pres­ within the Torah world. must be dedicated bilti laShem levado. ent Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Nasson Tzvi These were the motifs of his life. Finkel, yibadeil lechayim, would attempt Thus, while always modest, self­ to dance with Rabbi Kamiel on his shoul­ effacing and shunning the spotlight, he ders on Simchas Torah, since he viewed recognized the need to assume a pub­ him as "a living Sefer Torah." lic role with the passing of his father in He was niftar on Shushan Purim, 2000. He more than filled the task. Rabbi March 26. In the words of Rabbi Naftali Halberstam was niftar 12 Yissachar Meir, Rosh Hayeshiva of Adar/March 23. He is sorely missed. Yeshivas Hanegev: "lt is impossible for us to fathom the depth of his knowledge in Shas and poskim. His lofty, unusual middos, his yiras Shamayim and great­ ness were supports of Kial Yisroel. He achieved a status rare in our times - that of cleaving to Torah:'

Rabbi Naftali Halberstam, the Bobover Rebbe ~ Rav Naftali was born to his parents, Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam and his Rebbetzin, 74 years ago in Bobov, when the family patriarch Rav Bentzion ( 187 4- 1941) was Rebbe. (They were of the Sanzer dynasty, descendants of the Divrei Chayim.) Rav Shlomo and his son were Rabbi Chaim Hakohein Kamiel ~ the only family members to survive served as Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshivas pogroms and round-ups during World Ofakim in the Negev of Bretz Yisroel for Warll.ln 1944, Rav Naftul'che (as he was close to 25 years, after having said shi- affectionately called) escaped to Bretz urim in the Mirrer Yeshiva for a num- Yisroe/, where he spent four years of inten- ber of years. Born in 5693/1933 to Rabbi sive Torah study under gedolei Torah of Yaakov Hakohein Kamiel in Rabbi Avrohom Menachem the time, including the Slonimer Rebbe. Yerushalayim, the extraordinary hasma- Danziger ~' the ninth Admor of He also maintained close contact with the da that he exhibited as a child in Aleksander Chassidus - the only surviv­ Satmar Rebbe, the Gerer Rebbe and the Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi was his hallmark ing son of the previous Rebbe, Rav Chazon Ish, and gained recognition as a throughout his years - as a bachur learn- Yehuda Moshe - passed away on 17 brilliant talmid chacham. ing under the Steipler Gaon in Bnei Brak, Adar/March 27. His father arrived in America in 1947, as a yungerman in Mirrer Yeshiva in Aleksander Chassidus was second in where he devoted himself to reestablish- Yerushalayim - indeed, until his last size only to Ger in pre-War Poland, and ing the Bobover Chassidus and its net- breath. His total involvement in Torah had established the "Beis Yisroel"Yeshiva work of yeshivas. Rav Naftul' che joined was uninterrupted by meals, errands, or network there; it was all but destroyed his father and, after several years, traditional bein ha'zemanim (interses- by the Germans \!l.. r.l'. Rav Yehuda Moshe had moved with his son, j assumed much of the burden of runnin_g __s_1· o_n_)_b_r_e_a_k_s. __ 4 1934. After the destruction of World War mussartradition that traces back to Rabbi foundly deep and analytical approach to !I, he assumed the leadership of Yisroel Salanter. Torah study, and in the full range of his Aleksander until his passing in 1973, During the War, he was in Sweden, knowledge - the entirety of Shas and its when Rav Avrohom Menachem succeed­ where he taught and was involved in co1nmentaries. ed him. He oversaw the growth of Yeshiva kiruv, and, with Rabbi Wolf Jacobson, He was born in 5679/1919 in Lodz, Beis Yisroel-Tiferes Menachem in Bnei established a seminary for women. where his father, Rabbi Shaul Yosef Brak; published his ancestors' famed After the War, Rabbi Wolbe joined Berman, a ta/mid of the Chofetz Chaim, sefarim, including the Yis1nach Yisroel, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Shapiro and was Rosh Yeshiva of Yehivas Toras Akeidas Yitzchak, Emunas Moshe, and a opened the Yeshiva Gedola of Be'er Chesed. At the age of 14, he left Lodz to Haggada and Pirkei Avos with commen­ Yaakov, with Rabbi Shapiro as Rosh attend the Mir Yeshiva in Poland, where taries culled from the rebbes of Vorki­ Yeshiva, and Rabbi Wolbe as Mashgiach, he astounded the bnei yeshiva with his Alexander; and - along with incredible a position he held for over 35 years. Later, command of 1400 dapim of Gemara, hasmada and avodas Hashem, which he served as Mashgiach in the Lakewood both in analysis and verbatim recall. He began at 2:30 a.m. every day- serviced Yeshiva in Bretz Yisroel, as well as open­ developed a close relationship with the the needs of his n1any followers. ing Yeshivas Givat Shaul. Rabbi Wo!be Mashgiach, Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz. The Rebbe is survived by sons, daugh­ gave mussar shmuessen (discourses), Although Reh Abba was only 17 when ters, grandchildren and great-grandchil­ vaadin (more informal lectures, usual­ Reb Yerucham passed away, he always dren. He also left behind thousands of ly to smaller groups), and shiurim in considered himself his talmid. pages of chiddushei Torah in both Torah many yeshivos and other public and pri­ With the Mirrer Yeshiva in and Kabbala that have yet to be printed. vate forums. He also created batei mus­ Shanghai, he distinguished himself sar where he delivered shmuessen and with his hasmada and lamdus, and vaadin. His shmuessen, which focused on served as a resource for the published how a hen Torah could perfect himself chiddushim of Reb Chaim Halevi on in that role, and in his avoda (Divine serv­ Rambam. He not only knew the sefer by ice), in general, are published in the vol­ heart, he was constantly plumbing it for umes of Alei Shur and Bein Sheishes new insights. After the War, he came to LeAsor. America, where he said shiurim in Mir He was one of the key mussar figures (Brooklyn), and eventually established of the past generation. his own yeshiva in Far Rockaway, then in Monsey, and ultimately in Bretz Yisroel - first in Bnei Brak, later in Yerushalayim, and then in Kiryat Sefer. His talmidim - many of them leading figures in harbatzas haTorah today - generally spent many years under his direct guidance, carrying his intense ana- Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe ?"~, Alei Shur lytical approach with them as they con- Born in Berlin shortly before the out- tinued to grow in the path he paved for break of the World War I, Rabbi Wolbe's them. Five volumes of Rav Abba's shi- early education was in Berlin, in the urim were published in his lifetime, with Yeshiva of Frankfurt, and then in Rabbi many more manuscripts remaining to Botchko's yeshiva in Montreux, be published. Switzerland. In the 1930s, he spent sev- Reb Abba was niftaron 3 lyar/May 12. era] years in Mir, Poland, where he He leaves his devoted Rebbetzin, six became a close ta/mid of the Mashgiach, daughters - married to outstanding Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz, and after his Rabbi Abba Berman ~ teachers of Torah, some of whom head passing, of Rabbi Chatzkel Levenstein. The yeshiva of Rabbi Abba Berman institutions - hundreds of dedicated Throughout Rabbi Wolbe's life, he ~ .. ~carries the name "Iyun Hatalmud," talmidim, and a Kial Yisroel enriched by I' viewed himself as a talmzd muvhakofReb as do his sefarim. These words person- his legacy, now impoverished by his j Yh """''"""'_'h_z_·n_h_i_s_p_r_o_- --ab_s_e_n_c_e.______~-llil_s_, M A Y 2 0 0 5

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RABBI SHLOMO FURST

Ros and Her Vision From a Regal Past to an Exalted Future

Based on lectures of Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg N"1"':>v, to his Yeshiva, "Iorah Ore in Jerusalem

OF RUCHNIYUS AND ROYALTY her resolve to continue onward. offer? She did what no one else would The next passuk recounts Rus's final have done, and it behooves us to under­ An essential part of our kaballas response: "Do not urge me to leave you, stand why. ha Torah on Shavuos are the lessons we to turn back and not follow you. For Normally, one becomes dish ea rt - gain from Megillas Rus, for the motiva­ wherever you go, I will go; wherever you ened when faced with a bleak future. No tions behind Rus's decision to convert lodge, I will lodge; your people are my one is enticed by the possibility of dif­ are relevant to each of us. Rationally, it people, and your G-d is my G-d; where ficulty and even failure. If, however, one seemed pointless for her to give up so you die, I will die, and there I shall be has hope for something brighter, this will much of her youthful life to follow her buried." This declaration silenced endow him or her with the courage to mother-in-law, Naomi, to Bretz Yisroel. Naomi: "VVhen she saw she was deter­ go on. Inspiration stems from a concrete Moreover, Naomi argued repeatedly mined to go with her, she ceased argu­ goal. It sparks the imagination. To with Rus to turn back. Nevertheless, she ing with her, and the two of them went whatever extent that goal is understood, chose to accept the Torah to guide her on until they came to Beis Lechem" (Rus visualized and valued, so will one find life. In contrast, Orpa, Rus's sister-in-law, 1,18). the ability to persevere, even during times was swayed by Naomi's arguments and This is quite remarkable. After so of difficulty and opposition. In fact, any left. Naomi said to Rus, "Behold, your much dissuasion, Rus's will should have obstacle to realizing a beckoning goal will sister-in-law has returned to her people weakened and her desire should have only generate increased determination and her gods; go follow your sister-in­ waned. Yet, Rus grew ever stronger in her to achieve it. law" (Rus 1,15). Amazingly, each time conviction. Orpa, however, saw an aus­ Rus envisioned her goal, and she knew Naomi talked with her, Rus strengthened tere future in store for her if she that by clinging to Naomi, she would

RABBI fURST, WHO IS MASHGIACH KUCHAN/ IN remained with Naomi. Why give up all succeed. Kou,r·:I. RUACH CHAIM, IS AUTHOR OF Nr:s1vos the excitement and opulent life as a king's CHAIM- Tur: TORAH WA YOFLIFE SEIUES (THUS daughter? Obviously, she found it dif­ FAR ON BEREISHIS AND SHI:."MOS) BASED ON THE ficult to forgo all the pleasures of a regal STRIVING FOR A AfOTZAEI 5HARBOS l.ECTURES OF RAHBI CHAIM lifestyle, so she returned to Moav, to the MEANINGFUL OLD AGE PINCHAS SCHEINBERG. HI-: IS A FREQUIONT CON· TRIBUTOR TO THESE PAGES. MOST RECENTLY WITH decadence of her home.

"THE ESSENCE ANO IMPORT Ol'TORAH SHl:'BE'AJ, How did Rus have the courage to turn Naomi was a shining example of Pr:H," JAN. '05, her back on all that that world had to Torah life. She was a pleasant, gracious

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I person, an eishes chayil. In her compa· com1nents, 'A person does not leave the chesscdfor the sake of others. Such nobil· ny, Rus experienced the spiritual glory world having [even] half of his desires ityofheart enabled Rus to leave the pleas­ of living a life in accordance with in his hand. He has one hundred, and ures of royalty behind. When we put aside Torah, and this attracted her to he desires two hundred. He acquires two our own personal interests, shun all the Yiddishkeit. Consequently, Rus's state· hundred, and he desires to make it four possible benefits and considerations ment, " ...your people are my people, and hundred, as it is said, The one who loves that could accrne, and instead act in accor- your G·d is my G-d:' makes sense. The money will not be satisfied with money."' dance with Hashen1's directives, in words that follow, however," ... where you One cannot live a corrupt life and then response to the needs of others, this is die, I will die, and there I shall be buried;' die like a tzaddik. Bilaam's life ambition the highest degree of chessed possible. need explanation. How does this last was to experience pleasure - with what We are all capable of such heights of state1nent add significance to Rus's ultimate result? The sum of all his pleas· altruis1n, for as it is written, "The asserting her devotion to Naomi, to her ures co1nbined could never produce a nobles of the nations gathered - the people, and to her G·d? feeling of fulfillment, after a life of waste nation of the G-d of Avraham" ( Tchillim We have a clue to understanding Rus's declaration from a remark that Bilaam made when Balak, the king of Moav, How DID Rus HAVE THE COURAGE TO TURN hired him to curse Kial Yisroel. In the midst of his foiled attempts to curse Kial HER BACK ON ALL THAT THAT WORLD HAD Yisroel, Bilaam 1nade a similar reference TO OFFER? SHE DID WHAT NO ONE ELSE to death: "May my soul die the death of WOULD HAVE DONE, AND IT BEHOOVES the upright, and may my end be like his!" (Bamidbar 23,10 ). The "upright" that US TO UNDERSTAND WHY. Bilaam referred to are our righteous fore- fathers, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. The Torah describesAvrahamAvinu's and depravity. In contrast, the Zahar 47, 10). The word "nobles" refers to those passage from this world: "And Avraham states that every one of Avraham Avinu's who are motivated by selfless intentions. expired and died at a good old age, ven- days was accounted for. He came to the Rashi explains "nobles" as referring to erable and fulfilled,and he was gathered Next World with all his days. "those who sacrificed themselves to be to his people" (Bereishis 25, 8). He had Similarly, each of our days should be slaughtered and killed for the Holy lived a long and full life. The Ramban appreciated as a precious gift for us to Name;' for the highest form of altruism explains this to mean, "He saw the real- use to the utmost, for it is written, 'Who is to willingly return one's life to the One ization of all his heart's desires, and was is the man who desires life? He who loves who created it. Rashi continues, based satisfied with all that was good:' The days ... " (Tehillim 34,13). We should not on the Gemara (Sukka 49b ), explaining Ramban adds that it is unique to tzad- be fooled into thinking about weeks, the reference to Avraham Avinu in the dikim to leave this world feeling that they months or years, and imagine that passuk: "For he was the first with a gen- have fulfilled what they had sought to there is plenty of time to accomplish our erous heart-the vanguard for converts." accomplish with their lives. life goals. No, each day counts. Avraham Avinu acknowledged At a ripe old age, Avraham Avinu Hashem as the One and Only true G-d, could see how each of his days played a and he was willing to give up his life role in helping him reach his life pur- BEYOND GENEROSITY rather than betray his belief in Hashem pose. All of his days combined to ere- · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Yisbarach. All succeeding converts to ate something lasting and eternal. In Rus, surveying the days that lay Judaism have emulated Avraham Avinu. contrast, Bilaam - a rasha - lived entire- ahead, realized that she was at a cross- Thus, Rus, too, had this generosity of ly for himself, steeped in the pleasures roads. She knew that a comparatively heart and, in the footsteps of Avraham, and decadence of this world. Yet, envi- drab life awaited her if she chose to fol- joined Naomi, thus making a full con- sioning his end, he wanted to have the low Naomi. There was, nonetheless, a version to Judaism. same death as our avos - Avraham, tremendous potential for chessed in it, Rus recognized the importance of Yitzchak and Yaakov-who had accom- as well. To help Naomi, Rus was willing Torah to her life, and its concomitant plished so much in this world. to forgo a seemingly bright future. She promise of eventual success and content - This, however, was impossible, as the gave up much more than time or ment that Hashem has in store for tzad- Ramban continues: "This is not so money. She gave up Olam Hazeh-this- dikim. Therefore, the more Naomi tried about other people, as is written worldly excitement. to persuade Rus otherwise, the staunch- 1 ( Kohelles 5,9 ), 'The one who loves Such altruism requires much sensitiv- er she became in her belief. She reinforced j ~o;eywill not be satisfied with money: ity- and sympathy for others - and a her sense of purpose in life. I Lis, the Midrash (Kohel/es Rabba 1.:13) - desir~so.strong that it produces unselfi:. - ~oreover, .Rus .had ~!ear visw'] M A Y 2 0 0 5

what her last day could be like. Rus was mately fade from remembrance. insure happiness at the end, as opposed I resolved to make that last moment of her Therefore, tzaddikim work for a lasting to thinking about how she can make her­ life a happy one, when she would be able goal, and consequently enjoy their self happy now. The yearning for last­ to review all her days and rejoice for hav­ accomplishments. They can look back ing contentment gave her the will to ing accompanied Naomi, joined her peo­ and rejoice over the example they set for succeed .... "Where you die, I will die, and ple, and chosen G-d; to be happy that she others, the Torah they learned, their there I shall be buried." was not distracted by the world's temp­ mitzvos and acts of kindness. These noble tations; to be grateful that in the end, she deeds endure forever and ever. Death, did have a wonderful life by joining then, is not the final, very end. THE UNIQUE HUMAN Naomi, even though, at the time, there Rus, too, desired Olam Habba. From DIMENSION seemed to be nothing to look forward to. her perspective, death would be the The chessed she could do with Naomi beginning and not the end. Can there be The unique significance of the - and all the other mitzvos Rus could a more compelling reason to embrace the human mind is the ability to look ahead, perform by becoming a Jewess- gave Rus Torah way of life? and to realize the consequences of our choices and actions. Hakadosh Baruch Hu blessed us with this ability in order to serve Him. The passions of youth, Rus DESIRED 0LAM HABBA. FROM HER however, often hinder the calm, PERSPECTIVE, DEATH WOULD BE THE thoughtful process of forethought that is required to make a cheshbon hanefesh BEGINNING AND NOT THE END. CAN and see clearly into the future. Desire for THERE BE A MORE COMPELLING REASON immediate gratification interferes with TO EMBRACE THE TORAH WAY OF LIFE? our thoughts, and we lose sight of what is truly important. Rus successfully soared above the smoky confusion that youthful fires pro­ a beacon, a brilliant ray of clarity, Hence, everything the world had to duce. She ignored the present and which enabled her to envision her offer her as daughter of a king meant chose the future. We, like Rus, must entire life. She recognized that the nothing to her. She could have married choose to look ahead. Hashem careful­ worldly pleasures do not mean much, for anyone she wished, and instead, she chose ly noted Rus's determination and sacri­ in the end, they do not achieve lasting a life with Naomi. When she did marry, fice, and rewarded Rus for her efforts. results. Therefore, in the prime of her life, it was to Boaz. He was the gadol hador, Although Boaz died soon after she Rus turned her back on it all. but a very old man. She looked beyond married him, Hashem allowed her to con­ his many years and saw his timeless spir­ ceive and give birth. David Hamelech 7";:,n itual greatness. Her heart was set on descended from the offspring of this mar­ PATHWAY TO A achieving nitzchiyus - eternity - and it riage. Rus's vision extended far into the PRODUCTIVE LIFE was for this reason that the more future, and, she thus could sacrifice the Naomi attempted to dissuade her from present for a future that she envisioned This is a very relevant lesson, for many continuing with her, the more Rus and knew to be true. times we spend much of our potential­ resolved not to leave her. We, too - with Hashem's help - can ly productive, youthful years pursuing Thus, we learn from Rus the value of do the same as we wait for the moment, fun, entertainment and adventure. understanding the purpose and impor­ may it come speedily in our days, when These distractions can be very tempting, tance of life. If we view life through the the seed of David Hamelech will usher and without a higher goal to guide us, limited perspective of the present in an era of perfection. Moshiach will we become confused by all sorts of drives moment, we must perforce wage a con­ enlighten the world with the truth of and temptations. With time, however, we tinual and fierce battle against the Hashem's Torah. The recognition of mature and age. These urges dwindle. In world's many luring temptations. There Hashem as the One and Absolute G-d will retrospect, not much is left to pursue, is no shortage of ways to become con­ be complete. and few true accomplishments remain. fused and discouraged- from trivial dis­ Our counting of Sefiras Haomer is a Eventually, even favorite pastimes tractions to treacherous pitfalls. yearly lesson in looking forward to some­ become impossible to enjoy. The feet sim­ Although the enticements of the thing precious and eternal - Torah. It is ply do not move as they used to -bas­ world are overwhelming, we can count­ vitally practical for us all. On Shavuos, ketball and tennis are history, not to be er their influence by looking ahead and ifour kaballas ha Torah is genuine, we can enjoyed again. Even the greatest, most making a cheshbon hanefesh - a spiri­ all contribute to making that great, long­ delectable joys and pleasures will ulti- tual accounting. Rus calculated how to awaited day a reality. 11"

8 Machon Bais Yaakov Mincha 3:5Dpm-4:05pm Hilda Birn High School, All courses are for men and women 1681/83 42"' SI., Bklyn and are with a mechitzah.

£VERY MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 11. MAKING PARENTS/ADMINISTRATORS YOUR JULY 11-JULY 28/10:15am-12:35pm BIGGEST SUPPORTERS Practical techniques to improve teacher/parenVadmin­ 1. IVRIT B'IVRIT TEACHERS' SEMINAR istratlon communication. (Three-week course) ($180 per week) Instructor: Rabbi Zev Meisels, Menahel, Joan Dachs Conversational Hebrew w~h emphasis on language, Bais Yaakov-Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi; Ch;cago, IL writing, and grammar used in the classroom. Instructor. Prof. Hanoch Dubitsky, Yeshiva University; JULY 18,19,20,211 4:D5pm-6:25pm NY, NY 12. MANAGING THE CLASSROOM JULY 11,12,13,14 / 10:15am-12:35pm Learn how to create the environment which prevents discipline problems. 2. COMMUNICATING WITH THE STUDENT Instructor: Rabbi Zev Meisels, Menahel, Joan Dachs Acquire the skills and ability to understand your Bais Yaakov-Yeshivas Titeres Tzvi; Chicago, IL students, assist them in resolving conflicts, and build their self-esteem 13. CHILD DEVELOPMENT Instructor: Rabbi Yitzchok Merkin, Headmaster. Yeshiva This course ls geared to provide a greater understand­ of Greater Washington; Silver Spring, MD ing of the child, and how to apply this understanding 3. HANDLING THE CHALLENGING QUESTIONS in the classroom. Become familiar and comfortable with the various diffi­ Instructor: Dr. Philip Schwartz, Clinical Psychologist, culties that arise when discussing and integrating Torah General Studies Principal, Yeshiva of Greater Hashkafos, attitudes and Jewish history in a classroom. Washington; Silver Spring, MD Instructor: Rabbi Tzadok Froimowitz, Rebbi, Mesivta JULY 25,26,27,28 / 10:15am-12:35pm Chafetz Chaim; Flushing, NY 14. CHUMASH IN THE UPPER GRADES JULY 11,12,13,14 / 1:30pm-3:50pm Learn to create interesting, practical and motivational 4. CREATING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT worksheets and methods of review to increase Participants will gain an understanding of discipline translating skills and comprehension proficiency. practices, philosophy, and the ability to implement (Grade 4 and up) effective discipline methods in their class and school. Instructor: Rabbi Menachum Meisels, Rebbi, Hebrew Instructor: Rabbi Binyomin S. Ginsberg, Dean; Torah Academy of Cleveland; Cleveland Heights, OH Academy, St. Louis Park, MN 15. FUNDAMENTALS OF TEACHING 5. MAKING TEFILA AND DINIM MEANINGFUL This course will teach various methods and ways Practical methodologies to teach both Dinlm and Terna to insure that !earning is taking place. It w!!I include in an interesting, informative, and motivating manner. active participation, mental set, retention and The course wiU also define the ten components of motivation. teaching Dinim Instructor: Rabbi Shalom Storch, Menahel, Yeshiva Instructor: Rabbi Dov Leibenstein, Educational Nesivos Ohr; Lakewood, NJ Supervisor; Chicago, fl JULY 25,26,27 ,28 / 1:30pm-3:50pm JULY 11, 12,13,14 / 4:05pm-6:25pm 16. EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE 6. TEACHING THE WHOLE CLASS Learn how to structure the classroom setting through Methodologies for teaching all the students in a management techniques and classroom attitudes in heterogeneous class. Differential instruction for the order to produce a positive learning atmosphere. weaker and gifted student along with strategies for Instructor: Rabbi zev Katz, Principal-Judaic Dept., effective grouping. Yeshiva of Greater Washington; Silver Spring, MD Instructor: Rabbi Dov Leibenstein, Educational INIGHT COURSES I Supervisor; Chicago, IL 17. BUILDING SKILLS IN THE YOUNGER GRADES tOURSES Bt!bW.WIJ.L.BE lltVER 111 YJUDl$ff Practical techniques to help the child learn the skills 7. PRINCIPALS'/ADMINISTRATORS' SEMINAR .. PAllTIAliSPOflSORSHIPllnl.t COST.$60.{RO llElf,FEI: taught in grades 1-4. The full scope of necessary Enhance our mission through positive school splrit. Chumash skl!ls will be defined and discussed. Hands-on workshop dealing with teacher supervision; JULY 11,12,13,14 / 8pm-10pm leadership styles; community, parent and board Instructor: Rabbi Shalom Storch, Menahel, Yeshiva relationships. Nes;vos Ohr; Lakewood, NJ Instructor: Rabbi Binyomin S. Ginsberg, Dean, Torah JULY 25,26,27,28 / 4:05pm-6:25pm Academy, St. Louis Park, MN 18. TEACHING GEMORAH JULY 18,19,20,211 1D:15am-12:35pm How to systematically present the Gemorah, develop 8. ANATOMY OF THE LESSON thinking skills, and build language skills. Learn and review the basic components needed to JULY 18,19,20,21 / 8pm-10pm Instructor: Rabbi Menachum Meisels, Rebbi, Hebrew organize a class focusing on lesson objectives and Academy of Cleveland; Cleveland Heights, OH 22.THE .· .·· ·•••···••··••··• ·...... i •.. ·.. . ·/ Bloom's Taxonomy of thinking skills. Jeam MwAll'ilvtil.Ellllflt~ilinilci:ss to ~Sll differentteac!ling teclliligues ln ~~rl!J actiyely lnvo.lv~ • 19. HELPING CHILDREN GROW Instructor: Rabbi Elimelech Gottlieb, Menahel, Elem. a.IJ .. yo.ur.stutten.. tinmd th.ereby 11l!fll..ti.e lhll.dlseipl.1n~ pm. blem.. ··.• s.·· in yo. ur Practical techniques to make an impact on the School, Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway; .classroom.. ·. . . . ·.. . . .· .... · .. .. ·· .. ·...... · . rerrglous growth of your students. Lawrence, NY lrislt/Jttor: flldlbi Shmuel B. Blau, R~bbi, 7/Jrall V?yetiah; l.akeWliofi, .l'IJ Instructor: Rabbi Zev Katz, Principal-Judaic Dept., 9. LEARNING STYLES Yeshiva of Greater Washington; Silver Spring, MD Gain an understanding of the various types of !earning styles which both you and your students use ln order to learn. As a result you will make it easier for your students to learn by creating more meaningful and interesting lessons. Instructor: Rabbi Moishe Bak. Founder at Tachbulos­ Strategies Inc.; Lakewood, NJ JULY 18, 19,20,21 I 1:30pm-3:50pm 10. THE KEYS TO DISCIPLINE Various ideas to use in order to prevent discipline problems from occurring. Instructor: Rabbi Moishe Bak, Founder of Tachbulos­ Strategies Inc.; Lakewood, NJ SIXTY YEARS SINCE CHURBAN EUROPA ---_ ---. =-i

RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS

Introduction

In the summer of 1999, Torah Europa and its profound lessons for Kial Umesorah was approached by an edu­ Yisroel. We had to guide schools in how cational organization with an offer to plan to introduce it, and we needed to pro­ a curriculum for our schools dealing with vide the requisite teaching materials. the Holocaust. Generally speaking, when In the years since, significant progress the war ended, there was hesitation to deal has been made. Over 400 teachers have with this so-very-painful and difficult attended training seminars and curric­ topic, and most of our children had lit­ ula have been published. tle or no knowledge about Churban Yet, only a beginning has been made. Europa. Whatever information they had Many more schools need to introduce the came, in large measure, from museums, subject of Churban Europa and its les­ books, and stories that were ignorant of sons. At the last National Convention of or antagonistic to our Torah approach. Agudath Israel, a symposium on the topic, When I told the Philadelphia Rosh mostly featuring survivors, was offered. Yeshiva, Rabbi Elya Svei N""""'1, about the Their speeches, some of which* are repro­ offer made to us, his answer was very def­ duced here, vividly show the importance inite: "Yes, the time has come to teach this of teaching our children to dedicate them­ - but it must be we who do it!" selves to the sacred and heroic heritage Thus, Torah Umesorah, following the that our Kedoshim left to us. guidance of the Rosh Yeshiva n··?:i> and Other articles on the topic in this issue Rabbi Pam ?"in, with the active encour­ are an interview with Mrs. Yuta agement of the Novominsker Rebbe Moskowitz, a review article by Rabbi Zev N'"V"nl, embarked upon the "Zechor Leff on learning from survivors' expe­ Yemos Olam" project, taking its title from riences, as well as a hashkafa discussion the mandate in Parshas Haazinu: by Rabbi Elya Meir Klugman on desig­ "Remember the days of yore, understand nating those who lost their lives in the the years of each generation" (Devarim Churban as "kedoshim:' 32,7). The first task was to train instruc­ tors to teach the teenagers in our edu­ "' ch~i111 K~Prerwasser, Rabbi Sh1~~el Di~h~n a~d cational institutions about Churban Mr. Joseph Friedenson. ______J Sixtv Years Since Churban Europa

THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED AND How TO TEACH THEM

A CRYING NEED beautiful infrastructure that we have middle of the night, hearing my parents On May 8, 1945, World War II in today, which was rebuilt and put into scream out fro1n nightn1ares, running to Europe was over. Until just a few weeks place by many of our post-war gedolim their room. It was always the same dream. before then, the gas chambers and cre­ and lay leaders, most of them either sur­ My thirteen-year-old sister, Hendele matoria at the various death can1ps were vivors or children of survivors, who used i"~, being torn away from my father's working overtime, pushing the total of their inner strength to accomplish this arms during the selektzia at Auschwitz. karbanos to the six million mark. superhuman task. He went to the right, she to the left. When An1erican Jewry was oblivious to it then, And three, mapping the future: I would ask about his nightmare, it was and, to a great extent, has forgotten about teaching our children and grandchildren always the same answer. He heard her it by now. Our she' eiris ha'peleita Yidden never to look away from challenges, no screaming and pleading with him: - the Holocaust survivors - are slowly matter how difficult they may appear to "Tatteh, please don't leave me!" His bed passing on to a better world, leaving their be. With emuna and bitachon, our hish­ linens would need to be changed, grandchildren, and especially their tadlus - our human efforts - can bear drenched in sweat and tears. great-grandchildren, with no more than fruit. Then there were my mother's a chapter in a history book to refer to. screams in the middle of the night. She There were, and still are, so 1nany les­ was always reacting to the ferocious sons to be learned - lessons in e1nuna SECOND GENERATION German shepherd dogs chasing her. As (faith) and bitachon (trust), yiras SURVIVORS in most survivor homes, the stories Shamayim (fear of Heaven) and gevuras flowed freely Pesach night at the Seder, hanefesh (inner strength). How can There is a school of thought that or on Tisha BeAv after Kinas. We these be salvaged from the ravages of teaches: Don't discuss the Holocaust. asked. We listened. And we learned to ti1ne? Blend in. Be normal. Forget the past; look be survivors. I believe we can divide this discussion ahead. I respect those who do not tell Our parents ~··~r used their experi­ into three segments: their stories. It is too painful. But our ences to infuse in our veins how we must One, remembering the past, which we agenda is to find ways to share experi­ accept everything from Hashem with 1nust never forget. ences and learn lessons in emuna and emuna peshuta, and face up to every chal­ Two, highlighting the present: the bitachon. lenge confronting us, no matter how dif­ Although I was born after the war, my ficult. Although our parents consciously Ma.KUPPERWASSER. WHO l.IVES IN LAKf·:woon, all NJ. WAS RF.PIH'.SF.NTEO HY "PonTRAIT OF AN fsH brother and I were privy to of the hor- saw to it that we had everything neces- HAc111,·ss-r:n: REB Lu1-t:R Bnoi)T, ?"'Yl'oN His l'tRsT ror stories. sary for a norn1al childhood, they were YAHRZEJT," IN JO. DF.c.'99. ···---... ·--··--·--H-o-wm-a~y tim_c_swas 1-a-wo-ke-n-in-th-e-~ableto shelter~from the horrors.~ M A Y 2 0 0 5

too) were survivors. It was implanted in us in our homes. My rather 7~ once was asked: In what merit was he zocheh to survive and rebuild? He answered: "Ich hub kein muhl Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUST "PAPERWORK" nisht gefregt kein kashes - I never asked ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD any questions." He had a vibrant emuna Highly retommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Yisrael and bitachon in Hashem, always thank­ 1043-42nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 ing Hashem for giving him another Day &Night phone: (718) &.:;1-8925 chance to rebuild. ]l'1''T.lN1~T.lNj7 ))l"j7 - ]'1:l 1Nl T11T.l::I)) '1l~ Although their grandfather never Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved family. learned in yeshivas, as they did, my chil­ TAHARAS HANJFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE COMMERCIALIZED dren still learned so much from his life story. Had my parents sheltered us, I believe we would be spiritually and emo­ tionally impoverished.

TODAY'S [NSENSITIVITIES

People who should know better seem to have a blind spot to the horrors of sixty This sefer "Chazaras Hashas" is unique. years ago. Allow me to illustrate my point: A close friend of mine took his son It will be ofgreat help to the scholars, Yeshiva and Daf Hayomi students, to a yeshiva high school for a farher. What benefits can one derive from it? Upon asking the head of the yeshi­ va how his son did, he was told: "Your Magid shi'ur: All minute details for the lesson are prepared tOr you. son did okay. He would probably fit Yeshiva students: Your bki'us scdcr made easy, and fruitful. Guaranteed! Now you can in nicely. But unfortunately, I can only prepare a shi'ur based on Ramba1n, Ra'vad, Shukhan Aruch and Me'iri. accept 24 out of 100 applicants, and Talmidey Daf Hayomi I'm forced to put the bachurim Before the Shi'ur: Preview the daf ahead of time. Knowing what it is all about through - for the lack of a better word beforehand, will help you to concentrate and understand the Ge111ara fully. It will also - a selektzia." enable you to participate in class discussions. My friend, in total shock, asked the After the shiur: Review intensively the psak halaclia relevant to the daf head of the yeshiva to explain what Test Yourself. Find out how well you have reviewed the daf You will note that the first he meant by that term. His response: lines of each halacha are highlighted, while the balance is not. This will help you test "You know, like in Nazi Germany. yourself by looking at the highlighted lines, and thereafter see whether you know the rest. Some boys will go to the right, and Your Chavrusa: \Vhen you test yourself - as indicated above - you serve as your own some, unfortunately, to the left." chavrusa, you ask the questions and you answer them. In all fairness, he only meant that he Mastering the daf: Now you will have the ability to have the Ramba1n, Shulchan Aruch, felt a tremendous responsibility; telling the Me'iri on the tip of your fingers. a boy that he is not accepted in a yeshi­ va may leave him with lasting scars. He This sefer has the Haskamos of Roshei HaYeshivos was truly troubled by the fact that his and Torah Scholars throughout the world. decision was one of nefashos- a life-and­ Seder Zra'im, Moed, Noshim and NezilNazi Germany." Europa because, since the time of the Olam Program, headed by Rabbi Joseph One talmid expressed his excep­ destruction of the Beis Ha1nikdash, no Elias, has been training educators in tion to this analogy to another set of atrocities of such magnitude has yeshivas and day schools in teaching the bachur, upon which he was told: ever befallen us. How can intelligent peo­ Holocaust with a Torah hashkafa, as men­ "What's the big deal? He was just try­ ple equate social injustices with Nazism? tioned in his introduction. By means of ing to bring out a point." The only answer, in 1ny opinion, is that audio-visual and literary materials, Our generation is so distanced fro1n lack of education causes insensitivity. Zechor Yemos Olam is "successfully the events of sixty years ago that there Members of the generation after the transmitting the Torah lessons of the is a lack of sensitivity to the horrors of Holocaust are either forgetting the sto­ Holocaust to be passed on as an eternal Ch urban Europa; it was just another era ries they had heard, or they never legacy to our students." liiJ in which Kial Yisroel found themselves heard them in the first place. It is incum­ in the pains of galus. bent upon our leaders to educate our children, in accordance with daas Torah, as to why we must not forget, and what Dal Yomi-Coach THROUGH THE HEARTS lessons are to be learned. Rabbi Moshe Goldberger - AND PENS - OF GEDOLIM In addition, the Rabbi Moshe Sherer Community Center, tu be housed in the to assist in mastering the When a policeman stops a reckless new building of Agudas Yisroel of Boro Daf, Mishna and Tanach driver and issues a summons, what is that Park, will contain a Holocaust Memorial policeman? "A Nazi:' Library Educational Center. We hope and 718-948-2548 When a judge sentences a Jew for an pray that meaningful lessons of the Yeshiva Fund infraction, what is that judge called? "A Holocaust will be conveyed in this new Box 82 Nazi." edifice, and will live on in this and future Staten Island, NY 10309 Two great leaders in our time - the generations, as we, along \.vith our chil- ...... Your only real choice when it comes to Foreign Residents' Mortgages Israel ... and great deal more

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RABBI ELIYAHU MEIR KLUGMAN The image of smoke emanating from the chimneys of Auschwitz is the most I frighteningly powerful depiction ever of Jewish existence in galus. It is human smoke-the smoke, the ashes, the smoldering remains of millions of upright, erlicher futhers; kind, caring HUMAN mothers; intelligent) zealous young boys; gentle, soft-spoken young girls. Do you have little children, or little brothers and sisters, wholesome bundles of joy, whose smiles tug at your heart, SMOKE whose every hurt cuts to the quick? Try, then) to imagine, even one of those mil­

iT'm?rl r1N)j7 71NW:J nwp n::u,N rnr.>:J n~ <>:J 1))'lit ?v ornn:J 1:i? ?v on1n:J <>)r.><>v lion and a half sweet, innocent kinder­

i1'>l"l:lif7v \!JN '>!J\?)1 lach being butchered to death by any one - Bring our exile to an end, Hashem, for strong as death is our love for You, of tens of thousands of bloodthirsty as powerful as Gehinnom is the jealousy which the nations harbor against us. thugs. You contemplate this, you shud­ Tbcir batred for us smolders like the coals of the fires of Gehinnom. der, a tear forms in the corner of your ( Targum, Shir HaShirim 8:6) eye, you may even weep. But you inove on. Because you really are incapable of grasping the horror, the pain, the extent of the tragedy. And six million is only the number of those who were murdered. What of the million-plus who suffered through this unspeakable hell and lost all their family, health and place in this world? The lips, the pen can perhaps express the numbers and attempt to describe a minis­ cule portion of millions of unspeakable horrors, but the human heart, and mind, can have no real comprehension of the reality.

WITHIN THE SMOKE ••. LIVES

But is it smoke? Are they ashes? Does this image represent the final stage of the complete obliteration of six million men, women and children drifting, wafting, twisting in the wind, disappearing into nothingness? What is this smoke? What are those ashes? Who are those ashes? They are lives. That smoke is men, women, children. Human beings with promise, hope, hap­ piness, pain, striving, growing.

RABBI KLUGMAN. WHO LIVES JN JERUSALEM, IS More than five niillion aerial photographs from World \.Var II have been stored in the British National Archives RosH YESHIVA JN NEVF.H ZION, WHICH IS LOCAT­ in London. Among the photographs, taken in the beginning of the summer of 1944, are some that show prison­ ED JN A JERUSALEM SUBURB. HE IS A f'REQVENT ers lining up at Auschwitz and the heavy pillars of smoke that billowed from the infamous ovens in which the CONTRIBUTOR TO THESE PAGES. j lifelrn bodie> of the ga,,ed /CW> wm bumcd. ~------·------·------4 -- ~ "-~~----:-,--; .' ' '~ ;, .,--; ~.-, "·. ·. ·. •...... ·...... =-i

Is all that no longer? annals of man. Even the children of those soaked with Jewish blood, the Rishonim Were their lives in vain? Were their whom Hashem saw fit to keep alive may (early commentators of the ll-J51h cen­ promises unfulfilled, their ideals a farce, not explain, 1nay not theorize, may not tury) formulated for us the authorita­ their hopes a mirage, their pain wasted, pontificate. We were not there. And one tive response to Jewish suffering and their striving without meaning? Have who was not there can never, ever, under­ destruction at the hands of the goyim. their entire lives vanished? stand. This formulation - the Av Harachamim Or are they yet alive? Are they with But we are the next link in the three­ that we say on Shabbos, before Mussaf us today, not only their memory but their millennia-long chain, forged in fire, - remains the credo of Jewish galus suf­ essence, guiding, inspiring, encouraging? stretching back to Avraham Avinu in the fering, and every word illuminates the Do you want to understand their lives? flames of Ur Kasdim, and we must under­ path that the children of survivors Do you want an insight into their stand our responsibilities toward that must tread. hopes, their pro1nises, their strivings? Do chain and that fire. We are obligated to Hashem is Av Harathamiml - not I you want to grasp the reality of who they were? Look, then, at those who survived. Examine the Jives, the vibrant, emuna­ filled lives of those who rebuilt the Jewish People after the death camps. Look at WE ARE THE NEXT LINK IN THE THREE­ their ideals, their powerful, unswerving MILLENNIA-LONG CHAIN, FORGED IN FIRE, dedication to serving their Creator despite the loss of everyone and every­ STRETCHING BACK TO AVRAHAM AVINU IN thing. And look at their families. THE FLAMES OF UR KASDIM, AND WE MUST Look at those who came out of the UNDERSTAND OUR RESPONSIBILITIES European inferno with nothing, no family, no possessions, no home and no TOWARD THAT CHAIN AND THAT FIRE. position. Contemplate the lives of those who watched their parents, their spous­ es, their children being brutally tortured and murdered before their eyes, and then rebuilt their own lives from nothing. Consider their lives carefully, and you will bring those embers to life, to stoke the merciful Father (Av Harachaman), but begin to understand the fire, the holi­ flames of their holiness into a roaring Father of mercy. Rachamim is not an ness, in the ashes of those in whose place fire which will illuminate our world, and adjective here, Rabbi S. R. Hirsch they could have been. Look closely at the to warm ourselves, our children, and sub­ explains, but rather a noun. Hashem is survivors, our parents who are sequent links in the golden chain of Am Av Harachamim, the Father, the source, mekadeish Sheim Shamayim in the end­ Yisroel with the beacon-fire of their devo- the essence of compassion. Everything less, varied vicissitudes of life, and you tion in life and in death. He does is merciful. The connotation of will gain a glimpse of the thoughts, the Rachamim is rechem, the mother's ideals, the purity of those who lived, and womb. As a mother's womb totally and died, al kiddush Hashem. ''Av HARACHAMIM" completely nourishes, sustains and pro- . ' · · · · · · ' · · · · · · · · · · · tects her child within, Hashem, Av The scope and magnitude of the suf- Harachamim, nourishes, sustains and WHO CAN COMMENT? fering and slaughter in the Holocaust are protects His children at all times and in · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · without precedent in history. Despite all every situation. At the outset, we ask forgiveness for the death and destruction of two mil- So what are we to make of the events entering and treading on the hallowed lennia in gal us, never before were so many of sixty years ago, which would seem to ground of the largest Beis Hakevaros in millions of Jews burned to smoke and be the antithesis of mercy and compas- history, and for touching the deep and ashes, without any physical remains. sion? painful wounds of those whose suffer- But the Jewish People's galus experi- In a conversation in the Warsaw ghet- ing we cannot even begin to fathom. ence is replete with persecution and to during the early part of the war, the Those who did not experience the pogroms, deportation, destruction and Sochatchover Rebbe, Rabbi David atrocities of the Churban have no right death. Jn the wake of the horrors of the Borenstein;">;,, who was later killed by to comment on the issues and lessons Crusades, when thousands of Jews were the Nazis, explained the Divine direction , to be learned from suffering of a scale butchered, countless communities of events in those years. The purpose of Lnagnitude unparalleled ~n-the -~estroyed ~nd ~~grnun~o~ Europ~ - the existen~of ma~~said~s to per- 1

15 r-==---·-·. I feet one's neshama, and to bring the world passing compassion, take the whole of they are happening;' when you are "face toward the completion of the purpose human history and existence into con­ to face" with them. We are still at the for which Hashem created it. That can sideration, and are beyond the compre­ point where this entire saga stares us in be accomplished only through spiritu­ hension of short-sighted, mortal man the face. We cannot understand why. al efforts and physical endeavors to per­ who does not share that vantage point "Hu yifkod berachamim - He will form His Will during one's lifetime. Most and all-pervasive rachami1n. recall with compassion" I people, however, do not discharge their We do not, cannot, and will never - with all-encompassing, protective assignment properly. To the contrary, the understand why. "Ki gavhu shamayim mercy. How? earthly endeavors of many may even mei'aretz, kein gavhu derachai midarche­ If earthly life is the sum total of man's wreak damage on the Divine plan that ichem umachshevosai n1ilnachshevose­ existence, this is meaningless. lf, how­ I everyone in the universe acknowledge His ichem -As high as the heavens are over ever, one's years on this world are but a Presence. As a result, the Almighty, Who the earth," says Hashem, "so are My ways tiny fraction of the eternal life that one views Creation from beginning to end, higher than your ways and My thoughts shares in the protection of one's Creator, will often bring the world closer to its higher than your thoughts" ( Yeshayahu then when one's life, and death, have ultimate goal through means other 55,9). That human inability to compre­ served to bring him closer to His Father than human endeavor, and will instead hend Divine ways - which Hashem posit - in Heaven, the magnitude of that eter­ give man the opportunity to earn his eter­ ed to Moshe Rabbeinu when he asked to nal pleasure in Hashem's company far nal life in but a few moments: yeish koneh understand the suffering of the righteous exceeds the tragedy of the earthly suf­ olamo besha'a achas.2 - will always be the reality upon which fering and early death which facilitated But why at this time, in that place, and man's relationship with G-d is predicat­ that eternal relationship. of that magnitude? ed. "Shemasru nafsham al kedushas The only legitimate response to the "Vera'isa es achorai- You may under­ haSheim - those who gave their lives for question of when and why is that stand My actions in hindsight," the the sanctification of His Name" Hashem is shochein meromim - He dwells Chasam Sofer explains Hashem's reply to But were they all moseir nefesh? Are on high. The calculations of rachamav Moshe, "upanai lo yeira'u-you will not, they all kedoshim? Why describe their ha'atzumim, of His powerful, all-en com- however, comprehend My ways when deaths as mesiras nefesh when they did not even have a chance or a choice? Did those whom Mengele sent to the right - to their death - have a choice? Were they given the option of conversion - an option which they refused? Most didn't know they were being killed al Kiddush Hashem, and many did not have the pres­ ence of mind to think about anything at all. Surely, there were many who gave their lives with a profound sense of love for Hashem, and they fulfilled the mitz­ vah of Kiddush Hashem in spirit and in deed. But how can we consider the deaths of the others as Kiddush Hashem? And how can one speak of all the six million as kedoshim? What of the mul­ Call me today for the attention you deserve. titudes who were non-religious or even (718) 268·1700 virulently anti-religious, assimilated and even intermarried? Surely they did Martin Levy not have thoughts of Kiddush Hashem 103-20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE when they were killed? FOREST HILLS Chazal (Sanhedrin 47a) tell us that [email protected] harugei malchus - Jews who are killed by non-Jews - even if they are sinners, You're in good hands. even if they are ovdei avoda zara, are for­ Cal! for a free quote. given their sins immediately upon their death, even before burial, because they Insurance subiect to availability and qualifications. Allstate Insurance Company and Allstate Property and Casualty were kil1ed without cause. 3 Ultimately, l 00 L::-- "'"••• "•• "•-'---• ·------then, there wereno smners am~ng th:J ------..IHE ---:---··-. Jr-,WISH -----_ OBSERVER -----··------=-i

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whom the Nazis murdered. But why do Kiddush Hashem took place. 5 infuriated Hitler and his minions, and ! we consider them all kedoshim? It was to destroy the essence of which they wanted to destroy. It was the A clear understanding of the real Judaism and the Jewish People that Hitler shuls, the rabbanim, the beard and meaning of Kiddush Hashem is critical. ..,_, .., took on the entire world and payos, the tashmishei kedusha, the overt Hashem's benevolent influence on this amassed the most powerful and vicious signs of Yiddishkeit, that so enraged the world is unchanging. Nothing man military force in history. "The primary murderers. does can affect Him in the least. Man, battle is between two camps: Germany \Nhat was that essence? however, through his being and through and the Jews," Hitler declared as early as It was precisely the apparent weak­ his actions, can deter1nine the intensi­ l 940. "All the rest is only for the sake of ness of the Jew versus the superiority of ty of the Divine presence, of the Divine appearances."6 the powerful Aryan race which was the "light" which will shine through to this Although the Jew felt primarily the central theme of Hitler's doctrine, as out­ world. A Chillul Hashem (desecration of physical destruction, it was his entire lined in Mein Kampfand his other rant­ Hashem's Name), derived from the being, physical and spiritual, which ings. In the very last words of his will, word cha/la/- void - is any action or sit­ uation that appears to lessen the Divine benevolent influence on the world. 'fhis is also known as hester pannim, when Hashem «conceals" His face, as it were. His shining light - His countenance - is illuminating, giving and influenc­ ing all the same, but mortal man's actions can make him and the rest of the world incapable of seeing and feeling that Divine benevolence; it becomes hidden from view. The Torah specifies the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem in passive terms: "Venikdashti besoch Benei Yisroel-1 will be sanctified among the children of Israel," rather than as a positive require­ ment: "Vekidashtem es Hashem-you THEVORT • The menu for the seuda is shall sanctify His name:' Rabbi Yaakov • The Vort celebration is to be limited to 3 courses followed by a Kaminetzky7.. ~rexplained that there is discontinued. The L'chaim (held at regular dessert. a fundamental difference between the the time that the engagement is • No Viennese table and no bar. performance of the mitzvah of Kiddush announced) should also not turn Hashem and all other obligations. into a Vort. THE MUSIC Whereas with other mitzvos, one's THE WEDDING • A band may consist of a maximum actions and kavana determine whether, and to what extent, one has discharged •For typical families, only 400 invit· of 5 musicians (one of the musicians one's obligations, as regards Kiddush ed guests may be seated at the chas· may act as a vocalist) or four musi­ Hashem, the main concern is the result: suna seuda. (The Guidelines make cians and one additional vocalist. that Hashem's Name is sanctified. provision for exceptional circum­ • A one-man band is recom­ Just as Chazaltell us (Kiddushin 40a) stances - see full text.) "Ein makiftn beChillul Hashem, echad mended. • The kabbolas panim smorgasbord shogeig ve'echad meizid-no credit is FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR extended to one who desecrates G-d's should be limited to basic cakes, name, whether unintentional1yor inten­ fruit platters, a modest buffet, and • The total cost of these items for tionally" - the same applies equally, and the caterer's standard chicken or the entire wedding should not even more so, to Kiddush Hashen1. meat hot dishes. exceed $1,800. Even if one did not intend to be mekadeish Shem Shamayim, even if he FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES intended a Chillul Hashem 4 - if the end WITH ITS RABBINICAL SIGNATORIES AND THE result was a Kiddush Hashem, that per­ ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, please email son has fulfilled the mitzvah of [email protected] or call 212-612-2300 Venikdashti, because through him a

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written hours before his death, Hitler.,.. , them, did they not? Their ideals, their * * I charged "... the leadership of the convictions, are vibrant and flourishing. «Hane'ehavim vehane'imim nation ... with the strict observance of the Anti-Semitism notwithstanding, the bechayeihem uvemosam lo nifradu - racial laws and with merciless resistance ideals and worldview of the Nazis and Who were beloved and treasured by against ... Jewry." their collaborators rot in the dust heap G-d in their lives, and even in death were The Jewish People is weak. The of history. not separated from Him." kedoshim knew that, and saw their The miracle of the survival of the weak Not at the moment of death and not Guardian in their own powerlessness. and defenseless Jewish nation is the ulti­ ever after were they separated from Him. They knew that they were only a weak, mate Kiddush Hashem. The continued To the contrary, their deaths and the transient instrument in the hands of the existence and flourishing of the Am events that led to them, served as the most powerful, enduring adhesive, ensuring that their neshamos, their cheilek Eloka THEY KNEW THAT THEY COULD NEVER BE mimaal, will always be at one with their DEFEATED. THEY SANG "MIR YELLEN ZEI Source. In the hell of Treblinka, they did not UBERLEBEN - WE WILL OUTLIVE THEM" ON THE swerve from emuna BaShem. The thun­ WAY TO THE OPEN GRAVES, TO THE CHAMBERS derous voices reciting « Shema Yisroel," OF DEATH. AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE DID acknowledging that Hashem is the only power in the universe, penetrated even OUTLIVE THEM, DID THEY NOT? the sealed doors of the gas chambers. In their last moments, the murdered called powerful Guardian of the ages, Who Hashem, the scattered, unarmed, most out to Hashem in Heaven: "Nechshavnu wished to achieve through them His eter­ insignificant, and most defenseless ketzon la'tevach yuval, uvechol zos shim­ nal goal: to build His everlasting handful of people, constitute living cha lo sha'chach'nu-Although we were Kingdom of glory in the sphere of man. proof of His power to direct and con­ slaughtered like sheep [lit., We were con­ Whether they were butchered, trol the affairs of men and nations. Their sidered as sheep hauled to the slaugh­ burned at the stake, their houses set lives, their deaths and the subsequent ren­ ter], we did not forget You, Hashem.'' aflame, or their wives and children mur­ aissance of Jewish life demonstrated in "Mi'nesharim kalu - They were dered, they knew that whoever fought the clearest possible manner, that if lighter than eagles" against them, fought against G-d and His Hashem wants the Jewish People to con­ An entire world had joined forces to kingdom on earth. They knew that they tinue to exist, longer than any nation in drag them down into the dirt of pover­ could never be defeated. They sang" Mir history, we will endure, despite the most ty, misery and torture, and to transfor1n vellen zei uberleben - We will outlive untenable circumstances ... despite per­ them into self-seeking, degenerate peo­ them" on the way to the open graves, to secution, pogroms, exile and annihila­ ple. In the midst of degradation, the Jew the chambers of death. tion for three millennia by the most kept his thoughts pure and his spirit aloft. And the Jewish People did outlive powerful nations on earth. Truthfulness, right, and morality were Not just a cheese, a tradition ... Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping.

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practiced fully. Despite the terror of the p11s 2: ~ 2: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 2: death camps, he knew that he must sus- bu;:ng ~ ~ 2: ~ g ~ g ~ g ~ SS tain h is n1ore in digent brot her and k eep bodies CJ~ -c::i=----c:::i-: : : : : : : : : barracks his family together. He evinced an woods -- • • ':'u~·':e:'co~ • -.-:.• almost impossible humaneness, and c:::i = c::::i = • • • • • • j 111111 Gas·cham_berand ..I c:i = • • • • • • • • · ---- despite the most inhuman conditions and Cremaionum v'- /·";·:;:={~~::!E~::!E~:!:'.;::j:J!:;::j~~~ the constant and consistent attempts to 0 ,,_",m'"'"' ff~ r,"..,'~l::'",~-n~'I transform him into an animal he kept Cremifllarium iv,1~1F--~-1 = 11 11 11 11 : 'Canada' Bllf Biie Biid Biie Bllb Bil his tzellem Elokim intact. .. 1111111111., Gypsy men'.< Clech a 1"1111111..,. camp camp camp I "U1nei' arayos gaveiru - And more ~II======.camp HlhUlll~ill:.. . =:: : : ==: powerful than lions" s 1 ~111------El 0 00 0 ;Ill:::: : : : : : I Those with strength of character knew 0 0 0 the purpose of their death and were able birch...... wood ••====---- =====-----1 to employ it in His service. They knew Gas-chamber and __. Ill====-======regismnion Crematorwmt!I ~ I======Joffice that what Hashem wanted from them was Mam Gate/, not to overcome the threat of shemad. women's camp women's cafflp 7 Gas·chamberand rail spur In that case, the choice would be clear, ~ IJ----1 .----- bu1/I Cremawriumll'V-~L...-...1 ====I ===== sprmg but that was not even an option. Their 1944 avoda, their nisayon, as Rabbi Dessler put §'8;.======•----- •=====----- I it, was infinitely more difficult. "fhcir ,------·Bib ·-----Bia II eleclncalfycharged potaro nisayon was to be truthful in their own perrmeter fence s/ore Auschwitz 1944 hearts - to be mekadeish Hashem in the inner sanctum of their hearts, and to sub- Chassidim en route to the murder ovens As FOR THE ordinate their selves, their desires, their of Poland. They viewed their ordeal as an SILENT NATIONS ... hopes, totally and completely to Him - opportunity for them to perfect their ein od milvado. They saw it as their cha!· emuna in Hashem's righteous will and So to the countries who perpetrated lenge to rejoice despite the terrible tor· direction under the most supremely dif· this, to the nations who collaborated and ture, they saw it as their goal to attain ficult circumstances possible. They to the rest of the world who stood silent· the complete happiness of genuine learned Torah, performed mitzvos and gave ly by, we say in Rabbi S. R. Hirsch's deveikus baShem. their lives in the most pawerful affirma· immortal formulation: Tanna'im and Amoraim, Rabbi tion that the devar Hashem is the only "Harninu goyim amo - Cause His Dessler points out,7 were afraid of important value, and that without its prop· people to sing joyfully, 0 nations of the these chevlei Moshiach. They said" Yeisei er observance, life is not worth living. world. Make the lot of His people a velo achminei-Let Moshiach come, but That contentment extended further. happy one, ki dam avadav yikom-for let me not suffer the accompanying Many of those who faced the Nazi beast the blood of His servants He wil events [lit. behold him] ."Yet, in our weak had the courage and presence of mind avenge." times, many of our ancestors attained this to declare their satisfaction that they had The treatment accorded to the Jews level, withstood the great nisyonos, and no share in the laws that were enacted, is the yardstick by which Hashem meas were daveik baShem in purity and truth. in the wncentration camps that were con- ures the allegiance due to Him Shlomo Zelichovsky, a Gerrer structed, in the funeral pyres that were "Venakam yashiv letzarav - And He Chassid, who sang "Ne'ila" on the first erected, and in the killing chambers that returns vengeance unto His enemies.' day of Shavuos to a packed congregation were built for them. In the midst of the And so we declare with pride: of Jews in the marketplace of Zdanska inferno, they understood that they were "We are the descendants of those Vo Ii a, as he and nine other Jews were the Chosen People, because they were the whom you, the nations, cut down hung on the gallows, rejoiced in his oppressed rather than the oppressors, the whose hearts you broke, whose necks deveikus baShem. When his voice called victims rather than the hangmen. And you bent, whose homes you looted, at out the words of"Ezkera Elokim-u've· they expressed this serene contentment whom you jeered, and whom you pur chol zos anu leKa ve' eineinu leKa;' he was at the most difficult moment of their lives. sued and penned in as one pens in a but one of many shining examples of the Ch urban Europa, then, was both predatory animal. Our parents knew powerful love and gripping devotion dark and luminous, terrible and sublime, that as avadav, they were suffering for evinced by these lions of the spirit. desperate and blissful--dimmed by the the sake of His service, so that their per "Ashreinu ma tov chelkeinu;' sang Reb tears of death, and yet, suffused with life. secutors were at the same time, tzar Doniel Mowshovitz and the Bais Because life is not primarily physical life, av, the opponents of His Kingdom on I HaTalmud of Kelm on their way to the but rather the blissful, eternal, spiritu· earth. This gave them strength to per severe and to give their lives with His j Llili='m kil!illg '"''' • d

Name on their lips. describes, the attempt to draw closer, to catch in an empty lot and erected "When you nations of the world will arrive at a more intimate relationship a plank of wood at a certain height. perceive the truth of the One, Unique with Hashem, to attain G-d's nearness Each boy would pass uuder the G-d in unbeclouded truthfulness, you will by dedicating one's physical, earthly self plank; those whose heads reached see that He is the avenger for all spilled to the illuminating, purifying, life-giv­ the plank would live. Those who did blood, for every guiltless, injured feel­ ing fire of His Word. not would be sent to a sealed bar­ ing, for every blameless, broken heart, These six 1nillion korbanos, then, men, racks to await their fate. for every person deprived of the happi­ women and children, attained G-d's near­ At the end of the exercise, 1,400 ness of his life. Then, the dreadful injus­ ness by giving their entire earthly exis­ boys were immediately taken to a tices you perpetrated on the Jewish tence back to He Who granted it to them. sealed barracks. They were not pro­ People throughout history will weigh They were korbanos ola, complete fire vided with any light, food or drink. upon you and will bring G-d's offerings. So, although their bodies They were to wait there until the next retribution." were consumed, their neshamos, their true evening. The Germans knew they essence, their cheilek Eloka mimaal, could trust the guards to deliver 1,400 returned to its source and became at one victims at the day's end; any miss­ ASHES ON THE with G-d. ing boys would be compensated ALTAR OF DEVOTION Yitzchak Avinu was prepared to give for by the guards themselves. his life as a korban, even though he did Many of the boys inside the air­ What is this smoke? What are those not initiate the akeida and in essence, had less barracks had fathers, brothers, ashes? no choice. His ashes, his readiness to be or close friends in the camp. These Is that not smoke on the mizbeiach a korban, slaughtered and burnt, has pro­ relatives approached the guards, of Kiddush Hashem? Are those ashes not tected his descendants ever since, even begging them to free their dear the cinders of the ultimate korban? Are three millennia later. ones. The kapos were open to Auschwitz, Treblinka, Maidanek, Are not the kedoshim, then, the suc­ bribery, and some fathers used hid­ Buchenwald and a dozen other killing cessors ofYitzchak, prepared to die, with den stores of money or jewelry to free camps not the most significant mizbei­ the realization that this is His will? They their children. Yet, before lettiug one chos in history? died as Jews because they were, like prisoner free, the guards would What is a korban? It is neither offer­ Yitzchak, the children of Avraham. Are always make sure to take another iu ing nor sacrifice. An offering implies a their ashes, then, not of a piece with those his place. In this way, the Germans prior request or need on the part of the of Yitzchak Avinu, tzavur- piled - al gabei would still receive the same number one to whom the object is offered. hamizbeiach, on the greatest mizbeiach of victims. Hashem needs nothing. in history? That entire Rosh Hashana, the A sacrifice connotes annihilation, Is that not what Rabbi Elchonon camp was overtaken hy feverish destruction, loss. A korban is none of Wasserman i"')j'l meant when he explained activity. Desperate fathers bor­ those. calmly, moments before he became a kor­ rowed, bartered, and gave up their It is rather, as the word kareiv ban, that it is in the zechus of these mil­ last remaining possessions to save lions of korbanos that we, their their children. As the day went on, descendants in America and elsewhere, will the clock danced to a macabre ... in memory be given the strength and ability to build rhythm, counting away the last few A of a loved one and flourish in unprecedented manner, hours left to free the captives. that the very fires that consumed their bod­ Yet, amidst the desperate activi­ GEMACH m~::!:~:;m ies will be the ones that will rebuild the ty, there were a few who realized the • ~ Jll • • pleasantness Jewish People? awful price to be paid for their sons' .&rf.lllJV and light to the soul in freedom. An unpretentious Hungarian Jew r, 'Nrn... Gan Eden." rUJ Alt (Chojetz Chaim) SACRED SMOKE AND approached the revered Weitzener To establish a perpetual Memorial or Honorary Fund at C!NDERSOFTHESOUL Rav, Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Meisels, for a one of our 29 branches across Eretz YisroeJ, contact: pesak. "Rebbe;' he asked, "my only The day before Rosh Hashana son is iu there with all the other boys OZER DALIM 5704, the Nazi guards in Auschwitz who are fated to die. I have the means rounded up all boys aged eighteen to save him. But I know, without a 1301 Avenue K, and under. There were about 1,600 doubt, that the guards will take Brooklyn. NY 11230 I~ (718) 434-2228 of these boys, who had until then another boy iu his place. And so I am OmDalim managed to escape the gas cham­ asking the Rav to rule whether the bers. The Nazis gathered their Torah permits me to save my son.

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Rav rules is what I shall do:' honestly tell him it would be per­ redeem him-because that was what Rabbi Meisels trembled in fear and mitted to free his son at the expense the Torah commanded. tried to evade the Jew's request "How of another Jewish child, the "sim­ That father and his son, and millions I can I possibly rule on this complicat­ ple" Jew understood. With great like them, are the cinders of which the ed matter?" he said. "Matters of life emotion and feeling, he said, smoke of Auschwitz is composed. They and death are never decided by one "Rebbe, I wanted to know what the are the smoke, the reiach nichoach, on lone rav; they used to be determined Torah requires me to do. I asked a the twentieth century mizbeiach of by the Sanhedrin. Here I am in rav. There is no other rav to ask. If Kiddush Hashem. Auschwitz, without any other rabban­ you could not assure me that it was They are the fire, the devotion, the i1n to consult with, without any sifrei permissible to free my son, then it inspiration which will illuminate our halacha to research, without even a must be that the Torah forbids it. lives, light our path and warm our beings clear head." For after all, if it would have been until we are reunited with them, speed­ But the Jew would not give up. He permissible, you would certainly ily in our days. U!l begged Rabbi Meisels to give him an have told me to save my only child. answer." Rebbe;' he asked, "if it was If my son shall go to his death rs~;~~i·~-~~-;d;l-~· and. ti)~~uiati~~~i;~71~;~ Se~= your child, would you say it was per­ because that is what Torah and lion are fro1n Rabbi S. R. Hirsch's essays on the month of Tyar. missible? lfyou can honestly tell me halacha determine, then I shall not, then l will accept your verdict accept it with love and happiness. 2 Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Aharonson, Alei Meroros, Bnci Brak, l 996, p. 259 with love." I will do as the Torah commands." 3 See Teshuvos Cliasa111 Sofer, Yorch Deah 333; Rabbi Meisels implored him, "My And so it was. The father di

~&$ Jl P!)P" lPJJ 1 · ·.c···.·.. ···•H······.• ,;;~' ~'~uE······. ··N····.·.·.·. ···M····.. • ··.··I· .cH. ···.•. ·...···PAT ''; > ~p q•;t~~'.l .. · > Cl , > •.•• \. \i\tt OC>rtf~IDPOJ'ary BU-Sirtess Ethics

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JoSEPH FRIEDENSON I

lessons from the Flames WHAT SURVIVORS OF l-HlJRBAN EUROPA WANT US TO KNOW

ALL THE WRONG LESSONS The killing of millions of human beings cated people, many of them in univer­ was perpetrated by Germans, and many sities, who are fully committed to so­ For many years, I have been bothered of those involved in these murders were called democracy, justice, etc. (I can even say "pained") by the way so highly educated. Among the ten gover­ Lesson number three: The Holocaust many prominent Jewish "leaders" - nors of Occupied Poland, more than half is the result of our inherent weakness. politicians, thinkers and writers - are of them had PhDs. And many of the Because we were strangers, political pun­ teaching wrong lessons about the atrocities were directed and ordered by dits argue, we had no state of our own Holocaust. May I share three of them people with university degrees. After the and no say in our fate. Some even have with the reader? war, the great Jewish linguist and leader the audacity to say that we were victim­ Lesson number one: The Holocaust is of the Yivo, Max Weinreich, published ized because we did not have the an outgrowth of anti-Semitism, which a book with the title Hitler's Professors, strength to fight back. is the result of prejudice, which comes where he lists many famous Ger1nan Again, wrong. The Russians were very from ignorance. Therefore, Jews should scholars who willingly supported Hitler. strong. They had a great army, and be in the forefront of education and Considering all that we know now, can nonetheless, large numbers of them per­ enlightenment, and, indeed, for many anyone really think that education and ished not only on the battlefront, but years they have been among the great - scholarship is the solution to Jew-hatred? were also 1nurdered in masses like the est sponsors and benefactors of univer­ That that is the key to a better world? Jews, because the Germans were just sities, libraries, museums, media Lesson number two: Nazism was the stronger. We are, we must remember, "the projects, and so on. result of dictatorship. Most crimes least of all nations.'' We can never be phys­ This lesson, of course, is totally comn1itted by a govern1nent on a ically stronger than our many more pow­ wrong. Seventy years ago, the Germans national scale are carried out by dicta­ erful enemies. \:\lhile we may resort to were the most educated people in tors. And so, after the Holocaust, Jews whatever tools and media of persuasion Europe, perhaps in the entire world. They ought to be the champions and promot- or influence that are available, we know were called "the nation of poets, ers of democracy among nations. To put that we have limitations. Our unique thinkers, and artists.'' In fact, the great it in good German, the motto for Jews strength is that of the spirit. philosophers, thinkers, poets and lead­ should be "Demokratie uber alles.'' ing composers of the previous genera­ Again, this is an incorrect lesson. Hitler tion were almost all German. And yet, did not come to power through a vio- Two VIABLE LESSONS: A the Holocaust was a Ger1nan creation. lent revolution, but, rather, through an MATTER OF HASHGACHA •.. election. He became the German chan- · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · MR. FR1EnENsoN 1s THE vouN01NG Eo1ToR oF cellor through a democratic vote in the If all the above lessons are wrong, what 1 Dos Y11.Jo1sH1-: von1; AGuoATH lsRAEL oF German Reichstag. It also is interesting are the right ones? I would suggest tvvo AMERICA'S YIDOISH-LANGlJAGE MONTHLY JOUR- to note that the renewed anti-Semitism of them. 1 I N.co,Tum·cu• ANooeoN>oN . da . l . fh' hl d Cl b E d eallli'ts ~ L=______m our~-1s t 1e creation o~-y~~-~rst. iur an uropa, espll~ ------. THE JEWISH OBSERVE!~

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vast destruction and terrible deaths, was not there, in the camps, is able to Yaakov Avigdor,~"'" would somehow teaches us that there is Hashgacha say" Nish mas" (every Shabbos morning) manage to learn day and night, and Prattis, Divine Providence. There is a with the proper kavana (intention). As would usually succeed in getting us G-d Who directs all events - every minute I see it, only these survivors can say such together on Shabbos morning to in every hour of every day. He also pro­ words as " ... mibeis avadiln pedisanu, make a minyan. Rabbi Avigdor knew tects and saves us. J know it, because I beraav zantanu ... 1neicherev hitzal­ the entire Chumash by heart, and he have seen it. I was a victim and a wit­ tanu ... - You liberated us from the house would "lein" the week's portion for ness to all of this. of bondage, in famine You nourished the group. Here, too, I am a surviv­ My own little story can illustrate these us ... You saved us from the sword ...." ing witness. points. Somehow, the Rav had a Midrash I am a writer by profession. When it rfanchu1na in his possession, from comes to menial work, however, I am the ... AND OUR UNIQUE STATUS which he studied and which he gave biggest shlimazel. To this very day, I don't to the others to study. Not seeing a holy know how to hold and use a screwdriv- Another lesson from the Churban: We book for 1nore than three years, this er. When I reported for work in a labor Jews are exceptional, unique, different, Mid rash was like a healing potion for camp, they assigned 1ne to a machine that a nation apart. In addition, we are eter- me. It gave 1ne a new lease on life. sharpens steel tools. Not only did I break nal, immortal, indestructible, and ever- Talking about Buchenwald, I will of the implements, I even broke the sharp- lasting. course never forget how a young ening machine. So they ordered me to Here, too, I am a surviving witness. friend of mine, David Kahan, whom push coal in a carriage. Before I even I think about the spiritual gevura that I I befriended in the Starachowitz Labor raised its handles, I turned it over. Such witnessed in the Warsaw ghetto and in Camp, shared with me the contents of shlimazels had no place in a labor various can1ps I was in, encountering the Red Cross food package that he camp, and indeed the majority of them Jews who can say, "U'vechol zos Shimcha received in his Youth Block. Of course, perished. Eventually, the Germans sim- lo shachachnu- In spite of it all, we did very few had the koach (strength) to ply did away with them. not forget Your Name:' In the worst of do this. But some did, and as I said, it But it seems that Hashem Yisbarach times, in the darkest of days, they lifted gave us the koach to survive. wanted n1e to survive, so He sent a shali- their eyes to Hashe111 Yisbarach and said, ach. One day, I met the German boss "Baruch Atta-Blessed are You ... " as fre- of Kleine Schmide (small smithy) and quently as they could. OUR MIRACULOUS SURVIVAL he needed a translator. When he spoke I witnessed the chessed that Jews · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · to me, he took note of my command extended to one another, demonstrating In 1942-43, when the great deporta- of German and Polish, and he gave me how they did not become dehumanized. tions of the Jews to the extermination a job whereby l could be useful for Jn social-political discussions of the camps took place, and even later, in 1944, them, and I survived. conditions in the ghettos of minority duringchurban Ungarn,theGermanswere Now let me tell you - I was not the populations in America and abroad, determined" lehashrnid laharog u'le'abeid only one who had a special story. Almost there is usually focus on crime and vio- es kol haYehudim, minaarve'ad zakein, ta[ every survivor who1n you meet has his lent friction bet\veen different groups. venashiln - to wipe out, to kill, and to unique story of how he survived only In the wartime ghettos, Jews never destroy all the Jews, from the youngest to through nissin1 - miracles. fought with one another, but went out the aged, child and women," and we saw As a matter of fact, they say that the of their way to help each other. Our peo- it. When the Germans had a suspicion that Belzer Rebbe, who was also saved quite pie, believing people, maaminim bnei a Jewish child was hidden somewhere in miraculously, said that every Jew who maaminim, yeshivaleit and Bais Yaakov a village, they were capable of mobiliz- survived the war was escorted in those girls, even non-religious Jews, were n1any ing a battalion of 50 to 100 men, just to Ch urban years by two malachim. There times moseir nefesh to be of assistance find this one child and kill it. "This child is no other explanation for the survival to their suffering brothers and sisters n1ust not survive." of so many people, so many shlimazels under the Nazis, preserving the eternal In the Starachowitz Labor Camp, a like myself. They survived only because legacy of Jews being rachmanim, few Jews succeeded in hiding their chil- something happened to them, they were bayshanim, vegom/ei chassadim (com- dren for a while. One day, an S.S. inspec- endowed with some chein (charm), and passionate, modest, and helping). tion took place, and the heads of the they survived ... because that is what And I saw all this at every step. inspection group found one of these chil- the Hashgacha wanted. By the same I saw it in the Warsaw Ghetto. I saw dren and shot it. I remember the com- token, the Hashgacha wanted me to sur- it in the arbeitslager of Staracho,vitz. mander then can1e to the Jewish camp vive, so He handed me over to a I saw it in Auschwitz ... and I saw it leaders and loudly declared: "No Jew will I German boss to whom I was useful. in Buchenwald. I especially remem- survive us! No Jewish soul will escape j Lalways wondered~w anyone who _b:ow th~av of Drohobit~Rabbi- us!" An-d ~e~ succeeded with the 1 23 M A Y 2 0 0 5

majority of the Jews. Germans still had about 300,000 Jews vive. And they had the power to kill us. But we also know that a day came in their camps, in Matthausen, in Yet, they did not do so. This can only when this all changed, when Hashem Buchenwald, in Auschwitz, in Bergen­ be explained as a result of the Yisbarach said, "Enough!" In 1945, dur­ Belsen ... and they hated us as much as Hashgacha. ing the final months of the war, the ever. They still wanted us not to sur- The day had come when Hashem Yisbarach saw fit to fulfill His havtacha (promise) to Yermiyahu Hanavi, who had predicted the Ch urban," Biyosam be'eretz o'yevehihem lo nie'astem ... vela e'eseh bachem es' chem kala - Even as they are For careful attention to your in the land of their enemies, I will not individual needs, call us today! despise them - nor will I cause them to be destroyed:' I will not permit an end (845) 354-8445 to this. Only this can explain how Kial Yisroel is an eternal people. (Interestingly, the Maharal wrote a sefer mourning the GEFEN It --1. Churban, which he called "Netzach Yisroel - Yisroel is Eternal:') May Hashem Yisbarach bless us all, FINto1k),~AL~·~ especially those who survived the great Regi

fl.and blessing from · sonalities:

~rstam N"tmw. Chaver lf:tn; ·Rosh Hayeshiva Divrei V devotes his time and 'iri--fie-ed; Now he is in need, Ml try to be of help to him!"

''Moshe_--Schneerson 1·rP"?w fJ/USa/em: "My late father :Of ,approbation. A notable letters that Rabbi Zvi iVe, from him." bis affiliated with also affixed their letter:

einl'-t~, Shatz •·1"'M, -ariiiner N~'l."'ni, 'U_,_N~\::i_~. ndefson N"'l)'l'/w

Rabbi Nisson Wolpin Zvi Malov 305 Avenue F 33 Sorotzkin Brooklyn, NY 11218 Jerusalem, USA Israel (CHECKS IN US$) Tel: (02) 538-6217 THE JEWISH 0BSERV!~H

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MI

Holocaust Studies With a Ditterent Slant

Although I have been teaching time, I was baby-sitting my grandchil- my own small way, to present the facts Holocaust education for approximate- dren while my daughter taught in Bais not in a spiritual vacuum, but in a way ly two and a half decades, I claim no Yaakov, and considered the loving care that will inspire the students to follow expertise on the subject, the reason being and Yiddishe values that I instilled in my in the footsteps of the kedoshim, to emu- that neither my goals nor my teaching grandchildren too vital to relinquish. late their holy example. methods are based on academic princi- Rebbetzin Kaplan arranged matters so Therefore, the goals of the Holocaust pies. Please allow me to clarify: that I would teach after my daughter Studies course I have been teaching for Approximately twenty-five years ago, returned home. a quarter of a century have not been to Rebbetzin Tzila Orlean Sorotzkin visit- The first year, I found it too emotion- impart academic information and sta- ed the U.S. from Israel. We had been lager ally draining to relive those terrible mem- tistics that may be obtained through shvester(fellow inmates) in Auschwitz for ories, and I left. The next year, however, studying historical accounts of the peri- three years, and under those circum- Rebbetzin Kaplan insisted that I try again. od. Rather, my three-pronged goals are stances, had developed a closer relation- I did - successfully, Baruch Hashem - and of a loftier nature -to preserve and fos- ship than sisters born of the same mother. have been teaching the subject ever since. ter belief that the Holocaust atrocities, A welcoming party was held for her in in all their detail and gruesome magni- Williamsburg by fellow Auschwitz alum- tu de, actually occurred; to teach, nae and others, at which Tzila spoke. OF GOALS AND GUIDELINES through first-person account, and the VVhen she concluded her re1narks, I rose · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · accounts of others, profound lessons in and shared some of my own memories What had been of primary interest to mussar, and to instill in the students such with the assembled. Rebbitzen Kaplan had been the timeless gratitude to Hashem for the lives they lead The following day I received a mes- lessons I had extracted from our inhu- that they will lead happier lives as a result. sage from Ba is Yaakov Seminary. man experiences. • The first goal may strike the reader Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan rn>. who had The raw knowledge of the facts must as somewhat strange: that belief in the . attended the gathering, was inviting me be related, coupled with sound hashkafa Holocaust needs to be instilled in to teach Holocaust Studies at her pre- to forestall developments that would be descendants of the survivors. Sadly, how- 1 1 'i 1nier institution. I was nonplussed. At the quite contrary to en1una. I take my cue ever, it is true. With the passage of time,

from the Torah itself. Torah is not a his- the gradual passing of the survivors, and II i THE AuovE Al~Ti<.:1.E wAs ri~F.rAHF:D FOR Puuu- tory book. It relates the facts we need to the worldwide trend to minimize the

["" """"' """'" ·------~now and learn fro~S~too,.:y, m-~ten~ the horrors perpetrat:=d M A Y 2 0 0 5 ~-···~·=-i I in some of the concentration camps, the in terms of the thousands murdered, mussar through retelling the events - is danger does exist that the accounts of this rather than hundreds of thousands and also of profound importance. cataclysmic, horrific event in the histo­ millions. The smokestacks no longer Knowledge of the lives of holiness lived ry of Kial Yisroel may, challila, come to exude the black smoke and stench of by the tzaddikim who perished in the be seen as exaggerated. burning human flesh. Visiting these War, and the realization that it was pre­ I, myself, cannot muster the courage places, or Holocaust museu1ns, is not suf­ cisely their total immersion in the liv­ to visit Auschwitz. Now, grass growing ficient in and of itself to sear the suffer­ ing waters of Torah that fortified them between the blocks that housed the pris­ ing of our forebears permanently into in their incredible spiritual heroism dur­ oners has replaced the piles of dead bod­ the neshamos of the generations who did ing their unimaginable ordeals, leave an ies that I remember being strewn about. not experience it personally. Only by the indelible impression in the hearts of the The mountains of shoes taken from the continuing education of our youth will students. Retelling the many miracles that arrivals in so1ne camps have been the accurate accounts be preserved on every survivor experienced also serves to reduced to more "politically correct" lev­ all levels of our national consciousness. foster emuna and bitachon in their els.Non-Jewish camp personnel speak • The second goal - that of imparting hearts. A dry mastery of the facts will enter only their brains. Our tajkid (mis­ To Jewish Hungarian Victims of Nazi Persecution and their Heirs sion) is" Vahasheivosa el levavecha," to A Class Action Settlement Could Affect You internalize cerebral comprehension, and make it part of our beings. Only a PROPOSED SETTLEMENT A class action lawsuit, Rosne1; et al. v. United States q/America, involving personal property looted from Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust is pending in the multipronged approach to education United States District Court for the Southern Di);lrit:L of Florida ("Courf'). A settlement of the lawsuit could affect you if you or your relative might have had property on the Hungarian Gold accomplishes that. Train. 1f the Settlement is approved and you qualify, you may be able to apply for assistance • The third goal, that of Holocaust fron1 Jewish social service agencies. Or, you can object to the Settlement by informing the Court of your objections. Or, if you so choose, you can exclude yourself from the Settlement studies leading to happier lives, may seem altogether. startling at first, but borne out by expe­ I WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? The Hungarian Gold Train consisted of twenty-four freight cars rience. vividly remember the student containing personal property seized by the Hungarian government during World War II from who came from a troubled family and Hungarian Je\vs, which was taken into U.S. custody in May 1945 in Austria. The U.S. has agreed to settle c!aitns that it mishandled this personal property. The Settlement is not an suffered from a very difficult relation­ admission of wrongdoing or an indication that any law was violated. ship with her mother. After hearing me WHO'S INCLUDED? You arc a Class Member if you are a Jewish Hungarian victim of Nazi describe my bout with typhus in persecution who might have had property on the Gold Train, or the heir of such a person. Auschwitz, and how I yearned for my WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE? The U.S. govern1ncnt has agreed to pay mother's comfort in my suffering, she up to USD $25.5 million to fund the following three items: (i) approximately USD $21 million realized how fortunate she was "just" to for social services that will benefit Jewish Hungarian Nazi victims who arc in need (proposed plan will be available on website on June 10, 2005); (ii) USD $500,000 tOr the collection of have a mother! I learned later that her documents and artifacts relating to the Gold Train and the looting of Hungarian Jews; and relationship with her mother improved (iii) lawyers' fees and expenses, and incentive awards for Named Plaintitls. in an amount not to exceed USD $4 million. greatly as a direct result of her exposure to this one story. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? If you stay in the Settlement and arc a Jewish Hungarian Na;>;i victim, you may be eligible for benefits. Even if you are not currently in need, you may stay in the Settlement to allow the funds to assist other Jewish Hungarian Nazi victitns who arc. You may file comments or objections to the Settletnent which will be available for the Cou11's review NEGOTIATING WITH HIGHER prior to any final decision regarding the Settlement by the Court. Unless you exclude yourself from the Settlement. you will be legally bound by it and not able to sue the United States. If "COMFORT" STANDARDS you exclude yourself, you will not be eligible for benefits. Any communication related to the Settlement ·- co1nmcnt, objection, exclusion request - must be in writing, postmarked no later than August l, 2005, and confonn to specific Court rcquirc1nents. You may appear through Today's American-raised youth, counsel of your choosing at your own expense. An information package fron1 the contacts provided below. describes the specific rcquire1nents for such communications. reared in a country blessed with opulence, take luxurious living for granted. The WHEN WILL THE COURT ACT ON THE SETTLEMENT? The Court will hold a fairness hearing on this proposed Setllement on Scpte1nber 26, 2005, at I 0:00 a.m., at which time it will standard ofliving keeps rising, and (may consider whether to approve the Settlement and the lawyers' request for fees and costs. I say it?) the children become more and more spoiled. Principals and teachers ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This is only a sum1nary of a Court-approved Settlement Agreement. The full tenns of the Court-approved Settlen1ent Agreement govern. Please check attest to the declining levels of decorum the website for periodic updates on this Settlement at www.HungaiianGo\dTrain.org. To contact in and out of the classroom. Mothers Class Counsel, please e1nail: [email protected]. To sec the full tenns, or to request instructions for exclusion from, commenting on, work, at least in part, to maintain these or objecting to the Settlement please go to: levels of comfort without which they and E1nail: [email protected] or Call: l-800-562-0831 their children would be considered www.HungarianGoldTrain.org below par socially. When older teenagers Notice Provider P.O. Box 1570, New York, NY 10159, U.S.A. hear a first-person account of how I wore ' PLEASE DO NOT WRITE OR CALL THE COURT OR THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR INFORMATION. the same lice-infested clothing for six months, without it being washed - they

26 ··------·----·····--······------·---··· ····------··------are brought up short. They begin to real­ she had to blow on their diapers to warm Hearing this not in the abstract, but ize not only how much they have, but them before putting them on her babies. as part of first-person stories is very, very how much more they have than they I remember playing with rag balls. powerful. I have received many letters actually need! Bought toys were a luxury never found from students testifying to this, and these They stop taking their good fortune in our house. letters have served to strengthen me in for granted, and start acknowledging and When my oldest sister got engaged, forging ahead and keeping at my diffi­ thanking Hashem Yisbarach, and their I was eight years old. I accompanied my cult task. parents, for their plenitude. Some are mother to the store to purchase staple even influenced deeply enough to food items. The grocer inquired if my resolve that they will live their lives ded­ new brother-in-law was a doctor, or per­ FOR WHICH STUDENT BooY? icated fore1nost to spiritual pursuits, and haps a lawyer. When I answered proud­ not spend their lives pursuing money. ly that he was a yeshiva bachur, the grocer The question has been raised as to the One of my former ta/midas, a moth­ asked: "And who will supply food? The advisability of teaching Holocaust stud­ er now, told me that she retained the birds will bring food through the win­ ies to youngsters. Do they develop notes she took in my classes. Now, years dow?" I answered bravely and proudly: nightmares, exhibit nervous symptoms, later, when any of her children starts to sulk because he or she desires something which the mother deems is unnecessary HEARING MIRACLES RECOUNTED BY THOSE TO to purchase, she whips out her notes and reads to them from its pages - not only WHOM THEY HAPPENED HAS A PROFOUND AND what the camp inmates did without dur­ LASTING IMPACT ON A PERSON. I THEREFORE ing the war, but what they managed to TELL MY STUDENTS THE STORIES THAT Jive without before the war ever began! Her children then actually do begin to OCCURRED TO ME. understand that they are truly blessed with what they have, and learn to tol­ erate not having what their parents can­ "With emuna and bitachon, they will have become traumatized? My experience has not afford to buy. food!" shown that it can be safely taught to the In the classroom, I describe life in pre­ My father was a shocheit and a vast majority of students aged sixteen and war Czechoslovakia (where I grew up), dayan. We never saw him, even in bed, above. In every large group, there may Hungary, France and Belgium. (I don't without a seferin his hands. He learned be a few who will feel sickened by the focus on Poland because anti-Jewish dis­ at night by the light of a kerosene lamp. discussion. They should be excused from crimination existed there long before Electricity was not to be found in our the classes without penalty. 1939.) The students learn what life on humble dwelling. And we were happy. It has been noted that no similar vol­ a shoestring budget was like, and how This is the point I instill in my students umes, detailing in such explicit detail the it was possible to live happy lives with­ - the future mothers of Kial Yisroel. suffering of the martyrs of the out most of the amenities taken for grant­ Happiness is a by-product of a life lived Inquisition, the Crusades, or the ed today. by the guidelines of Torah. When hap­ Cossacks were written by the victims. I describe my home, parents and fam­ piness is pursued, it eludes us. When There are no records or courses being ily. My students are startled to learn that Torah and mitzvos are pursued, happi­ taught on these subjects. despite the fact that my parents were truly ness naturally follows in their wake. Why, then, do we feel it obligatory to poor, they aspired for all their sons and These words, which come straight do so now? Two possible answers come sons-in-la\v to learn full ti1ne. This, in from my heart, enter the hearts of the to mind. Czechoslovakia, where kol/elim were students. Some absorb it into the very Firstly, no previous slaughter of Jews unheard of! No one, absolutely no one, fiber of their being, and it changes them eradicated six million nefashos. The exter­ got married before they had a steady for the better. They come to see that suf­ mination of one third of the world's incon1e. From wl1ere did my parents get fering and affliction can be utilized to Jewish population is unparalleled in his­ such values? From their parents, of one's advantage. People can grow as their tory. It needs to be studied, and lessons course. tribulations cleanse them, and they extracted from it. Why teach the My 1nother's parents lived in a one­ emerge strengthened from their ordeals. American or French Revolutions, the his­ room apartment, without heat, yet they People are capable of accepting suffer­ tory of the Incas, or that of the Roman took my father, a yeshiva bachur, as a son­ ing fron1 Hashem) and some are even empire, and leave our own history to be in-law, due to their unshakable desire for capable of doing so with love. Many are forgotten? Is it not incumbent upon us a family steeped in Torah. My mother able to find things to be grateful for even to preserve and give over our own her­ related that when her children were born, amidst mind-numbing tragedy. itage, shocking and appalling as some of

27 r--_"_~ _ -"---===--MAY 2005

it may be? ries that occurred to me. wherever the Hashgacha sent us. Now, Secondly, the kedoshim themselves In Auschwitz, I contracted tuberculo­ however, it has become our duty to begged to be remembered Countless sto­ sis. The first miracle was that I was admit­ embed that history in the doros (gener­ ries attest to the myriads of people who ted to the hospital there. Usually, sick ations) that follow ours. just as it is a pleaded that those who survive let the prisoners were forced to continue work­ mitzvah to recount the nissi111 of the world know what happened. That is a ing until they expired. The second neis was Exodus from Egypt in as great detail as task we survivors hold sacred. Letting the that a doctor prisoner was able to send me we are able to, so do we feel that we must world know what happened to us takes for an x-ray. Imagine! An x-ray in record forever the miracles that we were precedence over stories ahout the rest of Auschwitz! The doctor advised me that a vouchsafed. the world. Letting the descendants of the higher-calorie diet would be beneficial to Contrary to the expectations of survivors know is our primary obliga­ me. Try filling that prescription in that many, the students sit mesmerized- and tion. Gehinnom on Earth! The Kol Yachol sent ask for more. When the bell signaling the me a friend who managed to procure extra end of the lesson rings, no one moves. bread and margarine for me every day! They beg for a few more minutes of my PERSONAL REMINISCENCES She insisted that the miracle occurred in time and stories. the zechus of my parents. Both of our Some years ago, I was invited by The mussar masters teach us to respective families had been poor, but hers Rebbetzin Shulamis Keller, principal ofthe record incidents of Hashgacha Prattis that had been even poorer than mine. Despite Bais Yaakov in Chicago, to speak to the we notice in our lives. Doing so reinforces that, my parents aided hers, and so I was students of three schools in that city. I our emuna and bitachon. How much zocheh to have her come to my aid when informed her that I would need ninety more so do stories of miracles or near­ I was in need. n1inutes to get my message across. She miracles serve that noble purpose! We Holocaust survivors avoided claimed that the audiences tire after 40 or Hearing stories of miracles recounted by recounting the horrors of our experiences 45 minutes, but I stood my ground. Finally, those to whom they happened has a pro­ for decades after the war. Our initial, pri­ the Rebbetzin, with great misgivings, capit­ found and lasting impact on a person. mary mission was to refill the diminished ulated, and I spoke. When I was done, the Therefore, I tell my students the sto- ranks of Kial Yisroe~ and to replant Torah audience clamored for more. Why? Because there is a hunger for information about the lives of their own forebears prior to and during the war. Youth seeks knowledge and understanding of these events that defy rational comprehension. They thirst to know how, why, and wherefore. I cannot supply all their answers, but only a survivor can truly relate what transpired in first person. The slowly diminishing ranks of our still-living survivors make it imperative Registration is now open for the summer program of 5765 which will be held that our stories be preserved for poster­ IYH in Yerusholayim. Once again, the program which has been recommend­ ity. The plethora of biographical works ed and endorsed by Gedolei Yisroel, will present an intensive course of study, by survivors are filling a great void. But there's no substitute for the devarim hay­ prepared for Bnei Torah to enable them to develop their full potential as otze'im min haleiv (words that flow from Mecbanchim in Yesbivos and Day Schools. the heart), which are nichnasim el haleiv (enter the heart) with unrivaled power. We will present the full range of subjects vital to the success of the rebbe I choose to engrave mine upon the hearts in the classroom. We invite motivated individuals possessing higher Yeshiva of my students, rather than on paper. It is my fervent hope and prayer that they and (or) Kolle] education, to participate in this program. will retell those stories to their children Recognized for a Yeshiva Teacher's License and talmidos, and so, in that way- as well as through the books being written - the For further information contact kedoshim and their trials will be remem­ RABBI NACHMAN ZAKON RABBI HILLEL MANDEL RABBI CHAIM ROBERTS bered until the day when Hashem Administrator Dean Jerusalem 02-651-9739 NY (718) 805-1191 England 161-740-3465 Yisbarach will take nekama on our oppressors, and eradicate Amaleik from Limited space available. If interested, please contact us immediately. our midst.

28 Yeshivas Ponevezh, Bnei Brak: Built on the ashes of destruction .. Men With a Mission Survivors and Their Heirs

Yeshayahu Hanavi says, "Therefore - he would father a son, Yitzchak, and years later, it is still too early for us to thus said Hashem, who redeemed Yitzchak, in turn, would father Yaakov assess its damage. It is far beyond Avraham, to Beis Yaakov (the House of Avinu, progenitor of the Twelve Tribes, human comprehension. Yaakov)" (Yeshayahu 29,22). Shivtei Ka, who were the foundation on In His ulti1nate mercy and compas­ The Midrash gives us a fascinating which Kial Yisroel was built... Kial sion, Hakadosh Baruch Hu rescued insight. When Avraham Avinu was Yisroel, which would ultimately stand at some of Kial YisroeI's greatest manhigim thrown into the kivshan ha'eish (fiery fur­ the foot of Har Sinai and proclaim, (leaders) from that fiery furnace.Among nace), the Beis Din she! Maala (Heavenly "Naaseh venishma- We will do and we them, in Eretz Yisroel-the Belzer Rebbe Court of Justice) had to decide whether will hear;' thereby fulfilling the purpose .,.. ,,,.who personally had lost 13 children; or not to save hiin: to do so would require of Creation. the Gerrer Rebbe, who writes in his performing an open miracle, something This is the meaning implicit in the pas­ tzava'a (last will) that Hakadosh Baruch the Hashgacha Ha'Elyona - the suk: "Lachein - Therefore - thus said Hu had blessed him with close to 100 Almighty - is reluctant to do; obvious Hashem, who redeemed Avraham [from descendants, although he had lost a great Divine intervention takes away the the kivshan ha' eish], to Beis Yaakov." majority of them in the War; and the bechira (free choice) from humanity. And Reb Aharon ., .. ,would empha­ Ponovezher Rav, who came to Eretz Nonetheless, the Beis Din she! Maala did size this point: It was because of the Yisroel a bereft individual, having lost his decide that Avraham should survive the building of the House of Yaakov that wife and most of his children in the war. deadly fire. Avraham was redeemed from the Among those who had escaped to When Rabbi Aharon Kotler ., .. ,,, kivshan ha'eish. America were the Klausenberger Rav, who would quote this Midrash, he empha­ had lost his 11 children, and the great sized that Avraham Avinu was not roshei hayeshiva of Telshe, who remained redeemed in his own merit, even though SAVED FROM THE solitary survivors from their entire fan1- Hashem knew that in the future he would FIERY FURNACE ilies. Rabbi Aharon Kotler came here as pass the remainder of the Ten Tests, a lonely man, without his yeshiva. including the nisayon of the Akeida. Kial Yisroel passed many trials and They all realized that they had to over­ Avraham Avinu was redeemed because tribulations from the time that Hashem come and conquer their personal feel­ exiled us from Eretz Hakodesh (the Holy ings - feelings that some of them RABBI DISHON, WHO l.IVES IN BROOKLYN, IS Land). But none of them compares to nevertheless did express. They found it MENAHEL OF YAll YISROEL, THE KARLIN­ the fiery furnace that Kial Yisroel harder to survive than to perish along STOUNI·:R TALMUD TORAH. endured from 1939 to 1944. Today, sixty with the rest of Kial Yisroel who had L ______29 .------·------M A Y 2 0 0 5 ------

remained behind. They had to wrestle with the difficulty of getting up every FRUM LIFE COACH morning, burdened with the memory of what they had lost. Specializing in goal actualizing for the Torah community But they had a mission. The first order of the. time was to rebuild the glorious Malka Schulman,cc past - in most cases, under very difficult conditions, in an alien country. At the Coach • Catalyst • fgcturer same time, they were determined to inject a ruach hachaim (a life force), and a ruach (416) 782-1462 [email protected] (416) 781-9116 emuna (a spirit of faith) in the atzamos hayeveisho~ the dried bones, that had sur­ telesessions • face to face workshops vived . In 1944, the Belzer Rebbe ':nn arrived in Bretz Yisroe~ where he met the Imrei Ernes?"~t. Can we imagine the meeting SEE ISRAEL THE WAY of two towering Torah figures who only five years earlier were the recognized lead­ OUR FOREFATHERS DID ...... ers of tens of thousands of Chassidim, .... AND HAVE THE EXPERIENCE and now were alone? When the Belzer Rebbe remarked to the Gerrer Rcbbe: OF A LIFETIME!!! "Yungeleit huben mekadeish geven Sheim Shamayim - The young generation sanctified Hashem's Name," the Gerrer FOR BOYS 15-19 Rebbe quietly told him: "Mir darfen unfangen als nei-We have to start every­ JULY 13-AUGUST 23 thing all over again." When the Ponovezher Rav stood on UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DAVID STERN, a sandy hill in Bnei Brak - at that time, a wasteland - and said, "Here is where EX U.S. MARINE COMBAT INSTRUCTOR I am going to rebuild Ponovezh;' peo­ Under the Auspices of Yeshivas N1shmas Shlomo, Tzfas. Israel ple viewed him as caught up in deluso­ Rabbi Yaacov Or1mland. Rosr1 Ha Yeshiva ry fantasies: "Look what the war did to the poor Ponovezher Rav!" · Character building and leadership are at the heart of our program. In America, the situation was simi­ · Feel at home as you walk empty handed into the wilderness. lar. Yet, the survivors were dedicated to -Build a personal connection with the land of Israel and its creator rebuilding the institutions that were laid as you use it to meet your survival needs. to waste. · Learn to build multiple shelters.primitive fire making techniques, They formed an army of giants- indi­ viduals who were able to maintain edible plants, wilderness medicine, animal tracking, natural their strong emuna in the Ribbono shel camouflage and enough skills for a lifetime. Olam, despite the Divine concealment · Uplifting Shiurim by dynamic Rebbeim. that they had experienced. Where did · Masada, Ein Gedi, Kivrei Tzadikim, Kosel, Dead Sea, Eiltat & more. they derive their strength from? Again, · Kayaking, rappelling, scuba diving, swimming, biking, jeeping, from Yaakov Avinu. hiking, overnites, barbecues & much more. · Lots of ruach in a warm & caring environment. Two BROTHERS - BASIC DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSE

There are two pesukim that tell us about the fundamental difference between the reactions ofYaakov and Eisav to a loss. "Vayazed Yaakov nazid - And Yaakov Avinu cooked a stew," and

30 "Vayavo Eisav min hasadeh, vehu ayeif­ Eisav came from the field, and he was tired:' This took place on the day that Avraham Avinu had left this world. Eisav Harasha, with his brilliant mind, could not comprehend that death struck his grandfather, and proclaimed: "Zakein zeh - this old sage - was smitten with the strict measure of justice. There is neither justice nor a judge:' This notion of a lead­ erless world brought out the worst in him. As Ghazal tell us, Eisav committed five major aveiros on that day. What did Yaakov Avinu do? Halacha dictates that the aveil eat a seuda when he comes back from the burial. The com­ ponents of that seuda are all indicators of kabbalas din Shamayim - acceptance of Divine judgment and a declaration of the intention to continue life in accor­ dance with Hashem's will. As Rabbi Avigdor Miller '71 said: Some approach a difficulty as an excuse for fail­ ure, and some perceive it as a challenge from which to grow. Eisav viewed the dif­ ficulty as an excuse for failure, and Yaakov recognized it as an impetus for growth. The culmination of that experience was when Yaakov Avinu met Yoseif for the first time after 22 years of separation. The Torah records that Yoseif hugged Yaakov and kissed hi1n, but there was no reac­ tion from Yaakov. Ghazal tell us that he was saying" Shema YisroeI'' at that time. Why precisely at that moment? One school of thought says that Yaakov Avinu knew that this was a peak moment in life, and he wanted to direct his heightened feelings towards Hakadosh Baruch Hu. But there might be a deeper under­ standing in that response. Yaakov Avinu was talking to himself when he saw Yoseif. We know that when Hakadosh Baruch Hu appears to us with a flow of kind­ ness, the Torah uses the Name "Hashem" ( Yud Kei Vav Kei). When He is dealing with us with the strict measure of din, the Torah refers to Him as "Elokim:' Yaakov turned inward and said: "Shema Yisroel - listen Yisroel (Yaakov) - Hashem Elokeinu - until now you thought that at times, Hakadosh Baruch Hu deals with us as Hashem, with ----- ···------·-··_____ M A Y..... _....;;2 .....0 .....;=--..;;;;= 0 5

middas hadin, His strict sense of justice. During his final hours in the 32,7). The Torah commands us to But now that you see Yoseif, you realize Kovno Ghetto, Rabbi Elchanan remember that there was a mabul- del­ that everything in the past that you Wasserman i~.,n. the late Rosh uge - that flooded the world, over four viewed as hastara (concealment) was part Ha yeshiva of Baranowitz, spoke to his thousands years ago. If we are obligat­ of a Divine Master Plan for the survival talmidim with a message for all of Klal ed to learn the lessons of the mabul, we of Kial Yisroel in Mitzrayim. Hashem is Yisroel, and perhaps the entire certainly are expected to learn the les­ Echad - One. All that transpires is but human race. sons of the mabul shel eish, the fire storm, an expression of kindness." This speech is published in the that consumed so much of Kial Yisroel Yaakov Avinu implanted in his back of Koveitz He' aros, as recalled sixty years ago. descendants the ability to say "Shema by Rabbi Ephraim Oshry ':>~.who was Yes, there are museums that tell part Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu Hashem there on that day when Rabbi of the story. We did not have monies to Echad!' Even in the midst of the hastara, Elchanan Wasserman left this world. spare for building Holocaust museums. when everything surrounding them He told his talmidim to sanctify Our community used its funds to build appears to be dark and cloudy, they still themselves and be mekadeish them­ living memorials - yeshivos and Bais say "Shema Yisroel Hashem Elokeinu selves as offerings to Hashem. He Yaakovs, kollelim and mekomos ha Torah, Hashem Echad." We do not lose our faith. added that, apparently, ID as well as institutions of chessed unrivaled It is a seudas havra'a- a challenge to our Shamayim halt men unz far groise in the past. emuna, to which we rise with the con­ mentschen - in Heaven they think of One who visits the Holocaust viction that one day Hakadnsh Baruch us as great people, for we were cho­ Museum and sees evidence of various Hu will reveal to us how all that befalls sen as a kappara (atonement) for our uprisings knows that there is an inspir­ us is chessed verachamim - mercy and American brothers." ing component missing in this memo­ compassion. This is part of a Divine Yes, Reb Elchanan believed that he and rial. Far be it from us to undermine any Master Plan for our survival. his talmidim were a korban kappara, not armed resistance - but the description a karban in vain. He then offered a pre­ of the type of resistance that we want to diction. recount to our children is not to be found A WORLD OF AVRABAMS He said that at Mincha on Tisha in the Holocaust museums. It is chron­ AND YAAKOVS BeAv, we say, «Ba'eish hitzata- You icled in the sefer of Rabbi Moshe Prager burned Yerushalayim with fire, ':>"l - Eileh Shela Nichne'u (Those Who Today's Jewish world is fortunate to uva' eish atta ass id livnosa - and with Did Not Yield): It chronicles the hero­ have both: the Avrahams who were saved fire You will rebuild it in the future." ic exploits of bachurim who decided to from the kivshan ha'eish, and the gen· There are no two separate fires! assume the hanhaga (practice) of she'as eration after, the Beis Yaakov. The sur· The fire that consumed our bodies hashmad, a time of forced conversions, viva] of the Avrahams was for our sake. will rebuild Klal Yisroel! when one must be willing to sacrifice l'hey were giants. Next to them, we are Reb Elchanan, in effect, was saying that one's very life rather than concede the but midgets. the ashes of the kedoshim were not going smallest iota of Judaism. The Germans One morning, a Vizhnitzer to scatter and disappear. They would were astounded over the inner strength Chassid, Reb Sender Leiman, told us become seeds that would be replanted of these young bachurim. that he wants us to join him in a and turn into a beautiful garden, Gan Beis A Chassidishe bachur had decid­ lechayim. He has Yahrtzeit- Whose Hashem. ed to defy the Nazis and leave his Yahrtzeit? His first wife and their five Gedolim and tzaddikim were terrified payos on. When caught, he was tor­ children. After the exchange of of the American environment. Maybe the tured to the very brink of death - and appropriate good wishes, he said that ashes of the kedoshim became seeds for suddenly he started to dance. The he was never meharheir achar what, bli eiyin hara, we see here today. German asked him, "Are you out of midosav she] Hakadosh Baruch Hu­ As representatives of(< Beis Yaakov," we your mind?" he never questioned Hashem's judg· have a great responsibility to those who He replied, "No, I am not. You took ment. perished, and to ourselves. away my yarmulke. You took away my To be sure, we have no right to judge clothing. You took away my payos. those who lost their faith in those dif· And now you're about to take away ficult days - far be it from us. But at the REMEMBERING AND my life. But you cannot take the same time, midda tova meruba mimid­ UNDERSTANDING Ribbono shel Olam away from me!" das puranuyos chameish mei'os pe'an1im. Can any other nation comprehend Hashem's bounty of mercy exceeds His The Torah tells us: "Zechor yemos such gevura, such inner strength, let alone strict judgment five-hundred-fold. How olam, binu shenos dor vador - duplicate it? We have a responsibility to we must respect and give kavod to those Remember the days of yore, understand tell the younger generations about the d not lose their faith! the years of each generation" (Devarim gevura of the Chassidishe underground

2 ------··------··---··------in the Ghetto Warsaw. In Michtav MeiEliyahu (Vol. III, pp. 346-7), Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler describes the proud march of the talmidim of the senior mussar • Each Daf is read, yeshiva, the Talmud Torah of Kelm, translated, and explained to their martyrdom - it was like slowly and clearly in just Simchas Torah. They took the sifrei 20 minutes Torah out of the beis hamidrash and • $4 per tape (plus S&H) actually danced to the edge of the • Subscription rate: $3 per tape (plus S&H) deep ditches that the Nazis had pre­ f/abbtnic:al reff!ren.ces available pared for them. Home: (718) 338-1765 And- just as on Simchas Torah - they sang "Ashreinu - How fortunate P er: (917) 486-5655 we are - ma tov chelkeinu - how good is our lot (that we are Jews and joy­ fully fulfill Hashem's will)!" It is our responsibility to tell our chil­ It hurts dren and our grandchildren about this gevura. "Zechor yen1os ola1n binu shenos 10 c dor vador." If, when confronting a moment of difficulty, one accepts it as a challenge, Hakadosh Baruch Hu endows a human being with a gevura that lnortals are not believed to possess. When we sec the current status of Kial Yisroel and take stock of the incredible kindness that Hakadosh Baruch Hu has • bestowed on us, we witness the fulfill­ ment of the words of Reh Elchanan - the ashes turned into seeds, seeds that made beautiful orchards grow, the Gan Beis Hashem. It hurts So, we lift up our eyes and tell the giants who are here with us today, and the kedoshim u'tehorim who are no longer with us, and the spiritual giants who sur­ vived and have since gone le'olam sheku­ lo tov - the world of uncompromised good -the continuation of the words of Yeshayahu Hanavi: "Lo atta yeivosh It feels better just to talk about it. That's Yaakov - Yaakov will not be ashamed why we're here. Our staff is made up of now, and his face will not be pale. Now caring and sensitive individuals. Together, - when he sees his children, My hand­ we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals iwork, in their midst - who will sancti­ for counseling, legal advice or help in fy My Name - they will sanctify the Holy finding a safe environment. We can also One of Yaakov and revere the G-d of put you in touch with some very special Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to Israel" (Yeshayahu 29, 22-23). you, you must first reach out to us. With these children, we will be marching to welcome pnei Moshiach tzid­ Confidential Hotline 1 . 8 8 8. 8 8 3 . 2 3 2 3 keinu and there unite with all those (Toll Free) kedoshim u'tehori1n. !:r-J 718.337.3700 (NYC Area) M A Y 2 0 0 5

A REVIEW ARTICLE BY RABBI ZEV LEFF Greatness in Spite ot Adversitv ... 1 Because of Adversitv

and enabled Kial Yisroel to produce its Beacon of Light by Felice Poupko (pub­ greatest achievement - Talmud Bavli. lished by Targum Press, Jerusalem, Additionally, it is not in spiritual giants $17.95) and leaders alone that this greatness is manifested, but even in the simple, plain Jew. Moreso, it is even found in the rene­ LEARNING FROM gade Jew who has strayed from the path SURVIVORS' EXPERIENCES of Torah. The Midrash (Bereishis Rabba) conveys that Yitzchak Avinu was moti­ Aside from the general mitzvah of vated to bless Yaakov because he recog­ "Zechor ye1nos olam binu shenos dor va' - nized the innate holiness and greatness dor" (Devarim 32,7), remembering his­ inherent in Yaakov's descendants, even tory and learning the Torah lessons in this type of Jew. As the Torah says inherent in it, there are many other man­ (Bereishis 27,27), "He smelled the aroma dates and benefits that apply to the study ber the trials and tribulations of collec­ of his clothing:' The Talmud tells us: of the Holocaust and the importance of tive Jewish history, the miracles of the "Read not begadav (his clothing), but the testimonies of those who lived salvation of individuals from those rather bogdav (his renegades)''. through it. Practically speaking, as the ordeals, and the memory of those who (Sanhedrin 37a). The Midrash then Holocaust recedes into the past and fewer suffered and made the ultimate sacrifice gives two examples of renegade Jews who, and fewer individuals who actually al Kiddush Hashem. due to traumatic experiences, realized lived through it remain, it is important Reading narratives such as these also their inner purity and holiness, and that those individuals share their recol­ evokes emotions of sympathy and exhibited the intrinsic greatness of the lections so that subsequent generations empathy for fellow Jews who were vic­ Jewish soul. Most certainly, one can see can benefit from their experiences and timized and revulsion and hatred of the this greatness manifested in the experi­ be able to identify with this painfully sig­ cruelty and evil of their oppressors, which ences of the rank and file of observant nificant period of Jewish history are emotions worthy of engendering. Jews during the Holocaust, in the through the eyes and hearts of human From testimonies such as these, one strength of the influence of their fami­ experience, and not only through the per­ also gains an appreciation of the intrin­ ly structure and Torah education, their spective of cold historic documentation. sic greatness of the Jewish soul. Chazal self-sacrifice and concern for others, and Additionally, the emergence and prolif­ relate that Kial Yisroel is compared to an their heroic observance of Torah in the eration of Holocaust deniers make olive, which gives its choicest oil under most difficult times, and under the most these testimonies even more crucial. pressure. It is particularly in times of mis­ trying and oppressing circumstances. Another aspect of these accounts is fortune and adversity that the greatness It is not necessarily in the heroic, the fact that the mitzvah of thanking of the Jewish soul is manifested. superhuman feats that one finds the true Hashem Yisbarach for one's deliverance Chazal point out that the eye sees not strength and vitality of the Jews, but from danger and misfortune entails not from the white portion but rather from rather, in the ongoing, day-to-day exis­ only a private thanksgiving, but as we the black, alluding to the fact that it is tence, with the constancy and consisten­ recite in Sheman eh Esrei, "nodeh lecha specifically from the darkness that one cy of faith, commitment and obedience u'nesapeir tehilasecha" - We will thank gleans the greatest insights. Similarly, the to G-d, Torah and one's fellow man. In You and relate Your praises;' one must Gemara comments on the verse in Eicha this light, the verse proclaims: recount to others one's experiences so (3,6), "He caused me to sit in darkness as "Those that put their hope in that they, too, can benefit from the aware­ the dead of the world" - this refers to Hashem shall renew their strength, they ness of these manifestations of Divine Talmud Bavli (Sanhedrin 24a). The shall mount up with wings as eagles, they providence and kindness. Chafetz Chaim explains that it was specif­ shall run and not be weary, and they shall It also behooves all Jews to remem- ically the darkness of galus that induced walk and not be tired" ( Yeshaya 40,30).

34 It is not in the running alone that their the Torah enjoins us to ('remember the their name be blotted out) was a most greatness lies, but rather in the consis­ days yore, understand the years of each tragic era for the Jewish people. It is cru­ tent, constant walking without faltering generation. Ask your father and he will cial for us to hear from those who were and becoming tired. tell you, your elders (sages), and they will witnesses to this trauma what they expe­ relate it to you" (Devarim 32,7). We must rienced, so that we can somehow feel and know the facts of history and seek to understand their suffering, martyrdom, A BOOK THAT CONVEYS understand the lessons each period has and spiritual and physical heroism. It then THE LESSONS to teach. 1b accomplish this, we must ask behooves us to seek the guidance of our our fathers and mothers to tell us what spiritual leaders to put these experiences As a case in point, we have Beacon of they experienced. Then, we must seek the into a Torah perspective which takes into Light, the dramatic story of Felice wisdom of our Torah sages to explain the account the totality of Jewish history. Poupko's escape from the Holocaust, n1eaning and implications of these Reading this account in Beacon ofLight which indeed embodies all the compo­ occurrences. The period of destruction is definitely a fulfillment of this Torah nents we have mentioned as being sig­ of European Jewry by the Nazis (may mandate. ll!l nificant in the testimonies and remembrance of this period. Her story is saturated with recognition of the ever­ present Divine Providence. One senses the reverence for Torah and Torah learning and the yiras Shamayin1 that per­ meate her family members and the friends that make up the circle of peo­ ple whose lives are portrayed here. The account of her trials and tribulations is written in a n1anner that evokes the prop­ er emotions. She describes family life in Germany before the Holocaust, and through her description, we are able to discern the beauty and power of the "amcha Jew," the strength of the Jewish character that emanates fron1 and finds its constant vitality in the roots of the Jewish fami­ ly and Torah education. She also relates the progressive stages of persecution from the time of Hitler's ascent to power. And she includes glimpses of the interaction of the non­ Jewish community with their Jewish neighbors as the Holocaust developed. Her family's decision to flee Germany and Obtain the precious negatives from your how they accomplished their escape make Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or other event. interesting reading, and also shed light Please provide the following information: on the attitudes of the Jewish popula­ Date of your Simcha/event ------·------·- Year ··-·-

tion in the period preceding World War Family names: Groom------·-··------·------··"----·-

II, and how those views impacted on their Bnde ______

recognition of the true dangers that faced Mail your check, with this form, in the amount of $120.00, made payable them, and the need to flee. Her experi­ to: Zelman Studios Attn: Negatives. Mai/ to: 623 Corte/you Road, WEDDINGS& ences in the galus of Havana and in Bretz Brooklyn, NY 11218-4803. Your negatives will be shipped within 30 days. BAR MITZVAHS Yisroel in its tumultuous pre-Statehood !Please print] Your name -----·-·----·------··---·- Since 1966 years are especially interesting and 623 CORTELYOU ROAD I inspiring. The book is accompanied by City ______ST_ Zip----··---- (Off Ocean Parkway) extensive notes and sources that enhance . l E mail ______Ema1! zzelman@compuserve com BROOKLYN, NY 11218 I its h1storica aspect. Mail Orden only. (718) 941-5500 A~wrote in my preface to this book,_ ------L --····--·-----··-- ···-·-·-···---·-···~ ------··· 0 NA HE YONOSON ROSENBLUM AGENDA

Deformed ''Rights''

The total disconnect between the the heterodox movements, after the mod­ professional social worker. Conservative and Reform movements on ern fashion, know only rights. The only !RAC declares that "involvement in the one hand and Torah Judaism on the duty they acknowledge is the duty to preventing abortions in the Jewish sec­ other hand is not exactly a hot news flash. never tell anyone else what to do or to tor cannot be recognized as an appro­ In fact, we are so accustomed to view­ suggest that right and wrong may not just priate welfare issue:' One of the !RAC ing the various positions of these het­ be matters of personal taste. attorneys told Shofar News that !RAC erodox groups as being beyond the pale The Torah, which does seem to would not have objected if EfRAJ' also of Judaism that we tend to ignore their embody some pretty definitive views on provided assistance to Arab women. In every new violation of the immutable right and wrong, as well as impose 613 IRAC's eyes, no distinction between Jews guidelines of Torah perspectives on life obligations, becomes in the hands of het­ and non-Jews is permissible. For the het­ as "nothing of significance." But to do erodox clergy not an all-inclusive guide erodox movements, all references to Jews so is truly at our own risk. There is a vast, to life, but rather a large collection of quo­ as the "chosen people" are anathema, and uneducated, well-meaning public that tations to be carefully culled in support IRAC's stance is merely a reflection of finds comfort in their egalitarian expres­ of the regnant intellectual orthodoxy or that. sions of inclusiveness. It fails to realize whatever personal decision a congregant Alas, the refusal to acknowledge that that these innovations destroy any pos­ has already made without recourse to the Jews and non-Jews could be different in sibility of accepting heterodox move­ Torah. any way not only places the Reform ments as alternative courses within the A recent petition to the Israeli movement in opposition to the Torah, "three Ior five J streams of Judaism." It Supreme Court by the Israel Religious but to classical Zionism as well. As is important -for ourselves, and for the Action Center (!RAC), the legal and pub­ Professor Amnon Rubinstein wrote sake of the broad public out there - to lic arm of the Move1nent of Progressive recently, the Zionist goal of creating a reiterate the point that they have not only Judaism in Israel, provides a classic exam­ Jewish homeland is nonsensical in the abandoned any pretense of being Jewish; ple of heterodoxy's fixation with absence of a Jewish majority, for "with­ they have virtually ceased to masquer­ "rights." The petition singles out EFRAT, out a Jewish majority, there is no Israel." ade as religions of any kind. an organization devoted to reducing If Israel can encourage that Jewish An analysis of heterodoxy's new abortion by Jewish women in Israel, as majority through the Law of Return, detours from the Torah, then, will repay unfit to receive national service volun­ which grants automatic citizenship to some dividends. teers (almost all of them girls from the Jews from anywhere in the world, sure­ national religious sector performing ly it can also provide indirect aid to an national service in place of army serv­ organization combating the demo­ DUTY Vs. RIGHTS ice). graphic threat to Israel by saving Jewish Last year, EFRAT provided assistance babies. The concept of duty is a necessary to over 1,400 women, the vast majori­ Even in terms of "rights," IRAC's corollary of any religion based on the ty of them married, who had been con­ claims are ludicrous. Providing pregnant existence of a Supreme Being, Who templating abortion for socio-economic wo1nen with information about finan­ rc1nains connected to His creation. Yet reasons. Referrals to EFRAT come cial assistance and e1notional support -----··------··· almost entirely from social workers available to them, according to !RAC, vio­ RABBI ROSENBLUM, \VHO LIVES IN JERIJSALEM, IS A CONTHIBUTING EDITOR TO THIO Jr:WISH and friends of the women in question. lates their basic rights to human digni­ 0BSF.RVIOR. liE IS Al.SO DIRECTOR OF THE Initial discussions with those women are ty, privacy, and freedom of conscience. ISRAELI DIVISION OF AM ECHAD, THE AGl!f)ATH handled by one of EFRAT's 3,000 vol­ Far from reducing a woman's freedom I lsr~AEL-INSPIRED EDUC.ATJ()NAL Ol!TREACH unteers (many of whom are past bene­ of choice, however, EFRAT increases her EFFOln- ANll Mr.DIA IH'.SO\JRCE. ficiaries of EFRAT's services) and a ability to make an informed decision by I 36 ·---·------·--·--·--···---···-·-· THE JEWISH OBSERVER I ·--·--·------·--- ··-···-··-···-···------·-··----··-··--·--·--- relieving her of some of the economic Inquisition." and tales of our martyrs:' She views her pressure pushing her towards abortion. The Baltimore Jewish Times polled a role primarily as supporting the ethical According to Dr. Eli Schussheim, direc­ cross-section of local Jewish spiritual decisions of families, presumably by sup· tor of EFRAT, not one of the 17 ,000 leaders for their perspectives on the plying the relevant quotations to buttress women aided by EFRAT has ever Schiavo case. The results were fascinat­ their decisions. expressed regret about her decision to ing and saddening. For those cut off from Many of the other heterodox spiritu· give birth. Moreover, these women are halacha, the classical sources become al leaders directed their main wrath at approaching EFRAT, making it their nothing more than a collection of pos­ the clumsy efforts of the U.S. Congress choice. sibly relevant statements from which the to save Terri Schiavo's life rather than at IRAC's petition provides a classic individual congregant can fashion the those trying to murder her. Bradd example of how unmoored the Reform narrative that best suits him or her. Boxman described it as atrocious "that movement is in Jewish sources. Judaism Elizabeth Bolton, spiritual leader of big government has stepped in the way does not view one's body as his private Congregation Beit Tikvah, for instance, it has;' adding his personal vote for death, property to do with what he will. takes "great comfort in the range of per­ if that's what she wanted. Though it did Rather, the body is a trust from G-d to spectives offered by various Midrashim not seem to be that relevant to his per- be sanctified through His command­ ments. Even more astounding is how quick­ ly a "woman's right to her own body" Just on.e year at. .. morphs, for the Reform movement, into the view that abortion is a positive good. tV!R~ l'irnn 3P»' 11'3 'il~~o According to the petition, it is absurd for 1bflNew 1 the State to permit abortions, under the­ t~i::;; I THE NEW BAIS YMKOV SEMINARY oretically limited conditions, and to simultaneously seek to reduce them. The ... opens tfie dOor tu a possibillties! only absurdity, however, is the petition­ l!fetime ef er's logic. Just because something is per­ Our students have been accepted Adelphi U. has established mitted doesn't mean the State must to the finest graduate schools! academic scholarships in encourage it. addition to Financial Aid M:: Speech Pathology 1l« PT I OT PELL, TAP, ETC. And so does a movement calling itself M Education M: Social Work SEMINARY SCHOLARSHIPS "Jewish" come to "promote" abortions, IAVAILABLE IM Special Education M Business something halacha views, in inost cases,

as a form of murder. REBBETZIN SORA F. BULKA, n701:io RABBI YESHAYA LEVY, ~rui:i µt:' MRS. GITTIE NEUFELD, ASST.PRINCIPAL ------2600 OCEAN AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11229 M. 718.769.8160 M. FAX: 718.769.8640

THE "RIGHT" TO DIE You can.! Just call The recent court-ordered execution The Yitti Leibel of Terri Schiavo provides another exam­ Helpline. ple of the easy deformation of"rights." HOURS: In her case, the "right to die" quickly Monday-Friday ...... 8am -12pm transmuted into the duty to die and/or Monday-Thursday...... 8pm - l lpm a husband's right to kill by dehydration Sunday ...... 9am -12p1n, 9pn1 -11 pm an inconvenient wife. And once again, non-Orthodox Jews 9 11s<7~~~f-;~pw and their clergy were in the vanguard of Chicago ...... (800) HELP-023 the movement. David Klinghoffer, the Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 author of Why Jews Rejected J., tells of Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 the collective gasp that went out from Baltimocc ...... (410) 578-1111 an audience of Conservative Jews when Detroit ...... (877) 435-7611 San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 he lauded Christian activists for their 1\nonto ...... (416) 784-1271 efforts to save Terri Schiavo's life: "The The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Bran

37 ---~ ------·-·--·------·-·------·---- r- M A Y--.-0-·-·-0--5--··------1 ------~===-- '

sonal views, Boxman claimed that there THE INALIENABLE "RIGHT" abomination by the Torah. are sources in Judaism to support his TO BE ABOMINABLE Just as for much of the Left, the view, some of them "even in the realm Palestinians have become an oppressed, of halacha [emphasis mine]:' But the ultimate proof of the total dis­ colonialized people, who can therefore And Mark Loeb saw no problem with connect between the heterodox n1ove­ do no wrong, so deviants have become letting Michael Schiavo make the deci­ ments and the Torah came on April 18, for the heterodox movements a group sion concerning his "wife's 'best inter­ when the leaders of the various hetero­ of people deprived of their "rights;' who est'.'' His primary worry was that one dox move1nents in Israel - which are gen­ must, ironically, be given even more theological view - whether it be that of erally considered more "traditional" "rights" than others. It is hard, for the Torah, or the Christian Right, or the than their American counterparts - called instance, to imagine the heterodox Roman Catholic Church - should not a press conference to declare their movements waxing so enthusiastic trump all others. His clerical role seems strong support for a parade in about a parade of deviants openly pro­ limited to protecting secularism in the Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh publicly cel­ fessing their private practices, no mat­ name of pluralism. ebrating behavior explicitly termed an ter how mainstream they might be. No doubt they would recognize that not everything has to be public. But, lo, when it comes to deviants, all the rules change. Ehud Bandel, the head of the Masorti Movement (Conservative) in Israel, which claims to be a halachic movement, could find no other explana­ tion for the opposition to the march by Rabbi Chasket l:lesser a coalition of Jewish, Muslim, and Rabbi Shmuel Bloom Christian religious leaders other than Rabbi Aharon Dovid Dunner "intolerance, extremism, and fanati­ Rabbi Yissachar Frand cism." One might have thought that the Rabbi Pinchas Friedman Torah's explicit prohibition would

Rabbi Yosef Harari~Rafu! deserve mention. But by then, Bandel was busy donning the hat of constitutional Rabbi FtShel Hershkowitz lawyer rather than spiritual leader, and Rabbi Levi y_ Horowitz (BPsil!Mr Rebbel you were one of the 100.000+ participants at the Eleventh Siyum proclaiming the march "a basic democrat­ aShas of Daf Yomi here is your chance to relive that unforgettable Rabbi Yaakcv Pertow {Nomnlnsker Reblle) perience through a collection of audio cassettes. capturing alt of ic right." E Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon the inspiring moments of the Siyum. Bandel did not completely forget his Rabhi Chaim Stein f you were not fortunate to attend. you can now feel that awe­ rabbinic role. He declared, "We are here some experience by hearing the Inspiring words of ourgedolim. Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman to convey the 1nessage that Judaism is Iand capture the excitement that so many witnessed and enjoyed. based on respect for each and every This commemorative tour-tape set encased in an attractive human being." Apparently that respect, customized binder. has been produced by popular request and ls in the mind of Bandel and his counter­ available tor a $30.00 contribution per set (plus $5.00 per set postage parts, entails condoning and even cel­ and hand6ng.) ebrating anything anyone may wish to Order Now! You'll treasure this historic event for years to come, do, as long as they are sincere. And, An excellent gift item - order extra sets for friends and family1 indeed, that is pretty close to the Conservative position. As the late To, OAF VoMI COMMISSION• AGUOATH ISRAH Of AMERICA 42 Broadway. New York. NY 10004 Seymour Siegel, one of the move­ Please t1!nd me __Sl'!t!s) of the tlevi!nth Siyum HaShas of Dlif Yoml ComnnunoratiVe' ment's leading theologians, once wrote, I amt!nclosilli! a eonbibutit1n of $30.00 hlr ear:h set mWmd • (plus $5.00 per set for postage and handling). "So long as a [Jew] is serious about his NaltUl Address ----·-·---·--~"ccc+.;-:i responsibility and concerned about his Jewishness, he is doing the right thing in the sight of the Lord." Meanwhile, the March of Deformed Rights, although postponed for a year, is scheduled to go on, and the hetero­ dox movements have placed themselves at the front of the parade. As for the Torah? What's that? ll!l I In Dec. '04, The Jewish Observer fea­ ti on tured an article"Grasping the Kedusha, anticipate and how to best prepare for Avoiding the Pitfalls: When American such a 1najor step. Families Move to Bretz Yisroel;' by The article inspired an extraordinary Rabbi Yair Spolter, which discussed the volume of responses, most of them pos­ opportunities for spiritual growth in aliya, devoting much space itive, some of them strongly critical. We have selected letters to analyzing the specific challenges that these olim would be to reflect the full range of reactions, followed by a reply from dealing with. It was the author's - and the magazine's- in ten- the author.

ARTICLE FACILITATES in high school, three elementary-age chil­ of Tanach and Gemara, combined with SMOOTH TRANSITION dren and a toddler. less exposure to American culture, has The adjustment from being an worked wonders. He is now thriving in To the Editor: A1nerican out-of-town yeshivish fami­ an American post-high school yeshiva I would like to commend Rabbi Yair ly to being an Israeli chareidi one was program in Yerushalayim, which he Spalter for his outstanding article on the not easy. We are still learning chareidi entered after finishing 11th grade (shiur subject of transitioning children to the norms, and some of our children have gimme!) of yeshiva ketana here. In fact, reality of a!iya - and to commend the adapted to them more easily than oth­ after one year there, his rebbi offered him Editorial Board of The Jewish Observer ers. Due to our children's relatively weak the option of skipping a shiur level! We for having the courage to address such academic level and Hebrew language have witnessed firsthand Chazafs state­ an emotional subject. skills, as well as their chutz la' aretz style ment that the air of Bretz Yisroel makes Having conducted dozens of parent­ of frumkeit, some of them attended one wise. VVhile our son's weak acade1n­ ing lectures in Bretz Yisroel over the past chareidi schools here that were geared ic performance in the U.S. would have 9 years and having counseled hundreds to weaker segments of the population. put him at high risk for going off the of American olirn - many with issues While it is true that our children did­ derech, his lack of exposure here to noted by Rabbi Spalter- I am intimate­ n't and perhaps still do not quite meas­ American culture was a lifesaver. ly familiar with the issues he has raised. ure up to the Israeli chareidi yardstick of We have seen the benefits of moving His analysis of the facts on the ground success, it does not measure who our chil­ to Bretz Yisroel with another of our and his thoughtful recommendations dren are today. VVhen I encounter daughters as well. Though she does not make his essay required reading for any American seminary girls and yeshiva boys fit into any particular religious stereo­ parents considering aliya. who co1ne here to learn, and on my rare type here, she has recently become aware To those who are concerned that air­ visits to America when I encounter of her strengths. After she finished ing this issue will discourage people from American children and teens from what eleventh grade in a chareidi high school moving to Bretz Yisroel, I propose that are considered yeshivish families, I for weaker students, she was admitted his article will be a positive development inevitably find myself comparing their into a seminary program for Anglo-Israeli for aliya as parents strategically plan for dress, attitudes, leisure-time pursuits and and chutz la' aretz girls. She and a former the inevitable challenges they will face level of learning with those of our chil­ classmate are way ahead of their as they follow their dreams and relocate dren. Baruch Hashen1, our children, even American peers! Although they entered to Bretz Yisroel. Smoother transitions for our weaker ones, are way head of most of seminary a year early, they had already the children of olim will inevitably their American contemporaries in learn­ learned many of the hashkafa concepts result in more families contemplating ing levels, and way behind (thankfully) in being presented for the first time to their aliya. their materialism, awareness of American new classmates. Homework that was sup­ With much admiration. culture, and pursuit of narishkei~ posed to take an hour took them only (RABBI) YAKOV HOROWITZ Yes, one of our teenage daughters had five minutes. Rabbi Horowitz is the Menahel of a difficult adjustment, and after high Our youngest two children (the Yeshiva Darchei Noam of Monsey and school and seminary here, returned to youngest one born here) are typical Israeli the Program Director ofAgudath our hometown. Yet, we feel that she is chareidi children. Our entire family is Israel's Project Y.E.S. frummerthan she would have been had constantly amazed by how much our first she spent only her seminary year in Bretz grader knows and daven~ and by his drive HARDSHIPS - PART OF THE ALIYA Yisroel. She is married and a 1nother, and to learn Torah. Of course, he loves to play PACKAGE, AND WORTH IT we are very proud of how she turned out. outdoors like any normal American child, Our son had a difficult time academ­ but his life ambition is to be a "Rav gadol To the Editor ically for many years here (he was also be Yisroel, to be a rash yeshiva of I 00 Our family made aliya eight years ago weak in his American cheder). However, yeshivas." While much of his capability fro1n a large out-of-town American com­ this opportunity to see firsthand the rel­ is due to the fact that Hebrew is his best munity. Our family included two girls evance of his learning by living in the land language, we also give much credit to the

39 M A Y 2 0 0 5

lack of American-style distractions, America, and we cannot guess how our through yisurim. I humbly suggest that leisure-time pursuits, and materialism family would have evolved had we stayed American Jewry should analyze honest­ that beckon his American peers. there. Aliya is not an easy venture; yet, with ly why the yisurim of pursuing Torah and The quantity and quality of my lms­ all our struggles and our spiritual short­ Olam Habba do not deter them, while band's learning has improved immea­ comings, we feel that the move was ulti­ the yisurim of settling in Bretz Yisroel do. surably since we have moved to Bretz mately a positive one for our family. MRS. ROSE GAFNI Yisroel. "Bretz Yisroel nikneis beyisurim" -peo­ Yerushalayim While we may not fully measure up ple quote this statement as an excuse not to Israeli chareidi society's standards, we to make aliya. The Gemara also says that KARKA IN lRlTZ YISROEL are way ahead of who we were in Torah and Olam Habba are acquired Call Rabbi Gavriel Beer for information on obtaining cemeteiy plots in Beth Shemesh NEVE YERUSHALAYIM INSTITUTIONS and other locations in Israel. MAALOT· NY 011 -972-2-656-9427 FOR A HIGHER DEGREE • OF SUCCESS! SEMINARY & POST-SEMINARY PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS WITH THE ERETZ YISRAEL FLAVOR! HUNDREDS OF SUCCESSFUL GRADUATES • WORLDWIDE! Professional Program or lishma ·Full Day, Half Day or Part Time Optional Summer in Yerushalayim! Rabbi Sholom G. Ginzber • Dean Get.a cell phone r.------~ from the people ARE You MOVING? you can trust! IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label.

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TIMELY, BUT TARDY tion is the title. How can there be pit­ ages. Baruch Hashem, all are very happy falls in a mitzvah? A more appropriate to be living in artzeinu hakedosha. We To the Editor: title would have been "How to Make have many friends with similar success The article advising Americans how Aliya, and Do It Right;' or "When and stories and I find it hard to believe the to make the most of their hopes to be How to Make Aliya:' I think it's impor­ bleak statistics quoted in the article. It oleh to Eretz Yisroel was on target, and tant to be very positive toward this mitz­ is my pleasure to serve as a resource for should be of value to all would-be olim, va, as Caleiv said, "We shall surely ascend any fam iii es contemplating aliya. except for two points. and conquer it, for we can surely do it" REBB!TZEN MALKA KAGANOFF It should have been published 20 years (Bamidbar 13,30), and as Caleiv and Neve Yaakov, Jerusalem ago, when it could have helped count- Yehoshua said, "The Land is exceeding­ 1 less thousands of others do it right. ly good" (Bamidbar 14,7). MORE EMPHASIS, PLEASE, ON An important omission: there is no NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST "GRASPING THE KEDUSHA" such thing as an American type Mesivta­ high school, with general studies, under "THIS IS WHERE HASHEM To the Editor: Israeli-chareidi auspices. One should be WANTS US TO LIVE" We read and reread the erudite arti­ aware of that before making the big cle written by Rabbi Y. Spoiler. The title 1nove. To the Editor: led us to believe that the article would (RABBI) Dov LEDERMAN As an American living in Israel, I contain tips and pointers for successful Bnei Brak appreciate Rabbi Spolter's well-organ­ integration into life in Eretz Yisroel. What ized article, informing potential olim of a disappointment! He may succeed in ACCURATE ... AND HELPFUL the possible "pitfalls" of moving to Eretz frightening would-be olim. Yisroel. However, I am concerned that the In order to assess the effects of a To the Editor: potential oleh is bound to dismiss his change of location and to evaluate the I was very excited to read Rabbi Yair noble plans after reading the dismal pic­ educational system, it is first necessary Spoiler's article on moving to Eretz ture presented by the author. to perform an objective analysis: What Yisroel. I shed real tears when I read the I totally agree with the opinions quot­ are the dangers inherent in any move article because it expressed everything ed from the esteemed mechanchim pre­ when children are a certain age? Do these that I have gone through since remain­ sented in the article regarding the dangers occur in all global areas, or are ing here as a bachur, marrying, and liv­ importance ofbecoming informed of the they more prominent when moving to ing in Eretz Yisroel for the last I 0 years. differences between Israeli and Eretz Yisroel due to language barrier, cul­ What he described is what many if not American society, and in general not ture problems, etc? most "chutznikim" are going through or making such a mo1nentous move with­ Is the Israeli chareidi educational sys­ went through when moving here. This out consultion. However, the overall tone tem successful in educating boys and girls article hopefully will help those who are of the article was very negative, and the to take their rightful places in society, or thinking about moving here understand tremendous opportunity ofliving in Bretz are there kinks in the system that need what lies ahead of them and even help Yisroel was not properly presented. to be ironed out or addressed? Why ask them get through the ups and downs, Eretz Yisroel is extolled in davening, time children to conform to a system if we do which are many, especially in a foreign and time again. One of the main focus­ not agree with its tenets? Is kollellife suit­ country. Yes, Eretz Yisroel is a foreign es of bentching is gratitude for Eretz ed for all children? Do we mold all our country to someone coming from Yisroel. children in one way, or do we remem­ abroad! Chaval that Rabbi Spolter did Soon after our move to Eretz Yisroel, ber Shlomo Hamelech's advice, "Educate not write this 10 years earlier. someone asked our 6-year-old whether the child according to his personality [lit. YAAKOV LICHTER she liked living in America or in Israel way ... ]?" Jerusalem better. When she answered that she loved The fact that there is a language bar­ living in Israel, the questioner asked why. rier points to one of the defects in the PROCEED, YET PROCEED "This is where Hashem wants us to live," systems abroad. Why shouldn't yeshiva WITH CAUTION was her answer. ''.And also, the parsha hap­ children abroad be taught to commu­ pened here, so it feels so much more real:' nicate reasonably well in Hebrew? After To the Editor: In short, I hope that all your readers all, it is necessary in order to pursue Torah I enjoyed reading the article, "The give serious thought to whether aliya is learning, since more and more high Kedusha and the Pitfalls; when for them and make an informed deci­ school graduates come to Israel for study. American Families Move to Bretz sion based on various data, and then Communication in Hebrew would facil­ YisroeZ:' daven for siyata diShemaya that Hashem itate their stay and would be an immeas­ It was realistic and informative; I espe­ bless their choice. urable asset for successful aliya. L like the success-story. My only objec- We made aliya with children of all Since there is a clash of mentalities, 41 --'=l

perhaps the "transformer" idea is not so Rabbi Spolter's frightening message "Naaleh" would overcome many prob­ terrible. Some of the chutz la'aretz val- is bound to inspire a reluctance to lems and the chances for success would ues could be successfully integrated into embark on aliya in your average read­ be greatly enhanced. Israeli society, e.g., enhancement of er. We need to look to the Torah for the RABBI & MRS. MOSHE MENDLOWITZ appreciation of fellow men, while the has­ answers to this fear. "Alo naaleh" was Jerusalem mada of the Israeli Torah student would Caleiv's response. If entire communities be emulated. would come to Bretz Yisroel to settle, the TRUNCATED ALIYA, BUT NO REGRETS

To the Editor: APRECIOUS OFFER My husband and I and our five chil­ dren made aliya to Bretz Yisroel about "What should a seven years ago, but returned to person do to Baltimore six years later. It was the chin­ uch issue and the mainstreaming of our become wealthy?" children that ultimately sent us back. As We can send you a booklet on I picked up the Dec. '04 issue of The this Talmudic topic at no charge, Jewish Observer, I braced myself for what until you apply these lessons. I was sure would be an exaggerated account of trials, tribulations and Yeshiva Fund • Box 82 tragedies ("The Kedusha and the Pitfalls Staten Island, NY 10309 Specializing in small batim for a perfect fit. - When American Families Move to Bretz YisroeI"), but instead found the article to be quite honest and on target, if some· CHEVRA OSEH CHESED what sadly so. For this, the author is to Hats • Shirts • Ties • Accessories OF AGUDATH ISRAEL be congratulated. However, I was disappointed that there Your #I Stop BURIAL PLOTS did not seem to be equal time given to for IN ERETZ YISROEL the kedusha side of the coin nor enough Quality Hats Interment in a Shomer Shabbos chizuk to those who feel they have done Beis Olam near Beis Shemesh their homework, who do know them­ LARGEST SELECTION OF CH080NTM TIES IN selves, their children and their econom· BROOKLYN Please phone or write to: Chevra Oseh Chesed of Agudath Israel ic situation as well as humanly possible, and who are in consultation with their 42 Broadway, New Yor~. NY 10004 rav on the matter. While I certainly (212) 797-9000 understand firsthand the author's warn· ing to families with children, I would have liked to read stronger words encourag· ing couples to consider moving to Eretz Yisroel"before the children are born and MOTHERS AND FATHERS ALIGNED SAVING KIDS after they're married." Support for Parents of Children-In-Conflict We invested much energy, emotion and hard-earned money in our aliya and CONFIDEN'IlAL HOTLINE return. But we do not consider any of Parent Support Groups this in vain, for there is no reward as great Yeshiva Liaison as that which is gained from living in our E-Mail Support Group Holy Land; indeed, from enduring the I Sibling Support Groups challenges until they are overcome - even STARR Fett>ale Sibling Progra­ if ''overcoming" might mean a total Private Consultation reevaluation. Not a lechatchila, to be sure, I but in our case, a bedi' eved with no scars 1 EducationalFo:ruins or regrets, Baruch Hashem, and with I Prevention and Awareness many cherished memories and gaguim (longings) to return. In fact, our

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To those who will attempt the quan­ expressed dismay, anger and resentment great spiritual dangers. They felt humil­ tum leap, kol hakavod to you - and hat­ at the portrayal of life here. They agree iated! There are hundreds, perhaps I zlacha rabba, be'ezras Hashem. Keep in that the article was well-intentioned, but thousands, of families who have moved mind what our Chazal have said. Eretz feel that it did not portray the actual real­ here and do not regret it for a moment. Yisroel is nikneis beyisurim. This does not ity of living in Eretz Yisroel. With dedi­ Certainly, it is important for anyone have to mean horrific tests of your ded­ cation, perseverance and hard work, the considering such a major n1ove to ication to the cause, chas veshalom. But obstacles can be, and were, overco1ne. come with open eyes, intelligent plan­ no n1atter how well you've done your These very people, who have given up ning and preparation. Certainly, stating homework, always expect the unexpect­ large houses, nice salaries and positions all relevant facts and potential pitfalls is ed while keeping your eye on the prize. of prominence in their communities in a great help. But the all-important con­ To those for whom aliya isn't a realistic chutz la'aretz, and have worked hard to text is that Eretz Yisroel is the land that option at this time, may you merit to visit acclimate to life in Eretz Yisroel, felt that Hakadosh Baruch Hu Himself chose for Bretz Yisroel soon and often, and to return they were being told that they were fool­ all Jews to live in, and that so many peo­ to your temporary homes in the hardy and had exposed their families to ple have already come and have been sue- Diaspora with gaguim for our Holy Land and City. Because at the end of the day, and with all its pitfalls and challenges, there is still no place like home. SHARON N. GALKIN Baltin1orc, Maryland

AMERICANS IN ERETZ YISROEL -AN ALIYA THAT CAN LAST

To the Editor: Kislev's )0 article detailed various dif­ in G'letz CZ/is'loel /o'l 93ais CZ/aakolJ ficulties of the American family moving to Eretz Yisroel. While the article was meant to perform a valuable public serv­ !flgh School Students ice by laying out a number of issues the olim and family have to contend with, gune 28 - cfluqust 3, 2005 · 1 and potential dangers which must be contended with, its tone was pessimistic and negative. Every single person I spoke • Taste of Seminary Studies and Tiyu6m for Girls entering to who had read the article perceived it Grades IO, I I and 12 as carrying a message, saying: "Do Not • Hear Shiurlln. from Rabbonim and Moros from the flnest Come." "Come At Your Own Risk:' "Keep seminaries Out!" The article became a prime • Improve your learning skills, meet new friends, receive weapon in the hands of those attempt­ personalized hadracha ing to dissuade others from moving to Eretz Yisroel. It was faxed to people con­ • Exciting Tlyulim and Shabbatonim templating the move, with the message: • Located at the beautiful Darchei Binah Campus-Bayit Vegan "Don't do it!" (In one case I know of, a family received it four times, from four !Be inspi1ed hg :i:fol&flS.ti'.: t:r/i.iod and g,ow i1t ~=~r I tic~~~~;'~ ~~a~~:~~n~o::;;~r People ,; < ••. 'l;~l:,410~5~~t~~'7-~:summe~a61.coin II o have successfully lived and raised · ldren here for 1nany years have I

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cessful in settling here. It must also be stat­ of such a move in the first place." (See ed that, of the problems encountered, Ramban to Bamidbar 13,27, who of possibilities of chinuch exist in many are normal "life problems" that explains the effect of that "But" word.) greater numbers in Eretz Yisroel than in exist in any modern society. Of course, B)-"Can you be so sure you will ben­ chutz la' aretz. A multitude of institutes I they have to - and they can - be dealt efit spiritually? In fact, there is a good and mosdos has sprung up to deal with with. In fact, challenges in life - avoid­ chance your spirituality will be lessened! our children's varied needs. Yes, you have ing dangers, dealing with problems, and After all, here in chutz la' aretz, we have to do your homework and search them growing in the process - are how Ghazal an ongoing relationship with Hashem. out, and not be embarrassed by being themselves characterized life in Eretz Who knows what will happen if we risk associated with the non-conventional. Yisroel (Berachos Sa). it bl such a move!" But it is there for the taking. There are How can it be left unsaid that life in l Hashem's master plan for the Jewish also many institutes that have undertak- Eretz Yismel is a life with an unusually people is to live in Eretz Yisroel, and there­ en to advise people initially as to which close relationship with Hashem, the rai­ fore the potential for kedusha and yeshivos to send their children. Use them! son d'etre of a Jew's very being? That the bonding with Hashem is greater here than [And "20% of teenagers go off the average person living in Eretz Yisroel anywhere else in the world.] derech'' is a non-scientifically-arrived- learns more Torah, davens with more C) - "The religiosity there is too at statistic, plucked from thin air. And kavana, does more varied chessed, has intense. Who can live like that? Eretz the extrapolation, "3 teenagers = 40% more and deeper emuna, bitachon and Yisroel is very demanding - You're liv­ chance of becoming non-frum;' lowers appreciation for Hashem's gifts, and lives ing in the Polace of the King. Maybe you'd the unlikely to the ludicrous.] with more spiritual values and less mate­ be better off staying away." E) - "There are so many issues to work rialistic ones, than in any other place in [Living in the Palace of the King is out! Schools, transportation, camp - the world? That one can move here and indeed a privilege, where the opportu­ everything is new." be successful? And the message thus can nities for growth are boundless. --"Finding means of parnassa is no easily be: "Come, my children! Veshavu Virtually all who go there feel the dif­ easy task." vannim li'gevulam-And the children will ference, and are glad they took that risk. -"Remember, moving there will not return to their borders." Just ask them!] automatically solve your problems.'' Permit me to summarize the article, D) - "There are reports of children [It is wrong to assign the blame for with some short comments in brackets. going off the derech. And it's getting worse all this to Eretz Yisroel. These difficulties A) - The article begins with the oblig­ and worse. What will be with our chil­ are true for any long-distance move one atory "Great place to live- in theory:' But dren?" makes. Who is not aware of painful par­ then comes that discouraging concept: [Though this tragic situation exists nassa problems in chutz la'areti! And isn't Effess. However- or, in more modern ter­ here, it unfortunately exists as well in Eretz Yisroel the land that is constantly minology, "Not so fast, Yanke! and Flatbush, Monsey, Baltimore, under Hashem's direct scrutiny: The eyes Sarah. Don't get carried away. There are Lakewood, Far Rockaway, the West of Hashem are on it at all times" issues, problems, obstacles- intractable Side, etc. How unfair to point to world­ (Devarim 11,12). What more could issues that call into question the wisdom wide problems and lay them at the door one want? Of course, one has to have a Uncle Moishy, Dedi Traveling Abroad? Avrohom Fried, Digest of Meforshim and other leading '"1j7'? in:i '"1j7'? Jewish entertainers 7":n ivv'm 'm'lr.:rv l"n;;ir.:i are available Available at to visit LEKUTEI c/o Yitzchok Rosenberg seriously ill 1445 54th Street children Brooklyn, NY I 1219-4228 718-854-6701 thanksto ,~~~~~~ """"SIMCHAS CHAVA . Rent a cellular or satellite ehone 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, ;rv :tVV",,,., ., re rnn and stay in touch worldwide. Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilirn. AChessed proj«t rur1 by Proceeds of sales distributed among Agudath Israel of America Yeshivos and used for reprinting of ln conjuntti0t1 with lnc~ii:/ volumes out-of-print Suki & Ding Productions t Global Cellular Rental Solutions To set up an appointment. call: , " (212) 797·9000 Ext.235 ...... ______!_~_~f,~~~!:~~~! ______'"c~~oo"~mwM~ j 44 T H E

basic game plan - that in itself is their multitude of questions regarding THE AUTHOR Hashe1n's requirement for us. But once coping with their new life. How these RESPONDS: one has one, there should be no need to newer comtnunities offer guidance, dot every i and cross every t. True, your help, chizuk, suggestions, schools (at all The Dec. '04 article on American income will be less, perhaps significant­ levels and to all "types"), help in all aliya was initiated by The Jewish ly so. But your needs are also less, as well issues of chinuch banni1n and ban nos, Observer at the behest of gedolei Torah - significantly less. Many people point and all other kinds of support. How the and mechanchim in Eretz Yisroel, in to the fact that making ends meet is much husband (and wife) are learning more response to a very real problem that easier in Eretz Yisroel due to this differ­ Torah than ever before. How their dav­ these rabbanim are dealing with on a ence. And you will be richer in vastly ening has improved. How they feel the constant basis. more important ways.] closeness to Hashem that is promised I am pleased that the article has F) - "Society there is so polarized:' to those who live here and are open to inspired so much dialogue, whether in [The differences - especially among it. The davening at the Kosel, of course. positive or negative responses. The fact "regular folk" - are not nearly as great Kever Rachel. Me' aras Hamachpeila. that people are talking means that the as is made out.And besides, people ulti­ Tzefas. The multitude of kivrei avos, by article fostered a greater awareness of mately find their niche. And on the con­ which one is inspired to pour one's the issues facing oli1n. Mission accom­ trary, the unity exhibited in Eretz Yisroel heart out to one's c:reator. plished. It is in the spirit of encourag­ - especially in times of crisis - is Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld 'r:in ing further dialogue and awareness that tremendously inspiring. And then decried those who express a vision of I offer my response. there's the constant chessed one encoun­ Eretz Yisroel highlighted by its problems. The letter writers failed to mention ters, which crosses al1 lines, and the con­ Rather, one's attitude should be: "We will one of the greatest sacrifices that mak­ stant interaction with all types of)ews.] withstand all the tests. We will persevere ing aliya entails - being away from fam­ and grow. It is, in fact, incumbent upon ily. For my wife and me, moving to Eretz Yes, the Land is an exceedingly good us to go up and withstand all the tests" Yisroel meant separation from both my land. If Hashem wants to, He can give it (Guardian ofJerusalem, ArtScroll, pages wife's and my parents, brothers and sis­ to us - i.e, help us overcome the diffi­ 234-235). ters and their families, in Silver Spring, culties (as so many have, indeed, already Let us close with Caleiv's exhortation: Detroit, Lakewood, Baltimore, done). Yes, we know the problems, but "We will go up and occupy the Land - Philadelphia and Brooklyn. We miss we do not fear them. After all, Hashem, we will be able to overcome and conquer family simchos and get-togethers, and who takes care of us in chutz la'aretz, will it!" (Bamidbar 13,30) our children are missing the opportu­ surely not forsake us in His Land! (See And may The Jewish Observer pub­ nity to know their cousins. At times, this Bamidbar 13,30; 14,7-9; Devarim 1,29- lish its next issue from Yerushalayim Ir is very difficult. But, along with all the 33; Ramban to Bamidbar 14,9.) Hakodesh! other sacrifices, it is certainly well worth Don't hesitate to talk to people who RABBI CHAIM MALJNOWITZ it. There is nothing like living in Eretz have "been there, done that" - i.e., to Jerusalem Yisroel, where just walking daled amos people who have moved here. Ask them if they regret it. Ask them how they dealt with their children's chinuch, the FROM- YOUR CAR IN ISRAEl issues, and the problems. Read about the fierce love our gedolim had * US$ throughout the generations for the .90 S

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gives one an extra zechus. As I the same road going a little overboard? article, it was clearly stated numerous expressed in the article: "Hashgacha And yes, a mitzvah can be a pitfall, times that the obstacles that stand in prattis is more tangible in Bretz as Chazal explain the passuk," Yesharim the way of olim can be dealt with and YisroeL. life here is more naturally darchei Hashem, vetzaddikim yeilchu can be overcome by following the advice imbued with meaning and spirituali­ vam ufoshim yikashlu vam": If a mitz. of those in the know. In fact, in the few ty .... Living in Bretz Yisroel means kir­ vah is not performed in the intended months since its publication, many fam­ vas Hashem... siyata diShemaya in fashion, the darchei Hashem themselves ilies, both pre· and post -aliya, have limud haTorah and kiyum hamitzvos." can indeed become a michshol, a stum­ reported that the article has helped Yes, I wrote it - and I meant it. bling block. When a family approach­ them in understanding and dealing with Additionally, the chinuch oportunities es yishuv Bretz Yisroel without proper the issues that they are facing. in Bretz Yisroel and the ability to raise yishuv hadaas (clarity), or without con­ The attempt to parallel the J0 arti · children here in a wholesome, sheltered, sulting daas Torah, the end result may de to the cheit hameraglim is clearly off Torah-inspired environment are be that despite their pure and good the mark from the outset. One cannot unparalleled anywhere else in the intentions, they turn a mitzvah into a compare the Jewish People today to the world. Ashreinu ma tov chelkeinu! pitfall. nation that existed 3300 years ago, as I understand the reluctance of they prepared to enter the Land of Rebbetzin Kaganoff and others whose OFFERING FACTS AND ADVICE Israel. After they had experienced the hearts are filled with ahavas ha'aretz to - NOT MERAGLIM miracles of yetzias Mitzrayim, Hashem believe the sobering facts that I was commanded Bnei Yisroel, "See! I have bombarded with in the dozens of While I am honored that a person given the Land before you; come and interviews that I conducted. But please, of the stature of Rabbi Malinowitz took possess the Land .. :' (Devarim 1,8). The let's not mislead people. The tone of the the tin1e to comment on my article, I Jewish people were guaranteed to article precisely reflects the situation must point to some fallacies in his argu· miraculously inherit the land without that a typical family making aliya ment. Contrary to his bleak perception even lifting a sword (Rashi ibid.). faces. People must know this. of its message (his assertions are Certainly, any words of dissuasion at Especially people who will - and backed exclusively by paraphrases in that time, even if they would have been should - be making aliya. Wanting quotation marks; he offers no actual based on facts and common sense, were everything to be rosy is okay. But imag­ quotations to support his claim that the pure heresy, for they contradicted the ining that it really is at the expense of article had a negative tone), the arti· word of C-d. Today, when there are no others is not okay. cle simply said: "Be aware of the diffi· guarantees, Caleiv's "ala naaleh" can­ In response to the Mendlowitzes' culties involved in making aliya." It was not be unequivocally applied. Yes, those vision of an Americanized social and not meant to persuade people to make families who have made a successful educational system in Bretz Yisroel: I'm aliya or dissuade them. Rather, its mes­ aliya are certainly to be commended and sure that n1any Americans share your sage was designed to assist those fam. admired - sheyirbu kemosam! But the dreams, but until they become a real­ ilies who are inspired to make aliya and many who have refrained from doing ity, people have to realize the dangers want to integrate successfully into so because of legitimate and respon­ of hanging on to their American ways Israeli society, as well as to alert those sible calculations should not be por­ within the Israeli chareidi environment. who, according to daas harabbanitn, trayed as being complacent or (Incidentally, I found their reference to would be better off postponing such a negligent in their emuna and dikduk "Spolter's frightening message" at the 1nove due to their current personal cir­ bemitzvos. end of a letter that berated the Israeli cumstances. By reading what the Rabbi Malinowitz paints a wonder· system to be quite ironic. Who here is experts have to say and following ful picture of the adventure of being "frightening would-be olim"?) their advice, families will be better faced with the challenges of moving to The Calkins' disappointment that equipped to grasp the kedusha of Bretz Bretz Yisroel, as if everyone succeeds in more space was not devoted to encour­ Yisroel while avoiding the pitfalls that the end, coming out stronger, happi­ aging aliya was quite surprising. Other an uneducated aliya can lead to. er, and more religious. The fact is, how· families with similar stories of having Obviously, this message in no way ever, that many people are really to return to chutz laaretz have resembles the "effes" of the Meraglim suffering as a result of making an une· expressed their feelings of gratitude for (the 1en Spies dispatched by Moshe ducated aliya. Rather than denying the the miracle that their family survived Rabbeinu), which is properly translat­ plight of those who are, unfortunate· the experience; they certainly were not ed as "impossible" (see the Ramban that ly, struggling, the article offered aliya encouraging others to follow their lead. Rabbi Malinowitz himselfrefers to, in families the honest guidance and The Calkins' ability to reflect positive­ Bamidbar 13,27). The Meraglim advice that they are seeking. Shouldn't ly on their own experience is truly inspi­ claimed that conquering Bretz Yisroel we channel our energies towards help­ rational, but isn't sending others down was an insurmountable task. In the JO ing these people by informing them,

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I advising them, and encouraging them however, who insisted on «going up" land. These people are called the to take the right steps to prepare their despite Hashem's subsequent decree. "mapillim;' which means people who families? Or should we look the other They mistakenly believed that it was are Jiving in darkness, who are blind to way, burying our heads in the sand only because of their flawed bitachon daas Torah (Rashi). They suffered a ter­ while humming tunes of"build-up-the­ that the Ribbono shel Olam would not rible fate. The only way to determine Land" idealism? allow them to enter the Holy Land (Ohr whether we are Meraglim or Mapillim Rabbi Malinowitz charges that it is Hachayim). If they would have perfect (chas veshalom), or whether we are ful­ wrong to assign blame to Bretz Yisroel for bitachon, they thought, then they filling the ratzon of the Ribbono she/ problems that can result from any major could rise above the natural circum­ Olam, is to ask the Moshe Rabbeinus of move. I couldn't agree with him more. stances and overcome any obstacle that our dor, to seek the advice of the gedolim Uprooting an entire family to any new would stand in their way. Despite of our times. I did - and I invite Rabbi country with an unfamiliar mentality, a Moshe Rabbeinu's warning that Malinowitz to do the same. new school system, different language, etc., Hashem would not be with them, they YAIR SPOLTER would have the same effect. But people attempted to go up and conquer the Kiryat Sefer aren't making aliya to Uganda - they're moving to Bretz Yisroel. Nowhere in the article was the blame pinned on "Bretz Hakodesh." Yes, "kids at risk" is, unfor­ tunately, an epidemic that is plaguing Jewish communities everywhere. But the changes inherent in making aliya can sig­ nificantly enhance the risk factor for any child, and pose a serious challenge to his or her ability to cope. If a family is com­ ing at the potential expense of their chil­ dren's spiritual development, can we honestly call it an "aliya"l ls it really worth moving to Bretz Yisroel at any expense, as Rabbi Malinowitz implies? ("It is in fact incumbent upon us to go up and •<]~f-i~tf-jq ------withstand all the tests:') rolling hills and natural forests. CONSULTING DAAS TORAH • Major sports facilities •Jeeping, horse back riding, rafting, paintball shooting, hikes In sharp contrast to the JO article, and campfires. Rabbi Malinowitz's letter makes no • Camping in the Carpathian Mountains • Two Day instructional army survival course! mention of any rabbanim or gedolei Learning Program and Shiurim Yisroel who support his views. His quote of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld is , IQtf.~l~f!- ______taken completely out of context (please see Guardian of Jerusalem, pp. 234-235, where Rabbi Sonnenfeld was saying a p'shat in Parashas She/ach, not com­ menting on contemporary issues), Rabbi Aron of Karlin, Apter Rav, Degel Machane Ephraim ... and to use his words to imply that, Experience Tisha B'Av at the Babi Yar Memorial in Kiev according to daas Torah, people should Visit the Yanovsky Concentration Camp ln Levov. make aliya regardless of the natural con­ >TAFF sequences, is a n1isapplication of his message. Are there not gedolim alive RABBI YAAKOV DOV BLEICH, sh/it"a. Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, (formerly of camping program that today to address the she'eilos current­ Brooklyn, New York), has 15 years of successfuJ camping directorship will give your son a ly facing Kial Yisroel? experience in and around Kiev. deep appreciation of A final reference to the Meraglim: AVI RUBIN, Head Counselor, has 9 years experience in both sleep away and his rich Jewish heritage their mis] eading report resulted in an traveling camps in the U.S. and Israel. and extraordinary memories entire generation not being allowed to Our counselors are dedicated, have camping expertise and exceptional midos. that will last a lifetime!" enter Bretz Yisroel. There were people, - 47 Toucfiedb)r aStOJ?J( 3 Balanced Parenting Afather and a son - a rabbi and a psychologist­ t fl.l~{V , Inspiring stories retold J~ by a master story teller examine love and limits in raising children How can today's parents raise a mentch? .. 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Beautifully rendered into language a child can understand, this special version of Ruth sparkles with colorful illustrations that lasher llJI Design tUtd bring the story to life. In addition, the "Did You Know?" and "A Closer Look" boxes stir a child's curiosity as they teach midrashim lasher 111 Design and enhance the text. This Book of Ruth is sure to become a trea­ Entertains sured volume in your home. By Shmuel Blitz, illustrated by Tova Featuring over 100 Katz, introduction by Rabbi Nosson Scherman. Dairy recipes for Shavuos !