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~FW )Elt~EY Call RELIEF to get the help and support you need. 9 Rose Park Crescent Lakewood, NJ 08701 732.905.1605 Our services 8f8 CANADA lree of charge 3101 Bathurst Street E L I E and completely itl confidential Toronto, ON M6A 2A6 416.789.1600 l ~RAEL TIELIEF is a non~profit organization which provides medical referrals, 5/ 4 Bab ah Sali .1'.._ support and other vital services to persons suffering frorn a variety Beitar Ilit, Israel 99879 of mental disorders including Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorders, 02.580.8008 Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and many others. These EMAIL: [email protected] services are geared to the frum community with a special sensitivity to v1sJT: \VV·tw.reliefhe!p.org their unique needs and challenges. THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 IS PUBLISHED IN THIS ISSUE MONTHLY, EXCEPT JV!.Y & AUGUST ANO A COMBINED ISSUE FOR JANUARY/f'EBRUARY, BY THE "VESHINANTAM LEVANECHA, TEACH NOTED IN SORROW AGl.IDATH IS RAEL OF AMERICA. 42 BROADWAY. NEW YORK, NY 10004. YOUR CHILDREN" - THESE ARE PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID IN NEW We note with sorrow the petira (passing) of Rabbi YORK, NY. SUBSCRIPTION S25.00/YEAR; YOUR DISCIPLES i YEARS, 548.00; 3 YEARS, $69.00. Yehuda Meir Abramovitz 7"'1l at age 93 in Yerushalayim OUTSIDE OF THE LINITEO STATES {US on 2 Iyar/April 20. He was a long-time leader of HINDS DRAWN ON A US BANK ONLY) 6 ... AND TEACHERS ARE PARENTS, $15.00 SURCHARGE PER YEAR. SINGLE AS SEEN BY RASHi'S MESSAGE, Agudath Israel, serving as chairman of the Agudath COPY 53.50; OUTSIDE NY AREA $3,95; FOREIGN $4,50, Rabbi Nissan Wolpin Israel World Organization since 1980 (together with the late Rabbi Moshe Sherer.,..,,,). P0STMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: 12 PREPARING FOR MATTAN TORAH, Born on Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av 5674/1914 THE JEWISH OBSERVER 42 BROADWAY, NY, NY 10004 To DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE (?) in Constantin, Poland, he was one of the last surviv­ TEL 212•797•9000, fAX 646·254·1600 ing talmidim of Rabbi Meir Shapiro '7'"0/t at Yeshivas PRINTED IN THE USA DREAM, Rabbi Avrohom Ehrman Chachmei Lublin. In fact, he led a popular Daf Yo mi RABBI NlSSON WOLPJN, Editor 18 COMPETITION: INSPIRING OR shiur in Lublin as a teenager soon after its introduc­ Editoriol &Jard tion. In recent years, he served as president of the RABBI JosEPH E1.1As. Choirman DESTRUCTIVE?, RABBI ABBA BRUONY Rabbi Mordechai Nisse! International Committee for Spreading DafYomi. JOSEPH fRIEDENSON RABBI YISROEL MEIR KlRZNER Soon after his marriage to a talmida of Sarah RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN Schenirer, they left Poland for Eretz Yisroe4 where he PROF. AARON TWERSKI 29 REMEMBERING REB MENDEL KAPLAN 7··y1, led a highly productive life, first as a Gemara teacher Founders OR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Z"L Rabbi Yisroel Greenwald in Tel Aviv, while writing columns on current issues RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z"L for various Chareidi publications. He emerged as a Morwgement Boord 36 How TO GET THE ENTIRE JEWISH dedicated askan and then as an effective leader in NAFTOU HIRSCH, ISAAC KHV:NER, RABBI SHI.OMO LESIN, Music WORLD ANGRY AT ME, maintaining the Torah nature of the Yishuv in Eretz DAVID SINGER, NACHUM STEIN Rabbi Yosef C Golding Yisroel - first as General Secretary of the Agudah in MRS, LEAH ZAGELBAUM, 5708/1948, and subsequently asswning an active role Advertising Mo11ager in founding Chinuch Atzmai. A respected Gerrer Pt1BUSHED BY 38 TORAH AND POLITICS, Chassid, he worked together with Rabbi Yitzchok Meir AGUOATH JSRAEL OF AMERICA Yonoson Rosenblum Levin and Rabbi Moshe Blau, using his wisdom and U.S. ThADE DISTRIBUTOR f"ELOHEIM PUBLISHEl~S understanding of human nature to achieve his goals 208 Airport Etecutive lt:lrh on behalf of the frum population, especially in Tel Nonurt. NY 10954 STATEMENT OF POLICY THE JEWISH OBSERVER HAS DEVOTED A GREAT Aviv, until his later involvement on the national and BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE DEAL OF SPACE TO THE PERILS OF THE INTERNET M.·r. Bl BELMAN international scene. Growenor Worhs AND TO THE NEEO FOR EVERYONE TO BE EXTREMELY At the age of 36, he was appointed as Agudas Yisroel Mount f>/rosont Hill VIGILANT IN ITS USE, WE HAVE ECHOED THE PLEAS London Es .9NE. tNGlAND OF OUR GEDOl.IM THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE IN USE, member of the Tel Aviv city council - a position in

Ff~ENCH REPRESENTATIVE UNLESS IT IS AN UNAVOIDABLE NECESSITY. AND THEN which he served for 24 years, for twenty of which he RABBI BAMBERGER ONLY WITH ALL SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS. WHll.E ITS was also deputy mayor of the city. During his term of 21 Boufetunl lbixhom 57000 Metz. fR4NCE DANGERS MUST BE RECOGNIZED AND CONTROU.EO office, he helped to establish religious schools for boys TO EVERY POSSIBLE DEGREE, OUR GEDOLIM RECOG· lSRAEU REPRESENTATIVE and girls, and played a major role in the establishment !NTN!.. MEDIA Pi.ACEMENT NIZE THAT MANY PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES REQUIRE of the Chidushei Harim Yeshiva and the religious Kiryat POB 1195 I .97 Jo_ffG Road ITS USE, ANDTHEREFOl~E IT HAS NOT BEEN BANNED. Jerusalem .94340. ISRAEL. THIS IS WHY WE ACCEPT ADVERTISEMENTS LISTING Harim Levin locality in Tel Aviv.

BELGIAN REPRESENTATIVE WEBSITE ADDRESSES, BUT IN NO WAY DOES THIS As leader of Agudas Yisroel in the Knesset in 1976, MR. E. APTER IMPLY THAT THE GEDOLIM OR THE JEWISH OBSERVER Longe Kievitstr. 29 he was instrumental in passing laws that protected 2018 Antwerp. BEJ,GIUM CONDONE CASUAL USE OF THE INTERNET. Torah interests, while he successfully thwarted a num­

SOUTH AFRICA!'.! REPRESENTATIVE ber of laws that would have undermined Torah and MR. V. TABACK TUE JEWISH OBSERVER DOES NOT ASSUME PO Box 51552, RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KASHRUS OF ANY PRODUCT, halacha. Roedene, Johannesburg PUBLICATION, OR SERVICE ADVERTISED IN ITS PAGES His notable achievements will continue to bear fruit 2124 SO/Ifli AFRIC4 © COPYRIGHT 2007 until the coming of Moshiach He leaves a distinguished AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE DR. A. DINNEN family of children, grandchildren and great grandchil­ 77 Birriga Road MAY 2007 / VOLUME XL dren who follow in his footsteps. Bellevue Hill. NSW 202:;. AUSTRAL.l4 NO. 4 THE MESSAGE THAT RASHI DERIVES FROM THE PASSUK IN SHEMA - "VESHINANTAM LEVANECHA - AND YOU SHALL TEACH TORAH TO YOUR CHILDREN"

Before Hashem gave the Torah to the Law on behalf of the Jewish People ... Umesorah - the National Association of Jewish People, He asked them, "Will you today and for all the generations ahead. Hebrew Day Schools. accept the Torah?" Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, who Reb Shraga Feivel made no secret of They told Him, "Yes." was menaheil and, in n1any respects, his investment of time, hope and energy He then said to them, "Give me a guar­ builder of Mesivta Torah Vodaath, took in this enterprise, referring to it as "Mein antee that you will fulfill its demands." stock of the sparse number of day schools liebling - My precious treasure:' Here, They responded, "LetAvraham, Yitzchak, on the American scene. In 1940, you could he had the cooperation and dedicated and Yaakov be the guarantors." count the number of elementary day involvement of America's Torah leader­ Hashem replied, "The Avos themselves schools and yeshivas ketanos outside of ship. It is now over 60 years since Torah require guarantors" - finding fault with New York City on the fingers of one hand. Umesorah was founded, and today there each. Across the continent, Jewish children are more than 700 day schools serving I 00 They then offered, "Our children will be attended public schools and afternoon different com1nunities in 37 states across our guarantors." Talmud Torahs and cheders. It was his goal the United States and six provinces in Hashem accepted this guarantee imme­ that a Jewish day school be established in Canada. A remarkable accomplishment, diately, and gave the Torah to Israel, as the every town with a minimum 5,000 Jewish yet, much remains to be done - both in passuk says, "Out of the mouths of babes population. As a start, he founded Aish terms of reaching more children, and and sucklings You have established strength" Dos Teachers' Training Se1ninary on an raising the standard of salaries for the (rehillim 8,3 ). Midrash Tanchuma, estate in Monsey, NY. He had the back­ faculties, as we will expand upon. Vayigash ing of Rabbi Aharon Kotler and Rabbi While Reb Shraga Feivel was rec­ Reuvein Grozovsky, and they hoped that ognized for the broad range of sefarim Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky would head the and approaches to hashkafa and avodas [. REB SHRAGA fEIVEL'S institution. While the training program Hashem that he imparted to his talmidim VISION was e1ninently succe.o;...;;ful, interest in the - "der hor vohr und brekelah Chassidus idea did not spread. Upon Rav Aharon's (hair of truth and crumbs of Chassidus);' we approach Shavu9s, "z'man urging, the Aish Dos estate became the as he put it - one of his favorite texts was mattan Toraseinu-the tiine of the home of Bais Medrash Elyon, Torah Mezakeh Harabbim - part of Madreigas iving of our Torah" - we should Vodaath's counterpart to Beth Medrash Ha'adam, by the Alter ofNovarodok, Rav be reinforcing our guarantee, seeing to it Govoha in Lakewood. And the vision of YosefYoizel Hurvitz ':nir. 1 that our children's growth in Torah study establishing day schools across the con­ This section was published as a sepa· and knowledge justifies our receiving the tinent became the blueprint for Torah 1 - He lived from 1848~-1919. -·-- I

6 ______J r-=--- THE JEWISH OBSERVER 1 rate volume by Feldheim in 1970, with resulted in the founding of over eighty orders of the Mishna to six children I an English translation by Rabbi Shraga yeshivos, transforming the litvish-Polish respectively, after which I instructed Silverstein, under the title "To Turn the countryside. Indeed, an appreciable num­ them: "Until my return, teach each I Many to Righteousness." bers of the talmidim in the yeshivas gedolos other what you have learned, so that I As a biographical footnote, it is worth had their early training in Novarodoker the Torah will not be forgotten in mentioning that the Alter (known affec­ yeshivas ketanos. Israel:' tionately as "Reb Yoizel") had been a It is to this that Rebbi alluded highly admired Torah scholar who-upon when he said: «How great are the I the inspiration of Reb Yisroel Salanter II. A SOURCE TEXT works of Chiya!" I - left a family business to devote himself One must note, quoting Mezakeh to full-time learning in the Kovno Kolle!. he Sefer Mezakeh Harabbim is Harabbim: I When his wife died shortly after the a source text for the obligation Rabbi Chiya's sole concern was that birth of their second child, he suffered Tto teach Torah to our people's his work be perpetuated, for which extremely. He found himself lacking in children, and the steps and methods to reason he was not content to exert his I emotional and spiritual strength, and pursue to carry out this mission. It is own influence, but was primarily intent he decided to commit himself to a long­ divided into eleven chapters - the first upon training others who could carry term introspective isolation, dedicated of which lists ten crucial questions, fol­ on without him and be of service wher­ I to studying mussartexts and hashkafa, to lowed by ten chapters, each dedicated to ever they found themselves. This he determine the sources of his weaknesses answering one of the questions, based on accomplished through the formula of I and how to correct them. insights culled from Chazal. The first four "Teach each other;' by means of which After close to two years, Rabbi Simcha questions were: he cultivated in each of his students the I Zissel Ziv, the revered Alter of Kelm, invited Is there a kind of educational regi­ goal of community service. Reb Yoizel to join him so that they could men which will prepare and qualify What is also noteworthy is that Rabbi examine his regimen. After a lengthy talk, one for the kind of work in ques­ Chiya was a key figure in the develop­ I Reb Simcha Zissel asked him, ''.Assume that tion? ment of the Talmud.After Rabbi Yehuda I you had a tank of clear, filtered well-water Is one obligated to occupy himself Hanassi (known as Rebbi) compiled the for drinking purposes. Assume further that even with mundane matters in this Mishna, all the discussions that constitute [ I a fire broke out in the house across the regard? the Talmud followed. Throughout these road from you, and the local fire wagons Is one permitted to exempt himself discussions) it was apparent that a pre- I attempted to extinguish the flames, but from this work by seeing it as devolv­ cise understanding of the Mishna could 'I ran out of water. They came knocking on ing exclusively upon the great men of only be determined through referring to your door, and asked you for your private the generation? other contemporary writings, known as I water supply. Would you give it to them, or Is there any valid cause for exemp­ Beraisos, which were compiled by Rabbi ' refuse? After all, it is your precious supply, tion from this work? Chiya. Yet Rebbi did not single him out i 'for drinking only.'" To deal with these questions, the sefer for praise for the Beraisos. Rather, he · "Of course I would share my water quotes a Gemara (Bava Metzia 8Sb) that focused on the work, described above, I

with them. It's a matter of pikuach nefesh describes an encounter between Rabbi that he did in perpetuating Torah study [,Ii - a life-and-death situation!" Chanina and Rabbi Chiya. in future generations, with the comment, , The Alter of Kelm paused for a In the course of a controversy, "How great are the works of Chiya!" I n1oment, and then corn1nented, "Your Rabbi Chanina said to Rabbi Chiya: Chapter Five emphasizes the way

various gifts of Torah knowledge and "Would you contend with me? If in which Rebbi favored Rabbi Chiya's 1 strength of personality may be precious Torah were forgotten in Israel (G-d approach over Rabbi Chanina's, imply- to you, but there are fires of assimilation forbid), I would restore it through my ing that one cannot absolve oneself 1 I raging. And you hoard them for yourself? reasoning!"Whereupon Rabbi Chiya from the obligation to teach others by I Do you know how many lives could be said, "Would you contend with me, virtue of one's own involvement in a 1' I saved if you devoted yourself to harbatzas who kept Torah from being forgot­ higher level of study. In fact, he cites the Torah - teaching others?" ten in Israel? How so? I went and Biblical injunction, "Cursed is the man [' Reb Yoizel took the Alter's message sowed flax. From the flax, I made nets who does not establish the words of this to heart, and after a short interval, he and trapped deer. The flesh I fed to Torah" (Devarim 27,26) as referring to I founded a yeshiva in Novarodok with orphans, and from the skins, I made a very specific case: "If a person was in I the goal of producing Torah scholars parchment scrolls on which to write a position to strengthen the cause of who would, in turn, dedicate themselves the Five Books of the Law. I then went Torah, but did not do so, he is considered I to teaching Torah to children, setting up to a town [where there were no teach­ cursed" (Yerushalmi Sota 7:4). That does , I new schools where none existed, and bat- ers] and taught the Five Books to underscore the obligation to strengthen [ l tling preJ~dtcea~~resistance. His efforts five children respectively, and the Six by outreach. I

'' ·---~----~-- _ ____:] MAY 2007 I III. MAKING THE RIGHT MOVE Yehoshua and Pinchas should have IV. INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES tied iron thongs around their thighs, his sefer, counting the English lifted their garments above their knees, s stated, every page of the sefer translation facing each page of and ventured forth into all the cities of is worthy of study. For our pur­ THebrew text, numbers less than Israel - one day to Lachish, another to Aposes, however, one more point one hundred pages. The entire book Chevron, another to Bethel, another should be emphasized. The following would be well worth the investment of to Jerusalem - and so to all the Jewish question is posed: time to gain inspiration, instruction and settlements, and have taught the Jews Is one obligated to keep the young insight. Here, we are singling out just proper conduct in the course of a year under constant surveillance and to several passages that relate directly to or two or three, so that the name of scrutinize their every action with a this article's discussion. the Holy One Blessed be He would view to correction? Toward this end, we cite question 5: be exalted and sanctified. But they The sefer then cites a Gemara: Does the Torah demand that one did not do this. Instead, each of them Rav once came to a certain place continually uproot himself for the basked in the repose of his own vine­ and decreed a fast, but no rain fell. sake of its propagation? yard, saying: "Peace unto you, my When the prayer leader recited: "He In way of answer, Reb Yoizel refers to soul!,, - so as not to overexert himself. causes the wind to blow:' the wind the terrible tragedy that took place in Therefure, in Givas Binyamin, where blew, and when he continued: "He Givas Binyamin (see Shoftim, Chapters the study of Torah and the cultivation causes the rain to fall;' the rain fell. 19,20). A family traveling through Givas of proper conduct were not pursued, Thereupon, Rav asked him: "What Binyamin needed shelter, and was invit­ seventy thousands men were killed. is your occupation?,, to which he ed into the home of an elderly man. And who killed them all? The same replied: "I teach the young, the sons Ruffians seized the traveler's concubine Great Sanhedrin invested by Moshe, of the poor as well as those of the and assaulted her, and she died. This Yehoshua and Pinchas" (Tanna Devei rich, and I take nothing from those atrocity so shocked the rest of Israel Eliyahu ch. 11). who are lacking in means. Also, I have that they declared war on the Tribe of As Mezakeh Harabbim puts it: some fish ponds and if a student is Binyamin for permitting such violence Our sages of blessed memory tell recalcitrant, I bribe him with fish, in their province. In the ensuing battles, us - the Great Sanhedrin should and accommodate him, and concili­ 70,000 lives were lost. The Midrash have felt responsible for the survival ate him until he is won over to study" comments: of the entire Jewish nation. In such ( Taanis 24a). If you would ask why the seventy an emergency, no one, no matter Reb Yoizel focuses on a key point: thousand men at Givas Binyamin who he may be, may find sanctuary On the face of it, would it not have were killed - it is because the Great in himself, for he, too, is in danger. been sufficient had he expended all Sanhedrin invested by Moshe, "Where there is no world, there are no of his efforts on those who desired individuals; where there are no kids, to learn from him and who were there are no goats." It is, therefore, completely receptive to his words, precisely the Great Sanhedrin who and who, nonetheless, would demand our sages of blessed memory saw as from him a tremendous expenditure duty-bound to put forth this exertion. of energy if they were to understand And it is precisely because they had and to progress as they should? Was converted their nights to days in pur­ it also necessary that he unceas­ suance of Torah and fear of G-d that ingly pursue and encourage even the they bore an even greater obligation recalcitrant ones, confirmed in their to teach the Children of Israel Torah obduracy? and proper conduct. Only those who The teacher in this anecdote was have devoted their days and their able to reach every child, even allowing noblest powers to the truth have a him to "go fishing;' if he was too rest­ high enough estimation of it to regard less to sit out the class, and rewarding traveling from place to place in its him with a snack when he did succeed. behalf as fully warranted. Recognizing individual differences, and KARIA IN lllTZ YISIOlL Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz's talmi­ treating each child with specifically Call Rabbi Gavriel Beer for information on dim- and their talmidim, in turn - picked tailored understanding, dedication, and obtaining cemeteiy plots in Beth Shemesh up their cloaks and traveled to Detroit, outreach efforts that one ideally would and other locations in Israel. to Cleveland, to Chicago, to Baltimore, expect a father to use for his own off­ 011-972-2-656-9427 and later to Denver, to Los Angeles, and spring- this is what merited the teacher to Phoenix. to have his pleas to the Ribb~~

8 THE JEWISH OBSERVER =-i Olam - mentioned in prayers as words students. While we aim to raise the underscores the necessity of focusing I of praise, not even as a direct request level of achievement of the students, we on challenging, guiding, and reward­ - answered on the spot .... Yes, then the must not lose sight of the average and ing the gifted student. The obligation rains of blessing came. less-than-average students, as well as the to lead him to develop his potential I indifferent and recalcitrant ones. must never be forgotten even as we • In this issue, we are featuring two make certain that the broad student I \(SEEKING BLESSINGS articles on the topic, "Preparing population, and all the individual I FOR ALL For Mattan Torah - To Dream the needs it encompasses, must always Impossible (?) Dream;' by Rabbi be on the agenda, as mentioned. I s we approach Shavuos, we must Avrohom Ehrman (Bnei Brak), • In connection with the above, take stock of our blessings, and and "Competition in the Schools - we take note here of two highly I A of the obligations they entail. Inspiring or Destructive? ;'by Rabbi effective programs in provid­ While we take pride in the extraordinary Mordechai Nisse! (Scranton, PA). ing for the educational needs of I accomplishments in chinuch of these • Among the pages is a sidebar that many who have been left out in I past sixty-plus years and the constant rise in the quality of Torah education, I and express profound appreciation for the striving for gadlus beTorah that I marks the best schools in the country, I we cannot stop there. We must also take note that salaries for rebbei'im I and teachers have not at all kept pace with the spiraling cost of living during these decades of phenomenal growth. I We want our best and our finest to be I the links in the chain of Mesora, teach­ ing our children and grandchildren I the wisdom of Torah - but not at the ! I expense of making a mini1num living. While tuitions cannot possibly cover the I I cost of adequate salaries, our philan­ THE VORT • The menu for the seuda is I thropists and ba'alei tzedaka who have .- "Ttie ·.;,0;i ·ceie6rat·;eiri· is ·tc.· 'tie limited to 3 courses followed by a I regular dessert. I risen to the occasion of underwriting discontinued. The L'chaim (held at I the expanding kollel system, and have the time that the engagement is • No Viennese table and no bar. extended their largesse to help sponsor announced) should also not turn I numerous out-of-town kollelim across into a Vort. THE MUSIC the countryside, cannot stop there. They I THE WEDDING .- ·.A. banci'may C:onsisi: of a·rriaximum - and all of us - should demonstrate that I of 5 musicians (one of the musicians I we \Vant our yeshivas ketanos and Bais .- ·Far· 'tyiiicai' tamiiies: 'ciri1ii· '4cici may act as a vocalist) or four musi­ Yaakov schools to continue to attract invited guests may be seated at the cians and one additional vocalist. I our yeshiva and se1ninary graduates chassuna seuda. (The Guidelines to be the teachers of tomorrow, with make provision for exceptional • A one-man band is recom­ adequate compensation. circumstances - see full text.) mended. I Another crucial point: Torah • The kabbo/as panim smorgas­ FLOWERS &: CHUPA DECOR Umesorah has re-established Aish Dos, bord should be limited to basic ; 'rhe· icita·1 ·cosi: ·0f itiese· ;·terns for and is involved in training accomplished cakes, fruit platters, a modest buf­ I the entire wedding should not I mechanchim in Lakewood, as well as fet, and the caterer's standard exceed $1,800. in New York City. It is also embarking chicken or meat hot dishes. I on programs to expand the training of I mechanchim with reinforcement and FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES I mentoring programs across the country. WITH ITS RABBINICAL ENDORSEMENTS I These, too, need our recognition, our [ encouragement, and our support. AND THE ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, I . We must also take note that our please call 212-612-2300 I schools must service the full range of ! L_ .,,, ______J r--~----- M A Y 2 0 0 7

1 the past - Ichud and Agudath es. The financial support for these in Queens. Sinai Academy High Israel's Project LEARN. Ichud was services is provided by the NYC School for boys from the FSU was founded seven years ago to service Board of Education, and instruc­ founded nine years ago in Brooklyn; children of special needs who until tion is provided by some 200 hei­ it raises the skills and ambitions of then were only accommodated in n1ishe, licensed tutors. its students to enter mainstrea1n the public schools. It consists of a • Besides these services, several high yeshivas . system that has financial support schools have been established to • Note must be taken of a number of from the NYC Board of Education, engage indifferent as well as dis­ outreach schools, such as the Jewish whereby - as of this writing - 20 tracted students. Foundation School in Staten Island, yeshivos and day schools each host • The needs of children who have diffi­ and similar outreach-chinuch projects one or more self-contained classes culty conforming or otherwise suffer in the Lakewood-Manalapan region, for children of special needs, with from emotional or social problems and in Yardley, PA, which deserve our specially tailored instruction. In - ''at risk;' in the vernacular - are recognition and support addition, over a hundred schools dealt with by dedicated organizations, These efforts follow in the footsteps n1ake use of these services for such as Agudath Israel's Project Y.E.S., of the melameid who brought the rains members of their student body Areivim, and M.A.S.K. (guidance for of blessing in the incident cited in the who require such attention, as parents whose children need help). Gemara, quoted above. They serve as "Partners in Ichud," participat­ • The special needs of the immigrant examples of what can be done ... and ing in, and, when the need arises, population from the former Soviet what must be emulated on a yet larger offering to host a Ichud class. Union are being serviced by Be' er and more ambitious scale. • Project LEARN stands for "Limud Hagolah, which was founded 25 Just as no effort or expense is insur­ Education, Advocacy, and Referral years ago, with the encourage­ mountable, if it is essential for the well­ Network;' whereby tutoring and ment of Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky being of the children of our people, our remedial services are provided for 7"'11 and Rav Shneur Kotler 7"~!, response to these challenges should be close to 1,000 students in yeshivas with the active involvement of in keeping with our dedication to "And ketanos and Bais Yaakov schools, roshei yeshivas and lay leaders. A you shall teach Torah to your children" v.rho otherwise attend regular class- Bucharian school is flourishing - banecha ... that is, your disciples. IJil

Through a unique partnership with Young Israel Educational Programs, Inc., Bellevue University accepts bachelor's degrees from any regionally accredited or A

. --·~------·------g/att mart ~ ,-_·~ -· "TEACH YOUR CHILDREN" - THESE ARE YOUR DISCIPLES

RABBI AVROHOM EHRMAN

~o, Preparing For Mattan Torah To Dream the Impossible l?J Dream

s Shavuos approaches, we envi­ full partners in raising Torah families. would we tell him: "Next year, plan sion a beautiful Torah chinuch 'fenns such as 'uninterested; 'unmoti­ ahead of time and arrange your A drea1n: "All of our sons are in vated; 'drop-out; and 'at-risk' simply schedule in such a way that you will yeshiva, toiling in Torah and grovving in don't exist." have enough time to build yourself yiras Shamayim. Many are on their way An impossible dream? Attainable only a succah:' The answer is obvious. A to becoming giants in Torah. Some will in Moshiach's era? person has to do his hishtadlus to learn in kollel for many years. Others will The point of the following article fulfill the mitzvah, and then pray for work for a livelihood and concomitantly is that we can try to make this dream the siyatta diShemaya to be able to devote much time to shteiging. All have come true in our current materialistic accomplish the mitzvah. He cannot a solid background in Torah and in yira galus. As individuals, no one of us can attribute his failures-which are actu· with which to form the bedrock of their achieve this, not even in our own homes, ally due to laziness or the like - to a ho1nes. but as a tzibbur, we can bring it about. lack of siyatta diShemaya. "Our daughters are all steeped in This statement is based on what I have yiras Shamayim, highly motivated to be learned, seen, and experienced over the last eight years. THE GOAL OF CHINUCH RABBI EHRMAN, AN AMERICAN WHO LIVES JN BNEI B!(AK SINCE 1976, SPENT CLOSE TO 20 YEARS Ho\vdare I say, "We can do it!"W11at IN Kou.El. CHAZON ]SH. DURING TtllS TIME HE about siyatta diShemaya? Yes, siyatta ow do we define our chinuch PUBLIS!IED St:FARIM ON VARIOUS MASECHTOS, diShemaya is crucial. goals? 5IFSHJ CHANA ON 5JIOF1'fM, AND 5HAAN Let me explain with a parable. The Rambam (Hilchos P'N/MI ON BASIC llASf-IKAFA. liE ALSO WROTE H Imagine a person who is lazy about Talmud Torah ch. 3) quotes the Mishna A llALACHA SEFF.R ON BEIN ADAM !.'cHAVEIRO,

HA/_fCHOS 01-AM, WHICH WAS LATER TRANSLAT· building a succah. He is too preoccu­ in Pirkei Avos about the three crowns ED IN10 ENGUSH AS /AWS 01° INTERPERSONAi_, pied with himself to spare the time to of Kial Yisroel - Kehuna, Malchus, and /(f;LATIONSHIPS {MESORAH PUBLICATIONS). prepare for this mitzvah. Still, when Torah. The Rambam explains that while IN 1999. HE OPENED NAC!-ILAS SHIMON FOR UPPER Yorn Tov comes, he feels jealous of the crown of Kehuna was given to Aharon ELEMENTARY C/IEDJ:R BOYS WHO WERE NOT SUC­ all his neighbors who are eating in Hakohein and the crown of Malchuswas CEEDING, PRESCNTLY LOCATED IN KlRYAT SF.FER SERVlN(; BOYS FROM KtRYAT SE!'ER, BNEI BRAK AND their own private succos. Would we given to Dovid Hamelech, the crown of YERtJSHALAYIM. IT SERVES AS A MODEL FOR PREVENT­ wish this man: "I hope that next year Torah is unique in that it is available to all ING A:ITRITION AND ENA BJ.ING BOYS TO BE MOTIVATED you will have the siyatta diShemaya Jews. Anyone who desires it can have it. BNF:I TORAH IN MAINSTREAM YESHIVOS. to have your own succah too,,? Or Herein lies the key to all success THE JEWISH OBSERVER I ······~·-===;;;;--~~__,,.--·_____,- I

- desire. Our task is to build the child's As long a5i!~~re are Jewish fami- . ahavas Torah and yiras Shamayim. If we lies in 1 .~~iica that don't have 1 make the motif of all of our chinuch that CCeS,SjJ~

our contemporary problems in chinuch. • Halachic Supervision ,1 Every Chareidi child of kindergarten • Outreach Publications ,I •Education age knows that success in life means becoming a tzaddik and ta/mid chacham. The prevalence of this attitude is due to You can! Iustcall the tremendous effort expended by the The Yitti Leibel previous generation's gedolei Yisroefv..rho, "I wish I could following the Holocaust, reinculcated Helpline. Kial Yisroelwith the respect for Torah and HOURS: aspiration to grow proficient in Torah. Monday-Friday ...... Sam -12pn1 Still, not every child who graduates speak to a !vionday-Thursday ...... 8p111 -l l pm Sunday ...... 9am -12pm, 9pm.-l lpm eighth grade shares these lofty goals. There are those who succeed in school, ~~ 718-HELP.-NOW but never develop real penimiyus (inner frum therapist 'ii~ (718) 435-7669 growth). And there are those who do not Chicago ...... (800) HELP-023 succeed. How can we cultivate a young­ Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 ster to build his aspirations through the on the phone Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 elementary school period? Baltimore ...... (410) 578-1111 Detroit ...... (877) 435-7611 I without giving San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE Toronto ...... ( 416) 784-1271 i The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Branch of the Yitti leibel Helpline WISE IS CONSTRUCTION i1"!' D7!'i1 '1l 1n:i 1;:rl'{1JJC' "1 i1J t-:'Ol"l i"T''n nD'?'J '1'!'' F'T'':rl:'JT l''~ S-1 t'T'1t'Dl) I my name." ;'!'!' 11t-:l~~~~;JT ~;;;?.~1-J;1/1''!''?'' 'l well-known ma'amar Chazal Dedicated b Mr. & Mrs. Shmuel Boruch Wilhelm I Nedarim 40a) based on an inci· I ent in Sefer Melachim advises us that if you see older wise men who want I to destroy, and young people who want to build, follow the old, wise people, I because the destruction of older people '! is really building, and the building of young people is actually destruction, I as occurred with Rechavam, the son of I Shlomo. When Shlomo Hamelech passed I away, the people gathered to coronate I his son Rechavam. They requested of him: "Your father burdened us greatly [with taxes]. Please lighten the bur­ I den, and we will serve you." Rechavam asked for three days I to consider the matter. He consulted I with the wise, old men who had I served his father, and then he con-

Lulted with younger men close.to.him. ·--·- in age. His father's advisors told him: don't really understand the Gemara:' "Iftoday you will serve them and will If we listen to their real needs and fill answer them with good words, then them, the children will serve us forever. they will serve you forever.'' If we adapt ourselves to their needs, they The young men advised him: "Tell will be loyal subjects. They will adopt them, 'My little finger is wider than all the ideals and goals of their parents Child Development Specialists my father's waist (i.e. I need yet and teachers. Conversely, if we face them Helping Infants & Toddlers greater sums of tax money). My squarely with our agenda, simultaneously father burdened you with a heavy ignoring their legitimate needs, we follow wit11 Developmental Delays and Disabilities burdeu, aud I will burdeu you even in the path of Rechavam's young and more."' inexperienced advisors) straight down Rechavam rejected the counsel of the road to churban. his father's advisors in favor offollow­ There are many components to the ing his friends' advice. This resulted building of a healthy hen Torah. 1 would in the Ten Tribes' abandonment of like to concentrate on three major areas: him, which eventually brought on developing ahavas Torah, providing love idol worship and, ultimately, the and discipline, and meeting the needs of Churban. children who are unable to fit into the The message is quite clear. In standard school mode.' essence, the old wise men had told him: If you want to rule, listen to your subjects' needs and speak to them in BUILDING AHAVAS TORAH a pleasant manner. Then they will serve you forever. hav~s To'.·ah may be. described The same applies to our schoolchil­ as an inner n1ot1vat1on to dren. As parents and teachers, our objec­ earn Torah and attain yiras tive is to rule. We want the children to Shamayim:' Almost all children from Evaluation and a full range of adopt our ideals and goals as their own. frun1 homes start out with an inner Therapeutic Services provided To accon1plish this, we n1ust listen to spark of wanting to succeed in 10rah. at our Center or in the privacy their needs. We must hear the child who 1--- --tT1erc-m~e--;:;~;~;:;y -- ~;-th ~~;:--c-(~1111;011c,~-ts- --t~- -be is non-verbally crying out to us: "l really of your home explored, such as school-parent cooperation (especially with regard to einotional issues), Bilingual Services Available want to learn! Can't you see that I have an emotional block?" We must hear the and help for those few individual L'hildren who cannot adapt to any classroo1n situation. For Services are provided based on the child's needs child who is non-verbally saying, "I really the sake of brevity, we are focusing on three as determined by the NYC Early Intervention want to learn but I can't sit still:' Or, <•1 fundan1ental areas. Program. The Early Intervention Official will dctennine the location and provider of any needed services. This Early Intervention Program is funded & regulated by the NYC Dept. of Health & Meotal Hygiene. Executive Offices: 649 Thirty-Ninth Street Brooklyn, New York 11232 Queens Office: 70-14 141 st Street Flushing. New York 11367

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TH£ JEWISfl OBSERVER

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What usually breaks them is lack of learning "accidents" are bound to find standing more.2 i success in school. As the child fails to learning an unpleasant experience. If possible, the yeshiva should main­ succeed, he continually feels rejected These are children who score Baver­ tain parallel classes. Under no circum­ I by rebbi, parent, Torah, and finally, ages on tests, but are not developing stances should they be called Class A Hashem Yisbarach Some children feel ahavas Torah. They may know a lot and Class B; there is no reason to tag I very rejected. They may seek relief by about the Gemara - they may know a negative connotation onto a student. taking to the streets. Some feel partial what Abayei says and what Rava says, The chance that an average student, I rejection. They may ren1ain in yeshiva, what the din is in a given situation, whose needs are filled, will become I but not really be interested in learn· and certain general rules of learning. a great talmid chacham is equal to ing. Some feel only slightly rejected. Nevertheless, they haven't mastered that of any bright student. Torah is I They may be considered good boys, the Gemara until they know the shakla acquired by desire, not by talent. Every but they never really develop the inner vetarya, the give and take, and they know rash yeshiva can validate that statement I drive to work hard to become talmidei exactly what the kushya is and what the from experience. Every child needs a chachanzim. teirutz is, and they know this all inside format for studying and experiencing I Three qualities are necessary for a and outside! success. Thus, the below average student I child to succeed in our standard school A parent once said to me, "My son requires an appropriate program of system: knows the whole Gemara by heart, but study geared to his capacity. I've seen I A. He must possess the scholastic abil· he doesn't know it inside." I told him students who hated cheder because they ity to keep on his grade level. that his son was not developing real couldn't keep up. And I have witnessed I B. He must be capable of sitting still, skills or a serious motivation to learn. how such children were taught on the paying attention, and participat­ Rather than learning an amud (side of a level that suited them, and they went on mg. page) a week, he should be learning only to become excellent bachurim studying C. Perhaps most importantly, he must ten lines a week, but he should master in top yeshivas. All they needed was be emotionally stable in order to those ten lines, inside and outside. the opportunity to prove themselves learn. Experience has shown that the child as boys who can fulfill their rebbi's It is important to realize that while C who has learned even two blatt with expectations. is a factor to be dealt with throughout some Tosafos and knows them well, The following truth should send one's life, A and B are issues that are inside and outside, is ready for yeshiva shudders down all of our spines. Within unique to elementary school and early high school. Yet, a child who has learned each teenager who "didn't succeed" hides mesivta high school. Inability to sit fifty blatt of Gemara and knows some· sonzeone who had the potential to beco1ne in a classroom usually ceases to be an thing about them, but has never expe­ a great talmid chacham, had the com- issue once the bachur and his chavrusa rienced mastering a dafis not ready for 2 When cho0Si11g-a yeshiva high -SChool, it is become actively engaged in the daf yeshiva. The satisfaction of experiencing extren1ely important to make certain that the Gemara. Very often, children suffer­ clarity creates n1otivation for under- child can excel there. This topic is worthy of a whole article in and of itself. ing from problems that are unique to elementary school are helped through their difficult period, and they can beco111e excellent yeshiva bachurini.

CLARITY FOSTERS AHAVAS TORAH

n order to develop love for learning, one has to know how to learn. It I cannot be overe1nphasized - clar­ ity in Torah fosters ahavas Torah. By contrast, why should he want to learn if he doesn't know how and thus never enjoyed it? A person who was involved in eight traffic accidents during the first five times that he drove a car may very well say that he doesn't like to drive. In actuality, he doesn't know how to Le~ Childre1~vho-repeate-dly getmto.. -- I M A y 2 0 0 7 munity provided him with what he needs to stimulate the brightest bachurim with from the older generation; they simply when he was younger. open questions and provocative refer­ don't understand. (See Mishlei 4,3-4, By the same token, a gifted student ences throughout the shiur. Chazal tell and Rashi there.) must be challenged with an enriched us that "A thousand enter [a yeshiva] to All these rules apply to individual program) as was the case with Reb learn Mikra (Chumash), but only one rebbei'im as well as to entire schools. In Mendel Kaplan (see the article on him in emerges ra'ui lehora'a (as an authority a sense, a school is a parent and must this issue). He geared his shiurim forthe in halacha)." One never knows who that assume the responsibility of loving and weaker part of the class, but never failed one is, nor should anyone else get lost disciplining its children. To the extent on the way. that the child feels the school's and the An accomplished rebbi can deal with rebbi's love for him, the child will be such situations. Other times, supple­ open to being molded into the type of mentary classes may be called for - for Yid we hope and pray for - one who is reinforcen1ent and for enrichment. filled with profound love of Torah and ~erienced Shadchan fear of Heaven. for all age groups There are always some children who 347.702.9494 LOVE AND DISCIPLINE do not fit in, even in the best of schools. Behaviors stemming from learning or Eretz Yisroel's ove and discipline are the twin emotional problems confound them, Most Reliable Shomer Shabbos pillars of successful parenting. and they don't learn; instead, they and English Speaking Car Service L They are also the twin pillars daydream, are restless or chutzpadik, of rebbi-talmid relationships.' A rebbi or manifest other anti-scholastic traits. Visiting Israel? Need Transport? must love his students, for they are When such children remain in regular -CHOOSE- his children (Rambam, Hilchos Talmud schools, they become spiritually poi­ Menashe Sopher's Torah 5:12). A rebbi must chastise his soned. In these cases, loving the child Airport &: Limousine Service student, as he would his own child. (See means sending him to an alternative Makkos 8: "Rebuke your son" applies school system. Celebrating 12 years of unbeatable service/ equally to a parent and a rebbi.) Only OUR El+IClENT ENGLISH-SPEAKING OFFICE STAFF, Flll.!Y-UCENSED, INSURED & AIR-CONDITIONED VANS, when the child knows and feels that the DRIVEN BY jEWISH, POLITE DRIVERS, parent or the rebbi really loves him will THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL ARE TAILOR-MADE FOR ALL OCCASIONS he accept and internalize the rebuke. 1.718.360.5083 A.'"- Otherwise his view will be: They're or some children, "giving children or 972.2.533.3425 · . . . '. .. ' • what they need" means providing [email protected] ~,,~-, www .msophera1rport.co1n 3 . In reality, this truth cafl~be·-1.raced to the Fan entirely different school setup. relationship of our Father in Heaven with tnan, The alternative school should have small which is based on ahava and yira. In Israel: 02-533-3425 class sizes, short lessons, and provision for a lot of play. In short, it should lower the pressure that is co1nn1on in modern-day schools to a level that that child can deal with. To make up for the diminished class time, the school should, and can, maxi1nize the tin1e that is available for learning. It should build the children's skills, self-confidence, and ahavas Torah. The key is that the parents Own the Award Winning have to send the child early when he is still a child, not when he is a young teenager turned off from Torah learn­ Cookbook ing. The above is not a dream scenario: ·rp:i we have been zocheh to do this for the past eight years, and have subse­ quently mainstreamed our graduates. This structure really works. Bechasdei Hashem Yisbarach, in this type of environment, the children love to co1ne to school; it becomes a home I to them. It's more conducive for the cater mainly to the straight A students. ceed in the local school system will bring I children to feel loved, and they devel­ We would demand that the community the Shechinah into the community. If I op long-term relationships with their organize schools that also accon1modate you are blessed to be a mechazeik Torah I rebbei'im. Years later, in times of trouble, B and C students - and we would hap­ and are often approached and asked to I they have an address to which to turn. pily enroll our children in them - for provide funds for Torah institutions, It is both healing and a learning expe­ that is how we would succeed in raising as you give your donation, ask the I rience. Healing for emotional wounds, a generation of genuine bnei Torah. In solicitors what is being done to help and learning to build a personal Torah the end, gedolei Yisroel will emerge from the weaker students. We must create a I I experience, so that each youngster feels the "B" and "C" schools as they do from culture in Kial Yisroel in which we will that he, too, has his share in Torah. These the "N.' schools. all be concerned about the success of all I are not merely theoretical concepts. We This article hopes to appeal to the of our children. Above all, if your own I I have been zocheh to practice the above heart of each reader. Please internalize child needs help, please help him get it. model and have seen overwhelming its message. Please accept upon yourself Never let personal pride obstruct the I siyatta diShemya in turning children's not to extol competition (e.g., "In our path. Bear in mind that there is almost lives around; the graduates do succeed school they teach Tosafos at grade X!" no such thing as a lazy child. There are, I in the regular yeshiva system. Or, "They learn 30 blatt of Gemara a however, many children whose emo­ This article is based entirely on year!"). Never use the term remedial, tional or scholastic needs remain un1net, I I Torah-true concepts. Yet, most of our which implies that there is something and they react with laziness. I communities are far from implementing wrong with the child that needs a rem­ Rabbi Shimshon Refoel Hirsch ?"lit these ideals. High pressure and competi­ edy. The truth is that the child needs a writes4 that a school is judged according I tive schools are the rule. Many children more individualized approach. to its weakest students. One shudders I do not feel loved by the school staff. We Please be active within your local when one thinks about how our mos- have to face ourselves squarely and ask: community and within the broader, dos hachinuch are perceived in Heaven "Why don't we provide environments national realm, and in concert with those today. The few institutions that have I in which every child is happy to attend living in Eretz Yisroel. The combined begun working along the lines of meet­ I school?" efforts of many concerned individuals ing our young children's needs are can ensure that every child will have his meilitzei yo sher (effective advocates) I needs met. If your community has an on behalf of the entire olam haTorah. I PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE institution that caters mainly to the top If we will, as a community, attempt to students, organize one that caters to the give our children what they need, our I ublic enemy number one is a B and C students. Encourage parents to schools will n"'N give tremendous nachas i combination of stig1na and com­ send their children there. The Gemara to Hashem Yisbarach. The multitude of I I Ppetitiveness. Naturally, all parents (Sota Sa) says that the Shechinah dwells blessings that will befall our communi · want the best for their children. Many among the downtrodden. The schools ties is unlimited. ffil I people believe that schools that cover that cater to children who cannot sue- 4 Collected Writings 7, pg. 148 '1 more ground will produce graduates that are great talmidei chachamim. It I has become the norm for schools to I compete with each other regarding who learns the most and the deepest, and all this at the earliest age. Children who do I not fit in this system are labeled "in need of remedial help." The whole notion, I I however, is mistaken. I ! It is true that a person who learns more will become a greater talmid cha­ I cham. But this is only the case when it con1es from an internal desire, and not I I from an external (e.g., school) pressure. I I Ifwe as a tzibburwould understand that the greatest success in chinuch is the I I nurturing of ahavas Torah, then we as a tzibburwould demand a varied chinuch. I I ------~ "TEAC~ YOUR CHILDRENJ' - THE$E ARe)fllUR ptstlPLES Inspiring or ., DestructiveP\, I\\QQMPETITION INlTHE·.vit:SNJ\IOS ~1\lrYiDAV SCHOOLS . ..

THE CLASSIC KINA ••. fullest potential. not mean envy. Rather, it refers to zeal­ AMONGST SOFRIM The Maharsha explains that this kina ousness, as it is used by Pinchas, who was is of benefit only to" sofrim;' referring to mekanei kinas Hashem. When a student hazal teach that "kinas sofrim a person who is a step below a" chacham:' sees how proud and appreciative the tarbeh chachma:'1 As commonly Even though the sofeir aspires to become rebbi and others are of another student Ctranslated, this means that "jeal­ a chacham, he has not yet reached that who is learning, he strives to attain that ousy between scholars increases wisdom:' level. Thus, the Maharsha implies, a admiration as well. That is not competi­ This Gemara is often understood as rea­ true chacham need not utilize kina to tion; it is a desire to e1nulate, which is the son to create co1npetition among learn­ learn better. best drive to be marbeh chachma. ers. Yet, is that really what the Gemara We see here that Ghazal accept kina Healthy competition, then, sparks advocates? To what circumstances should as a means to improve the performance increased inotivation in students, and this maxim extend? of sofrim. Kina, however, is not the ideal pushes them to put forth more effort and The Gemara describes the situation tool. But it is effective in helping sofrim to increase learning. When one student of a rebbi in a community. A new rebbi advance to the level of true chachamim, sees another succeed by growing and comes to town who is known to be where they will have no need for kina to accomplishing in his learning, he will be superior to the original rebbi. Must the motivate them to excel. inspired to do the same. town replace the first rebbi with the more Moreover, kina is mentioned as a qualified newcomer? motivational tool only with respect to The first opinion in the Gemara is teachers, not students. Students are at ONE WINNER, MANY LOSERS that the second rebbi should not be hired an impressionable stage in their life, because, ifhe were to be hired, he would when the focus must be on refining fferent - and far less healthy feel too secure in his position and might their middos. form of competition is found in not work to his fullest potential. The any of our children's classrooms. Gemara, however, offers another opinion, It can be extremely counterproductive to suggesting that the better rebbi should be A NEW APPLICATION OF KINA the learning environment and the self­ hired. The reason? "Kinas sofrim tarbeh esteem of the student. This occurs when chachma." Having displaced the first rebbi ne may ask: Will utilizing kina students compete and only one student with his superior skills, the new rebbi will for our students increase their emerges as the winner, with the rest constantly be perfecting his talents out 0 learning, or will it perhaps be remaining "losers" - not a healthy form of concern that the original rebbi will detrimental to them? of competition. Instead, a student should be scrutinizing him; he will work to his Even if we were to apply the concept be motivated by another student's success to of kinas sofrim to students as well, we achieve as much as he is able to. 1 Baba Basra, 21A need to understand the exact meaning of One reason that competing to be rec­ RABBI N1ssEL JS CURRENTLY THE DEAN OF THE "kina:' Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg ':nn, the ognized as the best is not productive was SCRANTON HEBREW DAY SCHOOL. HIS EXPERIENCE 3 IN CH/NIJCHSPANS 19 YEARS, THE LAST 10 OF WHICH late Rosh Yeshiva ofNer Yisroel, explains' pointed out by Rav Yisroel Salanter ':nn • 1 HI:: SERVED AS MENAHF:tL HE WELCOMES YOUR that" kinas sofrim tarbeh chachma" does COMMENTS AT RMNISSEL COMCAST.NET. 2 Rav Yaakov Weinbetg Talks About C-hinuch ,_-Mussar#l2Mi.iM ""'""''m· "' '"°· CC.,,; I

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------~------·----- r=-·····~~·················~ THE JEWISH OBSERVER Competition and Gaining Recognition As Means For Motivating Excellence: Another View

n the accompanying articles, the authors express concern ing, lishma. But for a budding scholar, a bit of shelo lishma, that in the course of promoting competition, which is gaining recognition for excellence, can help light the fires that I focused on developing potential winners, teachers not inspire reaching for gadlus, further growth in Torah mastery. be guilty of creating a society oflosers-or even individual When essential, it is of undeniable importance. losers. The needs, welfare, and well·being of each child . . . must. always be our prime concerns. At the same time, It was well-known in the Ponovezher Yeshiva in Bnei we should not lose sight of the fact that one of the prime Brak that the Chazon !sh lived close by, and he knew who goals of our educational system, dealing with thousands the metzuyanim (top bachurim) were. He made a practice of of students as it does, is that we bear in mind the "echad inviting over one of them, engaging him in a Torah discus­ mei'eleph;' the one in a thousand who emerges lehora'a, as sion. He would then meet with another metzuyan, and in the a halacha authority. course of the conversation, quote a piece of Torah from the As Rabbi Felder, a highly respected senior ravin Philadelphia, earlier visitor, and then ask him, "Can you say an interesting once remarked in a private conversation, the earlier generation or profound chiddush (creative insight) like that? Think about produced greater talmidei chachamim than the current one it, and then come back and share it with me:' because the younger ones endeavor to learn Torah lishma- for After hearing the second bachur's chiddush, he would its own sake - that is, with pure motivation. It is a lofty; worth­ summon back the first fellow, and share the newer chiddush while goal, but until that drive is genuine, it may lack the urgency with him, challenging him to excel his first attempt. or generate the drive that se!f,serving motives do provide. He It is well-known that this orchestrated competition pro­ quoted Rav Moshe Feinstein as saying that in earlier times, the duced some outstanding talmidei chachamim. recognition one gained as an. accomplished bachur served to It should be obvious, then, that there is place for com­ inspire him to strive for further growth. He would calculate: petition in the system. But when it is excessive, and applied "If someone 'knows how to learn; he can gain a position as rav without controls, it can prove to be harmful to those who in a small town. If he has mastered' a falleh' - a vast amount "can't make it:' At the same time, as the Chazon Ish's practice of knowledge- he will become appointed to the rabbanus of a demonstrates, it can be used productively, if it is utilized larger community. And if he is in command of a tremendous judiciously. amount of Torah, he will become the rav of a large city:' This is certainly subject for further discussion, which we Yes, learning Torah should ultimately be for a higher call- hope to feature in a future issue.

When two people compete, one can either mizbei'ach to see who reaches the "finish On one such occasion, one kohein actually work productively to surpass the other, or line" first, with the winner performing the pushed another aside, thereby breaking he can utilize devious methods to ruin the mitzvah of terumas hadeshen (removing the leg of his fellow kohein. After this prospects of his competitor. When he was the ashes from the mizbei'ach) that day. unseemly event, this race was replaced by asked about competition, Rabbi Weinberg echoed these same sentiments, saying: "There are two ways that I can beat you. One is to be better than you. The other is to sabotage you so that you are worse than I am. Which is easier! Do they not break someone's legs so that he can't win the competition? Do they not ruin someone else's experiment? With competition, you train children to be corrupt in their middos by encouraging them to degrade others and benefit from the downfall of their friends:' 4 Lest one think that our talmidim are above this, consider a Mishna that dem· onstrates otherwise. In Maseches Yoma5, the Mishna relates that each day, the kohanim would race up the ramp of the 4 Rav Yaakov Weinberg- "I'alks About Chinuch 5 Peirek 2, Mishna 2 M A Y ~ 0 0 7

a lottery system to determine which kohein rest of the competitors are branded PICTURING THE WINNERS ... would perform the terumas hadeshen. as losers. Any type of bee (such as AND THE LOSERS This Mishna demonstrates6 that greater berachos or spelling bees) falls in this people than us succumbed to the temp­ category. Other examples are the selec­ er1nit me to share with you son1e tation about which Reh Yisroel Salanter tion of valedictorian and presentation of my experiences over the past warned -- sabotaging an opponent in of awards to a select few of the gradu­ Pmany years as a menaheil that order to prevail. ates at graduation (a practice which did substantiate these points. How can we relate these issues to not originate in our mosdos; it crept in Graduation is a long-awaited event, the talmidim in our schools? The main to our yeshivas due to the influence attended by friends and family. At this problem exists, as we have said, when of our secular society). Our summer ceremony, some students are singled one or two students are singled out camps also practice this when only one out and given awards for having as the winners of a contest and the camper is chosen as the "best learner" excelled in academics or other areas of the week or session. above and beyond the other students 6 Based upofl--Rabbeinu Elyakini and sefas E1nes in the graduating class. The name of the award is announced and an explanation is given about the criteria for winning this award: "Maza] tov to Rochel Leah Goldman for winning the award for the highest grade point II average." Try to imagine the feelings of the remaining students who are IC sitting on that stage and squirming in their seats while the name of the BEST student is announced. How hard they try to avoid eye contact with their parents in the audience • so as not to feel like a failure in their eyes. Picture what is going through the mind of the student who almost n1ade it, the one whose grade point average was off by perhaps just a fraction of a point It hurts Often, the crowd is told that the administration devoted much time r working out the averages to ascertain that the announced winner actually had the highest grade point average, o. since the numbers were only off by the slightest bit. How dejected does that runner up feel as a result of not It feels better just to talk about it. That's having received that award because why we're here. Our staff is made up of the numbers were off by only "the caring and sensitive individuals. Together, slightest bit"? What kind of memory we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals will remain etched in that student's for counseling, legal advice or help in mind from her graduation? finding a safe environment. We can also Exacerbating this problem is the put you in touch with some very special Rabbis. But in order for us to reach out to fact that many of our schools are you, you must first reach out to us. small and have small graduating Confidential Hotline classes. When only a few students 1.888.883.2323 receive awards, the recipients n1ay (No caller ID) (Toll Free) represent a significant percentage of 718.337.3700 the class. This makes it that much (NYC Area) Do it for yourself. 1nore e111barrassing for those students Do it for your children. Shalom Task for((' is ,1 S01(c){3) charitable organization who did not receive awards. They sit j -on--that stage with-smile~~~ted:J ~------·------

M A Y 2. 0 0 7 --~---, F_:__ •••·················~ ------~~·-~----~·· ~ their faces, but feeling an inner sense and his parents left the graduation effort toward a goal they are unlikely I I of failure. angry. Additionally, the administrator to attain. I have a vivid memory of a par­ responsible for selecting the winner This mode of competition does not ticular student who left graduation was pained after being berated by the motivate the majority of the class. As looking quite despondent. I went parents of the "second place child." All Rabbi Weinberg said, "The minute you say over to her and said, "Rochel, ho\\I of this over a fraction of a point. the best one or the one lvho learns the 111ost, was your graduation?" Her response you have destroyed the learning of 99% of was probably the spark that ignited the children, because they know they are the passion within me to rethink IN FAVOR OF ELIMINATING not going to be prize winners."7 the appropriateness of our current AWARDS The avvard presentation reinforces this practices. She replied, "Graduation feeling of inadequacy. Even the few stu­ was a horrible experience for me." ver the years, I have spoken to dents capable of winning know that they This was a student who struggled educators and parents of gradu­ can win by one of two n1eans. They can academically, yet worked harder than Oating students to encourage them either work very hard on their own, or, most students who excelled easily in to eliminate the presentation of awards at chas vcshalom, find a way to distract the their studies. I shared in her pain at graduation ceremonies. I have heard many competition, attempting to foil the other the time of her graduation, as her arguments in support of this tradition and person's chances of success. Although classmates accepted awards for their they deserve to be addressed. we would like to think that our students work and she went home with noth­ Many believe that the pressure and are above such behavior, the truth is that ing to show for her years of hard work competition to receive a\vards will moti­ many are not. Why would we want to but a feeling of shame. vate students to try harder and excel in place talmidim into a position of tempta­ Unfortunately, students are not the their studies. This, however, is clearly not tion to resort to such measures? only ones to suffer pain at graduation. so. Most students recognize their abilities Some argue that we owe recognition I have personally witnessed numer­ and their lin1itations. They realize frorn to those students who worked hard for ous occurrences \Nhen an otherwise the onset that they have no chance of so many years. I respectfully disagree.

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22 ..______------·-·-----~·-~·----·------The Schottenstein Edition Interlinear Chumash BA IDBAR THE TORAH AND HAFTAROS WITH AN INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION AND A COMMENTARY ANTHOLOGIZED FROM THE RABBINIC WRITINGS Edited by RABBI MENACHEM DAVIS Join the tens of thousands who are thrilled with this 11e"1lse1Msf'" Features of the Interlinear Chumash - Each volume in the Interlinear Chumash features - > The translation is always right in front of your eyes. >@ Newly-reset, crisp, large size Hebrew text of the Chumash, > A patented arrow system comfortably directs your eye in the right direction. © Targum Onkelos and © Rashi's commentary >You'll maintain your place in the Hebrew during the Torah reading in shul. >® Contemporary English translation below each Hebrew word > You'll know immediately what a word or phrase means. > Interlinear Haftaros > © Insightful commentary culled from classic > Helpful diagrams and illustrations > Long-life reinforced binding sources, adapted from the popular Stone Edition of the Chumash Also available: Bereishis • Additional volumes in preparation

Dedicated by Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein and Family i Reb hatzlShanghai years that his stature assumed truly mythic proportions. After the War, the Yeshivah world j of old was gone. It had to be reestablished in America and Israel. First in America and then in Israel - in j Mir and Ponevezh - Reb Chatzkel was one of the great Torah leaders who never surrendered. Today's :_2 magnificent Torah world is their legacy. _:& In this definitive biography, Rabbi Yitzchak Kasnett, brings us face to face with Reb Chatzkel. Years _1 of research, scores of interviews, endless writing and review went into this work. And it shows. Reb ~ Chatzkel's family and talmidim shared their memories, personal correspondence, and never~before-;:~ published photographs. ~ This masterpiece brings to life a great man and historic era. -a M A Y 2 0 0 7

We do owe our students compliments category, in comparison to the rest of the disappointments are "part oflife;' and the on their successes and should recognize class. Teachers never announce to the dass student will eventually "get over it." In a them publicly in other ways, which I will which child scored the highest mark on a conversation with Rabbi Dr. Abraham address below. particular test; this would certainly never Twerski, world-renowned for helping It is not healthy to state that any be tolerated. Why do so at graduation? others deal with their emotions and dif­ student is the smartest or the best in any Some may answer that these types of ficulties, he told me that he remembers vividly his graduation from a prestigious medical school where it was announced that he graduated second in his class, ahead of scores of others. To this day, he Is your high school age son looking for a different type of program to flourish in? remembers that feeling of disappointment Chen Farm will be opening its doors in Eretz Yisroel IY"H after Pesach with horses, cows, and pain. Surely, if things such as this chickens, construction work, chesed projects and individualized learning. bothered him, they will easily disturb our students, as well. • Your son can learn responsibility through the upkeep of the farm. Another argu1nent presented to me is • Your son can find himself in our warm, caring environment. the claim that our children will experi­ • Your son can be successful and feel accomplished on Chen Farm. ence such competition later in life as For more information, contact Rabbi Shuki Goodman they leave the sheltered world of our 011-972-52-764-1324 (cell) schools. Shouldn't they acquire a sense 1r646-403-3749 (rings in Israel) of life's harsh realities at an early stage,

Rabbinic Advisory Board: to be adequately prepared for them in HaRav Mendel Weinbach Shlit"a (llo5h Ye5hiv<>, Ye5hiva5 Of_Jr Sdme

SOME ALTERNATIVES

ur yeshivas and Bais Yaakovs aspire to and strive for excel­ 0 lence. While eliminating harm­ ful competition, we certainly should not settle for mediocrity, either. I therefore would like to propose the following alternatives: • Competition should not be used to single out any individual as the best or only winner. Rather, contests should offer prizes or recognition for any student able to reach a certain level of accomplishment, rather than for outdoing or beating his classmate. Therefore, one student's winning or advancement does not negatively impact another student. On the con­ trary, as students observe their peers reaching the preset goal and winning a prize, more students will be moti- vated to do the same. That is the type ; of competition which Ghazal ta;:;j~t l

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7i>{!.:i)y1s,lNG (LIENTS ON HALACHIC MATTERS J. DAVID BLEICH ~(),.~ 'Bi ING AN "HALACHIC" ACCOUNTANT - RABBI Dov10 CoHEN ,,,,, •., .. ,, ..•, ENDQF LIFE AND HALACHA: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH - RABBI MOSHE HEINEMAN EVALUATING BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS THROUGH A HALACHIC LENS - RABBI BARUCH HIRSCHFELD ~'1,~~~gs ~HABBOS FOR THE BUSINESS WORLD - RABBI CHAIM KOHN llM1tYlAW lss6~~ . - RABBI MOSHE M. LOWY ol~cl<:lsuRES: HALACHIC PARAMETERS - RABBI ARI MARBURGER NE~ Et~AfS~bCi1ES AND HALACHICQUESTIONS IN INFERTILITY TREATMENT - RABBI NOACH I. 0ELBAUM ~tt~lUAINGAND PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN: HALACHIC CONSIDERATIONS - RABBI YOSEF VIENER - REAL PROPERTY - HALACHA ISSUES - RABBI HERSHELWELCKER ., ' l\ilmTAL HEALTH PROFESSION: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - RABBI LABEL WULLIGER .WWAVE OF GENETIC ENGINEERING: AND.HASHKAFIC CHALLENGES KEYNOTE Lu~l,i8f4~~ir~i~~jf ·. CHAANDTHEolAw CONFLICT RABBI MATTISYAHU. $ALOIVIO!" .

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• Our schools often hold contests or a "Fabulous Learner for the Week" graduation, the teachers alternate "bees" to test students on their kno\vl­ certificate. in presenting those two-1ninute edge of a particular topic. For example, • In lieu of selecting a valedictorian speeches. This makes every single many schools run berachos bees where and presenting academic-based student on that stage feel special the winner is proclaimed the Berachos awards at graduation, we should for his or her own abilities without Champion. The traditional type of work to institute a Dean's List. Each con1paring one student to another. bee - in which faculty ask one ques­ student who attains a certain G.P.A. These are but a few suggestions to tion to each participant and elin1inate would be included on this list, which stimulate the creativity of our well-mean­ students who answer just one question could be announced at the gradua­ ing and talented educators. Such educa­ incorrectly- is embarrassing and does tion. One child's success has nothing tors are all capable of devising alternative not provide an adequate n1eans to to do with any other child's; it is methods. It just entails effort. Often, the ascertain which student knows the completely individual. Those who competitions that prove to be damaging material the best. like to showcase their school by hav­ to most children's growth are the ones that The winner is often not necessarily the ing a highly accomplished student are least expensive and easiest for teachers student who has the best command of deliver a speech at graduation may and administrators to apply. With a little the subject, but rather, the student who choose a student from the Dean's extra work, educators can find better ways was fortunate not to have been asked the List for that purpose. to give the appropriate recognition to our more difficult questions. Often, students • In a school where the graduating hardworking students. who are eliminated early in the competi­ class is not too large, instead of It is my hope that menahalim, tion arc embittered by the fact that they awards for middos and public ser­ mechanclzi1n and parents will seriously knew all of the remaining questions. vice, each student can be praised in consider these points and rethink current Were we really interested in deter­ front of the audience for her unique practices. Let us challenge the status quo mining who is the Berachos Master accomplishments, talents and char­ and continue with co 1npetitions in our in the school, we would ask all of the acter traits. The teachers brainstorm schools only when we have ascertained students all of the questions. However, together to determine what should that they are healthy and truly enhance that should not be our goal. Our goal be said about each student. At the scholarship among our students. !1!l should be to motivate the students to study the foods and their berachos so that they become experts in that area and will recite the appropriate berachos throughout their lifetimes. By singling out the one Berachos Chan1pion as our winner) we stand the chance that the weaker students will simply abandon any effort to master this knowledge. Were we to give the same test to all of the participants and award prizes to any student who earns 80%, and a bet­ ter prize to those who earn 90%, and THE BEST prize to all students who o~ti6·~alm9ht~~r~~~i6ri~ and earlier arrivals earn l 00%, we would be including more Departing i1"'N__July~ \Vinners, and motivating more students OUR RENOWED GUIDE to learn the 1naterial. • Exciting Program • The camp situation could be rem­ • Experienced Staff R' YAAKOV TURENHEIM edied the same way. Instead of pick­ • Expert Guides ing one Best Learner of the Week, we could reward all of the campers who No •((· u~sti.l.~tturets fulfill certain criteria that had been made clear to them at the outset. Did the camper participate? Did the camper make sure not to disrupt? Did the camper know the material learned? If the camper had all of the criteria checked off for every day of

L'v~~he could be presented with -- - .. ------

"TEACH YOUR CHILDREN" - THESE ARE YOUR DISCIPLES ~=-i YISROEL GREENWALD I I I I I I I i I I Twenty-Two Years ! Since His Passing I

The term "adam gadol" - a great memories people share with tne tend to the attendant answered, "Because he man - is used to describe a person who have a common denominator. was different.''1 possesses spiritual greatness, not only I humbly submit for the reader's Reb Mendel was different. Although he in one particular area of Divine ser­ consideration that it is the qualities was a product of the pre-War European I vice, but in its totality. My rebbi, Reb presented in the following article that yeshiva world - a close student of Reb Mendel Kaplan 7~~t, was considered an made Reb Mendel the unique and spe­ Elchonon Wasserman "'1'"'71 and later I adam gadol by the great leaders of the cial individual who is forever etched in of the gedolim of the Mir Yeshiva in last generation, his peers, as well as by the collective memory of all who knew Poland - he was difficult to categorize. I his students. In the biography on Reb him. He never belonged to any one "camp"; Mendel, the author tried to covey in rather, he appreciated and incorporated I some small measure some of the quali­ the positive qualities found in different ties that earned him the love, respect, UNPREDICTABLE GREATNESS groups of Jews. His students found his I and awe of those who knew him. philosophies on life refreshingly original. Still, as Reb Mendel once told me, though over two decades have But even one deeply knowledgeable in I "Everygadol wasayachid." Every great lapsed since the passing of my Torah could find Reb Mendel's actions I person has unique qualities that set eloved rebbi, I still do not find it unpredictable. This was because, aside him apart from everyone else. The fol­ difficult to conjure up memories of him. from the Shulchan Aruch that governs lowing vignettes and recollections from Reb Mendel tended to leave memorable all Jews, Reb Mendel had another set of Rebbi's students, relatives, and friends impressions on all he encountered, even standards that ruled his behavior. As he I were compiled after the publication of those he came in contact with briefly. once told his students, "You have to be the book on Reb Mendel, over 10 years Reb Mendel regularly made the two­ careful. After you finish the last page of I ago. With thepassingoftimeandfading hour drive between his home in Brooklyn the Shulchan Aruch, you still have to face ofpeople's memory, I hear less and less and the Philadelphia Yeshiva where he the Borei Olam."2 I stories about Reb Mendel these days. taught, often stopping at a particular After the Shulchan Aruch comes "the But what I find remarkable is that the highway gas station. Shortly after he Borei Olam" - to emulate the merciful I passed away, one of the Philadelphia traits of the Creator and to do what is RABBI GREENWALD, A MEMBER OF THE KOLLE! roshei yeshiva asked an attendant there good and proper in His eyes.' I BAIS HATALMUD IN MEI.BOURNE, AUSTRALIA, ifhe remembered the old rabbi and ifhe IS AUTHOR OF Kr:n ME1VDEL AND His WISDOM -Re!3led by Rabbi Shn1uel K~111enetzky I (ARf5CROl.t.), A BIOGRAPfllCAL APPRECIATION OF had any personal recollections of him. 2 Related by Rabbi Berel \Vein RAOBI MENDEL KAPLAN 'r~t. lilS ARTICLE "lJNITY The fellow replied that he certainly 3 Sec Bava Metzia 83a. Reh Mendel would share I THROCJGll DIVERSITY,"' APPEARED IN ./0, MAR. '07. remembered him. When pressed why, the following concept, \VhKh he heard from~h1'

29

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rebbi, Rabbi Ye~UChem Levovitz, the Mashgiach A former student once traveled to kitchen, as he had accidentally locked of the Mir, Poland: ()ur sages say that a person Philadelphia in order to speak to Reh his coat inside. Reb Mendel did not have requires a minimum of one revi'is (approximately 4 ounces) of blood in order to live. Naturally, a Mendel. They found a quiet room and the keys, and the boy assumed that the person who has only the barest minimu1n of settled down to speak, but almost imme­ matter would end there. To his surprise, blood in his system can barely survive and can­ diately, one of the young black workers Rebbi asked him to go and locate the keys not function in a robust, healthy manner. barged in and asked for the keys to the and bring them. The bachur reluctantly The saine applies to the spiritual di1nension went, leaving Reh Mendel and the man of man. The explicit obligations of the Torah wish to be·~fllily~tl!ive and healthy 011 a spiritual provide the barest minimum requirements for a level n1ust go beyond the ininin1un1 requin:n1ents engaged in pleasant conversation. ivhen Jew to be considered spiritually alive. Those who spelled out in the Torah. he returned, he was visibly upset: "Here ADVERTISEMENT I make a special trip to visit my rebbi, and instead, I have to waste tny time PRESS RELEASE finding keys for a nobody." Reh Mendel looked at him and asked Founded in 1991 Machon Bais Yaakov intimate classroon1 environn1ent is perfect simply, ''Nu, Avraham Avinu volt dos "Jeachers Seminary quickly gained a reputa­ for heated discussion and soul searching nisht getan? - Wouldn't Avraham Avinu tion as one of the leading teacher's sen1inar­ discoveries. have done the same thing?"4 ies. ()neofthemainreasons that girls are so Fom1al study is only a part of efforts excited about the program is the vvarm and to provide students \vith an unparalleled A Jewish fellow was engaged to work caring attention of the experienced faculty. Se1ninary experience. Regular kumsitz's at the yeshiva; his responsibilities includ­ An atmosphere of concern, encouragement like "kugel Friday" enhance the upbeat ed cleaning up the dining room. Reh and growth pervades the school enabling all ambience at school. The extensive extra­ students to maximize their potential. 'I'he curricular program including a Shabbos Mendel was concerned that the worker teachers develop close relationships with experience in Ne\v Square, \Vork5hops would view the menial task ofclearing the students and serve as excellent n1entors \vhich feature distinguished guest lecturers the tables after the boys finished eating and role models. from the United States and Eretz Yisrael as as demeaning. So he discreetly asked one Rabbi Oelbaum and Mr. M Yanofsky well as special Yorn Tov programs both in of the boys lingering in the dining room Shlita serve as the program's guiding force. school and at other inspiring sites, which to encourage his friends to clean up after The principal, Rebbetzin Steinharter, blessed help reinforce what has been learned in class themselves. (Reh Mendel added that he with a finely tuned understanding ofcontem­ so that students are able to dra\v relevant would do likewise.) porary teenage girls provides each student conclusions about their own lives. The Rosh Yeshiva, Reb Elya Svei, with eA'tensive guidance and attention. Spiritually enlightening, periodic visits observed Reh Mendel's discussion with Classes in Tanach, Halacha, Hasbkofa, to Gedolim and Nshei Chayil in the New ·the bochur from a distance. After Reh and Historia are designed to highlight and York Metropolitan area make it possible address para!lels in daily life. The curriculum for our girls to forge a connection \\1th Mendel left, he asked the student what includes courses in Special Education, speech the great personalities of yesteryear, as they Reh Mendel had told him. When the and con1munication, a-, \vell as kriah. Under meet with role models that will shape their bochur repeated the conversation, Reh the direction of Mrs. Stern the girls observe lives for years to .co~e. Elyacommented, "Bieunz [in our meth­ experienced teachers at work and engage in A highlight of our program is the Live od of chinuch], Olam Habba starts in supervised student teaching in various class­ and Learn tour of Israel during mid-vvinter the beis hamidrash. By Reh Mendel, it room settings so that they are well prepared intersession. Using a deluxe hotel in (~eula starts in the dining room." for a teaching career. Successful graduates as their base the girls enjoy a "tailor-made" receive a diploma qualifying them to teach progran1 guaranteed to have a lifetime Rabbi Naftali Mandelbaum 7"~ in Jewish schools everywhere. Our seminary impact on them. They are able to tap into spent a summer in the same bun­ is a recognized accredited program. Eretz Yisroel's vast world of kedusha calling galow colony as Reb Mendel. Rabbi Jn addition to the core program of on various gedolim and visiting numerous Limudei Kodesh and teaching methods, stirring historical landmarks. It is a rich Mandelbaum noticed that every Friday girls acquire interpersonal life skills to help learning experience which weaves the facts, afternoon, Reh Mendel would leave them successfully fill the multiple roles of of the past into a beautiful contemporary the bungalow grounds for an extended wife, daughter, mother, teacher and friend. narrative. Attractions such as Jeep travels period and return home carrying a Machon Bais Yaakov Seminary heeded the and cruises are not overlooked, small package wrapped in butcher paper clarion call of the Gedolei Torah to prepare Af, Machon Bais Yaakov Seminary tucked under his arm. His curiosity got young girls in their role as Nshei Chayil in marks its 16th successful year of Avodas the better ofhim so he asked Reh Mendel the establishment of a unique and innova­ Hakodesh it looks fonvard to continued about the contents of the packages. Reh tive course taught by Rebbetzin Steinharter expansion of the seminary, praised by Mendel was at first evasive, but upon called Binyan Adei Ad which primes our alumnae for the qualitative difference it has Rabbi Mandelbaum persistence, Reh girls for a successful married life. To ensure made in their lives. . Mendel revealed to him the secret ofhis a more personalized learning experience For more informatio.; please call Friday shopping trips. Machon limits the size of its program. The Machon at 718 972 7900 ~ 210 4 Related by Rabbi AW·a~h~a-m_A_n_i-sl-el_d_

30 THE JEw1sJ-1 OnsERVER

Carefully unwrapping the white A newly married man asked Reb and waxing his father's car.7 butcher paper, Reb Mendel displayed Mendel about the custom ofrinsing out several plump green pickles, glistening the Kiddush cup before Kiddush. "It's a like emeralds in the summer sun. nice custom," Reh Mendel replied, "as GIVE PLEASURE - NOT PAIN Rabbi Mandelbaum was unable to long as you don't ask your wife to do it. contain his a.stonishment. "Reb Mendel Just do it yourself" eb Mendel specifically pursued I don't understand! A Torah scholar like Similarly, in parent-child conflicts, activities that enhanced others' yourself has nothing more important to Reb Mendel stressed to his students Rphysical well being and recoiled do Erev Shabbos than to make a trip to the importance of understanding their from any action that could possibly town just to buy a few pickles?" parents' position and the overriding cause another pain or harm.s \\Then "Reb Naftali," Reb Mendel began, responsibility to show respect for the once asked to sign a hetteir mei'a rab­ "let me explain. You know that a wife parents. Even under circumstances where banim (a document signed by one receives great satisfaction when her halacha dictates that a child isn't obli­ hundred rabbis that permits a man to husband shows appreciation for her gated to obey his parents, this directive remarry without first giving his wife a cooking abilities. Naturally, I praise my should be fulfilled with a sense of pain, divorce) for a distinguished young rav, wife for the delicious meals she prepares. and places on the child an even greater he demurred at their request, saying, But I wonder: Maybe she thinks that my responsibility to demonstrate his overall "Please find me other mitzvos to do lavish praise is not sincere, but just an respect for his parents in other aspects [that do not involve hurting another act ofpiety on my part. of their relationship. person]."9 "To counter such a thought, I inten­ The parents of one of his students Reb Mendel's credo was that the tionally make myself out to be a food wanted their son to leave yeshiva to learn interaction between a rabbi and a layman connoisseur. Among other things, I tell a trade. The student complained to Reb should primarily be a pleasant and enjoy­ her that I have special preferences in Mendel about his parents' attempt to able experience, and he would encourage pickles, and I therefore must select them exert pressure on his life choices. Rebbi those in leadership positions to deal with personally, and not leave it to other fam­ told him in respect to his resentful feel­ the public in a warm, respectful manner. ily members. Since I demonstrate such ings, "Your parents understand life a lot When he once heard a public speaker high regard for food, my compliments on better than you. You can never be upset shouting at his audience, he muttered her cooking are taken seriously. After all, with them:' to himself in annoyance, "Why does he they're comingfrom someone with a true have to scream?"w appreciation for fine cuisine." Reb Mendel once told a recent ba'al 7 RebMendel and His wiSdom, p. 169 teshuva, a tremendous masmid (diligent 8 See Shabbos 149b. student), who was about to return 9 Apparently, Reb Mendel felt that the husband THE SYNTHESIS OF HALACHA home to visit his parents: "\t\!hen you go would receive his hetteir mei'a rabbanim without AND MENTSCHLICHKEIT home, you must leave your dedication his participation. to your studies aside. You have only one 10 Nesivei Yam, the shiuri1n of Reb Mendel Kaplan on Masechta Kiddushin, p. 5. It fur­ eb Mendel demonstrated how mitzvah to focus on: honoring your ther cites the Rambam (Hilchos Melachirn 2:6), con11non sense and mentschlich­ parents." Rebbi told him to constantly who writes that when the king addresses the keit dictate the manner in which seek out ways to benefit and bring populace, he should speak in gentle tones. The R sages (cited by Rashi, beginning of parashas we perform mitzvos:5 (

He held little respect for those who Mendel answered, "First, straighten up a paper and ushered it out an open zealously pursue the "mitzvah" of pre­ all the desks and chairs in this room." window.1 2 senting authority figures with derogatory The student looked at Reb Mendel To a far greater degree, he would information about others, which brings quizzically, and then obediently started focus on people's positive qualities and untold pain and damage to the subject straightening a desk. Reb Mendel gri­ tend to overlook their shortcomings." of those remarks. maced and waved his hand downward, Reb Chaim Vesoker zt'~ the rash yeshiva A student once witnessed another stu­ indicating that the student had missed of Beis Hatalmud and a close friend of dent doing something improper, and was his point entirely. Reb Mendel since their days in the Mir in a moral dilemma whether to inform The message Reb Mendel was trying to Yeshiva in Poland, used to say, "Everyone the roshei yeshiva of the incident. The get across was, if the student was so inter­ has their meshugas (idiosyncrasy):' Just student sought Reb Mendel for guidance ested in performing "mitzvos;' why was as we have no problem accepting our and found him alone in a classroom.After only this particular mitzvah on his mind? own, we have to learn to live with oth­ the student finished his question, Reb Why wasn't he seeking to perform any of ers', as well. the myriad acts of kindness that surround In the shul where Reb Mendel dav­ Ye;uchem Levovitz explained this to mean: ah veicha shprach - soft, gentle speech. him constantly? If a person's inclination is ened in Williamsburg, the ba' al keria On the other hand, a distinction can be n1ade more towards pain-giving mitzvos than ended each Haftorah reading with a between orators who berate or speak conde­ pleasure-giving ones, it generally indicates dramatic flourish Some congregants scendingly to their audience and a speaker who that his motives are less than pure. Those who sat near Reh Mendel would wince naturally has a more fiery speaking style. A charis1natic speaker once visited a kiruv rechokim of truly noble character interest themselves during the weekly performance and summer camp where Reb Mendel was staying, in bringing happiness to others, and have express their displeasure. Reb Mendel and he gave a dran1atic address to the campers neither titne nor energy left for 1nitzvos would just smile and gently calm them and staff. Reb Mendel 1nentioned to this author that inflict pain on others.11 down, saying, "Good, good. Let him afterwards, "His personality is fire in all areas." I understood his cryptic ren1ark to nlean that had enjoy himself."14 his speech been just an oratory performance, it While others generally shun people would have been nothing adrnirable. But in the SEEKING THE Goon IN with slightly eccentric behavior, Reb case of this particular speaker, the dramatic aura OTHERS Mendel seemed to particularly enjoy of his presence was no act, but a sincere reflec­ their company. He found them without tion of the fire and charis1na that 1nanifested itself in all aspects of his personality. eb Mendel taught his students pretenses, devoid of any false facade. He Reb Mendel believed it healthy for people to to see the good in everything. develop their character traits in a 1nanner that While delivering a shiur one day, 12 The expfeSsion "He \vho wouldn't-h~rt afly" is congruent with their true personalities. There R applied to Reb Mendel - literally. He was once an insect landed on his Gemara. Instead was once an extre111ely diligent student in the talking to a student when the boy noticed a roach Philadelphia yeshiva who rarely wasted a mon1ent of brushing it away with annoyance, he crawling up a pillar. He was about to kill it, until (For exan1ple, he would din1b the fence between looked at it with marvel and exclaimed, Reh Mendel said gently, "Nu, you think you are the beis han1idrash and the dormitory building "Such a beautiful creature Hashem has killing the last one?" Since there was nothing to be gained by killing a lone roach, the act \Vould rather than take the extra time to walk around created!" He then gently led it onto the wall that extended till the sidewalk.) When only desensitize his feelings of co111passion to another student asked Reb Mendel if it were living creatures, and by extension, to\vards fellow appropriate for him to imitate some of his behav­ ii See Reb Mendel and-!lis Wisdont, pp. 234- hu111an beings. ior, Reb Mendel discouraged hi111. He explained 235. See also Zoha1~ Vayikra, 63b; Sefer Chachn1a 13 His approach was based on a principle that his extreme 1nannerism reflected his natural Umussarvol. 2, pp. 224-225; Shen1iras Halas/1011, expounded by Rabbeinu Yona in Shaarei 1Cshuva personality and that \Vere he in business, he Sha'ar Hatevuna chap. 17 d.h. Vehinei; Yi1111 Shel (3:217). He con1n1ents on the verse, "The fool would approach his clients with the saine zeal Shlomo, Bava Kania, end of 3:9; and Jgros Moshe asserts faults, but an1ong the upright there is good and diligence. YD vol. 2, 103, and YI) vol. 4, 30a. will" (Mishlei 14:9), that it is the trait of fools to search out a person's shortcomings and negative characteristics, and he con1pares the1n to flies that also seek to rest in squalid places. However, the practice of the upright is the opposite; they cover up the weaknesses of others, and instead, find and praise the positive aspects of a person. 14 The ba'al keria was a learned person who had a difficult per5onal life. Reh Mendel perhaps felt that this was a good 1neans for hi111 to derive so111e satisfaction. In general, Reb Mendel sought Staying at positive outlets for individuals he felt needed the beautiful Beit Contact Rabbi J.J. & Malka Greenberg Tovei Ha'ir in Geula, bathing at then1. He took note of a bachur who had a lot 718-241-4966 the Nirvan spa and staying overnight at Kibbutz Lavee of pent-up e111otion and anxiety. Reb Mendel encouraged the boy to "let off steam" by going Just the trip for the heimishe family behind one of the yeshiva buildings where the Separate air fare arranged by B&D Travel 212-953-3300 (Ask for Dov, or your own travel agent) broken chairs and tables were discarded, and sn1ash them forcibly against the wall.

32 _J ·~--=1 felt that they never lost the sweetness and simplicity that one normally associates with childhood. Measuring with his hands the space between his heart and I his head, he would say that in unfortu­ I nate people, the distance between the heart and the brain is only a few inches; I in successful people - and here he drew his fingers zigzaggingly across his chest I - the distance can be miles long. '1 Throughout his life, Reb Mendel Registration is now open for the summer program of 5767 which will be held IYH in Yerusholayim. Once again, the program which has been recom- I did not hesitate to take beggars into his I hon1e, giving them a meal and a place mended and endorsed by Gedolei Yisroel, will present an intensive course of to stay. Since many had had nowhere to study, prepared for Bnei Torah to enable them to develop their full potential I bathe or wash their clothes, his children I would ask him how he could stand the as Mechanchim in Yeshivas and Day Schools. smell. He would reply, "Do we look any better in Hashem's eyes? In Hashem's We will present the full range of subjects vital to the success of the rebbe in I eyes there are no yachsanim- privileged the classroom. We invite motivated individuals possessing higher Yeshiva I classes. With Him, the big and the small and (or) Kolle! education, to participate in this program. are all equal."" I One such poor soul was "Yankele Recognized for a Yeshiva Teacher's License I the Beggar." His odor was so foul that For further infonnation contact I people would have to hold their breath RABBI NACHMAN ZAKON RABBI HILLEL MANDEL RABBI CHAIM ROBERTS I when walking in his vicinity. Yet, Reb Administrator Dean Mendel treated him royally, and would Jerusalem 02-651-9739 NY (718) 805-1191 England 161-740-3465 I frequently drive him around in his car. Limited space available. If interested, please contact us immediately. During those times, he purposely kept I the windows of the car shut, even in the I hottest weather (and the cars that Reb Mendel drove never had air condition­ I I ing), so as not to cause him embarrass­ With leading Ta/mid Chacham and historian I ment, lest he feel that Reb Mendel was HaRav Dr Nasson David Rabinowich I opening the windows to clear the air of I I his unbearable stench. July 2- July 15 I July 29-Aug 7 (early bird special $5250) (early bird special $3600) I I When a student asked him why he I I accorded this particular beggar such e-mail: jewisheritagetours@ honor and respect, Reh Mendel told hotmaif.com I him, "There are Yidden who were born I I to carry a pekkel [of tzaros- a burden of n1isfortune] .16 If you ever see someone suffering more than average, you should I know he is not suffering for his own sins, GOING TO ERETZ YISROEL? but for the sins of Kial YisroeC'" No more shlepping those bulky blankets and pillows! No more I It was particularly the less overt wasting precious suitcase space I qualities of a person that Reb Mendel Call us here lo get your bedding needs !here and save yourself the hassle! appreciated the most. A shidduch was we deliver directly to your home or sem/yeshiva, aimos! anywhere in Yerushalayim, I once suggested for one of his daugh­ We carry a full line of ters; the young 1nan in question was blankets and pillows, from synthetics to handmade I a masmid and had outstanding mid­ Downs (European plume). dos, but had not studied in a presti- All at phenomenal prices! ~Reh JvICrulel and Jlis Wisdon1, p. 162.~Midrash I Sltenws Rabba, 40:4. 845-356-8000 2 Bartlett Rd. • Monsey, NY 10952 ... less hassle ... less stress I

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~'"hi" rnd w• oo< •moo'"' .. Reb Mendel held in disdain those Vesoker was greater than many of the r stars of the yeshiva world. When Reb who judged others by superficial cri- more famous roshei yeshivas of his Mendel readily consented, a family teria. While at the funeral of Rabbi time, "Because he never married - and member expressed his disapproval, Shmuel Charkever ?··~r, one of the was still a mentsch." 18 claiming that such a boy would not great products of the Mir Yeshiva in be considered "a chashuva shidduch." Europe, he heard the person next to Reb Mendel responded dismissingly, hin1 comment, "hnagine how great he LOVE FOR EVERY STUDENT "Chazal say: 'Tachlis Torah teshuva would have been had he married!" uma'asim tovim' - The purpose of Reb Mendel retorted angrily, "What eb Mendel related to students Torah study is to refine a person)s was he missing - a kitchen apron I to according to their individual character traits. What can be better do domestic chores]?" In fact, he had Rpersonalities. He would some­ than a young man who possesses the great estee1n for those who were given times inquire about a student's ances­ very qualities the Torah was intended difficult challenges in life. He once tors to better understand his nature. to instill?" expressed his view that Rabbi Chaim SUMMER VACATION ON CAPE COD Clean sandy beaches, boating,

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To a bachur of Chassidic background, No "DEAD ENDS" he offered a private seder to learn At the conclusion ofshiur one day, Chassidishe sefarim with him. With a ll in all, Reb Mendel possessed Reh Mendel said, "Now we've con­ troublesome boy in the yeshiva, Reb an irrepressibly positive outlook cluded our discussion of this topic. In Mendel adopted an anti-establish­ Atowards Yiddishkeit, people, and English, they say, 'The End,' or, 'That's ment approach, thereby channelling life itself. A former student of his unfor­ it, it's all over.' In Yiddish, there's no the boy's spirit of rebelliousness in a tunately became irreligious. Many years such expression, since nothing really positive n1anner. He would also have later, Reb Mendel still fasted for his ends. The word ge'endikt means we're students get in touch \Vi th their inner welfare and would inquire how he was holding off for the moment, but the feelings. One day, he asked the class, faring. Concerning this boy, another words still live on. "If you could be anyone in Tanach, student once remarked offhandedly, "He "Certain streets are marked 'Dead who would you want to be?" Each is an oisv01f(an outcast)." Reb Mendel's End,' but among Jews, there is no such student was then called upon to give face turned red with agitation (those thing as a 'Dead End,' because no situa­ his response. present relate that they could not recall tion is ever hopeless - no one is ever lost Reb Mendel held a special place in ever seeing him so perturbed). Slowly, beyond hope.'" 1 his heart for every student, especially Reb Mendel regained his composure That really sums up Reb Mendel's those who struggled with difficulties. and said in a deliberate tone, "By Jews, attitude towards life. When a world-renowned rash yeshiva the word 'outcast' does not exist. 'Ki lo "Vert menn kein mohl nisht fahrlo­ asked hin1- for so1ne advice in chinuch, yidach mimenu nidach - For no one will ren" - No situation is ever hopeless, no Reb Mendel told him, "When a student re1nain banished.'"20 one is ever lost beyond hope. ~ vvishes to speak to you, never keep 20-· Shn11/C{f1, 14: 14; related byRJbbt Avro-hOD.1 hin1 waiting long. You don't know Anisfeld what problems he might have on his 1nind." He once told one of the rnaggidei SPAIN &ITAIY shiurin yeshiva, "I ain1 my shiurat the /"" With leading Ta/mid Chacham weaker boys; not at the good heads, _:& historian HaRav Or. Nasson David Rabinowich not at the medium heads, but at the Spain July 1 - July 10 weak ones."" He didn't approve of Italy July 8 - July 17 publicly awarding high achievers at Aug 19-Aug28 the graduation ceremony, as is cus~ Early Bird special $3500 all inclusive tomarily done. "They don't need the encouragement. It is the weaker ones e-mail: [email protected] who do." For this reason, he eschewed www.ahavathtorah.com marks on his report card; instead, he wrote a personal message to each student. For weak students vvho could not understand his shiur, Reb Mendel tried to offer benefits in other ways, such as by developing a personal rela­ tionship with them outside of class. He ...... E SELECTION OF would invite them to accon1pany him on his errands, or to go for pleasant BORSA.LINO HA.TS! We 1'.lso Carry walks together. Expert fitting • Courteous senrice Brand Nanae !'}ffCh~ A1c11crer ·~;;1a-Hi.~~1Is;10;;1:· ··i;p~-122~ 284. A principal once boasted to Reb tv1endel Individualized attention • Hat cleaning & Shirts & Ties, for that he only t<1kcs ill11yin1 (geniuses) into Big & Tall as _..,If, his yeshiva. Reb J'vfendcl replied, "If your Renovating • Follow-up care long after sale al Discount Prices yeshiva only wants the iluyiln, where are the good lmchurin1 going to go?" .. Reb Mendel consistently aiined at building up the self.-esteen1 of his students and taught then1 to believe in thetnselves. He once gave a class I the following bit of advice: "If you ever develop a Torah thought, even if sotneone disproves it, I I wnte 1t dov-. n anyway I'vt.iybe when you revisit I Lou11 ~d-yo-u wer~1g-htafte=~- -

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RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING ~ I ~~ rnusic 1ar1P • A J pgrY at •.• •

... OR A PARENT'S GUIDE TO WHAT YOUR CHILDREN LISTEN TO

he year was 1975. We were put­ I rushed to Rabbi Pam and asked him gal us that we have become inured to this ting the final touches on the if this refers specifically to Shir Hashirim very serious issue? Tsecond JEP recording (some of because it already is a song. He smiled you may recall those days and that and said, "No. I'1n afraid you are learn- type of music). I was a talmid of Rabbi ing the wrong pshat. If Shir Hashirim, Is IT JEWISH? Avrohon1 Pam ?"~T in Mesivta Torah which already is a song, cannot be made · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Vodaath, and my chavrusa and I came into a song, certainly one may not do so Another incident during my beis across a gemara in Masechta Sanhedrin with any other passuk in Tanach:' midrash days in Torah Vodaath (Perek Cheilek, daf!Ol) that caught me "But Rebbi, what about all of our is relevant to this discussion. off guard and sent me into a frenzy: Jewish songs ... and records?" I was standing in the back of the beis "One who recites a passuk of Shir Rabbi Pam answered, "If you bring a midrash when the Mashgiach, Rabbi Hashirim and turns it into a type of group of non-religious children together Moshe Wolfson N"1"""1, tapped me on song, or one who recites a passuk at for a JEP gathering and you want to bring the shoulder, pointed to a nearby table, a banquet hall at an inappropriate them close to Hashem, then the song is and said;'Yossie, please take those books time, brings misfortune to the world wonderful. If you are leading Pirchei out of the beis midrash." because the Torah puts on sackcloth children and you want to ignite the hearts I looked and saw what I thought were and stands before Hakadosh Baruch of the kinderlach to bring them closer to some nicely bound Hebrew booklets. I Hu and says, 'Rib bona she/ Olam, 1orah, wonderful. But if you take a guitar asked, "Books? Aren't they sefarim?" Your children have made me like a on stage and sing pesukim to entertain Rabbi Wolfson told me sternly, "just lute that scoffers play."' the audience, then the Torah dons sack- because something is written in Hebrew cloth and complains to Hashem, and this does not make it into a sefer. Please take RABBI GOLDING, CURRENTLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR brings misfortune to the world:' them out." OF Ror-TH Cr-lOLIM CANCER SOCIETY (RCCS), PRODUCED AND ornECTED THE FIRST FOUR JEP When I hear some of the "Jewish" I submit the same holds true with RECORDS IN THE 19705, AND SERVED AS TCCHNIC AL melodies being produced today by some Jewish music. Just because there are ADVlSOI{ FOR MANY SUKI & DING PRODUCTIONS, of our young songwriters, I wonder if Hebrew words to the song does not nee- , MOST NOTABLY UNCLE MOlSl!Y AND TllE MITZVA!-1 they ever heard of this Gemara. I won- essarily make it Jewish. Many of us are I, MEN. T!-IE AUT!iOR WIS!!ES To ACKNOWLEDGE THE der if they realize that writing a tune to bombarded with secular Israeli music in ,, CONSTRlJCTlVE COMMENTS FROM YISROEL LAMM, AB1E RoTENBERG. AND MosHE liAuBEN, Muc11 oF a passuk is a very serious undertaking. I pizza stores or, at times, over the radio, wutctt HAs BEEN 1NcoRroRATED iNTo THE TExT wonder if we, who have allowed this to and the lyrics are oftentimes counter to 1 ,______--- happen,-~a~-~unkso low 111-t~~long---~hat we wouldever want our ch1:J THE JEWISH OBSERVER _··-_ -==-i

to listen to. ''But it's Jewish, isn't it?" no passuk can be shortened, no word rock singers from Liverpool, England, No, it isn't. may be omitted, and no two pesukim singers who were the epitome of the I We have a responsibility to inform can be combined to change the true degradation of the 1960s, and putting those wonderful purveyors of Jewish meaning of these words. I remem­ the holy words of Kabbolas Shabbos to music that we want to hear Jewish music, ber a song produced some 40 years those tunes. This song writer is a won­ not just music with Hebrew words. (This ago that omitted the word "Elokeinu" derful gentleman who travels the world does not mean that there isn't wonderful from the lyrics. I actually heard people, for kiruv and harbatzas Torah ... but it I Jewish music from Israel being played. It many years later, quoting that passuk should not be for us! just means that we have a responsibility from Tehillim whilst skipping the word We urge the talented songwriters, I to be more demanding and more selec­ Elokeinu. I have since heard a different performers, and producers to under­ : tive of what enters our ears, and those melody, using the same passuk, being stand what a great impact they can have of our children.) sung the same way! I respectfully sub­ upon Kial Yisroel and we point out to I mit that our young songwriters of this them that they have an opportunity to generation use the following barometer use their music, regardless of genre, for a I I "IDOL" WORSHIP when composing: If the song does not greater good. The performer should not I result in kevod Shamayim, then don't merely prance around on stage for an was recently at a concert in \Vhich write it. Don't be afraid to ask your rav; hour, mindlessly belting out tune after several Jewish acts performed for the responsibility is greater than you tune .... To enhance the music, there I the benefit of a wonderful charity. I understand it to be. should be dialogue, peirush hamillim, have seen firsthand the fantastic results a story, chizuk, inspiration, a plea for that this charity has produced. And I a greater connection to the Almighty will continue to support this charity. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SAY through music, ... and we must be able But I was stunned to see young Jewish THIS. BUT... to say wholeheartedly, tavo alav beracha boys dancing around the stage like non­ - may he receive Divine blessings - for Jewish performers, singing holy words here are times that we see a doing so ... even if it isn't always thekind of Torah and tefilla, gyrating, as if they particular "Jewish" album in a of music that you and I appreciate. An were imitating the rock stars of the 60s. Hebrew book store when we evening of Jewish music should rein­ T ! And the audience applauded! ls this not must tell our children, This is not for force within the audience that music is exactly the opposite of what should be our level offudaism. We must rise above a gift from Hashem with the potential happening? ls this how we should be the albums that are clearly meant to to inspire the appropriate en1otion I f training our children? Are these the imitate non-Jewish music, using non­ of the moment, whether simcha she! role models, the heroes, we want our Jewish music appended to words of mitzva, sirnchas hachai1n, or longing I children to emulate? Of course, there Tanach - clearly on the "fringe" of to be closer to Hashem, or to return to I are children who need to build their acceptability. Maybe that music is good Yerushalayim .. . and that their evening I I self-esteem, and maybe being part of a for kiruv, maybe it will stop someone was well spent spiritually. Jewish music I I choir is good for them. But they are the from listening to secular music .. . but is a calling, not merely a way to make exceptions, not the rule. Our children it's not for us! a living. I I should be taught that idol worship Today, I heard a Jewish song writer on If everyone involved made it para­ ! should be reserved for idolizing young, radio lament the fact that he has not had mount that their audiences be uplifted I budding talmidei chachamim and osei the opportunity to publish his composi­ overall .... or better yet, if the audiences : chessed, not entertainers. tion, "Nusach Liverpool" for Kabba/as demanded that performers use their I I Shabbos. For those too young or too talents for that goal. .. it would go a long I pure to understand what this signifies, it way towards bringing the true shiras I I A GUIDE TO SONGWRITERS means taking the music of four decadent Levi'im closer to realization. !liJ lthough I never actually com­ I posed a song, I was indirectly Ainvolved in the construction of many n1usical compositions, most nota­ I bly for JEP and for Uncle Moishy and For careful attention to your I I the Mitzvah Men. Many times, she' eilos I arose, and we asked our rabbinical advi- individual needs, call us today! I sors for guidance. For example, Rabbi (845) 354-8445 I I Yisroel Belsky, JEP's first rabbinical I I advis~r, gave us clear ins-tructions that

----~---·------~---~:J I. PARTISAN LOYALTY AND on war, religion is the continuation of With the exception of the high level RELIGION politics by other means. The March 12, of Iraqi civilian casualties, the criticisms 2007, resolution of the Union for Reform voiced in the Refonn staten1ent are 1nore e Torah is the Divine word of the Judaism calling for the President and relevant to the issue ofwhether the invasion nfinite G-d. For that reason, it is Congress to "set and announce a clear of Iraq was justified in the first place than Tibsurd to think that the Torah will timetable for the phased and expeditious to the issue of whether America should ever be embodied in a particular political withdrawal of United States troops from withdraw now that it is in Iraq and the platform or that it embodies a particular Iraq" and opposing the President's call for stakes have changed dramatically. (The platform. The Torah is neither Democrat an "escalation in troop strength" provides Reform move1nent itself dee1ned a war nor Republican, neither liberal nor con­ a classic illustration of the latter. Not sur­ to re1nove Saddan1 Hussein to be just in a servative. It is distinct from all such labels, prisingly, the Reform movement finds that 2002 resolution.) and transcends all such divisions. on this issue, as with virtually every other Even the high level of civilian casual­ That does not mean that Torah Jews current political issue, there exists a perfect ties is only an argument for withdrawal are not influenced in their political deci­ congruence between its religious principles if one believes that those casualties will sions by Torah values. Of course they are. and the policy positions of the liberal wing decline after withdrawal. But apart from But rarely will the Torah clearly dictate the of the Democratic Party. one entirely unsupported aside to the stance on a particular political issue. For effect "that the American presence in Iraq one thing, political issues ofren involve may be fueling the current conflict;' the not only questions of values but empirical II. FAILURE TO MAKE THE CASE Reform statement offers nothing to sup­ questions about the likely consequences of port the claim that civilian casualties would one policy or another. decline in the event of an American with­ For that reason, Agudath Israel of A. LOOKING BACKWARD drawal. Nor could it. According to the most America has traditionally been reticent recent National Intelligence Estimate, an to take organizational positions on major The lengthy Reform statement in sup­ American withdrawal in the near future political issues or in support of particular port of its resolution recites the familiar "almost certainly would lead to a significant candidates, as if there were a clear ''Torah list of criticisms of the President's policy in increase in the scale and scope of sectarian position" on those issues or candidates. Iraq. The United States is accused of having Only where the issues touch upon the failed "to pursue all reasonable alternatives firn1ed the fi~lJifig of British il1tCfiigffiCC thatj~~~qi viability of the Torah community - e.g., to war [and] to mobilize the kindofbroad­ officials had atte1npted to purchase uraniun1 cake fron1 Niger. l)ave Gaubatz, a fOnner United States state support for parochial education; or based international cooperation we had in Air Force special agent, dairns to have discovered Torah values are clearly implicated - e.g., the first Gulf War;' of having supplied an four huge underground bunkers fifteen to twenty­ debates over abortion or single-sex 1nar­ '(array of faulty justifications for war," of a five feet beneath the Euphrates River, containing riage; or the physical security of millions "disgracefttl failure to protect the civilian high levels of radioactivity, in 2003. Far fron1 failing to pursue diplo1natic options of Jews in Israel or around the world is at infrastructure," "abuses of prisoners," and versus Saddan1 Hussein, the Bush administra- stake is Agudath Israel of America likely to "the alarming devastation wrought on tion spent n1orc than half a year in futile efforts take a public stand. civilians:' "All these [reasons J and more to gain French and Gern1an support for stron- Not so other Jewish groups, of whom it raise significant abuses [sic] and failures ger diplon1atic pressure on Iraq. The French and Gern1an failure to join either diplo111atic might be said, paraphrasing von Clausewitz of Jewish just war standards;' according or 1nilitary efforts tells a lot 1norc about the to the authors of the resolution.' entrenched anti-An1ericanisn1 of the Chirac RABBI ROSENBLUM, WHO LIVE!; tN Jt:RUSALEM, JS ~h-Of these accusations iS-·deb-at~at~ole-.~T~he and Schroeder govern1nents at that ti1ne than A C()NTIUBUTING EDITOR TO THE)E\VJS/-J 0BSl'iRVl:.'R. assun1ption of the Bush adn1inistration that about the United States' willingness to explore 1-1£ JS Al.SO DIRECTOR OF THE ]SRAEU DIVISION Saddam possessed WMDs and was far advanced alternatives to military action. The failure of the OF AM ECHAD, THE AGtLDAT!l ]SHAEL·INSPIRED in assembling a nuclear boinb was shared by every Europeans today to JOIJ1 1n strong sanctions to I EDllCATJONAL OllTREACH Ef'FORf AND MEDIA Western intelligence agency and by the Clinton bnng Iran's nude.tr p1og1ain to a halt 1s a 1c~eat Recsou>0. adn1inistration. The Butler Co1111nission reaf~ of the ea1her pattern 1

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CEREBRAL-BASED LEARNING 15. HELPING CHILDREN GROW How to teach so your students will learn. Use Practical techniques to make an impact on our increased knowledge of the brain and its the religious growth of your students. functions to guide class preparation and structure, while enhancing student learning Instructor: Rabbi Zev Katz, Principal-Judaic and retention. Dept., Yeshiva of Greater Washington; Silver Spring, MD Instructor: Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, Associate Principal, Yeshiva Shearis Yisroel; Chicago, IL JULY 16,17,18,19I1:30pm-3:50pm JULY 2,3,4,5 I 4:05pm-6:25pm 16. EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE 5. TEACHING IS ... Learn how to structure the classroom set­ Learn the key principles of learning in order to ting through management techniques and ensure that the students learn what the objec­ classroom attitudes in order to produce a tive states. positive learning atmosphere. 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DISCIPLINE THROUGH COMMUNICATION and are with a mechitzah. Institute For Day School Management; New Learn and practice the communication skills York, NY that will allow you to reach your student and Fulfilling the requirements of each course is credited handle discipline issues and conflict resolution. towards a TU Teachers License. A certificate will be award- Instructor: Rabbi Yitzchok Merkin, Headmaster, ed upon full attendance of a minimum of three courses. Yeshiva of Greater Washington; Silver Spring, MD 9. MAKING TEFILA ANO OINIM MEANINGFUL Practical methodologies to teach both Dinim and Tefila in an interesting, informative, and motivating manner. The course will also define the ten components of teaching Dinim. Instructor: Rabbi Gov Leibenstein, Educational Supervisor; Chicago, IL THE JEWISH OBSERVER

I . M · 'vir l Ffl.1 con 1ct ·1n raq.. .. ass1ve c1 1an casua - The lslamists attach great importance to murderous strategy prevails in Iraq, the ties and forced population displacement the battle in Iraq today. Osama bin Laden jihad is ts' historical narrative of Islam's would be probable:' has said that "The most. . . serious issue impending triumph over the West would today for the whole world is this Third gain further corroboration and draw more B. WHAT ABOUT ISLAMOFASCISM? World War that is raging in Iraq;' and his to the banner of worldwide jihad. second-in-command, Ayman Zawahiri, Among the implications for the West describes Iraq as "the place of the greatest C. WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL? and Israel of a precipitous American with­ battle of Islam in this era." drawal, about which the Reform statement We are witnessing today in Iraq the Of all the curious omissions from the is silent, is the likely impact on the various fulfillment of the strategy laid out by Abu Reform statement, none is more shock­ strains of political Islam, with their shared Musab al-Zarqawi in an intercepted 2004 ing than its silence about the impact of goal of imposing Sharia worldwide. letter to Bin Laden. To prevent "this evil withdrawal on more than five million Jews Political Islam seeks to reverse the pro­ principle of democracy and those who living in Israel. Beyond a perfunctory quali­ cess oflslamic retreat from the time of the follow this evil ideology" from gaining fication that the phased withdrawal from Christian reconquest of the entire Iberian a foothold in Iraq, Zarqawi proposed to Iraq should be done in a matter that 'best peninsula at the end of the 15th century. foment civil war by terrorist attacks on enhances stability in Iraq and stability for According to Bernard Lewis, the foremost Shiites, which would lead to Shiite retalia­ the region, including Israel; there is only living authority on the Muslim world, a tion against Sunnis, which would then force silence. Not a word to say about whether historical narrative oflslamic ascendancy all Sunnis to join the battle. 2 If Zarqawi's withdrawal from Iraq would increase or has been gaining force since Afghani muja­ decrease Israel's security. hideen expelled the Soviet Army from 2 By supplying \veapons to both Shiite mili­ tias and the Sunni minions of Al Qaeda, the Zarqawi's strategy in Iraq: defeat America by fueling a vicious civil \Var. Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden wrote at the Iranian Revolutionary Guard continues to pursue time that Muslims had defeated the more dangerous of their two main enemies) and that defeating the effeminate Americans PINC:HA.S l\t'.CA.NDEL ()ver 50 years e.t:perience in Kvura in Eretz l'israel would prove easier. Serving tfie North Amencan Public and Funeral fndustry The Islamists' impression of Western ?N1v~ 'P1N' rN 7111:1j7 /1N )Jj71i/ fecklessness has only grown stronger by vir­ Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUST "PAPERWORK" tue of the ease with which Iran has strung ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD along the Europeans for over three years of Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Yisrael negotiations over its nuclear program while 1628-42nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204 incurring only symbolic sanctions. Should Iran go nuclear or the United States be seen Day&Nightphone: (718) 851-8925 as fleeing Iraq, the lslamist narrative of )Vtl'l.JN1~r.JNP Vl"i' - )'1::> 1Nl mmrv 'll~ Islam's advance and Western weakness will Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved family. only gain that much more credence. TAHARAS HANJFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE COMMERCIALIZED 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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I Vice-President Cheney spoke at the secretary of state, Baker's hostility to Israel words. That view is shared by virtually recent AIPAC convention about the link­ every Israeli policymaker or strategist. was on frequent display, including the use age between Iraq and Iran: "It is simply not of harsh epithets in public and once pub­ consistent for anyone to de1nand aggres­ licly offering then Prime Minister Yitzchak sive action against the menace posed by 0. JAMES BAKER III AND THE Shamir his phone number to call when he the Iranian regi1ne while at the same ti1ne U.N. AS REFORM AUTHORITIES "was serious about peace." acquiescing in a retreat from Iraq that The passage of time has done nothing would leave our worst enemies dran1ati­ The two most frequently cited sources to abate that animosity. While offering cally emboldened and Israel's best friend, in the Reform statement are the findings little by way of concrete recommenda­ the United States, dangerously weakened." of the Iraq Study Group (ISG), headed by tions about how the United States might And two days later, Prime Minister Olmert former Secretary of State James Baker III, still realize its policy goals in Iraq, the echoed those views in nearly identical and news stories in The New York Times. As ISG Report did make one concrete rec­ ommendation: "The United States will not be able to achieve its goals in the Middle East unless the United States deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict." And how did the ISG propose to deal with the Arab-Israeli conflict? By conven­ in Erctz Yisroel for Bais Yaakov High School Students ing an international conference to which dozens of states will be invited - with the June 24 -July 25, 2007 notable exception of Israel - even though Israel is the only countiy whose conces­ • TasteofSeminai)' Level Hashkata & Tiyulim for Girls entering Grades 10, 11 & 12 sions are specified in advance: "The Israelis • Hear Shiurin1 from Rablxmim and Moros from the finest seminaries should return the Golan Heights:' • Improve your learning skills, meet new friends, receive ix-rsonalized haclradlil The ISG thus put its imprimatur on

• Exdting Tiyulim and Shabbatonim perhaps the single most dangerous inter­ national myth about Israel: that the lsraeli­ • lncatcd at the beautiful Chochmas Lev Campus in Ba)-it Vegan Palestinian conflict lies at the heart of the world-threatening instability of tl1e Middle East. 3 Yet, of all the places where the Arab- 3 In fact, there are few propositio1~Seasier to refute than that "the gates of world harn1ony Be Inspired l?Jr Toras Eretz Yisroel all open in Jerusalen1," as Andre Glucksmann and Grow in lbur Avodas Hashem sarcastically put it in The New Republic. Do our sages really believe, he asks, that but for Israel Haskamah from Harav Shmuel Kaminetzky, Shlita "neither the deadly Khoineini Revolution, nor the bloody Baathist dictatorships in Syri.a and Iraq, nor the decade of Islamic terrorisn1 in Algeria, nor the Taliban in Afghanistan, nor the angry warriors of Allah the world over" would ever have happened? To that list might be added the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran, in which a 1nillion huinan beings lost their lives,

' 42 J Israeli conflict has had no impact, Iraq ORTHODOX GROUP SPEAKS is surely at the top of the list. Sunnis and Shiites would be slaughtering one another OUT ON IRAQ WAR \vith or without Palestine. Upon consultation with its rabbinic leadership, Agudath Israel of America The ISG also recommended that issued the following statement: America engage in direct negotiations with Iran and Syria to help stabilize the Since September 11, 2001, the deference is appropriate both because situation in Iraq. The realist authors of United States has been involved in a of the constitutional authority that the report cannot grasp that America war against forces of evil and terror. inheres in the President's position is really Iran's number one target, and These forces pose a grave danger not as Commander in Chief, and also that Iran has a far greater interest in the only to the United States and its allies because of the moral authority the humiliation of America than in stopping in the Western World, but also to our President has consistently displayed the instability in Iraq, instability that it Jewish brethren in Israel and across in leading the battle against interna­ has done so much to foment. The only the globe. tional terror. bargaining chip the United States has to America's efforts in Iraq have been We feel compelled to express our offer Iran is acquiescence in its nuclear part of this larger battle. While, in views at this time because the Union ambitions. But a nuclear Iran is an even retrospect, the planning and execution for Reform Judaism, purporting to bigger threat to America than a humiliat­ of some of these efforts may have been have arrived at its position through ing retreat from Iraq. less than perfect, there have also been an application of "halachic norms" By dangling the Golan Heights before significant achievements. The bottom and "Jewish values;' has publicly Syria as an incentive for Syria to shut line, at this time, is that the stakes in proclaimed its opposition to the do\vn insurgent training camps and seal Iraq remain high, and that there still President's policies in Iraq. This group its border, instead of just using its own remains much to be done. is entitled to its own organizational power to destroy those camps, the United Agudath Israel of America believes position, but that position is neither States would, in Bernard Lewis' words, that President Bush is entitled to great a legitimate expression of halachic be conveying the image of a country at deference in his ongoing efforts to Judaism nor reflective of authentic once treacherous to its friends and fron1 stabilize the situation in Iraq. Such Jewish values. who1n its enemies have nothing to fear. No wonder that Abu Ayman, the leader of the to the Russians and Chinese as well. clusions, despite the movement's explicit Palestinian Islamic Jihad, proclaimed upon Hardly good news for Israel. rejection of every aspect of halacha. The

release of the ISG report, "The Americans It beggars the imagination how any interest in halachic sources is encouraging, I' have come to the conclusion that Islam Jewish group could offer its approval of evenifthereadingofthosesourcesismore

is the new giant of the world, and that it the moral authority of the U.N., which than a little strained. 1' would be wise to reduce hostilities with has become a debating society for the pas- The Reform statement notes two pos- .

this giant." sage of anti-Israel resolutions, and whose sible initial justifications for the war in Iraq: .1' Finally, the Reform statement makes Human Rights Commission has gone ( l) to free the Iraqi people from the clutches . the U.N. Security Council the final arbi- so far as to sanction terrorism against of Saddam Hussein and (2) as a preemptive I ter of the legitimacy of military force in Israeli civilians (with a numberofWestern strike against an enemy that is coming to the international arena by arguing that European nations voting affirmatively or kill you. The statement concludes, however, President Bush lacked "right authority" abstaining.) that the failure to locate WMDs in Iraq to go to war because he failed to secure proves that Saddam Hussein was not an specific authorization from the U.N. imminent threat and therefore, preemption Security Council. Thus, the Reform III. THE REFORM STATEMENT As was not justified. movement would have subjected any TORAH COMMENTARY But surely, the proper test is what the military action against Saddan1 Hussein · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ' · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Bush administration could reasonably have to the whims of the French or Germans, Aiesolution on the conduct of the believed about Saddam's capacities at the and any action against Iran today, war in Iraq, the Reform statement time of the war, not what subsequently including serious economic sanctions, egins,isjustifiedbythe"prophetic turned out to be the case. A person is Iraq's invasioO of Kuwait, the Egyptian use ·of tradition ... [that] calls upon us to address entitled to act in self-defense against some- poison gas against Yemen in the '60s, and Assad the great moral issues bf the day:' Yet, one threatening him with a pistol, even if it the Father's n1urder of 111ore than 20,000 of his interestingly, rather than just relying on subsequently turns out to have been merely own citizens at Hama. "The root of the trouble," vague formulations about the centrality of an authentic-looking toy. writes Haim Hariri, "is that this entire Moslem • region is totally dysfunctional. .. and would have "social justice (read liberal politics) to the The Reforn1 state1nent argues that just

1 been so even if an independent Palestine had prophetic tradition;' the Reform state1nent as a Jewish king required authorization 1· L~d-~r!OO years." ··-----c-it-es halachic so~~e_s_t_o_b-utt-re-ss-it_s_c_01_1·~--fr-o_m__ th_e_S_an-hedrin before embarking 431 ..------~---~------

M A Y 2 0 0 7

on a milchemes reshus (optional war), Nor has President Bush ignored the Totally implausible is the statement's so, too, must President Bush submit to legislature. Congress has not voted a formal claim that in the "contemporary world;' the greater Congressional oversight. Even on declaration of war since Pearl Harbor, on U.N. Security Council stands in the place its own terms, the analogy fails. Once December 7th, 1941. But President Bush of the Sanhedrin as the "right authority" to having authorized the king to go to war, sought and received Congressional autho­ sanction military action. Such a position the Sanhedrin did not exercise ongoing rization for the use of military force against not only does violence to all traditional oversight of the war. Iraq in October 2002. understanding of national sovereignty, it would also place the United States and I coach people to help the1n realize their Israel at the mercy of any of the permanent Can a Life-Coach own dreams and ambitions. I help them members of the U.N. Security Council, help you realize plan, progra1n, and stay motivated. including Russia, China, and France. WHY COACHING? Improving one's Finally, the Reform statement your dreams? life means making change; and people need support and structure to keep distractions accuses the United States of "baal and obstacles from swamping their dreams and goals. tashchis," due to its failure to secure Moreover, people rarely see their own capabilities in full tneasure. A coach is a per­ and rebuild civilian infrastructure in son who by temperament, experience, and training is dedicated to help you grow and Iraq and because of the large number achieve your own dreams. A coach never loses confidence in his client's ability! of civilian casualties. Presumably, the I have over thirty years experience in helping people fulfill their dreams, have authored books, articles and produced cassette programs on this subject. In 2-3 United States is not accused of having months, using weekly private phone sessions, you can learn how to embarked on a concerted campaign effectively take control of your life. to cut down Iraq's fruit trees. And FREE OFFER - I would be happy to give you a free telephone presumably, the Reform movement conference. Please call USA845-352-1175 for an appointment. knew when it voted in 2002 to sup­ Thank you. - MR. AV! SHULMAN port military intervention in Iraq that Live a Life of Design, Not Default all wars wreak death and destruction, without therefore being examples of "baal tashchis." But the most unconscionable aspect of this particular "halachic" analogy is that it places the onus for civilian deaths and the pipelines and generators blown up not on OUR STAND -•--- the foreign terrorists under the banner of NOWYOUCAN Al Qaeda, local Baathist insurgents, and Shiite militias who are engaged in the PUT THE SPARK BACK terror and sabotage, but upon the United IN YOUR INSURANCE. States for not being more successful in stopping them, No such principle exists in halacha. • Call me today to hear about these new optional features: New Car Replacement. Accident Forgiveness and Deductible Rewards. IV. WHY DID AGUDATH (718) 268-1700 ISRAEL OF AMERICA ISSUE A STATEMENT?

iven Agudath Israel of America's historic reticence to take public Martin Levy Gstands on political issues, why did the organization do so with respect 103-20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE to the Reform movement's resolution FOREST HILLS calling for an expeditious withdrawal [email protected] Allstate. from Iran? You're in good hands. Call or stop by for a free quote The first reason, I suspect, is simple 4 Securing infrastructure and stopping terfOf­ Feature is optional and subject to terms and conditions. Available in select states now and in most states by 1131106 (subject to ists appear a good deal easier while ensconced regulatory approval where required). Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL. ©2005 Allstate Insurance at a convention in America than in the face of Company enemy fire in Iraq.

44 Anew project of Agudath Israel of America, BSIATA (Business Startup Initial Assistance Through Advice) assists individuals embarking on business enterprises by matching them with successful professionals - in fields such as marketing, accounting, import-export, law, banking and general business - who can offer guidance and direction. For information regarding this free service, call 212.797.9000, ext 271.

Volunteer -The Life You Change May Be Your Own

Whether you are interested in helping members of the community through BSIATA or in some other For information, call volunteer capacity, please contact Agudath Israel's Volunteer Service Department. You may also the Volunteer Service contact the department if you would like your organization or agency to be included in a listing of Department at 212.797.9000, ext 271. volunteer opportunities currently being compiled for publication. 2 0 0 7 ------··---,------I I hakaros hatov to President Bush for, as President Bush, or express sympathy tant, Agudath Israel could not allow a the statement says) "the n1oral authority for the difficulty and magnitude of the statement purporting to base itself on [he] has consistently displayed in leading decisions he is called upon to make, Je\vish halachic sources, 1nade by a group the battle against international terror the Agudath Israel statement, calls for that rejects the binding nature ofhalacha, [read the Jslamist threat]:' That threat, "great deference" to President Bush as to stand as the sole position by a Je\vish the staten1ent begins) poses a "grave he atten1pts to stabilize the situation "religious)) group on the issue. Nor could danger not only to the United States in Iraq." it allow the Reform movement to claim and its allies in the Western world, but That deference is deemed appropriate for its resolution the status of an authen­ also to our Jewish brethren in Israel and both due to his constitutional status as tic expression of "halachic norn1s" or across the globe:' Commander-in-Chief and as a reflec­ "Jewish values." Had the Reform move­ In addition, Bush is widely recognized tion of his n1oral stature as the leader ment never issued a resolution on the as, in the words of a recent Han1odia in the fight against international terror. war in Iraq, it is quite likely that Agudath editorial, "the most steadfast friend Israel The mention of President Bush's con­ Israel of America would not have taken has ever had in the White House." The stitutional status is, at the san1e ti1ne, a any public stance, either. editorial \vent on to list the reasons: "his rejection of the far-fetched Reform claim insistence that no Palestinian State be that President Bush lacks "right author­ CORRECTION established without full recognition of ity" for the \Var. Due to a technological malfunction, Israel; his rejection of I the I Iraq Study It seems clear, as well, that Agudath several lines became lost during the pagi­ Group's suggestion that progress in deal­ Israel objected to the shocking omis­ nation of text of the April '07 issue of The ing with Iraq will only come when there sions of the Reforn1 staten1ent noted Jewish Observer. The following has the is progress on the Israeli-Palestinian above - in particular, the lack of atten­ co1nplete sentences of the text: front; his treatn1ent of Syria and Iran as tion to the threat of Islan1ofascism and Bottom of Page 17 the pariah states they are ...." the potentially dangerous ra1nifications Our realization and acceptance of In contrast to the I{efonn resolution, of precipitous withdrawal for both the avdus will hasten the arrival of the great \vhich cannot n1uster even one respectful, West and Israel. day of our Geula. Then, free from the n1uch less favorable \Vord, to say about And finally, and perhaps most impor- shackles of galus, \Ve \vill truly serve Hashem. At that time, the whole world \vill acknovvledge and accept Hashe111 Yisbarach as the one and only King who took us out of lvlitzrayin1 so that we should loyally do His bidding.

Bottom of Page 25 By reciting Pesukei deZ1nira, \Ve cel­ ebrate the divine harmony of Creation, praising the Conductor Who arranges the CONSIDERING orchestration of all the inhabitants of the world so that every one of then1 can sing A MOVE? 1 His praises every n1on1ent of every day. Located in Western St. Louis County, Chestetfield, Missouri is one of the most Ar THE PEAK OF THE CYCLE beautiful and livable suburban U.S. cities and features the following: •A seven n1ile eruv surrounds spacious and affordable homes If we had to choose whether the Pesach •Young, vibrant, Torah Orthodox shul under the leadership of Rabbi Aaron Winter, Seder fits in better with the supernatural a rnusmach of Rav Henoch Leibowitz, Shlita, & Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l theme of Halle! or the natural theme of • Nevvly-built, attractive 111ikvah available daily & located on shul's premises Ashrei, our intuitive ans\ver \vould almost •Excellent Orthodox day schools and Yeshiva high schools for boys and girls certainly be the former. On this night, and •Opening this fall "THE M1ssoc1;:1 TORAH INSTITUTE", a Mesivta J-iigh School and no other night, do we recite Halle!- many Yeshivah Gedolah - under the auspices of the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva/Rabbinic2.J of us in shul and all of us after bentching. Sen1inary of An1erica And what is Maggid (the recitation of the •Full accessibility to all kashrus products and kosher establish111ents Haggada) itself but a litany of miracles, For more information, please call: one after another after another? All the Congregation Tpheris Israel (314)-469 7060 fundamental themes of Halle! are pres­ ent) fron1 the Exodus to Moshiach, and R•bM A"'"" Wfoi >J1p>n l")" lb onlc •li "i1'1Vn'1n i1J1:li1 n'1:i Pl ilV!JVil ('ll31N. p":> nn>i:i n::>1i tl tnC,::i. i~nN n:i :i1~tl:i ,.,.,,, ,,,,!) .,, ;v li'tl"l nio:i 'Nl n;,,~ ; 1n-- 111'N p~iY.IN1 1 c1imv 1,024 ~ in i1v;11 •3i i°P; n:l'W' 1»N1 :!(~l' !JN) ,tl'l'i11 ,,,, ~ , ):'1 ann 'li 1Nli1 l'JN OW:t 7111121!1 •3i ""1?1!1111 ,mvi:i ~11ND ll1JT l'el n"nv) nin:,,;;i;i ani:u~ 'li \)\!) 'p"1JN J'lp n"lW) ('lio1?~·~2N i•vn) 5t nn;UJ t:ii Wl:"!.' ln)

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