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. ~S~i .. I I" o i )• ' Shevat 5763 •January 2003 U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 ·VOL XXXVI/NO. I

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath of America, 42 Broadway, , NY10004. Periodicals postage paid in New York, NY. Subscription $24.00 per year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside ol the (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 surcharge per year. Single copy $3.50; foreign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to; The Jewish Observer, 42 a.roadway, NY. NY.10004. Tel:212-797-9000, Fax: 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. KIRUV TODAY IN THE USA NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR

EDITORIAL BOARD 4 Kiruv Today: Now or Never, Rabbi Yitzchok Lowenbraun RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Chairman

RABBI ABBA BRUONY 10 The Mashgiach Comes To Dallas, Kenneth Chaim Broodo JOSEPH FRIEOENSON RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN 16 How Many Orthodox Can There Be? PROF. AARON TWEASKI Chanan (Anthony) Gordon and Richard M. Horowitz OR. ERNST L BODENHEIMER Z"l RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z"L Founders 30 The Lonely Man of Kiruv, by Chaim Wolfson

MANAGEMENT BOARD AVI FISHOF, NAFTOLI HIRSCH KIRZNER, RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN ERETZ YISROEL: SHARING THE PAIN RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Managing Editor

Published by 18 Breaking Down the Walls, Mrs. Debbie Friedman Agudath Israel of America

U.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTOR JSAAEU REPRESENTATIVE 23 The Fifth Item On the List, Rabbi Baruch Leff Jnlnl. Media Placemen! 200 Airport Executive Park POB 7195 I 5 Even Israel Nanue!, NY 10954 , ISRAEL 27 A Modest Proposal, Rabbi Avi Shafran BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE BELGIAN REPRESENTATIVE M.T. Bibe!man Mr. E. Apler Grosvenor WorNs Lange Kievitstr. 29 Mount Pleasant Hill 2018 Antwerp London ES 9NE. ENGLAND 31 Letters-to-the-Editor FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE SOUTH AFRICAN Rabbi Bamberger REPRESENTATIVE 21 Boulevard Paixhans Mr. V. Taback 57000 Metz PO Box51552. Raedene, Johannesburg 35 Index to Articles: Subjects and Authors 2124 SOUTH AFRICA SWISS REPRESENTATIVE Mr. S. Feldinger Volume XXXV, Nos. 1-10 Leimanstrasse 36 4051 Basel, SWITZERLAND THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product, publication, or service advertised in its pages Cover Photo: A J.E.P. volunteer from escorts two Jewish © Copyright 2003 public school children ta release-hour religious instruction. January 2003 Photo Credit: Shimon Golding VOLUME XXXVl/NO. 1 KIRUV TODAY IN THE

A rep~rt from t'~~ front lines of the struggle to save the majority of American Jews f~9Q1 being lost .~ll'.lsroel

MEET THE BERNSTEINS would excel in athletics, attend an Ivy they attend is about thirty percent Jew­ League school, have a distinguished ish, and of the Jewish kids in the school, 'd like to introduce you to a young career, and raise a nice fa1nily. For the about half have one non-Jewish parent. Jewish family, circa 2003. This is the most part, Jeff followed the plan, and Both children attend Sunday school, I family of Jeff and Bonnie Bernstein, it was at Yale that Jeff met Bonnie, his and both are members of the Temple and their two children. Jeff, forty years future wife. youth group. The Rabbi said that Adam old, grew up in a suburb of Philadel­ Bonnie was active at the Hillel house did a beautiful job at his Bar Mitzva; the phia. Jeff's family belonged to a Con­ on the Yale campus, and came from a theme of his party was football heroes. servative Temple, though they only family with a strong Jewish identity. Her Sarah is looking forward to her Bat attended services on Yorn Kippur, and father was a Federation board member, Mitzva when she turns thirteen, and usually on the first day of Rosh and had once been the president of their already knows her Haftora by heart. The Hashana. Jeff's parents wanted him to Reform Temple. Her mother was active theme of her Bat Mitzva party will be be a proud Jew, so they sent him to Sun­ in the Sisterhood. Bonnie's father was Harry Potter. day school until he was eleven. The converted by the Temple rabbi a year Without a doubt, Jeff and Bonnie's twice-a-week after-school Hebrew after he and his wife were married. parents have all the nachas Jewish par­ classes seemed to be more than what Everyone in Bonnie's family held their ents and grandparents could hope for, was necessary for a child's Jewish edu­ rabbi in the highest regard; she was not but here's the real question: Jeff and cation, and besides, by the time sixth only a scholar, but sorneone who was Bonnie's parents are thrilled. Are you? grade rolled around, Jeff had basketball deeply devoted to her congregants. Ask yourself: what are the chances that practice after school. Jeff's father, Mort, Bonnie was a well-educated, proud, and Jeff and Bonnie will keep Shabbos- even is a successful attorney, an avid sports active Je\v-perhaps even a future com­ once? For that matter, vvhat are the fan, and a voracious reader of the Wall munal leader. chances that they will ever be invited to Street Journal, who works out at the Today, Jeff and Bonnie live in a beau­ a frum home for a Shabbos meal - even JCC. Jeff's parents hoped their son tiful home in the Cleveland suburb of once? What are the chances that they Wandering Hills. They have two chil­ will ever keep taharas hamishpacha, or Rabbi Lowenbraun is the National f)irector of dren - Adan1, who is fourteen, and The Association for jewish Outreach Programs fast on Tisha B' av? What are the (AJOP). Sarah who is twelve. The public school chances their children will marry Jews?

4 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 HOW MANY JEWS who were not raised in Shomer Shabbos devoted mekarvim (outreach activists). WILL GREET MOSHIACIP. homes have become Shomer Shabbos. They have attended classes, Shabbaton­ Beyond their own personal commit­ im, beginners' minyanim, Hebrew-read­ e all believe in biyas haMoshi­ ment to a life of mitzvos, it's hard to find ing crash courses, seminars, and have ach - the ultimate coming of an Orthodox shul or school today that been hosted by frum families for Shab­ W the Messiah - bringing an end does not have numerous baalei teshuva bos meals. Many are now self-motivat­ to this long, dark galus. The question is among its active congregants. Addi­ ed to continue regular learning, this: Of the Jews who are alive today, how tionally, in day schools across the coun­ thousands have kashered their homes, many will have the privilege to still be a try, there are many wonderful 'im many regularly have some type of a Fri­ part of Kial Yisroel when the Geula and moros who were not raised in day night Shabbos meal in their comes, and how many will be left Orthodox homes, not to mention the homes-homes that had never before behind in the spiritual wasteland of his­ dozens of baalei teshuva who are deeply even heard of Kiddush-and many are tory? now committed to only marrying a Jew, The word "crisis" has been used for and to giving their children a Jewish some time now by people from various education. circles and perspectives when looking at • Today, in cities like Cincinnati, American Jewry. As someone who is in f this were a state Memphis, Columbus, Dallas, Palo Alto, touch with hundreds of people working of the union Houston, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Van­ I couver, and others, there are over forty in all areas of kiruv across America, there is no question in my mind that we are address, I would kollelim that have kiruv as a significant not dealing with a potential crisis, a aspect of their mandate. A decade or so looming crisis, or an imminent crisis, but have to say, Baruch ago, there were only a handful. In Den­ rather, a tidal wave of crisis that has ver, La Jolla, Toronto, Atlanta, , already crashed down all around us. l Hashem, the state Norfolk, and elsewhere, there are shuls have little doubt that seven out of ten of kiruv is strong. that are structured specifically as kiruv­ Jews who marry in America, marry non­ oriented shuls. Even in Las Vegas, the Jews, and that, b'derech ha-teva - in the Unfortunately, the board of Young Israel has made kiruv normal course of events-the vast major­ one of its central focuses. and ity of American Jews will be forever lost bigger and truer Discovery regularly attract hundreds to to the oblivion of assimilation. Without their seminars that address ikkarim a seismic change in the course of events, picture is one of a (basic principles of faith) like Torah America is destined to become not only very dark cloud with Min Hashamayim. Over a hundred the final resting-place for millions of)ew­ Lakewood avreichim (married scholars) ish bodies, but also a vast spiritual grave­ just the slightest bit are learning with non-frum Jews yard for millions of Jewish neshamos. through the Gesher program, and This is not what I think may happen, but of silver lining. Partners in Torah has over two thou­ this is exactly what is taking place at an sand sets of learning all ever-quickening pace, and with each across the country. In addition to all passing day. And so, I believe that with • this, Ner L'eiefis training hundreds of regards to American Jewry, the all-too­ involved in kiruv. From national kiruv yungeleit in Bretz Yisroel to do horrific question has become: Must we organizations like Ohr Somayach, Aish kiruv in America and around the just do whatever we can to grab a few life HaTorah, NCSY, JEP, NJOP, Gateways, world, while Aish HaTorah is making preservers for ourselves and our families and Partners in Torah, to numerous its expertise available to outreach kol­ while a huge ship filled with millions of local organizations like the Jewish le/im, and others. fews goes under? Or is it still possible to Learning Connection in Cleveland, Etz If this were a state of the union right the vessel of American Jewry, and Chaim in Baltimore, Machon L'Torah in address, I would have to say, Baruch enable not just five or ten percent to be a Detroit, )LE and Ashreinu in Los Ange­ Hashem, the state of kiruv is strong. part ofthe Jewish future, but sixty, seventy, les, the Jewish Renaissance Center in Kiruv has grown to the point where hun­ or even a hundred percent? New York, and many, many others, a dreds of devoted, and highly skilled and devoted cadre of kiruv-mechanchim are professional kiruv workers are reaching, KIRUV: A DECADE OF SUCCESS having a dramatic impact on thousands and having impact on thousands and of lives. thousands of Acheinu Beis Yisroel who hough there are no definitive sta­ In addition to those who have otherwise would have virtually no tistics, one can safely say that since becon1e shomer mitzvos, 2-300,000 have chance of being part of the ultimate des­ T1990, 20-30,000 Jews in America been touched in various ways by these tiny of Kial Yisroel.

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 5 AND NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS number of Jews who practice Buddhism, ly outnumbered by Jews who have while at the same time maintaining never even heard of Shabbos, and who verything that I just said is true, "strong Jewish identities," has becon1e go through their entire lives without ever and then some. Unfortunately, the so large that a whole new term has been sitting dowu to a kosher meal. What was Ebigger and truer picture is one of coined-Bu-Jews! In addition, there are once heartbreaking to so many ehrlicha a very dark cloud with just the slight­ 1,400,000 other Jews who identify them­ (observant) Yidden has become accept­ est bit of silver lining. Consider the fol­ selves as Jewish, but who also say that ed as a fact-of-life about which little can lowing: According to the recently they don't have any religion at all'. 2 Not be done. released American Jewish Identity Sur­ Catholicism, not Humanistic , The same is now the case with inter­ vey, over the last decade, 775,000 Jews not Bu-Jew Judaism. Nothing! marriage. The most accurate numbers in America have converted, and adopt­ There is a story told about how the we have 1neasuring intermarriage3 say ed other religions.' Did that number reg­ Chafetz Chaim fainted the first time he that between five and six of every ten ister? Seven hundred and seventy- five saw a Jew being mechallel Shabbos (des­ Jews who marry, marry a non-Jew. thousand!! Also in the last decade, the ecrate the Sabbath). Today, we are vast- When you consider the fact that these numbers are almost fifteen years old, and that they don't consider a marriage in which one of the spouses had a non­ Academy Seminary halachic conversion to be an intermar­ riage, then-as they say-you do the

ff.ABBI SHLOMO TEICHMAN math. In Norfolk, Virginia, according to 1Jean a Federation study, despite a 63% affil­

RABBI AVROHOM GREENBERG iation rate, intermarriage is 90°/o. This qJ,,,. past June, a major study of incoming

MRS. fAIGIE SELENGUT college freshman in America \Vas Cl)()rJinator released.4 1 spoke with the author of the study, and she was confident that 40% of incoming Jewish college freshman in America today have only one Jewish par­ ent. And again, that includes halachically non-Jewish "Jewish" parents. This fall, the Baltimore Jewish Times ran a cover story that captured how completely norn1ative intern1arriage is today. The cover of the newspaper had a photo of a young couple with the cap­ tion, "Should a love of one's Judaism be shared \Vith a non-Jewish partner?" Think about those .words. They are say­ ing that people today do not consider BYA HALF DAY SEMINARY OFFERS: a love of Judaisn1 and intermarriage to • Dual da.sspr";gl•attts for the Bais • Honors da.55 with in depth be contradictory. "\>\,1at's the problem?" Yaakov graduate who desires \!rny 11~JJl'J for the motivated continued \!rnp 't'1·:i1'J and student who wants a greater people genuinely ask. "Why can't you be +FACULTY+ devebpment o( a solid 11.()pvnfor intellectual challenge married to a non-Jew and still have a R' Na(tali Bruck heradultyears strong Jewish identity, still love your R' Yosef Mitnick R' E!iezer Sandler PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Judaism?" Everyone in kiruv will tell you, R' Shlorno Teichman * /n/eraclivc vit.ils wi1h 0•?1T~ * Option.ii mid·\'l:inlt'r lrip tu most Jews today do not have the faintest '.7NIV' '(iN Mrs. Yehudit Davidowitz * V.iried ;md mulli-f.iceterl ex/rd idea why they should only consider Jews Mrs. Surle Dymchitz curricular progr,rn1.\ * Job /'/,icemen! Mrs. Miriam Eisenberger * Trips to Jewish communities and * Cre!lit for c/,i_\swork can/)(' as potential spouses for themselves, or Mrs. Miri Kroize1 in.-;ti1utions outside Bruokl)'n applied lo po.~/ high ;,chool d!'µrc(" their children; even Jews who strongly programs and governm<'nt Miss Rochel Licht * Cues/ speakers on the European Mrs. Breindy Reiss and immigrant experience>, the funding is available for lhe identify as Jews do not see intermarriage Baal ks/wvah movement and accredited sturienl as being at odds with their Judaism. manr other topics Bottom line? Though the men and * Panel discussions on .\t1bjeus o{ 5'I v.1a1m, inv(l{vei at11l(lspfiere witli an Jewish concern emphasis 011 indiviiua{ attention. women who have devoted themselves to kiruv across the country are getting 1nore 1213 Elm Avenue• , New York 11230 • 718.339.4747 Ext. 115 and n1ore life preservers to more and

6 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 more individuals, whole decks of Jew­ ish passengers are being washed away, while the ship seems to be listing hope­ The Mitzrayim Template lessly in the cold waters of a very warm galus called America. hazal tell us that the experience of Ga/us Mitzrayim (the exile in Egypt) Cis a spiritual template for understanding both our current galus, and the KIRUV AND BOBOV geula (redemption) we all long for. In terms of American Jewry, still the largest community of Jews in the world, I believe that the Mitzrayim experience o my mind, the greatest mekarev has a great deal to say to us about our current situation, and contains pro­ (outreach activist) I have ever met found implications for how we relate to kiruv. Twas the previous Bobover Rebbe When Yaakov Avinu was on his way to Mitzrayim, Hashem appeared to 7""1. I believe that he also provides us him and said, "Do not be afraid of descending to Egypt for I will make you with a model for how Kial Yisroel is into a great nation there. I will descend with you into Egypt, and it is cer­ tain that I will also bring you up .... " The Netziv1 explains that Yaakov was capable of confronting the ominous afraid that his family would become assimilated into the Egyptian popula­ specter of a sinking ship. tion. And so, Hashem promised Yaakov, "Ki /'go! a'simcha sham," that The Bobov that I grew up in is part the Jews would not only maintain their distinct identity, but they would become of the post-World War II American saga a great nation, and eventually leave Mitzrayim on an even loftier that grew out of the ashes of the Euro­ madreiga (stratum) than when they arrived''· Clearly, this reassuring hav­ pean Churban. When I started first tacha (vow) addressed the heart of Yaakov's concern. There seems, how­ grade in the Bobover Bnai ever, to be a troubling dissonance between this promise, and what actual­ Tzion in Crown Heights, there were at ly happened to the Jews in Mitzrayim. most seventy students in the Yeshiva. In Mitzrayim, Jews could be found attending all the cultural events of That was a time when the viability of the dayiii, stopped the practice of bris mil/a in order to be indistinguishable Torah Judaism on the shores of Amer­ from their Egyptian neighbors1v, and fell as far as one ca\1 into the world ica seen1ed anything but a sure thing. of tuma (depravity) - to the "forty-ninth gate of tuma." Then, when the The Zeitgeist was that of the great time for geu/a finally arrived, only twenty percent of the people were redeemedv "melting pot"; cultural diversity and while the remaining eighty-percent died during makkos choshech (the Plague of Darkness), and were severed from the future of Kial Yisroe/. As sweet as ethnic pride were considered anti­ Yetzias Mitzrayim was, it was also bittersweet for so many Jewish An1erican. "Fitting in" was the order of neshamos; so many doros (generations) of Jewish children, and grandchil­ the day. Couple that with the unspo­ dren; so many future tzaddikim and tzidkanios-so much potential-was ken, yet all-pervasive sense of cata­ lost forever. strophic loss, along with the struggle to In light of this bittersweet nature of Geulas tyfitzrayim, one can't help eke out a living in a strange new envi­ but ask, "What happened to Hashem's promises to Yaakov?" It is to this ronment that was often hostile to question that the Netziv" gives an answer that contains a chilling message Shomer Shabbos employees, and the for our time. Ha she m's promise that Kial Yisroel would not assimilate in Mitzray­ prospects for a Torah community in im was ironclad; nonetheless, it still remained a matter of bechira (free choice) America seemed unlikely indeed. for each individual Jew whether or not to assimilate. Geula was a promise, Yet, despite what seemed to be but who and how many would ultimately be a part of that geula was an daunting odds-in fact, what many entirely different matter. Ill considered to be impossible odds-all i Ha'ernek Davar, Bereishis46,3 iv , Shemos you have to do is look at Bobov, or any ii Ha~emek Davar~ Bereishis 46,4 v Shefnos Rabba 81 other part of the Orthodox communi­ iii Tanchunta, Shemos l,7 vi Ha'emek Davar, Bereish£s 46,4 I Shemos 3) 14 ty today, to know that when it comes to Torah, and Kial Yisroel, there is no ilation, and the erosion of what was a KIRUV: TIME FOR ANOTHER MIRACLE such thing as impossible odds. Samuel once-vibrant style of secular, cultural G. Freedman, an associate dean of the Jewish identity. More than any other believe that the Torah community in School of Jour­ part of Judaism, Orthodoxy has met the America possesses the potential for nalism and author of Jew vs. few: The challenge of modernity, sustaining I actualizing a second miracle on the Struggle for the Soul ofAmerican Jewry, meaningful communal life in an age of shores of this great land, and that the recently wrote, "While the Orthodox atomized individuality."5 essential ingredients that drove the comprise. less than one-tenth of the The Bobover Rebbe 7··011, and those Bobover Rebbe, and others, are precise­ American Jewish population, they cast of his era, were zocheh to see their enor­ ly the ingredients that are again a disproportionate and largely positive mous hishtadlus (efforts), coupled with required. They are: Ahavas (love of. .. ) influence on what is otherwise a com­ endless siyata d'Shmaya (Heavenly assis­ Hashem, Ahavas HaTorah, and Ahavas munity beset by intermarriage, assim- tance), produce miraculous fruits. Yisroel. My Rebbewas successful because

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 7 his Ahavas Hashem was what the Ram­ bam describes in the Sefer Hamitzvos, namely, "Included in genuine Ahavas Hashem is the fact that such a person will call out to others to come and serve Hashem ...." There simply is no more meaningful '"'ay to express one's love of Hashem than to draw others to partake in that same relationship, that same love-which brings us to Ahavas Ha Torah. Again, in the Sefer Hamitzvos on Ahavas Hashem, the Rambam brings the well-known Ghazal that Torah is the vehicle par excellence for bringing a Jew to Ahavas Hashem. Those who built the Torah community in America knew well that, for a Jew, Torah, and only Torah, is the sam ha' chayim, the elixir of life, and only Torah, has the ability to II breathe life into a lifeless community. And then there is Ahavas Yisroel. To IC me, the Bobover Rebbe was a Gaon in Ahavas Yisroel. Any and every Jew, regardless of background, affiliation, age, or level of observance knew that when he was with the Rebbe, he was with • someone who genuinely, and uncondi­ tionally loved him. Ahavas Yisroel is both a driving force behind kiruv-it is why we so deeply want to share the rich beau­ ty of Yiddishkeit with our fellow Jews­ It hurts and it is also critical to success in kiruv. When people know that you are teach­ ing them, and trying to reach them r because you care about them-and love them like the brothers and sisters that they are-then they will naturally be o. open to what you have to say. Today in America, it seems that we are

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8 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 staring into a Mitzrayim-like galus, (see an opportunity for kiruv slip through our Will there just be bits and pieces of the fam. Sidebar on page seven) a galus that we fingers. I would like to suggest that, at the ily left, or will it be all of us? If Caius know will eventually ntlminate in a mag­ very least, we view every encounter with Mitzrayim is the template for our galus, nificent geula, but that in all likelihood will a non-frum Jew as a moment of clear then we must know that while geula is in end with only a tiny fraction of American Hashgacha Prattis. We need to view our Hashem's hands, the question of who and Jews being a part of it. If things continue meetings with our fellow Jews, wherev­ how many will be left to experience the as they are in the Jewish world, at least 90% er they may occur, as meetings arranged geula, that is very much in our hands. There of Hashem's children will be lost. by Hashem Himself. And we need to be is no way any one of us should sleep com­ There is, however, another possibili­ prepared for those meetings. You may not fortably in view of this pending spiritual ty. If you ask people in kiruvwhy the great be trained in kiruv per se, but that does­ tragedy of colossal proportions, unless we successes they are achieving pale in n't mean that you can't invite someone - each of us - make reaching out to oth­ comparison to the numbers of Jews that for a Shabbos meal, or for a Chol Hamoed ers a matter of personal priority. are literally disappearing before our visit to your Succa. It does not mean that May we be zocheh, together with all­ eyes, their answer will always be the you can't tell them about a kiruv organ­ all--of Acheinu Bnai Yisroel, to be mek­ same-manpower. Four or five or six ization in your area, or give them a kiruv­ abel Moshiach tzidkaynu bimheira vey­ hundred people in kiruv simply can not oriented book as a kind gesture or vol­ omeznu. • reach four or five or six million Jews. All unteer for Partners in Torah. And it of us in kiruv, however, are convinced that certainly does not mean that you cannot 1 The Ainerican Jewish Identity Survey was direct~ if the thousands, and tens of thousands look at the Jews you meet as long-lost ed and authored by Egon Mayer, director of the Center for Jewish Studies at the City University of frum Jews would join in the battle to family members, and find a way-any of Nevv York's Graduate Center. save the other 90% of American Jews, way-to develop a genuine friendship. 2 The An1erican Jewish Identity Survey. then we could actually save not only indi - Like Yaakov Avinu, we have a havtacha 3 The 1990 National Jewish Population Study viduals, but the whole sinking ship. This (assurance) from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. reported a 52o/o rate of intermarriage. 4 Atnerica's Jewish Fresh1nan: A study sponsored does not mean that everyone has to drop One day, Hashem will redeem the family by Hillel: The Foundation for Je\vish Ca1npus Life, what they are doing and devote them­ of Israel; that's a promise. How many Jews and conducted by the Higher Education Research selves full time to kiruv, but it does mean will be left in that family when the day Institute of UCLA. 5 that each of us must resolve never to let arrives? That's another question entirely. The fcrusale1n Report, Dec. 16, '02

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The Jewish Observer, January 2003 9 REDRAWING THE TORAH MAP OF AMERICA (CONT'D) THE MASHGIACH COMES TO DALLAS

A New Chapter in the Growth of a Budding Torah Community

In his article, "You're the Beracha," which appeared in JO May '02, Kenneth Chaim Broodo described how a Shabbos visit to Brooklyn, with a delegation from the Dallas Jewish community, helped him transform into a Shomer Shabbos Jew. In the article that follows, he portrays how, in a Shabbos visit to Dallas, Rabbi ,.. .. ,,,'n> helps transform the community into a suburb of Lakewood.

"WHY IS HE COMING TO DALLAS?" does not normally pay such visits. to wedge into the aisles. Everyone wants to know, why is he com­ After an introduction by Ohr Torah's rom Thursday afternoon through ing to Dallas? This is our opportunity ... :' Rabbi Feigenbaum, Rabbi Salomon Sunday morning, November 21-24, In Dallas, where your average Shomer responded with a story of a Yerushalmi F2002, Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon Shabbos was raised on Star Wars movies) boy who asked a secular Israeli tourist, N""V"nl, Mashgiach of Lakewood, gave fast food, public high school, and the sec­ "Where is your kipa?" Responded the hisorerus (inspiration) to the Jews of Dal­ ular college scene, where life as an adult clever tourist in Hebrew, "The whole of las, with his presence and with his divrei can too easily be dominated by work, the heavens above is my kipa." And "this Torah. He was the featured guest in a Shab­ Palm Pilots, and the temptations of the little kid,'' said the Mashgiach, "not to be bos of chizuk with Congregation Ohr popular media, and where most of the outdone,'' answered, "Snch a big kipa for HaToral1 and its Rav, Rabbi Aryeh Feigen­ rabbis that we know and trust have bare­ such a small head." baum.* The visit was a watershed event ly made it out of their 20's, there was only The Mashgiach protested that Rabbi in the growth of the Dallas kehilla, help­ so much we could appreciate about the Feigenbau1n's introduction was a kipa ing it reach the next level on its way to Mashgiach without personally experi­ that was too large. But with his first talk, becoming an established center of1orah. encing his great character. \Ve learned otherwise. On the Shabbos before the Mash­ The Mashgiach spoke about Shab­ giach's arrival, the Rosh Kolle~ Rabbi Yer­ SUCH A BIG KIPA bos, Hashem, and the Jewish People, achmiel Fried, announced, "Rabbi explaining that when we keep Shab­ Matisyahu Salomon, the Mashgiach of n a normal Friday night at bos-when we truly "get into" the Lakewood, is coming to spend a Shab­ Congregation Ohr HaTorah, meaning, the ruach, and the halachos bos in Dallas. More appropriately, we're 0 there are rows of tables where ofShabbos-then for the Jewish peo­ talking about someone who is the people can sit, with a few scattered ple it becomes the m'kor habracha, the Mashgiach of America. The Mashgiach shtenders at the back. For this Friday source of our blessings. How can that night, we took away most of the tables ------·--·--"·-·~-~--·- Kenneth Chaiin Broodo is a partner in the Labor and brought in extra chairs. By the *Congregation Ohr HaTorah was founded in & Employn1ent section of the Dallas finn of tin1e the chazzan's passionate voice 1999 as the only shul in Dallas affiliated with Agu­ Gardere \Vynne Se\vell, LLP. He is a long-ti1ne stu­ dath Israel of An1erica. The n1ajority of its found­ dent of the Dallas Kolle! and Vice President of reached the first stanzas of L'Cha Dodi, ing fa1nilies were baalci teshuva educated by the Congregation Ohr Ha'IOrah, we were still bringing in extra chairs - Dallas Kollel.

10 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 be? The Mashgiach helped us see that and boys sitting and standing wherev­ derful friends, and to the laughter ofall, as Shabbos is the sign ofour connection er they could find a place in a hall filled he added, and "of course, there's noth­ with the Almighty, according to the way to capacity, with the large open adjoin­ ing like a good l'chaim." "But," the we keep Shabbos, the Jewish People and ing room equally filled with women, Mashgiach added with great warmth, Shabbos testify about Hashem; and many with young children up past their "it's only because it's Shabbos, and its Hashem and Shabbos in turn, testify usual bedtimes. With the cold night ban­ only because of the simcha she! mitz· about the Jewish people. ished outdoors, and in the midst of the va in keeping Shabbos." Unlike a good To ensure that the inspiration he heartfelt notes of many, many voices meal, the Mashgiach explained, a per­ brought would be driven deeply into singing Reb Abish's impassioned ­ son who feels real simcha in doing a every heart, the Mashgiach brought nim, the Mashgiach spoke of the joy in mitzva can re-experience that simcha heavy reinforcements, in the voice and doing the will of Hashem. whenever he wants. This is because the personage of Reb Abish Brodt, who He spoke of the wonderful Shabbos simcha sh el mitzva is a spiritual pleas­ served as the shaliach tzibbur for the table, in a wonderful home, M'ith won- ure unbounded by physical sensation, hundreds that packed the shul to daven and to welcome Shabbos with the Mash­ giach. (When Reb Abish arrived, he mused confidentially, "Last week I was davening by Rav Eliyashiv, shlita, and now, here I am in Dallas.") THEVORT • The menu for the seuda is limited to 3 And again, that question rang in my • The Vort celebration is to be courses followed by a regular dessert. ears, "Why did the Mashgiach come to discontinued. The L'chaim (held at Dallas?" • No Viennese table and no bar. the time that the engagement is announced) should also not turn into a THE MUSIC A GOOD L'CHAYIM Vo rt. • A band may consist of a maximum of 5 musicians (one of the musicians may act he tisch that Friday night was THE WEDDING as a vocalist) or four musicians and one infused with the black fire of the • Only 400 invited guests may be Mashgiach's divrei Torah spoken additional vocalist. T seated at the chassuna seuda. out over the white fire of Reb Abish's • A one-man band is recommended. nigunnim. It created such a ruach, that • The kabbolas panim smorgasbord there were those who were overcome should be limited to basic cakes, fruit plat­ FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR with simultaneous tears and laughter, ters, a modest buffet, and the caterer's • The total cost of these items for the entire whose hearts could not contain the sim­ standard chicken or meat hot dishes. wedding should not exceed $1,800. cha. The memory of that night remains unfaded for those who were privileged FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES to attend. AND THE ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, At the talk before Kabbolas Shab­ please email [email protected] or call 212-612-2300 bos, the Mashgiach had made the stunning comment that, "When We the rabbinical signatories - barring familial obligations - and unusual and Hashem looks down at what's going on extraordinary circumstances - will not participate in or attend a wedding celebration that in Dallas, I don't think He's had so disregards these guidelines. (Rabbinical Usting in formation) much nachas since maiseh Bereishis Rabbi Shmuel Birnbaum Rabbi Eli Simcha Schustal Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel (creation)." Others heard what I heard, Roih Haye1hiva, Mirer Yeshiva Ro>ii Hil)'l:>hiva, Bai1 Bmyomin, Stamford Ro1h Ha Yeihiva, Yeihiva Gedo/ah of South Failiburg but we were convinced that we had not, Rabbi Rabbi Yisroel Rokowsky Rmh Haye1hiva, Yeshivo Gedo/a of Philadelphia Rabbi Yisroel Simcha Schorr Rabbi Chaim Soruch Wolpin that we could not, have heard the Rmh Ha yeshiva, Yeshiva Karlin Stolin Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky Roihei Ha Yeshiva, Yeshivc Ohr Somayach Mashgiach correctly. What in Dallas Rmh Ha yeshiva, Yeshiva Gedo/a of Philadelphia Rabbi Aryeh Rabbi Zecharia Gelley Rav, Kha! AdaiJeihurun could give Hashem such nachas? Rabbi Rosh Hayeshiva, Beth Medraih Govoha, lakewood The tisch took place at the beautiful €f Rebbe Rabbi Yisroel Tzvi Neuman Rabbi Lipa Margulies Rmh HayeihiVa, Yeshiva & Mesilla Torah Temrmah home of Oscar and Aviva Rosenberg, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Feigelstock RoshHayeihiva, Beth Medrash Govoho, Lakewood Rosh Haye>iiiva, Yeshiva of Long Beoch Rabbi Dovid Kviat bttlwarks to the baa! teshuva community Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Schustal Rabbi Moshe Wolfson Chairman, Conference of Rabbonim Rmh Ha yeshiva, , Lakewood of Dallas. We were seated at a large, long MMhgiach, Yeshiva Torah Vodaa1 of Agudath 1srae! table, adorned by many Shabbos candles, Rabbi Aron Moshe Schechter Rabbi Yeruchem Olshin Rabbi Shlomo Mandel and filled with sweets and drinks Roih Ha)'l:ihiva, Yeshiva Chaim Berlin Roih Ha)'l:lhiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood Roih Ha)'l:ihiva, Yeshiva of Brooklyn lich'vod Shabbos Kodesh. Surrounding Rabbi Yosef Rosenblum Rabbi Mattisyahu Salamon Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman the table on all sides were rows of men Rosh Hayeshiva, Yeshiva Shaarei Yosher Mash1iarh Beth Medraih Govoha, Lakewood Rosh Hayeshiva, Mesivta Meor Yit

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 71 and the extent of that pleasure is the knew how to help you change-really sel with which to wash his hands in the extent that we do mitzvos with the focus change from the inside-by handing morning. He falls asleep crying because and feeling Hashem wants from us. you pieces of the puzzle until, in your he wants to do the mitzva. He wakes up The Mashgiach's chavivus for the Jews own flash of insight, you realized the in the morning, receives a small vessel of Dallas was palpable. During the tisch, direction of growth for which he was directly from Heaven, and rejoices in the Kollel member (Rabbi) Yisroel Katz calling. gift and its source. Later in life he asked josh Bernstein, a local la;qer, Shabbos morning was a perfect becomes wealthy, and happens to find whether the Mashgiach was speaking too example. aniong the stores of his mansion, the much Hebrew for him. "It doesn't mat­ With the shul once again filled to small vessel he once received from ter," smiled Mr. Bernstein, "I understand capacity, the Mashgiach spoke about Shamayim. Among all his material pos­ exactly what he's trying to say!' the on Parshas Vayishlach sessions, the little vessel is the one he concerning Yaakov Avinu 's return trip once again rejoices in having, because WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE across the river Yabok to recover some he is sure of the infinite source from small vessels. Quoting what seemed like which it directly emanated. hen Rabbi Feigenbaum draft­ the counterintuitive concept that "a The thought flashed in my mind that ed n1e to write this article, I righteous person's vessel's are more to the degree that we are completely W protested based on my lack of important to him than his body," the honest in our business dealings-to that notes and other necessary qualifications. Mashgiach explained that a tzaddik degree-we can truly appreciate our "How am I supposed to write about it?" earns his material goods honestly, and material possessions, knowing that they "No notes? That's perfect;' replied the knows as a consequence that every came to us directly from Heaven, as tools rabbi. "Now you can talk about what it material possession he owns is a tool he for avodas Hashem. was really like." needs in life, given to him directly from So, here's what it was really like: Sit­ Hashem. ADDING THE LAST FEW STONES ting at the front of our shul was a gen­ Illustrating the idea with a mashal tle sage, who had the power to make you (allegory), the Mashgiach pictured a mmediately following Kiddush, the feel inspired with his smile, and who poor man who does not even have a ves- Mashgiach spoke again. In making I the introduction, Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried, the Rosh Kolle/, offered a word •"r,=~ about the Mashgiach's true role. "A .·2008 mashgiach is an overseer," Rabbi Fried, explained, "and Rabbi Salomon is the overseer of the spiritual and ethical growth of the thousands of students learning in the Lakewood Yeshiva. To hear Rabbi Salomon in Dallas is to con­ nect the Torah community here to the Mesora of our generation and the larg­ er yeshiva world;' he added. Perhaps out of a sense of what was needed in the spiritual growth of Dal­ las, the Mashgiach began by casting aside the pre-announced topic for this talk, turning instead to the subject of dav­ ening. Peering inside the very mechanism ofdavening as it relates to suffering, the Mashgiach related that whenever a tzara (crisis) comes into the world, Hashem is permitting it to happen because he wants our tefillos. What good are our tefillos?Davening works, he explained, because it changes who we are, by virtue of bringing us closer to Hashem. 'When there is tzara in the world or in our personal lives, it is

12 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 Hashem calling us to come closer and Seudos. No, I know of no special divrei hands turn each day, at 6:00 a.m., to talk to Him. We thus change our Torah reserved just for Shalash Seudas marking time for the gabbai rishon character, so that we no longer need the per se. But I have always found­ learning Gemora with the Rav; for the tzara that was sent to us. whether in packed Agudah conventions baalei battim learning halacha, Mish­ Showing how this idea pushes the or in our own Ohr HaTorah-that the nayos, Gemora, and Mesillas Yesharim in envelope of our hopes and dreams, the divrei Torah spoken then are said in an ; and for the kollel Yungeleit Mashgiach pointed out that the Jewish atmosphere of special calm and intimacy preparing for another 8-10 hours in people have been davening for the that is not to be found at any other time. sedarim and shiurim, before heading out Moshiach to come for thousands of And so, by this Shalash Seudos, there was to teach their evening classes. years, and that those generations who no preparedness for Shabbos to end. And again, at 6 p.m. and into the came before us were on an incompa­ The Mashgiach now focused on the night, the clock hands turn, as the daily rably higher spiritual level than we find role of learning Torah, bein adam DafYomi convenes, under the aus­ ourselves at today. If the tefillos of I' chaveiro - from a human, interper­ pices of a kollel Yungerman, Rabbi Rabbi Akiva and otherTannaim ( rab­ sonal perspective. Usually, we think of Ranaan Broderick; and they turn again, bis of the Mishnaic era), for example, davening as the way in which we as a father who became a baa! teshuva failed to bring Moshiach, then how can speak to Hashem, and learning Torah after his son was already in his middle we expect to be successful? The answer, as the way in which Hashem speaks to childhood, conquers another chapter of said the Mashgiach, was to be found in us, an exchange that seems to be entire­ Mishnayos with that same son. the Kosel HaMaaravi. Comparing the ly bein adam l'Makom - between large stones at the base of the Kosel to man and G-d. But in the Mishna we say THE DIVIDENDS PAID TO CHILDREN the tefillos of the likes of Rabbi Akiva, every morning, the Mashgiach the tefillos we say today can be com­ explained, the study of Torah is placed f the Mashgiach had only come for pared to the smaller stones near the top. at the end of a list of mitzvos that are Shabbos, we would have been so Just as the Kosel is made up of every between man and his fellow man. I grateful just for that. But Shabbos stone within it, so too, the geula that How can that be? The answer, said the was not the limit of what the Mashgiach each of us yearns for is built from the Mashgiach, is that when we learn gave to this community. tefillos of every generation. Torah we fill the storehouses ofberacha Giving first priority to the center of One could not hear these words in in Heaven. Then, when we daven, our our strength, on Thursday evening at the Dallas without appreciating that the tefillos bring those berachos back Kolle~ the Mashgiach met separately witb Mashgiach was telling us, with great love, down to our fellow man, wherever the men and women who make up the that even we, at Ohr HaTorah in Dal­ Hashem directs them. Thus, the Jewish klei kodesh (spiritual leaders) who guide las, Texas, can add a small stone. The shut people, by being spread around the and serve Dallas. has grown fast) and as a result, we have world in every time zone, sustain the In meeting with the men, the Mash­ had our share of growing pains. What world through our lomdei Torah, 24 giach talked about the kedushas beis seems to be holding it together is the hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a hamidrash (sanctity of a studyhall), deal we made. We made a deal that the year. focusing on the concept that "exiling" Rav could veto any decision of the Board In the part of the Central Standard oneselftoamakom Torah (a Torah set­ on any matter, financial or otherwise, Time Zone occupied by Dallas, Texas, ting) does not mean a city, but a place and that the Rav's decisions could not the Mashgiach's words of chizukechoed where Torah is learned. Emphasizing the be overruled except by the Moetzes off the clock-face on the northern wall lasting effect created by the kedushas Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel of of the Ohr Ha Torah sanctuary. Running Beis Hamidrash, the Mashgiach relat­ America. The Mashgiach made me real­ off its quartz crystal and batteries, the ed a story about the Charon !sh. ize that by doing this, we bonded our­ selves not just to our Rabbanim, but to those of previous generations as well. Applications now being accepted for Elul 5763 I August 2003 STOREHOUSES IN HEAVEN The Rabbi Naftali Riff

zabbos Mincha often begins with a somewhat melancholy sense that Yeshiva SShabbos is beginning to wane. But Rabbinical College - High School then, unexpectedly, Shabbos turns and SOUTH BEND, INDIANA actually goes to its peak, with the spe­ For more information, contact Rabbi Yisrael Gettinger cial tefillos of Mincha and the special nigunnim and divrei Torah of Shalash Telephone (574) 291-4239 Fax (574) 291-9490

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 13 wives and children? Said the Mash­ giach, by teaching Torah to our chil­ dren, we give them Olam Hazeh. The "peiros"-the dividends for mitzvos, which we receive in this world-which we refer to in the Mishna we say every morning, go to our children. In that sense, having children and endowing them with all sorts of benefits is a proposition of Olam Hazeh. But our One Friday night, the Chazon !sh Torah community, and continue to spur children, by living lives of Torah ar.d was walking with a yeshiva bachur its growth. ma,asim tovim (good deeds}, can give through an orange grove near B'nei their parents Olam Habba. Thus, Brak He stopped at a certain point and Yaakov, by having children and raising exclaimed that that morning, two them with yiras Shamayim, was bachurim from the Ponevezh Yeshiva Meeting with the women, he dis­ immersed in a proposition of Olam had been speaking in learning in that cussed the encounter between Yaakov Habba. place. He knew this, he said, because the and Eisav, where Eisav inquired, upon Friday morning, the Mashgiach took sweet fragrance of their learning still seeing Yaakov's children, "Who are into account our Olam Habba in Dal­ lingered there. these to you?" The Mashgiach las, speaking in Mesorah High Standing in the Beis Midrash of explained that Eisav was complaining School/Bais Yaakov, and attending a DATA, the Dallas Kolle!, the Mashgiach that Yaakov was not honoring their siyyum in at Akiba Academy added, "This room is a daled amos shel "deal," that Eisav was to take Olam elementary school. halacha." The reality is that the fra­ Hazeh (this world) and that Yaakov was grances emanating from that Beis to take Olam Habba (the world to THE REBBETZIN'S FOOD PROCESSOR Midrash materialized into the Dallas come). What need did Yaakov have for wo hours after Shabbos ended, the entire con1munity was invited to Ta gala Melava Malka at a local hotel, where Reb Abish, with musical accompaniment by Rabbi Eli Cohen, sang nigunnim to the crowd's delight. That Motza'ei Shabbos, the Mashgiach Global Cellphone Rental gave a resounding parting address, "The Name You Trust" leaving a part of himself here with us, in Dallas. DOMESTIC CORPORATE Addressing the topic "The Joy of •Cellphone Rental for over]150 countries Being A Jew," the Mashgiach opened with a shmuess given by Rabbi • Nationwide delivery avail~ble , where Rabbi • Voice mail & text messaging Levenstein held up an electric food • Guaranteed lowest rates I processor and proclaimed, "From here we know that Torah is Min Hashamay­ • 24 hr. customer support im." His Rebbetzin, living in B'nei Brak. • Fax & data service had received a food processor as a gift, • Itemized bill I during a time when such devices were not yet common. The Rav came home • Call waiting to find the Rebbetzin in tears: She •Caller ID I received this gift, and had no idea ofits purpose. They retrieved the instructions from the trash can, and then the Reb­ 877.CELL PH betzin cried again, because she could I 877.23 15.5746 not read them. Finally, they found a bachur in the yeshiva who could read www.traJ;1cell.com the instructions to the Rebbetzin, and

14 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 she danced with joy for the mere who had come for Shabbos, and who in efforts to serve Hashem, we can some­ potential presented by this modern were overwhehned at the vision the times view their work as mundane, and device. Mashgiach's visit to Dallas gave them of the results they achieve, transient. Even This is the joy of being a Jew, the what could be in San Antonio.) when we do manage to recognize pat­ Mashgiach said - the joy of the elimi­ terns and glimmers of n1eaning in the nation ofdoubt: the joy ofknowing that LOOK AGAIN world around us, we can fail to recog­ Hashem gave us a world ofdesign and nize them for what they truly are. purpose that came with instructions­ he Mashgiach delivered many The Mashgiach wants us to see that a Torah-which is the absolute Emes; key messages while he was here, so1nething extraordinary is going on in and the joy of having our Rabbanim, Tany one of which would justify Kial Yisroel. He came to Dallas because who know how to read the instructions the time he spent with us. But it wasn't he \vants us to recognize it for what it is. and help us understand what they say. until the Motza'ei Shabbos talk that I In Dallas, and baruch Hashem, in How do we know this? The Mash­ began to guess why the Mashgiach kehillos all over the world, there are hun­ giach gave two proofs. First, based on came to Dallas. dreds and hundreds of Jews "who are a pasuk in Shir HaShirim, the Talmud Or for that matter, why Rabbi returning to their roots, who didn't even made an audacious promise, over a , Rabbi Nachman know they had roots." Contrary to how thousand years ago, that the Kosel Bulman, Rabbi , and we sometimes view this phenomenon HaMaaravi would never be destroyed. other gedolim have all made their ways from a [rum perspective, the Baal Teshu­ The enemies ofthe Jewish people know to Dallas in the last decade. va Movement is not just a happening, well that the destruction of the Kosel There are many answers that would and baalei teshuva themselves are not would be the cruelest blow that they have been good, such as their willing­ just quaint, or a source of nice stories. could deliver. More than that, he said, ness to be moser nefesh to be rnekarev No, no. Look again. the Kosel has been in their hands for other Yidden. Or perhaps Dallas earned Dance! much of history, and has been at the the privilege because it is becoming a Because in Dallas, Texas, something is epicenter of wars and conflicts for true Torah city, with the success of the happening on the order of rna'aseh generations. And yet, it stands to this kol/el, the proliferation of Orthodox Bereishes. day. How are we to understand it? It shuls, the building of a five-star mikveh, Something from nothing. makes no sense, unless the rabbis who the opening of Torah Day School of Dal­ Techiyas hamaysim made this promise were speaking with las, and so on. (Revival of the dead). knowledge ofHashem 'swill. But it seen1s to 1ne, none of that is the Jews with no Torah, Second, the Mashgiach looked to the answer. have found the Torah, Torah itself. We have a promise that the Each of our lives is like an entire and Rabbanim who can tell them Torah will never die out from among the world, but too often, we view events only what it says. Jewish people. "In Dallas," said the from the vantage points of our individ­ They have embraced them both, Mashgiach, "people are returning to ual orbits. When we see others engaged and refuse to let them go. B their roots, who didn't even know that they had roots." Seemingly, with the backgrounds that most of us have in You can.! Just: call common, the Torah should have no wish I could The Yitti Leibel business in Dallas. But like Rebbetzin ''r Helpline. Levenstein, we are discovering that the HOURS: world has a purpose, that it came with speak to a Monday-Friday ...... 8arn -l 2pm instructions, that there are people who Monday-Thursday ...... 8pm -11 pn1 know how to read us the instructions, Sunday ...... 9am -l2pm, 9pn1-llpn1 and that we can rejoice just at the poten­ frum therapist tial presented by our ability to learn how e11s<;~~~~;~~w Hashem wants us to use this world. 4 After such an address, there was only ...... (800) HELP-023 on 'the phone Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 one possible response. Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 We danced. Baltimore ...... (410) 578-1111 For the next two hours, we danced. without giving Detroit...... (877) 435-7611 (Much later, when everyone had San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 15 POSTSCRIPT Chanan (Antony) Gordon and Richard M. Horowitz How Many Orthodox Jews Can There Be?

he article by Rabbi Moredechai good can my little effort make?" Simply ica, a few preliminary comments should Plaut in the November edition of put, we are expected to use our common to be made: TThe Jewish Observer served as a sense and make a pro-active hishtadlus The number of"card-carrying mem­ catalyst for us to highlight some impor­ (effort). Just as it would be bers" of the Orthodox denomination in tant points relating to Jewish demo­ scionable.t America in the future will be dependent graphics generally, and specifically to largely on four variables: (i) the per­ what we, as Torah observant Jews, can centage of those who marry, as well as do to have a positive impact in answer­ eir age at the time of the marriage, (ii) ing the question posed by Rabbi Plaut mily size, (iii) stemming the tied of i.e. How Many American Jews Are There? · emorrhaging in our own ranks, and (iv) We all know the oft cited Gemora . the success of the baa! teshuva movement. (Avoda Zora) that states, "Kol bi'yedei As to point (i), our research has indi­ Shamayim chutz mitsinim u'pacham ... cated that intermarriage amongst the - Everything is in G-d's hands, except Orthodox denomination is not statisti­ for colds and fevers." Among the many cally significant,' and even the rate of interpretations of this rabbinical state­ intermarriage of those raised Orthodox, ment, is a fundamental truisms that t who lo aleinu leave the fold, seems basically everything is controlled, mon­ be less than 10%. On the other hand, itored and overseen by the Almighty. fortunately, over the past 20 years, the Nevertheless, we can be blamed for our ber of Orthodox Jews who never get negligence or lack of common sense, and arried 7''1 has been slowly rising, as has cannot vindicate our responsibilities by e average category age of Orthodox declaring the battle cry of the naysayer uples at their time of marriage. Point that "It's all up to Him anyway. What ) falls largely into the category of kol "'yedei Shamayim (in the Hands of Chanan (Antony) Gordon is a Sir Abe Bailey Scholar (1988), Fulbright Scholar (1989), and aven)3. Regarding point (iii), there graduate of Harvard Law School (1990). Mr. Gor­ ave been a plethora of articles from writ­ don has co-authored and authored several arti­ ers more qualified than the authors dis­ cles in the JO including "Nu1nbers Speak Loun­ cussing the proverbial "kids at risk'' issues. der Than Words" (1997) and "From Harvard To " (1998). Together with Richard M. Accordingly, we would like to focus the Horowitz, Mr. Gordon co-authored, "Will Your ; reader's attention on point (iv) above, i.e. Grandchild Be Jewish?," which included the oft­ ,, success of the 1novement. cited demographic chart illustrating the conse­ According to the raw data gathered quences of people's affiliation to the various denominations, three generations henceforth. .om the National Jewish Population 4 That article has been translated in whole/part into tudy of 1990 , between 25% to 30% of 1 over five languages, and has appeared in numer­ ' 'the growth in the Orthodox denomi- ous publications word wide. Mr. Gordon is ~~~~~~~~~·--~--~- involved in numerous outreach projects includ­ l Center for Jewish Studies at the CUNY Grad­ ing being the co-founder of Partners In Torah T-shirt in sub-zero temperatures, and uate Center, 2001. (Los Angeles) and the producer of the annual Yorn then look Heavenward when one finds 2 Extrapolating from the raw data supplied by the Iyun in LA. He is a Managing Director of a bou­ oneself nursing a cold, similarly we can­ North American Jewish Data Bank obtained dur­ tique merchant and investment bank in Bever­ not shrug our shoulders with inertia and ing the NJPS 1990, we used a 3°/o intermarriage ly Hills. rate in the Orthodox denomination. then wonder why 49% of 5.5 million 3 The fact that the average family size in the Richard M. Horowitz graduated with an MBA American Jews do not identify them­ Orthodox community in Israel is higher than fron1 Pepperdine University. Mr. Horowitz is the selves as Jews religiously.' their counterparts in America would seem note­ President of Management Brokers Insurance worthy. Agency, Leviathan Computers and Dial 800 L.P. He is also President of Aish Hatorah for North FACTORS IN POPULATION GROWTH 4 At this time, detailed findings and the raw data America and is extensively involved with outreach of the NJPS 2000~ 200 l have not yet been released. Nevertheless, the information that has and Jewish education. Together with Mr. Gordon, efore translating this philosoph­ Mr. Horowitz co-authored "Will Your Grandchild been released to date indicates that the facts out~ Be Jewish?'' as well as "Numbers Speak Louder ic maxim into the demographic lined in this article will be borne out by the Than Words," which appeared in the JO (1997). Brealities of contemporary Amer- detailed findings of the NJPS 2000-2001.

16 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 nation in the core age cohort between are more distant from observance."8 tional shift stops at the so-called Con­ 18 to 30 is directly attributed to baalei There are various divergent servative column. teshuva and children of baalei teshuva. approaches to kiruv. We have both had The consequences of this observa­ The exponential "dividends" from a pure interaction with many of the different tion is extremely important in terms demographic point of view of a single kiruv movements ... Aish Ha to rah, of investing resources, both in terms Jew recommitting himself or herself to Arachim, Lev L' achim, Ohr Soma ya ch, of money and time, for the future of a Torah life is statistically significant. By Mechon Shlomo, Shapell's, Dvar, Ner the Jewish people. virtue of the fact that the Orthodox L'Elef etc. One of the clear conclusions denomination is the only group that has that can be made is that "lost souls" e would be remiss if we did a negligible intermarriage rate and, in are not of one genre. What works for not note that even amongst addition, is the only denomination one type of person may not work for W our own daled amos, kiruv that exceeds the ZPG (zero population another. lekrovim programs that encourage growth) threshold', the compounding The purpose of this article is not to the correct questions to be asked in effect of introducing "new Orthodox debate the approaches to kiruv but and the like, such Aish neshamos" into the fold is profound. rather to underscore the demographic Hatorah's Project Chazon, has had There are many observations and realities of facilitating a fellow Jew's tremendous success in 159 yeshivos "post publication" analyses that we journey back into the so-called Ortho­ and Beis Yaakovs over the past four have been involved in since our multi­ dox fold. All of our research points to years. Over 535 programs run by generational chart, entitled "Will Your one clear conclusion: Ensuring Jewish Project Chazon, which has been Grandchild Be Jewish?" was first pub­ continuity can only be achieved by shown to reinforce students' commit­ lished6. Couched in the negative, it is assisting a person to make the "inter­ ments to Torah and mitzvos, have obviously shocking to note that of denominational shift" into the Ortho­ touched over 45,000 Orthodox high every 1000 non-Orthodox Jewish chil­ dox camp, which can, as a general rule, school children. dren today, there will be only 150 Jew­ ensure that such a person will have not There are 24 pesukim in the Torah ish descendants in three generations. only Jewish great-grandchildren, but that explicitly state that the Jewish Tragically, this 15% survival rate is allow­ - chances are - Torah-observant Jew­ People will never disappear. The ing for a non-halachic definition of ish great-grandchildren. only question that remains is "converts" as well as factoring in This truism does not hold for peo­ whether the reader wants to be part patrineal descent. On a more positive ple who do make a shift closer to our of the solution. • note for future projections is the abili­ heritage, but fall short of embracing ty to increase the so-called "interde­ a true Torah lifestyle. To be more spe­ VISITING NY? nominational shift" through kiruv cific, we have seen no research that MIDWOOD rechokim - outreach. would indicate that so-called secular Jews who become members of the GUEST SUITES THE OUTREACH IMPERATIVE: Reform or Conservative denomination Ave. J, Brooklyn ITS DIMENSIONS increase their odds in any real statis­ 718-253-9535 tical way of having recognizable Jew­ he importance of prioritizing ish great-grandchildren three gener­ kiruv rechokim in these auspicious ations henceforth. Ttimes has been underscored by In other words, for one couple to Digest of Meforshim many of our Gedolim. So much so that embrace a true Torah lifestyle will ~v1p7 in:i. ~v1j77 the Rosh Agudath Israel, the likely have more profound dividends for .,, .. ~ ivv'::>N 7N101:1 l"i"ITIO Noviminsker Rebbe, has gone on record the Jewish people demographically than J\vailable at to note that "this (kiruv rechokim) is, I twenty couples whose interdenomina- LEKUTEI believe, the underlying mission of our 5 Only the Orthodox denomination has an aver­ generation."7 In a recent meeting with c!o Yitzchok Rosenberg age family size greater than 2.2, the national zero 1445 54th Street Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe ~""'~"" Vaad, population growth ("ZPG") rate. Amongst the Brooklyn, NY 11219-4228 Rabbi Wolbe noted that" ... reaching out non-Orthodox denominations, the average num­ 718-854-6701 to others who are not yet observant is ber of children per household is l. 72. 6 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, very important ... it is a great obliga­ See JO, May '97. The article was first published in Jewish Spectator (Fall '96) and M01nent mag­ Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. tion for all Jews! Clearly, not just avre­ azine (Dec. '96). Proceeds of sales distributed among ichim learning in Kolle/ should be doing 7 November 6, 'Ol, addressing an AJOP Confer- and used for reprinting of this. Working people who keep Torah ence. volun1es out-of-print and the commandments must also 8 Notes from Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe N"vYn>'s PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME spend time bringing close people who Vaad, December 11, '02, Jerusalem.

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 17 BRETZ nsROEL: SHARING THE PAIN Debby Friedman

n a hot June day in 1944, my "Do you, perhaps, also know how to the anti-religious Hashomer Hatzair mother dragged her starving pray?" the girl continued. movement found hin1self serving in 0 and emaciated body toward "Certainly, but why are you asking all a tank unit together with religious one of the many electrified fences in these questions?" asked my mother. soldiers. War being war, one's likes, Auschwitz. A lifetime ago, it seemed, she Visibly relieved, the girl explained:"! dislikes and religious affiliations and her family had stood face to face heard that we are being taken to the gas become irrelevant in the body of a with Mengele, yemach sh'mo v'zichro chambers tonight. I'm Jewish but I was two-ton n1oving piece of n1etal - a le'olam. His cursed finger had pointed never taught how to pray. I am terrified. prime target for enemy fire. my mother's family to the left and to If this ca1np is en1pty tornorrow inorn­ The soldier and his comrades-in­ death. She had been sent to the right, to ing, you will know that I'm no longer arms n1oved deeper into enemy ter­ slave labor and, bechasdai Shamayim, to alive. If that happens, please pray for my ritory, encapsulated in their tank. Too life. Now, on this hot and soul-numb­ soul. My name is Anichka:' late, it became obvious that they ing June day, she found herself near one Her heart breaking for this child just were sitting ducks for terrorists who of the fences dividing two parts of the three years younger than herself, my were just waiting for an Israeli tank Auschwitz camp, longing to be with her mother reassured her and promised that to approach their position. As the sol­ family, yet still clinging to life. should Anichka's camp be empty, she diers desperately attempted to avert A girl standing on the other side of would daven for her. the ambush, the religious crew mem­ the fence noticed her and called out in The next day, the camp on the other bers started davening and saying Czech. side of the fence was eerily, irrevocably Tehillim out loud, begging Hashem for Turning her head, my mother sa\v a silent. Not one person remained. My salvation. Terrorist shells flew at them young girl of about 16 who stood shiv­ mother tearfully fulfilled young Anich­ from all sides. It would be only sec­ ering in fear and quaking from emotion. ka's last request. Though Anichka had onds before one would make a direct "Please, tell me, do you speak Czech or no idea how to pray, she knew that a hit and finish off the tank and its crew. German?" the girl asked. Jewish soul is eternally linked to the con­ In the midst of the deafening noise "l speak Czech," my mother cept of tefilla, and perhaps she went that resulted from the tank's mechan­ answered. somewhat "easier" to her death know­ ical apparatus, the shrieking shells and "And are you Jewish?" the young girl ing that her Yiddishe neshama would the crying soldiers, a soul-wrenching asked. indeed be prayed for. scream was heard: "Shem a Yisroel! I "Yes, of course I am," my 1nother don't know the rest! Shema Yisroel! I replied. don't kno\v the rest!" ------Mrs. Friedman lives with her husband and ten And moments later, an enormous children in Kiryat Kaininetz, which is in Neve n the "Peace for Galilee" campaign "hook" from the Israeli side caught the Yaakov, Jerusalem. She teaches in the Bais in 1980, Israel sent forces into trapped tank and yanked it to safety. Yaakov Tiferes Rivka High School, located in the Lebanon to destroy the terrorist I wasn't there, but I get the chills same neighborhood. Her article, "Kiddush I Hashem? That's Easy!" appeared in JO Dec. 'O 1. infrastructure there. One soldier from when I think of the helplessness of that

18 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 irreligious soldier vvhosc ideology prevented hi1n from kno\ving the words that should be etched in the o 1natter ho\v far a Yiddishc heart of every Jevv. And I get even n1ore nesharna strays from its chills when I think of the power of the N Source, \Vhen push comes to Yiddishe nesha1na latching onto tefilla shove, a Je\v kno\vS that davening does when one's back is against the \Vall ... son1ething. SomchO\V, a Je\V in des­ even if he doesn't knovv the vvords. perate straits instinctively reaches out to his Father in I-leaven instead of *' * looking for other avenues of salvation. It is perhaps stories and thoughts olonel Dror Weinberg, ·,.-,~, like these that keep me calm as I live \vas one of the first casualties and raise n1y fan1ily in Yerushalayin1. Cin the Friday-night I-Iebron Having lived in Eretz Yisroe{ for the massacre that took place not long ago. past 25 years, through the c;ulf \Var, As 1t1ispallelirn made their vvay hon1e the constant terrorist threats, the sui­ after praying at the 1\1e'aras Hlunach­ cide bombing attacks,., .. , and the very peila (Tomb of Patriarchs) Palestin­ real possibility of yet another war, ian gunmen lured the guards \vho ch as v 'shalorn, I a1n calmed by the protected them into an ambush. knowledge that not only do I know Israeli ar1ny personnel and ho1ne how to dave11 with all my heart and guard civilians ran to return fire and strength; n1y brothers and sisters \vere also trapped by terrorist fire. \Vho have strayed very far from Colonel \Vein berg, a 1nuch beloved "home" also kno\v they must call out and respected officer, \VJS one of the so our 'Jl-ateh (Father) \vill ans\ver: first to arrive and, sorro\vfnl!y, one of "£-Jere I arn, kindcrhu:h! c:on1e home!" the first to be murdered. f\s other sol­ 'ferrorism's threat is no longer con­ diers rushed to pull his body out of fined to Eretz Yisroel. Around the the firing range, his n1cdic, an irreli­ vvorld, our people face dangers they gious Jc\v, cried bitterly to another have never kno\vn before. ()ur Father n1an on the emergency staff: "You're in Heaven is present in every place, religious! Let's say so111ething so that in every crisis, \Vaiting for us to turn G-d won't take f)rorl 1Cll n1c \vhat to to Him with heartfelt tejllla. We who say! Please, tell 111e \vhat to say!" know the power of tcfilla must grab 1'he heart tvvists inside at the des­ onto its ham111eri11g strength and peration of this soldier who loved his break down the walls that separate us co1nn1anding officer so n1uch, but from Hashe1n and His loving could only cry and beg another Je\v to en1brace, so that day n1ay con1e vvhen tell him how to talk to Hashem everyone acknovvledgcs that there is because he didn't kno\v ho\v. And yet no one to rely on but Avinu ... he did kno\v enough to ask. She' baSharnayirn. B

--- -~------The Jewish Observer; January 2003 19 11111 llll•IS 11 lhl lrlSCrlll JUdllSCIPI Sarles® are II

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BRETZ DSROBL: S&RING THE PAIN

-~ ..The l'FTH ITEM on the List

Israel's Crisis and Us: Avoiding a Devastating Acceptance

RESILIENT TO A FAULT constant terror killings of our brethren. have been many tefilla and Tehillirn ral· We take comfort in knowing that "only lies. But it does seem that over the past omething is terribly wrong with us. four people" were killed. We get a little few months those articles, speeches, and Yes, deep down, we are all worried more upset when the casualties are high­ rallies have been few and far between. Sand grief-stricken over the horri· er, but our lives quickly return to nor­ In fact, as I write these words, Israel ble pain our brothers and sisters are mal. is still reeling from yet another heinous experiencing in Israel. Yet, if you look This is not the first article to appear attack occurring on Shabbos Kodesh, the around, we seen1 to be quite co1nfort­ in JO or other Jewish periodicals that Friday night murder of four yeshiva stu­ able hearing news that tells us of the attempts to address the concept of try· dents in the dining hall of the Otniel 1 Rabbi Leff, who is a Rebbe at RITSS High School ing to feel our brothers' pain in Israel. Yeshiva, in the Chevron Hills. Strange· There have been many articles and in Cincinnati, was represented in these pages by 1 This w;~vritten bef~;;the two s~i~ide bon1b­ "Passion, Purin1 and Snow" (Feb.'02). speeches devoted to this subject. There ings in Tel Aviv on January 5, '03. r------I Send your I membership I dues for 5763 to: I Agudath Israel of America I 42 Broadway, 14th Floor I New York, NY I 0004 I I Tel: 212-797-9000 • Fax: 646-254-1600 0 $36 Individual Membership -.:1 $54 Family Membership CJ $180 VIP Membership Q $720 Life Membership For first-t•me members and non-current subscribers anly: Please send me my free one-year introductory subscription to: Q The Jewish Observer U Dos Yiddishe Vort NAME

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------··------The Jewish Observer, January 2003 23 ly, I didn't hear anyone talking about or in Israel and we hardly blink anymore. the first three of these stages in relating discussing this horrific crime. No one to the crisis in Israel. In the beginning seemed outwardly moved or deeply sad­ THE SHOCK WHEN IT STARTED we were in denial, we then became dened. There was no sense of urgency depressed at the gravity of the tragedies, in the davening or even in the Tehillim e all remember Rosh Hashana and we were definitely angry at the Arab after daveningthat every shul around the 5761, when the Arab intifada terrorists. Under regular circumstances, world has said for over 28 months now. W had just begun and how a normal and healthy grief process con­ This was apparently viewed by most of scared we were. The heightened kavana cludes with acceptance, which enables us as "just another attack." in our tefillos then was easily percepti­ the mourner to continue and move on How could it be? How could it be that ble. Who doesn't recall the fright we all with his life. This is vital for any over 700 Jews have been killed by Arab felt when the soldiers were lynched in mourner. But for us to accept the sitn­ terrorists over the past 2 1/2 years and Ramallah? And back then there were ation in Israel and stop feeling the real­ we are not moved to cry, to daven bet­ barely ten casualties in those first few ity of the pain would be the biggest ter, to finally hear Hashem's call for weeks of the crisis. Remember the tragedy of all. Unfortnnately, we are repentance? summer of 5761 when so many lectures showing some signs of reaching this The answer is quite simple and and events were dedicated to the mem­ dreaded state. quite frightening. We are resilient to a ory of'the 73 Jews murdered'? And now, fault. We can get used to virtually any­ we have close to 730 - a full ten times A MOST DANGEROUS TIME thing. We are very much like the boil­ more! But the speeches) events, and ing lobsters. prayer rallies seem to be a distant e all sense that we are living In order to kill lobsters in the most memory. in the most dangerous time efficient way so that they remain fresh, The question is: did we daven with W period for Kial Yisroel since seafood sellers take live lobsters and drop more kavana and feeling then, at the the Holocaust. Hashem is allowing our them into water. Then they slowly beginning of this horrible ordeal, or Yishmaelite cousins to experience increase the temperature of the water so now, after thousands of terror attacks? numerous successes in their terror can1- that the lobster barely notices the water If we are honest with ourselves, we paign, and there is no end in sight. All becoming hotter. Eventually, the lobster would have to admit that we have vir­ the diplomatic and military solutions becomes used to a very hot temperature tually reached a stage of acceptance, have failed to stop the attacks. Yes, we and then easily allows itself to be which has largely removed any sense of must be constantly appreciative and boiled. Had the lobster been placed ini­ mourning, grief, and emotion from us. thankfnl to Hashem for the tens if not tially in boiling water, the lobster would Many of us are familiar with the hundreds of attacks that were supposed fight to jump or crawl out. "Four Stages of Grief;' which psy­ to happen but were thwarted. But, as we We, like the lobster, have become used chotherapists use to help patients. They are well aware, too often, the Ribbono to Jews getting "boiled" on a regular are: Denial, Depression, Anger, and Shel Olam has not stepped in to provide basis. Our brothers are getting murdered Acceptance. Most of us have experienced us with protection from the terror. He has allowed the killings to continue. We also know that whenever the Ribbono Shel Olam allows tragedy to strike, He does it to inspire us to return to Him, to cry out to Him, to improve our Avodas Hashem - our spiritual growth. If we, chas veshalom, accept the crisis in Israel as the reality of our exis­ tence, and fail to let the continuing murders shake us to our core, we FOR almost guarantee, ., .. , that the killings THE FINEST and the crisis will continue! This creates a devastating cycle that IN 1 we become stuck in. The more murders 1111111 and tragedies, the more we become accustomed to them. The more we become accnstomed to them, the less they move us to change and improve. The less we change and improve, the more Hashem sees the need to allow

24 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 more horrifying tragedies to occur! 2 happen once a year have a dramatic, world alive and that every word of our So now, the reader is probably hope­ emotional, even sentimental appeal to prayers has the power to change decrees ful that I will provide a solution to this us. Strengthening, chizuk, or increased against us, but it's hard to maintain these awful set of circumstances. I am glad to intensity for such mitzvos is unnecessary. ideas without growing very stale to report that I do have a suggestion. It comes naturally. them. We hear about the significance of Unfortunately, though, I am also con­ , good deeds, prayer, righteous and kind deeds, and consis­ fident that the reader will be disap­ and proper performance of our liveli­ tently performing our jobs properly, and pointed with my suggestion. You see, hood (which includes working honest­ this is the very reason why it becomes there are no easy answers. There is no ly and efficiently for our employers) are tedious and uninspiring for us. Anything teshuva pill that we can take that will challenges we face each and every day. that we do all the days of our lives, all solve our problems. We would love for Anything that we do constantly will the time, will always lose its drama and 3 there to be a segula , magical kapitel automatically and necessarily fail to glory. We all can remember how accom­ Tehillim, that we can say which would carry a natural intensity. V\te know plished and exhilarated we felt the first make all the problems disappear. But intellectually that Torah study keeps the time we put on or read a Rashi true gro'Wth, change, and repentance do not come easily. If the Ribbono Shel Olam has allowed tragedies of mam­ moth proportions to happen to us, we also must work toward making real and 60 60 significant changes within ourselves. What I will suggest is to add a fifth item to our list. Let me explain.

"IT WILL NOT HAPPEN BY ITSELF" 50 50 he Gemora in Berachos 32b says: "Four items require strengthen­ Ting(chizuk): Torah study, good ON OUR deeds, prayer, and one's livelihood

(derech eretz - see Rashi)." Ghazal are 40 40 teaching us that in order to succeed in FAMILY these four areas, we must always increase our intensity for them. But why are only these four items listed? Don't A NEW RADIO PROGRAM all mitzvos require strengthening and 30 30 increased intensity? BEGINNING JANUARY 9 The answer would appear to be the

following. No Rav ever needs to give a 20 20 shmuess or sermon to inspire his kehilla PLAIN TALK, STRAIGHT ANSWERS, GOOD FUN to come to shul for the reading of THURSDAYS PM Megillas Esther on . There isn't a 15 9 10 15 rabbi who feels compelled to tell his shul 6 2 0 AM RAD I 0 about the importance of coming to hear 10 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE NACHUM SEGAL SHOW 10 the blowing of the shofar on Rosh Hashana. Why not? The reason is obvi­ 7 HOSTED BY: DAVID MANDEL, MARCIA KESNER 7 ously because mitzvos or events that only 4 WITH WEEKLY SPECIAL GUEST PANELISTS 4 2 ibi; is, in essen~e, a brief description ~·f the RABBI OSCAR EHRENREICH, RABBI RONNIE GREENWALD, DR. pesukim in the Tochacha in Bechukosai 26,27-28. JOSH LAMM, ADINA & CHESKY WERTMAN, ESO., SHLOIME DACHS Keri leads to chamas keri. Viewing tragedies with casualness leads Hashem to bring a "fury of casu­ alness" upon us. 3 I am not, G-d forbid, diminishing the strong effect a recital of Tehillim can have. Every rnitz­ va matters and counts toward creating merits that I help protect us. Still, it would appear that more E-mail questions and comments to: [email protected] significant and sustained improvements are FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 718·431-0100 I warranted in our present crisis,

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 25 correctly, but those passionate feelings aspects of the crisis. We have become are no more. "used to" Jews dying on a constant basis. This is exactly the issue the Gemora We therefore fail to become shocked nor is trying to address. The only way- and do we react with proper emotion when it is difficult, there is no quick and easy we hear the news of the tragedies. Only method - is to constantly inspire one­ through constant chizuk, as the Gemo­ self. As Rashi there explains: "A person ra suggests, can we n1aintain the feelings must continuously strengthen himself of grief for the horrors. Only through with all his energy (koach)." There are continual reminders, will we strive for Child Development two keys that Rashi mentions: continu­ improvement in our avodas Hashetn to ity, and with all one's strength. In order help prevent the attacks. Specialists serving to succeed in the four areas the Gen10- So, in our tumultuous time period, ra lists, there must be a daily, continu­ it would seem that we are obligated to infants/toddlers ous, concerted, and energetic effort to add a fifth item to the list mentioned in inspire oneself. Chizuk will not happen Berachos 32b: Remembering the Crisis in & their famities by itself. Israel. We must, on a daily basis, set aside As explained, the reason why the time (even if only for a brief moment) Ge1nora n1entions only four items is to reflect upon the scope of the because these four enco1npass the four tragedies, on the over 700 dead, on the inajor areas that \Ve are involved vvith on hundreds of serious and permanent a daily basis. And the fact is that any injuries, on all the grieving families, and experience that occurs constantly, makes on ways we can improve in our avodas us lose any dramatic and emotional pull Hashern to create merits to earn we may have had for it. Hashem's protection. I have no doubt that every reader of WITH ENERGY AND EFFORT this article has accepted some area of improvement (a kabbala) upon himself imilarly, the constant deaths and or herself as a result of the tragedies in killings in Israel have made us lose Israel. Whether it is davening with Ssensitivity to the dire and tragic inore kavana, a special daily chessed one performs, an extra learning session, a special shemiras halashon session, Erected in all Cemeteries refraining from indulgences in food (see Call Toll-Free: 866-851-1314 Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginzberg's "Terrorism, Rabbi M. Premock Sugar Cubes and File! Mignon" in JO, June '02), we have accepted things EARLY• INTERVENTION •MAKES •A• DIFFERENCE Reconimended by many Rabbonim upon ourselves in order to create Evaluation & Therapy zechusim. V\That we need to do nO\V is to 1nonitor ourselves and make sure we are at our center or in the AGEMACH continuously and consistently per­ privacy of your home forming our kabbala and doing it with LOAN FUND••• all of our energy and effort (as Ras hi Free of Charge .. .In memory of a loved one Berachas 32b explained). merits them "eternal And if after all this, we still find that pleasantness and light to Bi-lingual Services Available the soul in Gan Eden. - we cannot muster the strength to begin (Chafetz Chaim) feeling the extent and depth of the Executive Offices To establish a perpetual Memorial or tragedies, \Ve can)t give ourselves chizuk, 4228 Tenth Avenue, Honorary Func1 at one of our 22 branches nor can we cry, we run the terrible risk Brooklyn, New York 11219 across Eretz Yisroel, contact: of accepting the crisis as nor111al and part of our reality. And if (G-d forbid) OZER DALIM that were to occur, is that not the biggest 718•972•0880 reason to cry? S£WING BROO""-YN, QUEENS, STATlN ISlANO & MANHARAN 1301 Avenue K, Brooklyn, NV 11230 If we can't cry from the pain and can't Fundc

26 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 Rabbi Avi Shafran

-" .::; '-, - \ -, -·._--,"' ·'-">, --_.., ".v._ • --, •• , > .... ~·-.2'_,.,, '·<, ",\·--.'>, "· '' ··,,, .Merit~GreahfndSmalf', ,, ,,, .i::ant·one,S'ho less than those th immersed in Torah study should be rec­ .\'> - . ...., '·. ·- .---- _, " -~ --.:· -., -- -'' , :~more obvious. ognized with special mention; others ,Itisi~ that spirit that I offer still, that Jews in particularly dangerous idea for consideration by any areas of Eretz Yisroel should be a par­ ··Il~~~:~:!y~i~~:f :~£I~~~~t whom it may happen to res ticular focus during the course of our merit the safety of our brothers and sis­ davening, not only in personal tefillos­ ters in Eretz Yisroel and around the Appreciating The Words We Have when we are always free to express what world, The scourge of hatred for Jews our hearts feel - but in some public way and the murderous determination of so uggestions have been made to during tejillas tzibbur, many to prevent us from living in peace incorporate new tefillos or Mi She­ Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel, the Rav of on our ancestral land have evoked an Sberachs into our seder haTefilla. Agudath Israel of Cedarhurst, told me equal and opposite determination on the Some feel that a special acknowledge­ that he responded to a request by some part of the Am Hashem to earn His pro­ ment of the is of his congregants for the institution of tection. proper; others, that those who are a special Mi Sheberach by pointing out Many of the efforts we can effectively make have been delineated by our »~ Gedolim and Rabbanim who have GEFEN addressed us over the past many months, And our tefillos can be more FI~Ao~9.AL~· heartfelt, our Torah-study can be inten­ Reg;stered Morlgage Beakers ..... sified) our acts of chessed increased; we NYS Dept. of Banking lil.W 800 Manor Road, Suite #1 W can better demonstrate honor for our Staten Island, New York 10314 places of Torah and tefilla, and for each Phone 718-983-9272 • 914-MORTGAGE other; we can wean ourselves from our LoJns arranged through Jrd party providers addictions to luxuries; and we can empathize with our fellow Jews in deeper, more heartfelt ways, And then there are smaller zechuyos Jonah's Fashion Inc. (sources of merit) that many have undertaken, fron1 special care in par­ Girls Yeshiva Uniform Manufacturers ticular mitzvos to expressions of anguish in the form of personal acts of self-deprivation. • We make skirts and jumpers, solids The path to a goal, though, is often and plaids, from size 5 thru multifaceted; and when it is, reaching the junior and pre-teens end-point entails what the Ramch"al, in Mesillas Yesharim, calls "kibbutz kol • Bais Yaacov blouses made from ha'emtzo'iyos- accessing all of the var­ our own custom made ious means," the seemingly less signifi- (extra heavy) material

Rabbi Shafran serves as Agudath Israel of Ainer­ ica's Director of Public Affairs and as the Amer­ ican director of Am Echad, the Agudath Israel­ inspired educational outreach effort and media resource.

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 27 to them that it might be preferable to The Defense is Overruled erated (or at least mercilessly shrunk). better utilize the tefillos we already have The problem seems to exist in a vari­ than to endeavor to add new ones. The ntil one of my daughters shared ety of shuls and minyanim, both on Tachanun we recite on Mondays and her personal exasperation over weekdays and on Shabbos, and it seems Thursdays, he cited as an example, is U the fact, I had thought that I was to have no connection to any particu­ replete with references to Eretz Yisroel perhaps the only person who had found lar nusach or to the sort of headcover­ and Jewish suffering, yet if there has been it impossible to complete "Aleinu" in ing the men present wear. For some rea­ any campaign to embrace that tefilla with shul in the time allotted by the ba' al son, kavana in the words of"Al Kein" - more deliberation or intensified kavvana, tefilla. Granted, one can always complete indeed its very recitation, to a large it has not been widely evident. the tefilla after the Kaddish that gener­ degree - seems to have fallen into a beis I thought it was a very worthy ally follows it, but what most often hap­ haknesses black hole. thought, and it led me to consider pens instead is that, at least for most To be sure, like the problem of con­ another neglected, and quite prominent, people, "Aleinu" - or at least its second versations during davening, the slurring part of our seder hatefilla. paragraph," Al Kein" - is effectively oblit- of Aleinu might originate with the comfort Jews feel in shul. We are so "at YOUR CAR IN ISRAEL FROM- home" there that we all too easily fall *US$ into treating our mekomos tefilla (hous­ e90 p~::AY es of worship) as if they were our liv­ 15 ing rooms - and some of our tefillos as if they were simple conversations ... TYPE OF CAR PER WEEK $ clipped, garbled, mumbled. But of A FIAT PUNTO l DR 112 course, that doesn't make it right; B FIAT PUNTO 5 DR 126 familiarity, in both instances, 1nay c FORD FIESTA 147 FREE* explain, but in neither is it a defense. Cl PEUGEOT306 182 And so the thought occurs: Might we MT MINIBUS 10 SEATS 518 be able to access a special merit were D OPEL CORSA 189 more of us to endeavor to say Aleinu in "' Minimum l ~ rental, exc.ins. E DAEWOO LANOS 217 subject to offer regulations. I its entirety, and with more kavana? F SUZUKI BALENO 1.6 ! 245 XL PEUGEOT 406 2.0 357 U.S.A New-York Holy Paragraphs ... Approaching Footsteps 1-800-938-5000 212-629-6090 vx VOLVOS-70 630 www.eldan.co.il EX MERCEDES E240 770 KX MAZDA MPV 651 leinu, after all, is no minor part * unlimited mileage, exc. ins. of the seder tefilla. It was com­ * Va1id low season only A posed, according to many early sources, by Yehoshua; its opening sen­ tences, moreover, were the death-dec­ laration of countless Jews throughout history, the words with which they defi­ antly refused to succumb to the tortures e6rowing Jewish Community and threats of others bent on uproot­ Complete Family Resources ing devotion to the Torah. It is even part •Healthy Job Market of our Mussaf Amida on the Yam Radin •Affordable Housing (Day of Judgment, i.e. Rosh Hashana). •Nurturing Community And the appended "Al Kein" para­

•Learning Opportunities graph is, according to our 1nesora1 the •Shomer Shabbos Medical Residencies expression of teshuva composed by •Community Activities Achan (the first letter of each of its first three words spell his name), in the wake Total Torah Environment of his sin of misappropriating valuables •Cheder •Bois Yakov from the spoils of the conquered city of •Yeshiva Gedola •Kolle! • Mikveh • Eruv Yericho, and his repentance thereon. •Wisconsin School Tuition Vouchers In a time of evil decrees against Jews, for Qualifying Families it would only seem appropriate that we make an effort to better connect to those The Torah Community of Rabbi Michel Twerski Invites your interest 1·800·226·3129 words of sincere regret and recognition.

28 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 And the words themselves! They are whom to rely other than our Father in powerfully pertinent to our times, times • Heaven." that have been reasonably portrayed by nce again, the May we be zocheh to merit that this great men as the period of history Ghaz­ recognition serve to be a prelude to the al described as the Ikvesa d'Meshicha, the O small fraction of ge'ula in our day, to the era of global time when the "footsteps of Moshiach" one percent of the recognition of Hashem and His truth can be heard in the distance. that, our Nevi'im have told us, will fol­ world's population low, described in the words of"AI Kein": The Jewish Plot known as Kial Yisroel is, '~nd therefore we put our hope in You, Hashem, that we may soon see o one with any sense at all of astoundingly, the focus Your mighty splendor, to remove history could possibly ignore the of myriad forces of detestable idolatry from the earth, and N confluence of events in Bretz Yis­ false gods will be utterly cut off, to per­ roe/ today with what is transpiring on unbridled evil. fect the universe through the Almighty's the larger geopolitical scene. All of the sovereignty. pundits' nervous disassociation of "Then all humanity will call upon Islamic terrorism from anti-Semitism • Your Name, to turn all the earth's might well be taken with a truckful of before our eyes. The fear is there, the wicked toward You. All the world's salt. Even were it true that Osama Bin threats are there. inhabitants will recognize and know Laden's ultimate enemy is really West­ that to You every knee should bend... ern culture, and that he only hatefully On That Day and to the glory of Your Name they will harps on "Zionists" - read "Jews" - in render homage, and they will all accept order to enhance his credibility within ur own role in the plan is to do upon themselves the yoke of Your king­ the Arab world, is it not most dis­ what we have been charged to ship ... on that day Hashem will be One turbingly meaningful that credibility in 0 do: be better Jews in every way and His name will be One." that large, imposing and violent world we can. And to recognize that all the And then: is enhanced in that way? Or that a high­ usual roads to hope - diplomatic, mil­ "Yisgadel v'yiskadesh Sh'mei ranking official of the country from itary, political - are absolute dead ends, rabba ... ~" which nearly all the September 11 by any logical measure. To recognize, in • mass-murderers emerged has publicly other words, that "there is no one on .,-:M~y-·Hi~ great name be exait~-·and sancti­ blamed the attack on Jews? fied ... " Once again, and perhaps more than ever before, the small fraction of one percent of the world's population known as Kial Yisroel is, astoundingly, the focus of myriad forces of unbridled For careful attention to your evil. Nations like Iran and Iraq, or like individual needs, call us today! Saudi Arabia and Syria, that have in the past had only visceral hate for one (845) 354-8445 another have found common cause in venting their accumulated animus in one familiar direction. The sound of footsteps is growing louder. The haters like to say that there is a Jewish Plot. And they're right, of course. It's more of a plan, though, than a plot; there's only one- or, better, One Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUSf "PAPERWORK" - Planner. And His plan is unfolding ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Ylsrael KARKA IN BRETZ YISROEL 1043-42ml Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 Call Rabbi Gavriel Beer for information Day &N'ight phone: (718) 851-8925 on obtaining cemetery plots in Beth )))D'l:JN1~lJNj:> ))l"j:> - )'1::> 1Nl T11lJY)) 'll~ Shemesh and other locations in Israel. Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nelesh and compassion for the bereaved family. 011-972-2-656-9427 TAHA.RAS HANIFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE COMMERCIALIZED

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 29 P.S. KIRUV TODAY IN THE USA Chaim Wol(son

ne evening, as I relaxed on my If I don't make contact with the other, I that can so damage your fragile imn1une worn but comfortable couch, I have failed miserably. The condition of system?" 0 began leafing through a tat­ A1nerican Jewry is so precarious, so rife I try to explain that I can't help it, I tered copy of Strive For Truth, and then ivith Ignorance, so decimated by Inter­ don't kno1v any other way to make contact, closed my eyes and began to think marriage; yet so rnany are open to learn­ to teach. My empathy tears through even about my day. One thought led to ing once a connection is 1nade. I am there­ the 1nost in1penetrable of materials, and I another and before I knew it, I had fore intensely focused on making that haven't found a way to practice empathy drifted off to a dream-filled slumber. connection. So much so, that the inhabi­ one way. They don't understand: "Surely In my dream, standing before me, tants of the sanctuary of the Beis you can be a one-way channel. After all, patient, yet with pleading eyes, was a 'Aidi d'tarid liflot lo yivla (when involved man not unlike myself. He began to talk in projecting, o.ne does not absorb')!" as if we had arranged this meeting some But how c ~ teach and not tvant time before, and it was time for him to . u develop a rela­ make his point. se to receive? Who The nature of my dilemma can be stat­ you, when they ed in three words. I am lonely. Please don't , repulsive, some misunderstand. I have a warm and loving hose disease you family, and many friends and colleagues, e'not vigilantly pro­ but somehow, even with their compan­ -tive? "Don'ijUst rebuke me, show 111e ionship and love, loneliness continues to JV it's done!" I shout, frustrated. At follow me wherever I go. is point they return to their seats, You see, I am a kiruv profession- _·en up their sefarim and disap­ al, an outreach worker, a melamed ,r. __And I, I am once again alone. to the relatively uninitiated. My Cc,~]lad no words for my trou­ tools of trade are empathy, kind, friend. He sensed my ness, pedagogic skills and a work- ern for him and assured ing knowledge of Torah and at he just needed some- Torah-related subjects. I was olisten. trained in the. world of the Beis ;cS;; loneliness eventually Hamidrash, a~4§p.~~( t/lirty years~[; hen I realize that I do within its walls. J::am--mo~t at home>r , because I believe that is there. I am nurtweqthe~~.Ift -he1n wants of nze. I do it tenance there.,:J·ftnd companion~ ve Him and I love His ere- and sometimes refuge there; But'YT{ ·.. .en I remember that, sud­ lonely, because when I began to p ,~1 realize I am no longer Kiruv Rechokim, I focused my empath truly alone." another culture, one that was outside-ihe walls of the Beis Hamidrash; and now I start. Some of the am not completely at home in either world. -ook \vere avvkward- I could never consider "A1nerican Culture" IY o e liiid one of my arms tin­ a source of nourish1nent or co1nfort. To put , just shy of numb. As I stood shak­ it simply, it is neither Torah nor related to ing my arm so that the blood would Torah. But because the culture of Ameri­ return to its normal flow through my can Jews is so different it requires study and almost lifeless limb, I caught a glimpse understanding if! am going to 1nake a gen­ Hamidrash wrinkle their noses and declare of a reflection in the n1irror. It was the uine connection with another. And that is that I reek of "American Culture." They gentleman from the dream. He will be all I an1 concerned with, 1naking a genuine find my odor offensive. Not all of them; fine, I assured myself, as long as he connection ivith another. I must under­ surely, there are some who try to under­ holds on to Strive For Truth, and fol­ stand hhn, the American Jew, where he stand. But 1nany don't, and they insist that lows in its guidelines .... As long as he comes from, what he needs from me. Kiruv Rechokim, when done correctly, can keeps returning to the Beis Hamidrash, I am no different from any good and should be a sanitary practice, a sort and endeavors to feel at home there .... teacher, but for nie there is 1nore at stake. of traveling Beis Hamidrash. And as long as he touches base with his "Why can't you just go forward like a mentors who see things from the Beis Rabbi Wolfson who studied in yeshivas in Bretz Yisroel for a number of years, is now active in kiruv child in a plastic bubble, a bubble that pro­ Hamidrash perspective .... Yes, he will activities in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. tects you from the 1nany strange viruses be just fine. •

30 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 er for its efforts in bringing the prob­ lem of "simcha sprawI" to the fore. I wonld like to offer some additional sug­ gestions on the topic of chassunas. Invitees: You many help the baalei simcha limit the size of the affair by reconsidering the extent of your involven1ent. A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE The Kiddush would be extra special, but Are you a friend of the chassan's or STANDARD LAVISH AFFAIR there would be no separate event that kalla's parent with otherwise little or no evening or on Sunday. connection to the chassan or kalla? If so, To the Editor: The Bar Mitzva was beautiful, and the it is nearly impossible to be me'same'ach Reading Rabbi Twerski's "Reflec­ thousands of dollars saved was certain­ the chassan or kalla when they are sur­ tions on 'Guidelines for Weddings'" ly a nice byproduct. Our son was the rounded by a hundred or more close ().0., June '02) brought back strong focal point of this important day, and friends and family members. It might men1ories. friends and relatives still showered him be argued that a kalla may feel greater When our eldest son reached Bar with gifts. sitncha at a "large" chassuna than at a Mitzva in 1993, my wife and I followed Shortly after the Bar Mitzva, other "small" one, but all of our chassunas are the community norn1s of the time: a parents fro1n our community at least "large." nice invitation to all of our relatives and approached my wife and I. In every Even if you do feel close enough to friends, a special Kiddush on Shabbos for instance they told us how concerned be me'same'ach the chassan and kalla, is the entire shul, and a Sunday event at a they were about making an affordable it necessary that both you and your hall with a catered meal, music and Bar Mitzva. They did not want their sons spouse attend? Perhaps you have chil­ dancing. While the weekend may have to be embarrassed, bnt could not afford dren at home who are in need of your been less opulent than in other com­ a simcha consistent with the "commu­ presence during dinner and the home­ n1unities, the affair was certainly well nity standards." They thanked us for work and bedtime periods. beyond modest in cost and presentation. breaking the cycle. The baa! simcha may be contribut- The custom of our community had This June we made our third Bar not changed when the time came to plan Mitzva. This one was the san1e as the the Bar Mitzva of our second child. Just second - a Shabbos-only affair. The only as we were beginning to make our difference was that we did not have to arrangements, we read Rabbi Twerski's explain anything to our son this time. first article, "The Time for Tikkun Has You see, in the last six years, every com­ Arrived. Are We Ready?" (J.O., Feb. '96). munity Bar Mitzva has followed the new Although we were financially able to "standard" we set. If you deal with teenagers (they may be your make a similar simcha for this child, we We have been reluctant to publicize own) & you would like some insight on how to be more successful with them, we will send were n1oved by what we read. A state1nent our role in changing how our commu­ you a free sample of the book "The ultimate needed to be made. And it occurred to nity celebrates a Bar Mitzva. However, win/win" To communicate love to your us that a family that had the wherewithal we now feel that people need to hear family. (While supplies last) to finance extravagance was uniquely how one family can make a difference positioned to offer an alternative. on an entire community. We thank Yeshiva Fund, Box 82, S.I. NY 10309 We spoke to our Rabbi, who was Rabbi Twerski for his inspiration. And totally supportive. Most importantly, we we hope that our experience will moti­ spoke to our son. It was difficult to fully vate others to do the same on behalf of explain our n1otivations to him. He their communities) and Kial Yisroel. needed to understand why he would not Scarr & SHELLEY ISRAEL have a simcha like that of his older broth­ Mihvaukee 28 Weaver Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 er and some of his older classmates. In Tel.: (401) 849-0051 •Fax: (401) 847-5902 www.kosherbedandbreakfast.com the end he understood and agreed. FOR MORE SANITY AND We decided that the entire simcha SENSIBILITY AND SIMCHOS Enjoy the freedom and convenience of a kosher guesthouse, located would take place in shul on Shabbos. We only minutes away from invited only close relatives and our son's To the Editor: the Touro Synagogue, class to the at after f commend both the who the oldest synagogue seuda shul Kiddush. Rabbanim in North America The rest of the shul "family" received a have undertaken to exert their influence Group discount available for Simcho; ~nd Shabbos 1nailed "announcement" invitation only. on baalei simcha and The Jewish Observ- For resenations call: 1-888-465-0051

------· ----·~------The Jewish Observer, January 2003 31 ing to shalom in Kial Yisroel by inviting Shame;' by David Mandel (Oct. '02) was AREIVIM many to avoid the perception of insult· undoubtedly written with best inten­ ing some. And it may be a chessed for tions, to be supportive of those parents HOTLINE you to unburden the baal simcha of the who are faced with children having cost of your meal(s). Down Syndrome or other disabilities. From crisis to control. Caterers: Please offer reusable lam· I unfortunately know quite a bit Helping our boys and girls inated bentchers, and candle centerpieces about this, and I found it grossly as part of your standard service, includ­ unfair for the author to use the ter· Parents: 1·866·6AREIVIM ed in the price. Who in Kial Yisroel real· minology of "gives away" or aban­ Teens: 1·866-0URGUYS ly needs yet another bentcher in their doned regarding parents who cannot Email: [email protected] home? raise children with special needs. All calls are confidential. Baalei Simcha: Consider the There are organizations as well as pri­ 1'>i>•'>M '>X 1~ ll'l! P ~·y'> approach taken by friends of ours vate people who arrange for these when their daughter was engaged: invit· children to be raised and cared for by ing some people to the chupa only and frum families (the ha lac ha is that these HELP FOR PARENTS OF including an invitation to Sheva Bera· children are considered pikchim - TEENS IN CONFLICT chos on a specific evening. Such guests functional and responsible - and not will feel very much included in the sim· shotim and therefore must be raised by M_.~~~SK cha. When we participate as guests like frum families). MOTHERS & FATH- ALIONED &AVl..0 KIDS this, we enjoy ourselves more than at a The biological parents are finding chassuna, since Sheva Berachos is a stable, loving people who are emo­ TEL: 718-758-0400 more intimate affair, and does not tionally detached and do a wonder· CONFIDENTIAL 10 AM - 10 PM include a lengthy wait for pictures, deaf· ful job raising these children. The bio· ening music, and late hour. logical parents are not giving away -'SUPPORT GROUPS -'REFERRALS May Kial YisroeI's united efforts to these children, rather they are find­ .'HOTLINE. refocus our priorities enable us to ing the best possible care for their merit the redemption soon, in our days. child. Some parents place sick chil­ RACHEL Rus PH!:.LAN dren in hospitals for medical care that Southfield, MI they cannot provide, and these par· ents are placing their children in RESPONSIBLE PLACEMENT, NOT homes to care and provide for them "STIGMA OR SHAME" because it is truly too taxing physi· cally and emotionally for some par­ To the Editor: ents to handle the task. In no way are The article, "Support, Stigma or they opting for this choice because of

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------32 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 shame and stigma. daas Torah after assessing the situation, ish Observer article discussing vouchers I am personally aware of several projecting years of difficulty, day in day with no mention of the life long work prominent, respected Rabbanim who out, placing the family structure at risk, and pioneering efforts of Rabbi Moshe encourage this route. I myself spoke to etc. This option was not included in the Sherer 7"lll. In any event, both Avi Schick Rabbi Yehuda Segal 7"lll, and heard this article and should have been. It is and Aaron Twerski are to be congratu­ approach suggested by him to find a unfair to stigmatize those families who lated on an exchange which not only frum family if the mother thinks it have made this choice. helps clarify the issue, but makes it like­ would be too hard for her physically and NAME WITHHELD By REQUEST ly that efforts to help yeshivas will be car- emotionally. These were not cases involving shame and stigma or fear of VOUCHERS - THEIR TIME shidduchim. HAS INDEED COME Each case is different - so please don't generalize. There are options. Families To the Editor: should know about them, and consult I never believed I would read a few- • Each Daf is read, translated, and explained slowly and clearly in just 20 minutes • $4 per tape (plus S&H) • Subscription rate: $3 per tape (plus S&H) Rabbi Isaac Oelbaum Rav D'khal Nachlas Y1tzchoK 141-43 73rd Avenue, Kew Qirden Hills l"ti'1Jl'1 iwri-11) ~rnn

Dear Friend, . children who have suddenly found These are the cries of thirteen young themselves lost and forlorn. . She must be bedridden \n Mommv 1s not we11 • What can we say to them.7 . . . h He . struggling to overcome . . And Tatty ism angu1s . 15 d h ·s order to treat her .con dit1on. 1· ht at the end of the tunnel. An e I his mounting formidable debts. He sees no ig too ashamed to ask for help. d To This Family? What Has Hap~~:~t askan in his communi.ty. He was always Only recently, Tatty was a pro . eed But his life began to unravel ·st others who are inn · h t his the first to come out an d assi t . s to be both father and mot er 0 . Now he brave 1y ne when his wife became 111 · erin debts!! children while he strugg\es to pay stagg g I H. m I we Must He P ' · . . Th need their father back again. >f:s ---- ,!'IJ.::lN.J ' ' J.::l '))'1 ....--; I I . fl -----._,, 0 1C'J,; o,,,,, Bethel ~ l"'//Mfa fa:<1/ .-/ '"~,'.:·:' o':n1.:i1 .pJ~.J 1' tc::::::"' v ~ PJ.J;i1 0'lll'•;r Livestock farm R:bbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum ):i.:i ~1.:i1.:i;1 1l""T;~ Farm & Wildnerness Summer Program Rav D'khal Nach!as Y1tzchok · .J )-.J].J learn under Robbi 11)"!\IS KewGardenHi!ls ~Jt)1//{: t/ctJ\"'f Shmuel Brazil, renowned/ c..·--· 1 mechanech and mashpiah. i1t~il1'111 ~lt!l.!1!1 Do genuine farm work: sheep, ~ This appeal is endorsed by the following Gedolei Hatorah Shlita &2 cows & chickens, gardening, ".., D construction, and more! * /ec%4J (~>ol l •7s 111 ""'~ "~11 ~,."',.i - ~~ ~~he~ Rabbi Dovid Schnstal kabbi Matisyahu Solomon Rabb OsefS. Elyashiv Tax deductible checks payable to Zichron Mayer Special Fund c/o Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum 141-43 73rd Avenue Kew Garden Hills NY 11367 845-425-4559

------The Jewish Observer, January 2003 33 ried out in a structured and effective from our own community - have been be another attempt. Should vouchers manner (Oct. '02). predictable supporters of additional aid prove to be a success in states without Based on an involvement with the to public education, even though the this amendment, we will find ourselves voucher issue going back to 1972, I resulting increased taxes compro1nised inundated with allies seeking to abolish would conclude with Professor Twers­ our ability to support our own yeshivas. Blaine. ki that this is an issue driven by politics Properly approached, these people There are exciting times with a pos­ rather than law. Certainly the Supreme can be powerful advocates of a public I sible solution to the crushing burdens Court victory is attributable to the non-public partnership in which sup­ faced by our yeshivas, not too far over efforts over a period of decades, of cit­ port for non-public schools is an inte­ the horizon. The political process has izen groups such as the Midwest-based gral part of state support for education. proven to be extremely useful in the past, Citizens for Educational Freedom. The Blaine Amendment is a problem, and to quote Professor Twerski: "Our There is another funding inequity that but not an insurmountable one. Once community should be in the front line needs addressing. Many legislators-close before, there was an (unsuccessful) of the battle:' to, representatives of, and even coming effort to repeal it, and there will certainly BERNARD FRYSHMAN, PH.D. Brooklyn, NY

CORRECTIONS

CUCUMBER COMMUNICATIONS In the chart accompanying Ozer Alport's response to letters in the Reader's DIRECT DIAL LONG DISTANCE PHONE SERVICE Forum (Dec. '02, p. 41), a decimal point was misplaced. The correct figures are:

US Stock Market Returns Since 1926 (annualized)

length of Investment (years) 1 5 10 20 Best 53.9% 23.9o/o 20. 1o/o ! 16.9o/o Worst -43.3o/o -12.5o/o -,9o/o 11% Average 13.0o/o 10.So/o 10,9% I 10.9%

In Rabbi Leib Keleman's article, "Lessons I Learned From the Son of a Reform Rabbi" (Dec. '02), a statement that appears on page 14 should have read: "A study from [ 1972] ... found that 52% of Conservative Jews leave the n1ovement." As printed in n1agazine, the Premium Quality Long Distance at Discounted Rates word "annually" was added to the sen­ tence, which is incorrect. • SIGN UP NOW! C p~r 4.5~ SS·e' -· ' min. State to State Israel

1.877.CUCUMBER 1537 50th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 ln-;;tate rates vary_ Srnte to srnt~ call> are billed in 6-sccon

34 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 INDEX TO ARTICLES THE JEWISH OBSERVER VOL. :XXXV Nos. 1-10

SUBJECTS /Rabbi Yoe! Chonon Wenger, March Emuna The Realities of Emuna/Rabbi '02; Rethinking "Kosher" Videos and Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Dec. '02 Baal TeshuvaA Fusion of Gifts/Chana Levin, Computer Games/Rabbi Leib Kelemen, European Jewry A Trip to the Living Meko­ Jan. '02; Almost Trashed Sept. '02; Husbands, Wives and Chil­ mos Hakedoshim of Eretz Yisroel/Rabbi (poem)/Bracha Druss Goetz, Feb. '02 dren/adaptation of speech by Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum, April '02; The Books In Review Chassan and Kalla Dur­ , Oct. '02; Quintessence of Mussar. Rabbi Avro­ ing Their Engagement/Rabbi Support, Stigma or Shame/David hom Eliyahu Kaplan 7"~t/Rabbi Yosef Mordechai Biser, Feb. '02; Nesivos Mandel, Oct. '02; Rav Pam's Special Gavriel Bechhofer, April '02 Shalom - Nesivei Chinuch/Rabbi Shi­ Friend/Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Families Husbands, Wives and Chil­ mon Finkelman, Feb. '02; No Different Oct. '02; The Price of "Just Jok­ dren/adaptation of speech by Rabbi Than lliu: Shevi's Story/Rabbi Hillel Gold­ ing"/Dr. jerry Lob, Oct. '02; A Better Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, Oct. '02 berg, March '02; To Kindle a SouVRabbi Jew, A Better Parent, a review article Festivals and Fast Days Passion, Purim & Noach Orlowek, April '02; Reh Shraga on Raising Roses Among Thorns/ Rabbi Snow/Rabbi Boruch Leff, Feb. '02; Feivel Mendlowitz 7"'.llt/Rabbi Aaron Shlomo Furst, Oct. '02; Let My Peo­ Pesach and the Jewish Mandate/Rabbi Brafman, May '02; The Gift of ple Know!/Rabbi Avrohom Birn­ Ahron Rapps, March '02; The Secret of Speech/Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, May '02; baum, Nov. '02; Reaching Out to the the Truah Gedo/a/Rabbi Fyvel Shuster, With Hearts Full of Faith: Insights into Girls (Sidebar)/Rabbi Leib Keleman, Sept. '02; "All Vows"/Dr. Aaron Twer­ Trust and Emuna/Rabbi Zev Leff, June Nov. '02; Redefining "Kids at ski, Sept. '02; Chanuka: The Search for '02; A Rabbi's JournaVRebbetzin Tziporah Risk"/Mrs. Malky Lowinger, Nov. '02; True Beauty/Rabbi Shimshon Pinkus, Heller, June '02; Wellsprings ofFaith: Per­ A Matter of Inclusion - Not Rejection Nov. '02 spectives on the Source ofEmuna!Yisroel (P.S)/Rabbi Simcha Scholar, Dec. '02 Finances Reflections on "Guidelines for Wed­ Yehuda Pollak, June '02; Meaningflil Liv­ Chinuch Nesivos Shalon1 - Nesivei Chin­ dings" /Professor Aaron Twerski, June ing/Rabbi Labish Becker, June '02; In uch/Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Feb. '02; '02; Can We Learn From Yoseif's Wis­ Search of the Ehrliche Yid/Rabbi Moshe New Problems, Time-Tested Solu­ dom?/Ozer Alport, June '02; Vouchers ... Eisemann, Sept. '02; 1\ Better Jew) A Bet­ tions/Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum, and the Fiscal Viability of our Yeshiv­ ter Parent, a review article on Chafetz March '02; "Yaakov Avinu Lo Meis-Our as/ Avi Schick, Oct. '02; Vouchers: An Chainz: Lessons in Truth _'02; Raising Father Jacob Did Not Die"/Rabbi Ben­ Idea Whose Time Has Come/Dr. Roses Among Thoms/Rabbi Shlomo Furst, zion Twerski, Sept. '02 Aaron 'J\verski, Oct. '02; The Price of Oct. '02; The Pleasant Way/Rabbi Shi­ 1\ Liberal Spin on "Just Joking"/Dr. jerry Lob, Oct. '02; A mon Finkelman) Dec. '02; The Torah a Conservative Purim (SL)/Rabbi Call to Arms/Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginsberg, Lifestyle: Finding Meaning and Purpose Nisson Wolpin, March. '02; Coming Oct. '02; Reader's Forum/Rabbi Ozer in a World Transformed/Rabbi Yosef C. Home ... 'Jb Eitz Chain1?/Rabbi Nisson Alport, Dec. '02 Golding, Dec. '02 Wolpin, April. '02; The Dangers of Foods Living the Law/ Ari Z. ZivototSky and Bulman, Rabbi Nachman ':>"lit Biograph­ Dialogue/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Dec. Ari Greenspan, Dec. '02 ical Notes/7":>1t/Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, '02; Lessons I learned Fro1n the Son Ger The Valley of Dry Bones/Rabbi Avro­ Sept. '02; An Appreciation/Rabbi of a Reform Rabbi /Rabbi Leib hom Birnbaum, June '02 , Sept. '02; Unfinished Keleman, Dec. '02 Halacha Living the Law/ Ari Z. Zivotofsky Symphony/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Demographics How Many American and Ari Greenspan, Dec. '02 Sept. '02; A Vestige of Earlier Jews Are There? 5,300,000? Halberstam Rabbi Shlomo 7"llt "Yaakov Times/Rabbi Leonard Oppenheimer, 2,300,000?/Rabbi Mordechai Plaut, Avinu Lo Meis- Our Father Jacob Did Sept. '02; A Talmid Remembers/Rabbi Nov. '02 Not Die"/Rabbi Benzion Twersky, Zev Kahn, Sept. '02 Dialogue The Dangers of Dialogue/Rabbi Sept. '02 Character Development (Middos) Best Leib Kelemen, Dec. '02 Hashkafa (Torah Philosophy) Passion, Wishes/Mrs. Faygie Borchardt, Dec. '02 Disabilities Support, Stigma or Purim & Snow/Rabbi Boruch Leff, Feb. Children Shalorn Bayis:A View Fron1 Your Shame/David Mandel, Oct. '02; Rav '02; Pesach and the Jewish Man­ Child's Eyes/Rabbi Shmuel Gluck, Pam's Special Friend/Rabbi Shimon date/Rabbi Ahron Rapps, March '02; Ter­ Jan. '02; Heading a Large Family/Faiga Finkelman, Oct. '02; A Matter of rorism, Sugar Cubes & Filet Koenig, /an. '02; PostScript to "Chil­ Inclusion - Not Rejection (P.S.)/Rabbi Mignon/Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginsberg, dren At Risk" /Debbie Brown, Feb. '02; Simcha Scholar, Dec. '02 June '02; A Rabbi's Journal (book New Problen1s, "fime-Tested Solu­ Eisenberg, Rabbi Ephraim 'r:ir: A Primary review)/Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, tions /Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum, Conduit of Torah/Rabbi Yosef Gavriel June '02; Yahrzeit/Rabbi Nisson March '02; Honoring One's Parents Bechhofer, Oct. '02 Wolpin, Sept. '02; The Secret of the Tnmh

. -·~------·--·--- The Jewish Observer, January 2003 35 Gedo/a/Rabbi Fyvel Shuster, Sept. '02; Know!/Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum, Growth/Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Jan. '02; Bein Adam L'Chaveiro/Rabbi Dov Nov. '02; Reaching Out to the Girls (Side­ A Fusion of Gifts/Chana Levin, Jan. '02; Berish Ganz, Sept. '02; "All Vows" /Dr. bar )/Rabbi Leib Keleman, Nov. '02 Heading a Large Family/Faiga Koenig, Aaron Twerski, Sept. '02; We Are Dif­ Jews in The Valley of Dry Jan. '02; Rachmanus, Rejection & Real­ ferent/Rabbi Aaron Brafman, Nov. Bones/Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum, ity/Mrs. Seryl Sander, Jan. '02; A Dif­ '02; Chanuka: The Search for True Beau­ June '02 ferent Kind of Baby/ Ariella Davidson, ty /Rabbi Shimshon Pinkus, Nov. '02; Jews in Israel Foundation of the Jan. '02; Chassan and Kalla During Their The Realities of Emuna/Rabbi Eliyahu World/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, May Engagement (book review)/Rabbi Meir Klugman, Dec. '02; Bringing '02; Our Generation's Tzaddik of Mordechai Biser, Feb. '02; Reader's Our Prayers to a Higher Level/Rabbi Jerusalem/Moshe Schapiro, May '02 Forum, June '02; The Ruchnius Hesby Kleinman, Dec. '02 Jews in USA ''.A Time to Build"/Rabbi Chaim Approach to Finding One's Hatzala (Rescue) Her Children, a review Dov Keller, May '02; "You're the Zivug/Zelda Cutler, June. '02 article on These Children are Mine/by Beracha" /Mr. Kenneth Broodo, May '02; Media Those Hated Chareidim/Rabbi Rabbi Moshe M. Eisemann, Nov. '02 Reb Yonoson Rosenblu1n, March. '02 Health Redefining"Kids at Risk"/Mrs. Malky 7"Y.t(books)/Rabbi Aaron Brafman, Mitzvos The Gift of Speech (book Lowinger, Nov. '02 May '02; Reader's Forum, Sept '02; Let review)/Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, May Horowitz, Rebbetzin Raiche! n"V The Us Build Torah with Torah/Rabbi '02; Be a Better Baal Tefilla/Rabbi Pin­ Bostoner Rebbetzin/Rabbi Hillel Gold­ Chaim Dov Keller, Sept. '02; The chos Jung, Nov. '02; Living the Law/ Ari berg, Sept. '02 Bostoner Rebbetzin!Rabbi Hillel Gold­ Z. Zivotofsky and Ari Greenspan, Dec. Infertility A Different Kind of Baby/ Ariel­ berg, Sept. '02; Rabbi Ephraim Eisen­ '02; Bringing Our Prayers to a Higher la Davidson, Jan. '02 berg 7"Y.t: A Primary Conduit of Level/Rabbi Heshy Kleinman, Dec. Interpersonal Relations Terrorism, Sugar Torah/Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, '02 Cubes & Filet Mignon/Rabbi Aryeh Z. Oct. '02; How Many American Jews Are Mussar The Quintessence of Mussar. Ginsberg, June '02; Bein Adam There? 5,300,000? 2,300,000?/Rabbi Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu Kaplan L'Chaveiro/Rabbi Dov Berish Ganz, Sept. Mordechai Plaut, Nov. '02; Let My Peo­ ?''Y.t/Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, April '02; Best Wishes/Mrs. Faygie Bor­ ple Know!/Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum, '02; Defining Humanity, a review/Rabbi chardt, Dec. '02 Nov. '02 Gershon Brafman, Nov. '02 Israel: Politics The Supreme Court and the Kaplan, Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu ':r'Y.t The Narrative Living \Nhere Everything is State of Israel's Jewish Identity/Rabbi Quintessence of Mussar/Rabbi Yosef Ground Zero/Sara Shapiro, Feb. '02; Nisson Wolpin, March '02 Gavriel Bechhofer, April '02 "You're the Beracha!Mr. Kenneth Broo­ Israel: Religion Rabbi Elazar Menachem Kashrus Living the Law/ Ari Z. Zivotofsky do, May '02; And the Rains Came/Mr. Man Shach ?··-;.r/ Rabbi Mordechai and Ari Greenspan, Dec. '02 Alan Haber, May '02; Foundation of the Kamenetzky, Feb. '02; The Roots of Kiruv A Little Light/Miriam Zakon, Feb. World/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, May Greatness of Rabbi Elazar Menachem '02; "A Time to Build" /Rabbi Chaim Dov '02; A Few Thoughts on a Matza' ei Shab­ Shach 7'".J.t/Rabbi Yisroel Friedman, Feb. Keller, May '02; "You're the bos/Debbie Shapiro, Sept. '02; That I Can '02; A Little Light/Miriam Zakon, Feb. Beracha" /Mr. Kenneth Broodo, May '02; Survive Until You Remember/Mrs. '02; Those Hated Chareidim!Rabbi Yono­ And the Rains Came/Mr. Alan Haber, Sarah Shapiro, Oct. '02 son Rosenblum, March. '02; The May '02; Kol Yisroel Areivim: The Orthodoxy Bigotry for Polite Compa­ Supreme Court and the State of Israel's Kiruv Imperative/Rabbi Yitzchak ny/Rabbi Avi Shafran, Jan. '02 Jewish Identity/Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, Schwartz, May '02; ls It Time to Cele­ Pam Rabbi Avraham ':r'Y.t Rav Pam's Spe­ March '02; Food For The brate?/Robert J. Kurtz, May '02; A Talmid cial Friend/Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Soldiers/Debbie Shapiro, April '02; A Remembers/Rabbi Zev Kahn, Sept. '02; Oct. '02 Trip to the Living Mekomos Hakedoshim Reader's Forum, Sept. '02; Let Us Parents Honoring One's Parents/Rabbi Yoe! of Eretz Yisroel/Rabbi Avrohom Birn­ Build Torah With Torah/Rabbi Chaim Chonon Wenger, March '02 baum, April. '02 Dov Keller, Sept. '02; The Bostoner Reb­ Personalities Noted In Sorrow (Rabi Israel: Security Living Where Everything betzin il").)/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Chaim Kreiswirth ?"lit) /Rabbi Nisson is Ground Zero/Mrs. Sarah Shapiro, Feb. Sept. '02; Letters-to-the-Editor, Oct. '02; Wolpin, Jan. '02; Rabbi Elazar Menachem '02; Terror/Debbie Shapiro, Feb. '02; Israel Let My People Know!/Rabbi Avrohom Man Shach ?"lit/ Rabbi Mordechai Fights For Her Existence/Rabbi Yono­ Birnbaum, Nov. '02 Kamenetzky, Feb. '02; The Roots of son Rosenblum, April '02; Derech Kreiswirth, Rabbi Chaim Noted In Sor­ Greatness of Rabbi Elazar Menachem Chaim (poem)/Bracha Druss Goetz, June row/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Jan. '02 Shach ?"lit/Rabbi Yisroel Friedman, Feb. '02; When Grown-Ups Are Help­ Levin, Rabbi Refoel ?''lit Foundation of the '02; A Ponevezher Talmid Remembers less/Mrs. Sarah Shapiro, Sept. '02; A Few World/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, May Rav Shach ?''Y.t/Rabbi Raphoel Wolpin, Thoughts on a Motza'ei Shabbos/Deb­ '02; Our Generation's Tzaddik of Feb. '02; The Quintessence of Mussar. bie Shapiro, Sept. '02; That I Can Sur­ Jerusalem/Moshe Schapiro, May. '02 Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu Kaplan vive Until You Remen1ber/Mrs. Sarah Marriage The Path to Happily Ever 7'".J.t/Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, April Shapiro, Oct. '02 After/Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman, Jan. '02; Foundation of the World (Rabbi Jewish Peoplehood We Are Different '02; Shalom Bayis: A View From Your Refoel Levin ?''Y.t)/Rabbi Hillel Gold­ /Rabbi Aaron Brafman, Nov. '02 Child's Eyes/Rabbi Shmuel Gluck, Jan. berg, May '02; Our Generation's Tzad­ Jews From Former USSR Let My People '02; Disagreement & Harmonious dik of Jerusalem (Rabbi Refoel Levine

36 The Jewish Observer, January 2003 ';r~ )/Moshe Schapiro, May '02; Rabbi Rosenblun1, March. '02; Reflections on Has Come/Dr. Aaron Twerski, Oct. '02; 7"~- Biographical "Guidelines for Weddings"IProfessor Rabbi Ephraim Eisenberg?"~: A Pri­ Notes/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Sept. '02; Aaron Twerski, June '02; Reader's mary Conduit of Torah/Rabbi Yosef Rabbi Nachman Bulman '7'0ll - an appre­ Forum, June '02; The Ruchnius Gavriel Bechhofer, Oct. '02; Let My Peo­ ciation/Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Sept. Approach to Finding One's Zivug!Zelda ple Know!/Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum, '02; Unfinished Symphony (Rabbi Cutler, June '02; Rethinking "Kosher" Nov. '02; Reaching Out to the Girls (side­ Rephoel Levine ?"~!)/Rabbi Hillel Videos and Computer Games/Rabbi Leib bar )/Rabbi Leib Keleman, Nov. '02; Goldberg, Sept. '02; Rabbi Bulman 7"~ Kelemen, Sept. '02; Husbands, Wives, Thoughts From a Shelter/Yisroel M. - A Vestige of Earlier Times/Rabbi and Children/Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Muller, Nov. '02 Leonard Oppenheimer, Sept. '02; A Sheinberg, Oct. '02; Support, Stigma or Youth Thoughts From a Shelter/Yisroel M. Ta/mid Remembers (Rabbi Nachman Shame/David Mandel, Oct. '02; How Muller, Nov. '02 Bulman ?''Yl)/Rabbi Zev Kahn, Sept. '02; Many American Jews Are There? "Yaakov Avinu Lo Meis - Our Father 5,300,000? 2,300,000? /Rabbi Mordechai Jacob Did Not Die" (Bobover Rav Plaut, Nov. '02 AUTHORS ?"~)/Rabbi Benzion Twersky, Sept. '02; Speech ''All Vows"/Dr. Aaron Twerski, Sept. The Bostoner Rebbetzin/Rabbi Hillel '02; In Search of the Ehrliche Yid Goldberg, Sept. '02; Rabbi Ephraim (books)/Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Sept. Alport, Ozer Can We Learn from Yoseif's Wisdom?, June '02; Reader's Forum, Dec. Eisenberg?"~!: A Primary Conduit of '02; The Price of"Just /oking"/Dr. Jerry '02 Torah/Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, Lob, Oct. '02 Bechhofer, Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Rabbi Oct. '02 Suffering No Different Than You: Shevi's Ephraim Eisenberg '7'0ll, A Primary Con­ Poetry Almost Trashed/Bracha Druss Story (books)/Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, duit of Torah, Oct. '02; The Quintes­ Goetz, Feb. '02; Blessings/Mina March '02 sence of Mussar. Rabbi Avroho1n Friedler, Feb. '02; The Damage is Technology Rethinking "Kosher" Videos Eliyahu Kaplan 7"~, April '02 Done/Mirian1 Kramer, June '02; Derech and Computer Games/Rabbi Leib Becker, Rabbi Labish Review of Meaningful Chaim/Bracha Druss Goetz, June '02; Kelemen, Sept. '02 Living, by Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss, June Way Beyond Us/Bracha Druss Goetz, Tefilla (Prayer) Tefilla and Teshuva in '02 Sept. '02; Stringing Pearls/Bracha Response to Today's Troubled Birnbaum, Rabbi Avrohom New Problems: Druss Goetz, Nov. '02 Times/Rabbi Heshy Kleinman, April '02; Time-Tested Solutions, March '02; A Trip Reflections Best Wishes/Mrs. Faygie Bor­ Be a Better Baal Tefi/la/Rabbi Pinchos to the Living of chardt, Dec. '02 Jung, Nov. '02; Bringing Our Prayers Mekomos Hakedoshim Eretz Yisroe4 April '02; The Valley of Dry September IIth Yahrzeit/Rabbi Nissen to a Higher Level/Rabbi Hesby Klein­ Bones, June '02; Let My People Know!, Wolpin, Sept. '02 man, Dec. '02 Nov. '02 Shach, Rabbi Elazar Menachem ?·~ Teshuva Tefilla and Teshuva in Response Biser, Rabbi Mordechai Review of Chas­ Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach ?"YT/ to Today's Troubled Times/Rabbi san and Kalla During Their Engagement, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, Feb. '02; Heshy Kleinman, April '02; The Secret by Rabbi , Feb. '02 The Roots of Greatness of Rabbi of the Truah Gedo/a/Rabbi Fyvel Shus­ Borchardt, Mrs. Faygie Best Wishes, Dec. Elazar Menachem Shach 7'Yl/Rabbi Yis­ ter, Sept. '02 '02 roel Friedman, Feb. '02; A Ponevezher Vouchers Vouchers ... and the Fiscal Via­ Brafman, Rabbi Aaron review of Ta/mid Remembers Rav Shach bility of our Yeshivas/ Avi Schick, Oct. Reb Shra­ ga Feivel Mendelowitz?"~, by Jonathan ?"~!/Rabbi Raphael Wolpin, Feb. '02; '02; Vouchers: An Idea Whose Time Has Rosenblum, May '02; We Are Different, Correction on Biographical Tribute to Come/Dr. Aaron Twerski, Oct. '02 Nov. '02 Rav Shach ?"~/Letters, March '02 Weddings Reflections on "Guidelines for Shalom Bayis Shalom Bayis: A View From Weddings" /Professor Aaron Twerski, June Brafman, Rabbi Gershon, review of Defining Humanity, by Rabbi Berish Your Child's Eyes/Rabbi Shmuel Gluck, '02 Ganz, Nov. '02 Jan. '02; Disagreement & Harmonious World War II Her Children, a review arti­ Broodo, Kenneth Report From Dal­ Growth/Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, /an. '02 cle of These Children are Mine/by Rabbi las:"You're the Beracha," May '02 Social Comment The Path to Happily Ever Moshe M. Eisemann, Nov. '02 Cutler, Zelda The Ruchnius Approach to After/Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman, /an. Yeshivas Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach Finding One's Zivug, June '02 '02; Shalom Bayis: A View From Your ?"~/Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, Feb. Davidson, Ariella A Different Kind of Baby, Child's Eyes/Rabbi Shmuel Gluck, /an. '02; The Roots of Greatness of Rabbi /an. '02 '02; Disagreement & Harmonious Elazar Menachem Shach ?"~/Rabbi Yis­ Eisemann, Rabbi Moshe A Summons to Growth/Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, /an. '02; roel Friedman, Feb. '02; A Ponevezher Greatness - review article on The Gift A Fusion of Gifts/Chana Levin, /an. '02; Ta/mid Remembers Rav Shach ofSpeech, by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, Heading a Large Family/Mrs. Faiga ?"~/Rabbi Raphael Wolpin, Feb. '02; May '02; In Search of The Ehrliche Yid, Koenig, Jan. '02; Rachmanus, Rejection "A Time to Build"/Rabbi Chaim Dov a review essay of Chafetz Chaim: & Reality/Mrs. Seryl Sander, /an. '02; A Keller, May '02; Reb Shraga Feivel Mend­ lessons in Truth, by Rabbi Shimon Different Kind of Baby/ Ariella David­ lowitz ?"~ (books)/Rabbi Aaron Braf­ son, /an. '02; Bigotry for Polite Com­ man, May '02; Vouchers ... and the Fis­ Finkelman, Sept. '02; review of These Children Are Mine, by Rabbi Dov D. Led­ pany/Rabbi Avi Shaftan, /an. '02; Those cal Viability of our leshivos/Avi Schick, erman, Nov. '02 Hated Chareidim/Rabbi Yonoson Oct. '02; Vouchers: An Idea VVhose Time

The Jewish Observer, January 2003 37 Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon review of Times, April '02; Bringing Our Prayers Schick, Avi Vouchers ... and the Fiscal Via­ Nesivos Shalom - Nesivei Chinuch: to a Higher Level, Dec. '02 bility of our Yeshivas, Oct. '02 Essential Perspectives on Education, Feb. Klugman, Rabbi Elya Meir The Realities Scholar, Rabbi Simcha A Matter oflnclu­ '02; Rav Pam's Special Friend, Oct. '02; of Emuna, Dec. '02 sion - Not Rejection (PS), Dec. '02 review of The Pleasant Way, by Rabbi Koenig, Mrs. Faiga Heading a Large Schwartz, Rabbi Yitzchak The Kiruv Sholom Smith, Dec. '02 Family, Jan. '02 Imperative, May '02 Friedman, Rabbi Yisroel The Roots of the Kramer, Mrs. Miriam The Da1nage is Done Shafran, RabbiAvi Bigotry for Polite Com· Greatness of Rabbi Elazar Menachem (poem), June '02 pany, Jan. '02 Shach, ?"lit, (translated and adapted by Kurtz, Robert J. Is It Time to Celebrate?, Shapiro, Mrs. Debbie Terror, Feb. '02; Food Yonoson Rosenblum) Feb. '02 May '02 for The Soldiers, April '02; A Few Furst, Rabbi Shlomo Husbands, Wives and Leff, Rabbi Boruch Passion, Purim & Sno\N, Thoughts on a Matza' ei Shabbos, Sept. Children, (adapted from a lecture by Feb. '02 '02 Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg) Leff, Rabbi Zev review of With Hearts Full Shapiro, Mrs. Sarah Living Where Every­ Oct. '02; review of Raising Roses A111ong ofPaith: Insights into Trust and Emuna, thing is Ground Zero, Feb. '02; When Thorns, by Rabbi Noach Orlowek, by Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, June '02 Grown-Ups Are Helpless, Sept. '02; That Oct. '02 Levin, Mrs. Chana A Fusion of Gifts, Jan. I Can Survive Until You Remember, Oct. Ganz, Rabbi Dov Berish Bein Adam '02 '02 L'Chaveiro .. . At all Times, Sept. '02 Lob, Dr. Jerry The Price of "Just Joking;' Shuster, Rabbi Fyvel The Secret of the Truah Ginzberg, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Terrorism, Oct. '02 Gedo/a, Sept. '02 Sugar Cubes & File! Mignon, June '02; Lowinger, Mrs. Malky Redefining "Kids at Twerski, Dr. Aaron Reflections on "Guide­ A Call to Arms, Oct. '02 Risk," Nov. '02 lines for Weddings;' June '02; ''All Vo\\1s," Gluck, Rabbi Shmuel Shalom Bayis. A View Mandel, David Support, Stigma or Sept. '02; Vouchers: An Idea \Nhose Time From Your Child's Eyes, Jan. '02 Shame, Oct: 02 Has Corne, Oct. '02 Goetz, Mrs. Bracha Almost Trashed, Feb. Muller, Yisroel M. Thoughts From a Twerski Rabbi Benzi on" Yaakov Avinu Lo '02; Derech Chaim, Jw1e '02; Way Beyond Shelter, Nov. '02 Meis- Our Father Jacob Did Not Die," Us, Sept. '02; Stringing Pearls, Nov. '02 Oppenheimer, Rabbi Leonard Rabbi Bul­ Sept. '02 (all poems) n1an ?~:::lT: A Vestige of Earlier Times, Wachsman, Rabbi Ephraim The Path to Goldberg, Rabbi Hillel A review article Sept. '02 Happily Ever After, Jan. '02; Reader's on No Different Than You: Shevi's Orlowek, Rabbi Noach review of To Kin­ Forum on "Path to Happily Ever Story, by Yehudis Bogatz, March '02; dle a Soul, by Rabbi Leib Kelemen, April After," June '02 Foundation of the World (Rabbi Refoel '02 Weinbach, Rabbi Mendel Rabbi Nachman Levin ?":

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