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DON'T MISS OUT SPACE IS LIMITED RESERVE NOW! Shevat 5758 •January 1998 U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 ·VOL XXXI/NO. I
THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of America, 84 William Street, New York, N. Y. 10038. Periodicals postage paid in New York, N. Y. Subscription $24.00 per year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside ol the United States (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, 84 William Street, N.Y., N.Y.10038. Tel:212-797-9000, Fax: i5 212-269-2843. Seizing the Silver Lining Printed in the U.S.A. Robbi Avi Shafran RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR 9
EDITORIAL BOARO A Call To Men of Integrity OR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Chairman Robbi Moshe Sherer
RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS 13 JOSEPH FAIEOENSON The Denver Joint Conversion Plan: History - and Revisionist History RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN Hillel Goldberg
MANAGEMENT BOARD AVI FISHOF I NAFTOLI HIRSCH All in the Family (Sometimes) ISAAC KIRZNER RABBI SHLOMO LESIN Nissan Wolpin NACHUM STEIN 24 RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING An Appreciation of Rabbi Yehudah Naftali Mandelbaum ?"YT Business Manager Yonoson Rosenblum Published by Agudath Israel of America 32 RABBI MOSHE SHERER The Perversion ofTruth PRESIDENT Robbi Joseph Elias U.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTOR ISRAELI DISTRIBUTOR 3.S Feldheim Publishers Nechemia Rosenberg 200 Airport Executive Park Kiryat Telshe Stone, 108A SECOND LOOKS Spring Valley, NY 10977 O.N. Harei Yehuda, ISRAEL Protest Pays EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVE AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR Eliyohu Moyer M.T. Bibelman Gold's Book & Gitt Co. GrosvenorWorl
THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus INDEX TO VOLUME XXX (AUTHORS AND SUBJECTS) of any product, publication, or service advertised in its pages 46 DATELINE: 84 WILLIAM STREET ©Copyright 1998 Saying "Y.E.S." to Our Disaffected Youth
JANUARY 1998 VOLUME XXXl/NO. 1 Rabbi Avi Shafran Seizing The Silver Lining Opportunity in the Pluralism Controversy Raging in Israel and America
t would be wrong, even dangerous, Those final words, says the Nefesh to underemphasize the dire nature Hachaitn, are part of the curse; indeed its of the "pluralism push" in Israel or worst elementi For they refer to the com the effects of the misguided anger placency that G-d-fearing Jews will being stirred up as a result among Amer exhibit in the face of the other curses, ican Jews. Yet there is a silver lining to their reluctance to exert the required the dark cloud. For with the Reform and effort to meet the challenges before Conservative move1nents' sudden, them. Let us not, chas v'shalom, be part shocking and quite telling abandonment of that curse. We need to recognize the the maligning of of their decades-old "live and let live" terrible effects of the lies being propa Torah-observant Jews - a form of approach - their jettisoning of the gated - the modern "blood-libel" bloodshed, as well. We must present "respect" they always claimed to have for accusing us of rejecting Jews who affil Israeli Jews with the frightening facts Orthodoxy - and their declaration of iate with non-Orthodox movements as about the exponential growth of assim "open war" on halachic standards, the no longer part of the Jewish people, the ilation and intermarriage in the U.S., true meaning of Judaism is finally, insinuation that Israeli democracy is about Reform rabbis who readily per inescapably, in the spotlight. somehow threatened by the State's con form 1narriage ceremonies between tinued acceptance of halachic stan Jews and non-Jews - and about those LOSING OUR LETHARGY dards in matters of personal status, the in that movement who would radical claim that <'religious coercion" is the ly redefine the concept of "marriage" can do little, though, unless Orthodox agenda in Israel, and similar altogether. We must inform them that we overcome our own con1- untruths designed to turn our fellow the Conservative movetnent is not placency. Too may of us are Jews against us. "Halacha with progress," as a prominent too little concerned with the implica The falsehoods must be countered by Israeli rabbi reportedly remarked-but tions of the import of American-style truth, first and foremost in the form of simply a Jess openly brazen Reform "Jewish religious pluralism" to Israel. Torah-study: more talmidim, more movement, lagging a few years behind "What real difference would it make? In yeshivas, more kollelim. Indeed, it was the original. And we must present them the end, there will still be frummeh Yid no coincidence that the Siyum HaShas, with telling images, like the Conserva den and frei'eh Yidden - in the end, still reverberating in our hearts and tive rabbinical training school dean's truth will triumph:' minds, came in the very midst - zeh reassurance to angry students that his We would do well, though, to take le'umas zeh! - of the assault on Torah suggestion that they refrain from note of a stunning comment that Rabbi in Eretz Yisroel. But we must counter the promiscuity was only"a personal state Elchonon Wasserman, 7"Yr, i"'i'l, makes lies directly, too, through efforts like ment, not a matter of se1ninary policy." in the name of the Nefesh Hachaim. The Agudath Israel's recently announced Here in the United States, though, it final Mishna in Mesechta Sotah describes "Am Echad - Preserving One Jewish is, unfortunately, too late for such how in the terrible times that will pre Nation" campaign, which is pledged to warnings. Too many, sadly, are simply ceed the arrival of Moshiach, "the wis present the Jewish public with the truth too accustomed to the plagues of assim dom of sages will be mocked;' how about "Jewish religious pluralism" - and ilation and intermarriage to be shocked "those who fear sin will be ridiculed;' Orthodoxy - through advertisements by them, too inured to kejira - denial and how "truth will cease to exist" - and other educational endeavors. of basic principles of faith - to under and then follows with the words: "And stand it as such. There were warnings, on Whom can we rely? On our Father TRUTH ON TWO FRONTS decades ago, from our Gedolim, but so in heaven." many of the ears on which they fell n Bretz Yisroel, we need to educate proved deaf, and those who did take the Rabbi Shafran, director of Public Affairs of Agu the masses about a "Judaism" that alarm signals seriously had neither the dath Israel of America, is a frequent contribu tor to these pages, most recently with "Taking the embraces the cardinal sins of"idol- numbers nor the resources to head off Prize" (Sept. '97). atry," immorality and - if we include the religious chaos that ensued.
6 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 II critique material written for the gener aged Israeli couple, sans kippa or tichel. The al Jewish press. The larger Jewish [sraeli 1nan, in Hebreiv, told the Chassid e must focus on \Vorld needs to hear our voices. they ivere visiting Arnerican relatives and asked about the bus route. After he assured W utilizing the REACHING OUT then1 they ivere at the right bus stop, the Israeli gentleman asked him if he had Anglojewish press econdly, we must resolve to not change for a dollar, for the fare. through carefully written succumb to the peace-and-unity "No, but please take this," he respond Ssong of the compromise sirens, and ed, offering a bus token. "Thank you very letters to editors and to categorically reject any falsification of tnuch," said the Israeli, taking the token and our tradition and any alliance of any sort offering two dollars in exchange. The Chas· articles - to reach the with those who promote the same. At sid refused the remuneration, even v,1hen the the same time, though, we must recog visitor reduced it to one dollar, less than the non-Orthodox laity and nize - and act on - the distinction token's worth. between the Jewish leaders who con "Lo, lo, b'vakasha!" insisted the Chas counter what their sciously champion the abandonment of sid. "Please, no! Take the token. Matana leaders are telling them our Mesorah in \vhole or in part, and ketana l'chvod Shabbat -It's just a small their followers, who are in n1ost cases gift in honor ofShabbos." - and to present entirely unaware of how the movements I don't know if there was any amaz with which they affiliate differ from clas ing ending to the story, if the couple Torah-perspectives sical Judaism. We need to display - radically changed their lives or turned and, more importantly, have- unbri out to be magnates who subsequently clearly and properly. dled ahavas Yisroel for those innocent if founded a yeshiva. What I do know is misled fellow Jews. that the Chassid set a wonderful exam Accordingly, we must seize every ple for us all in ahavas Yisroel. And we Today, however, while the plagues still opportunity for personal interaction need to nurture precisely such ahavas rage unabated, there is still much we can with Jews who do not yet understand Yisroel for our fellow American Jews as and must do, particularly as the Amer what living a Jewish life means. well, whatever prefix they unthinking ican non-Orthodox Jewish movements Whether we are speaking with relatives, ly choose to append to their Jewish determinedly labor to move on from the co-workers, casual acquaintances or identity. demographic chaos they have created simply Jews who signal to us in public here and insinuate themselves into places-with a dangled mezuzah-neck LOOKING INWARD Israeli society. lace or a dropped Yiddish word - that they too are Jewish, we have the respon ost important and rudimen SPEAKING UP sibility- and the ability- to make a tary of all, though, we need to difference in their Jewish lives. We what we are supposed to be --\'\Te must focus on utilizing the need to seize every chance for interac as observant Jews. While the majority I I Anglo-Jewish press - tion, whether through a conversation on of the ill will arrayed against us has been ) . . . through carefully written let- the spot, an invitation for a Shabbos manufactured by those who stand to ters to editors and articles - to reach rneaL or the arrangement of chavrusa gain from its effects, some of the animus the non-Orthodox laity and counter joint study sessions. We may have ques is, unfortunately, of our own making. what their leaders are telling them - tions, hesitations and fears about kiruv, For the deleterious influences and to present Torah-perspectives clear but let us ask and confront them. We can brought to bear on to us by the larger ly and properly. match the non-Orthodox leadership's society in which we live are not limit And sensitively. There is an effective aggressive outrages with our own ed to the realms of tzenius and minus way to say: "What the rabbi asserts is aggressive outreaches. personal modesty and apostasy; they inconsistent with the facts" - and a way There are millions to reach, yes; but include the realm of menschlichkeit that might afford the writer catharsis, the key lies in each of us focusing on one and middos (character) as well. but accomplish no good at all. And Jew at a time. Let the non-Orthodox The urban areas where most obser those who can't differentiate between the rabbis fulminate; we need "facts on the vant Jews make their homes afford us two are better off silent. ground," individual Jews helped to face certain benefits - like the security we It is obviously not a job for everyone, the meaning of their Jewishness. feel in living near others like us, the but communal groups and profession I once witnessed a scene that will long abundance of resources and opportu als (Agudath Israel among them) cer stay with 1ne. A Chassidishe yungerrnan nities unavailable in "small towns"; but tainly stand ready to help evaluate and at a bus stop was approached by a middle- they can also take a dire toll on our gen-
The Jewish Observer, January 1998 7 eral demeanors, temperance and mid child, was blocking traffic. Cars honked and dos. A society where insults are con drivers stuck their heads out their windows • sidered high humor, and impatience a and cursed. Several minutes that seemed e can match virtue; where rudeness and cynicis1n are like hours passed, and the woman returned celebrated - and even generously to her car, without so much as an apology the non rewarded - cannot but have an effect, to the long line of cars backed up behind W if even only a subtle one, on all who live hers, and drove away. Orthodox leadership's and breathe within it. We must judge all Jews favorably; I recall once witnessing, on an erev Shab maybe she had an emergency. But the aggressive outrages bos, an observant-looking won1an driver store was a bakery. stop her car in the middle of a busy avenue I wonder if even a lack of lechem with our own - there were no parking spaces within sight mishneh (two challa loaves) for Shabbos - and sprint into a store. Her car, in which would be a justifiable reason to do what aggressive outreaches. she had left an elderly gentleman and a she did. There are millions to reach, yes; but the key BINAH lies in each of us SEMINARY focusing on one Jew at Baltimore, Maryland a time.
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8 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 Rabbi Moshe Sherer A Call To Men of Integrity
A THREAT TO BRETZ YISROEL... UNDER now is beginning to believe that Reform THE UMBRELLA OF TRUTH is benign. "We Jews in Israel have Nusach S'fard, Nusach AshkenaZ:' they he Reform and Conservative assume, "and now there's a Nusach Movements pose a particular Reform - it's just another nusach." The Tproblem today that calls for spe public does not realize what Reform and cial vigilance on our part. The roots of Conservate belief is - and isn't. THE BIG LIE the problem go back over a hundred Israelis must be informed that many years in this country, but its branches Reform clergy perform mixed-mar o advance their cause, the Reform have grown into an all-out war against riages. They have gone so far as to con leadership has not hesitated to use Torah, against Orthodox Jewry, and its done - and some of them even per Tthe big lie, to arouse their con bitter fruit threatens to poison the very form - same-gender "marriages:' A stituents to despise Orthodox Jews, to future of Bretz Yisroel. short time ago, the media carried a story fight us with the canard that we consider The problem is compounded by the of how one of the leaders of the Reform any Jew who is not Orthodox to be not fact that the vast majority of Jews in movement made an "aufi-uf' in his Tem Jewish. Recently, one of the most pop Israel do not even begin to comprehend ple for his assistant rabbi - her name ular newspapers in the United States, the the threat. Ghazal ask: "What language is Rabbi Karen Bender - who was to Los Angeles Times, carried a cartoon on did the nachash (Biblical serpent) use in join Rachel Bernstein in matrimony that its editorial page showing a broken tempting Chava to eat the forbidden week. After the "chupa," he issued the menora, topped with the silhouette of fruit?" They answer: Lashon hakodesh. following statement: "I offered a prayer a Jew's head, complete with black hat Holy words can cause well-intended for their life-long commitment to each and peyos. The caption says:" Only I am people to make fatal errors in judgment. other, asking G-d to bless them with a few!'' This is an outgrowth of their Reform rabbis are coming to Bretz Yis fidelity... to the highest Jewish values of attempt to blacken our name, and to roel today, sporting a yarmulke, though home and family." mobilize their dormant troops by pro the mouths beneath have eaten tarfus for The people of Bretz Yisroel must rec viding them with a cause, by waging a years. Even at their recent national con ognize what they will be facing if the "holy war" against Orthodoxy. vention in Dallas, where their president Reform and Conservative movements I maintain, too, that Reform leaders focused on "Torah study," they had non succeed in their efforts. At this point, are trying to influence United States con Kosher food on their dinner plates. But they began by demanding equality in gressmen and senators to pressure the when they come to Bretz Yisroel they talk regard to geirus - conversions - and Israeli government to oppose the lashon hakodesh - not only flowing then chupa v'kiddushin - the right to Orthodox position. In fact, on May 1 of Ivrit, but words about kedusha: "We're officiate at weddings. But that is not this past year, a Deputy Assistant Sec here to bring you spirituality... ; we're their ultimate goal. They will eventual retary of State, Stephen Coffey, in tes here to do great things for you ... ; we're ly demand that, just as there is an Ashke timony to the United States Senate here to reach the hundreds of thousands nazic Chief Rabbi and a Sephardic Chief "Hearing on Religious Freedom in the of Jews who are not religious, and intro Rabbi, there must be a Reform Chief Middle East," lumped Israel together duce them to Judaism:' Rabbi. (In fact, Rabbi Aaron Kotler, 7"Yr, with Algeria, Iran and Iraq for violating Unfortunately, through a well with his great vision, warned me some religious freedom. On what basis? financed campaign they have been able 45 years ago that some day there will be Because in Israel, he reported, "Ortho to deceive much of the public, and a a Reform chief rabbi in Bretz Yisroel.) dox religious authorities have exclusive large percentage of the Israeli populace Their tactics are aimed at getting a foot control of marriage, divorce and burial." in the door, for the moment. The ulti He did not dream this up. Someone had Rabbi Sherer is president of Agudath Israel of America, and chairman of the Agudath Israel mate result, if they succeed, will 7"1 be to have slipped that thought into his ear World Organization. catastrophic. for it to emerge from his mouth.
----·------The Jewish Observer, January 1998 9 out offensive to continue unchallenged in a measure commensurate with the size of their barrage. False idols cannot be top pled by words alone, though. This dangerous situation calls for a powerful counter-offen sive. Were our own children, or our mothers or fathers, as maligned as the Torah and its adherents are today, would we keep silent? We surely would u speak up loudly, clearly and unceasingly. We must there fore bear in mind: Chazal admonish us that the Ribbono Shel Olam says - "Bichvod basar vadatn 1nechisem ulech'vodi lo mechisem? '' \f\Te protest for the honor of mor tals, yet when it con1es to l)m,\ !,,-!,_.,.,, ,..,_,.,,.,,. wl,,, 1,-1\, -'"" ullw''" ;,,. / /afc1<·lw ;, ti><· ""'' l ______, ______,_, ______,_, ____ ._, ______------I 0 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 hat we are witnessing is heart. And in that n1erit, be'ezras • actually part of the historic Hashem, the truth will prevail. e are launching a W struggle between shekker Wthree-point program to and emes, which has been going on Editor's Note: Since the writing of the since we becan1e a nation. Our current above article, the first ad in a series has counteract the barrage of battle is compounded because we are appeared in The New York Times (see misinformation that is being challenged by an opposition that adjoining page). Also, a delegation of is mobilizing advanced technologies to Orthodox leaders and representatives of endangering the spiritual spread shekker ever further. All of us, Jewish communities from the length and together, must actually engage in this breadth of the American continent has atmosphere of Eretz Yisroel, current battle for kedushas ha'aretz and been mobilized and is scheduled to besmirching our name and for kiddush Hashem, as anshei emes depart on a three-day mission to act on who fight for the truth with all our this proposal. • compromising kedushas ho'aretz and kiddush Hashem. At stake is the very Jewishness of the Jewish state and the removal of Chillul Hashem being generated by those who distort all that Orthodoxy truly represents. SHAAREI aspire to seize control• of religious mat ORAH ters in Eretz Yisroel, trumpeting that dassic Commentary they are the true guarantors of"Jewish identity." on the Weekly Sidrah • We are organizing the sending of fuxes by HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman to key government people in Israel. Until Translated into English by Yaakov Lavon now Israeli officials were receiving such missives day after day from Reform and T liese stimulating essays on tlie weekly Conservative activists. Where, they parsliali and tlie Yomim Tovim, by one asked, are the Orthodox? Already many of Eretz Yisroe/' s most esteemed talmidei clio- have rallied to our call to fax Israeli cliomim, liave finally become available to administration leaders and members of tlie English speaking public the Knesset our point of view, but there is need for many more to do so. Drawing upon Talmud, Midrasli and a host of classical commentaries. HaRav Bergman explores and develops a variety of topics and themes, integral to daily • The non-Orthodox groups are send Jewish life and thougnt. ing delegations to convey falsehood. We must organize a "Truth Delegation" to T nese illuminating commentaries resonate witn insignt and spiritual riclies. go to Eretz Yisroel to demonstrate our Let SHAAREI ORAH be your Sliab8os Guide to discover a deeper and fuller dedication to emes, to articulate the understanding of tlie weekly parsliali. truth. '. -··...... ' - . It is certainly our belief that an issue as critical as this will enlist the broad FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS est circles of Orthodoxy to join us in our Torah Literature of Quality undertaking, and all who read these Toll Free: 800-237-7149 • Ask for our NEW catalog. words will join us in this effort. ------The Jewish Observer, January 1998 11 At Feldheim, We Speak Your Language! Using the Fclclheim Hebrew-English edition of Lhe MISHNAH BERURAH requires one thing - simple English' In our exclusive user-friendly format. this set now includes four complete chalokim of the Mishnah Bcrnrah, plus our newest volume (6A), cov ering the laws of Chol Hamoecl and Fast Days. THE FELDHEIM MISHNAH BERURAH contains the unique features thaL have made this series so popular: a meticulous translation of both Shulchan Aruch and Mish nah Berurah, the English translation facing the original Helll'ewon every page; exten sive supplementary material; bibliography and glossary. Feldhelm speaks your language in more ways than one - this highly acclaimecl set is now available at the lowest prices ever! This limitccl time offer is a bargain - any way you say iL' BOXED SET OF ALI, t 5 VOLUMES: 300/o OFF LIST PRICE IARGE SIZE REGUIAR SIZE $257 $207 (REG.$367) (REG.$295) IALI, INDIVIDUAL VOLUMES: Prices Slashed\ IARGE SIZE REGUIAR SIZE $19.95 $15.95 AVAILABLE AT ALL JEWISH BOOKSTORES OR FROM: FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS Torah Literature of Quality ASK FOR OUR NEW CATALOG 1-800-237-7149 Hillel Goldberg The Denver Joint Conversion Plan: History - and Revisionist History here is the history of the Denver cated that he or she lit Shabbos candles, traditional-Orthodox rabbis. They were joint conversion plan - and that was deemed sufficient. So it was literally constantly running to the mikva Tthere is the revisionist history. It with every 1nitzva. There was no and the mohel. Besides the time pressure, is the revisionist history that has been demand for kabbolas nzitzvos as defined this "factory" quality of the program amply presented to the Ne'eman Com in Shulchan Aruch. Halachic obser depersonalized it and left a bad taste for mission in Israel, and-at least accord vance of Shabbos, kashrus or taharas the traditional-Orthodox rabbis. ing to reports presented in the media - hamishpacha, for example, were not 5. Personality conflicts among some the Denver plan is being seriously con demanded, even in principle. rabbis. sidered by the Commission. I shall pre No careful records of the program So much for the history. Here, no\.v, sent both the history and its revision were kept. There is no agreed-upon fig is the revisionist history that is being ist version. ure as to how n1any converts passed foisted upon unknowing, interested Here is the history: From approxi through the program. Estimates have parties around the world. mately 1977 to early 1983, the Rocky ranged from some 150 to some 750. The Mountain Rabbinical Council operated number changes virtually every time one I. a "joint conversion progra1n." The par of the participating rabbis is asked. One ticipants included Reform and Conser has since passed away. Revisionist history: National pressure vative rabbis, and rabbis with an Ortho The program broke down in 1983. broke up the program. Left to its own dox smicha but not an Orthodox Th ere were several reasons. devices, it would have survived, possibly synagogue. No Orthodox rabbi \Vith an I. Pangs of conscience struck at least even beco1ne an international model for Orthodox synagogue (i.e., one that had one of the traditional-Orthodox rabbis, resolving a difficult problem. It is only a nzechitza) participated. who wanted to and did pull out, and fanatics on the national scene, particularly The program worked as follows: whose exit had an impact on the other the Orthodox national scene, that Prospective converts \vere directed to a two traditional-Orthodox rabbis. The doomed this program. class on Judaism jointly designed by all compromise of halacha became too bla The truth: There was no national participating rabbis. The class was tant to bear. pressure from any rabbinic body until weekly and lasted from 20 to 26 weeks. 2. One Reform rabbi reserved for after the program ended. It could not Individual rabbis had the option of himself a "safety catch," by which he have been otherwise for the simple rea imposing whatever additional study or allowed himself to do a certain amount son that the progran1 was kept secret. ritual requirements they desired. At the of his own conversions on the side, Not a single intervievv, nor even a sin end of the preparation period, the despite the commitment of all the par gle press-release, about the program was prospective converts appeared before a ticipating rabbis to direct all conversion issued during its entire existence. Fur "joint Beth Din;' composed of the full candidates to the program. The com ther, when word about the program variety of rabbis participating in the pro1nise of autonomy became too much spread in 1983, requests for inforn1ation program. If the candidate passed the to bear. were routinely denied. The lnterrnoun Beth Din's examination, the participat 3. The acceptance by the local tain Jewish Neivs "Conversion and Patri ing traditional-Orthodox rabbis then Reform rabbis of the Central Conference lineality" 12-page special of Dec. 2, 1983, supervised immersion in a rnikva and of American Rabbis' new policy on which disseminated news of the pro circumcision. patrilineality (March 1983) was taken as gram throughout the world, was pre The questions asked of the candidates an unfair partisan act that upset a del pared only months after the program by the beis din were general. Asked about icate balance of compron1ises. had ceased. [See The Jewish Observer, Shabbos, for example: if a candidate indi- 4. The number of conversion candi Jan.' 84 for a report on the same. N. W. J dates coming from the non-Orthodox No one would cooperate before that. Rabbi Hillel Goldberg is executive editor of the lnterrnountain Jewish News and active in a wide rabbis far outweighed the number com The program did not collapse due to variety of outreach efforts, including the 1nikveh ing from the other rabbis, thus impos publicity or national pressure. It col team of TOrah Com1nunity Project. ing a heavy burden on the time of the '1 lapsed of its own weight. The Jewish Observer, January 1998 13 Only after the program's collapse required by the joint conversion pro (and after it became known in Dec. gram. As to whether these halachically 1983) did the Rabbinical Council of • observant candidates were required by America, to which the three participat or an Orthodox other Orthodox authorities to undergo ing traditional-Orthodox rabbis rabbi the bottom line a second tevilla or mila, I do not know. belonged, appoint an investigative com F mittee. It was headed by Rabbi Gedalia 1s and the III. Dov Schwartz, then a congregational halacha, rabbi and now head of the RCA Beis traditional-Orthodox Revisionist history: Since the program Din. The committee "censured" (or broke down in Denver for local reasons some similar term) the three partici rabbinic participants in alone, it remains, in principle, a viable, cre pating traditional Orthodox rabbis, ative solution to a vexing problem. For this deemed the program halachically the ioint program reason the program should be reinstated invalid, and reserved judgment on indi in Israel to solve the conversion crisis. vidual conversion candidates in case a compromised halacha. The truth: While there were some few had actually assumed a genuine kab localized reasons for the progran1's bolas 1nitzvos. For a liberal rabbi, the breakdown in Denver - especially the personality conflicts among certain II. bottom line is rabbis - the essential preponderant rea sons for the breakdown were structur Revisionist history: The Jewish autonomy, and the al. For an Orthodox rabbi the bottom bonafides of the conversion candidates line is halacha, and the traditional who passed through the program have liberal rabbis in the Orthodox rabbinic participants in the never been questioned, including in program compromised joint program compromised halacha. Israel. For a liberal rabbi, the bottom line is The truth: The reason why the Jew their autonomy. autonomy, and the liberal rabbis in the ish bonafides of the program's conver program compromised their autono1ny. sion candidates have not been ques tioned is not because the candidates have PROSPECTS FOR "DENVER" IN ISRAEL been universally accepted as Jews. It is • because most of the candidates have ing a genuine kabbolas mitzvos. If they he variation on the Denver plan simply vanished from Jewish sight. have been accepted by Orthodox now being discussed for Israel Most are untraceable. authorities any,1vhere, it is because of Twould only exacerbate both the A very small percentage of the con their genuine halachic co1nmit1nent, not Orthodox and the liberal sensibilities. version candidates did end up assum- because of the level of commitment Orthodox: In Denver, the tradition- Narrated and explained Dal Yomi Learners! Word by Word in concise English Special Offer Mesechos Shabbos 4-5 Blatt per Tape GEMARA & MISHNA TAPE SERIES $99.95 (800) 966.-6026 Slabodka Yeshiva Israel 03.-579.-4067 14 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 al-Orthodox rabbis became worn out conversion candidates. No Orthodox can only increase tensions and deep and demoralized because of their fac talmid chacham anywhere deemed this en divides, as it did in Denver. It is a tory-like processing of hundreds of con halachically valid; no one in the Chief "solution" worse than the problem it verts. In any Israeli variant of the Den Rabbinate will authorize this for any intends to solve. • ver program, in which, at a minimum, Israeli variant of the Denver program. a non-Orthodox rabbi would have the Therefore, the Israeli Reform and Con right to suggest conversion candidates, servative rabbis would be even further the Chief Rabbinate would be dealing stripped of their autonomy, reduced with thousands or tens of thousands of merely to watching Orthodox rabbis rule candidates whose liberal-based bonafides on the bonafides of all the candidates it will not accept. The Orthodox rab they suggest. This will explode. binate would consume its manpower in Because the Denver program did a sterile process. This will explode. n't work in Denver, it \Von't work in 1537 50th Street, Reform: In Denver, the traditional Israel. The dynamics are universal. Brooklyn, NY 11219 Orthodox rabbis and the liberal rabbis 1'his joint conversion progra1n tried to (718) 854-2911 sat jointly on the beis din to examine the square the circle. It can't be done. It DIE COMMUTER'S CHAVRUSJ\.H' Tun1yaurcon11nute titTJt' into lean1in~f! titue. You'll explorefasdnating ha/;1chic issues iu the latest serit~s oftapes front R,1bbi f'rand's popularweellly shiuriln. Join hinz as he e.r.uniues the progression ofhr1l.1clu1_frotn thi' Chun1ash through poskitu to current re~1Jo11sa. E;1ch t M'1 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 ---·15 Join hundreds of men and women who care about all of Kial Yisrael as they gather with Gedolei Torah, prominent Rabbonim and Kiruv professionals at the 2nd Annual Shah bat Retreat for Lay Leadership of the Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals (AJOP) Friday - Sunday, February 6-8, 1998 Holidome Hotel and Conference Center, Suffern, NY For nzore information and an application, please contact the Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals, an affiliate of the National Council of Young Israel, at 212-929-1525, ext. 285 Individually, they held the best, most worthwhile conferences for the betterment of Klei Kodesh and Kial Yisrael. Concurrently, they will allow the pulpit rabbi and the outreach professional to grow together and explore the intertwined worlds of kiruv and the synagogue. The Young Israel Council of Rabbis and the Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals are proud to announce that their respective independent conferences will take place at the same time - in the same place - allowing participants to cross network and learn from each other. The Young Israel Council of Rabbis of the The Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals, National Council of Young Israel presents its an affiliate of the National Council of \bung lsrae\ Annual Rabbinic Conference presents its 10th Annual Professionals Convention Sunday-Monday, February 8-9, 1998 Holidome Hotel and Conference Center - Suffern, NY Sunday-Monday, February 8-9, 1998 Theme: Holidome Hotel and Conference Center - Suffern, NY The 2Ist Century Orthodox Rabbinate: Are You Prepared' • Learn new ideas and techniques Sample Topics Include: • Gain Chizuk from leading Gedolei Torah • Halachic Applications in the 21st Century: New Technologies, New Attitudes • Share your programs and experiences • Jewish Unity - Until What Point?: Drawing the Line with • Develop skills in public relations, fund raising, Non-Orthodox Denominations and counseling • Infertility: Medical, Halachic and Counseling Aspects For more information and an application, please contact the For 1nore infonnation and an application, please contact Association for Jewish Outreach Professionals' office Rabbi Aaron 5. Tirschwell, Conference Coordinator, at 212-929-1525, ext. 285 at 212-929-1525, ext.112 Nissan Wolpin All in The Family (Sometimes) I. EXPLORING THE LIMITS Amy, his eldest, has her own apartment But how do we go elsewhere? Isn't fam OF FAMILY TIES near her work, but Jack - a troubled ily family? teenager - and his kid sister, Julie, are t's a truism, almost a cliche. Differ in his care. So here they are on my Some Pertinent Questions ences can - and should - be put doorstep. "Just let us stay in your walk Re: Impertinent Relations I aside for familial ties. "Family mem in flat. You're not renting it out now. We bers do not always just need a couple of any emotions, ideological agree, and do not weeks to pull our convictions and personal always get along - selves together.'' M obligations co1ne into play in but they are still fami The kids go to a dealing with these scenarios. How far do ly, sharing a common private school, where obligations toward me1nbers of one's past and a singular Jack discovered the family go? To what extent should one destiny."' delights of drinking incur expense, suffer embarrassment, How does that play himself silly, and endure discomfort, or compro1nise in real life? Let us offer picked up a vocabu propriety when becoming involved several thumbnail sce lary that would make with their needs? narios, and you decide. a rock star blush. My To what extent are we compelled to Scenario # l: own two mesivta overlook matters of personal principle Devastating. No other word for the sons are appalled, and just a little when dealing with family? ls there a line impact of Hurricane Harry on Cousin intrigued. (Is Jack doing drugs, too?) that cannot be crossed? Yitzy's home and hostel in Boca Raton. Hardly pleasant, but family is fami At what point do we say,"! can deal So he, Esti, and the kids are coming to ly. I guess. with certain given us with a few bags filled with memories, i Scenario #4: situations, but I do and nothing else. No room? There's Mom's older not want my chil gotta be room for them. We'll double up brother, Uncle Larry, • dren to be exposed our own children to make room. After died. We're only 40 o what extent are we to such chal all, family is family. miles away from compelled to overlook lenges"? Further Scenario #2: Boulder, so we drive T more, doesn't my Cousin Avie is coming from Detroit, over for the Friday matters of personal apparent accep and will be staying with us for a few morning funeral and tance of Buddy days. His wife Suri has a very laissez faire stay at his son principle when dealing and Nicole's attitude toward child-rearing and gives Buddy's rambling with family? Is there a line lifestyle send a their kids free rein to jump on the fur ranch house. Mom message to n1y niture, leave the table during meals, nib would never under that cannot be crossed? children that ble in bed. They're also permitted to stand it otherwise. although we may express opinions contrary to their par We can't stay at go through the ents' - that is, talk back. Buddy's over Shab- • motions of con- Our furniture will withstand the bos. His wife, Nicole, was only recently demning some acts as intolerable, we invasion - f mean, visit. And our kids converted to Reform Judaism. Their seem to overlook them after the fact? But will eventually overcome the negative children are "Jewish" as per patrilineal what are we to do? Isn't family family? influences. Let' em come. Family, after all, descent, but not as far as we and our On the other hand, doesn't honoring is family. van-load of children are concerned. family ties call for chastising, just as it Scenario #3: Electric Chanukah menorah in the calls for embracing? Doesn't tough love Vicki ran off. Stewart - my broth window and pine tree in the den -you convey more concern than accepting, er-in-law - is left with the three kids. know, the cultural thing. No religion fuzzy-focused love? Isn't that what fam 1 Source: Joint letter that follows. involved. How can we stay at Buddy's? ily is really about? The Jewish Observer, January 1998 17 II. A JOINT LETTER FROM AN together, we believe all Jews should be sometimes they even beco1ne ORTHODOX RABBI AND THE working together in a shared direction. estranged. The only way to effect PRESIDENT OF THE REFORM Whatever one's religious perspective, healing is for family members to rise THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY each Jew is a part of the historic peo above their differences, to overlook ple of Israel. We share a common past insults (real or imagined), to sit down Rabbi Marc D. Angel, of Congregation and a singular destiny.... together again in a spirit of reunion. Shearith Israel in New York City, is past pres We, along with a great many By seeing each other as partners in ident of the (Orthodox) Rabbinical Coun thoughtful and sincere Jews, are deeply a shared destiny rather than as com cil ofAmerica. Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman concerned by the increasing polariza batants, family members can begin to is president of the (Reform) Hebrew Union tion within our community.... grow closer and regain trust in each College-Jewish Institute ofReligion. The two Yes, we have strong disagree other. men co-authored a staten1ent, "We Can, ments .... We - a Reform rabbi and an And Do, Work Together," which was fea Yes, we want our views to prevail. Orthodox rabbi - want the Jewish tured in, among other papers, The N.Y. But no, the way to deal with each family to come back together. We want Jewish Week, November 28, 1997. We pre other is not through confrontation. Jews of all backgrounds to spend sent here an abridged version, with com Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, of more time with each other in a spirit ment to follow. blessed memory, taught that the Jew of working together, not at odds. We We are a Reform rabbi and an ish people are bound by a covenant of need to understand each other's deep Orthodox rabbi ... [who have been] destiny. As children of Israel, we are est feelings and concerns. Recognizing working to help Jews in need, striving connected to each other by familial that there are areas of difference to strengthen the cohesiveness of our ties. Family members do not always which may never be resolved, we can community, drawing on shared ideals agree, and do not always get along - not let these differences paralyze us or to make our world a better place. We but they are still family. cause us to attack or insult each found, and still find, that we share other.... many ideals, that we can work togeth '** We should not be seeking hollow er respectfully and sympathetically. "victories," if the result of these "vic Our friendship continues to be a val While we argue about definitions tories" is to deepen the fragmentation ued part of our lives. of Jewishness, the outside world has lit of the Jewish people. It takes wisdom We have differences. Orthodoxy has tle difficulty knowing who is a Jew: and moral courage to back off from very different views on the nature of Anti-Semites and enemies of Israel put hostile and self-destructive con Torah, mitzvot, halacha. These differ us all together in the same basket. They frontation. It takes true greatness to ences are deeply held on both sides. do not care about the theological dis have the strength to stand back from The gap between us in these areas is tinctions among ourselves .... the precipice, to have a larger vision of not bridgeable. Sometimes family members what is at stake .... And yet \Ve are friends, we \VOr k become angry at each other, and We ask that Jews here and in Israel '-,~~:z_;:,~ eservation's Call orJf~:<:,-,1 :z:, Camp DirectWi~.'J , if.. vat-1"" 1 ~~ .,11•i;/!sdi!';.f;···'i!Tit+!oj 18 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 take the long view of our peoplehood, How does one preach achdus - be framed as "partners"? and not engage in destructive con unity- with the determined leadership Your statement posits: "V\!hatever one's frontation. We need to work together, of a movement that challenges the religious perspective, each Jew is a part of to build a future together, to retain our essence of Jewish peoplehood and seeks the historic people of Israel. We share a sense of family togetherness. to negate the very forces that bind us common past and a singular destiny." Let us talk with each other, let us together? Rav Saadya Gaon said it The salient event of our "con1mon embrace each other as family. definitively over a thousand years ago: past'' was the Divine revelation at And let us create the framework for "We are only a people because of 1 the future peace and happiness of the Torah." The Reform Movement denies · The reader is referred to "One Hundred Years Jewish people. the divinity of Torah.3 And Conserva of Refonn Jewry in America" (The Jewish Observe1; !vfay'74), which includes in its footnotes tive leaders freely trample on the sanc quotations from the Moven1ent's founding Pitts III. AN ANGUISHED PLEA TO RABBI tity of Judaism and inviolability of burgh Platform, \vhich, an1ong other outrages, MARC ANGEL: halacha. How, then, can representatives characterizes "the Bible [as] reflecting the prin1- of such conflicting views of peoplehood itive ideas of its own age" - afra lefiana. he letter you wrote jointly with Sheldon Zimmerman, president Tof HUC-J!R (the Reform Rab binical School), is a warm gesture toward unity with our Reform brethren, and is bound to inspire positive feelings in most readers of The Jewish Week. It comes, however, at an extremely high cost: misleading fellow Jews in regard to our essential attitudes toward basics in e'nuna. First, permit me to state unequivo cally: Every Jew, observant or otherwise, is deserving of our unconditional love This is the attitude of the Torah. (with certain notable exceptions, as per Words - if not chosen wisely - can classic halachic sources). Included in this unquestioning embrace are Conserva and do hurt, and the Torah refers to tive, Reform and secular Jews, as well as this as ona'as devorim. non-observant Orthodox Jews. Each is endowed with a neshama that is cheilek Elokah mirna' al - G-d's own breath of life, as it were, animating each and every Jew with a sacred dimension that we all In STICKS AND STONES, Miriam Ada share. han examines all forms of verbal abuse So yes, I join you in expressing feel to help us understand the pain and ings of familial bonds with Reform Jews damage words can inflict. Applying the - and even perhaps with Sheldon Zim wisdom of traditional Jewish sources. Dr. Adahan provides readers with merman, as an individuaI.2 But your practical strategies for disarming verbal attacks and for improving commu joint declaration went far beyond that, nication skills. The author discusses sensible techniques that can help turn to areas totally unacceptable to Jewish hostility into harmony ... and build bridges rather than barriers. law and tradition, and Mesores Avos. STICKS AND STONES: A must-read for anyone who wants to improve rela 1 Sheldon Zimn1ennan just 1night be in the cat egory of tinok shenishba, a victitn of circum tionships and communicate - more effectively and positively - with family, stances that had prevented him fro1n ever hear co-workers, neighbors, and friends. ing about the Torah heritage of our people, thus fu!lydeserving of our compassion as a tellow Jew. Available at Jewish bookstores or direct from On the other hand, in his professional capacity, he heads an institution dedicated to severing the V:/ Je"''ish people fron1 Torah~ a 111eisis u111eide'ad1, :'"~ '."l\ \ PUBLISHERS one who promotes the uprooting of all basic prin FELDHEIM ciples of faith ... hardly earning respect or endear- Torah Literature of Quality 1nent. In either case, focus of this discussion is Toll Free: 800-237-7149 • Ask for our NEW catalog. on public posture. The Jewish Observer, January 1998 19 Mount Sinai, but the movement Rabbi the Rambam's Commentary on the ed a nineteenth blessing in the classic Zimmern1an represents denies the his Mishna for Perek Chelek, in which he Shmoneh Esrei (Eighteen Blessings) - torical veracity of this momentous presents his Ffhirteen "Ani J\1aaniin" I nun1ber eleven, "Birkas Haminitn - encounter. Our "singular destiny" is to Principles of Faith. Or if you wish, sim Against Heretics:' The beracha is a plea live as a "mamleches kohanim vegoy ply flip open a Siddur, and turn to the for the "destruction of all evil" - an kadosh" - a priestly nation respond shortened for1n: I invite you to exan1- unequivocal reference to denial of the ing to a sacred calling, anticipating the ine the list, in search for one - one out Torah, and other heresies. Yet you and coming of Moshiach. None of these of thirteen, mind you - that the a Reform representative somehow "see words in their intended meaning, as we Reforn1 movement subscribes to with each other as partners in a shared des understand the1n, have any message to "emuna sheleima - a complete faith." tiny." Vv11o's off base, Rabban Gamliel or Conservative or Reform rabbis (who Peruse the six that deal with G-d as the Rabbi Angel? totally reject the goal of rebuilding the omniscient, 01nnipotent, tiineless Cre This adversial approach, as opposed Beis Hamikdash and restoring its Divine ator and faultless Governor of all that to a linking up in unity, is spelled out service'), or nebach the followers they exists. Check out the four that express unambiguously by the Rambam in his mislead. How can one express kinship firm belief in the divinity of Torah, in halachic code, time and again. For with them based on "common past and the authenticity of the Prophets' mes example, the Rambam states: singular destiny"? sage as G-d's word. Take the one that Apikorsim are those who stray Respectfully, Rabbi Angel, before says prayer is effective as a ineans of talk after their own speculative views, to the you go further in your pursuit of "sit ing to G-d, the two that deal with Moshi point of highhandedly violating open ting down together in a spirit of ach and techiyas hameisim, the quick Torah commands. One may not con reunion," 1nay I suggest that you review ening of the dead. Are your Reform sort with them or respond to them "partners"there with you on all of them? (Hilchos Akum 2:5).6 1 Not only is Return to Zion obliterated froin their On any of them? This is not angry "right wing" prayerbook, their Sabbath service totally on1its I would then respectfully refer you to rhetoric. This is our shared heritage of M11ssaj; since it is 1neant as a verbal substitute for the Divine service in the Holy Ten1ple! the Amida, several pages earlier in the values, Rabbi Angel, the values that are Siddur·\ where Rabban Gamliel insert- basic to your outlook and ours. When Achdus Takes A treasure deep beneath the scorched earth ... Uncontested Precedence A testament of life from amidst the death ... bba said that it takes forty years A historical account of vast significance. or a disciple to fully comprehend is rebbe's intentions (Avoda Zara TARGUM PRESS is proud to present Sb). One may understand a shiur or to the English-speaking public appreciate the importance of a partic ular p'sak halacha - a specific discus THE sion in Torah Law. But its full impact is not fathomed until after forty years have WARSAW passed. Just over 40 years ago - on 18 Adar 5716 (March 1956) - eleven leading GHETTO Rabbanim and Roshei Yeshiva' issued a p'sak that "it is forbidden by the law of DIARIES our sacred Torah to participate in the by Dr. Hillel Seidman New York Board of Rabbis and similar groups composed of Reform and Con servative 'Rabbis'... a' well as the Syna Written by a historian, author, and deeply observant Jew who served as chief gogue Council of America, which is archivist in the Warsaw Judenrat, this eyewitness diary provides a unique look composed of Reform and Conservative at daily life in the Ghetto. It gives the behind-the-scenes story of the revolt and organizations:' They added that this pro offers fascinating personal glimpses of the people, great and small, who lived - and died-- in the Warsaw Ghetto. hibition applies to joining them "either as an individual or as an organized com- A TARGUM PRESS BOOK -'Or consult Ram barn's flilchos ICfilla 2: l. Distributed by f"eldheim Publishers 1'See also: Hilc/1os Teshuva 3:6; Hilchos Sl1cchita 200 Airport Executive Park Nanuet, NY l 0954 Tel: l-800-237-7149 4:14; Hilchos Rotze'ach 4:10. 20 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 munal body." cally, it's OK for you. Just as Orthodoxy While individual rabbis and rab is OK for me:' In the words of your joint • binical groups as well as communal statement: "We - an Orthodox rabbi oesn't honoring family organizations that identify with the and a Reform rabbi - have a long Yeshiva-Agudath Israel worlds con standing friendship based on our shared ties call for chastising, formed with this p'sak, it is a matter of committnents as human being and as D record that until recently, some Modern fews." (Italics mine. N.W.) iust as it calls for embracing? Orthodox groups did not. Their ratio It is unlikely that 40-plus years ago, , nale was that their affiliation with when the landmark p'sak was issued, that ' Doesn't tough love convey "mixed groups" was not meant to con organizational collegiality was expect fer legitimacy on the other denomina ed to lead to the issuing of such joint more concern than accepting, tions, but ideally to act as a containing sentiments as yours. But now, in retro force, to prevent the further radicaliza spect, one can appreciate the prescience fuzzy-focused love? Isn't that tion of the other movements. The of the Rabbanim and Roshei Yeshiva who vacuity of this hope is evident in the trail joined in the p'sak. what family is really about? of flagrant desecration of Torah law and You base the spirit of your letter on Torah values left in the wake of these the alleged perspective of your late men movements during the past decades, tor: ranging from sanctioning driving an "Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, of Rabbi Soloveitchik• had been vari auto on Shabbos, to permitting the mar blessed memory, taught that the Jew ously cited as the source for working riage of a kohein and a divorcee, both in ish people are bound by a covenant of with other religious denominations - violation of explicit Torah law, as well destiny. As children of Israel, we are on issues klapei chutz as opposed to the ordination of women as rabbis and connected to each other by familial klapei f'nim-that is, in regard to mat chazaniot, by the Conservative move ties. Family members do not always ters of external (i.e., social and political) ment. This has been compounded by the agree, and do not always get along concerns, but not on 1natters of religious Reform movement's proliferation of but they are still family:' practice and values. Such guidelines, mamzeirim through the granting of invalid divorces, conducting intermar riages, engaging in "outreach" and con ferring of ritual honors to inter1narried couples (in response to the 60% inter marriage rates in their Temples), rec ognizing non-Jews as Jews by virtue of patrilineal descent, officiating at same gender "weddings''. .. need we go on? But our discussion here goes far beyond organizational affiliation, to the expression of camaraderie. Your joint letter seems to encourage your readers to surmise that there are alternative forms of Jewish belief and worship, all of them more or less equally acceptable: • Shu! stocked with Seforim "Reform? Reconstructionist? 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CALL 'l'Of.i. l'Rlil?:: ·1· (888) 884-478$ The Jewish Observer, January 1998 21 however, had never been committed to ers and teachers of minus and apikotsus. longer-existing Yiddish-language daily, paper by Rabbi Soloveitchik. Nor did he On the other hand, he did issue a posi Det Tog-Morgen furna4 November 19, ever, to our knowledge, countenance a tion paper on the topic of organizational 1954, wherein he said (translated from joint declaration of kinship with lead- affiliation that was published in the no- the Yiddish): ON UNITY "What ties the Yemenite water car through spiritual-ideological collec ish history ever recorded an instance of rier in Tel Aviv to the Jews of Boston? tivism as a Torah community, it is my a joint Community Council or a joint A uniform Drach Chayim, the Shema Yis opinion that Orthodoxy cannot and Rabbinical Coucil which consisted of roei Shabbos. .. Kashruth, Tejillin, the hope should not unite with such groups Karaites and Torah-true Jews? and waiting for redemption. In brief, a which deny the fundamentals of our collective testimony. Weltanschauung. ON FRAGMENTATION It therefore goes without saying that It is an ideological entity where the Jew who erases from his memory this members work for one purpose and for In internal problems, where the great testimony, and destroys the one ideal. The fundamental difference unity oflsraelis based upon the concept unique collective tradition, breaks the in ideology and in observance make such of Edah (congregation), it is halachically tie which joins him with the Jewish com a unity impossible. From the point ofview more advisable and practically wiser not munity as a congregation, as a spiritu of the 1orah, we find the difference to unite with Reform or semi~Reform al Torah entity. between Orthodoxy and Reform movements. Too much harmony and With regard to our problem (with Judaism much greater than that which peace can cause confusion of the minds in the Jewish community), however, our separated the Pharisees from the Sad and will erase outwardly the bouudaries spiritual-religious interests, such as ducees in the days of the Second Com between Orthodox and other movements:• Jewish education, synagogues, councils monwealth, and between the Karaites and Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik ?"in of rabbis, where unity is expressed traditionalists in the Geonic era. Has Jew- November 19, 1954 Pushing the Family Card Too Far negative criterion for nationhood!) We are a people because of Torah. Not in spite s, family is family. But the defin of Torah. And surely not without Torah. ng characteristics of family- our We have every obligation to reach out Y1amily, at least - flow from: ''Ask to fellow Jews who have not had the ben ····'vi;ft1ng/Vew·vark? your father and he will tell you, your elders efit of a Torah upbringing. Our message and they will inform you" (Devarim 32,7). to them may well be: We are capable of Beautiful rooms, with kitchen facilities, in That is a far cry from knowing who and and willing to overlook the shortfalls of the heart of Baro Park, by day or week. Near Shu!s, take out foods, etc. Profits to what we are because "the outside world your background. But there certainly is no Mifal Torah Vodaas. has little difficulty knowing who is a Jew," point in helping you embrace a Judaism as you put it. It is incredible how this facile that "doesn't require Torah," or one that Call (718) 851-2969 declaration of fraternity so easily papers can manage well without Torah. No T.V.'s over profound differences in regard to A feel-good Judaism with none of the basic principles of faith! richness, meaning and purpose of its Nor are we family because of a shared sacred destiny is next to worthless. We HAT PLUS history of enduring discriinination, owe them the full experience. Or at least Hats • Shirts • Ties • Accessories persecution, pogrom and genocide. the hope - or possibility - that they 1fue, ''Anti-Semites and enemies of come to recognize it and ultimately Your #1 Stop Israel put us all together in the same bas return to it. Afrer all, family is family. for ket. They do not care about theological Quality Hats distinctions among ourselves" (from e would hope, Rabbi Angel, your joint letter). Such common suf that you would be of like WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LARGEST SELECTION & RESHAPE HATS OF CHOSONIM TIES IN fering may strengthen existing bonds, W mind, vvith us, in under (Al/ work done on premises) BROOKLYN but do not create a peoplehood. (Noted standing Jewish unity as requiring a 1368 Coney Island Avenue historian Salo Baron once termed this Torah base, so we could advance (718) 377-5050 victim-based approach "a lachrymose together toward a Torah-defined Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS view of Jewish history." It certainly is a shared destiny. • 22 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 You've heard about the phenomenon called the Teshuva movement ... You've heard about Ai sh Ha Torah and the Discovery Se~inar ... Now ... 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All meals and snacks will be Glatt, Cholov Yisroel, and Yoshon. For reservations or information call Aish Hatorah/Discovery 1-800-POTENTIAL 1-800-768-3684 Yonason Rosenblum An Appreciation of Rabbi Yehudah Naftali Mandelbaum 'i"t In his tlvo decades in Baltimore, Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Rabbi Yehudah Najiali Mandelbaum, who taught Reb Yehudah Naf Rebbe of the 8th grade in Yeshiva tali in the Philadelphia Yeshiva She'aris Hapleita, touched, in one way and whom he continued to or another, virtually every 1nernber of view as his rebbe, applied to him Baltin1ore's Orthodox con11nunity, arul the words of Shmuel (mentioned 111any ]ei-vs outside the Orthodox co1n in the Talmud) upon hearing of munity as ivell. Hundreds poured into the death of Rav: "A man has died Baltin1ore frotn Lakeivood and Neiv of whom I was afraid." York on sho11 notice JOr his levaya - the "Around him there were no largest funeral ever seen in Baltilnore. half-truths, no sweeping problems The maspidim (eulogizers) included under the rug. Every word and sorne of A1nerica's 1nost pro111inent deed had to be true. He was a man roshei yeshiva and Balti1nore's lead from who I had no secrets;' Rabbi ing rabbanim. The niftar lVas Eisemann confessed. "He was able to described as the "conscience of Bal look through me, and if something tilnore." In every car, t'1e sa111e ques was not as it should have been, he tion ivas asked: "How could one knew; and he wasn't shy to tell me:' 111an have so 1nany best friends?" His povverful emotions \Vere nur "Ho111 could one rebbe have so tured until they burst forth in action. many closest talmidiin?" Every summer the Mandelbaum How, indeed, did one few - family took a camping vacation, to a Jew ivho sat with everyone else in which the entire family eagerly shul, a rebbe in the local cheder - looked forward all year. Jn 1982, the affect so many so profoundly in his tragi seriousness went a day the much needed vacation was to cally shortened life? maturity far beyond his years and a pro begin, coincided with the Israeli army's found understanding of people. While Peace for Galilee campaign in Lebanon. I. THE MEASURE OF A MAN still a bachur in Lakewood, married men Reb Naftali Yehudah called Rabbi Eise came to him for advice in matters of mann and told him that he did not feel rom an early age, Reb Yehudah shalom bayis (marital harmony). right going on a vacation while Jewish Naftali was distinguished by his He thought deeply about every aspect boys were dying in war, and asked him Fseriousness. Younger friends fron1 of Hashem's world - above all, about what he should do. Philadephia Yeshiva recall how late at His Torah, but with a similar intensity That she'eila exemplified for Rabbi night, after they were already in pajamas, about a spider spinning its web, and Eisemann Reb Yehudah Naftali's whole Yehudah Naftali opened up for them the human relationships as well. "He never life: world of Sefer Chovas HaTalmidim, the failed to find a new din1ension;' reme1n Of course, we were all shattered to hear world of spiritual striving. With that bers his friend Rabbi Naftali Kempler, "in of yet another war. [But} we are quite ------··----·---- Yonason Rosenblum who lives in Jerusalem is a what others found ordinary." resilient, and life goes back to non-nal very, regular contributor to The Jewish Observer, Every aspect of his life was thought very fast. The difference between an ordi including his recent article, "Why Should We Care out, with a shitta (reasoned principle) nary person and a person that touches great About the Conversion law?" (Dec. '97). He is also for everything. Yet he could say without ness is that the great person fights that a featured columnist in the ferusa/e1n Post. He is irony that a baal shitta (strongly prin the author of inany works, including biographies resilience. He holds on to those emotions and on leading Torah personalities, published by cipled man) is a very dangerous person. doesn't allow the1n to dissipate. ArtScroll. That too was a shitta. His seriousness did not cut him off ------24 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 fron1 more ordinary Jews and \vhenever they were in need, and leave him alone with his own his advice was sought on every thoughts. Just the opposite. The subject from dealing with pricelessness of every Jew and the teenagers to diapering a baby to wonderful diversity of Hashem's paneling a basement. Chosen People were not mere Rabbi David Gottlieb and his ideas for him; they penetrated his family were on the way to Boston one heart. Erev Rosh Hashana to spend Yorn He was perpetually exuberant - in leave for someone else to do, he imme Tov with the Bostoner Rebbe when their car the words of his brother-in-law Akiva diately did himself If the walkway to the broke down just outside of Baltimore. Wagshal, "The least emotionally Agudah shul was covered with snow, They called their neighbor Rabbi Mandel restrained person I ever met." He con everyone knew they could count on baum, who not only hurried to pick them sciously followed the advice of the Rabbi Mandelbaum and his sons to dig up but also lent them his station wagon to Chovos Halevovos that no matter the out the path. Though his time, especially drive to Boston. When Rabbi Gottlieb sadness in one's heart, only joy should that for learning, was extremely pre returned the car and started to thank Rabbi be seen on his face. cious, he did not resent the hours spent Mandelbaum profusely for his generosity, the He cried at every funeral' and, what on activities that those far less busy than latter stopped him with the comment, "I is far more rare, rejoiced wholeheartedly himself could have done as well. A already received my reward. The sn1ile on at every chassana. Many a father of the chashuv (important) person, he used to your face when I offered you the car was chassan or kalla wondered whether he say, is one who fulfills his task to the worth more than anything." or Reb Yehudah Naftali was happier. fullest, and there was nothing that In his own personal life, Rabbi Man Once in a class on parenting, he men needed doing that he considered some delbaum was something of an ascetic, tioned as an aside how it bothered him one else's task. yet he fulfilled Rabbi Yisroel Salanter's to see Jews unable to rejoice in the sim Because he was capable of express dictum that one shottld treat his fellow chas of others - the perfunctory Maze] ing his love for his fellow Jews so open Jew's gashmius as one's own ruchnius. He Tovs and desiccated sn1iles. ly, he had the rare ability to give rebuke. was the driving force behind Baltimore's When he pointed out ways in which a Ahavas Yisrael organization. Nothing An Intuitive Sensitivity to Others person could improve - always dis connected with the organization's work creetly - that person went away was beneath him. When the organiza abbi Mandelbaum had an intu warmed by the depth of Reb Yehudah tion was given a storage room, Reb itive sensitivity to the feelings of Naftali's concern for him.' Yehudah Naftali did all the electrical Rothers. When friends in another He refused to ignore anything in the wiring himself and fixed the locks on the city felt shunned by those who did not community that was not as it should be. door. One student was amazed to watch know what to say after the birth of a Once someone reported to him that a his rebbe spend four straight hours on child with Downs Syndrome, Reb Yehu girl in the Bais Yaakov had told a class his hands and knees folding and sort dah Naftali called up with precisely the mate, 'Tm going to be elected class pres ing used clothing for redistribution. right words of encouragement. ident because I'm more popular than Nothing disturbed Reb Yehudah you." That a Jewish girl could boast From Idea to Action Naftali more than communal apathy. about her popularity and lord it over When Baltimore was beset by a succes another girl gave him no rest. He called one of his projects gave him sion of tragedies, he was at the forefront up the Bais Yaakov principal to discuss more pleasure than those calling for communal takanos, and what could be done to remedy what he N designed to increase Torah went from person to person, like a Bib vie\ved as a tragic intrusion of secular learning. lical prophet, asking, "Why don't we values into the school. Shortly after arriving in Baltimore, he wake up?" He took everything to heart. Reb Yehudah Naftali certainly did not and his lifelong friend Rabbi Moshe "Do you know how many broken peo look for things to criticize. He was far Juravel established a Mishnayos learning ple there are in this city?" he would cry, happier effusively praising people for program for youngsters called Chemdas. as he contemplated the plight of wid doing things that might not have seemed The highlight of Chemdas's year was an ows and divorced women. noteworthy to anyone else. out-of-town trip to a famous yeshiva or What escaped the attention of oth Everyone instinctively turned to him other Torah center. One year, the end ers, Reb Yehudah Naftali noticed. What of-the-year trip turned out to be a com others noticed but were prepared to :He did not offer such suggestions unless he \Vas plete fiasco. Nothing seemed to go confident that they would be listened to, and even right, including the weather. To com 'He made it a point to attend funerals of peo then if there was the slightest suspicion of hav ple he barely knew when he suspected the turnout ing hurt someone's feelings, he "'ould \vrite then1 pensate, Rabbi Mandelbaum arranged would be small. seeking their forgiveness. for the boys to go to a large amusement The Jewish Observer, January 1998 25 park the last day. The overcast skies into the park. That they had reached that of Baltimore,' he never said the daily shiur seemed to assure that itnmodest attire level of understanding turned the dis in the Yeshiva Bein Hazemanim. Instead, would not be a problem, but just before astrous trip into one of the happiest days he took care of all the practical details the boys arrived at the park, the sun of Reh Yehudah Nafta!i's life. For involved, and used the yeshiva to keep started shining bright and clear. months afterwards, he spoke with awe contact with talmidim from years past When Rabbi Mandelbaum and to anyone who would listen of the ele who had returned home for Yam Tov. Rabbi Juravel saw how the women in the vated madreiga (spiritual level) that his park were dressed, they did not know students had shown. •Though Rabbi Mandelbaun1 often lamented that he did not have enough time to learn, the breadth what to do: To go in was impossible; to Reh Yehudah Naftali also founded a and clarity of his Torah knowledge frequently disappoint the boys again, almost as dif Yeshiva Bein Hazemanim (''Interses astounded others. He initiated Torah corre ficult. They need not have worried. The sion") that in time became the pride of spondence with his son-in-laws. After excusing boys themselves sized up the situation, Baltimore. Though he was treated as an himself that he was not really "holding in the equal by the leading talmidei chachamim inyan," he would proceed to write several pages and announced that they could not go on whatever subject they were then learning. FULL SERVICE BROKER 'J'b • You can create an endless source of z'chusirn in JS memory of a family member when you sponsor a ADAM Z. RICE • day's learning in the new TRIPP & CO., INC. 0 Specialists - Tax Free Bonds Yarl z h e1t ~~! ~oc:~~li Establisbed 1938 I This new version of the very 0 successful English sefer is expected to reach 10,000 people. Member NASD & SIPC D Your $250 sponsorship lets their learning, year after 212-608-4710 year, stand as a precious 800-212-1013 SODle thin g 40 Rector Street, New York 10006 Extraordinary f~~~s10~~~ Fax 212-608-9796 Call now w reserve your day! Reservations are on a first come-first served basis. Call (914) 352-3505 or 1-800-867-2482 3" Invei !Ht (HOILIZ Each tape (tape consists of two 40 minute shiurim) explains the meaning and delves into the halocho and hashkofo of a perek in Tehilim. In his unique, clear and lucid style, Rabbi Margareten will increase your level of Avodas Hashem through an enhanced understanding of this major work. To order now call DARCHEI NOAM 1-888-297-0544 Price per lope • $5. 00, For eight 01· mo1" lopes - $4.50 per tape. Prices include shipping and bancOing 26 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 Rabbi Moshe Heinemann remarked He frequently described how Rabbi and neck and squeeze me. The warm wryly that the Yeshiva Bein Hazeman Elya Svei had been like a father to him feelings are still with me." im was probably the first recorded when he had learned in the Philadelphia Just as a father cannot bear to see his instance of someone founding a yeshi Yeshiva, and he played the same role in children fighting with one another, so va so that he could be the garbage man. the lives of his students. In the out Reb Yehudah Naftali could not bear any After every minyan in the Agudah shul, pouring of condolence letters from form of discord among his students. "If Reb Yehudah Naftali would annouce the former students, one of the repeated he saw or heard about us fighting, he day's learning schedule. In between themes was his preternatural sensitivi didn't just tell us to stop. Rebbe literal announcements, he hurried downstairs ty to the needs of his talmidim. One boy ly begged us to stop, as if we'd be doing to prepare the food for breakfast and to from a Chassidic background related him a personal favor," wrote one student. clean up from the previous shifts. Yet for how he was uncertain as he approached In fact, he always looked for ways to all the hard work involved in organiz bar mitzva age whether to put on a gar instill a sense of unity in the class. His ing the Yeshiva Bein Hazemanim, Rabbi tel for davening. Somehow Rabbi Man face would light up any time the sub Mandelbaum used to say that the sight delbaum anticipated the boy's concern ject of ahava or shalom arose in learn of so much learning filled him with about sticking out. In the weeks just ing, and he would emphasize how life excitement that lasted until the next bein before the boy's bar mitzva, he spoke is unbearable without shalom. hazemanim. three times about the beauty of differ The fourth-graders he was teaching ent minhagim (customs) among Jews at the time of his passing related the var II. PARADIGM REBBE and the importance of preserving one's ious things he did to give them a feel own traditions, preparing the way for ing of being one group. When they n 1976, Rabbi Mandelbaum moved the boy's acceptance. played baseball, he made sure that they to Baltimore from Lakewood and Another former student's primary switched positions frequently so that I began teaching in She'aris Hapleitah, memory was of "how warm" Rabbi every boy would get a chance. The mes a yeshiva for boys up to high school age. Mandelbaum's hand was: "I remember sage got through: "One thing Rabbi The Hebrew word for son - ben - has dearly holding his hand and how he Mandelbaum taught me is to count the same root as the word for building would put his hand on my shoulders everybody in a game even if he wasn't - boneh: the father builds his son. So Reb Yehudah Naftali built his talmidim. The goal of a Torah education, in his THE REBBETZIN HIRMES view, was not the accumulation of WOMEN'S INSTITUTE OF TORAH information but the creation of a Torah personality- a personality filled with OF BALTIMORE awe at living in the presence of Hashem. is pleased to announce the establishment ofa As a rebbe, he profoundly affected hundreds of boys and their families over the next 19 years. Even after he had become one of the best-known ele mentary-school rebbe'im in America, he A seminary program for a select group ofgirlsfrom was not above traveling to other yeshiv all over North America who have excelled in their academic as to observe, or asking his class at the careers and in their personal lives as bnos Torah end of the year what he could do to Dedicated to enhancing our students' hashkofos and improve. character developmen~ and preparing them for the Within She'aris Hapleitah, he was the challenges ofliving in today's society mentor for all the younger rebbe'im and the one to whom the entire staff always • Learn from outstanding Torah personalities looked when a problem arose. Reb Yehu • Experience living, studying and working in the dah Naftali used to say that an educa vibrant frum community of Baltimore, Maryland tor must view his class like a father views his family. If a father has eight children, • Limited scholarships available and seven are flourishing, while one is • Donnito.ry facilities floundering, his worry over the one in trouble will not be diminished by the Applicatlons are now being accepted. success of the others. Similarly, a rebbe Please contact Mrs. Ettie Rosenbaum, Menaheles cannot be satisfied unless every single (410) 486-2378 boy in his class is growing. ·------·------The Jewish Observer, January 1998 27 my best friend or not good at it." ter he felt there was no problem of sought to encourage that same ko'ach The boys marvelled at the simcha "going in the ways of the nations" ha'iyun (powerof in-depth analysis) in with which he did everything. Even involved, he returned the query: "Would his talmidim. He refused to allow the making hot chocolate for them in the you invite [Baltimore Oriole's star] Cal boys to remain at the level of under morning \Vas done \Vith zest. Ripken to your succa? Well then, why do standing of Chumash of their early years. Rabbi Mandelbaum never stopped you go to his succa [i.e., Camden Yards His goal was never to convey a partic stressing what it 1neans to be a ben Stadium]?" he asked. ular p'shat of his, but to make his Torah. Rather than attacking TV, he talmidim realize the depth of meaning instilled in his tal111idi111 a fierce desire The Delight of Torah Study in each word of Torah. His message: to be a ben Torah, and on their own they Open up your eyes and think. Reb Yehu understood that TV was not appropri e conveyed the geshmack dah Naftali's list of common mistakes ate.' He was once asked by his students (excitement) of learning with made in learning Chumash became well whether it is permissible to go to base H out prizes. 1bken prizes were known among both students and fellow ball games. Though as a halachic mat- given in recognition of achievement, not rebbe'im. Equally famed were his inter as rewards for learning. Rabbi Mandel pretations of the relationship ofYaakov , Sin1ilarly, he criticized in his parenting classes the presentation of tzenius to girls as a series of baum knew that for every boy, there and Eisav, which was built on 32 distinct restrictions, which results, at best, in the letter of would come a day when no one would questions; and that of Dasan and Avi the law being observed while its spirit is blithe offer him a prize for learning and the ram to Moshe based on 26 questions. In ly ignored. His approach instead was to c1npha motivation must co1ne fron1 within. his account, Eisav and Dasan and Avi size the glory of being a Yiddishe tochter (Jewish daughter) in such a way that the girls would For him the excitement of learning ram beca1ne much more than stock vil understand why certain things pas nisd1t (are came from looking deeply into a prob lains, as they are usually portrayed.' unacceptable) tOr the1n. lem and working it through. And he The key to teaching, Rabbi Mandel bau1n once told a son-in-law, is not sim To help harness the enormous spirit ply conveying the material to the child. reverberating throughout the Americas Even when the subject matter has been in the wake of the historic Tenth Siyum taught many times, each boy's unique HaShas of the Oaf Yomi, Agudath Israel ness must be taken into account. of America's Daf Yomi Commission reminds the public that. .. Like the relationship between father and son, his relationship with his • If you require assistance in the forma tion of a new Oaf Yomi group and/or tal111idi111 was not confined to the class are in need of a qualified maggid shiur, room nor to the year that the boys spent the Daf Yomi Commission can help. in his class. One year Rabbi Madelbaum • For a laminated book-mark with a 16- had a particularly brilliant boy in his month Oaf Yomi calendar, free of class. He discovered that the boy did not charge, our office can be written or know how to ride a bicycle, and spent faxed. A 32-page seven-year calendar is also available, for a handling charge two consecutive Sundays teaching him. of $2.00 each. He feared that for all his brilliance the • If you are aware of a new Oaf Yomi boy might become something of a shlur, please contact us for a Shiur social misfit if he did not master basic Registration Form, so that it can be skills, and in time his inability to inte included in the new edition of the North grate with his peers might prevent him American Directory of Oaf Yomi from reaching his potential. Shiurim presently under preparation. As an eighth-grade rebbe, one of • In the meantime, copies of the 1996 Rabbi Mandelbaum's tasks was to place Directory - though it does not list the myriad new groups established since boys in yeshivas for the coming year. This the Slyum - are still available. became an almost full-time job for him. • You can also send for a free Directory "Every yeshiva is the right yeshiva," he of Oaf Yoml Services, outlining the var ious programs and assistance avail 'Rabbi Mandelbau1n's insights into Chumash able to participants in I/mud Oaf Yoml. reflected the depth of his thought. Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetsky kissed hi1n on more than one occa sion after hearing one of his original insights. Old friends fron1 Philadelphia Yeshiva, who are the1nselves pro1ninent rabbani111 today, find themselves ren1embering vertlach they heard fron1 him more than thirty years ago, every tin1e they review the parsha. 28 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 used to say. "You One of the himself.6 just have to know highlights of bein As half of Lakewood seemed to be emp for which boy:' He hazemanin1 for tying out on the day of Reb Yehudah Naf traveled frequent former students tali's levaya, one resident was unable to fath ly to various was coming back om how so 1nany taln1idim from years past yeshivas to observe to Baltimore and had not thought twice about driving back them first-hand, receiving Rabbi to Baltimore for the levaya. "Ifyou met him and was in con Mandelbaum's today, ivould he even remember your stant contact with warm Shalom Ale name?" he asked. "That person had obvi n1enahalim and ichem. What ously never nret Rebbe," cornn1ented the for roshei yeshiva. A other rebbe from mer student who related the story. boy from another twelve years earli yeshiva in Balti er, one former Ill.FAMILY more once approached him and asked 1, student asked in a condolence letter, was him for advice about where he should prepared to give former students a chas ne of the hallmarks of greatness go for high school. Reb Yehudah Naf san shmuess on a few hour's notice, for a ]e\v is consistency- a life tali told him, "I don't know you, and I spend his own money to travel to their 0 lived no differently in the pri don't know how you learn, so I can't weddings, make Sheva Berachos for vacy of one's home than in the public advise you. But if you want, we can learn them, or was filled with such excitement eye. Rabbi Mandelbaum met that test together for two weeks, and then I'll be to see their babies? completely. His children's respect for able to help you." One former student told Rabbi Man him and his wife was unmistakeable. He Even after his students left to other delbaum that he would be driving with had but to get down on the floor and yeshivas, Reb Yehudah Naftali was in fre his family from Baltimore to Detroit for start cleaning up, for all his children to quent touch with them. When former his wedding. Rabbi Mandelbaum, how immediately foHovv suit. His sons invari students had problems finding chavru ever, insisted that as a chassan he need ably joined him for his various chessed sos (study partners) or adjusting, they ed to arrive completely relaxed, and projects, and his daughters bore the would call Reb Yehudah Naftali, know must fly. He told the young man that he stamp of the Mandelbaum home in ing that he would straighten out the knew a gvir (wealthy man) who would everything they did. problem. On more than one occasion, pay for the plane ticket. Only later did Members of the Baltimore commu unfortunately, he warned parents that the chassan realize that the gvir had been nity saw the children that he and his wife their sons, who were widely viewed as none other than Rabbi Mandelbaum produced and begged him to give shi among the outstanding students in urim in chinuch bannim (childrearing). their respective yeshivas, were on the "Though no one else could understand how the They glimpsed the serenity of the Man verge of breakdowns from the pressure large iviandelbau1n fan1ily lived on his salary as delbaum house and urged him to start a rebbe, Rcb Yehudah Naftali always insisted that on them. In each case, he was the first he was a gvir, \vhtch he defined as one who has another series on shalom bayis (marital to pick up the problem. the money to buy whatever he wants. harmony). "I always felt calmer after Not just a cheese, a tradition... Haolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you'll enjoy keeping. AU !iaolam cheese products are made in the U.S.A. under the strict rabbinical supervision of: Cholov fisroel The Rabbinate of K'hal Adath Jeshurun, Washington Heights, NY THURM BROS. WORLD CHEESE CO. INC. BKOOKLYl'I. NY 11232 Hao lam. The Jewish Observer, January 1998 29 spending time in your house;' was a typ Reb Yehudah Naftali fashioned his ical comn1ent, despite the constant children into thinkers without making hustle-bustle. the mistake of treating them as little • is seriousness did not Like everything else in his life, Reb adults. The Mandelbaum children were Yehudah Naftali was a superb father and not shielded from serious subjects. Hcut him off from more husband because he worked hard at it. Death, for instance, was a frequent topic He made it a rule never to enter the - not in a morbid fashion, but so the ordinary Jews and leave house without a smile on his face, no children would understand that this him alone with his own matter how draining the day had been. world is not the ultimate goal." He was For all the demands on him from every free about discussing his own feelings thoughts. Just the opposite. side, his family never felt short-shrift with his children as a means of nurtur The pricelessness of every ed. From the early days of marriage in ing the depth of their own feelings and Lakewood, he always ate with his fam their comfort with expressing them. In Jew and the wonderful ily. He was available to talk to his chil Dr. Hugo ( Chai1n) Mandelbau1n was a diversity of dren, and they used every available Hashem's mechanech (Torah educator) in Germany and moment to speak to him. The same later the first principal of Bais Yehudah in Detroit. Chosen People were not capacity to listen and to give a non-judg Most of his professional career, however, was mental response that drew so many to spent as a professor of inathematics at Wayne mere ideas for him; they him \.Vas present in his childrearing. State University. As soon as he retired, he devot ed hin1self lo full-tin1e Torah study, eventually penetrated his heart. "Delight in them; listen to them; don't finishing the entire Tahnud three tin1es, as well put them down;' was not just advice for as A1ishna Torah, Ttff, and Shulchan Aruch others. It is how Reb Yehudah Naftali As the only son raised in America, after the raised his own children. Mandelbau1n's traumatic flight fro1n Gennany the Mandelbaum •home, the children Rabbi Mandelbaum was himself very and years as refugees in England, Reb Yehudah were never told, "We cannot afford this:' Naftali had an unusually close relationship v:ith much the product of his own upbring his father. Fro1n his father can1e his seriousness The question instead was: Is this neces ing. His high-mindedness, self-disci and self-discipline; fron1 his n1other, Serach, sary? If - after evaluation- it was, the pline, and devotion to the com1nunity whose advice v:as sought by hundreds over her 1noney was there. were a direct legacy from his father.' long life, can1e his warn1th and deep insight into The effect ofliving in a house where people. the family conversation was not just a , Rabbi Eise1nann, for whon1 the senior Man means of filling time was felt from an 30 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 tual matters: "Who will be there for my like that which the Mandelbaum chil siyumim? Who will teach me the fami dren received stays with them, even after ly minhagim? Who will lead me to the the father is gone. The greater challenge chupa? I was so much looking forward will be for the rest of us to apply the to learning Torah in his class." lessons of Reb Yehudah Naftali's life to He will not be alone. An upbringing our own. • You can! Just call The Yitti Leibel Helpline. daughters refused to take money for HOURS: babysitting for neighbors or friends so Monday~Friday ...... 8am ~12pm as not to be deprived of the mitzva of Monday-Thursday ...... 8pm -11 pm doing chessed. Eventually the neighbors Sunday ...... 9am -12pm, 9p1n -11 pm stopped calling them. Rabbi Mandel 718-HELP-NOW baum was then left with the difficult task (718)435-7669 of convincing them that it would be a Chicago (800)HELP-023 mitzva to take money so that people who Lakewood (908)363-1010 wanted to go out would not hesitate to I. Cleveland (888)209-8079 call them. For addiction problems call our The Baltimore Bais Yaakov has always ' drawn from an extremely \vide cross addiction therapist, Wednesdays section of the community. So111eone 11 :30prn to 1:30arn once suggested to Rabbi Mandelbaum the creation of a more "right-wing'' Bais Yaakov, to which he replied that he would not send his daughters to such a school because it would encourage looking down at other Jews. There was no such thing as certain children not being allowed to play in the Mandel baun1 house. Sensitivity to others was constantly •The l'chus of Living, Breathing and Experiencing the Kedusho of Eretz Yisrael • reinforced. His greeting was "Shalom The Torah Touring Experience of a lifetime! •Daven by the Kosel Ha'Maravi •Climb Matsada •Inspiring Shiurim • Shabbos in Tzfas • Teveria • Meron •Amazing Workshops I aleichem, shalom aleichem." The repe • Kevrei Tzadikim • • Amukah • Experience Yerushalayim in Depth• Delicious Hotel tition made clear his sincerity and inter Style Meals• Swim in the Kinneref • Shabbos in Yerusholoyim •Kayak in the Yarden • 1 est. And the children were taught: Rosh Hanikra • Fully Equipped Modern Gym • Underground Caves• Ei/at • Glass Bottom Boat• Air Conditioned Dining Rooms • Banana Boating • fin Gedi • Biblical Zoo • I "Hello" means I care about you; Waterparks • Har Haziseim • Beautiful Campus & Dormitory • Snorkling • Paddle "Please" means that nothing is coming Boating• Campfire• Tour the Gali/ •Daven Vo'sekin at Kosel• Light & Sound Desert I to me; ''Thank you" means I am grate Experience• Golan Heights• Gamla •Cable Cars• Be'er Sheva • Make Wonderful International Friends • Yod Vashem • Swim in Yam Hamelach • Bedouin Tents • I ful for whatever you've done for me. Decoupage• Climb Incredible Mountains• Achdus • Tzipori •Arts & Crafts• Our Own The many baalei teshuva who fre Olympic Pool• Grape Picking• Shmiras Halashon Rally• Rabbi Zev Leff• Ancient Susya I •Cairo Geniza Museum• Jeeping• Hotel Hamerchazi in Tzefas •Hotel El Artzei in quented the house, Rabbi Mandel filat• Konyan Ha'adom • Silk Screening• Meo Shearim • Rebbe's Tisch• Flower & Fruit I baum explained to the children, were Decoration• Camel Rides• Color War• Kever Rachel• Kever David Homelech • Meorat not to be viewed as" kiruv projects," but luzit • Mearat Chazon • Nacho/ Amud Nature Trail• Climb Sand Dunes• Meorot I Hakemoch • Oegem Beis Homikdash • Klei Hamishkan • Hay Rides • Banyas • Mock as "our Shabbos guests." Wedding • Swim in Hotzbonei River• Sunset Kumzitz by the Ocean • Tzfas Candle I Factory • Cave of the Chashmonoim •Orange Picking • and Much, Much More! hen Rabbi Mandelbaum's •Just Ask AfiX of our Wonderful Machane Bracha Campers! young son was told by his ,,,,.., W rebbe that his father had passed away suddenly while on a Lag I A Safe, Secwe, Warm Atmosphere In Magnificent Yael Blnyamln b'Omer outing with his class, his first Under tire Direction of Rabbi Sholom & Mr.I. Chaya Glnzberg I stunned reactions all concerned spiri- L 1066 E 23nJ Street Brooklyn, NY 11210 (7JBJ377·0234 • The Jewish Observer, January 1998 ------31 Rabbi Joseph Elias The Perversion of Truth Why do opponents of Orthodoxy persist in ascribing to Torah Jewry things they know are not true? ernard Wasserstein? Bernard im)" the ]ev,,1ish Tribune. Wasserstein? The name rang a Wasserstein) with a consistency that, Bbell. I must have encountered it • under other circumstances, would have before. t should also be noted been admirable, followed this policy I was reading a recent article in the that the names of throughout the book. Three examples Yated Ne' eman - the review of a book I of his distortion of the historical facts by Bernard Wasserstein about the immi Rabbi Weissmandl, will suffice. nent demise of traditional Judaism; in the words of the reviewer, it v.ras dis Isaac Sternbuch, Vaad J. Refuge for Jewish Immigrants in Britain. tinguished from other books of this type "only by the particular viciousness of Hatzolah and Agudath asserstein writes (p. 10): "The [Wasserstein's] hatred of the haredim .... Academic Assistance Coun The haredim are described as brazen, Israel do not appear in W cil... helped to find positions duplicitous, violent and corrupt. Their in British Universities for many refugee rabbinic authorities are 'shadowy char Wasserstein's book; scholars .... In December 1938, a Move acters,' their learning is 'intellectual after all, they all were ment for the Care of Children from Ger mud that numbs the mind'.... They are many was formed which arranged for characterized by 'shameless filching Orthodox individuals the immigration of nearly 10,000 chil from the public purse' and 'hypocrisy'.... dren (90% Jewish) by September In short, they constitute a 'savage soci and institutions. 1938/9; most were lodged with foster ety' led by their 'primitive fear' of parents, many of whom were non-Jews:' modernity into 'barbaric reactions'.'' That is all that the author had to say As I was reading, 1 suddenly realized on the subject. Yet obviously the Acad how I knew the author's name: in 1979 v.rere not mentioned.• emic Assistance Council had no inter he had published an earlier book, I turned to the index in the back of est in rabbis or religious teachers. Rabbi Britain and the Jews of Europe 1939-1945. the book; I found people like Major Dr. Solomon Schonfeld, Chief Rabbi It was a learned volume, giving evidence Desmond Morton who makes a fleeting Hertz's son-in-law, took the initiative in of the author's wide-ranging research. appearance in the book - but Dr. founding the Chief Rabbi's Religious I was somewhat familiar with the sub Solomon Schonfeld, and Harry Good Emergency Council which devoted ject; in fact, I had a minuscule part in man, both of them deeply involved in itself in the first place to bringing over the rescue work of the Chief Rabbi's rescue \Vork and in constant touch with religious functionaries. But it soon had Emergency Council; I eagerly opened the government, did not appear. to deal with a much bigger problem. The the book, to be greeted by a long list of I kept on searching. There were six Movement for the Care of Children individuals and institutions consulted, teen pages of sources, published and placed its charges (many of them from from the major agencies down to the unpublished documents, newspapers observant families) without any regard British government's Public Record and books. The list was comprehensive, to the religious factor. I know of one Office and Sheffield Central Library. But, in line with Wasserstein's pompous young man, from a well-known Jewish strangely, the Chief Rabbi's Emergency declaration, at the beginning of the family who was placed with an Angli Council and the World Agudah Archives book, that "fairness requires that the evi can clergyman, and is today a church dence be presented in as complete a organist in Britain. But even when R;bbi Elia~i~ a men;b~r of th;-;;-ditorial b~ard form as possible." It was - except that children were placed in Jewish homes, of The Jewish Observer. He is the author of a num ber of published works, including The Haggadah any mention of Orthodox organizations they were generally lost to Yiddishkeit. (ArtScroll/Mesorah) and a co1111nentary, with and individuals was carefully sup Even if the Anglo-Jewish establishment new translation by Karin Paritzky, on Rabbi S.R. pressed. Thus the Jewish Chronicle was had wanted to, they could not have lfirsch's The Nineteen Letters (Feldheim). listed, but not the organ of the" hared- found enough religious homes able to ------~-----·------·------~-----·--~------·------32 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 receive them. Dr. Schonfeld stepped in tioned byWasserstein, but never in con 3. The Bombing ofAuschwitz and got visas for several large children's nection with her joint efforts with Dr. transports, to be placed in hostels and Schonfeld), he got a majority of the his is probably the area in which to attend Jewish schools and yeshivas. members of Parliament to favor a res Wasserstein's prejudice is most Not having the backing of the Anglo olution for places of refuge - but a Tobvious, for he gives lengthy Jewish establishment, he could not Labor-Zionist 1nember of Parlia1nent space to this topic and hence his omis rival the numbers handled by the Move opposed it because it did not specifically sions are particularly glaring. He writes ment; but the children that went mention Palestine, and the British gov (p. 307): "Meanwhile, a proposal was put through his hands not only received a ernment thereupon gladly dropped the to the British government for a differ Jewish education, but had a crucial role whole project (see To Save a World, vol ent form of bombing which, it was in the rebuilding of Torah life in Eng 2, pp. 165- 6). This remarkable episode argued, might have a direct effect on the land and America. Many of them was written up in the London Times - Nazi process of mass murder." became rabbanini and communal fig but ignored by Wasserstein. The idea had come up first in the ures - one of them was Chief Rabbi Lord Immanuel Jakobovits (for details see Solomon Schonfeld, His Page in His tory, by D. Kranzler and G. Hirschler). It is utterly inconceivable that Wasser stein was unaware of these facts. Obvi ously he chose to ignore them. 2. The Search for Places of Refuge Outside Britain he deliberate "editing" of the historical facts is even more obvi- . Tous when we read Wasserstein's 1 discussion of the wartin1e search for places of refuge. Wasserstein wrote ( p. 46): "Exotic proposals for Jewish refugee settlement in a number of improbable places ... flourished briefly in the official files, and were quickly consigned to the oblivion of the archives:' Yet these "exotic" proposals "\Vere by no means all ! of them impracticable. Several of them were put forth by Dr. Schonfeld, such as the purchase of Stranger's Key, a small island in the British West Indies, as a potential haven for refugees. In 1943, together with Eleanor Rathbone (a member of Parliament repeatedly men- !fyou are thinking qf' moving.for Jewish Growth Opportunities ... g g Full Service Co1nn1unity ~fotal 'forah Co1n111unity • Healthy Joh Market The 1brah Communi~y ofRabbi J:/idzel Twerski Cheder • • A.ffordable f-Iousing invite.<; .nmr interest Bais Yakov • • A Nurturing Co1nr11unity Yeshiva Begin Thinking Milwaukee Begin Thinking Milwaukee Begin Thinking Milwaukee Begin Thinking Milwaukee The Jewish Observer, January 1998 33 summer of 1943, when technical diffi night to Berne where he woke up the on June 30, a ludicrous misrepresenta culties ruled it out. In the summer of British military attache, to ask him to tion if ever there was one. 1944, a renewed "request was made [to relay the same request to the British gov the British government] on behalf of the ernment. Sternbuch also relayed Weiss THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SPOTLIGHTING Jewish Agency, by Weizmann and Sher mandl's plea to the American military WASSERSTEIN'S "SCHOLARSHIP" tok. ... On 30 June a memorandum from attache who cabled it to Washington. By Shcrtok to the foreign office ... outlined then the Vaad Hatzolah in New York had hy is it worth our while to the reasoning behind the Zionist received word, and on June 18, Jacob throw a light on Bernard request" (pp. 309-310). Now let us see Rosenheim, president of Agudath Israel, W Wasserstein's "scholarship"? what really happened, based on the clas submitted a specific proposal to the It is of course instructive to see how sic works of M. Penkower (The Jews American government. Unfortunately, pathologically obsessive hatred of tra Were Expendable) and D.S. Wyman however, the pressure on the Allied gov ditional Jews can bring a person - a (The Abandonment of the Jews). ernments, fro1n all sides) during the next professor at Oxford University, no less On April 15, 1944, two fugitives few weeks, did not move them to bomb - to distort history and lay himself from Auschwitz reached Slovakia with the railroads to Auschwitz and thousands open to the very same charges that he the first full details of Auschwitz, includ of Jews continued to be deported to their so readily levels - intellectual mud, ing maps. By May 16, a detailed letter as death (full details are in Penkower's chap duplicity, shamelessness (indeed, in well as a coded cable went out from ter 7 and Wyman's chapter 15). using public funds from the Memorial Rabbi Michael Ber Weissmandl to his It should be noted that the names of Foundation and other charitable funds contact in Switzerland (Isaac Sternbuch) Rabbi Weissmandl, Isaac Sternbuch, for such a book, he may also qualify as asking him to spread the news and urg Vaad Hatzolah and Agudath Israel do "filching from the public purse"). ing the Allied powers to bomb the rail not appear in Wasserstein's book; after But the issue transcends Bernard lines to Auschwitz. Weissmandl referred all, they all were Orthodox individuals Wasserstein. In the first place, it high specifically to the British airforce, and and institutions. For the same reason, lights the need to use extreme caution Isaac Sternbuch, who received the cable the bombing proposal had to be pre in dealing with Judaic studies courses on May 19, traveled on that same Friday sented as a «Zionist request," put forth and publications, whether concerned with the Holocaust or other areas. Wasserstein may be an extreme case; but he is not unique. The fa1nous statement )1Piiuii -..fiiili _, that "statistics don't lie - but liars use statistics" is also true of other scholar PESACH 98 - FLORIDA LUXURY , ly fields. There, too, a person's precon ceptions and bias can produce poiso QI. \)'(<:> 11 l>o.y1 10 Hi5hb nous fruits (we need only remember 5pecial i'ttt Kosher Pesach 1° Thu11. April 9fh low Airfares ~un. April 19H Nazi racial theories). Not for nothing do 1 Hi~hl free we ask that, even in the study of Torah, **** we should be spared from erring. Indeed it is just in the approach ofTorah that our yeitzer hara seeks most strongly to mislead us: untruth cannot tolerate truth - and, least of all, absolute truth, as rep Hollywood Beach resented by G-d's teachings. This explains a phenomenon that just in our days puz • f-Jotel Excfusiuely Kosher L'Pesach • Daily trips for all ages to n1ajor zles us. We can well understand that the • Ouersized Roo111s u1ith Balconies attractions Reforn1 and Conservative 111oven1ents, • All Day Can1p and Babysitting • Breathtaking Ocean and Bay Vieu1s engaged in a desperate battle for survival • Pools, Fitness Center, A1assage Therapy • S/11n11ra Ma1zal1, Cf10!011 Ylsroel and and Sauna Non- Cebrokr and acceptance as legitimate Jews of • Separate Swi1111ning • S1rictest RabbinicSuperuision Judaism, will make every effort to present • S/1iuri111, Lectures, and Bovs Ba is • Aerobic and Israeli !Jancing theor case. But why do they persist in • Golj:Par 72, TtN111is, Basketball. .. A1edrash Progra111 · • 20 n1i1111tes 10 Afia1ni Beach • Spectacular Buffers and Artistic Gounnet accusing Torah Jewry of things that they Cuisine themselves know are not true - that we Call (800) 379-2400 or (305) 534-2947 do not consider their members Jews, that Fax (305) 534-7825 e-mail: [email protected] excrement was thrown at the Kate( etc. etc.? As our Sages put it, "Hatred perverts DISN£Y-£PCOT CHOL HAMOED 1RIP a straight line." • 34 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 Eliyahu Mayer Protest Pays ((what do you A CHOL HAMOED scenes that some may find objection expect? After FIASCO able .... Our complaint is not that you all, we're liv screened the film, which you have every ing in galus." This is the o illustrate these right to do. Rather our complaint is that attitude many of us take points, I would you gave no warning whatsoever that the when we encounter Tlike to present film contained a scene which would affronts to our Torah excerpts from son1e per warrant a PG rating in a regular theater." standards in the larger sonal correspondence society. So when we see following a recent Chol WE WERE NOT ALONE something offensive to Hamoed outing I took our sense of decency, we with my family. Follow y family and I were not the generally look away and ing the guidelines set only Brooklyn refugees who then walk away. Our only response is to forth by The Jewish Observer ("Pre Mviewed "The Grand Canyon" shrug our shoulders, shake our heads venting a Chol Hamoed Fiasco: Practi that Chol Hamoed afternoon. At least a and mumble to ourselves, "What more cal Guidelines for Successfully Enter dozen other recognizably frum people can you expect from goyim, today?" taining Children;' March '88), I took my exited the theater together with us. l While we may have discharged our family to a museu1n in Connecticut. polled a few on their reactions. duty to ourselves by this approach, do What seemed like an educational and "Breathtaking views of the Canyon," we ever consider the impact our inac wholesome outing turned into a spiri one bearded man observed. tion is having on the next unsuspecting tual fiasco. "Unbelievable photography;' anoth Yid who may come along? We feel The museum screened \vhat was er noted. responsible to kick aside a physical billed as an "educational film" entitled, michshol (stumbling block) on the side "The Grand Canyon!' Additional details walk that may cause someone to trip and provided by the museum staff were that fall, chas v'shalom. Then why don't we the 40 minute film included breathtak feel similarly compelled to attempt to ing aerial views of the Grand Canyon. remove spiritual michsholim from the Innocently feeling secure that all was in public thoroughfare? order, we bought tickets and entered the lam not suggesting that we adopt the large-screen Imax theater. strong arm tactics of those who would The first two minutes of the film con BURIAL PLOTS resort to vandalism to make their point. tained scenes that are objectionable by IN ERETZ YISROEL But there are respectful, civil means to Torah standards, but apparently not by Interment in a Shomer Shabbos lodge protests which do not involve «educational" standards. Beis Olam near Beis Shemesh destruction of property. In my letter of protest, I included the Please phone_ or write to: Perhaps people refrain from com following:"... For a museum that is sup Chevra Oseh Chesed of Agudath Israel plaining because they feel it will be use posedly geared to families with young 84 William Street.New York, NY 10038 less. "Why bother," some might argue. children, we would have expected at least "No one is going to listen, anyway." a warning in the literature about the film ( 212) 797-9000 I believe that it pays to protest for two or from the staff that the film contains reasons. Firstly, it is possible that you will, indeed, bring about an improve ment. But even if not, you will be heard and your voice will combine with those who follow you, resulting in a cumula tive effect down the road. For careful attention to your Eliyahu Mayer, a New York-based writer, is a fre individual needs, call us today! quent contributor to these pages, most recently \vith, "First Fruits: Shavuos Musings," May '97. (914) 354-8445 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 35 "What did you think of the opening YOU CAN FIGHT CITY HALL scene?" I probed one of my interviewees. "Uh, well,. .. I guess that really was hen I got home, I couldn't unnecessary. I just closed my eyes and decide whether I was more asked my wife to let me know when it W bothered by the policy of the was safe to open them again. I think the n1useum in not providing a warning rest of the film was O.K., though:' about the film or by the attitude of my "What do you plan to do about it?" neighbor who was shrugging the whole I asked further. thing off. I decided to write a letter of "What can you do about it? Letter protest to the museum, to address the writing never helps. They do what they former, and then prepare this article to want at these places, anyway." deal with the latter. To my surprise, I received a most respectful reply which taught me that you can, indeed, fight city .------"!"1':1 hall. BCC IS EVERY GIRL'S DREAM••• The following is excerpted from the The Best Summer in Israel camping/touring program letter I received from the President of the for Frum girls ages 10-17 n1useun1: ~~~ (• ... We appreciate your input, • 6 weeks of over 22 Exciting Tours Daily Shiurim, .. ~.,~ Hiking, Climbing, Drama, Music, Dance, Arts & Crafts ,._ because it is only through comments and the "Ruach" Which is the Hallmark of the AMAZ· ~~'--#° such as yours that we can be alerted to ING BCC Program ~ ~%'/. a problem.... We have contacted the • On Campus: Waterpark, Large Pools, tt'ater Slides, ~\'°t\\ ~ SPl fttidreshes L'Mitzvos Hatluyos Baretz, Farm, Zoo, Sports S- producers of the movie, and they Fields & So Much More! ~ informed us that they received very few • Join the Hundreds of Girls who have enjoyed touring c§-" complaints since the movie opened Eretz Yisroel, with the Zelman Family since 1986. ~4 over 10 years ago; however, they have # CALL FOR INFORMATION ANO APPLICATION ~ ~ indicated that they do plan to recut the movie and remove the scenes that offended you:' During the past I 0 years, I wondered, roo yn;- how many frum people had seen this (718) 282-6350 I 941-5500 • (800) HI-BCC95 film? If every one of them had sent a ,______Directed by Zishe & D'vora Zebnan. ------' letter of protest after returning hon1e, I believe the offensive scenes would have been deleted long before this past Chol . . Hamoed . lS TYPE OF CAR OR SIMILAR 6 JAN. 91 A letter of protest not only allows you 4 APR. 91 ... to let off stean1 and express your n1oral z fLDANl1"1f1 outrage. It can also serve to protect the FIAT PUNTO 3 DR. RENT-A-CAR :J:n-n1:J A 147 Ill Clll rest of us from encountering the same B CITROEN SAXO I OPEL CORSA 196 c DAIHATSU CHARADE P.S 238 !o. spiritual pothole in a reshus harabbim c·' PEUGEOT 3061MAZDA323 P.S 266 ... Q. Ill: - a public thoroughfare. c' FORD ESCORT P.S 294 Q. Q. Of course, learning that protest pays N KIA BESTA 8 SEATS 490 :i ~ M MINIBUS 10 SEATS 630 111111 was not the only lesson to be gleaned • from my Chol Hamoed outing. I also 0 K1A PRIDE/ SUZUKY SWIFT 266 z~ OClll learned the wisdom of Shlomo Hamelech E MAZDA3231.6 P.S 31S who cautioned, "Ashrei adam mefacheid F • NISSAN ALMEAA 350 Ill°' Fortunate is the 1nan who is G • MAZDA LANTIS 434 ~ ri tan1id - K • GMC VANCURA 73S Ill Q. always fearful" (Mishlei 28, 14; see also x • CHEVROLET CAVALIER 497 :t~ Gittin SSb ). In other words, regardless XL •MAZDA626 S81 ~Ill sx • CHEVROLET LUMINA 6S8 of the assurances of the staff regarding KX • GMC SAFARI 770 -:t the content of a 1novie, a theater, even vx 'VOLV0940 721 in a museum, is never a guaranteed spir • POWER STEERING & ELECTRIC WINDOWS itually-safe venue for a Chol Hamoed outing. • 36 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 teachers came to the house (as I said, talion list? True, he cannot attend, but the shiva was in our home). being thought of, especially now, means 3. My husband is now a true yasom so much. - no parents. Would it not be a kind 4. This past Pesach, we all missed my gesture of others to go out of their way mother-in-law in shu~ where for close to to include yesomi1n on their simcha invi- 25 years, she had been a davener par excel- CORRECTION In the Readers' Forum in The Jewish Observer of December '97, the signatures on the letters on page 37 were misplaced. The letter titled "Daily Encounters" was written by Avi Lasdun of New York City, while the letter "Sharing the Glow" was penned by Mrs. M.Anteby of Brooklyn. FOR THE FINEST 623 CORTELYOU ROAD APPRECIATION FOR DR. WJKLER'S IN 1 (Off Ocean Parkway) COMFORT FOR NON-AVEILIM . , .. , . . 1111111 BROOKLYN NY 11218 To the Editor: AND VIDEO After reading Dr. Wikler's guide to USA/ISRAEL comforting non-aveilim (May '97), I (718) 941-5500 want to thank the writer for an article that I, myself, tried to put together. Hav ing recently suffered the loss of a dear mother-in-law, I felt so much of what r.------~ Dr. Wikler wrote. If I may, I would like I I to add a few points: ARE You MOVING? 1. The shiva, for various reasons was I I at my husband's and my home. I IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED I Although I and my children were not, I INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? I n"::i, aveilim, I needed to "sit" with my We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. husband as much as possible. The loss I Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and I was tremendous, and quite sudden, I computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. I and we had been very close. Many of my friends came by and spent time I I here, but others remarked afterwards I I that they were given a p'sak that if no I Affix old label here I women are "sitting," women should not pay a shiva call. I understand the I I p'sak, but should there not be some I Name ______I exceptions or accommodation - such as women calling on us to visit with the I I New Address ______~------women? I I 2. My children were very close to I City, I their Bubbee, and while some of their State, ______Zip Rebbe'im and principals came to "pay I I a shiva call," others had no representa I Date Effective ______~-- I tives. l'l":J my children were NOT aveil I Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer Change of Address I im, but they felt as if they were. One 84 William Street, New York,. NY 10038 daughter, attending a different school r Please allow 4~6 weeks for all changes to be refrected on yotir mailing label. We will not be I from the rest of my children, particu I _resporlsibfe for back issues missed unfess you notify us 6 weeks prior to your move, I larly felt dejected when not one of her - L------~ The Jewish Observer, January 1998 37 lence. If even one person would've said that the issues addressed in an article are those poskim who might rule otherwise they miss her presence, we wouldn't have real and shared by others. The above let would never prohibit women from felt she was "gone and forgotten:' ter, for example, helps to demolish the making a telephone call to the wife of A BEREAVED NON-AVEIL walls of silence and secrecy that sur a man sitting shiva. Those who chose not (NAME WITHHELD By REQUEST) round so many bereaved individuals to call you, based on the p 'sak they who feel isolated in their suffering. The received, either misapplied the p 'sak, The author responds: letter tells them that they are not alone. were too uncomfortable to speak with Most readers don't realize how much There are a few specific points raised you, or both. authors appreciate letters-to-the-editor in her letter that I would like to address: 2. The mitzva of bikkur cholim is one about their articles. Besides stroking the 1. Some poskim would allow women with which most people are much author, letters-to-the-editor serve to to pay a shiva call to a man sitting shiva, more comfortable than with nichum communicate to the readership at large under certain conditions. But even aveilim. It does not evoke the same intense awkwardness and anxiety in adults, all the more so in children. For Mozeson!Mannowski Advertising (201} 801 ·0101 these reasons, perhaps1 when a student is out sick, inost Rebbe'im in yeshivas and teachers in Bais Yaakovs will encourage the rest of the class to visit, phone and/or It h rts write. But when a student suffers a loss, and there is no structure of a shiva call, son1e niechanchim unfortunately do c miss this chinuch opportunity to teach their talmidim and talmidos the chessed of comforting the bereaved who are not aveilin1. 3. Yes, aveilim should be kept in the loop and notified of simchos in the community. Being unable to attend does not mean that an aveil should be denied the opportunity to express his niazel tov wishes. But even n1ore than • aveilim, almanos (widows) should not be forgotten when invitations are sent out. Ba' alei simcha often rely on their shul's mailing list to prepare their guest list for a chassana or a bar mitz va. Because her late husband is no longer a member of the shul often means that an almana's name does not appear on the shufs mailing list, there by taking her out of the loop of sim cha news and invitations just when she needs it the most. no 4. Many people meet bereaved indi viduals in shul, on the street, or at work after the week of shiva, and do not men The Shalom Task Force tion the loss for fear of"upsetting" them Abuse Hotline is endorsed by by "reminding them of their loss." If these people realized how much suffer leading Orthodox Rabbonim. ing they cause by ignoring the loss, they Confidential Hotline would offer some words of acknowl 718 337 3700 edgment-words that actually comfort Do it for yourself. Collect calls accepted. the bereaved more than they realize. Do it for your children. Finally, since the publication of my article, many formerly bereaved people 38 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 have approached me in person or by phone telling me how much they agreed with what I wrote and how the article validated their own experiences and feel ings, all of which illustrates the words of Chaza/, "Ein chacham k'baal nisayon - There is no wise person like one with a personal experience"(Mi/ei D'Avos !Ob). fOr information on May we soon merit the time when no obtaining cemetery plots in one will suffer mourning, as "\Ve see the Eretz Hachalm Beth Shemesh fulfillment of the prophecy of Yeshayahu Har Menuchoth - Har Hoze1s1m (25,8): He will destroy death forever; And 011-972-2-641-1923 the Eternal G-d will wipe away tears from all faces .... MEIR WIKLER, D.S.W. Subscribe or give a gift of Digest of Meforshim The Jewish Observer 'V1ji? in::i 'V1ji? ?·::n ivv'm 'mir.iw l"'11i'll:l Available at and $ave! 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LS.A. or by HS.·I or \foel(•r{ar -----"----- The Jewish Observer, January 1998 39 •-==>-,DTC> Uri I !:.I.Ill 11-.C (t;, The 84 WilliamNational Street/NYC Headquarters 10038ai:==:~======of Agudath Israel of America Saying ''Y.E.S.'' to Our Disaffected Youth New Agudath Israel Enrichment/Employment Program to Assist "Out of Yeshiva" Orthodox Teens hough the proliferation of teen Orthodox Jewish youth who are, for a of successful work experience,'' Rabbi aged Orthodox "underachievers" variety of reasons, not enrolled in any Horowitz relates, "these youngsters take Thas long been a source of deep con educational institution. their lives as Jews, their employment cern to Orthodox Jewish leaders - and In many cases, all that is needed to responsibilities and their studies seri families - across the country, the topic allow teens to resume productive yeshi ously." They learn not only to manage has swiftly moved to the community's va or Bais Yaakov careers is individual the money they make, he explains, but front-burner over the past year or so. ized guidance for them and their par the value of time - and, above all, of First there was Rabbi Yakov ents. And where family or individual personal responsibility. Horowitz's series of eye-opening articles professional counseling is deemed on the topic in The Jewish Observer, then appropriate, Y.E.S. will provide referrals. Not Just a New York Phenomenon his addresses on the issue at a Torah In other situations, though, a youngster hough the largest number of Un1esorah national convention and, may be not equipped or able to assume "out of yeshiva" Jewish teens is in along with Dr. Yaakov Salomon, at last a full-day educational regimen. "Such Tthe Greater New York area- esti year's Agudath Israel national conven young people,'' explains Rabbi mated in excess of one thousand - tion. The sheer number of responses to Horowitz, "are often shuffled from there are young men and women in both the articles and the addresses, not yeshiva to yeshiva, not only severely tax need of options like those Project Y.E.S. to mention the urgency of their tone, ing the resources and attention of will provide in many Jewish communi were unmistakable indications that a res devoted mechanchim, but adding to the ties. Agudath Israel has therefore issued onant chord had been struck in the youths' feelings of inadequacy and frus a call for qualified volunteer couples - com1nunity. tration - hardly a recipe for their suc both within New York and surrounding At this year's Agudath Israel con cess as Jewish adults." Major calamities areas as well as in communities across vention, the challenge of Orthodox - diminished Jewish observance, alien the country - to serve as counselors youth unenrolled in yeshiva was the ation from family, even substance abuse and contact persons for the central Pro focus of one of the Friday morning - can all too easily follow. "And the ject Y.E.S. headquarters in Monsey. "roundtable forums" as well, and words most effective point of intervention;' he Rabbi Horowitz is currently meeting turned to concrete action with the stresses, "is as soon as the youth is no with local Rabbanim and lay leaders in announcement that Rabbi Horowitz, longer attending yeshiva. The passage a variety of communities to enlist their who serves as Menahel of Yeshiva of mere weeks or even days can invaluable assistance as well. A hotline Darchei Noam (Monsey), will be head immensely complicate things." has been set up to enable parents and ing a major new Agudath Israel endeav In many cases, he goes on to explain, teens to confidentially discuss sensitive or: "Project Y.E.S.". Respected Roshei specialized part-time educational pro issues with mechanchim and other pro Yeshiva had urged both Rabbi Horowitz gramming - a mentor for a young fessionals. Additional details are expect and Agudath Israel to create a means of woman, or a night-time shiur and ed to be forthcoming in coming weeks. addressing the situation, and - with the chavrusa for a young man - is the most Once a cadre of volunteer counselors help of community activists Shia effective option. At times, the addition is established, Rabbi Horowitz explains, Markowitz, Richard Schuster and of a day-time work setting, with a car a training seminar will be held for them, Moshe Hertz - Project Y.E.S. emerged. ing Jewish employer who can also dou to ensure that they are adequately pre ble as mentor, can produce astounding pared for the work that lies ahead of The Meaning Behind Y.E.S. results, both emotionally and educa them. Presenters will include leading he words behind the acronym - tionally. "Sometimes,'' says Mr. mechanchim, mental health profession "Youth Enrichment Services" - Markowitz, "a job in a stable enviorn als, and youth counseling experts. Twell capture the positive and ment can be all that is needed to help The special Hotline number is 718- enthusiastic tone of the project, which save a kid." 375-3900; Mon.-Thurs., 12noon-4pm; aims to provide a number of options to "After mere months, or even weeks, Sun.-Thurs., 9pm-llpm. • 40 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 Your Source for Judaic Software Presents Tl Perfect for.. The Ultimate ,. f)af Y(nni Participant "'1)cglnning Student uf T:.t!rnud Interactive "''tv1aggid Shiur "'(:ort1111Unit•{ ll;_1y "'t\dvanccd Student "Bar ?vlitzvah Multimedia Tool "'Classroorn H.cbbe "'i\n'/one v:hu loves ~ft)rah~ for Talmud Study FEATURES... •CLEAR .. CONCISE. .. 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'97; For Views/Rabbi Hillel Belsky, Mar. '97; The Ran1- Daf'Yomi Love of Learning/Dr. Jacob Mern1elstein, Oct. ifications of Selectionism and Rejectionism/ '97; A Fusion of the Jew and Torah (S.H.)/Rabbi Rabbi Yechezkal Zweig, Mar. '97: Arguing in the review notes Yaakov Perlow(Novominsker Rebbe), Nov. '97; Alternative/Chaim David Zwiebel, Sumn1er in binder on Fiery Enthusiasm, Uninterrupted Dedication '97. (S.H.)/Rabbi Mechel Silber, Nov. '97; From Many Insularity The Best of Times, The Worst of Mesechtas Brochos Stones, A United Platform For Divine Service Times/Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller, Summer'97. $10 (S.H.)/Rabbi Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld (Mat Integrity The Crisis is Now~ II/Rabbi Aaron Braf tesdorfer Rav), Nov. '97; A Golden Fraine For man, Su1n1ner'97; Did You Conduct Your Busi Free copv if you subscribe Diverse Gems (S.H.)/Rabbi Levi Yitzchok ness Affairs VVith Faith?/Rabbi Avrohom Pam, Horowitz (Bostoner Rebbe), Nov. '97; Under Summer '97; The Yeshiva Graduate's Obliga now to our ongoing scoring the Purpose of Our Peoplehood tion/Rabbi Avrohom Pam, Summer '97; The DafYomi Review Newsletter (S.H.)/Rabbi Yaakov \Veinberg, Nov. '97; Gird Designs of Providence/Rabbi Avrohom Pam, for $25 ing Oneself With Strength and Glory Summer '97; After the Churban: Being Judged (S.H.)/Rabbi Yosef Harari-Raful, Nov. '97; A.5 Reb by the Martyrs/Rabbi E!ya Svei, Summer '97; The Yeshiva Fund Meir Simcha Would Have Appreciated This Mandate to Promote Kiddush Sheim Shamay Gathering (S.H.)/Rabbi Elya Svei, Nov. '97; The im!Rabbi Elya Svei, Summer '97; T'hei Sheim Box 82 Radiance of Resolution to Learn (S.H.)/Rabbi Shamayim Afisaheiv al Yadecha/Rabbi Yaakov Staten Island, NY 10309 Avrohom Pam, Nov. '97; A Torah Scroll of Ded Perlow, Sum1ner '97; Zealous Representation icated Jews (S.H.)/Rabbi Shn1uel Halberstam Within Halachic Parameters/Rabbi Yaakov (Klausenberger Rebbe), Nov. '97; The Legacy of Weinberg, Summer '97; Glimpses into the Rabbi tvteir Shapiro"?"~ (S.H.)/Rabbi Yissachar Character of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky n:iu7 Frand, Nov. '97; Wiping Away Hashem's ·rear j71U TJT/ Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Summer '97; The Jewish (S.H.)/Rabbi Mattisyahu Salomon, Nov. '97; Ish Ha'emes: The Man of Unimpeachable Chanukah and "The Little Jew"/Yaakov Shlomo Integrity: Rabbi Shin1on Schwab n:i1:1? j7'1:i Community VVeinberg, Dec. '97; Short-Term Gifts/Rabbi UT/Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Summer '97; Avrohom Y. Stone, Dec. '97. Taking Stock And Looking Ahead/Hillel Gold Council History Books: Yesterday, Today and Forever/Rabbi berg, Summer'97; The Beis Din in America: The Joseph Elias,Sept,'97;An Unsung Hero-Rabbi Idyllic Depictions vs. The Facts on the of Montreal (MK) Moshe Menachem Mende! Spivak 1~"n/Rabbi Ground/Alfred Cohen, Sept. '97; Readers' has opening for Eliezer Katzman, Oct. '97; Books: Nor the Moon Forum: Of Integrity and Kiddush Sheim EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR by Night/Pessie Novick, Dec. '97. Shamayim, Dec. '97. Ideology An Ideology of Activism/Rabbi Moshe Introspection and Self Improvement "Nekudas must have administrative experience Sherer, Sumtner '97; Agudath Israel's Future: ls Habechira and Free Will" Revisited - A Clar and knowledge of Kashrus There One Without an Ideology?/Rabbi Joseph ification/Rabbi Naftali Elzas, Mar. '97; Author's Elias, Summer '97. Clarification: Facing Up to Invalid Rationaliza Please reply to: Image The Crisis is Now - II/Rabbi Aaron Braf tions/Rabbi Matis Roberts, tviar. '97; Def Auf Search Committee man, Summer'97; Did You Conduct Your Busi stieg. Dr. Nathan Birnbaum ?-Yt,Ascent andAgu ness Affairs With Faith?/Rabbi Avrohom Pam, dah/Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhoier, May '97. 1085 St. Alexandre, Suite 400 Summer '97; The Yeshiva Graduate's Obliga Israel Buying Tomatoes in Jerusalem/Leah Oriel, Apr. Montreal,QC CANADA H2Z 1 P4 tion/Rabbi Avrohom Pam, Summer '97; The '97; Books: Landscape of the Spirit: The Cities of fAJ<, (514) 393-8120 Designs of Providence/Rabbi Avrohom Pam, Eretz Yisroel in Jewish Thought/Rabbi Nesanel Summer '97; After the Churban: Being Judged Kasnett, May'97; New Torah Cities in Eretz Yis by the Niartyrs/Rabbi Elya Svei, Summer'97; The roel Today/Zev Roth, Summer '97; Titchad tvlandate to Promote Kiddush Sheim Shamay shi!Sarah Shapiro, Sept. '97. im/Rabbi Elya Svei, Summer '97; T'hei Sheim Israel: Education A New Jewish School Nen.vork NOTICE OF Shamayim Misaheiv al Yadecha/Rabbi Yaakov in Israel/Rabbi Adam Winston, :t..1ay'97. NON-DISCRIMINATORY Perlow, Sumtner '97; Zealous Representation Israel: Ideology New Strategies For Survival (by Yis V1/ithin Halachic Parameters/Rabbi Yaakov roel Spiegel) (trans!ation)/Rabbi Moshe Kolod POLICY AS TO STUDENTS ny, Feb. '97. Weinberg, Summer '97; Gli1npses into the The Ner Israel Rabbinical College Character of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzkv n:rr.i? Israel: Politics Why Should We Care About the Con j71U'"OT/ Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, Summer'97; The version Law?/Yonason Rosenblum, Dec. '97. admits qualified men of the Jewish faith !sh Ha'emes: The Man of Unimpeachable Israel: Religion Dateline: Time for JEWISH Peace of any race, color, national and ethnic Integrity: Rabbi Shimon Schwab ;oi:i? i7'U in Israel/Rabbi Avi Shafran, Feb. '97; A New Jew ong1n, to all of the rights, UT/Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Summer '97; ish School Network in Israel/Rabbi Adam Win privileges, programs and activities gen The Best of Times, The Worst of Times/Rabbi ston, May '97; It Happened on Shavuos/Yona erally accorded or made available to stu Chaim Dov Ketler, Summer '97; Priorities for the son Rosenblum, Summer '97; The Big Black dents at the school. It does not dis Uncertain Future/Berel Wein, Summer '97; A Wolf/Rabbi Fyvel Shuster, Oct. '97; A Treasure criminate on the basis of race, color, Seventy-Five Year Reversal of Extren1es/Nathan Lost... An Appreciation of Rabbi Moshe Arye Lewin, Summer '97; Making the Most of Our Freund n:iu? J7'1Y i:it/Pinchos Osher Rohr, national and ethnic origin in- the Blessings/ Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz Oct. '97; VVhy Should We Care About the Con administration of its educational poli (Bostoner Rebbe), Summer '97; Reaching Out version Law?/Yonason Rosenblum, Dec. '97. (See cies, admissions policies, scholarship Over Barriers/Rabbi Yisroel Miller, Summer '97; Festivals.) and loan programs, and athletic and other Surviving in the lv1edia: The Next Quarter Cen Israel: Terrorism Titchadshi/Sarah Shapiro, Sept. '97. school-administered programs. tury/Dr. Aaron Twerski, Sun1mer'97; Chal!enges Jews in Australia View From "Down Under"/Rabbi For a Favored Generation/Rabbi Nosson Scher- !vfoshe Yudkowsky, Nov. '97; The Technical The Jewish Observer, January 1998 43 Aspect in Melbourne/Ezra Abrahain, Nov. '97. Materialism Plastic Frames/Anonyinous, Feb. '97; Personalities Def Aufstieg: Dr. Nathan Birnbaum Jews in Europe The Shu/ in Tiktin/Chaim Shapiro, Yearning to be Free: A Personal Approach to the 7~::ll, Ascent and Agudah/Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Mar. '97; Novaradok to .... Paris: Rabbi Gershon Festival of Freedom/Rabbi Matis Roberts, Apr. Bechhofer, May'97; An Unsung Hero-Rabbi Liebnian 7·~/by Joseph Friedenson, Sorah '97; Affluence or Attitude (PS)/Rabbi Shimon Moshe Menachem Mendel Spivak T>"n/Rabbi Shapiro (translation), Chaim Shapiro, Dec. '97. Finkelman, Apr. '97; Greater Resources, Greater Eliezer Katzman, Oct. '97; A Treasure Lost. .. An Jews in Israel "Great Chasm" Separated Jews from Accountability/Mrs. Judith Bleich, Summer Appreciation of Rabbi Moshe Arye Freund Jews, Too"... " (WI & W10 Cominent)/ Y.A. Judel '97; Readers' Forum, Sept. 97. rou7 J7'1::l i:>t/Pinchos Osher Rohr, Oct. '97; son, Apr. '97; A Treasure Lost .. An Appreciation Media From Station to Station (SL)/Akiva David Novaradok to .... Paris: Rabbi Gershon Liebman of Rabbi Moshe Arye Freund iC1:17j?'l"r.l i:n/Pin sen, Feb. '97; The Voice of Jacob (transla 7"~/Joseph Friedenson, Sarah Shapiro (trans chos Osher Rohr, Oct. '97. tion)/Sorah Shapiro, Mar. '97; The Best of Times, lation), Chaim Shapiro, Dec. '97. Jews in Russia A Pit Full of Emptiness/Rabbi Moshe The Y../orst of Times/Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller, Pluralism Dateline: Time for JE\"/ISH Peace in Eisemann, Mar. '97. Su1nmer '97; Priorities for the Uncertain Israel/Rabbi Avi Shafran, Feb. '97; "Great Jews in USA Shiur Terror: Saying the Daily Future/Bere! Wein, Su1nmer '97; Reaching Out Chasin" Separated Jews fron1 Jews, Too"... " (WI Daf/Rabbi Avrohom Y. Stone, Sept. '97; Lenny Over Barriers/Rabbi Yisroel Miller, Summer '97; & W/O Comment)/ Y.A. Judelson, Apr. '97; and the Chassid/Aryeh Rodin, Oct. '97; Report Surviving in the Media: The Next Quarter Cen Putting the "U" Back in UJNRabbi Moshe Sher From Boston: Hook-up to the Hospital... and tury/Dr.Aaron Twerski, Summer'97; Taking the er, Apr. '97; It Happened on Shavuos/Yonason Beyond (S.H.)/Dr. Yitzchok Perle, Nov. '97; Prize (SL)/Rabbi Avi Shafran, Sept. '97. Rosenblum, Sum1ner'97; Why Should We Care Report From Chicago: The Unexpected Happens Miztva Observance The Chevra Kaddisha!Andrea About the Conversion Law?/Yonason Rosen (S.H.)/Rabbi Berish Cardash, Nov. '97; Report Sommerstein, Mar. '97; Simcha' dikSearch/Mrs. blum, Dec. '97. From Pittsburgh: A New Din1ension of Jewish Ruby Grossblatt,Apr. '97; A Layman's Guide to Poetry Perspectives/Bracha Druss Goetz, Feb. 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'97; Orthodoxy Priorities A Torah Nation/Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin, Why Three Days Before Rosh Hashana? and Feminism: How Promising a Shidduch?I Su1nmer '97; Today's Drean1s For Tomorrow's (S.H.)/Dr. Bartha Nelkin, Nov. '97; Report Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, Apr. '97; Orthodoxy's Fulfillment/Rabbi J. David Bleich, Summer'97; From Cleveland: A View From the Other Side Move to the Right (Readers' Forum), Apr. '97. And the Fourth ... Shall Return/Rabbi Yaakov (S.H.)/Sarah Spero, Nov. '97; Report Fro1n the Music Putting the "Music" Into Jewish Music/David Feitman, Summer '97; Back to Basics/Rabbi Garden (S.H.)/Dr. Charles Libicki, Nov. '97. N. Golding, May '97; More on Jewish Music Shmuel Bloom, Summer '97; Agudath Israel's Journalism The Voice of Jacob/Rabbi Shlomo (Readers' Forun1), Nov. '97. Future: Is There One Without an Lorencz, Sorah Shapiro (translation), Mar. '97; Mussar Novaradok to .... Paris: Rabbi Gershon Ideology?/Rabbi Joseph Elias, Sumn1er '97. Taking the Prize (SL)/Rabbi Avi Shafran, Sept. Liebman 7"~/Joseph Friedenson, Sarah Shapiro Psychology "Nekudas Habechira and Free Will" '97. (translation), Chain1 Shapiro, Dec. '97. Revisited-A Clarification/Rabbi Naftoli Elzas, Kashrus Today's Dreains For Tomorrow's Fulfill Narrative Just a Slight Adjustment of Focus/Mrs. Mar. '97. ment/Rabbi J. David Bleich, Sun1n1er '97. Sarah Shapiro, Feb. '97; Rachel's Tears/Mrs. Ellen Publicity The Best of Tin1es, The Worst of Kiddush Sheini Shamayim Frain Rosh Hashana Katz Silvers, Feb. '97; Buying Tomatoes in Tin1es/Rabbi Chai111 Dov Keller, Sun1mer '97. Judgment to Yorn Kippur Forgiveness/Rabbi Jerusalem/Leah Oriel, Apr. '97; ShiurTerror: Say Radio From Station to Station (SL)/Akiva David Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Oct. '97. ing the Daily Daf;Rabbi Avrohom Y. Stone, Sept. sen, Feb. '97. Kohanim In Search of the Kohein Gene (SL)/Rabbi '97; Titchadshi/Sarah Shapiro, Sept. '97; Same Reform "Great Chasm" Separated Jews from Jews, Nissan Wolpin, Feb. '97. Night, Another Venue/Anonymous, Nov. '97; Too"... " (WI & WIO Com1nent)/ Y.A. Judelson, Kotellt Happened on Shavuos/Yonason Rosenblum, Short-Term Gifts/Rabbi Avrohon1 Y. Stone, Dec. Apr. '97; Taking the Prize (SL)/Rabbi Avi Summer'97; Lenny and the Chassid!RabbiAryeh '97. Shafran, Sept '97; Why Should We Care About Rodin, Oct. '97. Neutrality Neutrality: The Changing View Fron1 the Conversion Law/Yonason Rosenblum, Dec. K'vod Shamayim The Crisis is Now - II/Rabbi Switzerland {SL)/Rabbi Nisson \"/olpin, Sept. '97. '97. Aaron Brafman, Summer'97; Did You Conduct Orthodoxy Taking the Prize (SL)/Rabbi Avi Shafran, Science Books: Not By Chance, the Fall ofNeo-Dar Your Business Affairs With Faith?/Rabbi Avro Sept. '97. winian Theory/Rabbi Joseph Elias, Mar. '97; hom Pam, Summer '97; The Yeshiva Graduate's Outreach The Rabbi Stayed Home For Melave Books: Our Amazing World!Yisroel Hisiger, Mar. Obligation/Rabbi Avrohom Pam, Summer '97; Malka/Anonymous, Feb. '97; And the Fourth ... '97; Much Ado About Cloning (SL)/Rabbi Avi The Designs of Providence/Rabbi Avrohom Shall Return/Rabbi Yaakov Feitn1an, Summer Shafran, Apr. '97. Pan1, Sun1mer '97; After the Churban: Being '97; Making the Most of Our Blessings/Rabbi Shidduchim Orthodox Continuity is Not Threatened Judged by the Nlartyrs/Rabbi Elya Svei, Summer Levi Yitzchok Horowitz (Bostoner Re&be), by Intermarriage/Rabbi David Weinberger, '97; The Mandate to Promote Kiddush Sheim Summer '97; Reaching Out Over Barriers/Rabbi Oct. '97. Shaniayim!Rabbi Elya Svei, Sun1mer '97; T'hei Yisroel Miller, Summer '97; An Agenda For Simchos Readers' Foru1n, Sept. 97. Sheim Shamayim Misaheiv al Yadecha/Rabbi Reaching Out With Inner Strength/Rabbi Noach Singles Orthodox Continuity is Not Threatened by Yaakov Perlow, Sun1mer '97; Zealous Repre Orlowek, Summer '97; The Big Black Intermarriage/Rabbi Dovid Weinberger, Oct. '97. sentation Within Halachic Parameters/Rabbi Wolf/Rabbi Fyvel Shuster, Oct. '97; Reversing the Siyum HaShas The Many Roads to the Moun Yaakov Weinberg, Summer '97; Glin1vses into Statistics, One Jew at a Time/Rabbi Yehudah Sil tain/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Nov. '97; A Fusion the Character of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky~ ver, Oct. '97. of the Jew and Torah/Rabbi Yaakov j7'U"1::>t/ Rabbi Nissan Wolpin, Summer'97; The Parenting Just a Slight Adjustment of Focus/Mrs. Perlow(Novominsker Rebbe), Nov. '97; Fiery lsl1 Ha'emes: The Man of Unimpeachable Sarah Shapiro, Feb. '97; Plastic Frames/Anony Enthusiasm, Uninterrupted Dedication/Rabbi Integrity: Rabbi Shin1on Schwab n:ro7 J7'1::l mous, Feb. '97; "Make Them Known to Your Mechel Silber, Nov. '97; Fron1 Many Stones, A i:>t/Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Klugman, Sumn1er '97; Children and to Your Children's United Platform For Divine Service/Rabbi Sim Challenges For a Favored Generation/Rabbi Nas Children"/Rabbi Myer Schwab, Apr. '97; A Par cha Bunin1 Ehrenfeld (Mattesdorfer Rav), Nov. son Schennan, Summer '97; Readers' Foru111: Of ent's Agony/ Anonymous, Apr. '97; A Pound of '97; A Golden Frame For Diverse Gen1s/Rabbi Integrity and Kiddush Sheim Shamayim, Dec. '97. Cure (PS)/Rabbi Reuven Zev Schwartz, Apr. '97; Levi Yitzchok Horowitz (Bostoner Rebbe), Nov. Law The Orthodox Jew in the \"lorkplace -A Legal Affluence or Attitude (PS)/Rabbi Shi1non '97; Underscoring the Purpose of Our People Perspective/Abba Cohen, Feb. '97. Finkelman, Apr. '97. hood/Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg, Nov. '97; Gird- ··~·~~-~--·---·~· ------44 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 ing Oneself With Strength and Glory/Rabbi Yosef Teshuva From Rosh Hashana Judgment to Yorn Kip Brafman, Rabbi Aaron The Crisis is Now- II, Sum Harari-Raful, Nov. '97; As Reb Meir Simcha pur Forgiveness/Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Klugman, mer '97. \Vould Have Appreciated This Gathering/Rabbi Oct. '97. Braunfeld, Yoseph M. A Layn1an's Guide to a Din Elya Svei, Nov. '97; The Radiance of Resolution Teshuva Movement See Outreach Torah, Mav '97. to Learn/Rabbi Avrohom Pam, Nov. '97;A Torah Torah Dissemination A Torah Nation/Rabbi Yitz Bursztyn, Rabbi Yoe! Knowing When and \\.'here to Scroll of Dedicated Tews/Rabbi Shmuel Hal chok Sorotzkin, Sumn1er '97; New Technolog Draw the Line, 1\1ar. '97. berstain (Klausenberger Rebbe), Nov. '97; The ical Frontiers in Dialing the Daj?Rabbi Eli Teit Cardash, Rabbi Berish Report From Chicago: The Legacy of Rabbi Meir Shapiro ?"::Z?/Rabbi Yis elbaum, Sept. '97. Unexpected Happens (S.H.), Nov. '97. sachar Frand, Nov. '97; Wiping Away Hashem's Torah Study For Love of Learning/Dr. Jacob Mer Carmell, Rabbi Avraham Chaim Books: The Man Tear/Rabbi Mattisyahu Salomon, Nov. '97; melstein, Oct. '97; Shas (&More) Literally on chester Rosh Yeshiva, Sept. '97. Report From Boston: Hook-up to the Hospital... Your Fingertips/Yaakov Astor, Oct. '97; The Cohen, Abba The Orthodox Jew in the Workplace and Beyond/Dr. Yitzchok Perle, Nov. '97; Report Other DafYomi. ../Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer, - A Legal Perspective, Feb. '97. From Chicago: The Unexpected Happens/Rabbi Nov. '97. (See Siyum Hashas.) Cohen, Alfred The Beis Din in America: The Idyl Berish Cardash, Nov. '97; Report From Pitts Translation New Strategies For Survival (by Yisroel lic Depictions vs. The Facts on the Ground, Sept. burgh: A New Dimension of Jewish Life!Yisroel Spiegei)/Rabbi Moshe Kolodny, Feb. '97; The '97. Pfeffer, Nov. '97; Report From lvJontreal,A Voice Voice of 1acob/Sorah Shapiro, Mar. '97; Davidsen,Akiva From Station to Station (SL), Feb. From Lublin/Rabbi Nosson Guggenheim, Nov. Novaradok to .... Paris: Rabbi Gershon Liebman '97. '97; Report From Los Angeles/Rabbi Chai1n Fas ?·::nf1oseph Friedenson, Sorah Shapiro (trans~ Dessler, Rabbi Eliyahu "Nekudas Habechira and Free man, Nov. '97; Report From Portland, Oregon: lation), Chaim Shapiro, Dec. '97. Will" Revisited -A Clarification, Mar. '97. Beyond Anyone's VVi!dest Dreams/Rabbi World War II Novaradok to .... Paris: Rabbi Gershon Eckstein, Binyomin Books: Facing Adversity \Vith Leonard Oppenheimer, Nov. '97; View from Liebman ?~~t/Jospeh Friedenson, Chaim Faith, Apr. '97. "Down Under"/Rabbi Moshe Yudkowsky, Nov. Shapiro, Sorah Shapiro (translation) Dec. '97. Ehrenfeld, Rabbi Simcha Bunim (Mattesdorfer Rav) '97; Report From Baltin1ore: Why Three Days Women Orthodoxy and Feminism: How Promis Froin Many Stones, A United Platform For Before Rosh Hashana?/Dr. Bartha Ne!kin, Nov. ing a Shidduch?/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin and Levi Divine Service (S.H.), Nov. '97. '97; Report Fro1n Cleveland: A View From the Reisman, Apr. '97. Eisemann, Rabbi Moshe A Pit Full of Emptiness, Other Side/Sarah Spero, Nov. '97; Report Fron1 Workplace The Orthodox Tew in the Workplace Mar. '97. the Garden/Dr. Charles Libicki, Nov. '97; To the A Legal Perspective/Abba Cohen. Feb. '97. Elias, Rabbi Joseph Books: Not By Chance, the Fall Editor: Yours Truly, A Maggid Shiur/ Anon}1nous, Yerushal111i The Other Daf Yonti .. .!Rabbi Yosef of Neo-Darwinian Theory, tvfar. '97; Agudath Nov. '97; San1e Night, Another Venue/Anony Gavriel Bechhofer, Nov. '97. Israel's Future: Is There One Without an Ideol mous, Nov. '97; Report From a Man of Yeshivos Is There Really a Crisis in the Kolle! Com ogy?, Sumn1er '97; Books: Yesterday, Today and Enhanced Vision/Dr. Leslie Bennett, Nov. '97; munity?/Chaim Kuperwasser, Oct. '97; f"orever, Sept, '97. The Technical Aspect in lvfelbourne/Ezra Abra Novaradok to .... Paris: Rabbi Gershon Liebn1an Elzas, Rabbi Naftoli "Nekudas Habechira and Free ham, Nov. '97. 7"~T/1oseph Friedenson, Chaim Shapiro (trans Will" Revisited -A Clarification, Ivfar. '97. Social Comment Orthodoxy's Move to the lation by Sorah Shapiro), Dec. '9i. Fasman, Rabbi Chaim Report From Los Angeles Right/Rabbi Nisson \Volpin, Feb. '97; Plastic Zionism New Strategies For Survival (by Yisroel (S.H.), Nov. '97. Frames/Anonymous, Feb. '97; Not to the Fleet Spiegel) (translation)/Rabbi Moshe Kolodny, Feitman, Yaakov And the Fourth ... Shall Return, is the Race/Avie Saffire, Feb. '97; Froin Station Feb. '97. Sun1mer '97. to Station (SL)/Akiva Davidsen, Feb. '97; Fire Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon Affluence or Attitude Drill/Rabbi Shneur Aisenstark, Mar. '97; The Lab (PS), Ape. '97. and the Safety Yard - Two Views/Rabbi Hillel Frand, Rabbi Yissachar The Legacy of Rabbi Nieir Belsky, ;\Jar. '97; Knowing \Vhen and \Vhere to AUTHORS Shapiro ?";:n (S.H.), Nov. '97. Draw the Line/Rabbi Yoe! Bursztyn, N1ar. '97; Friedenson, Mr. Joseph Novaradok to.. Paris: Contemporary Chin11chl!v1rs. Rochel Spector, Abraham, Ezra The Technical Aspect in Mel Rabbi Gershon Liebman ?"YT, Dec. '97. tv1ar. '97; The Ramifications of Selectionism and bourne (S.H.), Nov. '97. Goetz, Bracha Druss Perspectives (poem), Feb. '97; Rejectionism/Rabbi Yechezke! Zweig, J'v1ar. '97; Aisenstark, Rabbi Shneur Fire Drill, !vlar. '97. My Back Yard 13.!ks Back (poen1), lv1ar. '97; Orthodoxy and Feminism: How Promising a Anonymous The Rabbi Stayed Home For i\1elave Mommy (poem), Dec. '97. Shidduch?/Rabbi Nisson \Volpin and Levi Reis A1alka, Feb. '97; Plastic Frames, Feb. '97; A Par Goldberg, Hillel Taking Stock And Looking Ahead, man, Apr. '97; A Parent's Agony/Anony1nous, ent's Agony, Apr. '97; Toras Emes. A True Sumn1er '97. Apr. '97; Affluence or Attitude (PS)/Rabbi Shi Siyun1?, !VIay '97; An Observer's Coinmcnt Golding, Dovid N. Putting the "i\1usic" Into 1ew mon Finkelman, Apr. '97; Orthodoxy's !vfove to (S.H.), Nov. '97; To the Editor: Yours Truly, A ish Iv1usic, May '97. the Right (Readers' Forun1), Apr. '97; Maggid Shiur (S.H.), Nov. '97; Same Night, Gordon, Chanan (Antony) Numbers Speak Loud Lchavdil!Mrs. Aviva Minsk, !v1ay '97; Readers' Another Venue (Siyum HaShas), Nov. '97. er Than \Vords, May '97. Foru1n, Sept. 97; The Big Black \Vo!f/Rabbi Fyvel Astor, Yaakov Shas (&More) Literal!y on Your Fin Grossblatt, Mrs. Ruby Simcha' dik Search, Apr. '97. Shuster, Oct. '97; Orthodox Continuity is Not gertips, Oct. '97. Guggenheim, Rabbi Nosson Report Fr01n Montreal, Threatened by Intennarriage/Rabbi Dovid Bechhofer, Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Def Aufstieg:. Dr. A Voice From Lublin (S.H.), Nov. '97. V\1einberger, Oct. '97; lviore on Tewish Music Nathan Birnbaum •.,.'::n,Ascent andAgudah, May Halberstam, Rabbi Shmuel (Klausenberger Rebbe) (Readers' Forum), Nov. '97; Letters to the Edi '97; The Other DafYomi. .. , Nov. '97. A Torah Scroll of Dedicated fews (S.H.), Nov. tor, Dec. '97. Becker, Rabbi Labish Books: Tefillin: The Inside Story, '97. Suffering The Crisis is Now- II/Rabbi Aaron Braf Feb. '97. Harari-Raful, Rabbi Yosef Girding Oneself With n1an, Summer '97. Belsky, Rabbi Hillel The Lab and the Safety Yard - Strength and Glory (S.H.), Nov. '97. Switzerland Neutrality: The Changing View From Two Views, J\1ar. '97. Hisiger, Yisroel Books: Our Amazing World, Mar. '97. Switzerland (SL)/Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Sept. '97. Bennett, Dr. Leslie Report From a Man of Enhanced Horowitz, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok (Bostoner Rebbe) UJA Putting the "U" Back in UJA/Rabbi Moshe Sher Vision (S.H.), Nov. '97. er, Apr. '97. Berner, Rabbi Adam A Non-Adversial Approach to i1D7'V 7'7!JI1i171 i1r.J7'? NJ Technology New Technological Frontiers in Dial Divorce (letters), Mar. '97. i1Hl~l7 i7~il "T)):J. ing the DajlRabbi Eli Teitelbaum, Sept. '97; Shas Bleich, Rabbi J. David Today's Dreams For Tomor (&More) Literally on Your Fingertips/Yaakov row's Fulfillment, Sun1mer '97. i1r.l7\?J 7N,\?J' 0''T1 Astor, Oct. '97. Bleich, Mrs. Judith Greater Resources, Greater Tefilla Not to the Fleet is the Race/Avie Saffire, Feb. Accountability, Summer '97. '"l ,,, i1,'\?J 1:i '97. Bloom, Rabbi Shmuel Back to Basics, Summer'97. o~nv ~nn1 1~1~w The Jewish Observer, January 1998 45 N1aking the Most of Our Blessings, Sun11ncr '97; Another View (PS), Su1n1ner '97. Susholz, Mrs. Bail a A Still, Small Voice (poe1n ), Dec. A Golden Fran1e For Diverse Gems (S.H.), Nov. Roberts, Rabbi Matis Yearning to be Free: A Per '97; If\!Ve l'vterit? {poe1n), Dec. '97. '97. sonal Approach to the Festival of Freedo1n, Apr. Stone, Rabbi Avrohom Y. Shiur Terror: Saying the Horowitz, Richard M. Nun1bers Speak Louder Than '97. Daily Daf, Sept. '97; "Seek Peace and Pursue It," V\'ords, May '97. Rodin, Aryeh Lenny and the C/wssid, Oct. '97 Oct. '97; Short-Tern1 Gifts, Dec. '97. Horowitz, Rabbi Yakov A Pound of Cure (PS), Apr. Rohr, Pinchos Osher A Treasure Lost.. An Svei, Rabbi Elya After the Clwrlwn: Being Judged '97. Appreciation of Rabbi Iv1oshe Arye Freund by the Martyrs, Su1n1ner '97; The Mandate to Judelson, Y.A. 'Great Chasn1' Separated Jews from n::ii::i.7 p-.u i:ir, Oct. '97. Protnote Kiddush Slwim Sliamayim, Smnn1er'97; Jews, 1bo "... " (\V/ &\V/O Com1nent),Apr. '97. Rosenblum, Yonason It Happened on Shavuos, As Reb Meir Si111cha Would Have Appreciated Kasnett, Rabbi Nesanel Books: Landscape of the Spir Su1nn1er '97; Why Should \Ve Care About the This Gathering (S.H.), Nov. '97. it: The Cities of Eretz Yisroel in ]ewisl1 Thought, Conversion Law?, Dec. '97. Teitelbaum, Rabbi Eli New Technological Frontiers Ntay '97; Books: The Future Festival: Laws, Tra Roth, Zev New Torah Cities in Eretz Yisroel Today, in Dialing the Daf, Sept. '97. dition and Cus10111s of the Three \Vee ks, Ivtay '97; Sept. '97. Twerski, Dr. Aaron Surviving in the Media: The Next Books: Shaarei Oralt: A Definitive Rendition of Saffire,Avie Not to the Fleet is the Race, Feb. '97. Quarter Century, Sun11ner '97. IlaRav Meir Tzvi Re1g111an's Classic Commentary Salomon, Rabbi Mattisyahu \iVipingAway 1-Jasltem's Wein, Berel Priorities for the Uncertain Future, Sun1- on the iNeek!y Sidrah, Nov. '97. Tear (S.H.), Nov. '97. n1er '97. Katzman, Rabbi Eliczer An Unsung Hero~ Rabbi Scherman, Rabbi Nosson Challenges For a 1:avored Weinberg, Rabbi Yaakov Zealous Representation Ivloshe Menachem Mende! Spivak i"'il, Oct. '97. Generation, Sun1n1er '97. Within Halachic Parameters, Sun1n1er '97; Keller, Rabbi Chaim Dov The Best of Times, The Schwab, Rabbi Myer "Make Thein Known to Your Underscoring the Purpose of Our Peoplehood \.Vorst of Tin1es, Sun11ner '97. Children and to Your Children's Children;' Apr. (S.H.), Nov. '97. Klugman, Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Fro1n Rosh Hashana '97. Weinberg, Yaakov Shlomo The Last Laugh, Mar. '97; Judg1nent to Yo1n Kippur Forgiveness, Oct. '97; Schwartz, Rabbi Reuven Zev A Pound of Cure (PS), A Melodic Ano1naly, Tying the Seasons Togeth The Jsh 1-Ia'emes: The Man of Uni1npeachable Apr. '97. er, Oct. '97; Chanukah and "The Little Jew," Dec. Integrity: Rabbi Shimon Schwab n::n:J.7p1;::;1::ir, Shafran, Rabbi Avi Dateline: Time for JE'vVISH Peace '97. Sum1ner '97. in Israel, Feb. '97; l\1uch Ado About Cloning (SL), Weinberger, Rabbi Dovid Orthodox Continuity is Kolodny, Rabbi Moshe New Strategies For Survival Apr. '97; Taking the Prize (SL), Sept. '97. Not Threatened by lntcrn1arriage, Oct. '97. (by Yisroel Spiegel) (translation), Feb. '97. Shapiro, Chaim The Shul in Tiktin, Mar. '97; Wilder, Dr. Meir A Neglected Chessed: Co1nforting Kuperwasser, Chaim ls There Really a Crisis in the Novaradok to ... Paris: Rabbi Gershon Lieb1nan the Bereaved \Vho Are Not Aveilim, May '97. Kolk·l Co1n1nunity?, Oct. '97. 7":n (translation), Dec. '97. VVinston, Rabbi Adam A New Jewish School Net Lewin, Nathan A Seventy-Five Year Reversal of Shapiro, Mrs. Sarah Just a Slight Adjustn1ent of work in Israel, May'97. Extreincs, Sumn1er '97. Focus, Feb. '97; Titchadshi, Sept. '97. Wolpin, Rabbi Nissan Orthodoxy's i'v1ove to the Libicki, Dr. Charles Report fro1n the Garden Shapiro, So rah The Voice of Jacob (translation), Mar. Right, Feb. '97; Jn Search of the Kohein Gene (S.H.). Nov. '97. '97; Novaradok to ... Paris Rabbi Gershon Lieb- (SL), Feb. '97; Orthodo)..-y and Fen1inisn1: How Lichter, Mrs. Shiffy \Velco1ne! (poem), Sept. '97. 1nan 7"~T, Dec. '97. Promising a Shidduch? Apr. '97; Gli1npses into Lorencz, Rabbi Shlomo The Voice of Jacob, Mar. '97. Sherer, Rabbi Moshe Dateline: Putting the "U" Back the Character of Rabbi Yaakov Kainenetzky Mayer, Eliyahu First Fruits, May'97. in UJA, Apr. '97; An Ideology of Activis111, Stu11- n:ii::i.7 jl'U -OT, Su1n1ner '97; Neutrality: The Meister, Dr. Tuvia The Other Siyum HaShas (or a n1er '97. Changing View Fro1n Switzerland (SL), Sept. '97; Siy11m on the Other Shas), Dec. '97. Shuster, Rabbi Fyvel The Big Black Wolf, Oct. '97. The Many Roads to the Mountain (S.H.), Nov. Mermelstein, Dr. Jacob For Love of Learning, Oct. Silber, Rabbi Mechel Fiery Enthusiasn1, Uninter '97. '97. rupted Dedication (S.H.), Nov. '97. Yudkowsky, Rabbi Moshe View Frmn "Down Minsk, Mrs. Aviva Lelwvdil, h.1ay '97. Silver, Rabbi Yehuda Reversing the Statistics, One Under": Springtime for Torah Study (S.H.), Nov. Miller, Rabbi Yisroel Reaching Out Over Barriers, Tew at a Ti1ne, Oct. '97. '97. Su1nn1er '97. Silvers, Mrs. Ellen Katz Rachel's Tears, Feb. '97. Zweig, Rabbi Yechezkel The Ran1ifications of Selec Nelkin, Dr. Bartha Report From Balti1nore: Why Sommerstein, Andrea The Clievra Kaddis/111, Mar. tionis111 and Rejectionis1n, Mar. '97. Three Days Before Rosh Hashana? (S.H.), Nov. '97. Zwiebel, Chaim David, Arguing in the Alternative, '97. Sorotzkin, Rabbi Yitzchok A lbrah Nation, Sum Su1nmer '97. Novick, Mrs. Pessie Books: Nor the Moon by Nig!1t, mer '97. Dec. '97. Spector, Mrs. Rochel Conten1porary Chinuch, Ivlar. Oppenheimer, Rabbi Leonard Report from Port '97. S.H. = Siyun1 HaShas DafYon1i land: Oregon Beyond Anyone's Wildest Dreams Spero, Sarah Report From Cleveland: A View Fro1n PS :::: PostScript (S.H.), Nov. '97. the Other Side (S.H.), Nov. '97. SL= Second Looks Oriel, Leah Buying Tomatoes in Jerusalem, Apr. '97. Spiegel, Yisroel New Strategies For Survival, Feb. '97. Orlowek, Rabbi Noach An Agenda For Reaching Out With Inner Strength, Sumn1er '97. Pam, RabbiAvrohom Did You Conduct Your Busi ness Affairs With Faith?, Su1nmer'97; The Yeshi va Graduate's Obligation, Sun1mer '97; The Designs of Providence, Sum1ner '97; The Radi ance of Resolution to Learn (S.H.), Nov. '97. Perle, Dr. Yitzchok Report From Boston: Hook-up to Personal responsibility throughout service - NOT JUST "PAPERWORK~ the Hospital... and Beyond (S.H.), Nov. '97. Perlow, Rabbi Yaakov (Novominsker Rebbe) A ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT METHOD Fusion of the Jew and Torah (S.H.), Nov. '97; Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eretz Yisrael T'hei S11eim Shamayim Misaheiv al Yadecha, 1569-47th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219 Sum1ner '97. Pfeffer, Yisroel Report Fro1n Pittsburgh: A New Day&Nightphone: (718) 851-8925 Di1nension of Jewish Life (S.H.), Nov. '97. 1VO>r.lN1~l:lNj? Vl"j? -1'1J 1Nl nll:l)l)J '1l0 Reis1nan, Levi Orthodoxy and Feminism: How (besedShd EME.5 •ilh J\ksiras Ndesli...as WKlenOood and pori«d by ooe "'1ive in 1he indn 46 The Jewish Observer, January 1998 Lots of appllless.• Noc arge. The free Chazak Inspiration Line 1-718-258-2008* Press E)for Inspiration for Happiness, Dfor Inspiration for Difficult Times, !1)for a message on Sholom Bayis. Speakers include R' Yissacher Frand, R' Paysach Krohn, R' Fischel Schachter, R' Ezriel Tuuber, and R' Yirzchok Kirzner Z"tl. *Call today free PIN# to access the systen1: 914-352-3505 from 9:30-5:30. Chazak is a free service of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation. Call to sponsor a day of the Chazak Telephone shiur for a Refuah Shleimach or Yartzeit. Mkllf yow- Ufe more meiming&r ... · ... ..• . . .. ··...... •. · 1th profundity, sen.sitivity,. an.cl learning. 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