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FOREVER MY PUBLISHERS J~ALE)\1 ~ ,s,WISHESe d YOU '.flteie'aste of Sltabbo~ A !Bl JHAPPY~ CHANUKAH 'I'<"""'' ~'"""'"''"'~w""'~"~""'' .d J

EMETT •Mep-/>J'-<1'1'!/llf~f<> fmm""10I M..Israel convention. at least take part in one or more of its exciting sessions

65th National.Convention Agudafia. lsrael. qfAmerU:a. YISROEL BAIN HOAMIM: s--~::~;1 THE JEW IN GOLVS/GOLVS IN THE JEW NOVEMBER 26 - 29, 1987 5 - 8 KISLEV 5748 aremew~;!;,'!{f::;;;~~'fie';; ,1,-,!,1,J,J RoshHaYeshWa. Telshe-Chicago THE STEVENSVILLE HOTEL SWAN LAKE, NEW YORK

Special. low-cost arrangements availoblefor meals and/or ~~~I overnight stay, roundtrip Rabbi~:h::~,:=:= ::1:1: transportanonThursday

Meals: (lvilh convenlion) Thursday Lunch (November26J: $10 per person Thursday EL•ening Dinner (November 26): ~E~~I 815 per person Lodging: (at Hou1ardJohnson·s Motor Inn. Liberty. N_eto York} Overnight Thursday (Noven1ber 26): 825 per person. double occupancy reservations required. includes Friday brea~fast -y~;~~ISchool and Home Partners or Adve~ries? :;:;:;. To Speak or Not lo Speak f/alachic Guidelines)Or Daily ~t~ Transportation: Conversation :;:;:: Chartered bus will leave Bora Park (4511 -14th Avenue) Conflicts in flalacha and Health Care ls ii Safi' to Go to lhe ;:;:;: 9:30 a.m. Thursday and return 20 m1nutes . · Hospiral? :~:~;~ q_fier conclusion [!fThursday evening session. Prcsenxi.tion qf theJeu1ish Hert/age in Satellite Countries i:~;~; Poland. Cz.el'/10--;/ovalda. Hungary. Romania :!:i:! Round tn·p (Thursday only}: $25 per person One tvay. to convention center(Thursday a.m.J: 815 per person s~~~,!~2!!!=~~ !!!!!! One way._t'rom convention center (Thursday p.m}: 815 per person Yesh:::::,:::,:== i!Jlll Resen1ationsJOr lhese special arrangements ~HE::==ril5 :i!:,: should be made NOW. For registration iryformation call: Agudatfl Israel qfAnJE'rica. 84 Willian1 St reel. Neu1 York (2121 797-9000 For those wishing to reserve Melava Malka and/or overnight stay on Jtlotsoei Shabbos (November 28) and brealefast and/or lunch on Sunday, phone the above numberfor special rates.

T11t•_,,, 011o"'f''lnt'1J!.' n1<' f•my scsswns call (2121797-9Adar/i,)(o.,/u,nm. BETH MEDRASH GOVOHA OF LAKEWOOD is pleased to announce that its

45th ANNIVERSARY DINNER and JOURNAL

Sunday, 22Kislev/December13 at the New York Hilton will be tendered in honor of

Mr. and Mrs. DOVWOLOWITZ GUESTS OF HONOR

Mr.and Mrs. Mr.and Mrs. Naftoli Silberberg Shlomo Klein PARENTS OF THE YEAR ALUMl\'US OF THE YEAR

Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood is the largest Yeshiva Gedola and Kolle] in the world, with approximately 1,000 talmidim. Its alumni are the founders, staff and supporters of dozens of Torah institutions throughout the world, includingYeshivos, Kollelim, Shuls and Chesed institutions. Its founder, Moreinu I-lagaon I-!orav Aaron Kotler Zt"l, restored the concept oflimud haTorah lishmoh following the destruction of European Jewry. He inspired his students with his exem­ plary life of Torah study, piety and sense of responsibility for fellow Jews' spiritual and physical welfare. The Dinner and Journal will mark his 25th Yohrtzeit, which occurs on 2 Kislev.

For dinner and journal ad reservations, please call the Yeshiva at (201) 367-1060 or the New York office at (718) 438-8300.

Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood 617 6th Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701 (201) 367-1060 • N.Y. office, (718) 438-8300 THEOBSERVER

THE JEWISH OBSERVER {ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly ex· ceptJulyand August, by the Agudath Israel of America, 84 William Street. New York, NY 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, NY Subscrip­ tion $18.00 peryear; two years, $30.00; three years, $40.00. Outside of the United States (US funds only) $10 sur­ charge per year. Single copy: $2.50; foreign: $3.00. Send address changes to The Jewish Observer, 84 William St., N.Y.. N.Y. 10038. TeL (212) 797 -9000. Printed in the U.S.A. In This Issue RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, Ed;toc

Editorial Board 6 DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman '":Sl Chairman an appreciation based on reminiscences Qf talmidim

RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS JOSEPH FRIEDENSON 25 RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not .•• RABBI MOSHE SHERER Rabbi Nasson Scherman

Management Board NAFTOLI HIRSCH 31 ISAAC KIRZNER RABBI SHWMO LESIN Postscript NACHUM STEIN Shidduch Breaker or Family Maker

RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Business Manager 33 Letters to the Editor THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product or service advertised in 41 its pages. Vienna Revisited Miriam Stark Zakon ©Copyright 1987

NOV. '87 VOLUME XX. NO. 8

The Late Rosh Hayeshiva of Ner Israel as remembered by his talmidim

The list consists qf hundreds qf names, and all of them have two things in common-perhaps the two are really one: They are talmidim (disci­ ples) qf Ner Israel-married men who had studied under Rabbi Yaakov Yitz­ chok Ruderman '"~l.And each and every one cannot be reached by telephone for several hours every day. They are all keeping their appointed times for learning. * * * Retumingfrom a recent convention qf Torah Umesorah, the National Organi­ zation for Hebrew Day Schools, Rabbi Ruderman remarked that he was amazed and gratified to have met so many Ner Israel alumni involved in chinuch (Torah education}, virtuallyfrom border to border.from coast to coast, in other lands. ... * * * Unyielding dedication to studying and teaching Torah is a trait that is not easily learned. Yet somehow those who were in the immediate presence of the late Rosh Yeshiva qf Ner Israel, Rabbi Ruderman, were changed. They learned to love Leaming, and theyfeel compelled to educate others in that same love.

The Jewish Obseroer, November 1987 7 Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Rudennan was among the pioneers who came to America before World War II to strivefor the impossible and achieve it: planting the seeds of Torah in the treife American soil.

A Love So PrQfound than a half century living the life of deepening their interest, and broad­ Torah, treasuring the printed word ening their horizons. He constantly n the surface it may seem of Torah, absorbing it indelibly in focused their attention and aware­ strange. Rabbi Ruderman his mind, imprinting it permanently ness on tli.e depth and breadth and O was thought by many to be a onto his heart-he succeeded in interrelationship of all of Torah. He shy man. He was obviously in love transmitting his dedication through was always involved in a kushya with his seforim, scholarly In mien, his love for the young men who came (challenging question). He explained soft-spoken, not readily recognized to study under him: Five bachurim that he used questions as memory to be the type of man who could mold who joined him in Baltimore in 1933 keys with which to remember the hosts of others 'in his image, espe­ ... 600 talmidim of Yeshivas Ner details of the Gemora. Thus no mat­ cially when those others were young lsraeljoining thousands of alumni, ter which Gemora one mentioned, men who had been brought up in who wept at his passing In 1987. he always had a penetrating query or the permissive, fun-loving, self-cen­ His talmidim observed a Rebbe comment at his fingertips to lend an tered society of mid-twentieth cen­ whose encyclopedic knowledge of insight to the sugya (topic), citing tury America. Yet by example-more, Shas Bavli, Yerushalmi, Rishonim, one reference after another, often by contagion-having spent more Poskim, Acharonim and Teshuvos from obscure responsa and forgot­ (Talmud and its vast literature of ten commentaries. He lived with his This biographical appreciation is based primarily commentaries and halachic res­ questions.and was often observed on material furnished by Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger, Ram in the Beis HamidrashofYeshiva Ner Israel. ponsa) set a lofty standard to strive with his lips constantly moving as and a nephew of the late Rosh Hayeshlva. Addi­ for. He constantly challenged his he was consistently absorbed in tional sources of information Include Rabbi David talmidim to bring proof from one learning. This total immersion in Cohen (Cong. Gvul Yaavetz, Brooklyn), Yeruchem Lax, Moshe Asher Reines, and several articles that Gemora to a seemingly unrelated Talmud gave rise to many amusing appeared in Yated Ne'eman. issue, stimulating lively discussion, incidents of apparent absentminded

8 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 behavior. Rarely was his sleep at falo to also visit Rabbi Zuckerman. "I know," replied the doctor, "butit night not disturbed by an unans· They did, and remained overnight, was Kedushin that we brought to wered kushya. engrossed in Talmudic discussion you." One could readily believe the story until five in the morning. The last public function that he told how, as a bachur, Rabbi Rud· In 1986, the Rosh Hayeshiva un· attended was a Siyum that the resi· erman got hold of a copy of a just· derwent successful surgery to res· dent physician in Yeshiva Lane had published volume of Ohr Somayach tore vision in one of his eyes. During made with his chavrusa. Although on Zemanim for one night's perusal. recuperation. he found the hospital physically weak, the Rosh Haye· He had no access to a lamp, so he atmosphere oppressive. Trytng to shiva-also motivated by his sense went through the entire sefer that convince the doctor, who had once of appreciation to the doctor-found night, by the light of the moon. His learned in a yeshiva, that his recov· the strength to participate in the poor vision became further damaged ery was complete, he asked that a Torah simcha. from the experience-but he was Gemora be brought to him. He then able to quote the sefer copiously for proceeded to read the entire page. To the remainder of his life. his dismay the doctor refused to Torah Pioneering Days His love for Torah and for his tal· sign the early release. "But I have midim went hand in hand. When· just read an entire page of Kesuvos," abbi Yaakov Yitzchok Rud· ever a talmid asked him a stimulat· the Rosh Hayeshiva pleaded. erman was among the pio· ing kushya, or offered a workable R neers who came to America svora (rationale), his face would before World War II to strive for the radiate with delight. More often than impossible and achieve it: planting not, he would cite commentaries the seeds ofTorah in the treijeAmer· that deal with the sugya, and quote ican soil. He arrived on these shores their opinions. And then he would in 1931, to assume a position under point out the implications of the his father-in-law, Rabbi Shefte! insight and how they affect other Kramer~""' who was Menahel Ru· issues. When a talmid had the good chani of the Yeshiva of New Haven fortune to say something that that had moved to Cleveland. In 1933. pleased him, he would become ec· he struck it out on his own, as the static. Many had the embarrassing Rav of the Tiferes Yisroel Shul in experience of being reminded by the Baltimore, with the understanding Rosh Hayeshiva, years later, of a that he could use the facilities for a chiddush that they had said and yeshiva. Five bachwim from Cleve· had long since forgotten, but he had land joined him in Baltimore. treasured. There were a few staunch support· Every Ner Israel graduate knew ers of the Yeshiva: the general di· that the first question he would face The yeshiva'sfirst horne. 4411 Garrison BouleuarcL when encountering the Rosh Haye· shiva was, "Nu, vos lerenstu (what are you learning)"? He would not proceed further in the conversation until this question was properly re· solved. He told each talmid when he left the Yeshiva that regardless of what he did to earn a living, it was absolutely essential that he study at least two hours daily, and he de· mantled it. During the late 50's and early60's, when a Ner Israel branch was opened in Toronto (today, an independent institution), Rabbi Ruderman would travel by train from Baltimore to Buffalo, where he "talked in learn· ing" with the local Rav. Rabbi Dov Berish Zuckerman, a profound tal· mid chacham; and then continue by car to Toronto. He once advised the Toronto bachurim who drove him back to his train connection in Buf·

Ihe Jewish Observer, November J 987 9 Each expansion Qf the Yeshiva took place with a leap Qffaith. As the Rosh Hayeshiva said, "lf we wait until we raise the requiredfunds, nothing will ever happen."

The present yeshiva campus in Pikesville. Maryland. mate, however, was unreceptive at the bachurim, frequently had to cir­ Baltimore-a fortitude for which he best. Only a handful of senior yeshi­ cumvent local opposition to their frequently expressed his eternal vas existed on the American conti­ Yeshiva activities, sometimes ad­ gratitude. nent at that time. Coupled with the dressing the Rebbetzin by a code The Rosh Hayeshiva and his deep economic depression, the situ­ name when talking to her on the tele­ Rebbetzin Feige left one child, Reb­ ation was precarious. The incredible phone in the presence of hostile betzln Chana Weinberg, and were mesiras nefesh of Rebbetzin Rud­ neighbors. The Rebbetzin also served blessed with six grandchildren and erman i1"Y• in mobilizing the women as a constant source of strength to numerous great-grandchildren who of the community for the Yeshiva the Rosh Ha yeshiva. When a presti­ were privileged to surround the Rosh overcame Immense adversity. The gious position in a New York yeshiva Hayeshiva during his last years. ladies, who hosted showers where was offered to the Rosh Hayeshiva, Their son-in-law, Rabbi Yaakov people donated food and linens for she encouraged him to remain in Weinberg, "'"""'"" is today the suc­ cessor to Rabbi Ruderman as Rosh *In 1924, Rabbi Ruderman bad married Feige Kramer, the oldest of five daughters bom to Ha yeshiva. Rabbi Sheftel and Devorah Kramer. Rebbetzin Devorah was one of four daughters of the The Yeshiva underwent a steady renowned Rabbi Shraga Feivel and Golda Frank. in whose house talmidim of Rabbi Yisroel but slow growth in those early years, Salanter spent Chodesh EluL A measure of Reb Shraga's greatness can be discerned from the yet Rabbi Ruderman remained fact that when he died at the age of 42, the Gadol Had.or, Rabbi YitzchokElchonon Spector'.:l"::>t participated in the tahara. His widow, Rebbetzin Golda. arranged all the shidduchim for her committed to the dream that a great daughters. Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein '":::n, Rosh Hayeshiva of Slobodka, Rabbi Isser Torah center would rise in Balti­ Zalman Meltzer '"::It, of Slutsk, and later Yeshiva Eitz Chaim of Jerusalem. and Rabbi Boruch more. Rabbi Shimon Schwab Yehud.ah Horowitz '"~n. ofAlexot and Slobodka, were the other sons-in-law. For more details, see Rabbi Chaim Shapiro's "Torah Pioneers" in JO, May 75, and Chaya Baumwolspiner•s "'"'"'"' related that in the late 30's, .. Rebbetzin Chaya Peret Kotler Fl"»," in JO May '87. when he was serving as Rav in the

10 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 Shearith Israel shul of Baltimore. Rosh Hayeshiva's success in creat­ Rabbi Ruderman once pointed out a ing a Yeshiva in America with the large multi-story apartment house flavor of the yeshivas in Lithuania to him as suitable for the Yeshiva. In that he had left behind. response to Rabbi Schwab's sur­ Each expansion of the Yeshiva prised amusement. the Rosh Haye­ took place with a leap of faith.As the shiva exclaimed, "Do you doubt that Rosh Hayeshiva said. "If we wait we will have a Yeshiva the size of until we raise the required funds. Slobodka here?" nothing will ever happen." Building The early growth of the Yeshiva a new Beis Hamidrash and dormi­ was intensified by the recognition tory in 1943-during the height of and support of prominent Rabbo­ World War II. with the shortages of nim Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlo­ men and material-was almost witz '""· the Menahel of Mesivta miraculous. In addition to serving Torah Vodaath and unquestionably the many refugee students that come one of the most important figures in to Baltimore to learn, Yeshivas Ner the development of Torah in Amer­ Israel eventually became the prime bachurim Yeshiva for America's South and ica. recommended from The Ponovezher Rav, Rabbi Yoseif Kahaneman New York whom he thought would (center) with Rabbi Samson of Yeshiva Chefetz much of the West, as well as attract­ especially benefit from the Rosh Chaim inBaltimore(l.)andRabbiRuderman(r.J ing a number of students from the Hayeshiva. Among this group was at a gatheringforty years ago. New York metropolitan area. Rabbi Moshe Sherer, today presi­ long friend of the Rosh Hayeshiva. In the early 60's, Rabbi Ruderman dent of Agudath Israel of America. The early success of the Yeshiva established the Ner Israel Kolle], for Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky '""sent can be attributed to the Rosh Haye­ which he personally raised the funds. his sons from Toronto, a major dis­ shiva 's love for every ben Torah. The The Kolle] had a profound effect on tance in those years, as did Rabbi Telzer Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Mor­ both the Yeshiva and the communi­ Yehoshua Klavan '""· the Rav of dechai Gifter """''"' tells of having ty. On the one hand. the Beis Ha­ Washington D.C. Furthermore. when come to Baltimore from Europe for a midrash retained its best talmidim the Rosh Hayeshiva was ill, Rabbi visit, when the outbreak of World for many additional years, contri­ Klavan travelled from Washington to War II prevented him from returning butinggreatlyto the level oflearning say the daily shiur in his stead. to his beloved Telshe. Distraught of the entire Beis Hamidrash. In When the Yeshiva launched its and lonely. he found comfort in the addition, this established a pattern campaign to erect the Beis Hamid­ home of the Rosh Hayeshiva. To for young Torah families to settle in rash building on Garrison Boule­ provide him with encouragement, Baltimore, elevating all aspects of vard, the Rosh Hayeshiva travelled Rabbi Ruderman asked Rabbi Gifter the city's Jewish community, now to Cincinnati to enlist the apprecia­ to say chaburos (specialized lectures) one of the finest in North America. ble help of the legendary Rabbi Eli­ to a select group of talmidim. Rabbi During the middle sixties. the ezer Silver J"~'· who remained a life- Gifter tells of his elation over the Yeshiva's neighborhood was chang­ ing and was becoming increasingly With Rabbi G!fter (r.} in Camp Agudah. less suitable for the Yeshiva. The re­ location of this institution of over two hundred and fifty talmidim re­ quired over ten times as much money as the Yeshiva had ever raised in the past. Under the leadership of the Rosh Hayeshiva and the efforts of his brother-in-law, Rabbi Naftoli Neuberger. the Yeshiva's executive director, the Yeshiva moved. today occupying the largest Yeshiva com­ plex in the world, on its rural Pikes­ ville campus.

Background to Greatness e are, of course, eager to learn more about the back­ W ground of the man who achieved such greatness in Torah, and inspired so many others to strive

The Jewish Observer, November 1987 11 by heart. and as a result, mastered Seder Nashim and Nezikin (two of the Talmud's six sections) before Bar Mitzva. The reputation of the young illuy (genius) from Dolhinovsoon spread, and the talmidim of Slobodka, al­ ways on the lookout for exceptional bachurim, heard aboutYaakovYitz­ chok. A talmid of the saintly Alter of Slobodka, Rabbi Nosson Tsvi Finkel J"~l. convinced the young genius to come to Slobodka-un­ doubtedly a major milestone in his life. He often said that without the guidance of the Alter, he would have never developed anywhere near his potential. During World War One the Slo­ bodka Yeshiva fled eastward from the approaching German army, to Minsk. It was here that Rabbi Rud­ erman had the zechus to meet the In discussion with Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky. revered Rav of Brisk, Rabbi Chaim for greatness of their own. Knowl­ level of avoda and yiras Shomayim Soloveitchik J"~l. Unbeknown to edge of Rabbi Ruderman's early life (service to G-d). He recalled how his him, Reb Chaim recognized the is sketchy at best. He was born Shu­ father had struggled to put up his young illuy's great promise, and ar­ shan Purtm 5660 ( 1900) in Dolhinov, succa himself, only to have it col­ ranged that a wealthy acquaintance a small shtetl in the vicinity ofVilna. lapse. He struggled again and provide him with pocket money so He was the only son born after six again-refusing to enlist any help, that his learning not be adversely daughters, late in life, to Reb Yehuda so precious to him was the mitzva of affected by need. Rabbi Ruderman Leib and his wife Rebbetzin Sheina. building it by himself! only became aware of Reb Chaim's A year before his birth, an elderly Reb Yehuda Leib recognized his role in this support when it ceased childless Jew known simply as Reb son's prodigious talent and made a upon the passing of Reb Chaim. Yitzchok responded to Rebbetzin practice of awakeningyoungYaakov The Alter also showered the Sheina's request for a bracha that Yitzchok early every morning to teach youngster with an enormous amount she would have a son; but the elderly him Gemora before davening. He of attention. The future Chevron man added that she call the child was rewarded for every dajhe learned Rosh Hayeshiva, Rabbi Yechezkel Yitzchok. When the boy was born, Sarne ?•»1, one of the Alter's closest however, his motherwanled to name talmidim, was assigned to be his him Yaakov after her father. A "eltere bachur." she'eila was posed, and it was ruled Young Yaakov Yitzchok had a that he be given both names, Yaakov tremendous capacity for learning Yitzchok. (The source of this story is with hasmoda (diligence), but a total Rabbi Ruderman's illustrious cou­ inability to adhere to the Yeshiva's sin, Rabbi Yaakov Karnenetzky J">i, sedorim (schedule). He used to take who was named after the same per­ long walks durtng which he would son (his uncle). One ofReb Yaakov's chazer (review) entire tractates by earliest recollections was saying heart. ( He confided to a ta!mid that "Kriyas Shma" at the bedside of his on his regular afternoon strolls, he newborn cousin. Thus began a would chazer the entire Seder Na­ friendship that would span eight shim on the way to the next village, decades.) Seder Nezikin on the return.) The His father, Reb Yehuda Leib, was a Alter granted him the freedom to melamed, who knew Shas with study his own way as long as he Tosajos well. Rabbi Ruderman con­ achieved the goals that they agreed fided that although he may have upon. Although he had already com­ eclipsed his father in Torah learn­ pleted the en tire Shas by the time he ing, he could not even approach his Rabbi Yecheskel Sama was fourteen, they decided that he

12 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 Rabbi Ruderman often cautionedfaculty members Qf Ner Israel that dealing with bachurim is dinei nefashos-a matter Qf spiritual life and death, not to be taken lightly.

attempt to review the entire Talmud hear Rabbi Itzel (Peterburger) Blazer between Succos and Pesach that deliver a mussar schmuess (lecture year. When the Alter received a tele­ on ethical improvement). When the gram early that winter informing Alter later learned that some of his him of the death ofReb Yehuda Leib, students wept at the lecture, he rep­ he decided not to inform the youngs­ Iimanded them, "Reb Itzel should ter so that it would not interfere with move you to think, not to cry!" this undertaking. Someone objected "The Alter guided us in weighing to the Alter, "But Yaakov Yitzchok our choices between several good will miss saying Kaddish for his acts, evaluating them and then set­ father!" tingprtolities," the Rosh Hayeshiva "It will be a greater melit for his recalled. "He once met me in the father's neshama," replied the Alter. street after I had purchased a new "if he finishes Shas. Ifhe develops to pair of tzitziswith money I had care­ his potential, it will be the equivalent fully saved. My face must have been of many Kaddeishtm" aglow, because he asked me why I Only after Pesach, when Yaakov was so happy. When I told him, he Yitzchok had completed his goal, did asked me if the three dollars could the Alter tell his talmid the tragic not have been better spent in sup­ tidings. port of a starving family." The Alter qf Slobodka Rabbi Ruderman entertained Leamingjrom the Alter's Approach seeming very devout. When the Rosh plans to join a group of illuim that Hayeshiva told the Alter of his ad­ was leaving Slobodka to study under eb Yaakov Yitzchok was miration over this metamorphosis. Rabbi Itzele (Ponovezer) Rabinowitz keenly aware of the special the Alter commented that the im­ J">i. Reb Itzele was reputed to have R consideration that he was provement was only skin deep and it one of the most phenomenal minds receiving and that it placed an would not last. Unfortunately, the of his generation, but was too re­ enormous responsibility upon him Alter was correct. The Rosh Haye­ moved from his talmidim to guide to succeed. He also realized that the shiva observed and developed an them in those turbulent times. When Alter was a master mechanech uncanny ability of his own to see Rabbi Ruderman told theAlterofhis (pedagogue) and that he could gain through externals, to the core of an intentions, the Alter took him to the much not only from how he was individual, and was rarely taken in window and pointed to a nearby being treated, but from observing by those who were less than genuine. river. telling him: 'You can throw how the Alter dealt with others and A visitingrabbinicaldignitarywas yourself into the liver here. Why how he reacted to situations. called to the Torah in Slobodka, and bother travelling elsewhere to Later in life, as Rosh Hayeshiva, pronounced the bracha slowly, with drown?" he emulated the Alter's approach to an unusual display of feeling. Young The Alter's harsh premonition talmidim spending hours on end Yaakov Yi tzchok shared his awe over proved true. The poverty there was with individuals in discussions un­ the bracha with the Alter, who said. extreme, and Reb ltzele was totally related to their studies, guiding them 'Yes, very admirable-if he also says immersed in his studies, oblivious in molding their midos (character) it that way every morning, durtng to the boys' needs. Before long all but and developing their hashkojas the Birchos Hashachar... ." two of that initial group strayed, not ha'chaim (outlook on life). While emotions cannot be denied, remaining bnet Toralt Appearances did not impress the the Alter taught that one must con­ The Alter rarely gave up on a tal­ Alter. A bachur known not to be trol one's emotions rather than be mid and was loath to expel anyone especially fastidious in religious subject to their whims. On a particu­ from the Yeshiva Rabbi Ruderman's matters had left Slobodka for another lar occasion, a group of his talmidim roommate exhibited a potential of yeshiva and returned a year later. took advantage of an opportunity to exerting a negative influence on him.

The Jewish Observer, November 1987 13 Rather than tell Rabbi Ruderman are prominent Ramim (teachers of ships with outstanding Torah per­ outright to disassociate himself from Talmud) who waged that battle and sonalities. He would recall with joy, "I his friend, the Alter first invited prevailed, thanks to the Rosh Ha­ had the zechus to spend time with Rabbi Ruderman to move into his yeshiva. the Kovno Rav, Rabbi Avrohom Ka­ own house because all the children Ten years ago, Rabbi Yaakov Ka­ hana Shapiro, the author of Dvar had already married and moved out. menetzky was invited to address a Avrohom! I experienced Shabbos Rabbi Ruderman recalled how, dur­ gathering in Lakewood marking the with Reb Lezer Minsker. which was ing this time, he was struck with a fiftieth Yahrzeit of the Alter, but like spending Shabbos with a mal­ severe case of dysentery, but a raging could not participate. He was quoted, ach (angel)!" winter storm prevented him from however, as saying that Rabbi Rud­ It was the Dvar Avrohom who had using the outdoor facilities. The Alter erman, who did speak, reflected the urged the Rosh Ha yeshiva, when he offered to keep the door to the house Alters personality more than did was in his early twenties, to write his open as long as Yaakov Yitzchok was any other surviving talmidim masterwork Avodas Levi. He later out, speaking to him all along "so he joined other contemporary Gedolim can find his way back"-but, in in praise of the sejefs contents and truth, simply to reassure him ... clarity of style. paternal devotion to the fullest. The The Kovno Rav, in tum, had the other bachur remained in the Ye­ youngYaakovYitzchok examine each shiva until the Rosh Hayeshiva, chapter of his sejer, Dvar Avrohom Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein before publication. '""· expelled him during the Alter's During his visits with Gedo lei absence. Torah, nothing escaped his scrut­ Rabbi RudermaFJ often cautioned iny. He would relate with typical faculty members of Ner Israel that humility that as a young boy, he dealing with bachurtm is dinei ne­ spent some time in the house of jashos-a matter of spiritual life Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, "with and death, not to be taken lightly. On freedom of the house as ifit were my occasion. other members of the own, oblivious of the true greatness hanhala (administration) of the Ye­ of Reb Chaim. But when Rabbi Ba­ shiva recommended dismissing a ruch Ber Lebowitz came to visit his problem bachur, but the Rosh Ha­ Rebbe, he would knock on the front yeshiva was adamant: one never door. trembling and perspiring be­ knows what the future holds. Per­ fore summoning enough courage to haps with a Iittle more patience, and enter the house." further exposure to the Torah's cor­ It was widely known that the Rosh rective powers, the young man would Hayeshiva was considered a "favor­ straighten out. By and large, his ite son" to these Gedolim position was vindicated. The Rosh Hayeshiva related that Many talmidim had come to Ner although he had received semicha Israel as refugees, or from troubled (ordination) from various Gedolim backgrounds, and found a home in he mostly cherished the one he re­ the Yeshiva, and a father in the Rosh ceived from Rabbi Meir Atlas, ""'· Hayeshiva. During the 30'sand 40's, father-in-law of Rabbi Elchonon the Rosh Hayeshiva's seder table Wasserman , .. ,n, because Rabbi Meir was crowded with talmidim who Atlas had received semicha from could not travel home for Pesach. At the Feet of Gedolei Torah Rav "Eizele Charif' ""'· who in Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky "'":"'"'· tum was a musmachof Rav ''.Abba le Rosh Hayeshiva in Philadelphia, awing on the Talmud's dic­ Posvler" ? 11 '.:ll~. who had received se­ was among the group, and recalls um that one can grow more micha from the Vilna Gaon himself. how the boys valued the experience, D from serving Torah scholars The Rosh Hayeshiva took particu­ how at home they felt with the Rosh than from scholarship, Rabbi Rud­ lar pride in being a link in this Hayeshiva and the Rebbetzin. erman emulated the Alter in seeking exalted chain of mesora. Those talmidim who chose to de­ close contact with senior Gedolei During his entire life, he conducted vote their lives completely to Torah Yisroel. Just as the Alter discussed himself as if his rabbeim were alive, study, and faced strong opposition matters or referred halachic prob­ constantly asking, 'What would the from parents, relied on the Rosh lems to Reb Meir Simcha of D\1nsk Alter do in this situation?" After Hayeshiva to intercede on their be­ ""'· Reb Chaim Brisker ""'· and many years in America. one of the half, and to provide the necessary Reb Chaim Ozer'""· Rabbi Ruder­ leading figures of the Conservative encouragement and support. There man also developed special relation- movement, his former roommate in

14 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 With Rabbi Kamenetzky. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. and Rabbi Baruch Sorotzkin. n:>il., 01n:ll.

The incredible scope

Slobodka, requested an audience walked into his house expecting that yond consideration to sell the Ye· with the Rosh Hayeshiva, but the he would have to reintroduce him· shiva building to a different reli· Rosh Hayeshiva did not respond. self. Much to his surprise, Reb Chaim gious group, yet he felt that it might Once they met at a hotel and he Ozer rose in his place and exclaimed: be irresponsible of him to forego informed the Rosh Hayeshiva of his "The Dolhinover is here!" Reb Chaim such a huge sum for a community intention to visit him in his room. Ozer then stopped in the midst of purpose without consultation. He The Rosh Hayeshiva immediately his activities to devote himself fully posed the question to Rabbi Ab· packed his bags and left. Another to his young visitor. The Rosh Ha· ramsky who asked for time to con· time, while in Baltimore, the same yeshiva would make a point of dis· sider the issue, before he agreed leader sent a message requesting a playing similar respect to younger with the Rosh Hayeshiva. meeting. The Rosh Hayeshtva sent scholars, many years later. More re· Rabbi Abramsky, in tum, sent back word that he should not come. cently, he would apologize to young messages to Rabbi Ruderman to When asked to explain this unchar· talmidei chachamim, explaining be mispallel for him in his illness. acteristic lack of hospitality, the that due to his old age and physical Rosh Hayeshiva gave his reasons. condi tion he was unable to rise. Then he added: "Besides, the Alter When in America, he maintained Lovefor Seforim told me not to associate with him." contact with Rabbi Chaim Ozer and Their Contents On the rare occasions that he through correspondence, and in later visited Vilna as a young man, he years he turned to Rabbi Yechezkel ne of the great pleasures of spent the bulk of his time in the AbramskyJ"~' for halachic guidance. visiting Reb Chaim Ozer's house of Reb Chaim Ozer J''>l. who A case in point was when the Yeshiva 0 house was the access Rabbi lavished much attention on him. He was about to move and was selling Ruderman enjoyed to his enormous spoke with special awe of the sum· its old building. A Baptist group library. He used to quote Reb Chaim mer that he spent with Reb Chaim offered the Yeshiva over a half-a· Ozer to the effect that having a lot of Ozer. The Rosh Hayeshiva recalled million-dollars more than was of· seforim is a yeitzer hora and that that after not having seen Reb Chaim fered by the next highest bidder. It one would learn more ifhe had fewer Ozer for more than five years, he struck the Rosh Hayeshtva as be· seforim Nonetheless, the Rosh Ha·

The Jewish Obseroer, November 1987 15 yeshiva's thirst for Torah and his through an open volume of Gemora, adir. remembered the Gemora. but indelible memoiy combined to form challenging him as to which word not the indirect implications of its an insatiable desire to possess even was pinpointed on a later folio. And words, which by some accident I more sejorim on his bookshelf and he could answer, correctly. Or asking happened to recall. I then realized," in his mind. Apparently he chose to him how many times Rabbeinu Tam said Rabbi Ruderman, "that know­ emulate Reb Chaim Ozer rather than states a particular opinion in all ing the words on the page and their heed his admonition. He constantly Tosajos throughout Shas. And he meaning is insufficient. In addition, amazed his talmidim by referring to would respond, most accurately. But one must also cariy all the implica­ an opinion recorded in one obscure this was not sufficient. tions and ramifications of each bit of sefer after another, pointing to this On one occasion, he was chal­ knowledge in one's mind." or that volume in the marvelous col­ lenged with a puzzling question by Whenever he travelled to New York lection of thousands of seforim that one of the outstanding Roshei Ye­ during his youth and middle years, adorned his shelves. shiva of Europe. Rabbi Ruderman Rabbi Ruderman would make the Although he was celebrated for his responded by citing a passage in a rounds of the seforim stores. When total recall of all that he ever studied, Gemora that by implication an­ he learned that Rabbi Chaim Bris­ he was never content with memoiy swered the question. The challenger ker's novellae on the Rambam had per se: True, as a youngster in Slo­ recognized the reference and pro­ been published. available for three bodka, the older bachurim would ceeded to recite the rest of the page dollars, he exclaimed, "That's all? make a sport of piercing a needle verbatim. "Reb a gaon Such a sefer is worth much more!" (The proprietor promptly doubled the price.) A talmid once took the Rosh Ha­ TAKE. TORAH INTO YOUR BUSINESS yeshiva's Oneg Yom Tov off the shelf to look up a reference. When Join ... "Kolel Without Walls" the Rosh Hayeshiva saw the sejer. he recalled with pride that he had A project of Kole! Hatorah paid one hundred dollars for it in the [for yeshiva grads, businessmen and professionals] early 40's-a major expense in those days ... further demonstrating the by instituting a learning session extent of his love of Torah and sefo­ at your own place of business. Tim. ("A lot of money?" he comment­ ed. "How can one live without an We will help you set up a Torah study program, and can Oneg Yom Tov!") When he would also provide magidei shiur. receive in the mail a newly printed copy of a sefer that he already pos­ Join the growing number of avreichim and chaveirim in sessed. he would happily pay for the Kolel HaTorah at our central location, new edition. to encourage the pub­ Ave. L and East 9th Street, Brooklyn lishers in their undertaking. or Add your name to the expanding list of participating Many Facets, One Gem members in "Kolel Without Walls", abbi Ruderman described who are conducting chevrusos or shiurim at their own how the Alter treated each R talmid differently. He would business locations. rebuke publicly one of the true Ge­ dolei Baalei Mussar whenever he came to Slobodka If he would dare A-Z Luggage Home Equity Realty speak to us in such a manner. said Borenstein, Katlowitz & Schick Kaplan, Schultz, & Kaye the Rosh Hayeshiva, we would have Charles Wolf & Sons Diamonds Olympia Funding soon left. Yet there were others Contique Watch Fashions Pecan Software among his closest talmidim whom Fruchthandler Bros. Enterprises Satellite Realty and Funding the Alter would treat with great def­ erence. even to the point of asking permission to express mild criticism. The Rosh Hayeshiva, in tum. dealt ADD YOUR BRANCH TO THIS TREE OF LIFE with each talmid in the manner that Contact Rabbi Hersh Landau, 718-338-4005 he deemed best suited to that indi­ or Rabbi Yitzchok Alster, 718-258-3606 vidual. He was particularly careful when saying Mussar to the whole

16 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 was engaged as Mashgiachand Ram son-in-law and successor as Rosh because of his unique personality Hayeshiva. Rabbi YaakovWeinberg and talents. Ifhe were coerced to act ""'"''" Many independent-minded differently. he would no longer be young men who did not respond to Reb David. He succeeded In infusing more rigid types of guidance, blos­ the talmidim with great devotion to somed under the tutelage of Rabbi Torah and yiras Shomayim because Weinberg's probing intellect, and of the freedom that was given to him today occupy leading positions in to function as he understood. rabbonus and chinuch. Beyond doubt. Ner Israel succeeded Similarly, the Rosh Hayeshiva in reaching a broad range of young entrusted a young German refugee men because Rabbi Ruderman had with the responsibility of the execu­ the breadth to engage brilliant tal­ tive directorship of the Yeshiva­ midei chachomim and gifted teach­ his brother-in-law-to-be, Rabbi Naf­ ers who had their individual ap­ tali Neuberger, who contributed proaches to Torah and chinuch­ vastly to the raising of Ner Israel to such as Reb David or J"~" his own its present-day status.

Rabbi David Kronglas Yeshiva to speak positively even while calling them to task for some short­ coming. Just as the Alter's approach to his talmidim bespoke an appreciation for eveiy person's individuality, so did Rabbi Ruderman's. By the same token, he was able to freely delegate authority without ever abdicating responsibility. This rare capacity al­ lowed the introduction of other powerful personalities into the Hanhala (administration) of the yeshiva. Rabbi David Kronglas ''"'· as Mashgiach Ruchan~ left an in­ delible imprint on the talmidim that still echoes within the hearts of his talmidim and the walls of the Beis With Rabb< Naftali Neuberger. Hamidrash. In advance of engaging RebDovid, the RoshHayeshivasent him a copy of Avodas Levi, which Reb Dovid returned with an impres­ sive list of comments on the chid­ dushim Reb David, who had spent his years as a talmid in Mir and Shang­ hai, favored a stem and demanding approach to the bachurim He could beseverewith thosewhosebehavior fell short of the standards he set. and indeed it was perceived by many that the Rosh Hayeshiva was not always In agreement with Reb Dovid's methods. Yet. when he was ques­ tioned as to why he had granted the ~ Mashgiach such latitude, he replied ~ that each person functions best 1~ within the context of his own per- ~ sonality and convictions. Reb David ~

The Jewish Observer, November 1987 1 7 Through the Keyhole

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18 The Jewish Obseroer, November 1987 In Talmudic symbolism, a river, a kettle and a bird represent three levels of peace - and of peaceful marriage.

from those meetings with enormous remarked that that projection accu­ respect for the greatness and piety of rately describes Mesivta Rabbi the Rebbe. He remarked that essen­ Chaim Berlin as it is currently tially the Rebbe is correct in his flourishing. basic views: the specific situation of In 1936. Rabbi Aharon Kotler'"" our times, however, calls for a differ­ visited America for the first time to ent approach. raise money for his yeshiva in Kletzk. Rabbi Aharon Feldman. He treasured his friendships with He stayed with Rabbi Ruderman for noted Rosh Hayeshiva and his own contemporaries. Rabbi Yitz­ over a month (their Rebbi tzens were author, has written a chok Hutner '""·whom Rabbi Rud­ first cousins), and the Rosh Haye­ warm. sympathetic - and erman had known from their years shiva spared no effort in helping practical - book on how in Slobodka. once came to Baltimore him raise funds in Baltimore. While to apply Torah concepts to for a simcha, and stayed overnight Rabbi Aharon was there, a dinner create a successful Rosh Ha­ was held for the benefit of a Conser­ so he could visit with the marriage. He speaks yeshiva the next morning. After ar­ vative institution. and $25.000-a riV!ng in the Yeshiva at 9:30, he and vast sum in those days-was raised clearly and frankly on why marriages fail, the nature the Rosh Hayeshivaembraced each in one evening. Reb Aharon was very other, and adjourned to a room where perturbed by this Chillul Hashem of love, the control of they remained until 5:00 P.M. Rabbi He must spend weeks going from anger and other vital Hutner later commented that he person to person with all its attend­ subjects. considered it a Yorn Tau for having ant difficulties and disappointments A perceptive book, filled had the oneg rnchni (spiritual ela­ to raise paltry sums for the yeshiva with wisdom and wit. tion) of spending the day with the in Kletsk, while a deviant group Rosh Hayeshtva. raises such enormous sums in one Hardcover $10.95 Rabbi Ruderman recalled that night! when Rabbi Hutner came to Amer­ The Rosh Hayeshiva consoled Reb ica in the late 30's, the Rosh Haye­ Aharon by pointing out that the shiva invited him to join him in Bal­ Torah requires signs to be posted ~ FELDHEIM timore. which Rabbi Hutnerpolitely pointing the way to orei miklat-the ,_~ BOOl

The Jewish Observer, November 1987 19 Rabbi Rudennan taught a sense Qf responsibilityfor Klal by example. It seemed that his love for Torah spilled over and penneated his love and sense Qf achrayus (responsibility) for others.

Hashem of his act. A person travel­ him of Rabbi Chaim Ozer.... During carry responsibility for his fellow. In ling to Yerushalayim, however, rep­ the sixth Knessia Gedolah, he and his case, it seemed that his love for resents a Kiddush Hashem that is ,,,,, the Ponovezer Rosh HayeshiVa, Torah spilled over and permeated enlarged every time he asks some­ Rabbi Elazar Schach N""""' ex­ his love and sense of achrayus one for directions. Similarly, every changed visits, each going out of his (responsibility) for others. person approached by Reb Aharon way to repay the other his earlier Moreover, he saw Torah as the on behalf ofK!etzk represents a new visit. ... During this same trip to prime tool for exercising one's ach­ opportunity for Kiddush Hashem. Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Ruderman paid rayus. He directed his talmidim to By contrast, the other institution a visit to Dayan Weiss of the Eida incorporate Torah lessons in their represents the opposite, and the Hachareidis. The Dayan recipro­ kiruv (outreach) activities. because quicker its moment in the spotlight cated with a visit in which the two Torah possesses powers that are is over the better. engaged in an animated, joyful Torah even supertor to "rap sessions" in Whenever Rabbi Ruderman visited discussion, for over four hours. opening up the hearts of Jews es­ Eretz YisroeL he invariably returned tranged from their heritage. In fact, with personal impressions of the Responsibilityfor Kial Yisroel at a lecture at a Torah Umesorah great men he had met. Following the Convention, he devoted more than Fifth Knessia Gedolah in 1965. for abbi Ruderman taught a half of his presentation to a Dvar instance, he spoke glowingly of his sense of responsibility for Torah, later explaining that Torah meetingwith the Chebiner Rav''"" R Kial by example. To be sure, study in itself is a source of chizuk his atzilus (nobility) had reminded the Torah commands every Jew to and encouragement.

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20 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 honor-and stood in awe for the image of a living Sefer Torah that he projected. Even in the informal setting of Camp Agudah, where he spent the last five summers of his life. he inspired youngsters with his words of encouragement and his interest in their accomplishments-whether memorization of Mishnayos, which they had expected him to appreciate, or the excitement of Color War activ­ ities: "What does the Rosh Haye­ shiva think of our frantic behav­ ior?" they wondered. Indeed, he con­ fided in Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky during a visit that the latter paid him one summer, "A pity we did not have a camp like this for the children of Litta. So many neshomos would have been saved for Torah!" The numerous Roshei Yeshiva that came to visit with him every summer, the respect they demonstrated toward The Rosh Hayeshiva With "":P Rabbi Moshe Sherer and the Bluz.hever Rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Spim him, but most of all, his mere pres­ N"1J''l'J. Rabbi Shmuel Bloom. l. ence, stirred the hearis of all who During the war years. the Yeshiva His Legacy: Kavod Hatorah were privileged to see him ... his lips saved as many people as it could by moving, reviewing volumes of Shas. providing a maximum number of he stature and demeanor of • • • affidavits. The Rosh Hayeshiva the Rosh Hayeshiva was in Our generation was blessed with a served for many years as the chair­ T itself an expression of the living link to the great Mesora of man of the VaadRoshei Yeshiva of magnitude ofTorah greatness. When Torah and Mussar of the Alter, and Torah Umesorah, and was an active he entered the Beis Hamidrash, the ultimately Rabbi Yisroel Salanter member of the Board of Governors of entire Yeshiva rose. of course, in his J"~'· He would often conjecture how Chinuch Atzmai-Torah Schools for Israel. . . . Upon the invitation of With Rabbi Hillel Sittner In Camp Agudah. Rabbi Aharon Kotler, he became in­ volved in Agudath Israel of America, and served as a deeply involved member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, the movement's highest policy-making body. Indeed. he at­ tended the national conventions of Agudath Israel regularly where he honored the gatherings with his addresses. For decades he also maintained regular contact with the organization and was involved in all of its important issues. He urged his talmidim in tum to become involved with Kial work and assume respon­ sibilities within whatever commu­ nity they find themselves. Whether in Rabbonus, Chinuch, lay leader­ ship or professional Kial work. tal­ midim of the Rosh Hayeshiva are well represented and occupy key positions of influence and impor­ tance.

The Jewish Obseroer, November 1987 21 Unyielding dedication to studying and teaching Torah is a trait that is not easily leamed. Yet somehow those who were in the immediate presence qf Rabbi Ruderman learned to love Leaming.

Reb Yisroel would have reacted in a enormous sum in those days, believ­ ous procession, creating a stirring given situation. The Rosh Haye­ ing that the donor was giving away demonstration of Kavod HaTorah. shiva told of the time the shammus all his money and would be left pen­ One Shemini Atzeres. as he was in Dolhinov forgot to bring the kitul niless as a result. Weeks later the entering his home, he turned and (white garment that the chazzan donor's daughter confirmed the told the bachurim at his side, "Look wore) to shul for Shemini Atzeres. Rosh Hayeshiva 's suspicions and up Sanhedrin, 7a." The Gemora The people were veiyupset and pub­ thanked him for his thoughtfulness. there describes how one can avoid licly rebuked the shammus. Draw­ As Reb Yisroel often pointed out, letting kavod go to one's head. ing on what Reb Yisroel might have how important it is to keep one's When thousands of talmidim and said, he pointed out that wearing a priorities in perspective! admirers, rabbonim and laymen, kitul is merely a minhag. a custom, mechanchim and Roshei YeshiVa whereas embarrassing a fellow Jew converged on the Yeshiva Ner Israel publicly and disturbing Simchas campus to bid farewell to Rabbi Yaa­ Yorn Tov are d'Orayso, proscribed in Eveiy Yam Tov, the bachurim kov Yitzchok Ruderman O">i, on the Torah. danced the Rosh Hayeshiva home Sunday, 14 Tammuz, July 12, the During the Yeshiva's early diffi­ from the Yeshiva. When the Yeshiva Kavod HaTorah was overwhelming. cult years, the Rosh Hayeshiva re­ was still located on Garrison Boule­ And the Rosh Hayeshiva could not fused a donation of $1,000, an vard, traffic was stopped for the joy- object.•

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He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. • •

here is an old Yidd. ish s. aying, "If the fool were not mine, I T would laugh, too." Recently Q so-called Jewish "leaders" planned 0 to bask in the glow of Pope John Paul 0 in Miami, scurried to Castel Gan­ dolfo to confront him with their angry protests and righteous de­ mands, emerged from the audience 0 with beatific smiles. and then con­ verged in Miami for the long-planned love-fest on network television. So­ phisticated observers within and without the Catholic hierarchy snickered at the spectacle of the leaders allowing themselves to be /ji had before an audience of billions. We would laugh, too. But even if the participants are not leaders-surely not our leaders-they are still Jews. and their egregious errors in judg­ ment and diplomacy harm us all. The.fools are mine. Just a brief catalogue of the errors: 0 0 • The American Reform Move­ 0 ment arranged for an American tour 0 of an exhibit of Jewish treasures from the Vatican library. As Dr. Man­ fred Lehman has pointed out in a number of national and local publi-

Rabbi Scherman, noted author and lecturer, is general editor of Artscroll, edits Olomeinu(Torah Umesorah's magazine for children) and is a rnernber of the Edit6rial Board of The Jewish Observer. His biographical appreciation of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein )"'.H was featured in the Oct '86 ,JO_

The Jewish Obseroer, November 1987 25 ''TA.u the fool were not mine, I would laugh, too."

cations. the exhibits are but a tiny • Not content to wallow in that tims. He visits the Grand Synagogue fraction of the Jewish books, manu­ folly. the Reform Movement timed in Rome, but delivers three Lenten scripts, and artifacts held by the Vat­ the exhibit to coincide with the sermons in which he identifies the ican, which came into the Church's Pope's visit to the United States. A murderers of his savior as Jews. He possession centuries ago as a result group ofJewish organizationsjoined speaks sternly to Pinochet in Chile, of countless bloody persecutions of in inviting him to address an as­ but he cannot utter a cross word Jews. By right. those treasures semblage of two hundred Jewish about Nazis to Waldheim in Rome. It should long since have been re­ leaders from many sectors of the is important and proper for us to turned to the Jewish people .... It Jewish community. What has the maintain cordial relations and deal­ hardly serves the cause of Jewish Pope done to earn this showcase of ings with the Church. The Torah self-respect to borrow them, and legitimacy as a friend of our people? community as represented by Agu­ render obeisance lo the heirs of those He embraces Arafat but shuns Israel. dath Israel did not support the ve­ who robbed them literally over the He makes a pilgrimage to Auschwitz hement public protests of the Wald­ dead bodies of their owners. but never mentions its Jewish vie- heim affair made by those who later dashed to Miami. But we must stand aghast at this head-long rush to extend a uniquely Jewish welcome THE FIRST REVIEWS ARE IN in Miami. Why must we be more ON JERUSALEM'S NEWEST forthcoming than Protestants and Moslems? TIME SHARING HOTEL: • The Pope receives Waldheim­ and our leaders are up in arms, as if an old sworn friend had betrayed "SUPER!" them. The defenders ofJewish honor - S.D. Herzog storm and rail against the Pope for Kedem Wines daring to greet the president of a New York sovereign Catholic country. True, Waldheim is almost certainly a war criminal, and is a proven liar and an ego maniacal, groveling seeker of un­ "IT'S PERFECT!" earned glory. but the brave protest­ - Eliezer Frankel ers hiding behindAmerican freedom Los Angeles and security fanned the fire of Aus­ trian anti-Semitism, and the sparks of its American counterpart. Every listener to talk shows and readers of "THE PLACE FOR letters to editors knows that typical American Catholics and closet anti­ FUSSY PEOPLE" Semites were enraged by Jewish at­ - Perri Weiss tacks on the Pope. Wise and compas- Brooklyn. NY .

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The Jewish Obseroer. November 1987 26 sionate leaders do not attack mother­ lively, it is one of the greatest Jewish him with a finished speech. He had hood and Popes-unless they are embarrassments in years. but our asked that it include a prayer, but more concerned with headlines than leaders emerge crowing that they theyequivocated-apparentlyitwould with their defenseless brethren. won the Pope's acknowledgment­ be unseemly for a Jewish leader • Our leaders decide to intimidate that the Holocaust was a Jewish addressing the Pope and fifty bishops the Pope. They will boycott him in tragedy! Tum on the television lights to commit the sacrilege of praying to Miami unless he receives them in and on to Miami. Divine Being. To his credit, Rabbi Castel Gondolfo. And theywill deliver • The great event finally takes Waxman risks the wrath of his fellow an internationally publicized rebuke place, as fifty bishops and two hund­ leaders by inserting six lines of pray­ by canceling Miami unless he obliges red Jews gather in an auditorium to er. Then the Pope speaks. In a speech them with a no-holds-barred dis­ listen to a Jewish leader and the in which virtually every paragraph cussion. Again Catholics are angered Pope. The Jewish spokesman, a contains spiritual references-for by Jewish temerity, because in the Conservative rabbi and honorary Catholics. unlike our Jewish leaders, world of diplomacy and cordiality, president of the Synagogue Council have a spiritual heritage-he makes this is perceived as an insulting ofAmerica, reads a speech that could two salient points: The Palestinians threat. Not to meet is one thing, but have been written by a committee. must have a state and Pope Pius XII to cancel a long-planned session is Indeed, it was. As Rabbi Mordecai was a heroic savior of Jews! quite another. But the tactic suc­ Waxman reported in a published Veteran reporters were shocked at ceeds, as the Pope invites the Jews to interview, a committee presented the Pope's bluntness, at his hard line send a five-man delegation to Castel Gandolfo, and the world chuckles as the Jews cannot agree on who should represent them. No less than ten SEMINAR YERUSHALAYIM SARA SCHENIRER SEMINARY leaders, later whittled down to nine, Jerusalem New York must go to Castel Gondolfo and make speeches to the Pope. Such a little nation and so many leaders. They are pleased to announce the opening in fight mightily with a reluctant Vati­ Ellul-5743-September 1988 can Secretariat for the right to de­ mand recognition of Israel and the of the full day, one-year, American Pope's apology for receiving Wald­ heim. Beaming, they grace page one of The New York Times. some of INTENSIVE SEMINARY them with unaccustomed and ill­ fitting yarmulkes balanced precar­ ':1'0)\J)'Nil 1)'Y.l0i1 iously on their heads, yarmulkas This Seminary in its entirety will be under the direction and leadership they don't wear in their professional roles as Jewish clergyman. (Obvious­ of the Menaheles ly, the Pope is more deserving of their respect than is their G-d.) Rebitzen Malka Paretzky The Pope listens to their nine Rebitzen Paretzky, who has earned recognition as a gifted Mechaneches speeches and in the little time they and who has. as a teacher of Seminary and High School students for leave over for him, he replies with not a word about Waldheim but with many years. been an inspiration to her Tulmidos. will oversee and a call for a Palestinian State. Objec- develop every phase of the Chinuch and curriculum of the Intensive Seminary. 1'1 'T'!lN n:i ~ 1'1 In addition. a supplemental program of studies will exist for the advanced student who aspires to LOST & FOUND teach at the High School level. and seeks To announce an object found development towards that goal. Please Call: (718) 436-4999 To find out if your object was Details of the American Intensive Seminary, found Please Call: 718 438-0592 Dormitory Facilities. and registration information available by letter or phone: APublic 8811/n.a ur , ur ah Cammunlcallonr Producers of Dial-A-Dal 4622 14th Avenue. Brooklyn, NY 11219 Dlal-A-Shlur. Mlrhnah-On- The-Phone (718) 633-8557 & Sponsors of Chevra Ml1hnayo1 Bal"Peh

The Jewish Obseroer, November 1987 27 that he must have known would offend his audience, and at his novel thesis that the stony-hearted, silent Pius was a courageous foe of the Holocaust. What a bully pulpit our Jewish leaders had given him to preach what was anathema to them and to humiliate his hosts! It was as if he had seized the moment to say that he would make his own speech­ es and speak his own mind. But they emerged from Miami boasting that they had forced the Pope to be concil­ iatory and to utter code words here and there that presaged a "new be­ ginning in Catholic-Jewish rela­ tions." As another old Yiddish say­ ing puts it, "Spit in his face and he'll say it's raining." How ironic that secular, Reform and Conservative Jews who heap scorn upon the "galus, mah yafzs mentality" ofOr­ thodoxJews should themselves have been shown to be without clothes! if only thefool were not mine!

LESSONS FROM THE FIASCO

hat should we learn from this fiasco? W What an eloquent vindi­ cation of the consistent and long­ standing policy of the Gedolei Yis­ roel! The legitimate Torah leaders of this generation and the last have always ruled that it is permitted­ often required-to deal with the Church on issues of common con­ cern. As the arm of Gedolei Yisroel, Agudath Israel has cooperated with major leaders of the Church hie­ Land of our Heritage re-examines the profound, rarchy on such issues as aid to non­ eternal meaning of Eretz Yisrael in the context of public education, and opposition to Torah tradition, a tradition which has nourished so-called "gay tights" and abortion. the deepest love and yearnings of the Jewish It is forbidden, however, to engage in People for the Land throughout the millennia. religious dialogues or to cravenly With stories of tzaddikim, maps. photos, diagrams extend honors to alien faith com­ and charts, this book is ideal for all who wish to munities. Such distinguished learn more about the holiness of the Holy Land. churchmen as Cardinal O'Connor $14.95 /hardcover and Bishop Maguvero understand and respect the distinction. Within these parameters, there has been close consultation and coopera­ FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS tion-quiet and effective-on issues 200 Airport Executive Park. Spring Valley, NY 10977/914-356-2282 of mutual concern between Orthodox Visa & MasterCard accepted• Out-of-State Toll free 800-237-7149 and Catholic representatives. Send for your free copy of our new catalog In contrast, the Jewish establish­ When in Jerusalem visit our Bookstore: 20 Strauss Street. Tel. {02)233-554 ment loses no opportunity raucously and vehemently to declare its oppo-

28 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 sition to Church-and for that mat· ter, lehavdil, Torah-policy on moral issues, but it expects the Church to show true brotherly love on issues close to Jewish hearts. It is to the credit of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations and the Rabbinical Council of America that they boycotted Miami, and forced the current president of the Synagogue Council of America, an RCA member, to decline the honor of reading the Jewish address at Miami. Premiering ... He was miffed and martyred. and then mollified to some extent by With A Newly C.B.S.'s invitation to cover the event on network television. By so doing, Expanded Ballroom these organizations followed the To Accommodate guidelines issued in written public statement by Rabbi Yosef D. Solo­ Up To 900 Guests veitchik in 1964. It is regrettable, however, that these two Orthodox organizations did not exercise their right to veto the S.CA.'s participa­ tion in Miami. an event they knew to be wrong from the start. even pre­ Waldheim. Likewise, they should .··'~~;~:~~>';~,··· have long since vetoed S.CA. partic· ipation in the International Jewish . $l1mptuous··•··.··... ·.·······~· Appointments Committee on Interreligious Con­ sultations. a body that fosters the New fi06t1'6::ce1ling . sort of dialogues that Rabbi Solo­ River View As You Dine veitchik forbade. Finally, the entire sorry scenario Superlative c'iatt Kosher ~~J~ioe demonstrates yet again the prescient wisdom of the eleven senior roshei Impeccable· Service hayeshiva who. over thirty years ago, banned Orthodox membership in such mixed organizations as the Synagogue Council and the New York THE PERFECT SETTING Board of Rabbis. The sham of Miami proves once more that believers in FOR THE ULTIMATE AFFAIR the Torah don't belong at the same podium with purveyors of aJudaJsm that does not recognize the primacy THE of Torah. The RCA and OU knew that they would be targets of organiza­ QMari1ta del lley tional and national media calumny by publicly shunning Miami and Throgs Neck, N.Y. pulling their colleague from its ros­ trum. In doing so, they displayed courage and principled behavior. For Accommodations From 300 to 900 People that. they have earned respect. In the Paradise Caterers light-or the darkness-of Miami, may we hope that they will finally The Exclusive Glatt Kosher Caterers make a clean break with Jewish At The Marina Del Rey groups that espouse a religion that (718) 627-0072 denies the origin and authority of the Torah and its sages.•

The Jewish Observer. November 1987 29 Home Attendants

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32 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 unity-until Boston's Orthodox Rabbinate objected to Rabbi Polin's Letters participation in such a conference on their home turf." The fact of the to the matter is that this "Boston Orthodox Rabbinate" consisted entirely of members of the RCA I might per· Editor haps believe that you were not aware of that were it not for the fact that in the RCA as if to suggest that these the same paragraph you quote The THE RCA AND THE Boston Advocate in support of your "TORAH COMMUNITY" are two different worlds. The RCA is as much part of the Torah commun· views. Yet it is the same Boston ity as any other group within Or· Advocate which mentioned the To the Editor: thodoxy. We build the same Yeshi· names of Rabbi Gershon Gewirtz Permit me to comment on the edi· vos, we establish the same Mikvaos, and myself in that communication to rial which appeared in the May '87 we are opposed to and by the same issue of The Jewish Obseroer with foes and battle the same opponents. DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM reference to the statement composed Thus to speak of the RCA as being by and sent out by Rabbi Milton separate and apart from the Torah ,tiip? ,n:i ,tiip? Polin, President of the Rabbinical community is not only factually Council of America, with Kassel wrong but is nothing short of insult· '7":YT i:Vt:>':i.K ':i.K1r.ll!l l"i'lii'lt.l Abelson and Jack Stern of the Con· ing to the sacred work performed by Available at servative and Reform rabbinical members of the RCA for Torah and LEKUTEI groups. While I cannot quarrel too Yiddishkeit in the United States for c/o Yitzchok Rosenberg much with the substance of your half a century. You say in your arti· 10 \.Yest 47th Street, Room 503 comments, since many members of de: "Rabbi Polin no less than the Ne\\' York, NY 10036 the RCA felt that such a statement publishers of The Jewish Obseroer (212) 719-1717 was not productive in terms of Jew· accept the validity of Rambam's 20 Volumes on Turah, Perek, ish unity, I do have to make two Thirteen Principles of Faith." That is Medrash, Megilos and Talmud. points rather strongly. the crux of the matter, and we may To us Rabbi Pollin joining in the differ only with regard to imple· Proceeds of sales distributed an1ong Yeshivas and used for statement with which some of us men ting that validity. Therefore, let reprinting of volu1nes out-of-print disagreed in no way diminishes the us no longer speak of the RCA and friendship and respect which all the Torah community as if these PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME members of the RCA have for him. were two opposing groups. The RCA is not monolithic in its Secondly, you say in your editorial, views, but it is in the battle for "Thus a conference in celebration of supremacy and sovereignty of the newly rediscovered Jewish unitywas KOLLEL Shulchan Aruch in Jewish life. scheduled to be held in Boston's AMUD YOMI Having said this let me come to the Conservative Congregation Mishkan will rl"'N be 0 111!1 o»tn:i two points. You speak in your editor· Tefila, bringing together the signa· ial of the "Torah community" and tors of this unprecedented call for on ''"' 'i The 't.ll' i1J:l)l was conceived by

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The Jewish Observer, November 1987 33 making it obvious that the objection EDITORIAL COMMENT: CONDEMNATION OF came not from some mysterious "RABBI ALTER" Boston Orthodox Rabbinate but in­ Members of the RCA are, indeed. HARSH AND UNJUST deed from Boston members of the veiy much involved in projects and RCA propogation of values that without To the Editor: I think the time has come to accept equivocation place them in the heart that there are differences within the of the "Torah community." The edi­ "Rabbi Gershon Mark" in the cover Orthodox community which are leg­ torial in question did not mean to letter to his article, "The Nine Days. itimate and within the framework of imply that generally speaking the My Introduction to Industrial Kash­ what all of us hold to be holy. These RCA is outside of the Torah com­ rus" (JO Sept. '87). states that he differences exist within the RCA and munity. The editorial dealt exclu­ does "not intend to malign any per­ within the rest of the Orthodox sively with joining hands organiza­ son" and therefore has changed all community. Let us accept the fact tionally, in fraternity, with groups names. While the general public may that they exist and work together for that denyTorah and the authority of indeed by unaware of their true the sake of Torah and Klal Yisroel. its sages. The RCA has done this, in identities, those in the KashTllS field RABBI FABIAN SCHONFELD defiance of a historic ruling by lead­ can immediately recognize the per­ Young Israel qf Kew Garden Hills ing Roshei Yeshiva over thirty years sonalities involved. I therefore feel Flushing, New York ago. In this specific sense, the RCA's compelled to respond to the author's (The writer is ajonner president of the position is outside the Torah com­ harsh. unjust and unfounded con­ Rabbinical Council of America.) munity. demnation of "Rabbi Alter." Rabbi Mark writes that "eveiy de­ tail in this article is completely true." While I do not doubt the accuracy of the facts presented, Ldo take issue with his determination of fault at THE DRAWING BOARD the conclusion of the article. which is purely subjective and factually AN INVITATION flawed. "Rabbi Alter" is recognized, by both To Set The Tone For Your Affair Rabbonimand those in the KashTllS field. as one of the foremost experts Stock or Custom Invitations by RKA in the difficult areas of industlial For Weddings and all Occasions KashTllS supervision. He is regularly consulted by the most highly res­ R•S•V•P pected KashTllS authorities and or­ For An Appointment ganizations. Some of our most pro­ minent KashTllS experts received a Rachael Krawiec Associates significant amount of their training (718) 376-2335 without any obligation from Rabbi Alter. To say that "Rabbi Alter's entiy into the field ofhashga­ cha was an act of our ignorance; his continued status as an independent INSURANCE BROKERS & CONSULTANTS mashgiach is an act of our negli­ Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Life & Health gence.'' is a defamation of character. This is not to minimize the seri­ ousness of the problems encountered at "Northbridge Chemicals": "United WJELGJJER!{c§JSSLI.~ Kashrus's" inadequate supervision in the past. and its lack of detailed 718-851-7000 6010 - 15th Avenue/Brooklyn, I'/. Y. 11219 knowledge regarding the plants operation. However, it was to be • PROFESSIOl'IAL SERVICE • Rabbi Mark's task to remain for the • QUAL/7Y 11'/SURAf'ICE CARRIERS • three week Kosher run and d uling • COMPETITIVE PREMIUMS • that time learn all the intricacies of the plant's operation.

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34 The Jewish Observer. November 1987 THE AUTHOR RESPONDS:

As Rabbi Broyde himself points out, the situation at Northbridge ~ /"low Celebratin9 Our 2oth Anniversary in Israel was inadequate. My task was to learn . ~ Modern luxurious campus in the beautiful resort cily of Nelanya •The all the intricacies of the plant's opera­ ~,,.. finest. best. most comprehensive and mtensive touring program ~~~~r~'-ef~ available anywhere• Mature experienced stall• Excellent campmg tion during the assigned three program mcludes all sports. swimming, learning and leisure • weeks.-BUT then how could I be ~ 1' ~ Conversational Hebrew • Make everlasting friendships with boys expected, as told, to provide the from many counlries • Kashrut and Shabbat strictly observed Northbridge product with a Kash­ ~~1.?Sj PRICE s2 295 PRICE s2 495 rus certification for the same three­ = BOYS 9-11 , BOYS 12·17 , """'"""'='II This 11rice is !ar early registration only lbetore Feb 881 price includes air!are week run? It is an inherent contra­ Your choice of 3 alternate programs diction which made my assignment THE GREATEST MOST I • Tour A· "Touring and Camping in Israel" {or first timers impossible and which highlights a MEMORABLE SUMMER •Tour B · "lsraelOfftheBeatenPath" a 2nd year program problem in Kashrussupervision that OF YOUR LIFE •Tour C· "Masmidim Touring Program" providing a more intense learning program combined with superb touring had to be addressed. Don't take our word !or it· ask the thousands of happy youngsters who over the past 19 years have joined us for There was, however, a statement the greatest. most enjoyable. exciting and memorable summer in their lives! that should not have been included For free color brochure and itinerary call or write in the article. Based on my personal Camp S de1 Chemed International Rabbt Eli Te1!elbaum Executive Director 1618 43rd Street Brooklyn NY 1120417181 633 t909 experience, I made some disparag­ or Rabbi Moshe Gottesman Director of Tours !516] 764 5834 ing remarks about Rabbi Alter's role in Kash111S. I since learned that Rabbi Alter is considered one of the foremost experts in the field in this area of Kash1115 supervision. Some­ one with so much expertise certainly has a place in Kash111S supervision. Celebrate! Furthermore, in assessing the sub-standard supervision at North­ Our 10th Is A bridge, it would be inappropriate to leave Rabbi Alter holding the bag for Golden Anniversary! the past or present inadequacies of its hashgacha. He was never the November '87 mashgiach at Northbridge, and he Our collection of the newest 14k gold, never certified the Kash111S of its products. He was retrained by the diamond, bracelets, chokers. and earrings. UK only in a consultative capacity to CHOSON AND KALLAH JEWELRY help me get started at Northbridge. The ultimate responsibility for the MEN'S 14K GOLD DESIGNER CUFF LINKS shortcomings of the Northbridge supervision must be borne by the FREE GIFTS GALORE! UK, which had administered its supervision for all these years. While ------·" . undoubtedly UK has heterim for ap­ proving foods containing North­ CHANUKA GELT bridge products, Kashrus con­ Cash in This Gold Rebate of $10 sumers of the J 980's expect-and With Purchase of $100 or More are entitied to-higher standards Our Chanukah Gift To You not compromised along the lines of Offer good December 1 thru December 27 1940 practices. A reference was made to the "vil­ lainous Rabbi Alter" near the end of the article. This might have been ~7~ 1577 51st Street Hrs: Daily 11-5 misunderstood by some to be judg­ mental. In fact, this reference was only a sarcastic medium to express the fallacy of labeling Rabbi Alter a villain.

The Jewish Obseroer, November 1987 35 I would like to add that any hurt ROOKIES ON ON-SITE leagues. Furthermore, the "on-siter" caused to Rabbi Alter is deeply INSPECTION is a convenient and expendable regretted. scapegoat in the event that matters May it be Hashem's will that my To the Editor: go amiss. article should spawn a great im­ I believe that Rabbi Mark. with his It was with much interest that I provement in Kashrus, as I intended. limited expertise, admirably asserted read Rabbi Gershon Mark's article RABBI GERSHON MARK himself against the seasoned plant on industrial kashrus. Until recently, managerwith whom he dealt. I know I held a U.S. Government job that We join Rabbi Mark in expressing firsthand that one requires strength, also entailed on-site inspection vis­ regret for any pain caused to "Rabbi determination, and character in its to contractor facilities. Although Alter." order to stand firm under the im­ my particular job did not deal with To be sure, none of us was familiar mense situational pressures faced kashrus or food, I can well relate to with the identity of Rabbi Alter at by Rabbi Mark. If top-notch individ­ Rabbi Mark's situation as an inter­ the time the article was published, uals cannot be attracted to become loper in a contractor's plant. nor did we believe that he would be our mashgichim, then our kashrus Be he a U.S. Government analyst recognized by the readership of The standards will be dictated by the or a mashgiach, the "on-site" man Jewish Obseroer. plant managers and not the mash­ too often receives Inadequate infor­ THE EDITORIAL BOARD gichim who should be making such mation, inadequate authority. and determinations. inadequate backing from his home Never before have so many Jews office. He will frequently deal with been so imperiled by potential break­ ZAVE corporate officials who not only out­ downs in kashrus. The "great vinegar number the "on-site" man and his fiasco" of two years ago is but a taste SHER UN colleagues, but who also have indi­ of what can occur if our kashrus ORCHESTRA vidual salaries substantially in ex­ situation goes sour. cess of the "on-siter." This disparity But paradoxically. kashrus con­ (718) 434-3540 is all the worse when the "on-siter" is sciousness and observance is grow­ on solo assignment, with no support ing amongArnertcan Jewry, includ­ and encouragement from his col- ing many Jews who were not raised in kosher homes. The unprecedented overflow crowds at the Javits Con­ vention Center last March attest to that fact. There has never been a more opportune time to advance availability and variety of kosher food. We must seize the opportunity by addressing the issues brought to • Unauthorized Symbols light in Rabbi Mark's article. • Supervision Changes KH.RYEsKY • New Products East Northport. N. Y. 6Problems 1. Do you know when a product bears an unauthorized symbol? PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE 2 , Who will tell you when a product is mislabeled? b ·i· d? ONKASHRUS 3. When supervision changes or is removed wil 1y.o_u _e nob .1e • 4. Do you know which kosher products contain dairy 1ngred1ents and are not To the Editor: listed as dairy? . . ? I am writing to you with an inter­ 5, Would you like to know which products are kosher w~hou~ sym~o]s. f k h esting personal stoiy that relates to 6. How can you keep your kosher kitchen up-to-da;e w en t e sta us o os er the Kashrus article in the September products and establishments constantly ch;.a:.::ng~e_s_. ______issue of The Jewish Obseroer. The 1 ri71 -·§/ IS PLEASE MAIL TO article clearly represents the Kash­ 1 ~ @ ~ ~ <+ -·· f< ~ ~;:~;3~~'. ~i~w~:~:e~~~~~~ervice Dept. rus situation today in the United ~ /;!iJ 00 ~ <:::!!j,/ ~ {;> ~ PJeose enter m;.· subscripuon os follow> States. I have learned in a number of W. l!!/ Q ~ ~ "' CJ$12-lyr 0$22-2yrs 0$30·3yr:s Ill(/) R,\ ~·!}{ 'fJ6'~8 l"tf ~ ~ o Now 0 Rooewol D Gih yeshivos including Telshe-Chicago, ~ ""1 ~ ~ Also, please send a set of bock issues Mir in Jerusalem, and Torah Vodaath ~ ~ ® ;:) 'iJ' ~ ~~~~:1;;~en1@$!0 in New York. I am currently a mar­ ;;: &> '"°" . . ~ ~ tl'1N•m;J£..•------keting manager with a leading food ~'!:J El • IWIM" /Kl ~ f..~JM;:;.- ;..:;'·"""'"'"''------manufacturing firm. S1ate ,, Subscrlbe now and receiwe five 40~page C11 When I was fifteen. I was home for blmonth_ly issues of KASHRUS Magazine. Pleose ollov: up lo 8 week; for firs! issue w a,fiue a bein hazmanim (intersession)

36 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 from yeshiva and was asked to be mashgiach in a factory in my local town. For forty dollars, the half day of , I work was well worth the effort. Of I course, I asked the Rav's assistant, 'What should I be looking for?" And was told, "Don't worry, just go there." I persisted, but was again told, "There's nothing to look for, just be there." While at the factory, I began snooping around. This was my first expertence in a factory and I found it very exciting. I noticed that at one point on the line. every ten minutes one of the workers would feed in a box of shortening to the machinery. On the floor, there were six boxes lined up. The first two were vegetable shortening, the next four were lard. When I asked the worker, 'What Is this lard? This is a Kosher produc­ tion run!" he responded, "Oh, golly. Rabbi Jr., you're rtght!" There's no doubt that these types of incidents are fairly common and we take it for granted that many fac­ tortes need more than a fifteen-year­ old novice sitting around. The interesting thing was that a few months later, while on a visit to New York, I saw empty cans of pro­ duct from this factory behind the counterofa bakery, under very strict hashgachos. It is clear that even the best hech­ shar is only as good as the weakest link in the raw material chain. JOSEPH ABRAHAM "[)ad, thi1· is lhruid. /-le has his f)orlorate from l'vf/T, hisfather i1· Union, New Jersey Chairrnan o/,Vational ()if, and, he brought the Barttnura Asti!" MATANA GALLERY Irresistibly delicious, and SO IMPRESSIVE! 4906 18th Ave. That's Bartenura Asti Spumante, Brooklyn, N.Y. (718) 851-4448 the exciting wine in the stately bottle. Jewish books, JwlaU:a, Taleisim You11 find Bartenura Soave, and Valpolicella Mezuzos, personalized Talis bag;, equally delightful too, because no other wines Tefilinbag;, Yarmulkasandchalah taste like, or say "Elegance" better. cove~ records and tapes, lucite, silver, semi-preciow;stones andgold BAKIENURA jewelry. Imported from Italy by Kedem, of course.

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The Jewish Obseroer, November 1987 37 tion. lmagine, then, my chagrin when SOLVING THE KASHRUS teachers' training programs for men, PROBLEM which were created in the United in his conclusion Rabbi Mark places States after the war to replace the old the blame for Kashrus not on the To the Editor: fashioned melame

38 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 kosher product and have always son may be necessity to the other. considered it a privilege to fulfill the But as a whole. what pride can Kial mitzva of eating kosher food. Yisroel derive from this? Ifone could PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS No, the kosher consumer is not imagine Moshiach coming and ask­ OF guilty of indiscriminate gluttony nor ing, 'What have you accomplished of unwillingness to pay the price for since the destruction of the Beis GEDO LIM kashrns, but we have been very naive. Hamikdash ?'We can answer. "Shas LARGEST SELECTION MRS. Z. ROSENFELD Bavli, Yernshalmi, ShulchanAruch, 3 !12" x 5" for your collectlon Monsey, New York etc. down to our last generation, 5-" x 7" up to 16" x 20" for display Mishnah Berurah, Kovetz Shiurim. PROMOTING KOSHER Igros Moshe-even to our contem­ INDULGENCE porarywealth ofAnglo Jewish litera­ ture. the Artscroll Series, the mon­ 5321 13th Avenue Brocikly~, NY 11219 To the Editor: umental works of Rabbi Aryeh Kap­ (n8} sst.0600 lan J">l and the great many Torah Looking at your Second Looks on Tapes." But how much pride can we -_- --- - "The Kosher Food & Jewish Life Expo" (lyar 5747), !was reminded of the famous Ramban on "Kedoshim tihiyu ... you shall be holy." which explains that one can indulge him­ self in Olam Hazeh (this world) without committing any transgres­ sions. This is called naval birshus haTorah, a boor within the realm of niiri iMM Contest the permissible. Isn't a fair where manufacturers On niiri .,~~,M M~~M can promote their products also in­ ducing the multitudes to indulge in Olam Hazeh, birshus haTorah?Of course abstinence is very relative: 1st Prize ...... ·•·.. · what is an extravagance to one per- Free Round Trip Ticket to Etetz '\.'Isroel! Hundreds of runner-up prizes totaling up to gi5,000! The .contest is open to all boys in grades 7 & 8 HOTLINE residing In the U.SA. & Canada. TO JERUSALEM ----~-~ The coptest is divided into 2 parts------­ In time of illness. surgery or crisis. special prayers will be Part 1 - LocalContest-Al!Yeshivas Part 2 - Natiolll!l Contest - All the recited at the Western Wall and & I lebrew Day Schools may participate local. winners and any other student at our Yeshiva in Jerusalem. In this contest by administering a in grade 7 &8mayenterthenatlon\\ide special test on the n11n 'll'O\n n'lion in test to be given i1"'N on Lag B'Omer CALL 24 HOURS their local school.111.e winner in each May 5, '88. The test will be comprised (718) 871-4111 school will recei\"e g100 in prize oflOOshortanswerquestionsonthe A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE OF money plus a beautiful certificate entire niln 'lllr.3ln nwon ( Rashi and The American Rabbi Meir suitable for framing. All schools Meforshim are notincluded).Incase Baal Haness Charity mustsubmittheirwinnersbyPesach of a tie there will be tie-breaker KOLEL AMERICA of 5748. questions. The \\'inner will recei\'e a FREE ROUND TRlP TICKET TO.ERETZ KADDISH \1SROEL. Hundreds ofothcr prizes will be awarded to runners up. In fact all Mishnayoth. Yizkor & Yortzeit boys SC<>ring above &5(JL \\'ill receive a prize. observed with a minyon in our !'lease Note: The purpose of tl1is contest is to stin1ulate a stronger emphasis Yeshiva Heichal Rabbi Meir on the ktto\vlcdge and study of niln 'WOln 11\!.lt.)n. Baal Haness in Jerusalem. Contest Sponsored by CALL TORAH COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (718) 871-4111 Sponsors ofDial~A·Dill. Dtal-A~Shiur, r-.ttshnah-On-'Thc-Phone and Chc\·m ~Ushnayos B'al Pch. For addltionat information please call our office at (718) 436-4999 or \\'lite 'f.C.N. 132 Nassau St., N.Y., N.Y. 10038 01un1ash Contest. 1618-43rd St., B'klyn, N.Y. 11204

The Jewish Observer. November 1987 39 take In a display of 16,000 varieties we are plagued by designer Judaism EDITORIAL COMMENT: of palatable kosher-yes. glatt ko­ and the pursuit of pleasure which sher-delicacies? can corrode our society from within." The writer would probably wel­ Iwouldliketoend with a thought­ Maybe we should take a deeper come a large teshuva gathering, provoking quote from Rabbi Braf­ look when takinga "Second Look" at overflowing the facilities of the Jav­ man's profound article (JO Feb '87): the Jewish Scene? its Convention Center in Manhat­ "Sabbath desecration or laxities on NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST tan. So would we. The writer decries Kashrus no longer tempt us. Today Monsey, New York the atmosphere of self-indulgence that pervaded the Kosher Expo last March. So did theJ.O. article on the For the Yeshiva Student and Businessman topic. There are other aspects of the Expo that we may take exception to, as well. These are besides the point. the beonstcl~ First, the tens of thousands of vis­ itors to the Expo testify to the vib­ FOR YOUNG MEN ... AND MEN NOT SO YOUNG rancy of Orthodoxy. In spite of all the THE BE-ALL AND END ALL IN MALE OUTERWEAR predictions of the imminent disap­ pearance of Orthodox Jewry In SPORTSWEAR, DRESSWEAR, AND EVEN UNDERWEAR America thirty-forty years ago, there is a decided upswing in interest In PREPPY SIZE 21 TO MEN'S HARD-TO-FIND SIZES and commitment to a Torah way of life. Kosher ls in. LET OUR TRADEMARK PERSONAL SERVICE In addition. there are hundreds of GUIDE -BUT NEVER PUSH- YOU thousands ofJewish consumers who kashrus 1314 Ave. P (side door) SUN. TUES. WED. THURS. 11-5 view as an area of conflict. Municipal Parking around the corner FRI. 12-4 and find its strictures an obstacle to 718-627-8724 EVES. MON. & WED. 7:30-10 living the good life as they envision it. The Expo demonstrated very It's worth a trip from anywhere for our Open Motzaei Shabbos, legal Holidays dramatically that almost all of the TRADITIONAL and UPDATED collections & Erev Yorn Tov culinary delights that tempt the Jew of coats, suits, sweaters, shirts, slacks and Appointments Welcome of marginal commitment are avail­ much more. We Ship UPS able to him without compromise. As a case In point. a teacher who es­ corted her 6th grade class from Ye­ shiva R'tzahd (virtually all of her

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40 The Jewish Observer. November 1987 ~NNA SITED Louis Glueck and Envin Salomon as told to Miriam Stark Zakon

Whatever has been, is what will be; and whatever has been done is what will be done. So says Koheles (1,9).

TODAY-AND FORTY YEARS AGO Thirty-seven dedicated Rabbonim and laymen visited the Austrian capital two months ago to see first-hand the he cyclical character of this world was much in work that the Agudath Israel World Organization is evidence at a recent Agudath Israel mission to doing with young refugees from Middle Eastern terror. T view hatzalah efforts now taking place in Austria. For two of them, Erwin Salomon and Louis Glueck, the The time was now-and forty years ago. The place: the trip brought with it an especial poignancy, a sharp, ines­ peaceful, clean streets of Vienna-and the grim barracks capable echo of past days. ofcamps for the "displaced persons'" of the Second World Messrs. Salomon and Glueck are businessmen who War in Germany and Austria. The situations were inar­ devote much of their time to a host of causes important guably different-and yet. in a haunting, striking way. to Kial Yisroel-two American Jewish success stories. if the same. you will. Forty years ago, they were refugees. Mrs. Zak.on, translator of Artscroll's English language Tzena Urena, and "As I visited the refugees in Vienna," says Mr. Salomon, author of several novels on Jewish themes for teenagers, is a frequent con­ tributor to The Jewish Obseroer. most recently, "The Sad, Sad Triumph of "I reminded myself of-and actually relived-the cold Opher Mahler. (Feb. '86). winter of 1946. It was January or February when 'Mike'

The Jewish Observer, November 1987 41 NOW AVAILABLE TO AGUDATH ISRAEL MEMBERS Comprehensive Major Medical Health Insurance Program For Information Call:

212-797-7388 Mike Tress in Feldaflng D.P. camp, 1946. Between 9:30 and 12:30 PM Tress came to visit us. Looking at the eyes of those youngsters in Vienna when they met Rav Schechter*-it was my own eyes that I was seeing." Elimelech-Mike-Tress was the almost legendary leader of Zeirei Agudath Israel of America who oversaw the organization's multi-faceted relief and rescue activi­ ties before, during and after World War II, activities whose scope and effectiveness are only today becoming recognized. In I 946, Tress donned the uniform of UNRRA and A tale to travelled to the blood-stained, burned-out shores of post­ war Europe to see for himself what could be done for the warm your heart on she'eiris ha'pleitah there. His trip to the Displaced Per­ a cold winter's night sons Camp in Landesbergh, Germany, was just one two­ day stop on a busy itinerary. For Salomon it was a watershed. Snowbound in a cave "It gave us all tremendous chizuk. Though our physi­ in the Tatras mountains cal needs were provided for, it meant an awful lot to us to of Moravia, Zalman the be visited by someone from America, someone who came itinerant peddler lights to see what our spiritual needs were." his menorah. With only With the dogged determination to rebuild that has his thoughts and a stray marked the Jewish experience in golus since the days of cat for company, Zalman Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai and his sages of Yavneh is captured by bandits after the destruction of the Second BeisHamikdash, the and manages to survive refugees in Landesbergh had begun setting up the by his wits and his faith. infrastructureofYiddishkeit-yeshiva, mikva, kashrus The exciting story of his availability-that marks a Torah community. Tress's escape mingles religious visit signified that their efforts to rebuild the Torah way devotion with warmth, oflifewere not in vain, that somewhere beyond the sea in adventure and humor. a world left unshattered and undestroyed and unbeliev­ hardcover $10.95 ably flourishing, were others like them, others who cared paperback $ 8.95 for them and cried for them and longed to help them, Louis Glueck, too, was a refugee forty years ago-right there in Vienna. "I was there, under the same circum­ 0 stances as those youngsters that! met last month. There g;~r'c;~·~i",;; ;ue'L;5~·E~s one difference, though: Then, there was hardly anyone to 200 Airport Executive Park. Spring Valley, NY 10977 care." Tel. 914-356-2282. Visa & MasterCard Accepted For Glueck, the Viennese streets recalled days of wait· Out-of-State Toll free 800-237-7149 Ing and uncertainty: In 1946, as a refugee himself: a Send lor your free copy of our new Illustrated catalog decade later, when he travelled back to assist his aged When tn Jerusalem visit our Bookstore: 20 Strauss St. *The Rosh HayeshivaofMesivta Chaim Berlin Gur Aryeh, who was one of the 37 people on the Vienna trip.

42 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 parents, themselves now refugees, fleeing the Commu­ nists in the crackdown in Hungruy. "This was my third SINGLE & DOUBLE BREASTED visit. But the difference, hopefully, is that now there are * MENS' SmTS * the people, and the means. to care."

ENCOUNTERING OLD LIVES SILBIGER'S

• Slacks * R.::1invve;:u· n the years that have passed since those cold, bitter days in the war's aftermath. those who survived the * 1\ll VVool Coats * Sports Jackets I Nazi flames have toiled in factmies and storefronts [Jrtbclit:vable Prices and offices, have learned new languages and new ways of 17GD .Sl St.. Brooklyn, i\f\' (71C1) B54-11Hb life. Many have prospered in their new lives: none have Daily 4:00 p.rn.-9:00 p.ni.; Sunday r\11 I)ay forgotten their old lives. Which is what makes the encounters between yester­ Silbiger Suits You Best day's refugees and those of today so affecting. The men and women who are living in Vienna awaiting visas, the young people who frequent the Agudath Israel Vienna Center, who enjoy its free kosher meals and even ARNOLD WARSHAVCHIK, A.S.A .. M.A.A.A. more, the shiurim, the classes, and the warmth and car­ Enrolled Actuary ing to be found there, are in many respects very different from their Eastern European counterparts of the 1940s. Pension Plan Consultant The homes they have left behind bear little resemblance to the shtetl: their family traditions are in may ways Defined Benefit Profit Sharing unlike that of the Ashkenazic mesorah Money Purchase 40l(k) But they have left their homes behind: they have their families behind. In all the essentials, they are the same. "One of the young people started to cry to me-'! don't Day (212) 344-1400 know what is happening to my mother, who was left Eves (718) 339-7674 behind,' "Salomon muses. "I told them-'What you went through, I went through!' 1 let them know that I can identify with their plight." Looking for a RoshKollel in an already established Kolle! outside the U.S.A. -Excellent remuneration- -Excellent Jiving conditions- • Chinuch available for children up to 7 yrs of age • Will consider minimum two year committment

SALVAGED: ONE SOUL . .. AND GENERATIONS TO COME All applications will be held in strictest confidence. heir personal triumph over unthinkable adver­ sity, their part in the unprecedented growth of Please reply to: T Torah despite the fiendish plot to lead it to extinc­ Jewish Observer tion through the Final Solution. has given both men a Box 100-84 William Street, NYC 10038 more far-reaching view of the Jewish destiny than many of us who have grown up in peace and prosperity can

The Jewish Observer. November 1987 43 understand. We see. in these newcomers to our shores, the chance to strengthen the commitment to Torah observance ofyoung people who may fall by the wayside if left unsupported in a new and strange environment; they see the dams-generations to come. 'We see how the ones who are not firmly attached to a religious way oflife might fall away," Salomon says. "But our work that's being done there day after day has an impact on everyone there ... on their own lives-that they will lead religious lives and go to yeshiva-and on the future generations, as well." "These boys and girls want to be Jews,'' Glueck agrees. "They grew up in an atmosphere of tradition and obser­ vance. They want their children to grow up Jewish. The question is-will we in America give them the help that they need?" That help, that assistance that combines the mitzvos Famous of pidyon sh'vuyim, of kiruv rechokim, and of plain unadulterated chessed, focuses mostly on Vienna, with The Dairy Restaurant hundreds of kosher meals served daily-hearty. tasty fare 222 Wesr 72nd Street (212) 595-8487 that includes with it the promise of compassion and caring. Help means young families who pull up roots and Cholov Yisroel • Shomer Shobbos travel through time zones and reach across culture zones Under the Supervision of K'hal Adath Jeshurun to meet and teach and talk with the youngsters through all hours of the day and half the night. It encompasses the Open for [lreakfast, Luncheon and Dinner Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshiva, and businessmen who Catering • Parties • Meetings somehow find the time to follow Mike Tress's footsteps and visit foreign shores to see for themselves, to offer assistance and advice, to again give the message that can never be repeated often enough: Someone cares for your welfare. And to bring the message back to us, stateside, that our help is channeled and well utilized.

PROJECT VIENNA . .. AND BEYOND

he so-called Vienna Project began as a kosher kit­ chen, providing lunch for Jews who had fled per­ BENNY'S T secution and who were awaiting visas in Vienna PHOTO• ELECTRONICS• GIFTS Soon, the need-and the desire-for Jewish education sparked a new phase of the project, as husband-and-wife (718) 853-8888 teams of mechanchim were dispatched for stints rang­ 4717 13th Avenue • Boro Park, Brooklyn ing from three months to two years. The main beneficiar­ ies of their dedication were the youth, teenagers left to Lowest Prices! Big Savings! virtually fend for themselves in the big, strange city. COME IN AND SAVE WE CARRY A FULL LINE OF FEIVEL KIRSHENBAUM, PH.D. CAMERAS • RADIOS • TVs • STEREOS • Registered Investment Adviser VIDEOS• TELEPHONES• GIFTS• WATCHES• . WALL CLOCKS • RECORDS •TAPES Authorized Seiko, Pulsar, Bulova dealer Money Management and Financial Advising WE HAVE A FULL LINE OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES FOR EXPORT 220 V Fee only. No sales or commissions. DEVELOPING SERVICE 503 OFF (914) 352-1919

44 The Jewish Observer, November 1987 Ellul,5747 Rabbi Shmuel Blum and Rabbi Michel Gruss, Agudath Israel Dear Reb Shmuel N''~')W: , .. The reason for this unsolicited note of tribute is mystrongfeeling of administration, having watched Rabbi Avi _ his wife, and other volunteers doing such an extraordinruyjob in your program in Vienna. I had the privilege of observing at close range what these inspired young people are doing, as when we shared the meal atAvi's home with twenty seven young people Friday night and Shabbos. Not sincethedaysofourHatzalahworkat616BedfordAvenue,duringthe 40's, have I experienced such pure joy and Mesiras Nefesh, andAha­ vas Yisroel at work, as these unfortunate, yet fortunate, young men and women, and some of their parents and young children were made to feel wanted, to being among friends ... to experience the happiness of doing mitzoos .... Not only were they being cared for physically and A full time yeshiva, housed in the Ohel Moshe Syn­ emotionally, but their whole being in that atmosphere, seemed suf­ agogue in Vienna, was founded to accommodate the fused with appreciation of what Yiddishkeit is all about. The sheer more responsive students. At this writing, forty boys are all-consumingwork of organization, of caring for evetyphase of these enrolled in this yeshiva. A supper program has been people-not just their dovening, tefillin, Shabbos belts and yar­ instituted for the full-time students. mulkes, but the systematic teaching and learning-as most of them And then, a new phase, as more Jews arrived, and as had never done before, the need to provide funds that most of the time the need grew more and more apparent: Taking care of had to be borrowed first watching all this take place in a veritable families who needed chizuk as well. whirlpool of constant activity seemed mind-boggling. Young people Today's statistics: Between four hundred and five gravitate to these volunteers, whom they call fondly Mr. Avi .... hundred daily visitors to the program (out of a total The way the young girls and yeshiva bachurlm gave so much of refugee population of about 900 ). Forty children enrolled themselves, had displayed so much poise and courage to teach and in a pre-school program-the only one of its kind availa­ broach such difficult topics as Tahatas Hamishpacha, practical ble in Vienna. Ten mechanchim relocated to Vienna. Kashrus, etc. made us proud of the work of our yeshivas and Bais Indicative of the success of the chinuch, requests flood Yaakov. This was Agudath Israel in action, in the way the founders the program for tashmishei kedusha. One hundred could have not anticipated in their wildest dreams when they first thousand dollars is spent on tefillin, taleisim, mezuzos, formulated the program at Katowitz. and Siddwim with translation. When I observed Mr.Avi spending more thanan hour after daven­ The help that is delivered in Vienna, continues right ingwith the youngsters, with older men who had to leave their fami­ here in the United States. We Americans offer our homes lies behind, with women with babies in their arms, tears of gratitude and help find jobs. Schools find tutors and scholarship in their eyes, arranging for hair cuts, for clothes, for food, and living funds and the special care that children without families quarters, as well as for the more weighty matters concerning the close by need: Ner Israel in Baltimore, Chaim Berlin and affidavits and continuing learning at American yeshivos-all this Bais Yaakov Academy in Brooklyn, and Valley Torah High before he could go home to eat breakfast!-reminded me of watching School in California, actually develop full programs tai­ "Mike" Tress '"~t doing the same in that corner of the Beis Hamid­ lored especially for the new arrivals. rash in the old Yeshiva Torah Vodaath on Wilson Streetevecymorning in the early years of the Hatzalah work. I could go on for hours describing the ecstasy of the youngsters WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE HOMELESS dauening, sirtging Zemiros, dancing enthusiastically when they bid farewell to-I two of their teachers! and some of the people who were ouis Glueck knows what it's like to be homeless, leaving for America-the experience was overwhelming and I prom­ and to feel that no one cares. For him, the mission ised to myself that Iwould thank you andRabbi Gruss for the fantastic L to Vienna was one way to personally ensure that work you are doing here through these young people. I do know of the these young people do not experience that cold. lonely. tremendous headaches and heartaches involved in this work-but despairing feeling. believe me it will take the retrospect of distance of time to realize the Erwin Salomon knows what it's like to be homeless, historic dimensions of what you, Agudath Israel, and these young and to feel that someone does care. Tress's two day visit tzaddikim are doing in Vienna. was the first of many encounters between the two men, the start of a relationship that began in the old world and In friendship and admiration prospered in the new. For him, the mission reflected his Gershon Kranzler hope that history would repeat itself, that this newest 6701 Park HeightsAvenue. Baltimore, MD21215 incarnation of the Jew caught in the perilous world of Dr. Knuuler, noted author of sociological studies and classic children's works. was golus would use the Vienna experience as a starting active fn Hatzalah work with ZeiretAgudath Israel during the war years, The above letter was wrttten cifter a recent uisit in Vienna. point to a life of Torah observance.

The Jewish Observer, November 1987 45 Throughout the long history of our dispersion, Haka­ in the country whose very stones were termed "treife,'' dosh Baruch Hu, eternally kind even in His wrath, has the country whose melting pot consumed so many pairs always sent His emissaries to the new lands that were to of ancient tefillin. receive the Jewish wanderers to set up the mechanisms Today. the responsibility for spiritual needs of Jews for Torah learning, to soften the blow of exile when it stranded in Vienna, threatened to be engulfed by the came. Choresh u'masger they were called, exiled with American drive for materialism, is being met by brave Yochanya to Babylon a decade before the First Temple's young bnei Torah who are distinguishing themselves as destruction. They were there when their brethren were mechanchim (educators) and askonim (activists). We led into Bavel, to weep with them, to comfort them and must join them-to weep with the young stateless boys succor and do all they could for them. and girls-and offer them comfort and hope and aid. Fortyyears ago, the choresh u'masgerofthe Holocaust As members of a new generation of choresh u'masger, were none other than that tiny minority of Jews who who preceded today's young people to these shores, we somehow retained their steadfast loyalty to Torah ideals can do no less.• Not just a cheese, a traOition ...

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46 The Jewish Obseroer. November 1987 Yes! You can dance /6.5)1<6 I<' /6p /6N at two weddings! I nljlnn •//$ f.11<

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