The !Yeig_hborhood Banker listens to neighborhood merchants.
Left to Right - David Seilfreund, John Amodio, Morris Bertram, Yuda (Fred) Friedman, Mordchai Roth. Meet John Amodio, your neigh borhood banker. He's the President of Community National Bank. And he's personally made the effort, and taken the time, to listen to these local merchants on issues that matter to them ... Business and Financial issues. ' In order to understand the needs of the neighborhood mer chants first-hand, John Amodio visits the neighbo.rhood regularly. He listens carefully to their sugges tions. And he explains how neighborhood merchants can take advantage of Community National Bank's full range of business services. You see, Community National Bank's philosophy is to do every thing it can to meet the needs of the neighborhood, and provide its customers with a friendly and trust ing atmosphere to conduct their banking. If you own a business in the neighborhood, it makes sense to talk to the banker that's made the business of the neighborhood, his only business. THE6EWISH BSERVER t\) :~
THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN in this issue ... 0021-6615) is published monthly, except July and August, by the Agudath Israel of America, 5 The Yeshivos' Educational Independence Under Threat, Beekman Street, New York, N.Y. Chaim Dovid Zwiebel ...... 4 10038. Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription The Psychopathology of Everyday Speech, $15.00 per year; two years, $27.00; Moshe H alevi Spero ...... 7 three years. $36.00 outside of the United States, US funds only. Losing at Jewish Numbers, Nisson Wolpin ...... 10 $20.00in Europe and Israel. $25.00 in So. Africa and Australia. Single Uncovering the Many Layers of Tzefas, Moshe Englander ..... 12 copy, $2.00. Send address changes to The Jewish Observer, 5 Beek Birkas HaTorah: A Philosophy of Torah Education, man St., N.Y. N.Y. 10038. Printed Zev Schoslak ...... 17 in the U.S.A. Torah in its Summer Glory, Avrohom Chaim Feuer ...... 21 RABBI N1ssoN W0Lr1N Editor From the Halachic and Rabbinic Scene (book reviews) ...... 24 ArtScroll Mishna Series: "Yevamos" Editorial Board "Sefer Hachinuch" (Sefer Vayikra) DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER Chairman The Halachos of T efillin RABBI JOSEPH£ LIAS Mishnah Berurah, Vol. III JOSEPH fRJEDENSON Contemporary Halachic Problems, II RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN RABBI MOSHE SHERER She' al Ovicha Bris Milah Management Board The 613th Commandment NAFTOU HIRSCH . ISAAC KIRZNER Mishnas Sofrim NACHUM STEIN Post Script Business Manager Women in the Rabbinate ...... 28 • PESACH H. KONSTAM Second Looks at the Jewish Scene Speeding Through Summer Space ...... 30 THE j[W!SH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Worn, But Don't Discard, Batya Zimmerman ...... 31 Kashrus of any product or ser· " ... "(with and without comment) vice advertised in its pages. Parchments of Fire ...... 32 ©Copyright 1984 A Story Grows in Lakewood ...... 33
MAY, 84, VOL. XVII, NO. 8 Letters to the Editor ...... 35 SIVAN, 5744
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Rather Than Yield Independence independence. This watershed event served as an indi cator of how the custodians of Torah will never permit Just ninety years ago, the great Volozhiner Yeshiva an outside force to impose its grip on the transmission was forced to shut its doors because of its refusal to of Torah, and how we must be on the alert for every institute an extensive program of secular studies. such threat. Recently, New York State was the setting Shortly after Russian soldiers forcibly expelled the for the possibility of just such an imposition, and an Yeshiva's talmidim from the beis hamidrash and barred the example of the general mood of the country. yeshiva doors, the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Naftoli Zvi Yehuda Berlin (the Netziv), convened a meeting to dis Responding to "An Act of War" cuss the future of the Volozhiner Yeshiva. Present at that meeting were the leading Torah giants of the Johnny's continuing inability to read-or, for that generation. matter, to write, add or behave civilly in the classroom According to the Chofetz Chaim's report on theses setting-has prompted numerous calls at both the sion, there was some sentiment among the assembled to national and local levels to upgrade American education. accede to the Russian government's demands: a Volo The National Commission on Excellence in Education, a zhiner Yeshiva with several hours of daily instruction in blue-ribbon panel of educational experts commissioned secular studies surely was better than no Volozhiner by the U.S. Department of Education to report on the Yeshiva at all! Upon hearing this argument, continued quality of education in the United States, concluded in the Choftez Chaim, the Bais Halevi, Rabbi Yosef Dov its 1983 report A Nation al Risk that "[i]f an unfriendly Soloveitchik of Brisk 7":it, took the floor. With tears foreign power had attempted to impose on America the streaming down his face, the Bais Halevi proclaimed: mediocre educational performance that exists today, we Chaim DoviU ZtiJieliel _,_- __ ,_ ;-- - --< ___ / , _--:-----::->--_,::,_-:__ ':_ -:__ c>< ,_ The Yeshivas' Educational Jt&~d~ce Under Threat ~esponding to New 'Y0rlc's "Regen.ts Action Plqnn
"11 is preferable lo close the Yeshiva than to give in. For might have viewed it as an act of war." In an attempt to although it is true that we are obligated to strengthen Torah, to alleviate the problem, the New York Board of Regents, establish students and to transmit Torah to the next genera which sets education policy for all schools in New York tion, we are obligated to do so only in accordance with the State, recently promulgated an" Action Plan to Improve method we have been taught by our ancestors, the Lights of the Elementary and Secondary Education Results in New Generations. We have no responsibility to transmit Torah York." through new methods. Let He who gave the Torah come and do Laudable though the objectives underlying the Re whatever He must-we at least will have saved our own gents Action Plan may be, the Plan poses grave dangers souls." to the approximately 200 yeshivos in New York State. The words of the Bais Halevi carried the day. The At issue here is nothing less than our right to continue Volozhiner Yeshiva remained closed. (Based on Rabbi providing our children with the type of chinuch that has Aaron Suraski's Marbilzei Torah U'mussar, Vol. 1, pages kept us a nation apart since Sinai. For the Regents 46-47.) Action Plan empowers the state to exercise supervisory When the outstanding yeshiva in 19th century Europe control over yeshivos in such a manner as to rob the was faced with an intolerable exercise of secular gov yeshivos of their very raison d'etre-their ability to edu ernmental control, Gedolei Torah stood firm and insisted cate students in a way that does not conform to the that the Yeshiva close its doors rather than yield its values of secular society. The stakes could not be higher.
Mr. Zwiebel, until recently associated with the New York law firm of Paul, The Action Plan's Three Incarnations Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison, is Agudath Israel of America's new Director of Government Affairs. Among his first responsibilities upon assuming his The Action Plan initially proposed by the Board of post with Agudalh Israel was fo help formulate a response fo the Regents 11.cfion Plan. Regents last July would have mandated specific time
4 The Jewish Observer I May 1984
- -· ---·-· -- and curricula requirements for all courses in all grade majority of our concerns. Thus, the final version of the levels in public and nonpublic schools alike. Implementa Action Plan permits nonpublic schools to incorporate tion of that Plan would have required a majority of various required courses into their overall educational yeshivos in New York to cut out hours of limudei kodesh programs rather than allotting specific numbers of (religious studies), revise their entire educational pro hours of instruction in those courses; recognizes that grams and expose their children to objectionable non-public schools may satisfy certain of the course courses. requirements through "equivalent" instruction; makes As a result of the efforts of Agudath Israel and other clear that a school that performs below a certain min concerned groups, the Regents withdrew its original imum threshold in standardized achievement examina Plan in favor of a Revised Plan, which deleted many of tions will be permitted at the outset to devise its own the most objectionable aspects of the initial Plan. But the program of self improvement before state-imposed cor Revised Plan also raised serious concerns. It would, for rective measures are mandated; and limits the state's the first time, have imposed specific time and curricula authority to revamp a low performing school's educa requirements at the junior high school level, added new tional program by requiring the state to focus remedial requirements at the high school level, and permitted the measures only on particular weaknesses identified. In state to revamp even an elementary school's curriculum addition, the state has committed itself to seek input if the students of the school did not perform up to par from Agudath Israel and other concerned non-public on standardized achievement examinations. school groups in formulating the detailed regulations Aside from the specific mandates of the Action Plan implementing the mandates of the Action Plan. itself, the stated philosophy underlying the Regents' Compared to the initial version of the Action Plan, Plan was highly objectionable. According to the Regents: therefore, the final version (which was approved in March 1984 and will be implemented in stages over the "Our Action Plan is directed toward what we want our next several years) is a significant improvement. The children to be, to know and to be able to do. Our danger, however, has not been eradicated entirely. The expectations and standards set for thent reflect our anticipation of the knowledge, skill and capacity they yeshiva whose general studies program is so weak that ntust have ... for the perpetuation of our culture and its students are unable to maintain minimum perfor clvllization. [Emphasis added.] mance levels on state-sponsored standardized exam "Our goals, expectations and aspirations for our inations-and if such a situation exists, it could well be children are the sante for all. However, all children are because of the emphasis placed on the yeshiva's limudei not the sante. They have different talents and abilities, kodesh program-may be vulnerable even under the final interests and entotions, strengths and weaknesses.... " version of the Plan to intolerable forms of state supervi Testifying before the Board of Regents at a public sion and control. hearing in Albany, Agudath Israel's general counsel, Moreover, push may ultimately come to shove. Shmuel Prager, Esq., observed that the Regents' state Should there come a time when a state insists on impos ment: ing curricula, time or other requirements that effec "ntay reflect sonte degree of insensitivity toward the tively rob the yeshivos of their identities as Torah insti rights and beliefs of those who do not share the view tutions, our options will be painful and few. Preserving that education's most intportant function is to assinti the independence of our chinuch is not an issue on which late a child into the ntainstream of secular society. the Torah community can readily compromise. Alarm bells ring in an Orthodox Jewish parent's ears when the state announces that its objective in intposing educational requirentents is to insure that all children The Courts Waver will know and perpetuate 'our culture and civiliza tion' -as if all segntents of our multi-ethnic, ntulti The question of governmental control over religious racial and ntulti-religious society shared one contnton education in the United States poses a fundamental set of culture and values. The Orthodox Jewish parent constitutional issue: To what extent may a state, consis also wonders why the state recognizes that children have different talents and abilities, interests and ento tent with the First Amendment's guarantee of religious tions, strengths and weaknesses, but does not equally freedom, assert its general authority in matters of edu acknowledge that children and their families ntay have cation in a manner that impinges upon its citizen's reli different religious and moral perspectives on life which gious beliefs and practices? The issue has occupied the the educational process should accontrnodate." attention of courts around the country in recent years and is by no means settled. Recognizing Differences The United States Supreme Court addressed one facet of the issue in 1972. Plaintiffs, Amish parents who After hearing the comments of Agudath Israel and contended that sending their children to high school other interested groups on the proposed Revised Action violated their religious beliefs, challenged the constitu Plan, the New York Board of Regents once again tionality of a Wisconsin statute mandating school amended the Plan in a manner that satisfied the attendance for all children under the age of 16. "There is
The Jewish Observer I May 1984 5 no doubt," said the Court,"as to the power of a state, that it did not qualify as a "school" for purposes of the having a high responsibility for education of its citizens, education law. Such litigation, obviously, is fraught to impose reasonable regulations for the contro1 and with uncertainty. duration of basic education." On the other hand, "the values of parental direction of the religious upbringing The "Shtadlonus" Approach and education of their children in their early and forma tive years have a high place in our society." Making the yeshivos' case in court is not the only-or, as we have seen, the most promising-way to combat The Supreme Court resolved these competing con unwarranted state intrusion. A more practical and siderations in favor of the Amish. The Court found that responsible approach is shtadlonus: quiet advocacy de the Amish had demonstrated that state-mandated high signed to persuade the government to focus its regula school education was indeed hazardous to their reli tory authority on educational problems that really need gious way of life, and that the Amish system of informal solving, not on our mosdos ha Torah. vocational education for high school aged youth ade Agudath Israel's role in influencing the direction of quately advanced many of the state's compulsory edu New York's Regents Action Plan exemplifies this ap cation objectives. Moreover, because of "the minimal proach. Agudah's first step was to alert the yeshivos in difference between what the State would require New York to the dangers of the Action Plan and to [school attendance until the age of 16] and what the formulate a reasoned response that would deal with the Amish already accept [school attendance through eighth concerns of a11 of the diverse elements within the grade]," Wisconsin had the burden of showing "how its yeshiva community. Toward that end, Agudath Israel admittedly strong interest in compulsory education convened a series of meetings and conferences with would be adversely affected by granting an exemption Gedolei Yisroel, rnenahalim and principals during the weeks to the Amish." The Court repeatedly emphasized, how and months prior to the Regents' adoption of the final ever, that its ruling was limited to the particular circum version of the Plan. This resulted in the development of stances of the case before it-"probably few other a response to the Regents Action Plan that enjoyed the religious sects or groups" could demonstrate that state support of the full spectrum of the yeshiva world. regulation of their children's education would be anti The second step in this approach was to convey the thetical to their religious beliefs-and was not to be yeshivas' concerns to the Board of Regents. Agudath used as precedent in situations where the religious con Israel did so not only in public fora, but also in private cerns were not as substantial or where the state's inter meetings and behind closed doors. Insofar as the con est was greater. cerns of our community coincided with those of other Subsequent decisions of various state and federal nonpublic school communities, Agudath Israel solicited courts have grappled with similar issues in slightly dif and received the support of those other influential ferent contexts. Thus, for example, a federal court in groups. To the extent, however, that the Action Plan Maine recently held that the state could not shut down impacted solely on the yeshivas, Agudah pressed its case ten"fundamentalist" Christian schools that refused, alone-and generally persuaded the state to meet the I purportedly on religious grounds, to comply with state yeshivos' concerns. reporting requirements. Students attending those insti Agudath Israel's role as shtadlon for the New York , tutions, however, were found not to be in compliance State yeshiva community continues. Through its mem with the state law mandating school attendance, and ' bership on the Commissioner of Education's Advisory ' their parents were held subject to truancy proceedings. Council for Nonpublic Schools and the Commissioner's In a Nebraska case, the court upheld the state's power to Advisory Council for School District Administrators, as close the doors of fundamentalist schools that refused well as through informal contacts at the highest policy to accept state mandated curricula or comply with the making levels, it is intimately involved in the drafting of state's teacher certification requirements. Other courts detailed regulations that will effectuate the broad poli in other states have come down on both sides of the cies of the Regents Action Plan. issue. The law, in short, is in a state of flux. Continued vigilance, in New York and around the What are the implications of these legal developments country, obviously is necessary. It is difficult to predict for yeshivas in the United States? It is difficult to draw whether, in the years ahead, American Orthodoxy will any firm conclusions in so murky an area, but the have to come to grips with she'eilos of a magnitude similar apparent lesson of the Amish case is that any yeshiva to those that led to the closing of the Volozhiner seeking judicial protection from governmental control Yeshiva less than a century ago. This much, however, is would have to shoulder the heavy burden of persuading clear: Further attempts to defuse such governmental the court that the proposed state regulation conflicts initiatives as the New York State Regents Action Plan with halacha or, more generally, the Torah way of life, are most likely to succeed through the time-honored and advances only minimal governmental interests. approach of responsible shtadlonus rather than through Even if the yeshiva were successfully to carry that the uncertain protections of the United States Con burden, it might run the risk of having the court declare stitution.
6 The Jewish Observer I May 1984
'·' Moshe Halevi Spero '
The Psychopathology of Everyday Speech
Psychological Insights into Lashon Hora
Wouldst that those who receive and lashon hora are deeply entrenched, rendering us danger believe lashon hora would not speak ously immune to the intended impact of our rabbis' lashon horafl teachings on the matter. There are talebearers among Israel, New Insights Into Old Shortcomings and yet they anticipate Salvation?2 The halacha clearly defines what may or may not be j Despite the availability of numerous classic treatises said, as well as what must, This is irreplaceable. Modify on the topic of lashon hora ("evil speech"), the Talmud's ing unacceptable behavior is another matter. Perhaps an I assessment of the gravity of the problem still holds: approach from another, unexpected direction may suc ' lash on hora is ubiquitous!3 The mussar writings that seek ceed in weakening these defense mechanisms, catching to curb this insidious interpersonal vice appear to be the reader by surprise, so to speak, with the depth of the insufficient, for as the motives for indulging in lashon sickness of lashon hora. I wish to state (as the Chazal hara have become increasingly resistant, more complex, intimate) that lashon hora itself is not the sickness, but a people tend to shut out the mussar messages. On one symptom of the sickness in personality which we deny hand, our sages rooted the causes of lashon hara in through the use of or dependency upon las hon hora, That unbridled impulses of jealousy (kinah), anger (ka'as), con is, as long as we discard and destroy other individuals' ceit (gaavah), and other lusts, They recognized that lashon personalities-and ultimately our own-through lashon hara is not merely an arbitrary behavior, but in fact is a hora, we effectively disclaim certain critical flaws in our corrupt, maladaptive response to a disordered need selves, we arrogantly proclaim a belief in our own per within the individuals who indulge in and willfully listen sonal flawlessness, and we even dare assert our mastery to lashon hara. However, Chazal's keen insights into lashon over that which we are convinced no one can master. hora have often not been appreciated to their fullest, or The rabbis understood these maneuvers, expressing are studied with the attitude that such insights apply to this understanding in ideas such as Kol haposel bemumo everyone else but oneself, More important, the psycho poesel ("Whoever faults others, does so with his own logical pathways between the deeper motives to speak shortcomings"•), and "All who speak lashon ham deny lashon hara and the final behavior have become so basic faith (kafar be'ikar), for Scripture says, 'Who have entangled with additional conflicts born of contempor said, with our tongues we will prevail, our lips are our ary life that the style of writing of even fifty years ago own; who is Lord over us ?"s Here is the ultimate breach! may not readily strike a familiar chord in the reader. The This final resolve, accepted unconsciously with every defense mechanisms that protect our motives to speak act of slander, replaces belief in G-d with idolatry of the I self. Like incest, conceit, and murder, lashon hara trans Moshe Halevi Spero, a psychoanalysl who lives in Cleveland, is rwlhor of gresses interpersonal as well as Divine boundarieso, it Judaism & Psychology; A Halachic Perspective. encourages the rnisassignment of one's own faults to l
The Jewish Observer I May 7984 7 others, and the abandonment of personal inadequacies tured. "Speech is the image of man," as the Maharal in a fellow man's court. wrote; 8 it is the medium through which conflicts can be created in the psyche, but it is also the medium through The Great Cover-Up which conflicts can be made conscious and eventually resolved. Prominent among the psychological motives for In the paragraphs which follow, I will illustrate how speaking lashon hora are the speaker's insecurities and personal conflicts influenced one individual's predelic greatest fears. Doubts of the most disquieting variety tion for lashon hara, and how the "talking cure" enabled can be denied wholesale by taking on the role of one him to move toward resolving these problems in an who knows everything about everybody. For many, the adaptive way. drive to speak lashan hara is aimed at appearing as a lonely seeker of truth, an enemy of anyone who would attempt to be normal, successful, happy , satisfied, or Clinical Example of the "Treatment" of Lashon Hora intelligent when "in fact" they are not. The content of the specific lashon hora may be valid. Yet, what is also true is that the truth-seeking master of lashan hara is gener By way of an all-too-brief summary of the patient's ally himself riddled if not crippled by doubt about his background: he is a 34 year-old single male' who had own normalcy, success, intelligence, and so forth. Such originally sought psychotherapy because of increasing person's deepest fear is that this insecurity will be conflicts with fellow yeshiva students over such issues exposed. This fear is denied by achieving security in as their disinterest in his secular studies, his jealousy of one's uncovering insight into others. those among his peers who were happily married, and other problems. The patient came from a totally non Unresolved Conflicts religious background, and became religious along with his parents when he was nineteen. His parents' religious Unresolved conflicts having to do with parent-child awakening was rather sudden, motivated by a combi relations are another chief disorder that occasionally nation of healthy and less-than-healthy factors, and gains expression through lashon hora. Often one can quickly became a very rigid and conflict-ridden affair. examine the favorite targets of persons' lashan hara and His parents eventually divorced when he was twenty find that these fall into certain classes. Many "specialize" two. These difficulties notwithstanding, his parents (or have several specialties) in attacking yeshiva stu were always very critical of his efforts. The patient dealt dents, rabbis, non-Orthodox Jews, women, Zionists, with the constant insults to his flagging self-esteem as a anti-Zionists, teachers, children, and so on. In many child and adolescent by adopting a superficial bravado such instances, one can determine that the specialty and by nurturing intensely the sense that whatever he I target is an irritant for the speaker because of similari did, and however he did it, was !he right way. Currently, ties between the favored target and unacknowledged this conviction included the rightness of his brand of resentments which actually stem from early periods in Orthodoxy. Anyone who studied more or less than he I his development. These conflicts may have to do with was objectionable, and the same held for any other authority, power, self-esteem, sibling rivalry, self-con difference between himself and others. l, sciousness, and the like. As long as such conflicts are unresolved, it is characteristic of the persons who have "... aimed at warding off his intense anger at his parents" ' them to transfer these conflicts onto targets which are similar in important ways to the original focus of strife Through the slow work of therapy, in its 15th month (parents, siblings, etc.), and are also much safer to at the time of this writing, the patient was learning that attack. Obviously, as long as such conflicts preoccupy much of his character was designed to ward off the the person, and as long as las hon hara provides some relief intense anger he bore toward his parents, and was through imaginary victory, the pathological use of becoming cautiously more able to confront the terribly speech will continue. crippled self-image he truly had. In one particular ses The above are just a few of the types of underlying sion, the patient entered into a lengthy diatribe against disorders that manifest themselves through lashon horn. the flaws in judgment of one of his friends at the As the rabbis have observed, the natural propensity to yeshiva. It was obvious that many of these flaws were create and destroy, to organize and to disorganize, are identical to some of his own. More important, the "in the power of the tongue."7 It is through the devel patient very soon extended his scope to include what he opment and use of speech that human personality and considered my errors in judgment regarding my ability individuality is formed. Speech is the vehicle through to truly understand his problems and help him. which the boundaries between the inner and outer After several moments of this, the patient fell into a world and between self and other are initially struc- more general lament that without my help he was help l less; if I didn't understand him, as he imagined, who *I appreciate lh1s patient's kind permission to publish fhis material. could? At an appropriate point, I inquired about his
8 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 feelings of helplessness. Due in part to the advanced stage of our work, the patient had little problem under ", .. no magical cure ... " standing the kind of exploration I was inviting, and began to give vent to old feelings of despair in the face of his parents' onslaughts against his accomplishments, his This session produced no magical cure; it was in itself initiatives, against the very core of his sense of self. The not an especially critical session compared to the ones effect was to make him feel incompetent, impotent, and which preceded and followed it. It was nevertheless utterly worthless. Following much reflection on these important for its own accomplishments, and marked thoughts, he began on his own to connect these ideas the beginning of a tangible decrease in his need and with his feeling of being unable to accurately weigh tendency for lashon hora of the most invidious kind. events, to make decisions, and to make good judgments. Not every individual has such deeply entrenched and He realized on his own the ultimate meaning of this complex motives for lashon hora, nor requires long-term connection. And he thus continued to explore how psychotherapy to recognize and deal successfully with these inadequacies contributed in no small way to his their pathologies of speech. At the same time, the feeling of helplessness when he failed to maintain the dynamics of lashon hora are neither purely conscious nor type of predictable, congenial and like-minded environ simple, and require some effort to understand. ment he had learned to adapt to. Epilogue
"He became silent and then tearful ... The Talmud states that lashon hora and manslaughter he could not tolerate differences" are the only two phenomena that in principle have no means of atonement through korbanos (sacrifices). The I wondered out loud whether he was now able to Torah, however, did provide an atonement: Man make a connection between t:iese insights and his ver slaughter is atoned for with the death of the High bal assaults with which he bLgan this session. After Priest, and iashon hara is atoned through the sound of the attempting to declare that these comments were indeed ornamental bells adorning the priestly raimant.' The accurate, he became silent, and then tearful. He spoke of sound of these bells calls attention to the sacred gar an awareness that he could not tolerate difference of ments themselves, whose significance is to remind man opinion, that he could not stand doubt, especially the that clothing adds a special level of holiness to the naked kind of doubts and insecurity that sometimes surfaced body. Clothing is the first and only article that G-d when I was silent and "inactive" in treatment. Faced Himself fashioned for man and did not leave to human with these sorts of situations, he felt especially helpless, invention.1° Clothing represents a boundary, a bastion and recently would begin to feel the pain of wishing that against shame-evoking and exploitive intrusion. Lashon he could turn to his parents for help. Since this was as hora destroys privacy and shows disregard for inter I yet impossible, he would feel lonely and weak. Lashing personal boundaries by entering into our inner world of out at faults of others, he now recognized, provided a mental images of other persons and damaging them. solace, a sense that he was in control as the discoverer of The result is a microcosmic holocaust that does not I faults, the one capable of judging where others were quicky if ever cool. 11 The words of lashon hara are not wrong. In addition to this sense of control and mastery, melodious, but cacophonous and dissonant. The pleas t he was also able thereby to momentarily identify with ant and inspiring sound of the priestly bells-indeed, of ;• his father by adopting his father's critical role. And the sounds of the Levites singing praises to G-d-are there was in this ill-gotten achievement some small the reciprocal of the improper manufacture of sound, sense of reunion, and fantastical hope. and in some way are its atonement.
NOTES: 1) Will of R. Yehuda hen ha-Rosh, Tz.avoas Geonei Yisroel, vol. 2, p. 215. also T argum Onkelas to Bereishis 2:7, "'vehavas beadam leruach memalelah." 2) Midrash Lekach Tov, Shemos, 4. 9) Vayikra Rabba 10:6; Zevachim BBb; Shir haShirim R. 4:7. 3) R. Yehudah amar Rav: "Rov haolam nichshalin begezel u"meufan bearayos IO) Studies in Shemos (Tetz.aveh 2), p. 528. vehakol belashon horn," Bava Basra 164b; see also Eirchin 15b and Sotah 49a. 11) Bereishis Rabba 98:19, ''All who accept /ashan hora, even though [the 4) Kiddushin 70a; Bava Melz.ia 59b. Bachyah lbn Piguda expressed, talebearer] may go and appease \the recipient], and he is appeased, still "The motive to make another small or black lies in the feeling of he burns within." Simply explained, the rabbis are teaching that the smallness or recognition of weakness compared to the other" (Chovos recipient will not quickly forget that he had been lured into a trans haLevavos to Bamidbar 12:1). gression for which he is deemed more severly accountable than even 5) Eirchin 15b to Tehi/lim 12:5. the talebearer (Rambam, Hilchol De'at 7:3; see also Orech Meisharim: 6) See Torah Temimah to Vayikra 18:27, note 75. Shulchan Aruch al haMidas 8:13{23}). On a deeper level, /ashon hara des 7) Proverbs 18:21; see also Lev. R. 33:1, "Ma'aseh be-Rabban Gam/iel . . troys the internal image of the target in the recipient's mind, a damage 8) "Ki ha!ashon hu tzuras haadam ... ki halashon hu haadam . which, like murder to which lashan hara is compared, simply cannot be hachayim davak beadam al yeadai ha/ashon,' Nesivos Olam: Nesiv haLashan 1; see undone by words of consolation or even mechilah.
The Jewish Observer I May 1984 9 Nissan Wolpin Losing at Jewish Numbers The Liberal Losses The demographic picture is frightening: by virtue of The Jew showing an example of family stability, late marriage age, low-birthrate, high level of assimila con1n1itn1ent to work rather than gratification and tion, and rising percentage of intermarriage, the Jewish finally faith and vision is a Jew of value to his country. population of America is falling at a terrifying pace. But a Jew whose Jewishness can only find expression in According to Eliahu Bergman of the Harvard Center for a gooey liberalisn1 indistinguishable from that exuded Population Studies, there may be no more than 944,000 by liberal Christians or indeed by liberal An1ericans of any denonlination should hardly n1ourn the demise of Jews in the US by the year 2076-and only 10,000 his species. After all, he wanted to blend into the land according to some opinions. The variable is determined scape in the first place, at all costs .... by the intermarriage rate. The liberal Jew is finally cutting hin1self.off fron1 his These projections have been around for a while (see people. The sn1all group, perhaps three quarters of a "Who's Saving American Jewry?"-JO Dec. '77), but n1illion, retaining fidelity to their religious principles continue to make the news for their mounting rele are not vanishing but growing, obviously at nowhere vance. Most recently, these Jewish demographics were near the attrition rate on the left. This group is charac subject of a two-part series of front page articles in The teristically conservative politically and very much less Wall Street Journal (April 13 and 16). The Journal offered an conspicuous than ntost of the five million assin1ilated upbeat conclusion, with what it considered the positive Americans of Jewish descent that your articles des cribed. numerical contribution through conversions to Juda Rabbi Daniel E. Lapin ism: intermarriage is as much an opportunity for entry Pacific Jewish Center into the ranks of Klal Yisroel for the converting non Santa Monica, Calif. Jewish partners (estimated at 10,000 annually) as it is an avenue for leave-taking from Jewry for the partner that • • • sheds his Jewish identity. In fact, the journal reports, the Union of American Hebrew (Reform) Congregations has raised more than $2 million for its Outreach pro The cure for the American Jewish population decline, gram aimed at "proselytizing the unchurched," includ intern1arriage and assin1ilation is now in place. There is ing those married to Jews. a rapidly growing number of knowledgeable young For obvious reasons, the Jewish people cannot base its Orthodox Jews, many of whon1 have returned to the I future on numerical growth through conversions. By traditional practice of Torah and comn1andn1ents who are averaging four to five children per fan1ily in fulfill halachicdefinition, the vast majority of these converts to n1ent of the first comn1andment of the Torah, "Thou t Judaism are not Jewish-whether by virtue of meaning shall be fruitful and multiply and fill up the land." ' less indoctrination and conversion through Reform or These young Torah fan1ilies, often established in the Conservative auspices, or by lack of any genuine moti professions, sciences and acaden1ia, give little credence vation for conversion, beyond wanting to marry a Jew. to the heterodox Jewish leaders such Gerson Cohen Becoming a member of the Jewish people is a trans and Alexander Schindler who, they feel, have been formation that touches the person's soul. A non-Jew practicing a spiritual consun1er fraud on the An1erican becomes in effect a Child of Abraham. His conversion Jew to change the Jewish law on the basis of conven must involve the unquestioning acceptance of the To ience and a self-centered, narcissistic life style. No rah's eternal authority-something Reform and Con Orthodox Jew will accept the rationalized attempts by heterodox Jews to recruit non-Jews. Nor will they servative rabbis do not accept, and will never instruct accept their conversions. converts in accepting. Conversion must also entail the Judah Landes ritual of !evil/a (immersion) and, for males, mi/a (circum Palo Alto, Calif. cision) under the supervision of a bonafide religious court-again disqualifying Conservative and Reform • • • sponsors. To the credit of some readers of The Wall Street Journal, If various groups of An1ericans decided to follow several letters printed in a subsequent issue (May 4 '84) only parts of the Constitution, wouldn't there be in a column entitled "Choosing to Be One of the chaos? Sin1ilarly, the Jewish people have the problen1 of Chosen" underscored these weaknesses and then some. any nation that is to be guided by a body of law. The We quote a few choice observations: Jewish people also have a Jewish constitution, which is
10 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 '
the Torah as set forth in the Written and Oral Laws. the lines of demarcation between Jew and non-Jew. As a Every tin1e groups of Jews chose to select parts of our case in point, the American Jewish Committee joined Torah and discard others, there was chaos, and then the Denver Jewish community (not just its Reform these groups disappeared. Only fidelity to Torah is a segment) in sponsoring an all-day conference last April guarantee of Jewish spiritual and social tranquility and 29 on coping with intermarriage: an agonizing problem, physical survival. Thon1as W. Pearln1an for an alarming 72°/o of all Denver marriages involving Providence, R.l. Jews are intermarriages. The agenda did not focus on how lo avoid intermarriage. It dealt with how to make the We have said it many times: Every Jewish soul repre non-Jewish partners of inter- and mixed-marriages sents a world in itself, and every individual lost to Jewry more welcome and better integrated in the Jewish is an entire world lost .... Yet the eternity of Israel is community. The stress was on the personal level, and in determined by quality not quantity. And while both are the various workshops that took place, individuals being fostered in the Torah community, its primary shared the agonies they experienced as outcasts, or the strength is that it offers the only hope as the continued joys they felt as welcomed members of the Jewish source of quality Judaism. community. The welcome theme was articulated by Harold Schul The Numerical Trap weiss, (Reconstructionist) Rabbi of Encino, California: At the same time, let us not deny the Reform leader "Conversions can be the greatest blessing in Jewish ship their altruistic motives in trying to assure Jewry's history .... The issue is not patrilineal descent. The survival. Their concern for maintaining a stable Jewish issue is Jewish ascent. We are now ancestors and trans population is in part because of its profound political and mitters of a great tradition. The world of modernity practical implications. For example, a dwindling Jewish shifts from fate to choice. We will all be Jews by choice or presence in key population centers would not portend we will not survive." well for pressing Jewish concerns in Washington, such The description of the modern Jew as a "Jew by as meeting Israel's security needs; nor would it offer choice" is well-taken insofar as it concerns Jews by birth promise for long-range continuation of the traditionally who remain in the fold, without any outside compul bountiful American Jewish philanthropic contribution. sion. But "choice" to enter the community must be more Yet more Jews by wholesale conversion-for-marriage than a decision to marry into a Jewish family, and the will not provide the answer. One can scarcely depend on community as a whole must disassociate itself from intermarried couples to lobby persistently and unyield bringing into being "a [new] great tradition"! Jewry is ingly for Jewish causes in time of need, when it is not a neighborhood, and entry into Jewry is not ac unpopular to be pro-Jewish, or to contribute generously complished by calling out the welcome wagon. Nor is it to Jewish causes when it hurts to give. Moreover, taking simply an exclusive club with its requirements of into account the SOo/o divorce rate in the conventional initiation-rites and adhering to a set of rules. Jewry is an marriage situation, and then considering the shallow ongoing historical family, a community of religious ' level of attachment to Judaism by Jews who marry out belief and commitment, and only by entering a covenant of the faith, and the weak degree of commitment they with G-d can one join. 'I would inspire in their mates of different religion-after Whoever joins out of sincere motivation and unquali all, how much can one depend on those whose entry to fied acceptance of Torah and milzvos is fully accepted as a i the Jewish community is solely through marriage?-the bonafide Jew, with his needs safeguarded by no less ' outlook is very bleak indeed. There is little promise in than thirty six Biblical injunctions* to "love the stranger" these numbers. and not oppress him in any way. Furthermore, even by their own criteria of Jew There is no overlooking the anguish and rejection ishness-accepting patrilineal descent as basis for being endured by those who marry out of the faith without Jewish, and so on-the Reform program of numerical benefit of conversion. But dealing with their emotional growth is self-defeating. Ushering in tens of thousands dilemmas and servicing them with sociological pro f of converts that will not be acceptable to Orthodoxy nor grams to ease their adjustment pains is not solving the j to most Conservatives will create an unprecedented problem, but ignoring it. The waste of resources schism between Reform and the rest of Jewry-in the involved is compounded by the smokescreen of human words of (Reform) Rabbi Jacob Petrochowski-"creat itarian concern, which blocks out the true source of the ing two Jewish Peoples" to a degree that can never be crisis: total ignorance of Jewish knowledge and values, bridged. which must lead to a lack of Jewish commitment and alienation from Judaism and Jewry, resulting in marry The Wrong Emphasis ing out, and virtual leave-taking from Jewry. The only approach is to clear away the smoke, and to focus on The anxiety to counteract the numerical hemorrhag learning and living w>th Torah. ing of Jewry has also led to a number of socio-religious programs that are promoting the total blurring away of *Forty six according to some opinions.
The Jewish Observer I May 1984 11 Uncovering the Many
!
Initial Encounters shivering and exhausted, but feeling like different peo ple. As the bus wound its way through the rain Most tourists to Eretz Yisroel make a point of visiting drenched streets, one of the bachurim in our group began Tzefas, nestled among the hills of the Gali!, and so did I to sing .... 7Kitv~ c.:;,~iwx ... K::l,PV ,::li iOK in 1972, when I first arrived in the Holy Land. But it was ''Said Rabbi Akiva: Fortunate are you, Yisroel . .. Who purifies not until the following Pesach vacation, when I joined a you? Your Father in Heaven!" yeshiva tour of the Gali! and returned to Tzefas, that I The entire group joined in, and winding through the was infected by the enchantment of this city. Like any narrow streets of Tzefas, we sang at the top of our encounter with spirituality, every repeated exposure lungs. reveals new depths of awareness. It was a nasty day at the end of a rainy Israeli winter, Shabbos Enchantment but we were nonetheless determined to carry out our plans to visit the ancient synagogues of the Kabbalists, Later that year, I was invited to join some friends for a pray at their graves in the famous old cemetery, and Shabbos in the Old City of Tzefas. After the long bus ride immerse ourselves in the mikva of the Ari Hakadosh-the from Jerusalem, we wandered the narrow alleyways, cold, fresh water spring where the famed 16th century searching for the stone structure that would house us Kabbalist is supposed to have immersed himself .... At for Shabbos. We finally made our way to a steel double the end of the day, we climbed into our touring bus, door that opened to a small courtyard serving three houses, up the stairs from the Ari Zal Shu/. Ours was the Rabbi Englander, a native of Silver Spring, MD., studied in Kol Torah, entrance on the right. As we stepped through the Jerusalem, and Ner Israel, Baltimore, where he received semicha. He is currently doorway, we felt ourselves entering an earlier century. teaching in the Hamilton (Ontario) Hebrew Academy. Oil lamps cast their soft glow on the solid stone floors. It
12 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 Moshe Englander
Layers of Tzefas
,I
The /lri Shu/ I was here that the Ari HaKadosh and his disciples would Yisroel ... and Tzefas. The city had come to life. Young 4 go up to greet the Shabbos. That evening my friends and people had moved into the Old City. Children with payos I followed in their footsteps. were playing in the streets. Yeshivos and Kollelim had j It was a unique Shabbos. Dream-like, hazy, many sprung up. The sounds of sawing and hammering filled details are now unclear, but the impression it left on us the air. People were shuffling through the streets carry was indelible. It was difficult to believe that people live ing boards and tools. I stopped a young American with a their entire lives in this setting. We passed old men in black kippa, beard and tzilzis fluttering in the breeze, the maze of alleyways, heading on their way to the carrying a bucket of fresh cement. "What's going on?" I dozens of ancient synagogues. We looked into their asked. faces, and each seemed to have a story of its own. Life "We are coming back!" he replied. I continued to must take on a special meaning when you live in an wander, not quite sure of my destination, for I had come ancient city, wrapped in a heritage of kedusha. Knowing to Tzefas unannounced. I followed a narrow alleyway of the great codifiers and Kabbalists of the 1500's who that led to the Ari Zal Shu/ and looking up, I locked eyes had walked those ancient cobblestone streets in the with a young man standing just yards ahead of me, I centuries since, one could not avoid the feeling of a froze. We knew each other! It was my old long-lost higher rarified existence permeating this Jewel of the chavrusa (study partner), who had slipped off to Ere/z Yis Galil. Here one can join spirit with giants of 400 years roel several years earlier and had simply "disappeared." ago and reach for the eternity of Shabbos tranquility. "Avram-is that you?" I exclaimed. "Moish!" Back to Life "What on earth are you doing in Tzefas?!" I returned to the States for the next five years. It was "I'm learning here. What brings you here? Where are l not until the spring of 1981 that I came back to Erelz you staying?"
The Jewish Observer I May 1984 13 --
"I'm not sure." renovated old relic of the past. In Tzefas people seem to "I have an extra bed in my room. You can stay with sacrifice almost all customary physical com forts to learn me. I'm sure it will be O.K with our Rosh Kolle!. He's Torah. also the Tor ah pioneer of this town. He came here a few Far before sunrise, my roommate arose in the freez years ago from Bnei Brak to restore Torah to T zefas. ing cold, wintery morning. He first went to the mikva, This is his place, Yeshivas Nachalas Naftali. Come on and then invited me to join him in trudging to the other in and 111 introduce you to him." side of town to attend minyan. I felt that I could wait an We stepped into an ancient building, directly across hour or two to daven, but this was Tzefas, where distant from the Ari Zal Shu/, which was undergoing major past and present intermingle with exciting promise, so I renovations. Inside a large room used as a Beis Mid rash, a decided to join him. dozen young men were sitting, learning. My friend took I dragged myself out of bed and shiveringly threw on me over to a tall, long-coated figure, with a greying my clothing. We walked briskly through the cool windy beard and large gazing eyes. Offering a warm hand streets. Twenty minutes later we were descending the shake, he said: "Welcome to Tzefas." stairs towards a complex of low-set buildings. We In the years that passed since that first meeting with entered a small Beis Midrash filled with young men in tallis Rabbi Shmuel Faivalson, I was to meet him a number of and lefillin. "This," my friend said, "is Kolle! Banis-a times and to share with him his vision of an expanded kollel for Baa/ei Teshuva. The elderly man up front is revitalized Tzefas, with a flourishing Torah life, a viable Rabbi Leifer, the Rosh haKollel." economy, and a supportive political administration. This Just one weekday Shacharis demonstrated what pulled involves overcoming a tremendous number of hurdles, my friend out of bed every pre-dawn morning. Rabbi including contending with a Ma'arach Mayor who Leifer davened softly at a slow pace, together with the visited the shuls on Shabbos, while sponsoring a seven chazan, joined by the entire minyan, in unison, forming an day-a-week swimming pool. It also means trying to enchanting word-by-word chorus of Avodas Hashem attract manufacturing and light industry for this such as I had never before experienced. Northern city, while meeting the spiritual and material I stepped out of the Beis Midrash and caught a breath of needs of a growing Bnei Torah population. the beautiful crisp day that had had such an inspira tional beginning. After returning to my room to put Shivering Rendezvous away my lefillin, I headed down towards the old ceme tery .... My friend's dormitory room, which he shared with several other single yeshiva students, was situated in a Shebabo Against the Elements
' > >/k'~nn1t.l1~ltA.!l...... ·. I allotted myself at least a half hour to roam, recalling Tj!~e. advantage•of lht!oppoftllhify to 1>urbh$e c&metecypto.tsln .EretzYiSroel inMilgasl!Shi.mshon how difficult it had been to locate the graves of the near Yerushatay.im .t!JrOUQh our newly established lzaddikim in the past. Surprisingly, I found a paved path CHEVAA,HOSEH CH.!!SED OF AGUDATH lS.RA&l. instead of the overgrown dirt trail I had tread in the Membership lf'ithe Chevraentilles
14 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 "It's the mikva," he replied. "It is usually crystal clear. I I wished him well and followed the path toward the clean it regularly. You can usually see the stone tiles bottom of the hill. I stopped and was struck by the sharp clearly at the bottom. Today it has clouded up. I don't contrast between the desolate older Bais Olam on the know what has happened. Perhaps it is a sign for some higher slopes, and the well-kept newer cemetery at the thing. We must be mispallel. Hashem Yerachem!" bottom of the hill. "Who gave you this job?" I asked. One cries with indignation for the neglect of the "I do it voluntarily. I come from a Tzefati family that graves of the Ari Zal, the Beis Yoseph and countless other has lived here for generations. My father and grand tzaddikim buried on the hillside. father were the caretakers of the cemetery, but they are old now. I am a physical training teacher by profession. living in the Newness of the Old When I saw how neglected this holy place had become, I put aside my job to restore the cemetery." Two years later, my wife (of one month) and I hopped "But who supports your family?-that is, if you're aboard a plane to spend a summer in Eretz Yisroel before married." starting to teach in an American Day School. A mere "Yes, Baruch Hashem, I have a wonderful wife and visit would not be enough. We came to Tzefas to live. seven lovely children. I have no income, but my wife The city had continued to grow during my absence. feels that this is my task in life, and will not allow me to Now there was not just an Old City of Tzefas. At the worry about money. We live on miracles. The Gedolim foot of the hill stood a new high-rise apartment com encourage me not to lose faith, and to continue with my plex, Kiryat Ma'or Chayim, where we found an apart work. I try to scrape together enough for tools and ment for the summer. Up the street was Shikun materials for my work. It is difficult, I must admit." Agudah. Around the bend was Kiryat Chabad. In the "The cemetery seems restord. What keeps you Old City, the Breslav Chassidim were building a beauti busy?" I asked him. · ful new complex surrounding the original Ari 'Sefaradi' Synagogue. (There are two "Ari Shu/s .. IJHundreds of fami "Tzefas undergoes a severe winter, and rain washes lies, young and old, had come to resettle in T zefas. soil down the slopes of the cemetery. Hundreds of Yeshivos and kollelim had sprung up. I also found the graves are lost to erosion every year. Spring and Yeshivas Nachalas Naftoli greatly expanded, with Is summer, thick vegetation grows over the graves. If no raeli, American, British, French and other foreign kollel one tends to them, they will be completely lost within a fellows, including a large baa! feshuva contingent, with few years-so I cut back the thicket, dig around the close to eighty full-time members. The crown of the graves, and restore them. At some of the more promi Torah was being restored to this holy city. nent graves, such as that of the Prophet Hoshe'a, small buildings were erected over the tomb centuries ago. Two years ago, the entire structure over Hoshe'a's BETH JACOB TEACHERS grave was filled with earth up to the windows. It took SEMINARY OF MONTREAL me six months to dig it out-with a pail and a shovel, on Rabbi S. Aisenstark Rabbi P. Hirschprung my hands and knees. But now, as you can see, it is Dean Chief Rabbi of Montreal completely restored." President l "Aren't there snakes and scorpions in those caves?" We are the School!!! j "It is true. I see them each day. When I was clearing More than just a seminary!! out one of the caves where the tzaddikim are buried, I dug • With fully accredited courses a hole large enough to crawl into. I slipped in on my given in a Torah true environment stomach, and as I stuck my head into the cave, a large snake was poised in front of me ready to strike. I covered • Supervised classroom teaching my face with my hands and recited the Shema. I was sure of the highest calibre that this was the end. I opened my eyes and the snake • Certificate Program in was gone. It was then that I understood the Chazal that Special Education optional says: 'The emissaries of a mitzva are protected from harm.' I am never afraid since then. So far I have dug out • Dorm, swimming pool and gym the caves of the Prophet Hoshe'a, Channa and her • Tuition scholarships available seven sons, Rabbi Moshe Alshich Hakadosh, and sev eral other great tzaddikim. There are many more to be COME JOIN US FOR A YEAR done, but I am but one person, with very limited YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!! means. Call or '"ite now: "How do you purchase your materials?" MRS. S. AISENSTARK Director "I put tzeddaka pushkas on the graves of the tzaddikim, but 1750 Glendale Ave. it is hardly enough to do anything," he replied softly. He M6ntreal, Quebec, Canada H2V 1B3 paused and added: "In their merit we can succeed." 514-739-3614 ..
The Jewish Observer I May 1984 15 t FEIVEL KIRSHENBAUM, Ph.D. FINANCIAL ADVISER On Friday nights we would form a circle and dance around the Beis Midrash as we greeted the Shabbos with Expertise In financial planning, investment "Lee ha Dodi." Could the composer of this world-re selection, tax strategies, retirement and estate nowned hymn, Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, hear us? He planning. was resting only yards away. Shabbos mornings I would climb the hill to the Old City Registered Investment Adviser. Twenty years to daven at one of the multitude of unique minyanim that of experience in financial analysis. No sales or still convene each week in the ancient shuls of Tzefas. commissions. Absolute confidentiality. Returning to the old cemetery, 1 found new signs, guide railings, cement paths, and Mordechai Shebabo (914) 352-1919 still at work, still struggling to make ends meet. We became neighbors, and he among many others opened the doors of their community to welcome us in.
Why Tzefas Most of our friends could not understand why we would come to Erelz Yisroel specifically for T zefas. I'm not quite sure myself, but there is something magnetic drawing me there. I posed this question to a friend who now lives in the Old City of Tzefas. He took me to his Clli'?:l!J:l K1'1 1'i1K 'iK K~'1 i1WD 'iil'1 window and showed me the view of the forested moun "And Moshe grew and went tains of the Gali!, and told me to take a deep breath of out to his brethren and saw air. He turned to me and said: "Chazal tell us that Moshi their suffering . , ." Shemos 2:11 ach will appear in Tzefas, and go from here to Yerusha layim. I suppose that we are anxious to meet him first." If you're planning a trip to Eretz He then showed me his small backyard garden, point Yisroel this coming month, you'll ing to his fig tree and grape vine, the symbols for peace surely include the historical Holy and tranquility. "Here in Tzefas," he added, "the kedusha Places-the Kosel, Kever Rochel, and serenity bring a person to menuchas haNefesh, peace of Tzefas. Why not also visit the holy mind. What else does one need in life?" place of tomorrow: Beersheva, We are now back in America. But the seed of that Dimona, Yerucham? ... enchantment that Tzefas has implanted in our hearts is We invite you to join a special tour of deeply rooted. I know that we will return there. . . . "T 10 different locations in the Negev, focusing on the great potential for spiritual revival amongst our half million Sephardi brethren that live there. Call us, and we'll pick you up in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv on Sunday morning, July 8, bring you to the Chanukas Habayis of a Center in Yerucham ... you'll participate in a Now famou~ for our Glatt Teshuva Gathering in Ofakim .. ~ Kosher Catering at spend the night (on us) in Beer Sheva of Great Neck ... conclude the tour on Monday, ~~$ July 9, and be back home by nightfall. now also available at YOUNG ISRAEL Remember not only is No fees. No appeals. No institutional OF STATEN ISLAND our food Glatt and Dell sponsorship. Just an opportunity to CREST HOLLOW Country c1ous. but we are "Glatt" 1n see for yourself how the sleeping Club, Woodbury, LI. our business practices with The EL CARIDE, meticulous attention to Jewish spark can be fanned into an Sheepshead Bay. Brooklyn every detail Our word 1s as inspiring flame. You have nothing to SAIS YAAKOV of ,. good as gold!" lose but your old misconceptions of Brooklyn In Boro Park HERITAGE will also ~ the Negev as an irredeemable waste and at all Leading Hotels cater Kiddushes. Sheva Bra- < land ... and your complacency. Including NEW YORK chot. etc . elegantly but ~ HILTON, VISTA HOTEL at modest cost i! For more information call: Please call Moshe Pruzansky for an appointmf'nt (212) 438-2100 .______HERITAGE(212) CATERERS,438-2700 ______INC . _,
16 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 •l RABBI ZEV SCH OST AK, a Torah educator, finds a credo for teaching others concisely formulated in the Birkas Ha Torah-the daily blessing on Torah Study.
"Birkas HaTorah'' as a Philosophy Of Torah Education
The blessing for Torah study, which we recite every Making Torah Sweet morning, cannot be focused on the amassing of know ledge alone. It must go beyond, as we say in Ma'ariv We want to transform grade-conscious students into nightly: "For they are our lives and the length of our self-motivated scholars. But how? The bracha gives us a days," referring to the study of Torah, the observance clue as it continues with the supplication:" ... and make of its precepts, and the absorption of its values. Indeed, sweet, Lord Our G-d, the words of your Torah in our mouths and in Torah learning and living are inseparable, forming an the mouth of Your people, the house of Israel. ..." all-encompassing wellanshauung. The bracha addresses all Torah study must be made sweet, if it is to appeal to of this, and in so doing, presents a philosophy of Torah our students. We must not be so obsessed with "cover education. ing ground," or so determined to teach skills, that Torah sessions become a mere composite of content and skills. Torah as a Business Every class should be an experience that reveals the joy of learning. We must spice our teaching with the gesch Birkas HaTorah actually encompasses two blessings. mak of Torah-its delicious flavor-ranging from pene The first one opens with: "You have sanctified us with Your trating insights to all-encompassing explanations of dif commandments and have commanded us to engage in the study of ficult passages. A lesson should not be a tedious exercise Torah." The Almighty did not merely command us to of rote and repetition; it should be an act of revelation. study Torah. He directed us la'asok-to engage in Torah For the rebbe to convey the joy of learning to his study, just as one engages in business. Few of us can talrnidim, he must first experience it himself. Thus, we make intensive Torah learning" our only business." Yet, ask G-d to make Torah sweet in our own mouths, before this bracha still speaks to us. Whatever time we do devote He does so in the mouths of His people. The rebbe must to Torah study must involve the same concern and be so completely permeated with a feeling of Simchas dedication that we devote to our business affairs. Torah, 365 days a year, that his students become l Just as in financial dealings, we carefully search for infected with his enthusiasm-as the sweetness of the enterprise that will yield the greatest profit or the Torah is conveyed to them from his mouth. highest dividends for our investment, so too must we l invest our time in Torah study wisely to pay maximally Torah Tradition-A Three Generation Link for our efforts. J Indeed, yeshiva education too must succeed in trans " .. , And may we and our offspring, and their offspring mitting the message that Torah is our business, our all of us-know Your name and learn Torah for its own spiritual livelihood, our very purpose as a people. sake." We petition G-d for three generations of Torah Rabbi Zev Schostak is founding Headmaster of /he Park East ESHJ Day students-father, son, and grandson ... three genera School in Manhattan. He is the aulhorof two books and has contributed in /he past to tions, in line with: "The three-fold cord will not easily be JO. This article is dedicated in memory of Rabbi Jacob Bobrowsky, revered Rosh severed" (Kohel/es 4:12). We endeavor to preserve Torah Yeshivah and Rav, who personified this philosophy. study from grandfather to grandson, despite the relent-
The Jewish Observer I May 1984 17 less pressures of successive generations to innovate and "improve" upon the past. We may find need to vary the daily schedule in yeshivos, but we dare not water down the authenticity of Torah studied from the original source. The rebbe who looks upon his students as his children will be deeply concerned that his spiritual grandchildren, too, will be Torah students. Such a man, who teaches with the same warmth and dedication with which his rebbe taught him, will bridge the generations, and all of us-father, son, and grandson-will know Your If you desire to live in Jerusalem, Name. we offer you 3-4-5 room apts. • excellent site and view • limited time offer The Goals of Torah Education • private heat • reasonable prices • colored tile for -favorable terms To "know Your Name" would not seem to be a goal bathroom and kitchen • completion of for the average Jew. After all, G-d's Name is the source • storage room construction 18 months of all creation and existence, its secret-decipherable • near Jerusalem Forest • no brokerage fee when you only by great tzaddikim of flawless piety, possessing total come directly to us: • free appliances mastery of Kabba/a-hardly our own "educational ob for first ten buyers jective." In a broader sense, G-d's Name-indeed, His pres ence-is evident throughout creation. In fact, the Ram bam prescribes reflecting upon His creation as the way to come to loving G-d (Yesodei Ha Torah 2:2). Knowledge of G-d's Name can be achieved through knowledge of His creations; and this knowledge leads to love. Indeed, the Torah expresses knowledge and love with the same word. Hence, our objective in teaching about the beauty • and intricacies of the physical world should be to view ~ our world as the revelation of the blueprint of its Creator-achieving, in a sense, knowledge of His Name. ' The second educational objective described in the bra I eha is "and learn Torah for its own sake." Torah is not a l "subject," a shiur is not a ''lecture," a Rebbe is not a "pro fessor," and a talmid is not a learning machine. If we can inspire our students with enthusiasm and love for Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni Torah, then they will come to study Torah for its own which was founded in Westwood, N.J. 3 years sake-for the joy of learning itself. ago, and has earned a reputation for a high stand~ ard of learning and warm attention to the needs of The Role of the Rebbe its talmidim, is pleased to announce that it has acquired a large campus in Riverdale, N.Y., which The bracha concludes with the words: "Blessed are You will offer the seclusion of an out~of~town yeshiva who teaches Torah to His People, Israel." together with the convenience of proximity to If only all who recite this blessing daily would listen to I Metropolitan New York. its words, the face of yeshiva education across the coun The new location will provide sufficient space for try would have a totally different complexion! growth for both the Mesivta and Beis Midrash. It is well known that yeshiva teachers are grossly ! underpaid. "He's only a melamed," some say, but the daily We would like to thank our bracha equates the teacher of Torah to the Almighty I Founding Committee, Board of Sponsors, Himself: "Blessed are You ... Who teaches IHamelamed) parents and many friends whose support Torah to His people Israel." makes it possible for the Yeshiva to fulfill Teachers occupy the most responsible of all profes the dreams of its founders in an ideal new location. sions. To them we entrust our most precious pos Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni sessions-our children. Through them we guarantee 4904 Independence Ave. the survival of Torah and our people. They truly emu Riverdale, NY 10471 late G-d Himself, Who teaches Torah to His people. The I tel.# (212) 601-1960 essence of this blessing is its summary wherein we render praise to the Supreme Teacher.
• 18 The Jewish Obseroer I May 1984
I The Second Blessing: The Chosen People-The People of Torah YESHIVA------GEDOIA The second blessing is identical to the first one a Jew 'IORAS • Bais Medrash for the recites when called to the Torah: "Who has chosen us from CHESED ta!mid 17-23. all nations and has given us His Torah. Blessed are You, G-d Who serious age gives the Torah." • Shiurim in !yun, Bekius, We were not randomly chosen to receive the Torah. Chumash, and Mussar. Our Rabbis teach us that G-d offered the Torah to every nation in the world, and many of them were • Strong Ruach of !earning. prepared to accept the Torah but for one particular mitzva that conflicted with their way of life: "Thou shalt not commit adultery," "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt For an interview contact: not steal." We boldly declared, "We will do and we will RABBI AHRON GARFINKEL listen." We accepted the entire Torah unconditionally, without any reservations, choosing to be "chosen." Seven Cameo Ridge Road Monsey, New York 10952 I To the yeshiva educator, this bracha's message of chosenness states that we must present the Torah in its (914) 352-6214/356-0888 entirety to our students. Every mitzva must be presented clearly, and thoughtfully-without compromise. This is a constant challenge, demanding both Yiras Shomayim ------and seichel-genuine piety and down-to-earth common .,~,Y.J't>!>WJJiW~'V sense. T~ke a ~ec<>!l~ f9ok at the " ... and has given us His Torah." Our only claim to ''rnbSt mis:understood figut¢,,i1' T'narih distinction among the nations is that we are the reci pients of the most precious gift ever bestowed upon any people-the Torah! As Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch comments on Chumash IDevarim 27:9), what has forged S~Stl})1$ us as a nation was not our own homeland or common language. Indeed, throughout our long history, we were often in exile and spoke the languages of other peoples. .$UlJG.~le What united us as one people was "the secret of the $pe1:illl Section~ national immortality of the Jews"-the Torah. Truly, it • Mi\ttiage ,and .th:~Jewish Woman could be said of the day when we accepted the Torah, • The Role ofthe Messiah "This day you have become a nation to G-d, your G-d." The most important lesson that we can teach our By Rabbi OershonWeiss:irl coll~botation With. students is that Torah is not merely a history book or a Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan~'~! compilation of laws. The term "Torah," it should be _::::~~7~=£=~ th_e-tti~-a~/~x,Jjerts:ll:re s,~vin~- stressedr is the Creator's instructions to His children, ~"l'h~'/\>'();lntne- wiIL:,ketp the,:_ t~~det,)iJ>ellho11-ti<1, ,, • :>a_,-J)'i0St, and as such, it transcends the temporal and encom itnptittlui_t't:Ottti'ibuflo,tfil'l, '<:farYfying~pc_Otdirtg'to r6tah: teach.. , passes the secular. In no way, shape, or form dare we i,rtgs-o:ne>Oftht: _most' dtfficul~.. to~grasp,:{~t:s:onal~,Qes: in,Jewish compare G-d's most precious gift with earthly trea hisf~,ry,_'/'.::'~,, ,",,,,, ::, "" ,',,,""'":>,",:,,(",:>»:-"_", :--<" __,: """'" sures, neither tangible nor abstract. As the Talmud RABBI ZLOTOWI"l'b frulh The Jewish Observer I May 1984 19 standing in, so to speak, for the Almighty Himself, enacted in the times of the Mishna by Rabbi Yehoshua transmits the Torah in a continuous link from Sinai. ben Gamla !Bava Basra 21a). The essence of the father Every day of our lives we accept the Torah anew son relationship-love-continues as the basis for the "Blessed are You who gives the Torah." rebbe-talmid relationship. By the same token, the honor and respect that is accorded to a parent must be The Halachic Uniqueness of Birkas HaTorah extended to a teacher.' For a rebbe is considered his student's spiritual father.** Indeed, our students are our ,r There are three major categories of blessings: "Bless children, just as our children are our students. So, too, I ings of the Mitzvos," pronounced before performing a do our teachers serve as our parents, just as our parents rnitzva; "Blessings of Pleasure," recited before eating or are meant to be our teachers. drinking; and "Blessings of Praise," whereby we render Raising a generation of Torah-loyal Jews is an awe homage to the Almighty. Birkas Ha Torah is a composite some task and can only be achieved when, as parents of all three. Besides the obvious fulfillment of a com and teachers, we recognize the importance of our com mand, Torah study gives us great pleasure. We even mon purpose. Our approach must be the same: leaching a beseech G-d that He make the Torah "sweet in our child means reaching him with love. And, to reach him mouth," categorizing the bracha as a "blessing of plea with love, we must realize that he is our child, our sure." Finally, we conclude the set of brachos with praise spiritual heir, our link to tomorrow. for being selected to receive G-d's most precious gift This message is illustrated by a parable told by the His Torah. renowned Jerusalem Maggid, Rabbi Sholom Schwadron: It was early morning in the old Shaarei Chessed neighbor A Gift of Love-Father and Son, Rebbe and Student hood, nestled on a Jerusalem hill. The tranquility was shat In the final analysis, Torah education differs from tered by the piercing shriek of a little boy who tumbled off the every other form of pedagogy because it is transmitted second-floor terrace to the cobblestone street below. His mother with love. If one did not recite the Birkas Ha Torah in the rushed out to find him bleeding, writhing in pain. She picked morning, he fulfills the obligation when reciting Ahava him up and screamed for help. Rabba ("A great Love"), the blessing preceding the Shma, An old lady was trudging slowly from the fool of the hill, which depicts G-d's vast paternal love when He bestows and hearing the commotion, called out, "Don't worry. Don't His Torah upon us each day. Ideally, parents are panic. It will be all right!" required to teach their children, as is cited twice in the As she came closer to the scene, she repeated her calming Sh ma: "and you shalt teach them diligently to your chil words until she saw the hysterical mother and child from close. dren." Ideally, it is the parents' role and responsibility to Suddenly she recognized the boy as her own grandchild: teach their children-without resorting to substitute or "Gevald! Mein Yossele!" she screamed. "It's my Yossele! proxy. So it was until public education was formally Help!" The moral is clear. From a comfortable distance, some *Many of the laws in Shulchan Aruch relating to respecting one's parents and teachers look at someone else's child as parents are similar to those concerning one's teachers. Compare someone else's problem. At best they become mildly Yoreh De'ah 242:15 with 240:2, 242:38 with 240:9, and 242:16 with involved in any pain or suffering the child may endure. 240:7 Only when we, as a community, assume responsibility """Whoever teachers his friend's child Torah is considered as if he for the fate of all Jewish children, do we become their had brought him into the world" (Sanhedrin 19b). Rashi cites this, spiritual parents, in line with the bra.cha:" . .. and may we when commenting on the verse," And you shall teach them diligently and our offspring-all of us-know Your Name and learn Torah to your children": "These !children! refer to {your} students!" for its own sake ... " r'r ·.·. (r ;_.,,,~~; .. ~~y.p...,. ~=~~~~ ~~ l~-t'll'IClll ~~ll 'lrii"!\Cl·~ 1l'Jl:I.~ \<>""!'\~ ~ :111-~i& O'""'- 'tfll-)2 ~--1;, att' -~-_,_,): .,,.,,.,,_..,~- Ce'ftifiedby Vt.tad Mis~Stam lFllght Up . . Will Pick Up Your MEIZUZOS To Check 5009 - 111th Aw~ Brooklyn, N. Y. 1.- (212) 1151-107 20 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 .- ~- A pre-season postscript In his "Summer, a Season for Growth" !JO Sept. '8 3 ), Rabbi Nasson Scherman portrayed the vitality that peroades the summer camps that serve the children of our community, stressing how this past generation has seen a remarkable upgrading in the Torah content of these camps. In Rabbi Scherma n's words: "Camping has come a long way. No longer is it simply a refuge from steaming asphalt and unwholesome city streets. It is a positive force for learning and total absorption of ~, Torah's values in every area of life." ~ This theme is developed further in the following appreciation by Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Feuer, written after having spent a season in Camp Agudah, in Ferndale, New York. An exhilarating song of praise to Camp Agudah, it actually celebrates the features that distinguish a number of the camps that today grace the American continent. Torah in its Summer Glory Rosh Hayeshiua Ner Israel 1 A f4 j , Rabbi YaakotJ Kamenetzky, \ Rosh Hayeshitia Te/she Rosh Hayeshiva Mesivfa Torah Vodaalh I l "Wisdom cries aloud outside, These words of Shlomo Hamelech flowed from the lips of She raises her voice the Rosh Hayeshiva as he strolled through the grounds of Camp Agudah and delighted in the sounds of Torah I On the wide thoroughfares. study which filled the air. From every direction, from At the head of the noisy marketplaces thirty locations, the pleasant waves of Kol Ha Torah rolled She calls, through the fresh country air. The shiurim were not At the entranceway to the city conducted inside study halls. Rather the hundreds of • She proclaims her words." campers and their Rabbeim sat around picnic tables, pro (Mishlei 1:20-21 J tected by specially constructed Torah huts whose roofs shielded them from the sun while their open sides let in Rabbi Feuer is Rau of Congregation Ohr Chaim in Miami Beach, prodi The Jewish Observer I May 1984 21 tile oppressors, the Jew avoided the thoroughfares pol luted by corrupt alien culture-hardly the place for the sacred study of Torah. Its students retreated behind the walls of the Beis Hamidrash. "Go my nation, enter your inner chambers, close the door behind you, hide yourself for a brief moment until the period of wrath passes over" IYishayahu 26:20). "Go forth my beloved, let us go out lo the fields" (Shir Hashirim 7:12). The Congregation of Israel said to the Holy One, Blessed be He: "Do not observe me as a city dweller because the cities are full of theft and promiscuity, vain oaths and oaths of falsehood. Come, let us go out lo the fields (and I will show you the true character of the people of Israel). Come and talmidim. The select group of teachers comes from all see how Torah scholars study Torah there with over: Baltimore, Scranton, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Far sacrifice and dedication!" (Eruvin 2Ib). Rockaway, Flatbush, Born Park. They conduct their shiurim just as they would in the yeshiva. Only the Once, Reb Shrage Feivel Mendlowitz 7'~1 was looking scenery has been changed. out the window, admiring the country scenery. He "If only there had been learning camps like this one remarked, "Really, I am not looking outside, I am look hundred years ago, how many Jewish youths could have ing inside. 1 am reading in the Siddur of David Hamelech been saved!" exclaimed the Rosh Ha Yeshiva. "The youth of himself, for David's Siddur was all of Hashem's creation the Haskala would not have strayed, had they seen which put words of praise and Tehillim in his mouth!" Torah thus in her glory!" In the city you tramp on hard asphalt and cement. In "Wisdom cries aloud outside": At Sinai the Torah was the fields, Hashem's carpet of thick grass cushions your given in the open, under the canopy of the heavens .... feet. "Every blade of grass on earth is controlled by an In Erelz Yisroel, Torah was taught in the open. The Talmud angel in heaven, which pushes it and commands it (Pesachim 26a) relates that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai Growl"' IBereishis Rabbah 10:7). Listen closely as you walk delivered his lectures to the masses in the open Temple through the fields and your ears will pick up faint echoes 1 courtyard. The shadow of the Beis HaMikdosh shielded of that command to grow and "shleig." ~ the vast assemblage from the sun .... In Bavel, the A camper told me, "From the moment I arrived at Camp 81 masses gathered twice a year for the month long Yarchei Agudah I tasted a sweetness in my mouth and an indescribable I> Kai/ah study programs conducted in public. Tosafos IBera- yearning to grow in Torah, such as I have never experienced chos I7b) relates that a miraculous pillar of fire illumi before!" nated these assemblies and demonstrated to all the awe In the city, who ever raises his head and notices the some glory of the Torah. sky above filled with stars? In camp you discover the heavens: "Liff your eyes upward and see Who created these!" Until the Wrath Passes Over (Yeshayahu 40:26). Kiddush levana is concluded at camp, and the echoes of As the dark night of exile engulfed Jewry, however, the rekida have subsided. T almidim crowd around their the light of Torah glory grew dim. Surrounded by hos- Rebbe. "Rebbe. what is the name of that bright star to the right of the moon?" "That's not a star, that's the planet Jupiter. But over there, above the treetops, you can see the star Spica which is in the Zodiac sign of Virgo. Chazal call it Maza/ Besula. And over there you can see the planet Saturn which the Gemora calls Shablai. And there ...." Sunrise to Sunset The sun is rising and little boys are rising with it. It is long before wake-up time but they are rushing eagerly to "Cocoa Club." In no time, the four-tiered bleachers are jammed with boys who study Mishnayos before daven ing so their day is filled with Mishnah!Neshama. A cup or two of sweet hot cocoa-and it's off for Shacharis. No 22 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 wonder the Rosh Ha Yeshiva never fails to talk about the Cocoa Club. Indeed, it sets a mood that is revived at night with a special 'Torah Club" for campers, all the while that the Masmidim Beis Hamidrash is in full use. The chairman of /he board of Camp Agudah came lo visit. "It was J :30 a.m.," he recalls, "and I noticed Iha/ the lights were burning in the Masmidim Beis Hamidrash. I was upset, thinking to myself, 'Those boys are so careless with Kohol'sche gel! !community funds!. They wen/ lo sleep and forgo/ lo shut the lights!' I wen/ in lo shut the lights and behold, there are boys learning away. The night is young.I" "Arise, sing in the night" IEicha 2:19). Midnight Melodies: Midnight, Motza'ei Tisha B'Av. The surrounding forest is still. The lonely country backroads are dark and amateur photographers among them will capture the deserted. Nothing stirs. The silence is suddenly pierced scene on film. The encounter is really unforgettable. by scores of young singing voices: A nigun of yearning Indeed, many of the older Rabbeim in camp were them and hope. Warm voices melt the night air chill and fill selves campers twenty or thirty years ago, and they still the midnight void with the fullness of friendship and have memories to share about the Gedolim who visited faith. them. Now that three-decade-old visit is history. This is the traditional "Molza'ei Tisha B'Av Walk." A young camper was bubbling with excitement as he tore Down the roads they stroll singing softly with optimism. open his mail. "When the Rosh Hayeshiva was leaving last The fast is over. The tears are drying. Anyone who week I asked him a kushya on Masechtes Makkos. which I hears the sounds of this "walk" is convinced that he is was learning. He said that it was 'takeh shver' and he would hearing the footsteps of Moshiach. think about ii. Look1 Today I go! this letter from him with an "ii'iJJ i~?y 'it i1:i~ 'l:li i,tv ,,,V ~1iy" "Awaken, Awaken, answer. And he wrote it simply enough for me to understand!" recite the song! The glory of Hashem is revealed to you!" The Gemora in Megilla (3b) teaches: Again the words flow from the Rosh Ha Yeshiva's lips, "Honoring the Torah is even greater than the study of Torah." l "Wisdom cries aloud outside, she raises her voice on wide This practice is the crowning glory of Camp Agudah. thoroughfares." Amongst these youngsters who honor our Gedolei Torah today may be the Gedolimof tomorrow. "Wisdom cries aloud Kavod HaTorah-Our Future outside, she raises her voice on the wide thoroughfares.,. Let wis dom proclaim that Jewry has a bright future. We will "Who is the Rosh Hayeshiva?" He is a composite of the have our leaders. many Gedolei Yisroel who visit Camp Agudah every summer. His statements are a collection of comments made by the Gedolim as they admired the camp. Why do so many Admorim, Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva visit Camp Agudah? Simple. Because the camp is honored to invite them as guests. The camp constructed two special suites to house the visiting Gedolim who may stay for a week end, a week, or a month. The welcome that they receive is unforgettable. Hundreds of campers and counselors, masmidim and guests line the entranceway, holding a huge welcoming Exclusive Caterers at the Elegant banner that proclaims, "Beruchim Habaim." The digni COTILLION TERRACE tary's car arrives, and it is surrounded by a sea of danc 7307 18th Avenue ing and singing youngsters who strain to catch their Brooklyn, N.Y. first glimpse of the Gadol B'Yisroel. "Ohr zaru'a lalzaddik Open Chupa-Glatt Kosher u'lyishrei lev simcha." Accommodations Up To 700 Persons The visitor will deliver a shiur (lecture) or a shmuess We also cater for all your simchas (talk). He will "father" some of the campers. He will Bris, Kiddushes, Sheva Brochas, etc. speak in learning with the masmidim, Younger campers at home, synagogue, or the hall of your choice will gaze from a distance, too shy to come close. Some CALL MR. GREENFIELD 436-2112 will gather up the courage to ask for a bracha. The The Jewish Observer I May 1984 23 rM11 BOOKS From the Halachic and Rabbinic Scene The book reviewer's first task, when he turns to the halachic and • • • rabbinic field, is lo welcome the fact that major publishing Rabbi Eider has followed up his publications on Hilchos enterprises-previously welcomed in these pages-are proceeding Shabbos, Yorn Tov, and Niddah, by producing The Halachos apace. of Tefillin, a most impressive volume in the same gen eral pattern as its predecessors (Halacha Publications, Having completed the publication of Seder Moed, the Lakewood, N.j., 1984, hard cover, $15.95; soft cover, monumental ArtScroll Mishna Series has turned to $13.95). lt was designed to meet the needs of those who Seder Nashim, publishing Yevamos (N.Y., 1984, hard set out for the first time to put on tefillin and provides not cover, $16.95; soft cover, $13.95), translated and an~ only full directions but photographs and diagrams; but thologized by Rabbi Yoseif Rabinowitz. This volume maintains at the same time, it is of great value to anybody con the high standard of the entire series, a truly difficult cerned with its subject matter: It covers in detail all the task, considering the complexity of this tractate. The varied aspects of this mitzva, from the writing of the student will be greatly helped by the introduction and Parshios (the various AlephBeis are illustrated) and making by the detailed diagrams scattered throughout the work. of the cases, to the many questions that can arise in their actual use. The elaborate references given in the • • • Hebrew footnotes enable the scholar to dig further whenever needed. A treat of a very special nature are the beautifully produced second and third volumes of the Feldheim • • • edition of the Sefer Hachinuch, comprising a critically edited Hebrew text, a most readable English translation, The third volume of the Hebrew-English edition of and introduction and notes, by Charles Wengrov (N.Y., the Mishnah Berurah, edited by Rabbi Avie/ Orenstein 1984, $29.95). These volumes cover the command (Feldheim, Jerusalem, 1984, hard cover, $17.50;'soft ments contained in Sefer Vayikra and the reader will cover, $13.50), maintains the same high standards as I eagerly look forward to the volumes to follow. Special the previous volumes and, like them, is available in I mention should be made of Rabbi Wengrov's discussion either large or standard size. The publishers have of the authorship of the work, which establishes that it undertaken a vast enterprise for which we must be . was composed by Rabbi Pinchas Halevi, the brother of most grateful to them. We look forward eagerly to the ~ Rabbi Aaron Halevi to whom it is usually ascribed. early completion at this important undertaking. 1 NEW!! 8 oz. HAOLAM Shredded Mozzarella t perfect for home-made pizza! r Not~ac~se, i a tra0it1on ... , Haolam, the n\ost trusted name 1n Cho!ov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputattl)n earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashnHh.With 12 delicious vaneties.Under the strict Ra~binica! supervision of K'ha! Adas Je$hurun. N. Y Haolam, a trndit.on you'll eDJOY keep>ng.11 Cholov Yisroel '"''" ""' we"""·"'""·" '" "w '°"' "ao 24 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 L 1912, a dynamic young Orthodox leader called for a revival of the ancient Jewish concept of Klal Yisroel through the ' creation of an international movement that would approach all the problems facing the Jewish People from a Torah perspective. The man was Yaakov Rosenheim, and the movement was Agudath Israel. Recognized by Torah leaders of his time for this selfless dedication and prescient leadership, they crowned him with the title "Moreinu Our Master." Time and again, as challenges arose-the Zionist's attempt ~o. ta~e over the so~l of Eretz Yisroel, the Nazi threat in Europe, hatzalah, refugee rehab1htat10n, the creat10n of. the State of Israel-Moreinu Yaakov Rosenheim examined the events from a Torah view, analyzed their implications, and called for wise and compassionate action-with com pelling eloquence. The words he spoke and wrote in face of crisis and opportunity captured their times-a_nd, indeed, created history. These letters, statements, and speeches have been collected in I I I A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS AND SPEECHES BY MOREINU JACOB ROSENHEIM SELECTED AND EDITED BY ISAAC LEWIN Including: Agudath Israel in War Time• On the Question of Emigration and Immigration• Jewish Demands in the Framework of World Politics• The Right Answer to Hitler's Challenge• A Peace Mission from London• Torah-True Jewry and Eretz Israel• The Immigration Question and the American Jewish Conference• Three Lessons of Children's Scandal in Eretz Israel• Concerning International Protection for Shehitah •The Policy of Torah-Jewry Between War and Peace• The Future of the Jewish Agency B American-Jewish Politics: A Tragedy in Five Acts• Watchman, What of the Night? B The Meaning of Halle! at this Year's (1944) Seder B Some Chapters from the Tragedy of Jewish Refugee-Children• The Torah-State in Eretz Israel B Was S.R. Hirsch a Religious "Isolationist"?• Torah-Law, Partition and a Jewish State• Between Despair and Hope B and More ... r------~ I Agudath Israel of America Publications Dept. 5 Beekman St/NYC/10038 I I I 1 $12.50 per volume. 272 pages. I Gentlemen: \ Pre-publication offer: Order ~ Enclosed please find$ for _copies of Comfort/Comfort/ My People! I I I before July 1st and pay only t Name: I $10.00 including postage and : Address: : handling. : City. State, Zip' : L------..1 ------We reviewed on an earlier occasion Rabbi ]. David r-· "·a•a·· ! Bleich's Contemporary Halachic Problents, and are pleased to welcome now the second volume (Ktav, New I llFAIT AID MID i York, 1983, $20.00). The material presented covers a - Thi• I• off llllG!!NT A!'PEAl to. A!d Mothflt in ° large variety of practical questions affecting both the I lrttz 'l'i1roel Who Ar• 111 Oir• lil•ed to Furnish Their f life of the individual and the community. The author o. N•w Born h1fants .. 'Wit. h··.· .Lay•f.~••· 810.. nkeu,.-, stresses, as he did in the previous volume, that he does Sweoqrs, Etc. . · not aim to offer practical halachic guidance, but rather _ in Merit Of This GJ'$ol Miltvah Moy 'the o to acquaint the reader with what is being discussed in Almighty Bless You In AH Wolks Of Ufe ., _ Endorsed Sy: _ contemporary halachic literature and, in the process, ' demonstrate the way in which the halacha copes with - lellehen Rashel Krawiec • Mrs. 1Ma Weis.. I problems that are in many ways unprecedented. Mrs. Bertie Sofrin - Rebitzen. Bella Sutkob: lo ' WiJi oko furnish UNINS to nMCly kA~S Mok• Chtidrt ftcryo!iile To: ' i'i- COIG. OlllL YITICHOI ,0 • • • 202 Hewes Street, lreoklyn, l.Y. 11211 i (Tax Deductible) . ; A new work which will, without any doubt, receive a very warm welcome and wide distribution is She'al Ovicha, a basic guide to Jewish law and heritage, by Rabbi Aharon Yisroel Kahan (Keser Torah Publications, Brooklyn, 1984, hard cover, $14.00; soft cover, $12.00). Subscribe, Renew or Give This work is based on the classic Yiddish school text The Jewish Observer Shaarey Yitzchak, and in its five sections tries to convey to its readers-from preadolescents to young adults now and save. the details of our tradition in such areas as principles of faith, prayer, Shabbos, and midas. While She'al Ovicha is O One Year/$15.00 (for ten issues) essentially a guide to dinim, its particular value lies in the O Two Years/$27.00 (a $40 value) manner in which it provides background for the ha lac hos D Three Years/$36.00 (a $60 value) discussed, combining halachic facts and interpretations, 0 *Overseas-$20.00 per year dinim and ideas. The author has chosen to retain the O *Australia, South Africa: $25.00 per year dialogue form of Rabbi Seller's work, and its formal and *air delivery traditional style, but the reader will readily get used to it US dollars, drawn on a US bank only. and the presentation is very dear throughout (however, some awkward Yiddishisms have crept in, such as the use of "by" for "in the case of," which should be removed The Jewish Observer when a new edition is published). Excellent charts, as for 5 Beekman Street/New York, N.Y./10038/ instance of the various korbanos, and beautiful illustra tions add greatly to the value of the book. It is presented Send magazine to: as the first volume of several and we certainly look forward to those that will follow. Address ------City ______State ____ Zip ---- • • • Fram: Not strictly a halachic text but a valuable guide to the Name ------practice as well as the meaning of one of our fundamen Address ------tal observances is Dr. Henry C. Romberg's Bris Milah (Feldheim, NY, 1982, $10.00). It provides comprehen r City------State _____ Zip ---- sive directions and at the same time an interesting f ' O Enclose gift card 0 Master card D Visa insight into the personal experiences of the author, a distinguished Mahe/himself. An appendia on the signifi Account No. 0000000000000000 cance of the Bris, from !sh Ubeiso by Eliyahu Kitov, and an Expiration date OD (month) DO (year) excellent and interesting historical illustration roundoff Signature'------a most valuable volume. r • • • 26 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 The 613th Commandment, by Rabbi ]. Simcha Cohen • • • (Ktav, NY, 1983, hard cover, $15.00; paper back, $8.95) is an interesting and original analysis of the command Mishnas Sofrim, by Yona Vogel (Zichron Yakov, 1983, ment to write a Sefer Torah. The author chose to present $7.50, soft cover) obtainable in this country from L. his material in the form of discourses on the various Vogel, 443 Steven Ave., W. Hempstead, NY, 11552) aspects of the mitzva-its basic concepts and purpose, its presents itself modestly as a translation of the Mishna relation to Torah study, and to the purchase of seforim, Berurah dealing with the laws of writing the Ashuris etc. A wide variety of Rabbinic sources is cited, and the script, which is used for Torah scrolls, lefillin, and mezuzos. book succeeds in conveying an insight into the impor It does indeed contain the directions of the Mishnah I tance and many facets of this mitzva. Berurah as to how letters should be written, but they are presented in such a clear form and with detailed il Maze! Tov to our dear friends lustrations of every step and of every problem discussed, that a brief and complex subject becomes clear and Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Neuman, meaningful to the reader. This is a most useful pub the noted Mechanchim: lication for anyone concerned with safrus, ~'I'. Menahel of Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens and the celebrated Morah Rivka upon the engagement of their son Shlomo to Brocha Jacobowitz May l"l'lt'i1 grant them much Nachas and may the new .couple be Zocheh to be 7K1'tU'::l jOKJ Ji'~ i1l~~ Chaim and Chanie Kofman Mendy and Toby Shayovich Dovid and Cyna Singer Why slave in a .hot kitchen? Try oar Sum:mer Specials • Fully comprehensive program includes BASIC. INTRO, COBOL, JCL and BAL • Extensive hands-on terminal time ·Afith professional supervision • Training on state-of-the-art IBM mainframe and PRIME 550-JI super-mini • Profession..il placement assistance from the school with a proven reputation Fmancia! aid avatlable for eligible students Full Scholarship assistance available for income eligible students under JTI'A FOR APTITUDE TESTING 4.91JJ 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. AND ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES 851... 7550 . CALL (212) 436-1700 Enjoy Fine Dining In an Elegonf Atmosphere Doily From Noon To 10 ·P.M; COPE 1I Reservations Accrpted INSTITUTE ' Superl"tive.CateriM. At.. Reaso,iiable Prices· 4419 18th Avenue, Brooklyn. NY 11204 A< o.,J.in1 hy lh;· A""" L.11''"' ,,j lnJq'<'nckrn ( ,,lk<:"' I'< "" h,><>1•, In Our Elegant and Private Hall Ll<<'n~.:d by tlw N•·w Yrn~ ~,1,11.· hlu"''"'" 11>"µ.irlnwnt Reserve Y Qur Date. Now 1_Und(;;. _JliJ; ..1{1yn"r1·i~ii:Ji1:/}[Jl116btP11n)1u:s 'f;;.-iiaN~tcilt: {'ha.'> Irr Rni.'') The Jewish Observer I May 1984 27 Women in the Rabbinate Female Rabbis or Rabbinical Feminists? Misreading the Signals it is the latter that are capturing the simple habit, that does not allow a media's attention. woman to lead a congregation in The halacha is clear: Women are public worship, read the Torah, not qualified to serve as rabbis, to Political Perspective serve as a witness or function in lead the congregation as chazanim "the essential rabbinical role of (hazaniot?) or to be binding witnesses We maintain that the majority of judge." Novak agrees with the oth in various legal-religious actions. Yet the would-be liberalizers are politi ers, however, that the question of there is a good deal of agitation cally oriented. Perhaps the most ordination of women is fundamen amongst feminists and others of obvious indication of this is the fact tally a "political" issue ... To him, radical bent to "liberalize" Judaism that they, in turn, attribute main "religious prohibition" and "politics" giving women a fuller role to play as stream Orthodoxy's tenacious loyal appear to be interchangeable. leaders in every phase of Jewish ty to halacha as emanating from poli Blu Greenberg, described in Juda communal and religious life. tics and prejudice, not eternal values; ism as "an Orthodox writer and a Some women have been claiming and as the Talmud points out, peo feminist," agrees that the ordination that they are being thwarted in reli ple tend to blame others for their of women violates halachic tenets "as gious growth and opportunities for own shortcomings. As a prime currently interpreted by leading Or I' spiritual expression by unyielding example, the winter issue of Judaism, thodox interpreters." (Only as cur Orthodox practices that close them the American Jewish Congress's rently interpreted-say, from 1,000 BCE out, and this, they argue, is a situa magazine of religious thought, ran a to 1984?) "There is nothing intrinsic tion that could be corrected. (In the symposium on feminism, and all to the rabbinic role that a woman words of Blu Greenberg's now fam eleven contributors to the issue con cannot do,"she argues. "Therefore, ous ]'accuse: "Where there is rabbinic curred that in their opinion, "com her exclusion was only a matter of will, there's a halachic way.") Others munity attitudes rather than halacha gender, which evolved from a cultu simply see halachic Judaism as one are the principal reasons for opposi ral rather than a religious base." more area of oppression of women tion to ordination of women." (Re Mrs. Greenberg, so well-meaning that has to be corrected amongst the form) Rabbi Robert Gordis, editor in her defense of Orthodoxy, none rest. So for the sake of the sister- of Judaism, maintains that"the halacha theless treads the well-worn Con 1 hood-at-large, they attack Judaism's neither sanctions nor forbids ordi servative path of attributing various "sexist" attitudes. nation of women-it never con halachos to the sociological schema templated the possibility." Rabbi rII.. Granted, there most definitely from which they allegedly arose. I' are some women who honestly feel Emanuel Rackman, identified in the She thus continues the practice by ~ a yearning to experience some areas magazine as "the Orthodox presi reading the trends of our times for • of Jewish life that are shut off from dent of Israel's Bar-Ilan University," indicators of how to "reinterpret" ' them. Unfortunately, they are mis writes that "even the Orthodox halacha anew to meet current needs: r reading various signals-signals of must admit that the issue pertains New trends bring new needs, ergo t unrest from within themselves as less to Jewish law than it does to the new halachic interpretations. (It is well as signals of exclusion from psychology of Jews and the sociol quite impossible to imagine a Juda institutional Orthodoxy. But these ogy of the Jewish community." It is ism that would last for two millen women are not the subject of this unfortunate that it was left to a nia of wandering, as it did, if instead discussion. The quest of these genu- Conservative rabbi, David Novak of of overcoming the pressures of the ine searchers is not represented by Far Rockaway, NY, to set the record environment, it responded to every : the more vociferous critics of "Judad straight to a degree. He recognizes quirk, fad, and trend in the sur l ism's attitude toward women/' an that it is religious prohibition, not rounding host community!) 28 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 "Rabbinically-Mandated" Announcing Promiscuity? 170 A rnq/or new work For us to identify feminist agita 1.' n117n r..~·.···· ) tion against Torah Judaism as politi ' .., q., 1·'r1n HALACHOSOF cal or sociological in nature, is more than a matter of understanding TE FILL IN Orthodoxy's critics. It also indicates in English (256 pages) the direction in which they are head ing and how far they may be going. by Rabbi Shimon Elder For example, the radical feminists in Comprehensive·· Authoritative the secular world have extended their goal of eliminating all differen Deals with .practical balacha ces of advantage between men and In modern circumstances women to eliminating all differen ces, peFiod. (Thus some of the more • Complete ln ten chapters • The perfect Bar_ Mit_zvah iJlft , irresponsible extremists have • CJo-se t6 50-photogtaphs _arrd illustrations •Excellent for a father_ to teach Hikhos formed an alliance with gay libera • What to lot>k for when purchasing T:efillin Tefillin to his son • A step--by-step guide for '?titting on and • 'the ideal gift _for S'ynagogues to present to tionists, to ignore the normal, natu removing Tefillin the Bar Mitzvah boy ral alliances between the sexes.) It • Extensfve fOotnotes and re-ferences • Geared to serve as a text for Yeshivas may be shocking, but it should not • Comprehensive Table of contents and and day schools be surprising, then, to read of the indexes • Excellent gfadUati6n glf( latest pronouncements of Dr. Judith $15.95 (hard cover) $.13.95 (soft cover) Hauptman, who is a candidate for Special Pre·Publk'1tion offer extended until]une 30, 19$4 (30 Sivan 5744) : the rabbinate in the Conservative $l3.95 (hard cover) Available in Hebrew Book Stores or from: $-lt-95 (soft cover) movement: HALACHA PUBLICATIONS Dr. Judith Hauptman, a n1en1ber of 418 Twelfth Street, Lakewood, N.J. 08701 the Talmud faculty at the Jewish Theo logical Seminary, con1n1ented from a (201) 363-3980 Jewish perspective on the great need for ...... - ...... -.. ------Otderfbrm--•------·-~···-----...-• increasing the Jewish birthrate, and of the n1any bright, wellweducated young Jewish won1en who do not marry. 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Settlon 3 at $3.oo·· • Petshek National Family Center Newsletter .•. Copies HALACHOS OF NIDOAH (bn Kas!ienng) (Hard Cover) at $'i0.95' Vol. JV, No. 21 .•• Coples A SUMMARY OF HALACHOS OF •._ , _Copies HALACHOS OF NIDDAH P~ACfi. Sedion 4 at $3.oo·· • (Soft Cover) al $8 95 • In calling for rabbinically sanc (on Searchirig The Jewish Observer I May 1984 Speclal_ rates for bulk Orders. Prepa•d orders_ acc:epted only: I am enclosing a check or money otder for total of_$ (U.S. Currency). ''SHALOM YIDDISH'' second looks Self-Study Language Course THE FIRST, at the jewish scene COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE METHOD FOR YIDDISH • twenty five 45-minute cassettes Speeding Through Summer Space • two 300-page books, fully illustrated Summer is a season for loosening tions, and all of this has special • the key to your summer relevance. cultural heritage! up. People retreat to vacation spots where the atmosphere is less confin Specifically, a summer has scarcely "SHALOM YIDDISH" ing. Both at work and at home, passed without some horrifying au is a unique, self-teach schedules are less restrictive and tomobile accident taking the lives of language method expectations are less demanding. innocent young people. The victims specially designed for the The added space offers people an were not part of a fast crowd, not individual. opportunity for exploration of their guilty of driving while intoxicated or You pace yourself. You environment and beyond, as well as under the influence of drugs, or teach yourself. of their inner selves-a time for dis pedestrians who do not value life And then you share the covery and growth. Untended, un and limb. Nonetheless, in past sum experience millions of tamed, the growth can become wild, mers, these tragedies occurred with Jews have been talking tangled, a sorry mess. Directed, the a regularity that made one shudder about for centuries- when contemplating the Memorial YIDDISH. results can be extremely gratifying. Day-Labor Day stretch on the ca The SHALOM YIDDISH Rabbis, teachers, and baalei Mus· lendar and one prayed each year method, developed at the sar, in general, tend to sound the that it would be without tragic in Sorbonne University in Paris, cautionary note in regard to per cident. I is recommended by teachers sonal conduct and adherence to reli Summer has its problems. It in at Columbia and gious moral standards during the variably means great distances to be Yeshiva Universities. I summer. While these are always traversed, long hours of pleasure Distributed in timely, always imperative, we are ISRAEL driving, late hours-these are in leaving their elaboration to others it ~ P.S. evitable, seems. It also means 69, Shlom Tsion Ama!ka St who are more qualified for the task. commuting husbands ... traveling TEL-AVIV 62266 We would like to emphasize an families ... and teenagers on their TeL (03) 449 697 aspect of summer conduct that may own, away from parental supervi U.S.A. not strike the reader as particularly sion, smarting from too much adult N.S.O.F. Inc. 4530 North Jefferson Ave germaine to JO discussion, but we meddling, crowding into cars, often MIAMI BEACH think otherwise. in the hands of drivers short on 33I40 FLORIDA Somehow, as members of a peo experience and long on dare, often TeL (305) 538 88 55 ple who live by a law loftier than any FRANCE exhausted, leaving good judgment E.F.C. other nation's laws, answering to and the speed limit far behind. 38 bis, rue Vivienne demands more stringent than any Summer is a season for relaxa 75002 PARIS civil code, some of us tend to over TeL (1) 296 56 56 tion, but not a time for abandon Name ______look such technical matters as traffic ment of prudence and safety. We Address ______laws, fire codes, and swimming pool look around, and enjoy the presence safety. Yet "And you shall live by of good kids, cherished family, won Please send me ____ them", is a Torah command ( Vayikra derful neighbors, the fellow from "SHALOM YIDDISH" 18:5) used to underscore the rnifzva around the corner. We pray that method kit{s) at $239 each of guarding one's life. Moreover, + $11.95 sales tax for none of them become a Summer '84 Florida residents {includes the Talmud rules that one must be statistic of tragedy, and we look to postage paid in U.S.A.) stricter with regard to life hazards them to use their good judgment to Amount enclosed: --- than with other religious prohibi- do their best that it does not occur. 30 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 Batya Zimmerman Al Tashlichainu L'Ais Ziknah Worn, But Not to Be Discarded I turned the page of my Siddur, but of strength. This represents the these same grandparents could alas, I could daven no further, for the Shabbos, our tower of strength. The function as guiding lights for the next page of my Siddur was torn. On word Magdil means 'to enlarge.' It is future generations. When parents the way back to the bookshelf, the during the days of the week that we convey to their children the great Siddur fell open to the front flap, labor to build. Shabbos represents treasures of the older generation, where it was neatly inscribed, "fixed completion, and holiness from which these youth grow to appreciate, by Jacob Keller." I turned to place we derive strength for the whole rather than reject. So many children the torn Siddur on the ever-growing week. We can compare youth to the could have been brought closer to pile of torn Siddurim in the corner. As weekdays, when we actively build, the Torah, their lives enriched by I reached for a new Siddur, I began to with great strength. But old-age, knowing, loving and looking up to a reflect. with its limited physical activity, "Bubby and Zeidi." Not only would Jacob Keller was an elderly Jew, may be likened to the Shabbos, where the young gain, the elderly would be who came to daven daily in our shul. one is free from all labors and has encouraged to 'come out of the But unlike the other elderly men, time for spiritual growth. At every corner' and be as productive as pos who retired to read their newspapers stage of life, each member of Kial sible. How much Torah would !Chas for the rest of the day, Jacob Keller Yisroel has much to contribute to VeShalom} have been lost if our Gedo would sit in the shu/ and mend Sid society. The older people can serve lim would retire at age sixty-five! durim. And while Jacob Keller kept as fortresses of faith and strength, Our greatest leader, Moshe Rabbeinu, the Siddurim whole, the Siddurim kept and with their wealth of knowledge first became Manhig Yisroel at the age Keller vibrant. and experience, can teach us great of eighty! Jacob has not been with us now lessons of life. How sad, that instead So when we pray, "AL TASHLl 1 for ten years, and the pile of torn of overlooking their weaknesses and CHAINU L' AIS ZIKNAH," let us also Siddurirn in the corner continues to realizing their great value, society have in mind "May we not cast away grow. Suddenly, I felt these Siddurim thrusts the elderly into the corner, our fortresses of strength, even in crying out to me, "Daven from us, telling them (and often convincing their old age ... KICHLOSKOCHAINU, please! All we need is a bit of mend them) that they are useless, while AL TA'AZVAINU!" ~"i'. ing. Please don't throw us in the corner!" Then I realized that each of us shares in this plea before Hashem, "AL TASHLICHAINU L'AIS ZIKNAH!" 1. 1$ ~'1t..natne;;1'nd Jiddre$$ printed in-;;tectly on theJO maili11g 1ltbcl7 l Please don't throw me in the corner 1,0.~!Yi:IU mov\~ lh:4> us deliver your JO to yoo as efficien:tly as j to waste away, when I am old and a I·•• ···~le:l>l-attttclt euttentnmiling 11'bel in space below; The Jewish Observer I May 19fl4 31 • I ,, • • • '' (with and without comment) Parchments of Fire A Mussar Document ious students of Mussar in Europe~since him red-handed, then turn him over then, martyred by the Nazis~as transcribed to the authorities./! by Rabbi Bruk during his /ravels in the The thief continues about his busi 19 3 O's. The title derives from the Gemora's ness, fills his sack, leaves the store, description of the martyrdom of Rabbi Cha and still the watchman ponders nanya ben Tradyon al the hands of the whether to grab him: perhaps it Romans: Rabbi Chananya, wrapped in a would be better to wait until he Torah scroll as he was martyred (in fire) by comes a little closer, then he could the Romans, saw the parchment burn, the be caught with ease, letters escape, flying upward unscathed. The thief, in the meantime, has Rabbi Bruk, loo, saw the skin of holy taken a hop, skip, and a jump and parchments burn, and now sought to bring fled out of sight of the overwise the letters and words back from heaven to be watchman. His laughter turns to read and revered in the world of men. trembling. He begins to pursue the The following is the legacy left by an thief who by then has disappeared. anonymous Jew known simply as "Reh The store has been breached, the Zvi," writ/en down by Rabbi Bruk fifty merchandise robbed, and the watch years ago, published recently in Jerusalem, man is in fear of his life for his malfeasance. Rabbi Ben Zion Bruk lranslated by Rabbi Hillel Goldberg of Denver, Colorado. Man is like that night watch A sefer has recently been issued from Jeru man-man when he says, "I shall sin salem by Rabbi Ben Zion Bruk, a present • • • and then repent," man when he day leader of one of the key schools of Mus The words of Rabbi Zvi: ruminates, "I still have time to wait, sar, Novaradok, which was founded by To what may man be compared? to transcend triviality. After I com Rabbi Yoseif "Yoizel" Horowitz ("der Aller That night watchman who conceals mit some great transgression then I of Novaradok"-see JO March '77). himself in order to guard effectively shall repent. I still have time." The sefer-Parchments of Fire is com against thieves. Suddenly he spies a The error is his, for he believes prised of Mussar thoughts expressed by var- thief approaching the store and that his passion is under his control, smiles to himself: "Aha! I can see, that any time he wishes he may turn THE WORLD FAMOUS but am not seen." contrite, turn back in repentance, DIGEST OF MEFORSHIM Before the watchman has a chance unmolested. In fact, in his view he -~1p'i ir1:l -~1p'i to chuckle the thief is at the door, really is no sinner at all; he has 7":tf 11/IO'K 'itcicw ,, i"li11C yet the watchman smiles again, tell found no grave defect in himself, Available at ing himself: "Why should I shock Such is the way of compromisers LEKUTEI INC., c/o I. Rosenberg him now, before he has a chance to and temporizers; to glory in their 10 West 47th Street, Room 702 steal? He would flee, and not receive tomorrow until it comes, at which NYC 10036/(212) 719-1717 time their desire is no longer under 20 Volumes on Torah, his just desserts. I shall wait until he Perek, T ehillim, steals and then grab him," their control. It is therefore incum bent upon man to be truly wise, eyes Medrash, Megilos & Talmud, Meanwhile the thief has broken wide open, meticulous in shunning Proceeds of sales distributed among and entered. Yeshivas and used for reprinting Again the watchman smiles: "Now the first glimmer of sin his way. of volumes our-of-print 111 just wait until he fills his sack Then, he will never sin gravely, will PRICE $8.00 PER VOLUME with stolen merchandise and catch be harmoniously repentant, always. 32 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 ' A boy of a family of 10 souls A Story Grows in Lakewood* I was hit by a truck. Shomer Shabbos driver was not in Sometimes a" story" is taking shape in our " .. The classrooms are, for the l sured. Boy lost speech, is in own backyard, and if takes someone across most part, scattered throughout wheel chair, mother depressed. the ocean to make us aware of it. A grand town in various basements which Need is great. Kindly issue tax father of several little girls growing up in are rented from private home deductible check to Bikur Lakewood, New Jersey, showed me a trench owners ... the rooms have stone ant letter he had received, detailing the floors and are inadequately heated Cholim Inc. and mail to: deplorable conditions of the local girls' school ... no playgrounds or halls in which RABBI AVROHOM there. It hit home on the personal level, but the children can romp, they have to BLUMENKRANTZ did not give much promise in terms of mate remain in the damp basement the 814 Caffrey Ave. rial for JO.· True, enough, the school's entire school day , .. a grave fire Far Rockaway, N.Y. 11691 unique. While most educational institutions hazard . . . the rooms are over do suffer in one way or another, this one is crowded and when a child has to go Speaking in Public · special in that it serves the children of the to the WC she has to go through Clearly 1 confidently and effec members of one of the world's largest yeshi another class in progress in order to 1 tively is important for anyone who vas. As a result, it has "financial hardship" reach it ... one C for 60 children ... wants to advance in business or written into its very foundation. But that paper-thin partitions between two organizational activity, hardly makes a story. -Or so if seemed until classrooms ... when an assembly is A course in Public Speaking I came across the "Here and There" column arranged in a nearby hotel, the using proven easy.-to.-learn, meth ... of the May 4, '84 London Tribune, the whole day's session has to be can ods-is now forming for small weekly newspaper published by Agudath celled. School started three weeks groups of tnen in your area. ln,addi,., Israel of Great Britain, We quote: late for the girls this year because ti6n to self expression you will not enough basements were initially learn Goal Setting, _Time Manage. A Grandfather available ... every year the school ment and Creative Thinking-tools and a Grandfather expands by leaps and bounds and that can project your talents as a more se}f... confident, more effective the situation becomes more intoler person. A gentile friend of mine recently able ...." asked me to tell him how many You'll be surprised how easily So what does this irate grand you can acquire these coveted Skills grandchildren I have. I said that it is father do? . , . and how they can open ,new our custom not to talk about that, Buy a once-a-year holiday present oppbrtunities for you. but when he pressed me I succumbed for his granddaughter, and leave it If you, your spouse, your son, or and told him. at that? a friend can benefit from such a "What?" he exclaimed, "and you course, please contact Mr.- -Avi have to buy an Xmas present for The letter continues: Shulman, 19 Grove Street, Mon... each one of them?" "I have therefore decided to create sey, N.Y. (914) 356-1567, A reader from New York recently a committee formed solely of grand sent me a two-page letter which he parents, with the purpose of devis received from a Baal Habayis in Vine ing ways in which to help our own MESIFTA OF land, New Jersey, which beautifully grandchildren move to better class THE YESHIVA illustrates how a Jewish grandfather room facilities. This is in addition to cares about his second generation an existing parents' committee OF BROOKLYN offspring. which consists maintly of Kole/ yunge Praised by The letter starts with "Dear Fel leit who, despite their own limited Gedolei Yisroel low Grandparent," and relates his resources, have collectively pledged 1206-10 OCEAN PARKWAY painful disappointment when, on a $200,000 for this cause. A new Excellent Rebbeim, very good Eng recent visit to his children in Lake building costs in the region of one lish Department, small classes, Af wood, he inspected the local Beth million dollars, so it is obvious that a ternoon Shiurim in B'kius, dormi Jacob day school which his grand tory (home-like atmosphere). lot more has to be done by us ..." Scholarships available, daughtHs, together with many My friend would stand aghast if Emphasis placed on Midos Tovos. hundreds of girls, are attending. he were to read how seriously this Lack of space prevents me from Nachshon hen Aminodov from Vineland 375-2652 reproducing all he writes-so I will takes these duties as a grandparent, Please Note: Registration is still open in selected classes, Kindergarten through just quote a few snippets. especially as he chose to undertake High School (separate boys & girls them voluntarily. schools.) *sown in Vineland, pruned in London, trans 1 376-3775 And we too have a lot to learn. •.'i I planted to New York City. The Jewish Obseroer I May 1984 33 RIKA BREUER TEACHERS SEMINARY DAY DIVISION 85-93 Bennett Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10033 • A two-year program of advanced Jewish studies dedicated to preparing young women for life in contemporary society in the spirit of Beth Jacob.· • Twenty years of experience in conveying Torah values and knowledge, developing character and middos, and training inspired educators. • Studies lead to a general diploma, or to a teacher's diploma and Torah Umesorah's teacher's license. • Special arrangements for students who have completed one year of Seminary in Eretz Yisroel. Special Optional Programs: Training Course for Training Course for Teaching Secular Studies High School Teaching • Financial aid available • Dormitory facilities • Student teaching in conjunction with Metropolitan area schools FOR INFORMATION CALL (212) 568-6200. FOR SALE OR LEASE CLASSIC LONG ISLAND ESTATE IN THE THRIVING AND GROWING JEWISH COMMUNITY OF LAWRENCE, LONG ISLAND This unusual five bedroom home is situated on one acre lot containing beautiful spacious lawns, pool and parking area. Many old world features contained in the home. This was pre 11l!UM ll:lil llil!l 'T1:i,; viously a physician's residence and has a fully equipped physician's office section containing M""')V i''~":ll)ltJ •l)l'I :ll'T ')tll' •:ii )ill three exam rooms, waiting room and physi cian's office. A two be'droom guesthouse with kitchen is situated on property with independ ent entry. Current asking price is $410,000.00 :"ll\V1' ,,,y with flexible terms. 'l;Kii '1Ci' ::i:i 218 Broadway/Lawrence, New York If you have any interest in this property, please contact: .,. 'n; iii<7 1 34 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 phone on Shabbos, invite priests and Letters to the Editor ministers to deliver sermons, (one was honored with Pesichas Aron Hako deshl). At weddings and dinners they permit the serving of starn yeinorn~ non-Jewish wines, which are for bidden by halacha. Is this "Or j thodoxy"? But the truth must be said: It is not their fault, it is ours! It is we Another Penny For lhought JO: Guilty of Fraud Orthodox Jews, and especially Bnei Torah, who have let this tragic situ To the Editor: To the Editor: ation come about by inviting them I would like to write a brief addi I read with interest Rabbi Nissen to speak at our gatherings, entering tion to" A Penny for T zeddaka/' (JO Wolpin's article about the conver their congregations for functions, March '84) regarding the diverting sion program in Denver Uan '84) as and so on. It is we who have created of /zeddaka monies, by the children well as the correspondence between this blurring of demarcation lines. collecting the lzeddaka, for their per Rabbi Sherer and the "Orthodox Now the JO has joined in perpetrat sonal use .... People tend to forget Rabbis" of Denver. (March '84). As a ing the fraud by referring to these childhood temptations. The princi frequent visitor to that community, shepherds who lead their flocks pal of one of New York's largest I would like to clarify some points of astray as Orthodox. yeshivos told me that he rarely saw which you seem to be oblivious: STANLEY AVIGDOR a pushke returned after a campaign These so-called Orthodox rabbis Boston, Mass. whose coin slot hadn't been jimmied that you refer to are all of a category and tampered with. that are only called Orthodox west Given the adage "the mouse isn't of Chicago. __..OTLIN-- the thief, but rather the hole is, for A few examples: all the congrega TOJERusaLEM allowing him entry," it would seem tions they lead have mixed sitting In time of illness, surgery or incumbent upon charity institutions (one had a mechitza, which was voted crisis, special prayers will be to design a pushke with a pilfer-proof down a few years ago), use a micro- recited at U,e Western Wall and slot. Furthermore, parents and mechan THE al our Yeshiva in Jerusalem. chim should demand that the entire CALL 24 HOURS IM, 25¢, 50¢ stamp type of collec rFUNDBAISERl (212) 871-4111 tion should be stopped, for this par A computer aid designed for I ticular form of collecting is com yeshivas, institutions and ta!en- I A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE OF ted administrators pletely without control. All the cash • increases productivity The American Rabbi Meir is entered directly into the child's •enhances your effectiveness Baal Haness Charily possession, unless very strict ac • pays for itself countability is maintained, i.e. for This integrated. on-line, state KOLEL AMERICA every stamp missing from the book of-the-art system includes: 132 Nassau St.• N.Y., N.Y.10038 the child has to have the correspond •tuition and pledge processing To Order Our Pushka, "A Segula ing correct amount of money .. Until • donor profiling For Good Health, Happiness And such time, I believe parents shouldn't •dinner planning/accounting Success", Call (212) 871-4111. permit their children to collect with • Yartzheit management these stamps. •journal maintenance and accounting Occasionally, one is approached • selective reporting Dohafoyour back issues by youngsters who have neither • automatic letter writing ofThe Jewish Observer pushke nor stamps, but either ask •word processing and Olorneinu to: verbally or have a letter, much like a • A/P - GIL Jewish Youth Library meshulach. I believe that these solicit • list management I 1353 51 Street ing children should be categorically • mailing labels/rolodex/ Brooklyn, NYJ 1219 refused and, needless to say, parents statements/receipts 111 shouldn't permit their children to For more information or a dem (212) 435-4711 engage in such activity. onstration attach this ad to your i For the sake of tzeddaka and right letterhead and mail it to: I eousness, let us train our children to Autocomp Systems Corp. I 'L 32 Alturas Road I be responsible in both. EV 7-1750 Spring Valley, NY 10977 J (RABBI) J.M. HIRSCHMAN or call: :;"'"•,e •,JteC Toronto, Canada (212) 484-0911/(914\ 42<;-0~21 it:Wi"':"'O,"!lt "t::~·Wt"': ...,"~r!~ r RABBI RUDERMAN SPEAKING FOR MOETZES GEDOLEI Mayer Bergman (Bnei Brak), Rabbi Yekusiel Bittersfeld, Rabbi Abba HATORAH, with (I tor): Rabbi Aaron Schechter (Rosh Yeshiva, Brudny, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Rabbi Faivel Cohen, Rabbi Hillel Mesivta Rabbi Chaint Berlin); Rabbi Yaakov Perlow (Novon1insker David, Rabbi Simcha B. Ehrenfeld, Rabbi Yitzchok F aigelstock, Rebbe); Rabbi Elya Svei (Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva D'Philadelphia); Rabbi Shmuel Faivelson, Rabbi Reuven Feinstein, Rabbi Elya Rabbi Avrohont Pam (Rosh Yeshiva Torah Vodaath); Rabbi Ruder~ Fischer, Rabbi Joseph Frankel, Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld, Rabbi man (speaking); Rabbi Moshe Sherer; Assistant Secretary of State Gavriel Ginzburg, Rabbi Naftali Halberstam (Bobov), Rabbi Eliezer Elliott Abran1s; Rabbi A.C. Feuer, chairman; Rabbi Pinchos M. Horowitz, Rabbi Shraga M. Kalmanowitz, Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Teitz; Rabbi Chaskel Besser; Presidential Assistant Dr. Marshall Kotler, Rabbi Levi Krupenia, Rabbi Dr. Isaac Lewin, Rabbi Dovid Breger. Lifschitz, Rabbi Leib Nekritz, Rabbi Naftali Neuberger, Rabbi Among other prominent rabbis at the dais were: Rabbi Nisson Binyomin Paler, Rabbi Eliezer Schedrowitzky, Rabbi Meir Schein Alpert, Rabbi Michoel Barenbaum, Rabbi Chaim Benoliel, Rabbi berg, Rabbi Dovid Steinwurzel, and Rabbi Aaron Zuckerman. AGUDATH ISRAEL DINNER HEARS CALL FOR GLOBAL CONVENTION OF BAALEI TESHUVA Over 1,500 prominent Orthodox rabbis American Agudath Israel organization "a and communal leaders at the 62nd annual central address for all the needs and concerns dinner of Agudath Israel of America heard of Jewish people, because its dynamic broad ' Rabbi Pinchos M. Teitz of Elizabeth, New range of activity is totally guided by the daas Jersey, ca!l for an international conference of Torah (Torah outlook) of the Torah Sages." Bllalei Teshuvll (returnees to Judaism) to "co Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Feuer of Miami ordinate and accelerate the movement to Beach, Florida, who chaired the event, was satisfy the worldwide thirst of Jews for a introduced by David M. Singer, a national Torah lifestyle, after tasting the emptiness of treasurer of Agudath Israel. secular society." The distinguished Orthodox E1Hott Abrams, Assistant Secretary of rabbinic leader, who had pioneered a religious State for Human Rights and Humanitarian revival in Communist Eastern Europe, lauded Affairs, visibly moved his listeners when he the "discreet activities of Agudath Israel to declared that the "Soviet Union hates Jews help spiritually save entire generations in because they hate Hashem (G-d); because Communist-dominated Europe, a process faith in Him is their most powerful opponent; which was unthinkable two decades ago." His because the only power capable of resisting call struck a responsive chord, and at the end their relentless drive to capture the souls of East Berlin, who last week came over to the of the dinner the organization announced men is faith in Hashem. Communism can West in order to begin Torah studies in a that it will establish machinery to convene best be understood as a modern form of Yeshiva for Baalei Te5huva in Strassbourg, such a worldwide gathering, to provide idolatry-an attempt to establish the party as France. Dr. Honigman, whose great grand "momentum, direction and coordination in the final arbiter of truth, justice and morality. father in 1845 was a founder of Reform Juda this vital field." And for this reason, too, Communists and ism in Germany, and who grew up in the The venerable Torah scholar, Rabbi Yaa their allies are anti-Semitic. They know full Communist movement in East Germany kov Yitzchok Ruderman, Rosh Hayeshivll of well that Jews are prohibited from ever wor after the war, brought tears to the eyes of the the Ner Israel of Baltimore, opened the shipping idols." audience when he described how "after many impressive gathering with a greeting on Assistant Secretary of Abrams received detours" he learned that "there is no other behalf of the Moetus Gedolei HaTornh {Council Agudath Israel's 1984 Humanitarian Award, way of life but Torah-Judaism." He praised of Tor ah Sages of which he is a senior which was presented by Rabbi Teitz and the Rescue Committee of Agudath Israel and member. The audience listened with great Rabbi Moshe Sherer, the president of the its chairman Mr. Mordechai Neustadt, for its reverence to the Rosh Hayeshiva's call for organization. "intensive efforts" over the past year to pro Orthodox Jews of all shades to work unitedly One of the highlights of the evening was vide him with the "spiritual nourishment" he against the wave of secularism which threat the address of Dr. Peter Honign1an, an needed in order to complete his starting a ens to engulf the Jewish people. He called the atomic physicist of the Academy of Science in Torah life. He described in detail how "Divine 36 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 Providence" arranged for a "chance meeting" "in the forefront of efforts to enhance the The three-tiered dais at the dinner repres in Eastern Europe between himself and Rabbi lives of Orthodox Jews ... and for the welfare ented an imposing array of the nation's fore David Go1dwasser, Director of the "Chizuk" of others ... reflecting the finest in America's most Torah scholars and Orthodox lay lead~ agency of Agudath Israel. He was loudly spirit of voluntarism.'' The President stated ers. Among those at the dais were members applauded when he announced that "with the because of Agudath Israel's "important role of the Moelzes Gedolei HaTorah, Roshei Yeshiva help of Agudath Israel, I will dedicate all of .. in promoting the values and culture of the (deans) of major American Yeshivas, leaders the next years to nothing else but learning Jewish people," the organization "contributes of the American Orthodox rabbinate, and , Torah. Then, I and my wife and children will significantly to the diversity that enriches laymen who have played a key role in building really be free, because we will have returned American life and is the foundation of our Orthodox institutions throughout the United from total assimilation and isolation to the nation's strength." States. A large number of federal, state and midst of Jewish life in learning." city government officials also participated. Rabbi Moshe Sherer, in remarks made dur Community Service {Avodas Hakodesh) The audience, as at all Agudath Israel events, ing the awards presentation, declared that Awards were presented by Rabbi Shntuel reflected the movement's coalition character, "when Holocaust Memorials are limited to B1oont, the administrative director of Agu in its colorful composition of Orthodox Jews ceremonial candle-lighting and a recitation of dath Israel, to community leaders for a broad from every walk of life and land of origin. remembrances of that horrible era, and they range of accomplishments: Rabbi Eliezer are not accompanied by an affirmation of Eichenthal, Rabbi Joseph Gelman, Chanoch Awards were presented to Avrohom commitment to the Torah tradition which Lubling, Rabbi Moshe Neun1an, Hershel Pol Schonberger-the Reb Elimelech Tress the martyrs cherished as much as life itself, lak, Santuel Reshevsky, Assentblyntan Shel Memorial Award "Shearis Hapleitoh Man of they miss the mark." don Silver and Hershel Wieder. The segment the Year"; Rabbi Dovid E. fishntan-Moreinu President Ronald Reagan, in greetings devoted to religious freedom and human Yaakov Rosenheim Memorial Award; and brought by his Special Assistant Dr. Mar rights was capped by a moving "tefi/lo" ren Mordechai Freidman-HaGaon Rav Aharon shall Breger, lauded Agudath Israel for being dered by Chazan Sholom Kleinlerer. Kotler Memorial Award. COMMUNITY DROP-IN INSTITUTE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER DEDICATED OF SARASCHENIRER SEMINARY The Harry and Jane Fischel Foundation Drop-In Center was dedicated in late March THE JEWISH SPECIAL ED. by Chizuk-the Torah Link, the adult CEJ4f~E~"p'(5~ reach-out division of the Agudath Israel is entering its third year World Organization. The Drop-In Center, located at 1801 Kings Highways in Brooklyn An introductory Orientation.Session with will be a multi dimensional out-reach project the· Administration and College of J with a vast array of services for the entire Jewish community. Some of these services Staten Island will be held on include counseling, a Jewish information Monday, June 25, at 7i30 P.M. bank, holiday seminars, resource materials and an English language Torah library. in Sara Scheniret Bldg; 4622-14 Ave., Brooklyn In addition, Chizuk's adult Torah study classes, held every Wednesday evening, will All present and potential applicants are invited take place at the new Drop-In Center. Some For information call Mrs. Basya Neumann, Coordinator of the Torah classes include the Jewish Liv at (212) 438-9222 ing Laboratory, how to read Hebrew, a spe cial program for the Jewish deaf, fully ex plained synagogue services for the beginner, various rap sessions on Jewish topics, as well as many other diversified classes for the Jew famous ish publlc. Chizuk also features a fol!ow through the dairy restaurant program for the young men and women who have studied in Israeli Yeshivas geared for students without any previous Jewish edu 222 West 72nd Street cational background, and now must return (212) 595-8487 to the United States to face a sometimes ambivalent home atmosphere. Cholov Yisroel - Shomer Shabbos Speakers who extended greetings at the dedication ceremony were Rabbi Moshe Under the Supervision of K'hal Adath Jeshurun Sherer, president of Agudath Israel of Amer ica, Simeon H.F. Goldstein of the Harry and Open for Breakfast, Luncheon and Dinner Jane Fischel Foundation, Councilman Noach Dear, and Chizuk's director, Rabbi David Catering - Parties - Meetings Goldwasser. Musical entertainment was pro vided by the Albert Warman Orchestra. The Jewish Observer I May 1984 37 .... ILLINOIS SUNDAY BURIAL AGUDATH ISRAEL/SBCO HOSTS MAYOR KOCH LAW UPHELD: AGUDATH ON TOUR OF BORO PARK HOUSING ISRAEL HAILS VICTORY In a meeting with New York's Mayor with a grant from the city's Office of Neigh CHICAGO, ILL!NO!S-A lawsuit challenging Edward I. Koch on May 15, top officials of borhood Economic Development. the constitutionality of the recently enacted Agudath Israel's community development Mr. Klein, joined by Community Board lllinios Sunday burial law was rejected by agency, the Southern Brooklyn Community #12 Chairman, Edward M. Rappaport and Judge Arthur Dunn of the Circuit Court of Organization (SBCO) called on the city to District Manager Priscilla Celano, asked the Cooke County, Illinois. The law, which was develop programs which would provide per Mayor to allocate funds to raze the old developed by the Commission on Legislation manent financing to construct and rehabili Culver El, an eyesore and dumping ground of Agudath Israel Qf Illinois, prohibits union tate housing units for large families. They and to urge the MTA to assist SBCO in contracts with cemel:ery managements which also asked the Mayor to lead a crusade to developing plans for a badly-needed parking ban burials on Sundays or legal holidays. The renew the state's SONYMA low-interest facility on the site. measure was necessary because of the long mortgage program for private homeowners. On 43rd Street, SBCO representatives standing denial of burial rights on Sundays to The requests were made during a mayoral showed the Mayor numerous buildings and Orthodox Jews, whose religious law requires walking tour of Boro Park's northern Fif small homes, once vacant eyesores that were speedy burial. teenth Avenue corridor, one of SBCO's now being brought back to life thanks to the Agudath Israel of Chicago's Legislative target areas. incentives of the city loan programs such as Commission, under the direction of the na tional Agudah legal staff, arranged for the law to be passed after its efforts to resolve the problem by negotiation were unsuccessful. Jn the lawsuit filed by the labor union representing Illinois gravediggers, the plain tiffs argued that the statute, Public Act 83- 384, violated the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The brief sub mitted on behalf of Agudath Israel of Amer ica and other affected parties, denied the claim that the law required cemetery workers to work on Sundays or legal holidays. The brief stated that, "plaintiffs ... argue rights which are not in issue, conflicts which do not exist, and principals of law which have no relevance to this statute .... The act does not mandate any member of a cemetery workers' association ... to perform burials on Sundays or legal holidays. . Our legislature has acted to allow all persons equal access so as to pro vide their last acts of love and respect to their The Mayor was accompnied by SBCO the Home Improvement Program (HIP). deceased loved ones." board members Louis Glueck, Menachem The Mayor was greeted at 14th Avenue by The Commission on Legislation and Civic Shayovich, Rabbi David Greenzweig, Mel Rabbi Silverman of Mosdos Skver Interna Action of Agudath Israel of Illinois, under the i' vin Warrenbrand, David Singer, Joseph tional, which is building a school facility on chairmanship of Attorney Mendel Singer, Piazza and SBCOexecu tive director Shntuel the site where a number of old stores once coordinated the legal defense of the statute. Lefkowitz. stood. At the White House, a SBCO spon Mr. Singer stated that he was, "gratified and At a reception at SBC O's Fifteenth Avenue sored co-op development the Mayor was ' elated with the Court's upholding the consti Gardens, the first completed Agudath Israel greeted by block leader Yolanda Adler and ' tutionality of the law." He stated that in the sponsored housing project, the Mayor was Rabbi and Mrs. Israel Bronner, parents of ' event of an appeal of Judge Dunn's decision greeted by Rabbi Moshe Sherer, president of mayoral advisor Rabbi Jacob Bronner. by the gravediggers' union, Agudath Israel's Agudath Israel of America. The Agudath The next phase of the tour took the Mayor attorneys were prepared to defend the sta Israel leader presented him with a plaque to 15th Avenue which has undergone a tute through its final successful outcome. bearing a picture of the Mayor at the 1981 major overhaul thanks to SBC O's initiatives. ground-breaking and a picture of the com At 42nd Street the Mayor was greeted by pleted Fifteenth Avenue Gardens project. Rabbi David Greenzweig, President of the The plaque proclaimed: "The Mayor begins . Bobov Institutions and construction officials m1d finishes! .. ... The gralefi.l ciliuns of Boro Park Herschel Mosberg and Nisson Gunsberg. thank yoi. for helping sat>e the Boro Park neigh· The· plans calls for construction of class borhood. rooms, a dining hall, a roof playground and The tour, the Mayor's first of the season, co-op apartments. The Mayor passed the began on 13th Avenue where merchants' building at 4 Ist Street which will be turned president Mendy Klein, and Joel Kaplan, into the Munkatch girls school. Mayor Koch 1309 48 St., B'klyn, N.Y. 11219 SBCO's director of Commercial and Eco~ was accompanied on his tour by mayoral 854-2911 nomic Development, pointed out the many assistants Yaakov Bronner, Isaac Heintovits, improvements on the Avenue made possible Louise Nicolozzi and Nancy Weinshank. The Jewish Observer I May 1984 38 ·--·-·- -- AGUDATH ISRAEL: signed this bill into law last summer. functioning; it occurs only upon the cessafion of respira - CORNEA BILL VIOLATES The issue of brain death legislation was lory and cardiac aclivify. The legislation shoii/d al least RELIGIOUS RIGHTS also addressed by Mr. Prager, which he be amended lo incorporate an 'exemption clause' for said was contrary to Orthodox Jewish teach those who do not accept a legislative definition of death A strong plea to the New York State ings. He stated: "The definition of death involves which (onfravenes basic tenets of their religious beliefs." Assembly Health Committee to reject a bill religious, ethical, legal and medical considerations and The Commission on Legislation and Civ.ic which would permit medical examiners to should therefore not be the subject of legislation. Action of Agudath Israel has actively opposed remove corneas during an autopsy was made Moreover, according lo Jewish religious law fand the both brain death legislation and the cornea by the Commission on Legislation and Civic common law), death does not occur when the brain slops bill for many years. Action of Agudath Israel of America at a pub lic hearing at New York University Medical School on Thursday {April 26). According to Shmuel Prager, Agudath Israel's general c;ounse! who testified at the hearing, which was chaired by Assemblyman Jan1es R. Tal lon, Jr., the bill would be an infringement FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS upon the religious rights of Orthodox Jews is proud to announce that because it would permit medical examiners to authorize the removal of corneas from cad avers without obtaining the prior approval of Sefer hal;linnuch the next-of-kin. The Agudath Israel statement noted: "We are strongly opposed lo legislation lht The Jewish Observer I May 1984 39 AGUDAH YOUTH MOVEMENT HEARS TORAH SCHOLARS. CALL FOR "AHA VAS YISROEL" A panel of Torah authorities told a gather there can be no commonality with those lead ing of over 400 senior yeshiva students that ers who deliberately seek to destroy our one must never lose sight of Ahavas Yisroel Torah traditions, he stressed. (the imperative to love one's fellow Jew) as a In addition, the participants viewed an fundamental Torah principle, and that dis audio-visual presentation entitled "Zeirei agreements on religious issues must never Agudath Israel-Meeting the Challenge'' and· descend to personal levels. heard a first-hand report of Zeirei Agudath. This message was delivered at the sixth Israel activities from Yisroel Greenwald, annual National Torah Assembly, which was President of the youth movement. The sponsored by Zeirei Agudath Israel of Amer yeshiva students also found the Assembly an ica on April 26. The event, which has become opportunity to attend a seforim sale, the an important annual gathering for yeshiva rofits of which went to fund such Zeirei students, including many who study in ye The assemblage also heard a moving mes Agudath Israel projects as the Jewish Educa shivos throughout the country and abroad, sage from Rabbi Dovid Lopian, Rosh Ha Ye tion Program (its outreach arm) and Torah was held at the Agudath Israel Center in Boro shiva of Yeshiva Mikdash Melech in Brook Action Program (aid to Jews in oppressive Park. The theme of this year's Assembly was lyn, who stressed that being considerate of lands). "Love Your Fellow Jew As Yourself: Are We the circumstances of others and their special Translating the Ideal Into Reality?" needs is not a matter of piety, but as our sages say, it is a Kial Cada/, a fundamental Torah law. Rabbi Yaakov Perlow VIZHNITZER REBBE VISITS NEW YORK Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Ha Ye The program concluded with two major The Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Hager, shiva of Beth Med rash Govoha of Lakewood, addresses: Rabbi Shimon Schwab, Rav of ~"O":"O plans to be in the New York area for a opened the afternoon with an intricate and K'hal Adath Jeshurun in Washington Heights, ten day visit. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe is the erudite analysis of aspects of the mitzva of pointed out that we must find the capacity to spiritual leader of tens of thousands of Chas tzitzis. direct our love and concern toward Reform sidim through the world, including Israel, and irreligious Jews who are not to be faulted Europe and Amenrica and is one of the for their lack of loyalty to the Torah, having chairmen of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah been misled since their childhood; at the same (Council of Torah Sages) of Agudath Israel in time, we must make an effort to avoid ani Israel. mosity toward fellow religious Jews that The Rebbe's visit is on the occasion of the might arise from sharp disagreements in wedding of his granddaughter, Tzipora, principle. Such differences do not justify any daughter of the Skverer Rebbe, Rabbi and lessening of brotherhood and concern. Mrs. David Twerski. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe's The Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov current residence is in Shikun Vizhnitz in Perlow, warned against abusing Ahavas Yisroel Bnei Brak in Israel where more than 1000 by compromising in essentials with people families live. The Vizhnitzer institutions in who deviate from Torah values, in the name Bnei Brak and other cities of Israel serve over of Jewish unity. Achdus is a sacred concept, but 5000 students. Rabbi Eliezer Horowitz, Rav of the Agu dath Israel of Boro Park {Fourteenth Avenue), Come To Formerly Kosher King who chaired the Torah Assembly, under scored Judaism's distinctive approach to "Bein Adorn L'chaveiro"-the entire array of rules governing interpersonal affairs-as not being left to the determination of mortals who judge circumstances in accordance with their ~r£~~try own limited understanding, but as laws of Whitehead Ha11 Brooklyn College Divine origin that possess eternal veracity. 40 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 CHINUCH A TZMAI DINNER Hilton with the participation of leading rab Amos Bunim, chairman of the evening, LAUNCHES binic and yeshiva leaders. The goal of the introduced Rabbi Shraga Grosbard, K"~7ru NETZACH YISROEL Foundation, according to Mr. Klein, is to Director General of the Chinuch Atzmai JEWISH ETERNITY FUND raise $5 million in response to the urgent Torah Schools network in Israel. In defer request of the Gedolei Torah in Eretz Yisroel to ence to the sizeable Sephardi representation The Netzach YisroelJewish Eternity Fund make new facilities for Torah education at the dinner, Rabbi Grosbard opened the for establishing new schools in Israel, was available in the 38 communities that desper program in Hebrew, calling attention to the launched at the 31st National Dinner of ately need them. fact that the majority of the children served Chinuch Atzmai-Torah Schools for Israel by Rabbi Henach Cohen, Executive Director by Chinuch Atzmai are of Sephardi ex George Klein in memory of his father the of the organization, opened the dinner, tak traction. late Stephen Klein, the organization's found ing note of the absence of the late Rabbi Wolf Mr. George Klein presented Rabbi Yaa ing national chairman. The dinner was held Lifshitz, whose support to Chinuch Atzmai kov Yitzchok Ruderman ~·t:i•':itu with the on Sunday, May 2.0, 1984, at The New York has extended beyond his lifetime. Netzach Yisroel Jewish Eternity Citation in honor of his fifty years as Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel in Baltimore. Rabbi Ruderman also represented the Roshei HaYeshivos who were at the side of Rabbi Aaron Kotler ?"lt when he established Chinuch Atzmai. Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg ~·t:i•?w responded on behalf of his father-in-law, Rabbi Ruder man, who was not able to be present "Teach ing Torah," he said, "not only assures gener ations for Torah, but assures generations of Jewish existence." Mr. Bunim then presented Arthur A. Goldstein as the Man of the Year, referring to the kindergarten he dedicated a year ago in Bet Shemesh to the memory of his wife, Anna. Rabbi Yoseph Tannenbaum, Administra tor of Chinuch Atzmai, paid special tribute to Naomi Adirforestablishing the Naomi Ruth Adir Education Fund. He then introduced the Chasan Torah honorees "for devotion to Torah in Israel"; David S. Goorevitch of Manhattan Beach; Alan Haber of Flatbush; Rabbi Nachman Kahn of Detroit; Rubin Markowitz of Kew Gardens Hills; Murray B. Pfeffer of Pittsburgh; Fred Pfeiffer of Mont real; and Jonathan S. Spetner of Sea Gate. Avrohom Wilhelm, who came from Israel to help with the Dinner, presented the a~~rds. The Jewish Obstrver I May 1984 41 POLAND'S DIRECTOR FOR LOSS OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS MEETS MIRIAM BORCHARDT WITH JEWISH LEADERS MOURNED The Director General of the Ministry for A large number of Orthodox Jews from all Religious Affairs of Poland, Mr. Tandensz parts of New York overflowed Hirsch's Fun Dusik, conferred with leading Torah scholars eral Chapel on the Sunday before Pesach to , and heads of Jewish organizations during a mourn the sudden death of Mrs. Miriam Bor visit last week to New York. In Boro Park, he chardt, the wife of the well-known Executive was received by a group of distinguished Director of Agudath Israel of America, Rabbi Rabbis and community leaders at the home of Boruch Borchardt. Because of the impending the Bobover Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Shlomo Yorn Tov, Rabbi Simon Schwab, Rabbi of K'hal Halberstam. The Rebbe presented the Polish Adath Jeshurun of Washington Heights, official with a silver cup as a token of grati declared that no eulogies could be said to tude for his efforts to solve the problems depict the extraordinary chessed work, which connected with the preservation of Jewish was the hallmark of Mrs. Borchardt. cemeteries, as well as the condition of Jews in Mrs. Borchardt passed away at the age of Poland in general. 52 on Saturday night at the Columbia Pres The Director General Dusik was also the byterian Hospital, to which she was taken guest of a reception at the national head only a few hours earlier. Since her 35-year quarters of Agudath Israel of America in marriage to Rabbi Borchardt, one of the most New York, where the president of the organi beloved leaders in the American Agudath zation, Rabbi Moshe Sherer, greeted him. Israel movement, she had not only been his Top officers of Agudath Israel as well as dis devoted life-partner, but also pursued an tinguished personalities with ties. to Polish intensive course of activity for klal and in Jewry were present. Dr. Isaac Lewin, presi dividuals, particularly through N'shei Agu dium member of the World Agudah and dath Israel. Rabbi Chaskel Besser, presidium member of The funeral was attended by some of New the American Agudah, participated in both York's outstanding Torah personalities. The conferences, where they served as inter deceased left three sons who are noted Bnei preters for Director Dusik who spoke in Torah, and is also survived by her mother, Polish. Mrs. Sarah Berlinger, who valiantly raised At both meetings the Jewish leaders re her daughter singlehandedly from the time quested of Director Dusik that the Polish she was widowed, when Miriam was a three government fulfill its pledge to preserve and year-old child. restore the Jewish cemeteries in that country. The Polish official replied that while his Jewish people; the Polish government is al government will honor its commitment to ready spending large sums to restore ceme needed for preserve the existing 510 cemeteries, the pro teries in Warsaw, Lodz, Wroclaw and else ject involves an expenditure of millions of where. ~ HOUSEKEEPING AND dollars which must be carried jointly by the PERSONAL CARE for the DISABLED AND HOMEBOUND good pay and benefits Boro Park, Bensonhurst and Flatbush Area full-time live in positions only Project OHR Inc. At a recent mass Torah gathering for the first Siyum of Rabbi Shmuel Halberstam; Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel, (Office for Homecare Referral) the Jerusalem Talmud, dose to 3,000 people partici Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv: Bosfoner Rebbe; Skulener pated. Also a group of prominent Rabbonim, Admorim Rebbe; Bluzever Rebbe; Amshfoover Rebbe: Rabbi 1308-40th Street and Rosh Yeshivas alfended. Seen above, rising as the Israel Piekarski; Noveminsker Rebbe; Rabbi Shmuel Brooklyn, NY 11218 Ke/ Mo/eh was said for the 6 million men, women and Unsdorfer; Rabbi Moshe Sherer; Nora/er Rebbe; Rabbi 853-2700 children lost during World War II, left lo right: Ska/ye Elie Fisher: and the Belzer Dayan. Rebbe, Rabbi Hirschberg, Chief Rabbi of Mexico; 42 The Jewish Observer I May 1984 U.S. LABOR SECRETARY dais. The luncheon was chaired by David lyn where he visited with graduates of COPE DONOVAN RECEIVES NEW Zwiebel, Esq., Director of Government Af Institute, an accredited vocational training HORIZONS AWARD: PRAISES fairs of Agudath Israel of America. President school. COPE Institute, sponsored by Agu AGUDATH ISRAEL'S DELIVERY Reagan's special assistant, Dr. Marshall dath Israel of America, has been successfully OF SERVICES TO THE NEEDY Breger, represented the White House and training federally-funded students in such conveyed the President's greetings. areas as computer programming, bookkeep New York-United States Secretary of Earlier in the day the Secretary visited two ing, and secretarial science. The Secretary, Labor Raymond J. Donovan received Agu~ prominent schools in the New York City after a personal tour by the director of the dath Israel of America's 1984 New Horizons area. Accompanied by Agudath Israel's rep school, Rabbi Yerachmiel Barash, met pri Award at a luncheon reception tendered in resentatives, Secretary Donovan first visited vately w,ith a number of students who re his honor at the Vista International Hotel. with the children of Yeshiva Darchei Torah ported on their experiences. The luncheon was part of a day-long visit to in Far Rockaway, New York. Secretary Don the New York Jewish community that was ovan had promised these children, who had organized by Agudath Israel of America. The given him an enthusiastic send-off on his presentation was made by Rabbi Moshe recent departure to Israel, that he would pay Sherer, national president of the organi them a return visit to describe his experiences zation. in the Holy Land. The Secretary spoke to Secretary Donovan's response singled out many of the young students individually, Agudath Israel's Project COPE for its out including boys from Iran whose parents are standing track record in helping train the still in Iran and unable to join them in unemployed, "underemployed," and econom America. ically disadvantaged. The Secretary was par ticularly impressed with COPE Institute, the Secretary Donovan and his entourage then Agudath Israel vocational training school, proceeded to the Boro Park section of Brook- which he had toured earlier in the day. The Secretary also reported on his recent . ~es~:ewi!~~ing visit to Israel. He was impressed by the young people, our future resources, maintaining c2J1ATANA A Bris Behind . Thi' iron CutUUD their glorious tradition while diligently work ing to build up their country. He also des QALLE~ Children's lo'"D cribed his visit to Yad Vashem as one of the Qu\i 1"11. 6 most emotional moments in his entire life. Lucite, Zirconia, Pearl and r->'~,,....,...,,.;q'\ iiU'Jl'f!'llO~WJl'l! The Jewish Ob:;en1er I May 1984 43 I The Zanz-Klausenberg Institutions ofBoro Park I announces a memorial gathering in honor of the late beloved community leader RABBI YESHAYA BILLER i1.:Ji:l'i 1.l1i:Ji to take place i1""~ on 24 Sivan/June.24 in the Klausenberg Yeshiva Building 1350 50th Street in Brooklyn. The occasion will mark the first Yahrzeit of the devoted Torah activist, Reb Yeshaya Biller 'i"T and will include a Siyum Mishnayos in his memory, with Rabbi Moshe Sherer addressing the gathering. l In everlasting tribute to his vast accomplishments on behalf of the Klausenberg Institutions, the building that will house a division of the Mifal Hashas,where scores of young men immerse them.selvesin rp-astery of Shas, will be dedicated· as "Yad Yeshayahu," perpetuating his n~me. Tom~ theoc~asion,a sotivenirjoumal will b~ published.byfl'leI\1au ' senl)erger Institutions, ~ecounting the outstanding accompHshment:s,of our ~ beloyedReb Yeshaya who, from the moment he wa~li~~.~te~fr9tn~~ con centration camps in Europe, became one.of the firsti~t1).~olvehill1,!;le,1f in I the sacred undertakings of tqe za.~-Klausenber(5ef' "~~~~1 ~:i.:i'i.~> ~itne~ at breathing new life into thedevastl:l.fudsurvivors of:.t31~ii;!'~!1'tifU~ti!!n·ofthe War. Throughout the years since then, ll~ served as ~kv~~~~f~~~e~nt of Klal, dedicating himself to the enhancement. of Torah l'!Ud Yiddishkeit. Friends and admirers of Reb Yeshaya are herewith invit<:d. tO this mitzva gathering to be convened in his merit, and to participate in the commem orative Journal. For more information: Mosdos Zanz-Klausenberg 1353 50th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 (212) 436-1234 -- - -- _.. - • - -~ ~ • All.. ...