Join us in honoring T H E · R E V E R

RAV·~ SHLlTA at our 72nd Annual Dinner Sunday, May 5th, 1991

1 1 N/ )\V~ l~~N N' ) The Rose Castle

Guest of I-Ionor Celebrating 50 Years of'I' orah Leadership •He has been a beacon of -by instruction and by personal example.

•He has been a source of guidance to from all four comers of the world, shouldering the responsibilities of Kial Yisroel. • He has taken a personal interest in his talmidim and served as an inspiration to all who come in contact with him. • His Torah stature, sage counsel and sincere personal concern for others have made him a much sought-after Torah leader: senior member of the Council of Torah Sages of Agudath ; president of Chinuch Atzmai, member of the Vaad Hachinuch of Be' er HaGolah Institutes and advisor to scores of other organizations . ... N_ow it is Our Turn! ~ n::i·~· TORAH VODAATH nD"TI i111n AND Mn::i•nlJill 425 East Ninth Street, , NY 11218 For reservations and further information please call the dinner office: (718) 941·8000, 8026 THE,EWISH OBSERVER

THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by HOWING ON TO THE INSPIRATION the Agudath Israel of America, 84 William Street, 4 A Statement by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah , N.Y. 10038. Second class postage paid in New York, N.Y. of America Subscription $22.00 per year; two years, $36.00; 6 A Time For Gratitude ... three years, $48.00. Outside of the BASED ON AN ADDRESS BY PINCHAS MENACHEM AL1ER N'"'7v (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $10.00 surcharge per year. Single copy $3.00; foreign 9 Purim Under Cloudy Skies, $4.00. Send address changes to The Jewish Sarah Shapiro Observer, 84 William Street, N.Y., N.Y. 10038. Tel: (212) 797-9000. 11 After the War, Printed in the U.S.A. Fayge Parker

RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR 13 Saying Goodbye to Raphael Yehuda

EDITORIAL BOARD 15 Re-Union: Joins the Jewish World Again, DR. ERNST BODENHEIMER Chairman Nissan Wolpin

RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS 20 Impressions Upon Visiting Jewish Moscow JOSEPH FRIEDENSON RABBI A CONVERSATION WITH RABBI MOSHE SHERER

MANAGEMENT BOARD 26 Rabbonim and Psychotherapists: NAFTOLI HIRSCH ISAAC KIRZNER ALLIES OR ADVERSARIES? RABBI LESIN Dr. Meir Wilder NACHUM STEIN

RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING 32 The Nearly Missing Child, Business Manager Ezra Greher Published by Agudath Israel of America 34 Postscript: Something Special

RABBI MOSHE SHERER 35 Losing at Sports, Winning in Life Experience, PflfSIOENT Michele Gross THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not assume responsibility for the Kashrus 37 Poetry: Hello There, Erma, Blimie Friedman of any product, publication, or service advertised in its pages 38 Second Looks on the Jewish Scene 'D Copyright 1991 WHEN FASHION IS ELOQUENT, WHAT DOES IT SAY? APRIL 1991 Sheindel Weinbach VOLUME XXIV I NO. 3 40 Poetry: The Empty Seat, Nightwalk, Chaim Feinberg 41 Letters to the Editor AFTER THE ALLIED VICTORY IN THE GULF WAR ON PURIM, ON THE EVE OF PESACH, THE FOLWWINC :l''ili.K:i ili,nil ,,,, A CALL FROM THE MOETZES

A CALL OF THANKSGIVING TO HASHEM (a free translation) Let us thank G-d for the wondrous deliverance and awesome miracles he has wrought for us through the defeat of our wicked enemy and the thwarting of his designs to destroy the nation of G-d that dwells in Zion. The miracle of our deliverance in this instance was evident to all the world. All the more significant, it became manifest on Purim, a day marked for the downfall of our enemies - a clear sign of the hand of G-d coming to our aid at a time of darkness and distress. Now, as Pesach - the festival of our redemption - arrives, let us reflect upon the connection between one deliverance and another, as indeed we do each year as we recite the words of the Haggadah: "In every generation, enemies rise up to destroy us, but the Holy One, Blessed Be He, saves us from their hands." This is the obligation incumbent upon us at this hour: to express special, heartfelt prayers of thanksgiving to He who watches over Israel. Upon further thought, however, we must recognize that with thanksgiving alone we have not fulfilled our duty. It is our obligation to ponder deeply and take instruction from all that has happened. We have all been witness with our own eyes to overt Divine intervention on our behalf, without any military effort expended by the people of Israel. Moreover, in spite of harrowing Scud attacks that wreaked frightful destruction upon buildings and homes, our brothers and sisters miraculously escaped with almost no casualties. It is essential, then, that we take to heart the lesson of this experience by deepening and reinforcing our own simple faith and trust in G-d at all times. "It is only He who gives us strength to do valor." We must root out from within ourselves every measure of reliance on any other force in this world other than HaShem for our good fortune, both in our personal lives and in our life as a people, as it is written: "Blessed is the man who trusts in HaShem; and HaShem will be his succor." And our have taught us that only through a person's spiritual merits does he earn G-d's favor for blessing and success in all his endeavors. If we indeed want to express our thanks to HaShem, it is our responsibility to continue in the ways that bring man close to Him, the ways of Torah, Avodah, and Gemillus Chassodim. We dare not grow lax nor slip back from the levels of effort in these areas that we undertook during the time of crisis. We must rather build upon them even further, increasing our Torah learning, improving in our Tefillah and our praise of G-d, extending our generosity in and Chesed, refining our character, and strengthening bonds of closeness between man and his fellow man - and particularly our hond with our fellow Jews who have arrived from the Soviet Union. It is worthy of note that the Meshech Chochma( Pars has Bo) writes that the entire existence of the Jews in the lands of exile depends upon their observance of the precepts and parameters of conduct that distinguish the Jewish people from other nations, that ennoble every aspect of their lives with sanctity. In our time, it is particularly these values that call for strengthening. We pray that through the merit of our renewed efforts in drawing close to our Father in Heaven, His compassion and kindness will never be removed from us. This Pesach, may we see the ranks of all Israel joined in devotion to HaShem and His Torah, leading ultimately to the ingathering of all our exiles to Zion with joy. 12 Nisan, 5751 - MOETZES GEDOLEI HATORAH OF AMERICA ;~TATEMENT WAS ISSUED BY THE MOETZES GEDOLEI HATORAHOF AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA.

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Based on one of the many addresses by Rabbi Pinchas MenachemAlter ~"v+ro, Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva Sfas Emes in , to his talmidim during the recent Gulf Wclr.

very event in the world has a King of Bavel (Biblical Iraq). STONES OF DESTRUCTION, lesson for us. We must con­ Yechezkel the Prophet says, "And he STONES OF INSPIRATION E stantly ask ourselves what shall set his battering engines our response to a specific occurrence against your walls, and with his axes he Gemora in Beraclws (ibid should be, especially in such a mo­ he shall break down your towers" cit] calls for praising G-d mentous time. (26,9). to which comments: T "upon seeing the stones that First and foremost, we are obliged "One of the besieger's tactics is to cast Og King of Bashan wished to cast to thank Hashem Yisborach for all large stones .... " A thousand years upon YisroeL [as well as when see­ the goodness He has bestowed upon earlier. Og King of Bashan dug out a ing) the stone upon which Moshe sat us until now. The miracles that have mountain to hurl it upon Am Yisroel when Yehoshua defeated Amaleik in occurred recently are so obvious that (Berachos 54b; see the Maharsho battle." The Gemora states that the even people far removed from religion there). And now G-d protected us second stone ls the one upon which must echo the words of Hallet "This again and wherever the missiles im­ Moshe sat when his hands, which emanated from Hashem, it is won­ pacted, minimal damage occurred. were raised to inspire Klal Yisroel' s drous in our eyes." At worst, we suffered in line with: thoughts heavenward, grew heavy. The designs of destruction that the "And He pours out His wrath on wood As the Maharsho explains, the Iraqi dictator had against the Jewish and stone," sparing precious lives. miracle and the victory flowed not people echo those of his predeces­ How deep, then, should our gratitude from Yehoshua's military skills, but sors. In regard to Nevuchadnetzar, to our Divine Protector be! from the prayers of Moshe Rabbeinu.

6 The Jewish Observer. April 1991 This was reflected in the fact that and gladness implies that after being their desire to serve G-d, compen­ Moshe's hands were steady, with the saved from the designs of the wicked, sating for the previous default. help of the stone upon which he sat, one must arouse one's heart to righ­ We, too, can fulfill our obligation as the Mishna writes: "Whenever teousness through the joy of the To­ to respond to the miracles that Yisroel looked upward [as directed by rah. graced us by increasing our efforts in Moshe's hands! and subjected their The Sforno comments on the Torah and Yiras Shomayim, and by hearts to their Father in Heaven, they pasuk: "And they beheld G-d and ate striving for humility through prevailed; but if not, they fell" (Rosh and drank" (Shemos 24, 11): "When teshuva Hashana29a), one attains spiritual heights, one We thus can understand the con­ should make a seuda." The Ramban ANOTHER MESSAGE OF nection between the stones hurled by there explains that this is the source RECENT EVENTS Og and the stone that supported for making a seuda upon the Moshe Rabbeinu: The stones of Og completion of writing a Sefer Torah, cent days have clearly dem­ put fear into the hearts of Bnei Yis­ or studying a volume of Torah-to nstrated that the Hand of roet and if used correctly, as a source give lasting emphasis to the event. -d is guiding the Jewish of gratitude for being spared, these This is also the idea of a convening nation to conduct itself in a fitting stones can serve to subject our seudas hoda' ah after being saved manner. Public transportation was hearts to Heaven-as did the stone from threat of death. When one at­ forced to stop on Shabbos; places of of Moshe Rabbeinu tains higher spiritual levels through entertainment, which have provoked Today, too, our previous fear of such a ness, the baal haness feels the charedicommunity, were closed, Saddam Hussein's missiles can now inspired to increase his efforts in to the chagrin of those who have no inspire us to special gratitude toward , regard for Torah values. G-d. We, too, must respond by accept­ We, too, can fulfill ing upon ourselves the yoke of MORE THAN THANKSGIVING Malchus Shomayim and strengthlng our obligation to ourselves in Yiras Shomayim with ut thanksgiving alone is not improved midas (character). sufficient; another important I respond to the Now is an opportune time-when B task is placed upon us at a hearts are turned upward and people time such as this. The Gemora says are prepared to listen-for us to rid that a person should pray that a miracles that graced ourselves of all sinas chinom (base­ miracle not be preformed on his be­ less hatred), machlokes (disputes), half, for if one does take place, it is us by increasing our and other evil midas. Let us be deducted from his merits. There is a stringent in regard to having "clean Chassidlc explanation to this Gemora efforts in Torah and hands." Chazal have declared that that differs from the conventional "most people are found culpable for one: One who is privileged to have a Yiras Shomayim, and financial dishonesty." The lack of ness (miracle) done on his behalf is "clean hands" on our part leads to elevated from his previous status­ by striving for humility "heaviness" in the hands ofMoshe­ ness/miracle may be understood in as is explained in Chassidlc sources. terms of ness/flag, implying eleva­ through Moshe Rabbeinu's "eyes were not tion. Because of his new, heightened teshuva. dim, nor were his natural forces spiritual perspective, his obligations abated" when he was 120 years of to Heaven are much greater than age. It is most unlikely that he would before, and he must increase his Torah and Yiras Shomayim, and the have suffered from "heavy hands" mitzvos and the quality of his good seuda adds emphasis and joy to the some forty years earlier, during the deeds in keeping with his new status. occasion. We must bear in mind that war with Amaleik, if not for some One who Is not exalted by the miracle Rashi tells us that the first battle with fault in "the hands of the Jewish na­ he experiences, will have the benefit Amaleik came after the Jews became tion." Only this could cause this of the miracle deducted from his lax in Torah. My father. theAdmurof heaviness, this weakening of Moshe's merits for not responding to his .,":it (the ImreiEmes), asked-The ability to Inspire the people. Only newly gained status of elevation. battle took place before Mattan To­ when the Jews achieved "cleanliness This Is intimated in Tehlllim, when it rah; how could "laxity in Torah" have of hands" did Moshe's hands become states: "He guards the soul of His been possible? He answered that it "steady until the sun went down." devout ones, from the hand of the refers to their desire to possess the The charedim ledvar Hashem­ wicked He rescues them," followed Torah; in this they became Jax. It those who truly fear G-d-must by, "Light is sown for the righteous, follows, then, that the victory over strengthen themselves to do His will and for the upright of heart. glad­ Amaleik was dependent on the with joy-and increase their time and ness" (97:10,11). The grouping to­ subjegation of their hearts to their effort in Torah and the service of gether of rescue with righteousness Father in Heaven and a growth in Hashem Yisborach. •

The Jewish Obseroer. April 1991 7 For thousands of new , new-found freedom brings new-found choices. Help them decide.

The miracle of the Russian exodus is st1ggering. Shabbos and Sunday, or between the call of the Already 250,000 Jew~ have immigrated to Israel. Sholar and the notes of a trumpet, Eretz Yisroel In the near future it will be over a million. But can be just another place to live. the miracle is not complete. Russian Jews have Who is going to teach Torah to the newest suffered terribly under decades of religious op­ Israelis? That is the mission of RETURN. Under pression. Years of abuse have left them spiritually the guidance of Gedolei Torah here and in L1rael, wanting. And along with freedom comes RETUR.N is reaching out to show immigrant chil­ choices. Choices never before experienced. dren the light of Torah. RETURN is setting up Choices to go where classrooms and after- they please, to live as school programs they want, even to to undo seventv­ think as they five years of anti­ choose. And Jewish teaching. one of these And RETURN is choices is to bringing the be a Torah Jew. newest Israelis Weve waited 75 vears to see back to the relig­ this miracle. But But let's riot kid ion of their fathers and ourselves. Even in Israel the allures of a secular grandfathers. culture call and pull. Many of our Israeli cousins Your help is urgently needed. Because if we don't know the light of Torah. And for someone don't succeed now, millions of souls will be lost who doesn't know the difference between to the wrong choices.

Rabbinic Sponsors: Bobover Rebbc Skulener ; Novominsker Rebb<; Rav Avrohom Pam, Rav Ely.i Sve\ Rav Aaron Schechter. Chairmen: Sheldon Beren, Abraham Biderman, Max Knopf, Al Rieder r------1 1 I would like to help. Please accept my tax-deductible contribution for 1 I D $1000- to sponsor an ourreach program for one month Name I : D !750 - to sponsor classroom spacefor onechild Addre&1 : I D IJ6o-tosponsoranafimchoolprogramforonechild City State __ Zip I I D $250 D 1100 D $50 Other S__ Phone I L~".:;'.'.::. ~~e~1;:~ £.a~:;!':.:':;. ~~1:,~·~~:};;_~, .:.9_B.:_o,::i_:a_:: ~~!~1::_ ~..!?:,>~J R E T u R N The United Fund for the Education of Russian Irrunigrant Children in Israel AWAKENING THE]EWISH SOUL Holding on to the Inspiration Sarah Shapiro Purim

!J Under Cloudy Skies

hen a friend called me with looks so large and light! I don't want It dawned on me now that whereas the news on Thursday to close the windows all day!" the state of the clouds and sun had W morning around nine We got off the phone and I went been classified information for many o'clock, I did not jump for joy. "Re­ back to making breakfast. waiting for weeks. the morning broadcast had ally?" I asked. "But we heard Kol Is­ my own sense of personal liberation indeed concluded with a weather re­ rael at seven and they didn't say to arise along with Kuwait's. Yet this port. In what constituted the first anything like that." did not occur. l harbored within a reliable proof of the war's end. Reuven 'They announced it just now!" she murky sense of apprehension. Dovid Miller had actually dared to exclaimed. "Nachman Sha! got on incompletion. dissatisfaction. Why. inform us that "skies will be overcast." and said we can take apart our sealed after such a tremendous victory by I looked out the window now at the rooms!" the allies. should there be this in­ fine grey rain coming down in a mist. "You mean Saddam Hussein ac­ comprehensible sense of anti-cli­ A truck accelerated shrilly on Rehov cepted all those terms for a cease­ max? I felt like a woman who's been Shmuel HaNavi and my heart tight­ fire?" in labor since August 2nd. and all ened with a spurt ofadrenaline. (Just "Yes! l feel like dancing and sing­ pains suddenly disappear. The my sirenitis acting up again; it does ing in the streets! We've already midwives Inform me that l can get that every time the kettle whistles, ripped all the plastic off our living into my street clothes and go home. too.) Standing there at the radio, room windows and the apartment "But...is there a baby?" l ask. trying to tune in to B.B.C .. I fretted "A baby? No, no, you were asleep. to myself. Do I feel we're left hang­ Sarah Shapiro, who lives in Jerusalem, is a ing precisely because Saddam him­ frequent contrtbutor to these pages. Her book, You can get out of that hospital gown! Growing With My Children, was published by Don't you understand you can really self is not left hanging? Or because Targum Press. go home! Congratulations!" even if Iraq seems to be temporarily

The Jewish Obseroer. April 1991 9 taken care of, now we have Assaf to worry about, and a militarily strengthened Saudi Arabia, and Gaddafi and Abu Nida! and the intifada, and Lybia and Jordan and United States pressure ....At this point, I hadn't even heard about the new state-of-the art Scuds on their way from Italy to Syria. Nor of the murder by Palestinians early that

I harbored within a murky sense of apprehension, incompletion, dissatisfaction. Why, after such a tremendous victory by the allies, pial (',718> 11~X..f";N0\1\7'J43!:>~~669)·· , ''l'hb~l;as~1!llpn>Vffiby_1_eadlDi_T<;JI$authoriu;es,' ', -, ,_-, ,,-,, _-: , should there be this --Fott~_-_¢;-pas_t }(iJJ~- coptact _¥*_8f!l'1-at,f7JBJ-4Pf!TP'!f?$ incomprehensible sense BETH RIVMH SEMINARY of anti-climax? FOR YOUNG IADIES-YERRES 45 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN FORMING TEACHERS FOR morning of yeshiva student Elhanan TORAH . INSTITUTION POUNDED BY THE Atali in the Old City. PREVIOUS LUBAVITCHER REBBE AND UNDER THE My twelve-year old daughter, LEADERSHIP OP THE PRESENT REBBE SHUTO busily preparing mishloach manot. looked up from the floor where she In view of the many applications now being received from students whose was surrounded by colored paper. main language is English, the Principal is considering the creation of a baskets, ribbon, bomba bags and first-year class with all lessons in English. bars of halva. She must have seen "'BE1H RIVKAH"' has a relatively small student body. Its ten full-time my worried face because she asked and part-time teachers have a combined teaching experience of over 150 me what was wrong. "I don't know," years! I replied. "Nothing, really, I guess. In addition to the usual intensive program of studies in Jewish Law, It's all right." Tenach, Hashkofo/Hassidus, and grammar, Psychology "But Mommy!" she beseeched and Education, with PRACTICAL applications, these students would also brightly. "Be happy! It's Purim!" And be offered the opportunity to acquire a working knowledge of French. it struck me that this indeed is what Applications can be accepted ONLY from young ladies aged 17 or over, it's all about: to simply rejoice as we who have completed their secondary school education to a satisfactory are commanded to. To be exuber­ degree and who are advanced in . antly grateful. If Haman's plans All candidates should apply in writing before the end of May, enclosing against us have once again been a copy of their last school report, a recommendation from their Rabbi thwarted against all odds, can't I be­ or Principal, a photo-copy of their mother's Kesuboh, and 2 small identity· lieve we'll be saved next time, too? size photographs, to The Principal, Seminaire , 43-49 rue Amidst all the dangerous uncertain­ Raymond-Poincre, 91330 YERRES (France). ties of life in the , we've The Institution is located on a beautiful campus in a small town within been found worthy, evidently, of be­ 30 minutes of Paris. ing miraculously spared. Honorary Prindpal: Rav B. Gourewitch, Prindpal Rav 0. Y Schonthal, BA (Hons), MSc. (Econ) Go ahead, rejoice freely, in spite of the overcast skies. •

10 The Jewish Observer. April 1991 Holding on to the Inspiration Fayge Parker After the War

anticipation thickene ALL UNIFIED pation thickened the air while un­ the air while unknown known dangers lurked in the dark­ t's true that my bedroom was ness beyond the starlit sky. airless for six weeks; that its dangers lurked in the And I miss it. I small size was further reduced by darkness beyond the At two a.m. the whole nation was the mamat (baby's protective crib unified-every kind of Jew-in t.'1eir against chemical attack) upon two starlit sky. sealed rooms awaiting verdict from mattresses and the fan to keep it cool. heaven. (We even touched souls with The trunk of emergency supplies, the the emergency-radio broadcasters diaper-pail with ready-to-seal-the­ thereafter, took gas-masks to and who calmly and patiently led us bottom-of-the-door wet rags that from school each day. I'll admit that through the procedures for possible doubled as a makeshift toilet, the box our sleep was interrupted by wailing chemical attack.) Our family was a of masking tape and, of course, seven sirens that merged with our dreams, microcosm of this unity, as I watched boxes of gas-masks all added to the and that I jumped at any sound re­ each member flow in a rhythm of chaos of eight people in one sealed sembling that siren. There is no cooperation, prayer and-yes-ex­ room. Yes, my kids were suddenly question that I never felt more vul­ citement. Cooperation and good-will "on vacation" for two weeks and. nerable or frightened than on that abounded in our small community as first memorable night of attack. Our neighbors accommodated one an­ Mrs. Parker lives in Kiryat Telshe Stone, near Jerusalem. This Is her first appearance in these lives had changed. Normal routine other to meet the physical and spiri­ pages. was suspended. A feeling of antici- tual needs brought on by the war. We

The Jewish Obseroer. April 1991 11 shared a common bond of war expe­ "Aileh ba-rechev v'aileh ba­ Never did I feel such chessed be­ riences in an amazing time in histmy. susim... Those with chariots, and stowed upon Klal Yisroel-the op­ We all related to that feeling of vul­ those with horses, and we invoke portunity Hashem served us on a nerability that penetrated our daily G-d's Name .... " This was our theme sterling platter to bring us closer to lives and knew that Hashem's hand song. Him. The story of Purim was no was hammering and shaping the My children changed before my longer ancient history but alive and course of history for the Jewish eyes as this one davened twice daily vibrant in our midst. People. without prompting; that one recited And then it ended. Tehillim with great fervor; all of them Two days later I spoke with a ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, knowing that though we must make friend about-what else?-the war. I SOARED our hishtadlus, ultimately every­ "Do you have a recording of the thing is in G-d's hands. We wit­ emergency siren?" she asked. n a personal level, I soared. nessed nissim together and ex­ Not knowing where this would I davened with an urgent changed sources in Tanach seem­ lead, we ventured further, and then 0 Intensity, and the words ingly related to the events at hand, I said, tentatively, "I miss it." took on newmeanin!f. I gained a deep to the approach of Moshiach. The "Me too," was her wistful reply, appreciation for the words ofTehillim. mundane was relegated to the back and then I knew 1was not alone; that marveling at the artistic and pious seat while the spiritual took the there were a lot of others out there mastery of David Hamelech's sup­ wheel and carried us through the just like me. plications and praises to HaKadosh days. Baruch Hu. l danced with my chil­ Never did I feel Hakadosh Baruch WHAT TO DO? dren to the words from Tehillim: Hu's presence as In those days. hat to do? My spiritual level had already been W dropping slowly since the first weeks of the war, and now I was once again freely involved in the mundane, as well as spiritual, as­ pects of family and community life. I despaired over losing my gain. My husband felt I was missing the point by missing the war. 'The whole idea is that what we saw during the war we must also see every day of our lives." he suggested. In other words, we must shift to "peacetime" and see the same Hashem in every aspect of our lives now. The war was, for us, a boost from Hashem, the seeming chaos of the world kindly brought into focus for a few weeks. 1)SS\AN EDUCATJo~. "Yeah, but that's the difficult part," I replied. -PHONE I knew that what he said was ~ PROGRAM-~ true-that we must harness this spiritual intensity for all time. But "Call-T9rah" 800-486 4186 the war made it so much easier. For niln'1p In NY- 718-252-5100/1/2 who doesn't crave a parent's exclu~ sive attention? Hashem's mighty Hear an exciting Torah lecture given by Hand showed itself in the long Rabbi Aryeh Katzin on the weekly Parsha in Russian stretch of Galus directly in my line of vision. I know I must continue to Call 24 Hours a Day seek Hashem, in every facet of my life except Shabbos 1·•:\ NEW PROGRAM EVERY WEEK and thank Him for including me in & Yom-tov His great chessed. And, B'ezras ~ Hashem, I will succeed. ----PROJECT OF SHOROSHIM ---- But somehow I miss the spine­ A Division of Agudath Israel of America tingling tension that the war would 1566 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11230 (718) 692-0079 inspire.... •

12 The Jewish Observer. April 1991 Holding on to the Inspiration

Saying Goodbye to Raphael Yehuda ....

hile I cannot pretend to people to pray for his speedy recov­ Nor-I believe-did similar random speak for all 750 people in ery. But no more. meetings bring the other mourners. W attendance at the levaya Actually, I did meet him once, on We were unaware of other remark­ (funeral) of Raphael Yehuda ben the pediatric oncology floor of NYU able aspects of the ailing child's Shmuel Nachum, I would venture Hospital a bit over three years ago, unique potential, evidence of which that my words reflect the sentiments but that was only fleetingly. True, surfaced during the hespeidim (eu­ of most of them. the impression the little two-year-old logies)-his love for Shabbos... his I did not know the child, but 1 made on me was a strong one: his excitement over going to yeshiva knew his name as "Raphael Yehuda coal black eyes, expressing curiosity when he could, running ahead of his ben Bracha Rachel." It was on my and intelligence; his clearly spoken father on that last block ... his joy lips as part of the special prayer in­ comments and questions; his shaven when his hair grew back after chemo­ serted in "Rapha'einu." to beg G-d to head, testifying to recent brain sur­ therapy: "I have payosl" We did not heal him "among the rest of Israel's gery, to remove the tumor that was know of these strains of remarkable ailing." At least three times a day. crowding out his young, stubborn sensitivity. We could only guess. His name was on the "Mi she berach" life. (When he opened his eyes after list wherever I davened, and I heard the twelve-hour operation, his first MORE THAN "GOODBYE" it intoned after TehUlim in words were: "Modeh ani TOA CHILD across the country-even at the lefanecha .. Thank you, G-d, for re­ KoselMaarav~ in Jerusalem. In fact, storing my soul.. .. ") es, there was an element of it appeared monthly in a small box But that brief encounter did not saying "Goodbye" to this little in The Jewish Observer, asking compel me to come to his funeral. Y child who was so full of The Jewish Observer, April 1991 13 promise and hope. But there was ftlled years. respect for parenthood as personified certainly more. Whenever I met his Here was a young couple that fully by Shmuel and Bracha Rachel. father, Shmuel-usually once every appreciated the rewards of bringing There was one more reason, and­ few weeks at 84 William Street, where a child into the world and nurturing again-1 suggest that this is not a he comes to daven Mincha on occa­ it toward maturity, a couple that had sentiment peculiar to me. but one sion-he reported about the latest some measure of understanding of shared by others. Raphael Yehuda therapy being explored, the newest lived in my tefiUa for three years. His drug that was discovered, and a pic­ name was on my lips, his lumines­ ture emerged; how Raphael Yehuda's A part of us died that cence glistened In my occasional parents ignored doctors' pessimistic tear. his pure "Modeh Anf' found prognoses ("He only has a few day, and we did not resonance in my enhanced kavana weeks ... leave him alone.") and fo­ when I surrendered to the dawning cused their investigative skills on want it to leave us .... And day. with his recovery In mind. In every new development in the field of this, I venture, I was not alone. fighting cancer; how they aggres­ if we will it, perhaps it The funeral, then, was a farewell sively, relentlessly pursued every to this important part of my life, and lead, forged every possible connec­ will not leave us, after all. an appreciation of my sense of kin­ tion, traveled the continent to exploit ship with 750 others who had been it; and doggedly launched every similarly involved, and thousands of method of spiritual assistance to the awesome responsibility this en­ others who were not rubbing elbows bring a re.fuah sheleima to "Raphael tails-the implication of caring for a with us there, blotting tears with me Yehuda ben Bracha Rachel"-the pikadon. a deposit left in their care; then, on that fiigid March afternoon; extra TehUlim, the additional zechus and the ability to accept with good but had been with us until then. of studying Torah or saying tefillos faith the painful obligation of relin­ A part of us died that day. and we and berachos with added kavana quishing the pikadon to the Deposi­ did not wantit to leave us ... .And If we (concentration) in Raphael Yehuda's tor Who had entrusted it with them will it, perhaps it will not leave us, merit...prolonging his life by three five years ago .... So my presence at after all. • extremely difficult but incredibly joy- the funeral was a testimony to my N.W.

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Moscow Joins the Jewish World Again

IDSTORICAL BACKDROP national Kehilla of sorts, to seive as proval of the Czar's government. the voice of organized Torah Jewry. With the widespread upheavals of or years ... for generations ... This was part of a general expansion World War I, major changes took the Jews of Russia have been and consolidation of religious Jewry's place. The Jews of and the F the focus of the prayers and communal activities, in response to Russian Western frontier feared the discreet efforts of their brethren in the threat of burgeoning secular advance of the German armies, and the free world. Open, large scaie ac­ movements and the growing devel­ fled eastward into Russia. At the tivity did not reach Russia until a few opment of world-wide communica­ same time, the Russians suspected months ago, as part of the spirit of tions. The Russian Jewish involve­ the Jews of that region of German Glasnost. ment, however, was shortlived. Ever sympathies, and ordered further The only exception in this other­ susp1c1ous of organizational population shifts into the hinterland. wise bleak landscape was a period of strength, ever intolerant of Jewish As a result, tens of thousands of tenyearsorso, beginningwith 1906, vitality, the Czar soon outlawed Jewish refugees swelled the cities of when Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski Knesses Yisroel. The same concept Byelorussia. Minsk, for example, organized Knesses Yisroel (a fore­ reappeared as the Agudath Israel became the temporary home of Rabbi runner ofAgudath Israel) as a supra- World Movement in a planning (of Brisk) and meeting in Bad Hamburg, Germany, Rabbi Avraham Duber Kahane­ This historical account is based on an essay by and then in a founding conference in Shapira (Kovna Rav), as well as Rabbi Elchonon Sorotzkin of Israel, which ap­ Katowicz, Poland, in 1912. A hand­ peared in a book issued in honor of the 6th hundreds of yeshiva students. Reb ful of Russian Rabbonim participated Chaim Ozer found shelter, first in Knessia Gedolah (World Congress) of Agudath at Katowicz with the begrudging ap- Israel in 1980. Gome!, and then in Yekatesrinaslav

The Jewish Obseroer. April 1991 15 (now, Dniepropetovsk). Most major Lithuanian yeshivos relocated in the You can help Soviet Jews learn Torah Ukraine: Slobodka in Kremenchug, - In tneir own language. Mir in Poltova, and the and his Yeshiva in Smilovitz. During the war, two severe crises developed, and through organized RUSSIAN LANGUAGE efforts, both were resolved. First, IUDAICA RESOURCE CENTER these tens of thousands of refugees were without money, food or shelter. Shoroshim's bookstore-fullfilling the Jewish educational Wealthy Jewish merchants (as well needs of Soviet Jews. Your headquarters for Books, Tapes, as some professionals), primarily in Learning Aids in Russian. Moscow and St. Petersburg, orga- During the. war, two severe cnses developed, and 1407 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Retail and wholesale {bulk orders only.) through organized Bookstore open Sunday through Thursday, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Information available daily 9:00 - 5:00 at (718) 692-0079. efforts, both were Fax line for orders (718) 252-5159. Buyers and browsers welcome! resolved.

nized Vaad Ezra laPleitim (Refugee Relief Committee) and raised millions of rubles on their behalf. Soon afterwards, the Russian l,N''J', ii?,,~ i1J'~' government abolished all exemptions to the militruy draft for anyone under 735 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 45, subjecting yeshiva students, THE OUT-OF-TOWN YESHIVA fellows, and many Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva to having their WITH THE IN-TOWN CONVENIENCE studies and other sacred activities interrupted. Intervention at the highest levels in St. Petersburg only •••Mi~~A•• •'aA1i~&~sfi·.Iti;.ka~t1~:~:" succeeded in freeing the "Rabbonim ··;·~~db~~~~~-~i'•i! mitaam" (those that were officially r\Jnfflqn(j~ltfg~o/rqj1ijfii:$lii recognized by the government for their secular knowledge, but lacked 7 >1{j· ~bft'I• ..9Qts~riJ~-~~i~~~·~~~~·:0:··~j)I[~~[ genuine requirements for rabbonus). 1 The Torah leaders feared for the !Af\'{;··.11 ~~$~!~~ ~!!1'.;0;.,:•;;;0:§{.'qi ;:•':.:;;.:x'f;~·~ spiritual future of Russian Jewry, :i:.2,;... _.. ,11~~r~~~E~~~~~t~~,~~~~e;.•::;0·;" ,;;_~ and decided to approach the Czar's defense minister on their own. They ~;f;'',~ift~=~~~llrt:l'l~j!t'~.::{;•·.'········· ····· .. summoned Rabbi Zalmen Sorotzkin (later, the Lutzker Rav)-a relatively ······.'· ·-•112s l'l'!1~fl'<:>J:l'l:B•·· ~1:!1.vQ(li<§ i.IPl'lt'~ j'Y.''Jff/i';;'{f.::'.•: .. been offered the rabbinate oflrkutzk, (201)~9•7Jl7 . Evenl~:'(20U~t-L'. .;,•:.•·· . the capital of Siberia, a city of over a million inhabitants. The Rabbonim insisted that he formally accept the (i llabl?i!>cM~~~~Ros&,/YeSfil~( ········-··-··· .~y;;Jt·;~~ position, to enable him to speak from the vantage point of leading a pres-

16 The Jewish Observer, April 1991 They campaignedfor a united Orthodoxy in Russia:

The Rabbi Chaim Rabbi Chaim Ozer Rabbi Zalmen Sorotzkin Chafetz Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk Grodzenski (Lutzker Rav). tigious city-more impressive in the ELECTIONS UNDER KERENSKI ish Federation was planned, which Russians' eyes than even Vilna or would include elected delegates from Kovna. Reb Zalmen succeeded in subsequent need for organi­ each region, representing various convincing the minister that it was zational efforts on the part of groups-Zionist, Labor, and Bundist vital for the moral strength of the A the Torah community took as well as religious. Tue rabbinical Czar's Jewish subjects that their place immediately after the February leadership realized that no splintered spilitual leaders continue to serve Revolution (of 1917) which overthrew subgroups could ever garner suffi­ them, without interruption. Tue ex­ the House of Romanov, which had cient votes to elect any delegates to emptions were restored, to be sub­ ruled over Russia for more than three the conference. Tue only possibility mitted at the discretion of the com­ bitter centuries. The new govern­ for protecting religious interests was munities that required rabbinical ment, under Social Democrat by uniting under one banner. leadership. In other words, all con­ Alexander Kerenski, granted au­ Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzenski, cerned were spared service in the tonomy to all ethnic and religious who had been a key figure in orga­ Czar's army. communities. A Pan-Russian Jew- nizing Knesses Yisroel and then

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The Jewish Obseroer, April 1991 17 Agudath Israel, issued a call: "We no ther this undertaking was held in longer are limited by legal barriers. Many of the people Moscow, with the participation of the In light of our newly won freedom ... all outstanding gedolim of the time that groups will coalesce in accordance reached by the shlichim were in Russia: Reb Chaim Ozer, the with their respective ideologies; thus Kovna Rav, the Slutzker Rav (Reb all 'Shlomei Emunei Yisroel, those of the Vaad are Issur Zalmen Meltzer), and the who are totally committed to the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Shalom Jewish faith'- that is, the majority currently leaders of Duber Schneerson), among others. of our nation-must unite to protect They elected a steering committee our religious heritage, our Divine outreach efforts and that included Reb Meir Simcha of Torah, our veiy soul.. . .Jn accordance Dvinsk, the Rogotchover Gaon, the with our spiritual legacy from earlier educational programs Chafetz Chaim, the Kishinever Rav generations, we must endeavor to (Rav Y.L. Zire!son), the Moscow Rav, spread Torah and Ylras Shomayim in Israel, America, and the Skvere Rebbe, among others. among the broad masses, and re­ A branch of Agudath Israel was solve all problems in our day-to-day and-yes-now, in the organized in Minsk, and in a short lives in the spirit of the Torah." period of time, over I 0,000 members In Menachem Av 5677 (August. Soviet Un ion. were registered. It purchased a six­ 1917), a national conference to fur- stoiy building in Moscow, which

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18 The Jewish Observer. April 1991 housed its national headquarters as forts and educational programs in He then came to America, where he well as a religious girls' school. From Israel, America, and-yes-now, in embraced a Torah way of life. He is this building, an Achdus/ Religious the Soviet Union. More recently, now back in the city of his birth to Unity ticket was organized for the these shlichim organized and led participate in this new chapter in elections. In schools, seminars, yeshivas, and Jewish life in Russia. Minsk alone, eleven of the seventeen summer camps for Jewish youth­ Who knows but what we are wit­ Jewish delegates were on the primarily in Kiev, Moscow, Kishinev, nessing the ultimate fruit of the la­ Chareidi-Achdus ticket-and virtu­ and Rlga. These efforts will be ex­ bors of the Torah giants of seventy ally all were members of Agudath panded and coordinated by the di­ five years ago, following the mandate Israel. It had been decided to have the rector of the Agudath Israel branch, of Rav Chaim Ozer: "To spread Torah Rabbonim run for delegate slots, be­ Sender (Sasha) Rubinovitz-born in and Yiras Shomayim to the broad cause of their widespread recogni­ Moscow, where he lived until twenty masses, and to resolve all problems... tion-and indeed, those elected in­ years ago, when he moved to Israel. in thespiritoftheTorah." • cluded Reb Chaim Brisker, the Chafetz Chaim, Reb Zalmen Sorotzkin and the Kovna Rav. Later they were to assign their seats to suitable deputies to the Federation Convention. But the Pan-Russian Jewish Federation never convened. In October, 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution overturned the Social­ Democratic experiment, and Kerenski was replaced by Lenin and Trotzky. The Dictatorship of the Proletariet ruled instead, outlawing all religious expression. Floral Park, Queens/Nassau The lessons learned in this brief and exciting episode were applied to Mesivta Tai Torah is a dormitory mesivta the post-World War scene when the geared to C',ln:l who aspire to grow, same rabbinical leaders took the under the guidance of inspiring rebbeim, helm during the crucial founding years of Agudath Israel in the rest of into ;p';>)) >J:i and real c>r.:i:in rr>r.:i':>n. Europe, and subsequently in other 0 11')) 11))>11) with focus on clarity and Oll:ll"l of 0'11J1llr.l in parts of the globe. And now, after a period of 7 4 years, organized Jewish context of the PN?J life is returning to Russia on a na­ D Development of independent learning skills in the preparation tional scale. of N1r.ll and !J'l111JN1 D Intensive, systematic 1'11Tn with written mi>n:i to insure mastery THE MOSCOW BRANCH of 11'JJ 'j?1ll and mN>j?:l >j?1ll his past March, a branch of D Night i;p every night with rebbeim and kolel yungeleit. Agudath Israel opened in 0 Adult supervised dormitory T Moscow, to serve the Jews of 0 N. Y. S. accredited secular program the Soviet Union. It may not seem any more significant than planting 0 Ninth-graders home every nJV - transportation provided the flag of one or another nation at 0 Only forty minutes from Brooklyn the North Pole-a gesture of pride, with little ramifications. But it is The dedicated and dynamic 1mr.:i actually much more. This public H""'?UI 1'"11 VU11l"I' ::ii:i declaration comes after ten years of of Yeshivas Rabbenu Chaim - Kole! Gur Aryeh intensive low-profile assistance. in the form of more than 400 shlichim (N"V>711J 1V:J11J 111'1N '1 l"l"111'1l"l:l>11J>l"l11JN111r.l >;>r.:i':>n ,,>n:lr.l) (emissaries) that traveled on behalf will serve as our first-year rebbe. of Agudath Israel's Vaad Lehatzolas Nidchei Yisroel to teach Torah and For information and registration for our 9th grade please call: mitzvos and offer encouragement to (718) 337-3233 hundreds of Soviet Jews. Many of the people reached by these shlichim Nn!l'nl:l UINi , iv!IV'' l"IUll:l ::ii:i are currently leaders of outreach ef-

The Jewish Observer, April 1991 19 Impressions Upon Vuiting Jewish Moscow

At the Agudath Israel office in Moscow: Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, from , Av Bels Din of Moscow (right): next to Rabbi Moshe Sherer, President qf Agudath Israel of America and Co-Chairman of the Agudath Israel World Organization: and Rabbi Yaakov Bleich, from New York, the Rav of Kiev/ Ukraine; standing next to Reb Mordechai Neustadt, chairman of Agudath Israel's Vaad L'Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel.

Based on an interview with Rabbi Moshe Sherer, president of Agudath Israel ofAmerica and co-chairman ofthe Agudath Israel World Organization, as told to Nissan Wolpin

ast month, I spent several Despite my involvement with the I was reminded of a story regard­ days in the Soviet Union, to dispatch of shlichim to Russia for over ing the Arizal told by the Chiddushei L participate in three momen­ a decade, I was visiting the Soviet HaRim (the first Gerer Rebbe): Reb tous events: a Congress of the Union Union for the first time, and found Shmuel deUzeda, of Midrash Shmuel of Jewish Communities (Agudas myself beset by two very different fame-a young boy at the time-en­ Hakehillos) of the U.S.S.R. on March senses of awareness. One cannot tered the room where the Arizal was 12 and 13, with 200 representatives help but feel that every minute is sitting. The Ari rose to his full height from close to 100 far-flung Jewish unique, a fleeting moment in a very in the young man's presence. communities; the dedication ofa new dynamic situation. At the same time, "Who is the young man, that you yeshiva founded jointly by the one is oveiwhelmed by a keen sense honored him so?" asked Reb Chaim Agudas Hakehillos and Agudath Is­ of earlier history resonating through Yitai, the Ari's disciple who had wit­ rael in Moscow; and the opening of a contemporary people and situations, nessed this singular show of respect. fully-staffed office in Moscow of the as though the past is somehow "Who he is, is of no consequence," Agudath Israel World Organization. coming to life through them. replied the Ari. "But he came to fulfill

20 The Jewish Observer.April 1991 a mission in keeping with the teach· Moscow. And eight years later-two are being held steady by the founders ings of a revered Tanna (rabbi of the years ago-a group of baalei teshuva of the movement that they are join· Mishna), Reb Pinchas ben Yair. When in Moscow presented the man tng-the Chafetz Chaim, Reh Chaim one performs a mitzva originating through whom he sent that tape, Reb Ozer, the Kishenever Rav, and the from a great man, his soul is bound Mordechei Neustadt, the indefati· Skverer Rebbe, no less. Should one up with that spiritual giant whose gable chairman of the Agudah's Vaad not rise in their presence? tradition he is continuing, and that Lehatzolas Nidchei Yisroel, with a ••• presence is actually here in the room. petition to form such a branch in the hen davening Shncharistn Thus, I stood up for the Tanna who Soviet capital. And here we have the the new Moscow Yeshiva accompanied this young man, not for fruition of those tentative beginnings. W we dedicated, I was deeply him." Not only are the Jews of Russia moved by the tntensity with which a This story reverberated through thereby linking up with fellow Jews 24-year·old talmidoftheyeshiva was my mlnd at our opening ceremonies committed to Torah in other parts of reciting the Shma. Would I but mus· for the new national office of Agudath the globe; but this tiny group, riding ter up such kavana (concentration) Israel of Russia. I looked around at a tempest of change, is also casting during Shma on Yorn Klppur! I later an anchor deep into the past. They inqutred as to his background. Only All of our efforts seemed aided by the deeds and Mesitlfd Yeshiva Mercaz Hatorah mesiras nefesh of the High school BELLE HARBOR •Flexible Dormitor}' gedolim who had Schedule for preceded us and of the 9th Grade BECHINOS FOR ELUL 5751 kedoshim who had • Bois HC1medrdsh and Kolle/ For Applications Write or Call perished .... •Four Year Mesivfd . 505 Beach 129th Street High Schoof Belle Harbor. NY 11694 • Within JO minutes the people in the room with me­ (718) 474-3064 people of outstanding dedication, to of Baro Park. Fldtbllsh, (1f1d be sure, but there was no Chafetz Rabbi Levi Dicker Rabbi Chaim Zelikovitz Chaim, Reb Chaim Ozer Grodzenski, Queens Rosh Yeshiva or Lutzker Rav among us, by any stretch of the imagination. And yet I shuddered as though they were standing there in the room, for the people in that room were carrying out their mitzva and their mandate: to build a harabim, a coalition THE [iJ Make force for in the reservations U.S.S.R. for It is 7 4 years since there was any ( ~PITOL SHAVUOS sort of an active presence of Agudath now! Israel in Russia. How far removed HOTEL MOTEL the Jews of this country are from the • original Agudah motto of "resolving LAKEWOOD, NEW JERSEY all day-to-day problems in the spirit Located on Madison Avenue; Corner of 7th Street ofTorah"! The overwhelming major· GLATT KOSHER ity of them have no idea as to what "Come Experience a Touch of Home" CHOLOV YISROEL the word Torah means. BAR I SHEVA BROCHOS I SHABBATONS I SEMINARS Yet, ten years ago, Eliyahu Essas, Under Strict leading an underground (201)363-5000 I (201)363-9603 Rabbinical group, managed to send a tape to the Supervis,-on American office of Agudath Israel 1-800 CAPITOL (227-4865} saying that he was looking forward Only 15 Minutes from Great Adventure to forming a branch of Agudah in

The Jewish Observer. Aprll 1991 21 ground and the more formidable the obstacles, the more vivid is one's awareness that we are witnessing the miracle of Jewish survival. And the more awesome is histo:ry' s call to our conscience. **' he Yeshiva of Kishtnev, which had been under the leader­ T ship of the Gaon Rabbi Yehuda Leib Zirelson, had been housed in a large, impressive build­ ing. Today, all that remains is a large bombed-out shell. But the yeshiva is being revived, and is slated to even­ tually return to its former home, now that it is the property of Agudath Is­ rael of America. Rabbi Eisemann told Shachalis in the new Yeshiva in Moscow. how the Prime Minister of Moldavia tnformed him that he has seen to it that in the interim the yeshiva should four months earlier, after a "Semlnar" Vaad"s Seminars in the USSR, spoke be housed in a shul that had been we had sponsored in Kiev, this young of the stark contrast between the man decided to commit himself to a fervor of these Jews' dedication. and life of Torah, and divorced his non­ the spiritually void background from One cannot help but Jewish wife. Looking at him with which they come .... Having just re­ admiration, we realized that he turned from a Seminar in Kishinev. feel that every minute is symbolized the complexities of the he related: After hearing an expla­ problems we face in reaching out to nation of the prohibition against unique, a fleeting Soviet Jewish youth, at the same owning chometz on Pesach. and how time that his "success story" repre­ one must ask a Rav to sell it to a non­ moment in a very sented a ringing challenge. J ew, one young fellow confided to At the Chanukas Habayis cer­ Rabbi Eisemann, "I have no problem. dynamic situation. At emonies of the yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe I'll just sell my chometz to my fa­ Eisemarm (mashgiachofYeshiva Ner ther." the same time, one is Israel, Baltimore), the "father" of our The more dismaying the back- overwhelmed by a keen sense of earlier history YOUR CIR IN ISRAEii resonating through contemporary people and situations, as though the past is somehow coming to life through them.

seized by the government and con­ verted into an office building. Parti­ tions would be removed, and a beis midrosh would function there again. When the government official sensed RESERVE IN U.K. with ELDAN Rabbi Eisemann's curiosity-why * PER WEEK P should a Communist Minister restore FROM 133 O~Ll~IHOMIUA£E r L a shul building to a religious func-

22 The Jewish Observer, April 1991 tion?-he offered this explanation: "I recall how. during World War II. the Nazis rounded up the Jews of the region in a field across from this synagogue building. The Germans Subscribe now to informed them that they would have a few minutes grace before they The Jewish Obsener would be shot. Do they have any re­ quest? 'Yes.· replied the Jews. 'We'd like to go to the house of worship and$AVE across the road for one final after­ noon prayer.' And they did. Then and there I decided that should it ever be Become a monthly subscriber in my power. I would return this to The Jewish Observer and building to its original purpose." save up to 47% off the single· All of our efforts seemed aided by the deeds and mesiras nejesh of the copy price (a savings of over gedolim who had preceded us and of $40.). The longer you sub· the kedoshim who had perished .... scribe for, the more you save. The Moscow and Kiev Rabbonim, Mr. Neustadt and I met with the Soviet And this introductory offer is fully guaranteed. You have but to ask and you will receive Minister of Religion, Yuri a prompt refund on any undelivered issues should you decide to cancel at any time, Christaradnov, and asked him to for any reason. grant exemption from military ser­ vice to the yeshiva students, in order Each month, The Jewish Observer will be delivered directly to your door, filled to properly continue their studies with the views of leading Torah thinkers on current issues ... comments on the and develop into the quality religious strengths and foibles within the Jewish community ... analysis of contemporary leaders Russian Jewry needs. At that Jewish events ... inside reporting, interpretive commentary, inspiring biographies, meeting. we felt ourselves speaking infuriating letters and illuminating responses-all within the covers of one magazine, the words of Reb Zalmen Sorotzkin The Jewish Observer. to the Russian authorities 76 years So don't delay. Check the money·saving terms below and send in your order right before ... carrying out the mandate of away. We'!! try to get your order filled in time for our very next issue. Reb Chaim Brisker. the Chofetz Chaim. and Reb Chaim Ozer. I felt ------·I their presence in the room. SUBSCRIPTION SAVINGS CERTIFICATE I *** TllE~H Suite 1200 • 84 William Street I he mere convening of the I OBSERVER New York, N.Y. 10038 Second Congress of the I Agudas Hakehillos I of the D YES! Please enter my subscription for: USA 'OUTSIDE I T ONLY USA U.S.S.R. in Moscow was remarkable, I an indication of rapidly changing 0 3 years-at 47°/o off the cover price $48 0 $78 I times. But I continued to hear ech­ O 2 years-at 40°/o off the cover price $36 0 $56 I oes of history-not only of the plan­ 0 1 year- at 27% off the cover price $22 0 $32 ning of the ill-fated convention of the *Price reflects $10 extra per year to defray air shipping costs. Foreign Pan Russian Jewish Federation of puyment must be made in U.S. dollars, either by check drawn on a bank 1917, which never took place. I also ln the U.S.A. or by Visa or MasterCard. heard reverberations of a remark by NAME (Please print) ______the Kamenitzer Rosh Hayeshiva 7"llT. ADDRESS ______told to me by Reb Yaakov Kamenetzky 7"llT. The Rosh Yeshiva, CITY,STATE ______ZIP ____ Reb Baruch Ber Lebovitz, had just returned from a visit to the United 0 Enclosed: $ 0 Charge my 0 MasterCard 0 VISA States in 1929. and was asked whether he thought that the Ameri­ ~~ct[ I I I I 1 I fl I IJ I I I [l can Rabbonim were smaller as com­ pared with their European col­ Expiration date: ITJ (month) ITJ (year) leagues. He replied: "It's not that the Signature ______American Rabbonim are smaller. The The Jewish Observer is published monthly except July and August. PleJse Jliow 4-6 weeks fordeli~ery problems they face are larger...... Russia today suffers both from a ------·

The Jewish Obseroer. Ap1il 1991 23 surfeit of problems and a dearth of Rabbonim. The problems are im­ mense, and on an undreamed-of scale. Marriages are clouded by · questions of yichus-whether the principals are actually Jewish. and if so, if they are not products of halachically questionable unions. Moreover, ignorance of Judaism is abysmal and just about universal. The people do not know ofTorah nor of its Giver. There is, however, a genuine cu­ At the chanukas habayis of the Moscow Yeshiva: (r.to l.) Bostoner Rebbe of Boston and , Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz; Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt: Rabbi Avraham riosity and thirst for knowledge about Shayevich, official Rabbi of Moscow; and Rabbi Yitzchok Aaron Fischer, mohel, of Judaism among some of the people. Monsey, N. Y., who during the week Congress was held, per:fonned 97 brisstm,following And today. the government is not a Vaad LeHatzolas Nidchai Yisroel Seminar. The Commuter's Chovrusoh Learn Bomidbor with Robbi Yissocher Frond, Magid , Ner Israel Yeshiva

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24 The Jewish Observer, April 1991 only tolerant, but even cooperative with religious education, Clearly, this is a situation that calls for a corps of Rabbonim of stat­ ure. But there is no basis for such people to appear on the current bar­ ren Russian landscape: it will take years for the seeds being planted to­ day to produce quality crops of spiritual leaders. The Rabbonim must hail from the first group of baalei teshuva now learning in Eretz Yisroel or from non-Russian volun­ teers willtng to serve in a milieu for - eign to their upbrtnging. There are two notable examples of such non-Russian who won my admiration, two young men who addressed the Congress last month in a Russian that was both fluent and Two of the three Roshei Yeshiva of the new yeshiva in Moscow are Russian-born Torah eloquent ijudging by the faces of the scholars who studied.for years in Israel and have now returned to bring Torah to their audience): Rabbi Pinchos native land (r. to l.}: Rabbi Shlomo Nachat and Rabbi Baruch Ludmir. At left is Rabbi Goldchmidt of Zurich/ Eretz Yisroel Yosef Amsel qf Lakewood, New Jersey. an American-born Rosh Yeshiva. who is the Dayan of Moscow; and Rabbi Yaakov Bleich, a Karlin­ sia in the pre-Glasnost period meant ence of Rabbonim which was held Stoliner Chassid from Brooklyn in undergoing numerous fears and every four years. He missed the tratn his late 20's, who serves as Rav of hardships, in order to res tore the by one minute. The Chofetz Chaim Kiev /Ukraine*. Their dynamism, Jewish neshama to one of the oldest turned to his entourage and said, compassion, knowledge, and mesiras Jewish communities that had suf­ 'There is an important lesson to learn nefesh is already making a differ­ fered so harshly from Communism. from this mishap: sometimes a ence. And our new Yeshiva in Mos­ We now have the opportunity to minute is not sixty seconds, but four cow is headed by three other gifted broadly expand this spiritual life­ years." and dedicated young Rabbonim: saving work among those Jews still In this instance of coming to the American-born Rabbi Yosef Amsel of remaining in Russia, and at the same aid of our fellow Jews in Russia, Lakewood, N.J., with RabbisShlomo time infuse the potential olim to Er­ misstng the "call of the hour" is more Narat and Baruch Ludmir, formerly etz Yisroel with a life-saving taste of than Sixty minutes lost: it could Chas of Moscow and now returnees from authentic Torah spirit and knowl­ v'shalom mean the loss of entire Jerusalem, delivering shiurim edge. It is clearly the call of the hour. generations. The need for more such dynamic But as I left Moscow, it struck me Those who will be toiling in the Rabbonim from the United States that we are not dealing with "an vineyard of Russia should take and Israel must be put on top of our hour," but with centuries. I was courage, for they will not be alone. agenda, not only to continue broad­ haunted by the story of the saintly They will be in the presence of the ening our spiritual horizons in that Chofetz Chaim who once set out to giant Rabbonim of the previous gen­ region, but also to make sure that the train station in Radin to travel to eration who are their predecessors, this virgin terrttory is not captured by , accompanied by some of his in whose gigantic footsteps they are the Reform/Conservative groups, talmidim to attend a major confer- treading. • who have already proclaimed such tntentions. If through our neglect of these barren communities these dissident groups succeed in export­ ing their deleterious brand of pseudo­ Considering a move Judaism to Russia, it would be a crime for which history would never toMOJVSEY? forgive us. The Orthodox Jewish world has in For careful attention to your the last ten years worked with great energy, even when infiltrating Rus- individual needs, call us today! *Rabbi Bleich's impact on Kiev is briefly de­ (914) 354-8445 scribed in Yeshoshua Weber's article, MFron1 Kiev, With Hope," JO Nov '90.

The Jewish Obseroer. April 1991 25 Dr. Mefr Wilcler

Rabbonim and Psychotherapists:

hile some Rabbonim and or entering into the field of psychol­ therapist. Some of these Rabbonim psychotherapists view ogy. For some, the caution is even have acknowledged that an Orthodox W each other as adversaries. extended to consulting with psycho­ therapist would probably not direct there are some notable exceptions. therapists, regardless of their reli­ his patients to do anything clearly This article will explore the basis for gious credentials. proscribed by the Torah. But for the adversarial relationship between This attitude leads some these Rabbonim to discard their some members of these two groups Rabbonim to discourage, or at least suspicions, a therapist must be a ben and then highlight several unique. avoid, making referrals to psycho­ Torah, in the sense that his personal hithertofore unpublicized experi­ therapists in all except the most ex­ priorities are truly in line with daas ments in collaboration, which are treme cases of mental or family Torah, quietly mal

26 The Jewish Obseroer, April 1991 Besides. some psychotherapists TORAH AWARENESS GROUPS dress the interface of Torah and overestimate their own Torah psychology more aggressively. In­ knowledge, and identify far fewer bout six years ago, a group of stead of waiting for halachic ques­ halachic questions than they should therapists in private prac­ tions to arise in their practice, they regarding their clinical work. A tice-all bnei Torah. some wanted to anticipate potential Rabbonim view this lack of halachic even musmachim-got together to she'eilos. consultation as the psychothera­ discuss their professional concerns. As a result of that initial group pists' unwillingness to accept the One issue that seemed to trouble all awareness. they decided to conduct ultimate primacy of Torah values of them was the unmet need to ad- weekly clinical meetings, which over professional values. This stand­ off can cause Rabbonim and psy­ chotherapists to view each other as Rabbi Aryeh Schechter adversaries. When that occurs, each CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST group is deprived of much that the SOFER S"TAM other has to offer, but the ultimate DR. BENZION deprivation is suffered by the Torah community-at-large. 123 5 49th St. SOROfZKIN What psychotherapists can gain Brooklyn, NY It 219 N.Y. STATE LICENSED from Rabbonim is so obvious, it e make "housecalls.'' ADULTS hardly needs to be stated. It should (718) 972-4003 AND be clarified, however, that psycho­ CHILDREN therapists need help not only in re­ IE :i-~.,~- solving halachic questions regarding / • - -,b::l!vBllB (718) 266-7151 their work, 7 but they also mustlearn to be sensitive enough to the myriad of halachic considerations to know when a she'eila should be asked in the first place. This kind of benefit i11:1•ri"?;ii .o"n y!!n n:l•er• can only flow from long-term, ongo­ ing contact between Rabbonim and Ta1mudica1. Academy j'Baltimore psychotherapists. While the notion of close collabora­ tion between Rabbonim and psycho­ therapists may sound overly idealistic or unrealistic, the experiences of a few Yeshiva& Chofetz Ohaim..­ groups have proven otherwise. ~alm.1J.dical.Academy 'Rabbi Moshe Friedn1an's "1'he Nature of a To­ rah Psychology," December '87; Rabbi Yaakov is· accepting applications to our High Luban's "Neshama in Golus," February '76: Dr. Jacob Mermelstein's "An Orthodox Jewish Schooldornu'tory program from mott~ Psychologist Confesses," December. '75; and the letters-to-the·editor that appeared following vat;edboQhurinl loo~ to develop. into each article. 2 See Bay is Ne'eman b 'Yisrael: Practical Steps to serious .:ijnetTorall~ Our progra;m offers: Success in Marriage, Feldheim Publishing Co., 1988, p. 115-116, for documentation of this • li:mited size sJ.liurpn Withregulal' anti advanced tracks, attitude. • ... concerned, eXp$.'ie11ced~blreim. 3 See for example, "Fine-Tuning Diagnostic Techniques Used by Orthodox Jewish Clients." • · llldiVidua.Uzed.~personaJjzeda.~t:!on. Journal of Psychology and Judaism, Spring •·. ~ ll).odern dOI'Jllit;or;yfa.oililiY ona. beau~ ten'a.cre sub\r¢­ 1979, p. 184- 194. 'For the historical roots of that development, see ·ban ca.mpus. "The Recent Rise of Professional Orthodox ~ .:full;yaccredited.Genera.1 Stu

The Jewish Observer. April 1991 27 would begin with some Torah study. isfied. Some feel that they should !ions of their work. The forums were followed by a discussion of its appli­ approach a Torah personality to give so successful that they were later cation to their work. They chose the a shiur in halacha or mussar geared opened to Orthodox psychothera­ Chofetz Chaim's Shemiras Halashon, for psychotherapists, similar to the pists not on the agency staff. dealing with the laws of lashon hora, successful shiurim being offered to • A group of over two dozen psy­ as their first text. They have since physicians and other medical pro­ chotherapists who provide a free completed that and have gone on to fessionals. mental health service, the Yitti Leibel study other texts, as well. This group is not unique. Here are Helpline-thus far having served over In addition, the group decided to some other notable examples. five thousand individuals and fami­ present she'eilos that would emerge • The Orthodox branch office of a lies-recently met with a well-known in their clinical case discussions to large non-sectarian mental health poseikto discuss a long list of diverse leading rabbinic authorities. So far, agency sponsored a sertes of open she'eilos. there have been a number of such forums on issues of potential conflict • Perhaps the best and certainly consultations with poskim (halachic between psychotherapy and halacha. one of the oldest examples ofhalachic authorities), after which the entire The forums were ortginally designed consultation by psychotherapists is group pored over the psak (decision) by the clinical director of the office to the family service agency that pro­ rendered. The members of this heighten the professional staffs vides mental health and social ser­ group. however, are not entirely sat- sensitivity to the halachic implica- vices all under Orthodox auspices. This agency has engaged one of the most prominent halachic authortties in the New York Metropolitan area. The poseik has been serving "on staff' MON.-WED. 4-6 P.M. for over ten years. In addition to be­ TUES.-THURS. 7-9 P.M. toll ing available to all professional staff IECAY! for halachic consultation on an emergency basis, he also meets with AGUDATH ISRAEL Now is the the entire clinical staff pertodically, HALACHA INQUIRY to discuss more general or less Im­ time to ioin the mediate halachic questions. TELEPHONE LINE In addition to these groups. bnei (212) 363-8133 • '?t for 1he Fomdy • fveryrhrng wrried oul in ocwtdance w11h Hol"tho OUTREACH BY RABBONIM FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE AGUDATH ISRAEL DEPARTMENT OF TORAH PRCUECTS {711) 436-1451 he willingness to learn works (212) 797-9000 Qr wf

28 The Jewish Observer, April 1991 So the meeting was arranged for build confidence in children with low even one day in the last month. Both a few days later. In the interim, the self-esteem. father and mother were completely psychotherapist received a call from While the format of the meetings ba.J]led and, understandably, at their another kollel fellow active in kimv has been open-ended, and varies wits' end. An intense discussinnfol­ work, which often involved pre­ from session to session, strict confi­ lowed and concluded with some marital counseling: he too wanted to dentiality-even to the identity of the practical suggestions from the psy­ attend the meeting. The session fi­ participants-has been a binding chotherapist and some of the nally took place with four kollel condition. Rabbonim. Before the psychothera­ Yungeleit in attendance, together At one meeting, a kollel fellow pist returned home, the kollel fellow with one Rav, one Mashgiach and raised a personal questinrc His seven­ called to repori that his son had gone three tape recorders. The psycho­ year-old son suddenly, without ap­ back to yeshiva. therapist covered many problem ar­ parent reason, refused to go to ye­ At a different meeting, the psycho­ eas in marriage that could be avoided . Neither bribe nor punishment therapist made a thorough presenta­ through effective pre-marital guid­ succeeded in getting him to attend tion of the symptoms and clinical ance, and the single half-hour meet­ ing mushroomed into three separate, two-hour meetings. " O'>'>n Jli)Jl i1:1'>\!J'> As the Rabbonim continued to meet with the psychotherapist on Yeshiva Toras Chaim/Denver subsequent visits, the group-which The Beis Medrash offers a unique The Mesivta offers an exceptional setting, meets by invitation only-has grown program for a motivated Bochur limited size Shiurim with dedicated to include close to twenty partici­ to develop in Torah and Midas. Mechanchim. Accredited school. pants at any one meeting. Over the Registration now open for Elul Z'man 5751 past eight years, the group meetings have focused on a wide variety of For further information write or call Yeshiva Toras Chaim/Talmudical Seminary/Denver 1400 Quitman, P.O. Box 4067, Denver, Colorado 80204 When a stand-off 303-629-8200 occurs, each group is RABBI YITZCHOK WASSERMAN RABBI YISROEL MEIR KAGAN Rosh Yeshiva Rosh Yeshiva deprived of much that RABBI YEHOSHUA GUTMAN Menahel the other has to offer, but Appointments for interviews in the East can be made by calling 718-376-9400 Applications accepted from all Jewish youth without regard to the ultimate deprivation race, color, national or ethnic origin or handicap. is suffered by the Torah community-at-large.

urgent issues-some suggested by the senior Rabbonim of the group, some suggested by the psychothera­ pist. The topics discussed have in­ cluded: how to respond to someone threatening suicide. how to differen­ tiate between problems requiring professional help and those that can be handled by Rabbonim, how to build a relationship with a withdrawn student, how to successfully refer someone for professional help, how to know when someone is on the verge of a nervous breakdown and what to do about it, how to recognize chronic personality disorders, how to differentiate between various forms of engagement anxiety, and how to

'The Jewish Observer. April 1991 29 course of one of the more MEETINGS FOR MECHANCHIM unmanageable and inscrntable men­ tal disorders. the "borderline person­ nother group of Rabbonim, ality disorder." 8 formed under the auspices of · INIP()~Jttf'.I' NO'fJC,E The following day. a Mashgiach A a large association of yeshiva .TO'OUR CANADf:Atf· ... who had attended that meeting came principals. regularly holds more over to consult the psychotherapist structured meetings with a valiety of ··AtfD'OVERSEJtS··· regarding one bachur who was tak­ psychotherapists. These meetings SUBSCRIBERS! ing up over 50% of his time and was are open to all of the association's responsible for almost 100% of his members. A professional coordinator illlllililil agmas nefesh(anguish}. After a de· engages the guest lecturers and dis- Th~~1.mP;1~st•'\'/~~ t~•r:>'!i)'.. !ot tailed review ofthe bachur's history in the yeshiva, it became clear to the ~o,r ·~ubsct,if.1~1~11 .• 1~ throug!l Today, we are witness­ \HSA or.MasterCard .. n1ey therapist that this bachur was dis­ playing symptoms of borderline per­ change }'~.~n~~t~!f .. ·· Mashgiach smiled: the bachur had sional community that ch~c~)n1 ~u•. S,).RTISTS ~ D Faznily D Child D Pre-Marital cussion leaders, who are always Or­ (Help yourself make a decision thodox psychotherapists. and commitment) One series of workshops spon­ authors and artists to submit sored by this association, led by the manuscripts and artwork for For an appointtnrnt call: (718) 338--2170 same psychotherapist. focused on evaluation. We seek manu- t,MPATHETIC CARING three consecutive topics related to a scripts in all areas of Judaica Rebbe's or teacher's role in helping fl. publishing with originality, ,_ children who are depressed, learning creativity and high literary .~ disabled, or suffering from low self­ standard. Our editors develop ~ esteem. and highlight the Individuality A few years ago, this same asso­ .,: ofthe author and our graphics 1 ~ ciation sponsored a two-day public 'I department gives each book rJ conference designed for mechanchim its own identity. ' (educators) of all levels, and drew a Ti.._ , We welcome the opportu- 11_! large crowd ofyeshiva Rebbeim, Bais nity to work with you. ~ Yaakov teachers. and laymen. The 1s£1s~·c6~~k~@~~i~1~i~~~~~s:!·• workshops were led by psychothera­ ® Per3~~C1(i¥iiTq!lisbq~s;• . · pists, Rabbonim, or panels with ~fi1/i~_5ag~J!Y_ar'f!4/~as·.q.~ii.. ~1 1 members of both groups. Although ©~~ ·.·· •.·.. •.·.. ~&.~l~&·f~e~;fqs~tt~s.Ju•!%, P·U·B·L-I·S·H·E·R·S ·ster1ings11~f'.luiiqiCt1qn~~1 r· the conference has yet to be repeated, 1, ~ it was extremely well received. ~York· Landm ·jtrttJa/mw I • ALLAT$U{>E~> 0•• · ~ 8 See Diagnostic and Statistical Manual qf Men­ 180 Park Avenue• Lakewood NJ 08701 .. J:?J$C:Q{Jljl'.Jj.f'c~ICE$f! tal Disorders, Third Edition-Revised. American In UK OJ-809'3723 .•. .a:RAN_D··pf?.E1Y1P1(;. .. Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., ._: In Israel 02-538-935 9¥11ew~

30 The Jewish Observer. April 1991 Generally speaking, both the Other psychotherapists are aware Baruch HaShem, there are many Rabbonim and the psychotherapists of the need, but do not know whom Rabbonim today who not only have who have attended these meetings to consult, since not every Rav is these essential qualifications, but have appreciated them. But the qualified to pasken she'eilos related also are surprisingly familiar with greatest beneficiaries of these meet - to the practice of psychotherapy. To the Intricacies of the therapeutic ings undoubtedly are the patients, do so, a Rav must not only possess process. talmidim and talmidos who were a vast knowledge of , but also Hopefully, the experiences de­ taught, counseled and guided more of Shulchan Aruch, poskim, and scribed here will encourage other successfully as a result of their what is referred to as the "Fifth Rabbonim and psychotherapists to therapists and Rabbonim having Shulchan Aruch," which encom­ follow the examples set by their col­ taken advantage of these learning passes sensitivity to personal feel­ leagues and initiate similar dia­ opportunities. ings coupled with practical under­ logues with each other, to the ulti­ standing of the dynamics of family mate advantage of the Torah com­ NON-PARTICIPANTS relationships and human behavior. munity-at-large. •

here are plenty of Rabbonim who have not been involved in T these groups. And there are many Orthodox psychotherapists Have You Ever Wanted to Really who do not have the same kind of Torah study and intimate contact with halachic authorities that some "Master" A Mesikhta? of their colleagues enjoy. Why have they chosen to remain on the side­ lines? The Latest volume of the Master A Meslkhta Series is now available. Some Rabbonim have stayed away Tractate , volume one (Chapters 1-4): Commentary and Study from such programs because they Guide by Rabbi Nachman Cohen contains-- were not sponsored by Torah insti­ tutions, but rather by secular or ir­ religious agencies. In such cases, the concerns articulated by Rabbi Twerski may well be justified. Other Rabbonim have acknowl­ edged that they may have much to learn from the mental health field. Master A Mesikhta will allow you to preview, review and digest the material in the entire tractate, but unless the therapist presenting including the opinions of the commentaries, in a very short time. It has helped thousands of Yeshiva, the material is a ben Torah, they professional and business people (scholars and serious beginners) to master a mesikhta. Mastery of Shas would choose not to attend. Of begins with the mastery of one tractate. Join the ranks today. course, not every Orthodox therapist qualifies as a ben Torah. but there are Available now at your local bookstore, or order directly from Torah still enough who do meet such stan­ Lishmah Institute, 25 Clifton Avenue, Yonkers New York 10705. dards to provide ample learning op­ portunities for these Rabbonim. Even when meetings are arranged Name on an individual basis with Orthodox psychotherapists who are bnei To­ Address rah, however, still other Rabbonim are concerned that their participa­ tion at such meetings could be mis­ Please send me the following volume(s) of the Master a Mesikhta Series construed by their talmidim and the community. But as the experiences _ Tractate Pesachim @ $28 per copy=$__ _ Tractate Berakhos & Tamid @ $29 per copy.$__ _ described here have demonstrated, _ Tractate @ $28 per copy=$__ _ confidentiality can be fully safe­ _ Tractate Nedarlm @ $18 per copy=$__ _ guarded, _ Tractate Ta'anis @$15percopy=$__ _ Psychotherapists have mainly Add $2.50 postage and handling for first book $.50 for each additional book, Special not "joined" because of unaware­ rate for bulk (10 or more) orders. ness: they are just not cognizant of how much they don't know and how Special all Five volumes $100 1nclud1ng postage & handling vital It is for them to maintain close ties with Rabbonim and poskim. 9

The Jewish Observer, April 1991 31 EzraGreher

The Nearly Missing Child

WITNESSING THE RITES OF plishments and pranks, the relief of Soon my son will be thirteen.... But I PASSAGE all the boys when the Bar Mitzva fear he will be missing from all those finishes his obligatory D'var To­ semi-monthly events. live in the suburbs of a major rahs-usually the signal to start the American city. We have five Or­ real fun that such celebrations hold. NO CLASS FOR MY SON I thodox shuls in an eight-square­ mile area, serving over seven hun­ y son is multi-handi­ dred families. Nearly all these fami­ I love watching these capped. with mental retar­ lies are Shomer Shabbos and ali but M dation the most obvious a few of their children attend Ortho­ characteristic. He needed physical, dox day schools and yeshivas. Every rites of passage-the occupational and speech therapies year there are twenty-five to for(y Bar camaraderie of the boys, unavaliable in nursery schools and Mitzvas in these shuls. At the seuda kindergartens sponsored by our Or­ that typically takes place on Erev their pride in each thodox shuls and schools or even Shabbos or Shabbos lunch, all the other Jewish institutions. So he at­ Bar Mitzva age boys sit at the head other's accomplishments tended public and private special table while the adults and the education classes all week. There family's younger and older children and pranks. Soon my was no Jewish content and, at most, are at other tables. The Bar Mitzva only one other Jewish child in these year is usually defined by grade, so son will be thirteen .... But classes. For a year. my son attended these boys find themselves together a community-wide. Jewish special for a celebration on Shabbos about I fear he will be missing education program on Sunday twice a month for fifteen to eighteen mornings. 1his program emphasized months. from all those semi­ Jewish identity with introduction to I love watching these rites of pas­ basic symbols and traditions. But my sage-the camaraderie of the boys, monthly events. son received a much larger and more their pride in each other's accom- personal dose of these symbols and

32 The Jewish Observer. April 1991 traditions in his own home. While l Mitzva, at .the age of sixteen or sev­ was instrumental in initiating this 'lhere is no enteen, many of these boys will be pre-school-age program, we did not looking for specific acts of chessed. continue with it beyond the first year They will be reaching out to help, to or even re-enter its school-age ver­ unfriendliness. Yet, favor, to offer emotional support to sion. children like my son. I see this atti­ On Slwbbos our son would go to these boys his age tude in the older boys in our shut in the shul's Shabbos groups, which boys serving as camp counselors or was fine as long as the group's ac­ barely know him as a youth group leaders. Activities my tivities were limited to playing with son attends. But during the Bar toys. He quickly became lost as peer. When they see Mitzva years, boys are still not ready Slwbbos groups spent more time on to do what they desire to do as they verbalized quizzing about what was him they do not gain in maturity, to practice the true learned in day schools and yeshtvos, meaning or performing mitzvos. about berachos, the Parsha, and perceive him as a Their readiness to accept the re­ halachos of Slwbbos and Yomtov. For sponsibility for performing Taryag about four years, we simply kept him Mttzvos is still at the "I will do" stage back, essentially staying five years classmate or friend. rather than "I will understand." with the kindergarten and first grade Slwbbos group. On a more positive WILL HE BE MISSED? ....WILL note, he attended a local day school These boys are usually unwilling to HE MISS OUT? for an hour each day prior to going become involved with him on the to a later-starting, public school several aspects where there are o my son will probably be special education program. For two shared interests or abilities. Or even missing from these Bar years, the primary emphasis of this to become involved with him as an S Mitzva celebrations. Will he part-time day school attendance has act of chessed. be missed? No. Will he miss out? Yes, been on joining in morning davening. My son is a person reared in a at his Bar Mitzva he will probably not His davening is b'al peh and is based home with the same values for lein the Parsha. But he will be called mostly on listening to those around Yiddishkeit, of learning, and of car­ up for an altya and will be able to say him. He last attended third grade ing, as these other boys. These boys the Berachos properly. He will get his daventng, since most of their know that the values are the same own tejlllin, a new suit, and what davening is said aloud. His age-ap­ because when they see my son in passes for the modem equivalent of propriate grade, fourth and fifth, shu! and elsewhere, he dresses like the standard Bar Mitzva gifts. We will would have been much too fast or them (from kipa to tzitzis) and wants have a seuda and other celebratOiy said silently. This year, his public to be involved in the davening. My events. He may even say a D'var To­ school starts too early, so l daven son wants to be like them and with rah which, like for many boys, with him 25 minutes every morning, them, but he often doesn't under' someone else will write. saying b'al peh about nine pages of stand what they are talking about It would be nice to have more. To the davening. and they rarely understand even the see him at the head of his table with simple things he is saying. He hasn't twenty plus Bar Mitzva age boys. To WHOM WILL HE INVITE? been invited to any of their birthday see him sitting at other Bar Mitzva's parties since they were five-years old, tables. Should we just do the cer­ t his Bar Mitzva, whom will he and we stopped giving "one way" emony and the seuda tn Israel, at the invite to sit at the boys' table? birthday parties for him by the time Kotell In anonymity? Despite the thtill A Will they be inviting him to sit he was seven. that would provide, it would not satisfy at their table? The obvious answers Three or four years after Bar us and, probably, not satisfy him. • are not encouraging. Nor is there anyone to fault or blame. Our son is not being ostracized or purposely excluded. These other boys are children of our friends and we are not being excluded from their social oc­ casions, including their sons' Bar Mitzvas. There is no unfriendliness. Yet, these boys his age barely know him as a peer. When they see him they do not perceive him as a class­ mate or friend. He is, at best, much "younger" or, more likely, he has a difference difficult to understand.

The Jewish Observer. Apn1 l 991 33 Something Special

(Reprinted from the Camp Bnos )

oming to camp. I at least ex­ afternoon. Well. Rena recognized pected to spend a summer me and came over and demanded C free of any form of mental my name. Who could resist the in­ pressure, a summer rich in adven­ tensity with which she posed her turous experiences. Yet soon after question, and the many following arriving in camp. I heard about the ones? Who could turn away from special children who were due to her, desert her. ignore her? join us for the summer. My first Arm-in-arm, we went off together reaction was that I would not be for a tour of her bunkhouse. We affected. In other words. I did not were hardly separated for more foresee that there would be any in­ than one minute that first day. termingling between any of the That night, I lay awake thinking. special girls and my own group. It took so little to make these girls They would just be another bunch happy-and that little bit I was of girls. here for a "good time" while capable of providing. Was it fair to I went on my own way with my hold myself back just because I felt friends. that the girls were not regular or All that changed. though. the average? It was not a feeling of pity minute the first girls arrived. My that gave rise to these thoughts. primary emotion was one of pity­ but rather one oflove. These girls look at all I could do, yet they were not objects to be pitied and couldn't. The simplest operations­ soothed. They weren't children talking, clapping-which I took for who could not reciprocate feelings granted, were difficult or impossible or treasure close friendships. for some of the girls. Who could ig­ Rather. they were girls who needed nore the pain of some of the girls to be loved, cared for. and patiently who consistently fell while trying to understood. carry on with the seemingly Since that day, the girls. espe­ "simple" task of walking? cially Rena. have affected me Yet, I was still convinced that I greatly, along with everyone else in could keep my distance-maybe Camp Bnos. They have taught me, play with them occasionally, but personally, that one must learn to otherwise, form no emotional con­ understand everyone. however nection with them. unique they may appear at first. Then I saw Rena-or maybe I There is something to love in ev­ should say, Rena saw me. I had eryone. and It Is our obligation to been at Rena's house before to oc­ work on ourselves until we can cupy some of her time on Shabbos recognize it in each person. •

34 The Jewish Obseroer. AprU 1991 Michele Gross

Losing At Sports, Wmnin.g in Life Experience

GO FOR THE SILVER! of dljferent backgrounds and tradi­ peared on the scene and a scramble tions-all within the realm of Ortho­ for the puck began in earnest. But o for the gold! Play to win! Be dox Judaism. Knitted yarmulkes everyone got more than they bar­ number one! Each cheer played alongside those of suede and gainedfor. A supervising teacherfrom G applauds an "all-American" velvet. Some boys wore payes Darchei Torah found his toes em­ spirit of healthy competition. But (earlocks) down to the chin; others broiled in a heated skirmish. A blast some students at a Yeshiva Darchei were without. Some tucked their from the referee's whistle gave him Torah In Far Rockaway, Queens, tzitzis in; others had theirs dangling. just enough time to leapfor cover over think it is important sometimes to go the lunch tables that had been set up for the silver, and to be number two­ as barriers. CHUSH captain, Sender especially when their opponents are B., took advantage ofthe breaK in the boys with learning disabilities. They "Winning the game this action to put his concentration-cum­ know that It's not whether you win gum-chewing strategy to the test. or lose, but how everyone feels after year is a real confidence Split seconds later he had control of the game. the puck. SMACK/ The sweet sound For the past three years,· seventh booster for these boys. of plastic clacking against the floor grade boys from Darchei Torah have filled the hall as the energized puck been joining boys from Yeshiva Bais For a few minutes out hurtled toward the back ropes of a Lemudai Hashem (CHUSHJ in goal cage. Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, tn a day of there on the field they Thefinal score: CHUSH 5; Darchei sports and goodwill. All the boys who Torah2. attend CHUSH suffer from a variety feel mainstreamed," of learning disorders such as dys­ POST-GAME ANALYSIS lexia, dysfunctional behaviors, or the coach said. comprehension difficulties. hile in past years the The sky was the limit for the ye­ scoreboard may have read shiva boys who were charging across W the same, this is the first a long and narrow lwichroom jloor in But despite these dljferences in dress year that CHUSH's victory was au­ the WiUiamsburgh school where this (and the lifestyles that they repre­ thentic. year's meet was held. The stark, in­ sent}, sports and a desire to be good "We planned to let them win. We stitutional-lookingfacllities were a far sports brought these boys together. thought they'd be bad. But they were cry from even a modestly equipped Brandishing a blue hockey stick really good," explained Darchei Torah neighborhood playground, but no­ with thefierceness ofa boy possessed captain, Eli H., between bites of pizza body on either field-hockey team was CHUSH's Avraham S. He was during the post-game analysis. could have cared less. looking to sieze a ripe opportunity. "Baseball's really our game, you The teams, almost indiscernible There. only afewfeetfromDarcheCs know," said one sour-graper, addtng from each other thanks to an absence goal. lolled the little red puck. In a the old home-turf-advantage gripe: ofuniforms.formed a striking collage flash, two Darchei defenders ap- "Besides, they know the place."

The Jewish Observer. Aprll 1991 35 Joking aside, most of the Darchei would just have tried a little harder. Torah students agreed: 'They earned there could have been a tie." it." "Winning the game this year is a On the other side of the table sat real confidence booster for these While the value of one the vietors, basking in their hard­ boys. For a few minutes out there on earned glory. "We are the best," that field they feel mainstreamed," isolated incident may be beamed Avraham. "We got the best the coach said. gym teacher and Rabbi Weiss According to Rabbi Weiss, that arguably limited, if events ICHUSH's principal I is the best. too," feeling of"normalcy" lasts more than he gushed. just a few minutes. "You can be sure like this one become a A more dispassionate Sender that this will be the talk of the school chalked the win up to practice, and for weeks to come," he said. regular part of the had a few instructive words for Yet much of the excitement gen­ Darchei Torah: "I feel if Darchei erated by the games has little to do educational program, benefits can be long lasting. ATTENTION STUDENTS -ro::i K~~~f~~lt~~~~:s11~~$~~~'l~litllS8&9MMiillr.... Here's Your Chance to Enter with winning or losing. "A lot of these ANESSAYT boys have no friends and feel very much like outsiders," explained C ONTES Rabbi Weiss. "When Darchei boys Sponsored By come to play sports with them, they METROPOLITAN JEWISH feel like they are something special." §~3 The good feelings are hardly one­ ~3 GERIATRIC CENTER sided, though. In fact, students and on the faculty at Darchei Torah would argue Theme: "Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" that where benefits are concerned, they are the big winners. "I always emphasize to the boys how important it is to give to others and not just live for yourself," ex­ plained the Darchei faculty member "This program helps the boys inter­ nalize thatlesson by experiencing the Prizes made possible through the generosity of gift of giving, first hand." Phyllis and Lee Coffey It also helps them see their lives •.-----Distinguished Panel of Judges----~· in perspective. Rabbi Nisson Wolpin Rabbi Jacob Klass 'When we walk in here and look The Jewish Observer around, we count our blessings," said 13-year-old BaruchAryeh. Rabbi Nosson Scherman Rabbi David Grossman A classmate added: "I want to MJGC, Boro Park thank G-d for making us normal and Rabbi Henoch Polansky- MJGC, Coney Island that helps me pray better." "These kids at CHUSH are born For an application or more information call or write: with the deck stacked against them," commented the Darchei teacher, Norman B.Gildin. Director of Development and Public Affairs Metropolitan Jewish Geriatric Center "and they are making the best of things. They are basically happy in­ 4915 Tenth Avenue dividuals despite their limitations Brooklyn, New York 11219 and we can all learn from them." (718)851-3711 or (718)851-3712 While the value of one isolated in­ cident may be arguably limited, if Contest Ends: May 16, 1991 events like this one·become a regu­ Winners Announced by: June 14, 1991 on WEVD 1050 AM lar part of the educational program, benefits can be long-lasting. •

36 The Jewish Obseroer. April 1991 Bliinie Friedman Hello There, Enna Jlttfienursing fwme, on tfiesi#iffeori tfieeastside 5lpopufatiorufspecidpeopfe tfiereresU!e ... ~~i?:~!J~~~,~~&,.~~-~[~i·,·.f ;Jaa1.U1Ea .··.·· .. .~m 0• lf.!9

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CJ!ieyaffyearnd togetmarridaruf meet tfierigfitonc CJ!ieyafff"oveaancwoutjitaruf to only liavefur CJ!ieyafffoo(eain tfie mirrorarufcwfd tfieirsliining hair CJfiey aff111R£ISl1mf tfieirwaists aru£K..,ept tfieir sKi;ifair.

'lftoseojuswfw 6otfiertovisitarufpass 6y 'Barefymutter 'ljooi:Morning "witliout 66n!efrtg an eye 'ButdOweevertakgoutamitmtetot/iinK.., '11iat 6etween youtfiarufo{j{age tfiere is astrong 6nK?

'Even tfwugli'Ermasittingtfiere isn 'tawareofatfting Infrerfteart tfiere am dierisfietfmemories aruffuffaEiRS tfiatsing Stories ofgooatimes, ofmmySimchas aruffaugfting smiles 5lnaccomp6slietififetimei oJrove topping piles.

So~timeyoufeetf lier, 6arefypretemfingtocare. .. 'l(emem6ertfiatsomday, youmaysitintfiatwfieefcfuzir.

Author's note: The night this was written. our friend "Ennafl passed away. We found her chart the next time we visited and realized that her passtng was merely afew hours after this poem was made for her,

Bllmi Friedman lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her poem ~Different or Sirnilar?M appeared in the Jrme, '90JO.

The Jewish Observer, April 1991 37 Second Looks

w;hen Fashion is Eloquent, What Does It Say?

THE DEFINITIVE ILLUSION always meant to be communicated achieving kedusha inherent in judi­ by the wearer. But first, a step back cious dress, especially for women: A ashion is an illusion of sorts. to the beginnings of it all: person striving for spiritual growth Well-crafted phrases, using The entire concept ofclothing is an might admire the kohein, who wears F emotionally charged words­ after-thought of sorts to man, for his special begadim (raiments) llke artfully shot photographs-play until Adam and Chava ate from the lekavod uletiferes-for honor and an important part in projecting this forbidden fruit, they had no need for gloiy in service of his Creater..... And illusion. From "dramatic entrance" to clothing. From that point on, how­ imagine the special standing of the "this year's power tie," there is little ever, when they became aware of kohein -the High Priest-who hard-edged realism in the lexicon of their nakedness, G-d Himself fash­ had eight special garments, includ­ fashion. ioned clothing for them. It was a Di­ ing the choshen (breast plate with One phrase in the dressing-up vine act of chessed through which He twelve gems) and tzitz hazahav dictionary, however, does have a de­ "personally" provided their exposed (golden plate on his brow) with G-d's gree of integrity to it: "fashion state­ flesh with covering. Perhaps that is name engraved on it. ... By the same ment." First, and just about always, why Rabban Yochanan, in the Tal­ token, there are the men's when someone's clothing reflects the mud, referred to his clothing as containing sacred parchments, latest trends, it says something about "mechabdaf--my source of dignity," which can endow the wearer with the wearer. He (or she) is willing to a perpetuation of the chessed that such an aura of G-dliness that "all spend the extra dollar it takes to look G-d had extended to the first man. the nations of the earth will see the au cummt...with it. One should pay Using clothing as originally in­ Name of G-d hovering over you, and attention to the wearer. tended can go beyond dignity to they will be in awe over you." Is there In addition, style and quality of kedusha-sanctity. And, indeed, some way that I, too, can achieve that clothing testify to an individual's when the mitzva of "kedoshim type of specifll awe? asks the spiri­ professional standing, as well as his/ tiheyu--And you shall be holy" was tually ambitious woman. her place on the social scale or the proclaimed in a gathering of the en­ In truth, she has her own distinc­ corporate ladder. There's a whole tire Jewish people-men, women and tive approach to this awe. And it is schedule of do's and don't's, ranging children-there was a message in the available to her, and only to her, on a from color and make of fabric to size format that defmed the words: Ev­ constant basis .... Not so with the and style of buttons. which telis all eiy Jew has a role, and a responsi­ kohein gadol, who only wore his about a person's status to the oth­ bility, in exemplifying the distinctive garments when serving in the Beis erwise uninformed. Clearly. details Jewish trait of sanctity... each one Hamikdash Or the ordinary kohein, offashion do convey a message. Individually, all together in compos­ who generally was scheduled to wear ite, forming a nation of priests, a holy his begadim on perhaps two days of BACKDROP TO DIGNITY people. the year.... Not even men; because of In a conversation with the author, their inability to be Impeccable in person's "fashion statement" Rabbi Shimon Schwab (K'hal Adath body and pure in thought for any also transmits another mes­ Jeshurun, ) pointed out length of time, they generally wear A sage-not so subtle, yet not the singular opportunities for tefillin only when they daven. ..a half 38 The Jewish Observer, April 1991 hour, for1y minutes, or an hour a day. opposed to privacy, promiscuity agenda all their own... a far cry from By contrast, a woman who wears versus restraint, shouts of "look at what these young ladies would want clothing in a manner consistent With me" in contrast to an unequivocal to say. "Don't let your mode of dress halacha and in the spirit of tzenius "mind your own business." convey ideas so foreign to your true (modesty), radiates a kedusha that In her very touching address at the self," she pleaded. testifies to her fulfillment of her role Felt Forum gathering marking the Rebbitzen Kaplan issued this call as a Bas Yisroel. She inspires re­ fiftieth Yahrzeit of six years ago. The seasons since then spect, and creates a distance from 11")), the late Rebbitzen Vichne have witnessed a shifting of empha­ the profane, even as she sits on a Kaplan 11")), founder of the Beth sis and a redefinition of proprtety in bus, works at her desk in her office, Jacob High School and Seminary in terms of hemlines, fit. and so on. pushes the kids in a carriage on the America, commented on how she of­ When clothing makes a "fashion avenue, or otherWise strolls the roads ten had difficulty recognizing young statement," the wearer would do well of her life. ladies when she met them at wed­ to bear in mind that it speaks in ac­ Can any man equal that achieve­ dings just a year after she had taught cordance With the manufacturer's ment, any day ... every day... all day them in the Seminary. Their highly designs, not necessarily those of the long? fashionable manner of dress pro­ purchaser. And all protests to the jected a message that surely did not contrary notwithstanding, the de­ LOST TO THE WINDS OF speak for them. They, in all inno­ signer has the last word. When FASHION cence, were responding to the siren choosing to make a fashion state­ ometimes the sense of dignity call of fashion, which the designers ment, one would be well advised to meant to be endowed on a were issuing in accordance of an see who is saying what for whom. • S person by virtue of his or her clothing, the distinctive aura of sanctity that every Jew carries, is lost, scattered and dispersed by the Winds of fashion. This a particularly AWAY FROM HOME••• the case with women-the more TORAH STUDY AT ITS BEST! fashion-conscious gender, the one more charged With tzenius. (Accord­ Do You Want A First-Class Total Educational ing to the Midrash in Bereishis, Experience For Your Son? woman's each and every limb is The Jacob Sapirstein Mesivta High School charged with a command implicit in For Boys Offers: the source from which she was • A Limudei Kodesh program that has sent many young fashioned, the rib: "As I was discreet, men to Yeshivas in the U.S. and Israel so should you be discreet.") • A comprehensive general studies program on a college Thus, feminine followers of the preparatory level that enables our graduates lo enter latest fashion fad just might find their America's finest institutions of higher learning. choice of clothing making statements • Rebbeim who care about their students. The rapport and close relationship existing between Rebbe and student on their behalf that they hardly knew fosters an atmosphere of Torah life which is alive and existed; that they surely would not meaningful identify With. if they only "heard" •A spacious park-like campus with its own sports facilities what their clothing was saying. including a full-size gymnasium and outdoor pool CURRENT OUT-OF-TOWN Fashion designers are not shy about • An up-to-date computer sciences center; two fully­ STUDENTS creating clothing that, by virtue of equipped science labs ARE FROM: cut, length, color and accentuation, • Supervised dormitory facility for out-of.town students. Pittsburgh,• PA proclaim all sorts of messages­ • Under the Vaad Hachtnuch of the Tefshe Yeshiva messages regarding attraction as Houston,• TX Telephone inquiries and appointments should be made to: Rabbi Noson Tzvi Baron, Daytime: 216-382-6495, 321·5838 Queens,• NY Evening: 216·943·4162, 585-0072 Brooklyn,• NY .. • Buffalo, NY

Toronto,• Canada

Cincinnati,• OH

Columbus,• OH JACOB SAPIRSTEIN MESIVTA HIGH SCHOOL 1975 LVNDWAV ROAD I CLEVELAND, OHIO 44121

The Jewish Observer, April 1991 39 Sheindel Weinbach The Empt)' Seat I waff;sa rigfit in ana foof;si arouncl, !ilna saU£ 'fJJiis few from uuy up twrtii," !ilni said, 'Wusfi now. When you JWa saw an empty pfuce. Or, ''Iliis one's from the soutfi. " grow up, I tfiougfit ana t!ien I asf;sa myself, J{e usei to sit, a triffe sac[, '.)'Ou '[[know, you '{{ unaerstani. " 'Wfiere was tfiat f amilia:r face? 51. 'Tefiiffim in liis fiancl, Jfe 'a tift my cfiin ana smife at me, Mr. Sfiain wou{if always smife 'Tliinkjng ofa fong fost son !il smife a{[ ju{[ of sorrow, !ilni pat me on tfie 6acK, 'Wfio aka in aforeign rana. 51.nd say, "My son, I am the past, 'Wliere fias fie gone, I asf;sa someone, I tfiinl(_ t!iey ca££ it 'Wofocaust, "

40 The Jewish Observer. April 1991 Letters ••••••••••• to the ••••••••••• Editor

RABBI KOKIS: "OUR GEDOLlM" view of the Chazon Ish that our era is with the praise of the L-ord in their -OR EVERYBODY'S GEDOUM'? not as'chaltad'Geula (the beginning mouth and a two-edge sword in their of the redemption) but rather seifa hands "Baryomin." More need not be d'Ga!us (the end of exile). The Chazon said on that. To the Editor: Ish's view is well known. and Rabbi I shall confine my retort to the The views expressed by Rabbi Ben Kokis's explanation is certainly not Torah imperative of self defense (not Tzion Kokis ("Striving for Zion")are the view of "our gedolim" (assuming standing idly by our brother's blood, his own; yet he uses such expres­ that by "our" one means the readers killing a murderer before he kills you, sions as "our gedolim" to illustrate a of The Jewish Observer). "Our and showing mercy when cruelty point. He should have said "my gedolini" have differed on this matter. should be shown) versus restraint or gedolim'' Among the many gedolim that re­ havlaga. Actually, I was unaware that there garded the founding of the State of The first rule of warfare is to know was such thing as "my gedolim" and Israel as as'chalta d'Geula include your enemy. Nowhere in Rabbi "your gedolim" Gedolei Yisroel belong Rav Yitzchak Herzog. Rav Ben Tziyon Kokis's article does he speak of to all of us and we must respect them Uziel, Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap. hishtadlus (human acts incumbent regardless of their political views. Is Rav Zvi Pesach Frank, Rav Shlomo on us). The belief in G-d or Hash­ Rabbi Kokis saying that a great Dovid Kahane, Rav Zalman gacha Pratis and repentance can who disagrees with his views about Sorotzkin, Rav Yechiel Michal become mere lip service without at the State of Israel is not considered Tukachinsky. Rav Shlomo Dovid least an intention of hishtadlus. a gadol in his eyes? Kahane. Rav Zalman Auerbach (see Territorial concessions in the name After summarizing a certain view their letter published in Rav of havlaga only make it easier for the that he disagrees with, he writes: Menachem Kasher's Ha-Tekufah ha­ Arabs to complete the dismembering "How different this is from the ap­ Gedolah, p. 330). Maybe Rabbi Kokis of a militarily weak Jewish state proach of our gedolim whose words would disagree but I know that the abandoned by its so-called allies. reflect the extreme complexities and readers of The Jewish Obseroer con­ The Arabs in general and the subtleties of the situation." Ridicu­ sider these great sages to also be "our "Palestinians" in particular were avid lous! All the gedolim understand the gedolim" even ifwe may differ in some supporters of Hitler before, during extreme complexities and subtleties matters of hashkafa. and even after World War II. Today's of a situation. It is just that they come BINYOMIN MJ\RKs "Palestinians" cheered with glee as to different conclusions. One is cer­ Brookline, MA. Saddam Hussein's Scuds rained tainly permitted to disagree with death on Jews. them, but to imply that they have not How can Rabbi Kokis say: "The investigated the matter thoroughly course of action that our gedolim just because they differ with you is a STRIVlNG FOR ZION"­ prescribe often seems to be closer to degradation of their gadlus. All THROUGH PASSIVE FAITH OR that of the seculartsts"? Rabbi Kokis through history the gedolim have had ACTIVE DEFENSE? must certainly realize that the secu­ different views on issues of politics lar left and the anti-religious Reform and hashkafa. Of course, everyone Movement are the ones responsible must pick one derech, but that does To the Editor: for destroying the righteousness of not give us the right to criticize the In his article "Striving For Zion" the Jewish cause and not those who other gedolim as Rabbi Kokis has (Jan '91), Rabbi Ben Tzion Kokis show bitachon and emuna in an Er­ done. compares Gush Emunim with the etz Yisroel Hasheleima. After referring to the approach of Baryonlm; it is a halachic and his­ MAxKEssLER "our gedolim ·· Rabbi Kokis cites the toric distortion to call idealistic Jews Los Angeles, CA.

The Jewish Obseroer. April 1991 41 < scliption, it sounds as if these nine succeeded in formulating a definitive RABBI KOKIS RESPONDS: Rabbis sat down together and for­ statement of their precise convictions mulated a serious statement of ba­ on a most delicate and volatile issue? I welcome the opportunity to sic belief; in reality. there simply is Obviously, such a meeting never took clarify some points which apparently no such letter. Rather. the document place. Rather, the text-or the gen­ weren't clear, or were misconstrued, in question is a campaign poster that eral concept of the circular-was in "Striving for Zion." was issued in 1949, apparently by most likely circulated quickly for Mr. Marks takes issue with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, to signatures after being drafted. and what he felt were my personal which were affixed the signatures of has little histoncal. and even less leanings regarding the gedolim's 196 rabbis from all pans oflsrael. At religious, significance. In context. attitudes towards the State of Is­ that time, the first elections since the this was never intended to be an rael. However. the issue with War of Independence were being ideological declaration. which 1 dealt was not if the Medina held, and the Rabbinate was urging is the as'chalta d'Geula or not, but that voters cast their ballots for reli­ The Dear Brothers Account a more subtle, yet far-reaching, gious candidates. The text of the question: Does the sense that we poster begins with the phrase: "Let Since working on the article, I had are living in a unique period, us thank Hashem that we have been the opportunity to read Haggai hopefully on the threshold of worthy... to see the first buds of the Segal's book Dear Brothers. This is Geula. legitimize a new agenda for as'chaltad'geula, with the founding a descliption of the West Bank Jew­ our conduct? Or must we ac­ of Medinas Yisroel." It then pro­ ish "Underground," written in an knowledge the very real Galus as­ ceeds to exhort Jews to insure the Israeli prison where Segal was serv­ pect of our condition, which means religious character of the state by ing time for his role in the attempted that the anticipation of Geula must voting wisely. murder of several Palestinian mili­ exist alongside traditional modes of Is one supposed to believe that tants. One of the recurring themes behavior, and not replace them? I there was a major Synod of the close in Dear Brothers is the frustration described the militant position as to two hundred signatories, who and guilt which these undoubtedly "an extension of the belief that we are living in a Messianic Age," meaning that a one-dimensional conviction that our era is Messi­ DON'T OVERLOOK THIS AD: YOUR LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT! anic creates the context for this strongly assertive orientation. The PRAYER HOTLINE TO JERUSALEM only point that I sought to clarify was the untenability of the specific 24 HOUR CRISIS SERVICE position that the advent of this In time of illness, family or personal crisis, need success, hatzlacha, "new era" justifies deviations from or on any occasion when ·~ Prayer Would Help," traditional approaches. special prayers will be recited at the in Jerusalem. I am not aware of any gedolim who Don't go through a crisis yourse~. endorse this militant agenda. At best, its vocal proponents have su­ CALL: 1-800-545-PRAY preme confidence in their own in­ Our sages say, "prayer helps," especially tehillim recited with a minyon at the Western Wall. terpretations of the "spilit" of earlier sources. Therefore it was in all in­ nocence that I used the term "our" gedolim No, not "my" gedolim, and not even "The Jewish Observer readership's gedolim," but Kial Yisroers gedolim who truly have the vision and judgment to form a bal­ anced perspective on the complexi­ ties of our age. Citing a "letter" in which eminent Rabbonim supposedly declare that Medinas Yisroelis as'chaltad'geula is an example of the uncritical thinking that my article was hoping to replace. (To a great degree, the KADDISH Mishnayoth, Yizkor & Yartzeit observed with a minyon fault lies not with Mr. Marks, but in our Yeshiva Heichal Rabbi Meir Baal Haness in Jerusalem. with the presentation in HaTekufa -Can: (718) 871-4111- HaGedolah.) From Mr. Marks' de-

42 The Jewish Observer, April 1991 sincere and idealistic men felt over The Place For Human Initiative not having any clear Rabbinic guid­ MALOHN ance. I don't know where Mr. Kessler MIFAL For example, Segal writes that saw in the article any tendency to their group's general zeal for the downgrade hishtadlus. in the sense VISITING NEW YORK?? Redemption crystallized into an ac­ of resolute and appropriate action. Beautiful rooms, with kitchen tive program of terror activity largely As I clearly stated, acting responsibly facilities, in heart of Bora Park through the writings of one Shabtai to preserve Jewish life is a foremost by day or week. Near Shuls, Ben-Dov, Not a Rabbinic scholar by halachic priority, But this is a far cry take-out foods, etc. Profits to any means, Ben-Dov worked as a , from saying that since the Israeli Mifal Torah Vodaas, legal adviser to the Israeli govern­ I Army captured the West Bank, Gaza, ment, Bu tin his several books, he and Golan Heights. it is therefore a Call f718J 851·Z969 argued that a "revolutionary geula mitzva to settle every square foot of movement" should attempt to recast Greater Israel regardless of the dan­ the State's secular self-image, and gers to Jewish life such a policy might set the nation on the path toward engender. Such a position-which is Redemption, In a dramatic episode, clearly articulated by Gush Emunim a dying Ben-Dov exhorted a young and the settlement movement-is disciple to proceed with the first step based on the bestowing of a Messi­ toward Redemption: "cleansing" the anic status upon the Medina and its Temple Mount by dynamiting the armed forces. If the Hashgacha gave Mosque that now occupies it. A de­ us more of Eretz Yisroet they main­ termined group of West Bank set­ tain, we must even lay our lives on tlers set about the complicated the line to establish settlements. in preparations. which only were order to thwart the attempts of the thwarted when others were arrested secularist Israeli government to think for revenge attacks on Arabs. and about exchanging land for peace. To word leaked about the Temple refer again to Dear Brothers, Segal Mount plan. states that more incidents of blood­ It is easy to dismiss the "under­ shed and loss of Jewish life resulted ground" as a few "crazies" who from the Gush Emunim insistence should not be regarded as represen­ on their "right" to settle in the tradi­ tative of any responsible movement. tionally Jewish section of Chevron 1 argue that such a position is inac­ than would have occurred otherwise. curate: the seeds of these extremes Which gadol paskened that this is lie at the core of the religious activism appropriate hishtadlus? It is one of groups such as Gush Emunim. thing to be firm in holding on toter­ The difference is one of degree. A re­ ritory for defensive purposes, and to sponse to the central point of Mr. place the total burden of proof of Kessler's letter will, I hope, help to peaceful intent on the Arab aggres­ clarify this point. sors, But when jeopardy to Jewish Uncle Moishy, In my article I attempted to dem­ life will result from settlement activ­ Mordechai Ben David, onstrate that gedolei Yisroel have an ity, then this is the painful reminder articulate position that is funda­ that we are still in a situation of Galus and other Top-Of-The-Line mentally distinct both from the - made obvious by the fact that we Jewish Entertainers stands of the militant religious com­ can't yet live in every comer of Eretz munity, and of course from the YisroeL To attempt to force the issue are available secular camp. In noting that "su­ is merely a Jrum version of "Kochi to visit peificially, the course of action that ve'otzem yad~" a pietistic arrogance. Seriously Ill our gedolim prescribe often seems to This distinction was brought into be closer to that of the secularists," I focus last year. when Rav Ovadya Children certainly did not mean to say that Yosef, N"1"?1:> expressed publicly a thanks to daas Torah emanates in any way psak that it would be permitted to mn nno'll from the same sources as secular yield some territory If we could be thought. or even that it overlaps with sure that this would result in a sav­ ))t17Nl Ji'}!' '1 n:i n'n A New Chessed Proje<:e R\111 By secular thought. There is indeed ing of Jewish lives (of course, this is Agudath brael of Ammca surface similarity in specific in­ a large "if'), This was not a statement in conjunction with Suki &. Ding Produttiont stances, but the basic approach of of naive havlagaorappeasement, but To set up an appointment, call.: our gedolim is far, far removed from of rigorous halachic priorities. Yet (212) 797-90.Xl ext. #57, M-F, 9-5 the secular approach. recall the attacks that were heaped

The Jewish Observer, April 1991 43 upon this psak from the militant re­ ligious sector! It is anathema to the "messianic mind" to even think of saving lives at the expense of our presumed mission of saving territmy.

Gush Emunim and the Essenes­ Baryonim Connection

Mr. Kessler expresses indignation over my associating the sincere men and women of Gush Emunim with the Bruyonim. In using the Essenes­ Bruyonim connection as a parable for current events, I meant to show that the Bruyonim were not just common thugs, but were motivated-albeit "MY CLIENTS ARE AMAZED wrongly-by idealistic religious im­ AT THE SERVICE ANO pulses. In the same sense, the con­ viction that we have a new, Geula­ SAVINBS ON TNEIR focused mandate creates a distorted INSURANCE-BUSINESS INSURANCE climate in which many errors of OR PERSONAL" Ooe Blue Hiii Plozo. Suite 1024 judgment become legitimized. The Paarl River. NY 10965 compartson to our own age that I was /RV/NB SAFRIN Toi' (914) 62().1800 seeking to spotlight was to the role of the Essenes, whose profound im­ pact on the rebellion against Rome lege was opened in 1928. while "Rav pichifkes of the New York Wedding. has usually been overlooked. The Moshe" arrived in the United States For the record, my celebrations lesson of that time is that one can be in 1929 to become its senior Rosh have been at Manhattan hotels and deeply religious, idealistic, and Yeshiva. Until today, so many de­ as well as at suburban country clubs, wrong-

44 The Jewish Observer, April 1991 ish music. But at many a wedding, Observer (Vol XXW. Num Qwritten by The Torah tells us Zeh Kaili Arabic yodels alternate with an ur­ Dr. Bernard Fryshman entitled "The v'anveihu, which the Gemora ex­ gent disco beat. and suddenly our RussianS Are Coming, Let's Go Hide." plains to mean "beautify Him with best and brightest lose all restraint. He makes a very clear point about our mitzvos." In Tractate Bava Kama I've seen parents of the couple blush, prinrities, and in our opinion he is right (Daf 9) Chazal tell us that for a and then shrug. "It's the band." Or: on target. We have therefore decided mitzva, one can spend additionally "The kids like it-I guess." this Purim to cut down considerably up to a third of a value of the mitzva If the hos ts like it, I have no argu­ on our mishlo"ach manos list and itself to beautify the mitzva. ment with them. They paid for it. donate the money we would normally Throughout history, we have seen They can hire a rap artist, too, If they spendformlshlo"ach manos to help cases of Gedolei Torah who spent vast so choose. (I'll stay home.) But why Russian children attend yeshivas. We sums of money to beautify mitzvos. do money-paying adults fancy hope that you will understand, and in Many Chassidic tales are told of themselves as captives of the pro­ this zechus you also wUl bejoining in Rebbes who went far beyond their fessional service corps-caterer. this mltzva. means to spend extra money on musicians. photographers, etc.? Yanld and Sarah and Family mitzvos. (Interestingly, many of these Can't one stipulate tastes and pref­ I would sign my name, but do not stories focus on esrogim. the very erences in advance? Can't one "stop wish to violate my neighbors· request "luxury" that Dr. Fryshman has the music" mid-beat? In our village, for privacy. chosen to discuss.) somehowwemusterup "NewYork­ Kensington, N. Y. It would seem that there are very assertiveness" on these items. few of us who cannot find ways to • One last point: If a wedding re­ CUTTING BACK FOR MITZVOS, make cuts in their personal lifestyles. ally starts at 6 p.m. Sunday, and the NOT FROM MITZVOS Let us cut back by all means to have main course is served at 8: 15, do all money for the critical needs of Kial non-relatives over 26 still leave at Yisroel. But let us cut back on our 8:32? Are Sheva Brachos only for To the Editor: personal needs, not on Hashem's tardy rabbis who missed their chupa Dr. Bernard Fryshman's "The mitzvos. honors? Russians Are Coming" (Feb. '91) was ARYEH L. COOK NAME WIDlHELD BY REQUEST very timely and contains many things Brooklyn. N. Y. (The writer of the above stat wants to be invited.) that need to be said. May Hashem grant that we rise to the challenge LOTS OF GOOD WISHES BUT and ten years from now not look back NOSHIN' DOIN' at yet another opportunity missed. ~·------I would, however, like to take issue with the thrust of some of the solu­ To the Editor: tions that he suggests to raise more The following note was delivered to money from the Torah community. us on Purim morning by my neigh­ While I can agree on his calling for bors' children. less vacation trips, more simplicity in tl'11!l 1)l:J,.,,'>"l!l N our living. less cultivating of our WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL UN­ lawns, his call for reducing our DERSTAND spending on mitzvos would seem to We were very moved by the recent be at odds with the way Chazal article appearing in the Adar 5751/ taught us to prioritize our expendi­ February 1991 issue ofThe Jewish tures.

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The Jewish Observer. April 1991 45 DEMONSTRATIONOFTORAH COALMON UNI1Y ATAGUDATH ISRAEL DINNER, SUNDAY, MAY 12

The Honorable Dick Yitzchok Kaszirer of Thornburgh, Attorney Antwerp, recipient of the General of the United Rav Memorial States, recipient of the Award. Humanitarian Award of 1991.

Eftaim Chatmovitz, recipient of the Reb he unity that prevails within Elimelech Tress Memorial Award. and Eli indeed among the highlights of the year Agudath Israel of America's S. Hirsch, recipient of the Moreinu Yaakov for the movement. Rosenheim Memorial Award. T broad coalition of Torah Jews The work of the Agudath Israel will be the dominant motif Sunday, Washington Office will also be feted. May 12, as some 1500 rabbinic lead­ pur Katan on the eve of the deadline for Among its successful efforts this year ers and lay activists representing di­ Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait. Agu­ was the inclusion of provisions in the verse segments of Ameiican Orthodox dath Israel was also charged with the new federal child care package lhal Jewry join in the movement's annual mission of disseminating and helping should spell millions of dollars in aid dinner, this year celebrating 69 years implement throughout the country the for religious families. Other major foci of Agudah activism on the Amertcan call of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah for of its work have been legislative efforts scene. The event takes place at the New across-the-board improvement in the for the restoration ofreligious freedoms York Hilton in midtown Manhattan. quality of Jewish spirttual life as a struck down by the Supreme Court, The dinner caps a year of extraordi­ zechus for Eretz YisroeL and for the first federal kosher con­ nary activity by Agudath Israel of At the same time, even as conditions sumer bill. America in a time when sweeping his­ in the Soviet Union were becoming Other highpoints to be celebrated toric events were being played out. As more frightening, Agudath Israel was include the introduction of Agudath the crisis in the Persian Gulf heated up expanding its reach-out efforts to Jews Israel's "halachic living will," enabling over the year and eventually broke out not yet able to leave, drawing on ten observant Jews to ensure that if they lnto war, Agudath Israel of America was years of experience in Russia going are incapacitated, medical decisions at the forefront of an unusual outpour­ back to the pre-glasnost era. made for them will follow the principles ing of prayer and expression of solidar­ The formal opentng of the Agudath of halacha; a vast increase in the ity with the Jews of Eretz YlsroeL Israel Moscow Office in March and the numbers of Jews studying ; It brought to Jews throughout the chanukas ha-bayis of the new yeshiva and the mushrooming of projects ini­ world the fervent calls of the Moetzes in Moscow established by the Union of tiated by Agudath Israel's Shoroshim Gedolei HaTorah for Increased lejWDs, Jewish Communities of the USSR in division for Sovlet Jews arriving in which rose to a pitch with the Yom Kip- coijjunction with Agudath Israel were America.

46 The Jewish Obseroer. April 1991 ON THE DAIS The dais at dinner will be graced by the presence of some of the foremost roshei yeshiva. Chassldic rebbes, and rabbinic figures in the country, repre­ senting the guiding spirit behind Agu­ dath Israel's Torah action coalition. Greetings on behalf of the Moetzes GedoleiHaTorah will be brought to the assemblage by Rabbi , Novominsker Rebbe. Rabbi Moshe Sherer, president of Agudath Israel of America, will present the 1991 Humanitarian Award to the Attorney General of the United States, the Honorable Dick Thornburgh. Mr. Yitzchok Kaszirer of Antwerp, Belgium, a world renowned philanthro­ pist on behalfofTorah causes, will be honored at the dinner as the "Interna­ tional Torah Ambassador of the Year," and presented with the HaGaon Rav Aharon Kotler Memorial Award. Mr. Ephraim Chaimovitz of Baro Park will be presented with the Reh Elimelech Tress Memorial Award, as ShearisHaPleita "ManoftheYear." Mr. Eli S. Hirsch ofMonsey, New York, will receive the Moreinu Yaakov Rosenheim Memorial Award for outstanding ser­ vice to Agudath Israel. Nine prornlnent Orthodox activists will receive the organization's Avodas Hakodesh Community Service Awards: Mr. David Brodie, accepting the Wtlliarn lhe finest In K. Freedman Memorial Award on behall ~ Video Production of Ahavas Yitzchok - Agudath Israel of ~.f=" Dan R.schman Eli Horavvitz ~~ Wesley Hills: RabbiAkiva Chill: Mr. Mayer Fl,_ .....~~ Gewirtzman: Rabbi Pinchas Goldberg: Rabbi Yosef Handler: Rabbi Mordechai Mehlman: Mr. Max Profesorske: Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum; and Mr. Menashe Weissman. Chairing this year's dinner Is Mr. Av! Fishoff. Co-chairmen of the event So your daughter is going away to school ... are Abraham Tikotsky and Mendy Pollak. Shlomo Chaimovitz and Yaakov Spitzer are chairmen of the Don't let her be an outsider at someone else's house. commemorative journal to be pub­ lished for the occasion. • At Tikvah, your daughter will dorm with friends and feel at home. General Studies Principal for Girls School in Boro Park. Must be strong in Torah and Yiras Shamayim, Teaching and/or Administrative ::: Tikvah High School for Girls experience; Must be able to ••• The high school you've always hoped for. maintain order and discipline, and New Haven, Connecticut• 203-777-2200 0 ' develop curriculum. School pro­ vides strong back-up. Salary Sarah Greer, Principal negotiable. Send resume to Girls School, P.O. Box 416, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219.

The Jewish Obseroer, April 1991 47 Because You Care About Providing Torah With An Effective Voice & Arm ...... Demonstrate your solidarity with the coalition of Orthodox Jews who care by making reservations now to the b~TH ANNIVER~ARY DINNER of

~srat of America :ip,ir.it

HONORING Avodas.Hakodesh 5:00 P.M. comrn~"llYService ~',"ards The IQl~;tlional Torah Ambassador of the Year RAB131NzJYA CHILL NEW YORK HILTON l\lAYERGI;WJ!\TZMAN YITZCHOK KASZIRER °RABB!I'Il'!Ct!OS GQLD]lERG RaV Aharo'n -Ka:Uer-MeinOrialAward ~BBIYOSEf~tER .. for d\stinguished servi~e to l:Qra.h . 1991 HUMANITARIAN AW;\RD . RABB! JvfORPECl;IA!MEt!ThlAN .• The Attorney General .>£The Unitea Sl;ate• EFR/\!lvl CHA!MOVITS 'MAJ< P:RO~SQBS)\P .·. . Reb Elimelech Tress Memorial Award Rt;ail1 GEBSHoNTANNENBA\JM a.S the 'SheariS Ha,Pleiroh MaQ. uf the Year HoN .. DICK THdRNBUitGH MEN/\SHE WElSS!vlAN EuS.HIRSCH Morein ti YaakOv Rcisetiheim M~mOrial -Award Couvert $300 per couple PAV!DBRO[)I~ ... i for distinguished ,service to Agudath Israel 'Williani it 'Fri,ed_maq,Me,nioriol1 Awal'd or $360 in Journal ads

A commemorative journal with greetings and advenisements will be published on this occasion. If you cannot attend in person, let your journal ad speak for you.

AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA, 84 William Street, New York, NY 10038 I (212) 797-9000