ON-SITE FIRST OUT OF THE GATE REPORT BINYAMIN ROSE LIVE AT THE IOWA CAUCUSES

JEWISH FAMILY WEEKLY ISSUE 596 I 24 SHEVAT 5776 I FEBRUARY 3, 2016

EndNote Never feel abandoned — your Father’s at your side

RABBI MOSHE GRYLAK The kippah resting on your head speaks volumes of your heart

LIFELINES Were we seeking trophies, or shidduchim for our kids? Master of all

MourningRabbi Rav YY YisroelJacobson sparksBelsky theBUILT TO genuine LAST seekerBACK TO THE inside DRAWING BOARD us allSPICE AND SPIRIT An innovative Stroke by tenuous stroke, These snu oxes

NY/NJ$4.99 US$5.99 IL17.90 curriculum primes an estranged artist hold a whi UK£4.50 EU€5.50 CAD$6.50 young builders for life etched a new self-portrait of times gone by

cover_596_final.indd 1 02/02/2016 10:14:48 To see our subscription options, please click on the tab

A tribute to Rav , of all rosh yeshivah of Vodaath and renowned

BY Yehuda Heimowitz PHOTOS Shulim Goldring, JDN, Mattis Goldberg, Torah Vodaath archives

4040 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA 0000 Month Month 0000 0000 | | Month Month 00, 00, 0000 0000 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA 41 41

rabbi belsky_596.indd 40 01/02/2016 19:49:23 rabbi belsky_596.indd 41 01/02/2016 19:49:48 MasterMaster ofof AllAll HolyHoly TradesTrades

The once complimentary phrase, “He’s a One scene jack-of-all-trades,” is now often turned into a paraprosdokian gibe with the addition of: “but a will forever master of none.” There are people who become good at many different things, but don’t excel remain in any of them. And then there was Rav Chaim Yisroel HaLevi Belsky ztz”l, who learned every etched field ofklei kodesh — and beyond — and mas- O tered them all. The pre-Succos scene at the Belsky home in my painted so vividly by talmid Baruch Travitsky would be amazing even if it captured Rav Belsky memory. using every one of his talents, but in reality, the skills he was using that evening represented a It was Thursday night before Succos, mere smattering of his prodigious gifts. and a line of people extended outside Yes, he was able to answersh’eilos in every ba- Rav Belsky’s home, waiting to show him sic area of halachah; he could serve as a mohel their esrogim. Two Hatzolah members and supervise milah, he understood the science were sitting at his table with their two- behind food, technology, medicine, and many way radios. They had toiled to draw other areas, enabling him to rule with little hes- diagrams of the transistors in those itation on complex issues such as kashrus and radios so Rav Belsky could determine gittin. But Rav Belsky was also rosh yeshivah of whether it was halachically permissible Torah Vodaath; the beloved rav of the Kensington to lower and raise the volume on community; an av beis din who restored digni- Shabbos. Rav Belsky corrected their ty and trust to the beis din process; the premier drawings to show them the correct authority on kashrus issues in the OU; therav configuration before ruling on the of Camp Agudah; a sofer, shochet, baal korei, and sh’eilah. A talmid was sitting on the baal tefillah on Yamim Noraim; and perhapsthe couch with a pack of balloons, a mohel’s world expert on the astronomical calculations shield, and some other paraphernalia, necessary to understand sugyos in Eiruvin and practicing to perform his own son’s bris related to Kiddush Hachodesh. And that is only milah the next morning, under Rav a partial list of his facets. Rav Belsky’s thousands of talmidim and campers Belsky’s guidance. During those very Yet despite his obvious genius, Rav Belsky’s moments, two phone calls came in — thousands of talmidim and campers will re- will remember him most for his patience, for his love one relating to a kashrus issue and one member him most for his patience, for his love relating to a get. of every talmid, and for his willingness to sacri- of every talmid, and for his willingness to sacrifice fice his own dignity and wellbeing for the sake —a talmid, Baruch Travitsky of anyone in need. his own dignity and wellbeing for the sake of anyone in need

4242 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA RR2424 Shevat Shevat 5776 5776 | | February February 3, 3, 2016 2016 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA 43 43 rabbi belsky_596.indd 42 01/02/2016 19:50:18 rabbi belsky_596.indd 43 01/02/2016 19:50:34 MasterMaster ofof AllAll HolyHoly TradesTrades

A Yeshivah for Life Originally toto those those responsible responsible explaining explaining his his desire desire to to named just Yisroel, Rav Belsky was born studystudy Talmud at at Beis Beis Midrash Midrash Elyon. Elyon. The The state state in New York 77 years ago to Rav Berl and mademade anan exceptionexception andand allowedallowed himhim toto learnlearn Rebbetzin Chana Tzirel, a daughter of forfor one one year year before before starting starting college. college. Reb Binyomin Wilhelm, who was the AtAt the the end end of of his his first first yearyear inin BeisBeis MidrashMidrash founder of Torah Vodaath. Reb Binyomin Elyon,Elyon, hehe wrotewrote toto thethe statestate again,again, askingasking forfor singlehandedly decided to reverse the aa secondsecond deferral.deferral. ThisThis time,time, hehe waswas turnedturned trend of public-school education for down.down. HeHe wrotewrote aa beautifulbeautiful letterletter thankingthanking Jewish children by creating his own full- themthem forfor theirtheir offeroffer ofof aa scholarship,scholarship, butbut exex-- day yeshivah. In America of 1918, the idea plainingplaining that that his his Talmud Talmud studies studies took took priori priori-- was considered so ridiculous that one ty.ty. Some Some time time later later he he received received another another letter letter balabos he approached for help pointed to statingstating that that the the scholarship scholarship committee committee had had met met his palm and said, “When hair grows here, andand decided decided to to make make an an official official policypolicy changechange there will be a yeshivah in Williamsburg.” fromfrom thenthen onon andand allowallow thosethose whowho wantedwanted toto But Reb Binyamin persevered, building studystudy TalmudTalmud toto deferdefer theirtheir collegecollege scholarscholar-- first an elementary school, then amesivta , ships.ships. YearsYears later,later, RavRav BelskyBelsky metmet someonesomeone and finally abeis medrash. whowho worked worked in in the the Department Department of of Education, Education, As Hashgachah would have it, one of the andand he he remembered remembered Israel Belsky’s Belsky’s name name be be-- stars of his new yeshivah was one Berl Belsky, Rather than spend inging mentioned mentioned in in the the official official protocolprotocol ofof thosethose who eventually learned in Radin. The Chofetz R meetings.meetings. Chaim was so taken that a boy would leave his life studying RavRav YisroelYisroel Reisman,Reisman, whowho observedobserved RavRav the luxury of America to study Torah that he BelskyBelsky for for over over 40 40 years years in in Torah Torah Vodaath — Vodaath — would hold the youngster’s hand and exclaim, those subjects to asas aa bochur bochur,, thenthen inin thethe kollel,, thenthen asas aa mag mag-- “fuhn America, fuhn America!” gidgid shiurshiur,, andand eventuallyeventually asas oneone ofof thetheroshei roshei When Reb Berl returned to the United support his family, yeshivahyeshivah — — recallsrecalls thatthat whenwhen hehe waswas inin 12th12th States, he married Reb Binyomin’s daughter, gradegrade inin thethe 1970s,1970s, RavRav BelskyBelsky showedshowed thosethose establishing the childhood home of the future lettersletters to to his his class, class, demonstrating demonstrating his his difficult difficult rosh yeshivah of Torah Vodaath. Rav Belsky used choicechoice toto sacrificesacrifice aa freefree collegecollege educationeducation toto There is no question that young Yisroel was pursuepursue full-timefull-time learning —learning — andand conveyingconveying blessed with extraordinary genius. But in those them to notice thatthat they they could could do do it it too. too. days — as Rav Elya Katz, who served alongside “So“So what what did did our our father father get get for for staying staying in in ye ye-- Rav Belsky as menahel of the Torah Vodaath Hashem in every shivahshivah instead instead of of going going to to college?” college?” asks asks Reb Reb beis medrash for several decades, recounted at TzviTzvi Belsky. Belsky. “He “He got got Torah, Torah, Neviim, Neviim, Kesuvim, Kesuvim, the levayah — a child growing up in America aspect of Creation, Mishnah,Mishnah, Talmud Talmud Bavli, Bavli, Talmud Talmud Yerushalmi, Yerushalmi, used every ounce of intellect, talent, and skill Midrash,Midrash, Rishonim, Rishonim, Achronim, Achronim, the the four four sec sec-- at his disposal to make money. by understanding tionstions ofof Shulchan Shulchan AruchAruch….…. The eighth-grade graduates in Torah “But“But youyou knowknow whatwhat elseelse hehe got?got? Biology,Biology, Vodaath would traditionally write where His handiwork chemistry,chemistry, physics,physics, astronomy,astronomy, anatomy,anatomy, they envisioned themselves going for high physiology,physiology, history, history, poetry, poetry, and and the the list list goes goes on on ForFor overover halfhalf aa century,century, RavRav BelskyBelsky leftleft nono stonestone unturned —unturned — school, post-high school, and what they saw andand on — on — although although I I never never once once saw saw my my father father inin boostingboosting hishis encyclopedicencyclopedic knowledgeknowledge andand inin caringcaring forfor thethe klalklal.. (Clockwise(Clockwise fromfrom toptop left)left) WithWith Agudah’sAgudah’s RabbiRabbi MosheMoshe themselves doing for a living. Yisroel Belsky studystudy anythinganything besidesbesides Torah.”Torah.” Sherer;Sherer; introducingintroducing camperscampers toto thethe BluzheverBluzhever RebbeRebbe ztz”l ztz”l inin wrote that he was planning to attend Torah AndAnd ratherrather thanthan spendspend hishis lifelife studyingstudying thethe summersummer ofof 1985;1985; thethe skeletonskeleton ofof TorahTorah Vodaath’sVodaath’s newnew Vodaath and Beis Midrash Elyon, and even- thosethose subjectssubjects asas aa mattermatter ofof curiositycuriosity oror toto building;building; inin aa 19831983 meetingmeeting withwith roshei roshei yeshivahyeshivah RavRav YaakovYaakov tually make a living as a musician. supportsupport hishis family,family, RavRav BelskyBelsky usedused themthem allall YitzchokYitzchok RudermanRuderman ztz”lztz”l andand RavRav AvrohomAvrohom PamPam ztz”l ztz”l;; withwith hishis He graduated high school with such spectac- forfor thethe serviceservice ofof Hashem —Hashem — butbut mostmost ofof all,all, rebbirebbi muvhakmuvhak,, RavRav YaakovYaakov KamenetskyKamenetsky ztz”l ztz”l ular grades that the state of New York offered toto notice notice Hashem Hashem in in every every aspect aspect of of Creation, Creation, him a full college scholarship. The rule at the andand to to teach teach thousands thousands upon upon thousands thousands to to love love time was “use it or lose it”; the state would HashemHashem byby understandingunderstanding HisHis handiwork.handiwork. not accept any deferrals. But he wrote a letter

4444 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA 2424 Shevat Shevat 5776 5776 | | February February 3, 3, 2016 2016 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA 45 45

rabbi belsky_596.indd 44 01/02/2016 19:50:48 rabbi belsky_596.indd 45 01/02/2016 19:51:04 MasterMaster ofof AllAll HolyHoly TradesTrades

Half a Century of Chinuch Rav , rosh yeshivah of the Mirrer Yeshivah in , still remembers the day when Rav Belsky first began re- laying some of the Torah he had mastered. “When our rebbi, the Rosh Yeshivah Rav Zelik Epstein ztz”l, fell ill, Rav Belsky was summoned back from Beis Midrash Elyon by Rav to deliver shi- ur for our grade. We were already in first year beis medrash, a group of accomplished 18-year-olds, many of whom would be- come accomplished talmidei chachamim. “Once,O I missed a “For over five decades, I thought that he was in his mid-30s when he delivered those family trip. That high-level shiurim on Eilu Metzios, turning that period into a particularly successful zeman. night, he took me Even that would have been an impressive on a train to vis- feat, considering that he was substituting for one of the great roshei yeshivah. Only when he it the World Trade was niftar, and they said he was 77, did it dawn on me that he was a mere 25 years old at the Center. He took time! I can’t say for certain, but it’s quite pos- sible that that was the only time in the history me up onto the of American yeshivos in which a 25-year-old who wasn’t even a father yet gaveshiur for beis observation deck medrash bochurim.” teachingteaching opportunities.opportunities. TheThe talmidim talmidim whowho are you going?” Rav Aryeh asked. From that year onward, Rav Belsky would wouldwould accompany accompany him him were were part part of of the the hala hala- “I need to go give theChoshen Mishpat ,” and pointed out all remain a maggid shiur in Torah Vodaath, a chicchic discussions.discussions. “The“The worstworst thingthing aa talmid talmid Rav Belsky replied, heading toward the exit. chinuch career that spanned more than half couldcould dodo waswas notnot askask ifif hehe didn’tdidn’t understandunderstand When Reb Shlomo Yehuda saw his father- the stars. But be- a century. In those 52 years, he taught all the something,”something,” says says Rabbi Rabbi Eli Eli Gersten, Gersten, who who co co-- in-law leaving, he asked the organization to different parts of Torah:iyun (in-depth), bekius ordinatedordinated thosethose sessions.sessions. “Sometimes“Sometimes RavRav shuffle the program to place his speech next. fore and after, we (learned at a simpler level and faster pace), and BelskyBelsky wouldwould turnturn toto themthem andand say,say, ‘You‘You unun-- “By that time,” recalls Rav Aryeh, “my father the specialty area of halachah. During lunch derstoodderstood what what we we were were talking talking about?’ about?’ If If they they was already at the door, ready to head back for learned” break he also taught a shiur at a rap- gotgot aa sheepishsheepish looklook onon theirtheir facesfaces hehe wouldwould the Choshen Mishpat shiur. I had to run to tell id clip. Incredibly, he was able to teach a full say,say, ‘So‘So whywhy didn’tdidn’t youyou ask?!’ask?!’ HeHe wouldwould thenthen him that they had arranged for him to be able daf in less than half an hour, and even young startstart from from the the beginning beginning and and explain explain the the en en-- to hear Shlomo Yehuda speak.” teenagers were able to follow along. tiretire process process in in great great detail, detail, making making sure sure they they In addition, he offered a practical halachah understoodunderstood each each step.” step.” Show, Not Tell While no one denies shiur during the breakfast period, open to any- LaterLater inin life,life, RavRav BelskyBelsky decideddecided thatthat thethe that Rav Belsky was gifted with a prodi- one. His presentation was so clear and enjoy- yeshivahyeshivah neededneeded aa solidsolid Choshen Choshen MishpatMishpat gious intellect, his family and colleagues able that you barely felt like you were learning chaburah.chaburah. And And thethe Choshen Choshen MishpatMishpat shiur shiur hehe describe a mind-boggling degree of has- something difficult. On the Shabbos between delivereddelivered on on Monday Monday nights nights became became his his pride pride madah. his petirah and kevurah, as I was setting up andand joy — joy — and and he he wouldn’t wouldn’t miss miss it it unless unless it it was was “How did our father teach us to learn?” com- the challos for hamotzi, I froze as I suddenly absolutelyabsolutely impossibleimpossible toto bebe there.there. HisHis oldestoldest mented his son Rav Avraham. “He didn’ttell realized that I was following the halachically son,son, RavRav Aryeh,Aryeh, remembersremembers aa MondayMonday nightnight us to go learn. We saw that all he did when he prescribed manner I’d learned in room 206 in WithWith fellowfellow roshei roshei yeshivahyeshivah RavRav YosefYosef SavitskySavitsky andand RavRav YisroelYisroel Reisman.Reisman. RavRav BelskyBelsky eventevent at at which which his his brother-in-law, brother-in-law, Reb Reb Shlomo Shlomo had time was learn. nevernever stoppedstopped teaching,teaching, bebe itit iyun iyun,, bekiusbekius,, dafdaf yomiyomi duringduring lunchlunch break,break, oror practicalpractical Torah Vodaath during breakfast. YehudaYehuda Rechnitz, Rechnitz, was was guest guest of of honor. honor. Long Long be be-- “We would go to Prospect Park on a family halachahhalachah duringduring breakfastbreakfast Even his weekly sessions in the OU, where forefore Reb Reb Shlomo Shlomo Yehuda’s Yehuda’s scheduled scheduled speech, speech, trip, and while we ran around, he sat in the he supervised kashrus certification, were RavRav Belsky Belsky rose rose and and made made for for the the door. door. “Where “Where grass with a . Once, I missed a family

4646 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA 2424 Shevat Shevat 5776 5776 | | February February 3, 3, 2016 2016 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA 47 47

rabbi belsky_596.indd 46 01/02/2016 19:51:19 rabbi belsky_596.indd 47 01/02/2016 19:51:47

He knew everything about everything. (Top to bottom) If you rolled out matzah according to his system, it would come out perfectly; he taught himself Russian in order to connect with newly arrived are numerous picture books on Keilim,, butbut knowledge to use for the benefit of the Jew- immigrants; he showed his students Rabbi Reisman recalls Rav Belsky having ish People. Son-in-law Rav Dovid Goldstein the intricacies of shechitah; and kept createdcreated hishis ownown renderings,renderings, whichwhich are,are, asas ofof surmises that there’s not a frum Jew in the campers captivated with lessons in yet, unpublished. world who has not benefited from Rav Belsky’s science and astronomy “When“When aa personperson getsgets ontoonto anan airplane,”airplane,” sayssays kashrus prowess. Just consider that the OU Rabbi Reisman, “he takes along asefer sefer thatthat isis certifies over half a million products, pro- trip. That night, he took me on a train, late moshech es haleiv,, somethingsomething thatthat isis guaranteedguaranteed duced in approximately 9,000 factories in over at night, to visit the World Trade Center. He toto holdhold hishis interest.interest. SomeoneSomeone toldtold meme thatthat hehe 80 countries, and that every other kashrus took me up onto the observation deck and was on a ten-hour flight with Rav Belsky, and agency relies on the OU for the basic chemical pointed out all the stars. But before and after, he used the time to learn Talmud Yerushalmi.” components that go into their products — and we learned.” Perhaps the ability to learn the cryptic no one was able to understand how to certify Although it certainly helped, Rav Belsky’s Yerushalmi on a flight explains a story told those ingredients as Rav Belsky did. You own memory was not the key to his ability to teach by Rav Benzion Beren, a son-in-law of Rav Furthermore, no one in the world matched so many different Torah subjects at once. He Belsky. He recalled that on the day of his en-- his technical knowledge of the factories’ inner earned that ability the hard way — reviewing gagement, Rebbetzin Belsky noted that her workings and their halachic ramifications. a business. everything he learned numerous times. Baruch husband had arrived late that day. “Oh, I was Rabbi Eli Gersten recalls Rav Belsky getting Travitsky relates that Rav Belsky’s son Rav making a siyumsiyum on Yerushalmi,” Rav Belsky on the phone with the factory foremen and Elimelech was his rebbi in Camp Ohr Shraga, explained without an ounce of fanfare, and discussing the factory as though he had built A great Torah Vodaath’s learning camp. In encourag- Rebbetzin Belsky accepted his statement as it. He would suggest how to reconfigure the ing the bochurim to chazer (review), he related ifif itit waswas notnot allall thatthat unique.unique. machinery so the OU could certify their prod- that his father told him, “The 40th time you ucts. “He brought with him the experience of business. learn Maseches Yevamos does not compare to The Practical Side One of the ar-- having seen many more industrial factories the 41st. The questions and chiddushim that eas in which Rav Belsky stood head and than any one foreman or supervisor. And once I came up with on my 41st time far outshone shouldersshoulders above above the the rest rest — — and and that that was was he saw a factory, he remembered it forever, so the ones I had on time number 40.” quite literal for someone whose towering that he was able to help a different factory rec- “He loved every bit of Torah knowledge he physical height was a mere shadow of his reate what he had previously seen elsewhere.” could gain,” recounts Rabbi Reisman. “And spiritualspiritual greatness greatness — — was was the the ability ability to to Speaking to thousands at the levayah, Rab- he learned everything in depth. There was no apply his encyclopedic Torah knowledge bi Genack revealed that if not for Rav Belsky’s such thing as saying, ‘Oh, it’s a dikduk Rashi toto practical practical halachah. halachah. All All of of Klal Klal Yisrael Yisrael kocha d’heteira, frum would likely not [where Rashi discusses a grammatical point], benefited from the spiritual protection of eat fish today. let’s just read the words and go on.’ He had to his Torah learning; as Rav Yitzchok Shein-- Son-in-law Rav Yaakov Gross and Rabbi understand every word.” er, roshrosh yeshivah yeshivah of of Kamenitz Kamenitz and and one one of of Genack explained how Rav Belsky was also but... That insatiable thirst for Torah knowledge thethe elder elder Torah Torah authorities authorities in in the the world, world, responsible for the preservation of the me- meant that Rav Belsky left no stone unturned. recalled,recalled, Rav Rav Elyashiv Elyashiv ztz”lztz”l would rise sorah on nikur, removing the gid hanasheh, in Rabbi Reisman relates that when his famous when Rav Belsky, nearly three decades his deer. After clarifying the halachic issues with Motzaei Shabbos Navi shiur was reaching the junior,junior, walkedwalked intointo thethe room.room. ButBut theythey alsoalso Rav Elyashiv, he scoured the world for one portion describing the Beis Arazim, the palace reapedreaped hands-onhands-on benefitsbenefits fromfrom hishis experexper-- shochet in Eretz Yisrael who had a mesorah Shlomo built for himself, he searched far and tisetise inin kashrus.kashrus. on nikur, and eventually taught it to the em- wide for a picture to use as a visual aid, but he For nearly 30 years, Rav Belsky served as ployees of a slaughterhouse in Goshen, New came up empty-handed. one of the two halachic consultants for the York, where Rav Belsky also helped design the “I finally approached an architect and asked ’s kashrus division, along-- pens in which to shecht the deer in the most him to draw one for me, and we worked hard to sideside RavRav HershelHershel Schachter.Schachter. RabbiRabbi MenachemMenachem humane way. get it right. I took it to Rav Belsky to make sure Genack, CEO of OU Kosher, wistfully recalls But the same Rav Belsky would not allow a it was accurate. When I explained why I had thethe scenescene asas RavRav BelskyBelsky visitedvisited thethe OUOU eacheach factory to get away with leniencies if it was just this created from scratch, he said, ‘It’s a shame week with talmidimtalmidim fromfrom TorahTorah VodaathVodaath toto an issue of spending money to make something you didn’t come to me sooner,’ and he pulled whom he would give shimushshimush,, hands-onhands-on exex-- more l’chatchilah. Rabbi Gersten recounts an out his own rendering of the Beis Arazim.” perience in psak halachah.. instance in which a company could install a few The same held true of the various vessels Kashrus was one of the areas in which hundred feet of tubing, at a cost of $100,000, discussed in Maseches Keilim. Today there Rav Belsky was able to put his vast secular which would make the operation preferable.

48 MISHPACHA 2424 ShevatShevat 57765776 || FebruaryFebruary 3,3, 20162016

rabbi belsky_596.indd 48 01/02/2016 19:52:04 rabbi belsky_596.indd 49 01/02/2016 19:52:21 MasterMaster ofof AllAll HolyHoly TradesTrades

When others protested that there were other soso largelarge thatthat aa groupgroup ofof communitycommunity leadersleaders afternoonafternoon sessions —sessions — inin whichwhich hehe wouldwould of his life, and was a motivating factor in his agencies that would certify the factory with- hadhad toto taketake overover thethe reinsreins toto ensureensure itsits concon-- answeranswer questionsquestions submittedsubmitted anonymously,anonymously, establishing a beis din to help those who were out the changes, Rav Belsky offered to give tinuedtinued success.success. displayingdisplaying thatthat thethe TorahTorah hashas answersanswers forfor being wronged in business. them the number of one such agency. He felt everything —everything — but but also also during during his his famous famous walks walks Both Rabbi Genack and Rav Reisman testi- no need to compete, only to ensure that Jews NoNo Airs Airs ForFor all all his his genius genius and and all all his his afterafter the the close close of of Shivah Shivah Asar Asar B’Tammuz B’Tammuz and and fied, inhespedim on two different continents, were eating kosher. myriadmyriad responsibilities, responsibilities, Rav Rav Belsky Belsky had had TishahTishah B’Av, B’Av, in in which which he he would would shine shine his his long long that each time Rav Belsky got involved in con- absolutelyabsolutely nono airsairs aboutabout him,him, whichwhich mademade flashlightflashlight upup towardtoward thethe starsstars andand pointpoint outout troversy, it was because he couldn’t stand the No Jew Left Behind In the early himhim very very approachable. approachable. Those Those who who at at-- thethe layoutlayout ofof Hashem’sHashem’s galaxies.galaxies. HeHe tooktook usus sight of someone being ba’avelt (wronged). 1970s, long before “kiruv movement” was a tendedtended Camp Camp Agudah Agudah 20-plus 20-plus years years ago ago onon a a trip trip to to Falls Falls Poultry Poultry to to watch watch a a large-scale large-scale “He wasn’t controversial to be controver- phrase, JEP ( Program) cancan remember remember him him playing playing paddleball, paddleball, shechitahshechitah production. production. Some Some years, years, he he brought brought sial,” Reb Shlomo Yehuda said. “He only spoke was launched to reach out to Jewish public showingshowing the the entire entire camp camp that that exercise exercise is is anan animal animal to to camp camp and and shechted shechted and and dissected dissected up because he knew that as a person who had school students and day school children importantimportant for for a a ben ben Torah Torah.. To To campers campers and and it,it, highlighting highlighting the the anatomy anatomy and and explaining explaining the the reached horaah, he had no choice but to rise up from nonobservant homes. Rav Belsky youngyoung staffstaff membersmembers alike,alike, itit seemedseemed onlyonly brilliancebrilliance behind behind Hashem’s Hashem’s creation. creation. in defense of those being mistreated.” YouYou wantown served as JEP’s official rabbinic advisor, naturalnatural that that Rav Rav Belsky Belsky would would be be there there AndAnd he he was was there there for for every every individual, individual, car car-- In some instances, such as in the debate guiding a group of young Torah Vodaath amongamong us. us. It It took took no no less less a a personage personage than than inging forfor eacheach oneone asas hishis ownown child.child. over the eiruv in Brooklyn, it was the psak of beis medrash bochurim in effective mento- RavRav ShmuelShmuel Kamenetsky,Kamenetsky, roshrosh yeshivahyeshivah ofof Once,Once, on on the the last last day day of of camp, camp, Rabbi Rabbi Dovid Dovid preceding gedolei hador that he felt compelled a business.to take ring. PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia and and a a son son of of Rav Rav Yaakov Yaakov — — Frischman,Frischman, son son of of Agudah Agudah director director Reb Reb Meir Meir to defend, even at the cost of rousing the ire of He spurred the establishment of achavrusa RavRav Belsky’sBelsky’s rebbi rebbi muvhakmuvhak — — to to note note at at the the FrischmanFrischman and and the the director director of of the the Masmidim Masmidim hotheaded individuals who threatened him program, in which students from nonobservant levayahlevayah that that it it took took great great mesirusmesirus nefesh nefesh program,program, entered entered Rav Rav Belsky’s Belsky’s office office asas a a youngyoung with bodily harm. itA to great the homes would come to a yeshivah and learn one- forfor RavRav BelskyBelsky toto givegive upup hishis summerssummers soso boyboy with with a a stutter stutter was was exiting, exiting, and and found found Rav Rav But he was a gibbor in another way as well, on-one with beis medrash bochurim. Some thatthat he he could could be be a a positive positive influence influence onon thethe BelskyBelsky in in tears. tears. Rav Rav Belsky Belsky explained explained that that at at never taking revenge against those who bad- of the Torah Vodaath board members were boys.boys. thethe beginningbeginning ofof thethe summer,summer, hehe hadhad offeredoffered mouthed him. On the contrary — he went nextbusiness. level. concerned that onlookers might think that AndAnd although although his his primary primary role role was was to to serve serve toto helphelp curecure thethe boyboy ofof hishis stutter,stutter, butbut thethe out of his way to help them. Son-in-law Reb these “long-haired boys” were students of asas the the posek posek and and run run the the Masmidim Masmidim program program boyboy onlyonly showedshowed upup twicetwice beforebefore givinggiving up.up. Dovid Goldstein told of an incident that was the yeshivah, but Rabv Belsky stood firm in forfor those those boys boys in in their their middle middle teens teens who who were were WatchingWatching himhim suffersuffer waswas tootoo muchmuch forfor RavRav a prototype for many others. A businessman his support for the program and assured its readyready to to apportion apportion most most of of their their day day for for learn learn-- BelskyBelsky to to bear. bear. who was Rav Belsky’s talmid had an employee success for many years. ing,ing, Rav Rav Belsky Belsky made made himself himself available available in in ev ev-- OnOn thethe firstfirst dayday ofof thethe nextnext summersummer RebReb who loudly and regularly criticized his rebbi. When the Iron Curtain began to lift in the eryery other other way way as as well. well. One One year, year, a a group group of of four four DovidDovid camecame runningrunning intointo RavRav Belsky’sBelsky’s officeoffice The employer warned him several times to 1980s, Rav Belsky was consumed with helping bunksbunks aged aged approximately approximately 9 9 to to 11 11 competed competed in in andand excitedly excitedly related related that that he he met met the the boy boy and and stop talking that way about Rav Belsky, or he the newly arrived immigrants. He taught him- aa “bunk “bunk color color war.” war.” Somehow, Somehow, I I was was corralled corralled foundfound him him to to be be stutter stutter free! free! Rav Rav Belsky Belsky just just would fire him. Finally, the day came when self Russian so he could converse with them, intointo a a drawing drawing the the banner banner for for our our team, team, which which smiledsmiled in in response, response, and and Reb Reb Dovid Dovid sensed sensed that that the fellow let his mouth run too far, and his and he even conducted his Pesach Seder partly waswas named named Chesed. Chesed. How How could could I I decide decide what what therethere was was something something behind behind that that smile. smile. Upon Upon boss fired him. in Russian to accommodate some guests. No toto draw draw and and how how to to draw draw it? it? Simple — Simple — go go to to Rav Rav pressingpressing forfor details,details, hehe finallyfinally discerneddiscerned thatthat “Whom did he approach to get his job back?” just imagine... one knew which of the guests were Jewish, and Belsky.Belsky. The The fact fact that that at at nine nine years years old, old, I I had had the the RavRav Belsky Belsky had had worked worked with with this this boy boy through through recounted Rabbi Goldstein. “My father-in- not all of these guests appreciated the gener- pluckpluck to to knock knock on on his his office office doordoor atat thethe backback of of thethe winterwinter monthsmonths toto curecure thethe stutter.stutter. law! He told him that he had been working for osity they were being granted. But Rav Belsky thethe Masmidim Masmidim beis beis medrash medrash to to ask ask something something a talmid of his, and that he had gotten fired. and his Rebbetzin Miriam, may Hashem send soso inconsequentialinconsequential isis aa testimonytestimony notnot toto mymy TheThe Controversies Controversies ManyMany of of the the During the conversation, it became clear why her a refuah sheleimah, were all heart, and gave courage,courage, butbut toto hishis lacklack ofof pretension,pretension, whichwhich maspidimmaspidim spokespoke of of Rav Rav Belsky Belsky as as a a gadolgadol he had been fired. unconditionally to anyone who crossed their invitedinvited questions questions from from even even the the youngest youngest child. child. hadorhador,, but but Reb Reb Shlomo Shlomo Yehuda Yehuda Rechnitz Rechnitz “My shver called his talmid and said, ‘I ap- threshold, even the mentally unstable and HeHe immediatelyimmediately pulledpulled outout aa TehillimTehillim andand addedadded a a new new title: title: “We “We lost lost the the gibborgibbor preciate that you want to defend me, but if other unfortunate people who found a safe showedshowed me me the the pasuk pasuk,, “ “OlamOlam chesed chesed yibaneh yibaneh,”,” hadorhador.”.” you truly want to do something for my honor, haven in the Belsky household. explainedexplained the the concept, concept, and and provided provided a a detailed detailed It’sIt’s no no secret secret that that Rav Rav Belsky Belsky was was occasion occasion-- give him back his job. I don’t want a Yid to lose Rav Belsky was also the anonymous cata- descriptiondescription ofof howhow toto drawdraw it.it. allyally involved involved in in halachic halachic battles, battles, during during which which parnassah because of me.’ ” lyst who instructed Rabbi Mutty Katz of JEP FarFar moremore beautifulbeautiful bannersbanners havehave beenbeen hishis name name was was dragged dragged through through the the mud mud by by his his to take a leave of absence and open a school drawndrawn inin CampCamp AgudahAgudah overover thethe years,years, butbut opponents.opponents. RebReb ShlomoShlomo YehudaYehuda explainedexplained Near Death Four years ago, on Motzaei for Russian children. When Reb Mutty asked A scholar’s scholar. With Rav Yisrael thethe conceptconcept ofof thatthat oneone particularparticular piecepiece waswas thatthat RavRav BelskyBelsky waswas notnot blindsidedblindsided inin thosethose Shabbos Parshas Yisro, the 19th of Shevat, what he should call the yeshivah, Rav Belsky Meir Lau, Mir Rosh Yeshivah Rav Eliezer perfect.perfect. instances;instances; he he knew knew that that he he would would be be attacked. attacked. Rav Belsky was rushed to the hospital, Yehuda (Leizer Yudel) Finkel, and with Rav thought for a moment and said, “Be’er Hago- TheThe MasmidimMasmidim camperscampers werewere treatedtreated toto aa ButBut he he had had a a sense sense of of justice justice that that did did not not allow allow where he was diagnosed with a ruptured lah.” With Rav Belsky’s constant advice and specialspecial connection connection with with Rav Rav Belsky, Belsky, not not only only himhim toto watchwatch aa personperson beingbeing unfairlyunfairly tramtram-- esophagus. Some relatives urged him to support, less than a year later, the school grew duringduring his his daily daily shiurim shiurim and and special special biweekly biweekly pled.pled. ThisThis attitudeattitude extendedextended toto everyevery aspectaspect transfer to a top hospital in Manhattan

5050 MISHPACHAMISHPACHA 2424 Shevat Shevat 5776 5776 | | February February 3, 3, 2016 2016

rabbi belsky_596.indd 50 01/02/2016 19:52:37 rabbi belsky_596.indd 51 01/02/2016 19:52:52 Master of All Holy Trades

for the complex procedure. Although he could barely speak, Rav Belsky adamantly refused, saying that it would be an insult to the Maimonides surgeons who were al- ready treating him. Five minutes after he was wheeled into the operating room, he went into cardiac arrest. Because he was already on the operating table and a stent “happened” to be sitting nearby, his life was saved. Approximately a year after that miraculous recovery from a situation so precarious that Chaim was added to his name, Rav Belsky’s Being able to dance at the wedding of hisben zekunim after his own harrowing battle daughter, Mrs. Tamar Rechnitz, reflected on for life was his greatest simchah. Rav Belsky with the chassan and his son-in-law Reb the decision that saved his life, telling Mishpa- Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz cha, “This is my father’s essence. In any state he’s in, he’s busy thinking about everyone else.” it only lasted a few days. Meanwhile, this over, after struggling with a schedule way be- Just four months after the ordeal, he was able boy’s father, who was an elderly World War yond the capabilities of his age, the camper re- to return to yeshivah — but only because of his II veteran, was begging him to go to col- alized that Rav Belsky was right. Not quite un- sheer willpower. Son Rav Aryeh recalls that lege. “I remember feeling caught between derstanding how Rav Belsky worked, though, the medical staff in the rehab center marveled a rock and a hard place,” the young man re- he feared facing the Rosh Yeshivah, certain over how hard he went at his physical therapy. members. “My father wanted me to leave that he would be berated for having forced his “He’s doing this because he wants to get back yeshivah so much that he offered to buy me way into a program that he wasn’t ready for. To to his lectures,” one was overheard saying. a Lexus if I would just go back to my home his surprise, when he explained to Rav Belsky Recently, he was zocheh to marry off Yaakov state and attend college, and in yeshivah I that he felt that he needed a change of pace for Binyamin, his ben zekunim, and his simchah was being mistreated.” the second half, Rav Belsky didn’t issue one at being able to dance at that wedding was Rav Belsky made a second trip to the yeshi- word of criticism. In fact, he launched into a described by both family and colleagues as vah and received a second pledge that the mis- long speech of praise. surpassing anything they had seen. His whole treatment would stop, but this promise didn’t “I don’t want you to look back at this trip life, he loved to sing, raising shiros v’tishbachos yield better results than the first. Finally Rav as a mistake,” he said. “You gained so much to Hashem and teaching many niggunim from Belsky advised this boy to go to college, and from this half. You learned so many hours. yesteryear to talmidim in Torah Vodaath and guided him on his career path. This boy, who You saw the niflaos haBorei in the stars with Camp Agudah. But those last few years were a would use the career path Rav Belsky helped us. You climbed up a mountain and davened long, steady shirah to Hashem, noted Rav Elya him choose to do loads ofkiruv , remained close b’hashkamah. Katz, in gratitude of being granted a reprieve to Rav Belsky and considered him a second “You should know,” he concluded, “that life to continue teaching Torah and to marry off father until his petirah. is a mountain, the har Hashem, and you have the last of his 13 children. But Rav Belsky’s care and love wasn’t re- to keep on climbing.” served for yesomim or those in desperate straits. Rebbi, nearly 25 years have passed since that The Caring Heart For those who In the early 1990s, a young boy decided, day when, in the warm cocoon of your office in forged a close connection with Rav Belsky, at the age of 13, that he wanted to join Camp the Masmidim beis medrash, you built me up the impact of his probing mind is matched Agudah’s Masmidim program. The program instead of allowing me to skulk away feeling like only by that of his warm heart. A yasom was generally reserved for older boys, but this a failure. And I’m certain I represent thousands who had frequently eaten in his house young man deluded himself into thinking of talmidim when I say: Rebbi, thanks to you, I’m landed in a yeshivah in Brooklyn, where that he was ready to spend the majority of his still climbing. — a member of the administration unfortu- summer vacation learning. Rav Belsky tried nately mistreated him. Rav Belsky made to gently convey to the camper that perhaps With thanks to Rabbi Yitzchok Gottdiener, CEO a trip to the yeshivah to speak to the an- it wasn’t the best choice for him just yet. But of Torah Vodaath, and Rabbi Yosef C. Golding, tagonist in person, but even though he the boy wouldn’t be deterred. COO of Agudath Israel of America, for their procured a promise of better treatment, By the time the first half of the summer was gracious assistance in preparing this article

52 MISHPACHA 24 Shevat 5776 | February 3, 2016

rabbi belsky_596.indd 52 01/02/2016 19:53:12