?Nit&." :i?ri j @> Commentary by Rabbi Nosson Scherman "'\.Tou know and use the Stone Edition, which has become the standard English-language Chumash. But what about the rest of the Written I. Torah, the Prophet<J and the Writings? "rhere can we go for a sweeping understanding of the text, as understood by the Sages and the classic commentators - presented in a way that makes it both accessible and enjoy­ me RUBIN etlmoN able to scholar and layman alike? The first volume of the Rubin Edition - Joshua/Judges -provided the answer. Thanks to the brilliance of the ArtScroll/Mesorah teain of scholars and writers - led by meJlBO Rabbi Nosson Scherman - the tradition continues, with The Rubin Edition of I Samuel and II Samuel/ :J-N 7N1r.nv, in one volun1e.This translation and con1mentary on the Prophets is sweeping the English-speaking world, providing new dhnensions of understanding and beauty. This outstanding new work has an unprecedented array of features: m A highly regarded new English translation, finnly grounded in traditional sources ii! A commentary culled from classic sources and presented gracefully and literately 11 Newly set Hebre\v co1nmentaries of Rashi, Radak, and Metzudos Tzion and Dovid, so you can study on many levels Ii Newly set, accurate Hebre\V text of the Tanach II Introductions and explanations of difficult concepts II lightweight, opaque, acid-free paper, for decades of use 11 Gilded page heads 111 Ribbon place-marker For 1nost people,Tanach, is something they studied a bit of when they were too young to understand it. This ne'\\' co1nmentary not only brings the verses alive, it n1akes the1n speak to us - in language, in outlook, it1 aspiration for spiritual growth. Among the many topics in this volume are: Ill Hannah's prayer 1111! The emergence of Sa1nuel m The destruction of Shilo Ill The n1istaken den1and for a king and Sa1nuel's strong response II Saul, the first king 11 David - the shepherd is annointed and kills Goliath m Saul's pursuit of flight m David and Jonathan iii! Saul's defeat and death Iii David becomes king II!! The Ark co1nes to Jerusalem 11 Bath-Sheba and Uriah II The rebellions of Absalem and Sheba bcn Bichri 11 The Gibeonites grisly demand 11 David's magnificent songs 11 The tragic census m David's final battles ll!!i An overvie\v on David's greatness Also available: The Rubin Edition ofJoshua/Judges 0'V!J1'1!1/))'1!11i1' What the Schottenstein Edition does for the study of Talmud, and the Stone Edition does for the study of Chumash, the Rubin Edition is doing for the study of Tanach. 0 ;;I Availa!~~y:~!~j~:~~~oo~!o~~,~~ll~-~!:~~~H ~~~Y~~~: ! J~~~:~!x~~~~;B~~7~. :!:.artscroll.com Elul 5762 • September 2002 U.S.A.$3.50/Foreign $4.50 ·VOL XXXV /NO. 7 THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN) 0021-6615 is published monthly except July and August by the Agudath Israel of America, 42 Broadway, New York, NY10004. Periodicals postage p.;d in New York, NY. Subscription $24.00 per year; two years, $44.00; three years, $60.00. Outside of the United States (US funds drawn on a US bank only) $12.00 sur­ charge per year. Single copy $3.50; for­ eign $4.50. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NY., NY. 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000, 8 Yahrzeit: September I I I 23 Elul, Nissan Wolpin Fax: 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. RABBI NACHMAN BULMAN ';··~r RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR 10 Biographical Notes EDITORIAL BOARD I I Rabbi Nachman Bulman ':>"on -An Appreciation, RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Chairman Rabbi Mendel Weinbach RABBI ABBA BRUDNY IS Unfinished Symphony, Rabbi Hillel Goldberg JOSEPH FRIEOENSON RABBI YISROEL MEIR KIRZNER 17 A Vestige of Earlier Times, Rabbi Leonard Oppenheimer RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN PROF. AARON TWERSKI 19 A Talmid Remembers, Rabbi Zev Kahn DR. ERNST L BODENHEIMER Z"L READER'S FORUM: RABBI MOSHE SHERER Z"L Founders l 3 "Redrawing the Torah Map of America:• Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller MANAGEMENT BOARD AVI FISHOF, NAFTOLI HIRSCH YAMIM NORAIM REFLECTIONS ISAAC KIRZNER, RABBI SHLOMO LESIN NACHUM STEIN 18 The Secret of the Truah Gedala, Rabbi Fyvel Shuster RABBI YOSEF C. GOLDING Managing Editor 31 Bein Adam L'chaveiro ,..At All Times, Rabbi Dov Berish Ganz Published by Agudath Israel of America lS "All Vows," Dr. Aaron Twerski U.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTOR ISRAEU REPRESENTATIVE Feldheim Publishers lntnl. Media Placement 200 Airport Executive Park POB 7195 f 5 Even Israel Rethinking "Kosher" Videos and Computer Games, Nanuet, NY 10954 Jerusalem, ISRAEL Rabbi Leib Kelemen BfllTISH REPRESENTATIVE BELGIAN REPRESENTATIVE M. T. Bibelman Mr. E. Apter 40 Digressing on the Internet, Dr. Bernard Fryshman Grosvenor Works Lange Kievits1r. 29 Mount Pleasant Hill 2018 Antwerp VOICES FROM ERETZ YtSROEL London ES 9NE, ENGLAND BELGIUM When Grown-Ups Are Helpless, Sarah Shapiro FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE SOUTH AfRICAH 43 Rabbi Bamberger REPRESENTATIVE 21 Boulevard Paixhans Mr. V. Taback 45 A Few Thoughts on a Motza'ei Shabbas, Debbie Shapiro 57000 Metz PO Box 51552, FRANCE Raedene, Johannesburg 2124 SOUTH AFRICA SWISS REPRESENTATIVE 47 "Yaakov Avinu Lo Meis - Our Father Jacob Did Mf. S. Ftldinger Leimanstrasse 36 Not Die," Rabbi Benzion Twerski 4051 Base!, SWITZERLAND 49 In Search of the E.hrliche Yid, a review essay of Chafetz THE JEWISH OBSERVER does not Chaim: Lessons in Truth, by Rabbi Moshe Eisemann assume responsibility for the Kashrus of any product, publication, or service 51 The Bostoner Rebbetzin, Raichel Horowitz rrv, advertised In Its pages Rabbi Hillel Goldberg ©Copyright 2002 Letters to the Editor September 2002 Way Beyond Us, a poem by Bracha Goetz VOLUME XXXV/NO. 7 GEDOLIM PORTRAITS By Ed Bernstein. Select from 250 different photos, all reasonably priced. 'i ' '-', ''" ' ' ',',<;:-_;, ! .~~::•. .• esiuelt.~~titi~NG • E"fCi • · .• iq~~~~·tm~et~;~~~e~¢~~d~) ~n~1'~l'~Kand CJ>~.9;~eff~ty; ~u~~fli~e?· ... '•·¥~ l~ g· •· • Sita planning; and desigrT set~icas with state~oHlhe~~ft Aut' '"uz · ·~S30ZNe'l(.Ut;e(btJvtnue · /~~pkl{nil*YllZlg;; · ·· . · ~ 111iin~71s~41~2i,sof. · ~}',; nniversaries are ripe with mean­ their loss once again, and draw lessons, ing and charged vvith emotion­ and find inspiration and instruction, Aal resonance- V\'ith joy or sorrow, from each person's contributions and with hope or sense of loss, depending II achieven1ents. Even as the wounds are on the event they n1ark. A prime exan1- open afresh, there is a concomitant heal­ ple is September 11, the day that in a n event of such ing and a growth of sorts, as well. matter of ninety n1inutes the Twin To\v­ In the case of the World Trade Cen­ ers, icon of America's financial preem­ A magnitude that ter, we cringe in horror at the brutality inence, and a section of the Pentagon of those who perpetrated the atrocity. Building, the nerve-center of America's took place on the At the same time, we beco1ne awe-struck unrivaled military might, came crash­ eve of Rosh once again at the fullest measure of ing down. With them came the loss of devotion expressed by New York City's our country's sense of invulnerability. Hashana surely fire-fighters, police and rescue person­ A first Yahrzeit brings the initial year nel, as \vell as countless volunteers - to a close and ends a period of mourn­ carries a compelling valiant Hatzolah members prominent ing - mourning for loss of innocent among them - who risked all ... and, at lives, mourning for precious brothers message to us as times, gave all - to save others. and sisters who were caught in the infer­ Jews. As we pause, \Ve also experience a no and left behind bereaved families and profound appreciation for the kinship stricken communities, mourning the we feel with all of our fellow Americans loss of America's imperviousness to - not just for a sense of shared victim­ physical attack. And then there is the ization, but for all the blessings of liv­ shock from the loss of a symbol that ing in a country that not only tolerates proclaimed for all the world that even our path of worship and avodas Hashem the sky is no limit to American growth with the essence of the departed. Their (service to G-d), but welcomes its and unchallenged superiority. neshamos are summoned for a review of flourishing. Indeed, we are all in this On a personal level, a Yahrzeit is an the Divine judgment. And the survivors together, and perhaps we can draw a encounter of sorts on a spiritual plane, experience a closeness, as they evaluate straight line between shared blessings 8 The Jewish Observer, September 2002 and shared suffering. As Jews, and as Yes, it is a time to build - in realms timeless hopes into thriving realities - Americans, we were - and are - targets of the spirit. After all, aren't we Jews well­ especially with the approach of the New of the destructive hatred of those who versed in finding paths through moun­ Year- our People's sacred mission? Isn't do not see room on this planet for our tains of ashes, and building impressive this a most appropriate time to respond chosen ways of life. edifices on tragedy-scarred terrain? to this call? Isn't translating prophetic visions and N.W. here are a number of lessons that we would do well to review and Treinforce on this Yahrzeitand con­ tinue to reflect on even after it passes. If, Rav Bulman zt"l Had One indeed, in the wake of September 11, Americans in general and New Yorkers Last Dream in particular have felt a need to devote more time and attention to the spiritu­ al dimensions of their lives, how inuch more so should we Jews, the People of the Torah, do the same.