Rabbi Ze'ev Kraines The Guy At The Next Computer Terminal an interest in Jewish learning. or who have been referred. The ]rum co-worker can. over a long period, bring out an interest that is in its first. uncertain stages. So much of the ice-breaking that is necessary between a rabbi and a non-observ­ ant Jew has already taken place be­ tween co-workers. The professional kiruv teacher must cultivate a \ rapport through meetings at weekly and monthly intervals; the "non­ professional" can be a constant in­ formal influence. True. not every religious Jew is suited for the multifaceted mitzva of kiruv rechokim His non-observ­ ant brother may be puzzled by the most elementary fundamentals of Jewish belief and require a teacher who can deal with his questions t's not unusual these days to challenge being met by these ded­ with the sensitiVity and sophistica­ hear of non-observant Jews icated few. there are countless tion that come from experience. He I meeting over lunch in a posh opportunities in the workplace that may also need specialized personal midtown office for a Parsha talk go unanswered. Certainly. the suc­ counsel to help him make a smooth given at lunchtime by some noted cess of "office kiruv" presents a transition to observance. He cer­ Jewish educator. Jn fact, there are stirring challenge for the growing tainly will require a consistent role now several organizations in Man­ number of yeshiva-educated Jews model of religious integrity. and not hattan alone that specialize in who find themselves behind the every ]rum person will feel comfor­ outreach to the non-observant pro­ blinking "shtender." table in that position. fessional at his workplace. Actually, on many counts the There is one isolated aspect of But, let's face It. For every teaching "non-professional" outreach teach­ kiruv, however, that is our sacred er has an advantage over the itin­ responsibility, with all our imperfec­ Rabbi Ze'ev Krahles, a former co-director of the erant office rabbi. The professional tions. In fact. it is part of our daily Jewish Learning Exchange in Monsey, ls pres­ ently Assistant Rabbi in Brtth Sholom Beth Israel generally comes in contact only with commitment in the "Shema Yis­ Congregation in Charleston, South Carolina. people who have already expressed raer·: learning Torah with our fellow The Jewish Observer. April 1989 11 Jew. As we study together. we are Readers of The Jewish Observer not setting ourselves up as a holy will surely remember Rabbi Moshe sage, for we are engaged in some­ As we study together, Feinstein's now famous call to thing "bigger than the both of us." religious Jewry to give maaser (a If we are unschooled in the special we are not setting our­ tenth) of their time for outreach skills of outreach, we should simply teaching, just as they give of their limit our teaching to areas in which selves up as a holy sage, resources. In an address to Zeirei we feel confidence. for we are engaged in Agudath Israel (JO June '73, reprinted in the recent 25th Anni­ something "bigger versary issue), Reb Moshe ruled: THE OBLIGATION than the both of us." ''.As in charity, where one has an obligation to give O(le tenth ef his hough a cursory reading of income to the poor, so must one the Rambam in Hilchos Tal­ spend a tenth of his time working deduced: there is a man who mud Torah might lead us to if on behalf ef others. bringing them T understands the Torah. he should believe that the mitzva to teach closer to the Torah. if one is en­ one's fellow Jews in only incumbent bestow itfor his own wisdom shall dowed with greater resources, he increase ... and who does so will upon scholars, 1 the Vilna Gaon in must correspondingly spend more surely be rewarded. ... 3 his commentary on the same hala­ ef his time with others." 2 cha in Shulchan Aruch brings Rabbi Simcha Wasserman '""'''"' To Its credit, the world of the sources that clearly obligate every has many times taught publicly that yeshiva has produced most of the Jew to share of his Torah wlth the the GRA cites this Midrash to show dedicated teachers and volunteers less fortunate. One of the Midra­ that even if a Jew has a loaf for in outreach today. But Reb Moshe's shim the Gaon quotes is based on himself. he must give a part of it to call was to every Jew who had the a passage which we read in the his fellow Jew. good fortune of receiving a Torah Haftorah ofYom Kippur. Indeed, one does not need to be education to share of his treasure a scholar to teach a Jew " ... the with others. "Slicefor the hung111 your bread . .. " Shema and the tefilla. and teach Clearly. there are great numbers (Isaiah 58,7): There is no hunger him every day one pasuk and one of yeshiva-educated working men like he who hungers for words of halacha and encourage him in the and women who love the Torah and Torah and there is no bread but mitzvos ...... as the cited Midrash their people no less than their peers words ef Torah ... From here they goes on to enumerate. in chinuch. Is it not the natural expression of love of Torah study to want to introduce others to the beloved? Why then do we feel AN URGENT REMINDER unequal to the task of the outreach FROM tithe? CHEVRA DOR YESHORIM THE OBSTACLES he sad truth is that many YOUNG PEOPLE OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE MUST BE TESTED religious Jews. in order to in order to prevent the scourge of Tay-Sachs disease from striking the next T survive in a hostile culture. generation. in accordance with the directives of the Gedolei Hadar. have placed religion together wlth politics-safely off the list of SCHOOLS and YESHIVOS: approved topics of conversation Please call 718-384-2332 if you are wlth their non-observant brethren. interested in having testing done for students. Their experience has shown that the Genetic counseling is also available. non-observant co-worker might very Call for an appointment: well react defensively and even angrily as such discussions inevit­ (718) 384-6060 or (914) 783-1370 ably point out his own lack of Confidentiality assured. commitment. The religious Jew might rightly assume that his fellow CHEVRA DOR YESHORIM, INC. is very far from changing his lifestyle 160 Wilson Street. 1-B, Brooklyn, NY 11211 to honor the strictures of Jewish tradition. These concerns, however. do not negate the prospects that the 12 The Jewish Observer, April 1989 estranged Jew might very well desire THE POTENTIAL STUDENTS bear fruits in his greater observance his own special part in the study of of the mitzvos. Though we may the Torah. Our sages tell us that t is unfortunate that many mis­ never have the ego trip of being able whoever studies Torah in front of takenly feel that only the Jew to claim credit for our office mate's an Ignorant Jew is considered as if I who seems to have the potential total transformation, the influence he had violated his betrothed in to change his life around fully is a of our Torah With surely be felt in front of him.4 No matter how distant likely candidate for outreach work. myriads of ways that we don't have a Jew may seem from Judaism, he College students and JeWish cult­ to be aware of. "A little bit of light may still be stirred by the authentic members should not be the only pushes away a lot of darkness." expertence of Torah. market for the Torah's message. To Many an observant Jew in the Frankly, not every discussion of encourage any Jew to begin Torah workplace is afraid to get involved religion must pose a threat to the study is in itself a great accomplish­ with a co-worker, because that secular Jew. Though much of the ment and Will in almost every case involvement might brtng to broader matertal covered in a JeWish edu­ cation relates to the practical obser­ vance of the mitzvos, there is a good deal of attractive and engaging subjects and texts that will not 1270 48th Street. 718-633-3005 directly challenge his life-style, but Brooklyn .N.Y.11219 718-435-1041 Will most assuredly influence him for the good. Just as we ourselves have studied areas in the Talmud that have little bearing on our practical behavior, in the belief that fORYOV every contact With the divine word Who Admires the Challengins and Values the Ullie{m'!, Who Drizeg the Oare and &elecU the Meaningful. has an ennobling effect. so must we You Will Delight-Ill ... have faith that religious issues need not be tackled head on in order to brtng our brethren back to obser­ vance. In the words of the Midrash: 3112 DAYS "... let them forsake Me, yet study My Torah, because as they engage At t'hc Yarc'hci Ralla'h Seminar: in it the light Within it Will return h program presented with Hair and real caring thal cater. lo YOU them to the good."5 to helping you. to encouraging you lo gauge the vistas of your potential. Nor should the religious Jew be SPEAKERS: Harav Ezricl Tauberj<"tl'"" embarrassed to tell his learning Harav.Shim&bon Pinc••J<"~ •.,., partner that he doesn't feel qualified Harav Yiorael Rakovsky J<"tl'.,"' to handle sensitive questions about Rebbetzin Tcbila Yager "'1)1 JeWish faith.