Volume 19 Number 88
Produced: Wed Jun 7 10:03:35 1995
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Charity Supporting Ethiopian Jewry
[Andrea Penkower Rosen]
Comments on Yom Ha'Atzmaut
[Zvi Weiss]
Saying Hallel with a Bracha
[Dov Ettner]
State of Israel
[Joseph Steinberg]
Yom Ha'atzmaut and Rav Kahaneman
[Mordechai Perlman]
Yom HaAtzmaut
[Chaim Wasserman]
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From: Andrea Penkower Rosen <apr@...>
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 23:34:44 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Charity Supporting Ethiopian Jewry
This may be too late for the poster who originally requested a vehicle for
supporting Ethiopian Jewry but perhaps it will be of interest to others.
I just recently returned from the national convention of AMIT women, an
American organization which maintains a network of more than 20 secondary
schools in Israel in which our students learn secular subjects so that
they can pass their bagrut (matriculation) exams and Torah studies. Many
of our students come from underprivileged and/or dysfunctional families.
We also have unique foster family homes for those children (elementary
school through high school age) who cannot be maintained by their own
families. Twelve foster children live in a family setting with surrogate
parents who often have their own small children as well.
In many of our schools we have to supply lunch and breakfast because the
children have been coming hungry. Just a few months ago, we discovered a
large group of Ethiopian children in this predicament and we initiated a
breakfast and lunch program for them. Anyone desiring to support
Ethiopian children can send funds to : AMIT Women
817 Broadway
New York, N.Y. l0003
and specify that the money is to be specially earmarked.
Andrea Penkower Rosen
<apr@...>
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From: Zvi Weiss <weissz@...>
Date: Fri, 12 May 1995 11:55:56 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Comments on Yom Ha'Atzmaut
I feel that Mr. Hornstein's response to me requires some comments:
1. I stated that we recognize the gratitude toward Hashem for giving us
this great opportunity. Mr. Hornstein appears to feel that this is
terribly objectionable because I do not recognize the achievements of all
the Jews who worked to establish the Medina. Let me point out that when
we celebrate ANY major event in Judaism, the focus ALWAYS appears to be
*on Hashem* and NOT on our own achievements. Look at Al Hanissim (Purim)
"And You put his evil intent back on his head and they hanged him..." NO
mention of the battle of the Jews at all... (Chanuka) "and You gave the
strong over to the weak and the many to the few....". The battle is
described solely as a miracle of Hashem... In fact the notion of
"recognizing" the "gamut of Jews" [Should we make a Mi Sheberach for
Herzl?] as the poster writes seems to come dangerously close to the
Torah's prohibition NOT to state "it is my power and the strength of my
hand that has achieved all of this...".
2. With all due respect, Rabbi Yitzchak Greenberg does not appear to be a
significant Halachic source. I do not know of any piskei Halacha that he
innovated that have been accepted and he is considered (to put it mildly)
as a VERY controversial figure within the Orthodox Community. Citing him
as a source for the halachic observances on Yom Ha'Atzmaut does not
appear to strengthen this case.
3. Exactly how does the poster know that we can simply add psalms or
even Hallel for miracles that occur? First of all, who decides what
constitutes a significant miracle and, secondly, what is the authority
for "adding psalms"? I am aware now (and thankful) of the instances
cited by people where *communities* instituted the recitation of Psalms
based upon miraculous events. However, it does not appear that this was
done without Rabbinic guidance. And, most of these cases did NOT
involve the recitation of Hallel on a permanent basis -- certainly not
with a B'racha. Also, these cases do NOT seem to have involved the
addition of psalms to Pesukei D'Zimra. Again, the poster takes no
notice of the distinction between the celebration at the time of an
event and celebration of subsequent anniversaries.
4. I do not understand the poster's comments re Hoshana Rabba. That day
is regarded as a Yom HaDin -- in some sense and, therefore, in addition
to the the expanded Pesukei D'Zimra, there is the entire set of
"Requests" that we state to Hashem in the Hoshanoth as well as the
recitation of the 13 Middoth. At best, the original Yom Ha'Atzmaut was
a "din" when we faced war at the declaration. Does the poster think
that the CURRENT Yom Ha'Atzmaut has that status? The Tefillot certainly
do not appear to reflect that theme...
5. It is very nice to speak of the "Rabbanim of Israel" BUT (a) who
"charged them with the welfare of the Jewish people" as the poster
asserts? Certainly, there are significant portions of the Jewish
Community that did NOT accept these Rabbanim as having that "charge". I
say this without demeaning their scholarship or Torah learning in any
way. These Rabbanim ARE (and were) great Talmidei Chachamim. Certainly,
their pronouncements must be accorded great respect -- but they are NOT
the modern day equivalent of the "great Sanhedrin" and it is NOT clear
that they have this special authority. (b) There are and were other great
Rabbanim of Eretz Yisrael such as the Chazon Ish who did NOT agree with
this sort of "celebration". While I am not claiming that we all follow
the interpretations of the Chazon Ish, it does seem somewhat strange to
accord special "respect" to SOME Rabbanim in Eretz Yisrael and not others.
6. True that Aveilut is suspended for the Yomim Tovim. Does that mean
that the poster thinks that Yom Ha'Atzmaut has the same status as one of
the 3 Major Holidays? More to the point, is Aveilut (12 month) *fully*
suspended on the Major Holidays (that is, after all, probably the sort of
Aveilut that we are talking about)? Is Aveilut suspended on Purim?
I believe that Aveilut is NOT fully suspended on Purim. Does the Poster
think that Yom Ha'Atzmaut has greater Halachic significance than Purim
(which is "midivrei Kabbala")"
7. I saw no serious response to the question of how the date of Yom
Ha'atzmaut could be changed *halachically* just to avoid Chillul
Shabbat. Note that if this day is treated *instead* as a private day of
thanksgiving with NO special *halachic* modifications, it is easier to
justify the flexibility in the scheduling of the day.
I did NOT discuss the "Haftora" because that probably is NOT a
significant halachic issue. I do not know why it was brought up here. I
really limited myself to *3* issues: the addition to the Pesukei D'Zimra
(which Rav Schechter has cited in the name of the Rav ZT"L as being
incorrect); the recitaiton of Hallel whether with or without a B'racha
(because of hefsek in Davening after Amida); and the suspension of the
customs of Sefira. BTW, when I was at YU, one year the Rav ZT"L was at
the "Morg Minyan" on Yom Ha'Atzmaut and he ASKED whether Hallel was said
(without a B'racha) and when told that was what the boys did, he directed
that 1/2 Kaddish be recited after Amida *before* the recitation of
Hallel. I did not inquire further at the time but I beleive that it was
because of the "hefsek" issue. Also, from the way he asked, it was clear
that he was NOT directing the boys that recitation of hallel was "the
thing" to do.
In general, the tone of this response bothers me. Rather than focusing
upon the P'sak as other posters have done (I am especially grateful for
those who provided the quotes from R. Issac Herzog ZT"L), the poster
relies upon an essentially emotional arguement rahter than a rigorous
analysis of sources. In addition, he has appeared to have IGNORED my
comments where I expressed serious reservations about the fact that the
Halachic establishemnt has NOT seen fit to commemorate Yom Ha'Atzmaut in
a meaningful way (from a religious perspective). Sometimes, it seems
that the current Poskim are more interested in explaining why one CANNOT
commemorate Yom Ha'Atzmaut in a particular fashion rather than guiding us
as to how to properly celebrate this day. It is because of the ABSENCE
of this halachic guidance that we get the emotional outburst of the sort
that this poster has addressed. To admit that my "arguement" re Aveilut
may be cogent and then to summarily dismiss it is exactly the sort of
emotional mish-mash that is counter to the rigorous process. If there is
a basis to refute the arguement, *that* is what should be done.
In short, as a believing Jew, I think that we must recognize that the
events leading up to the establishment of the State of Israel (imperfect
as it is) are due to the wondrous ways of Hashem. Our thanks must
therefore be to Hashem. As we seek to express our thanks to Hashem, we
encounter Halachic difficulties and quesitons. These must and can and
will be resolved (for those who follow the P'sak of the Rabbanut and/or
of Rav Goren ZT"L, they already HAVE been resolved). When that is
achieved, we will truly celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut with love and gratitude
toward Hashem.
--Zvi.
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From: <dovle@...> (Dov Ettner)
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 95 09:46:38 +0300
Subject: Saying Hallel with a Bracha
When the Sefardim recite the entire Hallel as we will do on Shavout,
they make the bracha "ligmor et hahallel". On Rosh Hodesh and Hol Hamoed
Pesach the bracha made is "likroh et hahallel" on half Hallel.
Best Wishes to everyone for a Chag Sameach
Dov Ettner
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From: Joseph Steinberg <steinber@...>
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 16:04:22 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: State of Israel
Melech Press wrote:
:The events over the succeeding years have at least underlined the failure
:of this state to even approximate that which the Jewish people has longed
:for for two millennia and have inevitably led to more negative attitudes.
I must disagree in the strongest terms.
1. About 20,000 Jews from Ethiopia would probably be dead now if it
weren't for the State of Israel literally being Mkabetz Galuyot with
reagrds to them.
2. About 500,000 people (including at least 400,000 Jews) have made aliya
from the former Soviet Union within the past few years (3 times faster
during the Shamir years than the Rabin years, but that is a separate
issue.). Where do you think these people would have gone.
3. The primary purpose of the State 'Medinat Yisrael T'he P'tucha
L'Kelitat Ha'aliya' -- the ingathering of the exiles. This has been
accomplished to miraculous extremes.
4. Already, according to some counts, Israel has more religious Jews than
the *rest of the world combined* The gains tothe Jewish religion ALL OVER
THE WORLD as a result of the State are immeasurable. How many students
have stuied in Israel 'En Torah K'torat Eretz Yisrael!'
5. When before in history was a Jew assured the possibility of living in
Eretz Yisrael if he so chose? Living in Eretz Yisrael is a positive
commandmant (even according to the Rambam -- go check Hilchot Ishut and
you will see this quite clearly). A Jewish government has guaranteed this
right.
6. A Jewish government has said that it will rescue Jews anywhere.
Fortunately & unfortunately, it has had chances to prove this, and it has.
This is a miracel and what the State was meant to be.
There are many problems with the current government in Israel. But the
problems that exist are not even comparable to the tremndous successes of
the first sovereign Jewish State in the Land of Israel in 1900 years...
| | ___ ___ ___ _ __ | |__ Joseph Steinberg
_ | |/ _ \/ __|/ _ \ '_ \| '_ \ <steinber@...>
| |_| | (_) \__ \ __/ |_) | | | | http://haven.ios.com/~likud/steinber/
\___/ \___/|___/\___| .__/|_| |_| +1-201-833-9674
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From: Mordechai Perlman <aw004@...>
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 00:17:44 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Yom Ha'atzmaut and Rav Kahaneman
BS"D
If I remember correctly the story was regarding Yom Yerushalayim and not
Yom Ha'atzmaut. As well, even ifhe didn't say tachanun, maybe this only
applied to Eretz Yisroel where the actual miracle took place and not in
Chutz La'aretz.
Mordechai
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From: <Chaimwass@...> (Chaim Wasserman)
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 00:52:01 -0400
Subject: Yom HaAtzmaut
Perhaps Melech Press might be bolstered in his optimism concerning the
state of Israel with a rereading of Rav Soloveichik's Kol Dodi Dofek.
Among the miracles which the Rav does not include in his 1956 essay, is
that Torah institutions and Torah publications have flourished at an
unprecedented rate. This because of the state's subsidies. Nowhere in
America could we have had the enclaves of Torah learning as we do in
Yerushalayim, Bnai Brak, Ponovitch, Kerem B'Yavneh, Shaalivim etc,
etc. No, not even in Melech's Boro Park or my Gan Eden in Passaic.
Now who built the roads, the plumbing, the utilities and who are the
defenders of the safety and well being of those areas with the hundreds
of thousands who flourish in a Torah ambiance?
Rav Henkin, zatzal, understood well the stand-offish neutrality of hefty
segments of the Torah world when he said that Hallel on Yom haAtzmaut
depends on the perspective a person takes with regard to the nature of
the state. In other words, there are two ways of looking at the matter -
legitimately, halachically. And, how one looks at the state depends on
one's perspectives in life.
As for me, I stand on an often repeated dictum of chazal: Ayn Torah
k'torat Eretz Yisrael. Rav Zeira also held from that dictum and that is
why he fasted 40 days to divest himself of the ways of learning in the
great centers of Bavel. For Bavel was galut - not Gan Eden.
Chaim Wasserman, Rabbi
Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton
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End of Volume 19 Issue 88
