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Kislev 5762 November 2001U.S.A. 3.50/Foreign 4.50 ·VOL XXXIV/NO. 9THE JEWISH OBSERVER (ISSN)0021-6615 is published monthly exceptJuly and August by the Agudath Israelof America, 42 Broadway, New York,NY10004. Periodicals postage paid !n NewYork, NY. Subscription 24.00 per year;two years, 44.00; three years, 60.00.Outside of the United States {US fundsdrawn on a US bank only) i 2.00 surcharge per year. Single copy 3.50; for-eign 4.50.POSTMASTER: Send address changesto: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway,NY. NY. 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000,Fax: 646-254-1600.Printed in the U.S.A.RABBI NISSON WOLPIN,Remembering Rabbi Avigdor Miller ?· r,Rabbi Shmuel BrogEDITOREDITORIAL BOARDRABBI JOSEPH ELIASChairmanRABBI ABBA BRUDNYJOSEPH FRIEDENSONRABBI VISROEL MEIR KIRZNERRABBI NOSSON SCHERMANPROF. AARON TWERSKIIN THE AFTERMATH (CONTINUED) .1826When Trauma Threatens, Dr.Jacob Mermelstein33The Missed Diagnosis, Chaim IssacKi Nafa/ti Kamti:A Story ofTwoTowers,jeremy KaganOR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Z"LFounding ChairmanMANAGEMENT BOARDAVI FISHOFNAFTOLI HIRSCHISAAC KIRZNERRABBI SHLOMO LESINNACHUM STEINRABBI YOSEF C. GOLDINGManaging EdilorCHANUKA REFLECTIONS3638More Than Skin Deep, Yaakov Asher SinclairWe Wish You a Merry . Chanuka? Chani A ergut KurtzPublished byAgudath Israel of AmericaU.S. TRADE DISTRIBUTORFeldhefm Publishers200 Airport Executive ParkNanuet. NY 10954ISRAELI REPRESENTATIVEfntnl. Media Plai:em1mtPOB 7195 I 5 Even IsraelJerusalem, !SRAELBRITISH REPRESENTATIVEM.T. BibelmanGrosvenor WorksMount Pleasant HillLondon E5 9NE, ENGLANDBELGIAN REPRESENTATIVEMr. E. ApterLange Kievits!r. 292018 AntwerpBELGIUMFRENCH REPRESENTATIVERabbi Bamberger21 Boulevard Paixhans57000 MetzFRANCESWISS REPRESENTATIVEMr. S. FeldingerLeimanstrasse 364051 B.aselSWITZERLANDTHE JEWISH OBSERVER does notassume responsibility for the Kashrusof any product, publication, or serviceadvertised in its pages Copyright 2001November 2001VOLUME XXXIVINO. 9THE WORLD OF BAALEI TESHUVA40Garn "Zoo" LeTovah, Rabbi Nasson Slifkin4344Books in ReviewLetters-to-the-Editor
Rabbi Shmuel Broghe Torah begins with thewords" Bereishis bara Elokim- In the beginning G-d created." Rashi explains the word"Bereishis" to indicate "bishvilreishis- for the sake of reishis, G-dcreated . :· He identifies "reishis" asreferring to the Torah and to Bneiunder the Spartan conditions of theEastern European yeshivas. Thisraised them to an exalted level - alevel that would later enable them tohave a profound influence on thousands of Jews.TBEGINNINGSYisroel.The very word" Bereishis," then,implies that Hashem, who constantly creates the world ex nihi/o, is the Author. Hence Torah,known as '(reishis darko," mustalways be studied with the excitement of one about to begin a journey with G-d. But only the JewishPeople are capable of this missionbecause they alone are calledreishis tevuasa - the first crop ofgrain, whose essence is growth.These three - Hashem, Torah andBnei Yisrael- are intertwined with theeternal message that the Jewish Peoplen1ust immerse themselves in the Creator's Torah, the Blueprint of Creation,to forever maintain their identity as theChildren of Israel, a people who areconstantly beginning afresh.Walking in the ways of the Creator,Rabbi Avigdor Miller ' "::it served Hispeople as a launcher of beginnings parexcellence.I.HIS LIFE STORYMIND OVER MATTERow did a child born in Baltimore at the turn of the century, when 1nost An1erican Jewsfelt it impossible to fight the tide ofassimilation, grow to such spiritualheights?An explanation can possibly beHRabbi Brog, maggid shiur in Mesivta RabbcinuChaim Berlin in Brooklyn, is a son-in-!aw of thelate Rabbi Miller.6gleaned from a comment made by RabbiYerucham Levovitz, ?·::n, Mashgiach of theMirrer Yeshiva in Europe. Over seventyyears ago, Reb Yerucham said, "TheAtnerican bachurim who come to learnin Europe are the Rabbi Akiva Eigers ofour times." Rabbi Yerucham surely didnot mean that those American studentswere more accomplished in their studies than their teachers. Before his death,Rabbi Al iva Eiger ?"lll had stipulated thathe would permit only one of his achievements to be mentioned at his funeral: hisdemonstration that the delight of Torahcan elevate a man beyond the world ofaffliction. Throughout his life, RabbiAkiva Eiger was beset with severe physical pain. Yet his co1nplete in1mersion inTorah engendered a kedusha that enabledhim to overcome his pain.The material world can threatenTorah in only two ways, either with thethreat of pain and destruction or with thelure of wealth and pleasure. Much asRabbi Al iva Eiger overcame pain, theseAmerican bachurim managed to overcome the lure of wealth and pleasure, byleaving the comforts of America to liveigdor Miller was born to Yisoel and Hoda Riva Miller inaltimore, Maryland, on thesecond day of Rosh Chodesh Ellul,5668 (August 29, 1908). Shy andreserved as a child, Avigdor displayeda keen interest in learning and aprodigious memory. First he attended his grandfather's Talmud Torah.When he was a bit older, his fatherengaged a Gemora teacher for him.During this period he closeted himself for long hours, studying in thelocal shut.His love of learning led him to a second gal us. At age 17, after graduating highschool, he left Baltimore for YeshivasRabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan in New York,the only yeshiva in America at that timewith a beis midrash. When he arrived in1925, he found the yeshiva, located onManhattan's Lower East Side, with physical amenities that were far from luxurious. The yeshiva served day-old bread,collected from local bakeries. On Shabbos, the n1ain course often consisted ofsardines or hard-boiled eggs. Nevertheless, young Avigdor's hasmada did notdiminish. Having received a scholarshipto attend the yeshiva, he became Presidentof the Student Council. His erudition wasquickly recognized, and one of his chiddushim (innovative Torah discussions)was in the school journal alongside theTorah insights of Rabbi MosheSoloveitchik ?.::it, the Rosh Yeshiva.While in the Yeshiva, he arranged forbachurim to attend a private shiur (lecture) on the mussar classic MesillasYes ha rim given by Reb Yaakov Yosef Herman .,.::it (of All Por The Boss fame).The Jewish Observer, November 2001
In 1932, Rabbi Izak Sher, 7"'1t, RoshYeshiva of the Slobodka Yeshiva in Lithuania, and son-in-law of the yeshiva'sfounder, the AlterofSlabodka (Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel) 7"'1l, came to America toraise money for the Yeshiva. While in theUnited States, Rabbi Sher delivered several shmuessen in the Broadway CentralHotel where he was staying. Young Avigdor Miller was impressed with the mussarsystem he espoused, and felt drawn toSlabodka. He had one problem: he waslearning with great diligence, utilizingevery spare moment; what more would heaccomplish in Slabodka? He consultedRabbi Yehuda Davis, an old friend of hisfrom Baltimore, who had already been toSlabodka and was going back. He advisedhim, "What it takes four hours to learnhere, you can learn in one hour in Slabodka:' The decision was made.Rabbi Sher's visit was during theDepression, and he did not come backwith much money for his yeshiva, but hedid succeed in returning with goods farmore precious: dedicated An1ericanbachurim, who would eventually beinstrumental in changing the face ofAmerican Jewry.SLABODKA YEARSrub Avigdor arrived in Slabodkaefore Shavuos. In Slabodka, hisasmada (diligence) became evenmore intense. During the first three hoursof the day he wouldn't talk to anyone,even if they wished to discuss the Gemora. If approached, he would motion"Later" with his hand.The yeshiva only provided one meala day. The 10 monthly that his parentssent him went for rent and food, leavinglittle for clothing. Later, when the dollarwas devalued and I 0 was worth only 5,he often went hungry. No sacrifice wastoo big for the sake of enhanced Torahlearning.In 1935,he married n'7:J' Etel Lesin, thedaughter of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Lesin,7"'1t, Rav of Neustadt-Zugind, a prize student of the Alter of Slabodka. RabbiMordechai Shulman, 7'"'1t, his rebbts sonin-law and later Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, was the shadchan, and was laterThe Jewish November, October 2001involved in helping him obtain a positionin Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin.In 1938, when the United States Government advised all American citizens toreturn home because of the imminentwar, he was faced with a major problem.His wife had an eye infection, thus ineligible for a visa. Out of desperation, hepersonally pleaded with the Americanconsul in Kovno, who - to his surprise- came from Baltimore and had attended the same high school as he, albeit ata different time. The consul, feeling anaffinity for his fellow Baltimorian,arranged for their visas to be issued. RebAvigdor used the opportunity to persuade the consul to also issue visas toAmerica for Rabbi and RebbetzinShmuel Leib Svei, and their children(including today's Philadelphia RoshHayeshiva).RABBI OF CHELSEA, MASS.Nine months after his return toBaltimore, he became Rav inChelsea,Massachusetts.Immediately upon his arrival there, hetook two important steps. He paidwhat was then an exorbitant sum of l 00 for the right to say the daily daf,despite the fact that that sum couldcover 4 to 5 months' rental for a fourbedroom apartment in a fashionableneighborhood! He also announced onShabbos morning that he would personally teach any older child free ofcharge. Only one person came forward.The next day - accompanied by hismother - was a young man, two yearsRabbi Miller's senior, attired in abloodstained butcher's apron. RabbiMiller began teaching Mr. Kaufman,1:rt, who beca1ne a dedicated worker onbehalf of Kial Yisroel. He was laterinstrumental in sending a number ofChelsea boys to yeshivas, and ultimatelytook over the afternoon yeshiva highschool that "the Rabbi" had started.When Rabbi Miller announced hisplan to establish an afternoon yeshiva, he encountered great opposition.Permission had been granted for theyeshiva's checks to be made out to theshul, but once the funds were raised,the shul's Board refused to releasethem. Only after Rabbi Millerappeared before the Board and, withtears in his eyes, begged them to reconsider, did they relinquish the money.Eventually, the force of Rabbi Miller'sconviction and perseverance turnedback the tide of opposition. When theyeshiva opened, even those who hadinitially opposed it welcomed it witha special celebration.Rabbi Miller soon realized that hecould not raise his children in Chelsea.For one year, he had a home tutor forhis oldest son. The following year, hesent his son to a day school in Boston,while his oldest daughter attended apublic school kindergarten in Chelsea.He did not feel comfortable with thesearrangements, so he resigned from hisposition without having another one.Shortly thereafter, Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, ?··on, Rosh Hayeshiva of MesivtaRabbeinu Chaim Berlin, offered himthe position of Mashgiach in the yeshiva. Years later, Rabbi Miller would jokingly say, "I thought hard for aboutthirty seconds - and then said yes."MASHGIACH AND RAVhen Rabbi Miller became theMashgiachofMesivtaRabbeinu Chaim Berlin in1944, Rabbi Hutner proposed that hewottld say the shiurim while Rabbi Millerwould say the shmuessen. Rabbi Millerdeferred to the Rosh Yeshiva, and concentrated on seeing that the bachurimwere keeping the sedorim (schedule) andlearning.Soon after his arrival in New York,Rabbi Miller also assumed the positionof Rav of the Young Israel of Rugby, inEast Flatbush. He in fact became Mashgiach and Rebbi, as well, constantlyteaching and delivering shiurim. His"sermons" were shmuessen, and he wasready to lend a listening ear and helping hand to all who sought his adviceWand assistance.In a few short years, Rabbi Miller hadachieved a virtual miracle. He hadchanged the face of a small shul, withmostly religious Zionist members, at a7
time vvhen keeping one's store closed onShabbos was the sign of a tzaddik,transforn1ing it into a place of seriousTorah stndy with emphasis on personal spiritual growth. Perhaps his unstinting efforts coupled with his supremebitachon were the catalyst for the vastSiyata Dishmaya he ultimately had ininfluencing an entire generation.As Rav, he withstood numerous trialsand staunch opposition. The shufs firstbanquet ever was in honor of the president, whose wife was president of the sisterhood. Rabbi Miller stipulated that therebe no social dancing - a radical requestat that time. The shul agreed. Two weeksbefore the banquet, however, the presidentinformed Rabbi Miller that his childrencould not fathom a grand affair withoutdancing. Rabbi Miller responded firmly,"If there will be dancing, I will not come,and the shul will not sponsor it:' The president, who was then the 1nain financialsupporter, left the shun Hashem sent others to take his place and the shul survived.The women's section of the shul wasseparated from the men's by a very lowmechitza. Rabbi Miller knew that a proposal to raise
to: The Jewish Observer, 42 Broadway, NY. NY. 10004. Tel: 212-797-9000, Fax: 646-254-1600. Printed in the U.S.A. RABBI NISSON WOLPIN, EDITOR EDITORIAL BOARD RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS Chairman RABBI ABBA BRUDNY JOSEPH FRIEDENSON RABBI VISROEL MEIR KIRZNER RABBI NOSSON SCHERMAN PROF. AARON TWERSKI OR. ERNST L. BODENHEIMER Z"L Founding
