The Rav of Moldovia, HaRav Pinchos Zaltzman, works in a frenzy these days. The stream of refugees continues to flow into his country, and as rabbi of a Jewish community which feels a fraternal responsibility for its fellow Jews, he is mobilizing everything available to assist those who are fleeing Ukraine, while concurrently, he is involved in the opening of a new Talmud Torah (which took place this Monday) at the far end of the city so that Torah can continue to "protect and save."

A talk with him proceeds intermittently, as he continues to attempt to solve all kinds of problems, some altogether unsolvable.

All of the chareidi communities throughout Israel are preparing for the upcoming Parshas Zochor which Torah leaders have declared to be a "Shabbos Chizuk" against the threat of technology. During its course, rabbonim of communities and spiritual leaders of our ranks will rouse the public to be vigilant against the evil inroads of technology which continue to develop in their many forms.

It will be remembered that a delegation on behalf of the rabbonim of "The Committee to Fortify the Walls of Jewry" met in the home of the Rosh Yeshiva who congratulated and bolstered them for their initiative to declare Shabbos Zochor, the time of remembering [the mitzvah of] erasing the memory of Amolek, whereby all rabbonim of the many communities were directed to arouse the public to the dangers of technology, saying that "this is a very beneficial thing and certainly advisable and commendable. There is no question about it."

When the Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah bais medrash closed its doors in the winter of 2020, no one would have dreamed that it would be 731 days until they reopened once again, exactly two years later. While 2021's virtual Yarchei Kallah was a welcome respite from a pandemic that had long overstayed its welcome, being able to return to the Ramada Jerusalem Hotel was a dream come true, the bais medrash walls eagerly soaking up the sweet sounds of Torah.

An initiative of the Agudah's Torah Projects Commission, the 2022 annual Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah was sponsored by the Lefkowitz family in memory of their parents and imbued with a combination of reverence and enthusiasm from its opening moments on February 20th. Even before they made their way to their home base at the Ramada, a large number of participants enjoyed pre-Yarchei Kallah programming that provided an additional element of familiarity to the sugya d'kallah — the halachos of krias haTorah and haftorah.

On February 20, some fifty delegates from Orthodox Jewish communities around the world traveled to Israel to communicate Diaspora Orthodox Jewry's voices with the highest levels of Israeli leadership and government. The goal of this mission was to relay that the Orthodox Jewish community is a strong, vibrant community that deserves input into matters which concern Diaspora Jews. As it is now, the government's dialogue is limited, mostly, to being with Reform and Conservative representatives, who do not share the opinions of Orthodox Jews.

Of particular concern for the Orthodox communities is retaining the status quo of the religious nature of the State, in particular as it relates to the status of the Kosel and conversion (giyur), and that when the Israeli Government turns to Diaspora Jewry for their input on these issues, Am Echad — which represents a broad array of Orthodox individuals and organizations internationally — deserves a seat at the table.

Editorial note: The article was written and published in 1995/5755 in the months following the petiroh of HaRav Shimon Schwab zt"l. This year on Purim Katan will be the 27th yahrtzeit.

In the first four parts, we read about Rav Schwab's family and early education in Germany, as well as the eastern European yeshivos: Telshe and Mir. The third part told of his experiences as a young rav in Ichenhausen in the early years of Hitler, ym'sh. This week's installment tells of his actions.

Part VIII — Final Part

The Limud from a Ma'ase Chulin

Another trait Rav Schwab evinced is a sense of pikchus—wisdom. Dovid Hamelech said mikol melamdei hiskalti — from all my teachers I gained intelligence. Rav Schwab could turn the most mundane circumstances into a chance to learn or teach a lesson. He always had stories to tell. Many of these were just what, to another person, would be an ordinary encounter. He would transform them into educational experiences.

One example of this phenomenon was a story he told from his early days in Baltimore when he used to drive his own car. During a funeral, it was the custom that the Rav would travel in the car following the hearse. The day was very hot and as the funeral procession proceeded at a slow pace the Rav dozed off for a second. His car veered off to the side but the Rav quickly recovered and boruch Hashem tragedy was averted. This story then became a mussar haskeil: if in gashmius being unalert for a split second could have such drastic effects so certainly in ruchniyus a person must never let down his guard.