The harsh words of the posek hador, Maran HaRav Yosef
Sholom Eliashiv shlita, this week concerning the
urgent need to establish a genealogical database (sefer
yuchsin), and his statement concerning the judges of the
high court, whom he charged with undermining the fundamentals
of religion, reverberated strongly and loudly this week. They
penetrated to every minister and top ranking official in the
government, to every Knesset member and to every public
figure in Israel.
The Am Echad delegates felt the need to attempt to convince
the people in the government to keep intact all those areas
of religion which have been tampered with in recent years. It
is not every day that such a delegation visits Eretz Yisroel.
Comprised of over 100 people, it included doctors, lawyers,
legal experts and businessmen from the U.S. All of them where
dark-suited black-hatted chareidim who, from a cursory look,
resembled very much the typical local kollelnik. Many
delegates were rabbinical figures, educators and people
holding communal offices throughout the U.S. Still others
came as public figures, askonim who regularly devote
daily sessions to Torah study.
They were united under the aegis of the pan-Orthodox public
relations organization which has existed for the past few
years: Am Echad. As askonim dealing with Jewish
problems in America, its members are attuned to what is
happening in Israel, and they came last week to inaugurate
the offices of Am Echad in Jerusalem, which will be headed by
the famous writer and former Yated-English editor, R' Yonason
Rosenblum.
The Danger of Basic Laws
This was the second time that a delegation of Am Echad
visited the country. A similar visit was made about two years
ago, then headed by R' Moshe Sherer zt'l who, despite
his illness and difficult physical condition, exerted a
supreme effort to come to Eretz Yisroel for a series of
meetings with the government heads. With his passing, a new
roster of leaders was appointed to head Agudath Israel of
America, and they helped with the planning and preparation of
this present visit. Rabbi Shmuel Blum, vice chairman of
Agudath Israel of America and Avrohom (Abe) Biderman,
chairman of Am Echad, were very involved. At the helm of the
planning committee was the vice president of Agudath Israel,
Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin, one of the heads of the delegation
who was responsible for coordinating the itinerary and
schedule of meetings and events involving the delegation. We
will not be able to report on everything that the delegation
was able to accomplish in its brief but intense visit, but we
hope to cover the highlights.
Fair Persuasion
Tuesday of last week was the first official day on the
agenda. At 11:45 promptly, they came to the Beis Midrash for
Halacha in the Settlements.
The first address was given by R' Eliyohu Meir Klugman who
explained to the audience, in English, the significance of
this campaign in Eretz Yisroel and the topics on the
agenda.
"The goal of the delegation is to fulfill the injunction of
`You shall love Hashem your G-d' and its interpretation -- of
causing the name of Heaven to be loved through you. Just as
the tefillin shel rosh are designed to show `all the
nations of the land that the name of Hashem is designated
upon you,' so is it the goal of every Jew, and of the
representatives of `Am Echad', One Nation, to dignify and
augment the name of Hashem through their actions and their
example. Hashem's tefillin bear the verse, "Who is
like
Your people, Israel, one nation in the land.' If we acquit
our obligation of generating love for Hashem, then He will do
His part, and we will surely be `Your people, Israel, one
nation in the land.'
"R' Yonason Rosenblum, Am Echad's director-general in Israel,
can provide an excellent example of what the proper publicity
can do. He was able to change the entire tone and attitude of
the most prestigious newspaper in the U.S., the New York
Times, which at present has exhibited great sympathy
towards orthodox Jewry," concluded Rabbi Klugman.
Moslem Immigrants
HaRav Yosef Efrati, secretary of HaRav Eliashiv, spoke next
to the delegation.
"I was requested to present the message of Maran HaGaon R'
Eliashiv concerning topical problems, which also represents
the views of other gedolei Yisroel. These fall into
three main categories:
"1. The delegation is asked to bring up the matter of
establishing a genealogical database (sefer yuchsin).
The subject of non-Jews in Israel and the threat of
intermarriage, is at the very top of pertinent issues. In the
past, it was argued that many conversions were performed
abroad for gentiles, and that these converts were not valid
Jews. But the numbers were few. Today, even official bodies
admit that over 50% of current immigrants are not Jewish.
These gentiles are unable to immigrate to the U.S., but find
no difficulty in coming here. Upon their arrival, they are
duly registered and reside together with Jews, study
alongside them and are even designated as Jews in their
identification cards.
"Our public does not need a registration of genealogy for
itself, but this is vital for the hundreds of thousands of
non-Jews residing here in Israel. Even today, in many
instances, it is not known who is a Jew and who isn't. In a
few years time, many of them will penetrate the vineyard of
Jewry, with the aid of the state of Israel. You are about to
meet with Yossi Beilin. He has published a book in which he
explicitly writes that Israel must help these goyim
through various ways. According to him, he has the perfect
solution to make this possible: secular `conversion' for
everyone, with the conditions for acceptance into the Jewish
nation identical to membership qualifications for a non-
selective country club. Any and every gentile who comes to
Israel from any country and declares that he wishes to remain
here, shall be certified as Jewish. And they are already
doing this.
"Recently, a rabbi from a community in Russia visited Maran
R' Eliashiv and related that those who are emigrating from
his area are not Jews but Moslems, coming for economic
reasons. They do not immigrate to America, but to Israel.
According to him, 90% of the immigrants coming from the
various countries of the C.I.S. are not Jewish at all, and
many, indeed, are Moslem. All of gedolei Yisroel,
including HaRav Eliashiv, and as I explicitly heard in the
name of HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman and HaRav Chaim
Kanievsky, must raise this issue to top priority on the
agenda. Among other things, it is important that this message
be clarified to the heads of the Israeli government. Agudath
Israel and Am Echad must work jointly to see this through
successfully."
The Worst of the Nations
"2. The second point is the Judicial Dictatorship. In every
normal country there is a congress, senate, parliament or
knesset, that is, a representative legislative body. We shall
not go into the prohibition of taking our disputes to civil
courts, which is considered `defying Toras Moshe.'
Regardless, in a normal country, the courts interpret the
laws and apply them in cases between litigants. Here there is
a body with tremendous clout that is reminiscent of the
absolute powers of the czars of ancient times. They, and the
chief justice, exert tremendous power, which everyone knows
is wielded against religion. They freely interpret all the
laws passed by the Knesset arbitrarily as they see fit, and
even legally disqualify as unconstitutional pro-religious
laws passed in the Knesset. The Am Echad delegation must
raise a hue and cry and ask: Why don't you take an example
from the most progressive of all countries which would never
allow for such a state of affairs.
"3. The Jewish community in the Land of Israel needs a
yeshua in all of these matters, and especially in
matters connected to the Torah world. Of prime importance is
the proposal to draft yeshiva students. The High Court
intervened in this area, and the prime minister promised in
his election campaign to draft yeshiva students into the
army. This is a very basic and nonnegotiable; a volatile
issue upon which we cannot compromise. Maran R' Eliashiv and
other Torah leaders originally agreed to join the present
leftist coalition for the sole reason of rescuing the Torah
world in Eretz Yisroel. This is why orders were issued not to
accept any ministerial positions in the government. Joining
the coalition was made with one sole condition: that the
prime minister retract his plans regarding this issue. There
were many problems involved but we hope that Barak intends to
keep his word. A committee was established in order to
explore ways for him to do so.
"These are the three salient points: the sefer
yuchsin,
the judicial monopoly, and above all, the status of Torah
scholars. If there is any change in their status, it will
cause an unbreachable schism. It will destroy the very
framework of orthodox Jewry's survival in this country. This
is one firm issue which will breach no compromise. We hope
that there will be no change for the worse in those areas
that even Ben Gurion conceded," concluded R' Efrati.
Visiting Maran HaRav Eliashiv
Next the delegates went to HaRav Eliashiv's home. The
delegates heard the matters again. "A situation has been
created in which tens of thousands of non-Jews have
intermingled with the Jewish nation in Israel. In addition,
most of the immigrants who continue to come are non-Jews. To
our sorrow, there is a tendentious aim to hide the lists of
those who are disqualified for regular Jewish marriages. As a
result, there is a great need to discuss the issue of keeping
genealogical records and advancing the issue in a practical
manner." This was one of the main points made by Maran HaRav
Eliashiv.
Maran HaRav Yosef Shalom added penetrating comments about the
judicial situation in Israel. "Justices of Israel's High
Court undermine the foundations of religion. Unlike normal
countries throughout the world, in which the function of the
court is to interpret the law, here in Israel, the High Court
judges -- although they haven't been chosen for that purpose -
- have the power to do anything they please. They force their
world view onto the public in a manner which negates the
principles of religion."
In the Petach Tikva Shuvu School
Next on the program was a bus trip to Petach Tikvah.
"It is so wonderful to see sons of the new immigrants
learning gemora," said Mr. Avrohom Biderman, head of
the Shuvu network, on the visit to the Shuvu school in Petach
Tikvah with the Am Echad delegation.
The representatives of Am Echad were welcomed by the heads of
Shuvu in Israel: Rabbi Chaim Michoel Gutterman, director and
assistant director, Rabbi Avrohom Mordechai Horn. The
contingent was also welcomed by hundreds of the students who
greeted them with singing and waving flags.
The contingent went around to the classes and tested the boys
with various questions about Yiddishkeit. The boys
amazed them with their answers and by doing so, proved the
wonderful progress they have achieved, thanks to the
dedicated chinuch given by the educational staff
working day and night to instill these children with our
heritage and ensure it takes root. These children, as well as
their parents, had been removed from any spark of Judaism for
decades.
After a wonderful round of singing by the students, the
moro de'asra, and rosh yeshiva of Nachalas
Dovid,
HaRav Boruch Shimon Solomon spoke. He noted, "When the school
opened in Elul three years ago, I met children who didn't
know what a shofar was, nor did they know thee was a Creator
of the world. Now these children are learning and speaking in
Torah. This can help explain the posuk, "It was from
Hashem; it is wondrous in our eyes.""
Visiting HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman
The delegates traveled to Bnei Brak to hear from Maran HaRav
Aharon Leib Steinman. "We can battle the Reform and the
Conservatives only by strengthening the yeshivos and the
kollelim and by maintaining and establishing many
Torah
and Jewish studies institutions. Only by means of activities
such as those of the Nesivos Moshe educational fund and Lev
L'Achim is it possible to expand the teshuva world,"
HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman them.
HaRav Steinman spoke about the current situation, noting that
much must be done in order to spread kevod Shomayim.
"You have arrived in Eretz Yisroel," he said, "in
order
to strive on behalf of kevod Shomayim. Regarding such
activities, Chazal said: `The gatherings of the righteous
benefit them and benefit the world.'
"There is much to do here in Eretz Hakodesh, and in
America, too. But the center of the Torah world is here, in
Eretz Hakodesh, as it is written, `Ki miTziyon
teitzei Torah udvar Hashem miYerusholayim.' The Torah of
Eretz Yisroel influences the entire world.
"The Reform and Conservatives gained strength in America when
there were no yeshivos there. There were talmidei
chachomim and tzadikim, but barely any yeshivos,
and
the Jews there regressed spiritually, for without yeshivos
there is nothing. Today, boruch Hashem, the country
abounds in yeshivos, and they are the basis of Klal
Yisroel, for if there are no young goats there can be no
mature goats.
"We must know that the more yeshivos and kollelim
there
are, the more kedusha will abound, and this will
enable
us to battle the reform and the conservative. Boruch
Hashem,, people today are not joining the Reform; and
only
one born into a Reform family remains in that stream. The
public at large is not drawn to them. . . . Enterprises such
as Nesivos Moshe -- which is affiliated with the Chinuch
Atzmai -- and Lev L'Achim are active in increasing numbers of
baalei teshuva, and the more these organizations
spread
their influence, the greater will be their success.
"We must take measures to implement the idea of maintaining
genealogical records, an issue raised by Maran, HaGaon HaRav
Eliashiv, shlita, because more than half a million non-
Jews have arrived in Israel. In some cases, their
grandfathers or fathers were Jewish, but from an
halachic standpoint they are totally non-Jewish. As a
result, we must maintain genealogical records and preserve
the sanctity of the Jewish nation."
HaRav Steinman also discussed the two chareidi Dulberg
sisters who, at the order of an Italian court, are being held
by their father, who appears to have converted to
Christianity, in Italy. The father does not allow them to
have any contact with their mother and severed them from
every tie to Judaism. HaRav Steinman asked HaRav Abrams, who
is handing the problem, to apprise the Am Echad delegates of
developments in the case. HaRav Abrams then asked members of
the delegation to exert their influence and to raise the
issue with American Jewry. He also asked them to meet with
the mayor of New York as well as with senators and other
governmental officials to attempt to effect a change in the
Italian court's decision.
Your Actions are Making an Impact
Next in Bnei Brak, the entourage went to the Admor of
Vishnitz in his home. The Vishnitzer Rebbe cried out in
anguish and said that the Jewish people were in a terrible
predicament. "How is it possible that a million gentiles come
to the Holy Land and within a few days are transformed into
Jews? There is a dreadful danger of assimilation. I remember
the previous visit of Am Echad headed by Rabbi Sherer
zt'l who told me that the definition of Reform is the
very opposite of Jewish. Not only are there Reform Jews here
but there is a greater danger of gentiles turning into Jews.
The situation cries out until the heavens. The prime minister
is preoccupied with the Golan, with Syria, and has no time to
deal with the situation of Judaism in the Holy Land. People
call this a Jewish state? By virtue of what? By the fact that
they turn goyim into Jews wholesale? But when we see upright
Jews coming to our beloved land in order to take action and
to rescue whatever can still be salvaged, we cannot help but
feel greatly encouraged."
The Vishnitzer Rebbe noted further that "in the past fifty
years, . . . Torah has burgeoned. On the other hand, however,
the spiritual condition of the general community is
deteriorating drastically. In the past, even a secular
Zionist showed respect for the sanctity of the Shabbos. Today
even this is violated and trampled upon. . . . There is no
doubt that your efforts are making a tremendous impact and
will leave a lasting impression. May it be the divine will
that your work be productive and that divine blessing
accompany you in all that you do for the sake of increasing
kvod Shomayim."
Brocho Vehatzlocha
Next the delegation made its way to the Beis Midrash of the
Admor of Gur in Bnei Brak. After a mass tefillas
arvis,
the delegation passed before the Rebbe to receive his
blessings, each one respectively receiving a personal wish of
"Brocho vehatzlocha".
A festive reception was then held for the contingent by Rabbi
Yaakov Litzman in the Meor Yisroel yeshiva. The long day
ended with a special reception at the Bnei Brak municipal
building where they met with Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz, the
mayor of Bnei Brak, and other staff members of the government
of the city of Torah and Chassidus.
The Second Day
Wednesday opened with the dedication of the permanent Am
Echad office in Yerushalayim. The Admor of Novominsk, the
Rosh of Agudas Yisroel of America, spoke as did R'
Yonason Rosenblum, the director of the Yerushalayim
office.
Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz mentioned at length the arduous battles
of the orthodox public's representatives in the Knesset as
well as with the media to counter anti-religious propaganda
and incitement. He dwelled on the clashes in establishing a
strong base for the Jewish people in Eretz Yisroel and
brought up points which, in his opinion, were necessary to
stress in their meetings with the heads of the government.
"There is a social and political phenomenon existing in the
state which finds expression in the strange fact that a party
can be established by the votes of 170,000 people whose
platform rests on one goal: to fight against religion. This
terrible state of things has never happened before. We've
always had our battles with anti-religious parties but they
always couched their goals with pleasant sounding ideologies,
like human rights, or peace. But that a party should have the
audacity to get up and declare that its primary goal was to
fight against datiim - is unprecedented; this is a
disgraceful state of affairs.
"It is possible that the heads of the parties have their own
problems, but we cannot ignore the fact that 170 thousand
voters supported their platform! And why? Because we did not
succeed in creating a positive image for religion to present
to the Israeli public, which is something that does exist in
the world at large, even in the secular public. This is why I
see the work of Am Echad as a most positive effort, coming at
an opportune time. You have assumed upon yourselves a serious
campaign of changing the image of the chareidi public
in Israel."
Rabbi Ravitz, as member of the Knesset Legislative Committee,
explained at length the problems of Israeli constitutional
law. "When the basic laws were established, we attempted and
succeeded in incorporating into the definition and aim of the
State of Israel that it be both a democratic and Jewish
state. Aharon Barak published an essay in which he writes
that the concept of Judaism must be so abstract and lofty
that it will meet with the definition of constitutional law
somewhere up there. Through various ploys and wiles, we have
succeeded in postponing a showdown until now, and the
government and the coalition have decided to put off a final
decision and definition until the end of year 2000. We are
talking about severe laws. Not everyone understands the
problems of constitutional law, but it is necessary,
nevertheless, to fight against them," he concluded.
The next meeting was with the two Israeli Chief Rabbis. The
delegates also heard from the mayor of Yerushalayim.
They ate lunch at the Chagall Hall of the Knesset, where they
were joined by Knesset members of Yahadus HaTorah, Shas and
Mafdal. They heard from the Minister of Labor and leader of
Shas Eli Yishai, as well as from the Minister of Housing
Yitzhak Levi of the Mafdal. Speaker of the Knesset Avraham
Burg also addressed them, as the UTJ MK Rabbi Shmuel
Halpert.
The afternoon was spent with various Knesset members from One
Israel, Meretz, Yisrael Ba'Aliya, and Likud. With their
American perspective, the visitors were able to approach some
of these people in ways they had never experienced from a
chareidi person before.
That evening they had a dinner with members of the foreign
press in Israel.
Thursday
On Thursday morning there were two symposiums: "The Media and
the Religious Community" led by Rabbi Avi Shafran, American
director of Am Echad; and another one called "Israel: Jewish
and Democratic." Participating in this one was the Minister
of Justice, Dr. Yossi Beilin.
With the Admor of Belz
On Thursday night (13 Shevat), the Am Echad delegation which
competed its visit in Israel with a visit with the Admor of
Belz.
Rabbi Yisroel Eichler greeted them with brief opening remarks
about the situation of chareidi Jewry, in what he called "the
era of the rule of the media." When the Admor of Belz entered
the hall, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, the vice president of Agudas
Yisroel in the United States, and HaRav Yitzhak Dwek, the
rav of the Sephardic communities in the United States, spoke
in the name of the delegation.
The Admor of Belz blessed the contingent which had come to
strengthen chareidi Jewry in Eretz Yisroel. He said: "In
addition to hearing about the current situation in Eretz
Hakodesh from gedolei Yisroel, we must thank Hashem
Yisborach that chareidi Jewry now numbers thousands
and
tens of thousands and that talmudei Torah, the
yeshivos, the kollelim, mikvo'os and chareidi housing
projects are flourishing.
"We are not only a generation which bears Torah's banner with
pride, but also one which draws others closer to Torah and
spreads the taam of Yiddishkeit, the taam of
Shabbos among tens of thousands of our fellow Jews. If we
continue to act sagaciously and modestly, without provoking
unnecessarily, we can effect a situation in which those who
haven't yet drawn closer to Yiddishkeit will regard lomdei
haTorah with respect.
"We are living in golus, not only abroad, but also
here
in Eretz Yisroel. There is still a danger that they will
issue decrees against the Torah and cholila undermine
loyal Torah Jewry. Therefore, the informational aspect must
be strengthened also abroad and among non-Jews the world
over, so that non-Jews will not side with the secular when
they try undermine the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel. When the
Jews of Eretz Yisroel are denigrated in the world at large,
the Jews abroad are liable to suffer too, chas
vesholom. The main thing is explanation, so that Jews who
are interested in learning about Yiddishkeit will not be
afraid of drawing closer to us."
