On a recent Tuesday, passersby in Bnei Brak may have seen a
car bearing diplomatic license plates pulling up to the
Netivot Olam Yeshiva. Emerging from the car was British
Ambassador to Israel Sherard Cowper-Coles to the amazement of
the onlookers, who were surely asking themselves: What is Her
Majesty's Ambassador doing in the yeshiva?
The Ambassador himself briskly came out of the car and
greeted the rosh yeshiva HaRav Yosef Bruk at the entrance of
the yeshiva. Also waiting to greet the esteemed visitor was
the mayor of Bnei Brak, Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz, who has
succeeded in advancing the city of Torah and Chassidus and,
most importantly, in bringing about an atmosphere of unity
and reconciliation between all the factions and communities
in the city.
A year ago, soon after he started his duties as ambassador to
Israel, the British Ambassador met with a group of rabbonim
to become familiar with the chareidi community in Eretz
Yisroel and to hear how chareidi Jewry views the Israel
of today and of the future. The meeting took place at the
initiative of R' Yitzchok Shapira of London at the Tel Aviv
home of his father, the late Rabbi Avrohom Shapira, and was
hosted by his mother, Mrs. Tovah Shapira. The ambassador
displayed great interest, listened carefully, and asked a lot
of questions on various topics.
One of those attending the meeting was Rav Bruk, who
suggested to Mr. Cowper-Coles that he come to visit his
yeshiva. Subsequent correspondence culminated in the recent
visit.
After exchanging greetings they went up together to the
beis hamedrash. Here the Ambassador surprised his
hosts by asking comprehensive questions regarding the
students, their method of learning, and the staff.
When he entered the beis hamedrash which, as stormy
and turbulent as any yeshiva, is a remarkable scene for
anyone from outside the Torah world, the ambassador asked for
an explanation of this study method. "When I studied in
Oxford, such a scene was unimaginable. Quiet was a
prerequisite for study in the public rooms," he pointed
out.
It was explained to him that deep matters can best be studied
through dialog and mutual criticism. He accepted this
explanation and expressed his admiration for the wisdom of
such a mode of learning.
After this, he requested an explanation about the structure
of the Talmud, its authors and the period in which it
was created. In his reply Rav Bruk emphasized the amazing
phenomenon that one daf encapsulates Jewish history:
The Mishna was written in Eretz Yisroel by
Rabbenu Hakodosh and the Tanoim of his generation
almost 1800 years ago. The gemora was completed by Rav
Ashi and the Ravina in Babylon about 1600 years ago. The
commentaries of Rashi, who lived about 1000 years ago, and
his grandchildren the Baalei hatosfos, about 800 years
ago, flank the pages. In addition there are the glosses of
the Bach from about 400 years ago and the Mesores
HaShas of R. Akiva Eiger who lived about 200 years ago.
All this material, from so many times and places, is still
exceedingly relevant to our generation.
They all went down to the visitors' room where a group of
talmidim awaited the ambassador.
Before the discussion began, some opening comments were made
by Rav Dovid Ordman, son of HaRav Nosson Ordman zt"l,
the former rosh yeshiva of Eitz Chaim in Golders Green,
London. As one of the best speakers on Judaism in Eretz
Yisroel and the world, Rav Ordman spoke about the
importance of the Torah for the existence of the nation and
society in Eretz Yisroeland for Jewish society in the
Diaspora.
The students who were present introduced themselves:
Professor Doron Orbach -- Professor of Chemistry and the
Laboratory Director of Bar-Ilan University, who spends the
first half of his day in the yeshiva and afterwards continues
his scientific work. He described the process of discovery he
went through as a son of Holocaust survivors who severed
their connection with the Creator as a sign of their protest
at the things they went through. His scientific activities
compelled him to see the harmony between all the parts of
creation, from inanimate objects, to plants and man.
The next speaker was Professor Dov Skivin, a former professor
of Meteorology at Beer Sheva University who also came to the
yeshiva as a result of his research and scientific work.
Today he works as a consultant and also learns in the
yeshiva.
Engineer Mike Wilmott, a computer specialist and himself from
England, told the ambassador about his job as a senior
advisor at IBM, who suddenly felt that he was lacking in his
Jewish knowledge. He has also been learning part-time in the
yeshiva now for several years.
Dr. Arye Forn, a doctor of computer studies and mathematics
who was born in Russia, spoke about his experiences in Russia
where the fact of his being Jewish was stressed to him, even
though he himself knew very little about it. His friends said
that his special talents were a result of his "Jewish
genius." When he tried to find out the meaning of this Jewish
genius he found himself, like Avrohom Ovinu, discovering the
Creator. After immigrating to Eretz Yisroel he
continued his studies at the Haifa Technion. After coming to
the yeshiva he wrote his doctorate which won first prize at
an international competition. The competition took place in
Madrid, where he was the Technion's representative. Today he
learns at the yeshiva and teaches in Kiryat Ono.
Lieutenant Colonel Uziya Shalev told the story of his life as
the son of members of the labor movement, who were among the
founders of Ra'anana. He found his way to the yeshiva many
years ago and, after retiring from the army, he started to
learn in the yeshiva full time. Today he is a maggid
shiur and shares his experience with the new students.
Last of the speakers was Chaim Baron, also a Lieutenant
Colonel. As a religious person he always felt a desire to
devote more time and to delve further into Torah studies.
Since his retirement he has integrated intensive Torah
studies at the yeshiva into his daily schedule.
The ambassador listened intently to each of the speakers, and
in his concluding remarks expressed his profound impression
of his experiences during the visit.
Towards the conclusion of the visit Rav Bruk presented the
ambassador with a bound volume of twelve editions of Et
Lachsov, a magazine for Jewish thought published under
the auspices of the yeshiva which enjoys immense success
among the educated Israeli public. Topics include the Jewish
holidays, parent-child relationships, husband and wife,
employer and employee and much more, all discussed in a
pleasant way and on a high intellectual standard.
In a letter of thanks the ambassador wrote, he concluded, "I
do hope we can continue to keep in touch in the months and
years ahead."
