Shevat 5782

We hear cries of pain from our brothers who dwell in Eretz Yisroel as the Israeli government plans decrees that will seriously affect the Torah population there. Examples include:

desecrating the Kosel HaMaaravi - the last remnant of the Beis Hamikdash and the place from which the Divine Presence has never left - by permitting in it mixed prayer services and desecrations of our holy religious values;

acting to remove the safeguards for modesty accepted by the chareidi population upon themselves with respect to the use of "kosher" phones;

...

The Jewish communities throughout Ukraine have united to recite Perek 130 in Tehillim every morning in a plea before Hashem for peace between nations, that no blood be shed. This is in answer to the growing tension between Russia and the Ukraine lest war break out between them.

In an interview with Yated Ne'eman, the chief rabbi of Ukraine, HaRav Yaakov Bleich, explains that the growing unease is hardly felt in the country. He claims that the subject is more noticeable in the streets of Boro Park and other chareidi enclaves like Bnei Brak and Yerushalayim: "Last week, our Kehilla in Kiev gathered in order to update its members to the situation, to prepare necessary needs and especially to be aroused in prayer that 'no nation shall lift a sword against one another and would not learn warfare.'"

But to his surprise, many of the members of the congregation asked to what danger he was referring! They were altogether ignorant of the threatening political situation.

In the wee hours of the night, the bus climbs up the hill leading to Radin, wending its way between the wooden houses, decrepit with age. It approaches the tomb of the one who illuminated the eyes of Jewry. In addition to the cold bursting into the bus the moment the doors are opening, a shiver of excitement grips the passengers at the realization that they have reached their destination, that they will very shortly be standing at the very site where the tzaddik was interred.

On the night between Wednesday and Thursday this week, Jerusalem had a snowfall of 6 to 8 inches. It has been several years since Jerusalem experienced such a serious snowfall and for many it was their first experience. Some children were suprised that snow is cold!

Here are some pictures of scenes from the Jerusalem snowfall of 5782.

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.

Last week we read about Rav Schwab's family and his education in Germany and in the eastern European yeshivos: Telshe and Mir. His rebbe in Frankfurt, Rav Shlomo Breuer, had asked him to return to work in Germany, and this week we read about his experiences as a young rav in Schweben in the early years of Hitler, ym'sh.

Part III