By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times
A number of years ago, the Five Towns Jewish Times ran a series of interestig interviews.
They were part of America’s greatest generation. They came of age during the Second World War and witnessed the destruction and subsequent rebuilding of the Jewish nation. They saw it all; touched us all; and, most importantly, led us through it all.
They were our Rabbis, many for over half a century, and they quietly and carefully helped to orchestrate the greatest rebuilding of Klal Yisroel since the second Churban.
The Five Towns Jewish Times was wondering: What do these men have to say to us now? With their insights carefully honed for over half a century, what would they, the Rabbis Emeretus, be telling us in their Shabbos Shuvah drashos – if they were to be given now?
The series began with Rabbi Ralph Pelkovitz. Rabbi Pelkovitz is known as one of the deans of the American Orthodox Rabbiinate. He studied in Yeshiva Torah V’Daas. He was a student of Rav Shlomo Heiman, and is the translator and annotator of the Seforno on Chumash. He is also the Rabbi Emiretus of the White Shul in Far Rockaway where he served as the Rav for over half a century.
YH: Rabbi Pelcovitz, What are the issues that should be addressed in Far Rockaway-Five Towns?
RRP: Normally in 21st century America one should use the Shaqbbos Shuva platform to strengthen the commitment of the listeners to Torah and Mitzvos – religious observance. To strengthen their commitment and elevate their quality of observance. I would differ. Fifty years ago when we came to this community and we were living in the post WWII period – at that time the times called for was that. Commitment was weak, the Yeshivos were weak. I myself at that time addressed the issue of ahavas limud hatorah – to try to encourage people to come to a shiur – the average shul was built around davening, a yartzeit, a purim and Chanukah; to listen to a chazzan or a drasha – to be challenged superficially not necessarily in depth. In today’s world – that has succeeded in a community such as ours – not the average community in the United States of America.
YH: So what would people here need to learn?
RP: The Shabbos Shuvah Drasha is not needed to encourage people to attend a daf yomi. They are there and will do that. Nor does tzedakah need to be encouraged. What we need to address are the areas that need assistance. What does the more yeshivish seviva need to hear?
YH: Yes, what would be the first thing you would address?
RP: The area of the Ben Odom lechaveiro. Who is a frum Jew? How do you define and how does one reach a point where he is entitled to the title that he is a religious frum pious person? What are the yardsticks? The current yardsticks re skewed, wrong or incomplete. When a secular person asks how could a religious Jew be so unethical, so immoral? Is it not important to teach ourselves that the simplest answer to that question is that it is wrong. He is not entitled to that title as a frum Jew. Keeping Kashrus, tzitzis and Shabbos does not entitle him to be called a religious Jew if in fact he is dishonest or immoral.
YH: What would be the next thing you would address?
RP: It would be related to the first area. The Yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs and other schools. Are the Yeshiva Gedolos today teaching derech eretz to their students? Can you tell, looking at a young man or woman in public, whether he or she is a Talmid of a seminary or a Bais Yaakov or could he just as well be a student of any college or secular high school? I have noticed that too many of these young people, especially the boys, lack simple basic fundamental behavior of derech eretz. Derech eretz to an older person, to a teacher or a Rav and to their companions – their chaveirim. Some claim that because we live in a relatively affluent society – one of entitlement – where the average youngster has never really been confronted with any kind of challenge when it comes to their lifestyle.. They have never gone hungry been denied a new suit or dress. They enjoy many of the luxuries which they do not even consider luxuries.. Has this spoiled them and affected their personalities and character? Are parents sensitive to this lack in their children? If so, might it be that they themselves are insensitive in this area. Is the kavod that a student once had for a teacher, fifty years ago or 100 years ago in Europe or in this country – is that still operative today? It would be interesting to ask this of many Rabbonim and teachers and compare it with what old-timers would say.
YH: Is there any over-arching principle that the Shabbos SHuva Drasha should try to accomplish?
RP: Yes. There is an old saw that they used to say, “A sermon should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable..” Shabbos Shuva drashos should set this as its standard.
YH: What is another area that you would address?
YH: Are there any other issues you would bring up?
RP: Yes, the last issue I would bring up is that historically, the Jewish people was always a curious people. They were always involved in the world. We were never, in my humble opinion, although in some ways always isolated, because we are different hain am levado yishkan was always part of the description of the Jewish people.. We never closed ourselves off from the world.. We never built a wall between ourselves and the world where we shut ourselves off from knowing what is going on in the world and selecting things that could be instructive and could broaden our horizons. Vegam es haolam nasan belibo – The concealed is in the heart of man , but the ksiv kri of this posuk is the knowing what is in the world the inquisitiveness was always there. Especially the litvishe yeshivas – the origin and mother of all yeshivas and which kept alive the yeshiva movement for the past two hundred years..
YH: But was this really true of Yeshivos?
RP: Yes it is. They were always interested in the world. They wanted to know history, the culture of the world.. The abysmal amharatzus of the world around us did not exist. Today the more you are involved in the yeshivish community it is almost like a badge of honor that you do not know what is going on in the world..
YH: Have they become so insular?
RP: Yes, they have become very insular. I have seen hundreds of people of children attending yeshivas who are appalled by the isolation and ignorance of their own children… If we are living in this place in this century in this time it is extremely important. Not of copying or becoming like them but at least to understand and to know and to have a broadening of knowledge of the culture of the world around us.
YH: You seem to indicate that they are even proud of it..
RP: Yes. It should not be an honor roll that you do not know what is happening and it should not be bitul Torah that you do know these things.. One should not be an apikores if one does know the names of philosophers.. The Rambam knew the name of “Aristotle.”
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One Response
Reb Eli (Willner): I would like very much to hear your comments on this piece. I have many thoughts that come to mind, but I believe they can be best summarized by quoting the CHaZa”L: v’dibarta bam. . . v’lo bidevarim acheirim.