Letter to Editor
Now You See It
Dear Editor,
I appreciate your discussion regarding your beard recently (“Now You See It,” Heard in the Bagel Store, November 28). It brings to mind my dear husband and the story of his beard, which I believe will prove interesting to your readers.
We are well aware that the tzura, the appropriate image of a ben Torah, does incorporate a beard. And so, my husband had been contemplating growing a beard for several years. I, for various reasons was not in favor and discouraged him from doing so. We were in Yerushalayim several years ago for the chagim. My husband went to visit Reb Chaim Kanievsky, zt’l, who immediately inquired, “Where is your beard?” Reb Chaim strongly encouraged my husband to grow his beard.
My husband returned home and shared this exchange with me. Just that morning I had read an incredible story that impressed me so.
Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, zt’l, 1886–1976, born in Grodna, in Belarus, was a major Torah Scholar. In 1929, the Russian authorities, having outlawed Torah study, sent him to prison in Siberia. After three long, arduous years, he was finally released. Various askanim, community activists, arranged to meet him at the local train station in order to accompany him back to yeshiva. They arrived at the station but simply could not find him. They searched around, behind the pillars, around the corners. They finally found Rav Abramsky hiding in a corner with his face obscured with a scarf. It seems that prior to releasing him from prison, his captors had subjected him to the ultimate indignity by totally shaving off his beard. This choshuve Rav was so embarrassed to be seen without his beard, the symbol of a Yid. He felt naked, exposed to the world.
These askanim appreciated Rav Abramsky’s keen sensitivity. They assured him that they would organize minyanim in his home so he would not have to leave the house till his beard had grown in properly. Such was the determination of Rav Yechezkel Abramsky to present to the world the tzura of a choshuve Yid.
In 1932, Rav Abramski emigrated to London where he became the head of the beis din. In 1952, he retired from the beis din and moved to Eretz Yisrael.
It is obviously no coincidence that I had read that moving story just that very morning. That afternoon I finally acquiesced and gave my dear husband the go ahead. And the rest is history.
As I end off, may I extend to you our most sincere condolences upon the loss of your brother. May Hashem send comfort to you and your family. May we share only happiest tidings!
Shira Dancinger
Lakewood and Israel
Dear Editor,
It is well known that before the founding of the State of Israel, many great rabbis in the “chareidi” camp opposed the establishment of a Jewish state. (Other rabbis in that camp supported the endeavor.) However, after the War of Independence of 1948, most of these rabbanim (with the notable exception of the Satmar Rav), accepted the new reality. Rather than continuing their opposition, they chose to work with the nascent state. (In Israel itself, the Brisker Rav, Rav Velvel, effectively sided with Satmar, refusing to interact with the state.)
And so it is with shock that the past few weeks have witnessed a return among certain chareidi rabbis to the anti-Zionism of the pre-state era. The escalation concerns the ongoing draft-dodging by chareidi yeshiva students, and, for that matter, non-yeshiva students.
The most recent example resulted from words uttered by Rav Yitzchak Yosef, a former Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel. He sharply criticized a fellow chareidi rabbi, Rav Tamir Granot, for calling upon the chareidipublic to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Rav Yosef went so far as to state that perhaps Rav Granot (whose son Amitai fell in Gaza) should not be counted for a minyan! However, Rav Yosef is also on record supporting the current Draft Law negotiations that would result in the conscription of some chareidim not studying in yeshiva. Then again, in a 2024 lecture, he stated that no religious Jew should join the army. “They will all become secular,” he said. (This would be news to my numerous religious cousins who served in the IDF and emerged observant.) Regardless of the contradictions, Rav Yitzchak Yosef clearly has moved far from the stance of his father, the saintly Rav Ovadiah Yosef, who expressed support for the saying of Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
All this is prologue to the real tragedy. A few days ago, Rav Aharon Feldman, rosh yeshiva at Ner Israel in Baltimore, sent a salutary letter to Rav Yitzchak Yosef. Rav Feldman thanked Rav Yosef for his admonition to religious Jews regarding army service, stating, without evidence, that “at least half of those who join the army remove from themselves the yoke of Torah and mitzvos” (close translation of the Hebrew text).
Rav Feldman’s anti-Zionism is by now well established, after he wrote as much in an issue of Dialogueseveral years ago. The tragedy now is that his letter was signed by Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yerucham Olshin, Rav Dovid Schustal, and Rav Yisrael Neiman, the four roshei yeshiva at Lakewood’s Beth Medrash Govoha (along with Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva in South Fallsburg). Lakewood has moved significantly from the traditional chareidi non-Zionist stance toward its anti-Zionism of 1947! This was further underscored in a Lakewood gathering a few months ago, where Rav Malkiel joined Rav Aharon Feldman in excoriating Israel.
Lakewood exerts tremendous influence upon yeshivish Jewry in America. The danger here is that frumJews who otherwise have been positively disposed towards Israel will rethink their stance. And that is why I feel I must speak out, despite the fact that this puts me in opposition to great talmidei chachamim.
The State of Israel is a remarkable success story. Does it have issues? More than enough to make a psychiatrist wealthy! And criticizing particulars is not necessarily wrong. But to effectively challenge the need for a Jewish state and to question its authenticity is not acceptable. Therefore, without fear, I call upon the Lakewood roshei yeshiva to join in supporting our wonderful Medinat Yisrael.
Avi Goldstein
Far Rockaway, NY
“MURDERED—Not Merely ‘Deceased’—HOSTAGES”
Dear Editor,
A simple, but important, request for every media outlet to immediately substitute ONE word in their press coverage, when referring to the dead bodies returned to Israel. They are not merely “DECEASED hostages”—they are “MURDERED hostages”—and the world needs to be reminded of that, whenever they are referred to.
They were MURDERED, either by being killed by ammunition, or by starvation, or by having their medication withheld.
“Deceased” refers to anyone who passed away, usually from natural causes.
Let us pray together for the immediate return of our MURDERED brethren, Hy’d, for proper burial.
Paul E. Brody, M.D.
ZOA President of Long Island & Queens
