Follow up on Aish evening in Stamford Hill

From: menasche scharf menasche.scharf@gmail.com

Date: 8 May 2009 14:11

We are still working out the details, even at this late hour thingsare constantly changing. The current aim is to run a men-onlyworkshop on Monday Bank Holiday 25/05/2009, from 10:30AM until 16:30.There will be a variety of activities (speeches, Q&A sessions, classesetc.) for part or most of the day, with an exhibition on the side ofvarious Kiruv organisations.We had a meeting where it was decided- To dedicate this event only to create awareness in the North Londoncommunity about opportunities in kiruv.

1. Be friendly to them

2. One to One learning by 'phone and face2face

3. Shabbos invitations

- Recruit activists by doing the rounds in local Shuls and deliveringa 3 minute speech about the upcoming event and its importanceaccording to Chazal.

Rabbi Benzion Goldman volunteered to speak

Rabbi Shea Mordechai Diamant ‎will accompany him.

- to approach you with a request to please advise on how to get all Kiruv organisations working in the UK to attend with at least onerepresentative:

SeeD, PaL or Aish and any other.

PaL:We hope for someone from PaL - a Rabbi or activist - will contribute his time to explain the concept to the attendees and perhaps show one of our volunteers how to run a registration drive, this would beenough.

If the PaL representative can stay for the duration of thewhole event, this would be fantastic. - awaiting their confirmation.I will fill you in once I have the details of an exact location and so on.

This is it so far, have a great Shabbos,

Menasche

Plenary Meeting was atended by:

• Rabbi M Z Weinberg
• Shulem Stern
• B Z Goldman
• S M Diamant
• Y Y Ostreciher
• C D Halberstam
• M Scharf
• S Y Yankowitz
• and others

Aish HaTorah in Stamford Hill

From: "menasche scharf"

Sent: 26/03/09 20:11

Subject: Very Successful Event for Aish HaTorah in Stamford Hill

For immediate release: 

 London, 26/03/2009 

Q. English speaking presentation on Kiruv in the heart of Ultra-Orthodox Stamford Hill? 

 A. In what can be described as a shift in public attitude, the Aish HaTorah evening proved just that! The response from the attendants and enquiries that kept pouring in during the run-up to - and after the event, filed the organisers with confidence. The Aish HaTorah gathering was dedicated to the revered memory of its founding father and world renowned mentor to thousands of devoted Talmidim, the late Rabbi Noach Weinberg OB"M, who was Niftar recently. It was chaired by Rabbi Chazkel Dovid Halberstam who eloquently explained the theme of this symposium: Our generation's ignorant Jew can be likened to the fourth son in the Hagadda, who doesn't ever realise that there are questions that need asking; that there are answers to be had. Indeed, fourth-generation immigrants to countries outside of Eastern Europe have lost their centuries long hallowed ID somewhere between Hamburg and Ellis Island or in the choppy waves linking Gdansk with Hull. The main guest speaker Dayan Yonason Abraham Shlita, of the London Beth Din enthralled the assembled crowd with his masterly crafted appreciation of the "Noach" of our generation, who single-headedly established a global organisation dedicated to Kiruv. The Dayan mesmerised all present with his heartfelt plea to enlist in the mammoth task of helping to save precious Jewish souls from being left behind in their ignorant lifestyle. Explaining the meaning of VeOhavto - the first word in the second verse of the Shema, he read out the words of the Rambam: Your love of HaShem should reach such a level that it will compel you to constantly expound on HaShem's goodness, causing others to love Him too. In quoting the promise of the Torah "Kee Lo Yedach Memenoo Nedach" כי לא ידח ממנו ידח that in these words the Holy Creator has codified a message for generations to come, that come what may, no נשמה may be given up as lost to the Jewish people. When describing Rabbi Weinberg's virtues, he presented the words of the Chovos HaLevovos that: those who bring people nearer to HaShem are on a higher level than the Nevi'im (Prophets)! Rabbi Weinberg Ztzl, was attuned to the voice emanating from Sinai, the cry to arms for every Jewish person: "woe to those who let the Torah lie on the sidelines in shame". He felt the heartbeat of the Jewish people as a whole, he listened to the spiritual cries of millions of our brethren who were born into an environment devoid of any vestige of Yiddishkeit. In closing, the Dayan impressed upon his audience to take the cue from Reb Noach, become synthesised to the metaphysical sound waves wafting through the Jewish world, to constantly be 'online' and pick up the silent, passionate appeals for meaningful attention form our non-frum co-religionists. When travelling, shopping or going about your life in general, know that whomever you meet has the potential to become Torah observant - without you as much opening your mouth! Your actions speak more than you could ever imagine. 

 By encouraging each and every one attending this auspicious meeting to become an ambassador for the Torah and its relevant-to-life teachings, the speaker then closed with an emotionally charged story, which brought home the concept that you don't have to be a Kiruv Professional to be Mekarev the Children to their Forefathers. 

 Rabbi Shimshon Silkin of Aish HaTorah UK took the floor for the remainder of the evening. He welcomed the esteemed guest, Rabbi Yosef Dov Babad Shlita, Rav of the Belz Kehilla in London, who took time off his busy schedule to encourage such important cause. 

 Rabbi Silkin then launched in a Halachic discourse, proficiently demonstrating the many Halachic sources one can find that point to this important life-saving act of leading Jews who are astray onto the right path of Torah and Mitzvos. He stressed the many Mitzvos and Chiyuvim DeOraisoh involved in Kiruv Rechokim – including the Rambam (Mitzvas Ahavas HaShem based on Gemoroh in Yuma and the Sifri) that to properly fulfil Ahavas HaShem one must demonstrate it by making Him beloved amongst the people. 

He also quoted the Rambam that the mitzvah of Kiddush HaShem means to spread awareness of HaShem amongst the people and to strengthen their Emunoh. 

Also the Chofetz Chaim in Chizuk HaDas says someone who wants to be respected in the next world will be asked if he was concerned for HaShem's Kovod in this world by disseminating the reality of His Metzius. 

Furthermore, Rabbi Silkin mentioned the Gemoroh in Rosh HaShana that a person can make Kiddush for another person even if already made Kiddush, because the responsibility of Kol Yisroel Areivim Zeh LoZeh goes so far as to say that if one person has not fulfilled the mitzvah then in a sense neither have I - even if a person has one Esrog but he knows of another town that does not, according to the Mogen Avrohom he must send his Esrog to them and borrow someone else's. Also the Shelo”h in Kedoshim says “Lo Sa’amod Al Dam Re’echoh” – “do not stand idly by when another Yid is dying”, all the more so applies to saving his Neshomoh from Aveiroh; the Minchas Chinuch agrees to this and adds that if there is a Chiyuv DeOraisoh of returning a lost item, how much more so a lost soul; also the Chofetz Chaim quotes the Rambam that if one does NOT prevent a fellow Jew from sin when he could have, he is considered to have committed that very sin himself and according to the Ramban he falls into the category of Orrur, Chas VeSholom. Rabbi Silkin finished this part of his presentation with the Pituchei Chosom of the Chasam Sofer who says that Avrohom Ovinu did not manage to achieve the spiritual heights he would have liked because he was too busy being Mekarev Rechokim. So HaShem said “Hamechaseh Ani MeAvrohom?” Should Avrohom lose out? He was saving my children!” therefore HaShem gave him special Siyata DiShmaya to achieve those heights as a gift - so too, anyone 'losing out' their own learning or Shteiging by doing Kiruv, will be guaranteed by HaShem to achieve those levels anyway – he cannot lose out. Rabbi Silkin then went on to describe practical methods for getting more involved based on the acronym I-N-S-P-I-R-E. I- he said, stood for Impress. The most important thing is to be a Kiddush HaShem, make a good impression; N- nurture – make sure to take care of Talmidim, they are not scientific specimens but rather people deserving real Ahavas Yisroel; S- Shabbos, there is nothing like a Geshmakeh Shabbos meal. For those people reluctant to invite secular people into their homes for Shabbos, Rabbi Silkin suggested inviting them over during the week after the children are asleep; P- publications, give them books to read and inspirational CD’s to listen to; send them something inspiring before Yom Tov; I- interest, take genuine interest in their lives; hear the questioner behind the question, try to understand what their lives are like and what they are going through; R- relationships; demonstrate to them how a Torah lifestyle is the answer to the broken world of relationships – and perhaps try and help them with theirs, E- email; a constant contact medium that's not too invasive and gives time for them to learn without being put on spot. The evening culminated with the screening of the audio-visual presentation “Inspired Too” which brought home the message that every observant Jew is capable of sparking interest in unaffiliated, seemingly uninterested people. The video described numerous examples of “chance” encounters which led to incredible results, demonstrating how easy it is to make a difference. People out there are just waiting for someone to talk to them in a friendly way. A few minutes conversation with a fellow passenger on a plane can change his life and that of his descendants LeDoros, earning the catalyst untold Zechusim. That plane trip might turn out to be a passport to more unexpected places than either had imagined. Special thanks were expressed to the many contributors: the shopkeepers who graciously spared precious window space, the cake and refreshments were likewise donated by Renbake and Carmel respectively, the management of the Shul who hosted the event and at last: the selfless volunteers who tirelessly helped with the logistics! The organisers are now preparing the sequel to this successful endeavour; for further information about the pre-Shavuos "Kiruv Fest", email info@calculu.co.uk or call 08456980044. More details about Aish HaTorah's activities can be found at: www.aish.com

Logging in L@@king out!

Dear Editor,

Re: Head in the Sand.

Logging in L@@king out! Thank you for bringing this very important issue to the fore, which has been waiting to be highlighted for a long time. The points that were discussed are oh so valid, only they cannot be dealt with properly within the framework of such a prestigious publication as Mishpacha - just because of this publications high moral standards!

The time has come to take the bull by his horns and deal with this dangerous, all consuming power in an organised and effective manner.

To achieve this, we he would have to take one step back and look at the current hotch-potch of solutions, some of which have been mentioned in your article and its side bars.

What has been done up until today is no more than affixing temporary patches to an ever growing wound, which outgrows and outwits these well-meaning safeguards at a frightening pace. Just ask all the solution providers of the various filtering services how many of their customers were unwittingly lured in to innocent-looking sites.

Since the birth of the web on 12 November, 1990 (as opposed to the birth of the internet, which happened over twenty years earlier), when its potential started becoming ever more prevalent, I was arguing with both Rabbonim and lay people in my local community about the need to create a separate, well-guarded web environment. After all, we have our own physical communities, our own educational institutions, our own systems to safeguard the purity of our food and clothing - we even have our pure magazines! Why then should we not have our own marketplace, information depository and other digital spheres that have been built from the ground up on unadulterated, Kosher foundations?!

As with any other problem plaguing the Orthodox Jewish community, the three main ingredients required to fix something has always been: The Rabbonim - Da'as Torah, The Community - "the lay people" and the Resources - money etc..
Let me explain: The story of Churban Bayis Sheni is well documented. The city of Jerusalem had enough food in its stores to help the population withstand the siege for many months. It was the act of non-religious zealots that caused them to be burnt, which in turn led Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai to intervene on behalf of Yavneh. This step ensured the survival of Torah and its torch-bearers for generations to come, until our days. Here we have a prime example where Resources - or rather the lack of them - played a major part in altering the course of history. Likewise Da'as Torah and the lay person of that time had a direct involvement in the course of events.

Bil'am - in his forced blessings that he bestowed on Kelal Yisroel - pronounced "Hen 'Om Levodod Yishkon" - "behold, here is a people that dwells apart". Look closely and you will see that unbeknownst to this sorcerer, (who couldn't possibly have foreseen the global use of the English language - according to VeriSign : "two-thirds of content on the Internet is in English" source: Richmond Journal of Law & Technology Volume XII, Issue1) the first letters of these four words form the word HOLY.

We are known as a people with values, but even more so, the Orthodox Jewish community is a dynamic and vibrant community - the only segment of the Jewish people to be around by the turn of the next century. Why is it then that our youth is sometimes seen in unfavourable settings, locales or with the wrong companions? The answer is not a clear cut one; no one can put his hand on his heart and say what ills cause this sorry state. However in trying to uncover the culprit, one would not be amiss for blaming at least a nice portion of the moral decay in our midst on the internet and the many tentacles it spawned in the form of cellular phones, games consoles, entertainment devices and innocent ATMs.

What we experience in this day and age is the sorry state of Sereyfas Neshomo veGuf Kayom: you see the same Avreych, your well loved son or the refined Seminary girl - only the sparkle in their eyes is gone, the lustre around their face is dimmed, their devotions are a rote of lifeless soul-less motions.

We face a fiend as powerful or even more powerful than our forefathers faced in the time of the Hamoneans. They fought a seemingly lost battle - we have to learn from them to wage a war with this all-encompassing, invasive, inventive and venomous opponent.

If we all join the battle with tenacity, resourcefulness and unity - the One who tests us in this generation will help us overcome and vanquish the dragon of impurity - just as He has done battle for our forefathers - Bayomim hoheymm bazeman hazeh.

Menasche Scharf

London, UK
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Time iZmani - use it properly