Page 24 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'av 5782 USA

IN TWO WORLDS:

AN INTERVIEW WITH

RABBI AVROHOM AND ESHKIE LEVENTHAL

Since making Aliyah in 2005, Rabbi Avrohom and Eshkie Leventhal have straddled
multiple worlds. Their children attended both Religious Zionist and Charedi schools
and yeshivot, their shul is open to a wide spectrum of Jews, and Rabbi Leventhal’s
organization Lema’an Achai works with Jews of all stripes and types.

Rabbi Aron White sat with the Leventhals to hear about their journey and the lessons
they have learned about “living in the gray” and navigating multiple communities.

How would you describe your own upbringing?
Eshkie: Both of us grew up in the Charedi world. I was born
in Boro Park, raised in Monsey and moved to Lakewood before
marriage, so I lived in the main triad of American yeshivish
communities! I even went to Chassidic schools, so I was
not exposed much to the outer world. I would never have
imagined that one day I would have a picture of Rav Kook
hanging on my wall!
R’ Avrohom: I grew up in the Charedi yeshivah community
in Baltimore and studied at the Talmudic Academy, a school
with Charedi leadership and a diverse student body. I later
learned at the Scranton yeshivah, which is part of the Lake-
wood system, and from there moved onto Ner Yisrael, which
is more open. My parents were open to Zionism, with a spe-
cial place in their hearts for Israel. My mother would tell us
how she wrote about the birth of the State of Israel for her RʼAvrohom and Eshkie with some of their children and grandchildren.
fifth grade report – an event which only occurred two years Eshkie: When we made Aliyah, we carefully chose schools for
before! We were not labeled as “yeshivish” or any other way; our children. They were coming from Baltimore, so we placed
we were Jews and that was it. them in “Charedi-lite” schools, but eventually shifted them
Even to this day there are two types of Charedi communi- over to “Religious Zionist Torani” schools. We were happier
ties. In Lakewood, Boro Park and most of Monsey there isn’t with the more open schools. I once went to a parent-teacher
much of a Zionist community or a feeling of connection conference at one of the Charedi schools wearing a denim
to Eretz Yisrael. Honestly, their home community is their skirt, and I felt so judged it was like I was in a jail. I had
Yerushalayim; they might go to Eretz Yisrael for a vacation, studied at Chassidic schools in America but I felt far more
but it’s not a fundamental part of their being. In Baltimore, judged and self-conscious in the Charedi schools in Israel.
Chicago, Los Angeles and other communities there may be That being said, I am very proud that each of our children
a Charedi atmosphere, but there is much more openness. In has their own opinions and personality, and didn’t feel the
those communities many would say they are “chovevei tzion” need to be exact copies of their parents.
rather than Zionist, but they are much more connected to
the Land than the other communities. R’ Avrohom: The first year of chinuch is challenging. Olim
often experience an identity crisis, but children also have
You made Aliyah from Baltimore in 2005 to Ramat the opportunity to find themselves and their own path. My
Beit Shemesh, and your family members have a mix of oldest daughter went to a Charedi school and a Charedi
approaches and hashkafot – some children are more seminary but ended up marrying a guy who went to the
American and some more Israeli, with some more Reli- army, and they do not consider themselves Charedi today.
gious Zionist and others more Charedi. How do you keep They initially sent their kids to a Religious Zionist school,
a family with so many differences connected to one but a new school called Netzach Yisrael opened up which is
another? categorized as Mamlachti Charedi. It is a Charedi school that

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