Page 8 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'av 5782 USA

LETTERS

TO THE

EDITOR

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editor@mizrachi.org

Interview with Rabbi Aaron magazine that is dedicated to what the in his righteous zeal to engage the reader,
Rakeffet-Rothkoff old Mizrachi movement represented, both he chose to dig up old communal wounds,
in America and Israel – that of a unifying portraying an overly-simplistic view of
I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED your Shavuot and moderate movement that contrib- the Jewish world – Litvaks vs. Chassidim.
issue of HaMizrachi (Vol. 5, No. 2) and espe- uted to the stability of the government.
cially enjoyed the major interview with I note in particular the essays by Rabbi While it is true that these groups of Jews
“Arnie” Rothkoff which is how I knew him Doron Perez (Jerusalem – In Need of Bridge have ongoing and real ideological differ-
as my classmate at Manhattan Talmudical Builders) and Rabbi Ari Rockoff (Tribes) ences that deserve public discourse and
Academy, class of 1955. He was one of the which powerfully call for unity among serious discussion, this is not what Rabbi
smartest kids in our class – a class with the broader people of Israel. Singer did. Rather, he set up a strawman
some very smart kids, Gerry Blidstein and in order to make his point. While many
Judah Rosenberg (Yehudah Ben-Meir) Dr. Philip M. Fishman (myself included) have critiques of the
among others. Newton, Massachusetts, USA Litvish model of education, these critiques
are not well-served by needlessly engag-
I recall that “Arnie” was the editor of the ing in simplistic broadsides.
“Academy News”, a bright light in the Religious Zionism and Chassidut
world of yeshivah journalism. Reading Litvish Jews have a great and storied her-
about his extraordinary accomplishments I LOVE HOW the magazine has evolved. itage. They have produced many great
was most rewarding. The past issue on Shavuot and Religious talmidei chachamim, including some of
Zionism’s incorporation of Chassidut (Vol. Rabbi Singer’s own rebbeim! Furthermore,
In 1959, I spent a summer at Kfar Haroeh
and Yeshivot Bnei Akiva with Rabbi Moshe 5, No. 2) was both highly relevant and Jews of both Litvish and Chassidic stripes
enlightening. Thank you!
Zvi Neriah, and subsequently helped not only walked into the gas chambers
found the American Friends of Yeshivot Meir Traube together, but also worked hand in hand
Bnei Akiva, experiences which increased Woodmere, New York, USA to rebuild Jewish society in both Israel
my appreciation of Rabbi Rakeffet-Roth- and the Diaspora. The civil war between
koff’s history with Bnei Akiva even more. these two sides of Ashkenazi Judaism has
long been over.
Your magazine stands out amongst the Important, but inaccurate
numerous offerings on the table in the I BELIEVE THAT Rabbi Dov Singer is one Jewish communities, and especially our
foyer of the Lido Beach Synagogue. Keep of the foremost educators of our age. He young men and women, are better served
up the excellent work and I promise to not is leading, in my opinion, a revolution in through a model that has a Litvish mind
read your publication during davening but chinuch that all serious Jews should pay and a Chassidic heart, which offers seri-
will take it home and read it there! attention to. ousness and spirituality. A model such as
this could offer more than either model
Alan H. Zwiebel Rabbi Singer laid out his educational should be able to alone. We are lesser
Lido Beach, New York, USA vision in Religious Zionism Needs Chassidic as Jews and educators when we think
Education! in the most recent HaMizrachi. otherwise.
In it, he offered many critiques of con-
On bridge building among tribes Zachary Beer
temporary Jewish education in Israel and
I RECENTLY PICKED up a copy of HaM- offered his view of how important educa- Washington Heights, New York, USA
izrachi magazine and found it to be a fine tional issues should be tackled. However,

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