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TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Blau

Celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut

in America of the 1950s

n contrast to some segments of both that ideologically defined American The sixties was the beginning of a
Reform and Charedi Jewry in Amer- Religious Zionism, was given on Yom change which intensified after the Six-
Iica, the Modern Orthodox commu- HaAtzmaut in 1956. But it was deliv- Day War. In retrospect, the major rab-
nity welcomed the establishment of the ered in Yiddish and not published at binic figures understood the historic
State of Israel. But this positive attitude the time. Its initial influence was lim- implications of the re-establishment
did not extend to any significant con- ited to those who heard it. Not many of a Jewish State in Israel after almost
templation of aliyah. Israel was the young people knew Yiddish. Those of 2,000 years, but this did not filter down
haven for the refugees who survived us attending the Yeshiva Program at to the broader Orthodox community.
the Holocaust, and later for the Jews YU had to know some Yiddish since Except for a small minority, American
forced out of Arabic countries. Amer- all the Talmud classes were conducted Modern Orthodox Jews were so excited
ica, the leading world power and winner in Yiddish, but it was easier to follow a about the opportunities that America
of the Second World War, was a land of shiur based on a text written in a mix seemed to offer that even though they
opportunity for Jews. By European stan- of Hebrew and Aramaic than to under- knew the establishment of the State of
dards, antisemitism was minimal and a stand a talk fully in Yiddish. Israel was historically significant, they
generation born in America dreamed of didn’t consider it relevant to their lives.
material and professional success. The Hebrew translation first appeared

With this background, I share my rec- in a volume entitled Torah UMelucha With the passage of years and events,
ollections of Yom HaAtzmaut during in 1961 and it later became recognized all this has changed. The Six-Day War
the 1950s. I attended a day school in as a classic work in Israel and America. led to a radical change. Graduates of
which Jewish studies were taught in An English translation first appeared America’s yeshiva high schools started
Hebrew (Ashkenazic pronunciation), four decades later. Examining issues of to spend a year of study in Israel; this
then yeshiva for high school and col- the “Commentator,” the Yeshiva College trend expanded until it has become nor-
lege. I have no memory of any signifi- student newspaper of the time, I didn’t mative in recent years. This increased
cant celebration in school. The Young find any mention of the talk. There was exposure to Israel is the source of
Israel synagogue where we prayed was an editorial questioning the lack of any greater identification and aliyah. May
no different. Only because I went to official program on Yom HaAtzmaut. that trend continue to grow.
Camp Moshava after ninth grade and
joined Bnei Akiva did I experience Yom Bnei Akiva had a festive prayer ser-
HaAtzmaut celebrations. vice and a chagiga. At one, I was asked
why I hadn’t shaved, since I should
Before jet planes, there were no direct treat it as a holiday. Uncomfortable
flights between America and Israel. with deciding on my own, I called Rav
Only a select few American students Moshe Feinstein, the leading halachic
studied in Israel during that era. Stu- authority, from the event. I didn’t ask
dents didn’t receive college or semicha Rav Soloveitchik because he permitted
credit for learning in Israel. Going to shaving during Sefirah. Rabbi Feinstein
Israel for a summer was unusual. Bnei answered the phone himself (I was not
Akiva was again the exception; going even one of his students). He asked
to Israel for a year of hachshara after
graduating high school was normative. me if I considered it a holiday. When I Rabbi Yosef Blau, a past president of
replied yes, he said I could shave. I am RZA–Mizrachi, is the Senior Mashgiach
Kol Dodi Dofek, a talk by Rabbi Solove- not aware of any written version of this Ruchani (spiritual advisor) at Yeshiva
itchik at YU’s Lamport Auditorium response. University.

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