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The Arabs were the majority population in the country and were armed and intransigent. In short, it was not a happy time to be growing up as a small, pudgy Orthodox Jewish boy in Chicago. When a Jewish day school finally opened in Chicago and my parents switched me out of the public school system into that fledgling Jewish school, many well meaning neighbors complained to my parents that they were going to cripple my chances for success in life by that move.
In today’s perfect hindsight, all of these certainties and predictions, the demise of Orthodoxy, the triumph of Communism, the annihilation of the Jewish yishuv in the Land of Israel, the inability for Torah schools in America to create "successful" people – all of these descriptions of the future proved to be woefully inaccurate. Predicting the future is a very inexact science. Just ask your financial planner!
I think that my grandchildren’s generation is therefore a bit more wary about predicting what their future world will look like than was mine. Their world is a better current world than was mine. The existence of the State of Israel and its continued growth and success, the explosion of Torah learning and of a resurgent Orthodoxy in the Jewish world, the enormous advances in technology, medicine and life expectancy, all combine to give this generation a high basic level to begin to build upon.
As usual the words of the rabbis are in order here – "The one who is blessed with miraculous happenings does not recognize that those miracles are occurring to him or her." Today’s generation takes much for granted. They don’t realize that their grandparents never really expected to see a strong Jewish state in the Land of Israel, or yeshivot with student bodies numbering in the thousands, or a generation of Jewish women Torah scholars.
That future, which is currently our present, was unseen by my generation. It was probably not even hoped for in our wildest dreams. Yet, all of the impossibilities occurred and form our present world. The question therefore arises: What future do my grandchildren envision for themselves? And more importantly perhaps, what efforts and sacrifices, talent and material wealth are they willing to expend to achieve that far dreamt future?
I think that these challenging questions may, as of this moment, still not be confronted by the emerging generation. But they will undoubtedly have to confront them in the very near future.
Since the future always remains inscrutable, there is little that the older generation can do to prepare the later generation for those undefined and as yet unrecognizable challenges. We can provide them with education, financial help and, hopefully, role models. But, they alone will have to traverse the treacherous seas and shoals of the future. I am greatly strengthened by the realization of what the hand of God’s destiny, so to speak, has wrought for my generation. My own grandparents would, I am certain, be amazed and awestruck as to what my generation has witnessed and accomplished.
The only constant throughout Jewish history has been the moral compass of the Torah and its study and the guiding hand of the Divine, so to speak. Those two factors will be present for our grandchildren’s generation, as they deal with their world and their future. There are abundant dire predictions regarding the future of the United States, the State of Israel, world Jewry and the declining standards of morality in the Western World. I do not discount these opinions lightly. But my life experience has taught me that the future is too uncertain to be accurately divined. As such, I prefer to be sanguine and optimistic about the future world of my grandchildren. He Who has brought us this far will, in His own grace and mercy, bring us the rest of the way as well.
Serving Hashem, Mitzvot and Repentance "Of All God's Miracles Large & Small..."
Both Nature & Super-Natural Are Necessary
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
