A Lifetime of Learning: Book of the Month, Iyar 5786

We usually nominate our Book of the Month at the new month's inception -- but the chance to honor Rabbi Berel Wein zt'l on the occasion of his book launch was too good to miss. A Lifetime of Learning, Great Mentors Who Shaped My Mind and Heart was completed shortly before our beloved Mara d'Atra passed away. 

This handsome and eminently readable tome reviews the impact upon one of the leading Jewish personalities of our era of some 15 remarkable individuals split between Rabbi Wein's family, his teachers and his mentors. There are of course some familiar names to be found; these include Rabbis Yaakov Kamenetzky, Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Yoel Teitelbaum and Yosef Shlomo HaKohen Kahaneman. Copies of the new book were selling well at the launch, possibly because there were many purchasers in shul who felt that it was not merely a book they were buying but a tangible chelek in its author himself and a memento of his immense contribution to Jewish history, mussar and community building across two continents.

Today's book launch saw a packed Beit Knesset Hanassi, sitting to rapt attention while the two speakers talked of Rabbi Wein, his life and the book that so eloquently sums it up. Rabbi Kenigsberg opened the proceedings by reminiscing over the impact Rabbi Wein had made upon him. He employed the analogy of a bridge to explain Rabbi Wein's unique quality of linking the glorious era of the pre-Second World War Torah scholars to us in our own generation in order to enable us the better to address the challenges of the future. He also observed that the qualities that Rabbi Wein identified in those who influenced him quite aptly described Rabbi Wein himself: he was the epitome of a real "influencer".

Rabbi Kenigsberg then referred to this week's Torah reading for parashat Bemidbar, where we learn how Israel's tribes were arranged by flag and allowed to cultivate their separate identities. One of Rabbi Wein's major inspirations, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky, asks a question that should have been obvious: why only now, in the fourth book of the Chumash, do these instructions come, rather than in the book of Shemot when we took our first steps into the unknown paths of the desert? The answer is that separation into different tribes, each with its own identity and ethos, can be ruinously divisive. But once there is a Mishkan in place, a focal point for all the tribes, they can develop their own character while sharing a unifying common goal. Rabbi Wein too displayed uniquely unifying qualities; he was like a backbone, the beriach htichon of the Mishkan that underpinned our common interests and held them together.

Next to speak was Rabbi Wein's youngest child, his daughter Rebbetzin Sori Teitelbaum. She opened with some highly pertinent comments on the problems of performing as a public speaker, and then demonstrated how good she was at doing it when she proceeded to the main part of her address. 

With Shavuot looming large on our horizons, she led us through a memorable set of Aseret HaDibrot of her own. These were ten maxims for a good and meaningful Jewish life that Rabbi Wein either articulated or exemplified in his own life. These maxims were drawn partly from Pirkei Avot, partly other from the realms of practical psychology, self-control and the importance of personal growth and self-esteem. Each maxim was accompanied by an anecdote or vignette depicting a moment in the Wein household, and the importance of not criticizing others was elegantly emphasized by a recitation of the poem, "A Little Walk Around Yourself". The Rebbetzin also took great care to acknowledge a personality who, though not accorded a chapter of her own in A Lifetime of Learning, was plainly a major figure in Rabbi Wein's spiritual growth -- her own mother and Rabbi Wein's first wife Jackie. 

In summary, this afternoon was more than a book launch. It was an education in Rabbi Wein's approach to life, offering a rare and precious glimpse of the Rabbi as a father and a friend. It was a remarkable occasion that those of us who were privileged to attend will never forget.

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You can access Rabbi Kenigsberg's speech here
You can access Rebbetzin Teitelbaum's speech here
Copies of the book may be purchased from Pomeranz Books, Jerusalem

Endless Hatred: Rabbi Wein's book launch

Rabbi Berel Wein once again packed the shul last night when an excited and expectant audience flooded in to hear him speak on his latest book, Endless Hatred: Antisemitism from the Biblical Era to Modern Times, published this month by the Destiny Foundation.

In the course of his half-hour presentation Rabbi Wein surveyed the development and practice of antisemitism in many different guises, taking in the position of Jews in Roman times, in Spain and under Stalin in Russia -- to mention just a few examples. Nor did he hide from discussion of the conflict between Judaism and the two major faiths that were its monotheistic offshoots, Christianity and Islam. 

Rabbi Wein's talk concluded by urging those present to make sure that the tale he tells in this new title is transmitted to their children and their children's children. This appeal had an immediate and dramatic effect: many people who bought a copy of the book on the way in to the lecture purchased a further one or two copies when they left.

Photo: Rabbi Wein, pictured here with some of his previous publications.

While the subject of antisemitism cannot fail to cast the shadow of sorrow and sadness over any Jew who reads it, Rabbi Wein never loses his optimism and his faith that, with the protection of a merciful and almighty God, our ultimate destiny -- living as Jews in the land that He has given us -- is assured. 

 

If you have yet to see the book, you may be wondering what it's like. The first thing you will notice about it is its accessibility. It is not a threateningly academic tome that bristles with footnotes and obscure references. Far from it. The print is large, clear and makes for a comfortable reading experience. There are also many illustrations. 

On a personal note, Rabbi Wein's list of acknowledgements includes an honourable mention of Faigie Gilbert a.h. of the Destiny Foundation. Before her early passing she was also a great help to Beit Knesset Hanassi. We miss her too.

Rabbi Wein's talk last night has been recorded by Torah Anytime. You can access it by clicking here.

Between Man and the Divine

Apropos of this week's double book launch by Rabbi Nachum Amsel, we thought it would be a good idea to open the pages of one of the books in question and see what lies beneath the covers.

The book we've picked is The Encyclopedia of Jewish Values: Between Man and the Divine, a substantial volume penned by the author, whom many readers of this blog will already know as the Director of Education at the Destiny Foundation. 

In common with encyclopedias as a genre, this is no small book. The English section, inclusive of a comprehensive index, comes to 389 pages. Then there are 235 pages of Hebrew source materials--an indication of the author's determination to show the reader exactly where his information is drawn from.

Most of us do not read encyclopedias for the very good reason that normal encyclopedias are reference works into which we dip in search of information on a specific topic. Between Man and the Divine is not however a typical encyclopedia. It is broken up into 40 chapters, each of which addresses a topic on which, typically, we all recognise that a problem exists but it's clear that rabbinical scholarship has offered more than one approach to dealing with it. Rabbi Amsel seeks to offer a fair and balanced view of the for-and-against rulings that have emerged through the years. Where possible he has sought to provide a summary of the conflicting issues.

What sort of topics does the encyclopedia cover? Readers will soon appreciate that many of them are issues that generate heated discussion in shiurim or around the Shabbat table. Examples include the extent to which children owe a duty to parents suffering from dementia, whether God sends us messages today, the permissability of davening to or through the meritorious dead, what the concept of "the real world" actually means, euthanasia and abortion. This reviewer's favourite chapter is the one that addresses the ethical issues of driverless cars, where Rabbi Amsel discusses the Trolley Car dilemma, a famous philosophical problem that has entangled generations of law students.

In short, this is a highly readable work. The text is crisp and clear and the chosen subject matter beguiling. The last word goes to our own Rabbi Wein, who has this to say about it:

“This is a wonderful research book that can be read directly as an informative and necessary work of knowledge about Judaism and the Jewish attitudes towards the moral and ethical issues of general and Jewish society. This is a book for every Jewish home and school".

If you can't get to the Hanassi book launch (details here), you can buy it on Amazon here. Rabbi Amsel's other books are The Encyclopedia of Jewish Values (here) and Jewish Values in the Torah Portion (here).

Eight People We Met on the Way Home

You are welcome to join us on Sunday evening, 19 May at 8:30 p.m. when Rabbi Berel Wein launches his new book, Eight People We Met on the Way Home, The Return of the Jewish Nation to the Land of Israel. The book tells a story about a people who -- under the guidance of the Heavens, after millennia of exile and travail -- decided to pick up and go home from all corners of the world.

It is a story that should be read and told by all. Rabbi Wein will speak and the books will be available for purchase at a special price.