Monday, 2 January 2012

Remember: These Are Jewish Children!

"Are these not Jewish children?"

This incident is recorded in the auto-biography of Rabbi Moshe Blau; "Al Chomosaich Yerushalayim"; Netzach Publishing, Bnei Brak, 1967. Pages 114-115.

The narrator is Rabbi Moshe Blau himself and this entire chapter deals with Rabbi Blau's relationship with his Rebbe, Rabbi Zonnenfeld:

"One day I left Shaarei Zedek Hospital in his (Rabbi Zonnenfeld's) company. It was Tu B'Shevat [In the Zionist movement, Tu B'Shevat was (and is) a big event as it celebrates the people's connection to the land- this comment is my own].

I noticed that from far away that students from the secular non-religious schools were approaching us; boys and girls [emphasis added by me], male and female teenagers [emphasis added by me], with the Zionist flag at the front of each group; the 'workers songs' [the Zionist were closely associated with the 'Workers Movements: me again] coming from their mouths.

They were walking four abreast and the people on the street were pushed to the sides of the road.

I knew that that the sight of a few thousand boys and girls from non-religious schools walking in a parade immodestly dressed and without gender separation would cause Rabbi Zonnenfeld pain. Therefore I said to him, "The parade of children from the (non-religious) schools is coming; perhaps the Rebbe wants to go back into the hospital building?"

"No", was his answer. {He then asked :}

"Are these not Jewish children?"

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Are These Not Jewish Children? » Matzav.com - The Online Voice of Torah Jewry

http://matzav.com/are-these-not-jewish-children

Shalom,
RRW

1 comment:

Mighty Garnel Ironheart said...

Yes, yes, everyone has heard stories about how loving and tolerant some great anti-Zionist leaders were in private. There are all sorts of stories about the Satmar too.
The problem is that the stuff they left behind for public consumption leaves a much different impression.