LETTER FROM JERUSALEM


As a campaign issue, corruption has been corrupted


By Ira Sharkansky


JERUSALEM—No surprise. We returned from a 10 day holiday on Cyprus (a pleasant 35 minute flight) to find that Prime Minister - designate Benyamin Netanyahu is still at work putting together a coalition that can muster majority support of the Knesset.

Tzipi Livni's Kadima Party won more seats in the election, but the center of gravity was clearly to the right of center. She could not form a coalition, while Bibi has two principal options: a centrist coalition between Likud and Kadima, along with Labor or other moderate parties; or a rightest coalition without Kadima or Labor. At this writing, he is still exploring his options, i.e., what the party leaders in the various combinations are demanding with respect to ministerial appointments and public policies. Livni is holding out for what Netanyahu is not likely to give her (a rotation with her as prime minister for two years), so something to the right appears more likely. That seems easy, but it is not over until each potential partner defines its terms, the prime minister-designate agrees, and each of the partners accepts what each other will receive.

A group of political scientists putting together a volume on the election asked me to write an article on corruption as it figured in the campaign and the voting. The same group published a volume on the 2003 election, and included a chapter that I wrote on corruption. I would be pleased to send anyone who asks a full copy of my 2003 article and/or my draft for 2009. Here I will touch on some of the highlights.

Most problematic is the concept of "corruption."

It depends on time and locality, and the political cultures of different groups. What is tolerated in one setting can be condemned as unacceptable at another time, elsewhere, or even by close neighbors. Concepts of legality and corruption are related, but not identical. If it is within popular norms, an action can be illegal, but not viewed widely as corrupt. Or an action that is formally legal can be shunned as corrupt. Dictionaries use the following terms in their numerous definitions: spoiled, unwholesome, loathsome, putrid, tainted, evil, perverted, incorrect, and deteriorated. Involved in corruption are issues of financial irregularity, bribery, theft, deception, improper sex, and other personal behaviors considered to be immoral.

Tzipi Livni made an issue of her own freedom from corruption, and emphasized the unreliability of her major opponent, Benyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu. According to her ads, “Bibi? I don’t believe him.”

Corruption was prominent in the run up to the 2009 election, just as it had been in the run up to the 2006 election. In both cases, it did not determine the outcome.

Why not? is a tantalizing question, with several answers.

In 2006 and 2009, dramatic events affected the national agenda. In 2006, it was Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s illness. Insofar as Sharon was associated with some of the major probes into corruption, his tragic departure helped to remove the whole subject from the campaign. Ehud Olmert benefited from a “honeymoon” with the voters, without having the suspicions about him become a major issue.

Investigations of increasing severity into Olmert’s activities highlighted the issue of corruption in 2008. His resignation lessened his impact on the 2009 campaign, even though he remained in office, police investigations against him continued, and there were proceedings against other politicians. The military operation in Gaza may have been even more important in blunting corruption as an election issue. The major parties suspended campaigning during the fighting, and began again only three weeks before the voting. National security was central to the campaigns of all major parties.

Prominent in 2009 were charges that Netanyahu was a chronic deceiver, beyond the hyperbole usually associated with politics. Media commentators compared what he actually said in past years with what he claimed that he said, as well as documenting his earlier predictions and promises that never came to pass.

The whopper in Netanyahu’s career—recalled by the Livni campaign as well as by media personalities—was the claim that he was offered the post of Finance Minister by the Italian government due to his success in reforming the Israeli economy. There were also reports that he authored a book, which was printed and bound, but would not be released until sometime after the election. Speculation was that it described his actions in cutting welfare payments, which clashed with what he was promising to potential coalition partners.

Corruption also figured in the campaigns aimed against Avigdor Lieberman and his Israel Beitenu (Israel Our Home) party. Shortly before the voting, the police renewed investigations into improper financial dealings that had been going on for close to a decade. They grilled Lieberman’s daughter, his party’s campaign manager, and other aides, and confined some of them to house arrest. Centrist and left-of-center parties also accused Lieberman of inciting racism, and being beyond the moral pale due to his campaigns against Israeli Arabs.

The best evidence for the failure of corruption to influence the election appears in the votes of Likud and Israel Beitenu. Some of Netanyahu’s votes may have come from people who had trouble with his reliability, but who voted for him due to other reasons. Likud’s poll increased from 12 seats after the 2006 election to 27 seats. Despite renewed investigations against Lieberman, his party increased its poll from 11 seats in 2006 to 15. An anti-establishment element in Lieberman’s appeal may actually have worked to increase his poll when the police came knocking at his party’s door. Livni’s campaign emphasized her rejection of the improprieties in the record of Ehud Olmert. She stressed her concern with principles rather than personal gain, and ridiculed Netanyahu’s lack of candor. While standing four-square against corruption, she led the Kadima party to only 28 seats. It is slated to be the largest party in the Knesset, but will be one seat short of what it won in 2006 under Olmert.

Corruption may have failed to influence Israeli voters in 2006 and 2009 because they are inured to a level of misbehavior that is arguably moderate. Charges in both 2006 and 2009 dealt with what might be called petty thievery (with quarrels possible over the label “petty”), violations of campaign finance regulations, and appointing political allies to government positions. Police and prosecutors were strained to raise serious charges of bribery, where large sums change hands and produced major government decisions in favor of those providing the money.

The Israeli public may accept that improprieties are chronic, but not so severe that they dominate national campaigns.

Transparency International ranks Israel 30th among 179 countries on its scale of perceived corruption. It scores more corrupt than most Western European countries, as well as Canada, the United States, Australia, and Japan, but less corrupt than the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Greece, Poland, and virtually all countries of the Third World. However, there is no indication in the organization’s report that its informants are sufficiently informed about governance in enough countries in order to provide reliable scores.

The United States provides an appropriate comparison for Israel. It is the biggest, the richest, and most powerful democracy, and often is the standard that Israelis employ when judging their own activities.

While Israelis were getting ready to vote in the 2009 election, Americans had just finished with an administration whose president and vice president were said to have committed widespread violations of civil rights. The losing candidate for vice president in the election of 2008 was investigated for the improper use of a public office in order to pursue a personal vendetta. In the first month of the new administration, one nominee for a Cabinet position withdrew his candidacy due to charges of impropriety as governor of New Mexico, another Cabinet nominee and a candidate for another senior position withdrew due to problems of tax evasion. The nominee for Treasury Secretary received Senate confirmation, despite the fact that his case of tax evasion seemed no less severe than others which provoked withdrawals. Substantial populations in both Israel and the United States feel that their regimes are corrupt because they tolerate homosexuality and abortions. The sexual issues associated with President Moshe Katsav were not clearly more problematical than those associated with Presidents Bill Clinton or John Kennedy.

Commentators in both Israel and the United States link alienation and non-voting to animosity toward politics and politicians. “They are all the same,” “You cannot believe any of them,” and “My vote won’t change anything” are among the reasons that people give for not voting.

JERUSALEM—The next Israeli government is being described as a memshalah tsarah, a narrow government, i.e., consisting of the 65 Knesset members of Likud and the parties to its right - some to the far right - with no partners in the center, let alone the left.             

Tsarah is the feminine form of the Hebrew adjective “narrow.” But the noun tsarah translates as “affliction, trouble, misfortune,” (Yiddish plural: tsores). The government Netanyahu is about to form is tsarah in every sense of the word.
           
He knows it. In the same way as the biblical book of Esther we read on Purim (which is almost upon us), tells that King Ahasuerus offered his Queen up to half of his kingdom, so King Bibi is reported to be offering Queen Tzipi half of the government and its powers if only she’d agree to join it. But she continues to say no. And we still don’t know if she means it or if she’s only playing hard to get,
           
Whatever the views of the leaders, some of their supporters seem to be very unhappy with the prospect of this tsarah. Important figures in Tzipi’s Kadima camp want to be in the government, and important figures in Bibi’s Likud camp warn about the dangers of a government without Kadima. Whether or not the dissidents have national or personal interests in mind, their reservations ring true.
           
Though Tzipi promises to support Bibi on issues like containing Hamas, getting Gilad Shalit back and dealing with the threat from Iran, there’re internal matters that vindicate the noun tsarah. They include:
           
Settlement expansion. The far right for ideological reasons (“all the land of Israel is ours”) and the ultra-Orthodox out of demographic needs (they want more room for their ever growing families) demand larger West Bank settlements and more of them; some even want to return to Gaza. Netanyahu will have to undertake to build them in his narrow coalition. Whatever he may say about wanting peace with the Palestinians, they’ll rightly perceive it as the opposite.

Subsidies. Because of their large families and the fact that many of the men hang around in yeshivot (“study” isn’t always the most appropriate term), the ultra-Orthodox need more family support and more allocations for their institutions. They’ve already made it clear that they also expect to run the relevant ministries. Instead of investing in productive enterprises to get Israel out of the world-wide economic slump, money will have to be taken from those who earn it to give it to those who won’t. The effect on the economy is likely to be devastating.
           
Judiciary. One of the conditions of Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu: 15 mandates )for joining the narrow coalition is to have control over the judiciary and the police to pay them back for their relentless and seemingly legitimate probing of his questionable financial dealings. The rule of law is likely to be severely compromised as a result.
           
Image. Lieberman also wants to be Foreign Minister. There aren’t many Israeli politicians likely to present a worse image than he will. His very person will illustrate all the bad things our enemies say about us. Avigdor Lieberman is no Abba Eban.
           
We’re bracing ourselves for the Fast of Esther, when Jews fearing calamity turned to fasting and prayer. We aren’t yet able to celebrate the happy ending that Purim marks. Time to think, it seems, of the next general election and muddle through for now.           

Marmur is rabbi emeritus at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. He divides his time between that city and Jerusalem, and may be reached in either place via marmurd@sandiegojewishworld.com.






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THE VIEW FROM JINSA



Nix on NIC chairman-designate Chas Freeman

By Shoshana Bryen

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Charles "Chas" Freeman is an appalling choice for Chairman of the National Intelligence Council (NIC). As President of the Saudi-funded Middle East Policy Council, Mr. Freeman functions as lobbyist, making his analysis suspect. And his analysis is, in any event, appalling. Gabriel Schoenfeld, in The Wall Street Journal's "Opinion Journal," reveals a once private 2006 Freeman Internet post that Schoenfeld says, "was provided to me by a former member" of a private site. Freeman is said to have written of the 1989 Chinese massacre in Tiananmen Square:

The truly unforgivable mistake of the Chinese authorities was the failure to intervene on a timely basis to nip the demonstrations in the bud... I do not believe it is acceptable for any country to allow the heart of its national capital to be occupied by dissidents intent on disrupting the normal functions of government, however appealing to foreigners their propaganda may be.

What he has written about Israel, and reprinted from Walt and Mearsheimer, is suspect because of his financial ties to the Saudis and appalling in its inability to differentiate between a Western democratic ally under siege from a combination of terrorists and the states that harbor and support them, and those very states and terrorist organizations. This is a problem he shares with Samantha Power at the National Security Council.

Which is why this is not exactly about Chas Freeman - who is entitled to make a living, even as a functional Saudi lobbyist, and who is entitled to be an appalling analyst.

This is about the President who has chosen Freeman to be chairman of the body that is "a center of strategic thinking within the U.S. Government," according to the NIC website. It produces, among other documents, National Intelligence Estimates - like the one that so thoroughly bungled the 2007 evaluation of Iran's nuclear program that our European allies took a walk on us.

It is a crucial appointment and one that, like those of Power and Robert Malley at the NSC and "informal advisor" Zbigniew Brzezinski, is not subject to Senate confirmation, making the calls to "action" by some Jewish and other organizations meaningless. Who is expected to take such action? Do they expect the President to say, "Oh, they're right, I shouldn't have these people around"? These people represent the President's thinking on foreign policy.

Coupled with Secretary of State Clinton's decision not to mention human rights in China; President Obama's offer to find areas in which the United States and Iran could cooperate; Vice President Biden's desire to "reset" relations with Russia, while the Russians upset the supply of natural gas across Europe in the middle of winter; offering $900 million for Gaza without requiring any changes from Hamas or UNRWA; and overtures to Syria just as the UN tribunal is convening on the Hariri murder, there is an appalling pattern here of affinity for "stable" dictators at the expense of sometimes messy, democratic friends.

We are appalled that a Democratic administration has wandered so far away from, or deliberately scorned, Senator "Scoop" Jackson's legacy of a strong American defense capability, close relations with our democratic allies and a serious commitment to human rights.

If the President wants Freeman, et al., he will have Freeman, et al., but a price will be paid by America in places where people looked to us for hope.

Bryen is special projects director for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. (JINSA). He column is sponsored by Waxie Sanitary Supply in memory of Morris Wax, longtime JINSA supporter and national board member





SAN DIEGO JEWISH ACADEMY SAN DIEGO JEWISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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Naomi Keidar at the Jerusalem Book Fair

KIBBUTZ NIR AM, Israel—Although Naomi Keidar, 66, a grandmother of eight, continues to live on this kibbutz where she was born, no one would accuse her of rural provincialism.   At the recent Jerusalem Book Fair attended by 1,200 publishers from more than 40 countries, she was saluted by the Ministry of Culture as one of Israel’s three “most excellent librarians” for the year.

Mayor Alon Schuster (pictured with Keidar at right) of the Sha’ar Hangev municipality, proudly attended the ceremony at which Keidar was lauded in Jerusalem for having “succeeded in promoting the kibbutz library of the Sha’ar Haneev municipality into the big modern library at Sapir College, serving thousands of students and pupils every day.”

Further, said the citation, “In the year that passed the library found itself undergoing additional building changes and now presents itself as a sophisticated and attractive library. Naomi Keidar identifies herself with Sha’ar Hanegev and on account of her courage, qualifications and integrity, the library on the campus has continued to operate through the Cast Lead War  and throughout the many years under constant threat of Kassam missiles.”  “Cast Lead” was the code name the IDF gave to the recent war in Gaza

After her return home from the ceremony, I had the opportunity to interview Keidar, who has four children as well as a bachelor’s degree in library studies and a master’s degree in political studies from Bar Ilan Univesity in Ramat Gan.

Sha’ar Hanegev, a group of communities in close proximity to Sderot and lying along the border with
Gaza,  is the partnership region of the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County.  For Keidar, there is an additional tie with San Diego.  Her oldest son works in Haifa, Israel, for Qualcomm, the San Diego-based telecommunications company.

Keidar said she began working at the library of Kibbutz Nir Am after finishing her two year Army service.  “Later on I was offered a job in the Sha’ar Hanegev school library.  Over the years, this library grew bigger and bigger, mostly as a result of the extended services that were needed by the students of the Sapir College.”  

Sapir College is located immediately adjacent to the elementary school and high school compounds of Sha’ar Hanegev and, like them, the campus has been undergoing “hardening” against missile fire.

“As of today, the library is considered to be an academic library providing services to the students from the two Sha’ar Hangev schools as well as the students from the Sapir College.”

Keidar said the library’s policy “has always been to work as a unit and to work together—the college, the schools and the region.  Our library is the only one in the country that works like this—usually the different libraries are split into sections.”

She explained that “the idea gave us the possibility to save resources and to enable faster progress and development in many different directions.  The library today contains many resources like DVDs, different digital databases, computers with Internet access, E-books and more.”

The future seems even brighter.   Younes Nazarian, a Los Angeles resident who is a major shareholder in Qualcomm, has underwritten the cost of an additional wing for the library.  Expected to be completed this summer, the wing will be used for public library purposes with numerous activities for children, youth and seniors.

Keidar directs a staff of 12 skilled librarians.

She said her staff so far has been able to cope well with the rocket attacks from Gaza—attacks that require Sha’ar Hanegev residents to take cover with 15 seconds of hearing the “red alert.”   The library continued to function through most of the attacks, but was ordered by the Home Office Command to close temporarily during the Gaza War.

“Our task for the future is to follow the ongoing development of the media (used for record storage and retrieval) and to provide the services needed by the Sapir College and Sha’ar Hanegev schools.”

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UJF To Hold Disaster Preparedness & Response Workshop Series

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – The recent fires in Australia and other disasters occurring around the world serve as a reminder that now is the time to get prepared.  The United Jewish Federation of San Diego County (UJF) is holding the first of a six-session workshop series on Friday, February 27th. The specially designed San Diego Jewish Community Disaster Preparedness & Response Workshop Series is free to the local Jewish community. San Diego synagogues, Jewish agencies, schools and organizations will be attending the series of workshops, which will be held over the next 18 to 24 months.

The workshop series is designed to give Jewish organizations the training, tools and skills they will need to identify, mitigate and prepare disaster response plans for disasters that otherwise would seriously threaten their ability to continue providing valuable services to the San Diego Jewish Community.

Each participating organization will identify and develop disaster response plans in conjunction with a “recovery partner”.  At the end of the period, each organization will have working documents which reflect their organization’s individual needs for disaster planning, response and recovery. “These tools can make all the difference in the world in the event of a disaster,” stated Lisa Haney, UJF Director of Planning and Allocations. “I am really excited to see these plans develop and become reality.”

The three phase series is sponsored by a grant from United Jewish Communities and the Federations of North America and San Diego Gas & Electric, a Sempra Energy utility.  Aspen Risk Management Group worked with the UJF Jewish Community Relations Council to develop this program for the Jewish Community.

 “We’re proud to be a part of this important endeavor,” said Frank Urtasun, director of corporate community partnerships for Sempra Energy. “This is a great program for the Jewish Community, and we are proud to partner with UJF. San Diego Gas & Electric is committed to helping San Diegans be prepared not only in times of crisis, but every day of the year.”

The United Jewish Federation of San Diego County is dedicated to building a vibrant and inclusive local Jewish community, and to enhancing the well being of Jews in San Diego, Israel, and throughout the world.

TORAH ON ONE FOOT


Getting the positive story of Israel out to Americans

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal

SAN DIEGO —In what might be considered an appropriate coda to my trip to Israel, I attended a meeting of the local Rabbinical Assembly in Los Angeles on Thursday at which we were addressed by Shahar Azani. Mr. Azani is the west coast Consul for Culture, Media and Public Affairs of the State of Israel. When I introduced myself, he told me that coincidentally he was leaving after the meeting for San Diego where he was going to speak at UCSD.

Over the course of my life I have heard many spokespersons from the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles. I can honestly say that Shahar is one of the best. While touching on the political situation, he spent most of his time telling us about the good works that the State of Israel and Israelis perform all over the world helping those in need. For several years Shahar was stationed in Nairobi. He told us how Israel had shared its expertise in drip irrigation to improve the life of local farmers and their neighbors.

One of the most interesting stories Shahar shared was of research that was conducted as to how Americans perceive Israel. Subjects were interviewed and asked to describe a house in Italy. They usually spoke of an open and happy home with an inviting atmosphere. They described checkerboard cloths on the table, good food being served, and warm and friendly inhabitants. They saw themselves as being warmly welcomed and departing reluctantly. When asked if they had ever been to Italy they said "no."

Then they were asked to describe a house in Israel. Their body language mirrored their discomfort. Israeli homes, they said, were bleak, closed, and guarded. The father stood guard at the door with an M16 while his wife and children huddled in the basement. Fear and worry filled their lives. Would they like to visit there? "No." Once they were inside, would they like to stay? Again: "No." They would flee as soon as they could.

It was not that the interviewees disliked Israel. They understood the threats against Israel and affirmed that Israel was a strong ally of the United States. It was just that they just would never want to be there.

Why do Americans have such a harsh and unrealistic view of Israeli life? It is because all they see in the media is this negative portrayal of Israel and Israelis. If all one knows is what's on TV, Israel seems like a war zone. As one of the speakers at our conference in Israel said, if a family has a normal day, with kids going to school, parents going to work, and everyone sitting down to dinner at night, it is not news. However, Palestinians being killed by Israeli troops (because they are being used by Hamas as human shields) is a front page event.

Shahar concluded his talk in Los Angeles by telling us about an appearance of Hadag Nahash, an Israeli hip-hop band, at an inner-city high school in Los Angeles. Hadag Nahash's music was prominently featured in the Adam Sandler film, Beware of the Zohan. Shahar invited Adam Sandler to visit the school at the same time, which added to the festivity of the event. A question and answer period followed the noontime concert. For once, Shahar told us, the Consulate was able to persuade the L.A. Times to cover an affirmative event about Israel. An extremely positive article appeared in the L.A. Times in November which concluded with one of the local students telling the reporter that before the concert and the Q and A, she was afraid of Israelis. Now she sees that they have the same hopes, dreams, and concerns as do we.

Unfortunately, Hadag Nahash is not able to appear at every American high school. If they were, one of the first schools at which I would urge them to appear is Grossmont High School, whose Associate Student Body recently ran a fund-raising drive for "Save the Children of Gaza."

While at face value there is nothing wrong with trying to help the children in Gaza, it is not clear what background material has been given to students nor do they seem to understand that any money raised may fall into the hands of Hamas. San Diego's ADL has been in touch with the school and is seeking clarification as to why and how this charity was chosen.

Theresa Kemper, principal of Grossmont High School, told me that the Grossmont High School ASB was fundraising for the Save the Children Foundation, a non-political organization which supports children in need in over 100 countries. She said the campaign was not directed towards raising funds for the children of Gaza.

She was at a loss to explain how "the children of Gaza" came to be understood by several members of the Grossmont High School population, except that it might have been a personal statement of one of the students involved in the campaign.

I wonder what students were told about the recent war and also wonder if they were told about Hamas's atrocities, not only against Israelis but against Palestinian children. I wonder if they were told that no population would tolerate the constant barrage of rockets under which Israelis have lived during the last eight years.

I know that I may sound like a broken record, but I believe that the time has come for those of us who love Israel to stop apologizing for her and clearly state the facts instead. Israel is willing to trade land for peace, but in the last several years every time Israel has seceded land, war has followed; with Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south. Israel has been willing to compensate Palestinian refugees who left their homes in 1948, but Palestinian negotiators have demanded the "right of return" instead (such a right does not exist under international law). Israel has been willing to trade imprisoned terrorists for kidnaped soldier Gilad Shalit, but every time a deal is near, Hamas ups the ante.

Consul Shahar Azani is a most capable spokesperson of the State of Israel and while admitting her failures, proudly asserts her virtues. I plan to invite him to address our congregation in the near future, but in a sense, he will be lecturing the choir. We need to hear positive messages about Israel, but they are even more important for our neighbors. As Rabbi Hillel said, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?" It is our responsibility not only to defend Israel, but to advance the righteousness of her cause. We need to share the truth in order to counter the falsehoods spread by her attackers. "And if not now, when?"

Rabbi Rosenthal is the spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted at rabbi@tiferethisrael.com





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AMAZING STORIES OF JUDAISM



Rabbi who was school dean for girls, mohel for boys, dies

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman

SAN DIEGO—Rabbi Moshe Weitman of Far Rockaway, New York, was niftar this past Sunday, the 28th of Shvat 5769. He was a pioneer of Torah Chinuch in America. The following is a tribute written by Rabbi Yair Hoffman:

As leader of Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) for over four decades, Rav Moshe Weitman's impact upon the community in Far Rockaway and the Five Towns can only be described as transformative.

"If you think about it, after forty six years of graduating classes with large class sizes.and those young ladies have started families of their own, the number of people Rav Weitman has influenced directly lies between ten and twenty thousand people," said a high-school faculty member.

Dr. Moshe Katz, author of Nine Out of Ten and one of the founders of the Torah Academy for Girls, related in an interview, "You do not understand what was happening in this community before Rabbi Weitman arrived. No one ever dreamed of all-girls' chinuch. This was something left over from Europe or elsewhere, but not here."

Some forty six years ago, Rabbi Moshe Weitman was invited to head a newly launched school for girls. Many in the community were against the project. An all-girls school here? The community leaders behind the school were told that they would not succeed. "You will see hair
grow on my palm before such a school will succeed," was a line that was actually expressed to Rabbi Amos Bunim, another founding board member of TAG. "The school belongs in Brooklyn-not here!" was another sentiment that the energetic Rav Moshe Weitman often heard in those early years.

Rabbi Yaakov Bender, dean and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, once described Rabbi Moshe Weitman's impact on the community. "The mosad that has had the greatest impact as far as Torah growth in our community is TAG. All the yeshivos that came later owe their presence to Rav Moshe Weitman. He was the trailblazer. He was our leader."

Imbued with the feeling of serving the spiritual needs of K'lal Yisrael, Rav Weitman studied the laws and practices of b'ris milah, shechitah, and numerous other skills that he could put to use for K'lal Yisrael. He was a mohel par excellence, and other mohalim marveled at his skill.

His love and care for K'lal Yisrael was sincere and genuine. During the war years, Reb Moshe took time to pack and send packages for the Vaad Hatzolah and for Agudas Yisrael, working closely with Mike Tress of the Agudah. These packages went to destitute refugees and Holocaust survivors.

In 1963, Rav Moshe Weitman accepted the offer of the fledgling Torah Academy for Girls to head it as its dean. Amos Bunim recalled, "We were impressed by his feeling of love for Torah, of his love for children, and of his appreciation for instilling and developing midos tovos in the students." Dr. Moshe Katz recalls, "For us, it was love at first sight."

The students felt an unprecedented warmth emanating from Rabbi Weitman and his rebbetzin, who worked with him in the school. Rivi Schiffer, a former student and current teacher at TAG High School, recalled, "It was like one family. Rabbi Weitman was the father figure and his wife was at his side. You and each and every one of the students were adopted by them."

"In those early years Rabbi Weitman would personally ensure that each twelfth-grade girl got into the seminary that she wanted," recalled Mrs. Basi Shenker, a TAG alumna. "Later he made sure that TAG staff members took over this crucial task." The concept reflects Rabbi
Weitman's entire philosophy of chinuch. Many schools have their students or their parents navigate the seminary process on their own. Not Rabbi Weitman.

Before "self-esteem" became a catchphrase in educational circles, Rav Moshe Weitman knew it, understood it, and breathed it. Rabbi Yosef Gelman recalled, "His approach was always to build up the girls and to build up their families." And build them up he did. His students graduated, married b'nei Torah, and raised beautiful families. Second- and third-generation TAG students have become the norm.

Rav Weitman was particularly proud of his graduates and as a mohel took special pride in performing the b'ris milah on children of TAG graduates. He never requested any compensation for this. He was the mohel for literally many thousands of young boys who would grow up to become fine b'nei Torah.

He had an uncanny ability to make Torah sources relevant to youth and to young ladies in particular. Even today, TAG graduates and alumnae vividly recall the details of a particular parashah speech and the way in which he delivered it. He delivered it with a fire.

Another alumna recalled, "In the early years it was Rabbi Weitman who encouraged us to embark upon those early chesed projects. He imbued us all with a love of chesed that we still share to this day." Currently, TAG High School has one of the most extensive chesed programs in the country.

Rav Weitman inspired feelings of yiras Shamayim in his students. He did so, however, while still allowing girls to feel comfortable asking questions, whether in halachah or in hashkafah. One alumna recalled that she felt safe just knowing someone like Rav Moshe Weitman was around. As loving and gentle a mechanech as he was, he was strong in his Torah hashkafos. If, for example, something was a breach in tzenius, the Torah's lofty ideals of modesty, he would take a stand.

Rav Weitman always stayed away from machlokes. When he had a yahrzeit he would never insist on taking the amud to lead the services. He would say that it was a greater z'chus (merit for the deceased) to avoid arguments.

His reputation for taking young ladies into his school regardless of their family's ability to pay was legendary. One time a student applied to a rival school and incorrectly suggested that Rabbi Weitman would not accept her because of the family's poor finances. The director replied, "I am sorry; I may be Rabbi Weitman's rival, but I know there is no way that that is correct. He personifies the opposite of what you just mentioned. Money has never, ever motivated that man."

Rav Weitman also took in girls from homes with little background in Yiddishkeit. These girls now lead Torah homes throughout the community and, indeed, across the country. He did this because of his enormous sense of achrayus, responsibility, to serve K'lal Yisrael's spiritual
needs.

Even in recent years, Rav Weitman agreed to take girls into his school who came straight out of public school. How many Bais Yaakovs today still do this? And yet at the same time, he was able to create a model Bais Yaakov. Mrs. Aleeza Berkowitz, TAG High School's Judaic Studies
principal, constantly receives glowing letters from seminaries about TAG graduates.

Once a local Yeshiva could not get a mortgage. Try as the Rosh Yeshiva did, no one would give him the time of day. The local banks refused to loan it. The national banks said to go to the local banks. Even hiring a mortgage broker yielded no results. Rav Weitman took the Rosh Yeshiva in to a bank. The manager said, "If Rabbi Weitman says you can be trusted then that is good enough for me."

Rav Weitman's sense of achrayus extended to his employees, as well. Not once in forty six years has TAG ever been late with its payroll. What is most remarkable is that this is not on account of the school being a wealthy school with a wealthy parent body. It may be argued that quite the opposite is the case. This remarkable record is true because of Rav Weitman's highly developed sense of achrayus.

Rav Moshe Weitman, z'l, altered the Torah landscape of America. His is a remarkable legacy.

Dedicated by Andy & Mazal Levin to a refuah shelaimah (full recovery) for his father Mr. Marvin Levin (Mordechai ben Fannie).

Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah in San Diego. He may be contacted at rbl613@nethere.com

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