Word: rabbies
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Died. Yehuda Leib Levin, 77, chief rabbi of Moscow's Central Synagogue since 1957 and unofficial spokesman for 3,000,000 Soviet Jews; of pneumonia; in Moscow. The white-bearded patriarch admitted that Jews in the Soviet Union suffer from the restrictions of "an atheistic culture." Like many religious leaders in Communist countries, however, he found it necessary to conciliate the regime. He took an anti-Zionist line and observed, accurately enough, during a U.S. visit in 1968: "There have been no pogroms...
...delegates was "becoming untenable in this city of New York. We cannot go on like this." Then he launched into an attack, highly unusual for a diplomat, on local U.S. officials: "Who is responsible? The politicians, the mayor, who goes to the synagogue and acts like a rabbi to obtain Jewish votes." Lindsay, he raged, was a Republican one day, a Democrat the next, "the third day he is nothing-a sycophant." Syrian Delegate George Tomeh rose to denounce "terrorism," charging that the Syrian mission had already received six bomb threats that week alone...
Before the year was out, the young scholar became the congregation's permanent rabbi, and his Orthodox teachings their guide. Even now, however, with 500 families (including his own parents), and scores of drop-ins, Riskin admits that many of his congregation are not yet fully observant Jews. If they were, he says, "there would be no need for me." He is pleased enough that they have found "a place to grow" in appreciation of the Law. Orthodox Judaism, he insists, is a living religion, and its laws provide practical guides for behavior. On the issue of abortion...
Ritual observances are important, says Riskin, not only because they are God-given, but because "they fulfill our transcendental needs. Our lives require an element of poetry. Moments of the past and of the future become part of us." Above all, Rabbi Riskin defends the "divine rhythm" of the Sabbath and the festivals as welcome glimpses of eternity in a maddeningly busy world. He himself is active in causes ranging from prison visits to rallies for Soviet Jews, but the Sabbath is a day that bears no interruption beyond its rituals. As Riskin sees it, "the Sabbath needs structure...
...Forgiveness. He is determined that his congregation shall find it not a day of sorrow but one of "total catharsis," when man can once again be completely free from sin, an innocent in a world reborn. "God loves us no matter how guilty we are," the rabbi reminded his congregation at a special midnight service in preparation for the High Holy Days. "He will stretch His arms out to us if only we will ask." Even the 25-hour total fast imposed by the Law is not a burden, insists Rabbi Riskin, but an opportunity to acknowledge...