In the most recent issue of Chavrusa, a publication of RIETS (YU) Rabbinic Alumni, there is an interview with R’ Charlap, the outgoing menahel. In discussing the life of Dr. Belkin, R' Charlap noted that when Dr. Belkin first came to YU from Europe as a yeshiva-only educated iluy, his inclination was to return to the yeshiva world of Europe rather than remain at YU. It was none other than R’ Shimon Shkop who (quoting R’ Charlap), “presciently told him, well before World War II and Hitler MHBR, that the future of Yahadus lies in American and that Yiddishkeit-wise, Europe is lost”. Of course, Dr. Belkin went on to shape that future of Yahadus in the US.
I thought it was an interesting point.
Rav A. Kotler,the Mirrer Yeshiva and many others decided to come to America rather then Eretz Yisroel after the holocaust becuase of the well known tradition from Rav Chaim Volozhener that America will be a major place for Torah prior to Mosiach coming.I can't what America would look loke had they not done so.
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence should read.'I can't imagine what America would look like had they not done so'
ReplyDelete