Rafael Madoff comment on Star coverage

To the editor:

Thank you for publishing the warm and informative tributes to the Rav Binyomin Kamenetzky zt”l, a Torah giant and true Jewish leader. I am grateful that you were able to include my brief essay about Rav Kamenetzky’s involvement in the 1943 march by 400 rabbis to the White House, and his address to the Wyman Institute’s conference in 2007.

It should be noted that it was The Jewish Star’s own longtime columnist, Alan Jay Gerber, who first brought Rav Kamenetzky’s role to our attention and facilitated the rav’s involvement in the Wyman Institute’s campaigns for public recognition of the march.

Like the other rebbeim who took part in the march, Rav Kamenetzky was much too humble to ever boast about his participation. It took some real sleuthing by Alan to uncover that important information. The Jewish community, and the historical record, are better off thanks to Alan’s efforts, in this regard and many others.

Rafael Medoff

Director, David S. Wyman Istitute for Holocaust Studies