(Rabbi, Charleston, South Carolina, 1903-2000).

Most interesting personal diary of a senior rabbinical student at Yeshiva Rabbi Isaac Elchanan, New York. Benjamin Axelman was editor of the student journal Ner Maarovi (Joseph Lookstein was a junior board-member at the time). He later went into the rabbinate (despite misgivings echoed in his diary), serving the community of Charleston, South Carolina for many years. Axelman’s diary contains most personal and frank musings about life in the Yeshiva, his studies, ambitions, friends and hopes for marriage. RIETS was located at the time in the Lower East Side of New York and the diary contains many details about that neighborhood as well as Brooklyn. A selection of religious ruminations and social observations: “I feel that it is only my lofty purpose in life - which in this diary will, I hope, be fairly mapped out - that enables me to weather all the storms of misfortune my 22 years have here and there subjected me to. Wednesday Jan. 28 bitter cold - beautiful: Had time to learn a few hours in the evening but felt unduly downhearted and indisposed. After smoking about five Camels, I am going to bed now about 11 P. M. Pretty useless couple of days these last few. Thursday Jan. 29 warmer - snow by day and drizzling rain at night: I spent 5 hours on learning tonight with about 1 hour’s wasted-time aggregated among them. Friday Jan. 30 slushy streets - warm: As usual I awoke at about noon. Went to Yeshiva, where Dr. Revel, as usual, passed some unsatisfactory remarks to me about my frequent absences and lateness. Determination on my part to satisfy the old gent, for my own good; also for the good of S.O.Y., which I was neglecting. If I feel better mentally, no matter how my health is, I will be in Yeshiva as regularly as possible. Did no learning today. Saturday Jan. 31 warm - beautiful - slushy: I left bed this morning at about 11 A. M. feeling fine. Of course, I could not attend services; but I certainly did enjoy my prayers at home! I always enjoy them more when I pray alone. I love the synagogue - but my heart bleeds when I see how little the synagogue, as it exists and is carried out today, effects the Jewish mind and soul; how little it tends to add to Jewish unity, religion, culture, and the solving of our burning modern problems. That is the real reason of my deliberate failure to attend it. But can I tell anyone this reason? Will I be understood? Or can I even hope - during my own lifetime - to change, or see changed, conditions in so deeply rooted a set of errors as is Judaism according to our present “Orthodox” conceptions? To me, we of today are Saducees following the letter of ancient Phariseeism, instead of modern Pharisees, acting in the spirit of the Pharisaic sages of the Talmud. Sunday Feb. 1 slushy - beautiful - warm: Hoorah! The jinx was broken! I woke no later than 8:30 this morning! 9:40 found me in Yeshiva, where I learned for a few hours with Sheinfel (Masechet Nidah) rather diligently.”