Recent olim to Israel, Rabbi Heshie and Rebbetzin Rookie Billet served the American Jewish community for over four decades. Rabbi Billet is Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Woodmere and a past President of the Rabbinical Council of America, while Rebbetzin Billet had a distinguished career as a Jewish educator, principal, synagogue rebbetzin, and yoetzet halacha. Together, they built institutions and shaped Jewish life in the Five Towns of Long Island and beyond. Rabbi Aron White spoke with the Billets to hear about their journey in Jewish communal leadership and their new chapter in Israel.

You served as a rabbinic couple at Young Israel of Woodmere for 40 years, while Rebbetzin Billet also led Shulamit Middle School and other educational institutions. Were these careers in Jewish communal service always your plan?

Rabbi Heshie Billet: I was on a medical track, and my revered teacher, Rav Aaron Lichtenstein, called me aside and asked, “Are you planning to make Aliyah right away?” I said no. He responded, “If you’re going to be a doctor in Israel, you’re contributing something to the Jewish people, and you can continue with medical school. But if you’re not making Aliyah, then you have to do something for the Jewish people. You have to go into chinuch or the rabbinate.” Being a faithful, loyal student who loved Rav Lichtenstein, I took him at his word. I gave up medical school and went into chinuch and the rabbinate.

Initially, I had a small shul in Monsey. To get a big shul, you need experience – though it doesn’t matter what kind, any experience helps. I was also a teacher and an assistant principal. I taught in YU and JSS for three or four years, then taught for Rabbi Riskin in his new high school, Ohr Torah, for another three or four years. Rookie can tell you about her track – she was also on a doctorate track.

Rebbetzin Rookie Billet: Even as a high school student, I was interested in kiruv. I wanted to teach Torah, but only as a sideline. When I went to college, I fell in love with sociology and pursued my doctorate because being a professor seemed like a good career. Then we experienced a terrible tragedy – our infant daughter passed away at three months old, of sudden infant death syndrome. That created a certain kind of cheshbon hanefesh. There was a hair dye commercial in those days with a woman running through a meadow saying, “If I have only one life, let me live it as a blonde.” I changed it to, “If I have only one life, let me live it as a Judaic studies teacher.”

So I changed tracks and started teaching Judaic studies, with Heshie’s encouragement. After 20 years of teaching, I became a principal and remained a principal or assistant principal for close to 30 years after that.

Rabbi Heshie Billet: I’d like to add that since I was a shul rabbi and there were no yoatzot halacha in those days, Rookie used to teach all the women in the community taharat hamishpacha. When the yoetzet halacha program became a reality in America, she said, “I don’t want to be a yoetzet halacha, but I would like to learn inside what I’ve been teaching based just on reading about it.” So she took the yoetzet halacha program with its 18 tests in America and several tests on biology and physiology – and she passed. Of all the yoatzot halacha in America at the time, she was the only one who wrote the answers to the tests in Hebrew. She became a yoetzet halacha and still answers questions from people who call her, though she doesn’t get paid for it and doesn’t officially function in that capacity.

You mentioned the community where you were leaders. People know the Five Towns as one of the biggest Jewish communities in the Diaspora today, but what was it like when you began? How has it grown and changed?

Rabbi Heshie Billet: I think we came there about 22 years after it began. Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetsky started the community and was rabbi for one year. Then my predecessor, Rabbi Shaya Lebor, was there for 20 years before I replaced him. I was the rabbi there for 40 years. When I came, there were about 200 families in the community. When we left, the community had grown to about 1,300 families. The Five Towns became attractive as suburbs gained popularity and people moved out of the city – similar to how Teaneck developed in New Jersey. The Long Island Railroad provided a convenient 40-minute commute to Manhattan, and JFK Airport was nearby. The educational options were comprehensive – we had boys schools, girls schools, separate-gender institutions, and co-ed schools at both elementary and high school levels. Whatever type of Orthodox education parents wanted for their children was available. These advantages made it a magnet for Jewish families.

Rebbetzin Rookie Billet: I should add that there was a mikvah in Far Rockaway, but none in the Five Towns when we arrived. One was developed around 1981. There were some lawyers who handled it pro bono, acquired the property, and dealt with neighbors who opposed it.

Rabbi Heshie Billet: We were involved in building the mikvah, although it was really the laypeople who put in tremendous work. There was a Mr. Alpert who built many mikvaot. His daughter, Malky Alpert, and his nephew, David Schreiber, along with a whole committee, helped build the mikvah in the Five Towns. These community institutions were built through tremendous grassroots efforts. 

There was a so-called eruv when I arrived, but when I toured it, I didn’t really see much. So I invited Rabbi Shimon Eider, who wrote a book on eruvin and whom I knew from Camp Morasha. He came out and advised us on what we needed to do to build a proper eruv that would be acceptable for anyone who wanted to use it. We invested significant money in building it. For the first five years, I personally checked it every Friday. Later, we hired someone to check it regularly.

We also established a vaad hakashrut. There were two butcher stores under it when I arrived, but when I saw how they washed and salted the meat, I decided not to buy from either. We decided to build a proper vaad hakashrut and hired people to run it. It has since boomed and expanded into a very fine operation recognized throughout the country. People from across the Jewish spectrum – Religious Zionist, Modern Orthodox, Charedi – all eat at establishments under our vaad hakashrut, which is something we’re very proud of.

As the community grew, people were dying, and I wanted to see how they performed the tahara. When I observed the process, I thought, “If I die, I don’t want them handling me.” So with the help of some lay people, Rabbi Elchanan Zohn, and Rabbi Peretz Steinberg, I taught serious classes to both men and women on how to perform a tahara properly. We established both women’s and men’s chevra kadisha groups. The people involved got hands-on experience at other places and learned to do it correctly. We created a wonderful chevra kadisha – it’s sad to say it became one of the more popular community organizations, not because of the sadness of losses, but because people felt they were doing something holy and important. Every year on zayin Adar, they have a huge successful melave malka on the yahrzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu.

Rebbetzin Billet, Shulamit pioneered certain educational approaches like ‘Ivrit b’Ivrit’ for girls in Orthodox schools. How did this shape your educational philosophy, and what impact did it have on Religious Zionist education in America?

Rebbetzin Rookie Billet: I attended the original Shulamit in Boro Park from kindergarten through eighth grade, and to this day, I sing its praises. We live in Israel now, and I attribute my Hebrew fluency to the foundation I received at Shulamit. From day one of first grade in the Hebrew department, we didn’t hear a word of English. That immersion truly taught us all.

When I became a principal later, I tried very hard to insist on teachers teaching Ivrit b’Ivrit. It’s an uphill battle in America. The parents of my generation accepted it, but today’s parents want learning to be easy for their children. They want their kids to love Judaism and learning, but they don’t understand when I explain they’ll love it that much more if they truly understand what they’re learning and how to learn.

My teacher was Nechama Leibowitz, who taught us that “lilmod Tanach bli Ivrit ze inuy b’lo iyun – to learn Tanach without Hebrew is torture instead of depth of learning.” I studied with her when I was 19 and again at 42, during two different years we spent in Israel. Our principal in those days was Dr. Judith Lieberman, who was also a colleague of Professor Nechama Leibowitz.

At Shulamit and other schools where I worked, we always marched in the Salute to Israel parade. We recited Hallel on Yom HaAtzmaut and eventually Yom Yerushalayim. We emphasized Zionism, Hebrew, and identification with the Land and people of Israel. We commemorated Yom HaZikaron and told stories of soldiers. We brought in parents who had served in the IDF. We really tried to instill this in the students, and I think that mission has been very successful in those schools that identify with Israel and Modern Orthodoxy.

Rabbi Heshie Billet: I’d add that Judith Lieberman, Rookie’s principal in elementary school, was the daughter of Rav Meir Bar-Ilan and the granddaughter of the Netziv. So the connection goes all the way back to Volozhin. And my teachers – Rav Lichtenstein and Rabbi Soloveitchik, the Rav – that also goes back to Volozhin, to the Beit HaLevi and Reb Chaim.

When I was in Israel in 1992 on sabbatical, I called Nechama Leibowitz and asked if I could learn with her. She offered me an hour a week, and I went to her apartment on Rechov HaTzvi behind the Central Bus Station. I studied with her b’chavruta every week for about 40 weeks. But the hour always stretched to three hours – one hour of learning and two hours of conversation, because Nechama was a great conversationalist and an incredible lady.

Rabbi Billet, throughout your career, you’ve spoken up about issues of the day and support for Israel, while striking a balance between addressing important topics without being politically divisive. What was your approach, and how would you advise rabbis today on this balance?

Rabbi Heshie Billet: I think it’s very important that a rabbi not speak politics from the pulpit. There are issues associated with politics – if you support Israel, it’s associated with some form of politics – but supporting Israel doesn’t mean you have to speak in favor of one party or another. For elections, we always told people in the States to vote, not who to vote for. Of course, vote as a Jew. Vote your interest as an American, but never forget you’re also a Jewish American, and Israel is important – as was Soviet Jewry when that was an issue, or Ethiopian Jews. I had the privilege of visiting the Falash Mura in Gondar. You have to care about Jewish people all over the world, wherever they are.

In the pulpit, Jewish causes were always important. Every Shabbat included a dvar Torah – never a political speech. But supporting Israel is political in a sense, talking about the importance of Israel and supporting its government.

Rebbetzin Rookie Billet: Sometimes in shiurim, people would say, “Rabbi, we want to hear your view,” because Heshie always had insightful perspectives on news. He and his mother were both news enthusiasts who followed newspapers closely.

Rabbi Heshie Billet: I did express opinions and sometimes got heat for it. When they signed the Oslo Accords, I came to Israel, got a Palestinian flag, took it out in shul and said, “This is what we signed an agreement with. It’s like signing an agreement with Hitler. You’ve signed an agreement with murderers of your people. I don’t think they’ll ever change, and we’ll have terrible problems.” Some were upset, saying, “They made peace, and the rabbi is saying this?” None apologized when Oslo failed and buses were being blown up in Jerusalem two years later.

Shimon Peres, the great peacemaker, was Prime Minister then, and he lost his position to his arch-enemy, Benjamin Netanyahu, because of the buses being blown up. And then in 2002, they bombed the Pesach Seder at the Park Hotel, killing about 40 people. It was horrible. So yes, sometimes I spoke out strongly, but history unfortunately validated those concerns.

I admit my leanings in Israel have always been right of center. I was a follower of Jabotinsky and an advocate for Begin and even for Lechi. But I also learned morality from Rav Aaron Lichtenstein, which was very important, and from the Rav. I had Rav Schachter as head of the kollel. So I learned Torah from many good people, giving me balance and perspective.

First and foremost, study Torah. The Rav used to speak of “the primacy of Torah.” But you also need to know what’s happening in the world, and connections help. You must see the world to function in it – who but Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai went to visit Vespasian and made whatever deal he made? We always tried to meet influential figures. Natan Sharansky’s first Shabbat in America was at Young Israel of Woodmere. Yosef Mendelevitch’s first Shabbat in America was there too. These weren’t accidents – we were connected. I was also connected to IDF Colonel Yalon Farhi, who created Shinui Kivun. He identified left-wing NGOs connected to Arab communities that were undermining Israel, and we fought against them. That was important work. Still, you need balance, as Rav Aaron Lichtenstein taught us. 

Could you reflect on your recent Aliyah? What has it been like, and has your perspective changed on how you would counsel others considering Aliyah?

Rebbetzin Rookie Billet: We have always wanted to make Aliyah. Before I met Heshie, I was dating a yeshivish young man, and one thing that made it difficult for me to commit to him was that he wasn’t Tzioni. Heshie and I spent our first year of marriage in Israel – he attended a kollel at Yeshivat Hakotel, and I attended Michlalah in Bayit VeGan. We were already very comfortable and made friends with both Americans who had made Aliyah and Israelis.

The fact that we spoke Hebrew was crucial. Here’s a cute anecdote – we each came into our marriage with our own complete set of Kol Kitvei Shai Agnon, which I don’t think many couples could say! So Aliyah was our lifelong dream, but life happened, and we postponed it, though retirement Aliyah was always on our agenda.

We’ve maintained our connection to Israel throughout our careers. We spent a sabbatical year here in 1992, and I studied with Nechama Leibowitz during two different extended stays in Israel. We visited frequently and maintained connections with Israeli educators, rabbis, and communities. This helped prepare us for eventually making Aliyah when the time was right.

We’ve had an excellent klita (absorption), partly because we have many friends, both Israeli and American, and partly because our Hebrew, though American-accented, is very fluent. I always advocate for Hebrew study in the Diaspora. I feel so grateful, especially during this difficult wartime. I can listen to the eulogies at funerals of these incredible young people, hear the charges that commanders give their soldiers before battle, read important articles, and participate in tours – all in Hebrew. I’m grateful we can understand, communicate, and speak Hebrew.

Our Aliyah would be paradise if not for the war. It’s been painful to witness the war’s duration and how the noble goals haven’t yet been met. I always say if only our enemies wanted what we want – to raise children, make a living, live and let live, accept people with different views – while sharing the same life goals.

Rabbi Heshie Billet: We’re very proud that we have five grandchildren in the IDF. We know many soldiers and families and have attended too many funerals of people we know. Many of our friends have lost family members in battle.

Before the war, we traveled throughout Israel – north, south, east, and west. We have connections in almost every city, town, and village. We support the Druze and love them. We’ve been to every community in Judea and Samaria. We support not fanatics but the typical, wonderful settlers who get a bad reputation in the American press. They just want to live and let live. There are some extremists, and you must always be cautious of them. The Rambam says you must follow the middle path – extremism is not good.

Let me ask about one other thing. I know you were appointed to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. Is that connected to something about Jewish soldiers in World War II?

Rabbi Heshie Billet: It’s a presidential commission. I was appointed by President Trump in his first term. The chairman was Paul Packer, who lives in the Five Towns and is a very active Jew. I was nominated by Chuck Schumer. The commission commemorates the Holocaust and what Jewish soldiers did overseas, as well as positive things done by American Christians abroad.

Regarding soldiers, Rabbi J.J. Schacter started Operation Benjamin after visiting a cemetery in Normandy. He noticed there weren’t enough Jewish stars proportionate to the number of Jewish soldiers killed in action. Shalom Lamm later got involved. Operation Benjamin has changed many headstones, and we’ve participated in two missions. In the Philippines, we changed four headstones for Jewish soldiers who were mistakenly buried as Christians.

Last year in Marigny, France, through extensive research, we extricated the remains of a U.S. soldier buried in a mass grave with Germans. The German in charge of military cemeteries – a tremendous ohev Israel – helped us. We reburied Lieutenant Nathan Baskin in the U.S. military cemetery in Normandy. With guidance from Rav Moshe Weiss, we lined his grave with metal to create a Jewish cemetery within the larger cemetery. It was a tremendous kiddush Hashem.

Rebbetzin Rookie Billet: I relate strongly to Operation Benjamin because my father served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, which saved his life as he was sent to recover in London and then shipped back to the States. When I see those military cemeteries with walls of names of soldiers with no graves because they were killed in the Pacific or their ships were sunk, it’s an honor to give recognition to these soldiers.

My father would be 102 this summer – he died too young, but now has over 140 descendants. When you think of all those lost soldiers, both for Yom HaZikaron and for America, it really brings home the tragedy.

Rabbi Heshie Billet: What Rookie just said illustrates the teaching of Chazal – one person can be the forefather of 140 descendants. Imagine how many descendants they could have had – it’s a whole world.

I’d also recommend the Tank Museum in Latrun, which now has a new museum dedicated to Jewish soldiers who fought in the Second World War, the Chaim Herzog Museum of the Jewish Warrior in World War II. It’s incredible to see the disproportionate sacrifices Jews have made in these conflicts. The amount of research is impressive. I recommend everyone visit, though I wish they would allow guests to browse freely rather than only offering guided tours.

There’s a full uniform of a Holocaust survivor who escaped to America and served as a paratrooper. His uniform displays many medals, and it has a patch that, when his daughter (a classmate of Rookie’s) posted about it online, someone offered tens of thousands of dollars for it. She refused to sell, and instead it’s hanging in the museum – she donated it.

Can you reflect on your experience living in Yerushalayim?

Rebbetzin Rookie Billet: After the Six-Day War, there was a beautiful play called Yerushalayim Sheli – My Jerusalem. It featured songs and vignettes honoring the holy city and celebrating its reunification. One song that deeply moved me and my friends at the time was called Lamut B’Yerushalayim – To Die in Jerusalem. It told four stories of Jews from the Diaspora who yearned to reach Yerushalayim at the end of their lives, either to die there or to be buried there.

The final vignette described a soldier during the Six-Day War, caught in the fierce battle for Jerusalem. As his unit crossed the kav hatefer – the seam that once divided the Arab and Jewish sections of the city in Abu Tor – he suddenly realized the true wonder of lichyot b’Yerushalayim – to live in Jerusalem. That’s exactly how I feel every single day.

Rabbi Heshie Billet: There’s no other city in the world where you can so vividly experience the promised destiny of the Jewish people.

Jerusalem is a city of synagogues, study halls, culture, government, and of course, the Kotel with the Temple Mount. It’s close to Gush Etzion, Chevron, and the ancient areas of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Here, the Tanach and the Talmud come alive – they are part of our daily reality.

We have friends and family here, and we live full, joyful, and meaningful lives.