Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Aneinu Please Daven for HaRav Keller Shlita

The condition of Harav Keller is very critical. Please be mispallel for

Chaim Dov ben Craindel

Please daven for the grandson of a friend Yehuda ben Chaya Sora who needs a refuah shlema.

Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel - 8 Tamuz 5780/June 30, 2020


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudath Israel of America <news@agudah.org>
Date: Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 4:27 PM
Subject: News From Agudas Yisroel - 8 Tamuz 5780/June 30, 2020
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>


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June 30, 2020 - 8 Tamuz 5780
News from the Agudah:

  • Today, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling saying that states may not discriminate against religious schools in state aid programs. Agudath Israel hails this Supreme Court ruling which ensures that religious schools may not be barred from scholarship programs. See below for more details.

  • Tonight, June 30th, is the Bnos Shmiras Halashon program grand finale! See below for more information.

  • On Wednesday, July 1st, the City Council of Los Angeles will vote on a motion to cut 150 million dollars from the LAPD budget. Agudath Israel of California opposes this motion to reassign the LAPD budget. Please see below for more details.

  • The Iyunim B'Hilchos Shabbos program continued today with a shiur from Rabbi Avrohom Bromberg, and there will be a chazarah shiur at 8:00 pm EDT. See below for the call in information and for tomorrow's schedule.

  • The Jewish Home recently interviewed Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, our NY Director of Government Relations, where he discussed the behind-the-scenes story of the decision regarding sleep away camps in New York. You can read the interview here.

  • Agudah Live is back! Tomorrow, July 1st, at 3:00 pm EDT, join Rabbi Shai Markowitz and Rabbi Avi Schnall as they discuss Learning and Linkedin, Careers and COVID with Tzvi Pirutinsky, PH.D, Associate Professor at Touro College, Career Counselor PCS, and Mordy Golding, Director of Contect, LinkedIn Learning and Lynda.com. See below for more details.

  • Click here to watch the newest Ki Heim Chayeinu video.
Agudath Israel Hails Supreme Court Ruling That Religious Schools May Not Be Barred from Scholarship Program
The United States Supreme Court today issued a landmark ruling saying that states may not discriminate against religious schools in state aid programs. This will have a significant positive impact on families choosing to attend religious schools around the country. 

"Agudath Israel has played a leading role in advocating for programs that make it easier for parents to choose private and religious schools," said Rabbi A. D. Motzen, Agudath Israel of America's National Director of State Relations. "Today's ruling endorses Agudah's longtime position that states may not bar families from using state aid at the school of their choice simply because they choose a religious option."

The case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, involved a Montana program that provided a tax credit for donations to scholarship funds for students attending private schools. The Montana Department of Revenue ruled that the scholarship could not be used at religious schools, on the grounds that Montana state law prohibited even indirect government aid to religious institutions. The Supreme Court of Montana upheld that position, in spite of Agudath Israel's brief in that case arguing that states must include religious institutions in public benefit programs under the United States Constitution.  

Those supporting the program asked the United States Supreme Court to hear the case, and Agudath Israel of America joined in that effort by submitting an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief urging the nation's highest court to hear the case. Agudath Israel's brief argued that under the Supreme Court's own precedents, government grant programs may not exclude religious institutions from benefits solely because they are religious institutions.  

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, and issued its highly anticipated decision today. The Court ruled that the Montana State Constitution discriminated against religious schools and their students solely because of their religious status, and that this constituted a violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the Federal Constitution. The Court held that the Free Exercise Clause "protects religious observers against unequal treatment" and against "laws that impose special disabilities on the basis of religious status."

Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel, hailed the decision. "Agudath Israel has been fighting religious discrimination for decades, and we will continue to do so. We are thrilled that the Supreme Court has made clear that discrimination against religious schools in state aid programs is a constitutional violation. Other states that have 'no aid' provisions in their state constitutions, known as 'Blaine Amendments,' can now enact programs that encourage or provide assistance to religious school students." 

Agudath Israel thanks Mark Kurzmann, counsel of record on the amicus curiae brief that Agudath Israel submitted to the Supreme Court asking the court to hear this case, and Scott Whitman, a student at Georgetown University Law Center, for his assistance with the research and drafting of that brief. Agudath Israel Vice President for Government Affairs Abba Cohen, and Special Counsel Mordechai Biser, were also named on the brief and participated in the preparation of the brief. Agudath Israel also thanks Jennifer Bordy, a Montana attorney who assisted with the filing of Agudath Israel's brief in the case before the Montana Supreme Court. 
Bnos Shmiras Halashon Program Grand Finale
Tonight, at 7:00 pm EST will be the Bnos Shmiras Halashon Program grand finale. Call in to 602-580-9675, pin 2299723# for exciting stories, games, and more.

For more information, email cbhass@agudah.org.
Agudath Israel of California Opposes Los Angeles City Council's Motion to Reassign LAPD Budget  
On Wednesday, July 1st, the City Council of Los Angeles will vote on a motion to cut 150 million dollars from the LAPD budget. The proposal represents a significant cut in the $2 billion Police Department budget while allocating those funds to other civic agencies. 
 
This motion was written to address the racial bias minority communities suffer at the hands of the police.  The City Council vote to slash the department's funds will impact public safety by among other things, cutting the police force by over 300 officers and reducing the police car total by over 30 in addition to those vehicles lost in the demonstrations. The funds are to be redirected to city agencies like the Youth Development Taskforce and the Parks and Recreation.  
 
Agudath Israel opposes this motion by the City Council.  The city agencies to who funds will be redistributed, while necessary and important, will not tackle the critical issue of racially charged policing and overreach. Those funds would be better distributed to agencies that can better train the LAPD, change the culture of the Police Department, and train civilians to take over for police when an armed officer is not needed to respond. 
 
The funding reallocation proposed, poses a great risk to public safety. The new budget reduces the police budget in a way that severely increases police response times, and presence in the community.  
 
While Agudath Israel of California stands with their minority peers in supporting the need to change racial bias in policing, this new proposal does not address those concerns in a safe and effective way. Dr. Irving Lebovics, chairman of Agudath Israel of California, has said, "We respect the city council in their quest to fix the racial inequities in our system. However, we cannot back this motion due to the threat of public safety and ineffectiveness of the budget reassignment." 
Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos Program
The Zoom access link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83528677424 and the call in number is 1-646-558-8656, access code: 835-286-77424.
Agudah Live!

Call in at 718-298-2077 access code 52 if you're in the US, or 647-797-0056 access code 52 if you're in Canada.
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Fwd: Business Halacha Daily


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Bais HaVaad Halacha Center <info@baishavaad.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 2:20 PM
Subject: Business Halacha Daily
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>


IS THERE A MITZVAH TO LEND TO THE RICH? 

Question: In the previous segment, we discussed the mitzvah of lending money to those struggling financially. Does this mitzvah apply as well to lending money to the wealthy who may also be struggling during this period? 


TO WATCH THE VIDEO, CLICK BELOW
Rav Dovid Grossman

Answer: The Rambam states that there is a mitzvas aseh (positive biblical mitzvah) to lend to "aniyei yisrael," poor Jews, and this mitzvah has the same parameters as tzedaka. But the Rambam continues that there is a mitzvah to lend even to one who is wealthy. Why does the Rambam add the mitzvah to lend to the wealthy in an additional sentence, and without stating that it too is a positive mitzvah? Couldn't the Rambam have simply stated that there is a positive mitzvah to lend to all Jews, both the poor and the wealthy?

Acharonim infer from this formulation of the Rambam that it is in fact a mitzvah to lend to the rich when necessary, but it is part of the general mitzvah of gemilus chasadim, not the specific mitzva of lending money, which applies only to the poor, as the pasuk states, את העני עמך (Shemos 22:24). This approach that lending to the wealthy is not included in this mitzvah is accepted by the other Rishonim as well. 
Interestingly, though, the Semah (a commentary on the shulchan aruch) seems to pasken that lending to the rich does fulfill the mitzvah of lending money. The question is asked "How can the Semah contradict the Rishonim"? The answer is that the Semah is referring to a case where a wealthy person is undergoing a financial crisis. Therefore, he is classified as "poor" at that time for the considerations of this mitzvah.

This can be supported from the Gemara in Bava Kamma that discusses a wealthy individual who cannot access his assets at a particular time. The Gemara states that at that time, he is considered to be poor, and may therefore even take matnas aniyim (gifts to the poor in the field). Thus, lending to one who is wealthy fulfills a general mitzvah of chesed, lending to the poor fulfills the specific mitzvah of im kesef talveh, and lending to someone who is wealthy but cannot access his funds at that time (and certainly one who has lost his funds) also fulfills this mitzvah. 
 
Question: Do specific parameters for the mitzvah of lending exist with regard to the amount obligated to give in the same manner that parameters exist for tzedaka or ma'aser, i.e., ideally lending at least a tenth?
 
Answer: The Chafetz Chaim writes in Ahavas Chesed that the extent of the amount included in the mitzvah of lending is different than that of giving tzedakah. With regard to tzedakah, the Gemara says that al yevazbez yoser mechomesh, one should not use more than one fifth of his earnings in giving tzedaka. This is because we do not want the donor to become needy as well as a result of helping someone else, as the Torah states (Devarim 15:4), "אפס כי לא יהיה בך אביון."

However, with regard to lending, it is permitted to lend more than one fifth of one's earnings, since if it is done properly and responsibly such that a person is assured of receiving his money back, then there is no risk to the lender. 
 
Question: Is it permitted to treat money given as a loan as part of one's ma'aser if the recipient ultimately does not return the money?

Answer: If the person had in mind when giving the loan that if the loan is not returned, he would like the money to be counted as ma'aser, then it would be permitted. But if one did not have this in mind when lending the money, it cannot retroactively be counted towards one's ma'aser calculation. This is all provided that the recipient has the Halachic classification of an "ani".

Let us conclude by mentioning that the Chafetz Chaim states in Ahavas Chesed that opening a lending gemach is a great way to spend one's ma'aser money, as one can accrue multiple mitzvos of lending money with the same amount, and also fulfill the higher level of tzedaka of lending money rather than simply giving it as charity.
 

To view past shiurim, please visit baishavaad.org/daily.
If you have any questions related to these shiurim, you can reply directly to this email.
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Fwd: Halacha Yomis - Davening Outside, Foul Odors


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: OU Kosher <noreply@ounetwork.org>
Date: Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 7:01 AM
Subject: Halacha Yomis - Davening Outside, Foul Odors
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>


 

When hot, the blacktop gives off a bad odor...

 
OU Kosher
 
The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer
OU Kosher Halacha Yomis
This column is dedicated in memory of:
Rav Chaim Yisroel ben Reb Dov HaLevi Belsky, zt'l
Senior OU Kosher Halachic Consultant from 1987-2016

Q. There is a blacktop area that would be a convenient place to daven. However, when it gets hot, the tar gives off a bad odor. Are we permitted to daven there?

A. It is forbidden to daven or speak words of Torah if one smells human or animal feces, even if they are not visible. One might assume that the same restriction applies to any foul odor, such as hot tar. However, that is not the case. The Mishnah Berurah (79:23) cites the Chayei Adam that one may daven or speak words of Torah in the presence of items that have a natural foul odor, such as "itran" (a form of naphtha). The Chayei Adam offers the following proof. The Mishnah (Shabbos 2:2) writes that one may not use itran for Shabbos candles because the foul odor would dishonor the Shabbos. If it would be forbidden to recite Kiddush or berachos near itron candles because of the odor, the Mishnah should have stated a second reason that itron should not be used for Shabbos candles – because berachos cannot be said. He offers a similar proof from the Halachos of Sukkah. The Gemara (Sukkah 12b-13a) states that you may not use schach that has a bad smell, because it might cause you to leave your sukkah and eat indoors. Again, there is no mention that one should not use foul smelling schach because it would be impermissible to recite berachos in the Sukkah. This proves that one may recite a bracha in the presence of items that naturally emit a foul odor. However, Sefer Mikor Chayim (79:4) writes that if the offensive smell will affect your concentration, you should not daven in this place.

Why is the odor from feces different? Isn't that also a natural smell? The answer is feces is the waste product of food that has decomposed and rotted as it passes through the digestive system.

Based on the Chayei Adam, it is permissible to daven on a driveway that emits a pungent odor from the heat, unless a person's kavanah is compromised.

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Dedicated by Gerald and Karin Feldhamer
in memory of their parents
R' Moshe ben R' Elyokim Getzel Feldhamer and Pesha bas Reb Mordechai
R' Avrohom Abba ben R' Chaim Finkelstein and Taube bas R' Yissocher Dov HaKohen
In memory of R' Kalman ben R' Moshe Feldhamer
 


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Monday, June 29, 2020

FW: [aneinu] Summer EMT Course for men 17+





Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note10+.


-------- Original message --------
From: myysbyy via chicago-aneinu <chicago-aneinu@googlegroups.com>
Date: 6/29/20 8:28 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: myysbyy@aol.com
Subject: [chicago-aneinu] Summer EMT Course for men 17+

Jobs or camp not working out because of Covid? Looking for something to do over the summer?
EMT course happening over the remainder of the summer, starting July 5th until August 20th. Class will take place at Hatzalah headquarters Sunday-Thursday from 5:30-9:30 pm. Price is flexible according to the size of the group. Will receive NREMT certification after passing the final exam, as well as 6-8 college credits (only applicable to certain colleges).
If you or anyone you know is interested please contact Jacob Stein at 847-626-5663.


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FW: Travel Through Europe...without leaving your home!





Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note10+.


-------- Original message --------
From: YU Torah Mitzion Kollel <info@torahchicago.org>
Date: 6/29/20 7:00 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: mates57564@aol.com
Subject: Travel Through Europe...without leaving your home!