Friday, October 23, 2020

Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel 5 Cheshvan 5781/October 23, 2020


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudath Israel of America <news@agudah.org>
Date: Fri, Oct 23, 2020, 2:39 PM
Subject: News From Agudas Yisroel 5 Cheshvan 5781/October 23, 2020
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>


Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual.
October 23, 2020 - 5 Cheshvan 5781
News from the Agudah:

  • There is much going on at the Agudah. Agudah employees have been working non-stop to represent the Klal around the country. In order to highlight their work and progress, several staff members sat together for a brief zoom call to provide our constituents with a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the organization at this time. Click here to view the video update.
  • The Agudah filed for "injunctive relief" to allow shuls in the "red zones" of New York State to reopen in a safe and healthy way. See below for details.

  • Just a reminder, this Sunday, October 25th, at 8:00 PM, Agudas Yisroel will be hosting an Asifah L'hisorerus dedicated to providing guidance and chizuk to the Klal during this difficult period. See below for more information.

  • Our New Jersey Office director, Rabbi Avi Schnall, was interviewed in the Voice of Lakewood regarding the testing blitz that is going on in Lakewood now. In it, Rabbi Schnall talks about the misconceptions surrounding testing, the necessity of getting tested as well as Agudah's efforts in New Jersey to keep their mosdos open.  Click here to view the article.

  • The Daf Yomi Commission is sharing a full-length documentary in honor of the 87th Yahrtzeit of R' Meir Shapiro ZT"L this Sunday. See below for details. 

  • For your sons, you can view and download this week's Pirchei newsletters by clicking here for the Pirchei Weekly and here for the Pirchei Pages. Your family is sure to enjoy them!

  • And for your daughters, click here for this week's Bnos newsletter.

  • The Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos series continues next week with a new schedule. On Sunday there will be an 11:00 AM hachanah shiur followed by 12:00 PM shiur by Rabbi Asher Weiss on Yisod Melaches Dush and at 1:00 PM EDT Rabbi Elya Brudny will be giving Divrei Chizuk.

  • We wish Miss Shira Davidovits - who, among her many responsibilities at the Agudah, has sent out many of these News from the Agudah newsletters - farewell and much hatzlachah in her new job!
Click below for a video update from the Agudah:
Agudath Israel Appeals for Injunctive Relief Against NYS Shul Restrictions
Israel of America has filed an appeal  in the U.S. Court of Appeals, seeking injunctive relief against a New York State executive order limiting shul attendance in "red zones" to a maximum of ten people. Agudah asked the court to block the implementation of that executive order on the grounds that the order is discriminatory and unconstitutional.  
 
This filing follows the Agudah's unsuccessful request in the lower court for a temporary restraining order (TRO) prior to Hoshana Rabbah, Shmini Atzeres, and Simchas Torah, and notes, "While these holidays have passed, the discrimination persists, as Orthodox Jews celebrate the Sabbath every weekend, from Friday sundown until Saturday sundown." 
 
The executive order at the heart of this lawsuit, which was clearly aimed at the Orthodox Jewish community, establishes stricter limitations on communal prayer than it does on "essential gatherings." Yet as a core constitutional freedom, the Agudah brief argues, communal prayer should be considered an essential gathering by definition. Accordingly, it is unconstitutional to apply stricter standards to communal prayer than to other essential gatherings.
 
The Agudah has long championed appropriate health and safety rules in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as recently as earlier this week. But the Agudah contends that communal worship is possible while still protecting public health: "Religious worship is a fundamental right in this country," said Rabbi David Zwiebel, executive vice president. "Imposing an inflexible, hard and fast limitation of ten people in houses of worship regardless of the size of the facility simply makes no sense." 
 
"Of course," he continued, "We are still hoping to work with the governor's office and other government leaders on resolving this issue, just as we are with respect to the restrictions on school openings in our community. The last place we want to be is in court, litigating against New York State. Further, we must redouble our efforts to do all in our power to stay healthy.  
 
"At the same time, however, we cannot just sit idly by when our most basic freedoms are inappropriately curtailed."
 
Yesterday the Court of Appeals set November 3 as the hearing date on the Agudath Israel appeal.   
 
The Agudath Israel brief is available by clicking here.
Asifah L'hisorerus
During these tumultuous times, it is important to not lose sight of Whom is really in charge-Hakadosh Baruch Hu. We are completely in His hands. It is imperative that we strengthen ourselves in ruchnius, maintaining our focus on His desired path.  
 
This Sunday, October 25th, at 8:00 PM, Agudath Israel will be hosting an Asifas Hisorerus The event will begin with a recitation of Tehillim by Rabbi Hillel David, Rav, Khal Yeshivah Shaarei Torah and Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.
 
Afterwards, four members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, Rabbi Shmuel Kamentsky, Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin, Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz, and Rabbi Shimon Yehuda Svei will deliver divrei chizuk v'hisorerus.  
 
The event will be livestreamed at torahanytime.com/AgudahTorah. To call in, dial 718.298.2077 x52.   
Agudath Israel's Daf Yomi Commission Presents Only With Joy: The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Meir Shapiro
This Sunday will mark the 87th Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Meir Shapiro ZT"L, the founder of the worldwide Daf Yomi program. Agudath Israel's Daf Yomi Commission is pleased to present a full-length feature video describing the life and achievements of this Gadol b'Torah.  

To access the documentary, go to http://www.onlywithjoy.org/ and immerse yourself in the dedication and fortitude of this awe-inspiring individual who forever altered Torah learning for future generations.  
Iyunim B'Hilchos Shabbos
The shiurim continue next week Sunday with an 11:00 AM hachanah shiur followed by 12:00 PM Shiur by Rabbi Asher Weiss on Yisod Melaches Dush and at 1:00 PM EDT Rabbi Brudny will be giving Divrei Chizuk.

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.
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