Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | May 11, 2021 - 29 Iyar 5781 News from the Agudah:
- "Over the past few days, our brothers and sisters in Israel have been the victims of fierce and deadly assaults that have left them living in a state of panic and fear. We, at Agudath Israel of America, pray to the Master of the Universe that he will speedily bring these hostilities to an end and restore calm to the nation. We also plead that He bring comfort to the families of the dead and that He grant a full and swift recovery to the injured." See below to read the full statement from Agudath Israel on the rocket attacks by Hamas against Israel.
- Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin, Chaver Moetzes Gedolai Hatorah, Rosh HaYeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood and Telshe, will be giving a special Yom Tov message this Thursday, see below for more information.
- Rabbi Moshe Matz, executive director of Agudath Israel of Florida, was at the signing ceremony with Governor Ron DeSantis for HB 7045, a school choice bill he successfully advocated for. See below for pictures.
- "We must recognize the essence of the Jewish mandate, and what binds all Jews both to one another and to the Creator: His Torah." Earlier today, Pew Research released a study on American Jewry. See below for the Agudah's reaction.
- The Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos will continue this week. See below for this week's schedule.
| | Agudath Israel Statement on Rocket Attacks by Hamas Against Israel | | Over the past few days, our brothers and sisters in Israel have been the victims of fierce and deadly assaults that have left them living in a state of panic and fear. We, at Agudath Israel of America, pray to the Master of the Universe that he will speedily bring these hostilities to an end and restore calm to the nation. We also plead that He bring comfort to the families of the dead and that He grant a full and swift recovery to the injured.
As we witness the continued spiraling violence between Israel and the Palestinians, Agudath Israel commends the White House for stating clearly that "The president's support for Israel's security, for its legitimate right to defend itself and its people, is fundamental and will never waiver. We condemn ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups against Jerusalem."
Earlier yesterday the State Department rightly observed that Hamas rocket fire terrorizing Israeli citizens was an "unacceptable escalation." And we agree with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that the hundreds of rocket attacks, which are now being directed at Israel's heartland and have taken lives and destroyed property, "need to stop immediately."
Agudath Israel further believes that, as the rocket fire escalated the violence, ending it has the strongest chance of achieving the Biden Administration's immediate objective of urging all sides to take steps to reduce tensions. It also has the greatest potential of lessening the violence, provocation and extremism that led up to the hostilities in Jerusalem and that are now continuing.
We welcome the Biden Administration's stated commitment to ongoing communication with both Israel and the Palestinians and to intensively pursuing a diplomatic means to de-escalate the violence. Now and in the future, we urge the Administration to make clear to Hamas and other such Palestinian groups that those bent on destroying or dismantling Israel, on murder and mayhem, on violence and terror, will find no friend in the United States, will never achieve their aims, and will justifiably be met by a harsh Israeli response.
Agudath Israel also expresses its deep and heartfelt appreciation to the many members of the U.S. Congress and other elected officials who are standing firmly by Israel's side during this time of crisis.
History has shown time and again that Israel will reach out its hand to those who seek peace. It has also shown that only strong, steadfast U.S. support of Israel will open the eyes of "rejectionists," leading them to realize that they have no option other than to renounce violence and terror, drop illusions of Israel's destruction, and reap the benefits of peaceful coexistence. | | Special Yom Tov Message from Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin | | Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin, Chaver Moetzes Gedolai Hatorah, Rosh HaYeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood and Telshe, will be giving a special Yom Tov message on 2 Sivan. In his pre-Shavuos message, Rabbi Sorotzkin focuses on the shalom/peace and good middos needed in order to be mekabel the Torah once again.
The message will be available to watch Thursday, May 13th, at 9:00 PM EST in English, and in Yiddish at 9:30 PM EST, on Torahanytime.com/AgudahTorah, or listened to by calling 718-298-2077, extension 52. | | Rabbi Moshe Matz Attends Signing Ceremony with Governor Ron DeSantis | | Rabbi Moshe Matz, executive director of Agudath Israel of Florida, with education commissioner Richard Corcoran at the signing of HB 7045. | | Rabbi Moshe Matz, executive director of Agudath Israel of Florida, with Governor Ron DeSantis at the signing of HB 7045, a major school choice bill. | | Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 7045 into law today, legislation that aims to consolidate Florida's scholarship programs for special needs students and expand the state's means-tested scholarship program to middle income families. See previous report here. | | Agudath Israel of America Reacts to New Pew Survey | | The Pew Charitable Trust's report on American Jewry released today contains much of interest, and will be digested and analyzed for weeks and months to come.
But its finding that approximately a quarter of U.S. Jewish adults do not identify at all with the Jewish religion, considering themselves Jewish only in an ethnic or cultural sense, should be deeply troubling to all Jews.
While there are findings in the report that bode well for the future of the Orthodox community, we Orthodox face challenges of our own. Certainly, we can take no true comfort in our growth and retention rates when so many of our fellow Jews are rapidly shedding their religious identity as they assimilate into larger society. Ethnic and cultural identities – indeed, any Jewish identities shorn of what makes us a people, our Torah -- are ephemeral.
What is eternal is all Jews' mutual religious heritage – and, today, Jewish teachings can be accessed by all Jews, however (or if) they affiliate, in myriad ways. We must all enable and encourage Jewish education, on every level and at every age.
There are issues of common concern to Jews across the spectra of affiliation and observance -- Israel's security, anti-Semitism and Jewish poverty among them. But we must recognize the essence of the Jewish mandate, and what binds all Jews both to one another and to the Creator: His Torah. | | The shiurim will continue this week with the access information as follows: | | | | | | |
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