Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | July 12, 2021 - 3 Av 5781 News from the Agudah:
- This past week the Conference of Shul Rabbonim gathered to address challenges brought by the legalization of marijuana at the urging of Chavrei Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky and Rabbi Shlomo Miller. See below for more details.
- Agudath Israel of America's New England Office applauds Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins for moving forward with hate crime charges and civil rights charges against the suspect in the horrific attack on Rabbi Shlomo Noginski. See below for more information.
- The Agudah Voting Project and the New England office of Agudah hosted a conversation with Boston mayoral candidate, City Councilor Andrea Campbell. See below for more information.
- The Iyunim B'Bein Hametzarim will continue this week. See below for this week's schedule.
| | Conference of Shul Rabbonim Gather to Address Challenges Brought by the Legalization of Marijuana | | Right to left: Dr. Akiva Perlman, David Kohen LCSW CASAC, Rabbi Avrohom Nisan Perl, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, speaking | | Rabbi Zev Cohen, chairman | | Right to left: Rabbi Aharon Zuckerman, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rabbi Yaakov Forchheimer | | Dr. Akiva Perlman presenting | | David Kohn, LCSW CASAC presenting | | As states across the country, most recently New York and New Jersey, begin to legalize the use and sale of recreational marijuana, we are seeing more and more challenges within our communities in both the halachic and hashkafic spheres. In order to respond to this challenge, the Conference of Shul Rabbonim of Agudas Yisroel, at the urging of Chavrei Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky and Rabbi Shlomo Miller, organized a meeting of Shul Rabbonim to analyze this issue.
Senior Lakewood Rabbonim Rabbi Yaakov Forchheimer and Rabbi Shmuel Meir Katz participated in the conference which was held at the Beis Medresh of Yeshiva Orchos Chaim in Lakewood, this past Wednesday night, and was attended by over 100 Rabbonim from the metro area.
Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rav of Agudas Yisroel of Baltimore and co-chairman of the Conference of Agudah Shul Rabbonim, addressed the conference, which was chaired by Rabbi Zev Cohen, Rav of Adas Yeshurin, Chicago. Rabbi Heinemann delivered divrei chizuk and hadrachah, and addressed halachic shailos from the participants.
Dr. Akiva Perlman and David Kohn, LCSW, CASAC, gave informative presentations regarding the challenges that the legalization of marijuana has fostered on our community.
Rabbi Avrohom Nisan Perl, director of the Commission on Torah Projects and secretary of the Conference of Shul Rabbonim, received positive feedback from the many attendees. "The job of a rav is to try to raise the ruchniyos level of his kehillah members. This asifah helps me attain this goal by being more in tune to their needs," said one Rav who attended the conference. "The maamad tonight was many things. It was vital, impactful, bakavodik, and a tremendous kiddush Hashem. I am sure that between the well over 100 Rabbonim that were there, 10,000 or more yiddishe mishpachos were represented. The asifah began a conversation with mesinus and koved rosh in which the Rabbonim will now be well-informed," added another. | | Reaction of Agudath Israel's New England Office to the Bringing of Hate Crimes Charges Against Boston Stabbing Suspect and to Massachusetts Legislature's Boost in Security Funding | | Boston — Agudath Israel of America's New England Office applauds Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins for moving forward with hate crime charges and civil rights charges against the suspect in the horrific attack on Rabbi Shlomo Noginski outside of the Shaloh House Jewish day school in Boston last week. As DA Rollins articulated, the suspect's actions coupled with his background and previous conduct provide a strong indication that this attack was motivated by antisemitism.
In response to the DA's actions, Mrs. Ariella Hellman, Director of Government Affairs for the Agudath Israel New England Office, issued the following statement:
"This brutal and unprovoked attack on a rabbi outside of a Jewish day school in the light of day must be condemned in the strongest of terms. We are grateful for DA Rollins' leadership and appreciate that she has separately called out the hate crimes charge. We are also grateful to all the elected officials who have reached out to us and who have stood with our community in this difficult moment.
"These hate-filled attacks emphasize the need to secure Jewish and other communities and we are deeply appreciative that the legislature has increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1.5M this session.
"We look forward to working with state and local officials to continue to combat antisemitism and to ensure that adequate security measures are in place to protect vulnerable communities so that all members of our Commonwealth can feel safe and secure." | | The Boston Mayoral Forum Series: Andrea Campbell Joins the Agudah Voting Project for a Conversation | | The Agudah Voting Project and the New England office of Agudath Israel of America were pleased to host a forum with Boston mayoral candidate, City Councilor Andrea Campbell, for the fourth conversation in the Boston Mayoral Candidate Forum Series.
This conversation started off a little bit different than the last three conversations by addressing the brutal and unprovoked stabbing of Rabbi Shlomo Noginski outside of the Shaloh House Jewish day school in Brighton last week. Mrs. Ariella Hellman opened up by thanking Councilor Campbell for her statement following the attack and for her presence at the vigil. Rabbi Dan Rodkin, Executive Director of the Shaloh House Jewish day school asked Councilor Campbell to share her plan for security to ensure that Jewish day schools and shuls are not soft targets. Councilor Campbell spoke out strongly against antisemitism and committed to using all resources at her disposal to protect the Jewish community from further attacks.
Councilor Campbell highlighted mental health issues in the city of Boston as a major concern that must be addressed. She spoke about the need to expand resources and to invest in providers as well as to undertake efforts to reduce any associated stigma. Councilor Campbell also addressed housing affordability, food insecurity, Universal Pre-K, and other issues of importance to the community. She also committed to working with Yachad to ensure fair employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities across the city. Councilor Campbell underscored the need for government officials to understand and learn about the communities they serve, and she expressed interest in continuing to engage with the Orthodox community in Brighton.
The goal of these conversations is for our community to engage with our elected officials, as well as for the elected officials to engage with and to better understand our community," said Mrs. Ariella Hellman, director of government affairs of Agudath Israel's New England office. "We are grateful to Councilor Campbell for taking the time to participate in this important conversation with all of us." | | The shiurim will continue this week with the access information as follows: | | | | | | |
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