Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | March 23, 2022 - 20 Adar II 5782 News from the Agudah:
- As the Russian invasion continues and intensifies, we do not know how long this war will last and where it will go, Hashem yerachem. Here is what we do know: the money collected is being sent and used to save neshamos almost as fast as it is coming in. The need for funds to help people escape the Ukrainian war zone, and for food, lodging, and other necessities for refugees is mounting. We are doing whatever is necessary, including privately airlifting food and medical supplies over enemy lines to those in immediate need, and opening warehouses in Poland.
- We have thus raised our own goal, and will continue to do whatever we can to help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. We hope you will do the same. You can donate by going to vaadhatzalahrescue.org/Ukraine or by calling 929.529.0200. You can mail a check to Vaad Hatzalah, 42 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004. We are working with trusted partners "on the ground" to make sure that all donations goes to this pressing need, including such items as food, medical needs, additional security, and evacuation and housing costs. Please contribute generously. Thank you. Click here to donate.
- Agudath Israel is heartbroken by the terror attack in Beer Sheva that left four dead and two injured. See below for full statement.
- Agudah's New Jersey office will be holding an Atzeres Hesped L'Zecher Nishmas Rav Chaim Kanievsky ZTVK'L, this Sunday in Lakewood. See below for more details and how to attend.
- The Torah Projects Commission of Agudas Yisroel is proud to announce a 15 part virtual 10 minute daily shiur series on Sefer Orchos Yosher, given by Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt, Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim. See below for more details and how to join.
- Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, our director of New York government relations, joined elected officials from Queens, as well as religious leaders, advocates, and families, at a press conference this Sunday to call on New York State to expand the Empire State Child Tax Credit. See below for more details.
- Starting Rosh Chodesh Adar, girls in more than twenty New York and Lakewood high schools participated in Bnos Bikur Cholim's annual Mishloach Manos for seniors program. See below for more details.
- Please note the schedule for this week's virtual Yarchei Kallah on Iyunim B'Hilchos Pesach - see below for more details.
| | Agudath Israel Statement on Terror Attack in Beer Sheva | | Agudath Israel is heartbroken by the terror attack in Beer Sheva that left four dead and two injured. The terrorist brutally murdered Doris Yahbas, a mother of three, Moshe Kravitsky, a Chabad emissary, Lora Yitzhak, a mother of three, and Menachem Yehezkel, who was 67.
The entire Jewish nation suffers when our brothers and sisters are attacked and here, too, we suffer along with the victims and their families, to whom we offer our condolences and pray for G-d׳s comfort. May Hashem avenge their blood, and may He grant those injured a speedy recovery. | | Atzeres Hesped L'Zecher Nishmas Rav Chaim Kanievsky ZTVK'L | | Sunday, March 27 Lakewood High School Auditorium, 855 Somerset Ave. 8:30 PM EDT Maariv; 8:45 program | | Shiur Series on Sefer Orchos Yosher | | Sunday, 24 Adar II/ March 27 through Thursday, 13 Nisan/ April 14 Nightly at 9:30 PM EDT | | Expand the Empire State Child Tax Credit: Agudath Israel Joins Queens Elected Officials and Other Advocates in Press Conference | | Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, director of New York government relations for Agudath Israel, joined elected officials from Queens, as well as religious leaders, advocates, and families to call on New York State to expand the Empire State Child Tax Credit.
The event, held on Sunday on the steps of Queens Borough Hall, was organized by Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, Chair of the Children and Families Committee. It was attended by State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky; New York City Council Member Linda Lee; Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities; Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, CEO of CHAZAQ; Kercena Dozier, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund NY; Matthew Klein, Chief Program and Impact Officer of Robin Hood; Mrs. Sorolle Idels founder of the Queens Jewish Aliance; and parents of young children.
"The Empire State Child Tax Credit was designed to combat child poverty by providing low and middle income working parents with a refundable tax credit. Paradoxically, the credit excludes children under age four, the age children are most likely to experience poverty and when parents have the most difficult time returning to work. Moreover, in a 50-state survey, New York was found to be the only state in the nation to specifically exclude young children," explained Mr. Avrohom Weinstock, chief of staff of Agudath Israel of America. "Agudah has been advocating for bills introduced by Senator Jeremy Cooney and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi that would raise the per child credit and close this critical loophole to help working families."
"It makes no sense that parents of children under four cannot claim this tax credit. This is the time when many new parents, especially those living in poverty, are entering the workforce. We should be encouraging and assisting them, not placing barriers in their way," said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber at the press conference. "We thank Assemblyman Hevesi for championing this issue, and his colleagues in the Assembly Majority for including this fix in their one-house budget. We call on the governor and the Senate to include this item in the final budget." | | It's been a long winter, but Rosh Chodesh Adar Beis finally arrived. Costume stores popped up. The candy aisles were overflowing. Themes became serious business.
But not everyone was focused only on their own fun. Starting Rosh Chodesh Adar, girls in more than 20 New York and Lakewood high schools participated in an annual project that's all about giving to others.
Every year, Bnos Bikur Cholim (BBC) organizes a mass mishloach manos program, pairing high school girls with nursing home residents. The girls package sugar-free chocolate and hamentashen for the seniors. This year, they added a card with a personal message to each mishloach manos.
Then the girls delivered the packages to residents in 15+ nursing homes. They're not just handing out nosh! The girls spread smiles and simchas Purim to the often lonely seniors. Without these visits, many of them wouldn't even know that Purim was coming.
"Any school who does this project wants to do it again the next year," says Mrs. Chana Baila Hass, national director of Bnos Agudas Yisroel. "And the nursing homes can't wait for it to happen each Purim. Especially this year, they were eager to have the girls come since a lot of them just opened now post-COVID. Thank you to the participating schools and the Agudist Benevolent Society. And thank you to the girls who brought happiness to the elderly members of our community."
"Nursing homes ask if we can come even when it's not Purim," added Mrs. Hass. "And, yes, we can, and we do! BBC has programs all year round."
Would you like to get involved in BBC? Would you like to visit a senior or become a senior's phone mate? Or do you know a senior who would love a visit?
To learn more about becoming part of BBC, call Bnos at 212-797-9000, ext. 330, or email bnos@agudah.org. | | Please note the schedule for this week. The shiurim will continue with the access information as follows:
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