Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | April 8, 2022 - 7 Nissan 5782 News from the Agudah:
- Agudath Israel is horrified by the news of yet another terror attack, yesterday, in Tel Aviv, Israel. The terrorists opened fire on innocent civilians, killing 3 and injuring many more. Our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters in Israel, who are subject to a spree of deadly terror attacks, in which 14 people have been killed in just two and a half weeks. We join all people of good faith in mourning the innocent victims of these murders and we wish their families comfort among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. We pray for a speedy recovery for those injured. May Hashem, the Guardian of Israel, protect His people.
- Agudath Israel commends the US Senate for passing the bipartisan Pray Safe Act that will better safeguard religious facilities. See below for more details.
- The Commission on Torah Projects of Agudas Yisroel is delighted to present a unique four-part shiur series, in preparation for Pesach. The shiurim will take place each evening at 10:00 PM EDT, Sunday, April 10, through Wednesday, April 14. This Sunday's shiur will be given by Rabbi Yeruchim Olshin, Rosh HaYeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. See below for details on how to join and the full schedule.
- The Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbonim released a new sefer on the Halachos of Tevilas Keilim. See below for more details and for a downloadable PDF of the Sefer.
- Agudah of Illinois applauds the passage of Illinois Scholarship Program enhancements. See below for more details.
- Attention ladies and high school girls: Bnos Agudas Yisroel will be hosting a call with Mrs. Aviva Feiner, for Tefillah and inspiration this Monday at 10:00 AM EDT. See below for more details and how to join.
- As the war in Ukraine continues, we do not know how long this war will last and where it will go, Hashem yerachem. 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.
- 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. Sunday's topic is the joy of a Mitzvah. See below for more details and how to join.
- Bnos and Pirchei Newsletters: Download this week's Pirchei weekly by clicking here. Download the Bnos newsletter for this Shabbos here.
- Please note the schedule for next week's virtual Yarchei Kallah on Iyunim B'Hilchos Pesach - see below for more details.
| | Agudath Israel Commends Senate Passage of Pray Safe Act That Will Better Safeguard Religious Facilities | | Agudath Israel of America is applauding the U.S. Senate for passage of the bipartisan Pray Safe Act, legislation introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
The act, if it becomes law, will direct federal agencies to collect – and help faith-based organizations and houses of worship to access – information on best practices, federal grants, and training programs to better safeguard and secure their religious facilities.
Agudath Israel has supported the Pray Safe Act as part of a broad, multi-faceted approach – which includes the Nonprofit Security Grant Program – to fight antisemitic and other hate crimes and help bring this scourge to an end.
"One of the most effective ways of protecting houses of worship and other faith-based institutions is in the gathering of as much information as possible and in learning from the experiences of others," said Rabbi Abba Cohen, Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director of Agudath Israel of America.
"With these valuable tools in hand, religious communities can devise plans and strategies that will best utilize equipment, personnel, procedures, and other mechanisms to better secure our facilities. Agency coordination on the federal level and the creation of an information clearinghouse will go far in achieving this vital lifesaving goal," he continued.
"We commend the Senate for approving the Pray Safe Act and pledge our support and our commitment to continue working on the House side to have this legislation enacted." | | Preparing for Pesach - A Four Part Series | | The Commission on Torah Projects of Agudas Yisroel is delighted to present a unique four-part shiur series, in preparation for Pesach. The shiurim will take place each evening at 10:00 PM EDT, Sunday, April 10, through Wednesday, April 14. The shiurim will be given according to this schedule: on Sunday, April 10, Rabbi Yeruchim Olshin, Rosh HaYeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. On Monday, April 11, Rabbi Aron Dovid Goldberg, Rosh HaYeshiva, Telshe Cleveland, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. On Tuesday, April 13, Rabbi Yisroel Perlow, Novominsker Rebbe. And on Wednesday, April 15, Rabbi Yaakov Hillel, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Chevrat Ahavat Shalom, Yerushalayim. | | Safah Berurah: The Halachos Tevilas Keilim | | The Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbonim is pleased to present a new sefer with instructions for the halachos of Tevilas Keilim.
The sefer, Safah Berurah: The Halachos of Tevilas Keilim, was compiled and written by Rabbi Yaakov Robinson, executive director of the Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbanim, and reviewed by Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, Dayan, Agudas Yisroel of Illinois.
Click here for a downloadable PDF. | | Agudath Israel Applauds Passage of Illinois Scholarship Program Enhancements | | What do you do when thousands of economically disadvantaged children are fortunate enough to get private school scholarships only to fear their good fortune will run out after a year or two? If you're Representative Curtis J. Tarver II, you introduce a bill that addresses the problem, and partner with colleagues and advocates to pass the legislation into law. After a long journey that began back in August of last year and culminated today with a unanimous vote by the Illinois House of Representatives to pass House Bill 4126 , Rep. Tarver's bill is finally headed to the Governor's desk for signing.
The vote by the House followed a Friday vote in the Illinois Senate at high noon, when the upper chamber voted unanimously (55-0) to pass an amended version of the bill, which improves a program that has been a lifeline to so many. Launched in 2018, the Invest in Kids scholarship program has been transformative for tens of thousands of Illinois' students and specifically Chicago's Orthodox Jewish community. The tax credit-funded program has awarded over 30,000 scholarships to students in need since its inception, enabling families to choose the school that best serves their children's needs. While the program has been incredibly successful, demand continues to outpace supply, with over 170,000 applications since the program's inception. House Bill 4126 makes this great program even better. The bill provides stability to students already receiving the scholarship by placing them first in line for awards, so long as they remain eligible. This change helps ensure continuity for students and allows families to make critical and time-sensitive decisions. Another welcome change this bill provides is the ability for schools, together with scholarship organizations, to adjust the maximum scholarship amount, allowing a more efficient use of funds and enable more students to be awarded scholarships.
After months of intense advocacy by the Agudah and its coalition partners, on March 2, the Illinois House of Representatives passed the bill unanimously, 114-0, in a display of the bipartisan support for helping children. After some concerns were raised in the Senate, the bill was amended for clarification and passed committee on Wednesday, March 30. After passing the Senate unanimously on Friday, the bill was sent back to the House to concur with the amended language.
Agudath Israel of Illinois thanks the bill's chief sponsor, Representative Curtis J. Tarver II (D – Chicago) for introducing the bill and for his relentless advocacy; co-sponsors Assistant Majority Leader Elizabeth Hernandez (D – Cicero) and Representative Michael J. Zalewski (D – Riverside) for their valuable assistance; Senate Chief Sponsor and President Pro Tempore Senator Bill Cunningham (D – Chicago ); Chief Co-sponsor Senator Ram Villivalam (D – Chicago); Senator Jason Barickman (R – Bloomington); Senate President Don Harmon (D – Chicago), Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R – Hawthorn Woods), House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D – Hillside) ; House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R – Western Springs), and all other co-sponsors and supporters.
"Despite passing unanimously in both chambers, by no means was this easy," said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, director of government affairs for Agudath Israel of Illinois. "Thousands of families let their elected officials know how important this is to them and many shared their personal stories. The final vote tally is indicative that legislators listened and responded, and for that we are grateful." | | Bnos Pre-Pesach Inspiration | | Attention ladies and high school girls. Join Bnos Agudas Yisroel for Tefillah and inspiration. Hear from Mrs. Aviva Feiner and gain new insight and appreciation of the power you have within, coming into Pesach with true simcha.
Sunday, April 10, 2022, 10:00 A.M. EDT. Call in at 425.436.6277 x 244274#
Please note that this will be a live event.
| | Shiur Series on Sefer Orchos Yosher | | Sunday, 24 Adar II/ March 27 through Thursday, 13 Nisan/ April 14 Nightly at 9:30 PM EDT Click here to download Sunday's section of Orchos Yosher on the topic of the joy of a Mitzvah, copied with permission from ArtScroll Mesorah Publications from their edition Orchos Yosher. | | Please note the schedule for next week. The shiurim will continue with the access information as follows:
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