October 16, 2020 - 28 Tishrei 5781 News from the Agudah:
- What's going on with the shutdown of shuls and schools in New York State and what is the Agudah doing about it? See below for an update, including positive steps forward.
- Understanding the need for additional guidance following an uptick in COVID-19 cases, Agudath Israel partnered with United Task Force, in conjunction with the many Jewish agencies of the Task Force, to host a virtual event focusing on "Maintaining your Sanity" throughout this period. See below for more information and a recording of this event.
- Attention New York residents: In important Yeshiva Services news, Governor Cuomo issued an executive order withholding state funding from schools that don't comply with the COVID-19 mandates. Agudath Israel is researching the legality of that position and hopes to have more updates on this in the coming days.
- Yes, there's an uptick in COVID-19, but there is no doubt that in the past few years there is another uptick – an uptick in antisemitism. We looked back at the Jewish Observer archives to find a 1964 article by Rabbi Nachman (Nathan) Bulman ZT"L, on the Jewish response to antisemitism. It's long, but it's worth reading – it is unfortunately as relevant today as it was 56 years ago. Click here to read the article.
- Needless to say, this past succos, was difficult for the Agudah. Our request for a temporary restraining order against Governor Cuomo was denied mere hours before Yom Tov. While we continue to explore our next steps in this battle, click here to see an Hamodia interview with Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel expressing his disappointment with the Governor's restrictions.
- The recent uptick of COVID cases in our community has been a cause for concern for many community members. Click here to read a comprehensive Hamodia supplement on this topic, featuring Rabbi Elya Brudny, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah.
- You can view and download this week's Pirchei newsletters by clicking here for the Pirchei Pages. Your son's are sure to enjoy them!
- And for your daughters, Bnos Agudath Israel has a special newsletter for this Shabbos. Click here to download.
- In other Bnos news, the Bnos hotline is better than ever, with daily stories, weekly middos, and much, much more. Have your daughters tune-in. See below for call-in information.
- The Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos series continues next week with a new schedule. On Sunday there will be a 11:00 AM EDT hachanah shiur followed by a shiur by Rabbi Asher Weiss on Yisod Mileches Zoreia U'Bishul. See below for full schedule and login information.
| | The forced closure of our shuls and schools is undeniably a source of tremendous anguish for our community. Further, Agudath Israel of America regards some of the rhetoric that has accompanied such closures as dangerous, with potential to foment those already too eager to hate us, chas v'sholom.
Rather than focus on our anguish, however real, we reorient toward the steps Agudath Israel and our communities can take toward hastening the reopening of our mosdos.
These times require a multi-prong approach:
- Agudath Israel will be organizing a Kinnus Tefila V'hisorirus in the days ahead to address this unprecedented challenge. Circumstances do not allow mass gatherings and tefila as the situation merits, but we are formulating plans to foster the spirit of unity and gain inspiration and clarity from our Gedolei Yisroel. Details to follow.
- Continue to employ safe COVID health practices. Wear a mask, social distance, and strictly isolate if symptomatic or test positive. We neither act appropriately solely because government has asked it, nor do we act unsafely to spite it. We follow these practices due to a Higher Source, and our Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah have voiced this, on more than one occasion. In addition, such practices, and the lowering of cases, will hasten our reopening timeframe.
- We encourage, and are working with community partners to organize, mass testing initiatives. See a video from HaRav Elya Brudny, HaRav Yisroel Reisman and HaRav Moshe Tuvia Lieff conveying this message. Many of our communities test in significantly below average numbers. The enhanced testing initiatives will not only isolate positive and asymptomatic cases, but will ensure the full population is tested and safe, and more accurately represent our population's case rates. We are already seeing encouraging results from the efforts in New York, and we encourage similar efforts across the country for areas experiencing higher infection rates.
- We are communicating with the attorneys who have brought several additional lawsuits. Following the extreme form of immediate relief Agudath Israel pursued Erev Yom Tov (temporary restraining order), several other cases are pending, and we are keeping all legal options open.
- We are continuing to talk with the Governor and his staff to press for a safe but swift return for reopening.
- To aid in this effort, we will be organizing an outreach component to the Governor. Details to follow.
May Hashem have rachmonus and grant us a swift yeshua from this crisis. | | COVID 2.0: Maintaining Your Sanity | | COVID-19 has been at the focus of our lives for the past six months. Our lives have taken on a "new normal" that would have been impossible to believe in February of this year. Understanding the need for additional guidance, Agudath Israel partnered with United Task Force, in conjunction with the many Jewish agencies of the Task Force, to host a virtual event focusing on "Maintaining your Sanity" immediately after the yomim tovim, at this most challenging time when parents are adjusting to the new school year. The event was chaired by Boruch B. Bender, president of Achiezer, who offered introductory remarks. The program covered a series of topics together with a discussion for parents by a panel of professionals, namely, Dr. David Pelcovitz, Azrieli Graduate School, and Dr. Yitzchok Shindler, CEO Pesach Tikvah. There was a fascinating Q&A with the panelists after the program. Agudath Israel looks forward to hosting more of these events. Click here to watch the recording of the event. | | The shiurim resume Sunday with an 11:00 AM hachanah shiur followed by a shiur from Rabbi Asher Weiss on Yisod Mileches Zoreia U'Bishul.
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