December 28, 2020 - 13 Teves 5781 News from the Agudah:
- Breaking News! Victory for Religious Liberty. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked New York State limits on religious gatherings. The court recognized that the state has been treating religious gatherings differently than secular gatherings. See below for a special video message from Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel and for more information about the decision.
- "Don't go to work in your pajamas!" In December of 2020, that statement seems totally normal, even relevant, and was actually said at an Agudah sales webinar attended by over 2,700 people. See below to watch the replay and for more details.
- We are pleased to announce a webinar in conjunction with Roth&Co. on the new Covid relief bill. The webinar will take place this Wednesday, December 30. For more information and how to register see below.
- Unfortunately, R' Mechel Schiffenbauer, the long-time magid shiur of the Daf Yomi Shiur in the Agudah's offices in New York City, is in serious condition in the hospital with COVID-19. We ask everyone to please take a moment and include Yechiel Mechel ben Alta Chana in your tefillos.
- Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst's Halacha L'maaseh shiur will continue tonight (12/28/2020) and will be on Important Halachos when stuck in hospital for Shabbos: havdalah, kiddush, hooked up to IV, gluten free, sensors, etc. and will be at 8:30 pm EST. The call in number is (518) 425-1725.
- The Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos continues this week. See below for this weeks schedule.
- Today we're highlighting the Agudah Convention's session titled Joining a Kehillah: Impacting Yourself and Your Family. Click here to watch it. The session is also available to listen to over the phone - see below for instructions.
| | Federal Court Upholds Agudath Israel Challenge to Unconstitutional Restrictions on Houses of Worship in New York State | | Click here or on the video above to see statement from Rabbi Zwiebel. Click here to view full court documents. | | In a major victory for religious freedom, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit today issued a decision in two cases, Agudath Israel of America v. Cuomo and Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, upholding challenges against New York State's restrictions on attendance at houses of worship during COVID-19.
The Court of Appeals ordered the federal district court to issue a preliminary injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing the 10 and 25 person attendance limits at houses of worship in the "red" and "orange" zones, respectively. It also ordered the district court to consider whether the 25% and 33% capacity restrictions in red and orange zones also violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Agudath Israel originally sought an injunction from the federal district court and then the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit which would have prohibited the state from enforcing the house of worship attendance restrictions. After the courts denied these requests, Agudath Israel (as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn) appealed to the United States Supreme Court regarding the 10 and 25 person limitations. The Supreme Court, by a vote of 5-4, agreed with Agudath Israel and granted a preliminary injunction.
The litigation then proceeded in the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In that litigation, Agudath Israel also challenged the "percentage capacity limits" which restricted attendance at houses of worship to 25% of maximum capacity in a red zone and 33% of capacity in an orange zone, in addition to the 10 and 25 person attendance limits of the state's original executive order.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the ruling issued today agreed with the Supreme Court that the state's executive order imposes greater restrictions on religious activities than on secular ones, and therefore violated the First Amendment. The Court then ordered the district court to issue an injunction preventing the state from enforcing the 10 and 25 person limits.
The Court further stated, with regard to Agudath Israel's challenge to the state's 25% and 33% capacity limits, that the case should be remanded to the district court to consider whether those limits also violate the Constitution, in light of the Supreme Court's decision and the Second Circuit's decision barring the state from enforcing the 10 and 25 person limits, and the lack of any evidence from the state as to where the specific percentage capacity limits came from. Because the state was treating religious gatherings more strictly than similar secular ones, said the court, its policy must be subjected to "strict scrutiny" – the highest level of constitutional protection available under the law. Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America, praised the Court's decision as further vindication of religious rights. "The courts have clearly recognized that the restrictions imposed by New York State violate the constitutional rights of those seeking to attend religious worship services," he said. "Agudath Israel continues to encourage everyone to mask and to maintain social distancing, and we are certain that this is possible without threatening the religious liberties that our country holds dear." He thanked Avi Schick and his colleagues at the law firm of Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders for their extremely capable and successful advocacy of Agudath Israel's case. | | 2,700 People Attend Agudah's Sales Webinar | | Click here or on the video to watch a trailer for "Selling in the COVID Era. | | "Don't go to work in your pajamas!" A year ago, had you heard this said at a sales webinar you would have been confused, maybe even shocked. However, in December of 2020, that same statement seems totally normal, even relevant, and was actually said at an Agudah sales webinar, held on zoom, a platform many had never heard of before March. The second part of Agudah's new webinar series dedicated to helping the public with practical advice as the world continues to adjust to the challenges brought about by the Covid–19 pandemic, focused on selling in a Covid world and how to maximize your sales during this time. A lot has changed in the world over the last nine months, especially in the world of sales, an industry based on personal relationships and on in-person interactions that are no longer possible in the time of social distancing.
Attendees appreciated the insights provided by the speakers. Chaim Jaroslawicz of Ad Infinitum, an attendee, said, "The panel you put together was the first one that I have seen that had real, practical info. Thank you!"
The webinar was moderated by Naftali Horowitz, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, and presented by Marc Bodner, CEO at L&R Distributors; Laibel Schwartz; founder of Laibel Schwartz Photography; and Steve Shain, COO at LTC Contracting. Among other topics, the presenters discussed the importance of maintaining personal relationships, and providing a sense of calm for your clients in this unnerving time.
"It is important to us that we help provide resources and advice to everyone in Klal Yisroel, and this webinar was focused on sales," said the host of the webinar, Rabbi Naftali Miller, national director of development for Agudath Israel.
The Agudah has made this webinar available for the public to watch by clicking here. The first webinar in the series, 'End of Year Taxes in the COVID Era,' is available to view by clicking here. | | Agudah Webinar on the New Covid Relief Bill | | Agudath Israel is pleased to announce that they will be co-hosting a webinar along with Roth & Co. on the new Covid relief bill. The webinar will be moderated by Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of Illinois; opening remarks will be given by Rabbi Abba Cohen, Vice President for Government Affairs, Washington Director and Counsel of Agudath Israel; Ahron Golding Esq. Tax Controversy Attorney at Roth&Co will be presenting. Topics to be covered include PPP Loans and forgiveness, round 2, extended paid and sick leave, employee retention credit, tax deductibility of PPP expenses, Federal unemployment benefit and the stimulus check. Click here to register for the webinar which will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at 2 pm EST. | | The shiurim will continue this week with the access information as follows: | | Joining a Kehillah: Impacting Yourself and Your Family | | To access the Agudah Convention sessions by phone call 718.298.2077 (USA) or 647.797.0056 (CA) and enter the ID number for the session. To listen to Joining a Kehillah: Impacting Yourself and Your Family use ID: 9131434 # | | | | | | |
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