Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | | September 29, 2022 - 4 Tishrei 5783 News from the Agudah:
- As Agudath Israel stated, the New York Times' well-publicized hit-piece against the Chasidic community, its yeshivos, and our community's values was factually inaccurate and overwhelmingly one-sided.
- Readers were led to believe that we bilk the government, abuse our students, and raise ignorant, unproductive members of society. We can't let those slanderous accusations go unanswered. They should hear a different perspective, and the NYT is inviting people to provide it.
- While Agudath Israel generally does not send News from Agudah readers to the NYT, our readers should be aware that the NYT has created a survey here to, "tell your story about Hasidic yeshivas in New York."
- The Times' interviewed over 275 people and, as they concede, few were still in the community. This is not to invalidate anyone's experiences, but by choosing to speak to the fraction of a community who chose to leave it, the NYT silenced the voices of hundreds of thousands of people who have sacrificed to send their children to chassidishe yeshivos, and have raised beautiful, productive, wholesome families. This is an opportunity to share the positive personal stories they ignored.
- Let them hear from those who value chasidic education and how it impacted their own lives and that of their children. Let them hear from those who interact personally and positively with members of the chassidic community who attended their yeshivos.
- If you're willing, please share your submission to the NYT with us, as well, by sending an email to media@agudah.org.
- This Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, as Klal Yisroel readies themselves for Yom Kippur, Agudath Israel is calling upon the community to exercise extreme care regarding the custom of Kapporos. This special practice needs to be conducted in a manner that will ensure there will be no chilul Hashem, chas v'shalom, before the Yomim Tovim. Please see below a Kol Korei that was issued about this practice.
- Save the Date! The annual Agudah Convention will iy"H take place December 1-4/Kislev 7-10. See below for more details.
- The Torah Projects Commission of Agudas Yisroel is pleased to announce a 'Teshuva, Tefilla, Tzedaka,' shiur series. Tonight's shiur will be given at 10:00 PM EDT by Rabbi Yehoshua Perlow, Novominsker Rebbe. See below for full schedule and how to join.
- Introducing Bnos ELN! Bnos Agudas Yisroel introduces Empower Leaders Network, a platform where inspiring leaders like you can give to each other and gain tremendous chizuk, resources, and lasting friendships. See below for an invitation to join the kickoff luncheon.
- The 5783 Daf Yomi calendars are ready for distribution. If you would like one sent to you, please email dafyomi@agudah.org.
- Bnos and Pirchei newsletters: Download the Bnos newsletter for this Shabbos here. Download the Pirchei newsletter for this Shabbos here.
- Please note the schedule for next week's virtual Yarchei Kallah on Iyunim B'Hilchos Sukkos- see below for more details.
- We regret to inform you of the petirah of Mrs. Gale Teitelbaum, mother of Mrs. Ellen Wolfson, co-founder of YahalomNY. May we share simchos and b'soros tovos.
| | Agudath Israel Reissues Kaporos Kol Korei | | Reissuing a Rabbinic statement (Kol Korei) that was first published 15 years ago and that remains relevant today, Agudath Israel of America is calling upon the community to exercise care regarding the custom of kapporos before Yom Kippur. Given the size of the community, and the large volume of chickens that will be handled in the upcoming days, the practice of kapporos needs to be conducted in a manner that ensures that proper standards of kashrus, cleanliness, and humane treatment of animals, as defined by halacha, are met. This can be achieved by patronizing only those establishments that are under appropriate rabbinic supervision. | | | The Translation of the text is as follows:
To All Our Jewish Brethren, Hashem's Blessings Upon You!
As the y'mei ho'rachamim ve'hadin rapidly approach, and as Jews will soon be fulfilling the minhag of Kapporos during the Aseres Yimei Teshuva, we wish to emphasize the need for all public Kapporos centers to be under the exacting Hashgacha of a competent Rav Hamachshir to ensure that all aspects of this "minhag vasikin" (Rama, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 605) are done properly in accordance with halacha.
Halachic authorities have long pointed out the need for special care to be taken during the Kapporos process that the chickens be slaughtered and processed properly, especially on Erev Yom Kippur, when many shochtim spend long hours shechting large volumes of chickens (as discussed in Mishneh Berurah, ibid, se'if koton beis). A proper Hashgocha will oversee all aspects of kashrus throughout the entire process, including the proper handling of the chickens prior to shechita so as to avoid fractures or other defects that would render the chickens treif; the validity of the shechita itself, including the necessary periodic checking of the knife used for shechita; the post-shechita internal bedika; and the proper kashering of the chickens (soaking, salting and rinsing).
In addition to these kashrus matters, the Hashgocha will also ensure that all other relevant halachos are carefully adhered to throughout the Kapporos process, including such matters as health and safety concerns (both those that concern the wellbeing of those who handle the chickens, as well as those that concern the safety of the food); scrupulous compliance with the Torah's laws of tza'ar ba'alei chayim throughout the entire process of storing, transporting and handling the chickens, which should be done by responsible adults, not children; ensuring that a live chicken that has already been used for Kapporos by one individual should not be reused for Kapporos by another individual; and sensitivity to tzniyus concerns, to avoid improper mingling to the extent possible.
We have enlisted the assistance of a group of distinguished local Rabbonim to work together with the proprietors and sponsors of Kapporos centers and with Mashgichim to implement proper standards, and to oversee the centers to ensure that nothing improper transpires in the Kapporos process.
We therefore call upon the entire tzibbur to patronize only those Kapporos centers that are under the exacting Hashgacha of expert Rabbonim. In the z'chus of carrying out this minhag vasikin properly, in full compliance with halacha, may we all be zocheh to kapporas avonos, and to be inscribed in the Book of the Righteous for a good and blessed year.
To this we have placed our signatures, for the benefit of the community, these final days of Chodesh Elul 5767.
Click here to download a PDF of the Kol Korei. | | | We are pleased to announce that we will iy'H be having the Agudah Convention this coming December – with a change from the usual date to December 1 - December 4, 2022 at the Armon Hotel (formerly Crowne Plaza Hotel) in Stamford, CT. (Please note the CHANGE OF DATE.)
The convention has always been our organization's signature event of the year, bringing together our "Agudah family" for several days of chizuk, chavershaft and practical planning in the presence of many of the leading Gedolei Yisroel of our time.
But even more than that: With so much happening on the contemporary Jewish scene – the unprecedented historic threat against the independence of our yeshivos; the alarming rise in anti-Semitism both in America and abroad; the rapidly deteriorating political climate in America; the escalating challenges of raising ehrliche, healthy children in today's world; the internal economic, social and moral challenges our community faces – it is essential that Klal Yisroel gather together under the leadership of our Gedolei Yisroel to discuss, to plan, and to take achrayus for whatever is incumbent on us to do communally as a tzibbur or individually as yechidim.
Additional information and details to follow. But for now please mark your calendars for December 1 - December 4, and make plans to join us for what promises to be a most memorable Agudah Convention.
B'yedidus, Rabbi Labish Becker Rabbi Shai Markowitz | | Aseres Yemei Teshuva Program | | | The Torah Projects Commission of Agudas Yisroel is pleased to announce a 'Teshuva, Tefilla, Tzedaka,' shiur series.
Thursday, September 29, 10:00 PM EDT: Rabbi Yehoshua Perlow, Novominsker Rebbe.
Sunday, October 2, 10:00 PM EDT: Rabbi Dovid Schustal Rosh HaYeshiva, Beis Medrash Govoha, Lakewood.
Monday, October 3, 10:00 PM EDT: Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshivas Mir, Yerushalayim.
The Shiurim will be broadcast live on Torahanytime.com/agudahTorah or call in at: 718.298.2077 x52. | | | Bnos Agudas Yisroel introduces Empower Leaders Network (ELN), a platform where inspiring leaders like you can give to each other and gain tremendous chizuk, resources, and lasting friendships.
Join our introductory luncheon on Sunday, October 2nd to kickoff the program. For more information, email bnos@agudah.org or call 212-797-9000 ext. 353. | | | Please note the schedule for next week. The shiurim will continue with the access information as follows:
The zoom access link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83528677424 and the call in number is 1-646-558-8656, log in: 835-286-77424. | | | | | |
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