The 12th Annual Conference of Agudath Yisroel in Europe began
last Friday 16 Iyar-May 4, in the resort town of Bournemouth,
England, drawing participants from France, Switzerland,
Austria, Holland, Belgium and other parts of Europe,
including gedolei Torah and gedolei Chassidus,
along with well-known figures from the US and Eretz
Yisroel.
The four-day conference was held in the chareidi-owned
Normandie Hotel. Due to the large turnout many participants
stayed at other hotels in the area.
Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Cimmerman, chairman of Agudas Yisroel of
Great Britain, arrived a day in advance to insure that all of
the arrangements were in place and to prepare to receive the
conference-goers. An enormous tent was set up on the hotel
lawn to accommodate the Shabbos tefillos and the main
events.
The program included droshos, shiurim,
discussions, lectures on current affairs and problems, and
Shabbos seudas with divrei Torah and
zemiros. A large Melave Malkoh was also held,
with a bonfire to mark Lag BaOmer.
On Friday a practical discussion was held on the possibility
of shatnez in various types of clothing that have
become common in Europe. The discussion was led by Rabbi
Yaakov Shoenberg, treasurer of Kedassia in London, and
enriched by shatnez experts who provided fascinating
demonstrations.
After Kabbolas Shabbos Rabbi Cimmerman welcomed the
participants, noting the sense of unity they brought with
them. He made special mention of those who came from far
away, especially the guests of honor.
Afterwards HaRav Eliyohu Sternbuch gave a talk about the main
problems of our era and the importance of gathering together
yirei Hashem. On Shabbos morning, before Shacharis,
HaRav Avrohom Zonenstein, a ram at Yeshivas Lev
Simchah - Gur, gave an in-depth shiur on parshas
hashovua. After krias HaTorah Rabbi Chaim Moshe
Feldman, treasurer of Agudas Yisroel of Great Britain and
chairman of its housing department, introduced the keynote
speaker from the US, HaRav Yissochor Frand.
On Shabbos afternoon HaRav Shmuel Simmons of the London Beis
Din gave a comprehensive shiur on Shavuos. HaRav Moshe
Margolios, rosh kollel of Kollel Yad Torah in London,
then invited the Mattersdorfer Rov to deliver a shiur
on Pirkei Ovos.
During Sholosh Seudas speakers included HaRav
Yeshayohu Greenfeld, HaRav Shimon Hershler and HaRav Shimon
Weingarten.
The conference-goers gathered after midnight on Motzei
Shabbos for a festive Melave Malkoh. Conference
Chairman Rabbi Yehuda Bondy introduced the two main speakers,
HaRav Yosef Babad, a dayan and moreh tzedek at
Kahal Machzikei Hadas Belz of London, and HaRav Shmuel
Zilberberg, author of Be'er Moshe.
On Sunday hundreds of Jews drove in from all parts of England
to take part in the central event and to hear the rabbonim
and moreh horo'oh of Europe speak.
On Sunday morning Rabbi Yosef Lobenstein, deputy chairman of
Agudas Yisroel of London and vice president of the Union of
Chareidi Communities of London, led a fascinating session on
European kashrus issues. Lectures were delivered by HaRav
Eliyohu Sternbuch, HaRav Dovid Greenhaus, a member of the
Union of Chareidi Communities Beis Din, and HaRav Aharon
Greenfeld, a dayan and moreh tzedek at Kahal
Machzikei Hadas of Manchester.
HaRav Simchah Bunim Ehrenfeld, the Mattersdorfer Rov, and
HaRav Yissochor Frand, a rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel
in Baltimore, made special efforts to arrive, gracing the
event with their presence and honoring it with their words of
wisdom and blessing.
A number of special guests were on hand for the main
gathering on Sunday, which opened with the recital of
Tehillim led by HaRav Yaakov Shatz, rosh kollel in
Amsterdam. The speakers included HaRav Pinchos Shneibalg,
rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Vishnitz Letzei'irim, HaRav Elchonon
Heilperin, rov of Golders Green and president of the Union of
Chareidi Communities of London, HaRav Ehrenfeld, HaRav Frand
and HaRav Yaakov Meir Rosenbaum, president of Agudas Yisroel
of Great Britain and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Lev Simchah -
Gur of London. HaRav Aharon Dovid Dunner, a dayan and
moreh tzedek in London and rov of Kehillas Tottenham -
Adas, spoke about his father, HaRav Yosef Tzvi Halevy Dunner,
who passed away just a few weeks ago. Rabbi Avrohom Yosef
Lazerson, the guest of honor from Eretz Yisroel who serves
as one of the heads of Chinuch Atzmai, spoke in memory of
HaRav Yehuda Meir Abramovitz, chairman of the World Executive
Committee of Agudas Yisroel.
During the evening a Lag BaOmer seudah was held, with
speeches by HaRav Shneibalg, Rav Avrohom Katz, principal of a
Gateshead seminary, and Rabbi Lazerson, who discussed
spiritual and educational challenges facing chareidi Jewry
today.
The final session on Monday, led by Atty. Rabbi Rafael
Bergman, addressed questions and challenges involved in
building a "bayis ne'eman beYisroel." Talks were given
by Rabbi Moshe Kupitz, chairman of Reshet in Manchester, Rav
Avrohom Katz and Rabbi Morgenstern of Modi'in Illit.
Closing speeches were given by the gavad of
Mattersdorf and Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Davis, director of Agudas
Yisroel of London, both of whom offered thanks to the
organizers who worked hard to make the conference a
success.
