The World Agudas Yisroel held a celebration in Jerusalem last
week to mark the 90th anniversary since its founding in
Kattowitz on the 12th of Sivan 5672. Held at Heichalei
Hasimchoh (Cheftzadi) in Jerusalem, the festive conference
was organized by the World Agudas Yisroel Federation, the
Executive Committee and the Agudas Yisroel Center in Eretz
Yisroel. Aguda heads, members of its institutions and
hundreds of public figures were in attendance.
A similar event was held in New York City at Agudas Yisroel's
Rabbi Moshe Sherer National Headquarters Thursday night, May
23. The main speaker was the Rosh Agudas Yisroel of America,
Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe.
Also speaking were two veteran Agudas Yisroel askonim: Rabbi
Chaskel Besser, a member of the Nesius of Agudas Yisroel of
America; and Reb Yosef Friedenson, the editor of Dos
Yiddishe Vort. Both shared their intimate knowledge of
Agudas Yisroel's early history with their listeners, many of
whom had never before had the opportunity to hear details of
the "days of yore" from the mouths and memories of such
authoritative sources. Also a special guest from Eretz
Yisroel, an emissary from the Gerer Rebbe: Rabbi Chaim Moshe
Danderovitch, rosh yeshiva, Yeshivas Sfas Emes, enthralled
the gathering with an eloquent and pointed dvar
Torah.
Speakers discussed the flourishing activity of the Agudas
Yisroel movement, which was founded by gedolei Yisroel
in Kattowitz to tie shlomei emunei Yisroel together
under a unified association to find Torah-based solutions for
the problems of the day and to wage war against various
schemes to undermine Kerem Yisroel. They also provided
comprehensive updates on the activities of Aguda
representatives in Eretz Yisroel and abroad and mentioned
accomplishments and longstanding institutions that left their
mark on the pages of Am Yisroel's history, such as the Daf
Yomi, the Bais Yaakov movement and the Chinuch Atzmai
institutions that saved generations and served as lighthouses
for the Torah nation.
Speakers also mentioned major conferences attended by
gedolei Torah and Chassidus, where these luminaries
addressed problems arising in each and every generation; the
Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, which sent representatives to act in
government institutions; and national and international
congresses where different activists sat together,
established takonos and founded longstanding
institutions for Klal Yisroel. Updates were also given on
Aguda representatives serving in UN institutions and other
international public organizations.
The main speech was delivered by Rabbi Yehuda Meir
Avramovich, who serves as chairman of the World Agudas
Yisroel Executive Committee. Rabbi Yosef Cooperberg, chairman
of Agudas Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Menachem Porush,
chairman of Agudas Yisroel in Jerusalem, and other veteran
organization figures took the speakers' podium to offer well
wishes and commendation. Speakers recalled the Shoah, in
which the majority of Agudas Yisroel members in Europe
perished as kedoshim, and the movement's subsequent
renewal. Letters filled with brochos were sent from
various roshei yeshivos, rabbonim and admorim.
Dozens of other celebrations were held in Europe, the US and
elsewhere to mark Agudas Yisroel's 90th anniversary.
Participants thanked World Executive Committee Secretaries
Rabbi Moshe Gevirtz and Rabbi Chaim Weinstock for organizing
the conference and dispersed to the tunes the traditional
song: "Veyei'osu kulom, agudoh echos, la'asos retzonecho
beleivov sholeim."
