The eagerly awaited Ninth Annual Convention of European
Agudas Yisroel took place last weekend at the Normandie
Hotel, in the resort town of Bournemouth. Aguda members from
across Great Britain and various European countries including
Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Holland and France met for
four days to discuss issues affecting Torah Jewry in Europe
and Eretz Yisroel and to be inspired by the rabbonim who
attended.
The Convention theme was: "Chadesh Yomeinu Kekedem --
Have We Got Our Priorities Right?" It proved to be both a
thought- and discussion-provoking theme throughout the
Shabbos and Bank Holiday weekend. Each of the speakers and
the open forums examined different aspects of the challenges
to remain faithful to our authentic roots and the need to
resist harmful change.
The Friday afternoon session, traditionally reserved for
exploring matters of general interest, took the form of an
address by two health practitioners. Entitled "How to Stay
and Get Well," it focused on the debate between conventional
and holistic medicine. Dr. Yossi Spitzer, the well-known
north London GP, delivered a comprehensive review from a
conventional practitioner's viewpoint. A holistic
practitioner, Dr. Kalman who is based in Manchester, spoke on
the virtues of alternative therapy, illustrating its
effectiveness by drawing on anecdotal evidence from previous
generations.
A number of the Convention's participants were unable to make
this session in time owing to the heavy Bank Holiday weekend
traffic. The session was chaired by one of the program's
organizers Reb Yankel Schonberg
After a rousing kabolas Shabbos where R' Dovid Noach
Olsberg of Manchester led the davening, the erev
Shabbos droshoh was delivered by Reb Shimon Hirschler,
the renowned marbitz Torah and maggid shiur. He
was introduced by the Convention's chairman Reb Yitzchok
Meyer Cymerman. Rabbi Hirschler dwelt on the theme of
zechor asher osoh lecho Amolek, emphasizing the need
for each person to come to terms with the unique individual
trials he faces and to find his own remedy and source of
inspiration.
The Shabbos seuda was followed by a drosho
delivered by the rosh hayeshiva of Yeshiva Lev Simcha and
Presidium Member of British Aguda Rabbi Rosenbaum. In a
stirring address he developed the theme of "Kedoshim
Tihiyu -- An appropriate Lifestyle for All Times" and
illustrated how an individual needs-to-and-can both aspire to
and also achieve greatness.
Despite the late hour, the Novominsker Rebbe's Peiros
Tisch that followed was packed with participants eager to
hear divrei Torah vechizzuk from the Rebbe. Lively
singing and dancing followed, which contributed to the
uplifting and inspiring Shabbos atmosphere
On Shabbos Morning the davening was preceded by a
shiur given by Reb Elisha Horowitz of Boro Park, the
son-in-law of the Guest of Honor, the Novominsker Rebbe. Much
to the enjoyment of the participants, he wove an interesting
thesis on the debates between Beis Shammi and Beis Hillel.
Following the daily Daf Hayomi shiur given by Reb
Yeshiah Grunfeld and shacharis, Rabbi Rosenbaum
greeted not only the Convention's guests but also those who
had come to celebrate the aufruf of Simcha Bondi son
of one of the event's organizers, Rabbi Yehuda Bondi, and the
grandson of Reb. Y. M. Cymerman.
The pre-musaf speaker Dayan D. Grynhaus of the UOHC,
dwelt on the theme of tefilloh and its relevance to
achieving life goals. In his address he emphasized the need
to improve that part of tefilloh devoted to shevach
vehodo'oh as a means to achieve the response to the
bakoshos that a person seeks.
During the afternoon the Rabbi Y. Treiger, rosh yeshiva in
Antwerp, treated the Convention participants to an erudite
and stimulating lomdus shiur on the theme of Kol
Yisroel Areivim Zeh Bozeh.
A Pirkei Ovos shiur given by the Guest of Honor was
followed by mincha and Seuda Shelishis, which
took place in the main marquee erected for the Convention.
In a moving address, the guest speaker at Seuda
Shelishis, Rabbi. E Sternbuch, dayan of Kehillas
Machzikei Hadas, Antwerp, stressed the need to connect with
previous generations to build on their mesirus nefesh
as the way to ensure real continuity.
This address was followed by an original and incisive
droshoh by Rabbi Pinchos Padwa, Belzer dayan in
Zurich, who underlined the need for minhagim and
chumros to be based only on the foundations of
Shulchan Oruch. He also made a heartfelt plea for
bnei Torah to concentrate their efforts on learning
halocho with a goal of greater kedusha.
The two other speakers were introduced by Rabbi Avrohom
Sonnschein, maggid shiur at Yeshivas Lev Simcha and a
son-in-law of one of the Convention's awardees, Rabbi Mendel
Kaufman of Gateshead.
The ladies enjoyed a separate Seuda Shelishis in the
hotel dining room, where Rebbetzin Rakow of Gateshead
delivered a dvar Torah. A panel consisting of the
Rebbetzins Rakow, Grynhaus, Padwa, Babad and Mrs. S. Levy
discussed the issue of celebrating Pesach away from home.
Following ma'ariv the participants returned for
Melave Malka. The introduction was given by Dr. P.
Mett and the speaker was Rabbi Chaim Kaufman, rosh hayeshiva
of Yeshiva Tiferes Yaakov in Gateshead. Using as his theme
the importance of utilizing time effectively, he illustrated
this with several anecdotes and stories from sippurei
chassidim.
Sunday Morning
On Sunday morning the Convention considered, "The Role and
Responsibility of the Orthodox Jewish Press." The panel's
contributions were preceded by a rabbinic insight given by
the Belzer Dayan Rabbi Y. Babad, whose association with
Aguda's newspapers goes back to the time that his late,
illustrious father, Rabbi A. M. Babad zt"l of
Sunderland, served as both the founder and first editor of
the Jewish Tribune.
A penetrating analysis of the role of the Jewish press was
the subject dealt with by the panelists who were: Mr. H. J.
Lobenstein, a columnist for the Jewish Tribune for
over thirty years and Rabbi Yonoson Rosenblum, the chareidi
journalist who writes for a wide range of newspapers. They
were joined by Rabbi Avrohom Katz of the Beis Rochel Seminary
whose regular contributions have appeared in a wide range of
orthodox periodicals.
A lively and wide-ranging debate was led by the session's
chairman Mr. Alex Strom, columnist for the Jewish
Tribune (also known by his pseudonym of Zvi Zerem).
Contributions from the floor were also made Mr. Dan Levy of
the Jewish Tribune's editorial team and others.
Following lunch, two closed meetings were held. The Asifus
Rabbonim dealt with a range of pressing issues requiring
clear direction of da'as Torah. In another meeting,
askonim of Agudas Yisroel met to debate the future
direction that Aguda should take in the United Kingdom.
The Main Session
The Main Session took place at 4.00 p.m. Following
Tehillim recited by Dayan Sternbuch, the Chairman
Rabbi Y. M. Rosenbaum welcomed the Guest of Honor, the
Novominsker Rebbe, and defined the theme for the afternoon.
Speakers recalled three important figures of European Jewry
who were summoned to Yeshiva Shel Ma'aloh over the
course of the past year.
Rabbi E. Halpern, Honorary President of the UOHC, fondly
recalled the immense contribution made by the late Sassover
Rebbe in chessed and chassidus.
Rabbi Z. Cohen, Menahel of Gateshead Yeshiva, recalled the
contribution of the late Gateshead Rov, Rabbi B. Rakow
zt"l, in furthering Torah and Yiddishkeit in an
emotional and fiery droshoh.
Rabbi Padwa of Zurich dwelt on his close relationship with
Rabbi D. Levy zt"l of the IRG Zurich, stressing that
in each of the three amudim on which the world stands -
- Torah, Avodoh and Gemilus Chassodim -- Rabbi
Levy developed the rare ability to focus all of his immense
talent and dedication.
The Novominsker Rebbe, in an address lasting over an hour,
held the audience spellbound both in Yiddish and words of
chizuk delivered in flawless English.
The Convention bestowed awards upon two askonim: Rabbi A.
Schechter, the Chairman of Keren Hashevi'is, and Mr. Mendel
Kaufman of Gateshead. Responding to the award, Rabbi
Schechter illustrated many of the ways that chessed
can be performed.
Following ma'ariv the Convention heard Rabbi A.
Laizerson of Chinuch Atzmai and Rabbi Yonoson Rosenblum the
international chareidi journalist give balanced and firsthand
reports of the stresses and tension in Eretz Yisroel. Rabbi
Rosenblum is also director of Am Echad the organization set
up by the American Aguda to convey a positive and accurate
portrayal of the chareidi community. The session was chaired
by Rabbi Y. Bondi.
Monday Morning
On Monday morning a panel comprising the Novominsker Rebbe
and Rabbi Menachem Zev Frank of Antwerp addressed a working
session entitled, "Benefits and Dangers of Modern
Technology." This session was praised by many as one of the
most stimulating and meaningful that the convention
hosted.
The uplifting and elevating Shabbos, coupled with the
penetrating and wide-reaching working sessions, provided all
the participants with a thought-provoking and inspiring
convention.
