The 81st Annual Agudas Yisroel of America Conference closed
Sunday with calls to stand by the chareidi public and the
Torah world in Eretz Yisroel and to act to strengthen Judaism
in the US. The theme of the weekend was, "Measured Gains,
Growing Pains: Shouldering the Burden of our Blessing."
On Shabbos, droshos were given by HaRav Shmuel
Kamenetsky, rosh yeshivas Philadelphia and a member of
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah; the Vyelopoler Rebbe; HaRav Reuven
Feinstein; HaRav Elya Fisher, rosh Kollel Gur; HaRav Yitzchok
Sorotzkin, rosh yeshivas Telz-Cleveland, as well as other
marbitzei Torah. Talks were also given by Rabbi Shlomo
Gertzulin and Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, of the lay
leadership of the American Aguda.
Significant attention was devoted to the oppressive treatment
of the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel. Guests from Eretz
Yisroel included HaRav Yaakov Hillel, rosh yeshivas Ahavat
Sholom and HaRav Shlomo Kanievsky, rosh yeshivas Tiferes
Tzion and Kiryat Melech, who awakened listeners to the
religious persecution and scheming against Torah institutions
now rampant in Eretz Yisroel.
During one of the central events of the conference, the
Melave Malka on motzei Shabbos, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, executive
vice president of Agudas Yisroel of America, announced that
at the behest of gedolei Yisroel a special committee
comprised of public figures and professionals from the US and
Israel had been set up to seek ways of handling the difficult
situation prevalent in Eretz Yisroel. Two representatives
from the team representing the chareidi public in Israel
arrived at the conference, during which the first working
meetings were held.
Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky also addressed the
difficult state of affairs in Eretz Yisroel and told
listeners that when he asked HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv for
a blessing before setting out, HaRav Eliashiv stressed the
importance of the ties between chareidim in America and
chareidim in Jerusalem.
Rosh yeshivas Torah Or HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg made a
special appearance at the conference to participate in the
motzei Shabbos session. Speakers at the Melave Malka included
HaRav Aharon Feldman, rosh yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Baltimore
and HaRav Mattisyahu Salomon, mashgiach of Beth
Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, who discussed the need to establish
values consistent with the Torah hashkofoh by not
placing material pursuits at the head of one's ambitions and
recognizing the obligation to remain sequestered from the
secular values sweeping through the Western world.
At the closing session of the four-day conference speakers
included Rabbi Avi Shafran, head of the public relations
department of Agudas Yisroel of America, and R' Avrohom
Biderman, chairman of Shuvu Chazon Avrohom. During the
discussions Rabbi Lazerson of Chinuch Atzmai spoke of the
battle being waged through decrees reminiscent of Malchus
Yovon and driven by modern-day Hellenists seeking to uproot
Torah and eradicate the Jewish religion. Beitar Illit Mayor
Rabbi Yitzchok Pindrus then presented the participants with a
series of figures on the election results and demographic
statistics on chareidi areas that demonstrate the blessed
growth of the chareidi sector in Eretz Hakodesh.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America Meets to Discuss
Chinuch Atzmai
The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America convened a special
meeting during the Convention to discuss the critical state
of Chinuch Atzmai in Eretz Yisroel.
At the meeting Rabbi Avrohom Yosef Lazerson, one of the heads
of Chinuch Atzmai and a guest of honor at the convention,
presented a comprehensive, detailed report on the
repercussions of the new government decrees, which threaten
the future of Chinuch Atzmai. Gedolei Torah attending
the meeting included the Novominsker Rebbe; HaRav Avrohom
Chaim Levine, rosh yeshivas Telz in Chicago; HaRav Aharon
Shechter, rosh yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin; HaRav Shmuel
Kamenetsky, rosh yeshivas Philadelphia; HaRav Aharon Feldman,
rosh yeshivas Ner Israel of Baltimore; HaRav Yitzchok
Sorotzkin, rosh yeshivas Telz-Cleveland; HaRav Yisroel
Belsky, ram at Yeshivas Torah Vodaas; and Rabbi Henoch
Cohen, director of the New York office of Chinuch Atzmai.
They listened with great concern to the harsh figures
associated with the decrees. During the ensuing discussion
they discussed at length immediate steps to be taken to save
Chinuch Atzmai from the crisis, with a recognition of the
heavy responsibility placed on the chareidi community all
over the world to help uphold pure Torah education in
Eretz Hakodesh.
