This year's convention of Agudath Israel of America, the
organization's 82nd, will focus on the theme "Yisroel Bein
Ho'amim: A Part of the World, Apart From the World." The
convention, which attracts thousands of Jews from around the
world, will open this Thursday, November 25 at the Stamford
Westin Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. The event will be
chaired by Shmuel Yosef Reider and co-chaired by Stephan L.
Rosedale of Cincinnati.
Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe and Rosh Agudath
Israel of America; and Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, Mashgiach,
Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, will present major addresses
at the Thursday night keynote session. Rabbi Shmuel
Kamenetsky, rosh hayeshiva, Yeshiva of Philadelphia and
member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, will deliver
Greetings.
"With the entire world seemingly focused on the Middle East
and with the continued rise in antisemitism across the globe,
it behooves us to train our own spotlight on ourselves and
reflect upon the burdens and bounds of our relationship with
the larger world around us," says Agudath Israel of America
executive vice president Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, who will deliver
a Message at the keynote session. "This convention will
consider how we, as individuals and as a people, are to
maintain the integrity of our separate identity as an Am
Kodosh even as we fulfill our holy mandate to be a light
unto the nations."
The Thursday night session will also feature an address by
special overseas guest Rabbi Asher Wade. A former Protestant
Minister, Rabbi Wade — together with his German-born
wife, the daughter and granddaughter of Lutheran
pastors— converted to Judaism in 1983. Between 1988 and
1990, Rabbi Wade studied at Ohr Somayach in Yerushalayim and
received semichoh in 1992. Several years ago he earned
a degree in clinical psychology and began private
counselling. A noted lecturer who conducts popular tours of
Yad Vashem, Rabbi Wade resides in Yerushalayim with his wife
and six children.
The keynote session will be chaired by Rabbi Bentzion
Twerski.
Thursday Afternoon
The convention will actually commence on Thursday afternoon
with three concurrent symposia.
"Lessons From the Flames: What Survivors of Churban Europe
Want Us to Know," will feature an overview by Rabbi Shmuel
Dishon, menahel Yad Yisroel, and presentations by panelists
Yechiel Benzion Fishoff, Reb Yosef Friedenson, Dr. Maurice
Katz, and Shmuel Roth. The session will be chaired by Chaim
Kupperwasser.
"Exploring Concepts in Hilchos Yisroel Bein Ho'Amim," will
feature presentations by Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, rav of Agudath
Israel of Chicago, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, rav of Agudath
Israel of Baltimore, and Rabbi Zev Smith, maggid shiur
in Irgun Shiurei Torah. Dr. Tuvia Peppard of Miami Beach
will chair the session.
"The Challenge of `Chosenness' Raising Children Bein Ho'Amim"
will feature presentations by Rabbi Mordechai Finkelman,
mashgiach ruchani Yeshiva Ohr Chaim and Mesivta
Yesodei Yeshurun, Rabbi Berish Goldenberg, menahel
Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn of Los Angeles and rav of Khal Bais
Naftali, and Rabbi Mechel Guzik, segan menahel Yeshiva
Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin. Dr. Isaac V. Perle, President Agudath
Israel of New England, will chair the session.
Shiurim
Shiurim offered throughout the weekend are a highlight of the
convention for many delegates.
This year, shiurim will be offered by Rabbi Meyer
Herskowitz, rosh yeshiva Yeshiva Bais Binyomin in Stamford
(Friday morning Tzafra DeKallah), Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss, rav
of Agudath Israel of Staten Island (Erev Shabbos), and Rabbi
Avrohom Chaim Feuer, rav of Cong. Beis Avrohom in Monsey
(Shabbos afternoon).
The Shabbos morning Daf Yomi shiur will be delivered by Rabbi
Hillel David, rav of Congregation Shaarei Torah. Daf Yomi
shiurim will also be delivered by Rabbi Yeruchem Bensinger,
rav of Kehilla Kadisha Torah V'Yirah in Miami Beach, and Reb
Refoel Lieberman, Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur in the Moditzer Bais
Medrash.
Motzei Shabbos
The Motzei Shabbos program will also commence with a number
of concurrent symposia, which will be followed by the famous
Melave Malka for all convention delegates.
"The revamped Motzei Shabbos program has enabled us to offer
even more opportunities for exploring exciting and timely
topics of interest," says Agudath Israel associate executive
director Rabbi Labish Becker.
"An Ounce of Prevention: Medical and Halachic Perspectives"
will feature presentations by Rabbi Asher Eisenberger,
dayan Agudath Israel of Detroit, and Dr. Steven
Tennenberg, MD FACS FCCM and associate professor of surgery
at Wayne State University of Medicine in Detroit. The
symposium will be chaired by Dr. Yosef S. Rosenshein,
chairman and founder of Vaad Hachinuch of P'Tach.
"From Simchos to Supermarkets: Conquering Kashrus Confusion
Outside the Home," will be presented by Rabbi Gershon Bess,
rav of Kehillas Yaakov in Los Angeles, and Rabbi Reuven
Stein, Director of Supervision at the Atlanta Kashrus
Commission.
"The Path to `Meaningful' Prayer: A Primer," will be
presented by Rabbi Pinchus Jung, mashgiach Yeshiva Kol
Yaakov and Rabbinic Advisor Agudath Israel of America
Commission on Kedushas Bais Haknesses, and Rabbi Yosef
Viener, rav of Agudath Israel of Flatbush. The symposium will
be chaired by Jacob I. Friedman.
A shiur by Rabbi Dovid Affen, rav of Kollel Zichron Yosef,
Kiryat Sefer, rounds out the program.
Motzei Shabbos Program
Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Levin, rosh hayeshiva Telshe Yeshiva and
member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, and Rabbi Uren Reich,
rosh hayeshiva Yeshiva of Woodlake Village in Lakewood, will
deliver Motzei Shabbos addresses.
Opening remarks at the Melave Malka will be delivered by
Rabbi Chaskel Besser, Presidium Member of Agudath Israel of
America. Rabbi Yissochor Frankentahl, the Mayor of Bnei Brak,
will deliver a message from his city. Addresses will also be
delivered by Rabbi Aaron Twerski, professor at Brooklyn Law
School, and Agudath Israel executive vice president for
government and public affairs Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel.
The Melave Malka will be chaired by Rabbi Aryeh Zev Ginsberg,
rav of Chofetz Chaim Torah Center in Cedahurst.
Special Overseas Guests
Guests from Eretz Yisroel include Rabbi Asher Weiss, av beis
din Kiryas Tchechenov and Rosh Yeshiva Chug Chasam Sofer, who
will give the opening Shabbos address, Rabbi Yissochor
Frankentahl, the mayor of Bnei Brak , who will deliver a
Message from his city at the Motzei Shabbos Melave Malka.
Rabbi Avrohom Yosef Laizerson, chairman of Torah Schools for
Israel-Chinuch Atzmai, Rabbi Mordechai Green, director of
BeTzedek, and Rabbi Yonoson Rosenblum, director of Am Echad-
Israel, will make presentations at a Sunday morning symposium
entitled, "For Our Brothers' Sake: Helping the Jews of Eretz
Yisroel." Noted international lecturer Rabbi Asher Wade will
deliver an address at the Thursday night keynote session as
noted. A Shabbos morning drosho will be delivered by
Rabbi Shmuel Akiva Schlesinger, rav of Strasbourg France, and
a Friday night address by Rabbi Shmuel Aryeh Levin, rosh
hayeshiva Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Buenos Aires.
Sunday Morning
Helping the Jews of Israel, and its chareidi community in
particular, has long been high on the agenda of American
Torah Jewry. But how can we assist the people of Israel? What
possible impact can we have on a political system that often
blatantly discriminates against chareidi families and
institutions and a media that frequently portrays Torah Jews
as "parasites" or worse? Those questions will explored at the
first of two Sunday morning symposia. Entitled "For Our
Brothers' Sake: Helping the Jews of Eretz Yisroel," the
symposium will feature addresses by three guests from
Yerushalayim as noted above. The session will be chaired by
Mr. Yaakov Rajchenbach.
A second symposium entitled, "Golus: A Spur to Spiritual
Growth?" will focus on how we can utilize the nisyonos
of living in Golus to further our spiritual development.
Presenters include Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky, senior lecturer at
Yeshiva Ohr Somayach (Yerushalayim); noted author and
lecturer Rabbi Paysach Krohn; and Rabbi Levi Yitzchak
Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe. The session will be chaired by
Rabbi Labish Becker.
