The 83rd National Convention of Agudath Israel of America
will open this Thursday, November 24, at the Stamford Westin
Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.
The convention will feature a new format, which organizers
have characterized as "eight conferences within a
convention."
"Each conference will focus on an issue of vital importance
to the Torah community," explains Agudath Israel associate
executive director Rabbi Labish Becker, noting that the new
format is designed to encourage maximum input from convention
delegates.
"This will be a working convention with clear and definable
objectives: to examine the problems facing the Torah
community, to devise plans of action for dealing with those
problems, and ultimately, in the days and weeks after the
convention, to transform those plans into
accomplishments."
General convention addresses will be delivered at the
Thursday Night Keynote Session featuring Rabbi Yaakov Perlow,
the Novominsker Rebbe and Rosh Agudath Israel; and Rabbi
Epfraim Wachsman, rosh hayeshiva, Yeshiva Meor Yitzchock, and
at the motzoei Shabbos Melave Malka, which will feature Rabbi
Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiach, Beth Medrash Govoha; and
Rabbi Aaron Dovid Dunner, dayan, Hisachdus Kehillos
HaChareidim, London. Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, executive vice
president of Agudath Israel of America will deliver a message
from Agudath Israel at the Thursday keynote session, which
will be broadcast nationwide.
Shabbos speakers include Rabbi Chaskel Besser, Presidium
Member of Agudath Israel of America; Rabbi Boruch Mordechai
Ezrachi, rosh yeshivas Ateres Yisroel in Yerushalayim; Rabbi
Chaim Dov Keller, rosh hayeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva in
Chicago; Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh hayeshiva of Beth
Medrash Govoha; and Rabbi Dovid Olewski, rosh mesivta Gur.
The convention will be closed by Rabbi Levi Yitzchok
Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe, who will deliver divrei
brochoh.
Convention conferences will focus on the shidduch
crisis, kids-at-risk, tefilloh, the tuition crisis,
medicine and halachah, and political activism. A
weekend-long Yarchei Kallah that will run concurrently with
other sessions and a closed conference for rabbonim round out
the program.
*
The conference on Enhancing Tefilloh opens Thursday
afternoon with a session on the topic, "With One Voice:
Creating Tefilloh Betzibbur We Can All Be Proud Of,"
presented by Rabbi Moshe Toiv, rav of Congregation Machzikei
Torah, and chaired by Ari Parnes. On Friday morning,
"Elevating the tefilloh of the Yochid," will be presented by
Rabbi Heshy Kleinman. The session will be chaired by Yisroel
Safrin.
On Friday night, Rabbi Matisayhu Salomon will discuss
important issues related to the topic. The session will be
chaired by Moshe Zakheim.
On Motzoei Shabbos, a men's shiur on hilchos
tefilloh will be delivered by Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Lowy,
rav of Agudath Israel of Toronto. A hilchos tefilloh
shiur for women will be delivered by Rabbi Reuven
Drucker, rav of Agudath Israel of Edison. The sessions will
be chaired by Mordechai Gelber and Dr. Boruch Adler,
respectively.
The conference on tefilloh concludes Sunday morning
with a planning meeting of Agudath Israel of America's
Commission on Kedushas Bais Haknesess, chaired by Jacob I.
Friedman.
The conference on Kids-At-Risk opens with a
presentation by Rabbi Noach Orloweck, mashgiach ruchni of
Yeshiva Torah Ohr, on "Fostering Sholom Bayis in Our
Community." The session will be chaired by Yankie Elbogen.
On Friday morning, the topic "Chinuch — The Importance
of Early Intervention," will be presented by Rabbi Yaakov
Horowitz, Program Director of Project Y.E.S. The session will
be chaired by Dr. Joel Rosenshein.
On Friday night, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky, rosh hayeshiva of
Yeshiva Gedolah of Philadelphia, will discuss important
hashkafic issues related to the topic.
On Motzoei Shabbos, the topic "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs" will be
presented by Rabbi Barry Shaeffer. The conference will
conclude Sunday morning with a planning meeting.
The Shidduch Crisis conference opens Thursday
afternoon with a presentation on the topic, "Understanding
the Shidduch Crisis," presented by Chaim Tropper. The session
will be chaired by Rabbi Moshe Gold.
The Friday morning session will focus on, "The Critical Role
of Pre-Marriage Guidance," presented by Shaya Ostrov. The
session will be chaired by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon.
On Friday night, the Novominsker Rebbe will discuss important
issues related to the topic. The session will be chaired by
Yati Weinreb.
The conference continues Motzoei Shabbos with a shiur
by Rabbi Moshe Brown, rav of Agudath Israel of West Lawrence,
on "Hilchos Shidduchim" and concludes on Sunday morning with
a planning meeting chaired by Mendel Zilberberg.
The conference on the Tuition Crisis will open
Thursday afternoon with, "Tuition: Whose Responsibility Is It
Anyway?" presented by Rabbi Yaakov Applegrad and chaired by
Dr. Laurence Katz. Rabbi Aaron Zuckerman, rav of Agudath
Israel of Midwood, will serve as rabbinic advisor. Chaskel
Bennett will present the parents' perspective on the
topic.
A joint session of the Tuition Crisis conference and
the Political Activism conference will take place
Friday morning on the topic, "Finding Ways to Maximize
Support for Our Yeshivos."
On Friday night, Rabbi Yosef Frankel, Vyelopoler Rebbe, will
discuss the topic from an hashkafic perspective.
"Hilchos Schar Limud," will be presented on Motzoei Shabbos
by Rabbi Shmuel Feurst, rav of Agudath Israel of Chicago.
Shimon Lefkowitz will chair the session.
The conference concludes Sunday morning with a planning
meeting chaired by Elly Kleinman.
The conference on Political Activism opens Thursday
afternoon with a session entitled, "Developing Relationships
with and Supporting Our Friends in the Political Arena." The
session will be chaired by Dr. Irving Lebovics. Steven
Scholk, Esq., will serve as advisor.
A joint session of the Tuition Crisis conference and
the Political Activism conference will take place
Friday morning. The session will be chaired by Abraham
Biderman. Abba Cohen, Esq., Director and Counsel, Agudath
Israel Washington Office, will serve as advisor.
On Friday night, the topic will be addressed by Rabbi Avrohom
Chaim Levin, rosh hayeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago.
A presentation Motzoei Shabbos on, "Translating Our Growing
Numbers into Increased Influence" will be chaired by Menachem
Shayovich. Rabbi Yehiel Kalish, director of Agudath Israel of
the Midwest, will serve as advisor.
The conference concludes on Sunday morning with a planning
meeting chaired by Shmuel Yosef Rieder.
The conference on Medicine and Halacha begins on
Thursday afternoon with an open discussion on, "End of Life
Issues — Halachic Ramifications" with Rabbi David
Feinstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Tifereth Jerusalem. The
session will be chaired by Dr. Menachem Rubin.
The medical conference continues with a Friday morning
session on, "Physicians and Community-Based Health and
Referral Agencies," presented by Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum,
rav of Congregation Nachlas Yitzchok. The session will be
chaired by Dr. Edward Lebovics.
On Friday night, Rabbi Aharon Feldman, rosh hayeshiva of Ner
Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, will discuss numerous
hashkafic aspects of the conference topic. Dr. David
Diamond will chair the session.
On Motzoei Shabbos, Dr. Abraham Abraham, author, Nishmas
Avrohom, will discuss, "Halachic Challenges Facing the
Orthodox Physician." Dr. Jonathan Rubin will chair the
session.
The conference concludes with a Sunday morning meeting with
the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah on the subject, "Major Health
Issues Impacting the Orthodox Community." The session will be
chaired by Dr. Martin Katzenstein.
Nine CME credits will be awarded to medical conference
participants.
A Yarchei Kallah that will run concurrently with other
conference sessions throughout the weekend, commences on
Thursday afternoon with a learning seder in
preparation for subsequent shiurim on the sugya
dekallah: Amira Le'Akum.
On Friday morning, Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh hayeshiva
of Telshe Yeshiva, will deliver an iyun shiur on
the sugya. On Friday night, a shiur on amira
le'akum as it impacts on hilchos refuah will be
delivered by Dr. Abraham. On Motzei Shabbos and Sunday
morning, halacha shiurim analyzing the topic will be
delivered by Rabbi Don Blumberg, rosh kollel of West Side
Kollel and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Meor HaTalmud in
Englewood; and Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, rav of Agudath Israel
of Baltimore, respectively.
The Rabbonim Conference (for rabbonim only) will focus on
such issues as sholom bayis, end of life issues, and
infertility. The conference will include a joint session with
the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and Nesius to discuss problems of
the Internet. Moetzes and Nesius members will also hear a
report from Rabbi Avrohom Yosef Leizerson, Chairman, Torah
Schools for Israel, on recent chinuch deveolpements in
Eretz Yisroel. Chairmen of the sessions will include Rabbi
Gershon Bess, rav of Kehillas Yaakov in Los Angeles; Rabbi
Zev Cohen, rav of Congregation Yeshurun in Chicago; Rabbi
Aryeh Feigenbaum, Congregation Ohr HaTorah in Dallas; Rabbi
Avrohom Teichman, rav of Agudath Israel of Los Angeles, and
Rabbi Yosef Viener, rav of Agudath Israel of Flatbush.
Presenters will include Dr. Abraham, Dr. Norman Blumenthal,
and Rabbis Menachem Burstein and Gideon Weitzman of the Puah
Institute, Israel. The session will include a discussion of
important rabbinic issues with Harav Zechariah Gelley, rav of
Khal Adath Yeshurin and Harav Dovid Kviat, rav of Agudath
Israel of 18th Avenue.
*
The 83rd National Convention will close with a general
session entitled, "Kiruv Rechokim: Everyone's Mission,"
presented by Rabbi Yom Tov Glazer and chaired by Rabbi Yaakov
Salomon.
This year's convention will be chaired by Rabbi Raphael
Zucker of Lakewood, New Jersey. Jack Feiler of Chicago will
serve as convention coordinator.
