This year's annual Convention of Agudath Israel of America, scheduled for Thursday November 17 through Sunday November 20, Shabbos Parshas Vayeiro, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, CT, focuses on the theme "Who We Are - Yisroel Asher Becha Espa'ar," an exhortation for excellence for the Torah community and the individual.
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The "Agudah Convention," as it is affectionately known, has always been a highlight of the Jewish communal year. Klal Yisroel gathers for four days of camaraderie, achdus and words of chizuk and his'orerus from Gedolei Torah, as well as other rabbinic speakers and Torah personages. Over the years, the Convention has also become the incubator of ideas benefiting Klal Yisroel and inspiring numerous new organizations and initiatives l'tovas haklal.
In line with the theme of pursuing excellence, many sessions will examine avenues for improvement on a communal, family and personal level. Members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah will be present, lending their prestige to the gathering, including Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe and Rosh Agudas Yisroel; Rabbi Aharon Feldman, Rosh HaYeshiva of Ner Yisroel in Baltimore; Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, Rosh HaYeshiva of Mesivta Tifereth Yerushalayim; Rabbi Yosef Frankel, Vyelopoler Rebbe; Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Philadelphia; Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood; Rabbi Yosef Harari Raful, Rosh HaYeshiva of Ateret Torah; and Rabbi Aharon Schechter, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Mesivta Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin.
The Thursday night keynote session will address the convention theme. The speakers are Rabbi Yosef Elefant, Rosh Yeshiva in Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim; Rabbi Yissochar Frand, Rosh Yeshiva in Ner Yisroel; and Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rosh HaYeshiva in Yeshiva Torah Vadaath and Rav of Agudath Israel of Madison.
The Motzei Shabbos program will include The Novominsker Rebbe, special guest from Eretz Yisroel Rabbi Daniel Alter, Rosh Kollel of Ari Shebechabura in Yerushalayim; Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin, Rosh HaYeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva and Mesivta of Lakewood; and Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President of Agudas Yisroel.
The Chairman of the Convention is the well-known publisher of Yated Ne'eman in Monsey, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz. The Co-Chairman is Rabbi Dovid Lefkowitz of Baltimore, son of the outstanding Agudas Yisroel askan, Rabbi Yisroel Lefkowitz. Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, director of Government Affairs for Agudath Israel of Illinois, will serve as Convention Coordinator.
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"We are so pleased that last year's convention was a sell-out, and that those who attended were highly satisfied. Many thousands of people who listened and watched the broadcast of the Convention were able to participate as well," said Dr. David Diamond, member of the Board of Trustees of Agudath Israel of America and Chairman of Major Events. "We are especially pleased that at last year's Motzei Shabbos Convention Session, a proposal was made to undertake an effort to increase the prestige and remuneration of our rebbeim and moros. As a result, a new initiative began which is raising millions of dollars to help elevate the status of those who are so critical to the future of our community."
He concluded, "We invite everyone to make their reservations for this year's Convention as quickly as possible, as the rooms are going fast."
