Watch: Charidy 2021: Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah

August 26, 2021

Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Adds Members and Releases Kol Korei in Advance of Rosh Hashanah

August 26, 2021 Agudath Israel of America, today, shared a Kol Korei from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, as we are poised to enter the New Year.

At the time of Agudas Yisroel’s founding in Katowitz in 1912, it established a body known as the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, consisting of gedolim from across Europe to stand at the helm of the movement. It has always been the hallmark of the Agudah, whether in pre-war Europe or post-war America, that its policies have been guided by the words of the Moetzes. The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America has steered, advised, and guided American Orthodox Jewry through the challenges of Galus America for some three- quarters of a century, and continues to do so today.

The Kol Korei issued today includes the signatures of fifteen members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. These include six members who have recently joined the Moetzes at the invitation of the existing members.

The new chavrei Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah are: Rabbi Hillel David, Mara D’asra of Kehillas Shaarei Torah; Rabbi Aharon Dovid Goldberg, Rosh HaYeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva Cleveland; Rabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller, Rosh and Av Beis Din of Kollel Avreichim Toronto; Rabbi Yeruchim Olshin, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha; Rabbi , Rosh HaYeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood and Telshe; and Rabbi Shimon Yehuda Svei, Rosh HaYeshiva of Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia.

These distinguished gedolim joined the sitting members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah: Rabbi , of Mir; Rabbi Yitzchok Feigelstock, Rosh HaYeshiva of Mesivta of Long Beach; Rabbi , Rosh HaYeshiva of Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim; Rabbi , Rosh HaYeshiva of ; Rabbi Yosef Frankel, Vyelipoler Rebbe; Chacham Yosef Harari-Raful, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivat Ateret Torah; Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivas Beis Meir; Rabbi , Rosh HaYeshiva of Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia; Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha; and Rabbi Aharon Schechter, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin.

May the words of their Kol Korei – the translation of which follows – be a source of inspiration and guidance to us as we enter the New Year. The staff and administration of Agudath Israel join them in wishing acheinu b’nei Yisroel a wonderful 5781, in which the Jewish people – in health and prosperity – join as one in Yerushalayim.

Translation:

Elul 5780

We find ourselves, both here and in Eretz Yisroel, apprehensive about our fulfillment of the Torah and service to Hashem, and alarmed about our health and financial stability, in the face of challenges not faced for many years. We are faced with the dangers of technology and popular culture’s dilution of our values on the one hand, and the ever-present fear of COVID-19 on the other. Our young children’s schools are closed to a greater or lesser extent, our older children’s schools are operating under significant constraints, and attendance in our shuls is down – of the ones that are still even open. The future is uncertain – may Hashem rescue us from calamitous decrees!

It is quite possible that the troubles we are facing are measure for measure: It may be that because we have been deficient in honoring the Torah, its commandments, and those who learn it, and because we have been deficient in acting respectfully in our shuls, our places for Torah and prayer have been shuttered. And it may be, too, that because of strife between groups and conflict between individuals, we have been compelled to distance one from another, as well as to cover our mouths and faces with masks.

The Rambam writes (Hilchos Taanios 1:2-3):

This is a characteristic of Teshuvah: When a calamity occurs and people cry out and blow the shofar, everyone will recognize that it is because of their misdeeds that this has befallen them, as it is written, “Your sins have caused these to be withheld…” (Yirmiyahu 5:25). It is in this merit that the calamity will be removed.

If the people do not cry out and blow the shofar, and instead say, ‘This calamity is a natural one; this disaster happened to be,’ then this callousness causes them to continue their misdeeds and that calamity will be followed by others…

Therefore, in these upcoming days of mercy and grace – in which we “Seek Hashem while He is there,” (Yeshayahu 55:6) and in which prayer and Teshuvah are accepted readily, annulling calamitous decrees – we must examine our actions, repent, cry out, and blow shofar that Hashem, in His mercy, eliminate this suffering.

We suggest the following concrete steps which can bring us closer to these goals:

1. Torah: To undertake to increase our set times for learning Torah, to better support those who learn Torah, and to raise our children in Torah and fear of Hashem. 2. Respect for shul: To act respectfully inside shul by not speaking or acting frivolously. It is appropriate that each shul appoint members who remind congregants not to talk in shul, especially during davening. 3. Davening: It is appropriate, under our present circumstances, to be especially mindful during prayer, and certainly to not change in any way the recitation of the traditional prayers and piyutim. (It goes without saying that the blowing of the shofar should not be changed in any way.) The Mishneh Berurah (581:3) notes the custom of increasing the recitation ofTehillim during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah. One should endeavor, at least, to recite ten chapters on Rosh Hashanah, and five chapters each morning (after Shacharis) each of the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah. Congregations might consider dividing the whole Tehillim each day amongst themselves. 4. Tzedakah: It is appropriate to give “kofer nefesh” to charity for each member of one’s family, in the amount of at least $18. 5. Conduct with others: To avoid conflict; it is appropriate that each shul and each person set times for learning the laws of lashon hara, the keeping of which deters conflict. 6. Sanctity: If circumstances oblige one to use the internet or a smartphone – it should be only with a kosher filter.

We close with words of blessing: May this year and its ordeals end in the merit of our Teshuvah, prayer, and Tzedakah; may the new year and its blessings begin, and may we merit a year of uplift of Torah and prayer, a year of health and prosperity, a year of healing and imminent redemption for all Jews.

Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America

Rabbi Aharon Dovid Goldberg Rabbi Aharon Feldman Rabbi Aharon Schechter Rabbi Elya Brudny Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler Rabbi Dovid Feinstein Rabbi Hillel David Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin Chacham Yosef Harari-Raful Rabbi Yosef Frankel Rabbi Yakov Horowitz Rabbi Yeruchim Olshin Rabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky Rabbi Shimon Yehuda Svei

Kol Korei 9.13.20 Urgent Call from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah: Conduct in Regards to the Holiness of Shul and Prayer

August 26, 2021

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah issued the following statement today:

In English Translation:

An Urgent Call from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah:

The Hand of Hashem has struck us twice, with a terrible pandemic and a difficult decree, incomparable to anything in recent memory: a plague in which thousands of our brethren fell, among whom were great Torah scholars and community leaders; and by being removed from Hashem’s Presence by having shuls and batei medrash closed around the world. It is incumbent on us to better our ways and to repent to Hashem, every person and his community, as they recognize their own shortcomings. Specifically, we have to be mindful that the world operates in a measure-for-measure way; it is possible that these decrees came because we were not acting properly regarding the holiness of Shuls and batei medrash.

Hashem has been merciful and we have recently seen a glimmer of hope in that the decree of closing of Shuls has become somewhat lifted, and – with specific conditions – local jurisdictions in many states have permitted returning to them, with the approval of expert doctors. But we must be careful not to repeat our earlier mistakes. Therefore, when we return to Shul, we must accept on ourselves to act with greater care for the fundamentals of public prayer and the holiness of Shul. For this reason, we have come to suggest actions regarding the holiness of Shul and prayer — some of which are the plain halachah — that we should accept on ourselves when we return to prayer in Shul.

Conduct in Regards to the Holiness of Shul and Prayer:

1. To envision for ourselves when we arrive to Shul that we are standing in the dwelling of Hashem. 2. Although we have become habituated to praying alone, that we should now exceedingly try, if permitted to do so, to pray with a minyan and in Shul, which has many benefits. 3. To pray as if we were standing in front of a king, and not to hurry. 4. Shuls should, when permitted to do so and in a permitted manner, add more shiurim and learning with a , which were diminished during the pandemic. 5. Not to engage in idle chatter in Shul; not to talk at all and to pay attention during chazaras hashatz and keri’as haTorah; and not to leave Shul until the prayer is over. 6. Not to bring publications with non-Torah content into Shul. 7. To turn off the ringers of cell phones, and not to take cell phones out of one’s pocket, in Shul.

May it be the will of Hashem that the merit of our strengthening ourselves in these areas should enable us to have a true acceptance of the Torah on the upcoming holiday of Shavuos. May we merit that Hashem rest His Divine Presence upon us, that He accept our prayers with mercy, that catastrophe is not heard in our environs, that good and benevolence accompany us in our lives, and that He redeem us permanently, quickly.

Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America

Open Letter of Chizuk from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah

August 26, 2021

Please see this open letter of chizuk from the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah during these trying times.

Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Issues Proclamation in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

August 26, 2021

Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America released a statement today, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and the need for everyone to listen to the direction of the medical professionals involved in containing this disease.

In addition, they requested that every able-bodied person fast for half the day tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, and to increase in prayer and Tehillim.

The full text of the translation appears below:

AN URGENT CALL FROM THE MOETZES GEDOLEI HATORAH (Free translation:)

In light of the serious situation of the spread of coronavirus in our community and in the entire world, with doctors warning and imploring not to gather together in Shuls and Batei Medrash even to daven or learn, and that every person should not leave home unless absolutely necessary because of the real danger to human life, we implore each person to listen to the direction of the expert medical professionals who are unified in warning about the seriousness of the current situation. We also ask adults to warn their children not to leave home unless absolutely necessary.

However, we must rely only on our Father in Heaven. We call upon every person who is not ill or weak to accept on himself today to fast a ta’anis sha’os tomorrow, Thursday, until chatzos, and to say, individually, the Yom Kippur Katan prayers (without reciting the 13 middos) and Tehillim, and to pray for mercy and favor for the entire Jewish nation and the entire world who are now in distress.

May Hashem accept the prayers of His nation with mercy.

Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America