A Letter from Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky August 31, 2021 Charidy Letter Rabbi Kamenetsky A Letter from Chacham Yosef Harari-Raful August 31, 2021 Rabbi Raful Charidy letter + translation Watch: Charidy 2021: Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah August 31, 2021 Agudath Israel Commends Lithuania for Halting Plans for Conference Center on Vilna Jewish Cemetery August 31, 2021 Photo: Remains of the Old Jewish Cemetery, destroyed by Soviet authorities, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Photo Credits: Shutterstock/Renata Apanaviciene Agudath Israel is pleased that the Lithuanian government has reversed its decision to build a conference center on the Old Jewish Cemetery in the Shnipeshok section of Vilnius. The cemetery is the resting place of all Jews who died in Vilna between 1593 and 1830, among whom are many great tzadikim including the Chayai Adam and the Be’er HaGolah. The battle to preserve the Shnipeshok cemetery has been ongoing for many years. Rabbonim and askonim across the globe have been deeply involved in the effort. The matter even reached the table of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, who sent an impassioned letter in 2020 to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda imploring him to do all in his power to block the proposed development and protect the cemetery. “The cemetery in Shnipeshok occupies a prominent place in the hearts of Jews the world over. Great sages and scholars, whose piety and leadership are revered still today, and whose written scholarship is studied today, are buried there. All cemeteries deserve respect; the Old Jewish Cemetery in Shnipeshok deserves special respect,” they wrote. “We are pleased to report this week that the plans for construction were suspended by the government of Lithuania. We commend the government of Lithuania for making the right decision on this important matter,” said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America. Photos: Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Visit Camp Agudah August 31, 2021 Rabbi Shimon Rabbi Shimon Yehuda Svei Rabbi Shlomo Miller Yehuda Svei with greeting a Camp with Camp Agudah Camp Agudah staff Agudah camper campers and campers Rabbi Shimon Rabbi Shlomo Miller Yehuda Svei Rabbi Elya Brudny greeting Camp greeting a Camp with Camp Agudah Agudah campers Agudah family campers member Rabbi Elya Brudny Rabbi Aharon addressing Camp Mr. Shrage Feldman with Camp Agudah campers Goldschmidt and Agudah campers Rabbi Elya Brudny at Camp Agudah Rabbi Shmuel Chavrei HaMoetzes Kamenetsky with Chavrei HaMoetzes meeting at Camp Camp Agudah meeting at Camp Agudah with Rabbi campers Agudah Chaim Dovid Zwiebel and Rabbi Labish Becker Chavrei HaMoetzes Rabbi Shlomo meeting at Camp Rabbi Shmuel Miller, Rabbi Yakov Agudah Kamenetsky Horowitz, and Rabbi greeting Chavrei Elya Brudny HaMoetzes Rabbi Yosef Frankel Rabbi Hillel David with Camp Agudah Rabbi Shlomo Miller and Rabbi Shimon campers with Camp Agudah Yehuda Svei campers Rabbi Shlomo Miller with Camp Agudah campers Rabbi Elya Brudny addressing Camp Agudah campers Every day at Camp Agudah is exciting and memorable. However, this past Monday, 3 Av, July 12, was truly special. It was on that day that the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah held a meeting at Camp Agudah. Rabbi Elya Brudny, Rabbi Hillel David, Rabbi Aharon Feldman, Rabbi Yosef Frankel, Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller, and Rabbi Shimon Yehuda Svei all attended the meeting in person while Rabbi Aharon Dovid Goldberg, Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rabbi Yeruchim Olshin, Chacham Yosef Harari-Raful, and Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin, joined by phone. After the meeting the gedolim addressed the campers in different settings, undoubtedly an experience that will leave a lasting impact on the campers. At the end of the day, the gedolim took their leave of campers and staff and headed to their respective destinations. The visit came to an end, but the memory of that glorious day will be with young and old for the rest of their lives. Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Releases Kol Korei August 31, 2021 Agudath Israel of America, today, shared a Kol Korei from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America: You can download the Kol Korei here. A Letter from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah: (Free Translation): 29 Iyar 5781 The day which transformed – from joy to grief, from festivity to mourning, from the great light of the celebration of the tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai to darkness – Lag B’omer, is etched in our minds, and the memory of our deceased brothers will not depart from our hearts. We are obligated to feel the pain of the grieving families; let all Jews weep over the destruction Hashem has seen fit to perform. Additionally, “A person who observes misfortune happening to him should examine his deeds.” (Berachos 5a) When that misfortune comes in the guise of suffering for our entire community, it is certain that we must examine our public’s deeds and actions. “Let us search our ways and inspect them, and return to Hashem.” (Eichah 3:40) We, too, join with the holy call of the Torah leaders in Eretz Yisroel to hold a worldwide day of prayer and crying on Tuesday, Yom Kippur Katan, Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan. May the Healer of broken hearts heal our breaches; may He send consolation to the mourning families and healing to those who were injured. May He accept our prayers with mercy and may we not hear of further catastrophe in our communities. Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Kol Korei: Ki Am Kadosh Atah August 31, 2021 Download (PDF, 491KB) Agudath Israel of America, today, shared a Kol Korei from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. 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. 27 Shevat, 5781 “Spring has passed and summer is over – we have not yet been saved.” (Yirmiyah 8:20) Thousands of our fellow Jews, among them Torah giants and tzaddikim, have been afflicted with the terrible COVID-19 disease, and – may Hashem help us! – many of those have passed away. The pandemic has greatly diminished the Torah learning in our yeshivos, Bais Yaakovs, and shuls; it has curtailed our Yomim Tovim and celebrations. It is clear that there is upon our nation an appeal from Heaven to correct our ways. Every person must examine his behavior and strengthen whatever may be lacking. But, in addition to that, the public – as a tzibbur – must examine its collective actions and lifestyle. We therefore feel it important to bring up a fundamental and broad point on which the public should now focus. Klal Yisroel is a “nation of princes and a holy people.” The dedication of our people to Torah learning and to raising thousands upon thousands of families on the foundations of Torah and service to Hashem should be proclaimed far and wide! It is only the nation of princes, the holy people, who can do this despite the influence of the culture surrounding us. How fortunate are we, and how good is our lot! However, we must remember that the meaning of “a holy people” is a people who – as Ramban, Vayikra 19:2 explains – distance themselves from the pursuit of excess. It is greatly concerning to us that if one examines our community’s lifestyle we see that there is much to improve in this area, as reflected, for example, in the advertisements in periodicals. There are amongst us people who, notwithstanding their care with mitzvos, pursue fine foods and expensive vacations; they boast of their clothing and furniture; they are swayed by the triviality and bad of unfiltered smartphones and internet. Those who are engaged in these pursuits have turned from the lifestyle that was always a characteristic sign of the chareidi Jew: a modest life centered around Torah, service to Hashem, and kindness to others; a life purposed on being close to Hashem. All Jews are responsible for one another; we must all repent on this direction. Certainly, in this time of danger, we must act with great care for the health of our communities. It is, however, also a holy obligation on us to uproot this spiritual danger from amongst ourselves and to return to being a holy nation to Hashem. We turn to the Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbanim – the eyes of the community – and to all leaders in every community: Seek ways to inspire your yeshivos and shuls to return to what was; not to allow the Jewish nation to descend into the trap of a life of materialism. Through this we will remain a nation of princes and holy people, in the full meaning of the words. At the same time, we call upon the public to participate in Yom Kippur Katan tefillos this Thursday, and may any who have the ability to accept upon themselves to fast at least half the day, or to accept a taanis dibbur, be blessed. In the days following Yom Kippur Katan, as well, we call upon the public to increase prayer – by saying Tehillim and crying out to Hashem that He save us, and the entire Jewish people, from the difficult time we are in – until His wrath passes and He takes mercy on us. May Hashem recognize our prayer and good deeds and send Heavenly salvation from this and from all afflictions, and may Yehuda and Yerushalayim be saved in our days.