‰˜È¯Ó‡· χ¯˘È ˙„‚‡ AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA 95TH NATIONAL CONVENTION NOVEMBER 23-26 2O17 Á"Ú˘˙ ÂÏÒÎ 'ÁY'‰ • ‡ˆÈ ˙˘¯Ù ˙·˘ PROGRAM & GUEST INFORMATION WE WILL STAMFORD Rivie Schwebel Convention Chairman Rabbi Dovid Schnell Convention Co-Chairman Rabbi Yeruchim Silber Convention Coordinator CONVENTION COORDINATION: 718-633-0733 EVENT COORDINATOR - FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS PUBLIC RELATIONS - SALES & MARKETING ALL CONVENTION MATERIAL DESIGNED BY: WWW.GOLDINGDESIGN.COM CATERING BY: AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING BY: VIDEO PRODUCTION BY: 2 Inside GUEST SERVICE INFORMATION T DAILY ZMANIM NQ THURSDAY AFTERNOON NU THURSDAY AFTERNOON / EVENING OM THURSDAY EVENING OO FRIDAY MORNING OP EREV SHABBOS / KABBOLAS SHABBOS OS FRIDAY NIGHT OT SHABBOS MORNING OU SHABBOS AFTERNOON PN SHOLOSH SEUDOS PO MOTZOEI SHABBOS PP SUNDAY MORNING PR AGUDAH WOMEN OF AMERICA HIGHLIGHTS PT SWIMMING AND HEALTH CLUB SCHEDULE QM YIDDISH PROGRAM QOVQS 3 Sponsors ONLINE BROADCASTS CONVENTION TOTE BAG PROGRAM BOOK SHABBOS KIDDUSH Stamford 4 5 Kislev, 5778 November 23, 2017 Dear Convention Guest: It is our pleasure to welcome you to the 95th National Convention of Agudath Israel of America. There is something very special about this year’s convention. To spend four days in the presence of prominent Gedolei Torah and leading Torah askonim, to participate in stimulating sessions and forums on the pressing issues of the day, to be part of such a gathering of diverse yet unified Torah Jews — no event on our community’s calendar can compare to the Agudath Israel convention. We hope you will take full advantage of the program we are proudly presenting here. Take chizuk from the next four days’ agenda – and take in the incomparable spirit of unity and ruach unique to an Agudath Israel convention. We would also like to draw your attention to the Guest Services Information on the following pages. Please take a few minutes to review the important information provided as it will enhance your stay at our convention. And, throughout the convention, do let our staff know if there is any way we can be of further service to you. They are eager to please! Rivie Schwebel Rabbi Dovid Schnell Convention Chairman Convention Co-Chairman 5 9 6 5 Guest Service Information Attention Visitors We are pleased to welcome you to our convention sessions and hope that you will join us for many of our Torah activities throughout the year. We invite you to avail yourself of the hospitality services in The Gazebo Lounge on the Lobby Level. Agudath Israel of America Hotel Floor Plan can be found in 9the center spread pages 24-25 57 GUEST SERVICE INFORMATION The information that follows has been compiled to enhance your stay at our convention. Please read it carefully. BAIS MEDRASH The Atrium Conference Room #3 on the 2nd floor has been set up for the Bais Medrash, for Daf Yomi, and the Yarchei Kallah for the duration of the Convention. Please do not remove any seforim from the Bais Medrash as this leads to both bitul z’man on the part of other guests desiring to use the seforim , as well as to the possibility of seforim, chas v’sholom , being discarded by hotel employees. SHABBOS MINYONIM Throughout the convention Shabbos all minyonim (other than the K’Vasikin Minyan) will take place in the International Ballroom. We ask your utmost cooperation in not arranging ad-hoc or side minyonim . DINING ROOM SEATING CARDS You should have received your table assignment card upon checking in to the hotel. Assigned seating applies for Shabbos meals and Melaveh Malka only . Thursday dinner, breakfasts and lunch buffets are open seating. SECURITY: As we all know, we are living in difficult times, and security is uppermost on all of our minds. The hotel’s security team will be on premises throughout the Convention, and we have also arranged with the Stamford Police Department to have uniformed officers on the hotel premises. Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon all of us to be vigilant, and to remember that IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING to a member of either the hotel or Agudah staff. 8 TELEPHONE USAGE AND CHARGES In order to avoid excessive hotel telephone charges, we strongly suggest using cellular phones for all calls. Using the hotel phone in your room can be very costly. Please refer to the hotel guest information packet in your room for specific telephone charge information (including limitations on the use of toll-free access numbers). WiFi service is available throughout the hotel. PARKING Please proceed directly to the hotel parking garage to unload your car and discharge your passengers before checking in to the hotel. There is ample self-parking in the hotel’s parking garage. Please do not leave your car unattended as this inconveniences other guests attempting to check in. Also, to avoid a chilul HaShem and for practical reasons, please do not park in fire lanes, on the main road or in areas reserved for the handicapped. PAYING YOUR BILL All guest bills (except for miscellaneous hotel charges which must be paid at the hotel desk upon checkout) will be paid directly to Agudath Israel, and NOT to the Hotel. If you have a remaining balance, please settle your bill as soon as possible after arriving at the convention. Payment may be made at the Agudath Israel Convention Office ( Ethan Allen) across from the Gazebo Lounge (Tea Room). If you are paying by credit card, please note that only VISA, MasterCard and American Express will be accepted. CONVENTION AUDIO/VIDEO All convention sessions will be recorded by Torah Anytime and by Stellar Productions. They will be available on torahanytime.com as well as agudahconvention.org. 9 ERUV – SHABBOS ELEVATOR We have arranged an eruv within the hotel building. In addition, signage will be posted before Shabbos at the various exits regarding the status of the eruv covering the surrounding hotel grounds. Please note: The hotel will have an elevator set to Shabbos mode. If you feel you may have a need to avail yourself of a Shabbos elevator, please consult a Rov regarding such use. ACCESSING ROOMS ON SHABBOS All guests who are staying at the convention over Shabbos will be receiving manual keys upon check-in and will not have to utilize the electronic door locks at any time during the convention. (Please keep in mind that there are only 2 keys per room, and if either one is lost or not returned, $100.00 will be added to your hotel bill.) KEY DROPOFF If you have received manual keys to your rooms, you must return them upon checking out. The hotel will assess a $100 charge for any manual key not returned upon check-out, as it will be necessary to install a new lock on your door. NO SMOKING: Please note that the hotel is a non-smoking facility, and the use of ANY type of smoking devices – including vapor cigarettes – is strictly prohibited. IMPORTANT: Should the fire alarm be activated at any time during the convention, please follow all announced instructions, including vacating the hotel as required by Connecticut State Law. 10 LICHT BENTSCHEN Licht Bentschen is no later than 4:11 in the designated areas in the Hotel Lobby. It is ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED to light candles in guest rooms or anywhere in the hotel other than the designated areas. Please observe these rules for your safety. Please allow ample time before Licht Bentschen as the elevators and corridors are generally crowded at these times and it takes longer to get around. ADDITIONAL MEALS Since our dining rooms are being used to capacity by guests registered for the entire convention, we are not able to accommodate requests for meals for outside guests. Therefore, we urge you not to invite outside guests for meals. FRIDAY CHECKOUTS For those guests leaving on Friday, you must check out at the front desk, give back your key, and vacate your room no later than 9:30 AM . Your luggage can be stored by the bell staff until you are ready to leave. This is absolutely essential in order for the Housekeeping staff to prepare the rooms for guests arriving for Shabbos. HOUSEKEEPING Please note that Housekeeping staff begins room service at 8:00 AM. If a room has a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door after 9:00 AM, they may NOT be able to return to clean your room before 12:00 PM. Housekeeping is over at 2:00 PM. On Shabbos, the housekeeping staff begins room service after 10:00 AM. 11 CELLULAR PHONES Throughout the convention, we will be privileged to hear words of chizuk and hisorrerus from our Gedolei Torah and leading rabbinic figures. It is a lack of Kovod HaTorah when ringing cell phones, etc. disrupt the proceedings. We respectfully, but firmly request that cell phones, smartphones, tablets, and similar electronic devices be turned off or set to vibrate upon entering the Convention Center and all meeting rooms, and remain so until leaving. TELEVISION Though it is an inappropriate accessory in any Jewish residence, the presence of a working television where Yidden have gathered for the sake of Torah is particularly unbecoming. Although it was not possible to physically remove the television sets from all guest rooms, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and Nesius have requested that our guests NOT turn these sets on during your stay at the hotel. We appreciate your cooperation in assuring a higher degree of sanctity for the duration of our convention. AEROBICS AND SIMCHA HOUR (FOR WOMEN): Aerobics and Simcha Hours have been planned for your enjoyment. The schedule appears on page 41. Please bring appropriate attire if you plan to participate.