NEW YORK – Most of us realize that we are living in times of uncertainty and turmoil. The world is tense with news of terrorism, skyrocketing food and fuel prices and natural disasters.  As a result, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by it all.

Add to that the stresses we are feeling “on the home fronts” of our personal lives – the pressures of parnassa and properly raising our families; and communal issues galore.
How to deal with it all?

The answer, of course, is to recognize that our rock and our strength is our emunah in the Ribbono Shel Olam.  “We have only our Father in shomayim on Whom to rely.”
 
The upcoming 19th Nationwide Yom Iyun will see our rabbonim address how to strengthen that emunah and solidify our vital connection to Hashem.

What is more, though, they will help guide us to translate our emunah into lives filled with simchas hachaim and the deep recognition that our existence and actions hold great purpose and meaning.  That recognition, in turn, has the potential to positively affect our performance of mitzvos, our Torah study, our relationships with others and how we deal with the trials and tribulations that are part and parcel of life.

Thousands nationwide are expected to be participating in, and benefiting from, the upcoming Yom Iyun, entitled “Achieving Emunah and Simchas HaChaim
In Turbulent Times.”
 
The main Yom Iyun event will take place Sunday evening, September 21st, 8:30PM, at the Agudath Israel of Kew Gardens Hills.  Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, Lakewood Mashgiach, and Rabbi Ephraim E. Shapiro, rav of Congregation Shaaray Tefilla of North Miami Beach, will be the featured speakers.  This asifa will be broadcast live, in conjunction with Torah Conferencing Network, to many locations nationwide. 

The kinus, along with others held this past Monday, September 1st in conjunction with Hakhel in Brooklyn and Lakewood, will also be available upon request as an audio-visual presentation. The Flatbush and Lakewood events drew large crowds and were addressed by Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, rav of Agudath Israel Zichron Chaim Zvi of Madison; Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum, rav Khal Nachlas Yitzchok, Queens; Rabbi Mordechai Finkelman, Mashgiach of Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim in Brooklyn; and, in Lakewood, Rabbi Eliezer Dovid Rapaport, rav Khal Zichron Avrohom Yakov; and Rabbi Dov Brezak, Director Project Kavey of Yerusholayim.  A presentation by Rabbi Paysach Krohn will also be available.

Rabbi Avrohom Nisan Perl, director of Torah Projects for Agudath Israel of America, has issued an invitation to shuls and communities nationwide to avail themselves of participation in the upcoming events by contacting him at 212-797-9000 ext. 267 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Says Rabbi Perl: “The response even at this stage has been remarkable.  There is much excitement about both the topic and the presenters, and we look forward to a strong turnout nationwide – and an intensification in Klal Yisroel of the simchas hachaim that comes from deep emunah in Hashem and His concern for us.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)