Recent political developments in Israel and the upcoming Annapolis meeting of Middle-Eastern leaders and American President George W. Bush will be front and center on the minds of the thousands expected to attend part or all of Agudath Israel of America’s national convention, set to open later this week. In fact, the Motzoei Shabbos Keynote Session at this year’s convention will be dedicated to “The Threat to Divide Yerushalayim: The Torah World’s Response,” it was announced late last week.
Addressing the large crowd expected at the convention, the organization’s 85th, at the Stamford (Connecticut) Westin Hotel, will be Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe and Rosh Agudas Yisroel of America; and Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, Mashgiach Ruchni, Beth Medrash Govoha (Lakewood). Also scheduled to deliver remarks to the gathering is Yerushalayim’s mayor, Uri Lupolianski, who, after conferring with Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, accepted an invitation to address the convention.
A strong protest of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s expressed willingness to consider relinquishing parts of Yerushalayim to Palestinian control is expected to emerge from the Motzoei Shabbos convention session, and may be followed by a formal resolution of censure the following morning at the convention’s close. The Annapolis meeting with Mr. Bush, which will be attended by Mr. Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas – and perhaps others – is scheduled to convene two days later.
The Motzoei Shabbos convention session will also feature remarks by Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel of America, and by Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger, the organization’s chairman of the board. A second special guest from Eretz Yisroel, Mr. Shalom Shoshana, a Shmitta-observant farmer, will also share his thoughts with the crowd. Greetings will be delivered by Agudath Israel Nesius member Rabbi Chaskel Besser and the session chairman will be Jacob (Yaty) Weinreb.
(YWN Desk)
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16 Responses
This is not to be taken negatively, I’m just wondering after all is said and done, at the end of the day, what REAL LIFE CHANGES to benefit the klal, have come from all these expensive, and lavish Agudah conventions?
Has AT LEAST ONE REAL CHANGE (not just ‘talk’) come about from EACH annual convention, or is it a bunch of ‘askonim’ just hashing out what ‘we’ have do…. With no real action happening. Emor meat, veash harbeh….
I have posted this question on this blog before, with no response. 85 years…lots of “talk”… what ACTION (tachlis) came out?
Is their a full schedule of speakers available yet?
At this important gathering, I sincerely hope that ‘Jonathan Pollard’ is on the agenda.
I’m sure olmert is kwaking in his boots over this threatened formal resolution of censure.
does anyone know if there will be a Lakewood hookup for the Thursaday nite session as there was the last 2 yrs?
#1- Awareness precedes action.
I remember one Agudah convention many years ago at which Rav Shimon Schwab, z”tzl, spoke out very strongly against TV. After that convention, several families that I know of trashed their televisions.
(My younger brother, who was about 8 or 9 years old then, still remembers that speech. Why? Because the Rov used a word that was forbidden in my parents’ home: “…night after STUPID night watching TV…”)
just because you precede your offensive comments with a disclamer, doesnt make them ok!
There will be a Lakewood hookup in the high school. There are signs up around town with details.
att “cant take it anymore”. Please dont use blanket statements “85 years…lots of “talk”… what ACTION (tachlis) came out? ” A lot has come out of the agudah. My grandfather was side by side with Mike Tress and I did not know what he did until I read about it in a book. He was in charge of going to Washington DC to obtain visas, send packages to Jewish Soldiers,and work with displaced orphans and people. The Torah community of the world would have been nothing if not for Zeirei Agudah who saved the gedolim of their time. They were even michallel shabbos to raise money to save yiddishe lives.
Even today the Agudah does have people who are totaly lishma and not making a salary they could be making elsewere.
The Agudah still does great things – very focused on the advocacy in Washington DC- Yes they need to focus also on local communities outside of Brooklyn and they are trying. IF you want to see Agudah realy in action- go with them on their mission to DC. You would be amazed at their connections. IF you dont like the convention you must go to the yarchei kallah in Yerushalayim. There is no hype. Just pure uplifiting Torah and meeting with the Gedolim there. I have been there and its like being back in yeshiva.
Yes they need to appeal to todays “Yeshiva/Torah Generation” and need to listen to what they are looking for.
The Agudah is like any other yeshiva or institution that has wealthy people on their boards donating monies for them to survive and pulling hard on the strings .next in line are their children. Yes I know of one “RICH MAN” who sits on one of the boards who should not be there based on what he “truly” holds about bnei torah. Its a problem but that is our generation.
I am like you and I dont like the “rich mans club” yet I am going to the convention this year. there are a lot of people who attend who are beni torah throughout the USA. Many Roshei Yeshivos attend and its a time to spend with the gedolim . Some of the round tables are wonderful and some are not. The whole convention has toned down somewhat from the glitz that was in the past. And they are looking to plant their seeds by drawing younger yeshiva crowds.
The annual Aguda Convention gives our prople from all over the world an opportunity to get together and enjoy a chizuk, while listening to Gedolei Torah and askonim present their approaches to the pressing problems of the day. It is a Kinus Tzaddikim. Can you find flaws in the Convention–probably, if you look hard enough. But why are you looking for flaws?
there are so many great things that have come out of the conventions. amazing new ways that have worked with shidduchim, shuvu….
Thank you Agudah for noticing. At the same time, can you please explain why our brethern from Gush Katif did not merit your intervention?
Mr. Lawman (#1),
Did you ever hear of Shuvu? How many thousands of yiddish children now Torah Observant with their extended families? Much of it was the result of Agudah conventions. This is in addition to a tremendous amount of shtadlonos for everyone’s benefit that is initiated at Agudah Conventions.
BshteiEnayim (#15),
All I wanted to know is if there was a schedule of speakers posted anywhere on-line. I know full well that alot of good comes from these conventions.
Lawman: I’m sure #15s comment was directed at #1-cant take it anymore, not at you.
To #14, Aguda has discussed Gush Katif at past conventions, and to #3, they discussed Jonathan Pollard last year.
The decision to have this be the focus of one of the major session of the convention was made by the Moetzes at a meeting about 2 weeks ago. Those things which are discussed are what Da’as Torah says should be discussed, and generally, those topics which are avoided, are also based on decisions of Da’as Torah.
Anybody offerring a ride to the motzai shabbos session from flatbush?