This year’s Agudah convention takes place against a backdrop of serious communal challenges, many of which will be addressed in meaningful ways at various forums throughout the four-day gathering. The Sunday morning plenary sessions – the last on the convention program – will focus on two especially urgent concerns.

The first of the two sessions, “Sheep and Wolves: The Uneasy Jewish Presence in an Increasingly Hostile World” will  take a hard look at Klal Yisroel’s perilous position  bein ho’amim  through the lens of frightening current events, here and around the world.  Distinguished presenters Mr. Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; and Moishe Zvi Reicher, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Law School and former Agudath Israel World Organization Director of International Affairs, will share their expert views on such issues as the growing threat from Iran’s overt and covert nuclear program  and the implications of the United Nations’ blatant  anti-Israel agenda..

The devastating impact of substance abuse and other kinds of addiction on individuals, families and the Orthodox community as a whole will be explored at the second session, entitled, “We are Not Immune: Facing Up to the Reality of Substance Abuse and Compulsive Behaviors.”  Discussing the prevention and treatment of such maladies will be Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski MD, the founder of Gateway Rehabilitation Center and an internationally renowned expert in treating addictions. 

Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rav, Agudath Israel of Madison will offer an hashkafic and practical overview of this extremely painful topic.  Dr. Yosef Rosenshein, founder of P’Tach, will chair the session.

The convention is being held Thursday through Sunday, November 26-29 at the  East Brunswick Hilton in  East Brunswick New jersey. The Sunday morning sessions, like the Motzoei Shabbos keynote session and all weekday sessions, are open to the public free of charge.

(YWN Desk – NYC)