Sunday, May 31, 2015

ONE DAY. THREE MILLION. OR NOTHING. Uplifting the world with Chesed.

On Tuesday, June 2nd, #millionsforchesed

Quadruple your donation and be part of a united outpouring of chesed to impact the lives of Jewish families, adults, and children in need in your own backyard and worldwide. 25 Jewish human services organizations will go online, in one day, to raise a total of $3M. Donate to a specific organization or to all. They will have 24 hours to all reach their goals, or NONE will receive their pledges. They're counting on YOU to help meet their goal.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Video: Rav Elya Svei Zt''l on listening to gedolim

Rav Svei was speaking a Agudah event at that time Rav Shach was not well and rav Elya Svei  was
reffering to it
  

Rav Reuven Feinstein Addresses Daf Yomi Siyum in Highland Park

Rav Reuven Feinstein
It was the day after Shavuos, and klal Yisroel was privileged tocelebrate another Siyum in the 13th Daf Yomi cycle. After 111 days of intensive learning, the daf yomi completed Maseches Kesubos.

The Daf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel of America hosted a major Siyum that was broadcast live to over a dozen communities across North America, in addition to Mexico City and Panama City. A similar Siyum has been held for virtually every Masechta since Maseches Kesubos was completed during the last Daf Yomi cycle, seven and a half years ago. The Siyum was held at Congregation Ohav Emeth in Highland Park, New Jersey, where over 150 members of the Edison/Highland Park community gathered in honor of this momentous occasion. HoRav Reuven Feinstein shlit"a, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva of Staten Island, was the special guest speaker.

Short week most frum papers print for this Shabbos Parshas Naso

Despite having a short week since Shavuos was Sunday and Monday most of the weeklies came out with a new issue. The Yated Neeman  printed a double issue for both Shavuos and this week of May 29th.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Shuls and Homes in Houston Jewish Community Severely Damaged by Flooding

Flooding resulting from torrential rains on Monday and Tuesday caused severe flooding in many areas of Texas. The Jewish community in the Meyerland area of Houston was one of those severely affected by the storms. Many homes, as well as the buildings of the Meyerland Minyan and the United Orthodox Synagogue, were affected, bringing back memories of Superstorm Sandy.
Rabbi Joseph Radinsky evacuated by canoe(robert Levy)
Flooding in Houston is not uncommon, and a series of bayous was constructed to control the flooding. However, this rain was so heavy that bayous could not handle it, something that has not happened in decades.

Rabbi Gidon Moscovitz, Rav of the Meyerland Minyan, describes the situation in his neighborhood:

“There were a number of families from our kehillah that took in quite a bit of water during the night on Motzoei Shavuos. One family had four feet of water in their one-story home — their entire home and their possessions were literally destroyed. One family spent the night in their crawl space; another family spent the night on their kitchen counter/island.”

Video: Agudah head discusses topics, tuition burden, achdus

Rav Shlomo Werdiger of Agudath Israel of America discusses various topics and issues facing the klal in America. The Agudah CEO was in Eretz Yisrael over Shavuos were he advocated for pidyon shevuyim on behalf of a yid in America. Watch Video below

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Mechitza Letter in Name of the Lakewood Roshei Yeshiva and Rav Chaim kanievsky is a forgery

Rabbi Aaron Kotler CEO of Beth Medrash Govoha told Israeli website Bechadrei Chareidim that the letter circulating regarding placing a mechitza on buses, is a forgery. The Lakewood Roshei yeshiva never signed on to this. They absolutely have nothing to do with it. What happened is there is a bus route from Lakewood to Monsey and Lakewood to Brooklyn, There are those who want to hang a Mechitza on that bus and they tried forcing the issue to Lakewood as well. Such a mechitza might be acceptable by certain chasidic circles but not in Lakewood. The Roshei yeshiva didn't want to get involved and dont get involved in this. Rabbi Kotler added there is no reason to bother the Roshei yeshiva and issue another letter denying the first one.

What about the chilul shabbos in the MO teen community?

The haters were out in full force meddling in an issue they know nothing about. The blogging rabbis were quick to the draw. A Shabbos march took place in Lakewood to spread awareness of kedushas shabbos in an area where teens have been gathering and publicly desecrating the shabbos. Rabbis, Fink, Horowitz along with Harry the blogger were quick to the trigger, pointing the problem as a direct result of the golden standard of Lakewood's chinuch and that of the yeshiva world at large. Its laughable and even foolish of them to get involved in something that is beyond their keyboards and understanding of a culture they dont practice. First they spun  it as a "protest" when it was nothing of that sort, second, do they think for a second that rabbonim and the organizers dealing with this issue did not factor in all the ramifications. Do they think no one is dealing with these kids? Do they think no ne loves these children? where they privy to the meetings before during and after the shabbos march? How dare they stick their two cents and blame the charedi system for every shortcoming.

But more than that lets take a look at their great alternative the Modern orthodox approach of openness and alternatives one would expect perfection from such a system. Why is it that 7 out of 10 Modern orthodox teens admitted to text on Shabbos R""L. That is more than 60%! They keep what is called "half of shabbos". Who are you blaming now Fink Maryless and Horowitz??????????

What is wrong with this picture?

....יעמוד ברק חוסיין בן
One who gets an Aliya should be standing on the right side the baal korei on the left
President Obama called to the Torah in a reform shul

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Agudah Launches ‘Emergency’ Effort for Tuition Aid Bill

Agudah meeting on Tuition aid bill
 Hamodia  - Kicking off a frenetic three-week campaign to get a potentially historic tuition aid bill passed, Agudath Israel of America on Tuesday urged four dozen activists and yeshivah representatives to get the power of their 100,000-strong parent body behind it.

At what Agudah officials described as an “emergency meeting” at their Manhattan headquarters, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, the group’s executive vice president, told the assembled that the “exciting” new bill, the Parental Choice in Education Act, would represent a “tremendous breakthrough for our yeshivah community.”

Daf Yomi live broadcast siyum of Maseches kesubos

The Daf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel of America is delighted to offer a complimentary live worldwide broadcast of Siyum Maseches Kesubos.  The program hosted by the Lomdei HaDaf of Highland Park - Edison, NJ, will be broadcast live from Congregation Ohav Emeth in Highland Park - Edison on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 / Isru Chag HaShavuos, 8 Sivan, 5775 at 8:00 PM ET.

This event will be addressed by:
HaRav Reuven Feinstein Shlita
Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Tifereth Yerushalayim, Staten Island


Friday, May 22, 2015

Segulah to ask for a Refuah during leining first day of Shavuos

In the name of Rav Elyashiv zatzal it is said that on Shavuos there is a segulah to daven for a Refuah. Just like during matan Torah Hashem healed all the sick, so too on every Yom Tov of Shavuos there is a  hashpaah from har sinai. When asked when is the best time to daven for a Refuah, Rav Elyashiv replied one should do so during the krias haTorah of the Aseres hadibros which is read on the first day of Yom Tov.

Hilchos uminhagei Shavuos- Yizkor on Monday 25th of May

906. On Shavuos at night the minhag is to wait until it is night (Tzeis Hakochavim) to daven Maariv in order to have 49 complete days. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 494:1
 
907. Likewise, it is preferable for women to wait until it is night to light candles and say Shehechiyanu on Shavuos night. Luach R' Yechiel Michel Tukatchinsky, Piskei Tshuvos 494:2
 
908. There is a minhag (brought in The Zohar) to stay up the night of Shavuos and learn Torah. This is based on the Midrash which says that Klal Yisroel overslept the night before Matan Torah and Hashem had to awaken them to receive the Torah. Therefore we stay up all night to rectify their oversight. Shulchan Aruch with Mishnah Brurah 494:1

Thursday, May 21, 2015

CHOLOV YISROEL: UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES

by Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer, RC Dairy
 “There is no purpose in drinking cholov yisroel today, as the government inspects the dairies and makes sure that all the milk is kosher.” “Isn’t all milk with a hechsher considered cholov yisroel?” The topic of cholov yisroel is fraught with confusion and misunderstanding. Let’s try to clarify and demystify things. The halacha Chazal decreed that milk is only permitted when the actual milking was supervised by an on-site Yisroel, serving as the mashgiach. (Avodah Zarah 35b, Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 115:1) This gezeirah is due to the concern that milk from non-kosher animal species may be mixed into the otherwise kosher milk. In modern times,

More on the Red heifer near Lakewood, NJ

Rosh Yeshiva of MTJ Hagaon Harav Dovid Feinstein inspects the Para Aduma (red heifer) in lakewood

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

A great Way To Help Support Our Struggling Mosdos- Target giving away $6 million

Target is giving $6 million to schools as long as you thank a teacher. For every thank you they will donate $25  to the teacher’s school with the opportunity for each school to receive up to $25,000. But here’s the best part: Target won’t stop until it’s given away a grand total of $5 million.   Click HERE

OU KOSHER Presents FAQ’S on Cheese in honor of Shavuos…

How is cheese made kosher? from  OU KOSHER.org
As with any food, all of the ingredients in the cheese as well as the equipment used during the manufacturing process must be kosher. However, a special prohibition makes kosher certification of cheese a bit more challenging: the ban on gevinat Akum (“non-Jewish cheese”), which means that cheese made by non-Jewish companies and/or individuals is not kosher.
What is the source for gevinat Akum?
The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 29b, 35a-35b) states that the sages of the Mishnaic period forbade eating cheese manufactured by non-Jews. Although the Talmud offers various reasons

American Gedolim gather for the preservation of Har Hazeisim

Brooklyn, NY – An overflow crowd of more than 600 people heard pleas from members of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah and other notables to secure the violence-plagued Har Hazeisim at a special Asifa on Sunday at the  Agudah of Avenue L convened by the Internal Committee for the Preservation of Har Hazeisim (ICPHH). Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel of America, opened the Asifa by saying that “while many of us were skeptical five years ago when the effort first started that any changes could be made on the troubled Har Hazeisim, the Committee proved that

Monday, May 18, 2015

3 years since the internet Asifa at Citifield new challenges arise TV is back!

Today was the third year anniversary of the famed Internet Asifa at Citifield the mass Asifa "kinus klal yisrael" by Ichud hakehilos. Rabbanim are continuing with follow up asifos to the constant battle of the dangers of technology. The battle today is not the same battle as it was 3 years ago. Awareness was made regarding filtering devices and securing it from children. The asifa took place in 2012 now its 2015. WhatsApp was not around back then today it is used by many in the frum circles. Social media has now taken over the internet. The content of videos and jokes passed around daily has dulled our sensitivities and lowered the tznius bar. Frum websites showing pictures of newly engaged chasanim and kallas has become a norm. The Frum news websites now post secular news stories that would have been censored a few years back. The lines between frum and secular have been blurred or breached. Shmiras einayim is somehow only associated with shmutz websites anything else seems to have gotten a pass. The battle over TV was won years ago, now the TV has returned but in a more sophisticated and sneaky way.

The Jewish Origins of Kentucky Bourbon

There’s a fine art to creating a liquor brand. It involves convincing people to buy booze with stories crafted around popular notions of heritage and legacy. Today’s drinkers are familiar with the classic formulas: Rum is named for pirates or tropical islands (think Mount Gay or Captain Morgan); scotch brands enshrine beautiful but unpronounceable places in Scotland (Laphroaig, Bruichladdich, Auchentoshan); and gin brands conjure pictures of the British empire sending adventurous young men to India clad in jodhpurs and pith helmets (Bombay Sapphire, Old Raj). American whiskey brands often celebrate individuals who represent idealized values—independence, pragmatism, guts—of the American frontier. It’s a patriotic formula that markets well, even though many of the stories behind the brands are false. For instance, Elijah Craig is sometimes credited with inventing bourbon and Evan Williams is often called Kentucky’s “first” distiller, even though historians have long dismissed the claims.

Gov. Cuomo visits Brooklyn Yeshiva Promises All-Out Campaign On ‘Watershed’ Effort

Hamodia BROOKLYN - Punctuated by boisterous cheering and waving placards, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday repeated his assertion at a Flatbush yeshivah that helping parents with the tuition burden is a matter of “justice,” even urging Jewish students and yeshivah heads to tell their legislator
they should pass a bill he proposed or risk getting fired.

Coming to the Orthodox stronghold in Brooklyn for only the second time since taking office a half-decade ago, the Democratic governor launched a concerted campaign to get his bill passed by the end of the legislative session on June 17.

“[The] largest investment in public schools in history has been this year, over $20 billion,” said Cuomo,

Friday, May 15, 2015

Watch live Oorah-thon this Motzei Shabbos 2015

Oorah auction 2015 list of winners HERE
oorahthon on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Donate Here to the Oorah auction.
Listen in on the hotline 718-557-0555

Matzav.com gets a facelift

Matzav.com one of the Frum websites that deliver news has changed its look and upgraded to a more modern look. There was no mention of the switch over on the website.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Inspiring story about Oorah and Justin Zemser

Justin Zemser one of the victims of the Amtrak train crash had a chavrusah arranged through Oorah.

Justin Zemser Z'L
It was not even one year ago that Rabbi Beer sent out this email to the Oorah kiruv team. No one could have imagined what was in store for Justin, who tragically lost his life in the Amtrak derailing on Tuesday. What a zchus that in the final year of his young life, he finally found his way to learning.  May his memory be for a blessing.

From: Mordechai Beer
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2014 7:11 PM
Subject: You never know

I wanted to share a really exciting moment I had today.

One of my Torah mates has been learning since 2007. He’s been learning steadily, but I really wanted to get the rest of his family involved as well. For the past three years or so, I’ve been struggling with this, trying to get the rest of the family on board.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky, no need to refute rumors spread in his name

Recently there are rumors circulating about comments made by Rav Chaim kanievsky relating to mashiach. Some claim in his name he warned of an impending war breaking out right after shavuos others point to exact dates and times to when the mashiach will arrive and so on. None of these rumors have any verifiable  or accurate sources but people love spreading them in Rav Chaims name. His Talmid Rav Yitzchok Golstoff  wrote recently in his weekly shabbos paper that when Rav Chaim was asked why he dosent refute or deny untruths that are said in his name he responded with a quote from the Chazon Ish. The Chazon Ish was faced with the same problem of quotes and rulings said in his name that had no basis. If I deny specific ones said the Chazon Ish it would be assumed that everything else is true. Therefore whoever wants to really know the truth will figure out a way to verify it.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Shidduchim, Shadchanim & Sushi, singles event today 5/13/15

Kosher Chef Productions Event Planning presents:
A special Shidduch & Shadchan massive indoor buffet Event in Queens, NY.
Who: All Yeshivish Orthodox and Modern Orthodox Singles ages 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and up!
Seperate groups for different age groups!
Meet great Shadchanim and great singles.  Come dressed well to get great dates!l
 We expect a high ratio of experienced Shadchanim!
 People get dates from these events!

Congressman Ted Lieu visits the Biyala Rebbe

 Congressman Ted W. Lieu representing California's 33rd congressional district met with the Biyala Rebbe of Bnei Brak who is currently visiting the US. The Congressman spoke with the rebbe for over an hour  about the ties between Orthodox Jews and the democrat party and the  current relationship of the Obama Administration and the State of Israel. Although he is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, he vowed to fight and oppose any deal with Iran, and called on more sanctions.  Any deal with Iran would only weaken the USA and strengthen its enemies. Ted Liew is known as friend of the Jews and Israel he said he will defend the Jewish nation from those seeking to harm them. The Rebbe gave him a Bracha and wished him well.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Agudath Israel welcomes Gov. Cuomo's "parental choice in education"

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s introduction today of a brand new “Parental Choice in Education” initiative was enthusiastically welcomed by Agudath Israel of America as “a watershed moment, a true turning point in the longstanding effort to provide meaningful tuition relief for needy parents who send their children to yeshivos and other nonpublic schools.”

Video- Speeches at Agudah Dinner 2015 Novominsker Rebbe, Senator Schumar, Rabbi Zwiebel and more

Videos of speeches at the 93rd Dinner of Agudath Israel of America. Novominsker Rebbe, Senator Charles Schumer, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom

Is there no Torah leadership in the US?

In an  article in this past issue of Ami Magazine the author makes a point of how Torah leadership today has for the most part moved to Eretz yisrael.
Years ago new York had such diverse incomparable gedolim. Today Torah leadership has for the most part moved to EY....For the first time since galus bavel the leadership of Torah is back in Eretz Yisrael. In the past when you had a shaeilah it used to go to Bavel, to Europe, to America. Now the closer we are to yemos hamashiach hashem has brought those levels of Torah back to EY. 
This statement undermines the Gedolei Torah we have here in the US and Europe or elsewhere. B'H In America we have ziknei Roshei yeshiva Admorim, Manhigim and Rabbonim who guide us and lead us. Is the Moetzes of Agudah not enough of a Torah leadership for the Yeshiva and Torah world in the US? Does satmar or other chasidus not have a leadership in America? Not taking anything away from the gedolei Eretz Yisrael. We b'h have a leaadership in America too. Not every sheilah is forwarded to Bnei brak or Yerushalayim.

Recap of Agudath Israel Dinner a direct plea to President Obama, a message to Hillary

"Our tefillos, of course, are directed to Avinu shebashamayim, but I also feel compelled to address the leader of this great country."

A deafening silence overtook the cavernous grand ballroom of the Hilton New York, as Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe shlit"a, Rosh Agudas Yisroel of America, spoke these words during the organization's 93rd annual dinner on Sunday evening.

The subject that prompted the Rebbe to address his words directly to President Obama was the impending "deal" with Iran regarding the rogue nation's nuclear development.  The Rebbe expressed deep concern about the threat an invigorated Iran poses toward Israel.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Government Definition of Milk Raises New Questions for Kashrus Officials

Kosher today – An increasing number of Jews consume only Cholov Yisrael (milking supervised by a rabbi) products, contributing to sales that may be as high as $250 million in the US. But many observant Jews consume dairy products that are kosher but may not have been supervised during the milking process. They rely on a ruling by the late venerable sage Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the legendary scholar of Jewish law, that permitted the non-supervised milk because of governmental inspection of dairies that verifies that milk from non-kosher animals is not present.

Scott Walker visits the Kosel on first day of Israel trip

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is in Israel for the first time, where he hopes to boost his foreign policy credentials in advance of formally launching his presidential campaign. The Governor went to at the Kosel, laid a wreath at Yad Vashem, and then flew up north to the Golan heights where he was briefed on the challenges with Syria and other strategic areas.
Scott Walker in Israel Photo credit: Matt Brooks RJC



Senator Cory Booker no show at Agudah Dinner

Senator Cory Booker who was the featured guest speaker at the 2015 Agudah Dinner had to cancel at the last moment. The Senator had to fly off to be with his grandma who was not feeling well as her health took on a serious turn. Instead they showed a short pre recorded video speech by the senator.

Article: Mixed dancing is taboo at Wedding of Rabbi N.D Herman- Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1929

An Article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle dated June 29, 1929 writes about the Marriage of Rabbi Nochum Dovid Herman son of Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman who the book All for the boss was written about. The article points out a "strange thing"  there was no mixed dancing while the jazz music was played.  Men and Maids dine apart at the wedding. Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz who was in the US was mesader kiddushin at the wedding.

 Premier Palace, 505 Suiter ave. when Norman Davis Herman, a 20-year-old rabbi of Manhattan, married 18-year-old Harriet Horowitz of Brooklyn. Grand rabbi Baruch Behr Leibo-witz of the Kamenetz Yeshivah in Poland offlciated at the ceremony, while 20 other Jewish ministers, some "( them visiting America from Poland and Lithuania, attended. mixed Dancing Barred. Perhaps one of the straigest
features of the wedding was that while there music, and jazz music, too, young men and women were not permitted to dance together. Members of the same sex were allowed to trip the light fantastic, but

Friday, May 8, 2015

93rd anniversary dinner of Agudath Israel of America, this Sunday, May 10th- eyes of the world are upon us"

Dear Friends:
We are only a few days away from the 93rd anniversary dinner of Agudath Israel of America, which will take place beH this coming Sunday, May 10, 2015 in the New York Hilton. If you havent already done so, please reserve your place at this important once-a-year gathering.
By participating in the dinner, you will not only be showing your support for Agudath Israel and your appreciation of our worthy honorees, you will also be showing the outside world the strength of our growing Torah society.
Make no mistake: the eyes of the world are upon us. Just last year, when the Novominsker Rebbe spoke at Agudath Israels 92nd anniversary dinner, his speech was covered by The New York Times and numerous other media outlets. Mayor de Blasios speech was attended by numerous government officials.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

VIDEO: Historic video of Lag B'omer in Miron 75 years ago

Interesting  historic video of   Lag Baomer in Miron in 1940 (no sound) with the previous Boyaner Rebbe lighting the Madurah in Har Miron. The Rizhiner  rebbe had a chazaka going back 180 years to light the madurah at the kever of Rav Shimom bar Yochai. The right to light was passed on to the Boyaner rebbes. Video is courtesy of Israel state archives. view Video below

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Watch Miron Live stream 2015 - Live broadcast from Lag Baomer in Miron

MIRON LIVE FEED 2016 HERE Lag B'aomer 5776
Miron Live feed HERE   live hookup meron  in HD HERE 
Broadcasts will begin 8:00 pm Israeli time HERE 
courtesy of   Hidabroot   HERE and 
 Bhol HERE see the hadlaka on the kever of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. Lag B'omer Israel

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Do we have to censor the frum papers too?

The frum newspapers copy and paste articles from the secular media. Much of the content comes from other national media outlets. This past week a frum paper reporting on the Nepal earthquake posted a graphic with the following caption 
Nepal is prone to earthquakes because it is at the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Himalayas were created when the plates collided millions of years ago, and the still-moving Indian plate pushes the mountains a few millimeters higher every year.
   Mistakes happen, however it is happening way to often with the frum publications that things have been slipping through. A few months ago a free weekly in a large frum community printed a picture that was not tznius to say the least. It unfortunately slipped through people were outraged for having their children and themselves exposed to it.The editor refused to apologize they ignore it and move on. We would like to trust the editors that all is kosher when we bring papers into our homes, we dont want to start censoring the kosher ones too.

Monday, May 4, 2015

My hashgacha is better than yours, another low of sinas chinom in the yemei hasefira

Another ridiculous perhaps highly inappropriate article was posted on cross currents and on Matzav. The author, without any proof, targets chasidishe and other hashgachos as not being up to par, or on the same level in kashrus standards, as the OU.  Here is a quote:
Unfortunately, while no kashrus agency has a perfect record, the stories I’ve heard about some of the smaller operators leave me even more committed to the OU. These include the selection of personnel by some of the other agencies on the basis of beard length and nusach davened, rather than competence. Or, when faced with the really intractable problems, having to go elsewhere for advice and for important ingredients – usually to the OU!
The author attacks a chasiddishe youngerman who all he wanted was a hechsher he felt more comfortable with on a jar of baby food for his baby. He ends off his article by poking fun at this youngerman, that his Ill fated strange request must have been because he was having a bad day, must have been something he ate. 

How many recalls have their been on products that bear an unauthorized OU. How many kulos are they somech on that others dont rely on. There is no One hashgocha that is the gold standard at least in the US. To attack entire segments of klal yisrael on inuendo and ignorance specially during the yemei hasefira is far worse than eating from a heimisher hechsher according to the author. The comments add insult to injury with lies, sinas chinom lashon hora and rechilus.
Perhaps the question should be asked what did the author have for breakfast?



Sunday, May 3, 2015

Agudath Israel Welcomes release of half-day PRE-K RFP

The New York City Department of Education has released a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for half-day pre-kindergarten programs for the coming school year.  This long-awaited development was hailed by Agudath Israel of America as "welcome news for many Orthodox Jewish children, parents and schools."  This will give families and providers who wish to participate in the city's heralded "UPK" program an option other than the full-day, 6 hour and 20 minutes program, which many in the religious school community and others found unacceptable.

Frum papers challenged on printing picture of Hillary Clinton

The frum newspapers have figured a way of publishing a picture of Hillary Clinton. While the policy is not to show any picture of ladies, its a bit challenging now, as Hillary is currently in the presidential race for the Democratic nomination. Instead of a real life picture, they printed cartoons of the former first lady. A few years ago a Frum publication apologized after it photo shopped a picture and deleted Hillary Clinton from it. The  current frum weekly newspapers and magazines printed various caricatures of Mrs. Clinton which appears will be the way she is covered in the frum media.
The question remains if the policy will change in the event she is elected. It could mean we will not see a picture of the president for the next 8 years!! oy gevald!

Hate graffiti at Mir Yeshiva Flatbush

JPupdates  The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating anti-Semitic graffiti discovered at the Mir Yeshiva in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn as a hate crime, Police said.
The hate graffiti was discovered by a security guard at around 1:15pm on Saturday, Police said. The statements included “Hitler is alive and well”, “Hiel Hitler” and “Jews are all …s”, all written on paper notes at the entrance of the building.

A police report was filed Saturday night after sunset. The Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident.

Friday, May 1, 2015

A community alert to the frum residents of the five towns

If he was told to publicize why not name the individual, also why not mention the names of the five gedolim who ruled that this information be disseminated to the public on the internet? how many people will be wrongly accused if they dont know who the 'right' person is  because this alert does not say who the person is. Hoffman should be up front if its that big of an issue.

Community Alert
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman on http://5tjt.com/community-alert/
The following is a grave warning to young women and their parents:
There is an individual loose in our community who presents himself as an activist fighting against the dangers of internet porn addiction. He gives public lectures and speeches in various venues presenting himself as an expert in the field. He has spoken in shuls, Yeshivos, and Bais Yaakovs. He warns young men and young women to stay clear of potential sites and predators. This speaker is eloquent, articulate, and reassuring. He cites facts and figures authoritatively. Yet he has a pattern of eventually getting involved in biblically forbidden ways with young ladies that reach out to him. These young ladies may be single or even married.

Baltimore Shomrim Arranges For Private Security Officers To Patrol During Shabbos

Baltimore, MD - May 1, 2015 - In order to enhance the security of our community the Baltimore Shomrim Safety Patrol (BSSP) has arranged for private security officers to patrol the neighborhood from the beginning of Shabbos throughout the night. The BSSP is grateful to Project Ezra/The Chesed Fund for sponsoring this initiative and for their concern for the community's safety. In the event of an emergency, please call 911, and the Shomrim hotline at 410-358-9999 immediately.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake , the Baltimore City Police and the Baltimore County Police Departments for their tireless efforts during this challenging and unprecedented State of Emergency.