Does rav Chaim kanievsky want the web to be his spokesperson.

  A friend asked his chavrusa Shloime if he's fasting today. He asks why? He replies that Rav Chaim Kanievsky requested, that those who could, should fast as a zechus and refuah Shleima for his father in law Rav Elyashiv. Shloime inquires where he got this information from. He says all the frum jewish websites are reporting it.
 First, its ironic how rav Chaim shlita, who spoke harshly about the use of unfiltered internet etc. would say to fast and the web would be the source for spreading his request.

Secondly, we don't know who the request was issued for. Nor who it was it told too. I'm not questioning weather he said it, and those who fasted accordingly have a big zechus. However all it takes is for one website to pick up the story and all the other sites report it too. It gets blown out of proportion with no hadracha or any validity. There has to be Kabolas tannis and other dinim,  yet people see it and assume its true purely based on frum websites and other blogs.

In Yeshivas Chaim Berlin supposedly the Bochurim & youngerleit were told not to fast. In lakewood yeshiva there were no signs signed by the Roshei yeshiva asking all Bochurim and  youngerleit to fast. They actually added an extra hour seder on Thursday night. We cant trust the websites and blogs to deliver the word of Reb Chaim. He could of asked only his Mishpacha, but do we know that he told someone to publicize it for the masses? If the Roshei yeshiva and rabbonim in America tell us to listen to Reb Chaim, then of course we should fast, but how can the word of a gadol only have validity due to sensational journalism.

Tickets for twelfth siyum hashas of Daf Yomi 2012 go on sale

For Siyum Hashas updates, Hookups, Transportation, speakers click HERE


The general ticket sales for the public  has begun. Reservation applications were mailed out.
Seats range from $1000 - $18 .The more expensive tickets are on the field level followed by three levels, concourse 1,2 & 3. The women's seats range from $500 - $18 (an additional $8 handling per order )

you can order online HERE its not through Agudah but an independent site run by partners in Torah.

Seating plan for Siyum has been reconfigured

4 ways to order :
E-MAIL : SIYUMHASHAS@AGUDATHISRAEL.ORG  (credit card only $50 minimum order)
FAX 1-646-254-1610         (credit card only $50 minimum order)
PHONE 1877-SIYUM-12   (credit card only $50 minimum order)
  MAIL- Agudas Israel of America 42 Broadway-14th floor New York, NY 10004


The siyum will take place I'yh Wdnesday August 1, 2012. Metlife Stadium at 7 p.m.
keep in mind the event will be in an open air stadium watch a  preview video here of MetLife stadium.


The priority seating process for the Lomdei daf yomi took place last week, giving the members of daf yomi Shiurim a chance, to reserve seats and sit together with their chaburah and family.

Why the Agudah should have a website.

     Lets face it. The Internet is here to stay. Its not just the future, but the present as well. It is the largest source of information and all it takes is a simple google search or a visit to Wikipedia.Yet, in this web of information, nothing is verified or reputable. Anything can be posted anonymously by anyone. The problem is, when  people are searching for information pertaining to the frum Torah community. They will most probably rely on the results of the search engine. The search will usually yield results based on high page ranking sites; most likely sites that bash our community or other sources, that are not in line with Torah hashkafa. They will use the content as representing of our community. 

     An organization like the Agudah with true Torah leaders at its helm can have a website (not just for their own programs and Siyum hashas info) but one that will have true Torah hashkafos reflecting current events. A site that is reputable with real people backing it up. With no anonymity involved, it will come directly from the source without being second guessed or  interpreted by frum  bloggers (including this one ) or other blogs. A search engine cannot create a perception of true torah hashkafa. It must come directly from our gedolim and not be filtered and second guessed. People can go straight to the source without having to get it repackaged by our detractors. We must be well represented online. Its not just a digital image of us but rather  its how we will be perceived by the world at large.

      The Gedolim have thus far not initiated such a site and its up to them to weigh the issue. However, the option of letting self appointed spokesmen or rabbis for the frum orthodox community, along with anonymous frum blogs and websites,  dominate the world wide web causing a greater chillul hashem maybe worse than not having A-gooda website at all.  

Final score- 27 11

Wait, was the score 27 11 or 21 17?  The country watched the big game come to an end, with the final score of 21 17 and a Giant win. The trophy was hoisted and the Giants walked off with a victory.

A thought comes to mind. Another Giant celebration will take place at Metlife stadium, home to the Giants. No, not the football giants, but rather the giants who will finish shas with a final score of   2711, the number of Blatt in the entire talmud bavli .  Klal Yisroel will celebrate with the lomdei daf Yomi  as they finish shas once again. We can still join in the last few mesechtos and be part of the Siyum.

Super Sunday, creates Turnovers for yeshivos and weddings.

  As the country  gears up for super Sunday, many in the frum  community have been following or getting swept up with  superbowl fever. While some are knowledgeable seasoned  fans, others just jump on the bandwagon for the superbowl, not knowing much about the rules of the game. The NFL  has been marketing the big game more than ever, and for 2 full weeks it dominates the airwaves, advertising and other media. This culture has  impacted many in the frum community, by hosting parties and watching the big game, be it for the commercials, the half time show, or the actual game itself.

 The NY Giants playing in this years game has strongly impacted many in the tri state area. Many mosdos and yeshivos have fundraising dinners scheduled for this Sunday February 5th. There are  many weddings and other simchas too. Now, should a mossad or family not schedule a simcha or dinner on super Sunday? Who could plan ahead on the NY giants making it to the Superbowl. Is it fair to let down a baal simcha or to not support a yeshiva for 3 hours of enjoyment that has no eternal gain. A baal simcha was quoted as saying that he will have to put up screens for the game at his daughters wedding, or the guests wont show! Some point out that following sports is a healthy outlet, but does it take precedent over something eternal?

  Win or lose, those learning Daf Yomi and those rejoicing with them, will for sure have home field advantage at Met life stadium for the upcoming Siyum hashas I'yh.

" Catch 22 "

 Two prominent American  roshei yeshiva, Harav Malkiel Kotler Shlit'a and Harav Elya Ber Wachtfogel Shlit'a were recently in Eretz Yisrael. While there, they  discussed several issues with gedolei yisroel. One particular issue was the so called Shidduch crisis and whether to enforce an age limit of 22 on yeshiva bochurim coming back from  learning in EY to Lakewood or other yeshivos. Currently most boys in the litvish circles on average get engaged at the age of  23 as they first go to EY at the age of 19-20. The effect it has on the Shidduch crisis  is the age gap. Since girls are entering shidduchim and getting engaged at the age of 18, add the population growth, and you have many more 18 year old's than 23 year old's.

However, even if the amount of boys and girls are equal in the same age bracket, the 23 year old boys are not all getting engaged to 23 year old girls. They are dating girls from the age of 18 and up resulting in many more single girls on the market. Recently many attempts, incentives and ideas came up on closing the gap. One idea was to have the girls start at 19. Noted speaker, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, has been advocating for boys to go out and date girls their own age or even a few years older than them, which would result in  bridging the gap.

 Having boys return from EY at an earlier age is another option to bridge the gap. It will force bochurim to start shidduchim at a younger age. It has not been implemented yet. Many questions remain as to the specifics. For example: what will happen if a bochur comes back at the age of 23, or will all this ever actually be implemented? Another issue is in regards to Pell grants. Students learning in Israel have recently been able to obtain the grant resulting in using it up much sooner, which would force yeshivos in America who are also using Pell grants to raise the tuition if students enroll with used up Pell grants. This idea  will obviously have an effect on the Israeli and American yeshivos, since the boys will not stay as long in EY or not go at all.

Yated Editorial, sad how some in the frum media reported on beit Shemesh.

  In its weekly editorial the Yated Ne'eman
courageously pointed out the sad fact how other frum media outlets reported on the events in beit Shemesh. We are all being tarred with the same filthy brush, even though the spin misters know its not true, that we've been led to believe by the media and apologists within our own camp.  we cant just condemn and disown the actions of the unruly, unscrupulous few, without casting doubt on the entire frum community. The editor quotes;

"We cannot give impostors and usurpers the power to induce us into believing fictitious bad things about ourselves. We cannot permit them to divide us or turn our backs on our birthright. By letting them set the agenda, we are party to the discrediting campaign. It was disturbing to see voices in our very own Torah media being taken in by the hype, rushing to believe the worst of our own, accepting at face value the conclusions of those driven by political and anti-Torah agendas."

 As mentioned here in a previous post many blogger's, and even the frum print media rushed to condemn the actions of a few, yet failed to point out that its only a few, and are more apologetic than showing the real beauty of charedim. We need more oversight even for the frum charedi publications.

The bad, the bad, and the ugly.

   So you have one website  taking shots at another frum website. One calling the other one as being anti Torah never missing an opportunity to besmirch frum yidden and spew hatred. The irony is that a website with anonymous names and no person or rabbinic authority  giving its approval is a total joke.  In reality,  there is nothing good amongst the frum news sites. Each one has its agenda and will post narishkeiten that the frum print media wont. There is no accountability at all, this may just  be a ratings war, over current and potential advertisers each one trying to woo more hits to their site.

   The website with the holier than though attitude has posted articles about a  frum yid who was involved in a scandal. They had since removed it, but,why was it posted in the first place ? It was pure Lashon hora and rechilus. So what makes one website better than the other? this site also has  a entertainment section with kosher videos. One, of a  Chasidish husband lying to his wife that he's in shul davening, while he is in  a hotel room watching TV. Is there a hashgacha on this too ? Is this the (self declared) online voice of Torah Jewry??

   There is no such thing as good website when it comes to frum news reporting , its only a matter of who is worse. Especialy online where there is no censorship and each anonymous owner (including this blog)  posts articles on their own discretion.
 What is needed is a Website with real people, real names backed up by  Rabbanim who are looked up to by the klal. rabbanim who became rabbanim in their respected positions not those that rise to fame on a website.

Ami magazine celebrates first year anniversary

In this weeks issue Ami magazine celebrates its first anniversary as publishers of a weekly, for the frum  orthodox world. In the editorial they write;

" We certainly recognize that errors are inevitable, and to pray that no mishap come through us is to pray for a miracle- a prayer that Halacha usually deems inappropriate. What we can ask for, though, and do, is that others not seize on our errors as a means to ridicule us in order to silence our message."

 A good thing to ask for , however through the first year, Ami has not shied away from controversies or discussing controversial topics that were not brought up by the current charedi print media. In this weeks issue alone, the cover story was about the city of Beit Shemesh in turmoil. The pictures posted along the article, about charedim clashing with police or a Charedi screaming portraying them as lunatics, is embarrassing. By trying to cover and appease the Ami of klal yisrael, from modern orthodox to Satmar from Litvish to Lubavitch, such a prayer is always needed.

Who asked you ? Who appointed you ?

      Many frum websites and blogs posted articles or op-eds by rabbonim condemning the violence in Beit Shemesh. Some of the rabbis  may be known while others are just anonymous. They may be right and well intentioned. However, a response should come from a higher authority- not by self appointed spokespersons  and opportunists who call themselves rabbis that are popular only online but do not have any real position of leadership.

Our Leaders are not created by websites or made popular by the many hits or like's they get on facebook. Our Gedolim are people who are looked up to by the klal; people who are true Talmidei chachomim and yirei hashem. We need to hear a condemnation from gedolim such as the Agudah response which has Gedolim sitting at its helm.

Agudah statement on recent events in Beit Shemesh

 Agudath Israel of America issued the following statement today:

Reports of recent events in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh are deeply disturbing. Violence of any sort, whether physical or verbal, by self-appointed “guardians” of modesty is reprehensible. Such conduct is beyond the bounds of decent, moral – Jewish! – behavior. We condemn these acts unconditionally.

Those who have taken pains to note that the small group of misguided individuals who have engaged in this conduct are not representative of the larger charedi community are to be commended. It is disturbing, though, that some Israeli politicians and secularists have been less responsible, portraying the actions of a very few as indicative of the feelings of the many. Quite the contrary, the extremist element is odious to, and rejected by, the vast majority of charedi Jews.

Lost in all the animus and ill will, unfortunately, is the concept ostensibly at the core of the controversy: the exalted nature of tzenius, or Jewish modesty. Judaism considers human desires to constitute a sublime and important force, but one whose potential for harm is commensurate with its potential for holiness.

In a society like our own, where the mantra of many is, in effect, “anything goes,” many charedi Jews, men and women alike, see a need to take special steps – in their own lives and without seeking to coerce others – to counterbalance the pervasive atmosphere of licentiousness, so as to avoid the degradation of humanity to which it leads.

It would be tragic were the acts of violence to lead Jews to, G-d forbid, reject the culture of tzenius that has always been the hallmark of the Jewish nation, to regard Jewish modesty as something connected to violence and anger, rather than to refinement and holiness.

Rav Elyashiv, our survival -separation from the secular way of life.

Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv,  in a letter  posted in the Tuesday edition of the  Israeli yated neeman said,  that he was opposed to the recent phenomenon of integrating secular college level studies with Torah education, and to institutions that encourage youths to enlist in the IDF or National Service (Sherut Leumi).

In his letter, Rabbi Elyashiv wrote that “the secret and foundation to the survival of Torah and of those who fear Hashem and live a life of Torah is absolute separation from the world of the secular, who have thrown off the yoke of Torah. As such we must protest and warn against all sorts of trends from the outside that seek to harm the pure oil of the hareidi institutions. These institutions must be under the control of the rabbis and must be guided by them, and must exclude all paths that lead to national service, secular studies, or the army, even if they assure a special framework for hareidi Jews. Such a framework will subject hareidi Jews to the control and culture of secular Jews who have thrown off the yoke of Torah,” he wrote.

 

The purpose of all these programs, Rabbi Elyashiv wrote, was to change the nature of hareidi Jewish life. “Thus they (the secular government) encourage all sorts of programs, academies, colleges, and the like which promise degrees, licenses, etc., intended to introduce goals and aspirations foreign to our way of life. This is in direct contradiction to the instructions of the the great rabbis of previous generations, who battled against all institutions that had these purposes, and removed them from the 'camp of Torah.' This is especially the case now, where the institutions make clear that their purpose is to change our ways of life, and to instill foreign aspirations – nationalistic and academic – that our forefathers never accepted, bringing us to make inappropriate connections with secular people, those of the 'culture of sinners.'”

The only true path for Jews, said Rabbi Elyashiv, was to “do the will of our Father in Heaven” and reject these efforts.

Translation from Arutz Sheva.

 

Bostoner rebbe, Internet addicts to be treated,not expelled.

   During  his recent trip to Eretz Yisroel the Bostoner Rebbe addressed his followers this past Shabbos. He spoke on the current events and the current challenges we face from modern technology. Many rabbonim he said, are speaking out against the non kosher cell phones and the internet. Their approach of throwing those that have it out of shuls and expelling them from the community is wrong.

    He went on to say that internet addicts should be treated just as an alcoholic goes for therapy to rid himself of his addiction, so too internet and phone addicts must be treated from the root cause, which is addiction. It shouldn't be that a person in middle of davening shmoneh esrei will get an alert and hurry up his davening to retrieve the message. However the right approach is to treat them and not to throw them out of the community and the shul.

Lakewood Schools postpone acceptance process for boys high schools.

 The menahalim and heads of mesivtos in Lakewood  have agreed to postpone the process of acceptance into High school. This change was previously done with registration for 4 year old playgroup (though for diffrent reasons ) and now its been done with entrance bechinos to High schools as well. The mesiftos will only begin accepting requests for applications starting on 23rd of teves. Chadorim, their Rebbeim and principals will not discuss or share any information of the 8th grade students befor Rosh chodesh Shvat. The mesivtos will only begin to give bechinos starting on Tu B'shvat.

The reasoning behind this is, until now the acceptance process began right after sukkos with many boys taking bechinos before Chanuka.  What ends up happening explained a mechanech, that the year was only a 2 month learning year since the boys that got accepted right away began to slack off over the course of the winter and were not motivated for the remainder of the year and in turn affected other boys too. By postponing the bechina process it minimizes this attitude. Another benefit is that boys who dont get in right away wont have a long time frame to worry.

Agudah mulls launching website. Told not yet.

A report claiming that leaders of the Agudah in America consulted with roshei yeshiva and admorim with regards to  launching its own website. There is alot of pressure from many younger members of agudah  to launch a  website to counter the constant attacks from anti torah blogs on the charedi community. They also recognize that the younger generations reliance on print media is dwindling and they get most of their information either online or through social media, thus getting harder for Agudah to reach out and spread its message and publicize its various programs and services to the community. They spoke with the  Skverer Rebbe and he said despite the challenges, it is not proper for Agudas Yisrael to establish a web site. "Although it is important that people get to know the activities of Agudas Yisrael,  by establishing its own site people  will say 'if Agudas Yisrael  is allowed why  cant anyone else have one too."


        Time will tell if this is only temporary and they will eventually launch a site. But for now we must commend them for following the advice of Gedolim regardless of the pressures to have a website.  The very fact that they are from one of the only frum organizations not to yet have a website (that should really have had one for a while ) somewhat keeps the battle of the dangers of technology alive.

Applying for school is both exciting and dreadful, but .....

Its that time of year again,when yeshivos open registration for the coming year.  After years of investigating and seeking advice, many young couples are applying for the first time to send their oldest child to yeshiva. While many have their eye on a particular school, reality dictates that you apply to at least 3 schools and hope you get into one of them. In many communities, especially the tri state area where schools are full and few new slots open, it is a bigger challenge getting accepted. During this time, parents go through a rough time, having many sleepless nights and constant worry,  affecting shalom bayis as well. Couples often blame each other on why their child did not get into the school of their choice. Its an ordeal that many parents dread and hope not to go through  at all. It has become such a worry that when a child is born, people often say  "I have BH 4 years to worry about getting him/her in etc.." 


            Unfortunately, we lose site of the simcha and the zechus we have to bring a child to cheder because we anticipate rejection letters, non stop phone calls, and the embarrassment of not having your kid in school. We should rather look forward when he's born to go through the process putting him in yeshiva.

New low for Williamsburg Sikrikim

Just when things cant get any worse after a tragic car accident claimed the life of 62 year old R' Meilich Weiss Z'L  Friday night on his way home from shul in Williamsburg. The Sikrikim proved themselves at the  levaya on sunday morning. Pashkevilin written in Yiddish were thrown along the route by some that are opposed to the Eruv in williamsburg. Since the Niftar was  on the commitee of the vaad  H'eruv of williamsburg. The Pashkevil claimed anyone who desecrates shabbos the Shabbos will avenge those who desecrate her by stoning them to death. It mentioned the Niftar by name, and called on all to stop the Chilul shabbos in williamsburg.

The machlokes over the Eruv untill now was fought in the Batei medrash among rabbanim. Apparently these sikrikim only know of one method.

Son in law of Rav nosson Tzvi promoted to RY at Mir Brachfeld.

Rav Noam Alone. Son in law of Rav nosson Tzvi finkel
 appointed RY at the Mir Brachfeld.

As the Mir  yeshiva in Brachfeld commemorated the Shloshim for rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, His son in Law Harav Noam Alone, was crowned  to serve as  Rosh yeshiva along side the elder rosh yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Finkel. After hespedim were delivered for the Shloshim of the petirah, a siyum hashas was held were the newly appointed RY of the Mir Yerushalayim Rav lazer Yudel Finkel Shlita announced that his brother in law will take the reigns of the yeshiva in Brachfeld. He said that is what my Father would have wanted. Rav Noam untill now gave Shiurim and served as a R''m in the Yeshiva.

A time to rebuke, a time to dance.

There is a time for everything says shlomo hamelech. the recent posts and comparisons of the Kinus hasheluchim and the Agudah convention in various Blogs has been that  the Chabad event was an uplifting joyous experience rejoicing  and upbeat  while the agudah convention was  depressing, full of Rebuke and Mussar with a  non stop cry of gevalt yidden weve lost our ways and we must repent etc. while in truth its not a fair comparison at all  the actual events are  2 diffrent venues. the agudah convention was uplifting too. The Thursday night session was about the dangers of modern technology and rabbanim spoke about responsibility for our actions and the concept of yiras chet.

Yet people seem to not like sitting and hearing some divrei Mussar. we've become a society where everything must be said nicely with a smile and no responsibilty for our actions whatever we do is ok. we've been accustomed to only singing and dancing as a way to serve hashem without ever taking responsibility .During the chet  haegel while they were dancing did Moshe rabbeinu uplift them and talk friendly, No, he was rebuking them for their actions. If a rav gets up and gives a Mussar shmooze people sitting there might not like to hear it but the truth hurts  yes that's what Mussar is. Obviously the  rabbanim feel that these words must be said and are driving home a point and making people aware. we may not like it we feel uncomfortable sitting in our seats listening to it, but it too is just as uplifting. You may ask why does this have to be at the convention ? well how often do people actually get to hear from the rabbanim and roshei yeshiva and get a chance to be uplifted.

A tale of two conventions

With the conclusion of  both the annual  Agudah convention  and the Chabad  lubavitch kinnus hashluchim that took place  over thanksgiving weekend, It seems both are headed in the opposite direction. What used to be the focal point in the frum yeshiva and baal habatish circles the Agudah convention has somewhat become just another event among many taking place throughout the year. It used to be the event of the year covered by all newspapers  an event not to be missed. It was followed by all,  Thousands flocked to the motzei shabbos keynote session in the Catskills , the Rye town Hilton and recently in new jersey. The convention though is still the same in regards to the gedolim in attendence the rabbanim and community leaders and activists. However it has lost its luster as the event of the year.

On the flip side  the kinus hashluchim over the last few years is getting bigger and much more publicity. Credit in large part  to social media and online publicity . It got coverage even among so called litvish yeshiva websites that are more in line with Agudah than Chabad. In fact this weeks AMI magazine ( while still establishing its identity which covers a broad audience from modern orthhodoxy to chasidim) featured a front cover story on the shluchim.
Not to minimize the need for agudah and the work they do on behalf of the Klal. The yeshiva community has grown tremendously and many of the newer generation did not grow up with the agudah as the previous generation did. Where  pirchei, tzeirei  and camp agudah  were an active part of life. The reliance is not what it used to be. The yeshiva world today  has a system of its own too. what used to be at the time The jewish Observer has now been taken over by many weekly newspaper and magazines that are not Agudah affiliated thus people are not reading only about the Agudah news as used to be. Or maybe the Convention is not what it once was.