American Gedolim call to participate in Atzeres gathering Sunday 7 Adar sheni in Lower Manhattan at 2:00 pm

Official statement:

Atzeres gathering in Manhatan Giyus protest

At the request of Gedolim in Eretz Yisroel, American manhigei hador have asked that Jews join in a large tefilla-gathering to take place on Water Street in lower Manhattan this Sunday, 7 Adar Sheni (March 9) beginning at 2:00 p.m.

The gathering will echo this past Sunday's huge atzeres tefilla in Yerushalyim, which brought out hundreds of thousands of Jews in response to the Israeli government's ongoing attempt at social engineering of the charedi community, including wholesale conscription of bnei yeshiva.

Mass Atzeres planned for New York Jewry, Sunday 7 Adar

Following the massive Atzeres tefillah  in Eretz Yisrael, a mass atzeres is planned for this coming Sunday March 9th, 2014. Organizers are considering holding the protest in downtown Manhattan, but the venue has yet to be finalized. It will be a joint  united effort by the Litvish, Chasidish and sefardi rabbonim coming together to cry out to hashem, against the anti-religious decrees being enacted by Israel’s government. Video recap of million man Atzeres in Israel below, and here. 

In the coffeeroom Dan lkaf zchus dosent seem to exist.

We have posted  here previously on the forums in the frum sites. there are no Rabbonim moderating or approving of these discussions. In a recent  obnoxious and disgusting post here it calls to publicly list addresses of houses in Flatbush that have not shoveled the snow on the sidewalk in front of the house.

It is outrageous that there are homes in Flatbush who STILL have not shoveled, from the very first snow storm. It is a chutzpah beyond belief, and the community needs to start exposing them. Enough is enough! How many people need to slip and break their legs? What is wrong with people? And don't give me any excuses that they may be elderly people, or the worst excuse is that they are away on vacation. ENOUGH! EXPOSE THEM HERE! here are two corner of East 2.......

Have they have no busha?

Senior American Roshei Yeshiva attend Rechnitz- Kornfeld wedding in Los Angeles.

Rechnitz wedding Music CD

  Here 4 pictures  See more wedding pictures HERE.
The Torah and yeshiva world joined in the simcha at the wedding of the daughter of  noted philanthropist and  Tomech Torah, Reb Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz of  Los Angeles. The Choson is Shmuel Yissochar Kornfeld of Montreal.

Rechnitz wedding

The Chasunah took place last night Feb 19th,2014 in LA, in attendance were ziknei Roshei yeshiva and mashgichim, many Roshei yeshiva, from the largest yeshivos in both  America and EY.  Many Roshei Mosdos also came from out of town to participate in the simcha. 

They all came to wish Mazel Tov give hakaros hatov to Reb Shlomo yehuda who in the past few years has been a major supporter of  Torah institutions and yeshivos all over the world. 

American Roshei Yeshiva and Gedolim call for Atzeres tefillah in response to Shaked committee decision on Giyus bnei yeshivos.

Atzeres in Lower Manhattan March 9th  HERE
Following the call of Harav Aaron Leib Shteinman in Eretz Yisrael  for an atzeres tefilla, the Torah world in America will unite as well  in response to the Shaked Committee decision. The committee is moving ahead with criminal sanctions in the new draft law, declaring anyone who fails to comply with the draft law will be classified as a criminal for his determination to continue learning.

Ther Satmar Rebbe who is currently in Eretz yisrael said the its time for all  Charedi factions to unite and declare war on the draft law. We will go out with a milchemes hakodesh said the Rebbe. Plans are to hold events that will coincide with the Million man Atzeres/ hafganah in Eretz yisrael. It will not be in form of a protest but more of a gathering for Tefillah.

Stop attacking Satmar for their own hanhagos

Satmar Rebbe Rav Aaron Teitelbaum

 The Satmar Rebbe reportedly  spoke recently, about an uptick in cases of cancer among women R"L in the Satmar community. His remarks were delivered in Yiddish which was translated to Hebrew and than back to English by various Frum news websites. The Rebbe said over from his father that we must check what was breached in recent years, adding it might be the breach that girls and women started wearing makeup in a way that is contrary to Halacha. “We have found in recent years this breach to wear makeup in a forbidden manner is by those profiting from it, even convincing young girls to start wearing makeup in a fashion that is prohibited by all. Therefore it has been decided that a special vaad has been created to address this.

 Naturally It did not take long for the haters to jump at this latest news. The Bloggers and commentors were all over this one spewing their hate and venom against the Satmar Kehilla. Others wrote articles with halachic based sources criticizing the satmar Rebbe.

What business do they have  meddling in  the Satmar kehillah when they admit the article is alleged and not verified. Secondly,  the previous Satmar Rebbe Rav Yoel  Teitelbaum established  hanhagos for his chassidim to follow. They were adopted and kept by Satmar Chasidim only for their community. They did not impose their lifestyle on others. These are hanhagos that were accepted just for their community.  They are not forcing, that it be accepted or applicable by other communities.

The Rebbe can call on his chassidim and followers to be mechazek in long standing takanos within satmar. No where in the articles did it say that the rebbe's message was for the broader tzibbur. His remarks were targeted for his chasidim.

Everyone else should butt out!

Who will Stop the Shidduch crisis?

Well intentioned , however, using fear and scare tactics does not help or make any single Bnos yisrael in shidduchim feel any better. This was advertised in a local frum paper. To make such statements you would think there would be Rabbonim backing this, but on the ad there is no name or  a Rabbinical board approving. Why would a paper print such an ad in the first place?
Leave it up to the Roshei Yeshiva in the US to make these decisions.

Stopping the shidduch crisis

Watch LIVE Broadcast Entire SHAS learned in One day sponsored by A TIME! Shas-a-Thon

Frum newspapers not always reporting the news any more

This weeks issue of  AMI Magazine touched on the current situation in Eretz Yisrael with the Giyus Bnei hayeshivos. There were many protest last week throughout the country following the arrest of a yeshiva bochur for failing to report to the induction center. The Yated Neeman ignored the entire issue only briefly mentioning it in the Charedi news section. AMI on the other hand not only reported it but had an interview with Harav Shmuel Auerbach shlita as well as a confidant of Rav Aaron leib Shteinman shlita presenting both views on how to best deal with the crisis.

The Internet is the Posek Acharon

Its a sad statement but unfortunately its the reality, "The internet is the posek acharon"  as it appears, the internet is what sets the narrative. It has become the place where the conversations and dialogues take place and  frum organizations and Rabbonim react to it accordingly. The internet is where people come to do get a feeling and a pulse of what the public opinion is on a subject.

Dont get me wrong. The Rabbonim will not pasken a Halacha based on what is written on the web, but unfortunately it has become a barometer to set the agenda and have a feel on where and what the issues are. It forced the Gedolim to play Defense instead of Offense.
Sometimes there is a positive side to it but mostly the stories and issues debated are of negative nature, forcing Rabbonim to then counter and issue a statement on the so called topic.

B"h there was an ending to the Weiss-Dodelsohn Get saga

Agudath Israel voices concern on Pentagon's decision to cancel Kosher rations.

                            Updated: Feb 5th, 2014 pentagon clarification  HERE
Observant Jews in the Armed Forces will likely be facing renewed hardship as a result of the Pentagon's recent decision to cancel the procurement of kosher field rations, commonly known as Meals Ready to Eat (MRE). In April 2013, a solicitation for bids was issued by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for the production of kosher and halal MREs for 5 years but in early January the agency decided to amend the solicitation and eliminate the kosher part of the order.

Book of Ruth ???

UPDATED: Dr. Ruth will not be part of this Program. yasher Koach to the organizers for making the move.

Is this a Purim shpiel ? a Frum weekend will be featuring Dr Ruth and the famed Magid Rabbi Peysach Krohn will be sharing his Mike with a so called menuveles ?

 They are even proud of having her

Frum media will not kosherize the super bowl

 Sports is a important staple of the American culture, professional teams play all sorts of games followed by ardent  loyal fans. As the country  gears up for super Sunday, many in the frum community have been following or getting swept up with  superbowl fever. Especially  this year as the Superbowl is taking place in the NY/NJ area at Metlife stadium, there is even more coverage about the game in the frum media. Denver Broncos quarterback, Peyton Manning will be standing on the field were many celebrated the Siyum hashas. 

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. 

Gedolei Yisrael call for introspection, Chizuk in Torah learning and Shabbos in light of recent tragedies.

Following two horrific tragedies in Yerushalayim were a family died due to a gas explosion, in another 2 little girls died R'L from exposure to a poisonous substance left by an exterminator, The Gedolim said that this is klal yisraels tzara. There is a Midas hadin and we must do Teshuva said Rav Shlomo Amar.
 Rav Shteinman said we dont know cheshbonos of Hashem but must do teshuva on Bittul Torah.
 Others called on all to be mekabel Shabbos 10 minutes earlier as a zechus. L'Refuah Chaim Michael Shlome & Refoel Yitzchak Eizik Ben Michal who were exposed to the poisonous substance.

2014 Yarchei Kallah Agudath yisrael of America in Yerushalayim Photos Video

Rav Nissan Kaplan

Agudah Yarchei kallah Novominsker Rebbe,  Rav Aaron Leib Shteinman

Click HERE  for video

BJL article Photos below of day 2

The oilam was zoche to hear a shiur on the sugya by 

Last Year  Yarchei Kallah

Video: Kabalist Shofar blowing on Tu Bshvat to help singles find shidduchim

Many gathered with the mekubal Rav Dovid Batzri in his Kabalah yeshiva in yerushalayim on Tu B'shvat in a special prayer ceremony beseeching Hashem to help singles find their zivug. Click below
For Candy throwing Video click  HERE

from bhol

Did the Frum media fall into the NY Post trap?

 The frum media, both in print and online all covered the gruesome murder of  Reb Menachem Stark H''yd. To their credit, some newspapers focused on Reb Menachem himself, on his life as a frum yid. Focusing on his chesed and tzedaka, on his life as a son, husband, father, brother and a friend. Other articles spoke of the shock and grief, the pain of his family. Nebach an almanah with Yesomin R"L whose father and husband was taken away in such a brutal fashion. The shock and shared pain felt by the community displays how klal yisrael shares in the pain of yenems tzorah.

However many frum media outlets got caught up in what the NY Post was trying to do and that is divert the story and turn it into something else. Instead of focusing on the tragedy- the discussion changed to calls for introspection on our business practices, antisemitism and other topics. The NY Prust took a murder and turned into a blame the victim story. Setting a narrative as if his business practices have led to this murder. (Most of those bloggers making these accusations have apparently never worked a day in their life or have absolutely no understanding of the real estate industry.)

Many editorials by responding and reacting, have fallen into the trap the NY Post has set. "Dont blame an entire community for the business practices of a few" wrote one editorial. Is that saying, you agree that the individual deserved what was coming to him R'L???? have we lost our senses. This tragedy should not be used to teach lessons in morality. Nothing in the world can justify or explain what transpired, all we can do is weep and feel along the tzaar of this mishpacha. May Hashem grant them koach to pull through during this difficult time.  המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

" Shul Rage "

It happened in middle of davening  the unthinkable happened how dare you?? piercing eyes from across the room all pointing to one man, he committed a terrible sin. Deathly stares that can cut a knife followed by shouts of.. nu.. nu shh and even a raging verbal rebuke. For the rest of davening some people were visibly unnerved. what did he do that he deserved this treatment? nebach this fellow forgot to turn off his cell phone, it rang by mistake. 

Those few seconds the phone rang, felt like eternity for those mispalelim who were incensed at this horrible crime. If only people would daven with the same Kavanah and rage they directed at this poor fellow. Why the rage? a little noise of a few seconds can cause people to just lose it, to shout at this yid. Yes the piercing  sound of a cell phone in middle of shul can be very distracting, does it deserve the reaction it got.

 Not to justify, but maybe "shul rage" is somewhat an extension of Road Rage.

Agudath Israel releases statement -condemns NY post coverage of Murder of orthodox Jew

Agudath Israel Condemns NY Post’s Lack Of “Basic Human Dignity”

The New York Post crossed a line today, even for a paper specializing in the sensational, with its offensive front-page cover and equally offensive coverage of the vicious murder of a  young Hassidic father of eight, Menachem Stark, Hy”d.

The paper demonstrated the poorest taste by choosing to focus on anonymous accusations rather than on the human tragedy of a wife and family’s sudden and terrible loss, and on their, and their community’s, grieving.  Particularly at a time when Jews have been attacked on New York streets and are regularly vilified by hateful people around the world, the tabloid has demonstrated unprecedented callousness and irresponsibility.

Perhaps it is unrealistic to expect very much from a medium like the Post, but one should, we think, be able to expect some basic human decency in the wake of a family’s terrible personal loss.

Agudath Israel of America and its constituents, along with decent people of all religions and ethnicities, extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Stark’s widow and children.

We, further, commend the New York Police Department for its active pursuit of leads to Mr. Stark’s murderers, and pray that they be apprehended and brought to justice swiftly

From New year's eve to the Superbowl, the lines have been blurred

It was last year, were some frum papers and magazines have decided to buck a new trend, not advertise any super Sunday related advertisements by Frum establishments. Super bowl related ads have dominated the frum media lately as the great American culture blends and seeps into our camps. The Big game no matter how big it may be, is not our culture and not an event we as frum yidden mark on our calender.

It is surprising that on New Years day, the frum Online Media and papers are full of articles referencing the new year as if Rosh hashana were today. A Heimish Frum news website posted a live link to the party and countdown