Video: Oorahthon- Who will get the Rosh yeshiva's money

Photos: Gedolei Eretz Yisrael said tefilas Hashela and Tehillim for those spiritually affected by the internet.

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

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.

FJJ: Rav Gabi Sassoon with weekly tribute to one of his 7 children A'H

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,

Video: Justin Zemser A''H Amtrak victim remembered by his Torah mate on the Oorah Auction radiothon

Watch live Oorah-thon this Motzei Shabbos 2015

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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.

At The Levaya of midshipman Justin Zemser A'H

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.

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.

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.

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.