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18 Sivan 5762 - May 29, 2002 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Conference in Jerusalem to Mark Founding of World Agudas Yisroel 90 Years Ago
by G. Leizer

The World Agudas Yisroel held a celebration in Jerusalem last week to mark the 90th anniversary since its founding in Kattowitz on the 12th of Sivan 5672. Held at Heichalei Hasimchoh (Cheftzadi) in Jerusalem, the festive conference was organized by the World Agudas Yisroel Federation, the Executive Committee and the Agudas Yisroel Center in Eretz Yisroel. Aguda heads, members of its institutions and hundreds of public figures were in attendance.

A similar event was held in New York City at Agudas Yisroel's Rabbi Moshe Sherer National Headquarters Thursday night, May 23. The main speaker was the Rosh Agudas Yisroel of America, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe.

Also speaking were two veteran Agudas Yisroel askonim: Rabbi Chaskel Besser, a member of the Nesius of Agudas Yisroel of America; and Reb Yosef Friedenson, the editor of Dos Yiddishe Vort. Both shared their intimate knowledge of Agudas Yisroel's early history with their listeners, many of whom had never before had the opportunity to hear details of the "days of yore" from the mouths and memories of such authoritative sources. Also a special guest from Eretz Yisroel, an emissary from the Gerer Rebbe: Rabbi Chaim Moshe Danderovitch, rosh yeshiva, Yeshivas Sfas Emes, enthralled the gathering with an eloquent and pointed dvar Torah.

Speakers discussed the flourishing activity of the Agudas Yisroel movement, which was founded by gedolei Yisroel in Kattowitz to tie shlomei emunei Yisroel together under a unified association to find Torah-based solutions for the problems of the day and to wage war against various schemes to undermine Kerem Yisroel. They also provided comprehensive updates on the activities of Aguda representatives in Eretz Yisroel and abroad and mentioned accomplishments and longstanding institutions that left their mark on the pages of Am Yisroel's history, such as the Daf Yomi, the Bais Yaakov movement and the Chinuch Atzmai institutions that saved generations and served as lighthouses for the Torah nation.

Speakers also mentioned major conferences attended by gedolei Torah and Chassidus, where these luminaries addressed problems arising in each and every generation; the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, which sent representatives to act in government institutions; and national and international congresses where different activists sat together, established takonos and founded longstanding institutions for Klal Yisroel. Updates were also given on Aguda representatives serving in UN institutions and other international public organizations.

The main speech was delivered by Rabbi Yehuda Meir Avramovich, who serves as chairman of the World Agudas Yisroel Executive Committee. Rabbi Yosef Cooperberg, chairman of Agudas Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Menachem Porush, chairman of Agudas Yisroel in Jerusalem, and other veteran organization figures took the speakers' podium to offer well wishes and commendation. Speakers recalled the Shoah, in which the majority of Agudas Yisroel members in Europe perished as kedoshim, and the movement's subsequent renewal. Letters filled with brochos were sent from various roshei yeshivos, rabbonim and admorim.

Dozens of other celebrations were held in Europe, the US and elsewhere to mark Agudas Yisroel's 90th anniversary. Participants thanked World Executive Committee Secretaries Rabbi Moshe Gevirtz and Rabbi Chaim Weinstock for organizing the conference and dispersed to the tunes the traditional song: "Veyei'osu kulom, agudoh echos, la'asos retzonecho beleivov sholeim."

 

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