Following three days of productive meetings and talks, with
thousands of participants led by gedolei Torah, the
80th Annual Convention of Agudath Israel of America came to a
close on Sunday in Stamford, Connecticut.
This year's convention, "Umimenoh Yivoshei'ah: From
Adversity, Strength," focused on the difficult state of
affairs Klal Yisroel is facing around the world, particularly
in Eretz Yisroel. The opening session began with a recital of
Tehillim en masse, after which this year's convention
chairman, Rabbi Shlomo Werdiger, proclaimed the convention's
official opening. Noting that Agudath Israel of America had
reached "gevuros" (80 years), he said the organization
must continue the holy task it was charged with by its
founders with greater might.
HaRav Simcha Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Beis Binyomin Yeshiva
in Stamford, Connecticut, delivered the hour-long opening
address, offering words of chizuk and explaining the
demands of the hour when the fear of Golus Edom and
Yishmoel is palpable. The subsequent plenary session
entitled, "What in the World is Going On? -- Searching for
Meaning in the Maelstrom," featured addresses by HaRav Chaim
Dov Keller, rosh yeshiva of Telshe-Chicago; HaRav Shmuel
Dishon, the director of Karlin-Stolin's Yad Yisroel
Institutions; and HaRav Ze'ev Leff, rov of Moshav
Mattisyahu.
Throughout the convention yarchei kallah-style
shiurim were given, most notably by HaRav Boruch
Mordechai Ezrachi, who made a special trip from Eretz Yisroel
to give several riveting shiurim. On Friday he gave a
shiur on the sugya dekalloh which was chosen as
topics recently studied in the framework of the Daf Yomi
relating to a rodef. After Shacharis on
Shabbos he gave a talk on current events and the obligation
to uphold a pure hashkofoh.
On Friday, convention participants divided into eight groups
for special round-table discussions with active participation
by convention delegates. The central topic dealt with the
increasing threat to the lives of Eretz Yisroel residents.
Speakers included HaRav Eliyohu Meir Klugman, who conveyed
the daas Torah that he had heard firsthand from HaRav
Yosef Sholom Eliashiv regarding the obligation to increase
and strengthen Torah learning during this period.
On Friday hundreds of new participants joined those who had
already arrived on Thursday from all parts of the US, despite
difficult driving conditions due to harsh weather. Just hours
before Shabbos, began media reports of the serious shooting
attack in Eretz Yisroel on Shabbos night renewed deep
feelings of trepidation and pain, while reinforcing feelings
of the responsibility incumbent on all Jews everywhere to
gather their strengths and devote them to Torah and
tefilloh, with the faith that the current situation is
an eis tzoroh leYaakov from which salvation will
issue.
Following Kabolas Shabbos the main talk was given by
the Novominsker Rov, the Rosh of Agudath Israel of America,
who alerted listeners to the obligation to rouse themselves
in light of our tempestuous times and recognize Agudath
Israel's unique task during this period. The session was
chaired by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice-
president of Agudath Israel of America.
After the first seudah, a session on strengthening the
foundations of faith, particularly emunas chachomim,
was held. First the Volopeller Rov spoke, followed by HaRav
Avrohom Chaim Feuer, rov of Kehillos Beis Avrohom in Monsey,
New York, who reminded listeners that HaRav Mordechai
Gifter's yahrtzeit fell on that very day and used the
opportunity to recall instructive stories about his esteemed
father-in-law, zt'l. Rav Moshe Chaim Dendrovitz of
Yeshivas Sfas Emes in Jerusalem spoke of the power of the
individual and of the klal to go from tzoroh to
revochoh by taking a spiritual turn and seeing the
light of salvation from within the darkness of distress.
Later a unique oneg Shabbos was held, during which
convention participants heard divrei chizuk delivered
by HaRav Mattisyohu Salomon, mashgiach of Lakewood
Yeshiva, HaRav Eliezer Eichler, the moroh de'asra of
Kehillos Boyan in New York; and HaRav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, rov
of Kehillos Beis Yisroel in Minneapolis.
Droshos on parshas hashovua were given by HaRav
Zecharya Gelley, rov of Kehillas Adas Yeshurun in Washington
Heights, and HaRav Shlomo Mandel, rosh yeshiva of Brooklyn
Yeshiva. During Sholosh Seudos, divrei chizuk were
delivered by HaRav Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld, the Mattersdorfer
Rov; HaRav Avrohom Chaim Levine, rosh yeshiva of Telshe-
Chicago; HaRav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Lakewood
Yeshiva; HaRav Eliezer Horowitz, rov of Agudath Israel in
Boro Park; HaRav Yosef Harari-Raful, rosh yeshiva of Ateret
Torah Yeshiva; and Rav Shlomo Brownstein, menahel of Mesivta
of Rabbenu Chaim Berlin Yeshiva.
The melave malka, which held special appeal for
participants, was opened by Rabbi Yechezkel Besser, a member
of the nesius of Agudath Israel of America. Rabbi Shmuel
Bloom, executive vice-president of Agudath Israel of America,
captivated the audience with a special message about the
organization's task during this period to return Klal
Yisroel to its original form. Other speakers were HaRav
Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshiva;
HaRav Ephraim Wachsman, rosh yeshiva of Meor Yitzchok Yeshiva
in Monsey; HaRav Uren Reich, rosh yeshiva of Perth Amboy
Yeshiva. This session was chaired by Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin,
Agudath Israel's executive vice president for finance and
administration. The Melave Malka concluded with a midnight
session featuring Rabbi Paysach Krohn, noted lecturer and
author of the Maggid series.
The convention closed on Sunday with a symposium exploring
the alarming rise of antisemitism around the world, featuring
addresses by Reb Yosef Friedenson, editor of Dos Yiddishe
Vort; Professor Moishe Tzvi Reicher, Agudath Israel World
Organization's Director of International Affairs and United
Nations Representative; and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, general
editor of Mesorah Publications.
At a different symposium on the situation in Eretz Yisroel,
Rabbi Yosef Leizerson spoke movingly on the difficulties of
religious Jewry in Eretz Yisroel. Also speaking at that
symposium were HaRav Moshe Tuvia Lieff and Rabbi Yaakov
Salomon.
The final address was given by the Bostoner Rebbe, HaRav Levi
Yitzchok Horowitz, but it was delivered too late for us to
include its contents in this report.
