Agudas Yisroel of Florida, under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Matz, convened its 2nd South Florida Rabbonim Conference last week, attended by over 40 rabbonim from Jewish communities across the state.
The theme running through the conference was one of working together for the benefit of the community, in Florida, as well as in the rest of the world. To that end, Rabbi Matz underlined for the rabbonim the resources available to their communities’ courtesy of the Agudah, and the synergies that they could expect working together with the Agudah.
Rabbi Aharon Feldman, Rosh HaYeshiva of Ner Yisrael and Chaver Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, echoed the theme of working together by talking about the importance of rabbonim joining with each other to provide leadership for their cities. (The rabbonim also had the opportunity to speak with the Rosh HaYeshiva privately.)
Rabbonim are not always thought of as being in chinuch; Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Klein, Director of Publications and Communications at Torah Umesorah, expanded on the key role that rabbonim can play in remedying many chinuch challenges, and gave multiple examples of how rabbonim can have a real impact by instilling a sense hislahavus and purpose in the children of their community.
Moving to how the Florida community and its rabbonim could impact the greater Jewish world, Rabbi Yaakov Berenfeld, director of Adopt-a-Kolel explained the impact on both institutions when a shul in America partners with a Kollel in Eretz Yisroel. And, R’ Shia Markowitz, CEO of Keren Hashviius delivered an impassioned plea for those farmers in Eretz Yisroel who are observing shmitah. He spoke about their heroism and mesiras nefesh, and the difficulties they and their families experience; partnerships with shuls in the United States enable the fulfillment of this mitzvah.
Evening of Chizuk
Never one to waste an opportunity, Rabbi Matz used the occasion of Rabbi Feldman’s visit to orchestrate a special Evening of Chizuk for the North Miami Beach community, at Torah Veemunah, under the leadership of Rabbi Aryeh Bensinger. The packed audience heard Rabbi Feldman speak about the challenges of secular culture, and how we can work together to overcome them.
“It was an honor for me to be able to host the rabbonim of South Florida for this conference,” said Rabbi Moshe Matz. “I look forward to continuing to promote the work of Agudas Yisroel with the rabbonim, on behalf of their communities. Additionally, it was a truly inspiring for me to be able to bring Rabbi Aharon Feldman to speak to my community, and to see them turn out in such large numbers to hear the Rosh Yeshiva speak.”
“I was very encouraged by the number of rabbonim who attended the conference, and want to work with Agudas Yisroel on behalf of their kehillos,” said Rabbi Labish Becker, executive director of Agudas Yisroel of America, who represented the Agudah’s national office at both events. “Many new ideas were thought of to help our communities grow and thrive. I look forward to seeing Agudas Yisroel work together with the rabbonim to bring these ideas to fruition.”
