This year’s annual Agudah Convention begins Thursday, bringing members of Klal Yisroel from around the country together to convene with Torah leaders and community askanim to discuss and address the critical issues facing the klal today and provide guidance as to the appropriate course of action. The theme of this year’s convention is Call to Action. In times like these, when Klal Yisroel is under attack from every which way and galus is tangible wherever we turn, this is no time for mere words – we need to bring the change we so yearn to see. At the Agudah Convention, Gedolei Torah and lay leadership provide direction to the attendees, facilitating discussion of the challenges we face today and what each one of us can do to resolve them.
The sessions have traditionally been a venue for Rabbanim and community leaders to address some of the issues that are foremost in our minds and inspire change in the myriads of Klal Yisroel who attend the convention, both in-person or online.
Thursday night’s keynote speakers will include Rabbi Yosef Frankel, the Vyelepoler Rebbe, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah; Rabbi Gershon Miller, Rosh Hamosad of Yeshiva Beth Yehuda of Detroit; and Rabbi Shmuel Dishon, Mehahel,Yad Yisroel, Karlin Stolin. The session will be chaired by Chaim Rajchenbach, Convention Chairman and introduced by Rabbi Naftali Miller, COO, Agudath Israel of America, and Master of Ceremonies.
The pre-keynote sessions will be ‘Brothers Reawakening: Our Call to Action’ with Shmuli Dembitzer, Mayer Gold, Rabbi Shlomo Landau, Director of Community Mentors, Olami, Eitan Pfeiffer, and Shmuel Sherman; and ‘Special Needs in our Community: A Torah Perspective’ with Rabbi Labish Becker, Executive Director, Agudath Israel of America.
The post-keynote sessions will be ‘#askingforafriend: Eretz Yisroel Edition’ with Rabbi Yosef Elefant, Ram, Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim and Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky, Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshiva of Greater Washington, moderated by Rabbi Yisroel Besser, Editor, Mishpacha Magazine and bestselling author; and for women, ‘A Mother’s Perspective in Special Needs: What We Wish the World Would Know’ with noted lecturer Mrs. Brenda Katina, chaired by Mrs. Chana Laniado, Director, YahalomNJ.
Friday’s concurrent sessions will include ‘Living in Eretz Yisroel and You: Why It Matters’ with Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried, Rosh Kollel, Dallas Kollel (DATA) and Rabbi Yonoson Rosenblum, Noted Author and Lecturer; ‘Hakol Kol Yaakov: Leveraging our Voices to Combat Surging Antisemitism’ with Chaskel Bennet, Member, Board of Trustees, Agudath Israel of America and Avrohom Weinstock, Director, KnowUs, Agudath Israel of America; and later, ‘Torah Magna Umatzla: Increasing our Limud in an Eis Tzoroh’ with Rabbi Shrage Malinowitz, Director, Torasu B’Umnaso and Rabbi Yosef Sonnenshein, Rav, Khal Bnai Shalom; and ‘Kashrus: Maintaining Kedushah in a Starbucks World’ with Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Kashrus Administrator, Chicago Rabbinical Council and Executive Director, AKO (Association of Kashrus Organizations) and Rabbi Ari Senter, Kashrus Administrator, Kof-K Kosher and Rav, Kehilas Yeshorim, Wesley Hills.
Motzei Shabbos keynote speakers will include Rabbi Yitzchok Kolodetsky of Bnei Brak; Rabbi Yosef Elefant; Rabbi Menashe Frankel; Rabbi Elya Brudny, Rosh HaYeshiva, Mirrer Yeshiva, Brooklyn, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah; Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel of America; and Rabbi Binyomin Stern, Rav, Khal Heichal Hatefilah. The session will be chaired by Ari Stern, Convention Chairman.
The Motzei Shabbos pre-keynote sessions will be ‘Dispatches from the Front: Eretz Yisroel at War’ with Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, Executive Vice President Emeritus, Agudath Israel of America and Rabbi Yonoson Rosenblum, and ‘Fortunate in This World: The Blessings of Having a Rav, for Yourself and Your Family’ with Rabbi Yisroel Besser and Rabbi Shrage Malinowitz.
Sunday keynote speakers will include Rabbi Ben Tzion Kokis, Rav, Khal Zichron Mordechai, Monsey; Rabbi Moshe Rotberg, Rav, Khal Zichron Yechezkel, Toms River; and Rabbi Joey Haber, Rav, Kehillas Magen David, Brooklyn; and will be chaired by Rabbi Labish Becker. Sunday’s pre-keynote session will be ‘#askingforafriend: Government Affairs Edition’ with Agudath Israel’s Government Affairs Staff.
To watch the convention online and to see the program, go to agudahconvention.org; to listen by phone, call 718-820-7284.