Over 75 Rabbanim and Rebbetzins from across the Midwest gathered at the 14th Annual Midwest Rabbanim Conference on July 30th and 31st, hosted by the Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbanim, under the auspices of Agudath Israel of Illinois. In what has become a highlight on the annual calendar for many veteran Rabbanim, the consensus was that this may have been the best conference to date. Guest speakers included Harav Tzvi Berkowitz, R”M Yeshiva Ner Yisroel, Baltimore, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, Executive VP, Agudath Israel of America, and Rabbi Reuven Epstein, noted marriage and dating expert from Lakewood, NJ.

The program this year included special sessions for the record number of Rebbetzins in attendance. Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, daughter of the Novominsker Rebbe zt”l and prominent author and speaker from Lawrence, NY, spoke to them about their role and impact on their communities.

Rabbi Zweibel led a frank discussion about the “behind the scenes” relationship between the Moetzes and the Agudah organization, which in turn led to a conversation about how the Midwest communities seek guidance and insight from the Moetzes. Rav Berkowitz held a Q and A session sharing Daas Torah on a variety of topics. Rabbi Epstein conducted a two-part series on how Rabbanim can help the marriages in their kehillos. Rabbi Gershon Schaffel, Rav of Young Israel of Skokie and Posek of the Midwest Bais Horaah, gave a very insightful presentation on understanding the challenges of children at risk, giving the Rabbanim a whole new understanding and sensitivity to the topic.

This year’s conference welcomed many new, young Rabbanim who have recently entered the field of Rabbanus. Their enthusiastic participation was very encouraging for the future of Midwest Jewish communities. Attendees young and old commented on the timeliness and relevance of the topics, with many saying that the sessions were very impactful. The conference was held at the Westin Lombard Illinois, just outside Chicago, and all arrangements were handled by the Agudah Illinois staff under the direction of Rabbi Yaakov Robinson, Menahel of the Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbanim, and Ms. Kate Kramer, Event Coordinator for AIOI.

Fifty five rabbonim and 15 rebbetzins from across the United States met in Chicago last week for the 11th annual Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbonim Conference.

After missing last year’s conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result of the extraordinary challenges brought about by the pandemic and recent tragic events, this year’s conference was as timely as ever. As in every year, the conference was a great opportunity for rabbonim to share their experiences from this past year as well as learn from other rabbonim and experts as to how they can better serve their Kehillos.

Rabbi Sholom Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, spoke about shalom bayis and the struggles of individuals and their families.

Rabbi Ahron Hoch, one of the founders of Aish HaTorah Toronto and Rabbi Emeritus of the Village Shul in Toronto, shared his experience and expertise in leadership and organization of running a shul.

Coming from Surfside, the sight of the tragic building collapse, Dr. Norman Blumenthal, a renowned trauma specialist who practices as a licensed psychologist in Cedarhurst, focused his presentations on the special challenges rabbonim have when dealing with stress and tragic events.

Other speakers that addressed the rabbonim included Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel, who spoke on antagonism from former yeshiva students and gave strategies on how to deal with that challenge, as well as Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, Dayan of Agudath Israel of Illinois who delivered divrei chizuk.

In addition, the Rebbetzins’ conference was addressed by Mrs. Tzivi Hoch, noted kallah teacher, who spoke about guiding kallahs today. Mrs. Bella Kaufman, assistant principal, Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov Middle School, and Rebbetzin, Bais Knesses D’Chicago, held a presentation and discussion on how shuls and schools can work together to help families. Mrs. Rachel Zimmerman, licensed clinical professional counselor and Rebbetzin of Bais Chaim Dovid, spoke on understanding and helping women deal with the pull of social media.

“After a year of hardship which pushed rabbonim to their limits, but also brought out their unique kochos and intensified connection to their kehillos, the conference was an opportunity for rabbonim to share their experience and learn from each other,” said Rabbi Yaakov Robinson, Executive Director of the Midwest Vaad Harabbonim.

This year, we have the rare occurrence of Asarah B’Teves falling out on a Friday. Due to its rarity and the fact that Asarah B’Teves is the only fast that we do observe on a Friday, there are many halachic considerations to take into account. See below for a guide on the Halachos of Asarah B’Teves on Erev Shabbos, compiled and written by Rabbi Yaakov Robinson, executive director of the Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbanim, and reviewed by Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, Dayan, Agudas Yisroel of Illinois. For a more detailed guide on all the Halachos of Asarah B’Teves click here for the Safah Berurah, on the halachos of Chanukah and Asarah B’Teves.

Click here to download the PDF.

The Federal Emergency and Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that houses of worship can create accounts on the agency’s Grants Portal, and that it is hosting a series of “how-to” webinars to instruct local community leaders on how to navigate the portal system. FEMA will also be conducting overview webinars on the application process for COVID -19 assistance.

The portals will allow houses of worship, in the midst of a disaster, to upload critical documents and make them aware of when federal declarations are made in their areas. The agency noted that pre-registration is valuable because in the upheaval of a disaster, when a facility is damaged, it can be difficult to collect the information and documentation needed to pursue a claim and request public assistance.

Agudath Israel of America welcomed the announcement. “We are particularly pleased,” said Rabbi Abba Cohen, the organization’s Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director, “because it is another concrete step in providing houses of worship the full measure of participation in federal disaster relief.”

Agudath Israel had been among a small number of groups that were in the forefront of a years-long successful effort to reverse FEMA’s policy of denying houses of worship disaster aid. Since early 2019, however, the eligibility of houses of worship has been fully enshrined in policy by the Trump Administration and in statute by Congress.

The FEMA Public Assistance Program is the agency’s largest grant program. Under it, supplemental assistance is provided to state and local governments, as well as to eligible private nonprofit organizations – including houses of worship – to reimburse communities responding to and recovering from major disasters. The agency announcement states that “the program provides funding for emergency assistance to save lives and protect property and assists with funding for permanently restoring community infrastructure affected by a federally declared incident.”

“It is a vitally important program for our shuls, schools and other charitable institutions, and every community should engage with FEMA to take full advantage of the portal services and webinar opportunities,” observed Rabbi Cohen. “It could make a real difference in times of disaster, chas v’chalilah.”

To see the FEMA announcement, click here. To see the full schedule of webinars, click here.  To see FEMA’s Public Assistance Guidance on COVID-19, click here.

The Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbonim is pleased to present a sefer that includes the halachos of the month of Sivan and Shavuos. View the sefer below, or click here to download the printable pdf.