Welcome to the weekly newsletter of Igud HaRabbonim, the Rabbinical Alliance of America, in which we share news for and about members, including communal news, announcements, publications, Divrei Torah, press releases and media mentions.
In this newsletter:
• Divrei Torah: Purim
• Divrei Torah: Tzav
• Chaplaincy Commission Update
• 5TJT: Rosh Chodesh Adar Beis
• New Publication: Halachic Discussions Purim 5782 vol 2 issue 1
• Upcoming Yahrtzeits 9 Adar 2-23 Adar 2
• Jewish Voice: Rosh Chodesh Adar Beis Conference
Please let us know about your family simchos and l"a aveilus, book publications and career changes or milestones, so we can share as chaveirim our life events. Send updates to rabbi@igud.us.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank MS, BCC Director of Programming, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim 917-446-2126 rablenblank@gmail.com ^^^^^^Wednesday March 16th, 2022, Adar Sheni 13 ,5782^^^^^^ <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<><> PLEASE NOTE: THE RAA NEWSLETTER IS BEING DISTRIBUTED WEDNESDAY INSTEAD OF THURSDAY. WHY? WELL, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE TIME TO READ IT ON PURIM. ———————————————————————————————————- Can we celebrate Purim with joy during difficult times?
Can we celebrate when so many need our financial, emotional, and spiritual, support?
Was it possible to celebrate Purim after Rav Moshe’s funeral?
Happiness, joy, simcha, kindness, goodness.
Negative or Positive – which is the choice? Positive of course!
A BRAND NEW VIDEO COMMEMORATING THE YAHRTZEIT OF RAV MOSHE FEINSTEIN ZTKL GROWTH THROUGH OUR GEDOLIM (Inspirational Videos By Rabbi Yaakov Moskowitz) Brought to you from The Yeshiva World March 15th, 2022
PLUS
“Be Happy” We Asked Random People If They’re Happy – Here’s What They Said” (Filmed in the Holy City of Yerushalayim) Brought to you from Matzav March 14, 2022 AND
“Chaverim Kol Yisrael / Journeys Volume Five” ” Featuring Benny Friedman Brought to you from Matzav March 14, 2022 & The Yeshiva World March 15, 2022 “Jews around the world pray for the arrival of Mashiach and the World Peace to be ushered in under his leadership. The fulfillment of those yearnings will also bring unity and brotherhood to the Jewish People themselves. Chaverim Kol Yisrael! Find this and other up lifting songs on Journeys Volume Five by Abie Rotenberg & Doni Gross Words BY: Abie Rotenberg Music adapted from A Bobover March Composed by Hersh Pinter Zt” l. Arranged by: Doni Gross & Abie Rotenberg Video Created by @flashofdesign
ONLY IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE THREE VIDEOS THEN CLICK HERE
We knew Rav Moshe was weak, his condition had deteriated. Those especially close to the Rosh Hayeshiva could not believe, he would be returned to the Hawolam Hawemes. He was brought to the Yeshiva Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem, for the last time, but not to give a shiur. How will Klal Yisrael mourn, let alone prepare for the joyous holiday of Purim? Who was interested in leaving one’s community when so many Purim preparations were being made to attend a funeral on the Lower East Side? I attended a special meeting the night before the funeral in one of the classrooms at MTJ Yeshiva. In attendance were police officials from the many branches of the NYPD, askonim from the LES community and elsewhere as well as officials from the yeshiva. This was to be no ordinary funeral. Word spread quickly throughout our City, State, Country and in fact the world. The Gadol Hador, the Manhig of Klal Yisrael was nifter. The expectations were that thousands would be attending. Over 100,000 would attend and even larger in Israel. One of the largest attended funerals both here and in Israel would take place. The entire neighborhood was to be blocked off and special sections were to be designated for access to and from the yeshiva for the many leaders of Klal Yisrael at that time who would be escorted to and from the yeshiva. Loudspeakers were placed at street corners. There was a section for all the many Rabbonim and Kohanim outside of the yeshiva unable to be inside. Young and older, from all backgrounds, came to give final respects to such a great person. He was truly considered by many throughout the world as Moreinu Verabienu. How could the Lower East Side community where Rav Moshe lived go about the business of fulfilling all the mitzvos on Purim with such sadness? We all knew what Rav Moshe would have wanted, and that would be not to farshter Purim.
We have today many worthy organizations and individuals who bring simchas hachaim in ways of financial help, bringing food and many other necessities for those in their time of need. There are legitimate organizations who have been collecting funds to assist the needy in the Ukraine and areas were many have escaped to. There is a need to put on a happy face and not farshter the simchas of Purim. Our unity, our achdus, or faith, our hope, our prayers, our mitzvos are tremendously needed. Celebrating Purim with parties, drinking alcoholic beverages and drinks to become intoxicated making Heaven Forbid a Chillel H, even injury or death driving while intoxicated is not what Purim is about. That is not what Esther and Mordechai conveyed in the Megilah.
We are the ambassadors of H with a smile on our faces even in times of challenges and difficulty as it is today. It is not my position to give mussar, but to share from my heart to your heart the desire for achdus, for continued faith and hope as ambassadors of the Ribino shel Olam. To be kind, considerate, sensitive, understanding, compassionate and with sincerity. On March 9th, of last week, the Chesed Committee of NAJC had a special program with the recitation of Tehillim, and reflections. There was also a song with music that was played with much sensitivity and care. I recited chapter121 and then concluded with Acheinu kol beis Yisrael.
This week, I was in Williamsburg, Brookly shopping. Wherever I went, I only found men, women and children being very courteous to me. Making sure, I was next online, children smiling, adults moving to the side with my large order so I could be first. When I came to a crosswalk waiting for a yeshiva school bus to pass by so I could go across the street, the bus driver stopped the bus holding the cars behind so I could cross the street safely with my shopping cart. The next scene I had just a day before was just the opposite. I had called car service to take me, my shopping cart and packages to my apartment building back on the Lower East Side. One of the workers at a store where I had done some of my shopping took all my boxes and bags down to the car I called for. He would not let do it. It was his mitzva. I went from kindness to an experience that was not so kind. The first thing the driver did -he snapped at me not to touch anything. It is his car. When I got into the car, he told me the price of the ride was increased. This was the first time I had such a driver from this car service. I already was in the car and did not make an issue. As soon as the car arrived at my building, he told me to hurry up and get out. When I asked if he could help me put my two not large boxes from his suv into my shopping cart wagon, he told me not unless I pay him more money. His attitude was quite rude. I paid him the amount he first asked me for and put the boxes into the shopping cart myself. I sure was happy when I arrived with all my items and thank goodness, no argument with him. What a difference from the other experiences I had filled with lots of kindness and a smile too.
It is a very stressful time of the year. The different time changes, the trauma in many parts of the world, wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, inflation which is causing many hardships, and distress etc. etc. Rabbis, rebbetzins and chaplains have an awesome job of inspiring others with simchas hachaim under many difficult circumstances. We are grateful to the Ribono shel Olam for all the opportunities He gives us inspiring and caring especially for those who need our TLC. We are there for them, our own families, and our selves as well. Self- care is truly important. May we be zoche to fulfill all the mitzvos of Purim, with lots of happiness, joy, kindness, goodness, gemilus chasadim and maysim tovim. May we be zoche to inspire others to be Mekadeish H and to bring achdus in Klal Yisrael with our love of the Ribono shel Olam. Chaveirim Kol Yisrael. Be positive, not negative. Have a pleasant demeanor. May we have shalom al Yisrael. May there be peace. May we be zoche the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu Bimheiraw Viyawmeinu Amein . Thank you for reading this article. Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank
Mishnichnas Adar Marbim Besimcha Have a Freilicha Purim ! Happy Purim !
Attached is a new publication of halachic essays published by Igud HaRabbonim, the Rabbinical Alliance of America, featuring articles by Rabbi Ya’akov Klass, Rabbi Yehoshua Grunwald, Rabbi Zevi Saunders, Rabbi Ephraim Glatt, esq., and Rabbi Gil Student. Topics include the timely and the timeless, applying texts and sources from across the generations to contemporary life. While the primary language of halacha is Hebrew, for logistical reasons this is being published in English.
You can download the issue here or click on the image below: link
Submissions for future issues can be sent in already-edited English in Word format to Igud.Halacha@gmail.com
Edited by: TJVNews.com On Sunday, March 6, 2022, the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim (RAA), convened its monthly (Rosh Chodesh Beis) seudah and conference at Kahal Bnei Matisyahu, where Rabbi Yaakov Klass, RAA presidium chairman serves as rabbi. The Rosh Chodesh Adar Beis conference was dedicated by Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, RAA executive vice-president, in…
The Jewish Voice 
