In this Issue:
A Message from Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, CYIR Vice President
Torah Related Items
LAST CALL - WE NEED YOU!!!
Initial List of Honorees for CYIR 18th Anniversary Celebration Announced
Current and Upcoming Events
Send Mishloach Manot to Friends, Family, IDF Soldiers through CYIR
Good and Welfare
A Message From Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, CYIR Vice President
To Our Members and Friends:
 The flurry of activity which has continued unabated now for many weeks has left us at CYIR breathless with disbelief. So many things have been happening without a stop.
This activity is thanks to the involvement in recent months of the National Council of Young Israel and their renewed interest in the activities of CYIR.
The staff in the office has risen to the occasion and worked tirelessly to get the work done and meet the deadlines that were necessary to meet. Rabbis Michael Strick and Aaron Tirschwell joined by Susan Taragin have carried the brunt of the workload for which we are deeply appreciated.
We have also been joined in recent weeks by Adina Bloomberg and Rabbi Jason Demant who together with Rabbi Tirschwell are now on call 24/7 with the latest of our projects, The Eye Squad.
And, Dr Lorell Blass, Director of the CYIR Counseling Center has had her share of new referrals with which to contend.
If you haven’t keep abreast of what is going on in recent months through the weekly and monthly updates that have been emanating from the CYIR office, may I suggest that you read this update with an eye towards evaluating if I am relating things the way they truly are. And, if you feel the tiring joy that we do in the office, why not drop by and see for yourself.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Chaim Wasserman
Vice President
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Torah Related Items
 a) Divrei Torah Bulletin: Please find NCYI’s Divrei Torah Bulletin for Parashat Ki Tissa written by Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Rabinowitz, an Associate Member of YICR, by clicking this link.
b) Torah Mitzion, the organization that has established Religious Zionist Kollelim throughout the world, has produced a Shmittah Educational Kit, in conjunction with the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Mahut - Beit Midrash L'Morim. The kit contains lesson plans on a CD-ROM which employ profound and challenging texts in twelve units - each covering a differnt aspect of Shmittah. Each unit includes a written lesson plan for the rabbi/teacher/counselor as well as a comprehensive source sheet for participants. The CD can be purchased for NIS 40 from Torah Mitzion - office@torahmitzion.org; 02.620.9020
c) The Rabbi Sholem B. Kowalsky Yahrtzeit Lecture, which took place on January 6, 2008/27 Tevet 5768 is now available for free online to listen or to download by clicking this link. We again acknowledge the support of the Kowalsky family and the National Council of Young Israel for making this program a success.
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LAST CALL - WE NEED YOU!!!!
 The one of a kind venerable publication The Rabbi’s Letter, edited by our own Rabbi Chaim Wasserman (CYIR Vice President) is looking for content for its next issue on the topic of “Pastoral Perspectives on Purim and Pesach” as well as other timely material.
Please send your submissions to Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, NCYI’s Director of Rabbinic Services: bhammer@youngisrael.org.
We will also start recording shiurim that will be available free of charge via downlaod from the internet. Details to follow. We hope that our Rabbanim will take advantage of this unique media "LeHagdil Torah Ul'Haadirah." Contact the CYIR office if you are interested in paticipating in this exciting project: info@youngisraelrabbis.org.il
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Initial List of Honorees for CYIR 18th Anniversary Celebration Announced
On Lag Ba’Omer 5768 (Friday, May 23, 2008), CYIR will be celebrating its 18th anniversary by honoring FOUNDERS, LEADERS and BUILDERS at a lavish brunch in Jerusalem. Founder honorees (as of this date) include Rabbis Macy Gordon, James, Gordon, Meyer Fendel, Emanuel Quint, Sholom Gold, and others who we are in the process of contacting.
Our CYIR Leadership awardees include outgoing president Rabbi Simcha Krauss, Dr. Lorell Blass, Director of CYIR’s Counseling Center, and Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, Director of our Judaic Heritage Program for Israel’s Deaf and Hearing Impaired. Rabbi Yeres also serves as the Rabbi of the Beit Yisrael Synagogue in the Yemin Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem.
The guest of honor for the celebration will be Yaacov Moreshet, a partner in the Hilat Shoam Investment Firm of Ramat Gan. Mr. Moreshet has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News (as well as the Israeli press) for placing his clients in investments with companies that operate in accordance with halacha.
Other awardees will be announced in the near future. For more information, please visit the CYIR website: www.youngisraelrabbis.org.il
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Current and Upcoming Events
Thursday, February 28 (22 Adar I) - Beit Avi Chai is presenting a series of lectures by Rav Mayer Lichtenstein. The next in the series is "The Halachic Foundations of Charity – Handout and Support", which will take place on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 4 pm at Beit Avi Chai, 44 King George Street, Jerusalem. Admission is free - light refreshments will be served. This lecture will be presented in English. For further information, please contact Baruch Kelman: baruch@avichai.org.il or 02-621-5332.
Motzei Shabbat, March 1 (Parashat Vayakhel)- CYIR is proud to co-sponsor with the Jerusalem Great Synagogue its “Motzei Shabbat Social Evening and Lecture” series. AMBASSADOR YEHUDA AVNER, a veteran diplomat who served 5 of Israel's Prime Ministers, will be speaking on the topic of: “A TIME TO TAKE STOCK” at 8PM (doors open @ 7:15 PM) at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue. Admission is Free. For more information, please contact Rabbi George Finkelstein, Executive Director of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, weekdays between 9 AM and 1 PM (02) 623-0628 ext. 4 or 052-389-5190.
SAVE THESE DATES:
Sunday April 6/Rosh Chodesh Nisan - CYIR presents the next lecture in the Rabbi Sholem B. Kowalsky Memorial Lecture Series at Heichal Shlomo, 58 King George Street, Jerusalem. Details to follow.
Lag BaOmer – Friday, May 23, 2008 – CYIR Celebrates 18 Years of Service to Israel by honoring its Founders, Leaders and Builders. See above.
Monday, May 26/21 Iyar - CYIR's Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired Annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration.
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Send Mishloach Manot to Family, Friends in Israel, IDF Soldiers; Matanot L'Evyonim for Sderot Residents through CYIR
 American Friends of Yisrael Hatzair, in conjunction with CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel and Yisrael Hatzair, is once again providing top of the line Mishloach Manot packages for delivery ANYWHERE in Israel. This is a great way to share Purim with friends and loved ones while supporting Young Israel's charitable efforts in Israel.
We also have a package for IDF soldiers - Young Israel will visit several IDF bases and distribute packages of Mishloach Manot to the brave men and women protecting Eretz Yisrael.
AND - TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES LIVING IN SDEROT, Young Israel will be distributing Matanot L'Evyonim on Purim to help alleviate the pain and suffering of their battered lives.
DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING!! To order and for more information, please visit our website: www.yimanot.org - Only international credit cards accepted.
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Mazal Tov
Rabbi Emanuel Quint (CYIR Executive Board Member) and his wife Rina, on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Yisrael Yitzchak, which took place last Shabbat.
Rabbi Pesach Lerner (NCYI Executive Vice President) and his wife Ora on the marriage of their daughter Shira.
Rabbi Alex Yeres (CYIR's Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired), and his wife Rivka on the marriage of their daughter Hadassah to Netanel Buchs.
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CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel