In this Issue:
A Message from Rabbi Aaron S. Tirschwell
Torah Related Items
Special Tefillah for Residents of Sderot/Ashkelon and Environs
CYIR's Eye Squad Kick-Off Event Draws over 350 Students
Initial List of Honorees for CYIR 18th Anniversary Celebration Announced
Current and Upcoming Events
Deadline for Sending Mishloach Manot to Friends, Family, IDF Soldiers is Tuesday, March 11!
Good and Welfare
A Message From Rabbi Aaron S. Tirschwell, CYIR's Chief Program and Development Officer
To Our Members and Friends:
 One of the CYIR's best kept secrets is its Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired. I label the program as a secret because without fame or fanfare, the staff of this one of a kind project brings Judaism to life for 16,000 children and adults who would otherwise not be exposed to "Yiddishkeit."
These next few weeks are particularly busy for the Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired as they deliver educational seminars and experiential events for Purim and Pesach, as well as putting the final touches on a new brochure depicting "Mah Nishtanah" in Hebrew sign language.
And the programming doesn't stop there: Preparations for the annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration, as well as special events for Yom HaAtzmaut, Yom Yerushalayim and Shavuot are well underway. In addition, plans for yideaf.org, a cutting edge website geared specifically towards Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired community, are moving forward for an initial launch during this Spring.
I invite you to "let the secret out of the bag" by visiting our website, www.youngisraelrabbis.org.il and take part in all of CYIR's unique efforts on behalf of Am Yisrael.
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Aaron S. Tirschwell
Chief Program and Development Officer
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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 Shmuel Ismach, Associate Rabbi of Young Israel of Great Neck, NY, by clicking this link.
b) Three Sifrei Torah this Shabbat - The proverbial tri-fecta of Kriat HaTorah scenarios occurs this weekend: Parashat Pekudei-Shabbat Chazak, Parashat Shekalim, and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Adar II. Therefore, there will be three separate Torah readings. That calls for three Sifrei Torah to be taken out. Reprinted from "The Rabbi's Letter", Instructions for the Gabbai, written by Rabbi Chaim Wasserman (CYIR Vice President), are extremely useful to ensure that proper order is followed during this less than normal occurance. Click here to access this article.
c) 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
d) 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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Special Tefillah for Residents of Sderot, Ashkelon and Environs
 CYIR joins its US counterpart, Young Israel Council of Rabbis, in calling on all synagogues and communities to institute the recitation of a special tefillah to be recited on behalf of the residents of Sderot, Ashkelon, and the surrounding areas that have been bombarded by kassam and grad-katyusha rockets launched from Gaza.
"The international Young Israel movement can make a significant difference by delivering one of its bedrock services - communal prayer" said Rabbi Yehoshua Sauer, NCYI's Director of Synagogue Services.
At the request of Alon Davidi, Sderot's Security Committee Chairman, HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, Rishon L'Tzion, Former Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, composed the tefillah the recitation of which rooted in the ruling of the Shulkhan Arukh (O.C. 576) that calls for fasting and prayer for troubles such as "Gentiles that come to make war on Israel."
Click here to access the Special Tefillah.
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CYIR's Eye Squad Kick-Off Event Draws Over 350 Students
 More than 350 post-high school North American and Anglo students came to the Eye Squad's inaugural event in Jerusalem this week. The Eye Squad, an initiative designed to assist the 7,000 post-high school North Americans who spend a year studying in Israel, provides a confidential, independent 24-hour hotline for students who are experiencing any sort of distress.
The Eye Squad is a project of CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel; Rabbi Aaron S. Tirschwell, CYIR's Chief Program and Development Officer, is the Founder and Director of the Eye Squad.
"The reaction of many of the overflow crowd that we had at our kick-off event demonstrated just how critical this initiative is," said Rabbi Tirschwell, "Students in need of assistance and advice are looking for somewhere to turn, and the Eye Squad is ready, willing, and able to answer that call."
Tirschwell noted that the Eye Squad received nearly a dozen calls from students within the 48-hour period after the event. Most of the calls to the hotline were from students with specific issues who wanted advice from Eye Squad counselors.
Click here for more...
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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
SAVE THESE DATES:
March 19/12 Adar II - Delivery of Mishloach Manot to IDF Soldiers located in army bases throughout the country. Contact us if you'd like to attend: 02.625.4983, ext 103; aaron@youngisraelrabbis.org.il
Sunday, March 23/Sushan Purim - Jerusalem United Concert in New York - featuring Yaakov Shwekey and Shalsheles - sponsored by National Council of Young Israel - click here for details.
Wednesday, April 23 (3rd Day of Chol HaMoed Pesach) - Young Israel Sefer Torah Dedication to the Israel Defense Forces - at the Magic Nirvana Hotel, Dead Sea. Details to follow.
Sunday May 4/Erev Rosh Chodesh Iyar - CYIR presents the next lecture in the Rabbi Sholem B. Kowalsky Memorial Lecture Series at Heichal Shlomo, 58 King George Street, Jerusalem. PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE. 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.
May-June 2008/Iyar-Sivan 5768 - Get-Refusal Courses - CYIR, MATAN, and the Rackman Center for Advancement of Women will be offering two simultaneous courses (one in Hebrew, the other in English) to train people to disseminate prenuptial agreements and to raise consciousness regarding the problem of agunot. The courses are directed by Rachel Levmore, CYIR's Coordinator of Prenuptial & Get-Refusal Prevention Projects. Details to follow.
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Deadline to Send Mishloach Manot to Family, Friends in Israel, IDF Soldiers; Matanot L'Evyonim for Sderot is Tuesday, March 11!!!
 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 - TUESDAY, MARCH 11!! To order and for more information, please visit our website: www.yimanot.org - Only international credit cards accepted.
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Bruchim HaBaim
Rabbi Binyamin Hammer (NCYI's Director of Rabbinic Services) and his wife Chana Hinda who are visiting Israel this week.
Refuah Shleimah
Halilie Nechamah bat Aviyah, great granddaughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Binyamin Walfish. Your tefillot are greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Joe and Rozanne Polansky (CYIR Advisory Board Members) for volunteering to make calls to CYIR members to update our list!
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CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel