In this Issue:
Torah Related Items
Special Tefillah for Residents of Sderot/Ashkelon and Environs
CYIR Assists in Delivery of 800 Mishloach Manot to IDFSoldiers; Raises Over $9,000 for Matanot L'Evyonim for Needy Sderot Families
Rabbi Nachman Kahana Joins List of Honorees at CYIR 18th Anniversary Celebration
Current and Upcoming Events
Eye Squad in the News!!!
Good and Welfare
Torah Related Items
 a) Divrei Torah Bulletin: Please find NCYI’s Divrei Torah Bulletin for Purim written by CYIR member Rabbi Dr. Moshe Sosevsky, 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
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 Binyamin Hammer, NCYI's Director of Rabbinic 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 Assists in Delivery of 800 Mishloach Manot to IDF Soldiers; Raises Over $9,000 for Matanot L'Evyonim for Needy Sderot Families
 American Friends of Yisrael Hatzair, in conjunction with CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, iran its annual Mishloach Manot Campaign - to support Young Israel's programming in Israel.
Besides the top of the line Mishloach Manot packages that were available for delivery ANYWHERE in Israel, Yisrael Hatzair and CYIR delivered in excess of 800 Mishloach Manot that were purchased for IDF Soldiers. Two days before Purim, CYIR and Yisrael Hatzair visited a number of Army and Navy facilities to bring the brave men and women protecting Eretz Yisrael a little Purim cheer.
AND - TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES LIVING IN SDEROT, CYIR distributed Matanot L'Evyonim on Purim to help alleviate the pain and suffering of their battered lives. Over $9,000 for distribution as Matanat L'Evyonim to families in need in Sderot. A delegation, including Rabbis Chaim Wasserman, Aaron Tirschwell and Meyer Fendel, and Meir Mishkoff, American Friends of Yisrael Hatzair, visited Sdeort on Thursday, Taanit Esther, to deliver the funds to Rabbi Dovid Fendel, Head of the Hesder Yeshiva of Sderot, who distributed the funds on Purim Day.
Yi'asher Kochachem to all who participated!
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Rabbi Nachman Kahana Joins List of Honorees at CYIR 18th Anniversary Celebration - May 23, 2008
 Rabbi Nachman Kahana of Young Israel of the Old City is the latest Founders honoree to be announced for CYIR's FOUNDERS, LEADERS AND BUILDERS 18th Anniversary Gala Brunch, which will take place Friday, May 30, 2008 (25 Iyar 5768), in Jerusalem. Other Founders honorees (as of this date) include Rabbis Macy Gordon, James Gordon, Meyer Fendel, Sholom Gold, Arnold Heisler and Moshe Rose, 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, Director of 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
Tuesday, April 3/Yom Kippur Katan - Azkarah in New York - dedicated to the memory of the 8 kedoshim who perished in the Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav massacre - sponsored by National Council of Young Israel - click here for details.
SAVE THESE DATES:
Chol HaMoed Pesach Monday-Thursday, April 21-24 - CYIR Co-Sponsors Blood Drives throughout Israel with American Friends of Magen David Adom. Details on locations and times to be issued next week. For more information, please contact Jonathan Feldstein: jfeldstein@afmda.org
Thursday, April 24 (4th Day of Chol HaMoed Pesach) - Young Israel Sefer Torah Dedication to the Israel Defense Forces - at the Magic Nirvana Hotel, Dead Sea. PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE. 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. Details to follow.
Monday, May 26/21 Iyar - CYIR's Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired Annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration.
Friday, May 30, 2008 – CYIR Celebrates 18 Years of Service to Israel by honoring its Founders, Leaders and Builders. See above.
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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Eye Squad in the News!!!
 To assist the 7,500 North Americans and other Anglos who spend a year in Israel, the EYE SQUAD provides a confidential, independent hotline for those who are experiencing any type of distress.
Launched only last month, the Eye Squad has already proven to be a valuable resource for students and their parents.
The Eye Squad Brochure can be downloaded by clicking this link.
Most recently, the Eye Squad has been featured in the following newspapers (click on each link to access the respective article):
The Eye Squad hotline can be reached in Israel by dialing *9111. From North America, toll free 866-550-4EYE.
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Bruchim HaBaim
Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Executive Vice President, National Council of Young Israel.
Mazal Tov
Mr. Eli Dworetsky, Vice Presdient, National Council of Young Israel, and his wife on the birth of a granddaughter in Israel.
Refuah Shleimah
Laura West, student intern in the CYIR office, from Midreshet Darkeinu.
Daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Shmuel Abramson.
Nichum Aveilim
Rabbi and Mrs. Binyamin Walfish on the loss of their great granddaughter, Halilie Nechamah bat Aviyah.
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CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel