In this Issue:
Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources
Yom HaAtzmaut Message from National Council of Young Israel
CYIR Elects New Slate of Officers, Board; Appoints Advisory Council
Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired to Host 7th Annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration Monday, May 26
Current and Upcoming Events
EYE SQUAD/CYIR Co-Sponsor Symposium on Parents' Preparing for a Child's "Year in Israel"
Good and Welfare
Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources
 a) Divrei Torah Bulletin for this Shabbat: Please find NCYI’s Divrei Torah Bulletin for Emor written by CYIR member Rabbi Mordechai Friedfertig, 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 different 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) Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Cohanim in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem and the rabbi of Bet El, will respond to all SMS messages on any issue regarding halacha or hashkafa. SMS messages can be sent by Rabbanim to Rabbi Aviner at 052 365 3028. Service available only in Israel.
d) The Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, Sir Jonathan Sacks, has produced a double CD celebrating Israel’s 60th anniversary. This presentation retells Israel’s story for a new generation; recapturing some of the sense of drama and wonder, as well as grief and loss that has accompanied this State and its people since its birth. It will be widely distributed throughout the world, in due course. The Chief Rabbi would like draw this to the attention of his rabbinic colleagues worldwide who can access this by clicking here.
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Yom HaAtzmaut Message from National Council of Young Israel
 ISRAEL AT 60: As we celebrate the 60th birthday of Medinat Yisrael, we take a moment to consider the significant nature of the gift that we as a nation were given. The ability to settle in the land of Israel, develop the land of Israel, and enjoy the land of Israel, is an opportunity that the Jewish people of this generation was extremely fortunate and tremendously blessed to receive.
Unfortunately, Medinat Yisrael did not come without a considerable and painful price. We remember the thousands of our brave brothers and sisters who sacrificed their lives so that we could have our beloved homeland. We remember the families of Gush Katif who were needlessly expelled from their homes in a futile attempt to appease our enemies. Our thoughts are with the families of our precious MIA’s, and we remember the countless sacrifices made by all those who have served in the Israel Defense Forces so that the State of Israel could remain in Jewish hands.
The achievements of the past sixty years are nothing short of extraordinary, and we should all be proud of the myriad accomplishments of the Jewish State.. Today we celebrate the birth of a nation, the establishment of our homeland, and the unification of the Jewish nation. The Medina has become the crowning glory of our people, who for over two thousand years, prayed fervently for the immediate return of our people to our land.
 We at the National Council of Young Israel are proud of our commitment and contributions to the country, to our members who have made aliya, and to our over 200 branch synagogues both here and in Israel whose Rabbanim, Boards of Directors, and members have made Israel the center of their lives.
May G-D continue to bless the State of Israel and may we all have the opportunity to continue reaping the benefits of this special treasure that we were given sixty years ago.
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CYIR Members Elect New Slate of Officers, Board; Appoints Advisory Council
 At its annual General Assembly meeting earlier this week, the members of CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel voted unanimously to elect a new slate of officers that was suggested by its nominating committee. At the end of his 2 year term of dedicated service to CYIR as its president, Rabbi Simcha Krauss was asked to continue his work on specific projects (such as CYIR's Vaad Halacha) as Chairman of the Executive. Rabbis Jeffrey Bienenfeld and Chaim Wasserman have undertaken a shared presidium of CYIR. Rabbis Nachman Kahana and Meyer Fendel will serve vice presidents, Rabbi Yosef Wolicki will assume the position of secretary, and Rabbi Yisrael Fass will continue to serve as CYIR's treasurer.
In addition to electing the aforementioned executive officers, the following rabbanim were elected to CYIR's Executive Board: Rabbis Reuven Aberman, Dr. Aaron Adler, Aharon Batt, Nachum Bronznick, George Finkelstein, Sholom Gold, Bernard Goldenberg, James Gordon, Macy Gordon, Moshe Gorelik, Yeshaya Heisler, Pinchas Kahn, Chaim Luban, Jay Marcus, Emanuel Quint, and Moshe Rose.
As CYIR continues to grow by sustaining current programs and providing new services, more assistance is needed outside the rabbinic world to accomplish its goals. Therefore, CYIR has established and appointed an Advisory Council, comprised of non-rabbinic lay leaders, who will assist CYIR's professional staff in carrying out its mission. We are thrilled to welcome the following to CYIR's Advisory Council: Dr. Shmuel Abramson, Mr. Ruby Davidman, Dr. David Hammer, Mrs. Florence Hammer, Mr. Moshe Loshinsky, Mr. Joe Polansky, Mrs. Rozanne Polansky, Mr. Jerrold Rappaport, Mr. Harvey Schwartz, Mrs. Sarah Schwartz, and Mr. Eddie Steinlauf.
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CYIR's Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf & Hearing Impaired to Host 7th Annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration May 26
 For the 7th year running, as the culmination of a full year of activities, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program of CYIR's Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf & Hearing Impaired (JHPIDHI) assists children from all over the country prepare for this important life-cycle event. Participants are required to prepare for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony by attending a total of 24 hours of classes. These classes address the importance of community, giving to the community, and understanding the meaning and importance of  prayer.
At the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony, which will take place May 26, 2008 in Jerusalem, the boys don tefillin and are called up to the Torah, and the girls recite the Shema in sign language. There are a total of 40 children an their parents enrolled in this year's program & celebration.
YOU CAN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS VITAL PROJECT. For a donation of $360 USD, you can sponsor a boy or girl in this year's Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremony.
Your donation allows JHPIDHI to provide each Bar/Bat Mitzvah with a siddur and watch, as well as the boys receiving their own pair of tefillin and the girls receiving an elegant set of Shabbat candlesticks.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!
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Current and Upcoming Events
SAVE THESE DATES:
Tuesday, May 13/8 Iyar – Eye Squad Symposium: "PREPARING FOR YOUR CHILD'S 'YEAR IN ISRAEL': WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW – Young Israel of Woodmere, NY (SEE BELOW).
Monday, May 26/21 Iyar - CYIR's Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired Annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration (SEE ABOVE).
Sunday, June 1/27 Iyar – Erev Yom Yerushalayim Day Trip: Jerusalem - Past, Present and Future(?). Details and schedule available next week on our website: www.youngisraelrabbis.org.il
Wednesday, June 4/Rosh Chodesh Sivan - 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.
Friday, September 5/5 Elul– CYIR Celebrates 18 Years of Service to Israel by honoring its Founders, Leaders and Builders at a Friday morning brunch in Jerusalem. PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE.
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EYE SQUAD/CYIR Co-Sponsor Symposium on Parents' Preparing for a Child's "Year in Israel" - May 13 - Young Israel of Woodmere, NY
 Understanding the implications of sending a child to Israel and making appropriate decisions for the post-high year are issues that affect all parents. Although the frequent transforming nature of the year in Israel commonly manifests itself through changes in religious belief and observance, it equally impacts attitudes and behaviors in familial, social, psychological and emotional domains.
These matters will be addressed at an important symposium entitled “Preparing for the Post-High School Year in Israel: What Every Parent Needs to Know” which will take place on Tuesday night, May 13, 2008, at 8:00 PM at Young Israel of Woodmere, NY.
Symposium presenters include Dr. David Pelcovitz, the Strauss Professor of Education and Psychology at the Azrieli School of Jewish Education at Yeshiva University, and an expert in Child Psychology; Elisheva Kaminetsky, Director of Religious Guidance at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls; Rabbi Hershel Billet, Mara D’Atra of Young Israel of Woodmere, and a member of the Eye Squad Advisory Board; Rabbi Aaron Tirschwell, the Director of the Eye Squad, and the National Council of Young Israel’s Director of Israel Operations; and Rebbetzin Judi Steinig, the Director of Programming for the National Council of Young Israel.
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. Members of the Eye Squad engage the young adult to communicate that he/she is not alone, and that there is someone (a non-judgmental, impartial person) who exists outside the school/program that will listen, empathize and give constructive advice.
Sponsorship of the symposium has been provided by the Eye Squad, CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, National Council of Young Israel, Young Israel of Woodmere, NY, and Ezrat Chayim – Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services.
Click here to download the Eye Squad brochure.
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Mazal Tov
Rabbi Nachman Kahana (Young Israel of the Old City; CYIR Executive Board Member), on being selected as an honoree by the Orthodox Union's Israel Center.
Refuah Shleimah
Mother of Susan Taragin, CYIR Executive Secretary.
Nichum Aveilim
Farley Weiss, NCYI Vice President, on the loss of his father.
Rabbi Dr. J. David Bleich and his wife Judith on the loss of their daughter.
Baruch Dayan HaEmet
Rabbi Yaakov Jacobs, founding rabbi, Young Israel of St. Louis, editor of a number of publications such as NCYI Viewpoint and the Jewish Observer.
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CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel