In this Issue:
Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources
A Unique Coming of Age Ceremony for 50 Deaf Children - Arutz Sheva
CYIR Announces New Campaign to Provide Dental Care for Gush Katif Evacuees
AFMDA to Arrange Group Visits to Magen David Adom EMS Stations
Current and Upcoming Events
Viewpoint Magazine Focuses on Israel's 60th
NCYI's Statement on Jewish Construction in East Jerusalem
Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources
 a) Divrei Torah Bulletin for this Shabbat: Please find NCYI’s Divrei Torah Bulletin for Shelach written by Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, CYIR President, 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) TWO NEW FEATURES COMING TO "TORAH RELATED ITEMS..." - in the near future, we will presenting weekly book reviews and CYIR audio/visual Divrei Torah available on the internet. Contact the CYIR office for more information: info@youngisraelrabbis.org.il
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A Unique Coming of Age Ceremony for 50 Deaf Children - Arutz 7
 Arutz Sheva - June 16, 2008, by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz: Fifty deaf boys and girls, along with their parents, took part in a unique Bar- and Bat-Mitzvah ceremony and celebration last month in Jerusalem. 
Held on May 26 and sponsored by the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, the special day included an all-day tour for the celebrating families, starting with a visit to the historic synagogue in Yemin Moshe, the Jerusalem neighborhood that Moses Montefiore founded. It was there that the participating children marked their Bar- and Bat-Mitzvah in a Jewish coming of age ceremony, fulfilling certain commandments incumbent upon adult Jews...
According to Rabbi Aaron S. Tirschwell, Chief Program and Development Officer of the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, "In addition to gaining first-hand experience regarding their Jewish roots, the deaf youth use the opportunity to form a social network consisting of people their age who understand obstacles they face in their daily lives."
"We're no longer living in the time of the mishnayos [from the Temple period until approximately 200 CE - ed.], when a deaf person was considered to be in the same state as a fool," according to Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, a psychologist and National  Director of Young Israel's Jewish Heritage Program for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.
The Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, which oversees the Jewish Heritage Program for the Deaf, has conducted extensive rabbinical research into the status of the deaf in Jewish law. According to the guidelines the Council has given out to rabbis concerning life-cycle events, including Bar- and Bat-Mitzvahs and weddings, deaf people are equal.
"It's very important for a family to hear that," Rabbi Yeres said, "because they don't really believe it."
The Bar- and Bat-Mitzvah Program, now in its seventh year, assists deaf and hearing impaired children from all over the country prepare for this important life-cycle event. The children who participate in the program all come from state public schools that are not part of the religious school system.
Click here for the full article.
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CYIR Announces New Campaign to Provide Dental Care for Gush Katif Evacuees
 CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel is pleased to announce a new campaign in association with Dr. Sheldon Abramson to provide DENTAL CARE for the evacuees of GUSH KATIF.
"There are in excess of 200 Gush Katif evacuees in need of immediate dental exams, x-rays, and emergency dental care" said Dr. Abramson. "Proper dental care often takes a back seat to other family concerns - how much more so with those that continue to struggle with the evacuation from their homes in Gush Katif" he said.
In addition to providing fine dental care, Dr. Sheldon Abramson’s clients are enveloped in a warm, genuinely caring atmosphere. He provides dental care to Holocaust survivors and those Israeli elderly living below the poverty level. With minimal financial help from friends and others, Dr. Abramson has treated dozens of Holocaust survivors since July 2007. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY!!!
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AFMDA to Arrange Group Visits to Magen David Adom EMS Stations
 Are you looking for something new and meaningful to do in Israel this summer? AFMDA: American Friends of Magen David Adom is making appointments for group visits to the Magen David Adom EMS Station and dispatch center in Jerusalem, and other locations throughout the country, during your summer vacation in Israel.
Visitors will see MDA's unique, state of the art dispatch center and technology that navigates the ambulances in the event of an emergency, the Jerusalem branch of the MDA National Blood Services Center, explore the fleet of MDA ambulances, many donated by people and organizations in your own community, and meet and interact with MDA's staff and volunteers for a first hand perspective on the challenges of saving lives in Israel.
Unique volunteer "chesed" opportunities exist as well.
Participation is by advance reservation only, on a first come, first served basis. We will do our best to accommodate most schedules.
In addition, there will be the opportunity to donate blood in central Jerusalem, following the above tours, or as separately scheduled blood drives, many of which are co-sponsored by CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel and Yisrael Hatzair Olami - the Worldwide Young Israel Movement.
Please e-mail Jonathan Feldstein at IsraelOffice@afmda.org for further details.
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Current and Upcoming Events
June 22/19 Sivan - EMUNAH presents "Gush Katif: Are They the Forgotten People?" featuring Rachel Saperstein (GK evacuee) and moderated by Dr. Sheldon Abramson (CYIR Advisory Council member). Program takes place at EMUNAH - 6 Arlosorov Street at 8:00 PM. For more information, call 02-563-9963, ext 101
Sunday, June 22/19 Sivan, AFMDA Blood Drive, in conjunction with Nefesh B'Nefesh at NBN Headquarters, Bet Ofer, Nachum Hefzadi 8, Givat Shaul in Jerusalem - 11 am - 2:30 pm. For more information, contact Jonathan Feldstein: IsraelOffice@afmda.org, call 057-761-4220.
Tuesday, June 24/21 Sivan - CYIR's "Areivim Zeh La Zeh" program hosts the next Brit Yedidut ceremony, twinning Beit El Synagogue in Sderot, Israel with the “Les Tournelles” synagogue in Paris, France. For details and an invitation, please contact Rabbi Avraham Bin Nun, Union of Synagogues in Israel, unisyn@actcom.net.il
July and August 2008/Tammuz and Av 5768 - CYIR/Young Israel Day Trips and Blood Drives to be offered: details regarding dates and itineraries to be posted shortly. Check www.youngisraelrabbis.org.il periodically for updates.
SAVE THESE DATES:
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. Founders being honored include Rabbis Meyer Fendel, Macy Gordon, James Gordon, Sholom Gold, Yeshaya Heisler, Nachman Kahana and Yaakov Zev. In addition to the founders, Rabbi Simcha Krauss, Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, and Dr. Lorell Blass will be honored for their leadership of CYIR programs that have become the hallmark of its activities. Our guest of honor will be Mr. Yaacov Moreshet, head of Hilat Shoham Ltd., an investment firm which picks companies that conform to halacha to serve as their investment base. DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY.
Monday - Wednesday, September 15-17/15-17 Elul - CYIR Yarchei Kallah Program in Jerusalem - DETAILS AND TOPICS WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY.
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Young Israel's Viewpoint Magazine Focuses on Israel's 60th
 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.
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 branch synagogues 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.
Click here to download the current issue of Viewpoint Magazine
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NCYI's Statement on Jewish Construction in East Jerusalem
 June 16, 2008 - National Council of Young Israel President Shlomo Z. Mostofsky, Esq., made the following statement today in response to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent critique of the Israeli government for constructing additional Jewish homes in East Jerusalem:
"The National Council of Young Israel is extremely disturbed by the readiness of Secretary of State Rice to heap criticism on Israel for its plans to build additional housing for its citizens, within the boundaries of its own capital city. Israel has the right to build in its capital, wherever and whenever she chooses. The Secretary of State must realize that as the eternal capital of Israel, the holy city of Jerusalem cannot and will not be divided. In fact, the United States Congress has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and has acknowledged that the U.S. should move its embassy there. Yet, despite the assurances of President Bush, the embassy has not yet been moved, and the recognition of Jerusalem as the indivisible capital of Israel is being repeatedly challenged by Secretary of State Rice.
While we commend Secretary of State Rice for endeavoring to achieve peace in the region, it is critical that she comprehend the significance of Jerusalem to the Jewish nation and understand the fact that Jerusalem must be taken off of the bargaining table. Any proposed agreement that would tear the heart and soul out of the Israeli people and the Jewish nation is wholly unacceptable and would be strongly condemned.
The National Council of Young Israel's position is that there can be no division of Jerusalem at any time, under any circumstances."
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CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel 
