CYIR Weekly Update

Parashat Korach 5768 | 25 Sivan 5768 | June 27-28, 2008

In this Issue:

Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources

BRIT YEDIDUT: Bringing Israeli, Diaspora Communities Closer Together through a Covenant of Friendship

CYIR Announces New Campaign to Provide Dental Care for Gush Katif Evacuees

CYIR Hosts Two Day Seminar for Marriage Professionals on Prenuptial Agreements

Israeli Day Camps to Feature CYIR Programming for Deaf Children

EYE SQUAD to Introduce "BAYIT" Program: Providing Surrogate Families for North Americans Spending a Year in Israel

Current and Upcoming Events

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Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources

a) Divrei Torah Bulletin for this Shabbat: Please find NCYI’s Divrei Torah Bulletin for Korach written by Rabbi Chaim Landau, Associate Member, YICR, by clicking this link.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO AUTHOR DIVREI TORAH FOR PARSHIYOT IN 5769 - SELECTED SIDROT STILL AVAILABLE. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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) Our chaver Rav Mordechai Friedfertig advises us that Rav Aviner's weekly Parashah sheet, "On the Air with Rav Aviner" is available free of charge via email subscription. Contact Rabbi Friedfertig at mororly@bezeqint.net

e) Our chaver Rabbi David Mescheloff informs us that he has created an online biography on the life and times of his father, Rabbi Dr. Moses Mescheloff OB"M. The story of his 75 years of active rabbanut, the generations that he spanned and his meeting the challenges he faced, can inspire any rabbi. "My father z"l left a deep spiritual imprint on the souls of tens of thousands whom he taught and served over the years" Rabbi Mescheloff said. Click here to access Rabbi Dr. Mescheloff's biography.

f) 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 CYIR for more information: info@youngisraelrabbis.org.il

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BRIT YEDIDUT: BRINGING ISRAELI, DIASPORA COMMUNITIES CLOSER TOGETHER THROUGH A COVENANT OF FRIENDSHIP

The French delegation will be led by Rabbi Aharon Marciano (Rabbi, Les Toulles) and Professor Mark Zaribi (President, Les Toulles) and the speakers representing Israel and Sderot were Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger, Chief Rabbi of Beer Sheva Yehuda Deri, former minister Professor Shimon Shetritt and Mr. Moshe Peretz (President, Beit El). Musical complement was provided by Pirchei Sdeort and the paytan Mendy Cohen. CYIR was represented by Daniel M. Meyer, Director of Programming. The event was well attended and well received by the local residents who joined in the simcha.

The first act of the partnership between the two synagogues will be 10 teenagers from Sderot spending the summer in France as guests of the Les Toulles community.

Brit Yedidut project is a joint effort of CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the World Organization for Orthodox Kehiilot and Synagogues. Rabbi Michael Strick, Executive Director of CYIR, explained “The aim of the Brit Yedidut program is to bring communities in Israel and the Diaspora closer by twinning like-minded synagogues and encouraging them to run a range of bilateral programming and activities. “During the past few months, three Brit Yedidut twinnings have taken root with synagogues in Europe.

Plans to expand the program to include Young Israel synagogues throughout North America to have Brit Yedidut programs with Young Israel synagogues in Israel will be implemented throughout the summer and fall.

If you or your synagogue would like to become an active participant in the Brit Yedidut program, contact CYIR’s Director of Programming, Daniel M. Meyer: mush@youngisraelrabbis.org.il

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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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CYIR Hosts Two Day Seminar for Marriage Professionals on Prenuptial Agreements

CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, in cooperation with The Rackman Center of Bar Ilan University, MaTaN, Mifnim and Yad La'Isha, led a two day seminar for "marriage professionals", i.e. lawyers, rabbis, rabbinical court advocates, chatan and kallah teachers. The seminar, entitled "Prenuptial Agreements: A Solution to Get Refusal", was held in Jerusalem over two consecutive Sundays.

Lecturers included jurists, rabbis, rabbinical court judges, professors, lawyers, a mesurevet get (victim of get-refusal), the director of the Israeli Rabbinical Courts and our own Rachel Levmore, CYIR's Coordinator of Prenuptial & Get-Refusal Prevention Projects.

Besides the lectures and materials distributed, participants were also guided to consult the section of CYIR's website, www.youngisraelrabbis.org.il that deals with prenuptial agreements. "The site has proven to be an invaluable tool for those who are looking for information about prenuptial agreements—for the couples themselves, their parents, their teachers and counselors and these professionals" Ms. Levmore said.

Click here for the Jerusalem Post article on the seminar.

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Israeli Day Camps to Feature CYIR Programming for Deaf Children

CYIR's Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired (JHPIDHI) provides programming for over 16,000 Israelis each year - and the summer is no exception. JHPIDHI will be running programs in day camps located in Netanya, Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, and Holon. Each group, comprised of 50 campers, has 5-6 deaf leaders who will teach sign language in a joyful, interactive way. For example - children will choose their own name in sign language. Once divided into groups, each is assigned a color - and the group is taught words that have to do with their color. Campers also perform skits that pertain to their color with a Judaic theme - such as gold for Jerusalem, blue for Noah's Ark.

"These unique programs allow deaf and hearing impaired children to attend local day camps with their friends while feeling part of the group and learning about our heritage" said Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, JHPIDHI Director. "As a result of the programs, other campers learn a greater sensitivity towards their non/hard of hearing co-campers."

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EYE SQUAD to Introduce BAYIT Program: Providing Surrogate Families for North Americans Spending a Year in Israel

BAYIT (Building A Year in Israel Together), a new initiative of the Eye Squad, pairs North American students spending a post-high school year in Israel with Anglo host families. These pairings promise to make the “year in Israel” experience richer and more comfortable for the students while giving the host families the opportunity to open their homes and give visiting students a taste of “regular” life in Israel. Students turn to their BAYIT families for Shabbat and holiday hospitality, and the families become an integral element of the support network so vital to the students’ Israel experience. Host families are screened prior to assignment, and the Eye Squad provides them with the tools needed to support their BAYIT students.

Ideally, students will be matched with host families at the beginning of the academic year (Elul) prior to or immediately upon their arrival in Israel, but students will be able to join the program at any time. These pairings will last throughout the entire year (or student’s stay in Israel), and we expect that participating families attempt to schedule a Shabbat with their students within the first month of the pairing.

How Does a Student/Family Join BAYIT?: Contact the Eye Squad directly: BAYIT@eyesquad.org

Current and Upcoming Events

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