In this Issue:
Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources
Back to School with the Children of SDEROT and GUSH KATIF
Young Israel Embarks on Torah Learning Campaign in Memory of Israeli MIA's Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev
Focus on CYIR Leadership Awardees: Rabbi Chanoch Yeres
An Evening of Commemoration, Inspiration and Solidarity: CYIR Marks Third Anniversary of Gush Katif Disengagement - August 7
CYIR Joins Coalition for a United Jerusalem at Press Conference to Welcome Senator Obama to Israel and to Seek Clarification on Jerusalem Stance
Current and Upcoming Events
Pomeranz Bookseller's Weekly Selection
Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources
 a) Divrei Torah Bulletin for this Shabbat: Please find NCYI’s Divrei Torah Bulletin for Matot written by Rabbi Boaz Tomsky, Associate Member, YICR by clicking this link.
b) 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.
 c) The National Council of Young Israel's Department of Rabbinic Services, in conjunction with CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, is proud to present Chomer L’Drush on the Three Weeks and Tisha B’Av. Summer is a time of renewal, when many rabbanim take a much-needed and well-deserved vacation with their families. There is not always an opportunity for preparing shiruim to engage the congregation during the challenging time of Bein Hametzarim. Click here to access the materials.
d) 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. In addition, 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) 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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Back to School with the Children of SDEROT and GUSH KATIF
 As summer vacation gets into full swing, the furthest thing from anyone's mind is the start of the next school year.
However, for the some 3000 elementary school students from the city of Sderot and the ex-Gush Katif communities, going back to school can be a source of major financial stress.
CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel invites you to join us in its "Back to School with the Children of Sderot and Gush Katif" campaign. It’s very simple: we want to place a fully stocked pencil case filled with writing implements and other “goodies” on each child’s desk as a “welcome back” message of solidarity. Our aim is that when these students arrive in their classrooms for the first day of school on September 1, there will be a pencil case waiting for them on their desk.
Help put a smile on the faces of these students that have gone through so much. The cost of each pencil case is $10 (or NIS 35) and we need to reach a total of 3000 pencil cases to ensure that every student receives this small but significant token of the oneness of our people.
Donations can be made in US Dollars via PayPal for $10 USD by clicking this link.
Donations can be made in Israeli Shekels via PayPal for NIS 35 by clicking this link.
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Young Israel Movement Embarks on Torah Learning Campaign in Memory of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev
 The National Council of Young Israel, in conjunction with CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, announced today that it will conduct a siyum on Mishnayot (a codified collection of the first written recording of the Oral Law) at the conclusion of the Shloshim (30-day mourning period) for Israeli MIA's Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. The learning of Mishnayot is customary during the mourning period.
"The Worldwide Young Israel Movement believes that a global effort to remember the MIA's through learning Mishnayot is a fitting way to show solidarity with the Goldwasser and Regev families," said NCYI President Shlomo Z. Mostofsky, "By responding to the tragedy in a spiritual and meaningful fashion in accordance with Jewish tradition, we can pay proper tribute to these two young men who lost their lives defending the Jewish nation and safeguarding the State of Israel."
Although the Shloshim will take place on Erev Shabbat Kodesh, Shabbat Nachamu, which is on Friday, August 15, the siyum (a ceremony marking the completion of Mishnayot) will be held on Monday, August 18, 2008, 17 Menachem Av 5768. The siyum will be broadcast live on the Internet from the international offices of the National Council of Young Israel in New York. Mincha will take place at 1:45 pm (which will be 8:45 pm in Israel) with the siyum to follow. The siyum will be led by Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, Co-President of CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Passaic-Clifton, and Editor of The Rabbi's Letter.
To sign up to learn Mishnayot in memory of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, please visit www.youngisrael.org, or contact Ilana Nutkis in the NCYI's Department of Rabbinic Services - Division of Professional Development at 212-929-1525 ext. 113, or by email at inutkis@youngisrael.org
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Focus on CYIR Leadership Awardees: Rabbi Chanoch Yeres
 As Director of CYIR’s Judaic Heritage Program for Israel’s Deaf and Hearing Impaired, Rabbi Chanoch Yeres and his staff touch the lives of over 16,000 children and adults each year. Through holiday events, leadership training and ongoing educational programming, Rabbi Yeres brings Judaism to life to those who cannot fully experience Yahadut the way the rest of us can.
It is precisely for his dedication to teaching Torah to this unique portion of Klal Israel that CYIR will honor Rabbi Yeres with the presentation of a Leadership Award at its 18th Anniversary Celebration.
Rabbi Yeres will be honored with other awardees at CYIR's 18th Anniversary Celebration on Friday morning, September 5, 2008 at the Ramada Hotel (formerly the Renaissance) in Jerusalem. Click here for more information.
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An Evening of Commemoration, Inspiration and Solidarity: CYIR Marks Third Anniversary of Gush Katif Disengagement - August 7
 On the 3rd Anniversary of the Disengagement from Gush Katif and Northern Shomron, CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel in conjunction with The Jerusalem Great Synagogue, invite you to a special evening of Commemoration, Inspiration and Solidarity: Thursday evening, August 7, 2008/7 Menachem Av 5768 at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, 56 King George Street. Doors will open at 7:15 pm; the program will start promptly at 8:00 pm.
Speakers include: HaRav Yosef Tzvi Rimon - Founder and Chairman, JobKatif; recipient of the Presidents Award for Volunteerism – 2008; Mrs. Anita Tucker - “The Celery Lady” – 30 year resident of Netzer Hazani; HaRav Sholom Gold - Rabbi Emeritus, Young Israel of Har Nof; founder and dean of Avrom Silver College; Mrs. Aviva Pinchuk - Volunteering to answer the needs of Gush Katif Evacuees.
The evening will also feature the international launch of “Tefila L’Ani –the Poor Man’s Prayer” written by HaRav Yossef Elnekave - Former Head of the Religious Council of Gush Katif.
The entrance fee for this program is NIS 20; the entire program will be presented in English. We urge you to attend this important and meaningful event.
For further information please contact Daniel Meyer, CYIR Director of Programming: 02.625.4983 ext. 111; mush@youngisraelrabbis.org.il
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CYIR Joins Coalition for a United Jerusalem at Press Conference to Welcome Senator Obama to Israel and to Seek Clarification on Jerusalem Stance
 The Coalition for a United Jerusalem (spearheaded by the Worldwide Young Israel Movement and the Zionist Organization of America) held a well attended news conference Tuesday evening opposite the King David Hotel in central Jerusalem, calling upon visiting Senator Barack Obama to reaffirm his positive views for the future of Jerusalem. In welcoming the Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee, the Coalition aimed to remind Obama of his remarks in June of this year, to the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC, where he stated the need to insure that Jerusalem remain the undivided Capital of Israel.
The Coalition, comprised of the American Israeli Action Coalition, CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, Emunah Women, the Rabbinical Council of America in Israel, the Worldwide Young Israel Movement, and the Zionist Organization of America, intended to highlight the views of some of the major American/Israeli organizations and dual American/Israeli citizens living in Israel. Rabbi Aaron Tirschwell, Director of Israel Operations for the Worldwide Young Israel Movement, explained that "approximately 250,000 American citizens are currently living in Israel. Although they are not by any means monolithic in their political views, many here as well as their families and friends in America, view the issue of a unified Jerusalem as a litmus test for a candidate’s pro-Israel bona fides. We sincerely hope Mr. Obama factors this into his campaign calculus as he goes forward."
Click here for the entire text of the press conference statement.
Click here for a collection of global news clippings and blogs that covered the press conference.
To watch Arutz Sheva coverage of the Press Conference, click here.
To join the AIAC: American Israeli Action Coallition, click here.
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Current and Upcoming Events
SAVE THESE DATES:
Thursday, July 31/28 Tammuz - Rav Mayer Lichtenstein will be speaking on the topic of "A Halachic Social Theory based upon the laws of Nezikin" at BEIT AVI CHAI - 44 King George Street, Jerusalem at 4:00 pm. For more information, please contact Baruch Kelman: Baruch@Avichai.org.il
Thursday evening, August 7/Evening of 7 Menachem Av - CYIR Presents "An Evening of Commemoration, Inspiration and Solidarity: CYIR Marks Third Anniversary of Gush Katif Disengagement." SEE DETAILS ABOVE.
Monday, August 25, 2008/24 Menachem Av 5768 - CYIR Day Trip - JERUSALEM TODAY - CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, in conjunction with AIAC: American Israeli Action Coalition cordially invites you to join us for a Day Trip: JERUSALEM TODAY. Visit and view the sites of strategic interest in today’s “battle” for Yerushalayim: Ma’ale Adumim, E1 , Abu Dis, Mount Scopus, Ramat Rachel, Bethlehem, Gush Etzion, Har Homa, Gilo and more! Price: NIS 120 per person - includes light lunch. RSVP and for more information: mush@youngisraelrabbis.org.il / 02-625-4983 Ext.111
Monday evening, August 25, 2008/24 Menachem Av 5768 - CYIR Presents: AFMDA Blood Drive/YESHA Fair: to take place at Heichal Shlomo, 58 King George Street, Jerusalem. Details regarding both the blood drive and the YESHA Fair to be posted shortly. Check www.youngisraelrabbis.org.il periodically for updates.
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 at the Ramada Hotel (formerly the Renaissance) in Jerusalem. Founders being honored include Rabbis Meyer Fendel, Macy Gordon, James Gordon, Sholom Gold, Yeshaya Heisler, and Nachman Kahana. 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. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.
Monday - Tuesday, September 15-16/15-16 Elul - CYIR Yarchei Kallah Program in Jerusalem - DETAILS AND TOPICS WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY.
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Pomeranz Booksellers of Jerusalem - Weekly Selection
 "For the Love of Israel and the Jewish People" - The Land of Israel and the Jewish people are bound together in mysterious ways that go beyond convention. Here is a nation that has “too much history and too little geography,” as Sir Isaiah Berlin said. Yet even in their exile, the Jews never truly left the land of their birth. Rather, they lifted it from its native soil and transformed it into a portable homeland, taking it with them to all corners of the earth. Only in 1948 after nearly two thousand years did the Jewish people return to its original home.
How is it that contrary to all the laws of history, the Jewish people outlived so many powerful empires? How was this tiny nation able to make an unprecedented contribution to the wellbeing of all of humankind? Why did the Jewish people become a source of endless irritation to those who opposed its ethical teachings? Finally, how can the State of Israel rediscover its Jewish identity as the source of its greatest blessing and hope? Nathan Lopes Cardozo addresses these and other questions throughout this remarkable collection of essays. (327 Pages)
Price: $26.95 - Free Shipping. Ordering instructions: send an email to Pomeranz@netmedia.net.il. Please include in your order, your name, address and phone number. For your security, we will call you for your credit card details.
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CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel 
