CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, in conjunction with the Worldwide Young Israel Movement and the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, announced today that their Gush Katif Commemoration Event, which will take place at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue on Thursday evening, August 7, 2008, will be broadcast by Arutz Sheva/Israel National News on Sunday, the 9th of Av (August 10, 2008). The event will be broadcast on the internet at www.israelnationalnews.com

“While other members of the press plan to attend the commemoration in order to report on the program itself, Arutz Sheva has gone a step further and chosen to broadcast the program in its entirety on the saddest day on the Jewish calendar,” said Daniel Meyer, CYIR’s Director of Programming. “It is certainly befitting the mood and sadness of the 9th of Av that a program dedicated to the disengagement from Gush Katif and the Northern Shomron be broadcast for Jews around the world to hear.”

The program, entitled “An Evening of Commemoration, Inspiration and Solidarity on the Third Anniversary of the Disengagement,” will consist of remembrances of life in Gush Katif during its heyday, the disengagement that took place three years ago, an update on the status of the expellees, and a plea for volunteers to sign up to assist their displaced brethren.

Speakers at the event will include HaRav Yosef Tzvi Rimon, Founder and Chairman of JobKatif, and the recipient of the 2008 President’s Award for Volunteerism; Mrs. Anita Tucker, a thirty-year resident of Netzer Hazani who is known as the “The Celery Lady;” HaRav Sholom Gold, Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Har Nof and Founder and Dean of Avrom Silver College; and Mrs. Aviva Pinchuk, who is volunteering to address the needs of Gush Katif evacuees.

“The goal of this program is remembrance – to recall an awful event that befell our people,” said Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, CYIR President. “This will not be a political program or an evening of finger-pointing. Rather, its purpose is to sensitize all who attend and listen that this tragedy, like all others that have afflicted the Jewish people throughout history, needs to be recalled on Judaism’s national day of mourning – the 9th of Av.”

 At the event, there will also be a discussion about two Young Israel initiatives that are assisting Gush Katif evacuees.  The “Back to School” Campaign for the children from Gush Katif enables donors to purchase pencil cases filled with school supplies to be placed on each child’s desk on the first day of school – Monday, September 1. The requested donation for each pencil case is $10 or NIS 35. Click here to donate.

In addition, CYIR has teamed up with Dr. Shmuel Abramson, an Anglo Jerusalem dentist, to raise funds to provide emergency dental care for Gush Katif evacuees. “There are in excess of 200 people who need immediate dental work,” said Dr. Abramson. “Working together with Young Israel to raise the necessary funds will allow us to treat those who are in need.” Click here to donate.

Tickets for the August 7^th program, which is expected to draw a capacity crowd, can be purchased for NIS 20. For more information about the event and the Gush Katif fundraising campaigns, contact Daniel Meyer at (02)625-4983, ext. 111, or at mush@youngisraelrabbis.org.il