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In this Issue:
Torah Related Items and Rabbinic Resources
Mishna and Halacha Yomit for All
Don't Forget to Sign a Pruzbul before the End of the Year
Young Israel Announces Reactivation of Shalosh Regalim Food Campaign for Gush Katif Evacuees
AIAC to Hold US Presidential Style Debate with Representatives from Republican, Democat Parties; Voter Registration Drive Underway
Professor Robert Yisrael Aumann, Nobel Laureate, to be Keynote Speaker at CYIR 18th Anniversary Celebration - Sat. Night, November 1, 2008
EYE SQUAD and Gili's Goodies Team Up to Support Hotline
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 Ki Tavo written by Rabbi Chaim Frazer, Assoc. Member, YI Council of Rabbis, by clicking this link.
b) CYIR and NCYI Present: Elul Practicum and Chomer L'Drush - CYIR and NCYI's Department of Rabbinic Services are pleased to announce the publication of their Elul Practicum and Chomer L'Drush/Tools of the Trade for the period of the Chagim. The practicum, compiled by CYIR's President Rabbi Chaim Wasserman, is the pulpit rabbi's handbook for preparing the synagogue for Elul and the Yamim Noraim. Click here to download the Elul Practicum.
The Chomer L'Drush and Tools of the Trade were written by a number of our chaveirim on both sides of the ocean including Rabbis David Mescheloff, Binyamin Walfish, Moshe Taub, Shimon Silver, and Boruch Twersky. It was jointly compiled by CYIR and NCYI. Click here to download Chomer L'Drush and Tools of the Trade.
c) Mitzvah of Hakhel - The 612th mitzvah of the Torah, Hakhel, only happens once every seven years, the Succos holiday following Shmittah. As we complete the current Shmittah year and plan for the upcoming chag of Succot, the mitzvah of Hakhel should be on our minds. NCYI suggests that the Rav should be planning now a series of shiurim, lectures and educational opportunities to share with your membership. Topics may include the mitzvah and its Biblical and Talmudic sources; the philosophy of the mitzvah; the dinim and halachos of the mitzvah; a discussion of its application (if any) in modern times; etc.
To assist you in sharing the Torah of this mitzvah, National Council of Young Israel has joined with the Hebron Rabbinical Research Institute to produce a 200 page sefer that includes all the above, and so much more. The sefer is now at the printer but to enable our Rabbanim to take advantage of this wealth of material, it can be downloaded by clicking here.
d) Looking for Chomer L'Drush and "Tools of the Trade" for Sukkot: CYIR and NCYI are teaming up once again to provide rabbanim with Chomer L'Drush and tools of the trade for Sukkot. Please send your "contributions" to aaron@youngisraelrabbis.org.il
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Mishna and Halacha Yomit for All
 Over forty years ago Rabbi Charles Batt began to distribute the luach (calendar) of "Mishna and Halacha Yomit" in the United States. His idea was twofold: First was his passionate desire to have every Jewish person, no matter what his background, learn Torah everyday. Second, he believed that the learning of "Mishna" provides an individual with a broad appreciation and knowledge of the scope of Torah She'Ba'al Peh.
On the same luach has been added the Daf Yomi and Perek Yomi of Tanach for those who wish to add or subtract.
This project was continued, after Rabbi Batt's death, by his sister and brother-in-law. These days, his children and grandchildren are continuing the project, led by CYIR member Rabbi Ahron Batt. They plan to expand the scope of this worldwide project by making the Luach available not only in hard copy, but also through e-mail. The e-mail version will also include the schedule for Daf Yomi and Perek Yomi of Tanach.
Join thousands all over the world who are learning using a daily universal schedule of two mishnayot and/or three halachot in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim every day.We would appreciate your cooperation in publicizing the availability of this schedule of daily learning.
To download the luach, click here.
To receive the luach via email, please click here.
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Don't Forget to Sign a Pruzbul Before the End of the Year
 Rabbi David Marcus, author of CYIR's very popular "Shmittah 5768: A Practical Guide" reminds us that as the end of the year comes into view, it behooves those who are involved in loans and debts to sign a pruzbul document.
From the Guide: "The shmittah year cancels all financial debts. This means that if someone owes you money, and he/she comes to return it to you after the shmittah year, you are supposed to say that the debt is excused. If the borrower still would like to return the money, you are permitted to take it, and this is considered a noble act on the part of the borrower.
This is a rabbinical requirement in our times, and it applies to Jews in and out of the land of Israel!
Loans become canceled on the last day of the shmittah year. Any loan accrued prior to this date can be collected up to this date only. Hillel established pruzbul: a mechanism by which the lender surrenders his ownership to a bet din and authorizes them to act on his behalf to collect the debt or appoint him to collect the debt. This was done in order to avoid a situation in which people refrained from providing financial aid to those less fortunate as shmittah drew near.
Although it is not clearly required halachically, it is recommended that a pruzbul be written to include any savings you may have in an Israeli bank.
It is recommended that you sign a pruzbul in front of a bet din during the month of Elul at the end of shmittah (August-September 2008)."
To access the pruzbul document for use with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, click here.
To set an appointment to sign a pruzbul document with CYIR's Bet Din, click here.
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Young Israel Announces Reactivation of Shalosh Regalim Food Campaign for Gush Katif Evacuees
 Young Israel announced that it has reactivated its Shalosh Regalim Campaign to provide provisions for the holiday of Succot to the former residents of Gush Katif and Northern Shomron who were expelled from their homes in August 2005. The Young Israel's food distribution campaign will also help the families of Sderot, whose lives have been in turmoil for the past several years while Kassam rockets rain down on their community.
The National Council of Young Israel initially embarked on its food distribution campaign before Succot 2007. Together with the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel ("CYIR"), and in conjunction with the Yad Ezra organization in Israel, the NCYI provided several truckloads of food to families who had been evacuated from Gush Katif. With the help of Eugen and Jean Gluck of Forest Hills, Queens, and many other shuls and individuals who made additional financial contributions, the National Council of Young Israel purchased several truckloads of food for Succot. The food was delivered to over 500 families in Nitzan, as well as to many other Gush Katif families in the Golan, Ashkelon, and various other cities.
NCYI also organized a food distribution campaign for Pesach 2008. Several days prior to Pesach, after having funds to buy food for the families of Gush Katif for Yom Tov, the NCYI and Yad Ezra arranged to have four truckloads carrying more than twenty-five tons of food delivered to the city of Nitzan, and another truckload delivered to Sderot. More than 700 families in need benefited from the Shalosh Regalim Campaign on Pesach. As they had done for the Succot campaign, the Glucks of Forest Hills took a leading role once again and helped ensure the success of the Pesach food distribution campaign. The food distribution campaign was replicated again for the holiday of Shavuot, when two truckloads carrying 50,000 containers of dairy products were delivered to the families.
With Succot 2008 closely upon us, the National Council of Young Israel is again collecting funds to purchase food for the families of Gush Katif and Sderot for Yom Tov. NCYI Executive Vice President Rabbi Pesach Lerner urged people to participate in the Shalosh Regalim Campaign so that families, who otherwise would not be able to bring the joy of Yom Tov into their home, will be provided with the opportunity to do so.
Click here to donate now.
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AIAC To Hold US Presidential Style Debate with Representatives from Republican, Democat Parties; Voter Registration Drive Underway - Sept. 25 - Jerusalem
 The American Israeli Action Coalition (AIAC) is sponsoring a US Presidential Style Debate involving representatives of the campaigns of both Barack Obama and John McCain - to clarify positions of both candidates on issues relating to Israel and other matters of concern to American expatriates. The debate, which will take place Thursday, September 25, 2008 at Heichal Shlomo in Jerusalem at 7:30 PM, will be the first time such an event will be held in Israel.
Harvey Schwartz, AIAC's Chairman stated "Representatives from the campaigns include Marc Zell from Republicans Abroad Israel and Sheldon Schorer from Democrats Abroad Israel. They have been authorized by their respective parties to speak on behalf of the candidates on a wide range of issues - in order to better educate American Israelis when it comes to choosing a candidate for the upcoming presidential election." Schwartz will serve as moderator of the event, which will include a series of prepared questions, responses and questions from the audience.
The event will also give attendees the opportunity to register to vote via the efforts of VFI: Votefromisrael.org
AIAC is a non-political, non-partisan, issue-oriented NGO, which is devoted to effectively recruiting and activating the more than 250,000 expatriate American citizens in Israel in order to create a united voice that will be heard by the governments and people of the United States and Israel on issues that pertain to the continued safety and security of Israel and the Jewish people worldwide.
Click here to join the Coalition.
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Professor Robert Yisrael Aumann, Nobel Laureate, to be Keynote Speaker at CYIR 18th Anniversary Celebration - Saturday Night, November 1, 2008
 CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, is proud to announce that the keynote speaker at its 18 Anniversary Celebration - which will take place Saturday night, November 1, 2008 (4 Cheshvan 5769) at the Ramada Hotel in Jerusalem - will be Nobel Laureate Professor Robert Yisrael Aumann.
Professor Aumann is an Israeli mathematician and a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences. He is a professor at the Center for the Study of Rationality in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. He also holds a visiting position at Stony Brook University and is one of the founding members of the Center for Game Theory in Economics at Stony Brook.
Aumann was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and fled to the United States with his family in 1938, two weeks before the Kristallnacht pogrom. He attended the Rabbi Jacob Joseph yeshiva high school in New York City. He graduated from the City College of New York in 1950 with a B.Sc. in Mathematics. He received his M.Sc. in 1952, and his Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1955, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His doctoral dissertation, Asphericity of Alternating Linkages, concerned knot theory. His advisor was George Whitehead, Jr. In 1956 he joined the Mathematics faculty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is currently a visiting leading professor at Stony Brook University since 1989.
In 2005, Aumann received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 2005 for his work on conflict and cooperation through game-theory analysis.
Click here for more information about CYIR's 18th Anniversary Celebration.
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EYE SQUAD and Gili's Goodies Team Up to Support Hotline
 The EYE SQUAD has teamed up with Gili's Goodies, one of Israel's most well known gift package services, to offer parents of post high school students studying in Israel on one year programs to send to their children special Rosh HaShana gifts (and to others), a portion of the proceeds of which will help fund the EYE SQUAD's hotline and other services.
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.
Gili's Goodies has multiple gift package ideas, and they deliver throughout Israel and the United States. To support the EYE SQUAD by sending a Gili's Goodies package, click here - and remember to use the code "YIES" to make your donation to the EYE SQUAD.
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Current and Upcoming Events
SAVE THESE DATES:
CHANGE OF DATE!!!! SATURDAY NIGHT, NOVEMBER 1, 2008 (4 CHESHVAN 5769) – CYIR Celebrates 18 Years of Service to Israel by honoring its Founders, Leaders and Builders at a Motzaei Shabbat Melave Malka 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 Shoam Ltd., an investment firm which picks companies that conform to halacha to serve as their investment base. Our Keynote speaker will be Professor Yisrael Aummann, Nobel Laureate. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.
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Pomeranz Booksellers Weekly Selection - Jerusalem
 Waiting for Rain by Bryna Jocheved Levy joins the field of biblical interpretation known as parshanut ha-mikrah. It offers fresh insights into traditional rabbinic interpretation, together with the author's perspective as a modern Orthodox woman bible scholar. Levy explores the psyches of the biblical characters and addresses issues such as our connectedness to others, the tragedy of wasted opportunity, confronting evil, the denial of death, faith and doubt, personal and communal responsibility, universalism versus particularism, the challenge of leadership, sin and atonement, and the efficacy of prayer. The result is a highly personal approach to the meaning of the High Holidays that resonates with our own modern lives.
Stories about heroes and heroines, love, faith, hope, and dreams make this book a moving and engaging source for study and reflection as well as an excellent companion to the traditional High Holiday prayer services.
Price: $30.00 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, Pomeranz Bookseller will call you for your credit card details.
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CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel 
