Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky Addresses Gathering Focusing On Communal Ills

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rabbonim-meeting-2More than forty rabbonim from the greater New York/New Jersey area gathered at Agudath Israel of America’s national headquarters on Thursday, 21 Elul (September 10) to discuss wrenching social problems that have emerged over recent years in the Orthodox community.

The gathering, which was organized by Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim of Agudath Israel (under the auspices of Agudath Israel’s Torah Projects division), was aimed at exploring sholom bayis-related issues. There was much discussion of factors – sociological, technological and educational – that, by strong consensus, are contributing to problems in that area; and of the vital role of the rov in cases where a divorce, sadly, is unavoidable, to help avoid or minimize the scars left on the individuals and their children.

The Philadelphia Rosh HaYeshiva, Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah member Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky, addressed the group and participated as well in a spirited wide-ranging discussion that followed his words and presentations by two mental health professionals, David Kohn, LCSW, CASAC, and Dr. Nosson Solomon.

rabbonim-meeting-11Agudath Israel’s executive vice president Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel extended greetings to the rabbonim; and the program was chaired by the organization’s executive director, Rabbi Labish Becker.

The sholom bayis challenges unfortunately exist in every Orthodox community, noted Rabbi Avrohom Nisan Perl, head of Agudath Israel’s Torah Projects division and coordinator of the gathering. “And so it was gratifying to see representation from rabbonim across the spectrum.”

“Coming together to try to better understand the problems,” he continued, “is a necessary first step to formulating measures to address them. One thing is certain: In such vital issues, we dare not bury our heads in the sand.”

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


11 COMMENTS

  1. obviously an important issue.
    But why do they write “more than forty Rabbonim”, when the photos show that only twenty were present,(excluding Agudah staff), and two of these twenty are shaven.

  2. Mevakesh Emes, you should be called Mevakesh Machlokes. Who says the photo depicted the whole gathering and who says a rov is required to have a beard.

  3. to anonymous:
    The photos show three sides of the conference table, and the fourth side of table was the “oiven un”, (the speakers and the Agudah staff), so the photos do show an accurate total.
    As far as shaving goes, you are correct “in principal”, there is no such requirement. but “uch un vei” that we reached this “milestone” in such an organization. would you ask a shaven rov to be Mesader Kidushin at your child’s wedding??

  4. Glad that they’re thinking about the impact on the chldren.

    Now, how do they deal with the problem when the grown child goes for a shidduch and is stigmatized for being from a divorced family?

  5. TO #1 AND #3 You should be ashamed of yourselves, before rosh hashana starting machlokes. I bet you guys go shnorring on purim from all the clean shaven guys to support your yeshivot. Their mone is good to take but not their ideas.

  6. #7
    Yes, a shaven person could be asked for his money, if he has, so he can also contribute to the furtherance of Torah, but to have Daas Torah, one must toil in Torah 24/7, non stop, in a way that his very fiber is only Torah.
    Derech Agav, giving constructive Mussar, is not starting a Machlokes. please get your values straight.

  7. Having been in that room on numerous ocassions for meetings, I can tell you that in addition to the table, overflow seating is set up in rows behind where the cameraman is standing to take this photo – it’s quite likely there were 40+ in attendance.

  8. If so, why didn’t he photograph the full picture, isn’t that elementary?, and if he did take such a picture , why would the organization prefer that the limited picture be used. so please don’t be naive, you know the real answer .

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