Once again, Agudas Yisroel of America has completely missed the mark.
What do I mean?
Let’s talk for a moment about the 25th annual Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah, which will take place from Sunday, February 16 to Thursday, February 20, 2025, 27 Shevat through 1 Adar 5785. This event is a life-changing, awe-inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any Yid seeking to immerse themselves in Torah, learning, and the purest atmosphere of ruchniyus elevation.
And yet, when I attended last year’s event, I was astounded—and not in a good way—to see a few hundred people in attendance.
A few hundred? For something of this magnitude?
This is a program that changes lives, and yet Agudas Yisroel somehow manages to undersell it to the point where thousands of people are missing out on the most transformative experience they could possibly imagine.
Let’s break this down for a moment.
The Yarchei Kallah is everything it promises to be—world-class learning, the deepest insights from gedolei hador, a palpable ruach that fills every inch of the room, and a connection to Torah that is simply unparalleled.
It’s like nothing else in the world. I’m telling you. I am forever changed by what I witnessed last year.
The sheer atmosphere of the place is enough to make anyone feel like they’ve been transported into another realm, surrounded by the greatest minds of Torah, united by Torah in just an extraordinary way.
And yet, what did I find? A few hundred people? Was this a joke? What was the Agudah thinking? Seriously.
This event should have a waiting list longer than the longest flight delay in history. There should be thousands of participants. Yet somehow, Agudah has decided that a hotel in Yerushalayim is the most fitting venue for something of this importance. A hotel? Really? A hotel? When you’re talking about an event that could shake the very foundation of one’s Yiddishkeit, that could give participants a rare chance to sit at the feet of gedolim, that could ignite their Torah passion in a way they never imagined, what do they offer? A hotel? Why not throw this thing in the back of a shul, or perhaps in the basement of some nondescript building with folding chairs and no air-conditioning?
For something as extraordinary as the Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah, you would think that they’d be pulling out all the stops. They should be hosting this event in a space like MetLife Stadium, a venue that can comfortably hold thousands of eager participants, all of whom are desperate to be part of this experience. Imagine the spiritual energy of that many people learning and growing together. The learning would be electric. The vibes would be out of this world. The connection to the Torah and to the gedolim would be unimaginable.
Yet, the Agudah continues to hold this event in a hotel in the heart of Yerushalayim. Why? Is it a question of funding? Organization? Vision? Or is it just the same old way of underestimating the power of Torah and the thirst of Yidden to be part of something that could elevate their lives?
This, my friends, is an event that should be a tour de force of Torah inspiration.
Maybe Agudah’s vision for the Yarchei Kallah is too small, too limited, too comfortable with what it already has. Maybe they think they’re doing enough, but they’re clearly not. For something this life-altering, something that holds the potential to spark a revolution in Yiddishkeit, this should not be a small, intimate gathering. This should be huge. I’ve seen the way such events can be, and the difference is stark. Agudah, once again, blows it.
For those of you who are still going to give it a shot and join this year’s Yarchei Kallah—somehow—you can sign up right here: Yarchei Kallah 2025 Registration.
I promise, you’ll walk away like a different person.
And you’ll be the one writing this letter next year, asking: Huh? Only a few hundred people? This was the most incredible experience of my life!
Indeed, wouldn’t it be nice if the Agudah finally woke up and realized what an opportunity they have on their hands here?
Just a thought.
Sincerely,
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Shameless clickbait?!
Wait. So should I ask Rabbi Bender if I can pay for this vacation to Israel instead of paying the balance of my children’s tuition?
I dont think you needed the negativity to make your point.
Literally the worst paid ad ever. Try to be a bit more slick next time.
Sincerely,
Agudath Israel of America
I have been there 15 years ago. They need some new young blood to analyze, strategize, and execute a better version of this initiative.
Ha reverse troll
Another rant without leaving a name? Don’t waste my time. Next.
Is this the Agudah hiding behind an advertisement?
duuuuhhhh
The writer of the letter missed the boat and the train. He may try again, but he will likely miss it again, De Ja Vu.
Look. I’m no fan of the Agudah.
But you can’t blame them for doing it how they do it if no one more wants to come.
What should they do? Take a stadium for 300 people ?
Alteh Bucher
So you’ll pay for me and get me off of work?
Maybe they realize that not everyone has the luxury to take off from work for 4 days…
Sounds like Dirshu wrote this.
Why all the hate? Where else besides for a hotel should they hold this “incredible life changing event”, on the har habayis?
If there was more demand than a few hundred people, it would be bigger. Apparently, there aren’t “tens of thousands” of people who are interested or have the ability to come join.
I’m glad though that you benefited from the Agudah’s initiative
yes!!! on har habayis . but only after dipping in a mikve kosher for diorasya without chatizot
Maybe because people can’t afford to take off for a week and fly off to israel.
Here’s another crazy thought, maybe there’s people who do their best to find time to learn and don’t necessarily feel that flying off for a week and leaving the family alone is the correct thing.-
This is a beautiful program, but “low” attendance isn’t necdessarily ans issue. Nobody “blows it again”
I think the Aguda is not the same since the days of Rabbi Sherer, gone are the days of shtadlanus lshem shomayim. now it seems it is just a place for guys to get their picture in the paper and help their daughters shidduchim chances.
How low can marketing go?
I’m sorry but obviously the person who penned this letter has no understanding of the average frum family’s financial struggles. Is this person deaf and blind that there our economy has inflated the prices on our basic needs (not to mention the already inflated jewish prices on our needs as well), the struggle to pay tuition, camps, yom tov needs, simchas, and I could go on. Instead this writer goes on rant that the the Agudah should be marketing this to thousands of Yidden. As if there isn’t enough peer pressure from within the community to live up to certain standard, (I personally live in OOT community and don’t have these deal with this) now you pressure people to spend at least $2,000 (Registration, hotel, plane tickets etc.) because you feel they will get amazing chizuk? I agree in theory its an amazing opportunity but I imagine this is not financially sustainable for the average family trying to make ends meet every month. The Agudah is only marketing it to the people that could afford it (hopefully).
I went to a few of these. If you bring your chavrusa along, these programs are really great. It is hard to find a chavrusa there that will click with your way of learning. It used to cost a total of $250, so I would stay by a relative and it was great. Now they started to serve meals, so the cost is much steeper (on top of the already inflated airline prices), so again we have an Agudah function for the wealthy. I went over to Rabbi Zwiebel when the price was still $250 and thanked him for having a function that more of us could afford.
Cry, cry, cry. The Yarchei Kallah is a wonderful opportunity to experience an inspiring and uplifting indulgence in Torah, flanked by the wisdom of Gedolei Yisroel. Kol hakavod to all who participate in this.
Now, let’s get real. Most of us are baalei batim, whether in the working world, or Klai Kodesh. We have jobs. This may include offices, stores, classrooms, or the Beis Hamedrash. These obligations might allow for vacations, but they might not. Some that have vacations prove to be far more limited than the span of time needed to travel and participate in this huge event. And many of us lack the resources to take off the time, and the expenses required to participate. Not knocking the maalos of the YC event. But those not attending should not be viewed as in contempt. Most are probably unable. Fact is, I know many that attend, and they are among the wealthier class.
Agudah is doing a nice thing. We might suggest they sponsor similar events in America, perhaps in several locations. Regardless, being koveiya ittim should be the norm, and this does not necessitate hotels, scheduling of huge events, or the expensive travel.
Matzav I’m impressed. Best advertising tactic.
“They should be hosting this event in a space like MetLife Stadium”
MetLife stadium is in New Jersey, while the event you write about is in Eretz Yisroel.
Do you propose to move EY and its gedolim to NJ for the event, or transport the stadium to EY?
The subset of working bnei torah which is the target audience is not that many people
.
Subtract from this small group a large majority of people (probably 90+%) who cannot afford this or cannot take off from work.
The total number of people left who can even attend is very small.
Minus those who are not interested, can’t fly and other reasons and It’s surprising that there are a few hundred people who actually attended
Mi keamcha yisroel
Every group, people, community has good character traits & bad character traits & Yidden are no different.
One area we don’t do well in is understanding different people value different things than you do.
Whether it’s finances, leaving the family, traveling far from home, or knowing most of the time will be spent visiting family & friends.
There are a myriad of reasons why individual Yidden don’t feel the same way as you do.
It takes a certain level of arrogance (another bad Middah many of us suffer from) to be upset at the Agudah &/or the men that don’t attend because YOU see it as a life changing event. Perhaps there’s a good reason “Hundreds” attend instead of “Thousands” & perhaps these reasons are different than what you are assuming.
How low can marketing go?
Lower,& lower
I don’t know if ANYONE would come if it was in MetLife.
It is designed to be a small(er) intimate setting, NOT a four day Siyum HaShas.
If the person responsible for this rant just wanted to vent he should’ve wrote of lace tops, the comments would all way more forgiving but this is plain strange.
Hey letter writer – stop writing letters, get off your chair and DO SOMETHING! Did you even CALL the Agudah offering to help organize this event? Have you looked into and presented options to the Agudah such as costs for a larger venue? What’s wrong with a hotel that has ample space and rooms so people can maximize their learning without having to travel between locations
You should also consider the high pricing and limited seats on ELAL. Glad to see you were able to pay a minimum of $1200 from NYC,. Any other year you have a plethora of competing flight options with winter pricing. I don’t see you offering subsidies so people can attend.
Out Of Touch: Awesome well said
Mordechai: Whats THIS HAVE TO DO WITH Dirshu
Competition.
Matzav inbox cycle:
Step 1: post about some expensive luxury (eg flying to Israel for 4 days) or at least a fancy dinner or party
Step 2: post about tuition/parnasah crisis
Rinse and repeat as needed for maximum clicks
Now you’re finally chapping how the little kinderlach at Matzav operate.
Maybe there’s a better forum than Matzav for verbal exhibitionism. Too much Rant vs. Rant.
This letter is a marketing tactic to fool you into going…