How can rabbis and community leaders help community members struggling with issues related to drugs, at risk youth, domestic violence and abuse? On August 6, 2019, the Rabbinical Alliance of America — Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis, the National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) — a national orthodox Synagogue Organization representing 130 Synagogues across the United States with a combined membership of approximately 30,000 families, and the Vaad HaRabbonim of Queens (VHQ) representing the Orthodox rabbinate of Queens, New York teamed up with Amudim, the renowned Jewish agency dedicated to crisis intervention, for a presentation at the Young Israel of Queens Valley, Queens, New York. The special workshop and training overview was titled, “The Role of Rabbis and Community Leaders Dealing with Substance Abuse, Addiction, Sexual Abuse and Mental Health.” Rabbi Zvi Gluck, the founder and director of Amudim, lectured to a crowd of 105 rabbis, rebbitzens, educators and Jewish Communal leaders who attended this important workshop.
Rabbi Gluck presented a well-organized overview of the issues facing the Orthodox Jewish community in particular. His presentation was well received, and he took a series of questions and answers. Rabbi Gluck explained to the audience what to look for to identify people in trouble and what resources are available for the Jewish community. “The goal of Amudim is to support the Jewish Community and to assist the Jewish community in responding to and resolving these issues. It is my prayer that Amudim go out of business when there will be no further need for our services. Until such day, we are here, ready and able to assist any way we can.”
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice president of the RAA/Igud, thanked Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, the Rabbi of the Young Israel of Queens Valley and president of the, VHQ for opening his Congregation for this, “most informative and necessary workshop.” Rabbi Mirocznik further thanked Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, director of the Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs of RAA/Igud, and Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, director of Rabbinic Services of NCYI, for their hard work and collaboration in making the workshop a reality. Rabbi Hammer stated, “this workshop is in harmony with the ongoing and longstanding relationship between the NCYI and RAA/Igud in further offering Orthodox rabbis professional, hands-on training in helping them with their Avodas HaKodesh (sacred work) in the rabbinate.” Rabbi Blank quipped, “Boruch Hashem (thank Heavens) we are meeting the needs of the rabbis and we will continue to develop and implement for them state-of-the-art, hands-on knowledge that they need as rabbis.” Rabbi Marcus remarked, “the goal of this workshop is Ahavas Yisrael, to help a fellow person in their time of need, and I am proud that such a worthy group of rabbis, educators, and community leaders came together to learn how to be helpful. I thank Amudim, Rabbi Zvi Gluk, the NCYI, Rabbi Hammer and Rabbi Volk, the RAA/Igud, Rabbi Mirocznik and Rabbi Blank for putting this together. May we merit and see that all those in need get the help they need to be productive, healthy people. Klal Yisroel needs every person and we need to make certain that we have everybody as healthy as they could be.”
(Pictures below videos)
Names in Pictures
Picture (1)
Left to Right, Rabbi Akiva Homnick; clergy liaison, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, director Rabbinic Services, NCYI; Rabbi Tzephania Kreger, member Chaplaincy Commission, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Chesky Blau, clergy liaison, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, Rabbi Young Israel of Queens Valley and president VHQ; Rabbi Menachem Lichtenstein, chairman, Public Affairs Committee, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Zvi Gluck, Amudim director; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, chairman, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Moish Schmerler, director, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium member, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Michoel Chazan, member Chaplaincy Commission, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Dovid Katz, menahel, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Moshe Y. Weiner, Rav Hamachshir, Aleph K/ Kashrus Alliance, RAA/Igud.
Picture (2)
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud speaking at the Amudim training.
Picture (3)
Left to Right, Rabbi Yaakov Klass, presidium member, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Marc Volk, executive director, NCYI; Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, chairman, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Binyamin Hammer, director Rabbinic Services, NCYI; Rabbi Zvi Gluck, Amudim director; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Moish Schmerler, director, RAA/Igud.
Picture (4)
Circle going clockwise, Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Zvi Gluck, Amudim director; Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, chairman, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Menachem Lichtenstein, chairman, Public Affairs Committee, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Chesky Blau, clergy liaison, RAA/Igud.
Picture (5)
Left to Right, Rabbi Menachem Lichtenstein, chairman, Public Affairs Committee, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Chesky Blau, clergy liaison, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Zvi Gluck, Amudim director; Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, chairman, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Dovid Katz, menahel, RAA/Igud.
Picture (6)
Left to Right, Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, chairman, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, RAA/Igud.
Picture (7)
Left to Right, Rabbi Akiva Homnick; clergy liaison, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Dovid Katz, menahel, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Zvi Gluck, Amudim director; and Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, chairman, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, RAA/Igud.
Picture (8)
Left to Right, Rabbi Dovid Katz, menahel, RAA/Igud; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Zvi Gluck, Amudim director.
Picture (9)
Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, Rabbi Young Israel of Queens Valley and president VHQ speaking at the Amudim training.
Picture (10)
Left to Right, Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, chairman, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, RAA/Igud; and Rabbi Zvi Gluck, Amudim director.
Picture (11)
Left to Right, Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank, chairman, Chaplaincy Commission and External Affairs, RAA/Igud speaking at the Amudim Training.
Picture (12)
Rabbi Zvi Gluck, Amudim director lecturing at the Amudim training.
Picture (13)
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA/Igud
You must be logged in to post a comment.