Rabbinical Alliance of America Convenes in Monsey for Rosh Chodesh Shevat; Condemns Mississippi Synagogue Arson and Raises Alarm on Daylight Savings Legislation

The Rabbinical Alliance of America (RAA)/Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 Orthodox rabbis across North America, convened a powerful Rosh Chodesh Shevat Conference and Seudah on Monday, January 19, 2026.

The gathering, held at Yeshivas Bris Avram in Monsey, was hosted by the Yeshiva’s Rosh Yeshiva and RAA member, Rabbi Aharon Mandel. The event served as a platform not only for Torah scholarship and administrative updates but for urgent responses to pressing national issues affecting the Jewish community.

Response to the Attack on Beth Israel in Jackson, Mississippi

Addressing the recent arson attack that devastated the historic Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, RAA Presidium Member Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht delivered a stirring response.

“We stand aghast at the darkness that sought to consume a sanctuary of light in Mississippi,” Rabbi Hecht stated. “But we know the teaching of the Rebbe: darkness is not chased away with sticks; it is chased away by lighting a candle. The arsonist used fire to destroy, but the Jewish people use the fire of Torah to warm and to illuminate. The physical sanctuary may have been damaged, but the spirit of Ahavas Yisrael (love of fellow Jew) and Bitachon (trust in G-d) cannot be singed. We call upon Jews everywhere to respond to this senseless hate by increasing in acts of goodness and kindness, proving that the light of Torah and Mitzvot is eternal and indestructible. We will rebuild, and the new light will be even greater than before.”

Urgent Concerns Regarding Daylight Savings Legislation

Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, Executive Vice President of the RAA, utilized the forum to issue a stark warning regarding renewed legislative efforts to make Daylight Savings Time permanent (often referred to as the “Sunshine Protection Act”).

“While the idea of permanent daylight sounds appealing to the secular world, it poses a severe threat to the religious liberty of the observant Jewish community,” Rabbi Mirocznik explained. “Permanent Daylight Savings Time would push sunrise to as late as 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM in many parts of the country during the winter months. Halacha (Jewish law) mandates that morning prayers, Shacharit, be recited after sunrise. This change would make it impossible for observant Jews to pray with a minyan and arrive at their places of employment on time. We urge legislators to consider this inadvertent but discriminatory impact on our daily prayers and religious life.”

Torah and Remembrance

The Rosh Chodesh Seudah was dedicated L’iluy Nishmas several distinguished figures, whose legacies were honored throughout the evening:

HaChasid Reb Pinchas ben HaChasid Reb Zev Kehos Moshe Mandel, ZT”L, father of Rabbi Tzvi Mandel and grandfather of our host. He is remembered as the innovator who facilitated burial in Eretz Yisroel for Diaspora Jews.
Ha’isha Hatznuah Chanah Bas Rav Yoshua Mordechai (Sperling), ZT”L, wife of Reb Pinchas Mandel.
Reb Michael ben HaRav HaGaon Dovid Donnenberg, ZT”L, father-in-law of Rabbi Tzvi Mandel and grandfather of Rabbi Aharon Mandel. His father, Rav Dovid Donnenberg, served as a Rav in Newark, NJ, and founded the Shochtim Union.
Ha’isha Hatznuah Sorah Malka Bas Habal Tzedakah Reb Chaim Tuvia (Sisselman) (daughter of the renown Torah philanthropist H. Jerome Sisselman), ZT”L, mother-in-law of Rabbi Tzvi Mandel.

Distinguished Speakers and Leadership

The dais featured prominent Torah leaders who addressed the assemblage, including:

Rabbi Tzvi Mandel, Rabbi of Khal Bnai Yisroel
Rabbi Efraim Mordechai Friedman, Posek of Stolin Monsey and A-Time
Rabbi Shlomo Nissan, Rosh Kollel Emek HaChochma Tcherkas
Rabbi Gil Student, Director of the Vaad Halacha, RAA
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Serebryanski, Vice President of the RAA and Rosh Kollel of Ayshel Avraham Zichron Yaakov Rabbinical Seminary

Also participating in the leadership delegation were Rabbi Moish Schmerler, Executive Director of the RAA, and Rabbi David Toback.

The RAA calls upon its membership and the wider community to remain vigilant in prayer and advocacy during these turbulent times.

About the Rabbinical Alliance of America The Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim is a national rabbinic organization founded in 1942, dedicated to the furtherance of Torah Judaism and the support of the rabbinate.

Names in Pictures

Picture (1) Left to Right, Rabbi David J. Toback; Rabbi Gil Student, director, Vaad Halacha, RAA; Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Serebryanski, vice-president, RAA, and Rosh Kollel of Ayshel Avraham Zichron Yaakov Rabbinical Seminary; Rabbi Tzvi Mandel, Rav of Khal Bnai Yisroel; Rabbi Aharon Mandel, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Bris Avram; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA; and Rabbi Moish Schmerler, executive director, RAA

Picture (2) Rabbonim reviewing Halchaic issues, Left to Right, Rabbi David J. Toback; Rabbi Gil Student, director, Vaad Halacha, RAA; Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Serebryanski, vice-president, RAA, and Rosh Kollel of Ayshel Avraham Zichron Yaakov Rabbinical Seminary; Rabbi Tzvi Mandel, Rav of Khal Bnai Yisroel; and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA

Picture (3) Some of the Rabbis in attendance at the RAA Rosh Chodesh Shevat Seudah and Conference held at Yeshivas Bris Avram, Monsey, New York

Picture (4) Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht; presidium member, RAA; and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA

Picture (5) Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht; presidium member, RAA; and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA

Picture (6) Rabbi Tzvi Mandel, Rav of Khal Bnai Yisroel; and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA

Picture (7) Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Serebryanski, vice-president, RAA, and Rosh Kollel of Ayshel Avraham Zichron Yaakov Rabbinical Seminary; and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA

Picture (8) Rabbi Tzvi Mandel, Rav of Khal Bnai Yisroel; and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA

Picture (9) Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Serebryanski, vice-president, RAA, and Rosh Kollel of Ayshel Avraham Zichron Yaakov Rabbinical Seminary; and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president, RAA