The Rabbinical Alliance of America Commemorates the Shloshim of Sylvia (Azoula) Ivry A”H at Its Rosh Chodesh Sivan Conference

On Sunday, May 21, 2023, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, family and friends of Joar bat Yehuda, Mrs. Sylvia (Azoula) Ivry a”h, gathered together at Congregation Etz Chaim of Flatbush, where the renowned Rabbi Simcha Silverman serves as Rabbi. This Rosh Chodesh Sivan conference of the Igud HaRabbanim marked the Shloshim of this important member and stalwart of the Crown Heights community. The Igud HaRabbonim membership represents and serves a broad spectrum of the Orthodox Jewish community, including rabbis and congregations that are Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish, Chasidish, Sephardic and Chabad. Mrs. Ivry was a generous woman who gave to others with a constant smile. It didn’t matter what kippa one wore, with which community one affiliates—she saw the tzelem Elokim, the divine image, within each person and was ready to help them in any way she could. While she was a longtime resident of Crown Heights, she spent many days in other parts of Brooklyn. Whether she was driving her kids to school at United Lubavitch Yeshiva on Ocean Pkwy or to Melave Malka events in Flatbush with the Abehsera family or, in her later years, visiting nursing homes and assisted living facilities, she felt part of all Jewish communities. Therefore, it was apropos that her life and legacy was commemorated with the Igud HaRabbonim in Flatbush, where attendees heard divrei Torah from a variety of rabbis who drew connections between her legacy to the Torah. [...Click headline above for more...] 

The Rabbinical Alliance of America Calls for the Immediate Release of Evan Gershkovich by Russian Authorities

The Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim—representing over 950 American rabbis—calls on the Russian government to do immediate justice by releasing Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter being unlawfully held by Russian authorities. Gershkovich is a Jew who was born to American immigrants from the Soviet Union, where his parents and other Jews suffered persecution and repression for their religion. His grandmother would cover the windows with blankets before lighting Friday night candles in order to avoid detection and subsequent persecution. Gershkovich was arrested approximately two months ago by Russian authorities on fabricated espionage charges which both he and the U.S. government deny. Under the direction of President Joe Biden, the State Department has designated him as “wrongfully detained.” It is an ominous sign that a specifically Jewish man is the only American arrested by Russians on the charge of spying since the end of the Cold War. [...Click headline above for more...] 

The Rabbinical Alliance of America Commends President Joe Biden on Unveiling the National Plan to Combat Antisemitism

The Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim—representing over 950 American rabbis— commends President Joe Biden on the unveiling of a comprehensive national plan to fight antisemitism. This plan, referred to as the “whole of society” approach, is hailed by the President as the most ambitious and comprehensive effort led by the US government in the history of combating antisemitism in America. [...Click headline above for more...] 

INVITE: Announcement on the White House’s efforts to counter antisemitism TODAY at 11AM

Good morning from the White House!

You are invited to join the Biden-Harris Administration for a virtual event at 11:00 a.m. ET today (May 25), broadcast live from the White House. President Biden will share an important message, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Domestic Policy Advisor Ambassador Susan E. Rice, Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, will make an announcement about the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to counter antisemitism. [...Click headline above for more...] 

Divrei Torah: Shavuos