Rabbinical Alliance of America Celebrates 80 Years of Gevurah and 34th Annual Chai Elul Siyum HaShas with an Eye Towards “Fulfilling the Divine Will” – Rabbinic Guidance, Teshuva, And Answering the Clarion Call of Rabbinic Activism

A new year is around the corner. Members of Klal Yisroel are pulling out all the stops to merit a Kesiva V’chasima Tova. Both at the individual and communal levels, so many individuals and communities need divine blessings. As always, Klal Yisroel looks towards its rabbis for leadership, guidance, advocacy and spiritual strengthening [...Click headline above for more...] 

Convocation Resolutions

Chai Elul Eve 5782 – September 13, 2022

by Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht – Convocation Chairman

#1) MANDATE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The RAA reiterates its call to the Federal Government in Washington D.C. and the Department of Education, to support a nationwide directive for a Moment of Silence at the commencement of each new school day — facilitating teachers and students, to silently reflect on the Creator and faith in a Higher Being.  [...Click headline above for more...] 

Rabbinical Alliance of America Expresses Outrage Over the New Educational Guidelines Issued by the New York State Education Department

The Rabbinical Alliance of America — Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis— expresses shock and outrage over the new educational guidelines approved today by New York State Education Department’s Board of Regents. [...Click headline above for more...] 

The Rabbinical Alliance of America Mourns the Passing of Queen Elizabeth II

The Rabbinical Alliance of America—Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis—joins the people of the United Kingdom and the entire world in mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. As the United Kingdom’s longest-lived and longest-reigning head of state, Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired and respected for her grace and dignity. Queen Elizabeth II was a leader who guided England through decades of great change. Her presence was an anchor of hope and optimism for a time of great social and political upheaval, helping the United Kingdom and the western world ease into transition as the globe changed after World War II. Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch; her grace under pressure and impeccably respectful manners defined dignity in an era of collapsing social rules. [...Click headline above for more...] 

The Rabbinical Alliance of America Supports COLPA’s Defense of Yeshiva University’s Religious Liberty

The Rabbinical Alliance of America—Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis—supports the National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs (“COLPA”) Amicus Curiae brief in support of Yeshiva University’s emergency petition to the United States Supreme Court to protect the school’s religious liberty. New York State courts have ordered the university to grant formal recognition to a student club that the university’s leading rabbis consider religiously forbidden, thereby violating the school’s constitutionally protected religious liberty. [...Click headline above for more...] 

Rabbinical Alliance of America Reaffirms Centrality of Kotel at Rosh Chodesh Av Conference

On Sunday, July 31, 2022, the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim convened its  Rosh Chodesh Av conference at the Ahi Ezer Yeshiva Congregation in Brooklyn, New York, where RAA Presidium Member, Rabbi Dr. Hanania Elbaz, serves as the rabbi. The Rosh Chodesh Av seudah was dedicated l’zecher nishmas Rabbi Shalom Elbaz, HaGaon HaChacham Shalom Ben HaGaon HaChacham Chayim Elbaz, Zt’l, father of Rabbi Dr. Hanania Elbaz and Rabbi Eliyahu Elbaz, rabbi of the Sephardic Lebanese Congregation of Brooklyn. In honor of his father’s Yahrzeit, Rabbi Hanania Elbaz delivered an erudite and scholarly lecture on the issue of waiting between dairy and meat and meat and dairy. [...Click headline above for more...] 

The Rabbinical Alliance of America Calls for Maintaining the Sanctity and Dignity of the Kotel

The Rabbinical Alliance of America—Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis—calls on people of all faiths and nationalities to maintain the respect and dignity of the Kotel, the Western Wall.  According to sacred Jewish tradition the entirety of Israel is a Holy Land. However, certain holy sites are of special hallowed significance. The Western Wall, the Kotel, is the only remaining wall standing from the structure of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Our Sages teach us that the Divine Presence, the Shechina, never departed from the Western Wall. Every year, millions of visitors to the Kotel show reverence and respect for the sanctity of the holy place. [...Click headline above for more...] 

Rabbinical Alliance of America Remembers Rabbi Nachum Zvi Josephy, ZT’L at his 18th Yahrzeit Commemoration

On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim, gathered together with family and friends at Khal Mevakshei Hashem, located in Lawrence, New York, where Rabbi Yussie Zakutinsky serves as Rav, to commemorate the 18th Yahrzeit of its legendary Executive Vice-President, Rabbi Nachum Zvi Josephy, ZT’L, HaRav Nachum Zvi Ben HaRav Chaim Josephy.  [...Click headline above for more...] 

The Rabbinical Alliance of America Commends Assembly Member Brian Cunningham’s Staunch Support of Israel and Vehement Opposition to the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement Against Israel

The Rabbinical Alliance of America—Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis—commends New York State Assembly Member Brian Cunningham’s repudiation of BDS, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, by withdrawing his support of Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou. Niou has openly stated that she supports BDS against Israel. As a result of that support, Assembly Member Brian Cunningham withdrew his endorsement of Niou’s candidacy for Congress, declaring, “I will not support a candidate that fails to recognize our democratic ally’s right to exist.”  [...Click headline above for more...]