By Rabbi Yerachmiel D. Fried
Dear Readers,
I wanted to share with you the special feelings I had, sitting in New Jersey with thousands of delegates from across America and throughout the world at this year’s annual convention of Agudath Israel of America. This is an organization that works tirelessly to help klal Yisrael across the world in myriad ways, too many to enumerate here. It is a conglomeration of Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Chassidim, all types of Jews from all walks of life.
One of the most unique aspects of this holy organization is its Presidium of Torah Sages, the leading venerable Torah leaders and scholars of our generation. Besides their speaking and sharing their thoughts and inspiration with us publicly, they make themselves available to meet individually with any of us who seek their timeless wisdom. They share themselves with such warmth and love, making us all feel like we’re their own children. This embodies the teaching of Rashi’s commentary to the phrase in the Sh’ma, “and you shall teach these words to your children…”: “These are your students.”
One of the primary messages at this convention was, with the backdrop of such devastating financial scandals in recent times, to make honesty in business the paramount obligation of a Jew, as the core of Judaism is to make a Kiddush Hashem, a sanctification of G-d’s Name in every aspect of life. May we fulfill this message!
Rabbi Yerachmiel D. Fried, noted scholar and author of numerous works on Jewish law, philosophy and Talmud, is founder and dean of DATA, the Dallas Kollel. Questions can be sent to him at yfried@sbcglobal.net.