To Grow or to Cease • Activist Conference for the Opening of the 'Agudat Yisrael

As the fateful day for the character of the holy city of Jerusalem, may it be rebuilt and established (tibbaneh v'sikonen bimhera b'yamenu), approaches on the 18th of Adar I—the date of the Jerusalem municipal elections—activists of 'Agudat Yisrael - Shuvu Banim' gathered for a conference to open the election headquarters at the residence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days).

The conference was attended by the community's rabbis and activists from the Shuvu Banim community across Jerusalem. At the opening of the headquarters, Rabbi Nachman Haas delivered remarks, speaking about the immense importance of these elections. He noted that the opposing side is framing it as "either a Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jerusalem or a secular Jerusalem," with all the dire implications that carries, rachmana litzlan (may the Merciful One protect us).

Afterward, Morinu HaRav (our teacher the Rabbi) shlit"a entered the conference and delivered a shiur (Torah lesson) to the activists. In his holy way, he began with words of Torah to settle the heart and then transitioned to the "topic of the day" regarding the elections. Here is a summary of the shiur:

The Rav shlit"a began with a topic he has mentioned frequently in his recent lessons—the issues over which Joseph and his brothers disagreed. Specifically, he discussed the dispute cited by the Satmar Rebbe regarding whether it was permitted to sell the sons of the handmaids, based on whether they were considered slaves or if their servitude was annulled when Jacob married Bilhah and Zilpah. He cited the Rambam’s (Maimonides) position on this matter, which tends toward the view of Joseph's brothers that it was permitted to sell them. During his words, he strengthened the importance of studying the Rambam. Afterward, he spoke about the holiness of the individual and Shalom Bayit (domestic harmony), as well as the holiness of the home, upon which the righteousness of one's descendants depends, as brought in the holy book Pele Yoetz.

In the second part of the shiur, he spoke about the greatness of the women of Israel and how there were once six hundred thousand prophetesses, as alluded to in the verse, "Your lips, O bride, drop honey." He mentioned Serach bat Asher, who received a prophecy at the age of three that Joseph was still alive and practiced mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) to tell this to our father Jacob, despite knowing he might be strict with her and that she could pass away from his rebuke.

At the end of the shiur, Morinu HaRav shlit"a spoke with even greater intensity and a fiery spirit about the necessity for every single person to vote in the municipal elections for 'Agudat Yisrael,' whose ballot letter is 'Gimmel.' He explained the critical importance of these elections for the pure education of Jewish children and the foundations of the faith, over which the battle is currently being waged against those who wish to desecrate the holy city and turn it into a secular city, Hashem yishmore (may Hashem protect us). The Rav shlit"a encouraged the activists to continue with their vigor and stated that every member of Shuvu Banim is obligated to bring at least ten more new votes for Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Judaism—the 'Agudat Yisrael' party, which fights for the honor of Hashem and the character of Jerusalem, may it be rebuilt and established.

Below is a photo gallery from the activists' conference: