Memorable Moments from the Agudah Convention

The theme of the 2022 Agudah Convention held over the weekend of parshas Vayeitzei was “Speak Up.” The convention brought together thousands of Yidden who came to hear from and share with rabbanim and leaders. Here is a small sampling

Yaakov is referred to as a yoshev ohalim — one who constantly sat in the beis medrash. Asks the Maharsha, how can we say that? Yaakov Avinu spent decades as a shepherd for Lavan, far from the hallowed atmosphere of the beis medrash! The answer is that, true, sometimes we have to leave the actual walls of the beis medrash, but that doesn’t necessarily mean leaving the environment of the beis medrash. We have the ability to take those same walls and turn them into an ohel — a tent, which can travel with us, keeping the beis medrash alive wherever we go.

—Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Yeshivah at Beth Medrash Govoha

There is no one person called Agudah. Agudah is a group of individuals who take responsibility.

That individual is the one sitting in your seat.

—Rav Meyer Yedid, Rabbi of Brooklyn’s Congregation Shaare Zion and Rosh Yeshivah of YDE

We are taught that when the mazalos travel in Shamayim, each one looks behind at the face of the mazel beneath it rather than at the tail of the mazel before it. That’s what Agudas Yisrael is all about. Agudas Yisrael allows all the different factions of Klal Yisrael to come together in an ofen where each one respects the others.