Feeling the Pain of the Jewish People

It is with deep sadness and profound outrage that we learned of the murders of Gilad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach. For the past few weeks, the lives of these boys, and the incredible faith of their families, have made an enduring impact upon each and every one of us, and upon the entire Jewish people. Our devotion to Tefilah, and unified sense of “Am Yisrael”, was palpable throughout our community. Families joined together in prayer, lighting additional candles for Shabbat, posting signs on our lawns, and flooding social media with a movement to raise global awareness of their plight. We embraced the families of the boys as heroes of our faith, and marveled  at the remarkable strength they maintained and provided to the entire Jewish people. They spoke to the heart, and transcended all divisions within our people, that only weeks ago seemed entrenched as part of Jewish life. There are no words to truly capture the pain of our nation’s loss. Yet, our children will turn to us for guidance and understanding regarding the emotional and spiritual challenges that arise in such a devastating experience. Please find a number of resources compiled by Yeshiva University from both internal sources, and from Chai Lifeline that provide strategies and insights in addressing these circumstances with your children May the Jewish people continue to live the ideals of unity that were inspired by the lives of Gilad, Naftali, and Eyal, and may their memory forever inspire us to grow in our commitment to Torah, Israel, and the Jewish people. Rabbi Kenneth Brander Rabbi Menachem Penner Rabbi Yaakov Glasser Dr. David Pelcovitz

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New Aron Increases Dignity for the Deceased

UNITING CHEVROS KADISHA AND ENHANCING KAVOD HA'MES QUICK LINKS Visit us at NASCK.org Register your Chevra Kadisha IN THIS ISSUE Dvarim Me'Rosh Halacha Customs Corner Introducing our Executive VP News at NASCK Pitchifkes and Takanos JOIN THE EMES CARD CAMPAIGN Individual Sign Up Have an Event in Your Shul/Community TO COMFORT AND BE COMFORTED Learn about the Needs of Mourners with our Free Streaming Videos The Full Nichum V'Nechama DVD Set is available for purchase PEACEFUL RETURN NASCK's New Website to Promote Traditional Jewish Burial and Discourage Cremation Learn the Top 10 Reasons to  Choose Traditional Jewish Burial BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rabbi Elchonon Zohn President, Founding Director Dr. Philip Abramowitz First Vice President Rabbi Kalman Baumann Vice President Richard Miller Treasurer Tovah Kirschner Secratary Fred Schulman Executive Vice President RABBINIC ADVISORY BOARD Rabbi Eytan Feiner Rabbi Tzvi Flaum Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer Rabbi Hershel Schachter Rabbi Peretz Steinberg Rabbi Herschel Welcher DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF חנה בת משה יהודה Chana Waltz/Ganz VOLUME III/ ISSUE 1                   June 2014/ Sivan, 5774 DVARIM ME'ROSH­ DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Introducing the New Aron Mehudar Rabbi Elchonon Zohn It has been quite a while since our last newsletter. This is not a sign of inactivity, as this letter will explain, but a time of unusual growth and creativity. I apologize for the recent limited communication and I urge you to spend the necessary time to appreciate and understand the wide range of educational tools we have developed. Please have all your Chevra members sign up for our e­mail list so they can directly learn of the valuable information we disseminate. The newsletters will be sent more frequently, be"H, and we look forward to expanding your world of Kovod Ha'Mes (honor for the deceased) and Chesed Shel Emes (true charity) in powerful and positive ways. Now more than ever, we need your interest, support and, most importantly, involvement and partnership. One of the most important things we have been working on during this hiatus has been the creation of a new Aron (casket) to optimize Kavod HaMes . Many people must wonder what happens when they see a member of the Chevra Kadisha go down into a grave and ask everyone to turn away. It seems to imply a lack of respect for the deceased, but what is really occurring is that the bottom panel of the Aron is being removed in accordance with the Minhag of the body being placed directly in the ground. What is misconstrued as a lack of respect, is, in reality, an effort to beautify the fulfillment of this Mitzvah...read more... HALACHA­ CUSTOMS CORNER The Casket Controversy Rabbi Avraham Steinberg Question:  Is the original and ideal Jewish way of burial for the body to be placed directly in the ground, with the practice of using a casket only an accommodation that was made more recently because of legal pressures and partly resulting from the influence of Reform Judaism?  OR  Is the use of a casket actually the ideal and traditional Jewish way of burial, as indeed we find the use of an "Aron" recorded numerous times in the Chumash and in the words of our Sages?  Answer: This is a big debate among great Torah authorities, tracing back quite far, and continuing until very recent times in our Halachic literature...read more... MEET THE TEAM Introducing Fred Schulman, our new Executive Vice President NASCK is excited to welcome its newly appointed executive Vice President, Fred Schulman. A lifelong resident of the Five Towns, in New York, Mr. Schulman brings a wealth of experience in community involvement as well as business and leadership skills to our organization. Mr. Schulman is a Member of the boards of Ohel, Mesorah Heritage Foundation and South Shore Yeshiva. He also served as President of Congregation Kneseth Israel, fondly known as "the White Shul," and is the chairman of the shul's Chevra Kadisha. His sensitivity and expertise in matters relating to the Chevra Kadisha have helped make the White Shul's Chevra one of the most dynamic and well-regarded in the area...read more...  NEWS AT NASCK NASCK's New Florida Branch and Campaign New Florida Branch  Under the direction of Rabbi Jay Lyons, our Florida Regional Director, the Florida chapter of NASCK, located in Boca Raton, is a model of the impact that NASCK is capable of when focusing on a specific region. NASCK has been able to support local Chevros, assisting them with Tahara issues and access to NASCK resources. Being involved with diverse Chevros has opened the door for NASCK to identify challenges many Chevros face and has enabled NASCK to address those challenges. In the retirement community of South Florida, with the rate of cremation moving toward 50%, the constant goal is to develop creative ways to expand education regarding traditional Jewish burial and to maximize the impact of our limited financial resources dedicated to stopping cremation. Nichum V'Nechama- To Comfort and be Comforted  Another exciting development is the creation of a new campaign to educate the public on the needs of mourners during and after Shiva called Nichum V'Nechama- To Comfort and Be Comforted. The extremely delicate Mitzvah and exercise of comforting the mourners- Nichum Aveilim- poses a potential landmine for the typical person. A caring and well-intentioned person who goes to a Shiva house may feel inadequate or, much worse, say something hurtful simply because they have never really understood a mourner's needs. Even those who have had to sit Shiva themselves may find it difficult to translate their own experiences to suit the individual needs of the Aveil...read more... PICHIFKES AND TAKANOS Small Steps to Perfecting Our Work as the Chevra Kadisha When one is involved in a Tahara, the care that one takes in all aspects of the preparation sets the tone for the Tahara itself, contributes to Kavod Ha'Mes and ultimately creates a higher level of Chesed-Shel-Emes. It is therefore appropriate to take care that all preparations are done neatly and with precision, including the preparation of the wash cloths ("Shmattos", the Yiddish term for such cloths). The goal is to keep the sheet evenly folded so the cloths are all the same size and to cut smoothly so that there are no dangling threads .  The recommended material to use for these cloths are flat bed sheets that are neither of flannel material nor fitted. These sheets can be procured by saving all sheets that come to the funeral home from hospitals or homes (where the family is not interested in getting them back). They should be laundered (with bleach) by a laundering service or in-house by the funeral home. Eventually, a stock of sheets is accumulated for washing, covering and drying. Before cutting, fold the sheets neatly to create even squares of the desired size (generally between 18" x 18" and 24" x 24"). Using the folds as guides will ensure evenly-sized, neat squares If one finds it too difficult to cut through all the layers at once with sharp scissors, unfold once and cut the sheet into 2 parts, then continue cutting each half separately. Rotate the cloths to ensure you have cut along every fold and fully separated the sheets...read more... NATIONAL ASSOSCIATION OF CHEVRA KADISHA 85-18 117TH STREET, RICHMOND HILL, NY 11418 / 718-847-6280 / contact@nasck.org / wwww.nasck.org NASCK | newsletter@nasck.org | http://www.nasck.org 85-18 117th Street Richmond Hill, NY 11418

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Yeshiva University's CJF June 2014 eNewsletter

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Dear Friends, Our hearts and souls are focused on Gilad, Naftali and Eyal with prayers and hopes for their safe return. The remarkable unity of Am Yisrael in supporting their families and in Tefilla inspires all of us. Please take a moment to explore the suggested shiurim on YU Torah relating to prayer and Jewish unity, and may the merit of our Torah learning and Tefilla keep our soldiers safe and #BringBackOurBoys. I recently returned from an extraordinary journey to Germany with 18 Yeshiva University students, led by our Director of Jewish Service Learning, Ms. Aliza Abrams. The experience provides the opportunity to engage multiple leaders of the German government in an effort to understand how contemporary German society confronts its horrific past. The YU students questioned, challenged, and debated with these leaders with thoughtfulness, passion, and great insight. We also visited concentration camps and Holocaust memorials, providing poignant moments of deep reflection, and opportunities for students to emotionally connect to the broader narrative of the Jewish people. Finally, we were hosted by the Berlin Jewish community throughout the week, and spent an inspirational Shabbos in Leipzig. The students met Rabbinic, educational, and lay community leaders, and learned of the ambition and sacrifice necessary to build a new Jewish community in the diaspora. Our Shabbos in Leipzig was highlighted by the YU students leading singing and dancing in the only remaining Shul of Leipzig, (18 of the original 19 were destroyed by the Nazis)and was truly overwhelming. These experiences expand the scope and depth with which our students think about and engage the Jewish community. They cultivate a deep sense of responsibility for the continuity of our people, and train our future leaders in how to engage the broader world. In anticipation of Shavuos, CJF was proud to initiate the #EmpoweredLearning program, created by Rabbi Ari Sytner, which allowed Jews from across the spectrum of affiliation to engage YU Torah scholars in an interactive online learning environment. The CJF had the distinct honor of hosting Rav David Lau, the chief Rabbi of Israel, who spoke with our senior staff regarding shared goals of engaging Jewish communities and building rabbinic leadership in America and in Israel. CJF continues to provide exceptional experiences for our students and community, and I hope you enjoy learning more about these dynamic programs and their transformational impact of the future of the Jewish people. Rabbi Yaakov Glasser Associate Dean for CJF and University Life Center for the Jewish Future, Yeshiva University TORAH LEARNING 2.0 Center for the Jewish Future’s #EmpoweredLearning Program Aims to Engage and Inspire Torah Learners   What gets people excited about learning Torah? How can we harness technology to engage a worldwide audience of learners and inspire them to want to learn more? Those are some of the questions Rabbi Ari Sytner, director of Community Initiatives at Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF), set out to answer when he created a new online program that aims to bring an interactive Torah-learning experience to a wide group of users within the YU community and beyond. ASHKENAZI CHIEF RABBI VISITS YU Rabbi David Baruch Lau Meets with Roshei Yeshiva, Center for the Jewish Future Staff   On May 8, Rabbi David Baruch Lau, the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, visited Yeshiva University. The chief rabbi met with Roshei Yeshiva at YU-affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and YU President Richard M. Joel. He also spoke with YU’s Center for the Jewish Future senior staff about their work around the world with rabbis, communities and students, and toured the Wilf Campus and the Jacob and Dreizel Glueck Center for Jewish Studies with students. GERMANY CLOSE UP Students Gain Unique Perspective of Germany And Connect With Local Jewish Community on CJF Program   As the spring semester drew to a close, a select group of 16 students traveled to Germany May 25-June 2 as part of “Germany Close Up,” a week-long program organized by Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) for participants to learn about Germany’s contemporary Jewish community and the effects of the Holocaust on its growth. RABBINIC ENRICHMENT Beth Israel of Miami Beach hosts annual Alumni Rabbinic Yarchei Kallah   35 rabbis from across North America came together February 17-19 in Miami Beach for the annual Yarchei Kallah program, led by Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter. In addition to Rabbi Schacter’s sessions with Drasha materials, he presented on the our relationship with other major religions, Dr. Yocheved Schacter led sessions exploring personal tensions rabbis face, Shuki Taylor presented on Experiential Jewish Education, and Rabbi Kenneth Brander presented “Colonial American Synagogues: What We Can Learn From Their Successes and Failures” LEARNING TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENCES Cardozo, Present Conflict Resolution Workshop For Rabbis   A group of rabbis convened in New York City for a three-day seminar, May 19-21, on mediation training, organized by Yeshiva University’s Center for the Future (CJF) – Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), in conjunction with the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at YU’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. DATING 2.0 YUConnects hosts “A Conversation on Dating”   Over 100 men filled a large classroom in Glueck Beis Medrash on April 1 for a wonderful program spearheaded by Isaac Attia, President of SOY-JSC, called “A Conversation on Dating.” The event was sponsored by SOY-JSC, YUConnects, RIETS and the YU Counseling Center. The panelists included Rabbi Ari Sytner, Director of Community Initiatives, CJF, Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky, Rosh Yeshiva, Dr. Efrat Sobolofsky, Director of YUConnects and Rabbi Shmuel Maybruch, Rebbe at SBMP. BRINGING TORAH TO THE MASSES From Tape Cassettes to Mobile Apps: How YUTorah Grew Into The Leading Site For Online Torah Study   It started with one semicha [rabbinic] student. While studying at Yeshiva University-affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Rabbi Marc Spivak was training for a career as a pulpit rabbi outside the tri-state area—but he didn’t want to miss out on the advanced learning and shiurim [Torah lectures] he loved at YU. He began taping shiur after shiur at the University, building a collection of Torah lectures he’d be able to listen to anywhere, any time. ADULT EDUCATION MILESTONE Kohelet Fellowships Program Graduates Cohorts in Two Cities   A few weeks ago, Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future completed its third year inspiring day school parents through the Kohelet Fellowships. As of this year, 28 day schools, 12 Preschools and over 1100 day school and preschool parents have participated in the Kohelet Fellowships program. Participating communities have included Boca Raton, Philadelphia, Manhattan, Long Island, Memphis, Denver, Kansas City, and Atlanta.

Let us add our voices to the prayers and learning focused on the speedy and safe return of Naftali Frankel (Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah), Gilad Shaar (Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim) and Eyal Yifrach (Eyal ben Iris Teshura) #BringBackOurBoys Shiurim on Jewish Unity from YU Torah have been compiled Rabbi Dovid Miller: The Importance of Unity as a Prelude to Prayer Dr. David Pelcovitz: Communal Response to Adversity and Tragedy Rabbi Michael Rosensweig: Kol Yisrael Areivim Zeh Bazeh Rabbi Aryeh Cohen: Feeling the Pain of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky: Feeling your Friend's Pain Rabbi Eliezer Lerner: Feeling the Pain of Others Rabbi Steven Pruzansky: Many Communities, One Nation Rabbi Jake Vidomlanski: Feeling Other People's Pain Rabbi Andi Yudin: Feeling Your Brother's Pain @YUCJF @RabbiBrander @YUTorah @eJewishEd @ChampionsgateYU YUCJF YUTorah Experiential Jewish Education YUConnects yu.edu/CJF Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future home page YUTorah The Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah, with over 60,000 shiurim YUConnects Resources for shidduchim and relationships YUSpeakers  The Yeshiva University Speakers Bureau Kollel Yom Rishon  The Abraham Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon Sunday Morning Learning Program for Men Midreshet Yom Rishon  The Millie Arbesfeld Midreshet Yom Rishon Sunday Morning Learning Program for Women Experiential Jewish Education  Certificate Program in Jewish Experiential Education Torah Tours Torah Tours registration for synagogues and YU students Championsgate Championsgate Leadership Conference Chicago Torah The Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Chicago Community Kollel Toronto Torah The Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Zichron Dov Community Beit Midrash of Toronto Rabbanan.org Rabbinic resources, drasha materials and more The CJF YouTube Channel Watch videos from all our programs and events

Our mission is to shape, enrich and inspire the contemporary Jewish community by convening the resources of Yeshiva University, infusing the student body with a spirit of leadership and a sense of responsibility to the Jewish people and society in general, building, cultivating, and supporting communities, and their lay and rabbinic leaders, and creating a global movement that promotes the values of Yeshiva University Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future 500 West 185th St. Suite 419 • New York, NY 10033 • 212.960.5263 • cjf@yu.edu

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