Upon consultation with its rabbinic leadership, Agudath Israel of America issued the following statement today. Congregation Toras Chaim of Dallas supports this view:

Reports of recent events in the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh are deeply disturbing.

Violence of any sort, whether physical or verbal, by self-appointed “guardians” of modesty is reprehensible. Such conduct is beyond the bounds of decent, moral – Jewish! – behavior. We condemn these acts unconditionally.

Those who have taken pains to note that the small group of misguided individuals who have engaged in this conduct are not representative of the larger charedi community are to be commended. It is disturbing, though, that some Israeli politicians and secularists have been less responsible, portraying the actions of a very few as indicative of the feelings of the many. Quite the contrary, the extremist element is odious to, and rejected by, the vast majority of charedi Jews.

Lost in all the animus and ill will, unfortunately, is the concept ostensibly at the core of the controversy: the exalted nature of tzenius, or Jewish modesty.

Judaism considers human desires to constitute a sublime and important force, but one whose potential for harm is commensurate with its potential for holiness.

In a society like our own, where the mantra of many is, in effect, “anything goes,” many charedi Jews, men and women alike, see a need to take special steps – in their own lives and without seeking to coerce others – to counterbalance the pervasive atmosphere of licentiousness, so as to avoid the degradation of humanity to which it leads.

It would be tragic were the acts of violence to lead Jews to, G-d forbid, reject the culture of tzenius that has always been the hallmark of the Jewish nation, to regard Jewish modesty as something connected to violence and anger, rather than to refinement and holiness.

The Zivotovskys are Americans who moved to Israel. When their third child was born in Yerushalayim in 2002, they applied for his U.S. passport. They wanted “Israel” listed as his birthplace. The State Department refused, listing only “Jerusalem.” The Zivotofskys sued, and the case has reached the Supreme Court.

Last week the Supreme Court heard arguments as to whether Americans born in Yerushalayim may list “Jerusalem, Israel” on official documents. This could affect more than 50,000 people.

In September 2002, Congress passed this law: “For purposes of … issuance of a passport of a U.S. citizen born in … Jerusalem, the Secretary shall, upon request … record the place of birth as Israel.”

President Barack Obama has argued that listing “Jerusalem, Israel” on U.S. passports implies U.S. recognition of the disputed capital. One reason for this dispute is that Yerushalayim’s Old City was part of Jordan until the city was reunited during the Six Day War.

A decision is expected in June.

When once asked by a student why he never took drugs to calm the Parkinson’s disease he suffered from, he answered that when inquiring about the drugs, his doctor had told him that it would have an effect on his memory. “I’d rather be ill my whole life than to forget even one word of the holy Torah.”

Mir Rosh Yeshiva HaRav HaGaon Nosson Tzvi Finkel’s Zatzal petira was sudden, sending a shockwave through the international Torah community. The rosh yeshiva maintained his schedule until his petira. On Monday, 10 Cheshvan, he arrived in Bnei Brak to make a shiva visit to the family of Rav Yosef Aryeh Halperin ZT”L on HaRav Hirsch Street. From there the rav traveled to the home of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita but the Rav was at another event, a hesped for his rebitzen in Yeshivas Birkas Yosef. Rav Finkel then returned to Yerushalayim. Upon arriving in Beis Yisrael he delivered shiurim in English and Yiddish.

Family members report that at about 6:00am today, 11 Cheshvan, Rav Finkel zt”l said he did not feel well and lost consciousness shortly thereafter. Rebitzen Finkel called Magen David Adom and the dispatcher instructed her on CPR during the critical minutes until the first responder arrived at the door.

The last official Israel Police estimate regarding the number of participants in the levaya of Mir Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel at 4:00pm Israel time spoke of “tens of thousands”. Chareidi news services are reporting upwards of 100,000 people.

Words including “Like Mama Rochel, who sacrificed for others, for the Klal, for Klal Yisrael” were heard among the maspedim. Leading the procession in the name of Kovod HaTorah was Posek HaDor Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita and Maran HaRosh Yeshiva HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita.

Gedolei yisrael, roshei yeshiva and admorim were visibly moved at the levaya, painfully aware of the great loss to Klal Yisrael. Beginning with the early morning hours, after the news of the rosh yeshiva’s petira spread, people began making their way to the Beis Yisrael neighborhood of Yerushalayim, heading to the Mir, wishing to be close by, to share in the pain, to recite tehillim, to be part of this event as the klal attempted to comprehend the magnitude of the numbing announcement, that HaGaon HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel ZT”L is no longer among us.

The first hesped was given by HaGaon HaRav Shteinman Shlita, who announced the that the Rosh Yeshiva’s son; HaRav Lazer Yehuda would fill in as the new rosh yeshiva.

There was tehillim which were recited in pained choked voices, including that of the rav’s longtime chavrusa, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Bornstein, Rosh Yeshiva Kiryat Melech.

HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Finkel, Rosh Yeshiva Mir Brechfeld spoke in a broken voice of how his father molded his ruchniyus and his mother concerned herself with the gashmiyus. “The Aron Kodesh has been broken, one that was large and full of a love of Torah”.

HaGaon HaRav Rafael Shmulevitz, one of the roshei yeshiva was also maspid the rosh yeshiva, speaking of the loss of the Prince of Torah, asking mechila on behalf of all the bnei yeshiva that failed to accord the proper respect.

HaGaon HaRav Gedalia Finkel, a brother, spoke with a broken heart – having merited such a brother in his lifetime.

The eldest son, the new rosh yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Eliezer Yehuda added “you were an abba of thousands. You were a strength and force that transcends the natural. You did not have a body, not a image of a body, all was holy.

“He was a model the epitome of modesty and everything he gave to others. Once I was asked to speak at a kenos addressing loshon hora and Abba told me ‘just three words – Love your neighbor as yourself (‘ואהבת לרעך כמוך’). How could one speak about another? This was his life’s mission. “He dwelled in Torah his entire life and learned how to demand from us, to compel us to reach greater heights. “May Hashem grant strength to great ima, a majestic ima, to grandmother, the mother of the Rosh Yeshiva, the wife of HaGaon Reb Beinish zt”l.

“Oy Tata ascend to the Holy Throne – tear through the Heavenly Gate that Hashem will finally say enough tzoros for us and may he rebuild the Beis HaMikdosh speedily in our days. “In the name of the family and the kollel, with such traits as yours, you undoubtedly forgive us and will act as advocate (meilitz yosher) for us all”.

A son, Rav Shmuel was maspid saying “You were an abba of the entire Torah world. Abba was rosh yeshiva of 3,000 talmidim. Who loved everyone of them and knew each by name. “Your mesirus nefesh in disseminating Torah and love of Torah all the time – this was indeed a rarity. He was closed in the room learning and relearning and continuing until 2:00am. At 4:00am he would also learn with the young bochrim. On erev Shabbos until candle lighting he sat and learned. May each of us take something from his example and strengthen ourselves, and may you be an advocate (meilitz yosher) for us all”.

His son-in-law HaGaon Rav Noam Alon, a rosh yeshiva in Mir Brechfeld closed the hespeidim. After the mourners recited Kaddish the levaya began making its way to Har Menuchos via Meah Shearim Street to Sarei Yisrael Street.

1.  In case of an impending hurricane predicted to hit on Shabbos, may one leave the radio on?
Yes, leave the radio on in a private area on a low volume.

2.   If told to evacuate, what should one do?
One must always do whatever is necessary to protect one’s life. Therefore one is allowed to drive to a secure place and take along whatever is necessary, even money. Once one is out of harms way, he should stay put until after Shabbos. If a child or elderly person is present and staying in the car would be a danger, one can proceed to a shelter. One may also put gas in the car if needed to arrive at a safe place.

3.  If one stays home, may the shutters be placed on the windows?
There are two popular types of shutters: accordion and panel. Accordion shutters are permanently attached to the home and may be closed. Panel shutters need to be installed with each use and may only be placed on the windows if the situation is one where life is in danger-not to protect property.

4.  If instructed to bring indoors all loose furniture and garden equipment, is one allowed to?
One is permitted to bring indoors whatever might pose a danger.

5.  If someone sees a power line fall and it poses a danger can one contact the authorities?
A person should never venture out during or right after a hurricane. Coming in contact with downed power lines could be fatal. Unless the power line could cause a serious danger to the people in the home, one should wait until after Shabbos to report it.

6.  Does the category of the hurricane make a difference?
The different categories represent the intensity of the hurricane winds and the danger they pose. But the authorities can determine that even a category one or two hurricane poses enough of a threat to certain areas to demand an evacuation. In such cases, all necessary precautions should be taken.

7.  If someone lives alone and needs assistance to evacuate, may one drive there to pick the person up and bring him or her to safety?
One is allowed to do what is necessary to protect one’s own life or the life of someone else in danger.

8.  At what wind velocity should the eruv not be assumed to be kosher?
Once the winds reach the speed of 35 mph, one should assume the eruv is not kosher and should not carry outside.

9.  If the electricity went out and was then turned back on, may one eat the food that was on the blech or hot-plate?
If the food was fully cooked (or even 1/3 cooked) and is still hot, one may consume the food. Otherwise, one should consult a Rav.

List of essential items: batteries, flashlights, candles, yartzheit candles, canned food, bottled water- 1 gallon per day per person, battery powered radio, important documents sealed in a water proof bag, insurance information, photographs of household valuables.