Author: Benjamin Hurwitz

cRc’s updated COVID Guidelines Thursday, February 11, 2021 The cRc’s COVID Guideline Committee met on February 8th, כ״ו שבט, to consider updates to policy guidelines for the community. Vaccination against COVID offers renewed hope of an eventual end to this pandemic. We encourage all members of our community to get vaccinated as soon as possible,…

The Role & Relevance of the Contemporary Beth Din: During Both Normal and Challenging Times Click HERE for the recording of the presentation. We thank Rabbi Reiss and Mr. Landes for their presentations, and Rabbi Engel for coordinating the program.

MAOT CHITIM Tuesday, January 12, 2021 MAOT CHITIM OF GREATER CHICAGO Is once again gearing up to provide for Pesach needs . Rabbis are invited to confidentially refer Families and individuals that in need of assistance By visiting https://maotchitim.org/referral/

GENTLE AND UNBENDING – Remembering Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz zt”l Friday, January 8, 2021 When putting pen to paper, I am challenged to properly express the greatness of Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz, longtime rosh beis din at the Chicago Rabbinical Council (the cRc, where I am kashrus administrator) as well as at the Beth Din…

Prior to last year, the cRc had recommended certain readily available fencing material (commonly sold in Home Depot) to be used for schach and provided detailed instructions on how to place them on the sukkah. However, based on feedback from consumers on the sturdiness of those materials and how they were being used, we have…

B”H Elul, 5779 To the Greater Chicago Jewish Community , שיחיו Hadassim are an integral part of the Arba Minim. Among the Torah requirements for Hadassim is that they be “Meshulash,” that the leaves grow in sets of three leaves in line with each other, for the length of the Hadas, i.e. 3 Tefachim (approximately…