vital information: Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel 19 Adar 5781/March 3, 2021

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel 19 Adar 5781/March 3, 2021

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudath Israel of America <news@agudah.org>
Date: Wed, Mar 3, 2021, 4:25 PM
Subject: News From Agudas Yisroel 19 Adar 5781/March 3, 2021
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual.

March 3, 2021 - 19 Adar 5781

News from the Agudah:

Agudah's Albany Day looked very different this year, held virtually via Zoom rather than in person at the New York State Capitol in Albany. The Covid-19 pandemic may have cancelled a lot over the past year but the need for advocacy has certainly not been canceled. See below for more details about the event.

Bnos Bikur Cholim has partnered with Ahavas Chessed to provide fresh, home-cooked food to Holocaust survivors in Brooklyn each week. See below for more details about the program and how to get involved.

Between now and Pesach, beginning this week, we will be having special shiurim in honor of Pesach - please see below for next weeks full schedule, and we hope you'll join! The Pesach series of shiurim will be archived here: https://agudah.org/iyunim-bhilchos-pesach/

Agudah's Albany Day:

Different Venue Same Value

By: Miri Szpilzinger

Agudah Albany Day looked very different this year, held virtually via Zoom rather than in person at the New York State Capitol in Albany. The Covid-19 pandemic may have cancelled a lot over the past year but the need for advocacy has certainly not been canceled.

The first in a series, Tuesday's "Albany Day" focused on New York City. Among the subjects discussed with legislators were budget cuts to the Mandated Services Aid (MSA) in the executive budget, and a change in the language of the law that would enable future budgetary cuts to reduce the allocation of funds to nonpublic schools, and leave them with no recourse for recovering the funding. Substantial equivalency, busing cost reimbursements, and immunization recordkeeping reimbursements, were also discussed, as well as the Agudah's concern as to how the Covid-19 vaccine distribution is being handled in the Orthodox Jewish community in New York City.

Simultaneous meetings took place for over three hours with legislators including Deputy Majority Leader Senator Michael Gianaris, Senators Simcha Felder, Andrew Gounardes, Brian Kavanaugh, Diane Savino, and Assemblymembers Robert Carroll, Michael Cusick, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Simcha Eichenstein, Emily Gallagher, Daniel Rosenthal, Nily Rozic, and Helene Weinstein. The group also met with members of the staff of Senators Brian Benjamin, Zellnor Myrie, Roxanne Persaud and Assemblymembers Michael Benedetto and Steve Cymbrowitz.

Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudah's director of New York government relations, said, "Holding Albany Day over Zoom was a new experience for us, but we found that our legislators were just as engaged and involved as if we had been meeting in person in Albany. We thank them for their participation and we will continue to be in contact with them throughout the course of the year."

This year's virtual Albany Days continued with Long Island constituents meeting their representatives on Wednesday, March 3rd, and Hudson Valley constituents meeting on Tuesday, March 9th.

Fresh Food for Holocaust Survivors from Bnos Bikur Cholim

Bnos Bikur Cholim (BBC) is expanding its senior programming again! Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, BBC has been extraordinarily active, creatively looking to meet senior citizens' new needs.

Now, BBC, together with Ahavas Chessed, offers fresh, home-cooked food to Holocaust survivors each week. This demographic is especially isolated and may not get out to buy food or other supplies. Volunteers deliver the food packages before Shabbos.

Do you know a Holocaust survivor who would appreciate this service? Please reach out to Mrs. Hass at CBHass@agudah.org or call 212-797-9000 ext. 330.

This program currently services Brooklyn, NY.

Reach out to Mrs. Hass, as well, to get involved in any of BBC's other senior programs. Thanks to a generous grant from the Elie Wiesel Holocaust Survivors Initiative, sponsored by the City Council of New York, BBC also arranges senior phone-mates and distributes Corona safety supplies and food and clothing vouchers.