Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | June 7, 2021 - 27 Sivan 5781 News from the Agudah:
- Update from Ohio: See below for a brief, but exciting update from Rabbi Yitz Frank, Director, Agudath Israel of Ohio, or watch the more detailed discussion about the Senate budget proposal between Rabbi Frank and Rabbi A. D. Motzen, National Director of State Relations. See below to watch.
- A lot of good news has been coming from Illinois at the conclusion of its legislative session. See below for good news about redistricting and the first significant increase to the transportation grant in nearly a decade.
- Tomorrow: Register now for the first installment of Agudah of New England and the Agudah Voting Project's Boston Mayoral Forum Series, with candidate and Massachusetts State Representative Jon Santiago. See below for more details and to register.
- Last week Rabbi Avi Schnall received the Organizational Asken Award from OJPAC at their annual dinner. See below for a picture.
- The Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos will continue this week. See below for this week's schedule.
| | Update from Rabbi Yitz Frank: Ohio Budget Update | | Click here or on the image above to watch. | | "Snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat," is how one insider described the efforts by Agudath Israel of Illinois (AIOI) to retain favorable district lines in the new legislative maps recently passed by Illinois' state legislature. The last-minute revisions to keep more of the Orthodox Jewish community united were one of the few adjustments made after the first map proposal was unveiled days prior, capping a year-long effort to prevent the community from being carved up across multiple districts.
Once a decade, following the U.S. Census, district lines are redrawn in states across the country. The boundaries of legislative districts can impact a community's influence. If a community becomes a smaller the percentage of a district's electorate, their political significance is diminished, and if consolidated, their voice can become amplified. On behalf of Chicago's Orthodox Jewish community, AIOI's director of government affairs, Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, spearheaded a campaign to preserve the integrity of the community's voice using media and public relations, lobbying legislators, party leaders, and even the governor. In April he testified before the state Senate and House redistricting committees and using the committees' portal, submitted maps for lawmakers to use.
Despite the all-out effort and comprehensive approach, the initial new map proposal further divided the community, sparking fears that the community's voice in government could be silenced. As a last-ditch effort, Rabbi Soroka testified at a late-night joint redistricting committee hearing to explain to lawmakers how the proposal could diminish community influence to "the brink of political irrelevance," and proposed an alternative boundary line.
"The Orthodox Jewish community is one that unfortunately is often overlooked as a community of interest, despite our unique needs and interests," Soroka testified. "I do not believe these changes were done with the intention to silence my community, but I need this honorable body to know that regardless of the intent, the effect will be the same."
His impassioned plea was heard and when the new maps were released the following day, adjustments to accommodate were made. In a press release, House and Senate Democrats highlighted the change to accommodate the Orthodox Jewish community's request. While the new map, which has since been voted on and passed, isn't perfect, it is a significant improvement from the initial proposal.
AIOI thanks Senate President Don Harmon; House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch; House Republican leader Jim Durkin; Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie; Redistricting Committee Chairs Senator Omar Aquino and State Representative Elizabeth Hernandez; Senator Jason Barickman; State Senators Ram Villivalam and Laura Fine; and State Representatives Denyse Stoneback, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Robyn Gabel, and Bob Morgan. | | Big Boost for Busing (and other big wins) | | Even by Springfield standards, known for its political intrigue, theatrical maneuvering and last-minute surprise twists, the finishing flourish of the last day of Illinois' legislative session was a dramatic nail-biter. More importantly, however, were the budget wins notched by Agudath Israel of Illinois (AIOI). For the first time in nearly a decade, AIOI's school transportation grant was increased, and not insignificantly. The appropriation was nearly doubled from $1.173 million to $2.273 million to accommodate Chicago's explosive growth in Jewish day school enrollment. The budget also included millions of dollars re-appropriated for Jewish organizations' capital projects. "With Illinois' precarious financial state and a projected $3 billion deficit, we knew this was an uphill battle," said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, AIOI's director of government affairs. "We are grateful for the community's engagement and support from key legislators." The budget victory followed other successful efforts in the waning days of the legislative session to exempt private schools from new curriculum mandates, prevent a new bureaucratic and problematic system of Covid-19 health protocols oversight and compliance, and adjust the new legislative district boundaries to ensure the voice of the Orthodox Jewish community remained strong. Lastly, the "Invest in Kids Act," Illinois' tax credit scholarship program, was spared cuts proposed by the Governor and was also extended by a year. The program was previously scheduled to sunset in 2023. There were many elected officials who understood the vital importance of the transportation grant and advocated for the increase on behalf of the Jewish community. Agudath Israel thanks State Representatives Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie), Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), John D'Amico (D-Chicago), State Senators Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), and Laura Fine (D-Glenview), as well as House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Senate President Don Harmon. | | Agudah of New England Boston Mayoral Candidate Forum Series | | Agudah of New England will be hosting a virtual conversation with Boston Mayoral Candidate, Massachusetts State Representative, Jon Santiago, on Tuesday, June 8, at 5:00 PM EST. This conversation will be the first installment of The Agudah Voting Project and Agudath Israel of New England's Boston Mayoral Forum Series, to discuss each candidate's vison for the city and issues of importance to the Orthodox Jewish community in Boston. Click here to register. | | Rabbi Avi Schnall at OJPAC | | The shiurim will continue this week with the access information as follows: | | | | | | |
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