Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel 14 Av 5781/July 23, 2021

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudath Israel of America <news@agudah.org>
Date: Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 12:54 PM
Subject: News From Agudas Yisroel 14 Av 5781/July 23, 2021
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

Good Shabbos

Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. July 23, 2021 - 14 Av 5781 News from the Agudah: Agudath Israel welcomes continuing strides in securing houses of worship and at-risk nonprofits. See below for more details. Our New England office applauds the Massachusetts Legislature and Governor Charlie Baker for including nonpublic student health services in the state budget and increasing security grant funding. See below for more information. Here's an update on Ki Heim Chayeinu's Masmidei HaShabos Program: Over 5,400 campers are signed up to learn about Shabbos, with amazing learning booklets and prizes. But your child doesn't have to be in one of the 18 participating camps to learn about the beauty and depth of Shabbos – click here to download this week's exciting booklet. And camp learning directors – the program is running for another three weeks - email register@masmideihasiyum.org to sign your camp up.  The Agudah's Summer of Torah women's lecture series continues this Monday, with Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro. See below for more details and how to join. Bnos and Pirchei Newsletters: Download this week's Pirchei newsletters by clicking here for the Pirchei Pages and here for the Pirchei Weekly. A special Tu B'Av Pirchei Pages is available to download by clicking here. Download the Bnos newsletter for this Shabbos here. Agudath Israel Welcomes Continuing Strides in Securing Houses of Worship and At-Risk Nonprofits Agudath Israel of America is welcoming the recent announcement by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that FY 2021 Preparedness Grants have been allocated. This funding includes the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides allocations for target hardening and other security enhancements for nonprofits at high risk of terrorist attack. The current funding level for NSGP is $180 million. According to the Jewish Federations of North America, $115 million of this year's funding will go to Jewish institutions. This represents a 92% increase over last year's level. "The NSGP has been a high priority for Agudath Israel since we worked with others to get it enacted over fifteen years ago and throughout the annual appropriations battles," Agudath Israel's Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director Rabbi Abba Cohen said. "It has made our shuls, yeshivas and other community institutions safer and more secure, and it has saved lives." Recently, the House Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill that would keep the allocation at $180 million. But Rabbi Cohen noted that the steady uptick in antisemitic incidents, the strong support of Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and other House and Senate members, and the broadening endorsement of other faith-groups, are creating momentum for a higher appropriation – perhaps a doubling to $360 million. "We will certainly work hard with our allies on Capitol Hill, and in the faith-based and nonprofit communities, to make that happen," Rabbi Cohen asserted. On a related front, last week the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the Pray Safe Act, legislation introduced by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The legislation would direct federal agencies to collect – and help faith-based entities, including houses of worship, to access – information on best practices, federal grants, and training programs to better safeguard their facilities. Agudath Israel is supporting this effort as well. "Fighting antisemitic hate crimes requires a broad, multi-faceted approach and we will pursue every avenue to bring this scourge to an end." Agudath Israel of America's New England Office Applauds the Massachusetts Legislature and Governor Charlie Baker for Including Nonpublic Student Health Services in the State Budget and Increasing Security Grant Funding Agudath Israel of America's New England Office applauds the Massachusetts Legislature and Governor Charlie Baker for including nonpublic student health services in the state budget and increasing security grant funding. Recognizing the importance of ensuring the health and safety of all students in the Commonwealth regardless of where they choose to attend school, the Massachusetts Legislature included health services funding for both public and nonpublic schools in the state budget. Lawmakers also included specific language to ensure that the funds will be shared equitably across public and nonpublic schools based on their respective enrollment numbers.  In addition, the Legislature increased the funding for nonprofit security grants from $1 million in FY21 to $1.5 million this session.  "We are deeply grateful to Governor Baker, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Senator Michael Rodrigues, and the Legislature for this support," said Mrs. Ariella Hellman, Director of Government Affairs at Agudath Israel of New England. "The school health funding is needed now more than ever to safely reopen schools this fall and to be prepared for the next stages in fighting this pandemic." "We also express our sincere appreciation for the increased funding for the nonprofit security grant program, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the Legislature to continue to meet the need in this area." Masmidei HaShabbos Summer of Torah Agudah's Summer of Torah women's lecture series continues this Monday with a shiur by Rabbi Ephraim E. Shapiro, Rav, Congregation Shaaray Tefillah of North Miami Beach. The program, which starts on July 12th, has registration at 10:15 AM and begins promptly at 10:45 AM with a suggested donation of $20 per lecture, or $75 for the full series of four lectures. For more information or to sponsor a shiur, please contact, Mrs. Faigy Ackerman at 917.804.8428, Mrs. Chani Lieberman at 917.864.8026, Mrs. Suri Schwimmer at 917.930.1577, or the Commission on Torah Projects by calling 212.797.9000 ext. 267, or email torahprojects@agudah.org. For more information about the rest of the series click here. View as Webpage

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