Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | December 8, 2021 - 4 Teves 5782 News from the Agudah:
- In October, we shared a statement regarding a proposed mandate for women to register with the selective service system. At the time, it was thought that this measure would pass. However, today we welcome the news that that provision has been taken out of the bill. See below for more details.
- The current Build Back Better legislation includes provisions for universal pre-k, a program that would be immensely beneficial to our communities. However, the legislation includes language which would restrict the participation of religious entities. See below for more details on Agudah's advocacy regarding this matter.
- The H3 Business Halacha Summit is in just 2 weeks! See below to watch an exciting preview of the summit. For more on the summit and to register go to h3summit.org.
- The Midwest Agudah Convention is also in 2 weeks! See below for more details and to register.
- Rabbi Ari Weisenfeld, director of our new Connecticut office, will be hosting a Waterbury meet and greet tomorrow night. See below for more details.
- Abortion, as an issue of concern to the Agudah and its constituents, is nothing new. The subject is again a priority, with a potentially significant abortion case now in front of the Supreme Court. See below for a letter written by Rabbi Avi Shafran that was recently published by the New York Times. In it, Rabbi Shafran sets the record straight on what the Torah attitude towards abortion is, and pushes back against those who would say that being pro-abortion is a Jewish value.
- Yarchei Kallah will continue this week on Iyunim B'hilchos Shabbos. See below for this week's schedule and how to join.
- Just to clarify, the correct number for Torah Anytime to listen to recordings of the Convention is 718-298-2077; the sessions can also viewed at www.agudahconvention.org/program/. Click here to see a printable directory of all sessions' dial-in extensions. We're sorry for the typo in Monday's News from the Agudah!
| | Agudath Israel Welcomes News that Mandate on Women's Draft Registration has been Dropped from Defense Bill | | Agudath Israel of America is welcoming the news that a provision mandating women to register for the military draft has been dropped from the FY 2022 defense bill.
Registration with the Selective Service System would be utilized in the event that the draft is reinstated and there is need to mobilize the armed forces for military conflict or national emergency.
It was a surprising development, as pressure has mounted over the years to require women to register for the draft and as bipartisan support for the measure has broadened. However, strong opposition from a group of senators, led by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), highlighted the contentious nature of the provision, and when negotiations over the defense bill stalled it was stripped out.
Agudath Israel has monitored the issue over the years and increased its advocacy as the bills moved forward over recent months.
While concerns from most quarters dealt with military manpower, management and morale, Agudath Israel's primary focus related to how the draft registration requirement would infringe upon the religious liberty of women who have religious objections to such military service.
"We had heard the concerns of families from various corners of the Orthodox Jewish community, who were afraid of what the requirement might ultimately mean for daughters and granddaughters," noted Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudath Israel's Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director.
"A generalized requirement for women to register for the draft -- without any hint or mention of a religious exemption -- would be highly objectionable. Indeed, it is likely that large numbers of these women would not register and possibly be subject to some form of sanction."
Upon the direction of Agudath Israel's rabbinic leadership. Rabbi Cohen shared these concerns with the Biden Administration, Congressional leadership, members of the Armed Forces Committee and other faith-based groups. The message was that it was imperative that the issue and its consequences be considered carefully as "there is much at stake here and fundamental religious freedoms may be lost."
Rabbi Cohen points out that the story will likely not end here.
Because the women's draft involves constitutional questions, it is likely that the Supreme Court will take up the question. In that event, Agudath Israel will present its concerns to the justices and urge a ruling that will fully take into account the very compelling religious liberty concerns involved in the issue. | | Agudath Israel, Faith Groups to Congress: Religious Providers Must Be Included in New Federal UPK and Child Care Programs | | Agudath Israel of America has joined other faith-based groups in continuing to communicate concerns over the Universal Pre-K and Child Care provisions of the proposed Build Back Better Act. The BBB legislation is a top priority for the Biden Administration and the Democratic leadership in Congress hopes to pass the legislation before the end of the session.
In a letter to Senate HELP Committee Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC), over 20 national organizations representing various religious denominations, school groups, and charities serving millions of Americans, make a compelling case that, under the current House-passed provisions, religious providers would effectively be cut out of the new UPK and Child Care programs, despite assurances regarding their inclusion. That is because, the letter points out, of the way the programs will be financed and the new requirements to which providers will be subject.
"As is so often the case in legislation, the devil is in the details," observed Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudath Israel's Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director. "This bill has language that includes the participation of religious entities but then insists on forms of funding and other requirements that end up restricting that participation."
For example, under the bill's provisions, UPK and child care programs run by shuls, yeshivas and day schools, among other religious entities, would have to secularize their programs, as well as being prohibited from having boys-only or girls-only programs – intolerable conditions for many providers and parents. Agudath Israel and the other groups have suggested legislative ways to maintain inclusion of religious providers while avoiding such pitfalls.
"Agudath Israel has been proud of the leading role it played in the original child care legislation, and in other programs since, in ensuring that religious providers are able to participate and serve their communities without compromising their religious character and mission," noted Rabbi Cohen. "Passing these provisions without amendment would be a devastating setback, as UPK has the potential of being a boon to our families, and as the current Child Care program has already proven itself an effective and much needed form of assistance to those in our community struggling to make ends meet."
The letter concludes by affirming the belief of the faith-based community that parents should be able to choose the best care and environment for their children, and include the full range of providers without limitation. | | Watch: H3 Business Halacha Summit | | Click here or on the image above to watch. | | Midwest Agudah Convention | | Thursday, December 23 through Sunday, December 26 Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel | | New Connecticut Office Waterbury Meet and Greet | | Thursday, December 9 at 7:00 PM EST Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel of Waterbury; 359 Cooke St., Waterbury, CT 06710 Divrei Brachah by Rabbi Aron Kaufman, Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel of Waterbury Guest Speaker, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Aqudath Israel of America (For men only) | | Letter from Rabbi Avi Shafran to the New York Times:
Judaism permits, even requires, abortion in limited cases, and responsible Jews cannot endorse measures that give a fetus the same protections as a born child.
But, with regard to Sarah Seltzer's rumination on Judaism's abortion position, there is nothing whatsoever in the Jewish religious tradition that permits abortion as a mere "choice" to be made for personal, economic or social reasons.
Nothing whatsoever.
(Rabbi) Avi Shafran
New York
The writer is director of public affairs at Agudath Israel of America. | | The shiurim will continue this week with the access information as follows: | | | | | | |
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