Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | March 16, 2022 - 13 Adar II 5782 News from the Agudah:
- Watch live today, at 3:00 PM EDT: An Update on the Ukraine Crisis from the Vaad Hatzalah for Ukrainian Jewry. Hear from those leading the relief and rescue efforts on the ground and in the US. Divrei chizuk from Rabbi Shmuel Dishon, Rabbi Malkiel Kotler, and Rabbi Zev Cohen. See below for more details and how to join.
- As the Russian invasion continues and intensifies, we do not know how long this war will last and where it will go, Hashem yerachem.
- Here is what we do know: the money collected is being sent and used to save neshamos almost as fast as it is coming in.
- The need for funds to help people escape the Ukrainian war zone, and for food, lodging, and other necessities for refugees is mounting.
- We are doing whatever is necessary, including privately airlifting food and medical supplies over enemy lines to those in immediate need, and opening warehouses in Poland.
- We have thus raised our own goal, and will continue to do whatever we can to help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. We hope you will do the same.
- You can donate by going to agudah.org/Ukraine or by calling 929.529.0200. You can mail a check to Agudath Israel, attn: Ukraine Fund, 42 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004. We are working with trusted partners "on the ground" to make sure that all donations goes to this pressing need, including such items as food, medical needs, additional security, and evacuation and housing costs. Please contribute generously. Thank you. Click here to donate.
- We wanted to share with you a flyer that the Torah Projects Commission of Agudas Yisroel sent out yesterday to Rabbonim across the country. In response to the war in Ukraine, they pointed out that Chazal teach us that the zechus of Limud HaTorah grants extra protection to our fellow Yidden in danger. With the brochah of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and the endorsement of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, the Conference of Agudah Shul Rabbonim urged all shuls to organize an extra hour of communal learning over Purim. Please see the flyer below, and certainly make every effort to help organize such a program in your shul/ beis medresh!
- Take action now! We are all outraged by the Ukrainian crisis and the death and destruction that has come in its wake. Agudath Israel is doing what it can to provide humanitarian relief to the injured and displaced. We have raised millions of dollars for food, medicine, housing and other vital necessities, to be distributed throughout affected areas in Ukraine and neighboring countries. But there is more we can do! Take action now and call on the Biden Administration to let Ukrainian refugees reunite with their U.S families. See below to take action.
- Yesterday the US Senate passed a law which would make Daylight Savings Time permanent. This issue has come up over the years, and Agudah has joined other segments of society in generally opposing these efforts. See below for more details.
- Agudath Israel of America was one of the first groups in New York state to be back in Albany for lobbying last week, just days after the Legislative Office Building opened to the public. See below for more details and pictures.
- Attention all ladies: Please join Bnos Agudas Yisroel for Tehillim and Chizuk today, at 10:30 AM EST. See below for more details and how to join.
- To download the Pirchei Weekly for Parshas Vayikra please click here.
- Please note the schedule for this week's virtual Yarchei Kallah on Iyunim B'Hilchos Purim- see below for more details.
| | An Update on the Ukraine Crisis from the Vaad Hatzalah for Ukrainian Jewry | | Watch live today, at 3:00 PM EDT, An Update on the Ukraine Crisis from the Vaad Hatzalah for Ukrainian Jewry.
Hear from Rabbi Moshe Fhima, Head of Yad Yisroel Pinsk, Belarus, who is leading the relief and rescue efforts on the ground.
Divrei chizuk will be given by Rabbi Shmuel Dishon, Menahel, Yeshivas Karlin-Stolin, Rabbi Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Yeshiva, Beis Medrash Govoha, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, and Rabbi Zev Cohen, Rav, Adas Yeshurun, Chicago.
Rabbi Naftali Miller, Director of Development, Agudath Israel of America, will deliver an update on the fundraising efforts from the US.
| | Click here or on the image above to download. | | Action Alert: Call on Biden Administration to Let Ukrainian Refugees Reunite with their U.S Families | | Click here to download the image above to share. | | Dear Agudah Activist:
We are all outraged by the Ukrainian crisis and the death and destruction that has come in its wake. Agudath Israel is doing what it can to provide humanitarian relief to the injured and displaced. We have raised millions of dollars for food, medicine, housing and other vital necessities, to be distributed throughout affected areas in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
But there is more we can do!
We can urge Congress to call upon the Biden Administration to take steps to ease the massive refugee crisis by expediting family reunification cases so that Ukrainians with family in the U.S. can arrive on these shores as quickly as possible. Family reunification is a central focus of American refugee policy.
There are two actions the Administration can take:
Lautenberg Amendment Cases — The Lautenberg Amendment eases the refugee process for religious minorities who have suffered historic persecution in their home countries – and, in Ukraine, Jews, Pentecostals, and others, are eligible. Many applications are already in the pipeline and should be expedited by allowing applicants to come to the U.S. and complete processing here or by allowing them to complete processing in refugee centers in Europe. The Administration should also do all within its power to expedite the process of newly-filed Lautenberg cases.
Immigrant Visa Applications – Another way the Biden Administration can bring relief to Ukrainians is to expedite pending immigrant visa applications and allow these applicants to enter the U.S. as refugees or parolees. Otherwise, this process could take months or even years of waiting! This has been done previously for other groups (Iraqis and Haitians) and the exigent circumstances facing Ukrainians warrant that it be done there as well.
We urge you to contact your Senators and Representatives as soon as possible to call upon the Biden Administration to take these critical steps that will bring relief to thousands who are suffering displacement. These are actions that do not require legislation and that the President can put into effect right away.
Click here to take action.
Thank you for your help!
Rabbi Abba Cohen Vice President for Government Affairs Washington Director | | Statement of Agudath Israel of America on Senate Passage of the Sunshine Protection Act | | The issue of extending Daylight Savings Time (DST) has come up over the years on both the federal and state levels and Agudath Israel of America has joined other segments of society in generally opposing these efforts.
Our concerns revolved around two areas. First, as a representative of Orthodox Jewish schools, we shared the views of those in the school community who were concerned about children walking, carpooling or taking the bus to school in the pre-sunrise darkness and the increased risk of accidents and injuries that resulted. Indeed, during the Arab oil embargo in early 1970s, when a year-long DST was attempted (but was quickly ended due to public outcry), there were numerous reported incidents of children being injured and assaulted as they traveled to school in the pitch-black streets. Whatever benefit that might accrue due to extended DST pales in comparison to the cost in safety of our children.
The second concern related to an unintended consequence the change in DST would have on a fundamental aspect of Jewish religious life – morning prayers. Under Jewish law, morning prayers, and the rituals associated with them, are regulated in time-specific ways and must be performed no earlier those certain specified times. Synagogue schedules accommodate those times. With a change in DST, and the later sunrise, the times for prayers and their accompanying rituals will be disrupted –which, in turn, will put into jeopardy their proper fulfillment, discourage synagogue attendance, and result in late arrival for work.
The U.S. Senate today passed legislation that would make DST year-round and thus implicate these and other concerns. The bill will now move to the House, where the various issues on both sides will be debated. Along with others, Agudath Israel intends to continue to express its concerns to the representatives in that chamber and make clear the negative consequences the change will have on the safety of our children and on our Jewish religious practice. | | Back in Albany: Third Installment of Agudah Advocacy Brings Focus on Parents and Security | | Agudath Israel of America was one of the first groups statewide to be back in Albany for lobbying last week, just days after the Legislative Office Building opened to the public.
While Zoom advocacy has become accepted over the past two years (and certainly is more convenient than six hours of driving!) it is just not the same as face-to-face meetings. So, as soon as the Agudah received the go-ahead, the race was on to put together a delegation to relay the concerns of New York's Orthodox Jewish community in person before the state budget was released. The delegation of Agudah staff and leadership was joined by leading community advocates and school officials.
During the busy day, the delegation met with Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, Senators Anna Kaplan, Simcha Felder, and Diane Savino, as well as Assemblymembers Michael Benedetto, Robert Carroll, Michael Cusick, Steven Cymbrowitz, Simcha Eichenstein, Daniel Rosenthal, Amy Paulin, and Helene Weinstein. There were also meetings with staff from Assemblymember Emily Gallagher's office.
Additionally, the delegation met with staff of Governor Hochul, including Dan Fuller, Deputy Secretary for Education; Terrence O'Leary, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES); and Chattod Floyd, Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs. These meetings were coordinated by Jake Adler, Director of Jewish Affairs, and Eva Wyner, Deputy Director of Jewish Affairs.
Safety for Our Children:
Antisemitic violence continues to rise across the country. From the high-profile cases like attacks targeting Jews in Pittsburgh, PA; Poway, CA; Jersey City, NJ; Monsey, NY; and the recent hostage crisis in Colleyville, Texas, to the swastikas and senseless beatings in the streets. Ensuring our children's safety in school by raising the level of funding for the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment grant (NPSE), is therefore one of the highest priorities for the Agudah. The NPSE program provides reimbursement for safety and security measures for nonpublic schools, and Agudah advocates asked the legislators to retain the line item in the budget which would raise NPSE funding from $15 million to $45 million, as well as to expand eligibility for usage to include critical capital repairs that enhance building safety.
This item was also raised extensively in the meetings with executive staff of the governor. Members of the delegation expressed appreciation to the governor for putting this item in her version of the budget, as Agudah had lobbied for several months ago, and stressed the importance of this funding being included in the final budget.
Fight Child Poverty for the State's Youngest:
The Empire State Child Tax Credit was designed to combat child poverty for low- and middle-income parents. Paradoxically, the credit excludes children under the age of four, the age children are most likely to experience poverty; when the impact of child poverty is most egregious and can impede long-term development; and when parents have the most difficult time returning to work. A 50-state survey of child tax credits did not find a single other state that denied the benefit specifically to parents of younger children. Agudah delegates asked legislators to close this critical under-four loophole.
Other issues discussed with the legislators included a summer food funding increase, a revolving loan fund for special education providers, and immunization recordkeeping reimbursements.
"There is no substitute for the human connection, and with almost no one yet in Albany, we really got a lot of quality time with the legislators. Kudos to our advocacy team for mobilizing on a dime," said Avrohom Weinstock, Agudah's chief of staff. "It was great to be back in the person, walking the halls of the Capitol in Albany," said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudah's director of New York government relations. "While we won't know if we succeeded in accomplishing all of the items on the agenda, we already received positive feedback from multiple legislators, and have seen concrete results in the One House Budget released over the weekend after our visit." | | Attention all ladies: Please join Bnos Agudas Yisroel for Tehillim and Chizuk, at 10:30 Am EST. Hear from Mrs. Tobie Teller on how to have true Simcha during these challenging times. Call in at: 425.436.6277 244274#.
| | Please note the schedule for this week. The shiurim will continue with the access information as follows:
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