Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | May 2, 2022 - 1 Iyar 5782 News from the Agudah:
- We were saddened to hear of the petirah, on Friday, of Rabbi Nota Greenblatt, posek and Av Bais Din of Memphis, Tennessee. Rabbi Greenblatt's warm feelings for the Agudah, his addresses at the Agudah Convention and the Agudah Midwest Convention, and his guidance for Agudah rabbonim, will all be missed.
- We were further saddened by the petirah earlier today of Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein, of Ohr Naava and many other institutions and organizations. Rabbi Wallerstein spoke often at Agudah events over the years, most recently as a keynote speaker at last Agudah Convention. Yehi zichrom boruch.
- Update from Maryland: The 2022 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly ended on Monday, April 11, at midnight. See below for a recap on some of the highlights and results of the legislative session on the items of primary interest to the Orthodox Jewish Community, and a video explainer from Rabbi Ariel Sadwin.
- Tomorrow! Agudah's New England office will be having community meeting with State Senator Eric Lesser to discuss the security needs of its institutions, and their thanks to him for his leadership in the Commonwealth Security Grant Program. See below for more details and to register.
- Government must not micromanage yeshivas, Bais Yaakovs and private schools! Go to Voice.Agudah.org to submit a letter expressing your objection to the proposed New York State Substantial Equivalency regulations. You can also submit a comment by emailing submission@agudah.org, or by texting START to 888.595.1529.
- YahalomNY will be hosting a night out for mothers of children with special needs, in Monsey this Wednesday, May 4. See below for more details and to RSVP.
- As the war in Ukraine continues, we do not know how long this war will last and where it will go, Hashem yerachem. 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 vaadhatzalahrescue.org/Ukraine or by calling 929.529.0200. You can mail a check to Vaad Hatzalah, 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.
- Pirchei Agudas Yisroel will be having the 59th Annual National Siyum Mishnayos on Sunday, May 8. See below for more details and to purchase tickets for your son now.
- Please note the schedule for this week's virtual Yarchei Kallah on Iyunim B'Hilchos Shabbos - see below for more details.
| | Agudath Israel of Maryland Sine Die Report 2022 | | Click here or on the image above to watch | | The 2022 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly ended on Monday, April 11, at midnight. Agudath Israel of Maryland is pleased to report on some of the highlights and results of the legislative session on the items of primary interest to the Orthodox Jewish Community.
"After the 2020 legislative session was cut short due to Covid, and the 2021 session was limited, it was great to actually be allowed back into the state building in Annapolis," said Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, executive director, Agudath Israel of Maryland. "I'd like to salute the senators and delegates who comprise the Maryland General Assembly and their dedicated staffs for diligently doing the 'work of the people'. Special mention to those who serve the districts of our community – who do so with great devotion, concern, and attentiveness." Click here to watch Rabbi Sadwin's full Sine Die report.
The BOOST scholarship program funds were renewed for its 6th year and funded at $10 million – the same funding as last year when it was increased by $3 million. As expected, the additional funds in last year's budget proved extremely beneficial for the Jewish day school community. Last year's Jewish day school BOOST tally came in at nearly $2.75 million – almost double the totals of previous years.
Agudath Israel of Maryland strongly promoted legislation (HB 415 / SB 401) put forth by Governor Hogan's administration to make the BOOST program and its funding permanent (as opposed to its current status as an annual budget negotiation), but unfortunately the push to get that done while Gov. Hogan is still in office was not successful. Agudath Israel of Maryland hopes to continue the pursuit of a permanent scholarship program with the state's next top executive next year.
The two security grant programs for entities deemed to be "at risk of a hate crime" were also funded in the state budget – $2 million dollars for schools and day care facilities and $5 million dollars for shuls and other non-profits, a $2 million dollar increase from its previous levels. Notable to these programs is the allowable use to hire security personnel.
Following up on last year's measure to limit the continuous benefits of the state's 529 contribution program, the legislature passed another bill (HB 444) which limits account holders to those above 18 years old. On a positive note, there was no attempt this year to strike nonpublic schools from 529 benefits as there was in previous sessions.
Agudath Israel of Maryland's team strongly promoted a new funding program conceived by the OU's Teach Coalition to provide a per-pupil allocation for school nurse costs. Despite receiving legislative assurances that the program would be funded, the two respective budget appropriating committees were led to believe that federal COVID recovery funds were available for this use. In truth, those funds are specific in their allowable uses and nursing/medical costs are not among those allowable uses.
Agudath Israel of Maryland will continue to work with our state and federal partners to ensure that the approximately $60 million already allocated to Maryland private schools from the latter two federal aid packages (EANS / GEER programs) will arrive in a timely fashion and be put to an effective and beneficial use.
Over the last several years there has been a robust increase in the general focus on child care programs statewide and nationwide (for example universal pre-K, etc.). During this time Agudath Israel of Maryland has worked on expanding the eligibility threshold and criteria of child care scholarships and assisted countless households in accessing them. There are now more facilities in our community than ever before that participate in the state's early childhood program, and we are hopeful that it will continue to grow. As usual a number of bills passed during the session related to child care, one of which (HB 1100) is a $16 million allocation to provide incentives and bonuses to child care center personnel.
For the last several years Agudath Israel of Maryland has advocated against a bill in Annapolis that would end standard time and implement all-year daylight savings time. In past years, our opposition to it (primarily based on concerns of safety of school children and the challenges for morning minyan goers due to late sunrise in mid-winter) has been helpful in preventing its passing. This year the bill passed the state's House of Delegate (HB 126), but the unexpected action on Capitol Hill in which the U.S. Senate unanimously passed all-year DST, led to the MD Senate taking no action on the bill. Efforts are underway with many members of the U.S. House to oppose any such corresponding House motion to make DST permanent.
The General Assembly took action to implement climate reform in Maryland (Senate Bill 528) requiring buildings to show a significant cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and complete reduction by 2045. The law provided exemptions to a number of different buildings where compliance would pose undue hardships. Agudath Israel of Maryland was extensively involved in seeking an exemption for houses of worship, similar to some other exempted facilities (which includes school buildings). Ultimately an amendment to the bill was made to exempt all buildings smaller than 35,000 square feet, thus exempting many houses of worship by default.
For resources for those seeking to apply for BOOST scholarships, those looking to utilize 529 tuition related benefits, or child care scholarships, as well as all of the security grant programs that shuls and other nonprofits may be able to access, go to www.AgudahMD.org. | | New England Community Meeting | | Agudah's New England office will be hosting a community meeting to discuss the security needs of its institutions, and express their thanks to State Senator Eric Lesser for his leadership in the Commonwealth Security Grant Program. The meeting will be held via Zoom, Tuesday, May 3, at 7:00 PM EDT. Click here to register. | | Yahalom Monsey Spring Event | | Children with special needs require lots of care. Mothers of children with special needs deserve care and support too! Join YahalomNY on Wednesday, May 4, at 8:00 PM EDT, for an evening just for you, with networking, information, fun, and inspiration. The event will feature an open Q&A session with Mrs. Chani Juravel, LCSW, gifts for all attendees, and light refreshments.
| | Pirchei Agudas Yisroel 59th Annual National Siyum Mishnayos | | Pirchei Agudas Yisroel is excited to announce the 59th Annual National Siyum Mishnayos. For: Boys grades 4 and older. Special guest storyteller: Rabbi Yoel Ferber When: Sunday, May 8; doors open 6:00 PM EDT, program begins 6:30 PM EDT Where: Kol Yaakov, 1703 McDonald Ave, Flatbush NY
All boys attending must have adult supervision. Reservations are required, and all boys must have a ticket to enter.
Admission: $20 - early bird purchase $25 - late sales and at the door
To register: - Click here.
- Or fill out the form above (click here to download) and mail will money to "The National Office of Pirchei Agudas Yisroel of America, 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.
- Or contact your Pirchei school representative.
| | Please note the schedule for this week. The shiurim will continue with the access information as follows:
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