Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | June 8, 2022 - 9 Sivan 5782 News from the Agudah:
- Last week, in a ruling that could have major ramifications for yeshiva students across New York State, an appellate court overruled a lower court ruling that the Washingtonville school district must provide transportation to nonpublic school students on all days that their schools are in session. See below for more details.
- "Indeed, beards are not the only religious practice potentially impacted by this ruling. Any one of a number of religious practices – tallis and tefillin, kosher food, Shabbos and Yom Tov observance, to take a few examples – may also be on the line." Agudath Israel asks the Supreme Court to protect the religious rights of prisoners.
- Have you ever been to a Pirchei event featuring a ducks, rabbits, and birds? This year's Midwest Asifa L'Bnei Aliya featured all those animals and more. See below for more details, pictures, and a highlight video.
- Last night, Rabbi Yossi Kaplan, director of Agudath Israel of Colorado, attended the signing of the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program with Governor Jared Polis. See below for more details.
- YahalomNJ will be having a mother's night out in Lakewood on Tuesday, June 14. See below for more details and to register.
- Mexico City residents: We hope you are are joining us for T3 in Mexico City tomorrow. See below for more.
- Please note the schedule for this week's virtual Yarchei Kallah on Iyunim B'Hilchos Shabbos - see below for more details.
| | Court Overturns Nonpublic School Bus Ruling: Agudath Israel Supports Blooming Grove Appeal to Highest New York Court | | Last week, in a ruling that could have major ramifications for yeshiva students across New York State, an appellate court overruled a lower court ruling that the Washingtonville school district must provide transportation to nonpublic school students on all days that their schools are in session.
The case, United Jewish Community of Blooming Grove v. Washingtonville Central School District, challenged the school district's policy of providing transportation to nonpublic school students only on days that public schools are also open, a policy that was supported and defended by the New York State Education Department. The position of the Blooming Grove Jewish community, a chassidish community in New York neighboring Kiryas Joel, was that state law did require the school district to provide transportation on those contested days.
In November 2021, Judge Peter Lynch ruled that New York State Education Law Section 3635 (1) requires the school district to provide transportation to all nonpublic school students on all days when their nonpublic schools are open for instruction, regardless of whether the public schools are open, and ordered the school district to do so. He also ruled that the State Education Department's guidance document, which states that school districts are required to provide nonpublic schools with transportation only on days that public schools are open, is null and void as it violates New York State Education Law.
But last week, Judge Lynch's ruling was reversed by the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court (Third Department). The appellate court ruled that the district was not required to provide busing to nonpublic school students on days that public schools are not in session.
"Every child in New York should be entitled to transportation when their school is in session, whether they attend public or nonpublic schools," said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudath Israel's director of New York Government Relations.
"This disappointing ruling on appeal is not in the best interests of the children of Blooming Grove, or for other children in New York State who attend nonpublic schools whose school calendars are not identical to that of the local public schools. Nor, as a matter of law, is the ruling correct," said attorney Martin Bienstock, who authored an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief on behalf of Agudath Israel in support of Judge Lynch's ruling. "We will again make our voice heard if this decision is appealed to New York's highest court."
"The Blooming Grove Jewish community is grateful to Agudas Yisroel for the support we have received in this judicial battle," said Isaac Eckstein, chairman, UJC of Blooming Grove. "We definitely plan to appeal, and we hope that our cause will prevail," added Joel Stern, board representative, UJC of Blooming Grove. | | Agudath Israel Asks Supreme Court to Protect the Religious Rights of Prisoners | | Agudath Israel, along with the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty and the Aleph Institute, has submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief asking the Supreme Court of the United States to accept a case concerning the religious liberty of prisoners.
The case, Smith v. Ward, was brought by a Muslim prisoner who requested a religious accommodation to grow his beard, untrimmed, as his religion requires. The prison warden in Georgia denied the request, and the prisoner sued in federal court.
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the prison warden, deferring to his concerns about prison security. The prisoner is now asking the Supreme Court to review the case, and the Jewish groups in their amicus brief are supporting the prisoner's application.
The brief argues that the Eleventh Circuit's decision violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which offers broad protection for prisoners' religious liberty. The brief further argues that such accommodations relating to untrimmed beards are offered at other prisons, and that the Georgia Department of Corrections did not offer sufficient evidence that the untrimmed beard constituted an actual risk.
"This case has the potential to affect the religious liberty of religious prisoners nationwide," said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America. "Jewish prisoners whose religious practice is to grow their beards may face similar issues."
"Indeed, beards are not the only religious practice potentially impacted by this ruling. Any one of a number of religious practices – tallis and tefillin, kosher food, Shabbos and Yom Tov observance, to take a few examples – may also be on the line. It is important that the Supreme Court take the case on review and reverse the Eleventh Circuit's ruling."
Agudath Israel thanks the law firm Wiley Rein LLP for researching, drafting, and submitting this important brief. Associate Krystal Swendsboe was Counsel of Record, and was joined by partner Stephen Obermeier and associates Natalia Szlarb and Ashlyn Roberts. | | Pirchei Agudas Yisroel's Midwest Asifa L'Bnei Aliya a Smashing Success | | Boys Arriving at the Asifa | | Boys with Chaver Motzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Aharon Dovid Goldberg, Rosh Yeshiva, Telshe, Cleveland | | | Click here for more pictures. | | Click here or on the image above to watch. | | Has a Pirchei event ever before featured a duck? Last week, the Midwest Pirchei Agudas Yisroel held an Asifa L'Bnei Aliya for 7th grade Talmidim – bar-mitzvah aged boys – who joined together to mark this milestone year in their lives, heading towards their mission and goal in becoming true b'nei Aliyah.
The Asifa, at Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio, was attended by over 400 boys from Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Toronto and South Bend.
Where does the duck come in? The Asifa started with four exhibits, the one about animals in the Torah including live animals for the boys to see. The other exhibits included showing these bar mitzvah-aged boys how to adjust their Tefilin, how to make tzitzis, and a presentation about animals.
Chaver Motzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Aharon Dovid Goldberg, Rosh Yeshiva, Telshe, Cleveland, spoke to the boys about the difference between aspiring to be a gadol and aspiring to be just a regular mentsch.
Other speakers included Rabbi Nosson Muller, Menahel, Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi, who spoke about how important it is to make correct choices; Rabbi Labish Becker, executive director of Agudas Yisroel, on being mekadeish sheim shamyim and personal responsibility; Rabbi Anshel Helman, Menahel Telshe Yeshiva Cleveland, on our obligation to be mekadesh shem shamayim; and Rabbi Leibish Lish who kept both the boys and their adult chaperones spellbound with a story.
The Asifa concluded with an inspiring and energetic kumzitz led by R' Shloimie Taussig and CLEZemer, followed by two hours for the boys to enjoy Kalahari Waterpark. In addition to Rabbi Becker, Rabbi Yitzchok Ehrman, COO of Agudas Yisroel of America, and Rabbi Ephraim Levy, national director of Pirchei Agudas Yisroel of America, attended as representatives of Agudah's national office. "It was heartwarming to see so many boys come together b'achdus," said Rabbi Labish Becker. "I was extremely impressed by the decorum and the middos that these boys showed. A special Yasher Koach to Rabbi Yitzchok Kahn, Menahel of Hebrew Academy of Cleveland and to all the Askanim who worked tirelessly, making this event possible."
"The purpose of this Asifa was to instill the chashivus for being a Ben Torah in these boys, and to teach them that being bar mitzvah means so much more than putting on a hat. And I think we accomplished that goal, with the boys leaving with an increased sense of chashivus and purpose," said Rabbi Kahn. | | Agudath Israel Applauds Colorado Governor Jared Polis for Signing the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program into Law | | Rabbi Yossi Kaplan, director of Agudath Israel of Colorado with Colorado Governor Jared Polis, at the signing. | | Agudath Israel applauds Colorado Governor Jared Polis for signing the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program into Law. The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides funding for nonprofits to secure themselves from terrorist attacks, has for years been an invaluable resource for schools, shuls, and other nonprofit institutions, which are at high risk of being targeted. However, even as the funding for the federal grants have increased in recent years, the demand for the grant is greater than the supply. This has led multiple states, most recently Colorado, to create their own NSGP program. Agudath Israel played a key role in the creation of NSGP in 2004 and has made boosting its appropriation a high priority every year since.
HB22-1077, a bill sponsored by State Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D), and Iman Jodeh (D), as well as State Senators Kevin Priola (R), and Chris Hansen (D), is designed to pick up the shortfall to qualified nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack when the federal NSGP program does not provide funds for the organization.
"As antisemitic violence continues to rise around the country, the need to protect our institutions continues to rise as well," said Rabbi Yossi Kaplan, director of Agudath Israel of Colorado. "We are grateful to Governor Polis, the bill sponsors, as well as the Jewish Colorado's JCRC, and our other coalition partners, for advocating on behalf of this bill." | | YahalomNJ Mother's Night Out | | YahalomNJ will be having a mother's night out in Lakewood. This event will address questions about insurance coverage and benefits, with a presentation from UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marilyn Gordon, followed by a Q&A. Victoria Dwek will give a presentation on quick and easy menu planning.
Tuesday, June 14, 7:30 PM EDT at Kava Cafe.
| | Please note the schedule for this week. The shiurim will continue with the access information as follows:
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