Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual. | | | May 9, 2023 - 18 Iyar 5783 News from the Agudah:
- Agudah of Illinois arranged for Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to visit Yeshiva Tiferes Tzvi in Chicago, where he interacted with students in their three divisions. Johnson also met with heads of local organizations which gave him a glimpse into the community's work. See below for more details.
- See below for a video with a legislative report from Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudah of Maryland Mid-Atlantic Region, detailing some of the achievements for the community over the past months. See below for more details.
- Today marks the 5th yahrtzeit of Mr. Mendy Klein Z"L, a close friend of the Agudah and a member of our board of trustees. Before his sudden petirah, R' Mendy was to be honored at the Agudah's 2018 dinner. Here is the memorial video we played instead, in his honor.
- BOCES? Yes, BOCES (pronounced Bo-sees) is a group of the eight superintendents of the Rockland County public school system. Agudah representatives met with them recently - see below. Busing was on one of the topics discussed.
- Earlier this year, Bnos Agudas Yisroel launched a new division, ELN, or the Empower Leaders Network. This network provides resources and education to young girls leading up-and-coming non-profits grow their organizations.
| | Back to School for Mayor-elect, As Johnson Meets Jewish Communal Leaders at Chicago Yeshiva | | L-R: Mr. Michie Nudell, Rabbi Yaakov Robinson, Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, Rabbi Nosson Muller, Mr. Moshe Davis, Rabbi Tzvi Bider | | Rabbi Shlomo Soroka presenting Mayor-elect Johnson with a personalized yarmulka | | Mayor-elect Johnson observing a classroom | | | By: Sandy Eller
It was an education of a different sort for Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, as the former teacher visited Yeshiva Tiferes Tzvi on May 5th, learning about the Windy City's Orthodox Jewish community and its many local institutions and organizations.
Johnson had actively courted Chicago's Jewish vote in the days preceding the April 4th runoff mayoral election. Shortly after his stunning victory over opponent Paul Vallas, Johnson's transition team reached out to Agudath Israel of Illinois Director of Government Affairs Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, informing him that Johnson wanted to further develop relationships with the local Orthodox Jewish community. Given the mayor-elect's background as an educator, the idea of orchestrating a meet-and-greet at a local yeshiva resonated with Rabbi Soroka, who appreciated the importance of emphasizing the critical role that education plays within the Jewish community, as well as introducing Johnson to the many organizations that benefit both the Jewish community and the city at large.
Arriving at Yeshiva Tiferes Tzvi in the early afternoon along with Alderman Samantha Nugent, Alderman Debra Silverman and Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, Johnson was welcomed warmly by second graders holding Chicago city flags, with enthusiastic middle schoolers joining in with a round of applause. Menahel Rabbi Nosson Muller spoke briefly, remarking that Johnson's visit demonstrated his respect for freedom of religion, the Orthodox community, and its educational system, while simultaneously sending a clear message that all cultures and peoples are valued in Chicago.
Johnson and the other elected officials visited classrooms in each of the school's three divisions, as well as the onsite Netivot Academy that serves children with disabilities. Student Shlomo Friedman welcomed the visitors to the eighth grade, telling Johnson that if he had been able to control seventh and eighth graders in the classroom, he was certainly up to the task of running the City of Chicago. Johnson freely answered unscripted questions from students in all of the classes he visited, even interacting on an iPad with a nonverbal Netivot pupil.
The contingent of electeds enjoyed an informative roundtable with the heads of several communal organizations and institutions. Hatzalah Chicago co-founder and Director of Operations Simcha Frank gave an overview of the all-volunteer emergency medical corps, explaining how it serves anyone who calls for medical assistance. Frank credited the Agudah for facilitating legislation that paved the way for Hatzalah's launch, as well as its continued support, which was particularly invaluable during the pandemic. Nurse Heidi Ida described the leading role the Agudah took running one of Chicago's vaccine clinics at the Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov, working closely with Hatzalah Chicago and Refuah 311, while Rabbi Tzvi Bider outlined The Chicago Center's construction plans for a federally qualified health center that will provide all area residents with affordable healthcare. Also present were Yeshiva Eitz Chaim co-founder and Rosh Mesivta Rabbi Tzvi Schnell, and Mrs. Mushky Kulek, co-founder and co-director of the Shaarei Chinuch Jewish Montessori day school.
Gifted with a black yarmulka bearing his name and the Chicago city flag, Johnson admitted to being impressed by the students' impeccable behavior and the level of respect they showed him, standing up when he entered the room. Rabbi Soroka, who told Johnson when the election results were finalized, "You used to teach history, now you made history," described the afternoon as both informative and productive.
"We brought our organizations to Mayor-elect Johnson at Yeshiva Tiferes Tzvi to show him who we are, what we are about and our continued efforts to make the city we love a better place," observed Rabbi Soroka. "It was gratifying to have Mayor-elect Johnson affirm his commitment to continue working with us as close partners for the good of our community and for the good of the entire city." | | Agudah of Maryland Sine Die Report | | Since the start of legislative session, Rabbi Ariel Sadwin has been working on various legislative items to benefit the Baltimore community. Click here or on the video above for a review of Agudah of Maryland's work over the past several months. | | Agudath Israel Works Together with Local Government to Work on Identifying a Solution to Rockland Transportation Challenges | | Ami Bazov, Esq., associate director of Yeshiva Services, presenting | | As the Orthodox Jewish communities in Monsey continue to expand beyond the centrally located East Ramapo school district, the surrounding districts face challenges accommodating the needs of their new yeshiva students. The challenge is particularly acute regarding transporting 35,000+ yeshiva students to over 100 schools. Agudath Israel held many meetings with individual district superintendents to try to come up with a solution. Following these individual meetings Agudath Israel recognized the need to meet with all of the district superintendents together. Recently, Agudath Israel's Rockland Regional office did just that at a meeting with the Rockland BOCES: The Boards of Cooperative Educational Services for the eight Rockland County school districts. Rabbi Shragi Greenbaum, director of Agudah's Rockland regional office, Rabbi Yehoshua Pinkus, director of Yeshiva Services, and Ami Bazov, Esq., associate director of Yeshiva Services, explained to the board the history of Agudath Israel and its role in Rockland County and elaborated on the benefits of the districts' collaboration with Agudath Israel. "The superintendents were impressed with the breadth and impact of Agudah and are eager to follow up and increase collaboration," said Rabbi Greenbaum. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration and coming up with a solution together with the superintendents. Thank you to Christopher D'Ambrese, district superintendent, and to Amy Albers, Ed.D., chief operating officer and deputy district superintendent for inviting us and hosting the meeting." | | Bnos ELN: Building Klal Yisroel's Builders | | Click here or on the image above for a brochure to learn more about Bnos ELN | | | Klal Yisroel is full of great needs - and great ideas. Listen in on any coffee room or read any letter to the editor, and you'll hear endless social commentary and "if-only" perfect solutions.
But what happens to those solutions? Why do so few visionaries take concrete steps to implement their ideas? And why do even fewer succeed at reaching their goals?
A significant factor is the unique challenges that young organizations face. Especially for young women, there are no established playbooks, mentors, or appropriate networks to turn to for guidance. Klal Yisroel loses out as inspired concepts fizzle and needs remain unmet.
Until now. This past fall, Bnos launched a division ELN, Empower Leaders Network. ELN's mission is clear: Create a network that facilitates growth, provides resources, and educates women and girls who lead young non-profits, helping them serve Klal Yisroel.
The division is headed by Miss Blimi Benedik and Miss Zissy Miller. Blimi is herself a founder of a non-profit, Project light, which offers growth-oriented chizuk to high-school girls. She had first-hand experience with the difficulties that founders face. Now, she sees the positive impact of supporting leaders through ELN.
ELN clearly struck a chord because it's already grown tremendously. It now has 25 member organizations and has run multiple events. Each month ELN hosts a webinar covering fundraising, leadership skills, writing, and more. Exciting programs are in the works, such as a high school girls' leadership network, a young leaders' retreat, and a resource guide for young organizations.
But the real magic happens outside the scheduled events. Members regularly connect to share resources, best practices, and listening ears.
"We're thrilled to see ELN's growth," says Mrs. Chana Baila Hass, National Director of Bnos. "It fits perfectly into Bnos's mission to empower tomorrow's leaders. By creating a support and resource network for these young women, their missions will thrive, and we'll fill voids in Klal Yisroel."
Are you a young woman running an organization five years old or less? Do you have a skill or professional experience you'd like to share with our ELN members? ELN would love to hear from you! Please call 212 797 9000 ext. 330 or email eln@agudah.org or bnos@agudah.org. | | | | |
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