vital information: Fwd: News From Agudah 26 Tammuz 5784, August 1, 2024

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Fwd: News From Agudah 26 Tammuz 5784, August 1, 2024

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: The Agudah <news@agudah.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 1, 2024, 4:57 PM
Subject: News From Agudah 26 Tammuz 5784, August 1, 2024
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

August 1, 2024 - 26 Tammuz 5784

In today's News from Agudah: Agudah submits brief in support of Jewish UCLA students; Agudah joins 50 others in calling for congress to pass universal school choice; A statement from the Agudah on the ADL and Wikipedia; Bnos Doroseinu senior awareness week virtual event; And, Don't miss this week's Bnos and Pirchei newsletters.

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Agudath Israel Submits Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Jewish Students at UCLA; Judge Orders UCLA to Craft a Plan Ensuring Their Protection

Agudath Israel of America, along with The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, submitted an amicus "friend of the court" brief in a case seeking to hold UCLA accountable for failing to address antisemitic activity on campus. The lawsuit, Frankel, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al., was brought by three Jewish students attending UCLA, Yitzchok Frenkel, Joshua Ghayoum, and Eden Shemulian, and describes how UCLA administration initially permitted a pro-Hamas encampment to exist on campus and allowed the establishment of a "Jew Exclusion Zone" at the University earlier this year.

The brief urged the court to grant a preliminary injunction requiring UCLA to take measures ensuring that such discriminatory actions, which prevented Jewish students from having full and equal access to the campus, facilities, and programs, do not occur again.

Agudath Israel's submission highlighted UCLA's utter failure to protect its Jewish students and emphasized the increased risks faced by Orthodox Jewish students due to their religious attire. A significant portion of the brief catalogued antisemitic incidents at major universities across America.

Agudath Israel of America Joins More Than 50 Elected Officials and Distinguished Signatories in Calling on Congress to Pass Universal School Choice

"Bring education freedom to millions of students across America who desperately need it!" That was the message of a letter signed by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel of Agudath Israel of America and more than fifty current and former elected officials and prominent school choice supporters. The signatories included nine sitting governors and three former secretaries of education among many others.

The letter to Congressional leaders highlighted the support for universal school choice expressed at the recent Republican National Convention. While the letter didn't specify any bill, it endorsed using a scholarship tax credit program as the vehicle to bring school choice to all 50 states. One likely vehicle is the Agudah-endorsed Educational Choice for Children Act. Agudah has long supported and helped implement school choice programs across the country including more than a dozen states that have adopted, or are poised to adopt universal school choice.

"While the focus of the letter was the party platform at the recent Republican National Convention," said Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudah's national director of government affairs, "our hope is that education freedom is an issue that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle can embrace as a common sense policy that benefits all children."

It is no secret that Agudath Israel America and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) are not ideologically aligned on a host of religious and societal themes, at times even finding ourselves on opposing sides of an issue.

It is also no secret that antisemitism in the United States has been increasing in recent years -- precipitously so since October 7th -- and that the ADL has been an organization at the forefront of combating this. The ADL's comprehensive cataloguing of antisemitic incidents both on the street and online is used by many government agencies to formulate policy. Agudath Israel has made use of this data it in its own advocacy for the Orthodox Jewish community.

Thus, the recent move by Wikipedia, arguably the most consulted reference work today, to delegitimize citing to the ADL in its characterization of Hamas' attacks, and potentially on antisemitism generally, marks a sad day in the increasingly uphill battle against antisemitism. We respectfully, but urgently, press for the reconsideration of this move. By delegitimizing those who combat antisemitism, Wikipedia is enabling those who perpetuate it.

Have You Experienced Antisemitism?

Agudath Israel has created a portal for individuals to reach out to Agudah Legal with cases of discrimination. Cases will be directed to experienced lawyers and professionals who will provide guidance as the situation warrants.

Agudath Israel is working with The Lawfare Project, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and several law firms, including Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. In most instances, services can be provided on a pro bono basis.

To contact Agudah Legal with a case of school or workplace antisemitic discrimination, email discrimination@agudah.org, or call 646-254-1678.

Click here for this week's Pirchei newsletter.

Click here for the Chodesh Av Bnos Tweenlight

Bnos Doroseinu Senior

Awareness Week

Virtual Event

Attention high school and post high school girls. Join Bnos Agudas Yisroel for our Doroseinu senior awareness week virtual event.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 8:00 PM EDT

Hear from Mrs. Chani Juravel

The important role you can play in a senior's life, how you can make a difference....
What you gain through giving
Practical tips on having an effective visit with a senior

Call in: 641.715.3800 | Access Code: 937120#, Prompt 1