vital information: Fwd: What's New This Week

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Fwd: What's New This Week

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudah <info@agudahil.org>
Date: Tue, May 13, 2025, 4:05 PM
Subject: What's New This Week
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

TUES, MAY 13, 2025 | 15 IYAR 5785

This newsletter contains flyers and information about the following topics:

Government and Legal

Agudath Israel Applauds National Scholarship Tax Credit Inclusion in Federal Tax Bill

Halacha and Torah

The Midwest Bais Horaah will be having their annual Charidy campaign June 8-9.

Youth Programming and Camps

Bnos will be arranging Special Sunday Swim! There are only a few more weeks left of Shabbos Bnos groups.

Q: With Lag Ba'omer falling out on an Erev Shabbos, would I be able to get a haircut on Thursday night?

A: Dayan HaRav Shmuel Fuerst shlit"a responds:

It is a machlokes haposkim about whether the aveilus of sefira finishes already at the night of Lag Ba'omer or only in the daytime. Therefore, one should take a haircut only by day, but if there will be difficulty in doing so (for example no barbers will be available), he may take a haircut on Thursday night.

Agudath Israel Applauds National Scholarship Tax Credit Inclusion in Federal Tax Bill

Agudath Israel of Illinois delegation in Washington DC to advocate for ECCA

Agudath Israel of Illinois delegation meeting with House Ways & Means Commitee member Congressman Darin LaHood (D-16)

Agudath Israel of Illinois delegation meeting with Congressman Brad Schneider (D-10)

Agudath Israel applauds the historic inclusion of the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) in a draft budget document unveiled yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives. Agudath Israel looks forward to continuing to engage members of Congress as lawmakers debate and build upon this proposal in the days and weeks ahead.

Following a model already operating successfully in more than twenty states, this game changing legislation will provide $5 billion in K-12 scholarships per year. It does this by allowing a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for donors who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGO). These SGOs would then provide scholarships for a range of educational expenses, including private school tuition.

Agudath Israel played a key role in the crafting and promotion of this legislation together with legislative sponsors and coalition partners over the last several years. Most recently, Agudath Israel organized a mission to Washington, DC bringing more than 200 community leaders from across the country to urge policymakers to include ECCA in the budget reconciliation bill that is moving through Congress.

"We thank House leadership and bill the sponsors Rep. Adrian Smith (R – NE) and Rep. Burgess Owens (R – UT) for ensuring that ECCA was included in the House reconciliation draft," said Rabbi Yossie Charner, Agudath Israel of America's Director of Congressional Affairs. "This is a critical first step in becoming law this session."

"By prioritizing scholarships among the many competing tax policies vying for inclusion, the House leadership demonstrated why school choice is spreading across the nation," said Rabbi Avi Schnall, Agudath Israel of America's Director of Federal Education Affairs. "Parents want to choose the best educational setting for their child."

"During his campaign for president, Donald Trump promised to promote universal school choice in all 50 states," noted Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel's National Director of Government Affairs. "Agudath Israel and its allies will continue to urge Congressional leaders and the Administration to include ECCA in its broadest form in any budget deal so that it can help millions of children across the country including those wishing to attend yeshivas and other nonpublic schools."