vital information: Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel 3 Adar 5783/February 24, 2023

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudath Israel of America <news@agudah.org>
Date: Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 1:53 PM
Subject: News From Agudas Yisroel 3 Adar 5783/February 24, 2023
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual.

February 24, 2023 - 3 Adar 5783

News from the Agudah:

Agudah of Missouri hit a million dollar milestone in the MOScholars tax credit scholarship program. See below.

This Sunday, 5 Adar, marks the 52nd yahrtzeit of Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rav Mordechai Shlomo Friedman, Mordechai Shlomo ben Yitzchok, the Boyaner Rebbe zt"l.

A year into Ukraine's war: The refugees, where are they? Read about the escape of 1000+ refugees and their transition to a new temporary home in Romania! Charidy.com/bringthemhome.

Bnos and Pirchei newsletters: Click here to download this week's Bnos newsletter. To download this week's Pirchei newsletter, click here.

The Sugyos B'Daf Yomi shiur series this week will be given by Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO, OU Kosher, Daf Yomi Magid Shiur, All Daf; Rav, Khal Zichron Yosef. See below for more details.

Note: You may have heard of the possibility of increased levels of organized antisemitic activity by white supremacist groups and networks this weekend. This information has been spreading through various channels and we have received a number of inquiries as to the validity of this information. Out of an abundance of caution, many police departments will be increasing patrols at shuls and other high visibility areas (see here and here, for example, for communications Agudah offices have received from some police departments). We encourage you to be vigilant and if you see something say something. If you have any suspicion, call 911 or your local Police Department.

Agudath Israel of Missouri Hits Million-Dollar Milestone

Rabbi Hillel Anton, EAO Director

Rabbi Shlomo Soroka

Rabbi Shmuel Miller, Head of School, Epstein Hebrew Academy

On Monday, Agudath Israel of Missouri celebrated the first year of the MOScholars tax credit scholarship program in a gathering of over 200 St. Louis community members. As a wonderful milestone, Rabbi Hillel Anton, EAO Director of Agudath Israel of Missouri, shared that 224 community members directed over $1,000,000 towards Jewish day school families' educational expenses. The community members who contributed towards the scholarship fund received a dollar-for-dollar tax credit.

The Agudah office was able to award scholarships to 75 students in four St. Louis Orthodox schools, including students with disabilities and students transferring from public school.

The Agudah has been approved for $2,000,000 in tax credit scholarships in 2023, giving it the possibility of doubling its 2022 impact.

"Similar programs in other states have experienced exponential growth," said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of Illinois, who was instrumental in the passage and implementation of the MOScholars Program. "This program has the potential to be a significant factor for the future growth of the Orthodox Jewish community in St. Louis."

Rabbi Shmuel Miller, Head of School, Epstein Hebrew Academy, said, "The collaboration of schools and shuls working together was integral for the MOScholars program success. St. Louis unity is working for the benefit of all our children's education."