vital information: Fwd: What's New This Week

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Fwd: What's New This Week

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudah <info@agudahil.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 25, 2025, 5:03 PM
Subject: What's New This Week
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

TUES, MAR 25, 2025 | 24 ADAR 5785

This newsletter contains flyers and information about the following topics:

Government and Legal

Kosher Bill Signed Into Law After Three Years of Advocacy

Vote Early and Win!

Halacha and Torah

Pesach Services + Complete Pesach Guide

Family and Children

Agudah Distributes Pesach Essentials to the Community

Youth Programming and Camps

Upcoming Bnos Events

Kosher Bill Signed Into Law After Three Years of Advocacy

This Monday morning, a press conference hosted by Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) celebrated the culmination of Senate Bill 457 becoming law. The legislation requires public schools, correctional facilities and state hospitals to provide kosher and halal meals upon request. The bill was signed into law by Governor Pritzker on Friday but its full implementation is still subject to a state appropriation.

This legislation is something Agudath Israel of Illinois, together with other coalition partners, has spent three years advocating for. With the passage of this bill, Illinois is setting a powerful example by ensuring that public schools and state facilities offer kosher and halal food options. This is a victory not only for religious communities but for the principle that no child should have to choose between nutritious food and their faith.

Chicago Public Schools and other districts already accommodate religious dietary needs at some schools, creating a model to expand across all public school districts statewide. AIOI thanks Senator Ram Villivalam and Representative Kevin Olickal for their leadership and dedication to passing this legislation. AIOI also thanks the Muslim Civic Coalition who worked to make this legislation a reality, as well as the Governor for signing the bill into law.

Another key component of this bill is the establishment of a clear definition of kosher under Illinois law. This strengthens Illinois' Kosher Food Act, giving it the power to protect consumers from fraud and ensuring that families can trust the food they're buying.

"We are proud to have played a role in this historic legislation that will make Illinois the first state in the nation to require schools to make religious dietary accommodations so that all students have access to nutritious meals," said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, director of government affairs at Agudath Israel of Illinois.

Click here to view footage from the press conference

Vote Early and Win!

Historically, municipal elections have seen low voter turnout, with only 10 to 15 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots. This is alarming, considering the significant impact that local elections have on our daily lives, from schools and housing to transportation and public safety. There is, however, a solution: Voting early! By casting your ballot ahead of time, you can ensure your voice is heard and your vote is counted. Early voting has already begun, so you can make your mark before April 1st!

Locations:

• Skokie Courthouse, Cafeteria Room 100, 5600 Old Orchard Road

• Oakton College Skokie Campus, P103-104, 7701 N Lincoln Avenue

Early Voting hours at these locations are Monday – Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Registered voters can order mail ballots online to be delivered to their home or any other address in the country (e.g. students attending school out-of-state, snowbirds, etc.). Simply click here to order your ballot, or contact us for assistance. Upon request, our Voter Concierge Service can provide secure ballot pickup and delivery as well.

Please note, if you order a mail ballot, you can still choose to vote in-person at early voting locations beginning March 17, or at your polling place on April 1, as long as you bring the mail ballot with you, or sign an affidavit that you lost/destroyed the mail ballot.

It's a great way to vote from the comfort of your home, as well as a way to ensure you cast a ballot if unanticipated circumstances make it difficult to get to the polls.

For all your voting needs and questions, reach out to Zahava Weldler, GOTV Coordinator via email or phone at vote@agudahil.org or 773.318.6011.

DOWNLOAD THE FLYER →

Agudah Distributes Pesach Essentials to the Community

This past Sunday Agudah Illinois and Maot Chitim Chicago continued their semi-annual partnership to provide local families with essential food and supplies for Yom Tov. Agudah staff members had been working for months prior to this week, sourcing many products for the best prices available. It soon became apparent however, that between the growing community needs and the rising prices of basics such as eggs, this year would be more challenging than before. In order not to turn away a single request, this year's Pesach package would need to be modified. In the end, nearly 700 families received packages with retail values between $300-$500, including matza, wine, chicken, eggs, aluminum pans, cutlery and much more, all at no cost to the recipients.

The AIOI team of staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to keep the cars moving in an effort to beat the rain forecasted for later that day. Yet even when the rain came, at times pretty heavily, the team kept up their pace. By 5 pm as the final cars were coming through, a feeling of exhausted satisfaction rippled through the group.

Agudath Israel is very grateful to Mrs. Joellyn Stoliar and the Board of Maot Chitim Chicago for enabling this vital program. Special thanks to Ms. Kate Kramer and Mrs. Bina Levin for their part in planning and executing the distribution, as well as to Rabbi Yitzchok Bider and Mr. TY Pike for their roles in the logistics of the day. AIOI expresses its appreciation to the many community volunteers young and old, and especially to the hard working girls of BYHSC who spent practically all day on site processing every order. May we all be zocheh to a Chag Kasher V'Sameach!