Hindsight

News & Information for the Week of

December 27th - December 31st, 2020

Hindsight is 2020

While the Jewish year 5780 ended several months ago, the tax year of 2020 ends tonight. For most of you this means that dozens of organizations are sending you a last minute fundraising pitch or sharing with you their accomplishments of the last 12 months. If you are like me, perhaps you click on some and ignore others. I found myself impressed by the organizations that went above and beyond to overcome the unique challenges of the pandemic and what they did to help those in need. I then sent them some money and a note of encouragement, which is sometimes more valuable than the check.

Watching the video to the right reminded me how privileged I am to work alongside an amazing team of dedicated professionals and lay leaders who give it their all to help individuals and community institutions. From Advocacy to Zoom webinars, from the Siyum Hashas (watch the new highlight video here) to our COVID response , my Agudah colleagues have been there for you. For those that contributed to our earlier campaigns, I hope you will take pride in the work you made possible.

But there is more work to be done. Please consider making an additional contribution here so that we can expand our advocacy efforts in statehouses and courthouses, reach more Georgia voters next week (see below), and assist more people. Please add a few words in the comment box about how the Agudah's work impacted you and which of our divisions or individuals deserve special recognition. It would mean so much to them. If you have a regional office serving your state, please consider making a gift to them as well.

Court Victories

Agudah celebrated two important court victories this week. Click on the image to the left to hear a brief video message from our executive vice president Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel about the United States Courts of Appeals victory. The ruling affirmed that New York's restrictions on houses of worship were unconstitutional and ordered the federal district court to issue a preliminary injunction (for a more detailed explanation and to read the decision click here).

Agudath Israel also celebrated a Michigan Supreme Court split decision that affirmed the constitutionality of a 2016 law reimbursing nonpublic schools for complying with state mandates. A more detailed report can also be found in the Hamodia.

Georgia Get out the Vote Effort

Early voting ends today! Are you or your family members registered voters in Georgia? Your vote in the January 5th runoff election may determine which party controls the US Senate. The Georgia Orthodox Voter Project, spearheaded by Agudath Israel of America, recently launched a nonpartisan get out the vote effort to ensure that every eligible voter in the Orthodox Jewish community is registered and votes in this critical election. For more information or to help support our efforts go to www.GeorgiaOrthodoxVoter.org

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Click on the images above to watch the COVID relief webinar videos and PowerPoint slides

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Agudath Israel of America's division of government affairs is engaged in advocacy and legislative outreach activities on the local, state, and federal levels. In so doing, Agudath Israel seeks to protect the rights and advance the interests of observant Jews and their growing network of educational and religious institutions; and to offer a uniquely Orthodox Jewish perspective on contemporary issues of public concern.

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