Selfie Advocates

News & Information for the Week of

July 18th - July 23rd, 2021

Selfie Advocates vs. Community Advocates

Like all of my Agudah colleagues, I receive many phone calls each week. We are often asked for advice by individuals and institutions who need help or guidance, and we do our best to assist each caller. Some callers though, reach out to us to inquire how they can use their unique circumstances to help the broader community. One such call took place a few days ago.

I received a call from a woman who told me that she was going to be meeting with a powerful elected official at an upcoming event. We had never met before, but she was an active member of the Agudah and wanted to get our advice on how to maximize that meeting for the benefit of the broader Jewish community. With input from our Vice President of Government Affairs Rabbi Abba Cohen, we reviewed what issues to bring up and gave her the relevant background information. Thankfully, the meeting was phenomenally successful and she was deeply grateful for our guidance.

I encourage others to follow her lead. If you have an opportunity to meet with your elected officials, make sure you go in prepared:

Find out about the pressing issues either from Agudah staff or local community leaders who are familiar with local issues.
Thank the official for a position they took or a vote that was beneficial to your community.
Let them know what current issues are important to you and your community.
Make an effort to get to know their staff.
Bring business cards so that you can exchange contact information and continue the conversation at a later date.

Getting a selfie with an elected officials may be cool to share with friends and followers, (and sometimes even helps the officials to be seen with constituents and community leaders), but with a little preparation, your two minute interaction can also have long-term positive ramifications for your community.

My hope is that this weekly newsletter gives you an idea of some of the issues that affect our community so that if you do end up in a similar situation as the caller above, you will have at least something to refer back to, but please never hesitate to reach out to me or my colleagues directly.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Agudath Israel Responds to Ben & Jerry's Decision to Boycott Yehudah, Shomron and East Jerusalem and Urges States to Apply Anti-BDS Laws

Agudath Israel Welcomes Continuing Strides in Securing Houses of Worship and At-Risk Nonprofits.

Agudath Israel of America’s New England Office Applauds the Massachusetts Legislature and Governor Charlie Baker for Including Nonpublic Student Health Services in the State Budget and Increasing Security Grant Funding.

Agudah's Yeshiva Services department worked to make sure that children in upstate New York are provided with free kosher meals this summer

Agudath Israel Responds to Ben & Jerry's Decision to Boycott Yehudah, Shomron and East Jerusalem and Urges States to Apply Anti-BDS Laws

The recent announcement by the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company that it would no longer sell its products in Yehudah, Shomron or East Jerusalem has brought the issue of BDS once again to the forefront of public discourse.

Agudath Israel is on longstanding record opposing BDS as a form of antisemitism. Agudah has advocated for anti-BDS laws across the United States, and has defended their constitutionality in courts of law.

This case illustrates why economic boycott against Israel is so objectionable, and why it is so important to stand firm against BDS. We urge all states that have anti-DS laws to apply those laws as appropriate in this case. And we urge all states that have not as yet enacted anti-BDS laws to use this case as impetus to pass such legislation

Agudath Israel Welcomes Continuing Strides in Securing

Houses of Worship and At-Risk Nonprofits

Agudath Israel of America is welcoming the recent announcement by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that FY 2021 Preparedness Grants have been allocated. This funding includes the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides allocations for target hardening and other security enhancements for nonprofits at high risk of terrorist attack. The current funding level for NSGP is $180 million.

According to the Jewish Federations of North America, $115 million of this year’s funding will go to Jewish institutions. This represents a 92% increase over last year’s level.

“The NSGP has been a high priority for Agudath Israel since we worked with others to get it enacted over fifteen years ago and throughout the annual appropriations battles,” Agudath Israel’s Vice President for Government Affairs and Washington Director Rabbi Abba Cohen said. “It has made our shuls, yeshivas and other community institutions safer and more secure, and it has saved lives.”

Recently, the House Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill that would keep the allocation at $180 million. But Rabbi Cohen noted that the steady uptick in antisemitic incidents, the strong support of Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and other House and Senate members, and the broadening endorsement of other faith-groups, are creating momentum for a higher appropriation – perhaps a doubling to $360 million.

“We will certainly work hard with our allies on Capitol Hill, and in the faith-based and nonprofit communities, to make that happen,” Rabbi Cohen asserted.

On a related front, last week the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the Pray Safe Act, legislation introduced by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The legislation would direct federal agencies to collect – and help faith-based entities, including houses of worship, to access – information on best practices, federal grants, and training programs to better safeguard their facilities. Agudath Israel is supporting this effort as well.

“Fighting antisemitic hate crimes requires a broad, multi-faceted approach and we will pursue every avenue to bring this scourge to an end.”

Agudath Israel of America’s New England Office Applauds the Massachusetts Legislature and Governor Charlie Baker for Including Nonpublic Student Health Services in the State Budget and Increasing Security Grant Funding.

Agudath Israel of America’s New England Office applauds the Massachusetts Legislature and Governor Charlie Baker for including nonpublic student health services in the state budget and increasing security grant funding.

Recognizing the importance of ensuring the health and safety of all students in the Commonwealth regardless of where they choose to attend school, the Massachusetts Legislature included health services funding for both public and nonpublic schools in the state budget. Lawmakers also included specific language to ensure that the funds will be shared equitably across public and nonpublic schools based on their respective enrollment numbers.

In addition, the Legislature increased the funding for nonprofit security grants from $1 million in FY21 to $1.5 million this session.

"We are deeply grateful to Governor Baker, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Senator Michael Rodrigues, and the Legislature for this support," said Mrs. Ariella Hellman, Director of Government Affairs at Agudath Israel of New England. "The school health funding is needed now more than ever to safely reopen schools this fall and to be prepared for the next stages in fighting this pandemic."

"We also express our sincere appreciation for the increased funding for the nonprofit security grant program, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the Legislature to continue to meet the need in this area."

Agudah Works to Ensure Children in Upstate New York are Provided with Meals

Many are aware and appreciative of the kosher food boxes program - the Summer Food Services Program - which provided meals for tens of thousands of children in upstate NY this and last summer.

What many do not know, is that this summer the program almost did not occur.

In March, when these concerns first became known, Rabbis Yehoshua Pinkus and Ami Bazov of the Yeshiva Services Department at Agudath Israel of America initiated conversations with the NYS Education Department, which administers the program. NYSED had concerns that, with the many changes in the program due to COVID, removals of waivers, and overlapping seasonal communities, it would be difficult to properly run the program this summer and ensure duplication would not occur. After numerous meetings between Rabbis Pinkus, Bazov, Avrohom Weinstock, Agudah’s Chief of Staff, and leading members of NYSED, a mutually agreeable plan was created, which consisted of an education campaign and implementing protocols so that meals for thousands of children could continue in an appropriate manner.

“We are very grateful to Kimberly Vumbaco, Director of Child Nutrition Program Administration, and her entire team at NYSED, for their flexibility and receptivity. With their help, it became possible to run this program on behalf of so many children this summer,” said Rabbi Pinkus.

Additionally, the Yeshiva Services department held a webinar together with NYSED to explain the guidelines to relevant providers and address their questions. The Agudah also released a detailed infographic with specific guidelines and detail as to what constitutes duplication.

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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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