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YEAR INREVIEW

v"ga, – s"ga,2014

A G U D AT H I S R A E L O F A M E R I C A

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Y E A R I N R E V I E W

3 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

4 RABBINIC LEADERSHIP

5 LAY LEADERSHIP

6 TORAH PROJECTS & DAF YOMI COMMISSION

8 YOUTH DIVISIONS

10 ADVOCACY

16 ANNUAL EVENTS

18 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

22 YESHIVA SERVICES

24 COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

25 AGUDAH WOMEN OF AMERICA

26 RESOURCE DIRECTORY

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS


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We are proud to present this pictorial summary of some of the activities and accomplishments of Agudath Israel of America over the course of the past 12 months.

As you can see from the pages that follow, Agudath Israel, through our national officeand regional offices around the country, is involved in a myriad of activities and projectsaffecting virtually every aspect of contemporary Jewish life, and stands at the forefrontof responsible activism on behalf of the Torah community.

But it would be a mistake to focus exclusively on the projects and day-to-day accomplishments of our organization. That would be like focusing on the trees andlosing sight of the forest. The simple truth is that the whole of Agudath Israel is greater– much greater! – than the sum of its individual parts.

Agudath Israel stands for something very special: the coming together as a massmovement of diverse segments of Torah Jewry, a mighty ko’ach ha’rabim under theleadership of Gedolei Yisroel. That is what defines Agudath Israel and animates everyaspect of the work we do.

So as you leaf through the pages of this booklet, we hope you take pride in the projectsand tremendous achievements of Agudath Israel of America – and even more so, in theko’ach ha’rabim that makes all of this possible, of which you are an integral part.

Thank you for your ongoing friendship and support.

Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin Rabbi Labish BeckerExecutive Vice President Executive DirectorExecutive Vice President for

Finance and Administration

DEAR FRIEND OF AGUDATH ISRAEL:

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Through its nine regional offices, Agudath Israelmaintains a strong presence in communities nationwide advocating for the local interest of itsconstituents.

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, which is comprised of senior Roshei Yeshiva and rabbinicpersonalities, is the foundation of the Agudahmovement. This rabbinical board oversees

Agudah activities, ensuring that the higheststandards of ethics and integrity are maintained.They also guide Agudath Israel through many issues that arise on the local, national and international scene. The Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim, consisting of over 200Rabbis nationwide, provides a united front for religious and spiritual guidance in local communities across the country.

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RABBINIC LEADERSHIP


AGUDATH ISRAEL has served as thepremier umbrella organization for the Orthodox Jewish community for over 100 years. Its missionhas been encapsulated by the slogan “shouldering responsibility.” Addressing the multifaceted needsof Klal Yisroel which range from protecting therights of Jews to practice religion freely, ensuring

the fiscal viability of our educational system,providing adult educational programming, assisting the underprivileged in our community,organizing after school activities for Jewish youthand advocating for the rights of the special needspopulation, Agudah is at the forefront of efforts toserve the needs of the growing Jewish population.

Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah meeting at Agudath Israel of America Headquarters

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LAY LEADERSHIP

are the lay bodies that oversee the activities of Agudath Israel of America. These groups meet on a regular basis to hear reports about, and give input to,the different activities of Agudath Israel. Members ofvarious committees work with individual divisions of Agudath Israel to ensure that they perform effectively.

Agudath Israel of AmericaBoard of Trustees Meeting

THE BOARD OFTRUSTEES, NATIONALOFFICERS AND VAAD

HANHALAH

Conference of Midwest Rabbonim5th Annual Conference, Chicago, IL

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TORAH PROJECTS & DAF YOMI COMMISSION


Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon speaking at26th Nationwide Yom Iyun, Passaic, NJ

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HIGHLIGHTS

• Distributed 15,000 Daf Yomi bookmark calendars aswell as the Daf Plus Newsletters and Resource Directory to Lomdei HaDaf throughout the country

• Published Daf Yomi Directory highlighting 39 DafYomi locations in the Catskills

• Daf Yomi Publicity campaigns announcing the beginning of every Masechta were advertised in 5 languages

• Worldwide Daf Yomi Siyumim were hosted by variousDaf Yomi chaburos across the continent and broadcast in close to 100 communities at the conclusion of almost every Daf Yomi Masechta

• 3,500 people participated in a series of Aseres YimeiTeshuva & Pre-Pesach Conference Calls

• 27 communities across the United States, Canadaand Mexico participated in a Nationwide SelichosYom Iyun Broadcast

• 1,400 women participated in a Summer of Torah, a 5part series of inspirational lectures given in theCatskills

• 50 Halacha Le'Maseh Shiurim were organizedthroughout the year

• 36 Shiurim dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of the Daf Yomi Sugya were organized

• More than 250 participants traveled to Yerushalayimfor the 14th Annual Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah learning program and hundreds other joined in localYarchei Kallah programs throughout the year

• 200 Rabbonim from across the United States andCanada belong to the Agudath Israel Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim, participating in conferencecalls to discuss issues impacting the tzibur

• More than 1,000 people participated in Shabbos ofChizuk Program in Atlanta, GA, Cincinnati, OH, andMiami, FL

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YOUTH DIVISIONS


PIRCHEI AGUDATH ISRAEL

• Pirchei Agudas Yisroel provided after schoolprogramming for elementary aged yeshivastudents in 100 branches across the UnitedStates and around the world

• The Pirchei National Hasmodo program garnered tens of thousands of hours of voluntary learning during Yom Tov with close to2,000 participants

• The Pirchei Weekly is distributed to over 10,000print readers and to thousands more worldwidevia email

• Over 900 boys participated in the PircheiKesser Mishnayos Program

• Siyumei Mishnayos attracted 3,000 boys fromover 15 cities across the United States and Canada

• 50 boys completed a six year course of study,

learning more than 4,000 mishnayos each inpreparation of their Bar Mitzva

• 125 Pirchei branches nationwide featured father/son learning programs, bein hazemanimtrips, youth minyanim and local Pirchei centers

• Pirchei provided development and programsupport to affiliates in Europe and Israel

BNOS AGUDATH ISRAEL

• The Bnos Shabbos Groups program, consistingof over 200 advisors, 1,000 leaders and 5,000members, brought elementary school girlstogether with Bais Yaakov role models for anoneg Shabbos each week

• Bnos hosted leadership training and appreciationevents for 300 branch and group leaders from 38cities in the United States and Canada

Pirchei Agudas Yisroel Bar Mitzva Siyum

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BNOS ONE-ON-ONE

• Bnos One on One paired 800 big and little sistersfrom communities across the United States

• Bnos One on One hosted 16 professional training and appreciation events for big sisters

• Bnos One on One continued its national development efforts, expanding its program toToronto and Miami in addition to Baltimore, Brooklyn, Five Towns, Lakewood, Los Angelesand Monsey

BNOS BIKUR CHOLIM

• Participants of the Bnos Bikur Cholim program prepared and delivered 3,000 mishloach manospackages to nursing home residents

AGUDATH ISRAEL SUMMER CAMPS

Camps Agudah, Machane Ephraim, Bnos, Bnoseinu, Chayl Miriam, and Agudah Toronto

• The East Coast network of Agudath Israel of America camps accommodated capacity crowdsthis past summer, serving over 2,500 campers

MIDWEST SUMMER CAMPS

Agudah Midwest Boys / Girls, Bnos Ma’arava,SPARK for Teens, Pirchei Day Camp, B’nos DayCamp, Munchkins Day Camp, and Camp NageelaMidwest

• The Agudah Midwest network of camps servedclose to 2,000 campers

Camp Agudah New York

51st Annual Pirchei Siyum Mishnayos

National Bnos Agudas YisroelLeadership Convention

AGUDATH ISRAEL’S GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

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ADVOCACY


SCHOOL CHOICE:LEGISLATIVE BREAKTHROUGHS

• $22 million generated this year through schoolvoucher and scholarship tax credit programssupported by Agudath Israel in AZ, FL, GA, IN,OH, PA, RI, WI, and VA

• Led statehouse missions and participated in rallies in Albany, NY, Annapolis, MD, Atlanta, GA,Harrisburg, PA, Indianapolis, IN, Nashville, TN,Springfield, IL, and Tallahassee, FL

• Florida: Together with a coalition successfullyadvocated for an expansion of the Floridascholarship tax credit program which:

� eliminated the “prior-year public school attendance” requirement

� expanded the program to middle-income families

� increased the value of each individual scholarship

� created an education savings account program for students with disabilities

• Ohio: Successfully lobbied to allow high schoolstudents to receive a voucher if they are assigned to a public school with low graduationrates. Estimated net impact on Jewish dayschool families is more than $1 million annuallystarting in 2016-2017.

• Several areas in Cleveland Heights and University Heights became eligible to receive tuition vouchers. This will likely generate an additional $500,000 in scholarship funding peryear for Cleveland families choosing Jewish dayschools for the 2015-2016 school year.

Agudath Israel of Illinois Annual Mission to Springfield, IL

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SCHOOL CHOICE:IN THE NEWS

• Published letters to the editor and op-eds onthe topic of school choice in the ColumbusDispatch, Memphis Hebrew Watchman,Hamodia, Ohio Gadfly and other publications

• Israel: Agudath Israel of California successfullylobbied the University of California to prohibittheir institutions from participating in theacademic boycott of Israel

• Agudath Israel of Maryland was involved in asimilar, successful effort

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:AUTOPSY

• California: Successfully intervened to amenda bill to protect the religious rights of those opposed to unnecessary autopsy

• Maryland: Agudath Israel’s Maryland Directorwas officially named the Liaison/Chaplain ofMaryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.Developed protocols with the medical examinerand prevented numerous autopsies.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:IN THE COURTS

• Joined Nefesh, an international association ofOrthodox Jewish mental health professionals,in an amicus curiae brief challenging a NewJersey law that prohibits therapists from using“gender orientation change efforts” with minors

• Following a lawsuit filed by Agudath Israel andothers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for theSecond Circuit issued a unanimous decision tooverturn a lower court’s ruling on New YorkCity’s regulation on metzitzah b’peh

• Filed an amicus curiae brief in a case that could

have significant repercussions for OrthodoxJews involved in cases before rabbinical courts.New York State Supreme Court justices will decide the application of an old statute prohibiting judicial proceedings on Sundays.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:IN THE LEGISLATURE

• Ohio: Testified in support of the Ohio ReligiousFreedom Restoration Act and participated inseveral interested party meetings on the topic

• Pennsylvania: Worked to change a bill inHarrisburg that attempted to significantlyamend the state’s anatomical gift laws

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:EDUCATION

• Worked together with the Jewish Education Project to have the New York State EducationDepartment change the date of the newAlgebra Regents from Shavuos to ErevShavuos

• Successfully reached out to the College Boardto request a second alternate date for theOctober 2014 PSAT (the non-Shabbos alternatedate they originally provided fell out onHoshana Rabba)

END-OF-LIFE

• Ohio: Worked to modify MOLST (Medical Ordersfor Life Sustaining Treatment) legislation tomaintain the strength of health care power of attorney forms, such as the Halachic Living Will,and to protect a patient’s desire to be treatedin accordance with his or her religious beliefs

• New Jersey: Worked to prevent the passage ofa physician-assisted suicide bill

12 Y E A R I N R E V I E W

SPECIAL EDUCATION:

• New York: Played a key role in a majorbreakthrough for parents of students withspecial needs. The City of New York pledged to:

� Expedite parents’ private school tuition reimbursement

� Refrain from re-litigating settled cases unless there is a change in the child’s IEP

� Limit parents’ obligation to present full documentation of their child’s case to onlyonce every three years.

• Following the intervention of Agudath Israel,NYC private schools can now offer special education services when public schools are notin session, such as legal holidays or beforepublic schools begin, as long as they follow a180-day school calendar

• Through lobbying, Agudath Israel enabledspecial needs students in New York to have 15Special Education Teacher Support Services(SETSS/P3) sessions per week allowing childrenwith severe disabilities the opportunity toremain in mainstream classrooms

• California: Conducted a series of meetings withthe Los Angeles Unified School District to develop a special education program foryeshiva students in the Los Angeles area

NONPUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCACY:

• Agudath Israel of Illinois successfully launcheda school lunch program in Chicago

• Maryland: Initiated a task force to ensure state- funded construction grants for nonpublicschools were crafted in a manner of greatestbenefit to eligible schools

• $1 million in text book and construction grantswere allocated to Jewish day schools

NONPUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCACY:TRANSPORTATION

• Illinois: Secured $1.6 million busing grant

• Maryland: Worked with the Maryland Transit Administration to expand a service that accommodates Baltimore Jewish day school students

• Together with a group of nonpublic schoolleaders and Montgomery County Officialsinitiated a new pilot program to provide yellowschool busing to several Silver Spring-area dayschools at a subsidized rate

NONPUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCACY:TEXTBOOKS, NURSING, OTHER SERVICES

• The 2014-15 New Jersey state budget addednearly $5 million in funding for nonpublicschools, with $2.4 million allocated fortechnology initiatives and $2.5 millionearmarked for nursing services. Both increaseswere supported by Agudath Israel.

• Crisis in New Jersey: During the funding crisis inLakewood, Agudath Israel’s New Jerseydirector, met repeatedly with local and stateofficials to resolve the issues of withheldfunding for remedial services, textbooks, andnurses in private schools, affecting over 25,000students.

• Ohio: Approximately $70 per student inadditional auxiliary services funds will beavailable, thanks to legislative action thatrepealed a clause slipped into a bill theprevious year.

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ADVOCACY

• Successfully lobbied to exempt nonpublicschools from onerous graduation requirementsand to block a state-mandated “third grade reading guarantee,” together with coalition partners. Senate President Keith Faber appointed Rabbi Yitz Frank, Agudath Israel’sOhio director, to the Nonpublic Schools Graduation Requirements Committee.

• UPK: Participated in intense negotiations withthe staff of Mayor Bill de Blasio regarding hisplan to provide Universal Pre-K (UPK) opportunities for tens of thousands ofadditional four year old children. Thesenegotiations resulted in the Mayor’s officeissuing guidelines for the full-day UPK programwhich allowed some yeshivos to participate.Further urging resulted in the Mayor’s officeissuing an RFP for half-day programming.

GOVERNMENT:

• Agudah leadership met with statewide andlocal candidates in numerous states

• Launched strong voter registration drives andsuccessful “get out the vote” efforts inMaryland, Ohio, and Illinois

SECURITY INITIATIVE:

• Agudath Israel worked together withAssemblyman Dov Hikind, to initiate andadminister the Leiby Kletzky Security InitiativeGrant. 80 four-directional security cameraswere installed throughout Boro Park andMidwood to deter criminal acts and aid in apprehending criminals.

Providence Hebrew Day School students perform at Rhode Island Statehouse during National School Choice Week

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ADVOCACY


WASHINGTON:INTERNATIONAL

• Explained Israel’s security needs duringits action in Gaza and advocated forsupplemental Iron Dome funding

• Expressed concern and the need toenhance Capitol Hill awareness regardingthe surge of global anti- Semitism

• Clarified the implications of restrictions on circumcision and kosher slaughter forEuropean Jewry

• Boosted protection of Jewish cemeteriesabroad against desecration

• Advocated for the security and rights ofJewish schools in the Former SovietUnion

Senator Cory Booker (D- NJ) greeting Rabbi AviSchnall, NJ Director on a visit to Lakewood NJ

Rabbi Abba Cohen addressing Agudath IsraelWashington Delegation

Agudath Israel Albany Mission withNY State Senator Dean Skelos

Y E A R I N R E V I E WY E A R I N R E V I E W

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WASHINGTON:NATIONAL

• Lobbied for the inclusion of, and easy access to,religious child care and pre-K providers

• Lobbied to strengthen the federal nonprofit security, school safety, disaster relief and emergency preparedness programs for synagogues, schools and community centers

• Lobbied for maintaining a robust “charitable deduction” and other education-related tax benefits

• Lobbied for the protection of Title I remedial education program to prevent actions thatwould block the equitable participation ofnonpublic schools

WASHINGTON:RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

• Lobbied the Administration and Congress toprotect religious organizations’ right to hire inconformance with their religious mission and not

be forced to provide benefits that violate theirbeliefs

• Opposed efforts to weaken the RFRA law andthe strong religious protections it provides

• Offered solutions on how to strengthen the federal “comp time for religious observance” law

• Worked to develop and disseminate official procedures for the entry and handling oflulavim, esrogim and matzoh

• Advocated for greater religious accommodationin the military in regard to kosher food and religiously-appropriate grooming and attire

• Met with Department of Education to ensurethat the federal school lunch program accommodates kashrus requirements and thatfederally-assisted food pantries will havegreater access to kosher foods

• Advocated for health and safety procedures forthe appropriate processing of poultry after kapporos, thus making available thousands ofchickens to charitable institutions

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ANNUAL EVENTS


Novominsker Rebbe speaking atAgudath Israel Midwest Convention

Rabbi Yitzchok Zilberstein giving shiur at 14th Annual Yarchei Kallah

Legislative Round Table

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Emergency Washington MissionCombatting Anti-semitism

Agudath Israel RegionalDirectors Meeting at92nd Annual Convention

Atzeres Tefila with 50,000 Participants

Israeli Shmittah observingFarmer speaking atkeynote session at 92ndAnnual Convention


COMMUNITY SERVICES

• Through its relationship with United Way, Agudath Israel brought in more than $60,000of funding to Tomchei Shabbos programs thisyear and over $2 million since its inception,providing weekly food packages to needy individuals in Borough Park, Flatbush, Queens,and Far Rockaway

SOCIAL SERVICES

• COPE Institute’s Junior Accounting Program, recommended for 21 credits by the AmericanCouncil on Education and Thomas Edison StateCollege, enrolled 155 students (nearly 2,000since inception)

• COPE’s CPA Track Program culminates in a Bachelor’s of Science degree, enabling graduates to sit for the CPA exam. More than100 students were enrolled this year

• Over 85% of COPE graduates find jobs

• Initiated VITA program in partnership with theIRS which offers free federal and state incometax return preparation for low- to moderate- income individuals and families

• Professional Career Services (PCS), with officesin New York and New Jersey, matched many jobseekers with employers

• Southern Brooklyn Community Organization(SBCO) and the Ocean Parkway Community

SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Community Services Board of Directors Meeting

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Development Corporation (OPCD) helpedprovide affordable housing to low and moderate income families, the elderly anddisabled in Borough Park and Kensington. 300average served per year

• SBCO commenced construction on the CulverAffordable Housing Project located on 37thStreet, between 12th & 13th Avenue

• Fresh Start Training Program provided computer and job readiness workshops andsupport for women facing financialresponsibilities due to family crises foundthemselves faced with new financial responsibilities

• Customized job skills training include computerskills in typing, Word and Excel, and Home Caretraining

• Senior Citizen Centers in Borough Park,Flatbush and Washington Heights offeredhundreds of elderly senior citizens free kosherhot lunches daily as well as a wide range ofsocial services

• Adult Education and Literacy Services providedassistance to over 350 immigrants per year,bringing them to employment level through instruction in language, reading and writing

• Agudist Benevolent Society provided bereavement and burial services to membersthroughout the country

• Overseas Passover Campaign helped providematzoh, wine and other Passover food items tothousands of Jewish families in Eastern Europe

CHAYIM ARUCHIM

• The Center for Culturally Sensitive Advocacyand Counseling assists those facing difficult challenges in the health care system,specifically in end-of-life situations

• Launched a 24 Hour hotline resulting in a significant increase in calls

• Between June 2014 and November 2014, over 400families called Chayim Aruchim for assistance

• Received 84 calls regarding DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) and DNI (Do Not Intubate), 64 callsfrom individuals in need of assistancenavigating negotiations with hospitals, 28 callsregarding the do’s and don’ts of inserting a pegand dozens of calls related to brain-death,dialysis, hospice, IV hydration, medication, pain medication, pressers, surgical procedures, etc.

• Launched a discharge service in October 2014to help hospital patients find appropriate rehabilitation facilities upon discharge

• Over 40 Rabbonim in the Midwest participatedin a three part video conference seriesaddressing important medical halachic issues

ZICHRON KEDOSHIM

• This year, Zichron Kedoshim retrieved over 25,000names from Pages of Testimony, school projects,shul plaques, archival documents and books

LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

• Agudath Israel’s Legal Support Services LLC is anetwork of 200 lawyers who volunteer their timeand skills to assist in cases that meet the organization’s criteria. These include custodybattles between spouses of different levels ofreligious observance, immigration-related problems,Shabbos and Yom Tov observance issues, andzoning issues affecting yeshivos and shuls.

• Helped finalize the regulations for the New YorkState Tuition Assistance Program to enableyeshiva gedolah students to benefit from theprogram which provides up to $5,000 in yearlyscholarship assistance to needy students.


• Helped numerous students receive accommodationfor their religious needs

• Helped numerous employees threatened withthe loss of their jobs due to absence forreligious reasons

• Helped numerous patients in hospitals receiveappropriate medical treatment and end of lifecare in accordance with halacha

• Successfully lobbied the New York State Legislature to amend the Palliative Care Act torequire that treatment options as well as palliative care options be presented toterminally ill patients and their families

CONSTITUENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

• Responded to approximately 800 calls amonth, providing callers with referrals,information, or direct assistance tailored totheir concerns

• Provided free legal assistance to employees orstudents experiencing religious discriminationat work or at school

• Helped clients obtain kosher food in thehospital and arranged shofar blowing for thehomebound


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Annual Legislative Breakfast

• Represented clients with religious observanceissues in housing areas (such as automatic electric lights in public spaces on Shabbos)

• Advised yeshivas/shuls on parsonage, incorporation, tax and zoning issues

• Assisted clients in applying for government benefits programs including Medicaid,Medicare, Social Security, SSI, food stamps, andacquiring birth certificates

• Provided assistance in applying for financialemergency aid to prevent eviction

• Offered employment assistance including a freeresume writing service, referrals to GED and professional training courses, and referrals toProfessional Career Services and other organizations which help people find employment

• Referred clients to organizations providing business counseling, interest free loans, financial assistance and physician referrals

• Referred clients to lawyers on a wide variety ofissues

• Assisted with end of life issues, provided information on hospice care, DNR’s, and free Halachic burials for the indigent and disseminated Halachic Medical Directives to individuals, chaplains, and rabbis

• Provided free legal assistance to helpconstituents preserve the life of critically illloved ones when hospitals wanted to stoptreatment or withdraw life support

• Provided free legal assistance to helpconstituents prevent the cremation of a loved one

YESHIVA SERVICES

DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AFFAIRS /PROJECT LEARN

• Over the past several years, Project Learn hasworked with New York City to change theapproval procedure for special educationtuition reimbursements, bringing in hundreds ofthousands of dollars for financially burdenedfamilies and easing the overall process forparents

• Helped parents navigate the Committee onSpecial Education (CSE) process in order to getthe placement or services their children need tosucceed

• Director of Project LEARN, served as expediterof the certification process for New York Stateservice providers working in nonpublic schools.

• Director of Project LEARN was appointed Co-Chair of the New York City Nonpublic SchoolSubcommittee for Special Education.

YESHIVA SERVICES DIVISION

• Hosted webinars for 125 yeshiva principals andadministrators across the country dealing withthe Affordable Care Act and how it relates toyeshivos as employers

• Hosted a Back-to-School webinar for 75principals and administrators from across NewYork State which included new immunizationreporting requirements, changes in the FederalE-Rate program (which provides reimbursementto schools and libraries for phone and internetrelated expenses), and the Common CoreCurriculum and Assessments

• Held two workshops on the Federal E-RateProgram, one for beginners and one for moreexperienced school administrators

• Hosted annual New Schools Workshop for allnewly opened yeshivos and newly hiredyeshiva administrators and principals

New York State Bus Grant

Y E A R I N R E V I E W22

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• Disseminated 80 communications to yeshivosthroughout the country informing schoolsabout funding opportunities, legal obligationsand other important information

• Helped facilitate yeshiva participation in abrand new New York State Security EquipmentGrant program which allocates $9.70 perenrolled child for security enhancements toenhance safety in schools. Yeshivos across thestate were eligible to receive $1.5 million infunding under this new program.

• Yeshivos in New York State received close to$40 million in mandated services and CAPfunding and approximately $12.4 million intextbook aid, library materials aid, software aidand computer hardware aid funds

• Continued long-standing efforts to increase theparticipation of yeshivos in New York City in theFederal Title I Program. This program allowsnonpublic school students to receivesupplemental educational services in literacy,mathematics and English as a secondlanguage.

• Helped increase the number of participatingyeshivos in the city from 30 to 130

• In other funding streams, New York Cityyeshivos received:

� more than $2 million in Title I professionaldevelopment

� approximately $1.3 million in Title IIAprofessional development

� approximately $5.2 million in Title IIIfunds to provide services to LimitedEnglish Proficient students and theirteachers

� more than $21 million to schools for lateafternoon bus service

Torah Day School of Atlanta students meet with Senator Jason Carter at the Statehouse

• conveys the views of Torah Jewry to government,legislatures, and the world at large

• Fielded hundreds of phone calls from media outletsworldwide conveying the authentic Torah view onimportant contemporary issues

• Worked to create an accurate and positive portrayal of Agudath Israel in the media and the community at largethrough hundreds of press releases, statements andarticles about the work of Agudath Israel

• Published the Weekly Window, an email newsletterreaching more than ten thousand people that reportedthe activities of the Government Affairs departmentthroughout the country

• Sponsored the National Orthodox Jewish Archives, aunique repository of historical documents, publicationsand photographs relating to the growth of OrthodoxJewry in the United States and the history of AgudathIsrael on an international scope

THE PUBLICAFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT

Yourconvention.org

Rabbi Avi Shafranspeaking atConvention sessionon the public imageof the Orthodox Jew

Get out the vote campaign


COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

N’SHEI AGUDAS YISROEL

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• Several thousand women attended classes and shiurim in the New YorkMetropolitan Area with many more in other areas

• N’shei C.A.R.E.S. assisted women at Maimonides Medical Center with 130doula and post-partum volunteers

• Keren Yesomim, Hachnossas Kallah and Nizkakim Vecholim funds helpedover 400 families this year

• Launched HaSeviva program to provide support for frum women in thebusiness and professional world

• The Miriam Borchardt Camp Scholarship Fund awarded stipends to manyfamilies enabling children to attend a frum camp of their choice

AGUDAH WOMEN OF AMERICA

Summer of Torah LectureSeries in Catskill Mountains

Dr. Aviva Biberfeld addressingwomen at 92nd Annual Convention

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY


NATIONAL RESOURCE DIRECTORY

AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA 212-797-9000

REGIONAL OFFICES:

Office of State Relations 513-530-1364

Arizona 480-467-4593

California 310-659-8152

Florida 305-532-2500

Illinois 773-279-8400

Maryland/ Mid Atlantic 410-484-3632

New England 617-566-4420

New Jersey 732-415-6380

Ohio 216-455-1111

Texas 972-404-8980

Washington 202-835-0414

Ontario 416-256-3890

Quebec 514-699-4881

United Kingdom 011-44-796-647-6694

Global Relief and Rescue ext. 251

TORAH EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim ext. 270

Daf Yomi Commission ext. 266

Torah Projects Commission ext. 267

Midwest Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim 773-279-8400

YOUTH SERVICES

Bnos Agudath Israel ext. 275

Pirchei Agudath Israel ext. 274

Zeirei Agudath Israel ext. 272

CAMPS

Camps Agudah, Machane Ephraim, Bnos, Bnoseinu and Chayl Miriam212-797-8172

Camp Agudah Toronto 416-781-7101

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Camp Agudah Midwest Boys / Girls, Bnos Ma’arava, SPARK for Teens, Pirchei DayCamp, B’nos Day Camp, Munchkins Day Camp 773-279-8400

Camp Nageela Midwest 773-604-4400

COMMUNICATION

Office of Communication ext. 311

Office of Public Affairs ext. 229

Orthodox Jewish Archives ext. 384

YESHIVA SERVICES

Education Affairs 212-797-7386

Special Education Affairs ext. 326

CONSTITUENT SERVICES

Agudah Women 212-363-8940

Agudist Benevolent Society 718-436-1458

Chayim Aruchim 347-633-0487

Chevra Oseh Chesed ext. 274

Community Services ext. 321

Constituent & Legal Services ext. 335

Simchas Chava ext. 251

Zichron Kedoshim ext. 217

SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS

Borough Park Senior Citizen Center 718-854-7430

Brookdale Senior Citizen Center of Flatbush 718-434-8670

Moriah Older Adult Luncheon Club 212-923-5715


COPE Employment and Training 212-809-5935 ext. 301

COPE Institute and COPE Education Services 718-506-0500

Fresh Start Training Program 718-506-0500 ext. 219

Professional Career Services (PCS)PCS-New York 718-436-1900

PCS-New Jersey 732-367-4178

Southern Brooklyn Community Organization (SBCO) 718-435-1300

*Extensions correspond to the main line 212-797-9000

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE RABBI MOSHESHERER NATIONAL

HEADQUARTERS

42 BroadwayNew York, NY 10004

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