OU Advocacy Annual Report 5776 (2015-16)

O RT H O D OX U N I O N

O RT H O D OX U N I O N

The OU Advocacy Center is the non-partisan public policy arm of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.

Our mission is to promote and protect the Jewish community’s interests and values in the public policy arena.

Through our work, OU Advocacy supports and strengthens Judaism in the United States and contributes to the welfare of American, Israeli and global Jewish society.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Partners, Colleagues and Friends of OU Advocacy, Our Rabbinic sages often stated the value of “work.” Work must be paired with Torah; and while we may not complete a given task, it is our duty to work as much as we can toward its accomplishment.

In a year in which so much of the talk about politics has been focused on how government institutions don’t work for the citizenry, OU Advocacy has worked – intensely and delivering real results from political institutions to our community. OU Advocacy’s core mission is to advance our community’s values and interests in the public policy arena by developing strategies and organizing action to achieve results no single community could achieve on its own. The key to the successes and progress we’ve made this past year 5776 (2015-16) was working hard with our partners in schools, shuls and across the Jewish world.

Over the past year, OU Advocacy and our partners worked to bring millions of dollars in federal and state aid to our community’s shuls and schools. In Washington, we secured $20 million for homeland security grants to keep our sacred spaces safe and we are on the verge of Congress passing legislation to create a new $50 million grant program to aid our community institutions make their buildings energy efficient.

OU Advocacy continued working in Washington to support the State of Israel’s security. We are currently focused on legislation to deny American taxpayer funds to the Palestinian Authority which the PA turns around and uses to support the families of terrorists.

OU Advocacy garnered new and increased support for Jewish day school affordability from state governments. As detailed in this report, OU Advocacy’s work with our local school and community partners, our advocacy yielded $409 million in funds and services for day schools in the states where we are active.

In addition to securing resources for our community and defending Israel, OU Advocacy continued our work, in legislatures and courts, to guarantee the broadest legal protections for religious liberty in American society.

5776 was an important, impactful year for OU Advocacy. In 5777, we are committed to continuing to work – intensely, creatively, and in partnership – with you for the betterment of our community.

Sincerely,

Nathan J. Diament

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PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HOSTS PRIVATE MEETING IN JERUSALEM WITH OU LEADERSHIP INCLUDING OU’S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ALLEN FAGIN, PRESIDENT MARTIN NACHIMSON AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC POLICY NATHAN DIAMENT.

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FROM THE DIRECTOR OF STATE POLITICAL AFFAIRS $409 million: That’s how much OU Advocacy raised for Jewish day schools, yeshivos and other non-public schools in states including New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida. And that was all in a single year – 5776 (2015-16).

A year ago, we at the OU Advocacy Center committed ourselves to focusing on K-12 education. We wanted to do everything we could to make our Jewish day schools and yeshivos better, more affordable and safer without further burdening families and schools.

Numbers are just a part of the story – a true tale of record-breaking progress through relentless persistence, close partnerships and deepening relationships with legislators.

5776 marked a year of historic progress for our children: we succeeded in getting New York City to pass Local Law 2, the country’s first-ever legislation providing city-funded security guards in Jewish and other non-public schools. Our children will now have the same protection as their peers in district schools. Now we’re working to get other states to follow the Big Apple’s lead and take similar steps to protect all children.

We also successfully advocated for New York State to open its first Office of Independent and Religious Schools.

And that’s just a sampling of our work in one state.

In New Jersey, we succeeded in raising per-student funding at Jewish day schools to $224, the highest rate ever, even in the face of fiscal belt-tightening. Overall, we helped grow the budget for Jewish day schools to $9.3 million – a $6 million increase since 2011 – and greater funding for security, nursing, technology and textbooks.

In Pennsylvania, OU Advocacy and the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools worked together to get a record $7.5 million in tax credit scholarships for Jewish day school children. We also succeeded in getting the state to include non-public schools in the Safe Schools Act, which provides funding for measures ranging from safety officers and electronic monitoring to conflict resolution programs.

In Florida, we redoubled our efforts to strengthen tax credit scholarship programs to make K-12 education at Jewish day schools more affordable by helping to boost tax credit scholarships for children to $11.7 million, a 42% increase in scholarships over five years. We also helped make it easier for children to receive scholarships to attend Jewish day schools by eliminating the requirement that they first attend public schools.

We have certainly made progress this past year. We know our potential is exponential, and there is yet much to do.

We hope you will join us along with our tireless lay leaders and volunteers nationwide whose vision, creativity and tireless efforts have brought us critical resources and taken us so far in this important work.

Sincerely,

Maury Litwack

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OU Advocacy is the leading voice of the Orthodox Jewish community in the nation’s capital and for Jewish day schools and yeshivas throughout New York, New Jersey and several other states.

O U ADVO CACY WO R KI N G

We have succeeded in shaping federal and state legislation that is helping to make Jewish day schools, yeshivas, synagogues and other Jewish institutions safer and more secure.

Just last year we declared in a New York Post op-ed: “All children deserve to be safe at school. Yet it turns out that New York City does not provide kids who attend private schools with the same level of protection as those at public schools. That’s not only unfair, it’s unsafe. And it ought to change.” So we set about changing it.

For months, OU Advocacy worked with City Councilman David Greenfield to make New York City the first city in the country to pass ground-breaking legislation that provides $20 million for security guards at all Jewish day school, yeshivas and all other non-public schools in the City – the same protection afforded to children in public schools.

“Kudos to the mayor and speaker for doing the right thing — and to the key group that pushed this bill, the Orthodox Union,” The New York Post wrote in an editorial.

The new measure translates to enhanced security for as many as 200,000 non-public school children in New York City, about half of whom attend Jewish institutions. The city already provides security guards for district schools regardless of size, location or particular security threats. In addition to protecting children, the measure will also save parents and schools tens of thousand dollars a year. OU Advocacy plans to expand the security guards program to other cities as well.

N.J. ASSEMBLYWOMAN VALERIE HUTTLE MEETS WITH PARENTS AT THE MORIAH SCHOOL FOR A ‘SCHOOLS IN SESSION’ VISIT.

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MAKING SCHOOLS AFFORDABLE The OU Advocacy Center works intensively and creatively toward its goal of making Jewish education more affordable. To that end, OUA ensures that federal, state and local governments provide much-needed funds and services to Jewish day schools and yeshivas.

YESHIVAH OF FLATBUSH AND NAZARETH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WITH N.Y. SENS. MARTIN GOLDEN AND SIMCHA FELDER, ON A TEACH NYS MISSION TO ALBANY TO ADVOCATE FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

NEW YORK OU-Teach NYS, an initiative of the OU Advocacy Center, secured record funding in New York’s 2016-2017 state budget for Jewish day schools, yeshivas and other non-public schools.

Working closely with coalition partners and leveraging long-standing relationships with New York State legislators, OU-Teach NYS increased government grants and other funding for our community’s schools. In the 2016-17 budget, OU-Teach NYS’ work succeeded in delivering $345 million for non-public schools, including: n $52 million more for Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP) funding compared to the previous year n $2 million more for Mandated Services Reimbursement (MSR) funding compared to the previous year n $10 million more for school security programs compared to the previous year n $2 million for New York’s first Office of Independent and Religious Schools

N.Y. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN FLANAGAN ADDRESSING BOARD MEMBERS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT LONG ISLAND’S HEBREW ACADEMY OF THE FIVE TOWNS AND ROCKAWAY DURING A TRIP SPONSORED BY OU ADVOCACY’S TEACH NYS.

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OU-TEACH NYS: IMPACT SINCE WE BEGAN IN 2012 JOIN US TO MAKE JEWISH DAY SCHOOL EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE FOR OUR KIDS

$350 MILLION

$30 0

CAP: $263 MILLION

MILLION

NEW CAP REPAYMENT: $287 MILLION

$250

NEW SECURITY: $28.5 MILLION

MILLION

NEW IN 2016: OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS: $2 MILLION

$20 0

$1.1

MSR: $479 MILLION

BILLION AID GENERATED FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE WE BEGAN IN 2012

MILLION

$150 MILLION

$10 0 MILLION

2008

2012

2016

LEARN MORE AND JOIN THE EFFORT AT WWW.TEACHNYS.ORG OU-Teach NYS is a project of the Orthodox Union to unite the Jewish community to advocate for resources for our schools and make yeshiva education more affordable.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT EDUCATORS AND CHILDREN? n OU Advocacy helped Yeshiva of Central Queens navigate the process of applying for a federal Nonprofit Security Grant, a program that OU Advocacy helped create and is run by the Department of Homeland Security. As a result, the yeshiva received a $75,000 security grant, which the school plans to use to replace doors, construct a bulletproof security booth, install lockdown equipment such as interior locks, and hold lockdown training. n At Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn, OU Advocacy staff met with administrators to determine whether Magen David was using all of the funding the state set aside for non-public schools. OU Advocacy helped Magen David access $20,000 for the school to use for professional development, such as teachers learning from literacy and writing coaches and taking professional graduate courses.

STUDENTS AT SHULAMITH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS ON LONG ISLAND AT AN ASSEMBLY WITH N.Y. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN FLANAGAN DURING A VISIT ARRANGED BY OU ADVOCACY’S TEACH NYS.

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n At Brooklyn’s Barkai Yeshivah, OU Advocacy arranged and oversees the school’s participation in the Wilson Reading System, a one-on-one reading intervention methodology for kids struggling with dyslexia or other reading problems. So far, six teachers have been trained in the program, with four others to be certified. The program is financed with federal funds and at no cost to the school. n At SAR Academy in Riverdale, OU Advocacy helped the school secure ‘missing’ allocations for textbooks. Government funding provides for per-student textbook funding, but the school didn’t receive sufficient funding for all of its students.

SAR covered the cost themselves, but OU Advocacy guided SAR through the process of recouping the funds. n At Shulamith School for Girls in Long Island’s Cedarhurst neighborhood, OU Advocacy reviewed the school’s government funding sources and saw that the school wasn’t aware of the state’s School Safety Equipment Grant. Working with Shulamith administrators, OU Advocacy supported them through the process of accessing $15,000, which the school is using to purchase exterior cameras and fencing.

NEW JERSEY OU Advocacy worked in New Jersey to increase funding for Jewish and other non-public school students for the 2016-17 school year.

OU-Teach NJS, another initiative of OU Advocacy, advocated persistently in the New Jersey’s Legislature in the face of a very difficult budgetary and political environment.

The work paid off as OUTeach NJS helped get $224 per student in Jewish and

OU-TEACH NYS ORGANIZED AN INTENSIVE SECURITY TRAINING EXERCISE FOR JEWISH SCHOOLS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN BERGEN COUNTY.

GAINS IN FUNDING FOR JEWISH DAY SCHOOLS AND YESHIVAS IN NEW JERSEY

$118

per Student

Four years later with the help of OU-Teach NJS

$per224 Student

$3,326,334

$9,336,898

Total

Total

2011-2012

2016-2017

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other non-public schools - the greatest nonpublic, per-student funding in New Jersey’s history, with increases in crucial sectors: n $50 per student to be used to increase security — double the amount previously allocated n $26 per student for technology funding, an increase of $6 over the governor’s proposed budget and the highest amount since 2009.

OU-TEACH NEW JERSEY REGIONAL DIRECTOR JOSH PRUZANSKY, FIELD DIRECTOR ARIELLA NOVECK AND NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLYWOMAN VALERIE HUTTLE AT THE MORIAH SCHOOL FOR A ‘SCHOOLS IN SESSION’ VISIT.

n $90 per student for nursing, an increase of $5 over the governor’s proposed budget and the greatest amount ever allocated.

OU-Teach NJS and its partners worked on behalf of Jewish day schools and yeshivas during the last year to attain $33.1 million in state aid for nonpublic schools. Of that amount, $9.3 million will go to Jewish day schools and yeshivas. That’s almost triple the amount four years earlier.

Since the formation of OU-Teach NJS, the state has increased funding for non-public schools by 20 percent.

N.J. SENATOR SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM VISITS WITH EDUCATOR AT ROSENBAUM YESHIVA OF NORTH JERSEY.

YAVNEH ACADEMY HEAD OF SCHOOL RABBI JONATHAN KNAPP WITH N.J. SEN. ROBERT GORDON WITH STUDENTS DURING A VISIT SPONSORED BY TEACH NJS.

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PENNSYLVANIA OU Advocacy worked with state legislators in Pennsylvania to include non-public schools in its Safe Schools Act, which provides funding for safety officers and other measures such as electronic monitoring and conflict resolution programs.

For the 2016-17 budget year, OU Advocacy and the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools raised $7.5 million in tax credits – the greatest amount since OU Advocacy began advocating in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

OU ADVOCACY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NATHAN DIAMENT, OU ADVOCACY PENN. CO-CHAIRMAN ELLIOT HOLTZ, PENN. SEN. PAT TOOMEY AND OU ADVOCACY CO-CHAIRMAN AMIR GOLDMAN AT AN OU ADVOCACY EVENT FEATURING THE SENATOR.

PENNSYLVANIA SENATOR PAT TOOMEY MEETS WITH JEWISH LEADERS AT A GATHERING SPONSORED BY THE OU ADVOCACY CENTER.

IMPACT OF OU – TEACH PA AND FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH DAY SCHOOLS FUNDS RAISED THROUGH EITC AND OSTC: EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDIT (EITC) AND OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT (OSTC) PROGRAM, AS REPORTED IN THE 990.

2012: $989,869 2013: $3,474,923 2014: $4,667,172 2015: $5,815,919 2016-2017: $7,516,866 There are about 1,800 students in Jewish day schools in Philadelphia alone.

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FLORIDA OU Advocacy’s work in Florida began as a partnership with the Florida Jewish Leadership Coalition. It has now grown to a full time OU Advocacy presence in the Sunshine State – Teach Florida – thanks to the leadership of Dr. Allan Jacob and other visionary leaders.

Teach Florida has led to 2,056 children receiving tax credit scholarships to attend 29 Jewish day schools and yeshivas during 2015-16. This marks considerable growth over a 5-year period, at the beginning of which 788 students received an average of $4,000 scholarship each.

During 2015-16 that scholarship amount climbed to an average of $5,700 per student, for a total of $11.7 million to children attending Jewish day schools. For 2016-17, these advocacy efforts have yielded a 17% anticipated increase in the program, which would mean 2,400 children at Jewish day schools will receive scholarships. We have worked to raise the income eligibility requirements from 180% above the poverty line to 250% and eliminating the requirement that students attend public school before receiving a scholarship.

RESULTS OF JEWISH EDUCATION ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN FLORIDA A partnership between the Florida Jewish Leadership Coalition and OU Advocacy Center

$5,677

42% INCREASE IN SCHOLARSHIPS OVER 5 YEARS

TOTAL FUNDING RECEIVED

$5,272

Year

Scholarship Funding

2011-2012

$ 3.2 million

2012-2013

$ 4.8 million

2013-2014

$ 6.6 million

2014-2015

$ 9.1 million

2015-2016

$11.7 million

2,056

$ 4,799 1,723 $ 4,280 $ 4,000

1,380 1,133

STUDENTS FUNDED

788

2011-12

42% INCREASE OVER 5 YEARS

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

MARYLAND In Maryland, OU Advocacy’s efforts yielded $250,000 for the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore, and another $200,000 for The Torah School of Greater Washington in Silver Spring Md. – both the result of capital campaigns.

In the past year, OU Advocacy also laid the groundwork for Jewish day school children to get to school via school buses funded by Montgomery County.

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OU ADVOCACY HOSTS A CANDIDATES FORUM FOR DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR MARYLAND’S 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT.

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SECURING SHULS AND SCHOOLS NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM OU Advocacy, along with other coalition partners, spearheaded the creation of the federal NonProfit Security Grant Program (NSPG) administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The program makes it possible for Jewish day schools, yeshivas, synagogues and other religious facilities and nonprofits NEW YORK CITY COUNCILMEMBERS MARK LEVINE located in urban areas to receive up to AND DAVID GREENFIELD ON THE STEPS OF CITY $75,000 in grants to make their buildings HALL SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF LOCAL LAW 2, WHICH more secure in the face of possible terror PROVIDES JEWISH AND OTHER NON-PUBLIC attacks by acquiring and installing items SCHOOLS WITH CITY-FUNDED SECURITY GUARDS. such as fencing, lighting, video surveillance, X-ray and metal detectors, blast-resistant doors, locks and windows and concrete barriers.

Since its inception in 2007, the DHS has given out $175 million in NSPG funding to more than 1,000 schools and shuls. This year, OU Advocacy worked to increase funding for this program, and Congress raised it to $20 million for 2016-2017 – $7 million more than the previous year. During 2016, the DHS awarded grants to more than 200 institutions, the vast majority of them Jewish day schools, synagogues and Jewish community entities.

This boost in funding comes at a critical moment for the Jewish community, which faces a 20 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the United States and terrorist attacks targeting Jews worldwide.

NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANT FUNDING PROGRESSION

$10

$10

MILLION

MILLION

2012

2013

$20

$20

MILLION

MILLION

2015

2016

$13 MILLION

2014

Since inception in 2005, the Nonprofit Security Grant Funding (NSGF) has provided over $120 million in grants! The funding have been used to improve security of nonprofit organizations including installation of fencing, lighting, video surveillance, X-ray and metal detectors, locks, blast-resistant doors and more!

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WORKING TO CREATE NEW SUPPORT FOR SHULS AND SCHOOLS OU Advocacy creatively crafted new legislation to establish a $50 million federal grants program for more energy-efficient shuls and schools by acquiring and installing equipment such as replacing outdated HVAC systems, installing energy-saving windows and doors and other improvements.

The Modernization Act, sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), was passed by the Senate in April 2016.

“We’ve worked together on…energy efficiency and we’re trying to ensure that non-profits...including synagogues, [will] be able to take advantage of this legislation.”

-- Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

OU ADVOCACY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NATHAN DIAMENT, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR MIRIAM HARMER, SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MINN.) AND OU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALLEN FAGIN.

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SUPPORTING ISRAEL OU Advocacy works with the mainstream pro-Israel community to defend the security of the State of Israel and promote her welfare. This important work leverages our unique relationships with policymakers ranging from the President and Secretary of State to Congressional leaders.

We also mobilize rabbis and lay leaders of synagogues and frame issues through a Religious Zionist perspective. Through these strategies, OU Advocacy is recognized for playing a value-added role in pro-Israel advocacy.

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH OU EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ALLEN FAGIN, OU ADVOCACY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NATHAN DIAMENT AND OU PRESIDENT MARTIN NACHIMSON IN JERUSALEM.

ORTHODOX UNION EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ALLEN FAGIN WITH NY GOV. ANDREW CUOMO ON DAY THAT GOVERNOR SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER AGAINST BDS.

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. RON DERMER ADDRESSES OU ADVOCACY’S ANNUAL LEADERSHIP MISSION.

OU PRESIDENT MARTIN NACHIMSON MEETS WITH SENATE DEMOCRATS.

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DEFENDING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM The constitutional protection of religious liberty is the cornerstone for our community’s ability to flourish in the United States. OU Advocacy works in Congress and on cases before the U.S. Supreme Court defending this crucial freedom. OU Advocacy was a leader in passing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and Religious Land Use Act through Congress.

OU Advocacy has ensured that more than twenty pieces of federal legislation, whose provisions might harm religious institutions, were modified with appropriate exemptions or accommodations for religious liberty.

In 2016 alone, OU Advocacy filed “Friend of the Court” legal briefs in three high court cases in defense of religious liberty:

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH OF COLUMBIA V. MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES The State of Missouri pays for children’s playgrounds to be resurfaced with material made from recycled tires in order to make the playgrounds safer for children. Trinity Lutheran Church applied to have its playground resurfaced, but Missouri denied its application solely because the church is a religious institution.

Missouri did this on the basis of its state constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing this case. OU Advocacy argued in a brief to the high court that Missouri’s denial of the church’s application is unconstitutional discrimination against religion.

DAVID A. ZUBIK V. SYLVIA BURWELL The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) contains a requirement that employer provided health insurance plans contain coverage for contraceptives and other women’s health care services. Some religious institutions who hold a religious objection to such practices challenged the mandate to provide these benefits as a violation of their religious liberty. While that is not the view of the Orthodox Union on the underlying question, OU Advocacy recognized the risk to religious liberty principles for all faiths in this lawsuit. OU Advocacy argued in a brief to the Court that since there are other ways for the government to ensure women have access to these health services that do not violate religious liberty, the ACA mandate should be found to violate the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

FLORENCE DOYLE V. TAXPAYERS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION The Orthodox Union argued that the state “Blaine Amendments”— state constitutional provisions highly restrictive of state aid to religious institutions born of nineteenth-century bigotry toward minority faiths including Judaism—must be invalidated and not allow state and local governments to discriminate against faith-based schools.

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“The Jewish community has flourished in America because of the protections of religious liberty; we must be constantly vigilant to maintain this fundamental freedom.”

– OU Advocacy Executive Director Nathan Diament

OU ADVOCACY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NATHAN DIAMENT SPEAKS TO C-SPAN OUTSIDE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DURING ORAL ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE OF DAVID A. ZUBIK V. SYLVIA BURWELL, WHICH CONCERNS WHETHER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT CONTRACEPTIVE MANDATE VIOLATES THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT.

PRESIDENT OBAMA MEETS WITH OU ADVOCACY’S NATHAN DIAMENT AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

O U ADVO CACY WO R KI N G

ENSURING OUR COMMUNITY IS INFORMED When U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen announced he was giving up his seat representing Maryland’s eighth district to run for the Senate, OU Advocacy sought to make sure the area’s significant Jewish constituency had an opportunity to learn about the candidates vying for his seat.

As a service to the community, OU Advocacy hosted two forums – one for Democratic contenders and another for Republican candidates. At the events, covered by local and national press, OU Advocacy prompted the candidates to speak about their stances on the Iran nuclear deal, their support for Israel and their views on schools choice. At both events, OU Advocacy provided time for a Q&A to ensure audience members could ask the candidates questions.

OU ADVOCACY’S NATHAN DIAMENT SPEAKS WITH FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON.

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“The security of Israel is important to me. I think it’s our challenge moving forward to make sure support for Israel does not become a partisan thing.

That kind of polarization would be tragic, but I don’t think it has to be a polarizing issue.”

-- Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn. at OU Advocacy breakfast

OU EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ALLEN FAGIN, SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TEXAS), OU ADVOCACY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NATHAN DIAMENT AND OU PRESIDENT MARTIN NACHIMSON AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

N.Y. SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER ADDRESSES ORTHODOX UNION ADVOCACY MISSION.

CONNECTING JEWISH LEADERS WITH LEGISLATORS Whenever possible, the OU Advocacy Center seeks to bring together key legislators with area Jewish leaders. In February, the OU Advocacy Center did just that, hosting a private meeting in the Philadelphia area with U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) to discuss a variety of issues important to the American Jewish community including Israel, the rise in global terrorism and anti-Semitism, the dangers of a nuclear Iran and education affordability in non-public schools.

Sen. Toomey, speaking to an audience of about 70 Jewish representatives from across the states, emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong strategic alliance with Israel and working to prevent a nucleararmed Iran.

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EDUCATING LEGISLATORS ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS’ NEEDS This past year, OU-Teach NJS launched its Schools in Session (SIS) program, arranging for New Jersey legislators to visit OU Advocacy-member schools and yeshivas in their districts. These visits provide legislators a first-hand view of the schools and their challenges and an opportunity to have open conversations with educators, students and parents alike. The program is modeled after OU-Teach NYS’ Schools in Session program.

NEW YORK GOV. ANDREW CUOMO WITH OU ADVOCACY DIRECTOR OF STATE POLITICAL AFFAIRS MAURY LITWACK.

STUDENTS AT ROSENBAUM YESHIVA OF NORTH JERSEY DURING A SCHOOLS IN SESSION VISIT.

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OU ADVOCACY DIRECTOR OF STATE POLITICAL AFFAIRS MAURY LITWACK ADDRESSING LAY LEADERS AND SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES ON A TEACH NYS MISSION TO ALBANY.

The following legislators participated: Senator Robert Gordon Yavneh Academy, Paramus Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle Ben Porat Yosef Yeshiva Day School, Paramus Moriah School, Englewood Assemblyman Joe Lagana Yeshivat Noam, Paramus Yeshivat He’Atid, Teaneck Assemblyman Tim Eustace Ben Porat Yosef Yeshiva Day School, Paramus Yeshivat He’Atid, Teaneck Yeshivat Noam, Paramus Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro Ben Porat Yosef Yeshiva Day School, Paramus Yeshivat Noam, Paramus Assemblywoman Holly Shepisi Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, New Milford

TEACH NJS NORTH JERSEY FIELD DIRECTOR ARIELLA NOVECK SPEAKS TO A PARENT AT LUBAVITCH ON THE PALISADES DURING A ‘BACK-TO-SCHOOL’ NIGHT ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN TEACH NJS.

Senator Sandra B. Cunningham Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, River Edge Assemblywoman Shavanda Sumter Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, River Edge Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon Solomon Schechter Day School, Marlboro Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin Yeshivat Netivot Montessori, East Brunswick

N.J. ASSEMBLYWOMAN SHAVONDA SUMTER SPEAKING TO THE STUDENTS AT ROSENBERG YESHIVAH OF NORTH JERSEY DURING A SCHOOLS IN SESSION VISIT.

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O U ADVO CACY WO R KI N G

PUSHING TO MAKE UPK TRULY UNIVERSAL OU Advocacy continued its ongoing quest to make New York City’s Universal Pre-K program truly universal by providing adequate time for religious instruction within the confines of the pre-K school day.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made available 4,500 half-day slots for the city’s Universal PreKindergarten for the 2015-16 school year, but didn’t do so until just a few weeks before school began.

OU Advocacy has actively advocated for changes to the rigid 6-hour and 20-minute full-day program to make it more accessible for all of the community’s 10,000 eligible children. The current plan doesn’t meet the needs of about half of those children, and OU Advocacy will continue to press for changes so that more children can receive early education according to their Religious Liberty Imperiled needs.

N.Y. STATE ASSEMBLYMAN WALTER T. MOSLEY VISITS WITH CHILDREN AT BROOKLYN’S LURIA ACADEMY DURING A TRIP SPONSORED BY OU ADVOCACY’S TEACH NYS.

N.Y STATE SENATOR GEORGE LATIMER DURING A TEACH NYS-SPONSORED VISIT TO WESTCHESTER DAY SCHOOL IN MAMARONECK.

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WHAT THEY SAY

“I appreciate the good works of the Orthodox Union. For more than a century this nation has benefitted from them.”

— President George W. Bush

“The Orthodox Union’s advocacy in Washington is incredibly impactful on so many issues for the community. Whether it’s promoting Israel’s welfare, ensuring the security of our shuls and schools, defending religious liberty for people of all faiths and more – the Orthodox Union is leading and succeeding in shaping public policy for the benefit of our community and American society at large.”

“The Orthodox Union does an excellent job of advocacy on a whole range of issues for the community.”

— Hillary Clinton

— Joe Lieberman

“OU-Teach NYS has been a critical advocate for nonpublic schools, articulating the role that they play in the state’s education system.”

“Even with Teach NJS still in its formative stages, it’s amazing how much we’ve been able to accomplish over such a short period of time. With a partnership this strong and this committed, the opportunities to make gains for New Jersey’s non-public schools are boundless.”

– Dr. Eric Fremed, Board of Directors,

– NY Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan

Yavneh Academy, Paramus, N.J

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IN THE MEDIA

O U ADVO CACY WO R KI N G

OU Advocacy’s leaders are frequently called upon to provide context to issues related to Jewish sentiment.

During the past year, they were quoted and interviewed and wrote op-eds in secular publications ranging from The Washington Post, CNN and The Atlantic to Jewish outlets such as New York Jewish Week and the JTA.

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For a full list of articles and op-eds, please visit www.OUAdvocacy.org.

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O U ADVO CACY WO R KI N G

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Nathan Diament

Maury Litwack

Executive Director

Director of State Political Affairs

Miriam Harmer

Jennifer Packer

Dana Sicherman

Jake Adler

Director of Congressional Affairs

Director of Communications

Director of Development

Director of Policy, New York

Arielle Frankston Morris

Mimi Jankovits

Josh Pruzansky

Ariella Noveck

Regional Director, Florida

Regional Director, New Jersey

Field Director, North Jersey

Director of Field Operations, New York

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Yosef Kanofsky

Melissa Katz

Talia Fadis

Director of Government Programs

Administrator

Administrator – New York

STAFF AND LEADERSHIP NATIONAL LEADERSHIP Martin Nachimson President, Orthodox Union

Allen Fagin Executive Vice President, Orthodox Union

Yehuda Neuberger Chairman, OU Advocacy Center

OU ADVOCACY NATIONAL COMMITTEE Ira Balsam Moishe Bane Harvey Blitz Howard Friedman Jon Gellis

Elliot Holtz Allan Jacob David Luchins Matthew Maryles

Samuel Moed Avi Schick Sam Sutton Gary Torgow Shira Yoshor

OU ADVOCACY REGIONAL CHAIRMEN Sam Sutton, Neil Cohen

Sam Moed, Nathan Lindenbaum

New York

New Jersey

Elliot Holtz, Amir Goldman

Sam Melamed, Edwin Zaghi

Pennsylvania

Maryland

Dr. Allan Jacob Florida

O RT H O D OX U N I O N

O RT H O D OX U N I O N

CONTACT US Washington, D.C. 202-513-6484 info@ouadvocacy.org

Pennsylvania 215-832-0736 pa@ouadvocacy.org

New York 212-613-8123 ny@ouadvocacy.org

Maryland 202-513-6484 md@ouadvocacy.org

New Jersey 201-836-3691 nj@ouadvocacy.org

Florida fl@ouadvocacy.org

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