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Agudah Leadership Mission Begins in DC with Senator Cruz Voicing Support for Israel and School Choice Programs

It was a productive day for the approximately six dozen delegates who gathered in Washington on Tuesday for the first portion of Agudath Israel of America’s annual national leadership mission to our nation’s capital. Representing 11 states, the mission was a diverse group including members of the Agudah’s board of trustees, Agudah senior staff, several regional directors, and a large contingent of community leaders and activists.

The mission opened with an hour-long dinner meeting in the Senate Russell Office Building’s elegantly historic Kennedy Caucus Room led by Agudah chairman of the board Shlomo Werdiger. Featured speaker Senator Ted Cruz was greeted with a standing ovation and was warmly introduced by board of trustees member Chaskel Bennett who lauded the Texas Republican for his unwavering allegiance to the State of Israel and his passionate advocacy for religious freedoms, including financial support for school choice programs.

Addressing participants, Senator Cruz praised the Trump administration for standing unequivocally with Israel and called on the White House to rescind the Iran deal and impose sanctions on Iran. The senator also shared the dramatic story of how the federal 529 savings plan, designed to give tax relief to parents who set aside money for their children's education, was passed with a tie breaking vote by Vice President Pence. He described the measure as “the most significant and far reaching federal school choice legislation that has ever passed the United States Congress” and emphasizing the importance of empowering parents to make the best educational choices for their children.

After a short question and answer session, Agudah executive vice president Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel presented Senator Cruz with a inscribed biography of Rabbi Moshe Sherer, the late president of Agudath Israel of America.

The dinner was followed by a board of trustees meeting which included updates on the Agudah’s ongoing varied activities as well as reports from regional directors. Chaired by Rabbi AD Motzen, Agudah's National Director for State Relations, the session included Rabbi Yitz Frank, Director, Agudath Israel of Ohio; Rabbi Yossi Kaplan, Director, Agudath Israel of Colorado; Rabbi Moshe Matz, Executive Director, Agudath Israel of America's Florida Division; Rabbi Avi Schnall, Director, Agudath Israel of America's New Jersey Region; Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, Director, Agudath Israel's Mid-Atlantic Region; and Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of Illinois.

Drawing on his own 28 years of experience as the Agudah’s vice president for federal affairs and Washington director and counsel, Rabbi Abba Cohen stressed the importance of the annual mission, which shows elected officials the many faces of the Jewish community who benefit from the Agudah’s advocacy.

“It is important for politicians to see the constituents of Agudath Israel,” said Rabbi Cohen. “They realize that there is a community behind our efforts. There are families and parents. There are schools, yeshivos, mosdos, shuls, charitable institutions.”

The mission continues on Wednesday with sessions at the Capitol and the White House, concluding with a Senate luncheon.

Program

(Left to Right):Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudah's Executive Vice President; Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX); Mr. Shlomo Werdiger, Chairman, Agudah's Board of Trustees; and Board of Trustee Member Mr. Chaskel Bennett.

On the dais, left to right: Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudah's Executive Vice President; Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), speaking; Shlomo Werdiger, Chairman, Agudah's Board of Trustees; and Board of Trustee Members Mr. Chaskel Bennett, Dr. Duvy Diamond, Mr. Hashi Herzka, Mr. Jacob Weinreb, Mr. Shmuel Yosef Rieder, Mr. Duvy Gross and Mr. Leon Goldenberg.

Rabbi Labish Becker, Agudah's Executive Director, reports on the Shabbosim of Chizuk. On the dais, left to right, are: Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel; Mr. Shlomo Werdiger, Chairman, Agudah's Board of Trustees; Mr. Shia Markowitz, Agudah's CEO; and Dr. David Diamond, Member, Agudah's Board of Trustees.

Chaskel Bennett, Member, Agudah's Board of Trustees, Presenting. Next to him (Left to Right) are: Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudah's Executive Vice President; Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mr. Shlomo Werdiger, Chairman of Agudah's Board of Trustees.

Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudah's Executive Vice President, presents Senator Cruz with his own inscribed copy of Rabbi Sherer.

Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudah's Vice President for Federal Affairs and Washington Director and Counsel, presenting. On the right is Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudah's Executive Vice President.

 Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin, Agudah's Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration (second from right), Speaking. Next to him, Left to Right, are: Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger, Chairman, Torah Projects Commission; Dr. Irving Lebovics, President, Agudath Israel of California; and Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudah's Vice President for Federal Affairs and Washington Director and Counsel

Mr. Shlomo Werdiger, Chairman, Agudah's Board of Trustees, speaking. On the left is Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudah's Executive Vice President.

Regional Directors

Rabbi A.D. Motzen, National Director for State Relations

(Left to Right): Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of Illinois; Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, Director, Agudah's Mid-Atlantic Region; Rabbi Moshe Matz, Executive Director, Agudath Israel of America's Florida Division; Rabbi Yitzchok Ehrman, Chief Executive Officer, Agudath Israel of Illinois; and Rabbi Dovid Schnell, President Emeritus, Agudath Israel of Illinois.

(Left to Right): Rabbi Yossi Kaplan, Director, Agudath Israel of Colorado; Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director, New York Government Relations; Rabbi Avi Schnall, Director, Agudath Israel of America's New Jersey Region; Rabbi Yitz Frank, Director, Agudath Israel of America's Ohio Division; and Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of Illinois.

Rabbi Yitz Frank, Director, Agudath Israel of America's Ohio Division. Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of illinois, is on the right.

 Rabbi Yossi Kaplan, Director, Agudath Israel of Colorado.

Rabbi Moshe Matz, Executive Director, Agudath Israel of America's Florida Division.

Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, Director, Agudath Israel's Mid-Atlantic Region

 Rabbi Avi Schnall, Director, Agudath Israel of America's New Jersey Region

Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director, New York Government Relations

 Rabbi Shlomo Soroka (Right), Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of Illinois; On the left is Rabbi Yitz Frank, Director, Agudath Israel of America's Ohio Division.