By Naftali M. Miller, National Director of Development Agudath Israel of America. Dear Friends, Our voice was heard.

Together, we sent over 38,000 emails to 18 government officials, including Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. While it is hard to establish precise cause and effect in life, we do know that that following the Yom Tefila and government officials receiving thousands of emails from people like you, the State Education Department formally reduced some of the secular studies hours requirement for certain grades. Thank you.

However, this challenge is far from over. The hour requirements, as is, are still beyond the ability of many yeshivos to comply with. And it’s not just about unrealistic hour requirements. It’s about governmental intrusion into our chinuch. About the specter of the government deciding how and what we ought to teach our children instead of parents and morah horaah. Unprecedented issues call for unprecedented reactions. Klal Yisrael has shown tremendous unity in coming together to combat this issue. Bezras Hashem, this should be a zchus to overcome it.

We have also shared our concern with the New York City Council. Linked below a letter signed by the majority ofthe New York City Council calling on the State Education Department to work with the community to formulate workable guidelines that creates a baseline of education that does not trample parental and religious rights.

Now that we know we can count on you, we may reach out to ask for your participation in the next course of action, as the situation develops.

Until then, thank you for your commitment to Torah values. Our advocacy is only as effective as the support of the community behind it.

Naftali M. Miller
National Director of Development
Agudath Israel of America