New NYS Budget Includes Historic Breakthrough for Yeshiva Students After several years of intensive efforts led of the Budget Ron Greenberg) to impress upon Cymbrowitz, Rhoda Jacobs, Joe Lentol, Alan allocated per pupil. by Agudath Israel of America, rabbinical col- them the critical importance – and the simple Maisel, Audrey Pheffer, and While helpful, the rigid structure of these lege students in State will, for the fairness – of allowing needy rabbinical stu- also made important contributions to the cause. programs severely limited the ability of schools fi rst time ever, be eligible to receive Tuition dents to receive TAP benefi ts. “Perhaps most notable of all,” said Rabbi to acquire what they really needed. A school Assistance Program (TAP) grants – as much as These efforts, led by Rabbi Lefkowitz and Lefkowitz, “was the way the entire community that needed Smartboards, $5,000 per eligible student. Rabbi Shiya Ostreicher, with major involve- came together to promote this for example, and had Until now, needy rabbinical college stu- ment by Aguda board chairman Rabbi Geda- vital change in the law. exhausted the funds in dents in undergraduate institutions were eli- liah Weinberger, board members Chaskel Shiya Ostreicher, as al- the computer hardware gible for federal Pell grants to help defer the Bennett and Leon Goldenberg, community ways, was incredible; category, may have had costs of tuition, but not for New York State tu- activists Shimon Ostreicher and Abe Eisner, it is truly a privilege to do without, or make ition assistance grants. Now yeshiva students Mayor Abe Weider of Kiryas Joel, and Agu- to work with him as a up the difference in cost in New York will be eligible for TAP grants, dah general counsel Rabbi Mordechai Biser, partner. from their own school just as their counterparts are for similar state culminated in the breakthrough in this year’s “We also could funds – even while the educational grants in such states as New Jer- new state budget. school might have had sey, Connecticut, Maryland and Illinois. Said Rabbi Lefkowitz: “There are many Right: Gov. Andrew Cuomo remaining unused funds The new budget bill, which was initially heroes of this incredible story, and we owe introduced through the State Senate budget them all a tremendous debt of gratitude for proposal under the leadership of Majority making this happen despite the tight budget- Leader Dean Skelos, redefi nes TAP eligibil- ary climate of the day. These leaders, to their ity standards to include yeshivos (and other eternal credit, recognized that including needy accredited religious colleges that meet certain yeshiva students in the TAP mix was a mat- specifi ed criteria). The budget allocates $3.2 ter of simple, essential justice that at long last million for TAP grants to students attending needed to be addressed.” such schools for the second semester of aca- He added that, “It was Senate Majority demic year 2011-2012. In future years, when Leader Dean Skelos who put the issue into the program is fully implemented, it is antici- play when he courageously took the initia- pated that the total allocation for such students tive to allocate funds for this program in the will be in the range of $15-20 million. Senate’s proposed budget, and it was Senator According to Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, Skelos who led the fi ght to make this happen. Agudath Israel’s vice president for community Once again, he has proven himself to be a true services, who has worked over the past sev- friend of the community. eral years to promote the idea that New York “Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver played a should follow the federal government’s lead in critical role , not only in achieving the posi- this area, the state’s recognition of rabbinical tive fi nal outcome in this year’s budget, but Top Row: Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, Shimon Ostreicher, Chaskel Bennett, Akiva students as TAP-eligible represents the most also in providing valuable input and guidance Klein, Berel Mittelman, Jacob Sofer, and Shiya Ostreicher, helpful new benefi t program the New York ye- over the past several years to remove potential Bottom Row: Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president, Agudath shiva community has seen in years. It is also a pitfalls in the legislation. Chalk this up as an- Israel of America; Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos; and Rabbi Gedaliah signifi cant milestone in the effort begun long other in the long list of his accomplishments Weinberger, chairman of the board of trustees, Agudath Israel of America. ago by Rabbi Moshe Sherer to fi nd meaning- on behalf of the community. ful relief for needy students who pursue higher “Governor Andrew Cuomo deserves spe- never have accomplished this without the ac- in the three other state aid programs. Jewish education. cial credit for achieving this breakthrough in tive involvement of three key askanim of Kiry- Beginning in the coming school year The Agudah worked for fi ve years promot- his very fi rst year as New York’s governor. He as Joel – Yanky Sofer, Berel Mittleman and (2011-2012), however, schools will be permit- ing the change in the law. Efforts included heard the message from the community that Akiva Klein – who worked hand-in-hand with ted to pool the funding streams and utilize the several critical steps: obtaining the approval of TAP was important and he supported it.” us throughout the entire process. These three funds to acquire any of the instructional ma- senior roshei yeshiva across the state; address- During his campaign for governor, Cuomo outstanding individuals, as well as representa- terials available in any or all of the four cat- ing legal questions about the constitutional- visited the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Teit- tives of numerous other chassidic communi- egories. While there are some restrictions, this ity of including rabbinical college students elbaum and promised him that he would help ties across the spectrum, made themselves fl exibility will allow each individual school in the TAP program and crafting appropriate pass TAP. available every time I called them. ” to utilize its full allotment of categorical aid language for the legislation; and working with Rabbi Lefkowitz thanked State Senators Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive funds in a manner that best meets its students’ lawmakers from both sides of the political Martin Golden and William Larkin; as well as vice president of Agudath Israel, said that, needs. Thus, the schools that need to replace aisle in the State Senate and Assembly, as well Senate Minority Leader John Sampson, whose “At the end of the day, the Governor and the their math books will be able to do so, and the as Governor Andrew Cuomo (and his prede- support for the proposal extended back to last legislature recognized that including needy ye- schools that need Smartboards will be able to cessor Governor David Paterson), to ensure year when he served as Leader of the Senate shiva students in the state’s tuition assistance get Smartboards. the necessary political support for the new Democratic majority, and to Senators Shirley program – just as they are included in the fed- Said Mrs. Zachai: “The beauty of this shift legislation. Huntley, Jeff Klein, Carl Kruger, Kevin Parker, eral tuition assistance program – is a matter of to fl exibility across the programs is that it does Over the past month alone, the Agudah Diane Savino, Toby Savisky, former Senator simple equity and justice. True, it’s a hard time not cost the state an extra penny, yet allows the convened a communal meeting with Senate (and current Attorney General) Eric Schnei- – but it’s also about time.” schools to get the maximum benefi t from their Majority Leader Dean Skelos in the Lawrence derman, Malcolm Smith, and Dan Squadron. Gary Schlesinger, Board Chairman of allotment of state funds.” A win for everybody home of Mr. and Mrs. Asher Schonkopf, at On the Assembly side, Rabbi Lefkowitz UJCare said that, “The allocation of the TAP indeed – something that Agudath Israel has ad- which Mr. Skelos discussed his full support offered special praise for Assemblyman Dov grant in the budget sets an example of our com- vocated for many years, and has now fi nally for the measure; met with Assembly Speaker Hikind, who played a major role in sponsor- munity’s potential to achieve critical funding come to fruition. Sheldon Silver in Manhattan, to receive his as- ing the bill and galvanizing support among his through focused and determined advocacy.” There is an additional budgetary bright surance of support; and organized a delegation colleagues over the past several years. “Dov The new law will go into effect in time for spot as well, Mrs. Zachai reported. In a year to meet in Albany with key members of Gov- was relentless,” said Rabbi Lefkowitz, “he the second semester of the upcoming school that has seen dramatic cuts to education fund- ernor Cuomo’s staff (Secretary to the Gover- led the campaign for TAP by introducing it year. Further details are expected to be an- ing, the Governor had initially proposed an nor Steve Cohen, Executive Deputy Secretary in 2007 and got 42 other Assembly sponsors. nounced in the weeks ahead. over $8.5 million cut in “Mandates Services” Joe Percoco, Special Assistant Larry Schwartz Assemblymembers , Peter reimbursement, a program through which pri- and First Deputy Director of the NYS Division Abbate, Jim Brennan, , Steve NEW NY BUDGET GIVES vate schools in New York obtain reimburse- YESHIVOS FLEXIBILITY IN ment for the costs they incur in carrying out SPENDING STATE FUNDS certain state mandates. After aggressive lob- The Shmuz on the Parsha Now The new New York State budget, for all its bying by Agudath Israel and community lead- austerity, also contains some good news for el- ers, $3 million of those cuts were restored in in its Second Printing ementary and secondary yeshivos. the fi nal budget. As explained by Mrs. Deborah Zachai, Commented Rabbi Lefkowitz, “Though a The Shmuz on the Parsha, written by Rabbi Ben Tzion Agudath Israel of America’s director of educa- cut in funding is always painful, the Gover- Shafi er, will stimulate readers with its insights on ethics and tion affairs, New York State has four programs nor and legislature saw fi t to reduce the pain moral lessons derived from careful analysis of commentar- that provide funding for each elementary and where possible. Yes, challenging times for our ies on the parshiyos hashovuah. high school student for instructional materi- community institutions remain, but working The Shmuz on the Parsha is an 8.5 x 11 coffee table size als - textbooks, software, library materials and with our partners in government and across book with 324 pages. The two-tone graphics are magnifi cent, computer hardware. Until now each of these the state, we were able to advocate on behalf matched by the incredible Torah content of the book. four programs had its own per-pupil alloca- of our children. Kudos to Governor Cuomo, Rabbi Shafi er has received approbations from leading tion, and individual schools were required to Senate Majority Leader Skelos and Assembly rabbonim. The Shmuz on the Parsha is now in its second edi- utilize these “categorical aid” funds for the Speaker Silver for being sensitive and respon- tion. specifi c category and in the specifi c amount sive to our needs.”

152 YatedNe’eman 4 Nissan 5771 | April 8, 2011