78 ONE IN A MILLION The 82 SECOND THOUGHTS 87 CONCENTRIC CIRCLES

A Potpourri of Encounters and Impressions

A Day in the Life

Whether it’s about protecting your rights as a religious employee or Capital promoting school choice legislation, there’s someone to vouch for you Gaıns

14 Tammuz 5775 | July 1, 2015 73

mix cover_566.indd 73 29/06/2015 14:47:11 24/6 › Rachel Bachrach What I appreciate most about If I need a working for Agudath Whenever we have questions of policy affecting the community, we turn to the break during Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. I’ve asked the rosh yeshivah of Telshe Chicago, Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin, many questions over the years, and it’s always an honor work, I’ll organize my desk. and a privilege.

choice legislation. I took both jobs, and Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Wisconsin, we quickly realized that if we would be Illinois, and Virginia have actually Day in successful in expanding school choice, changed their protocols to accommodate we would be successful in growing the people with religious objections. These Equipment I Cincinnati community, as well. People presentations are important, because the always have have actually moved here because of most medical examiners are just trying The Tefillas Haderech on the back of these $4,250-vouchers. Within two to do their jobs; they’re willing to help my Agudah membership card. years, Agudah started handing me other if circumstances allow and they have states — Texas, Indiana, Michigan, a relationship with the community. A.D. Motzen Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee. I know, as Once I caught a pathologist just as he is the national a region it makes no sense; I used to joke was entering the room to perform an that my boss failed geography. Finally my autopsy. It was a homicide, so an autopsy director of state What I do organizing grassroots campaigns, Compliment title caught up with my job, and I became was necessary, but I asked him to follow I oversee Agudath Israel’s state- lobbying legislators, and drafting bills. I receive the national director of state relations. Zohn’s protocol to minimize relations for advocacy efforts across the country. invasiveness. He told me it was the Not alone, of course. There’s a team of The easiest part about most often VIPs I’ve met first time he ever did so in the more Agudath Israel of paid staff and volunteers, 15 people, training for this job “What law school did you While my office is decorated than 10,000 autopsies he performed working to help protect your right to What training? My old boss came attend?” with pictures of me with dozens of in his career, and he asked me to give America religious practices like bris milah and to my first meeting in the Ohio politicians — governors, presidential a presentation to his entire staff. Our shechitah, protecting your rights as a Statehouse and then left me on my candidates — I’ll admit that most most memorable presentation was at religious employee, and helping enact own. All kidding aside, he was a great wouldn’t remember my name. My the National Association of Medical school choice legislation, to name a mentor. I had graduated from Johns job is to deal with state-level politics, Examiners conference — there were 400 few. Hopkins University with a degree in not Washington — that’s Rabbi Abba medical examiners there. I like to say we special education, and my goal was Cohen’s domain. The exception is when take a three-pronged approach to this What that means to change special education in the the people I develop relationships issue: education, legislation, and if there’s Most of our work relates to frum community. I had a few offers for with on the state level get elected to no other choice, litigation. education and religious freedom, principal positions, but around that Congress. For example, Congressman things like kosher laws. So when a time, two opportunities came up — Luke Messer of Indiana is now the fifth- How we’re making the conservative rabbi in Georgia sued someone in Cincinnati was looking for highest ranking member of the House. workplace a better place the state five years ago because someone to help grow the community, Impressive, considering he only entered I remember a strange case involving he said kosher labeling laws are and Rabbi Yehiel Kalish, who was the Congress in 2013. I worked closely with a city councilman who was challenged unconstitutional, we worked many regional director for Agudath Israel Luke when he oversaw the effort to pass by a disgruntled citizen for wearing hours with a Jewish legislator Midwest at the time, was looking for school choice legislation in Indiana, and a yarmulke at council meetings. The rewriting the law to protect kosher someone to work ten hours a week I’ve kept up with him since then. If you’ve complaint had no basis, but we reached consumers. We spend a lot of time in Columbus and monitor school never heard of him, you will — he’s a out to Marc Stern of the American Jewish rising star. Congress, and he provided the city with a legal memo on the topic. We’ve also Why relationships matter had cases involving taking time off, or in One issue we work on is avoiding the case of university students, missing In When I was a kid unnecessary autopsies, and together with exams, because of Shabbos or Yom Tov. I planned to graduate from McGill University in Montreal, where I grew up, and make my Rabbi Elchonon Zohn from the National Earlier this year, a university student in first million before I turned 30. I got into McGill but never attended, and no, I’m still not Association of Chevra Kadisha, we’ve New Jersey was told that if she left class Brief: a millionaire. On the other hand, I’ve had a hand in generating millions of dollars for our made many presentations to medical early on Friday to get home for Shabbos, community — even better. examiners and coroners. States like she would fail the course. A few phone

74 MISHPACHA MISHPACHA 75 24/6 › Rachel Bachrach What I appreciate most about If I need a working for Agudath Israel Whenever we have questions of policy affecting the community, we turn to the break during Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. I’ve asked the rosh yeshivah of Telshe Chicago, Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin, many questions over the years, and it’s always an honor work, I’ll organize my desk. and a privilege.

choice legislation. I took both jobs, and Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Wisconsin, we quickly realized that if we would be Illinois, and Virginia have actually Day in successful in expanding school choice, changed their protocols to accommodate we would be successful in growing the people with religious objections. These Equipment I Cincinnati community, as well. People presentations are important, because the always have have actually moved here because of most medical examiners are just trying The Tefillas Haderech on the back of these $4,250-vouchers. Within two to do their jobs; they’re willing to help my Agudah membership card. years, Agudah started handing me other if circumstances allow and they have states — Texas, Indiana, Michigan, a relationship with the community. A.D. Motzen Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee. I know, as Once I caught a pathologist just as he is the national a region it makes no sense; I used to joke was entering the room to perform an that my boss failed geography. Finally my autopsy. It was a homicide, so an autopsy director of state What I do organizing grassroots campaigns, Compliment title caught up with my job, and I became was necessary, but I asked him to follow I oversee Agudath Israel’s state- lobbying legislators, and drafting bills. I receive the national director of state relations. Rabbi Zohn’s protocol to minimize relations for advocacy efforts across the country. invasiveness. He told me it was the Not alone, of course. There’s a team of The easiest part about most often VIPs I’ve met first time he ever did so in the more Agudath Israel of paid staff and volunteers, 15 people, training for this job “What law school did you While my office is decorated than 10,000 autopsies he performed working to help protect your right to What training? My old boss came attend?” with pictures of me with dozens of in his career, and he asked me to give America religious practices like bris milah and to my first meeting in the Ohio politicians — governors, presidential a presentation to his entire staff. Our shechitah, protecting your rights as a Statehouse and then left me on my candidates — I’ll admit that most most memorable presentation was at religious employee, and helping enact own. All kidding aside, he was a great wouldn’t remember my name. My the National Association of Medical school choice legislation, to name a mentor. I had graduated from Johns job is to deal with state-level politics, Examiners conference — there were 400 few. Hopkins University with a degree in not Washington — that’s Rabbi Abba medical examiners there. I like to say we special education, and my goal was Cohen’s domain. The exception is when take a three-pronged approach to this What that means to change special education in the the people I develop relationships issue: education, legislation, and if there’s Most of our work relates to frum community. I had a few offers for with on the state level get elected to no other choice, litigation. education and religious freedom, principal positions, but around that Congress. For example, Congressman things like kosher laws. So when a time, two opportunities came up — Luke Messer of Indiana is now the fifth- How we’re making the conservative rabbi in Georgia sued someone in Cincinnati was looking for highest ranking member of the House. workplace a better place the state five years ago because someone to help grow the community, Impressive, considering he only entered I remember a strange case involving he said kosher labeling laws are and Rabbi Yehiel Kalish, who was the Congress in 2013. I worked closely with a city councilman who was challenged unconstitutional, we worked many regional director for Agudath Israel Luke when he oversaw the effort to pass by a disgruntled citizen for wearing hours with a Jewish legislator Midwest at the time, was looking for school choice legislation in Indiana, and a yarmulke at council meetings. The rewriting the law to protect kosher someone to work ten hours a week I’ve kept up with him since then. If you’ve complaint had no basis, but we reached consumers. We spend a lot of time in Columbus and monitor school never heard of him, you will — he’s a out to Marc Stern of the American Jewish rising star. Congress, and he provided the city with a legal memo on the topic. We’ve also Why relationships matter had cases involving taking time off, or in One issue we work on is avoiding the case of university students, missing In When I was a kid unnecessary autopsies, and together with exams, because of Shabbos or Yom Tov. I planned to graduate from McGill University in Montreal, where I grew up, and make my Rabbi Elchonon Zohn from the National Earlier this year, a university student in first million before I turned 30. I got into McGill but never attended, and no, I’m still not Association of Chevra Kadisha, we’ve New Jersey was told that if she left class Brief: a millionaire. On the other hand, I’ve had a hand in generating millions of dollars for our made many presentations to medical early on Friday to get home for Shabbos, community — even better. examiners and coroners. States like she would fail the course. A few phone

74 MISHPACHA MISHPACHA 75 24/6

Like father, like son I think I take after my dad Cantor calls later, and the professor received a out of town one or two days a week, but Yaakov Motzen. He’s a famous note in middle of a Friday class. I don’t I try very hard to be home at night, and chazzan — we both use our mouths know what it said, but he ended class early I’m proud to say I’ve been away from for our jobs. Also, I grew up for everyone that day. my wife for Shabbos only three times watching him serve his kehillah in in ten years. Last week was crazy. I many ways, from giving classes to participating in life cycle events, and My biggest accomplishment traveled to Columbus for a Statehouse I like to think our work at the Agudah Hiring and training my replacement Mission on Thursday, flew to DC for accomplishes that as well. in Ohio. This is a job that’s built on a dinner, and returned on a 6:30 a.m. relationships and institutional memory, flight on Friday. I spent that Shabbos and in such a position, you can start sick in bed with strep, and then flew to feeling irreplaceable. Eighteen months Chicago on Sunday to speak at a parent ago, I hired Rabbi Yitz Frank straight out rally for school choice. Monday I had a Best advice I of , and he continues to impress. lunch meeting with community leaders ever got in Denver. This job is never boring, Work like a dog, give others the The best part of the job but spring is the most hectic season; credit, and never expect anyone to Watching how a bill really becomes a legislative sessions are wrapping up in say thank you. Thank you for the law — as opposed to whatever you learned many states, and our annual dinner is advice, Moshe Bane — it’s so true! in social studies class. Then watching how in May. We rely on donations, so I have some of these policies have a real impact to balance fundraising, commenting on on people’s lives. There are five tuition bills, and helping our state directors with voucher programs here in Ohio, and their efforts. they’re benefiting hundreds of families I’m in a good who choose to send their children to Best referral ever mood when Jewish day schools. In Georgia, for seven Eric Cantor, the former majority Someone reads our newsletter and years now, more than $15 million has leader in the US House, has a very strong says, “Wow, I had no idea Agudah been generated in a scholarship tax credit relationship with Agudah. He also has a did so many things.” program. The greatest thank you I ever phenomenal memory. He once turned to received was from a financially struggling my congressman and advised him to get father whose kindergarten-aged child to know me and the Agudah, “the only would receive a voucher every year until national Orthodox Jewish grassroots he finished elementary school. The man organization in the country.” He said, picked me up and gave me eight bear hugs, “Not only are they good on the issues, one for each year he wouldn’t see a tuition but they can connect you to anyone bill. you need on the ground.” That’s quite a After he put me down, I told him the recommendation! voucher program includes kindergarten — that’s nine years of vouchers, so I I know it’ll be a rough day if deserved one more hug. My assistant is out on a Friday. That’s when we send out the weekly newsletter, The worst time of day and if she’s out, it gets tough — material Thirty minutes before my flight; is still coming in, and we’re very tight for unfortunately, that’s often when I get to time. It’s almost like putting out a weekly the airport — and start running. I travel magazine….

76 MISHPACHA 14 Tammuz 5775 | July 1, 2015