Dear Reader,

I’ll get to the “whatever” a bit below. 

But first: You may not realize it but, if you’re part of the American Jewish community, especially if you’re part of the Orthodox world, you have benefitted from the work of Agudath Israel.

From protection of religious rights to promotion of Jewish values and Torah study, from fighting antisemitism to ensuring that Jewish citizens can live as Jews where they wish, from obtaining permitted funding for Jewish schools to advocating for the defense of Israel, Agudath Israel has been, and remains, at the forefront of shtadlanus – legislative, diplomatic and political activism – in Congressional halls and court chambers, as well as in ongoing interaction with elected officials.

It has been my deep privilege to have been a cog in the well-oiled and constantly humming Agudah machine for some 30 years now. The legendary Rabbi Moshe Sherer, z”l, recruited me and it was a great honor for me to have been able to work alongside him for four years until the end of his amazing life. And it has been a great honor, from that time on, to have worked with people like Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Rabbi Abba Cohen and so many others who tirelessly advocate for the community.

Above all, it is humbling to continue working for a Jewish organization that takes its direction from a body like the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. Agudath Israel is truly unique.

And it is currently poised to launch a drive to ensure that it can continue its work into the future without hindrance or pause.

If you know enough about the Agudah to cherish it (and if you don’t, please spend some time at https://agudah.org/ ), or if you just want to show appreciation for the articles that I produce (whether for the Agudah or, independently, for various media, which the organization gives me rein to do), please visit:

https://charidy.com/agudahnational/AShafran

Now, to the “whatever.” Please offer whatever you can, no matter how little, to help further the cause. If you can sign on to a recurring donation, click on the relevant button after “donate.” Please do what you can, but know that no donation whatsoever is too small to say: “I appreciate the Agudah.” 

And I appreciate you for that.

Avi Shafran