Chicago Day School Parents Advocate for School Choice

Rabbi A.D. Motzen; William Godwin, Esq., director of external affairs for One Chance Illinois and Rabbi Mordechai Raizman, executive director of operations for the Associated Talmud Torahs

On Sunday evening, nearly 150 parents crammed the Ida Crown Jewish Academy gym for a parent rally on behalf of school choice. Organized by Agudath Israel of Illinois and the Associated Talmud Torahs, the event was a community-wide meeting to inform parents about an exciting effort to enact a scholarship tax credit program. Attendees heard from William Godwin, Esq., director of external affairs for One Chance Illinois, who explained how the proposed legislation would provide tax credits for donors who support public and private school programs and tuition scholarships. Mr. Joel Klein described the struggles of parents trying to afford tuition and David Porush spoke from the perspective of a day school lay leader. Rabbi  Leonard Matanky, dean of Ida Crown Jewish Academy and rabbi of Congregation K.I.N.S, gave an inspiring speech about the importance of this issue to the Jewish community.

view of the crowd

Finally, Agudath Israel of America’s Rabbi A. D. Motzen explained the importance of grassroots advocacy and encouraged the attendees not to leave the event without writing a letter to their elected officials. Thankfully, nearly everyone heeded the call, and Agudath Israel will be delivering hundreds of letters to state officials on behalf of the parents. To learn more about this effort go to www.IllinoisKidsCampaign.org