WATCH: Rabbi Abba Cohen, Agudah Board Members, Honored at Ner Israel Rabbinical College 83rd Annual Dinner.

On Sunday, one could have mistaken the 83rd annual dinner of Ner Israel Rabbinical College for an Agudath Israel event. The historic connection between the Ner Israel yeshiva and the national Orthodox organization has always been strong. Agudath Israel’s late president, Rabbi Moshe Sherer was an alumnus of Ner Israel, as was his successor Rabbi Shmuel Bloom and many former and current staff members. The current Rosh Hayeshiva Rabbi Aharon Feldman also serves on the organization’s Council of Torah Sages. This year however, all of the dinner honorees had strong connections to Agudath Israel: Agudath Israel of America’s vice president for federal affairs and Washington director and counsel, Rabbi Abba Cohen, together with his wife Sandy, was presented with the National Community Leadership Award. Other honorees included the Kutoff family of Minneapolis (whose son Mark is member of Agudath Israel’s board of trustees), Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Sloan (Jacob is a board member of Agudath Israel of Maryland), and Rabbi and Mrs. Eytan Feiner (Rabbi and Mrs. Feiner were featured speakers at Agudath Israel’s recent annual convention).