Rabbi David Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America, stops to exchange greetings with Sen. Robert Menendez during the second annual Agudath Israel of New Jersey legislative breakfast. In the foreground is Sen. Frank Lautenberg; looking on behind him is Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.
Photo by Debra Rubin
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September 16, 2009
Leaders of the state’s Orthodox communities gathered in Somerset this week, feting lawmakers and discussing legislative solutions to the high cost of private Jewish education.
The second annual legislative breakfast of Agudath Israel of New Jersey, held Sept. 13 at the Regency Jewish Heritage Home for the Aged, drew more than 250 leaders of the Orthodox community and supporters from throughout New Jersey.
Participants honored legislators “who have gone beyond the call of duty” for the state’s Jewish community.
Honorees included Sen. Robert Menendez (D), State Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-Dist. 3), State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Dist. 21), Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Dist. 36), Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Dist. 12), and Lakewood committeeman Menashe Miller.
The event also drew a number of local, state, and federal politicians, including U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D), who introduced Menendez and made a case for the re-election of Gov. Jon Corzine. Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Dist. 21) offered support for Republican challenger Chris Christie.
“We want to work hand in hand with elected officials in an effort to educate our children,” said breakfast chair Jerry Gontownik of Englewood.
Gontownik also cited such legislative initiatives as school vouchers, which would aid struggling parents and schools by easing restrictions on public funding for parochial schooling. “Let us continue to raise the issue of school choice and to knock on the doors of Trenton to get it passed,” he said.
Josh Pruzansky of Highland Park, Agudath Israel’s state executive director, said the organization was particularly intent on pushing the Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act. The act authorizes a pilot program that would allow low-income children in 10 urban areas to receive scholarships to attend participating public and non-public schools.
The bill, sponsored by Kean and Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Dist. 20), would allow corporations to receive tax credits for making donations to nonprofits providing such scholarships.
Kean said it was “the right thing to see our children get the best education possible.”
Three of the designated communities — Elizabeth, Passaic, and Lakewood — have significant Orthodox populations whose tuition costs could be “significantly lowered,” said Pruzansky.
The bill has languished in the Senate’s budget committee since April 2008 despite having the support of a broad coalition of about 20 organizations, including the Black Ministers’ Council of New Jersey and the Catholic Conference of New Jersey, said Pruzansky.
O’Scanlon, who supports the bill, called school choice “a galvanizing issue not limited to the Orthodox community….”
Pruzansky also lamented cuts in state technology grants for non-public schools, which deprived Jewish institutions of some $1 million.
Pruzansky said federal aid for special education and remedial help, including Title I funding, is being held up by local boards of education and is not reaching day school students.
“There always seems to be a reason why the money is not available for non-public schools,” said Pruzansky, who added that the state’s Orthodox community pays about $150 million annually in property taxes, much of which funds the public schools.
“It’s not fair to ask someone already paying taxes and tuition to pay another $40,000 for a special education program for their child,” he added. “It’s not fair we pay $150 million and get nothing back. Even 20 percent back would make a huge difference in our school system.”
Dr. Jonas Waizer of Edison and his son, David of Highland Park, were also among the honorees for their community work. Jonas has long been active in Edison politics and is a founder of the Edison Highland Park Kehilla, which advocates for the Jewish community in the political process.
David is a lieutenant and former treasurer of the Highland Park Fire Department and has worked with state Agudath Israel on several community-wide initiatives.
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