Big Fights, Big Wins
OU Advocacy is truly a communal effort. While it works with public officials and allies in Washington, D.C., OU Advocacy sees the greatest success when the Orthodox community engages.
That’s why OUA’s annual Mission to Washington in the spring is so important. This year, 150 Jewish lay leaders joined to meet with high-level officials at the Department of Justice, hear from senators and representatives, and lobby congressional members on the community’s biggest issues.
These meetings are not for show. This advocacy played an important role in securing hundreds of millions of dollars for security grants that help shuls, schools, and other community institutions protect their constituents. OU Advocacy drove home the importance of continuing support for Israel and passing new legislation to fight antisemitism.
A Landmark School Choice Law Passes Congress
After decades of sustained advocacy, Congress passed — and President Trump signed — the most significant federal school choice legislation in U.S. history. The new law creates a 100% federal tax credit for donations (of up to $1,700) to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs), which will in turn distribute scholarships that can be used at private schools, including Jewish day schools and yeshivot.
This breakthrough helps make Jewish education more affordable at a time when antisemitism is on the rise and the need for strong Jewish identity is more urgent than ever. OU Advocacy has been working for decades with our allies on Capitol Hill and in the interfaith community to make this happen, and this is just the beginning. OUA will continue working to expand the program, increase contribution limits, and protect participating schools’ religious freedom.
