On Wednesday, March 27, and Thursday, March 28, MTA Sophomores embarked on an incredible two-day trip to Connecticut. This action-packed adventure included indoor and outdoor sports at Danbury Sports Dome; laser tag, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, bowling, and arcade games at Nomads Adventure Quest; exploring the indoor ropes course at It Adventure Ropes Course; davening and shiur at the Orchard Street Synagogue; swimming; a midnight barbecue; paintball; and more!

Central was very proud to send its own delegation to the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC this past week. Under the leadership of Mrs. Audi Hecht, two seniors and four juniors – Marsha Joseph, Olivia Peller, Rachel Rumstein, Meira Saffra, Eytana Schick, and Rina Shamilov – joined 4,000 other students in making up nearly a quarter of the total conference attendees. At AIPAC, our students learned extensively about the US-Israel relationship and how vital it is to both the United States and Israel’s strategic interests and about the unique kinship the nations share. The students had an opportunity to hear from a wide array of presenters, including United States political leaders, such as Vice President Mike Pence, US Representative Nancy Pelosi, Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Chuck Schumer, former Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, and many others who affirmed their staunch commitment to the US-Israel alliance.

The Uncomfortable Realities Of Political Influence, Communal Principles, And The Responsibility We All Share.

Few things magnify frustration, skepticism, and cynicism like an election. Endorsements trigger outrage. Political alliances invite suspicion. Everyone has an opinion.

ZOA is concerned that President Trump stated Tuesday that the U.S. will cut off all of the $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel at the end of 2026. This is almost two years earlier than provided for in the current U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which authorizes aid through the end of fiscal year 2028 (September 30, 2028).

A growing list of Jewish leaders and organizations has lined up behind Kathy Hochul for re-election. Sol Werdiger of Agudath Israel, Williamsburg Satmar figures such as Rabbi David Niederman and Rabbi Moshe Indig, and elements of the Crown Heights community have publicly backed her. The dominant reason is her decision to opt New York into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program, which channels private donations, encouraged by a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit, through Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) to help with K-12 costs, including yeshiva tuition.