National Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of America @AgudahNews Tweets are my own. RT does not = endorsement
Cincinnati, Ohio
Joined February 2013
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"This should not be about politics...this is about students." @YitzFrank
IMPORTANT: Ohio's EdChoice scholarships remain in place!
While SCO is disappointed by today's appellate ruling, a stay allows EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion to continue as the case heads to the Ohio Supreme Court.
This is about students, not politics.
#SchoolChoiceOhio
A. D. Motzen retweeted
While we are disappointed by today’s ruling, we remain confident that EdChoice will ultimately be upheld…Agudath Israel has played an active role in advocating for and expanding EdChoice over the years, and we will continue doing everything we can to defend this important program.
Agudath Israel Statement on Ohio EdChoice Court Ruling
agudah.org/agudath-israel-st…
Ohio's EdChoice scholarship program remains in place as this case continues to move through the courts.
Sad to see so much public time and money wasted in an attempt to take away educational options from families.
AG Wilson issued a statement today regarding the 10th District Court of Appeals’ ruling on the EdChoice Scholarship Program.
Read the full statement here: bit.ly/3UsQQRS
A. D. Motzen retweeted
A tremendous day for education in New York!
Thank you to @GovKathyHochul and her team for following through on their commitment to opt in to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program. This decision opens the door to millions of dollars in additional educational resources and opportunities for students in public and nonpublic schools alike, without taking a dollar away from public education.
@AgudahNews is deeply grateful to the Governor and her team for recognizing the importance of this opportunity and ensuring that New York's children and families will be able to benefit.
A special thank you to our partners at @NYSCatholicConf and @TeachNYS for their tireless advocacy and collaboration in helping make this a reality. This is what can be accomplished when we work together for the benefit of all students!
governor.ny.gov/news/stateme…
Between my various social media accounts, I spent quite a bit of time today watching disturbing, and sometimes inspiring videos from or about Oct 7th and reading statements from elected officials and candidates from across the country.
Q: Is it really too hard to condemn terror and barbarism without caveats, buts, and moral equivalency?
As Thumper said in Bambi: "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all,"
Can a state deny a child a benefit simply because of his parents’ exercise of a constitutional right?
Massachusetts is forcing the Hellmans to choose between receiving a benefit and exercising a right.
wapo.st/4yurzpc
This is very concerning. Every school, K-12 and postsecondary should be answering what they are doing to prevent such anti-Jewish bullying.
Recently released 2023–24 CRDC data show that Jewish students are the most frequently targeted for religion-based bullying.
On the third anniversary of the tragedy of October 7, we encourage teachers, administrators, and state leaders to uphold civil rights protections and ensure every student has a safe learning environment.
A. D. Motzen retweeted
Today, three years after the horrific October 7 attacks, we remember the innocent lives taken by Hamas terrorists.
The Trump Administration remains committed to confronting terrorism and bringing hostages home.
America will always stand as a beacon of freedom, defending our allies and values around the world.
The biggest news from the new tax credit rules was the clarification that married couples can donate a total of $3400 and receive a tax credit.
If there's one person who deserves credit for this major win for families it's @SenTedCruz. He was not only critical to the inclusion of the credit in the original bill, he was relentless in pushing @USTreasury and @WhiteHouse to ensure that the new law has no marriage penalty and maximizes the number of students who can benefit.
Thank you @tedcruz!
$1700 + $1700 = $3400.
@Agudahnews welcomes the new rules for the Education Freedom Tax Credit released today by @USTreasury especially allowing married couples filing jointly to EACH take a credit for their donations.
'Today’s announcement is great news for American families and provides the necessary clarity to allow states and scholarship organizations to implement the tax credit in time for its launch in January 2027." @ADMotzen agudah.org/agudath-israel-of…
Rabbi A.D. Motzen, the national director of government affairs for @AgudahNews , told JI that the publication of the regulations for the program will allow states that have already opted in to begin implementing the program, and should allow states whose governors have said they’ve been waiting for the regulation to make decisions.
He also pushed back directly on the arguments made by the teachers’ unions, emphasizing that 96% of all students will be eligible for scholarships and that the program will not come from state tax budgets.
“That’s just misrepresenting what it does. It helps almost every student in the state,” he said, adding, “the idea that it would financially harm a state is ludicrous.”
My comments to @marcrod97 of @jewishinsider on the release of the rules of the federal scholarship tax credit
jewishinsider.com/2026/10/de…
He also pushed back directly on the arguments made by the teachers’ unions, emphasizing that 96% of all students will be eligible for scholarships and that the program will not come from state tax budgets.
“That’s just misrepresenting what it does. It helps almost every student in the state,” he said, adding, “the idea that it would financially harm a state is ludicrous.”
My comments to @marcrod97 of @jewishinsider on the release of the rules of the federal scholarship tax credit
jewishinsider.com/2026/10/de…
“Twenty five years after 9/11, as terrorists continue to target innocent Americans, the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program serves as an important tool in protecting vulnerable nonprofits. This year, despite a very tight timeline, more than $1 billion was requested by eligible institutions. Yet, more than three quarters of applicants were rejected due to lack of funds,” Motzen said. “Agudath Israel of America is grateful for every grant awarded, but urges Congress to increase the annual allocation to meet the need.” @ADMotzen
jewishinsider.com/2026/09/ns…
The federal program differs from most state programs because it doesn’t require students to leave public school to qualify for the scholarship. Public school students could use the money for tutoring or special education therapies...
“Today’s announcement is great news for American families and provides the necessary clarity to allow states and scholarship organizations to implement the tax credit in time for its launch in January 2027,” said Rabbi @ADMotzen, a senior Agudath Israel official.
timesofisrael.com/us-feds-un…
"the newly promulgated rules should create an incentive for those remaining states to join. If they don’t opt-in, the money from their state will flow out because donors in their state will contribute to scholarship organizations, and therefore to kids, in other states. We think that once governors read these rules, from our conversations, many of them will opt-in.” @ADMotzen
jns.org/news/u-s-news/pro-sc…
A. D. Motzen retweeted
$1700 + $1700 = $3400.
@Agudahnews welcomes the new rules for the Education Freedom Tax Credit released today by @USTreasury especially allowing married couples filing jointly to EACH take a credit for their donations.
'Today’s announcement is great news for American families and provides the necessary clarity to allow states and scholarship organizations to implement the tax credit in time for its launch in January 2027." @ADMotzen agudah.org/agudath-israel-of…
A. D. Motzen retweeted
Agudath Israel of America urges all to pray for the son of @yechielleiter, Neria Leiter, Neria Dov ben Chana, who was critically wounded in a terrorist ramming attack today, and is in need of a refuah shelaima, b'soch she'ar cholei amo Yisroel.
I am grateful to the IDF, to the medical team at Shaare Zedek who are now fighting to save the life of Neria Dov ben Chana, and for the prayers of the people of Israel.
I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe that when the people of Israel unite, miracles happen. Neria needs a miracle.
Neria continued to serve in the reserves after losing his older brother, Moshe Yedidya Leiter, of blessed memory. Since October 7th, he has served hundreds of days in the reserves on multiple fronts.
Palestinian terrorism seeks to uproot the people of Israel from their land.
They choose death - we choose life.
"Requiring states to opt in to the federal scholarship credit was added at the last minute and never envisioned by Congress. While we are hopeful that every state will ultimately opt in so that their students can benefit from the billions of dollars in new scholarship opportunities, @RepAdrianSmith's proposal removes unnecessary state entanglement in a federal benefit.
The second bill clarifies that married couples who share a passion for helping students and each donate $1700 to a scholarship organization will not be penalized simply because they file a shared tax return.
@AgudahNews urges Congress to advance both important pieces of legislation,” said @ADMotzen
My Federal Scholarship Tax Credit was a major step forward for educational freedom. Now, I’m building on that success.
I introduced my Educational Opportunities Expansion Package to expand access to these scholarships nationwide and protect donors from penalties based on marital status.
adriansmith.house.gov/media/…
Thank you @EDUnderSecKent for visiting the largest yeshiva in the world and taking time to talk to students, faculty and alumni. It was great spending Constitution Day with you and your staff.
A. D. Motzen retweeted
“Where does it end? Where does it stop? Can the government tell me I can’t have 10 people over for a barbecue and make a bracha? That is what we see as being a very slippery slope and a very dangerous path to go down.”
Daniel Kaminetsky, Agudath Israel’s general counsel spoke to @marcrod97 of @jewishinsider about the religious liberty SCOTUS case brought by a man barred from holding an at home minyan.
Supreme Court to hear case of man blocked from holding minyan in his home, @marcrod97 reports
ji.news/5ip3u
