The Sephardic Community Federation (SCF) announced what it described as a significant development for families with children attending yeshivas and non-public schools across New York, following Governor Kathy Hochul’s public support for the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program.
Under the proposed federal program, taxpayers would be able to donate to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations and receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 per taxpayer. The donated funds would then be used to provide scholarships for eligible K-12 students, including those attending non-public schools.
While additional steps remain – including final federal regulations and New York State’s formal opt-in process – supporters of the initiative view the governor’s announcement as a major advancement for school choice and tuition assistance efforts. Additional information about the program is available through the Teach Coalition website: https://teachcoalition.org/federalscholarships/
SCF has advocated for the program for more than a year. The group also credited Teach Coalition and Teach NYS, including Executive Director Sydney Altfield, for their continued advocacy efforts surrounding Jewish education and school choice initiatives.
SCF noted that it originally founded Teach NYS and expressed pride in seeing the organization expand into what it described as a statewide and national force in education advocacy.
This program has the potential to be worth tens of millions of dollars in tuition relief and education support for our community, helping parents, strengthening our schools, and easing one of the greatest financial burdens facing our families.
Magen David Yeshivah High School Explores the Immigrant Experience in NYC
Ninth graders at Magen David Yeshivah High School in the Jeff and Rachel Sutton Scholars Program traveled to New York City to explore the Lower East Side as part of their study of the immigrant experience in the early 20th century. In class, students have been learning about life in tenements and the rise of organized crime during this period.
The day began at the Tenement Museum, where students met a historical actor portraying Victoria, a 14-year-old Sephardic Jewish immigrant who lived in the tenement in 1916. Remaining in character throughout the visit, she shared stories about her journey to America, the importance of family, and the challenges of assimilation.
Students then participated in a walking tour of the neighborhood led by Dr. Stephen Hequembourg, Rabbi Elinatan Bitton, Ms. Stacey Wagoner, and Ms. Maryana Sigalova. The tour took them from Little Italy into Chinatown, with stops at Economy Candy, Freeman’s Alley, the oldest Jewish cemetery in North America, and the bustling Doyers Street. Along the way, students competed in a street art scavenger hunt for gift cards.
The group also visited the Bialystoker Synagogue and stopped at Moishe’s Bakery, where Ms. Schreiber, a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor, spoke with the students while slicing bread. The trip concluded at the top of the Edge, where students enjoyed panoramic views of the New York City skyline, including many of the skyscrapers they had studied earlier in the semester.
Eichenstein-Led Bill Aims to Protect Consumers From Steep Utility Increases
Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein
The New York State Assembly has passed legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein aimed at protecting consumers from steep utility rate increases by requiring regulators to consider whether proposed hikes are affordable for residents.
The bill would require the state New York State Public Service Commission to weigh the economic impact of proposed utility rate increases on consumers before approving them. Under the measure, regulators would review factors including local income levels, unemployment data, and national fuel and utility cost trends when evaluating rate increase requests.
Supporters say the proposal is designed to strengthen protections for ratepayers while preserving utility companies’ ability to earn a fair return.
“For too long, New Yorkers have struggled under the weight of substantial utility rate hikes,” Eichenstein said in a statement, calling the measure a step toward easing the financial strain on families facing a high cost of living.
Leroy Comrie is sponsoring the legislation in the Senate.
Backers say the bill is intended to promote greater transparency and fairness in the rate-setting process while helping shield residents from rising utility costs. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.