Legislative Fellowship
Legislative Fellows 2013-2014
As the public policy arm of the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, the IPA works to protect Jewish interests and freedoms by providing government officials with informative policy briefings, advocating legislative and regulatory initiatives, and coordinating our constituency’s grass-roots political activities. Importantly, the IPA works to bring the unique perspective of Jewish law and tradition to bear upon a wide range of public policy issues confronting American society at large, thus seeking to fulfill our mission to work for the betterment of the world – tikkun olam – for all of humankind.
The Legislative Fellowship is an intensive one year position for dedicated individuals their first year out of college to work with OU/IPA professional staff as we advocate in Washington, DC for Jewish values and interests in the public policy arena on behalf of the Orthodox Jewish community. He/she will take part in a wide range of activities including monitoring legislative activity, working with synagogues and day schools, coordinating special events, creating educational materials, and mobilizing the grassroots of American Orthodox Jewry.
Previous Legislative Fellows have continued on to obtain significant positions in politics, communications and Jewish communal life.
Specific responsibilities include:
Legislative Advocacy – A Legislative Fellow will have responsibility for monitoring legislation; representing the Orthodox Union on Capitol Hill and in coalitions; and for ensuring that the voice of the OU community’s nearly 900 congregations, 1,000 rabbis and thousands of members is heard.
Research – The backbone of effective advocacy work is quality research. The Legislative Fellow will research and write advocacy memos on critical issues.
Events – The OU/IPA has produced and sponsored public conferences on a range of issues examining the interface of Halakha and public policy; the OU/IPA also holds missions to Washington where community leaders meet policymakers. The Legislative Fellow will play a lead role in executing these events.
Communications – The OU/IPA is in the communications business; our policy statements must be heard in the public square, our programs must be attended and integrated into policymakers’ thinking. The Fellow will have a lead responsibility in putting new information on our website, issuing press releases, making advocacy network phone calls, and e-mailing thousands of people; ultimately disseminating our materials nationwide.
The OU/IPA Legislative Fellow is a one year position commencing in September 2013, located in Washington, DC.
Completed application (including letters of recommendation) must be received by April 10, 2013. All Applications can be sent to ipadc@ou.org.
