This week, the OU Institute for Public Affairs continued its expansion of activism on behalf of day school tuition affordability.  Deputy Director of Political Affairs Jesse Hervitz spent Monday, March 26th in Louisiana, where he met with leaders of the New Orleans Jewish community as well as key elected officials.

Left to right: Jonathan Lake, Chairman of the Federation JCRC of New Orleans; Speaker of the House Chuck Kleckey; Dr. Bob Berk, Head of School, New Orleans Jewish Day School; Jesse Hervitz, Deputy Director of Political Affairs, OU

Dr. Bob Berk, the Head of School for New Orleans Jewish Day School and Jonathan Lake, Chairman of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, joined Jesse Hervitz in Baton Rouge to demonstrate their unified communal support for the educational voucher and tax credit proposals, both of which passed the House this past week.  Both proposals will now be considered in the Louisiana Senate.  Additionally, they proposed changes to both pieces of legislation that would better help our community participate.

The group had the pleasure of meeting and discussing these legislative items with: Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, Representative Neil Abramson, Speaker of the House Chuck Kleckey, Representative Stephen Carter, and Senator Conrad Appel—Chairman of the Senate Education Committee—which approved the voucher bill on Thursday and will hear the tax credit bill this upcoming week.

OU Deputy Director for Political Affairs Jesse Hervitz stated:

“These meetings were an incredible opportunity for the Jewish community in New Orleans to express their support for school choice legislation in Baton Rouge and move one step closer to forming a united voice in support of Jewish education.  The OU looks forward to continuing our work with the New Orleans Jewish Community and the leadership of the Louisiana legislature on this extremely important issue.”

L to R: Jesse Hervitz, Deputy Director of Political Affairs, OU; Jonathan Lake, Chairman of the Federation JCRC of New Orleans; Conrad Appel, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee; Dr. Bob Berk, Head of School, New Orleans Jewish Day School

L to R:Jesse Hervitz, Deputy Director of Political Affairs, OU; Dr. Bob Berk, Head of School, New Orleans Jewish Day School; Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne; Jonathan Lake, Chairman of the Federation JCRC of the New Orleans