The OU Advocacy Legislative Fellowship is a one year position running from September to August, located in Washington, DC.
As the public policy arm of the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, OU Advocacy 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, OU Advocacy 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 Advocacy 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 Advocacy has produced and sponsored public conferences on a range of issues examining the interface of Halakha and public policy; the OU Advocacy 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 Advocacy 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.