Over 200 elementary school students from six yeshivas ended their school year with a hands-on lesson in civics and walked away with some great prizes, including iPads, iPods, bicycles, and Monopoly Deal games.
These students went door-to-door, registering over 2,500 Brooklyn voters on behalf of Teach NYS in an effort facilitated by the Sephardic Community Federation. Two boys received iPads by registering 100 voters each.
The kids were also able to dispel common myths, such as the mistaken belief that only registered voters get called for jury duty. In fact, anyone with a drivers license, credit card bill or utility bill is already on the jury duty rolls.
Contest coordinator Stefanie Zakay said, “Voter registration is the most important thing that an individual can do for the community today and the best part about it is it’s free. When we register to vote, we let our elected officials know who and where we are. The more community people that register, the better the response from politicians. Simply put, there is strength in numbers.”
New York City Council Member David G. Greenfield visited Barkai Yeshivah and Magen David Yeshivah to help launch the non-partisan contest.
“It is absolutely vital that we empower our communities, and the best way to start is by engaging our children on the importance of voting,” Greenfield said. “Teaching children at an early age about how a democracy works helps instill an appreciation of the freedoms we enjoy as US citizens, and encourages what will hopefully be a lifelong involvement with the democratic process. I am proud of the contest winners and of all the yeshivah students that participated.”
Alice Tawil, whose son David is a 6th-grader at Magen David Yeshivah, described her son’s effort to earn his new iPad. “Upon receiving the voting contest packet, David was off and running,” she said. “Determined to get the iPad, he set out to get as many voters as he could. He hung out by the Center, the shul, restaurants, and even parties. His confidence grew with every new person he registered. He convinced even the most apathetic people that registering to vote was their right as American citizens and that each vote is important in electing the right officials who will benefit our Jewish community as a whole. In the end, David’s efforts paid off and he won the iPad. He couldn’t be more proud of himself at this tremendous accomplishment, and he learned the valuable lessons of persistence, determination, and hard work.”
Judith Horowitz, whose son Abie is in the 3rd grade at Yeshivah of Flatbush and also received an iPad, said, “He asked anybody he saw, and he got a lot of confidence from it and learned that you have to work hard if you want something.”
In April, 5,000 voter registration packets were distributed in Magen David Yeshivah, Barkai Yeshivah, Yeshivah of Flatbush, Shaare Torah Boys and Girls Yeshivot and Yeshivah of Belle Harbor. Many kids were able to get the six voters required to enter into the raffle for an iPad 2, plus they earned many exciting prizes right away. The iPad 2 raffle will be drawn after the summer, so kids still have a chance to register voters and enter the contest.
Elected officials notice which communities show up to vote in primary and general elections, especially for close races in local offices like the City Council and State Assembly. It’s elected officials who make the decisions to allocate funds for education and social services, and set the priorities for promoting community needs.
About Teach NYS
Teach NYS represents a coalition of yeshivah and other private school communities across the state. Speaking on behalf of 15% of all New York school children, they are a formidable voice in Albany. For example, Teach NYS spearheaded an initiative giving thousands of children free tutoring and counseling in yeshivot. They facilitated free laptops for thousands more yeshivah students. The organization also turned $5 million of federal stimulus funds into free books and materials for yeshivahs, and secured a $600 million annual tax credit for parents of school children in New York State.
A recent US Supreme Court decision backing a tax credit specifically for non-public school parents injects new momentum into these advocacy issue nationwide. With the support of parents and yeshivah children we can keep making progress on issues that matter to the community.
There is a light at the end of the tuition crisis tunnel, and with government support, local Jewish communities can reach it. However, there can be no government support without active, registered voters in the community. If your child would like a chance to win prizes registering voters, please contact contest@teachnys.org. If you are a registered voter and would like to sign up for more information from Teach NYS, please send your name and email or cell phone number to stefanie@teachnys.org. By working together, we can and will make a difference on behalf of our community.
