OU Appoints Josh Pruzansky as NJ Regional Director of Public Policy

02 Jun 2011

OU APPOINTS JOSH PRUZANSKY AS NEW JERSEY REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY; HIRE UNDERSCORES INCREASED FOCUS ON STATEHOUSE ISSUES IN NEW JERSEY’S GROWING ORTHODOX COMMUNITY

The Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella group, representing nearly 1,000 congregations nationwide, today announced the appointment of Josh Pruzansky as Regional Director of Public Policy for New Jersey.

Dr. Simcha Katz, OU President stated, “No communal issue – none – is more crucial than making observant Jewish life affordable for families. The tuition crisis threatens our community’s future. Josh’s addition to the IPA underscores our focus on solving this issue. Together with others in our community and beyond, we will change this dynamic and make a better tomorrow for our children and grandchildren.”

Mr. Pruzansky comes to the Institute for Public Affairs (IPA) | Jewish Political Affairs — the OU’s public policy and political action arm — with more than twenty years of advocacy, policy and Jewish Communal experience. Previously, he served as Director of Agudath Israel of New Jersey, directing its Trenton-based policy and advocacy, and prior to that held several educational, administrative and nonprofit financial positions.

Nathan Diament, OU Director of Public Policy stated, “The White House and Capitol Hill are crucial arenas for our advocacy on behalf of the Orthodox community, but so are statehouses for such issues as education affordability. Josh Pruzansky has built a reputation these last few years in Trenton and the OU is pleased he now joins our public affairs and advocacy team.”

The OU/IPA has become increasingly active in recent years to advocate before federal and state officials on education, religious liberty, energy, homeland security and other policy matters of import specifically to the Orthodox Jewish community as well as the broader Jewish, nonprofit and faith communities. This includes over 100 leadership meetings and town halls in 15 states with candidates and elected officials, testimony before legislative committees and traditional and new media efforts.

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