It is with deep regret that Agudath Israel of America announces the impending retirement of Rabbi Abba Cohen, long-time director of Agudath Israel’s Washington Office and its Vice President for Government Affairs.
During his 36-year tenure as head of Agudath Israel’s Washington Office, Rabbi Cohen worked with seven presidential administrations and 19 Congresses. He is universally respected in the nation’s capital as a skilled spokesman and tireless advocate for the Orthodox Jewish community, as a model of honor and impeccable integrity, as a paradigm of keen intelligence and consummate professionalism.
A trailblazing Orthodox Jewish advocate in Washington, Rabbi Cohen has built strong relationships across both sides of the political aisle. These bi-partisan relationships have helped raise awareness throughout the federal government about the unique nature, needs and concerns of Orthodox Jewry, and in the process have helped shatter many negative stereotypes.
Under Rabbi Cohen’s direction, Agudath Israel has come to be recognized as occupying a unique place among the pantheon of Jewish groups on the Washington scene. During his decades in Washington, Rabbi Cohen has had numerable notable achievements on Agudath Israel’s wide ranging domestic and foreign agendas, benefiting the Jewish people on both the community and individual levels.
Indeed, there has virtually been no major piece of legislation or policy on protecting religious freedom, enhancing yeshiva education, combatting antisemitism, or on any consequential matter affecting the Orthodox Jewish community, where Rabbi Cohen’s positive input and effective advocacy are not evident.
Agudath Israel of America salutes Rabbi Abba Cohen for the remarkable work he has done in Washington. We congratulate him on his impending retirement – though we have little doubt that he will continue to find ways, even in retirement, to serve the Jewish community – and we wish him many more productive years of good health and tremendous pride from his wonderful family.
Agudath Israel has appointed a national search committee to identify candidates to replace Rabbi Cohen as its next Washington Office director. The new director will be working with Agudah’s other key advocates in Washington: Rabbi Yossie Charner, Director of Congressional Affairs, and Rabbi Avi Schnall, Director of Federal Education Affairs, who were brought aboard as part of the recent Washington Office expansion, and whose reach and effectiveness have already been felt in significant ways.
{Matzav.com}