Road Trip Austin: Yiddishkeit Edition

This week, the Jewish Press ran an article wondering whether Houston will become the "Nation's Next Voucher Battleground" after last month's rally on the issue in Austin. As it turns out, a good contingent of Houston-area synagogues sent representatives over to Austin to show their support of private school vouchers. The whole voucher debate never ever seems to end continues throughout Texas and the U.S. in a lively manner, and thus the folks of the Torah Outreach Resouce Center of Houston (TORCH!) received some help from national organizations such as Agudath Israel of America (publishers behind the Jewish Observer) and some inspiration from the Orthodox Union. The prize at stake, in this instance, may be the five fine day schools that Houston has to offer, and assistance from the state in making those schools viable options for lower-income families. On the other side of the debate the Waco Tribue-Herald ran a guest opinion column this past Tuesday, arguing otherwise and pointing out the difficulties already present for those who work in Texas public schools.

On a bit of a tangent, and with Shabbat starting tonight at 6:26 PM, we'll go ahead and let you know now about this Sunday's "Kosher Made Easy" event at the Post Oak Randall's supermarket, organized by TORCH as part of their Kosher Awareness Month. A rockin' tour of the supermarket will be given at 10:00 AM, followed by a Q&A with Rabbi Yossi Grossman on the ins and outs on Kosher eating. Bete'avon, y'all.

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Photo: flickr user cpm1