�Snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat,� is how one insider described the efforts by Agudath Israel of Illinois (AIOI) to retain favorable district lines in the new legislative maps recently passed by Illinois� state legislature. The last-minute revisions to keep more of the Orthodox Jewish community united were one of the few adjustments made after the first map proposal was unveiled days prior, capping a year-long effort to prevent the community from being carved up across multiple districts.

Once a decade, following the U.S. Census, district lines are redrawn in states across the country. The boundaries of legislative districts can impact a community�s influence. If a community becomes a smaller the percentage of a district�s electorate, their political significance is diminished, and if consolidated, their voice can become amplified. On behalf of Chicago�s Orthodox Jewish community, AIOI�s director of government affairs, Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, spearheaded a campaign to preserve the integrity of the community�s voice using media and public relations, lobbying legislators, party leaders, and even the governor. In April he testified before the state Senate and House redistricting committees and using the committees� portal, submitted maps for lawmakers to use.

Despite the all-out effort and comprehensive approach, the initial new map proposal further divided the community, sparking fears that the community�s voice in government could be silenced. As a last-ditch effort, Rabbi Soroka testified at a late-night joint redistricting committee hearing to explain to lawmakers how the proposal could diminish community influence to �the brink of political irrelevance,� and proposed an alternative boundary line.

�The Orthodox Jewish community is one that unfortunately is often overlooked as a community of interest, despite our unique needs and interests,� Soroka testified. �I do not believe these changes were done with the intention to silence my community, but I need this honorable body to know that regardless of the intent, the effect will be the same.�

His impassioned plea was heard and when the new maps were released the following day, adjustments to accommodate were made. In a press release, House and Senate Democrats highlighted the change to accommodate the Orthodox Jewish community�s request. While the new map, which has since been voted on and passed, isn�t perfect, it is a significant improvement from the initial proposal.

AIOI thanks Senate President Don Harmon; House Speaker Emanuel �Chris� Welch; House Republican leader Jim Durkin; Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie; Redistricting Committee Chairs Senator Omar Aquino and State Representative Elizabeth Hernandez; Senator Jason Barickman; State Senators Ram Villivalam and Laura Fine; and State Representatives Denyse Stoneback, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Robyn Gabel, and Bob Morgan.