Where's the Jewish Lobby on Budget Issues?

The Forward‘s Nathan Guttman writes that we’ve heard little from Jewish organizations about how to manage the U.S. budget shortfall.  He quotes Mark Pelavin, associate director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism: “I would like to see more of an AIPAC-like effort, with key people and contacts across the nation putting more pressure on Democrats and Republicans,” said William Rapfogel, executive director of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He added that with “real commitment from the national leadership, you can mobilize the community.” Continue Reading →

Where’s the Jewish Lobby on Budget Issues?

The Forward‘s Nathan Guttman writes that we’ve heard little from Jewish organizations about how to manage the U.S. budget shortfall.  He quotes Mark Pelavin, associate director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism: “I would like to see more of an AIPAC-like effort, with key people and contacts across the nation putting more pressure on Democrats and Republicans,” said William Rapfogel, executive director of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He added that with “real commitment from the national leadership, you can mobilize the community.” Continue Reading →

Where’s the Jewish Lobby on Budget Issues?

The Forward‘s Nathan Guttman writes that we’ve heard little from Jewish organizations about how to manage the U.S. budget shortfall.  He quotes Mark Pelavin, associate director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism: “I would like to see more of an AIPAC-like effort, with key people and contacts across the nation putting more pressure on Democrats and Republicans,” said William Rapfogel, executive director of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He added that with “real commitment from the national leadership, you can mobilize the community.” Continue Reading →

Israel Studies, A Form of Public Diplomacy?

“I know what the podium I stand behind represents, what Israel studies represents. I know this is a form of public diplomacy.” — Amal Jamal, “Israeli-Arab” professor of political science, Tel-Aviv University, one of two Palestinian scholars (of a total of 300 attendees) at the annual meeting of the Association for Israel Studies in Toronto in early May.

This week The Forward, a Jewish daily newspaper, published an article by Gal Beckerman that examines the swift increase of Israel Studies programs on American university campuses — often funded by wealthy Israeli donors as a reaction to established “left-leaning” Middle Eastern Studies programs. Continue Reading →