Community Profile: Gerald Bubis

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on September 12, 2012

Gerald B. Bubis is 88, and he knows there are things he’ll never do again. He’ll never travel to Israel again, for one, and after 46 trips, that’s a tough one to swallow. Then there’s the fact that this author and/or editor of 12 books and 200 articles on serving the Jewish community now has a tremor in his hand that prevents him from putting pen to paper. He also can’t drive anymore, and he can’t stand up long enough to wash dishes.

Livingstone trailing in London mayoral election, final poll shows

Published on May 4, 2012

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who stirred controversy with remarks called anti-Semitic by the city's Jewish leaders, was trailing in a bid to reclaim his post, a final poll showed.

Biden meets with Jewish leaders on Pollard

Published on November 22, 2011

Vice President Joseph Biden met with several Jewish American leaders to discuss the case of convicted spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard.

Shimon Peres remembers Ben-Gurion

Published on November 3, 2011

The overly creased and still tender face of Shimon Peres looks like he has always been crying; he seems to carry centuries of Jewish suffering upon his strong shoulders. Still, there is some flicker of hope in the old man’s eyes; a stubbornness and a determination that his life’s work will mean something.

Jewish leaders fast against budget cuts

Published on March 28, 2011

Leaders of two Jewish groups are joining an organized fast to protest proposed congressional budget cuts to poverty programs in the United States and abroad. The fast, initiated by HungerFast, a group led by anti-hunger activist Tony Hall, takes aim at proposed substantive cuts now under consideration in Congress that would target overseas food aid and domestic programs that provide food stamps, subsidized meals for preschoolers and their mothers, and subsidized heating for the poor.

Jewish leaders appeal to Cuba to free Gross

Published on March 8, 2011

Jewish leaders have called on the Cuban government to release Jewish U.S. government contractor Alan Gross, jailed for more than a year, for time served. Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Monday issued their humanitarian appeal to the Cuban government following the completion of Gross' two-day trial over the weekend. A verdict has not been released but is expected within the next few days.

Obama to Jewish leaders: U.S. supports Israel’s security

Published on March 2, 2011

America opposes efforts to de-legitimize Israel, President Obama told a 50-member delegation of Jewish leaders during a White House meeting.

Jewish leaders outraged at Glenn Beck attack on George Soros

Published on November 11, 2010

Jewish leaders expressed outrage at an attack by Glenn Beck on George Soros' World War II childhood.

Meeting again with Jewish leaders, Abbas broaches substance

Published on September 22, 2010

For Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. Jewish leaders, their second date featured a little more substance and a little less flirtation. And this time the Palestinian Authority president brought a wing man.

Jewish leaders meet with Senate Democrats

Published on May 27, 2010

Jewish leaders met with more than a third of the Democratic caucus in the U.S. Senate.

Texas governor meets Jewish leaders

Published on May 4, 2010

Orthodox Jewish community leaders in Texas met with senior state officials including Gov. Rick Perry, who expressed support for a school voucher program.

Jewish leaders caught between criticizing, defending Obama

Published on April 20, 2010

With anxiety over the White House’s Middle East policy mounting in some pro-Israel circles, several Jewish organizational leaders have found themselves in a discomfiting position: criticizing the Obama administration in public while stridently defending the president in private against the most extreme attacks.

At White House, U.S. Jews offer little resistance to Obama policy on settlements

Published on July 14, 2009

Top Jewish organizational leaders expressed support for President Obama's Middle East peace strategies at a White House meeting but said the president must do a better job of showing he expects hard work from all sides, not just Israel.

Guest list: The Obama meeting

Published on July 14, 2009

Sixteen leaders of 14 Jewish organizations took part in a Monday afternoon meeting at the White House with President Obama. Some of the groups not on the invite list, after having been invited to a larger meeting of Jewish leaders with Obama aides right before the inauguration, include Israel Policy Forum, the Zionist Organization of America, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom and B'nai B'rith International. Below is the full list of participants:

Obama to U.S. Jewish leaders: Israel must engage in self-reflection

Published on July 13, 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama met yesterday for the first time with 15 American Jewish leaders at the White House, for talks aimed at clearing the air following allegations that his administration was taking a tough line with Israel over settlement activity.

Pope in Paris: ‘To be anti-Semitic is to be anti-Christian’ [VIDEO]

Published on September 15, 2008

Jews and Christians should get to know each other better, Pope Benedict XVI said at a meeting with French Jewish leaders.

Can One Imagine Another Herzl Arising?

By Leonard Fein
Published on December 23, 2004

The funeral took place in Vienna on July 7, 1904. The stunning announcement had come on the 4th: Theodore Herzl, dead at age 44.

Here is Stefan Zweig's description of the day:

Quiet Debut for ‘Passion’ DVD

By David Finnigan
Published on September 2, 2004

When Rabbi Harold Shulweis learned that the DVD of "The Passion of the Christ," which debuted on Aug. 31, would be just a bare-bones, no-frills copy of Mel Gibson's controversial movie, the spiritual leader of Encino's Valley Beth Shalom said, "That's very good. I don't think the Jewish community has to repeat, regurgitate, all the anguish, all the anger."

Israel Reenters Image Fight on Campuses

By Natan Sharansky
Published on April 1, 2004

More and more Jewish leaders are becoming aware of the dangers posed by a festering anti-Israel sentiment on U.S. college campuses. A recent poll showed that when students were asked whether they were more "sympathetic" to Israel or the Palestinians, 28 percent answered Israel and 22 percent said the Palestinians.

How to Be Richand LiveSoulfully

By Julie G Fax
Published on January 8, 2004

There was a time when Adlai Wertman measured his success in dollars -- how much he made for the company, how much the company paid him, how well he spent the money.

The Circuit

By Gaby Wenig
Published on November 6, 2003

The Circuit

U.S. Jewish Leaders Face Risky Situaton

By James D. Besser
Published on May 29, 2003

As a new round of Mideast peacemaking begins, U.S. Jewish leaders are putting themselves on the line for a government in Jerusalem, whose real intentions are more impenetrable than ever.

Road Map’s Route Leads Toward Clash

By James D. Besser
Published on April 10, 2003

Will He or Won’t He?

By Matthew E. Berger
Published on March 27, 2003

As the Palestinians move forward with the confirmation of a new prime minister, many are looking to the White House to see when President Bush will unveil the "road map" toward Israeli-Palestinian peace.

In Israel’s Interest

By James D. Besser
Published on February 7, 2002

President George W. Bush fired the first volley in the second phase of his anti-terror war last week when he used the annual State of the Union message to gird the nation for the challenges ahead.

Terrorists or Fall Guys?

By Mike Levy
Published on December 20, 2001

Terrorists or Fall Guys?

Victory Should Be Israel’s Goal

By Morton A. Klein
Published on August 9, 2001

Should Israel's goal be to defeat the Palestinian Arab terrorists who are waging war against it? Or should Israelis be striving merely for a few days or weeks of quiet?

Tax Plan Could Endanger Services

By James D. Besser
Published on May 24, 2001

This week congressional Republicans tried to put the finishing touches on a compromise version of President George W. Bush's giant tax cut that some Jewish leaders say could ravage a wide range of health and social service programs serving the community's neediest citizens.

A ‘New Germany’

By Debra Isaacs
Published on April 19, 2001

Jewish leaders in the United States and in Israel are encouraging an openness to what they describe as a "new Germany," a place they say is truly atoning for its past. At the very least, they argue, it deserves the support of the American Jewish community because of its strong support of Israel and its embrace of Jewish immigrants who are streaming in at the rate of 10,000 per year.

Tough Choices for Hate Law Boosters

By James D
Published on November 4, 1999

For Jewish leaders, lobbying sometimes involves tough choices between winning and doing the right thing. That dynamic is very much in play this week as many Jewish groups, with a boost from President Bill Clinton, fight desperately to save a new hate crimes law that has become cannon fodder in the nation's culture wars.

Tough Times for the Religious Right

By James D
Published on March 18, 1999

t may be the worst of times for Christian right groups -- which could be good news for Jewish leaders.

Opportunity Missed

By James D
Published on November 19, 1998

As U.N. weapons inspectors returned to Iraq this week and U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf stood down from high alert, the world breathed a sigh of relief after yet another race to the brink with Saddam Hussein.