WASHINGTON (JTA) — The new U.S. senator from New York met with leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, met Jan. 30 with immediate past chair Harold Tanner and executive vice chairman Malcolm Hoenlein to discuss issues of concern to the Jewish community.
"Senator Gillibrand expressed a desire to develop a close working relationship with the Jewish community, and has already taken steps toward that end in order to better understand and address the domestic and international concerns of our community," Tanner and Hoenlein said in a statement. "We think the community will find her to be a strong advocate for many issues. She expressed great concern about the growth of anti-Semitism in Europe and its manifestation here, and the need to address it. She also concurred about the danger of a nuclear Iran and the need to take necessary steps to prevent it."
The statement added, "We also found her views about the United Nations consistent with our own and she expressed particular concern about the upcoming ‘Durban II’ conference."
Gillibrand was sworn in Jan. 23 to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton, who left the Senate to become secretary of state. A special election for the seat will be held in 2010.
