Black hats and yarmulkes abounded yesterday at the Russell Senate Building during a luncheon held as part of the OU’s annual leadership mission to Washington.
In between bites of turkey and corned beef, OU leaders listened to several Senators who filtered in and out of the event. Lawmakers included Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
Senators hit mainly on two topics: the threat of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, and U.S. policy toward Israel.
Lieberman promised that lawmakers were working to protect American and Jewish interests from the "evil represented by Iran" and wished the group a good year of health and happiness with the upcoming Rosh Hashana holiday in mind.
Casey had to leave the luncheon to vote before he had an opportunity to speak, but hurried back afterwards much to the bemusement and appreciation of OU members. Casey stressed to members that the U.S. must and will "take action in regard to Iran," and spoke about the possibility of sanctions and bills regarding divestment from Iran.
Casey serves on the Subcommittee on European Affairs in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and policy toward the Middle East falls under its jurisdiction.
Among the issues discussed on the OU’s domestic agenda was the level of funding for the federal Homeland Security grants that go to at-risk nonprofits, including synagogues and schools, and Senator Gillibrand committed to working with the OU to obtain $25 million of appropriations for that program.
OU leaders said that though various domestic issues were addressed during the Leadership Weekend, the focus was on Iran. Nathan Diament, Director of the OU’s Institute for Public Affairs, said that members are "concerned about Iran and its pursuit of nuclear weapons." Domestic security for both American and Jewish institutions, he said, are high on their list of priorities.
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