Special Interview Breger Says Administration’s Policies Have Been Favorable to the Concerns of the J

Marshall Jordan Breger, the recently appointed Special Assistant to President Reagan for Public Liaison, who serves as the liaison between the White House and the Jewish community, said today he believes that “The policies of the Reagan Administration have been very favorable to the concerns of the American Jewish community.”

In a special interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Breger, 38, who was in New York to attend a reception in his honor given by the Republican Jewish Coalition at the Tavern On the Green tonight, said that the “favorable” attitude of the Administration was clearly demonstrated in the improved ties in recent months between Israel and the United States.

Breger added that in his view, the agreement of the United States to increase the grant level in the proposed aid package to Israel, is “a major recognition of the closeness” between the two countries and indicates “that it is an American interest to have a strong Israel.”

Asked to enumerate other areas of concern in the Jewish community, apart from Israel, Breger mentioned, in order of priority, Soviet Jewry; tuition tax credit (a major concern of religious Jews); racial quotas; crime in urban centers, where many Jews live; and the problem of the elderly.

OUTLINES HIS ROLE

Breger likened his position to an instrument for “symbiotic relationships” between the Jewish community and the Administration. “On the one hand I have to explain and articulate the views of the Administration to the Jewish Community and on the other hand to make certain that the Administration appreciates and is being sensitive to the views of the Jewish community when it is making its policy decisions.”

Breger contended that “In the past two years there may not have been as many lines of communications as it ought to be” between the Jewish community and the Administration. “But now,” he claimed,” we are in a new phase. I have seen that the desire for communications is there.”

Breger said that he is “satisfied” with the access he has been having to senior Administration officials “so as to provide them with accurate information regarding the views of the Jewish community.” He said that he meets on a “regular basis” with Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, National Security Advisor Robert McFarlare, with Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Lawrence Eagleberger. He said that so far he has not met with the President.

Breger said that he also meets “on a regular basis” with leaders of major Jewish organizations, and leaders of the Republic Jewish coalition. Asked to name few of the Jewish leaders with whom he has been meeting, Breger replied: “I will be in trouble if I fail to mention all of them …”

He mentioned, however, the name of Julius Berman, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in New York, as a Jewish leader with whom he talks often. He said that he will be coming to New York about every two weeks to meet with Jewish leaders and heads of Jewish organizations.

Asked to articulate the message of American Jews to the Administration, Breger said: “The Jewish community in America is concerned about the welfare of Israel and recognizes that a strong America is necessary to maintain a strong Israel.”

WAS NAMED TO POST LAST MONTH

Breger, a law professor, was named special assistant for liaison with the Jewish community by Reagan on December 15. He succeeded Michael Gale who had held that post since June, 1982. Gale left the post to become special assistant to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Breger was, prior to his appointment, at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, on leave from the New York School of Law where he was an associate professor. He had previously been an associate professor of law at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School and the University of Texas Law School. He received Bachelor, Masters and Law degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and also a degree from Oxford University. Breger, who describes himself as an observant Jew, is a member of Kesher Israel Congregation, an Orthodox synagogue in Georgetown.