Special to the JTA Jewish State Legislators Form Group

The National Association of Jewish State Legislators has recently been organized, and executive director Albert J. Abrams of Albany says that this new organization “is not a bagel and lox society, but rather a vehicle for research and education in areas that are supportive of Israel and can improve the quality of life for Jews in America.”

Comprised of 130 Jewish state legislators from throughout the United States at present, the organization expects to eventually include another 75, according to Abrams. “These men and women are bound together by ethnic background and common traditions,” Abrams said, “and upon election frequently find themselves in an ‘alien culture’ of sorts in some states.”

The response among the Jewish legislators, he noted, “has been fantastic, so apparently there was a need to bring them together. There have even been expressions of interest from members of the Provincial Parliament of Canada, and in the future legislative staffers may also be eligible for membership.”

MAJOR AREAS OF RESEARCH

The research department of the organization is headed by Dr. Jerome Benjamin, Chairman of the Political Science Department at State University of New York-New Paltz. Major areas of research this year will be: a study of Tay-Sachs disease, in conjunction with the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Foundation; identification of Arab investments in the United States, as a prelude to possible registration requirements; and examination of legal restrictions on American investments in Israel Bonds by banks, insurance corporations and other fiduciaries.

When the Association wanted to mobilize public opinion in regard to the terrorist attack on March 11 that took 33 lives in Israel, their leadership was able to secure immediate introductions and adoptions of resolutions in a dozen states, Abrams said.

In addition, with the cooperation of the Israel government, they have developed missions of non-Jewish legislators to Israel. From this group, according to Abrams, have come the most pro-Zionist legislators in the country. As an example, he cites Assembly Sepaker James Kenelly of Connecticut, who calls himself the “Irish Zionist” and has been a leader in organizing friendship missions to Israel.

RIDING PIGGYBACK ON OTHER GROUPS

Asked when the association members have the opportunity to get together, Abrams explained that the organization “rides piggyback” on non-Jewish legislative groups. “Wherever legislators meet, we meet,” he said. For example, the National Association of Jewish State Legislators will meet this summer in Denver, when the National legislative Conference meets there, and they have arranged to have Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz speak to this larger conference, as well as to their own group.

The association was founded by Abrams, in conjunction with Sen. Matthew Feldman of New Jersey, Rep. Joseph Forbes of Michigan, Sen. Jeremiah Bloom of New York, Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, and others. A former chairman of the National Legislative Conference and Secretary of the New York State Senate for many years until his retirement, Abrams said that he opted for early retirement in order to create this kind of organization.