Orthodox Jewry, which recently announced it would press its viewpoints and issues in Washington, has found a sympathetic ear in the Bush administration.
Rabbi Moshe Sherer, president of the Agudath Israel of America, reported that Vice President Dan Quayle displayed great sensitivity to concerns of Orthodox Jews in the United States at their recent meeting in the White House.
According to Sherer, this was demonstrated on the issue of abortion, the main focus of their conversation.
Although Agudath Israel and the Bush administration are squarely in the “pro-life” camp, he said the vice president agreed with the Orthodox position that the law should permit an abortion where an individual’s religious beliefs would require one, for example where necessary to save a mother’s life.
Militant anti-abortionists demand a “no exceptions” policy, Sherer pointed out.
He said Quayle opposed that policy and assured him that the administration would fight to ensure the availability of abortion to save a mother’s life.
Other issues discussed at their meeting included Israel’s security, the plight of Jews in lands of oppression and the importance of preserving the independence and vitality of Jewish education in the United States.
“Dan Quayle obviously has a strong sense of commitment to fundamental principles like religious freedom, economic opportunity, strong families and stable communities,” Sherer said.
“These are the values that made this country great and have enabled Orthodox Jewry to grow and flourish on these shores,” he said.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
