The Forward’s Nathan Guttman reports on the new wrinkles in the Obama team’s approach to the Jews:
The Obama administration has chosen a path somewhat different from those of previous administrations in taking on the outreach task. For one, it does not limit itself to working through the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations — the Jewish establishment’s official umbrella organization for Zionist groups — in assembling its invitation lists. Ideologically diverse groups from outside that orbit, such as the New Israel Fund and The Israel Project, have become regular participants in these administration meetings.
The White House has also broken with tradition, and so far has refrained from appointing one individual as the administration’s designated liaison to the community. The job is, however, still done, as in earlier administrations, by the Office of Public Liaison, now headed by Tina Tchen, who coordinated and moderated the recent conference calls with Jewish leaders.
