Jewish Leaders Hit the Hill

Three hundred Jewish community leaders are set to meet today with congressmen from both parties as well as an Obama staffer to discuss U.S. policy vis-a-vis Iran’s nuclear weapons program and to lobby for stricter sanctions against Iran. This confab, which is part of the National Jewish Leadership Advocacy Day on Iran, comes after nine rabbinical and synagogue organizations issued a joint statement calling on American Jews to “make Iran a matter of the highest urgency.” Economic penalties, they hope, will serve as a “vehicle” toward stopping the mullahs’ atomic ambitions. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) are slated to attend.

Jewish Leaders Converging on D.C. for Advocacy Day on Iran [JTA]