Leading Republicans on the House Foreign Relations Committee, and House Education & Labor Committee held a teleconference with two dozen Orthodox Jewish leaders from a half dozen states, including NY, NJ, PA, FL, and CA.

The Conference that was initiated by freshman Congressman Dr. Bill Cassidy, (R – Louisiana) was held this past week with several influential Orthodox Jewish community leaders. The community leaders were briefed on current issues and legislation now pending in the House. Rep. Cassidy, well aware of the frustrations and mounting concerns that Jewish voters have with current US foreign policy, was joined by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R, FL), Ranking Member on the House Foreign Relations Committee, and a staunch supporter of Israel. Ros-Lehtinen urged the participants to raise their voices and make sure the views of the Orthodox community are known. “Your activism and efforts are more vital than ever\” she proclaimed to the callers.

Also joining the call to address vital education issues was Rep. John Kline (R, MN) Ranking Member on the House Education & Labor Committee who discussed federal funding and tax credits issues for private education, a major concern for the Orthodox Jewish community.The three Republican House members also took questions from the participants, and used the conference to point-out once again how Congressional Republicans can be more of a help on many of the issues facing the Orthodox community.

The Jewish leaders expressed appreciation that these Republicans, hailing from districts with smaller pockets of Jewish voters, were making an active effort to reach out to the Orthodox Jewish community. The Congressional leaders urged further discussion and invited the Jewish leaders to Washington to further the important duologue.

(Yossi Gestetner – YWN)