(Photo in extended article) Top leaders of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America met Thursday morning with President George W. Bush at The White House in advance of Rosh Hashana which commences next week.

The 15 lay and rabbinic leaders of the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization wished the President a healthy and sweet new year and presented the President with a framed reproduction of Pres. George Washington’s letter to the Newport Jewish community which extols religious freedom in the United States.

(Click on image to ENLARGE) The Orthodox leaders and the President conversed about his perspective on the presidency, his Administration’s work to promote religious freedom and Israel related matters.

The Orthodox leaders then met with senior foreign policy advisers to presidential candidates John McCain (Dr. Kori Schacke) and Barack Obama (Mr. Dan Shapiro). Topics discussed with those senior campaign officials included the respective candidates’ views regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the threat of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, U.S. foreign aid policy, and other key issues.

The Orthodox leaders later met with key congressional leaders – Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte.) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Topics of discussion included religious liberty issues, education policy, U.S. policy toward Israel and the threat of a nuclear Iran.

(YWN Desk – NYC)