Excerpts from the AJC Weekly Update: February 13, 2008
Workplace Religious Freedom Act
Richard Foltin, AJC's legislative director and counsel, urged Congress to adopt the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA) of 2007 (H.R.1431). "The arbitrary refusal of employers to provide a reasonable accommodation of a religious practice is an invidious form of discrimination," Foltin said in his testimony before the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions. Urge your representative to support the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, WRFA (H.R. 1431) READ NEWS RELEASE at: www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=2818289&content_id =%7b2AB2AF0A-2225-441D-B610-25E087B54B65%7d¬oc=1 READ TESTIMONY at: www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=1323269&ct=5025515
TAKE ACTION at:
www.ajc.org/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.1122051/k.8A96/Action_Center/siteapps/advocacy/i ndex.aspx
NYU Society Explores Abu Dhabi Campus Plans
AJC's NYU Campus Society met with Mariet Westerman, vice chancellor of NYU's newly-founded Abu Dhabi campus, and Carmiel Arbit, chief research analyst in AJC's Office of Government and International Affairs. Arbit discussed the challenges in UAE-Israeli relations and the potential for NYU to serve as an "agent of change" in the region. Westerman briefed the group on plans for the campus, which is slated to open in 2010, and NYU's efforts to ensure an open educational environment.
VIDEO: AJC Urges Support for OSCE Anti-Semitism Programs
Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC's director of international Jewish affairs, warned the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) that confronting anti-Semitism in Europe becomes more difficult as U.S. support for a pioneering law enforcement training program and other critical initiatives is eroding. Baker, together with Felice Gaer, director of AJC's Blaustein Institute for Human Rights, urged continued American funding of OSCE programs. VIEW TESTIMONY at: www.ajc.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.3891841/ READ NEWS at: www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=849241&ct=5015933
AJC Leadership Delegation in Geneva
During a two-day visit to Geneva, an AJC leadership delegation met for an hour with Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey. The conversation focused on Iran's nuclear ambitions, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Darfur, the UN Human Rights Council, and planning for a second Durban conference, slated for 2009, among other topics. The group also met with the French and German ambassadors to the UN in Geneva, the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, as well as with Professor Alfred Donath, president of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities, an AJC partner organization. David Harris addressed leaders of the Geneva Jewish community and friends of UN Watch on Global Challenges Facing Jewish Diplomacy. The AJC visit was organized in cooperation with UN Watch, AJC's Geneva-based affiliate.
AJC Concludes Tunisia Visit
An AJC delegation completed two days of meetings in Tunis with senior government officials. Discussions focused on regional security and political issues, including efforts to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace. The group met with Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah and other key officials. AJC praised Tunisia's commitment to interfaith harmony, with a Jewish community dating back more than two millennia, and noted its history of engagement with Israeli and Palestinian officials. The group also met with U.S. Ambassador Robert Godec, and with Senator J. Robert Bismuth, leader of the Tunisian Jewish community. AJC regularly visits Tunis and maintains an international partnership with the representative body of Tunisian Jewry.
AJC Partners with Infolive.tv
Visit www.ajc.org to get video news updates from Jerusalem. AJC has partnered with Infolive.tv, the first Israeli internet television channel broadcasting in four languages. The television box on our homepage is updated twice daily.
Ari M. Gordon Assistant Director Department of Interreligious Affairs American Jewish Committee 165 E56th St. New York, NY 10022 (212) 891-6768 (212) 751-4000 x266 www.ajc.org www.engagingamerica.org