FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Howie Beigelman
212-613-8311
February 25, 2008

ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY MEETS SENATOR MIKE JOHANNS
Orthodox Union facilitates key meeting in Nebraska

U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) met Friday in Omaha with representatives of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (the “Orthodox Union”), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization.

Senator Johanns and the community leadership discussed key issues and concerns, including homeland security needs of vulnerable non-profits, religious liberty on the job and at home, equitable participation of nonpublic schools in certain programs such as “Green Schools” Modernization, and the need to keep Jerusalem unified under Israeli control.

In addition, the Senator learned about various OU programs and services, both nationally and specifically those that serve Nebraska’s Jewish community. NCSY, the OU’s youth arm has an award winning chapter in Omaha and OUKosher, the world’s largest certifier of kosher products, supervises over twenty companies in nearly fifty locations throughout Nebraska. In addition, the OU serves all Jewish communities across North America through national programs such as the National Jewish Council for the Disabled, the OU Job Board and its Institute for Public Affairs, which coordinated the meeting.

Orthodox Union Deputy Director of Public Policy, Howie Beigelman stated:

“We appreciate that just a few weeks in office, Senator Johanns took the time to sit with us and hear about the needs and concerns of the Orthodox community, and more broadly, the faith community in Nebraska. We look forward to a continued partnership and friendship between Senator Johanns, the OU and the Jewish community across Nebraska.”

This meeting is part of a nationwide effort by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America’s Institute for Public Affairs to facilitate discussion between our synagogue leadership and their elected officials.

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