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JAMES D. BESSER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Agudath Israel of America
ecently, a high-powered
group of politicians came opened a Washington office in
1988 and quickly developed an
to Capitol Hill to honor the
late Lubavitcher Rebbe effective lobbying infrastructure.
Although the group represents a
and his life's work.
Leaders of the Chabad move- minority of the Orthodox minor-
ment make no secret of their ity, its tightly focused grass-roots
pride in how Rabbi Menachem network and its capable Wash-
Mendel Schneerson's vast orga- ington representative, Abba Co-
nization has achieved a signifi- hen, have been able to affect the
cant political presence; when course of government policy in
Chabad calls, congressional and selected areas, especially educa-
administration officials pay at- tion.
The Union of Orthodox Con-
tention.
The gathering also signaled the gregations of America (OU),
beginning of a new effort by the which hopes to open a Washing-
Lubavitchers to influence nation- ton office soon, has dramatically
al affairs through a just-formed expanded the range of its Capi-
Washington-based Living Lega- tol Hill advocacy in recent years.
cy Institute, although the group's No longer is kashrut the begin-
leaders insist they are not setting ning and end of OU political ac-
tivism.
up a lobbying operation.
These groups are backed up
But the group's expanding po-
litical presence will count for lit- by Jewish conservatives who
tle — for its own constituents or have long called for a shift away
for the Jewish community in from the liberalism that has de-
general — if it is used only for fined Jewish politics in America,
narrow institutional interests. and they have developed exten-
That's a lesson other groups rep- sive Capitol Hill networks, espe-
resenting observant Jews are be- cially on the Republican side of
ginning to use to great effect in the aisle, where Jewish strength
traditionally has been weak.
the capital.
At the same time, they have
The key to expanding Ortho-
dox clout lies in coalition-build- started building coalitions with
ing, grass-roots activism and in a wide range of groups when
a willingness to give as well as their interests coincide -- with
take in the political process, ac- the liberal Jewish groups on re-
cording to Marshall Breger, a ligious freedom issues, with the
Christian Coalition
leading Jewish con-
on issues such as
servative and a pro-
funding of parochial
fessor of law at
schools.
Catholic University.
Reform and Con-
"First, they have
servative groups
to build grass-roots
have built a strong
support and activity
political presence
around the issues
by focusing on a
they are advocating
range of issues,
in Washington," he
many of which do
said. "And they have
not impact the Jew-
to develop coalitions
ish community, at
with groups that are
least not directly.
not necessarily on
Sometimes, that
the same wave-
has triggered
length on other is-
charges from the
sues."
Rabbi Sc hneerson:
right that the liber-
That means a
High-prof ile tribute.
al Jewish groups
give-and-take that
were concerned
is often more diffi-
cult for groups driven by strong about every endangered minor-
ity — except for the Jews.
religious belief.
But the breadth of that con-
"You can't have coalitions
without giving; you get only cern also gave rise to coalitions
when you give," Mr. Breger said. that multiplied Jewish political
"So from a pragmatic point of clout, and it imparted to Jewish
view, it's important to fight oth- activism a certain moral author-
ity: Jews were actively involved
er battles as well as your own."
While representing less than in fighting poverty and discrim-
10 percent of American Jewry, ination, promoting public edu-
other Orthodox groups seem to cation and working for better
be following those guidelines, a health care programs because
fact that has given them a sur- Jewish values demanded that
prisingly high profile in Congress concern, not because of narrow
self-interest. 0
and the executive branch.
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