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A local rabbi breakfasts at the White House
and is singled out as one of the formative
Jewish leaders in the country.

the coin in that room," Weil says.
Many clergy members felt the way to
improve inner-city education is
ast week, Rabbi Steven Weil
through school choice, "capitalize edu-
cation — whether it be via vouchers,
got to shmooze with the
tax credits, the specifics are a different
president. No, not the syna-
•
issue."
gogue president — Mr. Bill
Clinton himself.
The president also "alluded to some
. Weil, the rabbi of Young Israel-Oak
of the changes that are taking place in
Park, was one of 19 Jewish leaders and
Detroit proper, trying to reinvigorate
about 100 clergy from various religions
the inner city, morally, spiritually, edu-
cationally," Weil says.
across the nation invited to breakfast at
the White House on Thursday, Nov.
"President Clinton is quite charis-
20.
matic in a crowd — fielding questions
A White House spokeswoman said
off-the-cuff; creating a sense that he
the president always strives for a diverse hears the question. He has very person-,
audience. Anyone invited to the White
able qualities. His grasp of the issues
House comes on the recommendation
and his ability to respond to the issues
of community leaders, and it
was quite impressive,"
is usually someone who is
Weil says. Vice President
especially representative of
E Al Gore, too, is "obvious-
the community and highly-
. ly a person who intellec-
regarded in his/her field.
tually is quite signifi-
Although he doesn't
cant.
know how he was specifical-
Weil shook hands
ly
selected,
Weil.
suggested
with
both Clinton and
•
that the White House likely
Gore and posed for a
solicited recommendations
photo with the vice presi-
from the Rabbinical Council
dent. Other Jewish lead-
of America, a body of about
ers in attendance includ-
850 Orthodox rabbis, and
ed Rabbi Kenneth
the Orthodox Union, the
Brander, from Boca
major Orthodox lay organi- Steven Weil
Raton, Fla.; Rabbi
zation in the U.S. and
Stephen Fuchs,
Canada. He received the invitation
Nashville; Dr. Mandell Ganchrow,
about three weeks ago.
president of the Orthodox Union;
President Clinton discussed race
Rabbi Menachem Genack, 0-U direc-
relations and education reform, both in
tor of kashrut; Rabbi Rafael Grossman,
formal comments and an informal
Memphis; Rabbi Eliezer Havivi,
question-and-answer session, Weil says.
Greensboro, N.C.; Rabbi Deborah
"The president ... doesn't want to
Hirsch; Boston; Rabbi Konovitch,
wait until there's a crisis of racism in
Florida; Rabbi Charles Kroloff, New
this country before addressing the
Jersey; Rabbi Vernon Kurtz, Illinois;
issues. He felt that the point is to be
Rabbi Bernard Lander, president of
proactive, not reactive," Weil says.
Touro College, New York; Rabbi
Clinton has a running task force on
Mordechai Liebling, executive director,
racism.
Jewish Reconstruction Federation;
Rabbi Michael Menitoff,
The president also discussed the role
clergy can take in education, "impart-
Massachusetts; Rabbi Jacob
ing values and other things."
Rubenstein, president, Rabbinical
Council of America; Rabbi Morey
"In terms of vouchers and tax cred-
its, there was passion on both sides of
Schwartz, Kansas City. ❑

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN
Staff Writer

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