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events but no voting rights.
Meretz USA first applied for membership nearly
five years ago, according to Bromberg, and Dec. 17
was its chance to appeal earlier rejections. Meretz
USA is a public advocacy and educational organiza-
tion promoting civil rights in Israel and a two-state
solution to the conflict with the Palestinians.
The Presidents' Conference membership commit-
the representative body of American Jewry, which
tee is composed of a dozen Jewish leaders represent-
takes policy positions on major issues of Jewish con-
ing a broad slice of the conference — whose 52
cern and advocates for those issues in Washington
members span the gamut of Jewish political and reli-
and abroad. Membership is determined by a variety
gious affiliation — but some left-wing groups say
of factors, including organizational structure, pur-
the vote was partisan.
pose and size.
Conference members appeared especially shocked
Stephen Wolnek, chair of the conference's mem-
that the RRA's application had been rejected. "In my
bership committee, said Meretz's application was
opinion, there was no reason for them not to be
rejected by a vote of 15 in favor and 16 against, with accepted," Wolnek said. "All I can really say is the
three abstentions. The RRA received 31 votes in
committee recommended their acceptance, but they
didn't get enough votes. I know that sounds
trite, but that's really what it's all about."
The RRA's executive director, Rabbi .
Richard Hirsh of Philadelphia, said he had
not yet received an official response to the
RRA's application, which was first presented
in 1999. "I wouldn't have a clue what would
— Charney Bromberg, Meretz USA executive director be the reasoning" for being rejected, he said.
For many conference members, the vote
highlighted membership standards that they
favor, with two against and one abstention, Wolnek
consider unfair. Several member groups are compa-
said. Thirty-four favorable votes are necessary for
rable in size to Meretz but have even less influence,
admission.
conference members said.
The Labor Zionist Alliance initially challenged the
"Either the Conference will be an organization of
vote, saying it did not appear that the meeting had
major Jewish organizations with a definition on
the necessary quorum of 34 organizations. However,
which we will all agree, or not," said Rabbi Eric
the group accepted the results of a conference
Yoffie, president of the Union of American Hebrew
inquiry that showed more than 34 organizations on
Congregations. "Meretz, in comparison to many
hand Dec. 17, though not all cast votes.
other members of the conference, absolutely has a
right to be represented there," he said.
However, Morton Klein, president of the Zionist
Recommendation Nixed
Organization of America, said that Meretz is so tiny,
The vote marked the first time in three years that
with only a couple of employees, "that it would really
the conference voted on new members. The vote
make a mockery of the claim that this is a conference
was taken after the membership committee formally
of major organizations." Meanwhile, Wolnek said the
recommended endorsing the RRA's bid for adjunct
close vote on the RRA made him "uncomfortable,"
membership, which gives a group access to certain
and he encouraged the group to reapply. ❑

Presidents' Conference rejects two left-wing groups; some claim bias.

RACHEL POMERANCE
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

New York

T

he umbrella group of American Jewry is
under fire from several member organiza-
tions over its rejection of two prospective
members last week.
On Dec. 17, Meretz USA and the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association were
denied membership in the Conference of Presidents
of Major American Jewish Organizations. Several
members are now blasting the vote.
Some claim the conference's membership standards
are unfair; others say the left-leaning groups were
rejected because the supposedly neutral conference
actually leans to the right.
"I think the conference leadership really doesn't
want us on board," said Charney Bromberg, execu-
tive director of Meretz USA, which is affiliated with
the left-wing Meretz Party in Israel.
Conference leaders say ideology played no role in
either the negative recommendation from the con-
ference's membership committee or the eventual
vote by the full conference. "None of the leadership
has a vote in the committee or the conference," one
conference leader said. "The political issues never
once came up in the discussions of the committee,"
and the final vote was not along party lines.
The committee recommended rejecting Meretz
USA because its budget and membership were
deemed too small for the Conference of Presidents.
Yet several groups said the vote shows the need for
updated, more uniform membership standards.
A seat on the conference means membership in

Related editorial: page 23

"I think the leadership really
doesn't want us on board."

Hand To Iran

Orthodox group promises funds to Iranian Jews seeking refuge.

MICA ROSENBERG
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

New York

A

fervently Orthodox group
is offering money to help
Jews fleeing Iran enter the
United States.
Agudath Israel of America
announced an agreement with the
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society to pay
the $2,100 fee that Iranian Jews seek-
ing refugee status in the United States

12/27
2002

14

must pay to cover their living expenses
while their cases are processed in
Vienna. Austria is the only European
country that offers haven to Iranian
religious minorities.
More than 170 Iranian Jews — and
many more Iranian Christians — are
being held in Vienna while their
applications for refugee status in the
United States are pending. More may
come forward if they learn that finan-
cial assistance is available, said Eric
Newman, associate director of interna-

tional operations at HIAS.
The Austrian government insists
that all refugees must have sponsor-
ship from friends or family members
abroad, and refuses to offer them gov-
ernment assistance. Because of these
requirements, HIAS — the only inter-
national agency authorized by the
U.S. government to process refugees
in Vienna — requires a $2,100
deposit from each applicant.
Agudath Israel, an advocacy and
social service organization for "Torah-

loyal" Jews, is prepared to help up to
1,000 refugees pay the fee, said Rabbi
Shmuel Bloom, the group's executive
vice president. However, he said,
Agudath expects that most of the
Iranian Jews seeking refugee status
have enough assets and family support
to pay the amount themselves.
HIAS has requested 306 visas for
Jews still in Iran. Another 300 or so
are still in the processing stages,
Newman said. HIAS reports that 177
Jews are currently in Vienna waiting
to make their way to the United
States.
But publicizing aid to Iranian Jewish
refugees is not always well-advised: It's
illegal and dangerous for religious

IRAN on page 18