(World

Bush And The Jews

Meeting

with Jewish

educators,

president

stresses

vouchers,

choice.

President Bush welcomes Rabbi Tsaidi in the Roosevelt Room at

President Bush participates in the Menorah lighting at- the White

the White House.

House with Rabbi Joshua Skoff of Park Synaogue in Cleveland.

federal funds for religious pro-
grams-violate separation of
church and state. Day school
resident`Bush brought
leaders could be a more recep-
his controversial sup-
port for school vouchers tive crowd, however, because .
and charitable choice to a recep- they stress the value of religious
education and because vouchers
tive Jewish audience, and
would help their schools' bottom
expressed support for opportu-
nities to help Jewish day schools. lines.
While promising nothing, the
Bush met with 13 White
House-selected Jewish educators president listened intently, said
Rabbi Dr. Yigal Tsaidi, education-
and day school leaders, includ-
al director of Yeshivat Akiva in
ing a Southfield educational
Southfield.
director, focusing the discussion
"We were able to present to
on his support for school vouch-
him our concerns regarding the
ers and other education initia-
double burden that
tives. Later in the day,
Jewish parents face:'
he hosted the White
Rabbi Tsaidi said." We
House's annual
made sure the presi-
Chanukah party,
dent understood that
attended by several
for a Jewish child,
hundred Jewish lead-
particularly in
ers. The Dec. 6 event
Orthodox families, to
took place before the
receive
a Jewish edu-
.holiday to accommo-
cation
is not a
date the president's
bonus;
it's a way of
schedule.
Rabbi Tsai di
life.
It
is
not an
Bush's focus on
option
for
us.
We
certainly
con-
school vouchers and faith-based
veyed
to
him
our
hope
is
that
he
initiatives — topics that long
will
do
something
in
this
regard
have been counted as adminis-
for the Jewish community, to
trative priorities but have
received scant attention in recent reduce the cost of education at
years — suggests he may be try- Jewish day schools."
Participants told Bush they've
ing to bring those issues back to
struggled to receive aid and
the forefront and gain support
resources they're entitled to from
from the Jewish community.
public schools, and were looking
Many Jewish organizations
for ways to streamline the
have opposed school vouchers
processes. Bush seemed to enjoy
and charitable choice, believing

the exchange, participants said.
One leader even remarked that
Bush could be a good teacher
after he left the White House.
Rabbi Tsaidi was awed by the
opportunity "to sit with the
leader of the free world and talk
directly to him about Jewish
education and Jewish values."
"Our first 30 minutes with
the president was concentrated
on a review of his agenda and
policies," Rabbi Tsaidi said.
"Once we began the process of
dialogue and discussion, I feel
that the president was open
and sincere. The interaction
could not have been scripted
for he did not know in advance
what we would ask him, nor
what we would want to discuss
with him."
Talk of Israel hit home for
the rabbi: "We spoke about his
intolerance for terrorist activi-
ties and his support of Israel.
As an Israeli American, that
was, to say the least, an
extraordinary experience for
me. I will never forget it."
At the Chanukah candle
lighting afterward, Bush said:
"As educators who dedicate
themselves to teaching the faith
and to teaching, they are fulfill-
ing the true lesson of
Chanukah every day of the
year."
He pointed out that
"Chanukah" and the Hebrew

Washington/JTA

p

word for education both come
from the same root that means
to dedicate.
"Just as the Maccabees'
reclaimed their holy temple,"
Bush said, "these teachers help
ensure that Jewish traditions
are passed from generation to
generation."
He added: As we prepare to
light the candles, we are grate-
ful for our freedoms as
Americans, especially the free-
dom to worship. We are grateful
that freedom is spreading to
still new regions of the world,
and we pray that those who
still live in the darkness of
tyranny will some day see the
light of freedom."
A memorable moment
occurred when President Bush
introduced Rabbi Tsaidi to
First Lady Laura Bush as some-
one who he recalled meeting
during a campaign stop in Troy
in 2004.
The Chanukah party was
fully kosher for the first time,
at the first lady's insistence.
Representatives from the
Bergen County, N.J., rabbinical
council and the Washington
office of Chabad certified the
White House kitchen as kosher.
Previous kosher dinners did
not use the kitchen. ❑

JN Editor Robert A. Sklar
contributed to this report.

December 22 • 2005

35

