New Power Awakens Old Group

The National Association of Jewish Legislators came to Washington this week for a meeting intended to breathe new life into the moribund group.And not a moment too soon: with the political balance shifting from the federal to the state level, a strong Jewish presence in state capitals around the country will be more important than ever, said some of the 25 delegates.“There is a seismic shift taking place, “ said Sen. Seymour Lachman, a Democratic member of the New York State Senate from Brooklyn.

Holocaust Assets Conference Veers From Focus On Money

This week’s Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets was originally planned to zero in on the rapidly expanding list of stolen Jewish property and the governments that have balked at returning it.
But growing unease among Jewish leaders over the relentless focus on property and not “moral restitution” forced planners to reshape the agenda for the four-day meeting, sponsored by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the State Department.