This amazing article from Chicago Jewish News analyzes the rise of Obama with the backing of Chicago’s Jewish community, and resistance from jewish communities elsewhere. They even stole our copyright Logo, the Mogen-Obama, and placed it on the Kotel!

OBAMA AND THE JEWS: On the eve of his historic nomination, a look at why some Jews love him and some don’t trust him; and at the key role Chicago Jews played in getting him to where he is.

By By Pauline Dubkin Yearwood (08/22/2008)
Abner Mikva, the former Chicago congressman, federal judge and White House counsel to President Bill Clinton, puts a 21st-century twist on the notion that Clinton was “the nation’s first black president.”

“I think when this is all over, people are going to say that Barack Obama is the first Jewish president,” he said.

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Dear Friends,

In late July, Senator Obama traveled to Israel to meet with Israel’s leaders, to express his unequivocal commitment to Israel’s security and to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. In his meetings with Israeli officials, Senator Obama reaffirmed his longstanding belief that Israel’s security is “sacrosanct,” and reiterated his commitment to the steadfast relationship between the United States and Israel. Senator Obama traveled to Sderot to express his support and deep concern for the innocent victims of terror perpetrated by Hamas. He met with Palestinian leaders in Ramallah and received an update on the progress of their ongoing talks, held a range of discussions with Israeli officials, and he offered support for their shared vision of achieving a secure peace.

As Senator Obama’s Middle East Policy Advisors, we were honored to accompany him on his trip, and we are eager to share with you a recap of his historic visit.

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From ABC News’ Sunlen Miller:

On his last day of vacation, Senator Barack Obama paid tribute to his mother, who passed away in 1995 from ovarian cancer.

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Nancy Korman is a retired business owner whose firm, 760 Associates, wrote and designed marketing materials for both corporate and non-profit clients. She taught a Radcliffe seminar on communications as well as a course entitled “Nuts and Bolts of Political Campaigns” at the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics.

Nancy has held major positions in the political campaigns of Ted Kennedy and Barney Frank. As the founder of Boston’s first women’s lunch group in 1974, she has been an outspoken advocate for women’s issues. Over the years, Nancy has served on the Board of the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Massachusetts Association of Jewish Federations.

In this Jews for Obama exclusive, Nancy tells the fascinating story of how she became involved in politics and how she became a supporter of Senator Barack Obama. Gather around to hear her story in our virtual house party with Nancy Korman…

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By Jews for Obama volunteer Benita Gayle-Almeleh

The Russia-Georgia conflict, and its recent escalation to military hostilities with the advance of Russian troops into South Ossetia on August 8, has raised international concern for its geopolitical, strategic, economic and human rights implications. Following the White House announcement of humanitarian assistance, Senator Barack Obama released a statement on August 13 which reads in part:

“I welcome President Bush’s decision to send aid to the people of Georgia, and Americans stand united in support of the men and women who will carry out this humanitarian mission. As soon as possible, we must follow this aid with broader reconstruction assistance, including emergency economic loans, to help the people of Georgia rebuild their lives and their economy.

“The situation is still unstable and Russia must back up its commitment to stop its violence and violation of Georgia’s sovereignty with actions - not just words. The United States must now join our European partners in direct, high-level diplomacy with both Georgia and Russia to seek immediate implementation of a cease-fire, and to achieve a lasting resolution to this crisis. There must be independent monitors to verify the implementation of this cease-fire, and Russia must not use this moment to consolidate a position that violates Georgia’s territorial integrity, or to violate the human rights of the people of Georgia.”

But there’s a Jewish element to this crisis as well, and one that should concern us as a community. Georgian Jews represent one of the oldest communities in Georgia, with some evidence indicating their presence since the Babylonian captivity in the 6th century BCE. The Jewish community has declined from a high of approximately 100,000 in the 1970’s to today’s population of approximately 10,000 Jews, most of whom reside in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. The remaining Jews are scattered among Kutaisi, Batumi, Oni, Akhaltikhe, Akhalkalaki, Surami, Kareli and Gori. Most have emigrated to Israel or the United States.

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You might think that Jewish Republicans are firmly behind John McCain, but that’s hardly the whole story. Many Jewish Republicans and independents who voted for Bush in 2004, including some Jews for Obama members, are deeply concerned about the mismanagement of U.S. foreign and domestic policy under the Bush administration and are enthusiastic supporters of Obama’s proposals for getting the country back on track. Jews for Obama has collected several important examples for you to share with Republican and independent friends and family members who would appreciate hearing from like-minded Americans why they should consider supporting Barack Obama.

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When the New Yorker magazine depicted Sen. Barack Hussein Obama and his wife, Michelle, on its July cover as radical Muslims, its editors said they were poking fun at people who buy into those rumors.

Liz Braunstein and Rachal Zaentz, however, see those rumors as stumbling blocks to the Obama campaign within the Jewish community. Braunstein, who grew up in Oradell, and Zaentz, of Fair Lawn, are members of Jews For Obama, a national grassroots organization of volunteers that is trying to educate Jews about the Illinois senator, what he stands for, and what his views mean for American Jews.

Read more in the New Jersey Jewish Standard…

(Reprinted from the Washington Jewish Week.)

Look to your Jewish values. So advised Rabbi Jack Moline last week as he stumped for presidential candidate Barack Obama at a gathering of roughly three dozen Northern Virginia Jews.

The forum was a “house meeting” organized by the Obama campaign that may have been the first such Jewish-focused event in the Washington area this election season. It was hosted by Jane and Marc Shichman at their Fairfax home.

Moline, the rabbi of Agudas Achim in Alexandria, was quick to point out that he was addressing the attendees as a “private citizen, not as a rabbi of a particular congregation.”

Yet, he said, it is the Jewish values with which he was raised that led him to support Obama for president.

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Due to various legal and technical concerns surrounding campaign laws and activities, Jews4Obama.com, a volunteer-run grassroots organization, and the Jewish Alliance for Change (JAFC), a 501(c)(4) corporation originally founded as Kahal America, have agreed to separate.

Gidon D. Remba, who continues to serve as President of the Jewish Alliance for Change, has stepped down from his voluntary post as Chief-Editor of the Jews4Obama Newsletter.  He will focus on developing new media and other innovative advocacy campaigns in support of JAFC’s Jewish agenda for change and Senator Obama’s candidacy for President, and on fundraising for these projects.

Jordan Pollack, who manages much of the JewsForObama technology, has resigned as Treasurer of the 501c corporation, to more vigorously pursue the grassroots development of Jews4Obama.com community through November. The Jews4Obama Newsletter is now being edited by a group of volunteers.

“I’m glad I was able to help Doni Remba achieve initial mindshare and seed-funding,” said Dr. Pollack, who is a Computer Science Professor in Boston during the day, “However, I found that working for a formal organization took away all the fun I was having doing a Tikkun Olam project to block the Schvitz Boat attacks!”

“We appreciate everything Dr. Pollack has done for us and for our cause and trust that we will continue to work together as allies and friends,” said Mr. Remba, a veteran American Jewish pro-Israel activist who formerly served as executive director of Ameinu, the U.S. affiliate of the World Labor Zionist Movement.

Contact:

Editors@jews4obama.com
http://www.Jews4Obama.com

PS: Happy Birthday Barack Obama!