Shotar The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Shevat 5744, January 1984 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) Jews in the U. S. Congress: A Growing Phenomenon in the 80's By Arlene S. Lehner Congressman Elliott Levitas (Demo- When elections are held at Interna- crat from Georgia) states, "Part of our tional Convention each year, chapters and whole Jewish tradition relates to social regions throughout the Orders await the consciousness, and it is also part of the news of their outcome. Interest is dis- heritage (the whole concept of played at learning who will join the ranks Tzedakah-meaning much more than of International leadership positions and charity but social justice and social in- what roles these individuals will play in volvement) that has always throughout the perpetuation of BBYO and toward the the centuries led the larger number of betterment of their communities. Although Jewish people into communal interest. In the results are sometimes surprising, a country where that is permitted, then it one factor remains constant: the winners goes into the political arena as well." are always Jewish. Though being a Jewish leader in BBYO is not an unusual circumstance; being a Jewish member of the U.S. Congress is certainly an increasing phenomenon. The current Congress, the 98th, has the largest number of Jews occupying seats in its history; eight in the Senate and thirty- one in the House. It is interesting to note Dan Glickman that the split in the Senate (four Republi- cans and four Democrats) "reflects a Addressing the same issue, Congress- change in the political complexion of the man Dan Glickman (Democrat from Kan- American Jewish community," according sas) states, "We have evolved to the point A First-Hand to David Brody, Chief ADL (Anti-Defama- where constituents (average Americans) tion League) Representative. Moreover, are willing to elect people to office irre- spective of their religion. If Dan Glickman Lesson On the Jews comprise only 2.7% of the U. S. pop- ulation, yet they account for 7% of the could be elected in Wichita, Kansas, House and 8% of the Senate. Surprisingly where there are 300 Jewish families and Political Scene as well, a majority of the leaders come 500,000 people, and the issue of religion from areas where there is no substantial never comes up that's an indication that we have advanced further than any By Brenda Fishman Jewish population. Elliott Levitas Why then are there so many Jewish other parliamentary Democracies in the My fellow BBYOers, world or probably any other country in I would like to share with you a won- leaders winning the elections and what the world." derful experience that I had this past fall. motivates them to seek out the political arena? While a Jew entering politics is a grow- During the month of October I spent four ing occurrence throughout the country, days on a mission to Washington, D.C., it certainly is not a new one. As far back with 40 women from the Jewish Communi- as Civil War times a Jew occupied a Presi- ty Federations of the San Francisco Bay dential Cabinet-level post. Judah P. Ben- Area (one of whom happened to be Renee jamin served the Confederacy not only as Goldberg, past International N'siah). Attorney General and Secretary of War The purpose of the mission was to but later as Secretary of State as well. better acquaint the women with the politi- What makes Jews in politics newsworthy cal system of the United States and teach today is that the number is on the rise. them how to be instrumental in having an Yet, there doesn't seem to be a central effect upon government. It was also a reason for this occurrence. time to become aware of some of the ma- Several weeks ago this writer inter- jor Jewish organizations based in Wash- viewed a number of members from the ington and have them brief us on their 98th Congress to assess their views on the agendas. During this intense mission, we subject. While their ideas were varied, were met by representatives of organiza- the concepts of Jewish heritage, sense of tions such as: The American Jewish Com- community, righting social injustices, and Carl Levin mittee, the National Conference on the need for recognition were shared by Soviet Jewry, The American Israel Public several. Community involvement is a strong Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Jewish In- Howard Metzenbaum factor in motivating Jews into politics ac- stitute of National Security Affairs (JINSA), cording to Senator Carl Levin (Democrat the Office of Special Investigations (look- Senator Howard Metzenbaum (second- from Michigan). He believes that Jews have ing into Nazi War criminals residing in the term Democrat from Ohio) states, "It is a a strong sense of community, and that by US) and many more. Included in these testimony to the people who have sent us nature the Jews are people who get in- briefings was a trip to the Defense Depart- to office, and to the fact that they have volved in community affairs. Reaching out ment at the Pentagon and one to the seen fit to choose on the basis of whom beyond one's family and individuality, ac- State Department (where we spent time they felt could best represent them, re- cording to Levin, propels Jews into poli- with Michael Gale-Special Deputy as- gardless of their religion; because if you tics. However, tradition has also played an sistant to the President on Jewish Affairs). look at where the numbers come from, important role. Politics, he believes, is a One of our US Senators, Pete Wilson, particularly in the Senate, you will find practical way to deal with discrimination and many of our local Congresspeople, in- that they do not come from the states that Jews have faced for centuries; a way to cluding Barbara Boxer, Sala Burton and have a large concentration of Jews." stop economic and social injustices. Tom Lantos (all Jewish) spoke to us. They David Brody, claims that traditionally Interestingly, several members of the addressed the most important Jewish is- Jews were expected to be in "the back- 98th Congress attribute their entrance into sues facing us including the latest aid to rooms" running the campaigns of politi- politics in part from their early experi- Israel package and Soviet Jewry. They also cians and helping to finance them, but ences in BBYO. stressed to us the importance of getting that no longer holds true. The trend, says Bobbi Fiedler Congressman Norman Sisisky (Demo- involved in issues not directly affecting Brody, is toward a change in the climate crat from Virginia and an AZA alumnus) the Jewish community. They warned us of American politics. "Being Jewish is no Congresswoman Bobbi Fiedler (Re- believes the organization gave him a good against being a "one-issue group." They longer a handicap to being elected to a publican from California) believes that the foundation for his career in politics. He said to gain notice in the political arena political office, and Jews are now major Jewish people have always been activist states, "Just being active as a teenager in a and to gain respect, a group must be in- participants in American political life," oriented and entering politics is a natural fraternity such as AZA, and running for volved in more than one issue. They says Brody. consequence of that orientation. Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 3