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March 16, 2001/Adar 21, 5761, Vol. 53, No.24
Jews, Latinos seek to build stronger common agenda, bond
SHARON SAMBER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - Think of the American Jewish and Latino communities as two long-time friends who have just decided to get more serious.
After years of dialogue - mostly at the local level - top organizations and leaders met here this week at the first national Jewish-Latino summit to discuss the development of a common agenda and ways to strengthen the alliance between the two groups.
But even those involved with the summit admit that the issue of bilingual education looms as a potential problem for closer ties between the two groups.
The Jewish community and the Latino community need each other to help push their common legislative priorities, leaders say. The two communities already have worked closely on a number of legislative issues, such as civil rights enforcement, immigration policies and hate crimes legislation.
A joint declaration of principles discussed at the summit is being circulated among Jewish and Latino groups, according to Dina Siegel Vann, Latin American Affairs director for B'nai B'rith International, which co-sponsored the summit.
The declaration calls for fair portrayals of Jews and Latinos in the media, strengthening of public education, support for Israel, increased aid to Latin America and economic empowerment for minority communities.
Groups attending the conference included the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the United Jewish Communities, the National Council of La Raza, the New America Alliance and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
A national survey of Latino-Jewish relations released at the summit showed a number of areas of commonality between the communities, such as support for stronger anti-discrimination laws.
The summit showed a commitment by national groups to develop the communities' relationship and a willingness to learn from the ongoing local dialogues, said Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, who spoke at the summit.
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