Pittsburgh leaders join federation delegation to D.C.

By Release June 3, 2010, 1:32 pm 0 Edit

Two leaders from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh joined a delegation of national federation leaders who met with Obama administration officials and senior congressional leaders in Washington last week
The discussions, which were described as “frank,” centered on the U.S.-Israel relationship, the peace process and Iran.
Pittsburgh Federation Chair Bill Rudolph and President and CEO Jeff Finkelstein were among 37 Jewish leaders who participated in the private, off-the record meetings.
The delegation met at the White House with George Mitchell, special envoy for the Middle East; Ambassador Dennis Ross, special assistant to the president; Daniel Shapiro, senior director for Middle East and North Africa, Office of the National Security Council; Susan Sher, assistant to the president and chief of staff to the first lady; and Danielle Borrin, associate director, Office of Public Engagement.
At the Capitol Building, federation leaders met with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.); House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.); Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations Howard Berman (D-Cal.); House Republican Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-Ind.); Democratic Chief Deputy Whip Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.); and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.).
“After two-days of meetings it was reassuring to us that officials in the Obama administration, the State Department and Congress all have an enduring commitment toward Israel’s security and that steps are being taken to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program,” Finkelstein said in a prepared statement.
He added, “As the last group from the Jewish community to meet with Obama administration officials before Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington we left reassured that their meeting will further enhance the warm relationship between the United States and Israel.”
Netanyahu has since canceled his meeting following Sunday’s flotilla incident off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
Federation leaders from Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, South Florida and Washington, D.C., were part of the delegation.