llewish Press
SERVING NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS Vol. LXXEX
No. 48
Omaha, NE
10 Av, 5760
August 11, 2000
Gore makes history, selects Lieberman as V.P. by Sharon Samber
abortion and hate crimes, WASHINGTON(JTA) Lieberman supports much Sen. Joseph Lieberman of what those organiza(D-CT.) has been in public tions stand for: some life a long time and has increased gun control, the left an extensive public right of a woman to choose trail of votes and positions and national hate crimes on the issues. legislation. But when Al Gore named the two-term U.S. One issue that may Senator and former Condefine him as a candidate-necticut attorney general and at the same time as his running mate this divides the American week, as much was initialJewish community—is ly made of Lieberman's school vouchers, governreligion as his record on ment money that could be the issues. used for private schools. Lieberman, who is Lieberman co-sponsored Orthodox, will be the first legislation in 1995 that Jew in U.S. history to be would have provided named to a major national vouchers to low-income party ticket. Perhaps this parents so they could scrutiny on his religion choose to send their chilcomes because his relidren to public, private or gious convictions form the parochial schools. base for his political Most Jewish organizaSen. Joseph Lieberman tiong o p p o s e gchool v o u c h . beliefs. His record shows him to be a moderate Democrat ers, fearing even indirect government funding of who crosses party lines on certain issues. His mod- parochial schools would still violate the separation erate approach fits most of the agendas supported between church and state. But Orthodox groups side with Lieberman. by mainstream Jewish organizations. "Certainly he has been one of the key champions On many domestic issues, such as gun control,
of school choice in the Senate," said Abba Cohen, Director and Counsel of the Washington office of Agudath Israel of America. Lieberman's plan doesn't directly provide vouchers, but is an incentive program and an "important step," according to Cohen. Another issue that may demonstrate Lieberman's pragmatic approach is his stance on prayer in public schools. While he generally opposes such prayer, in 1992 he spoke out against a Supreme Court decision that struck down prayer in school graduation ceremonies. "Students who are graduating will lose much more than they will gain from the prohibition of prayer at their graduation," he said. The Supreme Court this year said student-led prayers at high school football games are not constitutional. The court is expected to address the issue of student-led prayers at graduations in the coming term. Lieberman also takes a centrist approach to foreign policy. A strong supporter of Israel and foreign aid to the Jewish state, he did not want to put pressure on the administration to advance an American peace plan while Israeli-Palestinian negotiations Were going on last year. In a letter to the administration from 81 senators led by Lieberman, he said, "It would be a serious mistake for the United States to change from its traditional role as facilitator of the peace process to using public pressure against Israel." (Continued on page 4)
JELS announces 2000-2001 scholarship winners (Full story on page 9)
Matthew Chasen
Jonathan Collis
Shayna Flatowicz
Caren Friedman
Jen Gates
Sarah Hasslinger
Mendel Kurland
Naomi Leiserowitz
Ali Lerner
Dan Levitan
Fiorina Mosenkis
Adam Nichols
Andy Novak
Scott Saltzman
Diana Senik
Justin Spiegel
Marina Tsed
Yulyia Vishnevskaya