American Jewish Report: March 7, 2016

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Tributes for former First Lady Nancy Reagan

The death of former first Lady Nancy Reagan has prompted tributes from all over the world Here are some early comments from members of the Jewish community:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I remember Nancy as a noble woman who supported President Reagan and stood by his side. She will be remembered as a great friend of the State of Israel.”
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Israel’s former President Shimon Peres: “I recall her noble nature and fierce fight against drugs and alcohol amongst youth. During her time as First Lady, Reagan would illuminate the White House with a big smile and open heart.”
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Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders: ““Nancy Reagan was an exemplary first lady. Even after her time in the White House, she was an outspoken advocate for stem-cell research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. Nancy Reagan had a good heart, and she will be dearly missed.”  San  Diego Jewish World

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U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California): ” “She set an example as a First Lady who truly stood on her own as a force. She made a lasting contribution to the fight against Alzheimer’s and her support of the Brady bill (against gun violence) made the difference.”

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Rubio names numerous Jewish advisors on national security matters

WASHINGTON, D.C. (SDJW) — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has named an 18-member National Security Advisory Council with Jewish community members constituting half the membership.

Jewish members include Elliott Abrams, former National Security Advisor for Global Democracy Stragegy; Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security; Eliot Cohen, former Counselor of the Department of State; former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.; Eric Edelman, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; Aaron Friedberg, former DeputyNational Security Advisor to the Vice President; Michael Mukasey, former U.S. Attorney General; Dan Senor, former senior advisor, Coalitin in Iraq; and Dov Zakhiem, former Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).  –San Diego Jewish World 

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ADL slams Trump for analogy on white supremacists and Jewish organizations

(JNS.org) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump drew the ire of the Jewish community by comparing white supremacist groups to Jewish organizations.

Trump made the remark in the context of the ongoing controversy surrounding whether or not the businessman chooses to disavow controversial endorsements.

“I don’t like to disavow groups if I don’t know who they are. I mean, you could have the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies in ‘groups,’” Trump said on the MSNBC network.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, called it “obscene to even mention a Jewish organization in the same breath as these white supremacist groups.”

“It is hard to fathom how we can have a candidate who can be so verbose when it comes to denigrating other candidates, yet he finds himself tongue tied when it comes to the most racist and anti-Semitic group in the history of this country,” Greenblatt said, the Forward reported.  Preceding provided by JNS.org

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