October 21, 2003

OU’s Institute for Public Affairs to Honor Lionel Kaplan and Betty Ehrenberg at Annual Dinner; Senator Santorum to be Featured Speaker

Monday, November 10, 2003
Marriott Marquis, New York, 6:00 PM

The Institute for Public Affairs of the Orthodox Union will honor Lionel A. Kaplan, a longtime leader of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and Betty Ehrenberg, the IPA’s Director of International Affairs and Communal Relations, at its annual dinner, to be held Monday, November 10, 2003 at the Marriott Marquis in New York.

United States Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania will be the Featured Speaker.

The IPA is the OU’s public policy arm, serving as the Orthodox community’s voice for advocacy in Washington on issues of prime importance to the community, whether involving Israel or domestic policy.

Regarding Israel, IPA carefully monitors U.S. policy, particularly with reference to Israel’s fight against terror and its ability to properly defend its people. OU/IPA leadership meets regularly with the highest levels of the Administration in support of Israel’s interests. “The OU has a seat at the table when U.S. policy towards Israel is formulated,” declares OU President Harvey Blitz. “Our views are regarded with great seriousness. We equate Israel’s fight against terror with the American fight against terror – we see no difference, and that is the point of view that the Administration will always hear from us.”

In the domestic arena, the IPA is particularly active with regard to policies promoting religious liberty. In recent months, the IPA has worked with the Bush Administration to secure federal disaster aide for an earthquake-stricken Jewish day school as well as reforming other regulations that hindered religiously affiliated social welfare programs from partnering with government agencies. The IPA also works on an array of education equity issues, the foremost of which currently is assuring appropriate funding for learning disabled children.

According to Mr. Blitz, the choice of featured speaker follows naturally from the IPA’s priorities. “Senator Rick Santorum has distinguished himself as one of the closest friends our community has in the United States Senate,” declared Mr. Blitz. “Whether the issue is promoting a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, confronting global anti-Semitism or promoting religious liberty in America, Senator Santorum has been in the forefront of the causes that our community cares about.”

The OU is presenting its Distinguished Leadership Award to Lionel A. Kaplan, a longtime AIPAC leader who has served as both President and Chairman of the Board of the advocacy organization. “With his work over the years at AIPAC, Lonny Kaplan has served as a close ally of the OU in fighting for Israel’s safety and security,” declared Mr. Blitz. “There is no firmer friend of Israel than Lonny Kaplan, nor no more powerful advocate, and we are delighted to be paying tribute to him tonight with the Distinguished Leadership Award.”

Betty Ehrenberg will be the recipient of the Chibat Tzion (Lover of Zion) Award. “Whether in Israel or in Kazakhstan, in New York, Washington or around the country, Betty tirelessly advocates on behalf of Israel and the OU’s agenda, and has produced a record of great success,” said IPA Chairman, Professor Richard B. Stone. “Promoting Israel’s well-being in the halls of political and diplomatic decision-making, she most effectively represents the OU in meetings with world leaders to advance the safety and security of Israel and of world Jewry. We at the OU have great pride in Betty’s work, which is why she was chosen to receive the Chibat Zion Award.

For further information about attending the dinner, contact Malka Laks at malkal@ou.org, or 212-613-8144.

The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 275,000 products manufactured in 68 countries around the globe.

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