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| | Senate Banking Committee approves new Iran sanctions |  | | The push for further sanctions against Iran continues, as the Senate Banking Committee approved new legislation on Thursday. The Associated Press reported that the vote demonstrated "a rare instance of bipartisanship," with both Republicans and Democrats hoping the sanctions will put even more pressure on Iran to stop working on its nuclear program. The new legislation will "target Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and companies involved in joint energy and uranium mining ventures with Tehran," according to the AP. It also places sanctions against anyone who provides the Iranian government with "equipment or technology that facilitates censorship or the suppression of human rights, including weapons, rubber bullets, tear gas, and other riot control equipment -- as well as jamming, monitoring, and surveillance equipment," according to the Cable. Continuing with JUF's efforts to advocate for our community's concerns, Steve Dishler, JCRC's director of international affairs and Sam Isaacson, JCRC vice-chair, recently met with diplomats from the Chinese, Indian, and Greek consulates and urged support for increased sanctions against Iran. | | | | Journalists discuss key Jewish issues of 2012 presidential race |  | | The 2012 Presidential race will be one of critical importance to the Jewish community, with key issues including Medicare, Mideast policy and the economy, according to press experts. In the wake of last week's State of the Union address, and the results of the Florida Republican primary, The Jewish Federations of North America called upon Lynn Sweet, Washington bureau chief at the Chicago-Sun Times and Ron Kampeas, Washington bureau chief at the JTA news service, to examine issues critical to Jewish voters in the 2012 presidential race. Nearly 200 participants joined the call, moderated by William Daroff, vice president for public policy and director of the Washington office of JFNA, to hear the journalists' perspectives on the Republican primaries, the Democratic campaign strategy and themes voters will hear leading up to the November election. Read a synopsis of their discussion or listen to the full recording. | | | | JDC activates emergency response to winter storms in Eastern Europe |  | | A sudden wave of dangerous winter weather has gripped Eastern Europe and parts of the former Soviet Union. The death toll continues to rise as rescue crews evacuate dozens of people from snowblocked villages in Serbia and Bosnia American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee immediately activated its emergency winter response system to supplement the critical care it already gives to tens of thousands of Jewish elderly and needy children across the region. In the hardest-hit areas of the Balkans and Ukraine, JDC is currently furnishing heating fuel, blankets, warm jackets, clothes and boots; providing extra food and heating supplies to those who cannot leave home; and checking in on those who need additional medical care. | | | | Sun-Times Coulmnist: Mideast issues to be center of attention in 2012 |  | | Americans are going to have continued interest in issues surrounding the Middle East, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this year, according to Steve Huntley of the Chicago Sun-Times. "Americans are increasingly absorbed in presidential politics, and President Barack Obama wants to shift defense/foreign policy strategic emphasis to the Asian/Pacific region," writes Huntley. "But the Middle East persists as the part of the world where Iran's quest for nuclear weapons, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Arab-Spring-turned-winter pose fearsome challenges to peace and stability in a region vital to the global energy supply and thus to the planet's economic health." Other issues include the possibility of civil war in Syria, as well as escalating violence in Lybia. Read the rest of the article here. | | | | Israel second most-educated country in the world |  | | Israel came in second among the most educated countries in the world, according to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The 2011 edition of "Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators," indicated that 45% of Israelis have post-secondary degrees, placing it ahead of countries such as Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. Only Canada had a higher percentage. 24/7 Wall St used information from the report to name the top 10 educated countries in the world. | | | | Summer JUF Birthright trips opening for registration |  | | Another season of JUF Birthright Israel trips is approaching. Registration for JUF's Birthright Chicago community trips this summer opens February 14 for returning applicants and February 15 for new applicants. All registration (including $250 deposit) should be completed on February 15. For information, contact Paula Harris at PaulaHarris@juf.org. | | | | JVS presents panel on "The IT/Tech Future" |  | | "The IT/Tech Future," the next event in the Jewish Vocational Service of Chicago Career Connections for Professionals series, will be held Wednesday, February 15. The free event will discuss the state of the technology sector in Chicago, reporting on cloud computing, mobile technology, and social media for both employed and the unemployed. The panel will include top industry professionals who will discuss future hiring trends and offer general information about Chicago's tech industry. Talent acquisition teams from four companies will review resumes before the event, during a networking/recruiting session. The program begins at 5 pm at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, 30 South Wells Street. Pre-event networking starts at 4 pm. Registration is required as space is limited. Call (312) 673-3400 or
e-mail carolmcdermott@jvschicago.org. | | | | Weekly Blog Roundup |  | | The latest JUF News blog posts: Other blogs of interest: | |
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