In this Issue:

• Cardozo & Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Societies Newsletter

• Campaign Update

• Obama, Netanyahu to address Federations' General Assembly

• Senior legal advisor to the Israeli Foreign Ministry speaks on Goldstone Commission

• Illinois divests $133 million in anti-nuclear Iran initiative

This month's newsletter highlights some of the ways in which our JUF connects with international and government affairs, whether through educational programming or direct action. There are many further examples of programs and actions our JUF is engaged in on these fronts. If you are interested in more information on these types of activities, please send an email to lawyers@juf.org and the appropriate person will respond. If you have any feedback on articles included in this newsletter or on articles you would like to see in future newsletters, please let us know.

• Keith Shapiro, 2009 Lawyers Division Chair
• Sanford Perl, 2010 Lawyers Division Chair
• Javier Rubinstein, 2010 Lawyers Dinner Chair
• Paul Morton, 2010 Lawyers Division Campaign Chair
• Bruce Zivian, Cardozo Society Chair
• Mark Yura, Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Society Chair

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The JUF Annual Campaign currently stands at slightly over $63 million with two months left to raise our budgeted goal of $78 million. The JUF Lawyers Division stands at $7.8 million from 1,400 donors. Typically, the Lawyers Division represents about 12% of the overall campaign.

Our Lawyers Division End of Year campaign is being led by Debbie Berman (Jenner & Block) and Jason Peltz (Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott), alongside JUF's overall EOY chair Bill Silverstein, and as a part of their efforts to close as many gifts as possible there will be a Lawyers Division Phonathon on Thursday, November 12th from 2-4 PM at JUF. If you are able to attend please email Tovah Domenick at tovahdomenick@juf.org.

If you have not yet made your 2009 JUF Annual Campaign gift please consider doing so before the end of the year.

Donate online now »

U.S. President Barack Obama will address the General Assembly (GA) of the Jewish Federation of North America when it convenes in Washington Nov. 8-9. Obama is scheduled to speak Nov. 9.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is traveling to the U.S. to also speak at the GA and could meet with Obama on the sidelines of the confab, reports YNet.

A strong delegation of Chicago Jewish lay leaders and JUF staff will participate in the GA. That delegation is being led by Harvey Barnett, who said "The GA is the preeminent gathering of Jewish communal leaders focusing on addressing the needs and dreams of Jews across North America as well as some 58 countries around the globe, and connecting Jews to one another. The participation of our President and Israel's Prime Minister testifies to the centrality - and urgency - of our global Federation agenda. In addition to those two important GA sessions, I'm looking forward to the many other exciting, cutting edge topics and workshops, and especially to our day on Capitol Hill.

Read more on the GA »

On Tuesday, October 13th, 75 lawyers and members of JUF's JCRC gathered to hear from Daniel Taub, a senior legal advisor to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Mr.Taub explained the three ways in which he sees how the Goldstone Commission failed in its mission to inquire into the conduct of the Israeli army and the Hamas terrorists engaged in the conflict in Gaza last winter.

Read more on Mr. Taub's presentation »

Illinois has been at the forefront of efforts to stop Iran's nuclear program and has divested $133 million in state pension funds from foreign companies doing business with Iran's energy sector. JUF's Jewish Community Relations Council and its Government Affairs Office in Springfield played a key role in securing support for the legislation.

Click here to read the full article »