Mike Pence To Host Jewish Leaders For Israel Independence Day
Vice President Mike Pence at the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas, February 24, 2017 Image by Nathan Guttman
By Nathan Guttman May 1, 2017
The month of May is proving to be busy for the Trump White House’s Jewish community outreach operation.
Last week, President Trump proclaimed the month of May as Jewish Heritage Month. And on Tuesday, in recognition of Israel’s 69th Independence Day, Vice President Mike Pence will host Jewish leaders for a reception at the White House’s Old Executive Building. Later on Tuesday, the administration is expected to dispatch National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster to speak at the Israeli embassy’s annual Independence Day reception.
Pence has been the administration’s go-to official for addressing the Jewish community. Since taking office he spoke at the Republican Jewish Council’s conference in Las Vegas, gave a major address at the AIPAC policy conference in Washington, and made an impromptu visit to the vandalized Missouri Jewish cemetery, during which Pence rolled up his sleeves and helped the clean-up efforts.
And while relations with the Jewish community will focus on the ceremonial side this week, President Trump’s diplomatic efforts will center on the Palestinian side, as he hosts Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas at the White House on Wednesday.
Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected] or on Twitter @nathanguttman
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
