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Obama's historic win revives the black-Jewish civil rights alliance By Shlomo Shamir Tags: Israel News, Blacks, Jews  NEW YORK - The historic alliance between blacks and Jews, which was forged during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, laid the groundwork for the spirit and social climate that led to the election of the first black president of the United States. That is the main message of members of the black and Jewish communities who commented yesterday on Barack Obama's victory. The feeling among leaders and community activists was that the election's result was a kind of belated political benefit of the African- and Jewish-American partnership, in an effort to promote social values, particularly civil rights and tolerance. "No other sector of American society provided a stronger and more consistent reservoir of support in the struggle of African-Americans than the Jewish community," said Marc Schneier, an Orthodox rabbi who 20 years ago established the Foundation for Ethical Understanding. Schneier is the author of the book "Shared Dreams" documenting the relationship between Martin Luther King and the Jewish community (with a preface by King). Advertisement "The historic partnership between the two communities is what led to the significant changes in the areas of equality and tolerance in American society, the results of which we saw Tuesday," he said. Despite periodic friction, the partnership is strong, Schneier said. "The fact is that the rate of Jews who voted for Obama reached 78 percent." According to Schneier, Obama will be the successor of Martin Luther King in terms of the relationship to Israel and the Jewish community. "King once called Israel in a speech one of the strongest bastions of democracy in the world, and Obama is very connected to King's legacy." Rev. Jacques de Graff, a pastor of a Baptist church in Harlem, said that Obama's victory would "strengthen the bridge between the Jewish and the black communities." De Graff, who organized a mass victory party in Harlem Tuesday, conceded that "the historic bond between blacks and Jews in America is not as strong and promising as it was during the Civil Rights era." But he said that "Obama's election creates a new opportunity to refresh and strengthen the bond between the two communities." Abe Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, says Obama's election will raise efforts to improve black-Jewish relations to a national level. Foxman said he spoke with Obama, whom he met during the latter's last visit to Israel. Obama told him that "even if he were not elected, this was an important area he intended to devote a great deal of thought to." Related articles: Obama will be 'great president, great friend of Israel,' U.S. envoy says Haaretz Editorial / The dawn of a new era Bradley Burston: For Republicans, 2 words of advice and comfort Bookmark to del.icio.us   A plague on Egypt Report: Iran behind planned terror attacks against targets in Egypt by Hezbollah. Determined diplomacy Obama: U.S. 'strongly supports' two-state solution, vows to continue peace process.   1.   Nice try 05:52  |  Refugee 06/11/08   2.   REfugee -- It`s as if you can`t read ro something 06:20  |  bbl 06/11/08   3.   #2 Get the facts 06:26  |  jew for obama 06/11/08   4.   I Think So 07:45  |  Yosemite 06/11/08   5.   As Many Times As I Post On This Site... 07:53  |  Yosemite 06/11/08   6.   What alliance? 07:57  |  Joanna 06/11/08   7.   Black-Jewish struggle?? 08:37  |  Aaron 06/11/08   8.   Jews and blacks - what went wrong? 08:37  |  Manny Goldstein 06/11/08   9.   Wow, total ignorance of US History here.. 10:37  |  Observer 06/11/08   10.   black-Jewish civil rights 10:46  |  Warren J 06/11/08   11.   RE: Black-Jewish struggle 10:46  |  Barry 06/11/08   12.   Elation 13:07  |  William E. Freeman I 06/11/08   13.   Elation 13:12  |  William E. Freeman 06/11/08   14.   answer to WHAT WENT WRONG 13:47  |  michelle 06/11/08   15.   an answer for Manny Goldstein - should we apologize? 13:56  |  michelle 06/11/08   16.   In the spirit of the NWO 20:09  |  T A Sheppard 06/11/08   17.   What Went Wrong 17:14  |  Lewis 07/11/08

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