This was a very memorable and meaningful week for our Jewish Federation as we sponsored our Jewish Community Advocacy Day to the State Capitol in Carson City.  More than two dozen Jewish Federation and Jewish community leaders, including several of our community’s Rabbis, participated in the day-long program meeting with our State officials and discussing issues of importance to all Nevadans and our Jewish community.

Our delegation held private meetings with Lt. Governor Mark Hutchinson; State Treasurer Dan Schwartz (who is also a Board member of our Jewish Federation); State Controller Ron Knecht and Attorney General Adam Laxalt.  Each Constitutional Officer spoke of the special bond of friendship between Nevada and Israel; as well as the important contributions of the Jewish community to the welfare and well-being of the State of Nevada. 

For our part, we emphasized the Jewish community’s support for the Nevada Legislature’s Nevada/Israel Friendship Resolution calling for even greater connections and closer ties between our State and the Nation of Israel while recognizing the concern for the growing tide of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incidents around the world and the threat of a nuclear Iran.  We also offered our support for the Governor’s State budget which includes a significant increase for funding of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust Education.  The delegation also addressed concerns for homeland security, education of our children and the provision of social and mental health services for all Nevadans.

Delegates had an opportunity of attending the day’s floor sessions of the Nevada Senate and Assembly.  Rabbi Felipe Goodman of Temple Beth Sholom offered the invocation in the Senate with Rabbi Sanford Akselrad offering the invocation in the Nevada Assembly.