"The failed policy of exclusively relying on raids and enforcement tactics as a means of controlling immigrations" can no longer stand, Gideon Aronoff, the president and CEO of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, said in a conference call with reporters.

Along with several organizations, including the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Jewish Community Action of St. Paul, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and the Jewish Community Relations Council, supporters will petition lawmakers, hold local rallies and pen letters to Obama in order "to ensure a consistent flow of letters to the White House," according to Jane Ramsey, JCUA's executive director.

The JCRC of Greater Washington has signed on to the campaign.

Rabbi Steve Gutow, JCPA's president and CEO, made a personal plea for reform, citing biblical history as a main reason for Jews to support sympathetic immigration reforms.

"The Bible says we must love the stranger because we were once strangers," Gutow said. "To make raids on people we must love is not part of love," nor is separating families.

While the participants did not detail any specific legislation or plan for reform, they listed several components pivotal to any potential legislation: a path to citizenship, the creation of "just" enforcement on U.S. borders, an increase in the amount of available visas and programs to integrate newcomers.

Obama picks new head

for faith council

President Barack Obama has tapped a 26-year-old former campaign staffer to head his Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Joshua DuBois, who worked on faith outreach in Obama's Senate office and during the presidential campaign, was praised by both a supporter and a critic of the faith-based initiative, which provides government funds to religious social service groups.

Orthodox Union public policy director Nathan Diament called DuBois an "excellent choice."

"Joshua not only knows the people, but he also knows the key policies that concern the faith communities very well," Diament said. Perhaps most significant, Diament added, is that DuBois "has President Obama's trust and will be able to ensure that the council will have appropriate impact upon the Obama administration's policy discussions."

Rabbi David Saperstein, the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, also praised DuBois as "an extraordinarily bright, thoughtful and competent professional" who did a "superb job in faith outreach" during the campaign. "Josh is an excellent choice," he said.

Still, Saperstein would have preferred that Obama scrap the faith-based council, even though the new president has vowed to revamp an office that was opened under his predecessor, George W. Bush.

"We thought that the faith-based office was not necessary and creates more problems," he said. But "it's a valid judgment call" by the new administration, Saperstein said, noting that Obama has promised to ensure certain "constitutional protections" in terms of "respecting the separation of church and state." They include not allowing recipients of federal funds to discriminate in hiring by taking religion into account.

Obama has indicated that the new office will not just distribute grants to religious and community groups, but will also look for other ways to involve those groups in working on social issues and problems.

Reps. call for Gaza aid

Three local lawmakers are among 60 members of Congress calling for "immediate actions" to address the "humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip."

Reps. Jim Moran (D-Va.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.) and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) all signed on to the letter, addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"As strong supporters of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, we are writing to express our deep concern for the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and to request immediate action by the United States to address this crisis," read the letter, which detailed the extent of civilian suffering in the area.

The members also call for all border crossings into Gaza to be opened so that construction materials and fuel may pass through.

Both Moran and Edwards voted "present" two weeks ago on a resolution that called for a cease-fire and end to all Hamas rocket fire into Israel.

Ex-Bush official joins pro-Israel think tank

A senior Bush administration official has joined a pro-Israel think tank.

Kenneth Wainstein, who had been George W. Bush's top Homeland Security adviser from last March until Jan. 20, will join the Washington Institute for Near East Policy as a senior fellow for three months.

Wainstein "will write and speak on emerging U.S. counterterrorism challenges in the Middle East," according to an institute release issued Monday.

Jewish groups praise

fair pay act

After signing his first law last week -- The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- several Jewish organization offered President Barack Obama glowing praise.

The National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism all welcomed the act, which overturns a 2007 Supreme Court decision mandating that workers must file wage discrimination lawsuits within six months of the first instance of discrimination.

"We are pleased that President Obama and the new Congress agree with our core beliefs that all individuals are created equal and should be treated fairly in the workplace," Andrea Weinstein, the JCPA's chair, said in a statement.

Similarly, NCJW president Nancy Ratzan was "honored and thrilled" to see the bill signed into law.

"Enactment of this law is the first step in the road to ensuring equal pay for women and others victimized by workplace discrimination," Ratzan said in a statement.

Sen. reveals he is Jewish

Newly appointed Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) revealed to his hometown newspaper last week that his grandparents were Jews imprisoned in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust.

Though Bennet doesn't practice Judaism, his mother is Jewish and, therefore, according to Jewish law, Bennet also is.

"I was raised with two different heritages, one was Jewish and one was Christian," Bennet told The Rocky Mountain News. "I am proud that both heritages are part of me, and I believe in God."

NJDC: Tell Obama

his priorities

A new Internet campaign by the National Jewish Democratic Council is urging supporters to tell President Barack Obama what they think his top priorities should be.

The group says it will pass along the comments in meetings with the administration.

--By Adam Kredo with reports filed by JTA News and Features and other sources.