Lew meets with New York Jewish leaders

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jack Lew, President Obama’s chief of staff, met with Jewish community leaders in New York City.

“He spoke about the unshakable support that the president has shown for Israel through record security aid and cooperation, standing up for Israel at the United Nations, and in confronting the threat from Iran — including ratcheting up unprecedented international pressure and sanctions,” said a statement from an administration official, who described the meeting Monday by Lew, an Orthodox Jew who has a home in Riverdale, as a “hometown” visit.

Lew “specifically highlighted the US-Israel Security Cooperation Act signed into law on Friday as well as the additional $70 million in Iron Dome funding announced Friday, which further deepens our cooperation and helps ensure Israel’s ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threat,” the official said.

The Obama administration has rallied a number of pro-Israel and Jewish initiatives in the last week, as Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, toured Israel and pledged to defend the US relationship as president.

Lew in his meeting, which was hosted by the city’s Jewish Community Relations Council, also criticized Republicans for not agreeing to ending tax cuts for the wealthy.

Lew last met with the New York JCRC in February. The White House has intensified outreach to Jewish constituents in an election year.