with Abramoff?
Reading this article from "Forward Magazine" from 2002 it seems that Abramoff was throwing alot of money around DC and really working the Jewish Community to get on board with his projects. Is this another shoe to fall? Could Abramoff been getting "free tickets" from the owner of the Washington Wizards to give away? The article is interesting anyway because of Abramoff and others connection to the Christian Coalition. Any DU'ers remember the "Bretheren" that Christian group that has the house where Congressmen go for Prayer Group Meetings.
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JANUARY 3, 2003 | current issue | back issues | subscribe |
Lobbyist's New Restaurants Put the 'K' in K StreetBy ORI NIR
FORWARD STAFF
Yes, there was the humble Hillel cafeteria at George Washington University and the cafe at the local Jewish community center. But for lawyers and politicians, senior government officials and public figures who keep kosher — there are an estimated 30,000 Orthodox Jews in the Washington metropolitan area — there was nothing appropriate. "A big part of business and government relations are made over lunch or dinner meetings — and not having a place to hold such meetings really makes life difficult," said Nathan Diament, director of the Orthodox Union's Washington office. "Now, for those of us who work in the political realm and keep kashrut, there will be a place."
Some view Abramoff's creation of Jewish institutions in Washington as a part of the revitalization of Jewish life in the District of Columbia and its suburbs.
The D.C. Jewish Community Center has been revamped and revitalized in recent years. Last week, a group of Jewish investors — including Abe Pollin, owner of the Washington Wizards — bought the site of the District's old Adas Israel synagogue, which in 1952 was sold to become a church. The buyers are planning to turn it into a community center and perhaps a museum. And there is talk among Jewish entrepreneurs and politicians about establishing a new national Jewish museum in town.
"This is certainly a part of a renaissance that has been ongoing now for at least 10 years," said Jess Hordes, who directs the Washington office of the Anti-Defamation League.
Abramoff, a Republican who says that almost everything he does in life is derived from his conservative values, is more than likely to harness the new eateries to his political agenda.
Late this month he's planning to host a big fundraiser at Archives for incoming deputy majority whip Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House's only Jewish Republican in the 108th Congress. Abramoff is planning to name one of his deli's sandwiches — it's not clear yet which one — after Cantor. Another one, for balance, will be named after Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:lRPxrFBIPr8J:www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.01.03/faces.html+Rabbi+Daniel+Lapin/Abramoff&hl=en