***This story has been updated to account for additional meetings between the White House and the Jewish community. (Sept. 11, 5:15 p.m. EST)
As the Jewish year of 5775 comes to a close, Jewish Insider looked back at the White House’s calendar of events as it pertains to Jewish outreach since Rosh Hashanah 2014—and it was a busy Hebrew calendar year indeed for the Obama administration’s outreach efforts to American Jews, with at least 63 events, or an average of about one every week.
“A lot had to do with the Iran deal,” said Matt Nosanchuk, an official in the White House’s Office of Public Engagement, and a White House liaison to the Jewish community, “And, you know, with concerns that have been voiced by some in the Jewish community regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship.”
The list (below) of White House events with the Jewish community came from a “>webcast in late August with the Jewish Federations of North America “turned a corner.”
And asked how the White House determines which organizations and which Jewish figures get invites to the dozens of events, Nosanchuk said, “The priorities of the Jewish community [and the White House] overlap to a great extent…[We] invite people who are working with us to help further those priorities, and we also invite community leaders who may disagree with us on particular issues.
On that note, here’s the list of Jewish community events held by the White House in 5775. There are so many different meetings with different visiting delegations of Jewish Federations, and with a multitude of groups and people throughout the year, that we can’t promise this list is ironclad, but its close:
2014
Sept. 23 – President Obama’s “>host an event for Jewish leaders at their Naval Observatory residence.
Nov. 10 – Biden “>ceremony.
Dec. 17 – National Security Advisor for the Vice President Colin Kahl, Gordon and Matt Nosanchuk address Policy Briefing in connection with White House Hanukkah Reception.
Dec. 17 – White House Chanukah ” target=”_blank”>event at German Embassy honoring Ronald J. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress.
Jan. 22 – Power participates in U.N. General Assembly meeting on anti-Semitism and hosts reception for Jewish leaders at her residence.
Mar. 2 – National Security Advisor Susan Rice and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power speak at AIPAC’s annual “>J Street’s annual conference.
Mar. 24 – Biden speaks at World Jewish Congress’s “>Passover seder.
Apr. 8 – Secretary of State John Kerry and Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meet with “>meet with Jewish leaders about the Iran deal in the Roosevelt Room.
Apr. 13 – No. 2 – Obama meets with other Jewish leaders on the Iran deal.
Apr. 21 – McDonough briefs UJA Federation of New York.
Apr. 23 – Biden and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer attend an ” target=”_blank”>welcomes Chabad to the White House.
Apr. 30 – Biden speaks at the “>tribute for Abraham Foxman, ADL’s former head.
May 21- Obama sits down for “>Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C.
May 29 – Obama “>Jerusalem Post Conference in New York.
June 8 – Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken “>speaks at an Abe Foxman tribute in New York City. Obama sends a pre-recorded video tribute.
June 24 – Kahl briefs Reform Jewish leaders on the Iran deal.
July 2 – Biden meets with Jewish former members of Congress to discuss Iran, including Carl Levin, Mel Levine, Henry Waxman, Jane Harman, Howard Berman, and Robert Wexler.
July 14 – Nosanchuk briefs Jewish leaders on the day the Iran deal is announced.
July 20- Biden holds a conference call “>discusses Iran deal with about 120 Jewish leaders at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
July 24 – Kerry meets with AJC Board
July 24 – Sherman meets with AJC on Iran deal.
July 24 – Sherman and Szubin brief Reform Jewish leaders on the Iran deal.
July 24 – Sherman and Szubin brief Conservative rabbis on the Iran deal.
July 29 – McDonough and Sherman “>meet with 22 Jewish leaders in the Cabinet Room.
Aug. 6 – Moniz, Sherman and Nosanchuk brief 30 Jewih leaders in Detroit.
Aug. 7 – Moniz and Nosancuk meet with Jewish leaders “>broadcast on JFNA webcast.
Aug. 24 – Nitin Chadda, the White House’s Director for Iran Affairs, “>interviews Obama.
Aug. 28 – Obama interview on Iran deal “>Jewish leaders in Florida to discuss the Iran deal at an event organized by Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL).
Sept. 3 – Biden “>speaks at an Iran forum at Shaarei Tzedek synagogue in Southfield, Michigan.
Sep. 4 – Sherman meets with Jewish leaders from Maryland at the White House.
Sept. 8 – Szubin joins Jewish constituents in New Jersey to “>speaks about the Iran deal at Temple Rodef Shalom in Arlington, Virginia.
Sep. 9 – The Bidens “>holds a conference call with rabbis in advance of Rosh Hashanah.
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