Black-Jewish relations better, Jackson says

NEW YORK -- Blacks and Jews must build on their "coalition of conscience" to establish economic ties between the two communities, according to the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Speaking at Yeshiva University on Wednesday of last week, Jackson reflected on a history of shared struggles for civil rights, women's rights and workers' rights. Jackson said the "overwhelming challenge before us" is to ensure that all Americans have equal economic opportunities.

As a first step in that direction, an interethnic task force will be formed to explore ways to form business relationships to benefit both communities in New York.

"This is not just a black-Jewish issue," but one the two groups can work together on "for the national interest," he said.

Jackson delivered the keynote address at "African Americans & Jews: Economic Cooperation for the 21st Century," the third annual conference exploring the future of black-Jewish relations in the United States. It was organized by the New York-based Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and co-sponsored by Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work and the World Jewish Congress.

Jackson's appearance comes at a time when relations between the African-American and the Jewish American communities are, in his view, "better than ever."

He noted the legal victories of the past and the political power both groups have gained during the last few decades.

"Our relationship is solid, but we still have unfinished business," Jackson told an audience of about 200, including community leaders and students.

His positive prognosis runs counter to the image of conflict between blacks and Jews often portrayed in the media. But his optimism is supported by the foundation's findings in its third annual report, which indicates that blacks and Jews are interacting more on a grassroots level.

"The time has come to elevate the struggle from one of civil rights to one of economic rights," said Rabbi Marc Schneier, who established the foundation in 1989 with the late New York theater impresario Joseph Papp.

Schneier announced that the black-Jewish task force, made up of 10 individuals, will over the next two months identify corporations, businesses and community leaders to assist in developing mentoring programs, economic initiatives and peer support networks in New York.

Jackson invited the task force to participate in a January conference organized by his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition aimed at broadening the base of economic cooperation with Wall Street.

Beyond direct economic cooperation, Jackson cited several areas of mutual social and political concern. They include: equalizing the quality of public-school education; supporting affirmative action; providing for community reinvestment by corporations; and opening media markets to minority investors.

On an international level, Jackson earlier this year took a leading role in advocating for the release of 13 Iranian Jews who have been in custody in Iran since their arrest in March on charges of spying for Israel.

Although Iranian officials have said the prisoners will get a fair trial, many believe the arrests were politically and religiously motivated. Advocates across the globe, including numerous political leaders, have lobbied Iran for the release of the detainees, who face the death penalty if found guilty.

Jackson said last week he feared that the Iranians would execute the prisoners if such attempts to release them fail.

Iran has so far rebuffed Jackson's attempts to procure a visa.