U.S.Report

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Jewish groups hailed the U.S. Senate passage of an amendment Tuesday that could lead to hate crimes legislation covering victims who were targeted for their sexual orientation, gender or disability.

The passage of the Kennedy-Smith proposal, which also makes federal prosecutions of hate crimes easier, does not assure new hate crimes legislation. But the 57-42 vote was seen as a boost for legislation that has been a top priority for the Clinton administration and Jewish groups.

Just before the vote, Vice President Al Gore, addressing the National Jewish Democratic Council, said that hate crimes are not like other crimes, and "they wound all Americans." The group also presented Gore with a humanitarian award, the first non-Jew to receive the honor.

Hadassah seeking role on U.N. council

NEW YORK (JTA) -- Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, is awaiting word about its bid for consultative status on the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

The new status would enable the group, which has 300,000 members and is best known for its hospitals in Israel, to work with nongovernmental organizations on women's and humanitarian issues worldwide.

Meanwhile, Hadassah recently announced the group is pulling out of the American Zionist Movement. Declining to elaborate, group leaders said only that the AZM "no longer serves the best interests of Hadassah's Zionist goals or the future of American Zionism" and that Hadassah will still participate in the World Zionist Organization.

Several Arab members of the U.N. council, led by Lebanon, have objected to Hadassah's inclusion due to its Zionist leanings.

UJC's new budget quickly put to use

NEW YORK (JTA) -- The umbrella organization for North American Jewish federations recently approved a $41.7 million budget, a $4.4 million cut from what the United Jewish Communities' predecessor organizations spent before they merged.

Earlier this month, the UJC panel in charge of overseas spending recommended that local community Jewish federations increase their giving for this purpose and choose where 10 percent of the allocation goes.

UJC also announced it will become a full partner in Birthright Israel and pledged $52.5 million over the next five years to the program, which offers free trips to Israel.

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