WASHINGTON, D.C. — Latino and Jewish political and organizational leaders here are pursuing in tandem an agenda that they say taps the strengths of both groups and responds to the challenges facing society in general.

   With most representing significant national constituencies, the partners are building on common experiences, interests and ideals.

   Their latest session involved 60-plus activists, a buffet dinner and a two-hour stream of talk mixing reminiscences with mutual cultural admiration and proposals for joint future actions. The event was held on Capitol Hill in the Rayburn House Office Building’s Foreign Relations Committee Room.

   Setting the tone was Tom Kahn, chair of the American Jewish Committee’s Latino and Latin American Institute. Guiding the dialogue that followed were two influential Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Eliot Engel of New York, who chairs the Western Hemisphere subcommittee of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Xavier Becerra of California, vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

   Several of those present belonged to a Latino-Jewish working group which included several of the two communities’ national leaders who traveled together to Israel three years ago this month.

   On their return, the members affirmed the prevalence of historical, cultural and increasing pragmatic connections between Latinos and Jews.

   At last month’s dinner, they were reminded that Jews fleeing from Nazi Germany found refuge in Latin American countries ranging from Bolivia to the Dominican Republic to El Salvador.

   Among goals discussed at the dinner was a campaign to educate others on the receptive role a number of Latin American countries played in their diaspora. 

   Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC’s Latino and Latin American Institute who coordinated the reunion, recounted that the Isreal sojourn strengthened the participants’ conviction that the growing relationship between the Latino and Jewish communities in foreign as well as domestic affairs holds great promise.

   Both groups have settled outside their ancestral homes and both have endured prejudice not just within the United States, but worldwide, observed Siegel Vann.

   Among Latino leaders present were National Puerto Rican Coalition president Rafael Fantauzzi, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials executive director Arturo Vargas, and League of United Latin American Citizens president Rosa Rosales.

    Rosales reminded the partners of their common immigrant heritage. She urged the Jewish members to join Hispanics in their pursuit of just and comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

   Most all agreed that Latinos could learn from the Jews in asserting greater influence in U.S. foreign policy — especially in Latin America   

   The next morning participants toured the Holocaust Museum led by Holocaust survivors. .

   Speaking there, Raúl Yzaguirre, who built the National Council of La Raza into world prominence over three decades, described how he often formed alliances with Jewish and other organizations on issues of common concern. He stressed the critical importance of continuing to strengthen such partnerships.

   “You can’t get anything done in Washington without building coalitions,” he said, referring back, “The Jewish community experienced the same kind of xenophobia that Latinos are now experiencing. They understand our experiences and we understand theirs.”

    More programs are in the works. The partners talk of formulating fresh strategies and goals to boost Latinos’ involvement in foreign policy and increasing Jews’ advocacy role on immigration reform. They talked of forming a united front to promote a vast array of changes they view as critical to return the United States to its pedestal as the world’s most trusted and compassionate leader.

   (Soraya Schwartz is a reporter with Hispanic Link News Service based in Washington, D.C. Email her at [email protected])

   ©2009