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Rabbis to protest Iran nuke deal

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A major Jewish religious organization is planning to bring rabbis to Washington, D.C., days before Rosh Hashanah to protest against President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran.

The Orthodox Union is urging rabbis to lobby Congress this September, when Congress is expected to vote on legislation related to the deal, according to The Times of Israel.

{mosads}“We are confident that hundreds of rabbis traveling to Washington on the eve of this vote and just days before Rosh Hashanah will have a highly visible and real impact upon this fateful vote in Congress,” said a save-the-date notice sent this week, the news publication reported Thursday.

“We will only have this impact with your participation,” the message added.

The Orthodox Union sent the missive to rabbis affiliated with the umbrella group and with the Rabbinical Council of America, The Times of Israel said.

The group is eyeing Sept. 9 as a potential fly-in date for the demonstrating rabbis.

Congress returns to Washington that week, and Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, starts on the evening of Sept. 13.

Congress is currently within a 60-day period that ends in September for reviewing the Iran pact.

The nuclear deal announced on July 14 would ease economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for greater restrictions on its nuclear program.

The Iran deal is quickly becoming a thorny issue for members of Congress who are active on Jewish issues.

Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), whose New York district has many Jewish voters, announced on Wednesday she is opposing the deal because it is “simply too dangerous.”

Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), meanwhile, backed the deal in a statement released the same day.

“I believe that Israel, the region and the world are far more secure if Iran does not move toward possession of a nuclear weapon,” said Levin, the longest-serving Jewish lawmaker in Congress.

“I believe the agreement is the best way to achieve that,” he added.

Tags Iran Iran nuclear deal

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