'First Jewish President' Delights Chicago Faithful

Though there was doubt during the campaign of broad Jewish support for Barack Obama, the Chicago Jewish community didn't share it, Haaretz reports. “I said with a smile that he will be the first Jewish president,” said one community leader and who traveled with Obama to Israel in 2006. “He also has a deep understanding of issues that confront Israel and the Jewish community.”

And the Chicago Jews who knew and worked with Obama were not surprised he got nearly 80% of the Jewish vote on Election Day. "It was always a natural fit between the Jewish community and Barack Obama," says another Chicago political activist. "He understands those issues. Frankly, he's so smart he understands them better than most of us."