Las Vegas Jews Caught in Adelson’s Shadow
Josh Nathan-Kazis at The Jewish Daily Forward profiles the conflicting role that Sheldon Adelson, owner of The Venetian Resort and Casino, plays in the Las Vegas Jewish community. In a state that was hit badly by the 2008 economic downturn, many Jews rely on Adelson’s donations to Jewish schools and synagogues. However, Adelson’s conservative views are not a secret. “Adelson’s dual philanthropic and political roles have complicated things in Las Vegas this election cycle. For Jews here, his most visible political spending has been the RJC’s television advertisements … [in which] Jewish voters explain why they’re voting for Romney in 2012,” writes Nathan-Kazis.