Jews in U.S. Are Wary In Happiness For Egypt

“I can’t help but look at them and see people rising up and saying, We want to be free,” said Rabbi Steve Gutow, president and chief executive of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, an umbrella organization that represents 140 national and local Jewish groups.

“Certainly there are things to worry about,” Rabbi Gutow said, “but this has to be a moment to be supported and celebrated and looked at with a sense of awe.” But he, like other leaders, said he was watching warily to see who takes power in Egypt, whether the new government respects human rights, how it relates to the United States and whether it will preserve the longstanding peace treaty with Israel.