Church-State Expert From Now Defunct AJCongress Hired By American Jewish Committee

JTA yesterday reported that following the suspension of activities by the American Jewish Congress, largely for financial reasons (see prior posting), its long-time general counsel and co-executive director, Marc Stern, has been hired by AJCongress' traditional rival, the American Jewish Committee. Stern, who was with AJCongress for 33 years, is known for his expertise on church-state issues as well as on the international law of warfare and other constitutional matters. American Jewish Committee yesterday issued a press release announcing the move. A spokesman said that Stern's hiring has no connection to rumored merger talks between the two groups, and that no merger talks are now going on.