WASHINGTON (JTA) — The U.S. Senate voted March 2 to approve tax breaks for private and public school expenses, allowing parents, employers, church groups or others to put aside as much as $2,000 annually in education savings accounts.

Republicans hope the measure will pass the House, but the bill faces a likely veto from President Clinton.

Jewish groups collect aid for Mozambique

NEW YORK (JTA) — At least two Jewish organizations are collecting money to help victims of the recent floods in Mozambique.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is working in a partnership with the South African Jewish community, an Israeli nonprofit group and the Red Cross.

Donations can be made on the Web at www.jdc.org or sent to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, JDC Mozambique Relief, 711 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017.

Donations also can be made on the Web at www.ajws.org or sent to the American Jewish World Service, 989 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018.

Bush dons yarmulke at Wiesenthal Center

LOS ANGLES (JTA) — Tolerance "can never be assumed" and "must always be taught," Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush said during a visit to the Simon Wiesenthal Center here on Monday.

Bush, who donned a yarmulke, added that he believes "our nation is chosen by God and commissioned by history to be a model to the world of justice and inclusion and diversity without division."

Vice president warns Palestinians on state

NEW YORK (JTA) — Vice President Al Gore declared himself this week forever a friend to Israel and an enemy of terrorists.

He also issued a harsh warning to the Palestinians not to declare an independent state.

Speaking to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Gore shook his head, smiled and laughed slightly when he said that such a declaration "would certainly fall in that category" of the kind of unilateral declarations that he and President Clinton have "actively and forcefully discouraged."