Dozens of Jewish leaders from Pennsylvania are speaking out on behalf of Barack Obama and praising him for condemning the controversial sermons of his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.

The New York Times reported Tuesday night that 70 Jewish leaders in the Keystone State ran an open letter commending Obama for his pro-Israel views.

"Senator Obama has earned our respect and gratitude because of his support for traditional Jewish values and his commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Israel," they wrote.

Despite the recent controversy generated by Wright's fiery sermons, the letter praised Obama for condemning them and addressing the matter in a high-profile speech on race last month in Philadelphia.

"While we are profoundly disturbed by the unpatriotic, bigoted and anti-Semitic comments of the retired pastor of Senator Obama’s church, we are moved that Barack stood up at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia earlier this month, and 'condemned in unequivocal terms the statements of Reverend Wright' and expressed his own views on issues near and dear to the heart and soul of the Jewish community," the letter said.

Josh Shapiro, the deputy speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and one of the letter's authors, told the Times that it's time to "as Jews, stand up and say how much we admire Senator Obama for condemning the words of his pastor and making sure he is Israel's ally in the Middle East."

Clinton has the support of Pennsylvania's highest-ranking Jewish leader, Gov. Ed Rendell.

Click here to read the article about Obama's Jewish supporters in The New York Times.