American Turning Point Moral Authority Al Gore's selection of a modern Orthodox Jew, Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, as his vice-presidential running mate, marks a milestone in American history — the first Jew to run as a major-party candidate for vice president. Jewish leaders hailed the decision as a sign that America is ready to accept a man on the basis of his accomplishments and moral values, apart from his religion. MICHAEL J. JORDAN Kosher At Yale Jewish Telegraphic Agency Judaism became the core of the younger Lieberman. At Yale in the 1960s, he was one of only a hand ful. of Jews who kept kosher — so Lieberman was known as the one in the cafeteria always eating defrosted fish, says Stone. When his first nominating convention for Senate in 1988 landed on a Friday night, Lieberman did nor attend. Instead, he sent along a videotaped acceptance speech. "It was a very symbolic and meaningful deci- sion, the kind of thing that has deepened people's respect for him," says Ethan Felson, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Hartford. "He knows when his involvement is necessary, and when he can employ other means." Indeed, in Washington, when Lieberman's presence is needed in the Senate on a Saturday, he walks several miles to get there — with an escort for protection. He doesn't use the subway 01 elevator. If he is required S enator Joseph Lieberman's first Friday in the U.S. Senate posed a problem for him — not politically, but religiously. It was 1988, and the Senate session was running late into the night. Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, was obliged to stick around, despite the Sabbath. Instead of walking all the way to his new home in the Georgetown neighborhood — or violating the laws of Shabbat by jumping in a taxi — he made alternate plans: He would sleep on a cot in his office. When his Senate colleague Al Gore got wind of Lieberman's ad hoc accommodations, he implored the freshman lawmaker to stay at the nearby apart- ment of Gore's parents. Lieberman consented. He was then surprised to find that Gore had arranged for the bathroom lights to be turned on and the bedroom lights turned off. As Lieberman later recounted to rabbi and author Kurt Stone, "I may have had the most distinguished Shabbos goy in history." to vote, the Senate leadership allows him to do so by v hand, rather than electronically. ."They used to say that Jacob Javits was the most Family Values The senator's offices in Washington and Hartford have mezuzot on the doors and pushkas on the desks, for tzedalea, or charity. It is said Lieberman, 58, calls his mother every day and also prays daily. He reportedly prayed with Gore on Monday after agreeing to be the Democratic vice presidential can- didate. began courting the sister of his bosses, they permit-, "The best compliment I can give him is that he's ted them to marry only after he had raised his earn- a mentsh — and I define mentsh as growing up to ings to $25 a week. be the person that your parents always hoped you •. • "It was my parents who taught me to value and would be," said Stone, author of the soon-to-be- honor work," Lieberman told the union crowd. released book, The Congressional It;1 inyan: The Jews o f f They also taught him the ways of Judaism. Capitol Hill.. • • Indeed, as Lieberman noted at an AFL-CIO meeting Monday on his way to accepting. Gore's offer, he owes his value system to his parents. His father worked the night shift loading and unloading a bakery truck before taking a similar job in a liquor business run by two brothers. When he , Lieberman's parents were reportedly not too reli- gious, nor did tither attend university. But his father a self-taught Jew. As Stone writes. in the honor store Lieberman nni n ,Sta m ford Con n., u 3 tom ei senior later \vould often find him studying Loral:, '‘,valkin listeniir to classical music. Talmud or nuidrash Jewish Jew in politics; that title now belongs to Lieberman," says Stone. The late Javits was a for- mer New York senator. Not surprisingly, Lieberman became something of a celebrity. When yeshiva and day-school stu- dents visit Washington, "The kids always ask do I know the Orthodox senator," said Abba Cohen, counsel and director of the Washington office of Agudath Israel. "They don't ask me if I know the president. 'Lieberman continues to consult with his child-- hood rabbi. Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz of " • Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, Conn.,.who also officiated at his bar mitzvah. In Vashino-ton. the Liebermans belong to the Resher Israel congregation. I heir daughter,- Hana, recently celebrated her bat mitzvah and graduated Iewish. Primary Dav School of the al in _tune. Lie-berman spoke at her graduation.