The Chosen
the Senate gym to be within walking distance of
the Senate chambers for an important vote on a
Saturday, said Klein. Al Gore instead arranged
for him to stay at his parents' apartment nearby,
then helped him by turning on the lights and
other chores.
A humble Senator Levin said he would be
happy to give Lieberman the sole title of the
"conscience of the Senate."
HARRY KIRSBAUM
"Given what he's accomplished here, I think
Staff Writer
that that title now belongs to him alone," said
Levin, who served with Lieberman on three Senate
he thought is staggering — a heart-
committees. "He's acted in a way that's inclusive."
beat away from the presidency, the
The choice of Lieberman will "disconnect"
most powerful office in the world.
Gore from President Bill Clinton, and make it
That Senator Joseph Lieberman, an
possible to focus on the issues, "and that is a
Orthodox Jew, could hold the nation's second
huge plus for us," Levin said.
highest office has the whole nation talking.
"Lieberman is not a partisan type, he will
For some, it's a source of pride and a historic
bridge the partisan gap, and I think it's a huge
event long overdue; for other minorities, it's a
plus for the country"
source for hope; and for still others, it's
Larry Jackier, another longtime Jewish
much ado about nothing. Locally, com-
community leader, said, Lieberman is "the
munity leaders echoed this wide range of
political equivalent of a mentsh. He is
sentiment, but still were overwhelmingly
trustworthy, he's reliable, he's thoughtful,
supportive.
he's straightforward, he's got no hidden
Kathleen Straus, Jewish Community
agendas and he's a very fine person, with
Council president, said Senator
high morals and integrity."
Lieberman (D-Conn.) serves as a "symbol
Jackier, who was Lieberman's Yale Law
for the Jewish community and all minori- Emery Klein
School classmate, said the choice of a Jew
ty groups that the highest positions in
probably won't be an issue.
America are open to people of all back-
"Everybody thought that a Catholic
grounds.
had no chance of being president when
"This is an historic event, on par with
Kennedy ran, and look what happened. I
the selection of Catholic nominees for
don't know how analogous this is to
president, Al Smith and John F.
Kennedy, but it's over and done with and
Kennedy," she said. "In the intervening
it's not a problem any longer, but it's,
decades, America has become a more
really hard to assess."
Larry ackier
open society, and Senator Lieberman's
religion should not be a factor in the
Jewish Religious Leaders
election."
The overriding reaction among local Jews
David Blewett, executive director of
was pride. Yet how Lieberman's Orthodox
the Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-
beliefs \Ain affect his leadership was the
Christian Studies in Southfield, called
main question asked this week by every-
Vice President Al Gore's choice "remark-
one, including Jews.
able."
Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz of Machon
If elected, Lieberman could be "a great Carl Le yin
L'Torah in Oak Park said the senator's
boon for religion and Christian-Jewish
Orthodoxy will have some impact, but he
relations, to see how faith affects daily
observes that Lieberman has managed being
life," Blewett said. "I love the description of him
Sabbath-observant for 12 years in the Senate.
as the conscience of the Senate, and he'll bring
"I'm sure he would consult with his halachic
this into the administration."
authorities, and they would lead him," Rabbi
Jacobovitz said. "Thank God, we have a Torah,
Personal Ties
and there are guidelines, and I'm sure that he
Impressed with Lieberman's honesty and good-
will find those guidelines.
ness, Emery Klein, a longtime Jewish communi-
"We have to be very proud of what he's doing
ty leader from Southfield, said both Lieberman
and may he continue to be a source of nacha.s-
and Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) should be
[pride] to the Jewish people," he said. "It's a
described as the consciences of the Senate.
landmark in American history, and I hope it is a
Klein, who befriended Lieberman in 1993
positive one."
while on a trip to Budapest, Hungary, said they
Gary Torgow, an Orthodox community
keep in close contact. He loves to relate a story
leader, said Lieberman as Gore's running mate
about Al Gore, Lieberman's one - time "Shabbos
``speaks a lot about America in the year 2000. He
goy."
will be a wonderful example for the country and
Sometime during his first term as senator,
Lieberman was planning to spend the night in
REACTION on page 12
Leaders react to Joe Lieberman
as Al Gore's running mate.
T
Attacking Stereotypes
With Lieberman bursting into the national limelight
and on the verge of being just a heartbeat away from
the presidency, some Jewish activists express hope that
the way Lieberman conducts his life will break down
stereotypes of modern Orthodox Jews specifically, and
Jews in general.
As Lieberman wrote in the New York Times in
December 1992, "My parents raised me to believe that
I did not have to mute my religious faith or ethnic
identity to be a good American."
Some politicians and pundits have raised the issue
of whether Lieberman could fully carry out his duties
on Saturday despite the fact the senator has already
done so, when necessary, for 12 years.
His rabbi at the Kesher Israel congregation in
Washington, Rabbi Barry Freundel, advised
Lieberman that he can vote on Saturday in the Jewish
tradition ofpikuach nefesh, or saving people's lives.
The senator recently clarified his interpretation of
that tradition to mean he may work on Shabbat, but
only to promote "the respect and protection of human
life and well-being." Lieberman's clarification should
put those concerns to rest, say some Jewish leaders.
"What about some presidents who take a day off to
play golf? Except Joe's day off would be Saturday,
instead of Sunday," said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive
vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of
Major American Jewish Organizations and himself a
modern Orthodox Jew. "These personal values and
family values are the very values that people say they
want to see in Washington."
Informing Polio.'
Lieberman's religious values also infuse his political views,
whether it be to protect the environment or to condemn
President Bill Clinton for questionable morality.
His record shows him to be a moderate Democrat
who crosses party lines on certain issues. His moder-
ate approach fits most of the agendas supported by
mainstream Jewish organizations.
On many domestic issues, such as gun control,
MORAL AUTHORITY on
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2000
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