By COLlive reporter
Light the National Menorah, get a promotion – that’s the latest insider’s joke going around Jewish political circles in Washington, DC.
It originated from Josh Bolten, who lit Chabad’s National Menorah, only to become President George W. Bush‘s chief of staff in 2006.
Now the good luck charm seems to have worked with Jack Lew, who this past month lit the Menorah with American Friends of Lubavitch and was named Monday as the chief of staff for President Barack Obama.
Lew, an observant Jew, is replacing Bill Daley in the role that is in charge of White House staff and operations, and is a senior adviser to the president.
Before Daley, the job was filled by Rahm Emanuel, who also was honored with lighting the Menorah on the Ellipse, and who has since moved on to his “dream job” serving as Mayor of Chicago.
“The President will have (in Lew) a great, yet humble public servant at the helm, who has keen insight into some of the most complex policy issues,” Rabbi Levi Shemtov, the Chabad Shliach of DC, told COLlive.
“In addition, the fact that he is well regarded across the spectrum of the Jewish community is a bonus, even if not his core qualification,” he said.
“On balance, I think this is good for the American Jewish community, which is obviously “kvelling” at this exciting development.”
Working in U.S. administrations since Jimmy Carter, Lew has become close with the senior Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of the unbrella Agudas Chassidei Chabad International and American Friends of Lubavitch.
“We go back over 30 years,” Lew said last year about his friendship with Rabbi Shemtov. “He is a man of deep faith, integrity and kindness.”
As U.S. Deputy Secretary of State to Hillary Clinton, Lew addressed the 2010 Living Legacy Conference dedicated to the Rebbe‘s memory.
He can often be seen davening at The Shul at Chabad’s “embassy” in NW Washington. “He comes as a humble individual participant that wants to be noticed primarily by Hashem, he doesn’t want to create fuss,” Rabbi Levi Shemtov told Haaretz.
“Everybody knows he is shomer shabbos, I doubt they’ll bother him unless it’s an emergency – but he can then easily get to the White House on Shabbos – he doesn’t live so far,” he added.
VIDEO:
Mr. Lew proudly wears his kippah. Rabbi Shemtov had only accolades for him. Who are you to speak lashon hara about a fellow Jew you don’t even know. Chances are that you are just a racist hiding behind your feigned religiousity using this opportunity to bash President Obama and to promote your Republican party preferences instead of giving mazaltov to and being proud of a fellow observant Jew being promoted to a very high position in our government.
Obama is very calculative. He needs the Jewish votes…..
so he brings Jack Lew. But don’t be fulled…Vote Republican in 2012. It’s good for Israel
Another self hating jew gets the position
Don’t trust anyone working for Obama. Vote Republican. Observant Jew who loves Israel and serves Obama with all his
heart…??? Something doesn’t add up! Have we forgotten the incident about two years ago when Lew, then Mrs. Clinton’s chief of protocol at the State Department, summoned Mike Oren and chewed him out – over Israeli building in Jerusalem.
Pray this Lew doesnt do an about face on Israel policy like that treacherous Rahm Emanuel spewed his rhetoric on the shtochim, Palestinian state etc etc.
If he is any friend of Chabad let him get SM Rubashkin and Pollard for that matter.
don’t judge presidential book by phony jewish cover; vote republican in 12!
It’s there for a reason.
… the game is the same .Money.
Now we need to vote for Obama
I wonder if having a Jew in this position,especially in an election year,is such a wonderful idea.Either way,win or lose,the term “dartboard ” for the left or right come to mind if things get all ‘fouled’ up.Better we work quietly,incognito.
Working on the Jewish vote very smart
Is he related to Rabbi Shmuel Lew?
There may be a lot of competition to light the Menorah next year.