By Dvora Lakein, lubavitch.com
As a week of mourning winds down for United States Senator Ted Kennedy, his constituents are remembering his contributions in the Senate chambers and eulogizing the end of Camelot.
Though certainly less known, Kennedy’s involvement with the Jewish community of Massachusetts throughout his 46-year tenure as Senator is also being quietly remembered.
“He always came through for us,” reveals Rabbi Herschel Fogelman from his Worcester home. “Whether it was visas or help with or immigration papers for Jewish immigrants, Russian and Iranian, the Senator helped our community.”
“We would call his office after we had exhausted all of the regular avenues and he always delivered,” recalls Rabbi Fogelman.
As an emissary of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneerson, Fogelman has been serving the Jewish community of Massachusetts since 1943. He has known the Kennedy family for much of that time.
The senior Chabad emissary who also corresponded with President John F. Kennedy at the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s request concerning a strong movement to ban shechita, religious slaughter, in the United States during the 50s, says the elder Kennedy was also supportive.
“JFK Kennedy responded in complete support of ritual slaughter and promised that “Jewish shechita should be good,” says Fogelman.
The Massachussetts Senator also arranged several Oval office meetings for the rabbi. Through their acquaintanceship, the Senator and the Rabbi were able to effect positive change for the people of their state.
“He always cooperated,” says Fogelman.
Amongst his many other titles, Fogelman is dean of the highly regarded Yeshiva Academy. Senator Kennedy was the guest speaker at the school’s annual gala dinner in 1980.
“He spoke about the importance of a yeshiva education, saving Russian Jewry, and about Israel,” recounts Fogelman. “The Senator brought his son to one of our dinners where he seemed quite at home.”
Senator Kennedy was the first of his colleagues to write a letter in support of the return of the Chabad-Lubavitch library from Russia. He argued vociferously for its lawful return and encouraged his associates to do the same.
“Senator Kennedy was a true friend of the Jewish community.”
too bad he didn’t come through in that Chappaquiddick incident
i heard it was rabbi jacobson on the boat and that the kennedy senior who i beileve was a outright american nazi collaborator also laughed at rav jacobson when he was wearing his teffilin
“Whether it was visas or help with or immigration papers for Jewish immigrants, Russian and Iranian…”
He has helped different people in many ways. In fact, he and his wife even made a trip to Russia, while still under communist rule.
Please correct me if I am wrong: The father got a curse from a Chossid ( I heard it was Rabbi Jacobson (who had helped the release of the Frierdike Rebbe) when they were on the same boat. I heard 3 nuschaos: 1. That he threw him down the stairs. 2. That he pulled his beard in mockery. 3. Both.
In any case that family has had alot of tragedies. Does anyone know the story 100%??
The sons were openly big friends of ours, no question. The attached letter speaks for itself.
Rabbi Vilshansky, now in Morristown
some of you guys out there are nuts, I cant understand, isn’t credit due where its due?!
Rabbi Zalamn Wilshanski ?
Who is the guy (Shliach?) all the way to the right, behind Fogelman?
all politicians are corrupt to do s/t for lubavitch is excepional!!!!!!! GO WORCE!!
The father, Joseph Kennedy, was an open, rabid anti-Semite. Yet his children, were not. Ted as seen above, Jack as known and Robert visited the Rebbe.
A true nekama in the father.
senator kennedy, did many good deeds he helped he shlepped out many jews from the iron cutain…when no one would do it….so dont rush to crticize…he saved my grandfather jerk!!!!
the Rebbe sayS don’t go lower bring others higher
read the story…. apparently ted wasnt such a bad guy
WHY ARE YOU SUCKING UP TO THIS SOINEH YISROEL? IT’S SICKENING. HE WAS NOTHING BUT A LOWLIFE.