Stamford, CT – When President Barack Obama visits Stamford on Friday, he won’t see Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., a resident and native of the city.
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Lieberman, who is Jewish, is not planning to attend the fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., because he’ll be celebrating the Sabbath at his Strawberry Hill Avenue home, his spokeswoman said.
“While he’s delighted the president is coming to Stamford, because of the Sabbath, he won’t be able to attend,” spokeswoman Erika Masonhall said.
Obama will speak at Friday evening’s fundraising dinner for Connecticut’s embattled senior senator at the Hilton Stamford hotel.
While Dodd faces a challenging campaign for re-election in 2010, Masonhall said Lieberman has loudly endorsed him so he can “continue (his) work for the state and the nation.”
In the past, Lieberman’s staff has said juggling his political ambitions and religious obligations is a balancing act, but one that has always been a part of his 30-year career in public service.
As an Orthodox Jew, Lieberman observes the Sabbath by avoiding activities such as driving, working, spending money and cooking from sundown Friday until after sundown Saturday. He has maintained this throughout his life, though it has been more apparent to the public during campaign season.
During Lieberman’s vice presidential bid in 2000, presidential campaign in 2004 and Senate re-election race in recent years, many events were rescheduled to accommodate his beliefs, and he willingly missed others to observe the Sabbath.
“There are some political events that I’m going to miss on Friday night and Saturday — I already have,” Lieberman told the Associated Press in 2003. “But I made a decision early on in my life what my priorities are, and I just hope and believe that people will respect that.”
What a kiddush hashem. A politician who is faithful to his wife and as well as a machmir on matters of halacha. A wonderful role model for our yinglach.
Too bad I’m not a politician who can be mekadeish sheim shamayim by keeping Shabbos.
Kol Hakavod Mr Leiberman May G-d Almighty bless you and sustain you until the arrival of Moshiach very soon.
I’ll bet he sings z’miros with extra kavona for the fact that he doesnt have to be seen with the obamaite.
While I may not always agree with Sen Lieberman politically (far too liberal for my political philosophy), he always has my respect as an honest man, and more importantly an ehrliche yid.
to joe liberman and family: am yiroel is proud of you!
Charlie – I believe he was preceded in that by Herbert Tenzer in the House not that long ago, and maybe others as well.
LOL if I were in Sen. Lieberman’s position I’d try to make sure that ALL of Obama’s fundraisers were on shabbos, so I could get out of going to them.
I’ll be sitting right behind him in shul tonight, and share these nice comments with him after davening.
I lived in DC for a year and saw him at shul on the Shabboses when he was in town. He’s a truly honorable mentsch.