Washington – White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew, an Orthodox Jew, recently spoke with The Forward (http://bit.ly/RiAgLT) about how he balances his demanding work schedule and his religious lifestyle. He said the president is particularly mindful of the time on Friday afternoons and respects him for adhering to his beliefs. “I saw the president on many occasions on Friday afternoons look at his watch, and ask: ‘Isn’t it time for you to get going?’” Mr. Lew said, “or, ‘Why are you still here?’”
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In fact, it was the president who referenced Mr. Lew’s observance when he offered Mr. Lew the chief of staff position. “He raised it with me saying: ‘I know that things are going to come up where there’s an emergency on Saturday or that you need to be here. I know you well enough to know that this is not an issue. I want you to know that I’m never going to ask you to work on Saturday if it’s not really necessary. It’s important for me that you know that.’”
For his part, Mr. Lew sought to reassure the president about his commitment, saying, “I’ve made it clear that you don’t have to wonder if there’s a crisis whether I’m available. If you need me, I don’t even consider it a violation of my faith to be doing the things I need to do to make sure people are not in harm’s way.”
On Friday afternoons, Mr. Lew leaves the White House before Shabbos begins and does not work on Saturdays. Mr. Lew says he has received rabbinical permission to work on Shabbos when there is a true need to do so, but admits such a necessity has been “limited.” In those instances, the chief of staff usually walks to and from the White House.
This is not the first time Mr. Lew has had to balance observing Shabbos and serving in high-level positions. As budget director for former President Bill Clinton, he did not work from sundown on Friday until Saturday night, but made himself available for true emergencies.
“I have found that if you are true to your own beliefs, people respect it,” Mr. Lew said. “I’ve found that President Obama considers it a sign of strength and value that there is something in my life that reflects principles that I adhere to.”
Very nice, Mr Lew, but how do you feel about the way he treats Israel? How do you feel about gay marriages, abortions and other liberal feelings as an Orthodox Jew? If the Torah is truly your guide, you would have refrained from taking this position with O to begin with, based on those policies. You have no business being in the O White House.
I know I might get negative response on this, but here goes.
If the president can hire a religous Jew as his right hand man, on top of all the other Jews he’s surrounded himself with, maybe he ‘aint so bad as everyone makes him out to be! Something to think about now that the presidential election is upon us.
Regardless of who I might vote for I think Mr Lew’s actions are a great kiddush Hashem for all of us.
It is just another proof that our president is very respectful to Jews and specially to an Orthodox Jew.
kol hakovod to LEW
Yes while President Obama is a liberal, he is a real mentsch. Can’t deny that. Sometimes people forget that in a heated election.
While I admire Mr. Lew and commend President Obama for hiring so many Jews, I cannot help but wonder about the timing of this article, so close to the election. This story was news when Mr. Lew was first appointed, but that was a long time ago. It is no longer news, but instead pandering for Jewish votes days before a very close election.
sorry # 8 but your 80-90 % vote for him because his leftist-socialist-communist
programs which keep giving these parasites more of the hard working class money.it’s redistribution of wealth ,stupid !
I remember when Obama was an Illinois State Senator and sharing a hotel room with Ira Silverstein in Illinois’ capital, Springfield, IL. Obama was Ira’s Shabbos goy during that stay. Ira’s wife is now the 50th Ward Alderman in the City of Chicago (where almost all the frum yiddem live) & Ira is running unopposed in this November’s election.
what a sellout…
the biggest oxymoron is honest politician..
This has been a trick of many sonei yisrael to surround themselves with other yidden to make things look good! Don’t be fooled
I still cannot overcome Obama’s association with J. Wright for 20 years. and I think he makes huge mistakes in foregn policy.