OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI
Issue #286 September 16, 2000 / 16 Elul 5760
Parshat Ki Tavo
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In this issue:
WITH LIEBERMAN AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
YIDDLE RIDDLE
PUBLIC DOMAIN
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WITH LIEBERMAN AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

Dear Readers:
Here are a few samples of some of the many questions we've received
over the past several weeks regarding Joe Lieberman:

From:  Dan Friedman
<topcopy98@yahoo.com>

  Dear Rabbi,
  Senator Joseph Lieberman is often described as an Orthodox Jew, yet
  he is never seen wearing a yarmulke in public.  Could you please
  shed some light on this for me?  Thank you.

From:  Aaron Moebus in Brooklyn, NY
<mrmailmaninc@earthlink.net>

  Dear Rabbi,
  By now we all know that Joe Lieberman, the Democratic nomination for
  US vice president, is Shomer Shabbos (Sabbath observant).
  Reportedly, he observes Shabbos unless "serious business" in the
  Senate requires him to attend (voting is done by voice, not by
  pressing an electronic button).  I am curious:  Is he correct
  regarding this?  Would halacha allow him to attend such meetings on
  Shabbat?

From:  Gerald Gordon in Brooklyn, NY
<gordex@flashcom.net>

  Dear Rabbi,
  Joe Lieberman proudly says he is an observant Jew.  Yet he is
  pro-choice on abortion and even late term abortion.  Shouldn't the
  Torah direct an observant Jew's vote?

Dear Dan Friedman, Aaron Moebus and Gerald Gordon,

Senator Joe Lieberman is a Sabbath observant Jew.  He is a member at
the Westville Synagogue in New Haven.  In Washington, his 12-year old
daughter attends the Orthodox Hebrew Academy.

Lieberman observes Shabbat not only when it suits him or when
convenient, but even when it has threatened to hamper his political
career.  For example, in 1988 he was nominated senator at the
Connecticut Democratic convention on Shabbat.  He did not attend.

Leading halachic authority Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled that if a
person will be denied work because he wears a yarmulke, he may remove
it at work.  This could be Senator Lieberman's reason for not wearing
a yarmulke in public:  It may be too visible of a religious symbol for
some voters, which could cost him his job.

Regarding attending meetings on Shabbat:  In general, Shabbat talk
should be in the "Shabbat spirit."  Weekday talk should be avoided and
planning weekday activities is basically forbidden.  But mitzvah
matters and matters of public concern are exceptions; you are allowed
to discuss on Shabbat matters relating to mitzvot and matters which
affect the public good, even if the discussion doesn't seem to be in
the "Shabbat spirit."  So, a Jew may participate in a public meeting
on Shabbat in order to advance the public good, provided he performs
no forbidden acts such as driving, writing, etc.

A more difficult question arises in regard to some of Mr. Lieberman's
more controversial legislation.  And, no, I don't mean SR 282,
proposed by Mr. Lieberman, in which the US Senate formally resolved to
congratulate the University of Connecticut Huskies for winning the
2000 Women's Basketball Championship.  I mean abortion.

Senator Lieberman's position on abortion legislation does not seem to
jibe with the Torah position.  In particular, the "Freedom of Choice
Act of 1993" -- a bill sponsored by Mr. Lieberman himself -- aims to
protect the "right of a woman to choose to terminate a pregnancy."

A noble sounding law, indeed.  We're all for protecting people's
rights, right?  The problem is, not in all cases does the Torah
recognize a person's right to cut off unwanted parts of his anatomy.
This law would condone many cases that Jewish law would not.

Does this mean Mr. Lieberman is not really loyal to the Torah?  No, it
doesn't mean that.  In Judaism, a person is "innocent until proven
guilty."  As the Torah phrases it, "B'tzedek tishpot -- You shall
judge favorably."  (Leviticus 19:15)  The Torah requires that we give
others the benefit of the doubt.  So, perhaps Mr. Lieberman simply
erred in his understanding of this issue.

Judging favorably does not mean that we accept improper behavior;
rather, it means that if someone is a basically good person, we seek
ways to view him in a good light in spite of a possible lapse.  If we
see someone who is basically Torah observant, keeps Shabbat and
kashrut, we shouldn't jump to label him "non-observant" for this or
that halachic infraction.  Again, I don't in any way mean to belittle
any mitzvah which people are lax about or ignorant of.  Rather, I mean
to stress the importance of judging our fellow man favorably.

The best thing to do is to ask Mr. Lieberman himself.  His email
address is:

  <senator_lieberman@lieberman.senate.gov>

A note about the names of Joseph and Hadassah Lieberman:  It's
interesting that Joseph and Hadassah were both Jews who rose, each in
his own day, to become second in command of the world's superpower:
Joseph rose to the position of viceroy of the Egyptian Empire, and
Hadassah -- also known as "Esther" (Book of Esther 2:7) -- became
queen of the Persian Empire.

Sources:
* Iggrot Moshe, Orach Chaim, vols. 1 & 4; & Choshen Mishpat, vol. 1.
* Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 306:6
* Maimonides, Hilchot Melachim 9:4
* Tractate Shavuot 30a

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YIDDLE RIDDLE

LAST WEEK WE ASKED:  "My older brother is my twin.  Although he is
perfectly healthy in every way, he will not fast this year on Yom
Kippur, although I will.  Why?"

ANSWER:  I am a girl.  Therefore, I become bat mitzvah (obligated to
observe the commandments) at age 12.  My brother, because he is a boy,
does not become bar mitzvah until age 13.  So, even though he is
older, I am a year ahead of him in regard to the obligation to fast on
Yom Kippur.

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THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
Comments, quibbles, and reactions
concerning previous "Ask-the-Rabbi" features

Re:  LIEBERMANIA

We received the following description of the first "Liebermania"
Shabbat, reported by an attendee:

The sense of surrealism continued and the euphoria was tangible.
Senator Lieberman, Hadassah and their daughter Hani were accompanied
to shul (synagogue) by 15 to 20 secret service agents.  Some walked
beside; most trailed slowly behind in a SUV and one of those black
vans with all the techno equipment.  The press was there to film him
walking-in.  The shul gave out a statement letter to the reporters
welcoming them to observe the service, but asking that no cameras,
laptops, pens, notepads, etc. be used inside the shul; and that the
media not attempt to interview service-goers on Shabbat.  About five
secret service agents went into shul; by and large, they blended in
very well.  There was a female agent to protect Hadassah Lieberman,
and word is that Hani gave her an excellent tutorial on the services.

Senator Lieberman got an aliyah (i.e., he was called up to read from
the Torah) after which the shul burst into "siman tov u'mazel tov" (a
song of congratulations).  After Joe's aliyah, the gabbai said a
misheberach (blessing) for Al Gore.

After the Torah reading, the Rabbi gave a short address on "Hilchot
Vice President."  The major points were that security demands might in
the future require a metal detector.  The walk-through kind would not
be allowable, but the agent-held devices would not violate Shabbat for
the person being checked.  Press interviews should not be given on
Shabbat.

After services, kiddush was held.  The secret service no doubt has
even greater appreciation for Orthodox Judaism after seeing that 11:00
am shots of single malt scotch are part of the observance. (smile)
L'chaims (toasts) included:  "Next year in the White House!"  Hadassah
said they have not yet thought about whether they would, if elected,
build a sukkah at the Naval Observatory, which is the Vice President's
home.

The Rabbi's drasha (talk) was about a verse in that week's Torah
portion, Va'etchanan, that states that following G-d's commandments
will give one wisdom which will be respected by the other nations of
the world.  The Rabbi said that Senator Lieberman is an embodiment of
that verse.  Following services, the secret service quickly escorted
Joe out of shul and walked him home.
                                     Shelley & Ed Kohl
                                     <sekohl@earthlink.net>

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