The Chabad-Lubavitch emissary in Alaska, Rabbi Yossi Greenberg, said that Alaka’s Governor Sarah Palin has “established a great relationship with the Jewish community over recent years, and has attended several of our Jewish cultural gala events,” he told Lubavitch.com
Palin has shown solidarity with Israel by signing a State of Alaska Resolution recognizing Israel’s 60th Anniversary and its relationship with Alaska. In the resolution, Governor Palin pointed to Alaska’s special connection to Israel dating back to Alaska Airlines’ participation in the rescue of 40,000 Yemenite Jews when it airlifted them from Yemen to Tel Aviv during 1948 and 1949.
Drafted by members of the Alaska Legislation and heavily supported by Speaker of the House, Representative John Harris, Governor Palin signed the resolution in the presence of Alaska’s Jewish community leaders this June.
According to Greenberg, Governor Palin had plans to visit Israel with members of the Jewish community, which did not happen yet because of scheduling conflicts.
On a personal level, Greenberg was “impressed by Governor Palin’s remarks of hope and faith when she gave birth to a child with special needs.” Her words, he observed, were completely aligned with Judaism’s traditional views on embracing the birth of child with special needs as a gift of G-d, no less than is the birth of any baby.
Though Greenberg was unequivocal in stating that Chabad representatives do not endorse political candidates, and as spiritual leaders reach out to anyone regardless of political affiliation, he did say, “We all feel that the Governor is a remarkable, energetic, and good person.”
In a special interview with Shturem.net Greenberg was asked about the rumors that she had supported Pat Buchanan in the past, Greenberg said, “I heard about it now for the first time. I can tell you this, from the time she became governor she has always supported the Jewish community and Israel and even sponsored a bill on behalf of Israel. She always comes to our events and she is really a very amazing woman.
“She may lack knowledge on matters pertaining to foreign policy but she is a quick learner, and besides, every president has advisers around him. She is a very good person, she is very honest, a very dedicated and wonderful mother”.
Asked if being elected will force her to neglect her children, Greenberg said “absolutely not, she is a remarkable woman. She even takes her baby that was born with special needs to some of her meetings and public events. She is a mother first.”
(After the interview with Rabbi Greenberg, Shturem.net was informed that Governor Palin had actually supported Buchanan’s competitor Steve Forbes at the time).
30 Av 5768
It never hurts to have Christian Political Leaders on Israels side. Many of them DO hold the Jewish people in high regard and usually get some flak for going public.
I do. I like Sarah Palin very much.
Yawn! Who cares?