Anasayfa
Orthodox Jew Replaces Daley as Obama's Top Aide
By Nathaniel Popper and Nathan Guttman
Published January 09, 2012.
Washington — Jacob (Jack)
Lew, an Orthodox Jew, will be taking over as the White House Chief of
Staff, a position considered to be closest to the President’s ear. Lew’s
appointment was announced Monday, shortly after news broke that the
current chief of staff William Daley is stepping down.
Lew currently serves as director of the Office of
Management and Budget, a position he also held in the Bill Clinton
administration.
“This is a tremendous and exciting appointment,” said
David Harris, president and CEO of the National Democratic Jewish
Council. “It is a point of communal pride.”
President Obama, speaking of the change in his senior
staff, praised Lew’s experience as budget director for both
administrations. “If there was a Hall of Fame for budget directors, then
Jack Lew surely would have earned a place for his service in that role
under President Clinton, when he helped balance the federal budget after
years of deficits,” Obama said.
Obama’s first chief of staff was Rahm Emanuel, who left
Congress to join the White House. Emanuel resigned in October 2010 in
order to launch his successful run for mayor of Chicago. Emanuel is also
Jewish and was viewed as the main address for the Jewish community in
Obama’s White House. His departure coincided with that of David Axelrod,
another top Jewish adviser.
Daley’s resignation came as a surprise given the short
time he served in the White House, but political analyst speculated that
the change reflects a shift into election mode in which a chief of
staff with more effective ties on Capitol Hill would be an important
asset.
Jack Lew was widely viewed as a successful budget
director during the Clinton years. He began as an adviser to the
President on domestic issues, including healthcare reform and moved on
to head the OMB, where he was credited with helping balance the budget
and ending the Clinton administration era with a large national surplus.
Following the 2008 elections Lew joined the administration once again,
initially as deputy secretary of state under Hillary Clinton and later
back in his old position as budget director.
Lew is the first Orthodox Jew to hold this position.
According to Jewish activists who are close to him, Lew keeps an
observant lifestyle, eats kosher food and does not drive of the Sabbath.
He does not wear a kippa (traditional Jewish skullcap) in his daily
life. Lew is a member of an Orthodox synagogue in Potomac, Maryland.
“We wish Mr. Lew a hearty ‘Mazal Tov’ on his historic
appointment and best wishes in his new role in serving the president and
people of the United States,” said Rabbi Steven Burg and Nathan
Diament, top officials at the Orthodox Union, in a statement they put
out shortly after the appointment was made public.
Abba Cohen, Washington director for Agudath Israel said
that “to the Jewish community, Jack has always been receptive and
helpful.” Harris of the NJDC added the Lew’s experience as OMB director
reflected many of the budget priorities shared by the Jewish community.
http://www.forward.com/articles/149318/
By Nathaniel Popper and Nathan Guttman
Published January 09, 2012.
Washington — Jacob (Jack)
Lew, an Orthodox Jew, will be taking over as the White House Chief of
Staff, a position considered to be closest to the President’s ear. Lew’s
appointment was announced Monday, shortly after news broke that the
current chief of staff William Daley is stepping down.
Lew currently serves as director of the Office of
Management and Budget, a position he also held in the Bill Clinton
administration.
“This is a tremendous and exciting appointment,” said
David Harris, president and CEO of the National Democratic Jewish
Council. “It is a point of communal pride.”
President Obama, speaking of the change in his senior
staff, praised Lew’s experience as budget director for both
administrations. “If there was a Hall of Fame for budget directors, then
Jack Lew surely would have earned a place for his service in that role
under President Clinton, when he helped balance the federal budget after
years of deficits,” Obama said.
Obama’s first chief of staff was Rahm Emanuel, who left
Congress to join the White House. Emanuel resigned in October 2010 in
order to launch his successful run for mayor of Chicago. Emanuel is also
Jewish and was viewed as the main address for the Jewish community in
Obama’s White House. His departure coincided with that of David Axelrod,
another top Jewish adviser.
Daley’s resignation came as a surprise given the short
time he served in the White House, but political analyst speculated that
the change reflects a shift into election mode in which a chief of
staff with more effective ties on Capitol Hill would be an important
asset.
Jack Lew was widely viewed as a successful budget
director during the Clinton years. He began as an adviser to the
President on domestic issues, including healthcare reform and moved on
to head the OMB, where he was credited with helping balance the budget
and ending the Clinton administration era with a large national surplus.
Following the 2008 elections Lew joined the administration once again,
initially as deputy secretary of state under Hillary Clinton and later
back in his old position as budget director.
Lew is the first Orthodox Jew to hold this position.
According to Jewish activists who are close to him, Lew keeps an
observant lifestyle, eats kosher food and does not drive of the Sabbath.
He does not wear a kippa (traditional Jewish skullcap) in his daily
life. Lew is a member of an Orthodox synagogue in Potomac, Maryland.
“We wish Mr. Lew a hearty ‘Mazal Tov’ on his historic
appointment and best wishes in his new role in serving the president and
people of the United States,” said Rabbi Steven Burg and Nathan
Diament, top officials at the Orthodox Union, in a statement they put
out shortly after the appointment was made public.
Abba Cohen, Washington director for Agudath Israel said
that “to the Jewish community, Jack has always been receptive and
helpful.” Harris of the NJDC added the Lew’s experience as OMB director
reflected many of the budget priorities shared by the Jewish community.
http://www.forward.com/articles/149318/