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Orthodox Union Letter Commending Sen. John
Kerry
October 29, 2003
Hon. John Kerry
John Kerry for President, Inc.
By Facsimile: 202-548-6801
Dear Senator Kerry,
We write to you today on behalf of the Union of Orthodox Jewish
Congregations of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella
organization representing nearly 1,000 synagogues and their thousands of
members across this nation – to commend your actions responding to the
deeply disturbing report published in today’s Arizona Republic newspaper.
As you know, the newspaper report alleges that representatives of your
campaign in Arizona have sought to persuade state legislators supporting
the candidacy of Senator Lieberman to redirect their support toward you on
the grounds of Senator Lieberman’s Orthodox Jewish beliefs and observance.
Specifically, the Arizona Republic states that your political supporter,
State Rep. Ben Miranda, urged three state legislators who have endorsed
Sen. Lieberman to withdraw their support because he “can’t campaign three
days a week,” an exaggerated reference to Senator Leiberman’s Orthodox
Jewish Sabbath observance from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
We deeply appreciate the fact that you quickly investigated these
allegations, disassociated yourself and your campaign from Mr. Miranda,
and deplored anyone who would inject religion into the political campaign.
By quickly taking these appropriate steps, you, Senator Kerry, have
clearly sent a message that such tactics are not only offensive to our
community which shares Senator Lieberman’s faith and practices, but to all
Americans of good will who recognize that religious liberty and tolerance
are the bedrock of America’s freedoms.
We know from our work with you on legislative initiatives such as the
Workplace Religious Freedom Act that you venerate religious liberty in
this nation and will continue to work to protect the right of all
Americans of all faiths to not only subscribe to religious beliefs, but to
have the right and freedom to translate those beliefs into practice.
Sincerely,
Harvey Blitz
Richard Stone |
Rabbi Tzvi H. Weinreb
Nathan J. Diament |
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