Former U.S. senator and vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman passed away this week at the age of 82, following complications after being injured in a fall.
A rarity in politics, Lieberman was a mensch. Chuck Schumer should have learned a lesson or two from Joe.
I actually met Sen. Lieberman a couple of times. The first was when my ex and I were guests of some affluent friends at a fund-raising banquet for Detroit’s Yeshiva Beth Yehuda, the primary school that my grandsons attend. Because of our hosts’ donation, we were allowed entry into the VIP reception before the dinner. I don’t recall if Lieberman was the keynote speaker or not - the annual YBY dinner is the biggest fundraiser annually in Detroit and all sorts of political heavy hitters sit on the dais, but he was at least one of the honored guests and I had the chance to say hello and shake his hand.
The second time was at the media preview of the North American International Auto Show, AKA the Detroit Auto Show. Even when it isn’t an election year, like the YBY annual dinner, the Detroit auto show attracts a raft of politicians. Every four years, however, the NAIAS media preview, which brings in about 5,000 media types to the even, is thick with political aspirants looking for photo ops and free publicity. President Biden came to the 2022 NAIAS, ironically prompting show organizers to evict journalists from the show floor of the *media* preview, so the president could shoot some B-roll during a puff job interview from some state-mouthpiece-journalist.
At the time I met the senator at the NAIAS, I was still dealing in press kits, sales brochures, and the kind of limited access swag that you can get at media events that are not available to the general public. Consequently, I got my then young adult son, my only son, Moshe, whom I love*, credentials so I could have duplicates (or more) to sell on eBay.
While we were walking the floor at Cobo, we ran into Senator Lieberman, who was talking to Robert Schostak, whose family is in commercial real estate around Detroit and who was at the time an official in the Michigan Republican party. I know him as Bobby. He was in the class behind mine at Hillel Day School.
I said hello to Bobby and he introduced me to the senator, saying, “Senator Lieberman, I want you to know that you are talking to two Hebrew day school graduates.”
Sen. Lieberman, one of the few religiously observant Jews in American public life, beamed.
“Not just day school graduates,” I said proudly, pointing to my son, “A yeshiva graduate as well.” It was a bit of a flex.
Lieberman smiled and said, “A Yeshiva graduate, eh” Then gesturing to my son’s uncovered head, “Where’s you’re yarmulke, then?”
“With all due respect, Senator,” Moshe replied with a grin on his face, “Where’s yours?”
Lieberman laughed heartily. Like I said, he was a mensch.
Rest in peace. Baruch Dayan Emmet, blessed be the true Judge.
* Moe was a teenager when he figured out that the “my son, my only son…” was his dad riffing on the binding of Isaac, half-joking about sacrificing him to God.
That is heartwarming Ronnie. With the polarization of politics it is nice to hear about the actual person. Always admired Mr. Lieberman. Willing to work with people and do what he believed was correct. Many today won’t respect someone they disagree with.
Sounds like you and your son have a good relationship, and your son can take the joke.
Sounds like your son has a bright future .
-Nate
(edited BEkhause ah _still_ kain't spel gud)