Rahm Emanuel's Rabbi Talks About The New Chief-of-Staff

Today's Springfield (IL) State Journal Register carries an interview about Rep. Rahm Emanuel with Emanuel's rabbi, Rabbi Asher Lopatin. Emanuel is President-elect Obama's new chief of staff. Lopatin, rabbi of Chicago's Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel, a Modern Orthodox synagogue, says that Emanuel is "definitely a deeply religiously committed person." Lopatin relates that he advised Emanuel that it was appropriate for him to participate last Rosh Hashana in a conference call regarding the pending financial bail-out bill. Lopatin concluded that it was important enough to be a matter of life-and-death for some individuals. In Jewish law, the saving of a life takes precedence over most other religious commandments.