Rabbi Speculates On Whether New White House Chief of Staff Can Continue His Sabbath Observance

Earlier this month, President Obama appointed Jack Lew as his new chief-of-staff after his former chief-of-staff, Bill Daley, resigned. The new chief-of-staff is an Orthodox Jew. An interesting opinion piece this week in The Forward by Rabbi Ethan Tucker explores whether and how Lew will be able to continue to observe the Sabbath in a position that generally required 24/7 activity. Tucker writes in part:

We live in a thrilling moment for Shabbat observance. It is a moment in which the general culture is truly ready to hear much of its message. And it is also a moment in which being observant is not a barrier to serving one’s country and society at the highest echelons of power. I am sure Jack Lew will find ways to avoid all unnecessary meetings on Shabbat and will be in a position to avoid certain concrete physical tasks like writing that have been core elements of Shabbat observance for millennia. But when he does find himself in the office on a Saturday — beckoned by the president to deal with issues of national concern — I hope he and we will remember Rav Sheshet’s [Talmudic] insight: The Jew’s commitment to infusing our world with Jewish values and leadership is ultimately a 24/7 endeavor.