Former Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), who represented Connecticut in the United States Senate from 1989 to 2013, has been appointed the Joseph Lieberman Chair in Public Policy and Public Service at Yeshiva University for the 2014-2015 academic year. Originally the Senator was not planning on occupying the chair, but Ira and Ingeborg Rennert (the chair’s benefactors) said if the Senator was willing, they wanted him to occupy it—that it would be an opportunity because of his experience with public policy as an observant Jew to influence students at YU.
The
Observer:
Observer:
Why did you decide to teach at Yeshiva University this year?
Senator
Joseph
Lieberman:
Joseph
Lieberman:
Yeshiva University President Richard Joel reached out to me after I ended my career in the senate to find a way for me be involved at YU teaching. I have a lot of family connections there. My wife and daughter both went to Stern, my son-in-law got ordained at RIETS. I have a lot of respect for YU and the role it plays in the Jewish world.
O:
Can you describe the public lectures you will be giving? When and where will they be taking place?
JL:
I will be giving three public lectures this year in the university—one in YC, one in SCW, and one somewhere else, probably at Cardozo. The first one will be after the holidays, probably at the WILF campus. This will be an opportunity for increasing student interest in getting involved in public service.
O:
Do you have any apprehensions about teaching at YU?
JL:
I don’t. I know a lot of YU students. I’m impressed by their values and intelligence. I taught a course at Columbia Law School and enjoyed it, and I have the same expectations for the YU students.
O:
What do you envision your role to be with regards to interacting with students outside of class?
JL:
There are obviously time constraints, but, I want to be available to the students. I will try to interact with students to the best of my abilities.
O:
Do you think your prior family and personal connections to YU will influence your stay here?
JL:
My personal contacts at YU have educated me on the centrality and increasing role of YU in the Jewish world, and in the broader American community.
O:
Do you have any advice for students looking to go into politics? What about other careers where students will be both in the spotlight and have to balance their religious commitments?
JL:
My own career has stood for this—that you can be religiously observant and pursue your career goals. Students will never have to make a choice between religious and secular goals. Society is accepting of observance today—it has not always been the case. Not just in politics—in business, in the professions, in other careers students at YU aspire to. I want to convey that.
O:
What is the most important lesson you learned throughout your political career?
JL:
Be true to yourself. Do what you think is right. This is true in every line of work: being successful means working hard six days a week and resting on the seventh. [Laughs]
O:
Is there anything else you would like to share?
JL:
I am eager to get going. I am excited to meet everyone.