By Ally Hadge, Features Editor, on behalf of the YU Observer
Caring. Spiritual. Selfless. Thoughtful. Enthusiastic. Passionate. Son. Husband. Father. Grandfather.
These are just some of the characteristics students used to describe Senator Joe Lieberman. An American politician and lawyer who served as a United States senator from Connecticut from 1989 until 2013, he was a man of kind words who always had a smile on his face. He never spoke negatively about others and believed that every person was valuable. If there was a time when Lieberman and another senator disagreed about something, Lieberman made sure it never escalated into a hateful relationship. Hate was never in his vocabulary. He treated every person equally and was always available to help a fellow American. He was never afraid to stand up for what he thought was right.
Lieberman was born on February 24, 1942, and was raised in Stamford, Connecticut. He lived in a small house on Hawthorn Street, located in the Jewish section of Stamford. He and his family were members of Congregation Agudath Sholom. Agudath Sholom was a place where he felt a sense of spirituality and comfort. “My Jewish faith is central to my life. I was raised in a religiously observant family.” said Lieberman on October 11, 2011 at Brigham Young University. “Given to me by my parents and formed by my rabbis, my faith has provided me with a foundation, an order, and a sense of purpose in my life.” He continued, “It has much to do with the way I strive to navigate in a constructive way though every day, both personally and professionally, in ways that are large and small.” He was very close with the Rabbi of the congregation, Rabbi Cohen, who was available to learn with Lieberman and always offered him advice. Years ago, Lieberman made it clear that he wanted Rabbi Cohen to officiate at his funeral someday. “He was a senator, but at the same time, he sat in seats like everybody else, he enjoyed the kiddush like everybody else,” said Rabbi Cohen. “When he walked home from shul, he got soaked on rainy days. He was one of us.” The rabbi was so touched by Lieberman’s request that he flew back from Israel immediately when Joe passed on March 27, 2024.
Lieberman was an observant Jew. He took Judaism with him wherever he went and made his religion a prominent part of his life, always finding a way to ensure that being religious would not interfere with his career. For example, one time he walked five miles from his home in Washington D.C. on Shabbos so that he could vote on an issue. In 2000, Al Gore ran for President and chose Lieberman as his vice president, making him the first Jewish candidate on the national ticket of the majority party. At Lieberman’s funeral, Gore reflected on how he and Lieberman made a deal that showcased the importance Judaism played in Lieberma’s life. Gore agreed to take care of any business that had to be performed from Friday night at sundown to Saturday night at sundown so Joe could spend Shabbos with his family. Joe in turn would take care of business on Sundays. In one of the lighter moments at the funeral, Gore said to the congregation, “I think there is something wrong with that deal.” Judaism was a vital part of Lieberman’s life, and he was deeply devoted to his faith.
Lieberman was a board member of Yeshiva University. He cared deeply about the future of the Jewish people and wanted to make an impact on the lives of the students. He taught classes on Judaism, public service, and the Middle East on both the Wilf and Beren campuses. Lieberman came to every class with an enthusiastic and excited attitude. Each lecture was followed by a Q&A, and he also encouraged students to stay after class if they had any additional questions or comments. When speaking with a student, Lieberman would ask them their name and where they were from and they immediately got to know them on a deep level. His warm personality and powerful lectures will be remembered by the students of Yeshiva University for many years to come.