Former US senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman has died at the age of 82. He died from issues from a fall, Punchbowl Information reported in a social media submission on X, citing a household.
Lieberman spent 24 years as Senator for Connecticut and was the primary Orthodox Jew to serve in the Senate.
While there were other Jews in the Senate, Lieberman was the primary Jew to observe the Sabbath according to Orthodox requirements, which means he did not attend Senate business from sunset on Friday to Saturday.
Lieberman also kept Kosher and prayed daily, not engaging on the Sabbath. He was a strong advocate of morality throughout his time, denouncing gratuitous intercourse and violence in movies, TV shows, and pop music.
Lieberman ran with Al Gore in 2000 as his vice president, after which he ran once more in 2004 for the Democratic nomination, but he was unsuccessful.
A bi-partisan star
Lieberman was famous for his bipartisanship. Throughout his time in the Senate, he worked carefully with Democrats and Republicans.
He was so profitable that Republican candidate John McCain thought about selecting him as his operating mate in 2008, Politico reported.
He was a robust supporter of Israel and opposed the Iran nuclear deal. His assistance led him to go against Donald Trump on several Israel-related points.
“I’m grateful to President Trump for making this determination,” he said at an event to mark the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem. Under Trump, his fame for bipartisanship continues to be strong. He was even rumoured to be a possible choice for FBI director in 2017.
Lieberman’s daughter Hana Lowenstein, her husband Daniel, and four youngsters made aliyah in 2018. Individually, his granddaughter Nesya Lieberman made aliyah earlier that year.
He’s survived by his spouse, Hadassah, and their three youngsters.
Reactions
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on X, calling “our beloved” Joe Lieberman “a varied and dependable private buddy.”
Sara and I grieve with Hadassah and your entire Leiberman household on the passing of our beloved Joe Leiberman. Joe was an exemplary public servant, an American patriot and a matchless champion of the Jewish folks and the Jewish state. In my very first assembly with him…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 27, 2024
“Senator Liberman was a real mensch whose legacy of management and repair will continue to encourage future generations,” World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder said after his death was announced.
“The Jewish people will notably feel his loss because his iconic life and work and standing up for the cause of freedom worldwide had a profound impression on each one of us. Even in dying, Joe’s legacy will continue to function as an inspiration for me and your entire Fight Antisemitism Motion (CAM) group,” CAM CEO Sacha Roytman said.
Obama commented on X: “Joe Lieberman and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye. However, he had an unprecedented career in public service, together with four long years spent fighting for the folks of Connecticut.”
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