By COLlive reporter
On the night before he won the special election to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate, Democratic star Cory Booker was spotted late Tuesday night at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Cambria Heights, Queens, New York.
Eyewitnesses told COLlive.com that the Newark Mayor was seen praying and lighting a memorial candle at the Ohel – the holy gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.
His small entourage was made of close and long-time friends, including author and media personality Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Rabbi Shmuly Hecht of the Eliezer Society at Yale University.
“He came around 12:15 AM with a small group of people led by Rabbi Boteach who was praying with Booker and left at around 2:00 AM,” one person said.
“No one expected to see him at such an hour, but it wasn’t a surprise that he was there since he’s been here more than once in the past,” noted a person that was present at the time.
Booker defeated Republican Steve Lonegan to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg. The 44-year-old will become the first black senator from New Jersey.
AP said Booker built a national following for his consensus-building and his personal story. He was a suburbanite who went to Stanford and Yale Law before moving into a tough Newark neighborhood promising to do good before he ran for office.
A pioneering politician on Twitter, Booker never hesitated to share his keen interest and knowledge in Torah and Jewish ethics. He’s spoken at three consecutive gala dinners of the Colel Chabad charity. “This organization is truly part of my heart,” he has said.
Booker once commented that his favorite Jewish holiday was Sukkos and Simchas Torah, remembering the joyous celebrations at Chabad of Oxford. He later became the President of Rabbi Boteach’s L’Chaim Society at Oxford.
In speeches to Jewish groups – among them the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ and Chabad of Greenwich, CT – he often evokes Yiddish words, the parsha and Rambam.
His favorite opening line is stating that the dvar Torah will be delivered “by the large goy from Newark.” Having met Chabad at the age of 23, he once said: “Lubavitch is one of these organizations that once they have you, they never let you go.”
Let’s give this man a chance. He became involved with Chabad at 23 and is still involved at age 44, so it’s not a fluke to win a few votes for him. The real question is: what has he learned in all his years and all his interaction with Chabad personnel… will he follow the Torah, some other doctrine, the Left leaning wing of the Democratic Party, or, perhaps his own ideas or a compilation of the (above)…only time will tell, but I think that we should pray for him to make good decisions in the very responsible position in… Read more »
boteach had predicted that booker would be the first black president. he might have been wrong with being the first, but the way america is going, he might be right as the second.
Congratulations to him on his well deserved victory. Best wishes for continued success!
N#1 Believe me that the election is valid… I’m sure that whoever you are, you are not the one that will bring this up…
And please get over it… as Frum people we don’t need to be conservative as a principle… that’s pure ignorance…
His attachment to the Rebbe is unique and sincere. He’s a real unifier! The Dems finally have a 2016 candidate! I haven’t gone with this party in decades.
why do people keep falling for this stuff over and over again? Do people really love debts, deficits, government power & control that much? Of all peoples Jews should be on the front lines fighting for limited government. We have seen time and time again what happens when governments get too much power. If you think America is an exception, get your head out of the sand and take a look around you as to what america has become. steve lonegan should have won. if you really think cory booker is better for jews or better for anyone for that… Read more »
hey, nobody’s perfect, especially in politics. Booker at least talks the talk, he gets it, he is not a typical liberal in the sense of looking the other way or accepting crime. He believes in raising people up and holding them accountable instead of treating them like children. This is a good recipe for good policy making. He believes in G-d and that he has a mission to make the world better.
Can you find a better candidate?
Ignorant voters. What else is new?
Rarely do you find someone that actually has a grasp on Yiddishkeit and Jewish sensitivities, as Cory Booker. I’ve been keenly following his rise through the ranks of politics. If Cory were running for President, which I’m sure he will some day, I would (will) actively campaign for him. He’s a man not only for the African/American and Jewish communities, but for the world at large. He’s one in a billion.
I am very impressed with his knowledge of Judaism.
He seems like a real mentsch.
Is his father Jewish?
Whats the guys position on alternative marriage? Abortion? Israel? What are the halachic implications for frum yidden who vote and support ppl like that?
Hes got the party chevraman style, looks awesome etc, etc, watch the fsilure he will be.
He’s just another extreme left democrat with no values or backbone.
Another corrupt politician.
NJ you idiots for voting this punk in.
He’s never lived at any of the addresses he’s claimed. Does he live in NJ at all? If he really lives in NYC then his election is invalid and must be overturned.