Daniel Lapin
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Daniel Lapin (born 1950?) is a political commentator and American Orthodox rabbi living in Mercer Island, Washington, and the founder of Toward Tradition (a conservative Jewish-Christian organization). He also once headed the Pacific Jewish Center in Venice, Los Angeles, California (as well as the Commonwealth Loan Company and the Cascadia Business Institute). Lapin is co-chair of the conservative American Alliance of Jews and Christians.
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[edit] Background
Lapin was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to a family of Lithuanian Jewish descent. His father, Rabbi Avraham Chaim Lapin, a nephew of Rabbi Elya Lopian 1872-1970, served as a prominent and outspoken Orthodox rabbi in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and eventually established an Orthodox synagogue (Am Echad) in San Jose, California after he left South Africa in the late 1970s. Lapin's two brothers, David Lapin and Raphael Lapin, are also Orthodox rabbis and have similar educational backgrounds, having emigrated from South Africa to California. His sister is married to an American rabbi.
Lapin studied in yeshivas in London and Jerusalem, and emigrated to the United States in 1973, becoming a naturalized citizen. Rabbi Lapin's Talmudic tradition emanates from the school of the Vilna Gaon and the Soleveitchik dynasty, while his philosophic outlook was molded by the school of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter. Lapin studied under Rabbi Moshe Feinstein in New York, Rabbi Gurwicz in the UK, and Rabbis Mishkowsky and Lifschitz in Israel.
Lapin is married to Susan and they homeschool(ed) their six daughters and one son.
[edit] Pacific Jewish Center
Lapin founded the Pacific Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in Venice, California that views itself as functioning as part of the recent Baal teshuva movement, encouraging Conservative and Reform Jews to adopt and return to a more observant traditional Judaism.
Michael Medved was a member and is currently a board member of Toward Tradition. Actors Barbra Streisand and Richard Dreyfuss, although not politically conservative, participated in that religious community and synagogue. Lapin's teachings are also aligned with Modern Orthodox Judaism, in that while he promotes observant Judaism, he is strongly in favor of observant Jews having interaction with other faith communities (in his view, mostly conservative and observant Christian communities) and broader political action outside of Judaism.
In the early 1990's, for reasons that remain unclear, Lapin left the Pacific Jewish Center and handed over the reigns of rabbinic leadership to his brother David Lapin, who led the community until he left in 2003 to run the Eshkol Academy.
[edit] Radio show in Seattle
In late 1991, Daniel Lapin and his family relocated to Mercer Island, Washington (near Seattle), where he focused on building the organization of Toward Tradition. Starting in 2002, Lapin broadcast a paid weekly radio talk show funded by Toward Tradition on KTTH-AM in Seattle. The show ended in January 2006. Currently he hosts a radio show Sunday afternoons on KSFO-AM in San Francisco (when not pre-empted by Oakland Raiders football broadcasts).
[edit] Conservative Judeo-Christian values vs. liberalism
[edit] Support for conservative Christians
Both Lapin and Medved promote conservative political principles, inter-mixed with traditional religious observance. Lapin was one of the Jewish voices in support of Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ, and was a strong supporter of the efforts by Terri Schiavo's parents to keep their daughter alive. He is also a strong supporter of Pope Pius XII as a righteous gentile, a term he believes should be renamed "righteous Christian".
Lapin believes the United States of America is the most "Jewish-friendly" state in history because of its strong Christian heritage. He argues that it is better for Jews to promote shared Judeo-Christian values with the majority than promote solely Jewish values. In Lapins' view, the biggest danger to the Jewish people is not Christianity but secular liberalism. He has also lamented that the Holocaust Memorial Museum presents anti-Christian propaganda, and ignores, for example, the work of Corrie ten Boom's family in unconditionally saving Jews, motivated by their staunch Christian beliefs. (They saved Jews regardless of whether they converted, and even provided kosher food and honored the Sabbath observers.)
[edit] Opposition to Jewish liberalism
Lapin has declared that the Anti-Defamation League and its allies are "dangerous organizations, organizations that are driving a wedge between American Jews and Christians." Referring to ADL national director Abraham Foxman, Lapin said that by calling Gibson's film antisemitic, "what he is saying is that the only way (for Christians) to escape the wrath of Foxman is to repudiate (their own) faith."
Lapin also rejects the idea that the Jewish left, which can be secular or even anti-religious, represents Judaism. He has excoriated many people of Jewish descent for their leadership in promotion of ideas contrary to traditional Judaism, such as abortion, homosexuality and socialism. He argues that Jewish-born liberals have redefined "Judaism" to mean "liberalism" — and redefined "anti-liberalism" as "anti-Semitism." Lapin has said: "It is time for us to recognize the charge of anti-Semitism for what it often is: a political weapon intended to silence critics of liberalism."
[edit] Public celebration of Christmas
Daniel Lapin believes that saying "Merry Christmas is NOT Offensive" and complains that "We see obsequious regard for faiths like Judaism and even Islam, while Christianity is treated with contempt". [1] He is opposed to replacing the "Merry Christmas" greeting with "Happy Holidays" saying instead "Let us all go out of our way to wish our many wonderful Christian friends—a very merry Christmas". Further Lapin laments that "Nationwide, Christmas Nativity scenes are banned from city halls and shopping malls but Chanukah menorahs are permitted. (They are only cultural symbols, not religious, you see.)" and concludes that "Religious Freedom is for Everyone - Not Just Minorities" [2].
[edit] Positions on other issues
[edit] Recycling
Recycling is one of the "Liberal" ideas that Lapin is opposed to. He has denounced recycling as "The sacred sacrament of secularism." "Why? Because if we are animals then there is a shortage in the world. God doesn't take anything from us and God doesn't create and therefore there is a shortage ... Do not feel guilty for using what God has provided us. Enjoy it!" [3]
[edit] Wealth
Lapin asks: "Does God want people to be rich?" ..."Yes!" he says, because God "wants us to be obsessively preoccupied by one another's needs," a habit that the commerce relationship fosters. "Wealth is a consequence of doing the right thing," he says. He argues that the Torah supports the free market and opposes punitive taxation, and wants people to pass on assets to their descendants rather than being taken by the government by inheritance taxes. Conversely, atheistic governments have never produced a free market; instead they produce socialism.
Though he portrays himself as a business guru, Lapin has not been successful in his business ventures. While in California, he founded an investment company called Commonwealth Loan Company which bought and sold investment loans secured by Californian real estate. The company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 1992, six months after Lapin moved to Seattle. The company had losses in excess of $3 million dollars, much of which had been personally guaranteed by Lapin. In July 1994, Lapin filed for personal bankruptcy in a Seattle federal court, with more than $3 million in debts.
In 1996, Barry Abramson, a former congregant, filed suit against Lapin for fraud, claiming he had abused his position as spiritual advisor to convince him to invest all of his inheritance from his grandmother in the failed investment company. Lapin was exonerated by a federal bankruptcy judge in Seattle, who ruled that Abramson had "failed to state a claim for any kind of fraud."
[edit] Allies
Lapin has had breakfast with Karl Rove and considers himself a "close friend" of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. He also has Zig Ziglar as a frequent and enjoyed guest in his house, and is friends with Professor Walter Block of Loyola University of New Orleans.
"When you're talking to a pastor he could be inspired by God, etc., but he may not have the scholarship," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, one of several Republicans who refer to Lapin affectionately as "my rabbi." But, "when you're talking to Rabbi Lapin you know you're getting an expert, someone who's the equivalent of a PhD at a major university."
For evangelicals who are used to reading about Jews as God's chosen people, Lapin offers a different experience: "A lot of people are surprised when they leave church and encounter essentially Dershowitz Judaism, Jews who are liberal," says conservative activist Grover Norquist, who is also a friend. "Lapin is the opposite of that."
Lapin said that "the principles of the Republican Party and the convictions of our president more closely parallel the moral vision of the God of Abraham than those of anyone else," Lapin said at the dinner with President George W. Bush, hosted by Ralph Reed. But he said that he is loyal to Judaism before the GOP, and if the GOP deviates, he would cease his support.
Lapin has said that "the 700 Club is one of my big all-time favorites."
Lapin serves on the board of the Jewish Policy Center in Washington, DC.
[edit] Jack Abramoff
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[edit] Relationship
Jack Abramoff served on the board of Toward Tradition, including a stint as chairman, and donated the $10,000 a year expected from board members. One year Abramoff met that requirement by sending a check from the Capital Athletic Foundation, an organization Abramoff controlled that has since become a key piece of the Abramoff corruption investigation.[4]
The Washington Post reported on October 16, 2005, that Toward Tradition received a $25,000 donation in 2000 from online gambling company eLottery, a lobbying client of Jack Abramoff and his employer, Preston Gates Ellis, despite Lapin's professed opposition to gambling. Some or all of the money received by Lapin was then transferred to a company run by the wife of Tony Rudy, an aide to Tom DeLay who was instrumental in killing an antigambling bill that eLottery and Abramoff were lobbying against. In a follow-up article published by the Washington Post on January 9, 2006, it was alleged that Toward Tradition was the "non-profit entity" referred to in Abramoff's plea agreement in relation to a $25,000 contribution made by Magazine Publishers of America which had hired Abramoff for a campaign against the postal rate increase. In March 2006, Tony Rudy pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy relating to the money his wife had received via Lapin.
Lapin's brother David met Abramoff while he was visiting South Africa during his International Freedom Foundation/Red Scorpion years. He tutored Abramoff in Talmud and Jewish law, during Abramoff's process of embracing Orthodox Judaism.[5]
Abramoff employed David Lapin as the dean of Eshkol Academy, the Orthodox Jewish school Abramoff founded, from 2002 to 2004. Abramoff also directed the Marianas government to give David Lapin a $1.2 million contract for "ethics in government" trainings.[6]
According to a January 4, 2006 article in Newsweek, Lapin urged supporters of President George W. Bush's re-election to give campaign donations through Abramoff, helping Abramoff gain Bush "Pioneer" status among top presidential fundraisers.
Daniel Lapin wrote a response [7] to the Washington Post article where he denies any wrongdoing.
[edit] Fake awards
Lapin and his organization Toward Tradition became a participant in the Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal in 2005 because of information that surfaced during US Senate hearings into Abramoff's dealings.
The Senate hearings revealed emails between Lapin and Abramoff, wherein Lapin was asked to create academic awards for Talmudic studies --complete with letters and plaques -- to help Abramoff gain admittance to the Cosmos Club, an exclusive Washington, DC organization. (Washington Post, 6/23/2005.)
- "I hate to ask your help with something so silly, but I have been nominated for membership in the Cosmos Club," Abramoff wrote. He noted that the club has "Nobel Prize winners, etc. Problem for me is that most prospective members have received awards and I have received none. I was wondering if you thought it possible that I could put that I have received an award from Toward Tradition with a sufficiently academic title, perhaps something like Scholar of Talmudic Studies? …Indeed, it would be even better if it were possible that I received these in years past, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I think you see what I am trying to finagle here!"
Lapin responded via email and the two apparently talked by phone. Finally Lapin e-mailed, "I just need to know what needs to be produced... letters? plaques? Neither?" Abramoff replied: "Probably just a few clever titles of awards, dates and that's it. As long as you are the person to verify them [or we can have someone else verify one and you the other], we should be set. Do you have any creative titles, or should I dip into my bag of tricks?".
Subsequently, Abramoff listed two 1999 awards from Toward Tradition and the Cascadia Business Institute on his official bio on the Greenberg Traurig website. [8]
When the story broke in June 2005, Lapin told the Seattle PI "he could not recall the exchange with Abramoff" and had no recollection of the incident. In a formal statement issued in early 2006 Lapin denied having given Abramoff the awards and claimed the emails were a joke:
Anyone familiar with Abramoff’s jocular and often fatally irreverent email style won’t be surprised that I assumed the question to be a joke. ... I regret the exchange. I should have candidly explained that Toward Tradition is not an academic institution and does not issue the kind of awards he described. ... On no occasion did I, Toward Tradition, or any organization with which I was affiliated ever create an award for, or present one to Jack Abramoff.
In October 2006, the House Government Reform Committee released a report [9] which included an October 2000 email [10]from Lapin to Abramoff in which Lapin had listed the details of the three promised awards.
[edit] Writings
Lapin has contributed articles to the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Commentary, The American Enterprise, and the Washington Times, and has taught at the Christian Coalition, for the U.S. Army, Harvard Law School, and the Family Research Council.
He is the author of:
- America’s Real War [11]
- Buried Treasure
- Thou Shall Prosper
[edit] External links
- Toward Tradition site
- Pacific Jewish Center site
- The Republicans' Rabbi-in-Arms (Washington Post June 2005)
- Lapin on the war on Christmas
- Rabbi Daniel Lapin, a Long Look Backward
- TT: Toward Tradition or Toward Theocracy?
- Lapin and Toward Tradition Under Scrutiny in Abramoff Probe
- Rick Anderson. "Meet the Lapin Brothers", Seattle Weekly, May 11, 2005.
- Excerpts from Jack Abramoff's e-mails to Rabbi Daniel Lapin
