New York – Jewish Political Rising Stars Recognized

New York – Two Jewish Political rising stars were recognized by City and State NY, the leading political publication in NY. In what is a yearly tradition, City and State selects 40 people under the age 40 who they deem as “Rising Stars.”

This year, two Orthodox individuals were recognized for their work in Public Service. 27 year old David Lobl of Human Care Services, and 31 year old Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder.

Below is the profile that City and State NY published on Dovid Lobl, and Phil Goldfeder.
New York’s Orthodox Jews are on the rise, flexing their political muscles and providing the margin of victory for a number of candidates in recent elections. David Lobl is often at the center of that activity, helping craft messages and coordinate resources for his community.

But Lobl is no local boy. He grew up on the North Side of Chicago, where he cut his teeth working for Rep. Judy Biggert, whom he still considers his “political godmother.”

After getting married, Lobl moved to Teaneck, New Jersey, where he began working for the Friedlander Group, a Jewish lobbying firm. Seeking other ways to contribute, he was intrigued by a client, Human Care Services, a nonprofit that helps care for the disabled. “When they made me an offer, it was a no brainer,” Lobl said of his work at HCS.

Now he’s often in Albany advocating for the company amid a storm of new industry-wide rules and regulations.

“You always have that one client you really, really believe in,” he says. “You really think you’re doing God’s work.”

For Lobl, helping Orthodox Jews find their political voice is also doing God’s work.

“They’re finally realizing their own ability to stand up for issues that they believe,” he says, “rather than let politicians take them for granted.”

How did your past jobs get you to where you are now?
“I started on the Hill; then I was involved in local campaigns in Chicago. Then I got married and moved out here. I took an opportunity with Ezra [Friedlander] and I got to meet a lot of people.”

If you were not working in politics, what would you be doing?
“If I wasn’t in politics, I would be in psychology. The idea of being able to make people’s lives better, to make a tangible difference, is at the end of the day what gets me going.”

Five years from now, what will it say on your business card?
“I was born in Israel, so I can’t be president. I guess ‘Chief of Staff to the President of the United States of America.’ ”

If you could have a superpower, what would it be, and why?
“To go back in time. To be able to talk to and learn from previous world leaders how they were able to make such a positive difference with the little that they had, and translate that into our generation.”
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When Phillip Goldfeder was a boy, his parents instilled in him the importance of giving back to the community.
But he was too queasy to follow in the footsteps of his father, a volunteer emergency medical technician.

“I could never stand the sight of blood, so I chose public service as my calling and my opportunity to give back to a community that really raised me,” Goldfeder says.
The assemblyman took office last fall after winning a special election, and he has kept the focus on his district in southeast Queens, including legislation to remove a toll on the Cross Bay Bridge and another bill to preserve wetlands in Jamaica Bay.

“There’s nothing better than being able to attend a community board meeting and hear directly from community leaders and community advocates about some of the issues that are facing the community, and then being able to work in government to resolve some of those problems,” Goldfeder says. “What makes this job really great is the interaction I get to have with people on a daily basis, whether it’s children in schools or seniors at senior centers or community activists at civic meetings.”

How did your past jobs get you to where you are now?
“Most recently I had the opportunity to work for Senator Chuck Schumer. There is no harder working, more focused elected official in the entire state, and I’d venture to say in the entire country, someone who has dedicated his life to working on behalf of every person he represents, and someone who truly epitomizes the idea that you never forget where you come from.”

If you were not in politics, what would you be doing?
“I would probably be teaching. I love history. I love global studies. As a matter of fact, in my spare time I tutor for an organization for kids who can’t afford tutors. I really love speaking to young people, and doing the best I can to pass on what I’ve learned. It’s something I’ve always done, and I love it.”

What will your business card say in five years?
“ ‘Representing the people of the state of New York in some capacity.’ Wink, wink.”

If you could have a superpower, what would it be, and why?
“If there was a way to stretch the hours in the day, I’d do that.”