Philadelphia – The Chasidich rabbi Solomon Isaacson roams the halls of power brokers – his black suit, white shirt and broad-brimmed black hat – never changes, and the only food he offers them is challah, a bread delivered in person and free to the offices of most elected officials in City Hall, usually every week, he delivers 600 challahs a week. And he is widely perceived as a man of political influence.
And like any insider, Isaacson wants something for the client he sees as his, the Jewish people.
His latest pursuit: a large swath of land in Northeast Philadelphia for new townhouses and single-family homes so that hundreds of Chasidich Jewish families can relocate here from the saturated streets of Brooklyn.
As new Philadelphians, Isaacson says, they would help repopulate the city, adding to its tax base and creating jobs.
He’s had no success so far – but he’s hardly out of juice. A fast-talking, fast-walking schmoozer, Isaacson has access. Here as well as in Harrisburg, lobbyists, lawmakers and their aides refer to him as “Rendell’s rabbi” and “Street’s rabbi.”
With the proven ability to deliver votes from the immigrant community of Russian Jews that he has nurtured for 25 years, he is able to get government doors to open to him.
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