Chicago, IL – An Orthodox Jewish Rabbi was sworn in to the Illinois House of Representatives Sunday night, replacing Lou Lang, a Democrat who served in the legislature for over 30 years.
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Rabbi Yehiel Kalish, an education advocate who spent 12 years at Agudath Israel of America, most recently as its vice president for development and stare relationships, is believed to be the first Orthodox Jewish rabbi to serve as a state legislature.
During his tenure at the Agudah, he managed government and fundraising efforts on the national level, building relationships with communal organizations from all across the religious spectrum in addition to forging bonds with elected officials, both in Illinois and beyond.
After hearing that Lang, who represented the 16th House District was vacating his position to join a lobbying firm, Rabbi Kalish elected to throw his Borsalino in the ring.
“We had two weeks to create something out of nothing,” the 43 year old father of six told VIN News. “Having worked with all different areas of the Jewish Community from the Federation the Agudah and everything in between, as well as many others groups, we were able to rally support.”
Rabbi Kalish, who received his rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, was chosen by a three man committee from a field of 20 other candidates. He looks forward to representing residents of Rogers Park, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove and parts of Skokie, a district where Orthodox Jewish residents comprise approximately 30 percent of the population.
Rabbi Kalish has been working in government advocacy for the last four years as chairman and CEO of the S4 Group. He already has his agenda lined up as he begins a two year term in Springfield, with a planned focus on education and capital improvements.
While his appointment to the state legislature may be historic, Rabbi Kalish isn’t the first member of his family to serve at the level of government. That honor goes to his sister Dafna Michaelson Jenet, who was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2016.
Wishing him luck and not being an aguda pawn
kol hakoved. Rabbi Kalish is well known and beloved by all in the Chicago Jewish Community for his tireless work on behalf of the Klal.
Best of luck!!!
Editor: one edit – he isn’t the “first Orthodox Jewish Rabbi to serve as a state legislature.” Should be amended to “in Illinois.” (For example Simcha Felder in NY).
AOC is Jewish too. Not sue what the point of this article is.
hmmmmm,
the article says, “vice president for development and stare relationships”
I am interested to know what is STARE relationships????
Republican Jews are Democrats in the sense they believe in democracy. Democratic Jews are not Republic in the sense that they hide behind their own personal agenda vs what’s best for society and upholding religious values.
It appears that some of you are against any frum Jew serving in elective office, whether at the state legislature level, or elsewhere. For example, not that long ago, in Brooklyn, NY, a Chassidic woman was elected as a Judge. She presides over criminal and civil cases, from the bench. I remember the undercurrent on this site, after she was sworn in. In fact, some idiot had the gall to write that “she should stay home in the kitchen, and take care of her kids”. Obviously, that reactionary had the same attitude as the Taliban, and the religious police in Saudi Arabia!
Is he ready, willing and able to fight and vote against the toeiva agenda and abortion?