Democratic Majority for Israel President and CEO Mark Mellman released the following statement today:
“We join Americans in grieving the passing of Joe Lieberman. He broke barriers as the first Jewish candidate on a major-party ticket and was a crucial voice in the Senate for more than two decades. A champion of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, he understood that American resolve meant leading at home and supporting our closest allies abroad. His pragmatic and common-sense approach to politics will be missed.
“On a personal note, I went to synagogue with Senator Lieberman and his family for some 25 years and consider him and Hadassah friends. We did not always agree, but Joe Lieberman was always the epitome of decency, humility and what we call, in Yiddish, menschlachite (an all-around exemplary human being). One of my strongest memories of Senator Lieberman was his immense concern for a woman with psychological disabilities who came to synagogue each week after services to get something to eat. While some felt uncomfortable around her, Joe Lieberman engaged with this woman each week, answered her questions, helped her with her issues, and treated her with the high level of respect due to all our fellow human beings.
“All of us at DMFI send our deepest condolences to his loving wife Hadassah, his children, and his entire family. May Joe Lieberman’s memory always be a blessing.”