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Veep choice brings images of past Pennell photo Rabbi David Zaslow of Ashland�s Havurah Shir Haddash says the selection of Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman will help inject "spiritual idealism" into the national presidential campaign. Leaders in the Rogue Valley Jewish praised Gore�s choice of Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew. Jewish community pleased with Gore�s selection of Lieberman By Jonel Aleccia News that a Jewish senator was tapped as Al Gore�s running mate immediately reminded Marge Holman of the last time religion was an issue in a presidential campaign. It was election day 1960 and John Kennedy was the Democratic contender. Holman, a Medford housewife, stepped out the door of her Haven Street home and found anti-Catholic literature planted on her porch. "I remember how upset I was," Holman, 68, recalled Tuesday. "It was on the walkway to every house in the neighborhood. Have we gotten beyond that? I pray that we have. I really do." Forty years after Kennedy�s campaign, members of the Rogue Valley Jewish community expressed hope that the selection of Sen. Joseph Lieberman as the Democratic vice presidential candidate signals a national shift toward tolerance � religious and otherwise. "It would be great if there was a Hispanic or a black or a gay, but at least we got a Jewish guy," said Rabbi David Zaslow of Ashland�s Havurah Shir Haddash. " ... He will bring spiritual idealism back into the arena of national politics." Other area Jews adopted a wait-and-see attitude about the effect of the choice of the 58-year-old Connecticut senator. "I am proud and pleased that a person of the Jewish faith has been selected," said Jon Gell, a Medford doctor. "I guess it will become kind of litmus test to see whether religion will be an issue or whether it will be politics as usual." Leaders of the two local Jewish congregations totaling nearly 300 families praised the choice of Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, for his personal attributes and his religious representation. "The nomination of Joseph Lieberman is an opportunity to celebrate that America has become more diverse and pluralistic," said Rabbi Marc Sirinsky of Ashland�s Temple Emek Shalom. "Sen. Lieberman�s selection is testimony to the ethics, morality and leadership that he has shown in the United States senate since 1988." Lieberman was the first Democrat to chastise President Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair. He later voted against impeachment. Zaslow predicted that Jews and non-Jews will respond to the centrist�s moral certitude. "Joseph Lieberman brings such moral character that he really represents the broadest spectrum of American culture," said Zaslow. "What�s coming through is the light of Judeo-Christian values." At the very least, Lieberman�s new national profile is bound to increase awareness of Jewish ritual and religious custom, Zaslow said. Lieberman and his wife are Orthodox Jews. They observe the Jewish Sabbath from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday as well as dietary and social requirements. "For the first time, there will be kosher considerations in the campaign," said Zaslow, who added that Orthodox Jews are prohibited from engaging in gossip. "Can you imagine Washington running without it?" Religious tolerance has increased since Kennedy was viewed as a pawn of the pope, but that doesn�t mean it�s universal. "Those lunatic anti-Catholics and sick anti-Semites are still out there," Zaslow said. "But mainstream Christians are beyond that." None of the Jewish congregants believed the selection would alter significantly Rogue Valley voters� views. For Jon Gell, however, Lieberman�s role will increase his interest in an otherwise ho-hum presidential race. "I�m basically still kind of surprised," he said. "I just wasn�t thinking of national elections tied up with Jewish identity." Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA