chief of staff

[free]

Since he's Jewish, do you think Rahm Emanuel would be able to sway Obama toward continued help/friendship with Israel? Could that be a silver lining in any way?

[Mike Vande]

Since he's Jewish, do you think Rahm Emanuel would be able to sway Obama toward continued help/friendship with Israel? Could that be a silver lining in any way?

Not all Jewish people are pro-Israel. Is Emanuel?

[free]

Honestly I haven't followed this guys career but I did do some research yesterday when a friend called me about him and said, "This is the guy who took his oath and swore on the Quran rather than the Bible." Guess he was wrong.

Here's some stuff I read:

At the start of then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton's presidential primary campaign Emanuel was appointed to direct the campaign's finance committee. Emanuel left to volunteer as a civilian volunteer in the Israel Defense Forces during the 1991 Gulf War, serving in one of Israel's northern bases, rust-proofing brakes.

His father, a pediatrician still practicing near Chicago, immigrated to the United States from Israel and spoke Hebrew with his son, when Emanuel was a boy. He is the brother of Ari Emanuel, a prominent talent agent and founder of the Endeavor Agency.

Emanuel's wife Amy Rule, a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania converted to Judaism shortly before her wedding. They are members of Anshe Shalom, a modern Orthodox congregation in Chicago. They have three children, son Zacharias and daughters Ilana and Leah. The children attend Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, Emanuel's own alma mater, where his wife, Amy, frequently volunteers. Rabbi Asher Lopatin of Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation, is quoted as saying: "It's a very involved Jewish family"; "Amy was one of the teachers for a class for children during the High Holidays two years ago." Emanuel has said of his Judaism: "I am proud of my heritage and treasure the values it has taught me." Emanuel's family lives on the North Side of Chicago, in the North Center neighborhood.

[crispfin]

Since he's Jewish, do you think Rahm Emanuel would be able to sway Obama toward continued help/friendship with Israel? Could that be a silver lining in any way?

I don't understand how Obama would need swaying. He and McCain both came out strongly in the campaign in support of Israel. Obama also gathered a larger than expected share of the Jewish vote. I don't think that many would've voted for him if they thought his Israel support was soft.