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Rep. Kalish is first ever rabbi in Illinois House

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Illinois

An Orthodox rabbi was appointed to serve in the Illinois State Legislature.

Rabbi Yehiel Kalish was sworn in to the Illinois House of Representatives on Sunday night. Kalish, 43, is the first rabbi to serve as an Illinois state representative.

“I may be the first rabbi in any state legislature. And that’s very exciting,” Kalish told the CBS affiliate in Chicago. […]

He replaces Rep. Lou Lang, a Democrat who served in the legislature for 32 years. Lang resigned following his reelection after receiving a partnership offer from prominent lobbying firm Advantage Government Strategies. He was harmed last year by a sexual harassment allegation, though absolved of the allegations after an investigation by the Illinois Inspector General. Lang was on the three-member committee that selected Kalish from among 20 possible candidates.

* The Yeshiva World…

Rabbi Kalish spent more than 10 years at Agudath Israel of America, focusing on governmental advocacy in state capitols across the country.

Rabbi Kalish was chosen by a three man committee from a field of 20 other candidates. In the 16th House district which he now represents, Orthodox Jewish residents comprise approximately 30 percent of the population.

As Kyle Hillman pointed out on Twitter a couple of days ago, Agudath Israel of America is on record against gay marriage and wants Roe v. Wade overturned.

* Sun-Times…

Kalish said he believes even more strongly that “church needs to be separated from state.”

“As it relates to issue that may come up in the Legislature, I will support the law of the land. And if the law of the land is Roe v. Wade, I will support Roe v. Wade. At the same time, I will support Zelman v. Simmons-Harris. That’s school vouchers. That’s educational choice,” he said.

“I have not been chosen to be the rabbi of the state legislature. I have been chosen to be the representative of the 16th District.” […]

“Just because he’s a rabbi and just because he works for an organization that is pretty conservative does not mean that he is not personally progressive,” Lang said Monday.

“I would never, ever appoint somebody to replace me that didn’t share my values.”

* Politico…

He’s for years lobbied on behalf of the nursing home industry. And as an Orthodox rabbi, his appointment has some political observers wondering whether Kalish will be as supportive of progressive issues as Lang, such as a minimum wage increase and strengthening the rights of women and LGBQT communities. […]

“During my conversation with Lou Lang, I said, ‘The voters of the 16th District won’t notice a difference in my voting record compared to yours.’” That means: “Yes,” he’s pro-choice. “Yes,” he supports gay marriage. And “yes,” he supports a $15 minimum wage—and wants to “make sure Medicaid providers have what they need for quality care” in nursing homes, too.

Kalish is a father of six children who attended private religious schools, so his personal view is to support school choice and private school vouchers. But he said he’ll work with public schools to “grab as much funding” as possible for those institutions.

* Hamodia…

First and foremost on Rabbi Kalish’s agenda is to defend the state’s newly-launched private school scholarship program for low-income children, which has brought roughly $10 million in aid to Orthodox families in Chicago. The program was initiated by former Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, but its elimination was one of the campaign promises of newly inaugurated Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Another high priority is protection for the healthcare industry, which is a leading employer in Chicago’s Jewish community. […]

While the 16th district is home to much of Chicago’s Jewish community, it has become increasingly diverse, with sizable populations of east Asians and Muslims. Rabbi Kalish said that he was eager to engage in a “listening tour,” with the hopes of gaining a fuller grasp of the needs of the constituency beyond his home community.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 11:36 am

Comments

Sounds a lot like Erika Harold, but for the Dems. I don’t trust politicians to keep their personal and political views separate.

Comment by Anon E Moose Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 11:41 am
“… just because he works for an organization that is pretty conservative does not mean that he is not personally progressive.” This contrived logic reminds me of former Governor Rauner.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 11:45 am
Seems squirrelly. And as one of the people making the laws, saying you’re going to enforce the law of the land kinda rings hollow. Sure, you’re not going to overtly flaunt federal law. That leaves a lot of wiggle room.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 11:46 am
Ultimately it will be up to the voters if his district as it should be. I certainly could not be considered a religious voter but it is starting to be concerning that belonging to a religious order or charitable organization either Jewish or Catholic see Knights of Columbus is considered disqualifying for office

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 11:52 am
“”Just because he’s a rabbi and just because he works for an organization that is pretty conservative does not mean that he is not personally progressive,” Lang said Monday.”

So did he spend over 10 years advocating “in state capitols across the country” for policies he didn’t believe in? I would be very interested to see the track record of conservative causes he has successfully lobbied for…

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 11:54 am
@DuPage Saint, your comment - “starting to be concerning that belonging to a religious order … is considered disqualifying for office”- is needlessly inflammatory. Him working for a religious organization is not at issue. Lang’s district voted for a pretty progressive democrat. If Kalish believes in very conservative things, like the religious organization he works for, that is pertinent. It’s not disqualifying from office, it’s just evidence his views and his district’s views might not be aligned. Time will tell. If someone who worked for Planned Parenthood replaced Jeanne Ives, that would raise some eyebrows (and voices, no doubt).

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 11:58 am
Yea, kinda weird pick (in the sense that he seems a bit too conservative for the district). Should be interesting.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:09 pm
–First and foremost on Rabbi Kalish’s agenda is to defend the state’s newly-launched private school scholarship program for low-income children, which has brought roughly $10 million in aid to Orthodox families in Chicago.–

Um, okay. Any thoughts on the other $38 billion or so in state GRF spending?

That scholarship program hasn’t exactly been a runaway train in the philanthropic community. About $41 million pledged in the first year, even with 75 cents on the dollar in tax credits kicked back.

Alleged supporters of parochial schools sure didn’t back up their talk with their checkbooks.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:18 pm
I’m shocked, just shocked that an Orthodox Rabbi is…… Religious. )))

Comment by Fav Human Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:31 pm
I am wondering why it matters what religion Representative Kalish practices.

What comes first, representing his constituents or his religion?

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:43 pm
Pat oconnor is a real mensch

Comment by Regular democrat Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:46 pm
Has he voted in any GOP primaries lately?

== which has brought roughly $10 million in aid to Orthodox families in Chicago ==

At one point, the program had only brought in something like $40 million in donations — a quarter of it has gone to Orthodox students? Hard to believe.

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:10 pm
=Yea, kinda weird pick (in the sense that he seems a bit too conservative for the district). Should be interesting.=

The pic was definitely Kosher ;-}

Comment by Duopoly Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:27 pm
I don’t know that publication, I have never seen it before. But this statement is inaccurate and unfit for publication by any news org - Jewish or not.

“Another high priority is protection for the healthcare industry, which is a leading employer in Chicago’s Jewish community”

Really? Stereotype much lately.

As a Jew from the suburbs, I wish to state that I don’t work in the nursing home industry and I don’t have anyone who does. That’s a horrible and false statement.

Comment by what the Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:48 pm
I’m mostly concerned about the nursing home connection. We already have enough institutional bias in Illinois.

I’m also unhappy that the website for his consulting firm (S4 Group) is under construction. I’d love to explore that site for glimmers of past truths.

Comment by Informed Mom Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:12 pm
Not sure how the people of the 16th District will feel about Kalish’s contributions to Scott Walker and Peter Roskam.

Comment by Skokie guy Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:21 pm
“I would never, ever appoint somebody to replace me that didn’t share my values.”

So we know he will be an advocate for gambling

Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 3:15 pm
The district is far more conservative than people want to let on. Lou Lang ran unopposed for essentially his entire time in office.

Comment by Unionman Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 3:20 pm
“I would never, ever appoint somebody to replace me that didn’t share my values.” - I guess the new guy doesn’t believe in free and fair elections either? Let’s clean up this place and boycott Lang’s lobbying business.

Comment by Public Citizen Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 10:32 pm
To go from Lou Lang to a Scott Walker contributor is, if true, as alarming as it is shocking.

Comment by Hyperbolic Chamber Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 11:21 pm
interesting choice, Lou Lang is a great Leader.

Comment by J / Chicago Native Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 9:21 am