David Luchins

David Luchins (born 1946) is a professor at Touro College and chair of its political science department. He is a national vice-president of the Orthodox Union and a national officer of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). Luchins is a "much-lauded longtime Orthodox Jewish activist"[1] who is active in Jewish communal life and is a frequent speaker on educational, political and Jewish topics. Luchins served as an aide to then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey and for 20 years on the Senate staff of New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Life and career

Luchins was born in New York City, the eldest son of Abraham Luchins, a Gestalt psychologist, and Edith Hirsch Luchins, a mathematician and psychologist,[2][3] who was one of the first women to serve on the national board of the Orthodox Union.[4] He is a graduate of Yeshiva College, where he studied under Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik in his sophomore year and four years under Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik.[5] In 1977, Luchins earned his Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.[6] He has been chairman of the political science department at Touro College since 1978, where he teaches courses in American politics and international relations[6] and serves as founding dean of Touro's Lander College for Women.[7]

Luchins is a frequent speaker at high schools, colleges, synagogues and Jewish communal groups in North America and Israel, lecturing on political and social issues. In summer, he serves as a guest instructor at Aish HaTorah,[6] an Orthodox religious outreach program located in the Old City of Jerusalem.[8] He has been a vice-president of the Orthodox Union since 1976 and a member of the executive committee of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs since 1984. He formerly served on the national commissions of the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Fund for Justice.[6]

Luchins is married to Vivian Luchins née Osdoby,[9] a graduate of Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women.[10] The couple met as high school students active in the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, the Orthodox Union's youth organization. Now called simply NCSY, the organization honored the Luchins in 2011 for 50 years of service. Vivian Luchins is chair of NCSY summer programs, a senior member of the Orthodox Union's youth commission and a member of the Orthodox Union's national board. The couple lives in the Bronx.[11]

Politically liberal and religiously Orthodox

A longtime political supporter of, and advisor to, Democratic candidates and office-holders, Luchins has also supported and advised Republicans.[12] Writing in The Jewish Daily Forward, Jeffrey Goldberg described Luchins as "a liberal – or a 'leftist', as he prefers – in an Orthodox community that is ever-more conservative [whose] tart tongue has often landed him in the center of controversy."[13]

Luchins served on the 1972 presidential campaign staff of Senator Hubert Humphrey, and subsequently as a national vice chair of Democrats for Nixon.[6][12] For 20 years, he served on the Senate staff of New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, rising from special assistant to senior advisor.[6] He later supported Republican Senator Alfonse D'Amato.[12]

After Moynihan's funeral in 2003, at Arlington National Cemetery, Luchins indicated that he would be withdrawing from political activities, saying "everything I cared about in politics was buried Monday in Arlington Cemetery."[14]

In 2004, Luchins spoke on behalf of the Orthodox Union about Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza disengagement plan, saying that "Jews who want to take sides in Israeli politics should make aliya," using the Hebrew word for immigration to the State of Israel.[15]

Luchins has argued that Jewish tradition stands in opposition to fundamentalism.[16] For the 2008 book, Progressive & Religious: How Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist Leaders are Moving Beyond Partisan Politics and Transforming American Public Life, Luchins was asked how it was possible to be "an Orthodox liberal". He answered that an Orthodox social conservative "would be pretty lonely because you don't have too many sources, because the vast part of our religious tradition talks about ... tikkun olam, helping others; it's the number one priority of faith".[16]

In 2009, Luchins offered a reporter writing about elections in New York's ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities example after example of cases where non-Jewish candidates (or non-observant Jewish candidates) who seemed likely to deliver services won out over religiously identified Jewish politicians. "Constituent services trumps personal biography every single time in the Orthodox Jewish community ... without exception," he observed.[17]

In a 2013 lecture on "Gay Marriages Revisited", delivered at the Israel Center in Jerusalem,[18] Luchins, who considers himself a "staunch gay rights supporter",[19] made the point that "punishment for cheating in business according to the Torah is greater than for the sum total of all the sexual atrocities forbidden by the Torah". Upholding that gay relationship is forbidden by Jewish law,[18] he adds that "the fact that the Torah forbids certain behavior does not mean we should demonize, delegitimize or write out of our religion or our humanity those who may fall short, as we all fall short in so many areas... In the area of kindness to every human being, Jew and Gentile, white and black, gay and straight, even Republicans are created in the image of God."[16]

Awards

In 2015, Luchins received the Albert D. Chernin Award from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) at its annual meeting, the 2015 Jewish Community Town Hall, October 10–13, in Washington, D.C. The Chernin Award is given to Jewish leaders whose life work best exemplifies the social justice imperatives of Judaism, Jewish history, and the protection of The Bill of Rights.[20][21]

Threat of excommunication

In 1994, Milton Balkany, a conservative Republican active in political fundraising,[22] tried to have Luchins excommunicated by a Jewish religious court,[13] blaming him for having "caused yeshivas in the land of Israel to lose money",[23] after Luchins had complained about Balkany's efforts to compel Israeli government officials to use U.S. aid money for projects Balkany favored in Israel.[24] In March 1995, a Rabbinic Court dismissed all charges against Luchins.

After Balkany was charged in February 2010 with trying to extort $4 million from a Connecticut hedge fund to keep information that he said was damaging secret,[25] Luchins expressed surprise and doubt, saying "while I've had my own run-ins with him in the past, and I'm certainly not a fan of his politics, it's hard to believe someone so intelligent and capable would [d]o something so incredibly stupid. I hope and pray the charges are proven wrong."[26] Balkany was later found guilty of all charges.[27]

Chabad Lubavitch

Personal and family relationship

In a 2009 interview with Chabad Lubavitch News, Luchins affirmed his and his family's personal connection to Chabad Lubavitch and to Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn and Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the sixth and seventh Lubavitcher Rebbes.[28] Luchins has been a guest speaker at Chabad Lubavitch events.[28][29]

Lubavitch messianism

In late June 1996 several Jewish newspapers published a statement signed by Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik opposing attacks on Lubavitcher Hasidim who believed that the late Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, who had died in 1994, was the Messiah.[30] The statement said that the messianists' belief in the role of the rebbe, even after his death, "cannot be dismissed as a belief that is outside the pale of Orthodoxy".[30] Lubavitch messianists celebrated the statement and Jews for Jesus released their own announcement, expressing satisfaction with "the Tzaddik from Chicago".[30][31] Luchins, after consulting with Soloveichik, wrote a letter published in the Jewish Daily Forward and the Jewish Week, condemning the way Soloveichik's words were presented,[31] saying that "using Rabbi Soloveichik in this way is a tremendous disservice to one of the great Torah giants of our generation," and adding "I am certain the Lubavitcher rebbe would be deeply pained by this use of Rabbi Soloveichik's name."[30]

The Jonathan Pollard case

Luchins has advocated the release of Jonathan Pollard, an American Jew sentenced to life in prison for spying for Israel; he has also described the pro-Pollard movement a "cult", saying that "Pollard has become a flag of convenience.... He's become a cause that is picked up by other people and used for their own purposes."[32]

In a March 2007 interview with Susan Rosenbluth of The Jewish Voice and Opinion, Luchins, a student of Rabbi Ahron Soleveichik[5][31] and a senior advisor to Daniel Patrick Moynahan,[6][17] described the men's role in trying to free Pollard.[33] According to Luchins, shortly after then-President Bill Clinton 1993 inauguration, he was approached by Moynihan and Senator Joseph Lieberman about Pollard's release; the president was reportedly willing to commute Pollard's sentence and order his release if he wrote a letter expressing clear remorse.[33] Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik brought a letter of apology vetted by the White House to Pollard in prison, for his signature.[32][33] Reportedly, Pollard signed the letter and Lieberman hand-delivered it to Clinton.[33] However, while the letter was still on Clinton's desk, Pollard is reported to have had a change of heart, renouncing the letter and criticizing a portion that apologized for violating Jewish law.[33] According to Luchins, Pollard was pressured by "the Pollard people, the more intense members of the cult", with the result that what seemed like a firm deal to accomplish Pollard's release from prison fell apart.[32] Esther Pollard (Eileen Zeitz) denies that Pollard was ever asked to sign any such letter.[34]

Luchins' life was threatened by Pollard supporters who circulated a flyer that has been characterized as "a Salman Rushdie-style religious decree calling for Luchins' murder".[35]

References
  1. Kampeas, Ron, What to know about Jonathan Pollard’s upcoming release, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 16 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015
  2. "Paid Notice: Deaths: Luchins, Dr. Edith H." The New York Times. November 19, 2002. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  3. J. J. O'Connor; E. F. Robertson (December 2008). "Edith Hirsch Luchins". School of Mathematics and Statistics University of St Andrews, Scotland. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  4. "NCSY to Honor Vivian and Dr. David Luchins with Lander Memorial Award". Orthodox Union. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  5. David Luchins (2008). "The Rav and Rav Ahron". In Zev Eleff (ed.). Mentor of Generations. Reflections on Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Jersey City, N.J.: KTAV Pub. House, Inc. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-60280-011-3.
  6. "Prof. David Luchins, Department Chair". Touro College, Department of Political Science. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  7. "Lander College for Women-The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School "Administration" web page". Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
  8. Naomi Zeveloff (November 17, 2011). "Touro Under Scrutiny Over Israel Class". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  9. "Obituary: Benjamin Osdoby. Ret. Owner/Carpet Installer, 92". Sullivan County Democrat. January 22, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  10. "Orthodox Union's Ben Zakkai Honor Society to Honor the Memory of Touro College's Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander Z"l". Touro College. January 19, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  11. "Vivian Luchins Named Chairwoman of Summer Programs Committee of NCSY". Orthodox Union. February 24, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  12. Rebecca Spence (December 26, 2007). "Debate Underscores Orthodox Community's Rightward Drift". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  13. Jeffrey Goldberg (January 14, 1994). "Republican Rabbi Tries New Political Tactic: Plan to Haul Moynihan Aide Before a Beit Din". The Jewish Daily Forward.
  14. E. J. Kessler (April 11, 2003). "Campaign Confidential". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  15. Steven I. Weiss (July 2, 2004). "American Orthodox Leaders Try To Stay Above Fray". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  16. Robert P. Jones (2008). Progressive & Religious. How Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist Leaders are Moving Beyond Partisan Politics and Transforming American Public Life. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7425-6230-1. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  17. Gal Beckerman (August 19, 2009). "An Odd Political Alliance of Left and Right Walks the Streets of Brooklyn". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  18. Greer Fay Cashman (May 6, 2013). "Grapevine: More than an olive branch". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  19. "Scott Lively..." The Advocate. Here. December 26, 1995. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  20. http://engage.jewishpublicaffairs.org/o/5145/p/salsa/web/blog/public/entries?blog_entry_KEY=7591
  21. http://jcpaplenum.org/dr-david-luchins-2015-albert-d-chernin-recipient/
  22. Sara Fritz (August 14, 1989). "Getting a U.S. Grant--How the System Really Works". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  23. Matthew Dorf (January 28, 1994). "Moynihan Tells Aide to Boycott Rabbinic Court: Luchins, Haled to Bet Din, Could Be Excommunicated". The Jewish Daily Forward.
  24. Tom Robbins (September 2, 2003). "Rabbi Bunco. An Ally of Senators and Mayors Is Charged With Fraud". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  25. Anahad O'Connor (February 19, 2010). "Rabbi is Charged with Trying to Extort $4 Million from a Hedge Fund". The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  26. Adam Dickter (February 25, 2010). "Orthodox Scandals Could Harm Power Base, Experts Warn". The New York Jewish Week. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  27. Anahad O'Connor (November 10, 2010). "Brooklyn Rabbi Is Convicted of Extortion Attempt". The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  28. Dvora Lakein (November 2, 2009). ""You Will All Be Listening To Him One Day..." In Conversation: Dr. David Luchins on The Rebbe". Chabad Lubavitch News. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  29. Yehuda Ceitlin (November 15, 2009). "Banquet Enthralled 4000". COLlive.com. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  30. "Eminent Rabbi's Remarks Revive Debate About Orthodox Resolution". JTA. July 4, 1996. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  31. David Berger (2001). The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference. Portland, Or.: The Littman library of Jewish civilization. pp. 70–72. ISBN 1-874774-88-9.
  32. James D. Besser (June 28, 2002). "The Jonathan Pollard Case: A Reflection Of Our Fears". The Jewish Week. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  33. Susan L. Rosenbluth (March 2007). "Gedolim in Israel and the US Ask President Bush to Free Pollard before Pesach: And, after 22 Years, They Think He'll Do It" (PDF). The Jewish Voice and Opinion. 20 (7). p. 52. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  34. Esther Pollard (December 26, 1999). "What Motivates David Luchins?". Website Justice for Jonathan Pollard. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  35. Edwin Black (July 4, 2002). "Why Jonathan Pollard is Still in Prison". Jewish Journal. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
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