This archive report was first published on 8 October 2019.
Published on October 8, 2019, Cory Booker's connection to Judaism has been a subject of interest and admiration among many in the Jewish community. While some critics have questioned his Hebrew citations, many Jews welcome his efforts to engage with their faith.
Rabbi Shmully Hecht, who worked with Booker to create a Jewish group at Yale, praised his commitment to Israel and his ability to connect with Jewish texts. 'There's a twinkle that's coming from his soul,' Rabbi Hecht said. 'When you see him talking about Jewish things and Israel things, it's extraordinary.'
Booker's friendship with Rabbi Menachem Genack, who leads the kosher certifying division of the Orthodox Union, has been a significant aspect of his life. Genack has known Booker for over two decades and has considered him a friend ever since. Booker often brings up Torah in their conversations, much to Genack's surprise.
'I go to his office and I start talking Abraham Lincoln and he starts talking about the parsha,' Genack said, using the Hebrew term for the weekly Torah portion. 'I say: 'Cory, what is wrong with this picture?' and he just laughs.'
Booker's interest in Judaism has been a source of inspiration for many, including Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles. Garcetti, who is Jewish, praised Booker's ecumenical approach to faith and his ability to connect with Jewish texts. 'It's a thread in the fabric that sustains him,' Garcetti said. 'Civil rights history and the Talmud are two main pillars of his moral universe.'
