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Date Posted: 07:27:42 01/23/09 Fri
Author: pastor lewis
Subject: Rabbi slapped for un-Orthodox appearance at Obama service

Rabbi slapped for un-Orthodox appearance at Obama service
BY TRACY CONNOR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, January 22nd 2009, 2:27 AM

Savulich/News
Rabbi Haskel Lookstein at a pro-Israel demonstration in 2002.

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A Manhattan rabbi was chastised by higher-ups for an unorthodox move - participating in an interfaith prayer service at the National Cathedral with President Obama on Wednesday.

The Rabbinical Council of America took Rabbi Haskel Lookstein to task, issuing a press release saying he broke the rules by entering a Christian church.

Lookstein, who leads Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on the upper East Side, said he had no regrets about reciting a nondenominational prayer there.

"I did it because I recognize this as my civic duty to support the new President," Lookstein told the Daily News on Wednesday night.

"Under general circumstances, I wouldn't participate in an interfaith service. This was a special situation, and out of a spirit of patriotism and support, I felt like this was the right thing to do."

The Orthodox rabbis' group said its policy is that Jews should not enter - much less say prayers - in a church.

"We really do not want to confuse our theological beliefs with those of other faiths," said the council's executive director, Rabbi Basil Herring.

He said the rebuke of Lookstein was religious, not a political slap at Obama, and that the rebel rabbi will not be punished.

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