Daniel Lapin (born 1950?) is an American Orthodox rabbi living in Mercer Island, Washington, and the founder of Toward Tradition (a conservative Jewish-Christian organization). He also once headed the Pacific Jewish Center in Venice, Los Angeles, California, (as well as the Commonwealth Loan Company and the Cascadia Business Institute). Lapin is co-chair of the conservative American Alliance of Jews and Christians. Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbī;; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbī) in Judaism, means teacher, or more literally great one. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root-word RaV, which in biblical Hebrew means great or distinguished, (in knowledge). In the ancient Judean schools (and among Sefaradim today) the sages... Mercer Island is a city located in King County, Washington, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 22,036. ... Toward Tradition is an American, politically conservative Jewish-Christian 501 C(3) non-profit organization founded by South African rabbi Daniel Lapin. ... This article deals with conservatism as a political philosophy. ... Venice Beach and Boardwalk Venice, is a district in west Los Angeles, California. ...

Background

Lapin was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to a family of Lithuanian Jewish descent. His father, Rabbi Avraham Chaim Lapin, a nephew of Rabbi Elya Lopian 1872-1970, served as a prominent and outspoken Orthodox rabbi in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and eventually established an Orthodox synagogue (Am Echad) in San Jose, California after he left South Africa in the late 1970s. Lapin's two brothers, David Lapin and Raphael Lapin, are also Orthodox rabbis and have similar educational backgrounds, having emigrated from South Africa to California. His sister is married to an American rabbi. , City motto: Unity in Development Province Gauteng Mayor Amos Masondo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... Lithuanian Jews (in Yiddish known as Litvish or Litvaks) are Ashkenazi Jews who were historically associated with Lithuania. ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... , City motto: Spes Bona (Latin: Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Province Western Cape Mayor Helen Zille Area  - % water 2,499 km² N/A Population  - Total (2004)  - Density Ranked 100th 2,893,251 1,158/km² Established 1652 Time zone SAST (UTC+2... Flag Seal Nickname: Capital of Silicon Valley Location Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... David Lapin was born in South Africa to a Jewish family of Lithuanian descent. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Lapin studied in yeshivas in London and Jerusalem, and emigrated to the United States in 1973, becoming a naturalized citizen. Rabbi Lapin's Talmudic tradition emanates from the school of the Vilna Gaon and the Soleveitchik dynasty, while his philosophic outlook was molded by the school of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter. Lapin studied under Rabbi Moshe Feinstein in New York, Rabbi Gurwicz in the UK, and Rabbis Mishkowsky and Lifschitz in Israel. Lapin is married to Susan and they homeschool(ed) their six daughters and one son. Yeshiva or yeshivah (Hebrew: ישיבה pl. ... London is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom, and is the most populous city in the European Union. ... Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin Aelia Capitolina) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 meters. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Naturalization is the act whereby a person voluntarily and actively acquires a nationality which is not his or her nationality at birth. ... The Talmud (תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions of Jewish law, ethics, customs, and stories, which are authoritative in Jewish tradition. ... Elijah Ben Solomon, the Vilna Gaon The Vilna Gaon (April 23, 1720 – October 9, 1797) was a prominent Jewish rabbi, Talmud scholar, and Kabbalist. ... Joseph Ber (Yosef Dov) Soloveitchik (Hebrew: ) () was an American Orthodox rabbi, Talmudist and modern Jewish philosopher. ... Rabbi Yisrael ben Zev Wolf Lipkin (1810-1883) was the father of the Mussar movement in Orthodox Judaism. ... Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986) was an Orthodox Rabbi who was world renowned for his expertise in halakha (Jewish Law) and was the de facto supreme rabbinic authority for the Orthodox Jewry of North America. ...

Pacific Jewish Center

Lapin founded the Pacific Jewish Center, an Orthodox synagogue in Venice, California that views itself as functioning as part of the recent Baal teshuva movement, encouraging Conservative and Reform Jews to adopt and return to a more observant traditional Judaism. Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary... Lesko synagogue, Poland A synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת ; beit knesset, house of assembly; Yiddish: שול, shul) is a Jewish place of religious worship. ... Venice Beach and Boardwalk Venice, California, is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California. ... Baal teshuva (or baal teshuvah for male, baalat teshuvah for female, baalei teshuvah for plural) is a Hebrew term, translated literally as master of repentance, or translated idiomatically as one who has done repentance. The term has historically referred to a Jew who has transgressed the Halakha (Jewish law) and... This article refers to Conservative (Masorti) Judaism in the United States. ... Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of Judaism in America and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th Century Germany. ...

Michael Medved was a member and is currently a board member of Toward Tradition. Actors Barbra Streisand and Richard Dreyfuss, although not politically conservative, participated in that religious community and synagogue. Lapin's teachings are also aligned with Modern Orthodox Judaism, in that while he promotes observant Judaism, he is strongly in favor of observant Jews having interaction with other faith communities (in his view, mostly conservative and observant Christian communities) and broader political action outside of Judaism. Michael Medved Michael Medved (born October 1948) is an American nationally syndicated conservative radio talk show host, film critic and author. ... Barbra Streisand (born April 24, 1942) is an iconic two-time Academy Award-winning American singer, theatre and film actress, composer, film producer and director. ... Dreyfuss as he appeared in the mid-1970s Richard Stephan Dreyfuss (born October 29, 1947) is an Oscar winning American actor. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ...

In the early 1990's, for reasons that remain unclear, Lapin left the Pacific Jewish Center and handed over the reigns of rabbinic leadership to his brother David Lapin, who led the community until he left in 2003 to run the Eshkol Academy. David Lapin was born in South Africa to a Jewish family of Lithuanian descent. ... Eshkol Academy was an Orthodox Jewish school in Maryland that existed from 2002 to 2004 The school was founded by Jack Abramoff. ...

Radio show in Seattle

In late 1991, Daniel Lapin and his family relocated to Mercer Island, Washington (near Seattle), where he focused on building the organization of Toward Tradition. Starting in 2002, Lapin broadcast a paid weekly radio talk show funded by Towards Tradition on KTTH-AM in Seattle. The show ended in January 2006. 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mercer Island is a city located in King County, Washington, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 22,036. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area   - Total   - Land   - Water   - % water 369. ... A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ...

Conservative Judeo-Christian values vs. liberalism

Support for conservative Christians

Both Lapin and Medved promote conservative political principles, inter-mixed with traditional religious observance. Lapin was one of the Jewish voices in support of Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ, and was a strong supporter of the efforts by Terri Schiavo's parents to keep their daughter alive. He is also a strong supporter of Pope Pius XII as a righteous gentile, a term he believes should be renamed "righteous Christian". This article deals with conservatism as a political philosophy. ... Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an Academy Award–winning American actor, director and producer best known for acting in the Mad Max movie series, the Lethal Weapon series, acting in and directing the Academy Award–winning Braveheart and directing the 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the... The Passion of the Christ (2004) is a film about the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus Christ, known to Christians as the Passion. It was directed by Mel Gibson. ... Terri Schiavo before her 1990 collapse. ... Pope Pius XII (Latin: ), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (March 2, 1876 – October 9, 1958), reigned as the 260th pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and sovereign of Vatican City State from March 2, 1939 until his death. ... Righteous Among the Nations (Hebrew: חסידי אומות העולם, Khasidei Umot HaOlam) is a term used to describe non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust in order to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis. ...

Lapin believes the United States of America is the most "Jewish-friendly" state in history because of its strong Christian heritage. He argues that it is better for Jews to promote shared Judeo-Christian values with the majority than promote solely Jewish values. In Lapins' view, the biggest danger to the Jewish people is not Christianity but secular liberalism. He has also lamented that the Holocaust Memorial Museum presents anti-Christian propaganda, and ignores, for example, the work of Corrie ten Boom's family in unconditionally saving Jews, motivated by their staunch Christian beliefs. (They saved Jews regardless of whether they converted, and even provided kosher food and honored the Sabbath observers.) Judeo-Christian (or Judaeo-Christian) is a term used to describe the body of concepts and values which are thought to be held in common by Judaism and Christianity, and typically considered (along with classical Greco-Roman civilization) a fundamental basis for Western legal codes and moral values. ... Exterior of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a national institution located adjacent to The National Mall in Washington, DC, dedicated to documenting, studying, and interpreting the history of the Holocaust. ... Cornelia (Corrie) ten Boom (April 15, 1892 – April 15, 1983) was a Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. Born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, she was the youngest of three sisters and one brother. ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ... Shabbat (שבת shabbāt, rest Hebrew, or Shabbos in Ashkenazic pronunciation), is the weekly day of rest in Judaism. ...

Opposition to Jewish liberalism

Lapin has declared that the Anti-Defamation League and its allies are "dangerous organizations, organizations that are driving a wedge between American Jews and Christians." Referring to ADL national director Abraham Foxman, Lapin said that by calling Gibson's film antisemitic, "what he is saying is that the only way (for Christians) to escape the wrath of Foxman is to repudiate (their own) faith." To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... American Jew (also commonly Jewish American) is a general term frequently used to describe an American who maintains an active connection to the Jewish community in the United States or abroad, either through an active practice of Judaism, or through cultural and historical affiliation, or both. ... Abraham H. Foxman (b. ...

Lapin also rejects the idea that the Jewish left, which can be secular or even anti-religious, represents Judaism. He has excoriated many people of Jewish descent for their leadership in promotion of ideas contrary to traditional Judaism, such as abortion, homosexuality and socialism. He argues that Jewish-born liberals have redefined "Judaism" to mean "liberalism" — and redefined "anti-liberalism" as "anti-Semitism." Lapin has said: "It is time for us to recognize the charge of anti-Semitism for what it often is: a political weapon intended to silence critics of liberalism." The term Jewish left describes Jews who identify with or support left wing or liberal causes. ... The word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings over time. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ...

Positions on other issues

Recycling

Recycling is one of the "Liberal" ideas that Lapin is opposed to. He has denounced recycling as "The sacred sacrament of secularism." "Why? Because if we are animals then there is a shortage in the world. God doesn't take anything from us and God doesn't create and therefore there is a shortage ... Do not feel guilty for using what God has provided us. Enjoy it!" http://quinnell.us/politics/rww/individuals/index2.html   The Recycling symbol. ... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy mystery. ... Secularity is the state of being free from religious or spiritual qualities. ...

Wealth

Lapin asks: "Does God want people to be rich?" ..."Yes!" he says, because God "wants us to be obsessively preoccupied by one another's needs," a habit that the commerce relationship fosters. "Wealth is a consequence of doing the right thing," he says. He argues that the Torah supports the free market and opposes punitive taxation, and wants people to pass on assets to their descendants rather than being taken by the government by inheritance taxes. Conversely, atheistic governments have never produced a free market; instead they produce socialism. Commerce is the trading of something of value between two entities. ... Wealth derives from the old English word weal, which meant well-being or welfare. The term was originally an adjective to describe the possession of such qualities. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. It is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... Inheritance tax, also known in some countries outside the United States as a death duty and referred to as an estate tax within the U.S, is a form of tax levied upon the bequest that a person may make in their will to a living person or organisation. ... Atheism, in its broadest sense, is the absence of theism (the belief in the existence of deities). ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ...

Though he portrays himself as a business guru, Lapin has not been successful in his business ventures. While in California, he founded an investment company called Commonwealth Loan Company which bought and sold investment loans secured by Californian real estate. The company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 1992, six months after Lapin moved to Seattle. The company had losses in excess of $3 million dollars, much of which had been personally guaranteed by Lapin. In July 1994, Lapin filed for personal bankruptcy in a Seattle federal court, with more than $3 million in debts. Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code which governs the process of reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. ...

In 1996, Barry Abramson, a former congregant, filed suit against Lapin for fraud, claiming he had abused his position as spiritual advisor to convince him to invest all of his inheritance from his grandmother in the failed investment company. Lapin was exonerated by a federal bankruptcy judge in Seattle, who ruled that Abramson had "failed to state a claim for any kind of fraud."

Allies

Lapin has had breakfast with Karl Rove and considers himself a "close friend" of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. He also has Zig Ziglar as a frequent and enjoyed guest in his house, and is friends with Professor Walter Block of Loyola University of New Orleans. Karl Rove Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) is U.S. President George W. Bushs Deputy Chief of Staff, heading the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the White House. ... Thomas Dale The Hammer DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas, the former House Majority Leader, and a prominent member of the Republican Party. ... Hilary Hinton “Zig” Ziglar (born November 6, 1926) is a highly successful American author, salesperson, and motivational speaker. ... Walter Block Walter Block (born 1941) is a leading Austrian School economist. ... Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational Jesuit university in the United States with about 5,200 students. ...

"When you're talking to a pastor he could be inspired by God, etc., but he may not have the scholarship," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, one of several Republicans who refer to Lapin affectionately as "my rabbi." But, "when you're talking to Rabbi Lapin you know you're getting an expert, someone who's the equivalent of a PhD at a major university." Dana Rohrabacher (born June 21, 1947) in Coronado, California, is an American politician, who has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1989, representing the 46th District of California (map). ...

For evangelicals who are used to reading about Jews as God's chosen people, Lapin offers a different experience: "A lot of people are surprised when they leave church and encounter essentially Dershowitz Judaism, Jews who are liberal," says conservative activist Grover Norquist, who is also a friend. "Lapin is the opposite of that." The word evangelicalism usually refers to a tendency in diverse branches of conservative Christianity, typified by an emphasis on evangelism, a personal experience of conversion, biblically-oriented faith, and a belief in the relevance of Christian faith to cultural issues. ... In Judaism, chosenness is the belief that the Jews are a chosen people: chosen to be in a covenant with God. ... A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ... Alan Dershowitz Alan Morton Dershowitz (born September 1, 1938) is a lawyer and jurist from the United States. ... Grover Glenn Norquist (born October 19, 1956) is the president of the noted anti-tax lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform, and a well-connected conservative activist with close ties to business and the media. ...

Lapin said that "the principles of the Republican Party and the convictions of our president more closely parallel the moral vision of the God of Abraham than those of anyone else," Lapin said at the dinner with President George W. Bush, hosted by Ralph Reed. But he said that he is loyal to Judaism before the GOP, and if the GOP deviates, he would cease his support. This article is about the modern United States Republican Party. ... The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... At the bottom of the hands, the two letters on each hand combine to form יהוה (YHVH), the name of God. ... Tomb of Abraham Abraham (ca. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American businessman and politician, was elected in 2000 as the 43rd President of the United States of America, re-elected in 2004, and is currently serving his second term in that office. ... Ralph Reed may refer to: Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ... This article describes the Jewish religion; for a consideration of ethnic, historic, and cultural aspects of the Jewish identity refer to the article Jew. ...

Lapin has said that "the 700 Club is one of my big all-time favorites." The on-air personalities of The 700 Club The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing on cables ABC Family and in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. ...

Lapin serves on the board of the Jewish Policy Center in Washington, DC. Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United...

Jack Abramoff

The Jack Abramoff Guam investigation involves an alleged plot by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others to control the functions of the courts in Guam. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (IGPA) was a 1999 bill in the US Senate to ban Internet gambling defeated, in large part, by the lobbying efforts of Jack Abramoff. ... The monetary influence of Jack Abramoff run deep in Washington, as Jack Abramoff spent millions of dollars to influence and entertain Republican politicians. ... SunCruz Casinos is one of many cruise lines that offer cruises to nowhere, taking passengers into international waters out of reach of the federal and state gambling laws. ... Jack A. Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is an American political lobbyist, Republican activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... Adam Kidan is a former business associate of indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, having partnered with Abramoff in the purchase of SunCruz Casinos. ... Tony C. Rudy, with Ed Buckhams Alexander Strategy Group which shutdown January 9, 2006, served as Deputy Chief of Staff (and former counsel) to House Majority Leader Thomas D. DeLay (R-Texas) until 2001, when he took a job with Jack Abramoff. ... Michael Scanlon is a former communications director for Rep. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... David Hossein Safavian (suh-FAY-vee-an) was chief of staff of the United States General Services Administration (GSA), the procurement arm of the U.S. federal government and in 2004, an employee of the Office of Management and Budget. ... Roger Stillwell (b. ... Robert William Ney (born July 5, 1954) is an American politician of the Republican Party who serves as a U.S. representative from the 18th District of southeastern Ohio (map). ... Thomas Dale The Hammer DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas, the former House Majority Leader, and a prominent member of the Republican Party. ... Edwin A. Buckham is an evangelical minister, former congressional staffer and lobbyist. ... Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ... Grover Glenn Norquist (born October 19, 1956) is the president of the noted anti-tax lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform, and a well-connected conservative activist with close ties to business and the media. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A list of organizations related to Jack Abramoff. ... List of Jack Abramoffs tribal clients: Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Pueblo of Sandia Pueblo of Santa Clara Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Tigua Indian Reservation Category: ... A listing of trips for politicians, lobbyists, and staffers funded by Jack Abramoff. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ...

Relationship

Jack Abramoff served on the board of Toward Tradition, including a stint as chairman, and donated the $10,000 a year expected from board members. One year Abramoff met that requirement by sending a check from the Capital Athletic Foundation, an organization Abramoff controlled that has since become a key piece of the Abramoff corruption investigation.[1] Jack A. Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is an American political lobbyist, Republican activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... A 501c(3) charity founded in 2000 by Jack Abramoff for needy and deserving sportsmanship programs. ...

The Washington Post reported on October 16, 2005, that Toward Tradition received a $25,000 donation in 2000 from online gambling company eLottery, a lobbying client of Jack Abramoff and his employer, Preston Gates Ellis, despite Lapin's professed opposition to gambling. Some or all of the money received by Lapin was then transferred to a company run by the wife of Tony Rudy, an aide to Tom DeLay who was instrumental in killing an antigambling bill that eLottery and Abramoff were lobbying against. In a followup article published by the Washington Post on January 9, 2006, it was alleged that Toward Tradition was the "non-profit entity" referred to in Abramoff's plea agreement in relation to a $25,000 contribution made by Magazine Publishers of America which had hired Abramoff for a campaign against the postal rate increase. In March 2006, Tony Rudy pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy relating to the donations he had funneled via Lapin. ... Toward Tradition is an American, politically conservative Jewish-Christian 501 C(3) non-profit organization founded by South African rabbi Daniel Lapin. ... Tony C. Rudy, with Ed Buckhams Alexander Strategy Group which shutdown January 9, 2006, served as Deputy Chief of Staff (and former counsel) to House Majority Leader Thomas D. DeLay (R-Texas) until 2001, when he took a job with Jack Abramoff. ... Thomas Dale The Hammer DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas, the former House Majority Leader, and a prominent member of the Republican Party. ... ... Toward Tradition is an American, politically conservative Jewish-Christian 501 C(3) non-profit organization founded by South African rabbi Daniel Lapin. ... Tony C. Rudy, with Ed Buckhams Alexander Strategy Group which shutdown January 9, 2006, served as Deputy Chief of Staff (and former counsel) to House Majority Leader Thomas D. DeLay (R-Texas) until 2001, when he took a job with Jack Abramoff. ...

Lapin's brother David met Abramoff while he was visiting South Africa during his International Freedom Foundation/Red Scorpion years. He tutored Abramoff in Talmud and Jewish law, during Abramoff's process of embracing Orthodox Judaism.[2] David Lapin was born in South Africa to a Jewish family of Lithuanian descent. ... The International Freedom Foundation (IFF), founded in 1986, was described as a Washington conservative think-tank with branches in Johannesburg and London, but was actually a front organization for apartheid South Africas Directorate of Military Intelligence. ... Red Scorpion is a 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren, produced and with story written by future lobbyist Jack Abramoff, for whose involvement it is most famous. ... Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works and the Rabbinical commentary...

Abramoff employed David Lapin as the dean of Eshkol Academy, the Orthodox Jewish school Abramoff founded, from 2002 to 2004. Abramoff also directed the Marianas government to give David Lapin a $1.2 million contract for "ethics in government" trainings.[3] Eshkol Academy was an Orthodox Jewish school in Maryland that existed from 2002 to 2004 The school was founded by Jack Abramoff. ...

According to a January 4, 2006 article in Newsweek, Lapin urged supporters of President George W. Bush's re-election to give campaign donations through Abramoff, helping Abramoff gain Bush "Pioneer" status among top presidential fundraisers. The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... Bush Pioneers are people who pledged to gather $100,000 for George W. Bushs 2004 presidential campaign. ...

Daniel Lapin wrote a response [4] to the Washington Post article where he denies any wrongdoing.

Fake awards

Lapin and his organization Toward Tradition became a participant in the Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal in 2005 because of information that surfaced during US Senate hearings into Abramoff's dealings. The Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal (a. ... Seal of the Senate The Senate of the United States of America is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ...

The Senate hearings revealed emails between Lapin and Abramoff, wherein Lapin was asked to create academic awards for Talmudic studies --complete with letters and plaques -- to help Abramoff gain admittance to the Cosmos Club, an exclusive Washington, DC organization. (Washington Post, 6/23/2005.) The Talmud (תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions of Jewish law, ethics, customs, and stories, which are authoritative in Jewish tradition. ... The Cosmos Club is a social club founded in the Washington D.C. of John Wesley Powell in 1878. ...

"I hate to ask your help with something so silly, but I have been nominated for membership in the Cosmos Club," Abramoff wrote. He noted that the club has "Nobel Prize winners, etc. Problem for me is that most prospective members have received awards and I have received none. I was wondering if you thought it possible that I could put that I have received an award from Toward Tradition with a sufficiently academic title, perhaps something like Scholar of Talmudic Studies? …Indeed, it would be even better if it were possible that I received these in years past, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I think you see what I am trying to finagle here!"

Lapin responded via email and the two apparently talked by phone. Finally Lapin e-mailed, "I just need to know what needs to be produced... letters? plaques? Neither?" Abramoff replied: "Probably just a few clever titles of awards, dates and that's it. As long as you are the person to verify them [or we can have someone else verify one and you the other], we should be set. Do you have any creative titles, or should I dip into my bag of tricks?".

Subsequently, Abramoff listed two 1999 awards from Toward Tradition and the Cascadia Business Institute on his official bio on the Greenberg Traurig website. [5] Toward Tradition is an American, politically conservative Jewish-Christian 501 C(3) non-profit organization founded by South African rabbi Daniel Lapin. ...

When the story broke in June 2005, Lapin told the Seattle PI "he could not recall the exchange with Abramoff" and had no recollection of the incident. In a formal statement issued in 2006 Lapin denied having given Abramoff the awards and claimed the emails were a joke: [6]

Anyone familiar with Abramoff’s jocular and often fatally irreverent email style won’t be surprised that I assumed the question to be a joke. ... I regret the exchange. I should have candidly explained that Toward Tradition is not an academic institution and does not issue the kind of awards he described. ... On no occasion did I, Toward Tradition, or any organization with which I was affiliated ever create an award for, or present one to Jack Abramoff.

Writings

Lapin has contributed articles to the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Commentary, The American Enterprise, and the Washington Times, and has taught at the Christian Coalition, for the U.S. Army, Harvard Law School, and the Family Research Council. The Wall Street Journal is an influential international daily newspaper published in New York City, New York with an average daily circulation of 1,800,607 (2002). ... National Review (NR) is a conservative political magazine founded by author William F. Buckley Jr. ... Commentary is a journal published by the American Jewish Committee, since 1945. ... The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943 whose stated mission is to support the foundations of freedom - limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense. ... The Washington Times is a daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1982 as a conservative alternative to the Washington Post by members of the controversial Unification Church. ... This article is about the organization presently operating in the United States. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The crest of Harvard Law School is drawn from the Royall coat of arms Harvard Law School (HLS) is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. ... The Family Research Council (FRC) is a Christian conservative non-profit lobbying organization, formed in the United States by James Dobson in 1981 and incorporated 1983. ...

He is the author of:

• America’s Real War [7]
• Buried Treasure
• Thou Shall Prosper

External links

• Toward Tradition site
• Pacific Jewish Center site
• "Meet the Lapin Brothers" (Seattle Weekly, May 2005)
• The Republicans' Rabbi-in-Arms (Washington Post June 2005)
• Lapin on the war on Christmas
• Rabbi Daniel Lapin, a Long Look Backward
• TT: Toward Tradition or Toward Theocracy?
• Lapin and Toward Tradition Under Scrutiny in Abramoff Probe
• Rick Anderson. "Meet the Lapin Brothers", Seattle Weekly, May 11, 2005.