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Haskel Lookstein (born March 21, 1932) is an American Modern Orthodox rabbi. He is Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he served most his entire rabbinic career (1958–2015) He was also principal of the Ramaz School from 1966 through 2015.
As a child in the 1940s and 1950s, Lookstein would maintain a "synagogue scorecard", tracking the weather, the subject of his father's sermon, the details of any special occasions, and the number of congregants in attendance, which hovered in the 200s, depending on the subject of the sermon.Mark, Jonathan. " Rabbi Lookstein Remembers It Well ," The Jewish Week, June 11, 2008. Accessed October 13, 2015.
He married the former Audrey Katz on June 21, 1959.Staff. "Audrey Katz Bride Of Rabbi Lookstein", The New York Times, June 22, 1959. Accessed January 21, 2009. They have four children. Their daughter Debra (Debbie) married Shelly David Senders, a pediatrician, in 1986.
Lookstein received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and took a master's degree at Yeshiva University. After receiving his semicha from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1958, he was offered pulpits in Detroit and at the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst, New York. He was also offered a position as an assistant rabbi serving under his father, Rabbi Joseph Lookstein, a choice he was warned against. Ultimately, he decided for his home congregation and was installed as assistant rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, serving under his father, on June 14, 1958.Staff. "MILITARY MORALE IS LINKED TO FAITH; Rabbi Israel Miller Equates Worth of Man and Arms -Other Sabbath Sermons", The New York Times, June 15, 1958. Accessed January 21, 2009.
Also in 1966, Lookstein began his tenure as principal of the Ramaz School.
Rabbi Lookstein's political activism began with repeated visits to the former Soviet Union, and numerous rallies on behalf of Natan Sharansky and Soviet Jewry, and it continued with activism on behalf of the Jews of Israel and worldwide.
Following the death of his father, in July 1979, Rabbi Lookstein assumed the position of senior rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.Saxon, Wolfgang. " Joseph H. Lookstein Dead at 76; A Rabbi and Orthodox Educator; Responsibilities Increased," The New York Times, July 15, 1979. Accessed January 21, 2009. His mother light-heartedly told him at the time that he'd finally have a nice office. Filled with concern at the responsibility of filling the role served by his father as the congregation's leader, he was reassured after his father's funeral by his mother, who said: "Haskel, you'll sit there; that was dad's seat", and shortly thereafter: "Well, you'll finally have a nice office"; successfully assuaging his worries.
He was selected by Newsweek magazine as the most influential Orthodox pulpit rabbi in the United States in 2008, ranked second nationwide behind Conservative Rabbi David Wolpe of Los Angeles. Newsweek's rankings were based on success in congregational growth and inspiration, leadership in the community and within his denominational movement, and the ability to serve the spiritual needs of his congregation.Staff. "Top 25 Pulpit Rabbis in America", Newsweek, April 11, 2008. Accessed January 21, 2009.
Lookstein has a vision of an open and centrist Orthodox Judaism Open Orthodoxy: Haskel Lookstein at the 2010 Sanford Solender lecture of the UJA-Federation of NY. which he defines as "a middle of the road philosophy of Orthodox Judaism that embraces the entire community", Open Orthodoxy: Haskel Lookstein at the 2010 Sanford Solender lecture of the UJA-Federation of NY, 24:29–24:33. with "an uncompromising love of all Jews". Open Orthodoxy: Haskel Lookstein at the 2010 Sanford Solender lecture of the UJA-Federation of NY, 30:37–30:40.
In the aftermath, some argued that the pressure put on Lookstein to withdraw was counterproductive, inferring, from the content of his prepared remarks, a subtle rebuke to then-nominee Trump.
Controversy
President Obama's National Prayer Service
On January 21, 2009, Rabbi Lookstein was one of three rabbinical participants in the National Prayer Service at the National Cathedral, representing, loosely speaking, the Orthodox Jewish contingent. The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), the primary American modern-Orthodox rabbinic association, initially took exception to his presence, stating that "participation in a prayer service held in the sanctuary of a church is prohibited" and adding: "Any member of the RCA who attends such a service does so in contravention of this policy and should not be perceived as representing the organization in any capacity."Grossman, Cathy Lynn. " Rabbi chided for role in a church service for Obama," USA Today, January 21, 2009. Accessed October 13, 2015. After publicizing its initial statement, however, the RCA softened its stance. Rabbi Basil Herring, its executive director, issued a new statement: "Rabbi Lookstein did not represent the Rabbinical Council of America in attending that service, and therefore, we have no comment on the matter."Orbach, Michael. " RCA tones down prayer service rebuke," The Jewish Star, January 27, 2009. Accessed October 13, 2015.
Jewish conversions
A woman who was converted to Judaism by Lookstein was refused recognition as a Jew by an Israeli Rabbinical Court in Petah Tikva, part of an international controversy over just who outside of the official Israeli Rabbinate will have their conversions recognized in Israel. The controversy gained a significantly higher profile because Lookstein also converted Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald Trump, prior to her 2009 marriage to Jared Kushner. The Israeli government sometimes does not accept conversions performed by "Orthodox rabbis not on its list of approved authorities." The rejection of conversions performed by Lookstein was condemned by the Jewish Agency for Israel, the large international NGO "responsible for the immigration ... and absorption of Jews and their families from the Jewish diaspora into Israel," which accused the Chief Rabbinate of "undermining of the legitimacy of the Diaspora faith communities," including Orthodox rabbis outside of Israel.
RNC invocation
In July 2016, Lookstein accepted the invitation of Ivanka Trump, a member of his congregation, to offer the opening invocation at the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC). After the invitation was made public, many Kehilath Jeshurun congregants, as well as Ramaz alumni, signed a petition requesting that Lookstein refrain from appearing at the RNC, condemning Trump's "racist, misogynistic rhetoric". Lookstein, responding to the uproar, backtracked, and in an e-mail sent out to the congregants, he explained that he was withdrawing from the RNC "in the interest of bringing our community together". His prepared remarks, which Lookstein also sent out, included the following benediction:
Categories: 1932 Births, Living People, Religious Leaders From Manhattan, Columbia College Alumni, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary Semikhah Recipients, Yeshiva University Alumni, American Modern Orthodox Rabbis, Orthodox Rabbis From New York City, 20th-century American Rabbis, 21st-century American Rabbis
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