Remembering Bookie
I would like to add to Michael Berenbaum’s wonderful July 26 obituary for Hyman Bookbinder by going back one administration earlier than Michael’s memories. For a year and a half, I served as the Jewish liaison for the Ford White House. During that time, Bookie, whose personal political proclivities were pretty much on the other side of the aisle, offered the most sage advice, and never with the object of promoting himself. Particularly in light of some of the recent events in Washington, what I would focus on about Bookie was not that he would compromise, but that he actually knew the path to take to get something done.
David H. Lissy
Executive Director and CEO
Masorti Foundation
New York, N.Y.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
