Here's what you don't know about Lee Zeldin, the New York State Senator who put an end to the short-lived drought of Jewish Republican representatives in Congress.
• He had his Bar Mitzvah in a Reform Temple: In an interview with The Jewish View, Zeldin said that the older generations of his family were more affiliated with Judaism than himself and his parents.
• Zeldin connected Jewishly as an undergrad: A Political Science major and alumnus of the University of Albany and University of Albany School of Law, Zeldin did Shabbat at the campus' Chabad Center.
• He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom: Upon graduating from law school, Zeldin received his ROTC commission as a second lieutenant to the Military Intelligence Corps. He was deployed to Iraq with infantry paratroopers during the operation. He currently still serves in the reserves with the title of Major.
• He's a defender of Israel: He's said that Israel is “America’s strongest ally," and Congress must “protect Israel’s right to self-defense.”
