Remembering Jack Kemp

"I went to more synagogues with Jack Kemp between the time I was born to 19 than I’d ever been to with anyone else," said William Daroff Monday, recalling the work he did with Jack Kemp — who died over the weekend at the age of 73.

"He loved Jews, loved Jewish people, loved Israel," said Daroff, vice president of public policy and the director of the United Jewish Communities’ Washington office, and would try to attend as many synagogue Shabbat services as he could as he campaigned for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988.

"He quoted Maimonides in his stump speech and it was the first time I’d ever heard his name," recalled Daroff, adding that Kemp would "make fun of me for the fact that he knew more about Judaism than I did."

Daroff got to know Kemp after working in his congressional office as a high school senior — "he was my political hero" — and then dropped out of college to work full-time on his presidential exploratory commitee. He said Kemp’s combination of "bleeding-heart conservatism, ultra-Zionism" and strong concern for Soviet Jewry made him the "Republican of choice for Jews across the country."

After the jump, statements from the Republican Jewish Coalition, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee remembering Kemp, and my own recollection of meeting the former congressman and Republican vice presidential nominee as a teenager. [[READMORE]]

I had my own encounter with Jack Kemp as a 16-year-old high school junior. I was traveling to Boston for a debate tournament and a familiar-looking guy was sitting across the aisle from me and my debate partner, Phil. We both realized at the same time that it was Jack Kemp, and told him where we wer going and that we went to the same high school his son did, Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Md. Kemp responded that he wished his son Jimmy debated, and I responded that his son was the starting quarterback on the high school football team — which was pretty good in itself. The old quarterback, if I recollect properly, responded with a "Yeah" that trailed off, giving the impression that he wished his son did both.

After we got off the plane, Phil and I got our bags and started to figure out where we were supposed to meet a friend who was coming in on another flight. Kemp saw us and asked, "You guys need a ride anywhere?" We passed up the offer because we needed to find our friend, but I always remembered that story as a demonstration of what a mensch he was.

Here’s the RJC statement:

Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matthew Brooks said today:

We mourn the passing of Jack Kemp, an unwavering defender of liberty and a dear friend of Israel, the American Jewish community, and the RJC.
 
Jack Kemp was a leader on pro-Israel issues from his very first days in Congress. He was a consistent friend of Israel and visited Israel frequently over the years. Jack never missed an opportunity to stand up for Israel against her detractors, in this country or abroad.
 
A staunch anti-communist, Jack was an early supporter of the Soviet Jewry movement and worked with great dedication to help Soviet Jews achieve freedom.
 
Jack’s vision of the Republican Party was marked by inclusiveness and concern for the individual. He reached out to African Americans and welcomed the energy and passion of a diverse GOP. He was the original bleeding-heart conservative, whose desire to help the less fortunate drove his efforts for economic reform.
 
The RJC was blessed to have the opportunity to work closely with Jack during his decades of public service. He touched many lives and was a wonderful friend.
 
We mourn his loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joanne and his family. May his memory be for a blessing.

And the AJC:

AJC mourns the passing of former Representative Jack Kemp, a cherished friend of Israel, a steadfast voice for civil rights, and a champion of the Soviet Jewry movement. The nine-term Buffalo Republican, who went on to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and was his party’s vice presidential nominee in 1996, died Saturday at 73.

"Jack Kemp was a man of exceptional conscience, vision, and accomplishment,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris, who first met him nearly thirty years ago. "He was a strong and trusted friend of Jews who sought freedom from Soviet oppression, of the State of Israel and the valued U.S.-Israel relationship, and of all who yearn for a secure peace in the Middle East.”

AJC worked closely with Kemp in the course of his remarkable career in public service. He addressed the organization on several occasions.

"He was fortunate enough to lead and excel in several careers – in Congressional leadership, as a visionary in the rescue of inner cities, as a voice for change in American politics, and in international human rights, not to mention his distinguished career in sports," said Harris.

AJC extends heartfelt condolences to Jack Kemp’s wife, Joanne, who for years served as a Co-Chair of Congresssional Wives for Soviet Jewry, and their extended family.

Finally, the ADL:

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) mourns the passing of Jack Kemp, a good friend of the American Jewish community and the State of Israel.

Jack Kemp was a strong and outspoken supporter of pro-Israel issues during his years in Congress, as a Cabinet secretary, and as a vice presidential nominee. He was a leader in Congress on behalf of Soviet Jewry struggling in the then-Soviet Union to live as Jews or leave.  His commitment was shared by his wife, Joanne, who was a co-chair of the Congressional Wives for Soviet Jewry.

Jack was a strong advocate of democracy abroad, and equally passionate about civil rights here at home. He was committed to an American democracy that provided equal opportunity for all.