If ordained Orthodox rabbi Yomin Postelnik wins his party’s nomination and is elected to Republican state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff‘s District 91 seat next year, the Lighthouse Point Republican would be the first rabbi to hold office in the Florida House of Representatives.
Postelnik said he graduated from the Chabad Lubavitch’s Rabbinical College of Canada in 2000 and is an ordained rabbi. He teaches a class in current events and traditional philosophies on Tuesday evenings and is in business and nonprofit development, Postelnik said.
Although he is “visibly Orthodox,” the 32-year-old Postelnik thinks he would be treated well by his fellow legislators. “It’s never been an issue in any political meeting,” he said. “I think people want solutions.”
Rabbi Solomon Schiff, executive vice president emeritus of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, said he does not know of another rabbi who has served in Florida’s legislature but thinks Postelnik, would be well received.
“I would think that [any rabbi] would be accepted in their own right,” Schiff said. “They would be given the same respect as any newcomer.”
Schiff said Postelnik’s observance of Shabbat would not preclude him from serving. “One is not prohibited from being in a public discussion [on Shabbat],” he said. “That could be handled without compromising his religious traditions.”
But Rabbi Abraham Korf, longtime director of the Lubavitch movement in Florida, said he does not think a rabbi should serve in the state legislature. “I think a rabbi should not go there,” Korf said.
If Postelnik is very religious and observes the laws of the Torah, “there could be a lot of conflicts,” Korf said.
“He would be put in an uncomfortable situation.” But if Postelnik can “stay firm in what he is,” it would be all right for him to serve in the legislature, Korf said.
State Rep. Ari Porth, D- Coral Springs, said there is already a Chabad presence in the Florida House of Representatives. Rabbi Shneur Zalman Oirechman of the Chabad Lubavitch of the Panhandle and Tallahassee, is a frequent visitor to the Jewish members of the legislature on Jewish holidays, he said.
“The Chabad presence isn’t foreign to members of the legislature,” Porth said. “The legislature has become a more diverse and accepting place.”
Porth said he thinks a rabbi would be welcomed.” There is an opening prayer every morning and it is sometimes led by a rabbi, he said. “Faithful people are certainly appreciated up there.”
But state Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, said she wouldn’t be surprised if Postelnik is unaware of how Christian the legislature is.
“As a Christian, I find that we are sometimes insensitive to people of different faiths,” Skidmore said.
If Postelnik goes to the legislature, Skidmore said, “He may be held to a higher standard. He may feel he is a caucus of one because we have no other clergy in the legislature.”
But Postelnik might bring legislators together, she said. “He might help us be a little more sensitive to how we pray and make others feel included.”
Yumin your the MAN
U r tha best thing for The people
His parents are not chabad
He is a self made chossid, lamdan, maskil, and now aspiring public servant
Kain Ayin horo
Let’s hope he makes the most of his chushim … Lelsdesh Shem shomayim
He actually is passionate about what he believes
Unlike your protitypical polotition
Who’s only passion is personal gain Not truly serving the public good
This is the real deal!!!!
Not often does one come across a worldly man as well as a legindary Maskil
Go yomin
Hatzlocho rabba
# 3,
this is green tea.
How do you Jasmin?
I remember you.
Yomin was my chavrusa in Montreal we learned Samach Vov, and he is a very fluent in deep Maamorim.
what part of him is lubav?
B”H
Mazal Tov, may you be successful in your endeavor!
The man talks sense. Can you come to the north east and remind our republican officials what it is they are representing? Hatzlocho!
go yomin so nice to see you yechi hamelech hamoshiach
hope u can arrange a ”cash for clunkers” program to get rid of some of our cars here
hatzlacha rabba
Yomin, I am proud of you my brother. Hatzlacha Rabba! – LB
There were a few people upset with Rabbi Korf. I spoke with Yomin today. He said that the reporter didn’t know the difference between a shul Rabbi and a Chabad follower with smicha. So when Rabbi Korf was called, he thought that he was talking about a Chabad House rabbi running, in theory. Rabbi Korf eventually realized that this wasn’t about one of the Chabad shuls and then said “if he stays true to his beliefs it’s ok” but they mixed that up. Yomin also said that he was surprised the article concentrated on his rabbinical degree but figured that… Read more »
Rabbi Korf became a political commentator???? I also think he would do best in Politics he for sure would fit in VERY well.
Yomin has always been interested in politics. As an 8 year old in Montreal he attended political events and his photo was featured in the Montreal Gazette as a youngster interested in politics. Hatzlacha Rabba Yomin.
He does well in government relations. Someone told me that Korf was called by the reporter and just asked “what do you think about a rabbi serving in the Legislature.” He didn’t know that they were talking about a member of Anash who works with government. Oh, er hot a fuller bord. I’ve seen him use some straightening cream in Coral Springs – asked him about it and he laughed.
go jasmin go
Yomin??!!!
hatzlacha?
beard?
Ms. Skidmore is honest. I find her attitude abhorrent & completely against the principles of the Constitution (actually, as a Democrat she is speaking the truth from her perspective) but she is honest. Rabbi/Mr. Postelnik may have bitten off more than he can chew.