By COLlive reporter
Republican billionaire Sheldon Adelson is known in his home base of Las Vegas for his 15-year quest to take down U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley.
And that has put their mutual friend in a tough spot.
Politico.com reported that Chabad Rabbi Shea Harlig, Shliach of Southern Nevada and a friend of both, “has tried repeatedly to broker a peace between two of the state’s most prominent Jewish figures.”
Adelson is a long-time donor to Chabad of Southern Nevada, directed by the rabbi and his wife Dina Harlig. Berkley, raised a Reform Jew, has often expressed her deep fondness for the Rebbe and the Shluchim.
“I think Shelley wants to make peace but Sheldon feels she wronged him many years ago and she denies both of those things. He feels he was betrayed by her,” Rabbi Harlig told the all politics website.
From what was reported, the feud dates back to the mid-1990s when Berkley was Adelson’s corporate lawyer and publicly opposed his efforts to open the Venetian hotel-casino as a non-union shop.
She also says he tried to force her to run for Congress as a Republican. He wrote in the local newspaper that she betrayed his attorney-client privileges and said he’d have to engage in corruption to get his project approved.
Politico said Adelson rebuffed entreaties from Rabbi Harlig and others to make peace.
“He thinks the only reason why she wants to make up with him is her political ambition,” said Harlig, who spoke to Adelson as recently as this summer, according to the website.
“I don’t believe that. I said, ‘What is it she needs to do that she can make it right?’ He really doesn’t give me an answer.”
The drama makes Jewish leaders especially heartsick, Politico said. Adelson is among the biggest donors to Jewish and Israeli causes and Berkley has been one of the most hawkish Democratic supporters of Israel in the House.
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Wow, such Mesiras Nefesh!
This Berkley lady is jewish but clearly doesnt represent jewish values.
Wow cool story. I just hope that the Rabbi doesn’t lose out b/c this was published.
Go Harlig family!!
God bless and keep Sheldon Adelson!! He’s a true American patriot for working SO hard to rid our country of the plague known as Barack Obama.America will owe you a HUGE debt of gratitude.