Book Launch Held for Letters to President Clinton

In January, a book launch for Rabbi Menachem Genack’s latest book, Letters to President Clinton: Biblical Lessons on Faith and Leadership, was held at Congregation Shearith Israel in New York City. At the launch, Rabbi Genack, CEO, OU Kosher, conversed with Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel, and renowned Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, about the close relationship he had with President Clinton for over two decades.

Rabbi Menachem Genack (right) and Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik discussing the new book. Photos: M. Kruter

Rabbi Genack, referred to as “Bill Clinton’s rabbi” by the former president in the introduction to the book, engaged in an ongoing correspondence with the president, sending him divrei Torah on leadership to guide and inspire him. The book, which is essentially a collection of those letters and President Clinton’s occasional responses to them, also includes letters by prominent thinkers such as Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Cynthia Ozick and Roald Hoffmann, Nobel laureate in chemistry, among others.

Former Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) also attended the launch and offered remarks in honor of the occasion.

Moshe Genack, Rabbi Genack’s son, introducing former Senator Joseph Lieberman, who is seated next to his wife, Hadassah.

Letters to President Clinton: Biblical Lessons on Faith and Leadership, published by Sterling Ethos and OU Press, was recently selected as a finalist of the 2013 National Jewish Book Awards by the Jewish Book Council.