Former Senator Joe Lieberman was remembered as a political giant and a model of decency and bipartisan cooperation at his funeral in Stamford, Connecticut. Hundreds of mourners gathered at his synagogue, Agudath Shalom, to pay their respects to the man who was once the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000.
Alison Sharaf, a former staffer for Lieberman, recalled the moment she heard the news that he would be making history as the first Orthodox Jew on a major party ticket. She described Lieberman as a good human being who was honest and forthcoming with his staff. Sharaf, along with a diverse crowd of young and elderly, secular and religious individuals, lined up outside the synagogue to honor Lieberman’s legacy.
Lieberman’s children, Hani Lowenstein and Matt Lieberman, delivered emotional speeches praising their father’s warmth and kindness. Lowenstein described how her father had a warm smile for everyone he met, while Matt called him a “supreme mensch” who was a blessing to all who knew him.
Former Vice President Al Gore, a close friend of Lieberman, spoke at the funeral, praising Lieberman’s commitment to reconciliation and grace in politics. Gore highlighted their close friendship and shared memories of their time campaigning together.
Other speakers at the ceremony, including current and former Connecticut senators, praised Lieberman’s religious faith, independent spirit, and dedication to his family and community. Rabbi Daniel Cohen described Lieberman as someone who saw the divine in everyone he met and was truly a stranger to no one.
The funeral was a somber yet uplifting tribute to a man who was respected and admired by colleagues on both sides of the political aisle. Lieberman’s legacy of decency and tolerance serves as a reminder of the importance of bipartisanship in today’s divisive political climate.
