As background, Josh was born in 1973 and spent his childhood on a naval base while his dad worked as a medical officer. 14 languages. I feel comfortable here because this is a place of spirituality, this is a place of purpose., Shapiro, 49, who describes himself as a Conservative Jew from the Philadelphia suburbs, talks about being raised to bring faith out in the community and make a difference. He refers to Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, the spiritual icons who forged a friendship during the civil rights movement. . What, if anything, has shifted since the 1970s, when Gov. Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Democratic nominee, is a first-class fundraiser with a record of winning tough statewide races. In 2016, Shapiro was elected Pennsylvania attorney general. I'll take on the oil and gas drillers to ensure that our communities have safe drinking water -- and I'll join the fight to ensure the drillers pay their fair share for using our resources. Schatz said Shapiro remained sensitive to the issues affecting the Jewish community, helping expand Medicare assistance for the elderly, instituting Holocaust education and targeting terrorist-backing countries like Iran for sanctions. (Sipora died in 2017.) He continues to call out the dangerous lies that undermine our democracy and provide steady, strong, and competent leadership to protect voting rights in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, a new Pennsylvania governor will be sworn-in in Harrisburg. Now, Shapiro is in full governor mode, making appearances at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, choosing a bipartisan cabinet, and showing confidence that he can overcome Harrisburgs partisan gridlock that has plagued previous administrations. He also led a widely publicized investigation of child abuse in the Roman Catholic church. I voted against, refused to accept and led the fight to repeal the infamous "pay-raise" that was passed in the dark of night. See full bio . Marcel Groen, a retired attorney on the economic development advisory committee, first met the new governor because he attended synagogue with Shapiros father. Whatever Shapiros plan was, it appears to be working, at least for the time being. He gets done what he needs to get done, what he wants to get done, said Robin Schatz, the director of government affairs at the Jewish Federations of Greater Philadelphia. I didnt look at it as an American Jew and feel offended personally. (Mark Makela/Getty Images). 328 following. Thats the way he is.. Others might think, Do I look too progressive? It wasnt a thought on Joshs mind.. I had been the chief lawyer for the city of Philadelphia in the early 80s, recalled Aronchick, who became a mentor to Shapiro. The election will come down to this: who can lead the office with integrity, who has the judgment and executive experience to clean up a mess, and who has a track record of fighting for our collective values -- and I hope you'll join me in this campaign. Mastrianos team, toward the end of the campaign, appeared to notice the resonance Shapiros beliefs had among Pennsylvanians. Shapiro entered the 2022 race for governor as the only Democratic candidate and is up against Republican Doug Mastriano who has long been a staunch supporter of Trump, claiming the 2020 election was stolen, and promoting conspiracy theories. Married to my high school sweetheart. While Shapiro was a staffer at the Capitol in Washington D.C. he graduated from Georgetown Law and was off to Harrisburg. Obama did well enough in the state, Shapiro told JTA at the time, that he believed he would do well nationally. But that moment justified it. I looked at it as an attorney general who wants to be governor, thinking, This guy cant lead our commonwealth if he thinks certain people shouldnt exist here, if he thinks certain people dont deserve representation. So it pissed me off on behalf of the people that Im trying to represent., He wasnt even a little pissed off as a Jew? And its also clear that hes by far the most dangerous. Luria and two others just left Congress: Andy Levin of Michigan, who was defeated in last years primary after redistricting, and Ted Deutch, a Florida Democrat who made the transition this year to leading the American Jewish Committee. Shapiro nominated Redding, the current secretary of agriculture, to return to the position. Look at all hes done. Anyone of any religious stripe was welcome.. Josh Shapiro delivers eulogy for Temple officer Chris Fitzgerald. His surrogates pivoted to claiming Shapiro was not a genuine Jew, with one consultant saying Shapiros defense of abortion rights made him inauthentic, and Mastrianos wife claiming she and her husband loved Israel more than Jews did. Kathy ONeil, a voter who attended Shapiro's rally in Erie told NBC: "[Shapiro's] a champion of the people in Pennsylvania. Just very, very moving.. I believe deeply in the value of public service and want to make this commonwealth stronger for my family and yours. While we won this race and by the way, we won it pretty convincingly I want you to know, the job is not done, the task is not complete, Shapiro said during his victory speech, prompting 15 seconds of cheers and applause. In 2016, Josh successfully ran to be Pennsylvanias Attorney General. That hasnt happened for Shapiro, who is part of a relatively younger generation including congresspersons Elaine Luria of Virginia and Becca Balint of Vermont who express unabashed Jewish identities when campaigning among the broader public. Fresh out of his bar mitzvah, a 13-year-old Shapiro looked forward to his chats with Mark Aronchick, who was a leader with Joshs parents, Steven and Judi, in the movement for Soviet Jewry in the Philadelphia area. Fresh out of his bar mitzvah, a 13-year-old Shapiro looked forward to his chats with Mark Aronchick, who was Perhaps Shapiros most direct antecedent is Joe Lieberman, the Orthodox former Connecticut senator who was Al Gores vice presidential running mate in 2000. By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org. Josh Shapiro rose to prominence in 2016 when he was first elected as Pennsylvania attorney general. I knocked on every door, Shapiro recalled to Philadelphia Magazine in 2007. Mastriano, the spot hammers, is way too extreme.. "But you cant, unfortunately, say that about the Democrats [at large]. Shapiro embarked on a final six-day tour across 25 towns in a final surge to meet with voters in the week lead-up to the election. We all have a responsibility to show up, stand up and fight for whats right. And to me, thats the approach we need to take more broadly as a public," Shapiro told the Associated Press. But asked by CNNs Dana Bash after the election if he wanted to make history as Americas first Jewish president, Shapiro demurred. she and her husband loved Israel more than Jews did. More at IMDbPro ", "Did Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro also facilitated a settlement between Highmark and UPMC, two healthcare giants who had been in a dispute for years. From left: Then-Democratic candidate for U.S. ", "We have to find ways to get to working together again," he said. And the families were desperate to find out if their loved ones were among the dead, and obviously, by that hour, it was becoming more and more clear.. 58 more days, he says the time between now and the election. He ran against Jon Fox, a Jewish Republican who had been a congressman. If Mastriano wins, its a win for what Donald Trump stands for., The ad ends by asking: Is that what we want in Pennsylvania?. Shapiro insists that Mastriano was on the glidepath to victory by the time the ad aired, even though public polling only showed him six points ahead (Thats not what we were seeing in internal surveys we were seeing him pulling away). None of them wears a kippah on the campaign trail or strictly observes Shabbat, as Lieberman did, but all infuse Jewishness in their public comments and personas. Josh Shapiro rose to prominence in 2016 when he was first elected as Pennsylvania attorney general. In 2018, he made international headlines when he released a grand jury report that revealed the Church had hidden the sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children over multiple decades. Today, people in Montgomery County are once again proud of their government. Hes standing up for everyday consumers, seniors whove been scammed, and students preyed upon by private lenders by obtaining over $328 million in relief to Pennsylvanians who have been ripped off. He continued: "And I think he poses a clear and present danger to democracy, our freedom, and our safety. Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. The more they tell me its impossible to fix, the more motivated I am to surround myself with smart, ethical people, build a coalition, lay out a strategy and see it through. Shapiro launched his bid for governor in 2021 amidst his outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump's claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Pennsylvania's next Attorney General will face many specific challenges but the most pressing challenge we face today in our justice system is a crisis of confidence, doubts about the administration of justice and the results that follow. To add to his list of accomplishments as attorney general, Shapiro got $1 billion for Pennsylvania in a opioid settlement. Unlike some before him, Shapiro hasnt downplayed his religion out of a fear of appearing different. Jew, non-Jew, Black, white. I think it's fair to say that when I got to Harrisburg in 2005 not everyone was glad I had arrived. He is leading on criminal justice reform, bringing activists and law enforcement together to launch a new statewide police misconduct data-base, taking on employers who steal from Pennsylvania workers. Under Shapiros plan, Democrats would back a moderate Republican, Denny OBrien, to keep the scandal-plagued incumbent speaker, Republican John Perzel, from reelection. Levin, his government teacher at Akiba, said Shapiro had a realistic assessment of his skills and what he needed to do to succeed. With Josh, there never has been any confusion about where he stands on things.. ", Rape survivor slams Gabby Petito Utah cop over handling of her case, 'Dark details' about boyfriend of US swim champ who mysteriously died, Disturbing red flags of Lindsay Clancy's psychosis before she 'killed 3 kids', Mysterious powder swamps US skies as residents report dust-covered cars, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Josh Shapiro is the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania governor, Josh Shapiro is going up against Republican candidate Doug Mastriano. His daughter got it for him on a recent trip to Israel. WebHis father was a pediatrician and his mother was a teacher. Joshua David Shapiro (born June 20, 1973) is an American politician and lawyer who is the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania since 2023. He is the face of political correctness. Their example inspired Josh to enter into public service, and from a young age, Josh recognized that standing up for others was how he wanted to spend his career. It was, Groen said, typical of Shapiros approach to changing hearts and minds: Josh realized thats how you reach kids who got in trouble and who needed to understand life in a different manner, he recalled. I think we all recognize that this was going to be a tough race no matter which one of those 14 or 15 won. I was determined to be a champion of good government. We showed that we could reform our pension system without hurting hard working government employees. Within two years, Shapiro rose to statewide prominence when he brokered a deal to break a deadlock in the state house, where Democrats had a one-seat majority. I'll hold corrupt officials accountable for their actions and do my part to end the disgraceful behavior that has besmirched our commonwealth. Matt Rourke and Gene J. Puskar/AP Photos. Office: Governor (PA), Democratic Track This Politician. Many say he showed courage in a press conference of one called for the caucus bid to step down amid the bonusgate scandal. Pennsylvania Gov. DEMOCRAT Josh Shapiro is the leading candidate in the race for governor of Pennsylvania, a critical swing state headed into the November 8 elections. Lieberman, the first Jew on a major-party presidential ticket, recalled being ridiculed and questioned by Jewish groups for expressing his faith at campaign events, That hasnt happened for Shapiro, who is part of a relatively younger generation including congresspersons. Putting a spotlight on Mastrianos antisemitic connections is a way for Shapiro to make the case hes too radical. Josh Shapiro Net Worth: The market value of an individual or organizations asset is known as his net worth, and Josh Shapiros wealth equals the value of his assets. They just refused to accept that that kind of hate would sort of permeate the community. Shapiros friends and neighbors say his faith is not just genuine, but deep. ethical teachings excerpted from early Jewish writings. I have an ambition to get a little bit of sleep, to reintroduce myself to my kids, and then to serve the good people of Pennsylvania as their governor, he said. Josh Shapiro net worth. He was sitting at his kitchen table in Abington in 2018 when he heard the news: 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue had been slaughtered and several others were injured. The task before me, to rebuild the Office of Attorney General and restore integrity to our justice system is no doubt immense but it's a challenge that in many ways I've been preparing for my entire professional life. He used to work on Capitol Hill during the day, enrolled at the Georgetown University Law Center as an evening student, and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 2002. Josh Shapiro has two siblings; a brother, Adam, and a sister, Rebecca. Josh Shapiro with his siblings, Adam and Rebecca. Shapiros father is a well-known pediatrician in the Elkins Park area and his mother was active in the Soviet Jewry movement and they saw to it their son attended Ryan Boyer, Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Levin, his high school teacher, remembered a call Shapiro made when he was considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Pennsylvania had one previous governor born with the surname Shapiro. (Im not sure I see them as being that much different in the sense that we are talking about the same issues, Shapiro says.). I have a long track record of doing what's right and proven over time that I have the judgment and know-how to get the job done. We adopted brand new ethics and procurement standards that saved tax dollars, ensured transparency in the system and have been a model for other counties across Pennsylvania. At a rally, Mastriano said: "Josh Shapiro stands for all that is wrong with the Democrat Party. Then, as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners in Montgomery County, Pennsylvanias third-largest, Josh led a fiscal and ethical turnaround. (The refusenik who was the focus of Shapiros bar mitzvah activism made it out in time to attend Shapiros bar mitzvah, which, earned Shapiro Philadelphia news coverage. As Attorney General, I'll lead the effort to restore integrity to our government. With our two year old, Lori and I moved back home in 2003 to the community where I grew up. The battle for governor in Pennsylvania is one of the most consequential races in the country: It could determine whether women have the right to an abortion and all voters have the right to cast a ballot in a pivotal battleground state. Most of the folks there didnt vote for me in the past, didnt vote for Joe Biden, werent Democrats. But that doesnt mean hes certain of victory in November. Devoutly Jewish, Josh Shapiro wants to persuade voters that his opponents Christian nationalism doesnt represent the values of the state. I also led by example. In a sign of his polish with Pennsylvanians, Shapiros margin of victory was substantially wider than that of John Fetterman, the Democrat elected to the states open Senate spot. It made me more determined to beat this guy, but not for the reasons that I think you think, Shapiro says. He is the third Jewish governor in Pennsylvania's history, following Milton Shapp and Ed Rendell. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There were, I dont know, easily over 1,000 people I dont know exactly how many people were there. 52.9K followers. He attended high school at Akiba Hebrew Academy, now known as Jack M. Barrac So he said, my fallback from school was government, and he was the first sophomore ever to be student president at the University of Rochester, she said. 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