Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's political activities and life were "informed" by his Jewish faith, a Jewish news service reports.

But Abramoff didn't always live up to those beliefs, a spokesperson told JTA Today. �While he did not always meet the standard of his faith, he certainly aspired to do so," the spokesperson said.

Abramoff's faith helped win important friends in Washington, D.C., like House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), a devout Christian. "These things resonated deeply with a lot of powerful political people on the right wing of the Republican political spectrum," an associated told JTA Today.

Abramoff also gained influence among Jewish people in the nation's capitol. "Stacks became almost like the unofficial lunchroom for Jewish Washington and its colleagues," one rabbi said of Stacks, a kosher deli that closed last year amid the scandal. A kosher restaurant also closed but Signatures, a frequent spot for Republican fundraisers, remains open.

In a lengthy New York Times profile, Abramoff said he regretted using "locker room language" in e-mails about his tribal clients in light of his religious views. He also compared himself to biblical figures in the article but a spokesperson now says he was misquoted.

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