An Orthodox rabbi with ties to Jack Abramoff says an e-mail that suggested the disgraced lobbyist receive a "Scholar of Talmudic Studies" award was a joke.

Rabbi Daniel Lapin, the head of Toward Tradition [Web Site], told The Forward that the message was "obviously ridiculous." "This is not something that came to Toward Tradition's board," he said.

An e-mail released by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee showed that Abramoff asked Lapin for an award. "I have been nominated for membership in the Cosmos Club, which is a very distinguished club in Washington, D.C., comprised of Nobel Prize winners, etc. Problem for me is that most prospective members have received awards and I have received none. I was wondering if you thought it possible that I could put that I have received an award from Toward Tradition with a sufficiently academic title, perhaps something like Scholar of Talmudic Studies?... Indeed, it would be even better if it were possible that I received these in years past, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I think you see what I am trying to finagle here!" he wrote.

In response, Lapin wrote, "Let's organize your many prestigious awards so they're ready to 'hang on the wall.'... I just need to know what needs to be produced. Letters? Plaques? Neither?"

Get the Story:
Rabbi's Ties to Embattled Lobbyist Draw Scrutiny (The Forward 7/1)

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