A frum Jew living in Michigan, Grossbard is taking on Rep. Andy Levin, a progressive Democrat and major Israel critic
But then there is Gabi Grossbard. A frum Jew living in Michigan, he is taking on Rep. Andy Levin, a progressive Democrat and major Israel critic. In December, Levin led a group of 107 party members signing a strongly worded letter protesting the recent decision of the State Department to recognize the legality of Israeli settlements. If elected, Grossbard and Deutsch would both be the first Orthodox Jewish members of Congress.
“It happens to be that Eric Cantor, the former House majority leader, was a shomer Shabbos, but he didn’t wear a kippah in Congress,” said Grossbard, 47. “But I intend to, especially after they changed the rules in 2018 to allow head coverings to accommodate Rep. Ilhan Omar,” a Muslim congresswoman from Minnesota who wears a head scarf. “In fact, I have a kippah that I picked up in Meah Shearim that says #VoteGabi.”
Neither Cantor nor Deutsch have a spodik-wearing Gerrer chassid father, though Grossbard does not consider himself chassidish. A Republican, Grossbard also served in the Israeli military.
Levin has held his seat for two terms, but the Democratic-leaning district has elected a Republican representative in four elections since 1990. As of this writing, Grossbard is running unopposed in the Republican primary.
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