Toward Tradition
Encyclopedia
Toward Tradition is a politically conservative non-profit organization founded by Rabbi
Daniel Lapin
based in Mercer Island, Washington
, United States
. The organization's activities, as described in its IRS statement, are to "educate the public through conventions, seminars, public speaking, and class studies on Judeo-Christian
values." These values are detailed on the Toward Tradition web site as: "faith-based American principles of constitutional and limited government; the rule of law; representative democracy; free markets; a strong military; and, a moral public culture."
and the Scaife Family
Foundations. For several years Rabbi Lapin was on the payroll of the convicted criminal fraudster Jack Abramoff
for lobbying duties.
hearings into Abramoff's dealings. According to Lapin, Jack Abramoff
was a director for Toward Tradition from the early 1990s until 2004, and served a few terms as Chairman of the Board. In January 2006, Toward Tradition posted a statement of facts regarding the Jack Abramoff matter. Towards Tradition gave Abramoff a set of awards after Abramoff requested fake awards from Lapin so that he could use them to get into the Cosmos Club
. Towards Tradition and its affiliates maintain that Lapin only gave the awards to Abramoff as a joke.
The Abramoff investigation shows some of the details. On September 15, 2000, Abramoff emailed Rabbi Lapin that as part of his joining the exclusive Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., the "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?" Abramoff asked. It would "be even better if it were possible that I received these in years past, if you know what I mean." Rabbi Lapin answered, "Let's organize your many prestigious awards so they're ready to 'hang on the wall'"
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Daniel Lapin
Daniel Lapin
Daniel Lapin is a political commentator and American Orthodox rabbi living on Mercer Island, Washington. He is the founder of Toward Tradition, a politically conservative Jewish-Christian organization. He once headed the Pacific Jewish Center in Venice, California. He is also the former head of...
based in Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island is a city in King County, Washington, United States and the name of the island in Lake Washington on which the city sits. The population was 22,699 at the 2010 census....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The organization's activities, as described in its IRS statement, are to "educate the public through conventions, seminars, public speaking, and class studies on Judeo-Christian
Judeo-Christian
Judeo-Christian is a term used in the United States since the 1940s to refer to standards of ethics said to be held in common by Judaism and Christianity, for example the Ten Commandments...
values." These values are detailed on the Toward Tradition web site as: "faith-based American principles of constitutional and limited government; the rule of law; representative democracy; free markets; a strong military; and, a moral public culture."
Funding
Annual funding is provided by the CarthageCarthage Foundation
The Carthage Foundation is one of the American Scaife Foundations. It is controlled by Richard Mellon Scaife. The foundation does not award grants to individuals. It concentrates its efforts towards causes focused on public policy at a national and international level. From 1985 to 2003 the...
and the Scaife Family
Scaife Family Foundation
The Scaife Family Foundation is one of the American Scaife Foundations. The foundation does not award grants to individuals. It concentrates its efforts towards causes focused on families, women, children, and animal welfare. From 1985 to 2001 the organization awarded over $77 million USD to...
Foundations. For several years Rabbi Lapin was on the payroll of the convicted criminal fraudster Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
for lobbying duties.
Controversy concerning Jack Abramoff
Toward Tradition came to public attention in 2005 when it was drawn into the Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal because of information that surfaced during US SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
hearings into Abramoff's dealings. According to Lapin, Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
was a director for Toward Tradition from the early 1990s until 2004, and served a few terms as Chairman of the Board. In January 2006, Toward Tradition posted a statement of facts regarding the Jack Abramoff matter. Towards Tradition gave Abramoff a set of awards after Abramoff requested fake awards from Lapin so that he could use them to get into the Cosmos Club
Cosmos Club
The Cosmos Club is a private social club in Washington, D.C., founded by John Wesley Powell in 1878. In addition to Powell, original members included Clarence Edward Dutton, Henry Smith Pritchett, William Harkness, and John Shaw Billings. Among its stated goals is "The advancement of its members in...
. Towards Tradition and its affiliates maintain that Lapin only gave the awards to Abramoff as a joke.
The Abramoff investigation shows some of the details. On September 15, 2000, Abramoff emailed Rabbi Lapin that as part of his joining the exclusive Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., the "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?" Abramoff asked. It would "be even better if it were possible that I received these in years past, if you know what I mean." Rabbi Lapin answered, "Let's organize your many prestigious awards so they're ready to 'hang on the wall'"