Seals camp slams rival (a Christian) for attending event on Yom Kippur

The spokesman for the Democrat running for Congress in the suburban 10th District on Monday criticized the Republican candidate for attending a political rally on Yom Kippur, the holiest Jewish holiday.

The holiday began at sundown Friday and ended Saturday night. Observant Jews mark the holiday by attending religious services.

Neither Democrat Dan Seals nor Republican Robert Dold is Jewish. Dold belongs to a nondenominational Christian church, while Seals is Episcopalian.

Regardless, Seals spokeswoman Aviva Gibbs blasted Dold for going to the event, which was part of the "November is Coming" bus tour organized by a conservative group called Americans For Prosperity.

Attending the event "on the most sacred day of the Jewish year is just plain disrespectful," Gibbs said in a news release.

Dold's campaign spokeswoman, Kelly Klopp, said she "finds it amazing" Team Seals would criticize Dold for meeting with potential voters.

"It just seems like a desperate attack by a desperate candidate," Klopp said.

Nothing in Jewish law or practice prohibits non-Jews from doing anything they would usually do on Yom Kippur or any other Jewish holiday, said Rabbi Michael Balinsky, executive vice president of the Chicago Board of Rabbis, a group representing more than 200 rabbis of all denominations.

The political rally was staged at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel in Northbrook. Dold did not speak at the event but merely attended it, Klopp said.

Gibbs called Americans for Prosperity "an extreme right-wing group." The political leanings of the group sponsoring the rally "adds insult to injury," she said.

The website for Americans for Prosperity states the group is committed to educating people about economic policy. It favors cutting taxes and government spending, limited government and free markets, according to the website.

The Dold campaign was aware Friday marked the start of Yom Kippur, but because Dold is not Jewish he carried out his schedule, Klopp said.

Dold also had breakfast in Palatine on Saturday and spoke with merchants in Arlington Heights and went to a Korean community event later in the day.

Gibbs insisted Seals did no politicking on Friday night or Saturday.

"He did not attend any meetings, nor did he make any fundraising calls out of respect," Gibbs said in an e-mail.

Both candidates have courted Jewish voters in the 10th District, and both have pages on their websites dedicated to the United States' relationship with Israel.

Dold, of Kenilworth, and Seals, of Wilmette, are running for an open seat. Republican Mark Kirk of Highland Park now serves the 10th District but is leaving the post to run for Senate.

The district includes parts of Cook and Lake counties.