President Obama named Jack Lew, an Orthodox Jew, to be his next chief of staff. There had been speculation in the Jewish community about whether Obama would fill a top spot with someone close to the Jewish community after the departure last month of Dennis Ross, who had been Obama’s top Iran policy adviser.

Obama launched his administration with a strong contingent of Jewish advisers: including Ross, David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel and Daniel Shapiro. Emanuel quit in late 2010 to run for Chicago mayor, Axelrod left soon after to help run Obama’s re-election campaign and Shapiro is now in Tel Aviv as ambassador.

While many Jews are thrilled with this appointment, others view it as a ploy to court Jewish voters in the upcoming election.

Community member, and CEO of the Friedlander Group, Ezra Friedlander is happy with Obama’s choice.

“The appointment of Jack Lew as White House chief of staff is welcome news to the Orthodox Jewish community. It celebrates an important milestone to observant Jews here in the United States that a Shomer Shabbat individual will be the primary and most powerful White House official.

The duties of the White House chief of staff vary greatly from one administration to another. However, the position is universally regarded as the key official that the President has designated to manage the White House staff and approve the president’s schedule, hence deciding who is allowed to meet with the president,” said Friedlander.

“Indeed President Obama should be commended for selecting Mr. Lew, not because he is a Shomer Shabbat Jew, but because President Obama chose him as the most qualified and appropriate appointee and did not overlook him for his strict adherence to his religious dictates. This demonstrates the greatness of our nation for allowing observant Jews to contribute and to serve our country in all capacities without having to compromise the basic tenet of our faith: Shimirat Shabbat (keeping Shabbat according to its law).”

“It wasn’t that long ago in this country that someone who was Shomer Shabbat was told that if they didn’t work on Saturday then they shouldn’t bother coming in on Monday,” continued Friedlander, adding that the appointment of Jack Lew is equal, if not greater, to the selection of Senator Joe Lieberman as the vice presidential nominee, as the position is defined by being available 24/7 in the literal sense, as opposed to the position of vice president that, although higher ranking, is more conducive to having a staff infrastructure that allows for a vice president to control his schedule.

We need to recognize President Obama’s commitment to allowing an individual to be recognized for his caliber not his creed or color.

Another positive derivative of this appointment is the unparalleled Kiddush Hashem that Mr. Lew displays for never forgetting his rich heritage.

“Let us wish Mr. Lew a most successful tenure as White House chief of staff during these trying and turbulent times. May he be a shaliach tzibur (leader) who advocates for the community in the great tradition of those that proceeded him in positions of great power,” Friedlander concluded.