Though Jews are not renowned for the participation in the world of politics and government, it is nevertheless possible to name a few American and Canadian politicians. In Canada, Herb Gray was a Deputy Prime Minister and Irwin Cotler served as Justice Minister. David and Stephen Lewis were leaders of various political parties. In the US, Chuck Schumer serves as the highest ranking elected Jew as Senate Minority Leader and recently deceased Henry Kissinger served as Secretary of State. Of course, we can't forget Joseph Lieberman who was a Vice-Presidential candidate 20 years ago. We should be very proud of our participation in politics and government – as minimal as it is.

Of course, the trials and tribulations of our geographic wanderings across the continents have truly not been friendly to the rise of Jews into political power. There are examples which break the rule.

It takes a certain kind of selfless and giving person to go into politics. I have the utmost respect for those I've known who have political office or access. It's hard work with long hours and takes a toll. But we should participate more fully in politics at all levels both because we need to be 'involved' in civic life and we need to look out for the Jewish Community at large. It's important to have friends and allies in all places.

Don Isaac Abarbanel (or Abravanel) is one incredible and unique exception. A learned Jew who rose the absolute height of power in his day.

Isaac ben Judah Abarbanel (1436-1508) was a statesman and financier to kings, a philosopher and a most important Bible scholar.

Isaac spent his early years in Portugal where he was steeped in Jewish Studies, philosophy and the sciences of his day. Portugal was a powerful country at the height of the Renaissance when he grew up with wealth and status. Don Isaac's excellence in financial management enabled him to rise to become the treasurer of the King Alfonso of Portugal. Of course, maybe it helped that his dad preceded him as Treasurer to the King. Isaac aided the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in their efforts to reconquer Spain from the Muslims and in their efforts to explore the world.

At one time, Isaac loaned the State 12,000,000 reals earning himself a princely sum of 1,200,000 reals. At another difficult community moment, he raised the money to redeem Jews seized as captive in wars and brought to Portugal.

When political tides changed upon the death of King Alfonso, his patron, Isaac Abarbanel had to flee to Castille as his fortune was confiscated. In consideration of the rough time he had endured, he withdrew into the contemplative life of Torah study and philosophical inquiry. He was driven by thoughts of inadequate religious devotion being the source of his troubles. During a short period he wrote substantial commentaries on a large part of the Hebrew Bible. Much of his focus was on the early Prophets (Joshua, Samuel 1&2) not co-incidently the Biblical books which contain the most stories of royalty, power and palace intrigue which he thought he could properly interpret after his experience serving in the Royal Court.

The "Catholic Monarchs" Ferdinand and Isabella also enlisted his talents. He became a 'tax farmer' for large tracts of land in southern Spain, which enabled him to provide finances to the King and Queen for a war with Granada (1491-2). There is no direct evidence that Abarbanel financed Columbus' voyage, but he surely played a big part in the financial stability of the State. Surely, he was witness to the preparations and excitement surrounding the great voyages of exploration as well as the decree of expulsion of the Jews from Spain as part of the Catholic Church's Inquisition.

The world of the Jews of Spain came crashing down with the edict of expulsion in 1491 as part of the Spanish Inquisition. Alas, Abarbanel's power and wealth was not sufficient to convince and bribe the King and Queen to revoke the edict. Don Isaac Abarbanel was exiled, again. He was allowed to leave with only 1000 gold ducats.

After setting up, again, in Naples, he, again, became Treasurer to the King. He soon began wandering from Naples to Messina and then to Corfu, Monopoli, finally settling in Venice. In Venice, he tried his hand at brokering in the Spice trade between Venice and Portugal. During all these years, he completed his Bible Commentaries and many other books across a range of subjects.

Isaac Abarbanel's story is a tale worthy of 'Hollywood'. His rise to highest office in service of the his monarch and his country several times speaks to his political and financial acumen. Through all of his wanderings he didn't leave his community or his faith behind. His legacy is not only the history of his success in the palace. His true legacy which, alive to this day are his writings explaining the Bible as he saw it and his philosophical musings from his sometime lofty, sometimes lowly perch.