In July 2016 , Lookstein accepted the invitation of Ivanka Trump , a member of his congregation , to offer the opening invocation at the 2016 Republican National Convention . After the invitation was made public , many Kehilath Jeshurun congregants as well as Ramaz alumni signed a petition requesting Lookstein to refrain from appearing at the RNC , condemning Trump 's " racist , misogynistic rhetoric " . Lookstein , responding to the uproar , backtracked , and in an e-mail sent out to the congregants , he explained that he was withdrawing from the RNC " in the interest of bringing our community together " . His prepared remarks , which Lookstein also sent out , included the following benediction : In the aftermath , some argued that the pressure put on Lookstein to withdraw was counterproductive , inferring , from the content of his prepared remarks , a subtle rebuke to then-nominee Trump
2016 Republican National Convention
2016 Republican National Convention
Haskel Lookstein