Those who knew him best said Sen. Joe Lieberman is so much more than the first Jewish American to be nominated on a major party’s ticket. The longtime Connecticut senator is described as the pinnacle of bipartisanship, morality, and steadfast observance to his faith who changed politics for the better.
This legacy is captured in a newly premiered documentary directed by Jonathan Gruber, who lives in Silver Spring and began the project in March 2023.
Eight months after Lieberman’s death at the age of 82, the Edlavitch DCJCC’s movie theater will screen the world premiere of “Centered: Joe Lieberman” from Nov. 17 to 21, which follows Lieberman’s life and achievements over more than 40 years of public service.
Lieberman became the first Jewish American vice presidential candidate when he was chosen by Al Gore to be his running mate in 2000. During the tumultuous election, the Democratic ticket won the popular vote, but lost the electoral college vote to George W. Bush.
“It was a watershed moment for many Jewish Americans,” Lieberman’s son, Matt Lieberman, said in the documentary.
In the opening scenes, Joe Lieberman cited his religion as one of the reasons he initially pursued public service: “I’m a Jewish kid from Connecticut, [from] a wonderful family neither of whose parents went to college.”
His faith played a significant role in his day-to-day life, as he sometimes walked from his Georgetown home to the Capitol or even stayed overnight if there was an important vote to cast during Shabbat, which was received well by the public.
“He did what he did while observing Judaism as he felt called to do, and Americans not only respected that but embraced that, his observance,” Matt Lieberman told Washington
Jewish Week.
Gruber, the director, conducted seven hours of interviews with Lieberman and pored over hours of home video. Viewers of the film hear from Hadassah, the senator’s wife of over 40 years, his sisters Ellen and Rietta, his three children and stepson, and his former staffers.
Gruber said he and the film crew were “fortunate to be allowed to film some very private moments” in the senator’s life. Matt Lieberman said one of the most meaningful scenes to him was an early one in which his father is davening — reciting prayer — at home.
“When he’s wrapping the tallit around his head, and he has the tefillin on, that’s striking to me because it’s a sight that I saw so many times, and it’s very poignant, but I also don’t know if anyone in film, any nonrabbinic Jew has been depicted in preparing to daven like that,” Matt Lieberman said. “I think it’s a very unique view of a public figure that I’m not sure we’ve seen before of anyone.”
Gruber said the documentary covers a lot of Lieberman’s life in 77 minutes — including the neck-and-neck 2000 election and the Second Iraq War — and that he is pleased with
the final product.
“Centered” also illustrated Lieberman’s advocacy for equality during the Civil Rights Movement, stronger environmental law, and gay and lesbian rights, which he reflects on throughout the film.
“For his entire life, he was at the forefront of every significant movement in public life in the U.S. He was very involved in what was happening, and he was involved in a productive way,” Matt Lieberman said of his father.
Part of what made him a notable senator was his ability to be civil when he disagreed with others and his divergence from the Democratic Party in favor of his beliefs. Gruber said in creating the documentary, he didn’t shy away from depicting the more controversial stances that Lieberman took throughout his political career.
“He exemplified working with all people, working across the aisle, trying to respect the rule of law at all times,” said Clarine Nardi Riddle, Lieberman’s former chief of staff and former attorney general of Connecticut. “He was thoughtful, civil, smart, balanced, ethical, fun, focused, and constantly focused on doing the work of a public servant in whatever position he was in.”
Rob Schwartz, the executive producer of “Centered” and former chief of staff for Lieberman, said he was honored to have a role in creating this documentary that shows his longtime friend’s character.
“I had a front-row seat working for him and saw the qualities that later the country became aware of: incredible integrity, a unique ability to listen to people and truly be civil in how we talked and interacted, particularly with people who didn’t agree with him, just incredible civility,” Schwartz said.
He added that Lieberman’s Jewish faith and observance was “just part of his life.”
“He always had those values; he embraced them,” Schwartz said of Lieberman.
Some people still approach Riddle to tell her just how much the senator’s voice is needed especially in today’s political climate: “We need his voice, his clarity, his common sense, his decency, his moral compass, all of those things.”
“That’s why the title of the documentary is ‘Centered’; he provided a centered approach to solving problems and that centered approach is missed by everyone right now,” Riddle said in an interview. Gruber said another reason for the title is due to the senator’s Judaism, which grounded or “centered” him.
After Lieberman’s untimely death in March, Gruber and the film crew pivoted slightly and included footage from Lieberman’s funeral, including Matt Lieberman delivering a eulogy as the closing scene.
“I think the film does a good job showing all the ways in which my dad was a wonderful and also unique figure in American history,” Matt Lieberman said.
“It really captured his essence,” Schwartz said of the film.
