At the end of this post, there is a link to a video in which (at 16:08 minutes) Alan Dershowitz relates the following story about Jesse Helms.

Dershowitz was very upset when he saw that Jesse Helms (who had opposed civil rights and other goals that Dershowitz and his colleagues were trying to promote) was honoured at a Chabad event.

So he wrote to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, asking how Lubavitch could honour someone like Helms.

The Rebbe replied, that Jesse Helms was not an honouree, he had just walked into the event (and once he was there, they were friendly to him).

The Rebbe added the following explanation of his approach in these matters:

“I trust you will agree that in regard to persons of influence, whether in Washington or elsewhere, the first objective should be to persuade and encourage such a person to use his influence in a positive way in behalf of any and all good causes which are important to us. We should welcome every public appearance which lends public support to the cause, especially when there is........

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