Rabbi Haskel Lookstein speaks in 2011. | AP Photo Ivanka Trump’s rabbi backs out of convention role 'The whole matter turned from rabbinic to political,' he tells his congregation.

Another speaker has backed out of the Republican National Convention: Ivanka Trump’s rabbi.

In an email to his congregation obtained by POLITICO, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of the Orthodox Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side, said that he accepted an invitation from Trump’s daughter to deliver the convocation in Cleveland “out of respect for her and our relationship.”


But he decided to bow out and explained his reason to the congregation.

“Unfortunately, when my name appeared on a list of speakers at the convention, without the context of the invocation I had been invited to present, the whole matter turned from rabbinic to political, something which was never intended,” wrote Lookstein, who also served as the principal of the prominent Orthodox Jewish school Ramaz.

Earlier on Friday, the Jerusalem Post reported that 600 Ramaz alumni had written Lookstein a letter, condemning his decision to speak at the convention. “This is the single action history will remember you by, and history will not be kind,” it read.

A Trump campaign spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He is one of several speakers reported to have speaking roles at the convention who later backed out or said they never intended to speak. Most recently, Tim Tebow denied reports on Thursday that he would have a speaking role.

Lookstein’s email concluded with the prayer the rabbi intended to deliver, which reads in part: “We thank you for our constitutional government that has created and fostered the American ideals of democracy, freedom, justice and equality for all, regardless of race, religion or national origin. Almighty God: We know that we are living in very dangerous times, when all of these blessings are threatened from without, by forces of terror and unimaginable brutality, and from within, by those who sow the seeds of bigotry, hatred and violence, putting our lives and our way of life at risk.”

Tyler Pager contributed to this story.