The Shapiros, who celebrate their silver wedding anniversary this month, were high school sweethearts at Pennsylvania’s Jack M Barrack Hebrew Academy, then known as Akiba, and they have sent their four children to the same Jewish day school they attended three decades ago.

Now the religiously-observant Conservative Jew is set to become one of the most influential Jews in America.

Shapiro is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for governor in the May 17 primary. He will face off against one of several Republican challengers in November for the post vacated by retiring governor Tom Wolf.

If he wins, Shapiro intends to take his love for Israel with him to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, a powerful pulpit in a purple swing state that has decided the last few presidential elections.

Shapiro has been to Israel 12 or 13 times, and was inspired by studying at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, a project of the Jewish National Fund.

“My family and faith guide and drive me in my public service,” he said.

To read more on this story, subscribe to our new e-edition. Go to E-edition.jewishtelegraph.com.

If you have a story or an issue you want us to cover, let us know - in complete confidence - by contacting newsdesk@jewishtelegraph.com, 0161-741 2631 or via Facebook / Twitter