A Jewish Democratic leader says he will decline invitations to future Chabad-Lubavitch events in Washington, D.C., because of its “partisan activities.”

Ira Forman, the executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said that “certain Chabad-associated individuals and institutions” have been “taking part in partisan activities” in the last three election cycles.

Forman was upset most recently by a conference call last month that Chabad emissaries had with Sen. John McCain during which the Republican presidential nominee asked for the group’s endorsement.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Washington director of the American Friends of Lubavitch, said he had “several” discussions with the Obama campaign about a similar event and the only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because of “scheduling challenges.” — jta