Last week, Rick Perry used a press conference in New York to express his commitment to being a “friend of Israel,” and he has worked hard to court the Jewish vote this presidential season. But this friendliness with the Jewish community pre-dates the Texas governor’s presidential campaign.

In this video from last December, Perry participated in a menorah lighting at the Texas Capitol where he dances with a group of rabbis.  Perry and one of the rabbis even joke, saying, “That is the real dancing with the stars.”  Scroll to minute mark 4:55.

In Orlando, Fla., last week, a man threw a Rick Perry Yarmulke on stage while the governor spoke at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Forum. Perry picked up the Yarmulke, stitched with Rick Perry’s name, from the stage and carried it with him as he worked the rope line. These friendly moments with the Jewish community aside, Perry drew some heat in August for the exclusion of non-Christian religions at the Response, a Christian day of prayer and fasting which drew 30,000 people to Reliant In Orlando, Fla., last week, a man threw a Rick Perry Yarmulke on stage while the governor spoke at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Forum.  Perry picked up the Yarmulke, stitched with Rick Perry’s name, from the stage and carried it with him as he worked the rope line.

These friendly moments with the Jewish community aside, Perry drew some heat in August for the exclusion of non-Christian religions at the Response, a Christian day of prayer and fasting which drew 30,000 people to Reliant Stadium.