He went onto American University, and then to law school in Boston where he became student president and soon after began working in democratic politics for Massachusett’s Governor Michael Dukakis who was running for re-election. When Dukakis lost and his job ended, he went to join the ADL in 1978. By 1983, at age 30, he became the organization’s youngest Regional Executive Director. While at the helm of the ADL organization, he forged the “World of Difference” campaign, the “Team Harmony” program, and even a Black-Jewish seder which was later expanded to a Catholic-Jewish seder. At first only a few people showed up, but in just a few short years, attendance exceeded 600 guests. Then of course, there was the “Lenny Fund,” too. During the years as ADL Director, his tires were slashed, and he received written death threats – but that didn’t slow him down, not even the greatest death threat of all – myeloma.
 

In October 1994, he had taken a routine blood test as part of a physical, and the blood work showed unusual counts – does that sound familiar? He sought out Dr. Ken Anderson who at that time was well on his way in establishing himself as one of most active and productive myeloma specialists in the world. At first the treatment was not especially aggressive. But after experiencing increasing pain in early 1995, it was time to crank up the treatment a few notches. Zakim was prepped for an autologous stem cell infusion. The process meant isolation for at least several weeks, and that might have been Lenny’s biggest challenge – being isolated from people. His wife, Joyce, was by his side during the procedure, but his three children had more restrictions. Two good friends were always with him, even when he was semiconscious, and for Lenny their presence made a huge difference for him. During the time of the transplant, among his many concerns was whether he would be alive to see the Bar Mitzvah of his now 12-year old Josh. Of course he was. He came out of the transplant weak and trimmed down, but no less active. His weight went from 180 pounds to 165. At the Bar Mitzvah, he went on stage, kicked up his heels, and with his son, sang “Mustang Sally.” 

During the months and weeks leading up to the transplant he believed that there was more than just chemo that he needed to be as strong as he could. After the initial diagnosis, he began to feel serious chest pains, and that led him to a nearby meditation center where after a few sessions, the pain disappeared. He was familiar with such therapy while in college, but as the years passed, his obligations increased, and of course, he wanted to be with his family, too, so he didn’t have the time to continue with it. But now, he was making time for that, and he was convinced that traditional medicine just did not incorporate enough of these complimentary treatments. He set out to change that for himself, and in the process for many others. He went to see an expert on complimentary treatments, Dr. David Eisenberg of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, just across the street from Dana-Farber, and he showed Lenny what he had learned through his research on alternative therapies. He showed him the importance of exercise, meditation, acupuncture, guided imagery, therapeutic massage, drinking water, using herbs and vitamins, having good nutrition and sleep. Lenny felt he could accomplish most of these efforts – except more sleep, especially now when he believed his life could be cut short and there was so much he wanted to accomplish. For Lenny, there was rest, and there was sleep. More sleep didn’t necessarily provide more rest, and that one should become as active as possible and not sleep for long hours. Five or six hours of sleep proved ample rest for Lenny. Of course, Eisenberg never meant that Lenny should abandon his traditional treatment, and it was important for him to confer with his doctor, Ken Anderson, before making any moves. While nutritional changes, vitamins and herbs are important, these can contradict the traditional treatments, and as Lenny pointed out, “Why go through the pain and suffering of a transplant if you are doing something that will work against it?”