NY Governor Candidate Warns Hasidic Jews of Potential Violence
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman warned Hasidic leaders of potential antisemitic violence, including the destruction of religious institutions and homes, if riots occur. Blakeman suggested Governor Kathy Hochul lacks the resolve to prevent such events and invoked Mayor Adams's perceived inaction. The remarks drew mixed reactions, with some criticizing Blakeman's tactics and others supporting his concerns about security amid controversial statements by Mayor Adams regarding Israel.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Republican Bruce Blakeman warned Hasidic leaders of potential antisemitic violence in New York.
- Blakeman suggested Governor Kathy Hochul lacks the resolve to prevent riots.
- The comments were made at a closed-door meeting in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
- Rabbi Moshe Indig called Blakeman's remarks a "cheap attempt at intimidation."
- Rabbi David Katz defended Blakeman, citing Mayor Adams's stance on Israel.
- Mayor Adams's associate accused Blakeman of inciting hatred and Islamophobia.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has issued stark warnings to Hasidic leaders in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, about potential antisemitic violence, including the burning of yeshivas and synagogues, should riots erupt. Blakeman, who is currently trailing incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in the polls, made these remarks during a closed-door meeting last Sunday. He suggested Hochul lacks the "backbone" to prevent such incidents and warned the situation could escalate beyond the 1991 Crown Heights riots. Blakeman, the Jewish and kosher-observant Nassau County Executive, was recorded stating, "If there are riots here, if they burn your yeshivas and synagogues, burn your homes and severely harm women, do you think Adams will stop them?"
The comments have sparked controversy within the New York Jewish community. Rabbi Moshe Indig, a leader of the Satmar Hasidic sect and a supporter of Hochul, criticized Blakeman's remarks as a "cheap attempt at intimidation," praising the responses of the police and Mayor Adams to antisemitic incidents. Conversely, Rabbi David Katz, CEO of the Israeli Heritage Foundation, who attended the meeting, defended Blakeman, arguing that Adams's stances on the IDF and Israel undermine Jewish security.
Blakeman has not denied the recordings and stated that Adams refuses to condemn calls made by terrorists. Mayor Adams's office declined to comment, but a close associate, Asad Dandia, accused Blakeman of inciting hatred and Islamophobia. The article notes that Adams himself was recently attacked at a rally commemorating October 7th by pro-Palestinian demonstrators displaying Hezbollah flags and images of Sinwar, following a post in which he accused Israel of "genocide" and "apartheid."