[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Senator Chuck Schumer made himself comfortable as he talked up his ties with Brooklyn’s Sephardic Jewish Community at a Congressional luncheon hosted by the Sephardic Legacy Series, headed by Rabbi Yehuda Azulai.
In his introductory remarks, Mr. Schumer told the crowd that his surname ‘Schumer’ is a bad border translation to ‘Shomer’, as his family immigrated from Europe.
Talking about his relationship with the Sephardic Jewish community, as a representative of Brooklyn, Mr. Schumer joked about his Ashkenazic roots growing up in Brooklyn alongside Syrian immigrants of the Sephardic community.
“I am ‘J-Dub’.. you know,” M.r Schumer said to laughter from the crowd. (“J-Dub” is short for “JW” or “Jew,” the slang term used in the Syrian Jewish Community to describe an American Jew, and “S/Y” is the term Syrian Jews use to refer to themselves – JK).
Photo: Sephardic Leadership and Ezra Friedlander, of The Friedlander Group, presenting Senator Schumer a Menorah ahead of the Chanukah holiday
Photo credit: Shmuel Lenchevsky
(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)
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3 Responses
Sen. Schumer was my congressman back when I lived in Brooklyn. Whatever you think of his politics, he was always a community guy. He was at every shul and Hebrew school function, every graduation from elementary through high school (and even college!). I have a picture with Sen. Schumer (then Rep.) from right before my bar mitzvah. He’s a strong advocate for the Jewish community and Israel in the highest levels of government. Even taking Pres. Bush and Obama to task when they have not lived up to their promises to Israel. He should continue in strength and health to advocate for our communities for many years to come.
Rashbak
with all due respect , all schumer does is be on tv sunday morning and drink the democratic koolaid and not work for ny state
I was at this event. Of all the wonderful – outstanding – credible things that Senator Schumer said, we have to report and headline the least important thing –
” I’m a J Dub ? ” Strange !