Unlike his widely discussed performance a night earlier, in which, according to media reports, Mr. Weiner looked bored and uninterested, in this room he flourished. He was welcomed as a returning hero. Mr. Weiner showed up a half hour ahead of time, taking the opportunity to greet voters, former colleagues and constituents.
Surrounded by Jewish fans and Orthodox journalists, Mr. Weiner was upbeat, pleasant and sarcastic.
Mr. Weiner reiterated his stance on Metitzah B’peh as he had already expressed his view in 2005, speaking to reporters before the forum began. Coincidentally, Adam Dickter, assistant managing editor at the Jewish Week NY, showed up as Mr. Weiner was discussing the issue, reminding Mr. Dickter about the 2005 quote that was published in the Jewish Week at the time.
“I am not going to take no vote for granted,” he said. “If the people of this community want someone that understands their values deep in their kishkes, then they can vote for me.”
Speaking specifically what he’ll do if elected as mayor, Mr. Weiner promised to appoint a non-profit czar, somebody that would be a liaison to the ‘Yeshiva community’ and to the non-profit organizations that feed and provide the necessary program to those in need. “I never would have sat idly by and let 63 parochial schools close around the city in the last several years. I would do whatever I could that those important institutions stay,” he said.
Asked by Adam Dickter how he would overcome the negativity in prevailing over the Republican nominee in the general election, Mr. Weiner said, “People are aware of my personal failings. If people want to talk about it a little more, I’ll answer the questions. But I am going to try keeping looking forward, keeping talking about the issues important to the middle class and the issues of this community.”
During the forum, Mr. Weiner genuinely pleased the crowd, arguing his knowledge of the community’s needs and using continuously Hebrew and Yiddish phrases – such as Mikva, Kishkes and Eretz Yisroel. “While you may disagree with me on policy, one thing you can never say is that I don’t understand the Jewish community.”” he said. Mr. Weiner also touted his fight for the release of Jonathan Pollard, a popular issue among pro- Israel Jews, twice during the forum.
Despite the rapturous reception, there’s little assuredness that his charm offensive would compel Jewish voters to look at his candidacy as a given.
Many voters like Anthony Weiner. He’s energetic. He’s interactive. Yet they don’t seem to take his candidacy too serious. At least not as a definite alternative to Bill Thompson and Bill de Blasio, his two competitors for 2nd place in the runoff, who are considered as favorites in the Orthodox Jewish community.
Jacob Kornbluh – YWN/NYC Elects)
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6 Responses
I was surprised to see frum Yiddin run over to Weiner last night and greet him like a media star. His moral failings and marriage can not be overlooked as he panders to the community by throwing around phrases like “Mikva, Kishkes and Eretz Yisroel”. He may be supportive of bris milah even though no children from his non Jewish wife willhave milah. He is energetic but morally bankrupt.
Many of the 63 parochial schools that closed in the city were Catholic schools that closed because of declining enrolment partly due to the availability of charter schools. There is nothing that Weiner could du to reverse that trend as populations shift and other options become available.
We have other options besides Weiner in the elections.
Returning hero? Among the Jews I know, he’s viewed as a low character who disgraced his office, and an intermarried betrayer of his people.
He is no hero, he is a liar and unfit for public office.
hero? what a creep! he is running for mayor in his undies or is just going to pose in the nude?
The only place he would be accepted is with the toevehs and arabs, but certainly not with any normal people.
To read the study of Metitzah B’peh, among the authors Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler M.D., in “the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics click
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/114/2/e259.full?sid=ea6b5e3e-8e0f-437c-a743-52829916766f#sec-1
I hope this article is inaccurate and untrue. I would love to think that frum voters are sophisticated enough not to be wooed by the use of the few jewish phrases this Weiner guy remembers from his youth. Let’s be real-Weiner is an intermarried (to a muslim!) Perverted fellow who has long relinquished his right to be counted among the ranks moral frum folks. The fact that he expects us all to forget that since he knows how to say ‘Kishka’ is highly insulting.