Exclusive to the Five Towns Jewish Times—On Wednesday, August 13, two mayoral candidates of sister cities New York and Jerusalem met at Tavern on the Green in Manhattan. Congressman Anthony Weiner (Democratic Party) and Member of Knesset Rabbi Meir Porush (Agudath Israel) were brought together by Mordechai Avigdor of the Agudah and Michael Landau, Chairman of the West Side Jewish Community Council, for discussions about the situation in Georgia and other timely issues.

Rabbi Porush had arrived in New York earlier this week and had just left a breakfast in the Five Towns benefitting Priority-1, a kiruv organization that works primarily with troubled youth. Rabbi Porush was at one point the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem before he became a Member of Knesset. Rabbi Porush is 52 years old and has 12 children. Anthony Weiner is 43 years old and is single with no children.

Rabbi Porush, who referred to Congressman Weiner as “Chaim Dovid Weiner,” invited the congressman to come to Jerusalem on a path-finding mission. Weiner in turn spoke to Rabbi Porush about his long-standing family roots in Jerusalem. Weiner then questioned Porush if he was planning to make Jerusalem a chareidi city. Porush responded that the status quo in Jerusalem will still be kept and quoted the verse in Yeshayah (56:7), “Ki beisi beis tefilah l’chol ha’amim—And My House shall be a house of worship for all the nations.” Congressman Weiner was satisfied that Rabbi Porush would continue in the same manner as Jerusalem’s departing mayor, Uri Lupoliansky.

The two politicians then spoke about the situation in Tbilisi and in the rest of Georgia, and the ramifications of the recent events on the indigenous Jewish community and Jewish outreach efforts there. Rabbi Porush noted that a large number of refugees were still being evacuated out of Georgia, notwithstanding Russia’s declared ceasefire. He further noted that El Al is one of the only airlines willing to send in planes to evacuate the area. Weiner imparted the latest military information that verified media reports of activity both in the Georgian city of Gori and outside of Gori.

The two candidates then spoke about various municipal issues, such as housing, sanitation, and government services. Both cities do have housing shortages that require innovative solutions. As the conversation continued, both candidates expressed amazement as to how similar the issues affecting the two cities actually are—notwithstanding how different the cities are and how far away they are from each other geographically.

The conversation then turned to the state of the global economy. The mortgage crisis in the United States has effected a drastic decline in the dollar, which has caused a possible permanent shift in the relationship between the shekel and the dollar. If the dollar does not rise again soon, the Israeli economy will look to the euro as the stable currency of the West.

Congressman Weiner then asked Rabbi Porush to pray for his welfare and success at the Kotel HaMaaravi (the Western Wall). Rabbi Porush asked the congressman for his mother’s Hebrew name (her name is “Chaya”), and promised that indeed he would pray for him. Congressman Weiner then asked Rabbi Porush to obtain for him a red bentel. He promised that in exchange he would procure for the Knesset member a special “I Love NY” button to wear on his lapel.

The meeting concluded with Rabbi Porush inviting Congressman Weiner to City Hall in Jerusalem after the November 11 election (and after an Agudath Israel victory in that election). Congressman Weiner reciprocated the invitation to Rabbi Porush but remarked that it would take him longer to invite him to Gracie Mansion, since the New York City elections will not be held until January 10. Most importantly, however, Congressman Weiner told Rabbi Porush that if he required any assistance regarding the developing situation in Georgia or in regard to any other matter affecting Jewish affairs to please be sure to contact him. Mr. Weiner promised that he would assist Rabbi Porush in any way that he can, including with his contacts in Washington.

(YWN Desk – NYC)