Bill Thompson took the bet. Picking up yet another endorsement in the race for mayor of NYC, Bill Thompson took the word of a power broker in the Hasidic Jewish community, at least in parts of Williamsburg, that his endorsement would deliver more than 10,000 votes to Satmar’s, along with other communities, chosen candidate Bill Thompson.

“We are all committed to bringing that vote out,” Rabbi Neiderman, leader of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg representing the Zalonim sect of Satmar, promised. “Look at our record. That vote has delivered, in some obscured elections, more than 10 thousand votes. We have the votes… We are all here to ensure that our next mayor is the honorable Billy Thompson.”

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“People trust the leadership in the community and people understand they have been here for years,” said Rabbi David Niederman. “This community, thank God, has not only survived but really progressed over here so people believe [the leadership] made the right decision.”

The event went awry as one heckler, identified as Yoel Zimmerman, interrupted one of the speakers introducing Mr. Thompson, yelling “Rabbi Neiderman doesn’t represent the community’s vote.” Onlookers quickly grabbed the man and shuffled him forcefully away from the gathering at the corner of Rodney Street and Lee Avenue in Williamsburg, my colleague Josh Nathan-Kazis described the incident.

Approached after the rally, Zimmerman was exceptionally reserved. “We are traditional Jews and we are against the immorality,” he told the Forward.

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)