In a heartfelt letter from Rabbi David Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America, to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Agudath Israel leader praised the Governor for his “powerful and timely” statement earlier this week that New York has a “zero tolerance policy “ toward anti-Semitism, “anywhere, anytime, in any manner, shape or form.”

The Governor’s remarks, which were delivered at the annual dinner of Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services, focused on the recent revelations of harassment of Jewish students in the Pine Bush School District. Rabbi Zwiebel commended Mr. Cuomo for taking “a number of immediate concrete actions upon learning of the allegations against the Pine Bush school district,” as well as for using the occasion of the Ohel dinner to reassure the Jewish community across New York of his firm commitment toward combatting anti-Semitism with all means at the state’s disposal.

Rabbi Zwiebel’s letter took special note of the recent vicious attacks against Orthodox Jews on the streets of Brooklyn by thugs engaged in the “Knockout Game,” in which an individual is punched viciously until he falls to the ground. “As grotesque and outrageous as this practice would be if its victims were chosen totally at random,” the Agudath Israel leader wrote, “the fact that so many of the victims over the last few weeks have been clearly identifiable as Jews has generated a palpable sense of deep apprehension among many of our constituents.”

Governor Cuomo’s powerful words and actions, said Rabbi Zwiebel, will help Jewish New Yorkers “walk the streets with at least some measure of confidence that the chief executive of the Empire State has their back . . . For that, we are deeply grateful.”

The full text of Rabbi Zwiebel’s letter to Governor Cuomo is posted below.

November 26, 2013

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

Unfortunately, due to a prior commitment, I was unable to participate in this year’s Ohel dinner, and so I was not privileged to be present when you delivered your stirring remarks about New York’s “zero tolerance policy” toward anti-Semitism.

Having now seen a clip of your speech, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, on behalf of Agudath Israel of America, for the clear message you delivered in response to the shocking allegations of anti-Semitic harassment in the Pine Bush school district.

To your great credit, you took a number of immediate concrete actions upon learning of the allegations against the Pine Bush district. You directed the State Police as well as the Division of Human Rights to undertake a full investigation into the matter. You put the State Education Department on notice that it too has a responsibility to investigate Pine Bush, and to take appropriate steps to deal with the situation. And now you have delivered your message directly to our community, reassuring us that, at least in New York, at least under your watch, there is no tolerance for anti-Semitism “anywhere, anytime, in any manner, shape or form.”

That reassurance is particularly meaningful to Agudath Israel’s constituency of Orthodox Jews. By appearance, dress, and religious practice, we in the Orthodox community are the most identifiably Jewish segment of the broader Jewish population, and are all too often the easiest targets for the haters.

Your words at the Ohel dinner were both powerful and timely. Over the last few weeks, we have watched in horror as a number of Orthodox Jews have been attacked on the streets of Brooklyn by thugs who are “playing” a horrifying “game” known as “Knockout” – in which perpetrators approach a stranger in the street, punch him viciously in the head, and knock him to the ground. As grotesque and outrageous as this practice would be if its victims were chosen totally at random, the fact that so many of the victims over the last few weeks have been clearly identifiable as Jews has generated a palpable sense of deep apprehension among many of our constituents.
Governor Cuomo, your words at the Ohel dinner could not have come at a more opportune moment. With your leadership, Jewish New Yorkers will walk the streets with at least some measure of confidence that the chief executive of the Empire State has their back, and will do all in his power to protect them against all forms of anti-Semitism. For that, we are deeply grateful.

As always, you have our every best wish, and our prayers for great success.

Sincerely,

Rabbi David Zwiebel

DZ/aa