Earlier this month, Congress Member Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), the Republican Party and Conservative Party designee for Governor for the State of New York, met with an array of local political activists and concerned community members at the Kew Gardens Hills home of Shimmy and Sorolle Idels.
Prior to a meet-and-greet with locals, Zeldin spent considerable time at a roundtable with Jewish leaders from Queens, Crown Heights, the Rockaways and Nassau County, as well as Great Neck. At the meeting, issues of concern to Orthodox Jewry were discussed openly and honestly. Points of interest centered on the out-of-control bail reform and how law and order can be reinstated, as well as the nonnegotiable need to ensure that yeshivah education will be kept sacred and in control of the Jewish community, independent of government intervention.
“It is of utmost importance for Queens residents to know that we are being recognized and that our voices are being heard,” explained Mrs. Idels. “I am proud to have hosted an event on behalf of the Queens Jewish community, that brought out leaders from the Five Towns, Far Rockaway, Bayswater, Crown Heights, and Great Neck.”
Zeldin took no shame in asserting that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his extreme progressive antics will be banished as a Day One action. While the sitting governor held a 24-point lead as of Tuesday, August 23, Zeldin persists that his path to the New York State Executive Mansion is a high turnout amongst Republicans and those who believe that the other side needs to be shown a lesson. Zeldin noted that a victory will come if every eligible voter who supports his commonsense ideals shows up to cast a ballot.
On Monday, August 22, the current governor declared, “Trump and Zeldin and Molinaro – just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong. OK? Get out of town. Because you don’t represent our values.” Zeldin fought back on social media: “Wow Kathy Hochul. You’re losing your marbles, lady. Won’t take you up on your psycho demand to leave New York, but what I will do is get in my car right now, drive to NY-19, & do everything in my power to make sure Marc Molinaro wins tomorrow’s Special Election for Congress.” The race had not been decided at press time.
In attendance with the candidate were Max Coen; Michael Fragin; Ari Dicker; Marty Dicker; Rav Yoel Schonfeld, President, Coalition for Jewish Values; Rabbi Chaim Schwartz, Executive Vice President, Vaad Harabonim of Queens; Rabbi Hayim Schwartz, Executive Director, Rabbinical Seminary of America; Yaakov Serle, co-publisher, QJL/BJL; Alan Sherman, co-president of the Mid-Queens Community Council; Nechemia Hoch, board member, Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens; Rachelle Kirschner; Aaron Laub; Meshulem Lisker, Chairman, Kew Gardens Hills Homeowners Civic Association (KGHCA); Jennifer Martin, co-president, KGHCA; Jonathan Zalisky, among others.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
