Dear Editor:
There are a lot of expenses associated with a frum lifestyle: large families, yeshivah tuition, camps, and kosher food, to name a few. The Biden-induced, record inflation has not helped matters. I would like to call attention to one staple food product that nearly all frum homes consume: chicken. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of non-kosher chicken between 2010 and 2020 ranged between $3 and $3.60 per pound. Over that time period, the price of kosher chicken was fairly steady, too, between $4.00 and $4.50 per pound. Soon after Biden took office, the price of non-kosher chicken skyrocketed to a high of $4.75. The price of non-kosher chicken now stands around $4.15/lb. Can anyone then explain the $7.99 average price for kosher chicken in New York?
Paying a bit extra for the extra costs incurred in bringing a kosher product to market is understandable. But for families who are already struggling to pay bills, having to pay nearly double the market price of non-kosher chicken seems like an undue burden to me. To clarify, this is not a complaint against any of our wonderful local kosher supermarkets. In fact, New York is the cheapest market in the country for kosher products. By comparison, the price of chicken in Florida right now ranges between $11.99 and $13.99/lb. If anyone has any insights as to why the price of chicken is so high, please share!
T.R.
Dear Editor:
It’s in the best interests of our community - from a non-monetary perspective as well as financial one - to vote for Sam Berger for NYS Assembly. Here why:
Republican votes are not needed to pass legislation in Albany. In fact, if a bill needs Republican votes to pass, it wouldn’t even make it to the floor of the Assembly. The only thing that can stop extreme legislation from passing is when 20-30 moderate Democrats get up in Democratic conference and push back on bills. Democratic conference is a room where only the legislators and the Speaker meet to discuss bills and budgets, and where the legislative agenda is decided. The Speaker admitted this when he came to Kew Gardens Hills. In Rosenthal’s last month in office, he was able to organize two-thirds of the Democratic conference against an anti-Israel bill, instantly killing the bill. He was also a part of the moderate members who fought back against lowering the speed limit to 20 mph in New York City, and the New York Post wrote this up. Moderate members also stopped a bill from giving health care to the undocumented this year.
The unfortunate reality is we lose that voice if we elect a Republican. Vote for Sam Berger.
Warmly,
Shimi Pelman, member, Community Board 8
Dear Editor:
Queens Jewish Link admirably attempts to “publish articles within the bounds of normative halachah and hashkafah,” as your disclaimer on page 57 of last week’s issue reads. David Pecoraro’s promotion of a female Reform rabbi’s weekly drashah in his letter last week, I believe, falls outside those boundaries. Also, the kol ishah issues for men listening to Cantor Jenna is a clear violation of halachah.
I am hesitant to call for any censorship, but if this newspaper’s fidelity to halachah is real, those comments should not be published.
Meira Berger
Dear Editor:
Warren Hecht states that he’s “shocked at how ignorant even well-educated people are in the basic understanding of criminal law” and then proceeds to tell us how President Trump’s mugshot is merely “part of the criminal procedure.” This is nonsense. A mugshot is taken as a precaution, so that in the event a defendant was to flee, a picture of the defendant can be circulated. Trump is possibly the most famous person in the world, thus negating the need for a mugshot.
Last week, I criticized Mr. Hecht for failing to provide QJL readership with any political context as to why all the criminal cases are being brought now against Trump during an election cycle. Here again, Mr. Hecht disingenuously tries to walk QJL readership through the legal process yet again fails to explain the real reason why Trump’s mugshot was taken. This was a gratuitous act, obviously done in an attempt to humiliate Trump, an act of political revenge for Democrats. The fact that their viciously partisan treatment of Trump backfired when he monetized the mugshot and raised $7 million the first day after the mugshot by selling merchandise with the photo is both hilarious and poetic justice.
Doniel Behar
Dear Editor:
Warren Hecht wistfully longs for the days when “a candidate for president being seen on a boat with a woman who was not his wife was enough to disqualify him as a candidate.” While I agree with Mr. Hecht on this, I suspect not too many of his Democrat colleagues are longing for those days again: days when males participated in male sports, females in female sports, days when illegal immigrants weren’t treated better than US citizens, days when marriage was between a man and a woman, days when the murder of a baby in utero was “safe, legal, and rare” and not something to be celebrated, days when violent crime was perceived as illegal even in Democrat-run cities, and days when every aspect of our lives wasn’t viewed through a racial “equity” lens. Those indeed were great days!
Avi Goldberg
Dear Editor:
L Mencken, one of the most influential journalists of the previous century, once famously stated: “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.”
Well, the majority of New Yorkers are getting precisely what they voted for. Last year, Mayor Adams declared New York City a sanctuary city, and Governor Hochul did little to stop the influx of illegal immigrants to New York State. Now that the bill has come due (Mayor Adams estimates the cost of illegal immigration to be $12 billion by 2025), everyone is ducking and running for cover. Our corrupt and inept local politicians are looking to Washington, DC, to the architects of open borders, for a bailout locally.
In response, the Biden administration has suggested that local business owners provide free services and lawyers provide pro-bono services to the illegal immigrants. I for one consider the Biden response to be an outrageous slap in the face – an insult to New Yorkers, blaming us for the crisis he directly created with his policies.
But I’m curious how others feel. Last year, former vice president of the former Rosedale Jewish Center David Pecoraro enthusiastically endorsed Kathy Hochul for governor. I think it’s only fitting that he offers to educate these migrants without drawing a salary.
As for Warren Hecht, who warned us all of the dangers of voting for Republican Lee Zeldin, he, too, needs to step up and face the music. He should offer his legal services pro-bono and represent these migrants. Barack Obama famously stated: “Elections have consequences.” The consequences of the past elections were very predictable. It’s time for those who advocated for these policies to own them!
Jonathan Goldgrab
Dear Editor:
Labor Day is upon us (or behind us), and as every good Jewish mother knows, there is one steadfast cardinal rule: No white after Labor Day (except for the yamim tovim). Put away your white skirts, shoes, and dresses, and get ready for your fall wardrobe.
When I was in elementary school (umpteen years ago), the new school year meant those awful black and white saddle shoes. Those shoes alone might explain my paucity of friends. Later on, of course, I graduated to penny loafers, which I believed were the epitome of coolness. Yet, I could never understand why the girl in my class who wore a black tie, cardigan, and leather skirt was the most popular kid in my class. Her name didn’t ring any bells with me back then, but later in life, I understood why Esther Fortunoff was the “It” girl. She was good-looking and intelligent, too.
Since there is a “brain drain” in the summer months, most teachers would spend September reviewing what had been learned the previous year. However, every teacher on “Meet the Teacher” night would emphasize the point that fifth grade was much harder than fourth, and sixth grade was nothing like fifth, etc., etc., etc. Then, in Limudei Kodesh, the rebbi would review the order of t’kias shofar, which always confused me. Before you knew it, you had to have a test on the halachos of the yamim tovim, and you could bet ten honey cakes that I would do poorly on it. The question that really stumped me was the acronym “YaKNaHaZ.” Consult your local rabbi for that.
Anyway, I wish all of you a k’sivah v’chasimah tovah, and remember, be grateful that your kids have to wear uniforms.
Debbie Horowitz
Dear Editor:
I urge constituents to make every effort to come out and vote for Dovid Hirsch in the special election for NYS Assembly on September 12. Since Rabbi Hirsch is a Republican, having him in the Assembly will weaken the pro-criminal Democratic supermajority stronghold in the Assembly. This has caused immense damage through pushing dangerous initiatives, including bail reform and Raise the Age (which keeps juvenile criminals on the streets). That’s what Democrats want.
Departing Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal felt obliged to go along with Democratic measures such as abortion through the ninth month of pregnancy due to his alliance with his fellow Democrats in the Assembly.
Rabbi Hirsch, on the other hand, will align himself with Republicans in the Assembly who fight for law-abiding citizens, not criminals.
Once a candidate is elected and is an incumbent, it is very difficult to vote him out – for a very long time. This is a rare opportunity to bring law and order to the community. Use your vote wisely!
Sincerely,
Arlene Ross
Forest Hills, New York
Dear Editor:
Advocates for underground air-conditioned subway stations have something in common with others who want installation of platform barriers on all 472 stations to prevent people from falling on the tracks. There are more important priorities facing NYC Transit than spending $4.5 billion for air-conditioned stations or $7 billion plus $120 million in annual maintenance costs for station platform barriers.
It will take numerous MTA Five-Year Capital Plans until 2060 for the NYC Transit to finally reach a state of good repair for the existing fleet, stations (including making all ADA accessible), signals, interlockings, track, power, yards and shops. The same is true for ensuring that maintenance programs for all assets are fully funded and completed on time to ensure riders safe and reliable service.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Dear Editor:
I read with amusement Mr. Pecoraro’s letter attacking me personally, as soulless, for pointing out the obvious bein adam l’chaveiro deficits our current President exhibits. I find the personal insults on someone he doesn’t know to be both odd and telling. Before getting to Joe Biden, it’s worth analyzing a few of the points in Mr. Pecoraro’s letter.
First, what was the point of the anecdotal story about some Orthodox people disturbing a Tashlich service one time? Are we supposed to extrapolate some message from this? The thinly veiled shot does little to hide his disdain for the Orthodox or perhaps he’s hinting that Orthodox people are inconsiderate? Assuming they did disturb the service, perhaps since it is High Holiday season, it would serve Mr. Pecoraro better to judge people as individuals or maybe even better, not judge them at all.
Second, I have a baseline respect for all Jews, but it’s a sad state of affairs that as a self-described “Conservative Jew,” Mr. Pecoraro turns to a Reform “rabbi” for religious inspiration. On a basic level, Reform Judaism does not even believe in the Divinity of our holy Torah. One needn’t be a Talmudic scholar nowadays to find inspiration within the confines of our own religion, as a click on the website for TorahAnytime.com would offer exposure to tens of thousands of hours of inspirational speakers who espouse Torah-true Judaism, not a watered down, Westernized version of something that barely resembles authentic Judaism.
Third, Mr. Pecoraro seems to revel in the RICO charges against Donald Trump. It is worth considering: 1) The Bidens opened more than 20 shell companies. 2) Nine Biden family members received tens of millions of dollars from foreign countries while Joe Biden was Vice President of this country. 3) The shell companies were used to conceal more than $20 million they received. 4) Every day, more evidence by way of text messages, thousands of Joe Biden’s pseudonym emails, and bank records reveal a high level, corrupt, influence-peddling scheme the Bidens have run for years. The behavior of the Biden crime family sounds infinitely more worthy of a RICO indictment than a few Trump phone calls questioning the results of the first Presidential election ever decided by very questionable methods, namely ballot harvesting and mail-in ballots.
As for Joe Biden, despite all of his deplorable behavior, Mr. Pecoraro seems to really believe that Joe Biden is a mentch, calling him “our most pious President.” This, despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary. I’ve got several questions:
1) Would a mentch routinely berate, abuse, and curse at White House staffers as has been reported by numerous news outlets?
2) Would a mentch wait nearly two weeks to visit the devastated island of Maui because he refused to cut his vacation short, and once there, compare a small kitchen fire in his home to wildfires that left potentially over 1,000 people missing/killed?
3) Would a mentch not acknowledge the existence of one of his own grandchildren?
4) Would a mentch engage in extremely inappropriate behavior with a campaign staffer as was alleged years ago?
5) Would a mentch engage in extremely inappropriate behavior with his own daughter, as she alleged in her own diary?
6) Would a mentch enrich his own family at the expense of the entire country he purports to represent?
7) Would a mentch ruin an innocent man’s life by falsely accusing him of driving drunk, which Biden has done for decades when recounting the car accident that killed his first wife?
Previously, whenever I pointed out what a despicable person Joe Biden is, Mr. Pecoraro replies in classic whataboutism fashion, whining about how terrible Trump is. The difference between us is, unlike Mr. Pecoraro, I do not idolize any politicians, Trump included. If your complaint is that Trump is an egomaniac, a philanderer, the king of rude tweets, I agree with all of that. That’s precisely why I do not idolize him. My support of Trump is limited to his policy prescriptions, which put America first and allowed this country to thrive.
Wishing everyone a wonderful and healthy new year!
Jason Stark
Dear Editor:
Again, Mr. Pecoraro lives in an alternate universe. Our president is not pious. He’s an egotistical racist who only thinks it’s appropriate to interject himself when faced with a tough situation. He cannot comfort the families of the 13 service members who died in Afghanistan without stating a made-up story about himself. It’s insulting to them and to us.
It is because of his garbage policies that they were killed in the first place. It is his garbage policies that caused the disasters in Maui and East Palestine. Who cares if FEMA is assisting after the fact? There are still over 350 people missing in Maui, and it’s not like you’re looking for them in an area the size of Wyoming!
John McCain started the whole Russia Collusion nonsense by bringing the Steele Dossier to the FBI. Look how that whole charade turned out. So, of course, Trump is going to attack McCain. Not to mention, McCain’s foreign policy was terrible, and Trump’s was fantastic.
Fulton County is not a jury of anyone’s peers. Neither is Manhattan or DC. When a city votes 90+ percent for a candidate, the other candidate will never get a fair shake.
Anyone who’s ever read our Constitution can clearly see these indictments are completely bogus. I don’t even want Trump as the nominee. But I do want equal treatment under the law. Trump is not Jefferson Davis. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has nothing to do with January 6. It’s all a plot to get Trump off the ballot. It’s election interference at its worst. And US District Court Judge [Tanya S.] Chutkan [for the District of DC] is an embarrassment. She intentionally scheduled her trial before the Florida one, which was filed first. She also scheduled it for the day before Super Tuesday! The Marxists want power, and they are clearly doing everything to fundamentally transform America, as Obama wished.
Shalom Markowitz
Dear Editor:
The choice between Republican David Hirsch and Democrat Sam Berger is crucial for our community’s future. While former Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal (D) recommended Sam Berger as his successor, we must remember that not everyone was satisfied with Rosenthal’s tenure - quite the opposite. Many had reservations about his left-wing votes on social issues and his tendency to vote along left-leaning Democrat Party lines.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie himself acknowledged Rosenthal’s reliability as a Democrat team player; that doesn’t translate into representing our community’s unique needs. A vote for a Democrat in New York is unequivocally a vote for a party that has completely turned their backs on hard-working Americans and more so: Jewish values and the Jewish people.
Sam Berger (D) has openly committed to “representing Democratic Party values,” including progressive policies that do not align with the values of the community. His association with the architect of cashless bail and New York’s radical progressive transgender laws is concerning, particularly Assembly Bill 6046-B, which threatens parental rights and religious freedoms.
Moreover, Berger proudly accepted the endorsement and support of State Senator Toby Ann Stavitsky, who attempted to cut off government funding for Yeshiva University because it didn’t want to fund an LGBTQ+ club. This raises questions about whether Berger truly represents our community’s values and priorities.
Republican David Hirsch offers a strong conservative alternative, a candidate who understands the concerns and values of our community. Voting for David Hirsch means choosing someone who will prioritize our unique needs and not simply follow party lines or embrace radical progressive agendas. Voting for David Hirsch will be a vote for someone that actually sits in his seat in Assembly, not someone who has someone else voting for him, as is the case with a majority of the Democrats in the Assembly.
It’s time for a change that truly represents our community’s interests and values. It is for these reasons I strongly endorse David Hirsch for Assembly in the Special Election in the 27th Assembly district on September 12, 2023.
Respectfully,
Ari Brown, Assemblymember, 5 Towns
Dear Editor:
Sam Berger is the right candidate to represent our community. He has the right temperament to speak and influence people; he is a good listener; he has a law background so he actually understands what he would be doing in passing laws and arguing issues; and, as a Democrat, he will have a seat at the table to be heard about our local issues, to be able to preserve and continue the flow of government funds for our nonprofit services like Hatzolah - something a Republican would be frozen out of almost instantly. Government action is not automatic and it’s not a given; committee assignments, participation in discussions about laws being suggested and introduced, and the size of funding for each District, are all determined by the party in control. The best way to send a message to Albany is to send a smart, loyal, frum person, with a unified block vote, into the controlling party’s caucus - someone like Sam Berger, who will take a firm stand for our issues and get things done.
Signed,
Sorolle Idels, Chairperson, Queens Jewish Alliance
