Brooklyn, NY – Christine Quinn Tiptoes Into the Heart of Orthodox Borough Park (video)

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    New York City Council Speaker and Mayoral hopeful Christine Quinn welcomed at a Tu BiShvat ceremony Sunday Jan. 27 2013 in Borough Park at the home of Ezra Freidlander. Photo credit: Shmuel LenchevskyBrooklyn, NY – At a special Tu BiShvat seder organized by Ezra and Gabriella Friedlander in their home in the heart of Borough Park, New York City Council Speaker and Mayoral hopeful Christine Quinn was warmly welcomed this past Sunday by a small but highly influential group of Orthodox and Hasidic movers and shakers and welcomed as a special guest.

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    At the “seder” table yesterday featuring special readings Ms. Quinn, with a fully loaded campaign war chest and reportedly a commanding lead in the polls in the 2013 race for Mayor of NYC, was honored in reading ancient rabbinic texts about the importance of preserving fruits trees and meaning of planting a seed for future generations to enjoy. The event officiated by Rabbi Steven Burg, Eastern Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center marked a first in what Ezra Freindlander hopes will become an annual tradition by having a public power ‘TuBishvat seder’ in Boro Park.

    Also participating in the Seder were NYC Councilman Brad Lander, President of the City Council in Yonkers Charles Lesnick, Assemblyman David Weprin, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, of the NY Board of Rabbis, Abe Eisner, Yeruchim Silber of the BPJCC, Alexsander Rapaport of Masbia, Dr. Joshua of Shema Kolainu, Dr. David Moskovits, Leon Goldenberg, Moshe Friedman of Community First, Meir Laufer, founder of New York Wheel, Isaac Sofer – Central UTA Satmar, Ari Weiss, Shomrim, Naftali Reiner of Bobov ,Jonathan and Cynthia of the QJCC, Esther Henny Jaroslawicz, Boro Park Bikur Cholim, Zev Brenner of Talkline Communications, were among many other local community leaders and activists attending.

    Guests were treated to all the traditional fruits of the holiday. In addition about a dozen readings from the Torah Sages were distributed and read by different participants. The topics discussed ranged from the importance of conservation to the unity and responsibilities of the Jewish people. The attendees were able to exchange candid and thought provoking ideas.

    “Sharing our traditions with elected officials allows us to get to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and having Council Speaker Quinn join us demonstrated her sensitivity to our community” said Ezra Friedlander, CEO of The Friedlander Group.

    While the event itself was not billed as political, it remains to be seen if in the coming months as the race for City Hall is heating up and the race to win the highly cohesive Orthodox Jewish vote will include a serious bid by Ms. Quinn. The speaker might not yield or give up on this voting block to her opponents.


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    35 Comments
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    yaakov doe
    Member
    yaakov doe
    11 years ago

    Quinn, who I’ve met is an impressive woman, but I have strong reservations about supporting her because of her “lifestyle”. Since she will probably be our next mayor, her inclusion in this seder is understandable.

    HAPPY12
    HAPPY12
    11 years ago

    1. Why is the ‘frum’ Jewish community supporting an openly Lesbian candidate?
    2. How did the ‘heimishe’ men participate in an event were a Lesbian woman read Torah Readings?

    ZSNYC
    ZSNYC
    11 years ago

    Because no one in todays “Frum” sociaty, gives a flip about the Torah. Its all about $$$$$. Since shes prabably going to win, so they side with her!
    .

    berelw
    berelw
    11 years ago

    who cares if shes is lesbian…thats her choice…we are not going to dictate….if shes can be a good mayor so be it.

    11 years ago

    Aside from the Lesbain issue we should support those that come at openly and say we will repeal the Miztizza Bpeh ruling.

    Dr_Bert_Miller
    Dr_Bert_Miller
    11 years ago

    Pardon my Torah ignorance, but why is the lady’s “life style” any more forbidden for her than her eating treif, believing in “shituf” and drinking stam yanam? Seriously, is her “alternative lifestyle” forbidden by the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach?

    DanielBarbaz
    DanielBarbaz
    11 years ago

    Number one, I could not care less about her life style. How she lives is her business.

    That being, said I agree with # 4…..all these big shot frum shakers and movers would not have been there, much less participate in a Seder with her, if there was not a possibility of a payoff down the road. The all-mighty dollar still speaks loudly.

    ALLAN
    ALLAN
    11 years ago

    What she does in her private life should be her own business. Although I don’t agree with her lifestyle and with her obvious support of gay marriage, it’s her liberal politics that I also find distasteful. Her past support of King Bloomberg’s third term farce should be enough for anyone not to trust her.

    Election2014
    Election2014
    11 years ago

    She’s another liberal looking to bankrupt our state, the likes of Ezra Friedlander who bring these pathetic liberals into our community as if they are the kings and queens.

    PowerUp
    PowerUp
    11 years ago

    I’ve got big news here, lesbianism is not a torah trensgression, in today’s world its looked upon just as gay is, but in the torah its a huge diffrence, the only place its mentioned is in the gemara and not in a very deregatory way (not in positive either)

    11 years ago

    Bloomberg openly supports this woman. Bloombergs billions might elect her.

    Do you think she respects the Frume community and our values??

    Why in the world would she repeal Metzitza B’peh?

    11 years ago

    The Frum people along with the African Americans and some Hispanic probably have enough votes to elect a Mayor.

    Bloomberg and his Manhatan, park slope etc. who are supporting quinn are a minority in this City.

    bobgrant
    bobgrant
    11 years ago

    It’s time to think why are we here in this world not to make Money not to be rich not to be popular just to do what God wants us to do. It’s just came to my mind when I read all the New leaders with There personality and behavior it really brings us a message to think that this is not the right way how we have to start thinking about a future

    millionare
    millionare
    11 years ago

    Its not our gesheft how a goy is in personal life .a goy is a goy and doesn’t live the way we do its just chazerie you are talking

    heimishayid
    heimishayid
    11 years ago

    you mention movers and shakers from the orthodox and chasidic community sorry none of the attendence are movers and shakers