NEW YORK (VINnews) — Yossi Gestetner, a prominent commentator on issues relating to the Jewish community in the New York region, met with politicians and lawmakers including NY State Attorney Letitia James in the wake of the barbaric attack in Monsey Saturday night.
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Gestetner did not mince words and told the politicians that the largest political group in Rockland County which also activates the largest Facebook group in the region uses social media to disparage, criticize and condemn Chasidim. “Everything about Chasidim is wrong and everything wrong in Rockland County is about Chasidim,” Gestetner said in describing the Facebook page, adding that politicians intentionally ignore and dehumanize the Chasidic community by not attending any events relating to the community.
He contradicts himself first ranting about hate written by politicians online and then saying we don’t need to legislate hate speech. It’s ridiculous that he said the Jewish community supports “free speech”. I don’t support any hate speech under the guise of free speech, certainly not lies blaming Jews for all the problems in the county and in the world.
So here you finally have politicians who want to right their wrongs and he has to ruin it? The point of his speech is that he wants them to show up for photo ops?! Who cares about politicians in photos posing next to Rebbes tzinding Chanukah lecht? Ridiculous.
He is absolutely right; by dehumanizing the Chassidim in Rockland County and elsewhere, these goyish politicians (and even some secular Yidden), have created a hostile environment, which gives a green light to psychos to attack Chassidim and other Jews.
Pay attention:
“It’s criminal those who constantly chatter and expound that it is a halacha that Esav hates Yaakov and the hatred is eternal – this is against the truth, against our Sages and the Torah, for Esav himself was not always a wicked person and his hatred stopped after appropriate behavior. Just like with regard to the first Esav, so, too, with regard to his generations, humility leads to peace. This is what Ben Zoma says, “Who is honored? One who honors created beings.” The intent of this is also for the other nations. When we honor them and say to them you are my friend then they become friendly to us. The opposite is also true. When we say that we hate them, then they become hateful [to us] and this happens all the time.”
Rabbi Yackov Henkin
Best. speech. ever.
Yasher Koach for being able to express it directly.
I heard the speech in its entirety; I could see those goyish politicians squirming in their seats. The Chassidic speaker stated that “you blame all of the Chassidim for all problems in Rockland County”., and dehumanize us; you never show up for any events that we have, or even post a photo of us with you on Facebook. Further, not one of you came to the Rabbi’s house, since the attack to express your condolences”. I agreed 100% with what he stated. It should be noted that Rockland County has the highest percentage of Jewish residents of any county in the United States, even higher than in Brooklyn, NY.
i don’t like how he disparaged Chabad calling them not chadidim
You’re in gooolis. Take yourselves to Eretz , start a community there among Jews where you belong. You gave a hisgarius b’amim speech even though your complaints are valid.Heed the message, it’s loud and clear.
Yossi released a movie a few years ago, The Jew in Rockland County that was offensive to people in Rockland.
It’s ok for him and Weider, two High School dropouts, to belittle the people of Rockland but when the shoe is on the other foot he doesn’t like it. There are always pictures of politicians posing with members of the Hasidic community so I don’t know what he is complaining about.
Very well said.
He is %100 right.
At least here in Brooklyn, the politicians fake it. They show up all the time even if they hate our guts. They’re by every ceremony. I’m surprised that there is such indifference in Rockland County. What, are they a bunch of red-neck hicks? Old time anti Semites?
Amrican born, can’t speak proper English because it’s goyish and tumei. Now he lectures the goyim who don’t want Jews in their enclaves.
This is the best you can offer to speak for Chasidim? Heavy accented, poor English to speak for the Yidden? Start following the laws by not building houses with ten apartments and no space for parking. Live humbly, and not with gaayvah. Don’t walk on the streets with your taleisim before or after davening. We are guests in this country remember that. And it is time to follow Dina De’malchusa Dina with programs ,etc. Until you are living properly, don’t lecture others.
Who cares if politicians show up to Chassidic events? Is their not showing up the main way Jews are dehumanized? He makes it seem as if the politicians showing up at Chassidic events is all that’s needed to fix the current intolerable situation. Obviously the problem is much more complex than some politician showing up at a Rebbe’s house. Superficial ranting.
A chelemer meshuguner, making a mess in a town, reinforcing the stereotype that the only thing that counts is money & we are the ones who are not friendly at all to our neighbors.
His solution they should come to our gatherings & post the pictures…how is that going to solve the hate?? Maybe we start behaving & being mentshluch to everyone
after reading the comments above I’m not surprised moschaich isn’t coming as we keep pushing him off with our kina and sina
here you have someone who finally gets up and says what needs to be said and people jump all over him
its very easy to comment hiding behind the anonymity the internet affords you ,perhaps your just as spineless and guilty as the people who comment on the clarkstown facebook page
yes he never learnt proper english yet he’s out their and saying what needs to be said and confronting our politicians out in the open not “lecking them”as most others do
that being said having them attend your gatherings will do little to take away hate but voting down legislation that limits our growth is where it really counts or helping pass legislation or at least following the laws when it comes to discrimination is what should be requested from the local politicians
showing up at your kiddish or visiting you in your sukkah won’t really stop anti semetisim even if he posts pictures all it will show is he’s doing this for political reasons to get voted in in the future
what you need is dialogue and positive communication and if you aren’t getting anywhere VOTE HIM OUT COME THE NEXT ELECTION if you have the numbers in growth use it to your advantage!
I hate the massive building going on in our community, but otherwise we are mentshlich, what is everyone talking about us not being mentshlich?
What bothers me is that here these politicians want to do something for our community for a change instead of them bashing us, and he has to bring up the past when it’s uncalled for. In addition, he has no right speaking for our community. He can have his OWN opinion regarding free speech, but he cannot speak for our community. The facts are that hate speech spoken by people in the government very often brings to violence and should not be protected under “free speech”.
Besides, if Yossi Gestetner endorses free speech, why is he zetzing against those who exersized their rights to feel speech. It doesn’t make any sense to me.
Aside from the payus and accent he doesn’t look like a real chossid. Who exactly is he?
We ARE guests in this country. They permit us to vote and work here and live a wonderful free life but our true country is Eretz Yisroel. Do you forget how we were treated in other generations in other parts of the world in history? Respecting the laws and appreciating the generosity of this country is important. The politicians are trying to help the anti-semetic situation we are facing and this man is talking sillines. Torah, mitzvos, tefilos, living and acting humbly and honestly will give the aibeshter reason to change the current matzav. Rav Schwab, zl”l, constantly said we are guests here and to remember how to behave!
I am a Chasidisher Man with a College Degree from a Major Catholic College, I live in a single family home as do my parents and my children, I walk on shobbos with my Talis out and my stramil on, my English is a perfect one with no accent. I was given the Nazi Salute in Valley Cottage while waiting to cross the street, called a F– Jew in Pearl River CVS by a woman who passed me and in the Nanuet Post Office by some random stranger, Yossi is 100% right
What is shobbos, Talis and stramil? If you have a college degree, why do you capitalize the words man, college, degree and major? Your first sentence is a run on, it should be 4 sentences not one. My English is a perfect one??? I see Orthodox Jews shopping in the Pearl River Shop-rite all the time and I have never heard of any complaints. I think you are what they refer to as a troll.
Over the decades I’ve found pitiful nastiness on both sides of the issues in Rockland County. People demonizing all chassidim. Chassidim, even in this thread, dehumanizing other Jews and, l’havdil, goyim. People have a right to say nasty things. If someone calls you a nasty Jew, you can call her a nasty non-Jew, or whatever you want to call her.
The only thing Jews or any innocent people should be concerned with are physical attacks. No politician nor person of any persuasion is going to stop people from expressing stupid, evil, or nasty remarks in comments or posts on social media.
The sub-vermin savage barbarian who attacked people gathered in a home has probably never seen the What They Don’t Want You To Know Facebook page.
It was influenced by the Black Hebrew Israelite shooting in Jersey City and other violent and murderous anti-Semitic influences.
THE ANSWER TO HOW TO PROTECT ONE’S SELF & THOSE AROUND THEM IS THE 2ND AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. POLITICIANS CANNOT STOP ATTACKS ON YOU. STOP EXPECTING THEM OR THE POLICE TO BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME PROTECTING YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE. WAKE UP! TAKE BACK YOUR RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE AND SELF PRESERVATION NY POLITICIANS HAVE TAKEN FROM YOU AND ARE FIGHTING THE SUPREME COURT AND CONSTITUTION TO KEEP YOU FROM HAVING. ARM YOURSELVES, FOR GOD’S SAKE! YOU HAVE A MITZVAH TO SHOOT SOMEONE WHEN THEY ARE THREATENING YOUR LIFE!