NEW YORK (VINnews) — NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio issued an apology on Monday for a tweet sent last week that profiled the Jewish community.
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The Mayor held a conference call with Orthodox Jewish media outlets on Monday. During the call, he expressed his regret for his poor choice of words.
“I used words I wish I hadn’t used,” said de Blasio. The Mayor said he would like to apologize for his words, but explained that his reaction was due to “a profound sense of the danger, right before my eyes.”
The Mayor’s tweet called out the “Jewish community” for social distancing violations at the large Williamsburg funeral of Rabbi Chaim Mertz, the Tola’as Yaakov Rebbe.
Deblaio reacted by firing off a sharp tweet to the “Jewish community.”
“My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed,” wrote the Mayor. “I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.”
My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 29, 2020
Critics assailed de Blasio for the language in his tweet chiding “the Jewish community” for the actions of members of one sect.
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder said Wednesday he was recommending that the group formally censure de Blasio.
“I agree with the Mayor that social distancing is vitally important — and last night’s gathering was not appropriate,” Lauder said in a statement. “But to blame the entire Jewish community is the type of stereotyping that is dangerous and unacceptable at any time, and particularly pernicious while the world is gripped in fear and the worst among us are looking for scapegoats.”
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted that generalizing about the whole Jewish population of New York City “is outrageous especially when so many are scapegoating Jews.”
Others noted the crowds that gathered earlier Tuesday to watch a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds to honor health-care workers.
“Only bigots have a problem when a few 100 Hasidim do what thousands of people in the same city have done the same day (not social distance).” the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council tweeted.
De Blasio first offered a half apology on Wednesday, saying that he was sorry if his words hurt anyone’s feelings but he didn’t regret calling out what he characterized as a dangerous violation of social distancing rules.
“If you saw anger and frustration, you’re right. I spoke out of real distress,” the mayor said. “It’s not like people gathering in the park. This was thousands of people,” he said. “What I saw, I have not seen anywhere else.”
But it wasn’t until Monday that the Mayor fully apologized for speaking out against the entire Jewish community unjustifiably.
Now if only Kirsten Gillibrand would apologize for the hateful things she publicly said about the Jewish community on the day the US Government inaugurated the grand opening of their embassy in Jerusalem.
The ones who should be apologizing is Hikind, Duetcsh, Yeger, and the other politicians who tried to score political points by attacking the Mayor. In fact, the ones who should really apologize are those in Williamsburg who went to the police in the first place to arrange this levaya. What in the world were they thinking? They Knew that before Pesach there was such a levaya in Boro Park that got out of hand. Other gedolim like the Novminsker, Harav Olesky, and many others had no levaya. The NYPD felt used and embarrassed by this event it’s no wonder the NYPD came down hard on the JEWISH COMMUNITY. The mayor too saw an event that never should have taken place. The mayor isn’t blind he knows shuls were open mikvos were open, many were going to in laws and parents over yomtov. He saw this levaya for what it was, someone in the JEWISH COMMUNITY going to far by organizing it and the crowd that turned out.
A few weeks ago our own fellow Jews were calling other Jews who insisted on going to Shul or other gatherings רוצחים. But now when the Mayor has harsh words for the community of Williamsburg they shout “antisemitism”. Bottom line is – the Jews in NY know what happened is wrong, but the best way to deflect any criticism is to claim antisemitism.
That’s not an apology.
That’s like talking into his pillow to himself.
Let’s see a PUBLIC apology.
DeBlasio is a lunatic. We must outvote every democRAT come November.
Why was my comment deleted?
We want a PUBLIC apology. Not one that nobody heard.
I do not know what he should apologize for. He is trying to save lives. Jewish lives.
too little TOO LATE
Duznt matter a yid. He singled out Jews. He’s a leftie moron.
i think u should change ur screen name to ah goy
Yes, it’s true that we should be more vigilant, nevertheless, the mayor singled us out.
This is causing a high increase of anti semitism. People are accosted on the streets, yelled at etc.
Eventually, this could lead to much worse chas v’shalom.
Apology is too late. The damage has been done.
It is often said that things said in anger reflect ones true feelings. I believe that was the case with DeBlasio slamming the entire Jewish community. Bill for sure isn’t that wonderful all inclusive liberal he would like to have the world think he is.
It is often said that things said in anger reflect ones true feelings. I believe that was the case with DeBlasio slamming the entire Jewish community. Bill for sure isn’t that wonderful all inclusive liberal he would like to have the world think he is.
א גראבע גוי בלייבט א גראבע גוי!
If DiBlasio wants to understand what he did wrong, let him ask himself whether he would make the same statement by substituting the word “black” or African American” in place of the word “Jewish”.
What he could have said instead of just “Jewish” is: “some segments of the Chassidic community of Williamsburg, Boro Park”.
For Votes I would apologize as well…..
Ah shtik Fraud…..
Every Jew who lives in the golus always tells himself that the guy among whom he lives is a ohev Yisrael and everything is fine and good.
When that doesn’t happen he tells himself some other story. That about sums the New York State of mind.
In effect you all believe your own Bubba Stories.
I wish you luck.. Delusion is a deadly trait.
Deblasio has been standing with Sarsour and Sanders and the rest of the Hamas wing of the Dhimmicrats for years.
HE HATES JEWS.
Anyone who stands with him is an enemy of America and of Jews.
A fellow Jew
He should dismiss all tickets the police gave for not wearing masks .
Also to dismiss the arrest records.