Brooklyn, NY – Although raised out of state, I’ve had the privilege of a long relationship with Brooklyn. My family lives here, my wife was raised here, our Mesader Kedushin and family advisor HaRav Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe, lives here. I’ve had the privilege of writing for Belz when the Belzer Rebbe, shlita, launched his Sinai Heritage Center; of employing Bobover Chassidim when I worked in high-tech; and of working with outstanding Satmar chevrah when I entered government relations… More, I’ve enjoyed long professional relationships with Senator Simcha Felder, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and Councilman Chaim Deutsch—all of whom I’ve written for and campaigned for.
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Brooklyn is a second home for me. But that home loses its sholom bais during elections. It’s hard to watch and it’s getting worse.
Wayward individuals are encouraged to run amok under the cover of darkness and tear down signs that people have put on their stores and their lawns; there’s property damage; threats; horrible mistruths written and distributed in Yiddish and English meant to defame a family or a person’s character…How any candidate can allow his team members to do these things is shocking. No office, no job is worth the price of one’s neshamah.
Like me, this candidate is not from Boro Park. But rather than attach himself to Boro Park’s best and finest, he seems to have allowed an appetite for personal power to draw him into relationships with those whose behavior is unfit for b’nai Torah. The recent donning of a bekitche and black hat should be a call to step up one’s Yiddishkeit, not muddy it with wholly unJewish behavior.
I am not alone in these observations, but I can only speak for myself. I am nearly twenty years this candidate’s senior and would warn him that one’s character is one’s fate. Regardless of the outcome, he should put Yiddishkeit and dignity first first, and back away from destructive behavior and bad allies, which our rabbonim have spent centuries upon centuries warning against.
Senator Simcha Felder, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and Councilman Chaim Deutsch ran clean campaigns. This is why they are beloved by those who know them, and genuinely respected by everyone else. Let their behavior during the political season be a lesson to all.
May we only hear and share good news in all Klal Yisroel.
“The recent donning of a bekteche” ? Huh kalman has been wearing a beketche since the day he was bar mitzva . And his father wears one too. Don’t engage in fake news by implying that he put it on for elections
Kalman was the undisputed candidate. Noone asked Yoni to jump in. If you were really so civil you’d wait your turn. Kalman waited quite a while for the spot and he has been active thereby gaining experience
i dont know either candidate personally but “if ” there was an agreement between the mosdos and greenfield to unite around one candidate for the benefit if bp , than yeager has my vote no one can stop hikind from running and his father is a dedicated public servant . but yoni has minimal experience . ( i think yeagers park idea is also childish…) finally dont worry this is a colorwar between a bunch of little chassidish kids at the end of the day it will work out remember lazars campaign … this will be dead after the pic magazines next shabbos , lastly your writing is clearly biased with undertones supporting one candidate
“Wayward individuals are encouraged to run amok under the cover of darkness and tear down signs that people have put on their stores and their lawns; there’s property damage; threats; horrible mistruths written and distributed in Yiddish and English meant to defame a family or a person’s character…How any candidate can allow his team members to do these things is shocking. No office, no job is worth the price of one’s neshamah.”
You know what – this is absolutely correct. If only both candidates would practice this and stop pretending that their guy is righteous. Didn’t the campaign the writer is for (the shadow portion put out an add targeting Kalman’s son?). Isn’t the writer himself putting out a mistruth about Kalman’s begadim? It is clear that a negative campaign is not unique to one side, no matter what that side pretends.
When the dust clears, we have two candidates (Heshy is great but not real). The contrast between their ability to help our community is obvious. If you vote based upon ability, platform and experience and just look at the first names, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Baruch Hashem yom yom that I don’t live in NY anymore. Left 40 years ago and never looked back.
Nebbach al ha nish’arim.
I’m voting Hikind. Mainly, because Greenfeld/Yeger tried stealing the election. Secondly, the negativity and personal attacks against Hikind while Hikind does not allow any negative towards the other side is just simply something that qualifies you more to hold office of the city council
Like the writer of this article, i dont live in Boro Park but it is my second home. I have lots of family in BP.
What he is doing is almost what THAT candidate is doing.
In other words, he is taking a side and at the same time ripping into his favorite candidate opponent. Loshan Hora is loshan hora no matter if you like a candidate or not.
A very bias article!
lets clarify something; we are a democracy and everyone has their right to vote .lets understand that councilmen is a person that the ” mosdos & heads deal with way more than the average guy” . in fact most ppl in bp dont really know what the job is all about. so the majority of citizens look for some endorsements that they trust .( do i know the real diff. between empire and kj chicken ??) this couldve been a unified election bringing out a serious block vote and powerful turnout instead we got this . overall greenfield did well during his time and the right way to finish was to ask the community askanim who would be best of the choices and than came yoni….
ps askanim are those selfless individuals that we call when we need help
askanim are people who BENEFIT from controlling the candidate and then the elected official so he gives money to their so called non-profits who in turn hire their relatives, they benefit from the publicity and they benefit from getting the councilman to appoint them to the community board (like greenfield appointed yeger despite him living in Deutsch district) to CB 14 where he in turn supported many of his Syrian donors in getting their houses expanded. The Hikinds while not perfect are at least pro-community.