By COLlive reporter
Photos by Jacob Kornbluh
Just 2 days after winning the Republican New York City mayoral nomination, Joseph Lhota paid a visit to the Ohel gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Cambria Heights, Queens, Thursday.
While he has his work cut out for him to win the general election, Lhota came to the pilgrimage site for Jews worldwide to say a personal prayer and ask for a blessing.
But Chabad Lubavitch said
The candidate was keeping a commitment he made to veteran activist Rabbi Shea Hecht, chairman of the NCFJE organization, to visit the grave at some point during the campaign, said the rabbi’s son, Rabbi Yitzchok Hecht.
The Jewish Week reported that since the senior Hecht is in Israel this week, his son came downstate from his home in Kingston, Ulster County, for the occasion.
“He has been talking about going for a long time,” Rabbi Yitzchok Hecht told the Jewish Week of Lhota. “It was not a question of if, but when. Right before Roash HaShanah as the campaign heated up [was discussed] but it didn’t make sense.”
Lhota came with Jewish liaison Michael Fragin and was met at the Ohel by Yitzchok Hecht, Rabbi Mendy Hecht of Chabad Park Slope and Crown Heights activist Yaacov Behrman.
Lhota, who identifies as Christian but is Jewish by birth, sat in the tent in the courtyard of the Ohel Chabad-Lubavitcher center and wrote a personal note (“pan,” as called in Chabad circles) to the Rebbe.
With a black yarmulka on his head, he lit a candle and entered the Ohel building above the gravesite to say a few chapters of Tehillim in English and then tore his note and scattered it, as customary.
Outside the Ohel, Lhota was approached by reporters of the New York media. Asked about the undecided Democratic primary, he refused to comment. “We are in a holy place,” he said.
The New York Times noted that in an interview, Lhota declined to say what blessing did he ask for at the Ohel, only that it was a prayer for all New Yorkers.
The interaction with the Rebbe “is meant to be private,” he said.
it is absurd to say the only way you can make it in this world is with government help. people vote for conservatives because it would be much easier to find work and succeed in a stronger economy. An economy can only grow when the government gets out of the way, lowers/eliminates taxes, and deregulates businesses. there is a tremendous barrier due to the government if you want to start a business. and the government taxes income and businesses. why does the government punish success and hard work while rewarding unemployment? under a true fiscally conservative administration, the economy would… Read more »
Of course the frum are willing to take food stamps to survive after liberals destroy almost all vestiges of prosperity. Most frum people I know, would much prefer a genuine conservative to emerge which would institute pro business policy which would unleash prosperity. I know very few people who cling to their food stamps card. Most would prefer to shred it. Sadly, many are too hollow to realize which votes they cast which shoot themselves and their dreams in the foot. GCT
Actually Jews do vote primarily for Democrats in general elections as Obama won 74% of the Jewish vote in 2008 and 70% in 2012.
The question is why do frum Jews who are reliant on the welfare system to a far greater extent than their secular counterparts, vote for Republicans. Without food stamps, Medicaid, earned income credits, head start, wic, etc.. Crown Heights — both the Jewish and black communities — would implode on itself overnight.
I’m glad he is the Republican nominee. I saw a commerical for the democratic nominee Bill de Blasio…It’s crazy it said “Bill is the only one who will tax the rich to pay for after school programs.
Do New York a favor and vote for Joe Lhota.
they dont vote democrate its just for the primary
BS”D
HE MUST WIN
Why do Jews vote as Democrats I will never know?
do NOT vote democrat. don’t let new york end up like detroit. vote for this man. don’t let the false promises from members of the left confuse you!