By COLlive reporter
This past Friday, the charismatic Democratic Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey announced that he will be running for president. “I’m Cory Booker and I’m running for president of the United States of America,” he says in a video.
Booker is one of several senators running for president or seriously considering it. At 49, he is the youngest among his Senate colleagues in the race, CNN reported.
His announcement comes nearly a year to the day from the Iowa caucuses and the start of the primary calendar, CNN said. Booker plans to head to Iowa February 8-9 and then to South Carolina on February 10. He also intends to visit New Hampshire over Presidents Day weekend.
What wasn’t reported is that on the night before his announcement, Booker was seen at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Cambria Heights, Queens, New York.
A photo showed Booker wearing a black yarmulka and seated with another 5 men in a tent in preparation to visit and pray at the Ohel – the holy gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.
A person present confirmed to COLlive.com that Booker was there last week.
This isn’t the first visit Booker is paying to the Ohel. When he was running for Senate as the Mayor of Newark, COLlive.com reported that he lit a memorial candle for the Rebbe and then prayed at the holy site.
Booker is African American, yet his knowledge of Judaism, Chassidus and Jewish life can arguably surpass many secular American Jews. In public speeches he has given, Booker never hesitated to share his keen interest and knowledge in Torah and Jewish ethics.
“Booker at points seemed to know more about my Jewish culture than I did,” Jonathan Tepperman wrote in a 2002 profile in The New York Times Magazine.
Booker, a Baptist, once commented that his favorite Jewish holiday was Sukkos and Simchas Torah, remembering the joyous celebrations at Chabad of Oxford.
In speeches to Jewish groups – among them the Colel Chabad dinner in Manhattan, and Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ – Booker evoked Yiddish words, the parsha and Rambam.
His favorite opening line is stating that the Dvar Torah will be delivered “by the large goy from Newark.” Having met Chabad at the age of 23, he once said: “Lubavitch is one of these organizations that once they have you, they never let you go.”
His 13-minute speech at a gala of Chabad of Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2001, was titled “Cory Booker’s Dvar Torah” and was the second most viewed article on COLlive.com in the Jewish year of 5771.
VIDEO:
Despite his intimate knowledge and warm friendships in the Jewish community, his connection soured when he voted for the Iran Nuclear Deal which was peddled by the administration of President Barack Obama and opposed by the Israeli government.
Since being elected to the Senate in 2012 after serving as mayor of Newark, his record on Israel has been mixed at best, and sometimes going back and forth on certain issues, the Jewish Press reported.
Booker was against the United States officially recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017, yet later signed a letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calling for the end of the world body’s animosity towards the Jewish State.
you said exactly the right words…..he is a “common politician”…
You can’t compare Jesse helms to Cory Booker
The reason Dershowitz who is pro alternative marriage and pro abortion hated Jesse helms is because helms was not a liberal . Booker is against our Torah values. You will not influence him as you can’t influence Farrakhan.
From chabad.org – Alan Dershowitz – famous story: Just saying – maybe it is worth being mekarev someone who clearly appreciates us on some level, rather than push away. PS: He was connected to Shmuley Boteach so that is where he gets his hashkofos from About 15 or 20 years ago, I had the chutzpah–in the worst sense of the word—to write an arrogant letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory. I had read in the newspaper that the Lubavitch movement was honoring Jesse Helms, and there was no man in America I despised more… Read more »
There all running. Pelosi,booker,gillabrand and the rest of the liberal loonies. They don’t stand a chance
Read, watch and learn what the rebbe stood for, see how he gave his all to fight for the protection of the state of Israel and imagine what the rebbe should say to him now would he have the nerve to show his face at dollars.
Booker votes against everything the rebbe stands for
Booker voted to give Iran hundreds of billions of dollars to found their terror against Jews living all over the world and especially in Israel. He voted against the bill to stop giving money to the PA to use as a pension for terrorist families.
Whomever votes or supports him literally has Jewish blood on their hands! Owe we will never forget Eli Slavic standing up for the Congress women who votes for Iran as well.
Shame on you !
thats the fear, we have the liberal jews and (officialy frum jews ?) that will give him big money. just like they gave to obama and clinton
He’s not getting elected. He needs jewish money. He is a faker. The democrats support murder of babies, alternative marriage and a shift to atheism and the teaching of evolution. Never will I vote for a Democrat ever. They are our current day hitlers. Yes they want to give Iran the power to murder six million more Jews in nine minutes.
IF ANY JEW ESPECIALLY A CHOSSID OF THE REBBE SHOULD RACHMANA LIZLAN FOR FOR HIM OR ANY OTHER DEMOCRAT, THEY SHOUDL BE ASHMED OF THEMSELVES!!! A VOTE FOR DEMOCRAT IS AGAINST HALACHA AND MAYBE BISMAN HAZEH ONE OF THE GRAVEST SINS A PERSON CAN DO. ITS LIKE VOTING FOR A COMBINATION OF THE 3 AVEROIS YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO DIE FOR. MAKE NO MISTAKE THERES NO BEATING AROUND THIS
WHEN BILAAM WOKE UP EARLY TO GET READY THINKING IT WILL MAKE HIM VICTORIOUS, HASHEM SAID NOPE, AVRAHAM BEAT YOU TO IT. OUR GREAT PRESIDENT TRUMP BEAT HIM TO IT, IVANKA AND JARED ALLREADY WENT THERE AND GOT THE CONFIRMATION!!
Since no one here is the rebbe at the ohel, no one knows what the rebbe might have provided when this person came to him. Could be a perspective shift. Don’t chassidim believe that a non-jew’s actions are determined by god (and free choice is only to jews)? Whatever the case, he did go, to the rebbe/ohel, and not to you and me, so that’s noteworthy for COL and its readership. As to whether to vote for him as the result, that’s your choice. And as to why COL would allow comments here, at the risk of alienating this potential… Read more »
Did he go visit the Ohel before he voted to give the Iranian Mullahs billions and put the lives of many Jews in danger?
he voted Iran deal. thats all the information I need
If Al Sharpthon came to the Ohel along with Farrakhan, what would the self hating liberal Jews say. How nice. Booker is no friend of the Jews.
It won’t make one bit f difference for him. He won’t even be the Democratic Nominee
It’s becoming an issue that Chabad is perceived as a right-wing organization. Wouldn’t it be incredibly positive if this guy gets the Dem nomination? It would show that were not just a bunch of political hacks but that we actually stand for something that leftists can also appreciate, even if they don’t agree with us even on basic things.
just a thought, If Somebody can find some dignity in posting the same thing can be said but in a way that brings dignity to the issues being discussed,
also of all who posted i doubt you have walked a mile in his shoes
just a thought
same question here: what is his public stance on BDS, thats for one. And then, all his previous moves shows that he’s just another common politician. He wants our vote but without caring about true representation.
Cory Booker is no friend of religion or the values we hold dear. He is anti-Israel, pro-abortion, peddling identity politics, and trying his best – in his Spartacus costume – to stop our president.
That’s the spirit! 😀
“This isn’t the first visit Booker is paying to the Ohel. When he was running for Senate….”
Was that a typo or a message from a different place in the form of a typo. Was Booker praying, or was he really paying, investing time for some Jewish votes.
Jay
Booker has disgraced himself.
He Is a scheming opportunistic political hack who equated the security walls in Israel with the proposed wall along the Mexican border.He voted for Obamas Iran deal.He cannot be trusted no self respecting Jew should give him any support.
Cory supports BDS. BDS = Anti Israel = Antisemitism.
COL stop whitewashing him. You keep calling yourselves the community new service, which would imply that you owe it to the community to be truthful and honest in your reporting. Just disgusting.
i think ill vote for trump since trump is doing amazing and like some one said how can you trust him
Why is COL reporting on him and giving him attention? He is a disgusting anti-Israel racist that is trying to whitewash his past deeds so he can get the Jewish vote. Why is COL giving him attention and promoting him?
So he went to the Ohel.
What was the ANSWER???
DEMOCRATS JUST PASSED LAWS ALLOWING BABIES ALREADY BORN TO BE KILLED. Not because they are sick or non viable. But because Mama doesn’t want the child to live. Sounds like China during their only one baby era.
Mental patients roaming our streets and attacking Jews, also released from asylums, by the Democrats.
Enough with liberal Democrats who dispise the 7 Noahide laws!
We need during Republicans, not the Dems who smile at photo shoots whenever a Jew is attacked
sad state of the comments board here. the man respects and appreciates the Rebbe enough to make a special personal visit, and you MOCK him. Does everyone who goes to the Ohel share your same exact vision of everything. Big deal, you disagree on a few points with the man, does not take away from the special relationship he has with Chabad and the jewish people
Comments here are all right on the mark.
Nothing more to say – an absolute tool, damage has been done Cory, you can’t undo some really stupid moves on your part.
i thought a few years ago that he was ok, but he is a typical politician who uses and lies for his political benefits. and besides, did he ever come out against BDS????
Just because he’s stupid enough to think that he could fool the rebbe, It doesn’t mean that we have to be stupid enough to vote for him…
Would not let people comment here that since he might be President of the USA negative comments at this point would not be viewed well by the candidate.
The Rebbe will surely give him a brocho to lose.
And forget his fluff
Where did he put his votes when it really counted
Thumb down to CB
Keep yr eyes open
Any Jew that supports him or even takes him seriously is off his rocker. This CH community better not endorse him. He’s a horrible human being, fake as can be, and evil to boot. The community leaders have no right to recommend a vote for this corrupt man. Dems do not represent Jewish values.
Booker is pro-BDS yet has the chutzpah to go to the Ohel? Unbelievable.
At least has his priorities right, at times. When you enter politics it gets dangerous. but Hashem has a plan for the world.
Moshiach Now!
Don’t trust him
Jews were foolish once to vote Democrat and now look what we are dealing with in NY.
Do not be fooled!!! He is another false politician another Democratvwho wants to destroy Torah values. Think Napoleon!!
He is trying to kasher himself so he can fool religious Jews that he is a friend. With friends like him who needs enemies. So he can quote biblical verses but so can Minister Farrakhan and the other minister Al Sharpthon. Jew haters are Jew haters.
The rebbe is going to give a brocha to a man who certainly supports late-term abortion and all the other narishkeit that the Left supports?
Yet he’s moving slowly away from his past strong support of israel
Booker has sold out. Whatever his connections to Jews and Chabad was, it’s past history. He has become a politician in the worst sense of the word. Don’t let him fool you.
Foolish are the jewish voters who elected him. He is anti Israel. I remember when one nieve jewish marcher traveled to Israel with the anti Semite Al Sharpton. This clown payed Sharptons trip and guess what. Sharpton went out of his way to meet Arafat. When will jewish voters wake up. You tmust vote Republican down the line. We have enough Orthodox Jews in ny state to make a change. Don’t complain about crime or yeshivas not getting vouchers because they refuse the liberal anti Torah agendas. Vote.
Any Jew who votes for any one of the stooges running on the Democratic Party side is voting for the party of abortions, gay marriage, transgenders, and animosity toward religious people and the state of Israel. Nothing a frum yid should be supporting.
The Democrats have become dangerous.
Booker is a clown. No Jew should vote for him even if he visits the Ohel.
Senator Cory Booker voted for the Iran Deal under Obama, just like our “delightful” Crown Heights congressional representative, Yvette Clarke. They smile for the camera and shake hands with our local Jewish leaders, but then they go into the Capitol chambers and stab us in the back. Don’t be “impressed” that Cory Booker, or any of these sell-outs, go to the Ohel. Their votes speak louder than anything else. PS: He also did a terrible job as Mayor of Newark: look it up online and you’ll see. And now he thinks he deserves a promotion to do a terrible job… Read more »
Now he’s going to be our next president.