Chabad Defends Florida Gov

WESH Orlando and COLlive Reporter

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said a mistake by his staff is to blame for a letter that went out with his signature, praising an anti-Semitic movie.

Crist’s office sent a thank you note to John Ubele of Pasco County for mailing the governor a copy of the film “Jud Suss.” The movie was made by the Nazis in the 1940s and is considered one of history’s most incendiary films.

The brief thank-you note was dated June 30 and bore the governor’s automated signature. It praised Ubele’s thoughtfulness and generosity and said Crist would be delighted to share the DVD with the people of Florida.

Ubele is with the Nationalist Coalition, a group that claims to promote “white activism.”

When he got the note from Crist, Ubele posted it online.

Once the governor’s office learned of the mistake, it sent Ubele a second note calling the thank you an “unexcusable mistake by staff.”

The letter went on to say Crist does not condone or support the film’s anti-Semitic content.

Rabbi Schneor Z. Oirechman, Shliach of Tallahassee – Florida’s Capital – and close confidant of Gov Christ said, “I have personally contacted the executive office of the governor and have been assured that the letter was sent by a staff member by mistake, before having looked at the DVD.”

“The office is very sorry about the mistake. The governor has no sympathy with the people who sent this DVD and their dark purposes. Governor Crist has been a strong supporter of the Jewish community in Florida, Israel, and elsewhere, and is also an admirer of the Jewish religion. His level of support and action in favor of Jewish causes is outstanding.”

Rabbi Yoseph Konikov, Shliach in Orlando, Florida, was contacted by the media as well, and said he had no doubt that the letter was a mistake. “The Governer’s support has been almost unprecedented in the state of Florida,” he said.