By COLlive reporter
New York Councilman Ritchie Torres, whose victory in the Democratic primary for the 15th Congressional District representing parts of Bronx was just declared last week, did not waste time in coming to Crown Heights.
Torres, a 32-year-old Democrat who is the youngest member of the city council, was hosted at the home of veteran activist Chanina Sperlin, intergovernmental liaison for the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC). It was held outdoors for health reasons.
In his remarks, Torres spoke of the anti-Israel sentiment that has taken hold in a large segment of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
He described himself as a young progressive who really understands the importance of the US relationship with Israel, itself a progressive country.
He suggested that the singling out of Israel for criticism and boycotts can only be described as anti-Semitism, given the way that oppression of Muslims and other human rights violations are ignored in so many other countries.
Present at the reception were Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, Jason D. Koppel, N.E. Region Political Director for AIPAC, Eli Cohen, Executive Director of Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director of New York Government Relations for Agudath Israel of America, Pinny Hikind, Andrew Gross, Mark Appel, Rabbi Jacob Goldstein, and journalist Jacob Kornbluh.
