By COLlive reporter
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is expected to visit Jewish communities in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights and Boro Park neighborhoods on Thursday.
Ben Gvir, chairman of the right-wing Otzma Yehudit (“Jewish Power”) party, will be hosted at private events where the audience is largely Hebrew-speaking, his primary language.
Organizers have asked that details of these events not be shared publicly, as Ben Gvir’s eight-day trip to the United States has drawn protests from anti-Israel and liberal interest groups.
Reform Jewish leader Rick Jacobs published an op-ed in the left-leaning Haaretz titled: “U.S. Jews: Don’t Answer the Door When Ben-Gvir Comes Knocking.” Jacobs criticized Ben Gvir for what he called a “well-documented record of racism and incitement.” Jacobs himself met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in 2017, despite Abbas’s antisemitic remarks and documented Holocaust denial.
Some groups appeared to heed Jacobs’ call. According to a report in Israel Hayom, several Orthodox shuls in New York declined to host Ben Gvir for an event. Among them were Park East Synagogue and two Safra synagogues.
The minister had requested to use one of the shul halls for an event, but was denied. However, the community has not objected to him attending existing events, such as Yom HaShoah commemorations, the report said.
Despite the pushback in New York, Ben Gvir received a warm welcome in South Florida. A photo showed him addressing a group of American-Israelis at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, owned by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a press release, the minister’s office stated that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen ties between Israel and the Jewish Diaspora and to learn from U.S. law enforcement practices.
While in Florida, Ben Gvir and his delegation toured the Everglades Correctional Institution, where they met with Jewish inmates and observed rehabilitation programs, including dog training and art therapy. He later met with Rabbi Shalom Ber Lipskar, founder of The Aleph Institute, which supports Jewish life in U.S. correctional facilities.
According to The Jerusalem Post, the delegation also visited an Israeli-owned supermarket in Hollywood, Florida, and a firearms store owned by an Israeli-Russian businessman. There, they discussed civilian firearm policies—a key issue for Ben Gvir in his role as Israel’s National Security Minister.
Ben Gvir and his team also met with Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, senior rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue, and Rabbi Yaakov Gibber, leader of the Boca Jewish Center.
The only public event in New York announced in advance is Ben Gvir’s attendance at a Siyum HaRambam ceremony at the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway on Thursday at 9:45 PM. The event is independently organized and not affiliated with Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters.
From there, Ben Gvir is expected to travel to Boro Park.
Can’t wait to hear him speak he should be the next prime minister God willing