By COLlive reporter
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is in hot water after accusing the entire Jewish community of noncompliance with social distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic.
“My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed,” the mayor tweeted on Tuesday night.
He went on to write, ”I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.”
His threat was made in response to the large crowd that gathered outdoors in Williamsburg for the funeral of Rabbi Chaim Mertz OBM, Rav of Cong. Tolaas Yakov in Williamsburg who passed away at the age of 73. The procession continued to the Satmar Cemetery in Deans, NJ.
Councilman Chaim Deutsch responded: “What??? This has to be a joke. Did the Mayor of NYC really just single out one specific ethnic community (a community that has been the target of increasing hate crimes in HIS city) as being noncompliant?? Has he been to a park lately? (What am I saying – of course he has!)”
Deutsch continued: “Obviously everyone should be social distancing and being extremely careful – and almost everyone has been! With data trending in a positive direction, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel IF – and only IF – people continue to be vigilant.
“But singling out one community is ridiculous. Every neighborhood has people who are being non-compliant. To speak to an entire ethnic group as though we are all flagrantly violating precautions is offensive, it’s stereotyping, and it’s inviting antisemitism. I’m truly stunned.”
Eli Federman, a newspaper columnist, wrote: “In the Middle Ages Jews were singled out and accused of causing outbreaks of the Black Plague because they were often less affected than the general population (due to extensive hand-washing and isolation).
“Today NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is singling out the Jews for spreading Coronavirus because they are more affected. Anti-Semitism in different form.
“I’m all for blasting those that are disregarding social distancing and endangering lives, but it’s disturbing for a mayor to single out a specific minority community.”
What???
This has to be a joke. Did the Mayor of NYC really just single out one specific ethnic community (a community that has been the target of increasing hate crimes in HIS city) as being noncompliant?? Has he been to a park lately? (What am I saying – of course he has!) https://t.co/LYKnUZm2Mc
— Councilman Deutsch (@ChaimDeutsch) April 29, 2020
The flyovers yesterday were totally unnecessary yet brought out hundreds of unmasked people crowding parks to watch the twenty second event. Where were the police and the double faced mayor??
People in unmasked and in parks and street should be called out. That doesn’t negate the fact that people gathered so tightly at this funeral put themselves and others at grave danger. This is not a disease of just lungs, more and more young people are Dying of cardiac complications and strokes. Williamsburg community just like every other one has an obligation to protect each other from this disease by not gathering in such insanely large crowds.
Stop voting for liberal democratic leaders!!!
And maybe stop posting videos or other social media of Jews calling out other Jews as spreading the virus.
How can we expect goyim to not be anti Semitic when “frum” Jews keep berating our own people?
Stop the hate
stop the virus
First off it’s polls not poles. Voting for liberal democrats is what delivers support to the Jewish communities in America. Voting for deranged conservatives that believe in conspiracy theories that at their core are based on anti-semitism is what is going to cause spikes in white nationalism and anti-semitism. Just look at what happened after 2016 election.
What conspiracy theories? What happened in 2016?
If you live in NY, register Democrat and vote for the most moderate (centrist) one running for the nomination.
Aren’t you the one who believes in conspiracies that conservatives are just out to get us when they really want a better life for americans and protecting Israel simply because it is the right thing to do?
You said “Go to the poles”: How do the Poles (the people of Poland) figure into this?
Maybe you meant: polls?
it doesn’t matter if he’s a blue or a red, he’s a politician and they are the lowest of the low.
and if you think voooting will help, I pity your naivete.
You can’t have it both ways.
Yes people act irresponsibly, but these are your brothers. No need to post it around the world.
I think the Mayor needs to hear more people speak out against this, not just community activists. https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page
To Mayor DeBlasio, I am a Jewish mother with 4 children living in Crown Heights. We’ve been home since the stay at home order. I, my husband, and my children over the age of two wear masks every time we leave the house for fresh air. Needless to say, it is hard for us, but we pull through for the safety of our community. As you know, our community is the target of countless hate crimes. Many of us (especially women) are afraid of another attack. Therefore it was extremely disheartening and disappointing to see your tweet yesterday singling out… Read more »
I don’t see the word “antisemitism” anywhere in this overly sweet email. Someone needs to tell it like it is and explain that our community is on to him. He can’t run again according to term limits, so clearly, his true nature is coming out.
we dont vote and then we complain when we land a person like this in office
This anti Semite goes roaming public parks tht are packed with people. Meanwhile he is badmouthing, shaming, singling out the jews. What a disgrace.
hes not fully wrong
Or the word “woman”. And tell me how it’s not racist.
The issue is that the mayor is a proud progressive and progressives claim to be against stereotyping minorities. They won’t even call Islamic terrorism by it’s real name for risk of offending Muslims. Yet the same people are happy to stereotype Jews because progressives don’t see Jews as being a minority despite Jews being the most targeted minority in this country by a very long way.
If all the communities unite concerning their common issues, we would become the majority. Unfortunately, we spend more time trying to grab the title of whose been more oppressed. As a black Jewish women, I’m targeted for my religion and race. So I guess I have the title. Smh
They were attending a funeral for a Rabbi that died from thecoronovirus so why would the people that were there. not have masks on and distance themselves away from other people doesn’t matter what you are, you could be putting your life and other peoples life in danger
Either you call out everyone’s bad behavior or nobody’s
He’s fully wrong
A lot of people are playing loose with the restrictions.
The Jews are socially identifiable and we have cohesion so we are easily noticed, and we have zealots reporting our breeches to the government at a city leading rate.
If the mayor would have said that to any other community, there would be an uproar (even it were 100% true)
This stuff just came super easy to the lips of mayor family fitness.
…are also wrong, but the Mayor didn’t single them out. A mayor has a responsibility to be even-handed. The NYPD did right. The mayor, by making a big show of the whole thing and turning it into a Mayoral Photo OP, and then Tweeting the way he did, IS fully wrong in that he is not being even-handed in handling things the way he did. I guarantee you that if this were an Islamic gathering or a church-related gathering or some kind of “New Age” event — all of which have also gone on, against the social distancing requirements, “Hizzoner”… Read more »
The issue at hand is that he singled out one minority group, all Frum Jews, as if they are the only one’s openly not keeping with the social distancing rules, when in fact there are people from all races are not following the rules.
first he releases criminals from jail and next he says we now have room to put Jews in jail.
He’s also getting the quarantine fever
The truth comes out under such pressures
Worse than him singling out the Jewish community, are the jews who think that this is a good thing.
They feel as if all religious Jews aren’t woke, and if they are it’s because they’re progressive…
Why doesn’t this article report the whole truth. DeBlahBlah ran to the levayah , not just a tweet. This shows his emotional outrage and hatred of Jews. He wanted to personally stop the jews. Der fruher was very outspoken and showed his colors. When did he show up when we were attacked on the streets? Anyhow better reporting please. Oh yippie our mayor promises us a fireworks July 4th. Yippie.
C’mon Please! Protecting the Public Safety is not antisemitic.
All groups must comply with stay at home and social distancing
OR the next Covid 19 Surge will be with those not in compliance.
The Funeral could have been done remotely by Video Conferencing etc…
The deceased Rabbi would not have wanted others under his spiritual guidance to contract Convid 19 and perish also..
Not all public places are closed and not all wearing masks, lots were doing pickings and all it’s ok …. such a hypocrite
Grow up. He is looking out for the good and welfare of all people, it’s his JOB. We think we can do whatever we want and then hide behind the veil of “it’s antisemitism”. He is no more or less antisemitic than most, if not all, of our country’s politicians.
We choose to violate the current protocols for safety, regardless of the reason, and then bawl when we are called out for it? B’emet?
Who are “We”? I did not. What are you saying? B’emet?
“He is no more or less antisemitic than most, if not all, of our country’s politicians.” So, therefore, he shouldn’t be called out when he is unfair in not singling out other groups that do the same? That sounds like what you are saying here. No one here is arguing in favor of the gathering in Williamsburg, which was absolutely against the social distancing that is so important, Rabbi. Everyone is in agreement that this group should have been broken up. It’s the way it was done, with such publicity that I heard it on NATIONAL NETWORK NEWS this morning!… Read more »
This mass gathering is unacceptable. Williamsburg community has failed to protect itself against measles once already, now this mistake is being repeated with COVID-19. How much self harm and death can this community cause on itself and others around before such massive outbreaks are taken seriously and prevented? Your duty is to protect yourself and others in the community. What this incident is showing is that community is not taking this outbreak seriously enough. How many lives need to be sacrificed before this is taken seriously? Rabbis and elderly community members are dying right and left. Protect yourself, protect your… Read more »
He’s definitely an anti-semite low life and all that…
What happened last night was a HUGE disgrace to all Jews everywhere, we can deny responsibility all we want but we will forever be one.
COMMUNITY LEADERS, ACTIVIST, RABBI’S, ANYONE WHO HAS A SAY!! Go out speak to these leaders get this crazyness in these communities
I’m listening now to deblasio’s press conference he’s saying it’s the heat of the moment and he’s a real anti-semite at heart but he has a point it is literally the worst it’s been…..
We should be ashamed of ourselves that even after having many fatalities in our community, we still have people congregating. When will our hassdic communities wake up and realize that we should stop being so selfish
Why are you combining us with them in the word “We” that you used 3 times, with people who beat us multiple times?
Read the response of the mazkir of the manoach (Mertz also). It is straight from Sichos Koidesh. Don’t make it difficult for Hizzoner to pivot away, and remember that he is regularly accused of pro-semitism.
So many of our people have died. Yes, the Mayor is not a good Mayor, but this time he is on target (yes he should call out other also). Stop being so close together, wear gloves, wear masks. Hashem gave us brains to reason with and commandments to protect ourselves. Gathering closely together for a funeral in these times is against Torah law. Please fellow Jews, protect yourselves.
Yitzchok
Ok, yes the mayor should not have tweeted this statement out to the public. He should have contacted someone influential in the Williamsburg community who would make a ruling not to gather. Same goes for any other communities. Send out cops to neighborhoods to disperse. No need for silly anti-simetic tweets. But at the same time I am absolutely shocked and horrified that this Williamsburg community completely disregarded safety rules that would PROTECT THEIR OWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS by gathering together like this. The point of distancing is to prevent more funerals! There are hundreds and hundreds of people so close… Read more »
Whether the Jewish community is not following guidelines in greater numbers is irrelevant to the fact that Mayor DeBlasio does not have to make a public statement and announcing this to the public.
If the Mayor wanted to be effective he should call our community leaders to get the word out to better educate the community on being vigilant to follow guidelines.
And what about Vice President Pence visiting Rochester Hospital without wearing a face mask??
he knows most chassidic Jews don’t use twitter. He is simply using it as a platform to generalize and get his frustration out on the Jewish people
Bill de Blasio (/dɪˈblɑːzioʊ/; born Warren Wilhelm Jr.; May 8, 1961) he changed his name to Warren de Blasio-Wilhelm in 1983 and finally to Bill de Blasio in 2001 to honor his maternal family.[4][5] De Blasio has two older brothers, Steven and Donald.[1] His mother was of Italian heritage, and his father was of German, English, French, and Scots-Irish ancestry.
The mayor did nothing wrong..I passed by 770 on shabbos and there were over 100 people davening together.
The drum circles doing their usual rituals — not socially distanced, either — in Prospect Park, and the adults gathering on street corners listening to their pumped up car speakers for hours at a time, also not socially distanced (and PS: they are violating noise ordinances, too!)?
Where’s the holy mayor’s outcry singling THEM out and threatening THEM?
Oh, but dontcha know? THEY (the drum circlers and the street corner hangers out) are Politically Correct, so they get a free pass. I forgot: “We are all equal, but some are more equal than others.” (–paraphrase of George Orwell)
There is no comparison between the crowd at this funeral and parks. Stop this Chilul Hashem which is happening in many of the frum communities. You are putting your own community’s lives in danger as well.
He’s right. Too many people in Jewish communities are still making gatherings. If the Mayor would have said this about any other group of people, no one would care. Save the outrage for real antisemitism.
Did he say anything that was not correct?
No!!!
A. Williamsburg was flooded with people in the streets for that Levaya. B. That wasn’t the first time. There were weddings and events being held totally disregarding social distancing.
We were warned multiple times! And nobody listened. No wonder so many people are dying!
So I don’t blame the mayor for calling us out. Maybe people will finally listen and stay home.
Are you really surprised? That slimy politicians are enforcing their arbitrary will down your throat? impossible.
As we teach our children,two wrongs don’t make a right.Even if everything else is true,hundreds of chasidim gathering shoulder to shoulder is inexcusable.
DeBkasio expresses the feelings of the bullies In actuality it is NYC and it’s elected officials during the past 100+ years who are at fault The densely populated places are suffering the most from the pandemic as densely populated places are most difficult to develop continuous flows of FRESH air Humans are addicted to air and water New York likes to brag about its pipes and water I believe the truth has New York ( and possibly the USA ) has offended Go-d by attempting to be go-d defying natural laws Interracial and homosexual unions aren’t what go-d likes Go-d… Read more »
It was a mistake at the very least on the part of the mayor to state “The Jewish Community”. His comments should have been limited to the people that were refusing to take the necessary social distancing measures. And where is he going to put the people he ordered arrested when jails are already centers for the virus to spread?
this mayor is a joke and he is equivalent to Dinkins. and even though he clarified and apologized, its still no excuse for the things he said. it should never came out of his mouth.
With that said. There was no excuse for Williamsburg to have that type of Leviya. That was wrong and a Chillul Ha-shem. what were they thinking?
Like his showing up in Williamsburg for a photo op and his tweeting did?
Not everything is anti semitic and two wrongs don’t make a right.
This is not about if Jewish people are doing the right thing. This is about the mayor speaking Lashon Harah. He is pointing a finger at one religion. That is not acceptable. It only causes anti semitism. We Jews also need to be more careful and not make a chilul Hashem. Even if the Mayor is stating true facts, the Mayor is wrong!!!
We Jews are here to be an example for Humanity. I am embarrassed to see Jews disobeying State law and health advice.We should be in the news complaining not the mayor
To all the Jewish apologists out there: Nobody is saying: 1. What happened in Williamsburg was OK, and wasn’t a huge Chilul Hashem. 2. Certain groups are above reproach, and criticizing them equalls anti-semitism. 3. A Mayor personally travelling from Manhattan to Brooklyn to disperse a crowd for lack of social distancing is racist per se (though most would say it’s a bit of uber-governing, not usually acceptable norm in a democratic society). What they are saying is: 1. To call out a specific race or ethnicity – any race or ethnicity – for what some members (a rather small… Read more »
Agudah, OU, Satmar, Bobov and yes, Lubavitch organizations will still invite him and his cronies to their dinners, Menorah lightings, sukkah parties etc etc. At the end of the day, everyone turns a blind eye to his obvious antisemitism (which isn’t news!) because you all hope for some kind of deal for your community, Yeshiva, organization etc etc. If you are really so incensed, show it.
To forgive is go-dly, to forget is evil ! Sometimes that’s how go-d engineers things ! If I don’t have a reason to help you will I help you ? I ran over your foot and I feel responsible and possibly a bit guilty so I’ll help you etc ! War isn’t good for all the things most of New Yorkers care about ! Humbling a big city mayor is easier than some think !
Here in Crown Heights, By the Levaya of our Rov Rabbi Aharon Yaacov Schwei a”h mara d’asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, last week instead of having our entire Community tens of thousands of residents being there outside 770, instead the Levaya Car drove slowly thru All the main Streets of Crown Heights so everyone can come to their Porches, Windows & Outside their homes to attend while it was driving by, During this Crisis this is the Only Safe way for a Large Levaya, As well this avoids possibilities for Chillul Hashem of large gatherings, I… Read more »
The problem with condoning the Levaya in Williamsburg is this:
Other religions are complaining, “Well, if they get to do it, why can’t we?”
So, either you have to allow everybody or nobody.