By COLlive reporter
Anchorage Assembly member Chris Constant was called out this week for remarks he made that were described as a “public trap” to Rabbi Yosef Greenberg, Director of the Lubavitch Jewish Center of Alaska on Tuesday.
During a public hearing on a planned homeless and drug treatment center, Rabbi Greenberg voiced concern about its impact on the safety of the neighborhood and its close proximity to his center.
In response, Constant asked the rabbi what he thought about the idea to “send them all to one place and put a fence around them?”
“It’s disrespectful, you’re trying to compare the Nazis to this,” Rabbi Greenberg responded. He was met with applause from the crowd, KTVA reported.
Myron Rosenberg, a social worker who owns a photography gallery in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in Alaska, commented that “Rabbi Greenberg’s response to Assemblyman Chris Constant’s discussion was impressively restrained and measured.
He added on social media, “Constant’s remarks were transparently and egregious prejudiced. I regret to say, I suspect his ‘contribution’ was intentionally bigoted.
Rosenberg, whose father was a decorated U.S. paratrooper and a guard at the Nuremberg trials held after World War II, wrote: “Mr. Constant expressing ANY illusions of fencing-in innocent citizenry TO A JEW–most particularly, to a Rabbi–is verbottenly unconscionable, and meriting public rebuke by the Assembly.”
On Wednesday, Constant offered a public apology to Rabbi Greenberg and the Jewish community.
“While I was gaining to seek perspective, clearly I stumbled on my words and thoughts, and caused pain and caused harm in our community, to you personally and to your congregation, and for that, I am truly sorry and I apologize to you and I apologize to your congregation,” Constant said.
According to local media, Rabbi Greenberg accepted the apology. “He apologized today and we accept his apology and we are moving on forward, and you know this will bring the community together and I really hope that the assembly will listen to the neighborhood and understand that we really need to do such a major decision together,” he said.
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Yes, and I think we should have a say on the multiple centers for ‘Homeless’ (read psychotic, drug addicted and hostile people who have attacked and stolen in the neighborhood) placed by politicians right by our neighborhood with thousands of children and schools in reach.
well done holding your ground rabbi. and sticking to your talking points
He apologized publicly the next day. just saying the rest of the story.
I don’t see this as a bigoted mistake. It just wasn’t the best use of the English language.
The politician Chose to read to the Rabbi an email not related to any of the concerns the Rabbi brought up that was laced with hate and Bigotry and dumped it on the Rabbi In a Rhetorical Tone for him to respond, when the Rabbi utilizing his moments for a dialogue on community concerns. Good for the Rabbi for staying on topic and calling out that nonsense!
I urge you to re- listen to the clip. This was a clear case where Mr. Constant was obviously pushing a narrative which was not appropriate whatsoever. I’m glad he publicly apologized and only hope that it was a true apology and not a just a public move to virtue signal which is so very popular these days.
rabbi greenberg chazak v’emats
I applaud the shliach, Rabbi Greenberg, for speaking as a proud Yid, with Geon Yaakov. He received a very strong approving applause!
We need more people like him to speak up on behalf of Yidden.
We have to get rid of the “Galus Mentality”, and speak clearly with pride without being apologetic!