By COLlive reporter
Photos by Itzik Roytman
President Barack Obama came on Friday afternoon to a high school in Brooklyn to deliver a message about the urgency of education reform in the global economy.
After driving past a cheering crowd of Jews and blacks, the President met a similarly welcoming crowd at Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) in Crown Heights.
Obama touted the 2-year-old school in his State of the Union speech in January as a model for national education reform. P-TECH’s groundbreaking six-year program enables students to earn associate degrees and get a first crack at jobs with the school’s partner, IBM.
“Hello Brooklyn!” a jacket-less Obama called out, after jogging onto the stage. “How you doin’? It’s good to be back in Brooklyn and it’s good to be back in New York City.”
“I know Brooklyn in general is blowing up right now,” he commented, noting that he once lived across from Prospect Park. “When I lived here, it was cool but not that cool.”
Opening his remarks, he cited New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Chuck Schumer, Education Secretary Arny Duncan, “my friend” Democratic mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the audience.
Seated up front were Mrs. Devorah Halberstam of the Jewish Children’s Museum and Rabbi Chanina Sperlin of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council.
Also in the crowd was Rabbi Shea Hecht from the NCFJE organization, which runs a Released Time program in public schools across the city.
President Obama said in his speech that “this country should be doing everything in our power to give more kids the chance to go to schools just like this one.”
Press access to the school was given to COLlive photographer Itzik Roytman.
Rabbi Hecht told COLlive.com he’s seen the impact the President had on the young students present, but added that he expected a “more innovative message.”
And while he got to shake the President’s hand and received a “G-d bless you” greeting, Rabbi Hecht said he wished to have had an exchange with Mr. Obama, even if it was brief.
“If I had the chance, I would share with him 3 points,” he said. “I’d first point out that the Jewish people are very good friends to the African American community – perhaps the best they’ve ever had in America.
“I would have then gone on to speak about the security concerns and obligation to stand by Israel, and then I would speak about the terrible injustice done to Rubashkin.”
He was referring to Sholom Mordechai Rubaskin, the former kosher meatplant manager sentenced to 27 years that many consider an judicial misconduct.
rabbi hecht is looking sharp and young in his fully white beard and red yarmulke. i’m sure his moment with the president, hoisted as he was upon the back of a large man of African descent, sparked a momentary hirhur teshuvah in the heart of our Prez, who is slowly dismantling this country and the world order.
who cares about bthe rest!
Where does your loyalty lie.
what”s the big deal over obama. As far as we’re concerned there’s no difference between him & Al Sharpton especially in regard to Israel.. If obama would have been the mayor of n.y. during the riots he would not have done any different than dinkins
This is part of O’s campaign to distract the country from https://www.healthcare.gov/. He is pretty successful so far.
Quit being strangers in the land begging for crumbs when you can prosper and thrive as a Jew in Eretz Yisroel .
Its great to see Chanina Sperlin going to these places with his Hat. A real chosid.
BTW. Chanina! What did you speak to the prez about???
100 %. Bli. Neder I will vote for Obama next time he runs for President!!
…As usual, always pretending that he has nothing to do with the problems that he himself created and that he feels so bad for all the people and he’s trying so hard to solve The very problems which he himself created by his anti-American anticapitalist disgusting and anti-somatic policies
I would hope he would speak about educating these kids to respect other people who dont look like them and not rob or mug Jews.
He should have spoken about living in peace with ALL their neighbors and “Don’t Do Onto Others What You Don’t Want Others To Do Onto YOU.
What’s the point in all those students standing behind him when he is speaking? It looks like they are all planted there for a photo-op!…
Prob is the goal..
you can practically see him read off the teleprompter!
there is always a teleprompter!
I thought his speech was weak and somewhat incoherent but attributed that to no notes and no teleprompter!
I was wrong… There was a teleprompter.
BS”D sickening thinking de Blasio might be the next mayor. If you did not like Obama wait to you see whats coming Chas v Sholem
Nice pics!