NEW YORK (VIN News Editorial) – Once again, Governor Andrew Cuomo took advantage of an opportunity to cast aspersions on the Jewish community, using his Inauguration Day press briefing to paint COVID as a problem stemming from the Jewish community.
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Addressing statewide positivity rates, vaccinations and hospitalization numbers, Cuomo delivered pearls of wisdom that were anything but precious.
“Hospitalization rate is what they call a lagging indicator,” said the governor. “What does that mean? That means you get infected. You go to a Hanukkah party and you get infected.”
Never mind that just moments earlier Cuomo had singled out the Finger Lakes region for its high positivity and hospitalization rates, an area which certainly isn’t known as a hotbed of Jewish life. When it came time to pointing the finger of blame for rising COVID rates, Governor Cuomo skipped over Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas gatherings and New Year’s Eve parties, choosing the holiday of Chanukah to be the poster child for spiking infection rates.
This isn’t the first time that Cuomo has taken aim at the Jewish community. Back in mid-November, Cuomo appealed to New Yorkers to scale back their Thanksgiving gatherings, politely asking them to limit attendance to ten people. Yes, this was the same governor who just a month earlier came down hard on Jewish communities in his newly designated colored zones, warning that any gatherings of more than 10 people in a red zone would be subject to $15,000 fines. And yes, this was the same Cuomo who described an emerging area of COVID cases in Brooklyn as a “predominantly an ultra-Orthodox cluster” in October, adding fuel to the fire by openly admitting that he was closing nearby Catholic schools because of their proximity to the Orthodox Jewish community. One week later, Cuomo made his views clear again saying, “we’re now having issues in the Orthodox Jewish community in New York, where because of their religious practices, etc., we’re seeing a spread.”
Cuomo’s jabs at the Jewish community have gone beyond COVID. In a January 19th interview with WAMC on the final moments of the Trump presidency, host Alan Chartok asked Cuomo to share his thoughts about a potential pardon for Sheldon Silver.
“I don’t believe there’s always logic,” observed Cuomo. “I don’t know that it’s premediated. It could just be a favor for some contact, a favor for someone in the Jewish community.”
The idea that Governor Cuomo is trying to cast Chanukah as the entity that is spreading COVID throughout the state is truly ironic. Wasn’t it just one year ago on Chanukah 2019, that Cuomo stood shoulder to shoulder in Monsey with Rabbi Chaim Leibish Rottenberg after a horrific machete attack in his home that took the life of a 72 year old man, speaking about the importance of tolerance? Didn’t the governor himself talk about the importance of appreciating our differences, noting that America was founded on the basis of religious freedom?
At that same press conference, Cuomo proudly declared, “George Washington celebrated with the Jewish community. That’s what America is all about.” How sad that just thirteen months later it is Cuomo himself who is trying to divide New Yorkers, obsessively using the Jewish community as a convenient scapegoat on any and all occasions, dangerously fanning the flames of anti-Semitism.
It pains us deeply to see the cherished friendship that New York’s Jewish community shared with Governor Mario Cuomo being discarded so cavalierly. Mario Cuomo was a man of honor who stood by his principles, a true leader who deeply respected people of all faiths.
If only we could say the same about his son.
I don’t know the author of this article, but it should be shared with the governor. He makes valid points with clear cases. The governor has dropped the ball on many occasions during this pandemic and his two choices for blame has been former President Trump and the Jewish community. Shameful!
Let’s be honest, Orthodox Jews pretty blatantly backed Trump and Repubiclans. He kmows we aren’t voting for him.
We need to Impeach Cuomo for abuse of power.
Lets not forget Yeshivagate., Cuomo closed schools because he needed to act like an ego mafaia guy and get back at us. Proof is in the pudding, a few eeks later when De-Blassio closed schools, Cuomo was like schools are safe to pen and Debalssio must open schools. The way Coumo closed us down is another proof. Everyone knows in the 21st centruy the way you do it is, you call the rabbis and you say this what we need to do how we can ease the pain etc… Instaed he went on record telling them na we won’t do muhc and maybe 50% then he clsoed us down two hours later. he is an evil backstabber.
And let me say this anyone who dares opne their fat lying trap and tries to defend this rasha should be silenced from VIN. if twitter can do it so can we. There are no if and s or buts. The evidence is clear. You hear that vin, if momala the Kamla fan opens his fat lying mouth under his 20 cute names block him
מיר לעבען אין גלות
The Evil Cuomo will never forgive the Jewish community for getting around his summer camp decree.He also needed a convinient scapegoat for the thousands his insane policies killed in the nursing homes.He talks about science yet he makes stupid arbitrary decisions.
Very very true VIN thank you for pointing out. Lets hope aguda realizes this about “their friend”$$$$
Yet the idiots fin inzireh keep voting for the leftists.
Great op ed but what took so long. His blaming Jews has been going on for quite sometime
The Jewish community its representatives and yes journal have kept still with the rise in anti semitism it’s time to demand change from our democratic politicians
There is a way to advocate for yourself and for your community without making it personal.
All democrats are obsessed with frum Jews as their base are anti frum JINO scum. The biggest anti eruv proponents are JINO democrats. The biggest bds supporters are JINO democrats.
Let’s remember that as Yidden we deem our shuls to be essential. No that we carelessly risk everyone to get sick, but by not being stupid and seeing that in other places such as stores and parks there was allowed way more than 10, what science was it based on to single out shuls?
Agudah’s big mistake was telling all shuls to close originally. As in shut down. They should’ve said use all protections. Outdoor minyanim with distancing need no limits more than city parks. Why did Agudah tell Rabbanim to stop all minyanim?
Let’s remember the cry of the Rov in Flatbush who listed clearly every shul that remained open and had zero deaths, while all the others that shut down can’t say that.
Let’s remember that as Yidden we defy logic and reason and those who have Emunah and Bitachon while not risking themselves unnecessarily (being healthy and having no “underlying conditions” etc.) have the zchus of the world on their shoulders.
Let’s remember that those who kept minyanim going and never shut down we now know to be today’s Macabbee’s and weren’t acting like Neturei Karta etc.
As long as we have people like Educated Archy, who preach disregard of masks and social distancing, we will continue to incite anti-semitism.
How did he let Bobov get away with its mega chasuna? He is way too moderate.
1) We DON’T have to follow the rules.
2) We have herd immunity.
3) You are KILLING people because you won’t allow HQC treatment because….Trump
4) We have the RIGHT to have Yeshiva/weddings/Shul during a pandemic no matter what you say
5)We don’t have to close our Yeshivas just because the Health Department ordered us to do so.
6) We will SUE to stop you
7) We will praise theyou to the sky while violating your rules at the exact same moment behind your back :::nudge nudge, wink, wink:::
8) We will call you an AntiSemite
HEY-NO FAIR. YOU ARE PICKING ON US!
So what explains VIN’s and maga-frum Jews’ obsession with Gov Cuomo? Maybe guilt over not following basic covid safety regs and dying by the hundreds in the 1st wave? Maybe because he stood up and dressed down the frums’ New Fuhrer? Maybe because ‘frum’ volk always need to attack and hate someone, anyone, to show how ‘erlicha’ they are(n’t).