By COLlive reporter
Photos: Jacob Kornbluh
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who is running for reelection in the upcoming race for Governor of New York State, visited the Ohel gravesite of the Rebbe on Sunday. She was accompanied by Devorah Halberstam, Crown Heights community activist, NYPD Police Liaison, and Co-Founder of the Jewish Children’s Museum.
Hochul sat down to compose a personal pan-note, writing, “May God help me be a messenger on behalf of the Jewish community in New York and protect them from all evil and hate.”
She then visited the gravesite of the Rebbe, where she spent a few moments in prayer. She and Halberstam then stopped at the gravesites of Rebbetzin Chana – the Rebbe’s mother, and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka – the Rebbe’s wife.
Afterward, Hochul, accompanied by Mrs. Halberstam, visited the gravesite of her son Ari Halberstam, who was killed al kiddush Hashem in a terrorist attack in 1994 and is buried nearby.
Hochul told reporter Jacob Kornbluh she “came to honor the Rebbe and ask for guidance — pledging to ‘continue to fight for the Jewish people to keep them safe’ and ‘honor the great traditions and forms of education.'”
Hochul recently visited Crown Heights during the holiday of Sukkos, when she attended a Sukkah party at the home of Devorah Halberstam.
Hochul told me she came to honor the Rebbe and ask for guidance — pledging to “continue to fight for the Jewish people to keep them safe” and “honor the great traditions and forms of education.” pic.twitter.com/VrxVcR2eYU
— Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 30, 2022
New York gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin picked up a major and highly coveted endorsement on Sunday as the influential Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC) threw its support behind the surging Republican’s campaign.
The endorsement was made official at a meeting in Flatbush between Rep. Zeldin, Rabbonim, FJCC leaders and community members and activists including Rabbi Avrohom Fruchtandler, President Yehivah Chaim Berlin and others, some who had until now avoided entry into the thorny field of political endorsements. The meeting took place at the home of Rabbi Yisroel Reisman shlita, Rosh Yeshiva Torah Vodath.
Surely all understand and realize, that Devorah Halberstam accompanying the Governor of the State of NY, does not demonstrate in any form or fashion endorsement of any candidate.
Devorah a activist for multiple Jewish and communal causes, and out of respect to Government and the sitting Governor, it is of utmost importance and beneficial for the community at large for her to be there with the Governor at Rebbe’s Holy resting place.
Unfortunately, at least in this reader’s opinion, this is not going to help the Governor. I mean, it’s nice for her to pray on a personal level here, but let’s be honest–most if not all of us have already made up their minds who they’re voting for, and it’s not her. This will be seen, and correctly so, as a transparent political move.