Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer visited the Queens Jewish community of Hillcrest this past Thursday morning to provide rabbanim and community leaders with a strong reassurance that the American government stands firm with Israel. The meeting, organized by Assemblymember Nily Rozic, noted the measures taken locally to ensure the safety of the city’s 1.6 million Jews. Before departing, the senator spoke exclusively with the Queens Jewish Link, providing further insight.
Brooklyn-born Schumer, now in his historic fifth term, has been stalwartly fighting for the middle class since 1999. In 2021, Schumer made Jewish history, becoming the only Jew to lead either chamber of Congress. Schumer remains close to his mother, Selma, 95. His father, Abraham, passed away earlier this year. Schumer, his wife, Iris Weinshall, and their two daughters, Jessica and Alison, reside in Brooklyn.
Sen. Schumer, or Chuck, as he’s known, was born and raised in Brooklyn, where his dad owned a small exterminating business, and his mom was a housewife. He attended public school and graduated from James Madison High School before heading to Harvard University, and then Harvard Law School. Schumer is no stranger to delivering aid to New Yorkers. He secured $20 billion to rebuild after the 9/11 terror attacks and passed a $63-billion relief package to help New York recover from Superstorm Sandy.
In 1974, Schumer was elected to the New York State Assembly, and joined Congress at just 29 years of age, where he remained for 18 years, serving Queens and Brooklyn. Notably, he championed the Violence Against Women Act and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. By 1998, Schumer was elected to the US Senate, becoming New York’s senior senator in 2000, working to improve the state’s economy and protect the middle class.
“America must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel in these troubled times,” began Schumer, who has visited Israel many times. Prior to the wartime trip, Schumer visited the Holy Land in February, where he met with President Isaac Herzog, whom he affectionately referred to as “Bougie,” underlying the closeness to the leaders. Schumer has long been known as the “shomer Yisrael.” For the Schumers, being a guardian for Jews dates to Eastern Europe, when his family guarded their ghetto perimeter at the onset of World War II. Upon arrival at Ellis Island, the Schumer name was recorded as Shoimer, like the Yiddish spelling of shomer. “I will always be the shomer Yisrael and I take my name very seriously,” he pledged. “I will do everything I can to see that am Yisrael chai.”
When news of the October 7 massacre spread, Schumer knew where he belonged. He cut short a trip to China where he had been talking about better trade relations and having American companies treated better. “As the highest-ranking Jew ever in America, and as the Jewish Majority Leader, I felt I had to be in Israel, so I cut short my trip and went to Israel.” Schumer, who brought a small bipartisan delegation, became the first major elected official to visit the country after the massacre, giving the Israeli people the important reassurance that the US is indeed standing with them. “That was the number one reason for going,” he said, adding, “I said we have your back. We feel your pain. We ache with you.”
Schumer provided a real sense of the current mood. “The minute we landed in Israel, you could feel the solidarity.” During the visit, Schumer sat with the emergency unity government of Israeli leadership. The coalition for the war cabinet includes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and political rival Minister Benny Gantz, who will oversee the war against Hamas. “We got a long list of all the things they needed to make sure they eliminate the threat of Hamas, and we brought that back home. I asked the American military leaders as well as the diplomatic leaders, ‘Is Israel getting everything it wants?’ And the answer is yes.”
Schumer then spoke about Washington’s response. “So, today, the President did a $14 billion package, which is what Israel needs now. My job as Senate Majority Leader is to get that package passed as quickly as possible. The good news is this is bipartisan. I’m working with Mitch McConnell and expect to get it passed in the next few weeks. It is very, very important to get done.”
Next, Schumer tackled the ongoing hostage situation. “We also have to make every effort to bring out the hostages. One of the most moving moments when I was there was meeting with 12 mishpachah members of people who are held hostage, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was so horrible.” Schumer explained that most of the efforts underway are diplomatic and many are not public, because some of the countries seeking to assist desire to do so privately. “We’re working very hard on that, as well. Israel is always under because it is a democracy, and we believe that we are not like Hamas. This idea of moral equivalency is outrageous. We always do whatever we can to minimize loss of civilian life and suffering. But at the same time, you cannot have Hamas. You have to eliminate the threat of Hamas and we are doing everything we can to help Israel get that done.”
The JCRC-NY would have had a delegation departing to Israel this weekend that would have included Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. Schumer shared, “Everyone should go,” referencing his colleagues in government. “The Israelis should know they are not alone. And we are standing with them.” It remains clear that Schumer will stop at nothing to protect Israel and her right to defend herself from terrorists.
When asked by Schumer to visit her district, Assemblymember Nily Rozic, the mom of a newborn, thought of her hometown in the Jewish community of Fresh Meadows that is the heart of her district. As we spoke about the handful of rallies for Israel where she found herself over the last week, Rozic stated, “I am the only Israeli-born legislator in the country, and with that comes a lot of responsibility. I hope that in these moments of crisis, but also in general, I can represent the Israeli community.”
Rozic explained that rabbis, community leaders, and lay leaders from a cross-section of the Queens Jewish community, including Queens Hillel, attended the meeting with Schumer. A broad spectrum of Queens Jewry was present, from Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox. “I want the world and the Queens community to know that on Israel we stand united and there is no partisanship. At this time, we need to be on the same page representing for Israel,” Rozic stated.
Expressing her efforts, Rozic said, “I am doing everything I can to make sure that Israel’s message reverberates through every part of New York and that I am talking to colleagues from all corners of New York and making sure that they are strong on Israel and that they support the State of Israel.”
On legislative options, Rozic is prepared. “In January, when we go back into session, I hope to sponsor and hopefully pass a resolution in support of the State of Israel and condemning Hamas. That is absolutely necessary, and it is a show of strength and solidarity at this time.”
“Hamas is ISIS, so we have to get rid of them,” declared Rozic. The local Jewish community is next on her agenda, as she aims to ease pressure on Jewish institutions. “I hope to expand the financing and funding for state grants for security. There is a tremendous need, and we hope to take that pot of money, which is usually around $35 million and expand that.”
Speaking to the feelings of Jews in Queens, Rozic articulated, “People are still nervous and have that trauma, and I understand that from the core of my being.” Rozic gave comfort to the community. “People should continue to go to shul and send their kids to Jewish Day schools, doing everything as normal, because there is no critical threat. Having said that, I will continue to push the 107th police precinct, and the Queens NYPD, both North and South, to have police presence.” Rozic noted that Solomon Schechter School of Queens lacked police presence at dismissal and, following her involvement, that was remedied. Rozic offered the services of her office to the community and encouraged constituents to reach out if the need arises.
Rozic finished, “It is the Israeli way to continue, show up, and be one community. It is important to show that we are not giving in. This is going to be long-term effort. We must not forget what is at stake and to continue to do all the things like praying and speaking out in weeks three, four, and five, because we are in it for the long haul.”
By Shabsie Saphirstein
