Whenever you hear “As a Jew…,” you know you’re going to hear some of the worst vitriol against Israel from that Jew. Last week, we saw New York City Comptroller Brad Lander – a candidate for Congressman in the 10th Congressional District and an early supporter of Zohran Mamdani – distinguish himself “as a Jew.”
In a mosque led by a virulently anti-Israel Imam, Mr. Lander spoke to an audience. “As a proud New York Jew, I am against the genocide taking place in Gaza, as well as the developing genocide in Lebanon, which is a disgrace. As congressman, I will be voting against Israel receiving any military aid, including bombs to be dropped,” said the proud Jew.
He then went on to cite a verse in Americanized Arabic from the Quran, which must have sounded ridiculous to the audience.
The big problem is that Lander has an insurmountable lead in the polls against his opponent, Dan Goldman, a much more moderate Jew.
Also last week, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, issued a scathing statement against J Street, the so-called “pro-Israel, pro-peace” organization. Calling J Street a “cancer in our midst,” he went on to condemn J Street for its constantly anti-Israel stance. They support the embargo against Israel’s military, among a whole host of critical views against the Zionist State.
I cannot recall a single time that J Street supported Israel in any controversy. They always take the other side. Dr. Leiter was absolutely right in referring to J Street as a cancer. As he stated, “I can understand a Palestinian who has problems with Israel; I have met with them often. But J Street comes in the guise of being pro-Israel, and that is not tolerable.”
Of course, the usual suspects from the left signed a petition demanding that Leiter retract his remarks. From the Reform leadership to cantors and rabbis, to former US Ambassadors to Israel Daniel Kurtzer and Tom Nides, to the treacherous Congressman Jerrold Nadler, they wrote that they demand a public apology to the many American Jews and communal leaders who were hurt by his words.
Once again, we are confronted by Jews who declare war on themselves. Why does this continue to happen? Why are so many Jews on a self-destructive mission?
Part of the reason is that as much as Brad Lander declares himself a “proud Jew,” in reality, he is an embarrassed Jew wanting to run as far away from Jews and what they stand for as he can. The same is true of J Street and all their supporters.
This is a sad fact, which is coming to haunt us in a big way. I’m afraid it’s too late to undo the damage that their upbringing has caused. That is why we have to stay forever vigilant as Orthodox Jews in ensuring our kids are getting the proper education.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.
