Brooklyn, NY – Prominent Orthodox Jewish Leader Defends Hosting Anthony Weiner

    51

    (Shimon Giftter-VINnews.com)Brooklyn, NY – Prominent Orthodox Jewish leader Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger on Thursday defended welcoming mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner to his home in Flatbush, with representatives of the Orthodox Jewish community.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Rabbi Yair Hoffman who attended the meeting interviewed Rabbi Weinberger about the upcoming election, and the difficulties involved when someone who may be good for the Jewish community has repeatedly demonstrated morally repulsive behavior.

    Rabbi Hoffman: Most of our readers will certainly surmise the difficult situation you are in. On the one hand, Anthony Weiner’s track record in helping both Israel as well as the needs of the Jewish community are sterling and are way beyond those of the other candidates. Yet, on the other hand, the strange behaviors he has exhibited that precipitated his fall and in the aftermath, make it extraordinarily difficult to endorse him. What was it that made you decide to host this event where Anthony Weiner would meet representatives of the Jewish press?

    Rabbi Weinberger: The overarching reason, of course, boils down to hakaras hatov. There were a number of issues in which the Torah community needed some serious assistance, sometimes involving Pikuach Nefesh issues. Not only did Anthony Weiner come up to bat, but, often – he was the very first. When he made the request that I host this meeting, how could I have said, “no?”

    YH: I understand, I recall the time when there were kiruv workers who were working for the Vaad l’hatzolas nidchei Yisroel that were caught in the middle of a war between Russia and Georgia. Anthony got the State Department to call the Russians to give them safe passage.
    GW: Yes, but there was much more than that too. He was the first to try to help Rubashkin, Jonathan Pollard, and when one of the Rebbes needed assistance too.

    YH: But still, are you not afraid of the Chilul Hashem factor – here is someone associated with Agudah, who is hosting a candidate who has done some mushchasdika behavior? A behavior that the entire world’s press is pouncing upon.

    GW: Yes, I am particularly sensitive to that. As I stated in the beginning of the session, I came here as a private individual not representing any of my organizational affiliations, and secondly it was not an endorsement- it was just acceding to a request for a venue.

    But there are two additional issues here. Firstly, out of plain hakaras hatov for saving Yidden, I needed to do this for him. Secondly, after all is said and done – the other candidates are not much better than him in terms of behaviors, and he has just been so helpful to meeting the needs of our communities.

    YH: At the session, Larry Gordon, publisher of the Five Towns Jewish Times, asked Mr. Weiner, “What would you do when you are mayor and your New York City school chancellor is caught doing the same things that you had done?” Mr. Weiner answered that he would investigate whether it would in any way affect the children or how he performed at his job and decide based solely on that criterion. What are your thoughts on his answer?

    GW: It was a very good question, and it was a politically appropriate answer.

    YH: Do you think that the Jewish community will eventually come around to giving him its support?

    GW: I think that they will.

    YH: If the incidents of the past two years or so did not happen, would you have endorsed Mr. Weiner?

    GW: Absolutely, and without qualm or qualification.

    YH: Do you think that he will in the future show better judgement?

    GW: Yes I do. But remember, we must separate his private life from his public life in office. In his track record as a civil servant for decades, he has been impeccable. He has never been accused of any wrongdoing either in terms of favors for people or financially – which cannot be said for the other candidates.

    At the end of the day it will be a judgement call as to whether the decision will be based upon the political issues and his presentation of his new ideas for New York or the personal issues.

    When it comes to issues such as the fair and equal treatment of private schools, security, housing, employment equality he has a sterling record – he has proven himself as far as his qualifications are concerned as the best person both for New York City as well as for our community.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    51 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    sane
    sane
    10 years ago

    Did they ask Weiner for his views on Metzitza B’peh?

    ncsyncsy
    ncsyncsy
    10 years ago

    Exactly one year from the agudah making such a Kiddush hashem at met life stadium they now make an even bigger chillul hashem by giving a platform to a Jew who proudly talks about his intermarriage.

    thegreatone
    thegreatone
    10 years ago

    Mamash i don’t get it.
    When openly gay candidates and candidates who make the gay marriage a major issue are hosted by frum Jewish organizations they don’t defend themselves why they hosted those candidates. Those kind of candidates who live a morally repulsive degenerate lifestyle will have a huge effect on the Jewish community.But still we will host them.
    And Menuval Weiner whos lifestyle will not have an effect on anyone we need to defend why he was hosted….???
    Don’t take me wrong Weiner is a huge degenerate but nothing more than Quinn.

    ncsyncsy
    ncsyncsy
    10 years ago

    Based on this definition of hakoras hatov I would assume when Hillary becomes president she will be the main speaker during davening at the Agudah convention.

    mit-seichel
    mit-seichel
    10 years ago

    Reb Gedaliah,

    I know you personally and generally respect you, but you cannot “separate” a leader’s character from his public duties. He is always in the news and a leader in our children’s eyes. If he showed repeated horrible judgment and continued it after resigning, the man has zero character – he didn’t just make mistakes – and is shameless. And he has no benefit of doubt that should make us assume that he won’t act inappropriately in the future.

    I don’t care what he did or didn’t do for Jewish causes when it was politically expedient for him. You can never trust such a person to do what’s right when he faces a difficult situation. Also, to say that the other mayoral candidates engaged in similarly repugnant behavior is plainly false. You can perhaps make an argument about Quinn, but not about any of the rest.

    Mordechai-Menachem
    Mordechai-Menachem
    10 years ago

    I attended the meeting. Rabbi Weinberger spoke of the time Shlichim from the Vaad Lhatzalas Nidchei Yisroel were stuck in Aszerbaizan with an approaching invading Russian army 10 miles away. Sakonas Nefashos for sure. Weiner was the elected official to step forward with assistance and connections to and from the State Department. Hakaras Hatov.
    When a planeload of Frummer touched down in JFK moments before Shabbos,it was his office who got them out in minutes to spend Shabbos in the airport with food donated by the Chessed of Queens Yidden. Hakoras Hatov. When Rav Shteineman was stuck at an airport in Albany coming from Toronto to a Torah Umesora convention and was being held by an antisemitic border officer who had him standing for close to a hour ,who got on the horn? Hakoras Hatov. Who made sure that every Pesach Pollard had kosher food for Yom Tov?Who was the first elected to step forward to help Rubashkin?. Hakoras Hatov.
    Who helped get the Mais Mitzva from South America when red tape and indifference prevented the release? Kakoras Hatov. Who secured the hangar in Queens for the Bobover Chasuna? Hakoras Hatov! Security $ .We asked, he answered.NU? I think we should be grateful

    MaxaMillion
    MaxaMillion
    10 years ago

    If you want to show this opportunistic menuval hakaros hatov you can do it in private. Don’t sit at a public meeting with him and have pictures taken. A shonda and a boosha.

    10 years ago

    He has brought shame to the Jewish people. I am sick of explaining to my teenage sons what he did was wrong. They saw him as a role model and want to follow in his footsteps.

    victorg
    victorg
    10 years ago

    Weiner is married to a Moslem with strong ties to militant Islamist groups. A win for Weiner would thrust his wife into the political forefront just as Bill Clinton’s office thrust his wife.

    So for all the good that Weiner might have done in the past it is not worth the risk of electing him, even if he weren’t a sick perverted liar

    lostinCA
    lostinCA
    10 years ago

    if his personal shortcomings affect his ability to lead the city, then dump him. if it doesn’t, who cares.
    Jimmy Carter ym”sh is a paragon of moral behaivor. one marriage, church every sunday, building homes for homeless. yet he’s a 1st class shmuck, anti-semite, etc.
    Ronald Reagan was married twice, messed around in his younger years, and the best friend for klal yisroel in decades.

    For new yorkers, david dinkins is a mensh, gracious, a true gentleman. rudy giuliani is a womanizer, brash, foul mouthed, adulterer. and who did a better job? who really cared about the city, our communities? who stood up when it mattered and who dithered when an entire frum community was under siege?

    we have to support the candidates that will help us, and forget about what they do in their personal lives.

    mit-seichel
    mit-seichel
    10 years ago

    follow up: In simple English, when someone chooses to hold a PUBLIC position, and engages in reprehensible behavior, especially on a PUBLIC online forum, he no longer can have “private life” as a defense.

    10 years ago

    Agudah’s politics are just as questionable as Weiner’s, never mind comparing how low you can go.

    menachemwh
    menachemwh
    10 years ago

    I agree we should show hakaros hatov. I just do not buy it when it comes to Agudas Yisrael. The same organization who shows no respect to fellow Jews, Modern orthodox Rabbanim even Gedolim like Rav Soloveitchick ZTL

    Bluebekitche
    Bluebekitche
    10 years ago

    Not a single parent would trust him to baby-sit their kids for 4 minutes however we can trust him with all the issues for NYC for 4 years!
    Mr Weiner get a kosher phone
    Get a nose job
    Get the hell out of NY

    10 years ago

    Rav Avigdor miller zt”l said rather vote for a sonei Yisroel than a mushchas, no one can harm klall Yisroel ” Leiv meluchim visurim byad Hashem” versus a person with evil hashkufous brings down the whole moral v’hamaven yuvin….

    charliehall
    charliehall
    10 years ago

    “Anthony Weiner’s track record in helping both Israel as well as the needs of the Jewish community are sterling and are way beyond those of the other candidates.”

    Actually Weiner’s record of support for Israel, while good, was no different from 500 other members of Congress in any given year. The other candidates have not held national office, and local governments aren’t permitted to have their own foreign policies. In short, Weiner’s past support for Israel is irrelevant.

    Avrohomk
    Avrohomk
    10 years ago

    The entire world is laughing at Weiner and the fact that he is still in the race. In the public’s eye anyone associating with him condones his actions. A Torah Jew can not vote for anyone who is publicly an immoral individual. Using words like hakoras hatov doesnt make you look frum or right it is just a poor excuse for not standing up for truth and morality which is what the Nation who is Light to the Nations is supposed to be.

    chosid
    chosid
    10 years ago

    R Weinberger,

    Have you no shame?

    NeveAliza
    NeveAliza
    10 years ago

    Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger, was faced with a dilemma. He explains the two sides in the interview. Issues of חילול השם and הכרת טובה, etc. No doubt Rabbi Weinberger, a member of Agudath Israel, asked a Gadol B’Yisroel before making his decision. After all, one would expect him – an Agudanik – to lift up the banner of Daas Torah when faced with such a decisive matter. ” I came here as a private individual not representing any of my organizational affiliations”, says Rabbi Weinberger. Fine. But which of the Gedolim did you consult with before acting as a private individual?

    CommonSense
    CommonSense
    10 years ago

    I don’t understand.

    The great Rabbonim and Shtadlonim of the past didn’t go to czars and kings who had harems of mistresses and who knows what other perversions??

    10 years ago

    I don’t care if a public official is immoral.I kind of think of them all as immoral by Torah standards. However Weiner’s particular actions were quite weird and showed lack of good judgement. The fact that he continued with these actions even after he was caught shows lack of self control and very bad judgement. These are not characteristics I would want to see in our mayor. Also, even though it doesn’t ultimately matter, the fact that he married a Muslim is bothersome to me personally.
    However, the hakoras hatov points are definitely something to think about. Life isn’t black and white, is it?

    10 years ago

    if gedalya Weinberger is endorsing him as private individual who do you think you are?
    why me as individual should endorse him?

    10 years ago

    It’s all a matter of political expediency. I wonder if Rabbi Weinberger felt sullied by this association and the fawning, pandering overtures he made to this lowlife. He should.

    YoineKohen
    YoineKohen
    10 years ago

    Ooops I see the headline has been changed the name of “Agudath Israel memeber” has been excised and replaced “Prominent Orthodox Leader”. I wonder why?

    Sherree
    Sherree
    10 years ago

    Not surprised. They protect molesters too, and give them a pass. This is nothing compared to molesters.

    10 years ago

    Agudath Israel of America died when Rabbi Moshe Sherrer ZTZL left us.

    There is no longer an Agudah, only remnants.

    The ‘glue’ that currently holds them together is government handouts. They will support any toeyvah or liberal pervert for handouts. Once those handouts end, so will they.