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Hikind, a Democratic state assemblyman from the 48th district of the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, has spent years overseeing the work of younger Orthodox politicians, including two former chiefs of staff, Simcha Felder and David Greenfield. Each of these two men is stepping out on his own but has found himself without Hikind’s backing.

In Greenfield’s race for New York City Council, Hikind has backed Greenfield’s opponent, Joe Lazar. In the state Senate race for which Felder is vying, Hikind has given his support to the incumbent, Kevin Parker.

The Orthodox Jewish community of Brooklyn has long been seen as a relatively unified bloc, but the schisms between Hikind and his protégés suggests fault lines that could present a dilemma for voters in the primary September 9.

“Younger people want to take the place of older people,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a consultant in New York Democratic politics, referring to political up-and-comers Felder and Greenfield. “There is a generational shift of power in this town. There’s no question about it.”

Hikind has downplayed his endorsements in both races, saying they were primarily questions of timing rather than allegiance — and some analysts said that horse-trading is a normal part of the political process. But a few New York political insiders said there are signs that the endorsements may come out of Hikind’s struggle to retain his political influence.

Michael Fragin, a Republican Jewish campaign operative, said that during recent years, Hikind endorsed a number of candidates who later went on to lose their races. Fragin also said that despite Hikind’s endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary, the lowest turnout in Brooklyn was in Hikind’s assembly district.

Another New York consultant, who knows both candidates, said that Hikind may be in fear of Felder’s rise.

“Now you have this interesting thing happening where Hikind would always protect Simcha, almost like a mother protecting one of her cubs, and now the cub is grown up and is taking on the mother,” the consultant said.

According to Ezra Friedlander, CEO of the New York public relations firm Friedlander Group, Felder and Hikind were long like “Batman and Robin.” Friedlander said that to the best of his knowledge, that close working relationship remains.

“Assemblyman Hikind and I have worked together for many years to serve the community, and we are going to continue to do so,” Felder told the Forward.

Hikind said he endorsed Parker, a black senator who presides over a large black and Caribbean population in the district, long before he knew that Felder was running for the State Senate.

“It is based purely on a commitment I made,” Hikind said of his support for Parker. “If I had known Simcha had been running in the beginning, of course I would’ve supported him.”

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