New York – According to a recent news report, members of the Jewish community have been privately pressuring Governor-elect Cuomo to change the date of his Inauguration ceremony “so as to avoid a conflict with the Jewish Sabbath.”. Traditionally, Inaugurations in the State of New York are held on January 1st. This year, that date falls out on Shabbos. Apparently, members of the Jewish community have been asking elected officials to find another day for their Inauguration so that Sabbath observant New Yorkers may be able to attend.
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However, as an observant member of the Jewish community, I am wondering at the wisdom of these requests. I firmly believe that they are, at best, unwise. At worst, they are counterproductive to the best interests of our community.
As observant Jews, let us remember that we are first and foremost a minority within a minority in this State. As such, we should be careful about what we advocate for. There are times when we need to make special requests. This is not one of them.
When a state mandated exam is scheduled on Shabbos and no alternate dates have been arranged, then we have a right and indeed an obligation to request that the State accommodate us. When a police officer asks a member of our community to show his ID or to sign his name on Shabbos, as we have seen during the recent J-walking incident, we have a right and an obligation to intervene.
Yes, we should advocate forcefully on behalf of our community when appropriate. But we have to choose carefully. Changing the date of the Inauguration is a relatively minor issue in the grand scheme of things. It demonstrates a lack of sophistication on our part in as far as what our priorities should be. A relative handful of observant Jews are engaged in the profession of government and Jewish communal affairs. It would be nice to celebrate with our elected officials, but it is certainly not obligatory.
As someone engaged in this profession, I would certainly like to attend the Inauguration. But I also understand that changing the date will constitute an inconvenience to government officials and I’m not ready to ‘cash in my chips’ , so to speak, on this particular issue. With so many government programs being cut and the ‘well running dry’ this is not the time to make a fuss over unnecessary issues. As a community we must demonstrate a responsible approach to advocacy.
What if the date of the Inauguration would be changed to a Sunday? We must also be cognizant of the religious sensibilities of others. Perhaps someone would make the case that Sunday is the ‘day of rest’ for the Christian community. Wouldn’t it be considered insensitive for us to request that the date be changed in order to inconvenience another community in our State which worships on that day as well?
I am therefore urging Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo and other state-wide officials to keep their traditional Inaugural dates on January 1st. I am confident that by doing so they will still continue to be good friends of our community as they have been in the past. I am also confident that they will excuse me for not attending the Inauguration on that day.
In fact, I’m sure that my absence will create a Kiddush Hashem. I will be demonstrating to our political leaders that we, as a community, are people of integrity and that we stand behind our faith.
Not too many years ago, Shabbos observance represented a tremendous economic challenge to our grandfathers. And those who remained observant did so with great mesiras nefesh. Today, Boruch Hashem, we have laws that prohibit discrimination based on Shabbos observance. It would be unwise to abuse these hard-earned privileges by making superfluous and unnecessary requests.
Let’s not delude ourselves into thinking that we are a major and powerful force in the State. As vibrant and growing as we are as a community, in the context of the size and magnitude of New York State, we are still a tiny minority. There are grave issues facing us, especially in this harsh economic climate. We need to advocate in areas that are significant for us on a practical level. Moving the date of the Inauguration would be, at best, a symbolic gesture. It would have absolutely no practical impact on the day after, when the governing actually begins.
Ezra Friedlander is CEO of Friedlander Group, a government and public relations company specializing in the representation of corporate and non for profit clients.
Agreed…we don’t need to party with the goyim on shabbos or sunday….we are supposed to be “separate” from the goyim while in galus although we should retain good relationships. This type of partying at an inaugeral party is not m’dorysah and somthing even the political hacks can skip
Ezra, how about arranging for a post-inauguration reception to be held for the governor at which time all the people who could not attend the inauguration can attend and congratulate the governor.
I remember mayor Gulliani being inaugurated 5 times in order to accomodate his varous constituencies.
That was a silly idea, but a congrtulatory reception would be nice. I would suggest that you hold it in Monsey at the Ateres Chaya Sura hall. Monsey is a nuetral location an is conveniently located and hour and a half from Albany.
Mr Friedlander – I am in total agreement. Scheduling an inaugeration on Shabbos doesn’t effect our community in any way.
I fully agree with Ezra. He is so right. Now, if he could convince the Aguda and other organizations about many more of these petty issues that come up that we don’t have to be on the forefront of every stupidity. I can’t believe that you are the sense of reason.
Ezra You Absolutely Right!
We must not stick in our nose so to speak.. In this event! Yes Cuomo companied and visited various Jewish neighborhoods through out his campaign but that doesn’t mean he only serves or thinks of us! like Ezre Said we are a minority of a minority and its safer when we play a little low in such unimportant events and use our connections and influence in much more important issues
I agree with Mr. Friedlander’s position. However, intellectual integrity dictates that any time he takes a position on any political issue,major (campaigning for a candidate with morals adverse to Torah law) as well as minor, he should state at the beginning that this is an area where he is paid for making public statements.
Let it be a kiddush Hashem that we davka don’t go to the innag. on Shabbos!
I think it is a kiddush hashem to be grateful that they are considering moving the inauguration so it doesn’t fall on Shabbos. Why? So that the many non-observant Jews who would otherwise attend the Inauguration on Shabbos won’t be attending an Inauguration on shabbos. No?
Kudos to Mr. Friedlander for pointing out the gayvah of advocating for such things. He is right, the only other day easily attended by others is Sunday. So we turning the question of the inauguration date into a zero sum battle where we can only win at the expense at the much larger Christian population.
Doesn’t anyone think it is nice that the new governor wants his Jewish constituents to be able to participate in this civic event? Why shouldn’t he change it to a day that doesn’t pose a problem for a particular group of his constituents?
This new governor tramples on the 7 Mitzvos Bnei Noiach with his toieva advocacy and we have no business at his inauguration. It is indeed a kiddush Hashem to stay far, far away and not ask for it to be rescheduled.
Send an RSVP: Sorry, we’d like to attend; but we can’t attend due to the Jewish Sabbath.
And then let Gov. Cuomo decide?