Lee Zeldin gains support of Jewish community who say their ‘very existence in New York is threatened’

The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce endorsed Rep. Lee Zeldin over Gov. Kathy Hochul in the race for governor, despite traditionally backing Democrats. The chamber endorsed Democrat Eric Adams’ mayoral bid last year and has also backed other Democrats including state Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, but this time out Hochul has lost their favor.

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CEO of Duvi Honig told the New York Post that Hochul “failed” to make changes to the state’s bail laws and failed to reduce crime, adding that New York needs a governor who exhibits an “unwavering stand on violent crime.”

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"Violent criminals endanger local businesses and institutions, jeopardize the lives and livelihoods of law-abiding individuals, and harm state and local economies and the sense of security all residents of New York need and deserve," Honig said in the endorsement.

“Gov. Kathy Hochul has not risen to meet the urgency of the moment,” he added.

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“The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce appreciates and values the friendship and working relationship it has with Governor Hochul and her administration, but as violent crime continues unabated, we are unable to support her candidacy for a full term as governor.”

Regarding Hochul’s refusal to call lawmakers into a special session to address much-needed adjustments to the state's controversial bail reform Honig wrote, “Ms. Hochul essentially gave him the cold shoulder. Gov. Hochul has failed to exhibit any interest or desire to rectify the wrongs being committed daily against peaceful residents and businesses of the Empire State.”

Honig previously called out Democratic President Joe Biden for failing to include the chamber in the White House’s anti-hate summit held in September in Washington, DC.

Honig said at the time that it is important to have Orthodox Jewish representation recognized by the White House given that nearly one-third of antisemitic incidents recorded in 2021 occurred in New York or New Jersey.

Honig told The Post, “Safety is of the utmost concern to the Orthodox Jewish community in New York. Recent years — particularly those following the instatement of New York’s bail reform laws – have seen a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic attacks, many of them violent, that have largely gone unpunished and unaddressed.”

Last week, Zeldin received support from several Brooklyn-based, Orthodox organizations as Hochul has been under fire from the Jewish communities after state education officials released new oversight rules governing yeshivas and other private schools.

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Support from the Brooklyn-based Bobov, Bobov-45, Belz, and Satmar groups could lead to thousands of additional votes for Zeldin in a state where a Republican has not been elected governor in 15 years.

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Bobov community leader Joel Rosenfeld said regarding Zeldin, “…his message then when he was way down in the polls was identical to his message now that his poll numbers are surging: he will fight for our yeshivas with the same vigor that he will tackle the crime issues that plague the state.

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He added, “As our very existence in New York is threatened by the state’s attempt to control our yeshiva curriculum, we are grateful to Zeldin for standing in support of our educational and religious liberties, and therefore enthusiastically endorse him for governor. And we urge everyone to go out and vote.”

Zeldin also received a $4 million campaign boost through two Super PACs largely funded by Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, heir to the Estèe Lauder cosmetics company and a significant donor to Jewish causes.