HIKIND PAINED BY BLOOMBERG’S METZITZAH B’PEH REMARKS

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

July 26, 2012

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release

718-853-9616 (office)

973-945-4903 (cell)

HIKIND PAINED BY BLOOMBERG’S METZITZAH B’PEH REMARKS

“WHERE’S THE RESPECT FOR OUR TRADITIONS?”

 

Hikind to Bloomberg: A little respect please, your Honor

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) says that Mayor Bloomberg’s remarks on Metzitzah b’peh  were a slap in the face to the Orthodox community. Metzitzah b’peh, direct oral suctioning performed during circumcisions (brisim) is a 3,300-year-old practice currently under review by the NYC Health Department. On Tuesday, the mayor stated, “There are certain practices that doctors say are not safe and we will not permit those practices to the extent that we can stop them. You don’t have a right to put any child’s life in danger, and this clearly does.”

“I’m frankly aghast at the mayor’s insensitivity,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Orthodox Judasim isn’t barbaric. Who cares more about children than their own parents? There’s no call for Mayor Bloomberg to speak disrespectfully to our community, to speak condescendingly about our cultural traditions. This issue is not about soda pop—it’s about religious tenets and it requires an extremely sensitive and respectful approach, not flip remarks that are insulting to an entire community.”

This Tisha B’Av, Remember Jacob Ostreicher

It has been 419 days—nearly 15 months—since Jacob Ostreicher was arrested and jailed in Bolivia. Our many efforts to help Jacob have resulted in letters to Bolivian officials, the U.S. State Department and the White House from numerous elected officials. There has been a Congressional Sub-Committee Hearing on the violation of Jacob’s human rights. But despite this, our brother Jacob Ostreicher seems no closer to coming home.

But we have not given up hope. And neither can you.

My office and I continue to meet regularly with Jacob’s family and to recruit new allies in the fight to save Jacob. We continue to pressure Bolivia and U.S. elected officials to treat this matter with the urgency that it deserves.

You can do the same.

As Tisha B’Av approaches, I urge everyone to not only daven for Jacob (Yaakov Yuda ben Shaindel) but also to call the offices of Senator Charles Schumer (phone 212-486-4430) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (212-688-6262) and express your growing alarm for Jacob Ostreicher, an innocent U.S. citizen who sits in prison praying for salvation and who needs the assistance of his elected officials. Demand that your elected representatives adopt Jacob’s cause and bring his plight to the White House and State Department.

In the merit of our efforts may we hear and share only good news.

Jacob Ostreicher Denied Justice. Again.

  Jacob Ostreicher was scheduled for another hearing in Bolivia yesterday at 5pm. Once again, Jacob appeared on time with his attorney, ready to plead his case. But we are told that a Bolivian government minister stood up and immediately asked the judge to recuse himself. This is precisely what happened last month.

On Tisha B'Av (this Sunday), I will be discussing Jacob's situation in a simul-cast with Aish HaTorah's Learning Centre in Canada. I can't think of a topic that's more appropriate for the day.

Shema Kolainu - 10th Annual Legislative Breakfast

This morning, I was delighted to officially welcome Yidel Perlstein, Chairman of Community Board #12, at Shema Kolainu's 10th Annual Legislative Breakfast. I also took the occasion to discuss Jacob Ostreicher's intolerable situation in Bolivia.

HIKIND HONORS BOBOVER REBBE (z”tl) ON YAHRZEIT BY OPENING S.I. EXPRESSWAY

News Release
 

HIKIND HONORS BOBOVER REBBE (z”tl) ON YAHRZEIT BY OPENING S.I. EXPRESSWAY

PRAISES NY STATE D.O.T. COMMISSIONER FOR RESPECTING TZADIK AND COMMUNITY

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has convinced the NYS Department of Transportation to specially open a second lane on the Staten Island Expressway (which is undergoing construction) tonight to allow thousands of Chassidim easier access to the cemetery of Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam, the Bobover Rebbe, z”tl, who is interred at Floral Park Cemetery in Deans, NJ. The Rebbe’s 12^th yahrzeit is tonight and the NY State D.O.T. will open a second lane from 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. to accommodate extra traffic going to the cemetery.

“On behalf of our community, I extend our sincere thanks to Commissioner Joan McDonald for this accommodation,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “The respect being shown to the community on behalf of the Rebbe’s yahrzeit shows the value of our community working with government.”

The construction work currently underway on the S.I. Expressway will continue while the extra lane is open.

Appreciation Event with the Bobover Bikur Cholim

I was delighted to participate in last night’s Appreciation Event held by the Bobover Bikur Cholim, an organization that does amazing, heart-felt work. I was joined by Council Members Brad Lander and David Greenfield, as well as my friends NYC Deputy Comptroller Simcha Felder and community liaison Rabbi Yitzchok Fleicher, in honoring a number of Attending Physicians from the Maimonides Medical Center Emergency Department.

I also had the special pleasure of awarding Dr. Robert Goodman with the Community Service Award for his many years of service to our community. The beautiful event was held at Seville Manor. 

SWASTIKA ATTACK NEAR MAIMONIDES

Three swastikas were discovered on a Brooklyn sidewalk near Maimonides Medical Center on the corner of 49th Street and 10th Avenue in Borough Park. The police contacted me immediately and the NYPD Hate Crimes task force is investigating the matter.

I don’t want to give extra attention to the criminals who are painting swastikas in our neighborhood, but neither should our residents fear that these incidents are going unchallenged or will go unpunished. It’s just a matter of time before a witness or surveillance camera leads us to the culprits and then there will be a heavy price to pay for these serial hate crimes. There are many cameras in place and many more are coming.

Bais Yaakov Day Care and Yeled V’Yalda Continue in Boro Park

Bais Yaakov Day Care and Yeled V’Yalda will continue to offer Borough Park families safe, experienced environments to leave their children thanks to rescue funding from NYC Councilman Brad Lander and the City Council.

When I learned that Bais Yaakov and Yeled V’Yalda faced the likelihood of closing its doors due to budget cuts proposed by Mayor Bloomberg, I was happy to write letters in support of these important community institutions. Kudos to Councilman Lander and the others who fought hard to protect these daycare facilities. Once again, our community is in debt to you.

We Are With You, Miriam Ostreicher: Where Is Our State Department?

The Fight for Jacob Ostreicher Continues Today on The Governor David Paterson Show

Today at 4 pm on The Governor David Paterson Show, Miriam Ostreicher and I will update everyone on this horrendous situation. Sincere thanks to the former Governor for his appearance at our press conference yesterday and his continued support in this important fight.

Miriam Ostreicher, flanked by elected officials, speaks to the press about her husband's incarceration.

With U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (left) and former Governor David Paterson (right)

HIKIND LEADS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR BORO PARK RESIDENT IMPRISONED IN BOLIVIA

SCHUMER, PATERSON JOIN IN DECRYING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION OF U.S. CITIZEN DETAINED FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) led a gathering of elected officials this afternoon in demanding justice for Jacob Ostreicher, a Brooklyn resident held for more than a year in a Bolivian prison. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, former NY Governor David Paterson and others joined the Assemblyman along with Ostreicher’s wife, children and grandchildren in front of the Bolivian Mission to the U.N. to protest human rights violations of the U.S. citizen who has been held through more than a dozen postponed hearings for 13 months.

“The Ostreicher family continues to suffer while Jacob Ostreicher languishes in a prison,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Miriam Ostreicher wants her husband back. Jacob’s children want their father back. We cannot allow this travesty of justice to continue. Bolivia claims to be a democracy governed by laws. Here’s their chance to prove it. They must free Jacob Ostreicher now.”

Ostreicher, 53, was born and raised in Brooklyn. In December, 2010, he invested in land in Bolivia and managed a rice business there until he was arrested on June 3, 2011 by Bolivian officials. Separated from his family, Ostreicher began a hunger strike in April to bring attention to the violation of his human rights. His hearings have been delayed more than a dozen times.

Also in attendance today were NYS Senator Eric Adams, NYS Senator David Storobin, NYS Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs, NYS Assemblyman Alan Maisel, NYS Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, NY Councilman Dr. Mathieu Eugene, Councilwoman Leticia James, NY City Councilman Brad Lander, NY Councilman David Greenfield, Chairman of Brooklyn Community Board 12 Yidel Perlstein, and District Manager of Brooklyn Community Board 12 Wolf Sender