A Heartfelt and Sincere Apology

Some people have marveled at what they’ve characterized as my insensitivity in wearing the costume I wore on Purim. My initial reaction in learning of this was one of shock because my intention was never to hurt or make fun of anyone. Those who know me—in politics and in my personal life—already know this. But others who don’t know me have expressed hurt and outrage, so I am writing to address that once and for all. Unintentional as they were, I recognize now that the connotations of my Purim costume were deeply offensive to many.

I am sincerely sorry that I have hurt anyone. I apologize for the pain that I have caused anyone by this incident, and by any remarks that I have made in connection with it. It genuinely pains me that I have pained any human being. That’s not who I am, not who I want to be. I sincerely hope that this note will soothe any hurt feelings.

It's Purim. People Dress Up.

Yes, I wore a costume on Purim and hosted a party. Most of the people who attended also wore costumes. Everywhere that Purim was being celebrated, people wore costumes. It was Purim. People dress up.

I am intrigued that anyone who understands Purim—or for that matter understands me—would have a problem with this. This is political correctness to the absurd. There is not a prejudiced bone in my body.

Ruchie Frier & Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky on The Dov Hikind Show

Tomorrow night on The Dov Hikind Show our special guests are:

Ruchie Frier, Founder of B'Derech, a program for kids at risk, and Director of Ezras Nashim, a woman's emergency-response organization.

Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky, internationally acclaimed lecturer & educator who combines humor, novel insights & inspiration to touch the lives of thousands.

Tune in to WMCA 570 AM 11:00 PM.

HIKIND ASKS COMMUNITY FOR INPUT REGARDING NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPOSED FOR OCEAN AVENUE

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

February 20, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)

HIKIND ASKS COMMUNITY FOR INPUT REGARDING
NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPOSED FOR OCEAN AVENUE

A new public school has been proposed for Ocean Avenue between Avenue L and Avenue M, according to Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) who was just notified by the New York City Department of Education (DoE) regarding their plans. The new primary school (PS), which is proposed to open in September, 2016, will serve approximately 456 children in grades pre-K through fifth (5^th).

Assemblyman Hikind was told that the proposed primary school will serve neighborhood children. He noted that Community Board 14 has already been notified regarding the proposed school.

Prior to making their recommendations to the DoE’s School Construction Authority (SCA), Community Board 14 will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 6 at 7 pm at CB-14’s office at 810 East 16^th Street (corner of Ave. H). Board members will then vote on their recommendation at the Community Board’s regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 11 at 7:30 pm. The board meeting will take place at the Edward R. Murrow High School at 1600 Avenue L. The SCA will continue to accept public comments until March 25.

Assemblyman Hikind asks that community members contact his district office at 718-853-9616 with any questions or concerns.

SPARKS: Helping Women with Postpartum Depression

I was delighted to support the SPARKS event at the Safra Synagogue on February 12.

SPARKS (Serving Pre & Post Natal Women & Families with Awareness, Relief, Knowledge and Support) works to provide struggling mothers and families with proper care. Upon learning that one in eight new mothers are afflicted with Postpartum Depression, the women who founded SPARKS took it upon themselves to see to it that no woman should have to suffer the pain, embarrassment and fear of PPD and its related illnesses.

If untreated, Postpartum Depression can lead to a plethora of serious problems. Our community is grateful that SPARKS is there to help and I am delighted to support their important work.

For more information on SPARKS visit http://www.sparkscenter.org/ or phone 718-277-2757.

HIKIND ASKS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

February 12, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)

HIKIND ASKS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE

“We need to ensure that all students’ freedom of speech remains unhampered… not just the free speech of students belonging to select groups.”

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has asked Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to investigate the forcible removal of four Jewish students from an event at Brooklyn College.

On Thursday (February 7) the group Students for Justice in Palestine and the Brooklyn College Political Science Department staged a well-publicized event “The BDS Movement Against Israel” where four Brooklyn College students were grabbed by security at the behest of the event’s organizers and forcibly ejected from the forum. While a demonstration against the event was taking place nearby, these four Jewish students chose to attend the event with the intention of asking tough questions and distributing leaflets offering an opposing position.

“All four students had reserved seating for the event,” said Assemblyman Hikind in a letter to the Attorney General. “The students were sitting quietly as the first speaker addressed the audience; in their laps were leaflets that contained opposing points of view. They were approached by an event organizer who demanded their papers and when they refused to surrender their property, they were manhandled out of the room by campus security.

“This is a civil rights violation. The physical, forcible removal of these four students from this event specifically violates Brooklyn College’s non-discrimination policy, which states that students will not be excluded from participation in the programs of the college because of national or ethnic origin, or religion.”

Although Brooklyn College has said that it will investigate the matter, Assemblyman Hikind believes an independent investigation by the Attorney General’s office is necessary. “We need to ensure that all students’ freedom of speech remains unhampered at Brooklyn College, and not just the free speech of students belonging to select groups.”

HIKIND ANNOUNCES SAFE SHAIMOS DISPOSAL OPPORTUNITY

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

February 12, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)

HIKIND ANNOUNCES SAFE SHAIMOS DISPOSAL OPPORTUNITY

“SHAIMOS ON THE STREETS IS UNACCEPTIBLE!”

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is delighted to announce the availability of a safe and respectful way to dispose of shaimos (books or other sacred objects which can no longer be used but may not be destroyed). The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has granted Beth Geniza Olam in Monroe, NY, authorization for the burial rights of religious articles recovered from cleanup efforts from the impact of Hurricane Sandy. This opportunity will also allow community members to bury other shaimos items during the coming month.

“Does anyone ever question what happens to their shaimos after it’s dropped in the back of a truck? They should,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Last year we had a disaster in Boro Park. We were appalled to learn that box upon box of shaimos had been abandoned and treated with utter disrespect.” When Boro Park residents discovered the abandoned shaimos, they contacted Assemblyman Hikind who saw to its disposal at Beth Geniza in Sullivan County, New York, which is overseen by the Vaad L’mishmeres Hashaimos.

Between the holidays of Purim and Passover, Beth Geniza will dispatch six 40-ft. tractor trailers to Boro Park, Flatbush, Lakewood, Monroe, Monsey and Williamsburg to collect books, documents, papers and other religious articles consisting of paper, cloth, leather and wood. Shaimos items will be buried under supervision in upstate New York. Beth Geniza is certified by the OU (United Orthodox Union), the CRC, among others.

“With Passover just around the corner, I’m delighted to announce this opportunity to turn over shaimos without having to worry about its safe and appropriate burial,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Thanks to Beth Geniza, hopefully we can avoid all desecration of shaimos this year.”

Truck with Shaimos abandoned last year in Boro Park.

AT LONG LAST, HATE IS NOT HATE! (A Lesson In New Speak)

Yesterday, I was genuinely relieved to read a letter from “Progressive Elected Officials” to Brooklyn College President Karen Gould in which Gould—and by extension, Brooklyn College—was fully vindicated for taking such a daring, important academic stance in sponsoring “The BDS Movement Against Israel.”

Yes, I said sponsoring—not endorsing. They are two different things, apparently. In fact they might even be diametrically opposed concepts! My most important take-away from the letter, and the college’s elucidated position, was the clarification of the word sponsorship, which President Gould assures us does not in any way imply an endorsement.

Imagine my chagrin! For so many years I had mistakenly believed that sponsorship meant approval, backing, support. Did I acquire this notion as a student myself at Brooklyn College, or did I receive this misinformation later as an elected official?

In my bewilderment, I did a little research. I opened my Webster’s Dictionary. The ancient tome explains that a sponsor is “one who assumes responsibility for some other person or thing.”

Perhaps Webster’s is out of date, I thought (things do change so quickly these days!) So I found an Oxford Dictionary. And again I was baffled, because Oxford tells us that to sponsor is to “introduce and support.”

Did I say baffled? Perhaps I should say enlightened. Because if support means non-support, then sunshine means rain. Black means white and white means yolk. I shouldn’t be surprised to learn this at my age because 40 is the new 20. And concerned means everything’s a-okay. Just ask Brooklyn College.

AN APPEAL TO BROOKLYN COLLEGE DONORS TO REMOVE COLLEGE ENDORSEMENT OF ANTI-SEMITIC LECTURES

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

February 5, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)
 
HIKIND APPEALS TO BROOKLYN COLLEGE DONORS TO REMOVE COLLEGE ENDORSEMENT OF ANTI-SEMITIC LECTURES

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has reached out to individual Brooklyn College trustees and major donors in an effort to convince Brooklyn College President Karen Gould of her grave error in allowing the school’s Political Science Department to officially co-sponsor an anti-Semitic/anti-Israel lecture. Featuring a well-known racist, the event “BDS Movement Against Israel” is scheduled to take place on campus on February 7.


“We are not objecting to freedom of speech,” the Assemblyman told the trustees and donors, who have given tens of millions of dollars to the college. “We aren’t attempting to still any side of any argument. What we object to is the school’s endorsement of this event. The BDS movement’s stated goal is to not only effectuate a boycott of Israeli businesses and schools but to fully delegitimize Israel’s existence.


“Brooklyn College relies on tax dollars as well as contributions from generous individuals. My fellow elected officials on the New York City Council, the New York State Assembly, and the New York State Senate will continue to raise our voices in strong objection to this event’s official sponsorship by a Brooklyn College Department. I am hopeful that donors, too, will raise their voices and help convince President Karen Gould of the error in allowing this event to be sponsored and endorsed by the college itself.”


Last week, Assemblyman Hikind was joined by numerous elected officials in protesting the college’s official endorsement of the event. Since that time, many more elected officials—including U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn—have added their voices in objecting to the school’s seal of approval on the hatefest.

Bill Thompson Tomorrow Night!

Tomorrow night on The Dov Hikind Show our special guests are:

Bill Thompson, former Comptroller of New York City and current mayoral candidate.

Jeff Wisenfeld, CUNY Trustee.

We will be discussing Ed Koch, the BDS Lecture at Brooklyn College, and the Hagel Confirmation Hearings (among other things).

Tune in to WMCA 570 AM 11:00 PM.