Only Sliwa Can Save NYC
Re: Your front page article, “Adams Accuses Cuomo of ‘Wasting Time’ by Staying in Mayoral Race” (July 18):
As somebody who holds New York dear to her heart, I feel compelled to write this letter during these troubling times. Though I haven’t lived in New York for over forty years, I do go back frequently to visit family and I can tell you that I have become increasingly horrified over the past five years about what has happened to the city.
Before Covid hit, my sister and I would enjoy taking our mother up to Manhattan via subway to go out to eat, shop, or enjoy a show. However, since the DeBlasio years and his terrible neglect and mismanagement of the city, especially during the BLM/Antifa riots, I have refused to go on a subway. I feel terrible for all the people who have to risk their lives traveling on these neglected, unsafe subways every day due to poor leadership.
This poor leadership has continued under the auspices of Eric Adams, who further allowed the city to deteriorate and be overrun by illegal aliens who came to reside here without any kind of vetting. Of course the result was more unsafe streets and higher taxes. New York has not had good leadership since the days of Mayor Guiliani who ran a tight ship of law and order.
The recent win in the mayoral primary by Mr. Mamdani should concern every citizen in New York – and not only because he doesn’t care for Jews. Over the past six decades our country has been infiltrated by a fifth column whose intent is to change the United States and its Constitution as we know it. The Democratic Party is not your grandmother’s party. It has been hijacked by militant activists that promote Marxism, communism, open borders without rules, abortion without limits, trans surgeries on minors, woke schools, defunding the police, and anti-Israel rhetoric to name a few.
How did we get here, you ask? Unfortunately, laws have been broken as boundaries have been pushed to allow people to vote in our elections who shouldn’t be voting. In addition, politicians who don’t have American interests at heart often promise lots of money and freebies to people in return for votes. It’s a mess. However, there is a solution.
It’s been over three weeks since the primary and I have watched in dismay as my people, instead of getting on board to back the only person who can save this city from falling into the abyss – and that is Curtis Sliwa, are busy bickering about which crooked Democrat/Independent they should vote for because they don’t think Curtis can win. In fact, some have had the chutzpah to suggest that Curtis should back out of the race to give Adams another four years.
Hello? What short memories you people have. Have you forgotten so quickly how our city has deteriorated over the past four years? Have you forgotten how crime and taxes have skyrocketed? How people can’t even use public transportation? Have you forgotten how Jewish students were afraid to go on campus due to the Jew-hatred exhibited at the universities and on the streets of New York? To those of you who say that Sliwa can’t win in New York, I beg to differ. People said the same thing about President Trump in 2015, 2020, and 2024.
There is no time to lose. You must get behind Curtis Sliwa and bring him to the finish line if you want to save New York, and it needs to be done now. You need to knock on doors and hold daily sign-wavings, caravans, interviews with the press, fundraisers, etc. May I suggest you gather a coalition of Jews, Christians, and Moslems who have conservative, patriotic values and want to save your city. Stand together with the wonderful Curtis Sliwa who loves your city and wants to make it safe again for everyone and help make New York City Great Again! I really believe that if you put in your hishtadlus, G-d will help and that Curtis will be the next mayor of NYC!
Rebecca Chesner
Via E-mail
Permanent Ceasefire Not A Realistic Goal
As pictured on the front page of the July 11 issue of The Jewish Press, “Back in D.C. Again,” Netanyahu met for the third time with President Trump. High on the agenda was the topic of ceasefires. Virtually from the start of the Gaza War on October 7, 2023, there have been continual attempts at ceasefires. This has been an intensely emotional issue for Israel both because of the hostage situation, and to prevent additional IDF and civilian deaths. A similar desire also exists to resolve the conflicts against Hezbollah and Iran.
Unfortunately, these prospects present a daunting challenge for Israel because permanent peace has never been a reality, not only for Israel and the Jews, but throughout all of human history.
Since the dawn of civilization, starting with the cavemen, humans have been fighting each other over food, water, territory, possessions, ego, dominance, pride, power, and any number of other sociological, psychological, and economic reasons. Going even further back, in the animal, fish, bird, and insect kingdoms, these are also in permanent battle with each other for survival.
As far as Israel is concerned, in less than one century it has had to fight the War of Independence, the Suez War, the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, numerous intifada and terrorist attacks, and now the Gaza, Hezbollah, and Iran Wars. Repeated calls for ceasefires may be necessary, but should not give the utopian illusion of a permanent peace. As Jews know from bitter experience, this is just one more period in history when they have been surrounded by bloodthirsty hordes bent on annihilating them.
Perhaps permanent peace in our world should not even be considered as a goal anymore. Ceasefires and armistices are breaks in the action until the next round of fighting comes along. True permanent peace will only come when Mashiach arrives, and that is not in our mortal hands.
Max Wisotsky
Highland Park, N.J.
Say No To Fake News
During these Three Weeks, it is important to rectify what happened during this tragic time in our history. In a world that’s filled with fake news, we have to be the ones who stand for truth, justice, and the Torah way.
The Gemara in Shabbos (104a) tells us why the three letters that spell sheker (falsehood) stand close together while the three letters that comprise the word emes (truth) are far apart. This is because falsehood is easily found while the truth is only found with great difficulty. There are so many lies told about the Jews: We are white colonists, we kill Palestinian civilians, we control Hollywood. Sheker is so pervasive that sadly we can sometimes believe it ourselves and even forward it along.
One should therefore do their due diligence and try to ascertain the truth of the statements they read, and certainly before sending them to others. Even then one should ask their rav if such messages should be forwarded at all. There are things that need to be said, yes, but think and ask first. Let peace go viral: Share a dvar Torah, give a compliment, invite someone over for Shabbos. Do what is pleasing before Hashem.
We need not please the liars; they’re not going to like us anyway. Instead, we should ask ourselves what Hashem wants from us. If we daven, learn Torah, and make peace with our fellow Jew, we will merit the coming of Mashiach soon.
Chaim Yehuda Meyer
Brooklyn, N.Y.
