Brooklyn, NY - Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has written to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu urging him to stem the negative reports coming out of Beit Shemesh about the Charedi community.
Hikind, who represents the largest contingent of Charedim in the United States, wrote in part, “As you know, a small group has recently engaged in contemptible behavior in Beit Shemesh. Be assured that everyone condemns these hateful acts, especially the rabbinical leadership of the Charedi community. Unfortunately, as is often the case in these types of situations, extremists on the left and others who clearly have their own political agenda—particularly, Israel’s notoriously Leftist, anti-Charedi media—are using these incidents as an opportunity to degrade, ridicule, and blame the entire Charedi community for the acts of only a few.”
The letter continues, “The notion of tolerance and respect has long been a Democratic value. Why is no respect being shown to the largely blameless Charedi community? Why has Israel’s media deemed all Charedim to be “guilty by association?” This mentality is unacceptable. All people, regardless of their cultural differences, race, or religious practice, must be respected. I, therefore, urge you to publicly condemn those who have unjustly painted the entire Charedi community with a broad stroke.”
