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dov hikind

By Colin Campbell 1/30 10:47am

Can't Handle The Kashruth

Newt Gingrich wearing a yarmulke (Photo: Getty)

Mitt Romney’s Kosher Record Under Scrutiny

Florida's diverse demographics have brought new elements to the Republican primary, from bringing the focus to Latino issues, to the state's elderly population. Now, Florida's Jewish bloc is impacting the dialogue as Newt Gingrich and his surrogates raise questions about Mitt Romney's cuts to kosher food programs during his tenure as Governor of Massachusetts.

Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a power broker in New York's Orthodox Jewish community, blasted Mr. Romney's decision to eliminate the $5-a-day funding for kosher meals in Jewish nursing homes.

“Well, `let them eat pork or let them eat something else’ — if you’re kosher, you’re not eating anything else," he told the Post. "It’s just that simple. Why Romney didn’t get it at that particular time is disappointing and quite shocking to me." Read More

3 By Colin Campbell 1/18 8:52am

foreign policy

Bob Turner and Dov Hikind

Hikind: Israeli Leaders Are Praying That Obama Doesn’t Get Reelected

At a press conference yesterday, newly minted Congressman Bob Turner and Assemblyman Dov Hikind had harsh words for the Iranian regime and some reservations about the current U.S.-Israeli relationship.

Assemblyman Hikind was the bluntest on the topic of President Barack Obama's popularity within the Israeli government. "If I could just say, there's no doubt in my mind that a lot of Israeli leaders are praying that Obama doesn't get reelected," he firmly stated. "That's a 100% reality. There's no love lost between Netanyahu and the President of the United States. Should Obama get reelected, you think there's been some rough spots between the United States and Israel in the last couple years, you haven't seen anything yet."

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1 By Colin Campbell 1/05 4:04pm

endorsement confusion

Assemblyman Hikind (Photo: Facebook)

Dov Hikind is Unsure About Backing in Special Election to Replace Kruger

Reports last June indicated that Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind, an influential power broker in the Orthodox Jewish community, would back Democratic Councilman Lew Fidler for the seat that then-State Senator Carl Kruger looked likely to leave vacant in the near future. Mr.  Kruger did indeed resign his seat and is currently heading to jail for corruption. However, Assemblyman Hikind's said in an interview today that he's unsure which candidate he will eventually support.

Although the parties have not chosen their nominees for the special election yet, Councilman Fidler and attorney David Storobin are believed to have the inside track to their respective party nominations. "Lew is a friend, and I’ve spoken to him on numerous occasions," Hikind said, describing his relations with the two candidates. "I’ve also had the opportunity to meet the Republican candidate, David Storobin. I saw him last week when he asked to see me." Read More

1 By David Freedlander 9/20/11 5:05pm

The Middle East

s-perry-092011

As Palestinian Statehood Vote Approaches, Perry Makes Pitch to New York Jews

Texas Gov. Rick Perry was flanked by Jewish leaders from around New York City and around the world this morning at a news conference at the swank W Hotel in Union Square where he blasted the Obama administration for their Middle East policy and rebuked Palestinians for trying to force a statehood vote at the United Nations General Assembly this week.

"We would not be here today at the precipice of such a dangerous move if the Obama policy in the Middle East wasn't naive, arrogant, misguided and dangerous," he said.  Read More

By David Freedlander 7/29/11 8:36am

State Senate

GOP Makes Play for Boro Park

In article in yesterday's Hamodia, a newspaper for the Orthodox Jewish community of Boro Park, details how Senate Republicans delivered a $5 million grant for religious schools in the area to obtain school buses.

In a time of such fiscal austerity, that such an outlay would be available is unusual; that such an outlay would be touted in the papers and at a news conference shows the degree to which Senate Republicans want to put the neighborhood in play.

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1 By David Freedlander 7/12/11 10:34am

NY-9

hikind

Hikind: ‘I Do Have a Problem With David Weprin’

In a brief interview this morning, Borough Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind didn't sound like someone too enthusiastic about the candidacy of fellow Orthodox Jewish legislator David Weprin.

"I don’t know who I'm going to support," he said of the Congressional race between Weprin and Republican Bob Turner to fill the seat left vacant by Anthony Weiner. "I do have a problem with David Weprin on a certain issue which I will talk about a lot more as we move on." Read More

8 By Azi Paybarah 6/16/11 9:18am

same-sex marriage

Assemblyman Dov Hikind invoked Lady Gaga to explain his opposition to same-sex marriage.

Dov Hikind Explains His Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage, and Lady Gaga [Video]

Before the Assembly passed same-sex marriage by its narrowest margin ever yesterday, a number of elected officials gave speeches to explain their position.

Among the more memorable was this one from Dov Hikind, a Democrat from Brooklyn.

He mocked Lady Gaga for her advocacy, dismissed the economic argument for supporting the issue, and spoke at length about his religious beliefs.

"Maybe we take the Torah, God forbid, and throw it in the garbage." and "if you want to tell God 'You don't know what you're talking about, you got it all wrong,' do it."

Later, he got sarcastic. Read More