The Novominsker Rebbe Rabbi Yaakov Perlow is the head of Agudath Israel of America. At Agudah's dinner last night, Perlow called Open Orthodoxy and non-Orthodox Jewish movements heretical and called on Modern Orthodoxy to join with Agudah to combat them. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke immediately after Perlow. But de Blasio said nothing in defense of the liberal Jews who helped elect him.
Above: File photo of the Novominsker Rebbe Rabbi Yaakov Perlow
In his continued slide into appeasement of haredi voting blocs, New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio remained silent last night at Agudah's dinner as the Novominsker Rebbe Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, the head of Agudath Israel of America, called Open Orthodoxy and non-Orthodox Jewish movements heretical and called on Modern Orthodoxy to join with Agudah to combat them.
De Blasio spoke immediately after Perlow but said nothing in defense of the liberal Jews who helped elect him.
De Blasio also said nothing about metzitzah b'peh (MBP), the direct mouth-to-bloody-penis sucking done by haredi mohels after cutting off the baby's foreskin.
The city has an informed consent requirement for MBP.
Agudah and other haredi groups who back MBP are suing the city to remove it.
De Blasio – whose administration appears to be ignoring the informed consent requirement – reportedly said nothing about it and issued no call for haredim to limit or end the procedure, which has killed or maimed several babies, leaving some with permanent brain damage:
